“Do you think I would joke about something like this?” — You definitely seem like someone who would joke, given the way your eyes shift.

The elder almost responded with this retort.

However, after a moment’s reflection, he realized that Qin Ruqing had never been frivolous with serious matters and hesitated.

The talk of the Beast God’s revival—though she might have exaggerated, it was still a significant matter if it was even remotely related to the Beast God.

As a result, before Qin Ruqing could even wait for the hour of Shen, everyone arrived in full force.

Some seemed to have just come from the battlefield, still wearing their battle armor.

The elder who had initially chatted “friendly” with Qin Ruqing took the lead and asked, “Elder Qin, you mentioned the Beast Emperor’s revival. Could you elaborate on that so we can discuss countermeasures?” He was convinced that Qin Ruqing was exaggerating and was ready to ridicule her if she said anything false.

Qin Ruqing, who had been joking before, now became serious and did not keep them guessing.

She recounted the information she had gathered that day.

After she spoke, there was a prolonged silence in the Void Realm.

Those who had come to watch the show were now focused on the serious topic at hand.

“The Beast God’s blessing, a new round of selection, and extending to lower-level beasts? Sixth Elder Qin, are you serious?”

The elder who had spoken first was also shocked by this news, but he couldn’t help but add, “You previously mentioned the Beast Emperor’s revival. This ‘blessing’ is quite different. Didn’t Elder Qin say there would be no jokes?”

Could Qin Ruqing be intimidated by this?

She had argued more fiercely than she had eaten salt.

She smiled slightly and said, “How could there be a blessing without a revival? Perhaps they actually found a way to revive the Beast God(Emperor). Can it be assumed that I’m just making things up? The elder seems too optimistic.”

The elder was momentarily silenced by this retort.

Indeed, without a revival, how could there be a blessing? If it weren’t the so-called Beast God, who else could be behind this blessing?

Qin Ruqing scanned the crowd in the Void Realm, whose expressions were filled with uncertainty.

Her eyes flashed with a sharp light as she added with emphasis, “Everyone, at this critical moment, let’s not waste time debating the truth or falsehood of this matter.”

It was obvious she wouldn’t deceive them with false information during such a crucial time.

Song Minzheng, who was on her side, immediately agreed, saying seriously, “We need to clarify two key points: First, whether this blessing is truly from the Beast God or just using the Beast God’s name; Second, why bestow blessings upon lower-level beasts? Wouldn’t it be better to bestow blessings on higher-level demons?”

“It’s basically impossible that it’s truly the Beast God,” Feng Qinxue interjected. Seeing everyone looking her way, she formed a clear smile and said, “If they really had that capability, why would they wait until now to launch the beast tide? If they had truly acted, they wouldn’t be attacking so slowly and gingerly. A decisive strike to conquer the human realm would have been more effective.”

“It should be some ancient forbidden technique. Didn’t the beasts have beasts entering the Beast Swamp during the last event in the Void Realm? Perhaps it’s an ancient Beast Emperor’s soul teaching some divine technique,” Fifth Sheng also shared his opinion.

This guess seemed the most plausible so far, and everyone agreed.

Satisfied with the consensus, Fifth Sheng continued analyzing, “As for the lower-level beasts, it might just be a ruse released by the beast realm. The authenticity of this news is uncertain…”

He seemed to have a sudden realization, pausing and looking at Qin Ruqing, “I’m not saying Elder Qin is faking it, but that the beast realm might be deliberately spreading false information.”

“Fifth Clan Leader has a point,” Qin Ruqing said with a smile, “But I have another discovery. During my inspection, besides the information I gathered, I also found a group of Golden Core stage insect beasts traveling together.”

“Golden Core stage traveling together, and they are insects?” Feng Qinxue questioned, then immediately concluded, “That’s unreasonable.”

Anyone present could see the unreasonableness of this.

Whether human or beast, Golden Core stage was already a substantial mid-tier level.

In a territory, it was entirely sufficient to be a small king, if not a great king.

“They are like a group of leading insects going on a spring outing,” Third Elder Song San joked.

“Innate leaders naturally don’t go on spring outings,” Qin Ruqing said with a gentle smile, “But if they were promoted later and had already been a group when they were weaker, it’s quite possible for them to travel together.”

It had become clear from Qin Ruqing’s implication—these insect beasts had undergone a round of the Beast God’s blessing, which was why their strength was unusually elevated to the Golden Core stage.

The Tianjian Elder from the Sword Sect confirmed, “Indeed. Recently, I noticed that the strength of lower-level beasts has significantly increased compared to the beasts we’ve encountered in past beast tides. Initially, we were unprepared and lost many ordinary disciples. Now, hearing Elder Qin’s explanation, I understand. Some of those lower-level beasts must have experienced the Beast God’s blessing.”

The Sword Sect was stationed in the Northern Domain, right next to the largest piece of primitive dense forest.

Originally, that area was full of demonic beasts, with a harsh climate.

If a beast tide were to erupt, the Northern Domain would definitely be the first to suffer.

The Elder of the Sword Sect’s statement was indeed very convincing.

Everyone realized this was indeed a significant problem.

More accurately, if not addressed promptly, it could develop into a catastrophic disaster—one that could potentially lead to the annihilation of the human race!

It was a mathematical problem.

The upper levels were bogged down, the middle levels were bogged down, and the lower levels were fighting among themselves.

Given that the beast race inherently had better physical conditions compared to the human race, and if their strength were further increased… the beasts wouldn’t even need sophisticated tactics; simply by dragging out the fight, they could drag the human race to death!

Understanding the truth behind this, which was as bleak as a pile of white bones, made everyone in the Void Realm break out in a cold sweat.

