Chapter 308: The cost of immortality.

Just as Zyra was about to turn away, she recalled the fat, crimson-scaled snake. It was probably lying unconscious in the beast dominion. Unless Beauty had turned it into a part of the meat cubes, which would be such a shame really.

"Is the crimson snake alive?"

[Do you want me to wake it up?] Beauty asked.

Zyra nodded. "I will contract it and all the other snakes you did not turn into Spice’s food." She was already making preparations for her war against the Divine Soul maiden. Trinity had many years of experience in using her soul energy in battle. In addition to that, she had armies that were loyal to her and the backing of a strong clan.

Before going to war against her, Zyra planned to be in command of at least one thousand beasts. It didn’t matter if she could not bond fully with all of them, just as long as she could command them.

One thousand beasts was just the beginning. If she could command ten thousand, it would be better. The wild lands would be like her own nation.

[Ding! New mission has arrived. The host should bond with 10 mid level beasts in 7 days.]

Zyra twisted her lips. This mission seemed to have arrived just in time. She would first settle things here and then go hunting either in the jungle or the next dungeon marked on her arm.

She turned and pushed open the doors to the training room. Unsurprisingly, the beasts weren’t training at all_ they were huddled in a tight circle, gossiping like old village aunties.

The second the heavy hinges creaked, they scattered in a panic, striking dramatic martial arts poses and pretending to breathe deeply in training.

But as soon as they saw it was only Zyra, every single one of them slumped and relaxed.

"Ah, false alarm," Red Sun shouted, tossing his head back. "I thought it was Mr. stick up his butt Hunter."

A few of the beasts sniggered into their paws.

Tyrant bared his long white fangs and let out a dangerous growl that shook the floor. "Watch your mouth, monkey! If you disrespect my master one more time, I will slice your body in half and wear your skin as a cape!"

Spice rolled her glowing eyes. "Ugh, Tyrant, you are absolutely no fun."

"Just like his master," the little squirrel chimed in from a high wooden beam, cracking a nut between its teeth.

The Eclipse Raven flapped its wings, hovering in mid-air, and suddenly froze. It pointed the tip of its black wing directly at Zyra’s head. "Look everyone, Zyra has new hair."

The entire training room instantly went dead silent. Dozens of beast eyes shifted upward, landing square on Zyra’s patchy, hair.

For two glorious seconds, nobody breathed. Then, the room exploded into absolute, chaotic havoc.

Red Sun literally dropped from his perch, rolling on the floor and clutching his belly. "Hahahahaha! Did a pink toad use your skull as a trampoline?!"

"No, no!" the squirrel wheezed. "She got caught in a crossfire of a battle between two pink minks with diarrhea."

The Eclipse Raven squawked uncontrollably, flying in frantic circles near the ceiling. "Is this a new camouflage technique for the battle?! ’Hide in the flowers and pray they don’t see you’?!"

Outside the pavilion, hiding behind a wooden pillar, the Grand Elder was watching the entire scene through a narrow gap in the doorway. His jaw slowly drifted open. He saw Zyra standing there, waving her hands violently and shouting,

"Shut it! All of you, shut your stupid mouths right now or I will do to you what I did to my hair!"

The beasts laughed in response.

The grand elder frowned. She was literally conversing with beasts like they were noisy children at a local market! And then, right before the Grand Elder’s very eyes, dozens of glowing, winged snakes suddenly materialized out of mid-air.

The Grand Elder gasped softly, rubbing his old eyes. Soul energy spatial manipulation? Without an active Soul maiden bloodline and abilities! It was unheard of. What kind of person was Zyra? What kind of secrets was she hiding?

Zyra rubbed her temples, trying her best not to massacre the laughing beasts. "Listen up, you bunch of defective comedians! I’m only here to introduce the new recruits."

She gestured toward the outer trough area. "We have the dragon snakes and a crimson cobra."

The dragon snakes were already flying around exploring the room they would soon claim was also their territory.

She then pointed a finger out the window toward the valley gates. "And that giant tree outside, that’s the Alpha Warden Tree. Respect it, or it will slam you into the dirt."

The beasts instantly lost all interest, tossing their heads back in complete nonchalance. New beasts came to the valley all the time; unless it was a real dragon or a divine phoenix or some other mythical beast, they couldn’t care less.

"Whatever, as long as they respect the hierarchy." Spice yawned, stretching her graceful limbs.

Zyra sighed, exhausted down to her very soul. "Come with me Spice, time to eat."

The snake slithered up her body, like it could not crawl on its own. "Mother," it hissed.

Zyra rolled her eyes. No matter how many times she denied beings its mother, Spice just called her that anyway. She took the snake to its dwelling, and stood by the doorway watching as Spice devoured one cube in a single bite!

"System, how long Spice would take to evolve after consuming the ingredients."

"Twenty-four hours as usual, Host," Beauty chimed in instantly. "I will alert you the moment the evolution takes place."

Zyra shrugged, giving a tired nod. "Alright, sounds good."

She turned around to head outside the pavilion, only to bump into the grand elder in the doorway. As their eyes met, the old man offered a quick, casual wave.

Zyra motioned for him to come in with a quick flick of her wrist. "Don’t just stand at the door, Grand Elder. You’re making the door sensors nervous. Would you like a tour of my training room?"

He nodded and followed her. When the Grand elder stepped over the threshold, his mouth parted slightly as his eyes darted from one piece of high-tech training equipment to the next.

He let out a long breath, stroking his white beard. "If someone had told me a place like this existed under my nose, I wouldn’t have spent the last fifty years training on mountains. My knees would have thanked me."

Zyra offered an apologetic smile. "I really should have given you the full tour yesterday, but our chat ran so late I completely forgot. You will see things here that will make you wish you could reverse time and live a little longer so that you can enjoy them."

The old man lowered his voice. "I am sure dark Somnivore blood pills can do that job just fine. Apparently, they can buy you 50 years. Everyone my age is secretly kissing Trinity’s ass in the hopes for that miracle cure for old age. Guess how much immortality costs?"

Zyra tripped and fell, but her mind was not on the pain. It was on the assumption running through her mind.