The two of them rode the subway for over ten minutes before arriving at the Kyoto Monster Affairs Bureau station. As Brian Carter and Lily Smith stepped out of the carriage, they surprisingly saw another passenger—something quite rare.

This passenger, who looked a bit older than Brian Carter and Lily Smith, came from another car. He looked like a high school student, his face flawless and strikingly handsome. Dressed simply in a white shirt, long pants, and sneakers, he exuded a refreshing aura. William Grant was considered good-looking, but compared to this guy, he was like the male version of the ugly duckling—completely out of his league. The boy carried his backpack in one hand and was reading a book. When he saw Lily Smith and Brian Carter, he gave a slight smile, greeted them, and then quickly walked out of the subway station.

Although Brian Carter knew that anyone riding this subway must be a monster, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of goodwill toward this boy-next-door type. As he walked out of the subway exit, he was still thinking that since everyone was heading to the Kyoto Monster Affairs Bureau on business, maybe they’d get a chance to chat.

However, when Brian Carter discovered that the subway exit was actually inside the gates of the Imperial Palace in North City, he immediately forgot about that and was once again shocked.

North City is an ancient capital of six dynasties, and its Imperial Palace is said to be the world’s largest royal palace complex. Every day, the number of tourists is enough to pack the place to bursting. Except during the off-season, the lines for tickets are always crowded, so much so that armed police are needed to maintain order.

A subway station built inside the Imperial Palace—what kind of concept is that?

Lily Smith led him through a secluded side gate, turning left and right, and soon they arrived at the front of a grand palace. Compared to other areas of the Imperial Palace, this palace was as deserted as a school during winter break—not even a single bird in sight.

Only then did Brian Carter realize that the so-called Kyoto Monster Affairs Bureau actually had an office inside the Imperial Palace. That was truly a level of prestige he’d never imagined.

Lily Smith pointed to the palace and introduced, “This palace is called Yunxi Palace. You won’t find any record of it in human history; it only appears in our monster histories. Back when the Ming emperor unified the world, he was not only the ruler of men but also the commander of all monsters. He erected the Haoji Heavenly Stele here in Yunxi Palace to suppress the nation’s fate. Later, when the Ming dynasty declined, the Qing emperors sealed this place, and it wasn’t until the fall of the Qing that the seal was lifted.”

Brian Carter was so amazed he couldn’t even make a sound. He’d encountered so many new things today that he could only silently follow Lily Smith and step into Yunxi Palace.

Upon entering Yunxi Palace, the first thing he saw was a towering divine stele, its material resembling lapis lazuli, its form ancient and unadorned. It stood a thousand meters tall, like a majestic mountain piercing the clouds, awe-inspiring in its grandeur. The base of the stele was a hundred meters in diameter, made of mutton-fat jade. Brian Carter had no idea how valuable this stone was—otherwise, he’d probably be crawling over to see if he could chip off a piece.

The body of the stele was divided into nine tiers, engraved with countless spiritual birds and exotic beasts, demons and monsters. Each one looked alive, and for a moment, Brian Carter felt as if an army of ten thousand monsters was about to break through the heavens and descend upon this world.

Instinctively, Brian Carter took a step back, only then realizing his own loss of composure.

Lily Smith chuckled and said, “You’re actually doing pretty well! Many newly awakened monsters can’t withstand the pressure of the Haoji Heavenly Stele—some even kneel or faint on the spot.”

Brian Carter gave an awkward laugh and asked, “Shall we go handle the registration procedures first? Do I need my ID card?”

Lily Smith took Brian Carter by the hand and led him directly onto the Haoji Heavenly Stele, saying, “You have to first test what bloodline you’ve awakened before registering. Otherwise, your monster registration card can’t be properly categorized. The Haoji Heavenly Stele is a legendary treasure that fell from the Heavenly Court to the mortal world. The monsters on its surface are all living demons suppressed by the Heavenly Court, but they can’t leave the stele. Just place your hand on it and sense the sealed monsters. If you feel a sense of kinship with any of them, that’s your bloodline ancestor. If you’re lucky, you might even comprehend a bloodline inheritance and receive a cultivation technique.”

Chapter 9: Xuanjin Demon Blood, Ten-Colored Flower Vine

Brian Carter immediately got excited and exclaimed, “There’s actually such a good thing?”

Lily Smith pushed him closer to the Haoji Heavenly Stele and smiled, “This is one of the benefits of the Ten Thousand Demons Association. But usually, only two or three new monsters a year actually receive a bloodline inheritance, so don’t get your hopes up too high, or you’ll be disappointed.”

Brian Carter casually asked, “Did you get a bloodline inheritance or any cultivation techniques?”

Lily Smith laughed and said, “That’s the biggest secret for any monster. Unless you’re someone very close to me, why would I tell you?”

Brian Carter gave another awkward laugh, realizing he’d been too forward. Following Lily Smith’s instructions, he approached the Haoji Heavenly Stele, placed both hands on its surface, and quietly activated the demon power within him to sense this treasure from the Heavenly Court. Soon, he felt a slight movement in his lower abdomen, sending a surge of demon power into the Haoji Heavenly Stele. As black demonic energy poured in, Brian Carter’s vision brightened. It seemed as if a thick cloud of light appeared before his eyes, within which countless spiritual birds, exotic beasts, demons, and monsters came to life, displaying their might at him and roaring silently.