[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-240":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250089,4069,"Chapter 240: Dark Descendant Soul Soul: A Dad","monsters-are-coming-chapter-240",240,"\u003Cp>Facing Tong Xin’s question, would crafting the incomplete Lunhuiguize  into a Soul Soul result in functional impairment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guide nodded in affirmation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【This will inevitably have some impact. Once the incomplete portion in your possession is crafted into a Soul Soul, it will sever its connection with other Lunhuiguize  and become an independent operational system—essentially a local network. You will lose many talents, skills, and attribute allocation patterns that could have been enhanced, unless you can gradually collect these lost Lunhuiguize  fragments and eventually forge a complete Rule Soul Soul.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guide Brother, how many Dark Descendant warriors’ souls are stored in the Lunhuiguize  fragments I hold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Over 1.89 million. Though this number is negligible in the Monster World, it’s more than enough to form a sizable war force. In the future, you can expand your combat power by collecting more Lunhuiguize  fragments—each fragment is bound to a vast number of Dark Descendant warrior souls.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the Guide’s answer, Tong Xin clenched his fist in excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His future direction was now clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Collect more Lunhuiguize  fragments, then cultivate more Dark Descendant warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guide Brother, if I want to collect other parts of the Lunhuiguize  in the future, can you help me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Yes. I marked the Dark Descendant Legion’s rules the moment we first made contact. I know their exact coordinates. As long as you have the capacity to contain them.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Guide Brother,” Tong Xin grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Guide’s detailed explanation, he now understood exactly what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he needed to do was craft the Lunhuiguize  bound to Dark Descendant warriors into Soul Souls—this would allow the Dark Descendant warriors to reduce their resurrection costs with the help of the player system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was essentially a gradual growth system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark Descendant warriors would no longer lose 50%+ of their combat power every time they died and resurrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, each resurrection would only deduct roughly 50% of their impure blood energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, with 100 points of combat power, after the first death and resurrection, the warrior would retain only 50 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those 50 points were already purified blood energy—no matter how many times he died afterward, those 50 points would never decrease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he died again with 120 points of combat power, the original 50 purified points would remain, and the remaining 70 would be halved to 35, totaling 85 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His second resurrection would begin at 85 points of combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The base combat power after each resurrection would only increase as the Dark Descendant warriors grew stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the cost of resurrection requiring Dark Descendant energy, once transformed into a Soul Soul, it could be replaced by Sacrificial Power and Faith Power—this expenditure could not be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as players need to spend 10 points of Sacrificial Power to resurrect, this cost is fundamentally the energy required to activate the Lunhuiguize .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key advantage is reduced cultivation costs, enabling rapid growth of the Dark Descendant warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although they cannot resurrect without loss like growth-type pets, the Dark Descendant Legion’s strength lies in its diversified war system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each Dark Descendant warrior possesses strong combat talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Individually, a Dark Descendant warrior’s potential was far inferior to a growth-type pet in the Guide’s view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a collective, the Dark Descendant Legion clearly surpassed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This growth path for the Dark Descendant Legion filled Tong Xin with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know how other players’ futures would unfold, but he would surely become an army unto himself, summoning hundreds of thousands—or even more—Dark Descendant warriors to fight for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current problem was how to acquire these 1.2 million Sacrificial Power points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his future growth path now clear, he only wanted to craft the Lunhuiguize  fragments in his possession into Soul Souls as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completing it early would effectively prevent wastage of early-game resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This truly gave him a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This price, even in the real world, was a massive sum—enough to afford the most advanced life-extension surgery from the Eclipse Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving up was certainly feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the current Faith Power to Sacrificial Power exchange rate, after resurrecting Dark Descendant warriors and hiding away, he could generate 600 Sacrificial Power per hour—14,400 per day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could accumulate enough Sacrificial Power in under three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But spending eighty days doing nothing but waiting for Sacrificial Power to accumulate was unbearably dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This behavior might even weaken the Dark Descendant warriors’ faith in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Tong Xin made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrounge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to raise this money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out the crystal linking to the Dark Descendant space and began extracting the Dark Star Boss’s