In the far north of the Xuan Empire lies a mountainous forest region inhabited by numerous magical beasts.

These powerful magical beasts possess intelligence comparable to humans and can even change their appearances to human forms.

Even though they could still change their appearance, they couldn't hide their magical beast aura. So they don't visit places belonging to humans because their identity would immediately be found out by the formations placed on each side of the gates and the skies. It would be the case even if they try to conceal their auras.

A Magical Beast's life aura is very different from a human's life aura. One could easily tell the difference if they're well versed with the differentiation between the two intrinsic races.

Many times, the magical beasts form a beast tide and attack towns, villages, and even cities depending upon their strength to procure resources.

And in turn, humans hunt them down to strengthen and protect themselves, even enjoying magical beast meat as a luxury. This formed an eternal cycle of killing each other, making them not see eye to eye.

Then what about the magical beasts possessing intelligence that was tamed by humans?

To be exact, they were not exactly tamed. It's because those magical beasts are branded with a soul seal. In other words, a slave seal.

Humans can cast a slave seal on their own race, so why not magical beasts?

In this case, there wasn't any difference between the magical beasts and them, because those magical beasts sometimes even take humans as their slaves to do their bidding.

And there are some rare humans and magical beasts who simply form a blood or soul connection with each other, becoming equals and friends.

Like how Davis personally befriended the Golden-Horned Wyvern even without having to form a blood connection.

Like how a powerful magical beast sees itself as a guardian to protect a human area or even a human family.

One such case was the Xuan Empire's Golden Shell Turtle which acts as a guardian beast. It reached the Seventh Stage and was the main reason why the Royal Xuan Family was able to survive for this long.

As for its origins, it should have previously been a beast tamed or befriended by the Xuan Family's Ancestor.

As for why it guarded the family? It must have been probably a request from the late Xuan Family's Ancestor.

In any case, there were simply too many variations in the relationships between humans and magical beasts to categorize them into two sides; black or white.

"Thinking about all this doesn't matter. After all, I've come to kill them not make friends with them..." Davis muttered to himself as he entered the mountain range.

This mountainous region was occupied by magical beasts and was called the Tyrannical Blue Ape Mountain Range for a single reason.

It was simply because the Tyrannical Blue Ape was the sole hegemon of this entire region, a Mid-Level Seventh Stage Magical Beast!

It had lived for more than 1,000 years and its rule remains unchallenged in this region till this period.

Why? Because this particular magical beast has a King-Tier Bloodline running deep within it. It was able to battle beasts that was two levels higher than it and was able to command its own kin even in its growth period.

Not only could it rule its kin without much difficulty, since its power was the strongest, it faced no threat in this place.

...Ultimately, it became a hegemon and ruled over this mountainous region.

Now as it almost reached the apex of its species rank! Who would dare to challenge its authority?

It's Species Rank was Sky Grade and unfortunately, that limited its growth to the Peak-Level of Lord Beast Stage; Seventh Stage.

Magical Beasts with Sky Grade Species Rank were born as a Sky Beast Stage Magical Beast and were able to mature into Lord Beast Stage.

Davis swore to run away the moment he encounters this magical beast. If he remained, he didn't know what kind of mincemeat it would make out of him.

As he entered the mountainous region, he saw trees covering the are all over the place.

When he slightly flew up for a few hundred meters, he saw a nest far away from where he was and figured that it might belong to a bird-type magical beast.

He didn't dare to go near it afraid that the nest might belong to a Sixth Stage Beast; a Saint Beast Stage Magical Beast.

That said, he was still in the outer regions of this place, but who said that the outer regions would not have powerful beasts.

He was sure that this nest belonged to a Sixth Stage Magical Beast because the nest could contain newborns that it needed to protect and feed.

A location with weak Magical Beasts might be perfect for that, or so he assumed.

Dropping down to the ground, he decided to follow the old method of hunting as flying would only make him a viable target unless he wanted to traverse through the clouds.

As he roamed around the area searching for beasts to kill, he saw a Peak-Level Spirit Beast Stage Magical Beast sleeping with its eyes closed.

It was a giant snake! But he didn't know it's species name and wasn't able to guess it either.

With the Dark Crimson Scythe in his hand, he instantly closed the distance and cleaved the giant snake into two along with the huge tree it coiled around.

Davis's eyes suddenly narrowed into two tiny slits as he saw the snake twitch. Instantly, the head which fell on the ground came flying at him like a prop from a horror film.

It had its sharp fangs barred at him, and its tongue hissed. He didn't strike or deflect the fangs which were about to poison him to death.

Instead, he turned and launched himself against a bush that seemed to slither like a snake.

*Hiss!~*

Seeing that its true self was noticed, the giant snake which had disguised itself as a bush with its furry green body, launched itself against the aggressor.

"No!"

Davis cut down with his Scythe accurately this time while utilizing the full strength of his Peak-Level Silver Stage prowess which could more or less equal to a Low-Level Gold Stage Cultivator, but he narrowed his eyes as he saw the snakehead which was flying in his direction plop to the ground.

"Did it just speak?" Davis had an incredulous expression on his face.

And what was this double? The answer soon came to him as he saw the illusion fade from his vision.