The Bloodfang tiger didn't immediately attack, it thought they regrouped because they had a trump card that could defeat its new rise in strength –seeing as they completely ignored it. But in truth, the group was on alert, in case it attacked.
Saying their final goodbyes, they turned to face the beast with a face of endless determination. There was no trace of the tears or sorrow of a few seconds ago, as if it was never there. Hua Ya took a step forward, and the skies darkened –black clouds gathered overhead, it seemed like a storm out of thin air.
Hua Zhenlan was a little surprised, but became saddened after a moment of realization. Creating a rainstorm could be done by a sovereign or higher –which her daughter was obviously not. It could only mean; she was burning her life force. Again burning up life force was not something someone of her realm was supposed to be able to do, but there was an Earth grade technique for that purpose –although it was inferior to the actual skill. Everyone was under her rainstorm and Chi Jung's fire was not extinguishing, he was definitely doing the same.
"Why are you burning your life force? Now you still have a chance at being saved. But if you deplete too much life force, there would be no saving you." Hua Zhenlan shouted anxiously.
Chi Jung just smiled wearily and said." It has gone into full rampage. If we don't go all out, we'll be torn to shreds in seconds. Presently it is a little bit intimidated by the strength we've shown, so it is being careful. But if it sees that we are bluffing, it would not hesitate to devour us and the work we've done will be for nothing."
'Moreover, there is no one coming to save us.' He added to himself. They had strayed too far away from the path, and the chance of someone stumbling up on them was almost zero. He had just accepted fate and prayed to the Heavens that Chi Xianyan will be fine.
"Still, this technique burns more life force for less power. Why do you think people don't use it." Hua Zhenlan said.
Ignoring Hua Zhenlan, Chi Jung and Hua Ya moved at the same time, the ground caving below their feet as they shot forward. Hua Ya's sword elongated with edgy ice as she thrust it towards the eye of the beast, forcing it to step back.
The Bloodfang tiger could sense that they were stronger and it just couldn't understand how. With their increase in strength, if the third human joined, they had a chance of winning. But not without losses, they would all be heavily injured and someone might die. An injured person in the middle of a forest was sitting ducks for demonic beasts.
Chi Jung attacked, bare handed, throwing a flaming fist towards the snot of the beast. Once again, it was being overwhelmed. Hua Ya sword came crashing down, whistling as it cut through the air, aiming for an unprotected side of the face. But the ground moved at the last second, an earth pillar shot up, launching her into the sky.
Pillars started shooting up from the ground, forcing Chi Jung to make multiple turns and dodges as he ran. As he closed in, a block of earth flew towards him. Punching through it, he was met with a swinging tail.
"Nice try, but this is not going to work again." He sneered, as he slid under the tail, delivering a punch towards the unscaled and unprotected underbelly of the tiger.
Though, a Monarch's hide was not something a King can pierce through without a weapon – no matter how overpowered. This was the first time it actually whined in pain during the entire battle, even the shoulder injury it suffered did not make it feel as much pain. It tried to stump Chi Jung, who had to roll a few times to avoid his bones being crushed by those gigantic paws.
When he rose, it looked like he had aged considerably, wrinkles and little grey strands of hair on his still-handsome face. Looking at his wrinkled hands, he knew they did not have much time. He ran to attack again, but more earth walls and pillars just kept appearing – he just ran through them. Due to the rain, the Bloodfang tiger control on the muddy earth had become sloppy, reducing the sturdiness of the erected walls and pillars.
As they were about to clash again, they heard a voice at the side "I'm ready" Hua Zhenlan shouted, as she took the pill Chi Jung had given her. Her entire body was glowing brightly.
The Bloodfang tiger sensed that something was about to happen and it wouldn't like it. Ignoring Chi Jung completely, he launched towards Hua Zhenlan. But Chi Jung was there to stop it, holding his tail. Though he was able to reduce his speed, he did not have the strength to completely make it halt. Even the speed reduction was only momentary before it continued running at almost full speed, dragging him along.
