Li Daqian couldn’t suppress his hatred as he watched the retreating figures of Alamos and his group.
Evolved in the post-apocalyptic world were not so naive. When everyone emerged from the Spatitu Space, many wanted to test whether they could kill their opponents.
However, the strengths of both sides were somewhat balanced. After a moment of mutual observation, they decided against fighting.
As for the equipment Wen Yan had taken to control battle beasts, it had been returned. However, the large beast pool of Thousand Beast Villa had been temporarily sealed by some method, and it would take half a day to unseal. Even Li Daqian, who most wanted to kill these people, had no choice but to remain silent.
The sudden attack had left Thousand Beast Villa severely damaged. A significant number of traitors had left the place nearly defenseless. Alamos and his team had destroyed most of the villa. While the top-tier fighters battled in the space, the outside was also in chaos. Many areas were destroyed by the uncontrollable abilities of the evolved during the fight. If it hadn’t been for Xia Bai and the female guards stepping in early to stabilize the situation, the entire villa might have been wiped out.
Therefore, Li Daqian’s attitude toward Ye Zhongming was very good.
Although the villa was in ruins, the core area remained relatively intact. With no further interference from external enemies, the survivors quickly stabilized the situation and began efforts to salvage and repair the place.
Li Daqian handed his son over to several of the villa’s leaders and then brought Ye Zhongming, Deacon Water, Ruan Xiao, Guancheng Chun, and other faction leaders to a mysterious location within a mountain.
Following a wide passage, they descended hundreds of meters underground into the mountain. They found a stone hall at the lowest level, empty except for a stone coffin in the center.
This was the only way Li Daqian felt secure.
“This is the place.”
The manor’s master regained some of his authoritative demeanor, suppressing his worry for his son.
Ye Zhongming and the others approached and looked into the stone coffin.
Inside laid a corpse.
At first, no one focused on what kind of lifeform it was, as they were all drawn to the silver magic crystal on its forehead.
Nine-stars!
Indeed, Thousand Beast Villa had truly killed a nine-star mutated lifeform.
“This is…” Li Daqian began, then realized his people had given the name. After a moment’s thought, he decided to use the name given by the evolved in the area where this creature had been active—Mantis Snatcher.
“I’m not entirely sure whether this is a mutated version of some Earth lifeform or one of those suddenly appearing monsters. In any case, it’s a nine-star lifeform and dead.”
Li Daqian and his subordinates felt a surge of pride as he spoke.
In terms of faction strength, they might not match Cloud Peak, Five Ring Money, or Cannibal Chains. In terms of personal combat power, Li Daqian was certain he couldn’t defeat Ye Zhongming and was, at best, on par with Deacon Water and Ruan Xiao.
But the first in the country to kill a nine-star lifeform was Thousand Beast Villa!
Of course, he didn’t know that Ye Zhongming and his team, along with the Posthumous People, had already killed the Holy Father in the secret realm. However, since the fatal blow to the Holy Father had come from infighting within Saint Light Hall, the Cloud Peak team didn’t consider it their kill and had never publicized it.
“Although we weren’t in the same space, we fought side by side. I won’t beat around the bush—I’ll be direct.”
Li Daqian looked at the nine-star lifeform’s corpse, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
“I plan to sell this corpse.”
Ye Zhongming, Deacon Water, Ruan Xiao, Guancheng Chun, and even Xia Bai, who had followed them in, had a gleam in their eyes.
This was the corpse of a nine-star lifeform! Every part of it was an extremely precious material. While they might not yet know the exact uses of these materials, future research, and exploration will reveal their immense value.
Now, they understood why Li Daqian had gathered these people. Excluding Five Ring Money and Cannibal Chain, which were purely business-oriented, the others—Ye Zhongming, Guancheng Chun, Qin Ru, Wen Yan, and Alamos—had advanced laboratories or powerful battle beasts.
The corpse of a nine-star lifeform could be invaluable research material or the rarest food for battle beasts. It had significant uses, whether for research or consumption.
They were the most qualified and eager buyers.
So, Thousand Beast Villa’s plan from the start had been to sell the corpse!
All that talk about jointly verifying the nine-star lifeform’s corpse and exploring its secrets had been excuses and smokescreens.
“Name your price. There’s nothing Cannibal Chain can’t afford.” Ruan Xiao was practically drooling. Although Cannibal Chain had lost one of its top executives this time, that person had been the least experienced and weakest among the regional managers. While his death was a blow to the organization, it wasn’t a critical one.
If they could acquire this nine-star corpse as compensation, it would more than make up for the loss.
“Oh? Does Manager Ruan think Five Ring Money can’t afford it?” Deacon Water was displeased, no longer caring about maintaining her goddess-like image. She was ready to fight for every inch.
She had made up her mind. She was determined to get her hands on this nine-star corpse even if it meant offending Ye Zhongming!
“I think we should hear what Villa Master Li has to say. What’s the point of arguing now? Do you think Cloud Peak doesn’t have the money?”
Since defecting to Ye Zhongming, Guancheng Chun had fully embraced the role of a loyal subordinate. He knew he had to cling tightly to the Cloud Peak King’s coattails; otherwise, Li Daqian would kill him.
Deacon Water and Ruan Xiao glanced at Guancheng Chun but said nothing. After all, this four-legged man was now Ye Zhongming’s subordinate.
Li Daqian snorted, expressing his dissatisfaction with Guancheng Chun, then slowly said, “If I were to sell the entire corpse, I would demand the best items in return—like Brother Ye’s two purple-grade weapons, Deacon Water’s Bright Water Realm, or Manager Ruan’s boss’s battle beast, Soaring Wind.”
“Would you give them up? No.”
Li Daqian shook his head. The others agreed. These items were far too important to trade away.
“Moreover, even if you were willing to make such a trade, wouldn’t the others have come here for nothing? Possessing such a treasure would only invite trouble. The journey back would be anything but smooth.”
“So, I’ve decided to sell the corpse in parts!”