"Let's talk it over."
"How?"
"We're not just competing with it. There are plenty of other contenders here, and it ranks only third among them," Chen Shu said. "If it's willing, we can help it claim first pick, then ask it to share some of the extra Spirit Jade Incense it gets with you."
"Would that work?"
"Go ask and find out," Chen Shu said. "If it refuses, we'll leave."
"What about you, senior brother?"
"I don't need any. I have no pressing need for it, so consider this a favor to you," Chen Shu said. "Anything extra can be a gift to it."
"I don't need any either," Jiang Lai said hurriedly.
"Well..."
"Go ask."
"All right."
"Remember to be polite."
"I know."
Yan Keling took a few steps, then turned around at his words and walked backward as she said, "I'm not a child..."
Chen Shu smiled.
As she and the giant beast moved, nearly every Otherworldly Beast turned to look at them. Most eyes lingered on the giant beast's phantom. Some of the beasts looked thoughtful or puzzled, but none made a rash move.
Chen Shu had seen that same look in the Otherworldly Tiger's eyes two years ago. He had not known why then, but now he had a fair idea.
This giant beast looked remarkably like the Imperial Beast, king of the Otherworldly Beasts in the Southern Continent.
Their bearing was remarkably similar too: majestic, savage, and disdainful of all beneath them. Even the two Sixth Tier Otherworldly Beasts present seemed no more than ants in its eyes.
Yan Keling drew close to the Otherworldly Tiger.
The tiger glanced at the giant beast behind her, then lowered its gaze to her, wariness in its eyes.
The giant beast stopped.
Yan Keling approached the tiger alone.