《Unserious Beast Tamer》 Chapter 1 - 1 Chapter 1 Strange Sound_1 1 Chapter 1 Strange Sound_1 Translator: 549690339 [Turn on the picture function for a full reading experience. Please upgrade your Qidian Reading APP to the latest version.] ¡°Eeh~¡± The warm water flowed through the fur, skimming the skin. The warmth seemed to surge like electric currents¡ªsoothing the Flame Fox bathing in it. The creature closed its big seductive eyes and relaxed its tight body, letting out a weak and melodious moan. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡ª¡± Not too far away, a girl watched her pet beast being washed and couldn¡¯t help but draw a sharp breath. She knew better than anyone how aloof her pet was. After forming their contract, it had acted like a young emperor being waited upon. She hadn¡¯t expected this side of it. The girl couldn¡¯t help but stare at the youth who was holding a showerhead in one hand while steadying the Flame Fox with the other. At that moment, a thought crossed her mind: ¡°The services at this store are expensive for a reason.¡± Xu Ran paid no heed to the Beast Master observing from the sidelines. Using a skill he¡¯d only recently learned but had already mastered, he gently massaged the Flame Fox, ensuring it was thoroughly wet. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the message only he could see. [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +2] As the pleasure value rolled in, the corners of Xu Ran¡¯s lips lifted slightly and his actions became even more gentle and meticulous. More gentle actions elicited a sensation of comfort, akin to electric currents, across the Flame Fox¡¯s body. [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +2] [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +2] [From¡­] The messages continuously popping up only made Xu Ran¡¯s smile brighter. This was just the beginning. Already so pleased? After thoroughly dampening the fur, he took out an oil-removing product and applied it to the Flame Fox¡¯s oily spots like the chin. By gently massaging, he made sure that the product reached deep into the roots of the fur. ¡°Eeh~~¡± The oil-prone areas were precisely where the Flame Fox¡¯s scent glands were located, and they were much more sensitive. Even the slightest stimulation could send a tingling sensation through its body, as though electricity was coursing through it. The sound of pleasure involuntarily came out from its throat. It lay lazily on the care platform, unwilling to move. [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +5] [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +5] [From¡­] Noticing that the single value had more than doubled, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze towards the Flame Fox became more affectionate within the focus. It was like looking at a money-printing machine. After a thorough massage, he picked up the showerhead again and gently rinsed the sebum removal product from the Flame Fox¡¯s fur while it was still purring. The Flame Fox turned its body in satisfaction. The excess oil on its fur always made it uncomfortable. Now it felt much fresher and lighter, almost as if it were floating. After de-oiling, it was time for cleansing. Xu Ran applied the foam from the shampoo evenly onto the Flame Fox¡¯s body, then used a bit of force for localized scrubbing, allowing the cleansing effects of the rich foam to reach the root of every single hair and follicle. The Flame Fox¡¯s squinted eyes suddenly widened. The pressure that reached deep into its follicles and the perfectly adjusted kneading brought an unprecedented level of comfort, as though tiny electric currents were originating from each follicle and spreading throughout its body. It felt increasingly lighter as if it was about to fly. A sound it couldn¡¯t suppress slipped from its throat. ¡°Eeh~~~¡± [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +10] [Pleasure Value From Flame Fox +10] [From¡­] Seeing the increasing pleasure values, Xu Ran looked at the Flame Fox with heartfelt affection. The girl nearby gradually blushed. Why does her pet beast sound so strange?! Why does the boss look at her pet beast so strangely?! She couldn¡¯t help but cover her eyes, only to peek through her fingers restlessly. So strange!!! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°We look forward to your next visit!¡± Xu Ran waved to the customer who was leaving the store. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao, with a baffled look on her face, hummed a few times while holding her Flame Fox. It looked completely rejuvenated. Its red fur shimmered like satin reflecting sunlight. She was utterly stunned today. ¡°Ying~¡± The Flame Fox lifted its head from Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s shoulder, eyeing the increasingly distant shop with a sense of longing and reluctance to part. As the customer left, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face became more pronounced. The delight came from the new lines of text that appeared before his eyes. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: None System Skill: None Pleasure Value: 742 System Upgrade Experience: 0/1000] [Novice Task 1: First Cleaning (Completed) Task description: Please start business as the host and complete one session of pet beast cleaning and caring Task Reward: 1 System Skill Blind Box, System Upgrade Experience +50] [Click to receive task reward] ¡°Finally completed the task.¡± Xu Ran muttered and chose to receive the reward without hesitation. A blind box, resembling a holographic projection, slowly opened before his eyes, bursting with dazzling light. As his vision was flooded with light, his thoughts began to drift. Xu Ran was not from this world. Just a few hours ago, he transmigrated and was bound to a system. However, his system¡­ was somewhat hard to describe. This so-called ¡°Pet Beast Fosterage System¡± didn¡¯t even have a reply function, and just by its name, it had no prestige. If it weren¡¯t for the system gifting him a Pet Beast Foster Shop right at the start, he would have added more complaints. This world was filled with transcendent powers. Animals and plants had the chance to metamorphose from ordinary beings into Transcendent Beings, thereby obtaining strange abilities. A portion of the humans, considered as the lucky ones with corresponding talents, can contract with Transcendent Beings through meditation and controlling them in battle, becoming Beast Masters. Transcendent Beings bound by the Beast Master Contract were referred to as pet beasts. On occasions where pet beasts were needed, Beast Masters could summon them instantly through contracts. However, when not in use, providing accommodation for these pet beasts became a problem. Normally, Beast Masters lived together with their pet beasts. But, there always were Beast Masters who could not take their pet beasts with them due to various reasons and had to resort to fosterage. The Pet Beast Foster Shop was a place that catered to Beast Masters by taking care of their pet beasts. Besides fosterage, there were often other pet beast-related services offered in the shop. After acquiring the background of this world from the memories of its previous owner, Xu Ran deeply suspected that he was being pranked. In a world such as this, shouldn¡¯t the matching system be something fierce that can add points or teach pet beast skills? What the heck was this Pet Beast Fosterage System? The dazzling light from the blind box¡¯s opening had dispersed at this moment. New text appeared. [Congratulations to the host for obtaining the System Skill [Plucking Fur].] [[Plucking Fur] is a cleaning and caring bound skill. The host can use it during the process of cleaning and caring for a pet beast and there is a chance to obtain the target pet beast¡¯s skill. The host can then teach the acquired pet beast skill to the host¡¯s own contracted pet beast.] Xu Ran gaped at the skill introduction before him. After a long moment, he muttered. ¡°System, I wrongly accused you!¡± Chapter 2 - 2 Chapter 2 Starfire Foster Care Shop_1 2 Chapter 2 Starfire Foster Care Shop_1 Translator: 549690339 Xu Ran had never imagined that his seemingly ordinary Pet Beast Foster System¡¯s first skill would actually have the effect of obtaining and instructing pet beast skills. Although, he doesn¡¯t have a pet beast yet. This body possesses the Beast Master Talent, and the contract power has already reached the First Stage, meaning he can contract the first pet beast. However, suitable beasts for contracts are not so easy to come by in this world. In the earliest times, Beast Masters relied on the awakening of wild flora and fauna to become Transcendent Beings, which was largely a matter of luck. Nowadays, as fewer types of newly awakened Transcendent Beings emerge, the concept of Pet Beast Species has surfaced, turning the source of Beast Masters¡¯ pets into breeding Pet Beast Species. The reproduction of Transcendent Beings is more difficult than that of ordinary animals, hence suitable pet beasts are a rare find. Having gained the memory of this world, Xu Ran initially had the idea of becoming a Beast Master. Now that he has the skill ¡®Plucking Fur,¡¯ his ambition has become even more urgent. Suppressing his excitement, Xu Ran once again looked at the text that was changing before his eyes. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contracted Pet Beast: None System Skills: [Plucking Fur (D-level)] (0/100) Pleasure Value: 742 System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] [Novice Task 2: Try Your Hand (to be completed) Task Description: Please use the system skill ¡®Plucking Fur¡¯ ten times Task Reward: System Skill ¡®Drug Application¡¯, System Upgrade Experience +100] Looking all the way down, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze was fixed on the reward for the second task. Xu Ran originally thought that ¡®Plucking Fur¡¯ was a strong system skill, but its name was a bit informal. Now that he had a comparison, he suddenly felt that the name was quite decent. What the hell is ¡®Drug Application¡¯?! He would like to thoroughly criticize this ¡®Drug Application¡¯! Not for anything else, just out of a sense of justice! Moreover, he was very curious about what kind of ability the second system skill would bring him. To perform a ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯, he can use ¡®Plucking Fur¡¯ once. So, by just performing ten ¡®Washing and Protections¡¯, he could complete novice task 2. With this thought, Xu Ran made up his mind. His gaze finally fell on the pleasure value. When he first obtained the system, he was quite puzzled about Pleasure Value. After a round of ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯, he understood that it can obtain Pleasure Value. By extension, other services should also be able to gain Pleasure Value. However, those services have not yet been unlocked in the shop, and only ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ is currently available. Knowing how to get Pleasure Value, there¡¯s another important question. What can Pleasure Value actually do? With the breakthrough of hitting zero Pleasure Value, an exclamation mark icon appeared in the upper right corner of the panel. This might be the answer. [Prompt: Pleasure value full 1000 can unlock new features] New features? Xu Ran was excited. The system promised him a reward, but this reward didn¡¯t seem too far away. Washing and protecting a pet beast, he had gotten more than seven hundred Pleasure Value. One more, and it should be enough. Mentioning ¡®reward¡¯, he felt a bit hungry. It was midday, and lunchtime had arrived. Locking the shop door, Xu Ran walked to the nearby street with his money. The Pet Beast Foster Shop given to Xu Ran by the system was not built out of thin air. Its predecessor¡¯s parents had both passed away, leaving the only inheritance to the predecessor, which was a shop-front. To save on rent, the predecessor turned the second floor of the shop into a dwelling, and the first floor was left idle. From the memory Xu Ran got, it appeared the predecessor¡¯s original plan was to rent out the first floor, saving the rent to buy a pet beast for himself. But before he could register with the agency, he swapped lives with Xu Ran. After the system binding, to adapt to its functions, it automatically renovated the vacant ground floor space into the current Pet Beast Foster Shop. So while the shop was new, Xu Ran was not a stranger to the surrounding environment. Xu Ran named his foster shop ¡°Starfire¡±. As a cross-world traveler, there¡¯s always a bit of romance in wanting to change the world. A spark of starfire can set a prairie ablaze. That was probably his grand ambition the moment he acquired the system. But for now, he could only bathe pet beasts. And they weren¡¯t even his own pet beasts. Setting the world ablaze could be put on hold for now. The Starfire Foster Shop was located in a relatively bustling commercial street, with many restaurants. Choosing a reasonably priced restaurant, Xu Ran started eating. However, his meal was soon interrupted by an unexpected guest. ¡°Meow~¡± Xu Ran turned his head and saw a stray cat. It was a long-haired cat, but its slender fur could not hide its thin body. It just stayed in the corner, at a distance of more than a meter from Xu Ran, its eyes wide open, staring at the food on Xu Ran¡¯s table. Yet, it dared not approach. It arched its body slightly, on guard, ready to run at the slightest sign of being shooed away. Upon noticing Xu Ran¡¯s attention, the stray cat meowed again. ¡°Meow~¡± Perhaps identifying with the cat¡¯s situation, Xu Ran¡¯s heart softened, and he carried over some food from his table to the stray cat. The stray cat quickly dashed away from Xu Ran but didn¡¯t go far. It just maintained a safe distance from him. He picked out some meat from his plate and placed it on the ground, then returned to his seat to eat his meal. Cats are creatures highly wary of strangers. After feeding it, there was no need to give it constant attention. It was best to avoid staring at it. As soon as Xu Ran left, the stray cat slowly returned to its original spot. Even though it was very hungry, it still didn¡¯t immediately feast on the meat. Instead, it leaned over to sniff the meat on the ground, apparently determining if it contained harmful substances. After a while, it sneaked a glance at Xu Ran, who was engrossed in his meal, and then started swallowing the food. Xu Ran noticed it out of the corner of his eye and turned to look. The stray cat was clearly starved. It gulped down the food at an astonishing pace, half of the meat on the ground was gone in no time. But even while eating swiftly, its movement was elegant. If this cat were cleaned up, it could possibly pass as a feline of high breeding. As Xu Ran ate his last bite, a thought suddenly popped into his mind. I¡¯m short of a few hundred points for the pleasure value. Should I try? It¡¯s a regular creature, but it might provide pleasure value, right? He stared at the stray cat. The stray cat, having finished its meal, stared back at him, as if asking whether there was more. As their eyes met, Xu Ran mysteriously smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no more, but how about if you come with me for a bath, I¡¯ll buy you some cat canned food?¡± Right after he said that, he felt he had said something pointless. Awakened Transcendent Beings could possibly understand human speech, but how could the stray cat in front of him¡­ Watching the stray cat approaching him, Xu Ran fell into contemplation. Did¡­ did the cat actually understand what he said? ¡°¡­two cans of cat food?¡± Xu Ran rubbed his eyes, feeling that the stray cat seemed to move quicker. ¡°¡­Three cans?¡± The stray cat leaped next to Xu Ran in a bound, tugged at his trouser leg, as if urging Xu Ran to hurry up and get going. They say cats understand human nature. Today, he witnessed it firsthand. ¡°I¡¯ll take you for a bath right away!¡± Chapter 3 - 3 Chapter 3 Somethings Wrong with the System_1 3 Chapter 3 Something¡¯s Wrong with the System_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°This is water~¡± Xu Ran held the kitten up to the tap, letting it get accustomed to the water before the official washing and protection began. Cats are not afraid of water, they just resist sudden changes in the environment, which is why they resist bathing. Moreover, their dynamic vision is strong, so they are interested in flowing water sources. In the kitten¡¯s view, the flowing water seemed to be the only thing, and it couldn¡¯t resist reaching out a paw to touch it. Feeling its paw getting wet, it retracted it as if it had been shocked, but couldn¡¯t help but reach out again as if it had found a new toy. [To enhance the effectiveness of this washing and protection, the system will impart the host relevant knowledge of ¡°Basic Washing and Protection for Cat Pet Beasts¡±] With the sudden notification, a flood of information rushed into Xu Ran¡¯s mind. It wasn¡¯t the first time, a similar situation had happened when he was bathing the Flame Fox, which allowed him to instantly master the corresponding professional washing and protection knowledge. After digesting the knowledge in his mind, Xu Ran pulled out his secret weapon against the kitten¡ª The Cat Pet Beast Calming Spray! This spray, that could quickly calm down a Cat Pet Beast only by smelling it, was simply too useful for dealing with an unawakened kitten. He discreetly sprayed it around the space, then silently retreated two steps back. The kitten who was curiously playing with the water suddenly sniffed. Its sharp sense of smell allowed it to instantly perceive the changes in the surrounding scent. What smells so good? It sniffed harder again. As it kept sniffing, the kitten¡¯s mindset began to change. Suddenly, it seemed undisturbed by changes. Two hands held it down. Then warm water slowly sprayed out from the showerhead, flowing down the kitten¡¯s back, wetting all its fur. What? Water?! The kitten shivered, its whole body first tensed up, then slowly relaxed. That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all! Behold, I am the darling of the water! Feeling the water flowing over its body at an incredibly comfortable temperature, and the human¡¯s hands gently massaging the top of its head and chin where its paws couldn¡¯t easily reach, the kitten made a comfortable ¡°purrr-purrr¡± sound, and its tense body completely relaxed. There was no pleasure value reminder, only two system notifications. [Friendly Reminder] [The system skill [Plucking Fur] cannot be used on ordinary creatures] [Only creatures under an owner other than the host can provide pleasure value. The target creature has no owner and cannot provide pleasure value.] Xu Ran: ¡°???¡± Ordinary creatures cannot use [Plucking Fur] which was within his expectation. But that last one¡­ After reading it several times, he got it. In short, making someone else¡¯s pet or pet beast happy could gain pleasure value. Those who have no owner can¡¯t, and neither can his. Wait a minute¡­ Something seems a bit off? ¡°Meow?¡± Feeling the hand that was massaging it had stopped, the kitten turned its head to Xu Ran, seemingly asking him why he had stopped. ¡°You¡¯re lucky.¡± He laughed teasingly, continuing to gently massage the kitten in front of him. He had already started washing it, he definitely couldn¡¯t stop halfway. As the water washed over it, the dirt on the kitten¡¯s fur was significantly cleaned. This was just the beginning. Xu Ran applied the degreasing product provided by the system to his hand, carefully smearing it on the kitten¡¯s full-bodied fur, lightly massaging it for a few dozen seconds before rinsing it off. The stubbornly matted dirt and oil separated from the fur due to the potent degreasing product, and with a rinse, the fur began to look clean and white. The kitten¡¯s formerly squinted eyes suddenly widened. The uncomfortable greasy feeling on its body disappeared all at once, and the entire cat felt relaxed! What¡­ what is this?! ¡°Meow?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move, don¡¯t move!¡± Xu Ran held down the kitten that was about to get up, and carefully applied the shampoo, evenly spreading it over its fur. He then repeatedly massaged it, allowing the cleansing effect of the shampoo to reach deep into the fur follicles. The kitten¡¯s eyes grew even wider. A very pleasant aroma completely enveloped it, leaving it somewhat dazed. As the massage continued, the shampoo¡¯s cleansing effect seemed to reach every pore of the kitten, giving it a sense of comfort throughout its body. Its body shivered with comfort, and an irresistible sound came from its throat. ¡°Meow~~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Protecting the fur, preserving color, softening, brightening¡­ One after another, the washing and grooming steps were carried out methodically. At first, the kitten would grunt a few times but eventually it would lazily lie on the table, letting Xu Ran do his work, with its eyes comfortably narrowed, occasionally emitting a ¡°purr¡± sound. Finally, Xu Ran put some ear cleaning fluid in the kitten¡¯s ears and massaged it for a while before patting the kitten¡¯s head. ¡°Shake your head.¡± The kitten swiftly shook its head, propelling the ear cleaning fluid, along with any dirt and ear mites, out of its ears. The grooming was over. The newly groomed cat¡¯s snow-white fur didn¡¯t contain a single blemish. The fluffy and soft fur shone in the light as the kitten moved. After wiping clean the tear stains from the corners of its eyes, its blue and yellow heterochromic eyes also became clear. During the grooming process, the kitten revealed its gender. It¡¯s a little female cat. But right now, describing it as a fairy cat might be more suitable. ¡°Here¡¯s the cat food I promised.¡± Xu Ran opened the cat food he had bought and placed it in front of her. With a quick leap, the kitten reached the canned food and started eating elegantly. Xu Ran¡¯s previous feeling wasn¡¯t wrong, after being cleaned up, the kitten was an absolute beauty, and her elegant mannerism made her look like a noble among cats. She just seemed a bit skinny due to malnutrition. He had no idea why she ended up being a stray cat. After watching the kitten eat for a while, Xu Ran opened the system panel, which the kitten couldn¡¯t see, looked at the unchanged Pleasure value and sighed. His plan had failed. He would have to wait for another customer to request a pet beast cleaning and caring service to unlock the new feature that required a Pleasure value of one thousand. ¡°Meow~¡± The kitten let out a soft call, interrupting Xu Ran¡¯s grumbling. The three cans of cat food he had placed in front of her had all been eaten. ¡°You really do have a good appetite,¡± Xu Ran said, reaching out to pet the kitten¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ve fulfilled my promise of the canned cat food, see you again if fate allows!¡± He waved at the kitten and then lazily leaned back in his chair. The kitten blinked. Everything she had just experienced, compared to her usual stray life, was like a sudden trip to paradise. For a cat that always yearned for freedom, she suddenly didn¡¯t want to leave. After some hesitation, the kitten made a sleek leap and landed on the counter. Under Xu Ran¡¯s astonished gaze, she lazily lay down in a corner of the counter, stowing her paws in her chest. ¡°Are you¡­ planning to stick around with me?¡± Watching the pose of the kitten, Xu Ran laughed and shook his head, ¡°Suit yourself.¡± A cat wouldn¡¯t eat much, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have some company. It¡¯s just a pity that this little guy is just a normal creature. If she were a transcendent being, he could try to form a contract with her. Resting his chin in his hand, staring out the door, Xu Ran wore a look of anticipation. He hoped that a new customer would come soon. ¡°Meow~¡± After confirming that Xu Ran wouldn¡¯t drive her away, the kitten yawned and settled down even more comfortably. Chapter 4 - 4 Chapter 4 True·Dog Licking_1 4 Chapter 4 True¡¤Dog Licking_1 Translator: 549690339 Unlike the peaceful days at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, fierce battles were unfolding outside of Qingzhou City where Xu Ran resided. Beast Masters had the power to command pet beasts in battle, but not all transcendent beings were willing to follow the Beast Master¡¯s instructions and live in harmony with humans. Especially when these high-level transcendent beings had intelligence not much less than that of humans. These transcendent beings, hostile to humans, lurked outside of human cities and often launched group attacks on humans. To them, the flesh and blood of Beast Masters provided great aid to increasing their strength, and humans were nothing more than their food. However, humans could not just sit and wait for death, and countless powerful Beast Masters stood guard at the edges of the cities, protecting their cities. Many of them did not uphold any noble purpose of guarding humanity, but were merely attracted by the high prices the Beast Master Association in the city offered for transcendent creature materials. Liu Gu was one such Beast Master. ¡°Retreat!¡± With a shout from another man not far away, Liu Gu signaled his pet beast, the Wind Lion Dog which was fighting with the transcendent beings, to come back. Around the battle front, the surging transcendent beings were already showing signs of failure. They had once again defended Qingzhou City. Although they risked their lives in battle to obtain transcendent creature materials to make money, each time Liu Gu saw the retreating transcendent beings, he could not help feeling a touch of pride. In defending the city, he also played a part. A large dog, as tall as a person, emerged next to Liu Gu. It was covered with long fur, and its streamlined body displayed the robustness of transcendent beings perfectly. Although it was a dog type pet beast, the large ring of fur around its neck made it look like a lion. At this moment, after bathing in the blood of its foes and with the opponent¡¯s broken corpse in its mouth, it looked particularly mighty and fierce. That was Liu Gu¡¯s trusted partner, an elite-stage Wind attribute pet beast, the Wind Lion Dog. The Wind Lion Dog threw down the corpse of the transcendent being it was carrying in its mouth, and let out an excited howl. ¡°Roar Woof!¡± It then excitedly pounced on its Beast Master, rubbing itself against Liu Gu here and there, and started licking Liu Gu¡¯s face with its bloody tongue. Instantly, the brave pet beast on the battlefield turned into a clingy pet dog. Although, its size was a bit too big. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± With an expressionless face, Liu Gu wiped the drool off his face and pushed the head of the Wind Lion Dog away. ¡°Hahaha Liu Gu, you and your Wind Lion Dog have a really good relationship!¡± A few companions nearby, with their pet beasts accompanying them, laughed and approached. ¡°Let¡¯s start counting our gains! This time we have gathered quite a lot. After selling them, we can rest for two days.¡± The leading man among them gave a hearty laugh. ¡°Okay, Team Zhang!¡± The rest of them responded, and methodically started to take away the valuable materials from the killed transcendent beings, while discarding the rest. They all belonged to the same hunting squad. Beast Masters were relatively vulnerable, and in order to better ensure their own safety on the battlefield, it was common for them to team up and fight together. After they finished counting, they chatted and laughed as they headed towards the city. ¡°Liu Gu, adding the gains from this time, you should have saved enough money, right?¡± One companion asked with a smile. ¡°Yes!¡± Liu Gu couldn¡¯t help but look expectant. After exchanging the materials for money at the Association¡¯s window, they divided the money among themselves as per their old rules, agreed on the time for their next joint action, and then said goodbye to each other. On the way back, Liu Gu patted the big head of his old buddy, ¡°We have saved enough money now. I will contract a new pet beast to accompany you!¡± ¡°Roar Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog roared in excitement, seeming to look forward to it as well. ¡°You have been working hard during this time.¡± Liu Gu stroked the long fur of the Wind Lion Dog, ¡°Do you have any wishes? Like any good food you want to eat? I¡¯ll buy it for you!¡± Upon hearing the Beast Master¡¯s words, the Wind Lion Dog got excited. Its big eyes glowed with thoughtfulness, and it soon made a serious decision. ¡°Roar Woof!¡± ¡°You want to take a bath?¡± Liu Gu looked at the bloody stains on the Wind Lion Dog, ¡°That¡¯s easy, I¡¯ll just spray you with a water gun when we get back.¡± The Wind Lion Dog appeared displeased and shook its head. The Beast Master once tried to bathe it with a water gun and it did not feel good, plus, it wasn¡¯t clean enough. ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°You want to go to a Foster Shop for a pet beast cleaning and caring?¡± Liu Gu rolled his eyes, ¡°That¡¯s an overrated service. Listen to me, I¡¯ll give you an extra portion of beef tonight, it¡¯ll make you full!¡± ¡°Woof, woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog shook its head, expressing a firm decision. It didn¡¯t care, it wanted to go for a cleaning and caring session! ¡°Why is that?¡± Liu Gu didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Woof, woof, woof¡­¡± The Wind Lion Dog howled for a while until Liu Gu understood. Earlier, a new neighbor had moved in nearby. The neighbor also has a dog type pet beast. Both his Wind Lion Dog and their pet beast are males. The neighbor takes care of it as a pet, dressing it up nicely every day. Normally that wouldn¡¯t matter, but his Wind Lion Dog had an admirer in the neighborhood. However, his admirer fell for the neighbor¡¯s pet because it looked better. It¡¯s a sad story. When Liu Gu found out about it, he teased his Wind Lion Dog for several days. Now, the Wind Lion Dog was trying to take this opportunity to win back its love. ¡°Old buddy, I can¡¯t believe you are such an obedient mutt,¡± Liu Gu sighed heavily, patting the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s large head in a ¡®good for nothing¡¯ way, ¡°I¡¯ll fulfill your wish! Let¡¯s go for a cleaning and caring session!¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, there¡¯s a Foster Shop nearby our home!¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog nodded its head excitedly. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Ah~¡± Leaning on his hand behind the counter, Xu Ran sighed, ¡°Why are there still no customers?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± The kitten next to him copied his sigh, even though it had no idea why Xu Ran sighed. Just as Xu Ran was feeling dejected, a voice came from outside the door. ¡°Boss! I wonder¡­¡± a burly man led a pet beast even bigger than him into the shop, halting his sentence when he saw Xu Ran, ¡°Where¡¯s your boss?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the boss of this shop.¡± Xu Ran straightened up a bit, ¡°But at present, our shop only provides the washing and caring service.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m here!¡± the burly man excitedly slapped on the counter, ¡°Make my pet beast clean, and if possible, let it be the best-looking dog in the whole neighborhood!¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog held its head up high. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, equally excited in his heart. This pet beast obviously met the criteria for gaining pleasure value, a score of over a thousand was in sight. And he could also try out his Plucking Fur skill. He turned his gaze toward the Wind Lion Dog, activating the system-installed Identification function. [Race name: Wind Lion Dog Attribute: Wind element Growth step: Elite Stage Body type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: It¡¯s rare to see a pet beast this dirty. Host, do put your magical hands to work and make this misguided Wind Lion Dog happy!] This system is really flippant. Chapter 5 - 5 Chapter 5: Strange Roaring_1 5 Chapter 5: Strange Roaring_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sir, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the price list on the wall, ¡°Your pet belongs to medium-sized pet beasts, the cleaning and care price is 26666 yuan per session.¡± A dog as tall as a person, would undoubtedly be considered a large pet in the previous world, but in this pet beast world, it has a long way to become a large pet beast. ¡°26666 Yuan?!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Young boss, are you kidding?¡± Although he wanted to help his pet beast partner, he could not accept this price. Love for a dog is not worth this much. ¡°I take my leave!¡± Liu Gu shook his head and was about to walk away, ¡°Doggy, we are trying another shop!¡± ¡°Woof?!¡± The Wind Lion Dog panicked. For some reason, it felt like if it left at that moment, it might lose the most important opportunity in its life. The Wind Lion dog stayed put, hanging onto Liu Gu¡¯s clothing with trembling excitement, refusing to leave. Having high-level intelligence as an elite stage pet beast, it knew that its owner thought the price was high. But thinking about the fact it could earn tens of thousands from the materials of a Transcendent Being of the same stage on the battlefield, the Wind Lion Dog let out two howls. ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± (Let¡¯s stay here! I¡¯ll work hard to kill more beings of the same stage next time!) ¡°You¡­¡± Liu Gu locked eyes with his pet beast, shaking his head helplessly. Thinking about the ups and downs he had with the Wind Lion Dog, he conceded. ¡°Young boss, you¡¯d better make my money worthwhile!¡± Liu Gu hummed and then paid by scanning the QR code. ¡°About that, don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Ran reassured the scaredy-cat that has been hiding in the corner, ¡°Speaking of which, your pet beast doesn¡¯t have any temperament problems, right?¡± Giving such a big pet a bath, he was a bit hesitant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Liu Gu patted his chest, ¡°It has a good temperament! The dog didn¡¯t even fight with its love rival when its lover was taken away.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog was so angry, it swiped a paw at its Beast Master. Why were they bringing up his past failures? Then, it looked at Xu Ran with hopeful eyes. At last, it¡¯s time for grooming and care! It wondered if it would look more handsome than that hateful guy after the grooming. This is a dog with a story. Seeing the owner and pet playfully bickering, Xu Ran nodded, ¡°In that case, pet, follow me. The Beast Master can accompany, or wait in the lounge over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the lounge.¡± Liu Gu said without a second thought. What¡¯s there to watch about a dog taking a bath? The lounge has a television, gaming consoles, and snacks. Isn¡¯t it more enjoyable waiting there? The Wind Lion Dog wagged its tail indifferently without considering its Beast Master. It followed Xu Ran towards the grooming room cheerfully. The little kitty slowly returned to its previous position, watching the door, only after the Wind Lion Dog disappeared. Now that the crap shoveling officer was gone, the shop was under its protection! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [To increase the effect of this wash, the system will grant the host knowledge of ¡°Canine Pet Beast Care Basics¡± and ¡°Wind Pet Beast Care Basics¡±]. After accepting the relevant knowledge, Xu Ran, looking at the Wind Lion Dog that had already obediently climbed onto the care platform, started to preheat the shower head and add suitable resources for the wind pet beast to the water tank. Moments later, Xu Ran picked up the shower head when its indicator light turned green, and started spraying Wind Lion Dog. [Wind Lion Dog¡¯s Pleasure Value +5] Xu Ran fell into thought. He had only wetted the fur of the Wind Lion Dog. Could this guy be pleased so easily? Xu Ran turned to look at the Wind Lion Dog. The Wind Lion Dog looked back with expectant eyes, with a hint of timidity. You¡¯re acting coy in front of me! The fur plucking starts now! Xu Ran first simply combed the Wind Lion Dog with a wide-toothed comb to remove the solidified chunks of blood and flesh that clung to its fur, then began to apply degreasing products on it. The stubborn dirt on its fur, darkened in some patches and gray in others, began to loosen up with the rubbing and the application of the degreasing product. After a rinse, they fell off, washing away with the flow of water. Looking at the grey-black water flowing into the drain and the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s fur beginning to turn blue, Xu Ran experienced a strange satisfaction. With the continuous appearance of words in front of him, this satisfaction became even stronger. [Pleasure Value from the Wind Lion Dog +10] [Pleasure Value from the Wind Lion Dog +10] [Pleasure Value from¡­] The Wind Lion Dog lay relaxingly on the care platform, its muscular and strong body seeming to disappear. It squinted its eyes, feeling its body growing lighter as the grooming process continued. At this moment, it felt as though the wind was calling it. After washing away the oil with clean water, Xu Ran spread the well-prepared shampoo over the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s fur. Then he gently massaged every part, allowing the shampoo to cleanse deeply into the hair pores. The Wind Lion Dog¡¯s body suddenly shuddered. This feeling¡­ It felt every hair pore cheering, enjoying the reinvigorating comfort. It felt as if it had become part of the wind, dancing with it. The Wind Lion Dog looked up at the sky with blurry eyes, and a vague sound came out from its throat. ¡°Ao~~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C In the Beast Master¡¯s resting room, Liu Gu, who was hugging a bag of chips looking at funny programs on TV, heard this strange sound and shuddered. What the fuck? He naturally recognized that voice was from his buddy he spent days and nights with. However, why did it feel strange? No, he had to see it for himself! Liu Gu walked out of the resting room quickly and pushed the door open into the grooming room. ¡°Are you okay boy? You¡­¡± As Liu Gu got a clear view of the situation inside the grooming room, he blinked. ¡°Ao Wang~¡± (I¡¯m fine!) The Wind Lion Dog¡¯s voice was a bit strange. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Liu Gu asked suspiciously. ¡°Ao Wang~ Ao~~¡± (I¡¯m fine, just¡­the pet beast grooming felt too¡­comfortable!) ¡°Do you need me to bring you a chair to sit by the side and accompany it?¡± Xu Ran asked empathetically, pausing his grooming. ¡°No need!¡± Liu Gu shook his head. After seeing his pet beast was all right, he felt relieved. ¡°You keep going, young boss. Good work!¡± He slowly closed the door to the grooming room. ¡°Not hard at all. My pleasure.¡± Xu Ran politely nodded and continued his motion of massaging. [Pleasure Value from the Wind Lion Dog +20] [Pleasure Value from the Wind Lion Dog +20] [Pleasure Value from¡­] The pleasure value provided by the Wind Lion Dog was noticeably more than that of the previous Flame Fox. Xu Ran wasn¡¯t sure if it was because the grooming needs of the Wind Lion Dog were higher or because the Wind Lion Dog was one rank higher ¨C at the Elite Stage ¨C than the Transcendent Stage. Xu Ran looked at the Wind Lion Dog in front of him like it was a cash machine, his eyes filled with tenderness. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Is this¡­ my pet beast?!¡± When Xu Ran came out of the grooming room with the fresh-looking Wind Lion Dog, Liu Gu widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief. This large fellow, whose each and every strand of fur was soft, elegant, and shimmering in the light, bearing a gradient of light blue as if it was the embodiment of grace and power, was his pet beast?! ¡°Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to seeing you again.¡± ¡°Will¡­will do.¡± Liu Gu hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality, he led the Wind Lion Dog confusedly out of the shop. This is his pet beast? Could his dog be this cool? The Wind Lion Dog followed behind the Beast Master, looking back every three steps, its face full of reluctance. Chapter 6 - 6 Chapter 6 Unlock New Features_1 6 Chapter 6 Unlock New Features_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Phew! That was quite exhausting.¡± After watching Liu Gu and the Wind Lion Dog leave, Xu Ran stretched lazily. After caring for a dog as tall as a human, he felt his energy had been completely drained. It seems he needs to become a Beast Master as soon as possible. After forming a contract with Transcendent Beings, the Beast Master¡¯s physique will be enhanced. Although it¡¯s not to the extent that he can throw his Pet Beast aside and start fighting himself, it is a powerful physique that is different from ordinary people. By then, it won¡¯t be a problem to wash not just one, but nine in one go! Xu Ran opened the system panel and had a look. There was new content on the panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: none System Skill: [Plucking Fur (D-level)]£¨1/100£© Pet Beast Skill: [¡ïClaw Edge](No teaching target) Pleasure Value: 2174 System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] [Novice task 2: Try your Hand Task Description: Host is required to use the system skill [Plucking Fur]ten-time (1/10) Task Reward: System Skill[Drug Application], System Upgrade Experience +100] [Lottery drawing] Just now, he used the skill of plucking fur once and his skill experience increased slightly. This Pet Beast Skill called Claw Edge, was the result of his first fur plucking. The single star at the front represents that it¡¯s a one-star skill. The abilities of Pet Beasts are categorized from one to five stars, based on their power and potential. Having luck on the first attempt, even though it¡¯s not a very powerful skill, is a good sign. Apart from that, Xu Ran¡¯s Pleasure Value broke through one thousand, successfully unlocking a new system function. His eyes followed the panel down, bringing a new content into view. [Lottery drawing] As he clicked on it, a rotating wheel appeared in front of him. Different words were written in the various sections of the wheel, and these words kept changing. At a quick glance, Xu Ran felt his heart stopping. Holy Spirit Race Evolution Path, Five-star Skill Scroll, Epic Stage Pet Beast Cub¡­ Any one of these items could cause countless Beast Masters to fight over, even the most powerful Beast Masters who could move mountains and destroy cities would be enticed, it¡¯s value is indescribable. He couldn¡¯t deny that the system had piqued his interest in the lottery draw. There were two options on the wheel. [Draw Once]required 1000 Pleasure Points. [Draw Ten Times]required 9500 Pleasure Points. Even more ruthless than the ¡°Goose Factory¡±, there was no guaranteed return for drawing ten times in a row. So, Xu Ran chose to draw twice individually. At this initial stage, he urgently needed to convert Pleasure Points into something that could be of help to him. He hoped that his luck would be as good as when he¡¯s plucking furs! Without hesitation, Xu Ran pressed[Draw Once]. As Xu Ran pressed the option, the wheel started spinning rapidly, so fast that he could not discern the individual colored sections, as though all colors had merged into one. ¡°Stop!¡± Xu Ran shouted. The moment his voice fell, the rapidly spinning wheel came to a halt, pointing to the white section, and at the same time, a white light burst from the wheel. ¡°A¡­ high-quality cat teaser stick?!¡± Xu Ran stared blankly at the words on the white section. 1000 Pleasure Points¡­ just for this? What Xu Ran couldn¡¯t accept the most was that he seemed to really be able to use this thing. ¡°I won¡¯t believe this!¡± Unconvinced, Xu Ran tried again. ¡°Stop!¡± The wheel stopped once again, this time pointing towards the blue section while also bursting forth with a blue light. Blue¡­ should be better than white, right? Xu Ran looked at the text in the indicated area. ¡°Awakening Stone?¡± It seemed much more reliable than a cat teaser stick, but Xu Ran had never heard of it before. He reached out and touched the blue area, and a piece of information entered his mind. [The Awakening Stone is a special item produced by the System. One can awaken an ordinary creature into a Transcendent Being] For some reason, after learning about the use of the Awakening Stone, the image of the cat that refused to leave surfaced in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. ¡°Meow~¡± Speak of the cat, and there it is. With the departure of the Wind Lion Dog, the kitten returned to its original place and rubbed Xu Ran¡¯s hand before stretching out its hind leg to scratch its chin. Normal creatures have deep-rooted fears when facing Transcendent Beings, so the kitten¡¯s previous reaction was normal. However, that won¡¯t be the case in the future. Xu Ran closed the shop door and magically produced a cat teaser stick. ¡°Kitten, look here.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± The kitten paused. The fake mouse rattling on the cat teaser stick instantaneously captured all its attention. Its pupils rapidly enlarged and almost filled its entire iris. It quickly stood up while slightly lowering its body. Gathering strength, it jumped! ¡°Meow!¡± The kitten drew a parabola in the air and directly fell into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, reaching out with its front paws to scramble for the fake mouse on the cat teaser stick. Looking at the kitten in his arms, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation. From his pocket, he took out the Awakening Stone that sparkled with colorful light and affixed it on the kitten¡¯s forehead. ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± The kitten froze. Under Xu Ran¡¯s watch, the stone seemed to melt and went from the kitten¡¯s forehead into its body, covering the kitten¡¯s body with a layer of colorful halo. As the colorful halo swirled around, the kitten¡¯s body began to shake imperceptibly. One by one, the colors of the halo seemed to disappear. With each disappearing color, the kitten¡¯s shivering intensifies. Eventually, only one color remained in the halo around the kitten. Purple. Its trembling reached a peak, and the bones made a clear ¡°cracking¡± sound. Its body seemed to have gone through a rebirth and began to change gradually. Its skeleton became wider, and its body became more muscular. As if a few more vertebrae were added, the kitten¡¯s body became even sleeker. Its fur retained its snow-like white, but its paw pads glow a noble and dominant purple hue. On its forehead, a purple thunder pattern quietly emerged. ¡°Meow!!!!¡± The kitten abruptly opened its eyes. Around its yellow and blue heterochromatic eyes, there was a noticeable purple ring. Purple electric arcs burst from its body in all directions when it opened its eyes, but the arcs were drawn back into the kitten just before they reached Xu Ran. Let¡¯s have a system identification. [Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small Washing and Protection requirement: ¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: The kitten just underwent a washing, no frequent washing needed] ¡°A Thunder Attribute pet beast.¡± Xu Ran smiled. Among the known ten transcendental attributes, Thunder is considered one of the most powerful in combat. It seems that the kitten had good luck. ¡°Meow~¡± The kitten nuzzled Xu Ran, rubbing its own head against his cheek. After awakening as a Transcendent Being, the already sentient cat gained even more intelligence. Realizing that its awakening was connected to Xu Ran, the kitten became even more attached to him. ¡°Don¡¯t get too happy too soon.¡± Xu Ran caressed the kitten¡¯s head, ¡°You took my stone; you owe me a lifetime of work.¡± ¡°I need a pet beast contract, you are it.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± The kitten responded, as if it agreed. Chapter 7 - 7 Chapter 7 Contract First Pet_1 7 Chapter 7 Contract First Pet_1 Translator: 549690339 Contract Pet Beast! When he finally got to this step, Xu Ran was still a little nervous. He slowly closed his eyes, feeling as if a white vortex of light was slowly rotating deep in his consciousness. This is the power of First Stage Contract. With it, Xu Ran can complete a contract with a Transcendent Stage pet beast. As Xu Ran released the contract power from his body, and let it envelop the little kitten, a strange bond kept him connected to the little kitten in front of him. The contract, effective! A wave of warmth flowed from between Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows to his every limb, enhancing his physical attributes universally. The sensation felt like soaking in a hot spring, which almost made him groan in pleasure. This is the power feedback after contracting a pet beast. Feeling the newly upgraded physical attributes, Xu Ran picked up the little kitten. ¡°Shall I give you a name?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Okay!) The little kitten¡¯s voice rang out, but unlike before, Xu Ran could easily understand its meaning at this moment. This is the magical effect after contracting a Transcendent Being. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Xu Ran carefully observed the little kitten. Its glossy long fur, which had just been washed and conditioned not long ago, was delicate, smooth, and cloud-like. It made the purple thunderbolt mark on its forehead even more clear. And it was a little female kitten. So¡­ ¡°What do you think of Electric Mom?¡± (?¦Ø?) The kitten¡¯s hopeful expression froze. ¡°Just kidding.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s call you Ziyun.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Sounds great!) Compared to ¡°Electric Mom,¡± the kitten found the name Ziyun incredibly pleasant sounding. ¡°In that case, it¡¯s settled.¡± Xu Ran held Ziyun and opened the system panel. After contracting a pet beast, several new entries appeared on the panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (D-level)](1/100) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ïClaw Edge](Can Teach) Pleasure Value: 174 System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] After two single extract functions, only a fraction of the Pleasure Value was left. The option for Contract Pet Beast no longer displayed¡±None,¡± and the previous Pet Beast Skill Claw Edge was no longer ominously marked ¡°No Teaching Target,¡± which meant that this skill could be taught to Ziyun. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on the[View Details]that appeared next to Ziyun¡¯s name. As he contracted a pet beast, it seemed the system was endowed with some new additions. After clicking ¡®view details¡¯, a new panel emerged. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute ¡­] Up till here, the panel was almost identical to the previous system Identification Function. Xu Ran continued to look down. [¡­ Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (123/500) Species Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Stardust Level)](0/100) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Stardust Level)](0/100) [¡ïBite (Stardust Level)](0/100) New things have appeared, and Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. The growth stages were also present in the identification function of the previous system, but the display on the current panel clearly shows more than what was seen on the identification page. (123/500), this obviously represents the progress towards the next growth stage. When a pet beast naturally grows to a certain level, it upgrades to the corresponding stage. Transcendent Beings that have just awoken, or newborn Transcendent Being cubs, are at the first growth stage: Transcendent Stage. Then comes the Elite Stage and higher growth stages that follow. Having solid data, he can better control Ziyun¡¯s growth. For this, Xu Ran was quite satisfied. His gaze moved to the next aspect: Race Stage. Having the predecessor¡¯s memory, he had a certain understanding of this. The higher the race stage, the stronger the pet beast¡¯s skills, and the higher the future growth stage limit. No matter if it¡¯s a natural awakening or an offspring of Transcendent Beings, all newborns belong to the Leader species race stage, even if their parents are of a higher race stage. Transcendent Beings can undergo a special metamorphosis called ¡°evolution¡±, which allows their own race stage to be upgraded and pushes the limit of their growth stage. Of course, this is still a little far off for Xu Ran. Xu Ran calmly looked down and saw Ziyun¡¯s pet beast skills. Two stars Electric Spark, two stars Electric Arc, one star Bite skill. The Stardust Level behind the three skills represents their skill proficiency level. For pet beast skills, the star level is not the only factor determining their power. The same skill, if used many times, can become more proficient, and hence, can exert a greater power. When ¡°0¡± becomes ¡°100¡±, the skill proficiency level is likely to upgrade from Stardust Level to the next level: Starlight Level. Looking at the page before him, Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head. ¡°Ziyun, use Electric Spark!¡± ¡°Meow~¡± Ziyun landed lightly from Xu Ran¡¯s arms, brewed for a while, and then let out a breath towards the vacant ground at the side. A pale purple energy ball flew out of its mouth, inside which you could see purple electricity wandering. ¡°Zzzt¡ª¡ª¡± Accompanied by the sound of the electric arc piercing the air, the energy ball exploded after flying a distance. Purple electric arcs quickly move around, attacking an area roughly the size of a sphere with a diameter of one meter. It looks pretty powerful! Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Ziyun, can you make it explode over a larger area?¡± Ziyun spit out another light ball, trying to control its explosion range. However, compared to just now, there seems to be no difference. ¡°Meow~¡± (I can¡¯t¡­) It shook its head slightly. ¡°That¡¯s okay, try again to reduce the explosion range.¡± This time it seems possible. And after reducing the range, the purple arcs in the air became more dense, thus increasing the skill¡¯s power. ¡°Meow!¡± (Hooray!) Ziyun also seemed very happy to be able to do what the Beast Master said. ¡°Now, try to make it explode as far as possible.¡± The result of this test showed that the farthest explosion distance of Electric Spark was five meters. Xu Ran nodded, he now had a full understanding of this skill. And there¡¯s another piece of good news. The proficiency progress of Electric Spark had become (1/100). ¡°Let¡¯s try Electric Arc and Bite!¡± Suddenly, the tests were done. Contrary to what Xu Ran imagined, Electric Arc is not an attacking skill, but a skill that speeds up Ziyun¡¯s movement. When using this skill, Ziyun leaves noticeable afterimages and electric light when running at full speed. Xu Ran had hard time catching up with his naked eye. On the other hand, Bite is a melee skill. When used, Ziyun¡¯s fangs become sharper and their biting force greatly increases, enough to easily crush the bones of ordinary creatures. With testing, the proficiency progress of the two skills also became (1/100). After testing the existing skills, Xu Ran rubbed his hands excitedly. It¡¯s time to try teaching skills! Chapter 8 - 8 Chapter 8: Su Xiaoxiaos Trouble_1 8 Chapter 8: Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Trouble_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°[Would you like to teach the Pet Beast Skill [¡ïClaw Edge] to your pet beast, Ziyun?] [Yes] [No] Xu Ran unhesitatingly clicked [Yes]. The next moment, the pet beast skill column on the panel was empty. It appears that the skill he acquired can only be taught once. Xu Ran felt a pang of regret, but not so much. He turned his head and looked at Ziyun, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Ziyun looked back at its Beast Master in bewilderment. It felt like a lot of experiences that hadn¡¯t been there before suddenly appeared in its head, and it inexplicably mastered a new skill. ¡°Meow?!¡± (What just happened?!) ¡°Congratulations, you¡¯ve learned a new skill.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t explain. He just smiled and opened Ziyun¡¯s detail panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun] Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage (125/500) Species Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Stardust Level)] (1/100) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Stardust Level)] (1/100) [¡ïBite (Stardust Level)] (1/100) [¡ïClaw Edge (Stardust Level)] (0/100)] Due to the training just now, Ziyun¡¯s physique has increased by two points. More importantly, a new skill has been added to the skills column. ¡°Come on, Ziyun. Try out Claw Edge.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Okay!) Although Ziyun didn¡¯t realize that its sudden mastery of a new skill was related to its Beast Master¡¯s cheat, it obediently started to use the new skill. Its claws, which had been folded in its paws, suddenly spread out, each one flashing with a metallic and sharp cold light. ¡°Whoosh¨C¡± Ziyun leapt up nimbly and forcefully slashed at the large bone it used earlier to test the power of the skill Bite. Then Xu Ran was stunned to see that the big bone, which was so hard to cut with a kitchen knife, was instantly cut into several pieces, the cut surfaces were as smooth as mirrors. ¡°This skill is good.¡± Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Ziyun, you can help with cooking at home in the future.¡± Ziyun: ¡°???¡± You use Claw Edge for that? ¡°My cooking skills are actually pretty good.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Deal!) Ziyun nodded without hesitation. Xu Ran smiled, ¡°All right, let¡¯s continue our business.¡± It wasn¡¯t time to close yet; he had just closed the door earlier so as not to let anyone see the scene of Ziyun¡¯s awakening. An Awakening Stone probably does not exist in reality. He understood the principle that one has no guilt when holding a valuable gem. Opening the door, Xu Ran leaned on his cheek, watching the outside of the door without interest. Ziyun, now a Transcendent Being, lightly jumped onto the counter, her front paws tucked in her chest, idling with Xu Ran. Although her shape had changed, her lazy attitude hadn¡¯t changed a bit. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Beast Mastery High School of Qingzhou City. This school specifically targets age-appropriate students with Beast Master talents, teaching both ordinary high school knowledge and corresponding Beast Master information. Su Xiaoxiao walked into the freshman year (6) classroom, where her classmates with whom she had been spending most of the year were seated. The expressions on their faces were quite tense because every one of them was about to undergo an important assessment. ¡°Xiaoxiao, did you take my advice and take your Pet Beast for Washing and Protection when you left at midday?¡± Lin Yue,her deskmate, leaned over and lowered her voice as soon as Su Xiaoxiao sat down. ¡°Yes.¡± Su Xiaoxiao pursed her powdery cute lips and nodded slightly. ¡°Phew! Then it¡¯s okay.¡± Lin Yue let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Where¡¯s your Flame Fox?¡± ¡°Just like before.¡± Su Xiaoxiao spread her hands helplessly. Her Flame Fox has a very aloof personality and doesn¡¯t like coming to school with her. After going for Washing and Protection at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Su Xiaoxiao sent it home. It¡¯s probably sleeping off its beauty treatment at home. Of course, it could be watching a drama show. ¡°I originally wanted to see the effect of the grooming in advance.¡± Lin Yue regretted, ¡°I¡¯ll have to wait until the assessment when you summon it to see.¡± Saying this, Lin Yue¡¯s expression turned more serious, ¡°The Pet Beast Appearance Assessment must not be taken lightly. I heard that each class has a representative that can participate in the Qingzhou City¡¯s Youth Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast Beauty Contest. You can get bonus points in the college entrance exam if you win the contest!¡± ¡°The Appearance Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of the Pet Beast¡¯s personality, skill proficiency, strength, and appearance, of which appearance accounts for a significant proportion.¡± ¡°Your Flame Fox is a Pet Beast species with very high beauty value, and its strength is also quite good. Maintaining a good state before the assessment, you have a chance to compete for this spot!¡± ¡°A Yue, thank you.¡± Su Xiaoxiao felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that her deskmate truly wishes well for her. Lin Yue smiled, just about to say something, but there came some unfriendly voices from not far away. ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t think Su Xiaoxiao has a chance.¡± Hearing this voice, both Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue frowned in unison. Two girls walked towards them. The girl on the left, who had just spoken, started with contempt, ¡°The Flame Fox is a Pet Beast race with a high beauty value, but there is a difference between Flame Foxes. Someone¡¯s Flame Fox¡­ Huh! With so many different colors on its body, what beauty value can it have?¡± ¡°And it seems that that someone¡¯s Flame Fox doesn¡¯t even listen to its Beast Master¡¯s commands. Can such a Pet Beast really score points in personality evaluations? Hehe.¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face turned slightly sour. A normal Flame Fox has uniformly flamed-red fur, but her Flame Fox seemed to have mutated at birth, resulting in lighter red patches on its body. Actually, these color variations do not detract from the beauty value of the Flame Fox but rather give it a unique charm. However, Su Xiaoxiao was not sure if the judges would agree. Moreover, her Flame Fox does have an aloof personality and even ignores her sometimes, which is not considered a positive personality trait for a Pet Beast. Both of these points might affect her scores in the Appearance Assessment. The taunting from the others immediately dampened Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s good mood. ¡°Du Ting, what are you talking nonsense about!¡± Lin Yue did not look pleased, ¡°If Xiaoxiao doesn¡¯t have a chance, does that mean you do?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t have a chance either.¡± Du Ting shook her head without concern, then hooked her arm around the girl beside her, ¡°An Xun is definitely going to be first in this assessment!¡± The girl on the right, tall and slender, lifted her head slightly in pride upon hearing her companion¡¯s words, ¡°Su Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t even dream about coming first in the Appearance Assessment!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even dream about it! Don¡¯t even dream about it!¡± As the girl¡¯s voice fell, a parakeet with rainbow-like, dazzling feathers landed on her shoulder, with oriented feathers clearly distinguishable as it spread its wings. Transcendent Race, Colorful Cloud Parrot. In terms of beauty value, it was in no way inferior to the Flame Fox. Su Xiaoxiao frowned heavily. This girl named Duan Anxun was her biggest competitor in the Appearance Assessment. On top of that, the two already had significant disagreement. From the very first day of their freshman year, disagreement emerged over trivial issues between Duan Anxun and Su Xiaoxiao. Since then, An Xun has always been causing trouble for her, which is very annoying. Trouble is coming indeed. Chapter 9 - 9 Chapter 9 Dumb People, Lots of Money_1 9 Chapter 9 Dumb People, Lots of Money_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I heard you went for a pet beast grooming session at noon?¡± Duan Anxun gently stroked the slender feathers of her pet beast. ¡°Coincidentally, I also spent two thousand dollars for a thorough care for my own beast.¡± ¡°Two thousand, that¡¯s the top standard grooming fee for small pet beasts.¡± Du Ting interjected with a smug expression. ¡°The experience of meticulously grooming every single feather, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Lin Yue eyeballed the Colorful Cloud Parrot. Its appearance had clearly elevated after the grooming session. Nevertheless, she remained relentless in her retort, ¡°What? You have feathers? You experienced it?¡± ¡°I find it bizarre. Anyone would think this Colorful Cloud Parrot belongs to you! Why do you talk so much?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Du Ting glared at Lin Yue, ¡°Is the Flame Fox your pet beast?¡± Lin Yue defiantly returned the glare, ¡°My choice, none of your business?¡± Watching her desk mate stand up for her, Su Xiaoxiao felt warmed and motioned for Lin Yue to stop talking, ¡°When the assessment comes, the winner and the loser will be clear.¡± ¡°Well said.¡± Duan Anxun nodded, ¡°My win and your loss will indeed be clear!¡± After leaving these harsh words, Duan Anxun led Du Ting back to their seats. After the glaring match, Lin Yue retracted her gaze. She was silently mumbling and venting, ¡°Feeling proud for what! Spending two thousand on a pet beast grooming, people could be rich but they could be dumb too!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao suddenly looked awkward. She lowered her head and pulled on Lin Yue¡¯s hand, ¡°Yueyue, stop talking.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Yue was puzzled. ¡°I¡­¡± Thinking about the price at that shop, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s voice dropped even lower, ¡°I spent six thousand six hundred and sixty-six¡­¡± ¡°Hiss¡ª¡ª¡± Lin Yue took a sharp breath, ¡°Rip-off!¡± ¡°Small pet beast grooming doesn¡¯t cost that much at all, you got ripped off!¡± Lin Yue was full of righteous indignation, ¡°After school, take me there. I will help you get your money back!¡± Su Xiaoxiao was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, the shop she went to was considerably pricier than Duan Anxun¡¯s grooming session. But¡­ She compared the Colorful Cloud Parrot before and after the grooming, then compared her own Flame Fox before and after its grooming. If a two-thousand-dollar grooming session yielded those results, she seemed to have¡­ Profited? Of course, she would not mention this thought to Lin Yue, otherwise Lin Yue would definitely think she was crazy. ¡°It¡¯s our class¡¯s turn now. Everyone, line up outside the classroom for the Pet Beast Appearance Assessment!¡± The class teacher peeked his head through the door and shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s go, off to the assessment.¡± Lin Yue got up, pulling on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand. She looked at Xiaoxiao and said seriously, ¡°I have faith in your Flame Fox. Duan Anxun won¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°Also¡­¡± She paused, a glint of righteousness in her eyes, ¡°After school, we will go to that rip-off shop together. I will definitely help you get your money back!¡± Su Xiaoxiao: ¡°¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Student Duan Anxun.¡± ¡°Here!¡± Duan Anxun, tall and graceful, stood out like a phoenix among chickens. Upon hearing her name, she responded and strode to the center of the assessment field. ¡°You two better open your eyes wide and watch!¡± Du Ting, who had already finished her assessment, gazed at Lin Yue and Su Xiaoxiao who were lined up behind, ¡°An Xun will surely score above 95!¡± ¡°On what basis? Because you, of a 100 maximal score, only scored 81.3?¡± Lin Yue, ruthlessly hit where it hurt, ¡°Worry about whether you¡¯ll be surpassed by me first!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Du Ting¡¯s face turned from red to white, and finally, she grunted and turned her attention back to Duan Anxun in the field. Lin Yue didn¡¯t bother with her anymore either. She held Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand while watching the ongoing showcase nervously. ¡°Good afternoon, distinguished judges. My name is Duan Anxun. This is my pet beast, Colorful Cloud Parrot, also named Xiao Caiyun.¡± Duan Anxun at the podium introduced herself confidently, then quickly raised her hand. The Colorful Cloud Parrot in synchronization spread its wings like an arrow shot from a bowstring, darting into the sky and swiftly descending, demonstrating intricate flying skills along simple movements made by Duan Anxun. Throughout the process, various skills were also demonstrated. The Colorful Cloud Parrot is a light attribute Transcendent Being. With its show, the venue was lit up with colorful lights. The female figure in the light, skirt fluttering, seemed ethereal and powerful. ¡°Wow! This is Duan Anxun¡¯s strength!¡± ¡°Every movement of the Colorful Cloud Parrot just brushes past Duan Anxun. A touch late Duan Anxun could be injured!¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply like a walk in the park, as easy as wielding a blade!¡± ¡°When can my pet beast and I have such a tacit understanding!¡± ¡°I think the first place in this assessment is already decided¡­¡± As Duan Anxun started her performance, the other students who were watching couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in hushed whispers. Discussion was abound. The performance lasted three minutes. During these three minutes, as the difficulty of Duan Anxun¡¯s performance ramped up, the exclamations grew louder. Soon, the three-minute show ended, and Duan Anxun¡¯s assessment score was freshly out. 97.4 points, a full 5 points higher than the current second place. The pride on Du Ting¡¯s face was more intense. She didn¡¯t bother with Lin Yue anymore, but gave Lin Yue a scornful look as if saying ¡°See, this is Duan Anxun¡¯s strength.¡± ¡°So proud of what?¡± Lin Yue huffed, gripping Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand, ¡°Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t be nervous! You can do it!¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao responded absently. In fact, at this moment, she was communicating with the Flame Fox at home via the Beast Taming Contract. She didn¡¯t even watch Duan Anxun¡¯s performance closely. As she expected, the Flame Fox was presently watching a drama series at home. And it ate the snacks that she had just bought! After Duan Anxun, the students went on stage for their presentations one by one. Their scores were without exception significantly lower than that of Duan Anxun¡¯s. A gloating Du Ting looped her arm in Duan Anxun¡¯s, ¡°I knew it, nobody could stand in your way!¡± ¡°As expected.¡± Duan Anxun¡¯s lips curled up at the corners, ¡°I just want to know, since Su Xiaoxiao talked big, how much could she score?¡± As they were talking, Lin Yue, who was lined up before Su Xiaoxiao, was on stage. She unfolded a bright hexagram pattern behind her. Accompanied by gusts of wind blowing in circles, a green eagle with a wing spread of one and a half meters flew out from the void behind the hexagram. A wind pet beast, the Green Wind Eagle. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The Green Wind Eagle circled around above the field, ready to start its show. Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and clenched her fists. She was next. ¡°Little Flame, do well when it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Ying~¡± Responding to her was a leisurely chirp. The Flame Fox lounging on the couch at home, leisurely watching the drama, didn¡¯t take this seriously at all. Su Xiaoxiao helplessly shook her head. ¡°Do well, and next time I¡¯ll bring you again to that Pet Beast Foster Shop for grooming.¡± ¡°Ying!¡± (Deal!) The Flame Fox¡¯s response visibly livened up, easing Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s worries. ¡°Miss Lin Yue, the assessment score is 86.3.¡± ¡°Next, Miss Su Xiaoxiao!¡± ¡°Here!¡± Su Xiaoxiao responded then quickly stepped forward to stand in the middle of the field where a hexagram pattern of light was interwoven behind her. Chapter 10 - 10 Chapter 10 Its Not Good If This Happens Too Often_1 10 Chapter 10 It¡¯s Not Good If This Happens Too Often_1 Translator: 549690339 In the spontaneously conjured whirlwind, Flame Fox stepped out with an elegant gait. Shimmering flames materialised beneath its feet to steady its descent. The golden eyeliner accentuated its elongated eyes, adding a touch of allure, while the leaps of flame in the golden red pattern at the center of its eyebrows imbued it with a mesmerising charm. The fire-red fur seemed to be glowing, silky smooth to the touch, transfixing anyone who dared. The gradient hues from its lighter patches made the Flame Fox look like an evening glow, enhancing its appeal. The flames of its fluffy tail flickered faintly like fireflies. A moment of silence followed, and then the observing students exploded into chatter. ¡°That is a Flame Fox? Why is it so handsome?¡± ¡°I saw Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Flame Fox this morning, and it wasn¡¯t like this at all.¡± ¡°This is outrageous! It¡¯s practically like a different Pet Beast!¡± ¡°I heard she took her Pet Beast for grooming¡­¡± ¡°What kind of grooming can produce this effect? This is sorcery!¡± This¡­ This is Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Flame Fox?! Listening to the exclamations and praises around her, Duan Anxun¡¯s smirk froze, leaving her feeling as if she had been hammered on the head, absolutely confounded. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Exclaimed Du Ting, her face filled with disbelief. ¡°All within a midday, how could she have transformed her Flame Fox like this!¡± Looking at the Flame Fox in the arena, Lin Yue was similarly amazed. Thinking of the 6666 yuan that Su Xiaoxiao had spent on grooming, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Could it be that shop isn¡¯t a scam?! No, that¡¯s not the point! Lin Yue straightened her chest, glared at the dumbfounded girls, and said, ¡°You still call this mixed colors?¡± ¡°What if it is!¡± Snapped back Duan Anxun, growing annoyed. ¡°Looks are just a part. Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Pet Beast never listens to commands. There¡¯s no way it can perform smoothly¡­¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Lin Yue pointed to the arena in the middle of the room with a smug smile. ¡°You better keep your eyes open and see!¡± Duan Anxun turned her head to look at the arena, her pupils contracting, ¡°This¡­¡± In the arena, the Flame Fox was rising to a dance, surrounded by a sky of flames, moving with a nimble grace alongside Su Xiaoxiao. Within the rhythm of fire, Su Xiaoxiao appeared like a goddess controlling the flames, making others feel inferior. The pair moved in perfect harmony, showing no signs of disobedience. ¡°Impossible!¡± Du Ting¡¯s face turned pale, shaking her head vigorously. ¡°Absolutely impossible!¡± Duan Anxun slumped to her seat in defeat, her lips quivering with words she couldn¡¯t say, any semblance of arrogance gone. In the end, Flame Fox gracefully leapt onto Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s outstretched hands, and as the flames in the sky scattered, it quickly wrapped up its act. Amid the applause and cheers, the judges began scoring. ¡°Su Xiaoxiao, your assessment score is 99.2 points!¡± ¡°Mmm~¡± The Flame Fox lifted its head high like a queen, glancing at a pleasantly surprised Su Xiaoxiao. Grooming, hurry up and arrange it! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss! I¡¯m back again!¡± The girl¡¯s playful voice straightened Xu Ran, who had been idly waiting for customers to arrive. Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue quickly rushed up to Xu Ran. The two girls obviously weren¡¯t there to ask Xu Ran for a refund. In fact, after seeing the transformation of the Flame Fox, Lin Yue had recognized that this shop was not a scam. Although spending over 6000 yuan on grooming sounded absurd, it seemed there was a certain merit to it. After Su Xiaoxiao scored 99.2 in the afternoon Appearance Assessment, there was no more suspense. Not to mention her class, across the whole of freshman year at high school, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s score was first. She unquestionably secured a place in the Qingzhou City Teen Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast Beauty Contest. Remembering Duan Anxun, who was arrogantly strutting like a peacock before the assessment, and Du Ting, who was full of ridicule, Lin Yue found their lost and distraught expressions after Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s performance incredibly satisfying, as refreshing as enjoying an ice cream on a scorching summer¡¯s day. So she wanted to try it as well, to provide her Green Wind Eagle with a grooming session worth 6666 yuan. Despite considering earlier that people taking the 2000 yuan grooming session were foolishly rich. Women, so fickle! ¡°Oh~¡± Lin Yue took a glance at the eye-catching price on the price menu, sighed gloomily, and wore a miserable face. ¡°For one grooming session, I¡¯ll have to eat instant noodles for a month.¡± ¡°Chirp chirp~¡± The Green Wind Eagle perched on her shoulder nuzzled Lin Yue, expressing anticipation and gratitude in its eyes. Seeing such a remarkable change in the Flame Fox, it was naturally envious. Its own Beast Master had sacrificed so much for it. Such heartfelt emotion! Su Xiaoxiao chuckled under her breath; she knew her close friend was intentionally playing up her despair in front of the Pet Beast to strengthen their bond. However, remembering her promise to the Flame Fox to have another grooming session, she suddenly couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. It was not that she was stingy with money, but¡­ Having just groomed it once, coming for another would be wasting money for nothing, wouldn¡¯t it? Surely it¡¯s different, right?! ¡°Boss, groom my Green Wind Eagle, please!¡± Lin Yue spoke generously after boosting the affection with her Pet Beast. ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Green Wind Eagle on Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder and initiated the System Identification. [Race Name: Green Wind Eagle] Attribute: Wind attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement:¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î] Evaluation: Conventional cleaning can only reach its surface, the depths of it are still longing for the comfort of the host¡¯s skillful hands.] Even though he¡¯s somewhat accustomed to the system¡¯s casualness, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth still twitched uncontrollably. ¡°For small Pet Beasts, the grooming price is¡­¡± ¡°I saw it, it¡¯s 6666, right?¡± Lin Yue intervened before he could finish, ¡°Go ahead!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Standing next to Lin Yue, Su Xiaoxiao waved her hand, ¡°This is my classmate, I recommended her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded indifferently at Su Xiaoxiao, and then fixed his gaze on Lin Yue, ¡°Do you want it done now? The Beast Master can wait in the rest area, or you can go into the grooming room and accompany your Pet Beast.¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s arm remained mid-waft. Hmm? That¡¯s it? I¡¯ve outright hinted at you, but you didn¡¯t mention any discounts? What a jerk! ¡°I¡¯ll go into the grooming room.¡± Lin Yue decided without much hesitation. The main reason wasn¡¯t accompanying the Pet Beast; she was more curious about Xu Ran¡¯s grooming process. ¡°Over here, please.¡± Xu Ran, leading Lin Yue was about to enter the grooming room. Snapping back to reality, Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed, ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xu Ran stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Su Xiaoxiao. ¡°Uh¡­ my Flame Fox also needs a grooming.¡± Su Xiaoxiao hastily lifted the Flame Fox in her arms. ¡°Ying~¡± The Flame Fox, with shiny eyes, gazed at Xu Ran nervously, flickering with anticipation. [Friendly reminder] [Unnecessary frequent grooming can have negative effects on the condition of a Pet Beast¡¯s fur. It should not be promoted. Please reject it, host.] Xu Ran, staring at the suddenly appearing text, solemnly turned down the request. ¡°Too frequent grooming isn¡¯t good for a Pet Beast, I cannot apply!¡± Huh? Su Xiaoxiao blinked her eyes, watching Xu Ran and Lin Yue entering the grooming room. She stood there dumbfounded, then heaved a sigh of relief. Her wallet, it¡¯s safe! In the grooming room, Xu Ran sighed silently. Damned system, this is a loss! Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Discuss a Bit l Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Discuss a Bit l Translator: 549690339 ¡°To improve the effectiveness of this washing and care, the system will grant the host knowledge on Basic Care for Bird Pet Beast¡± Xu Ran starts preparing for the washing and care, ignoring the sudden pop-up text in front of his eyes. The Green Wind Eagle is a Wind Pet Beast. The Basic Care for Wind Pet Beast was granted when he was taking care of the Wind Lion Dog, so it¡¯s not necessary to give it again. Lin Yue sits in the chair, her hands awkwardly gripping the edges of the chair as she stares at Xu Ran. She is very curious about the cleaning and care worth 6666 yuan. If she can learn a thing or two, can she clean and care for her pet beast herself? Xu Ran has no idea about Lin Yue¡¯s thoughts, and even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t care. If one could master it just by observing, then there would be no need for the system to cram knowledge in a pedagogical way. Other than temperature, strength, and technique, Transcendent Beings¡¯ washing and care also require specific Transcendent Resources for assistance to achieve the best results. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so expensive. These things could differ hugely just by a slight discrepancy. Even if one watches, the eyes might learn. But what about the hands? As the water temperature reaches the target value, Xu Ran gently showers the Green Wind Eagle and massages it, wetting every feather¡¯s surface and root. ¡°Chirp-¡± The Green Wind Eagle narrows its eyes in enjoyment, the warm sensation flowing over its body makes it naturally spread its wings, and the places like the wing roots which are usually hard to clean, began to shiver pleasantly as the water flow touches them. [Pleasure value from the Green Wind Eagle +3] Is it more than what the Flame Fox provided? Xu Ran nods imperceptibly and intensifies his efforts after pouring out the oil products. The Green Wind Eagle¡¯s eyes widen, its body shaking more noticeably. Getting wet makes its airy body feel heavy, but at that moment it feels lighter than ever before, as if the wind was calling its name. Unable to suppress it, a shaky voice is forced out from its throat. ¡°Chirp-¡± [Pleasure value from the Green Wind Eagle +7] [Pleasure value from the Green Wind Eagle +7] [Pleasure value from¡­] The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face deepens, the look he gives the Green Wind Eagle becomes increasingly friendly. Lin Yue, sitting on the side, shifts her ass uncomfortably. Why do the sounds her pet makes sound so weird? Why does the boss look at her pet with such a strange expression? Feeling uncomfortable, she shifts her ass again. Is there a problem with this chair? ¡°Look, I don¡¯t deny it, I¡¯m just saying that it¡¯s not good for you if we do this too frequently,¡± the boss said. Outside the Grooming Room, Su Xiaoxiao teases her dejected Flame Fox and chuckles, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring you here as soon as your fur gets dirty again.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± The Flame Fox lowered his head and unhappily accepted her proposition. Having pacified her little ancestor, Su Xiaoxiao curiously looks around the shop and soon sets her eyes on Ziyun, who is lying on the counter. This must be the boss¡¯s pet beast, right? It makes perfect sense for a Beast Master to be the owner of a Pet Beast Foster Shop. She is a Beast Master who cares about the beauty of a pet beast, that¡¯s why she chose a beautiful but aloof Flame Fox. As for Ziyun¡¯s beauty, it¡¯s no less than her Flame Fox which has just been washed and cared for and is at its peak beauty. ¡°Wow! What a cute kitty!¡± Su Xiaoxiao quickly leaned towards the Flame Fox, her eyes sparkling with delight, ¡°What attribute is your pet beast?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun leaned back slightly, somewhat uncomfortable with the enthusiasm of the person in front of him, but considering this was a client of its Beast Master, it didn¡¯t resist too much. A hint of pale purple electric arc sparkled from its body, acting as a response to Su Xiaoxiao. ¡°It¡¯s actually of Thunder attribute, which is certainly comparable to the explosive power of Fire attribute!¡± Su Xiaoxiao expressed surprise. ¡°Mew~¡± The Flame Fox tilted its eyes lined naturally, feeling a little miffed by the enthusiastic attitude of its own Beast Master. And upon hearing that Thunder attribute is not inferior to Fire attribute in explosiveness, it felt even more dissatisfied. ¡°Hm?¡± Su Xiaoxiao subconsciously looked down at the Flame Fox in her arms, a look of surprise on her face. What happened? Why would her pet beast suddenly show such hostility? Could it be¡­ it¡¯s jealous?! Thinking about this possibility, a hint of delight suddenly surfaced on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. The Flame Fox had previously been aloof, indifferent to her as its Beast Master, never displaying this kind of jealous behavior. The fact that it was showing jealousy now because she was getting close to another pet beast was clearly a sign that it cared about her! Seeing its Beast Master still chuckling, the Flame Fox rolled its charming eyes and let out a ¡°Mew!¡± I¡¯m going to pick a fight with this cat! ¡°You want to spar with the boss¡¯s pet beast?¡± Su Xiaoxiao gave a pause, then turned her head to look at the closed door of the grooming room, ¡°No, this is quite inappropriate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate?¡± The door of the grooming room opened at this moment, Xu Ran strode out, just in time to catch the second half of Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s words. His pet beast cleaning and caring task was not yet finished, at the moment, the Green Wind Eagle¡¯s feathers were soaked in a special detergent, waiting for a few minutes, he came out for a breather. ¡°My pet beast wants to spar with your pet beast,¡± Su Xiaoxiao spoke awkwardly. ¡°Spar?¡± Xu Ran looked at the Flame Fox, then at Ziyun. When Su Xiaoxiao came over in the morning, they briefly discussed the situation of the Flame Fox. Su Xiaoxiao and the Flame Fox haven¡¯t had their contract for long, and the Flame Fox had just fully grown. Interestingly, Ziyun had just awakened. Even if there was a difference in their strengths, it was not expected to be significant. Newly becoming a Beast Master, Xu Ran was still full of desire to watch his Transcendent Being pet beast fight. Of course, whether to spar or not, Ziyun had to have a say. After all, injuries could not be avoided when sparring. ¡°Ziyun, what do you think?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Bring it on!) Ziyun gave Xu Ran a firm gaze. Before today, it was a stray cat on the street often starving and fleeing at the sight of Transcendent Beings. But now, it had also become a Transcendent Being. Its competitive nature made it instinctively want to know just how strong it had become. ¡°You can get hurt in a spar, you know?¡± Xu Ran gently rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head, whispering a reminder. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m not afraid!) Ziyun shook its head firmly. A minor injury was something it had experienced countless times. But unlike before, it didn¡¯t have to lick its wounds in a corner anymore. Now, it had a Beast Master! ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran gently patted Ziyun¡¯s head twice, straightened up, and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost closing time, and you¡¯re our last guests.¡± He looked at Su Xiaoxiao, who was shorter than him, and the Flame Fox in her arms, ¡°Once I¡¯ve finished grooming your classmate¡¯s pet, we can have a spar..¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Ziyun vs Flame Fox 1 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Ziyun vs Flame Fox 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª After scheduling their sparring match, Xu Ran checked the time and once again returned to the grooming room to start the next step of washing and protection work for the Green Wind Eagle. Having satisfied its insistence to spar with Ziyun, the Flame Fox ceased making a fuss. It hopped out from Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s arms and strutted elegantly into the lounge. After switching on the TV with a paw, it leaped onto the soft sofa. Moreover, it clawed up a bag of snacks and casually spewed out a small bunch of flames to bum open the sealed part of the snack bag, and then used its claws to deliver the snacks to its mouth. Seeing this, Su Xiaoxiao showed no surprise. Apparently, she had long been accustomed to this little ancestor¡¯s remarkable adaptability at home. So, she sat next to the Flame Fox, picked up another bag of snacks, and joined it in watching the TV. The Flame Fox glanced at Su Xiaoxiao and moved over reluctantly with its big tail, leaving more space for her. Ziyun was still lying on the counter with its front paws tucked into its chest. But it changed its orientation, attracted by the Flame Fox. It stared at the Fox¡¯s relaxed gestures in a daze, apparently having never seen such an odd scene. As it watched, it was gradually moved, envisioning a scene where it and Xu Ran sat together on the sofa, watching TV and eating snacks. Time passed by the second, and soon the tightly closed door of the grooming room was opened again, causing the person and two pets outside to stop their actions. ¡°Xiaoxiao! Look at my Green Wind Eagle!¡± Lin Yue rushed out of the grooming room the first time, her voice full of excitement. On her shoulder stood a majestic eagle about one meter tall. Its green feathers were so smooth under the light that they almost shone. The Green Wind Eagle was not known for its beauty, but its dominating appearance took on a sublime aspect under Xu Ran¡¯s perfect grooming. Its chest feathers were dense and smooth, and the edge of each feather on the spread wings was as sharp as a blade. Its originally nimble stature appeared more robust after the grooming. And while the Green Wind Eagle was still a youngling, it already had some of the dominant demeanor of the sky. For Lin Yue, the most shocking thing was the miraculous transformation of her pet beast had happened right under her eyes. Though the process was strange, the result showed that the owner of this store was really amazing! ¡°Wow!¡± Su Xiaoxiao could not help exclaiming when she saw the imposing Green Wind Eagle. While she had confidence in Xu Ran¡¯s skills, she never expected the Green Wind Eagle to be so astonishing after grooming. However, Su Xiaoxiao sighed afterwards. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, if you had come with me at midday, you might have gotten a spot in the competition.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit of a shame. But we¡¯re only freshman; we still have chances!¡± Lin Yue was very optimistic. ¡°Since you don¡¯t need grooming anymore, let¡¯s go home. I want to give my parents a good surprise.¡± As she said this, Lin Yue couldn¡¯t help showing an expectant look. ¡±Uhm¡­ A Yue, I might have to wait a little longer.¡± Su Xiaoxiao pointed to Xu Ran who was sorting out the grooming room. ¡°I made an agreement with the boss to have a sparring match later.¡± Lin Yue: ¡°Eh?!¡± ¡°Come on, come on! Go, Xiaoxiao!¡± Outside the battle stand, Lin Yue was waving her hands with excitement all over her face. Learning that Su Xiaoxiao and Xu Ran were going to spar, she naturally was not in a rush to go home. On the twenty-meter-long beginner¡¯s battle stand, Xu Ran and Su Xiaoxiao stood facing each other, with a burly man as the referee standing in between. Such a professional arena was not found casually. Not far from Xu Ran¡¯s store, there was a place named Tianhong Stadium that provided rented battlefields and professional referees, meeting all the needs of Beast Masters for sparring. ¡°Both sides, ready!¡± The burly man shouted, taking a look at the two people on the battlefield. ¡°Whoever admits defeat actively or loses his ability to fight will be declared defeated. I will count down from three, and then the match will start!¡± ¡°Three¡­¡± ¡°Ziyun, stand there. Get ready to fight!¡± Xu Ran pointed to a circular area in front of him, which was the ready battle area for pet beasts. Meow- (Watch me!) Recently awakened to become a Transcendent Being, Ziyun was full of energy. From Xu Ran¡¯s foot, it made a light leap into the circle, arching its back slightly. Its heterochromatic eyes slowly narrowed to the size of needle tips, swallowing the sight of the Flame Fox in the distance like an abyss. ¡°Crack¡­Crack¡­¡± Supernatural energy surged rapidly in its body, the involuntary leakage of power causing the crisp sound of electric arcs piercing through the surrounding air. On the other side, the Flame Fox refused to be outdone. It gently dropped from Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s arms into the ready battle area, lifted its head high, and raised its fluffy tail like a cloud mist. Flame torrents rotated around it. ¡°Roar¡­Roar¡­¡± The rapidly heating air swelled in all directions, displacing the colder air farther away, stirring up a rolling heat wave accompanied by a low rumbling sound. After undergoing the Washing and Protection, the Flame Fox felt better than ever. Now, it was at the peak of its power! It wanted to prove with a clean and decisive victory that the Fire Attribute is stronger than the Thunder Attribute! ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Let the battle begin!¡± The referee shouted and rapidly retreated, giving the central area of the battle stand to the two Pet Beasts about to clash. The battle commenced the moment his voice fell! ¡°Ziyun, use Electric Arc!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Understanding completely, Ziyun burst into action instantly, moving so fast it left afterimages in the air, and the crackling Electric Arcs emerged on its path. In the blink of an eye, it had charged a five-meter distance, rapidly closing in on the Flame Fox. Two-Star Skill, Stardust Level ¨C Electric Arc! ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so fast!¡± exclaimed Su Xiaoxiao before quickly regaining her composure, ¡°Little Flame, use Flame Wall!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The Flame Fox narrowed its eyes into slits, watching the figure rapidly closing in on itself, and instantly spewed out a spiral exploding flame. That raging flame interweaved rapidly in the air, forming a flame wall three meters wide in front of the Flame Fox within a moment! Two-Star Skill, Stardust Level ¨C Flame Wall! Frightful heat waves surged in all directions at that moment, leaving no doubt that merely touching the Flame Wall could inflict terrifying burns. Ziyun¡¯s movements came to an abrupt halt, revealing a hint of hesitation in the face of the high temperatures hurtling toward it. Fear of fire is a natural instinct of ordinary beasts. Having just become a Transcendent Being, Ziyun hadn¡¯t completely shaken off its old habits. Plus, lacking experience in battling other Pet Beasts, it faltered at this moment. Fortunately, Xu Ran reacted quickly. ¡°Ziyun! Electric Spark!¡± The Beast Master¡¯s instructions echoed instantly in its mind through the Beast Taming Contract. Ziyun quickly snapped back to reality, and a purple light brewing thunder converged in its mouth before it spewed it at the overwhelming flames before it! ¡°Boom¡ª¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Duties of the Beast Master_l Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Duties of the Beast Master_l Translator: 549690339 The purple energy sphere came into contact with the approaching flame wall and then violently burst, turning into dazzling purple electric sparks. These electric sparks held immense power, clashing with the flames and causing windstorms in the arena. Accompanied by harsh rumbling sounds, the two powerful forces demolished simultaneously, stirring up endless dust. ¡°Ziyun, use Electric Arc, and prepare for Claw Edge!¡± Following Xu Ran¡¯s command, Ziyun shot up into the air, leaving a trail in the sky. Ziyun rushed headfirst into the dust, while its front paws were faintly shimmering with energy, seemingly mustering power for a final decisive attack. One Star Skill, Stardust Level-Claw Edge! ¡°Meow!!!¡± Ziyun¡¯s unique pupils dilated at this moment, filled with sharp lights. Ziyun looked like a natural predator about to shred its prey! ¡°Little Flame, Fire Eye! Get ready for Flame Dance!¡± Almost immediately after Xu Ran issued the command and Ziyun responded, Su Xiaoxiao, on the other side, saw the dust filling the sky and cried out with excitement, rather than fear. ¡°Squeak¡ª¡± The nonchalant response from the Flame Fox echoed from the dust. The next instant, two bright flames suddenly appeared within the dust obscuring the view. No, those were not flames, but eyes! One Star Skill, Stardust Level-Fire Eye! Effect, enhanced vision! Having seen Ziyun¡¯s actions clearly, a hint of mockery flashed in the Flame Fox¡¯s eyes amid the dust. In the following moment, countless flames circled around it. With a light press of its front paws on the ground, a pillar of fire suddenly rose from beneath Ziyun¡¯s body, engulfing it! Two Star Skill, Stardust Level-Flame Dance! ¡°Meow¡ª¡± Ziyun let out another low meow, but unlike its previously high-spirited voice, this one was mixed with pain. The dust quickly scattered under the turbulent heat wave, revealing Ziyun lying there, with its fur slightly scorched and its face in shambles. On the other side, the Flame Fox proudly raised its head, like a victorious general, its pair of eyes with golden eyeliners were full of triumph. ¡°Ziyun!¡± Xu Ran rushed forward and carefully picked up Ziyun. Feeling that the little guy¡¯s body didn¡¯t suffer too much damage, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Boss, let me cover the medical fees!¡± Su Xiaoxiao picked up the Flame Fox and proposed with a somewhat embarrassed face. She didn¡¯t hold back because it was a fight, but since it was her pet beast who started the face-off, she felt a bit guilty at the moment seeing Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast got hurt. -No problem, I can afford the small medical fee.¡± Xu Ran waved his hand, rejecting Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s proposal, then turned to the approaching referee, ¡°Excuse me, where is the infirmary?¡± ¡°Over there.¡± The referee smiled and seeing the concern in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, he comforted, ¡°Such wounds won¡¯t cost much and can be healed in a few minutes. Don¡¯t worry.¡± As a rented battle training ground for Beast Masters, Tianhong Stadium naturally provides accompanying medical services. These services are performed by pet beasts specialized in healing. Not to mention wounds like Ziyun¡¯s ¨C as long as there is still a breath, they can quickly revive you. ¡°Okay.¡± Getting directions from the referee, Xu Ran ran to the infirmary holding Ziyun. Seeing this, Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue followed along, worried. As the referee said, the treatment did not take much time. About five minutes later, Ziyun had returned to its original state after receiving treatment from a pet beast that looked like a large mushroom. Even its scorched fur had grown back. And the treatment fee was only one thousand, which was cheaper than Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection service. ¡°BOSS, Lin Yue and I will head back first!¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast recovered, Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief and perhaps feeling a bit awkward to stay, she took Lin Yue and took the initiative to say goodbye. However, before leaving, she waved to Xu Ran, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce other students to your washing and protection service!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Xu Ran nodded his head, watching the two girls leave, then left the arena as well. Victory and defeat are part of every battle. He wouldn¡¯t blame Su Xiaoxiao for Ziyun¡¯s injuries. But¡­ Looking down at Ziyun, fully healed but somewhat despondent, Xu Ran knew that the little fellow¡¯s emotional trauma wasn¡¯t going to heal so easily. Perhaps comforting the Pet Beast is also one of the responsibilities of a Beast Master? With this thought, Xu Ran stroked Ziyun¡¯s head and said in a relaxed tone, ¡°You did better today than I had expected!¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Is that true?) Ziyun lifted his head, looking at his Beast Master with surprise in his eyes. The reason he was so down was partly because he lost to the Flame Fox but more because he was worried Xu Ran would be disappointed in him. Xu Ran acting like the loss didn¡¯t matter surprised him, but it also made him feel relieved. -Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°You just became a Transcendent Being today. You¡¯re not quite skilled yet. Though you learned a new skill, Claw Edge is just a one-star Skill, so it didn¡¯t greatly boost our power.¡± ¡°More importantly, compared to Su Xiaoxiao, both you and I lack experience.¡± There was a touch of regret on Xu Ran¡¯s face as he said this. Beast Masters like Su Xiaoxiao who are studying at Beast Mastery High School receive systematic guidance. Even though she¡¯s just a freshman and a beginner compared to other Beast Masters, it¡¯s normal that she won against someone inexperienced like me. ¡°When the Flame Fox used the Flame Wall Skill, you didn¡¯t respond immediately and hesitated for a moment,¡± Xu Ran started to review the battle, ¡°And I didn¡¯t expect the collision to raise so much dust and let you charge in recklessly.¡± ¡°So in this battle, both of us had areas where we fell short.¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun in his arms. Ziyun also lifted his head. His mismatched pupils glowed under the streetlight, reflecting Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s work harder and do better next time, alright? ¡°Meow!¡± (Alright!) Ziyun¡¯s spirits lifted after Xu Ran¡¯s pep talk. He was already considering how he should train harder to become stronger, and have a rematch with the Flame Fox. He couldn¡¯t help but lift his head to look at his Beast Master. He seemed to be pondering something. Maybe he too was thinking about how to strive and become stronger with him? Xu Ran looked at the personal panel appearing before his eyes. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (D-level)] (2/10) Pet Beast Skills: None Pleasure Value: 974 System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] Since the Plucking Fur didn¡¯t work when he washed and protected Lin Yue s Green Wind Eagle, he fell short of the Pleasure value for another Lottery drawing, even though the Green Wind Eagle provided more Pleasure value. He would have to wait until the next washing and protection to draw a Lottery. He wondered if he could get something like combat experience in his next Lottery draw to compensate for his deficiencies. As for working hard¡­ If he could cheat, why work hard? Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Sea Wave Flower 1 Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Sea Wave Flower 1 Translator: 549690339 In his contemplations, Xu Ran stopped in front of his shop. Looking at the gradually dimming sky, he hugged Ziyun and went into the shop, ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Aren¡¯t we going to train hard?) Ziyun looked up blankly, his eyes filled with incomprehension. Didn t we agree to train hard and become stronger together? ¡°Tomorrow, definitely tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran put Ziyun on the counter and stretched his back, ¡°Let¡¯s rest early tonight.¡± Ziyun initially wanted to say something, but fell silent when Xu Ran took out the cat canned food. Well¡­we can talk about training hard tomorrow. ¡°Roar-¡± The moment Xu opened the cat canned food, Ziyun expertly stuck his head out and swallowed a large mouthful of meat. But then, his expression suddenly turned a little odd. Why doesn¡¯t the cat canned food taste as delicious as it did at midday? ¡°Doesn¡¯t taste as good as at midday?¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s human-like expression, Xu Ran understood, ¡°That¡¯s normal.¡± ¡°On the one hand, you were very hungry at midday, everything tastes better when you¡¯re hungry. Now you¡¯re not as hungry, so it¡¯s natural.¡± Ziyun nodded approvingly, thinking that the Beast Master¡¯s analysis made perfect sense. ¡°But that¡¯s not the most important reason.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°The most important reason is, you are no longer a cat, but a cat-based Transcendent Being.¡± ¡°As a Transcendent Being, you can exert powerful strength, and naturally you need to consume more energy.¡± Xu Ran ruffled Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°So the common cat canned food can no longer sate your appetite.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make do for today, but tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to buy some food suitable for pet beasts, as well as other things that pet beasts need.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay!) Ziyun nodded his head and took another bite of the cat canned food. Even though it doesn¡¯t taste as good as before, everything is delicious when eaten with Xu Ran! Seeing that Ziyun began eating, Xu Ran walked quickly to the small kitchen in the backyard. He quickly fried two small dishes and paired them with cooked rice for his dinner. Perhaps it was due to becoming a Beast Master and having Ziyun¡¯s reciprocating physique that made him stronger, Xu Ran¡¯s appetite increased significantly. Previously, he would be full after two bowls of rice, but tonight, after eating four bowls, he still hadn¡¯t had enough. ¡°Meow-¡± (I want to try some too!) Ziyun, who had finished the cat canned food, turned his head and saw Xu Ran savoring his food, he also took the initiative to join in. He jumped lightly onto the table, docilely squatting there, eyeing the dishes on the table. ¡°You can¡¯t¡­¡± Xu Ran originally wanted to say that some of the ingredients in these dishes are not suitable for cats, like the green onions in his twice-cooked pork. But upon reconsideration, Ziyun was already a Transcendent Being, so it didn¡¯t seem to matter, ¡°then, try this one!¡± He picked up a piece of evenly fat and lean pork belly and handed it over to Ziyun. Ziyun bit into it, using his sharp canine teeth to tear it apart, then swallowed it in two or three bites, savouring it for a while before displaying a satisfied expression. Even though it was a bit salty for him, eating the same food as the Beast Master made him very happy! Seeing that Ziyun was willing to taste his cooking, Xu Ran was in high spirits. He served Ziyun scrambled eggs with leek to try, and finally fed him some rice. Before long, both of them finished all the food that Xu Ran had cooked After washing the dishes, Xu Ran carried Ziyun up the stairs to the second floor. The second floor of the shop is the living area, the system did not remodel it, it retained its original living atmosphere. Walking into his room with familiarity, Xu Ran sat down on the bed and looked at the bookshelf beside it. The bookshelf was densely packed with many books relating to Beast Masters, these were bought by the original person, but most of them were new, and it ¡¯ was clear that they hadn¡¯t been read much after being bought. After a search, Xu Ran pulled out a book titled ¡°Basics of Beast Control¡± and opened the first page. Although he had been longing to become a Beast Master since he had crossed over, securing his first Pet Beast this quickly was obviously far beyond his plans. He needed to catch up on some knowledge about beast handling. Though the system provided basic information on caring for and cleaning pet beasts, which included some knowledge about Transcendent Beings, the content was limited. To systematically understand the fundamentals of beast handling he still needed to read. ¡°So the top ten attributes are: water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, ice, light, darkness, super ability, and fighting,¡± Xu Ran muttered to himself, ¡°The ¡¯ growth stages of Pet Beast from low to high are Transcendent Stage, Elite Stage, and Leadership Stage¡­¡± Thoughts that were originally hazy in Xu Ran¡¯s mind were gradually becoming clearer. The doors to the world of Beast Masters were slowly opening before his eyes, and various magical legends fascinated him. Ziyun lightly leapt onto the head of the bed, stared at Xu Ran immersed in his books, then silently sneaked into the quilt covering Xu Ran¡¯s lower half and laid down comfortably, looking quite satisfied. It wasn¡¯t until late into the night that the lights on the second floor of Starfire Foster Shop were turned off. We¡¯ll continue with the shop in the morning, and at midday I¡¯ll take you out for shopping.¡± Early the next morning, Xu Ran opened the shop door, gently rubbed Ziyun who was resting on the counter, and sat behind the counter to continue reading a book. After researching all night, Xu Ran not only had an understanding of some common sense in the Beast Master world, but also knew what he, as a novice Beast Master, needed to buy. It was quite a fruitful night. If a customer could visit in the morning, allowing his Pleasure Value to reach one thousand, that would be even better Not long after Xu Ran had this thought, a familiar figure walked hurriedly into the shop, ¡°Young boss!¡± ¡°Mr. Liu?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the proud Wind Lion Dog following the man, immediately recognizing him, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡ö¡¯It¡¯S a long story.¡± Liu Gu shook his head, ¡°Anyway, I need you to clean and care for my Pet Beast.¡± Xu Ran furrowed his brows, looking at the Wind Lion Dog behind him which seemed no different from the one he had groomed the day before, and opened the System Identification function. Race name: Wind Lion Dog Property: Wind-based Growth Step: Elite Stage Body Type: Medium Maintenance Need: ¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î Review: Oh my god! We cannot please this lost big dog today!] Ignoring the frivolous commentary from the System, Xu Ran looked seriously at Liu Gu, ¡°Your Pet Beast was cared for yesterday, it doesn¡¯t need to be cleaned and groomed again in the meantime.¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m not talking about the Wind Lion Dog.¡± Liu Gu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m talking about this one.¡± The stars of David interlaced rapidly behind Liu Gu, hatching a small figure out of the air amidst the sudden whirlwind, inside the shop. It was a Pet Beast with a pale blue and semi-transparent body. Its shape was similar to a flower bud, but also resembled a dazzling wave. The identification function automatically started. Race name: Sea Wave Flower Property: Water-based Growth Step: Transcendent Stage Body Type: Small size Maintenance Need: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Review: Under the glossy appearance, it hides a deep desire for cleaning and care. It urgently needs the pleasure brought about by the magical hands of its host..] Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 A Wonderful Misunderstanding 1 Chapter 15: Chapter 15 A Wonderful Misunderstanding 1 Translator: 549690339 &¡ª ¡°A special class pet beast?¡± Looking at the special creature in front of him, which had an odd yet beautiful appearance, wonder filled Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. If it had been before last night, he probably would have been shocked by the beast¡¯s appearance. But after having crammed in a lot of Beast Master knowledge, Xu Ran now knew that the transcendent beings in this world were born not just from naturally existing flora and fauna, but also from non-living entities like mountains, rivers and such. The one in front of him was clearly of the latter kind. ¡°Nice eye, little boss.¡± Liu Gu smiled, ¡°It¡¯s not a transcendent being from the vicinity of Qingzhou City, but from a far-off place. I paid a down payment a long time ago, and it was only now that I got the ability to buy it.¡± ¡°So boss, please give it a cleaning and protection soon!¡± There was a hint of anticipation on Liu Gu¡¯s face. ¡°Ok.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the little guy who had no eyes but was twisting its head to observe its surroundings, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Off you go, follow him.¡± Liu Gu spoke to the Sea Wave Flower. ¡°Gulur-¡± The Sea Wave Flower trembled slightly, letting out a faint sound resembling a bursting bubble, it slowly followed Xu Ran, floating in the air. Soon, the man and the beast disappeared into the grooming room. ¡°Phew!¡± It was only at this moment that Liu Gu slightly relaxed and scratched his head, ¡°I hope that after the grooming session, Sea Wave Flower will be a bit friendlier to me.¡± He brought his newly contracted second pet beast for grooming early in the morning, and naturally it wasn¡¯t just to make it look better. The Sea Wave Flower came from a distant region and wasn¡¯t a transcendent being from around Qingzhou City. Liu Gu¡¯s understanding of it wasn¡¯t very deep. He only knew that it was a rather rare water attribute pet beast with healing abilities, which his Hunting Squad happened to lack So without a second thought, Liu Gu paid the down payment happily. After barely scraping together enough money and finally being able to buy this little thing and bring the Sea Wave Flower home, Liu Gu discovered a serious problem. The Sea Wave Flower had a very aloof personality. Even after forming a contract, it ignored him and refused to be touched by him. Such a problem between a Beast Master and a pet beast posed a significant risk for Liu Gu, who often had to fight to the death with transcendent beings. For a moment, Liu Gu was at a loss about how to handle it. It was at this moment that the Wind Lion Dog gave him a suggestion. That was to bring the Sea Wave Flower to Xu Ran for cleaning and grooming. Its reason was simple: after coming here once, it wished it could stay here every day. If it let the Sea Wave Flower experience the incredibly comfortable grooming service of this shop, the beast would surely open its heart to its Beast Master. Even if that didn¡¯t work, the grooming could be used as a reward to make the beast cooperate in battle. The temptation of grooming was too clear to the Wind Lion Dog ¨C it firmly believed that no matter how aloof the Sea Wave Flower was, it would absolutely be unable to resist! Although the Wind Lion Dog was a fawning dog, after regaining its old love with a new look yesterday, it finally restored its intelligence befitting an elite-level transcendent being. Although doubting the dog¡¯s advice, Liu Gu still decided to give it a try with a it s better to treat a dead horse as if it¡¯s alive¡± attitude. Thus, this visit happened. ¡°Let¡¯s go, doggie, let¡¯s wait in the lounge.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, pulling the Wind Lion Dog towards the lounge. Ziyun, who was perched on the counter, withdrew its gaze from the Wind Lion Dog, its eyes flashing with a triumphant expression. When it saw this big fellow yesterday, it hid in the corner in fear. Seeing it again today, although it was still no match for it, Ziyun no longer felt instinctive fear. How delightful! [To improve the grooming effect of this session, the system will grant the host with relevant knowledge in ¡°Basic Grooming of Water Attribute Pet Beasts¡± and ¡°Grooming Basics of Special Class Pet Beasts¡±! With a line of small text appearing in front, a vast amount of knowledge silently surfaced in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. In just an instant, he had a full understanding of the Sea Wave Flower¡¯s habits, grooming precautions, and other necessary knowledge. When he looked at the little creature in front of him, which was quite clean on the surface, a strange look appeared on his face. The Sea Wave Flowers are cleanliness-freak transcendent beings. Even though they are of the water attribute, they lack the ability to self-clean. When they get dirty, to make themselves appear clean, they can only hide the dirt inside their bodies. As time goes by, more and more dirt hidden inside the Sea Wave Flower¡¯s body that can¡¯t be cleaned will make them irritable and easily angered. The Sea Wave Flower this time had a washing and protection requirement of three stars. It was already quite rare for it to remain calm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry little buddy, I will clean you up.¡± Xu Ran smiled at the Sea Wave Flower kindly, and then fetched a water basin, quickly preparing a suitable cleaning fluid for the Sea Wave Flower inside it, ¡°Come on in.¡± ¡°Gulur-¡± The Sea Wave Flower carefully flew to the water basin, then gradually lowered a bit, tentatively touching the water with a tentacle-like appendage, seemingly trying to ascertain if the water was clean. Then, its body slowly sank into the water. As it trembled slightly, it made a strange noise. ¡°Gulur¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from Sea Wave Flower +20] Xu Ran was taken aback for a brief moment, then couldn¡¯t help but gasp in surprise. He looked at the Sea Wave Flower as if it was a precious treasure. 20 points of pleasure value right off the bat! He eagerly rubbed his hands together. I must groom you properly today! Wearing cleaning gloves on his hands, a large amount of cleaning fluid flowed deep into the Sea Wave Flower¡¯s body, gradually loosening the dirt sticking to The Sea Wave Flower felt the places that had always irritated it and kept it constantly irritable suddenly becoming itchy and numb, bringing a strange sense of comfort, causing it to tremble incessantly. ¡°Gulur¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from Sea Wave Flower +30] [Pleasure value from Sea Wave Flower +30] [From¡­] Seeing the continuously increasing pleasure value, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze grew even gentler. It¡¯s time to dig a little deeper! He gently kneaded, and the dirt that had already loosened under the soaking of the cleaning fluid quickly peeled away under the gentle rubbing, floating on the surface of the cleaning fluid in the water basin. [Pleasure value from Sea Wave Flower +40] [Pleasure value from Sea Wave Flower +40] [From¡­] ¡°Gulur¡ª¡ª¡± In the lounge, upon hearing the strange noises coming from next door, Liu Gu who was stuffing himself with snacks paused, a confused look crossing his face. This is the sound of my Sea Wave Flower, right? Why is it so weird? ¡°Ouwoof-¡± Completely normal- The Wind Lion Dog stretched its paw and patted its own Beast Master suddenly on the shoulder, then turned its head to glance at the grooming room with a hint of envy in its eyes. I wish I were the one in the grooming room now¡­ Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Accidental Success_l Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Accidental Success_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Creak-¡± The door slowly opened, Xu Ran walked out of the grooming room with Sea Wave Flower cradled carefully in both hands. ¡°Boss, how did it go?¡± Liu Gu put down the snacks he¡¯d been eating, quickly stood up and walked over to Xu Ran. He looked nervously at his own pet, Sea Wave Flower. ¡°Grooming is done.¡± Xu Ran casually handed Sea Wave Flower back to Liu Gu. Liu Gu reflexively reached out to take her, but suddenly recalled that Sea Wave Flower had been resisting being touched by him, and he paused with his hand in mid-air. ¡°Gu-dong-¡± Sea Wave Flower floated up gently, a tentacle-like appendage resisting the hand that Liu Gu had extended. At the same time, a telepathic message was sent to Liu Gu through the Beast Taming Contract. ¡°Your hands are so dirty! Go wash them first!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Liu Gu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, his eyes filled with joy. Ever since the contract, Sea Wave Flower had refused to communicate with him. This was the first clear expression of its intentions towards him. And just as the Wind Lion Dog had predicted, Sea Wave Flower was not resisting physical contact with him anymore, it just wanted him to wash his hands first. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll go wash my hands right now!¡± With excitement, Liu Gu went to the sink nearby, washed off the greasy snack residue and flavoring powders from his hands, and then excitedly hugged Sea Wave Flower. This time, Sea Wave Flower didn¡¯t dodge. It really worked! This was the first time Liu Gu had held his own pet. He felt like crying. God knows, how worried and saddened he was due to Sea Wave Flower¡¯s aloofness the night before. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really amazing.¡± Liu Gu paid for the grooming service without hesitation, then looked at Xu Ran with admiration. ¡°You actually managed to change Sea Wave Flower¡¯s cold personality through grooming¡­¡± Before he could finish, a somewhat displeased voice echoed in his mind, and Xu Ran also spoke with a strange expression. ¡°Who said I¡¯m cold and distant?¡± ¡°Who said Sea Wave Flower is cold and distant?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Being confronted by both man and pet, Liu Gu was taken aback. ¡°But after the contract, Sea Wave Flower was indifferent towards me yesterday¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Sea Wave Flower was suppressing its own irritation.¡± Xu Ran explained with a resigned laugh, ¡°Your Sea Wave Flower had a lot of grime accumulated in its body and couldn¡¯t clean itself, which made it¡ªa creature that loves cleanliness to a fault¡ªirritable and grumpy.¡± ¡°It probably ignored you because if it opened its mouth, it wouldn¡¯t be able to resist cursing you and making you even more upset, right?¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Liu Gu¡¯s eyes widened. After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, he realized he might have misunderstood Sea Wave Flower. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was not aware of your habits and that caused a misunderstanding,¡± Liu Gu apologized willingly to his pet, then scratched his head sheepishly, ¡°But why didn¡¯t you want me to touch you?¡± On one side, Sea Wave Flower struggled to get away from Liu Gu, trying its best not to touch Liu Gu¡¯s head-scratching hand, while it continued to verbalize its thoughts. In Liu Gu¡¯s mind, however, the words formed were quite different. ¡°When was the last time you washed your hair? It¡¯s full of dandruff and grease!¡± ¡°And you scratch your head with your hand, now there¡¯s dandruff all over your hand!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t touch you yesterday because your hands were really dirty!¡± ¡°Go wash your hands right away!!!¡± Liu Gu was stunned, looking at his own hands with a doubtful expression on his face. It looked pretty clean, could it really be that dirty? Seeing this, Xu Ran, standing nearby, could not hold back a laugh. Even without understanding Sea Wave Flower¡¯s complaints, he had already guessed what was happening. It was probably avoiding Liu Gu because it felt that his hands were dirty, right? After all, this race is extremely particular about cleanliness, and the tiniest of stains can¡¯t escape their detection. He suddenly found it amusing. Liu Gu didn¡¯t seem like the type to care too much about personal hygiene. Now that he had formed a contract with a cleanliness-obsessed pet beast, there were sure to be some growing pains in their relationship. While Liu Gu and Sea Wave Flower were engaging in their conversation, Xu Ran held Ziyun, and text appeared before his eyes. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (D-level)] (3/10) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ïSelf-healing Power] (Teachable) Pleasure Value: 2874. System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] Sea Wave Flower brought a significant increase to Xu Ran¡¯s pleasure value. Now, he had enough pleasure points for two draws. What¡¯s more important was that Plucking Fur had yielded results again! The one-star skill, Self-healing Power, is a skill that speeds up the recovery of wounds for Transcendent Beings, and it doesn¡¯t conflict with Ziyun¡¯s current abilities. Speaking of which¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at Liu Gu. Since learning Plucking Fur, he had put it into use three times and obtained new abilities twice, both times when he was grooming Liu Gu¡¯s pet beasts. Could it be¡­ Does Liu Gu have some special Lucky Fish attribute? Considering this possibility, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stride forward and pat Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Uncle Liu.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up?¡± Liu Gu looked up at Xu Ran, puzzled. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Ran nonchalantly let go, suppressing his inner delight. While patting Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder, he had sneakily done two single draws. BOTH of them were green-rarity, worth between white and blue rares. Moreover, both draws yielded the same reward¡ªan energy potion named Energy Abundant Potion. [Energy Abundant Potion: One dose can make a pet beast¡¯s energy level remain high for three hours. The effects can be stacked, and can be used without limit.] Two bottles of the Energy Abundant Potion can make Ziyun¡¯s energy level remain high for six hours, like a perpetual motion machine. If he allowed Ziyun to train, Ziyun could use its skills countless times without worrying about exhaustion. If Ziyun were into a fight, with an endless supply of energy, Ziyun could wear out any opponent¡­ ¡°Boss, thank you so much for everything this time!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s hearty laughter brought Xu Ran back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m heading out!¡± He had already promised Sea Wave Flower that he would take a good shower when he got back and be more mindful of his personal hygiene in the future. He believed that once he understood more about his pet beast¡¯s habits, their relationship would improve significantly. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, watching Liu Gu go. Then, recalling something, he stopped Liu Gu, ¡°Uncle Liu.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t know about Sea Wave Flower¡¯s habits, how did you think to bring it here for grooming?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Oh, that!¡± Liu Gu patted the head of the Wind Lion Dog, shared the dog¡¯s suggestion with Xu Ran, and then left a bewildered Xu Ran by striding away. ¡°Really¡­ what a stroke of luck!¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but burst into a laugh, then he hurriedly closed the shop door, looking at Ziyun with excited eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s learn a skill. Once we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll go out!¡± Having drawn the Energy Abundant Potion, the original plan needed some adjustments. [Would you like to teach the pet beast skill [*Self-healing Power] to Ziyun?] [Yes][No] Is there even a need to ask? Of course, I¡¯ll choose [Yes]! Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Ziyuns Emotion_l Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Ziyun¡¯s Emotion_l Translator: 549690339 It¡¯s here! That familiar feeling is here again! Ziyun only felt a tickle in his head, followed by a sudden influx of knowledge. It was a new skill, and it could now be used normally. This felt like growing intelligence! If it didn¡¯t quite understand the situation the first time, this time, in combination with what Xu Ran had just said, Ziyun suddenly got it. This skill was taught by the Beast Master! Instantly, its gaze towards the Beast Master was filled with reverence. So the Beast Master is so powerful! It pat Xu Ran¡¯s hand with its small paw, its eyes filled with expectation. ¡°Meow!¡± (Again!) ¡°Umm¡­¡± this time, it was Xu Ran¡¯s turn to be embarrassed. After awakening as a Transcendent Being, Ziyun¡¯s intelligence had increased considerably, and Xu Ran expected it to associate itself with the skills he taught it. But¡­ After the teaching of the Self-healing Power was completed, it disappeared just like Claw Edge, he didn¡¯t have a second skill to teach Ziyun. ¡°We¡¯ll work together to attract customers. When we have more customers, I¡¯ll have new skills to teach you.¡± Explaining about the system¡¯s existence indirectly, he gently patted Ziyun¡¯s head, comforting it. ¡°Meow!¡± (Okay!) Ziyun wasn¡¯t disappointed at all; instead, it showed a hint of sudden realization. I see! So, the Beast Master has been working so hard to wash and care for the pet beasts of other Beast Masters to make it stronger! Previously, it felt a little upset when Xu Ran was washing and caring for the pet beasts of other Beast Masters, but at this moment, Ziyun felt guilty for its previous thoughts. The Beast Master had bore all these indignities just for this business! In that case, as a pet beast, it too needed to strive hard! Ziyun lifted its head slightly, giving Xu Ran a look of gratitude mixed with a determination to strive onward. A question mark slowly formed in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. Did this little guy misunderstand something? Don¡¯t worry about it. ¡°The new skill you just learned is called Self-healing Power. You should understand its effect.¡±, Xu Ran started, ¡°It allows you to heal faster when you¡¯re injured, it¡¯s really useful.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to try this skill now. Later I will take you for training. During training, you might get injured, and then you can experiment with the healing speed of this skill.¡± There was a gleam in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. It picked out the key words in Xu Ran¡¯s sentence. Training! Was the Beast Master finally going to keep his promise from last night and take it for training? After the failure of the battle last night, Ziyun, at this moment, was strongly determined to become stronger and defeat Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Flame Fox. Excitement gleamed in its eyes. Watching Xu Ran leave the Foster Shop and lock the door, Ziyun felt deeply moved. From its observations, running a shop required regular business hours and it was still midday, not the closing time of the Foster Shop. The Beast Master was closing early for its training! What a touching gesture! ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re going to buy food for you.¡±, Xu Ran carried Ziyun and set out following the navigation system, ¡°The cat canned food you ate yesterday can no longer meet your daily nutrition demands, there¡¯s special food for pet beasts.¡± As Xu Ran spoke, he thought about the two bottles of Energy Abundant Potion stored in the System¡¯s Warehouse. According to the original plan, he needed to buy not just food for Ziyun. The food only meets daily needs. When a pet beast uses a large amount of energy, it needs more valuable resources for recovery. Some resources that can help a pet beast upgrade also need to be purchased. But with the two bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, Xu Ran suddenly realized something. Maybe the latter two can be won from the system in the future. So now, just buying some ordinary food would do. This would save quite a bit of money, after all, the money he earned from washing and caring is not that much. Ziyun didn¡¯t know about Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. It curled up in his arms, feeling the warmth emanating from the Beast Master¡¯s chest, and began to look forward to its new food. It should taste good, right? ¡°Boss, which pet beast food do you have here?¡± Immediately upon entering the closest Pet Beast Supply Store, Xu Ran asked the burly man inside straightforwardly. ¡°Well, we have a lot.¡± The Boss chuckled, ¡°Young man, are you buying food for this feline pet beast?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Show me what¡¯s suitable for feline pet beasts.¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± The Boss grinned, ¡°To find the appropriate pet beast food, we need to consider the beast¡¯s attribute. What¡¯s the attribute of your little cat?¡± ¡°Thunder Attribute,¡± Xu Ran said, realizing his oversight. Just like how he had to consider both species and attribute while washing and caring, choosing food would obviously be similar. ¡°Wow! Thunder attribute is quite rare.¡±, the Boss looked at Ziyun in surprise, then turned and walked towards his packed shelves, ¡°Wait for me to find it¡­ I think it¡¯s here¡­ Ah, found it!¡± Soon, the Boss returned with an opened bag of food, got a small bowl, took a spoonful out, and said, ¡°Little guy, try if it suits your taste?¡± The food in the bag was the size of sugar beans, looking a bit like normal cat food. The only difference was that these granules were purple, somewhat similar to the color of Ziyun¡¯s paws. ¡°Ziyun, try it.¡± Since the other party had offered a tasting, Xu Ran certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun gave a soft call, jumped out from Xu Ran¡¯s arms, and hopped in front of the small bowl. It sniffed carefully, detecting a rich aroma. The aroma gave it the same sensation as when Xu Ran first gave it cat canned food yesterday, instantly triggering a strong appetite. Ziyun elegantly lowered its head and gobbled up the granulated food in the bowl. Then it licked its paw, its face showing a satisfied expression. A flash of electricity jumped on its body and then disappeared. It was clear that Ziyun liked this food very much. ¡°This one¡¯s good.¡± Seeing this, Xu Ran took out his cellphone right away, ¡°Let¡¯s buy a week¡¯s quantity first, how much does it cost?¡± ¡°One bag is enough for exactly one week.¡± The Boss seemed to have guessed that Xu Ran would buy it and quickly produced an identical, unopened bag of food, ¡°Thanks for your patronage, that will be 1,300.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but grimace. Just the food for a Transcendent Stage pet beast costs 5,000 to 6,000 a month! Being a Beast Master does require burning money, indeed. But when he thought about it, the monthly food bill for Ziyun was covered by what he earned from one washing and caring session¡­ Well¡­ I guess I¡¯m really something! ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ziyun, let¡¯s head to the Training Field for training.¡± Xu Ran picked up Ziyun, who was curiously observing other food on the shelves, and walked out of the Pet Beast Supply Store. Up next was the highlight of the day, training! Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Difficult Training 1 Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Difficult Training 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ã¡ª ¡°Training is for becoming stronger.¡± Walking on the street, Xu Ran drew several purple, jelly-bean-like morsels from a bag and fed them to Ziyun while explaining. ¡°There are two common methods of training: the first is repeatedly practicing alone to master a skill, and the second is gaining combat experience by constantly fighting other Transcendent Beings.¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s eyes gleam with interest at the latter half of the sentence Xu Ran slipped it two more purple jelly beans and gently knocked on its head ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. We should be focusing on skill training right now.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright then-) Ziyun rubbed its head against Xu Ran¡¯s hand, obediently ready for the lesson. ¡°Skill training also has its own nuances.¡± Xu Ran paused. ¡°You¡¯ve currently mastered five skills: Electric Spark, Electric Arc, Bite, Claw Edge and Self-healing.¡± ¡°All five of these skills are at Stardust Level, the next level is Starlight Level If you can elevate your skills to that level, your power will greatly increase.¡± ¡°But biting off more than you can chew isn¡¯t advisable. Training all five skills simultaneously will scatter your focus and reduce efficiency, so there¡¯s a priority in training these skills.¡± ¡°Electric Spark, Electric Arc, and Self-healing are the priorities, the other two can wait.¡± Xu Ran paused. ¡°Two stars skills are more potent than One Star, while self-healing will be massively helpful to you.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Got it!) Ziyun responded, then rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s hovering hand, indicating him to continue feeding it. ¡°Last one, we¡¯re here.¡± Xu Ran grabbed a handful of jelly beans and placed them on his palm. Once Ziyun finished eating, he led it into the building in front of them. The Long River Pet Beast Training Hall. It was one of the top training halls in Qingzhou City, with over a hundred beast training environments available. After much research, Xu Ran had chosen this particular place. Upon entering the spacious hall of the training center, Xu Ran saw numerous Beast Masters leading their pet beasts in and out of separate training rooms. Their pet beasts ranged from Transcendent Stage to Elite Stage. Xu Ran even glimpsed a fleeting figure of a pet beast far stronger than those at the Elite Stage. ¡°Hello, I need an entry-level custom training room.¡± Without vacillating, Xu Ran walked up to the counter. ¡°Three hours.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The receptionist glanced at Ziyun cradled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, then quickly input the relevant information. ¡°The entry-level custom training room costs three hundred per hour, so you need to pay nine hundred.¡± Beep 1 Xu Ran paid using the scan code. ¡°That¡¯s nine hundred from you, this is the key card for training room 1023. The clock starts running as soon as you open the door for the first time, and you¡¯ll be reminded when your time is up.¡± The receptionist swiftly rose to her feet, handing over the key card with a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Having received the key card, Xu Ran quickly found the corresponding training The entry-level training room was ten meters in length, width, and height, and all its walls were flashing with a white light. Xu Ran, however, knew this light was not an ordinary one ¨C it was a melding of modern technology and Transcendent Power. There was a control panel in a corner of the training room, from which Beast Masters could customize the room to achieve optimal training results. Xu Ran had two configurations in mind ¨C one that emitted an attack energy that needed to be evaded, and another with randomly appearing, moving energy targets. This simple combination of two features could fully accommodate training for Ziyun¡¯s three skills. After these settings, Xu Ran put Ziyun on the ground, pointed at the middle of the field, and instructed, ¡°Ziyun, you stand over there. Use Electric Arc to dodge red attacks coming from all directions.¡± ¡°These attacks are real. If you don¡¯t evade them, you¡¯ll get hurt, and you¡¯ll need to use the Self-healing power to recover.¡± ¡°Additionally, green spheres of light will randomly appear in the field. They move at different speeds and disappear after five seconds. You need to hit them with Electric Spark before they disappear.¡± ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (I do!) Ziyun nodded seriously, its face taking on a somewhat solemn expression. It understood Xu Ran¡¯s instructions. Precisely because it understood that it was acutely aware of how difficult the upcoming training would be. Avoiding attacks from all corners while targeting a moving object, and recovering itself if it got hurt. ¡°If you understand, then drink this.¡± Xu Ran took out an Energy Abundant Potion and fed it to Ziyun. Now let¡¯s see just how powerful these system-produced items could be. Ziyun didn¡¯t hesitate, its forepaws grasping the potion and hastily drinking it down. Right after, with a light leap, it moved into position in the center of the field. ¡°Begin!¡± Seeing Ziyun were ready, Xu Ran pushed the start button on the control panel. His position was in the attack blind spot. He won¡¯t be affected and could adjust the difficulty or terminate the training at any time. Two beams of red light shot toward Ziyun from two directions as Xu Ran pressed the start button. According to Xu Ran¡¯s configuration, these lights moved at a speed of twenty meters per second. Ziyun¡¯s pupils contracted slightly as thunderbolts emitted from its arched spine. Like shadows in empty space, Ziyun rapidly dodged within a small range, averting both beams of red light. The two red beams failed to hit Ziyun, and when they collided with the walls again, they quietly melded into them. Then, two more red lights were shot from different locations, aiming for Ziyun. In a series of shifty moves, Ziyun easily dodged the next wave of red beams It seemed risky, but this was still within its capacity. In the next moment, it looked up as if it sensed something. It was a green energy sphere the size of a soccer ball. Out of nowhere, it appeared in mid-air and was slowly moving in a certain direction. A brimming, vibrant, lightning-filled purple electric arc was brewing in Ziyun¡¯s mouth and then it forcefully spewed it out. ¡°Zzzhh ¡± Accompanied by the distinct crackling of electric arcs piercing through the air the green sphere was hit by the Electric Spark and vanished into thin air. Almost immediately, Ziyun¡¯s body trembled and it let out a low cry. Just as Ziyun was distracted by the attack on the energy target, two red beams simultaneously struck it. Within an instant, the two spots where the red beams hit Ziyun showed signs of burning. The charred fur revealed some cut marks on the skin underneath. Xu Ran, standing by the control panel, was able to resist the urge to stop the training and boldly shouted, ¡°Use Self-healing!¡± Ziyun¡¯s pupils contracted, dodging the two shots of red light that were once again aimed at it like a bolt of lightning. Then, by instinct, it concentrated its power to circulate through its body. The very next moment, a faint white light loomed over its two wounds, which began to heal visibly at a speed perceptible to the naked eye. The intensive three-hour training session had officially commenced! Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Surely it cant be because of washing and protection? _1 Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Surely it can¡¯t be because of washing and protection? _1 Translator: 549690339 As one of the three Beast Mastery High Schools in Qingzhou City catering to age-appropriate Beast Masters, the Second Beast Mastery High School boasts the best educational resources. With standardized fields equipped with four hundred-meter running tracks, there are a whopping three here. At this moment, in the center of one of the fields, Class 6 of the freshman year is conducting their afternoon course ¨C Skill Training. ¡°The training of skills is undoubtedly crucial for the power improvement of Pet Beasts!¡± Facing the students who were standing in four rows, the Skill Training teacher, Zhao You, spoke solemnly. ¡°Training the skills, can improve the skill proficiency at the fastest speed, while continuously consuming and restoring the power of the Pet Beast, can also stimulate the potential of the Pet Beast, accelerating its growth, killing two birds with one stone.¡± ¡°So you must pay the utmost attention to it!¡± ¡°For the three years of high school, my requirement for you is to have all your Pet Beasts reach the Starlight Level in Skill Proficiency!¡± Zhao You paused slightly, then abruptly raised his voice, ¡°Did you all hear that?!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The students jolted awake together, then shouted in unison. ¡°Wake up!¡± Zhao You shouted, then lifted his hand which had been behind his back, on his hand, was a thick notebook. ¡°This class is a monthly exam class.¡± Zhao You patted the notebook in his hand, ¡°Four weeks ago, I recorded the skill proficiency of each of your Pet Beasts, and now, I want to see the progress you¡¯ve made this month!¡± ¡°The Skill Training class at Beast Mastery High School replaces the physical education class at ordinary high schools, but it doesn¡¯t mean they are the same!¡± His eyes squinted slightly, and the look in his eyes with a hint of murderous intent when he looked at the students, ¡°If you think that the Skill Training class and the physical education class are the same, that you can play as you wish after dismissal, then you are totally wrong!¡± ¡°Old Zhao always says this during every exam class, I¡¯m tired of hearing it.¡± In the ranks, Lin Yue secretly gave a sneer, and began to whisper complaints to Su Xiaoxiao who was standing beside her. Before Su Xiaoxiao could respond, a loud shout came abruptly. ¡°Lin Yue, stand out!¡± ¡°Present!¡± Lin Yue suddenly straightened her back, her expression became earnest, she obediently stepped out of the ranks like a mouse seeing a cat, and went to Zhao You. ¡°I was speaking, and so were you.¡± Zhao You¡¯s face became dangerous, ¡°It seems that you are very confident, so let¡¯s start the test now!¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s face turned bitter, and obediently stood in front of a large vacant space that had been cleared out on the side, six-pointed starlight intertwined behind her. Accompanied by whirlwinds, a giant eagle with green wings flew out of nowhere, it circled in the air twice before landing on her shoulder. An uproar suddenly broke out in the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle change like this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know? It wasn¡¯t like this during the Appearance Assessment yesterday, it was only one night, and it¡¯s like changing a Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ this sense of deja vu, why do I feel so familiar?¡± ¡°Now that you say it, I feel the same¡­¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± Zhao You shouted, quelling the whispering voices, and carefully eyeing the Green Wind Eagle on Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder, his eyes showed a hint of appreciation. What a majestic Green Wind Eagle, the aesthetics are really good, Lin Yue had put some efforts into cultivating her Pet Beast this month. ¡°Let¡¯s begin, the three skills of the Green Wind Eagle: Two Stars Skills, Wind Split and Feather Blade, One Star Skill, Sharp Eye. Now demonstrate Wind Split first.¡± Zhao You said, and flipped open the notebook in his hand, comparing various data recorded when Lin Yue was tested last month. ¡°Xiao Yu, Wind Split! Give it your all!¡± When it came time for the test, Lin Yue also dropped her playful smile, her face serious as she pointed to a very thick alloy plate not far away, indicating for the Green Wind Eagle to attack. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The Green Wind Eagle flapped its wings and left Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder. In mid-air, it turned into a green arrow and headed straight for the alloy plate. Then in midair, it abruptly stopped, its sharp claws emitting dazzling green light, and tore at the alloy plate from a distance. The wind attribute transcendent power turned into a green light blade, silently cutting into the alloy plate, and then dispersed. ¡°Cut depth¡­ 11.3cm.¡± Zhao You looked at the results given by the detection equipment and announced Lin Yue¡¯s test results. Then, he lowered his head to look at Lin Yue¡¯s test results from a month ago, his face showing a hint of surprise. A month ago, 9.3cm. The alloy plates used to test the power of Skills are specially customized. The deeper they are, the more sturdy they are. At the same time, they also have self-repairing abilities. A depth of two centimeters seems ordinary, but Zhao You roughly calculated and then realized how much progress Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle has made this month. Conversely, Lin Yue herself also had a surprised face. What¡¯s happening? Only oneself can know one¡¯s own situation, she had tried hard in Skill Training this month, but the progress was not very noticeable. Even if she didn¡¯t quantify the test, she could tell that Xiao Yu¡¯s performance was significantly better than before. ¡°Continue testing Feather Blade.¡± Zhao You¡¯s voice rang out, bringing Lin Yue quickly back to her senses. No matter, let¡¯s continue! ¡°Xiao Yu, Feather Blade!¡± The Green Wind Eagle, hovering in the air, once again lunged towards the alloy plate which had just repaired itself from the tear. It¡¯s wings burst forth with dazzling green light, and then fiercely fanned towards the alloy plate. A series of energy feathers materialize, whistling towards the alloy plate like darts. The sheer number, close distribution, almost forming a wall of light feathers. ¡°173 Feather Blades, maximum depth 4.4cm¡­¡± Looking at the freshly baked test results and comparing them with the records from a month ago, Zhao You fell silent again. A month ago, 132 Feather Blades, maximum depth 2.9cm. If the progress of Wind Split was already great just now, the progress of Feather Blade at this moment is nothing short of astronomical. ¡°Continue testing Sharp Eye.¡± Zhao You took a deep breath and spoke slowly. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Yue also noticed something weird with her own Green Wind Eagle, and quickly took it to a device specially designed to test long-distance eyesight. Soon, the test results came out. ¡°This time it¡¯s normal.¡± Zhao You looked at the comparison of the tests one month before and after, slightly nodded, then looked at Lin Yue with a serious face, ¡°Did you conduct high-intensity special training for the Pet Beast this month?¡± ¡°No?¡± Lin Yue shook her head blankly, ¡°I just followed your advice, teacher, and trained the Green Wind Eagle.¡± ¡°My advice?¡± Zhao You fell into thought, ¡°Just by following my advice, you¡¯ve made this much progress?¡± After each test, he would casually give some training suggestions to the students for the coming month, but it was only for reference. Knowing his own capabilities, Zhao You was aware that if he really had this ability, he wouldn¡¯t be a teacher here. ¡°Yeah, surely it can¡¯t be because the Green Wind Eagle was given Washing and Protection yesterday, right?¡± Lin Yue casually spoke, then suddenly paused. She turned her head abruptly, meeting the bright eyes of Su Xiaoxiao in the crowd. Could it really be? Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Incredible Guess 1 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Incredible Guess 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Washing and Protection?¡± Zhao You furrowed his brows. ¡°Sure, it can keep a Pet Beast clean and in a good state of health, but how can it possibly enhance its power?¡± ¡°Anyway, you should observe and learn from your training in the future. You have to find out when the Green Wind Eagle tends to improve the most. That will help you find a pattern in the training.¡± After offering his usual advice and noting down Lin Yue¡¯s test results, Zhao You waved away, ¡°Next up, according to the roll number!¡± Lin Yue returned to her place, holding her Green Wind Eagle, looking around before lowering her voice to Su Xiaoxiao, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I really feel it¡¯s because of the Washing and Protection.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, showing a thoughtful look. ¡°Come to think of it, hasn¡¯t my Little Flame performed better ever since it battled the boss¡¯s pet beast?¡± ¡°You will be up soon according to the roll number.¡± Lin Yue nodded towards the open field, ¡°You can test it out then.¡± ¡°If Little Flame improves as much as Little Yu, then it definitely had to do with the Washing and Protection!¡± ¡°If that is indeed the case¡­¡± Lin Yue displayed a hint of anticipation on her face, ¡°I would definitely go to that Foster Shop and personally thank the boss!¡± ¡°Alright, count me in,¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded seriously. Not far from the duo, Duan Anxun watched the whispering girls. ¡°An Xun! Lin Yue has outperformed everyone, but I know for sure you can do even better!¡± Du Ting asserted confidently, ¡°Once our turn comes, we will show her.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± Duan Anxun replied absent-mindedly, her mind occupied by ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ Lin Yue had mentioned before. Su Xiaoxiao had taken her pet beast for Washing and Protection yesterday and then returned to outshine her, winning the highest score in the Appearance Assessment. Today, Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle had a dramatic improvement as well. Obviously, their pet beasts had been treated at the same shop. Which shop could that be? Duan Anxun recalled all nearby shops that offer Pet Beast Washing and Protection Services but could not figure out which one had this level of proficiency. ¡°Su Xiaoxiao is up for the test!¡± Du Ting¡¯s voice was full of anticipation. ¡°Her Flame Fox never cooperates during training, there can¡¯t be much improvement!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Duan Anxun came back to the present, watching the girl stepping into the field. After a moment, a shocked expression appeared on her face. What the hell?! ¡°Flame Wall, Maximum range 3.1 meters, Center temperature 863¡ãC.¡± Zhao You read out the test results, then looked at the record from a month ago with a strange expression on his face. A month ago, the Flame Wall cast by this Flame Fox had a maximum range of 2.5 meters, and the center temperature was only 793¡ãC. The increased range was nothing extraordinary, but for the Fire Pet Beast, increasing the temperature of the flames was not an easy task. ¡°Continue with the Flame Dance test,¡± Zhao You ordered gravely. ¡°Okay!¡± Su Xiaoxiao, excited with the detailed test results, exchanged a look with Lin Yue, and then signaled Little Flame to continue the test. A few moments later, a rotating column of fire shot up into the sky. ¡°Flame Dance, pre-release delay 0.4 seconds, height 3.2 meters, center temperature 1O39¡ãC.¡± Zhao You looked over the test records, his expression growing more puzzled. All other aspects of the improvement seemed normal, but just a month ago, the pre-release delay for Flame Dance from this Flame Fox was a full 0.8 seconds. Flame Dance is a powerful skill, but the delay was a significant issue. In the rapidly changing battlefield, it could greatly affect the practical application of the skill. Halving the delay in just a month? How was that possible? As Zhao You wondered, a familiar feeling washed over him. He had recently experienced the same baffling surprise. He looked up and eyed an innocent-looking Lin Yue in the crowd. If he remembered correctly, Lin Yue and Su Xiaoxiao were good friends, right? He then took another look at Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Flame Fox. Its dazzling, cloud-like long fur had significantly enhanced the Flame Fox¡¯s appearance, a clear sign that it had just undergone Washing and Protection. For a moment, he recalled the casual words of Lin Yue. Could this really be related to that Washing and Protection? That would be absurd! Zhao You quickly dismissed this unbelievable hypothesis. Having confidence in his expertise, he believed that there must be some other factors that had massively improved the training efficiency of these two Pet Beasts. As curious as he was, he understood discretion. Everyone had their secrets. ¡°Alright, the next student, come for your test!¡± He signaled Su Xiaoxiao to return to her place, quickly completed documenting the records, and let the next student begin their test. Su Xiaoxiao, upon returning to their squad held hands with Lin Yue, both looking quite excited. If the rapid progress of Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle was not sufficient proof, then the substantial improvement of Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s Flame Fox was sufficient to prove that it was indeed related to Washing and Protection. The duo conspired in hushed whispers and quickly planned to visit the Starfire Foster Shop after school to thank the boss in person. Off to the side, Duan Anxun watched the whispering duo and became even more intrigued about that mysterious foster shop. A shop with such remarkable effects from its Washing and Protection services, and may even assist in training¡­ As Duan Anxun, she wasn¡¯t going to let such a place slip by! ¡°Training Over!¡± Inside the Long River Pet Beast Training Hall, Xu Ran pushed the stop button, ending the three-hour long uninterrupted training session. ¡°Meow-¡± (Why did you stop?) The twinkling form of Ziyun swiftly froze in place, then gracefully leaped into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, looking at him somewhat discontentedly. For some reason, during those three hours, Ziyun felt as though it had endless energy. Regardless of how it used its skills, it wouldn¡¯t feel exhausted. The feeling of using skills limitlessly was simply too wonderful; it felt that it could keep training forever! ¡°Remember the thing you drank before training?¡± Realizing what Ziyun was thinking, Xu Ran patted its head lightly, ¡°That¡¯s the reason why you didn¡¯t feel exhausted during the training.¡± ¡°The effect of that potion only lasts for three hours, so if you continue with high-intensity training like now, you will exhaust yourself in no time.¡± Ziyun showed a look of sudden realization, now understanding why it felt an endless surge of energy before, and then it rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s cheek, its eyes full of anticipation. ¡°Meow?¡± (Do we have more of that potion?) ¡°¡­Not at the moment.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. Though there was another bottle, that potion could currently only be obtained through a lottery drawing, which was uncertain. Better safe than sorry, so he decided to save a bottle just in case. ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright then.) Ziyun was a bit disappointed. However, it cheerfully changed its mood when Xu Ran took out a handful of purple sugar beans. ¡°Let¡¯s head back now.¡± Xu Ran fed Ziyun while opening the Pet Beast Panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (147/500) Species Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Stardust Level)](2i/ioo) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Stardust Level)](25/ioo) [¡ïBite (Stardust Level)](i/ioo) [¡ïClaw Edge (Stardust Level)](i/ioo) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Stardust Level)](i3/ioo)] The training results were even better than expected.. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Impact of State i Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Impact of State i Translator: 549690339 | During the three -hour training, the most improved was Ziyun¡¯s Arc Skill. Being in constant motion and evasion, it was as if he was using this skill at high-intensity without any respite. His skill proficiency increased from (1/100) to (25/100), and Ziyun, who initially could only dodge two energy attacks at once, has advanced to easily dodging three energy attacks. In addition, the enhancement of Electric Spark is quite notable. With an increase of 20 proficiency points, the power of the skill executed by Ziyun has greatly improved compared to the beginning. The maximum release distance was upgraded from five meters to eight meters and the blast range skyrocketed directly from a diameter of one meter to two ¡¯ meters. The last skill that was exercised, the Self-healing Power, was relatively less enhanced. The primary reason is that as the proficiency of Ziyun¡¯s Arc Skill increased towards the end of the training, Ziyun was getting injured less and less. Throughout the training process, the constant consumption and recovery of power is also a kind of release for Ziyun¡¯s potential. His growth stage progress augmented by 22 points, resulting in a considerable enhancement in physical constitution. Just a bottle of Energy Abundant Potion had such an effect that Xu Ran increasingly realized the extraordinary features of the system. ¡°Next time we get that kind of potion, we¡¯ll have intensive training again.¡± On the way back, Xu Ran cheerfully rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°Hard work today, rest well for the time being!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay-) Ziyun lazily curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, feeling waves of exhaustion wash over him. This exhaustion had nothing to do with physical strength. It¡¯s due to mental fatigue caused by being constantly alert for attacks from all directions within the last three hours, which the Energy Abundant Potion could not replenish. Feeling the warmth in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, Ziyun¡¯s eyes slowly squinted, then he leaned on Xu Ran¡¯s arm and fell asleep. Noticing that the little fellow had fallen asleep, Xu Ran¡¯s steps also became somewhat lighter. Soon, the storefront of Starfire Foster Care Shop appeared in sight. Glancing at the shop entrance, a surprised look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. He saw two familiar figures, it was Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue who had come to the shop for washing and grooming yesterday. Why are they here? ¡°Xiaoxiao, the shop owner has closed for the day. Shall we come back tomorrow?¡± Standing in front of the tightly shut door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Lin Yue shook her head helplessly. ¡°We don¡¯t have any other option.¡± Su Xiaoxiao sighed. They had been waiting at the entrance for a while and had tried knocking and calling for the boss but received no response. Apparently, the boss might have gone out. They didn¡¯t know when he would come back, so naturally the two women couldn¡¯t wait forever. ¡°Next time we meet the boss, we should remind him to leave a contact number on the shop door when he¡¯s not around.¡± Lin Yue couldn¡¯t help but grumble. ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion, I¡¯ll remember it next time.¡± A calm voice came from behind the two women, causing both of them to turn around. ¡°Boss, you finally¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao began to cheer, but was cutoff by Xu Ran. Shh¡ª-¡± He quickly placed a finger on his lips, making a ¡°quiet¡± gesture and then pointed to Ziyun, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. Su Xiaoxiao quickly covered her mouth, and Lin Yue who was about to speak also instantly quieted down. The three silently opened the shop door. Xu Ran turned his head towards the women and lowered his voice, ¡°Can you wait for a moment?¡± Afterwards, he stealthily carried Ziyun upstairs. ¡°The boss is really considerate towards his Pet Beasts!¡± WatchingXu Ran¡¯s receding figure, Lin Yue nudged Su Xiaoxiao and began to chat with a chuckle. ¡°We are also very gentle with our Pet Beasts.¡± Su Xiaoxiao stroked the head of the peeking little Flame, with a smile, ¡°After all, they are our lifelong companions!¡± While the two women were conversing, Xu Ran, who had just put Ziyun on the bed upstairs, came down, ¡°Alright, what brings you two here?¡± ¡°Just a heads up. Since you have just had grooming yesterday, our shop can¡¯t provide another round of grooming service in a short span.¡± ¡±We know, we know.¡± Lin Yue waved her hand, ¡°We are not here for grooming. We have a grooming-related question to ask the boss.¡± ¡°Oh? Did any adverse reactions occur with your Pet Beasts?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Flame Fox and the Green Wind Eagle. It seemed like these two were in pretty good condition. ¡°Of course not, on the contrary.¡± Su Xiaoxiao quickly told Xu Ran what happened in the skill training course in the afternoon, ¡°Boss, does your grooming service have any special effects?¡± ¡°I think I have an idea of why you¡¯re here.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. First, it can be affirmed that grooming does not help in enhancing skill proficiency. If it does, the bathing knowledge provided by the system would certainly contain relevant instructions, and Xu Ran is certain that this is not the case. However, according to Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue, the two Pet Beasts that were washed and groomed demonstrated significantly stronger abilities and performed better in skill testing. Aside from the possibility that these two worked harder than other students it¡¯s indeed very likely that it¡¯s related to the grooming service from his shop.¡¯ What could it be¡­ While Xu Ran was pondering, an idea suddenly struck him. ¡°I think I know the reason.¡± He slowly began to speak. ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± Both Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue looked on excitedly. If it¡¯s confirmed that grooming service at Xu Ran¡¯s place can help to improve the skills of Pet Beasts, then the price of 6666 for a grooming service isn¡¯t expensive at all. In fact, it¡¯s quite cheap. ¡°If I am not wrong, it should be the impact of their condition.¡± Xu Ran, basing his explanation on the knowledge about pet handling and common sense he had learned from reading books yesterday, began to explain. ¡°We all have had such experiences. For instance, after being sweaty and sticky all over, we don¡¯t feel like doing anything. But if we take a bath and feel clean and refreshed, it seems like our minds are sharper than before.¡± ¡°Or, say, generally our handwriting is pretty ordinary, but if we just bought a set of new stationery and are writing with a brand new pen in a new notebook, our handwriting unconsciously looks better.¡± ¡°If during an exam, the person sitting next to you has a cold and is constantly blowing their nose, the sound interrupts your train of thought, and a well-prepared exam can end up with unsatisfactory results.¡± ¡°Other than that there are¡­¡± Xu Ran gave several similar examples and then summarized. ¡°So, grooming cannot directly improve a Pet Beast¡¯s skills, but the Pet Beasts are in an unusually great condition after grooming, and it¡¯s possible they have an extra been performing.¡± Is that so? Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue looked at each other, feeling somewhat convinced by Xu Ran¡¯s reasoning. Though they didn¡¯t get the answer they were looking for from Xu Ran, the fact that the test results of the two Pet Beasts improved after yesterday¡¯s grooming was ascertained.. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 - Thank You Gifts and Stalker 1 Chapter 22: Chapter 22 ¨C Thank You Gifts and Stalker 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Boss, thank you for the grooming!¡± Su Xiaoxiao gratefully started, then took out a beautiful gift box from her bag, ¡°This is a small gift A Yue and I prepared for you, please accept!¡± It was a pretty little cake and it looked very delicious. ¡°Having your pet beasts in our shop is what I should do.¡± Xu Ran smiled, carefully receiving the small cake, ¡°I love the gift, but you don¡¯t need to spend next time.¡± He placed the small cake on the desk where Ziyun usually lied down. Maybe Ziyun would like to eat it when he woke up. Having expressed their gratitude, Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue did not stay long and soon said goodbye. However, before leaving, Su Xiaoxiao reluctantly asked under the expressive eyes of the Flame Fox, ¡°Boss, can¡¯t Little Flame be groomed today?¡± ¡°Unless there are special circumstances, it is recommended that the grooming interval should not be less than a month.¡± Xu Ran looked at the Flame Fox whose washing and protection requirement was still zero, and refused without hesitation. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Xiaoxiao rubbed the Flame Fox¡¯s drooping head for comfort, then asked again, ¡°Boss, does your foster shop only offer grooming services?¡± The grooming service is already so excellent. If this shop has other services, they must be much better than other shops, right? ¡°Now, there is only grooming.¡± Xu Ran paused, glanced at Novice Task 2, which was seven plucking fur away from completion, and added, ¡°New services may be introduced later.¡± The system skill[Drug Application]rewarded by Novice Task 2 doesn¡¯t sound like a grooming skill. If it corresponds to other services, perhaps the system might have new changes. ¡°If there are new services, I will definitely come to try!¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes lit up, and she took the initiative to speak. ¡°And me!¡± Lin Yue also expressed her opinion from the side. Having tasted the sweetness of grooming, the two were quite looking forward to the new services of Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Xu Ran laughed. The new service is only his speculation after all. If there isn¡¯t one, it would be awkward. ¡°Then we¡¯re leaving now, goodbye boss!¡± The two girls did not stay, left the shop, and quickly disappeared in the street opposite the shop. Shortly after, a slender and tall figure wearing a duckbill cap, sunglasses, and a mask slowly emerged from an inconspicuous corner of the street, looking towards the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°This is the place¡­¡± After murmuring quietly, she took off her sunglasses and mask revealing her beautiful face and took off the duckbill cap holding her bundled hair. A high ponytail cascaded down, and sunlight fell on her face, unrestrained and flamboyant. ¡°Humph, I¡¯ve finally found you!¡± Duan Anxun glanced in the direction where Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue had left and headed toward the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Meow-¡± A sound came faintly from upstairs. Xu Ran, who had just sat down at the front desk, turned his head to look in the direction of the stairs. Soon, a purple figure quickly shot down from the stairs, agilely leaping into Xu Ran¡¯s arms. ¡°How are you awake already?¡± Xu Ran rubbed its head, helplessly, ¡°You should rest more after training.¡± Ziyun rubbed Xu Ran¡¯s palm with his head but did not answer. It quickly noticed the change in the surroundings after Xu Ran put it on the bed. It woke up quickly from its deep sleep and rushed to Xu Ran¡¯s side as soon as it could. It doesn¡¯t feel secure sleeping without Xu Ran around. ¡°Alright, there happens to be a small cake here. Try and see if you like it.¡± Xu Ran casually picked up the small cake that Su Xiaoxiao had just brought, opened the box and put it in front of Ziyun, ¡°This was given by the Beast Master of the Flame Fox yesterday.¡± The Beast Master of the Flame Fox has been here? Ziyun¡¯s movement paused slightly, and a touch of regret appeared in his eyes. It¡¯s a pity that it was asleep just now. Otherwise, it, with its increased strength, would definitely actively challenge that Flame Fox! Well, we¡¯ll see when we meet next time. Ziyun sniffed the cake, curiously grabbed a hunk of cake with its paw. The white cream soon covered its purple paw. Ziyun brought her paw up to her face and began to meticulously clean it with her tongue. Pretty soon, she appeared quite pleased. She liked the sweet taste! (Note: Normal cats are not sensitive to sweet flavors but are very sensitive to bitterness.) Watching Ziyun savor her cleaning, Xu Ran chuckled lightly. Sensing movement, he raised his head. A tall young girl, seemingly about the same age as Su Xiaoxiao and her friend, then walked into the shop, gazing around curiously. ¡°Welcome! Our shop currently only provides washing and protection services.¡± ¡°Washing and protection?¡± The moment Duan Anxun heard Xu Ran say this, she noticed the price menu on the wall and widened her eyes in shock, ¡°How expensive?!¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s expensive, I assure you it¡¯s worth every penny,¡± Xu Ran calmly replied. ¡°I wanted to ask¡­those two girls who just left. Did they have a grooming service from your shop yesterday?¡± Duan Anxun bit her lip and suddenly asked. ¡°Yes, they did.¡± Xu Ran glanced curiously at Duan Anxun. Does she know Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue? Receiving a positive response, Duan Anxun hesitated briefly before gritting her teeth, ¡°Okay, groom my pet beast too.¡± As she finished speaking, a Hexagram Star Array appeared behind her. Amidst gusts of wind, a parrot, its feathers as stunningly vibrant as a rainbow and a crest adorning its head, flapped its wings and flew out from the void. [Race name: Colorful Cloud Parrot Attribute: Light Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Size: Small Grooming Requirement: ¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î Review: The pet beast was just groomed elsewhere. Although it was not groomed by the host, it shouldn¡¯t be groomed frequently.] It had just been groomed somewhere else? This was the first time Xu Ran had encountered such a situation. After giving it some thought, he looked at the girl in front of him, ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t groom your pet beast. It was just groomed not long ago. Frequent grooming is not good for it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a rule?¡± Duan Anxun was taken aback. Previous grooming staff had always used various excuses to convince her to bring her pet beast in regularly, seemingly hoping she¡¯d bring it in at the slightest sign of dirt. She didn¡¯t expect the shopkeeper in front of her to be so unconventional. Thinking of Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue, who had already used this shop¡¯s services, Duan Anxun gritted her teeth, ¡°Can I pay more to get it done?¡± ¡°Sorry, that is not about the money,¡± Xu Ran furrowed his brow, ¡°Frequent grooming is not good for your pet beast.¡± Again, he laid careful emphasis on the last few words: ¡°not good for your pet beast¡±. ¡°I¡­¡± Duan Anxun looked conflicted, and after a moment of silence, begrudgingly nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come next time.¡± Finished with her statement, she turned around and walked out of the shop. Xu Ran looked at her retreating figure in silence. He felt that this customer did not have her pet beast¡¯s best interests in mind when it came to grooming. ¡°Meow-¡± (Do you want it?) Ziyun¡¯s call snapped Xu Ran out of his thoughts. Glancing at the half a piece of cake that Ziyun had saved for him, he quickly shelved the little interlude out of his mind. ¡°Yes!¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Liu Gus Surprise—1 Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Liu Gu¡¯s Surprise¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 By the time Xu Ran returned to the shop, the afternoon was more than halfway gone, and no more customers had come to the Starfire Foster Care Shop after Duan Anxun left. As the sun slowly sank into the western horizon, Xu Ran prepared two dishes, one meat and one vegetable, for himself in the backyard and poured a small bowl full of purple sugar beans for Ziyun. Both master and pet ended their day¡¯s work with a delicious dinner. The training experience in the afternoon and the analysis of Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue¡¯s pet beasts made Xu Ran increasingly aware of the importance of knowledge. Therefore, he went to bed early after washing up, leaned against the head of the bed as he did yesterday, and thirstily replenished his still insufficient knowledge. Ziyun then, just like last night, snuggled up next to Xu Ran, feeling the warmth emanating from him, and peacefully fell asleep once again. The lights went out in the deep night, and all was silent. Outside Qingzhou City, at dawn. The morning light shone on the towering walls of Qingzhou City. Inside the slowly opening city gate, many hunting squads were already waiting to go out. At a time when most residents of the city were still in their dreams, the Beast Masters, willing to take high risks for high returns, had already started their day¡¯s activities. Among these hunting squads, there was one called the Tiger Hunting Squad, a five-man team. It was ranked in the middle among all the hunting squads, so not many people paid particular attention to them. At this moment, in the Tiger Hunting Squad, team leader Zhang Yun looked back at Liu Gu behind him and asked, ¡°Liu Gu, are you sure your new pet beast is okay?¡± ¡°Team Zhang, don¡¯t worry, I have reached an agreement with it!¡± Liu Gu smiled confidently, ¡°Starting from today, our Tiger Hunting Squad will also have medical support!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you complain to me yesterday morning about your new pet beast¡¯s standoffish and refusal to communicate?¡± Yan Fan, a member of the squad, raised an eyebrow, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have a knack for communicating with pet beasts!¡± ¡°Hehe~¡± Liu Gu seemed excited, but did not elaborate, ¡°Anyway, you will see the results today!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Liu, are you in a relationship?¡± The only female teammate, Liu Xue, covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°I see you¡¯ve actually spruced up your sloppy looks.¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Liu Gu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Sister Liu is joking.¡± Without waiting for Liu Xue to ask further, he immediately summoned his two pet beasts to divert attention. A Hexagram Star Array flickered twice behind Liu Gu, and amidst the howling wind, two figures, one large and one small, emerged from the void. ¡°Roar!¡± The spirited Wind Lion Dog howled skywards, its swaggering appearance attracting quite a few surprised looks from passersby. Just yesterday afternoon, it had successfully won back its sweetheart and enjoyed an unabashedly intimate night. Nothing lifts a dog¡¯s spirits more than a joyous occasion. ¡°Old Liu, why does your Wind Lion Dog look so different?¡± The squad members who should have been focused on Liu Gu¡¯s new pet beast had their attention drawn by the Wind Lion Dog as soon as it appeared. They had not even noticed the Sea Wave Flower beside him, which was looking around and pulling back its fluttering tentacles disdainfully. ¡°Haha, I took it for a wash and care session.¡± Liu Gu smiled proudly, patting the old partner¡¯s big head, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look handsome?¡± ¡°It really does! How much did it cost, a few thousand? I¡¯ll take my Three-armed Demon Ape to try it next time.¡± Yan Fan said with a touch of envy. Although it¡¯s only for aesthetics, it does look cool! ¡°A few thousand?¡± Liu Gu widened his eyes, ¡°26,666!¡± ¡°What?¡± Yan Fan quickly stepped back, ¡°Forget I said anything.¡± The other teammates also couldn¡¯t help but stare at Liu Gu as if he was a fool. You spent tens of thousands to wash and groom your pet beast? Isn¡¯t that a complete waste of money? ¡°You guys don¡¯t understand!¡± At this point, Liu Gu no longer felt the grooming price was too high, but it was not easy to explain to his teammates, so he gave up explaining, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get moving quickly, otherwise the clearing site we selected earlier may be occupied by other teams.¡± ¡°No more chatting. Let¡¯s start.¡± Zhang Yun spoke seriously, ¡°Du Heng!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Standing next to Team Zhang, a silent and reticent man stepped forward, and a Hexagram Star Array burst into light behind him. In the fierce wind, a rhinoceros as long as five meters walked out step by step. Its body was covered by iron scales, which reflected cold light under the sunlight, making it look like a walking armored vehicle. An elite level earth attribute pet beast, the Armored Rhinoceros! The Wind Lion Dog, as tall as a person, was deemed to be a medium-sized pet beast, but this one was indeed a large pet beast. ¡°Move out!¡± All the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad quickly climbed onto the thick and solid back armor of the Armored Rhinoceros. Moments later, the Armored Rhinoceros accelerated and ran wildly, like an unstoppable armored vehicle, setting the earth rumbling under its feet and disappearing from the scene. Outside Qingzhou City, in an area where Transcendent Beings were gathered, the Tiger Hunting Squad fought fiercely for several hours, eventually succeeding in driving out all the Transcendent Beings in the area. Looking at the mountain of Transcendent Being corpses behind them, everyone was too exhausted to move, but they couldn¡¯t help but cheer. Disassembling their bodies for valuable resources would earn them quite a sum. ¡°We made a big fortune this time; we can rest for a while now.¡± Zhang Yun smiled, ¡°This time, we owe it all to Liu Gu¡¯s second pet. Otherwise, even with the intelligence about this gathering spot, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle it by ourselves.¡± The concept of a hunting squad with a beast handling healing and one without is completely different. ¡°For this gain, you get an extra share.¡± Zhang Yun looked at Liu Gu, ¡°After returning, you should focus on training it and get it to the elite stage as soon as possible.¡± The other teammates all nodded, with no objection to Zhang Yun¡¯s allocation. Even at the Transcendent Stage, it had offered such great help. It would definitely be even more helpful once the Sea Wave Flower reached the elite level. ¡°Okay!¡± Liu Gu smiled and looked at the Sea Wave Flower that was flying towards him, ¡°Even if I have to dump resources into it, I will take it to the elite stage!¡± ¡°Also¡­¡± Zhang Yun glanced at Liu Gu¡¯s Wind Lion Dog, which was covered in blood, ¡°What happened to your Wind Lion Dog today?¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Upon hearing Zhang Yun¡¯s question, Liu Gu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. With a hint of confusion, he looked at his old companion by his side. ¡°Woof!¡± the Wind Lion Dog, now free from battle mode, turned back into its naive self, sticking out its tongue to pant at Liu Gu with clear and silly eyes. But just a moment ago, this dog looked like a god of death, holding its own against several elite stage Transcendent Beings at once. On several occasions, it even fearlessly dashed into the beast swarm, only to return unscathed. Although the dog was brave in the past, it had never performed like this before. If you want to talk about what happened to the dog in the past few days¡­ It was only that it had gone for a wash and care, and then got its sweetheart back. Could it be¡­ Unlike the academically trained Susan and Lin Yue, Liu Gu, who had a wealth of practical experience, only took a moment to identify the key to the problem. ¡°It¡¯s the wash and care!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°After my pet beast received its care, its condition was better than ever, which led to its extraordinary performance in the battle!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Extremely low pleasure value_l Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Extremely low pleasure value_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Hey Old Liu, you sure it¡¯s because of the grooming?¡± Yan Fan soon questioned Liu Gu¡¯s statement, ¡°A mere grooming can create such a miracle?¡± ¡°What else explains the over twenty thousand charge!¡± Liu Gu rolled his eyes, the instant he thought of this speculation, he was almost certain that it had to have something to do with the young boss¡¯s grooming. The misunderstanding between him and the Sea Wave Flower was cleared because of grooming. He couldn¡¯t talk about others¡¯ grooming, but the young boss¡¯s grooming is miraculous! ¡°You know, over twenty thousand to give a Pet Beast a bath does seem quite expensive, but if it really could elevate the status of the Pet Beast to this extent, it doesn¡¯t seem unacceptable.¡± Liu Xue opened her mouth smiling. ¡°We made some cash today, should we give it a try?¡± Zhang Yun laughed, ¡°Consider it a treat for the Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Team Zhang¡¯s suggestion is not bad, let¡¯s go together after we sell the resources!¡± The others were eager to try. ¡°You guys carry on, I¡¯ll pass.¡± Du Heng, who was responsible for gathering resources from the corpses of Transcendent Beings, walked slowly. Bound to his Armored Rhinoceros were piles of resources like a small hill, ¡°My Armored Rhinoceros is a large pet beast, it will be even more expensive.¡± ¡°Indeed, I remember that the price for grooming a large pet beast in that shop is 66666 yuan.¡± Liu Gu nodded agreeing, ¡°The price is not low.¡± ¡°Oh My Goodness! It¡¯s close to seventy thousand!¡± Liu Xue cried in surprise, ¡°In that case, maybe Brother Du shouldn¡¯t go. We¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°Having a beast of a larger size is sometimes troublesome.¡± Zhang Yun patted Du Heng¡¯s shoulder, expressing some sympathy, ¡°To take care of this big guy, you still have not contracted a second Pet Beast.¡± ¡°But on the other hand, this time we¡¯ve made so much, you should be able to plan on getting your second beast.¡± ¡°Once I get back, I¡¯ll look into the market.¡± Du Heng stroked the head of his Armored Rhinoceros, a faint smile appearing on his serious face. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack up! Return to the city!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Outside Qingzhou City, the Tiger Hunting Squad reaped plentiful rewards. Inside Qingzhou City, Xu Ran encountered a somewhat troublesome guest. ¡°Guest, why this again?¡± He sighed helplessly at the tall girl standing in front of him. ¡°Can my pet beast be groomed now?¡± Duan Anxun asked, with a stubborn expression on her face. Xu Ran glanced at the Colorful Cloud Parrot beside her. Just one night had passed and the creature looked as if it had rolled in the mud. It was covered in dirt and didn¡¯t appear at all as if it had just been groomed. [Race Name: Colorful Cloud Parrot Attribute: Light Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small size Maintenance Need: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Assessment: With dirt on its surface this severe, it urgently needs pleasure from the Host¡¯s nimble hands, but what needs pleasure more is its hurt inner self. ] Xu Ran paused for a moment as he read the system¡¯s assessment. It was as non-serious as always, but the last part caught his attention unexpectedly. A hurt inner self? Observing the listless appearance of the Colorful Cloud Parrot, Xu Ran pondered. Let it be, groom first, think later. ¡°Can groom now.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I will take your Pet Beast to the grooming room now. Would you like to accompany it or wait in the rest room?¡± The moment his words fell, the Colorful Cloud Parrot turned to look at its Beast Master as though expecting something. ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the rest room.¡± Duan Anxun answered without a moment of hesitation before sitting in the rest room and taking out textbooks from her backpack to review. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran glanced at her, then at the Colorful Cloud Parrot, which seemed to be even more dejected, and shook his head in resignation, ¡°Then you wait.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± He raised one hand, signaling the Colorful Cloud Parrot to come down, before leading it into the Grooming Room. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun lazily sprawled on the counter, taking out a few purple sugar beans from a pocket nearby with its claws and popping them into its mouth. It glanced at Duan Anxun, who was seriously reading a textbook, occasionally scribbling in a notebook. Even it could sense the alienation between the Beast Master before it and her pet beast. Poor little bird¡­ ¡°Chirp-¡± Warm, light-attribute energy merges with the perfectly tempered water, seeping deep into the Colorful Cloud Parrot¡¯s feathers. The gentle touch, like a tender caress, causes a slight movement in the parrot¡¯s initially indifferent eyes. The filth on the surface of the feathers loosens under the flow of water, until eventually it is carried away into the drain of the washing and protection platform. The grey-brown water gradually turned clear, visibly reducing the dirt on the Colorful Cloud Parrot. As the system evaluation stated, the Colorful Cloud Parrot looked very dirty, but the filth was all on its surface. After placing the showerhead aside, Xu Ran applied the pre-mixed washing and protection shampoo onto the Colorful Cloud Parrot, then began to meticulously clean each of its feathers. The gentle comfort touching the feather roots causes the Colorful Cloud Parrot¡¯s body to slightly tremble, its sounds gradually becoming more pronounced as it slowly closed its eyes. ¡°Chirp¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from the Colorful Cloud Parrot +1] [From¡­] Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows wrinkle in an almost imperceptible manner. Something is not right. He didn¡¯t notice it just now, but when the pleasure value was accounted for, he realized something was unusual. This Colorful Cloud Parrot in front of him did not provide any pleasure value during the washing process. Even after applying shampoo, its pleasure value was significantly lesser and the frequency of the increase was markedly lower. Has his technique regressed? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. Thus, the problem must be with the Colorful Cloud Parrot before him. Pleasure value, clearly, needs the pet beast to feel happy during the washing and protection process to be gained. But what if the pet beast coming for the washing and protection is in a very low mood? Xu Ran had not encountered such a situation before, but now he understood. If the pet beast being groomed is in a low mood, it will be harder to gain pleasure value. Unfortunately, Xu Ran doesn¡¯t understand the situation between the Colorful Cloud Parrot and Duan Anxun. Otherwise, he may be able to comfort it and gain more pleasure values. He let out a sigh in his heart, put his thoughts aside, and continued to diligently groom the Colorful Cloud Parrot. ¡°Take care.¡± After seeing off a satisfied Duan Anxun and the once again dazzlingly beautiful Colorful Cloud Parrot, Xu Ran picked up Ziyun and squeezed it. Luckily, his own pet beast doesn¡¯t have such a low mood. The washing and protection for the Colorful Cloud Parrot only added 96 pleasure value points. The leftover 874 points still weren¡¯t enough for a lottery draw, marking the lowest ever. Also, there was no new skill gained from plucking fur. If he didn¡¯t earn enough, then it was a loss. So, it was a heavy loss this time. There are only six more times to pluck the fur to complete the task. Keep on going. ¡°Little boss, I brought my friends to give you some business!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s voice came from outside the shop. Xu Ran snapped back to his senses, looking at the source of the voice. He saw Liu Gu entering the shop with two men and a woman, followed by eight pet beasts. His eyes immediately lit up. Big business has arrived! Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Normal, Get Used to It 1 Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Normal, Get Used to It 1 Translator: 549690339 1 ¡°Welcome to our shop!¡± Xu Ran almost jumped to his feet, the familiar greeting from his previous life subconsciously rolling off his tongue. Even Ziyun sat taller, eyes wide and sparkling, trying to look as charming and docile as possible. ¡°Meow-¡± Xu Ran declared that providing washing and caring services to more Pet Beasts would earn him more skills! So hand over your Pet Beasts for Xu Ran to groom! ¡°The young boss is even younger than I imagined, almost about the same age as my son!¡± The only female Beast Master among them, Liu Xue, covered her mouth as she chuckled. ¡°Young boss, what services do your shop offer?¡± ¡°For now, we only provide cleaning and caring services, but there¡¯ll possibly be more services in the future.¡± Xu Ran replied honestly. The smile in Liu Xue¡¯s eyes intensified. Even though she already knew the situation from Liu Gu, she couldn¡¯t help teasing the young man in front of her. ¡°So, how many Pet Beasts can your shop cater to at the same time?¡± At the moment, it¡¯s just me here, so I can only cater to one Pet Beast at a time.¡± ¡°Then, start with my Psychic Rat.¡± Liu Xue pointed to a Pet Beast that resembled a small mouse, which quietly nestled on her shoulder. The Psychic Rat had sleek white fur all over its body, appearing like a small bundle of fluff. Its golden tail, bare and long, stood out remarkably and caught everyone¡¯s attention. At the Beast Master¡¯s command, the Psychic Rat¡¯s small eyes sparkled and danced. With one little hop, it landed on the counter, curiously surveying its surroundings. Despite its small size, Xu Ran, who stood quite close to it, could feel a powerful aura emanating from it, its might comparable to that of the Wind Lion Dog. [Race Name: Psychic Rat Attribute: Super ability Growth Step: Elite Stage Body Type: Small Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Comment: Beneath its petite body lies a deep desire for grooming. It needs the delicate touch of its host to achieve pleasure.] The grooming charge for a small pet beast is 6666 yuan.¡± Xu Ran raised his head to meet Liu Xue¡¯s eyes and quoted the price. ¡°No problem, we can start now.¡± Liu Xue agreed with a beaming smile. Aside from Liu Gu, the other two remained silent with their arms folded, looking as if they were ready to enjoy a good show. The Psychic Rat, as the name implies, is extremely psychic. Liu Xue¡¯s Psychic Rat is an important scout in their team and very difficult to handle. If Xu Ran could satisfy it, he would undoubtedly prove his prowess. Moreover, it was the only small pet beast in their team, besides the Sea Wave Flower. Liu Gu had sung high praises of Starfire Foster Care Shop, but his companions wanted to see for themselves. They decided to let the Psychic Rat be the first trial to test the quality of the grooming service. Only if they were convinced of the superior service would they entrust their own Pet Beasts to Xu Ran. After all, given the high charges, they needed to be cautious. Xu Ran had a hunch about why others remained silent. Without asking if the rest of the Pet Beasts needed grooming, he extended his hand towards the Psychic Rat. ¡°Little guy, let me take you for grooming.¡± ¡°Squeak-¡± The Psychic Rat glanced at Xu Ran and nonchalantly landed on his palm. It even made a face at Ziyun who was standing aside. Ziyun narrowed her eyes. A mere rat dared to make faces at her?! Don¡¯t get angry, don¡¯t get angry. Considering that this rodent might bring her a new skill, Ziyun¡¯s gaze softened once again. Realising that its playful antics had not affected the feline Pet Beast, the Psychic Rat shrugged and obediently settled on Xu Ran¡¯s palm. ¡¯¡¯I¡¯ll take it for grooming now, please wait.¡± After addressing Liu Xue, Xu Ran strode straight into the grooming room. Once Xu Ran closed the door behind him, Liu Gu immediately cracked a wide smile. ¡°The grooming might take a while. Why don¡¯t we move to the lounge next door? There are snacks and you can help yourselves.¡± ¡°The set-up¡¯s not half bad.¡± Yan Fan yawned, ¡°Sister Liu¡¯s Psychic Rat grooming shouldn¡¯t take too long. We can hang around to see the results.¡± ¡°We came straight here after entering the city, we could indeed use a break.¡± Zhang Yun nodded slowly. The four of them instantly agreed and brought their pet beasts into the rest area. On the front desk, Ziyun slowly lay down, casting kind glances from time to time at the dirty creatures inside the rest area. It had a premonition that today, it would definitely learn a new skill! [To improve the grooming effect this time, the system will teach the host the knowledge relevant to ¡°Basic Washing and Protection of Rodent Type Pet Beasts¡± and ¡°Basic Washing and Protection of Super Ability Attribute Pet Beasts¡±] As a massive amount of new knowledge began pouring into his mind, Xu Ran, who had just put the Psychic Rat on the care platform, paused momentarily. He then began preparing for its grooming as if nothing had happened. Grooming the Psychic Rat is not like grooming many other pet beasts. Its fur is long and extremely dense. Often, a single hair follicle can grow more than a dozen strands of fur, hence this dense type of fur can¡¯t be directly washed with water. Its grooming requires sand bathing. A little basin filled with fine powder-like sand mixed with crushed super ability attribute resources, characteristic volcanic ash, was picked up by Xu Ran, and placed in front of the Psychic Rat. In an instant, joyful sparks burst from the lively eyes of the Psychic Rat. It could already imagine how refreshing and comfortable the cool sensation of these fine and cold sand granules seeping into fur gaps would feel. Rolling in this sand is just too awesome! ¡°Squeak-¡± With a cheer, the Psychic Rat didn¡¯t wait for Xu Ran to say anything more. It leaped excitedly into the basin, starting to roll over and over, cheering. As the small body turned over and raised a lot of sparse dust, Xu Ran, who had already prepared for this, calmly stepped back quickly. [The Psychic Rat¡¯s Pleasure Value +5] [The Psychic Rat¡¯s Pleasure Value +5] [From¡­] Watching the rapidly increasing pleasure value, he nodded in satisfaction. Who understands the joy of earning pleasure values without lifting a finger! Of course, not lifting a finger was only temporary, until the Psychic Rat slowed down its rolls in the sand bath, its small face filled with entranced expression. Xu Ran then carefully lifted it from the sandbox and started the subsequent caregiving steps. He gently applied the moist Beautiful Fur cream on the surface of the Psychic Rat¡¯s fur, then gently rubbed it to spread it evenly across each strand of its fur. The strength of his touch was transmitted to the hair follicles of the Psychic Rat. The beast that was lying quietly on the care platform suddenly widened its eyes. The tingling sensation, as if it was there and not there, coming from the hair follicles all over its body, made the Psychic Rat uncontrollably quiver lightly, and it opened its claws to the maximum extent, as if it wanted to catch onto something. But soon, the claws came together weakly. [The Psychic Rat¡¯s Pleasure Value +10] [The Psychic Rat¡¯s Pleasure Value +10] [From¡­] The Psychic Rat¡¯s alert eyes gradually grew dazed, and an unrestrained sound came from its throat. ¡°Squeaaa¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hearing her own pet beast¡¯s strange noise from the grooming room, Liu Xue paused her actions and blinked her eyes in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s normal. