Chapter 2017: Can’t Even Compare To A Beast Pt.2

In the void beyond the Essence Luxuriant World, more than ten high-level beasts from the Spirit Frost World were still attempting to receive the inheritance of the Big Dipper Star Shift Steps.

Originally, the Giant Ape King had brought the beasts with another purpose in mind, with the attempt to inherit the footwork only as a secondary matter. But when two of the first four rank five beasts succeeded, the Giant Ape King immediately changed its attitude, taking the trial seriously, and even faintly regretted coming too late.

By then, the 81 imprints Shang Xia had left in the void were already faint. They were nearly completely faded. Before long, they would vanish completely. Thus, to leave the few remaining opportunities to its companions from the Spirit Frost World, the Giant Ape King and the other three rank six beast kings began blocking cultivators from the Essence Luxuriant World and the other three Spirit Worlds from approaching the imprints.

Their actions quickly drew the ire of cultivators from other worlds. Shang Xia had left the imprints with no restrictions. Anyone was qualified to attempt them. Yet the domineering actions of the Spirit Frost World’s beast kings clearly showed they intended to reserve all attempts for their companions until the imprints disappeared.

The beasts ignored the rebukes completely.

Under the Giant Ape King’s direction, the 5th rank five beast attempted next.

However, it failed. Despite following the same method as before, it could not trigger resonance and withdrew in dejection.

Soon, the 6th, 7th, and 8th rank five beasts also failed.

Cultivators from other worlds who had suspected the beasts were special now concluded the earlier successes were mere coincidences.

That fueled the growing anger at the Spirit Frost World’s beasts monopolizing the imprints, and more cultivators joined the chorus of accusations. At first, the beast kings tried to defend themselves, but speech was never their strength. Even when beasts awakened intelligence early, true speech usually came only after reaching the sixth rank. A few prodigies could speak at the fifth rank, but eloquence was beyond them.

Thus, under the verbal assault of countless cultivators, the beasts were forced to retreat. Naturally, they were extremely angry from the provocation and rebuke.

If not for the Giant Ape King’s firm restraint and the overwhelming number of cultivators surrounding them, they might already have lost control.

Even so, the void was tense, as though one misstep would ignite chaos. The Giant Ape King still occupied the starting point of the imprints, its vast aura at the grand completion stage alone enough to intimidate the restless crowd.

The ninth beast to attempt was another ape. It was smaller than the Giant Ape King, with long arms and an exceptionally long tail.

It resonated with the imprints almost immediately, silencing much of the criticism. From prior experience, the faster one achieved resonance, the higher their potential with the inheritance. Some observers predicted the long-tailed ape might reach the second threshold of 36 steps, or even the impressive 49th.

But as the saying went, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. The ape only managed six or seven steps before tumbling dazed out of the void, provoking laughter from onlookers.

Confused, it scratched its head and tried to re-enter, but the Giant Ape King grabbed its head and shoved it back.

If the imprints could be retried endlessly, then surely those human cultivators who had once succeeded would already have repeated them. Clearly, the first attempt determined one’s limit. It was fate.

Though the ape’s attempt ended abruptly, reaching the 6th step meant it would at least achieve the first nine in time, better than those who never connected with them.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Next, the 10th beast failed immediately, but the 11th, a scaled crocodile, astonished the crowd by charging along 29 steps before collapsing from exhaustion.

The 12th and final beast failed as well.

Yet by now, no one could dismiss the beasts’ potential. Of 12 rank five beasts, four succeeded, achieving a success rate of one-third.

Even a blind man could see their chances were far higher than human cultivators’.

This truth left many speechless, though few could accept it. That the greatest martial inheritance of the Essence Luxuriant World’s strongest Sage was best suited to high-ranked beasts, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Still, the imprints were fading fast, and the priority was to seize what remained.

As though prearranged, True Immortals from the Essence Luxuriant World, Spirit Qing World, Spirit Cheng World, and the Spirit Ruling World appeared at the same time, surrounding the four beast kings of the Spirit Frost World.

"Beast kings, your 12 subordinates have finished their trials. It’s time to give others the chance at comprehending the imprints."