"This thing can be absorbed too?" Lin Kai stared at the mutilated corpse of the giant python beside him, taking a deep, cold breath. He truly hadn't expected to be able to absorb even the corpses of beasts. His surprise only lasted for a moment, though, before excitement quickly took over. This discovery opened endless possibilities for his future.
Resisting the strong urge to absorb it immediately, Lin Kai bent down and started digging the soil. He had already made up his mind to absorb the python, but he wasn't about to do it in front of so many people. He'd have to plan carefully and make his move when the time was right. With such an opportunity falling into his lap, it was impossible for him not to be tempted.
'Should I come back later when everyone's gone, or maybe sneak in during the night?' He mulled over his options as he dug.
Time passed, and Lin Kai continued digging, though he didn't need to go too deep—just a few meters would do. Thankfully, a few warriors jumped in to help. Otherwise, it would've taken forever for him to finish on his own.
Once the hole was dug, the people carefully lifted the python's body and buried it. One of the men sprinkled what looked like white powder over the corpse, which Lin Kai assumed was part of a ceremony. Though the snake was a beast, it was given a burial like a human, with several warriors tossing flowers over its resting place. However, everyone seemed to be in a hurry, as if something urgent awaited them.
"Phew." Patting his hands and brushing off his clothes, Lin Kai watched the group walk away with grim expressions. Whatever they were preparing for, it was clear they had no time to waste. Just as he was about to leave and make his own plans, Lin Kai froze, stunned by the sight of a woman in white standing quietly in the distance, gazing at the burial site.
The moment she noticed Lin Kai turning around, the woman seemed equally surprised, as if she hadn't expected to see him there.
"What are you doing here?" Ji Yulan's voice called out as Lin Kai approached. She couldn't help but wonder why this brat, who was supposed to be cleaning the sheds, was involved in something like this.
"I have no idea," Lin Kai replied with a shrug, both hands raised in surrender. "After I finished my chores, I heard some noise and came to check it out. Next thing I know, they roped me into digging the soil."
"You..." Ji Yulan shook her head, almost amused by his response. "Forget it. If you're done with your chores, you should head back to your room. Your work might get a lot easier in the coming days."
"Do you know what's going on?" Lin Kai asked, not heading back as she suggested. Though he overheard some of the warriors whispering earlier, he didn't have a clear picture of the situation. He hoped Ji Yulan could shed some light.
Ji Yulan hesitated for a moment, gazing at him thoughtfully. Perhaps in the past, she wouldn't have bothered to explain anything to him, but after their conversation the night before, she didn't find the idea of talking to him so repulsive.
"I guess I can tell you a few things... It's not like such a big matter can be hidden anyway." After a brief pause, she began to explain.
"Up in the mountain range, someone found traces of a Beast King. Now the entire Ji family is looking for it."
Her words might have sounded like a heavenly decree to experienced martial artists who understood the vast gap between realms, but for Lin Kai, who was still a novice in this world, they were mostly noise. All he understood was that Beast Kings were incredibly strong—though just how strong, he couldn't fathom.
"Have they found it? And if they have, when are they going to kill it?" Lin Kai's sudden question caught Ji Yulan off guard. The moment Lin Kai touched the python earlier, he realized he could absorb the corpses of beasts. Now, the thought of absorbing a Beast King excited him. If he could absorb such a powerful creature, wouldn't he ascend to a whole new level? So far, his absorption power had only been tested on ordinary items, and yet the gains had been impressive. He could only imagine how much stronger he'd become if he absorbed a true treasure like a Beast King.
"Uh!? Why would they kill it?" Ji Yulan tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly as she looked at Lin Kai. She couldn't understand how his brain worked. One moment he'd say something smart, and the next, he'd ask the most absurd question.
"Huh? Because it's a threat, right? It could attack the family at any moment..." Lin Kai pointed towards the distant mountain range. In his mind, the Beast King was a ticking time bomb, and if it attacked, the servants—people like him—would be the first to die.
"Even if it is a threat, we can't kill it," Ji Yulan replied, shaking her head. "The plan is to capture it and tame it. That way, the Ji family will have another powerhouse under their control."
"This..." Lin Kai was stunned by her answer. On one hand, he was disappointed that he wouldn't get a chance to absorb the Beast King's corpse, but on the other, he was fascinated by the Ji family's mindset. They didn't just see the danger—they saw the opportunity.
But then, a thought crossed his mind.
"What about the Cao and Long families? They won't just sit by and let this happen, right?" Lin Kai couldn't help but think about the other two powerful families in Qinglong Town. If the Ji family succeeded in capturing the Beast King, their strength would grow even further. Would the Cao and Long families allow that? For a moment, he imagined the flames of conflict spreading.
