"Senior, thanks for coming. I need your flying treasure urgently to check the safety of someone close to me", Zhan Chen replied.
"No problem. I can lend you my flying treasure but I want to know where are you going", Ying Chao looked towards Zhan Chen.
"Senior, this matter is related to my pet. I have left her near the border of the Earth province before leaving for the Grand sect competition", Zhan Chen spoke. He decided to explain the matter to Ying Chao to gain his approval for the flying treasure.
"Your pet! What kind of pet is it that you are so concerned about it?", Ying Chao looked towards Zhan Chen with a baffled expression on his face.
"Senior, she is very special. You will understand once you see her with your eyes", Zhan Chen spoke.
"Have you heard about the sudden disappearance of fifth tier and above magical beasts?", Ying Chao asked Zhan Chen.
"Yes senior, that is the exact reason why I am being worried. Her age is low but she was already at the peak fourth tier when I first met her near the Hundred blossom city", Zhan Chen spoke.
"The disappearance of magical beasts is more peculiar than what you imagine. There is certainly a big power involved who is pulling the string behind everyone's back", Ying Chao spoke. There was a grave look on his face as he looked towards Zhan Chen.
"Senior, I am not planning anything against anyone unless they hurt someone close to me. I only want to ensure her safety before bringing her back to our Xuantian sect", Zhan Chen spoke.
"Okay, there is no point in stopping you but allow me to come with you. I will be assure of your safety if we travel together to the forest", Ying Chao spoke. He had a serious look on his face. So, Zhan Chen knew it would be futile to reject his proposal.
Zhan Chen agreed to the proposal of Ying Chao and both of them flew together out of the Xuantian sect. Ying Chao was an expert in steering his flying treasure. So, it didn't take time for both of them to reach above the forest where Zhan Chen was separated from the shadow panther.
'It seems like she has switched her location", Zhan Chen thought to himself after sensing the soul connection between him and the shadow panther. The connection appeared faint but Zhan Chen could still tell the direction where the shadow panther had gone.
"Senior, change our direction. We need to check the western direction to find her", Zhan Chen spoke. Ying Chao felt slightly perturbed but he still did according to what Zhan Chen had said. He shifted the direction of the flying boat and steered it towards the western direction.
Zhan Chen waited patiently as the flying trasure flew in the westward direction. The soul connection with the shadow panther got stronger, the longer they flew towards the western direction.
"It is the forest where we have met for the first time", Zhan Chen murmured. Ying Chao decreased the speed of the flying boat after seeing the smile on Zhan Chen's face.
"Senior, I feel she is here. Please move towards the center most location of this forest and we may find her near her past location ", Zhan Chen spoke. There was little anticipation in his eyes as he looked towards centre of the forest.
Ying Chao controlled the flying boat and steered it towards the centre. Zhan Chen spread his soul consciousness stealthily without alerting Ying Chao.
There was a large tree on the bank of a pond. The branches were dense and one could not see the sun when standing below the tree.
A panther was lying peacefully on a big branch of the tree. It's deep bluish body was completely hidden amidst the thick foliage of the large tree.
It suddenly opened its eyes when Ying Chao's flying treasure approached the center of the forest. There was hint of excitement on her beastly face as she raised her head to look at the distant sky.
Like Zhan Chen, she could also feel the strengthening of the soul connection. She moved her tail with excitement as she felt the presence of Zhan Chen getting stronger.
Zhan Chen spoke Ying Chao to stop the flying treasure near the bank of the pond. Ying Chao complied with his request and steered the flying treasure downward to approach the ground.
Zhan Chen jumped down from the flying treasure when it stopped near the ground. He turned to look at the large tree but the shadow panther was much faster than his expectation.
"Watch out", Ying Chao could only utter few words when a shadow pounced towards Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen felt slightly surprised by the suddenness but he still tackled the shadow panther swiftly.
He slightly crouched down and lifted the shadow pather with his arms when she jumped towards him. The shadow panther licked his face frantically after Zhan Chen lifted her up. She seemed to have lot of grievances as she expressed her emotion while licking Zhan Chen's face.
"Girl, you have gotten big", Zhan Chen commented with a smile on his face. He noticed the surprised expression on the face of Ying Chao and his lips curled up once again.
"Zhan Chen, tell me the truth. She seems more sentient than an ordinary fourth tier magical beast", Ying Chao asked after a while. He couldn't hold his curiousity and looked towards Zhan Chen for clarification.
Senior, have you heard about noble beasts?", Zhan Chen asked Ying Chao.
Ying Chao nodded his head in puzzlement and looked towards Zhan Chen. He observed the shadow panther in Zhan Chen's arms and a thought striked his mind instantly. A sweat drop appeared on his forehead as soon as he realised the meaning of Zhan Chen's words.
"Zhan Chen, don't tell me she is a.....!", he looked towards Zhan Chen with an apprehensive look on his face.
"Yes senior, your guess is right. She is a noble beast of extraordinary origin", Zhan Chen confirmed the doubt in Ying Chao's head. He wanted to place the shadow panther on the ground but she clung to him like a frightened puppy.
'So, someone actually came for the fifth tier magical beasts. He had noticed you but you have escaped by using your ability!', Zhan Chen spoke after knowing the predicament of the shadow panther through their soul consciousness.
The shadow panther wagged her tail as confirmation as she tried to communicate with Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen finally knew how frightened she actually was after the said incident. The person behind the disappearance of the fifth stage beasts had left a huge impression in her mind when she faced him near the border of the Earth province.