At the entrance to the market two guards were chatting about 10 hours into a long day when they saw someone approach just like they had many times before. They waited as a slightly mangled xingxing with white hair and a middle aged looking face, a human faced spider with an uncharacteristically dull black shell and what looked like a little girl with pristine white skin, white hair, and black armor and cape with what looked to be fluffy cat ears and a white tailed striped with black. What was strange was that the little girl looked as if she went for a light walk while the spider and ape looked as if they just got done with a marathon. The little girl had a rather smug look on her face as if she was happy to see her attendants miserable. Anyone with knowledge on beasts could tell that the little girl was a beast of an extremely high ranked bloodline or a very valued member of her clan, since she had achieved human form. Unfortunately mere gate guards typically didn't know this information unless they were highly seasoned as a beast in human form was a rarity even at the gathering sects market.
"State your business!" said one of the guards, very nervous to see a xingxing when they had been banned from the market over 70 years ago. "Calm down and study my appearance more." Said the xingxing rather annoyed. "What am I supposed to see other than a member of a bloodline which was banned from this market when my great grandad worked here?" Replied the guard raising his spear as if it would do anything. "You must be a particularly new mortal." Said the xingxing exasperatedly "Go get your superior. You would even be able to dig that mundane spear further into one of my open wounds even if you used all the force you could muster.". As the mortal guard walked away worriedly Cynthia asked a question. "Are mundane arms really that worthless?". "Even something with the smallest amount of energy possible would do better than a mundane weapon by about 20 times." Replied the xingxing "The reason for this is interference by the world. The world doesn't allow mortals or mortal weapons to harm those who have passed its trials even if they only took the first step in its trials.". "So basically the reason is that we are more loved by the world than they are." said Cynthia somehow even more smug. "The world grants power based on love and respect" said the xingxing "humans are not inherently loved by the world like beasts, but they can attain power by gaining its respect through the path of cultivation.".
"Interesting!" said Cynthia "you've really given me a lot of valuable information! If there is something cheap at the market that catches your eye I'll buy it for you.". "How about easing up on your…" said the xingxing before feeling a murderous glare and a chill run down his spine as he reworked his choice of words "If I may request a different reward, I would much prefer more leniency, my lady.". "I'm going to refuse that request on account of how you were about to call my plans to get rid of your bad habits as 'antics'" said Cynthia rather annoyed that this buffoon wasn't taking the hint that he isn't allowed to act in the same way his descendants are but choose not to. "This old man really just doesn't know how to behave like his ancestors do" Cynthia thought while making a face that any bystander would mistake as a child pouting that her fathers servant doesn't bow to her. The remaining guards looked at this scene with amusement. They felt sorry for the xingxing despite the rumors about its bloodline. The guards started thinking that it must be really hard to raise such a spoiled brat. The moment they thought that as if the little girl could read their minds she shot them a piercing glare. Cynthia was getting better at reading people's thoughts through their facial and bodily expressions. After a moment the xingxing noticed and practically pleaded on his knees that the little girl not cause any trouble. The guards taking the hint tried to clear their minds lest they make the same mistake again, now understanding that the ape was a fool to test the little girl's patience.
Finally a guard with a much more elaborate crest on his shoulder and a bit of energy approached the gate from the inside. "I was worried when my subordinate said that a xingxing told him to get his superior but I guess my fears were unfounded." said the new guard as the other guards at the gate practically lost their jaws. "What do you mean unfounded?" said the guard that went to get his superior. "Look at him for Christs sake!" said the guards superior "does that look like a living being?". "What do you mean living, sir? He's talking to us!" said the ignorant guard. "I'm so sorry about my subordinate." said the superior guard "This batch of guards is very new. Barely a year in the workforce.". "Don't worry about it!" said the ape "teaching the next generation takes time!". "That better the fuck not have been about me" said Cynthia under her breath. The only guard who heard her remark was the seasoned one. "You've got a tough one there!" said the guard amiably "Who's her father?". "A new tiger lord. He has subjugated the human face spiders and decimated most of the xingxings." said the xingxing. "Sounds like quite the character!" said the guard "I take it the soul in you is that of a spider not an ape?". "That is correct." said the former spider soul. "Well since the soul in you is not that of a xingxing we have no reason to block your way" said the guard, mostly speaking to the newbie guards who were completely confused by this point. As the group walked through the gate they could hear whisper yelling from the seasoned guard to his subordinates "Look up what a jiangshi is at the library when you get off work! That's a direct order!".
As the group entered they arrived in the market. "This is the El Dorado district. Most everything here is made of magical obsidian primarily." said the xingxing. "Before we buy anything, that walk did not ease my aggression at all and your bullshit made my bloodlust even stronger. Tell me where I can rip someone to shreds" said Cynthia. "Fighting is not prohibited here except for in the arena where you can fight to your heart's content. You just have to challenge someone willing to a match." said the xingxing with a sigh "come on I know a shortcut.". As they were passing through alleys someone blocked their way. 5 grown men with a bird in a cage depicted on their chests blocked the way. From what the tiger could sense they would have mid rank beast pearls if they were beasts. "What a lovely specimen!" said the one in the front "She must have a rather high bloodline! She'll fetch us a lot of money!". "Just what I needed, some scumbags who can't see worth a damn!" Said Cynthia. The beast peddlers tensed ready to fight. Before anything happened someone landed gracefully in the middle of the two groups. "No fighting is prohibited outside the arena!" said the new stranger. "Relax!" said Cynthia "I never planned to do anything outside of the arena.". "Hey scumbags!" said Cynthia now talking to the beast traders "Here are my terms, you beat me and you get to have what's left of me as well as my two attendants and if I win, I get to do with you what I please, whether it be the enslavement you'd inflict on me or I just want to eat you.". "Boss, I think this may be a trap." said one of the goons. "Enough we're all above the dantian building realm and there's 5 of us! What could she possibly do" said the leader as Cynthia grinned with murderous intent. Everyone including the law enforcer went to the arena.