The Catalyst

"Buzzz-"

The moment Shi Hou's palm touched the pot, an obscure pulse shot through his fingertips straight to the crown of his head.

Scarlet warning windows flashed madly across his vision, so red they seemed about to drip blood.

[Target detected: primordial remnant · Suanni's original treasure bone]

[Current status: runes locked, Dao resonance concealed]

[Cooking feasibility: viable]

[Prerequisite: potent medicine required to break it down!]

[Hint: during his lifetime, Suanni fought the Demon Ape and the Li Fire Bull Demon to the death, entangling their auras. Heart essence blood from these two beasts is required as a catalyst to neutralize Suanni's death-bound will before the bone text can be simmered into Runes Treasure Soup.]

[Current shortfall: Demon Ape heart essence blood (0/1), Li Fire Bull Demon heart essence blood (0/1)]

Shi Hou withdrew his hand, a peculiar look on his face.

"Well?"

Shi Yunfeng was gripping his walking stick so hard that his palms were nearly sweating. His old eyes stayed fixed on Shi Hou. "Did this pot... respond?"

Shi Linhu and several clan elders gathered around as well, holding their breath.

This was the key to whether Stone Village could truly rise. If they could produce rune experts in batches, swaggering through the Great Wilderness would no longer be a dream.

"It's possible."

Shi Hou gave his answer.

Shi Yunfeng trembled all over, the wrinkles on his face instantly blooming into a flower of a smile. "Really? Then what are we waiting for? Get to it! Is the fire not hot enough? Or is the water no good? We still have a few jars of aged beast blood in the village. We'll bring them all over!"

"Easy, old man."

Shi Hou waved a hand and pointed at the lustrous white bone. "Fire and water are easy enough, but this bone is the crystallization of all Suanni's cultivation. It's proud as can be. Just boiling it won't help. Even after eight or ten years, it'll still be a hard bone."

"Then what's missing?"

Shi Feijiao was a blunt man, and he scratched his head anxiously. "Skinny Monkey, can't you spit it all out in one breath?"

Shi Hou grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Two catalysts."

"What catalysts? We've still got plenty of old medicinal herbs in the storehouse..."

"Not herbs."

Shi Hou cut Shi Feijiao off and held up two fingers. "Blood. And it has to be heart essence blood from that damned monkey and that mad bull."

Dead silence.

The courtyard fell quiet in an instant, with only Kang's snuffling snores breaking the stillness.

Shi Yunfeng's smile froze on his face. His dry throat bobbed. "You mean... those two primordial remnants that fought Suanni to the death in the mountains that day?"

The Demon Ape.

The Li Fire Bull Demon.

They were the true overlords of this stretch of the Great Wilderness!

The sight of Suanni's dying counterattack that day, the thunder sea swallowing everything, still made the villagers' calves cramp whenever they remembered it.

Although those two savage beasts had fled with grave injuries, a camel starved to death was still bigger than a horse. They remained beings who could make the forests shudder three times with a stamp of their feet.

"That's right. Those two."

Shi Hou nodded, casually fished a leftover piece of meat from the pot, and popped it into his mouth. "The system... er, the pot said Suanni was driven to death by those two, so all his resentment is focused on them. Only by offering his enemies' blood to the pot can we 'melt' the runes inside this bone."

"But..."

Shi Linhu went pale. "Those two beasts might be badly hurt, but they're not dead yet. If we go near them, won't we just be throwing our lives away?"

"Who says we'll be throwing our lives away?"

A young yet commanding voice cut in.

Shi Hao leaped down from the roof and landed lightly beside Shi Hou.

The little fellow had just finished eating Suanni meat. Vital essence surged throughout his body, and a battle-hungry light shone in his large eyes.

"Uncle Linhu, I saw it that day. Big Brother Skinny Monkey tore off one of that monkey's arms, and half of that bull's body was scorched by lightning."

Shi Hao stuck out his little tongue and licked his lips. Rather than fear, his face showed mostly craving. "Besides... monkey brains are really nourishing, and beef hot pot tastes great too."

