Standing over a plane table studying the formation and construct of the Thousand Radius array, Kayce Albert struggles to understand the principle of space depicted inside of it. With his knowledge he thought superb of arrays, was in fact limiting his growth in mastery
Knock Knock
"Enter"
"My Lord, the Young Lord and Lady have exited the forest and are resting at Beast Pavilion"
"Very well, and what of Chief Palaeo?"
-
"What do you mean something is wrong with the forest?"
Glancing amongst each other in hesitance, Wei Li especially, her prior urgency and haste vanished, crushed under Edwards demeanor
Edwards impatience growing, Wei Li still feeling silly, Jamir keeping his head down not wanting to deliver the bad news, but Liam finds the words and speaks up
"Master, it is the heavenly tribulation in the north. The lightning has caused massive earthquakes in the second zone, splitting the ground deep in various locations. The loss of beasts is unknown, but we have witnessed hundreds of them fall in the crevasse"
[The earthquakes were surely violent but to destroy the lands...]
"I understand for now return and rest, you three have worked hard."
"Yes Master!"
[Things to do only keep stacking up, I was planning to visit this Chief Palaeo but it seems it will be sooner than later]
Standing with one foot inside of the void and another on worn wooden floors, Edward void walks repeatedly in the direction of the tribulation
WOOSH PSHH PSH
The sound of harsh and sharp winds floods Edwards eardrums as he stands multiple miles in the air, snow and moisture obscuring his vision, the white coat of the snow on the ground blend all his surroundings into a white nothingness
The only indication if rank is the booms of lightning behind him, causing Edward to realize he does not know where the settlement of the tribe is located
[If I was going to go through a heavenly tribulation, I would leave hundreds of miles away from important infrastructure but more importantly people. During lesser breakthroughs before I became supreme, I would also bring guards]
Unknowing of the direction of the tribe, Edward knew exactly where their chief was, and the uncaring depth of the void opens shaking the surrounding space as he strides west directly towards the threatening lightning
Only a mile out from the tribulation Edward had overshot his void walking and was in the radius of threat, looking around and scanning for the guards, Edwards instincts begin to scream
Using his divine art sub coconsciously Edward dashes out from the area surrounding Luke Palaeo. Looking back at where he once was, a bolt of landing crashes down and penetrates the ground below his prior position
Eyes beating and heart pounding [That was nearly the end, I cannot survive a tribulation let alone a single piece of heavenly lightning]
Breathing heavy and attempting to catch his breath Edwards blood begins to flow faster and faster despite his calming techniques, and again his instincts come forward and the hair on the back of his neck rises
"DIE VIKING SCUM" an axe double sided swung from Edwards right side
TINGG
Catching the handle of the axe with his ring hand and striking at the abdomen of his attacker with his left palm
"CAA" the force from Edwards strike at his liver cause the teenager wearing spirit beast furs to cough blood but remain focused
Tightening his grip on his axe in attempt to regain its control, unable however due to Edwards superior strength. Realizing the axe is lost and his opponent was greater than he guessed, Edwards attacker lets his weapon go and attempts to flee
[He is pretty quick] Edward thought as he dashes towards the boy and grabs the back of his neck with his left hand
"Who are you?"
"Like I would tell you, viking pig"
Raising his right-hand Edwards victim seeing the axe and starting to sweat, yet Edward only raises his index finger from the axe and places it on the shoulder of the boy. Sending a small amount of Chi into his arm, dancing and rampaging inside him all of the muscles tear before the Chi exits from his finger.
"AAAAHHHH" screaming in pain as his arm falls limp, Edwards grip around his neck tightens cutting off his oxygen and consequently his screams
His scream brief but sufficient within is seconds the pair is surrounded by men and teenagers, all warriors alike, wearing furs similar yet in different shades.
With their weapons drawn the dozen men stay still but angered, itching for the order to tear the intruder apart, the men are showing fighting spirit and bloodlust intensely
"Release our man and we may kill you quickly" The oldest member of the group and the only man wearing black colored furs orders after a minute of silence
Looking around Edward realizes these men are the guards of the chief and members of the tribe he is seeking, able to state his name and provide proof of identity to end the situation favorably, Edward takes the moment to ingrain who he is in his own way.
"Is the impression I give off so meek, you believe you can kill me?" Edwards words weren't really a question but invitation, and the bloodlust he lets run from the pores of his body a test
Edwards bloodlust was not just intention any longer, his advancement in cultivation, his soul falling deeply into is body, his consumption and assimilation of Lady Azlans blood, many factors layered on top of each other have bred changes unattainable by simply training. Proof of it was before the Palaeo tribes warriors at this moment, Edwards bloodlust was heavy and had weight, rendering the brown furred warriors breath to fall short and collapsing their fighting spirit.
Fighting the buckling of his knees the black furred warrior remains clear headed "What is your name, warrior?" lifting his long sword and pointing it towards Edward
"You know my name, but not me. So, allow me to introduce myself" Edward amused with the persistence of the man before him, lets loose of the boy in his hand and begins to slowly float at the sword anticipating his response
"Please, calm yourselves everyone" A raspy but commanding voice shatters Edwards bloodlust and makes his beastly instinct trump his humanly emotion
Scanning the area for the person he knows to be powerful, Edward spots him in robes like what is worn south, on the ground directly below the group holding the boy he had just let fall
[This person is as strong as Kayce Albert, and his aura serene like Master Hao. This tribe is home to a monster of the continent]
"You know me, Elder?" Almost as if Edward had forgotten the people surrounding him is sole focus is the greatest perceived threat below him
"The future master of the land, how could I not know you." The figure not looking up at Edward, only focused on mending the broken arm of the boy in white fur
Floating down towards the man and boy, the Palaeo warriors giving way and room for maneuvering, now aware of the identity that they have threatened
"What is your name Elder?"
"That fancy education given to you nobleman, yet you cant remember the names of your vassals"
"I meant no disrespect"
"Of course, its not your disrespect but those who taught you. Those who find us minor and keep us beyond an arms length"
"That is partially the reason for my visit, but the major reason is much more urgent"
"You mean my idiot son"
[So this person is the prior Palaeo Chief... usually barbarians reign until death]
"His heavenly tribulation have caused earthquakes that split the sacred forest apart, worst of all in a heavily populated area. If this continues, the mountains may fall or worse Chief Luke may perish"
"I agree, he was only at the 8th tier of the Heavenly Core yet he tried to break through into Grand unity, wholly unprepared. If he fails, his martial journey will forever be stunted. Young Lord I understand your concern for the environment, but we must let this ride until its end"
[Surely, by your standards heavenly tribulations are do or die, unwantingly and incapable of halting it halfway through]
"And what if I can stop this without consequence"
"HAHA, Young Lord, that's a good one. HAHAHA. Evading the will of the dao is something impossible and better left undone"
"Using the dao to fight the dao is something we do every day Elder"
For the first time the Palaeo Elder put down what he was doing and looked upon Edward "Explain"
"It is as I said, using the dao to fight the dao is essentially all cultivation is. It only makes sense those with great understanding of the dao, have come up with means to shield themselves from the daos punishment, until they are ready to fight it"
"You can perform this wonder, Young Lord?"
"With your help, easily"
"And what would this cost me"
"Only a conversation with me and your understanding"
"HAHAHA"