Second Time

Chapter 72 - Friends

"Shao Yue, I need your help with something."

"Oh?" Shao Yue regarded Liezhu with interest.

Liezhu had gone through another moult after consuming the grade eight Beast Cores and all of the dragon parts and now resembled an eighteen-year-old. She still had her long white hair and wore simple black robes.

"When we met with the Ocean Emperor, he mentioned there being a grade nine Flood Dragon," Liezhu explained. "I want to eat it."

"I never heard about that, so they must have dealt with it before my rise," Shao Yue replied. "Do you need my help dealing with it?"

"I could probably defeat it by myself, but I doubt the Ocean Emperor is going to just tell me where it is and let me do that," Liezhu said, crossing her arms. "He'll probably want some share or something. I want you to carve out whatever he wants, then I can eat the rest."

"Sure, I can do that."

Liezhu faltered slightly, not expecting Shao Yue to agree so easily. "Then, uh, in exchange for your help, you can have these."

Liezhu held out five balls the size of large grapes, each one a shade of orange or red.

"Grade eight fire Beast Cores," Shao Yue observed, raising her brows in surprise. "You don't have to give me anything, you know. I'm happy to help you without payment."

Liezhu extended her hand further. "I'll feel better about it if you just take them."

"No, I couldn't." Shao Yue shook her head. "It wouldn't feel right accepting something so precious for simply helping a friend."

Liezhu grumbled a bit under her breath, then thrust the Beast Cores forth once more. "I saved these for you since I knew they would help you, so... here."

Shao Yue smiled and accepted them. "Was that so hard? Thank you, Liezhu. I appreciate it."

Liezhu turned away to hide her embarrassment. "Y-you're welcome."

Shao Yue examined one of the Cores. It was big enough to be considered a choking hazard. She had to wonder how she would consume them if they became any larger.

Before Liezhu left the room, Shao Yue called out, "Hey, is eating these the best way to use them?"

Liezhu paused and thought about it. "It is for me, since I have the Devouring Dao, but I'm not sure for you. Maybe that Golden Crow Spirit would know of a better way."

"I see. Thanks." She turned her focus inward. "Jinwu, any thoughts?"

"Eating them is fine," he replied. "If you're worried about the size, use your Golden Crow form, or melt them with your flames."

"Melt?"

Shao Yue blinked and picked up one of the Cores. A golden flame burst from her palm, swallowing it.

She watched intently as the Core slowly melted into a shimmering liquid over the course of an hour, a pensive expression on her face.

"Could I use this as a pill material?"

Whether she could or not, experimenting using a grade eight Beast Core would be wasteful. She could try melting down grade one Cores at first and go from there. Maybe she'd even enlist the help of Grandmaster Zeng.

For the time being, she simply poured the liquid into her mouth and swallowed it. Unlike when she consumed the Cores normally, the energy inside instantly began to flow into her body. She sat down and started to resolve it.