Shiro could feel his frost core absorbing the energy of the heaven and the earth rapidly before it prematurely slowed down. He had successfully made a minor breakthrough and advanced from a high-leveled Noble to only a half-step Noble. He had not expected that he couldn't breached the threshold of a Noble to a Lord even with ample amount of energy he had within him.
He sighed deeply. He knew there was nothing that he could do at the moment. His previous clan of Glacier Mirage Foxes had always performed their advancement in an extreme cold environment. It turned out that the natural environment has a significant influence on spiritual advancement of a frost-attributed spiritual beast. He knew this was his limit for breaking through in a tropical region where the natural frost elements were nearly nonexistent. Additionally, it was widely regarded that a spiritual beast with an Ancient bloodline always had an additional, tougher barrier during breakthroughs.
He pushed away all the unnecessary thoughts within and started to inspect himself. Powers were brimming inside his muscles and bones, underneath all the fluffy white furs. His core's size nearly doubled as the frost-blue circular 'gem' grown to the size of a walnut. He nodded with contentment laced with gratitude to his mistress. So miraculous. A few days with his Mom had earn him a ticket to a minor breakthrough, where previously he had spent more than fifty years to breach a minor bottleneck. Even then, he was considered a genius who cultivated really fast.
A small inconspicuous stubble had appeared on his paw where he had wrenched out his strongest claw for Hana. He smiled knowingly. As what Mom always said, good deeds will always be repaid accordingly. In a normal condition, he would've needed tens or in fact a hundred plus years for his claw to return to its previous glory. But now, it was only a few days later after he gifted his claw for Mom's use. The Heavens really favored him since he attached himself with his mistress.
His eyes narrowed as he felt two unfamiliar hostile auras nearing the region of his brother's breakthrough!
"ARANYE! SHOW YOURSELF NOW!"
A loud soundwave bombarded the cave where his mistress was in. He immediately released a shrill high-pitch howl and canceled out the energy of the soundwave successfully. Although the soundwave was not meant to harm anyone, as it was meant for Ara herself, it was still strong enough to make his mom bleed to death from her seven orifices (1) if not countered!
As usual, oblivious to the near-death experience, Hana excitedly questioned Ara who was hiding behind her back, "Is that your great grandpa?! Wahhhh, so grand! Just like a pink whale!"
Ara nodded, but still too terrified to come out.
"Elders, please refrain from coming closer. My brother is in the middle of his breakthrough. Another step, I will tear the little fish at the back right here, right now." Shiro spoke with a placid expression laced with hostility. The anger from the soundwave attack previously had sparked his anger towards the spiritual beasts in front of him. Although they were stronger than him, he had an effective leverage! Anyone would've recognized the kinship of their new tag-a-long friend-for-benefit to the gigantic pink tilapia fish in front of him. They were practically the same species!
He took a step forward and appeared in front of the outsiders, protecting his brother and the cave behind him. His small figure was a stark contrast with the two gigantic fishes riding on intimidating waves, however, his Ancient-leveled aura was holding up well from the intentional suppression.
"Humph, little outsider, who are you to talk to me like this?! Only the Lightning Serpent boy has the rights to directly speak to me!" Lord Tittua's displeasure was evident as his Spirit-Lord leveled aura rose intimidatingly. Although the young outsider in front of him had a more exalted bloodline than him, this was more about a sovereign of a land talking to another sovereign of the neighboring land. There was no place for the subordinate to interject and become a busybody! The boy's position was naturally beneath his Lordly self! Additionally, he was still a whole level higher in cultivation than the young fellow! The insolent way of speaking was on par to the tyrant snake!
He increased the pressure on the white fox to teach him a lesson. The turbulent waves billowed chaotically before the water had taken pole-like shapes, directed at the white fox, threatened to attack. Elder Watershade was silent as he stood behind his Lord, however his brow was scrunched up slightly. A fleeting of anxiety flashed by his eyes. He realized that they had started out with a wrong foot. If their precious princess was really under the custody of the young snake, the boy and this young outsider might really hurt her!
…
Shiro felt the suppression as his bones creaked, threatening to break to pieces. However, he knew he needed to stand his ground just for the fact that Mom had established a bloodpact with the fish. He knew that the expert in front of him will definitely flew into a rage once he noticed the irreversible brand on his precious kin. Purple blood started to leak from the corner of his mouth as he withstood the assault. His antlers glowed with a white light before the air around him started to freeze at a rapid pace, freezing the billowing gigantic waves in front of him.
"Old fogie! What do you think you are doing to my people?!" A menacing amplified hiss resounded!
As the last bit of shriveled skin fell from Kuro's gigantic body, two large bat-like dark red wings appeared behind his back! Kuro's advancement into a Lord-level ancient beast wasn't just a quantitative change in his prowess, but a qualitative change as well. Additionally, a new cultivation method was also comprehended. It turned out, the key to access that particular cultivation method within his bloodline was surviving the second tempering of the heavenly tribulation lightning! He flew to the side of the white fox to confront with the two fishes while spreading his wings wide, intimidating the two fishes with his hostile aura!
A fight was inevitable!
He knew he could defeat the stream lord now with his brother by his side, especially after breaking through. However, he hadn't factored in the grand elder's presence! To succeed, one or both of them might be direly injured. As long as either of them didn't lose their lives, he was resigned with the outcome. Hence, he needed to be careful to preserve their lives! He knew whoever was left with even a little bit of strength will be able to take good care of their mommy, especially when the two strongest existences in the vicinity was exterminated.
Suddenly, the two boys heard within their heads. [Come on, wrap it up with the greetings! I'm excited to meet Ara's grandpa! Call him in for a cup of tea..eh! We don't have tea. Hmm, I still have some skewers left. Come on, let's chat inside! Don't forget to be polite to the elders, okay.]
They nearly tripped and all the imposing pose were gone all of a sudden.
Both Lord Tittua and Grand Elder Watershade were tensed up and was getting ready to be attacked by the two formidable young fellows but had blanked out when their imposing aura just dissipated into nothingness. They were rearing to go all out just now! Lord Tittua and Grand Elder Watershade were blinking their eyes and they look at each other with a lost expression. What was going on over here? Should they initiate the attack then?
Kuro cleared his throat after showing a helpless look, "My mistress invite you elders in for a snack. Please, this way." He bowed slightly with a servile attitude and flew towards the cave as the white fox slowly followed him along. However, an unmistakable hostile air was still permeating in the surrounding. It was obvious that the two spiritual beasts were having a hard time suppressing their hostility. As Kuro flew along, he slowly reduced his size into a finger-thick little black snake with tiny fluttering red wings.
They were so shocked with the insolent snake sudden 180 degrees change!
[A mistress?!] The two elders were looking at each other with a knowing glance!
Another expert!
It must be someone with a formidable power that it could subdue the snake! Which spiritual beast could it be? So daring!
Hmph, this expert must've taken his great granddaughter as a hostage! If not, how could the little girl appeared on land?
However, what was confusing was their great granddaughter's breakthrough. If she's a hostage, how come she was allowed to increase her prowess? There must be something more to it, as both Lord Tittua and Grand Elder Watershade contemplated silently.
...