“This… is this the real reason behind the prediction of the Dao Ancestor’s prophecy that the human race would be destroyed? Is this the method used by the beast race?” an elder with a white beard let out a heavy sigh in a hoarse voice.

This sigh felt like a massive boulder crushing down on everyone’s hearts.

Previously, they had been worried and fearful about the Dao Ancestor’s prophecy but hadn’t felt it so tangibly.

They clearly felt that the human race was not weak.

Although the Daoist methods had declined, this generation still had many remarkable young talents.

They had managed to deal with the beast tides impressively over the years.

Even if they were forced into a corner, they had the courage to rally their armies and fight into the beast realm.

But now they realized that the beast race used a method as insidious as the “boiling frog in warm water.”

They subtly paralyzed you, making you unaware of the grave problem, and by the time you realized something was wrong, it was too late to change the situation.

Upon this realization, the human high-ranking members in the Void Realm looked at Qin Ruqing with profound gratitude.

“Thanks to Elder Six’s reminder!”

“If it weren’t for Elder Six, we wouldn’t know how long we’d have been deceived!”

“Today, we’ve woken from a great dream. Elder Six, please accept my bow.”

Even the elder who had previously called Qin Ruqing names and argued with her, now bowed with a sense of guilt.

“Just how did Elder Six obtain such important information?” They no longer doubted its authenticity and were simply amazed.

“Oh, I just took a walk around the cracks in the barrier and happened to overhear them discussing it. Plus, I happen to understand a bit of beast language, so I heard it clearly,” Qin Ruqing said nonchalantly, as if making a grand gesture.

Huh?

Which normal person would wander around the barrier cracks?

Those places were filled with demonic beasts! And “happening to overhear” and “happening to understand beast language,” it was hard not to attribute it to luck!

Yet they clearly remembered that during the Hundred Clans Conference, among many tests, Qin Ruqing had ranked at the bottom in this particular test!

They had meticulously recorded it in their notes!

Qin Ruqing maintained a facade of indifference and let them speculate for a while before speaking:

“Since we’ve discovered this matter, we naturally need to thwart it. However, with the barrier separating us, it can’t be rushed. I’ll go check the information again to confirm the facts and then discuss the plans.”

Qin Ruqing had decided to explore the barrier again.

Who knows, she might overhear more information?

If one attempt wasn’t enough, she’d try twice.

If that didn’t work, she’d camp out there; she didn’t believe the beasts wouldn’t talk.

Upon hearing Qin Ruqing’s plan, everyone expressed their agreement.

Feng Qinxue added, “During this period, we will also send people who understand beast language to investigate the gaps in the barrier.” As for how they would investigate, that was a matter for the Feng clan to handle.

Meanwhile, the Fifth family, perhaps having confirmed Qin Ruqing’s identity as the successor of the Daoi ancestor, began to show goodwill belatedly.

Fifth Sheng approached Qin Ruqing and said, “Elder Six, exploring the barrier is indeed dangerous. The Fifth family cannot do much else, but we do have an ancient artifact in our treasury that can conceal and alter appearances. Though it is incomplete, Master Tang might be able to make it useful.”

Qin Ruqing almost asked if this ancient incomplete artifact was a loan or a gift.

However, she restrained herself.

She was no longer the young girl who wanted to gather everything into her arms; a mere incomplete artifact was inconsequential, whether borrowed or given.

Even if it were a hundred steps back, wouldn’t Master Tang be able to handle it?

She smiled and accepted the offer.

The Fifth family acted quickly this time. Using the teleportation array and air transport, they delivered the concealment artifact within a day.

It was a long robe that shimmered with a prismatic color in daylight but became completely transparent at night.

When she put on the robe, she found that her lower body was entirely covered, as if it had been erased from view.

She exclaimed, “Amazing! This robe is indeed excellent. The Fifth family has sent something quite impressive.”

Once the item was received, she knew it was a “gift” because the person delivering it had emphasized that point.

Perhaps the old Fifth family member had later realized that his words were ambiguous and had instructed the Fifth clan members accordingly.

Compared to Qin Ruqing’s amazement, Tang Zifeng was much calmer.

He even seemed a bit dismissive as he examined the robe, eventually concluding:

“I see. The primary material used in forging this concealment robe is the extremely rare wings of the Void Cicada. The Void Cicada is a spatial beast that has been extinct. Its concealment principle doesn’t cover you but rather places you in a small spatial area, achieving the effect of concealment.”

Qin Ruqing was amazed, “That’s incredible! This robe seems to completely cover a person. Why is it still considered incomplete?”

“There will be a leakage of aura,” Tang Zifeng explained.

Qin Ruqing asked, “Can it be repaired? Will there be a shortage of materials?”

“Not repaired.” Tang Zifeng’s expression was indifferent. “The Void Cicada is extinct. It’s just right for use now. The cicada wings on this robe can be stripped off and refined into my own bell. Combined with the concealment function of my bell, it will achieve perfection.”

As a top-notch artifact refiner, Tang Zifeng was naturally proud.

He was reluctant to repair someone else’s artifacts because it was someone else’s idea.

If the idea was brilliant, his later adjustments could be destructive.

Since he did not share the same thinking as the original creator, he had his own ideas.

If the idea was mediocre, Tang Zifeng was even less inclined to waste time on such matters.

Of course, the reason for his reluctance was not just superficial but also a deeper reason he was unwilling to admit.

This concealment robe came from the Fifth family, and Tang Zifeng disliked everything about them.

He watched as Qin Ruqing, still fascinated by the robe, handled it with care.

He took it away without comment and set it aside.

Within a day, Tang Zifeng had removed the cicada wings from the robe using special techniques and refined them into his own bell.

That night, the South Ridge small squad of four, equipped with this perfectly concealed great bell, stealthily approached the gaps in the barrier.