The swamp had grown quiet—but not peaceful.
The heavy scent of blood still lingered faintly in the damp air, mixing with the rotting smell of stagnant water. Ripples spread lazily across the surface, as if the swamp itself was holding its breath.
Third Elder Lu Chanki slowly lowered himself onto a relatively dry patch of ground, his robes soaked and stained.
He exhaled.
"Everyone… this place will be safe for a short time before the blood spreads."
His voice was steady, but carried the weight of command.
"Those who can still move—gather and harvest the beast's body."
He paused, glancing around at the exhausted disciples.
"Those who cannot—sit down, recover. Move your qi. Don't waste time pretending to be strong."
A few disciples awkwardly straightened, clearly called out.
Lu Chanki reached into his sleeve and brought out a small jade bottle. He poured a pill into his palm—smooth, pale blue, with faint spiritual mist curling around it.
He swallowed it without hesitation.
"This is a Tier 2 — Foundation Establishment Realm Healing Pill: Azure Spirit Recovery Pill," he said casually, noticing the curious glances. "Don't even think about asking for one."
Lu Yanhai, who had just sat down heavily nearby, immediately looked away.
"…I wasn't going to."
Lu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. "You were absolutely going to."
"I was considering it," Yanhai corrected.
—
Harvesting the Battlefield
Soon, those still capable began moving.
Among them were:
Lu Jianhong — late-stage Qi Refining, a veteran known for his calm precision
Lu Meilin — mid-stage Qi Refining, skilled in herb gathering
Lu Zhenyu — mid-stage Qi Refining, brute strength, not much else
Lu Qingshan — mid-stage Qi Refining, quiet and observant
Lu Fang — mid-stage Qi Refining, talkative… even now
"Alright," Lu Jianhong said, clapping his hands once. "Same formation as training. Skin, bones, cores, blood—separate everything cleanly. Don't waste materials."
Lu Zhenyu stepped toward a crocodile corpse, cracking his knuckles.
"Finally, something I'm good at."
He raised his blade—
—and promptly slipped in the mud.
SLAP!
He landed face-first beside the crocodile.
Silence.
Then—
Lu Fang burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! The crocodile didn't kill you, but the ground did!"
Lu Zhenyu slowly lifted his head, mud dripping down his face.
"…I slipped strategically."
Lu Meilin didn't even look up as she worked.
"Next time, strategize with your feet."
—
The harvesting began in earnest.
Blades cut through tough scales with effort. Blood was carefully collected into containers. Bones were extracted. Even the crocodile's eyes and teeth were stored—valuable materials for crafting.
Lu Jianhong worked efficiently, his movements precise.
"Don't damage the core!" he warned.
Lu Fang, who was trying to pry something loose, froze.
"…It was already like that."
"It was not."
"…It became like that."
—
After some time—
Lu Yanxi, Lu Yanshi, and Lu Yanhai approached Lu Chanki.
Carefully, they placed three large eggs before him.
Each egg was the size of a human head, covered in faint, scale-like patterns. A subtle but powerful aura pulsed from within.
Lu Chanki's eyes lit up slightly.
"Good… good!"
He picked one up, inspecting it closely.
"Worthy of being eggs laid by a Foundation Establishment Realm Iron-Hide Crocodile."
His tone carried rare satisfaction.
"These are Tier 2 spirit beast eggs," he continued. "With proper nurturing… they have the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Lu Yanhai leaned in slightly.
"…So they're basically future monsters."
Lu Chanki smirked faintly. "Only if raised by someone competent."
Yanxi glanced at Yanhai. "So not you."
"Hey!"
—
Lu Chanki looked at the three of them.
"Do you know what it means… to contract a beast with Foundation Establishment potential?"
Lu Yanshi answered first, her tone steady.
"It means the clan will become stronger."
"Correct," Lu Chanki nodded. "But that is only part of it."
He looked at the other two.
Silence.
Lu Yanhai scratched his head.
"…It means we'll be harder to kill?"
Lu Yanxi sighed. "At least you're honest."
Lu Chanki chuckled.
"Not wrong—but still incomplete."
—
He leaned forward slightly.
"Then let me ask you this—why is our Lu Clan able to match the combined strength of three neighboring clans at the Qi Refining Realm?"
