Roaring Dragons Fang

"HAAHA! Young master I couldn't bear the weight of such a gift." Drinking his wine Master Hao's opinion of Edward continues to rise

"You know all of the current happenings in the estate, correct?"

"Its not just me, all of us have eyes without presence young master."

[It is as I thought, the grownups are letting the kids play. Like we are some kind of Gu, the winner will take it all.]

"What of Rhea herself young master?"

"Its clear she is being manipulated, but its unclear if she is truly blackened hearted. What her heart bleeds and what she dreams matter little to me, if she shows anything I can respect I will take her in. Children whos minds are poisoned are not my enemy, the poison master is. Do not speak of her crimes unless I do first."

[The wisdom of a monarch. This kids mind is already transcended.]

"I understand. I will inform my peers not to mention the young lady in court."

"Take a look at this. This is the poison used against me, and the bribe paid to my personal servant." taking the poison he had removed from his core and some spirit stones from Lord Gregor, he tosses a ring from the mouth of the lion at Master Hao

"Gu of spirit beast. This poison could kill a Chi compression cultivator in hours after use. Poison like this takes patience to create. Gathering the poisonous spirit beasts in great number, watching them fight, then distilling the blood of the winner would be the hardest part. We knew this was the Seventh Elders weapon, but its much more concentrated than we knew."

[Do I have to take you through the whole math problem Grand Elder?]

Sitting among each other in silence drinking wine like old friends, the Grand Elder long having realized how deep this trickery leads doesn't mutter a peep. Similarly, Edward will not be the one to break the silence. 

"Alright you win kid. Poison like this is not purchasable with the Seventh Elders status. He is being supported by someone else to attack us from the inside."

"Master Hao. You know I will slaughter my way through and to the root of this issue. We will handle the Seventh Elder at court, but beyond that do not stand in my way." Edward faintly activates his divine art, trying to assert pressure on Master Hao

"Kings cut out everything related to the rot in their house, young master." 

FWISHH

Master Hao releasing an abrupt surge of Chi smashing it upon the ripple Edwards divine art caused 

"HAHAHA" they both laugh together, showing complete understanding

"Master Hao, my subordinate must feel neglected. I will take my leave to go train the pup." rising from his seat that just days ago, his vessel would not have the right to fit. He leaps from the terrace, without giving the Grand Elder time to say his goodbye. 

[This young man will either become the new Earthen deity or soak its lands red for nothing. He has no clue where this path will lead. Such confidence for someone so lost is dangerous, he will need my guidance.]

Under the cover of forestry Edwards divine art activates, confident that there is no eyes upon him he heads home

"My friend" smashing cups together in a toast "Your lack of decision could be what breaks your house."

Kayce Albert knowing the king speaks in concern starts to steel himself further "It could, or it could birth a lion fitting for my houses leadership."

"I can assume safely that you have been acting blind for a while. Yet your son still alive shows he is not as bad as the world thinks."

"My son certainly has qualities I appreciate. Before I left his strength was much greater than I remembered, he actually blitzed one of my daughters household guards."

"Truly? Your sons physical ailment was the most shocking topic of the kingdom for many years. People had just started to forget and now you say he has conquered it. It seems you have a worthy successor my friend, so why all the sophistry?"

"I didn't lie to you my friend, I am still undecided. While I hate my daughters methods I am proud of her. She has the courage to act, to fight against the things that are forced upon her. If Edward truly is my successor, he wont complain that I gave his sister a chance."

"Friend, that "chance" is his life. Could you bear to lose both your boys?"

"Everything I do is for my name. They are born with that name and must bear all that comes with it."

[It is time to temper Liam, he has a great role to play here soon]

Edward awaits Liams arrival in his private training room, a room in the basement of the estate. 

KNOCK KNOCK

"Liam come in, dont greet me just come before me."

Liam having all his excitement drained from him approaches Edward 

"I believe you have studied the technique I have bestowed upon you thoroughly. Tonight, you will practice in my presence. The Roaring Dragons fang part you have will be hard to use, but it is obviously not something you will have to endure forever. What I teach you next however you must bear forever. You will forge yourself a frame capable of truly harnessing this martial art. You will fight for me every moment I bid it. This is the life forced upon you, if you ever feel like it is too much you may leave. [although leaving means your death] Its true you have sworn your loyalties to me and I don't doubt you, but I would not even hold it against you if you left. We all wish to be free, but before anyone can be free, they need patience. Noone is born free Liam you were born into a family of extreme loyalist to my house, your future was planned, and you had no say. I who am born into privilege am not free. This is why we cultivate, to gain strength, authority, fame, infamy, respect, but above all power. We gain power through our own ethic, practicing a movement hundreds and thousands of times, reflecting on the dao, fighting with all you have just to find something deeper, all these things require patience. I will be putting all manners of gaining power on display as I am unwilling to stay in The North forever, I will take what I want from this world. My desire is to make a singular throne on Earth, something like this will require it be made of bones and corpse."

