A total of ten days had now passed since Lute fought the Vicious Beast in the Crimson Tide Mountain Range. Currently, he was for the most part healed, externally all of his wounds had disappeared, his dantian and meridians had returned to normal. There were no longer any issues circulating Qi through his left arm. The only injuries he had was the broken bones in the left wrist. They had healed a significant amount in ten days, but the injury was still in a precarious enough state where Lute refused to use his left hand to prevent further injuries.

Over the course of these ten days, it was more torture than relaxation. Isla kept true to her word and forced him to learn up to the two hundredth stance within the Thousand Ways Scripture, he was officially one fifth complete with this art. But that didn’t mean he’d reached mastery. Only when he could fluidly create his own style from these thousand forms would it be considered mastered. And that was still a long, long way to go as merely knowing the thousand forms and using them to their complete potential was two entirely different subjects.

But these ruthless days were not without their gains. Only eating, cultivating and training, that was what he did, and with the experiences from the last battle and now all of this training plus the fine tuning of his ability to fight, Lute had leaped past early stage of the eighth level Foundational Qi Realm and ended up at the peak of the ninth level. He was only a step away from entering the peak Foundational Qi Realm.

This was a very quick speed, even though Lute was two years behind those of his age group. They should more or less be late Nascent Qi Realm to early Spirit Opening Realm cultivators. Lute had already made up almost one year of cultivation. He was roughly one Great Realm lower than those of his age group. Given enough time, and provided he acquired the experience and resources, the gap could close even more. If he didn’t require more Qi to breakthrough than almost anyone, he would’ve probably caught up to, if not surpassed them already.

Fluidly moving in practiced motions, Lute was moving through every single stance he’d learned from Isla. With every single movement of his body, he was free and agile; these weren’t locked movements that were rigid. The key was to practice, practice, and practice. Isa was never lenient in this regard, even if Lute was injured. If he wasn’t performing to her expectations, the pressure put on Lute’s body would increase, making the task she wanted done even harder, until the point where Lute would practically collapse every time.

These days paid off very well in the long run, Lute could feel his strength was multiple levels above what it was before, and he’d already adjusted to the increase in strength. Each breakthrough was much more noticeable for him compared to others due to cultivating the proper way, focusing upon other aspects other than pure Qi quantity.

As for his physical body, Lute felt reborn. After having it break down in such a gruesome fashion due to the First Path of New Beginnings, the skin and muscle of his body was stronger than before, having healed, his body adapted even quicker and was steadily approaching the second level of the Primordial First Physique. Even his bones were almost completely healed aside from his left wrist and they felt more solid.

Finishing the training of the Thousand Ways Scripture, Lute sat down tiredly, he began to cultivate and regain the energy expended. Even this was occurring at a faster rate than before, although it wasn’t as noticeable or as large an increase compared to his physical body increasing in strength.

After confirming everything he’d learned and did over the past days, Lute’s confidence soared. He felt as if the gap between him and a Nascent Qi Realm Cultivator wasn’t as large.

‘With the increased physical strength and recovery rate, and having broken through to the ninth level, if I encountered even a third level Nascent Vicious Beast I would be able to win as long as I wasn’t stupid and recklessly get injured like last time.’

After a quick session to recover his vitality Lute stood up and confidently walked towards his usual lake, it was populated by many vicious beasts at the peak of the Foundational Qi Realm now that they realized it was safe. But Lute was safe, even with his broken wrist, only nascent level beasts could pose a threat to him now.

The most important reason that Lute could act so nonchalant was because he’d been in the Crimson Tide Mountain Range for such a long time, the Foundational Qi beasts had all learned that he was an existence to be avoided. But eventually, they began to follow suit with what the wolf pack leader from before had done, and this was to ignore Lute. It was an unspoken agreement that they wouldn’t cause problems for each other.

It was a nonaggression pact cemented by respect for each other. The beasts were usually able to sense the nature of those they meet or fight. From Lute, he was the first human that they felt any sense of respect for, the air about him simply seemed to command it, much like the beasts that lorded over the mountains. They could easily feel that his thoughts were the same as them, the strong survive and the weak die, eat or be eaten and there were no ulterior motives, he was simply living as he was.

For the beasts on the other hand, Lute’s respect for them stemmed from the fact they were so much simpler than humans, they didn’t have any greed or try to manipulate each other. They had their hierarchy and they respected it, the weak could become strong through their own strength, there was no trickery to gain power. In this way, they were much more likeable and easier to find common ground with compared to humans.

If it came down to it, Lute decided he would rather have a beast as a companion than another cultivator as there wouldn’t be anything hidden in the relationship. It would all be out in the open. This wouldn’t change no matter how strong and intelligent a beast was, they didn’t adhere to deception or anything of the sort as it would be considered a dishonor.

With thoughts such as these, Lute drank water and bathed, not fearing the beasts surrounding him in the slightest.

‘Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to chat with a Vicious Beast capable of speech sometime in the future. As for humans like me, they’ll probably lie and deceive to further their own goals. Truly a repulsive nature… and I am one of them.’

Lute finished bathing, but he didn’t leave the shore side, opting to stare into his reflection and contemplate about what to do next. He was ready to leave the Crimson Tide Mountains even though he wasn’t a peak Foundational Qi Realm cultivator. He’d already completed Isla’s ultimatum for killing a nascent level beast before he left.

‘There are beasts that could surely kill me with a halfhearted attack within the mountains, but I need to leave. The world is vast and I can’t continue to hide here; I won’t be able to advance quick enough if I don’t gain many experiences, both good and bad.’