Dark Descendant Crystal, given to Dark Shatter before death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked the Guide to calculate and total its value—sacrificing it to Emperor Zhao would yield 837,000 Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct sacrifice was undoubtedly the worst option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He summoned the Trading Market to check prices of various energy crystals for comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, the Trading Market had no comparable items for Dark Descendant energy crystals—whether any players even needed them was another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no alternative, he posted on the forum asking if any players wanted Dark Descendant Crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting several hours, no player replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This proved that, in players’ eyes, Dark Descendant Crystals held no value—at least not yet, as no usable application had been discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice but to sacrifice all his Dark Descendant Crystals to Emperor Zhao, gaining 837,000 Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still lacked 363,000 Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately summoned the Guild chat interface, preparing to ask his brothers for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kindergarten Principal: Me, the Principal. Everyone, send me money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the Kindergarten Gang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Hammer: No way. You’re short on money? You earn over ten thousand Sacrificial Power daily—who has a better life than you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drunk Milk: Take back your request for a loan, or we’re no longer brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulu: Principal, I just did a divination—today is inauspicious for borrowing money, and even for speaking. Suggestion: shut up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Ball: Principal, did you spend all your Sacrificial Power raising your little brats again? Aren’t they supposed to be earning? How are you losing money? What kind of Principal are you? Take your little brats out and conquer the world for profit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Class Monitor: Are you mooching off your parents? Always reaching out for money? We were counting on you to support us in old age, and this is how you repay us? First, tell us how much you’re short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kindergarten Principal: 363,000. Brothers, hurry and chip in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marble: Are you crazy? 363,000? If you dropped the “ten thousand,” I might Mianqiang  scrape together something. But with “ten thousand” attached, you’re overestimating us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Hammer: I quietly retracted my hand before transferring. Principal, why don’t you take your baby army to the Misty Coast and perform for coins? We genuinely can’t raise this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulu: Principal, do I look like 363,000 Sacrificial Power? The most valuable thing I have is my paternal love for you—after all, love is priceless. List it on the Trading Market; you’ll get a good price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kindergarten Principal: I’m not joking. I’m short exactly 363,000 Sacrificial Power—I need it to craft a Soul Soul, similar to the special one Pain Brother made: embed the Lunhuiguize  into the Star Vein Slot. Then, the Dark Descendant warriors’ resurrection costs will drop dramatically, and we won’t have to level up new characters every time…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Hammer: (screenshot.jpg) Last time I spent all my Sacrificial Power on crafting a Rune Weapon. I’ve got 8,298 left. I’ll send you 8,200. The remaining 98 is for teleportation—I can’t even afford my next meal. Everyone says raising kids is expensive, but if you keep mooching like this, I’m afraid I won’t live to old age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drunk Milk: I’ve got 14,000 Sacrificial Power. Transferring it all to you. Go earn and pay me back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Kindergarten Gang teased Tong Xin with words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>upon learning he intended to spend Sacrificial Power to craft a Soul Soul, they all opened their wallets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This round of brotherly support netted him 233,000 Sacrificial Power, deeply moving him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have met these brothers in this life—worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very beginning, pooling money to buy him access to the Dark Lands game, to guiding his growth after entering, to providing startup capital—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>these brothers never earned a single Sacrificial Power from him, yet always fully supported him whenever he needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Gulu sold all the spiritual materials he’d hoarded, waiting for prices to rise, just to help him raise funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving his brothers’ support, he still lacked 130,000 Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he asked a few major Guilds for loans, they could certainly afford it—but he didn’t dare ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he entered the game late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Hammer, the acting Guild Master at the time, handled all connections with major Guilds—he wasn’t familiar with Tong Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly asking for a 130,000 Sacrificial Power loan might not even succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Tong Xin prepared to resurrect 500 Dark Descendant warriors and then lock himself away for thirteen days to earn Sacrificial Power passively, an email notification popped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, he opened the notification and found it was from Iron Hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kindergarten Gang – Iron Hammer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borrowed 130,000 Sacrificial Power from the God-King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The God-King was quite reasonable—he always supports our Kindergarten Gang’s campaigns, so he granted us this favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you truly can’t raise this 130,000 soon, we’ll find a way to repay it for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though we complain about you behind your back, you’re our Principal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The days you led us in pioneering the game are forever etched in our memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember: you’re not alone. The Kindergarten Gang is always your backer. Your godfathers stand with you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Email attached: 130,000 Sacrificial Power.