Yanqi then said, "Now since we're done with all of that, you three will begin your training soon. But before that, I have something for each of you. Come with me somewhere." Yanqi stood up, picked up his things, and left. Aoyan, Kai, and Li looked at each other before following him.
Kai looked at Lin Shu back and forth before finally saying, "Li, can I ask you something?"
Lin Shu looked at him. "Sure, why not?"
Kai then said, "How did you get this strong? I mean, we know you're a body refiner, but even that shouldn't make you comparable to normal peak-stage cultivators, let alone the best ones. Also, how can you afford to use peak-tier techniques if you're a high-stage cultivator? And most importantly, what is your armor made of? It looks like some form of dark metal from the color and shape."
Lin Shu looked at him as he thought, "He has a point. With all my techniques, I shouldn't be able to even fight anyone above the high stage, and even then I'm only average with the ability to use Lightning Surge Fang once. But I know what gives me this strength: it's Ivory Dominion. That technique connects my body refinement, my steel-coated bones, and my Infernal Marrow Crucible. It's the reason I was able to create so many techniques like Scorch Piercer, Ivory Detonation, and Ivory Monolith. My two new techniques alone open doors to many things. But of course, Kai doesn't need to know this, nor will he."
Lin Shu looked at Kai and said, "You shouldn't ask a cultivator about his trump cards, Kai."
Yanqi then added, "He's right. It's a disrespectful act and a dangerous one. You're asking for someone's secrets." Kai nodded. He still wanted to know how Lin Shu did it, but there was nothing he could do.
Lin Shu looked away as he started to think. "During the upcoming hunt, I should be able to get easy kills and keep my qi and infernal force at peak levels because of my Scorch Piercer. I've tested how fast it is, and I should be able to kill anyone that isn't a peak-stage cultivator with it, unless they're using their defensive technique at all times. I should try to find how to make the projectiles move faster and hit harder. For now, I also need to make my aim better with it; otherwise, I won't hit anyone."
"Alright, we're here," said Yanqi as they entered a store. As they moved inside, they saw cages upon cages of beasts of all sizes, shapes, and colors.
Behind a counter, a man with a long beard noticed Yanqi and said, "Master Yanqi, please come. I've been waiting for you." The old shopkeeper welcomed them. He looked at Yanqi, then at those behind him. "Oh, that must be your disciple, Aoyan. I've heard about some of her matches. She's quite the good fighter." He then looked at Lin Shu and Kai. "I suppose these are your other famed disciples, correct?"
Yanqi nodded as he said, "Come on, old man. You know praising my students isn't gonna make me pay more." The old man laughed as he moved into the room behind him. "I suppose you're here for your package, correct?"
Yanqi said, "I am, and I'm sure you got it?"
The old man then said, "Of course I did. We do not fail our customers here. And to add to that, what I got, I am sure, will be more than what you wanted." They walked into a large space filled with even more beasts, then moved towards a specific area—a cage with a red cover on top of it. The cage was large. "I am sure this will please you, sir," he said as he pulled the cover.
What greeted them was a fox. Its fur was white with a hazy red color, its eyes were those of flame, and on its tail lay a single flicker of white fire. "I present to you the White Torch Fox. This beast is the mutated and more powerful version of the Red Torch Fox. I used quite a bit of my connections to get this one, sir."
Yanqi smiled slowly as he lowered himself. Aoyan followed suit. The fox moved back in the cage, hissing at them. Yanqi pulled a pouch from his ring and threw it to the old man. "This is double what we agreed on. Now, please excuse us with this beast."
Lin Shu looked at the beast. He looked at Aoyan and saw her on her knees, looking at the fox. Kai was also interested.
"So, what do you think, Aoyan? Aren't I the greatest master around?" The girl smiled as she looked at the fox.
"Now you should try and tame it. I'll help you, since it's a peak-stage beast, but you should be able to control it completely once you reach the peak stage next week." Lin Shu looked at Aoyan and nodded. He was wondering when she'd advance, since he knew her talent was better and she had her master's full support. In fact, he was confused why she still hadn't advanced after almost three years of him knowing her.
Yanqi released the fox, using his presence to freeze the beast in fear. Aoyan then used what looked like a scroll. Lin Shu saw her infuse her qi as she put it on the beast. The scroll burned, and a mark formed on its forehead.
"Is that a taming technique?" asked Lin Shu.
Aoyan turned around as the fox moved closer to her. "Yeah, it's my clan's technique to tame beasts."
Lin Shu looked interested. He threw a glance at Yanqi, then the fox, and was about to say, "Is there any way I can ge—" but he was cut off by Yanqi.
"No, you can't get it. Now let's leave. You'll need to familiarize yourself with this beast, and I'll teach you all about its abilities and why I chose it."
They all left the store as the beast moved with Aoyan. They returned to the private training room Yanqi owned. The beast was moving by Aoyan's orders as Lin Shu and Kai watched.
"That beast's name is the White Torch Fox, a peak-stage beast. It's a mutated, or rather evolved, version of the original Red Torch Fox, a high-stage beast," Yanqi explained.
Yanqi continued, "This beast, while its offensive power is not exceptional, has a few advantages that more than fill that role. It possesses powerful hearing, a powerful sense of smell, and an excellent Qi sense. Such a beast will be of tremendous help for you three there. You can use it to identify ambushes and find fighters to hunt. It can also gauge the strength of your opponents based on their energy, so you will know when to fight and when to flee."
