Wang Linchi quickly extracted plentiful intelligence from this man named Shidai, a Remnant of the Hundred Beast Sect.

Shidai's situation was rather tough; in fact, all Remnants of the Hundred Beast Sect fared poorly. As defeated combatants, even if they were incorporated, their status couldn't be changed, and others deliberately exploited their lack of background and power.

Thus, over the years, many disciples of the Hundred Beast Sect who had been incorporated either perished or became incapacitated within a decade. Only a small fraction, like Shidai's group, managed to survive and live slightly better.

As for how they connected with the Elders and Deacons in the Beast Garden Secret Realm, it was naturally through internal connections within the Sects.

Although the Elders, Deacons, and others manipulated them, they did provide genuine benefits. These included the once invaluable Soul Forging Method and resources from the Secret Realm, which were distributed based on contributions.

According to Shidai, these Elders and Deacons were no longer considered Awakeners. They had completely integrated into the Beast Garden Secret Realm, unable to leave, effectively becoming its native inhabitants.

Previously, they merely sustained their consciousness by consuming Awakeners.

They used a certain Soul Skill to fuse themselves with Beast King Species. However, this Soul Skill came at a cost: they needed the spiritual power of Awakeners as a supplement to prevent their consciousness from dissipating.

Even so, over nearly a decade, the behaviors and thoughts of these Elders and Deacons had been subtly eroded by the instincts of the Beast King Species.

They were not confined to a single Beast King Species body; instead, they would switch to a new Beast King Species body periodically. This was to ensure they wouldn't be assimilated by staying in one body for too long.

As for why they didn't choose human bodies, it wasn't that they didn't want to, but that they couldn't.

The Soul Skill was specific in its requirements; changing it was impossible. At best, they could only strive to find ways to delay the inevitable.

Altering the Soul Skill would be like trying to use a healing spell as a Fireball Technique—it simply wasn't that easy.

Wang Linchi also learned from Shidai about the "Hundred Beasts Soul Forging Method." Currently, all disciples in contact with the Hundred Beast Sect were cultivating this particular Soul Forging Method.

This was for two reasons: firstly, it was the best Soul Forging Method they could access that also offered a path for further cultivation, and secondly, they would be supplied with resources for it.

The Court had always treated them as cannon fodder, so it naturally wouldn't provide them with anything good; in fact, the Court seemed eager to see them completely depleted.

"This should be the place. Now is a good opportunity."

Wang Linchi gazed at a nearby valley. It was currently silent because the Elders and Deacons of the Hundred Beast Sect had all gone out to feed to maintain their consciousness, so naturally, no one would be present.

Originally, the Elders and Deacons had lived in a palace. However, as their bestial transformation became more severe, they eventually stopped living in palaces or houses, their behavior becoming akin to that of wild beasts.

As for the Thunder Monkey King, its previous Beast King Species body had actually been a Stormsplit Bear. Its disposition hadn't yet adapted from its former self, which was why it lived in a cave. After some time, once influenced by its new form, it would move into the trees.

Wang Linchi silently slipped into the valley. According to Shidai, the Hundred Beast Sect hadn't managed to transfer many resources; even the "Hundred Beasts Soul Forging Method" had actually been transcribed from memory by the Elders and Deacons.

At that time, the Court was already attacking. They barely had time to flee, let alone transfer resources. Attempting to move resources would have likely meant losing not only the resources but also getting caught themselves.

The resources given to the disciples were those they acquired themselves within the Secret Realm. Disguising themselves as Beast King Species naturally offered certain advantages, but it was also dangerous. Some Elders and Deacons had died at the hands of the Court's Awakeners—not pursued as Remnants of the Sect, but mistaken for actual Beast King Species and killed by being skinned and having their tendons torn out.

"HUUFF..." Just as Wang Linchi entered the valley, he heard heavy breathing.

A massive Tiger, the size of a small hill, was sleeping. Blood stained the corners of its mouth, and the partial skeleton of a cow lay nearby.

Wang Linchi's expression tightened. So much for trust between people...

Shidai had claimed there were no Beast King Species currently in this valley. Clearly, Wang Linchi had been deceived.

But it didn't matter. Wang Linchi had already made Shidai pay the price. Before coming here, Wang Linchi had... dealt with him and buried him. He very generously forgave Shidai.

They were both at fault, so it all evened out. No harm, no foul.

If I'm not mistaken, this should be the Crimson Flame Tiger King. The only one capable of possessing such a Beast King Species... that would be the Supreme Elder, right? Combining his observation of the giant Tiger with the intelligence from Shidai, Wang Linchi made some deductions.

As for why one was left behind to guard... isn't that perfectly normal? For everyone to go out to feed and leave the place empty? That wouldn't be wise. They should take turns, at the very least.

Alright then, kill first, ask questions later!

For Wang Linchi, this was good news. Whoever it was, they must be in possession of the "Hundred Beasts Soul Forging Method" and its corresponding resources.

