Chapter 3 – Proofread by FireFistasce
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Dracon was a grand mountain range that fetched thousands of meters from each side and looked like a gigantic dragon sleeping on its belly. On the tail was where the sect’s headquarters was located and on the body lay the famous Stoneridge woodlands. These woodlands were used as training areas for sect disciples and contained magical herbs and ruthless elemental beasts to serve as both allure and posing danger.
In a deep valley, far into the woodlands, there was an unremarkable little grove. A small waterfall with fresh water let out flushing sounds as it made contact with protruding rocks, and was accompanied by the chattering of birds and the morning songs of other critters who showed their enjoyment of rising up early. The sun floated proudly in the sky and made sure that cultivators who roamed the woodlands would keep their suntan all year around.
Suddenly, the animals in the groove who often wouldn’t live more than a day because of element beasts’ gluttonous stomachs were startled awake. They chirped, gawked and grunted– depending on species– and all surged to the little middle of the little groove.
“Have you missed me that much?” A white-clothed cultivator said in an unknown language as small animals of different species tried to catch his attention. Some stroke their bodies against him and others purred like cats. “Well, I can’t hold it against you. I’ve missed you too.”
He got seated on a boulder and proceeded with handing out food from his leather bag. The small animals, who often became food for strong elemental beasts, received what the white-clothed cultivator gave them with joy. It was all because of this white-robed cultivator that they were able to live up to this day.
“I have to go see Old Tiger as well,” he muttered while watching the animals devour the food.
The white-clothed cultivator was none other than Michael, the current number one disciple in the Soaring Cloud sect. He was far above his own age in terms of both strength, temperament and understanding of aura, which was the force refined from each person’s life energy. While his body wasn't refined like others, quenched in the blood of elemental beasts, Michael’s body was just as powerful as theirs, or he wouldn’t be able to rank as first.
“Father, how are you? Is that old wound still giving you pain?”
Michael stood in front of a small cave not far from the groove and looked at an old tiger the size of two bears. The old tiger was celestial white and almost a bit translucent. Its fur was like snow and had black stripes all over. Its claws were golden and seemed sharper than any sword the young man had ever seen. However, on the white tiger's belly, a faded scar went from its lower body to its upper body. It was a fearsome scar, and what was even scarier was thinking about how the tiger had been wounded to such an extent and still survived.
“Little Michael, why are you calling me father again? You know I'm not your real father!” the tiger replied, its hoarse voice echoing in the cave. The old tiger was a powerful elemental beast, at least what it had told Michael, but had been wounded from a battle with its mortal enemy a couple of years back.
Elemental beasts were animals with an affinity for the seven elements, therefore given the opportunity, like cultivators, to produce aura and gain further power as they cultivated their life energy. The tiger was light-attributed like Michael and also the one who had taught him the human tongue as well as giving him several of its techniques to learn.
“You are my father and will forever be. Now stop nagging and eat what your son brought you.” Michael reprimanded.
“Fine, fine, whatever you say.” the old tiger said with a laugh. It dug in and ate the vegetables with great hunger. “Humph, what filial son forces his father to be a vegetarian…”
“Father, I finally made a cultivator in my sect leave the killing path. This person is the second-ranked disciple in the clan and is very strong! I feel like this is a good start!” Michael told the old tiger who peered up from its eating.
“That's good. I'm happy for you. He must be quite a fighter to gain your respect.” the tiger agreed.
“Hehe, yeah, but it was just a scratch.”
“A scratch? He injured you?” the tiger's smile disappeared. “Let me see the wound!”
“Stop it, I'm not a kind anymore!”
“Show me!” the tiger ordered.
“Fine!” Michael pulled up his robe and revealed a defined six-pack. He stuck out his tongue — here was not even a scar left.
“Good, good.” the tiger said, calming down. “I see your cultivation base has increased. How do you feel?”
“Very good!” Michael replied, his face beaming with joy and excitement. “I've finally learned that technique you gave me last year. I haven't tried it out yet but I feel that its power is far above any technique I have.”
“Of course, that's my strongest attacking technique.” the white tiger said proudly. “Anyway, since you succeeded learning that technique of mine, it's time for me to give you the last technique I have that you haven't learned. It's a technique originally made for my kin, but I modified it for your use. This new model is a bit worse than the original but It's undoubtedly top class in your so called martial world.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The old tiger rose from its lying position and put its claw on Michael's forehead. A bright light appeared around the claw and Michael felt information about the technique surge into his mind. He gasped and looked at the old tiger with wide eyes. “This technique...”
