Tribulation of Myriad Races

Suddenly, Wu Lan pounced on a nearby bush and lifted a tiny furball up. She exclaimed in surprise, "Su Yu, what's this? I've never seen something like this before! This looks so fun!"

Su Yu looked over and was instantly stunned.

Zhu Hongliang saw it as well. He said, "Huh? Why is one of Big Ball's kids here?"

That was his sole reaction. Meanwhile, Su Yu remembered that on his first day here, everyone was talking about Big Ball's cubs. There were three of them. News of the three cubs spread everywhere, creating an even bigger sensation than news about Su Yu's arrival and a new vice principal losing a leg in their city.

And Su Yu was blanking out because the moment he looked at the cub, he noticed something. When he looked at the iron devourer, the iron devourer was also looking at him. When their gazes met, Su Yu's jaw dropped.

Holy shit!

He looked at the cub again one more time before looking at the iron devourer again.

Holy shit!

Was that his kid?

The iron devourer seemed too ashamed so he looked away and returned to his food. He was basically saying that Su Yu should stop making up bullshit stories. How could a great mythological beast like him get together with Big Ball?

A lot of people in the academy were guessing who the father was. And this beast devourer was most certainly not going to admit it.

"Awooo!"

The little chubby cub in Wu Lan's hands roared and struggled free from her before running toward the iron devourer with unsteady steps. When the cub reached the iron devourer, he climbed up the iron devourer's body. When he reached the iron devourer's head, he tried to chomp on the iron devourer's bamboo.

At first, Zhu Hongliang appeared indifferent. But now, he blinked in astonishment. What the fuck? His Dumbo was the type that could accept being beaten up but not having his food snatched. He would grow furious if anyone touched his food.

Su Yu stared at Zhu Hongliang speechlessly for a long while. He then asked, "Aren’t...you noticing something?"

"..."

Zhu Hongliang remained silent for a bit before saying, "This isn't right. But I've only seen these cubs a few times. Before this, I didn't feel anything. But it has only been a few days. This cub has changed somewhat. Why...are there black spots around his eyes?"

Those black spots weren't there before!

Zhu Hongliang looked at the iron devourer grudgingly. The little chubby cub was still trying to snatch the bamboo while the iron devourer continued to ignore him.

"Dumbo...I don't think you can hide this anymore." Zhu Hongliang said, "This...is a tad bit too obvious. Your taste is...so unique. How did Big Ball catch your eyes? No wonder you kept running away from me a while back!"

The iron devourer continued eating his bamboo and ignored Zhu Hongliang.

"Stop acting. The black spots around his eyes are already out for all to see. It's over. Everyone will laugh at both of us after finding out about this."

Zhu Hongliang grudgingly said, "Everyone is still guessing who's the dad. But damn, it's you?"

The iron devourer glanced at Zhu Hongliang before looking at the cub. Then, he looked away, adamant in feigning innocence. He nonchalantly rubbed the little cub's face. Instantly, the black spots vanished. The proof had been removed!

Su Yu nearly laughed in amusement.

Zhu Hongliang palmed his own face and said, "There are two more out there. Can you hide this forever? Dumbo, I don't know what to say anymore."

Su Yu was resisting the urge to laugh. But when his gaze landed on the little cub, his eyes flickered. Could he find the body forging art through this little fellow's blood essence?

Perhaps it was a racial ability or a foundation source art? If it was a racial ability, it would be quite incredible. But if it was really a proper body forging art, did this little fellow know it yet? If the little fellow didn't know it, would the blood essence activate the ability in his book?

Deep in thought, Su Yu suddenly looked up in alarm. He noticed that the iron devourer was staring at him with dangerous eyes.

Su Yu hurriedly explained, "Stay calm, Senior. I don't mean any malice."

After a slight hesitation, Su Yu said, "Senior, I have a question. Is your body so strong due to a racial ability or a body forging art? If it's a body forging art, can I learn it from you? Of course, you won't be doing this for free. Feel free to name your terms."

He looked at the little cub and said, "This little fellow was born in the Human Realm. Here in Human Realm, everyone will start as a weakling as our realm is lacking something. For example, we don't have any heavenly source qi in the air to nurture anyone born here. If you agree to help me, we can perhaps reach an agreement on some things. I might even be able to supply this little fellow some heavenly source qi. Otherwise, this little fellow would probably grow up into a lesser version of your variant race."

Finally, the look in the iron devourer's eyes changed. But he still stared at Su Yu silently.

Zhu Hongliang exclaimed in surprise, "You even have extra heavenly source fruits lying around?" How rich. "I took one when I was a child, but my grandpa acted like I had taken his life. It isn't even that expensive. It's only around two or three thousand merit points. Unfortunately, these fruits can barely be found on the market."