The silhouette of the Saint Master quietly appeared and, without hesitation, launched an attack on the Crimson Flame Tiger King.

Wang Linchi's Fanciful and Fickle, however, struck even faster.

"ROAR!"

At that instant, the Crimson Flame Tiger King jolted awake. A tiger's roar boomed as intense, high-temperature flames scattered in all directions.

This opponent clearly had some skill; it wasn't dispatched instantly like the Thunder Monkey King.

Moreover, it possessed some ability to purify negative statuses; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to break free so quickly.

CLANG!

Upon waking, the Supreme Elder fiercely blocked the Saint Master's attack with a pair of Tiger Claws and even managed to counter-attack.

Immense strength, accompanied by flames, forcefully pushed the Saint Master back. However, the Supreme Elder didn't escape unscathed. Negative effects corresponding to Fanciful and Fickle appeared on his body—Wang Linchi wasn't limited to a single attack.

Furthermore, the Saint Master's Soul Melting Poison and Soul Absorption also took effect, causing the Supreme Elder's overall strength to plummet by nearly half after enduring just three hits in total.

"Who are you people!" Having stabilized himself, the Supreme Elder glared at Wang Linchi and the Saint Master, fury evident in his tiger eyes.

However, Wang Linchi paid no heed to the Supreme Elder of Hundred Beasts Gate. Instead, he simply launched another Fanciful and Fickle, coordinating with the Saint Master to continue the assault.

Why bother talking during a fight? There's plenty of time to chat after the enemy is dead, unless one is trying to extract information or use trash talk to break their opponent's composure.

The Supreme Elder of Hundred Beasts Gate resisted the damage and negative statuses from Wang Linchi's Fanciful and Fickle. Enduring the intense pain, he charged towards Wang Linchi.

The Saint Master's Physique was even a good deal stronger than that of the Crimson Flame Tiger King body he possessed. If they clashed head-on, the Supreme Elder would surely be the one to lose.

He wasn't the true Crimson Flame Tiger King and thus couldn't fully unleash the true power of a Beast King Species.

"Crimson Flame Domain, expand!"

Sidestepping the Saint Master's attack, the Supreme Elder instantly manifested a fiery domain around himself—the Crimson Flame Domain. Aided by the amplification from his Domain, he closed in on Wang Linchi at extreme speed.

He knew he couldn't defeat the Saint Master, but he had discerned that the Saint Master was Wang Linchi's summoned entity.

If he killed Wang Linchi, the Saint Master would become like a drifting weed, cut off from its source of power.

CRACK...

The flames and sharp claws halted one meter in front of Wang Linchi, unable to advance further.

A smile touched Wang Linchi's lips. As long as the Saint Master was more than a meter away from him, a Protection Seal would automatically form, encasing him within it.

Given the sheer amount and intensity of his spiritual power, the seal could easily withstand the attacks from the Supreme Elder of Hundred Beasts Gate.

The Supreme Elder had launched his attack but failed to kill Wang Linchi. Now, it was naturally Wang Linchi's turn to retaliate. If the opponent leveraged the agility of the Crimson Flame Tiger King to employ delaying tactics, Wang Linchi wasn't entirely confident the Saint Master could catch him quickly; the Supreme Elder's combat Experience was quite rich.

The Saint Master seized this opportunity, instantly closing the distance and locking the tiger head of the Supreme Elder of Hundred Beasts Gate with his arms.

The flames from the Crimson Flame Domain landed on the Saint Master, naturally inflicting some damage. However, the injuries were extremely minor, and with the Saint Master's regenerative abilities, they healed instantly.

CRUNCH!

The Saint Master forcibly snapped the tiger head of the Supreme Elder of Hundred Beasts Gate. Then, with immense force, he ripped out the entire spine along with it.

With the death of the Crimson Flame Tiger King, the Crimson Flame Domain naturally dissipated.

The colossal tiger body collapsed to the ground, its eyes wide with an unwillingness to die.

"Still no Soul Kind formed?" Wang Linchi's expression darkened as he looked at the enormous tiger corpse, feeling thoroughly ripped off.

He didn't necessarily need to use a dropped Soul Kind, but it shouldn't fail to appear at all!

"I'll have to loot the corpse then. Hopefully, the 'Hundred Beasts Soul Forging Method' will compensate for my loss. After all, it's the core heritage of a major Sect."

The importance of the "Hundred Beasts Soul Forging Method" was even greater than that of the "Dragon Elephant Soul-smithing Art." Isn't it obvious? Even major Sects are named after this type of Soul Forging Method.

After a thorough search of the corpse, he found nothing.

"I must be an idiot," Wang Linchi suddenly realized. "Searching a Tiger's body... what could I find besides its hide? He must have stored it somewhere nearby."

It wasn't like the Thunder Monkey King, who was humanoid enough to actually sew a pocket for himself.

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