CHAPTER 8- The Final Sparks Before A Candle Goes Out, And The Brilliant Rays Before Sunset, Is Just Fading Beauty.

The cultivation system for demonic beasts is different from the cultivation system of humans. Their levels of cultivation range from rank 1 to rank 9, with each level corresponding to the human cultivation system.

So, a rank 1 demonic beast is as powerful as a Qi Gathering stage cultivator.

But, even though their cultivation system is somewhat different from a human's, it still follows the same principles, as there are low tier, mid-tier, high tier, and peak tier rank 1 demonic beast.

The same as someone who is in the 3rd level, 6th level, and 9th level of the Qi Gathering stage being called an early stage, mid-stage, and late-stage Qi Gathering cultivator, and when a 9th level cultivator is ready to breakthrough to the next level, he is called a peak stage Qi Gathering cultivator.

On planet Daiyu or the Demonic Beast Continent specifically, the highest-ranked demonic beast is the two 'Beast Kings' of the Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix Beast race, both of which are at the 6th rank equal to a Saint realm human cultivator.

Even though both Beast races were technically supposed to be identified as demonic beasts, if you were to call them that to their faces, then you should be ready for your head to be chomped off, while your body gets viciously ripped to shreds.

Because both Beast races took to call themselves 'Spiritual Beasts' instead. And to anyone who heard that, they would proclaim that both Beast races were being too arrogant, as a Spiritual Beast was a Legendary existence that came from the immortal era.

It was told in books that a pure-blooded Spiritual Beast could rival a Sage realm or a Saint realm expert from birth.

That type of power was inconceivable to anyone in this current era.

Just imagine, if it was that strong from birth, then how stronger would it become when it starts cultivating? And to think the Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix Beast clans would announce themselves as Spiritual Beasts. What utter rubbish.

It was true that they had descended from the pure bloodline of the Phoenix race, which was one of the most powerful Spirit Beast races in the past. But, all demonic beasts in some way or another are descendants of a Spirit Beast race.

It was just that their bloodline was slightly purer than other demonic beasts, allowing them to trace it back to their ancestral roots, and gain significant power.

That amount of power in no way qualifies them to take up the name 'Spiritual Beasts', or become a Spirit Beast race. However, it does allow 'both' Beast Clans to rule over the Demonic Beast Continent for a long time... well, that was until tonight.

On the Beast Continent, on the north-eastern side.

Silent 'swooshing' sounds could be heard coming from the 'Howling Forest', which covered a thousand li radius. Three people were currently rushing through the forest at a frightening speed.

The figure who was at the front was wearing a black cloak that covered his face and entire body, allowing him to blend seamlessly in the forest darkness. At the back, however, was a beautiful woman in full white clothing holding onto an equally beautiful young girl that looked no more than seven or eight years old.

At the corner of the beautiful woman's mouth, a trail of blood could be seen, and as she was running, she would sometimes stumble over herself and find it hard to keep up with the figure in front.

As she stumbles for the fifth time she suddenly stopped.

The man at the front immediately turn back and came to the woman's side.

"Princess we must hurry, third young master has sent out the Silver Winged Tiger Clan to track us down. We have no time to lose."

The urgent and worried voice of the figure sounded out. From it, one would think that this figure was an old man, and his bony, wrinkled-filled hands holding up the woman would confirm that notion.

"Grandpa Long, I can't go on for much longer, please take Yu'er and head to the Central Continent without me. And remember to avoid the Wu Continent, the Fire Phoenix Clan has spies there." In a tired voice, the woman said while handing over the young girl in her arms to the figure.

"No! mother, I don't want to leave without you," The little girl said in a mournful voice as she held onto the woman's sleeves with her little hands, unwilling to let go.

"Yu'er you need to leave with grandpa Long for now, mother will come find you later, okay?"

"No! I won't leave!" The girl vehemently refused while tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

"Yu'er you need to lis…" As the woman was ready to reprimand her daughter, her face suddenly turned pale before she coughed up a mouth full of blood.

"Princess!!"

Grandpa Long exclaim as one of his hands holding onto the little girl shot out to steady the woman who was about to fall.

"There's no need to worry about me, grandpa Long, just take Yu'er and leave quickly," The woman said while wiping the corner of her lips.

"Mother why can't you just come with us?" The little girl asks as tears fell from her cheek one by one.

The woman lifted her arm and gently stroke her daughter's head. With a smile on her face and eyes filled with tender affection, she said, "Yu'er, in the future, you should always remember that mother and father love you dearly, and we will always be watching over you."

Before the little girl could comprehend her mother's words, the hand that was stroking her head suddenly tapped her forehead causing her head to fall to one side.

Pulling away from her daughter the woman's heart was stricken with pain and grief, she didn't want to leave her daughter alone, but under these circumstances, she didn't have a choice. If she were to continue like this with her injuries, she would only slow them down.

"Grandpa Long, please take care of her and make sure she's safe."

The figure in black call grandpa Long was silent for a while before he said, "Princess why don't you go with her instead, I can hold them…."

The woman raised her hand and cut of grandpa Long.

Shaking her head she said, "My injuries are too severe, if it wasn't for my husband blocking that final blow I would be dead already. Just get going, our pursuers could appear at any time."

Grandpa Long didn't say anymore. He turned around and with a 'swoosh' his figure was already several li away, disappearing from sight.

The woman stood looking in that direction for a while, before turning away.