Kai and Aoyan looked confused. "Why would we run?" Kai asked. "Most fighters, even the Gold ranks, aren't as powerful as Li. You even said that both Yu and Shang wouldn't be able to easily fight him. The only way we'd run is if a lot of peak-stage cultivators teamed up on us."
Yanqi slowly answered, "That's not the only reason. I was sent a message by Aoyan's mother. Both Kun and Su are joining the hunt, as the Patriarch has decided to use the arena as the heir test. I am sure they will try to cripple their competition given this chance—especially you, Aoyan. That is why I need you to have more ways to escape than to fight, and not to expose your location to hunters unnecessarily."
Aoyan's face went pale, and so did Kai's, but slowly color returned as both frowned deeply. Kai then said, "That's an even bigger reason not to run! Li is strong enough; he can take at least one of them. Me and Aoyan can take the other."
Aoyan glanced at Kai, seeing him fuming with anger, but she didn't agree or support his decision. She looked rather hesitant.
Lin Shu looked at Kai and said, "Did you forget about Shang and Yu? You think I can fight them, and fight Su and Kun, and keep you safe? Also, Kai, stop being moronic. If Elder Yanqi says it's best for us to have something that warns us of danger and that we flee if we find opponents that we might not be able to handle, then we do it. Why would he, of all people, be wrong and you be right?"
Kai didn't have anything to refute, but the boy was still angry—disappointed, but angry. Aoyan looked as if she was relieved that Lin Shu and her master didn't agree with Kai, but she didn't show it.
"There is also something else," Yanqi said, his voice cutting through the tension. "I want you all to hide as soon as you get your hands on Gold-rank tokens—except for Li. As long as he finds a secure place for you two to hide and he patrols the area, he can continue hunting on his own."
Aoyan looked at Kai, noticing he was still frowning. Her fox ran up to her, and she petted it absently. But as she looked into its eyes, she noticed her own reflection. Her expression was one of relief, then slowly, shame.
"Am I still scared of them?" she whispered to herself. Her hand was shaking, but she couldn't help it. "I am not a coward. I just need a little more time to train. I can, in the future, face them. But now, it's an unfair match. Yes, that's it," she said to her reflection, as if trying to make herself believe it.
But whether she believed her own words or not, all that could be seen was her fearful yet shameful expression. She quickly got herself together, pushing the matter aside before it could keep spinning in her head.
While all this was happening, somewhere else, in a place where every beast roaming spat flames, a clan resided. Its gates were grand, banners of flames and beasts adorned its walls. Inside the clan, a girl with dark black hair and fire-colored eyes sat in a spacious room. Her clothes were a black robe with red flowers embroidered upon it. In front of her was a woman of similar attire and appearance.
"So you're leaving for Gloomvale City tomorrow," the woman said.
The girl, with her head lowered, answered, "Yes, Mother."
The woman seemed to be thinking. "I haven't been up to date with whatever has been happening in the clan lately, but does this have anything to do with the heir race?"
The girl nodded. "It does, Mother."
The woman thought to herself before saying, "Alright. If that's all you wanted to tell me, you can go now, Su."
Chi Su then spoke again. "Mother, do you have anything you can advise me regarding my cultivation? As you can see, I advanced to the peak stage, but I've been having some questions regarding s—"
Her mother cut her off. "I am busy right now, But you can ask one of the elders. I'm sure they'll be able to answer you."
Chi Su smiled and nodded, her fingers clutching her robes for an instant. She slowly stood up, the smile still fixed on her face, bowed, and left.
Chi Su left the room, and her smile slowly faded away. She walked through the corridors, servants, guards, and clansmen all moving out of her way in a mix of fear and awe. She entered her chamber and sat down silently.
The room was full of paintings; brushes were everywhere—on desks, on the ground. She moved to her desk, picked up a brush, and sat down. She pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and began to draw. Her expression was neutral, her movements slow and deliberate.
Somewhere else in the same clan, a boy was training in a courtyard. His hair was short, his eyes the color of fiery flames. His muscles were defined as he wielded a sword, training tirelessly.
Footsteps echoed, growing closer. A woman with long brown hair approached him. The boy glanced at her as she greeted him. "I see your training is going well as usual, Kun."
The boy nodded neutrally.
The woman spoke again. "Your father has agreed with my request to use the Arena of Valor in Gloomvale as your heir test, for both you and your half-siblings, Su and Aoyan."
Kun nodded, continuing to listen.
"So you should get ready to head over there soon."
Kun then said, "Yes, Mother."
His mother smiled, turned to leave, then turned back. "Ah, I forgot something. Your brother Kai is over there too. Unfortunately, he's helping Aoyan. It saddens me, as his mother, that he left his brothers right after trying to harm them both, alongside other children of the other wives, which angered them to the point of wanting him executed. And when I wanted to help him, he betrayed us and went to help Aoyan to save himself. That's why I want you to remind him that I will accept him back if he returns now. But do punish him a little. He needs to feel sorry for what he did." The woman spoke with a warm smile.
The boy's facial features didn't change as he repeated the same phrase. "Yes, Mother."
The woman smiled, kissed the boy on his cheek, and left.
The boy's expression slowly changed. He took a handkerchief from his ring and wiped his cheek. He then burned the cloth and continued to train, his face showing little emotion other than a slight frown. He kept stopping and wiping his face over and over again, his expression growing into a deeper frown. Finally, he cut his cheek from how hard he wiped, and blood dripped down his face. He looked at the blood-stained handkerchief and burned it into flames.