Edward hoped his charisma would motivate Liam, but it achieved the extreme opposite. Liam felt truly threatened, not by Edward himself perse, but off the simple truth. Liam had never any choice in how to live his life, eating, sleeping, training and, even bathing when told, he was bred as solider to obey. He had realized he had been a slave. Holding back tears as he realizes someone will show him how to be free [Master. Thank you. The gap between us makes me feel so small. I never would have never thought of fighting against my circumstances, thankfully that led me to you. I will be even more patient and help achieve such a grand dream] falling to both knees he places his head on the floor above Edwards shoes

[he seems to have become enlightened, realizing my hidden intentions he understood every part of such a long winded speech. To be above all but beneath me]

Edward was happy remarking how he appreciates his intelligence just as much as his talent, places his hands on Liams back. Having his subordinates complete trust he enters both of Liams cores with his Chi. Liam who had been doing nothing but studying was completely full in both his cores, the slight amount of Edwards Chi so dense and domineering forced all of his own out, With nowhere for it all to go it took the path of least resistance at the same time. Floding his spirit veins, his Chi destroys his body inside and out, everything but his own spirit veins, it felt like a lightning bolt hitting every nerve in his body simultaneously. Blood burst out from Liams ears, runs from his eyes, and spits from his mouth quickly losing lucidity 

"Oh no you dont" grabbing Liam by his throat, while holding his body perfectly still, preventing him from breaking further

Releasing body refinement pills with his free hand directly above the flash of his soul. Liam was under immense pain but for a moment it stopped, when he saw the azure light. Summoning the bottle of lions blood from his ring

"Drink this."

After consumption Edward moves his Chi towards Liams bones and tissue against the pull of Liams cores, mending them in ways that he can't understand, Liam realizes how strong he feels.

"Now you are back with us. Keep moving your Chi how I was with mine."

[Master wasn't wrong he held me like a chicken. I could have died, having no Chi, out of breath and wounded. But it was worth it both my cores are larger than before, yet I can fill them quicker than before]

"You survived the first round Good job Liam. Take this bottle there is a dozen Chi flowing pills inside. Continue to fold your Chi like I showed you, do you know what I mean?"

"Yes Master. It is hard to describe it is like compressing a large amount of Chi to take up a small part of my cores."

"As in Chi compression realm"

Liam was shocked he fell into a state of compressing his Chi and breathing in it in automatically, enlightened by way of his mistake. [I have cultivated in the wrong fashion. I had only filled my cores and pressed my Chi against my body searching for the path to the next.] Even in his enlightenment he was focused on the way Edward was swinging his sword

[Roaring Dragons Fang requires a great amount of Chi to use effectively. Its simply an enchantment in the sense that it could be used on any weapon. Fist, sword, legs, arrows, anything.]

Edward walks away from the gashes in floor, up the corner where the floor and the wall meet, opening the depth of the wall and sinking the ground.

"Keep doing what you are doing Liam. Eat, sleep, and live here until your cores and proper. Come find me then."

[Master merely waved my sword, yet this room that has never cracked under pressure before got ripped apart. Maybe nobody has tried before, but it is still not easy. Master did it so casually.]

"My friend, sorry I didnt bring good news with me, but me and my men are heading home." Kayce Albert announces over the chatter of the royal family

"Wait, Kayce. Children, honey, men leave the room."

"Go outside in the hallway." Kayce Albert waves his men away

After the room clears "Your majesty I meant no disrespect, you know of my house at the moment. It needs my direct supervision, my son has finally bore his fangs " Prince Harold eaves the news

"He said he is not holding his sister accountable for anything. It's a shame to say it but I am thankful for that. You assumed Edward had no nobody on his side when I mentioned Rheas numbers. They both have subordinates and even people with status on their side. Edward however meets and inspires loyalty among everyone, gathering people under command. Rhea is attaching herself to something feeble, however. Her path does not lead where she thinks it will."

"A lioness!" King Eugene hides behind his chalice 

Rising from the dining table not appreciating the kings humor

"Goodbye my friend"