The Beast Forest on the border of the central continent was the gateway to the eastern continent, and it constituted a natural barrier, hindering large migrations between the continents. The access routes through the dense forest were controlled by minor nobles, who, through their merchant companies, monitored all activity in and out of the continent.
In the heart of the forest, in the cave of what had been one of the most powerful beings in the region, a man with deep silver eyes sat, contemplating his superficial wounds. Fighting the six-legged tiger was more complicated than fighting the Fire Master Elyahu. Every beast naturally controlled the elements and had reserves of fons that humans could only dream of having.
"I thought it would be simpler, but this battle cost me a lot of fons! Beasts really are on another level compared to humans."
Lamenting, Khaled used legendary scrolls to close his superficial wounds. Humans, even cultivators, had difficulty absorbing fons from the environment and transforming it into their own strength and power. The most efficient way for a human to replenish their reserves was to use fruits and beast meat rich in fons so that the body could metabolize and transform it into elemental energy. The process was relatively slow compared to other species and inefficient in terms of the amount of energy that could be obtained.
However, the ingenuity of human beings should never be underestimated. Even at the beginning of the cultivation history, humans created artificial methods to accelerate this process with scrolls made from beast leather. A special ink, the product of the blood of animals rich in fons and juice of fruits with anticoagulant properties, was used to make inscriptions that acted as fons batteries, allowing the scrolls to be used both to replenish energy, thus accelerating recovery and the wound healing process, and for combat.
The scrolls were known as legendary, being valuable material, whether in the mortal world or in the cultivation world. Only nobles had access to such treasure in the mortal world, and only the main mansions had the means to produce them in the cultivation world.
The production secrets were restricted to each mansion that was under Migdal. This eliminated any possibility of independent cultivators existing or even threatening the authority of the mansions.
Being a Master, Khaled possessed a wealth of artifacts and scrolls that would make any mansion envious. Master-level cultivators were scarce and numbered in the hundreds.
Most were from the elements of Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind, known as primary. Thunder, Lava, Wood, and Ice were known as secondary elements, followed by the abstract elements: Space, Time, Life, and Death.
Being a Master in the secondary elements was an honor in itself. But being a Master in the abstract elements was the highest honor, due to the difficulty of coming into contact with these elements, let alone cultivating any of them to the Master level.
Migdal gave importance to Khaled's affront because of the potential that an abstract element Master had. He was a more dangerous future threat than any past affront.
Knowing this, Khaled decided to heal his wounds far from human settlements. As much as the cultivation world was hidden, having its cities in the middle of the continents or in places of great fons concentration, the influence of the immortals in the mortal world was indisputable. It would be enough for a peasant to suspect him for the information to travel through the entire espionage network of the organization.
Of course, the choice to go to the forest had its cost with the battle that almost tore off a limb if he hadn't had legendary artifacts, he would certainly be crippled or dead.
Now it was time to stay quiet until the next phase of his plan. After all, getting revenge on Migdal, as much as it was his desire, was still a secondary objective. His main objective was to fulfill his beloved's will and live forever. Only then would he ensure that she would never be forgotten, and who knows, maybe he would achieve enough power to bring her back to life? And certainly, only in the arid lands of the far west might there be any clue.
According to the oldest legends of the human race, the first being to exist was the one who would be the first Grand Master, the holder of life. Zoe Haim was the most feared name of all immortals, venerated as the mother of all races. No one knows what species or race she is, but it is agreed that all life on planet Gan came from her.
That is why she is known as the Mother of the Living, holder of life and rival of Leto Mors, the lord of death, who, in opposition to her, inhabits the far east, in the forest of death. It is said that in the desert of the far west is the immortal cave of the lady of life. A simple balance that cannot be broken, for an agreement was made.
Of course, all of this was just legend and speculation for most humans, whether mortal or cultivators. And even Khaled himself did not believe any of this before, until Ayla found the legacy of the Grand Master of life and used it to reach the peak of her power. Khaled knew that the mother existed and that she was probably in the east. The question is whether he could convince her to take sides in a fight that did not concern her.
Doubts plagued his mind, but he had to try. For Ayla, retreating was never an option, and doing everything necessary to avenge her, fulfill her last wish, and try to bring her back to life was his purpose.
When the last legendary scrolls he had set aside to heal himself were finished, his fons reserves disintegrating in the process, Khaled rose invigorated. It was time to explore the beast's cave and see if there were fruits or other resources rich in fons.
Little did he know that two masters were approaching at breakneck speed, leaving a trail of destruction wherever they passed. Their haste was justified, being on an official mission from Migdal to hunt down the number one fugitive.
"Are you sure he's around here, Master Mokuzai?"
"Master Mizu, for the hundredth time, you ask! Are you disregarding my technique?!"
"Of course not! Your technique is perfect for the environment where the enemy was supposedly sighted by natives. But days of searching have passed and nothing."
"I've already explained, the forest is very large, with a concentration of fons that interferes with my senses, but there are traces of spatial energy. Besides Khaled, why would a rare space cultivator be hiding here?"
"Indeed, it is likely to be him. Abstract element cultivators are Masters of mansions or deacons in the service of Migdal. Being isolated in a remote place like this for days is not common."
"Yes. So prepare yourself, we will intercept the target in a day's journey north of our position."
"Haha, let's see what the powerful Space Master who killed the scoundrel Elyahu is made of!"
The laughter of the Master dressed in a light blue cloak was not a good omen for the unsuspecting Space Master.