It Is Indeed Too Quiet Around Here
"It is indeed too quiet around here."
The Beast Race and the Human Race were naturally destined to clash. Although Yangseo Lake was said to be relatively peaceful compared to other regions, sporadic conflicts still broke out constantly. It was even said that a Great Demon would occasionally trigger a Water Tide, wiping out several islands or even an entire nation. Of course, such cataclysms had absolutely nothing to do with this quiet, dull neighborhood. Just as a thief wouldn't break into a crumbling shack, conflict only arose when there was something worth fighting over. In a place like this, where a Spiritual Vein was unheard of and Spiritual Intelligence was scarce, what could there possibly be to fight about?
"Do not be in such a hurry. If we fail this time, we can simply target the next one."
"Sigh. You are right. Your words are correct."
Jang Yeong was a Yao, and he was distinctly different from ordinary Demon Beasts. He was far more rational and intelligent.
"What kind of prey are we targeting this time?"
"It is a Vicious Beast. Originally, it was a creature that never ventured into shallow waters, but recently, its feral nature has intensified. It left its habitat and has been rampaging indiscriminately."
"A Vicious Beast, you say." Jekyeong smacked his lips. "Is there a bounty on it from the Palace?"
"No, that is not the case," Jang Yeong replied, shaking his head immediately.
However, Jekyeong remained skeptical. Jang Yeong's information was generally about eighty percent accurate, and there had never been any backlash after their hunts. In other words, Jang Yeong's selection of prey was flawless. Such an information network was not something a Great Demon at the early stage of the Great Yao realm, barely scraping by in the backwaters, could possess. He must have sought help from his father.
But... why?
Cultivators in this world did not cling to blood ties as humans did in his past life. In fact, leaving behind offspring was rare to begin with. Since a cultivator's child would also be a cultivator, they usually had children out of necessity. While one couldn't say there was absolutely no familial affection, most cultivation clans operated on the principle of offering tribute to the clan elders. This tribute was not merely a sentimental act of filial piety, but a practical, material service. Descendants of lower cultivation realms would earn Spirit Stones and gather cultivation resources to offer to the elders, which was the very reason for a cultivation clan's existence. To the ancestors of such clans, children and descendants were fundamentally nothing more than tools to illuminate their own path to immortality. Occasionally, there might be a tool they grew particularly fond of, but in the end, it was still just a tool—something to be discarded and replaced once its usefulness was exhausted.
Yet, even cultivators who seemed to have the pursuit of the Dao flowing through their veins instead of blood would undergo a change in their Mind State once they realized their remaining time was insufficient to reach a higher realm. Only then would they finally recognize the descendants they had treated as tools as successors of their own bloodline.
U Do-baek was precisely such a case. During his prime, when he was aiming for the heights of cultivation, he had viewed his clan, family, and everything else merely as stepping stones. But now, as he grew old and realized his limitations, he had become the exact opposite. Hearing him speak during their occasional meetings in Bul-mang-won, he seemed more invested in taking care of his clan's juniors than his own cultivation.
However, such cases were rare. Most cultivators, even when they knew their path was blocked, would try to force their way through by any means necessary. Though many had their heads broken and their minds shattered in the process, they refused to give up until their very last breath.
This was not much different for the Beast Race. However, because they did not devote themselves to cultivation with the same frantic urgency as humans, they tended to have quite a few offspring. Of course, offspring who failed to inherit the Bloodline were not recognized as children. Even if they did inherit the bloodline and were acknowledged, they were never kept close or pampered. Once they passed their most vulnerable infancy, they were typically cast out to fend for themselves.
Jekyeong assumed the relationship between Jang Yeong and his father was similar. Otherwise, why would Jang Yeong, who had such a formidable father, be scraping by in a remote corner like this?
This fellow has ambition.
At first, Jekyeong had thought Jang Yeong was just tagging along on the hunts to pick up whatever scraps fell his way. But as time passed, something felt off. The hunting process, from start to finish, was too smooth, too clean. Even if they were choosing easy targets, their prey were all Great Demons. Yet, the hunts were as effortless as catching common Water Beasts. And it wasn't just the hunts themselves, but everything that followed.
Even if I made the final choice, he was the one who compiled the list of candidates...
The list of prey had undoubtedly come from Gyeongwang Palace, which meant some level of influence was at play.
Are they trying to clean up the troublesome ones?
Although Gyeongwang Palace was said to represent the Beast Race of Yangseo Lake, its actual scale was not that large. Compared to the total population of the Beast Race, the number of those officially affiliated with the palace was barely a handful. Consequently, the palace's authority was confined to only a portion of the demon territory, and there were quite a few Great Demons who secretly looked down on Gyeongwang Palace, even if they didn't show it openly.
Is Gyeongwang Palace trying to expand its influence?
Jekyeong recalled the targets he had hunted with Jang Yeong so far. Every single one of them was ferocious or dim-witted, acting on instinct rather than reason—in other words, the type that was difficult to control.
No. That's not it.
Gyeongwang Palace was practically the personal property of the Jansu Whale King. His will was the palace's will, and any movement, big or small, could not deviate from his intent. And from what Jekyeong had gathered, the Jansu Whale King was not a warmonger, nor was his ambition particularly grand considering his strength and status. Although he had never met him in person, Jekyeong was more than eighty percent certain of this.
The Jansu Whale King was one of the strongest figures in Yangseo Lake, and his name had echoed across the waters for a long time, making it easy to gather information about him if one wished. Jekyeong did not easily trust words, but he trusted actions. Therefore, based on the Whale King's actions after rising to leadership and his conduct since establishing Gyeongwang Palace, Jekyeong had formed his own judgment.
