Boom!
Everyone suddenly became very alert and started assessing the explosion that occurred within the ancient tree.
"What happened?" Yu Ling questioned.
"I'm not sure, be quiet for now" Yu Qingsu warned.
Suddenly a great ape came into view from the opening of the tree dyed with blood all over its body while staring straight at them with its menacing eyes. Within its hands it held a head.
"The elder is dead and this ape has discovered us. we must leave now!" Lan Lei yelled as he began running in one direction. The others followed his direction including the giant ape. The leaves of the trees rustled, everyone could hear their heartbeat pounding and the stomping of the great ape shook the floor constantly. As the image of the path in front slowly came into view, everyone's faces went pale. A great ravine was stopping their path.
"It's coming!" Yu Ling screamed scared for her life as she looked back at the ape.
"Follow me" Zhou Xinqiu started to create a path into the sky using soul imprints over the abyss in front of them. Gracefully, she leapt onto the bronze colored imprints like a goddess stepping on lotuses. Huo Mingliang looked at the imprints with an interested expression as he jumped to and from each imprint to the next. Eventually all of them reached the other side of the ravine except Yu Ling. Yu Ling anxiously moved her foot to step onto the final step where she made a mistake and stepped onto thin air instead.
"mm" Zhou Xinqiu spun around while her dress twirled around like a whip. She opened her hand into a palm and pushed it out towards a place below Yu Ling. However, just as this happened. The great ape took a step and pushed off off the ground towards the platform that Yu Ling had landed on. Zhou Xinqiu closed her eyes when she saw the situation and a burning sensation formed within her core before it exploded outward and radiated out in every direction. This small attack surprised the ape just enough for Zhou Xinqiu to reach Yu Ling, grab her arm, and swiftly put pressure onto her legs which simultaneously pushed her upwards and caused the platform to shatter.
GROWL
Zhou Xinqiu safely reached the other side with Yu Ling while the ape…. Well… it went to explore the bottom of the abyss…
"You learned a movement technique?" Lan Lei questioned and raised his eyebrow.
"Not completely, just the basics" Zhou Xinqiu smiled and continued forward.
"Do we have a plan? Passing this ravine means we entered the deepest part of the forest. Although we probably wont see another creature on that ape's level, we will probably see a lot that we can't handle especially without the elder!" Yu Qingsu began to panic.
"Let's first find a place to rest before we discuss any further action lest we make some irrational decisions." Huo Mingliang spoke out.
The group set up camp in a cave which was situated on the outer circle of the deepest part of the forest after making sure no beasts dwelled in the cave. As the sun began to set, Lan Lei went out and brought back fish for everyone by himself and Huo Mingliang used his way of fire to cook the delicious food that everyone devoured while admiring the view of the sunset.
In one corner of the cave, Zhou Xinqiu sat and carved the images of the Five Demonic Revolution Techniques onto the wall.
"White tiger of the west"
"Xuanwu of the north"
"Azure dragon of the east"
"Vermillion bird of the south"
"Hmm, If you interpret it in one way, these four separate techniques could be part of a four sided hex.. and in the middle? The Golden dragon" Zhou Xinqiu pondered as she looked at the drawings on the wall.
"That is all well and good however the true question is how does one practice either of these techniques. Haha, even if you find out the hex end point of the technique, if you can't practice each one individually you wont be able to crack the puzzle. You've done all that you can do, when it's time it will naturally come to you." Qin Gong reminded her before going silent again.
—-
In the blissfulness of the night, within the depths of the forest a great storm was beginning to broil, or rather, the storm was the beginning of the creation of what some would call a genius while some would call a demon!
"Xinqiu!" Yu Qingsu screamed at the top of her lungs, shocking Zhou Xinqiu and the others awake.
"Ah? What's wrong?"
"L- Ling'er she's gone" Yu Qingsu held up a few strands of white fur that were left on the ground and pointed at the scratch mark on the wall.
"White Tiger?" Zhou Xinqiu wondered in worry.
"No, it's impossible that a white tiger would exist in a little forest like this. It's more likely that it is of some impure descent of a white tiger like a white panther or a white mountain lion." Qin Gong spoke within her mind.
Zhou Xinqiu stood up and walked toward the entrance of the cave. In the distance, just as they had expected laid Yu Ling sleeping soundly on a rock while a white panther circled around her. "It seems to be as strong if not stronger than that great ape. We can't just leave her there of course. So, If we work together, although the chance is low we might be able to succeed." She smiled and looked back at the others, "Also, I have an idea" she said as she stepped out of the cave and swiftly appeared behind a tree waving at the others to follow.
"Alright, just like any simple hex or seal, the outer circle of the hex will be as strong the next layer which will be as strong as the layer after that. Huo Mingliang and Yu Qingsu stand on the north and south sides respectively while Lan Lei and I will stand on the west and east side. Use not the strongest but most potent elemental ability you have and we should be able to amplify its effects" Zhou Xinqiu planned and gave each of them orders.
The panther began to growl and stare at them in caution as they took their spots.
"ROAR" The panther let out a loud roar before Xinqiu also yelled, "Now!"
'Whoosh' a blazing heat erupted from Huo mingliang onto the panther from the north while a frost bitten storm approached it from the south. Lightning crackled down from the western side and a dark flame that sucked all light in jumped onto the panther from the east.
The panther felt the attacks but unfortunately shook it off while anger began to flash in his pupils.
"It's not enough" Huo Mingliang glanced in a bit of worry of the situation.
The panther's feet leapt from one to another touching each blade of grass on the ground individually while soaring into the sky and slowly blending into the air. It was moving not extremely quickly but rather more like an ethereal being who could not be seen by the mortal eye.
Zhou Xinqiu's eyes contracted and rolled back as she saw the panther's stride. A white four sided diagram appeared on her forehead with the western side of the diagram shining abnormally bright. She lifted one foot and placed it in front of the other before the other followed just like before above the ravine, However this time no trail was left behind. She spun around pivoting her feet around each other in a graceful manner and blended into thin air. Raising her palm she knocked it straight at the white panther's chest!
This was it! The first of the five demonic revolutions! The Corporeal Stride of the White Tiger!