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the email, complex emotions welled up in Tong Xin’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Hammer’s words were blunt, but every line radiated his brothers’ trust and support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sacrificial Power could be repaid—but this bond of loyalty could never be easily repaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I owe them a massive favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered softly, then sat up straight, his gaze hardening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swiftly replied in the Guild chat channel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks, brothers. Don’t worry—I’ll get it done soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed the interface, took a deep breath, and gazed at the distant, rolling waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the days ahead, he must work twice as hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to repay his debts, but to honor the brothers who had always stood behind him—he couldn’t let them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guide Brother, the funds are enough. Let’s begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his call, Guide opened his eyes, without a single word wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the Dark Descendant Space Crystal in Tong Xin’s hand floated autonomously into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once dull luster on its surface flickered faintly, as if awakened by some unseen force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guided by Guide’s consciousness, countless intricate rune pathways emerged in the air, writhing like living things around the Dark Descendant Crystal, gradually forming a complex luminous array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Energy surged within the crystal; its previously murky hue gradually turned transparent, as if purified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The runes in the array continuously infused into the crystal, each touch sending ripples of light across its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crystal’s shape also began to change, shrinking and condensing from its original irregular polyhedron into a perfect sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rune pathways continued to etch themselves into the crystal sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, it seemed to contain an endless starry sky, with specks of starlight flickering like a miniature universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, the glow on the runes grew increasingly brilliant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this process, the remaining sacrificial power in Tong Xin’s space bag rapidly decreased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each rune generated consumed over 1000 sacrificial power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, all light abruptly retracted and merged entirely into the crystal sphere, which turned from transparent to black, then vanished instantly, merging with his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Done.】 With those words, Guide closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Guide Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin’s gaze turned to his personal inventory, where a black crystal sphere now occupied the last slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing his vision, detailed information surfaced in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Unnamed (Special Nascent Soul – Incomplete)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nascent Soul Trait: Can manipulate partial Lunhui  rules (Special Nascent Souls cannot hunt for upgrades; can only be strengthened by fusing other Lunhui  rule fragments).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The description was brief, but Tong Xin understood perfectly how to use this title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he renamed the Nascent Soul: Dark Descendant Legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He summoned the Star Vein interface and decomposed his Blood Reversal Nascent Soul to make room for the Dark Descendant Legion Nascent Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After embedding it, torrents of information flooded his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instructions on how to use Lunhui  rules were presented in far greater detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the teleportation function, Tong Xin consumed his remaining sacrificial power and stored faith energy to activate the Dark Descendant Legion Nascent Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a list of Dark Descendant Warriors appeared in his mind, displayed as a luminous interface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mentally selected the 500 warriors he had most recently trained and chose to hatch them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the Dark Descendant Space trembled violently as the cube-shaped Lunhui  rules spun rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a crack split open across the cube’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible force erupted from within the cube.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless infant embryos surged forth like a tidal wave, each wrapped in a thin, translucent membrane as delicate as a cicada’s wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fell like rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hitting the ground, the membranes burst with crisp “pop-pop” sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside each ruptured embryo lay a Dark Descendant warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newly born, they curled into tiny bodies, their skin a faint gray-black, still coated with viscous fluid, as if just separated from the womb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more infants landed, the entire space filled with their wailing cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overlapping sobs quickly coalesced into a chaotic roar, heralding their rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Tong Xin’s head ache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt he now resembled nothing more than a kindergarten director, forced to feed and clean up after them from day one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked up to one infant and knelt down, reaching out to pick it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him, the infant’s Iron Face lit up with a Zhinen  smile, stretching its limbs, tiny hands