“Yes, it's really powerful.” the tiger nodded.
“I've never heard of such a technique,” Michael admitted. “How did you get it?”
“Hereditary memories.” the tiger said. “You remember what I taught you? Hereditary memories are passed down from elemental beasts to elemental beasts. This is a technique reclusive to my kin and is our most prized possession. I wanted to wait a bit longer before giving it to you, but I feel that my breath is growing weaker as the days pass. I fear that I won't last past today"
“N-not longer than today!!?” Michael burst out.
“So it's so soon...” Michael felt empty inside when he heard that his father was going to die. He knew it beforehand, that the days of Old Tiger was numbered, but he didn't want to accept the fact.
“Stay with me until...” the tiger showed a faint smile. “I want to have my son here by my side as I pass over.”
Michael nodded There was no way he wouldn't stay by his father's side in this situation.
“I remember when I found you.” The old Tiger said, reminiscing back. “You lay on the grass in a groove, soundly sleeping as if you were free from worries. Elemental beasts were all around you, yet didn't dare to approach. Even as a child, the life-energy in your body was boundless. It was so pure that even I was awed. I brought you to the cave where I resided and tried to feed you with meat from strong magical beasts. You blatantly refused, so I had no choice but go and pick nuts and berries like critters do! Can you believe that?!”
The tiger laughed wholeheartedly “You never screamed as a child like human children is said to do! I was terrified and thought that maybe something was wrong with you. As you became older, I taught you the tongue of beasts, and you picked it up quicker than I thought. Afterwards, I felt that a human who doesn't know how to speak the human tongue will be made fun of, so I taught you that as well.”
Morning slowly became afternoon as Michael spent his time by the old tiger's side. The old tiger kept talking for the whole time, telling Michael about his childhood and how proud he was of his achievements. Michael felt the time drawing near for his father.
All living comes to an end sooner or later had the old tiger told him a few years back. Time is both the kindest and cruelest thing in the world; it grants life but also takes it away just as quick. No one can escape it, not even the most powerful aura users. Even the old tiger, who could once split mountains and shake seas, would now succumb to its ebbs.
“Son, I hope you can succeed with that dream of yours, to create a world where no killing exists.” the tiger said, drawing its last breath and looking at Michael with eyes filled with love. “I know this is a lot to ask of you, but I want you to use my body–”
“No!” Michael said. He refused to use his father's body to increase his own power. “I can't...”
“I know. I was just teasing with you.” the tiger laughed. “But there is something I want you to help me with.”
“Anything.”
“Take my lifeblood and inject it into your bloodstream.” the tiger said. “The process is quick and will allow me to watch over you from the beast heaven. Only then can I pass onward peacefully. Alright?”
“No, that’s not any different!”
“Please.” the tiger begged. “Do me this last favor, okay?
In the end, Michael slowly nodded. He grabbed the sword from his side and cut open his hand. It was painful but far less than the pain he experienced psychologically at the moment.
“That's my boy. Now make a cut on my paw.”
The young man gently sliced the old tiger's paw by covering his sword in his aura. Only with his aura could he pierce through the fur. A mere true steel sword would never be able to do so without the use of a user's aura, and even then, the aura had to be strong enough. Michael's aura was barely enough, and that was when the old Tiger didn't use his aura to protect his body.
“Put your hand on my paw and let our bloodstreams unite under our combined aura.”
The young man reluctantly put his hand against the old tiger's paw. Its fur was soft. As the blood of elemental beast and the blood of human met, the old tiger's aura was gentle and majestic as it enveloped his. The old tiger grunted as it forced its blood essences, the source of its life and aura over to Michael and into his bloodstream.
Normally, a human wouldn't even be able to come in touch with an elemental beast's blood essence. Only when an elemental beast gave it on its own accord would a human be able to receive it. Not only was it an accumulation of the aura inside its body to a great extent, it was also a token of respect and love for the human. In the martial world, where elemental beasts were seen as grinding stones for cultivators' bodies, the cases of this happening were far in between, almost nonexistent.
“The world is far bigger than you think, son. Even I haven't explored it all.” The tiger said, its life slowly fading after giving away its blood essence. “If you truly want to change the world, you need more than just power. You need to guide the people, and show them the right path. I know you can do it, ever since you were small the forest and the world have loved you. I can now leave knowing that my life wasn't spent in vain — because I had you. Goodbye, my son.”
The tiger drew its last breaths as night approached. Michael sat silent for a long time before breaking out in cries. The forest creatures, who had been protected by him and the presence of the white tiger, hurried to his side as he wept.