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Liu Gu, sitting nearby, casually stuffed a handful of chips into his mouth and played his card. ¡°Three sixes, with a pair!¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Busy Xu Ran_l Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Busy Xu Ran_l Translator: 549690339 | Not long after, the door to the grooming room swung open. The four people who heard the commotion halted their activities, and they all walked out from the resting room together. Liu Xue, who was at the forefront, quickly approached Xu Ran, ¡°My Psychic Rat¡­ ¡ö¡öIt¡¯s been washed and groomed already.¡± Xu Ran, holding a curled up body of a behaved fluffy white ball, passed it into Liu Xue¡¯s hands. ¡°Oh my gosh!¡± Liu Xue gasped, looking at the Psychic Rat in her palm, its fur shimmering under the light, a look of pure shock on her face. ¡°This is my Psychic Rat?!¡± No wonder she was so surprised. The difference between the Psychic Rat before and after the grooming was quite noticeable. Before the grooming, it was a dirty ball of fur. After the grooming, the Psychic Rat¡¯s fur became fluffier, but it didn¡¯t explode outwards in all directions, instead outlining the body of the Psychic Rat following the pattern of the fur. This distinct change turned the unremarkable Psychic Rat into an adorable creature, making anyone want to give it a hug. ¡ö¡öAs long as you¡¯re satisfied.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Our shop¡¯s washing and protection service might be expensive, but it¡¯s worth every penny.¡± ¡°It¡¯S indeed worth it.¡± Liu Xue nodded seriously. At this moment, through the Beast Taming Contract, the Psychic Rat was fussing to have another wash and grooming session! Being liked so much by a Pet Beast means it must have a significant boost for the Pet Beast¡¯s condition. ¡°Come on and wash my Three-armed Demon Ape!¡± Yan Fan couldn¡¯t sit still anymore, patting his ape-like creature with an extra arm on its back, covered in red fur and as tall as a man, eager to have a go. Having seen the grooming of the Psychic Rat earlier, he totally believed what Liu Gu had said. ¡°Hold on!¡± Liu Xue, who came back to her senses, glared at Yan Fan, My Psychic Rat has finished his bath, so naturally it¡¯s my Sky Falcon¡¯s turn next.¡± She patted the silver-white falcon that was following behind her and looked at Xu Ran with a beaming smile, ¡°Little boss, please!¡± ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°The Cold Scale Python is groomed.¡± Xu Ran, who had walked out of the grooming room, spoke loudly. Behind him, a python as thick as a thigh, whose head was held high up to a person¡¯s height and covered in beautifully patterned scales, followed contentedly. ¡°Haha, I have never seen my Cold Scale Python look so majestic before.¡± Zhang Yun, who had been waiting, laughed heartily, walked over quickly and hugged his Pet Beast, ¡°Old buddy, how does it feel?¡± ¡°Hisss~¡± The Cold Scale Python, vibrating its tongue, swayed its body around and playfully nudged Zhang Yun using its head, clearly looking very excited. Obviously, Xu Ran¡¯s grooming made it feel exceptionally good. ¡°Little boss, good job today.¡± Zhang Yun generously paid for his two medium-sized pet beasts¡¯ grooming and laughed, ¡°Grooming so many pet beasts in one breath is no easy task.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Xu Ran looked a little tired, but his eyes shone brightly. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[Check Details] System Skill: [Fur Plucking (C Grade) ]](i/ioo) Pet Beast Skill: [¡ïBlood Fury](Teachable) [¡ï¡ï Ice Storm](No Teachable Candidate) Pleasure value: 9743 System Upgrade Experience: 50/1000] [Novice Task 2: Try Your Hand (Completed) Task Description: Use Plucking Fur system skill 10 times(io/io). Task Reward: System Skill[Drug Application], System Upgrade Experience + 100]. [Click to claim task rewards] [Lottery] The four members of the Tiger Hunting Squad were all Elite Level Beast Masters, each of them contracting two Pet Beasts. Other than the Sea Wave Flower that had already been taken care of yesterday, and which didn¡¯t require further care since it only served in healing and did not get dirty in today¡¯s battle, Xu Ran cleaned all the other seven Pet Beasts. Adding to the previous care he had given to the Colorful Cloud Parrot, Xu Ran had taken care of eight Pet Beasts in one go today. He was truly a model of hard work. Previously, Plucking Fur would only yield a One Star Skill, but after leveling Plucking Fur up to C-Level, he acquired a Two-star Skill from it for the first time! Although this Two Stars Skill couldn¡¯t actually be taught yet due to attribute and compatibility reasons, Xu Ran was still filled with anticipation about the future. If Plucking Fur kept leveling up, could he possibly acquire Three Star, Four Star, or even Five Star Skills through it? The future seemed bright indeed! Xu Ran¡¯s gaze then fell on the system tasks. Novice Task 2, which he had been unable to complete before, was finally finished now. Claim it! As Xu Ran¡¯s mind moved, the Novice Task 2 faded quickly. He gained 100 points of System Upgrade Experience, and two new lines of small characters rose before his eyes. [Congratulations to Host for acquiring system skill [Drug Application].] [[Drug Application] is a skill bound to Foster Care. Host can continually gain physical points when feeding fostered Pet Beasts, and use them to improve his Contract Pet Beast.] As expected, Drug Application was not a Grooming Skill, but a Foster Care Skill. Foster Care referred to taking care of Pet Beasts that other Beast Masters temporarily left at the shop. It mainly involved providing a comfortable dwelling and fitting food. According to the skill description, this skill could be used while feeding Pet Beasts to gain physical points, which could then be used to improve his contracted beast, Ziyun. As for what the physical points would improve¡­ Unexpectedly, it should be the progress bar behind the Growth Stage? With this thought, Xu Ran¡¯s heartbeat sped up involuntarily. If the progress bar was full, then Ziyun could advance to the next level. Before, he had only been able to slowly improve physical fitness through training, but now it seemed there was a more effective way. He had to test it out as soon as possible! The matter was urgent. He would find a fostered Pet Beast to test it out¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s smile vanished. The Starfire Foster Shop didn¡¯t have a Foster Care Service. He¡¯d almost forgotten this big problem! As soon as Novice Task 2 disappeared and new tasks appeared. [Novice Task 3: Be Self-Sufficient] Task Description: Please personally go to the designated area outside Qingzhou City and collect one hundred pounds of the essential Pet Beast feeding resource ¡ªGreen Jade Fruit. Task Reward: Foster Function Module, System Upgrade Experience +150] [Novice Task 4: Growing and Strengthening] Task Description: Please upgrade the System Skill [Drug Application] to C-Level. Task Reward: System Skill [Pranks], System Upgrade Experience +300] The smile returned to Xu Ran¡¯s face. Two tasks at once, and most importantly he finally knew how to activate the Foster Care function. ¡°Uh¡­young boss?¡± Zhang Yun couldn¡¯t help but speak, looking at Xu Ran¡¯s continuously changing expression, ¡°Are you alright? ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s good, then we¡¯ll leave first, thanks for today, young boss.¡± Zhang Yun smiled, turned around with the other three people, and prepared to leave. ¡°Team Leader Zhang, please wait!¡± Xu Ran quickly called out, ¡°I might need to ask you for a favor, or rather¡­¡± ¡®¡öI¡¯ll need to ask the Tiger Hunting Squad for some help..¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 271 Start with a Ten-Straight Chapter 27: Chapter 271 Start with a Ten-Straight Draw! 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Escort mission?¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s request, Zhang Yun frowned slightly, ¡°Young Boss, while our Tiger Hunting Squad can indeed act as mercenaries to make money, the outskirts of Qingzhou City are not safe.¡± ¡°You want us, the Tiger Hunting Squad, to escort you to a designated area outside Qingzhou City and assist you in gathering some resources. Why not let us go and gather them for you directly?¡± In Zhang Yun¡¯s view, the latter was obviously safer. For the Tiger Hunting Squad, if they didn¡¯t have to worry about Xu Ran, their actions would be more convenient. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°No, I must go myself.¡± Do you think I don¡¯t want to stay comfortably in the shop and wait for the Green Jade Fruits to be delivered? This is all because of the darn system mission! From the moment he saw Novice Task 3, Xu Ran thought of getting a strong person to escort him. After all, the outskirts of Qingzhou City are far from peaceful. Going out of town alone with Ziyun would be too dangerous. In contrast, being accompanied by the Tiger Hunting Squad, whose Pet Beasts are mostly at the Elite Stage, and who have much experience surviving outside the city, would be much safer. Zhang Yun fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at the three others. ¡°What do you guys think?¡± ¡°I think we can accept the task.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, ¡°The area mentioned by the Young Boss is not a Transcendent Creature Collection Area, and we won¡¯t have to pass through such an area during the journey. It is relatively safe.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection services had helped him a lot. Wherever he could, he naturally hoped to lend Xu Ran a hand. ¡®It won¡¯t take that much time to make a round trip. Call Du Heng over and it will be quicker with the Armored Rhinoceros around.¡± Liu Xue cheerfully said, ¡°As long as the Young Boss can afford it, it won¡¯t hurt to go.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any particular opinion.¡± Yan Fan shrugged. Then¡­¡± Zhang Yun looked at Xu Ran, considered for a moment, and then began to speak, ¡°Young Boss, our Hunting Squad¡¯s charges aren¡¯t cheap. Considering that there aren¡¯t many dangers on the road, how does a friendly price of 100,000 sound?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran slightly pondered over it, and soon nodded in agreement. Although 100,000 wasn¡¯t cheap, it was worth it considering that so many elite-level pet beasts would be escorting him. After all, the money he made from washing the Hunting Squad¡¯s pet beasts was already well over this amount¡­ ¡°In that case, when do we set off?¡± Zhang Yun asked. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat rushed to leave today. Let¡¯s go early tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran thought it over and decided to expedite things, to complete the task as soon as possible. ¡°Ok.¡± After agreeing to meet at the city gate the next day, Zhang Yun got up, ready to say goodbye, leading the other three. ¡®Wait a moment, Uncle Liu!¡± When the four were about to walk out of the shop, Xu Ran hurriedly rushed forward, seemingly having thought of something, and put his hand on Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Liu Gu was confused. ¡°Nothing, see you tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran released his hand, showing a warm smile. Liu Gu scratched his head and hurried to catch up with his team. Watching the four walking away, Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew brighter. Just now, he remembered that his Pleasure Value was enough for one Ten Consecutive Drawing. So, while Liu-Lucky Fish-Gu hadn¡¯t left yet, he quickly drew. The result was quite a pleasant surprise. He didn¡¯t have time to look carefully, but he saw blue, and more than one! ¡°Meow-¡± (Got a new skill?) Ziyun jumped into his arms, looking up at Xu Ran with hopeful eyes. After washing so many pet beasts, there should be new skills to teach her, right? ¡°There is one.¡± Xu Ran smiled as he closed the shop door, then opened up the panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contracted Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)](i/ioo) [Drug Application (D-level)](o/ioo) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ïBlood Fury](Teachable) [¡ï¡ïIce Storm](Non-teachable) Physical points: o Pleasure value: 243 System Upgrade Experience: 150/1000] Looking at the system skills, Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows couldn¡¯t help but raise. What¡¯s the situation? The progress bar limits for D-level Drug Application and C-level Plucking Fur are both 100? Isn¡¯t it only necessary to do Plucking Fur ten times to upgrade from D-level to C-level? Is it more difficult to upgrade the Drug Application skill? Or is the calculation method of Drug Application progress different from Plucking Fur? After turning on the fosterage function, I have to find out myself about the new skills. Temporarily suppressing his doubts, Xu Ran chose the teachable [Blood Fury] skill and directly taught it to Ziyun. This skill was from Yan Fan¡¯s Three-armed Demon Ape, which greatly enhances combat power after use, but will lose sanity to a certain extent, and will be weak for a while after the performance ends. Considering that Ziyun doesn¡¯t have a similar skill, it¡¯s still worth learning. Feeling a surge of knowledge pouring into her mind, Ziyun¡¯s face immediately showed a surprised expression as she grasped a whole new skill. It¡¯s that familiar feeling again! The feeling of getting smarter! ¡°This skill has a bit of a side effect, don¡¯t rush to try it, we¡¯ll try it in the Training Room later,¡± Xu Ran reminded, then began to check the results of the ten consecutive draws. He was quite excited about the first ten consecutive draws. [White, a bag of very tasty cat snacks] How tasty? Let Ziyun try it later. [White, a quality cat teaser] I already have one, bad review. [Green, Energy Abundant Potion] This is good, I¡¯ll take Ziyun to train in a bit. [Blue, Good Luck Charm] Hmm? Xu Ran touched the Good Luck Charm, and relevant introductions flooded into his mind. [The Good Luck Charm is a special item produced by the system, and the holder can have one good luck.] Since it¡¯s something of the same level as the Awakening Stone, it should really work. I can bring it with me when I go out of the city tomorrow, right on time. [Green, Energy Abundant Potion] The second one, counting the remaining ones, there are three bottles. [White, a warm and sturdy cat bed] Which cat would sleep in a cat bed? Useless! Bad review! [Blue, Awakening Stone] This is good. Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction, perhaps the future second pet beast could use it. [White, a beautiful cat food bowl] This seems to be useful, so I won¡¯t complain anymore. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze then moved downward, the last two draws of the ten consecutive draws, all blue. [Blue, Skill Fusion Stone] [Blue, Skill Fusion Stone] Looking at the round-shaped, beautiful stone, Xu Ran quickly reached out to touch it. [The Skill Fusion Stone is a special item produced by the system, which can fuse two or more skills into a stronger skill] [Note 1: Fusion is probabilistic, after success the original skill disappears, the proficiency of the new skill inherits from the highest one among the original skills, no side effects if failed.] [Note 2: The fewer skills used for fusion, the lower the skill star level, the better the skills match, the higher the success rate of fusion.] [Note 3: If skill fusion fails, the success rate of the same skill fusion will increase to a certain extent next time.] Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Skill Fusion!—1 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Skill Fusion!¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 Similarly, the skill fusion stone is a blue-level special item. Its introduction has several lines more than the Lucky Charm and Awakening Stone, making Xu Ran instantly aware of its value through the three annotations. Is something that can seamlessly combine skills just a blue-level item? He couldn¡¯t believe it. As Xu Ran pondered, he opened Ziyun¡¯s panel and selected two skills. [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark] + [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc] [Fusion Success Rate: o] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Xu Ran: Did he do something wrong in the process?! He switched the skills to try again. [¡ïBite] + [¡ïClaw Edge] [Fusion Success Rate: 12.7¡ã/o] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] This time, the success rate seemed normal. Perhaps, because Electric Spark and Electric Arc were both innate awakening skills, they couldn¡¯t be combined? He decided to try other skills. Xu Ran replaced Claw Edge with Self-healing Power. The success rate instantly plummeted to 1.1%. Just as he suspected. Then, Xu Ran tried to fuse Claw Edge and Blood Fury with Bite, which resulted in success rates of 7.3% and 6.4%, respectively. All seemed fine, but the best match was clearly Bite and Claw Edge. Plus, these two skills were not that important for Ziyun. So, he decided to give it a shot! Xu Ran reselected the two skills and clicked on [Yes]. In front of him, it seemed as if two energy balls were colliding and grinding against each other, spinning quickly like yin and yang attempting to merge together, finally turning into a golden light. Xu Ran took a deep breath, his face full of tension. Did it succeed?! The next moment, four big characters popped in front of him. [Fusion failed] Xu Ran: With all these effects, he thought it was a success! However, Xu Ran didn¡¯t lose heart and chose the same two skills again. [¡ïBite] + [*Claw Edge] [Fusion Success Rate: 20.4%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] just as the item description stated, failing once improved the success rate for consecutive fusions ¨C and the increment was not small. Xu Ran only regretted not keeping Liu Gu¡¯s Lucky Fish in his shop. ¡°Once more!¡± He shouted, clicking on [Yes] again. The same special effects flashed past and four characters popped up in front of Xu Ran. [Fusion success] It worked! Xu Ran enthusiastically waved his fists twice before turning his head to look at the mystified Ziyun in his arms. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± How was it feeling? Ziyun blinked. It only felt that its memory of the original two skills had suddenly blurred, replaced by a brand new skill. Moreover, this brand new skill seemed to completely supplant the previous two skills and was stronger! Recalling the sensation when it learned a new skill, Ziyun¡¯s eyes widened. Did the Beast Master do it again?! ¡°That¡¯s right, it was me again.¡± Sensing Ziyun¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran rubbed its head, before opening its panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun] Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage (147/500) Race stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Stardust Level)] (21/100) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Stardust Level)] (25/100) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Stardust Level)] (1/100) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Stardust Level)] (13/100) [¡ïBlood Fury (Stardust Level)] (0/100)] Two stars skill, Battle Instinct! ¡°Ziyun, try using Battle Instinct!¡± Meow- (Ok!) Ziyun tore its gaze away from admiring the Beast Master, lightly jumped from Xu Ran¡¯s arms onto the ground, then tried to perform its newly mastered skill. Unlike the original Bite skill which used its sharp teeth, and the Claw Edge skill which used its sharp claws, the Battle Instinct skill covered a large area. Sharp teeth, sharp claws, every part of its body, even its tail became powerful weapons under the influence of Battle Instinct. Moreover, what it improved was not limited to offensive strength, but another aspect as well. That was agility! Cats are a particularly agile species. With Battle Instinct, Ziyun can freely control every part of its body, bringing its agility to another level. If the previous two skills were relatively less effective for Ziyun, which mainly used Electric Spark for long-range attacks, then the new skill is undoubtedly of greater significance. After a simple test, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°Let¡¯s go! We are going to train!¡± After washing eight Pet Beasts today, he couldn¡¯t run the shop anymore. They are leaving the city tomorrow, so the remaining time should be spent on getting Ziyun familiar with the new skill and preparing for their trip. ¡°Click- ¨C Squeak- ¨C Bang!¡± Sitting in the room, as the sound of the security door opening and closing came from outside, Duan Anxun¡¯s face suddenly tensed up. She sat upright, staring meticulously at the notebook in front of her, as if trying to burn holes in it with her eyes. ¡°Tap-Tap-Tap-¡± The sound of footsteps in slippers grew closer and closer. Each step seemed to land on Duan Anxun¡¯s heartbeats, causing her breathing to stutter slightly. ¡°An Xun.¡± An elegantly short-haired woman walked in. Her slender eyebrows exuded a touch of fierceness, and her eyes, like a mist, hid her emotions well. She sat down next to Duan An Xun and looked at her calmly, ¡°Your class teacher told me that you lost to a classmate in the Appearance Assessment and didn¡¯t earn a spot in the Youth Beast Master Pet Beast Beauty Contest. Is that right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it is.¡± Duan Anxun¡¯s voice was a little hoarse and she found it hard to speak. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Turn around, look at my eyes.¡± Her tone remained calm, yet it made Duan Anxun feel her heart sinking. She slowly turned her chair to face the woman beside her, lifted her head to look into the woman¡¯s eyes, then involuntarily averted her gaze, before forcing herself to look again, repeating the process. ¡°A week ago, I was chatting casually with your Aunt Li about the Youth Beast Master Pet Beast Beauty Contest. She¡¯s one of the judges, and I told her you¡¯d be taking part in the competition.¡± The woman calmly spoke as she looked at her daughter, who bore a strong resemblance to her. ¡°A couple of days ago, your Aunt Wang told me that her daughter, He Qianqian, had secured her place in the competition¡­¡± the woman paused momentarily, ¡°When you were younger, you often played together and Aunt Wang often told her to learn from you.¡± The woman¡¯s steady narration made Duan Anxun¡¯s hand, resting on the chair, tremble slightly. ¡°I have dealt with the matter of the competition spot.¡± The woman calmly looked at her daughter, ¡°But I hope there won¡¯t be a next time for an issue like this.¡± ¡°I have a business party to attend tonight, stay at home and¡­¡± The woman slowly stood up and glanced at the Colorful Cloud Parrot that had been silent all this while, ¡°Prepare to join me at the party tonight.¡± Without waiting for Duan An Xun to respond, she turned and walked out of the room.. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 The Scene Outside the City Gate_l Chapter 29: Chapter 29 The Scene Outside the City Gate_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Buzz¡ª¡± A purple ball of light, filled with explosive power, exploded after hitting the green energy target in mid-air, turning into an electric arc cage about three meters in diameter. Countless electric arcs danced inside, each one capable of causing severe injuries. A petite figure enveloped in electricity deftly navigated through the onslaught of red energy attacks, striking the randomly generated blue energy targets around it with its claws, teeth, and tail. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Seeing the three-hour countdown end, Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate to press the stop button. The tricolor energy in the training room dissipated, and the petite figure abruptly halted its movements in the vacant room. The electric arcs wrapped around it dispersed, revealing Ziyun nestled within. ¡°Meow-¡± (Is it time?) Ziyun sprang into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, its face expressing some regret for the abrupt end to the fun. It felt that it had made more progress and been in a better state compared to the previous training. ¡°The three hours are up,¡± Xu Ran nodded, he lightly knocked on Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°You need to balance work and rest during training. Don¡¯t forget how tired you were after the three-hour session last time.¡± At Xu Ran¡¯s reminder, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but shrink its head, remembering how it had passed out in exhaustion. ¡°We still have some potion left, so we can train more later,¡± Xu Ran gave it a hint before laughing, ¡°But the next time will probably be after we return from outside the city.¡± [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage (166/500) Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Stardust Level)] (37/100) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Stardust Level)] (40/100) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Stardust Level)] (22/100) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Stardust Level)] (26/100) [¡ïBlood fury (Stardust Level)] (11/100) ] Glancing at Ziyun¡¯s display panel, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Last time they were in the training room, they only trained the skills Electric Spark, Electric Arc, and Self-healing Power. This time, Xu Ran reorganized the training plan. By adding close combat energy targets, they could also train Battle Instinct at the same time. They could also train the Blood Fury skill. Furthermore, Xu Ran found that under the effects of the Energy Abundant Potion, the weakening effect after Blood Fury burst was significantly reduced. It only needed a short rest before it could use it again. This was an unexpected delight. To increase the proficiency of such a deadly skill under normal circumstances would be quite difficult. ¡°We¡¯re leaving the city tomorrow. We need to go back and pack,¡± Xu Ran stroked Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°Even though we can return in a few hours if all goes well, it¡¯s not a bad thing to be prepared since it¡¯s our first time.¡± ¡°Here, try this.¡± As they walked out of the training room, he whipped out a small package as if by magic, opened it and took out a cat-shaped biscuit to feed to Ziyun. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Ziyun curiously sniffed at it and then, her eyes lit up. She ¡°owled¡± and crunched, crunching, and swallowed the cat-head biscuit directly. She wore a satisfied expression on her face. Delicious! It tasted even better than the Purple Sugar Beans! ¡°It smells pretty good.¡± Xu Ran sniffed the aroma wafting from the opened bag and couldn¡¯t resist picking up a small piece and putting it in his mouth. Well¡­ crisp, full of meaty aroma, but the taste is a bit bland. Seeing Xu Ran eating her own snacks, Ziyun blinked her eyes, greatly shocked. The Beast Master¡­ actually did this ¡­ to her snacks! After finishing the bag of cat snacks that they won from the system¡¯s lottery drawing, the Starfire Foster Care Shop was already in sight in the twilight. They went upstairs, packed their bags, and went to sleep. A silent night. Early the next morning, Xu Ran shoulder his marching bag from the night before and looked at Ziyun, who was following closely behind him, planning to go out with him. ¡°Actually, you can stay at home.¡± He laughed dryly, ¡°In case of an emergency, I can summon you at any time.¡± ¡°Meow (No way!) Ziyun shook her head without hesitation. She didn¡¯t want to be separated from Xu Ran! ¡°All right, then we¡¯ll go together.¡± Xu Ran held Ziyun in his arms, then pulled out the slightly glowing good luck charm pendant and wore it around his neck, hiding it with his collar. Everything was ready. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Following the navigation, they quickly appeared at the city gate. The city gate was still closed, but inside the city gate, there were already thousands of people gathered, most of them in small groups, with powerful pet beasts following them. The voices of people talking and all kinds of noises made by the pet beasts mixed together, giving Xu Ran the feeling of walking into a bustling area. ¡°Boss Xu, over here!¡± At the familiar shouting, he came back to his senses and saw Liu Gu waving at him in the distance. Xu Ran quickly walked over. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here.¡± Zhang Yun smiled at Xu Ran, then patted the shoulder of the silent man beside him, ¡°You¡¯ve met the other members of our little team before, let me introduce you, this is Vice Captain Du Heng.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Uncle Du.¡± Xu Ran politely smiled at the man. And Du Heng¡¯s stern demeanor softened slightly as he nodded at Xu Ran as a greeting. ¡°Uncle Liu, are there always so many people in front of the city gate every morning?¡± Looking at the ever-increasing crowd around him, Xu Ran was amazed and asked Liu Gu close by. ¡°Roughly.¡± Liu Gu glanced around, ¡°As you know, a large number of hostile transcendent beings live outside the city gate. If we randomly open the city gate, it might bring unpredictable consequences.¡± ¡°So except in special circumstances, the city gate is only opened at fixed times. The earliest time of the day is at seven in the morning.¡± ¡°Hunting squads mostly rely on hunting enemy transcendent beings and obtaining transcendent resources to earn money. Often, if they¡¯re a step late, their target will be taken by another squad, so it¡¯s natural that they would want to set off as early as possible.¡± ¡°The reason why we set off at this time is that there are more transcendent beings resting at this point, which makes it safer.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Liu Gu¡¯s words answered many of his doubts, and made him feel that hiring the Tiger Hunting Squad was worth it. While the two were talking, with a deep hum, the towering city gate opened a crack and then gradually widened until it was fifty meters wide. People who were ready to go quickly poured out of the city gate, and then according to their own targets, headed in different directions outside of the city gate. After coming to this world, it was Xu Ran¡¯s first time seeing the view outside of the city gate. It was a vast wilderness, with scarce grass. Dark purple soil covered the earth, occasionally seeing terrifying dried bones and stones. At the other end of the wilderness was a forest as far as the eye could see. A ferocious large bird happened to fly out of the treetops, glanced over here and then withdrew its gaze. A breeze blew from outside the city, bringing a faint scent of blood and earthy aroma, which made Xu Ran¡¯s spirit slightly shaken and gradually came back to his senses.. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Trouble with the Armored Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Trouble with the Armored Rhinocerosi Translator: 549690339 ¡°This wilderness is called the Sighing Wilderness.¡± ¡°In the hundreds of years since the establishment of Qingzhou City, battles between humans and transcendent beings often occur. Every inch of this soil is buried with the blood and bones of human Beast Masters and Transcendent Beings.¡± Liu Gu patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, ¡°We should depart now.¡¯1 ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Ran nodded, taking a deep look at the forest at the end of their sight. Perhaps, when he becomes stronger, he can venture there. ¡°Meow-¡± Seemingly aware of Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts, Ziyun poked her head out from his embrace, her needle-like pupils also looking towards the forest. One day, a stronger her and the Beast Master will conquer it! From the crowd, Du Heng took a step forward, the Hexagram Star Array that lit up behind him stirred up a gale. A rhinoceros, five meters long and its back covered with iron armor, stepped out, attracting quite a bit of attention from the people around. ¡°Is this the Armored Rhinoceros?¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath. The first thing that came to his mind was how much physical effort it would take to clean and wash such a massive creature. ¡°Yes, this big guy is really formidable.¡± Zhang Yun laughed, ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros is responsible for guarding and defending our team, while its massive size can be used for transportation and assistance in carrying resources.¡± ¡°Sir Xu, feel assured to sit on it. Its temperament is very mild.¡± Du Heng¡¯s face softened, he patted the back of the Armored Rhinoceros, gesturing Xu Ran to ride. ¡°Okay.¡± Looking at this colossal creature, Xu Ran was somewhat eager to try. Holding Ziyun in his arms, he vaulted onto the back of the Armored Rhinoceros. Despite being covered in armor, the back of the creature was not at all uncomfortable. Instead, its broadness provided a great sense of security. With everyone seated, the Armored Rhinoceros began its swift march forward, and Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help expressing his amazement. ¡°Having a contract with such a creature is indeed amazing.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (What?!) Ziyun¡¯s ears perked upon hearing this, and she bristled. Is the Beast Master going to contract other Pet Beasts? Although she had seen the other Beast Masters who came yesterday having contracts with more than one Pet Beast and was conscious of such a day coming, hearing Xu Ran bring it up actively made her slightly upset. ¡°Even if we have new partners in the future, they would be your younger siblings. You would be their big sister.¡± Noticing Ziyun¡¯s change, Xu Ran rubbed her head, comfortingly saying. He suddenly found the idea of having multiple contracted Pet Beasts quite similar to raising multiple children, which felt somehow amusing. ¡°Meow-¡± (Is that so¡­) Ziyun showed a thoughtful expression. Thinking about having a little tagalong trailing behind her, she suddenly felt as if it might not be too bad. ¡°Meow!¡± (You should hurry and contract a second Pet Beast!) Ziyun patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder with her paw, urging him. ¡°It¡¯s not that fast!¡± Xu Ran was amused by Ziyun¡¯s sudden change of mind, ¡°My contract power must advance from the first stage to the second stage before I can contract a second Pet Beast, and you need to break through to the elite stage.¡± Training in contract power requires the Beast Master to meditate. He had been trying recently, but he felt that the effect of meditation was just average; upgrading to the second stage would not happen that quickly. Ziyun nodded thoughtfully, sensing that urging the Beast Master to focus on meditation training needs to be put on the agenda. ¡°Don¡¯t just consider its large and imposing size, boss. Large pet beasts need to eat more and their costs will accordingly increase. And not to mention, housing for them is not easy to resolve.¡± Yan Fan smirked from behind Xu Ran. ¡°Are you dumb? The boss runs a foster shop. Such problems are nothing to him.¡± Liu Xue shook her head in exasperation. ¡°That seems right.¡± Yan Fan scratched his head, feeling it made sense. ¡°There are pros and cons to having a larger pet beast.¡± Zhang Yun chuckled, ¡°I think there should still be some way before you reach the second stage, boss. You can learn more about it first, no need to rush to choose your second pet beast.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Xu Ran nodded. He knew he shouldn¡¯t rush such matters. A pet beast is a lifelong partner, and often, it¡¯s up to fate. After speaking with Xu Ran, Zhang Yun turned his attention to Du Heng, who was sitting in the leading seat. ¡°Old Du, did you find out about the situation with the second pet beast when you went back yesterday?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t found a suitable second pet beast yet. I heard that there will be a batch of new pet beasts available for contract in a while, so we can keep an eye out then.¡± Du Heng replied calmly, then shook his head reluctantly. ¡°Plus, I ran into some issues on my side, so it¡¯s not a good time to contract a second pet beast.¡± ¡°Did your sister start making a fuss over the housing issue of the Armored Rhinoceros again?¡± Zhang Yun glanced at Du Heng¡¯s twitching mouth corner, and patted his shoulder. ¡°If nothing else works, consider fostering the Armored Rhinoceros.¡± ¡°Alas, you can¡¯t blame Little Juan. You can¡¯t delay when it comes to kid¡¯s matters.¡± Upon hearing their conversation, Liu Xue sighed and interjected. Liu Gu and Yan Fan also joined the conversation, and their chatter quickly enlightened the silently ¡®eating melon seeds¡¯ Xu Ran about the whole situation. For the Armored Rhinoceros, Du Heng¡¯s wife, Pang Juan, and their son Du Qi, did not resist, also treating it as a family member. They remodeled the largest living room in their house to accommodate the Armored Rhinoceros, and the three family members shared two bedrooms. But now this family is facing a new problem. Pang Juan is pregnant again, her belly is growing day by day, but there¡¯s no place in the house to accommodate the newborn. Du Heng currently saved enough money to either move his family to a larger house or buy a high-quality pet beast for a second pet. But he just can¡¯t have it both ways. In this case, Zhang Yun¡¯s suggestion seems to be the best solution. He could temporarily foster the Armored Rhinoceros, have a place for the newborn, and enough money to purchase the second pet beast. After earning enough money to upgrade to a larger house in the future, it won¡¯t be late to take the Armored Rhinoceros back. ¡°I¡¯m still considering.¡± Du Heng spoke slowly, ¡°We have fought with the Armored Rhinoceros for more than ten years, even if I want to foster it, I need a reliable foster shop.¡± ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t the boss running a foster shop?¡± Yan Fan turned the topic to Xu Ran, who was ¡®eating melon seeds¡¯. ¡°The boss¡¯s shop does not currently offer foster care services, only washing and protection services.¡± Liu Gu shook his head, promptly rejecting Yan Fan¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran felt he needed to speak now, or else he would lose this easy business opportunity. ¡°Actually, the shop will soon offer foster services.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The members of the Tiger Hunting Squad all looked over at once. ¡°If you haven¡¯t found a satisfactory foster shop by then, you can come and take a look at our shop.¡± Xu Ran smiled. Although he does not know what the fostering module offered by the system looks like yet. But he is confident in the system¡¯s products. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look when the time comes.¡± Du Heng nodded slightly, then changed the topic, ¡°Boss Xu, is this where you gather your resources?¡± During their conversation, the Armored Rhinoceros had arrived near a cluster of bushes. Seeing the fruits in the bushes reflecting a pleasant green glow under the sun, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Yes, this is the place!¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: What is that?!_i Chapter 31: Chapter 31: What is that?!_i Translator: 549690339 Hopping down from the back of the Armored Rhino, Liu Gu stretched, a relaxed smile on his face, ¡°Boss, what kind of resources do you want to gather?¡± ¡°This kind.¡± Xu Ran plucked a ripe Green Jade Fruit and showed it to everyone, ¡°This is a necessary resource for all Pet Beast food production, eating it directly can recover some power, but it doesn¡¯t taste good.¡± ¡°How bad does it taste?¡± Liu Gu casually plucked one and bit into it, immediately his face turned black, he quickly turned to the side and spat it out with a ¡°ptoo, ptoo, ptoo¡±. ¡°Hahaha, the Boss said it doesn¡¯t taste good but you really wanted to try it huh.¡± Liu Xue covered her mouth and laughed, while the others on the team helplessly shook their heads. ¡°Just curious, that¡¯s all.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, ¡°Boss, you need to gather a hundred kilos, right? Shall we help you?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t reject Liu Gu¡¯s kindness. ¡°Uncle Liu, look, ones like this that are thoroughly green and look half-transparent, these are ripe Green Jade Fruits.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Liu Gu gave a thumbs up as a ¡°no problem¡± gesture, then dived into the bushes to begin gathering efficiently. ¡°Every second we spend outside the city is dangerous. Let¡¯s all help, gather what we can and go back as quickly as possible.¡± Zhang Yun waved his hand, pulled the others in to help, even the Pet Beasts weren¡¯t idle. The mature Green Jade Fruits were each the size of a fist. With everyone working together to collect them, one full burlap bag was quickly gathered. ¡°That¡¯s about a hundred kilos.¡± Liu Gu tied the mouth of the burlap bag, weighed it, and nodded slightly, ¡°Boss, is this enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± He took one look at the Novice Task 3, confirmed that it meets the requirement. All he needed to do now to complete the task was to bring this hundred kilos of Green Jade Fruits back to the store, Xu Ran nodded. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s head back into the city as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Yun surveyed his surroundings, his face displaying seriousness, ¡°Staying outside the city for too long, I¡¯m afraid that something might happen.¡± ¡°Captain, aren¡¯t you being a little too cautious?¡± Yan Fan voiced discontentedly, ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been an hour since we left the city, and we haven¡¯t encountered a single Transcendent Being during that hour.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because we haven¡¯t encountered a single Transcendent Being that I feel something¡¯s not right.¡± Zhang Yun replied gravely, ¡°Have you ever not encountered any enemy Transcendent Beings within an hour out of the city before?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Upon hearing Zhang Yun say this, Yan Fan couldn¡¯t help but shake his head, ¡°I guess I really haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve said this, Captain, I¡¯m starting to notice it too.¡± Liu Xue looked confused, ¡°Could our luck really be that good today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t count on luck.¡± Zhang Yun slightly shook his head, ¡°When things go unusually well, there must be a ghost. Whatever the reason, there¡¯s no need for us to take the risk.¡± Hearing the exchange between the three, Xu Ran subconsciously touched the Good Luck Charm hidden beneath his collar. The Good Luck Charm was still flashing with light, a symbol that it hadn¡¯t been activated yet. Could it be that my Good Luck Charm wasn¡¯t the one that did the work? Is there really a problem? His heart tightened a little, feeling a rush of nervousness due to Zhang Yun¡¯s analysis. ¡°We¡¯ve gathered the resources, let¡¯s hurry back,¡± he interjected. Since Xu Ran, who¡¯s the employer, has said so, the others didn¡¯t say more. After carefully tying the burlap bag full of Green Jade Fruits on the Armored Rhino¡¯s backplate, they quickly jumped onto its back. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Du Heng spoke softly. The Armored Rhino let out a low growl, striding with its big muscular legs and shaking the earth with a ¡°boom, boom¡± sound, quickly retreating the way they came. ¡°After we¡¯re back in the city, we¡¯ll need a good few days to rest up.¡± Liu Gu stretched, flashing Xu Ran a smile, ¡°In fact, we were planning to rest up after yesterday¡¯s job but because of your request, we came out of the city one more time.¡± ¡°So, Boss, if you have similar requests in the future, remember to consider the Tiger Hunting Squad first-¡± Liu Xue looked at Xu Ran with a beaming smile. ¡°Sure, if I need it.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Spending time with the Tiger Hunting Squad was quite pleasant, and they were already familiar with each other. If there¡¯s a need for hiring in the future, they would naturally be the best choice. The atmosphere on the way back was more relaxed, and those sitting on the Armored Rhino casually chatted. ¡°Boom!¡± The sudden decrease in the Armored Rhino¡¯s speed put an end to the casual chatting. It anxiously looked around, filled with unease. ¡°Du Heng, what happened?¡± Zhang Yun was surprised at first, then swiftly turned to Du Heng. ¡°The Armored Rhino has sensed unusual earth vibrations.¡± While comforting the Armored Rhino by patting its head, Du Heng communicated with it, soon speaking, ¡°These unusual vibrations make it feel uneasy.¡± ¡°Unusual vibrations?¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s brow furrowed. As an Earth attribute Pet Beast, the Armored Rhino was more sensitive to earth vibrations. A vibration that would make it feel uneasy, it couldn¡¯t be good news. Thinking back to the ominous premonition he had since leaving the city, Du Heng quickly stood up on the back of the Armored Rhino and peered in the direction of Qingzhou City. From their current location, they could faintly see the towering walls of Qingzhou City. ¡°Let it endure for a while, we¡¯re only a quarter of an hour away from the city gate.¡± Zhang Yun patted Du Heng¡¯s shoulder, and just about to say something else, when Yan Fan suddenly yelled out to the side, ¡°What is that?!¡± Zhang Yun swiftly turned his head, the other team members and Xu Ran also followed Yan Fan¡¯s gaze toward the distance. On the far side of the wilderness, something seemed to be surging. At first, all they could see was a cloud of dust rising, but only a few breaths later, everyone could see the varied forms of Transcendent Beings hidden in the dust. Not just on the ground, there were also many terrifying-looking Transcendent Beings circling and flying in the sky. These Transcendent Beings swung towards the direction of Qingzhou City as if they had received some sort of command. The sight was tremendously horrifying. ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ Beast Tide!¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly, his face turned pale with terror. Upon hearing these two words, the expressions of the other four also became incredibly terrified. This killing method driven by quantity is the most powerful weapon of the Transcendent Beings when attacking Human Cities. Even with high and strong city walls, Humans still had to pay an unimaginable price every time they faced a Beast Tide. ¡°Turn back and run towards the outskirts!¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s face was heavier than ever, and his voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°We¡¯re in trouble this time.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we rush to Qingzhou City?¡± Xu Ran asked anxiously, ¡°With the speed of the Armored Rhino, shouldn¡¯t we reach the city gates before the Beast Tide arrives?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t get in.¡± Liu Gu spoke in a deep voice, ¡°The Beast Masters in charge of the city¡¯s defense must have seen the movement of the Beast Tide. The city gates are already locked.¡± ¡°Between opening the city gates to save us, potentially causing a devastating attack on the city gates by the Beast Tide and keeping the gates closed, the Beast Masters in charge of the city¡¯s defense would only choose the latter..¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: This Good Luck Charm is a bit Absurdl Chapter 32: Chapter 32: This Good Luck Charm is a bit Absurdl Translator: 549690339 Xu Ran fell silent. He understood the logic behind what Liu Gu said. The choice between saving a few people and saving an entire city was not one that required hesitation. But when the person being abandoned was himself, he found it difficult to accept. That¡¯s right, the Good Luck Charm! A spark of hope lit up in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes as he tightly gripped the Good Luck Charm hidden in his collar. It¡¯s time for you to help, damn System! Realizing the danger of the situation, Ziyun, who was curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, squeezed out from his armpit and lightly jumped onto his shoulder. Its colorful pupils shrunk to pinpoints, looking at the Beast Tide surging in from afar. Streaks of electricity bounced off its body, Ziyun was ready to strike, preparing for the attack. ¡°Meow!¡± (¡°I¡¯m here, nobody can hurt my Beast Master!¡±) ¡°Armored Rhinoceros, pull yourself together!¡± Du Heng¡¯s face was tense as he commanded. The Armored Rhinoceros, carrying everyone, quickly rallied. After a low roar, it sprinted in the direction guided by Zhang Yun. Looking down from the sky, one could see that the path the Armored Rhinoceros chose was almost perpendicular to the direction of the Beast Tide. With its speed, it should be able to safely escape the area of impact before the Beast Tide arrives. If everything goes well, they just need to wait out in the wild until the Beast Tide is driven away by the City Defense Beast Masters, and then find an opportunity to return to the city. As the captain of a Hunting Squad who had been fighting and adventuring outside the city for many years, Zhang Yun demonstrated his extensive experience at this moment, making the best decision. However, mishaps always occur when they are least expected. Seemingly intrigued by the sound of the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s wild gallop, a strange bird hovering in the sky gave a ferocious screech, its gaze directed towards the Tiger Hunting Squad. The next instant, a small section of the Beast Tide unexpectedly broke off from the main body and started to surround them. Although it was insignificant compared to the entire Beast Tide, this small detachment of Transcendent Beings numbered dozens, maybe hundreds, most of whom were of the Elite Stage! ¡°Captain! They are coming!¡± Yan Fan¡¯s voice became unnaturally shrill due to the fear, ¡°There are ones that can fly!¡± Zhang Yun turned his head to look, his pupils instantly contracted. Ignoring the Transcendent Beings running rampant on the ground for now, the few in the air, getting rapidly closer and thus bigger in his field of view, were charging towards them. Their speed was much faster than the Armored Rhinoceros! Zhang Yun let out a loud yell, ¡°Cold Scale Python, Ice Storm!¡± ¡°Hiss ¡± A substratal, monstrous hiss happened and chilling light flickered across the crystal-like scales on the Cold Scale Python¡¯s body. An energy surge then formed in its mouth. ¡°Whoosh!!!¡± With a low, rumbling roar, the storm spewed forth, enveloping the strange birds attacking from the sky. The extreme cold contained within the storm instantly condensed the water vapor in the air into countless tiny ice crystals. These ice crystals, like sharp knives, were whipped by the storm and harshly embedded into the bodies of the strange birds. Furthermore, the extreme cold followed the wounds and surged into the bodies of the creatures, letting out collective howls of pain before they hurriedly retreated. Two Stars Skills, Waning Moon Level Ice Storm! As the team leader, Zhang Yun¡¯s Cold Scale Python was almost half a step into the Leadership Stage from the Elite Stage. Its Skill Proficiency was also far beyond the Starlight Level, much higher ¨C Waning Moon Level! So terrifying was its power with one strike! ¡°Move!¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s face showed no sign of triumph after his successful move. He had experienced a Beast Tide once before, so he knew very well the terror of it. Even a more powerful Leadership Stage Pet Beast couldn¡¯t resist the endless Beast Tide. If trapped, they could only be devoured by the Beast Tide! It seemed like the Tiger Hunting Squad had caused a bit of trouble. More Transcendent Beings separated from the main body of the Beast Tide, coming in from another side to surround them. The situation was becoming increasingly dire. Transcendent Beings with higher intelligence knew how to cooperate. The hunting squad raced on in silence. Any Transcendent Being that tried to get close was promptly pushed back by their Pet Beasts. However, the circle formed by the Transcendent Beings was closing in. Their attempts at resistance seemed futile. Xu Ran hugged Ziyun, who was now a bit fatigued and spitting out sparks of Electric Spark. He tightly held the Good Luck Charm that still hadn¡¯t shown any effect. He had already cursed the damn system a thousand times in his mind. ¡°System, stop playing dead! Hurry up and make the Good Luck Charm work!¡± ¡°If I die, you won¡¯t have a Host anymore!¡± ¡°System, you¡­¡± ¡°Hum ¡± Accompanied by a low hum, the Good Luck Charm in Xu Ran¡¯s hand suddenly started to vibrate. ¡°¡­you really are my treasure!¡± Having changed his words quickly in his mind, Xu Ran looked on as the Good Luck Charm crumbled to ashes and dissipated. His look of joy abruptly came to a halt. What the hell? Did it take effect, or did it fail? Just as he was caught off guard, a low roar filled with rage and wrapped in the shockwave came rolling in from afar. ¡°Filthy beasts! Die!¡± Accompanied by the sound echoing throughout the sky, a terrifying presence quickly approached from a certain direction outside the city. Feeling just a whiff of the presence, all the Transcendent Beings surrounding the Tiger Hunting Squad fell to the ground, trembling. Even though the suppression wasn¡¯t targeted at them, the Pet Beasts in the hunting squad couldn¡¯t help but stir. This was the natural suppression lower-ranking Transcendent Beings felt when encountering a higher-ranking existence! It wasn¡¯t Elite Stage, or the Leadership Stage above the Elite Stage, but¡­ ¡°General Stage!¡± Zhang Yun exclaimed, immediately followed by joy, ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± Just a moment ago, he was preparing to have a life-and-death struggle with those beasts; he didn¡¯t anticipate such a turn in the next second. General stage? Xu Ran stared, dumbfounded, at the sky. A small black dot on the horizon quickly enlarged in front of his eyes, becoming gradually clearer. It was a giant black dragon, over ten meters long, with a wingspan of over twenty meters when fully spread. Its dark scales gleaming profoundly under the sunlight, and its blood-red eyes were pulsating with a cold bloodlust. On top of this dragon¡¯s head, stood a man. Compared to the dragon¡¯s massive body size, he seemed quite tiny. But this man had a strong presence that dominated over the giant dragon. ¡°Boom ¡± The dragon flapped its wings, hovering over the Tiger Squad. The recoil stirred up a wild storm, casually blowing away the Transcendent Beings crouching on the ground like trash. ¡°Just in time.¡± The man on top of the dragon grumbled, ¡°Red-eyed Demon Dragon, cool them off!¡± ¡°Roar ¡± The Pet Beast referred to as the Red-eyed Demon Dragon let out a roar. A stream of dark energy burst from its mouth, furiously sweeping towards the direction of the main Beast Tide. Any creature it touched would instantaneously dissolve into nothingness, not even leaving any traces of blood or flesh. The assault of the Beast Tide abruptly came to a halt. Beneath, Xu Ran¡¯s face gradually lit up with excitement. Don¡¯t tell me, this is the effect of the Good Luck Charm?! (It¡¯s the start of a new month, let¡¯s charge ahead if you haven¡¯t invested before!) Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Kings Power_l Chapter 33: Chapter 33 King¡¯s Power_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Thank you, elder, for coming to our rescue!¡± While the others were still in a stupor, Zhang Yun was the first to come to his senses, loudly expressing his gratitude to the man standing on top of the giant dragon in the sky. ¡°Stay safe and return to the city as soon as possible.¡± The man in the sky swept his gaze over everyone, gave a slight nod, and the dragon under his feet let out a long chant, flapping its wings, flying off into the distance. From the direction he was flying, it seemed he was headed to Qingzhou City. ¡°We almost died here this time.¡± Liu Gu who had come back to his senses scratched his head, and affectionately held the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s large head, ¡°We survived!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Liu Xue and Yan Fan also returned to their senses, realizing they were out of danger, their faces filled with excitement. Du Heng remained silent, but his hands kept stroking their Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s head, his eyes also filled with relief. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun¡¯s tense body slowly relaxed at this moment, lazily retreating back into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, its eyes full of joy at surviving the ordeal. Xu Ran stretched out a hand to pet Ziyun¡¯s soft fur, mulling over the relationship between this suddenly appeared strongman and the Good Luck Charm. Such a powerful person couldn¡¯t possibly be summoned out of thin air by the System. The other party was probably already rushing over here, and the Good Luck Charm¡¯s role was to subtly alert them to their predicament and rescue them. After figuring out the intricacies, his initial shock subsided, but curiosity about the strong passerby grew in his heart. The man flew towards Qingzhou City when he left, would there be an opportunity to meet him again in the future? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s quickly return to the city.¡± Zhang Yun glanced at the Beast Tide in the distance. After the one terrifying strike from that strong man¡¯s pet beast, the crazed Transcendent Beings regained their composure. Together with the concerted efforts of the defenders of Qingzhou City, the Beast Tide was showing signs of defeat at this moment. This was yet another victory for the human side. The city gates would not be strictly closed at this moment, they could now retreat back into the city. The relived group bottled up their joy, boarded the broad back of the Armored Rhinoceros and set off once again for the direction of the city gates. Holding Ziyun, Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°Team Leader Zhang, do you know anything about the background of that strongman just now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. He looked unfamiliar, I¡¯ve never heard of him before.¡± Zhang Yun shook his head, then immediately added, ¡°However, I reckon his status is certainly no lower than that of our Qingzhou City¡¯s City Lord.¡± ¡°General Level Beast Master, that¡¯s a mighty being capable of single-handedly guarding a 3-Level town.¡± Liu Gu murmured in awe upon hearing this, ¡°If I can reach such a level in my lifetime, that would be great.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement. The rank of a Beast Master corresponds to the highest growth stage of their pet beast. The pet beast Red-eyed Demon Dragon of that Beast Master just now was at the General Stage, so he was at least a General Level Beast Master. Following that, another question occurred to Xu Ran. ¡°Team Leader Zhang, I recall there are quite a few Leadership Stage pet beasts in Qingzhou City, right? Why are there so few pet beasts at the General Stage?¡± The Red-eyed Demon Dragon just now was the most powerful pet beast he had seen with his own eyes. It scared off the Beast Tide with a single strike, which was truly terrifying. This made him very interested in pet beasts at that level. If Ziyun could reach the General Stage in the future¡­ Xu Ran looked at the little one in his arms that seemed clueless, feeling hopeful about the future. ¡°Upgrading a Pet Beast to the Leadership Stage and upgrading it to the General Stage are completely different concepts.¡± Zhang Yun shook his head slightly, ¡°Because the General Stage involves the secrets of the evolution of Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Captain, you know the most, stop being so mysterious.¡± Yan Fan curiously urged from the side, ¡°Quickly tell us?¡± Seeing the curious expressions of the team members, Zhang Yun reluctantly replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°You should know that when all Pet Beasts are born, their species level is Leader Species.¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s speech paused slightly, ¡°Only after completing evolution can the species level of the pet beast be upgraded.¡± ¡°Pet Beasts of different species levels can reach different growth stages in the future. The leadership stage is the limit that Leader Species Pet Beasts can reach.¡± ¡°To break through from the Leadership Stage to the General Stage, Pet Beasts face the constraints of life level.¡± ¡°Only by evolving from Leader Species to King Species can Pet Beasts break through the General Stage.¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s expression grew serious, ¡°This process is perilous.¡± ¡°If evolution fails, Pet Beasts will be crippled at best and die at worst.¡± ¡°Unless completely certain, never attempt it.¡± Hearing Zhang Yun¡¯s words, the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad nodded solemnly in agreement. Meanwhile, Xu Ran seemed a little stunned. He recalled the first time he entered the system for a lottery drawing. He caught a fleeting glimpse of a reward on the spinning wheel ¨C an evolution path of the Holy Spirit Race. Completing evolution following the illustrated pathway seemed to pose very low risk¡­ At this thought, Xu Ran¡¯s heartbeat accelerated slightly. ¡°Team Leader Zhang, if the limit of Leader Species is the Leadership Stage, does it mean that the limit of King Species is the King Stage?¡± He immediately asked, ¡°What kind of level is the King Stage?¡± The growth stage above the General Stage is the King Stage,¡± Zhang Yun nodded, ¡°This is also the limit of the King Species.¡± ¡°It is said that after Leader Species evolve into King Species, in addition to an increase in growth ceiling and the awakening of their new skills, a certain skill will also be awakened.¡± ¡°This fixed skill is exclusive to the King Species. Every single King Species Transcendent Being possesses it.¡± ¡°The Three Star Skill, King¡¯s Power.¡± ¡°The Red-eyed Demon Dragon, that the predecessor subdued by using just its aura, was using that skill.¡± ¡°In wild groups of Super Creatures, it¡¯s rumored that having this skill allows an entity to easily command an area and become a king among Super Creatures.¡± So that was the King¡¯s Power? Recalling the scene where the Red-eyed Demon Dragon easily subdued others just with its aura, everyone showed envious expressions. Embracing Ziyun tightly in his arms, Xu Ran sank into thought. Right now, Plucking Fur can gain two-star skills. If Plucking Fur levels up, can it directly gain a three-star skill? If it is directly possible, what would happen if the King¡¯s Power were taught straight to Ziyun, who has not yet evolved? Normally, leadership stage pet beasts can awaken at most two-star skills, and learning to master three-star skills is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Only when it evolves to the King Species can they easily master a three-star skill through awakening and postnatal learning. If Ziyun, by relying on Plucking Fur and teaching, can master multiple three-star skills while still at the leadership stage, would it then still be considered a Leader Species, or would it be a King Species? ¡°We can return home now.¡± While speaking, the Armored Rhinoceros carrying everyone arrived at their destination. Seeing the gates of Qingzhou City within reach, Zhang Yun laughed in relief. Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re entering the city! Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 The Remodeled Store_l Chapter 34: Chapter 34 The Remodeled Store_l Translator: 549690339 [Novice Task 3: Self-Reliance (Completed) Task Description: Host is to personally go to the specified area outside Qingzhou City and collect a hundred catties of the essential pet food resource, the Green Jade Fruit. Task Reward: Foster Function Module, System Upgrade Experience +150. [Click to claim task reward] Xu Ran, looking at the novice task 3 which had switched from ¡®in progress¡¯ to ¡öcompleted¡¯, sighed in relief as he entered his pet shop, shouldering a sack. What an incredibly tough trip it had been. Encountering a beast tide, and narrowly avoiding losing his life ¨C it was safe to say Xu Ran had faced a set of rare circumstances. It was quite unlucky indeed. Thankfully, all his efforts had paid off. After closing the shop door, Xu Ran glanced at Ziyun, who was busy biting into a small pack of purple sugar beans he¡¯d been carrying. With no hesitation, Xu Ran clicked to accept the reward. A startling flash of light quickly passed before his eyes, swiftly followed by a new sentence appearing in front of him. [Store Upgrade Refurbishment Progress, remaining time 02:59:59] Will the refurbishment take three hours? Xu Ran was somewhat looking forward to it. As far as he knew, raising pets requires a significantly specialized environment. For example, a small pet bloke measuring one metre in length and fifty centimetres in width and height needed more than just a cage that could contain it. It needs a space where it could move freely. Consequently, the minimum required space for a small pet is the equivalent of a room covering over ten square metres. If the pet requires more vigorous movement or has other special needs, then more space will be required. As for medium and large pet beasts, the need for space is understandably greater. Adequate space for accommodation is a hardware requirement, but an appropriate environmental setting is equally crucial. Different pet beasts have different living environment preferences. Hence, planning for different environment zones is necessary to ensure various pets are comfortable. Considering the system¡¯s pursuit of excellence, it¡¯s apparent that the current shop space won¡¯t suffice. So, how will the system resolve this post-refurbishment? Could it be intending to obtain more nearby land space for a new build on my behalf? If so, I would most gladly accept. -Come on, Ziyun, let¡¯s go upstairs and rest a bit. We¡¯re not operational for now.¡± Xu Ran picked up Ziyun and the small bowl of purple sugar beans beside it, then proceeded upstairs. Three hours later, a look of anticipation on his face, Xu Ran ¡®clomp-clomp-clomped¡¯ down the stairs, a frown forming on his face as he realised the first floor hadn¡¯t changed a bit. ¡°Where on earth is the foster care feature?¡± He incredulously walked a circle around the shop. The only noticeable change was a new price menu for fostering on the wall, with prices so high it felt like robbery. This sight was enough to make Xu Ran grind his teeth. Unlike washing and protection prices, foster care prices consider both a pet¡¯s strength and body type. The former determines the daily maintenance cost while the latter decides the need for pet accommodation space. [Fostering for small to medium-sized Transcendent Stage pet beasts: 266/day] [Fostering for large-sized Transcendent Stage pet beasts: 666/day] [Fostering for small to medium-sized Elite Stage pet beasts: 2666/day] [Fostering for large-sized Elite Stage pet beasts: 6666/day] [Fostering for small to medium-sized Leadership Stage pet beasts: 26666/day] [Fostering for large-sized Leadership Stage pet beasts: 66666/day] Pricing not listed means the shop is temporarily unavailable to receive such. This includes both General Stage pet beasts that are above Leadership Stage, and Super Large pet beasts that are larger than Large Size pet beasts. They¡¯re currently outside our service range. ¡°Meow~¡±(Over there!) Ziyun, nestled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, poked its head out, sniffing the air, its gaze falling on a door as if it had caught a distinct scent. That door leads to the backyard of Starfire Foster Care Shop ¨C a space around ten or so square metres ¨C where Xu Ran had previously placed a stove to cook meals and store sporadic items. At the moment, following Ziyun¡¯s gaze, Xu Ran¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but palpitate a bit. The system had taken the small backyard space for the fostering area? Would that be enough? With doubt in his mind, he pushed open that door and looked at his original backyard. His expression instantly froze. The foster care function was indeed positioned in the backyard! However, things were not as he had pictured. The original ground of the backyard had been replaced by an underground entrance that was similar to an underground car park entrance and was large enough to accommodate Large Size pet beasts. That was it! If there was not enough space above ground, the powerful system could always expand space underground! If one level wasn¡¯t enough, it could go ahead and expand to two or three levels below ground! Xu Ran perked up as he realized the system¡¯s plan in an instant. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go and check it out!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± As it turned out, the system had just expanded by one underground level for now. However, this expanded space was indeed big. The area of the foster spot was almost ten times the ground floor area, roughly enough to hollow out all the available space in the nearby blocks. In addition, this underground level had a height of up to twenty metres, sufficient for flying pet beasts, who needed more vertical space, to feel comfortable. Despite being an underground space, there were plenty of concealed ventilation spots in the foster care area, ensuring long-term inhabitants would not feel stifled. This foster care area undoubtedly met the space requirements. And Xu Ran was also happy with the system¡¯s approach to the design of the foster environment. It had adopted a dynamic adjustment mode, which would adjust the environment layout at any time according to the quantity and attributes of the fostered pet beasts. If all the pet beasts that were fostered belonged to the Fire Attribute, then the whole area would adjust to a volcanic environment suitable for them. If a pet of another attribute was added, the environment of a part of the foster site would change accordingly. Moreover, it could adjust the isolation condition, meaning pets that got along could visit each other, whereas those that didn¡¯t could also live in peace. After having taken a look around, Xu Ran could only express his feeling in one sentence. The system is incredible. Looking at this foster care area, he already seemed to see countless Pleasure values flying towards him! Without further ado, time to open up shop! ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop. So this is the boss¡¯ shop¡­¡± Following the direction given by his team members, Du Heng had quickly found the shop close at hand. After returning to the city, he had swiftly checked nearby pet shops but failed to find one he could trust to look after his Armored Rhinoceros. Facing his disappointed wife, Du Heng remembered Xu Ran¡¯s shop and decided to check it out. Standing outside the shop, he furrowed his brows. It looked small. Could it really accommodate his Armored Rhinoceros? Since he was already here, he might as well go in and have a look. Thinking along these lines, Du Heng stepped into the shop, asking, ¡°Is the boss around?¡± ¡°Uncle Du, you¡¯ve come!¡± Xu Ran lit up as he spotted him. He¡¯d just opened shop not long ago. Was this his first foster customer? ¡°I¡¯m just taking a look around.¡± Du Heng glanced around. ¡°Where are the fostered pets kept?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not around here. Follow me, Uncle Du.¡± Xu Ran, grinning from ear to ear, led Du Heng to the backyard. A moment later, standing in a completely transformed underground level, the usually reticent Du Heng couldn¡¯t help but gasp in astonishment.. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35: First Trial of Drug Application 1 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: First Trial of Drug Application 1 Translator- 1717 ¡ª Young boss, are you sure this doesn¡¯t count as unauthorized construction?¡± Looking at the foster area that almost occupies the underground space of the entire block, Du Heng opened his mouth, and eventually could not resist raising this question. ¡°It does not count as unauthorized,¡± Xu Ran calmly said,¡±Please rest assured about that.¡± This foster area was not expanded by him, why not catch the system instead! Besides, with the system¡¯s capabilities, it would have probably sorted out the related issues as well. Du Heng slightly nodded, seeing Xu Ran¡¯s assurance, he also felt relieved. Accompanied by Xu Ran, he took a round through the vast underground floor, nodding slightly. Although underground, this foster area is well ventilated and has artificial light, almost like natural light. However, providing merely enough space for fostering is insufficient. ¡°Young boss, your foster environment¡­¡± Considering Xu Ran was once the employer of the hunting squad, Du Heng did not directly express his dissatisfaction, but his face was full of displeasure. This bare-shell-like foster area, isn¡¯t it too perfunctory? ¡°Please rest assured about this issue.¡± Xu Ran had anticipated Du Heng¡¯s dissatisfaction and confidently smiled at this moment, ¡°Uncle Du, you haven¡¯t summoned your Pet Beast yet, why not summon it and give it a try?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know what Xu Ran was intending, Du Heng still cooperatively nodded in agreement. The Armored Rhinoceros, being a Large Pet Beast, was too large to take out, therefore, he did not let it follow him. At this moment, with the Hexagram Star Array flickering behind Du Heng, the Armored Rhinoceros, which was five meters long and three meters high, stepped out from the wild wind, curiously observing the surrounding environment. Before being summoned, it had already communicated with Du Heng through the Beast Taming Contract. Du Heng told it that he had found a Foster Shop for it, to see if it liked it or not. Is it here? Looking at the haphazardly rough environment around, the Armored Rhinoceros showed a slight hesitation in its eyes. It didn¡¯t quite like such an environment. But being well-mannered, it also knew that its body type had brought quite a bit of trouble to the Beast Master¡¯s family. Although the environment here isn¡¯t great, it is quite spacious. After comforting itself a bit, the Armored Rhinoceros pretended to be satisfied and nodded its head. ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to be satisfied.¡± Xu Ran, who understood the circumstances of Du Heng and the Armored Rhinoceros, saw the look in the eyes of the Armored Rhinoceros and guessed what the big guy was thinking. Patting its big head, Xu Ran took out a control hub similar to a tablet and pressed it a couple of times. The next thing that happened made both Du Heng and the Armored Rhinoceros widen their eyes. The surrounding environment rapidly changed before their eyes. The foster area, which was originally like a raw apartment, quickly turned into a rugged wilderness, with a mud pond in the low-lying areas where the Armored Rhinoceros could happily roll around. The point is this place was not a projection! The cheer of the Armored Rhinoceros echoed in Du Heng¡¯s mind. This environment has a rich Earth attribute Power, this rugged wilderness was genuinely created! ¡°This¡­¡± Du Heng, whose expressions were not quite rich, had lost composure for the second time in Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Shop, and even spoke more than usual, ¡°I heard that some equipment can change the terrain with the help of Transcendent Power. Does your shop own such equipment?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran wasn¡¯t sure what equipment Du Heng was talking about, but that didn¡¯t prevent him from nodding calmly, ¡°Presently, there are no other Pet Beasts in our shop, so after the Armored Rhinoceros checks in, the foster environment will be pure Earth attribute.¡± Du Heng took a deep breath. Such generous conditions, he was completely moved. But there was one final question. ¡°After fostering in your shop, the Pet Beast food for feeding¡­¡± ¡®The pet beast food is customized by our shop to suit the daily intake of pet beasts,¡± Xu Ran quickly began, ¡°If you decide to use our fosterage service, I¡¯ll feed the Armored Rhinoceros once, and Uncle Du can observe.¡± He was a little excited inside. Finally, he could try the drug application! ¡°I¡¯m sure about the fosterage!¡± Du Heng nodded without hesitation. Although he had not yet seen the pet beast food that Xu Ran had prepared himself, the fact that Xu Ran had gone to gather the Green Jade Fruit while escorted by their hunting squad gave Du Heng confidence in him. He had noticed the cost of fosterage outside earlier. Given the power and body size of the Armored Rhinoceros, it costs 6666 yuan per day for fosterage. Even though it¡¯s a bit expensive, for his old comrade, Du Heng was willing to spend. ¡°Let¡¯s start with ten days of fosterage.¡± Du Heng quickly transferred the money. ¡°Good, wait a moment.¡± Xu Ran turned and walked into an independent room in the corner of the foster area. The room was a preparation area specially used to make pet beast food. The preparation room was equipped with various appliance equipment for stirring, drying, frying, and air drying. The raw materials for preparation were also provided by the system. ¡°In order to improve the feeding efficiency of this time, the system will endow the host with the relevant knowledge of ¡®Nutrition Science of Armored Rhinoceros¡¯.¡± As the system notification emerged, a large amount of related knowledge flooded into Xu Ran¡¯s mind. Green Jade Fruit, Earth Element Core, Steel Energy Crystal, Sweet Flower¡­ Various resources used for food preparation were used by him in the best proportion, and then made into the most suitable food for the Elite Class Armored Rhinoceros based on the knowledge taught by the system. After a series of procedures, Xu Ran got a large food bowl of special food for the Armored Rhinoceros in about twenty minutes. He would also make a portion for Ziyun later, so there¡¯s no need to buy food outside in the future. With this large food bowl in his arms, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help thinking of the little one who had chosen to stay on the first floor to help him look after the shop. It¡¯s ready, have a taste.¡± Xu Ran put the large bowl in front of the expectant Armored Rhinoceros. System Skill¡ªDrug Application, activate! The eyes of the Armored Rhinoceros went wide. Smelling the freshly cooked food in the large bowl, it looked as if it saw a charming female Armored Rhinoceros standing in front of it. This tempting smell made it swallow incessantly, and it subconsciously stepped forward, walking towards the food bowl step by step. Du Heng, who was standing next to them blinked. His Armored Rhinoceros had never been particularly fond of eating in the past. This was the first time he had seen it show such a drooling expression. Was the food prepared by the young boss that delicious? Although he smelled some of the aroma, the feelings of humans and the Armored Rhinoceros were not the same. So he couldn¡¯t fully understand the impulse of the Armored Rhinoceros at this moment. Before he even had time to think, the Armored Rhinoceros had already reached the food bowl. It buried its head completely in the food bowl and took a big mouthful, wholeheartedly enjoying the rich aroma that filled its nose and mouth¡¯ The taste gave the blissful impression of being surrounded by female Armored Rhinoceroses and feeling warm and comfortable. This feeling¡­ This feeling!!! After swallowing the food in its mouth, the Armored Rhinoceros had a dazed look in its eyes, slightly raised its head and stared transfixed at the gentle ray of light falling from above. The pleasure value from Armored Rhinoceros +10¡å The pleasure value from Armored Rhinoceros +10¡å ¡°The pleasure value from¡­.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: He really, Im crying to deathl l Chapter 36: Chapter 36: He really, I¡¯m crying to deathl l Translator: 549690339 Looking at the pleasure value constantly supplied by the Armored Rhinoceros, and then at the blissful gaze of the Armored Rhinoceros after eating the food he had personally prepared, Xu Ran fell silent. This wasn¡¯t his fault at all. It was definitely an issue with the formula the System had provided him. On the other side, Du Heng, who was observing the unprecedented display of his pet beast and the strong satisfaction it was persistently expressing via the Beast Taming Contract, wore an inexplicable expression on his face. How on earth did the young boss achieve this? This is too incredible, isn¡¯t it? However, something felt off about the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s expressions, didn¡¯t it? Um, he must be imagining things. When the Armored Rhinoceros finished his cheerful meal, Du Heng came forward and patted it on its big head. ¡°I have to leave now. When I have the time, I¡¯ll come and visit you. You can also let me know how you¡¯re doing here through the Beast Taming Contract,¡± he said. ¡°Roar ¡± The gaze of the Armored Rhinoceros still held enchantment even after finishing its food, as it swayed its big head, swinging its rear end and tail. It very much liked the environment here, and the food was wonderful, something the Armored Rhinoceros had never tasted before; it couldn¡¯t be happier to stay here! ¡°Young boss, I¡¯ll leave my Armored Rhinoceros in your care.¡± Du Heng took a deep breath and turned to look at Xu Ran. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± Xu Ran said, his smile bright. With the completion of the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s meal, the physical points gained from the drug application were credited. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur(C-level)](l/100) [Drug Application(D-level)](o/ioo) Pet Beast Skills [**Ice Storm](Not Teachable) Physical Points: 7(Available) Pleasure Value: 463 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Although the use of the drug application did not improve his skill experience, which made him somewhat confused, the thought of being able to easily increase Ziyun¡¯s growth stage by seven points still made him very happy. You see, after Ziyun uses an Energy Abundant Potion and trains nonstop for three hours, it can only increase about 20 points of progress. Moreover, as the growth progress increases, the efficiency decreases. The pleasure value provided by feeding should not be ignored aside from physical points. Although the pleasure value gained from feeding is lower than that of washing and protection, under normal circumstances, a pet beast could only be taken care of in such a way once every ten or fifteen days, while Armored Rhinoceros needed to eat twice a day! At this moment, his gaze at the Armored Rhinoceros seemed different. Du Heng was silent for a while. Why did it feel like the young boss¡¯s look at his pet beast was somewhat out of place? Nevermind, it must be his misperception. ¡°I¡¯m off!¡± Du Heng looked back three times before he finally left the basement. ¡°Armored Rhinoceros, from now on, consider this place your home.¡± Xu Ran patted the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s big head and then turned to walk into the preparation room. He needed to prepare a meal for Ziyun. [To improve feeding efficiency this time, the system will grant the host knowledge related to the Nutrition Science of the Electric Chasing Cat species] Let¡¯s get it! ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯m so bored-) Resting lazily atop the store counter, Ziyun dangled its head. The Human Beast Master named Du Heng had been gone for a while now. Why hadn¡¯t its own Beast Master come upstairs yet? Judging by Du Heng¡¯s satisfied expression, his Armored Rhinoceros should have been fostered in the basement, right? Was the Beast Master feeding that big guy? Ziyun felt a little sour, picturing its Beast Master handing food to the Armored Rhinoceros. That¡¯s a special treatment that only it should be able to enjoy! Using its paw, it reached into the food bag beside it and put a few purple sugar beans into its mouth, stopping for a moment right after. Was it possible that when the Beast Master fed other people¡¯s pet beasts, he could also teach it new skills? With this thought, its eyes filled with anticipation, and regret for its previous thoughts. The Beast Master is doing all this for himself! ¡°Meow-¡± (The Beast Master is amazing!) ¡°What¡¯s so great?¡± Xu Ran, who had just entered the store through the back door, heard Ziyun¡¯s exclamation and casually asked. Ziyun quickly raised its head to locate the sound, and the next moment its gaze fell on the food bowl in Xu Ran¡¯s hand. With its keen sense of smell, it immediately caught a strong irresistible aroma. In the face of this aroma, be it cat food or the purple sugar beans it had just eaten, they seemed ordinary! What¡­what is this?! ¡°Here! This is new food I prepared for you, want to try?¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s drooling eyes, Xu Ran placed the food bowl in front of Ziyun. ¡°Roar!¡± For the first time, Ziyun didn¡¯t care about table manners. It buried its head directly into the bowl and started eating heartily. Seeing the little guy¡¯s satisfied expression, Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Since you like it so much, I¡¯ll make this kind of food for you from now on.¡± ¡°Meow¡ª¡± Ziyun nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue eating when it suddenly paused. What did the Beast Master just say? This is the food he made?! It abruptly raised its head, looking bewildered at its own Beast Master. ¡°Meow?¡± (You have this cooking skill, why do you still need to buy food from outside?) In the face of Ziyun¡¯s soul-deep questioning, the corners of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He didn¡¯t have this cooking skill before¡­ But he can¡¯t explain it this way to Ziyun. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t have the Green Jade Fruit before.¡± Xu Ran quickly found a seemingly reasonable excuse, ¡°To make this kind of food, it is needed.¡± Ziyun seemed to understand. Thinking about the danger they encountered in the city while gathering Green Jade Fruits with the Beast Master, Ziyun felt overwhelmingly moved at this moment. The Beast Master risked so much to prepare more delicious food for himself! He¡¯s really¡­I am going to cry to death! After finishing the meal, Ziyun felt that its strength had also increased a bit. It¡¯s indeed the food on which the Beast Master had poured his heart into! Logging the increase of 1 physical point on Ziyun¡¯s panel, Xu Ran nodded slightly. As expected of a recipe from the system, effective immediately! ¡°Now comes the pleasant phase of gaining points.¡± Xu Ran smiled mysteriously. Gaining points? What is that? Linking it to the Beast Master just coming out of the underground floor, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Meow?¡± (Is it a new skill?) ¡°Not a skill, but it¡¯s still something helpful to you.¡± Xu Ran replied, beginning his operations at the same time. (Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (167/500) [+] Species Level: Leader Species Skills: [*¡ï Electric Spark (Stardust Level)] (37/100) [*¡ï Electric Arc (Stardust Level)] (40/100) [** Battle Instinct (Stardust Level)] (22/100) [¡ï Self-healing Power (Stardust Level)] (26/100) [¡ï Blood Fury (Stardust Level)] (11/100)] While monitoring the growth progress change earlier, Xu Ran discovered that behind the growth progression, there was now a clickable plus sign. After clicking seven times in succession, Ziyun¡¯s growth progress changed to (174/500), and the balance of physical points on the personal panel was reset to zero. Ziyun:¡±!!!¡± This sensation of power continuously growing¡­.so cool! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Panic-Stricken Ziyun l Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Panic-Stricken Ziyun l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back to watching the shop.¡± Xu Ran sat behind the counter, resting his chin in his hand as he watched the passersby outside the shop. He had a doubt about the application of medicine; after using the skill, his skill experience did not increase. Could it be that he needs to use the drug application multiple times before seeing an increment in the skill experience? He had only used the skill once, and Xu Ran hadn¡¯t thoroughly grasped the rules yet. He planned to use it once on every feeding; he should figure it out soon. [Pleasure value from Armored Rhinoceros +1] Huh? Seeing the sudden system notification, Xu Ran straightens up in his chair quickly. What¡¯s going on? Feeding had already finished, could the Armored Rhinoceros still provide pleasure value? ¡°I¡¯m going to go take a look, you watch the shop for a bit.¡± After giving Ziyun¡¯s head a pat and giving this instruction, without a word, Xu Ran ran straight for the back door. Soon, Xu Ran stopped in the basement. He watched from afar as the Armored Rhinoceros happily rolled about in the mud pond. Seeing another Pleasure Value reminder pop up, his face lit up with realization. So that¡¯s how it worked. Not only did feeding provide pleasure value during fosterage, a comfortable environment could also bring the Pet Beast pleasure, providing him with pleasure value. Compared to feeding, this pleasure value increase was slower and not as much. But what was valuable was that this pleasure value could provide a steady stream of income all day! A slow and steady approach! If in the future the number of Pet Beasts fostered increases, this pleasure value will also be considerable! Having cleared up his doubts, Xu Ran didn¡¯t disturb the Armored Rhinoceros and returned to the shop on the first floor. Receiving the occasional pleasure value notifications had made him excited at first, but soon it started to bother him. It¡¯s kind of getting in the way of things, could he still sleep with these notifications popping up all night? Just as he thought this, a line of text appeared before him. [Would you like to disable notifications for pleasure value gains from the foster environment?] [Yes][No] Pretty considerate, huh? Xu Ran clicked on [Yes], and the world went quiet again. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun by his side seemed to have grown tired of lying down. It straightened its forelegs, sticking its tail and bottom high up, arching its back in a stretch before getting up from the counter, strolling leisurely. Should it go greet the foster members in the shop? Being fed by the Beast Master had made it stronger, it had to treat these foster members well and make them feel at home. Having made up its mind, Ziyun hopped off the counter, making its way towards the back door. It jumped up to grab the door handle, pushing the door open. As it walked out proudly, it even used its fluffy tail to close the door behind it. Ziyun wanted to play with the Armored Rhinoceros? Noticing the little creature¡¯s actions, Xu Ran smiled slightly. It appeared there was another benefit to accommodating fostered pet beasts. Even if Ziyun was the only pet, it wouldn¡¯t be too lonely. It could find a playmate¡­ Watching Ziyun return in shocked panic, Xu Ran¡¯s smile faltered slightly. What happened? Ziyun flew straight into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, its eyes still filled with post-fear. It was too scary! That big creature was actually¡­ It was actually playing in the mud!! Not only that, he even invited me to join in on the fun! Thinking of how dirty he would be after rolling around in the mud, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Letting the foster members feel the warmth of home should still be left to the Beast Masters! The half day of business passed quickly as they gathered Green Jade Fruit outside the city in the morning, experienced three hours of system modification, and the afternoon¡¯s operations in their still newly opened shop came to an end. Since they fed the Armored Rhinoceros in the afternoon, they would have to provide its second meal the next morning. Xu Ran greeted the tired creatures on the underground floor, then went upstairs carrying Ziyun to the living quarters. As Xu Ran continued to flip through reference books while sitting on the bed, a system notification suddenly flashed in front of him. [Drug Application Skill Experience Points +1] Huh? Why are they adding experience points out of the blue? He closed the book he was holding and was about to get off the bed to see if the Armored Rhinoceros downstairs had done something when he abruptly paused. Xu Ran thought of another possibility. He picked up his cellphone to check the time. It was just past midnight. So, the experience points for the Drug Application Skill are calculated daily?! Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, but then thought this made sense. Different Pet Beasts have different dietary habits. Some Pet Beasts only eat once a day, while others eat smaller meals more frequently, up to dozens of times in a day. If the experience points were calculated based on feeding times, it would be somewhat unreasonable. Calculating on a daily basis seemed more suitable. However, Xu Ran quickly considered another interesting problem. Some Pet Beasts had even more peculiar eating habits, eating only once every ten days or even half a month. How then would the Drug Application Skill experience be calculated? When he encountered such a Pet Beast in the future, he had to try it. Fatigue washed over him. The questions in his mind had been answered, so Xu Ran put the book on the bedside table, looked at Ziyun who had already burrowed under the covers and was sound asleep, and let out a quiet chuckle. Turn off the lights, sleep time. Nothing happened overnight. Monday marked the beginning of a new week. To the residents of Qingzhou City, this meant that after two days of rest, they had to return to their workplaces. For students still in school, this marked the end of their two-day weekend holiday, and they had to return to their rigorous studies, rising earlier than roosters. On the campus of Qingzhou¡¯s Second Beast Mastery High School, students were lining up in square formations by class, conducting the routine, weekly physical exercises. Unlike typical high schools, not only were the underage Beast Masters taking part in the exercises, but so were their Pet Beasts. In Freshman Year (6) class¡¯s square formation, Lin Yue quietly pulled on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Xiaoxiao, look at An Xun¡¯s Colorful Cloud Parrot!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right!¡± Upon hearing Lin Yue¡¯s words, Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the direction in which An Xun stood. When her gaze landed on the Colorful Cloud Parrot perched on An Xun¡¯s shoulder, she was taken aback, ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°Why do I feel like this is Boss Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection?¡± Lin Yue queried, yet her expression showed certainty, ¡°This annoying guy actually went to the Starfire Foster Care Shop for washing and protection!¡± ¡°Where she chooses to pay for washing and protection is her freedom.¡± Su Xiaoxiao patted Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder, ¡°No need to concern yourself with these matters.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lin Yue nodded, then glanced at Su Xiaoxiao, ¡°After the exercises, we have the Great Devil¡¯s class, are you ready?¡± ¡°Ready!¡± Su Xiaoxiao was confident, and couldn¡¯t help but stroke the Flame Fox lazily curled up in her arms. The Great Devil was the nickname of their teacher, Tan Qingsheng, who taught the Beast Mastery practical training class. Teacher Tan was very strict, and would scold students for the slightest of mistakes, thus earning this nickname. The Flame Fox hadn¡¯t been very cooperative with Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s commands, which had led to her already being scolded many times by the Great Devil. But this time it would be different! Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Reason Why We Cant Lose 1 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Reason Why We Can¡¯t Lose 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Interestingly enough, ever since Su Xiaoxiao visited the foster shop to inquire about washing and protection for the pet beast, Flame Fox, and was rejected by Xu Ran again, the Flame Fox had suddenly begun to work hard. The Flame Fox, who previously refused to cooperate with training and preferred to lie on the sofa, munching on snacks and watching television, now took the initiative to request intense training from Su Xiaoxiao. Su Xiaoxiao was overjoyed and spent the entire weekend training Flame Fox diligently. At first, she genuinely thought that the Flame Fox had begun to strive for improvement. It wasn¡¯t until Flame Fox questioned her if it was dirty after its training, that Su Xiaoxiao realised the real intention behind Flame Fox¡¯s actions. It turned out that Flame Fox was training hard to get dirty quicker so that it could get a washing and protection session sooner! This behavior was just¡­ Worth promoting! Su Xiaoxiao, who had always been troubled by the training issues of her pet beast, felt a whole new ray of hope in her Beast Master career. She had found the key to get a pet beast to obey! Before the practical training class, she promised Flame Fox a washing and protection session right after the training, assuring it that Xu Ran would not reject it this time. Flame Fox then readily agreed to perform well during the practical training class. The stern reprimand from the great demon, this time, surely didn¡¯t stand a chance! On the other side of the square formation, Duan Anxun and Du Ting next to her were having a small chat. ¡°An Xun, how did your Colorful Cloud Parrot suddenly change so much!¡±, exclaimed a envious Du Ting, unable to suppress her admiration. ¡°I took it to a new shop for washing and protection, the effects were better.¡± Duan Anxun replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the location later, but it¡¯s probably a little expensive.¡± ¡°Good, good!¡± Du Ting eagerly agreed, but she suddenly sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a shame. If you had found that shop during the appearance assessment, Su Xiaoxiao wouldn¡¯t have come first!¡± Duan Anxun¡¯s smile faded away, her face becoming somewhat unnatural, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that anymore.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s not talk about bad things!¡± Du Ting nodded and switched the topic, ¡°Once the morning exercises are over, it¡¯ll be time for practical training class. Every time, An Xun, you come first. This time too, we can watch Su Xiaoxiao get scolded by the big demon!¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Duan Anxun shook her head, suddenly remembering the perfect coordination between Su and Flame Fox during the appearance evaluation, ¡°Maybe, she won¡¯t be scolded this time.¡± ¡°Still, she will not be able to compete with you!¡± Du Ting confidently added. ¡°Yes.¡± Duan Anxun¡¯s eyes shone of confidence. A practical training class was the most important course in the Beast Mastery High School examination for advancement ¡ª an indisputable major subject. Throughout her freshman year, she had firmly held the first position in the class for this course and this time would be no exception! Quarter an hour later, the morning exercises ended. Students from each class orderly left the field, those of class freshman year (6) disbanded into small groups and headed to the special classroom for the practical training class. Only a moment ago they were filled with laughter, but they all fell silent as they entered the classroom. That¡¯s because there stood a middle-aged man in the classroom, arms folded across his chest and a stern expression on his face. The practical training class teacher, Tan Qingsheng. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re all having fun,¡± Tan Qingsheng began in a low voice, ¡°I hope you can still laugh like this after the seven tests of practical training.¡± Ignoring the nervous expressions on their faces, Tan Qingsheng took out a student roll, ¡°The student whose name is called, step up for the test.¡± Various testing equipment was set up in the classroom, taking up almost all the space that was not used by the students. ¡°Su Xiaoxiao, step up!¡± As Tan Qingsheng called out her name, he glanced at Su Xiaoxiao standing in the crowd. He did it on purpose. In previous practical training classes, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s performance was not good, but she excelled in all other courses. So she was always on his priority watch list. Other subject teachers told him Su Xiaoxiao had had some contrasting behavior in the previous few days, so he wanted to see if her performance in the practical training class would change. ¡°Present!¡± Su Xiaoxiao responded, carrying Flame Fox as she stepped forward, and approached the first testing apparatus. Although she was confident before, she inevitably felt a little nervous at this moment. ¡°Little Flame, do your best!¡± She whispered, as she placed Flame Fox on the testing stage and put on a fully enclosed helmet. The helmet simulated various battle scenarios for the Beast Master, which the pet beasts were not able to see. The Beast Master would issue various battle instructions based on the scenarios, and the pet beast had to respond appropriately with movements and attacks without a physical opponent in sight. This evaluation, known as ¡®command power¡¯, tested the accuracy of the pet beast¡¯s execution of the Beast Master¡¯s commands. ¡°Jump left one meter!¡± ¡°Flame Dance, three meters ahead!¡± As Su Xiaoxiao shouted each command, the Flame Fox, responding more quickly through mind induction, swiftly executed the actions. The consistent understanding between the girl and the pet surprised many classmates who were ready to see her fail. It also caught Tan Qingsheng by surprise. Her performance was a complete contrast to her actions a week ago. Three minutes later, Su Xiaoxiao removed her helmet and final score for her and the pet ¨C 98.3 points ¨C was displayed on the device. ¡°Next test!¡± Tan Qingsheng immediately announced. A relieved Su Xiaoxiao, scoring so high for the first time, jogged to another testing apparatus for the next testing item. ¡°This score¡­¡± Du Ting, who was watching from afar, showed a look of disbelief on her face, she couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Duan Anxun. As the top ranker of practical training class in the class, Duan Anxun¡¯s highest score in ¡®command power¡¯ was 97.6. Duan Anxun, holding her Colorful Cloud Parrot, silently watched Su Xiaoxiao, who continued to perform exceptionally well in the second test. ¡°Su Xiaoxiao, total score for seven tests, 663.8 points.¡± As the seven tests came to an end, Tan Qingsheng announced Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s final result. Looking at Su Xiaoxiao returning to her place, Tan Qingsheng¡¯s face, for the first time, showed a hint of a smile, ¡°Keep it up.¡± ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Lin Yue, standing next to Su Xiaoxiao, gasped softly, exclaiming softly, ¡°The big demon actually smiled! Oh my God¡­¡± ¡°Lin Yue! Talking during class, are you? Seems you are very confident, step up!¡± The stern rebuke from Tan Qingsheng sent a chill down Lin Yue¡¯s spine, her expression drooping. She walked forward nervously to begin her test. It was a good thing that washing and protection still had some effects on improving the Green Wind Eagle¡¯s mental state. Although Lin Yue¡¯s final score wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as Su Xiaoxiao, it was significantly better than before, thereby saving her from Tan Qingsheng¡¯s scolding. After that, several students were called by name to step forward for their tests. Students who made progress received a ¡°keep it up¡± from Tan Qingsheng, while those who didn¡¯t show progress or regressed, bore the brunt of Tan Qingsheng¡¯s reprimand. ¡°Duan Anxun, step up for the test!¡± Soon, it was Duan Anxun¡¯s turn to be tested. ¡°An Xun, good luck!¡± Du Ting waved vigorously from behind her, cheering her on. ¡°Yes.¡± Duan Anxun nodded and walked forward, holding the Colorful Cloud Parrot. She remembered the dinner she had with her mother at the restaurant two nights ago. During the meal, her mother had brought up her consistent rank one in the high school practical training class, while flashing a smile. She had a reason not to lose.. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Scolded Honor Studentl Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Scolded Honor Studentl Translator: 549690339 ¡°Command test, begin!¡± As Tan Qingsheng¡¯s voice fell, the scenery in front of Duan Anxun, who was wearing a helmet, changed rapidly. One second she was in the classroom, the next it was as if she was on top of a cliff with a howling gale. Following a fierce cry, a robust quadruped mythical bird swooped down at her. It was¡­ A Wind Pet Beast, a Wind-Splitting Griffin! Duan Anxun, who had already undergone many command tests, wasn¡¯t flustered and commanded in a deep voice, ¡°Rise three meters, God¡¯s Dazzling Light!¡± The Colorful Cloud Parrot, standing ready in front of her, instantly soared to the corresponding height, its long feathers bursting with dazzling colorful light. This light, piercing into one¡¯s eyes, would not only temporarily blind the opponent, but could also induce a period of dizziness. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level-God¡¯s Dazzling Light! The surrounding monitoring equipment recorded all movements of the Colorful Cloud Parrot and simultaneously projected it into Duan Anxun¡¯s field of view as a counterattack against the Wind-Splitting Griffin. The simulated Wind-Splitting Griffin responded in kind. Duan Anxun repelled each attack calmly. Three minutes later, the Wind-Splitting Griffin ceased its attack and the virtual scenario dissolved. The test ended, and the final score for Duan Anxun appeared on the instrument. 98.3 points. The same score as Su Xiaoxiao. Duan Anxun looked back at Su Xiaoxiao. Even if you momentarily surpass me, I will promptly catch up and surpass you again! She went straight to the second testing device. If the score for the first item was the same, then she had to score higher than Su Xiaoxiao for the remaining six items! The second item¡­ the third item¡­ the fourth item¡­ One test after another was completed. Due to the Colorful Cloud Parrot¡¯s good condition, Duan Anxun achieved her best score ever on every test. However, her face didn¡¯t look very good. Because she didn¡¯t manage to surpass Su Xiaoxiao as she had envisioned. Finally, Duan Anxun stood on the last test. The total score she achieved in the previous six tests was 573.1 points. Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s total score for the seven items was 663.8 points. To surpass her, she needed to score 90.7 points in the last test. She glanced at the label on the machine. The last test was for stress resistance. This was a test that was almost impossible to score over 90 points. She had never scored it before, and Su Xiaoxiao hadn¡¯t either. With a bite of her lip, Duan Anxun caressed the smooth and slender feathers of the Colorful Cloud Parrot and placed it in the test area. The next moment, an energy form opponent that looked identical to the Colorful Cloud Parrot appeared. The strength of the energy form opponent was exactly equal to the Colorful Cloud Parrot at the start, and it increased by a fixed proportion as time passed. The longer the pet beast persisted, the higher the final score. To score 90 points you have to endure for 60 seconds, at which point the power of the energy form opponent would be double that of the test pet beast. Taking a deep breath, Duan Anxun commanded the Colorful Cloud Parrot to nimbly dodge in the test area. The stress resistance timer starts! As time went by second by second, the Colorful Cloud Parrot, which could initially dodge the opponent¡¯s attack with ease, became more and more difficult to control as time passed. Even with Duan Anxun¡¯s proficient command, it still felt an immense pressure. At the 45th second, the Colorful Cloud Parrot was injured for the first time, obtaining a wound on its wing. This made it more difficult to move and its condition deteriorated rapidly. At the 54th second, the Colorful Cloud Parrot was covered in injuries and had no strength left to dodge. Duan Anxun drew a deep breath. The short span of six seconds seemed so long at this point. At this moment, in her mind flashed her mother¡¯s smile when she was entertaining, her mother¡¯s repression when her face was expressionless, and her suffocation when her mother looked her in the eyes. She didn¡¯t want¡­ didn¡¯t want this anymore! Looking at the Colorful Cloud Parrot, whose condition was rapidly deteriorating and could only passively take hits, Duan Anxun¡¯s eyes gradually turned red, and the voice transmitted to the Colorful Cloud Parrot¡¯s brain was pleading. ¡°Hold on, I beg you, would you please hang in there?¡± She didn¡¯t notice the astonished and bewildered glances of other classmates standing behind her. She also didn¡¯t notice that Tan Qingsheng¡¯s expression had changed from initial satisfaction to disappointment and finally into suppressed fury. 61 seconds! Duan Anxun immediately pressed the stop button, wanting to rush towards the unconscious Colorful Cloud Parrot in the test area, but was held back by a strong hand. ¡°Stop it!¡± Tan Qingsheng barked, his gaze filled with disappointment as he looked at this straight A student he used to praise over and over again. At his side, a peacock-shaped pet beast, enveloped in a hazy green light and brilliant feathers, spurted a life-giving green light, enveloping the Colorful Cloud Parrot- the Phoenix of Revival, an Elite Stage Earth and Wind dual-attribute pet beast. ¡°Your pet beast can¡¯t hold on any longer, are you blind?¡± Tan Qingsheng glared at Duan Anxun, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop in time? Why did you persist for seven more seconds?!¡± ¡°Because¡­ because¡­¡± Duan Anxun was pale and seemed at a loss. As a student who had always been praised by teachers, she was being scolded by them so harshly for the first time. Duan Anxun¡¯s final score appeared at this moment. 91.0 points. The screen calculated her total score. 664.1 points. Upon seeing this score, it seemed as if Tan Qingsheng understood something. What followed was even deeper disappointment. ¡°All for the sake of being first in a test?¡± He looked at his once-promising student as if seeing her for the first time, ¡°Can¡¯t you distinguish which is more important between your grades and your pet beast?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Occasionally catching sight of the Colorful Cloud Parrot, which was gradually recovering under the healing of the Phoenix of Revival, Duan Anxun felt as if she had been hit on the head by a hammer and her mind went blank. What¡­ what had she just done? Duan Anxun¡¯s expression became increasingly complex. There was confusion, regret, disappointment, and fear. ¡°For this, you will receive a zero.¡± Watching the changes in Duan Anxun¡¯s expression, Tan Qingsheng huffed coldly and manually changed Duan Anxun¡¯s seventh item score from 91 points to 0 points, ¡°You need to cool down.¡± Looking at the updated score, Duan Anxun turned pale. ¡°Xiaoxiao, here!¡± Lin Yue handed a can of Coca Cola to Su Xiaoxiao, opened her own can with a ¡°popper¡±, took a big gulp, and burped, ¡°You ranked first in the entire class for this practical test!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded slightly. She seemed lackluster as she looked at the girl not far away who had been lying on her seat with her head down the whole time. She suddenly spoke, ¡°A Yue, do you think¡­ are grades really that important?¡± ¡°Who knows, anyway, I would never let my pet beast suffer like that just for a few points.¡± Lin Yue glanced at the girl, ¡°Some people treat their pet beasts as tools and deserved to be scolded.¡± Su Xiaoxiao was silent for a moment, ¡°It seems like you bought an extra can of Coca Cola?¡± ¡°Yes, I was going to drink it this afternoon¡­ what are you doing?¡± As she watched Su Xiaoxiao take her Coca Cola, Lin Yue¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Let me borrow it.¡± Su Xiaoxiao stood up and walked towards Duan Anxun, ¡°I¡¯ll buy another can for you later.¡± ¡°¡­hey! Why are you playing good Samaritan at a time like this!¡± Realizing what Su Xiaoxiao was intending to do, Lin Yue rolled her eyes dramatically and shook her head helplessly. ¡°But this way, you¡¯re the Su Xiaoxiao I recognize¡­.¡± Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 What on earth is this! 1 Chapter 40: Chapter 40 What on earth is this! 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Want some Coca Cola?¡± A familiar voice sounded in Duan Anxun¡¯s ear. Duan Anxun, who was resting her head on the table with her sleeves already soaked with tears, shivered slightly. ¡°Did you come here to mock me?¡± She didn¡¯t lift her head and said in muffled voice. ¡°There is nothing funny about this.¡± Su Xiaoxiao set a bottle of Coca Cola on her table, regardless of whether she would drink it or not, and then sat down in front of her, she herself taking a sip of her own drink, ¡°Where¡¯s Du Ting?¡± Duan Anxun fell silent. After the practical training class, all her classmates looked at her differently. Even Du Ting, who was always friendly to her, made an excuse to hang out with other girls. She saw the rejection in their eyes, but she pretended not to notice. The teacher¡¯s reprimand, the estrangement from her best friend, the silence of her Pet Beast¡¯s apology, and the strange looks from everyone around her, she hid her tear-streaked face in her sleeves, trying to pretend that none of this was happening. But Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s casual questioning tore open her festering wounds afresh. ¡°You are really annoying,¡± Duan Anxun uttered in a muffled voice. ¡°Likewise,¡± Su Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t get angry at her words, she glanced at Duan Anxun who still refused to raise her head, then looked out of the window, ¡°do you remember our first fight during freshman year?¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Duan Anxun paused for a moment, ¡°Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle dirtied my new skirt, I scolded her, and you defended her.¡± ¡°So, you still remember¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face showed a trace of reminiscence. Because of that fight, she and Lin Yue became best friends in the class. That fight also became the reason the conflict between her and Duan Anxun never resolved. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, was I wrong to scold her?¡± Duan Anxun murmured, perhaps she was feeling too lousy and wanted someone to vent to. She seemed to sound a bit discontented, ¡°You didn¡¯t even know her at that time!¡± ¡°A Yue dirtied your skirt, it¡¯s understandable that you yelled at her a bit,¡± Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, not looking at Duan Anxun who had slowly lifted her face in surprise. She turned to see Lin Yue making faces at her from somewhere else, and she gave a wry smile, ¡°The reason why I defended her was because you referred to her pet as a ¡®such a beast¡¯.¡± ¡°When people are angry they might speak harshly,¡± Su Xiaoxiao turned back and looked at Duan Anxun seriously, ¡°but you shouldn¡¯t have referred to a Pet Beast like that. They are our partners.¡± ¡°Just like how you shouldn¡¯t have let the Colorful Cloud Parrot suffer unbearable pain for the sake of a few marks today. It is more important than the scores.¡± With a sob, she burst into tears, her voice choked up with emotion. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to¡­but I couldn¡¯t¡­ I couldn¡¯t get first place, my mom¡­¡± Listening to Duan Anxun¡¯s fragmented sentences, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s expression changed from surprise to sympathy. This was something that Duan Anxun had never revealed to anyone before, something that Su Xiaoxiao was unaware of. Having open-minded parents, she never imagined that someone else¡¯s parents could be like this. ¡°You¡­¡± Looking at the completely broken down Duan Anxun, and seeing Lin Yue from a distance raise a thumbs-up towards her as if saying ¡°That¡¯s pretty amazing, you made Duan Anxun cry¡±, Su Xiaoxiao was lost for words and rummaged for a tissue to hand to Duan Anxun. ¡°Stop crying, wipe your tears¡­¡± Looking at Duan Anxun, who was both crying and blowing her nose, Su Xiaoxiao looked helplessly heavenward. What kind of situation was this?! ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush!¡± Looking at the Armored Rhinoceros, who was eating as one might expect a pig to feed, Xu Ran also looked helplessly towards the heavens. Who could believe that this grand and powerful elite level pet beast, which looked like a moving armored vehicle, was urging him first thing in the morning to prepare food, as if it hadn¡¯t eaten for three days? Just yesterday afternoon, he had fed it on time and in the right amount! But seeing the constant notifications of increased pleasure value popping up, Xu Ran started to see this Armored Rhinoceros, hell-bent on stuffing its face¡­ uh, no¡­ this pig, in a new light. Ziyun was hiding behind Xu Ran, warily watching the big guy eating in such a terrifying manner. It thought of how it had been eating just a while ago, and even though it may not have been the most elegant, it was much better compared to the big guy in front of its eyes. Soon, the Armored Rhinoceros had finished eating. Xu Ran took away the food bowl, which was as clean as if it had been scrubbed, ¡°I¡¯m going first.¡± The Armored Rhinoceros, looking lazily at Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, lay leisurely on the ground, casually rolling around. Returning to the first floor, Ziyun, who had been following closely behind Xu Ran, couldn¡¯t wait any longer, and pulled at his trouser leg with its teeth. ¡°Meow-¡± (Beast Master, add points!) ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, and readily added the 8 Physical Points he had just acquired to Ziyun¡¯s growth progress. Ziyun had also increased its progress by 1 point after eating just now, so now its growth progress had become (183/500). In the afternoon, he could feed the Armored Rhinoceros once more, and then some new Physical Points would be credited. With this speed, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Ziyun¡¯s growth progress would be maxed out. However, this put pressure on himself. After the growth progress is maxed out, he would still need the power of his own contract to reach the second stage, otherwise, the Beast Taming Contract would inhibit Ziyun¡¯s breakthrough. Xu Ran had read many novels in his previous life, and knew that in novels, characters training would meet with a so-called bottleneck¡­ So now he was the bottleneck?! ¡°From now on, no slacking!¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, a determined look on his face, ¡°There¡¯s not much business at the moment anyway, if there¡¯s nothing to do, I¡¯ll just seize the time to do my meditation training!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Keep it up!) Seeing the Beast Master¡¯s high spirits, Ziyun felt genuinely proud. ¡°You stay here to watch the store, if there is a customer, wake me up.¡± After instructing, Xu Ran crossed his legs and closed his eyes to start meditating. Five minutes later, Xu Ran opened his eyes, stood up from the rest area, and took a bottle of Coca Cola from the fridge, ¡°Time for a drink.¡± Ten minutes later, Xu Ran opened his eyes, took a bag of chips from the snack rack in the rest area, ¡°Time to eat something.¡± Twenty minutes later¡­ Ziyun watched Xu Ran as he interrupted his meditation time and again. Initially, it was ( dcod ) But then, it changed to And finally it became (=w=) Feeling like he might have been a bit excessive, Xu Ran¡¯s face reddened. For him, who was informed from the explosion of information in his previous life, it was really hard to meditate and clear his mind! ¡°Excuse me, do you offer foster care services here?¡± Just as the atmosphere in the store was getting slightly awkward, a voice came from outside the door. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Xu Ran stood up as if pardoned. A thin young man walked in from outside, scanning the interior of the shop before quickly noticing the price menu on the wall. ¡°2666 Yuan a day¡­¡± he muttered to himself, then looked at Xu Ran, ¡°You get what you pay for, you guys will give my Pet Beast the best care, right?¡± ¡°Of course, without a doubt.¡± Xu Ran replied without hesitation. ¡°Alright, you stay here then.¡± The thin young man quickly paid for one month¡¯s fostering fee with a scan, then turned to leave. Xu Ran:¡±???¡± What just happened? Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: New Resident at the Foster Shop l Chapter 41: Chapter 41: New Resident at the Foster Shop l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Click-¡± After the skinny boy left, a low voice echoed in the foster shop. In the stunned eyes of Xu Ran and Ziyun, a lizard pet with black scales, even its eyes completely black, stepped out of the shadow in front of the counter. Only after seeing this two-meter-long creature, fitting into the medium-sized body type category, did Xu Ran belatedly realize it was the pet left in his care by the boy. By now, Xu Ran could recognize some common pet beast species without the need for system identification; the black creature before him was an example. A dark-attribute pet beast, the Shadow Chaser Lizard. This lizard, covered in black scales, possessed the ability to blend into the shadows, making a powerful assassin in the darkness. ¡°Since your owner has left you in my care, consider this place your new home,¡± Xu Ran walked up to Shadow Chaser Lizard and spoke softly, ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll show you around your new environment.¡± ¡°Ziyun, take care of the shop!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Leave it to me-) Ziyun, who had stood up, slowly lay down, placing his front paws across his chest, calmly guarding the shop. ¡°Click-¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard didn¡¯t seem too enthusiastic, its mood seemed quite low. It followed Xu Ran to the back door, matching his pace. Observing the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s behavior, a thoughtful expression emerged in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. There seemed to be some issues between this Beast Master and his pet. When Du Heng first came to the foster shop, he examined the shop¡¯s space, verified that the environment was suitable for his Armored Rhinoceros, and even observed the feeding process once. After evaluating the Starfire Foster Care Shop and trusting it to be reliable, he left in peace. That should be the essential workflow for a responsible Beast Master evaluating a new foster shop. But the skinny teenager simply glanced at the price, willingly paid a month¡¯s foster fee, and left without another word. The way he departed, after paying his dues, was as if he wanted to get away from his pet beast as soon as possible. Considering the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s current low mood, it was obvious something had occurred between the two. Generally, Xu Ran would not be inclined to meddle in such matters. However, from his previous experience with the Colorful Cloud Parrot, he was aware that an unhappy pet impacted the pleasure value he obtained. He just hoped the Shadow Chaser Lizard could cheer up. Maybe he should prepare a delicious meal for it, see if that could lift its spirits. In the blink of an eye, Xu Ran and the Shadow Chaser Lizard had reached the fostering area in the basement. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Xu Ran took out the control hub and made some adjustments; a stone forest was soon added to the undulating wasteland. Strange rocks of varying heights, some as high as ten meters, others at least three meters tall, and their shadows intertwining under the artificial light formed a large shaded area where the dark power gathered. ¡°You should like this environment.¡± ¡°Click-¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard glanced at Xu Ran and then stepped into the shadows. It disappeared as if it had sunk into water. Even though he didn¡¯t receive any pleasure value, it appeared from the creature¡¯s reaction and movements that it was satisfied with this environment. Xu Ran nodded slightly. Next, he would prepare a delicious meal for it! There¡¯s nothing that a good meal can¡¯t solve. If it doesn¡¯t work, then make two meals! In order to obtain more pleasure value, he had to use his adept hands and bring joy to the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡­ Oops, he had been affected by the system too much. Shaking his head, Xu Ran entered the Preparation Room and started working. In the large fostering area, the low rumble of an Armored Rhinoceros pacing the wilderness echoed from time to time. The Armored Rhinoceros noticed that a stone forest had appeared on the familiar wasteland. It tilted its head and looked puzzled. When did it grow? But soon, the Armored Rhinoceros understood something and its eyes cleared up. It seems a new resident has moved into the foster area. ¡°Roar-¡± (Do you want to play in the mud with me?) It edges closer to the Stone Forest, extending a warm invitation. Underneath the shadows of the Stone Forest, a pair of pure black eyes vaguely appear. The Shadow Chaser Lizard looks, full of surprise and sympathy, at the Armored Rhinoceros, which is stronger than itself. Such a powerful creature, it too has been abandoned just like me? ¡°Huh? Armored Rhinoceros, what brings you here?¡± Xu Ran, who just stepped out from the Preparation Room with a tray of food for the Shadow Chaser Lizard, asked in surprise. ¡°Roar?¡± The Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the food tray Xu Ran was holding. ¡°Roar!¡± (I want to eat too!) ¡°No, you still have a few hours until your next meal.¡± Even if he couldn¡¯t directly understand the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s language, Xu Ran could guess what this creature was thinking and promptly refused without hesitation, ¡°Go and play!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The rejected Armored Rhinoceros wasn¡¯t disheartened, and it turned its head and ran off into the distance, rolling delightedly in the mud after a ¡°plop¡±. Looking at the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s carefree demeanor, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile. This big guy, is adapting quite well. ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros just arrived yesterday and it has already adapted to life here. Hope you too can adapt soon.¡± He said, holding the food tray in front of the Stone Forest. As he finished, he saw the shadow hiding the food tray sinking slowly until it disappeared completely, and from time to time, he could hear chewing noises from within the shadow. Such a weird way of eating, it would feel eerie if you didn¡¯t know a Shadow Chaser Lizard was hiding in the shadows. [Pleasure value from the Shadow Chaser Lizard +3] [Pleasure value from the Shadow Chaser Lizard +3] [From¡­] So little pleasure value, it seems that making this creature happy won¡¯t be easy. The Shadow Chaser Lizard, hidden in the shadows, savors the meal from the food tray one bite after another, thinking about the words Xu Ran spoke earlier. ¡°It has already adapted to life here, hope you can adapt soon.¡± Adapt to what? Life after being abandoned by the Beast Master? As it watched the Armored Rhinoceros frolic in the mud joyfully from a distance, the Shadow Chaser Lizard pondered. Maybe, I should also cheer up? Perhaps, the day the Beast Master remembers me will eventually come? Encouraged by the optimism of the Armored Rhinoceros, the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s eyes showed determination and it began eating faster. [Pleasure value from the Shadow Chaser Lizard +4] [Pleasure value from the Shadow Chaser Lizard +5] [From¡­] The pleasure value provided by the Shadow Chaser Lizard was gradually increasing each time, and Xu Ran couldn¡¯t hold back a smile. See, there¡¯s nothing a delicious meal can¡¯t solve! By the time the empty food tray was lifted from the shadows, Xu Ran picked it up and sauntered off. Next time I¡¯ll feed it again in a while, the Shadow Chaser Lizard will be in an even better mood! Back in the shadows, the Shadow Chaser Lizard, looking at the Armored Rhinoceros cheerfully rolling around, nodded seriously. I must learn from this optimistic senior! Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Simple and Honest Folk Customs of Qingzhou Cityl Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Simple and Honest Folk Customs of Qingzhou Cityl Translator: 549690339 ¡°Beast Master, we have a customer!¡± Ziyun¡¯s call reached Xu Ran¡¯s mind through the Beast Taming Contract. Even though he had always asked Ziyun to look after the store, this was the first time Ziyun encountered a customer while being alone there. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Xu Ran washed the food bowl and put it on the shelf in the corner of the preparation room. After responding, he hastened to return. A customer came in! ¡°Gu Ling, look! This is the boss¡¯ pet beast!¡± Su Xiaoxiao led a girl who appeared to be quite gentle up to Ziyun and chirped with a grin, ¡°Little one, do you remember me?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun¡¯s gaze slowly moved from Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face, focusing on the Flame Fox that she was cradling in her arms. The moment the eyes of the two beasts who had once crossed paths met, it was as if an electric spark flashed in the air. ¡°It seems that it does remember.¡± Noticing the visual clash between Ziyun and her Flame Fox, Su Xiaoxiao chuckled. ¡°Xiaoxiao, is this shop really as good as you say?¡± The quiet girl took a look around, her gaze resting on the price menu, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Whether it¡¯s washing and protection or fosterage, the prices here are two to three times higher than other stores.¡± ¡°Trust me, Gu Ling, everything here is worth¡­ wait a minute¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao quickly turned to look at the price menu on the wall, her face showing surprise, ¡°Oh! The boss¡¯s shop finally offers foster care services!¡± Seeing the significantly higher price for foster care services compared to other stores, the first thought that popped into Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s mind was, ¡°The boss must have a good reason for his prices being high.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I don¡¯t need to put my Little Flame in fosterage.¡± Su Xiaoxiao commented with slight regret, ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no way I can contribute to the boss¡¯s business.¡± She wished she could spend twenty-four hours a day with her adorable little fox! No way could she foster it! ¡°You¡­¡± Gu Ling gazed at Su Xiaoxiao in astonishment, feeling that the best friend she had played with since childhood seemed a bit strange after not seeing her for several years. Such high prices, and she actually feels regretful because she can¡¯t foster? Not to mention a three-tiered city like Qingzhou, even the leveled up second-tiered town doesn¡¯t have foster shops with such outrageous prices! ¡°Just try later, and you¡¯ll know.¡± Understanding why her best friend was surprised, Su Xiaoxiao revealed a mysterious smile as she excitedly hugged Gu Ling¡¯s shoulder. ¡°By the way, since Gu Ling¡¯s father has been reassigned to Qingzhou City, does it mean he won¡¯t be reassigned again? Can we meet every day from now on?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Ling smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve already applied for a transfer, so I may become your classmate in a few days.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrific.¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s joy deepened. Her elders and Gu Ling¡¯s had been lifelong friends, and the two of them of similar age had been playing together since they could remember. A few years ago, Gu Ling had moved to Xieyun City because of her father¡¯s job, leading Su Xiaoxiao to cry for a long time. Knowing that Gu Ling was returning to Qingzhou City, heaven only knows how happy she was. After all the twists and turns, the two childhood friends could play together again. Shortly after, though, she began to worry about her best friend, ¡°Xieyun City is a second-level town, much bigger than Qingzhou City. Won¡¯t coming back to Qingzhou City affect your future development?¡± ¡°There will be some impact, but not much.¡± Gu Ling smiled faintly, ¡°My second beast hasn¡¯t been contracted yet, but we¡¯re already cultivating our bond.¡± ¡°The resources of a Beast Master are nothing more than beast resources and cultivation resources. The former is not an issue, and the latter, my dad is there, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her friend with admiration, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Gu Ling¡¯s father, after a few years of working in Xieyun City, had already¡­¡± ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± Xu Ran entered the store from the back door, and was surprised when he saw Su Xiaoxiao, ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°Ah! Boss, you¡¯re here!¡± Su Xiaoxiao changed the topic gaily, ¡°I have introduced a customer for you!¡± ¡°Ding ding ding ding-¡± she pulled Gu Ling forward, ¡°This is my best friend Gu Ling. She wants her pet beast to experience a wash and protection service.¡± ¡°Oh right, my Little Flame also needs a wash and protection service.¡± Su Xiaoxiao added, then blinked at Xu Ran, hinting frantically for a discount. Xu Ran ignored the frantically blinking Su Xiaoxiao, and as usual, scanned the Flame Fox. [Race Name: Flame Fox] Attribute: Fire Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Body Type: Small Maintenance Need: ***** Rating: We¡¯ve found a hard-working Flame Fox, and it needs a reward from its host¡¯s skillful hands! As brazen as ever. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for the maintenance,¡± Xu Ran paused, looking at Gu Ling on his side. ¡°You can summon the Pet Beast you want to maintain now.¡± A dark cloud appeared on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. Was this boss pretending not to see her hints on purpose? Dang it! ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Ling, standing aside, had to laugh, ¡°pfft¡±, at the sight of Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s enraged failure, and a Hexagram Star Array started to shimmer behind him. In the wild wind, a dragon-shaped Pet Beast, still young but already two meters tall, wearing black scales and with a protrusion behind its head, stepped out slowly. Huh? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Perhaps because the Red-eyed Demon Dragon he saw that day also had black scales, he found this dragon-like pet beast somewhat familiar in its strangeness. Race name: Dark Scale Dragon Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Body Type: Medium Maintenance Need: ***** Rating: A proud guy from a big city, seems to look down on the host¡¯s skills, quickly use your skillful hands to let it experience the pleasure of power! A proud guy from a big city? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look at the Dark Scale Dragon before him. No wonder he had never seen such a pet beast in Qingzhou City before. ¡°So which of you wants to go first for the maintenance?¡± ¡°Me, me!¡± Knowing that her bestie was still a little hesitant, and Little Flame was also impatient, Su Xiaoxiao volunteered. ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded and was about to add, ¡°Then you¡­¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun called out anxiously all of a sudden. It had missed the encounter with the Flame Fox last time because it was asleep. It couldn¡¯t miss it again this time. Ziyun still vividly remembered the defeat from their previous spar. The situation was different now. It had mastered more skills, and its strength had also significantly improved. It was time to redeem itself! Xu Ran, surprised, turned to look at it. After confirming he understood its intention, he turned back to Su Xiaoxiao, ¡°After the maintenance, my pet beast wants to have another spar with yours. Will you have the time?¡± ¡°Mew~¡± Even before Su Xiaoxiao could respond, the Flame Fox had already raised its head. Despite being the defeated party, it was ready to fight again! ¡°We can spar after the maintenance is done.¡± Seeing the Flame Fox willingly accept the challenge, Su Xiaoxiao was naturally not going to back down. Gu Ling on the side was a bit dumbfounded. How did it turn into a fight even before the maintenance had begun? After being away for so many years, had Qingzhou City become this plain and simple? Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Dragon Service l Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Dragon Service l Translator: 549690339 After the little interlude of issuing a challenge, Su Xiaoxiao handed Flame Fox to Xu Ran, ¡°Boss, I¡¯m leaving him to you!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran took the Flame Fox, which was full of anticipation, and walked into the Grooming Room. ¡°Xiaoxiao, did your Flame Fox spar with the boss¡¯s pet beast?¡± Gu Ling curiously looked at Ziyun and then asked. ¡°Yeah, a few days ago¡­¡± She briefly explained the details of the last spar, then clapped her hands together, ¡°So, Little Flame and the boss¡¯s cat are destined to spar again, it¡¯s a fated showdown!¡± Gu Ling: As she was about to say something, a rather pleasing sound suddenly came from the Grooming Room. ¡°Mew¡ª¡± Was this sound¡­ Gu Ling widened her eyes, her cheeks slightly warm, she looked at Su Xiaoxiao strangely, ¡°Is your Flame Fox okay?¡± ¡°Haha~¡± Su Xiaoxiao shifted her gaze slightly, ¡°No worries, this is the normal situation during grooming.¡± Was it really a normal situation? Listening to the strange sounds constantly coming from the Grooming Room, Gu Ling¡¯s gaze became more doubtful as she watched Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s increasingly evasive eyes. As the atmosphere became increasingly awkward due to the strange sounds coming from the Flame Fox, Xu Ran walked out of the Grooming Room, holding a rejuvenated Flame Fox. ¡°All done, next!¡± The Flame Fox¡¯s eyes still appeared dazed. After it jumped down to the ground, it staggered due to weak legs, then gradually regained consciousness, and became steady on its feet. It walked to Su Xiaoxiao with graceful steps, leapt into her arms and there was still a hint of reminiscence on its face. Gu Ling¡¯s gaze hadn¡¯t left the Flame Fox¡¯s body since it appeared, feeling the stark contrast before and after its grooming, she couldn¡¯t help but look surprised. Such grooming effects¡­ None of the other grooming services she had experienced before could compare! ¡°How about it, I told you it¡¯s worth it, right?¡± Su Xiaoxiao nudged Gu Ling with her elbow, ¡°It¡¯s your Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s turn now!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Gu Ling nodded, exchanged a look with her Dark Scale Dragon, then turned to Xu Ran, ¡°Please take care of my pet beast!¡± ¡°No problem, follow me.¡± Xu Ran signaled for the Dark Scale Dragon to follow him, then walked back into the Grooming Room. Feeling a bit nervous at the thought of providing service to a dragon, Xu Ran started the preparation. [In order to improve the grooming experience, the system will impart the host with related knowledge in ¡°Basic Care for Dragon Pet Beast¡± and ¡°Basic Care for Dark Attribute Pet Beast¡±] With a plethora of knowledge flooding his mind, Xu Ran picked up the showerhead, adjusted the bath dew containing special resources and the temperature, and sprinkled it over the Dark Scale Dragon. ¡°Roar?!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon, which was quietly lying on the Care platform, widened its eyes. Gu Ling came from a well-off family and was naturally generous to it. When they were at Xieyun City, it often enjoyed the best grooming service in the city. But none of those services ever gave it such a unique sensation. The water carried just the right amount of warmth, caressing the body hidden beneath its hard scales through tiny gaps. As the resources in the water came into play, waves of warmth spread from the surface of its body into its core. The peculiar comfort made its body uncontrollably tremble. [Pleasure value from Dark Scale Dragon +5] [Pleasure value from Dark Scale Dragon +5] [From¡­] Such a proud creature from the big city just acts like this, huh? Xu Ran looked at the overwhelmed Dark Scale Dragon, a strange gaze in his eyes. Without pausing, he proceeded with the next steps. The comfort brought by the grooming enhanced as the treatment continued, the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s satisfaction eventually peaked. The cold dragon eyes melted like ice hit with fire, leaving behind only a tumultuous daze. A trembling and low voice was painstakingly squeezed out from the throat of the Dark Scale Dragon. ¡°Ao¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from the Dark Scale Dragon +20] [Pleasure value from the Dark Scale Dragon +20] [From¡­] A touch of relief appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. He could feel the struggle within the Dark Scale Dragon. But it still enjoyed the process, didn¡¯t it? ¡°What¡­¡± Hearing faint noises from the grooming room, Gu Lin¡¯s eyes widened and her cheeks gradually grew hot. Why would her Dark Scale Dragon make such strange noises?! ¡°See! I told you it was normal.¡± Su Xiaoxiao, who was holding the Flame Fox, gave Gu Ling a look that said ¡°I told you so¡±. ¡°I¡­¡± Gu Ling¡¯s thoughts were somewhat chaotic, she was considering whether to go check on the situation in the grooming room, but was somewhat worried about witnessing something she shouldn¡¯t. While she was still hesitant, the door to the grooming room opened. Emerging from the haze that spilled out, Xu Ran walked out with a completely renewed Dark Scale Dragon. Looking at each scale shining like black crystal under the light, the piercingly sharp claws were so terrifying at a glance, the dark pupils were as horrifying as the abyss, the awe-inspiring Dark Scale Dragon left Gu Ling completely astounded. This is her Dark Scale Dragon?! Even though she had already witnessed the transformation of the Flame Fox before and after its grooming, it was still incredible to see a huge change in her familiar companion. ¡°Thank you for your patronage, the cost is 26,666 yuan.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Oh right!¡± Gu Ling came back to her senses, realizing she hadn¡¯t paid yet, she quickly scanned a barcode for the transfer. ¡°Boss, boss, shall we go for a match now?¡± Su Xiaoxiao started with a playful smile, ¡°My little Flame can¡¯t wait anymore!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun took a light leap, jumping into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, turning his head to look at the Flame Fox, as if the flames of battle were burning in his eyes. ¡°It seems that Ziyun can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the hanging clock on the wall, ¡°It¡¯s just about lunch time, let¡¯s close up shop and go for the match now.¡± ¡°Oh? It¡¯s you two again?¡± In the Tianhong Stadium, the familiar beefy referee chuckled, recognizing the pair of Beast Masters and their Pet Beasts who had competed just a few days ago, ¡°What a coincidence, I¡¯m hosting for you guys again today.¡± ¡°May I know the referee¡¯s name?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. Meeting the same referee twice in a row was somewhat serendipitous. ¡°You can just call me Xu.¡± Referee Xu Long picked up his whistle, ¡°If everyone is ready, shall we start now?¡± ¡°Great!¡± Xu Ran and Su Xiaoxiao exchanged glances, both without any issues. In the audience stand, Gu Ling curiously propped her cheeks, looking at the two sides ready for battle in the field. Beside her, the completely renewed Dark Scale Dragon crossed its front claws on its chest, assuming a serious watching posture. ¡°The rules of the game are hereby reiterated.¡± After quickly reiterating the rules of the game, Xu Long announced loudly, ¡°Both parties are in position, countdown three seconds, the game begins!¡± ¡°Three¡­ two¡­ one¡­¡± Standing in the fixed circles on either side of the field, Ziyun and Flame Fox simultaneously raised their heads, looking at each other from a distance. At the moment when their eyes full of battle intention intertwined in the air, the atmosphere in the field reached a standstill, which was then broken by a sharp whistle. The rematch between Ziyun and the Flame Fox, has begun! Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 441! Ziyun! Disgrace Cleansed! _1 Chapter 44: Chapter 441! Ziyun! Disgrace Cleansed! _1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Ziyun, Electric Arc!¡± Looking at the distant adversary, Xu Ran gave his command without hesitation. ¡°Meow-¡± Almost at the same moment Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, countless electric arcs sprung from around Ziyun. The cat, now virtually blurred, dragged the arcs against the ground as it rapidly closed in on the Flame Fox. Two stars skill, Stardust Level Electric Arc! Faster than before! Surprised, Su Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of fear but quickly replaced it with intrigue. But¡­ this is the same tactic used by Boss Xu last time, right? Would using the same strategy again be effective? ¡°Little Flame, Flame Wall!¡± Without hesitation, she gave the same instructions as before and simultaneously issued a new command, ¡°Fire Eye!¡± ¡°Ying!¡± The Flame Fox produced a proud sound as its pair of eyes burst out with dazzling fire light, as if they were scorched by flames. The intense fire around it swirled, continuously radiating an astonishing heat wave. One Star skill, Stardust Level-Fire Eye! Taking a sharp breath, the Flame Fox fixed its gaze on the rapidly approaching Ziyun. Time seemed to slow down at that moment. The fast moving Ziyun, almost a blur, gradually became clear in the Flame Fox¡¯s field of vision, then seemed to freeze. ¡°Hoo ¡± The moment it locked onto Ziyun¡¯s position, the Flame Fox mustered all its strength to spit out a rapidly rotating flame curtain! The flames spread out like a carpet covering an area with a radius of five meters, while its glaring light and the intense heat wave radiated throughout the entire battlefield! Two stars skill, Stardust Level-Flame Wall! All of Ziyun¡¯s escape routes were blocked at that moment. The rotating Flame Wall, similar to a massive net, moved closer, aiming to engulf Ziyun! ¡°What a clever use of skills.¡± A trace of surprise surfaced on the face of the observer, Gu Ling. ¡°So Xiaoxiao, even after becoming a Beast Master, you¡¯re still as brilliant as ever. ¡°The proficiency of Flame Wall has not yet reached Starlight Level, yet she used it to create an effect that even a Starlight Level Flame Wall rarely achieves.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon at the side nodded with conviction. A good opponent. Worth using thirty percent of its strength. ¡°Eh?¡± Gu Ling, originally more focused on the Flame Fox, suddenly looked at Ziyun with surprise. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The referee, Xu Long, who had a complete view of the battlefield from the other side, was also surprised. The moment the Flame Wall transformed into a large net aiming to engulf Ziyun, the blurry figure of Ziyun, moving so fast it was almost invisible, suddenly shifted its action. The forepaws hitting the ground erupted with frightening power, its sprint path, like a sudden broken line, changed from forward charge to an upward leap. With the powerful force of the leap, its body reached a height of over ten meters in an instant, easily crossed the extensive flames, and then leveraged its ultimate control over its body to draw a parabolic arc in the mid-air. The target was the Flame Fox! Two Stars Skill, Stardust Level-Battle Instinct! In the eyes of Ziyun, who was falling at an increasing speed from the sky, a burning desire to fight was revealed. A cluster of terrifying thunder was ready to be unleashed from the purple light contained in its slightly opened mouth, the Electric Spark was ready to erupt. What? Su Xiaoxiao was taken aback, astounded by Ziyun¡¯s inconceivable response. However, she quickly recovered her composure thanks to her rich battle experience. Looking at Ziyun about to collide with the Flame Fox, she instantly issued a command. ¡°Stay in place, Flame Dance, and retreat! ¡°Ying!!!¡± The eyes of the Flame Fox blazed even hotter, taking a weighty step forward. ¡°Boom!!!¡± A radiant column of fire erupted from its position into the sky, and the Flame Fox used the recoil of that step to roll back and land gracefully. The Ziyun, which should have collided with the Flame Fox, seemed to walk directly into the trap, being swallowed by the soaring flames. It¡¯s over! Su Xiaoxiao cheered inwardly, but her expression froze the next moment. A raging power blasted open within the column of fire, purple electricity spread all over, radiating from the Ziyun at the center in all directions. Like the blades that shattered everything, all the flames were torn apart. Ziyun, bathed in layers of cascading electricity, hit the dumbfounded Flame Fox at an incredible speed. ¡°Whack ¡± With a miserable cry, the Flame Fox was smashed by Ziyun and flew ten meters away, its body twitching slightly after falling to the ground, with electric arcs roaming over it. Its double-lidded eyes were filled with unwillingness. The trembling body struggled to stand up after landing, but finally, its limbs softened and it fell powerless to the ground. ¡°Beep ¡± Xu Long blew a whistle, clapping while walking to the center of the field, ¡°Great match, the winner is Xu Ran!¡± He won! Xu Ran smiled, looking at Su Xiaoxiao who was holding the Flame Fox, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really powerful!¡± Su Xiaoxiao said seriously while sending the Flame Fox for treatment, ¡°It¡¯s been just a few days, but Ziyun¡¯s strength has improved so much.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (All thanks to the Beast Master!) Ziyun narrowed its eyes gleefully. After defeating the Flame Fox and avenging its previous disgrace, it felt a great sense of accomplishment. All of this was due to the Beast Master¡¯s humble services of washing, caring and feeding the pet beasts of others! ¡°It¡¯s Ziyun¡¯s own hard work. It has been training hard since it lost to Flame Fox last time.¡± Xu Ran laughed and didn¡¯t try to take credit. Soon, the Flame Fox¡¯s injuries were well treated, and it recuperated at a visible speed. Ziyun wasn¡¯t unscathed either. Under the collision of the Flame Dance and Electric Spark, it suffered some injuries, but with its self-healing power, it just needed to recover its strength. Walking out of the medical room, both pet beasts returned to their peaks. Outside the house, Gu Ling, who had been waiting for a while, came up, ¡°Your battle was really exciting!¡± ¡°WOO woo woo Gu Ling, I lost, I need a hug-¡± Su Xiaoxiao, who was fine just a minute ago, had a pitiful look on her face and approached her close friend for comfort. ¡°Okay- I¡¯ll give you a hug!¡± Gu Ling laughed and hugged Su Xiaoxiao. Then she turned to Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, I have a request.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Xu Ran looked at the fiery-eyed Dark Scale Dragon and suddenly had a bad feeling. ¡°After watching your match, my Dark Scale Dragon also wants to spar with your pet beast.¡± Gu Ling smiled shyly, ¡°Does that work for you?¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon glanced at Ziyun, extended its forepaws, and pounded on the hard scales on its chest five times. I, the Dark Scale Dragon, will only use fifty percent of my power to fight you! Ziyun, understanding the other¡¯s intentions, was instantly enraged. Damn it! As a fellow Transcendent Stage, this guy is so arrogant! It quickly turned its head, locking eyes with Xu Ran. ¡°Meow-¡± (I want to spar with it!) ¡°Huh?¡± Su Xiaoxiao, standing on the side, looked shocked, ¡°Gu Ling, your Dark Scale Dragon has already reached the Starlight Level for all skills, isn¡¯t that being too bully?¡± Ziyun¡¯s body stiffened slightly. ¡°Meow-¡± (Not feeling well, will fight next time!) Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ignited Fighting Spirit 1 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ignited Fighting Spirit 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Ziyun is not quite strong enough yet,¡± Xu Ran honestly said, ¡°Once Ziyun is stronger, I hope to have a chance to learn from you.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Gu Ling smiled, ¡°Boss Xu, don¡¯t get me wrong, my Dark Scale Dragon is very competitive. When it comes across a worthy opponent, it wants to learn from them. No other intentions.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon nodded in agreement. Seeing that it couldn¡¯t fight today, it crossed its front claws and gave Ziyun a ¡°look forward to a rematch¡± look. What a cocky creature! Ziyun wished to fight the Dark Scale Dragon immediately, but considering the opponent¡¯s skill proficiency was all at the Starlight Level, it quickly cooled down. The victory over Flame Fox made it a little haughty, but that agitation slowly calmed down. Ziyun, when still a stray cat, had seen the survival rules of stray cats. The strongest cat in a group of stray cats can snatch food from others, thus nourishing itself and becoming increasingly strong, forming a positive loop. The other cats¡¯ hard-earned food would be partly stolen. They couldn¡¯t get full and became more and more skinny, susceptible to bullying, forming a negative loop. So stray cats should not only become stronger, but strive to be stronger than other stray cats. This experience planted the seeds of competitiveness and struggle in Ziyun¡¯s bones, and the challenge from the Dark Scale Dragon ignited its fighting spirit. Although it is not a match for the Dark Scale Dragon now. It believes that there will come a day when it surpasses the Dark Scale Dragon! Depending on its own 1% effort and the 99% effort of the Beast Master! ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Gu Ling pushed the door open, entered her home and yelled inside. ¡°Ling¡¯er, you¡¯re back!¡± A handsome middle-aged man came out of the kitchen with a soup pot full of aroma, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± ¡°Yes, I had it with Xiaoxiao at Liu¡¯s Beef Noodles,¡± Gu Ling recalled with a hint of reminiscence in her face, ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, but the taste is still so familiar.¡± ¡°Those noodles are indeed excellent.¡± The middle-aged man nodded, ¡°Even though you¡¯ve had noodles, have some soup too. I just made Pig¡¯s trotters Soup.¡± ¡°Give me a bowl!¡± Gu Ling¡¯s eyes sparkled. Bail she remembered something serious, ¡°Before that, old comrade Gu, I have something to show you.¡± ¡°What?¡± The middle-aged man put the soup pot on the dining table and casually wiped his hands. The Hexagram Star Array flickered behind Gu Ling, and the Dark Scale Dragon outside was summoned into the house, ¡°Ta-da!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken it for a wash and protection service?¡± The middle-aged man laughed, then looked at the Dark Scale Dragon, a trace of surprise in his eyes, ¡°This service is¡­ pretty good! Such a wash and protection service can definitely impact the pet beast¡¯s state.¡± ¡°Xiaoxiao took me to a new shop. Their washing and protection service is better than those in Xieyun City. The only problem is that it¡¯s kind of pricey.¡± ¡°You get what you pay for.¡± The middle-aged man laughed, ¡°What¡¯s the name of the shop? It¡¯s been a while since the Red-eyed Demon Dragon had a wash and protection service. I¡¯d like to give it a try.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Gu Ling giggled, ¡°But they don¡¯t accept super large pet beasts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡± The middle-aged man shrugged, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s enjoy the delicious Pig¡¯s trotters Soup now!¡± Both father and daughter served themselves, eating and chatting. ¡°The transfer is all set up. The day after tomorrow, you will be in the same class as Xiaoxiao.¡± The middle-aged man sipped his soup, ¡°In your new class, make sure to make some friends.¡± ¡°I will, I will.¡± As she chewed on a tender piece of Pig¡¯s trotters, Gu Ling said somewhat indistinctly, ¡°Speaking of which, old comrade Gu, you had mentioned a New Beast Master challenge match sometime ago. Does it sound like fun?¡± ¡°You want to take part?¡± Like father, like daughter, the middle-aged uncle saw Gu Ling¡¯s intentions in her eyes. ¡°This is a new attempt, and the champion¡¯s reward is certainly good, but it doesn¡¯t mean much to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried that the Dark Scale Dragon won¡¯t face any worthy opponents.¡± Gu Ling shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s always getting into fights with other pet beasts in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The Dark Scale Dragon, standing next to her, solemnly nodded his head in agreement. ¡°Then go for it.¡± The middle-aged uncle pondered for a moment, ¡°I might be very busy going forward, but if you get to the finals, I must come in person to cheer you on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s settled then!¡± Gu Ling took a sip of soup. The taste was really fresh. As time flew by, three days had passed. Ziyun, who had been thoroughly provoked by the Dark Scale Dragon, had entered a state of frenzied training. Previously, Xu Ran was worried that he would not get any more Energy Abundant Potions once he used up his stock and was considering saving a bottle. However, as he drew more potions, he realized that getting the Energy Abundant Potion was not that hard, so he stopped being so frugal about it. The remaining two bottles of the Energy Abundant Potion were used up within three days, improving the proficiency of all of Ziyun¡¯s skills significantly. Even Blood Fury, the skill with the lowest proficiency, had risen from (11/100) to (35/100). Among the other skills, Electric Arc showed the fastest progress, now at (87/100). Such strenuous training had considerably increased the power of every single one of Ziyun¡¯s skills, and likewise, Ziyun¡¯s growth rate had accelerated rapidly. With the calculated stat increases and daily consumption of Xu Ran¡¯s specially prepared food, Ziyun¡¯s growth rate had gone from (183/500) to (251/500), finally surpassing halfway. Unfortunately, in the past three days, there have been few Beast Masters for washing and protection, and no suitable skills for Ziyun were found, otherwise, it could have been even stronger. Even at this point, Ziyun was not satisfied; its goal was to reach Starlight Level in all skills like Dark Scale Dragon, and then fight it! In the past three days, no new residents were added to the Foster Shop, but the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s condition was improving day by day. Although the pleasure value provided was still lower than the Armored Rhinoceros, it was already much higher than when it first came. This made Xu Ran could not help but sigh. The strategy of using delicious food to appease was indeed correct. Early the next morning, Xu Ran prepared food as usual for Ziyun and the two foster care residents. The Armored Rhinoceros, however, seemed a bit unusual. ¡°Roar-¡± It roared at Xu Ran, its eyes flashing with eagerness. Xu Ran was taken aback for a moment, then he realized. Yesterday, Du Heng had dropped by the shop to give advance notice. Today, the Hunting Squad would be setting off again, and if need be, Du Heng would summon the Armored Rhinoceros. ¡°Hurry up.¡± Xu Ran encouraged, placing the Armored Rhinoceros¡¯s food bowl in front of him and raising his fist, ¡°Cheer up!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard raised its head from the food bowl. Over the past three days, it had been inspired by this precedent¡¯s optimism, feeling that the sadness of being abandoned by the Beast Master had faded significantly. At this moment, it looked at the Armored Rhinoceros, its eyes full of admiration. Suddenly, the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s eyes widened. Behind the Armored Rhinoceros, who had finished eating, it saw a shining six-pointed star array. That was!!! The Shadow Chaser Lizard watched in disbelief as the Armored Rhinoceros disappeared from sight, suddenly feeling an intense pain in its heart. Even the delicious food in front of it no longer tasted good.. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Shadow Chaser Lizard and Du Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Shadow Chaser Lizard and Du Heng Break Defence Together_l Translator: 549690339 Watching the Armored Rhinoceros leave, Xu Ran suddenly sensed that something was wrong. The pleasure value prompt, it was gone. With the temporary departure of the Armored Rhinoceros, the discontinuation of the pleasure value was only natural. But the Shadow Chaser Lizard that was still eating its food¡­ His mind instinctively turned to it only to be startled by the lizard¡¯s current state. The gleam was gone from the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s dark eyes. It stared blankly at the half-eaten food in its bowl, motionless as if it had been petrified. This¡­ What¡¯s happening?! Xu Ran was dumbfounded. He had succeeded in cheering up the despondent Shadow Chaser Lizard with delicious food. So why had the lizard suddenly become like this? ¡°Um¡­Shadow Chaser Lizard¡­are you okay?¡± Xu Ran cautiously spoke up. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s wrong with you?) Ziyun gently patted the back of the Shadow Chaser Lizard with her paw, expressing concern. The lizard slowly raised its head to look blankly at Xu Ran, then it ignored the unfinished food in the bowl and walked step by step toward the Stone Forest, gradually sinking into the shadows. So in the end¡­I¡¯m the only one who was abandoned by the Beast Master¡­ Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± Seeing the underwhelming pleasure value prompt and the lizard¡¯s overly depressing behavior, he was certain something was very wrong! ¡°Meow-¡®1 (Are you okay?) Ziyun darted to the front of the shadows in the Stone Forest, continuously calling out to them. After a while, she returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side with a dejected look. The lizard showed no reaction. Xu Ran sighed and raised his voice, ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard!¡± The surroundings were still quiet, with only his voice echoing in the wilderness and between the Stone Forest. ¡°I know you can hear me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I still don¡¯t know why you¡¯re feeling down!¡± ¡°But I promise to try my best to cheer you up!¡± ¡°So please don¡¯t give up on yourself!¡± Still, all around was quiet. After waiting for a moment, Xu Ran picked up the lizard¡¯s food bowl, holding Ziyun he turned and left. For now, it was best to leave it alone. ¡°Old buddy, well done!¡± Outside Qingzhou City, Du Heng patted the head of the Armored Rhinoceros, a sense of satisfaction on his face. After a few days apart, their camaraderie was still strong. ¡°Old Du, I feel like your Armored Rhinoceros has become stronger after staying at the young boss¡¯s Foster Shop.¡± Zhang Yun carefully examined the Armored Rhinoceros for a while before he could not help but speak up. ¡°Yes, I have the same feeling. That Wind-Splitting Griffin just now was quite strong, yet the Armored Rhinoceros was able to fend it off easily?¡± Liu Gu stroked his chin, ¡°It was just a few days. This improvement is a little exaggerated!¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know.¡± Du Heng shrugged, speaking a little embarrassingly, ¡°These few days I¡¯ve been too busy to check on the Armored Rhinoceros. Last night, I only had time to greet the young boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not caring enough for the Armored Rhinoceros, you need to compensate for it.¡± Liu Xue joked. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Du Heng nodded in agreement, then turned towards the Armored Rhinoceros, ¡°After we get back to the city, I¡¯ll take you to the Earth attribute Pet Beast Amusement Park you¡¯ve been wanting to visit. After playing a few hours, we can head to the Foster Shop.¡± Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the Armored Rhinoceros grew upset. We have to take a roundabout way to get back to the city gates? We have to play in the Pet Beast Amusement Park for a few hours? What a waste of time! Having left the Pet Beast Foster Shop, the Armored Rhinoceros had only one thing on its mind ¨C to return to the Mud Pond where it could freely frolic in the mud, and eat the meals prepared by Xu Ran twice a day. ¡°Roar-¡± (Can you just teleport me back to the foster shop?) Uncle Du¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°What did you say?!¡± He could hardly believe his ears. After summoning the pet beast, a Beast Master really could send the pet back to its original location. Yet, very few Beast Masters would do this. The Beast Master and the pet beast are the closest of partners. Spending more time with them naturally was a good thing. But now, the Armored Rhinoceros was actually asking him to send it back. And it wished to be sent back to the Foster Shop! Judging by Uncle Du¡¯s silence, the rhino nudged him with its large head, urging him to hurry up. ¡°Roar-¡± (Hurry up!) The mud was calling for it! Du Heng took a deep breath, raised his hand, and sent the Armored Rhinoceros back. The Tiger Hunting Squad exchanged glances. After a moment Yan Fan suddenly said, ¡°Could this be¡­ the temptation of returning home?¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t speak.¡± Du Heng covered his chest, suddenly feeling a deep pain. ¡°I think I might¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Sitting in the shop on the first floor, Xu Ran reviewed the details of his interactions with the Shadow Chaser Lizard over the past few days and started speaking with a complex expression. ¡°What made the Shadow Chaser Lizard feel better wasn¡¯t the influence of good food.¡± The eating habits of the Shadow Chaser lizard, just like the Armored Rhinoceros, were twice a day. To save time, he always fed the two foster residents together. Upon reflection, the Shadow Chaser Lizard always snuck glances at the Armored Rhinoceros when it ate, and each time it saw the Armored Rhinoceros, the pleasure value it provided would increase a bit. And the emotional breakdown of the Shadow Chaser Lizard occurred when the Armored Rhinoceros was teleported away. That¡¯s right! Why didn¡¯t he notice such obvious clues before? ¡°It seems that I was too careless.¡± Xu Ran sighed deeply, feeling quite guilty. ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯m also at fault.) Ziyun comforted him by rubbing against Xu Ran¡¯s hand. If the Beast Master didn¡¯t notice, as a pet beast, it should¡¯ve understood its thoughts better. Yet, it also didn¡¯t see it in time. This was so unlike them. ¡°I should¡¯ve realized earlier that the Shadow Chaser Lizard has a crush on the Armored Rhinoceros.¡± Ziyun froze in action. It subtly retreated a few steps. This¡­ it really didn¡¯t notice. ¡°Even though they are both male, even though they are of different species¡±, Xu Ran hammered the table intently, his expression growing more frustrated, ¡°But love can transcend everything!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a method¡±, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened,¡± When the Armored Rhinoceros comes back, I¡¯ll do a bit of work on both of them, let them try to accept each other. This way the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s emotions will definitely stabilize!¡± Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but retreat a few more steps. It¡¯s just a Transcendent Stage pet beast. Why should it bear the pressure that doesn¡¯t belong to this growth stage?. If the two elite level pet beasts were to kill Xu Ran, it really wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them at all! ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing the Foster Environment Control hub suddenly issuing a prompt, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros teleported back directly?¡± ¡°It clearly could¡¯ve come back with Uncle Du, why did it teleport?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­¡± ¡°It can¡¯t let go of the Shadow Chaser Lizard?!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! Ziyun!¡± Xu Ran stood up, his eyes full of excitement, ¡°Let¡¯s go and do some work on both of them!¡± ¡°Meow!!!¡± (Don¡¯t go!!!) Ziyun instantly bristled, biting firmly onto Xu Ran¡¯s trouser leg. It had to tell Xu Ran the real reason that it had guessed! Otherwise, it and Xu Ran may not be able to leave the basement alive today! Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Autistic Shadow Chaser Lizard 1 Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Autistic Shadow Chaser Lizard 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ªA ¡°You mean¡­¡± Looking at Ziyun, Xu Ran showed a thoughtful expression ¡°The Shadow Chaser Lizard mistakenly thought that the Armored Rhinoceros was abandoned by the Beast Master like it was, so it was inspired by the ¡®optimism¡¯ of the Armored Rhinoceros.¡± ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros was summoned, making the Shadow Chaser Lizard realize that the Armored Rhinoceros was not abandoned. The inspiration it originally received from the Armored Rhinoceros is completely lost, and it received even greater shock?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That¡¯s right.) Ziyun nodded slightly, letting out a sigh of relief. Finally, he managed to persuade the Beast Master. If he really let the Beast Master pair the Armored Rhinoceros with the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡­ The image is too beautiful, he dares not look. ¡°I feel your guess should be right.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously. His prior guess seemed to align with the interactions between the Shadow Chaser Lizard and Armored Rhinoceros, but he was unable to link it to the reason for the lizard¡¯s low spirits ¨C the ruthless abandonment by the Beast Master in the Foster Shop. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem now.¡± As if realizing something, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually grew serious. ¡°If we follow this guess, then the Shadow Chaser Lizard seeing the recently transmitted back Armored Rhinoceros¡­¡± Hearing this, Ziyun¡¯s expression also became serious. With one person and one pet facing a formidable enemy, they quickly ran towards the foster area When they reached the foster area, the Armored Rhinoceros and the Shadow Chaser Lizard were confronting each other, and the situation was very critical. ¡°Roar-¡± The Armored Rhinoceros looked at the Shadow Chaser Lizard with some dissatisfaction. It had just managed to persuade the Beast Master to send it back, only to suddenly be attacked by the Shadow Chaser Lizard just as it was about to roll around in its favorite mud pond. The Armored Rhinoceros, having already been stronger than the Shadow Chaser Lizard, and being a defensive pet beast, the attack did not cause any harm to it. y However, this guy who had been getting along fairly well with it just two days ago suddenly attacked it, making the Armored Rhinoceros exceptionally pissed If it doesn¡¯t give a reason, then it must teach this guy a lesson. ¡°Caw~¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard glared at the Armored Rhinoceros angrily. Not long ago, it regarded it as the guidance of morale and faith of recovery. But now, its faith had collapsed. It thought that the Armored Rhinoceros was a cheerful abandoner, but now it realizes it wasn¡¯t abandoned at all, this is naked betrayal! ¡°Stop! Both of you stop it!¡± When Xu Ran arrived, he caught sight of the two pet beasts confronting each other, ready to fight at any moment, immediately feeling outraged. Being elite level pet beasts, he obviously could not beat them. But these two were currently in his shop for fostering, so he still has a way to deal with them. With a few presses on the control hub, the two pet beasts were separated by mvrsrble force in no time, unable to touch each other and lose sight of the other at the same time. This was akin to placing the two pet beasts in different compartments to avoid their contact, just that the way the system achieved this function was more wonderful. ¡°Armored Rhinoceros, the Shadow Chaser Lizard is not in a good mood. I¡¯ll explain it to you later, you can go play now.¡± Guessing the ins and outs, Xu Ran naturally knew that the Armored Rhinoceros was wronged, so he explained to ¡°Roar-¡± The Armored Rhinoceros shook its big head. Its nature was not quite of one to hold grudges, so since Xu Ran has spoken, it didn¡¯t bother about it anymore. Jumping excitedly into the mud pond, the Armored Rhinoceros rolled around happily, quickly forgetting about the recent little interlude. Then, Xu Ran turned his head to look at the Shadow Chaser Lizard on the other side. ¡°Caw~¡± The anger in the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s eyes gradually dissipated, and with a hint of grievance, it began to retreat step by step, ready to retreat into the shadow of the Stone Forest, but was stopped by Xu Ran. ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, stop!¡± He quickly stepped in front of the Shadow Chaser Lizard, ¡°I now understand the reason for your grievances, but think about it, after coming here, have you ever asked about the condition of the Armored Rhinoceros?¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard halted its movement, pondering for a moment before shaking its head. ¡°You see, the Armored Rhinoceros has never said it was in the same situation as you, this is just your speculation. You attacked it because your conjecture was wrong, is that right?¡± ¡°Click-¡± There was a bit more clarity in the eyes of the Shadow Chaser Lizard, and it shook its head. This was because its low mood had clouded its judgment just now, which made It a bit out of control when it saw the Armored Rhinoceros again, causing it to behave rashly. Seeing that the Shadow Chaser Lizard still had some sense of reason, Xu Ran breathed a sigh of relief. With this, the conflict between the Armored Rhinoceros and the Shadow Chaser Lizard had been resolved, and he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about them fighting whenever they met each other in the future. However, there was still one more problem to solve. That was the low mood of the Shadow Chaser Lizard. This was related to the pleasure value it could provide, which Xu Ran took very seriously. ¡°Alright, now let¡¯s talk about your problem,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and slowly began, ¡°I know about your Beast Master¡­ hey, where are you going?¡± Watching the Shadow Chaser Lizard vanish into the shadows and refusing to continue communicating at the mention of the Beast Master, Xu Ran was taken aback. This¡­ How was he supposed to counsel it? ¡°Hey! Shadow Chaser Lizard, come out! Let¡¯s talk!¡± If you¡¯re not happy, just tell me, wouldn¡¯t that be better!¡± ¡°Can you hear me? Come out quickly!¡± Despite calling out several times, the Shadow Chaser Lizard didn¡¯t move, showing no intention of coming out of the shadows. Xu Ran helplessly shook his head. If he could know what had happened between the Beast Master and the Shadow Chaser Lizard, it might be easier to counsel the Shadow Chaser Lizard. Unfortunately, that Beast Master had left in such a hurry that he left no contact information. Until now, Xu Ran didn¡¯t even know his name. Comforting the Shadow Chaser Lizard was a long road ahead. Holding Ziyun in his arms, he went back upstairs to continue his business at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Big Stone, wait for me patiently in the foster care shop this next week.¡± A young man with his hair standing up in spikes thanks to a hairband, creating a lively look, was walking on a street not far from the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Behind the young man, there was a pet beast about three meters long, with a broad back covered in palm-sized stone scales, a pair of stout limbs slowly pacing forward, and a slender tail trailing behind. Earth attribute Pet Beast, Stone Armored Dragon. ¡°Roar-¡± The Stone Armored Dragon lifted its head, responding with a low roar, its eyes full of reluctance as it looked at its Beast Master up ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you either, but the place I¡¯m going doesn¡¯t allow me to bring you with me.¡± Zhang Yun stopped, turned around, and squatted down to pat the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s head, ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll come back as soon as possible.¡± ¡°But speaking of which¡­¡± Zhang Yun lifted his hand from the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s head, looking at his somewhat dirty palm with a frown, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I took you to the Washing and Protection Service.¡± ¡°The Beast King Foster Shop I¡¯ve chosen doesn¡¯t provide Washing and Protection Service¡­¡± ¡°In that case! I¡¯ll take you to a nearby shop that offers Washing and Protection Service to get a good clean, then take you to the foster shop.¡± Zhang Yun patted the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s head. ¡°Roar-¡± The Stone Armored Dragon nonchalantly nodded its head. With its sturdy stone shell, its perception of the outside world was slightly dull, and the dirt on its body didn¡¯t make it feel too uncomfortable, but if it could stay with its Beast Master a little longer, it would naturally be willing.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Dont be Nervous, Relax 1 Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Don¡¯t be Nervous, Relax 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª ¡°Ah!¡± Standing up and looking around, Zhang Yun quickly spotted the sign of the Starfire Foster Shop not far away, ¡°There¡¯s a foster shop over there, let¡¯s go ask.¡± ¡°In addition to niche foster shops like Beast King Foster Shop, which focus primarily on foster care services, typical foster shops should also offer washing and grooming services.¡± He spoke confidently, striding towards the Starfire Foster Shop. The Stone Armored Dragon followed suit, and the owner-plus-pet duo soon entered the shop. ¡°Boss, what are your rates for pet beast grooming?¡± While asking, Zhang Yun¡¯s eyes wandered around the room, eventually landing on the price list. ¡°Whoa, are you folks robbers?¡± ¡°Although our prices are high, the services our shop offers are worth every penny.¡± Xu Ran rose from behind the counter, deftly performing an appraisal of the Stone Armored Dragon. [Race Name: Stone Armored Dragon Attribute: Earth Growth Stage: Elite Stage Body type: Large Size Grooming Requirement: ***** Rating: Its hefty stone scales tend to blunt its sensitivity, yet even a heart as hard as iron will flutter within the touch of a caring owner.] Observing the sluggish movements of the Stone Armored Dragon, Xu Ran nodded slightly. Indeed, quite cumbersome. ¡°This price is worth it?¡± Zhang Yun doubted Xu Ran¡¯s claim. His Stone Armored Dragon measured over three meters long, placing it in the category of large pet beasts. According to the price sheet, a single grooming session would cost 66666 yuan. Zhang Yun could afford it, but wouldn¡¯t that be a ridiculous overspend? Huh? Are these the fostering prices next to it? Because he was planning on leaving his Stone Armored Dragon at another foster shop soon, Zhang Yun subconsciously gave the prices a longer glance, causing his expression to darken even further. Rip-off! The Beast King Foster Shop he had chosen, which specifically focuses on fosterage, was charging less than half that of this shop! ¡°Huh?¡± The Stone Armored Dragon lifted its head, looking at Zhang Yun with a curious gaze. Zhang Yun hesitated. He was in a bit of a rush. After dropping off his pet beast for fosterage, he would have to leave Qingzhou City with a few other companions. Searching for another shop to groom his Stone Armored Dragon would not fit into his schedule. However, Zhang Yun was still determined to let it have a bath for some comfort before it was fostered, considering the arduous training it had recently completed for him. After all, he wouldn¡¯t see it for a whole week. ¡°Fine, give my pet beast a grooming.¡± With some unwillingness, Zhang Yun scanned the payment code. ¡°This is the waiting room, right? I¡¯ll wait here; but make sure you handle my beast carefully.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran smiled at the reluctant customer. Not many customers complained about the prices, and he believed that the customer¡¯s opinion would change after seeing the results of the grooming. ¡°Follow me.¡± Xu Ran beckoned the Stone Armored Dragon and led it into the grooming room. Back at the counter, Ziyun retracted his gaze, watching the passing crowd outside the shop door with a serious expression. The Beast Master was not in, so he had to watch over the shop himself! However, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the Beast Master would teach him new skills after this grooming session? Exciting! ¡°Yes, lie down here.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the grooming platform specially prepared for large pet beasts, signaling the Stone Armored Dragon to climb up. He absorbed the pertinent knowledge that flooded into his mind and began preparing the appropriate grooming tools. Soon, a sharp, curved hook needle appeared in his hand. The thick stone scales on the back of the Stone Armored Dragon are the source of its formidable defense, but at the same time, they also cause it substantial trouble. These scales continuously grow, becoming increasingly thick. But their growth is disorderly and over time, the originally smooth scales gradually become uneven. And these irregular scales overlap each other, leaving gaps that are extremely difficult to clean. The dirt within these gaps is hard to thoroughly clean, and as time goes by, the accumulation of grime dulls the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s senses to the outside world, as if it is touching things while wearing a thick pair of gloves. Under Xu Ran¡¯s control, the fine hook needle dives into the gaps in the stone scales. The sharp hook can pull out the dust deposited within these gaps and when it encounters clumped dirt, it can also pry it out from deep within the gaps. The periodic collisions of the metal hook needle with the stone scales produce a sound that sets one¡¯s teeth on edge. At first, the Stone Armored Dragon closes its eyes, disinterested. However, as time goes by, the contact between the hook needle and the stone scales sends vibrations through its body, inducing a tingling sensation as if it were being lightly brushed by tiny feathers. ¡°Roar-¡± Unable to resist, it growls softly, twisting its body in comfort. How long has it been since it last felt such sensation, with its dulled senses? [Pleasure value from the Stone Armored Dragon +10] [Pleasure value from the Stone Armored Dragon +10] [From¡­] Looking at the Stone Armored Dragon, which is now comfortably squinting its eyes, Xu Ran stretches lazily. This is his first time caring for a large pet beast, and a four-star washing and protection requirement is quite demanding. This job is a substantial one, and the resulting pleasure value is bound to be considerable. With this in mind, Xu Ran feels a surge of motivation. He quickly removes the dirt that can be cleaned with the hook needle using his adept skills. As the dirt is cleared away, the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s senses gradually sharpen. The tingling sensation that spreads throughout its body grows stronger, causing it to tremble more intensely. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from the Stone Armored Dragon +15] [Pleasure value from the Stone Armored Dragon +16] [From¡­] Watching the steadily increasing pleasure value, Xu Ran is taken aback. This is just the first cleaning step, and the single-time pleasure value is already close to 20 points. In an instant, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze towards the Stone Armored Dragon softens. Large pet beasts are indeed potential goldmines! I must give you a proper cleaning today! Once he finished cleaning off the grime that could be removed with the hook needle, Xu Ran took out a tool the size of a razor from a toolbox. It was a portable electric sanding wheel. After plugging it in, Xu Ran pressed the switch and the sanding wheel began to rotate at a high speed, emitting a deep humming sound. Next, he was going to grind the stone scales of the Stone Armored Dragon. Merely cleaning the dirt is not a long-term solution. Only by regrinding the irregular stone scales can it maintain a good state for a longer time after being cleaned and cared for. There is a knack to this grinding process. You can¡¯t overdo it and diminish the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s defensive strength, and you have to ensure that the overlapping stone scales are tightly compacted. Hearing the deep hum, the Stone Armored Dragon twists its head in confusion. Upon seeing the swiftly rotating sanding wheel, its body instinctively tenses, and the nervousness reflects in its eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be tense, relax.¡± Xu Ran pats the broad back of the Stone Armored Dragon, then brings the sanding wheel close to a patch of uneven stone scales. ¡°Screech 11 The moment the sanding wheel contacts the stone scales, the sound sharpens significantly. The intense vibration transfers through the stone scales into the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s now sensitive body. Its eyes widen suddenly, the intense pleasure causes its body to tremble violently. Its four sturdy claws tighten their grip and then relax weakly, its gaze gradually becoming hazy. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Problems Brought by Useless Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Problems Brought by Useless Skills_i Translator: 549690339 ¡°Roar ¡± Hearing the sound from the fostering room, Ziyun slightly rose from the counter, scratching the itch behind her ear with her hind paw. Next, she turned her attention towards the direction of the rest room. Strange, usually at this time, Beast Masters waiting outside would react differently due to the peculiar noises of the pet beasts. Why did this Beast Master guest show no reaction? Oh, he¡¯s wearing headphones, no problem then. Watching Zhang Yun in the rest room listening to music and snacking with his headphones on, Ziyun shifted her gaze away, yawned out of boredom. Such a killjoy. Time passed by the second, the continuous strange noise from the fostering room made Ziyun fidget uneasily. Strange, why has this noise been going on for so long? Speaking of, it¡¯s been a while since the Beast Master groomed me, right? A thoughtful expression crossed Ziyun¡¯s face. Looking into the mirror next to her, she felt she was considerably dirtier now compared to just after her grooming. Well, she¡¯d better remind the Beast Master later, it was time to groom her! She couldn¡¯t just focus on grooming other¡¯s pet beasts and forget about her own! ¡°Creak-¡± The door of the grooming room opened. Amid the mist, Xu Ran emerged step by step, followed by the Stone Armored Dragon with a bewildered expression and wavering steps. ¡°Your Stone Armored Dragon is groomed!¡± Seeing Zhang Yun wearing headphones in the rest room, Xu Ran went up and patted his shoulder. ¡°Ah? Oh good!¡± Zhang Yun removed his headphones and turned to look at his pet beast. The next moment, he couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. Is this his pet beast?! The Stone Armored Dragon now had every piece of its stone scales polished to perfection, no gaps between the scales and seamlessly fit together. The surface was even waxed, reflecting light like a gemstone under the illumination. The irregularly structured scales were tightly compacted now, making the Stone Armored Dragon appear as though it had slimmed down by a bit. But this transformation didn¡¯t detract from its imposing presence at all, instead highlighting its muscular figure and creating a sense of power. This was the first time Zhang Yun had seen his Stone Armored Dragon like this. No other store¡¯s grooming service could achieve this effect, they wouldn¡¯t even polish the stone scales! He stood in place for a long time before reacting, ¡°How much did it cost again?¡± ¡°66666 yuan.¡± Seeing Zhang Yun grabbing his cellphone ready to scan the payment QR code, Xu Ran interrupted hurriedly, ¡°You¡¯ve already paid.¡± ¡°Oh right¡­¡± Zhang Yun finally remembered that he¡¯d already paid before the grooming. He couldn¡¯t help it. Such impressive grooming results made him feel like it s completely worth it¡± in an instant, and he subconsciously wanted to pay once more¡­ It seemed like his experience was truly limited, there were indeed grooming services that were worth every penny of the high price. Zhang Yun felt he¡¯d gained valuable knowledge. However, next, a thought came to his mind. Since the expensive grooming service was worth its cost, then what about the fostering service here, which was also much pricier than anywhere else? ¡°Can you show me around your fostering facilities?¡± Zhang Yun suddenly asked. ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯ll guard the store!) Ziyun meowed lazily, watching as Xu Ran led Zhang Yun and the Stone Armored Dragon toward the back door, before shifting her gaze away. She wondered if the recent grooming session gained any new skills. She¡¯d have to ask later. And also remind the Beast Master about grooming her. Leading Zhang Yun and the Stone Armored Dragon into the underground passage to the fostering area, Xu Ran looked at the personal panel that only he could see before him, slightly frowning. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)](6/loo) [Drug Application (D-level)](7/ioo) Pet Beast Skills: [*¡ï Ice Storm](Non-teachable) [¡ï¡ïRock Eruption](Non-teachable) Physical Point:0 Pleasure Value: 9863 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Just one grooming session with the Stone Armored Dragon resulted in over three thousand pleasure points. His total pleasure points are now sufficient for one Ten Consecutive Draw. However, this isn¡¯t the focal point for Xu Ran. He looked at the new skill he had gained from plucking fur, Rock Eruption, and found himself considering a problem he hadn¡¯t thought of before. That is, handling useless skills. The skills acquired through grooming are random, and out of Xu Ran¡¯s control. Some of these skills share the same attributes with Ziyun, or don¡¯t have any attributes and therefore can be taught to Ziyun, while other skills simply cannot be taught for various reasons such as differing attributes. These skills might be useful once Xu Ran contracts with a pet beast of the same attribute, but as of now, they are useless. He cannot possibly refuse to groom or give up an opportunity to gam plucking fur experience just because a client¡¯s pet beast has a different attribute-hence, the amount of useless skills will inevitably increase. It¡¯s like storing a bunch of junk in a warehouse long term, there will be problems down the line. To solve this, Xu Ran considered that there might be two solutions. The first is to find a way to deal with these useless skills via the system, but as it stands, it is unknown if the system has such a method, and it likely won¡¯t respond to queries. In other words, leave it up to fate. The second is to rely on himself. By contracting with pet beasts of differing attributes in the future, he can reduce the number of useless skills and maximize the function of plucking fur. -Your foster area sure is large,¡± Zhang Yun looked around as they entered the Foster Area and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. His remark brought Xu Ran out of his reverie. The problem with useless skills isn¡¯t urgent, he should focus on his present guest. ¡°The environment of our Foster Area can be adjusted and changed,¡± Xu Ran explained with a smile, ¡°If you choose to leave your pet beast with us, we will designate a specific area and modify it to fit its needs perfectly. As he spoke, he took out the control hub and changed the landscape beneath their feet to a formation of undulating rocks, right in front of Zhang Yun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Impressive,¡± Zhang Yun admired. During his visit to the Beast King Foster Shop, a staff member mentioned similar technology and said their shop would soon introduce such tech. The Beast King Foster Shop only promised, but this foster shop has actually done it. just based on this, Zhang Yun felt that the higher foster fee was somewhat justified. ¡°What kind of food would you feed my pet beast if I foster it here?¡± ¡°All of it is personally prepared by me. This is our Preparation Room, specifically used to prepare meals for the pet beasts each day.¡± Xu Ran led Zhang Yun into the Preparation Room and was once again greeted with his admiration. There is now only one question left. ¡°Which pet beasts are currently staying in your shop?¡± Zhang Yun asked earnestly. He wanted to see how the neighbours of the Stone Armored Dragon would be after it is fostered. ¡°Currently, we have two beasts being fostered. That Armored Rhinoceros.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the Armored Rhinoceros basking in the sun by the mud pond then gestured to the Shadow Chaser Lizard peeking out from nearby rocks, ¡°And this Shadow Chaser Lizard.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing that familiar Shadow Chaser Lizard, Zhang Yun raised an eyebrow.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Story of the Shadow Chaser Lizard_l Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Story of the Shadow Chaser Lizard_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Isn¡¯t this Zhou Hao¡¯s Shadow Chaser Lizard? It¡¯s actually in your shop.¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s words abruptly interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s speech. ¡°You know this Shadow Chaser Lizard?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t possibly overlook that scar near its left eye,¡± Zhang Yun pointed at the Shadow Chaser Lizard, ¡°I know the Beast Master of this Shadow Chaser Lizard.¡± Xu Ran blinked a couple of times. Having been in contact with the Shadow Chaser Lizard for three days, he naturally knew about the distinct scar near the left eye. Zhang Yun recognized it immediately, enough to prove that his recognition was without error. An idea suddenly popped into Xu Ran¡¯s head, who previously had been contemplating how to comfort the Shadow Chaser Lizard. This customer knows the Beast Master of the Shadow Chaser Lizard! That being the case, did he know anything about what happened between the Shadow Chaser Lizard and its Beast Master? At ¡°Speaking of which, this Shadow Chaser Lizard is quite pitiful,¡± Zhang Yun sighed before transferring the payment on his cellphone, ¡°I am paying you 6666 yuan per day, a week¡¯s fosterage fee in advance, please take good care of my Stone Armored Dragon from now on.¡± Beast King Foster Shop, you are supposed to be the best in fostering! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran gratefully received the payment, but he left the proper arrangement of the new pet aside and went on to ask, ¡°Mr. Zhang Yun, could you tell me about the situation of the Shadow Chaser Lizard and its Beast Master?¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, Beast Master of this Shadow Chaser Lizard did not leave any contact information. The lizard¡¯s mood has been low since it arrived. I want to comfort it and cheer it up, but I have no idea about the details.¡± Zhang Yun gave Xu Ran an approving look. Voluntarily providing comfort to a foster pet with low spirits is not part of the foster care services. The fact that Xu Ran was willing to do so showed that he had made the right choice. ¡°Since you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you briefly.