Whether the goal of this ambush was the clans or the city lord, Ming Ren had nothing to do with it. He couldn’t care less if the Cloud, White, and Silver clans had heavy losses, yet thinking this way displeased him. The ones who suffered the most were loose cultivators or those from the lower-ranked clans. Those clans would also think of this event as an opportunity to temper their members and try their luck at getting some good monster cores, sending a few teams over.
Ming Ren’s knowledge and exceptional cultivation law reduced the effect of this place’s harmful spiritual energy, but he couldn’t just wait for everything outside to pass. Lin Qiang and the others would not be so lucky, “Senior, can you locate the beast tamer?”
Taking out the tamer could make everything easier, but controlling powerful spirit beasts also meant he had good cultivation.
“He is not within the forest. Besides, it wouldn’t matter, this command lasts until the beast’s death, they’re disposable,” Jana didn’t sound worried nor pitied their lives. Not all spirit beasts shared blood and ties. Tamed beasts gave their lives and souls to their master; Sacrificing themselves for him fulfilled their purpose in life.
Taking out the tamer would not be an option. Ming Ren examined what he got from looting cultivators and spirit beasts corpses: monster cores, low-ranked pills for injury recovery and Qi replenishing, a few low-ranked traps for spirit beasts, and low-quality silver needles. Everything only had situational uses.
Ming Ren sighed. With useless tools, improving their strength seemed to be the best course of action available. No matter how many spirit beasts were there, cultivators could defeat them by fighting in an organized way, unless they had something which surpassed this province’s level of power within their ranks. However, their losses would not be small.
Ming Ren decided to break through from inside the moment the other groups attacked but needed to improve their odds of survival first. The Bright Eyes technique activated with a small and almost imperceptible flash.
‘What fierce eye technique!’ Jana couldn’t help but praise.
Ming Ren scanned the unconscious group and then sighed again. Aside from Lin Qiang and elder Lin Dong, the others were ordinary. Having them break through inside would hurt their cultivation path prematurely.
Lin Dong and Lin Qiang were different. The elder had wood as true element, turning this place into a blessing, and the young woman had the [Supreme Beast God’s Blessing]. On the surface, her body looked ordinary right now. Cultivators only found true elements and rare energies at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. Once the Beast God’s blessing awakened no amount of harmful spiritual energy or baleful aura could suppress its magnificence.
Ming Ren had a sudden thought.
“Senior Jana, if you’re willing to trust this junior, there might be another opportunity for your Sacred Tree Clan!”
“Another opportunity?”
“The odds of the Sacred Tree Clan will improve as long as senior shares your bloodline with these two. Even if I, Ming Ren, cannot do it, this girl could!” Ming Ren said as if it was a small matter, but it was not so.
Ancient spirit beasts were proud creatures, sharing their bloodlines was a great honor. More than that, it signified trust, acceptance, and willingness to take the other party as kin. A connection between body and soul, carrying their secrets and weaknesses. How could they spread it easily?
Jana pondered for a while, struggling inside. It never shared bloodlines with anyone before. Now, not only this youth but two more human younglings? Ming Ren already convinced Jana of his vast knowledge by this point, weighing heavily in the decision, “Very well, but I need an explanation.”
Ming Ren didn’t beat around the bushes, “That girl is a spiritual beast oracle!”
“…Impossible!” Jana’s eyes shone with doubt and rested on Lin Qiang, peeking deeper this time, “Beast God’s Blessing!”
Noticing this divine power was difficult, but knowing what to look for made it easier.
“…How is this possible? On this lower plane, such a high-grade blessing!” Jana fought spiritual beast oracles before. They led an organization In the Upper Realms. A high-grade blessing would be a treasure even there, this girl would gain tremendous power in the organization.
Jana stared at Ming Ren, wondering what kind of heaven-defying secret this youth had to spot even a spiritual beast oracle. It decided not to let go of this opportunity. As for Lin Dong, it didn’t matter now. Having found a spiritual beast oracle, what was adding another human to the mix? Hell, even if Ming Ren asked to pass its bloodline to the entire Bright Clan it would still be worth it.
“Very well!” Jana hid its power as much as possible, obscuring the veil even more so as not to hurt the humans. Ming Ren woke up elder Lin Dong and Lin Qiang. The elder opened his eyes first, body still tattered and torn.