grasping at the air as if seeking support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faintly visible on the infant’s forehead glowed a dark red light—the signature life imprint of the Dark Descendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infant in his arms was An Sui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Sui had formed a faith connection with him upon birth—clearly why it smiled when seeing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, the Dark Descendant warriors had no combat ability and had not unlocked their memory imprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking this group of Dark Descendant infants into battle would be no different from sending them to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the chaotic cries, Tong Xin gently set An Sui down and activated teleportation to leave the Dark Descendant Space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dark Descendant Legion Commander began as a babysitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A muffled crash shattered the silence of the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin, holding a rock shield in one hand, charged toward a creature resembling a moose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature stood over twice a man’s height, its massive antlers branching profusely like tree limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, it was devouring a dead creature half its own height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Tong Xin’s approach, it snapped its head up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late to dodge—the rock shield slammed into its side, activating the Hammer trait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moose-like creature instantly fell into a mental daze and collapsed heavily to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin swiftly raised his Rune Resonance Staff and swung repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each strike carried a whistling wind, crashing heavily onto the creature’s abdomen with dull thuds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazed creature awoke in agony, thrashing violently, trying to shake Tong Xin off its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its thick limbs kicked furiously, gouging deep trenches into the earth, kicking up clouds of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it used a burst of momentum to flip upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin lunged forward, wrapping one arm around the creature’s neck and firmly mounting its back, his staff never ceasing its assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he struck the creature’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature’s struggles grew wilder; it arched its spine like a spring, leaping into the air, kicking wildly before crashing down on its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin reacted instantly, releasing his grip and kicking off the creature’s back with both feet, soaring high into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the creature hit the ground, Tong Xin’s aerial downward strike followed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Rune Resonance Staff slammed into the creature’s skull, causing it to let out a mournful cry as its body convulsed repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regaining his stance, Tong Xin pressed his attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had embedded only tanking Nascent Souls—his output was painfully low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His weapons were blunt, and killing a level 45 monster required considerable effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the creature was temporarily incapacitated, the Hammer trait activated again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blow sent the creature back into daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds later, as the creature shook off the daze and turned to charge, Tong Xin anticipated its move and blocked precisely with his rock shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of shield warrior training proved just as effective in the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes later, the creature let out a low, mournful groan, its eyes dimming, its massive body collapsing limply, its breathing growing ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood seeped from its nose and mouth, staining the earth beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin slowed his movements slightly, but still gripped his Rune Staff tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared coldly at the creature, confirming it had lost all capacity to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature’s chest heaved violently with each breath, as if expending its last strength—clearly no longer combat-capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful observation, still uneasy, Tong Xin turned his gaze to nearby thorn bushes and quickly fashioned a thorn rope to bind the creature’s limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished, a faint smile appeared on his Iron Face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snapped his fingers with one hand, and instantly, fifty “feral beasts” led by An Sui were summoned amid their cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon landing, the Dark Descendant infants, drawn by the scent of blood, crawled toward the fallen creature and the half-eaten corpse it had been devouring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Tong Xin had chosen not to kill the creature outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters slain by players became challenge prompts, yielding sacrificial power and evolution points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only half-dead creatures could be properly absorbed by the Dark Descendant infants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his watch, the Dark Descendant infants clung to the creature’s wounds, sucking the life force through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the creature’s body visibly withered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the infants grew visibly—wrinkled, shriveled bodies like miniature old men gradually plumped and rounded out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gray-black skin gained a sheen; limbs stretched, bones cracked with “click-click” sounds as their bodies expanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their curled fingers and toes lengthened; baby fat on their cheeks faded, revealing clearer contours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once vacant, blank pupils of the infants slowly gained a spark of awareness, curiously scanning their surroundings as if adjusting to this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hair thickened from sparse down to dense