¡± Zhang Yun glanced at the time. Since he didn¡¯t have to go to the Beast King Foster Shop, he had some time to spare. Then, Zhang Yun briefly explained to Xu Ran what he knew. After the conversation, Xu Ran looked enlightened. The problem between the Shadow Chaser Lizard and its Beast Master, Zhou Hao, was not complicated. It all stemmed from the second pet that Zhou Hao had contracted a while ago. Zhou Hao was a Pet Beast Combatant. His hobby and profession were to battle with other Beast Masters, constantly becoming stronger. As Zhou Hao¡¯s first pet, the Shadow Chaser Lizard was not weak, but it was also not among the top tier. After establishing a footing with the lizard as his partner, Zhou Hao paid a hefty price to acquire a stronger second pet, a Variegated Dragon Sparrow. There are differences in strength among the Leader Species. The Variegated Dragon Sparrow was born with four Two-Star Skills and had a very high combat aptitude, making it one of the top Pet Beast Species. However, the Variegated Dragon Sparrow had a small flaw. It was likely to have a jealous nature. Regrettably, Zhou Hao¡¯s was indeed so. Not long after they had formed the contract, the Variegated Dragon Sparrow showed hostility towards the Shadow Chaser Lizard, who was contracted earlier. Furthermore, the Variegated Dragon Sparrow was extremely intelligent. It did not provoke conflict but irritated the Shadow Chaser Lizard in various ways, making the Shadow Chaser Lizard attack it and act pitiful in front of Zhou Hao. In other words, it was being manipulative. After several instances, Zhou Hao realized that it was impossible for the two pets to coexist peacefully and had to make a choice to send one of them to long-term foster care. And he chose to keep the Variegated Dragon Sparrow. The reason was simple; the Variegated Dragon Sparrow had more potential and value than the Shadow Chaser Lizard and could bring greater help to his work. So, the Shadow Chaser Lizard had to be the one to be sacrificed. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much what happened,¡± Zhang Yun sighed. ¡°When you have many pets, Beast Masters must find a way to mediate their relationships. Encountering such a situation where it is impossible to reconcile, it is the most distressing.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Ran nodded, feeling more sympathy for the Shadow Chaser Lizard. Now understanding the situation, he had some ideas on how to comfort it. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late and I need to go.¡± Zhang Yun checked the time and finally hugged the Stone Armored Dragon, ¡°Stay here and be good. Wait for me to pick you up!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The Stone Armored Dragon rubbed its giant head against its Beast Master, waved its tail, and said goodbye. With each backward glance, Zhang Yun eventually left the foster area. ¡°This area will be your living area from now on.¡± Xu Ran quickly set up a stack of pebbles in small hills for the Stone Armored Dragon. ¡°Roar!¡± The Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s eyes lit up and it skillfully buried itself in the pebbles. The smooth pebbles wouldn¡¯t wear out its stone scales too much, and this game of burying itself in the stone pile was the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s favorite. ¡°You play for a while, I¡¯ll prepare your food.¡± Xu Ran spoke to the stone pile, then turned and headed for the Preparation Room. The Stone Armored Dragon needs to eat three meals a day, of which two meals can be shared with the other two pets, but it also needs an additional meal in the middle. Xu Ran quickly prepared the meal and returned with the food bowl. Smelling the enticing aroma that caused it to salivate, the Stone Armored Dragon quickly wriggled out of the pebbles and crawled to the food bowl. It swallowed hard, feeling as if the food in front of it was a seductive fairy, making it unable to control its desire to taste it. ¡°Go ahead and eat. This whole bowl is yours.¡± Seeing the Stone Armored Dragon looking somewhat uneasy due to its recent arrival, Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°Roar!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the Stone Armored Dragon let go of its restraint and gobbled up the food in the bowl. Feeling the wonderful taste and rich aroma of the food filling its mouth and nostrils, the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s eyes gradually blurred. This taste¡­ In a trance, it seemed to see a beautiful female Stone Armored Dragon coming towards it, and the tingling sensation from the previous washing and protection returned again. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from Stone Armored Dragon +10] [Pleasure value from Stone Armored Dragon +10] [From¡­] After clearing away the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s food bowl, Xu Ran turned to the Shadow Chaser Lizard hidden in the shadow of the Stone Forest. ¡°When Mr. Zhang Yun was talking about you just now, you were listening, weren¡¯t you?¡± Xu Ran casually sat on the ground, looked at the shadow in front of him, and suddenly spoke. The Shadow Chaser Lizard poked its head out of the shadow and looked at Xu Ran with complex eyes. The moment Zhang Yun and the Stone Armored Dragon appeared, it recognized them. Because of this, when Zhang Yun later talked about its own experiences, the Shadow Chaser Lizard quietly drew closer and heard their conversation. It thought that its small movements had gone unnoticed, but Xu Ran had always been paying attention to it and easily spotted the signs. ¡°Now that I know the details of what happened to you in the past, we can have a proper talk, right?¡± Xu Ran smiled. This time, the Shadow Chaser Lizard poked its head out instead of refusing to communicate as it had before, which was a good start. As a result, he felt more confident about his plan to comfort it. ¡°Do you want to surpass that Variegated Dragon Sparrow?¡± Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Ziyuns Concerns l Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Ziyun¡¯s Concerns l Translator: 549690339 At the sound of Xu Ran¡¯s question, the Shadow Chaser Lizard stood rooted to the spot. Its eyes became increasingly complex. Anger, resentment, disappointment¡­ Recalling the past, a flood of emotions surged in its heart. After a long while, the Shadow Chaser Lizard nodded its head vigorously. ¡°Ka!¡± It wanted to become stronger! If it could become stronger than the Variegated Dragon Sparrow, the Beast Master would certainly not abandon it. ¡°Good, but you should know that your talent compared to the Variegated Dragon Sparrow, falls short.¡± Xu Ran spoke seriously. ¡°Ka~¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard nodded its head, its mood dipping with the admission. Even among the Leader Species, there were disparities. Despite its reluctance to accept this, the gulf between its strength and the Variegated Dragon Sparrow¡¯s was not easy to bridge. ¡°But I have a solution.¡± Xu Ran slowly stated. The Shadow Chaser Lizard suddenly lifted his head, its pitch-black eyes blazing with anticipation. Really¡­ Is there a solution? ¡°You¡¯ve been living here for three days, how do you find the food I provided daily?¡± Xu Ran carefully broached. Food? The Shadow Chaser Lizard recalled the food here, its initial impression was of unprecedented deliciousness, but soon after, it seemed to realize something, and its eyes brightened. ¡°That¡¯s right, the food here, something you can¡¯t buy outside, is the most conducive to your growth.¡± Xu Ran boasted without any blush, ¡°In this respect, you¡¯re already winning.¡± ¡°As long as you don¡¯t give up, you can train here and become stronger.¡± Xu Ran slowly said, ¡°With better food to replenish your strength, your progress will certainly be greater than the Variegated Dragon Sparrow¡¯s.¡± ¡°On the contrary, if you remain dispirited while the Variegated Dragon Sparrow is constantly improving itself, the gap between you two will only widen.¡± His words stung the Shadow Chaser Lizard into wakefulness, its eyes suddenly glowed with newfound resolve. Yes, by remaining despondent, wasn¡¯t it playing right into the Variegated Dragon Sparrow¡¯s hands? No! Even though the Beast Master left it here, it couldn¡¯t stop its daily training! It has to become stronger! Become even stronger! Seeing the Shadow Chaser Lizard, whose fighting spirit was ignited in an instant and whose depression was swept away, Xu Ran smiled. Indeed, only the right remedy could solve the problem, ¡°You should quietly evolve, then seize the opportunity to amaze everyone.¡± ¡°Ka!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard nodded vigorously, etching Xu Ran¡¯s words in its mind. Quietly evolve, huh¡­ It got it! The Shadow Chaser Lizard melded into the shadows in an instant, weaving through the Stone Forest like a ghost, repeatedly attacking the empty air, unleashing fierce attacks. Like a hunter concealed in the dark, it was sharpening its blade! [Pleasure value from Shadow Chaser Lizard +1] Seeing the Pleasure value from the Shadow Chaser Lizard once more, Xu Ran smiled. Yes, just like this. You work hard in training, I earn pleasure value, we all have a beautiful tomorrow. ¡°Meow-¡± (How¡¯s the new occupant?) Seeing Xu Ran come out from the back door, Ziyun slowly stood up, elegantly pounced into his arms. Seeing Zhang Yun leave alone, it guessed that there was a new guest in the shop. ¡°He¡¯s been settled in. Not only that, I¡¯ve successfully enlightened the Shadow Chaser Lizard as well!¡± Xu Ran smiled, rubbing Ziyun¡¯s head, and told it about what happened after discovering Zhang Yun knew Zhou Hao, the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s owner. However, after finishing, Xu Ran noticed that Ziyun wasn¡¯t happy about the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s renewed spirit, on the contrary, it seemed a little downcast. ¡°What happened?¡± He asked in confusion. Ziyun looked at Xu Ran, rubbed his palm with its head, then cautiously meowed. ¡°Meow-¡± (Will you abandon me for a second pet in the future?) So, that was what he was worried about. Xu Ran fell silent. It seemed that the story of the Shadow Chaser Lizard had made this clingy little guy think about itself. ¡°Come to think of it, the experience of the Shadow Chaser Lizard served as a reminder for me,¡± Xu Ran stroked its head to comfort it, ¡°I won¡¯t hastily contract any pet beast afterwards.¡± ¡°I will only make a contract when I¡¯m sure it can get along harmoniously with previous members.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (That¡¯s better!) Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. As Xu Ran¡¯s first pet beast, all future pet beasts had to live in peace with it! ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t bully the later pet beasts either.¡± Xu Ran patted this somewhat proud little fellow, ¡°As a senior, you need to take care of your juniors.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay-) After agreeing, Ziyun quickly thought of something more important. ¡°Meow-¡± (Did the last grooming give me any new skills?) ¡°Ah¡­there is one, but this skill is of earth attribute, you can¡¯t learn it.¡± Xu Ran gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°Next time for sure.¡± Alright then. Ziyun helplessly spread its paws. ¡°Meow-¡± (Then I want to take a bath!) ¡°If you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I would¡¯ve almost forgotten.¡± Xu Ran looked at his own pet beast. Considering they spent every day together, he hadn¡¯t noticed how long it had been since Ziyun¡¯s last grooming. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Time for a bath!¡± Xu Ran closed the shop door, carrying Ziyun into the grooming room. A moment later, a soft and trembling voice came from the closed Starfire Foster Shop, attracting the attention of passersby. ¡°Meow ¡± Xu Ran sat behind the counter, propping his cheeks up. Beside him laid Ziyun, its appearance significantly enhanced after grooming. It lazily stretched its paws, swinging its fluffy tail from time to time, and occasionally glancing at its Beast Master. No wonder that Flame Fox always wanted another grooming session. But it had already been defeated by him! Ziyun¡¯s thoughts hopped around as agilely as its body, soon shifting from Flame Fox to the Dark Scale Dragon who continued to pressurize it. Though it had defeated the Flame Fox, it shouldn¡¯t grow proud. It had to defeat that detestable Dark Scale Dragon! Its eyes squinted slightly, and suddenly, a fighting spirit surged within it. ¡°Meow-¡± (I want to train! I want to upgrade all my skills to Starlight Level!) ¡°Training, huh¡­¡± pondering, Xu Ran rubbed his chin, opened his personal panel, and checked his Pleasure value, which had already exceeded ten thousand. The Energy Abundant Potions had been depleted, a ten-draw lottery should be able to replenish some. But without Lucky Liu around, wouldn¡¯t ten consecutive draws be a bit risky? With a ten-draw lottery in hand, there¡¯s no way he would come out empty-handed. After staring at the lottery interface for a while, Xu Ran finally made a decision. Draw! Without Lucky Liu, he refused to believe he wouldn¡¯t get anything good. After setting off with his ten draws, Xu Ran¡¯s face tightened, getting nervous as the draws proceeded. The roulette spun rapidly, and rays of light wrapped around different items flew out. Good news, he got a blue item. Bad news, there was only one. Aside from the negligible effects of the white items, Xu Ran had only received three doses of Energy Abundant Potion and one Skill Fusion Stone. The three doses of Energy Abundant Potion should be enough to upgrade all of Ziyun¡¯s skills to Starlight Level. As for the Skill Fusion Stone¡­ There weren¡¯t enough of them, and he didn¡¯t have any particular skills that needed fusion for now. Better save it for later. Looking at the open prizes, Xu Ran heaved a deep sigh. Next time, if Lucky Liu isn¡¯t around, he absolutely won¡¯t draw a lottery.. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 All Skills Starlight Levell l Chapter 52: Chapter 52 All Skills Starlight Levell l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Zila ¡± A deep purple energy sphere traverses the sky, striking hard against a dark green energy target and exploding to form an electric light ball with a diameter exceeding ten meters. The terrifying electric arcs wildly splash in the air, breaking the dozens of light-green energy targets surrounding the dark green energy target one by one. Two stars skill, Starlight Level ? Electric Spark! Compared to the Stardust Level Electric Spark, not only has its range of explosion and scattering increased by one rank, but it can also control the method of scattering the electric arcs after the explosion to a certain extent, achieving multiple attacks of range damage + targeted damage. Dotted with dozens of red energy spheres aiming at a petite white and purple figure on the training ground, seemingly sealing off all its possible evasion space, not leaving any leeway. Faced with such suffocating aggression, the white and purple figure swiftly flickers, leaving remnants of collected electric light shadows in place. The remnants are torn by red energy spheres, and the shattered electric light freely refracts around the ground, reflecting that figure elegantly and brilliantly in its unharmed state. Two stars skill, Starlight Level Electric Arc! Upon promoting a proficiency level, this skill that uses thunderforce to accelerate oneself finds a broader range of applications. In addition to speed, the remnants formed by collected electric arcs will dissipate after a brief pause. If an opponent touches the remnants before they dissipate, they instantly shatter into countless electric streams and leave the opponent with certain paralysis effect. If caught off guard, this skill is bound to give adversaries an unpleasant surprise. Several blue energy targets appear at the side of the white and purple figure, wrapping it round. The elegant figure instantly transforms into a robust slayer. Whipping tail, swiping claws, biting, stomping, every part of the figure seemingly transforms into a lethal tool of massacre, displaying unimaginably difficult manoeuvres in the blink of an eye, shattering all the surrounding energy targets. This is the art of combat, as well as the art of massacre. Two stars skill, Starlight Level ¡ö Battle Instinct! Upon reaching the Starlight Level, Battle Instinct becomes fittingly innate, flowing freely in every maneuver. It can perfectly exploit any part of the body at any moment, achieving what is typically impossible. ¡°Three hours are up; the training ends here.¡± Xu Ran presses the stop button on the console and declares loudly. ¡°Meow-¡± The previously feisty white and purple figure instantly becomes docile, makes a light jump, and lands in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. It¡¯s Ziyun, whose strength has been comprehensively enhanced. A week has passed since the Stone Armored Dragon has been admitted to Starfire Foster Care Shop. During this week, Xu Ran has been feeding Ziyun the Energy Abundant Potion he got from the draw, only finishing the last bottle today. Following the consumption of three bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, Ziyun¡¯s skills proficiency has been increasing with unbelievable efficiency. Not only have all three two stars skills been upgraded to Starlight Level, but the one-star skills Self-healing Power and Blood Fury have also been promoted to Starlight Level. The Starlight Level Self-healing Power did not see much change, only with a significantly enhanced treatment effect. The direction of the upgrade for Starlight Level Blood Fury is to reduce the side effects, shortening the period of weakness after use. Now, all of Ziyun¡¯s skills have been upgraded to Starlight Level, just like the Dark Scale Dragon before, accomplishing the small achievement of having all skills at Starlight Level! Apart from skill upgrades, Ziyun has also made notable progress in growth progress. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (435/500) [+] Race Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Starlight Level)] (12/500) [¡ï¡ïElectric Arc (Starlight Level)] (32/500) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (7/500) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (1/500) [¡ïBlood Fury (Starlight Level)] (1/500) ] On the way back holding Ziyun, Xu Ran carefully examines Ziyun¡¯s panel data, and nods satisfied. Having over four hundred growth progress points, the current Ziyun is unrecognizable compared to just awakening with only 123 growth progress points. If confronted with its past self, the present Ziyun can take on ten of them alone. I¡¯m hitting myself! Are you scared? The rapid progress of Ziyun¡¯s growth wasn¡¯t just due to its own efforts, but also intimately related to Xu Ran¡¯s additional points. With the Stone Armored Dragon moving in, the number of members in the foster shop increased to three, which not only meant more daily fixed pleasure value but also an increased number of physical points that could be obtained every day. During these days, Ziyun fully experienced the joy of adding points. Xu Ran exited Ziyun¡¯s panel and returned to his own. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)](13/100) [Drug Application (D-level)](28/100) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï¡ïIce Storm](Non-teachable) [¡ï¡ïRock Eruption](Non-teachable) [¡ï¡ïBlood Rage](Non-teachable) [¡ï¡ïRefreshing Rain](Non-teachable) Physical Points: 0 Pleasure Value: 23289 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] The experience of applying drugs increased steadily by 3 points every day, and the washing and protection services weren¡¯t neglected either. A few customers visited the shop over the week. Although their number wasn¡¯t high, Xu Ran was very pleased. The only dissatisfaction was that he hadn¡¯t obtained any new suitable skills for Ziyun. The two times Plucking Fur was activated, the skills obtained were useless. The fire attribute two-star skill, Blood Rage, came from a customer who tried the foster shop on a whim. The water attribute two-star skill, Refreshing Rain, came from Liu Gu¡¯s Sea Wave Flower. The skills were good. The only problem was they couldn¡¯t be taught. Over the course of a week, Xu Ran¡¯s pleasure value had reached twenty thousand. The time when Uncle Liu came to the shop, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t accumulated enough for a ten-draw, so he held back from drawing. He vowed that the next time Lucky Liu came, he would definitely draw to his heart¡¯s content. ¡°Little boss, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Before Xu Ran could even step inside, Liu Gu who was waiting outside waved at him, shouting, ¡°I came for your washing and protection service!¡± The Wind Lion Dog behind him was covered in blood while the Sea Wave Flower displayed a disgusted attitude. Without a doubt, they must have gone to the city outskirts and been part of a battle before returning to the city. Xu Ran paused and gave a slight smile. Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives. ¡°Uncle Liu, the Wind Lion Dog has been cleaned up.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m used to coming here for a cleanup after each city trip.¡± Liu Gu laughed heartily. On the one hand, the Sea Wave Flower loved cleanliness and couldn¡¯t stand the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s dirtiness. On the other hand, once this rule was set, the Wind Lion Dog fought more bravely and efficiently every time it went out of the city. There couldn¡¯t be a better incentive than this. ¡°You¡¯re always welcome.¡± Xu Ran patted Liu Gu on the shoulder with a smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving now!¡± Liu Gu, who was used to Xu Ran¡¯s peculiar way of greeting, waved and left with the two pet beasts. Once Liu Gu was out of sight, Xu Ran¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Purple came out! Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Purple Rewardl l Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Purple Rewardl l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ka¡ª¡± Xu Ran closed the shop door immediately, breathed deeply, and then reentered the lottery drawing page. Having participated in so many lottery drawings, he was no longer naive about whether the prizes were of good quality or not. The prizes won through the system¡¯s lottery were divided into six levels, ranging from lowest to highest: white, green, blue, purple, red, and gold. Before this, the most valuable prize Xu Ran won was a blue reward. Let¡¯s see what these blue rewards are. An Awakening Stone that can turn Ziyun into a Transcendent Being, a Good Luck Charm that saved his life in the nick of time, a Skill Fusion Stone that can merge skills into a stronger one¡­ Each of these would create quite a stir if placed in the outside world. But now, he¡¯s won a purple reward, which is even more valuable than the blue ones. Coming back to his senses, Xu Ran looked at the single purple light group within the twenty light clusters. [Meditation Acceleration Card] [The Meditation Acceleration Card is a special product of the system. When used, the host¡¯s meditation speed will increase for a month. This item cannot be used by anyone other than the host.] Huh? Xu Ran blinked his eyes. A tool that can speed up meditation for a month? It sounds really powerful, but doesn¡¯t it seem a little out of line with the prestige he imagined a purple reward would possess? However, this is indeed what he needs right now. As Ziyun¡¯s strength continues to increase day by day, its growth is nearly peaking. What is stopping it from breaking through is Xu Ran¡¯s contract power. Not to mention that Xu Ran often has mixed thoughts, making it difficult for him to meditate for extended periods. Even if he could, the normal speed of meditation definitely wouldn¡¯t keep up with Ziyun¡¯s breakthrough speed. This is quite a problem. And now, the Meditation Acceleration Card has come at just the right time. After checking the details of the purple reward, Xu Ran began counting the other prizes. Aside from the white prizes, which are just there to make up numbers, he has won eight prizes: three blue and five green. The three blue rewards are all Skill Fusion Stones. In addition to the one he hadn¡¯t used before, he now has four. If Ziyun gets a compatible skill for fusion, the four skill fusion stones have a high chance of fusion success. Of the five green rewards, four are Energy Abundant potions and the last one is a new prize Xu Ran has never seen before. [Fast-Acting Healing Potion] [Fast-Acting Healing Potion is a special product of the system. When injured, taking it will recover the injury at an extremely fast speed.] It sounds good, but for Ziyun, its value is less than that of the Energy Abundant Potion. After all, Ziyun already possesses self-healing skills. After perusing all the rewards, Xu Ran exited the lottery interface. Meditation Acceleration Card, activate! He was eager to see how much acceleration this meditation card, as a purple reward, could actually provide. ¡°Ziyun, help me watch the shop while I try to meditate,¡± Xu Ran reopened the shop door, indicating to Ziyun to watch the shop while he tried to meditate. If anyone came in, Ziyun was to wake him up. After that, he went back behind the counter, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. ¡°Meow-¡± (¡°Go for it~¡±) Ziyun lazily responded, showing satisfaction at Xu Ran¡¯s sudden fervor but wasn¡¯t optimistic about it. After all, Xu Ran has tried to meditate several times over the past few days, and it was good if he could stick with it for ten minutes. As time ticked away, Ziyun¡¯s original laziness gradually disappeared. It stood up, astonished as it looked at Xu Ran, who was still in a meditative state, unmoved. A look of surprise quickly appeared on its face. Could it be that its breakthrough to the Starlight Level in all skills indirectly inspired the Beast Master? Cheer up!Cheer up! In its heart, it was rooting for Xu Ran, its eyes filled with an expectant look. Once the Beast Master¡¯s contract power reached the second stage, it could break through! At this moment, Xu Ran was in a state of immense shock. As soon as he entered meditation, he noticed the difference after using the Meditation Acceleration Card. Before this, he found it difficult to clear his mind of distractions and fully enter a meditative state. Now, however, a single thought was enough to clear his mind and enter a meditative state, without any interruptions by stray thoughts. Without a doubt, this greatly improved his meditation efficiency. And this was just the minor assistive effect of the Meditation Acceleration Card. After entering meditation, Xu Ran was immediately astounded by the acceleration effect of the card. His meditation speed increased by 100 times! If such a meditation speed could be maintained for the next month¡­ Then his one month of meditation would be equivalent to eight years of meditation by other Beast Masters! What does eight years mean? The new Beast Master students recruited by Beast Mastery High School, by the time of graduation in their third year, the best batch among them could reach the second stage of contract power, and contract two elite level pet beasts. But such excellent graduates usually represented only about 50% of the class, while the rest needed one or two years after graduation to reach this level. This shows that ordinary Beast Masters typically need three to five years of normal meditation for their contract power to break through from the first to the second stage. Xu Ran, with only normal meditation, could surely break through to the second stage within a month. If all goes well, the third stage of contract power may not be too far off! If it were not for the calming function of the Meditation Acceleration Card, the surprise and joy that surged to his heart at this moment would be enough to bring Xu Ran out of his meditative state. Practice! Practice hard! It¡¯s well-deserved as a Purple Reward, so terrifying! ¡°Variegated Dragon Sparrow! Pick yourself up!¡± Zhou Hao stood on the battlefield, watching his incredibly proud pet beast fall heavily under the opponent¡¯s attack and completely lose its combat capabilities. His face was filled with an unwilling look. It was so close. This was an assessment of a professional Battle Master¡¯s combat power. As long as he defeated the assessor in front of him, his combat power rating could be improved, thus gaining better conditions. Such an assessment doesn¡¯t happen all the time, and there is only one chance a year. ¡°What, is it over?¡± The assessor spoke slowly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s a shame, and you¡¯ll have to wait another year to try again.¡± ¡°Or, you should have another beast, right? You can let it try.¡± Zhou Hao couldn¡¯t help but clenched his fists. Professional Battle Masters are divided into two different directions according to the situation of their beasts: Team Battle Master and Individual Battle Master. The former does not necessarily have strong individual pet beast capabilities, but their pet beasts cooperate seamlessly, capable of producing an effect where one plus one is greater than two. The latter focuses on cultivating a single pet beast, pouring a great deal of effort into training it to have extremely high individual strength. Undoubtedly, no matter how strong an individual is, it is hard to compete with a coordinated team. So Zhou Hao¡¯s initial plan was to transition to become a Team Battle Master after contracting with his second pet beast, letting the Shadow Chaser Lizard and Variegated Dragon Sparrow fight together. But the irreconcilable conflict between the two pet beasts made him give up this idea and settle for becoming an Individual Battle Master. Comparing the Shadow Chaser Lizard and the Variegated Dragon Sparrow, the latter undoubtedly had a higher cultivation ceiling. So, without much hesitation, he chose to foster the Shadow Chaser Lizard and fully cultivate the Variegated Dragon Sparrow. And now, the Variegated Dragon Sparrow had lost.. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Opportunity of the Shadow Chaser Lizardl Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Opportunity of the Shadow Chaser Lizardl Translator: 549690339 Should I let the Shadow Chaser Lizard try? The examiner¡¯s words kept echoing in Zhou Hao¡¯s mind. He slightly pursed his lips, his face showing a touch of hesitation. Ten days ago, he had disregarded the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s pleadings and sent it to the Foster Shop. The only thing that could be considered compensation was probably his choice of the most expensive shop after comparing several. But Zhou Hao also understood that the Shadow Chaser Lizard would not forgive him for this. If he summoned that stubborn creature now, would it really still be willing to fight for him? And¡­ For the past ten days, could the deeply distressed Shadow Chaser Lizard really still maintain its previous fighting state? Many thoughts surfaced in Zhou Hao¡¯s mind. For the first time, he sincerely regretted the choice he had made. Amidst a myriad of dilemmas, Zhou Hao tentatively sent a message to the other silent end of the Beast Taming Contract. ¡°Are you still willing to fight for me?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Wake up quickly!) Although Ziyun really wanted Xu Ran to continue his meditation, sensing the anomaly, he knew he had to wake Xu Ran up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes, still immersed in the joy of his previous hundred-speed meditation, not yet fully conscious. ¡°Meow-¡± (There¡¯s an incident in the Foster Area!) Ziyun raised his paw and pointed at the constantly flashing Control hub. When an anomaly occurred in the foster area, the control hub would flash and issue a warning. ¡°Hmm? Is there a problem with the Shadow Chaser Lizard?¡± Seeing the object of the warning, Xu Ran¡¯s brow immediately furrowed. After Xu Ran successfully encouraged the Shadow Chaser Lizard, it had turned its sorrow into strength, continuously undergoing even tougher training than before. Upon hearing its story, even the Armored Rhinoceros forgave its impulsiveness back then. The newly arrived Stone Armored Dragon was also willing to contribute its strength. Two elite level pet beasts that were stronger than the Shadow Chaser Lizard had become its sparring partners. They fought every day in the training area, and even Ziyun often went to observe and study. Apart from needing to manually repair the environment every day, everything was going well. The pleasure value provided by the Shadow Chaser Lizard was as much as the other two foster care residents. And now there¡¯s a problem again? This is unacceptable! ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look!¡± Xu Ran immediately made a decision, carrying Ziyun towards the back door, and soon arrived at the foster area. However, the situation before his eyes left him somewhat confused. The Shadow Chaser Lizard didn¡¯t show the slightest sign of depression. On the contrary, it seemed a little too excited. As a Pet Beast of the Dark Attribute, it was actually running frantically under the direct rays of the artificial light source? ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, what¡¯s going on with you?¡± Xu Ran stopped it and began to inquire curiously. ¡°Click!¡± (My chance has come!) A chance? What the hell? Xu Ran frowned, about to continue asking, when suddenly a bolt of lightning flashed across his mind. He remembered the pep talk he had given to the Shadow Chaser Lizard at that time. ¡°You have to grow quietly, then wait for an opportunity to stun everyone.¡± Could the Shadow Chaser Lizard be referring to this? If so, this means¡­ ¡°Is your Beast Master summoning you?¡± ¡°Click!¡± (Yes!) The Shadow Chaser Lizard nodded its head vehemently, its eyes filled with excitement. Just now, its Beast Master had asked it through the Beast Taming Contract whether it was willing to go into battle. It had agreed without hesitation. After a little preparation, it would then be transmitted away. The Beast Master still needed it! This time, it would definitely do better! ¡°Congratulations, you have another chance to prove yourself.¡± Xu Ran patted the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s head, his eyes filled with an encouraging expression. The progress of the Shadow Chaser Lizard had been evident over the past week. Although it wasn¡¯t his own Pet Beast, Xu Ran still increased its food intake to replenish the energy it expended in training. At this moment, it was clearly stronger than it was a week ago. The Chaser Lizard looked at the two big fellows who had trained with it over the week, nodding gratefully. It will never forget the help of these two neighbors! The Hexagram Star Array lights up behind the Shadow Chaser Lizard. The call to battle, which it hasn¡¯t heard in a while, ignites a burning sense of combat in its black eyes. The next moment, its figure disappeared on the spot. ¡°Roar-¡± ¡°Aoow~¡± The Armored Rhinoceros and the Stone Armored Dragon roared with a hint of reluctance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Shadow Chaser Lizard will be back.¡± Xu Ran smiled. The Beast Master of the Shadow Chaser Lizard has paid a month¡¯s fosterage fee in advance, which hasn¡¯t ended yet. Either they will come to get a refund or they will send the Shadow Chaser Lizard back here again. Of course, he hopes it¡¯s the former. Come on, Shadow Chaser Lizard! With a cheer for the Shadow Chaser Lizard in his heart, Xu Ran left the foster area with Ziyun. Within the Hexagram Star Array, a dark figure emerged from the wild wind. ¡°Hisss!¡± The Variegated Dragon Sparrow, which had largely recovered from its injuries, saw this familiar figure and immediately showed an expression of disdain in its eyes. What¡¯s the use of letting this guy, who even it couldn¡¯t beat, to come and fight? It turned its head to look at its Beast Master. Let¡¯s fight! Only after the battle will you know that the only one you can rely on is me! ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, you¡­¡± Zhou Hao pointed to the opponent ahead, intending to clarify the situation to the Shadow Chaser Lizard. However, his words were cut short when he noticed the striking change in the lizard¡¯s stature. What¡¯s going on? The Shadow Chaser Lizard had been in foster care for ten days. Why had it changed so much? No matter, let¡¯s put that aside for now. ¡°Your opponent is the Scarlet Ape, an elite-level Fighting Attribute Pet Beast.¡± Zhou Hao quickly gave a rundown of their opponent. ¡°It has four two-star skills, three of which are innate, while one is acquired.¡± ¡°What you need to pay special attention to is its two-star skill ¡®Berserk¡¯. It suddenly breaks out at critical moments. That¡¯s how the Variegated Dragon Sparrow was defeated.¡± Zhou Hao rapidly analyzed the situation. ¡°Leave the rest to me to command.¡± ¡°Click!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard gave Zhou Hao a firm look, fixing its gaze on the imposing giant ape draped in a coat of scarlet hair, obscuring a muscular frame teeming with power. The intimidating aura the ape gave off was no less powerful than the Armored Rhinoceros and the Stone Armored Dragon that had trained with it! But, it must win this battle! The words Xu Ran spoke before flashed in its mind. Now, it¡¯s time to stun everyone! ¡°Your pet beast has a lot of fighting spirit!¡± The examiner laughed, then his face gradually turned serious. ¡°Combat Master Zhou Hao, this is your last chance. If you fail again, you¡¯ll have to wait until next year to reapply for the promotion.¡± ¡°So, are you ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Zhou Hao shouted, although his heart was still pounding. It seems that the Shadow Chaser Lizard hasn¡¯t wasted its time in fosterage but has been training hard. However, can it really defeat a foe that the Variegated Dragon Sparrow failed to defeat? ¡°Since you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s begin!¡± The examiner nodded slightly. The next moment, the Scarlet Ape that stood before him stepped heavily onto the Battle Stand. The hard Battle Stand was left with a shallow pit under the powerful force of the Scarlet Ape. Covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye, it shot towards the Shadow Chaser Lizard! Two-Star Skill, Waning Moon Level Blink! Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Risking Life!_l Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Risking Life!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, Shadow Dodge!¡± Almost at the same time as the Scarlet Ape vanished, Zhou Hao¡¯s command rang in the mind of the Shadow Chaser Lizard. ¡°Creak-¡± The Lizard¡¯s dark pupils instantly contracted, turning the dense dark attribute energy into black mist that enveloped it. Just as the Scarlet Ape reappeared in front of it, exerting a power as imposing as a mountain and fiercely lifting its fist to strike at it, the Shadow Chaser Lizard vanished. ¡°Boom!!!¡± The terrifying fist powered through, heavily slamming into the battle stand and leaving a spider-web-like crack in the ground. If the strike had hit the Shadow Chaser Lizard, it would have been seriously injured on the spot. Two stars skills, Waning Moon Level- Fury Punch! ¡°Roar!!!¡± With its full-force strike hitting only air, the Scarlet Ape was seething with fury. It let out a fierce roar before rapidly turning to survey all around, trying to trace its opponent. At this moment, the examiner¡¯s command echoed in the Scarlet Ape¡¯s mind, ¡°Blink Step, leap to high altitude!¡± Instinctively, the Scarlet Ape exploded with powerful leg strength, once again left shallow pits in the ground as that tremendous power lifted it high into the air. Almost at the same time that the Scarlet Ape jumped up, three pitch-black, dagger-like sharp claw marks soared up from its shadow, fiercely striking the spot where the Scarlet Ape had just been, instantly tearing apart its afterimage. Two stars skills, Waning Moon Level- Dark Blade Claw! The move missed, and the Shadow Chaser Lizard reappeared from the slowly vanishing shadow, a hint of regret in its eyes. Too bad, it was a step too late. ¡°Roar!!!¡± Only then did the Scarlet Ape belatedly realize that the Shadow Chaser Lizard had hidden in its shadow. It roared in fury, its gaze at the lizard filled with irritation. It hated this kind of opponent who only knew how to dodge and launch surprise attacks! The Scarlet Ape in the air landed heavily on the battle stand ten meters away, then immediately began charging towards the Shadow Chaser Lizard without using its Blink Step. Seeing the Scarlet Ape get closer, the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s eyes showed a hint of contempt. This charge was nowhere near as powerful as that of the Armored Rhinoceros! The two elite level pet beasts soon clashed into a heated fight. The Scarlet Ape¡¯s moves were wildly fierce; a casual strike was enough to crack the solid battle stand. However, the Shadow Chaser Lizard, which had been trained to perfection in agility by two large beasts, remained composed. With its ghost-like footwork, the Scarlet Ape¡¯s strikes could hardly land any direct hits. This extraordinary performance surprised not only the examiner but also Zhou Hao, who was giving the commands. How had the Shadow Chaser Lizard become so strong? Control of abilities was one part, but Zhou Hao, who was intimately familiar with his pet beast, could see that the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s victory over the Scarlet Ape was due more to its serious progress over the past ten days. Seeing the Shadow Chaser Lizard gradually gaining the upper hand, Zhou Hao could feel hope burning again in his heart. The Variegated Dragon Sparrow watching from the sidelines also showed changes in its expression, from initial contempt to surprise and disbelief. How could this guy¡­ be so strong? ¡°Scarlet Ape, go berserk!¡± After repeated unsuccessful attacks, the examiner decisively signaled the Scarlet Ape to erupt its power. ¡°Roar!¡± Frustrated by its repeated failed attacks, the Scarlet Ape¡¯s eyes turned blood red and a blood mist enveloped it. As its body crackled with energy, the Scarlet Ape¡¯s physique became even more robust. Terrifying power burst out of it, making the already fierce Scarlet Ape look like a god or demon descending to the world. Two stars skills, Waning Moon Level- Berserk! ¡°Boom!!!¡± The Scarlet Ape, amplified by its Rage, slammed the battle stand vigorously, its ferocious power leaving web-like cracks across the surface. However, this time it seemed like a different kind of power was transmitted through the shadow beneath. ¡°Crack!!!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard, caught off guard, was directly struck by this fierce power, frantically escaping from the shadow before gasping for breath in the next instant. The Scarlet Ape engaged in Quick Step, appearing in front of it! The confrontation between its crazy crimson eyes and the lizard¡¯s pitch-black ones cast a shadow over the lizard¡¯s heart. Another berserk punch was coming its way. ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, Dark Light!¡± Zhou Hao quickly issued his command with a hint of urgency. The black bodied Shadow Chaser Lizard instantly swallowed all surrounding light, then launched itself towards the other side of the battle stand. Like a black ribbon, it narrowly dodged the intense punch. However, as the Shadow Chaser Lizard resurfaced, the violent Scarlet Ape once again stood before it. Quick Step! Quick Step again! The Shadow Chaser Lizard sensed tremendous pressure unlike ever before. Despite moving clumsily, this ape had enough power to keep up with it. Even more terrifying was the ability to directly attack through shadows after entering a Berserk state. The battlefield drastically shifted with the Scarlet Ape entering Rage. The only solution was to hold on. Both Rage and Blood Fury, after a brief burst, followed with a moment of weakness. If it could last until then, victory became possible! A black and red silhouette flickered continuously on the battle stand. As time passed, the Shadow Chaser Lizard started accumulating fresh wounds. Despite its best efforts to avoid a direct hit from the Scarlet Ape, it was almost impossible to escape all collateral damage. New injuries interfered with the lizard¡¯s movements, leading to more wounds. Eventually, the Shadow Chaser Lizard¡¯s reaction slowed and it was hit directly by a punch from the enraged Scarlet Ape. ¡°Boom!!!¡± An air ring propagated in the void. The Shadow Chaser Lizard, hit by the Scarlet Ape, flew back like a cannonball, and falling motionless after rolling for nearly ten meters. ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard!¡± Zhou Hao watched anxiously in the direction of the lizard, his face pale. ¡°Deserve compliments for impressive fighting ability,¡± the examiner nodded slightly, ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s still not the Scarlet Ape¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°¡­Crack-¡± A faint voice came from the edge of the arena. Looking at the Shadow Chaser Lizard, soaked in blood and scarily scarred but still standing, the examiner was moved. Step by step, the lizard faced the fierce Scarlet Ape; no matter how injured it was, it held its head high, its eyes still filled with fighting spirit. Looking at his once familiar companion, Zhou Hao felt a large hammer whirling in his mind, stammering, unable to utter a word. The Shadow Chaser Lizard¡­ Despite such injuries, is it still fighting for me? ¡°Crack!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard stood in front of the stationary Scarlet Ape, issuing a challenging sound. ¡°Roar!¡± The Scarlet Ape growled lightly and rushed up to the lizard in an instant. As it was about to throw a punch, its body suddenly froze. Power declining visibly and its body size shrinking. The Rage, ended.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Thanks from Zhou Hao_l Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Thanks from Zhou Hao_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Is the boss here?¡± Zhou Hao strode into the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran finished his meditation, slowly opened his eyes, and recognized who the visitor was at first sight, ¡°How¡¯s the Shadow Chaser Lizard?¡± ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Zhou Hao glanced at his feet, in the shadow, the scar-stricken Shadow Chaser Lizard slowly emerged, raising its head to look at Xu Ran. ¡°Cra~¡± I did it! Seeing the Shadow Chaser Lizard, Xu Ran frowned, the disapproval became obvious in his eyes towards Zhou Hao, ¡°Did you not treat it? ¡°Ah¡­ No!¡± Realizing Xu Ran¡¯s misunderstanding, Zhou Hao immediately explained, ¡°The Shadow Chaser Lizard suffered severe injuries during the fight, but it eagerly wanted to rush over here right after it had its initial treatment and its condition stabilized¡­¡± Saying this, Zhou Hao also looked helpless. He had tried to persuade it, but the Shadow Chaser Lizard with its obstinate character, refused to listen. ¡°Cra~¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard shook its head a bit. Treatment at the Elite Stage is much slower than at the Transcendent Stage, let alone the fact that its injuries are so severe that it won¡¯t be fully healed for at least three to five days. But it can¡¯t wait for even a second. After the Berserking had ended, the Scarlet Ape was left in a weakened state. The Shadow Chaser Lizard that held on till the end achieved the final victory, helping Zhou Hao pass his promotion assessment. It achieved something that the Variegated Dragon Sparrow couldn¡¯t do, proving itself successful. Now it just wants to quickly share this good news with everyone who has helped. After listening to the explanation, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, then silently took out a test tube from his arms. The light blue liquid inside it shimmered under the light. ¡°Drink this.¡± After drinking the Fast-Acting Healing Potion, the injuries on the Shadow Chaser Lizard healed at a visible speed, in the end, not even a scar was left. ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Hao¡¯s eyes widened. A medicine with such magical effects must be very valuable. This shop owner just gave it away without even blinking an eye, helping his Pet Beast recover. ¡°How much does this medicine cost? Consider it sold to me.¡± He said immediately. ¡°No need, this is not something you can buy with money.¡± Xu Ran waved his hand, ¡°You¡¯ve paid one month¡¯s foster fee before, and there are still twenty days left, so did you come here this time to return the Shadow Chaser Lizard to the shop?¡± ¡°NO, no, no!¡± Zhou Hao shook his head without hesitation, ¡°No more fostering!¡± He looked at the Shadow Chaser Lizard, who was stepping towards the back door with regret on his face. ¡°It was my fault before, to neglect the Shadow Chaser Lizard for another Pet Beast.¡± ¡°So now that the Shadow Chaser Lizard has become stronger, you plan to foster the other Pet Beast?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. Zhou Hao was stunned for a second, then continued shaking his head, ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized, the conflict between the two Pet Beasts has a lot to do with my inaction.¡± Zhou Hao slowly said, ¡°As a Beast Master, I should have guided the relationship between the Pet Beasts correctly, but I just let them fight.¡± There was a look of shame on his face, ¡°I¡¯ve decided, I won¡¯t give up on either of them again, I will do my best to correct the character problems of the two Pet Beasts, no matter how much time it takes. Hearing Zhou Hao¡¯s determined words, Xu Ran nodded slightly. This seemed correct. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll refund the remaining twenty days of foster expenses.¡± ¡°No need, no need!¡± Zhou Hao continued shaking his head, ¡°I came here this time to thank you in person for taking care of the Shadow Chaser Lizard, and you¡¯ve also used such a valuable healing medicine, so there¡¯s no need to mention the money.¡± While he was talking, the Shadow Chaser Lizard returned through the back door. It seemed it had already said goodbye to the Armored Rhinoceros and the Stone Armored Dragon in the foster area. It gave Xu Ran and Ziyun a grateful look, then jumped into Zhou Hao¡¯s shadow. ¡°I should be leaving now, thankyou, boss.¡± Zhou Hao nodded at Xu Ran and turned to leave the Starfire Foster Care Shop. The shop returned to its quiet state. ¡°It is said that the place that makes the Shadow Chaser Lizard feel the most secure after the Beast Master Contract is the shadow of the Beast Master.¡± Xu Ran looked at the departing back of Zhou Hao, rubbing Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°The Shadow Chaser Lizard should be very happy now.¡± -Meow-¡± (The place that makes me feel the safe is at the side of the Beast Master!) Ziyun rubbed its head against Xu Ran¡¯s palm. ¡°Then I am very happy too.¡± Xu Ran laughed. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s been a week since I saw my Stone Armored Dragon. How is it?¡± The one-on-one conversation was interrupted by a figure who suddenly barged through the door. Zhang Yun came striding through, ¡°Without me, is the Stone Armored Dragon starving?¡± ¡ö¡¯You can be assured on that matter.¡± Xu Ran asserted, ¡°Are you picking it up now?¡± ¡°Yes, my fostering fee is all used up. If I don¡¯t come pick it up, the young boss won¡¯t let it sleep on the streets, right?¡± Zhang Yun grinned. ¡°Well, not quite, it¡¯s the most I can deduct it waiting for you to redeem it.¡± Xu Ran pretended to be serious. ¡°Didn¡¯t realize it, but our boss has a sense of humor.¡± Zhang Yun scratched his head, ¡°Let¡¯s go now. I haven¡¯t seen it for a week. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then reminded, ¡°Actually, you can just summon it directly to your side.¡± ¡°I know, but picking it up to take it home, needs a bit of ceremony.¡± Zhang Yun pulled out a bouquet of flowers from his back, ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the flowers carved out of stone, and looked at Zhang Yun with some peculiarity. Didn¡¯t notice it last time, this guy is quite the talent. Without further ado, letting Ziyun watch the shop, Xu Ran led Zhang Yun to the foster area. ¡°Big Stone! Missed me?¡± Zhang Yun shouted the name he gave to the Stone Armored Dragon upon recognizing his beast, and rushed towards the Stone Armored Dragon. ¡°Aow~¡± The Stone Armored Dragon was full of surprise and delight, obviously, Zhang Yun hadn¡¯t informed it about this using the Beast Master Contract. It excitedly wagged its tail, got up to Zhang Yun, ¡°Aoow¡± ate the stone sculpture flower he prepared, and then was excited to be close to him. ¡°How has it been for you and your neighbors during this time?¡± Zhang Yun laughed and turned to see the Armored Rhinoceros not far away, giving it a friendly nod, ¡°Boss, what about Zhou Hao¡¯s Shadow Chaser Lizard? Still in a beaten state?¡± ¡°Zhou Hao has already picked it up, right before you came.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°He decided to work hard to coordinate the relationship between the two Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°It should be like this!¡± Zhang Yun nodded approvingly as he punched his other hand¡¯s palm, ¡°When a problem arises with a Pet Beast, the Beast Master should make every effort to solve the problem rather than discard the Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Alright, Big Stone let¡¯s go, I¡¯m taking you to eat something tasty!¡± Zhang Yun patted the head of the Stone Armored Dragon. ¡°Aow?¡± Are we going? The Stone Armored Dragon that was still feeling excited stiffened up a bit. It retreated a step reluctantly, coming out of Zhang Yun¡¯s arms. ¡°Aow?¡± Don¡¯t you wanna go? It¡¯s already accustomed to life here, and thought it would be nice to stay. Although it will miss the Beast Master¡­ Right! There¡¯s a way! The Stone Armored Dragon instantly brightened up. ¡°Aow!¡± Can I stay here, and then you can come and see me every day! Zhang Yun:¡±???¡± Do you even hear what you¡¯re saying?! Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Exciting Proposal_l Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Exciting Proposal_l Translator: 549690339 | In the end, the Stone Armored Dragon agreed to leave the Starfire Foster Care Shop, under the gentle persuasion of Zhang Yun. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Standing in front of the foster shop¡¯s door, Zhang Yun looked at Xu Ran with admiration, ¡°My pet beast enjoyed his stay here so much that he didn¡¯t want to return home. Who would believe that if we told them?¡± ¡°It could be because I put in a lot of effort when taking care of each pet beast.¡± Xu Ran shrugged. Indeed, he puts his heart into earning Pleasure value. Thinking about how the Armored Rhinoceros would be the only remaining occupant in his shop, Xu Ran¡¯s mood took a dive. His Pleasure value income would be reduced again. He could only hope that more new pet beasts would choose to stay at his shop soon. ¡°Foster shops like yours are getting rare!¡± Zhang Yun sounded deeply moved, ¡°As a boss, you not only own a pet beast, but also care for others, it¡¯s not easy.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun lifted his head, a smug expression on his face. Her own Beast Master caring for other pet beasts was ultimately for her to become stronger! Such a Beast Master was hard to find even with a lantern! ¡°Huh?¡± Ziyun¡¯s movement caught Zhang Yun¡¯s attention, he looked at Ziyun more closely, a surprised expression appeared on his face, ¡°Boss, your pet beast is quite unique!¡± ¡°What¡¯s unique about it?¡± Xu Ran blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize its species.¡± Zhang Yun answered seriously, ¡°Even though my job is somewhat related to the study of pet beast species, none of the pet beasts I¡¯ve seen can be matched with it.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s a stray cat that I adopted. One day, it suddenly awakened into a Transcendent Being.¡± Xu Ran had envisioned a similar scenario and had prepared an explanation. He spoke half-truths and half-falsehoods, ¡°Just in time, I was capable of forming a contract with a pet beast.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it, it¡¯s a cat returning a favor.¡± Zhang Yun sounded amazed, ¡°Currently, the number of Transcendent Beings that awaken by themselves are becoming less and less, and to have a brand new species, it¡¯s really unexpected that you managed to encounter one.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always had good luck.¡± Xu Ran nodded casually. ¡°It seems that it is in quite a good condition, close to reaching the limit of the Transcendent Stage. There is a New Beast Master Challenge Match happening soon, do you have interest in participating?¡± Zhang Yun suddenly had a bright idea and suggested it. ¡°New Beast Master Challenge Match?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡± ¡°Hmmm ¡­ Qingzhou City is planning to hold a competition for newly certified Beast Masters.¡± Zhang Yun began to explain, ¡°Only Beast Masters whose contract power is at the first stage and are under thirty years old can participate.¡± ¡°How old are you, boss?¡± ¡°23.¡± Xu Ran candidly stated his age in this world. ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t look like you were in your thirties.¡± Zhang Yun let out a snicker then continued, ¡°The competition will start soon, tomorrow is the day registration ends, and then the competition will officially begin.¡± ¡°It is said that the Beast Master who gets the first place after many rounds will receive a beast egg with great potential.¡± ¡°So, boss, you have to register soon.¡± ¡°Well¡­.¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, ¡°Actually I am not interested in participating?¡± ¡°Ha?¡± The corner of Zhang Yun¡¯s mouth twitched. He had been going on and on, but the boss was not interested? ¡°Yes, thank you for the information. However, I¡¯m not too interested.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°I still have to run my store.¡± It sounded very bothersome. Multiple rounds of competition would undoubtedly cost a lot of energy. Instead of spending time on that, he could use the time to entertain more customers in his store and earn some Pleasure value. Wouldn¡¯t that be as equally appealing? As for the beast egg the first place winner would get¡­ It sounded very tempting but whether he could win first place was unknown. Moreover, he still had an unused Awakening Stone. The beast egg wasn¡¯t a must-have. ¡°¡­Run the store, huh.¡± Zhang Yun went silent. This person was thinking about running his store at such a time, it seems like he really cherish this shop and the pet beasts that stay here! However, running the store and participating in the competition doesn¡¯t seem to clash, right? He glanced at Xu Ran, thought for a moment, and then tentatively asked, ¡°Have you ever considered¡­ advertising your store during the competition?¡± Eh? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes sparkled. He was just worrying about not having pet beasts to foster! Advertisements? That¡¯s a good idea! Xu Ran turned to look at Zhang Yun. ¡°Tell me more about it?¡± ¡°Beast Master Association¡­ It¡¯s here!¡± Following the GPS, Xu Ran with Ziyun in his arms, they finally stopped in front of a grand building. The words ¡°Qingzhou City Beast Master Association¡± were flamboyantly written on the building, and he nodded in satisfaction. They have arrived. After hearing Zhang Yun¡¯s rousing talk about the benefits, Xu Ran quickly changed his stance. He had to participate in this competition! Learning that registration had to be done at the Beast Master Association, Xu Ran closed his shop and rushed over as soon as he saw Zhang Yun off. ¡°Hello. I would like to sign up for the New Beast Master Challenge Match.¡± Finding out where the registration counter was, Xu Ran arrived in no time. ¡°Show me your Beast Master Certificate.¡± The staff member at the registration counter glanced at Xu Ran, following regular procedure. ¡°Uhh¡­ Wait a moment. I¡¯ll get one now.¡± Xu Ran turned to leave. The staff member:¡±???¡± Watching Xu Ran walk away with Ziyun in his arms, he fell into deep thought. Who nowadays would not get certified at the Beast Master Association after becoming a Beast Master? Xu Ran did not indeed get his certification. After all, the process by which he became a Beast Master was slightly different from most. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to this matter either. It was only after he listened to the nagging of the staff member at the certificate counter that he learned of the benefits of being certified at the Beast Master Association. He could get discounts on various resources, and he could access the Beast Master Association¡¯s forum to communicate with other Beast Masters and get information on the latest trends. Xu Ran was not really interested in the former, but the latter might prove beneficial to him. The process of getting certified was not complicated; Xu Ran just had to summon Ziyun into the room from outside, proving that a contract existed between them. The staff member didn¡¯t even register Ziyun¡¯s species or other details, which left Xu Ran, who had prepared a speech in advance, feeling somewhat disappointed. ¡°Okay, this is your Beast Master Certificate. If you lose it, you must replace it as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will cause you some trouble.¡± The staff member handed a metal badge to Xu Ran, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve also registered an account for you on the forum.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran put the badge into his pocket and took out his cellphone to log into a special forum, under the guidance of the staff member. He eagerly opened it, only to be taken aback by what he saw. ¡°Mating, my Flame Wolf is in heat. Is there any Flame Wolf in the city that can mate with it? Both genders are okay!¡± The poster seems to be indiscriminate. Did they consider whether their Flame Wolf agreed or not? ¡°Help, I¡¯m afraid my Golden Flame Seed is too hot. So I gave it a cold bath, and now it¡¯s extinguished, what should I do?!¡± Golden Flame Seed is an elemental life form, right? You gave it a cold bath? Who are these talent people? Include me too! Xu Ran quickly picked up his phone and started typing. ¡°Help, any recommendations for a better foster shop than the Starfire Foster Care Shop?¡± Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Freak is Me 1 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Freak is Me 1 Translator: 549690339 After posting a thread on the Beast Master Forum, Xu Ran puts his cell phone down and then turns to the registration office. He did not forget. The reason why he came to the Beast Master Association was to register for the contest. He had the certificate now, there should not be any problems. ¡±1 would like to register, here are my credentials.¡± Xu Ran slaps the certificate onto a desk in front of an attendant. A staff member weirdly glanced at Xu Ran who just left and returned, and then took the certificate. He scanned the certificate and nodded slightly, ¡°You meet the registration criteria, follow me for initial screening.¡± ¡°Initial screening? What is that?¡± Xu Ran blinked his eyes. Zhang Yun didn¡¯t mention anything about that, did he? ¡°Oh, because of the large number of Beast Masters participating in the contest we need to conduct a preliminary strength screening on the pet beasts during ¡¯ the registration period to filter out players with very weak strength,¡± the staff member explained. ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous, the screening requirements are not too high.¡± The staff member casually tried to reassure Xu Ran and then turned on a test equipment. ¡°Let your pet beast go in there, fully release its different skills for twenty seconds,¡± the staff member pointed to the electronic screen on the equipment, the result of the test will be displayed here after the test.¡± ¡®If you score more than 60 points, then you have passed the initial screening.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded. He does not know what level of strength Ziyun has reached now. But the girl named Gu Ling whose pet beast had also reached the Starlight Level of all skills should not be weaker than Ziyun. She is just a freshman, and the threshold for a new Beast Master contest is under thirty. In this case, could Ziyun¡¯s strength be classified as mid-tier? ¡°Meow-¡± (¡°I will do my best!¡±) Ziyun seriously nodded its head and then step by step entered the testing device. The entrance to the testing device closed and the test formally began. Feeling the energy fluctuations inside the device, Xu Ran turned to the staff member and asked, ¡°Has anyone ever got a full score?¡± ¡°Full score? What are you talking about?¡± The staff member was puzzled. ¡°A score of 100? Isn¡¯t the passing score 60 points?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°No, although the passing score is 60, there is no upper limit on the score. It reflects the overall combat power of the pet beast,¡± the staff member shook his head. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xu Ran realised, ¡°Then for the players who have been tested before, what is the highest score?¡± ¡°You want to know?¡± The staff member chuckled, ¡°I advise you not to ask, it may get you frustrated.¡± ¡°No problem, I can handle it,¡± Xu Ran said sincerely. He was really curious about how strong the contestants were this time. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll give you a hint,¡± the staff member grinned smugly, there are several staff members in charge of registration, so I only know the specific details of the contestants who register with me.¡± ¡°I cannot mention any names, but the highest score among them is 1092 points.¡± The staff member glanced at the astonished Xu Ran, ¡°As you can see, I had advised you not to enquire.¡± 60 points is the passing score, and someone got 1092 points? This sounded crazy, which Beast Master scored such a high score? Simply not giving people a way to survive ¨C ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Xu Ran sincerely said, ¡°This is simply outrageous.¡± ¡°Indeed, these outrageous genius Beast Masters make people feel hopeless,¡± the staff member nodded in agreement. ¡°Don¡¯t be too discouraged, someday you will reach that level too,¡± he reassured Xu Ran and then turned to look at the screen, ¡°the result is out, you should be able¡­¡± The staff member suddenly stopped talking. He stared wide-eyed at the number displayed on the screen as if he were choked, unable to speak a word for a long time. What¡¯s my score?¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look, blinked his eyes, ¡°So, it turns out that I am the outrageous one?¡± Looking at the score of 1137 points on the screen and hearing Xu Ran¡¯s somewhat puzzled words, the staff member was dumbfounded. He gawked at Xu Ran as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun stepped out of the testing device, with a look of regret on its face. It had originally planned to use Blood Fury inside the device, but it hesitated because using Blood Fury without the Energy Abundant Potion would lead to temporary weakness, otherwise, the score would be higher. It just hoped that this score would be enough to pass¡­ It stopped mid-step when it saw the score on the screen. By now, it could understand simple numbers. This number seemed a bit higher than 60¡­? ¡°Meow?¡± (¡°Is this score high?¡±) Ziyun looked at Xu Ran with doubtful eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a little higher than expected,¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, and finally looked at the staff member, ¡°Could it be that everyone who registered with you is just weak?¡± ¡°What do you mean everyone who registered with me is weak?¡± The staff member was irritated, ¡°among all the preliminary scores, there are only three¡­ oh, including you, now four who scored over a thousand.¡± ¡®So few?¡± Xu Ran was really surprised. Could it be that this contest wasn¡¯t as strong as he thought? If that is the case¡­ Could he run advertisements more frequently? ¡°Grunt! Ha!¡± In a bamboo forest, a teenager wearing a headband with the word ¡°Punching¡± was practicing boxing with his Combat Bear which wore a headband that said ¡°Hard work¡±. They were fully engaged in their boxing exercises. ¡°Brawl Bear Apprentice, let¡¯s work hard!¡± The teenager passionately punched out, his punch stirred a gust of wind that blew the falling bamboo leaves away, ¡°The New Beast Master Challenge Match is about to begin soon, it¡¯s time to prove ourselves worthy of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Brawl Bear Apprentice threw a cute but powerful punch. Even though it was one meter tall, it contained powerful energy. The whistling of the punch shattered the falling leaves of the bamboo in front of it. Behold! I am fierce! ¡°Puppy! Let¡¯s go!¡± A short-haired girl rode on a colossal wolf which was two meters tall and five meters long, covered in thick white fur. She was traversing a dense forest. Even though the colossal wolf was rather large, it could move extremely fast. Despite stepping on soft mud, it left no footprints behind; it was as light as a feather. Only tufts of frost flowers opened quietly where it stepped. They then shattered and vanished, leaving no trace. ¡°Not bad! Great!¡± Looking at the diameter of the frost flowers behind the colossal wolf, the short-haired girl laughed, ¡°Finally, our last skill improved to a Starlight Level right before the contest. With the blessing of Starlight-Level Frost Flower Path, we are going to become the champions this time!¡± The wolf howled in excitement. ¡°Hoot-¡± ¡°Dark Scale Dragon, I have good news for you.¡± Gu Ling walked into a training room with her hands behind her back, chuckling, ¡°The fourth Beast Master with a battle rating score over a thousand points has emerged. This time you can finally have a good fight¡­ Oh, even you, Big Black, are here too!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± A desperate howl came from the spacious training room. ¡°Keep up the good work!¡± Gu Ling exited the training room. In the training room, a Red-eyed Demon Dragon slapped the Dark Scale Dragon sprawling onto the floor. Keep on the intensive training! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Sea Selection Scene 1 Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Sea Selection Scene 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª The competition¡¯s schedule is quite tight.¡± Holding Ziyun and returning to the store, Xu Ran flipped through the small handbook he got at the registration, ¡°Registration ends tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow is the sea election race.¡± At his words, Ziyun raised its head from Xu Ran¡¯s embrace, leaning in to read the open booklet as if he was truly comprehending it. However, it quickly gave up and turned to ask Xu Ran. ¡°Meow?¡± (Is the sea election race difficult?) ¡°Hard to say.¡± Xu Ran shrugged, ¡°According to the schedule instructions, only in the rematch after the sea election race, will there be confrontations between contestants.¡± ¡°So, in the sea election race, we won¡¯t have to face off against other contestants.¡± ¡°Meow¡± (Then how can we advance?) ¡°The organizer will send out some Beast Masters of similar strength. Contestants can challenge as many times as they like during the three-day sea election race stage. As long as you can defeat one of the Beast Masters, you can advance to the rematch.¡± ¡°So the difficulty of the sea election race hinges on the level of the Beast Masters sent out by the organizer,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°Of course, I think we should have no problem getting through the sea election race.¡± -After all, if there really are only four contestants who obtained a thousand points in the preliminary tests, then our strength should be considered upper-tier among all contestants, right?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun nodded seriously, looking filled with confidence. It is certain that it will smoothly advance in the sea election race! ¡°After we go back, it¡¯s time to feed the Armored Rhinoceros.¡± Xu Ran stole a glance at the time, then expressed his feelings, ¡°I¡¯m not used to having two fewer fostered Pet Beasts around. I hope Zhang Yun¡¯s suggestion works and we can have more fostered Pet Beasts in the store.¡± In this way, whether it¡¯s for pleasure value or physical points, the daily gains would be considerable. With the Main task 4¡¯s requirement for my drug application skill to reach C-class, having more fostered Pet Beasts would speed up the completion of the task. Having a casual chat with his pet, they quickly returned to the Starfire Foster Care Shop. By the time they dressed up and departed from the Starfire Foster Care Shop for the sea election race venue, it was already the morning of two days later. The interior structure of the sea election race venue somewhat resembled a Roman colosseum, with a large open space in the middle for combat and tiered spectator seats around it. Unexpectedly to Xu Ran, this New Beast Master Challenge was quite popular. By the time he entered, the spectator seats were already seventy to eighty percent filled. Finding an empty seat to sit down, Xu Ran originally planned to quietly wait for the start of the sea election race. Seeing the Ziyun being held by him, a young man of similar age sitting next to him initiated conversation. ¡°Brother, are you also a contestant of the sea election race?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, looking at the man without a Pet Beast beside him, ¡°Are you one too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± The young man scratched his head, looking rueful, ¡°I just contracted a Pet Beast and didn¡¯t even pass the preliminaries.¡± ¡°I, Tian Futao, am born in the wrong era!¡± He let out a sigh, showing a blend of three parts chagrin and seven parts mystery. ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran twitched the corner of his mouth. ¡°But my friend is a contestant. Look, there he is!¡± Tian Futao pointed to a young man sitting on his other side, ¡°Zhuang He, he got more than 300 points in the preliminaries! Impressive, right?¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± Xu Ran responded casually along with Tian Futao¡¯s words, then glanced at the boy called Zhuang He. Zhuang He looked at Xu Ran and gave him a reserved nod, sort of a greeting. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, that¡¯s just the way he is.¡± Tian Futao laughed amiably ¡°You know, not many contestants carry their competitive Pet Beasts around like you Most of them would summon their Pet Beasts only when they get on stage.¡± ¡°My Pet Beast is small, is there a need for that?¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun. You probably wouldn¡¯t know, then!¡± Tian Futao giggled, ¡°This has nothing to do with the size of the Pet Beasts. It¡¯s mainly to keep it a secret and prevent other competitors from knowing our cards.¡± ¡°Of course, the secret won¡¯t last long. Anyways, once you get on stage at the sea election race, everyone will find out.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. He also felt there was no real need, and with Ziyun¡¯s clingy attitude, it might not want to wait in the store for him to summon it. ¡°Why don¡¯t you put your bag on the seat next to you, there are plenty of vacant seats here.¡± Seeing Xu Ran sitting with a bag strapped on him, Tian Futao couldn¡¯t help but suggest, ¡°Speaking of it, why are you bringing such a big bag to the competition?¡± ¡°Could it be a secret weapon?¡± He chuckled. ¡°This? It¡¯ll come in handy later.¡± Xu Ran placed the bag on the seat beside and smiled mysteriously, ¡°You¡¯ll know when I get on stage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to it.¡± Tian Futao looked around and lowered his voice a bit, ¡°Do you know, there¡¯re rumors that four freaks who scored over a thousand points in the preliminary registered this time.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Not only do I know, but I¡¯m also one of them. ¡°Do you know who they are?¡± Tian Futao winked at Xu Ran. You do?¡± Xu Ran was somewhat surprised. He and Tian Futao haven¡¯t known each other before, can it be that Tian Futao already knows about his identity? ¡°I know half of it.¡± Tian Futao scratched his head, ¡°I¡¯ve guessed the identities of two of those freaks.¡± ¡°In fact, not just me, a good number of young Beast Masters in Qingzhou City have guessed it because they were already quite famous even before signing Then it seems likely that I¡¯m not one of the two people Tian Futao knows about. Xu Ran nodded in understanding, getting curious then, ¡°Could you tell me about those two people?¡± ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± Tian Futao laughed, obviously enjoying the feeling of Sharing intel with others, ¡°The first one is Lyu Guang, the new generation inheritor of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion.¡± Martial Arts Pavilion?¡± Xu Ran raised his eyebrows, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A Martial Arts Pavilion is a place to practice martial arts, you know, Beast Masters can be boosted by their Pet Beast, strengthening their body¡¯to become more powerful in combat,¡± Tian Futao explained, ¡°That¡¯s not important though.¡± ¡°Most importantly, some fighting attribute Pet Beasts can learn human martial arts to become stronger.¡± ¡°So, a lot of Martial Arts Pavilions not only provide a place to practice martial arts but also breed a few suitable fighting Pet Beast species, forming unique Beast Master styles.¡± ¡°I think I understand.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°So this Beast Master named Lyu Guang has a fighting attribute Pet Beast and is very strong?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Tian Futao talked earnestly, ¡°Lyu Guang¡¯s Pet Beast is a Combat Bear, a fighting attribute Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Half a month ago, Lyu Guang visited the other Martial Arts Pavilions with his Pet Beast, challenging their younger generation, undefeated in every match!¡± ¡°That¡¯s indeed impressive.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned more serious, looking around he hoped to find the Beast Master named Lyu Guang. Unfortunately, there were so many people in the spectator seats that it was hard to find any particular person. Tian Futao chuckled, ¡°The second one is not any simpler..¡± Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Note it Down 1 Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Note it Down 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°And who¡¯s the second one?¡± Xu Ran asked with interest. ¡°The second one is the White Wolf Girl.¡± Tian Futao confirmed, ¡°When it comes to the next generation of Beast Masters in Qingzhou City who can compete with Lyu Guang, she is definitely one of them.¡± ¡°White Wolf Girl?¡± Xu Ran noted the title in his mind, ¡°I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s not her real name, right?¡± Correct, her real name is Xu Jiujiu. The reason she¡¯s called White Wolf Girl, however, is because the Pet Beast she has a contract with is an Ice attribute Frost Dust Wolf, which has a pure white appearance.¡± ¡°Frost Dust Wolf?¡± Xu Ran, who hadn¡¯t heard of this species, was a bit curious. ¡®It¡¯s a transcendent creature of colossal size that roams the icy plains.¡± Tian Futao gave a brief introduction, ¡°Xu Jiujiu¡¯s Frost Dust Wolf is over five meters in length. It looks quite intimidating.¡± ¡°That big?¡± Xu Ran was somewhat surprised. The potential costs of cleaning and caring a large Pet Beast instantly crossed his mind. He needed to find an opportunity to invite this person to his shop for the service. ¡°That Frost Dust Wolf is far more than just gigantic in size.¡± Tian Futao smirked, ¡°Do you know why the White Wolf Girl is famous?¡± She once left the city with her wolf and returned safely!¡± His face took on a hint of longing, ¡°It¡¯s said that the Transcendent Beings outside the city are very ferocious, and even Elite Level Beast Masters must form teams to ensure mutual support.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran became serious. He had learned about the dangers outside the city, escorted by the Tiger Hunting Squad. And he had a deep appreciation for the courage it took to go out and return safely. As for the other two thousand-point contestants that Tian Futao didn¡¯t know about¡­ Other than Xu Ran himself, he could guess the other one. It should be that girl called Gu Ling, if there are no surprises. She came from another city, so not many people knew her. Also, her Dark Scale Dragon is Starlight Level in all skills, so it is not much weaker than Ziyun. In this way, the identities of all four thousand-point contestants were clear. ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t asked yet!¡± Tian Futao looked at Xu Ran, ¡°How many points did you get in the preliminary round?¡± Zhuang He, who had been silently listening to their conversation, suddenly sat up straight, pricked up his ears and pretended casually, leaning a little closer. ¡°My score?¡± Xu Ran blinked, skillfully began to dodge the question, ¡°My score was actually¡­¡± ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± Accompanied by the drumming that echoed throughout the venue, the talent auditions were just underway at this moment. The host rose from the elevator to the center of the venue and waved to the audience. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the talent show stage of the New Beast Master Challenge!¡± In response to him was a roar of applause and cheers from the spectators. Seeing Tian Futao and Zhuang He, who were standing by his side, immediately drawn to the host, Xu Ran quietly closed his mouth. The timing was perfect. This way, he could interact with them as a regular person. After the host introduced the rules of the audiition, he left the scene. Then, ten Beast Masters, dressed in the Beast Master Association uniforms, took the¡¯ stage together, summoning their Pet Beasts amidst the crowd¡¯s cheers. Ten Hexagram Star Arrays were simultaneously flashing, appearing quite spectacular. The ten beasts that stepped out had different forms, each possessing one of the ten major attributes. Although they were all at the Transcendent Stage, they were quite impressive to look at. And their species were common in Qingzhou City, so there wasn¡¯t much need for introduction, as the contestants could identify them one by one. ¡°It¡¯s started!¡± Tian Futao took a deep breath, ¡°These ten opponents all look very strong; defeating any of them won¡¯t be easy!¡± But with careful observation, you can find some counter relationships.¡± Zhuang He calmly analyzed from the side, ¡°The organizers arranged for ten Beast Masters of different attributes to appear, so we can choose the attribute that we can best counter.¡± Makes sense!¡± Tian Futao looked at Zhuang He in surprise, ¡°Old Zhuang, you are talking a lot!¡± Zhuang He rolled his eyes, then continued, ¡°Not only are there counter relations in attributes, but also in attack modes.¡± ¡°Some of these Pet Beasts excel in close combat, some in long-range attacks, some can fly, some can only move on land¡­¡± This can also be a basis for choosing your opponent.¡± ¡°By the looks of it, my Fire Pig can choose¡­¡± Tian Futao thought for a moment, chose his most suitable opponent, but his face suddenly fell, ¡°Almost forgot, I ¡¯ didn¡¯t pass the initial screening.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already chosen my opponent, but I¡¯ll watch the other participants¡¯ performances first.¡± Zhuang He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. After a small disturbance, the first volunteer to step forward from the audience had already jumped onto the Battle Stand. ¡°Xu Ran, you¡­¡± Tian Futao turned to look at Xu Ran on the other side who was just about to ask if he had chosen his opponent, but was puzzled when seeing Xu Ran¡¯s actions, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking notes.¡± Xu Ran took out a pen and a notebook from his bag with a serious expression, his eyes focused on the contestants getting ready to fight. ¡°Can¡¯t be¡­¡± Tian Futao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Need to keep notes on site about the competitors? The battle for the first contestant ended quickly. He bravely chose the opponent he could best counter, but ended up losing after just a few rounds. These Beast Masters sent by the Beast Master Association were indeed powerful. This made the contestants who were preparing to take the stage right after him hesitate. Should they¡­ wait and see? ¡°He¡¯s really inexperienced. I could do better than him.¡± Tian Futao commented about the first contestant, then looked at Xu Ran who was jotting down notes, his mouth twitched again. Even such an inexperienced opponent required such serious note-taking? Brother Xu Ran doesn¡¯t seem to be very skilled? He initially thought he would ask Xu Ran about his preliminary score later, but now he felt there was no need to. Xu Ran didn¡¯t notice Tian Futao¡¯s strange looks. After diligently noting down ¡°Pang Ziyang, Medium Size Pet Beast, Fire Attribute, no suitable skills for Ziyun¡±, he lifted his head again. If Xu Ran knew what Tian Futao was thinking, he would probably cry out in injustice. Competitors? Where were there competitors? Those were all his dear customers! Given such a rare opportunity to see a variety of powerful Pet Beasts, of course he had to note down his potential customers, especially those whose skills matched what Ziyun could learn. Ziyun hadn¡¯t learned new skills for a long time, and each time after washing and cleaning the pets of his customers, seeing Ziyun¡¯s expectant eyes, Xu Ran felt a bit embarrassed. He didn¡¯t have a chance before, but now he did. He was going to note down all the Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts appearing today, as they were all his potential targets for taking advantage! Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The New Skill in Action_l Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The New Skill in Action_l Translator: 549690339 As Xu Ran was diligently recording the details of each competitor, on the other side of the audience, four young girls sat together observing the performances of the other contestants. ¡°Xiaoxiao, these competitors seem really strong.¡± Lin Yue had a look of worry on her face as she watched the ten Beast Masters on the field, feeling a bit timid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Su Xiaoxiao reassured her, patting Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Didn¡¯t I analyze it for you earlier? That Earth attribute Pet Beast is the most suitable opponent for you. It hardly has any aerial attack skills; against your Green Wind Eagle, it¡¯s just a sitting duck.¡± ¡°Moreover,¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face was brushed with a teasing smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t make it today, there are still two more days of preliminary selection. You can go to Boss Xu¡¯s shop tomorrow for Washing and Protection, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll pass then.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Yue¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± ¡°Pff,¡± Gu Ling chuckled at the girls¡¯ conversation, covering her mouth. ¡°I wonder what Boss Xu would think if he knew you two were planning to go to his shop for Washing and Protection just to advance to the next round.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Lin Yue waved nonchalantly. ¡°Boss Xu is busy managing his Foster Shop. He probably doesn¡¯t even know about this competition!¡± ¡°You never know-¡± A mischievous glint pixilated in Gu Ling¡¯s eye. Because of her father¡¯s connections, she had more insider information. She had clear understanding of the situations of other competitors who scored more than a thousand in the initial selection. To be honest, she was quite surprised when she saw that name. ¡°Enough about that.¡± Su Xiaoxiao grabbed Duan Anxun¡¯s hand, who was unable to join in the conversation. ¡°An Xun, has your aunt forgiven you yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gotten better,¡± Duan Anxun nodded slightly. Once sworn enemies, the two women had quickly bridged the gap after that one emotional confrontation. In contrast, Du Ting, who had previously been close to Duan Anxun, was now gradually distancing herself. Realizing her mistakes, Duan Anxun spent the past week trying to mend her relationship with the Colorful Cloud Parrot. Ultimately, after plucking up the courage to stand against her mother, any previous conflict with the Colorful Cloud Parrot had melted away. However, due to her not doing many things as per her mother¡¯s wishes and outspokenly expressing her thoughts, Duan Anxun ended up in a cold war with her mother. ¡°That¡¯s good, if you feel wronged you can always talk to me,¡± Su Xiaoxiao patted her hand. ¡°Good luck with the competition later. If you get through the preliminary selection, maybe your aunt will be happier.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Duan Anxun let out a slight, relieved smile. The best way to end this cold war with her mother would probably be to prove that she can be outstanding even without following her plan and demands. Gu Ling rested her chin on her hand, staring at Su Xiaoxiao with a smile. This kid is still the same as she was when she was younger, caring about everyone around her, like a flame, warming everyone equally. ¡°That Earth attribute Pet Beast just got challenged once, I¡¯ll give it a shot now!¡± Lin Yue suddenly stood up, shouting excitedly before scrambling down to the field. ¡°Um¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao turned to look at Lin Yue¡¯s retreating figure, her mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit like taking advantage of someone¡¯s difficulties?¡± ¡°Well, indeed it would be, if that Earth attribute Pet Beast wasn¡¯t substituted.¡± Gu Ling suddenly began to laugh. ¡°But the Beast Master Association isn¡¯t that naive.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Just as Su Xiaoxiao was about to ask Gu Ling what she meant by that, she immediately understood upon seeing the change in the field. The Earth attribute Pet Beast and its Beast Master were replaced! In their place came another Pet Beast of the same species and a new Beast Master. ¡°During the breaks in the matches, these ten Pet Beasts will recover as much as they can. If they haven¡¯t regained their peak conditions when challenged next, they will be directly replaced by another alternate Beast Master,¡± Gu Ling shrugged. ¡°So there¡¯s no such thing as whittling down their strengths through successive battles.¡± Looking at Lin Yue, who was dumbfounded on the field, Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°It serves her right!¡± ¡°Lin Yue¡­¡± Subconsciously writing down the name of the new contestant on his notebook, Xu Ran abruptly looked up, surprised to see a familiar customer on the field. She is participating in this competition as well? And what about the other few girls that he knew¡­ Following the direction from where Lin Yue had appeared, Xu Ran soon saw the figures of the other three girls. It seems they all showed up. There was no need to keep any record of his regular customers. Xu Ran put down his notebook and began to watch the competition. On the field, Lin Yue gave a commendable performance. With the high altitude and long-range attack advantages of her Green Wind Eagle, the Earth attribute Pet Beast, devoid of any aerial attack abilities, was forced on the back foot. However, Earth attribute Pet Beasts were known for their strong defenses. It was in a bit of a predicament but showed no signs of panic. As the fight proceeded, the Green Wind Eagle which had been launching attack after attack quickly depleted its strength, while the Earth attribute Pet Beast, cool as a cucumber, shook the rocky shield covering its body, undamaged. The challenge failed. Ziyun had its back paws on Xu Ran¡¯s thigh while its front paws were pressing on his arm, raising its body to watch every match. Presently, seeing the familiar Green Wind Eagle fail, it pondered a bit then spoke. ¡°Meow-¡± (If it were me, I could¡¯ve beaten it with Electric Spark!) ¡°Exactly, Electric Spark has greater power and enough to break its defense,¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement, replying via Contractual Sensing. Upon receiving Xu Ran¡¯s affirmative response, Ziyun squinted its eyes happily. Well, it seems the preliminary selection is not that difficult then! ¡°Too bad there are no Thunder attribute beasts here. Otherwise, we could¡¯ve brought one back to the shop for Washing and Protection and you might have had a chance to learn a new skill,¡± Xu Ran lamented using Contractual Sensing. ¡°Meow-¡± (Got it!) Ziyun nodded, carefully watching the next contestant on the field. Thunder attribute, huh? I¡¯ll keep an extra close eye! ¡°Old Zhuang is finally up!¡± On the side, Tian Futao looked at Zhuang He, who was getting ready to go on stage, his eyes brimming with anticipation. He patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s see how Old Zhuang performs. He said he¡¯s confident of passing!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. ¡°What attribute is Zhuang He¡¯s Pet Beast?¡± ¡°His¡­¡± Tian Futao chuckled, ¡°Is a Thunder attribute.¡± Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± ¡°I think I need to pay careful attention then,¡± he said with a suggestive smile, picking up his pen and paper. Keynotes to take! Ziyun, in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, twitched its ears, its gaze fixed on Zhuang He, who was preparing to enter the field. A walking new skill, I must keep a close eye on him! On the field, as the competitor who went after Lin Yue was defeated, Zhuang He, under the host¡¯s introduction, stepped onto the stage, pointed to one of the ten Beast Masters and declared, ¡°I choose you!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The Water attribute Beast Master who was chosen squinted his eyes. ¡°My turn?¡± These Beast Masters sent by the Beast Master Association would receive a bonus if they defeated the challenger. Having seen his companions being chosen one after the other, he had been itching to show off his skills. Let¡¯s use this kid to show off my strength. The next moment, the Beast Master looked at Zhuang He¡¯s summoned Pet Beast, and his mouth twitched involuntarily. Thunder attribute?! Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Is That... Boss Xu?! 1 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Is That¡­ Boss Xu?! 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Heh heh, I knew Zhuang He would choose a water attribute opponent.¡± Tian Futao smirked. ¡°After all, the thunder attribute can restrain the water attribute.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. After cramming beast mastery knowledge, he was already very proficient in the common sense of attribute counteractions. Among the common ten attributes, wind restrains earth, earth restrains thunder, thunder restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains ice, and ice restrains wind. These six attributes form a complete chain of restraint. Aside from this, the pairs of dark, light, super ability, and fighting attributes counter each other, carrying a sense of an arch-rivalry. Hence, for players who own thunder attribute pet beasts, choosing water attribute pet beasts as opponents is a completely reasonable choice. At this moment, he also made out Zhuang He¡¯s pet beast clearly. It was a locust of about one meter in length¡­ Its body, based on purple, had golden patterns and lines. Its two bent hind legs were slender and robust, obviously possessing astonishing jumping power. The curved hooks at the end of its four front legs, which spouted jumping electric arcs, were equally ferocious. A thunder attribute pet beast, Lightning Locust. Despite appearing somewhat abstract, it is one of the stronger species among Thunder attribute pet beasts, extremely fast and ordinarily difficult to deal with. On the other hand, its opponent¡­ It was a seal, shining under the sun with its smooth, sky-blue body while the front flippers support its body, its upper half standing tall, dragging the slender tail behind. A water attribute pet beast, the Blue Water Lion. No wonder the Blue Water Lion¡¯s Beast Master looked annoyed. The attributes of the two pet beasts happened to restrain each other and what¡¯s worse, the Lightning Locust was not only agile but also capable of flying while the Blue Water Lion moved rather slowly. Accompanying the electric bell sound symbolizing the start of the battle, the two pet beasts simultaneously attacked their opponents. ¡°Zilah!¡± The hind legs of the Lightning Locust suddenly applied force, and the moment the thunderbolt exploded, its figure had already disappeared. It then appeared in front of the Blue Water Lion, as if it had teleported. Two stars skills, Stardust Level Thunderbolt Flash! Ziyun¡¯s eyes grew wide instantly. This Stardust Level skill already had a speed comparable to its Starlight Level Electric Arc! If this skill were upgraded to Starlight Level¡­ Its eyes lit up in an instant. I want it! ¡°This skill has usage limitations. Unlike the Electric Arc, it can¡¯t be used at any time.¡± Xu Ran gently patted Ziyun¡¯s head as he began to speak. But the look in his eyes was brighter than Ziyun¡¯s. Thunderbolt Flash and Electric Arc each had their strengths and weaknesses, but what if the two skills were fused? Would the fused skill possess the advantages of these two skills? In the field, the battle between the two pet beasts had just begun. Facing the sudden approach of the Lightning Locust, the Blue Water Lion was slightly panicked, but under the correct guidance of the Beast Master, it quickly responded. ¡°Roar!¡± It roared and a ball of water-blue light instantly condensed from its mouth, which then opened wide over a large area, turning into a water net with a diameter of ten meters wrapping around the Lightning Locust as if aiming to trap it inside. Two stars skills, Stardust Level Water Prison! Considering the proficiency of this skill, it wouldn¡¯t be far from reaching the Starlight Level! The Lightning Locust had a look of disdain in its eyes. Faced with the Water Prison that limited its actions, it collided head-on without dodging or avoiding. At the same time, violent thunder was surging around it. Several thunderbolts followed the water net, heading directly towards the Blue Water Lion! Two stars skills, Starlight Level Thunder Strike! In the nick of time, the Lightning Locust unhesitatingly used its only skill that had reached the Starlight Level. ¡°Zap!¡± Purple electric arcs intertwined, hitting the Blue Water Lion in an instant and completely enveloping it. The Blue Water Lion roared in pain and struggled within the electric arcs, eventually collapsing powerlessly to the ground. Zhuang He, victorious and advancing to the next round! In the audience, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes shone a little brighter. Not just Thunderbolt Flash, the Thunder Strike skill was also impressive. Both it and Electric Spark were long-range Thunder attribute skills, but their attack methods were not the same. Electric Spark was an area attack, with a certain explosiveness, while Thunder Strike was more focused on single-target attack, extremely fast in attack speed. These two skills could be kept separate, serving as complementary means of strike! He wanted both skills of the Lightning Locust! Quickly jotting down Zhuang He¡¯s situation in his notebook and marking a special symbol in front of his name, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Who would have thought that such a high-quality customer would be right beside him? ¡°Old Zhuang! That was impressive! You certainly deserve to be a Beast Master who scored over 300 points in the preliminary screening!¡± Tian Futao gave a thumbs-up to Zhuang He who was returning from the stage, his loud voice attracting the attention of the surrounding audience. Zhuang He scored 300 points in the preliminary screening? No wonder he was so powerful, winning and advancing in one shot. I just performed normally.¡± Zhuang He commented calmly, then sat back in his original seat. However, his lips were slightly lifted, indicating that he was in a good mood. ¡°The Lightning Locust performed really well just now.¡± Xu Ran mysteriously appeared beside Zhuang He, having moved from Tian Futao¡¯s side, he held Ziyun in his arms and gave Zhuang He a friendly smile, ¡°I think you should reward it.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Zhuang He nodded seriously, touched the Lightning Locust that had left the field with him, ¡°I will buy it some treats later.¡± ¡°No no no.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Just treats aren¡¯t enough for a reward.¡± ¡°Do you have any better suggestions?¡± Zhuang He asked humbly. ¡°Washing and Protection!¡± Xu Ran spoke slowly, ¡°After a tough match, your Pet Beast needs a comprehensive washing and protection treatment to achieve physical and mental pleasure!¡± Zhuang He:¡±???¡± Was that match just now¡­ that difficult? And what the hell is Washing and Protection? Look at my Pet Beast!¡± Xu Ran held up Ziyun, who was in his arms. Ziyun, who understood the situation, stood up proudly, radiating the most elegant posture. Last night, Xu Ran had just given it a Washing and Protection treatment, which left it practically the same now. With such stunning beauty, even Zhuang He, who didn¡¯t really pay attention to appearances, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°This is the result of Washing and Protection.¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°In addition to this, maintaining a good physical and mental state also allows Pet Beasts to better exert their strength.¡± ¡­Really?¡± Zhuang He was half convinced. Next, let me show you the effect of Washing and Protection.¡± Xu Ran swung his bag behind him, nodded at Zhuang He, and headed straight for the Battle Stand. ¡°A Yue, don¡¯t be discouraged.¡± Su Xiaoxiao slung her arm over Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder, gently comforting her. ¡°My Green Wind Eagle couldn¡¯t even break that guy¡¯s defense! How am I supposed to advance?!¡¯1 Lin Yue scrunched up her little face, full of frustration. Your attack was too scattered.¡± Gu Ling, who was by their side, suddenly said, ¡°You wasted a lot of power on empty areas because of the large attack range.¡± ¡°So your opponent consumed less energy than you. All they had to do was keep up their defense and they easily won.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to pay attention next time.¡± Lin Yue took a deep breath and looked at the field before blanking out. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­. Boss Xu?!¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 We Dont Know Him! 1 Chapter 63: Chapter 63 We Don¡¯t Know Him! 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª Hearing Lin Yue¡¯s voice of surprise, the other three women simultaneously directed their gaze towards the field. Xu Ran hasn¡¯t been on stage yet. But he was already standing at the edge of the competition site and only needed to wait for the current contestant to finish the fight before his turn came next. ¡°My goodness! Boss Xu is actually part of the competition.¡± Lin Yue exclaimed, completely surprised, as if she¡¯s seeing her neighbor being on TV all of a sudden. ¡°It¡¯s actually normal.¡± Su Xiaoxiao regained her senses after a brief moment of surprise, ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s Pet Beast had defeated Little Flame before. He would definitely be able to get through the initial screening round with his skills.¡± ¡°Boss Xu is also young enough to meet the age requirement.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Hearing Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s comments, Lin Yue also came back to her senses, realizing that she may have overreacted a bit. She couldn¡¯t help but ask as she looked at Xu Ran who was waiting to go on stage, ¡°Do you think Boss Xu can win and advance?¡± ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s Pet Beast is also of Thunder Attribute, similarly excelling in agility. It¡¯s quite similar to the Lightning Locust, although its strength may not be as strong.¡± Hearing Lin Yue¡¯s words, Su Xiaoxiao started analyzing seriously, ¡°I think he can beat the Blue Water Lion.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Duan Anxun chimed in from the side, agreeing with Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s view. ¡°My opinion is a bit different from yours.¡± Gu Ling suddenly started laughing. ¡°Gu Ling, do you think Boss Xu will lose?¡± Su Xiaoxiao turned to look at her. ¡°No¡­¡± Gu Ling shook her head, ¡°I think he wouldn¡¯t choose the Blue Water Lion as his opponent.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A surprised look appeared on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. Not choosing the Blue Water Lion? But wouldn¡¯t the difficulty of the battle increase significantly if he didn¡¯t choose the Water attribute, which the Thunder attribute has an advantage over? The remaining nine Pet Beasts flashed through her mind one by one. First, exclude the Earth attribute, which restricts the Thunder attribute. The other eight attributes didn¡¯t have much of a restrictive relationship with the Thunder attribute. However, these opponents were also not afraid of agility types; a few of them even surpassed Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast in terms of agility. It seemed¡­ none of them were easy victories. Could it be that Boss Xu was really willing to give up an easily won victory and opt for a more difficult contest? Su Xiaoxiao was somewhat lost. In the field, the previous contestant left the stage after his defeat. Xu Ran, holding Ziyun, strided confidently onto the Battle Stand. The narrator¡¯s voice echoed across the field. ¡°Stepping on the stage now is the 23-year-old contestant, Xu Ran. His Pet Beast is the Electric Chasing Cat, and he is¡­ the owner of a Pet Beast Foster Shop.¡± As the announcer got to the second half of the sentence, even his tone of voice started to sound a little strange. In the audience, the chatter was picking up once more. The owner of a Pet Beast Foster Shop? Most people saw this as a logistical role that serves other Beast Masters¡¯ Pet Beasts, when did such a service provider ever end up on a stand designated for Beast Masters? Without waiting for Xu Ran to take action, several audience members had already crossed him off mentally. Next to the seats designated for Xu Ran, the expressions on Tian Futao and Zhuang He¡¯s faces became extremely peculiar. The two of them spontaneously remembered the words Xu Ran had said earlier. So¡­ was he trying to advertise his Washing and Protection Shop? Just as this idea popped into their heads, Xu Ran moved on stage. He took out a flagpole from the stuffed backpack on his back and unfolded it vigorously, waving it mightily towards the audience. On the red flag, a line of golden letters was embossed. ¡°Starfire Foster Shop, offering the best care for your Pet Beast!¡± Seeing that flag flapping in the wind, the audience fell into a strange silence. The expressions on Tian Futao and Zhuang He¡¯s faces turned even stranger. Xu Ran¡­ was truly advertising! On the other side of the audience, the expressions of the four women ¨C Su Xiaoxiao, Gu Ling, Lin Yue, and Duan Anxun ¨C turned downcast. ¡°Um¡­¡± After a long while, Lin Yue spoke up in a small voice, ¡°Should we¡­ pretend we don¡¯t know Boss Xu?¡± The other three women quickly nodded in agreement. Zhang Yun, situated in a corner of the audience seats, had his eyes wide open as he watched Xu Ran waving the flag on stage. His mind was filled with shock. The conversation he had had with Xu Ran two days ago echoed in his mind again. ¡°How can I advertise during the competition? I don¡¯t have money for sponsorship.¡± ¡°Small-minded, too small-minded! Think about it, Boss Xu. Who gets the most attention during a competition? The contestants! If you¡¯re on stage, all eyes would be on you. Wouldn¡¯t it be easy to advertise then?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I have an idea. Thanks a lot!¡± Zhang Yun tried to speak but stopped himself, then tried to stop but wanted to speak again. No¡­what I meant was you could put your shop¡¯s name or something on your clothes¡­ I didn¡¯t ask you to advertise like this! With the uproar and jeers from the spectators around him, Zhang Yun couldn¡¯t help but shrink his head. He didn¡¯t know Xu Ran! This whole idea had nothing to do with him! After a short silence, the audience area was suddenly buzzing again. Instead of competing, he was using the platform for advertisement? This was absolutely outrageous! ¡°What on earth is going on? I am here to watch a competition, not an advertisement!¡± ¡°How much money did this guy give to the organizers? Does a guy like him even qualify to sign up for the competition?¡± ¡°Boycott! The shop is called Starfire Foster Shop, right? Let¡¯s not patronize it!¡± The spectators were a melting pot of vitriolic complaints, a sea of angry voices. Suddenly, the reluctant voice of the host came through the loudspeakers across the venue, ¡°Contestant Xu Ran, please quickly choose your opponent and start your battle.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Hearing the host¡¯s prompt, Xu Ran took the hint and set the flag aside on the ground. After waving the flag for so long, everyone should have remembered the name of the Starfire Foster Shop by now, right? With that done, it could be said to be effective. Now, he should fulfill his promise to Zhuang He and show him the effects of Washing and Protection. If he couldn¡¯t fool Zhuang He into trying the Washing and Protection, he and Ziyun would be losing a fortune! Since he needed to show off his abilities then¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s gaze swept across the ten opponents, then, without any hesitation, he pointed to the Beast Master linked to an Earth attribute Pet Beast and said, ¡°I choose you!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The chosen Beast Master¡¯s face showed a surprised expression, and he looked at Xu Ran with an absurd feeling as if to say, ¡°Are you joking with me?¡±, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Ran gave a firm nod. His voice was picked up by the venue¡¯s microphones and amplified across the entire venue. Immediately, it was met with even larger waves of murmuring. Ignoring the blatant self-advertisement, he was even going to try fighting against the attributes? ¡°I get it!¡± A boy sitting not far from Su Xiaoxiao and her friends stood up and shouted, ¡°He¡¯s doing it on purpose!¡± ¡°If he loses because his attribute is at a disadvantage, it would be understandable. That way, even if he gets eliminated due to his weak abilities, he would have an excuse!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Boss Xu isn¡¯t that kind of person!¡± Despite joking about pretending not to know Xu Ran earlier, Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but stand up at this moment, ¡°He chose this way, there must be assurance!¡± Unfortunately, the other people ignored her words. They quickly believed in the boy¡¯s theory and continued to criticize Xu Ran. ¡°You guys¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao puffed her cheeks out, looking a bit displeased. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Gu Ling gently patted her on the shoulder, ¡°Boss Xu will win. Believe in him..¡± Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Is Washing and Protection Really Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Is Washing and Protection Really Effective? _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Bold move!¡± KongXin, the beast master controlling the earth attribute pet beast, was amused by Xu Ran¡¯s overconfident demeanor. Thunder attribute against Earth attribute, how embarrassing would it be if you win? ¡°Come!¡± With Kong Xin¡¯s shout, the earth attribute pet beast standing in front of him took a step forward, aggressively growling at Xu Ran and Ziyun. This pet beast, resembling a Durian with a snake head and turtle feet and countless irregular stone spikes over its body, was not towering with its one-meter length. Still, it was a size larger than Ziyun, making it appear incredibly fierce. Earth attribute pet beast, The Thorny Dragon Beast! Both sides stood in the ready battle area, the atmosphere in the field froze instantly. Many spectators were still shouting, at first the shouts were messy, but at some point, they became uniform, turning into an orderly chant of ¡°Eliminate¡±. ¡°Ziyun, defeat the opponent as soon as possible. It¡¯s time to show our power!¡± Xu Ran calmly spoke, ignoring the deafening cheers. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun¡¯s eyes were full of fighting spirit. It understood! In this battle, the stronger it displayed itself, the better the effect of cleaning and caring would seem. This could convince the Beast master of Lightning Locust to use their shop¡¯s cleaning services, and it could acquire new skills! In other words, fighting hard, for new skills! ¡°Ding ¡± As the bell ring signaling the start of the match sounded, both pet beasts on the field moved at the same time. ¡°Zizz ¡± Accompanied by the loud explosion of an electric arc, Ziyun¡¯s body was instantly covered with overlapping electric arcs. Terrifying sparks of electricity roamed around its body, even shooting out from its different colored pupils. The next moment, with just the remaining shadow of a bolt of lightning slowly dissipating, Ziyun instantly appeared five meters in front of the Thorny Dragon Beast. Wherever it passed, lightning was like a blanket! Two stars Skills, Starlight Level-Electric Arc! ¡°Roar!¡± The Thorny Dragon Beast¡¯s pupils contracted dramatically and it immediately activated its defensive skills. Mud rose from under its feet and eventually gathered above its head, wrapping it layer by layer to form a dense and solid mud shell. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level-Earth Guardianship! This skill has extremely strong defensive power and judging from the Thorny Dragon Beast¡¯s instant activation speed, it¡¯s only one step away from the Starlight Level! Just now, Lin Yue¡¯s Green Wind Eagle, despite having the upper hand in attribute, had to leave the field remorsefully under this skill¡¯s defense! And now, the one facing it is Ziyun with a restrained attribute! Almost at the moment when Earth Guardianship was formed, Ziyun¡¯s attack arrived! It was a brilliant deep purple ball of light. The horrifying fluctuations brewing within it gave the Thorny Dragon Beast, which was hiding inside the mud shell, a series of heart palpitations. Under the scrutiny of countless pairs of eyes, the deep purple ball of light touched the mud shell and bloomed rapidly! Countless bolts of lightning covered the entire mud shell in the moment it exploded, and the ten-meter diameter central thunder area seemed to have a target, with endless violent thunderbolts falling on the mud shell. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level-Electric Spark! ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a terrifying blast, under Kong Xin¡¯s confused and shocked gaze, the mud shell was torn apart by the electricity as if it was paper-made. The exposed Thorny Dragon Beast didn¡¯t even have a chance to react and was swallowed by countless lightning bolts on the spot! And before the Thorny Dragon Beast could struggle, Ziyun, who was close at hand, flashed into the thunder and lightning. Ziyun¡¯s long tail supports the Thorny Dragon Beast¡¯s large body. With a sweep, it effortlessly blew the Thorny Dragon Beast tens of meters away and fell heavily outside the field. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level-Battle Instinct! Looking at the Thorny Dragon Beast blackened by scorch and unconscious outside the field, the whole venue again fell into silence. Those who were previously yelling ¡°elimination¡± seemed to have something stuck in their throats and couldn¡¯t make a sound. They watched with wide-eyes without a single peep. How did this reverse attribute battle reach this outcome? ¡°This is impossible¡­¡± The young man who initially led the rhythm collapsed in his seat. Looking at the fallen Thorny Dragon Beast and the relaxed Ziyun, he showed an unprecedented look of confusion. ¡°This is impossible¡­¡± ¡°I told you, Boss Xu had confidence in choosing an earth attribute pet beast! None of you believed me!¡± Su Xiaoxiao huffed, but her face was also filled with surprise. When did Boss Xu become so powerful? Gu Ling laughed and pulled Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s sleeve, leaned over to her ear and whispered something. Su Xiaoxiao was initially surprised and then enlightened. Boss Xu¡­ you¡¯re amazing! No wonder Gu Ling had so much confidence in him. On the other side of the stands, Zhang Yun was startled looking at the impressive scene of Xu Ran and Ziyun. He had thought that the pet beast trained by Xu Ran would be strong, but wasn¡¯t this too outrageous? Then, he suddenly remembered something and shuddered. ¡°Did you see that! That¡¯s my brother!¡± Zhang Yun yelled. ¡°The Starfire Foster Care Shop is trustworthy! You can¡¯t go wrong choosing them!¡± On the field, Xu Ran who just finished the battle, hugged Ziyun who jumped into his arms and rubbed its head. ¡°You did very well.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Necessary!) Ziyun rubbed Xu Ran¡¯s hand with its head, a look of anticipation on its face. Since it performed so well, it should be able to get a new skill, right? As if reading Ziyun¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s talk to Zhuang He again.¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± When passing by the flag pole, he picked up the flag and waved it a few times before putting it into his bag. The custom-made flag cost dozens, it couldn¡¯t be wasted, it could be used next time! This time, no one objected to his advertising. What¡¯s wrong with being a bit different if you have the strength? In the stands, Tian Futao and Zhuang He watched as Xu Ran step by step walked towards them with wooden expressions. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Zhuang He suddenly asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking¡­ I seem to know who the third contestant with a thousand points is.¡± Tian Futao lamented, ¡°He¡¯s really good at hiding!¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Tian Futao retorted, and then looked at Zhuang He. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking¡­¡± Zhuang He started expressionlessly, ¡°Perhaps the difference between him and me is the washing and protection part?¡± ¡°Ah this¡­¡± Tian Futao gave Zhuang He a speechless look. What was wrong with him before? He hadn¡¯t noticed this guy lacked creativity? ¡°How was it?¡± With a smiling face, Xu Ran sat back next to Zhuang He. ¡°As you can see, cleaning and caring for a beast does improve its physical and mental condition.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun quickly nodded, giving Zhuang He a sincere look. Look! I¡¯m so strong because of the Beast Master¡¯s cleaning and caring! Zhuang He took a deep breath, looking at Xu Ran. ¡°Tell me, where is the Starfire Foster Care Shop?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Tian Futao at the side couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. ¡°Can you also clean and care for my pet beast? It needs emotional and physical care too!¡± No matter if it needs it or not, its needs are my needs! I said it! Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Two Stars Skill Fusionl_l Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Two Stars Skill Fusionl_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Welcome to come again-¡± Watching the bewildered looks of Zhuang He and Tian Futao as they left the foster shop, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t hide his smile. Sold! He had assumed that Zhuang He would need to visit the wash and protection service several more times before he could acquire the desired skill from plucking fur. He hadn¡¯t expected things to go so smoothly this time. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-Level)J (15/100) [Drug Application (D-Level)] (30/100) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï¡ï Thunderbolt Flash] (Teachable) ¡­ (Useless skills omitted) Physical Points: 0 Pleasure Value: 7342 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Though he also coveted the other party¡¯s two-star skill, Thunder Strike, plucking fur could only yield one skill at a time, so this would have to do for now. ¡°Meow-¡± (Is it ready yet?) Seeing the joy on the Beast Master¡¯s face, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up and it eagerly approached, anticipation written all over its face. After waiting for so long, was it finally about to learn a new skill? ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s ready!¡± Xu Ran laughed, and without hesitation, taught Ziyun the Thunderbolt Flash. But that wasn¡¯t all, he then selected Thunderbolt Flash and Electric Arc. [¡ï* Thunderbolt Flash]+[** Electric Arc] [Fusion Success Rate: 5.2%] [Proceed with Fusion?] [Yes][No] Such a low probability¡­ Xu Ran drew in a sharp breath. Merging two-star skills indeed proved to be much more difficult than one-star ones. However, comparatively, this skill had a noticeably better compatibility with Electric Arc than Electric Spark, which only had a 1.3% fusion success rate with Electric Arc. Before confirming the fusion, Xu Ran selected other skills one by one, using them with Thunderbolt Flash to experiment, eventually confirming Electric Arc to be the most suitable skill for Thunderbolt Flash. If so, there was nothing more to discuss. Let¡¯s do this! [Fusion Failed] The probability increased from 5.2% to 10.0%. Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate to try again. [Fusion Failed] This time the rate rose to 16.7%. Continue! [Fusion Failed] Looking at the skill fusion with a success rate of 23.4%, Xu Ran took a deep breath and threw in his last skill fusion stone. Make it a success, please! [Fusion Success] As Xu Ran continued to merge, Ziyun¡¯s expression changed time and time again. It could only feel a large amount of experience pouring into its mind, and before it had time to savor it, the experience disappeared. What also disappeared was the Electric Arc skill, which it had practiced countless times. As the two faded away, they were replaced by a brand-new skill. Ziyun¡¯s eyes slowly widened. Here it is again! That familiar feeling is here again! Xu Ran felt that the world had suddenly become beautiful. Three stars! Three stars! Previously, the fusion of two one-star skills resulted in a two-star skill named Battle Instinct. Now the fusion involved two two-star skills. Following a successful fusion, it should be a three-star skill, right? With that thought, he couldn¡¯t help but open the system panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage (452/500)[+] Species Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïElectric Spark (Starlight Level)](13/5OO) [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level)](33/5OO) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)](8/5OO) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)](2/5OO) [¡ïBlood Fury (Starlight Level)](2/500)] The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face gradually froze. Thunderbolt Flash and Electric Arc successfully fused, resulting in a new skill, Electric Pursue. But why is Electric Pursue, which was fused from two Two-stars skills, still a Two-star skill?! This doesn¡¯t make sense! He took a deep breath, turned his head towards Ziyun, ¡°Ziyun, let¡¯s try this new skill out!¡± He wanted to see what this new skill was all about. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun naturally had no objection, in fact, after feeling the situation of this new skill, it was somewhat impatient. This new skill, it¡¯s powerful! It¡¯s much stronger than the previous Electric Arc! Lightly leaping to the ground, purple arcs of electricity instantly burst forth from Ziyun. in Xu Ran¡¯s surprised gaze, its limbs seemed to be energy-converted, completely turning into a form made up of condensed lightning. ¡°Zi la ¡± in the moment the lightning flashed, Ziyun moved from one side of the shop to the other as if it had teleported. This speed¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually turned shocked. Even compared with the Starlight Level¡¯s Thunderbolt Flash, it was not inferior. But it had an advantage that Thunderbolt Flash didn¡¯t, which was that it could be used continuously! Watching Ziyun flash around the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually turned excited. His gaze landed heavily on the path Ziyun had taken, strands of Electric Arc kept exploding where it had appeared, evidently, the paralyzing effect from the Electric Arc after being upgraded to the Starlight Level was still retained. This new skill called Electric Pursue, it¡¯s powerful! Looking at Ziyun, who obediently landed in front of him, Xu Ran gradually figured it out. There¡¯s a gap between Two-stars and Two-stars. Merely relying on two Two-stars skills, it is impossible to fuse to get a Three Stars skill, perhaps more Two-stars skills are needed, or two stronger Two-stars skills could achieve this. The fusion of Thunderbolt Flash and Electric Arc can only obtain a stronger Two-stars skill. If there is a suitable skill to fuse with Electric Pursue again in the future, it will be closer to Three Stars, and eventually obtain a genuine Three Stars skill. Though it may be more difficult, there¡¯s still hope! just by encountering a suitable Beast Master, he already gained much; this made Xu Ran even more assured that his current direction was correct. Can¡¯t wait for the right Beast Master to come to him? Then take the initiative! ¡°Boss, what services does your Starfire Foster Care Shop offer? Another customer walked into the foster shop, Xu Ran revealed a smile, quickly stepping forward, ¡°Allow me to introduce them to you!¡± Although Xu Ran had advanced, the preliminary competition did not end. In the remaining two days of the preliminaries, many powerful Beast Masters stood out. There were Beast Masters riding huge bear pet beasts, personally dueling with the Beast Masters dispatched by the Association and defeating them, advancing smoothly and earning the nickname of ¡°Bear Knight¡±. There were also Beast Masters who contracted rare weapon-type pet beasts, with one person and one sword easily defeating opponents and advancing, earning the title ¡°Sword Guest¡±. And there was a Beast Master who commandeered a Husky with a sword in its mouth, wielding powerful sword energy all around, making the audience exclaim, ¡°The Dog Swordsman has arrived¡­¡± As these Beast Master competitors displayed their power in the preliminaries, a rumor was widely circulated amid the passionate discussions among the public. Apparently, the preliminaries weren¡¯t the first hurdle in the selection of contestants. During registration, these contestants had already gone through a threshold known as a ¡°primary screening¡±! In this primary screening, four contestants scored over a thousand points, displaying immense strength! With this news spreading, the performances of all advancing contestants in the preliminaries were singled out for horizontal comparison by curious spectators. As the curtain fell on the third day of the preliminary contest, the four most powerful contestants were identified! Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66 What the Hell is a Deceitful Chapter 66: Chapter 66 What the Hell is a Deceitful Merchant !_1 Translator: 549690339 Among these four participants, two of them already had quite a fame in the Beast Master community, even before the competition began. They were: Lyu Guang, the inheritor of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion who has surpassed the younger generation of martial artists in Qingzhou City. Xu Jiujiu, the White Wolf Girl who traveled alone outside the city and returned safely. The other two were not so well-known, but after a comparison, they were also quickly confirmed. They were: The mysterious transfer student from the Second High School for Beast Masters, ¡°Black Dragon Princess¡± Gu Ling. Xu Ran, who was dubbed the ¡°Advertising Trickster¡± for advertising at the competition venue. Compared with the former three, the last one, Xu Ran, sparked quite a lot of discussions in the Beast Master community with his unconventional approach, and many Beast Masters became interested in the Starfire Foster Care Shop he runs. However, after the prices for washing and fosterage at the Starfire Foster Care Shop were exposed, most of the eager Beast Masters gave up the idea of visiting. So expensive! He¡¯s truly an advertising trickster! On the other hand, Xu Ran, who was labelled as a trickster, spent these two days very happily. Qingzhou City was not lacking rich Beast Masters. Although most of them were discouraged by the price, the remaining ones were enough to give him a taste of sweetness. In two days, he washed and groomed six new customers, and after some inspection, three Beast Masters left their Pet Beasts to be fostered in his shop. The rapid increase of pleasure value and physical point was the happiest thing for him. The only regret was that after obtaining Thunderbolt Flash, no other skills that could teach Ziyun were gained in these two days of plucking fur. The considerable benefits he gained just from the preliminary competition further confirmed Xu Ran¡¯s determination to stick for a few more rounds in the New Beast Masters Challenge Match. One more round of advertisements could attract more customers! ¡°Goodbye!¡± After seeing off another Beast Master customer, Xu Ran yawned and looked at the gradually-dimming sky outside the shop door. It was closing time again after a busy day. ¡°Meow-¡± (The rematch is tomorrow, right?) Ziyun hopped lightly onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder with anticipation in its eyes. Every match meant more customers would come to the shop! Which also meant it could learn more skills and become stronger! ¡°Yes, the preliminary competition ended today, and according to the schedule, there will be no interval between the preliminary and rematch, so the rematch is tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°I am thinking about how to advertise more effectively tomorrow.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Go for it!) Ziyun gave Xu Ran an encouraging look. Just as the two were about to close the shop, a figure hurriedly approached. ¡°Boss¡­ Huh? Are you closing?¡± Liu Gu was leading the bloody Wind Lion Dog and blinked, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come back tomorrow?¡± Xu Ran immediately let go of the hand he had placed on the shop door. ¡°Closing? What closing?¡± Xu Ran smiled warmly at Lucky Liu. ¡°You can have a wash and grooming now.¡± If it were other people, it would be fine, but if it¡¯s Lucky Uncle, he absolutely would take care of his dog! Well, he happened to have accumulated ten in a row in these past two days. Liu Gu came at the right time. ¡°Great.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head with a hehe laugh. While watching his drama and eating snacks, Liu Gu stayed calm amid the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s familiarly strange growls. Soon, Xu Ran led the brand-new dog out. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, boss!¡± Looking at the dog that had once again become something he could not afford to own, Liu Gu laughed heartily, ¡°I was used to seeing my dog all dirty and didn¡¯t think it was much, but now that I often wash it and groom it, I¡¯m not used to seeing him too dirty.¡± Well, even though it costs more money. But daily washing and grooming have fully stimulated the dog¡¯s combat enthusiasm. The gains from going out of the city these days have been notably more than before. In fact, he has made more profit after all. ¡°Habit becomes nature.¡± Xu Ran casually patted Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder, and his smile got brighter. Three Skill Fusion Stones, two Energy Abundant Potions, Uncle Liu s lucky constitution is just as always, so stable! ¡°Speaking of which, I saw a post on the Beast Masters Forum today¡­¡± Liu Gu looked at Xu Ran with a slightly strange expression, ¡°Did you participate in that New Beast Masters Challenge Match?¡± ¡°Yes, it was a customer who recommended me to go there.¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s really you!¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°Advertising your own shop in the competition, that¡¯s really interesting.¡± ¡°I just opened the shop not long ago, and I didn¡¯t have the money to advertise, so I had to resort to this.¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, ¡°Uncle Liu, do you also check the forum?¡± ¡°Of course, although there are often some unprofessional posts in the forum, you can still find a lot of useful information if you search carefully.¡± Liu Gu said seriously, ¡°For hunting squads like us, we can understand the movement of the beast tide outside the city on it.¡± ¡°If you need something, you can also post for help on the forum and let more people help you find ways.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly. He had been too busy these past two days and hadn¡¯t logged onto the forum. Speaking of which, he made a post when he first registered. He didn¡¯t know if anyone had replied. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go first,¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°It seems that your rematch is tomorrow, right? I just happen to be free, I¡¯ll go to the scene to cheer for you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Liu.¡± Xu Ran watched Liu Gu leave, then closed the shop door. After feeding the four pet beasts downstairs, he picked up Ziyun and went upstairs, then logged into the forum on his cellphone. The post he made before had long been lost in the sea of posts, with no one showing any interest. However, after checking the new posts on the forum, Xu Ran¡¯s face gradually darkened. ¡°What the hell is ¡®advertising trickster¡¯!¡± Looking at the nickname someone gave him, Xu Ran was annoyed, ¡°I¡¯ll get that guy who came up with the nickname!¡± He just simply advertised, didn¡¯t he know what¡¯s called honest business! After a quick browse, he didn¡¯t find too much interesting content, Xu Ran threw the cellphone aside, sat cross-legged on the bed, and closed his eyes to meditate. He has pretty much learned all the general knowledge about Beast Masters that he needed to know after a period of cramming, and now he also had this artifact called Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran wished he could meditate for 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, he still needed to run the foster shop during the day. The gains of pleasure value and other skills were also the foundation of his strength, and he couldn¡¯t give them up. He could only work harder at night. Seeing the Beast Master who was working hard to improve his contract power through meditation, Ziyun¡¯s face showed a touch of emotion. It still remembered that it was very difficult for the Beast Master to persist in meditating for even ten minutes in the beginning, but now he was working so hard to break through to Elite Stage. Moved! Ziyun lightly walked on the soft mattress, quietly grabbed a corner of the blanket without making a sound, carefully covered Xu Ran¡¯s legs and waist which were sitting cross-legged, then carefully crawled into the blanket, leaned close to Xu Ran and fell asleep with peace of mind.. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Hitting Myself?_l Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Hitting Myself?_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Today¡¯s rematch has different rules from the previous knockout round.¡± Holding Ziyun on their way to the rematch site, Xu Ran began to explain today¡¯s competition rules to the little guy, ¡°Today¡¯s rematch will be a brutal melee.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What is a melee?) Ziyun looked relaxed, apparently not aware of the severity of the issue. ¡°A melee means that all advancing competitors¡¯ Pet Beasts will be placed in the same area to fight each other,¡± Xu Ran explained. ¡°You may simultaneously encounter attacks from multiple opponents, but you can also join forces with other Pet Beasts to fight other Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Of course, normal one-on-one combat is possible too. ¡°In short, all possibilities exist in a melee.¡± Ziyun: ¡°II!¡± It got it! This is basically a group fight! It often fought when it was roaming around! Although it was often the one being beaten, it has loads of experience! ¡°Any Pet Beast that loses its combat power due to attacks or gives up voluntarily, along with its Beast Master, will be immediately eliminated,¡± Xu Ran paused before continuing, ¡°Only the last four Pet Beasts and their Beast Masters can advance to the next round.¡± ¡°As of yesterday, there are a total of fifty-four contestants who advanced from the auditions.¡± ¡°That is to say, fifty contestants will be eliminated in this round. As Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, Ziyun¡¯s expression gradually became serious. This sounds difficult! ¡°If we took the scores from the preliminary qualification round as a ranking of pet power, our strength is enough to allow us to advance,¡± Xu Ran ruffled Ziyun¡¯s head and began to analyze calmly, ¡°But the actual situation may not be as good as it seems.¡± ¡°The other contestants likely know our strength is strong. To compete for the remaining four places to go to the next round, their approach would probably be¡­¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (To eliminate us first?) A spark of human-like contemplation showed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes, followed up Xu Ran¡¯s words. ¡°Correct, you¡¯re getting smarter. The recent extra meals haven¡¯t been in vain,¡± Xu Ran smiled satisfyingly. -If I¡¯m not wrong, when the competition starts, other contestants should band together to first eliminate us four, who have scored over a thousand in the preliminary round.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a case of shooting the bird that sticks its head out¡­¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, then suddenly smiled, ¡°But if they want to eliminate us, first they¡¯ll have to catch up to you.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Right!) Ziyun raised its head proudly. During these two days, it has thoroughly mastered this new skill, Electric Pursue. The speed at which it could go at full strength was quite shocking. Want to attack it? First, they¡¯ll have to catch up to it! While the duo chatted, they had already arrived at the rematch¡¯s competition venue. The previous audition site could not meet the needs of a melee battle, so the rematch venue had been moved to a different location. The new site was situated at the Mimic Training Field in the center of Qingzhou City. The entire competition area covered a circular region with a one-kilometer diameter, consisting of desert, forest, swamp, lake, and land, and other types of terrains. Cameras were secretly installed all over the site to capture the movements of each pet entering. The Beast Masters would not enter the site with their Pets, they would command the battle from a distance using the Beast Taming Contract. Considering the inconvenience of watching the competition directly, the rematch did not provide a viewing area for spectators, adopting instead an online viewing method. At the entrance to the competition area, over twenty contestants were already standing, with their Pet Beasts by their side. They were gathered in small groups, whispering something to each other, while occasionally glancing warily at other contestants. As Xu Ran arrived, many of the Beast Masters who recognized him looked over cautiously. However, seeing the bag Xu Ran carried on his back, their expressions gradually turned peculiar. During the last knockout round, he pulled a flag with an advertising slogan out of this bag and waved it vigorously in front of the audience to advertise his shop. This time, he wouldn¡¯t dare to use that trick again, would he? There aren¡¯t any spectators on the scene this time. No matter how hard he waves his flag, the cameras recording the contest definitely won¡¯t focus on him for even half a second. They were curious to see how this advertising trickster would advertise this time! Of course, not all contestants recognized Xu Ran. The auditions lasted for three days, and Xu Ran had smoothly advanced on the morning of the first day. Many contestants were not present at that time, and only learned about this legendary person from elsewhere, but they did not know what he looked like. After Xu Ran arrived at the waiting area, a short and chubby contestant soon approached him, ¡°Brother, you don¡¯t have a team with other contestants?¡± ¡°Form a team?¡± Realizing that the short and chubby contestant in front of him did not recognize him, Xu Ran shook his head with a smile, ¡°No, have all the other contestants formed teams?¡± ¡°Yes! The upcoming rematch is a melee, and others won¡¯t fight you one on one fairly.¡± The chubby man patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder as if he were a complete newbie who didn¡¯t understand anything, with a very earnest tone. ¡°Look at the other contestants, they are in groups of three to five. They¡¯ve already agreed to form temporary teams.¡± ¡°If your Pet Beast enters the competition area alone and encounters their Pet Beasts, can you fight them all alone? You¡¯re not one of those four freaks who scored a thousand in the preliminary round!¡± ¡°You make a good point,¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting that I should form a team too?¡± ¡°Correct!¡± The chubby contestant nodded with satisfaction, ¡°My name is Hu Zhong. My strength isn¡¯t too bad. How about we form a team? ¡°Although your Pet Beast is tiny, it must be quite good to have passed the auditions. As for my Pet Beast¡­¡± Hu Zhong patted the Pet Beast behind him, which was even taller than he was. ¡°It¡¯s an Earth attribute Pet Beast, a Big Mouthed Baboon, do you know it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran looked at the baboon Pet Beast standing behind Hu Zhong. It was covered in earthy yellow fur and had an extraordinarily large mouth. Xu Ran nodded slightly. Among the common Earth attribute Pet Beasts, this race is considered to be middle-upper class. ¡°So, how do you feel about us forming a team?¡± Hu Zhong patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Ran responded indifferently. ¡°I won¡¯t take advantage of you. Once the other contestants are mostly eliminated, our team will dissolve, and whether or not we can advance will depend on our own abilities,¡± Hu Zhong chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s choose a target now!¡± ¡°By target, you mean¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, confused. ¡ö¡öWell, of course I mean those four contestants who scored a thousand!¡± Hu Zhong¡¯s expression was a bit excited, ¡°We are in competition with other teams, but when facing those four freaks, our target is the same. ¡°We need to choose one of them to participate in the siege. ¡°If those four advance, all of us will be eliminated!¡± ¡°I think we should go for that ¡®advertising trickster1. He seems to be a bit weaker¡­. Why are you making that face?¡± Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Are you Xu Ran?! _1 Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Are you Xu Ran?! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°No¡­ Nothing.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, suppressing the odd feelings welling up inside him. Ziyun, tucked in his arms, had buried her face in the crook of his elbow, trying her hardest to keep her emotions under control lest Hu Zhong caught wind of her panic. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± That misunderstanding made Hu Zhong believe that Xu Ran was feeling worried about the competition. He reassured him, ¡°There¡¯s a saying ¡ªyou can¡¯t catch two hares with only one hand. We¡¯re all Transcendent Stage pet beasts, and no matter how strong that conman is, he can¡¯t possibly beat all of us.¡± ¡°Once we eliminate all four of them, we can rest easy and go about eliminating other teams.¡± Hu Zhong patted his chest, ¡°Although only four spots are available for advancement, other participants will also receive rewards. The later they are eliminated, the better the reward.¡± ¡°If you follow me, Brother Hu, I assure you¡¯ll get a great reward!¡± ¡°Thank you for that.¡± Xu Ran managed to keep his odd feelings under wraps, revealing a warm smile, ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to have you here.¡± If it weren¡¯t for this fellow right in front of him, he would have been completely unaware of just how targeted the four of them had become by the other participants. It was absolutely absurd. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s nothing!¡± Hu Zhong laughed, looking around confidently, ¡°I see that the other participants are almost ready. The rematch will begin soon.¡± ¡°Once all the pet beasts enter the competition area, they have five minutes to disperse freely. Once the time is up, the battle-royal will begin.¡± Xu Ran lifted his head and looked around, indeed seeing more participants trickling in. Apart from himself, he spotted three other participants who had scored a thousand points. The team of Su Xiaoxiao and Duan Anxun stood next to Gu Ling, apparently Lin Yue hadn¡¯t made it to the next round. The sight of Xu Ran¡¯s attention directed toward them led the three girls to glance back and acknowledge him with a nod. As for Lyu Guang and Xu Jiujiu, they stood alone. Their well-known identities meant that everyone knew who they were, making it less likely for others to team up with them. It seemed that the two of them had no intentions of fighting together either. The rest of the participants stood in groups of three to five, clearly indicating their team formation. Without any further delays, the host walked briskly over with several staff members responsible for maintaining discipline. ¡°Participants, apologies for the wait!¡± The host¡¯s face was bright with a friendly smile. ¡°The rematch will begin shortly. We will now roll-call to ensure that all participants are present. Once that¡¯s complete, everyone¡¯s pet beasts will enter the competition area.¡± ¡°After entering the competition area, pet beasts will have five minutes to disperse across the competition field. After five minutes, the competition will formally commence.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin the roll call!¡± The host abruptly pulled out his list of participants. ¡°Pei Jin!¡± ¡°Present!¡± One of the participants promptly raised his hand to signal his attendance. ¡°Guan Ting!¡± ¡°Present!¡± II II As each participant was called, the others began associating names with faces. ¡°Right, I think I forgot to askyou¡­what are you doing?¡± It suddenly occurred to Hu Zhong that he didn¡¯t even know the name of his new partner. He turned to ask, then was instantly baffled by what he saw Xu Ran doing. ¡°Dressing my pet beast. I don¡¯t want it to get cold.¡± Xu Ran leisurely took out a suitably sized cat outfit from his bag and started dressing Ziyun. The cat outfit bore clear letters that read, ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun squirmed a bit, unfamiliar with the feeling of wearing clothes. However, if it meant attracting more customers to the Foster Care Shop, it was more than willing to bear the discomfort of wearing clothes as a form of advertisement! ¡°You¡­¡± Hu Zhong¡¯s eyes grew wider and wider. He had a feeling that he had heard about this somewhere before. ¡°Xu Ran!¡± The host¡¯s roll call had just reached Xu Ran¡¯s name. Thus, Hu Zhong watched in disbelief as his new partner calmly raised his hand. ¡°Present!¡± ¡°You!!!¡± Hu Zhong¡¯s eyes bulged out. He recoiled a step back in shock, staring at his new team member as if he were looking at a ghost. ¡°You¡¯re Xu Ran? That conman?!¡± ¡°That was all a misunderstanding!¡± Xu Ran declared righteously, waving his hand. ¡°I run my business fair and square. How can you call me a conman? That¡¯s just too much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really you!¡± After Xu Ran¡¯s admission, Hu Zhong gasped in surprise. Recalling how he¡¯d pledged earlier to take down Xu Ran in alliance with Xu Ran, he had the distinct sensation of wanting to die on the spot from embarrassment. ¡°So¡­are we still teaming up?¡± Xu Ran asked with a teasing grin. ¡°¡­We are!¡± After only a moment¡¯s hesitation, Hu Zhong gritted his teeth and agreed. He could already imagine the severe situation he¡¯d face being part of Xu Ran¡¯s team, as the other participants closed in on them for an attack. However, at this point, the other participants had already finalized their teams. If he didn¡¯t team up with Xu Ran, he¡¯d have to fight solo, which would result in his elimination early on anyway. Since things have come to this, he might as well give it a shot. ¡°A wise choice.¡± Xu Ran patted Hu Zhong¡¯s shoulder, reciting an advertising slogan almost reflexively. ¡°Just like choosing Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Hu Zhong:¡±¡­¡± This guy even started advertising to his own teammate? ¡°By the way¡­Brother Xu, what should we do in the competition?¡± Hu Zhong cleared his throat discreetly, naturally taking up the position of the little brother in the team. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment before nodding slightly, ¡°Your titano monkey can absorb most of the attacks, while my pet beast will focus on offense.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take them down like water dousing fire!¡± Although he¡¯d jokingly told Ziyun earlier that the other pet beasts couldn¡¯t catch up with her, Xu Ran never intended to rely on evasive maneuvering in this competition from the start. The star of today¡¯s promotional campaign wasn¡¯t him, it was Ziyun. To have more chances to be on camera, she needed to learn how to steal the spotlight. How to steal the spotlight? Of course, through sheer strength! Since the other participants had done so much preparation in order to take them down, they certainly couldn¡¯t complain if he wasn¡¯t gentle. With his assertive words, Hu Zhong¡¯s spirit was immediately invigorated. ¡°Okay!¡± Hu Zhong shouted affirmatively, ¡°We¡¯ll join hands and wipe them all out!¡± As they whispered to each other, the roll call came to an end. All participants had arrived. ¡°Now, you can send your pet beasts into the competition area.¡± The host held up a device that looked like opaque swimming goggles. ¡°This is an Association Contract Resonance Amplifier. It can amplify the connection between the Beast Master and the pet beast.¡± ¡°With its help, Beast Masters can not only communicate with their pet beasts at any time, but also obtain their pet beasts¡¯ field-of-view and some perception, achieving the effect of remote command.¡± ¡°Once they wear it, you can direct your pet beasts in battle without having to see them.¡± ¡°After the pet beasts enter the arena, the participants should come up on stage in an orderly manner to receive their Contract Resonance Amplifiers!¡± ¡°Good luck!¡± Xu Ran stroked Ziyun¡¯s head gently, encouraging her quietly. ¡°Meow-¡± (Watch me shine!) Realizing that it finally had a chance to show off its Electric Pursue, Ziyun was quite excited. She lightly jumped from Xu Ran¡¯s arms to the ground, gave a glance to the titano monkey, then let out a light call to get it to keep up with her pace. Although much larger than Ziyun, the titano monkey was obviously on its best behavior, sensing a powerful aura from Ziyun. It followed Ziyun obediently like a sidekick, walking into the competition area with her.. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Can You Advertise This Way?_l Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Can You Advertise This Way?_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow!¡± After putting on the Contract Resonance Amplifier and experiencing the novelty of sharing vision with Ziyun, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This thing is really convenient.¡± ¡°Although this amplifier produces great results, it still has many limitations. If the Beast Master and the Pet Beast are more than a kilometer away from each other, it can¡¯t be used.¡± Hu Zhong, who also wore an amplifier, explained, ¡°This is why the competition venue has a diameter of one kilometer.¡± ¡°Moreover, it requires the use of a special resource, which is not small in consumption.¡± Hu Zhong spread out his hands, ¡°It¡¯s said that after the contract power reaches the fourth stage, such an amplifier is not necessary, the Beast Master can share the Pet Beast¡¯s vision without any distance limit.¡± ¡°That gives me another reason to practice hard.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Where should we position ourselves?¡± Hu Zhong asked. ¡°The Electric Stone Vein.¡± Xu Ran answered without hesitation. He had already studied the different terrains within the competition area. This Electric Stone Vein prepared for Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, full of conductive plasma, any thunder attribute skills could be amplified. It was the most suitable environment for Ziyun¡¯s combat. As for the Earth attribute Big Mouth Monkey, as long as it was on the ground, it could be amplified, just varying in degree. ¡°Okay.¡± Hu Zhong nodded, agreeing with Xu Ran¡¯s choice of area. After the two informed Ziyun and Big Mouth Monkey of their destination, the beasts quickly found the Electric Stone Vein location via guidance. The Electric Stone Vein was a raised mound terrain, without any vegetation on the bare ground, and all visible were pieces of purple crystal interspersed in the rock, which were fused unmined Electric Stones. ¡°Crackle¨C¡± The moment the two beasts entered the area, the stable plasma all around began to stir, tiny electric arcs emerged out of thin air before quickly dissipating. Ziyun seemed quite comfortable, being so widely familiar with this sort of free-floating Thunderforce. And the Big Mouth Monkey, although somewhat uncomfortable, the earth attribute repressed thunder, so it wouldn¡¯t be affected too much by this force. The two beasts soon found a suitable stronghold after familiarizing themselves with their environment. Many teams had their eyes on Xu Ran, their beasts following Ziyun, soon appearing near the Electric Stone Vein. Seeing the terrain chosen by Ziyun, their faces turned serious. They quietly surrounded the Electric Stone Vein and occupied positions. The other three contestants also encountered similar situations. As time ticked away, the five minutes of free dispersal ended soon. ¡°In a moment, the rematch will officially begin.¡± The host looked at the fifty-four Beast Masters wearing amplifiers, bracing themselves, and slowly said, ¡°As the rematch begins, we will connect the live broadcast and start the streaming.¡± ¡°So now, let¡¯s count down five seconds¨C¡± ¡°Five¨C¡± ¡°Four¨C¡± ¡°Three¨C¡± ¡°Two¨C¡± ¡°One!¡± Sitting in front of the TV, watching the countdown numbers suddenly disappear on the black screen, Tan Yue vigourously raised his hand, ¡°I want to see how you, this con artist, promote your advertisement today!¡± Three days ago in the auditions, he was certain that Xu Ran chose to battle against the earth attribute pet beast, the type he was weak against, as an excuse for his own defeat. As a result, he was completely blown away. Since then, Tan Yue had become one of Xu Ran¡¯s haters. He had posted many threads on the forum denouncing Xu Ran for his promotional activities, upon learning about the high prices of Starfire Foster Care Shop, he was ecstatic. He posted threads referring to Xu Ran as a ¡°con artist¡±. The title Xu Ran had acquired had quite a bit to do with him. Upon learning that the rematch format was changed to a live broadcast, Tan Yue was thrilled. Under live conditions, the broadcaster would surely focus the camera on the best performing pet beast, not the Beast Master outside the competition area. In this way, it was impossible for Xu Ran to wave his flag and be seen like before! Thinking of Xu Ran¡¯s attempts to promote but failing miserably, Tan Yue felt genuinely pleased. Before long, the host¡¯s voice came from the live picture, ¡°Hello viewers in front of the TV, this is the rematch of the New Beast Master Challenge Match.¡± ¡°At the moment, our fifty-four contestants in the designated area command their pet beasts remotely through the Contract Resonance Amplifier they have on!¡± The live picture cut to the players, and the first thing Tan Yue noticed was Xu Ran. Seeing him carrying the same bag as last time but not taking out the flag, a smug expression appeared on Tan Yue¡¯s face. The darn fellow was finally punished! ¡°As the rematch begins, let¡¯s see how the fifty-four pet beasts are doing.¡± As soon as the host¡¯s voice fell, the picture quickly cut through each of the fifty-four pet beasts. When the image of Ziyun flashed across the TV screen, Tan Yue¡¯s expression froze for a moment, he instinctively rubbed his eyes. Just now, it seemed like something shocking flashed before his eyes? Since the picture was moving too quickly, he didn¡¯t get a chance to see clearly. But for some reason, Tan Yue had an ominous feeling. ¡°Contestant Lyu Guang is in a tough situation!¡± The host¡¯s voice suddenly rose, and at the same time, the live image was switched to Lyu Guang¡¯s Combat Bear Apprentice, ¡°A total of eight pet beasts have surrounded the Combat Bear Apprentice!¡± ¡°The Combat Bear Apprentice chose not to resist and is trying to break out using the complex features of the chosen forest environment!¡± ¡°It¡¯s making a move! The Combat Bear Apprentice has made a move!¡± ¡°Two stars skills, Starlight Level-Wave Fist! Combat Bear Apprentice knocks down Zhang He¡¯s Chameleon with a punch and successfully breaks out! It chose to leave without entangling with other pet beasts! Chameleon falls out of the fight, Zhang He is the first to be eliminated!¡± ¡°That punch, sss¡­¡± Tan Yue couldn¡¯t help but gasp. The picture pauses on the figure of the Combat Bear Apprentice escaping, then it quickly switches to a huge white wolf appearing on the screen. Its speed was so fast that it left only an afterimage, blooming flowers of frost on the glacier terrain. ¡°Contestant Xu Jiujiu also encountered a collective attack from other contestants, but Xu Jiujiu¡¯s Frost Dust Wolf is so fast! That¡¯s a Two Star Skill, Starlight Level-Frost Flower Path! The other contestant¡¯s pet beasts can¡¯t stop it at all!¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Tan Yue praised as he watched, ¡°This Frost Dust Wolf is really cool!¡± As the dispute situation at Xu Jiujiu¡¯s site ended, the live picture jumped again, and a massive black dragon, about two meters tall, appeared on the screen. It fought against six others on its own, defeating them with an invincible momentum. Beside it was a Flame Fox pulsating with fire and a Colorful Cloud Parrot enveloped in colourful lights, the three pet beasts stood on the same battle line. ¡°Contestant Gu Ling found two powerful helpers, other contestants gave up on their collective attack, they chose to retreat temporarily!¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s see the situation with contestant Xu Ran¨C¡± In the next moment, the picture switched to Ziyun. This time Tan Yue saw Ziyun¡¯s clothes clearly. His eyes widened, and he weakly slumped onto the couch. ¡°Even like this, you can still advertise?!¡± Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Whos Going to Stop Him! _1 Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Who¡¯s Going to Stop Him! _1 Translator: 549690339 | Xu Ran was completely unaware of the stir his breach of defense was causing among those in front of the TV. At this moment, through Ziyun¡¯s vision, he saw the adversaries closing in on him, a strange look flickered across his face. ¡°Sixteen¡­ why so many?¡± Hu Zhong, not quite staying calm, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, ¡°Brother Xu, why do you attract such animosity?¡± ¡°Maybe they think I¡¯m an easy target.¡± Xu Ran smiled casually. Hu Zhong¡¯s face turned somewhat embarrassed; initially, he too had viewed it that way. -Let them see what we¡¯re made of.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice took on an invigorating tone, and he yelled, ¡°Attack us all together!¡± At these words, all the other competitors in the area turned to look at him. Organizing their pet beasts to encircle the four thousand-point competitors, it was very awkward for them to realize that those four competitors were right beside them, and they, the Beast Masters who were commanding in battle, were in the same area. This somehow gave a feeling of face-to-face plotting. Especially when the pet beasts did not hide their identities and who was taking action against whom was obvious at a glance, it was awkward. To avoid the awkwardness, they unanimously didn¡¯t look at each other, focusing their gazes on the direction of the competition area instead. Yet, Xu Ran went the unconventional route, not only being openly confrontational but outright provocative. For a moment, the expressions of the Beast Masters who commanded the pet beasts to surround Ziyun changed. All together? That¡¯s what you said! ¡°Well, then we¡¯re not holding back!¡± One of the competitors was quite straightforward in their response, he immediately commanded his pet beast to make a move. Although the other competitors didn¡¯t reply verbally, their commands were equally swift. Various attacks erupted from the air and the ground, targeting Ziyun and the Big Mouth Ape who were surrounded. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± Hu Zhong¡¯s voice had a trace of anxiety. ¡°Have Big Mouth Ape protect itself.¡± Xu Ran spoke in a low voice, while instructing Ziyun through the air, ¡°Use Electric Pursue! Show them some colors!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun¡¯s eyes, besieged by numerous attacks, flickered with anticipation. Such an attack? It¡¯s not even as good as the customized attack in the training field! It took a slow step forward, endless purple thunderbolt erupted from its limbs, instantly turning its purple claws into pure elements of thunder. ¡°Crackle¨CZap¨C¡± The sound of the electric arc piercing through the air became sharper, hke a giant stone thrown into a lake. The diffused plasma in the air caused numerous jumping electric flashes. An energy wind rose up from beneath Ziyun¡¯s feet, spinning and lifting the plasma in the air. In a blink, it became a tangible thunderstorm which swirled rapidly around Ziyun. In the next instant, Ziyun¡¯s form disappeared from its original spot, appearing in front of a white horse with a single horn and a pair of wings on its back. This was the Wind Step Horse, a considerably dominant pet beast species among the wind attribute. At this moment, this ¡®child of the storm¡¯ was paralyzed by the electric arcs that were unnoticeably permeating its surroundings. It could do nothing more than stand and watch Ziyun¡¯s paw, wholly transformed into an elemental form, descend upon it. ¡°Whinny!¡± Frenzied dancing electric flashes suddenly emerged from the body of the Wind Step Horse. It fell slowly to the ground, writhing in agony, as its snow-white fur was scorched black by the electricity. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Continuous loud noises echoed behind Ziyun. This was the late arrival of the combined attack from numerous pet beasts which only landed after the Wind Step Horse fell, at the spot where Ziyun initially was. Two Star Skill, Starlight Level ¨C Electric Pursue! Ziyun¡¯s move stunned all the pet beasts and their respective competitors who saw the whole process through their pet beasts¡¯ visions. So strong?! Hu Zhong¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, his breath quickened a bit. I hit the jackpot! He sharply turned his head, looking at the calm expression on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He suddenly felt a sense of profound respect. I, Brother Xu, am too terrifying! Xu Ran neglected Hu Zhong, and after the killing blow from Ziyun, he quickly reminded it, ¡°Ziyun, don¡¯t forget to advertise.¡± Oh right! Advertise! Ziyun, immersed in her killing power, snapped back to reality, quickly located the hidden camera as it looked around. It twisted its body, positioning the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± on its clothes in the most conspicuous place, striking an elegant pose. ¡°Meow-¡± (Starfire Foster Care Shop, trustworthy!) nj ii Tan Yue collapsed on the sofa, staring at the five eye-catching characters on the screen, feeling as though Xu Ran slapped him in the face again across the distance. Even though no one was around, he still felt an unprecedented sense of shame. It¡¯s too much¡­ It¡¯s too much! ¡°You still have so many opponents, and you dare to flaunt!¡± Tan Yue muttered spitefully, ¡°Complacency means death for you!¡± However, the moment his words fell, Ziyun¡¯s figure disappeared again. With a cry of horror, another Pet Beast was defeated by Ziyun¡¯s ghostly speed. Seeing Ziyun twist its body and aim those five characters at the screen once again, Tan Yue felt as if thunder was rumbling in his head. ¡°You¡­¡± He took a deep breath, took out his cellphone and dialed a number, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that the competition organizer would allow you to advertise hke this!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to file a complaint against you! ¡°What are you guys doing!¡± Inside the director¡¯s room, responsible for live broadcast signal transmission, a bald middle-aged leader angrily burst in, ¡°Why did that guy openly insert advertisements in the competition? He didn¡¯t even pay for the advertisement?¡± ¡°He was already criticized for advertising during the auditions, and this time it¡¯s a live broadcast! This is a major broadcasting incident!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the director? Why didn¡¯t you cut the screen! ¡°Leader¡­¡± The young director stood up in confusion, ¡°You don¡¯t know, I want to cut the screen too¡­¡± ¡°But¡­ the most exciting performance in the whole game is from this side¡­¡± With a helpless look, he pointed to the large screen displaying all the pet beasts¡¯ conditions. ¡°How is that possible?¡± The bald leader widened his eyes, pushed away the director, ¡°Let me see!¡± Glancing over the screen, he saw the Combat Bear Apprentice practicing martial arts in the jungle, the Frost Dust Wolf lounging on an iceberg, waiting to throw off any offenders, the Dark Scale Dragon waiting for other pet beasts to fight¡­ Then, looking at Ziyun, who was in the thick of the fight, the bald leader fell silent. ¡°Cunning guy!¡± The bald leader gritted his teeth, ¡°Can¡¯t you blur him out?! ¡°Well¡­¡± The assistant director timidly spoke up, ¡°The pet beast is covered in ads, if we blur it out, we¡¯ll have to blur the beast as well¡­¡± The bald leader fell silent again. Blur out the contestants¡¯ Pet Beasts? Wouldn¡¯t the audience scold us? ¡°You¡­¡± just as the bald leader was about to say something, the director¡¯s excited voice came from beside him. ¡°The surrounding pet beasts are retreating! We can switch screens now!¡¯ ¡°Then switch!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ no can do, Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast is following them, it¡¯s gone berserk!¡¯ Bald leader:¡±¡­¡± ¡°Damn it! Can¡¯t anyone stop this guy from advertising? Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Launch Thoughts (with Easter Egg) _1 Chapter 71: Launch Thoughts (with Easter Egg) _1 Translator: 549690339 [¡°Frivolous Beast Tamer¡± will officially be released at 00:00 on August 21, and readers are welcome to subscribe to the genuine book on Qidian Chinese Network/Qidian Reading APP] After lots of twists and turns, it¡¯s again time to decide my fate. Every time I start a new book, I get very nervous, checking the collection count dozens to hundreds of times a day, and frequently asking the editor about the reading situation. No matter whether the results are growing or not, I dare not slack off until the book is on the shelf. The nervousness is even greater when the performance of my last book was not good. Luckily, the performance of this book is somewhat better than I expected. Unlike ¡°Gourmet Beast Tamer¡± that had the unreasonable advantage of 2,000 follower-readers from ¡°Beast Envoy¡± due to seamless transition after completion, there are still many old book friends who have stayed with me, propping up the initial data of this book. Although it didn¡¯t win the little loudspeaker, Sanjiang¡¯s launch is considered to have received full recommendation. Let¡¯s talk about what you all care about, which is the update of this book. The first 70 chapters are free trial chapters, with 2,000 words per chapter. VIP chapters will be changed to 4,000 words per chapter, and the single-chapter subscription original price is 20 coins (this is charged according to the word number, not the author¡¯s price). After the launch, the basic update is two a day, which is eight thousand a day. Adding one more for each league, can be repeated. ¡°Gourmet Beast Tamer¡± owes 23 league leaders¡¯ additional updates, which will be made up in this book. This book currently has two silver leagues and one league leader, owing a total of 44 updates. So after the book is launched, there will be three updates a day (a total of twelve thousand per day), until the promised additional updates are fulfilled. I hope to earn everyone a cup of milk tea in a month without scaring everyone away. Then let¡¯s chat about some plot direction issues. Since the book¡¯s release, there have been many calls for shape-shifting. I remember when Beast Envoy was just started, it was like this. Later when readers found out that Qiuqiu was a male cat¡­ The calls just got louder. Simply put, this book will have no female protagonist, and there will be no situation where the Pet Beast transforms into a human, there won¡¯t be, at least in the main text. Of course, I also know that some readers really want to see the shape-shifting, so¡­ Many readers are confused about the attributes of this book. In simple terms, the attribute settings of this book are based on the water, fire, earth, and wind system, not the five-element system. So here, the Earth attribute corresponds to earth with both metal and wood included, and the Wind attribute corresponds to sky. In addition, there will be a class change-like setting in the attribute in the later stage. There will be new things then, such as the time and space that some readers have mentioned, so please look forward to it. After the special skill ¡®King¡¯s Power¡¯ exclusive to the King Species was thrown out, many old readers began to guess whether there would be Imperial Field like Envoy. Yes, but not the Imperial Field, it is some cooler setups, still, please look forward to it. Last but not least, thanks for the chapter push: Beichuannanhai¡¯s ¡°I¡¯m no trainer¡± Yang Xiaorong¡¯s ¡°No, a gentleman also needs protection¡± Swimming Crow¡¯s ¡°Who made him cultivate immortality!¡± Time in the Courtyard¡¯s ¡°Rebirth daily cultivation¡± Zhuyegao¡¯s ¡°Peninsular Prosecutor¡± Huafeihuayue¡¯s ¡°Establishing a thousand-year-old family starting from Wuwang¡¯s conquest of Zhou¡± Back in the Rain¡¯s ¡°Falling in love after simulation¡± Caomanjun¡¯s ¡°Only after rebirth did I realize I have a childhood sweetheart¡± Usually Met Rain in West lake¡¯s ¡°Chief Astrologer of Ming Dynasty¡± Rippling Spring Sounds¡¯s ¡°King of Beast Tamer¡± Special thanks to Quanquanzi for the advice on Beast Taming.. I learned something new every time I chat about writing books with him! Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Time is still early, why don’t we... (Please subscribe !)_1 Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Time is still early, why don¡¯t we¡­ (Please subscribe !)_1 Translator: 549690339 Silence. The contestants¡¯ area is completely silent. Listening to the host saying with fervor, ¡°Contestant Xu Ran has single-handedly eliminated ten contestants, he and his Pet Beast have gone berserk,¡± the surrounding contestants felt an unprecedented regret. Damn it! Why is this guy so strong! During the initial selection round, he didn¡¯t seem to be playing so outrageously! Could it be that he was hiding his abilities? Yes! That must be it! Even Lyu Guang, Xu Jiujiu, and Gu Ling, couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads in Xu Ran¡¯s direction. Obviously, they were also slightly shocked by Xu Ran defeating one contestant after another. This guy¡­ is this strong? Their anticipation was not only for the current rematch but also for the semi-finals and finals in the near future. They might be the ones who will have to face Xu Ran then! ¡°Brother Xu! You rock!¡± If anyone in the room was most excited, it would probably be Hu Zhong, who somehow ended up forming a team with Xu Ran. With such a strong ally, he wouldn¡¯t need to aim for promotion to the next round, but his elimination ranking would certainly be much higher, meaning the competition rewards would be more generous. He was genuinely in a comfortable situation! No, he needed to show some support! ¡°Brother Xu, have a drink!¡± He quickly handed his Coca Cola to Xu Ran. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran unceremoniously took it, drinking while sighing inwardly. It¡¯s a pity that he couldn¡¯t eliminate all the contestants. After being defeated by Ziyun consecutively three times, the Beast Masters reacted quickly, directing their Pet Beasts to flee in different directions. Even with Ziyun¡¯s amazing speed, it was unrealistic to chase all the Pet Beasts in a full circle. He barely caught seven and let six get away. The sigh he heaved wasn¡¯t due to the decrease in the number of eliminated contestants. It was because, as expected, the live broadcasting had probably switched the channel to the other contestant¡¯s Pet Beast. To steal the spotlight requires technical skills. ¡°You should take a rest,¡± he comforted Ziyun through the air in the competition area, who was somewhat despondent, and he praised its performance, ¡°This fight had a great advertising effect.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Really?) The joy instantly filled Ziyun¡¯s eyes, and its morale got boosted. If the advertising effect was great, more clients would come. Having more clients meant its new skills and upgrades would be achieved! ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°After that burst earlier, you must have depleted a lot of stamina. After you recover to your peak, we can start Plan B!¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Plan B?) Ziyun tilted its head, looking slightly puzzled. ¡°Plan B means we¡¯ll attack first,¡± Xu Ran patiently explained, ¡°This is a live broadcast after all, the more exciting the battle, the more attention we¡¯ll get.¡± ¡°Now that the other contestants know we¡¯re strong and avoid battling us, what should we do?¡± ¡°Of course, we should take initiative in attacking them!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (I see!) Ziyun quickly caught on, and the will to fight erupted in its eyes. Initiate fights with other contestants¡­ It likes that! Ziyun turned and walked to the area where the Thunderforce was the strongest, tucked its paws into its chest, laid down, and started to recover its own strength fast. ¡°Big Mouth Gorilla, quick!¡± Seeing this, Hu Zhong realized that this was his chance to stand out. ¡°Roar!¡± The Big Mouth Gorilla stood up straight with its huge body and walked towards Ziyun. It then sat down beside it and started watching the surroundings menacingly. None of you can touch my big brother! After a quarter of an hour, Ziyun slowly stood up. A stroke of purple lightning flashed through its heterochromatic eyes. One by one, electric arcs erupted from its body, hopping around the surrounding space. Its strength had been restored to its peak! ¡°Hu Zhong, I recall the Big Mouth Gorilla has a skill called Earthquake Wave, right?¡± Xu Ran turned his head and looked at Hu Zhong. Earth attribute One Star Skill, Earthquake Wave. Using the vibrations of the earth to detect the situation within a large range, it was akin to sonar. ¡°Correct.¡± Hu Zhong nodded, and his expression immediately changed, ¡°You mean to¡­?¡± ¡°We should initiate the attack while using your Earthquake Wave to detect the movements of other contestants!¡± Xu Ran slowly spoke out his thought. Hu Zhong wasn¡¯t aware of his earlier communication with Ziyun through Contractual Sensing. When he heard Xu Ran¡¯s proposal, he was first startled by the bold idea, but when considering Ziyun¡¯s strong combat power, he felt stirred. Brilliant- Eliminating one more contestant meant a higher ranking for him. Instead of waiting for others to eliminate each other, it was better to take the initiative to end this fight quickly! More importantly, while Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast was showing off its prowess, his Big Mouth Gorilla felt left out because it only stood by and applauded. This time, letting the Big Mouth Gorilla handle the detection would increase its sense of participation! ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± Hu Zhong nodded vigorously and then issued new instructions to the Big Mouth Gorilla. ¡°Roar!¡± Within the competition area, the Big Mouth Gorilla nodded to Ziyun and then jumped to a relatively flat area. It stomped hard with its feet, its thick feet entirely buried in the earth. Simultaneously, it slapped the ground with both palms, also burying them in the earth. Right after, the Big Mouth Gorilla closed its eyes. One after another, earth-colored halos, like ripples, emanated from its limbs, drawing clear light circles on the ground and constantly spreading out towards afar until they reached the end of the sight line. One Star Skill, Stardust Level ? Earthquake Wave. This skill was not used frequently in actual combat due to its lengthy casting gestures, but its applications in everyday life were quite broad.. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 71 Time is early, why dont we ... (Please subscribe!)! Chapter 73: Chapter 71 Time is early, why don¡¯t we ¡­ (Please subscribe!)! Translator: 549690339 The next moment, the Big Mouthed Monkey aggressively opened its eyes. ¡°Roar! Roar!¡± It excitedly pulled its hands out of the ground, pointed in a certain direction, and then began gesturing. Were there two opponents in that direction? Ziyun understood. ¡°Crackle¡ª¡± In the brilliant electric light, its limbs turned back into thunder elements, then its body blinked a few times before disappearing, leaving only traces of leaping electric arcs, drawing out its phantom-like residue. ¡°Roar!¡± The Big Mouthed Monkey¡¯s expression grew animated, it scratched its head, then strode after Ziyun. Although it couldn¡¯t catch up, pursuing was enough! ¡°This is the sixth time Xu Jiujiu¡¯s Frost Dust Wolf was cornered, it finally ceased retreating and chose to head-on with the encircling opponents.1¡® ¡°One against five! With the geographical advantage of the glacial environment, the Frost Dust Wolf aggressively defeated the opponents! After swiftly defeating three Pet Beasts, it left the scene!¡± ¡°Eh heh heh- The Frost Dust Wolf is really strong!¡± Looking at the imposing Frost Dust Wolf on the screen, a smile emerged on Tan Yue¡¯s face. He is the ardent fan of the White Wolf Girl! The days without annoying advertisements were already joyful enough, and seeing the Frost Dust Wolf showing off its prowess again, a smile returned to Tan Yue¡¯s face. ¡°Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast has made a new move! With the help of Hu Zhong¡¯s Big Mouthed Monkey, Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast has actively sought out other Pet Beasts!¡± ¡°This is¡­ an active attack!¡± Looking at the big shining words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± appearing on the screen again, Tan Yue¡¯s smile disappeared. Are you ever going to stop?!! ¡°Huh?¡± Looking at Ziyun, which suddenly appeared on the Pet Beast¡¯s field of view like a descending divine soldier, and feeling the Pet Beast being defeated at the speed of light, a Beast Master in the arena couldn¡¯t help but make a baffled and astonished sound. He turned to look at that still calm figure, after a moment of silence, he spoke with agony, ¡°Xu Ran! I didn¡¯t besiege you!¡± ¡°Oh, just passing by, took the opportunity.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t even lift his head, casually replied, had Ziyun strike a pose towards the camera, then with the help of the panting Big Mouthed Monkey who had just caught up, rushed towards the direction of another Pet Beast. Being keen on grabbing the limelight, he didn¡¯t care at all whether the Pet Beasts he encountered had ever besieged Ziyun before. Was it important? Not important. With the passage of time, the atmosphere in the arena was gradually changing. After realizing despairingly that even with a joint siege, they could hardly eliminate those four thousand-point players, the alliance formed by other players began to silently crumble. They no longer launched joint attacks, but fought individually in their originally formed small teams, prioritizing the preservation of their own rankings and eliminating other competitors. But, at this moment, they faced the backlash of the siege they had just formed. Following Xu Ran, the other three thousand-point players began to direct their respective Pet Beasts to actively eliminate others! You just besieged me? Get eliminated! Then, Xu Ran and Ziyun became anxious. Stealing my opponent is okay, stealing my spotlight is not! Ziyun, in a killing frenzy, rampaged all over the mountains and plains searching for opponents, causing the other Pet Beasts in the arena to tremble with fear. The other three players, as if they had found their momentum with Xu Ran, collectively accelerated the speed of elimination. They inexplicably picked up the pace, leaving the other players as the victims. Thirty left¡­ Twenty left¡­ Ten left¡­ The number of players was decreasing at a rapid pace, until only seven were left. Besides the four thousand-point players, only Su Xiaoxiao, Duan Anxun who paired up with Gu Ling, and Hu Zhong who teamed up with Xu Ran were left. ¡°Brother Xu, thank you!¡± Achieving these results was beyond Hu Zhong¡¯s expectations. He seized the opportunity to express his gratitude, patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, then raised his hand, ¡°I voluntarily drop out!¡± On the other side, both Su Xiaoxiao and Duan Anxun expressed their gratitude to Gu Ling, then chose to voluntarily drop out. In the competition area, finally, only four Pet Beasts were left. Just as Xu Ran was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a massive white figure suddenly appeared before his eyes¡­No, it appeared in front of Ziyun. Looking at the Giant Wolf, covered in snow-white fur without a single uneven hair, whose eyes were filled with the intent to fight, Ziyun¡¯s pupils quickly contracted to pinpoints. The heterochromatic eyes were like a bottomless abyss, filled with sharp battle intent. It felt a great deal of pressure from the opponent. This was a very strong opponent! The pressure the opponent brought was only second to the previous Dark Scale Dragon! ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xu Ran frowned slightly, turning his head to glance at a short-haired girl next to him, her wheat-colored skin and a bit wild-looking outfit. ¡°We still have a lot of time, why don¡¯t weThe short-haired girl narrowed her eyes slightly, was about to make a suggestions with a playful smile, but she was interrupted. ¡°Ding ¡± The bell ringing marked the end of the rematch. ¡°Darn!¡± Xu Jiujiu rolled her eyes in displeasure, ¡°What a killjoy.¡± The entrance to the competition arena opened again, and the Pet Beasts walked out. The defeated beasts, which had lost their combat power earlier, had received medical attention. At this moment, their injuries had been healed, and they returned to their respective Beast Masters. Of course, there were also the beasts that were in perfect condition due to voluntary elimination and the beasts of the last four contestants standing. ¡°Congratulations to the four contestants, for securing the final victory in the rematch, and advancing to the next round!¡± The host began with a smile. ¡°As the top four contestants advancing to the final, you have one chance to make a statement for the upcoming finals.¡± As he spoke, camermen aimed their cameras at the four and the microphones were promptly handed over by the staff members. Such an unexpected opportunity? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. He pulled out the banner from his backpack that he didn¡¯t use earlier, waved it twice in front of the camera after opening it. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, offering the best love and care for your Pet Beasts!¡± Knew this would happen! The entire venue fell silent, even the host couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. Seeing Xu Ran launching an advertisement again, they surprisingly had a feeling of ¡°this just feels right¡±. Apart from Xu Ran, the remaining three performed more formally. Lyu Guang picked up the microphone, faced the camera, touched the hairband on his head, his expression full of confidence, ¡°Champion, I¡¯ve got this.¡± Gu Ling next to him smiled slightly and took over the microphone, ¡°I hope that this competition will allow my Dark Scale Dragon to meet a worthy opponent.¡± Xu Jiujiu blinked, ¡°Then I¡­¡¯d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May everyone¡­¡± Seeing Xu Jiujiu earnestly beginning her New Year¡¯s greetings, the venue fell silent once again. It¡¯s half a year until the New Year, what are you doing?! Out of the four advancing contestants, why are two of them abnormal?! Even Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stare at Xu Jiujiu a little longer. This person, is somehow even more attention-grabbing than me? ¡°Ahem ahem.¡± The host coughed awkwardly, ¡°We¡¯ve felt the enthusiasm of contestant Jiujiu Xu, and with that, the rematch is over. But before the end of the live broadcast, we have a final procedure.¡± ¡°That is the pre-lot draw to decide the order of the semi-finals and finals.¡± ¡°The four candidates will be divided into the Red group and the Blue group, with two candidates in each group. The groups will face off in the semi-finals and decide the winners and losers.¡± ¡°The winning and losing groups will face off in the finals.¡± ¡°The winner of the winning group will be the ultimate champion of this competition, and the loser will be the runner-up.¡± ¡°The winner of the losing group will be in the third place, and the loser will be in the fourth place.¡± ¡°And now, the draw is in my hands!¡± The host took out a lottery box, ¡°There are four pieces of paper in it, numbered one to four.¡± ¡°Numbers one and two are the Red group, and numbers three and four are the Blue group.¡± ¡°Contestants, please draw!¡± Xu Ran and the others looked at each other, then stepped forward together, quickly picking out their respective numbers from the lottery box. Opening his own piece of paper, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows. Number three. So, his next opponent is number four? He looked up, directly meeting a pair of bright eyes. Xu Jiujiu waved the number four paper in her hand at Xu Ran and made a face, ¡°We¡¯re up against each other!¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun looked serious and turned to look at the Frost Dust Wolf, who was much bigger than her. This guy¡­is so strong! ¡°How about we make a bet?¡± Xu Jiujiu suddenly leaned in sneakily. ¡°What bet?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, instinctively stepping back half a step. ¡°If we win this battle, I¡¯ll send my Frost Dust Wolf to your foster center.¡± Xu Jiujiu patted the big head of the Frost Dust Wolf, ¡°If I win, you have to give my Frost Dust Wolf ten free washes and groomings!¡± Good deal, there¡¯s profit to be gained regardless of winning or losing. Xu Ran had a bright smile on his face, ¡°No problem..¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Unexpected Surprise (Please Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Unexpected Surprise (Please Subscribe! )_1 Translator: 549690339 When the semifinal ended, the contestants dispersed, regardless of whether they were promoted or eliminated. Xu Ran, carrying Ziyun, set off for his shop. But he wasn¡¯t alone. By his side was the enthusiastically smiling Hu Zhong. ¡°You plan to have my Mandrill Monkey cared for at your foster shop right away?¡± Xu Ran asked, a hint of surprise on his face as he discovered Hu Zhong¡¯s intentions. ¡°Absolutely!¡± Hu Zhong affirmed with a pat on his chest, ¡°Your integrity is clear, Brother Xu. This makes it obvious that your foster shop must be top-notch! It¡¯s my duty to give you some business.¡± The true situation had less to do with the quality of Xu Ran¡¯s shop itself. It was more about feeling obliged to reciprocate after Xu Ran¡¯s assistance had given him a respectable seventh place finish. Hearing that Xu Ran¡¯s shop charged significantly more than outside care services, he figured that caring for his pet at Xu Ran¡¯s shop was equivalent to gifting him money. ¡°You have good judgment,¡± Xu Ran replied without any doubt, giving Hu Zhong a look of approval, ¡°once you¡¯ve experienced my services, you¡¯ll find it¡¯s well worth the price.¡± ¡°I believe in your skills!¡± Hu Zhong chuckled openly and quickly turned off the bright light of his phone screen. He had already found information on the care pricing of Xu Ran¡¯s foster shop on the Beast Master Forum. The care for a Mandrill Monkey, a medium-sized pet beast, cost 26,666 yuan. As for Xu Ran¡¯s claim that the services are worth the price, Hu Zhong found that hard to believe. However, that didn¡¯t matter much. He was adamant about using Xu Ran¡¯s services. During their leisurely journey, they quickly arrived at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Following Xu Ran into the shop, and seeing the price list on the wall, Hu Zhong still couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth despite already knowing the figures. With prices so high, it makes sense why Xu Ran would want to advertise so aggressively. But won¡¯t such high prices deter customers, making the advertising efforts futile? Why hasn¡¯t he considered lowering the prices? While Hu Zhong grumbled inwardly, his expression remained unchanged. He did not hesitate to scan the price code and make the payment, ¡°Brother Xu, I¡¯ll hand my Mandrill Monkey over to you!¡± ¡°Ok,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, and looked at the Mandrill Monkey. Race Name: Mandrill Monkey Attribute: Earth Development Level: Transcendent Body Type: Medium Maintenance Need: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evaluation: A monkey that may seem clean on the surface, but deep within its fur, it needs the comforting touch of its owner. Show it the power of proper grooming! Xu Ran¡¯s system was sounding more dramatic than ever. While he thought this to himself, Xu Ran petted the big Mandrill Monkey¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Mandrill Monkey agreed with anticipation. Even though its Beast Master brought it here as a token of gratitude, the monkey had recently been bothered by sudden bouts of itchiness. Perhaps proper grooming could solve the problem. ¡°There is a lounge over there, you can rest or choose to watch the grooming.¡± Xu Ran pointed in the direction of the lounge. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wait in the lounge,¡± Hu Zhong said without hesitation. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran entered the grooming room with the Mandrill Monkey and closed the door. ¡°Meow-¡± (Shopkeeping duties, shopkeeping duties!) Ziyun hopped lightly onto the counter, assuming a look-out pose looking towards the shop door. It seemed to remember something and twisted its head to glance at Hu Zhong, who was sitting on the sofa in the lounge. Hmm¡­No headphones, that¡¯s good. Ziyun began to look forward to the upcoming scene. [To improve the results of this grooming session, the system will endow the host with the ¡®Fundamentals of Grooming Simian Beasts¡¯] With a flurry of Mandrill Monkey-relevant grooming knowledge coursing through his mind, Xu Ran skillfully picked up the showerhead. Once the water was at the right temperature, he directed it towards the obedient Mandrill Monkey lying on the grooming platform. ¡°Splash-¡± Accompanied by the mellow sound of water, the slightly knotted and dirt-laden fur of the Mandrill Monkey was quickly drenched, sticking to its robust figure. The once bulky Mandrill Monkey now seemed to have grown a size smaller due to the drenched fur. With the toll of the water current, not only the ends, but also the roots of its fur were moistened. This warm sensation continuously penetrated from the roots of its fur. ¡°Roar-¡± A comfortable expression surfaced on the face of the Mandrill Monkey, and its body involuntarily twisted a bit. [Pleasure value from Mandrill Monkey +5] Not bad, quite a high pleasure value. After glancing at the writhing Mandrill Monkey, Xu Ran picked up a pair of tweezers with a curved tip from a nearby toolbox, once the monkey¡¯s fur was thoroughly wet. Mandrill Monkeys often contract small bugs that hide in their hair follicles, feeding on the Earth Attribute Transcendent Power emitted by the monkey. The bugs grow larger as they absorb this power. Once the bugs are grown, they block the hair follicles of the Mandrill Monkey, forming small bulges under the skin and causing intermittent itching in the monkey. The shower water used to wet the monkey¡¯s body contained not only a modest amount of Earth Attribute Resources, which comforted the monkey, but also a medicinal compound that would daze the bugs. At this moment, the medicine was taking effect. As Xu Ran searched the monkey¡¯s body, he quickly found a swelling and parted the drenched fur of the Mandrill Monkey. A small, slightly bulging spot came into his view. A hair pore harboring a parasite. From the surface, one could only see a tiny red point at the top of the bulge. Found it! Xu Ran took the tweezers, carefully inserted it into the red spot in the center of the bulge and clamped onto the object within, slowly pulling it out.. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Unexpected Surprise (Please Subscribe !)_2 Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Unexpected Surprise (Please Subscribe !)_2 Translator: 549690339 I The red portion was gradually pulled out from the swollen area as Xu Ran dragged it, revealing the fuzzy sight that made anyone frown uncontrollably. Xu Ran loosened his forceps, then probed forward, gripping more of the red section, and continued to apply force. Slowly, a parasite as long as a finger was completely pulled from the previously swollen location by Xu Ran and thrown into a prepared insecticide solution nearby. The area that was previously swollen no longer bulged, but instead slightly collapsed due to the sudden hollowing. Xu Ran sprayed some rapid recovery potion and then turned to the location of the next parasite. Almost at the same time as Xu Ran completely removed the parasite, the big-mouthed monkey that was originally comfortably resting on the care platform suddenly opened its eyes wide. An unprecedented sense of relief and pleasure emerged in its heart. The place where the parasite was just pulled out is continuously producing a cool and relaxed feeling, like an itch that has been relieved for a long time, just as it was still tasting this feeling, a similar sensation of comfort came from another part of its body. ¡°Roar ¡± The big-mouthed monkey growled in a low voice, with excitement and anticipation in its eyes. This feeling is just too comfortable! [Pleasure value +20 from the big-mouthed monkey] [Pleasure value +20 from the big-mouthed monkey] [From¡­] Glancing at the excited big-mouthed monkey, Xu Ran smiled slightly. This big guy has a lot of parasites on his body, there is still a lot of pleasure value to earn! ¡°This sound¡­¡± Hearing the odd sound coming from the grooming room intermittently, Hu Zhong, who was happily watching a drama, became slightly unsettled. He sat up straight, looking at the closed grooming room with uncertainty. A moment later, as the similar sounds continued to come, Hu Zhong couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and stood up. He walked to the door of the grooming room, hearing clearer and clearer sounds and pacing back and forth. Is his pet beast okay? Isn¡¯t it just having a bath? Why is it making such a noise? Should he just push the door and take a look? But isn¡¯t that inappropriate? What if Xu Ran gets angry? Various thoughts flashed through his mind, and his expression became increasingly distressed with his pacing. Ziyun, who had been closely watching Hu Zhong¡¯s movement ever since the sound came from the grooming room, showed a satisfied look in her eyes. This is how he should react! Time passed by every minute, and soon the door of the grooming room was opened. Hu Zhong, who was already anxious like an ant on a hot pot, looked over for the first time, and then a dull expression appeared on his face. Is this¡­ is this his big-mouthed monkey?! Looking at the pet beast in front of him that seemed to have grown much more robust, with its soft and glossy fur, and even its eyes becoming more spirited, Hu Zhong opened his mouth in astonishment, a look of surprise in his eyes. If the big-mouthed monkey¡¯s hair, which used to be dirty and disheveled, was like a beggar¡¯s outfit, then it now looks like it¡¯s wearing neatly pressed high-end formal wear. This grooming¡­ It¡¯s incredible! Hu Zhong, who originally didn¡¯t have much expectation, now felt an unexpected joy. He couldn¡¯t help but recall the words that Xu Ran had said before ¨C after grooming, he would feel it was worth the money. Yes, he now truly feels that it¡¯s worth it. Although over 20k seems expensive, to walk down the street with such a pet beast would simply be too stunning, right? ¡°What do you think?