My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world-Chapter 140: The Secret Land of Beasts

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Yang Li gave a weary grunt of agreement. "Fine, but don't wander too far. The last thing we need is another fiasco where I have to rescue you from some corner of the ruins."

Kent smirked. "Deal."

They parted ways, each with tasks to finish: Yang Li to check on the wounded, and Kent to scavenge. A small pang of guilt reminded Kent that he still needed to apologize properly to Nima, but that conversation would have to wait until the immediate threats were neutralized.

Kent could still feel the echoes of battle in his bones—an odd mixture of tension, relief, and leftover adrenaline. The Ruin Core area seemed to hold its breath in the uneasy calm that followed each skirmish.

Dust-laden beams of light angled down from the fractured dome overhead, illuminating swirling motes in the stagnant air. He'd split off from Yang Li to scout the corridors for any remaining dark alliance stragglers, and now he stood alone near a toppled column. All around him lay shattered stone and the lingering smell of spent spiritual energy.

He paused, running one hand over the coarse surface of the debris. A small pang of guilt weighed on him. He still owed Nima a proper apology—and maybe a conversation about whether she really wanted to drag fifty formidable beasts into the outside world.

When he'd parted ways just a few moments earlier, she'd been adamant about forging her own empire, come what may. But he knew how that might end: with the government labeling her a threat, maybe even mobilizing forces to subdue her.

"I need to do something… or come up with a plan," he muttered under his breath, recalling Nima's unwavering determination and her cold, clipped orders. "She might be furious, but she's also my sister. I know how to handle her."

He gave a shaky laugh at the irony. Here he was, a comedic swordsman who'd soared to Level‑C with jokes and comedy, now faced with the serious dilemma of curbing his sister's unstoppable ambitions. "Alright. One problem at a time," he told himself. He allowed a final glance at the battered corridor before turning back toward the makeshift base in the central hall. "Time to fix this, and hopefully not get clobbered by Nima in the process."

As Kent emerged from a winding passage, he heard the low rumble of growls and chuffing sounds before he saw the beasts themselves. The throng of monstrous underlings was spread out in a rough semi-circle near a broken statue, forming a boundary around Nima's position. Some slumbered, spiky tails twitching in fitful half-dreams; others glared at him with unblinking, predatory eyes. The eerie quiet was broken only by the occasional snarl or yawn.

In the middle of them all stood Nima, arms folded, face tense with residual anger. Auri perched on her shoulder, his bandaged wing carefully folded against his small body. Nearby, Fatty Li paced awkwardly, wringing his hands as though waiting for permission to speak. A few battered students hovered at a respectful distance, trying—and mostly failing—to avoid the beasts' restless stares.

Kent cleared his throat softly, making sure not to startle the creatures as he approached. Sure enough, several huge heads whipped around in his direction, bristling spines and barbed feathers rising in defensive readiness. "I've got to be careful, " he thought, offering a slight bow of his head to the nearest serpent-hound, which let out a low hiss.

"Back," Nima ordered sharply, and a chorus of reluctant growls echoed before the creatures parted to allow Kent through. She fixed him with a steely look that wasn't quite as furious as before, but still far from welcoming.

"Finished with your recon?" she asked coolly, her voice carrying a clipped edge. "Because I'm not leaving until I've confirmed the rest of the Ruin Core is secure and until you explain how we're supposed to handle these beasts in the outside world. Or do you still think I'm insane for wanting them?"

Kent raised both hands, palms out in a gesture of peace. "I… I do have some concerns, yeah," he admitted, "but I also might have a solution." That last word caught Nima's attention, and her eyes narrowed.

"Go on," she said tersely, crossing her arms tighter. From her shoulder, Auri gave a curious chirp.

Kent took a careful breath, glancing around at the menagerie. ,"Time to spin a convincing story. Look, we both know the government would freak out if we stroll out with fifty monstrous underlings. They'd label you dangerous, maybe even hunt you down. And frankly, feeding them all? That alone could bankrupt an entire city. Each of these big guys could probably devour a cart's worth of meat a day."

Nima's jaw tightened, but she nodded grudgingly, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "I've thought about that. But they're mine, I can't just abandon them." She hesitated. "Do you expect me to—"

"—No," Kent interjected quickly, aware that she might suspect him of wanting to kill or set them free. "I think we can keep them. But not out in the open, at least not yet. Let me… let me handle them. I have this new power."

Her eyebrows rose in skepticism. "New power? You literally just leveled up. Since when do you have time to discover new abilities?" Suspicion laced her voice, but also a hint of intrigue.

Kent forced an easy grin. "That's the crazy part. Something changed in my cultivation. Maybe it's a byproduct of, uh… or the fruit I ate. I noticed that after leveling to C, I can sense a kind of pocket dimension inside me. Sort of like… a hidden land that can store living creatures. Like an advanced pet bag."

"A pocket dimension… inside you." Nima's words came out flat, dripping with doubt. Auri chirped uncertainty, as if doubting the veracity of the statement.

Kent pressed on, determined to sell the lie. "Yes! Don't ask me how it formed. Maybe… No It's because I am too awesome. But if you're worried about feeding them or the government discovering them, I can store them in that dimension. They'll be safe. You can see them any time you want. You can even come in with me if I figure out how to let people inside." He added an uncertain shrug, hoping the half-truth would be enough to pique Nima's curiosity.

He did possess a Void Domain that functioned as storage, and he recently added a sun and water there. Now it's time to test with so many living creatures of this size. There's only one problem: he never entered the void domain with physical body. He doesn't know the mysteries yet, "I'll figure it out on the fly… or else this plan is doomed", he thought nervously.

Nima tapped her foot, eyes roving over the menagerie as if weighing the pros and cons. "But can we be sure they'll be comfortable there? And how will we feed them? If it's just some dead space—"

Kent raised a placating hand. "Don't worry about that, there are trees and water for them… or at least keep them dormant. I will find a way to feed them. Honestly, Nima, it's safer than dragging them out in the open right now. For the time being, do you want to risk the entire government labeling you an outlaw?"

She scowled, lips thinning into a hard line. "I hate hiding my success. I worked damn hard taming these beasts. But…" She exhaled, frustration coloring her tone. "You're right. The outside world is complicated. Fine. If you can keep them alive in that weird pocket dimension, we'll store them there for now."

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Relief flooded Kent, though he tried to maintain composure. "Perfect. Just, uh, let's keep it hush-hush, okay? This is a new superpower and I don't want anyone else to find out about it. If the dark alliance or some shady faction found out, they might attempt to enslave me to store an entire army."

Nima's expression softened marginally. She gave a single, curt nod. "Alright. We keep it secret from everyone. I trust nobody with my beasts." She paused, eyes flicking to Auri. "But let me see proof you can handle things in there. If you kill my beasts because of some half-baked trick, I will run away from home, big brother you will never see me again."

Kent's pulse raced as he forced a confident smile. "Deal. Gather them up. Let's do this quickly, while the corridor is quiet."

A hush passed over the ragged assembly as Nima called the beasts to form a tighter circle. Through clicks of her tongue and curt commands, she summoned them. Slowly, the entire menagerie ringed around them, growling softly or snorting in confusion. A massive spined lizard flicked its tongue at Kent, and a predatory cat-like creature with saber-length fangs hissed warily.

Auri flitted overhead, chirping with anxious anticipation. He was also very curious about the void domain. Chip Chip!