strands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies, as if accelerated by time, rapidly matured from infants into toddlers aged one to two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the vital energy on the monster’s body was fully absorbed, the dark Yi  infants turned their heads toward Tong Xin, their eyes filled with dependence, crawling toward him one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Tong Xin was covered entirely with dark Yi  infants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sucking fingers, pulling hair, wrestling with pant legs—sounds exploded around him, leaving Tong Xin with a pounding headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop all the noise. Line up in front of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Tong Xin’s command, the dark Yi  infants fell silent for a moment, then resumed their commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the dark Yi  infants still lacked the capacity for thought, he could only send them back one by one into the Dark Yi  Space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been cases before where dark Yi  warriors died and revived, but those had always been overseen and nurtured by An Sui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now An Sui was himself in infant form, leaving Tong Xin as the only one who could take charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, according to An Sui’s earlier account, dark Yi  warriors regained their memory imprints around age three—victory was within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning all the dark Yi  infants to the Dark Yi  Space, Tong Xin decisively advanced toward the mist-covered region on the map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burdened with massive debt and five hundred ravenous dark Yi  infants in his space, he had no choice but to push himself to the limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sen Luo Forest Realm, West Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a plain brimming with dreamlike hues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plants along the path glowed with a faint silver-blue radiance; as they swayed in the wind, the entire earth seemed to ripple like flowing water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless glowing spores floated in the air, like stardust scattered from the sky, drifting with the breeze and shrouding the entire plain in a hazy luminous mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin strolled along the winding path, breathing in the fresh scent of grass and trees. Natural energy seeped into every pore of his body like a gentle stream, filling him with profound comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, five hundred dark Yi  warriors crawled on all fours, closely following.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their movements were synchronized and swift, their small bodies pressed flat against the ground, advancing with limbs working in unison like a pack of agile young beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they reached age three, the dark Yi  warriors’ memory imprints were activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite their large numbers, their actions were unusually quiet; their eyes never left Tong Xin’s back, filled with an almost obsessive focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time Tong Xin took a step forward, the five hundred dark Yi  warriors swiftly followed, afraid of being left behind, yet maintaining just the right distance—like a disciplined little army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin halted and turned to Iron Face the dark Yi  warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark Yi  infants immediately stopped, raising their heads in unison, their gazes toward Tong Xin carrying a trace of attachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they no longer wailed, this group of dark Yi  warriors was far from easy to feed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these three days, they had hunted nonstop, twenty-four hours a day, solely to train this group of dark Yi  warriors and repay their debt as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had come to the Sen Luo Forest Realm because of a forum post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The posting explorer player claimed he had discovered a village in the Sen Luo Forest Realm parasitized by soul beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were soul beast lifeforms with hunting levels 30+, and killing them dropped soul crystal stones—highly profitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The awkward part was that all new players in the Sen Luo Forest Realm built their Star Vein Sect builds around “soul extraction,” rendering them powerless against flesh-and-blood lifeforms transformed by soul beast parasitism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, veteran players found hunting levels above 30 too low to bother with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tong Xin was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been struggling to find a suitable hunting ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the five Xinshou  villages were suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor Tomb Mountain Range was too intense—taking the dark Yi  legion there to hunt would be suicide, guaranteeing total annihilation in minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dungeon World had too much randomness; exploring it was like opening a blind box, with countless environmental traps that could easily lead to total annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sen Luo Forest Realm was dominated by green vegetation; finding a single flesh-and-blood lifeform was difficult, making hunting inefficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Frostwinter Snowfield had moderate intensity, but the warriors of the Ji Le Insect Black Tide and Ji Le Purple Black Tide were lifeforms constructed from Ji Le energy, making it nearly impossible to extract vital energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only suitable location was the Colorful Mist Coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after repeated exploitation by veteran players, monster numbers there had dwindled, and exploring the mist zones carried excessive risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might encounter a stroke of fortune—or an insurmountable crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was tormented by indecision, he saw this post—and immediately conceived the idea of coming to the Sen Luo Forest Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His target this time: the village parasitized by soul beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin was no stranger to soul beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when he was a Cloud