The morning after the ferocious battle between the Rank 5 beasts, Huang Di found refuge near a breathtaking lake fed by a towering waterfall. The crystalline waters mirrored the azure sky above, and the peaceful atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the violence he had recently witnessed. He seized the opportunity to bathe, washing away the sweat and grime accumulated during his journey.
As he rested by the lakeside, Huang Di reflected on the stroke of luck that had led him to the fallen beasts.
âThat battle between those two beasts was intense,â he thought. âBut it was an opportunity I couldnât afford to miss.â
He knew the resources he had gathered would be invaluable in the days to come, especially the hearts, renowned for their revitalizing properties.
Dozens of kilometers away, however, the mood was quite different.
Standing before the carcasses of the two slain Rank 5 beasts, a group of eight local cultivators had gathered, their expressions painted with fury and frustration. At their head stood a commanding man known as Lord Cairus, a level 3 expert of the Earth Rank. His eyes swept over his subordinates with piercing intensity.
âWhat happened here?â he demanded, his voice firm and authoritative. âYou were supposed to be watching the corpses. How did someone get in and steal the hearts after all the effort we put into pitting those beasts against each other?â
The young native who had been assigned to keep watch lowered his head in shame.
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âLord Cairus, we arrived about an hour after the beasts died. When we realized the forest had fallen silent, it was already too late. All we found were bones and scraps of meat. The heartsâthe missionâs objectiveâwere gone, as if theyâd never been there.â
Lord Cairus narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.
âAt first, we assumed theyâd been devoured by other beasts,â the young man continued. âBut when we looked closer, we saw clean incisions. Only a sharp blade couldâve made those cuts. Iâve never heard of anyone harvesting hearts that quickly and leaving no trail.â
Lord Cairus gave a grim nod.
âAnd the rain erased most of the tracks,â he muttered. âEven the hounds are struggling to follow any scent. But we canât afford to fail. Those hearts are vital to saving the young masterâs life.â
He paused, fixing his men with a hardened stare.
âWeâll split into pairs and search the four corners of this forest. The culprit is still out there. Whoever finds and retrieves the hearts will be rewarded with a full year of paid leave. But mark my wordsâif we fail, donât even think about returning to Boom House. The only thing waiting for us will be the roasting pit.â
The cultivators, until then downcast and silent, perked up at the mention of such a reward.
âYes, sir!â they chorused, their voices newly charged with purpose.
Meanwhile, unaware of the search now underway, Huang Di finished his bath and began dressing. He took out the second birthday gift he had received from the Emerald Elder: a Rank 5 concealment formation. This artifact could hide him from all Earth Rank experts and Rank 5 beasts or below.
He positioned the formation near his makeshift camp, where he planned to roast the remaining meat from the Rank 5 beasts he had harvested. He knew that beast meat held potent effectsâboosting vitality, strength, and agility for cultivators. Some rare species were even said to enhance intelligence and wisdom, and when prepared by renowned spiritual chefs, the dishes could grant buffs even more extraordinary.