“…Is this the underworld…? W-where? I’m sure I died…” Elder Lin Dong felt weak and feeble.
“Heh, elder, it was not your time yet!” Ming Ren teased, tossing a few pills over, “Take them. It won’t heal completely, but you’ll feel much better!”
“…Benefactor…?” Lin Dong didn’t understand what happened but guessed his benefactor somehow saved him. He took the pills and sat to circulate Qi, helping the medicine take effect. Lin Qiang woke up next. She only remembered going into the passage and feeling tired before passing out.
“Where is this?”
“This…” Ming Ren scratched the head looking for the best answer, “A senior’s place of rest. We came in uninvited, but he kindly forgave us.”
Lin Qiang and Lin Dong frowned. They never heard of any senior living in the Vagrant Woods before. Ming Ren then explained the current situation to them.
“Heavens! So someone is behind this? How could that be!” Elder Lin Dong said.
Lin Qiang looked at Ming Ren, “…Do you have a plan? Is that senior going to help us?”
Elder Lin Dong waited with expectation, but Ming Ren shook the head, “We can’t depend on senior’s direct help. We need to get out by ourselves. As soon as help comes, we’ll also rush out.”
Elder Lin Dong nodded, “I don’t know about the other clans, but since Little Fu is here, the patriarch will definitely come. He cannot die here! We must warn them, I need to pass everything on to the clan.”
Lin Qiang looked at him with a puzzled expression, and the elder explained everything to her. She was not only the future of the Forest Clan but favored by Ming Ren. If anything happened to him, Lin Qiang could pass everything on to the clan.
Lin Qiang’s eyes widened in surprise the more she heard. Improving cultivation laws? Creating heaven-grade martial techniques? Was this a dream?
Ming Ren felt a little shy and scratched the head timidly, “hehehe.”
“But…” Lin Qiang looked around. Their strongest, elder Lin Dong, was hurt. The others could fight Body Tempering Realm spirit beasts but not stronger ones. Aside from running and hiding, they couldn’t do much, “…there’s no way we can pass through these beasts.”
Elder Lin Dong thought the same and looked at Ming Ren, hoping this young benefactor could create a miracle.
“That’s why we need to power up!” Ming Ren said with confidence.
Power up? How can it be this easy!
“Benefactor, although this place is full of spiritual energy, and even with the new cultivation law, to improve enough to make a difference…” Elder Lin Dong couldn’t help but say.
“Don’t worry. First, pass on the law and techniques to Miss Lin,” Ming Ren said. The elder taught her everything. Lin Qiang immediately sat to cultivate and practice the improved Law.
Ming Ren activated the Bright Eyes and inspected the particularities of her constitution. The green-haired young woman, with her clear eyes and long legs, threatened to allure his senses. Even Ming Ren felt nervous when looking at her so much. He put the right hand in front of his mouth, linked the arms, and said after a while, “Good!”
Ming Ren passed the [One With The Wood] cultivation law tailored for her body with spiritual sense. He changed it to obtain the most advantage out of this place’s spiritual energy and Jana’s blood. He then did the same for Lin Dong.
Hidden in the shadows, Jana had eyes wide open as if watching an unbelievable scene. Ming Ren’s spiritual sense was understandable seeing how strong his soul was, but to change cultivation laws that way? Even in the Upper Realms there was no one like him!
“Now, opening your meridians!” With a set of silver needles in his hand, Ming Ren solved a few problems on their constitution, and helped their channels expand. Every little help counted. The hard part came…
“Senior, it’s your turn now,” Ming Ren shouted. Lin Qiang and Lin Dong looked eager to meet this senior. Out of nowhere, a veiled figure with many eyes appeared. At that moment, they felt their souls about to melt away and minds ready to go crazy. Even with Jana restraining its powers, it felt as they could drop dead at any moment.
“T-This…” Elder Lin Dong would fall to the ground if he wasn’t sitting cross-legged. Lin Qiang stood there in a daze.
“Humans, be grateful. This one will form a pact with you!” Jana tried not to scare them out of their wits.
Lin Qiang and Elder Lin Dong trembled. Forming a pact with such majestic spirit beast? They saw the beast did its best to stay hidden but its power could still crush their souls with ease. What realm was this spirit beast at?
Elder Lin Dong glanced at Ming Ren, knowing this was another opportunity he provided. If not, how could his poor talent move this ancient being? With this, his eyes shone with determination!