player, he had spent hours daily reading forum guides and encountered analysis posts about soul beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The post included video clips from the Gan Emperor Team, describing the “Soul Return Clan,” a faction opposing the Ni Chao Legion, which possessed the rule ability known as Soul Sculpting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the details mentioned was the soul beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a special lifeform derived from the Soul Sculpting rule, capable of devouring a target and usurping everything—memory, abilities, and all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One video segment showed the Gan Emperor Team being ambushed by a soul beast while traveling to Phase Two Training Camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A four-eyed clan trainee was devoured and possessed by the soul beast, then called Gui Tong “tribe brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The comment section was flooded with outrage, all condemning the soul beast’s ability as utterly repulsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poster who added background information also noted that the Soul Return Clan’s hallmark was casting wide nets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They scattered soul beast seeds across the Monster World; most were destroyed, but some grew rapidly by devouring and possessing hosts, eventually returning to the Soul Return Clan as members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The region he intended to enter was a clan village already overrun by soul beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The map’s mist had been cleared; players had thoroughly explored the area—he had no fear of encountering monsters beyond his capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking further, the plain ended at an ancient village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charging straight in was clearly unsuitable—his five hundred dark Yi  warriors would be annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to use a lure-and-pick-off hunting tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to Iron Face the five hundred dark Yi  warriors behind him, he said in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold position. Rest!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, all five hundred dark Yi  warriors froze instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five hundred dark Yi  warriors nodded in perfect unison, their expressions solemn, like a disciplined army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin summoned his rock shield and advanced alone toward the ruined village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, he encountered his first soul beast outside the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It resembled a werewolf, its entire body covered in pitch-black fur, its pupils glowing with cold, emotionless bloodlust, claws as sharp as blades, standing like a wooden post within the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he scanned it with his analysis, the soul beast’s information appeared in his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Soul Beast (Possession)】:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunting Level: 35.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Target Description: A soul beast that possessed a Tunlangzu  warrior, inheriting all its memories and abilities. Due to its low combat power, it was not recalled by the Soul Return Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin picked up a stone from the ground, weighed it in his hand, then twisted his hips and hurled it at the soul beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone struck the soul beast’s head and shattered into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul beast emitted a low growl from its throat, its gaze instantly locking onto Tong Xin, its body crouching slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a guttural roar, the soul beast lunged forward like a caged beast unleashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin swiftly retreated, creating distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led the soul beast toward the dark Yi  warriors using a lure tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged during pursuit, the soul beast leapt high, its body slicing through the air, claws carving sharp whistling sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin paid no mind to such attacks—he raised his rock shield instantly in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul beast’s claws slammed into the shield with a dull thud; Tong Xin felt only a slight tremor—no blood lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This level of damage was exactly the kind of weakling he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreating as he moved, he soon neared the dark Yi  warriors’ position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After issuing commands via the faith link, the five hundred dark Yi  warriors transformed into black phantoms, crawling swiftly on all fours to encircle the soul beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Sui, leading the charge, leapt upward like a ghost, instantly closing in on the soul beast’s flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His claws, sharp as blades, pierced precisely into the soul beast’s hide—blue blood gushed forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But An Sui’s hunting level was only 18; his damage output was limited. His claws sank only an inch before stalling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul beast, in pain, twisted violently, attempting to counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But An Sui had already withdrawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the second dark Yi  warrior closed in, a talent imprint glowing on his forehead; his claws shimmered with a dark red aura as he slashed across the soul beast’s hind leg, leaving a deep, bone-exposing wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the third, the fourth… dark Yi  warriors surged forward like a Black Tide, each strike precise and lethal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They employed a hit-and-run strategy, moving so swiftly their motions blurred—like a team of disciplined little assassins, perfectly synchronized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul beast’s roars grew weaker; its body accumulated more wounds, the ground stained with pools of deep blue blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, one dark Yi  warrior leapt down from atop the soul beast’s head; his talent imprint flared, his body accelerated violently, and his claws drove straight into the soul beast’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he passed, a deep gash opened across the soul