Good grief.

Shi Feijiao and the others kept wiping away cold sweat as they listened.

Was this really a four-year-old child?

He was treating primordial remnants like walking buffets!

"Little One is right."

Shi Hou stood up and rolled his neck, producing a series of sharp cracks.

The blood and qi carrying his strength of 1.2 million jin surged through him like mighty rivers, giving him the illusion that he could punch a hole in the sky.

"While they're sick, take their lives."

Shi Hou's gaze grew deep. "Those two beasts are at their weakest right now. If we wait until they recover, or some other faction swoops in to reap the spoils, we really won't get to drink this pot of rune soup."

"Besides..."

Shi Hou looked toward the corner, where the Green-Scaled Eagle was preening her new feathers with her beak.

"Auntie, you should know where those two ran off to, right?"

"Skree!"

The Green-Scaled Eagle jerked her head up, two beams of cold golden light shooting from her eyes.

She had not forgotten.

It was those two overlords fighting over territory that had nearly killed her three children-and nearly killed her as well.

For savage beasts, a grudge like that ended only in death.

The Green-Scaled Eagle nodded and spread her wings, casting an enormous shadow over the ground, filled with a thirst for vengeance.

"Settled."

Shi Hou snapped his fingers. "We have our guide."

He turned to the old clan chief, whose face was torn with indecision.

"Grandpa Chief, riches and honor must be sought amid danger. In this Great Wilderness, no meat ever lands safely in your mouth."

Shi Hou patted the black pot on his back. His voice was quiet, yet carried a reassuring composure. "We used to go out of our way to avoid them. But now... I think Stone Village's teeth are hard enough."

Shi Yunfeng looked at the two before him, one big and one small.

One was as dark as an iron tower, carrying a huge black pot that could smash a Spirit Transformation Realm expert to death.

The other was small, but flashes of lightning flickered within him, making him seem like a young deity.

Then he looked at the clansmen behind him, all yearning to grow stronger.

The old clan chief took a deep breath and slammed his walking stick hard against the ground.

"We'll do it!"

Shi Yunfeng gritted his teeth. "What do you need prepared? The whole village will help!"

"No need to mobilize everyone."

Shi Hou shook his head. "More people will only make us easier to spot. Those two beasts may be injured, but they're still alert."

He pointed at Shi Hao, then at Kang, the black pig on the ground who was still dreaming of feasting.

"Just the three of us, plus Auntie."

"Isn't that... too few?"

Shi Shoushan emerged from the house holding his lower back, worry written across his face. "Skinny Monkey, why not take your Uncle Linhu and Uncle Feijiao? They could at least keep watch for you."

"Dad, just stay home and let your back heal."

Shi Hou walked over and snugged up his father's beast-hide collar.

"In a fight at that level, extra people would only be a burden."

Shi Hou spoke lightly. "Besides, this black pig is far better at controlling the battlefield now than Uncle Linhu and the others."

Kang, who was drooling in his sleep, suddenly sneezed, rolled over groggily, and muttered, "Oink."

Everyone: "..."

"All right, everyone, off you go."

Shi Hou waved a hand, dismissing them. "Spend tonight properly digesting the meat in your bellies. We leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"To stock up."

Night deepened.

Stone Village fell quiet once more.

But everyone knew what ambition surged beneath that stillness.

Shi Hou did not sleep.

He sat cross-legged on the roof, wiping the dull gray stone knife over and over in the moonlight.

"Skinny Monkey."

Shi Hao came over, hugging a milk jar-

"What? Scared?" Shi Hou did not even look up.

"No."

Shi Hao shook his head, his eyes sparkling with a maturity that did not fit his age. "I was just thinking, you already stewed that Demon Ape's arm. The whole thing... should taste even better, right?"

Shi Hou's hands paused.

He turned to look at Little One, who wore such an innocent expression while saying such terrifying things, and could not help laughing.

He reached out and gave Shi Hao's head a vigorous ruffle.

"You bet it will."