When Tang Zifeng crafted the clock, he definitely considered its capacity.

The four of them were not cramped at all inside the clock.

Because it was integrated with Empty Cicada Wings, the inner walls of the clock now had a dazzling, iridescent glow.

“This light won’t be detected from the outside, will it?” Qirong asked, marveling while touching the clock’s walls.

“No, a piece of Empty Cicada Wing acts as a spatial barrier. We’re not actually inside the clock; we’re in an independent space created by the Empty Cicada Wings,” Qin Ruqing explained.

“…”

As they chatted, the hidden clock entered the barrier’s range, and the number of demonic beasts detectable by their senses increased.

Qin Ruqing’s eyes shimmered with golden light.

She turned her head outward and asked, “Can you see anything? Second Sister? If not, I can help you~”

Lu Wei smiled, her aura manifesting as a faint green light. “My medicinal aura can mimic the smell of plants, so demonic beasts living in the forest won’t detect any difference.” This meant she could “see” as well.

“My clock is my eyes,” Tang Zifeng said.

Qirong panicked. “Ah, does that mean I can’t see? Can I use my divine sense? Will I be detected?”

Qin Ruqing placed a hand on Qirong’s shoulder. “You’re a physical cultivator, and your aura is naturally exposed. It’s better if I help you.” She gently infused spiritual energy into Qirong’s body.

Qirong felt a warmth in his eyes, and the outside world became clear.

Various beast races lay on the ground, many of them engaged in fierce battles.

The ground shook, and there were hardly any trees left intact.

“Ah, are they so discordant internally?” Qirong asked, astonished.

“It’s not discordant; fighting is their form of entertainment!” Qin Ruqing, who had once been a Flame Tiger, explained with understanding.

“That’s too brutal,” Qirong observed, noting the blood and deep wounds on the beasts.

“For the beast race, blood is a symbol of honor!” Qin Ruqing sighed dramatically, though her hand decisively pointed downward. “Fights like these easily escalate into group battles. And it doesn’t matter what the species is. To put it in human terms, it’s common for mantises and tigers to fight.”

“That’s too unreasonable!”

“But this unreasonable method easily cultivates unparalleled warriors,” Qin Ruqing continued while observing her surroundings.

They had now arrived at the edge of the barrier, and she hoped to see the Wolf King again.

Unfortunately, her luck, which was already scarce, seemed to have run out.

The hidden clock had been stationed on a branch from day to night, and the beast group below had started a second round of fighting.

They still hadn’t gathered any useful information.

“Shall we wait more?” Lu Wei asked, turning to Qin Ruqing.

Qin Ruqing, who had initially been enthusiastic, was feeling a bit disheartened.

She lay down, then suddenly sat up, her eyes shining with stubborn resolve.

“I don’t believe it. We’ll come back tomorrow!”

So, day after day, they finally had a breakthrough the next day.

The cause was the Wolf King announcing the start of the blessing selection.

Then, the beasts had to fight first (…).

Based on the results of the fight, it would be decided who could go with him to Tianxing Mountain.

“Tianxing Mountain!” Hearing this key phrase that she had marked in her mind, Qin Ruqing was jolted awake.

Seeing her expression, the others inside the clock also instinctively held their breath.

The beasts were very proactive in fighting; they would have fought without a reason, let alone now that there was a legitimate reason.

They fought with even more intensity.

Not only did they use physical attacks, but they also engaged in verbal attacks during the battle.

“Since when did the Beast God bless someone as useless as you?”

“I dare say, even herbivores are more deserving!”

“Ha, do you think those who eat their own kind are deserving?”

“In ancient times, it wasn’t uncommon for beasts of the same clan to eat each other. I am aligning myself with the Beast God; no one can surpass my loyalty to the Beast God!”

“Stop talking—just die!”

Later, a group of six-eared bat beasts hanging on the cave wall flew out, screeching sharply:

“We bats feed on blood; places like the Blood Pool of Tianxing Mountain should be for us to feed on!”

Qin Ruqing’s eyes lit up, and she repeated a few words: “Blood Pool of Tianxing Mountain.”

They had found the specific location. Tianxing Mountain was clearly a place name, but the Blood Pool was a more precise location within it.

“Blood Pool? Xiao Wu, did you hear that?” Lu Wei asked.

Qin Ruqing nodded and looked at Lu Wei: “We already knew that the Beast God’s blessing could enhance the strength of lower-level demons, but we didn’t know the form it took. Now we do. It’s the Blood Pool! Those selected for the blessing will ultimately enter this Blood Pool.”

“That’s better than we imagined, using forbidden techniques. The Blood Pool… the beast clan uses bloodlines to distinguish levels, so enhancing bloodlines is indeed a fast way to improve strength. It’s like an upgraded medicinal bath for humans; though we don’t know exactly how it’s made, the principle should be similar,” Lu Wei explained in detail.

Qin Ruqing nodded, listening to the beast language for a while before saying, “Their battle will last from tonight until tomorrow. Once the selection is done, they will soon return to the beast realm with this batch of beasts.”

If these beasts successfully received the blessing, the pressure on the Southern Ridge’s defense would be immense.

“We should return and discuss a strategy tonight,” Qin Ruqing thought of a plan but didn’t speak up yet, only signaling Tang Zifeng to return.