beast’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul beast convulsed violently several times, then collapsed with a heavy thud—motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire battle lasted less than a minute; the soul beast never had a chance to retaliate before being executed by the dark Yi  warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle ended, the Dark Descendants did not move, lying obediently on the ground and awaiting Tong Xin’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, all Dark Descendant warriors lifted their heads and opened their mouths, absorbing the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood on the ground and from the spirit beast’s wounds transformed into fine threads of crimson mist, drawn into the Dark Descendants, further boosting their combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But divided among five hundred Dark Descendant warriors, it was a drop in the ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin stood to the side, silently watching, a faint satisfied curve lifting his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This group of Dark Descendant warriors coordinated exceptionally well; their combat potential had barely been tapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when they mature into their youth stage will the assassin legion’s true charm emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done,” he murmured in praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dark Descendant warriors remained silent, watching intently, awaiting the next command—like a legion of emotionless killing machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Tong Xin stepped forward, drew a dagger from his spatial satchel, slit open the spirit beast’s chest, and extracted a pale blue crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he activated Analysis, relevant information flooded his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Spirit Crystal】:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Material Analysis: Core energy of a spirit beast, retaining faint residual rule energy (sacrificing to Emperor Zhao yields 289 Sacrificial Power).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yield was decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides cultivating the Dark Descendant legion, hunting spirit beasts provided an additional income stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay put. Wait for Dad to come feed you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Tong Xin struck again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After preliminary testing, he decided to pull multiple spirit beasts at once to improve hunting efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the village, his gaze quickly locked onto a lone spirit beast. He picked up a stone, drew its aggro, then did not flee—instead, he lured it toward new targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His primary Minghun , Rock Shield, was already level 59—more than capable of withstanding attacks from multiple spirit beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned to the Dark Descendant warriors, three spirit beasts trailed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before issuing the attack order, Tong Xin decisively activated Taunt, ensuring the spirit beasts’ attacks remained fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the Dark Descendant legion surged forward, their small forms darting through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like piranhas in water, they circled the spirit beasts, striking one after another, swiftly dispatching and absorbing all three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Checking the interface, he saw all five hundred Dark Descendant warriors had leveled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the one whose hunting level rose fastest was the legion leader, An Sui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they absorbed nearly identical blood and qi energy, the gap in strength was already evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ranked each Dark Descendant warrior by growth potential, setting the average at 1 point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legion leader An Sui’s growth potential was approximately 5.4 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant An Sui’s strength increased over five times faster than other Dark Descendant warriors, even with the same blood and qi intake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Dark Descendant legion’s strength lay in unity; boosting An Sui alone was meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dispatching the three spirit beasts, extracting their crystals, and sacrificing them to Emperor Zhao, he pressed deeper into the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling aggro, focusing fire… relying on Taunt to absorb damage, Tong Xin began nonstop 24-hour operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of spirit beasts within the village steadily decreased through his hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The average hunting level of the Dark Descendant legion had reached level 23; during this time, Tong Xin never logged off except to swap nutrient tanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It exhausted him, reminding him of the grueling workdays he endured to buy access to the Dark Lands game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference now: his body was weary, but his spirit was elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Dark Descendant warriors grow, their combat power skyrocketing, the struggle brimmed with achievement and anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even better: his Faith progress bar surged rapidly during feeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, the first batch of second-rank Faith would emerge, significantly accelerating his Faith Power acquisition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t boasting—if this pace continued, he would surely stand atop the player faction’s pyramid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would pull a vast gap between himself and ordinary players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just from Faith Power alone, he gained over ten thousand Sacrificial Power daily; as the Dark Descendant legion expanded, his strength would grow exponentially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the Dark Descendant legion had been forged into a Minghun , death was no longer a major concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem: once the spirit beasts in this village were slaughtered, where should he hunt next?