¡± Seeing Hu Zhong¡¯s expression, Xu Ran smiled unsurprised. ¡°I¡¯m extremely satisfied!¡± Hu Zhong answered without hesitation. He circled around the big-mouthed monkey with an increasingly excited expression, ¡°Can I take it away now?¡± He couldn¡¯t wait to stroll around with the big-mouthed monkey. ¡°Take care.¡± Watching the back of Hu Zhong and the big-mouthed monkey leaving, Xu Ran smiled and opened his personal panel. The skill Plucking Fur worked during the grooming. Although the big-mouthed monkey is of the earth attribute, and the skill he got is probably useless, it¡¯s still good to take a look. [Host: Xu Ran Contract power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur ( Level C)] (22/100) [Drug Application ( Level D)] (36/100) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï * War Roar] (Teachable) ¡­ (useless skills omitted) Physical Points: 0 Pleasure Value: 2167 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Huh?! Xu Ran searched his eyes in the column for pet beast skills, fixed his gaze on the newly acquired skill. Two Star Skill War Roar, Teachable? Does the big-mouthed monkey actually have a two-star skill with no attribute?! This discovery made Xu Ran instantly excited. ¡°Ziyun, we hit the motherlode!¡± ¡°Meow?¡± Ziyun blinked, understanding the meaning of Xu Ran¡¯s words, and instantly jumped up. Got a new skill?! Because the Big-mouthed Monkey wasn¡¯t a thunder attribute pet beast, he hadn¡¯t expected to receive anything at all. At this moment, he felt a sense of surprise. ¡°Let¡¯s try this.¡± Xu Ran conveniently taught Ziyun the War Roar, and then selected this skill along with Ziyun¡¯s other skills. This had already become his habit-whenever he got a new skill, he would try to fuse it with Ziyun¡¯s existing skills to see what the fusion success rate was. The first one Xu Ran chose was the Battle Instinct, another two-star skill without any attributes. Both skills had the word ¡°War¡± in them and he was hoping it would boost the performance. [¡ï¡ïWar Roar]+[**Battle Instinct] [Fusion Success Rate: 0.9%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Umm¡­ he shouldn¡¯t have had any expectations. He successively chose a few other skills, but their fusion success rates were all very low. Xu Ran felt somewhat disappointed in his heart but still checked the last skill. Electric Spark. [¡ï¡ïWar Roar]+[**Electric Spark] [Fusion Success Rate: 10.1%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Xu Ran rubbed his eyes and sat up straight. These two two-star skills had an initial fusion success rate of over ten percent? What did this mean? It should be known that the previous fusion of Electric Arc and Thunderbolt Flash only had an initial fusion success rate of about five percent. The fusion of two-star skills was already harder than that of one-star skills, such a fusion success rate could be said to be against the heavens. ¡°Fuse!¡± Without thinking about the principles behind it, Xu Ran clicked on [Yes] without any hesitation. [Fusion Failed] The success rate jumped from 10.1% to 23.3% instantaneously. It increased this much? Xu Ran felt an intense surge of joy. The previous Electric Pursue was successfully fused at a probability of 23.4%- Did this mean that he only needed two Fusion Stones to complete the fusion this time? Without any hesitation, he repeated the process again. However, right after that, Xu Ran¡¯s face slightly fell. [Fusion Failed]These four words were so clear. After failing twice, the success rate had increased to 31.1%. It seemed like it would be a bit of struggle this time¡­ Let¡¯s try again! Seeing the last Fusion Stone, Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate for too long before making a decision. He couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists as familiar fusion effects flickered before his eyes and his breathing became quick. [Fusion Successful] Seeing the golden characters indicating success, Xu Ran let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. It worked! He wanted to see what kind of new skill he received from this nerve-wracking fusion! [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (498/500)!+] Race Tier: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïThunder Roar (Starlight Level)](i2/5OO)] [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level)](32/5OO)] [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)](7/5OO)] [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)](l/500)] [¡ïBlood Fury (Starlight Level)](l/500)] Thunder Roar, huh¡­ Xu Ran glanced at the gradually deepening night sky and made a swift decision, ¡°Well stop here for today, let¡¯s go to the nearby training field to try it out!¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t trained for a while, well train for three hours tonight. ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay!) Ziyun lightly jumped into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, her face full of anticipation. She felt the change in her skill memories again, just like when she had mastered Electric Pursue previously. At this moment, she had mastered a new skill named ¡°Thunder Roar ! This skill was even more powerful than the previous Electric Spark. At this moment, Ziyun thought of the large white wolf with its icy presence. In three days, they would have to battle with it, and this new skill might be the key to their victory! Besides, intensive training was also necessary. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s train!) Ziyun was raring to go. After victory, she could advertise again! Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 73: Semi-final Scene (Seeking Subscriptions! )_1 Chapter 76: Chapter 73: Semi-final Scene (Seeking Subscriptions! )_1 Translator: 549690339 | [Extra for the Silver Alliance Rippling Spring Sounds 1/10] ¡°Meow 11 In the training room, Ziyun opened his mouth, emitting a long and majestic roar. The sound wave, interspersed with electric arcs, shaped like a fan with Ziyun at its beginning, rolling and surging towards the direction in front of Ziyun. Wherever it passed, a row of red energy targets exploded one after another, not until twenty meters away, the energy targets barely survived, trembling violently. ¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± Xu Ran rubbed his temples, which were still aching slightly from the effect of Ziyun¡¯s skill from a hundred meters away, ¡°That¡¯s it for today s training.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay!) Ziyun¡¯s movements paused slightly, and in a flash, Ziyun jumped into Xu Ran¡¯s arms. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (500/500)] Species Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïThunder Roar (Starlight Level)] (54/500) [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level)] (77/500) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (18/500) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (16/500) [¡ïBlood fury (Starlight Level)] (32/500)]] Looking at Ziyun¡¯s new panel data, Xu Ran sighed a little in relief. It has been three days since Ziyun obtained the new skill, Thunder Roar. This new skill¡¯s strength is a rank higher than Electric Spark, with a larger attack range, stronger damage, and a wide range of dizziness effect. After an experiment three days ago, Xu Ran and Ziyun were quite satisfied with it. The person and the pet beast decided to focus on training the skills of Thunder Roar and Electric Pursue to prepare for the upcoming semi-finals. The training lasted for three days. During these three days, Xu Ran and Ziyun would always appear in the Long River Pet Beast Training Hall at the end of each day¡¯s business. After taking an Energy Abundant Potion, Ziyun would have three hours of uninterrupted training. In addition to Thunder Roar and Electric Pursue, the other three skills ¨C Battle Instinct, Self-healing Power, Blood fury ¨C were also intermittently trained during the breaks, achieving a balance between hard work and relaxation. The first two constituted work, the latter three, relaxation. After the proficiency level has been upgraded from the Stardust Level to the Starlight Level, it has become more and more difficult to advance from the Starlight Level to the next higher level of the Waning Moon Level. This difficulty is not only reflected in the experience bar increasing from too to 500, but the efficiency of gaining experience from regular training is also gradually decreasing. In the past, if Ziyun fully trained for three hours on a skill, Ziyun could gain about 20 experience points. After reaching the Starlight level, it could only gain about 15 points. After three days of training, the skill with the fastest improvement in Ziyun, Electric Pursue, had only increased by 45 points. It can be imagined how difficult it would be for other pet beasts to improve their skill proficiency without an Energy Abundant Potion. In addition, Ziyun¡¯s growth progress was only two points away from perfection three days ago. At this moment, it has already reached perfection, and the plus sign at the back of the panel has disappeared, indicating that points can no longer be added for the time being. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to go back to the shop and prepare food for the new fosters,¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head and returned to his own panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-Level)] (36/100) [Drug Applying (D-Level)] (71/100) Pet Beast Skill: ¡­ (omitted useless skills) Physical Point: 312 (discretionary) Pleasure Value: 19324 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Over the past three days, not only has Ziyun changed, but also Starfire Foster Care Shop. All this could be attributed to the online live broadcasting of the second round of the competition. Since it was online, the number of direct viewers was much larger than during the initial selection round. Although Xu Ran¡¯s advertising during the second round was somewhat controversial, it turned out to be quite effective. Many people remembered the name of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, including those who were interested in fostering shops. Even though some were discouraged by the price, the remaining number was enough to make Xu Ran in good spirits. Over these three days, four or five Beast Masters brought their pet beasts to the shop for washing and care every day. The number of fosters in the shop broke two-digits for the first time, currently there are thirteen pet beasts being fostered in the shop. The large number of foster pet beasts brought in more than three hundred discretionary physical points and a considerable amount of pleasure value. Now Xu Ran¡¯s pleasure value was enough for two ten-consecutive draws, but unfortunately, Liu Gu had not visited the shop in the past three days, so he could only save it for later. ¡°Golden Striped Ant, this is your food for tonight¡¯s seven meals, divide it yourself, don¡¯t eat it all at once. Xu Ran placed the food bowls, divided into seven small portions, in front of an ant pet beast about the length of an arm with golden stripes on its body. This species called the Golden Striped Ant needs to eat twelve meals a day, which means that it needs to eat every two hours and sleep equally divided into twelve times as well. This species, which sleeps halfway between two meals, is probably the most troublesome of the thirteen fosters in the store. ¡°Hiss-ka-¡± The golden patterned ant swiftly approached one of the food bowls, and in a few bites, he had finished the food in the bowl. Then, he looked at the other six food bowls with somewhat dazed eyes. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran narrowed his eyes. Under Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, the Golden Striped Ant honestly hid the other six food bowls in different corners of the living area. ¡°Alright, good night.¡± After settling the most troublesome foster, Xu Ran left the foster area, took Ziyun and went upstairs to the living area. ¡°Tomorrow will be the semi-finals.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°You go to bed early, rest and refresh, I will continue meditating..¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 73: Semi-final Scene (Seeking Subscriptions! )_2 Chapter 77: Chapter 73: Semi-final Scene (Seeking Subscriptions! )_2 Translator: 549690339 After practicing for seven days with the help of the Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran could clearly feel that he was getting closer and closer to breaking through the second stage of contract power. So, he had to make every second count. Xu Ran instructed Ziyun, then closed his eyes and quickly entered a state of meditation with the help of the Acceleration Card. ¡°Meow-¡± (Go Beast Master!) Watching the hard-working Beast Master in meditation, Ziyun¡¯s eyes were filled with emotion. The previous three hours of training had made it feel sleepy. It skillfully picked up the corner of the blanket, covered Xu Ran¡¯s legs and waist, crawled into the bed beside Xu Ran, and fell into deep sleep. As time passed, the next morning arrived. After preparing food for the inhabitants of the Foster Shop, Xu Ran and Ziyun headed straight to the semi-finals venue. The semi-finals returned to the venue of the previous open audition. Unlike the previous audition, there were no empty seats in the audience half an hour before the start of the competition. Enthusiastic spectators arrived early, looking forward to the exciting face-off to come. The central Fighting Platform had also been adjusted to some extent. A five hundred meter diameter round Battle Stand was spacious enough for elite level pet beasts to battle. There was a milky white light film rising from the edge of the Battle Stand, converging into a giant half-spherical shape above the venue, keeping the fluctuations in the venue from affecting the audience. The semi-finals only had four contestants, and they were arranged in the contestant seats. As soon as Xu Ran took his seat, countless gazes were cast from the audience. Is this the guy who was advertising? ¡°Yo!¡± Not long after Xu Ran sat down, Xu Jiujiu arrived. She sat in the fourth competitor¡¯s seat adjacent to Xu Ran and spoke with a beaming smile, ¡°How have the past three days been?¡± ¡°A bit busy.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°The advertisement was too effective.¡± Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth, obviously not expecting Xu Ran to answer like this. She looked behind Xu Ran, didn¡¯t find the familiar backpack, and smirked, ¡°So you didn¡¯t prepare to advertise today?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran wore a rare awkward expression on his face, ¡°When entering the venue, the staff told me about the contestant security check phase, and after the security check, they took my bag and said they would return it after the competition.¡± ¡°HOW come I didn¡¯t have a security check?¡± Xu Jiujiu blurted out involuntarily. Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s increasingly awkward expression, she realized what was happening and found it hilarious, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been targeted by the organizers.¡± ¡°No problem, I already have a new plan.¡± Xu Ran kept a calm expression. No one can stop his advertisement! ¡°Alright, are you ready to fight me?¡± Xu Jiujiu squinted, her wheat-coloured skin and short hair making her seem like a fierce leopard, much different from her usual dorky self. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, a glimpse of combat spirit in his eyes. If he lost the match, the advertisement effect would be compromised. ¡°Meow-¡± (Bring it on!) Ziyun ha¡¯ed at Xu Jiujiu, its aggressive yet cute appearance was quite adorable. ¡°Alright, my dog is also ready for ten free Pet beast cleaning and caring services.¡± Xu Jiujiu retracted her fierce aura, and her smiling look seemed harmless, ¡°It¡¯s so expensive, what a bargain!¡± ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re here early!¡± During their conversation, Gu Ling came up smiling and sat in the second competitor¡¯s seat next to Xu Ran. Her Dark Scale Dragon followed behind her, making Ziyun instantly fluff up. In a short while, Lyu Guang also arrived and sat in the first competitor¡¯s seat. He gazed expressionlessly at the other three, took a good look at the Dark Scale Dragon behind Gu Ling, then crossed his arms and leaned back. He seemed to be communicating with his Combat Bear Apprentice, who hadn¡¯t arrived yet. As the four contestants of the semi-finals gathered, the atmosphere in the field became more heated, with cheering interspersed with the names of the four contestants echoing from all over the stands. With the appearance of the host and an inspiring opening speech, the semi-finals of the New Beast Master Challenge Match officially began. The first to enter the stage were the two contestants from the Red Group who drew numbers one and two. Lyu Guang vs Gu Ling. In the contestant seats, Xu Ran and Xu Jiujiu both sat upright, staring seriously at the two who had entered the field and were facing each other at a distance. No matter what the outcome of today¡¯s semi-finals, their opponent in the finals two days later would be one of the two in front of them. Now was the best opportunity to understand the strength of their future opponents. ¡°Please have both contestants ready their pet beasts.¡± The referee¡¯s voice, amplified through the sound system above the battle arena, echoed throughout the stadium. Gu Ling and his Dark Scale Dragon, who had brought their pet beasts early to compete, were in their positions as soon as the referee¡¯s voice fell. Behind Lyu Guang on the other side, a hexagram star array quickly emerged, and a bear almost as tall as him stepped out of the strong wind. ¡°Next!¡± Lyu Guang tossed a headband to the Brawl Bear Apprentice, at the same time tying another one quickly around his forehead. ¡°Ha!¡± With a grunt, the Brawl Bear Apprentice accepted the headband and skilfully tied it on, entering the ready battle area while doing so. ¡°This¡­¡± In the contestants¡¯ area, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat strange. Although he noticed the matching headbands that Lyu Guang and his pet beast wore during the rematch, this was his first time witnessing the moment they put them on. ¡°That¡¯s a tradition of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion,¡± Xu Jiujiu, his partner, chimed in. ¡°They believe that having the Beast Master and the pet beast wear the same item for a long time helps increase their level of understanding each other.¡± ¡°Those two headbands have been in use since Lyu Guang contracted with the Brawl Bear Apprentice, going on for two or three years now. Xu Jiujiu paused slightly, a perverse glint appearing in his eyes, ¡°Want to steal his headbands? That way, he won¡¯t be able to perform at his full capacity in the finals.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°¡­let¡¯s just watch the match. The countdown began as the competitors took their stances in their respective areas. Three seconds later, the official match began. ¡°Brawl Bear Apprentice, Free Step!¡± The moment the whistle blew, Lyu Guang powerfully pointed towards the direction of the Dark Scale Dragon. ¡°Ha!¡± At the sound of his voice, the Brawl Bear Apprentice sprang into action. Using his muscular, powerful paws, the Brawl Bear Apprentice started charging towards the Dark Scale Dragon. Contrarily, a whirl of pitch-black energy bullets swirled and screeched towards it. ¡°Tramp, tramp!¡± Facing the oncoming energy bullets, the Brawl Bear Apprentice changed the rhythm of its steps and leapt away, skilfully turning in mid-air and landing four metres away to dodge the attack. While evading, the Brawl Bear Apprentice continued its charge. ¡°Boom!!!¡± The black energy bullet that missed its target fell heavily onto the sturdy platform, leaving traces of pitch-black swirling wind. That was just the start of this battle between the two pet beasts. A volley of black energy bullets assembled on the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s claws and was hurled mercilessly towards the Brawl Bear Apprentice, which dodged nimbly and closed the distance between itself and the dragon. Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s two-star skill, Starlight Level ¨C Free Step! Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s one-star skill, Starlight Level ¨C Dark Elemental Pearl! Amid the roar of explosions, the Brawl Bear Apprentice and the Dark Scale Dragon were now separated by a mere five meters. ¡°Now!¡± Clenching his fists, Lyu Guang cried out, ¡°Overlapping Shadow Fist!¡± ¡°Ha¨C¡± The Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s eyes suddenly sharpened. Its paws that were initially at its back were now clenched into fists. Within a blink, it bombarded the Dark Scale Dragon with a blur of punches. The Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s two-star skill, Starlight Level ¨C Overlapping Shadow Fist! Upon careful observation, one would realize that the Brawl Bear Apprentice s swift and shadowy punches were not random, but followed a fixed routine and trajectory. They were part of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion¡¯s ancestral boxing technique ¨C Drifting Leaf Boxing! Some pet beasts with a combat system attribute have the ability to learn human martial arts. The Brawl Bear Apprentice is one of them. The fusion of combat skills with boxing techniques often results in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts! This was Lyu Guang and Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s most potent strike! Considering that many readers have expressed their dislike for staying up late for updates, starting tomorrow, the updates will be changed to midday at twelve o¡¯clock, and henceforth be fixed at this time.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 74: Ziyun vs Frost Dust Wolf! 1 Chapter 78: Chapter 74: Ziyun vs Frost Dust Wolf! 1 Translator: 549690339 Seeing the burst of power from the Brawl Bear Apprentice, both Xu Ran and Ziyun became serious. Such a powerful strike. Under the blessing of its inherited fist technique, the strength of the Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s strike wasn¡¯t much weaker than that of Thunder Roar and Electric Pursue combined with Ziyun. Indeed, other Beast Masters should not be underestimated. How then should the Dark Scale Dragon respond to this strike? As Xu Ran entertained this thought, the Dark Scale Dragon moved. ¡°Roar!!!¡± As the shadow of the fist quickly grew larger in its field of vision, the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s cold pupils narrowed into a pinprick, then completely vanished, leaving behind a pair of slightly bizarre, pupilless black eyes. The omnipresent shadow of the fist slowly condensed and dissipated in its field of vision, leaving only a pair of paws slowly approaching for an attack. Dark Scale Dragon two stars skill: Starlight Level, Pupilless Eye! In the next moment, the Dark Scale Dragon extended its claws to meet the incoming fists head-on. The moment its claws were extended, a tremendous power was injected into the claws, causing them to shimmer with a cold light, resembling obsidian. Dark Scale Dragon two stars skills: Starlight Level, Dark Crystal Claw! At the next instant, the two Pet Beasts collided head-on. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a violent impact of energy, waves of blast spread rapidly across the entire field from the center of the two Pet Beasts, inciting layers of ripples in the protective energy shield. That is¡­ Seeing the situation in the arena, everyone gasped. The Dark Scale Dragon had unscathed grabbed the Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s double fist amidst a barrage of punches! ¡°Retreat quickly!¡± Lyu Guang¡¯s pupils abruptly contracted, and his face turned pale in the next moment as he quickly issued a new command to the Brawl Bear Apprentice. However, it was already too late. The Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s fists were firmly clasped by the iron claw-like paws of the Dark Scale Dragon, unable to move. The Dark Scale Dragon, close at hand, opened its mouth wide and a dark energy spewed forth directly aimed at the shoulder of the Brawl Bear Apprentice, melting a large amount of flesh and blood. Dark Scale Dragon two stars skills: Starlight Level, Dark Breath! ¡°Ahh!!!¡± The painful scream of the Brawl Bear Apprentice caused Lyu Guang¡¯s expression to change rapidly. He immediately raised his hand, indicating surrender. ¡°You have my respect.¡± Gu Ling smiled and signaled the Dark Scale Dragon to let go of the Brawl Bear Apprentice. The severely injured Brawl Bear Apprentice was immediately taken for treatment. Lyu Guang¡¯s face was slightly unsightly as he glanced complicatedly at the girl opposite. He knew that she had deliberately held back at the last moment. If the target of that Dark Breath had been the Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s chest, whether the Brawl Bear Apprentice could have survived would have been questionable. ¡°I lost.¡± Leaving these words behind, Lyu Guang clenched his fists and headed towards the Brawl Bear Apprentice for treatment. ¡°Ha~¡± The Brawl Bear Apprentice watched its Beast Master weakly, its eyes full of guilt, as if blaming itself for not performing better. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Lyu Guang managed a small smile. ¡°You did your best. Now rest and get treated.¡± Pacified by its Beast Master, the Brawl Bear Apprentice¡¯s spirit slightly uplifted, and under the warmth of the healing power, it soon succumbed to sleep. Seeing this, Lyu Guang let out a sigh. There¡¯s always someone better, and there¡¯s always a higher sky. Having lost to Gu Ling, he now thoroughly understood the meaning of this phrase. Fortunately, they won¡¯t be in the same league soon. Lyu Guang¡¯s fists clenched slightly, his spirit slightly uplifted. His contract power was not far from the second stage. To participate in the New Beast Master Challenge Match, he had stopped meditating for a while. Otherwise, he might have broken through by now. After the competition ends and he resumes his meditation, his contract power should quickly reach the second stage, and the Brawl Bear Apprentice should break through to the Elite Stage. Even if they leave the city, they should have some ability for self-protection. Meanwhile, the other three are still at the Transcendent Stage, where Pet Beasts start. One failure doesn¡¯t count for much. ¡°Let us greet Gu Ling and her Pet Beast, the Dark Scale Dragon, with the warmest applause. They have won the excellent victory of the Red Group with an exciting battle!¡± Listening to the cheers and applause all around him, Xu Ran gradually returned to his senses. His expression became serious. So strong! The Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s skill was just too powerful. Especially the final Dark Breath that severely wounded the Brawl Bear Apprentice. It gave Xu Ran the feeling that was quite similar to that of the day they left the city and encountered the Beast Tide. The strong mysterious General Stage Red-eyed Demon Dragon repelled the Beast Tide with one strike. ¡°This Gu Ling is a bit difficult to deal with.¡± Xu Jiujiu gritted her teeth, showing a helpless expression, ¡°I feel a lot of pressure!¡± ¡°Who made you think you have won against me?¡± Xu Ran could not help but roll his eyes, ¡°Perhaps the one who has to face her could be me.¡± ¡°Like that.¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Good idea!¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­ Ha?¡± ¡°How about this. I intentionally lose, and you go fight her!¡± Xu Jiujiu had a look of eagerness. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around, it will be our turn to go on stage soon.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his temples helplessly. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m just teasing you.¡± Xu Jiujiu crossed her arms, ¡°I¡¯ll give it my all in a bit, so you better watch out. My dog is pretty strong.¡± ¡°My Pet Beast¡¯s strength is not to be underestimated either.¡± Xu Ran lightly patted Ziyun¡¯s head, smiling faintly. As the two conversed, the staff had already quickly reset the arena to its original state. Lyu Guang¡¯s Brawl Bear Apprentice was being treated, and Gu Ling was returning to her seat with the Dark Scale Dragon.. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 74: Ziyun vs Frost Dust Wolf! _2 Chapter 79: Chapter 74: Ziyun vs Frost Dust Wolf! _2 Translator: 549690339 It is now Xu Ran and Xu Jiujiu¡¯s turn. ¡°Boss Xu, good luck!¡± Gu Ling, watching Xu Ran stand up, waved merrily in the air. ¡°Hmph!¡± I¡¯ve been waiting for a chance to fight you! Quietly standing behind her, the Dark Scale Dragon, acting like a fierce and domineering bodyguard, stares at Ziyun in Xu Ran¡¯s arms and tapped its chest with its claws. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Jiujiu raises an eyebrow, looks at Gu Ling, and then at Xu Ran, a look of surprise appearing on her face. Do these two know each other? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t exchange phone numbers with you two.¡± She stuck out her tongue at Gu Ling, then put her hands behind her back and walked up the contestant¡¯s walkway. Watching Xu Jiujiu¡¯s confident figure, Gu Ling blinked and then laughed. This girl, she¡¯s quite interesting. Sure enough, Xu Ran and Xu Jiujiu take their places in the ring. ¡°Contestant and Pet Beast, each of you go to your appointed spot.¡± The referee speaks in a deep voice. ¡°Meow-¡± (We will definitely win!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes shine with confidence. After three days of training, it has become so strong that even it is afraid! ¡°Let¡¯s do this together!¡± Xu Ran smiles and touches its head, squats down and puts it on the ground, ¡°Remember our advertising plan, right?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Of course!) Ziyun meows in response and leaps into the Pet Beast¡¯s combat area. On the other side, the Hexagram Star Array flickers behind Xu Jiujiu. Amidst the howling wind, it feels like the temperature has dropped a few degrees in the surroundings. A colossal white wolf, void of any spots, walks step by step out of the cold wind and roars towards the sky. ¡°Awooo-¡± Xu Ran vs Xu Jiujiu. Electric Chasing Cat vs Frost Dust Wolf. The fight, is about to start! ¡°Count down three seconds, the match begins! As the contestants and their Pet Beasts each take their places, the referee slowly speaks. His voice spreads throughout the arena under the spread of the court¡¯s audio equipment, and is also heard by the two contestants facing off. ¡°Three¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°One¡­¡± The two Pet Beasts, originally a hundred meters apart, lock eyes as the countdown reaches ¡°one,¡± as if a flash of lightning has torn through the air. ¡°Whistle ¡± With a sharp whistle tearing through the sky, the two figures move simultaneously. Electric sparks burst under Ziyun¡¯s feet, and it disappears from the spot in a flash, appearing ten meters away in no time. In its fully elemental state, the limbs continuously release electric arcs, piercing the surrounding air and making ¡°crackling sounds. Two Star Skills of Electric Chasing Cat: Starlight Level Electric Pursue! On the other side, though the Ice Dust Wolf is much larger than Ziyun, it displays agility that belies its size. A beautiful ice flower blooms under its foot, and its white figure blurs as it rapidly approaches Ziyun. Two Star Skills of Frost Dust Wolf : Starlight Level Frost Flower Path! As a powerful ice attribute species, Frost Dust Wolf possesses similar characteristics to Ziyun, possessing both close combat and long-range skills while being extremely fast. At this moment, the two equally agile Pet Beasts choose to approach each other simultaneously, clashing together within mere breaths. ¡°Awooo-¡± Face-to-face with the much smaller Ziyun, the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s eyes reveal a hint of contempt. As it appears in front of it, it lifts a claw larger than Ziyun¡¯s entire body, and swings it at Ziyun along with the chill wind! The temperature in the surroundings rapidly drops at this moment, and even the slight amount of water vapor in the air quickly condenses into smoke-hke frost under the chill. The icy blue light turns into a sharp claw shadow amid the howling wind, tearing through the air and striking swiftly at Ziyun. Two stars Skills of Frost Dust Wolf, Starlight Level Shattered Ice Claw! The claw shadow is two to three meters long, although it doesn¡¯t seem too large compared to the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s size, but it appears particularly ferocious compared to Ziyun¡¯s body. Behind the Frost Dust Wolf, a look of triumph appears on Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face. A Pet Beast¡¯s size and strength do not necessarily correlate, but a larger size does confer advantages in power and majesty during fights. How can a tiny kitten, that can¡¯t even touch one of Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s claws, win? For a moment, many soft-hearted spectators couldn¡¯t help but close their eyes, afraid that the next scene would be full of gore. However, whether it was Ziyun or Xu Ran, who was fully concentrated on commanding from the rear, their expressions remained calm as the Shattered Ice Claw loomed larger in their sights. ¡°This distance¡­ it¡¯s enough,¡± Xu Ran mumbled quietly, without hesitation, he issued the instruction. ¡°Thunder Roar!¡± Ziyun burst with countless electric lights all over its body, appearing as if electricity was spilling out from its differently-coloured pupils. It quickly raised its head, facing the shadowy claws and the immense Frost Dust Wolf behind them, with its mouth wide open. ¡°Meow¡ª¡± A roar brimming with majesty echoed from its mouth, inducing countless echoes in the void. Visible sound waves spread out circularly from it, making contact with the claw shadows and the Frost Dust Wolf in an instant. Then¡­ The void filled with thunder! Terrifying electric lights exploded from the sound waves, racing in all directions. They were like countless sharp needles, instantly shattering the icy blue claw shadows in the void, and more lightning went sweeping towards the Frost Dust Wolf! A two-star skill of the Electric Chasing Cat, Starlight Level: Thunder Roar! ¡°Boom!¡± The shattered claw shadows carrying the turbulent transcendent power from the collision, surged around like a furious wind. Accompanied by a deep booming noise was the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s astounded growl. The sudden turn of events caused countless spectators to widen their eyes, the sudden burst of power from Ziyun shocked everyone. After a moment of silence, the entire stadium erupted in cheers and applause. The smug expression on Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face had vanished, slowly replaced by a serious expression. What skill is this?! In the previous games, Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast never showed such a skill! Did this guy hide his true power only to reveal it in the playoffs? Cracking noises came from the ice amidst the lightning. Ziyun arched its back slightly, its four limbs transforming once again into elements, sending out flashes of lightning. Its differently-coloured pupils quickly contracted into pinpoints, observing the Frost Dust Wolf closely. The lightning dissipated, and the Frost Dust Wolf walked out step by step with a somewhat ferocious expression. Fluttering around it were petal-like substances resembling ice crystal flowers. At this moment, these ice crystal petals were already broken and shattered, it was they who had blocked the sudden burst of power from Ziyun. Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s two-star skill, Starlight Level: Frost Dust Blessing! Realisation has dawned¡­ Disappointment adorned Xu Ran¡¯s face. He was aware of this protective skill displayed by the Frost Dust Wolf. He deliberatively chose to let Ziyun perform Thunder Roar when the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s alertness was at an all-time low, hoping to catch it off guard. If the plans succeeded, at this moment the Frost Dust Wolf would probably be down. Unfortunately, Xu Jiujiu wasn¡¯t that simple. She responded correctly just in a moment. But¡­ Noticing the occasional purple electric arcs jumping on the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Ran knew it did not entirely avoid the damage from Thunder Roar. It had shown signs of being affected, revealing some symptoms of paralysis. The somewhat messy footsteps indicated that the Frost Dust Wolf was affected by the dizzying effect of Thunder Roar, it had not fully recovered. Lei Xiao was indeed a skill resulting from the fusion of two two-star skills. -Let¡¯s finish this quickly!¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, and without hesitation, he issued the instruction. ¡°Face it head on!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That¡¯s what I intend!) Ziyun, poised to strike, flashed in front of the Frost Dust Wolf in an instant. ¡°Aowuu-¡± Provoked by Ziyun, the Frost Dust Wolf got enraged. It lifted its huge paw hoisted high, vigorously clawing towards Ziyun, tearing open an intense claw shadow in the air. Shattered Ice Claw, reappears! But this time, Ziyun wouldn¡¯t let it. While a larger body does offer advantages in terms of power and presence, doesn¡¯t a smaller one offer benefits too? Of course, it does! In terms of agility, it¡¯s more superior than the Frost Dust Wolf, which is also known for its agility! The moment the Frost Dust Wolf raised its paw, Ziyun promptly dived straight under the Frost Dust Wolf. The Frost Dust Wolf, having raised its paw high up, got startled abruptly. It was about to react when it heard another roar, which made it dizzy again. ¡°Meow¡ª¡± The Frost Dust Wolf, already suffering from a throbbing headache, felt as if its head had been hammered heavily, and before it could react, countless thunderbolts swallowed it. With its existing paralysis not fully dissolved and the new wounds inflicted, the Frost Dust Wolf fell flat on the ground, unable to make a sound. The collision of its huge body and the battle stand emitted a low sound. ¡°Boom!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 75: Xu Ran who doesnt forget his original intention _1 Chapter 80: Chapter 75: Xu Ran who doesn¡¯t forget his original intention _1 Translator: 549690339 As the Frost Dust Wolf fell, a brief silence filled the arena. Then, an outpour of applause and cheers erupted, as mighty as a storm surge. This fight that they¡¯ve just witnessed was no less exciting than the previous one. Ziyun, small and delicate, seemed to hold an infinite amount of Shattering Thunder within her. Her fighting performance on the Battle Stand was akin to a thunderbolt sprite, leaving an unforgettable mark on countless spectators. In the competitors¡¯ bench, Gu Ling¡¯s expression took on a greater degree of seriousness. ¡°Dark Scale Dragon, our next opponent won¡¯t be simple!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon crossed its claws over its chest, nodded gravely, and looked at the tiny figure in the arena with an equal degree of seriousness. It had not been long since their last encounter, but the one who had only taken half of his strength then, had already become this powerful. However, with this, he should be able to carry out a battle at full strength, right? The Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s pitch-black pupils gained a hint of red, burning up with the flame of combat. It was ready! ¡°But speaking of it¡­¡± Gu Ling smiled faintly, ¡°Boss Xu hasn¡¯t advertised yet today, has he?¡± ¡°Now¡¯s the time!¡± Listened to the roars and cheers around him, Xu Ran¡¯s face held a trace of a smile. Simultaneously, Ziyun who had just defeated the Frost Dust Wolf, raised her head high as if staring at the sky and let out a long howl. ¡°Meow¨C¡± The tangible sound waves, under Ziyun¡¯s deliberate control, rolled up towards the sky in circles. Compared to the wider range Thunder Roar normally had, the howl at this moment seemed restrained, more concentrated, and therefore able to spread further. Seeing the sound waves reaching a height of forty meters, the cheers from the spectators began to die down. Wasn¡¯t the battle already over? Why was she using a skill out of nowhere? Could this be some special way of celebrating? The spectators wore expressions of confusion. Others, expressions suddenly changing, seemed to think of one possibility. The next moment, scorching Thunderbolts suddenly erupted within the tangible sound waves! This was the special effect of Thunder Roar. This skill bursts out tangible sound waves, hiding countless undetectable units of thunder energy throughout which subsequently explode under the control of the user. The explosion typically occurs on the surface of the object or energy it touches, such as Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Roar taking effect on the Shattered Ice Claw attack and the Frost Dust Wolf. However, once Ziyun reached the Starlight Level, she could use her control to actively detonate the thunder energy within the range of the sound waves. Like at this very moment. Seeing the lightning flash open in an instant, intertwining in mid-air to form the words: ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, Trustworthy!¡±, silence fell on the entire venue. ¡°Boss Xu is really¡­¡± The expression on GU Ling¡¯s face in the competitor¡¯s area became somewhat strange, ¡°Never forgets his roots¡­¡± ¡°The victor of this match is¡­ contestant Xu Ran!¡± Realizing only after a long while of being stupefied as he watched the electric words in the sky, the referee remembered that he hadn¡¯t yet announced the result of the match. Following the announcement of the match result, the scorched black Frost Dust Wolf was soon taken away by the medical team who entered the stage. Xu Jiujiu, hands on her hips, quickly stepped up to Xu Ran, ¡°Very good of you, hiding your true strength during the rematch!¡± ¡°Ah well¡­¡± Xu Ran gave a wry smile. What he wanted to say was that he really didn¡¯t hide his strength during the rematch, but simply got stronger at an exceptionally fast rate. However, thinking that saying so might hit Xu Jiujiu even harder, he eventually didn¡¯t utter it, considering she was a potential customer. ¡°Remember our deal, if I won, you would send your Frost Dust Wolf to my foster shop.¡± Xu Ran grinned slightly. The Frost Dust Wolf has an Ice Attribute. Although Washing and Protection could bring it a good Pleasure Value, Fosterage would obviously be a better option. ¡°I, Xu Jiujiu, always keep my word.¡± Xu Jiujiu snorted, ¡°I still have some credit left in the previous foster shop. Once it¡¯s used up, I will switch to yours.¡± A large pet beast like the Frost Dust Wolf was always in fosterage. It was just a matter of changing foster shops for her, making no loss¡­ Wait! Thinking about the outrageous prices at Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s lips twitched. Her wallet was severely damaged! ¡°Wise choice.¡± Booked a new tenant, Xu Ran felt elated, ¡°In the future, you will feel that this choice is worth it.¡± Get lost, swindler! ¡°I¡¯m going to look after my dog now.¡± Xu Jiujiu snorted, turned to leave, then stopped, ¡°Remember, give it your all in the final! You will pay if you don¡¯t win the championship!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Ran raised his brows, ¡°Do you have a grudge against Gu Ling?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Xu Jiujiu shook her head and said frankly, ¡°But if you beat me and Gu Ling, it means that Gu Ling and I are evenly matched. Since Gu Ling beat Lyu Guang, I can also claim I have beaten Lyu Guang.¡± By the time Xu Ran figured out Xu Jiujiu¡¯s logic, she had already disappeared from sight. ¡°What a character¡­¡± Xu Ran chuckled, shook his head, and returned to his bench. ¡°Boss Xu, good luck with the final in two days!¡± On the competitors¡¯ bench, Gu Ling waved at Xu Ran as usual, a smile on his face. ¡°You too.¡± Xu Ran smiled back. The two upcoming opponents didn¡¯t have too much tension between them at this moment. However, that was a different story for their pet beasts. Ziyun¡¯s strange colored eyes immediately spotted the slightly arrogant Dark Scale Dragon.. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Xu Ran who doesnt forget his original intention _2 Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Xu Ran who doesn¡¯t forget his original intention _2 Translator: 549690339 It still remembered, the dark scale dragon once arrogantly said that it was worthy of using half of its strength. That was also one of the motivations for its incessant training. Now, it had already reached the Starlight Level in all skills, and through fusion, it had obtained two strong skills with a potential surpassing that of ordinary two stars skills, which compensated for the racial gap between it and the dark scale dragon. It now had the capital to fight a full-scale battle with the dark scale dragon. It was looking forward to that battle in two days¡¯ time. ¡°Roar-¡± Noticing Ziyun¡¯s gaze, the dark scale dragon also turned its head and looked at Ziyun. In their eyes, there was a burning desire for battle. Sitting next to Gu Ling was Lyu Guang who had also returned to his seat after his treatment was completed for the combat bear apprentice. Looking at Xu Ran, Lyu Guang¡¯s expression was somewhat complicated. Before this match, he and Xu Jiujiu were the two most famous young people in Qingzhou City. Although he had never truly faced Xu Jiujiu in a fight, in the few exchanges they had, Lyu Guang could determine that Xu Jiujiu¡¯s strength was not much different from his own. The two of them, who should have been the strongest in the young generation of Qingzhou City, were both defeated in the semi-finals. It was ironic indeed¡­ The always-proud Lyu Guang had a somewhat desolate expression on his face at this moment. Fortunately, his contract power was about to break through the second stage. For a moment, the idea of breaking through as soon as possible after the match ended, became increasingly urgent in his heart. After the two semi-final battles ended, the host returned to the stage. Due to the quick conclusion of the match, in order for the audience to fully appreciate the charm of the battle, slow-motion replay and analysis were conducted for both matches separately. Even if it¡¯s not their first time watching the battle, revisiting it with the host¡¯s detailed commentary, there were still a lot of audiences letting out cries of surprise and applause, cheering for the spectacular performance of the four players. However, when the review of the second match came to the final moment, the advertisement slogan that Ziyun roared out with Thunder Roar appeared on the big screen, and the whole field fell into a weird atmosphere again. Countless eyes were all looking at Xu Ran, who was seated at the player¡¯s seat, with a peculiar look in their eyes. This player is strong, but he loves to advertise? Facing these peculiar gazes, Xu Ran appeared quite calm. What are you looking at? Don¡¯t you understand the meaning of staying true to initial aspirations? After the replay, the host announced the order of the finals in two days, marking the end of the semi-finals. In the finals in two days, Xu Jiujiu and Lyu Guang from the losers¡¯ group will compete first. The winner between these two will rank third and the loser ranks fourth. Following closely behind will be Xu Ran and Gu Ling from the winners¡¯ group. The two will compete for the championship of this New Beast Master Challenge Match. The winner will be given money, resources, and the most important championship reward by the Beast Master Association ¨C a Beast Egg that can be freely chosen from the Rare Beast Egg Repository! After leaving the arena, Xu Ran carried Ziyun back to his foster shop quickly. Since there were no other players following him this time, he came to the fostering area as soon as possible to feed the thirteen residents in the fostering area, and then opened the shop for business. Looking at the customers who came in one after another as soon as the door was opened, a smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. As expected from the semi-finals, the effect of the advertisement is immediate. ¡°Young boss, I¡¯m here again!¡± Liu Gu entered the shop cheerfully, waved to Xu Ran, ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to watch your quarterfinals live, but I watched the live stream online.¡± ¡°You were amazing!¡± He chuckled, ¡°Seeing you and your little cat dominating the field, my dog barked excitedly all night, and almost got complained about.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog roared loudly, looking at Xu Ran excitedly. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Liu.¡± Xu Ran smiled, looking at the Wind Lion Dog, which was dirtier than usual and still had healed scars on its body, and raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°Was this excursion out of town a tough fight?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Gu nodded, ¡°This time, our captain got a clue to a special resource point. If we can clear the transcendent beings entrenched there, and collect all the resources there, our team can make a fortune overnight!¡± ¡°So you guys succeeded?¡± Xu Ran asked with interest. ¡°We did succeed, but not completely.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, ¡°After the actual investigation, we realized that we didn¡¯t have enough strength to seize all of it, so we returned to the city to gather other teams to go together.¡± ¡°In the end, we cleared some of the entrenched transcendent beings and gained quite a bit of resources, but divided among the teams, the reward is just average.¡± ¡°I see, no wonder the Armored Rhinoceros has been summoned so many times these days.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°It¡¯s dangerous outside the city, being able to return safely with rewards is a great accomplishment in itself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Liu Gu chuckled, ¡°I set off right after the quarterfinals ended and only returned now. As soon as I entered the city, I heard that you won the semi-finals, young boss. If you win one more round, you¡¯ll become the champion, congratulations!¡± ¡°The opponent is very strong. Whether I can win is still unknown.¡± Xu Ran modestly replied. ¡°So, calculating the time, is the contest tomorrow?¡± Liu Gu counted on his fingers, then asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°Tomorrow is the final.¡± ¡°Then I have a chance to go watch it live!¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°Okay, the dog can¡¯t hold it in anymore, sorry for the trouble, give it a wash and grooming.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Xu Ran lightly patted Ziyun¡¯s head, gesturing for it to help watch the shop, and then took the Wind Lion Dog into the grooming room. This bath must be well taken, because he would be taking advantage of Lucky Liu¡¯s aura for ten consecutive draws later. And it¡¯s four times. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contracted Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)](54/ioo) [Drug Application (D-level)](87/ioo) Pet Beast Skills: ¡­(useless skills omitted) Physical Points: 453 (disposable) Pleasure Value: 41,029 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] Two days have passed since the semi-finals ended. In just two days, due to Xu Ran¡¯s persistent advertising during the semi-finals, the Foster Shop¡¯s business has surged again. The number of foster care residents has increased from thirteen to sixteen. Of course, there are not many long-term residents like the Armored Rhinoceros, many are short-term residents who foster for a day or two due to various reasons, and turnover is quite frequent. In addition, the number of Beast Masters who have come for grooming over the last two days has also increased, with a total of eighteen grooming sessions, pushing Xu Ran¡¯s pleasure value over the forty thousand mark, and he can perform four ten consecutive draws. Tomorrow is the day of the finals, so Lucky Liu came just at the right time. After a while, Xu Ran came out of the grooming room with the Wind Lion Dog, whose eyes were hazed with satisfaction. Perhaps because it was too dirty, the Pleasure Value provided by the Wind Lion Dog this time was unprecedentedly high, exceeding two thousand points, pushing Xu Ran¡¯s Pleasure Value directly to forty-three thousand. ¡°Take care!¡± As usual, he patted Lucky Liu on the shoulder as if nothing happened, and watched him leave with a smile on his face. No purple, but plenty of blue. Eight blue rewards made his smile more intense. He closed the shop door casually and began to check carefully. Among the eight blue rewards, seven were skill fusion stones. Xu Ran had realized that the system¡¯s lottery system had a certain mysterious aspect, most of the things he drew were what he needed, Except for the second Awakening Stone he drew early on, but it was never useful. Skill fusion stones are exactly what he needs right now, and he can¡¯t have too many of these; he could use them whenever he came across suitable skills. The remaining blue reward was¡­ Xu Ran looked at the item named ¡°Insight Mirror¡± that looked like ordinary glasses, with a puzzled expression on his face. Something new? Let¡¯s see. [The Insight Mirror is a special item produced by the system, and when worn it allows the user to gain some unperceivable information within five minutes] Xu Ran slowly typed out a question mark. It sounds rather ambiguous. Oh well, hold on to it for now. He continued to look at the green rewards. Twelve green rewards, all Energy Abundant Potions, which caused Xu Ran¡¯s mouth to twitch slightly. Ziyun had been using the Energy Abundant Potion to continue its training for the past few days, preparing for the final battle against the Dark Scale Dragon. Now there was only one bottle of Energy Abundant Potion left, and it was just about to be replenished. But¡­ are there no other green rewards? Can you bring something fresh, please! Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 76: A surprising development, a new skill for pranks!_i Chapter 82: Chapter 76: A surprising development, a new skill for pranks!_i Translator: 549690339 | [Add-on 2/10 for the ripples of the Light Spring Flow for the Silver League] Though he teased himself, Xu Ran was very happy with half of his Ten Consecutive Draw rewards being non-white. Nothing less expected from a lucky fish. When Liu Gu left, the sun had started to set, and it was time to close the Starfire Foster Shop for the day. Xu Ran prepared the evening meals for the sixteen tenants in the foster area and, with Ziyun in his arms, returned to the ground-floor shop. ¡°Meow-¡± (I want washing and grooming!) Ziyun slightly raised her head, nudged Xu Ran, her eyes full of anticipation. ¡°All right,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Tomorrow is the finals. Tonight we won¡¯t train and keep our energy at its peak. This is called nourishing the spirit and storing up energy.¡± ¡°A grooming will be perfect to get you in your prime condition.¡± Ziyun nodded approvingly, her eyes expressing a human-hke satisfaction. She had been training persistently for three hours every day, which was hard work! It was time to relax! While they chatted, they arrived at the grooming room. While Xu Ran prepared the bath dew and tested the water temperature, Ziyun had already obediently jumped into the grooming pool, waiting for Xu Ran to shower her. ¡°Splash¨C¡± With a soft sound, Ziyun¡¯s fluffy fur quickly adhered to her body, and her originally fluffy figure became agile. Ziyun, who had awakened into an Electric Chasing Cat, was no longer as skinny as before. Even with her fur clinging to her body, one could still see her smooth muscle lines and the powerful strength hidden within them. The warm water flowed deep into her fur roots and deep into the hair follicles, the feeling was like being in a hot spring, satisfying satisfaction made Ziyun close her eyes in contentment. As Xu Ran gently massaged her, just the right pressure reached the hair follicles and stroked the rich nerves hidden under the skin, like an electric current spreading throughout her body, Ziyun¡¯s body trembled slightly, a melodious moan escaped from her throat. ¡°Meow¡ª¡± Half an hour later, a refreshed Ziyun lay lazily in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, as he carried her to the living area on the second floor. She adeptly picked up a corner of the quilt, covering Xu Ran¡¯s lower body who was meditating cross-legged, then Ziyun crawled into the quilt. The completely relaxed state of her body and mind led her to fall into a sweet sleep within a few breaths. Time passed minute by minute. Xu Ran was deeply immersed in accelerated meditation and unable to extricate himself. He felt that he was about to touch the threshold of the Second Stage of Contract Power. At this rate, he would break through smoothly in one more day at most. Funnily, it will be just perfect timing. The requirements for participating in the New Beast Master Challenge were a Transcendent Stage pet beast who contracted and whose contract power had not yet broken through the Second Stage of the Transcendent Level Beast Master. If he broke through even a day earlier, he would lose his eligibility to continue in the competition. Breaking through after the competition ends would be perfect. While he was concentrating on meditation and using the effect of the Meditation Acceleration Card to suppress his own wandering mind, a prompt suddenly appeared in his mind. [Novice Task 4 Completed] Huh? Xu Ran was startled, deliberately withdrew from the meditative state, and opened the personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contracted Pet Beast: Ziyun [view details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C Level)] (55/100) [Drug Application (C Level)] (3/500) Pet Beast Skills: ¡­ (irrelevant skills omitted) Physical points: 516 (discretionary) Pleasure Value: 8029 System Upgrade Experience: 300/1000] [Novice Task 4: Expand and Strengthen (completed) Task description: Please upgrade the system skill [Drug Application] to C level Task Reward: System Skill [Pranks], System Upgrade Experience +300] [Click to receive the reward] Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± In preparation for the competition and welcoming new guests, he almost forgot that he still had a novice task to complete: upgrading the Drug Application skill to level C. With the number of tenants in the foster shop gradually increasing, the task, which originally seemed difficult, was being completed rapidly. At midnight, the sixteen tenants at the foster shop provided him with 16 points of experience, just enough to upgrade the level of Drug Application to C. Receive the reward! Looking at the new skill [Pranks], Xu Ran¡¯s heart was filled with joy. The previous two system skills were stronger than one another. The [Plucking Fur] skill allowed Xu Ran to gain the skill of grooming pet beasts. The many skills he obtained earlier were the foundation for Ziyun to become stronger. [Drug Application] allowed Xu Ran to gain discretionary physical points. Without it, Ziyun might not have achieved the complete Transcendent Stage by now. Even with stronger skills, she would easily fall into a disadvantage when facing opponents. So, by this calculation, the new skill [Pranks]¡­ [Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the System Skill [Pranks]] [[Pranks] is a skill linked to accompanying training. The host can use it during the process of accompanying the foster pet beast in training to gain a certain number of discretionary skill points. These can be used to upgrade the host¡¯s contracted pet beast] Accompanying training? Skill points? Xu Ran blinked his eyes, then a look of ecstasy appeared on his face. Accompanying training is an added service of the foster care service. As the name implies, after the customer chooses this service, the foster shop not only provides space and food for the pet beast but also helps the Beast Master to train the pet beast during the fostering period. Strictly speaking, fostering with the added accompaniment training service is complete fostering. However, it seems that the system has placed it on par with fostering. Of course, that¡¯s not the point. The key is the new thing that can be gained from the [Pranks] skill, skill points! Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Sudden Surprise, New Skills Pranks !_2 Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Sudden Surprise, New Skills Pranks !_2 Translator: 549690339 Just by its name, Xu Ran can imagine where it could be used. So skills can be upgraded from now on? He first looked at Ziyun on the side, but seeing Ziyun asleep, his movements involuntarily softened. Hmm¡­ stay calm. Xu Ran took a deep breath, quickly realizing the problem with this skill. Training and fostering are definitely not the same thing. If a small pet beast that is about a meter long needs a space the size of a room for foster care, then the space it needs for training is much larger. The size of the training space doesn¡¯t correlate much with the body type, but rather with strength. Even for the Transcendent Stage pet beasts, training requires an area of ten thousand square meters (100¡Á100). For stronger ones at the Elite Stage and Leadership Stage, the required area is even larger. Such a space is definitely not available at the underground floor at the moment. So, do I need to obtain the training module first, then start the sparring business, and gain skill points through the new skill ¡°Pranks¡±? After sorting out his thoughts, Xu Ran looked back at his personal panel. Referring to the previous situation when he acquired ¡°Drug Application¡±, then as expected¡­ ¡°[Novice Task 5: Little Fame Task Description: Please let the host get the local fame of the Foster Shop reach 50% (413/50) Task Reward: Training Function Module, System Upgrade Experience +400]¡± As expected! Xu Ran showed an unsurprised expression. Novice Task 5 is the task to unlock the training function! The system really did a good job, every task is interconnected! After calming his mind, Xu Ran started to carefully browse the newly appeared task. Fame? This is a completely new concept. This task is quite different from the previous ones. Looking at the progress bar that changed from 413 to 41.4 during the browsing process, Xu Ran raised his brows, deep in thought. From the literal meaning, it should refer to the ratio of residents in Qingzhou City who know about Starfire Foster Care Shop? As the final match is getting closer, the influence of the New Beast Master Challenge Match is gradually fermenting. Some residents who had never heard of the competition before, learned about the competition and thus about Starfire Foster Care Shop, encouraged by their friends and family. Therefore, even at midnight, my fame will automatically increase. So, even if I do nothing? This task can complete itself after a certain period? This might be the easiest task Xu Ran had undertaken so far. Of course, Xu Ran not only wants to complete it, but also hopes to complete it earlier. After all, once the training module opens, he can use the new skill to prank, gain skill points to upgrade Ziyun. And the way to speed up the task completion is quite obvious. ¡°It seems that in tomorrow¡¯s finals, I must continue to advertise.¡± Xu Ran muttered silently, looking at Ziyun sleeping soundly beside him. Then, his eyes fell on another reward for Novice Task 5. System Upgrade Experience +400. He hadn¡¯t paid attention to this reward before, but now¡­ ¡°[Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: First Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C level)] (55/100) [Drug Application (C-level)] (3/500) [Pranks (D-level)] (0/100) Pet Beast Skills: ¡­ (Omitted useless skills) Physical Points: 516 (Available) Skill Points: 0 Pleasure value: 8123 System Upgrade Experience: 600/1000]¡± After looking at the last line of his personal panel, the System Upgrade Experience has changed to 600/1000, Xu Ran felt more anticipation than before. After completing this task, what he will be welcoming is not just the newly added training module, but also the system upgrade. Although he doesn¡¯t know what practical benefits the system upgrade will bring to himself, just hearing it sounds quite exciting. Things having come to this, continue meditating! Xu Ran closed his eyes again, a smile playing on his face. In order to complete Novice Task 5, he had to think about how to advertise tomorrow seriously. ¡°Ladies! Gentlemen!¡± ¡°Welcome to the New Beast Master Challenge Match!¡± The next day, early in the morning, the excited voice of the host echoed throughout the venue of the finals. The venue for the finals had been switched again. The specifications of the central fighting arena were the same as during the semifinals, the participating contestants still consisted of Xu Ran and three others, but the seating capacity of the spectator stands had increased significantly. Looking at the full-house situation, Xu Ran sitting on the contestants¡¯ seat, couldn¡¯t help but sigh slightly. Even the organizers are helping me! It¡¯s great to have a crowd, the more people around, the more efficient his advertising becomes, and the speed of completing the Novice Task 5 also escalates. ¡°Didn¡¯t the staff take away your bag today?¡± Xu Jiujiu, looking at the big sack on Xu Ran¡¯s back, chuckled and asked. ¡°They wanted to, but I told them that this bag is my spiritual belief and I had to bring it to the finals.¡± Xu Ran patted his backpack heavily, looking serious. Whoever stops him from completing the task, he will argue with! ¡°Meow-¡± (Must wear it!) Ziyun, curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, suddenly beat his front paws on Xu Ran¡¯s arm, raising its top half high like a furious declamation, its expression was very serious. Early in the morning, Xu Ran told it that the effect of today¡¯s advertisement would influence whether it could get additional skill points later. Skill! Extra points! Even though it¡¯s already used to the feeling of becoming stronger with the Energy Abundant Potion, but if it can increase skill proficiency without training, Ziyun is incredibly willing! So today, it¡¯s going to be serious! Ziyun glared at the Dark Scale Dragon nearby, whose front claws were crossed over its chest. You¡¯re done for today! Meanwhile, Xu Ran placed his backpack on the table, unzipped it, and started taking pieces of the advertising suit out. A jacket with the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡±! Well, this is what he is going to put on when he walks onto the stage. A tiny outfit with the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡±! Well, this is what Ziyun is going to wear. Considering that Ziyun will be fighting with all its might, Xu Ran specially spent a lot of money preparing a customized outfit that wouldn¡¯t hinder its performance and won¡¯t be easily damaged. His main goal was to serve a heartfelt advertisement! Not only that¡­ Xu Ran took out his treasure from the bag. The slogan flag that¡¯s been used since the audition round! Likewise, going forward, he will use this flag that reads ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, providing the best care for your pet beasts!¡±, to instruct Ziyun in battle! After all the preparatory work, Xu Ran had undoubtedly become the most dazzling contestant even before the battle began, attracting many eyes from the spectator stands. Sitting beside Xu Ran on the winner¡¯s seat, Gu Ling showed a touch of helplessness at the corner of her mouth, and she couldn¡¯t help but move her seat slightly away from Xu Ran. Her eyes, filled with a few probing looks, wandered around the spectator seats. The Old Gu had promised that he would come to watch my finals, won¡¯t he fail to show up? Very soon, Gu Ling¡¯s eyes lit up. Despite the crowd in the spectator seats, she easily identified that familiar figure. Looking at Gu Wu gazing in her direction, Gu Ling waved her hand with a smile, then turned to the Dark Scale Dragon behind her, ¡°We are going to win this battle!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon nodded with conviction. It remembered the special training the Red-eyed Demon Dragon gave yesterday, saying that if it loses today the Demon Dragon would take off its skin, it couldn¡¯t help but shudder with fear. This time, it must win! As the host ended his introduction, the finals officially began. First on the stage were Xu Jiujiu and Lyu Guang, seated in the loser¡¯s group. They both stood up simultaneously and walked towards the player¡¯s path leading to the fighting platform. ¡°Who do you think will win between us?¡± In the quiet passage, Xu Jiujiu suddenly spoke. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s me.¡± Lyu Guang glanced sideways at Xu Jiujiu. The wounds of the Brawl Bear Apprentice had thoroughly healed after the best treatment, and due to the one-sided suppression by the Dark Scale Dragon in the previous fight, some potential was triggered and its strength has improved slightly. That¡¯s why for this battle, Lyu Guang is still confident. ¡°No, it¡¯s me.¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s lips slightly raised up, revealing a charming and somewhat wild smile, ¡°After all, rounding off to the nearest whole number, I have already thrashed you once.¡± Lyu Guang:¡±???¡± What does she mean by rounding off? What is this woman talking nonsense again? The battle quickly began, albeit a loser¡¯s group match, Xu Jiujiu and Lyu Guang were both famous among Qingzhou City¡¯s young generation of Beast Masters, drawing a lot of attention. During the entire battle process, there was enthusiastic applause and cheering from the spectators. And indeed, their fight was intense. After some fierce fighting, in the end, Lyu Guang won with a slight advantage. Xu Jiujiu walked calmly in front of Lyu Guang, ¡°Well, now that we each have a win, it¡¯s a draw.¡± Lyu Guang:¡±???¡± So, when did you secretly win against me? Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 77: We Must Win This Battle! _1 Chapter 84: Chapter 77: We Must Win This Battle! _1 Translator: 549690339 As the two contestants from the loser¡¯s group retreated, Gu Ling from the winner¡¯s group slowly rose from her seat, turning to Xu Ran on one side. ¡°Boss Xu, it¡¯s our turn now.¡± Confronting Gu Ling¡¯s suddenly ignited battle lust, Xu Ran rose with a smile, ¡°Alright.¡± Though he was not sure why her fighting spirit suddenly soared, he was in no position to complain. His will to fight was just as raging. The two walked side-by-side into the arena, greeted instantly by deafening applause and cheers that echoed like thunder. The final duel for the championship was always the highlight of the contest. The two contestants, unknown to everyone before the start of the contest, have now turned into dark horses that everyone had their eyes on, all thanks to their extraordinary performances in one match after another. Contestant Xu Ran, the owner of a pet beast foster shop, is notorious for advertising his shop in every match¡ªa fact that has earned him considerable attention. Nevertheless, the power of his pet beast, an enigma as it is, is undeniable even to the naked eye. Because of the high fees of his fosterage, he is nicknamed the ¡°Ad Merchant¡±. However, as more Beast Masters have recently tried his service, many have come to realise the uniqueness it offers. Contestant Gu Ling, a mysterious transfer student in the freshman year of Beast Master Secondary School, owns a pet beast unlike any local species of Qingzhou City. It allegedly originates from a metropolis of the Second Level Town rank, and each of its appearances so far has ended in absolute domineering victories. Always carrying a serene smile, Gu Ling has been named the ¡°Black Dragon Princess¡± by many. Her succession of powerful advancements in the competition also earned her a considerable number of fans. The battle between these two contestants was a spectacle not to be missed. ¡°Both contestants and their pet beasts shall stand in the designated area and prepare for the match,¡± the referee looked at both contestants and uttered in a deep voice. After they had taken their positions, he slowly raised the whistle hanging on his chest. ¡°Three counts then the game starts.¡± ¡°Three¡­two¡­one¡­¡± Ziyun and Dark Scale Dragon lifted their heads simultaneously and gazed at each other from a distance. At this moment, the memory of Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s provocation and contempt emerged in Ziyun¡¯s mind, along with a fervent yearning for the skill points it would soon acquire. This match, it had to win! At this moment, inside the mind of Dark Scale Dragon, it recalled a pair of rigorous, yet mildly caring crimson eyes. Its raging intent to battle had its eyes gradually redded until they matched the pair in memory. This match, it had to win! A spark seemed to flash across the emptiness where their gazes crossed, coupled with the referee¡¯s shrill whistle sound. Immediately, both poised pet beasts took action. ¡°Ziss¡­¡± Ziyun¡¯s four claws converted into energy at once. As its body rapidly blinked forward, it bolted straight for Dark Scale Dragon. On the other side, rotating energy spheres emerged in Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s claws, blocking the moving trajectory of Ziyun one after another. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± Piercing through the sky, the exploding electric arcs shattered the energy spheres. The resultant energy spread up to the sky, completely veiling the area in smoke and dust where they were trading blows. ¡°Eh?¡± On the spectator stands, Gu Wu, who was watching the fight unfold in the arena, raised his eyebrows. His attention shifted from Dark Scale Dragon to Ziyun which was conveniently dodging attacks and counterattacking. There was a trace of curiosity in his eyes. This didn¡¯t seem like the power of a normal two-star skill. It was more like something between two-star and three-star skills. A special ethnic talent? He realised he had not seen such a species before. ¡°That little cat is quite strong, its thunder-slinging is about one percent as potent as mine.¡± An arrogant thought surfaced in Gu Wu¡¯s mind. ¡°Heh, Old Thunder Dragon, don¡¯t kid yourself. Before you evolved, back when you were in the Transcendent Stage, you would be beaten up by it.¡± ¡°Really? So Thunder Elder was that weak before?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his bullshit, it¡¯s slander!¡± Three different thoughts started bickering in Gu Wu¡¯s mind, forcing him to rub his temples. Fourth stage of contract power: Field of View Sharing. A higher level of the fundamental one-star power, Contractual Sensing, allowing the Beast Master and pet beast to share their field of view. This sharing was mutual, and the beast master could also let different contract pet beasts share their views too. Though he was the only one sitting in the viewer¡¯s stand and watched the contest, there were, in fact, more than just him. At this moment, a fourth thought spoke up, ¡°I have seen that Beast Master and his pet beast before when they returned to Qingzhou City after repelling the Beast Tide.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Gu Wu¡¯s eyes brightened. With the hint from the thought, he quickly remembered something, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve mentioned it, it does feel familiar.¡± ¡°Old Black Dragon, Dark Scale Dragon is your child. Do you think it can win?¡± Another thought asked. The thought referred to as ¡°Old Black Dragon¡± paused then responded, ¡°The opponent is not weak. I have no idea.¡± ¡°Meow¡­¡± Ziyun, whose body was enveloped in electric arcs, narrowed its heterochromatic eyes to thin slits, like a reflection of the abyss looking at the Dark Scale Dragon, each scale of which was filled with dreadful black power. And then, without hesitation, it unleashed its most powerful attack. Electric Chasing Cat Two-Star Skill, Starlight Level: Thunder Roar! As the tangible sonic waves rapidly approached, a sense of caution flickered in the eyes of the Dark Scale Dragon. Its pupils turned fully red in an instant, and a fierce roar, carrying dominance, burst from its mouth. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 77: We Must Win This Battle! _2 Chapter 85: Chapter 77: We Must Win This Battle! _2 Translator: 549690339 As the voice surged, the space all around seemed to congeal, an invisible pressure rumbled downwards, making one involuntarily want to surrender. The Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s two-star skill, Starlight Level Dragon Power! Evolution, for every Leader Species, is a difficult threshold to cross, but there always existed a few exceptional ones, born with strong talents for evolution. Dragon Power, a two-star skill, yet it possesses some of the power of the three-star skill, King¡¯s Power, exclusive to King Species. It can be considered a subordinate branch of King¡¯s Power. With it, the Dark Scale Dragon can more easily touch the power of the King Species, increasing the chance of evolution. Even disregarding the impact of this skill on evolution, its power far exceeds that of ordinary two-star skills. Previously when facing Lyu Guang, the Dark Scale Dragon did not use this skill at all. Using it at this moment, the power of Thunder Roar and Dragon Power collided in midair, forming a balanced power struggle. Accompanied by a violent roar, the void violently trembled once, followed by two forms of power colliding to cause a violent energy storm, surging in all directions. Xu Ran¡¯s expression instantly turned serious. The Dark Scale Dragon¡­ actually had such a powerful skill? The skill called Dragon Power of the other party and Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Roar perfectly countered each other. Dragon Power¡¯s suppression of the surrounding space could make the tangible sound waves of Thunder Roar hardly advance, while the Thunderforce of Thunder Roar could tear up the strong oppression brought by Dragon Power. In this way, it was equivalent to both of them losing a skill. ¡°The fight between Boss Xu and Gu Ling is really intense.¡± In a corner of the audience, Su Xiaoxiao hugged the Flame Fox, a nervous expression on her face. Likewise looking nervous were Lin Yue and Duan Anxun, who had come to watch the match together. ¡°Upon seeing their strengths, now I realize how far my Green Wind Eagle and I are lagging behind.¡± Lin Yue couldn¡¯t help shaking her head and sighing, ¡°Gu Ling had returned from the big city, so his strength is understandable, but I didn¡¯t expect Boss Xu to be so strong too.¡± ¡°Considering his washing and protection and fosterage effects are so good, the pet beasts he personally raises should not be too bad either.¡± Duan Anxun quietly started to talk. ¡°That makes sense.¡± Lin Yue glanced at Duan Anxun and nodded slightly. Though she didn¡¯t thaw her relations with Duan Anxun as quickly as Xiaoxiao, over time, Lin Yue gradually started to change her view of him. ¡°I don¡¯t know who will end up winning.¡± Su Xiaoxiao sighed, a slightly tormented look on her face, ¡°I don¡¯t know whom I should cheer for.¡± After all, she knew people on both sides. ¡°In that case, why not simply just cheer for both without being specific. Just shout ¡®Keep going!¡¯.¡± Duan Anxun chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together!¡± Lin Yue eagerly shouted, hopping up from her seat, waving a glow stick and yelling, ¡°Keep going! Keep going!¡± Su Xiaoxiao and Duan Anxun looked at each other, quickly joining in. Their cheering voices combined, merging into the thunderous cheering of the crowd, fostering an inspiring atmosphere. In the arena, the battle between the two pet beasts gradually intensified with time. Dragon Power and Thunder Roar neutralized each other, they tacitly gave up using their counteracting abilities and continued to engage in fierce combat through other skills. The eyes of the Dark Scale Dragon once again became deep and hollow, resembling the abyss of darkness, making people who looked into them feel a shudder. That was its two-star skill, Pupilless Eye, whose proficiency level had reached the Starlight Level. This was a skill that enhanced gaze power. Under its amplification, even the ghostly fast Electric Pursue became traceable. Sometimes reaching out, the claws falling at Ziyun had already become as clear and profound as obsidian, brewing an impenetrable power, granting the Dark Scale Dragon a strong close combat ability. Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s two-star skill, Starlight Level Dark Crystal Claw! ¡°Boom ¡± The black draconic claw ripped through the air once again, producing a sharp howl. Under the guidance of Pupilless Eye, it aimed and lashed at Ziyun who was using Electric Pursue. ¡°Meow-¡± Facing the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s fierce attack, there was no fear in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Amid flickering electricity, it quickly lifted one elementalized paw to clash with the aerial draconic claw. ¡°Zi la ¡± Streaks of electricity sliced through the darkness, wildly jumping on the body of the Dark Scale Dragon, stiffening it on the spot while its eyes continuously revealed a look of pain. At the same time, Ziyun grunted, swiftly retreating several steps. The paw which had collided reverted from its elementalized state and exhibited clear signs of deformation. When it came to strength, Ziyun was not yet able to go against a powerful species like the Dark Scale Dragon. This collision was hurting the enemy at the expense of harming oneself. However¡­ The next moment, a milky-white halo emerged from Ziyun¡¯s wounded spot, the twisted injury healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. ¡°Ziyun, the final blow!¡± Watching the Dark Scale Dragon, which was becoming weaker and weaker with the accumulation of paralysis in its collisions, Xu Ran took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun suddenly raised its head, around its heterochromatic blue and yellow pupils, a circle of eerie blood-red color silently appeared beyond the original purple. Red fog-like energy surged from the surface of its body, like heat rising from an overheated body, surrounding it, and mingling with the constant exploding electric light. Its aura skyrocketed to the peak in an instant, and the healing rate of its still healing paw increased sharply, regained its form in an instant, and re-entered the elemental state. One-star skill, Starlight Level ¡ö Blood Fury! Ziyun¡¯s gaze was no longer calm, it became slightly crazed under the effect of the skill, it targeted the Dark Scale Dragon, which had just regained action but was severely paralyzed, and then charged without hesitation. ¡°Zi La¡ª¡± Electric arcs pierced the air with a resounding sound, Ziyun, engulfed by clouds of electricity and blood fog, towed an afterimage and appeared in front of the Dark Scale Dragon in a breath. Is it the final collision¡­¡± Gu Ling¡¯s expression became serious on the other side. She didn¡¯t expect that Boss Xu still had this kind of sudden burst skill, which was never used before. Although the duration of this skill is short and the side effects are substantial, at this moment, it can be the final straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back. However, she is Gu Ling, she won¡¯t admit defeat easily! Moreover, in the audience, there was someone she cared about. ¡°Dark Scale Dragon, I know your condition isn¡¯t good, but please gather your spirits. We must go all out with this blow!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± Hearing the echoing sound in her mind, standing against a terrible opponent, the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s black eyes turned blood-red. It tried hard to control its numb body and swung a claw heavily towards Ziyun. In response, Ziyun also fiercely struck back with a claw. Two-star skill, Starlight Level ¡ö Battle Instinct! ¡°Boom!!!¡± In the violent explosion, the collision of the two pet beasts caused a windstorm. Shattered dark light and electric arcs swept across the battlefield, touching the protective membrane around the battlefield and causing ripples of energy. Within the storm, the two colliding pet beasts kept their original postures as if they were frozen in place. Ziyun raised a claw high, red mist surrounding it slowly dispersed. Its momentum visibly wilted, its expression a slight show of pain, as Blood Fury entered the backlash phase. The Dark Scale Dragon on the other side was much bigger than Ziyun. Its dragon claw pressed hard against Ziyun¡¯s palm, and the dark glow around its body began to fade away. Electric arc after electric arc danced on its massive, robust body, on and on without end. After a moment of stalemate, the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s body tilted to one side, then crashed heavily to the ground, raising clouds of dust. ¡°Boom!!!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun calmly looked at the fallen Dark Scale Dragon, then slowly retracted his paw and staggered to walk back to Xu Ran. After a moment of silence, the arena erupted with earth-shaking cheers. Xu Ran had won! Gu Ling¡¯s thrown fist slowly came down, showing a hint of helplessness. Boss Xu is really amazing; even when she and the Dark Scale Dragon tried their best, they were still unable to win! Patting the Dark Scale Dragon, who was barely able to open its eyes, Gu Ling spoke softly, ¡°You were brilliant, take a good rest now.¡± Turning her head toward a certain place in the audience, as if she saw a pair of encouraging eyes, the loss from her face gradually disappeared, and a smile emerged again. ¡°On second thought, this may not be a bad thing?¡± Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 78: Selecting Beast Eggll Chapter 86: Chapter 78: Selecting Beast Eggll Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ziyun, you did a great job!¡± Holding the visibly wilting Ziyun, Xu Ran took a glimpse at its injured claw and let out a sigh of relief. In the final clash, Ziyun¡¯s injury was not severe. It only appeared tragically injured due to additional damage inflicted by the backlash of Blood Fury. Although Ziyun¡¯s breath was weak, its eyes were shining brightly. It was extremely encouraged by defeating its long sought rival, the Dark Scale Dragon. ¡°Meow!¡± (I won!) It seemed to snap back to reality and let out a loud exclamation. ¡°Yes, we won.¡± Xu Ran smiled. The referee announced the final result amidst the deafening cheers and applause. ¡°Xu Ran, wins!¡± ¡°Congratulations to Xu Ran for becoming the champion of this New Beast Master Challenge Match!¡± The host appeared on stage the next moment, quickly approaching Xu Ran with the microphone in hand, ¡°Do you have anything to say to everyone? Except for advertisements.¡± The host¡¯s quip prompted laughter from the audience. Xu Ran casually opened the system task and took a glance. [ Novice Task 5: Bit of Fame Task description: Please assist the host to reach 50% local fame for the Foster Shop (48.7/50) Task reward: Training Function Module, +400 System Upgrade Experience ] Before the match, he remembered the fame standing at 433%. Just this one match boosted the fame by 5.4%. Xu Ran took the microphone with a smile. What would the champion of this New Beast Master Challenge Match say? The audience quieted down instantly, all eyes on him expectantly. ¡°Everyone¡¯s skills are very strong. Winning every match wasn¡¯t easy.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°If my Pet Beast and I hadn¡¯t maintained our best condition to face the competition, the outcome would still be unknown.¡± Did Xu Ran really stop advertising? Murmurs started up among the audience, with disappointment showing on many faces. However, the next moment, Xu Ran¡¯s tone changed. ¡°Do you want to maintain a good condition like my Pet Beast?¡± He smiled slightly, ¡°Then come to Starfire Foster Shop, we have ¡­ beep ¡± Before he could finish, a sharp sound came through the microphone. Was the microphone broken? Xu Ran shook it curiously. The host next to him, with a slight smile, subtly pulled the microphone out of his hand, ¡°Okay, thank you for Xu Ran¡¯s wonderful speech!¡± In the audience, those who had previously shown disappointment became excited, appreciating the ¡°great comeback¡±. It took Xu Ran a moment to realize that the event organizers had deliberately prevented him from continuing the advertisement, the microphone wasn¡¯t malfunctioning. What a nasty trick! He grumbled silently, looking at the almost unchanged fame and feeling helpless. It seemed the effect of advertising had diminished for the short term. He decided to leave the small amount of fame to grow slowly on its own. ¡°The champion¡¯s reward is quite substantial.¡± As he left the competition venue holding Ziyun who had already returned to normal, Xu Ran played cheerfully with the three cards in his hand. These three cards constituted the champion¡¯s reward. They seemed simple, but their value was far from it. One of them was a bank card with one million in cash, which was the lowest value among the three cards. The second card was a Beast Master Association points card, with a thousand Beast Master Points inside, which could be exchanged for various supernatural resources. Beast Master Points, a special form of points recognized by Beast Master Associations in different cities, could be exchanged for Pet Beasts, resources, and other items. If converted into money, one point is approximately equal to a thousand dollars. However, very few people are willing to exchange points for money, so they are particularly cherished. Xu Ran had no immediate plans to use this card as, for the time being, he didn¡¯t need to buy additional resources. The daily Washing and Protection and resources required for fostering were all provided by the system, which automatically deducted costs from the profits gained. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t be bothered to fret about their origin, as long as the system was competent enough. So the only realistic need he had for resources was possibly for future cultivation procedures of his own Pet Beasts, such as evolution, which reportedly required massive amounts of specific resources. At the moment, Ziyun was not yet ready for evolution so he decided to keep the card for future use. As for the last card¡­ It was a Beast Egg Withdrawal Card. With this card, one could select an egg from the Rare Beast Egg Repository of the Beast Master Association. Those referred to as rare beast eggs certainly wouldn¡¯t be common breeds. It alone attracted many Beast Masters to sign up for the competition. Although Xu Ran still had an Awakening Stone which he hadn¡¯t used yet, this Beast Egg Withdrawal Card also held considerable value to him. ¡°If it¡¯s not too late, why don¡¯t we skip the shop and head straight to the Beast Master Association to choose a beast egg?¡± He pocketed the three cards and laughed. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun nodded, indicating its tacit approval. Once hatched, the beast egg would be its new companion, right? Ziyun wondered if the new companion would be easy to get along with. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even after it hatches, we will only consider a beast for contracting if it can get along well with everyone else,¡± Xu Ran gently reassured, seemingly guessing Ziyun¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun immediately brightened up, rubbing its head against Xu Ran¡¯s palm while squinting. They chatted casually along the way and soon arrived at the Beast Master Association. Before they could enter, Beast Masters coming in and out of the Association¡¯s entrance were already giving him respectful nods.. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 78: Selecting a Beast Egg!_2 Chapter 87: Chapter 78: Selecting a Beast Egg!_2 Translator: 549690339 Nowadays, Xu Ran was no longer a nobody. The visibility of his missions showed that almost half of Qingzhou City¡¯s population knew about Starfire Foster Care Shop. So, as soon as he entered the Beast Master Association, many Beast Masters greeted him with a smile. ¡°Boss Xu, are you here to collect Beast Eggs?¡± ¡°Boss Xu, your pet beast is so badass, what breed is it? I want to contract one too.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, I will visit your shop in a couple of days, can I get a discount?¡± Once he had responded to everyone, Xu Ran headed straight for the Rare Beast Egg Repository. The Rare Beast Egg Repository was located in a section of the Association¡¯s basement. A stout alloy door sealed the repository tightly, guarded by an elderly man with an impressive scar on his face. ¡°Senior, I¡¯ve come to collect a Beast Egg.¡± Respectfully, Xu Ran handed over the Beast Egg Withdrawal Card. ¡°Are you the kid who won today¡¯s competition?¡± The elderly man glanced at the card, got up, and walked towards the nearby door. After a complex unlocking process, the heavy alloy door slowly opened, revealing an impressive sight inside. Rows of one-meter-high alloy pedestals, orderly arranged, each pedestal held a differently patterned Beast Egg. These Beast Eggs were covered with durable tempered glass, and there seemed to be nameplates with text at the top of the glass cover. At a glance, there were hundreds of them. ¡°This is the first floor of the Beast Egg Library. You may choose one Beast Egg from here.¡± The elder turned around without looking at Xu Ran and returned to his position. From his words, does it mean there are second floors and even more floors above? Xu Ran murmured, then quickly approached one of the Beast Eggs. It was an egg with purple patterns on its surface, these patterns were a bit messy and somewhat similar to the texture of feathers. The nameplate on the glass cover gave a brief introduction of this Beast Egg. ¡°Sky Thunder Hawk, a Thunder Attribute Pet Beast. It¡¯s a powerful beast species that reigns in the sky and clashes with sky thunders with its wings.¡± ¡°Sounds pretty awesome.¡± Xu Ran murmured, showing no reluctance as he turned his attention to the next Beast Egg. No need to consider Thunder Attribute Pet Beast, Ziyun is enough. Choosing other attribute-based Pet Beasts will allow more efficient use of the skills obtained from Plucking Fur. ¡°Profound Wave Fish, a Water Attribute Pet Beast. Its mysterious waves give it a completely different attacking method from other Water Attribute Pet Beasts.¡± Are fish not hatched from fish roe? Why are they in Beast Eggs? ¡°Blue Flame Dog, a Fire Attribute Pet Beast. Its peculiar flame not only possesses high temperature of the Fire Attribute, but also has an extraordinary burning effect.¡± Having eggs for hatchlings is one thing, but even mammals like dogs have Beast Eggs? Xu Ran looked at each one, his expression gradually turning strange. On one hand, he was amazed at the diversity of these Beast Egg species. On the other hand¡­ these Beast Eggs all seemed very good. He loved every Beast Egg he saw, except for the Thunder Attribute ones! This was a bit difficult since he could only take one. Looking at the hundreds of pedestals in front of him, Xu Ran knew he had to change his strategy. These nameplates all sounded very impressive, but they were somewhat vague. Making a choice based on these introductions alone seemed a bit rash. So¡­ Xu Ran took out a pair of ordinary-looking glasses and put them on. Bless his ingenuity, he remembered the Blue item he won in the lottery drawing, Insight Mirror. According to The System¡¯s introduction, wearing this item would allow one to ¡°obtain some undetectable information¡± in the next five minutes. He felt this description very apt for the current situation. Indeed, the moment he put on the Insight Mirror, everything transformed. The alloy pedestal vanished, robust tempered glass cover disappeared, leaving only Beast Eggs floating in front of Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. These Eggs appeared different from what his naked eyes saw previously. They were emitting colored glows on their shells! Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on the Sky Thunder Hawk Beast Egg he saw initially. The eggshell was glowing with purple light. The shell of the Profound Wave Fish was glowing blue, while the Blue Flame Dog Egg was shining red. So, is the color of the glow corresponding to the attribute of the Beast Egg? Xu Ran continued his inspection and quickly discovered another characteristic of the radiance. The brightness and intensity of the radiance rising from different beast eggs varied! Of the row of beast eggs he had examined so far, the one with the brightest radiance was a water attribute pet beast called ¡°Jade Water King Snake¡±. The description on its nameplate was, ¡°At its peak state, the Jade Water King Snake is a hundred meters long. All aquatic beasts bow down before it, and those who do not are swallowed whole.¡± It sounded more formidable than the other beast eggs. Does this mean the brightness of the beast egg¡¯s radiance corresponds to the strength of the pet beast? A lightbulb went off in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. He seemed to have found the correct use for the Insight Mirror. If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s see which of these beast eggs has the brightest radiance! Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran stepped forward. With the assistance of the Insight Mirror, the inspection process was much faster. Don¡¯t want the one with purple radiance. Don¡¯t want the ones with lesser radiance than the Jade Water King Snake Egg, and if he encounters brighter ones, he should consider the brighter one as a new benchmark. By applying this filtering rule, Xu Ran quickly stopped in front of a particular egg- The radiance of this egg was the brightest among all the eggs, mapping itself onto the other eggs around it and the color was earth yellow pertaining to the earth attribute. Earth attribute huh¡­ In terms of attributes, it doesn¡¯t conflict with Ziyun. Earth attribute pet beasts usually have high defense and many of them are large in size, some of them excel in healing, these are nice attributes. Then let¡¯s go with this one! The five-minute time effect of the Insight Mirror ended at this moment. The alloy base and the glass cover became visible again, and Xu Ran saw the content of the nameplate on the glass cover. His expectant expression stiffened momentarily. ¡°Unknown Species Beast Egg, obtained from a sweep outside Qingzhou City, its energy intensity has been confirmed to be high with a potentially powerful species.¡± An unknown egg? Xu Ran defiantly glanced around. Apart from this one, all the other eggs had clear species. So you are the one with the mysterious origin, huh! In this protagonist template, I¡¯ll take it! Without saying a second word, Xu Ran pointed at this egg and turned his head toward the old man outside, ¡°Elder, I choose this one!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The elder peeked inside, an interested expression emerging on his face, ¡°You want to choose this one?¡± ¡°This is the only unknown species egg on the first floor of the Beast Egg Library. According to its energy intensity, it can be placed on the second floor, but because of its unknown origins, it was downgraded to the first floor.¡± The elder walked in with a smile, ¡°Your eyes are quite sharp.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± He paused mid-sentence, opened the glass cover, took out this egg, and handed it to Xu Ran, ¡°According to the association¡¯s assessment, this egg may have a long incubation period, so you need to be patient.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Xu Ran put Ziyun on the ground, and received this heavy egg with both hands. ¡°A conservative estimate would be¡­ a year!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran responded with a weird look on his face. It needs a year to hatch? ¡°Of course, if you use some special resources or something to speed up the hatching process, you can shorten this period.¡± The elder supplemented. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Looking on the bright side, perhaps the system has items that can speed up the hatching as a reward? ¡°Take care.¡± The older man laughed heartily, watched Xu Ran leave, then closed the metal door again, ¡°He¡¯s an interesting young man.¡± ¡°An egg that will take a year to hatch, eh¡­¡± On the first floor of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran and Ziyun were staring at each other, with this beast egg that was about fifty centimetres high placed in between them. From the egg, faint transcendent energy was continuously emanating, proving its vitality. On the shell of the egg, there were earth-yellow colored lines, which looked like cracks on the ground, quite peculiar. Beneath the egg was a chunk of casually shaped mud, which had been squished into the shape of a stand, supporting the beast egg in an upright position. It seemed ordinary, but there was a rich wave of earth attribute energy in the clump of mud. This was an earth attribute resource called Mud Marrow, a resource that is very suitable for speeding up the hatching of earth attribute beast eggs. Although Xu Ran had initially not planned to use Beast Master Points, when he was holding the egg and passed by the resource exchange area, he couldn¡¯t resist and exchanged for it using 50 Points. ¡°Now, let it absorb on its own.¡± Knowing that even with the help of resources, hatching an egg is not something that can be accomplished overnight, Xu Ran carefully moved it to the bedside table on the second floor, then sat down cross-legged. ¡°So now¡­. it¡¯s time to break through to the second stage!¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 79= Second Stage Contract, Ziyun Breakthrough!—! Chapter 88: Chapter 79= Second Stage Contract, Ziyun Breakthrough!¡ª! Translator: 549690339 | [An additional 3/10 for the Silver Alliance¡¯s Rippling Spring Sounds] Thanks to the powerful acceleration effect of the Purple Reward, the Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran had reached the opportunity to break through his contract power even before the final began. If it wasn¡¯t for the competition, he might have broken through all at once. Now that the final is over, nothing can stop him and Ziyun from breaking through! ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun delicately jumped off the bed and landed in a small clearing in the room. It curled up quietly, waiting for the moment of breakthrough. ¡°I¡¯m starting now!¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and like the past few days, was easily suppressed by the Meditation Acceleration Card of all miscellaneous thoughts. He instantly entered meditation. As time passed by, the transcendent energy present in the air began to stir. It seemed to resonate with a strange power, the original disorder began to change, eventually like a river flowing into the sea, converged in a fixed position. That position was where Xu Ran was sitting. To be more precise, it was at Xu Ran¡¯s forehead. In Xu Ran¡¯s perception, it was a different feeling altogether. He could feel a sense of coolness emerging from his forehead, then rapidly flowing into his limbs, giving him a soothing feeling from within. The Beast Taming Contract strengthened progressively with the breakthrough. This enhancement has two sides. One is the enhancement of contract capabilities. With First Stage contract power, Beast Masters automatically gain the ability: Contractual Sensing. This ability allows Beast Masters and Pet Beasts to communicate without distance. Now, as Xu Ran¡¯s contract power broke through to the Second Stage, Contractual Sensing got a minor boost. Xu Ran could use it to directly understand the condition of his Pet Beasts. Whether they are languishing or in pain, he can understand directly. A small increase is still better than nothing. The more significant enhancement of the Beast Taming Contract is the strengthening of power feedback. If at the First Stage of the Beast Taming Contract, the power Ziyun could feedback to Xu Ran was 10, then now at the Second Stage, the power feedback has increased to 12. This is feedback at equal strength. Before he could perceive his own increase in power, Xu Ran felt an incredible new force rushing towards him like a flood, pouring into his body endlessly. Compared with this, the power he had just increased was nothing! This is¡­ Ziyun¡¯s breakthrough! As Xu Ran¡¯s Beast Taming power broke through to the Second Stage, Ziyun, who was curled up, felt its limits loosen. Under Xu Ran¡¯s guidance, its growth stage had reached the limit of the Transcendent Stage. If not for Xu Ran¡¯s contract power restricting it, Ziyun would have reached the Elite Stage long ago. Now, it didn¡¯t have to be restricted anymore! Since the day Xu Ran began to practice seriously, Ziyun had been longing countless times for that very moment of breakthrough, and now that it had arrived, it chose to break through without hesitation. An enormous power surged from the vast space outside the Foster Shop, converging toward the living area on the second floor of the Starfire Fosterage Shop. ¡°This is the store run by that guy named Xu Ran? Standing in front of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Gu Wu glanced at the sign and chuckled, ¡°This ordinary shopfront didn¡¯t hint that the owner was so interesting.¡± ¡°Indeed, Boss Xu¡¯s Washing and Protection are really amazing. As for the Fosterage, although I haven¡¯t tried it, I heard that the pet beasts fostered here often don¡¯t want to return home.¡± Gu Ling smiled slightly. Following them was a Dark Scale Dragon. However, the Dark Scale Dragon at this moment looked a bit wretched. The wounds from its battle with Ziyun in the final had been healed, but it still wore a beaten look, as if it had been thoroughly taught a lesson. ¡°Roar-¡± I want Washing and Protection! The Dark Scale Dragon said weakly. It was beaten so badly, all thanks to the owner of this shop! It was only right for the boss to give it a good Washing and Protection! ¡°I want to bring you here for Washing and Protection too, but the door isn¡¯t open.¡± Gu Ling spread out her hands, pointing to the closed shop door. ¡°What a pity, I¡¯ll have to come back another time.¡± Gu Wu laughed, ¡°That pet beast of his is somewhat interesting, I was hoping to take a closer look.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come again next time, I want to fight with the Boss again.¡± Gu Ling, having lost once, was filled with fighting spirit and said with a smile, ¡°I have to try hard to win back.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Gu Wu suddenly turned his gaze to the second floor of the Foster Shop, and after a while, his expression turned strange, ¡°I think, this might be a bit difficult.¡± ¡°Old Gu, why do you encourage others and demoralize yourself!¡± Gu Ling rolled her eyes. ¡°NO, what I meant was¡­¡± Gu Wu pointed to the second floor, ¡°Xu Ran should have broken through to the Second Stage.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Compared to Xu Ran¡¯s upgrade, Ziyun¡¯s breakthrough seemed to be much more spectacular. Like a black hole, it greedily swallowed up the surrounding power. As its momentum rose steadily, its body made crisp ¡°snap¡± sounds as its bones grew rapidly, making its form visibly larger. Soon, this change stopped. Ziyun, originally no more than a meter long including the tail, now measured around one-and-a-half meters including its tail. Although it did not yet qualify as a medium-sized Pet Beast, it was a size larger than before. Ziyun¡¯s physical features did not change. It only lost some of its youthful cuteness, and gained a sense of mightiness.. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 79: Second Stage Contract, Ziyun Chapter 89: Chapter 79: Second Stage Contract, Ziyun Breakthrough !_2 Translator: 549690339 Compared to its physical transformation, Ziyun¡¯s increase in strength was even more astounding. Every growth stage increase for a Pet Beast represented a significant leap in strength. At this stage, the strength increase was no longer gradual, but rather it would surge all at once. At this moment, Ziyun¡¯s power had grown almost ten times stronger than it had been at the perfect Transcendent Stage, they were just not in the same league. Ziyun felt confident that it could now tackle not just ten of its former self, but even one hundred. It even started considering whether to go to the underground layer and spar with the Elite Stage pet beasts being fostered there. Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes and looked at the enlarged Ziyun. He chuckled, ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much, it¡¯s a bit hard to hold you now.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (What?!) Every single one of Ziyun¡¯s hairs stood on end, its good mood from breaking through disappeared in an instant. No way! It wanted a hug from its Beast Master! ¡°You want me to hold you this badly?¡± Seeing the larger Ziyun come over wanting to be hugged, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He hugged and patted its head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I heard about a skill called Reduction. It can shrink the body size of a Pet Beast.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t got this skill yet, but there will be opportunities in the future.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Is that true?) Ziyun felt a bit better knowing there was a solution. In that case, it must get this Reduction skill by any means necessary! If it comes across a Pet Beast with the Reduction skill, it would force it to receive Washing and Protection! Once Ziyun¡¯s mood had settled, Xu Ran turned his gaze to the hanging clock on the wall. There was still an hour left until closing time. Quite a few things had happened today ¨C winning the championship, picking a somewhat special Beast Egg, and finally breaking through to the second stage contract power. He decided! The shop will open tomorrow! Just as this thought popped into his mind, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the window. ¡°Boss Xu! Is Boss Xu there?¡± This voice¡­ it seemed to be Gu Ling¡¯s? Once he managed to recognize the owner of the voice, Xu Ran got down from the bed and walked to the window, opening it. ¡°I¡¯m here, you¡­¡± Xu Ran was about to ask about the reason for the visit, but his words stuck in his throat when he saw the person beside Gu Ling. His pupils dilated in surprise. It was him! Xu Ran would never forget; when the Tiger Hunting Squad was escorting him out of the city to complete the Novice Task given by the system, they encountered the dangerous Beast Tide. He wouldn¡¯t forget the strong adversary who saved him and the Tiger Hunting Squad from this danger at the most critical moment, as if heaven-sent. Although the Good Luck Charm played a role, he did not take this rescue for granted. Unfortunately, he never had the chance to meet him and express his gratitude afterward. He never thought that the strong adversary would appear before his eyes! ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll come right down!¡± Without another word, Xu Ran immediately closed the window and tidied his clothes, preparing to go downstairs. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s sudden change in expression, Gu Ling looked puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s going on with him?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Maybe he¡¯s in a good mood because he just broke through?¡± Gu Wu paused before slowly replying. He had noticed the young man¡¯s gaze on him. Combining it with what the Red-eyed Demon Dragon had said earlier, it was likely that he had been recognized. What to do? How can he impress his daughter smoothly? Waiting online, a bit anxious. ¡°Maybe so.¡± Gu Ling shook her head helplessly, ¡°Comrade Old Gu, did Xu Ran really break through to the second stage?¡± ¡°Just now I felt the fluctuation of a Pet Beast breaking through to the Elite Stage.¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Judging from his reaction just now, it¡¯s probably correct.¡± ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m still far from the second stage. Seems like it¡¯s going to be a long time before I can fight back against the Dark Scale Dragon.¡± Gu Ling patted the frustrated Dark Scale Dragon beside her. She hadn¡¯t been in a contract with the Dark Scale Dragon for long. The Dark Scale Dragon is so powerful mainly because it is the progeny of Gu Wu¡¯s Red-eyed Demon Dragon and was under the supervision and training of the Red-eyed Demon Dragon even before the contract. Gu Ling¡¯s second pet beast, which hasn¡¯t yet been contracted, is also undergoing pre-contract training, aiming to reach the Elite Stage and All Skills Waning Moon level when contracted. This type of cultivation method is not common in a third-level town like Qingzhou City, but in a second-level town or even higher first-level capitals, Beast Masters with the conditions would cultivate their pet beasts this way as much as possible. While the father and daughter were talking, the door of the Foster Shop was opened by Xu Ran. ¡°Xu¡­¡± Just as Gu Ling was about to greet him, the hurried Xu Ran had already brushed past her. He walked briskly to Gu Wu, his face filled with gratitude, ¡°I¡¯m finally meeting you. I¡¯m very thankful for the last time, if it wasn¡¯t for you, I might already have been buried in the Beast Tide.¡± Gu Ling:¡±???¡± She turned her head in confusion, looking at Xu Ran and her father. So¡­ who could tell her what happened?! Gu Wu gave Xu Ran an approving look. Indeed, well-played, you deserve some credit. He coughed softly, a sudden increase of expert flair in his aura, ¡°It was effortless, no need to thank me.¡± ¡°I heard about your shop from my daughter before, after seeing your performance in the final, I was curious and came to have a look.¡± Gu Wu glanced at Ziyun, who followed Xu Ran and had already broken through to the Elite Stage, ¡°I just happened to bump into your breakthrough.¡± ¡°Daughter?¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at Gu Ling, then suddenly realized. Indeed, calculating the time, this strong person and Gu Ling came to Qingzhou City at about the same time. Regrettably, he had completely ignored this possibility before. ¡°Senior Gu, please.¡± Xu Ran immediately opened his mouth, ¡°If you have any pet beasts that need washing and protection, just let me know.¡± ¡°I do have some, but all my four pet beasts are Super Large Sized, you seem to not be able to wash and protect here?¡± Gu Wu followed him into the shop and shook his head slightly, ¡°No need to bother, I came today for your pet beast.¡± ¡°Uh, we can¡¯t at the moment, but maybe in the future.¡± Xu Ran insisted, ¡°When there is a chance in the future, I hope Senior Gu would bring your pet beasts here for washing and protection, especially the Red-eyed Demon Dragon, consider it my repayment.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I will not refuse.¡± Hearing the Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s eager voice in his mind, Gu Wu no longer refused. ¡°Senior, you just said that you came for my Ziyun?¡± Xu Ran glanced at Ziyun, ¡°Is it because of it being an unknown species?¡± ¡°I am a bit curious about that too, but it¡¯s not why I came.¡± Gu Wu smiled, ¡°The reason I came, is that in the final, I saw it use two skills that are stronger than the average two-star level ones.¡± Is that why? Xu Ran was taken aback. Before he could indulge in his thoughts, Gu Wu slowly started, ¡°You want to know the secret of evolution?¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s spirit lifted. This person in front of him is at least a General Level Beast Master, his pet beasts have undergone evolution and so he has a greater understanding of evolution. ¡°You should know, Leader Species can at most reach the Leader Stage, if you want to break through after that, you need to evolve into a King Species with greater potential.¡± Gu Wu slowly began, ¡°From Leader Species to King Species, there are two common points.¡± ¡°The first common point is awakening the special three-star skill of the King Species, the King¡¯s Power.¡± Gu Wu glanced at Xu Ran¡¯s expression, ¡°It appears you already know this.¡± ¡°Besides that, another important common point is that all Talent Skills will undergo a Star Rising Phenomenon.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Regardless of whether they come with Attributes or not.¡± ¡°All Talent Skills will transform into more powerful superior Talent Skills, improving by one star.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. So, evolution has such a miraculous effect? No wonder it is every Beast Master¡¯s ultimate pursuit. ¡°Everyone knows that evolution is hard, but few people know that the difficulty of evolution is letting all Talent Skills rise by one star.¡± Gu Wu explained, ¡°This is not something a Beast Master and a pet beast can achieve by their own effort.¡± ¡°It requires the full release of the potential of the pet beast.¡± ¡°So different pet beasts have different potential for evolution.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not harder to evolve the more Talent Skills you have, and it¡¯s not easier to evolve the fewer Talent Skills you have.¡± ¡°The easier it is for Talent Skills to rise by one star, the easier it is for the pet beast to evolve..¡± Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 80: The Secret of Evolution!_l Chapter 90: Chapter 80: The Secret of Evolution!_l Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing Gu Wu¡¯s words, Xu Ran displayed a thoughtful expression. Talent Skills are the skills that Pet Beasts naturally awaken to at birth. Beyond that, Pet Beasts can also learn other skills through later teaching and learning. However, these skills are unrelated to the Pet Beast¡¯s own potential and will not change due to evolution. So, Ziyun¡¯s Talent Skills were only three: Electric Spark, Electric Arc, and Bite. No, those three skills were all lost by Ziyun. Electric Spark and War Roar were fused into the new skill Thunder Roar, Electric Arc and Thunderbolt Flash were fused into the new skill Electric Pursue, and even the one-star Bite was fused with Claw Edge to form a two-star skill Battle Instinct. Strictly speaking, Ziyun¡¯s Talent Skills were now these three new skills. If we consider Senior Gu¡¯s explanation, does this mean her present state amounts to her having completed a process similar to evolution? Then another issue came up. ¡°Senior Gu, what kind of Talent Skill is more likely to increase in star rating?¡± Xu Ran earnestly asked for advice. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to discern,¡± Gu Wu replied with a faint smile, ¡°The division of Skill Star Level is entirely related to the strength of the skill.¡± ¡°When a skill reached the intensity threshold of a Three Star Skill, it naturally becomes a Three Star Skill,¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°Thus, the stronger the skill, the closer it is to that threshold, the more likely it is to be upgraded.¡± ¡°Two of your Pet Beast¡¯s skills surpass the ordinary Two Stars, so the difficulty of their promotion would be correspondingly reduced,¡± Gu Wu scrutinized Ziyun, ¡°This means your Pet Beast has a greater chance of successful evolution in the future.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean,¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, but in his heart, he was thinking about something else. Gu Wu didn¡¯t know that he had a special tool, the Skill Fusion Stone, which had the ability to fuse skills. In his eyes, Ziyun possessed Electric Spark, Electric Arc, Thunder Roar, Electric Pursue, and Battle Instinct. The strength of Thunder Roar and Electric Pursue was higher, leading him to judge that Ziyun had high evolutionary potential. But the reality was different. Ziyun¡¯s original Talent Skills had been enhanced into brand new skills due to Xu Ran¡¯s fusion. Bite had gone directly from one star to two stars, while Electric Spark and Electric Arc had increased in strength but not in star rating. According to Gu Wu¡¯s theory, if he continued to fuse Ziyun¡¯s three Talent Skills and further increase their strength, would it make Ziyun¡¯s evolution even easier? And if these skills were already at three stars before evolution, would the evolution be guaranteed to be 100% successful? That sounded¡­ not too difficult? Upon thinking this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became quirky. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush the evolution,¡± Unaware of his thoughts, Gu Wu patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It not only requires the Pet Beast to reach its pinnacle state but also demands the preparation of various appropriate resources.¡± ¡°That way, the chances of successful evolution will increase a little.¡± Gu Wu sighed in regret, ¡°Sadly, even for known Pet Beasts, there are few instances where the laws of evolution have been researched. And your Pet Beast belongs to a new breed.¡± ¡°That¡­ you¡¯ll have to try bit by bit.¡± He finished speaking and subconsciously glanced at the Dark Scale Dragon standing behind his daughter. Choosing such a Pet Beast as her first one was partly due to the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s own strength, and partly because Gu Wu¡¯s Red-eyed Demon Dragon was an evolved version of a Dark Scale Dragon. He had managed to uncover some of the rules of this Evolution Path. When a Dark Scale Dragon becomes enraged or very eager to battle, its eyes turn crimson red. At these moments, evolving into a Red-eyed Demon Dragon gives it a significantly higher success rate. ¡°I understand, I¡¯m already very grateful to Senior Gu for sharing so much with me,¡± Xu Ran respectfully replied. ¡°Alright then, now that you two are done talking, Boss Xu, could you please groom my Dark Scale Dragon?¡± Gu Ling, who had obviously known this knowledge for a while, interrupted their conversation with cheerful laughter. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started,¡± Xu Ran led the Dark Scale Dragon into the Grooming Room. A moment later, the Grooming Room echoed with the restrained, involuntary growls of the Dark Scale Dragon. ¡°Roar¡ª Gu Wu¡¯s expression gradually became strange as he turned to look at the calm-faced Gu Ling beside him, ¡°Is this how Boss Xu always grooms them?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Gu Ling nodded calmly, ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s grooming feels so good, that¡¯s why the Pet Beasts make some noise.¡± ¡°Really¡­¡± Gu Wu scratched his head. Although¡­ why does that sound a bit off to him? ¡°Take care!¡± Standing outside the Fosterage Shop, the ever-smiling Xu Ran waved at the departing father-daughter duo, ¡°When the shop is ready to accommodate Super Large Sized Pet Beasts, I¡¯ll be sure to let Senior Gu know at the earliest.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gu Wu cheerfully nodded, disappearing around the corner with Gu Ling. ¡°Let¡¯s go back into the shop,¡± Xu Ran crouched down to pet Ziyun trailing behind him. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun hadn¡¯t yet gotten used to the feeling of not being held by the Beast Master all the time. She rubbed her head against Xu Ran¡¯s palm now, taking a while to catch up with his stride. Not long after they entered the shop, a figure rushed in, dust flying. ¡°Is this the Foster Shop opened by the New Beast Master Challenge Champion?¡± He was a tall and robust looking middle-aged man. He immediately asked the question as he walked through the door. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran, about to close for the day, nodded.. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 80: The Secret of Evolution!_2 Chapter 91: Chapter 80: The Secret of Evolution!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Hmm, not bad, it¡¯s you!¡¯1 The middle-aged man looked Xu Ran over, then nodded in satisfaction, ¡°You provide washing and grooming services here, right?¡± He glanced around, quickly spotting the price menu. ¡°Wow, your prices are not cheap.¡± ¡°Our prices may not be low, but we guarantee good value for your money.¡± Xu Ran had faced skeptical customers countless times before, and at this moment, he appeared calm and unperturbed. ¡°Ha, alright!¡± The middle-aged man did not challenge Xu Ran¡¯s words. He laughed and then yelled towards the outside of the store, ¡°Chasing Wind, come in!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± In came a striking unicorn from outside the door. It¡¯s towering body in bright red and sturdy muscles admired by everyone present. It was much taller than regular horses, at least four metres high. Looking at the pure colour and robust muscles of the unicorn, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°What a handsome horse!¡± ¡°Ha! Of course!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s praise, the middle-aged man¡¯s face revealed a triumphant look. ¡°Chasing Wind is the champion horse of our base!¡± ¡°Champion horse? What does that mean?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. At the same time, he used the System identification function to view the magnificent horse-type pet beast. [Race name: The Wind God¡¯s Colt Attribute: Wind attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage Body size: Large Size Washing and Protection Requirement: General comment: An un-groomed The Wind God¡¯s Colt but well-maintained in its daily routine. Perhaps, the pampered one needs to experience a higher level of joy.] The system never took anything seriously. ¡°I think, young boss, you may not have paid attention to the horse races in Qingzhou City?¡± The middle-aged man chuckled when he heard Xu Ran¡¯s question. ¡°That¡¯s true. I haven¡¯t.¡± Xu Ran shook his head. He remembered hearing about horse races in his past life, but the horses raced in this world were clearly not ordinary horses but such horse-type pet beasts. ¡°Our Chasing Wind from our base was the champion horse of the last horse racing competition!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face reflected pride as he recollected the victories of his Horse Beast. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Chasing Wind raised its head with a proud neigh, reflecting a sense of humanized pride in its eyes, seemingly proud of its own achievements. ¡°So that¡¯s it, impressive!¡± Xu Ran sincerely complimented. ¡°Although Chasing Wind was the champion of the last horse race, horse racing is intense.¡± The middle-aged man sighed, ¡°Tomorrow is the new horse racing competition and this time, there are powerful competitors from other Mount Beast Breeding Bases.¡± ¡°It will be a bit difficult for Chasing Wind to win the upcoming championship.¡± ¡°I understand now!¡± Xu Ran nodded in realization, ¡°You want to use grooming services¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The middle-aged man laughed, ¡°You guessed correctly; I want Chasing Wind to get a touch of your champion aura through a bath.¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± No, I didn¡¯t guess it. His expression turned somewhat strange. Having serviced so many customers, he had encountered all kinds of peculiar reasons for grooming. But this was certainly the weirdest one. ¡°We horse racers believe in omens.¡± The middle-aged man chuckled, ¡°You are a champion, grooming my Chasing Wind might enhance his chances of becoming a champion tomorrow.¡± I can indeed increase your horse¡¯s chance of winning the championship tomorrow, but not in this way! Xu Ran secretly found it ridiculous. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°Let¡¯s start the grooming now.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the hanging clock on the wall, ¡°When I finish grooming your pet beast, it will be time to close the Fosterage Shop.¡± ¡°I appreciate that.¡± The middle-aged man nodded quickly, his face anticipating. In the Grooming Room, Xu Ran led the towering Wind God¡¯s Colt to the vertical grooming area at the side and patted its back while standing on the tips of his toes, ¡°Stand still.¡± ¡°Squeak ¡± With a slight sound, the floor of the grooming area slowly descended, allowing Xu Ran to easily reach the back of the Wind God¡¯s Colt. Then he picked up the shower head from the side, which was already adjusted to the right water temperature, and began to sprinkle it over the Wind God¡¯s Colt¡¯s robust back. ¡°Xi Lu Lu-¡± The usually composed Wind God¡¯s Colt suddenly widened its eyes. The warm water seeped through its extremely short fur and hid under its skin, bringing a refreshing feeling. As water flowed from its back to the sides of the body, the Wind God¡¯s Colt felt as if it was being gently and warmly embraced from the back. Its body shivered slightly from the comfort, while its eyes squinted, revealing a look of humanized satisfaction. [Received Pleasure Value +7 from the Wind God¡¯s Colt] [Received Pleasure Value +7 from the Wind God¡¯s Colt] [Coming from¡­] Xu Ran glanced at the Pleasure value notification that popped up and nodded slightly. Good, it looked like another large amount of Pleasure value was credited into his account. After thoroughly wetting the body of The Wind God¡¯s Colt, Xu Ran took out a fine brush, dipped it in a small amount of cleanser, and then began to gently brush it starting from one side of The Wind God¡¯s Colt. The Wind God¡¯s Colt¡¯s body tensed abruptly. It only felt that the area touched by the brush had countless thin and gentle bristles penetrating into the edges of its fur, lightly resting around the follicles, and then sweeping back and forth. An odd ticklish feeling, similar to an electric shock, emanated from each follicle, spreading deep into the robust body of The Wind God¡¯s Colt. It felt its own body, capable of tearing through the raging wind and running wildly, becoming so powerless yet so light at this moment, as if a light breeze could lift it high into the sky. The Wind God¡¯s Colt slowly closed its eyes, hiding the endless confusion in them. It slightly raised its head, as if listening to the call of the wind. A long-suppressed horse whinny echoed for a long time in the grooming room. ¡°Xi Lu Lu ¡± ¡°Chasing Wind!¡± The middle-aged man outside, hearing the sound, immediately changed his expression. He was here to bask in Xu Ran¡¯s championship aura to get a good omen, but he didn¡¯t know much about Xu Ran before. If anything happened to his champion horse¡­ He felt a tightness in his chest and, without a second thought, dashed directly into the grooming room, pushing the door open. ¡°Meow¡± Seeing the middle-aged man¡¯s aggressive demeanor, Ziyun, the cat dozing off on the counter, squinted slightly. It had seen quite a few guests shocked by the strange noises their pet beasts made. But it was the first time it saw a guest react as strongly as this one did. In the grooming room, Xu Ran¡¯s movements ceased due to the sudden intrusion of the guest. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± He turned his head to look at the guest. ¡°Um¡­¡± The middle-aged man looked around, his expression shifting from initial shock to astonishment. He saw his Wind God¡¯s Colt standing in a deep pit, with its head sticking out to receive Xu Ran¡¯s grooming, its eyes closed with a face full of enjoyment. Could it be that the strange sound he heard earlier was just an illusion? He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Chasing Wind, are you alright?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (I¡¯m fine!) Chasing Wind slowly opened its eyes, some resentment appearing in them. Its body, which had been interrupted, was still shaking slightly. The just-now-feather-light feeling, that made it almost want to dance with the wind, was suddenly interrupted by its own Beast Master. Right now, it felt as if it was stuck in mid-air after half-flight, feeling particularly uncomfortable not knowing whether to rise or descend. ¡°Are you really ok?¡± The middle-aged man still uncertainly asked! The Wind God¡¯s Colt glanced at the brush Xu Ran had paused in mid-air, its voice becoming a bit impatient. ¡°Xi Lu Lu¡± (I¡¯m really alright!) Would you hurry up and let him continue grooming me!? ¡°Oh, alright then,¡± the middle-aged man scratched his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, probably it was all my misunderstanding.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Do you need me to get you a stool so you can stay here with it during the grooming?¡± ¡°Right! Sorry for the trouble!¡± Still somewhat concerned about The Wind God¡¯s Colt, the middle-aged man nodded without hesitation. Moving a chair for the guest to sit nearby, Xu Ran resumed grooming. As the brush touched its body, The Wind God¡¯s Colt once again closed its eyes. Here it is! That¡¯s the feeling! It felt as if its body, originally stuck in mid-air and slowly falling, was once again becoming buoyant and floaty. The Wind God¡¯s Colt felt itself speeding upward, finally reaching the top of the clouds. Its body constantly shivered, its eyes closed again, and its expression became content. A long-suppressed horse whinny squeezed out from the depths of its throat. ¡°Xi Lu Lu ¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tighter. He tried to keep quiet, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t bear it and spoke out. ¡°Uh¡­. Boss, can you be gentler? Don¡¯t hurt it!¡± Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 81: The System Upgrade! ! Chapter 92: Chapter 81: The System Upgrade! ! Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Whoooosh ¡± Accompanied by the sound of a hairdryer, the newly groomed Wind God¡¯s Colt was energetic, its short and soft fur fitting snugly onto its body, outlining muscular definition and giving off a sheen under the lights as if it were coated in oil. Every time it took a step, the areas catching the light would shift due to the contraction and relaxation of muscles, giving viewers a sense of mesmerizing power. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± The middle-aged man took a deep breath, his eyes full of surprise. He admits that the grooming service offered by this shop amazed him. Though the process was a bit peculiar, the end result far exceeded his expectations! This is indeed how a champion racehorse should look like! Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man was certain that his Chasing Wind would secure the championship at tomorrow¡¯s horse racing. ¡°Are you satisfied with the grooming?¡± Xu Ran asked with a slight smile. ¡°Very satisfied! Extremely satisfied!¡± The middle-aged man snapped back to reality and nodded his head in swift agreement. He immediately scanned the QR code to make the payment. Then, he looked at Xu Ran intensely. If he was initially attracted to the shop because Xu Ran was a champion and he wanted a good omen, now he values the shop for the boss¡¯s extraordinary grooming skills. ¡°Young boss, my name is Xu Kun. I am the owner of Chaoyang Equestrian and Beast Breeding Base.¡± Eager to make Xu Ran¡¯s acquaintance, the middle-aged man passed him his business card, ¡°If you ever want to contract a horse-type pet beast, you can look for me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran kept the business card. Never mind pet beasts, being the owner of a breeding base, he must have many pets that need grooming, right? This was a big client. ¡°If you, boss, are interested in tomorrow¡¯s horse racing, you could come to the racecourse in West City to watch. I could secure the best seats for you.¡± Xu Kun added with a smile. ¡°Uncle Xu, thank you for your invitation, but I¡­¡± Just as Xu Ran was about to decline on the grounds of needing to open the shop tomorrow, his voice trailed off. A line of text suddenly appeared before him. [Novice Task 5 Completed] It¡¯s completed? Yes, by the end of the final race, the shop¡¯s popularity was shy of the target by just a bit. Now, half a day since the end of the finals and with continuous fermentation of popularity, achieving the target was only natural. Realizing the completion of Novice Task 5 held significant meaning, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t be bothered by Xu Kun¡¯s presence and immediately opened his personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Second Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun (click to view details) System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-Level)] (57/100) [Drug Application (C-Level)] (3/500) [Pranks (D-level)] (0/100) Pet Beast Skills: ¡­ (omitted useless skills) Physical Points: 563 (available) Skill Points: 0 Pleasure Value: 9324 System Upgrade Experience: 600/1000] [Novice Task 5: Gain some Fame (completed) Task Description: Host needs to achieve 50% local popularity for the foster shop Task Reward: Training Function Module, system upgrade experience +400] [click to claim task reward] Excellent! Claim! With Xu Ran¡¯s command, the task reward was claimed successfully in the next moment. [Shop upgrades in progress. Remaining time: 02:59:59] Another three-hour renovation, it seems like I could check out the training module tonight¡­ [System upgrade in progress. All System Skills are disabled. Except for daily feeding of fostered pet beasts, all shop functions are disabled. Remaining time: 23:59:59] Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± It seems like I won¡¯t be able to check out the training module tonight. System upgrade also has a cooldown time, and it¡¯s even longer. It¡¯s both unexpected and unsurprising. Considering the powerful functions that the upgraded system might have, he was filled with immense anticipation. He only needs one day, then he can¡­ ¡°Boss Xu? Is everything alright?¡± Xu Kun¡¯s somewhat confused voice brought Xu Ran back to reality. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile and shook his head. Suddenly, he remembered something, ¡°You just mentioned a horse race tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes, you want to come?¡± ¡°Then I will trouble Uncle Xu to secure a good position for me.¡± Xu Ran nodded. The system upgrade needed 24 hours, he had time to spare. It could be a time of relaxation. And rightly so, after such a hectic period spent entertaining customers and preparing for the competition together with Ziyun, they both needed some rest. ¡°No worries! You made Chasing Wind look so fantastic after grooming, it¡¯s your contribution too if it wins the championship tomorrow!¡± Xu Kun patted on Chasing Wind and chuckled. The two men had a quick chat and agreed to meet at the racecourse tomorrow. After that, Xu Kun led his horse Chasing Wind and departed. Watching Xu Kun¡¯s departing figure, Xu Ran reached over to pet Ziyun who moved closer to him, ¡°Two pieces of good news.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What good news?) Ziyun tilted its head to look at Xu Ran. ¡°First, we can take a day off tomorrow. It will be a holiday for us.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°As you just heard, we are going to watch a horse race tomorrow.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Ziyun rubbed its face against Xu Ran¡¯s hand, looking somewhat hopeful. After defeating the Dark Scale Dragon, its desire to become stronger dwindled somewhat. It reverted back to the lazy appearance of having nothing to do. It had been quite a while since it went out with its Beast Master, and it seemed so fun! ¡°As for the second good news¡­¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°You have advanced to the Elite Stage, and we can allocate more points.¡± He almost forgot about this after defeating the Dark Scale Dragon and meeting with Gu Wu. It was only when he opened his personal panel and saw over five hundred available physical points, did he remember.. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 81: The System Upgrade!—2 Chapter 93: Chapter 81: The System Upgrade!¡ª2 Translator: 549690339 1 ¡°Meow!¡± Ziyun¡¯s pupils dilate, excitement flashing in an instant. Add points! After the breakthrough, Xu Ran opens Ziyun¡¯s detail panel for the first time. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun] Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage (5124/20000) [+] Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïThunder Roar (Starlight Level)] (82/500) [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level)] (91/500) [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (33/500) [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (24/500) [¡ïBlood Fury (Starlight Level)] (40/500)] Has the upper limit of the growth stage increased from 500 to 20000? Xu Ran wore a thoughtful look on his face. In his view, this progress bar of the growth stage was more a representation of the pet beast¡¯s power than a mere progress bar. In reality, there was no such precise quantification method amongst Beast Masters. Only when one had reached the pinnacle of that stage would they describe it as complete. For instance, if one could no longer increase their power at the Transcendent Stage and were about to break through to the Elite Stage, it was said to be Transcendent Stage complete. The system quantified this somewhat rough concept. In this way, not only could the current distance to completeness be clearly seen, but also the power differences between different growth stages could be compared vertically. Following the breakthrough to the Elite Stage, Ziyun¡¯s power had greatly increased. It appeared that this increase was a tenfold of the original power at the Transcendent Stage¡¯s absolute completion. This tenfold increase in power didn¡¯t mean that the present Ziyun could only defeat ten of his former selves at the complete Transcendent Stage. When the power gap was larger, the advantage became more overwhelming. An easy Thunder Roar from Ziyun could instantly kill all copies of his former self at complete Transcendent Stage strength within range. This was far more than a simple quantity could make up for. Such a formidable Ziyun was just at the beginning of the Elite Stage. Its power limit could reach 20000. By then, it would probably be able to easily thrash its current self again. The more excited he got thinking about it, the more Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate to apply the accumulated 563 physical points to Ziyun¡¯s growth progress all at once. Looking at the progress that had become (5687/20000), he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Completeness hasn¡¯t been reached yet, more points need to be added. He has to work harder! Early the next day. ¡°Boss Little Xu! Over here!¡± Looking at Xu Kun waving to him from not too far away, Xu Ran also waved back, then quickly moved through the crowded surround with Ziyun to the man¡¯s side. ¡°First time here?¡± Xu Kun asked with a jolly grin, seeing Xu Ran looking around in amazement. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded his head, ¡°Uncle Xu, is the horse racing track nearby?¡± ¡°Correct, you see the high flag being hoisted up there?¡± Xu Kun pointed to a flag about ten meters high fluttering in the wind not too far off, ¡°The starting point of the race is there, as for the end¡­ it¡¯s 10000 meters from here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it running in a circle?¡± Xu Ran asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Of course not.¡± Xu Kun shook his head, ¡°Simple circle running cannot show their strength, it would be too simple.¡± ¡°The horse racing track is not only filled with all kinds of obstacles and environmental terrains, but there are also various man-made traps, and these are completely different in each race. What is being tested is the comprehensive quality of the horse-type pet beast.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran suddenly realized, ¡°But we can¡¯t keep up with the speed of the horse, can we? How do we watch the race? If he remembered correctly, Xu Kun mentioned yesterday that he would find him a good viewing position. A 10000-meter track, no matter where one sits, it¡¯s impossible to see the whole race, right? ¡°About that¡­¡± Xu Kun chuckled, ¡°Horse racing viewing is of two kinds, one is sitting over there.¡± While speaking, he pointed at a larger enclosed pavilion nearby. ¡°¡­ over there?¡± Xu Ran looked at the closed pavilion and the starting point outside of the pavilion, a weird expression appearing on his face. Is he expected to watch the air? ¡°Yes, right there.¡± Xu Kun spread his hands, ¡°Those are the seated tickets. There are specialized photographers following the racing horse-type pet beasts for the entire course. The taken shots are projected in the indoor pavilion as a hologram.¡± ¡°Although there¡¯s some difference between this and watching up close, the experience is still not bad.¡± ¡°What is the second way of viewing?¡± Xu Ran asked with curiosity, ¡°Could it be standing-room only?¡± ¡°NO no, no.¡± Xu Kun laughed, ¡°The second type of viewing is the flight ticket! Powerful pet beasts that can fly will take the audience to watch the entire race from the sky.¡± ¡°Hisss-¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp, his face showing a faintly excited expression. Fly! He had ridden large pet beasts like the Armored Rhinoceros, but he had never ridden a pet beast that could fly! Although he had taken a plane in his previous life, the two experiences were completely different. ¡°Meow?¡± (Fly?) Ziyun, hearing that it would soon fly into the sky, was momentarily stunned, its heterochromic eyes blinked, showing a baffled expression. Was it also going to fly? ¡°How much longer until the race starts?¡± Xu Ran was already getting impatient. ¡°No hurry, Boss Xu.¡± Xu Kun looked at the time on his watch, ¡°We still have forty minutes until the horse race officially begins. ¡°There are some places to eat and drink over there. If you¡¯re bored, Boss Xu, you can go take a look.¡± Xu Kun said, pointing towards the row of stalls on one side. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then noticed a building next to the stalls. There was a window open to the public and many people were lined up in front of it. ¡°Uncle Xu, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, that!¡± Xu Kun took a glance, ¡°That¡¯s the betting window set up by the horse betting platform.¡± ¡°Horse betting?¡± Xu Ran looked a bit more curious. Is it the kind of horse betting he¡¯s thinking of? ¡°Yes, if you have faith in a certain horse in the upcoming race, you can bet on it. If that horse wins the championship, you will receive the corresponding payout. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get a cent.¡± Xu Kun paused before continuing, ¡°Of course, this is the simplest way to bet on horses. You can also bet on which three horses will place, or bet on a horse¡¯s ultimate ranking¡­¡± ¡°Boss Xu, are you interested?¡± Seeing how attentively Xu Ran was listening, he asked with a smile. ¡°I want to take a look.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go together.¡± Xu Kun nodded, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll place a bet on Chasing Wind.¡± ¡°The participants can also place bets?¡± Xu Ran looked slightly surprised. ¡°Yes, but there are restrictions.¡± Xu Kun shrugged, ¡°Ordinary spectators can participate in all categories, we can only bet our own will win the championship.¡± ¡°After all, other betting methods all have the possibility of throwing a match.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Betting on your own horse to win the championship can mean that you have confidence in your own horse. But if you bet on other horses or bet on other rankings, it would be suspect for match-fixing. The two of them had, by this time, lined up at the end of the queue. Although the queue was long, the wait time wasn t. The speed at the window was quick, and it was soon their turn. ¡°Uncle Xu, you go first, I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Xu Ran suggested Xu Kun go first, and looked at the electronic screen mounted to the side. On the electronic screen, different odds were displayed for different bets. The highest odds were for guessing which horses would place in the top three, the odds were 1:36.3. Although it was tempting, Xu Ran didn¡¯t feel confident about guessing it right. Through yesterday¡¯s washing and protection, he had gained a full understanding of Chasing Wind¡¯s condition. He had faith in Chasing Wind¡¯s chances to win the race due to his own washing and protection blessing. So¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s gaze skimmed over this betting method, turning instead to the odds for betting on the champion. The odds for the champion reflected the strength of each horse. The lower the odds, the more people bet on this horse and the stronger the championship contender it was. At this moment, the horse with the lowest odds was a horse-type pet called ¡®Amazing¡¯ ¨C it had the odds of only 1:1.9- The odds for Chasing Wind were third at 1:2.6. It seemed the previous champion really was as Xu Kun had said and faced some tough competition in this competition. ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯m done.¡± Xu Kun turned to look at Xu Ran, ¡°How are you going to bet?¡± ¡°A little gamble does good.¡± Xu Ran laughed, pulling out a bank card, ¡°One million, I¡¯ll bet on Chasing Wind to win.¡± Xu Kun:¡±???¡± Do you call this a little gamble?! Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 82: Fly... Its Flying!_l Chapter 94: Chapter 82: Fly¡­ It¡¯s Flying!_l Translator: 549690339 [Additional 4/10 for Silver League¡¯s Rippling Spring Sounds] ¡°Um¡­ Boss Xu.¡± Leaving the betting point, Xu Kun still had a helpless expression on his face, ¡°I¡¯m glad you have such high expectations for Chasing Wind, but you really didn¡¯t have to wager so much¡­¡± A total of one million! Xu Kun could still recall the astonishment on the face of the staff member when he heard the betting amount. They weren¡¯t strangers to such large sums of money, but it was the first time they¡¯d seen someone betting so much on the championship all at once. Even the odds for Chasing Wind dropped from 1:2.6 to 1:2.5 due to this bet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan.¡± Xu Ran went to a barbecue stand, bought a bunch of skewers, and calmly spoke while he and Ziyun enjoyed them. This one million was the reward he received for winning the New Beast Master Challenge Match. He didn¡¯t touch a penny of the money he earned through the system operation. Xu Ran¡¯s bet may seem impulsive, but it¡¯s not entirely so. Betting one million all at once was partly because he believed in Chasing Wind, but more importantly, it was because of his confidence in his Washing and Protection abilities. ¡°Alright then.¡± Seeing Xu Ran so calm, Xu Kun didn¡¯t say anything more. He was quite pleased to be trusted by Xu Ran to this extent. At the base, upon hearing the full story, Chasing Wind, too, gave a few satisfied snorts, promising to give it his all in the competition later. As the two men and their pet were eating and drinking nearby, the race was getting closer and closer to starting. ¡°Ding dong ¡± With a crisp sound broadcasted throughout all the nearby areas, Xu Kun¡¯s expression became more serious, ¡°The race is starting in five minutes, this is the alert bell for all the contestants to get ready.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, follow me!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded and quickly followed Xu Kun towards the starting point with its fluttering flags. At this moment, the starting point was crowded with spectators. Amidst the loud cheers, the horse-type pet beasts participating in the race made their appearance. Some of them were considerably larger than normal horses, some were about the same size as normal horses, and there was even one that was smaller than a typical horse, standing in the herd like a child among adults. Aside from differences in size, these horses varied in appearance as well. Some had manes like burning flames, some had wings on their backs, some had a single or double horn growing from their heads, and some were covered in scales. The various types of horse-type pet beasts made their appearances one after another, leaving Xu Ran feeling amazed. ¡°Come forth! Chasing Wind!¡± Xu Kun shouted in a rather dramatic fashion. At the same time, a magnificent Wind God¡¯s Colt stepped out from the gusts of wind as the Hexagram Star Array flashed, causing the cheers around to reach their peak. ¡°Come forth! Angry Thunder!¡± Not long after Chasing Wind made his appearance, another horse-type pet beast, enveloped in purple light and crowned with an Electric Arc on its single horn, was summoned amidst a Beast Master¡¯s shout. This was the horse with the second lowest odds for winning the championship. Its appearance once again incited a climactic round of cheers from the crowd. ¡°Come forth! Amazing!¡± The Beast Master of the most favored horse beast in the competition didn¡¯t want to be left behind. After copying the previous two shouts, he summoned Amazing, the horse beast with the lowest odds in the competition. It was a horse that looked as magnificent as one cast in gold, each of its short hairs gleaming under the sunlight. It was slightly smaller than Chasing Wind but was also over three meters tall. The visible robustness of its body caused gasps of admiration from the crowd. ¡°Such a handsome horse, no wonder the odds are so low.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but murmur. ¡°Yes, this is Chasing Wind¡¯s biggest competitor in this competition.¡± Upon seeing Amazing, Xu Kun¡¯s expression also became a bit more serious, ¡°This is a Light Attribute horse-type pet beast. It possesses the skill Path of Light.¡± ¡°Is this skill powerful?¡± Xu Ran had never heard of this skill and asked without thinking. ¡°It¡¯s very powerful.¡± Xu Kun nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a speed type skill. It¡¯s said that when it¡¯s highly proficient, it can make the user¡¯s speed approach that of light.¡± ¡°Amazing isn¡¯t at that level yet, but it¡¯s still very hard to compete with in terms of speed.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression also became serious. In terms of appeal, Amazing wasn¡¯t much different from Chasing Wind after its washing and protective treatment. ¡°Chasing Wind, you must do your best!¡± He gently patted Chasing Wind¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Chasing Wind neighed confidently in response. ¡°The race is about to start, unrelated personnel please step back!¡± The referee shouted through the loudspeaker, and personnel were immediately coordinated for clearance. Even the Beast Masters who had summoned their horses had to temporarily leave. They were about to sit on their flying pet beasts and command their pets from a distance. ¡°Boss Xu, come with me!¡± Xu Kun pulled Xu Ran over towards an open area nearby. Suddenly, there were as many as a hundred griffins there ¨C creatures that had eagle¡¯s heads, white throats, brownish-black bodies, the stature of a lion with four eagle¡¯s claws, and wings on their backs. Each griffin had four fixed seats on their broad backs. ¡°These are Wind Pet Beasts, Tearing Wind Hawk Lion.¡± Xu Kun introduced, ¡°They may look fearsome and intimidating, but they¡¯re actually very gentle. After being trained, they can follow human commands even without a contract.¡± ¡°That¡¯s our ¡®Fly Ticket¡¯.¡± Xu Kun laughed cheerfully, ¡°Each contestant can bring three family members to sit on it. There are thirty-one horses participating in this horse race, so we have thirty-one of these Tearing Wind Hawk Lions.¡± ¡°The remaining sixty-nine are VIP seats that are open for sale..¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 82: Flew... It Flew! _2 Chapter 95: Chapter 82: Flew¡­ It Flew! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded, hope gleaming brighter in his eyes. Riding such a big creature while flying, it must feel incredible! Just as he was about to move forward, he felt a tug at his pants leg. It was Ziyun, who was somewhat nervous, and was holding onto his pant leg, afraid to venture forward. Xu Ran blinked. Right, Ziyun had never experienced flying before. It would be somewhat nervous for the first attempt. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared!¡± He squatted down, gently stroked Ziyun¡¯s head and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re already an elite level pet beast. What is there to be afraid of flying?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (That¡¯s right!) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, it seemed to make some sense to Ziyun. It let go off the pant leg it was holding, hesitated for a moment, and followed Xu Ran towards the Tearing Wind Hawk Lion. Soon after, the two of them, along with their pet, sat comfortably on the back of the giant beast. They all fastened their seat belts, including Ziyun. The other passengers had also gradually taken their seats on different Tearing Wind Hawk Lions, waiting for the race to begin and the moment when they would take off to watch the race. ¡°Prepare yourselves-¡± From the starting point, the referee¡¯s command echoes through the air, as the highly intelligent horse-type pet beasts prepared to start. The crowd watching from afar began to be silent. The feeling of anticipation filled the air. ¡°Three¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Beep ¡± After a count of three, a piercing whistle split through the silence. All thirty-one Horse Beasts at the starting point dashed off at the same time. Xu Ran on the empty ground nearby only felt a sudden movement beneath him before he was lifted rapidly into the sky. His gaze floated over the crowd, focusing on the Horse Beasts that had just started running. ¡°Meow!¡± (Ah, we¡¯re flying!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes darted around in surprise and fear. Only after realising that it was safe, bound securely to the beast, did it gradually relax and start enjoying the view from the air with interest. On the track, each Horse Beast showcased its power in dramatic fashion. However, a few stood out from the crowd. In the lead, surpassing all others by a body¡¯s length from the start, was a beast named Amazing. A golden path extended from its hooves, as if it was treading on light, moving at an astonishing speed. This was a Light Attribute two-star skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Path of Light! Right behind it, not losing any more distance, was a horse-type pet beast named Angry Thunder. Each step it took sparked electric flashes that exploded around, sparking off the ground. This was a Thunder Attribute two-star skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Thunder Step! This skill gave it a speed boost and had a special effect that the Path of Light did not have ¨C it could disrupt other competitors. The sparking electricity did not cause much damage, but it was enough to affect the states of the horses nearby. The complaints came from the backs of several Tearing Wind Hawk Lions, and the horses near Angry Thunder quickly moved away from it. In addition to these, the other horses also showed their prowess. Some had flames spurting behind them, pushing them forward like a rocket, while others rode wild winds, letting out neighs as they overtook one competitor after another. But Chasing Wind seemed to have fallen behind from the start. Compared to the other Horse Beasts, it did not seem to be displaying any skill at the moment. Instead, it seemed to be running purely on physical power. ¡°Uncle Xu, what¡¯s the situation with Chasing Wind?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn to Xu Kun. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Watching Chasing Wind trail behind, Xu Kun did not look anxious at all. He gave a small smile, ¡°By the way, I never introduced Chasing Wind¡¯s skill to you, did I, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you didn¡¯t.¡± Seeing Xu Kun so calm, Xu Ran became curious, ¡°Does Chasing Wind have any special skills?¡± ¡°Indeed, it does.¡± Xu Kun pointed at Chasing Wind, ¡°Boss Xu, do you see the light film on Chasing Wind¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Yes, I see it.¡± Xu Ran looked closer, then nodded. Right now, Chasing Wind was covered in a layer of light blue energy film over its red body. This light film was very faint and under the blazing sun, it wasn¡¯t very conspicuous. If Xu Kun hadn¡¯t pointed it out, he might not have noticed it at all. ¡°Chasing Wind has a skill called Pulse of Wind.¡± Xu Kun said confidently, ¡°In the last horse race, it won the championship by using this skill.¡± ¡°What does this skill do?¡± Xu Ran became more and more curious. From Xu Kun¡¯s explanation, Chasing Wind was currently using this skill called Pulse of Wind. With it, could Chasing Wind catch up with the competitors in front? ¡°Pulse of Wind can sense the traces of the wind, gaining the enhancement of the wind, and can accumulate continuously.¡± Xu Kun laughed, ¡°In the process of running, Chasing Wind¡¯s speed will get faster and faster.¡± ¡°Just watch, Boss Xu!¡± Almost the instant Xu Kun finished speaking, Xu Ran opened his eyes wide. The light film, which needed careful observation to notice before, could now be easily seen. Its color was getting richer, and Chasing Wind¡¯s speed was visibly accelerating. Less than a minute into the race, the horse beasts on the field had already run a kilometer, their steadied paces had been drastically altered. Now, the distance between Chasing Wind and the second-to-last was rapidly decreasing! There was a horse about three meters tall with lean and agile physique. Its four earthy yellow hooves were wider than those of other horses, and every time it stepped on the ground, faint ripples spread out, giving it stronger rebound power. Two stars earth attribute skill: Starlight Level Earth Pulse! ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Another shout came from the back of a Tearing Wind Hawk Lion not far away. The Beast Master of this earth attribute horse-type pet beast swiftly gave instructions to speed up, and the horse beast below quickly accelerated. The ripples on the ground became more intense, and the astonishing rebound power allowed it to leap the height of its own body with every step. The sudden increase in speed not only maintained its distance from Chasing Wind but also gradually closed the gap with the third-to-last horse. ¡°That¡¯s right, charge!¡± The Beast Master of the earth attribute horse beast was overjoyed and shouted excitedly. His eyes were firmly locked on the third-to-last horse beast, and he tightly clenched his fists as he watched the distance between his horse beast and it gradually shorten. Ten meters ¡­ five meters ¡­ He did it! They overtook it! Watching the three horse beasts run side by side, his horse was gradually overtaking the previous third-to-last, this Beast Master swung his fist into the air. Then, his expression stiffened a bit. Wait a minute¡­ why were there three horse beasts? On a closer look, his expression changed drastically. His horse beast had successfully overtaken the third-to-last, but at the same time, Chasing Wind, which was originally at the very end, had also surpassed the other two. Its speed was becoming increasingly terrifying, and now it was rapidly approaching the fourth-last horse beast. So¡­ after their burst of speed, they were still second to last?! The Beast Master of the earth attribute horse beast wore a losing-expression. Horse racing was too terrifying, he wanted to go home! ¡°Well done, Chasing Wind!¡± As Chasing Wind easily overtook the fourth horse and then approached the fifth, Xu Ran¡¯s spirit was ignited, and he cheered from the back of the Tearing Wind Hawk Lion. Ziyun, who was gradually getting used to the high-altitude, seemed quite thrilled as well and started calling out to Chasing Wind down below. ¡°Meow meow meow!¡± (Keep going, keep going!) ¡°This is just the beginning!¡± Xu Kun laughed heartily, ¡°Boss Xu, isn¡¯t it more exciting to watch Chasing Wind¡¯s race than the other horses?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly. The other horses had opened the gap right at the beginning, and their rankings hadn¡¯t changed much since then. Although the race was intense, there wasn¡¯t much suspense. But watching Chasing Wind overtake from the very last, now that was truly thrilling! As Chasing Wind successfully overtook the fifth horse, the Beast Masters of the other horse beasts gradually noticed something unusual about Chasing Wind. Unlike Xu Ran, they were no strangers to this champion from the last tournament. Therefore, all Beast Masters¡¯ faces became grim. Even the Beast Master of Amazing, who was in the lead, over a hundred meters ahead of Angry Thunder, the second in ranking, was no exception! They all knew that Chasing Wind¡¯s counterattack was about to begin! Only by keeping their spots can they have the last laugh! Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 83 Stubborn Pony i Chapter 96: Chapter 83 Stubborn Pony i Translator: 549690339 To the sprinting Horse Beasts, a racetrack of ten thousand meters wasn¡¯t far. In just a short while, Amazing, at the front, had already passed the three-thousand-meter mark. And with this, the next stage of the race began! Three thousand meters in, artificial obstacles and booby traps would appear on the track. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± After just a few strides, Amazing¡¯s foot landed on thin air. It let out an instinctive cry of surprise, then stumbled and used the momentum from the previous charge to quickly leap over the hole, about five meters in diameter, that had suddenly opened up beneath it. As Amazing duly passed the hole, it quickly refilled, camouflaging itself back into the solid ground. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With the sound of an explosion of Electric Arc, Angry Thunder, following closely behind, leapt up and easily cleared the obstacle. The difference in overcoming obstacles between the two shortened their distance significantly. Being out in front would inevitably encounter more traps, but those who came later could avoid some of the traps that had already been triggered with the guidance of the Beast Master. Such a racetrack design made the race increasingly unpredictable. At the same time, the two leading Horse Beasts stepped into the trap area after the three-thousand-meter mark, and Chasing Wind, having activated comeback mode, had already surpassed tenth place, becoming the new tenth place. The further ahead, the greater the speed difference, and the gap widened. However, the terrifying speed of Chasing Wind made all this irrelevant! The speed at which it overtook the previous Horse Beast never slowed down in the slightest! At the three-thousand-meter mark from the starting point, it smoothly overtook ninth place! At this moment, most of the obstacles in the obstacle area ahead had already been triggered by the first eight horses¡¯ attempts! ¡°It¡¯s time for me to use my memory!¡± Xu Kun growled and quickly directed Chasing Wind through his Contractual Sensing. From a bird¡¯s eye view, Chasing Wind easily leapt over the preset obstacles, chasing forward at high speed! Eighth¡­ seventh¡­ sixth¡­ Three thousand and five hundred meters¡­ four thousand meters¡­ four thousand and five hundred meters! Its sprint speed became faster and faster, closing in on the distance ahead at a high speed. When Chasing Wind surpassed third place and became the new third place, it had already reached the six-thousand-meter mark! And this was the start of the Third Stage of the race! Here, there will be no more man-made obstacles or traps, the final four thousand meters of a flat racetrack, is the beginning of the sprint! Amazing, which had been caught up by Angry Thunder in the second stage race due to repeatedly triggering traps, erupted again in this final segment and overtook Angry Thunder to regain first place. Running on the Light trail, Amazing¡¯s robust body was almost turning into a golden rainbow! When Chasing Wind stepped on the six-thousand-meter mark, it had already rushed beyond seven thousand meters! ¡°Go Chasing Wind!¡± On the back of the Tearing Wind Hawk Lion, Xu Ran vigorously swung his fist, constantly yelling encouragement to Chasing Wind below, while Xu Kun next ¡¯ to him was equally excited, constantly shouting. Even Ziyun, who popped her head out to look down, couldn¡¯t help but meow tirelessly. At this moment, Chasing Wind¡¯s body was completely covered in a blue Light film, masking its red body, making the entire Horse Beast appear to have changed from red to blue. Every step it took seemed to be cheered on by the wind! That was the Pulse of Wind accumulated to the extreme, the pinnacle of Chasing Wind¡¯s speed! Amazing was fast, but at this moment, the distance between Chasing Wind and it was constantly shrinking! Nine hundred meters¡­ eight hundred meters¡­ seven hundred meters! Chasing Wind leapfrogged past Angry Thunder, becoming the new runner-up! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Angry Thunder let out an unwilling cry, its speed suddenly accelerated a bit, trying to regain its second place which belonged to it, but it soon found out that even if it tried its best to speed up, it was still no match for Chasing Wind. As it watched Chasing Wind¡¯s back as it chased after Amazing, Angry Thunder¡¯s eyes were full of disappointment. It knew that it had lost the ability to compete for the championship. And the distance between Chasing Wind and Amazing was still closing in. Three hundred meters¡­ two hundred meters¡­ one hundred meters¡­ The two Horse Beasts crossed the nine-thousand-meter mark one after another, and their distance was now only a hundred meters! Almost there! It¡¯s so close! The atmosphere at this moment seemed as if it had come to a halt. Xu Kun and Xu Ran cheered loudly, while on the back of another Tearing Wind Hawk Lion, the Beast Master of Amazing was also constantly cheering for his Horse Beast. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Chasing Wind let out a cry, its blue eyes full of fighting spirit. It was going to win! Fifty meters¡­ thirty meters¡­ ten meters¡­ The distance between them was already close enough for them to clearly see each other. Finally¡­ ¡®Stomp-¡® With a heavy step, Chasing Wind, wrapped in the wild wind, overtook Amazing! ¡°Whoosh-¡± Chasing Wind¡¯s solid body snapped the tight finish line as it thundered past, the line dancing wildly in the wind behind it! Xu Ran and Xu Kun, up in the air, gave each other a high flag. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Hello, here is your 2.6 million, please take it.¡± The staff member handed the bank card back to Xu Ran with a strange look on his face. Only ten minutes ago, he had taken the same bank card from Xu Ran and had withdrawn all the funds available. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran grinned and pocketed the bank card. Had this been his past life, this would undoubtedly have been a huge sum of money, but in the current world, it was just that much to him as a Beast Master. One should know that Beast Masters in this world are big spenders¡­ well, although he hasn¡¯t felt it yet. In any case, a small fortune was made, and he felt pleased. ¡°Congratulations Boss Xu, you made a profit.¡± Xu Kun laughed.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 83: Stubborn Little Horse_2 Chapter 97: Chapter 83: Stubborn Little Horse_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°This is all thanks to Chasing Wind.¡± Xu Ran lifted up Ziyun, glancing at Chasing Wind, who was always holding its head high with an air of vigour after the race ended. ¡°Whinny-¡± Chasing Wind lowered its head, showing some signs of intimacy, and nudged Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder as if hinting at something. ¡°Chasing Wind is inviting you to ride on its back.¡± Xu Kun translated Chasing Wind¡¯s intentions. ¡°Really?¡± Remembering the speed of Chasing Wind just now, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Whinny-¡± Chasing Wind let its head fall even further, clearly expressing its intentions. ¡°Well then I will give it a try!¡± Holding Ziyun with one hand, Xu Ran used the other to support himself on Chasing Wind¡¯s waist, pushing himself off the ground with a leap. Ziyun¡¯s nourishment has endowed him with impressive strength, allowing him to easily mount even a high creature like Chasing Wind. After getting on the horse, Xu Ran patted Chasing Wind¡¯s neck, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s charge!) Ziyun raised a paw and pointed forward, zealously giving orders like a commander. Chasing Wind let out a neigh and started to run at full speed with Xu Ran. Xu Kun let out a hearty laugh, a Hexagram Star Array flashing behind him, summoning another horse-type pet beast. He mounted it and followed closely behind Chasing Wind. Xu Kun¡¯s other horse beast was slightly less powerful than Chasing Wind, but still extremely fast. As long as Chasing Wind didn¡¯t use the Pulse of Wind to reach its limit speed, it could keep up with Chasing Wind¡¯s pace. The two horses galloping away attracted many people¡¯s attention. Riding on Chasing Wind¡¯s back, Xu Ran felt an unexpected joy at the moment. A thin layer of green light film enveloped him and Ziyun, also riding on Chasing Wind¡¯s back, shielding them from the wind blowing in their faces at high speed. Two Star Skills, Starlight Level ¨C Wind Stabilization. Even when enjoying its run, it didn¡¯t forget to care for its passengers. Chasing Wind is really¡­ I¡¯m going to cry! ¡°Boss Xu, how does it feel?¡± Xu Kun, riding alongside Xu Ran, asked with a smile. ¡°Absolutely fantastic!¡± Xu Ran nodded vigorously, his face full of joy as if he had gained a new toy. In his previous life, he had never ridden a horse. Now in this life, not only does he get to ride one, but it¡¯s an outstanding horse-type pet beast! Satisfying! ¡°But¡­¡± Xu Ran looked around and a look of confusion crossed his face, ¡°Where are we heading?¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± As Xu Kun looked forward, he was slightly startled, ¡°Chasing Wind has subconsciously headed towards my Mount Beast Breeding Base.¡± ¡°The base is still a little over a kilometer away. How about a visit to my base, Boss Xu?¡± Xu Kun invited with a smile. ¡°Sounds good.¡± Xu Ran nodded. He had already prepared food for the pet beasts in fosterage in his shop, and The System had about ten hours left until its next upgrade. You know what they say, since we¡¯re here anyway. And after watching the horse race, he indeed had a newfound interest in horse-type pet beasts. As the two were casually chatting, two robust horses ran on the ground, and soon, a large base surrounded by tall fences appeared before them. ¡°This is my Mount Beast Breeding Base.¡± Xu Kun let out a hearty laugh, ¡°Boss Xu, let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s get right into it.¡± He patted his horse, the beast understood and suddenly picked up speed. The gates of the breeding base sensed Xu Kun¡¯s approach from a distance and opened automatically, revealing a glimpse of horse beasts freely wandering inside. Chasing Wind, underneath Xu Ran, picked up speed at the same time, and as it passed through the gate, it suddenly let out a neigh. ¡°Whinny-¡± The long and resonating neighs echoed in all directions. Within a moment, horse beasts started appearing from all around. Some had wings growing on their backs, some had a single horn on top of their head. They all had different shapes and attributes, but they coexisted harmoniously. They were originally freely resting and running in this vast horse farm. Now, they were responding to Chasing Wind¡¯s call, and they followed behind Xu Ran and Xu Kun, forming a long row of horses. The horse beasts collectively neighed, and those who were originally idle now sped up their pace, trying to catch up with Chasing Wind, and compete with each other. An unusual race had begun. ¡°Uncle Xu, what is happening?¡± the surprised Xu Ran turned to ask Xu Kun who was riding beside him. ¡°This is a special event at our horse farm!¡± Xu Kun laughed, ¡°Chasing Wind is remarkably persistent in speed. It is a born runner. This persistence has influenced the other horses in the farm.¡± ¡°Therefore, we have such competitions frequently. Over time, it has become a tradition.¡± ¡°The neigh of Chasing Wind just now was to inform others it had won the championship again, and the current run is the other horse beasts¡¯ way of celebrating.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran looked interested. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun, who was lying in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, suddenly moved. It seemed to be affected by the atmosphere around it and jumped down from Xu Ran¡¯s arms. It leaped from the tall back of Chasing Wind to the soft grassy ground. When it landed, it transformed itself into an electric arc at an astonishing speed, following Chasing Wind with excitement in its eyes. ¡°Ha ha, Little Xu, your pet beast is indeed fast!¡± Xu Kun was surprised when Ziyun caught up with Chasing Wind without much effort. ¡°Yes, Ziyun is indeed pretty fast,¡± Xu Ran waved at Ziyun, smiling, ¡°But it¡¯s better for short sprints and is not suited for long-distance running. In this regard, Chasing Wind is really amazing.¡± Chasing Wind ran all the way from the racecourse here, carrying Xu Ran and Ziyun on its back, and doesn¡¯t seem to be tired at all to this point. This stamina alone is astonishing. ¡°Little Xu, what you may not know is that this is not a unique talent of Chasing Wind, but a trait common to all horse beasts,¡± Xu Kun shook his head and laughed. ¡°The original transcendent beings were ordinary beings that have awakened.¡± ¡°Because of this, their appearances mostly relate to ordinary creatures, and they also have some characteristics that they possessed when they were ordinary.¡± ¡°A vast majority of horse-type pet beasts have a one-star skill called ¡®Tenacity¡¯. This skill is passively activated, which gives them more endurance than other pet beasts.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded, feeling that he had learned something new. In the course of their conversation, Ziyun, who had been energetically competing with Chasing Wind in a sprint, simply jumped back onto the back of Chasing Wind and went into Xu Ran¡¯s arms, its face showing a hint of exhaustion. After running at full speed for several minutes with Electric Pursue, it seemed a bit tired. ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Ran broke into a smile, patting Ziyun on the head. ¡°Meow-¡± (Look there!) Ziyun rubbed its head against the palm of Xu Ran¡¯s hand, then suddenly stretched out one of its claws and pointed it to the side. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran followed Ziyun¡¯s guidance and looked to the side, soon spotting a small black little horse. It was running hard in the same direction as Chasing Wind, but its speed was much slower. By now, the horses in the Mount Beast Breeding Base had already run more than one round around the entire field. It seemed as if this little horse was already one round behind the main group. This little horse¡¯s running action was quite immature. Unlike the other little horses, it hadn¡¯t used any skills during its run and looked quite strained. Soon, it was once again overtaken by the main group and became a small black dot at ends of Xu Ran¡¯s line of sight in the dust. A few minutes later, the other horses had run three full laps around the horse farm with Chasing Wind and finally stopped. The spontaneous run to celebrate Chasing Wind¡¯s victory had ended. Xu Ran, who had just jumped down from Chasing Wind, saw the little horse again. After being overtaken twice, it seemed to have only run one lap. But unlike the calm and composed postures of the other horse beasts, the little horse was already soaked in sweat. It returned to its original place with somewhat wobbly steps, eating the food piled beside it in small bites. Occasionally, it glanced at its companions, and there was human-like envy in its eyes. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s that one!¡± Following Xu Ran¡¯s gaze and seeing the small black little horse, Xu Kun, who had just gotten off his horse, sighed, ¡°This little guy, still as stubborn..¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 84 The Story of the Little Horse_l Chapter 98: Chapter 84 The Story of the Little Horse_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Uncle Xu, it seems to be different from other horse beasts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Ran pointed at the little black horse quietly feeding itself when he noticed an exhalation from Xu Kun, as if there was a special story behind it, and raised a question. ¡°Indeed, it is different.¡± Xu Kun nodded slightly, ¡°It seems Boss Xu has been noticing it for a while.¡± ¡°I noticed it halfway through.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°It seemed not to be using any skills. Is this how it trains itself?¡± ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Something dawned on Xu Ran, ¡°According to what you just said, Uncle Xu, even if the horse beast doesn¡¯t use any other skills, it shouldn¡¯t be so exhausted after just a lap with the skill ¡®tenacity¡¯, right?¡± ¡°Yes, a normal horse-type pet beast wouldn¡¯t be like that.¡± Xu Kun walked over, holding the little horse in place, and gently touched the mane that had just grown on its neck, ¡°But what if this little guy is not a Transcendent Being?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran blinked. He scrutinized the little horse before him and then seemed to understand. Because all the other horses were Transcendent Beings, Xu Ran mistakenly thought there were no ordinary horses on the base. The little horse in front of him didn¡¯t show any traces of transcendent power fluctuation. It was just an ordinary creature, which was why it had performed so much worse than its peers. ¡°Uncle Xu, you also keep ordinary horses on your base.¡± Xu Ran laughed sheepishly, ¡°I nearly didn¡¯t recognize it.¡± ¡°There has never been any ordinary horse on the base.¡± Xu Kun shook his head slightly, ¡°The appearance of this little fellow, was accidental.¡± ¡°Accidental?¡± Xu Ran became more surprised. What kind of accident could cause an ordinary horse to appear in a base that breeds horse-type pet beasts? ¡°Indeed, it was accidental.¡± Xu Kun nodded slightly, looking at the little horse who peacefully accepted his touch, and a complex look appeared in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s the offspring of Chasing Wind.¡± ¡°Chasing Wind¡¯s offspring?¡± The pitch of Xu Ran¡¯s voice rose a little and visible surprise appeared on his face, ¡°Why is the offspring of a Transcendent Being an ordinary creature?¡± ¡°Could its mother be an ordinary horse?¡± Xu Ran speculated. ¡°No, its mother is also a horse-type pet beast.¡± Xu Kun shook his head and pointed at the black unicorn in the distance, who had been watching from afar, ¡°That¡¯s Black Sky, its mother.¡± Xu Ran was even more puzzled. He knew that Transcendent Beings have a much higher difficulty producing offspring compared to ordinary creatures, but it was baffling for him that two Transcendent Beings mated and their offspring turned out to be an ordinary creature. ¡°The reproduction of Transcendent Beings has unique rules,¡± Xu Kun spoke softly, ¡°If offsprings are from different races, they will inherit the stronger race of the parents and will not produce a new one.¡± ¡°If the strength of the two parents is similar, the offspring will randomly inherit one of their races. Under such circumstances, there is also a small chance of an anomaly.¡± ¡°That is, the offspring does not inherit either parent¡¯s race.¡± ¡°This is the case with this one.¡± Xu Kun gently patted the little horse¡¯s head, stood up, and said, ¡°Even though it can¡¯t catch up to its peers, since it grew up in the atmosphere of the base, it has developed a competitive nature.¡± ¡°Even if it falls several laps behind its peers, it will give its all, running until it is exhausted.¡± Hearing Xu Kun¡¯s explanation, Xu Ran¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but reveal a moved expression. So this stubborn little horse had such an extraordinary origin. He couldn¡¯t help but approach and tentatively reached out his hand. The little horse glanced at him and the Ziyun at his side, not fearfully standing its ground. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it fear Transcendent Beings?¡± Xu Ran asked. ¡°Although it¡¯s not a Transcendent Being, it¡¯s the offspring of two Transcendent Beings. It has a better constitution than ordinary horses and doesn¡¯t fear the majesty of Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Xu Ran gently stroked the mane of the little horse, ¡°Does it have a name?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s called Star.¡± Xu Kun smiled slightly, ¡°It has a little hobby. On cloudless nights, it likes to look at the stars alone in the sky, so I gave it such a name.¡± ¡°It sounds nice.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun came beside Star and curiously circled around it. Perhaps because it itself was once an ordinary creature, it had a deeper understanding of the insurmountable gap between ordinary creatures and Transcendent Beings, which made it respect Star¡¯s perseverance even more. Living with several horse-type pet beasts every day while being unable to truly integrate itself was probably very painful for this guy. Thinking of this, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but stretch out its claw, wanting to pat Star on the back as a form of comfort. ¡°Neigh!¡± Star didn¡¯t understand Ziyun¡¯s goodwill, and the unfamiliar contact startled it, causing it to spring up from the ground, retreating a few steps cautiously. ¡°Meow?¡± Ziyun retracted its awkwardly hanging paw, then settled down and scratched the back of its neck with its hind paw to ease the embarrassment. ¡°Neigh-¡± A long whinny exuding imposing power came from not far away. Chasing Wind seemed to have noticed due to Star¡¯s exclamation just now. It and Star¡¯s mother, Black Sky, walked over side by side, approaching in front of Star. The family of three huddled together, seemingly discussing something in a low voice. After a moment, Chasing Wind lowered its head and bumped Star with its forehead, easily pushing it in front of Xu Ran. Then it stared at Xu Ran and made a majestic noise.. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 84 The Story of the Little Horse_2 Chapter 99: Chapter 84 The Story of the Little Horse_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Xi Lu~¡± ¡°Chasing Wind says, it hopes to entrust Star to you.¡± Xu Kun translated Chasing Wind¡¯s sentiment without delay, then wore an odd expression. As Chasing Wind¡¯s Beast Master, he knows that though Chasing Wind usually seems indifferent towards the child Star, it has always been observing him covertly. Why would it care so much about Star just to entrust him to Boss Little Xu now? Xu Ran looked just as surprised. ¡°Entrust to me?¡± Xu Ran blinked. He almost blurted out, ¡°How did you know I have an Awakening Stone?¡± But on second thought, it was probably a coincidence. Perhaps his interactions and the Washing and Protection process from yesterday had made Chasing Wind see him as a trustworthy person, and entrust him with the care of young Star? ¡°That¡¯s Chasing Wind¡¯s idea. If Boss Little Xu is willing to, you can take Star with you,¡± Xu Kun smiled, ¡°From what I just saw, Boss Little Xu, you seem to enjoy horse riding a lot.¡± ¡°Star has Chasing Wind¡¯s lineage, so when he grows up, he will be much stronger than ordinary horses. It¡¯s a good choice.¡± Upon hearing Xu Kun¡¯s words, Xu Ran turned to look at Star who was stepping towards him under the watchful eyes of his parents. Having heard the little one¡¯s backstory, he admired him quite a bit. And the Awakening Stone he had been holding onto could conveniently turn Star into a Transcendent Being. But whether to proceed with this, he had to observe. Star slightly raised his head; his black eyes radiating a hint of purple were like deep gems, calmly looking up at Xu Ran who stood taller than him. Indulging in Transcendent blood, it had fairly good intelligence. The man before it, it was told by his father, might just be able to change its destiny. Destiny, Star doesn¡¯t believe in. From the moment it was bom, its companions constantly told Star that it was an ordinary creature, different from them, and that was its destiny. Because it didn¡¯t believe in fate, it ran with all its might so as to catch up with its companions, to prove that it could eliminate the gap between them. Although it always ended in failure, it never gave up. Now, the father it had always seen as an idol told it that its destiny might be changeable. An impulse rushed up in Star¡¯s heart. It wanted to¡­ seize this opportunity! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star suddenly let out a series of urgent neighs, as if inviting Xu Ran to mount atop its back. ¡°Err, you¡¯re still young, you may not be able to carry¡­¡± Looking at the foal that was shorter than himself, Xu Ran was subconsciously about to refuse, but he faltered when his eyes met Star¡¯s determined gaze, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll try.¡± He gently mounted atop Star¡¯s back. The back of Star wasn¡¯t very wide; it looked even weaker compared to its father¡¯s. However, it was able to carry Xu Ran steadily, without trembling. One step¡­ two steps¡­ After Xu Ran got seated, Star began to move forward step by step, then accelerated, starting to run. Sitting on the back of Star, Xu Ran could clearly feel its efforts. After all, it was still an immature foal, but Star was persistent; it was always trying to steady its burdened body. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun slowly straightened up, watching Star carrying its Beast Master farther and farther, lightly nodding its head as though it was approving. Although Star was hiding from it earlier, the magnanimous Ziyun decided to forgive him. If the Beast Master decided to take him, then it would not oppose! Carrying Xu Ran, Star began to run faster and faster. It circled the open field and finally stopped back at the starting point. After Xu Ran dismounted, Star lifted his head up high like a child that anticipated praise after a performance. ¡°Boss Little Xu, what do you think?¡± Xu Kun asked with a bright smile. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran turned his head and glanced at Ziyun. From their One Person One Pet glance, he understood Ziyun¡¯s thoughts. He nodded slowly, ¡°So be it, I¡¯ll take Star with me. Thank you, Uncle Xu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a little horse, no need for formalities.¡± Xu Kun¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Seeing Star being recognized by Xu Ran, a flicker of joy passed in Chasing Wind¡¯s eyes. Without telling his Beast Master, Chasing Wind knew very well that its victory in the championship today was closely tied to yesterday¡¯s Washing and Protection process. Just through washing and protection, he was able to achieve such magical effects. The human in front of them was clearly not a simple one. As if due to a sixth sense, Chasing Wind felt that entrusting its offspring¡¯s future to this human was the right choice, similar to how it had previously chosen Beast Master Xu Kun. ¡°Well then, congratulations Boss Little Xu on getting a beloved horse!¡± Xu Kun patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch here before we go! Try my cooking.¡± ¡°Well then I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. ¡°Star, consider this as your home from now on.¡± Leading Star into his own Foster Shop, Xu Ran opened his mouth with a smile. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± As Star looked about, its eyes flashed with anticipation for the new life. ¡°Meow-¡± (Welcome home!) Ziyun circled around Star once as a welcoming ceremony for the new member, then jumped back to its own spot on the counter. On the way there, Star and Ziyun gradually became acquainted, and Star no longer showed the resistance it had at first when startled; now, it neighed friendly towards Ziyun, waiting for Xu Ran to settle in. ¡°Let me see¡­ first, take a rest here, and tonight you can stay in the Foster Area.¡± Xu Ran contemplated for a moment before he quickly made a decision. At this moment, the system is still being upgraded, and Star entering it would be considered a new resident, so for now, it can¡¯t enter yet. By evening, the system upgrade should be completed and then Star could move in. Although the Foster area is a little smaller compared to Uncle Xu¡¯s horse ranch, there¡¯s still plenty of space for Star to run around in daily, and there are other residents there as well, so Star won¡¯t be alone. Having decided how to settle Star, there was but one thing left. Awaken Star as a Transcendent Being. ¡°Star, close your eyes.¡± Xu Ran silently took out the Awakening Stone and placed it against the obediently closing eyes of Star, wishing it ¡°Good luck,¡± same as he did during Ziyun¡¯s awakening, then let it go and step aside. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± Star¡¯s body slightly trembled. The Awakening Stone didn¡¯t drop even once, but rather hovered in the air and gradually merged into its forehead. As the Awakening Stone completely merged, multicolored radiance emerged from Star¡¯s body, enveloping it layer by layer. Seeing the awakening scene again, Xu Ran, with a dawning comprehension, found it familiar. Because he had previously used the Insight Mirror to choose the Beast Egg, he was now familiar with the colors representing the different attributes. By looking carefully, one could see that the radiance emitted was interweaved by exactly ten different colors, corresponding to ten different attributes. As Xu Ran observed, the ten colors became nine, and the cyan color corresponding to Wind Attribute quietly disappeared. Followed by it, was the red color corresponding to Fire Attribute. Based on his experience with Ziyun¡¯s awakening, the disappearing color represented the attribute that Star didn¡¯t resonate with. And the last color left behind would become Star¡¯s final attribute. ¡°Meow-¡± (Was this how I awakened back then?) Ziyun, lying on the counter, watched this scene with great interest. Watching this process from a bystander¡¯s perspective, compared to experiencing it firsthand, were two entirely different things. Seeing Star being enveloped in the colorful radiance, Ziyun¡¯s eyes displayed an unusual sense of loss. What did it feel like when it awakened? If it remembered correctly, it seemed to have had a dream. In the dream, all the things it was once terrified of emerged, and in the end, it saw a bolt of lightning descending from the sky. Thunder, was the power of which Ziyun, a stray cat at the time, was most scared. It once saw another stray cat who roamed with it die from a lightning strike, and from then on, it had a deep psychological shadow. Perhaps one¡¯s greatest fear is the deepest desire of the heart. So, it finally awakened to the Thunder Attribute and had this power under its control. Then, what would Star¡¯s awakening be like? Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 85 Awakening, The Second Pet Chapter 100: Chapter 85 Awakening, The Second Pet1 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡¯¡ª [Extra 5/10 for the Silver Alliance Rippling Spring Sounds] ¡°Xi Lu~¡± In the deep darkness, Star takes one step at a time towards an unknown direction. Confusion fills its deep purple-black eyes, looking around, but it sees nothing. Where is this¡­? In the unknown darkness, it feels an inexplicable fear, but within the fear, it feels as if something is calling out to it. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± A long whinny comes from the depths of the darkness. Hearing that familiar sound, a spark returns to Star¡¯s eyes. That¡¯s Father¡¯s voice. From a young age, it had always chased its father¡¯s shadow. It has faith that it¡¯s not mistaken about this voice. Subconsciously, Star moves faster towards that direction. Its steps get faster and faster, then it breaks into a run, putting all its strength into it. & ¡°Whoosh ¡ª¡± A shrill wind gusts without warning in the darkness, and the wind, as if with consciousness, deliberately surrounds Star layer by layer, forcing its steps to slow down. In the wild wind, Star¡¯s mane is blown into a frenzy, its slender body shivers. It braces its four hooves on the ground and manages to stand firm. The wind is intense. Star stubbornly lifts its head, it seems to hear its father¡¯s voice more clearly in the wind. It wants to¡­ hear it more clearly! Star exerts all its strength and cautiously takes the first step forward. Seemingly infuriated by Star¡¯s provocation, the wind becomes even more violent. ¡°Clomp clomp-¡± Unable to maintain its footing in the wind, Star is forced to go back a few steps. At that moment, the wind dissolves into nothingness. What also disappears is the sound of its father. Standing in the same place, having lost hope, Star shows a look of despair. Once again, it walks aimlessly into the distance. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Another familiar whinny came faintly from the other side. Star¡¯s eyes light up again. This is the voice of a Flame horse, a young friend that grew up with Star in the base. Recognizing the other¡¯s voice, Star moves step by step towards it. In the deep darkness, a ray of bright light suddenly appears. That is the blaze reaching the sky, the terrifying heat forms violent heatwaves that rush at Star. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± The voice of its comrade is clearer, located right in the center of the blaze. Star takes step by step trying to get closer, but eventually resigns and retreats, leaving traces of charred blackness from the blaze on it. As the flame disappears, the comrade¡¯s voice also disappears along with it. Star moves forward. Thunder, Ocean, Rocky Mountain, Ice¡­ It has been called over and over again by familiar whinnies, experiencing various powerful forces, but in the end, it was shut out by them all. In the end, Star stopped. It heard no more whinnies, but ahead of it, a familiar figure was walking out of the darkness. That was a black horse. Its strong physique imbued with an elegant temperament, and its black horn at the forehead was refined as if made of obsidian, shiny and translucent. That¡¯s its mother, Black Sky. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Exposed to the darkness for a long while and rejected over and over again, seeing its mother ignites Star¡¯s emotions. It rushes forward, hoping to feel its mother¡¯s warmth like before. However, in the next moment, the figure of its mother is swallowed by the darkness. In the world without light, Star is lost again. ¡°Xi Lu!!!¡± Star frantically trots in place, spinning around. Exhaustion strikes from the deepest part of its body. Having held itself together until now, Star suddenly feels so, so tired. At that moment, a faint starlight tears through the darkness. Then comes the second, and the third starlight. Star, lifting its head, sees a night sky adorned with countless stars. That¡¯s the scenery it couldn¡¯t be more familiar with. It doesn¡¯t remember when it first watched the night sky. But from the first time it saw the night sky, it was attracted to a small, unnoticed star. This star does not move with the other stars, its light is more dim than the other stars, making it stand out from the crowd. But Star could relate itself to it. They were so alike, both unique beings within their groups. And now, Star sees it again. Star keeps gazing at that single dim star in the sky until its sight starts to blur, and its consciousness starts to fade. In a trance, it seems to see that dim star gradually brighten and fly towards it lying on its forehead. ¡°Is it over¡­¡± Watching the colorful glow enveloping Star leave only one type of color, a sigh of regret emerges on Xu Ran¡¯s face. For some reason, despite each being an Awakening, Star took much more time than Ziyun to awaken. More than two hours passed, if it wasn¡¯t for the System being reliable, he¡¯ll almost think the Awakening had a problem. ¡°Looks like Star has awakened to the Dark Attribute.¡± Looking at Star shrouded in darkness, Xu Ran nods, ¡°I wonder what kind of skills it will have.¡± Opening his personal panel, he quickly found two Dark Attribute skills among the previously useless skills. Two-star Dark Attribute skill, Nightfall. This skill allows some Dark Attribute skills which require a dark environment to be used without restriction, it is a quite useful support skill. One-star Dark Attribute skill, Dark Elemental Pearl. This skill comes from the Dark Scale Dragon, it is a ranged attack skill, with low cost, weak power, and can be repeatedly used.. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 85 Awakening, The Second Pet!_2 Chapter 101: Chapter 85 Awakening, The Second Pet!_2 Translator: 549690339 It seems that these two skills can be removed from the skill list. ¡°Xi-lu-lu~¡± Accompanied by an enthusiastic neigh, Star emerged from the dissipating black light. Originally less than Xu Ran¡¯s height, the small horse had drastically grown in stature after awakening, exceeding two meters now. Looking at its youthful proportions, one could tell that it could grow even larger in the future. ¡°Star, come here!¡± Xu Ran smiled and beckoned Star. ¡°Xi-lu-lu~¡± Star quickly stepped over to Xu Ran¡¯s side, lowered its head slightly, and rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s palm, its eyes full of excitement and agitation. It understood that its ability to awaken and gain such formidable power was inseparable from the human standing before it. Its father was right! By the side of this human, it could change its fate! Petting Star¡¯s forehead, Xu Ran carefully observed him. His gaze first landed on Star¡¯s forehead. There was a new white mark there, which looked like starlight. This white appearing against Star¡¯s dark fur seemed quite strange. Then, Xu Ran noticed Star¡¯s increasingly spirited and beautiful purple crystal-like eyes. The mane at the back of Star¡¯s neck and its long tail had become elongated and slender, turning purple at the tips, matching the beautiful purple of its eyes. Time for a system identification. [Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: System is upgrading, washing and protection not applicable Evaluation: Slight] Whether washing and protection is applied or not is not important. What¡¯s important is, Xu Ran now knows Star¡¯s actual race ¡ª a Night Colt. ¡°Meow!¡± (Purple is nice!) Curiously looking at the renewed Star, Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. It has purple, Star also has purple. It approves of this little brother! ¡°Xi-lu-lu~¡± Star turned to look at Ziyun, then walked step by step in front of it. Just like rubbing against Xu Ran¡¯s palm, Star rubbed against Ziyun¡¯s smooth and soft fur to express affection. What should it do now? Ziyun thought for a while, then, copying the motion of Xu Ran petting its head, it stretched out a paw, using its soft paw pad to rub on the white mark on Star¡¯s forehead. Stroke stroke (¡®o)¡¯*)o= Seeing the two pet beasts getting along, Xu Ran slightly nodded. With this, his last concern was gone. ¡°Star, would you like to form a contract with me and become my second pet beast?¡± ¡°Xi-lu-lu~¡± What responded to him was Star¡¯s longing neigh. After getting Star¡¯s affirmative reply, Xu Ran slowly closed his eyes. Two light yellow vortexes floated and sank in his mind. This was the power of the second-stage contract. Compared to the previous first-stage power of the contract, not only has its scale grown, its color became even deeper, and its number divided into two. One connected tightly with Ziyun¡¯s breath, and the other was without any presence. That was the extra contract slot gained after reaching the second stage. Using his mind to urge this power of the contract to wrap around Star in front of him, Xu Ran quickly felt the other¡¯s immediate connection to him. Contract successful! The power belonging to Star emerged from its body and flowed into Xu Ran¡¯s body through the contract¡¯s feedback. Compared to Ziyun, already at the elite stage, the power fed back from Star seemed insignificant, but when Star also breaks through to the Elite Stage in the future, this feedback will become considerable. By then, Xu Ran¡¯s own strength would double directly. At that time, he could actually confront the transcendent stage pet beasts. When that time comes, he could suppress transcendent stage pet beasts just by his own strength. As Xu Ran stroked Star¡¯s mane, feeling the joyous emotions from recently contracted Star, he casually opened his personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Second stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C Level)] (57/100) [Drug Application (C Level)] (3/500) [Pranks (D Level)] (0/100) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï¡ïNightfall] (Teachable) [¡ïDark Elemental Pearl] (Non-Teachable) ¡­(Useless skills omitted) Physical Points: o Skill Points: 0 Pleasure Points: 10212 System upgrading, remaining time 04:23:32] Seeing the addition of Star in the Contract Pet Beast column, a smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. However, as his gaze continued downwards, noticing the One Star skill Dark Elemental Pearl that was listed as unteachable in the skill list, his face took on a look of surprise. What¡¯s going on? Dark Attribute Skills can¡¯t be taught to a Dark Attribute Pet Beast? It was the first time Xu Ran had come across such a situation. Before, Ziyun just simply accepted any Thunder Attribute skills. Oh well, let¡¯s first take a look at Star¡¯s details. Contract Pet Beast: Star Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (213/5OO)[+] Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: Twilight Watch (Stardust Level)! ?*](o/ ioo) Star Chain (Stardust Level)[**|(0/100) Night Eyes (Stardust Level)[**](o/ioo) Night Song (Stardust Level)[**](o/ioo) Tenacity (Stardust Level)[*](o/ioo)] What? What??? Observing the four Two Star Skills lined up, Xu Ran¡¯s face was full of astonishment. As far as he knew, the number of Two Star Talent Skills was commonly used to determine the power of a Leader Species. Four Two Star Skills, were the limiting number of Talent Skills of a Leader Species and symbol of an elite Leader Species. Could Star actually have this potential? He glanced at Ziyun, who was also awakened by an Awakening Stone, yet only had two Two Star Talent Skills, and came up with a guess after some contemplation. Perhaps, it was related to the situation before awakening. Before Ziyun awoke, it was just an ordinary kitten. While Star was the offspring of two Transcendent Beings, it just did not inherit its parent¡¯s species by a small probability. Perhaps, this Transcendent Power did not dissipate, but hid deep within its bloodline, triggered by the Awakening Stone, endowing it with greater power. The longer process of Star¡¯s awakening might also be related to this. Of course, this wasn¡¯t too notable a point for Xu Ran. With the system¡¯s add points, talent was not that important. Dark Scale Dragon is an elite Leader Species with four Two Star Talent Skills, didn¡¯t it still get defeated by Ziyun? The effects of Star¡¯s skills were the most crucial. Xu Ran had a hunch that Star¡¯s inability to learn Dark Elemental Pearl might be related to his own Talent Skills. ¡°Come, Star, display Twilight Watch!¡± Xu Ran commanded. From the name, could this possibly be a defense skill? ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star glanced at Ziyun, then neighed, stamping its front hooves on the ground. ¡°Ding-¡± Accompanied by a crisp sound, ripples spread in all directions from where Star touched, on the floor of the shop. These ripples, upon reaching Ziyun, quickly stuck to it, as if a light film not affecting its mobility was attached to its body. The next moment, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes widened involuntarily. As the light film covered Ziyun completely, its momentum rapidly ascended, visibly getting a little taller and maintaining this state. ¡°Meow?¡± The previously leisurely Ziyun laying on the counter was alarmed by this sudden change, immediately stood up, felt the black light film continuously providing it with power, and looked at Star in surprise. Xu Ran observed Ziyun and then the Star, continuously generating black ripples, with his eyes becoming brighter. This was not defensive skill but¡­ an amplifying skill! Moreover, it does not amplify itself, it amplifies allies! ¡°Try another. Use Star Chain!¡± Xu Ran, with a touch of excitement, urged. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star nodded, and then neighed again. Its purple eyes lit up, in the sight of Xu Ran and Ziyun, purple energy covered Star¡¯s body, condensing into an energy saddle and reins. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star looked at Xu Ran, its eyes full of invitation and expectation. Looking at the bridle hanging in the air, awaiting the other end to be held, Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Do you¡­ want me to ride on it?¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 86: The Magical Star Chainl l Chapter 102: Chapter 86: The Magical Star Chainl l Translator: 549690339 It¡¯s been a month since I arrived in this world. Throughout this month, Xu Ran has acquired many skills through Washing and Protection, and witnessed countless others. Indeed, some of the skills were quite unique, their effects and displays proving to be incredibly intriguing. However, Xu Ran had never seen a skill as fascinating as this. Transforming energy into a bridle and saddle? Clearly, the skill wasn¡¯t just about energy transformation. Curious and intrigued, Xu Ran swiftly climbed onto Star¡¯s back, reaching out, he grabbed the other end of the bridle that was suspended in the air. ¡°Boom!!!¡± As his hands touched the bridle, Xu Ran felt a mysterious power linking him and Star together. Their powers intermingled and merged into a cohesive force. In this state, he could fully share his power with Star, meaning he could use his hands to project the Dark Attribute power! ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran, sitting on Star¡¯s back, was stunned. Because of the nurtured power from Ziyun and Star, his power was even more potent than Star¡¯s right after its awakening. When these forces combined, Star¡¯s strength significantly increased. If he were to use a skill in this state¡­ Instinctively, Xu Ran wanted Star to use Twilight Watch again for comparison. But before he could issue the command, Xu Ran realized it wasn¡¯t necessary. ¡°Snap!¡± He snapped his fingers casually, and within the black ripples, Ziyun¡¯s body was enveloped in a light film. In this state, he could also use Star¡¯s skills. Meanwhile, Ziyun¡¯s capacity rose again, and the increase was evidently more significant than the last time. It really works! Having his guess confirmed, Xu Ran was overwhelmed with excitement. So, what¡¯s next¡­ Xu Ran and Star beneath him simultaneously closed their eyes. When they reopened, their pupils had turned into pure black, devoid of any white. Two-star Skills, Stardust level ¨C Night Eyes! Xu Ran had heard of this skill before and was quite familiar with it. It, like the Pupilless Eye of the Dark Scale Dragon, was a skill that augmented vision, but in different ways. The Pupilless Eye could foresee opponents¡¯ moves to some extent, while Night Eyes simply augmented vision, especially night vision. Because of its purity, it was potent. At night, Night Eyes can clearly see even the slightest movement thousands of meters away! Although it wasn¡¯t midnight now, through Star¡¯s Night Eyes, Xu Ran could feel his vision significantly improved. He could see even the dust in the air clearly. Subsequently, Xu Ran, riding on Star¡¯s back, began to try the last two-star skill ¨C Night Song. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star excitedly reared up, preparing to sprint. A thin layer of dark light rippled around it as if a potent force was brewing inside. However, the next moment, the thin layer of darkness quietly dissipated. Star¡¯s front hooves awkwardly dropped back to the ground, a hint of embarrassment in its eyes. This skill, called Night Song, could only be used in darkness. ¡°A skill that can only be used in the dark, huh¡­¡± A smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Well, this skill can come in handy then.¡± Two-star skill, Nightfall, teach! ¡°Xi Lu?¡± Star¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and bewilderment. It felt as if countless experiences of skill usage suddenly surged into its mind, somehow mastering a brand new skill effortlessly. Star:¡±!!!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Don¡¯t be so excited, that¡¯s basic.) Ziyun patted Star¡¯s head, its expression profoundly mysterious. With Ziyun¡¯s simple explanation, Star understood that this skill was taught by Xu Ran, and there were more skills to come in the future. In an instant, Star looked up to Xu Ran with immense respect. My Beast Master is so incredible! ¡°Whenever we encounter other suitable skills, I¡¯ll keep teaching them to you.¡± Xu Ran pet the fur on the back of Star¡¯s neck, his tone full of anticipation, ¡°Now we can test¡­¡± ¡°Xu Ran! Are you there?¡± A somewhat familiar voice sounded outside the closed shop door, interrupting Xu Ran¡¯s words. ¡°That voice is¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows raised, a short-haired girl with wheat-colored skin appeared in his mind. Why is she here? As he opened the shop door, Xu Ran quickly spotted the figure in his mind. By her side, there was a huge wolf with a height of five meters and fur as white and sleek as snow. It was Xu Jiujiu and her pet beast, Frost Dust Wolf. ¡°Come on!¡± Seeing Xu Ran, Xu Jiujiu seemed quite excited, ¡°My dog has become much stronger. Let us duel again¡­¡± Before she could say ¡®duel,¡¯ seeing Ziyun inside the shop, who had not only increased in size but also emitted an energy far beyond any ordinary Transcendent Stage pet beast, Xu Jiujiu abruptly stopped. ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze moving between Ziyun and Xu Ran, before she blurted out, ¡°You¡¯ve made a breakthrough? So quickly?!¡± Just yesterday, during the competition, he was only a Beast Master at the first stage of contract power. Yet he had made a breakthrough overnight? Thinking of herself, who excitedly brought her more potent dog over for revenge, Xu Jiujiu felt a mix of emotions. ¡°Even before the competition, I was just one step away from the second stage..¡± Xu Ran had already thought of an explanation, and with a faint smile, he said, ¡°So, did you come to challenge me?¡± Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 86: The Magical Star Chain! _2 Chapter 103: Chapter 86: The Magical Star Chain! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°It was.¡± Xu Jiujiu couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Now that your pet beasts have already reached the elite stage, there¡¯s no point in comparing anymore.¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Xu Ran suddenly had an idea and lightly tapped on Star, who was standing nearby, ¡°This is my second pet that I contracted, Star.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± It was only then that Xu Jiujiu noticed Star in the field. After taking a close look at him, her face showed a hint of confusion, ¡°Boss Xu, you aren¡¯t thinking of having it spar with my dog, are you?¡± She admitted that her Frost Dust Wolf would definitely not be a match for Ziyun of the elite stage, but at the transcendent stage, Frost Dust Wolf is certainly top-notch. This horse-type pet beast in front of her that looked quite handsome was clearly inferior to the Frost Dust Wolf in terms of aura. It was considerably far from reaching the peak of the transcendent stage. Against such an opponent, Frost Dust Wolf could easily defeat it in seconds. ¡°Comparing doesn¡¯t necessarily mean fighting.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°My pet doesn¡¯t have any attack skills, so of course I won¡¯t let it fight your Frost Dust Wolf.¡± ¡°Your Frost Dust Wolf is quite good at speed, isn¡¯t it? How about we have a speed race?¡± Night Song, the skill that was unsuccessful earlier, could be deployed now in combination with the newly-taught Nightfall. However, based on the preparatory movement before Star¡¯s deployment and the name of the skill, Xu Ran speculated that it would probably be a skill related to speed. Testing it in the narrow space of the store would not fully reveal its power. The outdoors would be the most suitable test site. Xu Jiujiu¡¯s arrival was just in time. The Frost Dust Wolf was Inherently good at speed. Its Frost Flower Path move used in the previous match left a deep impression on Xu Ran. Comparing it with Frost Flower Path would provide a good measurement of Night Song¡¯s strength. ¡°A speed race?¡± A look of surprise crossed Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face. She clearly didn¡¯t expect Xu Ran to suggest that. Soon, though, a cunning smile appeared, ¡°Alright, we can have a speed race, but how about we add some stakes?¡± ¡°What stakes do you want?¡± Xu Ran was taken aback. ¡°Let me think..¡± Xu Jiujiu stroked her chin, ¡°Actually, I came over today not just to compare with you, but also to put my dog up for fosterage here.¡± ¡°I told you before, I still have unused days from my previous fosterage plan at your store. Now those days are up, and I haven¡¯t forgotten our previous bet.¡± Xu Jiujiu giggled. ¡°So for this bet¡­ how about this, if you win, you give my dog a free grooming service. If you lose, I¡¯ll have a one-month fosterage plan at your store all at once!¡± In Xu Jiujiu¡¯s view, there was almost no suspense about the upcoming speed race. It was so easy to win that she felt a bit embarrassed to propose too much as stakes. ¡°So it is settled then.¡± Xu Ran slightly nodded, ¡°About a kilometer from here, there is an abandoned road that people rarely pass by. The total length is about five kilometers.¡± ¡°How about we have a competition there?¡± ¡°I have no objections. Do we ride our pets there or advance to the finish line and wait?¡± Xu Jiujiu casually asked. ¡°Of course, we ride our pets.¡± Xu Ran replied seriously, ¡°At this moment, it¡¯s only right that we share weal and woe with our pets!¡± What a joke, without the Star chain, how could Star, who just awakened, compete with the Frost Dust Wolf in speed, which already mastered the Starlight Level Frost Flower Path? ¡°Alright then.¡± Xu Jiujiu nodded. Seeing Xu Ran leaving the store with his two pets and then closing the door again, she couldn¡¯t help but be curious, ¡°Hey, you were advertising so much during the competition, and today should be a very good business day for you, right?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t the shop open?¡± ¡°The store is under renovation right now to accommodate more customers.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Checking the time, the renovation will probably be completed by the time we finish our race and return.¡± ¡°Plus, besides the original services, the store will also offer an accompanying training service.¡± ¡°Accompanying training!¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°I¡¯m quite interested in this, how much does it cost?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment. The system hadn¡¯t finished upgrading yet, so he didn¡¯t know the price. But, barring any unexpected issues¡­ ¡°The price will definitely be worth the value.¡± Xu Ran looked at Xu Jiujiu and spoke earnestly. ¡°Got it, it¡¯s very expensive.¡± Xu Jiujiu nodded with understanding. As they were talking, they soon arrived at the abandoned road. This stretch of highway had seen better days; the road surface was dotted with potholes, making it extremely dangerous for vehicles to traverse. It had therefore been cordoned off with iron nets awhile ago, redirecting the traffic via other roads. However, no one had come to repair or deal with it yet, leading to its current state of abandonment. For holding a pet beast race, this was the perfect setting, the uneven terrain even added a certain level of difficulty. ¡°Pet beasts can use any skills, but they can¡¯t attack each other. Is that clear?¡± Sitting atop the eager-to-go Star, Xu Ran turn his head to look at Xu Jiujiu, who was beside him. The wheat-skinned short-haired girl dressed in sporty attire sat adeptly on the back of the Frost Dust Wolf. With each of her hands clutching a tuft of fur, she looked valiant under the sunlight. It was indeed fitting of her title of ¡°White Wolf Girl¡±. ¡°No problem!¡± Xu Jiujiu, unconcerned, nodded quickly. ¡°Meow!¡± (Cheer up! Cheer up!) Ziyun retreated to the edge of the abandoned highway, waving her claws to cheer and invigorate Star. She would follow the two throughout the race. With her power at the Elite Stage, using Electric Pursue wasn¡¯t a tricky task. ¡°We¡¯ll start together in 10 seconds!¡± Xu Ran called out, then started counting down in his heart. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Charge!) Star let out an invigorating neigh, lifting his front hoof high and then slamming it down, eagerly anticipating the upcoming race. Having become a Transcendent Being, this would be his first full-force sprint. The power he had longed for had already brought him speed incomparable to before. Purple energy emanated from Star and coalesced under Xu Ran into an energy saddle, while two bridles formed at the same time, fluttering in the air. Two stars Skill, Stardust Level ¨C Star Chain! A touch of solemnity appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face because the upcoming speed race would involve his own power as well! He stretched out his hand, slowly gripping the bridles in the air. On the other side, Xu Jiujiu and the Frost Dust Wolf were also silently counting down ten seconds, poised and ready to go. Through the Contractual Sensing that Xu Ran couldn¡¯t hear, Xu Jiujiu was cheering on the Frost Dust Wolf. ¡°If you win this race, Boss Xu will give you a free washing and protection service.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six! You must win this race. Use the new skill we just learned!¡± ¡°Howl!¡± In response, the Frost Dust Wolf let out a battle-ready howl. The reason One Person One Pet decided to drop by today was not only because the fosterage period for the Frost Dust Wolf was up, but also because the Frost Dust Wolf, through its own diligent practice, mastered a new skill yesterday! Ice Attribute Two Stars Skill, Cold Frost Heart! This was a skill that could amplify all ice attributes, but at the same time, it would increase the consumption of ice attribute skills. It exchanged greater consumption for stronger power. Xu Jiujiu and the Frost Dust Wolf had spent a large amount of time practicing this skill. Their continuous losses to Xu Ran and Lyu Guang stimulated the competitive spirit in the Frost Dust Wolf, causing it to inexplicably resonate with the skill and master it. If the Wolf had mastered this skill during the competition, it was unknown whether the rankings of the Challenge Match would have stayed the same. The ice attribute skill, Frost Flower Path, that boosted speed also fell under the amplification range of Cold Frost Heart. This time, Xu Jiujiu couldn¡¯t figure how she could lose the speed race¡­ Suddenly, she noticed an unusual aura surrounding her and swiftly turned her head. She saw a man and a horse with their auras completely interwoven as if they were one entity. She felt the gradually escalating momentum from Star, which subtly suppressed the Frost Dust Wolf. Xu Jiujiu¡¯s eyes unwittingly widened, her face full of disbelief. At this moment, a thought abruptly popped into her mind. Oh no! I¡¯ve been tricked by this cunning merchant! Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 87 Run at Full Speed! Star!_i Chapter 104: Chapter 87 Run at Full Speed! Star!_i Translator: 549690339 What¡¯s that skill? Can Beast Masters and Pet Beasts actually merge? Xu Jiujiu¡¯s mind was in a whirl, only returning to her senses when Xu Ran and Star made their sprinting move. The ten seconds are up already! Never mind all that, just charge first! Even if Xu Ran has his special tricks, she won¡¯t be a pushover either! ¡°Doggy, charge!¡± Mildly bending her upper body, steadying herself on the back of the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Jiujiu pulled slightly on a bunch of long fur she had pre-grabbed. ¡°Awoooo!¡± The Frost Dust Wolf let out a powerful howl, its chilly aura spreading around, condensing the surrounding moisture into countless tiny frost crystals. With each step it took, new moisture condensed, the previous frost slowly falling to the ground, turning into numerous tiny frost particles. With the enveloping chill, the Frost Dust Wolf seemed to have gained a boost, appearing even more formidable. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level- Cold Frost Heart! Although she hadn¡¯t had the chance to upgrade this skill to the Starlight Level, the visible enhancement to the Frost Dust Wolf was already noticeable. ¡°Crack ¡± The first ice flower blossom on its feet, followed by the second¡­third one and even more, making the Frost Dust Wolf suddenly speed up, carrying Xu Jiujiu, charging forward like a white frost storm. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level- Frost Flower Path! This skill which Xu Ran was familiar with, under the enhancement of Cold Frost Heart, burst forth terrifying speed! In just an instant, the Frost Dust Wolf had taken Xu Jiujiu and overtaken Xu Ran and Star who had a head start! ¡°Neigh!¡± Seeing such a speedy opponent, the fighting spirit immediately rose in Star¡¯s eyes. ¡°We¡¯re using skills as well!¡± Xu Ran issued a low shout, ¡°Nightfall!¡± Star understood, immediately deploying the newly learned skill. Its dark body became completely pitch-black, its smooth fur which normally reflected sunshine, was now transformed from a glossy to a matte finish, no longer reflecting even the faintest light. Even its purple mane and long tail at the ends turned entirely black. What also turned dark were Star¡¯s purple crystal-like eyes. With the exception of the marking on its forehead which maintained its original color, the rest of Star¡¯s body turned completely black in a breath. A heavy Dark Power enveloped its body and the small area surrounding it, as if creating a dark atmosphere around its body. Two stars Skill, Stardust Level- Nightfall! With the skills deployed, Xu Ran and Star both felt their power draining continuously. This special skill, which was only usable during the night, was powerful regardless of environment, but it also consumed more energy, draining set amounts of power each moment to maintain the night environment. ¡°Now¡­¡± looking at the Frost Dust Wolf which had almost reached a hundred meters in front, Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°Night Song!¡± ¡°Neigh!¡± Star, who had been eagerly awaiting this moment, excitedly raised its front hooves and then stomped heavily onto the ground. The rebounding force from the ground enabled it to leap in an instant, the pitch-black light film wrapped it layer by layer, the power of darkness transformed into patterns of strange and gaudy light, revolving around Star¡¯s body, looking cool and filled with a sense of mystery. As this power of darkness enveloped it, Star¡¯s body seemed to merge into the darkness of the night, its speed suddenly rose, leaving a string of black afterimages with each leap. Two stars Skill, Stardust Level- Night Song! ¡°Neigh!¡± Feeling the wild wind howling in its ear, Star¡¯s eyes were full of excitement. That¡¯s the feeling! It used to envy its companions who could easily surpass it with their Transcendent Skills to enhance their speed. But now, it also had the same power! At this moment, Star felt as if it were enveloped in the embrace of darkness, its body lighter and lighter, with each leap propelling it tens of metres forward, running freely and calmly, light and swift! The Frost Dust Wolf in front could no longer widen their distance, the gap between the two stabilized at a little over a hundred meters, with no further changes! Even though there was a huge gap in Skill Proficiency level with its opponent, Star, after linking up with Xu Ran using the Star Chain, its overall strength surpassed the full-fledged Transcendent Stage, hence, there was no disadvantage in terms of speed! ¡°Meow-¡± (Surpass it!) At the side of the abandoned road, Ziyun¡¯s four paws turned into elemental form, easily catching up with the two. At this moment, seeing Star¡¯s burst of speed, excitement welled up in its eyes, and it couldn¡¯t help cheering it on. ¡°Neigh!¡± (Charge, charge, charge!) With the encouragement from the leader, Star felt more confident, as if boundless power was being pumped into its trotting hooves, its speed was getting faster as it got the hang of things. Closer! Even closer! The body of the Frost Dust Wolf started to enlarge in its vision. The distance between the two began to shorten! ¡°Hmm?¡± Sensing the approaching presence behind her, Xu Jiujiu couldn¡¯t help but look back, her face changing when she saw Star¡¯s current state. So fast?! This Horse-type pet beast¡¯s skills doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re just at the Starlight Level! If it manages to surpass us, it¡¯ll be so embarrassing. What¡¯s more important is, the free Washing and Protection would be gone too! ¡°Doggy, we¡¯ll speed up too!¡± Xu Jiujiu shouted in a low voice, ¡°For your Washing and Protection, charge!¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 87 Run at Full Speed! Star!_2 Chapter 105: Chapter 87 Run at Full Speed! Star!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Awoo!¡± The Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s eyes were filled with blazing will to fight, the acceleration of its strong paws increased sharply, each forceful stride was like a howling gale. Frost flowers gathered and shattered under its feet. The frost swirling around it intensified. To pull away from Star at this moment, the Frost Dust Wolf was doing its utmost! A hundred metres¡­ one hundred and ten metres¡­ one hundred and twenty metres! The distance which was being reduced originally, was once again being widened at this moment! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± In the eyes of Star, who perceived this, shone an obstinate determination. It strived to accelerate again, but unluckily, the speed it achieved just now had already been its limit. Watching as the opponent in front gradually dwindled in its sight, a touch of unwillingness flashed in Star¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± At this moment, Xu Ran¡¯s hand lightly landed on Star¡¯s head, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you still have a One Star skill.¡± One Star skill, Stardust Level ¡ö Tenacity! Even though it¡¯s also just Stardust Level, the passive nature of this skill made sure that Star was endowed with a stamina more formidable than the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s. Five kilometers of track was not too long, but certainly not short either. Could the Frost Dust Wolf run the full course at its current speed? Xu Ran knew very clearly, the chances of it doing so were very slim. But, Star could! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (That¡¯s right!) An exhilaration sprung up in Star¡¯s obsidian eyes. Reminded by Xu Ran, it too thought of that point. It, too, had the hope of victory! ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything else, run at full speed! Star!¡± Xu Ran shouted in a low voice, also leaning slightly forward to reduce wind resistance, holding tight to the reins transformed by the Star Chain, ¡°Charge!¡± With the soothing and encouragement from Xu Ran, Star¡¯s mood quickly settled down. It didn¡¯t blindly increase its speed anymore, instead, it continued to keep up its all-out speed, charging towards the direction of the finish line. One hundred and fifty metres ¡­ two hundred metres ¡­ two hundred and fifty metres. The Frost Dust Wolf which had accelerated to its limits once again left it behind, the track was filled with frost flowers and shards of frost that hadn¡¯t yet had time to dissipate. ¡°Meow!¡± (Keep it up!) On the roadside, Ziyun- who had been accompanying and watching the entire process- had encouragement in its eyes. Although it was somewhat annoyed watching its little brother being left behind by the Frost Dust Wolf, it did hear what Xu Ran said just now. It repeatedly accelerated to catch up with the Frost Dust Wolf in front, then deliberately slowed down to stay beside Star, in order to gauge the gap between the two while simultaneously encouraging Star to keep striving. Time was bit by bit moving forward, Star and Frost Dust Wolf had run nearly half the distance, the straight line distance between the two had also reached nearly five hundred meters. Looking ahead from Star¡¯s current position, the Frost Dust Wolf was reduced to a speck of white. Despite making an all-out dash, it could only just make out the trail of frost flowers left by the Frost Dust Wolf. However, at this moment, Ziyun- who had returned to Star and Xu Ran¡¯s side- brought back good news. ¡°Meow!¡± (They are slowing down!) ¡°Great!¡± Xu Ran shouted out loud, ¡°Star, maintain your current speed, it¡¯s our turn to overtake them!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± In response was Star¡¯s excited neigh. With the help of the Tenacity passive skill, it, who was maintaining a constant all-out dash, had used up a considerable amount of strength, but it didn¡¯t feel any fatigue! With this condition, it could still run for a very long time! Star was confident that before reaching the finish line, it could maintain its current condition! ¡°Hahaha, we have already surpassed them this far!¡± Xu Jiujiu laughed heartily as he looked back and saw Xu Ran and Star, who were almost reduced to a black speck, ¡°Good boy, let¡¯s power through!¡± ¡°Awoo!¡± Good! A confident reply came from the Frost Dust Wolf, although within that sound, a hint of fatigue was noticeable. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Jiujiu quickly noticed that his Pet Beast wasn¡¯t at its peak, and promptly lowered his head to check. Upon seeing the slightly opened mouth and the faintly extended tongue of the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Jiujiu nodded in understanding, ¡°So that¡¯s it, you¡¯ve worked hard!¡± The stamina of the Frost Dust Wolf was not that strong. Such intense full-speed running, coupled with the exertion of the Cold Frost Heart, created considerable pressure. After running two to three kilometers, a decline in performance was expected. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re a bit tired, our competitors must not be faring much better.¡± Xu Jiujiu comforted the Frost Dust Wolf by gently patting its head, ¡°Maintain your rhythm, and let¡¯s sprint towards the finish line!¡± ¡°Awooo!¡± I can still keep going! Warrior spirit filled the eyes of the Frost Dust Wolf, although its speed had slightly decreased, it was also controlled with great efforts by the beast, maintaining a steady pace. Three kilometers¡­ four kilometers¡­ ¡°Just one kilometer left, let¡¯s sprint to it!¡± With the road sign at the edge of the path in sight, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face was filled with exhilaration. However, her expression quickly changed as she turned to look behind her. ¡°Eh????¡± Seeing Xu Ran and Star, who had unknowingly come up behind them and were less than a hundred meters away from her and the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Jiujiu was taken aback. How is this possible?! They had already fallen more than 500 meters behind, how could they catch up?! That is illogical, does Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast never tire out? ¡°Awooo?!¡± What¡¯s going on?! With its state declining and its speed decreasing again, the Frost Dust Wolf also turned to look as it heard the voice. It was dumbstruck upon seeing the unstoppable Xu Ran and Star. If I am this exhausted, how can that guy still be running so fast? ¡°Little doggy, we need to speed up!¡± Xu Jiujiu gave a low shout, her eyes gleamed with a competitive spirit. She had been leading all this way, she didn¡¯t want to be overtaken in the last kilometer, that would be too embarrassing! ¡°Awooo-¡± The Frost Dust Wolf let out a long howl, struggling to support its exhausted body, it quickly activated the Cold Frost Heart. The sudden eruption of cold air almost instantaneously enveloped its massive body with frosty mist. Under the combined effect of the Cold Frost Heart, the speed of the Frost Dust Wolf on the Frost Flower Path increased again. As they were about to pull further ahead from Star, Xu Jiujiu and the Frost Dust Wolf heard Xu Ran¡¯s voice from behind. ¡°Star, let¡¯s speed up too!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Accompanied by a fervent neighing, a boundless force seemed to be poured into Star¡¯s four hooves. Like a ghost moving forward in the dark, its pace silently increased once again with the blessing of the Night Song! Eighty meters¡­ fifty meters¡­ thirty meters¡­ ten meters¡­ The Frost Dust Wolf, which was rapidly accelerating by forcibly lifting its spirit, no longer had any advantages under the extraordinarily steady speed of Star, and after briefly running neck and neck, Star overtook the Frost Dust Wolf with strong steps. The lead had changed hands! The finish line was right in front of them! Looking at the abandoned road sign just a stone¡¯s throw away, Xu Ran and Star both let out a loud yell, unleashing all their power. They crossed the finish line, like a streak of black light, before finally halting their steps. At the finish line, Ziyun, who had been eagerly waiting, excitedly came forward. She gracefully leaped up and lightly patted the white spot on the forehead of Star as encouragement to her successor. ¡°Meow!¡± (You did great!) ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star returned to its original purple color, its eyes resembling a purple crystal, filled with excitement and joy. It did it! As a newly awakened Transcendent Being, it had a speed it had never dared to dream of before. At this moment, it thought about the words its parents said when it left the Mount Beast Breeding Base. ¡°From now on, you will have a new life of your own.¡± Is this its new life? It loves it! ¡°Boss Xu, your Pet Beast is just too amazing. Does it not get tired? And what on earth is this skill that you and your beast are using together! I have never heard of it.¡± Xu Jiujiu, who had just jumped off the Frost Dust Wolf, could not resist speaking up. ¡°My Star has a one-star passive Tenacity skill, which greatly improves its durability in both running and fighting.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°As for the skill we used together, that¡¯s another skill of Star, Star Chain.¡± After Xu Ran briefly described the effect of the Star Chain, Xu Jiujiu couldn¡¯t help but show a look of envy, ¡°Damn, I want a Pet Beast like that too!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star neighed and held its head high. ¡°Star is unparalleled.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, looking at the prompt message that suddenly popped up, a rich smile appeared on his face. ¡°The renovation and maintenance of the shop are completed. You can foster the Frost Dust Wolf now..¡¯1 Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 88: Upgrade Completed! New Features! _1 Chapter 106: Chapter 88: Upgrade Completed! New Features! _1 Translator: 549690339 [Adding 6/10 Bonus Chapters to ¡°Rippling Spring Sounds¡± for the Silver Alliance] Just as the two of them finished their race, the system notification that Xu Ran had been waiting for finally arrived. [System Upgrade Complete] Seeing the six characters appear before him, his smile became even brighter. According to his guess, the upgraded system should bring some kind of enhancements. He wasn¡¯t sure what those enhancements were, but he was sure of one thing. The system upgrade was definitely good news for him. Looking at Xu Jiujiu, who had remounted the Frost Dust Wolf and was preparing to return to the foster shop, Xu Ran smiled slightly, similarly leaping upwards to sit on Star¡¯s back. ¡°Meow-¡± (Take me with you!) Ziyun, who was also a bit tired after running five kilometers, didn¡¯t miss this chance to laze about. With a light leap, he also jumped onto Star¡¯s back and lazily lay down in front of Xu Ran. Ziyun¡¯s upper body was hanging on the left side of Star, while its lower body was draped over the right side, making it look like a big, soft puffball. Xu Ran, amused, gently stroked Ziyun¡¯s soft fur and said in a low voice, ¡°Star, let¡¯s go home.¡± Xu Lu Lu! (No problem!) As Star had just won a race, it was still in a state of high spirits. Instead of resisting Ziyun jumping onto its back, it seemed rather delighted. Without breaking into its top speed again, the journey back posed no pressure for Star. Alongside the Frost Dust Wolf, the two pet beasts headed towards the Starfire Foster Care Shop. While one hand continued to stroke Ziyun¡¯s long fur, occasionally brushing the flowing mane behind Star¡¯s neck, Xu Ran opened his personal panel with a thought. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Second stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun[View Details] Star[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-Level)](57/ioo) [Drug Application (C-Level)](3/5OO) [Pranks (D-Level)](o/ioo) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï Dark Elemental Pearl](Non-teachable) ¡­ (Useless skills omitted) Physical Points: o Skill Points: o Pleasure Value: 10343 System Upgrade Experience: 0/2000] [Main Task 1: Making a Big Entrance Task Description: Please raise all three system skill levels to B-Level Task Rewards: System Clerk xl, System Upgrade Experience +100] [Lottery Drawing] [Recycling] Looking at the personal panel that differed somewhat from before, Xu Ran stroked his chin. There was quite a lot of information to take in. First was the still non-teachable dark attribute, one-star skill, Dark Elemental Pearl. After testing Star¡¯s skills, Xu Ran had made certain speculations. Unquestionably, Star held an unparalleled advantage in assisting, with the skill like Star Chain that Xu Ran had never heard of before. The Creator was fair, and such a powerful pet beast would certainly have some flaws. Perhaps Star¡¯s flaw was that it couldn¡¯t master attack skills. Having speculated this, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze shifted downwards, landing on the brand new system upgrade experience bar. The existence of the experience bar meant that the system could be upgraded more than once. That was good news, but for now, it was a bit too far off. He would deal with it later. Next, Xu Ran saw the new system task. The new task had the prefix ¡°Main Task¡± instead of the previous ¡°Novice Task¡±. Considering the system upgrade, could it be said that he had been in the novice phase all this time, and was just now leaving the novice village? When this idea came to his mind, a sense of helplessness appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. So, after experiencing everything he did, he was still staggering about in the novice village? Looking at the description of the new task, it was clear that this task was more difficult than all the previous novice tasks. Among all his skills, the one closest to B-level is Plucking Fur, which had just reached halfway to completion. Drug Application had just been upgraded and would take some time to get to B-Level. The most difficult one was Pranks. He hadn¡¯t even had a chance to use this skill since he got it, and it was still at the D-level progress bar at 0. The difficulty of raising it to B-Level was obvious. The rewards for the task, on the other hand, were completely different than Xu Ran¡¯s previous ones. Apart from the usual system upgrade experience, the other reward was an abstract thing called a ¡°System Clerk¡±¡­ System Clerk¡­ Was it what he thought it was? Xu Ran stroked his chin, his expression easing into amusement. If it really was what he thought, then it would become interesting. Anyway, he would first get all three skills to B-Level as soon as possible, and see exactly what this different task reward was! Filled with an inward rush of encouragement, Xu Ran continued to scroll down, skipping over the lottery drawing and stopping at the new function, [Recycling], at the very bottom. Upon opening it, a projection similar to a furnace appeared in front of Xu Ran, with a small golden question mark at the top. Great, the system was very cooperative, sparing him the time of figuring it out. Xu Ran casually touched the question mark sign, and quickly the introduction about the new feature flowed into his mind. Having digested all these contents, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes slowly went wide. This¡­ This!!! The problem of useless skills that he¡¯d been worrying about was actually solved by the system! The newly appeared recycling function was specifically created to solve the problem of useless skills obtained by plucking fur. The usage was very simple. Select the skill obtained through plucking fur, drag it into the furnace, and these skills could be disassembled into varying amounts of skill fragments based on their star level strength.. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 88: Upgrade Completed! New Chapter 107: Chapter 88: Upgrade Completed! New Features !_2 Translator: 549690339 Since it¡¯s recycling, these useless skills could naturally be put to good use again. When enough skill fragments are accumulated, they can be exchanged for skills to teach to pet beasts! Being able to freely choose the skills you get instead of randomly receiving them through plucking fur is obviously a lot more reliable! Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran tentatively dragged the un-teachable Dark Elemental Pearl into the furnace. A moment later, accompanied by the cool special effects of flames gushing from the furnace, a line of text appeared before Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. [Obtained Skill Fragment xl] Huh? Just one? Xu Ran made a face, slightly disappointed. The one-star skills probably aren¡¯t worth much. After his Plucking Fur ability was upgraded to C level, Xu Ran could obtain two stars skills at the most through Plucking Fur. But obtaining different skills also had different probabilities. The probability of getting a one-star skill was much higher than that of a two-star skill. With his current plucking fur level, by grooming two pet beasts, he could get a one-star skill. So at the moment, his list of useless skills consisted of many one-star skills. All the Electricity System and Dark Attribute skills that could be taught were taught. The one-star skills will all be broken down¡­ Wait, should the Earth attribute skills be spared? Recalling the beast egg that was still on the nightstand on the second floor, hesitation only lingered on Xu Ran¡¯s face for a second before he tossed the one-star Earth attribute skill into the furnace. These weren¡¯t any rare skills. If needed, he could just pluck them later. Besides, it wasn¡¯t even certain if the hatched beast egg would become his pet beast. After breaking down all the one-star skills, Xu Ran ended up with 23 skill fragments in total. Next, onto the two-star skills. Glancing at the remaining useless skills, Xu Ran tentatively dragged a two-star Fire Attribute skill into the furnace. [Obtained Skill Fragment x4] Oh¡­ It¡¯s more than the one-star skill, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be that much either? Looking at the remaining 7 skills, Xu Ran gritted his teeth and threw them all in. The number of skill fragments reached 55. Exchange! Expectation flickered across Xu Ran¡¯s face as he clicked on a shopping cart icon in the corner of the recycling interface. He had just broken down twenty-three one-star skills and eight two-star skills. The fragments from so many skills should be enough to exchange for a dozen or so skills¡­ Right? Staring at the exchange rate listed in the store, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a trace of confusion. [Choose One Star Skill: 10 Skill Fragments Each] [Choose Two Star Skill: 40 Skill Fragments Each] [Choose Three Star Skill: 200 Skill Fragments Each] [Choose¡­] No need to read further, he can only afford a two-star skill now. This damn system! Ten useless skills can only be exchanged for one skill of the same star level, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself! Xu Ran gritted his teeth, glanced at Ziyun and Star who were enjoying his pets, and exited the recycling interface. Even though he could exchange, he wouldn¡¯t be able to get much, he should consider this more long-term. Xu Ran, who couldn¡¯t swallow his anger, casually clicked on the lottery drawing interface. He had noticed that he had slowly accumulated another 10,000 pleasure points, which meant he could do a ten-draw lottery now. Although Lucky Liu was not here, as everyone knows, the best time to do the lottery drawing is right after an update. Yes, I¡¯m going to do a ten-draw lottery¡­ Wait, no! Nowhere near enough! Xu Ran stared at the two options on the lottery drawing interface, his face frozen. [Draw Once] consumes 10000 pleasure points. [Draw Ten Times] consumes 95000 pleasure points. Huh? What?! He incredulously counted the zeros one by one, no matter how many times he counted, there was one extra zero. What¡¯s the meaning of this? After the system upgrade, the pleasure points needed for the lottery drawing have increased tenfold? You system, you really are¡­ [Lottery function upgraded, no more white rewards, the probability of receiving other level rewards has increased in proportion] My precious! Seeing the line of text that suddenly popped up, Xu Ran quickly changed his mind. If the probability of receiving other rewards has increased in proportion, does it mean that the previous probability of getting a white reward now corresponds to a green reward, and the previous green reward now corresponds to a blue reward? So about the probability that matches the blue rewards previously¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s heart involuntarily palpitated. Although the chances have increased tenfold, if he gets the purple reward every time he draws ten consecutively, it seems¡­he wouldn¡¯t lose at all? He told himself, no more drawing, save for a consecutive ten draws, and then wait for Lucky Liu! ¡°Boss Xu? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Jiujiu turned around to see Xu Ran sitting on Star¡¯s back. His face flicked between solemnity and surprise, a look of confusion apparent. ¡°Nothing, I was just thinking.¡± Xu Ran snapped back to reality, let out a laugh and looked around, ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± During the time he was checking his personal panel, Star and Frost Dust Wolf had nearly arrived at the foster shop. ¡°Hehe, let¡¯s first clean and care for my pup!¡± Xu Jiujiu patted Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s head. ¡°Though I didn¡¯t get your free cleaning service, my pup¡¯s been working hard. It certainly deserves a treat.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Frost Dust Wolf raised its head, rubbing against Xu Jiujiu, its icy blue eyes filled with joy. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran chuckled. It was evident that Xu Jiujiu and Frost Dust Wolf had a great bond, much like he had with his own pet beasts. ¡°By the way!¡± Xu Jiujiu started, nudging Xu Ran with her elbow, looking around suspiciously, then covered her mouth like she was about to gossip. ¡°I heard a little rumor, Boss Xu, that your cleaning isn¡¯t very¡­professional?¡± Xu Ran:¡±????¡± ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± Xu Ran retorted, ¡°Cleaning is nothing more than bathing and grooming your pet beasts. How unprofessional can it be?¡± ¡°I was scrolling through the forum the other day and happened to see a post talking about it.¡± Xu Jiujiu shrugged, ¡°But you¡¯re right, it¡¯s just cleaning, how unprofessional can it really be? They must have mistaken something.¡± ¡°Yes, exactly!¡± Xu Ran nodded briskly, feeling secretly relieved inside. He is such a decent guy. If anything seems unprofessional, it must be the system¡¯s fault. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to keep an eye on you while you clean my pup.¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s unexpected remark caught Xu Ran¡¯s expression frozen midway. She doesn¡¯t trust him! ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, this is it!¡± Returning to the front door of the shop, Xu Jiujiu hopped off Frost Dust Wolf, put her hands on her hips, looking quite pleased with herself as she pointed to the closed door, ¡°Open the door, Boss Xu!¡± Xu Ran gave the suddenly eccentric girl a weird look, slowly opening the door. ¡°Hmph- hmph~¡± Xu Jiujiu, who had not entered the shop before, hummed a tune, sauntered in, and soon spotted the price list on the wall. Her tune went off-key immediately, ¡°You-you-you¡­this price?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the price? I thought you knew the cleaning and caring costs.¡± Xu Ran casually replied, then followed her flabbergasted stare to the price list on the wall. His expression then froze as well. This price list¡­it¡¯s somewhat familiar yet strange? First off, cleaning and care prices. Under the original three price signs, there was another one. [Super Large Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring 266666/Yuan per session] Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched a little. This price¡­ it¡¯s something else. But does this mean that the shop can now clean and care for super large pet beasts? Xu Ran glanced at the closed door of the grooming room. Super large pet beasts start at ten meters long and can grow up to thirty meters. If they are even bigger than that, they would fall into the next size grade, gigantic. The current grooming room is huge, but it doesn¡¯t seem to fit the super large pet beasts. What is the system really trying to sell? A bit curious, Xu Ran shifted his gaze to the foster care price list next to the grooming sign. This time, there were more changes. The former foster services, which were divided based on size, are now solely divided by growth stages, at the same price as before for large pet beasts. [Transcendent Stage Pet Beast Fosterage: 666/Yuan per day] [Elite Stage Pet Beast Fosterage: 6666/Yuan per day] [Leadership Stage Pet Beast Fosterage: 66666/Yuan per day] It seems some of the current tenants will experience a price hike once their foster care period is over. Xu Ran stroked his chin and continued looking down. [General Stage Pet Beast Fosterage: 266 Beast Master Points per day] [King Stage Pet Beast Fosterage: 666 Beast Master Points per day] Well, the system is no longer content with just earning money. Directly charging Beast Master Points, that¡¯s pretty ruthless. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes moved to the next column, quickly spotting a brand new price list. It¡¯s for the accompanying training service. After a moment, he looked back at Xu Jiujiu, whose mouth was stupefied, a smile covering his face. ¡°You mentioned that you¡¯re interested in the training service?¡± Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 89 The Change in Washing and Protectionl Chapter 108: Chapter 89 The Change in Washing and Protectionl Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ahem, I suddenly feel like we should discuss the training later.¡± Xu Jiujiu sat up straight and spoke earnestly, ¡°Boss Xu, please groom my dog first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran grinned lightly, raising a hand to pat the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s forehead. ¡°Come this way.¡± ¡°I want to watch!¡± Seeing her pet following Xu Ran towards the Grooming Room, Xu Jiujiu quickly followed, her heart slightly relaxing. The price for training was identical to the same level of foster care but charged by the hour. Because of her Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s large body size, she was a regular at the foster shop, but she had never seen training prices so ridiculous. Isn¡¯t this just an added service for foster care? Why is it more expensive than fostering! While complaining internally, Xu Jiujiu followed Xu Ran into the grooming room, her eyes widened once more as she gawked at the spacious grooming area far exceeding her expectations. She couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°This is so big?¡± ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s okay.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. He was also surprised. The grooming room was now ten times larger than before, even a super large pet beast could easily be accommodated. No wonder the system had confidently added foster care service for super large pet beasts. But the problem is¡­ Surveying his surroundings, Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned more peculiar. The shop¡¯s space isn¡¯t this large. How on earth did the system manage to expand the inner space without making any changes to the external environment? Is it space technology? Or some other high-tech? Not every customer is as carefree as Xu Jiujiu. Surely, there won¡¯t be any issue, right? Perhaps sensing Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts, the system suddenly popped up a line of text. [About the Space Expansion introduction, click to view details] As Xu Ran clicked on it, lines of introductory text appeared. After careful reading, Xu Ran¡¯s expression showed understanding. According to the system¡¯s explanation, such a technology is already present in this world, although it¡¯s higher-end, and foster shops have never used it. Customers who notice might think he is using a sledgehammer to crack nuts, but they wouldn¡¯t consider it unreasonable. Feeling reassured, he resumed the grooming session. Xu Ran casually brought a stool for Xu Jiujiu, ¡°You can keep it company here.¡± Then, the pointed to the grooming platform reserved for large pet beasts, ¡°Frost Dust Wolf, come up here.¡± ¡°Growl-¡± The Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation as it lightly jumped onto the grooming platform and obediently lay down. Its mouth slightly open, panting, the clear gaze turned to watch Xu Ran. At this moment, it didn¡¯t resemble a wolf at all, instead, it rather looked like a pure white husky. A silent inner comment later, Xu Ran walked towards the mixing station to prepare grooming products for the Frost Dust Wolf. [To enhance the grooming effect this time, the system will provide the host with the relevant knowledge of the ¡°Advanced Grooming for Canine Pet Beast¡± and ¡°Advanced grooming for Ice attribute Pet Beast¡±] Xu Ran¡¯s hand paused slightly. A gift again? Each time a specific type of pet beast received grooming for the first time, the system would provide Xu Ran with the corresponding knowledge to compensate for his deficit in that area. This knowledge wouldn¡¯t be taken back after grooming, just like Xu Ran¡¯s own learning, so the same knowledge wouldn¡¯t be granted again when encountering the same type of pet beast. He had groomed Ice attribute pet beasts before. Ideally, he wouldn¡¯t receive the gift of ¡°Basic grooming for Ice attribute Pet Beast¡± again¡­ Wait a minute! Xu Ran took a closer look at the floating text before his eyes. This was not ¡°Basic¡±, but ¡°Advanced¡±! At the same time that Xu Ran realized the difference between the two, the gifted knowledge began to flood his brain like a tide. Softly closing his eyes for an instant, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes were brighter than ever when he opened them. Not the same! Totally not the same! The knowledge that was gifted to him at this moment was absolutely profound compared to his previous knowledge! If the previous ¡°Basic¡± had an information volume of 1, then the current ¡°Advanced¡± had an information volume of 10! Looking at the various products he had originally prepared for grooming the Frost Dust Wolf, he furrowed his brows slightly. The more sophisticated grooming knowledge he now possessed made him reevaluate his previous preparation, immediately feeling rough and crude. It can be better. He began to revise the original formula and supplies, a mixture of familiarity and unfamiliarity showed in his actions. Shortly after, he turned to look at the Frost Dust Wolf with a normal expression. ¡°Come.¡± He gently began, water with a chilling feeling gushing out from the shower head he held. The moment the water was sprayed out, the surrounding air temperature dropped by a few degrees. This cold water ought to freeze into ice, but after Xu Ran added some special resources, it had a non-freezing effect. The icy water gently hitting the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s back gave it an incomparable comfort, very much like eating an ice lolly on a hot day. This refreshing sensation caused its massive body to shudder slightly. [Pleasure value from the Frost Dust Wolf +15] Indeed! Xu Ran kept a straight face, but he was shouting for joy internally. Due to the more ingenious mixture of resources added to the bath dew, the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s comfort level had greatly increased. Which in turn, produced higher pleasure value! Even though the shop now offered a foster care service, grooming was still the primary source of pleasure value. The value obtained from the foster care service was lower, but the advantage was that it was sustainable and extremely stable. Upgraded grooming techniques following the system update meant that the pleasure value yield Xu Ran earned was going to increase significantly! Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 89 The Change in Washing and Chapter 109: Chapter 89 The Change in Washing and Protection_2 Translator: 549690339 | This upgrade is a real delight! Xu Ran looked at the massive pup in front of him, his gaze gradually softening. With such a big body, it would take a long time to wash, right? He gently stroked the slender white fur of the Frost Dust Wolf, wetting every inch of its body with water, causing the wolf¡¯s fur to cling to its muscles, revealing a robust and smooth curve. The Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s body couldn¡¯t stop shivering, and in the end, it couldn¡¯t resist shaking its head quickly to shake off the water, at the same time raising its head to let out a satisfying howl. ¡°AW00-¡± Xu Jiujiu, who was sitting beside and watching the whole process, widened her eyes slightly. What was going on? Isn¡¯t it just wetting with water? Why is her pup behaving so dramatically? She couldn¡¯t resist looking at Xu Ran, and after noticing his gaze on the Frost Dust Wolf, her heart skipped a beat again. This¡­this kind of gaze¡­ Boss Xu, you said you were decent! ¡°Awooo¡ª¡± Another weird sound came from the grooming room. Ziyun calmly tucked her paws under herself, lying on the counter, only occasionally glancing in the direction of the grooming room. In contrast, Star who was beside Ziyun was not so calm. The tiny head of the little monster was full of big doubts. What was happening inside that room? Why did its Beast Master and that big white dog along with the other Beast Master enter the room, and after a moment let out such strange noises? For Star, who had never experienced this before, the current situation was inexplicably weird. It subconsciously turned its head, and after seeing the calm expression on Ziyun¡¯s face, it seemed to understand a little more. Of course, sister Ziyun had been here longer, she should know what was happening inside! Even though it didn¡¯t know, it could ask her! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (What¡¯s happening in there?) ¡°Meow-¡± (Xu Ran is bathing that dog!) Ziyun casually waved one paw, indicating that this was a very common situation. Bathing? Instead of relieving Star¡¯s confusion, it became even more confused. Why would its Beast Master bathe someone else¡¯s pet? Why doesn¡¯t he bathe Star? ¡°Xi Lu?¡± As if facing a curious baby, Ziyun patiently explained the situation of the Starfire Foster Care Shop to Star. Very soon, Star understood the meaning of grooming and foster care. So its Beast Master¡¯s regular job was to take care of other Beast Masters¡¯ pet beasts¡­ Star¡¯s eyes filled with longing and envy. It also wanted to be cared for by the Beast Master¡­ ¡±Meow-¡®1 (The new skills you learned, that¡¯s what Xu Ran earns from¡­) Looking at Star¡¯s yearning, Ziyun felt as their team senior, it was necessary to clue it in on a big secret only their closest associates could know. So, in her vivid storytelling, Star¡¯s longing gradually turned into admiration. So the Beast Master was working hard to make them stronger by taking care of the pet beasts of other Beast Masters! In this process, he continued to be misunderstood by outsiders due to the strange noises made by those pet beasts. He truly, it was so touching! Meanwhile, the sounds from inside the grooming room were getting more and more intense. Star couldn¡¯t resist looking in the direction of the grooming room again. It already knew that its Beast Master was inside bathing that big dog, but wasn¡¯t the commotion a bit too much? At the Mount Beast Breeding Base, there were also staff members who helped it and its companions get groomed. Washing off dirt, blowing dry and then applying some nice smelling cream that it couldn¡¯t understand, their fur would become more beautiful, even gleaming under the sun. It was indeed quite comfortable, but not enough to make such noise, right? ¡°Meow-¡± (Wait until Xu Ran bathes you once, then you¡¯ll understand.) Seeing his young employee¡¯s confusion, Ziyun didn¡¯t explain much. Some things could not be understood clearly without experiencing them firsthand. However¡­ Hearing the strange noise again, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but shift his gaze towards the grooming room. The sound today seemed especially excited. Could it be that this dog¡­ Is very sensitive? As time ticks away, the door to the grooming room finally opens. Xu Ran comes out with the Frost Dust Wolf, which looks like a new animal. Every strand of its fur is immaculate like snow, and upon close inspection, it has a hint of crystalline appearance. Behind them follows Xu Jiujiu who appears flushed with excitement. Originally, when Xu Jiujiu heard her pet beast making such strange noises, she felt distressed and embarrassed, but she was no ordinary person. As the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s howls got stranger, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s mindset also began to alter. She started to find the process stimulating, and an unusual sensation began to bubble up within her. So she gradually lowered the palms covering her eyes, watched the entire session intently as Xu Ran groomed her pet beast. The more she watched, the more excited she became. ¡°Are you now going to foster the Frost Dust Wolf here?¡± Xu Ran strangely glanced at Xu Jiujiu. She claimed that she¡¯s serious, but she wasn¡¯t too serious herself, right? If it were not for the system that could only acquire the pleasure value from pet beasts, Xu Ran would even start doubting if he could gain quite a lot from Xu Jiujiu. Speaking of pleasure value¡­ An excited look flashed in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Grooming the Frost Dust Wolf gave him a whopping four thousand pleasure points Of course, a portion of this is due to the Frost Dust Wolf being a large-sized pet beast, but more importantly, it¡¯s due to the improvement in his grooming technique! This system upgrade isn¡¯t fully exploited yet, but what he already discovered is enough to stir his excitement. ¡°Ah? Oh!¡± Xu Jiujiu snaps back to reality, makes the payment by scanning the QR code, ¡°A bet is a bet. I¡¯ve paid you for the grooming and one month¡¯s fosterage fee.¡± Her face grimaced as she paid, given the prices in Xu Ran¡¯s shop, this wasn¡¯t a small sum. Luckily, the Frost Dust Wolf hasn¡¯t broken through the elite stage, otherwise she might not be able to afford it. ¡°All right.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Then I will now take the Frost Dust Wolf to the fostering area.¡± ¡°Wait! I also want to see!¡± Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth without hesitation. Although she had already paid as agreed, as a responsible beast master, she definitely needed to inspect the foster environment. ¡°Of course no problem.¡± Xu Ran shrugged indifferently, signaled Ziyun and Star to stay there, then led the Frost Dust Wolf towards the back door. ¡°So your foster area is underground!¡± Seeing the underground passage behind the door, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face revealed her understanding, ¡°I was wondering where you got the space to foster so many pet beasts, turns out you¡¯ve developed an underground space.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t it be dark underground?¡± ¡°No, there are artificial light sources, there¡¯s no difference from above ground.¡± While professionally answering Xu Jiujiu¡¯s questions, Xu Ran looked at the foster area direction full of anticipation. The original foster area was not small, but it absolutely could not accommodate super large pet beasts, let alone the general stage and king stage pet beasts that he had never seen before. If it could reach this step, it meant the foster area, like the grooming room, had likely undergone some miraculous changes. So, what were those changes? In the blink of an eye, the two people and one beast stepped into the foster area. Seeing the foster area that had changed as expected but beyond his imagination, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gradually widened. Firstly, the height of the foster area. The previous foster area was about twenty meters in height. Being able to open such a space underground was already quite remarkable. But now, the height of the foster area¡­ Xu Ran craned his neck to look at the artificial light source that was like a small sun above. Could it be two hundred meters? Besides the height, this foster area had expanded roughly ten times in length and width. The original foster area now occupied only a tiny corner. The inhabitants there had been temporarily separated from the other areas, unaware of the changes. Without a doubt, a normal underground space absolutely couldn¡¯t be so vast. It, just like the grooming room, utilized some kind of spatial expansion technique. Even Xu Ran was quite astonished, let alone Xu Jiujiu who followed closely behind. ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Jiujiu rubbed her eyes hard, looking at the space that was much larger than she had imagined. If she hadn¡¯t been informed beforehand, she might even have believed herself to be in an outdoor environment! ¡°Such a large area?¡± Xu Jiujiu looked at the other inhabitants in a corner, then the vacant area occupying the major place, ¡°Is this whole area for my dog?¡± ¡°How could that be possible?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. Other pet beasts occupy 1% of the area, and her dog gets 99 /¡°? You are indeed the White Wolf girl, no normal person would even dare to think like you! Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 90: You Call This a Training Field?!_l Chapter 110: Chapter 90: You Call This a Training Field?!_l Translator: 549690339 Pulling out the control hub, Xu Ran began adjusting the foster area. The original isolation between the resident areas and other areas quietly disappeared. Under Xu Ran¡¯s adjustments, their environment areas expanded one by one, becoming more reasonable. Xu Ran then casually transformed an area into a snowy knoll that lasted all year round, ¡°This is for the Frost Dust Wolf.¡± ¡°Very nice,¡± Xu Jiujiu nodded satisfactorily. Of course, she knew that her previous suggestion was impossible. She was already very satisfied that a large ice attribute environment could be allocated for her dog. This money was not wasted. [Pleasure value +2 from Armored Rhinoceros] [Pleasure value +2 from Frost Dust Wolf] [From¡­] Watching the Pleasure Value feedback from the inhabitants after environment adjustment, a rich smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. After the system upgrade, the manifested environment of the foster area is not only larger but also has a higher concentration of energy. The inhabitants live more comfortably, and the Pleasure Value obtained from the environment has increased correspondingly. He suddenly looked forward to the Pleasure Value provided by feeding. If this also gets upgraded¡­ Looking at the time, it was time to feed the inhabitants. This is a good opportunity to test it! ¡°I¡¯m going to prepare food for all fostered pet beasts. If you¡¯re interested, you can watch,¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at the curious Xu Jiujiu. ¡°Sure!¡± Xu Jiujiu¡¯s eyes lit up, she left the Frost Dust Wolf frolicking in the snow and quickly followed Xu Ran. Being able to see the source of the food provided by the foster shop is naturally better. Moreover, she had seen a rumor on the forum¡­ It¡¯s said¡­ the food Xu Ran feeds the pet beasts in his shop is not so straightforward. Before this, Xu Jiujiu had scoffed at this idea. How can feeding food be dishonest? Could it be that something is added to it? But after witnessing Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection process, she became somewhat uncertain. [To improve the feeding efficiency this time, the system will give the host the relevant knowledge of ¡°Advanced Nutrition of Frost Dust Wolf Race¡±] As expected, it¡¯s different. As Xu Ran prepared food for the Frost Dust Wolf in the preparation room, his eyes lit up. With expectations, he noticed the difference for the first time. The word ¡°Advanced¡± was added. Advanced Nutrition Science should be more profound than the previous Nutrition Science, right? The knowledge that flowed into his mind confirmed Xu Ran¡¯s guess. Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran took out various resources and started preparing food for the Frost Dust Wolf according to the newly acquired knowledge. A moment later, watching the Frost Dust Wolf, whose eyes were misty, sitting on the highest point of the snowy knoll and sending out howls to the sky, its lonely character suddenly highlighted, and its face full of longing for its partner, Xu Jiujiu was dumbfounded. Indeed! As expected, the food that Boss Xu feeds to fostered pet beasts is not normal! Looking at the food bowl which still had some food left, Xu Jiujiu casually picked up a small piece and put it into her mouth. Hmm¡­ it tastes like chicken, pretty crispy. It¡¯s surprisingly delicious! Looking at Xu Jiujiu who was stealing dog food, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t stop himself from rolling his eyes. Fortunately, these foods are harmless to humans, but you can¡¯t just eat them like this! Someone had completely forgotten his earlier taste of cat food. Looking at the Pleasure Value provided by the Frost Dust Wolf during mealtime, which as expected had improved along with the progression of Nutrition Science knowledge, Xu Ran coughed lightly, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to feed the other pet beasts.¡± He pointed at the food bowls next to him. These were prepared for the other pet beasts. ¡°No problem! You go, I¡¯ll feed my dog!¡± Xu Jiujiu walked cheerfully towards the Frost Dust Wolf with a food bowl, while eating it¡¯s food. From the looks of her, the Frost Dust Wolf definitely couldn¡¯t be satiated this time. Of course, considering Xu Jiujiu¡¯s food intake, it won¡¯t cause the Frost Dust Wolf to starve, so it doesn¡¯t matter. Ignoring the one person and one pet, Xu Ran quickly walked with the food bowls to the area where other pet beasts were fostered, and shouted loudly, ¡°Dinner time!¡± A few breaths later, a group of pet beasts surrounded him, their eyes full of anticipation. ¡°This is for Armored Rhinoceros.¡± Xu Ran handed the largest food bowl to the earliest resident of the Foster Shop, then grabbed another bowl, ¡°This is for the Fire Monkey.¡± A monkey-type pet beast bathed in flames agilely came forward, received the food bowl and began to feast. Soon, the food bowls for other pet beasts were also distributed one after another. While waiting for them to eat, watching the soaring Pleasure Values, Xu Ran¡¯s expression also became pleasant. After the meal, Xu Ran collected the food bowls and returned to his original place, noting Xu Jiujiu still interacting with the Frost Dust Wolf. His expression became somewhat strange. Because their way of interacting¡­ was somewhat peculiar. The food bowl placed aside was already empty. This person and dog¡­ ah no, one wolf hugging each other, rolled happily in the snow. Looking at Xu Jiujiu¡¯s slightly petite body completely buried in the fluffy and soft fur of the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but touch his chin. It seems quite comfortable. Ziyun¡¯s fur is also very smooth and fluffy, but it is too small. He had previously promised Ziyun to teach it Reduction skill, but now it seems he can also consider the corresponding Giantification skill, which makes it bigger. Xu Jiujiu, noticing Xu Ran watching her, wriggled out from underneath the soft belly of the Frost Dust Wolf with a smirk, ¡°Boss Xu, my dog wants to try a sparring session!¡± Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 90: You Call This a Training Field?!_2 Chapter 111: Chapter 90: You Call This a Training Field?!_2 Translator: 549690339 Hm?¡± Xu Ran blinked his eyes. From Xu Jiujiu¡¯s previous reaction, he had assumed that she would be deterred by the price of the accompanying training service. He was wondering how to coax a client into experiencing the service, but surprisingly, Xu Jiujiu changed her mind again. Of course, Xu Jiujiu had her reasons for changing her mind. Previously she was indeed deterred by the price. However, having witnessed first-hand the extraordinary washing and foster services of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Jiujiu inevitably became interested in the remaining accompanying training services. Since the price is 666 yuan per hour, trying for an hour wouldn¡¯t be a significant loss. If the results were satisfactory, Xu Jiujiu would grit her teeth and manage to bear the training costs for her dog. If the results were not satisfactory, she would naturally discontinue the service. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded heavily, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. He had already found the entrance to the training area. ¡°Follow me.¡± Waving at Xu Jiujiu and the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Ran headed towards another side of the foster area. After passing through the area, a striking underground entrance appeared before them. Unlike the underground entrance at the rear door, this looked more like a large elevator entrance. Upon entering the elevator, there were ten different symbols on the side of the door, corresponding to ten attributes. After choosing the ice attribute, the elevator began to descend. The feeling of weightlessness lasted only a moment, and before the two humans and one pet realized how deep they had fallen, the surrounding scenery had completely changed. Outside the elevator were rolling snow-covered mountains and glaciers in between them. They seemed to have been instantly transported to a snowfield where the view was filled with endless snow everywhere. So¡­ is this the second floor underground or even deeper? Well played, system. Xu Ran casually praised, his face unruffled as he looked at the dumbfounded Xu Jiujiu, ¡°Welcome to the Ice attribute training ground.¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­ do you call this a training ground?¡± Xu Jiujiu stepped out of the elevator and felt the cold air rushing towards her, she was stupefied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just transport us to a snowy mountain area directly?¡± Even a simpleton like Xu Jiujiu could tell something was off. ¡°There is no such technology, you¡¯re thinking too much,¡± Xu Ran calmly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s just spatial technology, these snowy mountains and everything else here are man-made.¡± Armed with the explanation provided by the system, his confidence was much stronger. ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Xu Jiujiu seriously exclaimed, and then asked, ¡°So what exactly is your accompanying training service like? I want to train Frost Flower Path.¡± Under normal circumstances, accompanying training services require customers to specify the target skill for training, and the service provider¡¯s duty is to supervise and assist in training. ¡°Alright, Frost Flower Path it is,¡± Xu Ran nodded lightly, and a line of text appeared in front of his eyes. [In order to improve the efficiency of this accompanying training, the system will grant the host the relevant knowledge of the ¡°Frost Flower Path Skill Training Guide¡±] A single skill training guide? Xu Ran was slightly surprised, he initially thought the system organized accompanying training according to attributes, he didn¡¯t expect the system to be so detailed. However, with this in mind¡­ A hint of delight appeared in his eyes. Does this mean he can use this method to freeload off his own Pet Beast¡¯s skill training guide? As this idea occurred to him, a wealth of knowledge poured into his mind simultaneously. Just a training guide for Frost Flower Path was much richer in content than he had imagined. On top of the practical comparisons of various Pet Beasts demonstrating the Frost Flower Path, there are multiple training methods to improve the skill proficiency of Frost Flower Path. Depending on the Pet Beast species and the current training stage, there are different choices for training methods. Too bad, this knowledge doesn¡¯t include the teaching method for Frost Flower Path skill, so it can¡¯t help those Ice attribute Pet Beasts that don¡¯t have this skill master it. But with this guide, when a Pet Beast trains this skill, their efficiency will undoubtedly be significantly improved! ¡°Frost Dust Wolf,¡± Xu Ran quickly picked out the most suitable training method for the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s current condition from the abundant methods, ¡°Let¡¯s go skiing next!¡± After saying this, he walked towards the Equipment Warehouse near the entrance of the elevator, leaving a bewildered Xu Jiujiu and Frost Dust Wolf behind. Skiing?! What the hell?! Before the two humans and one pet could regain their senses, Xu Ran had already hauled out a sled and four strange-looking big boots from the Equipment Warehouse. The boots were not compatible with human feet at all, judging by the style and size, it seemed like they were prepared for the Frost Dust Wolf, and they were connected to the sled. Giving the Frost Dust Wolf boots to wear? And pulling a sled? Xu Jiujiu¡¯s expression became increasingly confused. This¡­ wasn¡¯t quite how she had imagined the accompanying training to go was it? While she was still lost in her confusion, Xu Ran had already nimbly helped the Frost Dust Wolf put on its boots, wrapping all four of its snow-treading paws tightly. After getting on the sled, Xu Ran glanced at the still-shocked Xu Jiujiu and patted the seat beside him, ¡°Do you want to come up?¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Xu Jiujiu snapped out of her daze, looked at Xu Ran who was prepared to start, and quickly called out, ¡°Take me with you!¡± Sitting next to Xu Ran, watching the boots-wearing, still visibly excited Frost Dust Wolf up ahead, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s expression became complex. Qingzhou City was not a suitable habitat for ice attribute pet beasts. Here, the climate was mild in winter and cool in summer, and there might not be a snowfall for years. Therefore, there are few ice attribute pet beasts active here. Most of the ice attribute beasts owned by the Beast Masters in Qingzhou City were exchanged through certain channels from other regions. Although there were plenty of ice attribute areas created by transcendent power, these areas were at most similar to the snow mound that Xu Ran had constructed earlier. The wolf probably only saw real snow mountains shortly after it was born right? ¡¯ Therefore, even when wearing uncomfortable boots, it was still very excited. Honestly, Xu Jiujiu did not believe this method was genuinely beneficial to the Frost Flower Path skill, but¡­ Watching the Frost Dust Wolf run wildly, howling loudly, and driving the sled quickly across the snowfields, she also let out excited screams along with it. It was, after all, time for it to have fun for once! As for Xu Jiujiu¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran, who sat beside her, was completely ignorant. If he knew, he would definitely cry out injustice. This is definitely a training method for the Frost Flower Path, just a little unconventional. But then again, it¡¯s normal for the system to do abnormal things. If the system was doing something normal, then that would indeed be abnormal. According to the training guide and analysis of the Frost Flower Path skill, the manifestation of this skill is to condense ice crystal flowers under the feet. But that¡¯s only a reflection of it. The core of it is the circulation of ice energy in a unique pattern beneath the feet, augmenting speed. The ice crystal flowers are merely an external manifestation of this rotation. The boots provided by the system, infused with a trace of fire attribute power, can suppress the circulation of ice power. Combined with the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s discomfort with the boots, it greatly reduces the efficiency of its use of the Frost Flower Path. Moreover, it has to pull the sled. Just like weightlifting is a form of exercise, such suppression, if maintained for a long time, would surely step up the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s use of the Frost Flower Path once unsealed. In addition, the vast transcendent ice power flowing in the surrounding ice-friendly environment, although not as effective as an energy potion in granting beasts endless power, can greatly speed up their recovery. This training might look unconventional, but it is as legitimate as it gets. Now, this is what pranks are about! [Pleasure value from Frost Dust Wolf: +5] [Pleasure value from Frost Dust Wolf: +5] [Pleasure Value from¡­] Seeing the continual pleasure value feedback from the Frost Dust Wolf, Xu Ran nodded slightly. Though running wildly on a snow mountain would consume its energy, for the Frost Dust Wolf, it was a process of absolute happiness. Pleasure value? Piece of cake! [Skill points from Frost Dust Wolf: +1] Um? Xu Ran straightened up instantly. Here it comes! The skill points he had been eagerly waiting for were finally here! Smiling increasingly wider as he watched the occasional skill point notification amidst all the pleasure value notifications, Xu Ran¡¯s face melted into a smile. One hour later. Jumping off the sled, Xu Jiujiu watched as the Frost Dust Wolf, now out of its boots, moved through the snowfields with greater speed than before. The wolf left behind blooming ice crystal flowers on the snowy ground as it moved, looking like a white ghost, which gradually left her mouth agape. Its proficiency truly improved, and¡­ The results were immediate! Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 91 Full-energy Star i Chapter 112: Chapter 91 Full-energy Star i Translator: 549690339 A bonus chapter for the Silver Alliance¡¯s Rippling Spring Sounds, 7/10. ¡°Boss Xu, can¡¯t you give it to me for a little less?¡± Returning to the first floor of the Foster Shop, Xu Jiujiu¡¯s face was full of a pained expression, ¡°I¡¯m paying for 60 hours of training in one go!¡± ¡°Our shop¡¯s services are worth the price paid.¡± Xu Ran answered seriously. ¡°I know your services are worth it, but¡­¡± Xu Jiujiu wanted to argue a little, but Xu Ran cut her off quickly, ¡°Therefore, there will be no discount.¡± Xu Jiujiu:¡±¡­¡± Ah, this hateful profiteer! She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, and without hesitation, she finished the payment using the QR code. Then, she turned her head towards the Frost Dust Wolf sticking its tongue out at her, and went to hug its large head. ¡°Good boy, I¡¯m leaving. You stay here and behave. I¡¯ll summon you when I need you. I¡¯ll come and visit when I have time.¡± ¡°Aoow~¡± The Frost Dust Wolf gave a reluctant howl and licked Xu Jiujiu¡¯s cheek with its tongue. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going!¡± Xu Jiujiu gritted her teeth, restrained the reluctance in her heart, let go of the Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s soft fur, and turned to walk towards the shop door. ¡°Hey! Are you going the wrong way?¡± Seeing the direction Xu Jiujiu was heading towards, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°The bus station is over there.¡± Xu Jiujiu lives quite far from here, and after fostering the Frost Dust Wolf, she could only take the bus back, right? ¡°I¡¯m broke! I¡¯ll walk home!¡± Xu Jiujiu hummed lowly, touched her empty pocket, and walked a bit faster. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Was that necessary? The next second, seeing Xu Jiujiu take a detour as if nothing had happened and sneakily head towards the bus station, Xu Ran finally burst out laughing. What an interesting character¡­ It wasn¡¯t until Xu Jiujiu¡¯s figure disappeared from sight that Xu Ran turned back to face the Frost Dust Wolf, which still wore a reluctant look on its face. ¡°Considering your current condition, I will set up a 2-hour training time for you every day.¡± Xu Ran stroked its large head. ¡°In your other time, you¡¯ll be fine staying in the foster area. You can communicate with other residents, but you shouldn¡¯t fight.¡± ¡°Aoow~¡± The Frost Dust Wolf¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t too fierce. On the contrary, it seemed quite well-behaved. It shook its head, and its fluffy ears swayed with a ¡°duang-¡± sound. It had noticed earlier in the foster area that many of the other residents were elite beings whom it simply couldn¡¯t beat¡­ Fighting and killing were so unpleasant; living in harmony was what mattered! ¡°Then I will send you back now.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly in speech. ¡°Ziyun, Star, you two come with me too.¡± The training module is so magical, of course, our pet beasts should not miss out. Also, Star and Ziyun are different. Star needs a more extensive field for daily running and galloping. The living area on the second floor of the shop is not suitable for its living conditions; it needs an area in the Foster Area designated exclusively for it. Before, Xu Ran was pondering on how much space to give Star. After all, the foster area was getting overcrowded with the increase of residents, there wasn¡¯t much space left. The area designated for his own pet beast couldn¡¯t be smaller than that of the foster care residents, could it? The expansion of the foster care space just solved his problem. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun agilely jumped down from the counter and appeared by Xu Ran¡¯s feet, its face hinting at its urge to go. During Xu Ran¡¯s conversation with Xu Jiujiu, it had heard everything clearly. Xu Ran had taken the Frost Dust Wolf to experience the shop¡¯s new accompanying training service! Combining what Xu Ran had said previously, after the competition ended, he¡¯d be able to add points to the skills¡¯ proficiency very soon. The smart Ziyun immediately guessed that the accompanying training service was the key to add proficiency to the skills! So¡­ can skills be enhanced soon? ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star snorted, its eyes also filled with excitement. However, its excitement was somewhat different from Ziyun¡¯s. Xu Ran had said earlier that it would be staying in the Foster Area tonight. Now that he¡¯s taking it down there, could it be that they were going to the place where it would stay tonight? It should be more spacious than the stables prepared for it at the Mount Beast Breeding Base, right? Two pet beasts, each with different expectations, faithfully followed behind Xu Ran. After returning the Frost Dust Wolf to its designated foster area, Xu Ran caressed Star¡¯s long mane, then touched a few buttons on the control hub. In an instant, an area that occupied a full one-tenth of the total Foster Site, which was ten times the size of the previous Foster Site, lost all artificial light. In its place was a rising artificial crescent moon and even stars scattered across the sky. It was an artificial night, but it was almost real. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star¡¯s eyes, which were like purple crystals, suddenly lit up. Looking at the vast dark area, anticipation and a bit of apprehension filled its eyes. ¡°You guessed right; this area is all yours.¡± Through the strengthened contractual sensing, Xu Ran captured the source of its unrest and gently addressed it. The apprehension in Star¡¯s eyes disappeared instantly and was replaced by unparalleled excitement. This area was much larger than the entire Mount Beast Breeding Base! Although the Mount Beast Breeding Base was large, it had to share it with hundreds of companions. But at this moment, it could monopolize such a big space! Star neighed and quickly ran towards the night. The Night Song instantly activated, and as the pitch-dark runes moved around its body, it seemed to completely merge with the darkness. Like a fish in water, it moved freely. Squinting at the elusive shadow flashing through the darkness, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a hint of a smile. He stood quietly at the edge of the dark area.. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 91 Full-energy Star 2 Chapter 113: Chapter 91 Full-energy Star 2 Translator: 549690339 | At his feet, Ziyun sat quietly with her pair of differently colored eyes easily finding the stars in the dark night sky. It held no envy towards its younger brother having such a large area, only felt happy for Star. After all, it could sleep with the Beast Master, something the younger one could never enjoy due to its size and habits. Soon, Star who was enjoying his frolic came running back to Xu Ran, its head affectionately rubbing against his cheek, indicating its joy. I¡¯m glad you like it.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, and the smile on his face gradually faded, looking a bit serious, ¡°Right now, you¡¯re only at the Transcendent Stage. Ziyun, who contracted with me earlier, has already reached the Elite Stage.¡± ¡°Your father, Chasing Wind, is also at the Elite Stage. If you want to run faster, you also need to quickly upgrade to the Elite Stage, or even reach higher realms in the future.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun on the side nodded in agreement and released a bit of her own Elite Stage aura. Feeling the strong aura of its older sister and hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Star¡¯s initially restless heart after becoming a Transcendent Being gradually calmed down. That¡¯s right, becoming a Transcendent being, is merely the first step. It can become even stronger and run even faster! ¡°Xi lu hi!¡± (What should I do?) Star, full of vigor, let out a cry, his eyes like purple crystals seemed to be burning with flames. Seeing this, Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction. Very good. Having Contracted Pet Beasts, he naturally wouldn¡¯t raise them for free. Given Star¡¯s immense talent, it couldn¡¯t be wasted. Therefore, urging it to train and become stronger must be made a priority. ¡®The answer is training!¡± Xu Ran said seriously, ¡°Only through continuous hard training will you become stronger!¡± ¡°Every single one of your skills can increase in proficiency through training. At the current Stardust Level, when your proficiency reaches a certain level, the skills will be upgraded to the Starlight Level and undergo a qualitative change.¡± ¡°After the Starlight Level, there are higher proficiency levels, but you don¡¯t need to worry about that now. Your goal now is to upgrade all your skills to the Starlight Level through continuous training!¡± Once you reach this goal, your power will increase significantly. It will then be time for you to breakthrough in your growth stage to the Elite Stage!¡± Ziyun is currently at the stage where all her skills have reached the Starlight Level. When you reach this stage, you can be as powerful as her.¡± ¡°So, keep at it!¡± ¡°Xi lu lu!¡± (I want to train!) Having his future painted by Xu Ran ignited all of Star¡¯s passion, fire was seen burning in its eyes, it let out an excited cry, unable to wait to start training! Then let¡¯s set off now!¡± Xu Ran bellowed, his smile becoming wider. He had his own ideas about raising Pet Beasts. He wouldn¡¯t favor any of his pet beasts, but giving newly contracted Star the same amount of resources as Ziyun was obviously inappropriate. Appropriately teaching Plucking Fur to gain skills would not affect Ziyun¡¯s advancement. But the Skill Points and Skill Fusion Stones that both could obtain, needed to be carefully allocated. Previously, Ziyun had improved all her skills to Starlight Level through her own efforts. Star should at least strive to achieve this before he could enjoy the treatment of getting extra points. In the meantime, Star could be provided with the Energy Abundant Potion similar to what was done during Ziyun¡¯s initial training days. About Skill Fusion¡­ Xu Ran currently had seven Skill Fusion Stones and a new system feature to exchange specified skills ¨C Recycling. He wanted to first attempt to upgrade one of Ziyun¡¯s skills to Three Stars through fusion and see what happens. So, the Fusion of Star¡¯s skills is not urgent for now. Even so, Star¡¯s current treatment is much better than Ziyun¡¯s at first. At that time, using Energy Abundant Potion was very stingy. Now, there are enough potions for Star to squander freely. Moreover, Star¡¯s upcoming training will take place in the Training Area, which is much better than Ziyun¡¯s initial training environment. Following Xu Ran through the Foster Area, both pet beasts spotted another entrance wrapped in a light film. This is the entrance to the Training Area, no one can enter without my permission.¡± Xu Ran explained, pressing a few buttons on the Control Hub, ¡°I have given both of you the authority to enter and exit freely, so you can enter when you want.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you two to have a look.¡± Leading the two curious pets, Xu Ran entered the elevator-like entrance again. ¡°This is the Dark Attribute, and this is the Thunder Attribute.¡± He pointed to the symbols corresponding to the Dark Attribute and the Thunder Attribute, ¡°If you want to train in the corresponding areas, just press on the corresponding button.¡± After saying this, Xu Ran first pressed the Dark Attribute button. The familiar sensation of weightlessness came in an instant, and in a breath, the surroundings changed drastically. Outside the elevator was a tranquil and serene night, devoid of any sound. The bright moonlight and stars enshrouded the unevenly undulating grassland under their feet and the contours of the dense forest in the distance. ¡°Xi lu lu-¡± Starchain let out an excited neigh, the sound echoing in the night. Unlike the dark area where it resides, the night here is as real as it can be; it could sense a tremendous sense of dark power pervading every inch of the surrounding area. You can only stay in this training space for a maximum of six hours a day,¡± Xu Ran softly began, ¡°If you exceed the time limit, you will be forcibly sent back to the foster area, and you can only re-enter the next day.¡± If it weren¡¯t for this restriction, I would actually prefer you to live here,¡± Xu Ran shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s a more suitable place for your growth and improvement. In the future, you can stay here for six hours a day, then go back.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Starchain nodded excitedly in understanding. It would give anything to stay in such an environment all the time, and certainly would not waste a minute. ¡°Alright, now I¡¯ll teach you how to train,¡± Xu Ran smiled, brainstorming as the system¡¯s prompt duly arrived. [In order to improve the efficiency of this accompanied training session, the system will impart to the host the related knowledge of the ¡°Twilight Watch Skill Training Guide¡±] [In order to improve¡­] Twilight Watch, Star Chain, Night Eyes, Night Song, Nightfall, Tenacity. The training guides for five two-star skills and one one-star skill instantly flooded Xu Ran¡¯s mind, the sheer volume of information making his temples throb slightly. However, at the same time, his heart was filled with excitement. As expected, the idea of getting the training guides for free was feasible! After digesting this content, Xu Ran turned and walked toward the training equipment warehouse. ¡°Let¡¯s start with Twilight Watch¡­¡± ¡°Alright, now you just train these six skills according to the way I just taught.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Starchain nodded vigorously, keeping the Beast Master¡¯s guidance firmly in mind. This is a key factor for it to become stronger! ¡°This is a special drink that can keep you energized for three consecutive hours,¡± Xu Ran pulled out a whopping seven bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, placing them in a corner of the training equipment warehouse. ¡°You already have the skill Tenacity, and the Transcendent Power in this environment is denser, plus this potion, enough to undergo six hours of training.¡± ¡°So don¡¯t drink too much, one bottle a day is enough.¡± Starchain didn¡¯t speak, but walked directly to the Energy Abundant Potion bottle, holding the bottle firmly with its two front hooves, and biting off the stopper at the mouth of the bottle. ¡°Poof-dang dang dang-¡± Watching Starchain disappear into the night and start to use every second of its invaluable six hours of training, Xu Ran patted Ziyun, who was quietly sitting beside him, ¡°Next, it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Add points add points!) Expectancy filled Ziyun¡¯s eyes. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Second Stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun [View Details] Starchain [View Details] System skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)] (57/100) [Drug Application (C-level)] (3/500) [Pranks (D-level)] (1/100) Pet Beast Skill: None Physical point: 94 (Available) Skill Points: 10 (Available) Pleasure Value: 15123 System Upgrade Experience: 0/2000] The one-hour training for the Frost Dust Wolf gained 1 point of Prank experience and 10 skill points, plus the 94 physical points gained from the previous feeding session. Add points intensively! Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 92: Fusion, Three Star Skill! _1 Chapter 114: Chapter 92: Fusion, Three Star Skill! _1 Translator: 549690339 After adding physical points, Ziyun¡¯s growth stage progressed from the initial 5687 to 5781, taking a small step towards the upper limit of 20,000. Next, were the 10 skill points. The difference between adding points to physique and skills became evident at this time. Add points to physique, Xu Ran didn¡¯t need to hesitate, because there was only one choice. But Ziyun has a total of five skills, each skill can be added points. This involves the issue of skill point distribution. After some consideration, Xu Ran diverted his gaze from the other three skills and landed on the Thunder Roar and Electric Pursue skills. These two skills were closer to three stars. According to the previous plan, Xu Ran wanted to try to acquire a three-star skill through fusion first, so these two skills had a higher priority for adding points. Among these two skills, Thunder Roar had a higher priority than Electric Pursue. Although Electric Pursue also has a certain damage output, it¡¯s mainly used for significant speed increase. Ziyun¡¯s speed was already not weak, but the output was still not good enough. In Xu Ran¡¯s simple thought, if he can¡¯t kill the same stage with one strike, the output isn¡¯t good enough. When Ziyun was at the transcendent stage and fought against Frost Dust Wolf, it took two Thunder Roars, and it got injured when it encountered a stronger Dark Scale Dragon. Therefore, the output needed to be increased! Thunder Roar was a pure output skill. If it could be upgraded to three stars, Ziyun¡¯s strength would certainly increase significantly. So¡­ Without hesitation, Xu Ran directly added all the skill points to Thunder Roar. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage (5781/2OOOO)[ + ] Species Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï Thunder Roar (Starlight Level)] (92/5OO)[ + ] [¡ï¡ï Electric Pursue (Starlight Level)] (91/5OO)[+] [¡ï¡ï Battle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (33/5OO)[+] [¡ï Self-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (24/5OO)[+] [¡ï Blood Fury (Starlight Level)] (4O/5OO)[+]] ¡°Meow!¡± With Xu Ran¡¯s addition of points, Ziyun suddenly shuddered all over. As a Thunder attribute pet beast, it actually felt like it had been electrocuted at this moment, and the sensation flashed by quickly, and then Ziyun suddenly felt something more in its mind. This feeling was slightly similar to acquiring a skill, but what appeared in its mind was different. When acquiring a skill, what appears in Ziyun¡¯s mind were images of various different transcendent beings using the skill, most of which were entities that Ziyun had never encountered before. These images would pop up one after another, eventually converging into the commonalities of the skill, allowing it to comprehend in an instant how to use the skill. At this moment, there was also an image in Ziyun¡¯s mind, but the main character in the image was Ziyun itself! Once¡­ twice¡­ tens of times¡­ hundreds of times¡­ In the images, it unleashed Thunder Roar under various circumstances. All these experiences turned into Ziyun¡¯s own experience of using Thunder Roar as if it had experienced so many training sessions, thus enhancing the proficiency of the skill. This¡­ This kind of feeling¡­ The colorful eyes of Ziyun gradually widened. This was¡­ the feeling of being lazy without completely being lazy! ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading to the Thunder training area.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the stars disappearing into the night, and turned and walked towards the elevator entrance. He had another task to do. That was to use the already decomposed skill fragments to exchange for a two-star skill suitable for fusion with Thunder Roar, and attempt to fuse it again to see if he could acquire a three-star skill. If he was really successful, then the Thunder training area would be the best testing ground. ¡°Meow-¡± (Fine!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes brightened. Although the skill points gave it a sense of skill proficiency, it was still the first time it had received this. To validate whether this added point was effective, Ziyun needed to verify it through practice! It believes that the purpose of Beast Master taking it to the Thunder training area is exactly that! Was it a reminder that even if it gained points without labor, it shouldn¡¯t indulge in this behavior and needed to digest it through real training? It got it! Xu Ran, who entered the elevator, glanced at Ziyun following closely behind him. Why was this little guy so eager? But it was a good thing. He was worried that adding points would cause Ziyun to lose the motivation to work hard, but now it seems that this little guy had a good attitude. Xu Ran raised his hand and pressed the button with the symbol of Thunder attribute. After a brief weightlessness, the scene around him changed again. The deep darkness disappeared, but the light did not come yet. The oppressively dense thunder clouds covered everything in the area, like a hand covering the palm from the sky. In the ink-colored cloud masses, purple electric arcs lurking like spiritual snakes. Occasionally a thunderbolt fell, reducing the exposed stones below to dust. The entire region was filled with extremely strong Thunder element. As soon as he stepped in, Xu Ran¡¯s hair stood up like an explosion. ¡°Is it so amazing?¡± Even Xu Ran was taken aback by the spectacular sight of this area. He almost doubted whether everything in this area was real. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun held up its head high, looking at the dancing Thunder Snakes in the sky, its eyes showed a trace of reminiscence. From its memories, when it was a stray cat and encountered thunderous weather, it would curl up in the corner of the street, trembling helplessly at the thunderous sound. Fortunately, that¡¯s not the case now. It¡¯s already a transcendent being, and also a Thunder attribute transcendent being.. Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 92: Fusion, Three Star Skill 2 Chapter 115: Chapter 92: Fusion, Three Star Skill¡¯ 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡¯ ¡ª It now holds the power to control thunder and lightning! Even the heavenly thunder, it could control in the future! Thinking about it caused Ziyun¡¯s heart to surge with pride. ¡°Meow-¡± (Let me start training now!) It couldn¡¯t wait to become stronger! ¡°Training? Wait a moment.¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun in surprise. He had no idea why looking at the sky had made this little guy more enthusiastic about training. Training was a given, but first, they had to work on skill fusion. He once again activated the recycling function and noticed the balance of 55 skill fragments in the corner of the recycling interface. He initially thought this balance was a substantial amount, but then after looking at the skill exchange list, it felt like he had nothing. They only had enough to swap for one two-stars skill and one one-star skill, or five one-star skills. He hoped that would be enough to make Thunder Roar a three-stars skill! Xu Ran sighed softly, then started to look through the list of two-stars Thunder attribute skills. The skill exchange list of the recycling function has one not bad feature. That is, you can directly select one or more skills a Pet Beast already possesses, and check the fusion probability of the skills in the list with the selected skills. A really user-friendly feature. Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely user-friendly. After looking through an entire page, none of the skills had a greater than 1% fusion success rate with Thunder Roar. Xu Ran sighed helplessly and moved to the next page. No good¡­ No good¡­ Still no good¡­ After an unknown amount of time, Xu Ran looked through all available two-stars Thunder attribute skills that could be exchanged. The highest fusion probability was only 3.1%. He didn¡¯t believe that none of these Thunder attribute skills were suitable for Thunder Roar. The reason these skills¡¯ fusion probabilities were so low was probably because Thunder Roar itself was a fused skill. To fuse it again meant combining Electric Spark, War Roar, and a new skill ¨C three two-stars skills ¨C into one fusion. Xu Ran had never tried to fuse three skills together, but out of curiosity, he previously selected Ziyun¡¯s Electric Spark, Electric Arc, and Battle Instinct with a skill fusion stone. The displayed fusion success probability was less than one in a thousand. While the compatibility of the skills was a factor, it proved that the more skills combined, the lower the probability of successful fusion, and the rate of decrease was geometric. Therefore, even step-by-step fusion didn¡¯t look promising for Thunder Roar. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s wrong?) Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s slowly sinking face, Ziyun cocked its head slightly in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, knelt down and stroked Ziyun¡¯s head, and elaborated. ¡°You heard Senior Gu talk about the rules of evolution.¡± ¡°I hope to fuse Thunder Roar with another two-stars skill, so that you can have a three-stars skill.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Did Washing and Protection obtain a new two-stars¡¯ skill?) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun¡¯s first reaction was to ask this, and it asked with genuine curiosity. ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran shook his head and explained the recycling function in a way that Ziyun could understand, ¡°Anyway, right now I can choose any two-stars skill to fuse with Thunder Roar, but all have a low probability.¡± He had seven skill fusion stones, but it was uncertain whether they could achieve fusion given such low probabilities. The Pleasure value required to draw a lottery had increased tenfold, and he only had enough balance for one draw. Although the rate at which Pleasure value accumulated had increased, it was still difficult to get more skill fusion stones in a short time. So, it¡¯d be better to find a two-stars skill with a higher success rate. His lower limit was a fusion probability of 5%. After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun blinked. So, as long as a Beast Master¡¯s Washing and Protection achieved a sufficient level, it could teach it any skill? Thunder Roar had low fusion probabilities with all Thunder attribute skills? If that¡¯s the case¡­ ¡°Meow~¡±(Why not try the two-star skills without Attributes?) Ziyun took a moment to seriously consider, then cutely tilted its head. Hmm? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. Yes! Apart from Thunder attribute skills, Ziyun could also teach skills without any attributes! These types of skills were known as common skills, and a Pet Beast of any attribute could potentially learn them naturally or through training. After being reminded by Ziyun, Xu Ran suddenly realized that one of the skills fused to create Thunder Roar, War Roar, was indeed a two-stars common skill! Could it be that Thunder Roar has a higher compatibility rate with common skills? With that in mind, Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate to open the tutorial page for the common skills, flipping through them one by one. Moments later, Xu Ran¡¯s scrolling hand halted. There really is one! A two-star skill called ¡°Roar,¡± which has a 5.2% fusion success rate with Thunder Roar! No, wait a bit more! Xu Ran looked at the two thirds of the common skills he hadn¡¯t checked yet, like a treasure trove. Maybe there might be a higher one! Be patient! He flipped through each one, until he finished with the last page of the two-star common skill exchange list. And then¡­ ¡°Page 43! Page 43!¡± He muttered under his breath, instantly flipping the list back to a middle page, then fixed his gaze on one skill. After flipping through everything, he was sure this was the skill most suitable for merging with Thunder Roar. Two-star skill, sound wave. The effect of this skill is to use sonar-like sound waves for large area detection. This simple skill is two stars because the detection range is really large, and under the same Starlight Level proficiency as Thunder Roar, its detection diameter is five times that of Thunder Roar. If Xu Ran was not looking at the fusion success rate, he would never consider this skill as it doesn¡¯t seem to have a lot to do with Thunder Roar. What¡¯s more, it has no attacking power, and Xu Ran hopes for Thunder Roar to transform into a more powerful skill after fusion. However, the system clearly tells him with an 8.2% initial success rate that this is the skill most suited to Thunder Roar. So, should he choose this, or choose other skills that could potentially enhance Thunder Roar¡¯s power but have a lower probability of fusion? Xu Ran only hesitated for a moment before making his decision. Let¡¯s go for this one! Even though he hasn¡¯t figured out much of the pattern of skill fusion, but one thing he¡¯s sure is that he would continue to fuse skills into Thunder Roar in the future. Three stars are not the end for the skill initially meant for Electric Spark. Later fusions will inevitably be more difficult, so choosing the most suitable skill each time might be the key to ongoing fusion. Confirmed! Exchange for sound wave! Xu Ran, who had made up his mind, acted swiftly. Exchange, tutorial, fusion! First time¡­ second time¡­ third time¡­ 8.2%¡­ 11.3%¡­ 14.6%¡­ Xu Ran clearly felt that the success rate increased less after each failed fusion, but once the arrow was drawn, it had to be let fly. Since he chose skill fusion, he could only go ahead, otherwise all efforts would be wasted. Finally¡­ on the sixth try! [Fusion success] Looking at the words that popped up, Xu Ran let out a heavy sigh. Having one left is already quite good. He immediately opened Ziyun¡¯s interface and looked at a brand new skill that replaced Thunder Roar in the skill bar. [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Starlight Level)] (92/500) [+] Three stars!!! Xu Ran was silent for a moment, then he burst into laughter amidst the thunderstorm. Success! It really worked! With skill fusion, Ziyun, as a leader species, mastered a three-star skill that can only be used by a king species! Moreover, it¡¯s a talent skill! This means that when Ziyun evolves into a king species, there will be one less threshold!! At this moment, Ziyun was also surprised. Unlike Xu Ran who has a system panel, it couldn¡¯t clearly judge the star level of the newly mastered skill called Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. But it could feel that after the birth of this skill, the heavy chains that seemed to bind its body were shattered, and it felt a sense of comfort from the deepest part of its body. It took the most solid step towards a higher life level! Something unseen has already changed! ¡°Come on, Ziyun, let¡¯s try out the power of the new skill!¡± Xu Ran pointed to the thunderstorm land fiercely. Though Thunder Roar was merged with the non-injurious skill Sound Wave, whether there is an increase in power of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, we¡¯ll only find out by trying! ¡°Meow!¡± (Okay!) Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 93 - New Skills and New Plans_l Chapter 116: Chapter 93 ¨C New Skills and New Plans_l Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Step-¡± With a light leap, it reaches the top of the hill in front of eyes. Purple halos flow in the pair of strange eyes of Ziyun. Countless electric arcs travel around its body and eventually pour into the earth. ¡°Boom ¡± A thunderous roar sounds, a sky thunder bursts from the gloomy thunder cloud in the sky towards the ground, tearing the dim sky apart, and illuminating the slender silhouette of Ziyun. ¡°Get ready, start!¡± Xu Ran, watching this scene from a hundred meters away, can¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. The leader species is showing the three-star skill, this probably never happened before, right? He doesn¡¯t even know what a spectacular scene that would be. Ziyun, who heard Xu Ran¡¯s words through contractual sensing, gave a firm look in this direction from afar, then quickly raised his head. ¡°Meow ¡± A long and majestic sound, centered on Ziyun, instantly spreads to the distance, like it¡¯s amplified by a device, so Xu Ran can still hear it very clearly even a hundred meters away. The next moment, an abrupt change occurs! ¡°Zzzzt ¡± Accompanied by the sound of continuous electric arcs piercing the air, in the gradually widening eyes of Xu Ran, horrific thunderbolts exploded instantaneously within a range of a hundred meters, taking Ziyun as the center! They are wandering, they are interweaving. Minor electric arcs merge into a thicker one, and the thicker ones shatter at any time, splitting into minor arcs. The electric light, reflecting everything in front of Xu Ran! That is¡­ a sea of thunder and lightning with a radius of a hundred meters! Three-star skill, Starlight Level-Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound! After several breaths, this sea of thunder gradually dissipates, but electric arcs are still constantly wandering in all the areas previously covered, demonstrating its magnificent power. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun¡¯s figure is as swift as an electric current, it teleports back to Xu Ran at once. It¡¯s a little dejected because of the previous outburst, but its excitement is particularly clear in its eyes. ¡°Awesome!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face is also excited, he hugs Ziyun who pounces on him, with a trace of admiration, looking at the area covered by Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. Is this the power of a three-star skill? This is more than one and a half stars stronger than the previous Thunder Roar! Thunder Roar could only cover a conical area within a radius of 20 meters, while Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound now covers a spherical area within a radius of a hundred meters, even including the ground and high air. As long as it is within a hundred meters of Ziyun, it can be hit instantly. It¡¯s really rare to have such a large attack range at the Starlight level, in addition, Xu Ran can feel with his naked eyes that the intensity of the strike is also much stronger than Thunder Roar. He has a feeling that if he steps into the sea of thunder and lightning just now, he may instantly turn into charcoal. From the electric arcs that are still permeating from the ground, you can see that this skill also has certain continuous damage. As for how much, it needs an actual opponent to be estimated. Of course, such a powerful skill is not completely flawless. From Ziyun¡¯s current state, you can see that the casting of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound consumes a lot from it. So this skill cannot be released as frequently as Thunder Roar. For now, it can only be used as a decisive critical skill. ¡°Drink this.¡± Xu Ran took out a bottle of Energy Abundant Potion and handed it to Ziyun, ¡°Then I will guide you to train.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (No problem!) Ziyun skillfully took the Energy Abundant Potion, held the bottle with its two front paws, bit the bottle mouth and slightly exerted force. Accompanied by a ¡°pop¡± sound, the Energy Abundant Potion was easily opened and was consumed between its breaths. After it consumed so much from casting Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound just now, it anticipated that it would need a lot of Energy Abundant Potion for the following training of this skill. ¡°Okay, let me tell you how to train your skills.¡± Xu Ran started with a smile, and had a thought in his heart. [in order to improve the efficiency of this sparring practice, the system will grant the host the related knowledge of ¡°Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound Skill Training Guide¡±] [In order to improve¡­] Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, Electric Pursue, Battle Instinct, Self-healing Power, Blood Fury. Like Star, all of Ziyun¡¯s skills also have the corresponding training guides. Next, under Xu Ran¡¯s guidance, the training efficiency can be greatly improved. Moreover¡­ Looking at Ziyun¡¯s current one-star Self-healing Power and Blood Fury skills, Xu Ran shows a thoughtful expression. Although the star levels of these two skills are not high, they have helped Ziyun a lot in the past. Ziyun works hard in training, so getting injured is inevitable, and the burst of Blood Fury can also play a decisive role in a crucial moment, such as the final champion battle of the Challenge Match. Previously there were no conditions, and the skills that Xu Ran obtained were not suitable for Ziyun. NOW that it has a recycling function, as long as there are enough skill fragments, you can exchange skills to merge with these two skills to get stronger skills. At least, should they be upgraded to two stars? TWO one-star skills can be blended into a two-star skill. This way, it only needs 20 skill fragments, which is acceptable. The tenacity skill of Star also needs to be improved in the future. Speaking of it, Liu Gu¡¯s Wind Lion Dog often comes for washing and protection, but after that one time at the beginning, Sea Wave Flower has not been washed and protected. After all, this guy is very clean and doesn¡¯t get itself dirty easily. We need to find a way to let it get washed and protected again, and see if we can get a self-healing power for Star as well. This skill hasn¡¯t been found on other Pet Beasts that have been washed and protected, so it should be quite rare.. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 93 New Skills and New Plan 2 Chapter 117: Chapter 93 New Skills and New Plan 2 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Shaking off his scattered thoughts, Xu Ran took out various equipment from the training equipment warehouse next to him, all custom-made by the system for Ziyun. Under his guidance, Ziyun quickly grasped how to use these new training methods to enhance the proficiency of its five skills. Thinking about the power of the strike just now, Ziyun couldn¡¯t wait to start. ¡°Alright, you two keep the good work.¡± Xu Ran checked the time, ¡°I¡¯ll come to pick you and Star up in six hours.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be all training; remember to balance work and rest.¡± Thinking of how exhausted Ziyun would be after each three-hour training session, Xu Ran reminded it. Well¡­ Star didn¡¯t need this advice, it had tenacity. Naturally, Ziyun had no objections to Xu Ran¡¯s arrangement, but upon hearing Xu Ran mention Star, it suddenly remembered something. ¡°Meow-¡± (Star saw the washing and protection of the Frost Dust Wolf and also wants you to do the same for it!) ¡°Really?¡± Xu Ran slapped his own forehead, ¡°Good thing you reminded me, I almost forget. I should give it a washing and protection too.¡± How could a new member just arrived home not experience the joy of cleaning and caring? ¡°Meow-¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun immediately displayed an expression that read this home¡¯s falling apart without me sooner or later¡±. (¡ªw~)n Then let s clean Star after its training is finished.¡± After checking Ziyun¡¯s training for a while and confirming that it had thoroughly mastered the new pranks training method, Xu Ran quickly turned around and left, heading back to the shop on the first floor. As the reputation of the shop was firmly established, business at the Starfire Foster Care Shop started to boom. Not long after Xu Ran opened the shop door, a tall and thin man carrying a fluffy pet beast walked in. As soon as he stepped in, the tall man scrutinized the entire Starfire Foster Care Shop with slightly inspecting eyes. When his gaze fell on the price menus of Starfire Foster Care Shop, especially the newly added ones, a noticeable astonishment flashed across his eyes. ¡°Welcome-¡± Xu Ran, who had barely warmed his seat, got up with an unchanged expression, walked up to the man, and glanced at the pet beast in his arms. It was a round roll of a creature, where its head and body were indistinguishable. It looked like a soft golden cushion. It had fine fur on its body, but at first glance, its fur was almost invisible. Its matte texture looked more like an oversized mochi. Seemingly sensing Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, this little creature squirmed in the man¡¯s arms, its two eyes full of curiosity as they twinkled at Xu Ran. With that squirm, Xu Ran recognized where it was from. Light Attribute pet beast, Bright Group. ¡°What services do you need? Our shop has¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s gaze shifted from the Bright Group to the gaunt man¡¯s face. He was about to introduce the services of the shop but was interrupted by a wave of the man¡¯s hand. ¡°I want you to clean and care for this Bright Group¡­¡± The man stated his needs, then paused slightly, ¡°is that alright?¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s no problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the Bright Group. Appraisal time. [Race name: Bright Group Attribute: Light Attribute Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection Requirements: *¡î*¡ö?** Evaluation: A pet beast that happens to need cleaning and caring. Behind this coincidence, there may be a deeper secret. However, all secrets will be shattered under the magical hands of the host.] Why is this evaluation so cryptic? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but comment in his heart, then he spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll take it to the grooming room now. Would you like to accompany me or wait outside?¡± ¡°I choose to accompany you.¡± The tall man¡¯s eyebrows furrowed from the moment Xu Ran readily agreed, and they deepened at his question. He didn¡¯t recognize me? And he even offered to let me watch the caring process. If that¡¯s the case¡­ I won¡¯t hold back. Fang Liming handed the Bright Group in his hands to Xu Ran and followed him into the grooming room. He was curious to see what makes this suddenly appeared shop, with its outrageous prices, yet able to attract a lot of his customers, so special¡­ Fang Liming stopped at the entrance of the grooming room. He was flabbergasted at the vast space inside. This¡­ this is the grooming place? It¡¯s so big? As the owner of the Dawn Foster Store, which is widely recognized as the number one pet grooming shop in Qingzhou City, he takes great pride in the fact that his shop is the only one in the city that can provide grooming services for super large pet beasts. Therefore, upon seeing Xu Ran¡¯s shop also offering grooming services for super large pet beasts, he, who had initially come with an inquisitive intent, now had a mind for comparison. From the outside, the shop looks so small, it¡¯s impossible for it to accommodate super large pet beasts for grooming, so why is its internal space so ridiculously large? The grooming area in his own shop prepared for super large pet beasts is only half as big as this, and although it claims to provide grooming service for super large pet beasts, in reality, it can only accommodate those of a smaller size. Those that reach the maximum limit of super large pet beasts, that is, the beasts with a body length of thirty meters, still can¡¯t be groomed in their shop. How could such a shop, seemingly not that big, have such an enormous space? Could it be¡­ Fang Liming widened his eyes, considering a particular possibility. From the bragging of another friend who had seen the world, he learned about a special technique that could enlarge space. This technique was used by the Beast Master Association to collect special and precious items. At the moment, the space was clearly bigger than what was perceived from outside. Could it be employing a similar technique? But¡­ to use such a technique, in grooming? That kind of space-expanding technique, every expansion requires a cost much more than building something in reality, and what it costs is not money, but various precious resources. What¡¯s the deal with the owner of this shop? ¡°You can sit over here.¡± The noise Xu Ran made while moving the stool snapped Fang Liming back to his senses. He nodded silently, sitting in his position, watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements. Upon entering the grooming room and being hit with this shock, his previous subtle intentions disappeared quietly. Anyone who could use that technique was not someone he could contend with. But when it comes to grooming, the final judgement lies in the grooming results. If this guy¡¯s grooming effect is not good, everything is useless. The Bright Group is an elemental pet beast, but unlike elemental pet beasts, its body has tiny hairs, and there is a clear boundary between its insides and outsides. However, dirt can easily seep into the body from the surface. It¡¯s very challenging to groom it. Simply cleaning the surface isn¡¯t enough. The interior of the Bright Group needs to be cleaned in a special way as well. We can easily find out if this guy has any skills during the grooming session! ¡°You little one, all your dirt is inside, huh?¡± After receiving the advanced grooming knowledge from the system, Xu Ran took out a flashlight and shined it on the body of the Bright Group. The Bright Group¡¯s opaque body turned semi-transparent under the strong light. As an elemental pet beast, the Bright Group doesn¡¯t have organs like viscera, but under the light, you can see a small amount of murky shadows. That is the dirt hidden in its body. The grooming of the Bright Group, being an elemental pet beast, is much more difficult than the Sea Wave Flower. After all, the Sea Wave Flower itself is like a stack of petals that can be directly cleaned inside by peeling off the petal-like tissues. But the Bright Group has a clear boundary between the inside and outside of its body, making it impossible to clean it in such a way. The method to groom it is rather challenging. But it¡¯s quite stress-relieving. After fixing a number of high-intensity lamps around the Bright Group to make it semi-transparent from all angles, Xu Ran began to mix the bath dew. This time, it won¡¯t be a rinse. Xu Ran quickly mixed a slightly viscous pale gold bath gel, and then used a brush to gently apply it to every inch of the Bright Group¡¯s body surface. ¡°Mmm~¡± The Bright Group gently trembled. It, who had been silent all along, ceased its limp state the moment the brush gently swept across its body, evenly spreading the viscous and warm bath gel. Its body tensed up, quickly transforming from a puddle on the grooming platform to a solid ball shape, like an inflated basketball, greatly increasing the elasticity of its body surface. [Pleasure Value from Bright Group +13] [Pleasure Value from Bright Group +13] [From¡­.] Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 94: Time for Pranksl l Chapter 118: Chapter 94: Time for Pranksl l Translator: 549690339 [Extra chapter 8/10 for Silver Springs Pledge] Watching the current state of the Bright Group, Fang Liming¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He brought this Bright Group here, so he certainly would not be unfamiliar with it. The Bright Group, as a species, has a unique way of expressing emotions. Under ordinary circumstances, its body will relax, giving an overall soft and droopy vibe. However, during significant emotional fluctuations, it will quickly tighten its body, presenting a complete spherical shape, and dramatically increase its surface elasticity. This state is called the ¡°Spherification¡± of the Bright Group. A Bright Group feeling comfortable during the washing and care process will likewise go into Spherification. Fang Liming had observed this when he had cared for it in the past. But¡­so quickly? The bath gel being applied to its body has already caused such significant emotional fluctuations? With a lingering hint of doubt and curiosity in his eyes, he turned his attention to the light golden gel in Xu Ran¡¯s hands. However, despite looking for a long time, he could not discern anything. While Fang Liming was observing, Xu Ran had already thoroughly scrubbed the whole body of the Bright Group. At this moment, each strand of fine fluff on the Bright Group¡¯s body was evenly enveloped in the light golden gel. Immediately afterward, Xu Ran put down the bath gel, took off his gloves, and started rubbing his hands together. Huh? Fang Liming was confused. What is he preparing to do? In his understanding, the way to give the Bright Group a wash and care was to apply the Light Attribute Pet Beast-appropriate gel on it and then gently patting its body, causing the dirt inside it to slowly move and be absorbed by the gel. It appears there is no need to do what Xu Ran is doing¡­ ¡°Mm-¡± The suddenly loud sound from the Bright Group abruptly interrupted Fang Liming¡¯s thoughts. Watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements, Fang Liming¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Xu Ran placed one hand firmly on the Bright Group while the other hand was tightly clenched into a fist, pushing down hard onto the Bright Group¡¯s body. Under Xu Ran¡¯s force, the Bright Group, which in its Spherification state had elasticity comparable to a basketball, easily deformed. Its body surface bore a visible dent where it made contact with Xu¡¯s fist, changing into the shape of a gold ingot over time. The ecstatic cries of the Bright Group kept coming, but the voice contained no pain, only excitement. [Pleasure value from Bright Group +25] [Pleasure value from Bright Group +25] [Pleasure value from¡­] Seeing how Xu Ran¡¯s fist had released the Bright Group, which returned to its spherical shape instantly, with the entire darkened area that had been in contact with the fist now showing a large amount of dirt ¡ª much more efficient than gentle patting ¡ª Fang Liming fell silent. Is this another way of Bathing and Nurturing? He felt enlightened. However, his enthusiasm lasted only for a moment. He quickly realized that this method of Bathing and Nurturing required a strong force from the Caretaker, which not everyone could accomplish. After the ¡®Punch Press¡¯, Xu Ran washed off the previous gel and re-applied the new one onto the Bright Group. Opening his palms, he placed them on both sides of the Bright Group¡¯s body. His fingers alternately pressed down in a rhythmic pattern, his movements seemed gentle but carried a significant force. Every time his fingers pressed down, a part of the Bright Group¡¯s body would protrude out from under his fingers, which then returned to its original shape as soon as Xu Ran lifted his fingers. The dirt that wasn¡¯t cleaned off in the previous step started to slowly emerge from within the Bright Group¡¯s body under the delicate kneading of this step. After cleaning again, providing surface maintenance, and applying the Essence¡­ The Bathing and Nurturing process was carried out in an orderly manner. Fang Liming¡¯s expression was continually changing as he observed Xu Ran¡¯s actions throughout. When the fully Bathed and Nurtured Bright Group was handed back to him, Fang Liming was completely silent. Meeting the pure colored Bright Group, under the bright lamp, resembled a light ball. Each strand of its golden fluff was incredibly smooth and reflected light under the lamp. Even after the treatment, it remained Spherified, due to the delight it was experiencing. Fang Liming had to admit that the Bathing and Nurturing services provided by this shop were far superior than his own. ¡°Boss Xu, your skills are impressive! I, Fang Liming, am impressed.¡± Flaunting a somewhat lofty demeanor, Fang Liming, holding the newly revitalized Bright Group, turned and left. Impressed? Looking at the strangely toned customer, Xu Ran displayed a perplexed expression on his face. But since the person had already gone far, he didn¡¯t bother to pursue the matter. Throughout the process, he didn¡¯t recognize Fang Liming¡¯s identity, after all, he was unaware of the status of other Foster Shops in Qingzhou City. Because of the presence of the System, he had never regarded other Foster Shops as competitors. Speaking of which¡­it seemed he had acquired another skill after this Bathing and Nurturing session. [¡ïWarm Glow] (Not Teachable) This is a renowned skill from the Bright Group species. Simply put, it allows the Pet Beast to glow and provide a certain level of warmth, just like a portable warm light. Although this Light Attribute skill couldn¡¯t be taught to Ziyun and Star, now that the Recycling function is here, there are other ways to handle it. A moment later, seeing the number of skill fragments remaining on the Recycling interface increase from 15 to 16, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Since no other customers had come in, Xu Ran, who was back at the counter, wasn¡¯t too busy. Out of boredom, he opened the Recycling interface, and began to search for One-Star skills that could fuse with Blood fury and Self-healing Power. Huh? This skill looks pretty good! Checking the exchange list, a skill named [Frenzy], with a 21.4% fusion success rate with Blood fury, caught Xu Ran¡¯s attention.. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 94: Time for Pranks!_2 Chapter 119: Chapter 94: Time for Pranks!_2 Translator: 549690339 However, thinking that he only had one skill fusion stone left, and the chances of success were low, Xu Ran¡¯s excitement quickly cooled down. Er¡­ I¡¯ll keep that in mind but might swap it later when I have more skill fusion stones. It was not long before the skill with the best chances of fusion with the self-healing power was found out to be a skill called ¡°Recovery¡±. The fusion success rate of these two skills was even higher than that of the ¡°Blood Fury+ Frenzy¡±, reaching 27.9%. I¡¯ll remember this one too. Just as Xu Ran was preparing to go through the exchange list, looking for skills compatible for the next three-star skill, new customers arrived. ¡°Boss! I¡¯m back after a few days!¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s voice was as cheerful as ever, and as soon as her words fell, she already arrived in front of Xu Ran, holding her Flame Fox. ¡°Are you here for washing and grooming?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°I do need grooming, but not today.¡± Su Xiaoxiao brushed the Flame Fox¡¯s head, speaking softly, ¡°Consider this as an appointment, I¡¯ll bring Flame Fox for grooming the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Because you haven¡¯t been opening the shop as usual these days, I¡¯m afraid you might also be busy when the time comes.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much about that.¡± Xu Ran shook his head and explained, ¡°We¡¯ve been closed recently because of the shop¡¯s expansion and business upgrade. We will return to regular service hours moving forward.¡± After all, we can¡¯t have system upgrades every day. ¡°Well, that¡¯s reassuring.¡± Su Xiaoxiao sighed with relief. ¡°May I ask why are you grooming day after tomorrow?¡± He then casually gave the Flame Fox a system identification. It¡¯s still pretty clean, but it¡¯s time for grooming. ¡°Because the day after tomorrow is the Teen Beast Master Pet Beauty Contest in Qingzhou City!¡± Su Xiaoxiao explained cheerily. ¡°This competition is for Beast Masters under twenty years old. Based on the pet¡¯s appearance, disposition, and performance, it determines a winner.¡± ¡°If you do well in the competition, you might even earn extra points for the college entrance exam!¡± When she said this, there was a glimmer of longing in Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes. As a freshman, if she could earn extra points for the college entrance exam, it¡¯s like being one step ahead of her peers. ¡°So there¡¯s such a competition.¡± Xu Ran nodded, now understanding Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s insistence on grooming the day after tomorrow. It¡¯s too bad that the entry requirement for the Pet Beast Beauty Contest is under twenty years old, which he has already surpassed. Otherwise, if they took Ziyun and Star to participate, the advertising effect might be even greater than the challenge match, after all, this is a beauty contest, the effects of the grooming are immediately noticeable. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll reserve time for you the day after tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran gave a definite answer, and then casually asked, ¡°Are any of your other classmates participating? Do we need to reserve time in advance?¡± She has been a regular customer after all, it¡¯s only right to take care of her. But of course, there¡¯s no way there will be a discount. ¡°They¡¯re not participating.¡± Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, ¡°The competition¡¯s participation is selected within the school. Back then, I got this opportunity because of your grooming, Boss Xu. A Yue didn¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°Although An Xun got the chance to participate later through other means, she gave up.¡± Su Xiaoxiao paused, ¡°When Gu Ling transferred schools, the selection was already over, and she doesn¡¯t seem to be interested.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, still regretting that he couldn¡¯t advertise. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss Xu.¡± It seemed like Su Xiaoxiao guessed something from Xu Ran¡¯s regretful expression and she smiled, ¡°If Flame Fox does well, I will definitely help promote your shop! I¡¯ll let the audience know he was groomed at the Starfire Foster Care Shop!¡± According to the teacher¡¯s assessment of her, as long as her Flame Fox is groomed like before, it will be a strong contender for the top three in this beauty contest! If they achieve this, a part of it should be attributed to Boss Xu, and it¡¯s only right to help him advertise. Uh¡­ Boss Xu seems to love advertising. He should be happy, right? Uh? Xu Ran lifted his head, there¡¯s more appreciation in his eyes looking at Su Xiaoxiao. She is indeed teachable. That being the case, he should make his appreciation known. ¡°Your grooming the day after tomorrow is free!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Su Xiaoxiao was so happy she almost cried. Finally, she¡¯s got some benefit from the boss! She must show off to her sisters when she goes back! ¡°Oh yes!¡± Having arranged the grooming, a weight was lifted off her mind, and Su Xiaoxiao suddenly reacted, ¡°Boss Xu, did your shop upgrade its services in these past few days?¡± She turned to look at the price sign without hesitation. When she saw the grooming price for the Super Large Pet Beasts, Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. It¡¯s so expensive! Fortunately, Flame Fox is a small pet beast. Even if she improves the growth stage in the future, it won¡¯t grow too large. From this perspective, she really saved some money. Then she saw the prices for the General stage Pet Beast and the King stage Pet Beast¡¯s fosterage, and Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but gasp. It turns out¡­ the payment is made in points! These things are not easy to get. Nobody is willing to sell them for money. Her parents are also Beast Masters, and they saved a few over the years, but so far, Su Xiaoxiao hasn¡¯t earned any Beast Master Points herself. However, thinking that these two levels are far from her current capabilities, Su Xiaoxiao felt she don¡¯t have to worry too much about the problem. If she ever attained such strength, she would undoubtedly be able to earn plenty of Points! Go for it! Su Xiaoxiao! After cheering herself on, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s gaze fell on the last row of the Price Menu. Sparring? Does the shop offer sparring services now? There was a hint of surprise on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. In other Foster Shops, sparring was an added service to fosterage; that is to say, without foster care, they could not provide sparring services alone. But according to Boss Xu¡¯s price list, it appeared that the two services were given equal weight. ¡°Boss, can we spar without necessarily fostering?¡± Su Xiaoxiao asked. ¡°Yes, you can spar directly,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°Then I¡­ I will have the Flame Fox train for an hour!¡± Su Xiaoxiao spontaneously suggested, hardly hesitating. A Transcendent Stage pet beast only costs 666 bucks per hour. Although it¡¯s not cheap, it is not unaffordable either. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran stood up and headed towards the back door. ¡°Follow me.¡± Oh, not in the shop? Curious, Su Xiaoxiao followed, soon realizing something. That¡¯s right, the store was too small to have space for foster care and training, so the boss must have set these services up¡­ In the basement?! Seeing the spacious underground passage, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s pretty big down there, brace yourself,¡± Xu Ran said, seeing Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s astonishment. Is she surprised? The real show is yet to come! ¡°Wow!¡± Moments later, Su Xiaoxiao continually gasped in amazement as they entered the foster area. She never calmed while passing through numerous areas belonging to different Beast Masters. Hasn¡¯t she seen the pig run even if she hasn¡¯t eaten pork? Even though Su Xiaoxiao never fostered her Flame Fox, she has a good understanding of foster care. Such luxurious foster conditions are impossible to find anywhere else! Su Xiaoxiao glanced at a dog rolling on a snow hill not far away. That was the Frost Dust Wolf of the White Wolf Girl, right? I heard there was a bet between the two in the semi-finals, seems like the former kept to her word and fostered it here. ¡°We are here.¡± The voice of Xu Ran brought Su Xiaoxiao back from her curious observation. Seeing the light film covered tunnel ahead, a realization hit her. Apparently, the end of this tunnel is the training area. They both passed through the light film, and as Xu Ran pressed the fire attribute button, there¡¯s a moment of weightlessness in the elevator. Next, the scenery around them changed abruptly. It was a volcano, spewing lava! Feeling the heat coming towards her, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s mouth opened wide. This¡­ Is this the training area?! ¡°What skills does the Flame Fox need to train? Do you have a training target?¡± Xu Ran casually asked. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Xiaoxiao was still coming back to her senses, so Xu Ran asked again. ¡°Um¡­ let me think.¡± Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the Flame Fox. On a whim, she hadn¡¯t thought this through, but it didn¡¯t take her long to come up with something, ¡°Let¡¯s train Flame Dance for an hour!¡± This skill is Flame Fox¡¯s highest DPS skill, also displayed at the day-after-tomorrow¡¯s Pet Beast Beauty Contest. If she can improve it through training, it would be more helpful for the competition. ¡°Ok.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Next, it was time for some pranks! Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 95 Continue the Music, Continue the Dance!_l Chapter 120: Chapter 95 Continue the Music, Continue the Dance!_l Translator: 549690339 [To improve the efficiency of this accompanying training session, The System will grant the Host relevant knowledge from the ¡°Flame Dance Skill Training Guide¡±]. ¡°Hold on.¡± Coolly accepting the knowledge transfusion from the system, Xu Ran turned and walked toward the training equipment warehouse on the side. Soon, Xu Ran returned with a pair of small red dancing shoes. ¡°This is¡­¡± Watching Xu Ran put these red dancing shoes on Flame Fox¡¯s hind feet, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face wore an expression of confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°These are essential training equipment.¡± Xu Ran explained, ¡°Next, let Flame Fox wear them, walk upright, and then dance to the music.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The more Su Xiaoxiao listened, the more abstract and more confused she became. What bizarre training method was this? Why couldn¡¯t she understand it? Companion training in other foster shops¡­ wasn¡¯t like this, right? ¡°So¡­ Boss Xu, could you first explain the principle of this training method?¡± Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°For the Flame Dance skill, the Flame Fox needs to use its front paws to perform the casting action, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Su Xiaoxiao agreed. As the Beast Master of Flame Fox, she naturally knew about such skill characteristics. ¡°Because it has this casting action, the cast of Flame Dance has a certain preparation time, and it cannot be cast instantly.¡± ¡°So, we need to find a way to correct this so that Flame Fox can still cast the skill without this action.¡± ¡°Boss, I understand what you¡¯re saying, but what does this have to do with Little Flame wearing red dancing shoes and dancing?¡± Su Xiaoxiao pointed out the crux of the problem. ¡°There is absolutely a connection.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression was very serious, ¡°In reality, Flame Dance is a skill which controls the explosive power of the Fire Attribute after it leaves the body.¡± ¡°These shoes can enhance Flame Fox¡¯s connection with the surrounding Fire Attribute; even without using its front paws for casting, it can smoothly cast Flame Dance. Let it get accustomed to this feeling and the dependence on the casting action will reduce¡­¡± Seeing that Su Xiaoxiao still wanted to ask something, Xu Ran decisively turned on the speaker, ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s start dancing!¡± A fast-paced song began to play from the speakers, forming a stark contrast with the nearby volcano spitting out lava. Looking at Xu Ran, who had started to twist his body, Su Xiaoxiao felt somewhat helpless but gave Flame Fox a look to follow along. Although it sounded unreliable, she decided to trust Boss Xu for now. ¡°Mew~¡± Flame Fox reluctantly watched Xu Ran¡¯s movements, but as it watched, these moves which were extremely addictive, kept emerging in its mind. Unconsciously, it raised its front paws, and with the help of the red dancing shoes, it maintained an upright stance. A flash of red light blinked over the dancing shoes, while the surrounding Fire Attribute seemed to be stirred and quickly became tumultuous. ¡°Dance!¡± With Flame Fox raising its front paws to its chest and its hind legs stomping to the rhythm of the music, a pillar of fire emerged when it completed a short dance sequence. Flame Dance! This was Flame Dance being unconsciously released in sync with the rhythm through dance! Is it really possible? Looking at the Fire Dance, which was no less powerful than a full-force attack by Flame Fox, Su Xiaoxiao who stood to the side stood dumbfounded. Just as she was astonished, Flame Fox had started its second segment of dance. It stood on one hind leg, the other hind leg lifted sideways while its front paws waved vigorously with the momentum. With its fluffy body and enchanting eyes, this dance was quite fascinating. However, the effect was remarkably significant. As the second segment of the dance completed, Flame Fox¡¯s body burst out with a series of high-rising flames. Su Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t know what to say. Looking at the initially unwilling Flame Fox, but after dancing for a while thoroughly enjoying itself, every bit of its fur radiating happiness, she felt an impulse to join in. Ah, Su Xiaoxiao, calm down! Boss Xu is still here! How embarrassing! ¡°Alright, it seems that Flame Fox has learnt it.¡± Xu Ran stopped, ¡°You can watch it practice.¡± Seeing Xu Ran about to leave, Su Xiaoxiao blinked, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this supposed to be an accompanying training service?¡± Shouldn¡¯t an accompanying training service involve the staff of the foster shop training with the Pet Beast? The training had just begun, why was Boss Xu leaving now? ¡°Yes, accompanying training.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°It is to guide the Beast Master on how to accompany the Pet Beast during training.¡± WHAT? Is accompanying training explained like this? Watching Xu Ran disappear in the elevator, Su Xiaoxiao felt lost for a moment. But soon, the fast pace of the music brought her back to her senses. As she looked at the Flame Fox completely immersed in the captivating dance and dancing more gleefully, Su Xiaoxiao looked very conflicted. A few minutes later, she walked step by step toward Flame Fox and started to clumsily follow Flame Fox¡¯s dance movements at the foot of the volcano. ¡°Whine-¡± You¡¯re dancing wrong! It should be like this! Lift your hand high, kick up your leg! Flame Fox looked at its Beast Master with disdain and seriously corrected her wrong movements. (Guess which segment of the dance it was, the original video will be shown in the bonus chapter at the end of this one) ¡°Ah!¡± Inside Dawn Foster Store, Fang Liming sat behind the counter, propping his cheek with one hand and petting the once again languid Bright Group on the counter next to him, gazing outside the shop door, his eyes somewhat distant.. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 95 Continue the Music, Continue the Chapter 121: Chapter 95 Continue the Music, Continue the Dance!_2 Translator: 549690339 -Boss!¡± After hearing her boss sigh for the umpteenth time, a short-haired girl in a staff uniform couldn¡¯t help but put down her broom. ¡°What¡¯s going on. You¡¯ve been sighing a lot since you came back. ¡±Xiao Yu ¡± Fang Liming¡¯s voice was full of melancholy, ¡°Our Dawn Foster Store is no longer the best place for the washing and protection service in Qingzhou City.¡± ¡®¡öThat Starfire Foster Care Shop?¡± Xiao Yu couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just riding the popularity of the Challenge Match and advertising? Once things settle down, customers will naturally choose our shop again!¡± -But the boss¡¯s washing and protection technique is really good.¡± Fang Liming lightly tapped the Bright Group, which quickly retracted its body and became a fast-moving sphere. He held the Bright Group in one hand and passed it to Xiao Yu, Take a look, this is the result of his washing and protection service. ¡°Ah?¡± Xiao Yu blinked, ¡°So you went to the Starfire Foster Care Shop when you went out!¡± ¡°Boss you are so careful even though you have such good washing and protection skills.¡± Xiao Yu giggled, took the Bright Group carefully and started examining it, ¡°Let me see¡­ Eh?¡± The smile on her face gradually vanished, her expression became serious. After she looked over the Bright Group up and down, Xiao Yu took out a flashlight, turned on the strong light and examined the Bright Group more carefully. ¡°Is this really the result of that boss¡¯s washing and protection?¡± After a while, she looked at Fang Liming with disbelief. Because she had been working in the foster shop for a long time, although Xiao Yu¡¯s washing and protection skills weren¡¯t great, her discernment was quite good. She could indeed judge the washing and protection state of the Bright Group at this moment, that¡¯s why she was so astonished. ¡°Correct, now you understand, that Starfire Foster Care Shop is not just about advertising.¡± Fang Liming rested his head on his hand and became melancholic again, ¡°Maybe we just didn¡¯t notice before, but now they¡¯ve come out of nowhere, we have competition.¡± ¡°That guy named Xu Ran is so young!¡± Xiao Yu murmured, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just exceptionally good at washing and protection of the Bright Group?¡± Hearing Xiao Yu¡¯s words, Fang Liming¡¯s eyes lit up slightly. However, thinking about the exaggerated washing and protection environment of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, he soon became melancholic again, ¡°1 don¡¯t think so. ¡°Mr Fang! Mr. Fang! Are you there?¡± Outside the Dawn Foster Store, a muscular man bearing a scar on his face hollered Fang Liming¡¯s name and rushed in. This man¡¯s face with a scar was quite intimidating. He marched like a dragon and a tiger to Fang Liming¡¯s side, ¡°Do you know a shop called Starfire Foster Care Shop?¡± ¡°Hm? Old Wang, you¡­¡± Fang Liming¡¯s face showed some surprise, ¡°Could it be that your business at the Beast King Foster Shop is also being affected.¡± -Correct, that¡¯s precisely it.¡± Wang Xuebin¡¯s face was fraught with annoyance, ¡°This shop just sprung up out of nowhere. ¡°Recently, we¡¯ve been losing customers one after another who didn¡¯t renew their fosters. I asked around and found out they didn¡¯t need the foster service, but they instead moved to the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°This is really upsetting!¡± Wang Xuebin couldn¡¯t help but vent his frustration by knocking at the counter with his knuckles. Their Beast King Foster Shop was the most professional foster shop in the entire Qingzhou City! There were only cases where customers switched their choices from other shops to their shop, never vice-versa. Although there are so far only a few such occurrences and the impact of this on our business is limited, it would indeed harm the reputation of our shop. Hence, we cannot just sit by! After realizing the gravity of the situation, Wang Xuebin did some research on the Starfire Foster Care Shop and immediately went to find Fang Liming. -So their foster services are good too?¡± Hearing Wang Xuebin¡¯s story, a look of surprise crossed Fang Liming¡¯s face. Since he was short on time, he left right after seeing Xu Ran washing and protecting the Bright Group. He didn¡¯t get to investigate the foster services much. ¡°What do you mean by also ¡­¡± Wang Xuebin gave Fang Liming a glance, ¡°You¡¯ve been to the Starfire Foster Care Shop before?¡¯ ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Liming nodded earnestly, ¡°The shop¡¯s boss is indeed young, but he is more professional in washing and protection than me. Now it seems, maybe their foster service is also better than that of your Beast King Foster Shop.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Without a second thought, Wang Xuebin waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I paid a high salary to hire a sparring trainer and a nutritionist from a second level town to improve our foster services. What can that kid possibly have to compete?¡± ¡°That guy loves to advertise. I¡¯d say those customers must have been duped by him!¡± Wang Xuebin declared confidently. ¡°This¡­¡± Fang Liming¡¯s expression seemed strange. Reflecting on the technology used by the Starfire Foster Care Shop, he could basically confirm that their fostering services were not ordinary, surpassing the Beast King Foster Shop with ease. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, considering Wang Xuebin and he were old friends, he decided to inform him about what he had witnessed at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°YOU mean . they even used a space-expanding technology in their washing and protection area?¡± Upon hearing Fang Liming¡¯s narration, Wang Xuebin¡¯s expression started to show signs of consternation. He scratched his head and said, ¡°It looks like this shop is indeed not ordinary!¡± ¡°However, no matter how extraordinary they are, since they are running a foster store, they should compete according to our industry rules.¡± Wang Xuebin grunted, ¡°We certainly can¡¯t just watch and do nothing, allowing them to steal away all our customers, can we?¡± -What do you mean?¡± Fang Liming understood Wang Xuebin¡¯s implications and slightly frowned, looking at him. -I remembered that the Qingzhou City Young Beast Master Beauty Contest is coming up soon.¡± Wang Xuebin snorted, ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop can advertise, so can we.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Fang Liming nodded in approval, ¡°I have a client who mentioned this beauty contest to me a couple of days ago. She¡¯s determined to win and wants me to provide a washing and protection service for her pet beast on the day of the beauty contest.¡± ¡°If we negotiate with her a bit, she might be willing to do some advertising for our Dawn Foster Store if she wins.¡± ¡°We also have a Beast Master of pretty strong prowess attending this beauty contest in our Beast King Foster Shop.¡± Wang Xuebin gave a sly smile, ¡°But the beauty contest doesn¡¯t just judge based on appearance, power and rapport can be improved in our Beast King Foster Shop. ¡ö¡öBut what if there are contestants using Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s washing and protection services?¡± Fang Liming, raising this point, squinted. ¡°Then ¡± Wang Xuebin paused, then broke out into a grin, ¡°Then it is even better! We can join hands with their foster shop! Let¡¯s overpower the Starfire Foster Care Shop in the beauty contest! ¡°We can negotiate with those two customers, let¡¯s cooperate during these two days to give them the best services- you provide the washing and protection service, we provide the sparring and feeding service, let¡¯s join forces!¡± ¡°NO matter how strong that Xu Ran kid is, can he still beat us when we join hands?¡± Fang Liming nodded slightly. Given the current situation, he couldn¡¯t think of a better plan. ¡°So, it¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Time flies!¡± An hour later, Su Xiaoxiao, holding the Flame Fox, reluctantly returned to the first floor of the store. It was only when the music stopped that she realized an hour had already passed. Time really does fly¡­ ¡°How is it, are you satisfied with the results?¡± Xu Ran asked, pulling Su Xiaoxiao back to reality. ¡°Yes! Very satisfied!¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. By the end of the hour, the Flame Fox was already able to unleash Flame Dance without lifting its front paws. Although it was less powerful than usual, it was still a significant improvement. When it can display as much power as it does when it lifts its front paws without doing so, it means that the Flame Fox has completely detached from its casting posture; in the future, it will no longer need to kick the ground with its two front paws before spellcasting. ¡°Mew~¡± It¡¯s so fun, I¡¯ll come again next time! The Flame Fox twisted lazily in Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s arms, showing no signs of fatigue on its face. The peculiar dance was incredibly captivating, causing time to pass without notice. Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 96: Stars First Time l Chapter 122: Chapter 96: Star¡¯s First Time l Translator: 549690339 ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re satisfied, welcome to visit again.¡± Xu Ran nodded, opened his personal panel and saw the credited 1 Prank Experience Point and 10 Skill Points, his smile growing even brighter. He casually opened the panel of Ziyun, and looked towards the proficiency of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound with some surprise. [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Starlight Level)] (113/500) [+] By his estimation, three hours had passed since Ziyun began training. In those three hours, it would have consumed an Energy Abundant Potion to train once, but the proficiency of this skill has increased by 21 points, which is significantly more than previous one-time training sessions. In addition, the improvement of other skills is also not low. It seemed that the adjustment to the training method and improvement of the training environment were paying off. Nodding slightly, Xu Ran added all the 10 newly earned Skill Points to Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, then notified Ziyun via Contractual Sensing. ¡°Meow?¡± In the Thunder Training Area, Ziyun, who was resting at the top of a small hill, suddenly raised its head. Just now, it had completed a three-hour training session, and the effect of the Energy Abundant Potion had worn off, making it feel the onset of fatigue. So, Ziyun decided to rest for an hour before continuing the training. However, not long after settling down, images of itself executing Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound under different circumstances flooded into Ziyun¡¯s mind. Each image seemed like a firsthand experience. Having been through this before, Ziyun realized it was the Beast Master adding points again. And the voice that followed through the Contract Sensing confirmed Ziyun¡¯s assumption. The Beast Master had added points again! Ziyun, who had initially planned to rest for an hour, slowly stood up. At this moment, it could feel the power the Beast Master had imparted to it! Even if it lacked the Energy Abundant Potion, it should strive to train harder to reciprocate this incoming power! Rest? Impossible! Ashamed of its previous thoughts, Ziyun resolutely dove back into the intense training. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± In the Dark Attribute Area, the running pace of Star gradually slowed down. It felt that the drug that had given it endless strength after consumption had lost its effect. Had three hours passed already? Star raised its head and looked at the stars in the sky. Among these stars, there wasn¡¯t one that belonged to it. However, now, in the midst of the long night, it was its own star! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± With a fervent neigh, Star disappeared into the endless night. Even without the aid of the Energy Abundant Potion, it had the Tenacity Skill. It would continue to train, in order to become stronger! ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± After attending to three more clients, Xu Ran habitually glanced at the clock hanging on the wall inside the shop. Doing some quick calculations, almost six hours had passed since the two pet beasts had started training. It was time to fetch them. ¡°Boss, the results of your Washing and Protection service are amazing, I will definitely come again!¡± A satisfied customer holding her Fire Hamster, whose appearance had been completely refreshed after the service, greeted Xu Ran before leaving. She was a female student and this was her second time using the Washing and Protection service. ¡°Thank you, but you can leave more time between sessions next time. Your pet is very clean and doesn¡¯t need frequent washing and protection.¡± Xu Ran casually suggested, and the Fire Hamster who had been waving its claws to say goodbye to Xu Ran in the female student¡¯s arms immediately wore a scowl. Darn it! Why would he suggest washing me less often! With the student covering her mouth and giggling, she and her pet disappeared from the shop. After stretching lazily, Xu Ran shut the shop to end a day¡¯s business, then used the underground passage at the back door to get to the Foster Area on the lower level. ¡°Swift Sparrow, stop looking at me like that, it¡¯s not meal time yet.¡± ¡°Golden Striped Ant, did you eat all the meal I portioned for you at once again?¡± ¡°Armored Rhinoceros, I hope the injury you got last time you were summoned has healed, that would put me at ease.¡± ¡°Frost Dust Wolf, are you getting used to being here? I¡¯ll prepare your dinner tonight.¡± Greeting the fostered occupants along the way, Xu Ran quickly arrived at the elevator entrance to the Training Area. First, I¡¯ll go to the Dark Attribute Area. The moment he stepped into the quiet night, Xu Ran felt a gust of wind hit his face. Star, fully included in the night by using Night Song, still had the conspicuous white mark on its forehead. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star excitedly rushed to the front of Xu Ran. As it slowed its speed, it naturally ceased the use of Night Song. Its short black glossy fur slightly glowed under the starlight. A couple of purple and crystal-like eyes glowing with intimacy. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Finding Star¡¯s shoulder covered in sweat, Xu Ran immediately opened Star¡¯s panel to check its progress after training. [Contract Pet Beast: Star Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth stage: Transcendent stage (254/500) [+] Race Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï Twilight Watch (Stardust Edition)] (36/100) [ + ] [¡ï¡ï Star Chain (Stardust Edition)] (32/100) [+] [¡ï¡ï Night Eyes (Stardust Edition)] (41/100) [ + ] [¡ï¡ï Night Song (Stardust Edition)] (40/100) [+] [¡ï¡ï Nightfall (Stardust Edition)] (21/100) [+] [¡ï Tenacity (Stardust Edition)] (52/100) [+)] After six hours of intense training, the improvement in skill proficiency was significant, especially Tenacity, which showed that Star indeed trained very hard. A gratified smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯ll prepare something delicious for you now, and then take you for a Washing and Protection session..¡± Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 96: Stars First Time _2 Chapter 123: Chapter 96: Star¡¯s First Time _2 Translator: 549690339 I A bath and grooming session? Anticipation twinkled in Star¡¯s eyes. It was indeed curious about what kind of magic lay in the Beast Master¡¯s grooming that could make the Frost Dust Wolf show such an attitude, and make Ziyun so approving of it. ¡°Let¡¯s go pick up Ziyun first, and see how her training is going.¡± Xu Ran turned and headed for the elevator, with Star following closely on his heels. Shortly after, the pair arrived at the training area reserved for Thunder Attribute beasts. Just in time to see Ziyun throw back her head with a ¡°meow¡±, causing a spectacular sight of a hundred-meter Thunder Sea. Seeing Ziyun unleashing her power for the first time, Star widened its eyes, realizing the gap in strength between it and its elder sister. Gazing at the rapidly leaping Ziyun, the admiration in its eyes deepened. So strong! Would it be able to become this powerful in the future? ¡°Nicely done.¡± Xu Ran gently petted Ziyun¡¯s head according to his usual routine, and checked her status, his face expressing shock. The growth of Starlight Level skills tended to be slower than Stardust Level ones, yet Ziyun¡¯s progress was in no way weak. [Contracted Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Growth Step: Elite Stage (5831/20000X+] Species Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Starlight Level) ] (130/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level) ] (129/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (64/500) [+] [¡ïSelf-Healing Power (Starlight Level) ] (60/500) [+] [¡ïBloody Fury (Starlight Level) ] (77/500) [+]] Aside from Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, which received an additional 10 skill points, the other skills¡¯ proficiency increased by an average of 30 points. Everyone of these achievements were the result of Ziyun¡¯s hard work. Was it the influence of contracting with Star, or did the addition of skill points provide Ziyun with a new motivation? Xu Ran could not decipher it just yet, but nonetheless, it was good news. Now, it was time for him, the Beast Master, to do his part. ¡°You both worked so hard, I should make something delicious for you both.¡± A supplementary meal was a must! ¡°Xi Lu, Xi Lu?¡± (¡°Is the food the Beast Master makes always¡­ this delicious?¡±) Gazing regretfully at the empty food bowl in front of it, and then at the fosterage residents around it, who were all strong but burying their heads in their own meals, Star couldn¡¯t help but lean towards Ziyun, softly inquiring. ¡°Meow-¡± (Yep! Super delicious!) Ziyun who had just finished eating was in a great mood. She reached out her soft paw and patted Star¡¯s head, demonstrating an attitude that said, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it if you stay a little longer.¡± ¡°Take your time eating. I¡¯ll clean up later. Remember to behave yourselves!¡± Xu Ran stressed to a few mischievous inhabitants before turning to Star and Ziyun, ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the first floor.¡± Is it time for grooming? Star¡¯s eyes glinted with longing and expectation, tailing Xu Ran faithfully. Ziyun, who was also following along, had a look on her face that spoke of an upcoming amusing scene. She wondered if Star would make some strange noises. In no time, the trio returned to the store on the first floor. Star followed Xu Ran directly into the grooming room. In contrast, Ziyun instinctively hopped onto the counter, seemingly preparing to watch over the shop. It was only until the grooming room door closed did Ziyun realize that the shop door had already been shut. ¡°Meow-¡± (Seems like there¡¯s no need to watch over the shop.) Shaking her head slightly, Ziyun shifted her gaze towards the grooming room. If past patterns held true, Star would not make any strange noises so soon. Right! First thing first, she should see what that creature is doing! As if remembering something, Ziyun deftly hopped down from the counter, her tail standing erect. Taking her time, she climbed the stairs to the second floor. A moment later, she was quietly crouching in front of the Beast Egg at the head of Xu Ran¡¯s bed, as she stared at the swirling, faintly glowing, earthy lines on the surface of the egg, lost in a daze. When it and Xu Ran chose this beast egg, it thought it would greet the arrival of its new companion soon. Extending a claw to touch the eggshell, Ziyun gently meowed. Although you will be the third one when you come out, both I and Star are waiting for you, so you must hatch quickly! Seemingly sensing Ziyun¡¯s presence, the earthy yellow pattern on the eggshell flickered slightly, revealing an intimate emotion from within the shell. After spending time with the beast egg, Ziyun darted back downstairs, and upon hearing the joyful neighing from the grooming room, a knowing smile appeared on its face. Hmm-hmm- As expected, no pet beast can resist the grooming of its Beast Master! ¡°Shh ¡± In the Grooming Room, Xu Ran had finished the initial soaking, rinsing off the copious sweat that Star had shed during training. He now held a soft brush with fine bristles, gently brushing Star. The brush tips slipped through the small gaps in Star¡¯s dense, short coat, tenderly grazing the area around each follicle. The bizarre tingling sensation from deep within the follicles spread throughout Star¡¯s body, causing its robust frame to tremble. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star¡¯s voice shook a bit, feeling as light as if it was galloping across the plains with Night Song. Now it understood why the Frost Dust Wolf made that kind of sound when it was groomed by its Beast Master, and why its elder sister told it, ¡°Wait till Xu Ran grooms you once, and you¡¯ll know,¡± when it asked about the grooming experience. This feeling¡­ it was indescribably¡­ marvelous! Brushing, trimming, care, drying¡­ Each step was carried out systematically. The Star emerging from the grooming room was vastly different from its previous self. The black-to-purple gradient mane fell softly and smoothly over its neck, each hair shimmering mysteriously under the light like the night sky. Its matching tail swayed slightly with its movements, revealing its lustrous softness. Star¡¯s sturdy body was covered in a smooth fur that glowed under the light, emphasizing its muscular lines. Its four purple hooves, trimmed by Xu Ran, had a gem-like sheen and a hard texture. The grooming made its eyes, which were like purple crystals, even brighter, and the white starry mark, slightly above the center of its eyes, stood out brilliantly against the black pelt. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I know what grooming feels like now!) Star strutted over to Ziyun, who was lazily lounging on the counter, to share its newfound experience of grooming. ¡°Meow-¡± (I know, I¡¯ve been groomed many times now-) Ziyun waved its paw, implying it had been through this experience many times than Star had. ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Hearing the exchange between the two pet beasts, Xu Ran gave a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯ve improved my grooming techniques, so the results are now better than before.¡± ¡°So, if I groom you now, the result will be better than it was in the past.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Really?!) Upon hearing this, Ziyun was pepped up. Its lazy demeanor vanished in an instant. It jumped from the counter, biting Xu Ran¡¯s trouser leg and dragging him towards the grooming room. Ready for grooming! ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. Ziyun¡¯s last grooming session was before the final round of the Challenge Match. It had not been too long ago. But it had been through a lot and made several trips since then, and it indeed needed a good wash now. He decided to pamper this little guy who¡¯d been training for six hours today. A while later, a prolonged and enchanting sound came from the grooming room. ¡°Meow¡ª¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu?¡± Star, who was outside the grooming room, tilted its head. Why does elder sister¡¯s voice sound even stranger than mine? ¡°Okay, you two play.¡± After grooming Ziyun and cleaning up the food bowls on the ground floor, Xu Ran stretched lazily, turned around and headed upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to meditate.¡± In the past, he would have taken Ziyun upstairs with him, but now with Star around, it¡¯s better to let the two little ones have some fun on their own. There are still about twenty days left on his Meditation Acceleration Card. Although he¡¯d already reached the second stage of contract power, it¡¯s not a bad thing to meditate a bit more and make the most of the time. Who wouldn¡¯t want to reach the third stage sooner? Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 97 The Flame Foxs Upgraded Chapter 124: Chapter 97 The Flame Fox¡¯s Upgraded Appearance_l Translator: 549690339 I [In addition to the 9/10 updates for ¡°Rippling Spring Sounds¡± from the Silver Alliance] ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Is that where the Beast Master sleeps?) His gaze followed Xu Ran as he disappeared at the top of the stairs, and Star, who hadn¡¯t yet been to the second floor, became curious. ¡°Meow-¡± (Xu Ran and I both sleep upstairs.) Ziyun, whose tail and rear were high in the air after washing and grooming, stretched her front legs straight ahead, yawning. Does big sister live upstairs too? An admiration appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. Even though he had a vast underground area to himself, Star, who had recently formed a contract with Xu Ran, felt a strong affection for his master. He assumed it would be wonderful to sleep with Xu Ran. Of course, Star knew it would not be easy. Given his large body size, which would only grow larger, he knew he was not as small as his big sister. Noticing Star¡¯s eyes kept staring curiously upstairs, Ziyun had an idea. ¡°Meow?¡± (Do you want me to take you upstairs to have a look?) ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Can I?) A joyful surprise flashed across Star¡¯s eyes. Ziyun, tilting her head in thought, then resolutely nodded. Although the upstairs area was small, there would be enough space for Star. There wouldn¡¯t be enough room for him to run around, and staying there usually might be a bit cramped, but a quick look around would certainly not be a problem. After neatly jumping up to the stairs of the second floor, Ziyun turned to look at Star, dropping her voice slightly and speaking softly. ¡°Meow-¡± (Step lightly; the Beast Master is probably meditating. We can¡¯t wake him!) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Understood!) Star got the message and followed behind Ziyun, treading lightly. Both pet beasts silently climbed the stairs from the first to the second floor, quickly arriving at Xu Ran¡¯s bedroom. Xu Ran was sitting cross-legged on the bed, already in meditation with the help of the Meditation Acceleration Card. At the sight of him, the movements of the two Pet Beasts became even gentler. Ziyun raised a paw and waved to Star to catch up before cautiously going to the Beast Egg on the bedside table. What is that? Following Ziyun¡¯s movements, Star shifted his gaze from Xu Ran to the bedside table. Is that an egg? As a Transcendent Being, he could sense the life force emanating from the egg. He stepped quietly forward. ¡°Thud-¡± The robust sound of his hoof touching the wooden bedroom floor made Star quickly lift his foot, placing it down even lighter than before. When he curiously arrived at the Beast Egg, he lowered his head and sniffed the scent of the egg with curiosity in his eyes. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What kind of egg is this?) Lowering his voice, being careful not to disrupt Xu Ran in his meditation or to frighten the little life within the egg, he asked. ¡°Meow-¡± (He could be our future companion-) Ziyun looked at Xu Ran, who was still in meditation and undisturbed, and softly explained how they had come to acquire this Beast Egg. Learning of how Ziyun and Xu Ran had drawn in more customers through their appearances in challenge matches, Star found himself smiling, intrigued. When he learned that Ziyun, even while in the Transcendent stage, had defeated the Frost Dust Wolf and Dark Scale Dragon alongside Xu Ran, Star couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bit jealous and longing. It was a shame he hadn¡¯t shared in these moments. But as he thought of the adventures he would have with Xu Ran and his companions in the future, Star¡¯s envy gradually turned into expectancy. He mimicked Ziyun and gently raised a hoof and laid it on the Beast Egg, sending his blessings. He also wished to see the new companion that would hatch from the egg. Seemingly sensing a different aura and Star¡¯s good intentions, the egg¡¯s exterior designs began to flicker at a faster rate, as if responding to the two pet beasts. After spending a moment with the egg, Ziyun and Star carefully exited the room. Then, led by Ziyun, Star toured the other parts of the upstairs lounge area. The bathroom, bathing room, study¡­ Even though the arrangements were common, Star seemed especially interested because of Xu Ran¡¯s living presence. Upon leaving the bedroom, Ziyun spoke a little louder, seeing Star¡¯s curiosity, she started sharing interesting things that she and Xu Ran had done. For example, the first time she saw Xu Ran taking a shower in the bath, she thought he was in danger, so she kept scratching at the door almost breaking it open. Or when Xu Ran was reading in his study, she loved jumping onto his lap and sleeping there. Telling these stories, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but tear up. It¡¯s maddening! After she grew, she couldn¡¯t easily lay on Xu Ran¡¯s lap! When will her reduction skill be arranged! ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s go to the Foster area!) After touring the entire second floor, Ziyun waved her tail. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Okay!) Star reluctantly glanced back at the bedroom before following Ziyun downstairs, treading lightly.. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 97 The Flame Foxs Upgraded Chapter 125: Chapter 97 The Flame Fox¡¯s Upgraded Appearance_2 Translator: 549690339 The two pet beasts quickly made their way through the back door and arrived at the foster area located on the first subfloor. Upon arriving at the foster area, Ziyun wasted no time as it led Star to the area where the other residents lived, introducing Star to their new neighbors. ¡°Meow-¡± (That¡¯s the Armored Rhinoceros uncle, he¡¯s one of the earliest residents of this shop and loves playing with mud, you better stay away from him.) ¡°Meow-¡± (There used to be a Shadow Chaser Lizard here with the Dark Attribute, it has already left with its Beast Master, otherwise, you would have had a lot in common.) ¡°Meow-¡± (That¡¯s the Golden Striped Ant, it needs to eat twelve meals a day, but after coming here, it often stealthily eats several meals in a row.) ¡°Meow-¡± (As for that Frost Dust Wolf, you¡¯ve already met it. It¡¯s a bit clumsy. Let¡¯s not pay it much attention.) Star had just made fleeting eye contact with these soon-to-be long-term neighbors while eating dinner together and did not remember much about most of them. But gradually, through Ziyun¡¯s familiar introductions, Star began to understand the characters, habits and temperaments of these neighbors, thereby feeling more at ease in its new environment. Thanks to Ziyun¡¯s introductions. The old residents here found out that the new guy who had taken such a large territory just after arriving is not a new resident, but Boss Xu¡¯s new pet beast. For Boss Xu, who fed them every day, they dared not to offend him. Even the most combative ones among them have dispelled the idea of causing trouble for Star. In the end, Ziyun led Star to the place that was part of its nocturnal environment, stood upright, and gently tapped Star with its paw. ¡°Meow-¡± (Rest early, see you tomorrow!) ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (See you tomorrow!) Watching the big sister walk away, Star¡¯s eyes were filled with closeness and gratitude. It did not turn back and step into the darkness until Ziyun disappeared on the first subfloor. Ziyun gently strolled back into the bedroom on the second floor, hopped onto Xu Ran¡¯s bed, adeptly picked up a corner of the blanket with its mouth, covered Xu Ran¡¯s lower body, curled up in the warmth, and cheerfully closed its eyes. It¡¯s time for sleep! ¡°I was careless.¡± The next morning, Xu Ran, sitting at the head of the bed and listening to Ziyun proudly talk about how it took care of Star last night, slapped his head in annoyance. In his estimation, preparing a space for Star to live and washing and grooming it once after making a contract would have been enough for Star. However, he had overlooked the fact that Star and Ziyun had different experiences. Ziyun was originally a stray cat and had quickly adapted to its new home upon arriving at the shop. But Star had lived in the Mount Beast Breeding Base, surrounded by its parents and friends. Being suddenly thrown into a new environment, Star might not have shown it, but would definitely feel uneasy and out of place. Ziyun, however, had the knack for noticing Star¡¯s hidden feelings and helped Star familiarize itself with the fostering area and the living area on the second floor after his meditation. ¡°Good job, I¡¯ll give you an extra leg of a Blue Dove!¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head and laughed. The Blue Dove was one of the sources of food provided by The System for Ziyun, a transcendent aquatic creature. It lived in seaside areas, which were not found in Qingzhou City. Blue Doves ate fish and their meat taste like chicken but had a fishy aftertaste. The Blue Dove¡¯s leg was currently one of Ziyun¡¯s favorites. ¡°Meow!¡± (Yay!) Upon hearing about the extra meal, Ziyun¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go down and see Star.¡± Xu Ran got down from the bed, quickly washed up, got dressed and went downstairs with Ziyun. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± In the foster area, Star let out an excited neigh. Like a shadow in the darkness, it quickly went to Xu Ran, lowered its head and rubbed its head and cheeks excitedly against Xu Ran¡¯s palm. ¡°Good morning!¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s neck and started to carefully prepare food for the two pet beasts and the other occupants of the foster area. After feeding them, the two pet beasts were sent to their respective training areas for a new day of six hours of training, while Xu Ran went back to the Foster Shop to open for business. An ordinary day at Starfire Foster Care Shop begins now. ¡°Boss, boss, I¡¯m here!¡± From outside the shop door, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s energetic voice can be heard, a day later. Having just opened the shop not long ago, Xu Ran gets up from behind the counter, a slight smile on his face, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Boss, is the grooming session really free this time?¡± Holding the Flame Fox, Su Xiaoxiao can¡¯t help but confirm it again. ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran nods without hesitation, ¡°But you have to help me advertise if you win.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯ll try my best to get into the top three!¡± says Su Xiaoxiao seriously. ¡°Top three?¡± Xu Ran is surprised, ¡°I think you and Flame Fox have a shot at first place.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a tall order.¡± Su Xiaoxiao sighs, ¡°Although Boss Xu, your grooming skills are really incredible, appearance is just one criterion of a beauty contest. There are many strong competitors in this competition.¡± ¡°Wait till I¡¯m done grooming, then you¡¯ll see.¡± Xu Ran omits the fact that the shop¡¯s grooming has been upgraded. He believes that once the grooming is finished and Su Xiaoxiao sees the results, she will understand where his confidence comes from. ¡°Oh right, how many rounds are there in the beauty contest?¡± Suddenly thinking of something, Xu Ran stops in his tracks, turning to look at Su Xiaoxiao. ¡°There¡¯s only one round.¡± Su Xiaoxiao shrugs, ¡°Although it¡¯s a city-wide competition, it¡¯s really just a small one, but it¡¯s a good honor for individuals.¡± ¡°But Beast Masters who are interested in pet beast grooming would basically pay attention to it!¡± Su Xiaoxiao quickly adds, fearing Xu Ran might think the advertising wouldn¡¯t be cost-effective and charge her. ¡°Only one round then¡­ Okay, that¡¯s fine.¡± Xu Ran nods slightly, a hint of regret in his voice, ¡°Do you want to accompany it during the grooming session?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Su Xiaoxiao waves her hands, ¡°I¡¯ll just wait outside!¡± Although Boss Xu¡¯s grooming skills are phenomenal, the process is far too embarrassing. Having experienced it once, she wouldn¡¯t dare accompany the pet right in. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran, keeping a straight face, carries Flame Fox into the grooming room. A moment later, strangely embarrassing noises come out from the grooming room. ¡°Meow ¡± Sitting in the lounge eating chips, Su Xiaoxiao hears this familiar sound and can¡¯t help but stomp her foot, feeling as if there are nails underneath her seat, causing her great discomfort. It¡¯s just too weird! Moreover, for some reason, it feels like Little Flame is making noises earlier than usual, and the volume seems to have increased too? Amid Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s restlessness, the grooming session ends quickly. Looking at the swaying Flame Fox walking out from the grooming room with Xu Ran, the standing-up Su Xiaoxiao can¡¯t help but widen her eyes. Hmm? Wait a minute! Su Xiaoxiao has experienced the pet grooming services at Starfire Foster Care Shop several times already and she thought she had built up some resistance to the incredible transformation in Flame Fox¡¯s looks afterwards. But what in the world is this heart-stoppingly beautiful creature in front of her? It¡¯s as if a god has taken a bunch of rosy red sunset clouds, and squeezed them into the shape of a fox. Each strand of its slender, gradient fur sparkles under the light. The fluffy tail is as light as mist, swaying gently like a cloud floating in the wind. A ring of black and brilliant gold short fur around its eyes shimmers under the light, acting as a beautiful eyeliner for Flame Fox¡¯s stunning gemstone-like eyes. This level of beauty, it¡¯s simply¡­ it¡¯s simply¡­ Su Xiaoxiao feels she can¡¯t describe it with words anymore. I did mention earlier that the shop underwent an upgrade.¡± Xu Ran smiles, ¡°As part of it, the grooming service was also upgraded for free.¡± ¡°This is the result of the current grooming service.¡± Xu Ran pauses, ¡°So now, do you think you and Flame Fox have a shot at coming first?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Su Xiaoxiao regains her composure and asserts decisively. Forget that appearance is only one of the judgement criteria, today I, Su Xiaoxiao, will show everyone that beauty is justice! Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 98: Again?! _1 Chapter 126: Chapter 98: Again?! _1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Xiaoxiao, is Flame Fox ready?¡± Gazing at Su Xiaoxiao, who came alone to the beauty contest, the already seated Gu Ling, Lin Yue, and Duan Anxun came over to her. ¡°Mmm!¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded, her face full of confident smiles, ¡°Little Flame is in the fire attribute training area in Boss Xu¡¯s shop, always ready to answer my call at its best state!¡± ¡°Fire attribute training area?¡± Gu Ling raised her eyebrows, an interested expression on her face, ¡°Does Boss Xu¡¯s shop now offer accompanying training services?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded, seeing that there was still some time before the start of the competition, she began to chat with the sisters,¡± Gu Ling, are you interested in pet beast accompanying training?¡± ¡°Average.¡± Gu Ling shook her head, ¡°As you know, we have¡­ anyway, my Dark Scale Dragon doesn¡¯t need to go to the fosterage shop for training.¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded, she naturally knew about the family situation of her childhood friend. The Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s father was under contract with Uncle Gu, and his strength had reached the general stage. So why would he need training from someone else? ¡°But¡­¡± Gu Ling paused, ¡°if it¡¯s the accompanying training service in Boss Xu¡¯s shop, I want to check it out. I guess it must be extraordinary, right?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Thinking about the Flame Fox¡¯s devilish training method, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face showed a strange look, ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s accompanying training method is different from other foster shops, but it¡¯s very effective.¡± ¡°I always feel like accompanying training is a tax on intelligence.¡± Lin Yue around waved her hand without care,¡± If you really want to accompany a pet beast for training, wouldn¡¯t the Beast Master himself be more suitable than the staff in the foster shop?¡± ¡°No, there is a difference in accompanying training.¡± Gu Ling¡¯s expression became slightly serious, ¡°Helping the Beast Master monitor the training of the pet beast, and urging it to achieve its target training volume is the lowest level of accommodating training.¡± ¡°Higher-level sparring trainers have unique understandings of different skills. They can guide the Pet Beasts to use specific devices and train more efficiently.¡± ¡°I heard that some sparring trainers can help beast pets upgrade a skill from Stardust Level to Starlight Level in just two or three days.¡± ¡°That amazing?¡± Lin Yue couldn¡¯t help but gasp, a look of ¡°I have learned something new¡± appeared on her face, ¡°I guess I know too little about accompanying training.¡± ¡°I took the Colorful Cloud Parrot for one training session the other day.¡± Duan Anxun chimed in this time, ¡°The sparring trainer did indeed help the Colorful Cloud Parrot train its skills more efficiently, but it was quite torturous.¡± ¡°I felt bad for it, so I didn¡¯t continue to bring it there.¡± ¡°You can bring the Colorful Cloud Parrot to Boss Xu¡¯s shop.¡± Su Xiaoxiao patted Duan Anxun¡¯s shoulder, ¡°if I¡¯m not wrong, Boss Xu is probably the higher-level accompanying trainer that Gu Ling mentioned.¡± ¡°My Little Flame only trained there for an hour and it was incredibly efficient. It didn¡¯t suffer at all during the training, but instead¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao paused slightly, ¡°it seemed too happy.¡± ¡°Training can be fun?¡± Lin Yue looked surprised, ¡°Then I must try.¡± ¡°I will also bring the Colorful Cloud Parrot there.¡± Duan Anxun nodded seriously. ¡°Then I have to bring mine as well.¡± laughed Gu Ling with anticipation, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back to Xiaoxiao¡¯s competition.¡± ¡°Xiaoxiao, after my observation, you have two strong competitors, He Shaokang from grade 3 of Nanhong Middle School and Ning Junli, the social Beast Master.¡± As Gu Ling spoke, she opened a notebook. Despite it not being her own competition, she had done a lot of homework for her best friend¡¯s competition. ¡°These two¡¯s Pet Beasts were cleaned and cared for in the Dawn Foster Shop, which was the city¡¯s unanimously acknowledged number one before the appearance of the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°In addition, they received accompanying training and feeding service in Beast King Foster Shop before the competition. It is said that the accompanying trainers and nutritionists in Beast King Foster Shop were highly paid recruits from the second level town, not to be underestimated.¡± ¡°These two¡¯s Pet Beasts are strong competition for the beauty pageant champion. With the support of two foster shops, their Pet Beasts¡¯ preshow state must be at their peak.¡± ¡°Compared to that, the other competitors¡¯ Pet Beasts are also competitive, but none of them pose a threat to you, since you had your clean and caring done in the Starfire Foster Shop.¡± Gu Ling paused, ¡°Luckily Boss Xu¡¯s shop doesn¡¯t have too many guests.¡± The current status of the Starfire Foster Care shop is peculiar. Even though it is well-known, its fame has not yet fully translated into reputation. Due to the limited capacity of the Starfire Foster Shop, perhaps fewer than three figures of clients have actually consumed in the shop. So for most of the Beast Masters, they have heard of Starfire Foster Shop but are still in the stage of observing. In such an important competition like the beauty pageant, Beast Masters naturally prefer to choose a foster shop they have been to and trust. As a result, among the competitors, only Su Xiaoxiao chose to get cleaning and caring at the Starfire Foster Shop. ¡°Anyway, put your all into this competition and getting in the top three should be no problem.¡± Gu Ling said seriously, ¡°With this honor, you can get bonus points for your college entrance exam.¡± She was about to say something else when Su Xiaoxiao pulled her over. ¡°Gu Ling, you¡¯re great, but don¡¯t worry about these.¡± ¡°In this beauty pageant, I, Su Xiaoxiao, am bound to win!¡± Feeling the odd glances from other spectators around them, Gu Ling, Lin Yue, and Duan Anxun simultaneously held the boastful Su Xiaoxiao back.. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 98: Again?! _2 Chapter 127: Chapter 98: Again?! _2 Translator: 549690339 Gu Ling looked somewhat helpless. What was going on? In her impression, Su Xiaoxiao was not such a blindly overconfident person, was she? Boss Xu¡¯s washing and protection services were indeed fantastic, but wasn¡¯t Su Xiaoxiao being too overconfident? Knowing that Su Xiaoxiao wouldn¡¯t listen to her analysis at this time, Gu Ling sighed softly, closed her notebook and put it aside, soothing Su Xiaoxiao like a child, ¡°Okay, okay, you¡¯re the first, let¡¯s keep our voices down.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Su Xiaoxiao patted the hands of the other three girls, laughing, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell you the reason now. I¡¯ll give you a surprise later.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to see what surprise you have prepared.¡± Duan Anxun shook her head helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t be blindly confident like me.¡± The four girls chatted and giggled quietly until the beauty contest officially started. As a competition that was quite popular, albeit small in size, the beauty contest followed a simple procedure. The initial forty-two contestants each had three minutes of showtime, during which twelve judges would grade them based on looks, strength, personality, coordination, and other factors. The highest and the lowest score were eliminated from consideration, and the average of the remaining ten was the final score for each contestant. The rankings of their final scores determined their place in the competition. One round decided the outcome. Su Xiaoxiao was slated to appear relatively late, as the thirty-ninth contestant. The two contestants Gu Ling had mentioned earlier, He Shaokang and Ning Junli, were the eleventh and twenty-seventh contestants, respectively. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our beauty contest!¡± The host briskly walked out onto the stage, addressing the audience with great enthusiasm. ¡°Hmm?¡± From the audience seats, Gu Ling glanced at the host, ¡°Wasn¡¯t he the host for the previous challenge match too?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the designated host for the Beast Master Association¡¯s competitions.¡± Duan Anxun had some familiarity and explained briefly. ¡°I see.¡± Gu Ling nodded, not speaking further. After the host announced the beginning of the competition, the first ten nameless contestants took their turns on stage. Amidst the cheers and applause, each completed their three-minute performances. The highest-scoring contestant got a final score of 96.3. Then, it was He Shaokang¡¯s turn. He was a refined boy wearing glasses, exuding a scholarly charm with a certain confidence that was characteristic of the strong. As he stepped onto the stage, a uniform chant came from a section of the audience. ¡°Victory for Shaokang, victory for Nan Hong!¡± ¡°Shaokang, Shaokang, you¡¯re the brightest star!¡± ¡°What an awkward slogan.¡± Lin Yue couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, looking at the direction of the chant. She saw a group of girls in neat school uniforms arranged in formation, ¡°Are these girls from Nan Hong Middle School?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Duan Anxun nodded slightly, ¡°I heard about this contestant named He Shaokang. He¡¯s quite popular at Nan Hong Middle School, apparently, he¡¯s the school hunk.¡± ¡°He¡¯s decent-looking, but looks don¡¯t matter in a beauty contest for beast masters.¡± Lin Yue glanced at He Shaokang, then couldn¡¯t help but take another look. ¡°The performance has started.¡± Gu Ling suddenly said, and both women stopped chatting and focused on the stage. After bowing elegantly towards the judging panel, a hexagram star array emerged behind He Shaokang. Amidst the swirling wind, a robust, green-colored dog with a lion-like head stepped forth. If Xu Ran was there, he would immediately recognize it as a Wind Lion Dog. Though it was not as big or reached the elite stage like Liu Gu¡¯s Wind Lion Dog, its majestic presence was identical. The fur of this Wind Lion Dog was meticulously groomed, giving off a visible sense of comfort as it swayed subtly with each step under the sunlight. It made people itch to pet it. As the Wind Lion Dog fully materialized, He Shaokang leaped onto its back and began their prearranged performance. Watching the seamless coordination between the boy and beast, performing high-difficulty stunts that made the audience scream within their three-minute time frame, the crowd¡¯s cheering and clapping grew increasingly fervent. Lin Yue, Duan Anxun, and Gu Ling, who were sitting next to Su Xiaoxiao, became serious. They were very familiar with the Flame Fox and consequently had certain expectations of Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s presentation. According to their estimates, Su Xiaoxiao might not be a match for He Shaokang¡­ On the other hand, Su Xiaoxiao was now lost in her thoughts, communicating with the Flame Fox in the fire attribute training area through her contract. As for the Flame Fox¡­it was dancing to the routine Boss Xu had taught it last time. Soon, He Shaokang¡¯s three minutes were nearing the end. As the last show pose was completed, the three-minute countdown ended right on time. Amid the cheers and applause of the audience, He Shaokang patted the head of his Wind Lion Dog, taking the microphone from the host. ¡°Contestant He Shaokang, thank you and your pet beast for bringing us a wonderful performance!¡± The host graciously thanked him. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He Shaokang took over the conversation, speaking calmly, ¡°I must thank the Beast King Foster Shop for its meticulous service towards my Wind Lion Dog.¡± ¡°Any Beast Masters with fostering needs, I recommend you go there!¡± Huh? What?! The entire venue fell into a bizarre silence, the smile of the host frozen on his face. Having recently had his salary docked for advertising someone, he now felt a familiar malice coming at him. How is it that he¡¯s advertising again?! In the audience, the three women of Gu Ling looked at each other, surprise showing on their faces. Is this¡­ following Boss Xu¡¯s example? Initially lost in daydreams, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly snapped back to reality, her gaze on He Shaokang as alert as facing a formidable enemy. Damn it! Other foster shops are advertising too! Her original plan was similar to He Shaokang¡¯s, to recite an advertisement after the show, but now, she, Su Xiaoxiao, needed to change her advertising method! Otherwise, Boss Xu will definitely think that she¡¯s merely going through the motions! ¡°Little Flame, stop jumping, let¡¯s discuss how to advertise later!¡± She quickly used contractual sensing to communicate with the Flame Fox. ¡°Huh?!¡± After hearing the context, the Flame Fox¡¯s dance steps in the fire training area slightly faltered. What? Other contestants are advertising too? ¡°In order to get discounts from Boss Xu in the future, we need to do this, then that¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao quickly communicated a new advertising plan to the Flame Fox. This time, the Flame Fox was extremely cooperative. For the sake of future wash and care and accompaniment during training, let¡¯s charge ahead! ¡°Alright, thank you for your speech, contestant He Shaokang. Now, let¡¯s see the final score given by the judges.¡± The host handed the microphone to He Shaokang to stop him from continuing to speak, then turned his eyes towards the judge¡¯s seats. Soon, the judges announced He Shaokang¡¯s score. Out of a perfect hundred, He Shaokang scored an impressive 98.3, a full two points higher than the previous highest score. For a time, the contestants who had already completed their show all had gloomy expressions, and those who hadn¡¯t yet performed became increasingly nervous. Performing after such a strong contestant isn¡¯t a good thing¡­ Time passed by the minute and second. Soon, sixteen more nameless contestants had completed their competition. Apart from He Shaokang, the contestants with the highest scores scored 97.4 points, still a substantial distance from He Shaokang¡¯s score. Watching Ning Junli step by step onto the stage, ready to begin her show, He Shaokang¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but become a little more solemn. She was his biggest obstacle to winning the championship! Ning Junli is a girl with long black hair. She waved cheerfully at the judges and then summoned her pet beast. In the wild wind, a mantis pet beast as tall as a person, with a mainly green body adorned with peach blossom pink, a slender waist wearing a skirt of pink flower petals, appeared. Combat system pet beast, Peach Blossom Mantis! With the appearance of the pet beast, the one-person one-pet show officially began. Three minutes of exhilarating performance, ending with the Peach Blossom Mantis swinging its sharp forelegs, slashing at Ning Junli¡¯s head amidst the audience¡¯s screams, and perfectly giving her a princess cut. ¡°Spectacular performance!¡± The host hurried onto the stage and handed the microphone to Ning Junli, ¡°Thank you and your pet beast for the show!¡± With a newly styled hairdo, Ning Junli gave a slight smile, ¡°I must thank the Dawn Foster Store for its meticulous service for the Peach Blossom Mantis, any Beast Masters with washing and protection requirements¡­¡± Hearing the familiar advertisement, the host¡¯s vision went black. Again?! Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 99 Do you know what is high-level taste? _1 Chapter 128: Chapter 99 Do you know what is high-level taste? _1 Translator: 549690339 Hearing the words of the advertisement recited calmly by Ning Junli, the atmosphere in the field suddenly became strange. ¡°Um¡­¡± Gu Ling couldn¡¯t help but glance at Su Xiaoxiao, ¡°Xiaoxiao, why don¡¯t you advertise for Boss Xu after you finish your performance?¡± As smart as she is, she knew at a glance that this was a strategy jointly developed by the two best foster care services in Qingzhou City. And the fact they chose to imitate Boss Xu¡¯s advertising during the competition, makes it clear who they are targeting. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Su Xiaoxiao waved her hand, glanced around, and began to speak softly, ¡°I have already promised Boss Xu I would advertise for him during the competition.¡± And it definitely won¡¯t be in this simple way! ¡°I must say, I¡¯m kind of looking forward to it.¡± Lin Yue chuckled, ¡°I wonder what Xiaoxiao¡¯s advertising will look like?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± Su Xiaoxiao chirped back. While the girls were talking, the host on the field had already timely interrupted Ning Junli¡¯s advertising behavior, and received her final score from the judges. After eliminating the highest and lowest scores, Ning Junli¡¯s score was 98.4. Barely 0.1 points higher than He Shaokang¡¯s score. He Shaokang, who was sitting in the audience, had a slightly darkened expression, his face looked a little gloomy. Such a small difference in score was enough to leave him distressed. After Ning Junli left the field, the competition continued in an orderly manner. However, after the high scores of the first two contestants, the enthusiasm of the subsequent contestants was greatly diminished, and one of the contestants even had a bad performance. Soon, it was Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s turn. ¡°The 39th contestant to take the stage is Su Xiaoxiao!¡± Hearing her own name coming from the loudspeaker, Su Xiaoxiao stood up from her seat and patted her three closest girlfriends beside her, ¡°Here comes my performance!¡± She walked briskly to the center of the stage, took a slight bow, and then a Hexagram Star Array lit up behind her. ¡°Whoosh¨C¡± A wild wind swept through the field and a hot surge of air rolled in. Stepping lightly and gracefully from the burst of flaming flames, a stunning fire sprite emerged. It took a tantalizing look at the crowd and then raised its head to make its own sound. ¡°Squeak-¡ª¡± In the audience, many spectators were astounded by the appearance of the Flame Fox. The three most familiar with Su Xiaoxiao were utterly dumbfounded. The beauty of the Flame Fox after grooming¡­ how could it be so striking? They couldn¡¯t help but think back to Su Xiaoxiao saying she would give them a surprise before her performance. That was indeed a huge surprise. After the competition, they need to interrogate her properly! ¡°Little Flame, Flame Dance!¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s voice rang across the entire competition venue through the head-mounted microphone. The Flame Fox¡¯s long bushy tail swayed gently, and columns of fire burst out from the ground around it without any warning, symbolizing the start of the One Person One Pet showcase. ¡°Is that¡­ Flame Dance?¡± In the stands, the three women who were familiar with Su Xiaoxiao and the Flame Fox were once again stunned by the Flame Fox¡¯s performance. A few days ago during testing, the Flame Fox couldn¡¯t spontaneously invoke the Flame Dance skill, it needed to claw at the ground as a casting action, so why doesn¡¯t it need to now? Not waiting for them to wrap their heads around it, the Flame Fox¡¯s seamless dance steps immediately after attracted all their attention, leaving them no time to wonder about anything else. In the sky full of fire, the Flame Fox lithely leapt, its form flickering among the flames. Sometimes interacting with Su Xiaoxiao, and at other times alone, demonstrating high-level fire control skills. Their cooperative performance elicited continuous gasps of amazement and applause from the audience, the performance was also gradually nearing its end. After a glance at the countdown, Su Xiaoxiao and Flame Fox nodded at each other. ¡°Now¡¯s the time!¡± ¡°Whoosh¨C¡± Following Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s command, the Flame Fox manipulated the surging fire ropes around it, raised its front paws seriously and stomped on the ground in front of it. The Flame Fox had basically distanced itself from the casting action of Flame Dance under Xu Ran¡¯s training. The reason it was doing it again now was because in the next moment, it needs to give its all! ¡°Boom¨C¡± A dazzling pillar of fire rose up from about a meter ahead of the Flame Fox, the golden red fire light reflected on every spectator¡¯s face in the stands. Using the repulsion from the ground, it lightly leapt up, and landed on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s raised hands, the Flame Fox sang a long tune. ¡°Squeak ¡± With its cry, the fire pillar peeled off, and in front of everyone, the flames transformed into a line of words, showing from top to bottom in front of everyone. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, the best care for your Pet Beast!¡± The reuse of the fire pillar, this is not the stardust level¡¯s Flame Dance! Now, the Flame Fox is showing the starlight level¡¯s Flame Dance! ¡°Xiaoxiao actually advertised in this way!¡± In the audience stand, Lin Yue stood up in surprise, and said, ¡°No, that¡¯s not the point. Flame Dance has broken through to the Starlight Level?!¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± Gu Ling slowly stood up, looking at the words in the fire, her eyes gradually brightened. Xiaoxiao said before, that the Flame Fox was given accompanying training service at the Starfire Foster Care Shop before it got here? Could this be the reason for the breakthrough of Flame Dance? It seems that it¡¯s a must to bring the Dark Scale Dragon to Boss Xu to try the accompanying training service. ¡°Again?!¡± The host on the sidelines almost fainted as he looked at the flaming words, thinking ¡°There goes my salary!¡± After Ning Junli had advertised, he had skipped over the contestants¡¯ speech segment, not giving them the microphone, to avoid another contestant advertising. Who would have thought that someone would actually advertise in such a crazy way?! Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 99 Do you know what is high-level taste? _2 Chapter 129: Chapter 99 Do you know what is high-level taste? _2 Translator: 549690339 If he makes any more mistakes while hosting, his salary for this gig is at risk of being docked completely. Being a laborer is hard, damn it! The host kept his eyes fixed on the text floating in the air, which hadn¡¯t yet fully dissipated. Starfire Foster Care Shop! That¡¯s it! The root of all evils! If this shop participates in any future competitions, he absolutely must be on high alert. ¡°Not bad, not bad, this advertising effect is very prominent!¡± Inside the Starfire Foster Care Shop on the first floor, Xu Ran chuckled as he looked at the live broadcast of the competition on his cellphone. When Su Xiaoxiao came for washing and grooming in the morning, he found that the Flame Dance skill of the Flame Fox was not far from breaking through to the Starlight Level. So he had it stay in the shop for training, hoping to break through to the Starlight Level before the competition. Looking at it now, it was indeed a successful breakthrough. If they had promoted themselves with advertisements like the two previous foster care shops, the effect might not have been as good as it is now. Moreover, the host seemed to be on guard, Xiaoxiao might not have had the chance to read out the advertisement. Speaking of which¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as he thought of the two foster care shops that had advertised before Xiaoxiao. Damn, they actually plagiarized his advertising idea! He must reclaim this advertising fee sooner or later! ¡°Boss Xu! Are you there?¡± ¡°Oh, I am!¡± Hearing the familiar voice from outside the door, Xu Ran put aside his thoughts and stood up, ¡°Brother Zhang, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°Ha ha, long time no see, it¡¯s me.¡± Zhang Yun laughed and walked into the shop. There followed a thin, short boy behind him. ¡°Is it for a wash and groom for Stone Armored Dragon? Or is it for foster care?¡± Noticing that the Stone Armored Dragon wasn¡¯t following Zhang Yun this time, Xu Ran asked casually. ¡°Neither.¡± Zhang Yun laughed, ¡°The grooming you did for the Dragon last time was so effective that it doesn¡¯t need another one now! I haven¡¯t had any business trips lately, so there¡¯s no need to foster the Stone Armored Dragon.¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± Xu Ran looked at the boy behind Zhang Yun, realizing that the client this time might not be Zhang Yun himself. ¡°This is my nephew, Zhang Xiu.¡± Zhang Yun patted Zhang Xiu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Call him Uncle Xu.¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± Xu Ran was embarrassed, ¡°I¡¯m not much older than him, let¡¯s just call each other by our first names.¡± ¡°Brother Xu.¡± Zhang Xiu politely smiled, ¡°I heard from my uncle that the grooming at your shop is exceptional, so I wanted to get my Pet Beast to try it.¡± ¡°No problem, what¡¯s your Pet Beast?¡± Seeing that Zhang Xiu also didn¡¯t have a Pet Beast by his side, Xu Ran asked. ¡°I¡¯ll summon it now.¡± As soon as the words fell, a Hexagram Star Array appeared behind Zhang Xiu. In the twinkling array, a huge figure appeared in the foster shop. ¡°Thud!¡± The moment the figure emerged, it fell directly backward, landing with a dull thud. ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing this three-meter-tall, round and honest-looking Pet Beast that was sound asleep ¨C not even its summoning woke it up ¨C Xu Ran¡¯s expression became a bit strange, ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°This is the Earth attribute Pet Beast, Round Bear.¡± Zhang Yun scratched his head and began to explain for his nephew, ¡°This species is among the better ones in Earth attribute Pet Beasts. It has three two-star talent skills. I helped him select it as his first Pet Beast Species.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s face showed some helplessness, ¡°Xiu didn¡¯t notice when he chose, and accidentally picked a Round Bear with a lazy personality. About one third of this species is very lazy and unwilling to move.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be blamed for that!¡± Zhang Xiu glanced at the still-sleeping Bear, completely oblivious to their conversation, ¡°How would I know that it was putting on an act? When I went to choose, it was the most active among all the Round Bears!¡± ¡°Good heavens, it would hit trees and swing its fist around, chasing other members of its species. Who knew it was afraid of not being chosen, so it pretended to be active!¡± Seeing Zhang Xiu¡¯s wretched expression, Zhang Yun and Xu Ran¡¯s expressions also became a little strange. This kid is really having a tough time! ¡°Then why do you want me to groom it?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°I heard my uncle saying that the grooming in your shop is a luxury experience for Pet Beasts. I want this lazy guy to try it. Hopefully, I can use grooming as a bait to encourage it to train hard in the future!¡± Zhang Xiu punched the air, seriously making his point. Well, it seemed a former customer had the same idea. Oh, it was Lucky Liu. Xu Ran turned to Zhang Yun. ¡°It was Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s idea.¡± Zhang Yun shrugged, ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no harm in trying it.¡± ¡°Alright, but there¡¯s a problem now.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Round Bear lying on the ground, ¡°If it¡¯s not cooperating, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to groom it.¡± Such a giant, weighing tons. Even Xu Ran, who received feedback from Ziyun and Star, found it challenging to easily turn this big fella over. ¡°No worries, I have a way!¡± Zhang Xiu gritted his teeth and took a can out of his pocket. When the can was opened, a slightly fishy smell wafted out. Round Bear¡¯s deep snoring suddenly stopped. It sniffed the air, lazily sat up from the ground, and extended its paw towards Zhang Xiu, making a feeding gesture, making a ¡°wa-wa~¡± sound from its mouth. It really is eat-sleep-eat-sleep¡­ Time for an appraisal. [Race name: Round Bear] Attribute: Earth Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Large Size Washing and Protection requirement: Evaluation: A lazy guy who takes ¡°Eat, sleep, repeat¡± as its life goal. It¡¯s time to use your skillful hands and show it what high-level pleasure means!] I quite agree with this evaluation from the system this time. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched a little, ¡°Okay, let it come to me.¡± ¡°Sure, but I have to go in with it. Without the enticing smell of this can, it could fall asleep again at any moment.¡± Holding the can above his head to avoid Round Bear¡¯s paw, Zhang Xiu patted the bear¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯ll feed you after the washing!¡± Even though Round Bear is gigantic and lazy, it has a good temper¡­ well, it might be too lazy to lose its temper. Even without getting food, it didn¡¯t show much reaction, but stood up straight and slowly followed Zhang Xiu into the grooming room. ¡°You sit here.¡± In the grooming room, Xu Ran brought a chair for Zhang Xiu. ¡°Sure!¡± Zhang Xiu sat down with the can, curiously looking around. ¡°Brother Xu, your grooming area is really big!¡± ¡°Of course, even super large pet beasts can be groomed here.¡± Xu Ran smiled and gently tapped the paw Round Bear extended towards Zhang Xiu. ¡°Lie down.¡± ¡°Wa~¡± Will it really feed me after grooming? There was a hint of inquiry in Round Bear¡¯s voice. ¡°Rest assured, we¡¯ll feed you after grooming!¡± Zhang Xiu replied helplessly. Receiving a positive response from Zhang Xiu, Round Bear felt reassured. It obediently lay on the grooming platform, its eyes unwavering from the direction of the can. Obviously, it isn¡¯t preoccupied with the upcoming grooming, its mind is solely focused on hurrying to eat the fragrant can. Ignoring me? Looking at Round Bear, who didn¡¯t even spare a glance at him, Xu Ran revealed a benevolent smile. Experience the pleasure! ¡°Huala ¡± The shower gel, blended with special resources, was heated to the perfect temperature and evenly sprinkled on Round Bear¡¯s body from the shower head, then flowed down its fluffy body. The water flow gradually penetrated the thick fur until it reached the hair roots, brushed against the hair follicles, and freely explored the gaps in the hair roots, caressing the most sensitive nerves, creating an odd tickling sensation that originated from the hair follicles and flowed deep into the body. ¡°Wa?l¡± Round Bear¡¯s eyes, which were half-closed and looked as if they could fall asleep at any time, suddenly widened. Its body uncomfortably writhed a bit, its chubby body ¡°duang-¡± began to wobble on the grooming table. What¡¯s this¡­? A kind of joy it had never experienced before gradually surged into its mind with its wet body. Something seemed to aggressively insert itself between ¡°eating¡± and ¡°sleeping,¡± giving it a completely different joy that was just as fulfilling! [Pleasure value from Round Bear +15] [Pleasure value from Round Bear +15] [From¡­] Xu Ran¡¯s mouth slightly turned up. Do you now understand what high-level fun is? This is just the beginning! Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 100: Reward for the Hardworking, Chapter 130: Chapter 100: Reward for the Hardworking, Star Breakthrough !_1 Translator: 549690339 [An exclusive update for ¡®Rippling Spring Sounds¡¯ of the Silver Leader Allianceio/io] ¡°Wow~¡± The Round Bear sat up from the care platform with a trace of reluctance to end the process. Its thick fur had become smooth and glossy after washing and caring, fitting just right to the contour of its body in fluffy fashion. The previously tired eyes, seemingly about to close any second, now sparked with life, having tasted a higher level of pleasure. ¡°Come, time to eat canned food.¡± Zhang Xiu, who had been observing the entire washing and caring process, was still awe-stricken. The first thing he did was offer the already opened can of food. ¡°Wow~¡± The Round Bear stretched out its paw. However, it did not reach out for the can of food as Zhang Xiu expected, but pushed it away and turned its head towards Xu Ran. ¡°Wow~¡± ¡°Uh¡­it says it doesn¡¯t want to eat canned food and wants you to wash and care for it again,¡± Zhang Xiu somewhat awkwardly interpreted the Round Bear¡¯s intent. ¡°We just finished the wash and care. It is not good for the Round Bear¡¯s fur to clean so frequently.¡± Xu Ran smiled and looked at the can of food in Zhang Xiu¡¯s hand, ¡°Anyway, it seems that your goal has achieved.¡± ¡°Oh yes!¡± Being reminded by Xu Ran, Zhang Xiu had a sudden realization. He promptly turned his head towards the Round Bear,¡±Da Xiong, if you agree to train with me, we can come here for regular washing and care. Deal?¡± ¡°Wow?¡± The Round Bear grimaced in anguish at the mention of training. Its inherent laziness made training seem uninteresting, as every single moment felt like it was in jail Even if it had just experienced the comfortable service of washing and caring, if training was the bargaining chip, it still couldn¡¯t agree immediately. ¡°Let¡¯s leave the washing room first.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Perhaps, I can provide some assistance.¡± While speaking, he glanced at his personal panel. [¡ï¡ïInsightful Eye](can be taught) Considering the delivery, let¡¯s help this lazy bear. However¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but recall the almost half-asleep eyes of the Round Bear before washing and caring. Is it serious about this Insightful eye? The racial attribute is somewhat abstract. ¡°How¡¯s it?¡± Zhang Yun who had just walked out noted the freshly-cleaned Round Bear and laughed, ¡°Have it agreed to train?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Zhang Xiu told Zhang Yun what had transpired between himself and the Round Bear in exact detail. ¡°Hmm¡­ In that case, it¡¯s a bit difficult to handle. After all, laziness is part of Round Bear¡¯s nature. You can¡¯t entirely blame it.¡± Zhang Yun stroked his chin and then looked towards Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, you said, you have a solution? What is it?¡± ¡°The reason why the Round Bear is unwilling to train is, firstly it¡¯s lazy, and secondly, training is too arduous.¡± Xu Ran began to earnestly analyze, ¡°Laziness can be eliminated by using washing and caring as bait. But the toughness of training will still repel it.¡± ¡°What if training becomes fun?¡± ¡°Boss Xu, are you suggesting¡­¡± Zhang Yun, who was experienced, quickly understood Xu Ran¡¯s intention, ¡°getting a good sparring trainer to design a suitable training method for Round Bear?¡± ¡°What I mean is¡­ why not try our shop¡¯s accompanying training service?¡± Xu Ran pointed to the price menu. ¡°Ah?¡± Zhang Yun finally noticed the updated price menu of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, apparently clueless of when it happened. ¡°Hiss ¡± He was initially startled by the prices for super large pet beast cleaning and caring, and the price for fostering general stage or king stage pet beasts. However, he quickly realized that these services had nothing to do with him; his attention then turned towards the accompanying training price menu. ¡°Boss Xu really knows how to surprise us! Whenever you have new services, you must inform us, your regular customers!¡± After seeing the price, Zhang Yun laughed, patting Zhang Xiu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Take the Round Bear for an hour¡¯s training!¡± Out of trust in Xu Ran, Zhang Yun did not hesitate. He even plans to bring his Stone Armored Dragon in a few days if the training of Round Bear proves effective. ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly and briskly stepped towards the back door accompanied by the two men and a beast. ¡°Wow! The foster area has become so large?¡± Upon reaching the underground level, Zhang Yun exclaimed, then suddenly realized the implications, ¡°Boss Xu¡­is this space expansion technology?¡± ¡°Ah, yeah yeah.¡± Xu Ran was nonchalant, accepting Zhang Yun¡¯s guess readily. Looking at Xu Ran¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Zhang Yun took a sharp breath. He has always thought Xu Ran was a normal person, adept in washing and caring technology. But now he seems to be a boss! Not everyone can use this technology. Xu Ran not only used it casually but also seemed quite serene about it. This shock intensified as Xu Ran brought them to the earth attribute training area. This¡­ Gazing at the towering mountains that suddenly appeared outside the elevator, and feeling the intense earth attribute power in the training area, Zhang Yun decided on the spot to bring his Stone Armored Dragon here the next day! The Round Bear following them also felt the strong earth attribute power here. Unusually, it began to take independent steps wandering around, exploring. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start training the Round Bear now.¡± Xu Ran turned to Zhang Xiu, who was still in a state of surprise, ¡°What skill do you plan to train the Round Bear for?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Zhang Xiu snapped out of his stupor, ¡°Then train it for Shattering Rock Strike!¡± Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter too Reward for Hard Work, Star Chapter 131: Chapter too Reward for Hard Work, Star Breakthrough! 2 Translator: 549690339 Just say or not say¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°No problem.¡± [In order to improve the efficiency of this training session, the system will grant the host related knowledge of the ¡°Shattering Rock Strike Skill Training Guide¡±] Huh? After digesting the knowledge poured into his mind by the system, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. The best way to train this skill is actually like this? ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He turned and walked towards the training equipment warehouse, quickly fetching a pair of oversized claw gloves. After strapping the claw gloves onto Round Bear¡¯s powerful front paws, Xu Ran patted its drooping head, ¡°All right, now it¡¯s time to sleep!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Yun couldn¡¯t help but look at Xu Ran. ¡°Huh?¡± A look of confusion appeared on Zhang Xiu¡¯s face; weren¡¯t they here for training? Why had it turned into sleep? The happiest one in the place, however, was Round Bear. Hearing that it could sleep after having mentally prepared for grueling training, it quickly became joviced. ¡°But, you need to change your sleeping position.¡± Seeing Round Bear looking as dopey as ever, Xu Ran spoke slowly, ¡°Come on, do as I say.¡± ¡°Sit down¡­ Spread your legs¡­ Prop yourself up with your claws¡­ Lower your head¡­ Good, that¡¯s it!¡± Xu Ran nodded, satisfied with Round Bear¡¯s position, ¡°Just sleep like this.¡± Almost the moment Xu Ran¡¯s voice fell, Round Bear fell asleep immediately. For it, sleeping in any position was just as easy. Seeing Round Bear¡¯s abstract sleeping position, sitting on the ground and propping itself up with its claws, Zhang Yun and Zhang Xiu both expressed their confusion. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Brother Xu, can we train Shattering Rock Strike like this?¡± Zhang Xiu couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Think about it, how is Shattering Rock Strike executed?¡± Xu Ran gave Zhang Xiu a reassuring look and asked. ¡°Uh¡­ Slapping the ground with both claws?¡± Recalling the scene of Round Bear releasing Shattering Rock Strike, Zhang Xiu spoke somewhat uncertainly. ¡°Right, just like that.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°The essence of Shattering Rock Strike is to strengthen the connection between the paws and the earth, instantly activating the Earth attribute Power when necessary, causing the earth to crack and create powerful destructive effects.¡± ¡°Keep sleeping with your paws touching the ground, how can you not make great progress with such diligence?¡± Diligence? Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, both Zhang Yun and Zhang Xiu twitched at the corners of their mouths. Why does it sound¡­ not quite right? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll know in an hour.¡± Seeing their doubts, Xu Ran didn¡¯t explain much. Sleeping with your paws propped against the ground is naturally not enough, but with those claw gloves, it¡¯s different. The gloves, which transmitted the pulse of the earth to the bear¡¯s paws at all times, helped Round Bear to better grasp the Shattering Rock Strike skill. At this moment, Round Bear was in a dream, its spirit naturally relaxed, making it easier to turn this pulse into instinct. After pointing out some relevant matters to them, Xu Ran leisurely returned to the shop to continue watching the beauty contest live broadcast. ¡°It¡¯s over?¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, clicked on the broadcast replay, and continued watching from where he had left off. Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s victory had hardly been suspenseful. Under Xu Ran¡¯s guidance, the Flame Dance skill proficiency had broken through to the Starlight Level, and with the help of the Washing and Protection, the Flame Fox easily achieved the highest score in the field. 99.5 points. Watching Su Xiaoxiao in the replay, holding up the beauty contest trophy with one hand and the Flame Fox with the other, displaying a brilliant smile, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile himself. After this advertising, there will be more visitors coming to the shop for Washing and Protection, right? If it could be said that the previous advertising during the Challenge Match merely made everyone aware of a shop called the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City. Then the current beauty contest was showing more directly the excellent results of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Washing and Protection and training. Many Beast Masters who were paying attention to the beauty contest had Washing and Protection requirements, so the coverage of this kind of advertising, although not as extensive as before, was much more precise. Xu Ran, who now had Recycling as a new system function, suddenly found his demand for Washing and Protection had increased. Before, if he wanted to acquire a skill suitable for his Pet Beast, he needed to find a Pet Beast with the corresponding attribute, and then sweet-talk the corresponding Beast Master to bring the Pet Beast for Washing and Protection. Now there was no such hassle. As long as there are more and more customers coming for Washing and Protection, the skills suitable for his own Pet Beast could completely be acquired by exchange. ¡°Excuse me, is this the Starfire Foster Care Shop? Is the Flame Fox from the beauty contest washed and protected here?¡± A voice came from outside the door. Seeing the new faces with their Pet Beasts, Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Yes, this is the place. Welcome!¡± This advertisement came at just the right time. After seeing off the highly satisfied new customer, Xu Ran stretched lazily. There was a rustling noise from the back door of the shop, and Uncle Zhang Yun and his nephew came in with the Round Bear, which had been sleeping¡­ no, training for an hour. ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re incredible!¡± The first thing Zhang Yun did after stepping out of the back door was to cast Xu Ran an admiring glance, ¡°Such a simple training method can actually improve the proficiency of the Shattering Rock Strike.¡± After an hour of training, they ran a test on Round Bear¡¯s Shattering Rock Strike, and the visible improvement was noticeable. Not only was the training effective, but the most pleasant surprise was that the Round Bear did not resist the training at all and instead thoroughly enjoyed it. ¡°Brother Xu, from now on, our Round Bear will train here.¡± Zhang Xiu showed a delighted expression, ¡°We¡¯re going to train for twelve hours every day!¡± ¡°Oh, this¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Half a day training every day? Compared to the lazy Round Bear, Is this Beast Master too diligent? ¡°Sorry, we have rules here, each Pet Beast can only train for six hours a day.¡± Xu Ran refused the proposal without a second thought, ¡°Training needs a balance of work and rest, it is very tiring for Round Bear to sleep.¡± Even sleeping gets tiring? Zhang Shu and his nephew¡¯s mouths convulsed. But since Xu Ran had already spoken, Zhang Xiu could only compromise, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come train for six hours every day.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a beaming smile. The growth of skill points is fixed, ten points per hour. If Zhang Xiu trains for six hours every day, he can garner sixty skill points and six Pranks experience point each day. Such high-grade customers are always welcome. ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue to train for the remaining five hours today!¡± Zhang Xiu was visibly excited as he paid and grabbed Round Bear to head towards the back door. ¡°This kid.¡± Zhang Yun watched Zhang Xiu¡¯s retreating figure and chuckled softly, ¡°Xiu is a hardworking boy. Having such a lazy Pet Beast always troubled him, now with a method to train, he can¡¯t wait to become stronger.¡± ¡°Indeed very hardworking.¡± Xu Ran agreed with a nod. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get going. Next time, I¡¯ll bring my Stone Armored Dragon over for training.¡± Zhang Yun stretched out his hand towards Xu Ran, laughing heartily before turning to leave. Watching Zhang Yun leave, Xu Ran suddenly heard a passionate rallying cry in his mind. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± It¡¯s Star! Listening to the message conveyed by Star through the Contractual Sensing, a delighted look came over Xu Ran¡¯s face. He promptly opened Star¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Star Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Darkness Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage (412/5OO)[+] Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïTwilight Watch (Starlight Level)](l/500)[+] [¡ï¡ïStar Chain (Starlight Level)](l/5OO)[+] [¡ï¡ïNight Eyes(Starlight Level)](l/500)[+] [¡ï¡ïNight Song( Starlight Level)](l/500)[+] [¡ï¡ïNightfall(Starlight Level)](l/500)[+] [¡ïTenacity (Starlight Level)](39/500)[+]] It only took three days for Star to elevate all his skills to the Starlight Level as Xu asked! This was certainly due to the Pranks and environmental factors, but what was even more crucial was Star¡¯s unwavering perseverance and himself fully completing six hours of training every day! ¡°Star, come on up.¡± Xu Ran chuckled softly, communicating with Star through Contractual Sensing, ¡°I said before, once all skills reach Starlight Level, I would help with your breakthrough. Now is the time.¡± During this period, he didn¡¯t give all of his body constitution points to Ziyun. The remaining points were reserved for this exact moment. A diligent child deserves to be rewarded! Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 101 Urgent Problems to Solve_l Chapter 132: Chapter 101 Urgent Problems to Solve_l Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Inside the temporarily closed Starfire Foster Care Shop, Star kept kicking its hooves, and a look of anticipation emerged in its purple eyes. On the counter, Ziyun who had rushed over after hearing the news, tuckered its paws in its belly in a peasant tucking manner, casually swung its fluffy big tail a couple of times. Curiosity flickered in its eyes. Although it had advanced itself before, it never saw other pet beasts advance! ¡°Are you ready?¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and added 88 physical points to the growth progress bar of Star. Growth Step: Transcendent Stage (412/500) [+] UJ. Growth Step: Transcendent Stage (500/500) ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± After being awarded points, the stature of Star visibly grew. It lifted its head and neighed, its eyes filled with excitement. At the moment when Xu Ran boosted the progress bar to 500, Star felt that it had reached a fulfilled state. Its strength could no longer continue to grow through normal training, to improve, only¡­ Advance! From the transcendent stage to a higher growth stage to gain a higher strength limit! The door to advancement had already cracked open in front of it! Push it open! Push it open!! The instinct to grow stronger continuously emerged in Star¡¯s mind. Without hesitation, Star pushed open the door to advancement! Its body abruptly burst forth with blinding white light, even though it was attribute was of darkness, it seemed even more dazzling than the light attribute at this moment. Within the glow, Star¡¯s figure was growing continuously. It grew larger and mature from a small horse while its height, which was already two meters after awakening, grew taller. Two and a half meters¡­three meters¡­three and a half meters¡­ The height of Star froze at four meters and ceased to grow. As the body grew rapidly, the stature of Star also increased at a rapid speed. In a heartbeat, it had already reached double of the original capacity, and this was only the beginning! As Star¡¯s strength grew, warmth was transmitted to Xu Ran through the Beast Taming Contract, flowing into him, strengthening him as well. That was the result of the Beast Taming Contract¡¯s reciprocity! After stepping into the Elite Stage, Star¡¯s reciprocity wasn¡¯t much inferior to Ziyun¡¯s, such power was also a significant enhancement for Xu Ran! ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but utter a low hum, and a strange expression surfaced on his face. At this moment, it seemed that he had experienced the feelings of those pet beasts that he had nurtured. After what felt like a minute, the dazzling light gradually disappeared. Star hummed happily, lowered its head, and approached Xu Ran. Affection and gratitude beamed in his eyes. Though it didn¡¯t know why its strength had suddenly increased so much before advancing, there was no doubt that it was closely related to its Beast Master. Just as the Beast Master had given it the awakening it had always wanted, and taught it skills without any hint! This was the magical power from the Beast Master! The expression on Xu Ran¡¯s face slowly settled. As the strength of Star stabilized, the power reciprocity also came to an end. His strength after the growth was almost double the original, Xu Ran felt an intense premonition that he could defeat the transcendent stage pet beast with his physical body now. ¡°Now, you¡¯re as tall as your father.¡± Looking up at Star, who is now as big as Chasing Wind was back then, Xu Ran¡¯s face turned into a smile,¡± How does it feel to be in the Elite Stage?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Answering him was a fervored neigh from Star. Stroking Star¡¯s increasingly tall mane, Xu Ran opened the system panel, looking at Star¡¯s new growth stage. Growth Step: Elite Stage (5000/20000) [+] Hmm? How come it¡¯s so neat? Looking at the neat progress of Star¡¯s growth stage, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. A moment later, he had a conjecture. Perhaps this is related to Star¡¯s breakthrough through adding points. Usually, when a pet beast reaches the fulfillment of the transcendent stage, it will stay in this stage for a while before advancing to the elite stage. Although the strength doesn¡¯t increase during this period, perhaps the growth of power doesn¡¯t stop, but accumulates, and will bring stronger power to the pet beast after the breakthrough. Previously, after Ziyun reached the fulfillment of the transcendent stage, it waited for several days until Xu Ran broke through the second stage with the contract power, and then it broke into the elite stage. Its growth stage progress right after the breakthrough was 5124, and that extra part compared to Star might be the accumulation result of those few days. In that case, when reaching the fulfillment of a growth stage, not to rush advancement and to accumulate for a period, might be a good thing? Xu Ran stroked his chin and put forward this supposition. Once bitten twice shy, he must not be so hasty in the next breakthrough. While Xu Ran was pondering, Ziyun slowly rose from the counter. It could feel that the little brother, who it could swipe down with a single paw before, had approached its strength closely now after advancing. However¡­ Looking at Star who seemed to sense something, the eyes still carrying familiarity and respect as always, Ziyun nodded with satisfaction. Even if its strength increased, it¡¯s still its little brother! ¡°Meow-¡± With a soft leap, Ziyun jumped on the increasingly sturdy back of the Star, it laid on Star¡¯s back and yawned satisfactorily. Hmm¡­ It¡¯s much more comfortable than before. ¡°You two¡­¡± Noticing the interaction between the two pet beasts, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He opened the panel, looking at a line. [¡ï¡ïInsightful Eye] (Teachable) Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 101: Urgent Problem to be Solved_2 Chapter 133: Chapter 101: Urgent Problem to be Solved_2 Translator: 549690339 | Upon choosing this skill, the names of Ziyun and Starlight lit up at the same time in the list, indicating that both pet beasts could be taught. The ability was plucked from Earth attribute Pet Beast Round Bear but could be taught to Thunder attribute Ziyun and Dark attribute Starlight. Without a doubt, it was a universal, unattributed skill. If both beasts can be taught, then there seems to be a question of who to teach. Ziyun currently doesn¡¯t have any vision-enhancing skills. This skill does not conflict with its existing skills and can be used as a supplement. Starlight has Night Eyes, so it has less demand for Insightful Eye, but the possibility of future skill fusion must be considered. Undoubtedly, this skill can be fused with Night Eyes, and also, as it is a vision-enhancing skill, the success rate wouldn¡¯t be too low. The ownership of a two-stars skill is a minor issue, but Xu Ran saw bigger problems lying within it. Going forward, he will inevitably obtain universal skills which he can teach to all Pet Beasts. But how should these skills be allocated? The issue of skills can be exchanged and compensated with the recycling function, but there is one problem he simply can¡¯t bypass. Xu Ran casually opened Ziyun¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage (6324/20000) [+] Species Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Starlight Level)] (301/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue (Starlight Level)] (182/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (100/500) [+] [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (123/500) [+] [¡ïBlood fury (Starlight Level)] (112/500) [+]] Over the past three days, Ziyun¡¯s overall growth has been greater than Starlight¡¯s. Not only has the growth progress broken the 6000 mark, all five skills have also seen significant growth. In addition to the training volume that is not less than Starlight¡¯s, Xu Ran¡¯s point allocation over the past three days has also helped it. Especially for Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, after a total of twelve hours of pranks over these days, the 120 skill points obtained were all used up. Now, it has broken through the 300-mark. But with Starlight also breaking into the Elite Stage, future points cannot be put entirely on Ziyun as in the past. How to allocate physical points and skill points is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently. Looking at the two pet beasts that are still playing close together, Xu Ran knew that if this issue was not resolved well, it could easily cause bigger problems. Or else¡­ seek help from other Beast Masters? Xu Ran had an idea, and he thought of the Beast Master Forum he had not logged on to for a long time. As a novice in Beast Mastery, there are many problems he could not learn from books, such as how to manage multiple pet beasts. Perhaps, other experienced Beast Masters could help him with this issue. After logging into the forum, Xu Ran pondered for a while and quickly posted a thread. ¡°Seeking Advice: How to allocate training resources for multiple contracted pet beasts?¡± Unexpectedly, just after the post was released, a red dot indicating a new reply appeared in the backstage. ¡°I have been looking forward to a post by Boss Xu for so long! Xu Ran:¡±???¡± What¡¯s happening? Upon a closer look, he realized that his forum account had been exposed at some point. Internet real-name system, huh¡­ Looking at more and more replies, Xu Ran could only helpless rub his forehead. Is this the side effect of advertising? No matter, let¡¯s get back to business. After carefully screening each reply, Xu Ran quickly saw some substantial content. -OP, change your way of thinking. How can both pet beasts be satisfied? Of course by preparing enough food for them plus extra! Its the same with resources, money can solve everything! Sorry, money can¡¯t solve the problem of points allocation. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The reply was reasonable, but unfortunately, it did not provide him much reference. However, it should be a good start. Xu Ran continued to wait and quickly received the second valid reply. ¡°I propose the competition method. By allowing multiple pet beasts to compete for resources, the fittest will survive. This is the law of nature, fair and just,¡± Let Ziyun and Star compete for who gets the upgrade points¡­ Xu Ran glanced at the two pets playing and quickly gave up the idea. This method is indeed fair, but it lacks some human touch. In the long run, Ziyun and Star will face excessive competition. I¡¯m afraid there won¡¯t be an opportunity for such a scene to occur again, right? Let¡¯s see. Xu Ran continued to wait, and soon the third suggestion came. ¡°I suggest equal distribution. All resources should be equally divided among the pet beasts.¡± Equal distribution¡­ It could be an idea. Each pet beast gets half of the upgrade points, quite fair. But, isn¡¯t it too fair? Training pet beasts is not like anything else. What if Ziyun or Star are in a critical stage and desperately need upgrade points? While Xu Ran thought, a fourth comment caught his eye. It was not a reply to Xu Ran¡¯s post, but to the third comment. ¡°Total equality doesn¡¯t exist. That approach is too idealistic and rigid. I suggest flexible equal distribution. The specific way is¡­¡± As he read the user¡¯s lengthy comment, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gradually lit up. What is called flexible equal distribution is a form of value distribution. It¡¯s not to allocate existing resources, but to value existing resources according to the same standard and set the required value points. For example, a Beast Master has two pets and two types of resources, each worth 8 points and to points. So the total resource value is 18 points, split between each pet, it would be 9 points. How can both pets use the resources equally? It¡¯s simple, by borrowing! The pet needing 10 points of resources borrows 1 point from the other and repays it in a manner acceptable to the other. This repayment could be seeking chance to return the favor during subsequent resource allocations, or helping the other in some way. In other words, Beast Masters treat each pet equally, giving them the same initial value points. The pets then trade amongst themselves according to their needs! This method will not only make every pet complaint-free about resource allocation, it could also strengthen their relationship through frequent value point exchanges! ¡°Talent!¡± After reading, Xu Ran slapped his thigh in excitement. Never expected to find such a genius on the forum! This, this is the solution he needs! Xu Ran quickly applied this to his situation. Currently, there are three main resources for his two pets. Teachable skills, physical points that can boost growth progress, and skill points that can enhance skill proficiency. Plus, various system rewards obtained from the pleasure value lottery draws, and other potential resources. Both physique and skill points are of equal value to Xu Ran. Hence, when setting value points, it can be set as 1 value point = 1 physique point = 1 skill point. Based on this, considering the difficulty of decomposing a skill into fragments after acquiring it from washing and protection, 1 skill fragment can be set as 10 value points. Then the value of one-star and two-star skills would be clear. Whether obtained from plucking fur and then taught, or exchanged with skill fragments, one-star skill =100 value points, two-star skill = 400 value points, three-star skill ¨C 2000 value points, any higher is not considered for now. After determining the value of these three main resources, Xu Ran began to consider how to set a value for the rewards obtained from the lottery draw. If values were set based on different types, the process would become extremely tedious. So values can be simply set according to rarity. From what Xu Ran has so far obtained, there are three valuable prizes: green, blue, and purple. Setting the value of green items to be the standard of an Energy Abundant Potion, it should roughly be 50 value points. (The rough increase of skill proficiency after three hours of training, halve the value because the pet beasts have to train hard) For blue items with the standard of a skill fusion stone, it should roughly be 100 value points. (Three-star skill: 2000 value points, three two-star skills: 1200 value points, calculate eight skill fusion stone fusion successes) As for purple items, so far he has only drawn a Meditation Acceleration Card, with no reference, but 200 value points is definitely too low, so set it at 500 value points. The value of other resources can be set according to the actual situation. Then there¡¯s the last issue. Xu Ran raised his head and looked at the two pets, who were curiously looking at him because of his exclamations, ¡°Can both of you do math? Ziyun:¡±???¡± Star:¡±???¡± Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 102: Re-experiencing the Sea Wave Chapter 134: Chapter 102: Re-experiencing the Sea Wave Flower¡¯s Washing and Protection l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow-¡± (Twenty-four¡­oh no, it¡¯s twenty-one¡­) In the recently reopened fostering shop, Ziyun sat on the counter. One of its paws was on another in an unprecedentedly solemn manner. Star standing by its side glanced at Ziyun¡¯s actions and then looked down at its own hoof. It abandoned the idea of learning arithmetic and silently turned to the multiplication table stuck on the wall with a serious expression. I must memorize this table! Inspired by the Beast Master Forum, Xu Ran made an entirely new resource allocation plan, to which the two pet beasts had no major objections. Thus, arithmetic became a compulsory lesson for these two. If you can¡¯t keep accounts straight, you¡¯re at a disadvantage! ¡°Boss Xu, your grooming is really surprising me!¡± From the entrance of the grooming room, a guest holding a beautified pet beast beamed with excitement. ¡°I am going to recommend your shop to my friends.¡± ¡°I appreciate it in advance, and I hope to see you again.¡± Xu Ran responded with a smile. After sending off the customer, Xu Ran turned to the two pet beasts who were still trying to remember the multiplication table and smiled wistfully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, given your intelligence, you should learn it in a few days.¡± ¡°I will save the value points for you for now. Once you¡¯ve mastered arithmetic, we¡¯ll start the allocation.¡± In order for the two pet beasts to better understand value points, Xu Ran told them some things that he had not mentioned before, yet without revealing the existence of the system. For instance, the fusion skills rely on the skill fusion stones, and the skills they could not be taught could be broken down into skill fragments¡­ At present, all of Xu Ran¡¯s Physical Points and Skill Points have been exhausted. The only skill he can teach is the Insightful Eye. In addition to that, the remaining resources include seven bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, one skill fusion stone, and a total of 36 skill fragments gained through recycling, which also includes the leftover ones from the past. He still has a card with 1000 Beast Master Points. He used 50 points for the beast egg to exchange for the help for hatching. According to their approximate values, the remaining 950 points can correspond to 950 value points. This is all of Xu Ran¡¯s wealth at the moment, totaling 2160 value points. In a few days, the total value points will witness a significant increase. On the one hand, there will be a continuous inflow of Physical Points, Skill Points, and Skill Fragments. On the other hand, Xu Ran¡¯s Pleasure Value has accumulated over fifty thousand. According to the current speed of revenue generation, he can do a Ten Consecutive Drawing in just a few more days. The first Ten Consecutive Drawing after the system upgrade will inevitably bring a lot of good things. Xu Ran has a premonition that with the help of Lucky Liu, it¡¯s not impossible to draw purple items. In this way, when the two little creatures have mastered arithmetic, the value points should double from their current value. So the question is, When will Lucky Liu come to the shop? ¡°Boss Xu, long time no see!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s hearty laughter came from outside the shop door three days later. Xu Ran¡¯s spirits lifted at once, he quickly went to meet him and saw a grimy Liu Gu, the Wind Lion Dog and the Sea Wave Flower behind him. ¡°Uncle Liu, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Xu Ran said sincerely, ¡°Have your squad been fighting outside the city all this time?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Liu Gu laughed heartily. ¡°Remember the Transcendent Creature Collection Area we talked about last time, where several of our hunting squads teamed up?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°I remember you said last time that you only cleared a part of the area, so you finished clearing it in a week?¡± ¡°No.¡± Liu Gu shook his head helplessly. ¡°On the contrary, our clearing progress has even been receded.¡± ¡°After the last joint operation, with our departure, new transcendent creatures gathered in the area again.¡± Liu Gu sighed. ¡°Fortunately, the new creatures are not as strong as the previous ones.¡± ¡°There really are a lot of transcendent creatures outside the city.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. ¡°Yeah, though transcendent creatures have a harder time breeding than normal creatures, why can¡¯t we eradicate them?¡± Liu Gu shook his head. ¡°But it¡¯s good for us because we have a stable source of transcendent resources.¡± ¡°The problem is that there are too many transcendent creatures, so we always have to cooperate with other hunting squads to ensure safety.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not too bad,¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk too much. This time, both Doggy and Flower need bathing, so I¡¯m counting on you, boss.¡± Liu Gu laughed and slapped the bloody Doggy and the Sea Wave Flower, which hadn¡¯t been bathed in a month and was starting to isolate itself. ¡°Sure thing!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s spirits lifted and he quickly opened the personal panel to check. [Host: Xu Ran Contract power: Second Stage Contracted pet beasts: Ziyun[Check details] Star[Check details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (C-level)](97/ioo) [Drug Application (C-level)](ii7/5OO) [Pranks (D-level)](33/ioo) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï¡ïInsightful Eye](Can be taught) Physical point: 812 (Can be allocated) Skill Points: 210 (Can be allocated) Pleasure Value: 92135 System Upgrade Experience: 0/2000] [Recycling](62 Skill Fragments) As Xu Ran predicted earlier, a lot of Skill Points and Physical Points that were previously exhausted have been added in just three days.. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 103 Purple Items! Ziyuns Evolution Chapter 136: Chapter 103 Purple Items! Ziyun¡¯s Evolution Path!_l Translator: 549690339 [Add-on update 1/10 for Silver League WarmSuni314] ¡°Awoo ¡± Accompanied by another weird howl, the door to the grooming room quickly opened and Xu Ran walked out, leading a Wind Lion Dog whose expression was unsatisfactory and posing in a cool and swag way. ¡°What the!¡± Liu Gu¡¯s eyes widened dramatically. The previous Sea Wave Flower, which was in the transcendent stage during the last grooming, had a significant change in form after advancement, but the contrast wasn¡¯t that stark. The Wind Lion Dog, which had been groomed often during this period and whose growth stage hadn¡¯t changed, showed a significant difference after this grooming, compared to before. Even Liu Gu, a rough man, could tell it was extraordinary at first glance. ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s with this¡­¡± Liu Gu walked around the proud and satisfied Wind Lion Dog, smacked his lips, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why does it feel like the grooming effect has improved a lot more than before?¡± ¡°Because the grooming service in the shop has been upgraded.¡± Xu Ran laughed and introduced it to his old customer on the way, ¡°Now, the shop has added an accompanying training service, and the upper limit of grooming and fosterage has also been raised.¡± ¡°I saw the price menu earlier and already noticed that.¡± Liu Gu chuckled. After Xu Ran took the Sea Wave Flower into the grooming room, Liu Gu noticed the updated price menu on the wall. The bad news, prices are becoming more and more terrifying. The good news, this has nothing to do with him. ¡°Anyway, if Uncle Liu has this kind of need in the future, you can consider coming to our shop.¡± Xu Ran casually bumped Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder while laughing. After grooming the Sea Wave Flower and Wind Lion Dog consecutively, the pleasure value, which was previously a little short of ten in a row, was enough now. Ten in a row, here I come! ¡°Alright.¡± Liu Gu laughed, waved to Xu Ran, ¡°Well, Boss Xu, I¡¯m leaving. I haven¡¯t been home in a week, there are many things to take care of.¡± ¡°Take care-¡± Standing at the shop door waving goodbye to Liu Gu and his two pet beasts, until the figures of him and his two pets disappeared from sight, Xu Ran quickly turned around to close the shop door, revealing an excited look. As he had predicted before, he got a purple from ten in a row! He didn¡¯t have time to check just now, but now he finally got to see what he got. Was it the Meditation Acceleration Card like before? Although the current Meditation Acceleration Card had not expired yet, Xu Ran would still be happy if he got another one, with which he could almost certainly break through the third stage. Of course, if there were other purple item rewards, he would also welcome them as long as they had effects¡­ ill The instant he saw clearly the purple item he got this time, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°King Species Evolution Route¡± ¡°The King Species Evolution Route is a special item produced by the system. It can be used on any leader species of transcendent beings to obtain one of the evolution paths of the King Species of the Transcendent Being.¡± Yes! It¡¯s this! Xu Ran took a deep breath, unable to repress his joy. He still remembered that when he first opened the lottery interface, he caught a glimpse of a golden item: Holy Spirit Race Evolution Route. Even now, he still didn¡¯t understand what kind of existence the Holy Spirit Race is. However, he already knew the meaning of the evolution route. This meant that the lottery draw had a chance to obtain guidance related to evolution, and this was what Xu Ran had been hoping for. Evolution was too hard. in many exchanges with other Beast Masters, Xu Ran often heard descriptions like ¡°nine deaths in ten¡± and ¡°as hard as climbing to heaven. Therefore, he had always been torn on the path of Beast Master. He wanted his pet beast to evolve continuously and become stronger, but he was also worried that his pet beast would fall into danger and perish during the evolution process. If there was guidance from the system, all of it might become simpler. Now, he finally got it! Xu Ran quickly glanced at the other rewards besides the evolution route. Seven blues, two greens, seven skill fusion stones, two bottles of Energy Abundant Potion. Xu Ran had been hoping to get more skill fusion stones from the upgraded ten consecutive draws. Now that his wish was fulfilled, his emotions did not fluctuate much. After all, compared to the evolution route, the importance of skill fusion stone was not high. ¡°Meow?¡± (Did you get what you said before?) Ziyun¡¯s inquiry with a somewhat expectant voice snapped Xu Ran back to his senses. He didn¡¯t explain the specific lottery system to the two pet beasts, but when explaining three days ago, he hinted that there would be a batch of new resources in a few days, among which there should be many skill fusion stones. Probably his unexpected behavior just now made Ziyun have this guess. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Xu Ran nodded, admitting it directly. Meeting the eager eyes of the two pet beasts, he suddenly asked, ¡°You two have both learned arithmetic, right?¡± Ziyun and Star nodded. For them, already at the elite stage and with significantly improved intelligence, learning basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in a few days was not difficult. ¡°So now, I¡¯m going to start counting our value points.¡± Xu Ran pulled a small blackboard from the corner of the shop and wrote lines of text on it. ¡°Physical points: 812 points¡± ¡°Skill points: 210 points¡± ¡°Teachable skills: *¡ï Insightful Eye, *Self-healing Power¡± ¡°Skill fragments: 62¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 3 bottles¡± ¡°Skill fusion stone: 8 pieces¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 950 points¡± ¡°King Species Evolution Route: 1¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (Evolution Route?!) Ziyun was originally staring at the blackboard, using the arithmetic it hadn¡¯t learned long ago to calculate the value points, but blew its top when it saw the last item.. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 103 Purple Items! Ziyuns Evolution Chapter 137: Chapter 103 Purple Items! Ziyun¡¯s Evolution Path!_2 Translator: 549690339 Does the Beast Master still have such good stuff in his hand? I must get it! Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up. No matter how many Value Points it takes, even if it has to borrow from Star, it wants to secure this Evolution Path! ¡°Xi Lu?¡± Star¡¯s gaze was also firmly locked on the last item. Over the days, it had seriously made up for the knowledge it didn¡¯t know before, and had gained an understanding of the mystery of evolution, and was equally looking forward to it. ¡®This King Species Evolution Route is worth 500 Value Points.¡± Realizing what the two Pet Beasts were looking at, Xu Ran drew a line under it with chalk and said, ¡°It should be available in the future.¡± With the system¡¯s nature, where there is one, there is two. Now after being upgraded, the ten-in-one Purple Reward has become easier to achieve, so the odds of obtaining the King Species Evolution Route again in the future are not small. After explaining the value of the King Species Evolution Route, Xu Ran circled Self-healing Power among the teachable skills. This was just taken from the Sea Wave Flower. He was thinking what comes of what, Lucky Liu was awesome. ¡°Ziyun already has this skill, so it can only be taught to Star, and it needs to be deducted directly from Star¡¯s Value Points.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (No problem!) Star nodded. It had no objections to this. This is the kind of skill it needed. ¡°The total value is 4542 points, and you two will each get 2271 points.¡± Xu Ran taught Self-healing Power to Star casually, ¡°Okay, now Star deducts too points.¡± ¡°So, how are you going to choose next?¡± He looked at the two Pet Beasts. This is the first use of this new allocation method. Whether it really works depends on how the two little ones coordinate. ¡°Meow-¡± (Give me the Evolution Path, okay?) Ziyun turned his head to look at Star, his eyes gleaming. ¡°Meow!¡± (I don¡¯t want the Insightful Eye, and you can have priority on Physical Points and Skill Points!) ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Really?) Star was a bit tempted. It¡¯s clear that compared to itself, Ziyun, who already has the first three-star skill, is more suitable to get the Evolution Path first. In comparison, it was interested in the Insightful Eye, which it hadn¡¯t fused with yet. This skill seemed to be able to fuse with Night Eyes. Thinking of Xu Ran¡¯s words that there would be opportunities to get Evolution Paths in the future, and thinking of the care it had received from Big Sister before, Star didn¡¯t hesitate for long and made a decision quickly. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Give it to you!) ¡°Meow-¡± (Love you-) Ziyun nodded in satisfaction and then turned his gaze to Xu Ran. ¡°Okay, then the Evolution Path goes to Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. In his heart, he also preferred to give this Evolution Path to Ziyun, but since he had decided to give the initiative to the Pet Beasts, he had no intention of intervening. Having chosen Ziyun in his heart, Xu Ran chose to use the Evolution Path. Under his expectant gaze, rows of text emerged. [Evolution Path: Electric Chasing Cat (Thunder) _ Thunder God Cat (Thunder) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: **¡ï**] [Evolution Path: Electric Chasing Cat (Thunder) Electric Light Cat (Thunder) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ¡ï****] [Evolution Path:¡­] Huh? Looking at the long list of Evolution Paths, a stunned look came over Xu Ran¡¯s face. He originally thought that after using it, it randomly showed detailed information on one kind of Evolution Path. Now it seems¡­ he can choose it himself? Before choosing, he couldn¡¯t get too much information, and could only judge the superiority of the Evolution type through the attributes after evolution and the two dimensions under the Evolution Path: Evolution Difficulty and Evolution Potential. Evolution Difficulty is easy to understand, but Evolution Potential is not so easy to understand. Does he mean the strength of the Evolution type? Or some other factors? Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran started to check from the first Evolution type ¨C Thunder God Cat. A moment later, he figured out the pattern. The majority of Ziyun¡¯s possible future Evolution types are purely Thunder attribute, with a few more other attributes besides Thunder. There seems to be a significant relationship between Evolution Potential and Evolution Difficulty. The overall regularity is that the greater the difficulty, the higher the potential. This made Xu Ran, who was originally planning to choose the easiest Evolution Path, in a quandary. Evolution Potential¡­ Without much thought, Xu Ran tapped on the characters in front of him and to his surprise, a line of text popped up. [Evolution potential refers to the further evolutionary potential of this evolution type.] You could have mentioned that earlier¡­ Xu Ran groaned, and after reading the text, he let out a deep sigh. The King Species is only the first stage of evolution. Although it¡¯s already powerful for him now, the strongest Beast Master he has ever met was at the same level. However, Xu Ran knew that the King Species might not be much in front of more powerful creatures, so subsequent evolutions are equally important. He introduced the situation to Ziyun, and Ziyun¡¯s choice was in line with his thoughts. Choose the one with the greatest evolution potential! After a search, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes stopped on a certain evolution path. There are seventy-seven evolutionary pathways for the Electric Chasing Cat as a King Species, and only this evolution path in front of him has a five-star Evolution Potential. But likewise, its Evolution Difficulty also reached five stars. [Evolution Path: Electric Chasing Cat (Thunder) Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: **¡ï**] An evolutionary type with both Thunder and Fighting attributes, huh¡­ Xu Ran suddenly thought of a two-star skill, Battle Instinct, that Ziyun has been using much less frequently lately. If it evolves to have the Fighting attribute, this skill might shine even more right? That¡¯s it! Without further hesitation, Xu Ran finally chose the evolution path. As other evolution pathways turned into ashes before his eyes, the path leading to the Flash Thunder Cat unfolded like an envelope, revealing more detailed information. [Evolution Path: Electric Chasing Cat (Thunder) _ Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***** Evolution Conditions: 3- Must master at least one additional three-star skill 4- All three-star skills must reach Waning Moon Level proficiency Evolution Materials: Heart of the Thunder Stone (Main), Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence (Main), Power Bone Dust (Main), Electric Energy Crystal, Harmony Stone, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower (Missing main materials will cause the evolution to definitely fail; missing auxiliary materials will reduce the success rate of the evolution) Evolution Ceremony: Choose a cliff with a drop of no less than one kilometer, chmb to the top along the steep cliff using physical power in a thunderstorm, and complete the evolution at the peak.] Looking down, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became serious. Is this the difficulty of a five-star evolution? All three Talent Skills must be upgraded to three stars, and the one-star Bite Skill cannot be merged with Thunder Attribute skills, only with Common Skills. On top of that, an additional three-star skill must also be mastered. That is to say, Ziyun needs to have four three-star skills and all of them must be promoted to Waning Moon Level proficiency in order to meet the conditions for evolution. Not breaking through the Leadership Stage, on the other hand, seems to be the easiest part. Besides, there are seven kinds of Evolution Resources needed. Although only three of them are main materials, Xu Ran dares not miss any after reading the note below. The other things are still unclear, but from the Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence, it can be inferred that these resources are not simple. As for the last Evolution Ceremony¡­ With Ziyun¡¯s current power, climbing a kilometer high cliff is not difficult, as long as it uses Electric Pursue. If it can only rely on physical power, this so-called ceremony may not be so easy to complete. Looking at the expectant Ziyun, Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°Your evolution path might be a bit troublesome.¡± Meow ¨C (I¡¯m all prepared!) Ziyun nodded seriously. When Xu Ran previously asked for its opinion, it chose the evolution path with the greatest potential without hesitation, so it was already mentally prepared for the greatest Evolution Difficulty as well. What hasn¡¯t Ziyun experienced? Bring it on! What I mean is¡­¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, a strange expression appearing on his face, ¡°Are you ready to borrow Value Points from Star?¡± ¡°Meow, meow, meow?!¡± Apprentice gift lottery for ten pillows at eleven o¡¯clock tonight, open to apprentices and above level readers only. Last day of August, asking for monthly tickets! Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 104 Ziyun in Debt_l Chapter 138: Chapter 104 Ziyun in Debt_l Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Meow¡­¡± After negotiating with Star, Ziyun finally wept the tears of poverty. As the further development of Electric Pursue and Battle Instinct to three stars via skill fusion was needed, and there was an enormous demand for the skill fusion stone, Ziyun took all eight of them. Additionally, in order to elevate his skills to the Waning Moon Level as quickly as possible, Ziyun borrowed all the Physical Points and Energy Abundant Potions. For skill fusion, appropriate skills need to be exchanged using skill fragments, so Ziyun took all the available skill fragments as well. Moreover, Ziyun also had to move up 950 Beast Master Points in advance to exchange for the resources required for evolution. Adding up the 500 Value Points spent on the King Species Evolution Route, Ziyun spent a total of 3230 Value Points on evolution. Not only did he spend all the newly acquired Value Points, but Ziyun also borrowed 959 Value Points from Star, promising to lend out unconditionally the Value Points Star would need for his evolution. He was suddenly impoverished and even in massive debt. What was left for Star were the two-star Insightful Eye skill and 812 physical points which were not so urgently needed by Ziyun. Only after the two Pet Beasts independently completed the loan of Value Points and resource allocation, Xu Ran joked, ¡°Star, don¡¯t forget the Value Points that Ziyun owes you.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I won¡¯t forget!) Star nodded seriously. He decided to return to the place where he usually rested underground tonight, and carve this number on the ground with his hoof so he could look at it every day. 959 Value Points, which could almost be exchanged for two King Species Evolution Routes, could be exchanged for 19 bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, a fortune indeed! When elder sister returns her Value Points, these Skill Points could certainly be used to exchange for many things! Ziyun, however, appeared more distressed. Borrowing money might bring momentary relief, but the following repayment can be tormenting. Forget it, let¡¯s think about something happy. For instance¡­ let¡¯s use the resources at hand first! ¡°Meow!¡± (Skill fusion!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes sparkled and he looked at Xu Ran. It wasn¡¯t until Xu Ran told him about the existence of the skill fusion stone that he discovered the enjoyment of skill fusion he had been experiencing all along. With 62 Skill Fragments, a Two Stars Skill could be exchanged again. According to the fusion rule from before, fusing Electric Pursue with another two-star skill would most likely yield a second three-star skill, furthering Ziyun¡¯s evolution! For the previous fusion, Xu Ran said it took as many as six skill fusion stones. Hopefully, this time the luck would be better and fewer stones would be required. A poor child has to live thriftily; it¡¯s not easy! ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, then opened the recycling function and began to search the exchange lists of two-star Thunder Attribute skills and two-star universal skills. With the experience from last time, this search was much smoother. Before long, Xu Ran found the two-star skill ¡®Shadow Return¡¯, which had the highest fusion success rate with Electric Pursue among its universal skills. This two-star skill was quite interesting. The enhancement in speed was limited, but it would leave an afterimage in the trajectory while moving forward. Without external intervention, the afterimage could stay for a while. As long as the afterimage was present, the caster could return to any afterimage position at any time. As long as you are familiar with the mechanism of this skill, it is relatively simple to restrain, by shattering the afterimage, you can prevent the caster from returning to their original position. However, it is undeniable; it was indeed fun. Even Xu Ran is somewhat anticipating the effect generated after its fusion with Electric Pursue now. [¡ï¡ïShadow Return] + [¡ï¡ïElectric Pursue] [Fusion success rate: 6.7%] [Do you wish to fuse them?] [Yes] [No] Let¡¯s see, how fortunate could he be this time! Xu Ran unhesitatingly selected [Yes]. Once¡­twice¡­huh?! Seeing the ¡°Fusion Success¡± words that appeared before his eyes, Xu Ran fell into contemplation. Could he actually have gotten lucky this time? Was it because Lucky Liu had just left shortly ago, and the aura of Lucky Fish was still present in the shop? Forget it, no matter what, let¡¯s check out what it is first. Xu Ran immediately opened Ziyun¡¯s panel. Electric Pursue had disappeared and a new skill had replaced it. [¡ï¡ï¡ïStep on Electric Traces (Starlight Level)] (258/500H+] Three stars skill, Step on Electric Traces! ¡°Meow?¡± (How many skill fusion stones were used?) Ziyun¡¯s voice was filled with surprise. Along with the vast influx of memories, it clearly knew that it had obtained a whole new skill called Step on Electric Traces. Just like when Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound appeared previously, an instinctive sense of joy and relief indicated to Ziyun that this new skill was indeed a three-star skill as expected. He was one step closer to evolution! ¡°We were very lucky this time and only used two skill fusion stones.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°There are still six left, but we¡¯re running short on skill fragments.¡± The Battle Instinct skill was the fusion of two one-star skills and was therefore considered an ordinary two-star skill. To make it reach three stars, it needs two two-star skills. Either would have to hope for a suitable skill from subsequent Washing and Protection, or would have to accumulate 80 skill fragments to exchange for two two-star skills. If the latter, it would require some waiting time. ¡°Meow!¡± (Good!) There was a joyous look on Ziyun¡¯s face.. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 104 Ziyun in Debt_2 Chapter 139: Chapter 104 Ziyun in Debt_2 Translator: 549690339 Only two were used! Rounded up, I saved 400 value points! If all goes well, and the Battle Instinct is upgraded to Three Stars, perhaps the remaining six Skill Fusion Stones will be enough? Ziyun¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal her thoughts. ¡°Star, come!¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t ignore Star who was waiting on the side. He waved his hand and then rubbed the soft fur on the back of Star¡¯s neck, ¡°I¡¯ll add the physical points first!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Good!) Expectation appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. The joy of its strength continuously improving without doing anything before breaking through could be felt again, making its mood quite good. Growth Step: Elite Stage (5189/20000) [+] U1 Growth Step: Elite Stage (6001/20000) [+] This might be the largest single increase Xu Ran has made so far. With over 800 physical points released at once, Star¡¯s strength visibly increased, breaking the 6000 barrier. Excitedly giving a neigh, Star paced a few steps on the ground, seemingly eager to start running full speed. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, you still have a two-star skill.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°I¡¯m thinking, whether to teach you this skill now, or keep it and give it to you when you need to fuse skills.¡± ¡°After all, once you learn it, you¡¯ll easily be distracted to use it. And this skill, when combined with Night Eyes, will inherit the proficiency of the higher one among the two skills.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Then let¡¯s save it!) Star, ever obliging, accepted Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion. Training its current six skills takes a lot of its energy. Instead of adding another skill to conflict with Night Eyes, it¡¯s better to use it directly as a fusion skill when the time comes. ¡°Okay, then Star¡¯s resources are temporarily depleted.¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s head and turned to look at Ziyun again, ¡°Let me check which evolution resources the Beast Master Points can help you exchange for now. Then we¡¯ll go to the underground level and test your new skill.¡± ¡°The 210 skill points are enough to directly add to the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound up to the Waning Moon Level, but adding those points can cause overflow. After all, you still have three bottles of Energy Abundant Potion, which allows you to work hard to increase some proficiency on your own.¡± ¡°We can wait until Battle Instinct is also a three-star skill, or even wait until you master the fourth three-star skill, then see where you lack.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Everything¡¯s up to you!) With Xu Ran¡¯s organization, Ziyun, who originally lacked a plan for how to use her resources, suddenly felt much clearer and readily nodded in agreement. After the discussion, Xu Ran took out his cellphone, opened the official website of the Beast Master Association, entered the points exchange area, and searched for the resources Ziyun needs for evolution one by one. Heart of the Thunder Stone¡­ Not available. King Stage Blood Essence of the Thunder Type¡­ Hmm? To his surprise, the second search turned up a pleasant surprise for Xu Ran. They actually have this! Originally, Xu Ran thought that Suai Stage Transcendence Beings were already the strongest he had seen. The blood of King Stage Transcendent Beings sounded very hard to come by. But the Beast Master Association seems to be more resourceful than he imagined. Perhaps other more powerful Beast Masters killed a Thunder Type King Stage Transcendent Being, and some resources were allocated to Qjngzhou City for emergency needs? But the price doesn¡¯t seem to be very appealing¡­ Looking at the Blood Essence which costs eight hundred points for just one drop, Xu Ran became speechless. This thing is expensive! But a change is necessary. This is the main material for evolution. Without it, Ziyun¡¯s evolution will definitely fail. With only three drops in stock at the Beast Master Association, Xu Ran immediately decided to exchange one drop and then continued to search for other resources. Power Bone Dust¡­ Not available. Electric Energy Crystal-Harmony Stone-Life Dewdrop-Transcendence Flower¡­ All available! Perhaps due to the lower value of these auxiliary evolution materials, Xu Ran managed to find all of them on the exchange list. But the problem still exists, that is, there are not enough Beast Master Points. It takes 260 Beast Master Points to exchange all four auxiliary materials. Even if Xu Ran uses all his points, he is still short by 110 points. Who would have thought that the Beast Master Points, which weren¡¯t much of a concern before, are so scarce when they¡¯re really needed. Xu Ran sighed helplessly. Forget it, after all, it¡¯s not like Ziyun needs to evolve right now. These four auxiliary resources are all in abundant stock; as long as there are enough points, they can be exchanged at any time. As for the other two main materials that can¡¯t be exchanged¡­ His mind suddenly came up with the universal Beast Master Forum. He had previously seen some posts about seeking resources on there. He could totally post an enquiry about the whereabouts of these two main materials! ¡°Offering a bounty for the Heart of the Thunder Stone and Power Bone Dust, compensations are exchanged for any clue on the whereabouts of these two resources.¡± As soon as the post was published, like before, there was an influx of replies. However, this time, Xu Ran did not see any useful information right away. After waiting for a while, he momentarily set aside his cell phone and looked at Ziyun, who was full of anticipation, ¡°I have already redeemed the Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence, we are short of some points for other auxiliary resources, I will think of another way. ¡°As for the other two main materials, I¡¯m looking into it for you too.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay!) Having secured one of the materials for evolution, Ziyun was already quite satisfied. ¡°So now, let¡¯s go down to the basement to see what your Step on Electric Traces is like!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face lit up with anticipation. What would be the result of the fusion of Electric Pursue and Shadow Return? ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I wanna go too!) Driven by the power increase from the skill points, Star currently felt a itch in its hoofs and must get moving. The six-hour training area time for the day was already used up, so he could only run around in the living area in the basement that belonged to it. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran smile, then together with his two pet beasts, he headed straight for the foster area. Star scattered its hoofs and quickly disappeared into its darkness. Xu Ran, on the other hand, used the Foster Area¡¯s control hub to temporarily create a thunder environment for Ziyun. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s test out the effects of Step on Electric Traces!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Watch me!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes swiftly became sharp. ¡°Crackle¡± Accompanied by a piercing sound that broke through the air, a large amount of electric light erupted from around Ziyun. Its body almost completely transformed into thunderbolt. With a single step, it had already appeared tens of meters away, leaving behind a clone made up of gathered thunder where it was. Like a king harnessing thunder, Ziyun ran freely in the Thunder Region, multiple clones of lightning encapsulating its graceful movement across various areas in the scene. Then, Ziyun vanished in a flash. At the same time, one of the thunder clones materialized, moving one step at a time, fluidly replacing the shadow with Ziyun without making a sound. It seemed the new skill, Step on Electric Traces, had fully inherited the effects of Shadow Return. Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Apart from that, Step on Electric Traces was significantly stronger than Electric Pursue in terms of speed. Moreover¡­ His gaze shifted toward the remaining clones at the original place, contemplation appearing on his face. Shadow Return¡¯s clones don¡¯t have any energy. A little attack and they would be completely shattered and dispersed, the user unable to return to their original position. But he could sense a palpable, thrilling power from the clones of thunder left behind by Ziyun. If these were attacked, they definitely wouldn¡¯t simply disperse right? He bent over, picked a stone up from the ground and threw it towards one of the clones. ¡°Boom!!!¡± In a terrifying thunderous sound, the Shadow of Thunder was detonated instantaneously. The horrifying sparks covered everything within a radius of tens of meters in a moment. By the time the electricity dissipated, there was a semi-spherical crater left on the ground, arcs of electricity leaping across its surface. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. These Clones of Thunder were capable of counter-attacking! If these clones were left to dissipate naturally, that would be one thing. But if attacked deliberately, they would directly detonate the thunder clones, causing an area of damage! Although this area damage was not as powerful as Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, it was an outstanding additional effect of a movement skill! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Hearing the rumble from the other side, Star turned its head to look over from the darkness towards the direction of Xu Ran and Ziyun. They were trying out Big sister¡¯s new skill, huh? It didn¡¯t seem simple from the sound of it. It looked around at its familiar surroundings, lightly scratched a clear 959 onto a big rock with its hoofs, and then nodded in satisfaction. Alright, it could go find them now! Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 105 The Whereabouts of Power Bone Chapter 140: Chapter 105 The Whereabouts of Power Bone Dust__l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Star is here? How does the increased power feel?¡± Seeing Star hastening towards him, Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°Xi Lu lu!¡± (Very good!) Star nodded seriously. After the upgrade, its strength increased by almost two-fold, all skill operations were more effortless, and the speed after the Night Song was also noticeably faster! If it had attack skills, the feeling would be even more apparent. ¡°As long as you¡¯re satisfied.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The experiment with Ziyun¡¯s new skill has ended. The effect of the Step on Electric Traces skill is efficient. It is indeed a three-star skill. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll go upstairs to continue with the shop business, and you two¡­.¡± just as Xu Ran was about to tell the two pet beasts to entertain themselves, a call arrived unexpectedly and interrupted him. After picking up the phone, the straightforward speech on the other end made his expression serious. ¡°You need Power Bone Dust?¡± ¡°I can provide a clue, but I need a clue fee of fifty thousand.¡± To make it easier for Beast Masters who had clues or were selling resources to find him, Xu Ran had left his contact information in the post. He didn¡¯t expect there to be a lead so quickly. ¡°Sure, no problem, come to the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Once he received the reply that the other party would arrive in a few minutes, Xu Ran hung up the phone and looked at the two little ones, ¡°You both come with me, it seems like we have a clue on Power Bone Dust.¡± It is necessary to be wary of others; he was still unsure about the origins of the visitor, and he felt safer with the two pet beasts by his side. ¡°Meow?¡±(Already got a clue?!) A look of surprise crossed Ziyun¡¯s face. Power Bone Dust, it¡¯s one of the main materials for evolution! ¡°Xi Lu lu!¡± (No problem!) Star neighed. For his elder sister¡¯s evolution, it also wanted to contribute. After all, once big sister evolves successfully, she could start paying back her debts sooner! The one person and two pets went back upstairs; not long after opening the shop door, a man wearing a mask and sunglasses strode into the shop. -Are you the one providing the clue?¡± Seeing the visitor appearing mysteriously, Xu Ran stood up. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± The man lowered his voice and nodded, ¡°I have a clue on Power Bone Dust.¡± He glanced at the cautious Star and Ziyun and then softened his voice a bit, ¡°To show my sincerity, I can tell you the clue first, but you must pay me.¡± ¡°NO problem.¡± Xu Ran gave Star and Ziyun a look, then gestured for the man to continue. ¡°Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion possesses a secret formula to foster combat-system pet beasts. This formula offers significant help to combat-system pet beasts.¡± The man¡¯s voice lowered slightly, ¡°One of the materials in this secret formula is Power Bone Dust.¡± ¡°So, Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion has a special way of getting Power Bone Dust and should still have stock of this resource.¡± A resource of the secret formula¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s face grew thoughtful. Now he understood why the man in front of him was acting so secretive. This matter involved a part of the secrets of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion. The man was probably worried about causing trouble if Bamboo Leaf Martia Arts Pavilion found out about it. Speaking of which¡­ why does the name Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion sound familiar? A figure wearing the same headband as a pet beast suddenly surfaced in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. Oh, I remember. Wasn¡¯t Lyu Guang from the previous Challenge Match the heir of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion? I¡¯ve had dealings with him before. I can use that as an excuse to pay a visit to them. This plan is feasible! ¡°Um, my clue fee.¡± The man became somewhat anxious when Xu Ran had not responded after he¡¯d given the clue. ¡°Sorry, I was just thinking.¡± Xu Ran stared attentively at the man, then slowly said after a few seconds, ¡°I hope there¡¯s no problem with your clue. Otherwise, won¡¯t be easily convinced to pay you.¡± After a slightly threatening comment, Xu Ran scanned the code and sent fifty thousand to the man. Power Bone Dust is so cherished. Paying a clue fee of fifty thousand is quite reasonable. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the clue is absolutely true.¡± After getting the money, the man breathed a sigh of relief. He left without saying another word, exiting the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°You both heard it.¡± Once the man was gone, Xu Ran turned to the two pet beasts looking forward to seeing him, ¡°It looks like we¡¯ll have to temporarily close the shop.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion now.¡± ¡°24 Donghua Road¡­ We¡¯re here!¡± Seeing the ancient style of the shop in front of him with the words ¡°Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion¡± written on the signboard, and the bamboo grove visible within taller than the surrounding wall, Xu Ran dismounted from Star¡¯s back. ¡°Meow-¡± (Is this the place?) Ziyun lightly landed from Star¡¯s back and stared at the half-open door of the martial arts pavilion, feeling the urge to charge in. -I¡¯ll go first to ask.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head to soothe her restlessness, then quickened his pace to the entrance of the martial arts pavilion. After spotting figures moving inside through the half-opened door, he gently knocked on the door. ¡°Creak-¡± The door was quickly opened from inside, and a youth in a martial arts uniform with short hair briskly walked out. A familiar beast, Combat Bear Apprentice, followed him. This beast and human duo weren¡¯t wearing identical headbands like Lyu Guang, but they both had similar wrist guards on their wrists. This really is the tradition of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion¡­ Xu Ran muttered a complaint in his heart, then brightened his smile, ¡°Hello, I am here to find Lyu Guang.. Is he here? Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 105 The whereabouts of Power Bone Chapter 141: Chapter 105 The whereabouts of Power Bone Dust 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± The boy must have recognized Xu Ran through the footage of the New Beast Master Challenge. He stepped back, ¡°Swindler!¡± ¡°That was a complete misunderstanding.¡± Xu Ran said with sincerity, ¡°I¡¯m just an honest businessman.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s what the forum says about you,¡± The boy looked at Xu Ran with suspicion. He glanced at the Ziyun and the Starlight behind Xu Ran, first showing surprise, and then a bit of confusion. ¡°How did you know that Senior Lyu Guang¡¯s contract power had just broken through to the second stage?¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­Huh?¡± I had no idea? ¡°Phew-¡± In a quiet room of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion, Lyu Guang slowly opened his eyes. A faint yellow halo flashed across his eyes and disappeared. Looking at the Brawl Bear Apprentice sitting cross-legged in front of him, its body was several times larger than before, and its muscular figure was full of power, a smile appeared on Lyu Guang¡¯s face, ¡°We finally broke through.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± The Brawl Bear Apprentice nodded earnestly, swung its fists twice in the air, and enjoying the strong power that was far greater than before, its expression became excited. Now, it could easily crush the Dark Scale Dragon! Indeed, the words of the Beast Master were right, one should not care about temporary victories or losses. As long as the power level crushes the opponent, any enemy could be easily dealt with! ¡°All right, now we¡¯re going to welcome a new partner.¡± Lyu Guang¡¯s voice carried a hint of anticipation. Contracted with his second pet beast, with two elite level pet beasts, his strength would reach a new high. The other three who were competing with him would be effortlessly stepped on by him! As the heir to the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion, Lyu Guang naturally had extra resources to nurture his second pet beast in advance. Even before the contract, the second pet beast had already reached the full-skilled Starlight Level and successfully broken through to the Elite Stage. Hence, all he needed was to make a contract, and he would immediately reach his peak strength! ¡°Come on, Vigorously Beetle!¡± Lyu Guang gave a low shout, and the partition door of the quiet room was opened. A bug-like pet beast that looked like a Single Horn, but stood upright on two legs, its four claws exceptionally muscular, and the height of a person, walked slowly into the quiet room. It was a Fighting Attribute pet beast, Vigorously Beetle. ¡°Hiss-¡± It had been in harmony with Lyu Guang and the Brawl Bear Apprentice for a long time. There was no resistance in the contract ceremony, and it easily made the contract with Lyu Guang. Feeling the feedback from the Vigorously Beetle which came with the contract, a bright smile appeared on Lyu Guang¡¯s face. Now, even if he didn¡¯t let his pet beasts take action, relying solely on his own power, he should be able to beat the Transcendent Stage pet beasts, right? Indeed, there was no comparison between the Elite Stage and the Transcendent Stage! ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to share the good news of the breakthrough with everyone in the martial arts pavilion.¡± Lyu Guang, with a relaxed smile, opened the door of the quiet room and walked out with the two pet beasts. ¡°Bad news! Bad news! Brother Lyu Guang! The swindler has come to confront you!¡± Huh? Seeing the anxious A Ji, who usually adored him, Lyu Guang¡¯s smile stiffened slightly. A swindler? What does he mean by confronting us? ¡°Senior, that little brother A Ji really misunderstood me.¡± In the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion¡¯s reception room, Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Brother Lyu Guang was going to break through today, otherwise, I would have chosen to visit another day.¡± ¡°Come, have some tea first.¡± Lyu Hong, the current master of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion, wearing a loose robe, laughed and handed Xu Ran a cup of tea, ¡°I watched the previous challenge match too, your strength is impressive. It certainly gave Lyu Guang a wake-up call.¡± ¡°Unexpectedly, your contract power has also advanced to the second stage.¡± After taking a look at the two pet beasts behind Xu Ran, Lyu Hong laughs, ¡°It seems you were not far from a breakthrough when you participated in the competition.¡± ¡°I suppose so,¡± said Xu Ran with an awkward smile. He didn¡¯t know how things had somehow developed into this situation. The young A Ji who answered the door didn¡¯t listen to his explanation at all. He insisted that Xu Ran knew in advance that Lyu Guang was going to break through, so he came to challenge him. Challenging the heir of a martial arts pavilion is not a simple matter for the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion. From a broader perspective, this is called a Challenge Match. Following A Ji¡¯s outburst, Lyu Hong, who was at the martial arts pavilion, appeared swiftly. He first invited Xu Ran to the guest room, then asked A Ji to inform Lyu Guang in his meditation room to come over the moment he achieved his breakthrough. ¡°You just said that you didn¡¯t know Lyu Guang was going to break through today, it was a coincidence.¡± Lyu Hong lightly sipped his tea and chuckled, ¡°A Ji is young and excitable, he probably misunderstood things.¡± ¡°Yes, it was a misunderstanding.¡± Xu Ran nodded quickly, feeling relieved. Ziyun and Star behind him showed innocent faces. After all, there was a terrifying Leadership stage Combat Bear sitting behind Lyu Hong. If he were to think that they came to challenge, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to leave the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion. ¡°So, what brings you here, young master Xu?¡± Lyu Hong began with a friendly tone. Even though he had a sturdy figure, he gave off a warm impression when he smiled. ¡°Actually, I came to¡­¡± Xu Ran was about to say he was only visiting Lyu Guang, but seeing as the owner of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion was already in front of him, there seemed to be no need for such an excuse. He paused, deciding to be straight forward, ¡°I was hoping to obtain some Power Bone Dust from here, and I¡¯m willing to offer an above-market price.¡± ¡°Whoosh ¡± The atmosphere in the guest room turned stale as if a cold wind had just swept through. ¡°Oh?¡± Lyu Hong¡¯s smile faded slightly as he looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Where did you hear that we of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion have Power Bone Dust?¡± ¡°I heard about it on the Beast Master Forum.¡± Xu Ran admitted honestly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure whether it was true or not, I just came to try my luck.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lyu Hong nodded slightly. The atmosphere in the guest room warmed up again. Lyu Hong slowly sipped his tea, never mentioning the Power Bone Dust. ¡°Xu Ran, are you here to challenge me?¡± A familiar voice called out from the entrance. Lyu Guang, full of fighting spirit, strode into the room. From his junior brother A Ji, Lyu Guang learned that Xu Ran had also advanced to the Second Stage Contract Power and contracted a second pet beast. Now, Xu Ran was visiting him, presumably challenging him. Far from being intimidated, he was filled with an eager desire to fight. This was his chance for redemption! Although he had never fought Xu Ran before, Xu Ran had defeated Gu Ling, who had defeated him. Therefore, defeating Xu Ran was, more or less, the same as defeating Gu Ling of the Same Stage. He was so confident because his Combat Bear Apprentice had stayed at the perfect state of the Transcendent Stage for a full year. When a pet beast is about to advance, staying at the perfect state of the previous growth stage might not increase their power, but their energy will accumulate and explode during the breakthrough. The full year of accumulation brought the Combat Bear Apprentice to an appreciable level of power just entering the elite stage. This time, he will not lose! ¡°Uh, you misunderstood¡­¡± Seeing A Ji, who was peeping from behind Lyu Guang at the door, Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched a little. All because of this kid¡¯s nonsensical assertions! ¡°Actually, the reason I¡¯m here is¡­¡± Xu Ran was about to explain his purpose when Lyu Hong, who had been silent all this time, unexpectedly interrupted him. ¡°Indeed, young master Xu came here to contest with you,¡± Lyu Hong put down his tea cup slowly, looking at Lyu Guang with a burning gaze, ¡°As the one who only got third place in the Challenge Match, do you dare to accept?¡± ¡°I dare!!!¡± Lyu Guang clenched his fists, his eyes burning with the fire of fighting spirit. He stood up straight like a javelin and shouted, ¡°We, the people of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion, never admit defeat, we are always ready to fight!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Lyu Hong laughed heartily, with an expression of gratification on his face, ¡°That¡¯s my son!¡± Seeing the impassioned Lyu Guang, Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched a little. Wait¡­ aren¡¯t you two supposed to ask for my opinion before you start your pep talk? Isn¡¯t this a bit too rash?! ¡°Thump!¡± Lyu Hong took out a small wooden box from his pocket and slammed it on the table, ¡°This piece of Power Bone Dust will serve as the stake for your fight!¡± ¡°Deal!!!¡± Xu Ran stood up abruptly, his voice even louder than Lyu Guang¡¯s just now. So what if it¡¯s rash? I just love how rash you are! Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 106 A Meow Determines the Chapter 142: Chapter 106 A ¡®Meow¡¯ Determines the Universe!_l Translator: 549690339 [Additional update 2/10 for the Silver Alliance Warm SunlJU] ¡°The battle is about to begin.¡± At the center of the super large battle platform prepared for elites level pet beasts, Lyu Hong, who temporarily serves as the referee, stands with his hands behind his back, speaking aloud. As a leadership level Beast Master, Lyu Hong has received substantial power feedback from pet beasts that boosts his personal strength to a level not inferior to elite level pet beasts. Without the need for any amplifying device, his muffled thunderous voice reaches everyone¡¯s ears. This ¡°everyone¡± refers to Xu Ran and Lyu Guang, who are located on both sides of the arena and are about to confront each other, as well as the young men and women dressed in martial attire who are surrounding the battlefield. The bamboo leaf symbol on their chests and the chants of ¡°Go, Brother Lyu Guang!¡± make it clear that things are not as simple as they seem. ¡°Having a match away from home really is awkward.¡± Xu Ran shakes his head helplessly, then looks at Ziyun and Star on both sides of him, ¡°We must win this battle.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (We must win!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes show an unprecedented desire to fight. Even when it was facing the Dark Scale Dragon before, it didn¡¯t have such a strong desire to win. The stakes are high. The Power Bone Dust is on the line! If it wins this battle, it can obtain a main evolution material without spending a single value point! It can prevent his already poor family from suffering an additional blow! So, it must win this battle! It doesn¡¯t matter who the opponent is! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Cheer up!) Star lets out a cry, a flame of battle intention flickers in his purple eyes. What does its big sister getting a piece of resource for free mean? It means it can borrow less money! So for Star, winning this battle is also very important. And what¡¯s more¡­ Since signing a contract with Xu Ran, it has not yet experienced a real battle. The previous race with the Frost Dust Wolf doesn t count. So this is Star¡¯s first battle after awakening as a Transcendent Being! It must perform well! ¡°This battle, is a rule-free battle.¡± Lyu Hong¡¯s eyes look at Xu Ran and Lyu Guang, and he speaks in a deep voice, ¡°Beast Masters and all pet beasts can use any method to attack the opponent, but cannot use power that does not belong to themselves.¡± ¡°This has always been the rules of combat in the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion. Beast Masters have weaker physical bodies compared to pet beasts, but they should also strive to become stronger and not drag their pet beasts down!¡± ¡°Treat every battle as a real fight!¡± ¡°In a fight, the enemy will not spare you because the Beast Master is weak!¡± The words that follow are more of an explanation to Xu Ran. It¡¯s not that these rules are designed to target him. It would be the same for anyone who comes. But Lyu Hong did not notice that after hearing the rules, the eyes of Xu Ran and his two pet beasts were shining brighter and brighter. Such a rule-free battle, excellent! This implies that Star can make the most of its powers. Who cares if it doesn¡¯t have any attack skills? As long as it can enhance Ziyun to standing up against two opponents, they can still win this battle! And Lyu Guang on the other side, certainly has no objections to these competition rules. In the Martial Arts Pavilion, this is how he has been dueling since he was a child. Furthermore, this rule of combat clearly works in favor of Lyu Guang, who has martial arts skills at his disposal. ¡°Countdown to five, the battle will officially begin.¡± Seeing that both of them have no objections, Lyu Hong nods slightly, and then his voice lengthens, ¡°Five At the same time as the countdown, a trace of thought appears in Lyu Hong¡¯s eyes. He watched Lyu Guang¡¯s miserable defeat in the New Beast Master Challenge Match. Although Lyu Guang didn¡¯t say much after the competition ended and he returned home, he wholeheartedly focused on meditation. His hope was to break through to the second stage of contract power as quickly as possible, thereby enhancing his strength. But a father knows his son best, and Lyu Hong knew that Lyu Guang had been left with a burr in his heart from that battle. The way to remove this burr was not to reach a higher level and leave behind former opponents, but to defeat the one who once defeated him on the same stage. However, the girl who had defeated Lyu Guang was only a freshman high school student. It would probably take her several years to break through to the second stage of contract power. just as Lyu Hong was secretly worried for his son, fearing that this burr would never be resolved and affect his son¡¯s state of mind, Xu Ran appeared. The fact that he defeated Gu Ling made him qualified to replace Gu Ling and become the key to unlock his son s burr. So when Lyu Hong learned that Xu Ran had not come specifically to challenge Lyu Guang, his heart felt a bit disappointed. Just as he was thinking about how to make these two fight one another, Xu Ran revealed his intentions. Power Bone Dust is a rather important resource for the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion. However, in actual fact, this resource isn¡¯t as scarce within the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion as it is outside. This is because the ancestors of the Lyu family discovered a secret location outside the city that can continuously yield Power Bone Dust. Every generation of masters at the Martial Pavilion has the coordinates of this secret location. Offering Power Bone Dust as a stake doesn¡¯t mean much to Lyu Hong. In his eyes, releasing his son¡¯s burr is much more important than a mere piece of Power Bone Dust. As for the possibility that Xu Ran winning would give his son a new burr, Lyu Hong had not considered it at all. The reason is simple. On one hand, Lyu Guang¡¯s Brawl Bear Apprentice has been suppressing its power for over a year, and it will experience a surge in strength the moment it evolves. Xu Ran, who also recently broke through, surely could not compare in terms of his pet beast¡¯s strength. On the other hand, the Vigorous Beetle, Lyu Guang¡¯s second pet beast who just completed his contract, was personally coached by Lyu Hong. There is a difference in proficiency even within the Starlight Level. This Vigorous Beetle is not far from the Waning Moon Level with several skills, and its strength has already broken through the elite level early because it was not restricted by the contract.. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 106 A "Meow" Decides the Chapter 143: Chapter 106 A ¡°Meow¡± Decides the Universel_2 Translator: 549690339 It was even stronger than the Brawl Bear Apprentice. Although Xu Ran also had a second pet beast of elite level, Lyu Hong could tell at a glance that the horse-type pet beast was newly advanced to the elite level. Therefore, there was no reason why his son should lose this fight. In Lyu Hong¡¯s thoughts, the countdown was already nearing its end. ¡°One ¡± ¡°Begin!¡± As Lyu Hong¡¯s voice echoed, the two opponents both started to move. ¡°Go! Brawl Bear Apprentice, Vigorously Beetle!¡± Lyu Guang bellowed, his legs suddenly exerting power as he charged swiftly towards Xu Ran. His strength, rivaling that of a transcendent stage pet beast, pushed his speed beyond normal human limits. The wind whipped up by his running and the billowing of his clothes made for a breathtaking spectacle. What was faster than Lyu Guang, however, were his two pet beasts. The Brawl Bear Apprentice, despite its substantially larger body, displayed agility that defied its size. Its claws, capable of smashing rocks, were held behind its back as it surged forward, its alternating action of kicking off the ground almost creating after-images. Two stars Skill, Starlight Level ¨C Free Step! A two stars skill employed by an elite level bear showed way more strength than an ordinary transcendent stage bear, not only increasing speed but also displaying an evasive finesse. Despite its apparent full-out run, it left no doubt in anyone¡¯s mind that the bear could easily dodge any attack that came its way, thanks to its body¡¯s flexibility. The Brawl Bear Apprentice, in comparison to the freshly contracted Vigorously Beetle of Lyu Guang, was a tad slower. The hardy beetle, almost the size of a man, with each step would leave deep indentations on the combat stand, which was so sturdy that even an ordinary elite pet beast had difficulty damaging it. Each step caused the beetle to disappear, only to reappear tens of meters ahead. Two stars skill, Starlight Level ¨C Blink Step! This skill, acknowledged as the fastest among two stars fighting skills, seemed effortless when executed by the Vigorously Beetle. Had it not been necessary to keep pace with the Brawl Bear Apprentice to maintain coordination, it could possibly go even faster! While closing rapidly with Xu Ran and his two beasts, the Brawl Bear Apprentice and the Vigorously Beetle unleashed the full might of their elite level status, bearing down on Xu Ran. The several hundred-meter battlefield could not dispel the fierce determination to fight radiating from the two beasts! ¡°They really are formidable¡­¡± Watching the menacing arrival of the two beasts, Xu Ran clicked his tongue before quickly jumping onto the wide back of Star. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get serious too!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star emitted a war cry brimming with fighting spirit, and as it raised its front hooves, a purple energy quickly gathered on its back to form a saddle beneath Xu Ran¡¯s crotch. At the same time, a pair of reins made of condensed energy hung in the air, awaiting Xu Ran¡¯s hands to grip them firmly. ¡°Boom!!!¡± As Xu Ran firmly gripped the reins without hesitation, the power of Star intertwined with Xu Ran¡¯s own power in an instant to form an even greater power! Two stars Skill, Starlight Level ¨C Star Chain! As Xu Ran had initially anticipated, with Star¡¯s advancement, the Star Chain that linked the one person and one pet wasn¡¯t just augmenting Star with Xu Ran¡¯s power, but quite the contrary, adding to Xu Ran with Star¡¯s power! Feeling the immense power pouring into his body, Xu Ran let out an exhilarating roar. ¡°Fight!!!¡± ¡°Ding ¡± Star¡¯s raised hooves landed heavily on the ground. Wrapped in its most powerful state due to having completed the Star Chain, it rippled a dark wave through the earth beneath it. That ripple passed through Ziyun, who was close at hand, transforming instantly into a dark light film that enveloped her, not interfering with her combat in the slightest. Ziyun¡¯s momentum soared in that moment! Two stars Skill, Starlight Level ¨C Twilight Watch! There was a time when Star, still at the transcendental stage and using the Stardust Level Twilight Watch, could visibly enhance the strength of the elite leveled Ziyun. The Star of today had already gone beyond the Transcendent Stage! Twilight Watch had even advanced to the Starlight Level! Under this enhancement, Ziyun¡¯s might almost increased by fifty percent in an instant, reaching a level that caused both the incoming Brawl Bear Apprentice and Vigorously Beetle to flinch in surprise! ¡°What?!¡± Lyu Guang¡¯s pupils dilated sharply, his face manifesting disbelief. What was happening?! Originally, Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast was clearly a notch weaker than his two beasts. Why had it gained so much strength in just a blink of an eye?! Why is it that Xu Ran, sitting on the back of another pet beast, seemed to have his aura and the pet beast¡¯s aura merged into one?! Displaying the same serious expression was Lyu Hong who retreated to the side of the competition field. He instantly recognized that the pet beast ridden by Xu Ran was an extremely rare auxiliary type pet beast, and that¡¯s why it could enhance another pet beast, making its momentum surpass his carefully trained two pet beasts. However, such an auxiliary type pet beast usually does not have attack type skills. Therefore, the pet beast augmented by Xu Ran needed to face two opponents simultaneously. One-on-one, his two pet beasts might indeed not necessarily be its opponents. But two against one¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not good enough.¡± Lyu Hong murmured under his breath, his expression still confident. The ultimate victory in this battle would definitely be Lyu Guang¡¯s! Just as Lyu Hong had this thought, Xu Ran, who was in the field holding the reins and riding on Star, suddenly let out a loud shout. ¡°Ziyun!¡± Holding the reins in one hand, he pointed in the direction of Lyu Guang¡¯s two pet beasts. ¡°You¡¯ve been enhanced! Defeat them!¡± ¡°Zzz-la ¡ö¡± In response to him was Ziyun, whose momentum ascended to the peak, and the terrifying electric light that suddenly burst around her! The purple halo quietly rose to every part of her body, under her strong body that was almost completely energized, was an awful power like a potential flood about to burst. Electric arcs danced and wriggled over the ground under Ziyun¡¯s feet, occasionally piercing through the air, like a purple thunder snake wildly dancing in the void. In just a blink, Ziyun appeared in between the two pet beasts, leaving only an illusion formed by the gathering of thunder and lightning in place. Then, before the Brawl Bear Apprentice and Vigorously Beetle could react, a voice full of authority fell like divine words from the sky. ¡°Meow-¡± Purple lightning appeared out of nowhere, instantly encompassing everything within a hundred meters of Ziyun! Tiny arcs of electricity gathered, gathering even more, until finally twisted together in the void, transforming into a terrifying thunderstorm that covered everything in sight. The disciples from Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion who were watching the battle all lost their voices, staring wide-eyed and tongue-tied at this terrifying scene. Lyu Hong¡¯s expression changed instantly, displaying disbelief. What is¡­ this?! Is it a two stars skill at Waning Moon Level? No! Even a two stars skill at Waning Moon Level would hardly have such terrifying power. Could it be three¡­ No! Absolutely impossible! Looking at the sea of thunder occupying his vision, Lyu Hong¡¯s expression changed continuously, and in the end, only one voice echoed in his mind. How is it possible?! ¡°Zzz¡ªla¡ª¡± The purple sea of thunder dissipated, the air was still filled with a strong burnt smell, occasionally an electric arc passing by in the void, the ground was even filled with tiny electric arcs continuously hopping. Two blackened figures hardly recognizable were lying on the ground, having completely lost their combat capabilities and consciousness in the blow just now. Within the sea of thunder, Ziyun could no longer be seen. ¡°Meow-¡± (The Power Bone Dust is mine!) The thunder and lightning illusion frozen in place suddenly began to move as if it had come alive, its elemental body gradually returned to its original form, Ziyun sitting on the ground, licked her paw, her demeanor was graceful and composed. One strike! With just one strike, two pet beasts of the same level were down. Lyu Guang, who was a step too slow, sat helplessly on the ground, clutching his chest in pain, showing an expression of utter despair, he was deliberately spared by Ziyun and hence was not swept into the sea of thunder. This time, the blow he received was even greater than when the Dark Scale Dragon defeated Brawl Bear Apprentice. He, the inheritor of Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion, a small-time famous Beast Master in Qingzhou City. Was he¡­.defeated in an instant?! Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 107 B Level Plucking Fur!_l Chapter 144: Chapter 107 B Level Plucking Fur!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°So this is Power Bone Dust¡­¡± While sitting on Star¡¯s back, Xu Ran pulled out a half-palm-sized, antique-looking wooden box, his face filled with curiosity. Even without opening it, he could feel the strong energy fluctuations inside through the wooden box, and the hefty feel it had gave a visually impressive sense of worthiness. When Lyu Guang was defeated, the color on Lyu Hong¡¯s face visibly darkened. However, he kept his word. As per the agreement before the match, he handed the Power Bone Dust, which was offered as a stake, to Xu Ran. Looking at the still bewildered Lyu Guang, the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion disciples with hostility on their faces, and Lyu Hong who held a sour look, Xu Ran knew he had overstayed his welcome. Leaving behind a comment, ¡°Welcome everyone to bring their pet beasts to Starfire Foster Care Shop,¡± Xu Ran decisively bid farewell. ¡°Meow-¡± (Let me see it right now!) Ziyun, lying in front of Xu Ran, had a touch of urgency in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help turning his head, wanting to see the spoils of war he had just won. Even Star turned his head in the middle of the run. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look together.¡± Xu Ran chuckled lightly, gesturing for Star to stop first before carefully opening the wooden box in his hand. What appeared to the eyes was a spoonful of powder. But these powdered particles, each one was as clear as a diamond, shimmering with a peculiar sheen under the sunlight. Not only that, they had a great density. Xu Ran grabbed a few lightly and found that each grain weighing at least one gram, each piece smaller than table salt, and even the wind couldn¡¯t blow them away easily. ¡°As expected of an evolutionary material, it looks simple yet complex.¡± After a careful look, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction, ¡°It¡¯s said that Power Bone Dust is scraped from the bones of powerful Fallen Transcendent Beings of certain fighting attributes.¡± ¡°Just a pinch of bone dust is this powerful, I wonder how formidable those Transcendent Beings must be.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (We will be that strong too!) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun¡¯s eyes were filled with longing. He was not far from evolution. Once the evolution was completed, he would become a King Species pet beast, level-capped at the King Stage. His gap with such powerful beings would be one step closer. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Hope I can evolve soon too!) Star neighed loudly with the same expectation in his eyes. Although his evolution was still quite distant, through Ziyun¡¯s one, he could imagine that his own evolution would not be easy. He hopes for the day to come soon so he could counter-borrow money from Big Sis! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep this Power Bone Dust for Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran closed the wooden box and carefully put it in his arms, ¡°Now it¡¯s time to get back to the shop.¡± Star let out a neigh and set off again, attracting onlookers along the way. Before reaching the Starfire Foster, Xu Ran saw two familiar figures standing at the shop door, one person and one pet. ¡°Meow!¡± (It¡¯s the Dark Scale Dragon!) Ziyun recognized its old foe immediately. After defeating the Dark Scale Dragon, Ziyun¡¯s mentality has become calm, and it no longer gets agitated every time they meet. After all, it was now a powerful elite level pet beast, and the Dark Scale Dragon was still at the Transcendent Stage. Every time it thought of this, Ziyun would feel a little proud. ¡°Gu Ling, are you here for the washing and caring service for Dark Scale Dragon?¡± Arriving at the shop entrance, Xu Ran dismounted and asked with a smile. ¡°Boss Xu, is this your second contracted pet?¡± Gu Ling didn¡¯t answer Xu Ran¡¯s question. As soon as Xu Ran showed up, she was captivated by the magnificent Star. ¡°Ang!¡± The Dark Scale Dragon growled softly, looking towards Star with a sense of familiarity. It recognized at a glance that the big guy in front of it, taller than itself, was also a Dark Attribute Pet Beast. All Dark Attributed are one family! ¡°Indeed, this is my second pet, Star.¡± Xu Ran stroked Star¡¯s slender mane for a brief introduction, then opened the shop door. Gu Ling then remembered Xu Ran¡¯s initial question, ¡°I came for the washing and caring service this time, and I also want to try the accompanying training service. Xiaoxiao said it¡¯s effective.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, suddenly thought of something, his face filled with anticipation, ¡°By the way, I had mentioned before hoping that Senior Gu could come for a washing and care.¡± ¡°We already have washing and caring services for Super Large Size pet beasts in the shop now, but I didn¡¯t keep Senior Gu¡¯s contact. It would be great if you could help me inform him when you go back.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Ling walked into the shop as she casually agreed. The next second, her eyes fell on the price of washing and caring for Super Large Size pet beasts. 266666 yuan per session¡­ Realizing that Old Gu¡¯s four pet beasts at home were all Super Large Size pet beasts, Gu Ling went silent for a moment. The total cost for the four pet beasts was over a million yuan, right? From Boss Xu¡¯s tone, he wanted to thank Old Gu for saving him earlier and offered to wash and care his pet beasts for free. This was not a small sum of money¡­ Oh well, she was just the messenger. She¡¯d let Old Gu decide for himself. Seeing Gu Ling agree, a huge weight lifted from Xu Ran¡¯s heart. After the system got updated, and now having the ability to wash and care for Super Large Size pet beasts, he has been keeping in mind his previous promise. He originally wanted to ask Su Xiaoxiao to help relay his invitation but felt the method was too casual, and it¡¯s better to personally speak to Gu Ling face to face. ¡°Thank you, let¡¯s start by washing and caring for Dark Scale Dragon.¡± He patted the dark armor-like sturdy body of the Dark Scale Dragon, ¡°The shop¡¯s washing and care services have upgraded. I think you¡¯ll like it..¡± Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Chapter 107 B Level Plucking Fur!_2 Chapter 145: Chapter 107 B Level Plucking Fur!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Roar!¡± Upon hearing this, the Dark Scale Dragon instantly perked up. Does this mean that now the grooming is more comfortable than before? Yay! It excitedly twitched its body, followed Xu Ran into the Grooming Room bobbing its head, leaving Gu Ling speechless in disbelief. Look at your shameless self! Soon, the exciting and sonorous roars of the Dark Scale Dragon echoed from the grooming room. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± ¡°Ding dong ding dong- Grooming is complete! Xu Ran hummed a little tune as he pushed open the door to the grooming room and presented the spanking new Dark Scale Dragon in front of Gu Ling. -The effect of the upgraded grooming is really noticeable!¡± Surprise dawned on Gu Ling¡¯s face as she spoke. Even before this, Boss Xu¡¯s grooming had been the best she had ever seen. However, this time, the improvement was clearly visible to the naked eye. How impressive was that? Turning to look at Xu Ran, who had a broad smile on his face, Gu Ling blinked, ¡°Boss Xu, you seem to be in a good mood today? ¡°Indeed, there is some personal good news.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Plucking Fur has levelled up! [Plucking Fur (C-level)] (99/100) 111 [Plucking Fur (B-level)] (0/500) Thanks to the grooming of an average of six or seven clients every day over this period of time, the experience points of Plucking Fur increased rapidly, and it finally levelled up to B level on Gu Ling. The initial Plucking Fur of D-level could only get a one-star skill. After upgrading to C level, the probability of acquiring a one-star skill increased a lot, and it could also acquire a two-star skill. Going by this pattern¡­ Can Plucking Fur of B-level possibly get a three-star skill?! Qingzhou City is a small place, and the pet beasts of ordinary customers are all of the Leader Species, possessing only two-star skills, but this isn¡¯t absolute. For example, the pet beast of Gu Wu, is a King Species. With this in mind, Xu Ran felt a bit strange. Grooming the pet beasts of Gu Wu was his act of repaying the kindness, and he originally didn¡¯t intend to gain anything out of it. But now, with Plucking Fur that has just been upgraded to B-level, it seems that he can acquire a three-star skill from Gu Wu¡¯s pet beast? Considering that in addition to raising the talent skills to three stars, Ziyun needs to master an additional three-star skill as an evolution condition, Xu Ran¡¯s mood instantly improved. He had earlier thought that he would let Ziyun master an additional three-star skill through teaching and fusion. But if he could directly acquire a three-star skill through Plucking Fur and complete the teaching process? That would save a lot of skill fusion stones and skill fragments! in addition to Plucking Fur being upgraded to B level, there was another little surprise. That was, Plucking Fur had yielded a good result this time. And, it was somewhat extraordinary. [¡ï¡ïDragon Power] (Cannot be taught) Xu Ran had a clear memory of this skill. At the beginning, the Dark Scale Dragon used it to resist Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Roar, which was a fusion of two two-star skills. Gu Ling doesn¡¯t have a system, and the Dark Scale Dragon definitely did not acquire this skill through fusion. It was naturally that powerful. Skills that are inherently this strong, maybe they only require a two-star skill to be fused into a three-star one? In addition, there was another point that Xu Ran paid particular attention to. The skill Dragon Power was not a Dark Power skill. As such, it should be considered a common skill. But it didn¡¯t quite match up with the common skills Xu Ran had in mind. Firstly, it couldn¡¯t be taught to Ziyun or Star, it was in a non-teachable state. Secondly, and more importantly, Xu Ran, who had browsed through the two-star common skill exchange list several times, was very sure that Dragon Power was not on it. Perhaps, in addition to the conventional classification method, there are some special skills that cannot be obtained through the system¡¯s traditional methods? Thinking of this, Xu Ran decided not to dismantle it. Dragon Power, as a two-star skill, only breaks down into four skill fragments. However, getting it again would require forty skill fragments, which can¡¯t be exchanged for. Even if it can¡¯t be taught now, maybe a new Pet Beast can learn it in the future? Worst-case scenario, keep it as a collector¡¯s item! ¡°Congratulations then.¡± Hearing it was a private matter, Gu Ling didn¡¯t pry any further, offering them congratulations with a smile, she then urged Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, please take me and Dark Scale Dragon to take a look at the training area!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. Ziyun and Star, who had already used up their six hours of daily training time and could not enter the training area, were left to mind the shop on the first floor. Xu Ran, with Gu Ling and Dark Scale Dragon, came down through the back door. On their way through the foster area, as expected, Gu Ling was a bit surprised. Upon really entering the training area, the surprise on her face grew even stronger. ¡°Such realistic training areas.¡± Gu Ling looked around. ¡°This is amazing.¡± In the Second Level Town of Xieyun City, Gu Ling had seen training facilities built using transcendent power. These facilities were quite expensive and required the presence of Pet Beasts that were at the General stage and above to construct. Such things were simply not possible in a small place like Qingzhou City. Therefore, after seeing the best foster shops and training places in Qingzhou City, she was not very satisfied with the training conditions here. It wouldn¡¯t even compare to letting the Red-eyed Demon Dragon train the Dark Scale Dragon. But the training area of the Starfire Foster Care Shop was as realistic as the best training places she had seen. Moreover, it was much larger to the point where she couldn¡¯t see the end. It was almost indistinguishable from reality. Feeling the strong Dark Power in the air, Gu Ling nodded continuously. It seemed that the Dark Scale Dragon now had a place to train. ¡°Each Pet Beast can only enter the training area for six hours a day.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Do you have a training plan?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gu Ling came back to her senses, nodding her head. She had quite a comprehensive plan for training the Dark Scale Dragon. She said, ¡°Today we¡¯ll train for six hours, focusing on the Dark Elemental Pearl and Dragon Power.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his mind moving as the system gave the corresponding training guide for these two skills. This was a good opportunity to learn more about Dragon Power. Massive amounts of knowledge flooded into his mind. Xu Ran quickly glanced at the information related to Dark Elemental Pearl and focused on the many scenes of Dragon Power being used. In the scenes, one Pet Beast after another used Dragon Power to subdue enemies, the formidable aura was almost seeping out of the scenes. But¡­ All these Pet Beasts seemed to be Dragon Beasts. Does this mean that to teach this skill, he also needs to have a contract with a Dragon Beast? Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. That is definitely a possibility. The Dragon is a symbol of strength, and as far as he knew, there didn¡¯t seem to be a single weak dragon species. When he contracts with a new Pet Beast in the future, he can definitely consider contracting with a Dragon Beast. Thinking positively, maybe the Beast Egg that was quietly incubating on the bedside table on the second floor is a dragon? Pulling his fleeting thoughts back, Xu Ran looked at the excited Dark Scale Dragon, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He turned around and moved a dragon-shaped sculpture out of the training equipment warehouse. ¡°Let¡¯s train Dragon Power first.¡± Xu Ran fixed the statue in front of the Dark Scale Dragon, ¡°Look at it and imagine yourself as it.¡± Gu Ling:¡±???¡± Looking at the draconic statue that looked completely different from the Dark Scale Dragon yet had an overwhelming presence, Gu Ling couldn¡¯t hide her confusion. Is this how you train Dragon Power? However, considering that Boss Xu¡¯s methods were always profound and Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s personal experience had proven the effectiveness of the training, Gu Ling chose to observe first. The Dark Scale Dragon, on the other hand, chose to believe what Xu Ran said. This man had just given it great pleasure, so his words must be credible! It stared intently at the unfamiliar dragon-shaped statue in front of it, imaging it possessed powerful dragon wings like the statue, that a minor flap of its wings would allow it to soar in the sky. The more it imagined, the more engrossed it became. Its eyes started to lose focus and the pupils began to converge towards the center, until¡­ It was cross-eyed. Gu Ling:¡±???¡± Looking at the increasingly strange Dark Scale Dragon, she had a feeling something was off. Just as she was about to come forward and disrupt the Dark Scale Dragon¡¯s strange posture, Gu Ling abruptly stopped in her tracks. A seemingly non-existent but powerful suppression began to radiate from the Dark Scale Dragon. It was visibly growing stronger at an astonishing rate. That is¡­ Dragon Power! Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 108: Got a Three Star Skilll l Chapter 146: Chapter 108: Got a Three Star Skilll l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Well then, Boss Xu, I¡¯m off!¡± ¡°Alright, remember to mention it to Elder Gu Wu when you see him, and ask him to bring his pet beast when he has time.¡± Standing at the door of the shop, Xu Ran watched as the departing woman and her pet beast left, a smile on his face. ¡°I will.¡± Gu Ling nodded, then glanced back at the Dark Scale Dragon following her. In just six short hours, the development from training Dark Scale Dragon had astonishingly improved. But¡­ ¡°Roaaar-¡± Looking at the Dark Scale Dragon, whose eyes were focused intently on it, occasionally shrugging as if trying to flap non-existent wings, a charming smile on its lips, and its voice slightly different, Gu Ling found it all puzzling. Boss Xu¡¯s training method was too eccentric. Sighing softly, Gu Ling waved at Xu Ran before heading home with a satisfied-looking Dark Scale Dragon. As the woman and her pet beast disappeared from view, a smile lit up on Xu Ran¡¯s face. The sky was growing dark, and he was done for the day. Hopefully, after Gu Ling mentioned it to Elder Gu Wu, he would come sooner. ¡°Oh? After you took Dark Scale Dragon to Little Xu for grooming and training, it improved significantly?¡± Gu Wu asked, his face expressing surprise as he came out of the kitchen carrying a pot of soup. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just that the method of training is a bit strange.¡± Gu Ling took a sniff; the aroma wafting in the air revealed that Old Gu had prepared Cordyceps Flower Chicken Soup today. She wanted to eat! ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Gu Wu glanced at Dark Scale Dragon trailing behind Gu Ling, eyebrow lifted in amusement, ¡°I can see, it is indeed weird.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± A majestic dragon¡¯s call came from outside, seemingly beckoning the Dark Scale Dragon to join it. Dark Scale Dragon stood tall, its aloof expression implied in between its somewhat centrally placed eyes, the corners of its mouth curled up in an increasing smirk. It shrugged its shoulder blades, as if trying to flap a pair of soaring wings. After a few unsuccessful attempts, it let out an unsatisfied growl. ¡°Roaaar!¡± Watching Dark Scale Dragon strut dispassionately out of the room with an air of dominance, Gu Wu¡¯s facial expression became more perturbed. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not just a bit weird.¡± After Gu Wu¡¯s voice faded, the sound of Dark Scale Dragon in panic followed from outside. ¡°Roar?!¡± How dare you attack me, the mighty dragon?! Then, the sounds of Dark Scale Dragon getting beaten up and crying out in pain. ¡°Hmm¡­ well, we will continue with dinner.¡± Gu Wu stared at the door for a moment, returned to his seat, and served his daughter a bowl of chicken soup, ¡°Here, try this. This old hen we got today is fantastic.¡± ¡°¡­ Alright.¡± Gu Ling shot a sympathetic look out the door, then took a sip of the soup. The warm soup filled her mouth with an exquisite taste of freshness, naturally making her eyes close in delight. ¡°Also,¡± said Gu Ling after taking another sip of soup. ¡°Boss Xu said that his shop now offers washing and protection services for super large pet beasts. You could take Big Black Dragon and the others there when you have time.¡± ¡°Oh? He offers services for super large pet beasts now?¡± Gu Wu¡¯s face showed surprise, ¡°These services require a substantial amount of space. Did Little Xu expand his shop?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Gu Ling ate a piece of chicken that slid off the bone with ease as she recalled the monstrous area she saw underground. ¡°Although I did not visit the grooming room, I have an idea what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Old pal Gu, do you remember the joint military arsenal in Xieyun City?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Gu Wu nodded. ¡°Being a second-level town, the pressure from Transcendent Beings in Xieyun City is much greater than in Qingzhou City. To resist these formidable wild Transcendent Beings, there are many Transcendent weapons in the city.¡± ¡°These weapons require several General Stage Pet Beasts to energize them and, because of their substantial size, a lot of money was spent on using space expansion technology to increase their storage security.¡± ¡°Why bring this up out of nowhere?¡± Gu Wu asked, tasting some soup. ¡°You¡¯re not suggesting that Boss Xu has such weapons in his shop, are you?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Gu Ling shook her head. ¡°But he has used space expansion techni¡­¡± ¡°Pffft! Cough, cough!¡± Gu Wu choked on his soup, wiped his mouth, and looked at Gu Ling in astonishment. ¡°What? He used space expansion technology in his shop?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Ling nodded, looking quite amused. ¡°Unless he excavated the entire underground of the surrounding area for pet beast fosterage.¡± Gu Wu remained silent. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out that it was impossible. So, there could only be one truth! Xu Ran indeed used space expansion technology in his foster shop. ¡°Sh..it,¡± Gu Wu put down his soup bowl. ¡°I have to see this.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± Gu Ling rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s late, Boss Xu¡¯s shop has already closed.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Gu Wu picked up his soup again, ¡°I¡¯ll have some free time tomorrow. I think I¡¯ll take the four of them for grooming.¡± ¡°Eat your soup first, eat your soup.¡± Early the next morning, after feeding the pet beasts in the foster area, Xu Ran watched as Ziyun and Star started their new day of training. Then, yawning, he opened the shop door. The moment he saw who was standing outside his shop, he was immediately awake.. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 108: Got a Three Star Skill!_2 Chapter 147: Chapter 108: Got a Three Star Skill!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Senior Gu, you¡¯re here!¡¯1 ¡°Haha, Ling¡¯er told me that your shop now offers grooming for super large pet beasts, so I came to check it out,¡± Gu Wu laughed heartily, stepping into Xu Ran¡¯s shop. ¡°Just in time, my pet beasts haven¡¯t had a proper cleaning and grooming session since arriving in Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Xu Ran said enthusiastically. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Gu Wu glanced at the price list on the wall, his expression faltering slightly before quickly recovering. ¡°But just to be clear, I will still pay the necessary fees.¡± Over a million! He certainly can¡¯t take advantage of this. ¡°That won¡¯t do,¡± Xu Ran shook his head firmly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you showing up that day, I would have perished in the Beast Tide. I can only repay you as best as I can. I already feel bad about it.¡± Gu Wu tried to decline a few more times, but seeing Xu Ran¡¯s firm attitude, he reluctantly shook his head, ¡°Okay then, only today¡¯s grooming is free.¡± ¡°If I come again later or for other services, the charges must be paid as usual.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Knowing that this was as much as Gu Wu agreed to, Xu Ran didn¡¯t insist further. ¡°Let¡¯s go to your grooming room then. I¡¯ll summon them one by one.¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, glancing at Xu Ran¡¯s training fees. One hour of training for General Stage Pet Beasts cost 266 Beast Master Points. This kid, really has the courage to charge. But at his stage, a Beast Master indeed needs many Beast Master points, so let¡¯s consider it as compensation for the grooming fees. Later, let¡¯s let ¡®DaHei¡¯ be trained for an hour. Just right, it¡¯s time to see if this kid¡¯s training is really as miraculous as it seems. While thinking, Gu Wu already followed Xu Ran into the grooming room. Seeing the much larger space inside than it looked from the outside, Gu Wu could undoubtedly affirm that Xu Ran utilized space expansion technology. He looked at Xu Ran with surprise but didn¡¯t reveal anything. Once confirmed that the space here was sufficient to accommodate his pet beasts for grooming, the hexagram star array flickered behind Gu Wu. From the roar of the energy storm, the brightly lit grooming room suddenly went dark as if there was a sudden power outage, leaving only a pair of fierce blood-red dragon eyes visible. It was a giant dragon, about fifteen meters long, with black scales covering its body and wings on its back. Between the gaps of its scales, there were traces of dried blood that couldn¡¯t be washed away, a testament to its brave and fierce battles. Seeing the Red-eyed Demon Dragon again, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help taking a deep breath, feeling the terrifying pressure. [Race name: Red-eyed Demon Dragon Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth stage: General Stage Body type: Super Large Size Maintenance Need: ***** Evaluation: A veteran who has fought fiercely on all fronts, a fierce Dragon King, but remember: gentle care can also be a hero¡¯s grave. Use your agile hands to make it succumb!] ¡°Roar-¡± The Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s aura was only released for an instant. The next moment, it completely retracted its power, looking curiously at the human in front of it. This small being, is going to groom it? Back in Xieyun City, the Red-eyed Demon Dragon had experienced several grooming sessions. Each time, several humans were involved, and ladders were even brought over to clean the high places. One person, how are they going to groom it? ¡°Demon Dragon senior, please come this way.¡± Xu Ran quickly composed himself, pointing to the care platform prepared specifically for super large pet beasts. As the Red-eyed Demon Dragon lied quietly on the care platform, words emerged in front of Xu Ran. [To enhance the effect of this grooming session, the system will provide the host with the knowledge of ¡°Dragon Pet Beast Advanced Caring¡±] Here it comes! Xu Ran took a deep breath, looked at the giant dragon in front of him with scales larger than his own head, and began to prepare according to the knowledge provided by the system. A moment later, he brought out the shower head and gently sprayed the prepared bath dew on the part of the Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s body in front of him. The warm liquid took away the dirt on the scales, and trickled down through the gaps, the dark attribute resources within it were easily absorbed by the Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s large body ¡ª though trivial, it brought a strange sense of relaxation. The Red-eyed Demon Dragon blinked, feeling a tingling sensation from the groomed area, as if a soft feather was running through its hard scales, tickling it. As Xu Ran completed the basic cleaning of one area and moved to another, this tingling sensation became increasingly intense. Just like a frog slowly getting cooked in warm water, the initially indifferent Red-eye Demon Dragon, under Xu Ran¡¯s continuous and uninterrupted grooming, felt its whole body becoming sensitive. While its large body shivered slightly, its throat moved, as if it wanted to make a noise, but forcibly suppressed it. [Pleasure value from Red-eyed Demon Dragon +12] [Pleasure value from Red-eyed Demon Dragon +12] [From¡­] As the reminders of pleasure values floated in front of Xu Ran, Gu Wu¡¯s expression grew increasingly strange as he watched. Having spent so much time with the Red-eyed Demon Dragon, he had never seen it in such a state before. His contract power at the fourth stage allowed him to clearly perceive the Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s current feelings, which made him feel a bit weird as well. Well¡­ this couldn¡¯t go on, he was on the verge of making a sound! With a flushed face, Gu Wu willingly blocked the perception brought by the contract, then sat down straight again, watching Xu Ran busily moving around with a somewhat strange look in his eyes. He looked like a fine young man, but why was everything so odd? Now he realized why the Dark Scale Dragon had made such strange noises the last time he came with his daughter. Only the Red-eyed Demon Dragon¡¯s unwavering will could¡­ ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Okay, pretend he didn¡¯t say anything. At this moment, Gu Wu was very glad he had willingly blocked his perception. If he had lost his composure, his image as a high-ranking individual would have been ruined. Time ticked by, the roars from inside the grooming room getting louder and stranger. Even with his perception blocked, Gu Wu felt uncomfortable. Finally, amidst the dazed roars, the Red-eyed Demon Dragon completed the entire grooming process. Watching his pet beast transform into something brand new in such a peculiar manner right in front of him filled Gu Wu¡¯s heart with a strange feeling. Why did he feel like he should be happy, yet it didn¡¯t seem like he should be happy? Forget it. Gu Wu gently raised his hand, sending the Red-eyed Demon Dragon back home, and then the Hexagram Star Array flickered again. ¡°Wu ¡± Amid the clear dragon chant, a dragon with a more slender figure than the Red-eyed Demon Dragon, covered in pale blue scales, with dark blue curved horns on its head, flew out from the void. It curiously looked at Xu Ran, with a hint of caution in its eyes. Just now, it had seen through Gu Wu¡¯s eyes the strange behavior of the black elder whom it once regarded as its idol. It swore, that during the grooming later, it would not let the human in front of it succeed! [Race Name: Wind Abyss Dragon Attribute: Wind attribute Growth Stage: Suai Stage Body type: Super Large Size Maintenance Need: ***** Assessment: Slightly young explorer, yet a sharp blade on the battlefield. It seems to have some wariness against the host at this moment, so¡­ use your hands to show it that crying out loud won¡¯t help!] A moment later, the desperate cries could be heard from inside the grooming room. ¡°Wu ¡ª¡± Red-eyed Demon Dragon, Wind Abyss Dragon, Flameman King Dragon, Violent Thunder Dragon¡­ Gu Wu seemed to have a particular affection for dragon pet beasts. All his four pet beasts were among the best in the dragon pet beasts. And these four dragons, experienced the unbearable and inexpressible feelings in the following time. Grooming Super Large Pet Beasts was also more time consuming, by the time Xu Ran finished grooming all of them, almost half a day had passed. Even Xu Ran, whose power far surpassed ordinary humans due to the Beast Taming Contract, also felt a rare sense of fatigue. It seemed that if he wanted to groom Super Large Pet Beasts effortlessly, he also needed to become stronger. However, the hustle for almost half a day did bear some fruit. Xu Ran casually opened his personal panel. [¡ï¡ï¡ïAnnihilatory Thunder Palm](Teachable) Just as he had speculated earlier, B-level fur plucking can indeed acquire a three-star skill. Thinking about that purple dragon, which was the crudest of all but also had the strongest reaction to the grooming. The dragon initially seemed ready to die but showed a dazed smile on its face after the grooming. A smile couldn¡¯t help surfacing on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Ziyun was one step closer to evolution again.. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 109 Ziyun Accumulates More Debt_l Chapter 148: Chapter 109 Ziyun Accumulates More Debt_l Translator: 549690339 | [Adding 3/10 extra updates for Silver League Warm Sun 1314] ¡°Little Xu, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Gu Wu patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, a look of emotion on his face. Although the grooming process appeared rather odd, there was undoubtedly no questioning the effectiveness of Xu Ran¡¯s grooming approach. He had never seen his four pet beasts in such a magnificent state before, their mental state had clearly been enhanced as a result of the grooming. What was more, this busy day of grooming had not earned the young man in front of him a single penny. Although it was Xu Ran fulfilling his gratitude for saving their lives, how could Gu Wu take advantage of such a young man? ¡°I heard from Ling¡¯er that you¡¯ve started offering sparring services?¡± Gu Wu said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m quite interested in this. Take me to have a look.¡± Sparring? Xu Ran was struck with an idea, his eyes lighting up. For sparring at the General stage, one does not charge money, but points! The auxiliary evolution resources for Ziyun lacked no points for exchange. Just one hour of sparring would be enough! ¡°Alright, please, follow me,¡± Xu Ran led Gu Wu out of the grooming room, immediately spotting Ziyun and Star, who were curiously eyeing the store. The two pet beasts had already completed their six hours of training during Xu Ran¡¯s grooming session. After learning what had happened through their contract bond, they had stayed outside the grooming room. ¡°This is your second pet, right?¡± Gu Wu couldn¡¯t resist paying Star a little more attention. ¡°It seems to be well-bred, but why is the breed unfamiliar again?¡± ¡°Ah haha¡­ Maybe I¡¯m just lucky,¡± Xu Ran joked, pointing to the back door, ¡°Senior Gu, let¡¯s go this way.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Gu Wu shot him a fleeting glance, keeping his thoughts to himself. Lucky? He doubts it. After witnessing space expansion technology in this ordinary foster shop, this seemingly normal boy also became somewhat mysterious in his eyes. Gu Wu had no interest in probing into others¡¯ experiences. Since Xu Ran wanted to put it that way, he chose to believe it. He followed Xu Ran through the back door and quickly entered the underground elevator. ¡°Senior Gu, which of your pet beasts needs training?¡± Before pressing the attribute symbol button, Xu Ran asked. ¡°The Red-eyed Demon Dragon.¡± Gu Wu hesitated, the sight of the foster area completely shattered his previous perceptions, causing his original plan to change. ¡°The Red-eyed Demon Dragon first, the other three also need to train.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded, then pressed the symbol for the Dark attribute. After a moment of weightlessness, Gu Wu¡¯s eyes reflected a sense of ¡°it¡¯s as expected,¡± as he gazed at the tranquil night outside the elevator. He initially thought he was giving points to Xu Ran as compensation for the exhausting grooming process. Now it seemed that handing over these points was more to his benefit. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± ¡°Okay, Senior Gu, take care!¡± Xu Ran watched as Gu Wu prepared to leave, his smile radiant. ¡°We look forward to seeing you again.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gu Wu nodded. ¡°All four of them are very satisfied with the training environment.¡± In a small place like Qingzhou City, it¡¯s not easy to find a place that is suitable for General Stage pet beasts to train. A charge of 266 points per hour is a fortune to lower level Beast Masters, but to those at the General stage, the price is only slightly steep. Worst comes to worst, they could just go out of the city and hunt a few more Transcendent Beings. Watching Gu Wu¡¯s departing figure, Xu Ran was equally satisfied. Although the skill points he gained from training the General stage pet beasts did not increase, he only received 40 points. But the sparring with four General Stage pet beasts brought him an inflow of 1064 Beast Master Points. The points needed for Ziyun¡¯s evolution resources were sufficient all at once. The remaining points could even arrange a complete set of evolution resources for Star¡­ Oh, he forgot that Star hadn¡¯t received its Evolution Path yet. Let¡¯s save it for him first. This was only a beginning, Gu Wu would bring his pet beasts for training in the future, which means, Xu Ran¡¯s demand for Beast Master Points was thoroughly satisfied. Although the resources needed for subsequent evolution would be more expensive, and the points far beyond what he has now, but at least at this stage of evolving from Leader Species to King Species, he no longer had to worry about the resources that can be exchanged with points. Back in the shop, Xu Ran looked at the two little ones curiously and smiled slightly. He closed the door and took out the little blackboard. The last tally was just yesterday, there shouldn¡¯t be a need to tally so frequently, but today¡¯s yield was enormous, especially the three-star skill he just got. The earlier he could teach it to Ziyun, the earlier he could start to increase his proficiency. Once the flexible distribution method was determined, the resources that had not yet been counted and distributed could not be used freely. Every time they were used, it was from the previously allocated resources. The use of new resources needed to wait until the next tally and distribution. This rule was approved by Ziyun and Star, and for future contracted members, a supplementary plan was added. Before contracting each new member, there would be a tally, distributing all the resources obtained to the existing members. The distribution of resources to new members would start after the contract. The expressions of the two pet beasts watching Xu Ran take out the small blackboard again were bewildered, until he slowly wrote on the blackboard: ¡°Physical points: 154 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill points: 210 points (Ziyun) + 100 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Teachable Skills: ¡ï¡ï Insightful Eye (Star), ¡ï¡ï¡ï Annihilatory Thunder Palm (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 22 pieces (Ziyun) + 5 pieces (undistributed)¡¯ Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 109 Ziyun Accumulates More Debt_2 Chapter 149: Chapter 109 Ziyun Accumulates More Debt_2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 2 bottles (Ziyun)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stone: 6 pieces (Ziyun)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 150 points (Ziyun) + 1064. points (Undistributed)¡± Ziyun:¡±!!!¡± Star: ¡°111¡± In just one day, the Beast Master had managed to earn so much again?! This Beast Master is too good at making money, love it! ¡°The situation is a bit special, so we need to distribute resources again.¡± Xu Ran spread his hands and circled Annihilatory Thunder Palm with chalk, ¡°A three-star skill that Ziyun needs to master for the evolution, got it!¡± ¡°All the undistributed resources together, newly accounted value points are 3368, you two each get 1684. points¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice faltered, and he looked at Ziyun regretfully, ¡°The value points of a three-star skill are 2000.¡± Ziyun: (=w=) So, even if it only changes this one skill, it still needs to borrow money from Star?! It carefully turned its head and cast a plea for help at Star. (*lfwV) ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright, alright¡­) Star knew that its big sister who is preparing for evolution urgently needs resources, so it agreed without much hesitation. After a cheer, Ziyun started choosing the things it needed to exchange. As before, its demand for physical points is not that urgent, so it can give them to Star, but there¡¯s no way to give up the extra hundred skill points. The four three-star skills need to breakthrough to the Waning Moon Level before evolution, Ziyun¡¯s demand for skill points is like a bottomless pit. The Annihilatory Thunder Palm undoubtedly needs to be exchanged, as do the newly obtained five skill fragments, after all, it still has a Battle Instinct waiting to be fused. Regarding the Beast Master points, there¡¯s no need to exchange all of them this time. It is still short of 110 points, just enough to exchange the resources it needs. After some calculations¡­ Ziyun cast a pitiful and helpless look at Star. It needs to borrow 576 more value points. Star: Feeling tired, but the money still needs to be borrowed. As for the remaining 154 physical points and 954 Beast Master points, Star accepted them without hesitation. It can use the physical points right now and though the Beast Master points are not needed at the moment, seeing how difficult it is for Ziyun to gather resources for evolution, it knows that it needs to prepare early. After the allocation, Star received another upgrade of points from Xu Ran. Growth step: Elite Stage (6046/20000)!+] Hl Growth step: Elite Stage (6200/20000)!+] With an enhanced strength, Star strode briskly towards the foster area on the basement floor, seemed eager to try out its newfound power right away. ¡°Star is really hardworking!¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh, Ziyun beside him also nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, are you ready for the skill teaching?¡± Xu Ran turned his attention to Ziyun and spoke gravely. This is his first time teaching a three-star skill, and as a Leader Species, Ziyun theoretically doesn¡¯t qualify to master a three-star skill. He¡¯s also uncertain about what will happen. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Ziyun nodded earnestly, its eyes filled with fighting spirit. ¡°Then, let¡¯s begin!¡± Xu Ran lightly activated the skill, completing the teaching. ¡°Meow!!!¡± Ziyun¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. It¡¯s different! It¡¯s completely different from the previous teaching processes! When learning from Xu Ran¡¯s previous teachings, it only felt that suddenly there was more knowledge in its mind, and then it could easily master it. But the teaching of a three-star skill at this moment is so difficult. Huge amounts of information surged into Ziyun¡¯s mind, causing severe pain throughout its body. As a Thunder Attribute Pet Beast, it felt the pain of fierce thunder strikes ¨C what was once its power turned against it in an instant. Ziyun¡¯s body was twitching with pain, it fell off the counter and electric arcs were constantly jumping around its body, just like those Pet Beasts that had been paralyzed by its electric shocks. ¡°This¡­¡± Astonishment also appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Teaching a three-star skill to a Leader Species is such a big challenge! But why was it okay to elevate the talent skill to a three-star level through fusion? Could it be because those skills are inherently Ziyun¡¯s, and the additional three-star skills taught are foreign power? ¡°Meow¡­¡± The frantic power gradually calmed down, regaining its senses, Ziyun¡¯s voice carried a touch of breathlessness as it slowly rose from the ground. It felt itself command a new three-star skill, though the process was painful, it was worth it for it took Ziyun one step closer to evolution. ¡°It¡¯s fine now, everything¡¯s fine.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, held Ziyun in his arms, gently rubbed its head, fear still lingering in his eyes. It appears that teaching pet beasts skills beyond the range of their species¡¯ levels should be done very carefully in the future. The skill instruction was completed, and Ziyun¡¯s status was rapidly recovering. Xu Ran raised his hand, directly put too skill points into the newly learned Annihilatory Thunder Palm, elevating it to the Starlight Level, then took out his cellphone and started exchanging the newly received Beast Master Points for yesterday¡¯s four unexchanged resources on the official website of the Beast Master Association. This way, Ziyun¡¯s evolution resources are only missing the Heart of the Thunder stone. Just after confirming the exchange, a strange phone call came in. ¡°Hello, am I speaking to Mr. Xu Ran? This is the Beast Master Association.¡± ¡°Speaking.¡± Xu Ran raised his eyebrows, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well, you exchanged a Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence yesterday and I was about to bring it over, then I saw you exchanged some new resources.¡± ¡°If you have other resources you need to exchange, you can place an order now and I can bring them along.¡± ¡°Because Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence is quite valuable, it needs to be escorted by a Beast Master of Leadership Level or higher.¡± ¡°Ah, I see now,¡± said Xu Ran, suddenly understanding. He thought that yesterday¡¯s Blood Essence exchange would have been delivered in three days, he had forgotten he catapulted through time since he was accustomed to quick online shopping deliveries. ¡°Could you please bring it all together then? For now, this is all I am exchanging.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± A response came from the other end of the line, the faint sound of howling wind echoing in the background, signifying their departure. Pretty efficient. Xu Ran nodded approvingly, ¡°Your resources will all be here in a bit.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (That¡¯s awesome!) Expectation shone brilliantly in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Having gathered two main resources and four auxiliary resources, it was one step closer to evolution! Next, all it had to do was to fuse Battle Instincts into a three-star skill, elevate all four three-star skills to the Waning Moon Level, find the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone, and it could evolve! ¡°Meow?¡± (Any news on the forum about the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone?) Recalling how the resourceful forum helped it find the Power Bone Dust yesterday, Ziyun asked hopefully. ¡°Let me check.¡± Xu Ran opened the forum and started browsing. However, he didn¡¯t hold out much hope. If there was any news, he should have received a call by now. After some browsing, it was as he thought: there were no traces of the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone. There were quite a few tips about the Power Bone Dust, but no clues at all about the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone. Being one of the three main resources needed for evolution, this resource might be even more precious than the Blood Essence. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few more days.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, looking at Ziyun. ¡°If the forum can¡¯t provide any clues, we might need Senior Gu to kindly keep an eye out.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (What kind of clue?) Star, who had cheerfully trotted back and forth, shook off the stone dust from his hoof and curiously asked. ¡°A clue for the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone.¡± Xu Ran briefly explained what had happened while Star was away. Upon learning how dangerous it was to directly learn three-star skills before evolving into a King Species, Star¡¯s eyes flashed with gravity. This was a hurdle it would have to be extremely careful of when it was preparing to evolve. ¡°Is Mr. Xu Ran in there?¡± A voice came from outside the shop. So soon? Recognizing it as the same voice from the phone call, Xu Ran opened the door in surprise, only realizing when he saw the man disembarking from a giant sculpture radiating Leadership Level aura, that the howling wind at the end of the call was because he was riding a Leadership Level flying pet beast for the delivery. ¡°These are the five resources you¡¯ve exchanged for, please sign if everything is correct.¡± The man opened the passcode box he was holding. ¡°Thank you.¡± The first thing that attracted Xu Ran¡¯s attention was a drop of blood sealed in transparent crystal. Purple electricity was entwined above the blood. The mere drop of blood sent waves that made one¡¯s heart palpitate. So this was the Blood Essence of a King Stage¡­. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 110: Heart of the Thunder Glow Stone_l Chapter 150: Chapter 110: Heart of the Thunder Glow Stone_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow-¡± (So this is the power of the King Stage¡­) Having come closer, Ziyun¡¯s pupils violently shrank as the reflection of that single drop of blood mirrored in its heterochromatic eyes. In the midst of this strength, a sense of closeness born of the same attribute took over, making it feel strongly that, just by swallowing this drop, its life level would gradually transition, reaching a new race tier. With a jolt of its head, Ziyun slowly calmed down. It had a clear evolution path which, if followed properly, would lead to successful evolution. It could not ruin this plan due to impulsive actions. Ziyun shifted its gaze to the resources placed in the four corners of an alloy box. In the upper-left corner was a deep purple crystal filled with Thunderforce, occasionally releasing electric arcs. In the lower-left corner, there was the Harmony Stone. It seemed ordinary at first glance, but it possessed a naturally round shape and showed no explicit attribute in its energy, perfectly balanced. In the upper-right corner was a tiny transparent test tube, containing about a milliliter of a strong, life-filled substance, the Life Dewdrop. It seemed as though a single drop could replenish the flesh on one¡¯s bones. In the lower-right corner was the Transcendence Flower. It emitted a colourful halo, it seemed unaffected by time, bringing a faint touch of transcendence. Though these four resources were not as crucial as the main ones, their complete display in front of Ziyun still filled it with a sense of unprecedented relief. Without these resources, the success rate of evolution would dramatically decrease, as if walking a tightrope, risking the peril of no return with the slightest misstep. ¡°There¡¯s no problem.¡± Assured of its correctness, Xu Ran wrote his name on the receipt page and handed it to the man, saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The man laughed heartily, seated himself on the giant sculpture and disappeared into the gale as the giant bird flapped its wings. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll store these resources for you first.¡± Looking at Ziyun, who kept glancing at the alloy box, Xu Ran gently massaged its head, ¡°If you open them frequently before the evolution, it could consume their power.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Then I¡¯ll stop looking at them!) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun was taken aback and hurriedly reached out its paw to tightly close the lid of the alloy box. If the power from the resources escaped, there would be problems with its evolution process! ¡°Very well, now that the resource allocation is complete, you all need to start working hard,¡± Xu Ran said slowly, facing the two little ones, having safely put away the alloy box along with the small wooden box holding the Power Bone Dust. ¡°First is Star.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I hear you!) Star neighed, a blazing fighting spirit in his eyes. ¡°Hm¡­ your task now is to train hard,¡± Xu Ran held out his hands, ¡°The two times the resources were distributed, the physical points all went to you, which also resulted in your growth progression increasing by nearly a thousand points in a short period.¡± ¡°The points were allocated too quickly, I worry there might be problems. You need to quickly turn this extra power into your own through training.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (I got it!) Star neighed again, realizing with a slight shock in his face. He had said before that even though he felt a lot stronger after the allocation of points yesterday, he always had a strange feeling of not being in full control. It really seemed like, even if he had become stronger through point allocation, he couldn¡¯t fully give up on diligent training! ¡°Right now you¡¯ve got seven skills. The passive skill ¡®Tenacity¡¯ doesn¡¯t require deliberate training and can be improved during the training of any other skill. The use of ¡®Self-healing Power¡¯ doesn¡¯t need to be deliberately trained for either, it can just be activated when you are injured in training.¡± ¡°Apart from these, the remaining five skills all need specific training,¡± Xu Ran started analyzing for Star. ¡°Twilight Watch and Star Chain are your two most crucial skills.¡± ¡°The former will increase the proportion of buffs and the number of teammates you can enhance as your proficiency goes up.¡± ¡°The latter, with the increase in proficiency level, will allow me to improve proportionally when I merge powers with you, not just adding one to one to produce two, but equals more than two.¡± ¡°Since you currently cannot acquire attack skills and are more like a support type Pet Beast, support ability is of the utmost importance.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Understood!) Star snorted and nodded again, agreeing quite a bit with Xu Ran¡¯s words. Having grown up in a Mount Beast Breeding Base and bonding with his companions from an early age, Star didn¡¯t harbor the desire to attack. In the past, his only wish was to run faster, just like his companions. Now, with Xu Ran¡¯s help, this wish had been fulfilled, and if he could use his own power to help his companions, Star would be satisfied. ¡°The skill ¡®Nightfall,¡¯ as its proficiency improves, can reduce power consumption, but the effect won¡¯t change much,¡± Xu Ran nodded and continued his assessment, ¡°For other Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, power consumption matters.¡± ¡°But for you, who has the ¡®Tenacity¡¯ skill, the power consumption of ¡®Nightfall¡¯ can be maintained for a considerable period. Thus, the priority of training this skill is somewhat lower. Having it is good enough.¡± ¡°apart from these, there are ¡®Night Eyes¡¯ and ¡®Night Song¡¯.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice softened slightly. ¡°If we were to rank your skill priorities, ¡®Twilight Watch¡¯ and ¡®Star Chain¡¯ would be tier one, ¡®Nightfall¡¯ would be tier three, and these two skills would be tier two.¡± ¡°They contribute to an improvement in your own strength. The enhancement of sight or speed is of considerable practical use..¡± Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 110 Heart of the Thunder Glow Chapter 151: Chapter 110 Heart of the Thunder Glow Stone_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°For your next training, follow this priority.¡± After the analysis, Xu Ran chuckled as he stroked Star¡¯s long mane. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star neighed, momentarily confused due to continuously increasing his power, regained clarity after Xu Ran explained. Now, with a clear training plan, it had already decided how to use the six hours it had in the training area every day! Well¡­ it couldn¡¯t be slack in the foster area either. There are still a lot of things it can practice in the night environment! ¡°Next up is Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran turned his head, looking at Ziyun next to him, whose face was full of anticipation, waiting for him to assign a training plan. ¡°Your training now has only one theme ¨C preparation for evolution.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun nodded steadfastly, Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts were in perfect alignment with its own. -To evolve, you need to upgrade four three-star skills to the Waning Moon Level; you¡¯re only lacking battle instinct in reaching three stars, but this doesn¡¯t impede developing proficiency. ¡°After merging, the proficiency of the skill will inherit the highest proficiency of the merging skills. So now, putting effort into promoting battle instinct proficiency is equivalent to improving the proficiency of the fourth three-star skill.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s tone paused slightly, ¡°Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, Step on Electric Traces, Annihilatory Thunder Palm, and Battle Instinct are the most important skills for your next training.¡± ¡°Especially Annihilatory Thunder Palm -1 have already helped you level it up to Starlight Level, but you haven¡¯t used it yet, you need to focus on it.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Understood!) Ziyun silently noted down Xu Ran¡¯s words, nodding staunchly. So, the next step is mainly to train these four skills, right? No problem! ¡°On top of that, there¡¯s another skill that needs training.¡± Xu Ran hadn¡¯t finished speaking, looking at Ziyun who had a ¡°I get everything¡± expression, he shook his head helplessly, ¡°The self-healing power skill also needs to be improved.¡± ¡°If possible, I will try to get this ability up to two stars before you start evolving.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Why?) Ziyun couldn¡¯t help expressing its confusion. Self-healing Power¡­ It had used this skill a lot. It accelerated its recovery when it got injured during regular training, but it didn¡¯t pay much attention to this skill. After all, it seemed more like a supplementary skill. ¡°As for the evolution, I have some guesses.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became slightly more serious, ¡°If my guess is correct, the self-healing power skill may help you in evolution.¡± This guess originated when Xu Ran started to receive resources and really saw those four assists. It was clearly mentioned in the evolution path that the assisting resources are not necessary for evolution, but they can increase the success rate of evolution. At that moment, Xu Ran was wondering how these four resources could increase the success rate. After really seeing the assisting resources and feeling their different powers, combined with his own understanding of evolution, Xu Ran began to have some ideas in his mind. Electric Energy Crystal should serve as a supplement to the thunder power during the evolution process. Even though Ziyun will have a new attribute, fighting attribute, after the evolution, it¡¯s still mainly a thunder pet beast. Therefore, it needs to absorb a large amount of thunder power during the evolution. The ordinary-looking Harmony Stone gives Xu Ran a feeling of harmony that leads to some speculation. After Ziyun evolves, it will have a second attribute. There must be some conflict between the newly born attribute and the original attribute. The Harmony Stone may be able to help achieve a balance between these conflicts effectively, making Ziyun¡¯s evolution go more smoothly. The Life Dewdrop is a special resource filled with vitality. In the introduction of the Beast Master Association, it is regarded as a rare healing resource. The usage of it during evolution to increase the success rate implies that evolution is demanding in life power and recovery. Evolution, as a leap of life level, is bound to be intense. A pet beast¡¯s form will undergo significant changes, which inevitably requires the support of life power. That¡¯s also why Xu Ran vaguely thought that improving the proficiency and star-level of self-healing power could help Ziyun¡¯s evolution. The last one, Transcendence Flower, gave Xu Ran an unusual feeling. It seems to be able to help a pet beast mobilize its entire strength and achieve a breakthrough by itself. This is in perfect alignment with evolution. After Xu Ran told Ziyun these speculations, Ziyun quickly showed an enlightened look. I see. It had attained enlightenment! The training of the self-healing power skill is important as well! ¡°Besides that, there is another crucial thing.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Coming next, you might not be able to stay in the Thunder Training Area for six hours every day.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Why?) Ziyun was a bit confused. With so many skills to train on, how can they skip training in the area? ¡°Make at least an hour of your training time each day for the Earth attribute Training Area,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, to successfully evolve, satisfying the evolution conditions and gathering the evolution resources is not enough. There¡¯s another important thing.¡± ¡°Complete the evolution ceremony.¡± -Your evolution ceremony is to ascend a cliff that¡¯s a kilometer high under a thunderstorm relying on physical strength. ¡°So before the evolution, you need to have a solid grasp of climbing skills. ¡°Meow?¡± (Can¡¯t I do that in the Thunder Training Area?) Ziyun was completely taken aback. It has no relation to the Earth attribute and might even be restrained by it. Why on Earth should they venture over there? ¡°Unfortunately, there are no cliffs in the Thunder Training Area,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands. Unlike the Foster Area, Xu Ran didn¡¯t have the ability to modify the terrain in the ten different attribute training areas. It¡¯s a fixed setting in the system. After Ziyun¡¯s evolution path was determined yesterday, Xu Ran started to focus on the evolution ceremony. He had never heard that evolution would require such a process, but since the system seriously mentioned it, it would be undeniably important. Besides training skills, they need to prepare for the evolution ceremony in advance. Despite his efforts, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t find a suitable cliff anywhere in the city. The outskirts of town might have one, but he couldn¡¯t possibly take Ziyun out of the city every day just for climbing training. After a roundabout search, Xu Ran was attracted by the rugged terrain inside his Earth attribute Training Area. There is a fairly steep rock wall. Although is isn¡¯t a thousand meters high as required, only about three hundred meters, considering Ziyun will be somewhat suppressed in the Earth attribute environment, which is equivalent to resistance training, it can be regarded as appropriate. Ziyun¡¯s resistance was futile. Even though it was unhappy, it agreed to the training plan for the sake of upping the odds on evolution. ¡ö¡öAlright, now you two train hard.¡± Xu Ran clapped his hands and spoke with a smile. ¡°I will run the shop and see if I can earn more resources. ¡°By the way, I will find out how to obtain the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone for Ziyun.¡± Ziyun and Star exchanged glances. Indeed, everything a Beast Master does is for their home. Touching! ¡°You¡¯re talking about the Heart of the Thunder glow stone?¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s plea, Gu Wu stroked his chin, ¡°Well, you went to the right person.¡± ¡°Senior Gu, do you know?¡± A look of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Three days. Three days had passed since he arranged the new training plan for his two lil creatures. During these three days, everything was going according to plan, all orderly and rewarding. Except for the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone, there was no news about it. After waiting and waiting, Xu Ran finally couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and decided to ask Senior Gu Wu, who had been bringing his four dragons to the shop for training these days. After all, he is currently the strongest person Xu Ran knows, so he should have a broader perspective and know more about rare resources. Gu Wu didn¡¯t disappoint him. He really knew about the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone! ¡°Not only do I know it.¡± Gu Wu laughed heartily, ¡°When my Violent Thunder Dragon evolved back then, it absorbed a Heart of the Thunder glow Stone.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that Heart of the Thunder glow Stone, the evolution of the Violent Thunder Dragon might have failed.¡± As he said this, Gu Wu¡¯s expression was somewhat emotional.. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter ill: Thunderstorm Land, Trace of Heartll Chapter 152: Chapter ill: Thunderstorm Land, Trace of Heartll Translator: 549690339 ¡°The Thunder Dragon senior used the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone in its evolution?¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Ran became even more delighted. The major difficulty he faced in gathering this resource was that apart from the name of the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone, he knew next to nothing about it, not even what it looked like. Neither the resource introduction books he could find, nor the posts on the Beast Master Forum he had been following for several days, offered any helpful information. Since Gu Wu had used this resource for his Pet Beast, he must have significant understanding. Even if he couldn¡¯t provide any clues on how to find this resource, it would still give Xu Ran considerable profit! ¡°Correct,¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, ¡°The Heart of the Thunder glow Stone actually is a somewhat unpopular and rare resource.¡± ¡°You should know that I once lived in Second Level Town, Xieyun City, for a while.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°The gap in strength between the powerhouses in cities of different levels is enormous. As a General Level Beast Master like me, in the weaker 3 Level towns, I could already be the lord of the city.¡± ¡°However, in the Second Level Town, there are many Beast Masters not only at the General Level but even at the higher King Level, with the city lord rank starting from the Overlord Level.¡± ¡°Overlord Level¡­¡± This was the first time Xu Ran heard of this tier. It seemed that this should be the rank above the King Level. ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Wu nodded, ¡°You should understand that the resources in such a place are not on the same par as those in the 3 Level towns.¡± ¡°I obtained my Heart of the Thunder glow Stone from the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City by exchanging 2400 Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°If you need this resource, the easiest way is to go to a nearby Second Level Town. They should have a stock.¡± ¡°But the distance between different cities is very great, and there are a lot of Transcendent Beings hiding outside the cities. It¡¯s not easy to travel to other cities.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Gu,¡± Xu Ran gratefully nodded. He was naturally aware of the dangers outside the city. Even if the journey was relatively smooth, it would involve several battles. If bad luck struck and there was a Beast Tide, it would be extremely difficult to survive. The solution proposed by Gu Wu was feasible, but to Xu Ran, it could only be considered as a plan if he really couldn¡¯t find the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone. ¡°Senior Gu, could you briefly talk to me about the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone?¡± Xu Ran scratched his head sheepishly, ¡°To be honest, my understanding of this resource is limited to its name.¡± ¡°Of course, no problem,¡± Gu Wu laughed,¡±Speaking of it, the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone is quite a unique resource.¡± ¡°To mention it, we have to talk about the Thunder glow Stone first.¡± ¡°The Thunder glow Stone?¡± Xu Ran blinked. ¡°This is a special ore with Thunder Attribute. It can only be produced from the Sky Thunder.¡± Gu Wu paused, ¡°But the Thunder glow Stone has a very special feature, that is, it has a Thunder attracting effect.¡± ¡°Once a region has given birth to a Thunder glow Stone, it will constantly attract more Sky Thunder, leading to the birth of more Thunder glow Stones.¡± ¡°So, the Thunder glow Stone can be obtained like growing vegetables.¡± Gu Wu chuckled, ¡°Plant one in an uninhabited area and after a year or two, you can harvest quite a lot of Thunder glow Stones.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a resource?¡± Xu Ran felt enlightened. So it seems, the Thunder glow Stone should be a resource that can be conveniently obtained. So why is the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone so rare? Xu Ran looked thoughtful. ¡°Thunder glow Stones are indeed easy to get, but their actual use is not significant, as the Thunderforce contained within is very weak.¡± Gu Wu smiled, ¡°On the contrary, its special effect of attracting Thunder could accidentally bring disaster to a human city if not careful.¡± ¡°So, the Association does not provide exchanges for Thunder glow Stones and seldom mentions this resource; hence fewer and fewer people know about it.¡± ¡°As for the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone¡­¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°It is a special resource born from the Thunder glow Stone.¡± ¡°As I mentioned earlier, Thunder glow Stones have the effect of attracting Thunder, so after the birth of a Thunder glow Stone, more Thunder glow Stones will gradually be born nearby.¡± ¡°More Thunder glow Stones attracting Thunder simultaneously will cause the Sky Thunder in this region to become more and more intensive, ultimately forming a year-round shroud of thunder clouds.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, the Thunder glow Stone attracts Thunder but does not absorb it. However, once the intensity of the falling Sky Thunder reaches a certain level, the situation changes.¡± ¡°The Thunder glow Stone starts to gradually absorb the Sky Thunder, which compresses under the bombardment of the Sky Thunder.¡± ¡°At this stage, the number of Thunder glow Stones will not increase but will keep decreasing, until only one is left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone.¡± ¡°The Heart of the Thunder glow Stone no longer possesses the effect of attracting Thunder. Its shell still resembles a Thunder glow Stone, showing a bright purple crystalline shape, but the inside is filled with a purple-black liquid substance, representing the huge Thunderforce sealed within.¡± ¡°So if you find that a region that has been experiencing continuous thunderstorms for years suddenly becomes clear one day¡­¡± Gu Wu halted, ¡°In all likelihood, a Heart of the Thunder glow Stone has been born.¡± ¡°Of course, such an event usually happens outside the city, so it¡¯s not easy to encounter.¡± Gu Wu patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, ¡°If you really need it, it¡¯s more reliable to go to the Second Level Town for an exchange.¡± ¡°Senior Gu, I understand.¡± Xu Ran nodded heavily. After listening to the entire process of the birth of the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone, starting from the Thunder glow Stone, he finally realized the preciousness of this resource.. Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter ill Thunderstorm Land, Traces of the Heart! _2 Chapter 153: Chapter ill Thunderstorm Land, Traces of the Heart! _2 Translator: 549690339 No wonder such a small place like Qingzhou City doesn¡¯t have it. There are only three ways to acquire this resource. Firstly, to buy it from someone who has it. However, after four days without any news from the forum post, this method is basically impossible. Secondly, it is to go to a second level town and see if the local Beast Master Association has this resource for exchange. After Gu Wu¡¯s visits these days, Xu Ran can afford the 2400 points, but going to other cities is quite a problem. The distance between different cities is far, and no matter what, he would need several days. This was not like the usual venture outside the city, the likelihood of accidents happening greatly increases after a few days out. The third way is to find a newly born Heart of the Thunder Stone. Senior Gu just mentioned the features of the birth of the Heart of the Thunder Stone. The sudden disappearance of the continuous thunderstorm weather was quite apparent. If a similar situation occurred near the city¡¯s outskirts, it would be much safer to go and return on the same day with the Tiger Hunting Squad. But there¡¯s a problem. The thing is too random and relies too much on luck. As he watched Senior Gu leave, Xu Ran sat behind the counter with his head in his hands, looking troubled. This matter still needs a long discussion. Wait to see if there are any sellers or a newly born Heart of the Thunder Stone. If there isn¡¯t, then for the sake of Ziyun¡¯s evolution, he can only spend more money to hire a stronger person escort to a second-level town. If only Lucky Liu was here at this time. Every time he came, he always brought good luck. ¡°Little Boss Xu, arrange the handsomest wash and protection for the Wind Lion Dog!¡± Liu Gu entered the shop confidently, followed by a determined Wind Lion Dog. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s spirit lifted as he got up to greet them. It had been four days since he asked Gu Wu about the Heart of the Thunder Stone. There were still no clues about the Heart of the Thunder Stone. The path of finding a seller in Qingzhou City had basically been cut off. Over the past few days, he also paid attention to the Beast Master forum discussions related to the outskirts of the city, but he had not noticed any features matching the birth of the Heart of the Thunder Stone. Clearly, luck-based things aren¡¯t reliable. In the end, Xu Ran could only hope that the closest second-level town to Qingzhou City had what he wanted. However, the journey to the second level town was so dangerous that Xu Ran naturally needed to make some preparations. At least he needed to do two more Ten Consecutive Drawings, draw some good items to enhance the two pet beasts, then he could be relieved. It had been seven or eight days since the last Ten Consecutive Drawing, and he had gathered almost 110,000 pleasure points. Lucky Liu was right on time. As usual, wash and clean the Wind Lion Dog first, then harness the lucky atmosphere of the lucky fish! ¡°Come on, follow me.¡± Xu Ran made a simple gesture and the Wind Lion Dog, its tongue hanging out and eyes clear, happily followed him. A moment later, the excited and trembling howl of the Wind Lion Dog could be heard from the grooming room. ¡°Owooo¡ª¡± Half an hour later, the grooming was finished. Liu Gu hurriedly went to the same peak-groomed Wind Lion Dog as before, patting its big head, ¡°Grooming is done. You can¡¯t screw up this critical battle!¡± ¡°Owooo! Owooo!¡± The Wind Lion Dog nodded heavily, its clear eyes gradually fading, filled with a sharp look, like a veteran who had been baptized on the battlefield. ¡°What critical battle?¡± Xu Ran, who had been planning to harness the lucky atmosphere, asked in curiosity after hearing the dialogue between Liu Gu and the Wind Lion Dog. ¡°That resource place mentioned before.¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°Little Boss Xu, do you remember?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran nodded. The Tiger Hunting Squad had spent most of the past half month there. Each time Liu Gu came for a wash and protection, his Wind Lion Dog looked covered in scars. If he remembered correctly, they reaped something every time, but that resource land had not yet been fully conquered. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at Liu Gu. In fact, this time Liu Gu came for a wash and protection, it seemed somewhat different from before. Each time he previously came for such care, Liu Gu had just returned from outside the city. At this moment, however, he was dressed in clean and sturdy attire, ready to set off. Even though the Wind Lion Dog was dirty, it didn¡¯t have the bloodstains from before. Skipping back to what Liu Gu had just said¡­ ¡°Are you guys planning to fully capture that resource spot this time?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± Liu Gu laughed heartily, obviously in a remarkably good mood, ¡°This time, even the heavens are on our side!¡± ¡°Our esteemed Boss Xu is not aware that, previously, even after we joined forces with several other hunting squads, we couldn¡¯t bring it down for a long time. On one hand it was because there were many Transcendent Beings occupying it. On the other hand, the environment was really detrimental.¡± ¡°That place is always covered with thunderclouds, and sometimes thunderbolts strike down, which is very unfriendly to Pet Beasts that are not of the Thunder Attribute.¡± Liu Gu shook his head and sighed. ¡°Fortunately, the Armored Rhinoceros is of the Earth attribute and can counter Thunder attribute beings. It is responsible for the defense of our squad, so the impact on our Tiger Hunting Squad is slightly less¡­¡± ¡°Wait a moment?!¡± Xu Ran suddenly interrupted Liu Gu. At some point, his eyes had become extraordinarily bright. ¡°You just mentioned, what kind of environment is that place?¡± ¡°Covered all year round with thunder clouds!¡± Liu Gu blinked, ¡°Oh, Boss Xu, you probably don¡¯t know, such peculiar places are not uncommon outside the city.¡± He simply assumed that Xu Ran hadn¡¯t been out of the city much and started explaining cheerfully, ¡°In some places, flames inexplicably spew from the ground, in others, water poured on the ground dries up in a second, and yet in others, quicksand traps appear out of nowhere.¡± ¡°Many Transcendent Beings have fallen outside the city in the past, some of them rather powerful. The power left behind by their corpses and bones can still influence the nearby areas.¡± ¡°We speculate that a Thunder Attribute Transcendent Being must have fallen in that area. It attracts sky thunders, so it must have been at least of the King Stage.¡± ¡°Hey, I digressed.¡± Liu Gu spoke enthusiastically, ¡°In short, there are intermittent thunders in that area, which impacts our extermination of the Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°But we just got news, guess what?¡± ¡°The thunder in that area has suddenly disappeared! Even the thunderclouds are gone!¡± ¡°Perhaps the power left behind by the fallen Thunder Attribute Transcendent Being completely dissipated just now. That¡¯s why we have to gather in haste and seize this excellent opportunity to capture the resource land once and for all!¡± Liu Gu waved energetically, showing a lot of determination. After continuously fighting for so long without successfully capturing that place, everyone felt somewhat exhausted. While continuous extermination can also be considered sustainable development, accomplishing it at one stroke and going elsewhere for extermination after earning a large sum, for these hunting squads, would be the best option. ¡°Er¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly broke the silence as he looked at the determined Liu Gu, ¡°When are you guys setting off?¡± ¡°At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. We will meet before the city gate when it opens. Why?¡± Liu Gu looked at Xu Ran, who seemed to have suddenly become even more excited. ¡°So¡­how about taking me along?¡± Xu Ran smiled a little, ¡°Both my Pet Beasts have reached the Elite Stage. They¡¯re pretty powerful, they probably won¡¯t slow you down.¡± ¡°Boss Xu also wants to earn this time?¡± Liu Gu looked surprised, ¡°It¡¯s dangerous outside the city, and you may not even earn as much as you do here.¡± As he said this, he could not help but glance at the price menu nearby. That was really expensive! If he had this kind of skill, he wouldn¡¯t bother adventuring outside the city. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I can¡¯t make money, I just want my beasts to see the world.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly, ¡°Can we do it?¡± ¡°Since Boss Xu insists, then I suppose so,¡± Liu Gu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the team leader. It should be okay if we simply assume that the Tiger Hunting Team has temporarily added a person. The other teams probably won¡¯t object.¡± ¡°So¡­ I¡¯ll see you in the afternoon?¡± Liu Gu waved at Xu Ran, then turned and left the room. ¡°See you in the afternoon¡­ Hey! Hold on!¡± Xu Ran was about to wave back when he suddenly remembered something. He quickly stepped forward and affectionately patted Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder, smiling, ¡°Be careful on your journey.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Liu Gu left with his Wind Lion Dog, looking a bit strange. Halfway down the road, he suddenly turned to the Wind Lion Dog, ¡°Why do you think Boss Xu always pats my shoulder when I¡¯m about to leave?¡± ¡°Arf, Woof?¡± Don¡¯t ask me! I¡¯m just a dog! Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 112 Evolution! I am Coming! 1 Chapter 154: Chapter 112 Evolution! I am Coming! 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ã ¡ª [Additional 4/10 chapters for the Silver Alliance Warm Sun 1314] Watching the man and his dog walk away, Xu Ran gradually lowered his hand that had been hanging in the air. The smile on his face grew even more intense. Lucky Liu, truly deserving of his name! He finally found a clue to the Heart of the Thunder Stone that had troubled him for many days in Lucky Liu¡¯s casual words! Although Liu Gu always believed that the power of a strong thunder-attributed Transcendent Being who had fallen was what covered that area with thunderclouds all year round, after hearing Liu Gu mention that the thunderclouds suddenly faded, Xu Ran was almost certain that it was related to the Heart of the Thunder Stone! The last piece of the puzzle for evolution has been found! Besides that, he drew a purple again from the ten consecutive lottery drawing. Although it wasn¡¯t the anticipated King Species evolutionary route, it was a familiar face nonetheless. [Meditation Acceleration Card] Counting the time, two to three weeks had passed since the end of the competition. The last Meditation Acceleration Card he drew was going to expire in two to three days. Getting a new Meditation Acceleration Card at this time would directly extend the subscription for another month! Given Xu Ran¡¯s calculations of the progress of the meditation, the second Meditation Acceleration Card was enough for him to break through the third stage of contract power! Thinking of his strength swiftly skyrocketing like a rocket in a short period of time, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of joy on his face. Besides the Meditation Acceleration Card, he gained seven Skill Fusion Stones and two Energy Abundant Potions from this lottery drawing, identical to the last ten consecutive draw. So¡­ It¡¯s time for the settlement now! ¡°Stop training and come up!¡± The Contractual Sensing immediately transmitted Xu Ran¡¯s voice into the training areas of the Thunder and Dark attributes, causing the two Pet Beast who were training hard to stop their movements. Usually, Xu Ran would not interrupt their training. And once interrupted, it meant¡­ Something big is happening! A few minutes later, both Pet Beasts appeared before Xu Ran, looking at him expectantly. And Xu Ran¡¯s first sentence made Ziyun and the Star know that everything was as they had conjectured! ¡°The location of the Heart of the Thunder Stone has been found!¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (Really?!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes widened dramatically. It had waited for a week, and finally there was news! ¡°Of course it¡¯s true, we¡¯re closing the store early this afternoon and following Uncle Liu and the Tiger Hunting Squad out of the city.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°If this trip goes well, the evolution resources should be gathered.¡± ¡°Besides, the elite level Pet Beasts already have considerable strength, this is also an opportunity to test your training achievements during this period.¡± The two Pet Beasts nodded their heads in unison, their eyes bursting with fighting spirit. During this week, they absolutely didn¡¯t slack off at all! This can be observed from their status data! [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Electric Chasing Cat Attribute: Thunder Growth Level: Elite Stage (6712/20000) [+] Race Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Waning Moon Level)] (12/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïStep on Electric Traces (Starlight Level)] (324/500) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïAnnihilatory Thunder Palm (Starlight Level)] (152/500) [+] [¡ï* Battle Instinct (Starlight Level)] (219/500) [+] [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (264/500) [+] [¡ïBlood fury (Starlight Level)] (217/500) [+] ] During these seven days of training, Ziyun did not use any skill points at all, but the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, which was previously leveled up, took the lead and became the first to break through to the Waning Moon Level! During this period, Ziyun had to allocate one hour every day from its precious six hours of training time to go to its most hated Earth attribute training area. There, relying on its physical strength, it climbed a cliff as tall as three hundred meters. In order to evolve, the traditionally somewhat lazy Ziyun was going all out. [Contract Pet Beast: Star Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Dark Growth Level: Elite Stage (6521/20000) [+] Race Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïTwilight Watch (Starlight Level)] (142/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïStar Chain (Starlight Level)] (146/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïNight Eyes (Starlight Level)] (109/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïNight Song (Starlight Level)] (137/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïNightfall (Starlight Level)] (89/500) [+] [¡ïTenacity (Starlight Level)] (165/500) [+] [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Stardust Level)] (74/100) [+] ] As there were no Energy Abundant Potions, Star¡¯s skill proficiency increased relatively slower. But it strictly executed Xu Ran¡¯s training plan, focusing more on Twilight Watch and Star Chain training, and then on other skills. A week ago, all of its two-star skills were just at the beginning of the Starlight Level. Now, the increase in proficiency is visible to the naked eye. ¡°You have both made great progress.¡± After reviewing the detailed situations of both Pet Beasts, Xu Ran shut down the panel and dragged out a small blackboard from a corner of the shop, ¡°So, it¡¯s time to allocate new resources.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Here it comes!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes suddenly become sharp. This time, it won¡¯t be in debt! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Star raised a front hoof, tracing irregularly in the air, as if it¡¯s reviewing how to write. Under the expectant looks of the two Pet Beasts, Xu Ran quickly wrote: ¡°Physical Points: 2484 points (unsettled)¡± Skill Points: 210 points (Ziyun) + 620 points (unsettled)¡± ¡°Teachable skills: ¡ï¡ï Insightful Eye (Star)¡± Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 112 Evolution! Here I come! _2 Chapter 155: Chapter 112 Evolution! Here I come! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Skill Fragments: 27 (Ziyun) + 67 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 2 bottles (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 6 pieces (Ziyun) + 7 pieces (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 954 (Star) + 7448 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Adding them all up ¡­¡± Xu Ran paused as he noticed his Pet Beasts¡¯ eyes glowing with excitement, ¡°the undistributed Value Points totals to 12022, each of you will get 6011.¡± They were rich! Rich overnight! Ziyun, who has been scared of being poor, lit up instantly. Forget about borrowing money, with this amount, it could repay all its debts! ¡°However¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, circled the undistributed 7448 Beast Master Points with chalk, ¡°we have this large number of Value Points because Elder Gu Wu often brought his Pet Beasts for training, which earned us a lot of points.¡± ¡°The number of other key resources is not that high.¡± ¡°On this matter, I have some new ideas.¡± Xu Ran opened the official website of the Beast Master Association and entered the Points Exchange page, ¡°The resources provided by the Beast Master Association for exchange are quite plentiful, they don¡¯t necessarily have to be used for evolution.¡± ¡°Other Beast Masters exchange resources to strengthen their Pet Beasts. We have been adding points, so we¡¯ve never done this.¡± ¡°But these two things do not conflict.¡± ¡°Now we have Beast Master Points that we can¡¯t fully use for exchanging evolution resources. We can also use them to get resources to speed up the increase in strength, which will give better results when combined with adding points!¡± The income of Physical Points is beginning to lag behind the needs of the two Pet Beasts! Presently, the Foster Shop has a total of twenty-eight residents. Such a number would be considered high in any Foster Shop in Qingzhou City. But for the underground Fosterage space, there is still a large surplus. But to fill up such a large Fosterage space in a short time, it¡¯s not feasible. This puts a limit on the income of Xu Ran¡¯s Physical Points. Though over two thousand Physical Points seem like a lot, it takes twenty thousand for the Elite Stage to be perfect! It would take several months to add points to both Pet Beasts for them to reach perfection in the Elite Stage. But with the second Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran¡¯s speed of breaking through to the Third Stage of contract power is much faster than this. This will lead to a situation where, after the breakthrough, Xu Ran might have to wait for his Pet Beasts to slowly progress. Of course, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and let this happen, so finding other ways for the two Pet Beasts to quickly increase their strength became inevitable. Fortunately, they now have more Beast Master Points that can be used not only for exchanging evolution resources but also for obtaining resources to increase strength. These points will become more and more in the future, they cannot be wasted. Hearing this, Ziyun and Star looked at each other. It seems like they have never experienced the process of accelerating strength enhancement by using resources. However, it sounds like a good idea. Increasing strength using resources, and being able to add points. Isn¡¯t that double happiness! No problem! The two Pet Beasts instantly reached a consensus, nodding together. ¡°Okay, now you two can discuss how to distribute the resources.¡± Xu Ran looked at the two Pet Beasts with a smile. Unknowingly, he had begun to enjoy this method of distribution. Watching his adorable Pet Beasts haggle with each other was quite amusing. ¡°Meow-¡± (Can I pick first this time? I promise I won¡¯t borrow money!) Ziyun eagerly looked at Star. Its evolution was drawing nearer, and it needed a lot of resources. Yet if Star also needed these resources, it might not be enough. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Alright!) Star understood how hard Ziyun had worked recently to evolve and nodded without hesitation. Anyway, when it¡¯s time for its own evolution, everything will be reversed. With Star¡¯s affirmative response, Ziyun cheerfully began making selections. The first was Skill Points. After Xu Ran informed it that upgrading its remaining three skills to the Waning Moon Level would require 805 Skill Points, Ziyun immediately exchanged 595 Skill Points without hesitation. Although it could save some Skill Points by training on its own, Ziyun didn¡¯t want to wait any longer! ¡°Three Stars Step on Electric Traces (Starlight Level)¡± (324/500) [+] ¡°Three Stars Annihilatory Thunder Palm (Starlight Level)¡± (152/500) [ + ] ¡°Two Stars Battle Instinct (Starlight Level)¡± (219/500) [ + ] UJ. ¡°Three Stars Step on Electric Traces (Waning Moon Level)¡± (0/2000) [ + ] ¡°Three Stars Annihilatory Thunder Palm (Waning Moon Level)¡± (0/2000) [+] ¡°Two Stars Battle Instinct (Waning Moon Level)¡± (0/2000) [ + ] Star, watching the remaining undistributed 25 Skill Points, also teared up. Finally! Finally! It could also experience the taste of adding Skill Points! Without hesitation, it took all the remaining Skill Points which Ziyun was no longer urgently in need of, electing to add them to Twilight Watch. ¡°Two Stars Twilight Watch (Starlight Level)¡± (142/500) [+] UJ. ¡°Two Stars Twilight Watch (Starlight Level)¡± (167/500) [+] Feeling numerous scenes of itself using Twilight Watch in different scenarios surging into its mind, the eyes of Star dilated. Is this ¡­ what it feels like to add Skill Points? It wanted to do this again next time! Next, Ziyun looked at the Skill Fragments. To upgrade Battle Instinct to Three Stars, it needs Two Star Skills which equals 80 Skill Fragments. Besides, Xu Ran said before that it would be best to upgrade Self-healing Power to Two Stars. So, it needs another One Star Skill, totaling 90 Skill Fragments. At the moment, it is short of 63. All skills have been upgraded to the Waning Moon Level, so it no longer urgently needs the Energy Abundant Potion. Thus, it decided to leave these for Star this time.. Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 112 Evolution! Im Here! 3 Chapter 156: Chapter 112 Evolution! I¡¯m Here! 3 Translator: 549690339 As for the skill fusion stones¡­ A rare hint of hesitation crossed his face. The number of stones needed to succeed in fusion was uncertain. ¡°Meow?¡± (Can I first attempt to fuse and then decide how many to exchange?) ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran gave a smile, then opened the recycling interface and placed the pre-selected skills and battle instinct together. [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct]+[¡ï¡ïTyrannical Body] + [¡ï¡ïBlade Will] [Fusion success rate: 7.2%0] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Three skills fused! This was a venture Xu Ran had never embarked on before, but he speculated that this method of fusion was actually more efficient than fusing skills in pairs. Because taking into consideration the compatibility of multiple skills at once was more reliable than considering the compatibility of single skills. Regardless of whether it was the two-star skill Tantamount Body or the two-star skill Blade Will, the individual fusion probability with Battle Instinct wasn¡¯t high. However, when they were combined with Battle Instinct, the probability was much higher than other combinations. Though this required painstaking trial and comparison, it was all worth it to raise the skill ceiling! The fusion began! One stone¡­ two stones¡­ three stones¡­ As the success rate steadily rose, Xu Ran¡¯s heart pounded more rapidly until¡­ [Fusion success] [¡ï¡ïBattle Instinct (Waning Moon Level)](0/2000)[+] Hl [¡ï¡ï¡ïBattle Body (Waning Moon Level)](o/2ooo)[ + ] Xu Ran let out a sigh of relief. It took nine stones ¨C he had been fairly lucky this time too. Ziyun, having felt the confines of his ability being shattered once again, couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes in surprise and delight. Everything was ready! All four three-star skills had reached the Waning Moon level, entirely fulfilling the evolution conditions for the Flash Thunder Cat! ¡°Nine were used, should we continue by fusing Self-healing Power?¡± Xu Ran turned to the joyous Ziyun and asked. ¡°Meow!¡± (Continue!) Xu Ran nodded in agreement and continued exchanging skills. [¡ïSelf-healing Power]+ [*Recovery] [Fusion success rate: 27.9%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Fuse them! [Fusion success] [¡ï Self-Healing Power (Starlight Level)](264/500)[+] in [¡ï¡ïSuperfast Self-healing (Starlight Level)](264/5OO)[+] Success on the first try? Xu Ran was stunned as he turned to the expectant Ziyun, ¡°Only one was used, three are left.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (My turn! My turn!) Star couldn¡¯t help but interpose. Since Big Sister¡¯s needed skill fusion was complete, the remaining three might just be enough for his own fusion, right? He couldn¡¯t help but glance somewhat longingly at the Insightful Eye skill listed on the small blackboard. This skill had been hanging on the board for more than a week, it was about time to fuse it, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Meow-¡± (Give them to Star!) Despite the fact that Blood fury hadn¡¯t been upgraded, Ziyun knew when to stop pushing their luck. Reveling in the novelty of the two new skills, she was overjoyed. Xu Ran nodded and then began Star¡¯s skill fusion. [¡ï¡ïInsightful Eye]+[**Night Eyes] [Fusion success rate: 9.2%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Fuse them now! [Fusion success] [¡ï¡ïNight Vision (Starlight Level)](iO9/5OO)[+] in [¡ï¡ïNight Hunting Pupil (Starlight Level)](iO9/5OO)[+] After seing the success message appear after the third fusion, Xu Ran smacked his hands together in satisfaction. ¡°Perfect, all the skill fusion stones have been used.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Is this what skill fusion feels like?) Star crowed. At that moment, he felt like he was celebrating the New Year. ¡°All that¡¯s left to distribute are physical points and Beast Master Points,¡± Xu Ran glanced at a zoned out Ziyun and reminded with a smile, ¡°Ziyun, you still have 4386 Value Points left, but owe 1535.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Pay it off!) Ziyun swished her tail grandly. I, Ziyun, pay my debts! Ultimately, after consulting each other, the two pet beasts decided to split the physical points evenly and exchange the rest for their individual Beast Master Points. Ziyun: Growth Step: Elite Stage (6712 / 20000)[+] Ul Growth Step: Elite Stage (79541 20000)[+] Star: Growth Step: Elite Stage (6521 / 20000)[+] Ul Growth Step: Elite Stage (7763 / 20000)[+] Xu Ran nodded slightly, cleaned up the used resources on the little blackboard and left the last three lines. ¡°Skill Fragment: 4 pieces (Star)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 2 bottles (Star)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 1609 (Ziyun) + 6793 (Star)¡± With a grand sweeping gesture, he circled the three lines of characters and looked at the two pet beasts, whose strength had skyrocketed in a short period of time, an ambitious flame ignited in his chest. ¡°Familiarize yourself with your respective powers, prepare to leave the city!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (We¡¯re off!) Excitement gleamed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Evolution! Here I come! Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 113: Star! The God of Assistance!_l Chapter 157: Chapter 113: Star! The God of Assistance!_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Zap ¡± Accompanied by a sharp sound of air being pierced, Ziyun¡¯s figure instantaneously appeared on top of a small hill from fifty meters away, leaving an electric purple silhouette in its wake. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Step on Electric Traces! The next moment, Ziyun, whose entire body was almost elemental, one of its front paws suddenly morphing back into a flesh paw, while a dark purple lightning wrapped layer upon layer around the paw, as though donning a thick glove. The energy state of the thunder and lightning, condensed outside the paw into a more ferocious claw, carrying a terrifying aura that quickened one¡¯s heart, fell quickly on the top of the hill as Ziyun lifted its forelimb. ¡°Boom!!!¡± A terrifying explosion sound resonated in an instant, echoing between the hills, the brutal force bursting from where Ziyun¡¯s paw landed, carrying raging thunder and lightning, like an explosion, blowing open a huge gap at the top of the small hill in an instant. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Annihilatory Thunder Palm! Looking at the mountains flying in the sky intertwined with electric light, Ziyun¡¯s pair of different-colored eyes suddenly became frosty, its elemental body instantly recovered to its original shape, while a jade white light erupted from various parts of Ziyun¡¯s body instantly. Clawing, pouncing, biting, slashing¡­ Each action of Ziyun carried immense power, enough to blast solid rocks into powder in a casual swing. When its body landed gracefully once again, the splashing fragments in the sky evaporated into endless dust, drifting to the ground. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Battle Body. Powerful energy radiated from Ziyun¡¯s surroundings, and although it was far from reaching the Elite Stage perfect level, even Xu Ran couldn¡¯t estimate its limit as it now mastered four Three Star Skills. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (So powerful!) Seeing the freewheeling figure of their big sister, Star standing far away couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Even though the gap in level progression between the two had almost levelled due to Star¡¯s consistent addition of physical points, it was lucid that the gap in their skills was insurmountable. ¡°You have over five thousand more Beast Master Points than Ziyun. After we return from outside the city, get more resources to upgrade yourself, and you¡¯ll catch up with Ziyun very soon.¡± Xu Ran riding on Star¡¯s back smiled. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about time.¡± Glancing at the time, Xu Ran waved at Ziyun coming towards them, ¡°We should set off.¡± After preparing the food for the foster residents in the shop in advance, Xu Ran and the two beasts set off from the Starfire Foster Care Shop, heading straight for the towering city gates of Qingzhou City. It wasn¡¯t the first wave of city gates opening in the morning. More Beast Master experts were obviously waiting after Xu Ran arrived this time. Easily, he spotted the figures of the Tiger Hunting Squad, and they saw him too. ¡°Boss Xu! Over here!¡± Zhang Yun laughed and waved at Xu Ran in a friendly manner. The last time they met, Xu Ran was only at the Transcendent Stage. Now, not only is he the champion of the New Beast Master Challenge Match, but he has also broken through to the Elite Stage. Therefore, seeing Xu Ran again, Zhang Yun¡¯s attitude changed slightly, showing a subtle sense of respect and politeness. ¡°Captain Zhang, hello.¡± When he came to the Tiger Hunting Squad, Xu Ran dismounted, and greeted each familiar face one by one in a friendly manner. ¡°Uncle Du, I¡¯ve fed the Armored Rhinoceros, and you may summon him at any time.¡± ¡°Sister Xue, long time no see, you have become even prettier.¡± ¡°Brother Yan, your Three-armed Demon Ape is a bit dirty. How about coming to Washing and Protection when you¡¯re free?¡± II II Just as they were conversing amicably, a slightly gloomy voice came from not far away. ¡°I say, your Tiger Hunting Squad inviting a newbie at this time, and such a weak one at that, isn¡¯t really fair, is it?¡± The sudden voice made the faces of the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad, who were initially all smiles from Xu Ran¡¯s arrival, quickly turn serious. It also caused the other Beast Masters, who had not previously noticed this side, to look over. Near the Tiger Hunting Squad stood about thirty or forty people. They belonged to different hunting squads and had been recruited by the Tiger Hunting Squad for the purpose of clearing a particular resource area. The speaker was a man with a hook-nosed face, with an obviously hostile expression as he stood with his arms folded, his gaze towards this side. ¡°Uncle Liu, what¡¯s going on?¡± Xu Ran, with his brows slightly furrowed, nudged Liu Gu next to him with his elbow and asked in a low voice. ¡°An idiot.¡± Liu Gu glared at the man and replied in a low voice, ¡°That guy is the captain of the Eagle Eye Hunting Team, Song Chen. Our two teams had a fair relationship before but weren¡¯t really close.¡± ¡°He followed other teams and got on this ride. During the last clean-up, there were some conflicts with our team due to some distribution issues.¡± ¡°Considering that it¡¯ll all be over soon and we won¡¯t cooperate with them in the future, they¡¯ve used it as an excuse to offer stability and have therefore prentended the incident didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that he¡¯d be so audacious, makes me spit!¡± Liu Gu spat disdainfully towards the side. Although Song Chen didn¡¯t hear Liu Gu¡¯s voice, he saw his spitting gesture, and his face immediately darkened further. He raised his voice again, ¡°The resources are there, we all worked hard for them, and now an outsider is coming to reap the fruits?¡± His provocative words caused the people from the other squads, who were unaware of the situation, to glance over with a hint of curiosity.. Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Chapter 113 Star! The God of Assistance! _2 Chapter 158: Chapter 113 Star! The God of Assistance! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Song Chen, just control your own people.¡± Zhang Yun hummed,¡± Little Boss Xu is our friend in the Tiger Hunting Squad, if there is to be distribution of resources, it shall be from our side. Stop stirring up trouble!¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine then.¡± It seemed Song Chen went to such lengths to force Zhang Yun into taking a position. Hearing this, he chuckled, then looked towards the other squads, ¡°Everyone heard that, didn¡¯t you? These are Zhang Yun¡¯s very own words!¡± ¡°Despicable!¡± Liu Xue gave a cold snort from the side, apparently unable to restrain herself from cursing, but was held back by the more composed Du Heng. ¡°Ignore him.¡± Zhang Yun walked to Xu Ran¡¯s side, ¡°Just a minor clown. Once this is over, our Tiger Squad will certainly have nothing to do with them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°I was the one who made a sudden request, it¡¯s my fault for troubling everyone.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°We are all at the elite stage, and with Boss Xu with us, we are more confident!¡± ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s cat has a thunder attribute, which can play a big role in this.¡± The members of the Tiger Hunting Squad again began to speak amicably with each other. On the other side, Song Chen of the Eagle Eye Hunting Team saw that the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad were not at all angry because of his previous provocation and had even recovered their cheerful demeanor so quickly. A wave of discontent flooded his heart for no reason. ¡°Wait until we¡¯re outside the city, and we¡¯ll see who laughs last.¡± He could not help but curse under his breath. Everyone did not wait long and the closed city gates slowly opened amidst the rumbling, revealing the desolate and silent world beyond. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± As Zhang Yun waved his hand, Du Heng summoned his Armored Rhinoceros, carrying the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad with them. He had intended to invite Xu Ran to come up too, but when he saw Xu Ran mount an extraordinarily extraordinary black horse, he gave up the idea. ¡°Ziyun, come up.¡± With a gesture from Xu Ran, Ziyun lightly leaped up and landed on the back of Star. She curled up lazily in front of Xu Ran. It gave Song Chen, who was also setting off, a disdainful glance. That guy who despised Xu Ran, it remembered him! ¡°Meow?¡± (Should I beat him up later?) ¡°Never mind.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly. The wilderness outside the city was dangerous. The most important goal of this trip was to get the heart of the Thunder glow Stone. There was no need for extraneous branches or conflicts. Just like what the team leader Zhang said, just a clown. ¡°Oh right, Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran suddenly began to communicate with Ziyun via contractual sensing, ¡°Unless necessary, don¡¯t get involved.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Why?) Ziyun blinked, revealing a puzzled expression. With its improved strength, it was ready to show off! ¡°The intensity of your skills is a bit overwhelming, and there are many people here, it¡¯s not convenient.¡± Xu Ran explained via contractual sensing, ¡°With Star¡¯s help, this many Beast Masters should be enough to deal with general dangers.¡± ¡°Xi lu!¡± (Chill big sis, leave it to me!) Star gave a confident neigh. ¡°Meow-¡± (All right-) After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun understood Xu Ran¡¯s reason, although feeling a bit disappointed that it couldn¡¯t show off its power in front of others, it was less enthusiastic about leaving the city. ¡°Team Leader Zhang, how long until we reach the resource site?¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at the Armored Rhinoceros on one side and asked. ¡°About five hours.¡± Zhang Yun glanced at the sky, ¡°We used to start early in the morning and, if things went smoothly, we would arrive by midday.¡± ¡°But we started late today, it¡¯s already three in the afternoon, so we might not arrive until tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t we travel at night?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Apart from Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, other Pet Beasts are not easy to utilize their strength at night.¡± Zhang Yun shook his head, ¡°The wild Super Creatures are different from us, they are used to activity during the night.¡± ¡°So, traveling at night is very dangerous, everyone usually finds a place to settle down, takes turns on watch until dawn, and then continues their journey.¡± ¡°Boss Xu does not need to worry too much.¡± Zhang Yun smiled, ¡°This time we are aiming to accomplish our mission in one fell swoop, so we will not drag on for too long. After successfully taking out the Super Creature that¡¯s guarding there, we should be able to return to the city tomorrow if everything goes well.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. With dozens of people moving together, their efficiency was indeed higher. Some weaker wild transcendental beings even proactively avoided them, not daring to come looking for death. Star and the Armored Rhinoceros walked side by side, Xu Ran and the Tiger Hunting Squad chatted along the way, making the time fly by. In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed. The sun had begun to set, the clouds were turning red, unlike the desolate land, without neon lights and skyscrapers of the city, the sky outside the city was particularly beautiful. Xu Ran stared into the distance in a trance, feeling a sense of relaxation from nature. But this relaxation was soon broken. ¡°Enemy attack!!¡± A loud shout came from the front, everyone turned their attention towards the sound and their expressions changed quickly. Several dozens of wild transcendental beings from different species were charging towards them like a sharp blade, their target was clear and intentions were obvious. The beast masters of the Hunting Squads had obviously experienced such situations before, there was no panic, and they quickly formed a formation based on their squads. Meanwhile, each squad also kept a certain distance from each other so that they could support each other in a crisis. ¡°Ha! Another foolhardy beast.¡± Liu Gu snorted and jumped off the back of the Armored Rhinoceros with the Wind Lion Dog, ¡°Don¡¯t panic Boss Xu, just protect yourself!¡± ¡°Try your best.¡± Seeing the Tiger Hunting Squad in battle-ready attitude, Xu Ran gave a slight nod, chose a position where he wouldn¡¯t interfere with their battle with his two pet beasts, ready to adapt to changes. Just as everyone was ready, the malicious wild transcendental beings arrived in front of them. Since an Elite Level Beast Master could contract with two pet beasts, humans had some numerical advantage, but these wild transcendental beings didn¡¯t seem to be afraid. Some of them scattered to surround the humans, while others, like sharp knives, pierced into the formation of human beast masters, aiming for those with weaker strength. They seemed to be in perfect harmony, clearly not their first time doing this. ¡°How audacious!¡± Zhang Yun commanded the Cold Scale Python to attack while he shouted fiercely, ¡°It¡¯s almost dark. Don¡¯t let a single one escape!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Give me your all!¡± Shouts came from all directions in the crowd. Having survived the harsh conditions outside the city, the members of the Hunting Squads knew all too well the danger at the moment. If any being escaped, they could potentially attract more transcendental beings, until the human side ran out of power, devouring all humans. Dusk was fast approaching, increasing the risk! As time slowly passed, wild transcendental beings were continuously killed and their bodies lay there, while pet beasts on the human side were injured. At times, wild transcendental beings nearly reached the beast masters. The Tiger Hunting Squad was quite strong initially but these wild transcendental beings were harmonious and quickly arranged more companions to surround them. Seeing the situation becoming dangerous and Sea Wave Flower¡¯s healing couldn¡¯t keep up, Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°Star.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s command, Star neighed. Then it raised its front hoof high and gathered the purple energy reins behind its neck. The moment Xu Ran took hold of the reins and merged their powers, Star¡¯s power, boosted by the Beacon-Level Star Chain, continued to increase, making a crisp ¡°clang¡± sound as it stomped on the ground. A dark ripple, with Star¡¯s front hoof at the center, spread out in all directions, quickly coating the pet beasts of the Tiger Hunting Squad with a dark light film. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level ¨C Twilight Watch! With an increase in proficiency, this skill could now enhance up to five individuals at the same time. Though it couldn¡¯t completely enhance all the pet beasts of the Tiger Hunting Squad, those who were mainly fighting received the enhancement and were invigorated. The unfavorable situation was instantly reversed. The members of the Tiger Hunting Squad were first taken aback, then quickly caught on. ¡°Kill! Don¡¯t leave a single one alive!¡± Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 114 - The Lone Traveler in the Chapter 159: Chapter 114 ¨C The Lone Traveler in the Moonlit Nightl Translator: 549690339 The weights on both sides of a balance scale are close, and when the scale swings left and right, breaking the stalemate is actually quite simple. You don¡¯t need to replace all the weights on one side with heavier ones, you just need to make one of them heavier, and that¡¯s enough. A complex battlefield is not a balance scale, but the principle can be similar at times. The Tiger Hunting Squad, enhanced by Star, is that one extra heavy weight. As they swiftly kill their locked-in opponents and start to help the other squads around them, the situation is reversed in an instant. The wild and transcendent beings that attacked as a group, after more than half of their companions were killed, finally understood the principle that there are things that cannot be done. The madness and ferocity in their eyes are replaced with fear and horror. Wisdom far beyond ordinary beasts makes them understand that they cannot escape easily. The cause of all this¡­ ¡°Roar!¡± Accompanied by a mad roar, a powerful Transcendent Being that is fiery red all over, resembling a Blood Lion, looks at Xu Ran, then dashes towards him like a mad beast. ¡°Meow-¡± (Seeking death!) Ziyun, who is tucked in front of Xu Ran, peeks out a little, a flash of thunder passes through the bottom of its eyes, and a terrifying momentum gradually accumulates around it, it can¡¯t wait to take action. But someone is faster than it. ¡°Wind Lion Dog!¡± With a loud shout from Liu Gu, a huge green figure rushes towards the Blood Lion fearlessly. Under the blessing of Star, the Wind Lion Dog, whose momentum is growing, gets tangled with the Blood Lion, biting each other fiercely. In the end, the Wind Lion Dog bites the opponent¡¯s throat, cruelly tears it open, allows the bloody smell to splash on its face and body, roars to the sky, and the fierce aura terrifies the group of beasts. ¡°Gah!!!¡± A weird and unpleasant roar comes from a pitch-black Transcendent Being, looking like a lizard but covered with disgusting pus-filled boils, attacking from among the Transcendent Beings. The next moment, the remaining dozen or so Wild Super Creatures stop the battle in front of them, launch a breakthrough in a certain direction, trying to escape. That direction is¡­ ¡°Song Chen, keep them!¡± Zhang Yun yelled anxiously. ¡°Without your saying!¡± Song Chen retorted viciously, commanding his squad to act swiftly. But the next moment, his expression changed slightly. The pitch-black lizard¡¯s body suddenly swelled, and the goose bumps inducing puss bags on the surface of its body swelled up even more, emitting a nauseating smell. ¡°Boom!¡± Accompanied by a muffled sound, it exploded in the crowd just like that. The smell instantly diffused in all directions, and everyone who smelt it covered their noses and felt dizzy. ¡°Poisonous! Liu Gu!¡± Zhang Yun shouted. At the same time he was speaking, Liu Gu had already reacted, commanding the hovering Sea Wave Flower for the first time. ¡°Glug-¡± The Sea Wave Flower made a reluctant sound, instantly rolled up a curtain of rain to wash away the nauseating smell, and detoxifies everyone at the same time. But with this little setback, there was a gap in the tightly sealed formation. Even though everyone reacted at the same time and launched a hunt, in the end, two Transcendent Beings still escaped from the encirclement. Looking at the retreating enemy beasts, Zhang Yun¡¯s face gradually darkened, he immediately turned his head to look at Song Chen, ¡°You could have easily stopped that beast from exploding!¡± Song Chen¡¯s face was equally dark, he opened his mouth to speak, but was momentarily lost for words. Indeed, he had the ability, but he really didn¡¯t think that the lizard would explode to buy time for the other Transcendent Beings, so he reacted a beat too slow. However, Song Chen reacted quickly, snorted coldly for the first time, ¡°Why blame me for all this? If you, the Tiger Hunting Squad, have such assistance, why don¡¯t you assist others in your team?¡± ¡°If everyone had such assistance just now, it would have been easy to stop those two beasts!¡± Although these were Song Chen¡¯s words of defense, it made sense, and for a moment, many Beast Masters from other teams couldn¡¯t help looking towards Xu Ran. ¡°Have you no shame?¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who despised boss Xu as weak?¡± ¡°Exactly, he shared the team¡¯s resources, why should he assist you?¡± Yan Fan sneered and taunted. ¡°Uncle Liu, does it matter much that we missed two?¡± Ignoring the quarrels of the others, Xu Ran whispered to Liu Gu next to him. ¡°It does matter quite a bit¡­¡± Liu Gu simply explained the pattern of Transcendent Beings¡¯ movements outside the city, ¡°There may be a second wave of attacks soon, which is very annoying.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his pupils turning pitch-black along with the whites of his eyes, his pupils contracted to vertical pinpoints, gazing around indifferently like an abyss. He understands the movement within several kilometers in an instant. ¡°Ziyun.¡± ¡°Zap ¡± Accompanied by a piercing electric sound, Ziyun who had curled up in front of Xu Ran was reduced to a shadow composed of thunder and lightning in an instant, its form flickering a few times and then disappearing. The noise and arguments around suddenly stopped. ¡°You¡­¡± Song Chen¡¯s face changed slightly, he looked at Xu Ran¡¯s indifferent, pitch-black eyes, and felt an inexplicable chill at his back. ¡°Meow-¡± (Both have been taken care of.) The electroluminescent phantom re-condensed into Ziyun¡¯s body, it slowly sat upright, its expression calm and composed. ¡°The two that ran away just now have been taken care of.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s calm voice echoed, then his eyes locked onto Song Chen, ¡°There¡¯s still one left..¡± Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Chapter 114 - The Lone Traveler in the Chapter 160: Chapter 114 ¨C The Lone Traveler in the Moonlit Night_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°What are you doing?!¡± As the electric light suddenly shot out, Song Chen¡¯s expression turned horrified. ¡°Zizi ¡± ¡°Gah!l!¡± The electric light brushed past Song Chen¡¯s head, then hit the ground hard behind him. A pitch-black and sinister ghostly shadow emerged for a moment, writhing in pain in the electric light, and then completely disappeared in smoke. It was the black lizard that had just self-detonated. It wasn¡¯t completely dead and almost fooled everyone by using a trick akin to slipping out of its old shell. ¡°He¡­he¡­¡± Pale with the fright subsiding, Song Chen felt his legs go weak and just slumped down on the spot. ¡°It¡¯s done, it¡¯s solved.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun in his arms, his eyes returned to normal as he released the Star Chain, then smiled at Liu Gu sitting on the side, ¡°Everyone can sleep peacefully now.¡± The corner of Liu Gu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. How do you act like nothing happened at all?! ¡°Okay, let¡¯s quickly get to our camp.¡± The corner of Zhang Yun¡¯s mouth also twitched. He was amazed by Xu Ran¡¯s power, but looking at the sky, he knew they couldn¡¯t delay any longer. The other teams also gradually came back to their senses. Although they occasionally cast strange glances at Xu Ran, they didn¡¯t delay the main task and set off one after the other. Even Song Chen, whose legs had softened from fear, got up with the help of others in his team, glanced at Xu Ran, then set off without uttering a word. Soon, the crowd vanished on the spot. About ten minutes after everyone had left, dark shadows on the ground began to lengthen, as though some power was being drawn from them and then converging. A black lizard, several sizes smaller, quickly took shape, its eyes filled with terror as it looked in the direction the crowd had left. That was close! Had it not been for its life-saving skill approaching the Waning Moon Level, forciibly abandoning most of its power in a moment of crisis, and adopting a more secure hiding method, it might have indeed fallen there. That human¡­ As Xu Ran¡¯s image flashed in his mind, terror gradually faded from the black lizard¡¯s eyes, replaced by resentment and ferocity. He must die! The figure of the black lizard vanished back into the shadows, its destination unknown. ¡°We¡¯ve finally arrived at the camp.¡± Zhang Yun sighed with relief looking at the darkening sky. This campsite was chosen in advance for its advantageous terrain and rare water sources available outside the city, capable of both defending against wild super creatures¡¯ attacks and providing hydration. Everyone fetched water, tested that it was safe for drinking then rest, they set up camp and prepared food methodically. ¡°Here! Try this, Boss Xu!¡± Du Heng took out a large piece of dried meat from his backpack and handed it to Xu Ran, ¡°My wife is very good at making this, it tastes really good!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran smiled and took a bite. The dried meat was firm and chewy, not too hard on the teeth, with just the right amount of salt. It was indeed delicious. ¡°Try mine, homemade pancake. It tastes even better when it¡¯s cold!¡± Liu Xue laughed as she handed over a pancake to Xu Ran. It wasn¡¯t convenient to start a fire in a camp, but the people of the Tiger Hunting Squad were experienced and had prepared various types of food that were still delicious when cold. This made Xu Ran, inexperienced and only armed with biscuits and bread to stave off hunger, couldn¡¯t help but marvel. After settling down, the sky plunged completely into darkness. A bright crescent moon hung in mid-air. The quiet night was only filled with the sounds of insects. Xu Ran took a sip from his water canteen and then hung it around his waist, looking at the Tiger Hunting Squad preparing for rest. He knew it was time to part ways. He chose to follow the Tiger Hunting Squad because he knew them better, and they had extensive experience in wilderness survival, which could help him avoid detours. But really traveling together made him realize it wasn¡¯t as perfect as he had imagined. Because there were other teams here too. He wasn¡¯t familiar with these teams, and due to Song Chen¡¯s instigation, some of them were already unfriendly to him. After showing his abilities, these people would probably be even more wary of him. Xu Ran was set on getting the Heart of the Thunder Stone. If he continued to travel with everyone, acquiring the resources later might cause trouble for the Tiger Hunting Squad. Or better yet, take it first, since they all think that the power of the mighty Thunder Attribute Super Creatures has dissipated after their fall. Let them go on believing it as such. ¡°Captain Zhang, everyone, I should go now,¡± Xu Ran softly began. The Tiger Hunting Squad¡¯s five members look over, faces full of surprise. ¡°Where could you be going at such a dark night?¡± Liu Gu lowered his voice, addressing his concerns, ¡°Is it because of that Song Chen? You can rest assured, he won¡¯t dare to mess with you again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly because of him.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, after a moment of hesitation, he decided to reveal the truth. ¡°Actually, the reason I joined was because I wanted a resource from the resource spot. If I were to take it in front of others, it might cause trouble for all of you.¡± ¡°But on such a dark night, you¡­¡± Liu Xue hurriedly started. ¡°Enough.¡± Zhang Yun interrupted Liu Xue¡¯s words with a deep voice. After pondering for a moment, he walked over to Xu Ran and handed over a rolled-up map. ¡°Take this.¡± ¡°I have marked all the dangers on the way from here to the resource spot.¡± ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± Xu Ran took the map after making eye contact with Zhang Yun, ¡°Thank you.¡± Watching Xu Ran mount his horse and disappear quietly into the night, Liu Xue was worried, ¡°Captain, why did you let him go?¡± ¡°Did you forget how strong Xu Ran is?¡± Zhang Yun shook his head helplessly, ¡°His horse is a Dark Attribute Pet Beast, that cat is so strong that it could take on our entire squad.¡± ¡°He would be fine traveling at night as long as he is careful not to run into any beings at the Leadership Stage, there¡¯s not much danger.¡± Looking at the still somewhat worried crowd, Zhang Yun said with profound meaning. ¡°Tigers, they always walk alone.¡± ¡°Damn, why is there a group of tigers here?!¡± As Xu Ran was sitting on Star with Zi Yun in his arms, he occasionally looked back at the several Black Tigers who were doggedly chasing them using his Night Hunting Pupil. His expression was the picture of misery. ¡°At least they can¡¯t keep up with Star.¡± Xu Ran sighed with relief, followed by his expression darkening. ¡°I was supposed to have avoided their area.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Should I go beat them up?) Zi Yun seemed eager as it looked behind. It felt that it could annihilate these big tigers with just one Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. ¡°Nevermind that, the commotion would be too big.¡± Xu Ran took a look at the map Zhang Yun had given him in the light of his flashlight. The map specifically indicated not to make too much noise deep inside the night, otherwise more Wild Super Creatures would be attracted. After a moment of crazy running, the several Black Tigers seemed to be running low on stamina, gradually decreasing their speed, and were left far behind by Star. Eventually, they reluctantly chose to give up. ¡°We also have to pass through four Wild Super Creatures concentration areas.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the route on the map, speaking with a low voice, ¡°This time we should take a detour.¡± Earlier he was not careful enough, and only kept about a kilometer distance from a Wild Super Creatures¡¯ concentration area, just enough to cross paths with a group of Black Tigers on a hunt. This time he will keep a distance of five kilometers, there should not be any problems then. Turning off the flashlight, Xu Ran and his two pets completely melted into the night under the influence of the Night Song, moving towards their destination as fast as they could. ¡°It seems that it is there.¡± Quite quickly, the trio¡¯s speed slowed down. Ahead, was the location of the resource spot indicated on the map. Through the Night Hunting Pupil, Xu Ran could already see a great number of Wild Super Creatures moving around in the resource spot. These should be the creatures Liu Gu mentioned before, the ones that had entrenched themselves in the resource spot. Similarly, through the Night Hunting Pupil, Xu Ran could see a rather strong Fluctuation of Thunder Power hiding inside the ground at the center of the resource spot. Although he was not sure what it was, if everything goes as expected¡­ that should be the thing he has been longing for. ¡°Ziyun, you must draw these Super Creatures away!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Leave it to me!) Ziyun nodded seriously. It knew that not far ahead was the last main material it needed for evolution. Silently landing on the ground, Zi Yun moved silently towards another location without making a single noise. After it had left Xu Ran and Star, it suddenly erupted with its majestic power. The cracking thunder attracted the eyes of all Wild Super Creatures. Then, the moment when a group of Wild Super Creatures pounced on it, Zi Yun¡¯s body flashed and it disappeared from its location. Run! Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 115: Ziyun Evolution!!! ! Chapter 161: Chapter 115: Ziyun Evolution!!! ! Translator: 549690339 [Additional update 5/10 for the Silver Alliance Warm Sun 1314] ¡°Boom!!!¡± The herd of beasts that missed their pounce were blown backward by the thunderbolt-formed phantom, their bodies flickering with wild electric arcs. Screaming in pain, they were successfully enraged by Ziyun, and quickly chased in the direction of its escape. Meanwhile, the tremendous sound and lightning tore through the quiet night, drawing the attention of more Transcendent Beings. ¡°Swift battle, swift victory!¡± When Xu Ran confirmed that most of the other wild super creatures had departed, he rode Star quickly into the resource area, coming stealthily under the cover of night to the huge Thunderforce detected previously. Jumping down from the horse, Xu Ran and Star began to dig quickly! ¡°Ding ¡± Accompanied by a crisp sound, a purple glow flashed and then disappeared into the night. Xu Ran¡¯s movements became cautious as he quickly dug away the surrounding soil, and then carefully took out a palm-sized crystal, wiping its surface clean. Under the bright moonlight, the rippling purple-black liquid inside the crystal was exceptionally clear. That¡¯s right, it was it! The Heart of the Thunder stone! ¡°Got it, let¡¯s retreat quickly!¡± Xu Ran hastily informed Ziyun through Contractual Sensing, safely storing the Heart of the Thunder stone, and vaulted back on the horse. Not far away, one of the thunder and light illusions left on the ground solidified swiftly, returning to its original place. Ziyun reappeared in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, with a frightened expression, but also with a sense of excitement as if having done something naughty. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place nearby to hide first.¡± Xu Ran quickly decided on an evacuation plan in a lowered voice, a smile playing on his lips, ¡°We¡¯ll take action in the daylight tomorrow.¡± Having so smoothly obtained the last piece of Evolution Resources, now all that was left was to find a cliff with a drop of over a thousand meters during thunderstorm weather to let Ziyun evolve. According to Xu Ran¡¯s plan, it would be best to find a suitable place for the Evolution Ritual outside the city. After all, there wouldn¡¯t be a thousand-meter drop cliff inside the city. A result of this, Xu Ran had also brought the other Evolution Resources. It¡¯s a pity that he asked Zhang Yun who had the most experience outside the city, but even he didn¡¯t know of any place that met the conditions. With regards to the Evolution Ritual, they would need to think of another way. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (There¡¯s a powerful foe!) Star, who always had his Night Hunting Pupil activated, suddenly neighed, quickly reduced his speed, and then stopped in his tracks, his expression becoming serious. ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Ran faintly sensed a hint of danger coming from the front and also activated his Night Hunting Pupil. The next moment, his expression changed. From miles away, one wild super creature after another stepped into the field of view of the Night Hunting Pupil from the edge of its vision. Their direction pointed precisely to him! The leader of these super creatures was a huge black lizard five meters long, covered in offensive abscesses; its breath was powerful and alarming. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes locked onto the little lizard atop the head of the black lizard, a look of realization on his face. That fellow is still alive? Not only that, it seemed to have used some sort of method to mark him, so that it could find him precisely? Recalling what Liu Gu had told him, Xu Ran felt the difficulty of dealing with the wild super creatures outside the city. As if sensing the distant scrutiny, the larger black lizard slowly raised its head to look at Xu Ran from afar, a terrible momentum bursting from its body. Xu Ran¡¯s expression became even more serious. Leadership Stage? No, not yet. But the breath of this big lizard exceeded that of many ordinary Elite Stage creatures, even stronger than those at the peak of the Elite Stage. Perhaps it was close to breaking through to the Leadership Stage, but for some reason, it couldn¡¯t make the breakthrough immediately. No matter what, Xu Ran was unable to match such an opponent at the moment. Even Ziyun, aided by Star, would struggle to contend with it! ¡°Run!¡± Under a grave expression, Xu Ran growled. If they couldn¡¯t shake off this big guy, things wouldn¡¯t go well tonight. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Understanding the situation, Star neighed and run at full speed towards a direction away from the big lizard. Black patterns surfaced around its body as the atmosphere of the night enveloped Star, providing him protection and enhancement. Merging with the darkness, Star gathered speed, dragging a trail of afterimages in his wake. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level-Night Song! Even though Star was traveling so fast, Xu Ran¡¯s expression, sitting on Star¡¯s back, showed no sign of relaxation. Because he discovered, the big lizard was completely capable of keeping pace with Star and even seemed to do it effortlessly! Merging into the shadows, the powerful aura of the big lizard followed in a steady pace from behind, conveying a composed aura as if it was a cat playing with a mouse. Looking at the mighty lizard, which was somewhat similar to a Shadow Chaser Lizard but belonged to a different species, Xu Ran gnashed his teeth silently. I don¡¯t believe you can beat Star in tenacity! Five minutes¡­ten minutes¡­fifteen minutes¡­ In the darkness, Star neighed, but his breath remained steady and tranquil. The tenacity of the Starlight Level gave him great stamina. This was something the big lizard didn¡¯t anticipate. Seeing that its prey was not getting exhausted as it had expected, the big lizard lurking in the shadow was first baffled, and then annoyed. To it, who thought it was a cat playing with a mouse, this gave the feeling of being toyed with. The big lizard suddenly quickened its pace. With a much stronger power and a speed skill that had reached Waning Moon Level proficiency, the distance between it and Star began to narrow.. Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 115: Ziyun Evolution!!!_2 Chapter 162: Chapter 115: Ziyun Evolution!!!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°This guy, can¡¯t be trifled with.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face darkened, and his expression quickly turned serious. Star, who had also sensed the danger, was strenuously striding forward with four hooves, attempting to accelerate further. But his limited power meant that he could not shake off the Big Lizard that was gradually catching up from behind, and could only watch helplessly as it got closer. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll stop it!) Ziyun turned its head in a hurry, with fierce light flickering in its eyes. ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°You can¡¯t block it either¡­¡± ¡°Boom!!!¡± A thunderclap abruptly cut off Xu Ran¡¯s words. What¡¯s happening?! Another bolt of lightning, like the divine spear of a god thrusting into the earth, shattered the firmament and instantly illuminated the distant scene. That is¡­ A trace of astonishment appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He saw a half-mountain that was abruptly massive and piercing the sky! One side of the mountainside was as steep as a knife¡¯s edge, while the other side was much gentler, looking like half of a mountain. At the summit of the mountain, dark thunderclouds concealed the stars and the moon, and bright purple thunder snakes danced wildly amongst the clouds! ¡°One thousand meters¡­¡± Xu Ran muttered under his breath, ¡°This mountain is definitely a thousand meters high¡­Star!!!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± With a neigh, Star, like a dark shadow in the night, strained to keep his speed at its maximum and sprinted towards the half-mountain! ¡°Ziyun, do you know how to climb now?¡± As the half-mountain was getting closer, Xu Ran spoke softly. ¡°Meow!¡± (I know!) Ziyun nodded heavily, and a sharp light flashed in its eyes. In its mind, it remembered the searing pain of falling off the cliff time and time again in the past week. That was the price it paid for mastering rock climbing! ¡°Well then¡­¡± Xu Ran took out several resources and fed them to Ziyun. He finally broke off a corner of the newly acquired Heart of the Thunder Stone and poured the liquid that looked like thunder magma into Ziyun¡¯s mouth. Then, he threw it forcefully towards the cliff that was right in front of them. ¡°Star, change direction!¡± Xu Ran shouted loudly, moving swiftly away from the cliff. He took a gamble, hoping that the little lizard hadn¡¯t tagged Ziyun. ¡°This time, good luck to us!¡± ¡°Meow!!!¡± Tremendous energy burst out in Ziyun¡¯s body, and electricity wildly surged around him. He let out a painful roar, instinctively extending his sharp claws. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The hard rock wall was as soft as tofu in front of his sharp claws, easily cut into, securely anchoring his trembling body to the rock wall. As various resources exploded in Ziyun¡¯s body, they churned against each other like perpetual enemies, violently rushing inside Ziyun¡¯s body as if it were a battlefield. ¡°Crack¡­¡± The crisp sound of bones resounded from Ziyun¡¯s body, which was gradually twisted by an inexplicable force, convulsing continuously due to the pain. Bearing the pain, Ziyun extended his front paws and firmly inserted them into the rock wall, taking his first step with their aid. Just as if a channel had been opened in a flood, a minuscule portion of the wild energy in Ziyun¡¯s body was guided into the paw he had just extended! Acute to this subtle change amid excruciating pain, Ziyun was greatly encouraged deep down. Enduring the pain, it firmly took another step. The third time¡­ the fourth time¡­ Climbing the rock wall! Only by reaching the top could evolution occur! Ziyun kept encouraging itself, as if it were a tiny boat in a storm. Despite constantly facing the danger of capsizing, it always steadily climbed upwards because it had an unwavering goal. Fifty meters¡­ a hundred meters¡­ a hundred and fifty meters¡­ There came a time when Ziyun¡¯s body stopped emitting horrifying bone-breaking sounds, and it was no longer twisted by that inexplicable force. With each coordinated exertion of every part of its body during climbing, that inexplicable force was gradually guided, digested bit by bit, eventually permeating into every bone and muscle of Ziyun, into every inch of its body, flesh, and bones. New changes quietly happened in Ziyun¡¯s body. New powers stealthily awakened under Ziyun¡¯s muscles and bones. It was a transcendent power distinct from the thunder attribute. That was¡­ the power of the fighting attribute! However, when this power tried to spread, it encountered fierce retaliation from another force. It was the boundless thunderforce that Ziyun swallowed but had not fully absorbed! The blood essence of the Thunder King Stage and the Thunder Glow Stone¡¯s Heart, refined from Infinite Thunder, merged inside Ziyun¡¯s body, turning into a horrifying thunder beast, brutally crashing inside its body, causing rampant destruction. The thunder attribute was resisting, attempting to obliterate the nascent fighting attribute. And the strength of the fighting attributes comes from within itself, thus, the violent thunder attributes had to grind down Ziyun¡¯s body altogether! The overwhelming life force surged in Ziyun¡¯s wounded body, repairing the broken body, but unable to bridge this pain. Uncontrolled lightning leaped around Ziyun¡¯s body, and its body trembled violently. ¡°Boom!!!¡± At this moment, a Thunder from the sky came down, seemingly drawn by an invisible force, in the blink of an eye it changed direction in the air, and struck straight at Ziyun¡¯s body! Immersed in the thunderlight, the trembling of Ziyun stopped. ¡°Star, faster!¡± Xu Ran stared hard at the black lizard slowly approaching him from behind, now less than a kilometer away. Just as he suspected, that little lizard¡¯s target was him. Therefore, after parting ways, Ziyun, who was undergoing an evolution ceremony, was completely ignored by these two lizards, one big and one small. However, this put both of them in danger. In order to keep Star in top condition, Xu Ran used the Energy Abundant Potion outside of training for the first time. Then the Energy Abundant Potion could only give Star limitless physical strength, it was incapable of increasing its speed even slightly based on its already extreme capabilities. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star let out a resounding cry full of fighting spirit, with eyes still firm. Run! Keep running! By all means, you must hold on until the big sister has finished evolving! In the desperate situation, a new force emerged from Star¡¯s body. Its speed, which had already reached the limit, increased a little due to this. This is¡­ Feeling the new response from Ziyun, Xu Ran abruptly turned his head to look at the thunder light that fell on the mountainside not far away. As the Sky Thunder faded, Ziyun¡¯s body¡¯s surface layer was charred. The cracked skin oozed dark red blood, which quickly healed under the tremendous life force. However, it felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. It felt that the Thunder beast rampaging inside its body had stopped! The power of the Heart of the Thunder stone originated from Sky Thunder. And the Sky Thunder also became the most feared power of the Heart of the Thunder stone. Therefore, at the moment of its birth, it can¡¯t wait to scatter the Sky Thunder. But now, inside Ziyun¡¯s body, it once again felt the power that it dreaded. It began to succumb, it began to shrink. ¡°Meow!¡± (Again!) Ziyun struggled to climb upward, its heterochromatic eyes were still bright, staring at the Thunder cloud in the sky. As if it had been provoked, one after another, Sky Thunder struck Ziyun. The injuries on Ziyun¡¯s body became more severe, even the abundant life force provided by the Life Dewdrop, the healing speed was struggling to keep up. But feeling the Thunder inside gradually being subdued, Ziyun did not think of stopping at all. A gentle white light flashed on the injuries on its body surface. If the Life Dewdrop is not enough, then¡­ Two stars Skills, Starlight Level Superfast Self-healing! Facing the wrath coming down from the sky, Ziyun stubbornly moved upward. Closer¡­even closer! At the end of its sight, it saw the top of the mountain! ¡°Do you feel it?¡± Riding on Star¡¯s back, watching the increasingly approaching big lizard, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a smile. He felt a powerful force feeding back to him through his contract with Ziyun, and bestowing upon Star through his Star Chain, continuously adding new power to it. ¡°It¡¯s almost over.¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, a dazzling electrical light shot over from the distant peak. An invisible majesty swept across the world, as if a king had arrived, revealing the figure of the big lizard and casting a suspicious look around. The next moment, a paw enveloped in thunder flame covered its head, the terrifying Thunderforce exploded in an instant, tearing apart both the big and small lizards, along with the dark night. Three thunders on the forehead split into one, both shoulders dragged the mark of electric light, its fluffy long tail was like a cloud, while its body length became smaller, the brand new form was reflected in Xu Ran¡¯s pupils. ¡°This is¡­ the Flash Thunder Cat?¡± Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 116: The Strength of the King Chapter 163: Chapter 116: The Strength of the King Species_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ve evolved successfully!) With the destruction of the two big and small lizards, Ziyun, who was originally still aggressive, with an overbearing aura and pressure like a ruler of the world, instantly reverted back to its innocent and cute appearance. Ziyun originally grew to a length of one and a half meters after breaking through the elite stage. After evolution, instead of increasing, it reduced to just about one meter now. Its chubby figure and fluffy tail lend it a juvenile look as if it has regressed from adolescence back to childhood after advancing. This way, Ziyun could easily crawl into Xu Ran¡¯s arms for a cuddle. But, Ziyun¡¯s dramatic change in appearance compared to before, and the significantly stronger momentum, all proved that it had successfully completed its evolution, crossing the first threshold of transformation. From a Leader Species, it had evolved into a King Species! ¡°Well done!¡± A smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face as he reached out his hands to catch Ziyun who had leapt towards him, examining it carefully. Purple flames still burned on Ziyun¡¯s front paws until now, occasionally sparking an electric arc around the edge of the flames, looking quite threatening. Just now, it was such a paw that easily annihilated the two big and small lizards. But when Xu Ran touched it with his hand, he only felt a light numbness, not uncomfortable at all, and it was even somewhat pleasant. Of course, these were not the main point. Xu Ran opened Ziyun¡¯s stats panel without hesitation. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Flash Thunder Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute, Fighting Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage (21376/30000)1+] Race Stage: King Species Skills: [Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Waning Moon Level)***] (12/2000)[+] [Step on Electric Traces (Waning Moon Level)***] (o/2ooo)[+] [Destruction Thunder Claw (Waning Moon Level)***] (0/2000)[+] [Fighting Body (Waning Moon Level)***] (0/2000)[+] [King¡¯s Power (Stardust Level)***] (o/ioo)[+] [Superfast Self-healing (Starlight Level)**] (264/5OO)[+] [Heartfelt Strike (Stardust Level)**] (o/ioo)[+] [Falling Thunder (Stardust Level)**] (o/ioo)[+] [Blood Fury (Starlight Level)*] (217/5OO)[+]] ¡°Hiss ¡± Reading through it, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a cold breath. Compared with Ziyun¡¯s previous stats, this time, the changes were drastic. Firstly, it was the progress bar next to the growth stage. Usually, the upper limit of the progress bar at the elite stage should be 20000 points. However, now it had turned into 30000 points. This was the upper limit of the progress bar! Xu Ran was very clear about what this represented. This meant that King Species, even at the same growth stage, had a higher upper limit than Leader Species, and could reach a strength that Leader Species couldn¡¯t achieve. Besides that, the surge in Ziyun¡¯s growth progress also surprised Xu Ran. It shot up from less than eight thousand to over twenty thousand in one go. The progress brought on by evolution far exceeded his expectations and was much more efficient than adding points. No wonder that strong lizard could not last a single round against Ziyun just now. Apart from the growth stage, the changes in Ziyun¡¯s skills are the most significant after evolution. According to Gu Wu¡¯s previous words, during the evolution process, the original talents of the pet beast would be upgraded, evolving into more powerful talents. However, Ziyun¡¯s talent did not evolve from three stars to four stars¡­ Well, actually, Xu Ran had anticipated this situation. Gu Wu had mentioned before that a large part of the difficulty in evolution lay in the upgrade of talent skills. Hence, the easier it is for a pet beast¡¯s talent skills to upgrade, the lower the difficulty of evolution. Following this theory, if the skills are upgraded to the next star level prior to evolution, the difficulty of evolution would be significantly reduced. This could be one of the considerations for the evolution path given by the system. The prerequisite that all talent skills must reach three stars could be understood as completing some steps that would normally take place during evolution in advance. This was something that other people could not do. Only Xu Ran, with his skill fusion stones that could enhance the star levels of skills through skill fusion, could do it. The negative side effect of completing part of the evolution steps in advance was naturally that the skills that were supposed to be upgraded during evolution no longer got upgraded. Although there was no anticipated star upgrade, the changes in skills were still significant. Firstly, there was the additional three-star skill, one that every King Species possessed, symbolic of the King Species ¨C the King¡¯s Power. Together with the original four three-star skills, Ziyun now had a total of five three-star skills. The original four three-star skills also had not remained the same, and the name of two skills had changed. The original Annihilatory Thunder Palm had changed to Destruction Thunder Claw, and the original Battle Body had become Fighting Body. Xu Ran did not believe that this was as simple as just changing a skill name. So¡­ ¡°Ziyun, perform Destruction Thunder Claw!¡± Xu Ran pointed at a large stone not far away and instructed. ¡°Meow-¡± (Sure!) Ziyun nodded, flashed, and came to the front of the huge stone. The flame on its raised paw turned dark and dangerous. As its paw touched the stone, a strong force exploded instantly, turning the hard stone into flying ash in the blink of an eye, much to the astonishment of both Xu Ran and Star. The attack Ziyun used just now against the two lizards was this skill indeed! Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 116: The Strength of the King Chapter 164: Chapter 116: The Strength of the King Species_2 Translator: 549690339 After watching Ziyun¡¯s display thoroughly, it seemed Xu Ran had discerned something. When Ziyun made that move, in addition to the thunder attribute power, there was also an outburst of another powerful force. That was¡­ the power of the Fighting Attribute! Because it possesses both Thunder and Fighting Attributes, the original display of the skill has undergone some changes, and apparently, even the name of the skill has changed¡­ An understanding dawned on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Then, his expression stiffened slightly. Wait! There¡¯s a problem! The Destruction Thunder Claw, or the original Annihilatory Thunder Palm, was not a talent skill of Ziyun, but a skill gained through teaching. Only innate skills, which are closely related to one¡¯s potential, would change along with evolution, so why would skills learned afterwards also change? Unless¡­ this skill is no longer an acquired one. Recalling that one seemingly inexplicable requirement in the evolution conditions: an additional three-star skill is required, Xu Ran gradually formed a hint of enlightenment. During the evolution process, acquired three-star skills would transform into additional innate three-star skills, serving as an enhancement to one¡¯s potential? ¡°Let¡¯s try the Fighting Body again!¡± Xu Ran suggested to Ziyun to continue. After considering the Destruction Thunder Claw just now, he had some speculations about the change in this skill. Watching Ziyun swiftly moving around with powerful and invisible energy emanating from its body, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed an expression of ¡°Just as I thought¡±. Compared to the previous Battle Body, the current Fighting Body didn¡¯t appear much different, but all sorts of attacks that relied on the body had become more robust. The change was brought about by the Fighting Attribute. Originally as a Common Skill, the Battle Body, which had no attribute, had transformed into a Fighting Attribute Skill at this moment. Apart from the changes in the three-star skills, two new two-star skills were also worth noticing. [¡ï¡ï Heartfelt Strike] [¡ï¡ïFalling Thunder] The former was quite a well-known skill in the Fighting Attribute, offering a certain probability of inflicting more significant damage by hitting the opponent¡¯s weak spot, and the rate increases with the proficiency level. The latter was a long-range single-target skill from the Thunder Attribute, with a particular weather effect ¨C it could summon a thundercloud to strike enemies from afar. Appearing during the evolution, undoubtedly, these were also new talent skills of Ziyun. They are set to become better and more powerful in the future. ¡°For your talent skills to increase from three to seven, your future evolution journey is not going to be easy.¡± Caressing Ziyun¡¯s head who came back to his arms, Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°But it¡¯s still too early to speak of that.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I will certainly work hard!) Ziyun nodded heavily. After tasting the sweetness of evolution, its heart was bursting with vigor. It dared not dream how powerful it would become after another evolution in the future! Therefore, no matter how challenging the next evolution would be, it would strive its utmost! ¡°Good enthusiasm.¡± Xu Ran nodded satisfactorily, then gently patted Star. Ever since Ziyun emerged in its brand new form, Star had been looking at Ziyun with envious eyes. Ziyun¡¯s powerful form back then deeply imprinted in Star¡¯s heart, making it yearn for evolution like never before. ¡°I will help you get the evolution path.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice softened a bit. Whether it¡¯s the next ten continuous draws, or the ones after that, Xu Ran believed that the time to get the King Species Evolution Route again wouldn¡¯t be too far off. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should head back.¡± Xu Ran said slowly as he looked at the sky. The purpose of their outing was to acquire the Heart of the Thunder Stone. Not only was it accomplished now, but Ziyun had also completed its evolution smoothly, essentially exceeding the accomplishment of the task. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that lizard actually helped us out,¡± he couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the play of fate. ¡°If they hadn¡¯t chased us, we wouldn¡¯t have blindly stumbled into an unknown area, nor would we have found a suitable rock wall.¡± Even though they were in an unknown region, Xu Ran was not too worried. Now that he thought about it, the chase from the big black lizard had followed a specific trajectory. The creature apparently knew the local environment well, and as they were pursued, they encountered no other Transcendent Beings. Therefore, he felt confident that if they were careful and retraced their escape route, they would face no significant problems. Even if they encountered a Transcendent Being, they could easily fend it off with Ziyun¡¯s present strength. Liu Gu had once mentioned that the further they ventured from the city, the stronger the Transcendent Beings they encountered. Different Growth Stages of Transcendent Beings occupied varying territories, and the hierarchy was clear-cut. Through some details, Xu Ran deduced that they were still within the area where Elite Stage Transcendent Beings were found. It was highly unlikely they would encounter Leadership Stage beings. The lizard from earlier was somewhat unusual, its power outclassing the typical Elite Stage beings. It was probably the local hegemon. Ziyun could handle ten such opponents! ¡°Speaking of¡­¡± Xu Ran turned to look at the mountain that was continuously bombarded with sky thunders and looked as if it had been halved by a divine blade, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that within this small peripheral area of the city, there would be two places with Thunder Glow Stones.¡± ¡°The sky thunder here is so strong, the Thunder Glow Stone might soon form the Heart of the Thunder Stone.¡± Xu Ran grinned, ¡°We can mark this place and return to collect it once the thunder cloud disperses.¡± ¡°Although Ziyun doesn¡¯t need to evolve anymore, it is a good thing and it would definitely boost its strength,¡± Xu Ran said, his face full of anticipation. The resources provided by the system for feeding were just enough to fill their belly. If they wanted to increase their strength rapidly, they would have to find a way on their own. The Heart of the Thunder Stone, huh¡­ Ziyun, curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, couldn¡¯t help but lift its head to look at the mountaintop illuminated by the thunderstorm. In its mind, the moment it stepped onto the summit came to life. Back then, through continuous rock climbing, it had tapped into all its strength, successfully guiding the Power of the Fighting Attribute into its body, transforming it into its own power. Under the continuous bombardment of sky thunder, it gradually tamed the restless Thunderforce. But once it stepped onto the summit and began the evolution, it was still a very difficult process. It felt as if each part of its flesh and every inch of its bone was being torn apart, after which new strength filled it. It was visibly growing stronger, but it also had to endure unimaginable pain. This process of evolution lasted for a long time. Worried about Xu Ran and Star who were still in danger, Ziyun grew increasingly anxious. Then, as though some power had heard its plea, it flowed into Ziyun¡¯s body from all around, silently accelerating the evolution process. It was due to this that Ziyun completed its evolution before the lizard got close to Xu Ran and arrived just in time, like a deus ex machina. Ziyun faintly felt that there was something related to it in the half-remaining mountain. It wasn¡¯t the presence of the Heart of the Thunder Stone, but something else. Looking at Xu Ran who saw this thunderstorm solely as a beacon for the Thunder Glow Stone, Ziyun hesitated slightly before sharing what it felt. ¡°Meow!¡± With a squeal, Star quickly halted its steps. ¡°You said that mountain might be peculiar?¡± Xu Ran, who signaled Star to stop, looked once again at the mountain which was as if it had been cut in half, deep in thought. Upon reflection, the shape of that mountain was indeed strange. Though the city¡¯s surroundings had various peculiar areas due to the residue of Transcendent Powers, Xu Ran had seen quite a few on the way. Compared with other places, this mountain seemed to be an oddity in its own right. ¡°If so, shall we explore this mountain in more detail?¡± Looking at the two eager pet beasts, Xu Ran came to a decision. Star slowly approached the rock wall that Ziyun had climbed previously, raised its head and saw that the thunder cloud above was split in half by the straight and steep mountain, making it seem as if only half the sky remained. With the Night Hunting Pupil activated, nothing in the darkness could escape the eyes of Xu Ran and Star. After a while, they stopped at an inconspicuous corner of the rock wall. ¡°This place¡­ is it hollow?¡± Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 117: Bones of Thunderbolt Half Mountain_l Chapter 165: Chapter 117: Bones of Thunderbolt Half Mountain_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by Ziyun¡¯s light palm dropping, the abnormal rock wall turned into dust, revealing an empty and dark interior. This seemed to be an entrance. Xu Ran subtly raised an eyebrow. It appeared that Ziyun¡¯s feeling was correct, the mountain peak amidst the Thunderbolt was indeed abnormal. Under the Night Hunting Pupil, nothing could hide within the dark cave. Xu Ran could clearly see that behind the cave entrance was a downward tunnel with no signs of manmade excavation. As for the scene further inside, because the tunnel twists, it was temporarily unseen. ¡°Xi Lu Lu-¡± (“I can¡¯t go in¡­”) Star lowered its¡¯s head and pokes it in, a moment later, it shook its head helplessly. The entrance was only about two meters high, even narrower inside. Its body type simply couldn¡¯t enter. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Xu Ran looked around. They had not walked far when Ziyun evolved earlier. To ensure they could support each other at any time, both Xu Ran and Star had been consciously circling this mountain. Therefore, he was certain that there weren¡¯t too many dangers nearby. Temporarily leaving Star at the cave entrance could serve the role of a sentry. ¡°You stay outside for now.¡± Xu Ran stroked Star¡¯s mane, ¡°Notify me through contractual sensing at the first sign of danger, and I¡¯ll summon you to my side.¡± ¡°Ziyun and I will go in and see, we won¡¯t stay for long.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (“Understood!”) Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s meaning, Star nodded heavily. It turned its back to the rock wall, its black pupils erected like a needle, as if a hunter in the night, discerning every rustle and bustle of wind. With Ziyun in his arms, Xu Ran dismounted and took a deep breath, feeling the cave entrance that became dark again because the star chain was disconnected and he couldn¡¯t use Night Hunting Pupil, ¡°Next, let¡¯s go in and see what¡¯s inside!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (“Follow me!”) Ziyun nodded heavily, its strength had greatly increased, at this moment it was unprecedentedly confident. Its heterochromatic pupils were faintly flashing purple lightning. Although it¡¯s not a Dark Attribute Pet Beast, the cat¡¯s natural night vision, which has been enhanced after awakening, was enough to deal with the situation in the cave. If Xu Ran can¡¯t see in the dark, let it be Xu Ran¡¯s eyes! As the person and the pet carefully descended, occasionally the light of lightning burst around Ziyun. They quickly reached the twisted part of the passage. The end of where Xu Ran¡¯s vision could reach earlier was also here. The following things became unknown. The person and pet continued downwards. The rising electricity lit up part of the cave. However, their pace was noticeably slower. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t light it up yet.¡± Xu Ran lowered his voice suddenly. In the silent cave, his deep voice kept echoing, making it somewhat thrilling in the darkness. ¡°Meow-¡± (“Okay!”) Ziyun condensed its power, and there was no longer lightning bursting from it. The cave turned dark again. But in front of the person and pet, there was a vague purple light. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it wrong.¡± Seeing the light, Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°There¡¯s something ahead, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± ¡°Ci La¡ª¡± Amid the slight creaking sound, lightning reemerged. Struggling to illuminate the cave, person and pet sped up and soon reached the place where the light was located. That was the end of the passage. A hard rock blocked the passage, but a trace of purple light faintly penetrated through the crevices of the rock from the other side. Ziyun already knew what to do. It lifted its paw again, the horrifying power brewed in the palm, and then exploded as the palm touched the rock wall. Just like before, the formidable force instantly turned the rock wall into dust. The faint purple light suddenly became a dazzling brilliance, forcing the person and pet who were already accustomed to the darkness to squint their eyes. When they adapted to the environment of the light, both looked towards the source of light. Then, they both had a dazed look on their face. That was¡­ That was!!! In front of them was a spacious underground cavern. Inside the cavern, a terrifying beast nearly a hundred meters in size lay still. It had dark purple fur all over its body. On its head were two purple giant angles like a cow¡¯s. That slender tail of it also resembled a cow¡¯s tail. Eight hooves under its belly, six eyes that had lost their lustre, and markings around its body similar to thunder¡­ This was a terrifying creature¡­ its remains. Even though it had fallen and lost its life breath, Xu Ran could still feel the terrifying power remaining in the carcass. This pressure far exceeded the strongest existence he had seen before¡ªthe Red-eyed Demon Dragon in general stage. This was¡­ at least a king stage powerful creature during its lifetime! Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp and rubbed his numb cheek, ¡°So, Uncle Liu was telling the truth?¡± A powerful Thunder Attribute extraordinary creature indeed fell, and the remaining power formed Sky Thunder that kept attacking continuously! However, not the resource place mentioned earlier, but here! ¡°Meow!¡± (“Look there!”) Ziyun¡¯s gaze suddenly locked onto a certain part of the colossal being. Xu Ran turned to look and his gaze slightly fixed. That was the position of the creature¡¯s heart, probably where its key vulnerabilities lied. And there, a knife was inserted! The knife didn¡¯t look fancy and didn¡¯t have much dazzling aura, it looked so insignificant compared to the giant beast.. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 117 Skeleton of Thunderbolt Half Chapter 166: Chapter 117 Skeleton of Thunderbolt Half Mountain_2 Translator: 549690339 Its size was comparable to that of ordinary weapons, most of its blade sunk into the giant beast¡¯s body. Compared to the immense frame of the beast, the exposed hilt and a small part of the blade were so insignificant. But¡­ The moment Xu Ran saw that knife, he was certain that it was the cause of the giant beast¡¯s downfall! A mere ordinary knife had killed such a terrifying transcendent creature? So, how strong would the pet beast of that Beast Master be? At this moment, the shock Xu Ran felt even surpassed that of his first sight of the giant beast. ¡°Do you think¡­¡± Looking at the knife, he murmured, ¡°could this mountain overhead have been cleaved in half by this knife?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Possibly¡­) Ziyun slowly nodded, equally shocked. The bit of pride from having evolved into the King Species had vanished in that moment. The giant beast before their eyes was at least a King Species, its growth stage was so terrifying yet it was killed by a stronger entity with a single strike, and died here. His power was too weak. ¡°We are still far behind.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, quickly adjusting his mentality, and pointed at the light purple film enveloping the whole cave, blocking them, ¡°Try and see if you can break through it and enter.¡± The remains of such a powerful transcendent creature might be worth far more than what Xu Ran could imagine. Thinking of the King Stage Blood Essence worth 800 Beast Master Points per drop, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze began to glitter with greed. And this was of the thunder attribute. If they could put it to good use, Ziyun¡¯s resource needs would be taken care of for a long time. The electric arcs running on the film gave him a sensation of heart palpitations. Xu Ran was certain that he himself couldn¡¯t pass through this light film. But perhaps Ziyun, who also had the thunder attribute, could have a chance. ¡°Meow!¡± (I will try!) Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s intentions, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up as well. It carefully approached and then extended a paw to touch the light film. ¡°Zi la¡ª¡± The sound of electric arcs exploding echoed in the cave, intense electric light burst from Ziyun¡¯s paw. Ziyun¡¯s face showed a painful expression, but it managed to remain stable. A milky white halo flashed by, and with the aid of superfast self-healing, the injuries Ziyun sustained were almost negligible. Assured that the light film couldn¡¯t threaten it, Ziyun relaxed completely and with a swift movement, passed through the energy light film of unknown origin. ¡°Bang¡ª¡± Seeing Ziyun being bounced back by the unexplained force within the light film and almost crashing against the rock wall behind, Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Ziyun wasn¡¯t able to penetrate it either¡­ Could this light film and the repelling force inside be some protective measures this transcendent creature prepared for itself before its fall? It had fallen who knows how long ago, yet such measures could easily keep at bay the elite Stage-King Species Ziyun, wasn¡¯t that power too outrageous? Watching Ziyun persistently charging in and then being bounced back again, Xu Ran contemplated for a moment, and quickly summoned the star standing guard at the cave entrance via the Hexagram Star Array. ¡°Xi Lu¡­Lu!!¡± The caterwauling of the star was cut off halfway. Seeing that giant beast, it widened its eyes in shock and couldn¡¯t help but cry out. ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Xu Ran patted its shoulder to soothe it, briefly explained the situation, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s try again together.¡± The star nodding in agreement, didn¡¯t object to Xu Ran¡¯s plan. Xu Ran mounted the star, instantly linking up with it. Black light film then enveloped Ziyun, boosting its already formidable power once again. Star Chain + Twilight Watch. This combination technique coupled with the strongest member of the team, Ziyun, was the best move Xu Ran could put forth at the moment. ¡°Meow!¡± (I am going in!) The now stronger Ziyun regained confidence and, after letting out a fierce ¡°meow,¡± charged into the light film without hesitation. Five meters¡­ Ten meters¡­ Ziyun¡¯s speed became slower and slower, and finally, it hung in midair, as if wrestling with an invisible force. In the end, it was still bounced back. Perhaps because it had been struggling so hard, the rebound force this time was much stronger than before. Ziyun didn¡¯t have time to adjust its posture before slamming heavily onto the rock wall behind it, leaving a cat-shaped dent in the wall. Thirteen meters. This was the maximum distance that Xu Ran and his two Pet Beasts could penetrate using all their tricks. The closest part of the giant beast¡¯s body was still more than fifty meters away from here. ¡°It seems our strength is not enough for now,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°Remember the location of this area for now. We will try again when our strength is greater.¡± ¡°Maybe when we break through the Leadership Stage, our strength will be enough?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Makes sense!) Pulling itself out of the dent, Ziyun shook its head, and glared fiercely at the giant beast corpse lying peacefully on the ground. It had a new goal for getting stronger. Touch the corpse with its own power! Finding nothing valuable other than the giant beast¡¯s corpse, Xu Ran sent Star back to the cave and then returned the same way with Ziyun. He blocked the entrance of the cave with some rocks, making it look untouched. Xu Ran patted his hands satisfyingly, ¡°No one discovered this place before. It should not be discovered for some time.¡± ¡°Star, let¡¯s return the way we came.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star gave a neigh, carrying Xu Ran and Ziyun, turning into a wandering soul in the night, moving quickly. Half an hour later, they had returned to the location where they originally began to flee ¨C the Resource Land. Seeing the wild Super Creatures in the Resource Land that had regained order after failing to locate Ziyun, Ziyun lifted its head slightly, a hint of smirk in its eyes recalling its recent narrow escape. ¡°Meow ¡± Accompanied by a long and solemn sound, an invisible suppression burst out from Ziyun in an instant, covering the Resource Land from a distance. The previously noisy night became eerily quiet. Numerous wild Super Creatures looked around in panic, and the weaker ones directly fell to the ground, trembling with fear. The power of a King, was truly terrifying. A moment later, the power of the King dispersed. Seeing the Super Creatures scatter like birds, wanting to grow extra legs to escape faster, Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. That¡¯s for chasing me! ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Ran laughed helplessly, looking at the approaching dawn, he pulled out the map given by Zhang Yun, ¡°They will be starting soon, let¡¯s take a different route, bypass them, and go straight back to the city.¡± ¡°Everyone, buck up!¡± Looking at the surrounding environment, Zhang Yun yelled, ¡°We¡¯re almost at the Resource Land. We have the advantage of situation this time, we must win!¡± Members of the other Hunting Squads echoed in unison, they also understood the importance of this battle. After a night of rest, both the Beast Masters and their Pet Beasts had reached their peak state and were ready for battle. ¡°Leader, do you think we will run into Xu Ran?¡± Yan Fan looked around and asked in a low voice. ¡°Although his strength is strong, it¡¯s not that simple to take away what he wants under the watch of so many wild Super Creatures, right?¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t beat him, we can still out run him. Believe in Boss Xu, he has his own measure.¡± Zhang Yun explained in a low voice, ¡°If he hasn¡¯t taken it yet, then after the fight, we can look out for him while distributing the spoils.¡± ¡°Did he say what resources he needed?¡± The members of the Tiger Hunting Squad looked at each other, shaking their heads in unison. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s just fight first then talk.¡± Zhang Yun took a deep breath, his expression gradually turned serious. ¡°My old friend, time to give it our all in this battle.¡± ¡°Hiss-¡± The Cold Scale Python lowered its head slightly and rubbed against Zhang Yun¡¯s face. Its cold, vertical pupils stared in the direction of the Resource Land. The other Pet Beasts in the team were ready for battle, ready to unleash their most powerful attacks at any time. ¡°Attack!¡± Following Zhang Yun¡¯s order, about forty Beast Masters, together with their Pet Beasts, entered the Resource Land in formation. A moment later, they reached the heart of the Resource Land and saw the resources within their reach. They all wore bewildered expressions as if they had just woken up. Was it that simple?! On Sunday, I wrote twenty-four thousand words in one day. I was a bit overwhelmed, so I¡¯ll pause my daily ten-thousand-word goal for a day. Only two updates today, still owe 29 additional updates, will continue to make it up tomorrow. Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 118: The Single Digit Balance of Chapter 167: Chapter 118: The Single Digit Balance of PurplePauperCloud_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Hello, Boss Xu. You¡¯re back from your travels?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sitting on Star¡¯s back, Xu Ran jovially waved at the neighboring shopkeeper who greeted him. ¡°Just arrived. Time to open the shop.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just returned from a long journey and you¡¯re not even resting. Boss Xu, you sure are diligent.¡± The shopkeeper next door sighed, then turned back to continue with his work. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (We¡¯ve arrived!) Seeing the familiar shop door, Star neighed and halted. ¡°We¡¯re finally back.¡± Dismounting, he opened the shop door and looked upon the familiar sight of his shop. A look of sentiment spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. Having spent roughly a day in the area housing wild Super Creatures outside the city, then returning back to the peaceful city of humans, the contrast between the two was glaring. The inner and outer realms divided by the towering city walls presented such a stark contrast. This world, it truly is interesting. Qingzhou City is just a fraction of the world¡¯s map, yet having experienced the outside world twice and catching a glimpse of the powerful remnants left behind by the Giant Beasts, Xu Ran feels an even stronger desire to unravel the complete appearance of this world. However, for the time being, the only thing he can do is manage his shop and enhance his strength. ¡°There are a few hours left before closing time. I¡¯ll keep watch over the shop.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the hanging clock, ¡°What about you two?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Training!) ¡°Meow-¡± (Training!) Ziyun and Star spoke in unison. With this latest experience leaving the city, Ziyun has set a greater goal while Star becomes increasingly anxious for evolution. A day passed, a new one dawned providing another six hours for training. Certainly, it should not be wasted! ¡°Alright, but before you start training, there is something we need to do.¡± Xu Ran took out his cellphone and opened the points exchange page of the Beast Master Association. ¡°We discussed yesterday that our Beast Master Points are piling up. It¡¯s necessary to convert a portion of them into resources to accelerate your cultivation.¡± ¡°So, choose the resources you both need as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Resources resources!) Just as if she had seen delicious food after a day of hunger, Ziyun¡¯s eyes sparkled. She sprang onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, looked down at the cellphone screen with an air of understanding. After the previous resource allocation, Ziyun now has 1609 Beast Master Points and has completed her evolution. She was unlikely to evolve again in the short term, which means Ziyun could use these Beast Master Points solely to enhance her strength. With the assistance of resources and extra points, her strength, which had already greatly increased due to evolution, could actually reach the peak of the elite level soon! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (I want to see, too!) Star moved to Xu Ran¡¯s back, drooping her head over Xu Ran¡¯s other shoulder ¨C mimicking what Ziyun did, observing the page with numbers diligently. Unlike Ziyun, Star couldn¡¯t use all her Beast Master Points solely for strength-enhancing resource exchange, she had to reserve some for her upcoming evolution. Although Ziyun¡¯s evolution only consumed just over a thousand points, considering that two of Evolution Resources were free, and Star¡¯s subsequent Evolution Resources may not be as freely available, it was prudent that at least four thousand Beast Master Points should be reserved for evolution. The good news, however, was that Star had accumulated 6793 Beast Master Points, none of which had been used yet. So even after deducting the points reserved for evolution, she still had more than Ziyun. ¡°The most common resource in the Association that can help enhance strength is this,¡± Xu Ran pointed to an item in the exchange list and looked sideways at the two pet beasts, ¡°It¡¯s called Universal Energy Cubes. ¡°It¡¯s a batch-manufactured energy supplement using unique technology. Any pet beast of any attribute can use it. During training supplementation, it can quickly recover power and induce faster growth.¡± ¡°Apart from Universal Energy Cubes, there are also energy blocks with attributes.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment and then opened another page, ¡°Like these.¡± ¡°Their energy intensity is the same as Universal Energy Blocks. But because of the attribute distinction, the corresponding attribute pet beasts assimilate it more efficiently, though obviously, it¡¯s more expensive.¡± ¡°The energy cubes for elite-level pet beasts are Intermediate Energy Cubes. The universal ones cost 10 points each, while single-attribute ones cost 12 points each.¡± ¡°Ziyun is now dual attribute, and such attribute energy cubes need to be custom made, so they cost 15 points each.¡± ¡°Which one do you two plan on exchanging?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I want to exchange for the ones with attributes!) Star stated without hesitation. Although each cube is two points more expensive, it seemed that the ones with attributes were clearly better. Besides, she has plenty of points, so there¡¯s no need to be thrifty. If she¡¯s going to exchange, she might as well exchange for the best ones! ¡°Meow¡­¡± (Let me think¡­) Ziyun looked a bit troubled. Due to paying off her debt to Star, while she had evolved and strengthened, she had also become poor. Apart from her 1609 Beast Master Points, she had no resources left. Before the next allocation of resources, she would have to tighten her belt. Because of the addition of the Fighting Attribute, the energy cubes suitable for her are 15 points each. But if she chooses Universal Energy Cubes, it¡¯s only 10 points each.. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 118: The Single Digit Balance of PurplePauperCloud_2 Chapter 168: Chapter 118: The Single Digit Balance of PurplePauperCloud_2 Translator: 549690339 Ziyun flexed its claws, its expression gradually growing serious. In this calculation, 30 points can be exchanged for three generic ones, but only two with attributes. So expensive! ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s get half of each¡­) Ziyun struggled for a while before finally making a decision. ¡°Alright.¡± Seeing the cute look on Ziyun, Xu Ran sighed, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about how many energy blocks you need to exchange right now. After all, as I said just now, this is just the most common resource for power enhancement, not the only one.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran opened the resource exchange list for Thunder attribute and quickly pointed to a pendant-like resource, ¡°This Blue Electric Liuh can constantly absorb the thunder energy in it and strengthen itself after being worn.¡± ¡°Not only during training, but even when eating, drinking, and sleeping, you can continue to become stronger with its help.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I want it!) As soon as Ziyun heard it could become stronger even when sleeping, its eyes lit up. This resource is perfect for it! Among the resources that could be exchanged for the Thunder attribute, this is indeed the most suitable one for you.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement, then opened the details, ¡°The exchange price is 400 Beast Master Points, and a regular elite Thunder attribute Pet Beast can absorb it for a month.¡± However, I estimate that it will no longer be effective after you absorb it for half a month.¡± ¡°After all, you are a King Species, your absorption efficiency will be higher.¡± 400 points¡­ So expensive! Ziyun, the poor beggar, covered its chest painfully, a look of helplessness written all over its face. How many energy blocks could it exchange with these? However, thinking that the next resource allocation would certainly have begun half a month later, Ziyun hesitated for a moment, and eventually gritted its teeth. ¡°Meow!¡± (Exchange it!) ¡°Then let¡¯s look at this one next.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, then opened the exchange page for the Fighting attribute resources, pointing to a ring-like resource picture, ¡°This is a Combatforce Strong Ring.¡± ¡°Compared to the Blue Electric Liuli just now, this resource has more functions.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°First of all, it has a significant mass which can be used for weight training, increasing the wearer¡¯s training efficiency.¡± ¡°Of course, this is its most common function.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Like the Blue Electric Liuh, the energy in this resource can be naturally absorbed just by wearing it, strengthening the wearer.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (How many Beast Master Points does it take to exchange this?) Hearing that it could be absorbed just by wearing it, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up again. It just loves this kind of resource! However, with the previous experience, this time Ziyun didn¡¯t impulsively say that it wanted to exchange it right away, but cautiously asked about the price. ¡°This resource, the exchange price is 120 points¡­¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Exchange it!) Hearing that it was much cheaper than the Blue Electric Liuli, Ziyun immediately spoke up. ¡°But¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s tone changed, ¡°It¡¯s worn on the arms and feet, so you need to exchange for four at a time.¡± Ziyun: (=u:^j Damn it! Four at 120 points each is¡­ Ziyun counted with its claws, and its expression visibly deflated. Adding the Blue Electric Liuli just now, it had already used up 880 points! Just exchanging these two items had already used up half of its points! ¡°With these two resources aiding in the short term, you should be good to go. You can exchange for energy blocks now.¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun. ¡°Meow!¡± (Exchange them all!) Ziyun took a deep breath and nonchalantly waved its paw. ¡°Half of each for the generic and dual attribute, right.¡± Xu Ran returned to the energy block page to start the exchange, ¡°Exchanged 29 generic and 29 dual attribute energy blocks.¡± ¡°You have 4 points left.¡± 4 points¡­ Ziyun painfully covered its chest again, its expression once again turning gloomy. Single digit! This is all it has left now! ¡°Next, it¡¯s Star¡¯s turn.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head in consolation, then turned to Star. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Alright!) Star nodded eagerly. Originally, it thought that more than 2,000 points it could use wasn¡¯t too little, but after seeing its elder sister¡¯s exchanges, it suddenly felt a bit nervous. Will my points be sufficient? ¡°You only have one attribute, but you can exchange for several dark attribute resources at the same time.¡± Xu Ran opened the exchange list for dark attribute resources and quickly pointed at a crescent-shaped black crystal-like resource. ¡°This is the most suitable resource I found for you.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s specially made for dark attribute horse-type pet beasts.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°There are only four of them in the Beast Master Association¡¯s exchange list. You can collect a full set.¡± ¡°Dark attribute resource, Dark Horseshoes.¡± ¡°They can be fastened to your four hooves, merging naturally with your hooves as you run.¡± ¡°Its overall enhancement to power is quite average, but it can specifically enhance speed¡­¡± ¡°Xi Lu hi!¡± (I¡¯ll take it!) Just halfway through Xu Ran¡¯s introduction, Star¡¯s eyes had already completely This resource is absolutely perfect for it! No matter how many points it will spend, it wants to trade for this resource! Then let¡¯s trade.¡± Xu Ran helped Star make the selection, ¡°Each Dark Horseshoe costs 150 points, totaling 600 points.¡± So expensive! A twinge of pain flashed in Star¡¯s eyes but was immediately replaced with determination. Expensive, but worth it! ¡°Next, let¡¯s talk about this one.¡± After completing the exchange, Xu Ran quickly pointed at another resource shaped like a black pearl necklace in the dark attribute exchange list, ¡°The dark attribute resource is the Eternal Night Pearl.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a resource made by a transcendent shell creature of the dark attribute, and it¡¯s very simple to use ¨C to wear it, like the two pieces that Ziyun just traded.¡± ¡°Except that its absorption has a limitation, it can only be absorbed by the wearer in a dark environment.¡± ¡°Because of this limitation, its price is a bit cheaper, you just need 300 points.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Trade!) Star nodded firmly. Dark environment? Whether it¡¯s the environment in the Dark Attribute Training Area or the living area Xu Ran set up for it in the Foster Area, both are dark environments. So for Star, this kind of restriction is not really a problem. There is another suitably dark attribute resource here.¡± Xu Ran nodded Slightly, traded for the previous Eternal Night Pearl, then made a few more swipes on the screen and pointed to another, ¡°Dark Velvet Carpet.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re sleeping, place it beneath you to enhance your power absorption and assist in a peaceful sleep. Unlike other resources, the energy of this item is strong and well-preserved, not easily dissipating. It can be used for three months and, therefore, it¡¯s more expensive.¡± ¡°Only this one piece costs 800 points, which is almost the equivalent of the Thunder Attribute King Stage Blood Essence that Ziyun had earlier.¡± So expensive?! Star hesitated unprecedentedly for a moment. The two previous dark attribute resources had already cost him 900 points. Adding this one would lead to a total of 1700 points. In this case, only around a thousand points would be left for use. However,¡­ considering that this resource can be used for three months, Star seemed to find its price somewhat reasonable. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Get it!) In the end, Star gritted its teeth, deciding to trade for it. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran smiled. Ziyun and he sleep in their warm bed on the second floor every night, which, compared to Star¡¯s sleep environment, is much better. Although Xu Ran layered it with soft and comfortable hay, this Dark Velvet Carpet seemed to be more appropriate for Star. ¡°Apart from these three, other resources are not so suitable for you.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Star, ¡°Next, you can exchange for Energy Blocks.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Exchange 80 dark attribute Energy Blocks!) Star already had a plan in mind regarding how to exchange for Energy Blocks. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, after exchanging he looked at Star, ¡°You have 4133 points left.¡± At the moment when Star¡¯s balance was announced, Ziyun cast an envious look at it. Little brother is so rich! ¡°Both of your resources have been traded.¡± Xu Ran completed the exchange promptly, ¡°Based on the previous situation, they should be delivered to our store tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, you two go train.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Seeing both pet beasts rushing full of energy towards the back door, Xu Ran smiled as he opened the shop door. Open for business! Today is another day to strive for Pleasure value! Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 119: Newbie Beast Master and Stray Chapter 169: Chapter 119: Newbie Beast Master and Stray Pet Beast_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Welcome back next time-¡± With a smile on his face, Xu Ran stood at the shop door and spoke to the guests outside. ¡°Boss Xu, your cleaning and care is truly amazing, I¡¯ll come again next time!¡± A fashionable urban beauty, holding a petite pet beast with long fur in her arms, had a look of surprise on her face. It was on a friend¡¯s recommendation that she decided to give it a try. Unexpectedly, the cleaning and care of this shop were so magical, the effects for her pet were so much better than other shops. No, there was simply no comparison. In the future, she would definitely come often! ¡°Alright, you¡¯re always welcome.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, watched the customer walk away, and then turned back to the shop. ¡°Hello¡­¡± A somewhat timid voice came from behind him, prompting Xu Ran to instinctively turn around. The next moment, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but frown. It wasasomewhat refined-looking teenager holdingapet beast thatlooked like a piglet, about half a meter long, with long fur all around and a somewhat restrained look on his face. The reason Xu Ran frowned was because the neat-looking kid was wearing a clean white jacket, while this piglet-like pet beast was incredibly dirty. The boy seemed quite unbothered by this, holding the pet beast so tightly that his white jacket was visibly dirtied. After a long time in the care business, Xu Ran, who hadn¡¯t been very particular, had gradually become a little finicky, so seeing this scene was a little difficu for him. He couldn¡¯t help but want to grab this little pig and give it a thorough cleaning. Of course, this thought only lasted for a moment. Xu Ran¡¯s expression quickly returned to normal, he politely smiled and looked at the boy, ¡°Hello, what can I do for you?¡± -My name is Chen Xiyang, I became a Beast Master today!¡± The boy stumbled over his words, but seemed very excited to share the good news. He didn¡¯t notice the change in Xu Ran¡¯s expression, he quickly continued, ¡°I just registered at the Beast Master Association, where the staff recommen e that I get my pet beast cleaned and cared for. ¡°They recommended your shop, said it was expensive to clean here, but the effects were very good.¡± Chen Xiyang plucked up the courage, held his pet piglet in both hands and brought it to Xu Ran, ¡°I have money, so could you help clean my pet beast?¡± ¡°Oink-¡± The piglet pet beast wriggled its body and looked curiously towards Xu Ran. -Well, thanks for the staff member¡¯s recommendation.¡± Xu Ran nodded silently, ¡°Of course, we can clean it, come on in. ¡°Okay!¡± Chen Xiyang tightly held the piglet again, which made Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows twitch again. System identification, check. [Race name: Pink Fluffy Pig Attribute: Super ability Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body size: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ***** Evaluation: This is a Pink Fluffy Pig that has never been cleaned since birtfr It¡¯s time to let it feel the dexterity of the host¡¯s hands and experience its first 1 e wash!] Pink Fluffy Pig?! A look of surprise crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. Looking at this grey piglet covered in large patches of dirt and continually emitting a strange odor, he couldn¡¯t associate it with the popular high-face pet beast, the Pink Fluffy Pig. From the time he got the system to now, Xu Ran was encountering a five-star washing and protection requirement existence for the first time. What kind of situation could make a Pink Fluffy Pig like this? Could it have been abused? But judging by the behavior of this Beast Master, he didn¡¯t seem like that kind of person. Moreover, he said he had just contracted the Pink Fluffy Pig and became a Beast Master today. Never mind, let¡¯s start cleaning. ¡°I am going to clean your Pink Fluffy Pig now.¡± Xu Ran took the Pink Fluffy Pig from Chen Xiyang¡¯s hands, ¡°You can choose to accompany or wait in the rest area over there.¡± ¡°I choose to accompany!¡± Chen Xiyang spoke without hesitation, his face filled with concern. Seeing Chen Xiyang¡¯s response, Xu Ran became even more puzzled. Soon the two of them, along with the pet, entered the grooming room. Chen Xiyang was amazed at the luxury of the grooming room, but soon sat down on a chair brought over by Xu Ran, focusing all his attention on his pet. ¡°Splash-¡± The mixed bath dew, with just the right temperature, sprayed out from the showerhead, gently and evenly wetting the Pink Fluffy Pig all over. Under the illumination of the light, the bath dew was clear and slightly pink. This was a result of incorporating various resources. The bath dew quickly permeated the outer layer of the Pink Fluffy Pig s long fur. Flowing along the fur from the tip to the root, it moistened and removed the dirt on the surface before making intimate contact with the hair follicle . Streaming down along the gaps of the hair follicles and roots the baft dew gathered again in the drain of the care platform. The clear pink liquid had turned into a murky grey-black color. The Pink Fluffy Pig¡¯s body trembled suddenly. Its initially curious eyes were now filled with a certain bewilderment. A warmth it had never experienced since birth suddenly surged in its; heart The heat all around it seemed to place it into a warm embrace, and the shg tingling sensation brought by the water flow gave it a feeling of pleasure from the bottom of its heart. This feeling¡­was so strange! ¡°Oink-¡± The Pink Fluffy Pig¡¯s body gently quivered, revealing a hint of affection as it voluntarily rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s large hand, slightly rough within its broadness, traveling through its fur. [Received +25 Pleasure Value from Pink Fluffy Pig] [Received +25 Pleasure Value from Pink Fluffy Pig] [Received¡­] He gently picked out the dirt that had clumped between the Pink Fluffy Pig¡¯s fur for who knows how long. Though the dirt couldn¡¯t be washed away by water, after being soaked it was no longer tenacious.. Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Chapter 119 Newbie Beast Master and Stray Chapter 170: Chapter 119 Newbie Beast Master and Stray Pet Beast_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Squeak¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from Pink Fluffy Pig +50] [ Pleasure value from Pink Fluffy Pig + 50 ] [From¡­] ¡°We¡¯re just getting started,¡± Xu Ran said gently, his gaze on the Pink Fluffy Pig becoming even softer. Indeed, a five-star Washing and Protection requirement is truly terrifying. After removing the stubborn dirt visible to the naked eye, he started to comb each completely wet hair strand with a specially designed comb. The fallen but sticking floating fur and tangled knotted hair gradually became tidy under Xu Ran¡¯s patient combing. Its originally wide eyes were now tightly closed, and its body lay flat on the care platform, making low ¡°squawk¡± sounds from time to time, allowing Xu Ran to do as he pleased. After initial cleaning, the Pink Fluffy Pig¡¯s fur finally lose its gray color and gained a bit of pink color, finally showing the color of the hair that it should have. Chen Xiyang, who was clenching both of his hands nervously throughout the process, couldn¡¯t help opening his mouth in surprise. So Little Grey¡¯s fur isn¡¯t gray? By the way, the staff member who certified him also said that Little Grey¡¯s species is a Pink Fluffy Pig. Does Pink Fluffy Pig mean a pig with long pink hair? It seems there¡¯s so much he still has to learn as a new Beast Master! But, Little Grey looks very comfortable now. Chen Xiyang clenched his fists and his expression became serious. In the future, he will take Little Grey to be groomed more often! Deep grooming, mite removal, fur massage, localized care¡­ Xu Ran went through the steps methodically, and in a short while, the originally dirty and smelly Pink Fluffy Pig was completely transformed. Its light pink long hair was fluffy and soft, and after trimming, it perfectly covered the still skinny body of the Pink Fluffy Pig, making it look adorable. There were no more traces of tears or other dirt around those blue eyes, they were as dazzling as sapphires. ¡°Squeak-¡± The Pink Fluffy Pig leaped down from the care platform, and its long hair trembled. There was a faint ¡°duang-¡± sound. It moved its short legs step by step, ran to the front of Chen Xiyang, and was about to leap into his arms. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Chen Xiyang quickly stopped the Pink Fluffy Pig, and then took off his jacket, revealing the clean T-shirt inside, then he hugged the Pink Fluffy Pig, his face showing surprise, ¡°Little Grey! You¡¯re so pretty now!¡± Looking at Chen Xiyang¡¯s jacket tucked under his armpit, with the dirty side folded inside, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became weird. This kid is quite clean. But this also proves that he really loves his pet beast. ¡°The grooming is complete, we can go out now.¡± Xu Ran led the pair out of the grooming room. ¡°Boss, your grooming skills are incredible!¡± Chen Xiyang happily paid the money, and his words became more verbose, ¡°Hl bring Little Grey here again in the future!¡± ¡°You¡¯re always welcome.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, and then couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Can you tell me where you contracted this pet beast?¡± ¡°A pet beast from the breeding base wouldn¡¯t be this dirty.¡± ¡°No.¡± Chen Xiyang shook his head, the smile on his face gradually softened, ¡°Little Grey was a stray pet beast near my school.¡± ¡°Before I awakened my first stage contract power, I was bullied by a classmate on my way home. It was Little Grey who stepped forward to help me.¡± ¡°We got to know each other that way, and since then I have been bringing food for it every day, and it would follow me until it sees me home, protecting me like a guardian,¡± Chen Xiyang¡¯s smile became even brighter. ¡°After a month, I finally awakened my first stage contract power last night.¡± ¡°Then, I contracted Little Grey.¡± ¡°What a moving story.¡± Xu Ran said, deeply moved. The bond between stray pet beasts and humans, huh¡­ He couldn¡¯t help but think of when he first met Ziyun. No wait¡­ Hold on! A¡­ stray pet beast?! ¡°Hold on a minute?¡± Xu Ran was starting to lose patience, ¡°Why would pet beasts go stray?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡­¡± Chen Xiyang looked innocent, ¡°I have no clue, okay?¡± ¡°Hang on, I¡¯ll ask Little Grey.¡± It seemed like he had never thought about this either, and he started a back-and-forth conversation with Little Grey right in front of Xu Ran. ¡°I got it!¡± Chen Xiyang quickly wore an ¡°I get it¡± expression, ¡°Little Grey told me, it went astray because its parents were stray pet beasts, and they are already dead.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡±Xu Ran glanced at Little Grey. Little Grey was rather thin, despite Chen Xiyang having already fed him for one month. It was not hard to imagine how bad his condition must have been a month ago. As a Transcendent Being, ordinary food couldn¡¯t satisfy its needs. So, how did it survive before it met Chen Xiyang? Chen Xiyang quickly asked Little Grey for Xu Ran. ¡°He said that if he gets too hungry, he would go to Boss Cat, and Boss Cat might give him some food. But Boss Cat has to help many stray pet beasts and the food is just not enough.¡± As Chen Xiyang¡¯s translated, he affectionately petted Little Grey. ¡°¡­Boss Cat?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. From the sound of it, that should not be a human being. So, Boss Cat is like the leader of these stray pet beasts? Xu Ran was still full of questions, like whether the Beast Master Association knows about these Transcendent Stray Pet Beasts, and whether they would attack humans. But looking at Chen Xiyang and his pet¡¯s innocent eyes, Xu Ran knew he wouldn¡¯t get his answers from them. Maybe he could ask Ziyun, who had also been a stray before? With that idea, Xu Ran used his Contractual Sensing to ask. ¡°Meow?¡± (Boss Cat?) Inside the Thunder Training Area, Ziyun came to a halt, as he heard the question in his mind he appeared thoughtful. When he was a stray, he was just a normal creature, his wisdom wasn¡¯t particularly high then, and his long-passed memories were now a bit fuzzy. But after hearing Xu Ran¡¯s description, it did remind him of something. He remembered that his fellow strays had mentioned a group of stray Transcendent Beings. The strays in the city are indeed organized, fighting each other for territory and food, but everyone would stay away from them. Because they were simply too strong to be beaten. As for further details, Ziyun was clueless. After telling Xu Ran what he knew, he once again threw himself into the strenuous training. The six-hour training time was almost over, he needed to keep training! ¡°Is there really a gang of stray pet beasts?¡± Receiving confirmation from Ziyun, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gesture at his chin. Forget it, never mind. If they had fallen into strays, their strength probably wasn¡¯t that great. They might be some of the pet beasts that had escaped from a breeding base and went unnoticed? This issue could be left to the Beast Master Association to worry about. ¡°Thank you.¡± With that in mind, Xu Ran nodded to Chen Xiyang, ¡°You can go back now, welcome to come next time.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss! Goodbye!¡± Chen Xiyang politely said goodbye, and left with his pet excitedly. Watching the pair disappear out the door, Xu Ran yawned and glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall. It was almost closing time. fust about to lock up and¡­ ¡°Xu Ran, I got some good news!¡± Gu Wu strode into the store, his face was smiling, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me about the Heart of the Thunder stone before?¡± ¡°Now, there¡¯s a good chance to get it.¡± Xu Ran :¡±Uh..¡± Senior Gu, why didn¡¯t you tell me two days earlier already? Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 120 Gu Wus Shock_l Chapter 171: Chapter 120 Gu Wu¡¯s Shock_l Translator: 549690339 [Extra Chapter 6/10 for Silver League user Sunlighti3i4] Although Gu Wu was a step too late, Xu Ran had already obtained the Heart of the Thunder Stone and even successfully evolved Ziyun. However, resources like the Heart of the Thunder Stone are always welcomed in abundance, so when Gu Wu came with information, Xu Ran naturally did not mind learning about it. ¡°Senior Gu, you¡¯ve gone to great trouble.¡± Xu Ran spoke sincerely, feeling even more moved when he thought about how a General Level Beast Master like the other party still remembered his need for resources. ¡°I didn¡¯t actively look for it for you, it was merely a coincidence,¡± Gu Wu shook his head slightly with a hint of a smile on his face, ¡°I mentioned two ways to obtain the Heart of the Thunder Stone before, do you remember?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The first is to exchange for it in a city larger than a Second Level Town, where resources are more abundant, and it¡¯s easy to exchange for the Heart of the Thunder Stone.¡± ¡°The second is to search for it outside the city based on the abnormal astronomical event during the birth of the Heart of the Thunder Stone, but it requires luck¡­¡± As he got to this point, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat strange. In retrospect, his luck this time was really quite good. Thanks again to Lucky Liu. ¡°Correct,¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, ¡°The opportunity to obtain the Heart of the Thunder Stone that I mentioned, is actually an opportunity to go to a Second Level Town.¡± ¡°I know your concerns. The nearest Second Level Town is Zhou Tian City, but it¡¯s a few days away and it¡¯s easy to encounter danger along the way.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement, ¡°If it was so easy to go from one city to another, we wouldn¡¯t have so little interaction with other cities.¡± ¡°So I say it¡¯s an opportunity,¡± Gu Wu smiled, ¡°The story is long, starting from when I arrived in Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Please go on.¡± Xu Ran closed the shop door to prevent any new customers from entering. ¡°I came here from Xieyun City, under the guise of returning home to settle down, but in reality, I came with a mission,¡± Gu Wu spoke frankly, ¡°The Beast Master Association of Xieyun City wants to organize an exchange event among several cities.¡± ¡°You know, with the current situation, this is not easy.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nods slightly. The areas outside city are largely populated by Transcendent Creatures, in a sense, every human city is besieged by these beings. No one knows if one day the Transcendent Creatures will launch a full-scale attack and easily destroy a city. At present, the peace within the city seems more like a false prosperity, a necessity to calm the people¡¯s minds. This is a small truth that Xu Ran has gleaned from the many world documents and his own observations. ¡°In Chairman Fang of Xieyun City¡¯s words, some things are hard, but someone has to do them,¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice showed a trace of emotion, ¡°Exchange is only the first step, the breakthrough of the cities and the future launch of the human counterattack, is the ultimate goal.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s somewhat far off.¡± Gu Wu shook his head slightly, without diverging from the topic, ¡°The target for this exchange is the better young Beast Masters from each city, for you are the future.¡± ¡°The previous New Beast Master Challenge Match, something that Qingzhou City has never had before, was held to select young Beast Masters and determine the spots for the exchange event.¡± Gu Wu explained, ¡°Not only the top four of you, but other well-performing Beast Masters are also on the list. We will consult with everyone and then collectively head there.¡± ¡°I will lead the team, ensuring safety.¡± ¡°The last time you asked me about the Heart of the Thunder Stone, I actually wanted to tell you then. But I had not made contact with Xieyun City and was not sure of the specific time for the exchange,¡± Gu Wu paused, ¡°I just received a reply today, the exchange is in one month.¡± ¡°I can assure you that the Heart of the Thunder Stone can be easily exchanged in Xieyun City. Apart from this, the exchange event will also give you a chance to see a bigger city. What do you think?¡± After listening to Gu Wu¡¯s words, Xu Ran fell into a rare silence. He really did not expect that the opportunity to obtain the Heart of the Thunder Stone that Gu Wu mentioned was this kind of opportunity. Ziyun no longer needs the Heart of the Thunder Stone to evolve, although it can be used to enhance his power, other resources can also do the same. So from Xu Ran¡¯s perspective, this resource has become less essential, or at least, it¡¯s not worth making a special trip to Xieyun City to exchange. Deep down, Xu Ran did have some yearning for a bigger city. However, he wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the exchange event Gu Wu mentioned. After a moment of hesitation, Xu Ran decided to tell the truth, ¡°Senior Gu, actually, I just obtained a piece of the Heart of the Thunder Stone yesterday. I am no longer in need of this resource.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Surprise appeared on Gu Wu¡¯s face. Thinking of Xu Ran¡¯s Space Expansion technology in the shop, he quickly showed a clear understanding. Yes, a person with such conditions wouldn¡¯t be in need of just one piece of the Heart of the Thunder Stone. Perhaps he only lacked it temporarily before, hence the urgent need for his help. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, you¡­¡± ¡°Creak-¡± The back door of the shop was opened and Ziyun, who had just finished training, walked in quietly, blinking when she saw Gu Wu. Wasn¡¯t it time for the shop to close? Almost at the moment when Ziyun appeared, four voices sounded at the same time in Gu Wu¡¯s mind. ¡°King Species?!¡± x4 Gu Wu¡¯s words stopped abruptly. His usual calm demeanor broke instantly, his eyes widened as he stared at Ziyun, who had completely changed and whose aura was far stronger than the last time he saw her, as if he had seen a ghost.. Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 120 Gu Wus Shock 2 Chapter 172: Chapter 120 Gu Wu¡¯s Shock 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª He was all too familiar with this situation and recognized it as the King¡¯s Power that was yet to be fully withdrawn around Ziyun, after just finishing her training. Gu Wu could confirm this. It was indeed a King Species! Was it only at the Elite Stage? Had it finished evolving at this stage? Wait, Boss Xu had said that he had obtained the Heart of the Thunder stone yesterday¡­ Could it have been used for evolution?! ¡°You¡­¡± Gu Wu, having deduced many things in an instant, turned to look at Xu Ran, unsure of what to ask. ¡°Ziyun was able to evolve successfully, thanks to the guidance from Senior Gu on evolution,¡± Xu Ran seriously nodded, confirming Gu Wu¡¯s guess. The knowledge about evolution that Gu Wu had mentioned earlier had indeed helped him a lot, enabling him to firmly establish a policy strategy for evolution by integrating skills. Gu Wu opened his mouth, then slowly closed it again. Guidance on evolution? Did he provide any? What he mentioned, shouldn¡¯t it be common knowledge to Beast Masters who are slightly stronger and about to touch evolution? If it was that easy to evolve based on those things, then why would countless Beast Masters both love and fear evolution and call it the ¡°Ghost Gate¡±? ¡°What attribute is your Pet Beast now?¡± Taking a closer look at Ziyun, Gu Wu sensed a hint of power that didn¡¯t belong to the Thunder Attribute, his eyes widening even more. ¡°Dual attributes of Thunder and Fighting,¡± Xu Ran introduced. Dual attributes? Gu Wu took a sharp breath, showing an expression of ¡°I thought so but wish I hadn¡¯t.¡± He had already helped four Pet Beasts successfully complete their evolution, and he had interacted with many Strong Beast Masters in Xieyun City. Although he didn¡¯t completely understand evolution, he had at least passed the initial exploratory stage. Multiple attributes have always been a topic of interest for Strong Beast Masters. Having more attributes means less likely to be countered, while the amplification of multiple attributes makes them stronger than single-attribute entities. But multi-attribute Pet Beasts also have fatal drawbacks. The difficulty of evolution for multi-attribute Pet Beasts is greater than that of single-attribute ones. In addition to the challenges faced by single-attribute Pet Beasts, they also need to deal with the problem of balancing powers among various attributes, which incurs a higher risk of evolution failure. What¡¯s even more hellish is adding new attributes during the evolution process. Some Strong Beast Masters had suggested the possibility of acquiring more attributes through evolution to enhance their strength, but other Beast Masters regarded it as a joke. Acquiring an attribute that a Pet Beast never had, mastering, familiarizing, and balancing it with existing attributes during the dangerous evolution process that could fail at any moment? Isn¡¯t that a dream? Gu Wu had once sneered at such wild conjectures, but now¡­ Looking at Ziyun standing in front of him, Gu Wu suddenly couldn¡¯t laugh. ¡°Did I remember it incorrectly?¡± Gu Wu asked carefully with a touch of fortune, ¡°Your Pet Beast, it was originally of the Thunder and Fighting Attributes, correct?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran blinked, showing a puzzled expression, ¡°It was originally the Thunder Attribute. The Fighting Attribute got added during the evolution¡­ What¡¯s wrong, Senior Gu?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Gu Wu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± After that, he pushed the shop door and walked away. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then remembered something and hurriedly took a few steps forward, ¡°Senior Gu, about the exchange a month later, I am not sure if I can go. Can I give you an answer later?¡± There was still a month to go, so there was plenty of time to make a decision. Gu Wu didn¡¯t say anything but nodded to show that it was fine. At this moment, the matter of the exchange didn¡¯t matter anymore. He had taken a bit of a hit and needed his daughter¡¯s smile to recover. He had just acquired the evolution resources yesterday, and he evolved an extra attribute¡­ Why on earth did this kid successfully evolve?! ¡°Oink-¡± On the way back, being held by Chen Xiyang, the Pink Fluffy Pig suddenly squirmed and made a slightly flustered sound. ¡°Are you going to visit your previous companions?¡± Chen Xiyang paused, a surprised look appearing on his face, ¡°Shall I go with you?¡± ¡°Oink-¡± The Pink Fluffy Pig shook its head affirmatively and jumped down from Chen Xiyang¡¯s arms onto the ground. This was its final farewell to its companions. From now on, it with a home and a Beast Master would no longer meet them, nor would it be one of them. This was the mutual agreement among Stray Pet Beasts. If a Beast Master were to accompany, it could actually cause their dissatisfaction, as some of them hold hostility towards humans. Although it really wanted to introduce its Beast Master to everyone, the Pink Fluffy Pig firmly refused. It step by step moved with its short legs into the lane, further and further away from Chen Xiyang¡¯s perception. ¡°Friends of Little Grey¡­¡± Chen Xiyang pondered for a moment, then slapped his forehead, revealing a vexed expression. ¡°Ah, I should have bought some food, so Little Grey could give it to them as a gift!¡± ¡°Never mind, next time.¡± Chen Xiyang, who didn¡¯t understand the importance of this meeting for Little Grey, made a quick decision and stood at the entrance of the alley, waiting for Little Grey. On the other side, Little Grey, who had walked deep into the alley, stopped. In front of it, three stray pet beasts that looked quite fierce and more powerful than Little Grey appeared abruptly. The three pet beasts remained silent, simultaneously locking Little Grey under their oppressive and aggressive gaze. This beautiful and well-maintained creature didn¡¯t belong here. ¡°Roar-¡± Get out! The one in the center made a deep and somewhat threatening sound. ¡°Snort snort!¡± Little Grey hastily spoke up. It was here to say goodbye to its friends, why did they want it to leave? It couldn¡¯t help but look towards the one on the left among the three stray pet beasts, who was clearly playing nicely with it a few days ago. Recognizing Little Grey¡¯s identity from its voice, its eyes quickly changed, becoming dazed from the previous oppressive look. It rubbed its eyes and then moved forward smelling Little Grey, a look of disbelief covering its face. ¡°Gulp?¡± ¡°Snort!¡± ¡°Gulp gulp?¡± ¡°Snort snort!¡± After some exchanged between the two pet beasts, the one who previously blocked Little Grey changed its attitude quickly, and began quietly talking to the other two beasts. Only after assurance from Little Grey¡¯s friend did the other two beasts gradually believe that the well cared for looking creature in front of them used to be their companion. The three stray pet beasts turned around and walked deeper into the alley. Little Grey let out a sigh of relief and quickly followed. With their guidance, Little Grey faced no more obstacles on its way. Soon, at the deepest end of the alley, Little Grey saw an imposingly strong tomcat standing poised on a broken stone chair. Its pointed gaze was both dignified and oppressive. Around it were pet beasts of all shapes and colours, their only similarity being the long uncleaned dirt on their bodies. Among all the stray pet beasts, Little Grey, who had just been washed and protected by Xu Ran, stood out strikingly, attracting unusual looks from other companions. ¡°Snort snort-¡± Little Grey, realizing the problem after the explanation, quickly made a sound to explain its situation. So, all the pet beasts turned their attention towards the big cat sitting on the stone chair. According to the rules of the stray pet beasts, whether Little Grey¡¯s actions could be accepted needed to be decided by it. The big cat closely scrutinized Little Grey¡¯s finely groomed fur, and after a moment, it emitted a deep sound. ¡°Meow-¡± Care for your present Beast Master, and don¡¯t come back. Having the approval from the big cat, Little Grey¡¯s familiar companions came forward one after another, in an orderly manner, to say their final goodbyes. After a while, this farewell ceremony finally ended. Watching the back of Little Grey as it walked alone toward the exit of the alley, one of the stray pet beasts suddenly spoke softly. ¡°Woof¡ª¡± It is so clean! Should we also take a bath? The big cat pondered for a moment then quickly ruled. ¡°Meow!¡± Washing and Protection! Arrange it! Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 121: The Upper Limit of Fosterage i Chapter 173: Chapter 121: The Upper Limit of Fosterage i Translator: 549690339 That night, outside the already closed door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, a figure appeared. Standing about two meters tall, it was built like a small giant. Its head, arms and legs were vastly different from any human¡¯s. While covered in fur, it also had two cat ears. ¡°Meow-¡± So, this is the place where Little Grey was washed and cared for¡­? The big cat calmly stared at the tightly closed door of the Starfire Foster Shop, recalling scenes of past warmth. There was a glimmer of nostalgia and reminiscence in its eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a sense of calmness and dignity. Those days are long gone. Now, it simply leads the stray beasts, guiding the homeless creatures to the right path. Reflecting on the details mentioned during Little Grey¡¯s explanation, a sense of helplessness appeared on the big cat¡¯s face. Once, a human had taught it that words and actions match, leading to inevitable consequences. Having committed to arranging the cleaning and caring for everyone, it has to keep its word. But the washing and protection service here is kind of expensive! The big cat touched the worn-out small purse on its waist. Carrying this purse gave it an air of humanity. Inside it hid its savings, money that was usable in the human society. Though the methods it used to obtain this money weren¡¯t entirely legal, it made sure not to harm any innocent beings. In the past, the big cat used this money to buy food for transcendent beings. It would sneakily take the food and then stealthily leave the money. And this purchased food was distributed among the hungry stray beasts. The food was given out in moderation, aiming not to fill their stomachs but to lead them to get close to humans and obtain food, to avoid viewing humans with hostility in the city. Thanks to its efforts, everyone gradually became self-sufficient, no longer depending only on it for food survival. Saving more because it didn¡¯t need to buy food anymore. But now, the big cat suddenly felt that its savings was a bit too little. As it counted the number of its companions using its clawed paws, its expression grew increasingly distressed. ¡°Meow-¡± I wonder if this store gives discounts¡­ After standing under the street light for a while, the big cat silently disappeared. ¡°Good morning!¡± Pinching Ziyun on his face, Xu Ran sluggishly sat up from his bed. Looking at the sky outside, he began to wash up and dress. ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯ll go check on Star first!) Ziyun, who had woken Xu Ran up, saw him starting to undress, and she quickly ran away. Soon after, everyone gathered in the foster area on the lower level. ¡°No rush, eat slowly!¡± Xu Ran took a slurp of his noodles, tapped the edge of his bowl, and reminded the beasts, who were practically stuffing their faces into their food bowls, to consider their table manners. ¡°Awooh ¡± ¡°Frost Dust Wolf, stop howling. After you eat, you can howl all you want back on the snowy hill!¡± ¡°Fireball, quit guarding your food. No one here but you would drink paraffin!¡± After some shouting, Xu Ran satisfiedly started checking off the foster care residents. ¡°Twenty-seven¡­ Twenty-eight¡­ Twenty-nine!¡± His gaze fell upon the resident that moved in yesterday afternoon, and his smile grew brighter. There was about to be thirty foster care residents. He was relying on them for physical points every day! ¡°Pudding Rabbit, don¡¯t be scared. If they bully you, then¡­¡± Getting closer to the new resident, Xu Ran didn¡¯t finish his sentence when he sees Pudding Rabbit fly up and knock over the food bowl of a nearby Golden Striped Ant. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be bullying other residents either!!!¡± After a chaotic flurry, the meal ended with Ziyun elegantly wiping her mouth and turning on King¡¯s Power a little. Seeing that the residents had eaten obediently, Xu Ran cleaned up the food bowls and sent two pets to the training area to start a new day¡¯s training. Then, leisurely, he went upstairs and opened the shop door. Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s business of the day started with the first customer who was waiting outside the door early in the morning. ¡°Boss, could you please wash and protect my pet beast?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran gave a friendly smile, extending his arm to lead the customer into the shop. ¡°Huh?¡± Just as he was about to accompany the customer into the shop, he felt something, turning to look outside the door. On the early morning streets, a few pedestrians happened to pass by, everything was normal. ¡°¡­ Probably just my imagination,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly and soon began to wash and care for the pet beast. In a hidden corner of the street, a cat¡¯s head slowly emerged, its deep-set eyes watching the direction of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Quite alert, I guess he¡¯s the owner of this shop? Did not expect, he is actually a Beast Master. The cat¡¯s head slowly receded, leaving only one eye peeping through the crevices, looking in the direction of Starfire Foster Care Shop. A secretive observer.jpg ¡°We look forward to your next visit-¡± After waving goodbye to the sixth cleaning client of the day, Xu Ran shook his somewhat numb hands, a satisfied smile on his face. He returned to the counter, propped his head up, and stared blankly out the door. Nowadays, the shop serviced an average of six to seven cleaning clients each day. As the service bringing in the most ¡®pleasure value¡¯, just the cleaning service alone already brought him more than ten thousand ¡®pleasure value¡¯ every day. Only for the fostering services¡­ As the number of pets residing in the shop approaches thirty, new foster care customers have become less frequent. Qingzhou City is only so large, and there are only so many Beast Masters compared to bigger cities. There are only a few Beast Masters who need foster services, and the other foster shops are all saturated.. Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 121: The Upper Limit of Fosterage 2 Chapter 174: Chapter 121: The Upper Limit of Fosterage 2 Translator: 54969039Q o ¡ª Thanks to the rapidly growing reputation of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, quite a few Beast Masters, whose fosterage period at other foster shops had ended, didn¡¯t renew their contracts there. Instead, they sent their Pet Beasts over to Starfire, bringing quite a number of new residents to the shop. But of course, other foster shops wouldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death. They rolled out discount measures, fosterage with included washing and protection services offers and such, successfully retaining a portion of the wavering customers. I wonder if we can break the milestone of thirty foster care residents today¡­? ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯m here to foster!¡± Here we go!¡± Xu Ran promptly stood up from behind the counter and greeted the newcomer with a smile. Speak of Cao Cao (Chinese idiom which means ¡°Speak of the devil¡±), and Cao Cao arrives. Moreover, it was a familiar face. Looking at Zhang Yun and the Stone Armored Dragon behind him, which was following closely while constantly glancing towards the back door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop with an eager look, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face grew richer. Brother Zhang, you have to work again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Yun nodded and let out a sigh, ¡°I¡¯ve been busier at work recently. Fortunately, I won¡¯t be gone for a long time, just three days.¡± Zhang Yun¡¯s voice slightly paused as he looked at Xu Ran. ¡°I¡¯ll have to rely on you for these three days.¡± ¡°You can rest assured.¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fully confident when I leave it to you.¡± Zhang Yun laughed, and then as if he had just thought of something, he changed topic, ¡°Can I see the active area assigned to the Stone Armored Dragon?¡± At this moment, he recalled the last time he visited with his nephew and saw the astonishing Space Expansion technology. Now, the foster area in the Starfire Foster Care Shop was much larger than before. So, wouldn¡¯t the activity area assigned to his own Stone Armored Dragon be much larger as well? Thinking of this, a hint of anticipation flashed in Zhang Yun¡¯s eyes. Of course, no problem.¡± Xu Ran opened the back door, ¡°Follow me.¡± A moment later, both of them, along with the pet, were standing in the Foster Area located in the first basement level. ¡°This area is assigned to the Stone Armored Dragon.¡± Using the control hub, Xu Ran quickly outlined a living area for the Stone Armored Dragon in the foster area. It was no longer a small hill of pebbles, but an undulated terrain comprised of pebble piles that met their eyes. The area was at least five times larger than the previous one. You should know that the last time Zhang Yun came, there were only three foster care residents in the entire foster area. ¡°Is there anything you need to adjust?¡± After the design was completed, Xu Ran turned his head and glanced at Zhang Yun. ¡°No, it¡¯s more than enough.¡± Zhang Yun shook his head without hesitation, ¡°Boss Xu, your foster area has changed so much, aren¡¯t you going to raise the price?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s still the same price.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly. The system had no intention of raising the price and had not increased the automatic deduction of ongoing costs, so he naturally had no interest in raising the price. It¡¯s not like he lacks money. What if he ended up driving customers away? ¡°Boss Xu, you are the most conscientious businessman I have ever seen.¡± Zhang Yun couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Those who call you a cunning businessman in the forums are really doing you an injustice.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all rumors.¡± Xu Ran sighed. Upon hearing this, he immediately warmed to Zhang Yun. Just for that praise, I¡¯ll give the Stone Armored Dragon special treatment! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Zhang Yun nodded, bent down to pat the Stone Armored Dragon¡¯s large head, ¡°Wait for me to come and fetch you!¡± After that, he took out his cellphone, transferred the three-day fosterage fee to Xu Ran, and left. Xu Ran wanted to see him off, took a step forward and suddenly stopped. A line of text appeared in front of his eyes. [Foster Care Residents have reached the limit] Huh? What?? Just as Xu Ran was feeling proud of having reached the milestone of thirty foster care residents and was motivated to aim for forty, his expression immediately fell. Wait¡­ the limit is thirty pets? He couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and look at the half of the foster area still available for use under his planning. This large space can easily accommodate fifty or sixty residents, right? ¡°This is obviously unreasonable!¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but whisper in complaint, ¡°Such a large space, and the limit is thirty pets?¡± As if sensing Xu Ran¡¯s complaint, the line of text that popped up in front of his eyes paused for a moment, then quickly changed to a different line. ¡°Host¡¯s energy is limited. Caring for more pet beasts will overly disperse your energy, making the fostered pet beasts in the shop unable to get the best care and attention.¡± ¡°Limited energy¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He always felt, this scene seemed familiar. Previously during the washing and protection, there was a similar situation. It wasn¡¯t reaching the limit, but a reminder that washing and protection could not be repeated in a short time. Although the situation is different now, the essence is almost the same. ¡°So, if I increase my energy, can the limit of the number of pet beasts fostered in the shop be increased?¡± Xu Ran speculated. When the strength is strong, the energy is naturally strong. The system didn¡¯t respond to Xu Ran¡¯s speculation, so Xu Ran remained in place, continuing to guess. Besides enhancing strength, another possibility to increase the fostering limit is a system upgrade. The last upgrade brought such a large fostering space, Xu Ran had reason to believe that the next system upgrade would greatly improve the service. However, Xu Ran hasn¡¯t completed the main task 1 yet, the system upgrade is far away. Besides these two methods, the third and most feasible one is to hire shop attendants. The energy of a person is limited. Xu Ran runs the Starfire Foster Shop alone, and he personally carries out washing and protection, fostering, and accompanying training. This is strange in itself. If there are new employees in the shop, Xu Ran naturally has more energy to care for more foster care residents. However, the problem lies in that the Starfire Foster Shop is not a normal foster shop, and normal shop attendants cannot be hired here. Normal shop attendants cannot bring him the pleasure value and various benefits obtained by system skills, he can only get the money earned by the business. What does he want this money for? So¡­ ¡°This is the existence of the system clerk?¡± Thinking of the task rewards of the main task 1, Xu Ran had a bit of enlightenment in his heart. Since the task reward has no detailed introduction and explanation, he can only complete this task as soon as possible and see what the system clerk is all about. However¡­ This day won¡¯t take long. Xu Ran unconsciously looked at his personal panel. ¡°Plucking Fur (B Level)¡± (49/500) ¡°Drug Application (C Level)¡± (351/500) ¡°Pranks (C Level)¡± (56/500) The completion condition of the main task 1 is that all three system skills reach B level. Now Xu Ran¡¯s Plucking Fur is already B level, which is equivalent to having completed one third. The progress of Drug Application is also fast. Every day when it is past midnight and the experience settlement time, it can bring him more than twenty experience points. With the Stone Armored Dragon checking in and reaching the foster care resident limit, 30 points of experience can be obtained every day, which can quickly reach B level when counted. As for Pranks¡­ This skill was the latest that Xu Ran obtained, so in order to keep it in sync with the other two skills and breakthrough to B level as soon as possible, Xu Ran has not stopped promoting new services to the shop¡¯s guests in his recent operation. As long as they pluck up the courage to try it once, they will be shocked by the amazing training efficiency of Starfire Foster¡¯s accompanying training service, becoming regular customers of the shop and making regular visits for training, so the experience upgrade speed is also very fast. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± The slightly puzzled voices of Star and Ziyun brought Xu Ran back from his thoughts. ¡°Have you two finished training already?¡± Looking at the slightly tired but bright-eyed pet beasts, Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Meow?¡± (Have the resources arrived yet?) Ziyun asked expectantly. ¡°Not yet.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Adding up the time, it should be soon, right? You two come upstairs and wait with me?¡± The two pet beasts looked at each other and quickly followed Xu Ran. They couldn¡¯t wait to use the resources they exchanged for so many points yesterday! Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 122: The Wandering King 1 Chapter 175: Chapter 122: The Wandering King 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡® ¡ã¡ª Back on the first floor of the shop, the staff from the Beast Master Association responsible for delivering the exchange resources had not yet arrived. Xu Ran continued to manage the shop while Ziyun familiarly hopped onto the counter, tucked her meaty paws into her chest, slightly lowering her head, and squinting her eyes. Not far from her, Star found a vacant place to stand, then slowly closed his purple crystal-like eyes, beginning to rest. The weather was clear, and the streets heated by half a day of sun were constantly letting off heat, even the pedestrians had become scarce. Waiting for a while without any new customers, blowing the refreshing air from the air conditioner and having two pet beasts resting after training next to him, Xu Ran felt somewhat drowsy as if he had been influenced as well. Just as he was about to fall asleep, the shop door was slowly pushed open, yielding a ¡°creak¡± sound. A customer came? Xu Ran quickly perked up, shook his head twice rapidly, got up and said, ¡°Welcome to¡­¡± He stopped before he could utter the word ¡°visit¡±. Gazing at the muscular figure standing before him, a macho man with both hands crossing over his furry chest, the head of a cat, and dressing in dirty human clothes, Xu Ran¡¯s drowsiness was wiped out in an instant. Is this a human or a pet beast?! After looking again and again, Xu Ran was sure that the big guy before him was a pet beast he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Where is your Beast Master?¡± he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Ziyun and Star, who were awakened, also opened their eyes, looking somewhat surprised at this big guy. Though it was not uncommon for pet beasts to have human-like figures, it was quite rare to see one dressing in human clothes like the one in front of them. More importantly, the clothes it wore were somewhat ragged and slovenly. This was even more peculiar. ¡°Meow-¡± Humans, perform Washing and Protection for me. The big cat didn¡¯t answer Xu Ran¡¯s question but gave a low command after reading the price menu on the wall. ¡°Meow-¡± (It said for you to perform Washing and Protection for it!) Ziyun stared at the big cat, simultaneously translating for it. As a cat, it could easily understand the other¡¯s thoughts. Also¡­ after a careful look, Ziyun felt a sense of familiarity with the guy before it. As if¡­ it had seen or heard about it somewhere. ¡°Ah? Washing and Protection?¡± Knowing the big cat¡¯s intention from Ziyun¡¯s translation, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became bizarre, ¡°Where is your Beast Master?¡± Usually, isn¡¯t it the Beast Master who brings the pet beasts for Washing and Protection? Without a Beast Master, how could he accept this? ¡°Meow-¡± 1 have no Beast Master. The big cat remained silent for a moment, slightly shaking its head. Listening to the words translated by Ziyun, Xu Ran had an increasingly strange expression on his face. Himself coming for Washing and Protection without a Beast Master? This was the first time he had encountered this. Let¡¯s start with a system identification. [Race Name: Furious Battle Cat Attribute: Fighting Growth Stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection Requirement: ***** Evaluation: The conquest of a king is more fulfilling than becoming the king itself. Conquer this wandering ruler with your nimble hands, my Host!] What a crappy evaluation, and the wandering ruler¡­ Wait, no Beast Master and it¡¯s wandering?! ¡°You¡¯re the Boss Cat?!¡± Thinking of a possibility, Xu Ran¡¯s face suddenly became tense. He initially thought the Boss Cat mentioned by the pink fluffy pig yesterday was just a Transcendent Stage pet beast that was somewhat stronger, but the most powerful would be at the Elite Stage. But this Boss Cat before him was¡­ At the Leadership Stage! ¡°Meow!¡± (It¡¯s you!) Ziyun¡¯s body instantly tensed up. At this moment, it recalled the source of that familiar feeling. This guy before it, Ziyun had seen it once from a distance when it was still a stray cat! The powerful aura belonging to a transcendent being almost suffocated Ziyun, who was just a regular stray cat then. At the time, Ziyun could not distinguish the growth stage of transcendent beings, but now when it saw the opponent again, and sensed its still dominant presence, Ziyun realised that the opponent¡¯s growth stage had reached the Leadership Stage! It is the ruler of the stray pet beasts in Qingzhou City! Remembering what it had heard about this gang of stray pet beasts bullying other stray animals and even preying on them, Ziyun¡¯s eyes gradually turned determined. This guy is dangerous! Is it just here for Washing and Protection? It didn¡¯t believe it! The King¡¯s Power began to disperse without a sound, spreading towards Boss Cat. Ziyun¡¯s power, which surpassed the typical peak Elite Stage, suddenly shot up to the extreme. ¡°Whistle!¡± Star didn¡¯t understand the situation, but seeing Ziyun¡¯s nervous look, it added the Twilight Watch without hesitation. Boss Cat¡¯s face subtly changed. Its gaze was filled with seriousness as it locked onto Ziyun, who was fluffing up in front of it. Although this was just an Elite Stage pet beast, the formidable domineering aura it radiated made Boss Cat palpitate. However, this kind of power wasn¡¯t enough to threaten Boss Cat. Boss Cat wasn¡¯t angry, but simply released the authority belonging to the Leadership Stage, blocking Ziyun¡¯s surpassing aura, standing quietly on the spot facing off against the two pet beasts. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± With a sharp eagle¡¯s screech and the sound of strong winds, the outside of Starfire Foster Care Shop suddenly went dim. A giant golden eagle, radiating the authority of the Leadership Stage, landed outside the shop, also breaking the standoff inside the shop.. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 122: The Wandering King_2 Chapter 176: Chapter 122: The Wandering King_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Boss Xu, I have come to deliver resources for you again.¡± The Leadership Level Beast Master who had delivered resources to Xu Ran last time laughed heartily, carrying a large alloy box, he walked into the shop, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve come at an inopportune time, you have a guest¡­¡± Upon seeing Boss Cat inside the shop, the Beast Master¡¯s voice abruptly stopped, his expression suddenly becoming strange. ¡°Your timing is perfect.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to glance at the deliverer, who he was meeting for the second time, and slightly sighed in relief, ¡°This Leader Stage Pet Beast has no Beast Master, it¡¯s wandering around the city.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The Leadership Level Beast Master nodded slightly, ¡°The Beast Master Association is aware of this situation, let your Pet Beast discard its aura first.¡± They knew? Xu Ran exhaled in relief. Since the Beast Master Association knew about it and yet had not taken any action, it suggested that the threat posed by these stray Pet Beasts was controlled. He gestured at the still vigilant Ziyun. ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright then.) Ziyun slowly calmed its aura, and Star, knowing what to do, gradually faded the auxiliary effect of the Twilight Watch. The stagnant atmosphere in the shop gradually dispersed, and the deliverer placed the alloy box on the counter, ¡°Boss Xu, please check it.¡± Then, he walked directly towards Boss Cat, face full of smiles, and casually patted its shoulder, ¡°What brings you here?¡± It seemed Boss Cat also knew this Beast Master, its expression slightly eased as it started ¡°meowing¡± in conversation with him. On the other hand, Xu Ran opened the alloy box and checked the resources inside that emitted a strong energy fluctuation, then looked back to see the one-man-one-pet cordial conversation. An idea came to him. ¡°This senior, the checking is done, you can sign off now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The deliverer cheerfully stretched out the signing form. ¡°We¡¯re meeting for the second time, how should I address you, senior?¡± Xu Ran asked while signing. ¡°Zhang Heyear.¡± The strong man retrieved the receipt, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Uncle Zhang, do you know Boss Cat?¡± Xu Ran asked the question that mattered most to him, ¡°Why would a Leader Stage Pet Beast be wandering?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Zhang Heyear turned his head to look at Boss Cat and, upon seeing the cat nod, slowly started, ¡°Actually, it was the Pet Beast of a late colleague of mine.¡± ¡°When one side dies in a Beast Master Contract, the other side does not die with them, so when the Beast Master dies accidentally, the Pet Beast regains its freedom.¡± ¡°Boss Cat and my former colleague had a deep bond, so after his untimely death, Boss Cat refused to contract with other Leadership Level Beast Masters and chose to live alone.¡± ¡°In this situation, the Beast Master Association allows a time of observation. Once it is confirmed that Boss Cat poses no threat to human society, it is left alone.¡± ¡°But even if a Leader Stage Pet Beast leaves its Beast Master and lives alone, it shouldn¡¯t be roaming the streets, right?¡± Xu Ran glanced at Boss Cat once more, still a bit baffled. ¡°That was its decision.¡± Zhang Heyear shrugged, ¡°In a sense, it could be said that it had contributed to the safety of Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Contributing to public safety?¡± Xu Ran thoughtfully pondered. ¡°Before Boss Cat appeared, the stray Pet Beasts of Qingzhou City were a constant headache for the Beast Master Association.¡± Zhang Heyear sighed slightly, ¡°Those stray Pet Beasts have complicated origins.¡± ¡°A portion of them are beasts with defects bred by Pet Beast breeding bases due to illegal practices.¡± ¡°Another portion are those who lack survival skills after their Beast Masters die unexpectedly.¡± ¡°In addition, some of them are offspring of these beasts.¡± ¡°Without restraint, these stray beasts even harbor animosity towards humans.¡± ¡°Moreover, they are quite clever. They know that if they harm humans, the Association will take drastic measures to hunt them down, so they never harm humans and only steal.¡± ¡°The Association frequently receives complaints, but by the time our staff members arrive, they have already bolted. In the end, it¡¯s the Association that compensates for losses and wraps up the case.¡± ¡°Over time, even the Association itself became exasperated.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became strange. The stray beasts from before were like that? ¡°What about after Boss Cat arrived?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°The change was dramatic.¡± Zhang Heyear laughed heartily, ¡°Without the nurturing and investment of resources from a Beast Master, the stray beasts could never achieve Leader Stage through robbery.¡± ¡°So Boss Cat, being a Leader Stage beast, easily rounded up all the stray Pet Beasts.¡± Zhang Heyear glanced at Boss Cat, ¡°Since then, the number of robberies by stray Pet Beasts has rapidly declined, there has almost been no such incident for nearly a year now.¡± ¡°Besides, stray pet beasts have become more friendly towards humans. In the recent months, there have already been five stray pet beasts contracted by Beast Masters, which was unimaginable before.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Not five, but six! Another one was contracted yesterday! Boss Cat was standing aside, quietly listening to Zhang Heyear talking about his own affairs. At this moment, he suddenly corrected him, showing a slightly proud expression. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s six then.¡± Zhang Heyear nodded, ¡°Anyway, all of this was thanks to Boss Cat.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Xu Ran showed an enlightened expression, and his eyes looking at Boss Cat became a little bit more benign. Ziyun, standing aside, no longer showed hostility after hearing Boss Cat¡¯s story. Thinking about it, the situations that it had heard from it¡¯s other stray buddies had probably happened before Boss Cat¡¯s arrival. This was obviously a misunderstanding. ¡°Meow-¡± (Sorry, I got it wrong!) It put its head down, looking a little ashamed, and started to apologize on its own. ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat shook his head, apparently not minding the little interlude just now. ¡°As long as the misunderstanding is cleared, that¡¯s good.¡± Zhang Heyear smiled, ¡°Anyway, Boss Cat can be trusted, Boss Xu, you don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat suddenly gestured at Zhang Heyear a few times. Although it was not his own pet beast, Zhang Heyear was quite familiar with Boss Cat, and quickly figured out what it meant. ¡°Boss Xu, Boss Cat would like to bring all the stray pet beasts here for a washing and protection session,¡± Zhang Heyear patted Boss Cat on the shoulder, ¡°it wanted me to ask if there could be a discount. It doesn¡¯t have that much money saved.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat nodded, looking at Xu Ran with hopeful eyes. ¡°Discount¡­¡± Looking at Boss Cat, Xu Ran suddenly laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s forget the discount.¡± Before Boss Cat¡¯s expression could turn disappointed, he leisurely added, ¡°Just waive the fees.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± Really? Boss Cat¡¯s eyes lit up quickly. ¡°Really?¡± Even Zhang Heyear looked somewhat surprised. The number of stray pet beasts in Qingzhou city was not small. To waive all of their fees, Boss Xu would be giving up a large sum of money. ¡°Right!¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously and spoke in a confident tone, ¡°In order to express our care for the stray pet beasts, Starfire Foster Shop, as a socially responsible place, has launched a free washing and protection service for stray pet beasts!¡± ¡°All stray pet beasts can come to the shop for a free wash and protection, not just now but in the future too.¡± ¡°We hope that the relationship between pet beasts and human society can thus become more harmonious, and we also hope that more human Beast Masters will be willing to contract these stray pet beasts.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Zhang Heyear couldn¡¯t help clapping, and his eyes looking at Xu Ran contained a bit more admiration, ¡°Boss Xu, your level of ideological awareness is simply too high.¡± ¡°On behalf of the Association, I want to thank you for your contribution.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Xu Ran showed a warm smile, and then suddenly changed the topic, ¡°In that case, can the Association help us publicize this on Qingzhou Daily, to encourage everyone to care about stray pet beasts?¡± ¡°It would be even better if they could mention the new accompanying training service launched by our shop.¡± ¡°Of course¡­ Eh?¡± Zhang Heyear blinked, showing a puzzled expression. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 123: B Level Drug Application! _1 Chapter 177: Chapter 123: B Level Drug Application! _1 Translator: 549690339 I In the end, Zhang Heyear did not directly agree to Xu Ran¡¯s proposal. Although as a Leadership Level Beast Master he did have a say in the Beast Master Association, job responsibilities varied. He was in charge of transporting resources, so he couldn¡¯t make a decision about this matter on the spot. After promising Xu Ran that he would report back to the Association for it to deliberate on the matter, Zhang Heyear mounted his golden eagle and disappeared from the scene in a flash. Only Xu Ran and Boss Cat were left, and the atmosphere was more relaxed, no longer awkward. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s start by getting you groomed.¡± Xu Ran smiled at Boss Cat in a friendly manner, ¡°For the next few days, you can bring your stray pet beasts here every afternoon for grooming.¡± Although these stray pet beasts without a Beast Master couldn¡¯t get him Pleasure values, after hearing Boss Cat¡¯s and the stray pet beasts¡¯ stories, Xu Ran felt moved. Just considered it as doing some good deeds occasionally. After all, hadn¡¯t Ziyun also been a member of this group of strays before? ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat nodded heavily, following closely behind Xu Ran, heading for the Grooming Room. Excitement and joy filled its eyes. Having arranged for the grooming, it felt like it had finally fulfilled the promise it had made to the other stray pet beasts. And it very much looked forward to its own grooming session. Before its Beast Master died, it had experienced his tender care. Finally, it could once again experience the sensation of being groomed. In the Grooming Room, Xu Ran helped Boss Cat to remove its clothes and pouch, setting them in a corner of the grooming tool table, ¡°I¡¯ll help you wash these later too.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat meowed appreciatively, then obediently lay upon the care platform. ¡°Splash-¡± Soon, water gently sprayed from the showerhead, evenly wetting Boss Cat¡¯s fur. The Fighting-Attribute resources included in the Bath Dew nourished and relaxed its tense body while wetting its fur. They flowed from the ends of its fur to the roots then carried away the dirt, running down the surface of its body and gathering in the pool below. Boss Cat¡¯s fur was about the length of a knuckle and after it got wet, it clung to its skin. Its muscular figure became more prominent, looking visibly smaller. ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat closed its eyes comfortably, a contented look on its face. Wrapped in the warmth, it felt like it was in a warm embrace, a sense of security and warmth it hadn¡¯t felt in a long time welled up in its heart. It hadn¡¯t felt like this since its Beast Master, who it had depended on, died. Xu Ran waited for a while, but when he didn¡¯t see a prompt about Pleasure values, he realized that Boss Cat didn¡¯t have a Beast Master anymore, qualifying it as a stray pet beast. He wasn¡¯t used to it yet. He chuckled silently to himself, then after completely wetting Boss Cat¡¯s body, he started to prepare for the next step of the Washing and Protection work. Both Boss Cat and Ziyun were cat-type pet beasts with Fighting attributes, however, Boss Cat was entirely different from Ziyun. Under its fur was a robust body; its bulging muscles were explosive Power. After circling around it once, Xu Ran quickly identified where to start the next step of the Washing and Protection work. He poured the massage oil he was holding onto Boss Cat¡¯s tense back and gently spread it evenly over the skin. Then, Xu Ran made a chopping motion with one hand and placed it on the edge of Boss Cat¡¯s most protruding back muscle, while the other hand, clenched into a fist, was pressed against the center of the same muscle. His hands gradually increased the pressure and moved slowly downwards. The previously relaxed Boss Cat suddenly opened its eyes. It felt waves of unprecedented pleasure radiating from the muscle Xu Ran was pressing, and as Xu Ran moved his fist with steady force, the pleasure intensified. As if electricity was flowing through its body, the muscle Xu Ran was pressing suddenly tightened and then twitched slightly. Simultaneously, an unusual sound, somewhat uncertain, issued from Boss Cat¡¯s throat with some difficulty. ¡°Meowu-¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s finished.¡± Xu Ran put the money he had taken back into the cleaned and dried pouch and then helped the somewhat dazed Boss Cat to put it around its waist, patting its shoulder. As for the clothes, since they were too old and worn, Xu Ran had asked Boss Cat¡¯s opinion and just threw them away. ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat observed its body in motion. The feeling that had been somewhat uncomfortable but also somewhat pleasurable during the muscle massage was now entirely gone. In return, there was an unprecedented feeling of lightness. The relaxed muscles tensed quickly with Boss Cat¡¯s movements and then relaxed again. On its large body, it revealed an unexpected agility. It was completely over the feeling of stiffness of the muscles it had when it first came here. The muscles no longer looked exaggerated. Luscious curves embellished its body; power surged inside of it like lava ready to erupt, making anyone¡¯s heart race. The smooth fur flowed with the texture of the muscles; under the light, it reflected a glow, enhancing the curves of the muscles and making Boss Cat look much more attractive. The beauty of Power was fully displayed on its body. ¡°Look, are you satisfied with the result after grooming?¡± Xu Ran pointed to the mirror inside the grooming room. ¡°Meow?¡± This is me? Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 123: B Level Drug Application! 2 Chapter 178: Chapter 123: B Level Drug Application! 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª The Boss Cat stared at his own reflection in the mirror for a good while, his face finally revealing an apparent expression of surprise and joy. There was no pet beast who didn¡¯t like looking more attractive. The new fierce and powerful appearance hit right at its heart in just an instant. ¡°It seems to like it,¡± Xu Ran laughed lightly, leading it out of the grooming room. ¡°Bring the stray pet beasts that need grooming every afternoon from now on.¡± ¡°Over the course of five days, Starfire Foster Care Shop has displayed an immense sense of social responsibility. Using half its daily business hours, it provided free grooming for stray pet beasts in need, contributing their own power to the improvement of the city¡¯s appearance.¡± According to incomplete statistics, Starfire Foster Care Shop lost more than 400,000 yuan in total in this free grooming event for stray pet beasts. But Mr. Xu Ran, the boss of Starfire Foster Care Shop, stated that he will continue to run such activities.¡± ¡°In the future, stray pet beasts that need grooming can come directly to avail of the free grooming service.¡± ¡°In the past five days, due to their improved appearances after grooming, a total of seventeen stray pet beasts found matching Beast Masters. We have every reason to believe that this number will continue to increase.¡± ¡°After launching a new training service, Starfire Foster Care Shop once again launched a public welfare activity, contributing to the prosperity of Qingzhou City, demonstrating the sense of mission of a businessman.¡± We hope that more businessmen will come forward to contribute their own strength to the prosperity of the city.¡± ¡°Our station reporter will continue to report for you.¡± Awesome!!!¡± Xu Ran applauded and smiled contentedly, ¡°What profoundly clever product placement! I refuse to believe there is anyone who still doesn¡¯t know we offer training services.¡± The Beast Master Association really went all out this time. I initially planned on just running a small ad in the newspaper, but they arranged for a news broadcast.¡± Xu Ran grinned, ¡°I suppose it¡¯s because the grooming results were more impressive than even they had anticipated.¡± Even Xu Ran himself hadn¡¯t expected the five days of grooming to produce such interesting results. Because of the excellent grooming outcomes, numerous Beast Masters seeking contract pet beasts came to them, crowding the shop front every afternoon. The stray pet beasts, once neglected and unwanted, had now unexpectedly become in high demand. ¡°Such a superficial world,¡± Xu Ran sighed, stretched lazily and glanced at Ziyun and Star on the side. Who isn¡¯t superficial? ¡°Business is closed for the day, let¡¯s go feed the boarders together, and prepare our own dinner while we¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun elegantly licked its paw, standing up from the counter. Its fluffy tail rose high, a Combatforce Strong Ring strapped to each limb, yet its stride appeared quite at ease. Suspended around its neck was a necklace with a pendant resembling a blue and purple crystal. Under the lights, it shimmered with brilliant colours. It was the Blue Electric Liuli, which had been worn for five days. Suppertime! Alighting gracefully from the counter, the thought of indulging in the day¡¯s meals put a spring in Ziyun¡¯s steps. Mealtime was the most rewarding moment after a hard day¡¯s training. Over the last five days, Ziyun maintained an unwavering six-hour high-intensity training regimen, substituting energy blocks to supplement its energy in the absence of the Energy Abundant Potion. An energy block could sustain approximately one hour of training, and Ziyun needed to consume three general attribute and three dual attribute energy blocks every day, which was quite a headache for the impoverished creature. After using and comparing, the dual attribute energy blocks, although expensive, proved justifiably superior to the general attribute blocks. So, despite further burdening its already strained finances, Ziyun decided to exchange all its future points for dual attribute energy blocks. The usage of over half the energy blocks and the influx of two items of training resources over five days also notably enhanced Ziyun¡¯s strength. When it had just evolved, Ziyun¡¯s growth stage progression was (21376/30000) Now, after merely five days, it had already reached (26435/3OOOO), increasing by over 5000, or by about 1000 points a day on average. At this rate, it would achieve the satisfactory standard of the elite stage before the exhaustion of all resources. ¡°Xii Luu Lulu-¡± (Let¡¯s go now!) Star neighed, closely following Ziyun, equally eager for mealtime. Around its sturdy neck was a deep, dark pearl necklace, shimmering mysteriously in the light, and clinking melodiously from its hooves were horseshoes made from crystal material. Although weaker than Ziyun at the moment, Star matched Ziyun¡¯s consumption of energy blocks over the last five days. It also had two resource items and an even more precious resource in the underground foster zone. Under such an abundance of resources, Star¡¯s progress had even surpassed Ziyun¡¯s. Its original growth progress (7763/20000) had, in such a short time, soared to (14025/20000), increasing by more than six thousand points. Considering that the effect of Dark Horseshoes is more reflected in Star¡¯s speed than its power, Star¡¯s actual enhancement would be more significant than it appears. Xu Ran¡¯s earlier plan was accurate; while adding points is powerful, it barely keeps up with the speed at which the two pet beasts are improving. For the time being, other enhancement methods are needed. The Beast Master points in exchange for resources are the best supplementary method. ¡°You two wait for me!¡± Seeing the rushed Ziyun and Star, Xu Ran followed them with a quick smile. The three of them quickly arrived at the foster area on the underground floor. So much time had passed since the start of the foster care services, and Xu Ran had established a regular feeding schedule. Before opening the shop every day, at midday and after the business closes in the afternoon, he feeds the lodgers at these three time slots. Taking into account the different habits of various pet beasts, he prepares their corresponding meals in advance or takes other measures to ensure that every pet beast feels at home. Because of this, the pet beasts in the shop are already familiar with Xu Ran¡¯s feeding routine. When they had descended the staircase, the pet beast lodgers in the foster shop were already sitting in a row, waiting quietly. To avoid being the last one fed by Xu Ran, even the most mischievous and warlike beast is behaving rather well at the moment. Soon, Xu Ran walked out of the configuration room with big and small food bowls in his hands. ¡°Dinner time!¡± ¡°Arrwooo-¡± The Frost Dust Wolf howled excitedly, rushed forward to sniff its bowl, and found its dinner in no time. Afterward, the other pet beasts successively grabbed their food bowls, found a spot they liked, and started eating. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡öTwenty-nine, thirty.¡± Xu Ran distributed the food while counting the number of pet beasts, then nodded to demonstrate his satisfaction. Everyone is here. The Stone Armored Dragon was taken away by Zhang Yun, who came back from work two days ago. After a day of not having enough lodgers, a new lodger moved in early in the morning, making the amount of fostered pet beasts in the shop reach its limit again. Xu Ran opened his personal panel and took a look. [Drug Application (C Level)] (470/500) Right after midnight today, the 30 experience points that will be credited will allow the Drug Application skill to be upgraded to B Level, another piece of good news. ¡°Let¡¯s eat too.