I dragged my exhausted body, swaying unsteadily toward the massive corpse. The monster was down, my HP and MP nearly depleted. After all that effort, I couldn’t leave empty-handed.
Earlier, I’d noticed that absorbing a creature’s blood essence slightly boosted my physical strength. Even a tiny gain counted! The previous spirit beasts I’d absorbed were mediocre—only the Boneplate Lion was decent—but their essence barely affected me. This Wasteland Beast, though…
Carefully, I placed my hand on its dark green hide. Thinking the thick skin might hinder absorption, I gritted my teeth and plunged my hand into a wound on its claw. Stinking rotten flesh clung to my fair hand, making me gag. This thing reeked so badly—I’d probably get diarrhea after sucking it dry…
No time to overthink. Time to absorb!
A powerful suction erupted from my palm. Torrents of blood essence surged into my body—nothing like those minnows before! Mixed with the Wasteland Beast’s absorbed life force, the effect was overwhelming. I’d been sucking for nearly a minute, yet its vast essence showed no sign of drying up.
But then, something felt off. My stamina had spiked at first, but recovery slowed rapidly until it stopped completely. The absorbed essence should’ve fused into my limbs instantly. If stamina wasn’t regenerating, where was all that energy going?
Suddenly, I sensed something new inside me—between my dantian and lungs. A… stone? No, more like a spirit beast’s core. As I puzzled over it, the Wasteland Beast’s essence drained completely. Its shriveled corpse resembled rotten aloe. All the unused essence seemed to have flowed into that “core.”
I’d call it a Blood Core for now—condensed from the blood essence I’d absorbed. Was it a blessing or a curse? Its purpose remained unknown. I’d have to study it later.
My wounds weren’t fully healed, but my stamina had mostly recovered, and my arm barely ached. Time to head back. As I turned, a faint green glow caught my eye inside the beast’s cracked skull.
Curious, I leaned closer. Through the fissure, I glimpsed a greenish sphere—about three fists wide—oozing wisps of vibrant energy. Despite being just a ball, it radiated life.
“I’ve detected her! Ye is down there!”
“Ye! Are you there———”
Sinan Ying and Rui Xin’s voices echoed from the cave entrance. They’d come looking for me! I shouted back, “I’m here! The Wasteland Beast is dead. Come down safely!”
————————————————————————————————
“So impressive…”
Rui Xin and the others all murmured the same words upon seeing the corpse, making me swell with pride.
“Strange. Why’s the Wasteland Beast’s body dried up?” Du Lin asked curiously.
My heart lurched—I’d forgotten that! If they grew suspicious…
“You wouldn’t know,” Rui Xin cut in, her mood bright now that her brother survived. “Books say a Wasteland Beast’s corpse shrivels within three minutes of death. It’s their trademark.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. So it would’ve dried up anyway. Lucky… Wait, why were they all staring at my face since arriving? I tugged my hood back on.
“Unbelievable, Ye! How’d you solo a Wasteland Beast?” Rui Xin gushed.
“My body’s special. Its life-draining ability doesn’t work on me. I just got lucky.”
“Even without draining life, its raw power is monstrous!”
“Never mind that. Check this out.”
I pointed to the green sphere in the skull. They crowded around, falling silent.
After a long pause, Li Cha spoke. “I think… this must be…”
“Yeah, no doubt…”
“Heavens, my first time seeing one up close!”
“We’re rich! Stinking rich!”
“What’s got you all worked up? What is it?” I was lost.
“What else? A Wasteland Beast’s core!”
“That big?”
“Rumor says half the life force and spiritual energy it absorbs goes into its flesh, the other half into its core. This core is ultra—powerful Spiritual Medicine! With Wasteland Beasts nearly extinct, it’s worth a fortune for medicine or collecting!”
“…Calm down, everyone.”
“Huh? Lin Bing, you’re awake?”
Lin Bing had spoken. I hadn’t noticed her arrive—she still looked frail. She’d pushed through her weakness just to see me. My heart melted.
Ignoring my dazed expression, she whispered faintly, “Without a special container, the core’s life force leaks fast. The main family’s core was stored in a transparent box…”
The chatter died instantly. Her words slapped the excited group sober.
“Alright, alright,” I broke the tension. “Since we can’t take it back, and we’re all drained, why not use it here?”
“Really? It’s your kill!” Rui Xin couldn’t believe it.
“I said yes, so stop fussing. Get your brother down here—he’s the worst off.” I waved generously.
————————————————————————————————————
“Ye, I… don’t know how to thank you. Without you, my brother would’ve…”
“It’s nothing. If you really want to repay me, marry me~” I joked.
To my shock, she blushed! “If… if Ye likes that sort of thing… I could…”
“Whoa, I was kidding!”
“I—I was joking too! I’m straight!”
Phew. I’d accidentally triggered Rui Xin’s tsundere side. Guess I’d ‘leveled up’ with a girl… but why did it feel so hollow?
Back on the surface, Mo Xiaohong and Lu Xiong tended to Rui Feng. His body was wrapped in bandages, packed with high-grade Spiritual Medicine beneath. The medicine had roused him slightly, but recovery was slow. After a quick explanation, the four of us—and one injured—headed for the cave. Sinan Ying could’ve signaled with sound waves, but she insisted on carrying her brother herself.
