"Fast, don’t underestimate your opponent. This Zhao Qi is very capable. He’s quite famous in Celestial Sea Prefecture now and almost ruined the director’s grand plan."

The other white man, who was training with a water vat, said flatly.

"Skills? Miloque, you’re wrong about that. When it comes down to it, those yellow-skinned wastes from the three big trading firms are just too damn useless. We gave them so many resources, and all they turned out to be was a bunch of good-for-nothings."

"If we weren’t constrained from acting ourselves, how could a few Martial Arts Halls run wild in this puny Celestial Sea Prefecture?"

The last of them, a white man named Broo who wielded two swords, sneered.

"In any case, the director sent the three of us to ensure there are no mistakes. If the Giant Spirit Army gets a hold of us, it’ll make things difficult for our superiors. We’re all working for the Empire; being thorough is what’s most important."

Miloque said.

"Whatever. At least it’s something to do. My body’s been getting rusty. I just hope this Zhao Qi isn’t a total weakling. It’d be no fun if I cut him down in a single blow."

Fast said nonchalantly.

...

...

Night fell, and the sky grew dark.

No. 22 Haitian Road.

Today, Zhao Xuanqi made a rare trip back to the villa, joining Zhao Qin for a simple, home-cooked meal and asking her how she’d been.

Zhao Qin had always been tutored by her parents at home, so she was well-read and sensible. Her studies at the Celestial Sea Prefecture Women’s Academy were going very smoothly as a result. Furthermore, with the protection afforded by his and the Martial Arts Hall’s connections, everything was smooth sailing for her. Her teachers looked after her well. Rumor had it that if she passed her assessment in another six months, Zhao Qin would have the chance to pursue advanced studies at Guangdong University.

And the National Salvation Association had kept its promise to him, not letting Zhao Qin get involved in intelligence work and only having her perform ancillary tasks.

The unspoken tension between them seemed to have dissipated recently, and this meal felt as if it had restored their old warmth.

After dinner, Zhao Xuanqi returned to his room on the second floor. He sat at his desk, casually flipping through a book that had no cover.

The book was filled with records of strange and wondrous Exotic Beasts.

The Rare Beast Atlas!

Zhao Xuanqi’s dealings with the National Salvation Association had begun, and this was the first piece of information he had obtained from them.

He previously knew very little about Rare Beasts, as there was no such information at the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. This had greatly hindered his efforts to concoct the Secret Medicines of the Hundred Beasts Sect.

After all, many Secret Medicine formulas required flesh and blood materials with special properties to be concocted.

"Long Mountain Ox: Born with a single horn, possesses robust Qi and Blood, and has strength enough to demolish houses and breach city walls. Consuming its flesh causes one’s Qi and Blood to flourish. Consuming its horn provides Bone Strengthening and fortifies the tendons..."

"Four-armed White Ape: Cries like an infant, with fur as white as snow. Strong enough to tear apart tigers and leopards, and to capture giant elephants with its bare hands. Consumption strengthens the kidneys and spleen, granting immense strength..."

"Jue Ming Bird: Entirely covered in crimson feathers with a fiery crest. Adept at long journeys. Its body and feathers remain unharmed even when placed in a raging fire. Prolonged consumption strengthens the heart and lungs, granting one resistance to intense heat..."

"Canglan Beast: Six eyes grow upon its head. It is nocturnal and prefers the dark. Soaking one’s eyes in its blood improves vision, granting the ability to see at night and perceive the finest specks of dust..."

"..."

The atlas was filled with descriptions and corresponding illustrations of numerous Rare Beasts, giving Zhao Xuanqi a very clear understanding of each one. He roughly estimated there were at least a hundred entries in the entire book.

The more common varieties of Rare Beasts simply possessed powerful Qi and Blood; eating them provided the body with more ample nourishment. But some of the rarer ones were truly bizarre.