Before this idea could develop further, Ji Yulan's next words extinguished it.
"Eh!?" She blinked in surprise, not at the potential conflict but at Lin Kai's lack of understanding.
"Do you even know how strong those two families are?" Ji Yulan asked with a gentle smile.
"Err... no," Lin Kai admitted, scratching his head. Back when he was at the martial hall, there were only vague mentions of the two great families. He had no real knowledge of the different realms, let alone the power structures of Qinglong Town.
"The strongest people in both families are their patriarchs," she explained with a smile. "Can you guess what realm they're in?"
"Umm..." Lin Kai thought for a while, then ventured a guess. "Second or first realm warrior?"
"Pfft..." Ji Yulan couldn't help but chuckle at his answer, trying to stifle her laughter by pressing her fingers in front of her mouth. Lin Kai's eyes widened in embarrassment. Just because he was wrong didn't mean she had to laugh so hard.
"How strong are they, then?" he asked, now even more curious.
"The patriarchs of both families are in the sixth realm," Ji Yulan said, her voice carrying a note of pride. Her words hit Lin Kai like a bomb. His heart skipped a beat, and his jaw dropped in disbelief.
It was much lower than what Lin Kai had initially expected.
"Do you know how many people there are in the Ji family in the 6th, 5th, and 4th realms combined?" Ji Yulan scoffed before giving him a number. "More than thirty."
"Hiss…" Lin Kai sucked in a sharp breath. He knew the Ji family was strong, but he certainly didn't expect them to be this powerful. The other two families didn't even come close. No wonder the Ji family was able to establish itself here in such a short time, and that too without facing any opposition.
"What about those above grade 4?" Lin Kai suddenly asked, curious about how many true top powerhouses were hidden in the family. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Ji Yulan stepped forward and placed a finger on his lips.
"Shhh... Let's not talk about that," she whispered with an intensity that surprised him.
"Gulp." Lin Kai swallowed nervously and nodded. He didn't know why her reaction was so exaggerated, but for now, he decided to trust her judgment.
Both of them fell silent for a while. Lin Kai stared at the spot where they had just buried the python, while Ji Yulan gazed toward the distant horizon, her brows knitted in worry.
"Do you think they'll be able to catch it?" Lin Kai finally asked, noticing her troubled expression.
"Oh, they'll catch it. There won't be a problem," she replied with a soft chuckle, shaking her head as if brushing off her concerns. With the strength of the Ji family, it wasn't an impossible task. The only thing they had to worry about were the casualties.
"Let's go..." Ji Yulan waved her hand, turning to leave. "By tomorrow, that python will be dissolved. If you stay here, they'll just rope you into more chores."
"Shit…" Lin Kai cursed under his breath. His excitement over the python's powerful corpse evaporated as soon as he heard the word "dissolved." For a moment, he was worried whether the magical properties of the soil could also dissolve his hands, but then he recalled the white powder the man had scattered over the burial site.
Shaking his head, he hurried after Ji Yulan, his mind racing with thoughts about what to do next.
"Why did they even bury it? Why not leave it in the forest... or eat it?" He was desperate to strike up a conversation and learn more about the situation. If he was going to absorb the corpse, he needed to know how long it would last before dissolving and whether people would still be around. He wasn't going to give up on such a valuable opportunity.
"Uh…" Ji Yulan's steps didn't slow as she replied, "It was still alive when they brought it here, just badly injured."
"As for why no one ate it…" She glanced at Lin Kai with a penetrating gaze. "Would you eat your family member?"
Her words shocked Lin Kai, but it made him realize how deeply the Ji family valued their beasts. Even in death, they refused to disrespect the corpse, giving it a proper burial like any human.
"I see…" Lin Kai muttered, nodding to himself. The more he learned about the customs of the Ji family, the more he realized they were more advanced and compassionate than he initially thought. Their respect for all living beings was clear.
"Was it the white powder they scattered over it that dissolves the body? How long will it take?" This was the question Lin Kai was desperate to ask. If the process took only a few hours, he would have to take a risk tonight. But if it took longer, he could plan his move better.
"Huh?" Ji Yulan furrowed her brows, her expression hardening with annoyance. "You ask too many questions," she said flatly, her tone much colder than before. It was clear she was getting irritated.
"Uh…" Lin Kai immediately shut his mouth, his face burning with embarrassment. He had clearly overstepped his boundaries. With a weak smile, he nodded and turned away, heading back toward the shed.
He had already made up his mind to wait until nightfall before making his move. Whether the corpse would still be there by then… he could only hope.