Lu Zhou asked, “Aren’t Birth Chart Beasts categorized by their strength and size?”
Xiao Yunhe nodded and explained, “That’s usually the case for most Birth Chart Beasts. However, this doesn’t apply to Birth Chart Beasts with intelligence. They understand humans’ cultivation methods, they know how to cheat, they know how to retreat… They can’t be grouped together with the other Birth Chart Beasts. They’re incredibly precious and rare. Needless to say, many cultivation experts covet them, but it’s a pity it’s not easy at all to find them…”
Lu Zhou nodded. “So the White Tower Council left the formation flags here to capture that Birth Chart Beast?”
“The people of the white tower set up a formation here in order to take down that life-bound beast?”
Jiang Jiuli said, “To be frank, the alliance between the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council has been broken. Before this, the White Tower Council would not come to the red lotus domain’s Southern Kingdom. Since the beginning of this year, the White Tower Council has been thinking of ways and trying to occupy more of the Black Tower Council’s territories. The Southern Kingdom is one of the places they’re gradually occupying…”
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhou said, “The Black Tower Council’s shamelessness really exceeded my imagination. Since when did the red lotus domain and the golden lotus domain become the Black Tower Council’s territories?”
“…”
An awkward expression appeared on Jiang Jiuli’s face, and he no longer dared to speak.
Lu Zhou asked, “Since you know this place has been occupied by the White Tower Council, why are you so bold as to come here?”
“This…” Jiang Liuli hesitated.
“It seems like you have a problem.”
Jiang Jiuli quickly bowed and said in trepidation. “No, no, I have absolutely no problem! I-I received news that a special Birth Chart Beast will appear here so I came to investigate. I didn’t expect to meet your disciples here. Although I’m a member of the Black Tower Council, there are many things that are out of my control. Even then, I have no intention of harming your disciples. If there’s an ounce of falsehood in my words, I’ll be struck by lightning.”
Lu Zhou stared at Jiang Jiuli for a moment before he asked, “What kind of special Birth Chart Beast is it?”
Jiang Jiuli sighed inwardly. It was obvious that it was impossible to conceal the matter at this point. He said, “This special Birth Chart Beast is called Ying Zhao. I don’t know what it looks like; there aren’t many cultivators who have seen it before. I only came here on a mission by the Black Tower Council. From the information I obtained, this Ying Zhao is indeed intelligent, but currently, its intelligence is that of a ten-year-old child.”
‘The intelligence of a ten-year-old child? This intelligence is rather high for a Birth Chart Beasts…’
“Then how did you know it would appear here?” Lu Zhou grew more and more curious.
In other places where humans lived, it was easy to figure out when a fierce beast of a Birth Chart Beast would appear since Nine-leaf and Ten-leaf cultivators attracted them. However, the Land of Chaos was different. It was almost impossible for one to figure out when a Birth Chart Beast, let alone a special Birth Chart Beast, would appear. How did the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council figure it out?
“This… I don’t know,” Jiang Jiuli said awkwardly.
Xiao Yunhe smiled. “Actually, fierce beasts are similar to humans in certain ways. They have different levels of strength and a hierarchy. Every once in a while, the number of beasts would increase and a war would break out. Humans establish authority through wars, and the beasts are no different. There are beasts that challenge other powerful beasts to improve their strength. Fierce beasts have strong territorial consciousness. However, whenever they are defeated by another fierce beast, their territorial consciousness would disappear. As a result, they would submit to the beast that defeated them. Needless to say, intelligent beasts can only control mid-tier or bottom-tier beasts with no intelligence. Every year, the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council would send people to secretly set up an observation formation to observe the beasts’ numbers…”
Lu Zhou asked curiously, “With the intelligent beasts, won’t the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council be discovered?”
“No matter what, humans are more intelligent. Moreover, the beasts’ number is really too small…” Xiao Yunhe replied.
“Tower Master Xiao is really knowledgeable,” Jiang Jiuli said.
‘Must you state the obvious? I was once the Tower Master of the Black Tower Council, after all.’
