Beastmaster of the Ages

”Don’t panic, it’s human nature. You’ll get used to it.” Tianming patted her shoulder.

Zi Zhen was speechless.

”Just wait!”

They had no choice but to withdraw outside and wait. The entire canyon was shaking, indicating how intense the movements of thousand-meter-tall specters were.

Tianming was profusely sweating. Finally, the commotion inside subsided. Two mountain-like female specters shyly came out and ran away.

Tianming didn’t lift his head, but saw two feet as big as the sky stepping over him. Above them was all darkness, shrouded in shadows. ”That was quite the commotion,” he remarked.

”Yeah,” Zi Zhen nodded.

Tianming felt awkward all over. After a while, they exchanged glances and headed toward Gu Chunhan’s lair.

Standing at the entrance, Zi Zhen called out, ”Gu Chunhan, it’s Zi Zhen.”

”Hey! The little beauty’s here. Come in—I should have welcomed you from afar. I’m ashamed!” A smooth, hearty laughter came from inside the lair.

With Tianming in tow, Zi Zhen quickly entered the cave. To them, the cave was an endless underground world, filled with glowing gemstones and bright light. When Tianming entered, he happened to see a chubby specter shrinking. He quickly reduced to about three meters, appearing in front of Tianming and Zi Zhen.

Tianming took a closer look at the man. The specter had a fat head, big ears, dark skin, black fur all over, and a prominent pig’s snout. He was like a humanoid wild boar, and his flesh was quite bulky after being nourished by xeno source. After shrinking, he emitted an aura of a primordial giant beast.

He was a demonhog!

Seeing Zi Zhen, he licked his chin and took three steps to reach her, saying with a smile, ”Zi Zhen, it’s been ten years since we last met, right? You’re as lively as ever! Fantastic!”

He acted very familiar, spreading out his sleeves and was about to put his arm around her shoulders. However, she was already on guard and took a step back. Gu Chunhan wasn’t surprised and continued smiling.

At this moment, he noticed Tianming and said in surprise, ”Oh, not simple! An outworlder together with Zi Zhen? What a friend you have.”

”He’s Li Tianming, my friend,” Zi Zhen said.

She wasn’t good at asking for help, so after the introduction, Tianming politely said, ”Junior Tianming greets Senior Gu Chunhan.”

”Tsk tsk.” Gu Chunhan looked at him, then at Zi Zhen. He patted his belly, and laughed, ”Indeed, as the saying goes, people don’t come knocking without a reason. Sister Zi Zhen personally came to find me, so it must be something important. We have a good relationship, and honest people don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me what you need.” He had a different look in his eyes. As described by Zi Zhen, he was a cunning and crafty person that seized every opportunity.

Tianming didn’t come that day with a sincere request for help; however, he would give Gu Chunhan a chance. Thus, he got straight to the point. ”Brother Gu, I’ve just arrived in the imperial capital with only one recommendation. If I want to stay longer, I need to make connections with them and Zi Zhen said you know people in the New Shrine. I’d like Brother Gu to help me make a connection. If it’s successful, I’ll definitely express my gratitude.”

”Sure, sure!” Gu Chunhan acted as if it was only to be expected. He assessed Tianming for a moment, then looked at Zi Zhen. His eyes flickered, and he smiled. ”To me, Zi Zhen is just like my own sister, as close as family. Any friend of hers is a friend of mine. I’ll definitely help you.”

Tianming didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. There must be more to it! He didn’t rush to speak.

As expected, Gu Chunhan continued, ”Brother Li, how many days are left on the recommendation order now?”

”Three days,” Tianming said, revealing a number that shocked Gu Chunhan.

”Three... three days? You won’t even make it out of the city with such a short time left! Well, the recommendation order is only for three months, which isn’t even enough time to reach the Ninth District. I have to say, you’re quite audacious,” Gu Chunhan exclaimed.

”Brother Gu, you’re forgetting I’m an outworlder. If things don’t work out, I just won’t come to the Xenoabyss in the future,” Tianming said with a smile.

”True!” Gu Chunhan patted his head, laughing, ”Look at my memory. I almost forgot about that.”

He laughed heartily, then pursed his lips, extended a big hand, and pulled Tianming closer. Bending down, he said, ”Brother, helping you with this connection is definitely something I can do. But there’s some other non-negotiable conditions that you have to work hard on your own. For example, the fifty million soulstones—do you have them on you now?”

While asking that, he was trying to control himself, but his eyes still shone.

”I have. Prepared and ready,” Tianming replied.

”Great!” Gu Chunhan gave him a big thumbs-up, and his gaze toward Tianming completely changed, like he was looking at a fat sheep. He continued, ”You know, those people in the New Shrine are like leeches. Fifty million soulstones is their official line, but they won’t be willing if it doesn’t reach their pockets. So, in addition to that fifty million, you need to prepare some extra soulstones. Only then will I have the courage to take you to see them.”

Tianming innocently asked, ”How much extra do I need to prepare?”

Gu Chunhan smiled mysteriously, extending three fingers.

”Three million?” Tianming sighed in relief. ”That should be okay.”

”No, no, no! What’re you thinking, kid?” Gu Chunhan rolled his eyes and said, ”To establish connections, you need at least another thirty million!”

”Thirty million? Together, that’s eighty million soulstones! Even if I use the money to marry a diamond-studded wife, it won’t be enough!” Tianming was shocked.

”What wife would need so many soulstones?” Gu Chunhan asked.

”Gu Chunhan,” Zi Zhen called out. When Gu Chunhan looked over, her tone was somewhat displeased as she asked, ”Didn’t you say before that adding ten million soulstones could establish a connection?”

”Ah, sister, times have changed. Now those leeches have big appetites. They asked for thirty million. What can I do? Money is needed to live here!” Gu Chunhan helplessly explained.

”Is there really no other way, Brother Gu?” Tianming asked.

”There’s none, really. Not even a single soulstone less,” Gu Chunhan said.

Tianming and Zi Zhen silently looked at each other.

”Sister, it isn’t that I don’t want to help your friend. It’s just that those leeches are too shameless! But they’re government officials and there’s nothing I can do about it. In Antiquitas Mortis, officials dominate the commonfolk!” Gu Chunhan complained.

”Then let’s go,” Zi Zhen said.

”Okay.” Tianming nodded, feeling helpless. ”It seems that I won’t be able to come to the Xenoabyss again. What a pity.”

The two didn’t say much more, just turned to leave. As expected, before they walked more than a few steps away, Gu Chunhan gritted his teeth and suddenly said, ”Wait!”

”Something else?” Zi Zhen asked.

”Good sister, I still have another way, but I can only privately tell you. Please have Brother Tianming step aside for a moment,” he said.