This time—
Lu Yanxi answered.
"Because we are beast tamers. We don't fight alone—we fight alongside our spirit beasts."
"HAHA! Correct!"
Lu Chanki nodded approvingly.
"But still… not the main reason."
—
The three exchanged confused looks.
"Then what is it?" Yanshi asked.
—
Lu Chanki's expression grew serious.
"Listen carefully."
"After cultivating the Qi Refining chapter of the Imperial Beast Taming Law… you gain an ability called Qi Sharing, correct?"
"Yes, Third Elder," the three replied together.
"Good."
He raised a finger.
"Now—do you know that all pills contain at least a trace amount of poison?"
"Yes," Yanxi said. "About one percent. Excessive consumption leads to pill poisoning—clogged meridians, slowed cultivation."
"Exactly."
Lu Chanki nodded.
"Now—why is the spirit tortoise our clan's primary contracted beast?"
Lu Yanshi answered, "Because of the ancestral tortoise."
"Yes… but not the main reason."
Lu Yanxi added, "Because our clan values steady and cautious cultivation."
Lu Chanki coughed lightly.
"You are both correct… but still not the core reason."
—
He paused.
Then spoke slowly.
"Tortoise-type beasts possess exceptionally strong foundations."
"They can store far more spiritual qi than most beasts."
"And most importantly…"
He raised three fingers.
"They can consume five times more pills than humans… without suffering pill poisoning."
—
The three froze.
Lu Yanhai blinked.
"…Wait."
"…That's cheating."
—
Lu Chanki laughed.
"It is called advantage."
"Through Qi Sharing, the spiritual qi refined by the beast returns to you."
"So even if your own body reaches its limit…"
"Your beast continues."
—
Lu Yanshi's eyes sharpened.
"So… even those with poor talent…"
"…can progress steadily?"
"Yes."
Lu Chanki nodded.
"Given time—70 to 80 years—any hardworking Lu Clan disciple can reach peak-stage Qi Refining."
—
Lu Yanhai slowly raised his hand.
"…Then why haven't I felt this 'benefit'?"
—
Lu Chanki looked at him… then shook his head with a faint smile.
"Hmmm… that is because you are troublesome."
"…What?"
"I mean," Lu Chanki corrected smoothly, "you possess top-tier talent."
—
Yanxi smirked.
"Translation: your beast is benefiting from you."
Yanshi nodded. "You're the battery."
—
Yanhai stared into the distance.
"…So I've been working hard… for my snake?"
From behind them, Lu Fang shouted while harvesting:
"Welcome to responsibility!"
—
Lu Chanki continued.
"For average or below-average talents, the situation is different."
"But if such a disciple contracts a beast with higher bloodline and potential…"
"Their cultivation speeds can match—or even exceed—yours."
—
He stood up slowly.
"That is the true strength of our Lu Clan."
—
Lu Yanxi handed out pills from her pouch.
"These are Tier 1 — Qi Refining Realm Healing Pills: Green Wood Vital Pills," she said. "Take one each—don't be greedy."
Lu Zhenyu immediately grabbed two.
Yanxi stared at him.
"…Put one back."
"…This is for my other injuries."
"You only have one injury."
"…Emotionally, I have many."
—
Even Lu Chanki chuckled at that.
—
Nearby, one of the veterans carefully sealed a container.
"This crocodile blood alone is worth the mission," Lu Jianhong muttered.
Lu Meilin nodded. "And the bones—perfect for forging defensive artifacts."
—
Departure
After everything was collected—
The corpses reduced to nothing but empty husks—
Lu Chanki looked over the group.
"Enough."
"Gather yourselves."
"We leave now."
—
The disciples slowly stood.
Tired.
Injured.
But different.
—
As they began moving—
Lu Yanhai whispered,
"…Next time, can we have a mission that doesn't involve something trying to eat us?"
Lu Yanshi replied calmly,
"No."
Lu Yanxi added,
"That was the easier mission."
—
Yanhai sighed deeply.
"…We're definitely going to die someday."
—
From ahead, Lu Chanki's voice drifted back:
"Not if you run faster than your beast."
—
There was a pause.
Then Lu Yanhai panicked.
"WAIT—MY BEAST HAS TWO HEADS!"