Edifice hastily raised Qi Walls in an attempt to slow the hideous beast's movements but to no avail.
It smashed relentlessly, each Qi Wall too frail, too hastily created, to solidify into something sturdy.
Each time Edifice tried to get near the hideous beast, its tail would sweep or whip at her, driving her away with suspicious precision.
It was drawn back into its frenzied state, not even sparing a glance at Edifice.
How could it see where and when she approached?
The hideous beast's massive body knocked against the walls of the cave as it charged forward.
Edifice raised her hands, facing her palms forward, as two small objects were held in them.
Dao Art Mediums.
Dao Art -- Core Crush, Dirty Fireworks!
A searing pain rose in the hideous beast's body.
Having the bestial body of a tiger, its anatomy was different from a human.
Yet, this beast has Qi Cores similar to human Cultivators.
Edifice has never researched the topic, but never once has she heard of a beast with Qi Cores.
Mystical Beast Kings and Beast Emperors usually have Qi Conglomerates.
These Conglomerates are gathered from the Qi in the environment and condensed into a mass within the beast, usually bearing an affinity to a certain element or aspect of the world.
Such as the Deceptive Hawk Monarch, with an affinity for wind, or the Fleeting Wolf King, whose affinity lies with stealth and illusion.
Qi Conglomerates provide limited abilities, inherent to the beast's environment or the type of beast itself.
Human Qi Cores are more refined and possess broader capabilities.
Qi is taken in from the surroundings and refined into Human Qi, which can empower a myriad of affinities.
This beast has the potential to wield a myriad of abilities, due to the presence of Human Qi Cores, which would naturally leave Edifice cautious.
However, the presence of Qi Cores also worked in Edifice's favour at this moment.
A violently shaking force could be felt in the hideous beast's chest.
Suddenly, Qi erupted forth, and a popping sound could be heard as it echoed down the cave.
Following the 'pop' was a deafening roar.
Collapsing to the ground, the hideous beast was finally stopped in its movements.
Edifice disrupted one of the beast's four Qi Cores, destabilising the Qi and bursting it.
While this wasn't lethal, nor inflicted damage to the beast's body, its pain was akin to that of an explosive detonating in one's body.
Consequently, it would also destroy the assimilated Dao Art, if there were any present.
'The other three Qi Cores seem to have differing Dao Arts assimilated onto them...'
'This beast would have four Dao Arts readily available, but with one Qi Core destroyed, its battle strength should fall tremendously.'
'However...'
Looking down at her palms, the two small Dao Art Mediums were brittle, crumbling in her hand like dry soil.
Tossing them aside, Edifice grabbed another Dao Art Medium and summoned a sword.
'I have to deal with this thing quickly, I can't let it reach the caravan!'
Saying so, Edifice quickly closed the distance between her and the hideous beast.
With a pained groan, the beast flicked its tail towards Edifice, who dodged it nimbly.
The dragon-like tail manoeuvred into a sweep. Edifice crouched with open arms.
Dao Art -- Four-Layered Protection!
A fierce armour manifested around Edifice, protecting her as she caught the tail.
Raising her sword, she stabbed the tail and nailed it to the ground.
Lengthening and thickening the sword, she created a construct to withhold the beast.
Turning its head, it opened its dry mouth, but Edifice anticipated this.
She simply smashed the cave's wall, tearing apart chunks of dark stone and lobbing them at the hideous beast.
Disrupting its Dao Art, Edifice tossed the plentiful stones at the beast's giant body.
Each rock smashed into the beast and broke into countless fragments.
One managed to hit its human-like face in the jaw, yet it quickly regains its composure as its skin hardens.
'A defensive Dao Art? At least three of its Dao Arts have been revealed.'
'It doesn't seem to have lost its ability to devour Qi, and it isn't using its ability to assault me with formless pressure.'
'That only leaves the last, unknown Dao Art-!'
A heavy aura could be felt within the beast; its limp body seemed to gain newfound strength.
The Qi construct, pinning its tail, was uplifted.
Its dragon-like tail also surged with strength, and it struck Edifice, shattering the armour protecting her back.
This strength, sourced from nowhere, shocked Edifice.
'This power! Its battle strength should have fallen, but it's risen to new levels!?'
'And the means to do so... it should have been the final, fourth Dao Art assimilated into its Qi Cores...'
'But this Dao Art...'
Her brow furrowed as she watched the once limp beast now standing with domineering strength.
Its strength far surpassed that of a Mystical Beast King and even ordinary Beast Emperors.
Weakness turned into strength.
On the edge of falling prey to death, drawing its final breaths, intense vigour and vitality flood within its body.
A Dao Art that Edifice had researched long ago, one that was expected to be found within this expedition.
'Dao Art -- Fallen Sovereign's Tenacity.'
'This was supposed to be a Dao Art scripture found in the inheritance. How is it a part of this hideous beast?'
'Was this truly a human creation? They must have utilised the inheritance to create this thing.'
'Could that formless pressure have been one of the other Dao Arts -- Tiger's Ferocity?'
'But the Dao Art which devours Qi, and this defensive Dao Art, should not be within the inheritance.
'If the inheritance was used to create this thing, then what is its purpose if not to defend?'
'Could it be defending the natural Spirit Spring?'
A myriad of thoughts flooded Edifice's mind; there were too many things to consider.
Part of her focus was on the hideous beast, whose strength continued to rise.
Another thought had risen in her mind, one that focused on Dawn and the mysterious attacker she was battling with.
'Could he be involved in this? But that would mean...'
'Immortal Blade's Second Heir... just what is going on?'
...