Soon after returning to camp, Qin Ruqing urgently called a meeting.

In a few sentences, she clearly explained the situation.

“I’ve almost figured out the details.”

“The Beast God’s blessing involves each head beast selecting candidates through combat. Only the strongest will qualify to go to Tianxing Mountain with their leader.”

“The selection will likely end tomorrow, and they will soon return to the beast realm. We must seize this opportunity!”

The high-ranking officials in the virtual realm understood Qin Ruqing’s point immediately—stopping this blessing was crucial.

“If we don’t act, once their new batch of soldiers successfully receives the blessing and returns to the human realm, the beast tide’s power will exceed our imagination, and whether the human realm can withstand it is uncertain,” said Fifth Sheng with a serious expression.

Qin Ruqing nodded: “The blessing is at the Blood Pool of Tianxing Mountain. It’s likely achieved through soaking in the pool or using some technique to improve bloodlines and enhance strength.”

“I’ve investigated and found the same. Those who understand beast language reported that the beasts frequently mentioned a place called the ‘Blood Pool’ and engaged in life-and-death struggles in their fights,” someone from the Dan family( Dan Qing’s Family )said.

“The cost of creating such a Blood Pool must be enormous, to simultaneously enhance the strength of thousands of beasts. It requires a vast amount of energy!” another elder remarked.

“The key is not the energy but the Blood Pool itself! The fact that it can be created is against reason.”

“The Blood Pool probably uses some kind of blood; it sounds like dark magic.”

“If we could get close to the Blood Pool, we might study how it’s made and then perhaps create one ourselves…”

Qin Ruqing listened and found it amusing how the elders’ focus kept shifting.

Is now the time to research the Blood Pool?

Without being close to it, what can one figure out just by guessing?

In her view, the most pressing issue was—

“How to stop this blessing?” Qin Ruqing deliberately raised her voice and then paused, waiting for everyone’s attention before slowly adding, “Isn’t this the most important issue we should discuss?”

“They might leave tomorrow~” Qin Ruqing intentionally made the situation sound urgent, looking pointedly at the elder who had discussed the Blood Pool.

In other words, why are you still dragging your feet here?

The elders immediately fell silent, their faces showing embarrassment.

“I suggest we launch a surprise attack tonight!” Feng Qinxue, known for her decisive methods as the head of the Feng clan, proposed with the clan’s characteristic thunderous style. “Catch them off guard so they won’t have time to conduct the first round of selection, and at least delay the process.”

Most of the figures agreed.

This was indeed the simplest and most effective method.

Although it wouldn’t solve the root problem, it was necessary to address the immediate issue until a fundamental solution could be found.

Some hesitated, not out of opposition but due to doubts about the feasibility of this plan.

“In such a short time, launching a surprise attack is quite tight for us,” one voiced concern.

A surprise attack on the opposing side was indeed a surprise, but for their soldiers, it was also a “surprise” in a sense.

The sudden notice and lack of preparation time also required time to assemble the troops.

“If we can’t handle this small difficulty, then we shouldn’t bother fighting the beast race. We might as well lie down and let them invade the human realm,” Feng Qinxue shot a stern look at the hesitant individual, her disapproval almost palpable.

Her words also served as a wake-up call for everyone.

This battle required their utmost attention.

There was no room for error!

“A surprise attack is feasible,” Fifth Sheng agreed, redirecting the discussion and affirming Feng Qinxue’s decision. “But what about after that? This method will only delay the issue temporarily.”

“I want to go to the Beast Realm,” Qin Ruqing said suddenly.

Everyone was startled and turned their attention toward the source of the voice.

Qin Ruqing’s projection, feeling the gathered gazes, repeated, “I want to go to the Beast Realm.”

This was an unexpected direction for everyone!

Seeing their astonishment, Qin Ruqing smiled. “Why should we only allow them to come here? Can’t we go there ourselves?”

Feng Qinxue frowned at Qin Ruqing. “It’s not that humans can’t go. Some powerful humans have attempted to cross the barrier to the Beast Realm. However, those who entered faced almost certain death. The few who successfully returned spoke of extremely poisonous miasma that isolates humans and a natural chasm. It seems that the Beast Realm also suppresses the strength of humans.”

“These are indeed issues,” Qin Ruqing nodded slowly. “But where there is a problem, there is always a solution.”

“Are we supposed to spend our lives like turtles, passively enduring attacks without ever striking back?”

Qin Ruqing slowly raised her gaze, her eyes piercing like blades into everyone’s hearts.

The light in her eyes seemed to question: Do we want to be passive victims forever?

Feeling the silence in the virtual realm, Qin Ruqing thought of the inexplicable attraction she felt towards the barrier.

She was not embarking on this journey to the Beast Realm solely because of this attraction.

Instead, this attraction reminded her that—

Some things that have long been elusive must be explored by taking certain risks and being on the scene to gain insights.

After her conversation with the ancient spirit, Qin Ruqing had been researching the so-called primal power.

When she killed the Fang family’s ancestor, she experienced a momentary breakthrough and felt something.

But once that state ended, it felt as if she had fallen back into ignorance.

Qin Ruqing always felt she was just one step away from understanding the truth.

She had a strong sense that this final and most crucial step was in the Beast Realm!