Ch. 240 - Beast Transformation

“This little guy is called a Nightmare Beast,” Xu Zimo said. “It not only helps with cultivation, but also has a bit of combat ability. We’re poor, so I can’t offer anything too fancy, just make do.”

“Not at all. Actually, I like Brother Zimo’s gift even more,” Lin Qing said quickly as she cuddled the little beast.

Xu Zimo smiled. He thought he heard the sound of someone’s heart breaking.

…

Because the town had limited housing, Xu Zimo and Tianshi were sharing a room.

A dim candle flame flickered gently in the room. Tianshi was sitting cross-legged, cultivating. After all, the spiritforce in the Legendary Era was still quite abundant. The people here had low cultivation mostly because their techniques were too basic, which slowed their progress.

Xu Zimo, meanwhile, was snoring away in bed.

…

The moon hung like a silver plate, and the night was unusually quiet.

Town patrols walked around the outskirts, and unknown insects chirped from the shadows.

As the night deepened, one of the patrolmen had just reached a corner of the town when a huge black shadow suddenly burst up from the ground. Before the patrolman could even cry out, he was swallowed whole by a massive mouth.

Then came the sound of bones being crunched.

At that moment in Xu Zimo’s room, the flickering candle suddenly went out.

In the darkness, an eerie atmosphere crept in.

Tianshi suddenly opened his eyes mid-cultivation. A massive black shadow shot up from the ground, lunging straight at him.

“Time Slow,” Tianshi said coldly.

A surge of temporal energy surged from his right hand. As time reversed around the beast, its speed visibly slowed.

Tianshi punched forward, an immense wave of force condensed around his fist.

With a loud “boom,” the black shadow was smashed back into the floor, creating a deep crater.

“What’s going on?” Xu Zimo opened his eyes groggily and got out of bed.

“Just a bug,” Tianshi replied flatly.

The candle was re-lit. The floor had split into several pieces with cracks everywhere.

At the center, a giant centipede-like creature lay dying.

The creature was about twice the size of a normal human, entirely crimson, with 18 legs and two long fangs protruding from its mouth. Its eyes were round and bean-sized.

“What is this?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Not sure. Probably a creature from the Legendary Era,” Tianshi said. “We’ll ask Lin Qing tomorrow.”

…

The night passed without further incident.

Gentle sunlight bathed the land once again. As always, the sun rose faithfully.

A shriek shattered the peaceful morning.

Dead!

All the patrolmen who guarded the town last night were dead.

All the townsfolk rushed over. The patrolmen’s bodies had been completely devoured, only bits of flesh and blood remained, staining the ground.

Back in Xu Zimo’s room, Lin Qing looked at the giant beast’s corpse in astonishment.

“A Blaze-Fire Centipede,” she exclaimed. “That’s a True Vein–level monster, and a very troublesome one. Even my father might not be able to handle it.”

“Oh, maybe we got lucky,” Tianshi said with a smile. “It was dark last night, I must have accidentally hit its weak spot and killed it with one punch.”

“I’m not stupid. You two clearly aren’t ordinary,” Lin Qing said, narrowing her eyes.

“Whatever we are, we’re your senior brothers,” Tianshi replied with a grin.

“The night patrol was wiped out. My father is still investigating the killer. I’ll go tell him it was the Blaze-Fire Centipede,” Lin Qing said as she rushed out.

…

The forge blazed with searing heat. A gentle breeze blew, making the flag hanging outside the blacksmith shop flutter.

Lin Bao looked at Xu Zimo and Tianshi seriously.

“Before I teach you to forge weapons, I need to teach you how to temper metal. Forging is a process of refining and discarding impurities. It requires a strong waist and arms. Since you two killed that centipede yesterday, you clearly have the physical foundation.”

He pulled a glowing-hot iron ingot from the furnace.

“Try striking it with a hammer. Even if you’re strong, forging isn’t easy.”

Xu Zimo and Tianshi exchanged glances. Xu Zimo stepped forward and casually struck twice with the hammer.

With two thunderous bangs, the iron ingot instantly fused together.

While hammering, he subtly used Genesis Power to alter the metal’s internal structure.

“Holy-” Lin Bao gasped, eyes wide.

He walked up to examine the iron, now a nearly flawless ingot. It was hard to believe it had only taken two hits.

“Are you a forging master?” he asked suspiciously.

“You flatter me, Uncle Lin. I’m just a beginner,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.

Then Tianshi tried, landing two equally heavy strikes. The ingot was refined again.

“For beginners, you’re doing well,” Lin Bao said, coughing awkwardly. “Still need more practice. Now I’ll teach you how to shape weapons, swords, knives, and especially the edge.”

Both nodded seriously.

…

In less than 30 minutes, Lin Bao’s worldview collapsed.

When the two handed over their finished swords and blades, Lin Bao could only stare blankly.

He couldn’t help but sigh: “Damn it. Real geniuses do exist in this world.”

He’d spent over ten years mastering the forge, clinging to the belief that “practice makes perfect.”

But now, seeing the results before him, he could only think: “Screw that. Perfect my ass.”

As he stood there speechless, Tianshi said with mock humility, “Uncle Lin, we know we’re untalented, but we’re willing to work hard.”

Lin Bao forced a smile through gritted teeth.

“You’re a real charmer, aren’t you.”

Just then, a man burst in, panic-stricken.

“Uncle Lin! The hunting party ran into trouble!”

“What!?” Lin Bao turned, frowning.

“Lin Qing went out with them. You should come quickly!” the man said.

“That girl, who let her go?” Lin Bao’s face darkened as he ran toward the town entrance.

By the time they arrived, a crowd had already gathered.

A bloodied man lay on the ground being treated.

He was one of the hunters who had gone out that morning.

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