The den was unassuming, just a simple cave at the bottom of a gorge, where a river flowed through with a gentle murmur. Jiang Tao stood at the edge of the ravine, overlooking the entrance to the lion pack's lair. If not for scattered bones at the mouth of the cave he might have overlooked it entirely.

He had been scouting it out for days, observing the habits of the creatures and thinking of the best way to go about getting what he wanted.

The aura they exuded as well but, his senses for qi weren't the best and he knew not to rely on them at long range. He still felt doubtful of his plan, if it went wrong he'd be eviscerated.

The odds of taking four lions down didn't look good, which is why he needed to lure one away from the rest, vastly better odds in that regard.

He gripped tightly onto the carcass of the wolf he had slain earlier. Its bloodied fur and scent would surely attract the attention of the mountain lions.

He took a breath holding it in for four counts then releasing it for four counts and repeated the actions, trying to expel all nervousness from his body. Box breathing, a useful technique he’d learned in his first life. It was strangely more effective in this one.

The plan he had come up with was halfbaked but it was leagues better than anything else that had crossed his mind. The setup had been especially tedious but it was now time to execute.

This would require ridiculous amounts of calm, he would need to work like a well-oiled machine to execute this.

"Holy hell. Let's do this," he muttered quietly to himself, summoning the courage and resolve required for the next steps.

He slung the wolf carcass over his shoulder and approached the edge, It was a steep drop to the bottom, one that would injure if not kill the average man.

With a nonchalance that belied the nerves he felt, he stepped off the cliff and into the gorge below. The steep walls of the ravine blurred past and his robes fluttered violently as he controlled his descent, weaving a cushion of air beneath him.

The river's murmur grew louder as he landed softly on the rocky ground, mindful not to make unnecessary noise that could alert the lions prematurely.

The cave entrance lay just a few ahead and each step closer to it felt like a step closer to death but he remained composed, his mind clear and focused on the task at hand.

He gently placed the carcass a few meters from the mouth of the cave. He took a few steps back before running forward and leaping over the cave, positioning himself directly across the carcass.

Jiang Tao crouched low, blending with the shadows cast by the ravine walls, his senses attuned to any movement or sound from within the cave.

Minutes passed like hours as he waited, every second stretching taut with tension. The wind whispered through the gorge, carrying the scent of blood. Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from within, followed by a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the rocky walls.

The first lion emerged, it was massive. Bigger than he expected. Its fur was a stunning golden brown sleek and powerful with muscles rippling beneath its coat as it approached the offering with wary curiosity.

He could imagine how popular a creature like that would be with hunters back on earth and the fur alone would see it become a fashion staple.

He watched with bated breath as the lion cautiously approached the carcass. Its golden eyes glinted in the dim light filtering through the gorge, fixated on the bloody feast before it.

The lion edged closer, its powerful body moving with a grace that belied its size. It sniffed the air, testing for any signs of danger, before lowering its head to tear into the wolf carcass. Its sharp claws and teeth made short work of the meat, tearing and gnawing with primal efficiency.

Spurred on by the first lion, two more exited the cave, joining their fellow in its feast.

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As the last lion emerged, that's when he moved. With practiced precision, he shot a pulse of air, at the creature hitting its snout. The reaction was immediate and its yellow eyes locked in on him savagely.

Now or never

Adrenaline pulsed in his veins as he turned tail and started running, heart pounding in his chest as he sprinted along the rocky terrain. The sound of paws hitting the ground, let him know it was in pursuit.

Perfect.

Once a decent distance away from the rest of the beasts, he leapt boosting himself up to a ledge. He swiftly raced up the ravine walls, his heart pounding against his ribs as he leaped from one ledge to another. Unleashing a final burst for air to propel himself upward, he landed on the grassy edge of the gorge.

The beast not eager to lose him quickly bounded up the steep ravine walls, claws somehow finding purchase on the near vertical incline.

