All across Gaia opportunities can be found, for those strong enough to attain them.

The immortals, who refine the chi of heaven and earth to empower their bodies and spirits, reign supreme in harvesting Gaia's bounty. But, most of these cultivators only pick the lowest-hanging fruit the world has to offer.

The immortal' sects cannibalize themselves, harvesting the soul stones of their fallen enemies and kin.

The soul stone, the physical manifestation of a cultivator's energetic core, retains a lifetime's worth of condensed chi. And, can be refined by another to saturate the harvester's own soul stone.

Additional uses can include applications toward crafting professions such as enchanting. Indeed there are many uses for another's soul.

Many of the conflicts between cultivators can be said to stem from the coveting of another's coalesced life force. And, this tragedy persists throughout the immortal world regardless of era.

Not all cultivators are human, though.

Spiritual beasts exist throughout the wilds of Gaia. And, are as diverse as the humans who dominate most of the lands.

In their voracious appetites, humanity, both mortal and immortal, has conquered most of the known world.

Land for farming, for cities, and the simple act of ownership has led to a silent war between man and beast. And, man has won. But, not everywhere.

The Jungle of Blooming Paradise, as its natives call it, is such a place where humanity still retains its prey status.

Mortals and immortals alike come to the jungle for want of opportunity. But, the act is often foolhardy.

Spirit beasts mingle with mortal animals and can grow an appetite for human flesh.

As with every ecosystem, save that of man's dominance, a balance can be found. The powerful and, dreadfully, intelligent spirit beasts do not hunt humanity to annihilation and the immortals that seek to harvest the soul stones of spirit beasts keep the lesser animals under control.

Thus communities and tribes flourish in the plenty of the Jungle of Blooming Paradise.

Not everyone is content though.

"Boss, the immortals' sects are demanding we boost our harvests."

A large man, with no neck and a bald head, cracks his knuckles as he seethes.

"I already know that, asshole."

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The more diminutive, yet still brutish, attendant is not intimidated by his superior's attitude.

"We can't afford to have them decide to come down here-"

"I said, I know. Dammit!"

The boss slams his fist down on the table, spreading splinters around the room.

The attendant cocks his head to the side.

With a sigh, the man says, "Sir, that's the third one this week."

Sulking, the no-neck immortal says, "Shut up. It's just a table."

Continuing, he says, "We just need to expand into the glades."

For a moment, the giant's attendant is silent.

"I'm not sure that's wise."

"I know it's not wise, asshole. But, we have no other choice."

The Kubo Outfit operated in the Northern quadrant of the Jungle of Blooming Paradise. And, as such, had a lucrative placement in the trade routes that exported a wide array of resources out of the jungle and North to the regions dominated by the immortals' sects. But, with that prime location came many challengers. And, some of those challengers could only be held off by appeasement.

"The beast lords will not take the intrusion passively."

The giant shrugged, "We'll just take their soul stones aswell. Besides, I expect their meat will be quite tasty."

The attendant nodded, "I'll see to the arrangements. You'll have to come out yourself."

The giant, Kubo, who ran the outfit licked his lips, "Just means I don't have to wait for a taste."

Kubo's attendant turned and attended to his business, leaving the giant to think.

"Pah," he spat after a time. "I can't stand all this sitting. I need to kill something."

No one minded their brutish boss departing the headquarters.

The outfit operated in the lush jungle. And, while its operations were industrial, the wilds were just beyond their camp.

Kubo walked casually along the trails that his people used constantly.

All the beasts for miles were dead and harvested. But, just a dozen or so miles out, the trails thinned and one had to be careful.

In the Jungle of Blooming Paradise, few animals qualified as prey animals. Not all were carnivorous or cultivators. But, the ones that were were plentiful.

As a lower immortal of some years, Kubo had almost saturated his soul stone. Almost healed the last of the cracks. Unfortunately, for him, his comprehension of his dao was inadequate and he couldn't bring unity to his soul.

The cultivation pills he'd bought, at great expense, failed to breach the gap and the many soul stones he'd refined only complicated his dao further.

Frustration had long given way to reluctant acceptance. He wasn't going to ascend.

But, that acceptance of his place in the order of things had created a ruthless businessman.

While other immortals concerned themselves with meditating, Kubo was out there making money.

He'd found a new dao. The way of profit.

As the giant cast his senses into the jungle, he felt it. Prey.

But, in the jungle, the lines blurred. It sensed him too.

Unconcerned, Kubo walked on.

The beast slinked forward to meet him, and a mutual understanding formed between the two cultivators. One would be dinner for the other.

The no-necked brute cracked his knuckles and watched a black cat, the size of a bear, come out from the foliage.

The white of Kubo's teeth gleamed as he smiled savagely. And, it almost looked like the feline monstrosity shared its own expectant smile.

In a moment, the pair of monsters lunged forward, chi-enriched fist meeting chi-empowered claw.

There were no chi bombs or refined ki techniques. Just brutish strength and voracious hunger.

The flesh of Kubo's body ripped and tore. But, miraculous healing saw the wounds recover in minutes. And, as the fight persisted, one monster fell to blood and ruin.

The smile hadn't left Kubo's face until he looked down on the dead spirit beast.

A sigh escaped him. The fights always ended too soon.

With thoughts of supper on his mind, Kubo lifted the behemoth and began the march back to camp.

The cat's soul stone would just be one more to sell to the greedy bastards up North.