If Luo Chuan hadn't already realized it before, he was now completely certain—
Black tiger never stopped talking.
Since the moment they took off, the black tiger had been chattering endlessly, asking questions, sharing stories, and rambling about anything that crossed its mind.
Luo Chuan mostly just listened in silence, letting the beast talk itself hoarse.
But despite Black tiger's relentless babbling, Luo Chuan actually managed to extract some useful information.
For example—
Black tiger's real name was Hu Kuang.
Luo Chuan considered it for a moment.
Well…
The name fits.
A loud, reckless, and rather crazy tiger.
Just as expected.
"Boss, I have a secret to tell you!"
Hu Kuang suddenly lowered his voice, as if revealing some great conspiracy.
Luo Chuan opened one eye.
He had already adapted to the tiger's personality by now.
Hu Kuang was—without a doubt—a bit of a lunatic.
How a guy like this had managed to cultivate to the seventh rank was beyond him.
Then again…
Maybe only those truly recognized by monsters could experience this level of casual familiarity.
That, in itself, was quite interesting.
"What's the secret?" Luo Chuan asked, playing along.
Hu Kuang's voice became even more mysterious.
"The opening of these ancient ruins… is actually connected to the Monster Royal Family!"
A Royal Bloodline?
Luo Chuan finally showed genuine surprise.
"The Monster Royal Family? You're part of it?"
He glanced down at the tiger beneath him.
Black tiger… a royal?
That was unexpected.
Until now, the only royal-blooded monster he had encountered was Yao Ziyan.
And just from her presence alone—
It was impossible to forget what a true royal bloodline felt like.
But Hu Kuang…
Well, let's just say the difference was extreme.
Luo Chuan struggled to imagine them belonging to the same class of beings.
One was graceful, elegant, and otherworldly.
The other was…
This.
A loud-mouthed, overly enthusiastic tiger.
The contrast was too ridiculous.
Besides, one was a fox, and the other was a tiger.
Even though their names sounded similar, they were completely different species!
"Huh? Boss, you don't know this?"
This time, it was Hu Kuang's turn to be surprised.
A cultivator as strong as his boss should definitely know about the Monster Royal Family!
Luo Chuan remained silent.
Because he already knew Hu Kuang would explain everything himself.
What is the Monster Royal Family?
"As a matter of fact—"
Hu Kuang proudly puffed up his chest.
"The Monster Royal Family isn't just a single bloodline."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"It's a title for all monsters who carry the blood of ancient beasts!"
Luo Chuan nodded slightly.
So that's how it worked.
He had assumed the Monster Royal Family was like human imperial lineages—strictly passed down through generations.
But instead—
It was determined by the purity of one's bloodline, linking back to ancient, powerful creatures.
That explained a lot.
"So how is the Monster Royal Family connected to the ancient ruins?" Luo Chuan asked.
Hu Kuang's expression turned serious for the first time.
"It was the High Priest who sent me here," he explained.
"Said something big was happening… Something related to the rise of the monsters in the Nine Stars Mountain Range!"
Luo Chuan narrowed his eyes.
The rise of the Nine Stars Mountain beasts?
That sounded ominous.
Clearly, there was a major secret hidden within these ruins.
Far beyond what ordinary cultivators expected.
Luo Chuan fell into deep thought.
If the High Priest of the Monster Royal Family was involved, then…
This ancient ruin wasn't just another relic of the past.
Something much bigger was at play.
A High Priest's Authority
"Who is the High Priest?" Luo Chuan asked.
Hu Kuang thought for a moment before replying.
"They're like… the priests of the human race."
He scratched his head.
"Same thing, really."
Luo Chuan sighed.
That answer was utterly useless.
It was basically saying nothing at all.
Clearly, there was no point in asking further.
If Hu Kuang knew more, he probably would've blurted it out already.
Approaching the Ruins
Despite Hu Kuang's constant talking, he was extremely fast.
Below them, the scenery had already blurred into streaks of color.
Soon, they passed over a towering mountain range—
And then—
The ancient ruins came into full view.
It was breathtaking.
As if an entire fragment of a world had fallen from the heavens, colliding into the land.
The atmosphere hummed with an eerie energy.
This wasn't just a place of history—
It was alive.
And waiting.
By now, countless cultivators and monster beasts had already gathered near the ruins.
Some stood alone, while others moved in organized teams, each representing different factions.
Yet one thing was the same—
They all exuded a powerful, dangerous aura.
These weren't just curious explorers.
They were ruthless competitors.
Only the strongest would leave here with rewards.
And the weak—
Wouldn't leave at all.
Luo Chuan took in the sight before him.
A slow smile curved at his lips.
This was going to be interesting.