If the Jansu Whale King had wanted to expand the palace's power, he would have done so long ago. That he hadn't was not due to a lack of ability, but a lack of desire. Even if the nature of the Beast Race was wild and ferocious, making them loath to bow to others, who would choose death over submission if a leash was wrapped tightly around their neck?
If it is not the Jansu Whale King, then it is not Gyeongwang Palace either. Yet, the palace's influence is clearly present.
Though his thoughts grew deep, his search for the prey did not cease. After carefully observing the Vicious Beast for four full days, Jekyeong concluded that it would not be difficult to handle.
"Will you be alright? Perhaps we should make some preparations first."
"There is no need to drag this out."
A Vicious Beast that relied on its powerful physical body as a weapon was a highly troublesome opponent for most of the Beast Race. This was because most beasts also relied on their physical bodies as weapons, to varying degrees. It was a classic case of finding oneself at a disadvantage because the opponent's blade was larger than one's own.
However, this difficulty did not apply to Jekyeong. His physical body was even more powerful than that of the Vicious Beast. In terms of compatibility, he held the absolute upper hand.
"Grrr!"
Releasing his Presence-Concealing Technique, Jekyeong let out a thunderous roar and charged, initiating a clash of giant beasts. Needless to say, Jekyeong was massive, but the lizard-like Vicious Beast was also enormous. It was roughly half of Jekyeong's size, and its strength was equally formidable. Its bite force was particularly devastating, causing even Jekyeong to shudder in pain.
As the Vicious Beast and the Great Demon locked in a brutal struggle of raw strength, Jang Yeong, who had been keeping his distance, quickly joined the fray. Dozens of tentacles forming his lower body stretched to an unbelievable length, boring into the body of the Vicious Beast pinned down by Jekyeong. Though they lacked the power to penetrate deeply and only pierced the surface, it was more than enough.
As a dark, sinister Monster Power seeped into the creature's body, the Vicious Beast, which had been resisting Jekyeong's constriction with all its might, stiffened slightly.
"Hmph!"
Jekyeong unleashed an explosive burst of strength, squeezing the creature's body. Forcing open the jaws of the beast, which refused to loosen its grip even as it groaned in pain, he tore it away and whipped it with his tail using all his might. He had hoped to suffocate it with his constriction, but the creature's bite force far exceeded his expectations. Preferring a safe victory over a swift one, he abandoned his initial plan without hesitation.
Whoosh!
A terrifying Monster Power seethed within his half-open maw. Sensing the immense energy, Jang Yeong narrowed his eyes. This power was easily comparable to that of a mature Great Demon at the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm. However, what shocked him was not the sheer volume of the energy, but the speed at which it condensed.
So fast.
By the time Jang Yeong sensed it, the energy had already transformed into flames. The moment he hastily retracted his tentacles, the torrent of fire was already surging toward the Vicious Beast.
"Roar!"
Driven mad by the unbearable agony, the Vicious Beast lunged at Jekyeong. Like a matador facing a charging bull, Jekyeong calmly kept his distance. Their speeds were comparable, but with Jang Yeong providing constant distractions, Jekyeong easily played hide-and-seek with the beast.
"Grrr..."
Before long, the creature's momentum began to wane. Though they could have finished it off immediately, Jekyeong and Jang Yeong took their time, wearing down their prey until it was completely exhausted, just as they had always done.
After some time, the creature's seemingly limitless stamina finally hit rock bottom. Jekyeong deftly tore into the beast's neck and began to drain its blood.
Huh?
As he drank the blood, Jekyeong's eyes widened. Amidst the vast torrent of vital blood, which was as abundant as the water of a small pond, he sensed a single drop containing an exceptionally potent aura.
Ha. When I wanted it so badly, it never showed its face. Now that I've given up, here it is.
Jekyeong stopped drinking and carefully extracted the Essence Blood.
"Is that... Essence Blood?"
Having a distinguished father, Jang Yeong recognized it instantly. He stared at the jewel-like droplet of Essence Blood as if possessed, but soon shook his head and spoke.
"Congratulations, Daoist friend."
Hearing this, Jekyeong smiled broadly. For once, it was a genuine smile, not a fabricated one. Jang Yeong's words meant he had no intention of fighting over the Essence Blood. Jekyeong had been fully prepared to fight him if he showed greed, refusing to yield it under any circumstances. But since Jang Yeong tactfully backed down, he couldn't help but feel pleased.
"Thank you. This single drop of Essence Blood is enough for me. You may take everything else, Daoist friend."
"Thank you."
Jang Yeong's eyes gleamed as he looked at the massive carcass of the Vicious Beast. A smile similar to Jekyeong's played on his lips.
After completing the hunt, Jekyeong returned straight to the Black Cult Palace to refine the Essence Blood. Normally, refining Essence Blood required a significant amount of time and effort, but with his powerful physical foundation, Jekyeong was able to drastically shorten the process.
Good.
Having finished the refinement after ten full days, Jekyeong felt a surge of even stronger life force and was deeply satisfied. While he had experienced similar improvements during his Shedding, the scale of improvement from a single drop of Essence Blood was overwhelmingly greater. However, since Shedding also brought development in areas other than Qi and Blood, it was difficult to compare the two directly.
This could be addictive.
The greed he had barely managed to suppress after failing more than ten times reared its head once more. He felt a sudden urge to hunt down every single Vicious Beast in existence just to scrape together a few more drops of Essence Blood.
"Whew."
Taking a few deep breaths to dispel his delusions, Jekyeong coiled himself comfortably and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his spirit had left his physical body and arrived in Bul-mang-won.
"Ah, Jekyeong. You have arrived."
"Senior U."
Jekyeong warmly greeted U Do-baek, who had arrived first and was waiting for him.
"The item is ready. It may be lacking, but I have done my absolute best."
"I trust you, Senior."
"Haha. That puts quite a bit of pressure on me."