As she does, a tear could be seen falling from her face and landing on a leaf. It shattered into countless pieces which sparkled in the moonlight, that was peaking through the foliage up above.

While she stood there silently with her back towards the direction grandpa Long ran in, the sounds of insects could be heard, along with rustling noises made by the wind blowing against the leaves, which echoed from time to time.

She had her eyes closed, as she stayed still unmoving. Her labored breaths were now calm and steady.

Like this, the first and second hours pass without much change, only now the moonlight was becoming more prominent in the surrounding area, some of which had fallen onto the face of the woman. And with her already beautiful features, it made her seem as if she was a celestial Goddess bathing in the moonlight.

Despite the gloomy background, this scene painted a beautiful and tranquil one. Though, if someone with keen eyes were here, they would be able to tell that this was nothing more than a spark flashing its brilliance, beautiful, but will eventually fade away.

As the third hour passed, the little insects that were making noise suddenly became silent, no, not just them, the entire forest that covered a thousand li became deathly silent. The wind that would occasionally blow causing rustling noises had stopped as well.

The woman slowly opened her eyes. The expression she showed at this moment was completely different from the warm and tender one she had shown to her daughter, it was detached and indifferent. If one looked into her eyes at this moment, it would probably freeze their soul in an instant.

'Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh….'

Countless swooshing noises could be heard, the wind that had stopped came back out of nowhere, and it was countless times stronger, even the tall and sturdy trees in the surroundings were swaying back and forth.

As if they couldn't hold out anymore, they were uprooted from the ground and carried away by the terrifying wind storm.

The woman in contrast was still standing where she was, looking up into the air.

After all the trees in the surroundings became completely uprooted, what came into the sight of the woman was seven gigantic tigers with silver wings on their back.

The massive wind storm was created due to them flying over the forest.

As the seven silver winged tigers came to stop above the woman, a loud voice boomed in the air, coming from the largest of the seven tigers in front of the group.

"Hahaha!!... Princess Dongmei, do you plan no delay us so that abomination can escape?!" His large mouth did not move, showing an indication that he had use Divine Sense.

Prince Dongmei's eyes became icier when she heard that.

"What gives you the courage to speak to me in such a way, are you looking for an early death?"

The voice laughed again and said, "The cruel and merciless princess Dongmei, that is the name given to you by your enemies, however, with that injury you've sustained from the third young master, you can only use about thirty percent of your strength. Can you really live up to that name at this moment?"

Princess Dongmei slowly floated into the air as she said, "You'll find out sooner or later whether I can live up to it or not."

Coming to a stop in front of the seven demonic beasts, who were around five hundred chi large with the leader being around fifteen hundred chi, she showed no signs of fear or panic.

In fact, it was the seven silver-winged tigers that were feeling anxious and uneasy.

The leader in the front, let out a menacing growl before his Divine Sense echoed out an order.

"Kill her!!"

Following their leader, the other six immediately charge towards the defenseless-looking princess.

As they came closer to her, the princess took a step forward in mid-air, after that one step, the surrounding temperature immediately dropped to a terrifying degree, the group of seven sense this but ignored the freezing temperature and continued to rush forward. However, as the princess made her second step, the coldness in the air amplified to the point that ice began to form on their pure white fur.

The closer they got to her the more ice started to accumulate on their bodies until a numbing sensation could be felt, which made it hard for them to move their wings and limbs. The leader of the seven winged tigers, after seeing this became extremely frightened.

"How can you still use so much power?!"

He was at the peak tier of the 4th rank, while the others were at the rank 3. For her to be able to subdue them in only two steps means she was using the power of a rank 5 demonic beast, and for her to be able to use that level of cultivation also means she didn't only have thirty percent of her power.

The leader of the group had come to this conclusion, leading to him being scared witless. What was this woman's nickname?

After the leader became horrified by this revelation, he immediately started going in the opposite direction even faster than when he was coming. As he knocked the other group members aside he started screaming in his head.

'Fuck!! Who reported that she could only use thirty percent of her strength!! If I had known she was still this powerful I wouldn't have taken up this goddamn mission!'

The leader of the group that had talked so big was starting to run away with his tail between his legs, this scene was undoubtedly comical to watch.

The temperature suddenly dropped once again, causing him to feel danger looming over his head, turning to look behind him he saw the frozen statues of his teammates falling out of the sky.

His mountain of a body shivered.

No matter how big he was, at this moment he felt like a mouse desperately running away from... a tiger? What the hell?! Wasn't he suppose to be the tiger?!!

Flapping his wings as hard as he could, he bolted through the sky trying to escape, however, snowflakes appeared around him and slowly engulf his entire body. A few moments later, the snowflakes disappeared revealing his frozen corpse that soon fell from the sky.

Back to the original position, princess Dongmei was seen calmly floating back down to the ground. But, when was around twelve chi away from landing, she looked like a puppet that had her strings cut, as he fell from the air and landed hard on the forest floor.

Her once jet black hair was turning a light gray color, and her silky smooth skin was now filled with wrinkles.

She was at the peak of the 5th rank but the injury she sustained had dropped her cultivation down to the 3rd rank.

In order for her to have killed those silver winged tigers, and give more time for grandpa Long to escape, she had burned her Ice Phoenix Bloodline and vitality. Which was nothing more than suicide.

Now, she was there, still and unmoving on the forest ground, with the moon up in the sky shining its brilliance upon her.

But this time, instead of painting a beautiful scenery, it painted one filled with grief and desolation.