-----

Fate was an ironic trickster when it came to the lives of people. Even if Lute now had the Laws of Severance, he hadn’t actually cultivated it to completion; he was only at the beginning stages; so he was still quite tightly bound in the palm of the heavens, unable to escape it. He was given the necessary tools to escape; now he just needed to put them to use. But that time wasn’t to come just yet, it seemed fate had other plans.

This would show itself in the presence of Seren who was dripping with blood. Her standard sword had shattered; all she carried was a hilt with a sharp stub.

Her leather tunic and breeches were torn in multiple areas and her cloak had massive slashes sent through it. There was a multiple cut marks made from a small blade, most likely a dagger across her forearms.

The source of all these injuries was as expected from Ley and Halsten, the duo that wasn’t afraid of acting as murderers for hire within the Fallen Tide Hall. She already expected that they were hired to kill her when they were so adamant about traveling with her on this expedition. She had her fair share of sect members who didn’t like her.

She never submitted to anyone else that was a disciple. She had no friends, was unapproachable, had a great figure and was considered a talent in the sect for her age group. She’d ruthlessly turned down men in the sect, even some who were in the Spirit Opening Realm offering her resources for “Favors”.

Even while being on guard versus these two killers, Seren still ended up in such a pitiful state. She had abilities on par with second level Nascent Qi cultivators while being at the first level herself. But both Ley and Halsten were at the third level, with Halsten being nearly half a step into the fourth level.

The moment they entered into the outskirts of the forest in the mountains, she hadn’t let them out of her sight for even a moment. Always making sure they were in front of her. But, a few days after entering deeper and deeper into the mountains, the atmosphere suddenly changed. She had felt the two had set up a trap, but it was only a Foundational Qi beast at the ninth level.

It wasn’t something the three of them couldn’t handle, but as combat began. Ley suddenly disappeared from sight. She was already small, her body a complete dwarf when standing next to her and Halsten.

With Halsten suffering the brunt attacks from the beast, suddenly he retreated towards Seren. She knew something was off, but it was too late. Ley had appeared behind her and slashed at her back, dancing around Seren who was now dealing with a frontward charge from Halsten.

At a disadvantage in cultivation and numbers, it was a miracle she survived that first exchange. But this was the reason she ended up in such a situation. Her long sword had shattered under the brute strength of Halsten as these weren’t weapons that were made for the strength of cultivators. The knife wounds were from Ley.

The only reason she manage to be in the position of fleeing as she was now, more Vicious Beasts had showed up, all of different races. With their eyes on Halsten as he was the most dangerous at the moment, Ley had disappeared to protect him from the shadows, and Seren seemed to be injured. With a scene like this, Halsten was naturally the target of the numerous beasts.

This was the only diversion Seren had, and she took it. While the would-be killers fought, she tried to escape, but to no avail. Instead of leaving the mountains, she had travelled deeper and deeper into uncharted territory that wasn’t mapped out by the sect. For the most part it was unexplored.

Over the past days, she barely ate or slept. The wounds she had although were only moderate at the time were worsening over time from the strain she put on her body.

There were a few close calls though; Ley and Halsten still were pursuing her, not wanting to let their prey escape. To them this was a simply game of hide and seeks, with a gruesome twist. They had almost found her once, but each time they had to be wary of the Vicious Beasts as they could smell the blood seeping from Seren’s wounds. So each time, Seren luckily managed to slip away when the Ley and Halsten stagnated at the sound of beasts.

This was the other worry, she was still being chased by Vicious Beasts as well, the only thought that ran through her mind was ‘Survive, survive, survive.’ In due time, she could return to the sect, gain enough strength on her own, perhaps become an Elder’s direct disciple and exact revenge. But first, she needed to survive.

But this was much easier said than done, with almost no energy left, Seren was lost in the mountains. This was an area where sect disciple didn’t travel to, even if they were in the Nascent Qi Realm as beasts were inherently stronger than human cultivators, and the gaps only increased the further along in cultivation you were.

Luck seemed to have caught up to her today finally; it wasn’t Ley or Halsten, but rather another Vicious Beast. This one was a panther that had been tracking her for days, stalking her. And Seren was truly devoid of any energy left or even Qi. She might’ve won against it in peak condition as it was only peak Foundational Qi Realm cultivation, but in the state her body was in, Seren hadn’t rested or stopped much at all. Her body was all ragged, clearly trying to avoid being caught while sleeping. But her mistake was in the end immature and unwise.

This wasn’t human society, it was the Crimson Tide Mountain Range, and decisions could not and should not ever be made lightly here. She thought it would be smart to waste all her strength in escaping? While in a normal scenario that might be wise when faced with an enemy stronger than yourself and you were trying to evade them, it would be useless in a place where one wrong turn could lead to death.

Seren finally realized this but it was too late. She was about to die to a Vicious Beast at a lower cultivation than herself. What a bullshit way to die. She knew this was bound to happen and yet she still went along with having those two bastards as her “Companions” for the request.

‘I hope I have better luck in my next life.’

Seren slumped down to the ground and waited for her fate, she was so tired and about to pass out. With that action, the panther jumped its fangs and claws aimed at her throat. But contrary to what was supposed to happen, Seren felt no pain, instead she heard a shockwave.

Opening her eyes, Seren thought she was in a dream, the now dead and caved in body of the panther was slammed against a nearby tree. Slightly turning her head towards the sunset, Isla could barely make out a pair of sky blue eyes piercing into her before she finally lost all strength and passed out, not knowing what would happen to her life.