Indeed, it was just drinking human blood.

It was the beast bodies they possessed that drank, not them directly.

If they were found out, their own lives would be at risk.

In the beast realm, discovery meant certain death, with no place to run.

The black panther, Zifeng, was the first to respond to Qin Ruqing, drinking the blood next.

Then came the pangolin, the emerald snake…

Qin Ruqing no longer cared about the conflicted expressions of her companions.

She was focused on carefully observing the reactions of beasts after consuming human blood.

She had drunk beast blood in illusions before, and it only significantly strengthened her physical body.

But now it seemed that human blood had a different effect on beasts?

Once the human blood entered the beast body, an uncomfortable feeling quickly emerged—not in the body or meridians, but in the mind.

A powerful repulsive force seemed to explode in her brain, as if trying to expel this power that didn’t belong to the beast body.

At this moment, Qin Ruqing realized the role of Yuehua. Her mind felt like it was being pricked with needles, and the normally irritable and restless beast nature became even more volatile, almost leading to an outburst.

To counter this force, she had to rely on Yuehua to stabilize her emotions and control her mind.

After enduring the discomfort, Qin Ruqing noticed something different.

It was hard to describe, but it felt like, for a brief moment—the sky became clearer, the moon brighter, and the connection between the world’s laws and herself deepened, as if some kind of restraint on her body was slightly lifted.

Though it was only a slight lift.

If this spiritual realization was too abstract and esoteric, then the enhancement of power in the beast core was quite tangible.

The memories from the beast core revealed that this absorption was equivalent to one or two months of training for the original beast.

Was this the reason why beasts continuously attacked humans?

But why didn’t the effect of absorbing beast blood have such a significant impact on humans?

Was it due to the method of use?

Qin Ruqing had finished absorbing the blood, but seeing her companions still immersed in Yuehua, she had to pretend to follow suit.

When the Yuehua’s influence ended, some beasts lay down on the altar to sleep, while others got up and left.

Qin Ruqing signaled her small team.

Seven beasts got up and left the altar.

Fortunately, they were all part of the same patrol team, so their actions went unnoticed by the beasts.

The only remaining green-eyed wolf was in a deep sleep, saving Qin Ruqing the trouble of an explanation.

Qin Ruqing pretended to lead her team to a sheltered spot to rest, but in reality, it was to exchange information.

“How did you feel after absorbing human blood?” Qin Ruqing asked telepathically.

As soon as she asked, the faces of the beasts disguised as humans showed a hint of embarrassment and shame.

It seemed that, as humans, they found it difficult to talk about refining their own kind’s blood.

Seeing their emotions, Qin Ruqing couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“It’s the beast body you’re possessing that absorbs the blood, not you directly. What are you all so troubled about?” Her telepathic voice was not loud, but it carried an unspoken sense of frustration.

“And I’m not asking about your psychological state. I’m asking, as beasts, what did you specifically feel when refining human blood?”

The black panther, Tang Zifeng, was the first to react.

He was unsure what had happened next to Qin Ruqing but responded telepathically:

“There was a strong mental impact, completely different from the feeling of refining beast blood as humans.”

The pangolin, Fifth Youlin, also said, “After consuming human blood, the speed of beast core training significantly increased, at least three times more efficient.”

The emerald snake, coiled up and occasionally flicking its tongue, said, “My feeling is similar. I was more concerned with Yuehua. It is indeed a wonderful thing, a concentration of the essence of heaven and earth. It benefits not only beasts but all creatures in their growth and cultivation. Some ancient alchemical formulas use Yuehua as an ingredient. However, Yuehua is difficult to collect in the human realm, except in special secret realms, while in the beast realm, it can be summoned through special means?”

“That is indeed a strange point,” Qin Ruqing pondered. “Apart from that, did you feel anything else?”

Qirong and Xiao Fenhua shook their heads.

Tang Zifeng keenly asked, “Did you have a different experience?”

“I’m not sure if it’s different. Perhaps you all have the same experience but with less noticeable effects. After all, I consumed the most human blood. Different conditions make direct comparisons difficult.”

After a pause, Qin Ruqing shared the unusual sensations she had noticed.

“I feel like some kind of constraint in my body has been broken, even if just a little.”

Qin Ruqing’s voice echoed directly in everyone’s minds.

It was calm but carried a weight that made hearts sink, as if something long-hidden was waiting to be discovered.

Finally, Fenhua broke the silence with her usual timid tone:

“It’s a bit scary. But from what we’ve heard, it seems the benefits of beasts absorbing human blood are much greater than humans absorbing beast blood. Is that why they keep launching beast tides?”

