Edifice used a Dao Art taught to her by Immortal Adamant, one of the few she was permitted to learn.
Hoping that this would hold off the hideous beast, Edifice let go of its tail and readied herself for the confrontation.
The hideous beast banged its head on the Qi Wall, trying to break through.
'Why is it so dead set on entering the cave? Is it because of the natural Spirit Spring?'
Suddenly, she sensed a strange aura beginning to manifest within its mouth.
Raising her hands before her, Edifice held a small ornament and summoned wisps of Qi.
Wisps gathered and condensed into a pale blade.
Dao Art -- Qi Blade!
This was another Dao Art of Immortal Adamant's legacy.
Using an ornament or Medium as a base, Qi coalesces and solidifies into an object.
It could manifest a myriad of weapons or tools, but a sword is Edifice's preferred option.
The Mystical Weapon Edifice was searching for was also a sword.
Rushing forward, she quickly slashed across the beast's back and leapt off, executing this in a swift instance.
She interrupted its action, and the aura within its mouth dispersed.
Roaring in pain, it finally turned its huge body away from the cave's blocked entrance.
Staring down at Edifice with mad eyes, she could see the pale green skin of its ragged face.
Mania filled its eyes, with a snarl, it released a low growl and charged towards Edifice.
Pushing off the ground, she evaded the hideous beast's charge and tore into its leg.
The swing carried into a parry as she blocked the whip of the beast's tail.
Then, Edifice pushed forth, and a thick wall of Qi manifested and slammed into the beast.
It howled as it staggered, resisting the force of the slam with its huge body.
Edifice tried to follow up with another swing of her Qi Blade but stepped back as she felt an intense pressure falling upon her.
The pressure pushed her feet into the ground, and soon, her ankles were swallowed by the soil.
Qi surged within her legs but redirected into her arms as she blocked the beast's tail.
The wall pushing down on the beast was slowly becoming undone as Edifice refocused her attention.
The Qi Blade in her hand grew.
One meter grew to five, as thick as a tree's trunk, and seemed weightless in her hand.
Casting it down, it slammed towards the hideous beast, who jolted in fear.
Yet, instead of moving, its hair flew in a frenzy.
Its human face could now be seen. Rows of sharp teeth revealed themselves as it opened wide.
The Qi construct Edifice threw as the hideous beast broke apart into countless wisps and devoured.
Turning its head, it also devoured the remnants of the Qi Wall, pushing down on it.
'So that strange aura from before was a Dao Art?'
Looking towards the cave's entrance, the Qi Wall stood strong, but Edifice could not let it get close.
'So... it tried to devour the Qi Wall, and it can devour all Qi constructs too...'
Edifice had sunken knee deep into the soil, but with a burst of Qi within her legs, the ground exploded as she shot out.
Regaining some distance from the hideous beast, she managed to lighten the pressure assaulting her.
Aura burst from within her, and she completely dispelled the pressure.
'I am truly at a disadvantage. I need to take this out and aid Dawn!'
'But I would waste too much time fighting this beast, I wouldn't be able to reach Dawn in time...'
'If I leave now, I would be endangering the people of the caravan.'
Edifice manifested another sword made of Qi and observed the hideous beast.
Stomping on the ground, a ferocious aura surged within the beast.
Opening its mouth to the sky, it began to devour the air.
The nearby trees and foliage seemed to wither.
If Edifice sensed through Immersion, she would feel the soil losing all nutritional value, the stones within turn brittle, and the countless insects die rapidly.
'This is...!'
Edifice herself felt a faint tug at her mind, heart, and stomach.
Fearfully, she quickly backed away.
Dao Art -- Four-Layered Protection!
The first defends the mind, while the second defends the body.
Activating both, she felt the faint tug disappear, but her protection seemed to gradually weaken.
The protection around her mind was like a crystal wall, now it was losing its lustre.
The protection around her body was like a fierce set of armour, now it was showing signs of wear and tear.
'Was it trying to devour the Qi in my Qi Cores?'
'This Dao Art is insidious and terrifyingly effective!'
'Could it be!'
Just as she worried, the Qi Wall blocking the cave's entrance fell apart into a whirl of pale wisps.
The hideous beast devoured them all.
Yet, it wasn't satisfied.
Edifice's protections gradually began to falter, showing signs of becoming undone at any moment.
In fact, she felt herself being pulled towards the beast, like she was trapped in a vortex that led to its mouth.
The sickly tug at her three Qi Cores returned, as well.
Considering her options, Edifice could not leave, but also couldn't fight against the beast itself.
Slowly, the pull lessened, and the beast began devouring.
It lowered its head and hurled.
A violent stream of a myriad of Qis burst from its mouth, catching Edifice off guard.
She threw her arms up to resist, but it pushed on her. Still, she refused to budge.
After the Qi vomit receded, Edifice was met with the beast's dragon tail, which knocked her off her feet.
She was only sent a few meters back, but that was all the time the beast needed.
The hideous beast did not hesitate to charge into the tunnel. Edifice was a moment too late to catch it, and could only run after the beast.
...
Selene sat against the wall of the cave, near the edge that dropped a few meters down, looking down at the murky pool of silver below.
The Qi pool where Heaven Qi and Earth Qi are mixed, a natural Spirit Spring.
It reminded her of the natural Spirit Spring of Union Settlement, where she cultivated with Dawn and Sun.
Thinking about Dawn, she hoped that she'd return soon.
The hideous beast that attacked them was particularly disgusting to Selene.
Dawn alone held that beast off as the caravan retreated to this cave.
Edifice left not too long ago to aid Dawn. Selene also wished for her safe return.
The air was cold, and far above the Spirit Spring was a hole in the roof of the cave.
It meant that the air was not stagnant, but it provided an awful chill.
Just now, Selene felt an awful chill rake down her spine.
Not due to the cold air, but the shaking growl and thunderous steps.
Looking towards the path that led them here, Selene heard the ferocious calls of something beastial.
Loud and heavy, coming their way.