Tao wasted no time diving into the forest, not waiting to see if the creature was behind him. He didn't need to because the sound of growling quickly reached him.

His nerves bled away as it gave chase. The tough part was done, now all that was left to do was lead it to the trap. The trap in question was a massive towering tree gnarled and ancient with a wide trunk.

As he sprinted through the underbrush, the growls behind him grew louder, indicating the lion was gaining ground. He zigzagged through the forest, his movements swift and calculated, running towards the mammoth of a tree.

He reached the base of the tree and swiftly ascended its rough bark, using the natural handholds and footholds. The lion followed, leaping at the trunk with a thunderous growl, its claws digging into the ancient wood.

He kept his steps light as he climbed higher moving with ease. The creature not to be outdone bounded after him.

With a ballsy smile on his face, he leaped down on the opposite side. He landed on the forest floor with a satisfying thump.

Now!

With a grunt of exertion, he pushed against the tree, putting all of the superhuman strength cultivation had granted him into it. The tree which he had weakened in the previous days tipped backward with the lion still clinging to its trunk.

A rumbling crash echoed through the forest as the massive tree toppled, its ancient roots tearing from the ground.

The creature roared in surprise and fury as it fell with the tree, trapped beneath its immense weight. He quickly leaped aside, narrowly avoiding being caught in the fall.

As the dust settled, he cautiously approached the fallen tree. The lion lay trapped beneath its massive trunk, dazed and disoriented from the impact.

Tao let out a sigh of relief. "Got you,"

He retrieved his ornamental dagger crafted from refined spirit steel from its place at his waist and approached the trapped lion cautiously.

With a swift and precise motion, he drove the dagger into the soft flesh beneath the lion's jaw, aiming for a quick and humane end to its suffering.

The lion let out a final, pained growl that echoed through the silent forest. Its powerful body twitched once, then lay still, the light fading from its eyes. Jiang Tao withdrew the dagger, wiping it clean on a patch of grass before sheathing it at his waist.

He took a moment to catch his breath, the rush of the chase and the confrontation now subsiding. His hands trembled slightly from the intensity of the encounter, but he felt a surge of satisfaction.

The plan had worked! He successfully killed a foundation level beast.

Now to get what he came for. Working swiftly he efficiently decapitated the creature, hoisting the severed head onto his shoulder.

It was overkill for a tuft of fur. Eh? Best to have options. He mused.

“Now to head back” He muttered, already charting a course back to Master Yao's pavilion.

The commotion of the trees felling would likely alert the other lions and he wasn't keen to stick around, to see how they would act in response to his killing of their pride mate? Den mate? Whatever the terminology, it was time for him to split.

With a cautious glance of his shoulder, he started his trek back east moving swiftly through the forest.

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Eventually, after a day of cautious travel, he caught sight of the stone pavilion ahead. Standing sentinel in the clearing.

Relief flooded his body at the sight and he gradually slowed his pace. Reaching the clearing, he spotted Master Yao, calmly meditating in the pavilion. Likely already aware of his return.

He placed the lion's severed head on the grass next to him before bowing low.

“Disciple greets master,”

Master Yao's eyes slowly opened, a flicker of approval passing through them as he observed the scene, his eyes lingering on the severed spirit beast's head.

The Elder cultivator remained silent for a moment.

“You return sooner than expected, it appears this old man's disciple is not only resourceful but also efficient,” Master Yao remarked.

“Tell me, how did you manage to slay this creature?"

Jiang Tao straightened from his bow, meeting Master Yao's gaze with pride and humility.

"I managed to lure one away and trap it, Master."

Yao Xiang's gaze remained fixed on the lion's head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Resourcefulness is a trait that will serve you well in your path as a formation user,”

Finally giving him a look over Master Yao's expression softened slightly. "Take the fur you need for the brush, then rest and cultivate, we continue tomorrow,”

Jiang Tao gave another low bow. “As master instructs,”

“Tomorrow you head to a bamboo grove north of here,” Master Yao said.