Following Yu deeper into the palace, it took a full hour before they stood before a towering figure—a Great Shaman whose aura was overwhelmingly powerful. Whatever shamanic art he practiced, his presence was as fierce as rolling thunder, his gaze sharp enough to make Yang Kai's skin crawl with discomfort.
"Lord Che, this is Shaman Niu!" Yu performed a respectful barbarian shaman's bow, not daring to even lift her eyelids, as she introduced Yang Kai standing at her side.
Yang Kai followed local custom, placing a hand over his chest and bowing. "Shaman Niu greets Lord Che!"
Che gave a slight nod, and when he spoke his voice was like muffled thunder, rumbling forth. "You are the shaman who prepared those healing medicines?"
"Indeed!" Yang Kai raised his head to meet Che's gaze.
Che said with interest, "It's rare to see a barbarian like you. Are you from the Drifting Tribe?"
Yang Kai shook his head. "I'm from the Southern Barbarian Tribe. I just happen to look rather frail."
No shaman or barbarian would deny their own origin—that would be an insult to oneself. So even though Yang Kai looked as frail as could be and seemed like someone from the Drifting Tribe, since he said as much, Che did not press the matter.
His lips twitched into a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "An apothecary doesn't need a particularly strong physique. The healing medicine you prepared has won the adoration of my tribesmen, so there's no need to belittle yourself."
"Thank you for your kind words, my lord!"
Yang Kai's composed and neither-servile-nor-arrogant demeanor made Che look at him with renewed interest. It was rare for a High-Rank Shaman to face him with such ease and composure.
Wait… hadn't Yu said he was only a Low-Rank Shaman? How could he be a High-Rank Shaman?
That was a difference of two entire ranks. He trusted that Yu would not have gotten this particular detail wrong.
Though suspicious, Che did not ask further. He simply said, "I trust Yu has already told you the reason for bringing you here."
Yang Kai replied, "Yu did explain, and I, Shaman Niu, am willing to contribute what I can to the Frost Snow Tribe."
A glint flashed in Che's eyes, and he smiled. "Good. In that case, Yu… take Shaman Niu inside. Whatever medicinal ingredients he needs, just report them."
"Yes!" Yu answered, then led Yang Kai deeper inside.
Before long the two entered a side room. To Yang Kai's surprise, there were already two people inside—both elderly, their auras far surpassing his own. They were clearly Shaman-level existences.
One of the old men had white hair, the other graying. When they saw Yu and Yang Kai enter, they both looked to Yu with questioning expressions.
Yu gave a slight nod, and the two old men stepped forward together, speaking in unison. "We greet Lord Niu!"
Yang Kai was startled. "These two are…?"
Yu's expression grew somewhat awkward. "They are assistants Lord Che arranged for you. If you need any help, feel free to give them your orders."
"Is that so…" Yang Kai smiled faintly. Though he had his suspicions, he did not press the matter—after all, it was nothing significant to him. Seeing Yang Kai's knowing smile, Yu's expression grew even more uncomfortable, tinged with what seemed unmistakably like guilt.
Fortunately, Yang Kai did not question them further. He simply said, "I need some medicinal ingredients. Could you help me gather them?"
"Oh, of course. What do you need?" Yu asked quickly.
Yang Kai immediately rattled off the names of the ingredients, and Yu committed each one to memory. The two old men also pricked up their ears, listening with full concentration, unwilling to miss a single detail.
After a short while Yang Kai finished listing all the ingredient names and required quantities. Yu turned and left at once to prepare them.
The room now held only Yang Kai and the two old men. Yang Kai turned to them. "How should I address you two, seniors?"
The two exchanged glances, then both shook their heads and waved their hands with embarrassed expressions, clearly unwilling to reveal their names.
Yang Kai found this amusing. So the ancient barbarians really were the ancient barbarians—simple and honest. This business of sneaking in to steal his techniques was done rather shamelessly, and their own consciences were probably tormenting them, which was why they refused to give their names.
Yang Kai did not force the issue. He simply found a spot for himself, pulled a bundle of monster insect inner cores from his travel pack, and stuffed them directly into his mouth, swallowing them in one gulp.
These monster insect inner cores were about the size of grains of rice—not only tiny but containing only meager energy. Yang Kai could devour dozens in a single handful. His stomach let out an odd gurgle, leaving the two old men who had come to learn his secrets completely dumbfounded. However, they did not know what he had eaten, only that he appeared to be cultivating, so despite their astonishment they maintained their silence and did not disturb him.
In less time than it took an incense stick to burn, Yang Kai had fully refined the cores he had swallowed, and his aura thickened noticeably.
When he repeated the process, the two old men finally got a clear look at what he was consuming.
The white-haired old man's face drained of color, and he hurried to stop him. "Lord Niu, those are monster beast inner cores! How can you swallow them?!"