While Logan was still trying to make sense of Hueng Long's words, deep inside the largest dungeon in Solmyr, the dungeon boss stood towering over the stone floor. Gazel and Sirus knelt before him, trembling slightly.
Another creature was present as well. It looked nothing like a human.
Its body was tall and sinewy, covered in smooth, bluish scales with darker patches scattered across its shoulders and chest. Sharp ridges ran along the top of its skull and down the back of its neck, resembling a reptilian crest. Its eyes were pitch-black and lidless, giving off an unsettling, predatory calm even when closed. Its jaw extended slightly forward, with thin, flexible cartilage at the sides that parted whenever it breathed. Its torso was broad, with layered muscle plates that shifted like overlapping armor whenever it moved. Long, webbed ridges connected parts of its arms, and faint gills pulsed along the sides of its throat.
It stood perfectly still with one clawed hand pressed against Gazel's skull, eyes shut as if listening to sothing deep within the cultivators' stolen bodies.
After a long stretch of silence, it slowly opened its eyes. A faint, eerie glow lingered in them as it withdrew his hand.
Seeing this, the dungeon boss leaned forward urgently.
"Karlos… how is it? Could you read the mories from their previous bodies?"
"Yes, boss," the creature rasped. Its voice was low and rough, like stone grinding underwater. "Both of them possess mories of practicing a similar cultivation technique. That's not all…" its gills fluttered. "They practiced another technique as well — one that doesn't require spiritual energy to grow stronger. Instead… they consu human blood to increase their power."
"What?" The dungeon boss stiffened. "They drink the blood of their own species to grow stronger? And here we thought we were the ones being cruel."
"Ha… hahahaha!" The boss burst into wild laughter, his voice echoing through the cavern.
He laughed until his chest rattled, then abruptly stopped, eyes gleaming with madness and delight.
"Now that we know their technique, and since Lord has developed a thod to suppress chaotic energy and wield spiritual energy as well…" The boss spread his arms wide, voice rising in triumph. "The day is not far when the beast race will crumble beneath our feet!"
"Yes, boss," Karlos said, bowing deeply. "What are your next orders?"
"Next, we need to ask the Lord for help. Once he sends more of our brethren, we will either teach them the cultivation techniques, or Gazel and Sirus will bring more human cultivator bodies for them to rge with. Once we have gathered enough strength, we will strip this world barren so the cultivation technique dies here. No one else must ever get their hands on it — especially the beast race."
"All right, boss. But what about the cha races? They never interfered in the power struggle, but we still don't know much about them."
"If they intended to ddle in our affairs, they would have done so long ago. The elf race might try, but they won't stand a chance. Our main threat remains the beast race."
"Understood, boss."
The dungeon boss then turned toward Gazel and Sirus. His voice grew deeper with authority. "Both of you... head outside again. Look for more cultivators. The more bodies you can bring back, the better."
"Yes, boss!" both shouted in unison, bowing their heads.
Finally, the boss faced Karlos once more.
"And you... be ntally prepared. Once the Lord sends more of our brethren, you will be responsible for training them."
"Yes, boss," Karlos replied respectfully, lowering his head.
Back where Logan was speaking with the family head…
"So, what do you think?" the old man asked with a mysterious smile. "Will you be coming with us or not? I can assure you, even most of your recent problems will beco far easier to handle."
"What do you an by that?" Logan raised an eyebrow.
"That sword of yours," the old man pointed at Audrey. "It's a soul weapon, isn't it? And I know it didn't originate from this place. I also know the magic you rely on isn't natural. Once the dungeon walls collapse, you won't be able to use magic the way you do now. I don't know how much you've already learned, but from your expression, young master, I can tell you understand more than you let on. But… not everything."
"Not everything, huh?" Logan crossed his arms. "Then why don't you tell sothing I don't know, at least? That way I'll know if whatever you're saying is authentic."
Both Xiao and Chianxu were seething with rage. They were older than Logan, yet neither would ever dare to speak to their family head in such a tone.
'He sure is gutsy,' Chianxu thought in disbelief.
"Very well," Hueng Long nodded, unbothered. "I doubt you would be able to discover on your own why monsters cannot cultivate here or willingly leave dungeons. Even among the elves, the place your sword originates from, this knowledge isn't common. Especially regarding the monsters' cultivation system."
"Their cultivation system?" Logan narrowed his eyes. "Now you're just making things up. Monsters can't cultivate."
But the old man's next sentence froze Logan completely.
"No — they can cultivate. Just not with spiritual energy. They cultivate with chaotic energy. And the monster core you're familiar with? That's actually the Chaotic Heart they form."
"What?" Logan asked in disbelief.
"Yes, young master," Hueng Long replied calmly. "While monsters are not as skilled in magic as the elves, they still dare to challenge the beast race — a race that naturally excels in magic like the elves and possesses incredible physical strength."
Logan didn't respond. Or rather, he didn't know what to say.
From Hueng Long's tone, from the steady way he spoke, Logan could tell the old man wasn't lying… and he wasn't bluffing either.
A heavy silence settled.
Logan fell into deep thought before finally exhaling.
"Alright," he said. "I'll go with you. But this better not be a trap."
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