"Gods, I never would have guessed. To think Tiger is from the Beast Race! He’s... barely any different from a human!" Mo Qing said in admiration as he sized up Tiger, who radiated a powerful aura even while sitting. "He’s a true man!"

Tiger grinned, flashing Mo Qing a good-natured smile. "Thanks for the compliment!"

Mo Qing’s expression turned to one of surprise again. This time, he was utterly convinced. He never would have thought that this Beastman of the Tiger Race not only looked nearly identical to a human, but even spoke the language so fluently! If Ling Xiao hadn’t told him, he never would have believed the giant of a man before him was a Beastman!

When Tiger saw Ye Zi, his pupils contracted for a split second. But because he had been told about her beforehand, he didn’t let his surprise show on his face. At the same time, Tiger suddenly felt as if... he were still back in the forests of Penzes Swamp.

Ye Zi sized up Tiger with curiosity. It was her first time seeing a Beastman. She had originally thought Beastmen looked like Magical Beasts that simply walked upright, so she was surprised that the first one she met was practically identical to a human. Moreover, Ye Zi could clearly sense that this Beastman’s attitude toward her... seemed somewhat different.

She couldn’t put her finger on how it was different, but all in all, it was a very friendly feeling.

"This time, I obtained a great deal of wealth from the Beast Race. The condition is that within one year, we must find a way for their people to live in my territory," Ling Xiao said, looking at Uncle Fu. "Is there any explicit law in the Empire that designates the Beast Race as an enemy?"

Uncle Fu shook his head. "Young Master, the Empire has no such law. It is simply that from time immemorial, the relationship between the Beast Race and humans has been one of constant opposition. Humanity’s understanding of the Beast Race is limited to them being ferocious, barbaric, bloodthirsty, and rapacious—all negative, unfavorable impressions. Therefore, if you rashly create a settlement for the Beast Race, it will surely incite fear and anger in many people. You must act with caution, Young Master."

Mo Qing chimed in, "The Penzes Beast Race just attacked Cameron Town last year, plundering a great deal of food and wealth. You yourself, Young Master, were granted your title for this very reason. If you openly bring the Beast Race into your territory, I fear that the petitions sent to His Majesty the King calling for your impeachment will pile up like a mountain!"

Ye Zi pursed her lips, looking somewhat unconvinced. "It’s not as complicated as you all think. I believe this matter is quite simple!"

Seeing all eyes on her, Ye Zi said calmly, "Since the Empire has no decree explicitly stating the Beast Race are enemies, and the Southern King spends a fortune on military expenses every year to keep troops stationed in Penzes Swamp, isn’t that all to prevent the Beast Race from attacking humans? If... Ling Xiao can solve this problem and allow humans and the Beast Race to live in peace, wouldn’t His Majesty the King be too grateful to complain? He’d even save a massive amount in military funding every year! As for the Southern King, he can go wherever he pleases."

Ling Wu was strongly in favor of Ye Zi’s suggestion. He found the silent Tiger, who seemed to be brimming with explosive power, very much to his liking. "I agree with Ye Zi!" he said loudly. "Besides, that bastard Southern King already has it out for us! Hmph. Lately, he’s even been sending his army to aggressively search all the merchants entering and leaving Penzes City, causing widespread resentment. I can’t stand the sight of him! I’m on board with anything that’ll make his life miserable!"

Mo Qing contemplated for a moment before speaking. "I still have my doubts about this matter. However, there is one thing I can foresee. If you, Young Master... can step forward to declare that the Beast Race have become subjects of your domain and promise they will not attack humans, I believe the commoners of Penzes City will definitely support you! In fact, last year when rumors spread that the Beast Race was going to attack Penzes City, most of those who fled were the wealthy and the nobility. The commoners, though terrified, mostly stayed put. The policies you’ve enacted this year have not only allowed the common people to eat their fill, but they also have enough of a surplus to live well. Because of this, the commoners’ gratitude toward you has already surpassed... their reverence for the throne!"

Uncle Fu nodded. "City Lord Mo Qing is right. Young Master, your prestige in Penzes City has already surpassed that of any other Lord in the Empire. When it comes down to it, this whole affair is really about whether humans and the Beast Race can truly coexist peacefully. And... whether you, Young Master, possess enough power to make your dissenters shut their mouths."

Ling Xiao nodded. He had already considered this issue at length. He still had one year. Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed. ’The next step is to process the Crystal Cores I brought back from the Beast Race. I’ll start with my personal soldiers.’

Crystal Cores stored massive amounts of energy. Ling Xiao had been studying these cores, which grew inside Magical Beasts, to determine how they differed from the Energy Crystal Stones he had used in his past life in the Cultivation Realm.

In the Cultivation Realm of his time, where Spiritual Qi was scarce, Energy Crystal Stones were priceless. A single Crystal Stone was enough to incite a vicious battle between two Cultivators, and more often than not, they would rather fight to mutual destruction than concede an inch.

Cultivators could directly absorb Crystal Stones, converting them into Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to provide themselves with tremendous energy.

As for Magic Beast Crystal Cores, Ling Xiao had discovered that while he could directly absorb energy from them, drawing from these cores with their distinct elemental energies was no faster than absorbing the ambient Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Thus, he had abandoned the practice of drawing energy from Crystal Cores for himself.

In this world, only Demon Sword Masters could draw power directly from Crystal Cores. Martial Artists below that rank simply lacked this ability.

But Magic Beast Crystal Cores could be refined!

When he was refining Foundation Establishment Pills, Ling Xiao had once tried refining a Tier Two Magic Beast Crystal Core. He discovered that a refined Magic Beast Crystal Core, combined with certain Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, could also rapidly increase a Martial Artist’s strength!

It wasn’t even out of the question to create masters on the level of the High Priest! Although not everyone could be raised to such a high level of strength due to differences in aptitude, for an army that valued teamwork... this was, quite simply, a supreme-grade Spirit Medicine!

Unfortunately, Ling Xiao had been too poor before, and Crystal Cores were far too expensive. Just imagine, a single Tier Two Crystal Core was worth more than ten thousand gold coins. And ten thousand gold coins, converted into the copper coins used by commoners, was ten million!

In other words, a single Tier Two Crystal Core was a fortune that a commoner’s family couldn’t earn in several generations!

Back then, Ling Xiao had hardly any Crystal Cores in reserve and couldn’t afford to waste them. Just supplying Clown alone was already a strain on his resources.

But now, everything was different!

More than fifty thousand Tier Two to Tier Four Magic Beast Crystal Cores—it was enough for Ling Xiao to forge a true ace army!

When that time came, even a random one of his personal soldiers would possess the strength of a Mad Sword Master or higher. ’With an army like that,’ he thought, ’forget the King—even the hidden clans and sects would be green with envy and... tremble in fear!’

’At that point, when I openly bring the Beast Race into the fold, who would dare to utter a word of nonsense?’

For the next ten-odd days, Ling Xiao shut himself in his room and began refining the very elixir that had the power to rewrite the history of the Empire.

Ling Xiao knew full well that once this elixir was administered to his personal soldiers and became widely known, the news would inevitably spread. When that happened, he would face pressure from all sides. Even His Majesty the King would surely demand this elixir from him.

’Anyone who wants it can go ask that hidden, super-powerful sect... the Shushan Sword Sect!’ Ling Xiao thought.

’And then, I’ll have to play the part of a ’master’ from this hidden clan myself.’

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My kid was a real handful today, so this Chapter is late. My apologies. (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters. Please support the author and read from the official source!)