My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 40: Fortify the Walls, Stockpile the Grain

Divine Dragon Cult?

There was no doubt—this was where the second Demonic Energy had gone!

As expected, Demonic Energy was too unique to stay hidden for long.

Li Ye sighed inwardly.

Since it was called the Divine Dragon Cult, then the Demonic Energy had likely attached itself to a giant snake or a lizard. Only creatures like those, upon gaining intelligence, would associate themselves with dragons.

Demon Artifacts required humans to wield them to unleash their full power, making them relatively easy to deal with.

But a creature that had turned into a monster on its own? It would have innate supernatural abilities even without a Derived Skill and would grow at an alarming rate.

Back on Earth, whenever a monster wreaked havoc, it took multiple Demon Hunters working together to take it down.

Li Ye, a newly minted Temporal Walker, was dreaming if he thought he could single-handedly kill a monster that had been growing for two or three years.

"Li Ye, is something wrong? Does this Divine Dragon Cult in the Western Regions have something to do with your lost divine artifact?" Murong Kaixin asked cautiously.

"It’s not a divine artifact," Li Ye shook his head.

"…" Murong Kaixin’s face flashed with disappointment.

"It was a small dragon I caught in the Xuanyin Sea. I was planning to keep it as food, but then I ran into the Galactic Federation police. When I escaped through the spatial turbulence, my ship broke apart, and the little thing got away. I never thought it would arrive in this primitive world before me," Li Ye said nonchalantly.

"You caught a dragon… to eat?" Murong Kaixin asked in shock.

"Why is that surprising? Dragon liver and phoenix gall are known for their immense restorative properties. Eating them is perfectly normal. For example, if one of you ate a piece of dragon meat, you’d probably gain a hundred years' worth of martial cultivation instantly. If you smeared dragon’s blood on your skin, you’d become immune to all poisons," Li Ye sighed. "Too bad I’ve lost most of my power. If I could take it down, cooking it up would at least restore one percent of my strength."

He stood up, pacing with a frown. "I have to find a way to deal with it. I’m sick of this damn planet. I need to leave as soon as possible. But before I slay the dragon, I should get my Soul Devourer back first—that’ll improve my odds."

Despite his words, Li Ye had already made up his mind—there was no way in hell he was going to provoke that dragon.

He had already pissed off the Chu Kingdom, and a fight with Xiang Li was inevitable.

As for that dragon, he’d avoid it if he could.

Monsters were far more troublesome than Demon Artifacts.

—

Murong Kaixin’s head was spinning.

He didn’t remember much else—only that eating a single bite of dragon meat would be immensely beneficial.

If just a single bite could grant a hundred years of cultivation, then what would happen if someone ate its gall or heart? Would they ascend to immortality on the spot?

He never believed in such things before.

But everything he had witnessed today had shattered his understanding of the world. Now, he believed every word Li Ye said.

"Li Ye, please spare my life," Murong Kaixin pleaded humbly. "I may be a Grandmaster, but I can assist you in slaying the dragon."

"I don’t trust you," Li Ye looked at him and shook his head. "I destroyed your lineage and crippled your limbs. If I let you help me, who’s to say you wouldn’t stab me in the back at the critical moment? Besides, you’re too stupid."

"Li Ye, you clearly said earlier that you’d spare me for providing information!" Murong Kaixin said anxiously.

"I did promise to let you live," Li Ye smirked. "But I never said when."

"You—" Murong Kaixin was about to curse him for going back on his word but swallowed his anger upon realizing his own situation. He softened his tone. "Li Ye, I was foolish before. I offended a divine being out of ignorance. But now that I know your true identity, how could I dare make the same mistake?"

He paused for a moment before adding, "The Heavenly Master Mansion has hundreds of skilled warriors, including many Innate Experts. I am willing to pledge my entire sect to your service. I swear, if I ever betray you, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"

"One year," Li Ye said flatly, glancing at him. "Survive for a year in your current state, and I’ll heal your injuries and take you to slay the dragon."

"A year?" Murong Kaixin was dumbfounded.

"Yes, a year," Li Ye nodded. "You’ve angered the emperor. By now, your entire clan has probably been wiped out. Compared to that, I’m only making you suffer for a year. You’re getting off easy."

"But with my injuries, how can I possibly survive a year?" Murong Kaixin asked in despair.

"That’s your problem," Li Ye chuckled. "Of course, if you manage to make yourself useful, I might consider reducing your sentence."

"How can I contribute while locked in a cage?" Murong Kaixin swallowed hard, feeling more and more helpless.

"If you want to, you’ll find a way," Li Ye said. "You know as well as I do—your injuries may seem severe, but for me, healing them is effortless. How you go about earning my favor is up to you."

With that, Li Ye left him alone, vanishing into Wolf Valley.

Murong Kaixin lay there, staring at the vast night sky, lost in his bleak thoughts.

—

The Next Day

Deng Wei, Yu Fei, Feng Yang, and Zhu Gaojie set out on horseback, riding swiftly toward the Western Regions.

Their mission? To investigate the so-called Divine Dragon Cult.

One king should not meet another.

Demonic Energies could sense one another.

If Li Ye showed up near the other Demonic Energy, a battle would break out immediately.

Still, now that he knew where both Demonic Energies were, he couldn’t rest easy without gathering more information.

Even though he didn’t want to provoke the Divine Dragon Cult, his own activities had already drawn too much attention. If they came looking for trouble, he needed to be prepared.

After obtaining the full details from Murong Kaixin, Li Ye’s sense of danger had reached an all-time high.

But a small part of him still clung to a sliver of hope—if the Divine Dragon Cult and the Chu Kingdom had coexisted peacefully for over two years, then maybe the creature leading the cult wasn’t the reckless, power-hungry type.

However, the moment that thought surfaced, he ruthlessly crushed it.

Just because the two Demonic Energies had coexisted peacefully didn’t mean a third one would be tolerated. What if he was the tipping point that broke the balance?

If he could avoid trouble, he would. If he couldn’t, then he’d fight.

"Fortify the walls, stockpile the grain. If the enemy makes no move, neither will I."

This was Li Ye’s new strategy.

—

That Same Day

Li Ye led the Fun Seekers Club to Weining City for a fan meeting.

Shi Xiang, Liu Guangsheng, and the others answered fans’ questions, gave away signed jerseys, and even demonstrated their signature moves on straw dummies, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Li Ye spoke to the people of Weining City about the future of the football club and the structure of the league.

He also announced the launch of the Football Gazette, a newspaper dedicated to covering player training, match schedules, and game results. Fans would be able to stay updated and even participate in betting pools.

Additionally, he introduced the Fun Seekers Youth Training Program, encouraging young players to sign up.

Anyone selected would receive full accommodations, martial arts training, and football coaching. Those who performed exceptionally well could join the main or secondary teams, eventually becoming professional players.

—

With only a few days of peace left, Li Ye did everything he could to expand football’s influence and strengthen his position.

Yet, as he recalled the high mortality rate of Temporal Walkers, an ominous feeling lingered in his heart.

No matter how much he tried to avoid it, he had a gut feeling—sooner or later, he would have to face both Demonic Energies.