For instance, prolonged consumption of the Jue Ming Bird apparently granted a person a certain resistance to high temperatures and flames.

And with the Canglan Beast, soaking one’s eyes in its blood improved vision. According to the description, a person’s eyesight could be drastically enhanced.

’Where on earth do these Rare Beasts come from?’

Zhao Xuanqi wondered. The history of this world’s Wilderness era seemed vastly different from that of the Blue Star in his previous life. At the same time, this sparked a great many ideas in his mind.

He hadn’t understood the value of Rare Beast Materials before, but now he was beginning to grasp it. Certain Rare Beast Materials were indeed extremely valuable to him. He could perhaps use them, based on the principles of the Hundred Beasts Sect’s Secret Medicines, to concoct even more potent versions. These would be especially beneficial for body transformation in the realms beyond Inner Cultivation, which could significantly accelerate his progress.

Zhao Xuanqi read late into the night before finally closing the book. He lay down on his soft bed, mulling over his current situation.

He now had four city blocks under his control, and his cooperation with the National Salvation Association was secretly underway. Contraband was being smuggled out of Celestial Sea through his shipping channels, and in return, the National Salvation Association provided him with the corresponding Rare Beast Materials.

For now, the Rare Beast Materials he received from the National Salvation Association were more or less enough to sustain his personal cultivation.

’It would be nice if things could go on like this. Once I’ve dealt with the Jili Imperial Chamber of Commerce, I’ll just focus on cultivation and improving my strength. As long as I have enough resources, there’s no need to risk my life.’

Zhao Xuanqi mused. He was, at heart, an easily satisfied person.

Or, perhaps, it was the nature of a beast.

Once its belly is full, it doesn’t want to move.

CHIRR! CHIRR! CHIRR!

As the night grew deeper, the sound of a cicada’s chirping reached his ears. It was nearly autumn; for the sound to be so intense was strange. ’Is this the summer’s Dying Glow?’

Meanwhile, outside the villa.

Several guards from the security agency were standing watch outside the gate, guarding against any incidents.

They too heard the "Cicada’s Chirping," but for them, the sound was... different.

At first it sounded normal, but as the chirping grew more and more intense, they were suddenly struck by dizziness and a wave of nausea that made them want to retch. They tried to shout, but found they couldn’t draw enough air into their lungs.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Just then, three figures burst from the shadows, cleanly and efficiently snapping their necks.

The three Jili Empire Cross Royal Fighters were dressed in black Night Clothes, their bodies wrapped tightly with only their eyes and ears exposed. Black plugs were visible, sealing their ear canals. The muscles and skin on the neck of the smallest of the three, Miloque, were vibrating nonstop as a low, cicada-like drone emanated from his throat.

"Cicada’s Chirping" Miloque. His Secret Medicine Ability was related to his larynx and vocal cords. After reaching the Cross Level, this seemingly useless power underwent a massive transformation, enabling him to emit "Sound Waves" that affected living beings and stripped them of their ability to resist.

After easily dispatching the outer Guards, the three exchanged hand signals and leaped into the villa. Following their intelligence, they located Zhao Xuanqi’s room.

The three exchanged a glance. Fast and Broo somersaulted onto the second-floor balcony, then lunged into the bedroom in another bound. At the same time, Miloque unleashed his "Cicada’s Chirping," no longer concealing his power.

Inside Zhao Xuanqi’s bedroom, a human-shaped lump was visible beneath the covers of the large, soft bed.

Fast, wielding two sabers, viciously slashed at the human-shaped lump on the bed.

"Wait!"

But Broo’s pupils suddenly contracted. His superior eyesight instantly told him that the human-shaped figure on the bed wasn’t a person.

’It’s a fake!!’

But Fast’s attack was already unstoppable. His saber slashed down violently onto the bed.

SWOOSH!!

The entire bed was sliced in two.

Just then.

CRASH!!

The doors of the nearby wardrobe suddenly exploded outward, and a figure shot out from within.