NOVPUBAs a minor World-class aether art, [Echoing Frost] had become somewhat of a signature move of the Zhen Clan.
By circulating one’s aether through one’s lungs and out through their fists, one would be able to release a concussive force of icy winds that could turn even the hardest of individuals into living popsicles. At least this was the level that could be done at the very bottom of the minimum threshold needed for a single person to perform the art.
Once someone develops sufficient proficiency in wielding the art, they’d be able to shape the icy winds produced from the attack into dense constructs that better reflected the wielder’s abilities.
However, the true power of this aether art could only be revealed when used in tandem with other people and when used in a specific manner.
Regardless, Zhen Long’s execution of this aether art was still leagues above everyone else in the clan and served as a shining example of what to strive for when performing [Echoing Frost].
The howling ice wolf construct rushed towards training dummies and threatened to turn the hastily made targets into piles of ice and snow.
However, that didn’t happen.
Like a real wolf, the howling wolf construct lunged towards the dummies and attempted to use its jaws to bite down hard on the dummies.
The moment the teeth made contact on the dummy though, the [Chaos] within them finally activated and tore the ice wolf apart.
To be more precise, strange colored bolts of lighting sparked out of the dummies and actively erased massive chunks out of the wolf shaped construct until it was so unstable that it broke apart in an instant.
The observing Zhen Clan knew that this was going to happen, but they were still shocked that it did.
Zhen Long himself couldn’t help but look a tad disappointed at the sight as well.
’Tsk! Guess I can’t simply overpower such defenses yet...’
Once the last remnants of his attack had disappeared, Lucille and Aranea addressed the rest of the Zhen Clan elders, scions and beasts once more.
"Now then, would anyone else like to help demonstrate their abilities against these dummies before we move on?," Lucille asked.
"Uh...sure."
One after the other, the Zhen Clan elders and scions showcase their abilities against the dummies, only for their attacks to dissipate one after the other due to the [Chaos] in the dummies breaking down the attacks.
Once again, they knew this was going to happen but they couldn’t help but to at least try their luck.
"Damn, [Chaos] really does negate aether based attacks."
"That...honestly explains some things."
"Now then, with all that out of the way, Patriarch Zhen Shi. Do you think that you’re ready and able to perform the [Primordial Beast Scripture]?"
"I think so...," Zhen Shi nodded as he went over the aforementioned technique in his head a few more times. "I’m not sure how it’s going to react with my own internal aether when I do though..."
"It should be fine," Lucille and Aranea assured the old Patriarch. "At worst, the attack should just fizzle out."
"Okay then..."
Zhen Shi positioned himself in the same spot as his family did moments ago when they were testing out the dummies, and prepared himself to make use of the new technique he had just learned.
The first step of which involved circulating aether so that he could circulate [Chaos].
Taking on the stance that was relayed to him from the stone, Zhen Shi began to do just that.
’Okay, I just need to follow what I read in the first part and...ooooh, this feels really fucking weird...oh there’s the swearing.’
Unlike the previous times when he employed [Chaos], Zhen Shi could actually feel the strange energy flowing through him this time, as it was much denser and much livelier than his previous attempts.
And he wasn’t the only one noticing this change.
The moment he started preparing this new technique of his, the reactions could summed up as the following.
"Why is it suddenly so much colder in-HOLY-!"
"Of course the fucking snaked is now manifesting around him instead of the stone..."
"Why does it look significantly more...solid...than any other aether art I’ve seen before?"
"I don’t know..."
Forming around Zhen Shi was that same sea serpent made of ice and water that had initially formed when the Patriarch had started studying the [Primordial Beast Scripture]. However, the serpent this time around looked a bit more solid than before and seemed more...personal, as strange as it sounded.
Whether it was a trick of the mind or actually happening before their eyes was unclear, but they swear they could see moments of Zhen Shi’s memories being played out in the scales of the strange sea serpent before them.
But before they could fully register the possibility, Aranea gave a command that threw that thought straight out of a window and into a charging bull.
"Fire when ready!"
[Primordial Beast Scripture- Yearning Serpent!]
[HISS!]
Zhen Shi struck towards the dummy, mimicking the movements of a serpent striking at its prey after rearing its head.
He wasn’t the one to land the blow though.
[HISS!]
Following his movements, the [Chaos] construct surged forward and tore apart the training dummies one after other as it simply used its massive bulk to destroy them.
Now, this wasn’t that much different from a normal aether except for two key things.
First, the energy used to compose it was [Chaos] as opposed to Aether, ergo, it could ignore the defensive capabilities of the dummies.
Second, and the part that caused the Zhen Clan observers to pause, was the simple fact that Zhen Shi wasn’t actively directing the attack...at all.
"Wait a minute..."
"What the fuck?"
After Zhen Shi had unleashed his attack, the serpent construct simply lashed out at its own volition, and he felt as if he didn’t have to keep expending [Chaos] in order to direct it. Which is why, compelled by this feeling, he simply released his stance and took on a more relaxed posture.
But this posture didn’t last long.
"Huh...I guess this technique really is a fire and forget situation..."
"I wouldn’t be so sure about that," Aranea interjected. "You going to have to get ready for the return trip."
"Say what?"
[HISS!]
The giant serpent continued to rage for a couple more moments until the last of the training dummies were destroyed. Once that had occurred, the serpent construct redirect it’s gaze towards Zhen Shi...with strangely energetic eyes.
"Uh oh."
[HISS!]
"Father!"
With no other targets to destroy, the serpent construct rushed back towards Zhen Shi, acting as if it wanted to turn him into his latest toy.
Thankfully though, that didn’t come to pass.
’Oh shit! What do I-wait...right!’
Just as the serpent construct was about to bite down on Zhen Shi, the wily old Patriarch threw a hand out and actually reabsorbed his own attack.
"There we go!"
"And we didn’t have to remind you to do anything."
The sight was shocking to the observing Zhen Clan warriors, as conventional wisdom dictated that only specific treasures and techniques had to be used to perform such a feat.
Regardless, once the attack was fully reabsorbed, Zhen Shi proceeded to fall to the ground and land on his ass. He looked a bit drained from the effort.
"That was... exhausting," Zhen Shi admitted. "But also weirdly empowering?"
"[Chaos] arts will do that," Lucille piped up in regards to Zhen Shi’s comments. "You okay to stand up?"
"Normally, yes. But my legs feel like chunks of ice right now, is that normal?"
"Only the first time. Aranea, would you mind assisting the patriarch to his feet?"
"Of course."
As Aranea went to assist Zhen Shi back on to his feet, Lucille brought her attention to the Zhen Clan...again.
"Alright, since you all now have a decent idea of what to expect from the [Primordial Beast Scripture], please form an orderly line from oldest to youngest. Tiny, Mini, you two will actually be looking over the scripture after everyone else."
"Grunt?"
"Kuu?"
"The effects are...a little different for aether beasts."
"Grunt."
"Kuu."
One after the other, Zhen Clan elders and scions made use of the [Primordial Beast Scripture] and learned not only how to make use of [Chaos] but also their first proper [Chaos] arts.
Needless to say, the results from this knowledge digestion varied wildly between the members, as they all had very different combat approaches.
That said, they were all pleaesed with the results of what they had learned.
There was just one major question they had.
...
"Wait...will the constant swearing, casual attitude and reckless behavior patterns be a permanent issue in regards to using [Chaos] or..."
"Kind of. You’ll be able to curb that latter issue but the other two points will stay with you forever."
"Great...wait a minute, why aren’t you-"
"I am consistently swearing in my head at all times."
"Huh..."
