e found many rare herbs. Most of them were useless to Qianyao but invaluable to me at this stage. These herbs could enhance my physical defenses, even though my cultivation in the *Path of Bloodthirst* had not fully integrated my killing intent into my body, let alone my bones.

Pointing at a golden-haired lion ahead, Qianyao said, “Kill it and extract its beast core.”

I looked where she pointed, recognizing, “Isn’t that the lion I saved when I first arrived on this continent?” Even though it had run off on its own, I felt an impulse to laugh. The lion lay on the ground, playing with ants, drawing lines with its paw to block their path, and even tried to catch a butterfly that flew by.

Hearing our conversation, the lion looked towards us and joyfully charged like a wolf. Qianyao prepared to strike it down immediately, but I hurriedly stopped her, saying, “It means no harm; I saved it once before.” The lion placed its front paws on my shoulders, licking my face. I laughed, “Enough, enough! Stop slobbering on me.” I pushed it away, and it started circling my legs like a gentle puppy.

Qianyao stood there, puzzled. I explained how I had saved the lion before, including how it was bullied. She fell silent, seemingly recalling something. Her affection for cute animals made her want to tease the lion, but the lion ignored her, instead tugging on my clothes, trying to lead me somewhere.

The lion led me to the foot of a mountain, where it tried climbing up but kept sliding back down. It looked at me with pleading eyes. I glanced up the mountain and spotted an herb growing on a cliff. Looking puzzled at Qianyao, she effortlessly leapt to the cliff, grabbed the herb, and stared at it in awe. She quickly plucked it and jumped back down.

“This isn’t any ordinary herb; it’s a fairy herb, extremely attractive to beasts. It can significantly boost their strength and even allow those with potential to transform into human form. However, it’s useless for humans,” she explained.

I understood why the herb attracted the golden lion so much. I told Qianyao, “Let it have it.”

Teasing, Qianyao held the herb in front of the lion, “Do you want this? Call me sister, and I'll give it to you.” The lion, unable to speak, grew frustrated.

Finally, the lion looked to me for help. I smiled at Qianyao, who made a playful face before tossing the herb to the lion. The lion devoured the herb in one bite, its eyes blinking as it started writhing in pain. I anxiously asked Qianyao, “Is something wrong with the herb?”

“No, it’s just that the herb’s energy is too overwhelming for beasts. It depends on its talent whether it can absorb it. If a skilled alchemist refined the herb into a pill, it might make the beast explode. That’s why I let it eat the herb directly, which only wastes

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