“Perhaps,” Qin Ruqing replied briefly.

Seeing that they wouldn’t reach a conclusion on this issue quickly, she shifted to the most important point. “The discovery of refining blood is an unexpected gain, but let’s not forget our ultimate goal in the Beast Realm.”

“The Blood Pool at Tianxing Mountain!” Lu Wei and the others said in unison after glancing at each other.

Qi Rong couldn’t help but ask, “Well, do we also have the right to enter the Blood Pool? Should we go in or not?”

Theoretically, they were here to investigate, and only firsthand experience could reveal the truth.

However, the thought of the Beast God’s blessing—anything related to the Beast God was frightening.

Even without the Beast God involved, it would certainly involve some forbidden technique of the beast race.

With their human souls, stepping into the Blood Pool felt like exposing themselves completely.

Who knew what might happen?

Qi Rong was likely thinking what Qin Ruqing was also considering.

After a moment of contemplation, she said just four words:

“Act according to circumstances!”

As dawn broke, the Wolf King announced that the group would set off again.

The collective cultivation from last night seemed to have energized the beasts, who were eager to receive the blessing.

The beasts traveled in a simple manner—running.

However, they had a special aid, a magical leaf that, when held in the mouth, made them feel light and increased their speed.

The hundred-beast team, holding these leaves, ran all the way to Tianxing Mountain.

At the foot of Tianxing Mountain, the scene could be described as a “sea of beasts.”

The beasts maintained a slight distance from each other, but their movements were uniform—facing the same direction with their heads slightly raised, their eyes fervently fixed on the mountain top.

It was like a grand pilgrimage.

Qin Ruqing sighed inwardly.

However, after worshipping for a while, she grew impatient as she hadn’t even seen the object of worship.

She asked the Green-Eyed Wolf next to her, “When will the blessing ceremony begin?”

The Green-Eyed Wolf, revering her due to her previous performances, quickly responded:

“Once the sun reaches the top of the mountain, Prince Wumu will likely come out to represent the Beast God, announcing the Beast God’s benevolence towards our people. After that, there might be another round of selection, and the final selected individuals can then go up the mountain to enter the Blood Pool.”

Prince Wumu? Qin Ruqing recalled the horned youth she had seen in the Ruins before.

An important event like this would be overseen by a prince?

But if the Beast Emperor was busy with daily affairs, it made sense for his son to handle such matters.

“Another round of selection—will it involve fighting?” Qirong poked the Green-Eyed Wolf with a bug leg, causing the Green-Eyed Wolf to give him an irritated glare.

“Not necessarily!” The Green-Eyed Wolf replied to the impolite bug. “We have already been carefully chosen. Another round of fighting or competition seems unnecessary. Perhaps it will be up to the Beast God to select their favored children.”

When he mentioned “favored children,” the Green-Eyed Wolf’s face showed longing, obviously hoping to be chosen himself.

Qin Ruqing and the others ignored his strange expression and exchanged glances.

The Beast God personally selecting them?

Could it be that the Beast God of the Beast Realm was truly alive?

When the sun reached the top of Tianxing Mountain, Prince Wumu indeed appeared.

In the Ruins, he had a half-human, half-beast form, but in the Beast Realm, he was fully in beast form.

The Beast Race admired grandeur, but Prince Wumu’s beast form was of average size among them.

However, his long horns, high on his head, symbolized some kind of authority.

As Prince Wumu began to speak on behalf of the Beast God, Qin Ruqing wasn’t paying much attention to the content.

Her focus was entirely on Wumu’s eyes.

They were a pure, scarlet red.

She started to recall if Wumu’s eyes had been this red before in the Ruins.

Perhaps due to the glaring sun on the mountaintop, even from a distance, Qin Ruqing felt that Prince Wumu seemed somewhat dangerous.

Was Wumu like this before?

Before Qin Ruqing could think further, Wumu’s crimson gaze seemed to detect something and suddenly swept toward her direction.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a tremendous sense of danger surged through her, making her blood run cold and adrenaline spike.

Her instincts, faster than her thoughts, made her instinctively lower her beastly head and bow in reverence.

Many beasts around her did the same, so she wasn’t particularly noticeable.

This action allowed her to successfully avoid Wumu’s scarlet gaze.

Wumu’s gaze did pause momentarily in Qin Ruqing’s direction but, not detecting anything unusual, slowly moved away.

Maintaining her bowed posture, Qin Ruqing kept her gaze fixed on the ground, her expression calm.

She had confirmed one thing:

That “Wumu” was not just a little dangerous.

He was truly very dangerous!