He sighed, lamenting how rare this fruit was. In truth, that was actually quite an expensive price if one used it purely for the Source Opening Realm. Most large families would have some in storage.

The Zhu Family might have more, but they were definitely locked away in storage. These fruits were very beneficial for the younger generation so they wouldn't use it casually. As for giving it to the little iron devourer, well, that was not going to happen.

Of course, things might change if the iron devourer actually made a request.

The iron devourer stared at Su Yu before looking at the little ball. After a moment, a voice rang out in Su Yu's head, "You have heavenly source qi in your possession?"

Su Yu's eyes lit up.

Sure enough, it was impossible for a Mountainsea to not know the common language. Furthermore, this iron devourer wasn't even speaking the common language. He was speaking the human language.

This iron devourer had stayed in the Human Realm for so many years that he had picked up the language as well.

Su Yu ignored Zhu Hongliang and replied through voice transmission, "Senior, so is it a body forging art or a racial ability?"

"It's both a racial ability and a body forging art. My race does not need to forge our bodies."

Su Yu was alarmed. That was quite a special circumstance. The racial ability was the body forging art. That was incredible.

"Senior, this little fellow is still too young. He might suffer some damage after losing a drop of blood essence. But for the same reason, he also won't lose much from it because he simply doesn't have much to lose. He can recoup his losses with heavenly source qi. It can even strengthen his foundation. According to what I know, an iron devourer should be a Great Strength or an Infinite Strength at birth. But this little fellow is still at the Source Opening Realm. Clearly, his Source Opening acupoints are clogged."

The iron devourer said nothing. Su Yu was right. The Human Realm lacked heavenly source qi. Meanwhile, the Iron Devourer Realm had a place rich in heavenly source qi. Everyone from their race would go there when giving birth, allowing their young ones to open the nine Source Opening acupoints at birth. But that was clearly not possible here.

After a short moment, the iron devourer's voice rang out in Su Yu's head again, "How much are you giving? All three of them need to have their Source Opening acupoints opened. I can give you a drop of my own blood essence. These little fellows are too young. Their blood essence won't do anything when forging your body."

"No. Your blood essence is too powerful, Senior. I won't be able to pick it apart for my research..." Su Yu hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Senior. With enough heavenly source qi, this little fellow can definitely regain what he lost. If this little fellow is willing to contribute a drop of blood essence to me, I'll even provide him with more heavenly source qi."

"Show me."

"..."

Su Yu was rendered speechless. He didn't have any. What was he supposed to show?

"Senior, I don't have any with me right now. How about this? Give me a few days. I'll come and make the trade with you."

The iron devourer gave the little fellow a glance and asked, "Must you use the blood essence of this little fellow? Why don't you want the blood essence of a Mountainsea?"

The iron devourer couldn't understand what Su Yu was thinking. As for the matter of picking the blood essence apart for research, even if Su Yu couldn't do it, he could always get someone to do it for him, right?

He had heard about the multiple character faction's ability blood essence production. Was that not possible for Mountainsea blood essence? Then again, that really seemed to be the case according to the rumors.

Su Yu said, "Don't worry, Senior. With enough heavenly source qi, losing a drop of blood essence is nothing as well. As a Mountainsea, you know this."

Generally, most people would be fine after losing a drop of blood essence. One would only feel weakened for a bit. A few months of rest would allow one to recover completely. The suanni and the others wouldn't have survived until now otherwise. Of course, their foundations had all been damaged from repeated blood essence extraction. They had only started recovering recently.

"Fine. But if you dare to lie..."

The iron devourer did not finish his words, but he stabbed his paw into the ground as easily as slicing through paper.

Su Yu gave a hollow laugh. Zhu Hongliang couldn't hear their voice transmissions, but he saw the iron devourer's gesture. He asked, "Dumbo, have you been talking to Su Yu?"

Silence.

The iron devourer ignored him.

Zhu Hongliang furiously said, "I'm your master, not him! Have you been capable of speech all along? Damn it! Why are you acting again? Do you want me to tell the world that you slept with Big Ball?"

The iron devourer shot Zhu Hongliang a lazy glance before ignoring him again. Sure. Tell everyone. Let's see who would be the more embarrassed one.

Zhu Hongliang was left speechless. That was merely an empty threat. How would he spread something so embarrassing?

He looked at Su Yu helplessly and asked, "Did Dumbo speak to you? Did you reach an agreement with each other?"

Su Yu denied, "Not at all. You think too much, Prince."

Zhu Hongliang snorted. Bullshit!