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It needed low intensity, yet abundant blood and qi to absorb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Environments meeting both conditions were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Senluo Forest Realm, he would have to leave once this area was cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the environment here was pleasant—with fresh air—the monsters were mostly plant-type, offering no blood and qi energy to extract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were not entirely absent blood-type monsters; westward beyond the Senluo Forest Realm lay one of the Soul Return Clan’s territories, surely teeming with blood-type life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Dark Descendant legion had no chance of standing against the Soul Return Clan’s war legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Soul Return Clan could rival the Ni Chao Legion; any core combatant pulled from their ranks could annihilate the entire Dark Descendant legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foreseeable future: once players finished clearing the Senluo Forest Realm, they would directly Iron Face the Soul Return Clan’s challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, the player faction would officially step onto the Zhengba  stage of the Pale Continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a bout of wild speculation, Tong Xin’s gaze turned forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five spirit beasts clung tightly to him, their Dark Descendant warriors weaving like ghosts around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like agile assassins, they struck and retreated, then new Soul Return Clan warriors stepped forward to continue the output.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the five spirit beasts lay drenched in blood, collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop. Mealtime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent spirit beasts he’d touched from being absorbed by the player system, Tong Xin swiftly ordered the children to feast while the beasts were still near death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood absorption took only seconds. Tong Xin stepped forward to harvest the spirit crystals and sacrifice them to Emperor Zhao, then led the Dark Descendant legion onward through the village, hunting for new prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This village covered a large area, but he had nearly explored it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One location remained shrouded in mist—his next exploration target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading the Dark Descendant legion toward the mist zone, he passed ruins of buildings everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could imagine what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit beasts were intelligent lifeforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For ordinary clans, the greatest threat from spirit beasts was not their combat power, but their perfect mimicry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They copied memories and habits; without Analysis, they were indistinguishable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit beasts would infiltrate a clan by assuming the identity of their victims, waiting for the right moment to strike, slowly devouring or replacing the entire clan with their own kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achieving possession at the clan level was a dimensional downgrade strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Ni Chao Legion struggled to resist Soul Return Clan possession; on battlefields, warriors often became Soul Return Clan members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why the spirit beasts in this village hadn’t been recalled by the Soul Return Clan, it was likely because they were too weak—the Soul Return Clan didn’t even notice them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Tong Xin approached a dry well, he suddenly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the well’s mouth, he shoved aside the large stone covering it with his shoulder and peered down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding nothing but well water, Tong Xin shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the forum’s exploration guides: kick apart every bottle or jar you pass, inspect wells and rooms—you might find unexpected rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But clearly, there was none this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking harder, it made sense: any real treasure would have been absorbed long ago by spirit beasts with memories—none would remain for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Tong Xin prepared to continue exploring the mist zone, he suddenly heard a sharp whistling sound from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snapped his head upward—only to see a brilliant, deep-blue light hurtling toward him at incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin didn’t hesitate for a second; he shouted decisively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of you—into the Dark Descendant Space! Run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he activated the Dark Descendant Legion’s Minghun , opening a portal to the Dark Descendant Space before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the Dark Descendant warriors flew like swallows returning to their nest, vanishing into the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than ten seconds, all five hundred coordinated warriors disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin swiftly closed the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deep-blue figure landed, its impact kicking up dust and hurling shattered stones and debris toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the dust emerged a humanoid figure, its blood-red, ravenous eyes locking directly onto Tong Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Xin activated Analysis at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he discovered the opponent was a Soul Return Clan warrior with a hunting level over 120, his tense body instantly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized he’d be forcibly logged off by the anti-addiction system for one hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d killed the young ones—now the elders had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no big deal; as long as the Dark Descendant legion survived, dying was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a player, who hasn’t died a thousand times in their lifetime?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this grudge—he’d remember it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6322,"2026-06-19T09:20:37.851Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1e932443e30345bff5cc1b5599ba1960930c5f7ff6e88b0824c2d984053d5352","monsters-are-coming-chapter-241","monsters-are-coming-chapter-239",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]