All of a sudden, Hua Ya appeared out of nowhere and landed on the back of the Bloodfang tiger, her now completely grey hair flaring with the wind and the little blemish on her skin did nothing to taint her beauty. Driving her sword into the back of the tiger, she released every ounce of ice Qi she could muster into the body of the beast through the sword, visibly aging more. The Bloodfang tiger almost fell unconscious due to the pain, he felt like there were a thousand ice needles embedded into his bones but a thousand times more painful. It frantically tried to shake her off,it succeeded in throwing her to the side towards a tree with thick branches, a branch drove through her shoulder –impaling her, blood soaking her robe. Though it was a heavy injury, it was not enough to kill a King... Even an old one.
Hua Ya looked to the side and showed a sad smile at Hua Zhenlan, who was becoming a giant glowing soul sphere of light as she completely activated the movement technique [LAW OF VOID: FIRST FORM – SOUL ABLAZE].
Even in this form, she could still see everything. She looked back one last time to see if she could stop this madness, but she saw that even with all the injuries the Bloodfang tiger had accumulated, she was not sure she could beat it in single combat. Moreover the prickly feeling from Hua Ya's last internal ice attack had made it descend into full madness, if it was going down – it would try to bring everyone else with it. With Chi Xianyan in her arms she looked at Hua Ya and Chi Jung one last time before streaking through the forest like a shooting star, as she could no longer stay. Maintaining the technique in a stationary position was bad and consumed too much energy, it was a movement technique after all.
As she sped through the forest, she caught sight of a figure a few kilometers away which she thought was familiar, she tried to put it at the back of her mind and focus on getting out. Then she suddenly remembered who he was –Chi Jung's cousin, Chi Feng, she had only seen him a few times when she went to Juyang city.
At first she wondered what he was doing here, until it clicked – she finally understood why that expert killed the Bloodfang tiger's mate and left, he was commissioned by Chi Feng…. or his father. She never really liked Chi Feng's father, he always looked like he was plotting something sinister. Moreover, Chi Feng doesn't not have the brain to pull off something like. Now, she could not even return to the Chi Family, except if she wanted to die.
Getting to the edge of the forest, she laid on the ground, panting. Even with the pill Chi Jung gave her, her life force was heavily consumed, though she managed to survive. She could feel her cultivation regressing and all her meridian damaged, she quickly took a few recovery pills and rested for a few minutes. She saw that her cultivation had regressed to the late stage of heavenly origin and it would be harder to increase it than it was before, she did not expect the backlash to be this severe.
She left the forest with Chi Xianyan, she looked for the nearest village or kingdom to rest and recuperate.
Chi Feng saw the sphere of light, but since he did not know about the movement technique, he thought it was a misdirected attack. He could not physically watch the fight or spread his divine senses, because if he got too close, they would be able to detect him. So he just had to listen to the noise and shockwaves to know they were still fighting, which was now dying down.
Personally, he did not expect them to last this long. He thought they would quickly be torn to shred. 'I guess an expert from the upper realm can not be underestimated.' he thought as he was initially against the idea of using the Bloodfang tiger, thinking they were giving them too much credit and they had to pay a lot to the expert to kill the Bloodfang tiger' mate.
The only one who could fight the bloodfang tiger is Hua Zhenlan –the rest would just be cannon folders. At the level they were, fighting someone one stage above was an incredible feat, he could never imagine Chi Jung and Hua Ya fighting the Monarch beast. Because an Initial stage King fighting a Peak stage King is easier than a Peak King crossing a major realm to fight an Initial stage Monarch.
After the fight settled down, he didn't immediately go for fear that the Bloodfang tiger was still there. Even the injured Bloodfang tiger would still kill him – who was still a Lord – with one strike. He waited until the threatening aura was distant, before going to take a look from afar. He saw many beasts scavenging, different body parts scattered on the ground, internal organs spiralled everywhere. Even organs of animals who had fought each other for pieces of the loot. He recognized Chi Jung's face in the pile, though wrinkled he also saw an animal, dragging away Hua Ya's head. Though he did not see Hua Zhenlan and Chi Xianyan faces, from the multitude of parts he thought theirs would be there, just that their heads had been taken away.
He was a little sad that Hua Ya had to die, he was utterly mesmerized by her beauty. He would have taken her as his wife if she was willing, but she just had to die with his stupid cousin.
After the Inspection, he went back to the family house to report his findings to his father. He confirmed they were all dead, but mentioned nothing of the glowing ball of light.
–––
After narrowly escaping death with Chi Xianyan, Hua Zhenlan did not have time to plot revenge against the Chi family. Because she had to prepare for her brother's arrival, which eventually came.