“So you’re saying there will be a war between fierce beasts in the chaotic Southern Kingdom?” Lu Zhou raised an eyebrow.
“That’s right. Usually, humans won’t interfere and will just wait to reap the benefits at the end. Moreover, no matter how intelligent the Birth Chart Beasts are, they’re only comparable to children. How can they fight against adults? Ying Zhao had been sighted here before. Therefore, the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council deduced Ying Zhao will show up.”
At this time, Yu Zhenghai who had been silent the entire time said, “Based on your words, it seems like humans have always had the advantage and the beasts are really pitiful…”
“No, they’re equals,” Xiao Yunhe said with a sigh, “In the past, many intelligent fierce beasts had led a high number of attacks on human cities. As you can imagine, many humans were killed and injured. The beasts have the advantage of numbers on their side. They’re everywhere; in the sky, on land, and in the sea. Meanwhile, humans only used their intelligence to plot against each other…”
“…” Upon hearing Xiao Yunhe’s words, Lu Zhou was reminded of Lu Li and Yan Zhenluo.
In fact, whether it was in the cultivation world or modern civilization, the reason humans stood on top of the food chain was their intelligence. There was a saying about how the greatest enemy of humans were humans themselves.
After a while, Lu Zhou said, “I’m very interested in such a Birth Chart Beast.”
Xiao Yunhe and Jiang Jiuli. “…”
“Do you have a problem?”
“N-no…”
Xiao Yunhe and Jiang Liuli smiled. They did not dare to object at all.
At this moment, Wu Chao returned and said, “The treatment has been completed. That poison spike was incredibly sinister. Fortunately, it didn’t escape my notice. All he needs to do is rest, and he’ll fully recover after a month.”
Lu Zhou looked at Yu Shangrong whose shoulder had been wrapped. Indeed. Yu Shangrong looked much better than before. He thought to himself no one would believe that the Ten-leaf Yu Shangrong could deal with a Three Chart Thousand Realms Whirling expert.
Xiao Yunhe seized the chance and said, “Brother Lu, this is Wu Chao whom you chased after previously. Perhaps, you can forgive him since he healed your disciple?”
Wu Chao hurriedly bowed and smiled ingratiatingly.
Lu Zhou glanced at Wu Chao and said, “I’m not an unreasonable person. If someone shows me respect, I’ll return the favor as well…” Then, he brought out one elementary life heart from the bag he obtained from Nangong Yutian and placed it in Xiao Yunhe’s hand before he said, “Both of you deserve this…”
Xiao Yunhe. “…”
Wu Chao. “…”
Seeing the dazed expression on the duo’s face, Lu Zhou asked, puzzled, “Do you dislike it?”
Although Lu Zhou had no use for the elementary life heart, it should be known he had many disciples who needed it. Even if it was just an elementary life heart, it was a treasure everyone in the cultivation world would fight for.
When Xiao Yun snapped back to his senses, he hurriedly said, “No, no, no… This thing is too valuable. I didn’t do much. There’s no need to reward me when I didn’t do much.”
That was probably the biggest lie Xiao Yunhe had ever told in his life. After all, he was once a Twelve Chart expert. Even if he only had seven Birth Charts now, he could still be considered an expert. It was not surprising that he looked down on elementary life hearts. Otherwise, why would he go to so much trouble just to come to the red lotus domain’s Southern Kingdom?
On the contrary, Wu Chao’s expression was slightly unnatural. In fact, the elementary life heart that belonged to a flying beast was rather useful to him. However, since Xiao Yunhe had refused the elementary life heart, what else could he say?
Lu Zhou said insistently, “That won’t do. How can I take back something I’ve given away?”
Seeing Lu Zhou’s determination, Xiao Yunhe no longer refused. “Alright. I’ll accept it then. Thank you.”
Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. Then, he said, “If you feel bad, you can stay back. After all, I’m very interested in that special Birth Chart Beast…”
Xiao Yunhe. “…”
Xiao Yunhe felt the loss he suffered for this elementary life heart was really too big.