¡± Seeing the hopeful gazes from Ziyun and Star, Xu Ran smiled, turned around and went back into the configuration room, carrying out the loving dinner he had prepared just for the two pet beasts. Both pet beasts had trained so hard, they naturally deserved to be given proper nutrition. As for himself, he picked up a bowl of dumplings, squatted on the ground, and started eating hastily. When everyone had finished eating, Xu Ran collected the bowls, said goodbye to Star, and went straight to the living area on the second floor with Ziyun. During this period, he had not stopped meditating. The first Meditation Acceleration Card had already expired, and now the second one had started working, continuing to accelerate his contract power improvement at a hundred times the speed. According to his estimation, his contract power could successfully break through to the third stage in about half a month. That night, the alarm clock he had set to go off at midnight rang. Xu Ran opened his eyes in the middle of his meditation and read the text before them. [Drug Application Experience +30] [Drug Application (C Level)] (470/500) [Drug Application (B Level)] (0/2000) Drug Application has been upgraded! Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 124: Another Ten in a Row, Stars Chapter 179: Chapter 124: Another Ten in a Row, Star¡¯s Evolution Path!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu. It seems I am the first customer of the day.¡± A middle-aged man with a gentle smile, quite amiable-looking, followed by a slender, rather elongated fox, briskly walked into the store. ¡°I¡¯d like my Spirit Fox to be cleaned and cared for.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, long time no see, no problem.¡± Xu Ran responded with a brilliant smile. ¡°Hmm?¡± The handsome man referred to as Mr. Zhou has been to the Starfire Foster Care Shop more than once. He looked at Xu Ran in surprise, then chuckled. ¡°Boss Xu seems in a good mood today.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°There are some things to be happy about.¡± In the early morning, after successfully upgrading the Drug Application skill to B Level, he had already seen preliminary results from feeding the pet beasts before the shop opened for business. As a system skill associated with the fosterage service, the upgrade of the Drug Application skill did not make pet beasts more happy when tasting Xu Ran¡¯s specially prepared pet beast food, thus gaining more Pleasure Value for Xu Ran. However, it allowed Xu Ran to gain more Physical Points during the feeding process. This morning¡¯s feeding process resulted in a total of 458 Physical Points. Feeding the same thirty inhabitants the previous evening earned only 329 Physical Points, enough to demonstrate the benefits of upgrading the Drug Application skill. And this news is a significant plus for Ziyun and Star, who are in urgent need of strength enhancement at the moment. But that wasn¡¯t the whole reason for Xu Ran¡¯s good mood. The more critical reason came from the good news brought by the Armored Rhinoceros during the morning feeding session. The Tiger Hunting Squad was back in town! After Ziyun¡¯s evolution was complete, Xu Ran, who had followed the Tiger Hunting Squad out of the Qingzhou City, did not go to find them again but returned to Qingzhou City earlier instead. But the Tiger Hunting Squad had stayed outside the city the whole time, with the Armored Rhinoceros frequently being summoned away and then sent back. Now that the Tiger Hunting Squad has safely returned, according to past practice, Lucky Liu should soon bring his Wind Lion Dog for a wash and care routine at the shop. His Pleasure Value, accumulated over the past period, has once again reached the 95,000 points required for Ten Consecutive Drawing. In other words, there is a high probability he would be able to conduct another Ten Consecutive Drawing today. After making sure Mr. Zhou¡¯s Spirit Fox was well-groomed, and watching the satisfied departure of this man and his pet, Xu Ran sat down in the shop, eagerly awaiting the person he had in mind. ¡°Uncle Liu! You¡¯re here!¡± Before Liu Gu could greet him, Xu Ran had already warmly greeted him. ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m here.¡± Liu Gu couldn¡¯t help but give Xu Ran a second look, his face bearing a complex expression. Before their joint departure from the city, Liu Gu had always thought that although Xu Ran had talent, he still needed Liu Gu¡¯s patronage when it came to strength. Ziyun¡¯s formidable strength, however, had clearly shown him how wrong his assumption had been. This younger Beast Master, unbeknownst to him, already possessed the ability to stand on his own. And this has made Liu Gu somewhat apprehensive about returning to the shop. Would it really be appropriate for a Beast Master with even greater strength than his own to serve his pet beast? Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s amiable and enthusiastic smile again, Liu Gu¡¯s concerns quietly vanished. Perhaps, this ease and comfort is precisely what sets Little Boss Xu apart. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m here!¡± Thinking of this, Liu Gu recovered his usual hearty smile. ¡°Team Leader Zhang tells me he¡¯s not sure whether you¡¯ve acquired the resources you need. If not, we from the hunting squad might have gathered some you could use.¡± ¡°Team Leader Zhang is too kind.¡± Xu Ran thanked him. ¡°I¡¯ve already obtained the resources that I need. How could I impose and take from the squad¡¯s achievements?¡± ¡°Those are all your own earnings. You should divide them among yourselves.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s so¡­¡± Liu Gu took a closer look at Xu Ran, noting his insistence before giving a slight nod, ¡°Then I¡¯ll relate that to Team Leader Zhang.¡± ¡°The doggy has been doing great these few days, trouble the boss to give it a good clean.¡± ¡°No problem at all.¡± The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face grew denser. He gave a ¡°follow me¡± look to the Wind Lion Dog before turning and heading towards the grooming room. With the increase of ¡®Lucky Liu energy¡¯, he had vaguely found a pattern; that is, after washing and caring for Liu Gu¡¯s pet beasts then absorbing the ¡®Lucky Liu energy¡¯, his luck was better. So, now Xu Ran always washed and cared for Liu Gu¡¯s pet beasts first, and when he saw the man out, he would casually absorb some ¡®energy¡¯. ¡°Arf, arf!¡± Time for a wash! Here I come! The Wind Lion Dog, grubby and bloodstained after several days of battle, was panting, looking excited as it followed behind Xu Ran and into the grooming room. Shortly after, traces of unrepressed caterwauling could be heard from inside the grooming room. ¡°Arf, arf!¡±~ ¡°Take care, Uncle Liu!¡± Under the strange gaze of Liu Gu, Xu Ran once again casually patted the man¡¯s shoulder as if it were unintentional, then waved goodbye with a smile on his face. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Liu Gu nodded, turned around with the Wind Lion Dog, and left. They say that a genius Beast Master would always have quirks that set them apart from others. Perhaps liking to pat someone¡¯s shoulder while bidding farewell is one of Little Boss Xu¡¯s peculiarities. Okay¡­ understood! On the other hand, as he watched the departing figures of the man and pet, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face gradually broadened. Lucky Liu¡¯s performance was still constant today. Another Purple from the Ten Consecutive Drawing! And¡­ Star would be thrilled this time. Because what was drawn was the King Species Evolution Path it had been longing for. But¡­ Xu Ran neatly closed his eyes, sensing the two pet beasts training arduously in the training area.. Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Chapter 124: Another Ten in a Row, Stars Chapter 180: Chapter 124: Another Ten in a Row, Star¡¯s Evolution Path!_2 Translator: 549690339 Let¡¯s wait until they complete today¡¯s training before allocating new resources. ¡°Boss Xu, Washing and Protection!¡± ¡°Ah, here comes a customer!¡± Seeing the customer walking in, Xu Ran cheerfully responded and plunged back into his busy business. Time flew by quickly and soon, the six-hour training of the two pet beasts came to an end. When Ziyun and Star returned to the first floor of the shop tiredly, Xu Ran closed the shop door and with one sentence made both of them thrilled again. ¡°The new round of resources allocation, begins!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I want more Beast Master Points this time!) Ziyun, who only had a mere four points left, looked determined. With points, it can exchange for more resources to empower itself. Although the current resources can be enough for it to advance to the Elite Stage, the power gained after the breakthrough will not be wasted, but lead to a surge in improvement. As for other resources, it, having just completed its evolution, didn¡¯t need them as much as Star who hasn¡¯t evolved yet. Remembering how Star had voluntarily stepped aside for its evolution before, Ziyun quickly gave the priority to Star without any hesitation. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Will there be an evolution path this time?) Star¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation. There were so many things it wanted to exchange for. For it who has only conducted one skill fusion, it was in urgent need of the skill fusion stone and skill fragments to enhance its skills through further skill fusion. Without a single Waning Moon Level Skill, it desperately needed Skill Points to support the enhancement of its proficiency in addition to its hard training. However, none of these mattered to Star as much as the King Species Evolution Route. With an evolution route, it would have a clear path to grow stronger, avoiding detours and focusing entirely on preparing for evolution. ¡°The good news is that we do have an evolution route this time,¡± Xu Ran grinned slightly and began writing on the small blackboard: ¡°Physical points: 3142 (unallocated)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 540 (unallocated)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 4 (Star) + 56 (unallocated)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 1 bottle (unallocated)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 8 (unallocated)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 4 (Ziyun) + 4133 (Star) + 2128 (unallocated)¡± ¡°King Species Evolution Route xl¡± The unallocated Energy Abundant Potion and Skill Fusion Stones were acquired together with the King Species Evolution Route. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Yay!) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Star¡¯s eyes lit up. Seeing the text on the last line of the blackboard made its eyes glow even brighter, like shining purple stars. ¡°Meow-¡± (Congratulations!) Ziyun patted Star¡¯s shoulder and giggled happily. Being a King species itself, it naturally didn¡¯t need another evolution route. So, the evolution Star had been yearning for was finally within reach. Star lowered its head to rub against Ziyun as a response, and then urged Xu Ran to start with its eyes. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Start exchanging!) ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran smiled,¡± The total value of unallocated resources this time is 7720 Value Points, so each of you will get 3860 Value Points.¡± ¡°Now, you can begin your exchange.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Star goes first!) Unlike the previous anxious exchange, this time Ziyun immediately stated that Star should make the first choice without any hesitation. Star gratefully looked at Ziyun. Knowing that it was not the time to be modest, it didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly made its choice. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Evolution Route!) ¡°Let¡¯s choose the evolution route first, then proceed with the other exchanges.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a slight smile. This choice was hardly surprising. When the King Species Evolution Route was used on Star, just like the last time, many evolution paths appeared before Xu Ran. [Evolution Path: Night Colt (Dark) ->? Night Horse (Dark) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: *****] [Evolution Path: Night Colt (Dark) ->? Night Soul Shock (Dark) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ¡ï****] [Evolution Path:¡­] ¡°Select five-star evolution potential?¡± With the experience from last time, Xu Ran was no longer clueless about how to make the choice. After receiving a positive response from Star, he didn¡¯t take long to lock onto the only evolution path among these with the five-star evolution potential. [Evolution Path: Night Colt (Dark) ¡ª? Star God Horse (Dark) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***** So it¡¯s a dark attribute evolution type¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. When he was searching earlier, he saw several evolution paths that could give Star a second attribute after evolution. However, the highest evolution potential of these paths was only three stars, and the lowest was only one star. Conversely, the evolution paths that did not change the attribute after evolution had a potential of five stars. Originally, because of Gu Wu¡¯s introduction to multi-attribute evolution, Xu Ran subconsciously thought that increasing attributes after evolution was the most powerful. Now it seems that may not necessarily be the case. The most suitable one is the best. That¡¯s the one! With Xu Ran¡¯s choice, other evolution paths disappeared, leaving only this one called Star God Horse. It unfolded under his tense and expectant gaze. [Evolution Path: Night Colt (Dark)^ Star God Horse (Dark) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***** Evolution Conditions: Evolution Materials: Adult Night Demon Dragon¡¯s single horn (main), Dark Attribute King Stage Blood Essence (main), Star Dust (main), Dark Stone Marrow, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower (The absence of the main material will necessarily result in evolution failure, and the absence of auxiliary materials will decrease the success rate of evolution) Evolution Ritual: Gallop in pure darkness, elevate to the extreme before the last bit of strength is exhausted, and finally complete the evolution.] Scanning the information about Star¡¯s evolution type in detail, a thoughtful expression surfaced on Xu Ran¡¯s face. It¡¯s different. Compared to Ziyun¡¯s previous evolution path, there are significant differences in Star¡¯s evolution path. First off, the evolution conditions. Star¡¯s evolution conditions did not require mastering an additional three-star skill nor did it require Tenacity, which is currently a common skill, to be upgraded to a Dark Attribute three-star skill. From this perspective, Star¡¯s evolution conditions are relatively lax. But the difficulty for Star to meet these conditions has not decreased at all. Because it has a whopping five talent skills! ¡°Because it¡¯s inherently strong, it doesn¡¯t need to master additional three-star skills; and because there are no new attributes after evolution, there are no extra requirements for common skills¡­¡± Xu Ran vaguely speculated a certain pattern, then turned his gaze to the evolution materials required for Star¡¯s evolution. Good news, one less material. Bad news, the difficulty of obtaining them is just as high. Of the three main evolution materials, Xu Ran only knew about the Dark Attribute King Stage Blood Essence. The conditions and ways to obtain the other two main materials would require patient searching. As for the auxiliary materials, there were only three this time, and Life Dewdrop and Transcendence Flower were used when Ziyun evolved. This indirectly confirmed Xu Ran¡¯s previous speculation about the purpose of auxiliary materials. As for the last piece of Dark Stone Marrow¡­ Xu Ran had seen it when he was exchanging resources for Star. The exchange was not difficult, but the price was not cheap. As for the last evolution ritual¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows puckered slightly. After hearing Ziyun¡¯s evolution process, and realizing that even with thorough preparation, evolution is still so dangerous, he fully acknowledged the importance of evolution rituals. This seemingly odd thing could indeed help the pet beasts to accomplish the evolution more smoothly, so he must not take it lightly. But this time¡¯s evolution ritual doesn¡¯t seem as straightforward as before. ¡°Pure Darkness¡±, ¡°Elevate to the Extreme¡±. Such words gave Xu Ran a somewhat bewildering feeling. Star¡¯s evolution is not simple¡­ ¡°About your evolution, there¡¯s some good news and some bad news.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and looked at Star. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What?) Star blinked, its expression suddenly becoming nervous. Would there be complications with its evolution? ¡°The good news is that your Beast Master Points should be enough to exchange for the required evolution materials.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°The bad news is that your requirements for skill fragments, skill fusion stones, and skill points¡­¡± ¡°Will be difficult to satisfy in the short term.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Xi Lu?!¡± Still eight thousand today, tears in my eyes.. Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 125 The First Three Stars of Star 1 Chapter 181: Chapter 125 The First Three Stars of Star¡¯ 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡¯¡ª Knowing the full parameters of his evolution conditions, ingredients, and ceremony, the light faded from Star¡¯s eyes, which sparkled like purple crystals. Another horse that had lost its dreams. Five Three Star skills sounded like an impossible goal. ¡°Don¡¯t be too disheartened.¡± Xu Ran said in an amused tone, stroking the fur on Star¡¯s neck for reassurance, ¡°It may take more time, but at least we have a direction, right?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± (Guess that¡¯s the only way.) Comforted by the Beast Master, Star¡¯s mood brightened a little and his eyes flared with renewed determination. If the path of evolution is difficult, then he will take every step properly from now on! ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s allocate the resources!) Star set his gaze upon the blackboard before him, and unhesitatingly exchanged all the Skill Fragments, Skill Fusion Stones, and Skill Points he had. These three items alone cost Star 1900 Value Points, coupled with the 500 Value Points spent on exchanging the King Species Evolution Path, Star only had 14.60 Value Points left. ¡°Meow!¡± (Exchange for the Energy Abundant Potion, no need for Physical Points!) Reviewing the remaining resources, Star made a quick decision. Despite having various training resources now, none could match the efficiency of an Energy Abundant Potion in improving Skill Proficiency. A bottle of that potion is always better than none. As for the Physical Points, they were the least needed for Star at the moment. Thanks to the resources exchanged with Beast Master Points, Star¡¯s growth progression has been rapidly increasing. Preparing for evolution would take a long time, and advancing too quickly was not necessarily beneficial. Reaching the pinnacle and then delaying the breakthrough does have its benefits, but it¡¯s not without drawbacks. The longer the delay, the harder it might become to control the power, which could lead to an uncontrollable breakthrough. If Xu Ran¡¯s contract power wouldn¡¯t break through the Third Stage within a short time, the forced repression through the Beast Taming Contract wouldn¡¯t be a concern. But considering Star¡¯s evolution difficulty and the current speed of Xu Ran¡¯s meditation, the probability of Xu Ran¡¯s contract power breaking through to the Third Stage before Star meets the evolution conditions is quite high. Thus, Xu Ran may not be able to help with repression. Subsequently, Star exchanged the remaining 1410 Value Points into Beast Master Points. Ziyun, who had willingly yielded before, gladly claimed the remaining Physical Points and Beast Master Points. Looking at the balance of 722 Beast Master Points brought tears to Ziyun¡¯s eyes. No longer single digits! He could exchange for more Energy Blocks! With money comes the good stuff. This time, all dual attribute! ¡°Alright, the allocation is over, now let¡¯s use these resources.¡± Xu Ran smiled ¡°Ziyun, what¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Meow, meow, meow!¡± (Apply all points! Exchange everything for dual attribute energy blocks!) No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded and began to add points. Growth Stage: Elite Stage (26843/30000) [+] HI Growth Stage: Elite Stage (29985/30000) [+] Hmm? Xu Ran can¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow as he noticed Ziyun is only a breath away from reaching the Elite Stage Mastery. He then took out a Dual Attribute Energy Block and handed it to Ziyun, ¡°Here, eat this.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s the matter?) Ziyun blinked in confusion, took the Energy Block and quickly ate it. Watching the growth progress on the panel rise little by little as Ziyun digested the energy block, reaching (30000/30000), Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction. His compulsive desire for perfection was satisfied. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun stretched lazily, understanding Xu Ran¡¯s intent then. At the moment when his growth stage progress reached its maximum, Ziyun felt the same limitation he had felt at the Transcendent Stage Mastery. This feeling of being shackled and unable to improve his strength. Elite Stage, Mastery! ¡°I¡¯ll open a Thunder Attribute area for you in the Foster Area later. You¡¯ve just made such a leap in strength, make sure to practice more.¡± Xu Ran gave a casual reminder then opened the Beast Master Points Exchange Panel. Ziyun can exchange all his Beast Master Points for 48 dual attribute energy blocks. Having already used more than half of his previous energy blocks, this compensated for his consumption. Of course, Ziyun¡¯s balance also¡­ ¡°You only have 2 Beast Master Points left.¡± Xu Ran tells Ziyun, shrugging. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun was on the verge of tears. The experience of wealth is always short-lived. ¡°Since we are here, let¡¯s exchange the evolution materials for Star.¡± Xu Ran clicked to open the other exchange list. Dark Stone Marrow, requires 200 Points for exchanging. Life Dewdrop, requires 60 Points for exchanging. Transcendence Flower, requires 50 Points for exchanging. Combining all the auxiliary materials for evolution, due to the higher price of Dark Stone Marrow, the Points spent on these three items were even more than what Ziyun had spent on his four items earlier. But Star was not short of this small amount. Including all the Points he received today, Star¡¯s Beast Master Points had reached 5543. ¡°Next is the main material¡­¡± Xu Ran started to search individually for the main resources needed for evolution. He couldn¡¯t find the Horn of an adult Night Demon Dragon, an item Xu Ran hadn¡¯t heard of before. However, when he was searching for the Dark Attribute King Stage Blood Essence, Xu Ran not only found it smoothly but also got the news of the Night Demon Dragon. ¡°Star¡­¡± Xu Ran sighed, ¡°I found the Dark Attribute King Stage Blood Essence for exchange. The exchange price is same as the previous Thunder Attribute one, 800 Points. But¡­.¡± Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Chapter 125 The First Three Stars of Star!_2 Chapter 182: Chapter 125 The First Three Stars of Star!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°This drop of blood essence comes from the Night Demon Dragon. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What do you mean?) Star Prime blinked, a little confused. Night Demon Dragon. This seems to be related to its first primary resource, right? The blood essence also comes from the Night Demon Dragon. That sounds like a good thing, doesn¡¯t it? ¡°This means that the Night Demon Dragon can reach the King Stage.¡± Seeing that Star Prime still hadn¡¯t sensed the problem, Xu Ran sighed and lightly tapped its head. ¡°Xi Lull!¡± Star Prime¡¯s eyes widened suddenly. Now it understood. The Night Demon Dragon could advance to the King Stage, signifying it belonged to the King Species. Then, the single horn of a mature Night Demon Dragon¡­ ¡°Things are not so bad.¡± Xu Ran gently consoled the worried Star Prime, ¡°The Night Demon Dragon is indeed a King Species, but it doesn¡¯t mean that it only matures upon reaching the King Stage.¡± ¡°Normally, a Night Demon Dragon at the General stage is already considered mature.¡± ¡°So, the single horn of the General stage¡­¡± Xu Ran paused mid-sentence, falling to silence. The single horn of a General Stage Night Demon Dragon, even though it ranked lower than the King Stage one. Still, it didn¡¯t sound cheap¡­ Xu Ran gnashed his teeth in vexation. Originally, he thought the Night Demon Dragon was a Leader Species. So, if traces of them were found outside the city, after Ziyun broke through to the Leader Stage, she probably could kill one by herself and get its horn. Now, it looks like this plan is a no-go. By the time Ziyun breaks through to the General Stage, it will be too late. Resources from Transcendent Beings, unlike the naturally occurring Heart of the Thunder Stone, are near impossible to acquire on your own without sufficient power. We can only hope that there are people willing to part with them, perhaps exchange at the Beast Master Association. The first option is unlikely, after all, in the entire Qingzhou City, apart from Senior Gu, there wouldn¡¯t be others who possessed the strength to kill a creature of the General Stage. As for the later¡­ The Beast Master Association in Qingzhou City might not have such items for exchange, we would have to go to other cities. A thought flashed through Xu Ran¡¯s mind, reminding him of Senior Gu¡¯s previous invitation. If Senior Gu were to escort him the entire way, ensuring safety, he could go to Xieyun City and exchange for the matured Night Demon Dragon¡¯s horn. That seemed like a pretty good plan. Initially, Xu Ran had no need to go to Xieyun City, but now that he had obtained the evolutionary path, he had a new requirement. So that¡¯s the plan for now. When Senior Gu returns next time, let him know! As for the last main evolutionary resource, Star Dust, Xu Ran had not found it yet. But based on Ziyun¡¯s previous evolution, the arrangement of the three main materials is ordered according to their value. The value of Star Dust should be lower than the Dark Attribute King Stage Blood Essence, which is relatively rare. Firstly, see if he could exchange it in Qingzhou City. If not, he could just exchange it when he gets to Xieyun City! With a plan in mind, Xu Ran let out a sigh of relief. Upon comparison, it seemed that gathering the evolution materials for Star Prime is going to be a bit easier than Ziyun. For what he currently could not exchange, he could always go to Xieyun City for it. ¡°Next, it¡¯s skill fusion.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°I just hope you have better luck in fusing skills next time. Otherwise, five three-star skills will require too many skill fusion stones.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun nodded in agreement. Before Star Prime had even signed a contract, it had already used quite a bit of skill fusion stones. It barely managed to meet the Waning Moon Level evolution conditions with four three-star skills before evolving. The evolution conditions for Star Prime now are even more difficult, it¡¯s going to be a tough journey. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Let¡¯s first fuse Night Hunting Pupil into a three-star skill!) Star Prime took a deep breath, tightly shut its eyes, and a look of nervousness appeared on its face. This was currently its only fused skill. Instead of fusing with other skills first, it was better to step up this skill to three stars first. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, opened the dark attribute skills and general skills, and started to find the two-star skill with the highest fusion success rate with Night Hunting Pupil. At the moment, Star Prime had reached 60 skill fragments. Exchanging for a two-star skill was not a problem. Soon, Xu Ran locked onto a two-star skill named Night Hunt in the Dark attribute skills exchange list. To his surprise, this skill was not one that increased visual acuity. Its effect was to lock onto an opponent and temporarily gain their line of sight. Tracking, huh¡­ If it weren¡¯t for the visible fusion probability, Xu Ran would never have thought that such a skill could be fused with Night Hunting Pupil. But upon closer thought, it was quite promising. ¡°Two-star Night Hunt¡± + ¡°Two-star Night Hunting Pupil¡± ¡°Fusion success rate: 6.1%¡± ¡°Proceed to fusion?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°No¡± Fuse! Under the tense atmosphere of one man and two beasts, four stones went down¡­ ¡°Fusion Success¡± -Two-star Night Hunting Pupil (Starlight Level)¡± (214/500)¡±+¡± Hl [**¡ï Night Inspection (Starlight Level)] (214/5OO)[+] ¡°Success!¡± A satisfied smile emerged on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Four out of nine were successful, it was rather good luck. On the other side, Star had a slightly stunned expression. While a large amount of information emerged in his mind, he also felt an uncontrollable joy from within his body, as if a shackle was broken, and his life level was elevated. Ziyun had experienced this feeling several times, but for Star, it was the first. Finally, he had his first three-star skill! Gradually coming back to his senses, Star couldn¡¯t hold back from lifting his front hoofs, letting out an excited neigh. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Great!) ¡°There are still four skill fusion stones left, and they still have 20 skill fragments.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°Should I also take the opportunity to advance Tenacity to two stars?¡± As he spoke, he casually opened Star¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Star] Race name: Night Colt Attribute: Darkness Growth Stage: Elite Stage (14625/20000)!+] Race Stage: Leader Stage Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ï Night Inspection (Starlight Level)](214/5OO)[+] [¡ï¡ï Twilight Watch (Starlight Level)](253/5oo)[+l Star Chain (Starlight Level)](264/5oo)[+] [¡ï¡ï Night Song (Starlight Level)](238/5OO)[+] [¡ï¡ï Nightfall (Starlight Level)](202/500)[+] [¡ï Tenacity (Starlight Level)](3Ol/5OO)[+] [¡ï Self-healing Power (Starlight Level)](81/5OO)[+] The Tenacity skill, due to the recent lack of Energy Abundant Potions, has improved at a faster speed and is now the fastest training skill of Star. Upgrading it to two stars would also help Star¡¯s subsequent training. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Splendid!) Star had no objections to Xu Ran¡¯s arrangement. The skill fusion was fortunate today, so they had to seize the opportunity! Xu Ran nodded slightly, then opened the one-star Skills from the dark and common skills, and began to select one. After a moment, his eyes settled on a one-star skill named Night Capture. ¡°This skill¡­ is quite interesting, huh?¡± Looking at the series introduction of this one-star skill, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. Although one-star skills are a bit out of sight for Ziyun and Star, there are some interesting skills hidden among them. Like the one in front of him. Night Capture: Speeds up the absorption of darkness power to recover itself in a nocturnal environment. This skill combined with Tenacity should result in a fun effect. [¡ï Night Capture]+[* Tenacity] [Fusion Success Rate: 15.2%] [Proceed with Fusion?] [Yes][No] The fusion was successfully completed with the use of two fusion stones. [* Tenacity (Starlight Level)](3Ol/5OO)[+] Hl [¡ï¡ï Long Night (Starlight Level)](3Ol/5OO)[+] ¡°That¡¯s it for today.¡± Xu Ran grinned. Although there are still two skill fusion stones left, and there is hope to promote self-healing power to two stars, prioritizing the promotion of other skills to three stars is higher. And two fusion stones are not enough for those skill fusions. As for the skill points, like Ziyun, it¡¯s a bit of a loss to allocate them right now. They should be kept until the evolution is nearly complete, and then allocate to where it is needed. In the end, Xu Ran modified the blackboard after distribution. ¡°Skill Points: 540 points (Star)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 10 pieces (Star)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 1 bottle (Star)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stone: 2 pieces (Star)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 2 points (Ziyun) + 4433 points (Star)¡± It was another day where only Ziyun was poor in the whole world. The author has escaped from the pet hospital to update everyone, well discuss the detailed circumstances in the next leave note. There will be another chapter later, around twelve o¡¯clock. Friends who want to sleep early can read tomorrow.. Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 126: Disappearance Incident, Dont Forget the Initial Intentional Chapter 183: Chapter 126: Disappearance Incident, Don¡¯t Forget the Initial Intentional Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Boss Xu, is Boss Xu there?¡± Outside the closed door, a somewhat familiar voice called out. Xu Ran followed the sound and quickly spotted a familiar figure standing outside the door. Having called out twice without a reply, the individual quickly stepped forward, about to knock on the door, but Xu Ran rushed forward to greet ¡°Elder Zhang, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Oh oh¡­¡± Zhang Heyear saw Xu Ran step forward to open the door and quickly pulled back his hand which had intended to knock, scratching his head in a nonchalant manner, ¡°So you were here after all.¡± ¡°Yes, I was occupied with something.¡± Xu Ran smoothly tucked the small blackboard away into a corner, ¡°Elder Zhang, is there something you need?¡± Ziyun and Star, who were initially about to head downstairs to test their improved powers, glanced at each other and halted their steps, perking up their ears to listen in. -Hey! Nothing much.¡± Zhang Heyear broke into a smile, ¡°Just that the care and grooming activity for the stray pet beasts that took place a few days ago is now concluded, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Every stray pet beast under Boss Cat had completed a round of care and grooming. Given that they had been roaming around Qingzhou City for some time these Stray pet beasts probably make up all of the stray pet beasts in Qingzhou City. The cleaning services for subsequent stray pet beasts won¡¯t be as frequent. If done sporadically, cleaning an average of one pet a day would suffice. ¡°The issue of stray pet beasts has always been a headache for the Beast Master Association, and now that it¡¯s fully resolved, many Beast Masters in the Association are delighted,¡± Reaching this point, a puzzled expression crossed Zhang Heyear¡¯s face, ¡°So they decided to reward you.¡± ¡°A reward?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through any trouble directly¡­¡± ¡°Err¡­¡± Zhang Heyear seemed to already guess what Xu Ran was going to say so he quickly interrupted by bringing out a banner from behind him, ¡°This is the Association¡¯s reward.¡± ¡­Just a banner?¡± A hint of disappointment crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Not exactly, there¡¯s also a prize money of a hundred thousand.¡± Zhang Heyear glanced at the price list on the wall, ¡°However I suspect Boss Xu might not fancy this amount.¡± ¡°How can that be? I believe that the cash reward has more value than ¡ö¡ö As Xu Ran was talking, he unfurled the banner in his hands only to suddenly quiet when he saw the large words on it, ¡°is less valuable than this banner.¡± His expression was instantly filled with righteousness, ¡°The Association is too kind, I¡¯ve just performed some trivial tasks, and I feel embarrassed accepting such a reward.¡± ¡°Hehe, this is what you deserve.¡± Zhang Heyear fake laughed, a twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth, and seemed to see through everything already. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll accept this reward, all the while feeling a bit shameless.¡± Xu Ran was overjoyed and promptly hung the banner in the most conspicuous spot in the shop. The words on the banner, ¡°Qingzhou City¡¯s Excellent Fosterage Shop,¡± were clearly displayed. Just by hanging this banner alone, Which Beast Master wouldn¡¯t step inside to take a look? Xu Ran loved this reward! ¡°I came here this time to deliver the banner on behalf of the Association but I also have a personal favor to ask.¡± Zhang Heyear said after a pause, ¡°Is Boss Xu busy now. If not, could you provide a care and grooming session for my Giant Gold Eagle?¡± Frankly speaking, Zhang Heyear was not very interested in pet grooming before this. But given that the recent five-day stray pet beast grooming event was initiated because of him, it caught his attention. The transformation of the pet beasts before and after grooming genuinely left him astonished. And as he was watching, he couldn¡¯t resist the idea of arranging for his own pet beast a grooming session. The Giant Gold Eagle was at the cusp between a large pet beast and a super-large pet beast, with a wingspan reaching ten meters. Going by the pricing for large pet beasts, a grooming session at Starfire Pet Shop would cost over sixty thousand. Although he, being a Leadership Level Beast Master had funds, he had never indulged in such extravagant grooming before. ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the hanging clock. The Foster Shop was still open for business. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t turn away a customer at the door. Especially a familiar one. Xu Ran looked at the Giant Gold Eagle that was curiously poking its head in through the door. [Race: Giant Gold Eagle Attribute: Wind attribute, Earth attribute Growth Stage: Leadership stage Body Type: Large Size Maintenance Need: ***** Evaluation: The minimalist, Son of Wind, soaring in the skies, believes wind can clean itself. Please let the host use his hands and passion to show it the gentle charm of water.] ¡°Come in.¡± He gestured for the Giant Gold Eagle to enter the shop, then led it to the Grooming Room. Ziyun and Star moved forward to take a look at the banner, then feeling somewhat uninterested, walked together towards the back gate and headed down to the foster area on the basement level. Their powers having just been greatly enhanced, they needed to familiarize themselves with their newfound power as soon as possible. Inside the grooming room, Xu Ran donned his gloves, looked at the still curious Giant Gold Eagle and gave a half-smile, ¡°Alright, lie down now. It¡¯s time for your grooming.¡± ¡°Caw~¡± The Giant Gold Eagle nodded agreeably and lay neatly on the grooming platform after retracting its wings. And just like that, the grooming session officially started. The prepared bath cleanser, at just the right warm temperature, was sprayed gently and evenly onto the body of the Giant Gold Eagle, quickly soaking its slender golden wings. Following that, the tiny, fine down feathers hidden under the main feathers got wet too, sticking tightly to the muscular body of the Giant Gold Eagle.. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 126: Disappearance Incident, Dont Forget the Initial Intention—2 Chapter 184: Chapter 126: Disappearance Incident, Don¡¯t Forget the Initial Intention¡ª2 Translator: 549690339 It was a peculiar sensation, akin to being gently pressed by a palm. The Giant Golden Eagle¡¯s body shuddered slightly. This unprecedented sensation left it momentarily stupefied. As Xu Ran continued to wet it, the plush down deep within the Giant Golden Eagle¡¯s feathers was thoroughly soaked. Under the washing of the water, the down clung to its body and gently swayed, as if countless hands were stroking the Eagle¡¯s body. This peculiar sensation caused the Giant Golden Eagle to narrow its sharp eyes contently, a few hints of comfort emerging on its face. ¡°Kree~¡± [Pleasure Value from the Giant Golden Eagle +15] [Pleasure Value from the Giant Golden Eagle +15] [From¡­] Observing the familiar arrival of pleasure points, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze towards the Giant Golden Eagle gradually became affectionate. Having just completed a Ten Consecutive Drawing, Xu Ran, who had allocated all his accumulated resources, was as poor as could be now. Pleasure value, the more, the merrier. ¡°Hsss ¡± Despite having seen the remarkable contrast of many stray pet beasts before and after washing and protection at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, and having certain expectations in his heart, Zhang Heyear was still astounded when he saw his own Giant Golden Eagle rejuvenated under Xu Ran¡¯s seemingly magical hands. ¡°This eagle¡­¡± Zhang Heyear quickly walked up to his Giant Golden Eagle, circled around it, incessantly clicking his tongue in amazement. Previously, his daily ride on the majestic Giant Golden Eagle had already aroused much envy from his colleagues at the Association. And now¡­ Thinking about the scene of him riding on the back of the Giant Golden Eagle with every feather gleaming post-grooming, and returning to the Association to a crowd of onlookers, Zhang Heyear felt blissful to the point of exhilaration. The washing and protection, it was worth it! ¡°Boss Xu, thank you so much!¡± Without any hesitation, Zhang Heyear paid by scanning the QR code, ¡°I can¡¯t wait to ride on its back and soar in the sky. ¡°Please.¡± Xu Ran smiled. He had never seen any customer dissatisfied with his grooming service. The genuine smiles and surprise on his customers¡¯ faces after grooming was motivating for him as well. Of course, this would not lead to him reducing the charges for his customers by a single cent! ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose then. 1¡¯11¡­¡± Just as Zhang Heyear was about to bid farewell, his phone rang with an urgent tone. Hearing this specially set ringtone, his relaxed smile quickly faded and he walked to a corner of the store to answer the call. ¡°Hello, this is Zhang Heyear¡­¡± A moment later, the Zhang Heyear who had returned after ending the call was filled with anger, ¡°Those despicable guys, damn them!¡± ¡°Elder Zhang, what happened?¡± Curiosity got the better of Xu Ran, ¡°Could you tell me if it¡¯s convenient?¡± -Sure.¡± Zhang Heyear nodded slightly, although his expression remained grave, ¡°At the beginning of this month, a blatant criminal gang appeared within Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°They targeted underage individuals for their kidnappings. In just half a month, they have succeeded three times and the missing individuals still haven¡¯t been found.¡± ¡°So, they¡¯re kidnapping for money?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became serious, ¡°If their aim is money, they should have reached out to the victims¡¯ family, right?¡± ¡°From the current situation, it seems their goal is not money. That¡¯s the most troublesome part.¡± Zhang Heyear shook his head, ¡°We can only be sure that they are still in Qingzhou City and they couldn¡¯t have gotten away. Other than that, we have no leads.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his expression growing solemn. Who would¡¯ve thought that even in this supernatural world where Beast Masters exist, there would be¡­ Wait a minute, Beast Masters? Xu Ran¡¯s mind stirred, ¡°Those criminals, they must be Beast Masters too, right?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Zhang Heyear nodded, ¡°Ordinary people would not be able to perfectly hide their tracks from Beast Masters.¡± ¡°Even for Beast Masters, it¡¯s quite difficult to achieve this. ¡°At their crime scenes, strong figures from our Association discovered a resource called Star Dust, which has an effect of hiding tracks and aura.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, we can take this as a breakthrough and identify them through the Beast Master Association.¡± ¡°However, the other party did not register at the Beast Master Association. At this point, Zhang Heyear failed to notice Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, which was gradually turning odd. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, grit his teeth, and give the counter a hard thump. ¡°Just now, that damnable fellow got away with it again, ¡ö¡öThe impact of this incident has already been devastating, leading the Beast Master Association to expand its scope of investigation.¡± Zhang Heyear paused slightly, ¡°Originally, there were only four Leadership Level Beast Masters involved in the investigation and pursuit.¡± ¡°Now, all the Leadership Level Beast Masters in Qingzhou City are required to keep an eye out for this incident in their spare time. Anyone who manages to capture the criminal will be greatly rewarded.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pass on what I¡¯ve said so far.¡± Zhang Heyear glanced at Xu Ran and advised him, ¡°The situation is not yet ready to be completely public. ¡°I understand.¡± Xu Ran suddenly spoke up, ¡°Elder Zhang, can I be involved too?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Heyear was clearly taken aback by Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion, an astonished expression appeared on his face. ¡°You want to join in too? ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his face gradually clouded with a sense of justice, ¡°Such an evil criminal poses a great threat to the entire city. As a member of Qingzhou City, I have a duty to help. Zhang Heyear fell silent. He looked at Xu Ran with complex eyes. The fact that the other party wanted to get involved at this point caught him off guard. He had always believed that Xu Ran¡¯s work in washing and grooming stray pet beasts was merely a publicity stunt for his shop. Could it be that he misinterpreted things? Was Boss Xu really a righteous citizen with a strong sense of responsibility? Entertaining this possibility, Zhang Heyear felt a bit guilty all of a sudden. However, this matter¡­ ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Zhang Heyear shook his head, ¡°Based on our prediction, the criminal is likely to be a Leadership Level Beast Master as well, which allows him to kidnap victims right under the nose of these strong figures.¡± ¡°Both my pet beasts are at the Elite Stage, one of them has even evolved into the King Species. It may not be able to face a Leadership Level, but it should at least be able to defend itself.¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°My other pet beast can provide a boost.¡± ¡°Moreover, it has a very powerful visual skill, which can assist in the search. ¡¯You¡­¡± Zhang Heyear was touched. King Species. Despite appearing to be not that strong, Boss Xu actually managed to make one of his pet beasts evolve? And what about his other pet beast that possesses supportive and investigative skills? Zhang Heyear, who initially intended to firmly reject the request, wavered now. There are less than twenty Leadership Level Beast Masters in Qingzhou City. Their pet beasts differ from each other, but they are lacking in investigative skills. This was the reason why the Beast Master Association has been unable to find the criminal for such a long time. And now¡­ Maybe, it¡¯s worth giving it a shot? Filled with anticipation, Zhang Heyear took a deep breath, ¡°I am not the one to make this decision, just wait. I will report this to the Association.¡± After finishing speaking, he turned and walked to a corner to make a call. While Zhang Heyear was on the phone, Xu Ran summoned his pet beasts Ziyun and Star from downstairs using Contractual Sensing. ¡°The Star Dust is found! Hurry up here!¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (So soon?) Star paused for a moment then sprinted toward the underground passage, his eyes filled with excitement. Could it finally gather another piece of its evolution resources? ¡°Meow~¡±(I¡¯ll go and see too-) Upon stepping into the passage, a bolt of lightning appeared beside Star. Ziyun¡¯s eyes were blinking in eager anticipation. The last time it received resources, Star helped it quite a bit. It already had a plan to help whenever Star needed resources. Now, its wish was finally fulfilled! By the time the two pet beasts appeared before Xu Ran, Zhang Heyear who was on the phone requesting the Beast Master Association¡¯s guidance on the matter, also ended his call. ¡°The Association agrees.¡± He took the liberty of spending a bit more time looking at Xu Ran¡¯s pet beasts, then slowly spoke up ¡°Boss Xu, thank you for your help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Xu Ran gave a slight smile, ¡°If you want to thank me, you can mention the Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s services in the newspaper after capturing the criminal.¡± Zhang Heyear: As expected, Boss Xu never forgets his original intention! Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Chapter 127: The Tainted..._1 Chapter 185: Chapter 127: The Tainted¡­_1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Screech¡ª¡± Accompanied by a sharp and fierce cry, the Giant Gold Eagle flapped its wings, causing a whirlwind. The creature suspended approximately about one meter off the ground, swept away the dust and slowly landed on the ground. ¡°We are here.¡± Zhang Heyear took the lead, jumping off the Giant Gold Eagle¡¯s back with a serious expression, his eyes fixed on a building in front of him. ¡°This is the crime scene.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran, who followed Zhang Heyear off the Giant Gold Eagle, was enveloped by a Hexagram Star Array. Ziyun and Star emerged from the whirlwind, curiously observing their surroundings. ¡°The other Leadership Level Beast Masters should be faster than us.¡± Zhang Heyear glanced at his cellphone, obtaining information from the internal Association chat group about the movements of other Leadership Level Beast Masters, ¡°Those that could make it here have already completed their search of the crime scene and have begun an extensive search.¡± ¡°With their involvement, those desperate criminals will surely be apprehended today.¡± ¡°In that case, we should pick up the pace,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice held a trace of urgency, ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, we can¡¯t let it be in vain!¡± The bodies of this group of criminals were covered with Star Dust. If they were to be eliminated by other powerful Beast Masters, the matter of Star Dust would no longer concern him. ¡°Um¡­ Alright.¡± Zhang Heyear looked at Xu Ran a bit peculiarly. Little Boss Xu seemed eager to put on a show, probably aiming for a notable position in subsequent case reports to advertise for his Foster Shop. The only fault Boss Xu had was his obsession with advertising. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Zhang Heyear quickened his pace, commanding the Giant Gold Eagle to rise into the sky and stand by. Behind him appeared the Hexagram Star Array. From within a storm, a robust giant ape emerged, its prominent Leadership Stage aura became apparent the moment it appeared. The familiar aura stirred Star into turning its head towards the creature. Leader of the Dark Attribute species, the Blood Demon Ape. ¡°Little Black.¡± Zhang Heyear uttered, and the aggressive aura of the Blood Demon Ape immediately contracted. It scratched its head somewhat embarrassingly and showed Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star a friendly smile. Its crimson eyes no longer drove fear into people¡¯s hearts. Instead, they now appeared rather honest and naive. ¡°As darkness approaches, Little Black¡¯s strength will be enhanced. He¡¯s enough help.¡± Zhang Heyear explained. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran waved at the Blood Demon Ape as a form of greeting. Then he led the two Pet Beasts and followed Zhang Heyear towards the building where the crime happened. Taking the elevator up to the twelfth floor, they swiftly arrived at an empty room. ¡°The missing person¡¯s name is Ding Wei, a fourteen-year-old girl,¡± Zhang Heyear, who had familiarised himself with the case files in advance, cautiously walked into the room and slowly started speaking. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (I can¡¯t get in.) Star, who is over two meters tall, lowered his head and tried to enter. But then, he groaned helplessly. Darn it, being too big is indeed too inconvenient. ¡°Roar hey!¡± The Blood Demon Ape managed to squeeze into the room, then teasingly squinted at Star. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun covered its mouth with its paw and giggled softly. Then it jumped up and lightly patted Star¡¯s head as a gesture of comfort. ¡°Are the criminals only kidnapping underage girls? Or are there also boys?¡±Xu Ran signaled Star to wait outside while asking. ¡°Both genders.¡± Zhang Heyear, who had started searching the room replied casually, he paused and then continued, ¡°Ding Wei¡¯s parents were out working, but she was feeling unwell today, so she came home early from school.¡± ¡°She was kidnapped by a Transcendent Being while alone at home. Her parents discovered something was wrong upon their return and reported it to us.¡± ¡°Other Beast Masters found some clues in her home, but they were of little help to the progress of the case,¡± Zhang Heyear gestured towards a wardrobe, ¡°For example, here.¡± Xu Ran, following Zhang Heyear¡¯s lead, quickly moved forward and began to closely inspect the area. On the door of the wardrobe was a particularly clear scratch. The cut was smooth with no cracks around it. It seemed like it had been swiftly devoured by some powerful force. Such a mark is hard to attribute to any ordinary humans or objects without Transcendent Powers. On the contrary, it seems more likely to be the work of a Transcendent Being. On the inside of the scratch mark were tiny, shimmering fragments. Zhang Heyear casually pulled the curtains closed and then turned off the lights. ¡°Snap!¡± In the pitch-dark room, the fragments on the wardrobe began to glow of their own accord, like countless scattered stars, creating an extremely radiant view. ¡°This is Star Dust,¡± Zhang Heyear turned on the lights again, ¡°It can absorb Transcendent energy and aura. Because of its existence, all the evidence left on this scratch by the criminal has been concealed.¡± ¡°Could this Star Dust still be used if it¡¯s scraped off?¡± Unexpectedly, Xu Ran questioned. ¡°Um¡­¡± Zhang Heyear stuttered because of Xu Ran¡¯s unusual line of thought, but still promptly responded. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Star Dust is a kind of pure and special resource. It can absorb aura and Transcendent Powers. But after the absorption, it is contaminated and cannot be used again.¡± ¡°You saw it just now, the light emitted by the Star Dust contained obvious impurities, which symbolizes its contamination..¡± Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 127: The Tainted..._2 Chapter 186: Chapter 127: The Tainted¡­_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly regretfully. Seems like he still needed to find that group of criminals and obtain pure Star Dust from their hands. Next, Zhang Heyear led Xu Ran to several unusual traces. The criminals were very cautious, each trace shone with the sparkle of Star Dust. After a round of search, both of them returned to the entrance of the house looking dejected, ¡°The crime scene, is probably like this.¡± ¡°Have you looked around this area?¡± Xu Ran, recalling some crime investigation dramas from his previous life, suddenly spoke. ¡°The criminal may not have completely left the scene.¡± ¡°Ah? How could this be possible?¡± Zhang Heyear couldn¡¯t help but reveal a surprised expression. Xu Ran looked at Zhang Heyear, who appeared confused and a vague suspicion formed in his heart. This world is very different from the last one in many respects. In terms of public order, the Beast Master Association often deploys powerful Beast Masters to maintain the law and order. While these Beast Masters were indeed powerful, their lack of professional training created significant gaps in criminal investigations. For example, now, he simply mentioned a somewhat superficial possibility, but Zhang Heyear was clueless. ¡°Earlier, Elder Zhang mentioned that the criminals were part of a group, not individuals.¡± Xu Ran patiently explained, ¡°And they didn¡¯t just carry out a single criminal act, there have been several before.¡± ¡°In such a scenario, it¡¯s very likely that they will continue their criminal activities.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly and turned to Zhang Heyear listening attentively. ¡°If you were the criminal, Elder Zhang, would you seek information on the Association¡¯s moves for the success of the next crime?¡± ¡°Well ¡­even though I haven¡¯t done such things before, but from the criminal¡¯s perspective¡­ I should be considering who from the Association is investigating this matter.¡± Zhang Heyear felt curious and nodded after serious consideration. ¡°The best way to understand their operations is to keep watch around the crime scene.¡± Xu Ran explained, ¡°Because the person responsible for the investigation from the Association will definitely come here.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Zhang Heyear¡¯s face gradually grew grave, his voice dropping a few decibels, ¡°You are saying, part of the criminals may be observing us in secret?¡± ¡°I think so, we can give it a try.¡¯1 Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°Elder Zhang, your Giant Gold Eagle has a One Star Skill of dynamic vision, right?¡± It just so happened that this skill was plucked out when they were washing and protecting before. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Heyear nodded, ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s detailed analysis earlier made Zhang Heyear unconsciously more trusting of him. ¡°I indeed have a plan, it may not work but we can give it a shot.¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment, ¡°Later, Elder Zhang, you let your Giant Gold Eagle continue to hover high in the sky, initiating dynamic vision to observe the surroundings.¡± ¡°Then we will return to the empty space we just reached and make some noise.¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s give your plan a try.¡± Zhang Heyear was not very good at investigating cases, being just a delivery man, and naturally he¡¯d defer to Xu Ran¡¯s ideas. After discussing quickly, they soon left the crime scene¡¯s house. Xu Ran was mounted on Star¡¯s back, accompanied by Star¡¯s neigh, the Star Chain materialized instantly, and the pair with their three beasts proceeded casually towards the clearing. ¡°Elder Zhang, these criminals are too detestable, they didn¡¯t leave any clues at all.¡± On reaching the open space, Xu Ran deliberately raised his voice, complaining. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t like this, the Association would not send so many Leadership Level Beast Masters.¡± Zhang Heyear shook his head reluctantly, ¡°But there¡¯s no need to worry too much, the Association will carry out a carpet search in the entire Qingzhou City tomorrow, they won¡¯t escape.¡± After saying this, Zhang Heyear¡¯s eyes flickered and he shot Xu Ran a look. Something was happening! A smile crept up in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. These criminals couldn¡¯t keep their cool, could they? The conversation between the two was premeditated. First, they expressed they had no leads, which lessened the enemy¡¯s vigilance, and then mentioned the deployment of powerful Beast Masters by the Association. If the criminals had been stalking all along, they would¡¯ve surely noticed this. Hearing their conversion would only make the criminals believe in the credibility of their dialogue all the more. Then came the fabricated story of a blanket search by the Association tomorrow. With the previous groundwork, the criminals would certainly lose their nerve, thinking of rushing back to inform the other gangs, thereby exposing themselves. ¡°That direction, approximately 400 meters.¡± With feedback from the Giant Gold Eagle in the sky, Zhang Heyear quickly provided the exact location of the suspects. ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran opened the Star Chain with his eyes closed and then slowly opened them. His eyes turned completely black, and it seemed as if countless dark chains were twining and rotating in his pupils. Zhang Heyear only took one look, then quickly averted his gaze, silently shocked. Such a terrifying feeling, the moment their eyes met, he felt as if he was completely locked in, unable to escape. Opening his eyes, Xu Ran turned his head to look in the direction pointed out by Zhang Heyear. A figure, speeding in a certain direction with a cleverly concealed aura, incapable of escaping the surveillance of Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, had entered his field of vision. In a brief instant, the figure covered a distance of about 200 meters, a rather amazing speed. However¡­ Gotcha! The black chains in Xu Ran¡¯s pupils twisted quickly, only he could see the locked-on mark appearing over the figure¡¯s head. In the next moment, Xu Ran momentarily gains the figure¡¯s field of vision. Three Star Skill, Starlight Level-Night Inspection! ¡°Star, let¡¯s go!¡± With a low growl, Xu Ran clamped his thighs tightly around Star¡¯s belly. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star neighed once, and dark patterns rapidly appeared all around its body, quietly blending into the dark of night, like a ghost in the darkness quickly setting off. By its side, bolts of electricity emitted from Ziyun¡¯s body, instantly activating Step on Electric Traces. ¡°Wait! I also¡­¡± Zhang Heyear was about to call for the Giant Gold Eagle to land and follow Xu Ran when he was vetoed by the latter. ¡°You just need to trail far behind me, ready to intervene whenever.¡± Xu Ran waved him off, ¡°The Giant Gold Eagle is quite conspicuous.¡± ¡°¡­Alright then, be careful!¡± Watching Xu Ran disappear into the night, Zhang Heyear slightly shook his head, waited for a while before calling the Giant Gold Eagle to follow. ¡°Star, activate Long Night!¡± Trailing thousands of meters behind the criminal, Xu Ran¡¯s expressions were quite calm. The criminal¡¯s Pet Beast, it seemed, was a beast known for its speed among the Leadership Stage beasts, thus it was much faster than Star. There was no way Star could catch up at its speed. But Xu Ran had no intentions of catching up either. After all, he was not yet a match for a Leadership Level Beast Master. All he had to do was keep track of the figure¡¯s location. If nothing went wrong, the figure¡¯s final destination would be the criminals¡¯ hideout. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to wipe them all out in one fell swoop? ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± As Star neighed, a dark glow enveloped it like black holes, devouring the transcendent power in its surroundings, recovering Star¡¯s power quickly. Once Tenacity was promoted to Two Stars and transformed into the brand-new skill Long Night, it was able to enhance its original effects of Tenacity and Night Capture, providing Star with more endurance while absorbing the dark powers in the surroundings actively to accelerate its recovery. Currently, its recovery could cover nearly 70% of the power it consumed. Following this trend, once Long Night was promoted to Three Stars or even higher, Star might potentially become a perpetual motion machine in the real sense. ¡°Meow-¡± (Go, go, go!) Ziyun, who panted after having run for some time, was casually lying on Star¡¯s back, recovering its own strength. As time ticked away, Xu Ran¡¯s expression slightly changed. The marked criminal had entered the bottom of an abandoned factory. ¡°Is that the hideout¡­¡± Xu Ran turned around to wave at the sky behind him. Zhang Heyear promptly appeared on the back of the Giant Gold Eagle, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve found the criminal¡¯s hideout, we should call the other Leadership Level strong men too.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression looked a bit stern, ¡°The number of people on their side, is a bit much..¡± Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 128: Golden Eagle turns into Sand Chapter 187: Chapter 128: Golden Eagle turns into Sand Sculpture?!_i Translator: 549690339 ¡°Is this the place?¡± At Xu Ran¡¯s direction, Zhang Heyear quickly settles onto the rooftop of a skyscraper two kilometers from the enemy base, eyeing the target location with a hint of seriousness. ¡°Over there.¡± Xu Ran nods slightly. The lock given by the Night Inspection has faded, but there were at least four powerful Beast Masters seen through the enemy¡¯s vision. They might not all be Leadership Level Beast Masters, but just to be safe, he¡¯d called for backup to make it more secure. ¡°I¡¯ve called in seven Leadership Level Beast Masters,¡± Zhang Heyear smirks, ¡°Good thing I¡¯m well-liked, we should have this in the bag now.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Hearing that Zhang Heyear brought so many people, Xu Ran immediately felt a surge of safety, and his smile relaxed. After standing in place and waiting for a bit, the reinforcements began to arrive one by one. They didn¡¯t stand together with Zhang Heyear, rather, they had been communicated priori to covertly arrive at various positions around the abandoned factory, forming a loose ring around the criminals¡¯ hideout from several kilometers away. ¡°Everyone¡¯s arrived.¡± When the last reinforcement arrived safely, Zhang Heyear looked at Xu Ran beside him, ¡°When do we begin?¡± ¡°Now.¡± Xu Ran, riding Star, activated his Star Chain for the entirety of the mission, casting Night Inspection to monitor the abandoned factory¡¯s location. Perhaps it was due to the fake tip-off that they had passed on to the enemy. In the abandoned factory, faint shadows of figures were beginning to emerge. They could not afford to delay. Regardless of what the enemy¡¯s plan was, now was the most suitable moment to spring the ambush. ¡°No problem.¡± Zhang Heyear gives a quick nod, perched atop the Giant Gold Eagle. Accompanied by a fierce cry, like a golden rainbow in the black of night, they sped towards the enemy¡¯s base. Other Beast Masters who received the message also started to demonstrate their moves, each releasing their powerful aura and charging out from their respective positions. The still of the night, shattered in an instant! ¡°Boom!¡± Soon, continuous roars sounded from the direction of the abandoned factory, mingled with faint screams and roars. The forces of the two sides finally clashed head-on. ¡°We¡¯ll also set off.¡± Xu Ran lightly tapped Star¡¯s neck, ¡°We can¡¯t let anyone else get the star dust.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (For the Star Dust, charge!) With a spirited roar, Star leapt off the rooftop. ¡°Ding ¡± Carrying Xu Ran and Ziyun, its massive body twisted agilely mid-air, front hooves striking the outer wall of a skyscraper. Accompanied by the tumbling ripples of the darkness, Star ran as if on level ground, perpendicular to the ground. It quickly, and in an orderly fashion reached the ground before accelerating towards the base where the fierce fighting was taking place. Two stars Skills, Starlight Level-Night Song! Under the curtain of night, it moved without inhibitions! Sitting on Star¡¯s back, Xu Ran continued to exercise the Night Inspection, watching the fierce battle unfold ahead. The Association¡¯s vigorous onslaught showed no signs of surprise. Among the enemy¡¯s crime syndicate, there were three Leadership Level Beast Masters, and two Elite Level Beast Masters, in total, five people. Facing the impending attack from Zhang Heyear and seven other Leadership Level Beast Masters, they quickly fell into disadvantage. The two Elite Level Beast Masters were almost immediately subdued, the remaining three Leadership Level Beast Masters were still stubbornly resisting, but by the time Xu Ran arrived, their Pet Beasts had been successively killed, they had lost the power to resist. ¡°Elder Zhang, I¡¯m going in to check for any remaining criminals!¡± Xu Ran shouted, leading Star and Ziyun straight into the interior. Having previously established their location and surveyed the scene, he was certain no enemies remained inside the base. Star Dust, here I come! ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Zhang Heyear, who had just helped subdue a Leadership Level Beast Master with several others, opened his mouth to say something as he watched Xu Ran charge inside, but then just kicked the subdued Beast Master. ¡°Behave yourself!¡± ¡°Star Dust¡­¡± On the underground floor of the abandoned factory, Xu Ran began searching swiftly and soon found an alloy box in the deepest room. Opening the alloy box, a glass bottle the size of a 500-millilitre water bottle was filled with large quantities of silver dust. This dust, in the dark, was emitting a bright and soft glow. Unlike the colored mixture he had seen earlier, the glow of the dust in front of him was pure and strangely tranquil. With one look, Xu Ran knew. This was the Star Dust! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (So much!) Star stared wide-eyed, captivated by the starlight reflected in her purple crystal-like eyes, and her eyes were full of joy. They¡¯ve gathered another item for evolution! ¡°There must be nearly ten servings here.¡± After briefly sensing the overwhelming transcendent power within, Xu Ran showed a satisfied smile. Casually putting the glass bottle into his pocket, he mounted Star¡¯s back and turned to leave. ¡°Boss Xu, did you find anything?¡± At the same time, Zhang Heyear brought several other elite fighters into the factory. Upon meeting face to face, Zhang Heyear asked. ¡°There are no other criminals left.¡± Xu Ran replied with a poker face, pointing to another room, ¡°The victims they had taken captive should all be in there, none of them are in life-threatening danger.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°Remember to mention our shop¡¯s accompanying training service in your report!¡± Having said this in rapid succession, not waiting for any response, Xu Ran rode off on Star with Ziyun in his arms, leaving Zhang Heyear and the others looking at each other, baffled.. Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 128: Golden Eagle turned into Sand Sculpture?! _2 Chapter 188: Chapter 128: Golden Eagle turned into Sand Sculpture?! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Did you guys notice the bulging thing in his arms just now¡­¡± One of the Leadership Level Beast Masters said, an odd expression on his face. ¡°Forget it, if it weren¡¯t for Boss Xu¡¯s help, we might still be groping around in the dark!¡± Another Leadership Level Beast Master chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend we didn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Nothing beats seeing in person, Boss Xu sure loves advertising.¡± ¡°This small matter aside, let¡¯s hurry up and save people.¡± Zhang He coughed youthfully, quickly changing the subject and leading the others inside. ¡°Star Dust, got it!¡± Back in the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s face was full of delight as he held the newly acquired, still warm Star Dust over his head. Star was also overjoyed. They had obtained a piece of resource without spending any Beast Master Points. At this moment, it understood the joy Ziyun felt when she got the Power Bone Dust. That was the happiness of getting something for nothing! ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I¡¯ll keep the Star Dust for Star. Let¡¯s rest early.¡± Xu Ran smiled as he stored the Star Dust, ¡°Hopefully, Elder Zhang won¡¯t come asking for it tomorrow.¡± If everything had gone as expected, his small trick would not have escaped the eyes of the few Leadership Level Beast Masters. They were just choosing to turn a blind eye. But that was just temporary. Once the arrested criminals confessed their crimes, the matter with the Star Dust would certainly not remain hidden. If the Beast Master Association does not pursue the matter, then he would have no qualms about keeping the Star Dust. If the Beast Master Association wants to retrieve it, that is also fine. He could just redeem them with Beast Master Points if it came to that. It¡¯s not a big deal. ¡°Boss Xu, you really did move quickly.¡± The next morning, a smiling Zhang He appeared in the Starfire Foster Care Shop, getting straight to the point, ¡°That big bottle of Star Dust, you took all of it.¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Even with Xu Ran¡¯s thick skin, he was feeling a bit embarrassed, ¡°I just picked it up while passing by.¡± ¡°Take it.¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s embarrassed expression, Zhang He laughed, ¡°Anyway, Star Dust is not that valuable, it¡¯s just rare. It¡¯s a resource extracted from the meteor.¡± ¡°Then I will thank the Association for this.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Did the criminal gang confess?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang He nodded slightly, his smile gradually faded, and his expression became serious, ¡°It would have been fine if they didn¡¯t confess, but once they did, the whole Beast Master Association was in an uproar.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Is there something more to this matter?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang He nodded, ¡°A Leadership Level Beast Master acting personally to kidnap an ordinary minor, this situation is already out of the ordinary.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement. He already had some doubts about the credibility of this matter from the start, but he was distracted by the Star Dust and didn¡¯t pay much attention. If the purpose of the kidnapping was for ransom, they surely would have called the kidnap victim¡¯s parents, and such a powerful Beast Master wouldn¡¯t need to go to such lengths to get money. If their intention was to traffic them, then that¡¯s even more illogical. Qingzhou city is too small, and the distance between cities is so far that it¡¯s not worth trafficking minors to another city. And for the same reason, they don¡¯t need to go through so much trouble to get money. With this in mind, the motive of their actions is very puzzling. ¡°They pledged allegiance to Wild Super Creatures.¡± The answer from Zhang He surprised Xu Ran. ¡°Ah? Pledge to Wild Super Creatures?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed obvious surprise and confusion. He racked his brain but didn¡¯t think it would be this. ¡°Among Super Creatures, those that are relatively powerful possess wisdom not inferior to Humans. They have established a certain order with intricate power distribution outside the city,¡± Zhang He¡¯s expression became more grave. ¡°Perhaps because they were surrounded and sealed off for too long, some pessimists started to take extreme measures.¡± ¡°The many kidnapped teenagers have one major thing in common, they are very close to reaching the First Stage of Contract Power.¡± ¡°Contract power can accelerate the growth of Transcendent Beings, and when a Transcendent Being¡¯s power surpasses that of a Beast Master¡¯s contract ability, they can strengthen themselves through a forced contract, draining the Beast Master¡¯s life force.¡± ¡°Those guys plan to gather ten and discreetly send them out of the city as a token of goodwill to the wild Transcendent Beings outside the city.¡± ¡°In doing so, they can obtain the recognition of wild Transcendent Beings, freely exit the city in search of resources without being attacked.¡± ¡°Such a vicious incident is happening for the first time in Qingzhou City; last night, the city lord was absolutely furious.¡± Zhang Heyear shakes his head helplessly. Knowing the exact situation, Xu Ran¡¯s expression worsens, ¡°These guys are too outrageous, they¡¯re completely lawless.¡± Searching for resources outside the city without being attacked by wild Transcendent Beings is indeed tempting, but such a despicable act must be severely punished. ¡°Regardless, we have cut off their source; we will also increase our control over this matter in the future.¡± Zhang Heyear¡¯s expression lightens up, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something happy.¡± ¡°This afternoon, the Association will announce the details of this incident, inspiring people and alerting them to this situation.¡± Zhang Heyear pauses slightly before continuing, ¡°Of course, recognition of those who contributed is also included.¡± ¡°Can you give my foster shop a mention?¡± Xu Ran appears excited and hopeful. ¡°Yes!¡± Zhang Heyear rolls his eyes at Xu Ran teasingly, ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯ve done a great service this time. Although it was a bit unorthodox, the Association finally agreed after considering your case.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Xu Ran chuckles. Since his previous promotion through washing and caring for stray pet beasts, an increasing number of customers have been coming to the shop for training. Pranks, the last system skill Xu Ran unlocked and the only one yet to reach B level, has seen a faster increase in experience. This is an excellent thing as Pranks not only relates to the completion of his main task 1 but also provides skill points which both his pet beasts currently need. By rights, its value should be equivalent to physical points. However, currently, because the training service is not as popular as the foster care service, skill points have become scarcer. Presumably, after this afternoon¡¯s recognition, the number of clients coming for training will rise again. ¡°I¡¯m always wondering, Boss Xu, why do you keep advertising the training service?¡± Zhang Heyear looks at the price list on the wall with some confusion. When he sees that it costs 66666 yuan for an hour of training for a Leadership Stage Pet Beast, he winces- Pretty pricey! Yet Xu Ran¡¯s repeated promotions for the training service had indeed aroused Zhang Heyear¡¯s interest. Having experienced the previous success of the washing and cleaning pearls, Zhang Heyear hesitates a moment before gritting his teeth, ¡°How about thraining my Giant Gold Eagle for an hour?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran laughs, leading Zhang Heyear towards a back door, ¡°This way, please.¡± A moment later, they arrive at the Earth attribute Training Area. Zhang Heyear, looking at the extremely realistic mountains and ridges around him, is speechless ¨C So magnificent? Is Space Expansion even capable of this? ¡°You¡¯re training the Earth attribute skill, Solidification, right?¡± Xu Ran looks at Zhang Heyear for confirmation. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Zhang Heyear nods. The Giant Gold Eagle possesses two attributes, wind and earth. The dual attribute means that the evolution process is more difficult, but it seems the eagle has an advantage in comparison to single-attribute beings. Further, it is less likely to be controlled. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nods slightly, brings out a sack of special resources and a shovel from the training equipment room. Then he finds a flat surface and starts to dig a hole laboriously. Under the stunned gaze of Zhang Heyear and the Giant Gold Eagle, Xu Ran quickly digs out a hole big enough to accommodate the Giant Gold Eagle. After evenly sprinkling the resource powder around the hole, Xu Ran gestures for the Giant Gold Eagle to come, ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, what the¡­¡± Zhang Heyear looks a bit suspicious, ¡°What kind of training method is this?¡± ¡°Trust me.¡± Xu Ran gives Zhang Heyear a confident look before shoveling dirt to bury the Giant Gold Eagle in the hole, leaving only its head exposed. An hour later. Looking at the Giant Gold Eagle, which has improved visibly since the beginning of the shell skill, with its body gradually turning into granular sand but also strangely becoming more stone-faced, Zhang Heyear is silent. Good training, let¡¯s not do it again next time. Just discovered that 119 chapters have been reviewed and a couple of hundred words deleted, damn it! Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 129 Beast Kings Test i Chapter 189: Chapter 129 Beast King¡¯s Test i Translator: 549690339 ¡°The three horrifying incidents of minors being kidnapped by transcendent powers that occurred consecutively this month, all five culprits have now been apprehended.¡± ¡°Rest assured, the Beast Master Association will spare no effort to protect the lawful rights and interests of every citizen in Qingzhou City, and we will not allow transcendent powers to be used for evil purposes.¡± ¡°According to Xiao, the lead criminal among the five, the reason behind their abduction of minors is not as straightforward ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ I urge the general public to believe that we are gradually gaining the upper hand in our confrontation with the wild super creatures. The bright future will certainly belong to the humans.¡± ¡°If anyone encounters a similar event in their lives, we welcome you to exercise your citizen¡¯s right to supervision and report to the Beast Master Association promptly. The Association will prioritize cases like this.¡± ¡°In addition to the efforts of our Association members like Zhang Heyear, Yao Pingchuan, and other Leadership Level Beast Masters in the investigation and arrest of the criminals from this case, we also need to thank Mr. Xu Ran, the owner of Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Mr. Xu¡¯s ability to discern the criminals¡¯ intentions is as efficient and miraculous as his training methods, which simplified this case¡­¡± ¡°Click!¡± A sturdy arm reached out, grabbed the remote, and pressed the power off button on the ongoing news broadcast. ¡°Enough already!¡± After turning off that damned TV and shutting off the handsome face of Xu Ran on the news, Wang Xuebin huffed, threw the remote onto the nearby sofa, crossed his arms, and looked displeased. It¡¯s that brat again! In just a few days, this was already the second time he had heard news about this pesky kid, and every single time the news would mysteriously mention that fancy training method¡­ The huge Beast Master Association, also advertising for this shop. How shameless! He, the owner of Beast King Foster Shop, felt gravely threatened at this moment. Previously, the Starfire Foster Shop only advertised for its foster care services and washing and protection services. Although their foster care service clashed with Beast King Foster Shop¡¯s, With lower prices and years of built-up reputation, Beast King Foster Shop could barely maintain its scale. More importantly, he had an ace in the hole. That was the professional sparring trainer he had spent a fortune on from the Second-Level Town. With this credential, the Beast King Foster Shop still maintained absolute authority in training services. But now, as Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s advertisement began leaning heavily towards accompanying training services, Wang Xuebin felt a strong threat. After all, he had already suffered a defeat from that kid once. In the previous beauty contest, he teamed up with the owner of the Dawn Foster Store, Fang Liming, to create the absolute top contestants. But they were ridiculed, and not only did they fail to damage Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s reputation, but instead became stepping stones. After that incident, Fang Liming completely gave up on challenging Starfire Foster Shop, but his Beast King Foster Shop didn¡¯t offer washing and protection services, making it even tougher to make an impact on Starfire Foster Shop on its own. ¡°Old Wang, what¡¯s the matter?¡± A charming and beautiful woman heard the noise and walked out of her bedroom in her nightgown, sitting next to Wang Xuebin, her face exuding a gentle smile. Seeing the woman in front of him dissipated most of Wang Xuebin¡¯s anger, but in response to her question, he grunted and pointed at the now-turned-off TV, ¡°It¡¯s that damn brat Xu Ran again.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all just trying to do business, but he has no martial virtue!¡± ¡°The business world is a battlefield, there¡¯s no place for martial virtue,¡± the woman gave a wry smile, leaning over to fix his slightly askew collar, ¡°You¡¯ve been complaining about this shop for a while now.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The woman¡¯s gentle adjustment of his collar seemed to soothe Wang Xuebin¡¯s irritation. He sighed in helplessness. ¡°Our store has been in operation for nearly ten years, maintaining its current scale. Now our business is being snatched away by a store that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t accept this!¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The woman smiled, a peculiar glint in her eyes, ¡°So, shall we go and see Starfire Foster Shop together?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Wang Xuebin couldn¡¯t help but look at the woman in front of him. Su Qiang, his wife, also a professional sparring trainer at Beast King Foster Store. When Wang Xuebin was able to lure her from the Second Level Town, aside from handing over a heavy sum, it was also because Su Qiang had developed feelings for him. While jointly managing the Beast King, their feelings deepened and they eventually got married. ¡°I want to see what their training services are really like,¡± Su Qiang smiled slightly, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve been harping about this shop for so long, but you haven¡¯t been there yourself, right?¡± ¡°So¡­ shall we go?¡± ¡°Mr. Xu¡¯s ability to discern the criminals¡¯ intentions is as efficient and miraculous as his training methods, which simplified this case¡­¡± ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡± ¡°Brilliant!¡± Hearing the advertising in the news report, Xu Ran clapped enthusiastically, ¡°Absolutely brilliant!¡± Ziyun, who was lazily lying by his side, raised her head to look at Xu Ran, before shifting her gaze away. She was startled, thinking Xu Ran was trying to mimic a cat. ¡°This advertisement placement is a classic of the advertising industry, a perfect example of seamless integration.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face was filled with satisfaction, ¡°With this ad, and this!¡± He pointed to the banner hung in the most prominent position on the wall, visible from the entrance of the shop, with the phrase ¡°Qingzhou City¡¯s Outstanding Foster Shop¡± emblazoned on it.. His face said it all: ¡°This move is solid!¡± Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Chapter 129 Beast Kings Test_2 Chapter 190: Chapter 129 Beast King¡¯s Test_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°The number of clients coming for sparring sessions are about to skyrocket!¡± ¡°The more sparring clients we have, the more skill points we get!¡± ¡°Whistle!¡± (Really? That¡¯s awesome!) When it comes to skill points, Starfire suddenly doesn¡¯t feel tired anymore. He who was standing by the side watching TV suddenly shook his head, snorted, and his eyes were brimming with anticipation. Skill points! Waning Moon Level! ¡°I think, the next time we allocate resources, we should be able to freely use the skill points.¡± Xu Ran smiled, opened his personal panel, and glanced at his current progress bar for pranks. [Pranks (Level C)] (81/500) When distributing resources yesterday, the data was (59/500). Within one day, the experience points of prank skills have increased by 22 points. This was due to the increase in advertisement brought about by the broadcast report after providing free washing and protection service to stray pet beasts. News reports are more effective than broadcasting. The daily increase in experience of pranking should increase even more. The experience bar of this system skill is as long as applying drugs, but the difficulty of gaining experience is actually lower than applying drugs. Training a pet beast for an hour can bring him one point of experience. Elite and Leadership Level Beast Masters often bring several pet beasts and train for several hours. Having such customers visit can provide him with quite a few experience points. Therefore, the day for prank skills to break through to Level B is not far off. And pranks, far exceeding the past, will also bring a considerable amount of skill points. Not to mention directly spending all of Starfire¡¯s five talent skills to the Waning Moon Level, Xu Ran can even point all Ziyun and Starfire¡¯s skills not yet at the Waning Moon Level to the Waning Moon Level, and then focus on a new proficiency level above the Waning Moon Level- Full Moon Level! Listening to the blueprint outlined by Xu Ran, not only Starfire but also Ziyun, who hadn¡¯t cared much about skill points due to their completed evolution, were now interested. Full Moon Level Skills! A skill needs 2000 skill points to break from the Waning Moon Level to the Full Moon Level. With Ziyun¡¯s current training status, it might not be able to reach that level just through training in several months. If earning skill points becomes more accessible, and the balance exceeds Starfire¡¯s needs, can Ziyun attempt to advance to a new level of skill proficiency? Thinking of this, Ziyun glanced at Starfire and then lifted a claw and licked it. Well¡­there¡¯s no hurry. Let¡¯s prepare for the younger brother¡¯s evolution first! ¡°Hello, is this the Starfire Foster Shop known for its excellent training service?¡± A newcomer walked into the shop and asked straightforwardly, presumably drawn by the news report. ¡°Yes, it is. Welcome.¡± Xu Ran immediately put on a smile. Starfire and Ziyun both showed kind expressions. These are all skill points in the making! As time ticked by, the advertisement effect after the news report was better than Xu Ran imagined. The continuous hustle between the shop and the training area didn¡¯t even leave much time for him to carry out washing and protection. When the shop was about to close, Xu Ran sent away a satisfied customer. His smile grew deeper. [Pranks (Level C)] (117/500) Just in one afternoon, the prank experience increased by 36 points! Xu Ran is clear that the advertising effect is the best just after the broadcast, and it may not maintain this speed of increase in the future, but it is enough to make him happy. According to this trend, if he continues for about a week, should his pranking skills be able to break through to Level B smoothly? Thinking of the upcoming completion of the Main Task 1 and the new reward system clerk, Xu Ran is full of anticipation. After a busy afternoon, he discovered that it was quite challenging to handle all three businesses when they were all booming at the same time. The system clerk should be able to solve this problem. ¡°Welcome!¡± Catching a new customer through the corner of his eye, Xu Ran stood up, ¡°What kind of service do you need?¡± ¡°You¡¯re younger than I expected.¡± Su Qiang smiled, behind her the Hexagram Star Array shone brightly, in the wild wind, her powerful aura as a Leadership level suddenly exploded. ¡°Damn¡­¡± With a loud sound, a pet beast with a fierce look and a height of ten meters, emanating a terrifying aura, took step by step out. It was a dragon-type pet beast that looked like a dinosaur without wings. Its form was broader on the bottom and narrow on top. Under the conical outline filled with robust muscles were ferocious looking scales. On its back, there were spine-chilling spines. Xu Ran could not help but raise an eyebrow, tilting his head to look at the gigantic beast. By now, he was able to recognize at a glance, the background of the pet beast before him. An earth attribute pet beast, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon. Granted, Xu Ran preferred to compare it to a monster from a sci-fi movie in his previous life. Godzilla. The intimidating aura of the Split Earth Thorn Dragon flashed briefly and disappeared. At the hint of Su Qiang, it quickly reined in the powerful aura of its leadership stage, but its fierce appearance still brought enormous pressure on people. ¡°Let me introduce yourself, my little brother.¡± Su Qiang had a faint smile on her face, ¡°I am a trainer at Beast King Foster Shop, and this is my husband, the boss of Beast King Foster Shop.¡± She pointed at Wang Xuebin who had come here with her. Meanwhile, Wang Xuebin crossed his arms and glared at Xu Ran, ¡°Kid, I can¡¯t wait to see how capable you are to steal our business from Beast King Foster Shop.¡± His eyes caught a glimpse of the banner hanging in the shop, and the corner of his mouth twitched hard. Damn it! Only after Su Qiang had broken through to become a Leadership Level Beast Master and leveraged their past merits accumulated in the association, that they achieved a similar banner in their Beast King Foster Shop. This kid had already got one! ¡°¡­Beast King Foster Shop?¡± Xu Ran blinked, an enlightened expression quickly appeared on his face, ¡°I know about your shop. It¡¯s said to provide the best foster services in Qingzhou City.¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Su Qiang and Wang Xuebin exchanged a glance. They¡¯d heard similar things in the past, but why did it feel a bit mocking coming from Xu Ran? ¡°What brings you here?¡± Knowing that the pair was from Beast King Foster Shop, Xu Ran, naturally, was no longer treating them like regular customers and asked cautiously. ¡°Well, here¡¯s the thing,¡± Su Qiang composed herself, her smile quickly returned, ¡°I¡¯m here in hopes that Boss Xu could train my Split Earth Thorn Dragon.¡± Train? Xu Ran was a little surprised, looking towards Su Qiang. Didn¡¯t she work as a sparring trainer at Beast King Foster Shop? Why would her pet beast need¡­ Ah, understood. Xu Ran realized. She probably wanted to test his strength? Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t terribly interested in such probing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Xu Ran pointed at the wall clock, ¡°Our shop is about to close soon and the training service ends an hour early. We are no longer receiving any new customers now.¡± ¡°You two can come back next time.¡± ¡°Hey! You¡­¡± Hearing the words, Wang Xuebin¡¯s eyes widened, ready to say something, but Su Qiang stopped him. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Su Qiang managed a smile, ¡°We¡¯ll come earlier tomorrow.¡± After finishing her words, she sent back the Split Earth Thorn Dragon and turned around to leave, pulling Wang Xuebin with her. Although Wang Xuebin had a fiery temper, he was honest in front of his wife. He turned his head back to glare at Xu Ran one last time, then obediently followed Su Qiang. Watching the couple walking away, Xu Ran touched his chin. With them insisting like this, it seemed inevitable. Well, if a soldier comes, a general is here to meet; if water floods, let the earth suffocate it. Stretching lazily, without paying too much attention to this matter, Xu Ran stood up to close the shop door. He then saw Ziyun and Star, who had already moved towards the back door to enter the foster area, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. These two guys were eagerly waiting for their meals. It¡¯s time to prepare food for tonight¡¯s foster care residents. Today¡¯ advertisement was so effective, so let¡¯s add extra food to celebrate their good mood¡­ except for that Pudding Rabbit who keeps knocking over other pet beasts¡¯ food bowls. Packing up to go on a business trip, the second update will be after midnight. Let me quickly post one update to maintain my full attendance record. Don¡¯t worry; this won¡¯t be counted as tomorrow¡¯s update.. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 130 Ah - - -_1 Chapter 191: Chapter 130 Ah ¨C ¨C -_1 Translator: 549690339 There¡¯s a saying. If it¡¯s fortune, it won¡¯t be a disaster; if it¡¯s disaster, you can¡¯t escape it. Early the next morning, Xu Ran opened the door only to see a couple already waiting outside. He couldn¡¯t help but reveal an exasperated expression. ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu.¡± Su Qiang walked into the shop with a smile, ¡°I came quite early today, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You guys¡­¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own shop to run?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve hired a lot of staff for our shop, and it can operate smoothly even without us.¡± Su Qiang chuckled, ¡°Speaking of which, your business seems to be getting better and better; you should consider hiring some employees.¡± I wish I could, but normal employees wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the shop as it is now. Xu Ran grumbled in his heart but kept his face calm. ¡°I intend to, it¡¯s part of the plan.¡± Hmm¡­ I hope to complete main task 1 soon. ¡°Hey, young man, you said your business was about to end yesterday, but would you train our Split Earth Thorn Dragon today?¡± Wang Xuebin grunted. ¡°You.¡± Su Qiang playfully smacked her husband and turned to Xu Ran with an apologetic smile, ¡°He¡¯s just like that. Ignore him.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran gave a slight nod, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the training area.¡± The couple were openly testing his strength, but he didn¡¯t have a reason to refuse. After all, who would refuse free Skill Points? Watching Xu Ran turn to enter the shop, the smile on Su Qiang¡¯s face deepened. Finally, she was going to see the strength of this young shop owner during the training. If he exaggerated too much, then she won¡¯t show mercy. Clients who were stolen by the Beast King Foster Shop should be won back. Wang Xuebin folded his arms and closely followed his wife, glancing left and right with scorn in his eyes. Just this small place, even if they have this so-called Space Expansion technique, what can they¡­ Seeing the foster area on the lower level, Wang Xuebin¡¯s face froze for a moment and his thoughts temporarily halted. This big?! Standing by, Su Qiang was no different. The boundless foster area left her speechless, after a moment she looked towards an undisturbed Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, is this your shop¡¯s training area?¡± Unconsciously, her way of addressing Xu Ran had changed, and she had already put him on par with herself. ¡°Ah, no.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°This is just the foster area.¡± Just the foster area¡­ Just?! The expressions of Su Qiang and Wang Xuebin became increasingly odd. For some reason, Xu Ran¡¯s calm statement of fact sounded sarcastic in their ears. After all, the combined foster and training areas of the Beast King Foster Shop were smaller than this space. While they were talking, they passed through a snowy mound. Witnessing the Frost Dust Wolf happily running through the snowy hills and the Armored Rhinoceros rolling about joyously in the nearby mud pond, Su Qiang¡¯s expression suddenly changed, ¡°Boss Xu, is there only one pet beast in each area?¡± At first glance, given the different attribute scenes, she thought it was designed for pet beasts of the same attribute, to foster many pet beasts of the same attribute in one area. Now taking a closer look, she found that this wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded lightly, ¡°Each pet beast here gets an area most suitable for them.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not always like this.¡± He paused and pointed at a lake area, ¡°Like over there.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Su Qiang was taken aback. Did Boss Xu divide the different treatment levels according to different prices, where the solo areas belong to premium services which required an extra charge, and were otherwise, like other foster shops, accommodating based on attribute in one area? The moment she made this assumption, she looked towards the area Xu Ran was pointing at and her expression froze again. The lake was twice the size of other areas, with a jungle island in the middle. The environment was magnificent and not at all inferior to the other areas. ¡°There was a Beast Master who wanted to foster two pet beasts together; a water-attribute Wave Frog and an earth-attribute Merlin Fruit. I obliged and, as for the size of the area¡­ naturally, it¡¯s twice as big as that for other pet beasts.¡± ¡°Boss Xu is amazing.¡± Su Qiang sighed slightly. She truly admired him. Even in a Second Level town, there wouldn¡¯t be such a large foster care service. Before arriving, she felt that the price of Xu Ran¡¯s foster shop was too high. After arriving, she felt that their own shop¡¯s price was too high. Since entering the underground level, Wang Xuebin hadn¡¯t made a peep. This foster area alone already reflecting his defeat. The idea to take a dig at Xu Ran, which he was thinking about earlier, had now vanished. He could now understand how his old friend, Fang Liming, felt. ¡°So, Boss Xu, where is the training area?¡± Su Qiang asked softly, with a glint of hope in her eyes. If the foster area is like this, wouldn¡¯t the training area be just as impressive? ¡°It¡¯s right ahead.¡± Xu Ran stopped. During their conversation, the trio had arrived at the elevator leading to the training area. Entering, Xu Ran pushed the earth attribute button. As the elevator momentarily lost weight, the outside view suddenly changed. This astonishing scene left the couple stunned again. Stepping out of the elevator, they saw an endless range of towering mountains and ubiquitous earth attributed transcendent power. Try as she might, the look of surprise on Su Qiang¡¯s face didn¡¯t fade.. Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 130 Ah— ~_2 Chapter 192: Chapter 130 Ah¡ª ~_2 Translator: 549690339 Training areas are often divided by attributes at many places that provide training services. However, Su Qiang admitted that she had never seen a training area for a particular attribute so realistically depicted. Needless to say, the other nine attribute training areas within Starfire Foster Shop are similar in scale to this one. Is it possible for space expansion technology to reach this level? ¡°The Split Earth Thorn Dragon can be summoned now,¡± the reminder from Xu Ran brought Su Qiang back to her senses. The Hexagram Star Array sparkled behind her. Amidst the raging winds, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon emerged one step at a time with heavy strides. Feeling the strong earth attribute power from the outside world, its eyes visibly revealed an exhilarating emotion; it roared excitedly to the sky. ¡°Ahh ¡± Xu Ran slightly raised his eyebrows. The sound was off. It didn¡¯t sound like Godzilla at all. ¡°The skill requiring training is the two-star skill Earth Yell.¡± Su Qiang looked at Xu Ran, ¡°The Split Earth Thorn Dragon has been stuck at the Waning Moon level for a long time and it isn¡¯t far from achieving the Full Moon level. However, it can never seem to find the feeling of breakthrough. ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. The Stardust Level skill corresponds to the Transcendent Stage, the Starlight Level to the Elite Stage, and the Waning Moon Level to the Leadership Stage. This is the average strength for each growth stage. So, for a Leadership Stage Split Earth Thorn Dragon, having all skills at the Waning Moon level is just ordinary. Beast Masters who aspire to raise pet beasts will strive for the pet beast¡¯s skill proficiency to be one level higher than the corresponding growth stages. That is, as many skills of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts as possible should reach the Full Moon Level. Is the goal this time to break through the Full Moon level for Split Earth Thorn Dragon¡¯s Earth Yell skill¡­ An idea came to Xu Ran, and the familiar text appeared in front of his eyes. [In order to improve the efficiency of this sparring session, the system will grant the Host with the knowledge related to the ¡°Earth Yell Skill Training Guide¡±] The large amount of knowledge about various pet beasts, various proficiencies in executing the Earth Yell, and in-depth analysis of the Earth Yell skill together with a summary of suggested training methods were poured straight into Xu Ran¡¯s mind. There are quite a few earth attribute pet beasts mastering this skill, but the most representative of them is the Split Earth Thorn Dragon, which is also the core of the Split Earth Thorn Dragon¡¯s output. After checking through the multiple training methods for Earth Yell in his mind, Xu Ran¡¯s expression suddenly became a bit peculiar. Most training methods are quite standard. But just like in the past, the higher the training efficiency, the more playful the methods. The method with the highest training efficiency is surprisingly consistent with Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Hold on.¡± Xu Ran turned to walk towards the Training Equipment Warehouse and quickly brought out a tape recorder, ¡°Next, I will explain how to train for Earth Yell.¡± ¡°Ahh ¡± The Split Earth Thorn Dragon nodded heavily, giving a strange feeling of docility even in its ferocious gaze. Its Earth Yell has been stuck at the pinnacle of the Waning Moon level for a long time. just now, Su Qiang reminded it through contractual sensing to take Xu Ran¡¯s training methods seriously, hence its unusual seriousness now. ¡°Listen carefully.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and then pressed the play button on the tape recorder. A delicate voice came out through the recorder and echoed in the vicinity. ¡°Yah¡ª¡± (There is a video in the Easter egg chapter) The air suddenly quieted down. Wang Xuebin and his wife glanced at each other, not understanding Xu Ran¡¯s intentions. The Split Earth Thorn Dragon, who was listening attentively to the class, also showed a puzzled expression. What is he up to? Soon, Xu Ran provided an answer. ¡°Imitate this sound.¡± He spoke in a serious manner, ¡°When you can perfectly produce this sound, your Earth Yell will be able to break through to the Full Moon Level.¡± Su Qiang:¡±???¡± Wang Xuebin:¡±???¡± Split Earth Thorn Dragon:¡±???¡± Can the Split Earth Thorn Dragon make this sound? Both the couple and the pet beast were somewhat confused. Su Qiang was full of confusion. She knew that some sparring trainers had unusual and seemingly strange training methods. But this kind of strange, was her first time seeing it. ¡°What¡¯s the principle behind this?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but ask, and then coughed slightly, ¡°I was just curious, Boss Xu doesn¡¯t have to explain if he doesn¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s really nothing I can¡¯t tell.¡± Xu Ran shrugged. Previously, when he was accompanying training, some guests had questioned his training methods. He would patiently answer them. Even now, facing a peer, there was no need to hide anything. ¡°Godzi¡­ ah no, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon is very familiar with the Earth Yell, but precisely because it¡¯s too familiar, it¡¯s breakthrough is difficult.¡± Xu Ran said earnestly, ¡°So, it needs some novelty. ¡°When the Split Earth Thorn Dragon uses this skill, it experiences a sensation it has never felt before. It can then regain the initial resolve it had for continual improvement, eventually breaking free from the constraints of the Full Moon Level.¡± ¡°Novelty¡­¡± Su Qiang murmured thoughtfully. Xu Ran¡¯s explanation indeed made sense. But¡­ ¡°Why this voice?¡± Su Qiang couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Trust me, this voice is the most effective.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t exactly say it was due to his perverse taste, he just wore a ¡°no comment¡± expression. ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Su Qiang didn¡¯t dwell on it, signaling for the Split Earth Thorn Dragon to begin. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The Split Earth Thorn Dragon tried to mask its fearsome, fang-filled maw and imitate the sound it had just heard. Though the sounds were different from its own, they were still quite far from the sounds produced by the recorder. -No, you should tighten your throat muscles, like this¡­ and then like this!¡± Xu Ran immediately stepped in to give directions, replaying the recording for the Split Earth Thorn Dragon to follow along. Again and again, under Xu Ran¡¯s guidance, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon¡¯s roar gradually altered, sounding more and more like the recording. The expressions on the faces of Su Qiang and Wang Xuebin, who had been observing the entire process, grew increasingly strange. ¡°Ya¡ª¡± After countless adjustments, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon finally let out a roar that perfectly matched the sound from the recorder. A spark ignited in its eyes, then it roared again. ¡°Ya¡ª¡± Its Earth attribute power suddenly exploded, immediately causing the large swath of ground within a 500-meter radius to crack like a spider¡¯s web. The terrifying force gushed out from the earth¡¯s fissures, continuously spreading to the surroundings. Two stars skills, Full Moon Level-Earth Yell! ¡°Just in time, one hour.¡± Xu Ran looked at the time and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Breaking through to Full Moon Level proficiency at Leadership Stage involved he has to accompany and direct it to the whole process, unlike previously when he just needed to give directions and then let the Beast Master accompany it. However, the effect was pretty clear. Looking at Wang Xuebin and his wife who were in shock as if they had seen a ghost, Xu Ran just smiled. ¡°Mission accomplished.¡± ¡°Welcome to return again!¡± As he stood at the door, seeing off the bewildered couple with a grin, Xu Ran stopped waving his hand and returned to the shop. His expression gradually became odd. Perhaps he was accustomed to the long training, after ending the training, Godzilla¡¯s¡­ ah no, the Split Earth Thorn Dragon¡¯s shout was still ¡°Ya¨C¡°. He wondered how long it would last. ¡°Is this the Starfire Foster Shop that provides accompaniment training services?¡± A new customer entering the shop brought a bright smile back to Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Welcome to visit!¡± In the hustle and bustle, six days passed quickly. With two consecutive advertisements, the accompaniment training service of Starfire Foster Shop visibly gained significant popularity to the point that Xu Ran had no time to provide Washing and Protection. With no other option, Xu Ran could only schedule Washing and Protection in the mornings with accompaniment training in the afternoons. It was also a constant reminder that he really needed a helper in the shop. Fortunately, with his continuous hard work, the experience of his Pranks skill was growing at a rocket-like speed and getting closer and closer to B Level. ¡°Boss Xu, long time no see!¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s cheerful and lively voice arrived before she did. Haven¡¯t seen her yet, just heard her voice. The next moment, a young girl carrying a Flame Fox appeared in front of Xu Ran. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you several times during this period!¡± Su Xiaoxiao started, grinning happily, ¡°Unfortunately, I have been busy reviewing for my final exams and have not had time to come over.¡± ¡°First, train Little Flame for an hour, then give it a wash and protect! [Pranks (C Level)] (499/500) Glimpsing at his personal panel and then at his very first customer after the opening of the foster shop, Xu Ran smiled. ¡°No problem..¡± Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 131: B-Level Pranks, Main Task 1 Completed!_i Chapter 193: Chapter 131: B-Level Pranks, Main Task 1 Completed!_i Translator: 549690339 ¡°Boss Xu, we¡¯re not training Flame Dance this time!¡± Inside the Fire Attribute Training Area, Su Xiaoxiao happily said, ¡°And I must thank Boss Xu for his help. Because Flame Dance was upgraded to Starlight Level, I scored very high in the beast control practical examination at the end of the semester!¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly, not boasting about it. ¡°This is all due to your and Flame Fox¡¯s hard work.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Su Xiaoxiao scratched her head with a laugh. She wouldn¡¯t simply accept Xu Ran¡¯s statement, believing it was truly her and Little Flame¡¯s hard work that allowed for the successful breakthrough to the Starlight Level. Without Boss Xu¡¯s amazing training method, Little Flame should have been able to upgrade Flame Dance to the Starlight Level only in the next semester. However, there were also side effects¡­ Recalling how Little Flame, after scoring high in the practical examination at the end of the semester, broke into a dance in front of all the teachers and students, Su Xiaoxiao still felt somewhat embarrassed even now. It¡¯s so embarrassing! ¡°So, do you plan to train Flame Wall or Fire Eye this time?¡± Xu Ran glanced at Flame Fox, who had just landed lightly and was looking around, and asked. ¡°This time we¡¯re training Flame Wall!¡± Su Xiaoxiao answered without hesitation. Compared to the one-star Fire Eye, the training priority of the two-star skill Flame Wall is naturally higher. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. With a move in his heart, the training guide for Flame Wall appeared in his mind. However, his expression gradually became more interesting as he read through all the recommended training methods. This training method¡­ ¡°Wait for me.¡± Under the gaze of Su Xiaoxiao and Flame Fox, Xu Ran turned and went into the Training Equipment Warehouse, quickly fetching the training equipment. A tape recorder and a dance mat. ¡°This is¡­¡± Seeing the familiar training equipment, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes gradually widened, ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re not going to train Flame Wall through dancing too, are you?¡± Though it was fine to use dancing for Flame Dance, why would Flame Wall need dancing too! ¡°That¡¯s right, but the dance is different.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly and began to explain seriously, ¡°Flame Wall is a skill that constructs a wall-like structure out of flames, with the built wall possessing defensive and counter-attack abilities.¡± ¡°Flame is elemental power. Constructing a wall as Earth Attribute does is difficult to imagine, so the best way to enhance such a skill is¡­¡± ¡°To experience what a wall is really like.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s necessary to familiarize with real walls?¡± Su Xiaoxiao asked curiously. If that were the case, Little Flame is already quite familiar with them in her daily life, isn¡¯t she? ¡°No, of course it¡¯s not that simple.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°As I said before, the wall constructed by the flames is virtual, so in order to improve the skill proficiency, one needs to know how to make the wall from virtual to real.¡± ¡°By¡­ imagination!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became serious, and he pressed the play button on the tape recorder heavily. The rhythmic music intro quickly rang out, and Xu Ran¡¯s body lightly swayed to the rhythm of the music, with one hand on his waist and the other raised forward with the palm open. ¡°Follow my movements!¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Having had previous experience, Su Xiaoxiao hurriedly followed Xu Ran¡¯s movements. ¡°Ying!¡± This is good! Listening to the new music, Flame Fox¡¯s eyes lit up. Standing upright, one of its front paws was on its waist, the other raised just like Xu Ran¡¯s. As both person and pet got into position, a voice finally came through in the music. ¡°Let¡¯s all, cle~an~ gl~ass~¡± (See bonus chapter) Su Xiaoxiao:¡±???¡± Flame Fox:¡±???¡± Both of them watched as Xu Ran¡¯s dance to the rhythm became serious, and their expressions gradually grew more interesting. This dance¡­ Why does it seem so unserious? An hour later. ¡°Cleaning the glass-Cleaning, cleaning the glass-¡± The enchanting music echoed in the Fire Attribute Training Field. Su Xiaoxiao and Flame Fox, after their initial resistance, were now moving somewhat enthusiastically to the rhythm. As for Xu Ran, he had rushed out immediately after demonstrating it once. It really was too awkward for him, a grown man, to dance like this. But for that last bit of experience in pranks, it was all worth it. ¡°[Experience in Pranks +1]¡± Looking at the words that suddenly appeared before his eyes, a smile emerged on Xu Ran¡¯s face. The next moment, the notice of experience gained disappeared, replaced by two new lines of text. ¡°[Pranks has reached B Level]¡± ¡°[Main Task 1 has been completed]¡± Finally! After waiting so long, it¡¯s finally here! Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran opened his personal panel. ¡°[Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Second stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (B Level)] (103/500) [Drug Application (B Level)] (208/2000) [Pranks (B Level)] (0/2000) Pet Beast Skills: [¡ï¡ïDragon Power] (Not Teachable) Physical points: 5324. (Discretionary) Skill Points: 4.4.10 (Discretionary) Pleasure Value: 97388 System Upgrade Experience: 0/2000]¡± ¡°[Main Task 1: Making a Big Entrance (Completed)] Task Description: Please upgrade all three system skills to B level. Task Reward: System Clerk xi, System Upgrade Experience +100]¡± ¡°[Click to claim the task reward]¡± ¡°[Lottery Drawing]¡± ¡°[Recycling] (73 Skill Fragments)¡± Finally, that moment has arrived! Xu Ran took a deep breath, suppressing his inner excitement. A full month had passed since the system¡¯s upgrade, and Task 1 was issued. He finally completed this task! Subconsciously, Xu Ran glanced at the hanging clock on the wall.. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 131: B-Level Pranks, Main Task 1 Completed!_2 Chapter 194: Chapter 131: B-Level Pranks, Main Task 1 Completed!_2 Translator: 549690339 Only a few minutes remained until the end of today¡¯s six-hour training. After being recruited by the system, is the system clerk now considered a new member of the store? Such an important moment should be witnessed by Ziyun and Star. Suppressing his urge to claim the task reward immediately, Xu Ran began to check other information on the panel. As he expected, with the full explosion of his training business, the gains from skill points were quickly catching up with physical points. Next time when distributing resources, Star can fully use his skill points to raise all five of his talent skills to Waning Moon Level. Not only that, Ziyun can also raise one skill to Full Moon Level. However, the next resource allocation is not so soon. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on his pleasure value. These days, although there was less washing and care, the income from pleasure value was even higher with the three businesses combined. His pleasure value was enough for a ten-consecutive pull again. ¡°Another day missing my Lucky Fish!¡± With his cheeks propped up, looking out at the shop door, Xu Ran sighed. ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s this about a lucky fish?¡± Su Xiaoxiao who came out with Flame Fox heard him and asked curiously. ¡°Nothing, you heard wrong.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Are you going to do the washing and care now?¡± ¡°Not this time.¡± Su Xiaoxiao shook her head reluctantly, ¡°My family called me to go home, there must be something urgent, washing and care have to wait until next time.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± The Flame Fox hung its head in disappointment as it was very upset about not having the washing and care. ¡°Okay, welcome anytime.¡± Xu Ran watched a person and a pet leave, then turned his gaze back towards the shop¡¯s back door. The ones who came out this time were Ziyun and Star, who had completed the six-hour training at the same time. Compared with six days ago, the charisma of Star at this moment was much stronger, and under the aid of a large number of resources exchanged with Beast Master Points, its progress speed could be described as phenomenal. At this moment, it had reached the peak of the Growth Stage, the purple crystal-like hooves had become even deeper in color, as if powerful explosive energy was hidden in them, allowing Star¡¯s speed to reach terrifying levels in an instant. In contrast, the aura of Ziyun next to him didn¡¯t seem much different from six days ago. After all, it had reached the peak of the Elite Stage six days ago. However, if one observed closely, they would be able to sense a heart-stirring power hidden under its petite body, as if it was a volcano waiting to erupt at any moment. ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed an expectant look as he immediately closed the shop¡¯s door. At this familiar setup, both Ziyun and Star showed surprised expressions on their faces. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are we going to allocate resources again?) Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The next resource allocation will have to wait a bit longer, this time there is something equally important.¡± ¡°Our store is about to welcome a new companion!¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, Ziyun and Star had surprisingly similar reactions. They both looked towards the direction of the stairs leading to the second floor. Is the new companion the hatching beast egg? But wasn¡¯t it said that it would take a long time? ¡°It¡¯s not that egg.¡± Xu Ran guessed their thoughts from the actions of the two pets, and laughed while shaking his head, ¡°The new companion I¡¯m talking about is not a new pet beast, but¡­ a new clerk!¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Clerk?) Ziyun blinked, quickly showing a thoughtful expression. Speaking of which, other humans who run stores hire clerks to help, right? So is Beast Master supposed to hire a new clerk for the foster shop as well? ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What kind of clerk is it?) Star on the other side also showed a look of anticipation. During its time at the Mount Beast Breeding Base, it had interacted with many base staff, so the clerk should be similar, right? It¡¯s also wondering if it would get along well¡­ ¡°I¡¯m not sure what kind of clerk it is.¡± Xu Ran smiled mysteriously, ¡°But soon, we¡¯ll find out.¡± As he spoke, Xu Ran, who could no longer hold back, chose to claim the reward without hesitation. [System Upgrade Experience: 0/2000] 1U [System Upgrade Experience: 100/2000] At the same time, new texts appeared in front of Xu Ran. [Would you like to summon a system clerk?] [Yes][No] Summoning¡­ Upon seeing this word, anticipation began to intensify in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. What would his System Clerk look like? Could it be a cute Lolita dressed in a maid outfit, or a gentle elder sister in a cheongsam? Come on! He couldn¡¯t wait any longer! Without hesitation, Xu Ran opted for[Yes], The next moment, a flash of glaring light appeared inside the shop. A gate of light slowly formed in front of Xu Ran and his two Pet Beasts. Then, the light door cracked open slowly. This grand entrance raised the anticipation of everyone present. The next moment, the door swung wide open with a ¡°swoosh¡± sound. Seeing that massive and hairy arm gripping the door handle from the inside, the expressions of Xu Ran and his two Pet Beasts froze simultaneously. A muscle-bound man, with a ponytail, a thick beard, and a pink apron, strode out of the light door with an air of arrogance. The muscleman looked around before locking his gaze onto Xu Ran. He winked at Xu Ran, made a heart shape with his thumbs and forefingers, and then let out a deep and magnetic voice. ¡°Ohayo, Boss Xu!¡± Xu Ran: Stupid system! Give me my Lolita maid and cheongsam elder sister back! What demon is this System Clerk? Are you kidding me? Can I return this?! Perhaps feeling Xu Ran¡¯s emotional turmoil, a new notification appeared before his eyes. [The appearance and personality of the System Clerk are randomly generated and cannot be changed once summoned] Okay then. Xu Ran gave a side glance at the muscleman, who was grinning proudly, and gave up on arguing. Ziyun and Star, who had gradually recovered from their shock, exchanged a look, each wearing an indescribable expression. Though they weren¡¯t humans¡­ They still understood some human aesthetics. Isn¡¯t this new member of the shop a bit¡­ too strange? Without noticing the odd look on Xu Ran and the Pet Beasts¡¯ faces, the pink muscleman waved at Xu Ran. His thick eyebrows twitching, he said, ¡°Hello boss, I¡¯m your first System Clerk, Tony. You can call me Tiny-¡®1 ¡°Alright, Tony.¡± Xu Ran replied, expressionless. ¡°Ah, such indifference from the boss. I love it.¡± Tony covered his heart, casting another sultry glance at Xu Ran. Has this damned system got something against me? Xu Ran silently cursed in his heart and took a deep breath to calm himself, ¡°Okay Tony, be normal. As a clerk, you should be able to help me with the operation of the Foster Shop, right? Tell me what you can do.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When it came to work, Tony¡¯s expression got a bit serious, although he still looked a bit frivolous. ¡°I can use all your skills, boss, to quickly take care of any work in the shop.¡± ¡°The work I do, you can get half of the Pleasure Value and corresponding rewards. The other half will be my ¡®wage¡¯. But¡­¡± He dragged out his words, then unexpectedly made a heart shape with his hand towards Xu Ran, ¡°My delicate body can only take on one type of work-¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Xu Ran rubbed his temples in agony. Isn¡¯t this guy really created by the system itself? This frivolous behaviour seemed to have the system all over it. Mainly, Xu Ran understood that a System Clerk could help with any of the three types of work, taking some of the load off him. But the cost was that the Pleasure Value and System Skill income the clerk worked on would be halved. Since he was already struggling to manage all three tasks at once, this loss was not a real loss to him. Currently, he spent half the day Washing and Protecting and the other half training. If he allowed Tony to take over one of these tasks, he could spend an entire day on one task, and still get half a day¡¯s earnings from the other. Viewed overall, his profits would still increase. However¡­. is the System Clerk just this simple? Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Chapter 132: The First System Clerk! _1 Chapter 195: Chapter 132: The First System Clerk! _1 Translator: 549690339 Suddenly, Xu Ran thought of the Foster Care Services that reached its maximum limit a while ago. The system had reasoned then that his energy is limited. Accepting more Pet Beasts for fosterage would scatter his focus and wouldn¡¯t provide them the best service. Now, with System Clerk¡¯s help, this problem seemed to be solvable. ¡°Will the maximum limit of Fosterage increase if I let you take responsibility for it?¡± He inquired tentatively. ¡°Yes.¡± Tony affirmed this point. And his answer was not limited to that. ¡°In fact, the maximum limit of fosterage has already increased since I have helped to share your workload,¡± Tony gave Xu Ran a wink, ¡°The current Foster Area can accommodate up to fifty Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°If you hand over the Foster Care Services to me, the maximum limit can increase up to one hundred Pet Beasts.¡± Saying this, Tony, raising his arm thicker than Xu Ran¡¯s thigh, squeezed it hard to reveal a particularly strong biceps, his face expressing a confidence as if saying ¡°I am very reliable¡±. Indeed, Xu Ran was shocked by Tony¡¯s claims. Add one System Clerk and the maximum limit of Fosterage has already increased up to fifty. If the Foster Care Services are turned over to the System Clerk, it can continue to increase? If that¡¯s the case¡­ ¡°If I handed over the Washing and Protection or Companion Training Services to you, could they also be enhanced?¡± Xu Ran asked the critical question. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Tony nodded in confidence, ¡°As a complaint-worthy new era excellent clerk, I remember the self-cultivation of a clerk well. If you gave me the Washing and Protection Services, they can continue 24 hours a day.¡± ¡°If you gave me the Companion Training Services, the maximum limit of the Training Area entry time will extend from six to eight hours.¡± Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± He wanted to take back his previous words. If that¡¯s the case, then the importance of System Clerk is more significant. It can not only free his hands but also unlock things that he cannot unlock by himself¡­ In this way, by paying half of the proceeds of a particular service, there is a good chance of getting more than he could have imagined! Ziyun and Star¡¯s gaze towards Tony also became friendly all of a sudden. ¡°The maximum limit of training area becomes eight hours¡±; this phrase kept echoing in both the Pet Beasts¡¯ minds. Both Pet Beasts looked at each other and came to a consensus at that moment. We must find a way to let Tony take responsibility for companion training! ¡°If two more System Clerks came to take care of one of the three services, then can I just do nothing and lounge around while the Pleasure Value and other profits roll in?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but speculate about this exciting prospect suddenly. ¡°nonono!¡± Tony raised a hand and wagged his index finger in the air, ¡°A maximum of three System Clerks can¡¯t run the shop independently without you in charge, boss.¡± ¡°What else is needed then?¡± Xu Ran probed further. ¡°A System Store Manager.¡± Tony replied earnestly, ¡°The System Store Manager can also take charge of one type of service. So at least one System Store Manager and two System Clerks are needed to take over the shop¡¯s operations when you are not around.¡± ¡°System Store Manager?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow involuntarily. How come this thing exists too? ¡°The System Clerk can be upgraded to the System Store Manager.¡± Tony explained briefly, then turned around, swaying his butt and waved his huge hand like a fan before he turned back to Xu Ran and shot him a seductive wink, ¡°So please take care of my promotion, boss.¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± Become unserious just after a few words, huh? He was slightly worried if this character of his would scare away the customers. ¡°What is required for an upgrade?¡± Xu Ran sighed helplessly. Although he asked, he had a hunch in his heart. ¡°It needs a hundred thousand Pleasure Value, ten thousand Physical points, ten thousand Skill Points, a thousand Skill Fragments and also, the clerk must have worked for at least a month.¡± Tony¡¯s eyes started drifting; he held out both his hands¡¯ index fingers mashing them together and puffed up his cheeks, making an innocent face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go rob someone!¡± Xu Ran wanted to curse. He could accept a hundred thousand Pleasure Value, which is only ten less in consecutive connection. But what about the rest of it?! Ten thousand Physical Points, ten thousand Skill Points, a thousand Skill Fragments. Ever since he got the system, he hasn¡¯t reaped as much as a total! Tony stopped playing with his fingers, lifted his head and showed an apologetic smile. ¡°Boss, please don¡¯t get angry, the System Store Manager has other benefits.¡± Tony opened and waved his palm, his face beaming with a touch of mysterious intrigue as he winked at Xu Ran. ¡°Spill it out.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath. What benefits could match his invest¡­ ¡°Profits from services are only deducted twenty percent, and there¡¯s an extra upgrade to the services.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Xu Ran stepped forward and patted Tony¡¯s shoulder heavily, ¡°You work hard, and the future position of the store manager is yours!¡± Watching Xu Ran and Tony, who had instantly become chummy, Ziyun and Star looked at each other in mutual frustration and shook their heads. His own Beast Master is really¡­ ¡°So, my boss-¡± Tony crossed his arms in front of his chest and tried hard to open his small eyes wide expectantly, ¡°which business am I in charge of?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± As a man with a system, Xu Ran gradually became immune to Tony¡¯s flirtatious behaviour. After giving it some thought, he finally made up his mind, ¡°This is what we¡¯ll do, you can take charge of each of the three services for a day, and then after three days, I will make a decision.¡± The services managed by Tony can be upgraded, but the profit will be halved. Just from Tony¡¯s words, Xu Ran was unable to determine what changes this would bring in the end. So, might as well let Tony try all three. It could also be seen as a comprehensive assessment of Tony¡¯s abilities.. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 132: The First System Clerk! _2 Chapter 196: Chapter 132: The First System Clerk! _2 Translator: 549690339 The two pet beasts that were initially planning to suggest Tony take responsibility for the training exercises put their plans on hold after witnessing the scene. ¡°No problem, boss!¡± Tony responded with a sly smile. ¡°What¡¯ll my charge be next?¡± ¡°Today is almost over, we¡¯ll start tomorrow,¡± Xu Ran checked the time. ¡°From tomorrow on, you¡¯ll be in charge of washing and grooming on your first day.¡± As the store¡¯s oldest line of business, washing and grooming already had a solid base of regular customers and is continuously bringing in new ones. He was curious to see if Tony could handle the responsibility. ¡°Ok, boss, see you tomorrow-¡¯1 Tony gave Xu Ran a wink, then turned to walk towards the staircase to the second floor. It was then that Xu Ran realized he had forgotten something. ¡°Wait!¡± He called out to Tony. ¡°Where do you live?¡± ¡°Of course, in your bed¡­¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s increasingly dangerous look, Tony quickly backtracked, ¡°In the room next to yours.¡± ¡°The small room, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin. It was true, there were several vacant rooms on the second floor, which he had previously used for storage. ¡°You go rest then.¡± Relieved, Xu Ran waved him off. ¡°Alright, boss-¡± As Tony ascended the stairs, he stopped suddenly and turned back to send a heart gesture at Xu Ran, ¡°Boss, keep it up and finish the main task 2 soon-¡± Main task 2? Thanks to Tony¡¯s reminder, Xu Ran remembered that with the completion of main task 1, a new task had appeared. He casually opened the system panel to check it out. [Main task 2: Prevention Before Disaster Task Description: Please have the system clerk upgraded to system store manager, and own a store in any second level town. Task Reward: System Clerk X2, System Upgrade Experience +200] So this is the new Main Task 2¡­ Remembering Tony¡¯s enthusiastic reminder earlier, Xu Ran let out a chuckle. Turns out, this guy just wants to get promoted to store manager sooner. However, as he laughed, Xu Ran found it hard to keep up the laughter. That¡¯s because he suddenly realized the implication of the phrase ¡°Prevention Before Disaster¡± in Main Task 2. A system store manager plus two system clerks could perfectly manage the foster shop. So after completing the main task 2 and receiving the reward, the current Starfire Foster shop could operate as usual, even without him. Owning a shop in a second level town¡­ It seems to suggest that he should open a branch in a larger city¡­ Go to a bigger city? Xu Ran glanced at Ziyun and Star next to him, his face thoughtful. The advantages of being in a big city are obvious. Qingzhou City is after all a small place. As a result, Xu Ran has some difficulty acquiring the more rare resources this world has to offer. This issue was evident when Ziyun evolved. When Star was evolving, he had to travel with Senior Gu to Xieyun City to trade for the final evolution material. As the two pets, along with future new pets, grew stronger, such inconveniences would only multiply. But there are downsides to opening a branch. Xu Ran¡¯s mind was filled with the faces of the customers he¡¯d come to know at the Starfire Foster Shop. A significant number had become friends with him after frequent visits. In a world where intercity communication is so inconvenient, if he were to relocate to another city, there would be no way to see them again. Especially Lucky Liu. Without him, what will happen with the future ten consecutive drawings¡­ ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, his joy at acquiring a system clerk somewhat diminished. The system is so advanced, why doesn¡¯t it have an item for spatial teleportation? The next day, Tony¡¯s first day on the job. ¡°Ohayo!¡± Early in the morning, Tony, dressed in a pink apron, enthusiastically greeted every passerby at the store door. Though occasionally his enthusiasm scared people away, he didn¡¯t seem to mind. Seeing Tony¡¯s cheerful disposition, Xu Ran¡¯s mood also lightened, he laughed and said, ¡°Tony, you scared that lady off just now.¡± ¡°No, boss, she was just too shy in the face of my enthusiasm,¡± Tony replied, feigning understanding. You never fail to impress, Tony. Xu Ran was in high spirits, propping up his cheeks and watching Tony¡¯s performance. Soon, a customer walked into the foster care shop and was greeted by Tony¡¯s warm welcome. ¡°Ohaiyo, what can I do for you?¡± Tony¡¯s big face suddenly got close to the sleepy man who looked like he hadn¡¯t been up for long. ¡°Oh my god!¡± The young man was wide awake, he stepped back quickly, and looked out doubtfully at the sign outside the shop door. ¡°Mr. Qi, you are not mistaken.¡± Xu Ran recognized the man and rose to his feet, smiling, ¡°This is our shop¡¯s new employee, and he is in charge of the grooming service today.¡± ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Mr. Qi took a breath of cold air, ¡°I¡¯m glad I brought my pet beast for training.¡± ¡°Dear customer, we also suggest grooming service. I am very good at it!¡± Tony winked at Mr. Qi. ¡°No no¡­¡± Mr. Qi couldn¡¯t help shivering, he paced faster, ¡°Boss Xu, let¡¯s hurry to the training area.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded at Tony and then showed Mr. Qi to the back door. Halfway through their walk, Mr. Qi started to look uneasy. He couldn¡¯t help turning his head and looking back at Tony. Tony, who caught Mr. Qi¡¯s gaze, winked at him again. ¡°Hiss ¡± Mr. Qi couldn¡¯t help sucking in another breath of cold air as he followed Xu Ran through the back door to the underground passageway. But he quickly had a strange expression on his face. It was weird for him to want to take another look at the clerk, even though every cell in his body was resisting? What the hell is going on?!!! After taking Mr. Qi to the relevant training area, Xu Ran stuck around for a while, making sure the training was effective, then strolled back into the shop. Then, he saw Liu Gu and Tony, who were having a congenial interaction. Huh? How did Lucky Liu and Tony get to talking? Looking at the two, who had already developed a shoulder-to-shoulder relationship, Xu Ran felt he had missed a lot of plot. ¡°Boss Xu, your new employee is quite interesting.¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°He¡¯s in charge of grooming today, right? Let him do the dog.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the wind lion dog, which was as bloody as usual. Once the grooming was finished, another ten-round lottery draw could be done. But before that, Tony¡¯s grooming abilities could be put to the test. ¡°Come here, my baby- Don¡¯t be shy, come into big brother¡¯s arms!¡± Tony chuckled ¡°Hehehe¡± and warmly had an arm around the wind lion dog to escort it into the grooming room. Xu Ran watched Liu Gu who, as always, waited in the rest area and contemplated for a while. Soon after, Xu Ran also went into the grooming room. Watching Tony skilfully mix the bath dew faster than himself, and proceeding to wet and clean the dog professionally, Xu Ran nodded approvingly. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t bad at all. Tony did seem worthy of trust when it came to grooming. But his expression soon turned weird. ¡°Bow-wow¡ª¡± ¡°Woohoo¡ª¡± ¡°Bow-wow¡ª¡± ¡°Woohoo¡ª¡± Listening to the back-to-back duet echoing in his ears, Xu Ran wanted to crack a thousand jokes just watching Tony clean the wind lion dog, while also wriggling his butt and cheering. No- lt¡¯s okay for the pet beast to be having a good time, but why are you enjoying yourself too?! After the grooming, seeing the equally refreshed man and pet, Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. The reputation of the grooming service was not the best; some people always thought he was not serious. Now with Tony taking over, the reputation might become even worse. No matter, we¡¯ll see how it goes with fostering tomorrow. ¡°Mr. Liu, this is the premium grooming package you ordered for your wind lion dog!¡± Tony removed his apron, revealing his muscular torso, and shook the apron in his hand at the wind lion dog. ¡°Ta-da~¡± ¡°Terrific!¡± Liu Gu burst into laughter, circling around the wind lion dog, ¡°Teacher Tony, your skill is really something!¡± Seeing that they were about to buddy up again, Xu Ran felt his mouth twitching. He gently patted Liu Gu¡¯s shoulder. Now that we¡¯re here, it¡¯s time for the lottery draw. Eight thousand words, finished on the high-speed train, feeling emotional.. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 133 New Purple Item 1 Chapter 197: Chapter 133 New Purple Item¡¯ 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡® ¡ª The familiar lottery animation flashed quickly before Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, and he was now able to stay composed in the face of yet another appearance of the color purple. With Lucky Liu around, everything just seemed so natural. However, the more natural it felt, the more unbearable it was for Xu Ran to think about potentially moving to another location in the future due to opening a branch and losing the auspicious aura brought by Lucky Liu. Let¡¯s see what the reward is this time, shall we? Xu Ran casually checked the reward he had received. One bottle of Energy Abundant Potion, eight Skill Fusion Stones¡­ His eyes momentarily rested on an object that radiated a purple light, then abruptly widened. Wait a minute¡­ Is this¡­ A new reward?! Looking at the completely unfamiliar purple object, Xu Ran held his breath silently. Well, well! This is great! There¡¯s still a while before the second Meditation Acceleration Card expires and both pet beasts have already obtained the King Species Evolution Route¡¯ So before the contract power reaches the third stage, obtaining a third one wouldn¡¯t make much sense. Under these circumstances, this new resource couldn¡¯t be better timed! Let¡¯s see what it is¡­ Xu Ran reached out a hand and touched the brand new purple item called the Fetal Breath Orb. The Fetal Breath Orb is a special item produced by the system that can greatly increase the potential of unborn Transcendent Beings and accelerate their birth rate. ¡°Huh?¡± After reading the entire introduction to the new reward, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but utter a sound of puzzlement. The target of this reward is too clear, isn¡¯t it? The only unborn Transcendent Being is¡­ ¡°Boss Xu? What¡¯S wrong?¡± Liu Gu, attracted by Xu Ran¡¯s sudden exclamation turned to him and asked. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± With that, he quickly strode towards the stairs leading to the second floor. ¡°Huh¡­¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, a puzzled look on his face. However, the next second, a hand, gigantic as a fan, gently patted his shoulder. ¡°Mr. Liu, next time you come, you should try my special massage therapy Tony winked at him, his hands miming a massage in the air, ¡°Trust me it works wonders for relaxing the body.¡± ¡°Haha, sure!¡± Liu Gu nodded vigorously, putting the earlier incident to the back of his mind, ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave for today.¡± ¡°Look forward to seeing you again-¡± Tony saw him out of the shop door waving his hands to Liu Gu, then turning to greet the next customer coming towards the shop. ¡ã ¡°Ohayou-¡± On the second floor, in Xu Ran¡¯s room within a rest area. Xu Ran sat on his bed, scrutinizing the egg in front of him. The upright beast egg was about a meter tall and the widest part required his arms to embrace it. The eggshell was covered with earthy yellow patterns which were irregular, like cracks in the earth. Underneath the beast egg, there was a random but sturdy piece of mud which was the Earth attribute Resource of Mud Marrow that Xu Ran had exchanged for with 5o Beast Master Points to accelerate the hatching of the beast egg on the day he received it. The mud marrow, originally full of Earth attribute energy, had almost been sucked away by the beast egg day after day, and now it was as if it had turned into a lump of mud. ¡°It has been a month since I got you.¡± Xu Ran gently stretched out a hand and stroked the eggshell. This was a move he would make every day, and it had become a habit. The patterns on the surface of the beast egg seemed like bracing marks from pottery firing, clear but with no effect on the smoothness of the eggshell, which made it feel very smooth to touch. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but touch it a few more times before continuing to speak, I don t know how much longer you need to hatch.¡± Seeming to understand Xu Ran¡¯s words, the patterns on the eggshell glimmered slightly, as if responding. ¡°Now there is an opportunity to accelerate your hatching and enhance your uture potential.¡± Xu Ran stroked the eggshell, smiling slightly, ¡°But whether to do so, I have to discuss with Ziyun and Star.¡± ¡°After all, you are not born yet, and you have not made a contract. Theoretically, you should not take part in resource allocation.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran patted the eggshell lightly and listened to the dull echo inside the eggshell, ¡°Little guy, try harder, let me see what race you are sooner.¡± After talking to the egg for a while, Xu Ran went down to the first floor. As he said, the Fetal Breath Orb, being a purple item, equivalent to 500 value points, couldn¡¯t be so easily given to this egg that was yet to be sure of becoming his future pet beast. However, he had already thought of a good plan, it depended on whether Ziyun and Star agreed. y ¡°Meow?¡± (Are we getting resource allocation?) ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What goodies do we have this time?) By the time the afternoon business was over, Ziyun and Star were looking with surprise and expectation at the notebook that Xu Ran had brought out. Tony, who had just finished a grooming order, glanced over and then retracted is gaze, returning to the grooming room to clean up and prepare for the next grooming session. As a system employee, he knew the existence of the system and would never disclose it to outsiders. -Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°So let¡¯s start reviewing the resources we need to distribute for this round!¡± He looked at Star, who had an expectant look on his face, and smiled. ¡°The sM points we¡¯ve gotten this time are so many, you might not finish allocating Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Chapter 133 New Purple Item 2 Chapter 198: Chapter 133 New Purple Item¡¯ 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± (Really?!) Star¡¯s eyes instantly light up. The fact that it can never run out indicates that the skill points this time are enough for it to upgrade all five skills to Waning Moon Level! Even next to him, anticipation radiates from Ziyun¡¯s eyes. If Star doesn¡¯t use up all the points, could the remaining points be used for her, to allow for a rush to Full Moon Level skills? In the watchful eyes of the two expectant Pet Beasts, Xu Ran quickly jots down the allocation of resources this time on the blackboard. ¡°Physical points: 6164 points¡± ¡°Skill Points: 540 points (Star) +5270 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 10 (Star) +73 (undistributed)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 1 bottle (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stone: 2 pieces (Star) +8 pieces (undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 2 points (Ziyun) +4433 points (Star) +2128 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Fetal Breath Orb xl¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (So many?) ¡°Meow?¡± (So many?) Looking at over 5000 undistributed skill points, both Pet Beasts¡¯ eyes light up instantly. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s that many.¡± Xu Ran nods with a light smile. With Tony taking over the Washing and Protection, his whole day was spent on accompanying training. Consequently, his speed of gaining skill points has noticeably accelerated compared to the previous days. As for the income situation after Tony taking over the Washing and Protection, it can¡¯t currently be counted. Although he has closed up shop, Tony will continue later and the upcoming round will be Tony¡¯s sole Washing and Protection special. Only when he starts business tomorrow morning can he see whether Tony taking over Washing and Protection earns more than his normal Washing and Protection tasks. The two Pet Beasts continue to scan, their gazes swiftly landing on the Fetal Breath Orb. This is an unfamiliar resource. And unfamiliarity often entails it being a good thing. Both Pet Beasts instantly realize something and simultaneously turn their gaze to Xu Ran, with a hint of inquiry and anticipation. ¡°The use of this Fetal Breath Orb is to speed up the birth process of Transcendent Beings yet to be born, significantly enhancing their potential.¡± Xu Ran voiced the utility of the Fetal Breath Orb, meeting two pairs of instantly glowing eyes. He paused momentarily before adding, ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Both of you can¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Why?) A loss immediately appears on Ziyun¡¯s face. She was thinking that if this resource had nothing to do with Star¡¯s evolution, it was bound to be hers¡­ ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡±(Such a pity¡­) Star¡¯s expression also disappoints, it thought this resource could assist in its own evolution. ¡°The function of the Fetal Breath Orb is to speed up the birth process of unnascneed Transcendent Beings, while significantly enhancing their potential.¡± Xu Ran explained the function of the Fetal Breath Orb. Both Pet Beasts¡¯ faces stiffen simultaneously, their movements synchronizing in the next moment as they turn to look at the staircase leading to the second floor. In a flash, they think of who could utilize this resource. ¡°It seems you understand.¡± Xu Ran smiles, ¡°The situation is special currently. Following the allocation rules established earlier, a Beast Egg cannot participate in the allocation.¡± ¡°But this resource is just right for it, and both of you can¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°So¡­ I have a proposal.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What proposal?) Ziyun reveals a look of curiosity. ¡°This resource, let¡¯s deduct 250 Value Points from both of you and give it to the Beast Egg to use.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice briefly halts, ¡°The 250 Value Points are obviously not for free, but¡­¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Borrowed!) Star beats him to the answer, its eyes showing understanding as one of its paws can¡¯t help but raise, slashing through the air twice. ¡°That¡¯s right, just like that.¡± Xu Ran nods, ¡°When the Beast Egg hatches, if a Contract is confirmed, then we¡¯ll deduct from its future Value Points.¡± ¡°If the Pet Beast from the hatched egg is very unruly and can¡¯t get along with both of you, then no Contract will be made. And it¡¯ll have to make up for it in some other way!¡± ¡°Of course, the probability of the second situation is not high.¡± Xu Ran shrugged. Unlike Ziyun and Star, this is an unhatched Beast Egg. The little life being hatched from it is like a blank piece of paper. Just by guiding it correctly, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult for it to get along harmoniously with the two Pet Beasts. Ziyun and Star understand this principle, nodding in agreement. ¡°Meow-¡± (Or should I be the one borrowing the whole 500 points? Star hasn¡¯t evolved yet and requires Value Points.) Ziyun glanced at Star and suddenly suggested. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (No way!) Before Xu Ran could speak, Star instantly shook his head, expressing its disagreement vigorously. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (This is the power I am contributing to our unborn companion, we can¡¯t be stingy!) It had roughly scanned its value points just now and they seemed quite abundant this time. Thinking of its own territory within the foster area, the stone that kept the tally hadn¡¯t been used for a long time and was covered with dust. Now that it could finally use it again, Star felt an inexplicable excitement. ¡°Meow-¡± (Is that so¡­) Ziyun¡¯s expression also became serious. It turned out that these 250 value points were not just a loan, they were also the strength it contributed to its future companion. Its realm was too small! ¡°Meow-¡± (You¡¯re right!) Ziyun hopped up and patted Star¡¯s head, admiration and admiration appeared in its eyes. Unaware of when, its little brother¡¯s mindset had grown so much. ¡°Since we¡¯ve decided on the allocation of the Fetal Breath Orb, the two of you can now start exchanging resources.¡± Seeing the two little creatures interact so intimately, a heartwarming smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He hoped that the beast egg after hatching can also get along with them so intimately. ¡°After each of you deduct the 250 value points for the Fetal Breath Orb, each of you still has 7571 value points.¡± Xu Ran announced the value points of the two pet beasts this time, and then tapped the small blackboard with a chalk, ¡°You may start.¡± Ziyun turned its gaze towards Star. As usual, Star, who was about to evolve, made the first choice. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (How many more skill points do I need to upgrade all my talent skills to the Waning Moon Level?) Star didn¡¯t rush to exchange. It glanced at the skill points on the small blackboard and turned to ask Xu Ran. Without the panel, although it could feel its own proficiency increasing, it could not clearly know the progress and needed Xu Ran to tell it. ¡°Let me see.¡± Xu Ran casually opened Star¡¯s panel. [¡ï¡ï¡ïNight Inspection (Starlight Level)] (323/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïTwilight Watch (Starlight Level)] (371/500) [ + ] [¡ï¡ïStar Chain (Starlight Level)] (380/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïNight Song (Starlight Level)] (334/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïLong Night (Starlight Level)] (458/500) [ + ] This was the current proficiency of Star¡¯s five talent skills. ¡°Reset ¡± Xu Ran took out the calculator, quickly calculated and got the final result. ¡°You need 634 skill points in total. Your previous 540 skill points haven¡¯t been used, so you only need to exchange 94 skill points to upgrade all talent skills to the Waning Moon Level.¡± Only this much? Excitement appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. Indeed, not rushing to add points, waiting until the need arises and then completing the addition all at once, is the correct choice. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (How many skill points do I need to upgrade Nightfall and Self-healing Power to the Waning Moon Level?) ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Xu Ran took a look. [¡ï¡ïNightfall (Starlight Level)] (308/500) [+] [¡ïSelf-healing Power (Starlight Level)] (162/500) [+] ¡°These two skills require 530 skill points.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Then, exchange for 2624 skill points!) Star quickly calculated in its heart and made a decision. With so many skill points, it could upgrade all its skills to the Waning Moon Level, and upgrade one skill to the Full Moon Level! Although it could exchange for more, Star knew that previously Big Sister had let it have more to help it reach evolution conditions faster, to prepare for evolution. Once the proficiency of skills reaches the Waning Moon Level, further improvement is not for the purpose of evolution. It will not be appropriate to monopolize the skill points. ¡°You have 2646 skill points left.¡± Xu Ran turned to look at Ziyun, ¡°These skill points should be enough for you to upgrade the skills that were not upgraded to the Waning Moon Level last time, and then upgrade one skill to Full Moon Level.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Yes!) Ziyun nodded quickly, and its eyes were full of gratification as it looked at Star. Little brother is very knowledgeable, Big Sister is very satisfied! Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 134: Full Moon Level Proficiency! Chapter 199: Chapter 134: Full Moon Level Proficiency! Change of Situation! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Well talk about allocating points later.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the distribution next.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯ll take all the skill fragments!) Star was the first to express its intention with a snort. Although it had enough skill points, it still had a long way to go to upgrade all its talents to three stars. So, the more skill fragments, the better. After exchanging 73 skill fragments, its total skill fragments reached 83, and it could exchange two two-star skills, that is to say, it could upgrade another two-star skill to three-star level. ¡°Ok,¡± Xu Ran divided the skill fragments to Star, ¡°Next is the Energy Abundant Potion¡­¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I want that one!) This time, it was Ziyun¡¯s turn to speak first. The Energy Abundant Potion is used for training and helps boosting skill proficiency more than the energy blocks, after all, infinite power is much more efficient than being continuously depleted and restored. But when it comes to power increase, it can¡¯t compete with energy blocks. After all, the main purpose of the latter is to enhance strength. Since Star has already upgraded its skills to the Waning Moon level through skill points, its demand for Energy Abundant Potion is not as great. But Ziyun needed it very much. Because it was poor! The double-attribute energy cubes it had exchanged before were almost used up, and having an Energy Abundant Potion would save some double-attribute energy cubes. The feeling of poverty was always haunting it. It had to be thrifty¡­ ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No problem-) Star agreed readily, turning its gaze to the next item. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (I want all the Skill Fusion Stones!) ¡°Meow-¡± (Then I¡¯ll exchange all Beast Master Points!) Ziyun decisively swapped the Beast Master Points to make its single-digit balance return to four figures again. Star did not express any objections to this. It currently had more than 4,000 Beast Master Points, and the only remaining materials needed for evolution was a single horn of an adult Night Demon Dragon. Xu Ran had previously asked Gu Wu about this, and the price of this resource was between 2,000 and 3,000 points. As for the usual resources to increase strength¡­ Since it had reached the peak of the Elite Stage, it should strive to keep its strength within a controllable range before it can evolve. ¡°Then there are only physical points left,¡± Xu Ran circled the remaining physical points with chalk, which neither of the two pet beasts had chosen. This time, both pet beasts faced a quandary. The reason was straightforward: both had reached the perfection of the Elite Stage, and there was no need for physical points. Exchange now for use during leadership Stage in the future? Isn¡¯t that a bit too early? ¡°In that case, your remaining Value Points will be left for the future.¡± Seeing the two pet beasts in trouble, Xu Ran laughed, ¡°The remaining Value Points can be used in subsequent resource allocation.¡± ¡°Not every resource allocation has to be used up completely.¡± The two pet beasts had no objection to Xu Ran¡¯s proposal. ¡°Well, the allocation is now complete.¡± Xu Ran looked rather excited, ¡°It¡¯s time for the thrilling resource-using session again!¡± ¡°First up, Star¡¯s Skill Fusion!¡± Xu Ran looked at Star, which had been waiting for a long time, and opened the system recycling function. ¡°Xi lu Lu!¡± (Upgrade Twilight Watch!) Star nearly decided without any hesitation. The reason it upgraded Night Eyes to three stars earlier and turned it to Night Inspection was that it just happened to get an Insightful Eye, and only another skill was needed for the exchange. Otherwise, Twilight Watch should have been upgraded first. As Star¡¯s most powerful supporting skill, Twilight Watch greatly enhances its allies. Upgrading it to three stars is very promising. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, and quickly pulled out two two-star skills with the highest fusion success rate with Twilight Watch from the skill exchange list. [¡ï¡ï Twilight Watch] + [¡ï¡ï Guardian] + [¡ï¡ï Common Lot] [Fusion Success Rate: o.63%0] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Another three skills fusion, and the fusion success rate is less than one percent. Xu Ran and Star looked at each other and then forcefully pressed [Yes]. Give me¡­ Fusion!!! One¡­two¡­three¡­ The words ¡°Fusion Failed¡± popped up time and time again, but they couldn¡¯t undermine Xu Ran¡¯s determination to accomplish the fusion. In the end, after using up eight Skill Fusion Stones, the fusion of the three skills was successfully completed. [¡ï¡ï Twilight Watch (Starlight Level)] (371/500) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Night Rune (Starlight Level)] (371/500) [+] It seemed that the luck was quite good; last time when conducting three-skill fusion for Ziyun, it cost a total of nine Skill Fusion Stones. Xu Ran breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at Star with a contemplative look, ¡°How is the effect of the new skill?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± The light in Star¡¯s eyes gradually brightened, and it made a fervent roar, and the next moment a faint light flashed on the surface of its body. At the same time, two mysterious black rune seals quietly appeared, revolving around Ziyun and Xu Ran. Ziyun¡¯s momentum, which had already reached the perfection of the Elite Stage, rose higher and higher under the empowerment of new power, and instantly reached a much higher level than Twilight Watch, to Xu Ran¡¯s joy.. Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 134: Full Moon Level Proficiency! Chapter 200: Chapter 134: Full Moon Level Proficiency! Change of Situation! _2 Translator: 549690339 As for Xu Ran himself, after gripping his fists, he also felt his strength become increasingly powerful after the improvement. Now, he wondered if he might have a chance of contending with weaker elite level pet beasts? Surely, the boosting effect of the new skills was even better than that of Twilight Watch! ¡°What other effects does it have?¡± Xu Ran looked at Star expectantly with eager eyes. The two skills fused with Twilight Watch weren¡¯t simple ones. These two weren¡¯t Darkness Attribute skills, but they were among the rarer auxiliary ones in Common skills. Guardian, could apply a shield on the chosen target, protecting it from attacks. Shared Destiny, like Star Chain, could link both parties. However, unlike Star Chain, the linked parties could transfer and restore power to each other, rather than merging their power and sharing their abilities. Based on Xu Ran¡¯s estimate, the three-star skill obtained from fusing these two skills with Twilight Watch would have not only the initial boosting effect but likely also possess other new effects. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (The rune has a protective effect¡­) Star lifted a forehoof, indicating the black rune circling around Xu Ran, then began to whinny and explain. After Star¡¯s explanation, a joyful expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. There really were new effects! The Guardian¡¯s protective effect was perfectly integrated into the Night Rune and had been enhanced! He was just now noticing that the rune on him was the same as what was on Ziyun. This rune was woven from seven strands; according to Star¡¯s introduction, each strand could block an attack with the same strength as Star. As the skill¡¯s proficiency continued to improve, the number of strands on the rune would increase, making the rune more complex. Yet, it wasn¡¯t only the Guardian skill that was perfectly merged! The other skill, Shared Destiny¡¯s effect, too, was there and had been intensified! Shared Destiny linked both parties so that when one party was drained and not at its full strength, it could receive the same amount of power from the other party, thus helping the teammate recover to its full strength. Essentially, it was a form of compensation for power consumption. The party who transferred the energy to help its teammate recover would also be quickly exhausted unless it was much stronger than its teammate. In the Night Rune, the power transfer effect was inherited, and the linked object had been changed from two parties to multiple parties. All the teammates marked with the rune could transfer their powers amongst themselves! This meant that multiple teammates could support one teammate simultaneously, making the distribution of power consumption much more efficient! ¡°That will be it for skill fusion.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to allocate skill points!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Under Xu Ran¡¯s rapid allocation of skill points, all of Star¡¯s skills reached Waning Moon Level. Star neighed, with an extremely excited look in its eyes. Efforts pay off! I will prove it with skill points allocation! ¡°Where to allocate the remaining 2000 skill points?¡± Looking at Star¡¯s (0/2000) skill proficiency progress bars, a look of expectancy appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Full Moon Level skills, huh! Was it finally going to be in his hands? ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Night Rune!) Without any hesitation, Star chose the new three-star skill that had just been upgraded. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, and immediately allocated the 2000 skill points. **¡ï Night Rune (Waning Moon Level)](o/2000)[+] HI ¡ï¡ï¡ï Night Rune (Full Moon Level)](0/10000) It apparently takes ten thousand points to upgrade a skill from Full Moon Level to the next level¡­ Looking at the brand new progress bar, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh. But when he saw what was behind the progress bar, his expression faltered a bit. It seemed like something was missing. Where was the plus sign for adding points? Xu Ran wasn¡¯t the first time seeing the plus sign for adding points disappear. When Ziyun and Star previously reached the Transcendent Stage and Leadership Stage respectively, the plus sign behind the growth stage progression bar would disappear, indicating a temporary halt in adding points. Now the sudden disappearance of the plus sign for skill point allocation obviously meant the same thing. So¡­ you can¡¯t continue to add points to Full Moon Level skills at the Elite Stage? Can a pet beast continue to improve its Full Moon Level skill proficiency levels through its own training? Xu Ran scratched his chin thoughtfully. This would only be clear after more of Star¡¯s subsequent training. It seems that in this world, it¡¯s indeed rare for pet beasts to possess Full Moon Level skills at the Elite Stage. Not that it¡¯s completely unheard of, but it¡¯s definitely considered exceptional. ¡°Star, how do you feel?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (The Full Moon Level Night Rune is too powerful!) As Star sensed the qualitatively transformed Night Rune inside of itself, excitement filled its purple eyes. Through its description, Xu Ran also learned about the current state of the Night Rune. The number of people that could simultaneously benefit from the Night Rune had increased to 20. Previously, this number was only eight, and it did not increase with each star added to the Twilight Watch. Similarly, the number of lines in the Night Rune had jumped from seven to sixteen. This meant that a single rune could withstand attacks equivalent to Star¡¯s power sixteen times over. And the rune could be applied again once depleted! Furthermore, the most fundamental effect of the Night Rune¡ªamplification- had also seen a significant improvement. After Star applied it again to Ziyun, Xu Ran roughly estimated its effects. Previously, when Ziyun¡¯s power reached thirty thousand, the Night Rune increased it almost to sixty thousand. This amplification was truly terrifying. Of course, there was a downside. This skill already consumed a lot of energy and as its proficiency level increased, the energy consumed became even more frightening. Forget about amplifying twenty targets at once, even when amplifying only two targets, Ziyun and Xu Ran, Star could barely hold on for about ten minutes. Full Moon Level proficiency wasn¡¯t really meant for the Elite Stage. ¡°Great!¡± Xu Ran nodded approvingly. However, he immediately changed his tone, ¡°But there¡¯s some bad news. You can¡¯t add skill points to a Full Moon Level skill for now.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you can continue adding points only after you¡¯ve broken through to the Leadership Stage.¡± ¡°Xi Lu¡± (Is that so¡­) A bit disappointed, Star had hoped to experience the higher proficiency levels after feeling the power of the Full Moon Level. However, considering that it had just reached Waning Moon Level with six other skills, Star didn¡¯t find this too hard to accept. By the time all its skills reached Full Moon Level, it¡¯s cultivation would have probably crossed the Leadership Stage, right? ¡°Meow-¡± (It¡¯s my turn! It¡¯s my turn!) Ziyun, who was at the side, couldn¡¯t help but urge Xu Ran when she saw Star had managed to reach such a high proficiency level so quickly. She wanted to level up, too! She wanted to reach Full Moon Level as well! ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Xu Ran smiled wryly and opened Ziyun¡¯s panel. [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Waning Moon Level)](3o8/2ooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïStep on Electric Traces (Waning Moon Level)](278/2ooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïDestruction Thunder Claw (Waning Moon Level)](283/2ooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïFighting Body (Waning Moon Level)](286/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïKing¡¯s Power (Starlight Level)](i78/5OO)[+] [¡ï¡ïSuperfast Self-healing (Waning Moon Level)](35/2OOO)[+] [¡ï¡ïHeartfelt Strike (Starlight Level)](206/500)[+] [¡ï¡ïFalling Thunder (Starlight Level)](229/500)[+] [¡ïBlood Fury (Waning Moon Level)](3/2ooo)[+] It has been half a month since Ziyun evolved. In this half month, stimulated by the sight of the giant beast¡¯s corpse, Ziyun didn¡¯t sit back satisfied with her strong power. Instead, she cherished every moment of the daily six-hour training time like Star and endeavored to improve herself. The previously unachieved Waning Moon Level Superfast Self-healing and Blood Fury had both been achieved through Ziyun¡¯s continuous efforts. With the evolution awakening of three skills ¨C King¡¯s Power, Heartfelt Strike, and Falling Thunder, they all had now reached Starlight Level. ¡°Which skill do you want to upgrade to Full Moon Level?¡± Xu Ran asked Ziyun. ¡°Meow!¡± (Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound! Invest all the extra skill points in Fighting Body!) Ziyun replied without hesitation. Perhaps because she had a Fighting Attribute, after her Battle Instinct skill evolved into Fighting Body, Ziyun liked it even more than Step on Electric Traces, which she had previously ignored. Xu Ran nodded slightly and quickly poured the points into the skills. [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Full Moon Level)](o/ioooo) [¡ï¡ï¡ïFighting Body (Waning Moon Level)](353/2OOO)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïKing¡¯s Power (Waning Moon Level)](o/20oo)[+] [¡ï¡ïHeartfelt Strike (Waning Moon Level)](0/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ïFalling Thunder (Waning Moon Level)](o/2ooo)[+] All done, time to call it a day! Had to catch a plane at six¡­ I need some sleep; my health is important.. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 135 Beast Egg Hatching 1 Chapter 201: Chapter 135 Beast Egg Hatching¡±¡¯ 1 Translator: 549690339 b¡°¡®¡ª ¡°How does the full moon level Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound feel?¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun with a joyful expression, his own face wearing a smile. ¡°Meow!¡± (Superb!) Ziyun picked up his spirits and began to share the changes experienced after the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound upgraded to full moon level. The waning moon-level Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, could instantly transform a large spherical area centered around Ziyun into a region covered by thunderforce, and cause a series of effects such as shock, stun, thunder strike, paralysis on all enemies within range. At full moon level, the range of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound has been further strengthened. When fully unleashed, the diameter of the spherical region is about three times the original. Additionally, the full moon-level Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound had undergone new changes. It can be released not centered on Ziyun, but the center can be moved under Ziyun¡¯s control. That is to say, the area of thunderforce released will no longer be unchangeable. Apart from this, Ziyun¡¯s control over the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound skill has further strengthened. The original Ziyun could only limit the range of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound to a diameter of about ten meters at minimum. With the compression the thunderforce within the range would become more terrifying and the power would become stronger. But now, Ziyun can shrink the thunder and lightning area formed after releasing Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound to a range of one meter in diameter. No, calling it a thunder and lightning area at this time is a bit of a stretch. This is a magic sphere compressing terrifying thunder power. Plus the new ability to move after releasing¡­ ¡°So¡­ can the current Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound be used as an energy bullet?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, his eyes showing interest. One can only imagine how powerful this shot would be. ¡°Meow-¡± (I think I can do it after a few more practices.) Ziyun nodded confidently, but then his expression slightly deflated. Like Star¡¯s skills, the full moon-level Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound greatly increased consumption, making it hard for him to cast consecutively. ¡°No worries, temporarily it could serve as a trump card.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°When you break through to the leadership stage and your power is greatly increased the situation will improve.¡± That was the only way. Ziyun nodded, and then he couldn¡¯t help but urge. ¡°Meow?¡± (How much longer until you break through the third stage?) ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Damn it, did he become the bottleneck of his pet beasts again? ¡°One week!¡± He gritted his teeth and declared seriously,¡±At most one week, I must break through!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Keep going!) ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Keep going Beast Master!) Ziyun and Star both offered encouraging looks. -Okay then, up next, do you guys need my help to exchange anything with points?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the two pet beasts, ¡°Now, Ziyun has 2130 points left and Star has /, 7,33 11 ¡°Meow!¡± (I want to exchange!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. The two training resources he previously exchanged for have been almost fully absorbed now and their efficiency has nearly ceased. Now that he has points of course, he would get new ones. Plus, the dual attribute energy cubes needed to be exchanged for. This time, he wanted to exchange a super lot! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll pass for now.) Star shook his head slightly. The waning moon-level two-stars skill, Long Night, enables him to continuously train at high efficiency in the dark attribute training area for six hours without any additional supplement. Whether it¡¯s energy cubes or dark attribute resources, absorbing them will increase the difficulty of suppressing advances. Temporarily saving these points and waiting to exchange them for suitable resources after he completes the evolution and breaks through to the leadership stage is the best choice. ¡°In that case, let me choose resources for Ziyun.¡± After asking for the opinions of the two pet beasts, Xu Ran nodded slightly and quickly began to help Ziyun search for the exchange list. In the end, Ziyun exchanged for 60 dual-property energy cubes, a thunder resource named Thunder Strike Wood, a fighting attribute resource named Splinter Stone, spending a total of 1700 Beast Master Points, leaving a balance of 4.30 points. ¡°Okay, so these are the remaining resources you guys have.¡± After inventorying, Xu Ran quickly wrote the resources situation of the two pet beasts on the small blackboard. ¡°Physical points: 6164 (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill fragments: 3 (star)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 1 bottle (Ziyun)¡± ¡°Skill fusion stone: 2 (Star)¡± Beast Master Points: 430 (Ziyun) + 4433 (Star)¡± ¡°Remaining Value Points: 2747 (Ziyun) + 3417 (star)¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯m rich!) Looking at the remaining value points and the Beast Master Points balance no longer in single digits, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up, filled with joy. Is this the feeling of being rich? It¡¯s indeed intoxicating! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Has the allocation ended?) Star raised its forelimb, keenness in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t wait to keep track of the accounts. ¡°The allocation of resources is considered completed.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°However, we have a very important thing to do.¡± He magically took out an oval-shaped jade stone, the surface smooth and shimmering with a gentle luster, and swayed it in front of the two pet beasts ¡°This is the Fetal Breath Orb.¡± ¡°Next, let¡¯s go use it together.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up. This thing can accelerate the hatching of a beast egg, and he was already a little impatient to see the newborn beast.. Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 135 Beast Egg Hatching!!! _2 Chapter 202: Chapter 135 Beast Egg Hatching!!! _2 Translator: 549690339 After all, they won this Beast Egg against Xu Ran! Does anyone know if the creature inside the egg is a little brother or little sister? Star quietly lowers its raised front hoof. They can wait a bit longer to settle the account. A human and two pets tiptoe, quickly arriving at Xu Ran¡¯s room on the second floor. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Watching Xu Ran and Ziyun successfully enter the room, Star gives a low neigh, lowering its head that was held high, and taking a peek inside the room from the door. Last time they came, it was still Transcendent Stage strength, and its body was not the size it is now. At present, it, being four meters tall, struggles to cross a standard room door smoothly. Nevertheless, by sticking its head in, Star could manage to observe the room¡¯s inside situation. As a consolation, Xu Ran rubs Star¡¯s forehead and shakes his head helplessly, ¡°After your evolution is finished, and we have extra skill fragments, I will exchange them for a one-star Reduction command for you.¡± For a pet beast with a hefty body size, this would indeed be quite convenient. But the Reduction command, is very rare. If not, there would not be so many creatures needing fosterage because they¡¯ve grown too big. That said¡­ Xu Ran glanced at the beast egg. The beast hatching from this beast egg is of the Earth attribute, so it might probably also be big in size. ¡°Meow!¡± (I want it too!) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s promise to exchange the Reduction command for Star, Ziyun becomes displeased. Although its body size has decreased since it evolved, there is no guarantee that it will not get bigger with further breakthroughs. If it gets any bigger, it won¡¯t be able to ask Xu Ran for cuddles anymore! So, the Reduction command must be arranged! ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Xu Ran was speechless. It seems he painted such a large pie for Ziyun a long time ago. Due to the rarity of the Reduction command, he couldn¡¯t obtain it through Plucking Fur. Later on, the System Recycling function was introduced, and the King Species evolution path became available in a short time. The demand for skill fragments was huge, and there was no room to use them on such skills. Not to mention, Xu Ran has wanted to upgrade Ziyun¡¯s Blood Fury, a one-star skill, to two stars but hasn¡¯t found the opportunity to do so. -We will discuss the Reduction command later.¡± Snapping back to reality, Xu Ran brings the conversation back on track, ¡°Let¡¯s first use the Fetal Breath Orb to speed up the hatching process of the Beast Egg.¡± Noticing Star constantly trying to peek into the room, he simply carries the Beast Egg with the Mud Marrow that has lost its Earth attribute power out of the room and brings them into the living room. This way, Star wouldn¡¯t have to keep craning its neck anymore. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± Once again close to the Beast Egg, Star seems quite excited. It carefully lowers its head, sniffs the egg with its nose, then extends its hoof to gently tap on the eggshell, as if saying hello. ¡°So next, I¡¯m going to use resources that can help you hatch quickly.¡± Xu Ran takes out the Fetal Breath Orb and says slowly to the Beast Egg, ¡°These resources are borrowed from Ziyun and Star, so after you hatch¡­¡± ¡°Remember to pay us back!¡± As he finished speaking, Xu Ran tightly holds the Fetal Breath Orb and attaches it to the Beast Egg. The originally firm and smooth Fetal Breath Orb, with the texture of jade, suddenly turns into liquid the moment it contacts the eggshell. After leaving Xu Ran¡¯s palm, it spreads out on the surface of the eggshell, quickly covering the whole shell with a thin layer. Then, it is visibly absorbed into the Beast Egg. It has already been absorbed¡­ Xu Ran and the two pets can¡¯t help holding their breath, watching the changes in the Beast Egg with wide eyes without blinking. One minute, two minutes¡­ ¡°Hum-¡± About three minutes later, with a low humming sound, the Beast Egg seems to have received a powerful stimulus and starts to shake. The yellow patterns on the eggshell, which would occasionally flash due to the energy flow, are now flashing at an extremely fast frequency. Under the nervous gaze of their human and two pets, the patterns are slowly changing. They become more complex, especially as they gradually start getting more orderly. As the time passes, the eggshell¡¯s shivering gradually slows down, and the flashing frequency of the patterns also decreases. By now, the original disorganized patterns on the eggshell have completely changed. They are still yellow, but the patterns have become regular and neat like fish scales. No, not fish scales. Looking at the sharp edges on these scale patterns, Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows raise slightly,¡±This seems to be¡­¡± ¡°Dragon scales?¡± Could it be true that a dragon is about to hatch from the beast egg? An Earth attribute Dragon Pet Beast? This sounds rather exciting! Xu Ran gently stretches out his hand and touches the eggshell. This time, the sensation he feels is no longer smooth. With the appearance of the dragon scale pattern, the eggs¡¯ surface truly undulated. An ancient and formidable aura seeped out from the beast egg, letting one instantly perceive the remarkable nature of this beast egg. The Fetal Breath Orb, a purple resource, fearsome to such a degree. ¡°Meow-¡± (Our future companion seems, rather formidable.) A grave expression surfaced on Ziyun¡¯s face. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Indeed, it is so.) Star nodded in agreement, a grave expression emerging in his eyes. Therefore¡­ he must push himself to train even harder, lest he is caught up by the new companions arriving afterward. For him, who is obsessed with speed, ¡°being caught up¡± is such a frightful phrase. ¡°I speculate that the Fetal Breath Orb should also have the role of supplementing vitality.¡± Xu Ran carefully sensed it again, then slowly began to speak, ¡°The life aura within the beast egg is much stronger than before, I feel that it won¡¯t take long to hatch.¡± ¡°From now on, all we can do is wait.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the sky, ¡°Let¡¯s get some sleep, the beast egg definitely can¡¯t hatch tonight, right?¡± ¡°Crack¨C¡± The moment Xu Ran¡¯s voice fell, the beast egg in front of him suddenly made a soft sound. ¡°Meow?! (It wasn¡¯t me!)¡± Ziyun retracted his paw as if shocked by electricity, his expression grew anxious. ¡°Crack¨C¡± Again, a light sound emerged from the beast egg. ¡°Alright, I know it wasn¡¯t you.¡± Xu Ran rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be proven wrong so quickly.¡± This beast egg, with the help of the Fetal Breath Orb, had indeed shown indications of hatching. At this moment, it was probably the little creature in the egg trying to break through the eggshell¡¯s restraint. ¡°Crack¡­ crack¡­ crack¡­¡± One crisp sound after another, made slightly dull after being transmitted through the eggshell. The frequency of sounds from within the eggshell became faster and faster, but aside from slight shaking, there were no cracks appearing on the eggshell. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Do we need to help it break the eggshell?) Star delicately asked. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s watch first.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression, from initially anxious, had already become somewhat strange. Wasn¡¯t it said the Fetal Breath Orb could enhance the potential of the unborn pet beast? After enhancing the potential, it couldn¡¯t even break its own eggshell? Surely not? It seemed as if the small creature in the eggshell felt Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. Suddenly, the speed of cracking the eggshell fiercely increased. ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­¡± A series of crisp sounds later, the sound abruptly grew louder at some moment. ¡°Crack!¡± A clear fissure appeared on the eggshell. ¡°Meow!¡± (There is a crack!) Ziyun, who had been watching the eggshell all this time, cheered loudly. Xu Ran¡¯s expression also relaxed slightly. I knew it, with such potential, how could it be possible not to break the eggshell. After the first fissure, the speed of cracking the eggshell suddenly became faster. More and more dense fissures covered it, and eventually, a part of the beast egg¡¯s hard shell broke open. What appeared in front of one human and two pets was a golden horn. Following that, a pale yellow head, grey-white fur around the head, and a pair of longer horns at the back of the head. ¡°Charming!¡± The little beast, who has not yet fully revealed its form, made its first child-like call with a bit of happiness and familiarity, looking at Xu Ran. Then, it reached out a paw, began to scratch along the hole in the eggshell surface, expanded the hole, and allowed more of its body to get out of the eggshell. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth slowly opened. Looking at this pet beast in front of him, which showed slight resemblance to a turtle in shape, yet the limbs and head were more like a dragon, even the protrusion on the turtle shell was like dragon scales, question marks couldn¡¯t help but surface in his mind. Is it a dragon, or a turtle? Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 136 It Cant Possibly Advance Chapter 203: Chapter 136 It Can¡¯t Possibly Advance Now! 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Charming!¡± The newly hatched life seemed to notice Xu Ran¡¯s change of expression, its httle head tilted to one side, its large eyes full of confusion. But its confusion was soon drowned out by its curiosity about the outside world after being born, and it began to crawl tentatively, struggling to move its somewhat frail limbs at this moment. However, after only a few steps, the little fellow¡¯s body uncontrollably tilted to one side. The shell on its back was too heavy, and it was still somewhat difficult for its limbs to bear the weight. ¡°Slow down, slow down!¡± Seeing the little one¡¯s movement, Xu Ran quickly stopped worrying about whether it was a turtle or a dragon, carefully steadied its body that was about to fall to the ground, and then conveniently gave it a system identification. [Race name: Golden Scale Turtle Attribute: Earth attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Large Size Washing and Protection requirement: ***** Assessment: Newly born life, has no need for Washing and Protection, but the host might want to use his dainty hands to feed it some food. ] Golden Scale Turtle, huh¡­ Xu Ran nodded slightly. It seemed a bit like a dragon, but by name, it was more like a turtle species. As for the attribute being Earth, it was also something he had anticipated. But¡­ Large Size? Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as he looked at the little one who had just hatched from the egg and was even smaller than Ziyun. Could the system identification be wrong about body size? ¡°Charming!¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s palm touched its body while supporting it, the little fellow didn¡¯t seem scared because of the near-fall. Instead, it actively rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s palm. Its eyes squinted slightly, revealing an expression of enjoyment. Although it was just born, there was no wet, sticky fluid on the surface of the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s body. It seemed dry as if it had been well cleaned before birth. Its body had no scales, and the texture was rough yet smooth to the touch. This was a bit miraculous, but considering that this was a Transcendent Being it made sense. The shell on its back was about eighty centimeters wide, with the main part divided into five rows, with the center row having bigger and more fierce-looking scales. The palm-sized golden scales lay orderly on each other. The slightly raised tips of the scales gave the shell a menacing yet robust appearance. Taking advantage of Xu Ran¡¯s inspection, the little one moved closer to him, then stuck out its head and took a bite at Xu Ran¡¯s finger. ¡°This¡­¡± Feeling the slight suction and warmth on his finger left him blinking in surprise, ¡°Does it want milk?¡± Honestly, even though he had two contracted pet beasts, he had never cared for a newborn Transcendent Being. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll get it!) Ziyun disappeared in a flash and quickly returned with a box of milk, placed it on the table, and then continued to quietly lie on its side, watching the Golden Scale Turtle intently. ¡°Perfect.¡± Xu Ran picked up the box of milk and had a look. This was something he had bought for himself to drink, but it wasn¡¯t ordinary milk. ¡¯ There was a type of Transcendent Being in this world called the Moonlight Cow. They were said to draw power from moonlight, and the milk they produced was very nutritious. After trying it once, Xu Ran thought it tasted very good and stocked up on it at home. He found a small dish, carefully opened the milk, poured a little bit in, and then offered it to the Golden Scale Turtle, ¡°Let¡¯s see if you like it.¡± The Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s nose twitched, as if it caught the sweet smell of the milk in the air. Its attention shifted from Xu Ran¡¯s finger. It willingly let go and its nose led it to the small dish with a bit of milk. Then, it stuck out its tongue and quickly licked the small dish of milk clean. ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s brown eyes suddenly brightened. It seemed to have caught a new scent, its nose twitching as it shifted its attention to the opened box of milk in Xu Ran¡¯s other hand. ¡°You can just have this for now.¡± Xu Ran laughed, and after testing that it was safe, he found a larger bowl poured all the milk into it, and placed the bowl in front of the Golden Scale Turtle. ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle called out in its baby voice and then plunged its head directly into the bowl full of milk. ¡°Glug, glug¡ª¡± The water level in the bowl dropped straight down, quickly reaching the bottom. ¡°Slow down there!¡± Seeing the Golden Scale Turtle raise its head, with most of its face covered in milk, Xu Ran was both amused and distressed. He quickly found a dry towel, intending to help wipe it down. But before he could do anything, the Golden Scale Turtle had already stuck out its tongue and licked its own face clean. ¡°Huh¡­¡± Xu Ran silently put the towel back, ¡°You do have quite a long tongue.¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Has it gotten a bit bigger?) Star, who had been quietly watching the Golden Scale Turtle but had not spoken up, suddenly spoke. ¡°Huh?¡± Upon Star¡¯s reminder, Xu Ran took another look at the Golden Scale Turtle, and then at the partially fragmented eggshell still nearby. ¡°My God!¡± He abruptly stood up, his expression turning peculiar. He hadn¡¯t noticed earlier due to being engrossed in the little one¡¯s cuteness But now that the eggshell was there for comparison, the change in size was obvious. It hadn¡¯t been long, and the little one was already bigger than the eggshell. And all he had done was feed it one box of milk¡­ How big would it get if he kept feeding it? Remembering that the system identification had categorized it as a Large Pet Beast, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly.. Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Chapter 136 It Cant Possibly Advance Chapter 204: Chapter 136 It Can¡¯t Possibly Advance Now!_2 Translator: 549690339 No way¡­ ¡°No feeding here,¡± declared Xu Ran decisively, picking up the Golden Scale Turtle from the table, ¡°We¡¯re going to the basement. Conveniently, he could procure the feeding formula for the Golden Scale Turtle and mix it up in the Preparation Room downstairs. ¡°Charming!¡± Being suddenly lifted by Xu Ran, the Golden Scale Turtle moved its limbs and head unnaturally. But, sensing Xu Ran¡¯s presence, it quickly calmed down, smacking its mouth from time to time as if it were still savoring the milk. When Xu Ran put his finger in its mouth, the little guy completely behaved itself, staying still as he carried it downstairs. Ziyun and Star exchanged glances and followed. The two also caught on that the current size of the Golden Scale Turtle did not represent its actual size at the Transcendent Stage. There¡¯s a rapid growth process between hatching and size stabilization. So¡­ How big would this little one eventually get? Moments later, in the basement foster area. Xu Ran emerged from the Preparation Room, carrying two large buckets of pale yellow milk, setting them in front of the hungry Golden Scale Turtle, ¡°Little one, have a taste!¡± This was the specially provided food formula by the System for the Golden Scale Turtle. Considering it¡¯s a newborn, Xu Ran mixed in the food with lots of milk to ease its digestion. The Golden Scale Turtle sniffed the milk, its brown eyes full of joy as it staggered towards the buckets with considerably stronger limbs. The smell was even more delectable than before! ¡°Charming!¡± It cheered and, to Xu Ran¡¯s astonishment, instantly dipped its entire head into a bucket. After a round of gulping, one bucket of milk was gone. This time, without Star¡¯s reminder, both Xu Ran and Ziyun noticed the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s astonishing size transformation. The width of its golden shell had completely exceeded one meter, reaching around one point four meters. With the increase in size, its limbs had become thicker and stronger. Its head got stuck inside the bucket due to its enlarged horns and frantically called out in dismay. ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, and quickly came over. Eventually, he successfully removed the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s head from the bucket by breaking it. ¡°You should really take it slow with this bucket.¡± Xu Ran set another bucket of milk in front of the Golden Scale Turtle. The little guy learnt its lesson and didn¡¯t just stick its head into the bucket right away. Instead, it moved to the edge of the bucket and began to lick the milk. ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll make more for you.¡± Seeing the Golden Scale Turtle behaving so properly, Xu Ran nodded satisfactorily and returned to the Preparation Room. He wanted to see how much this little one could grow. Outside the Preparation Room, the Golden Scale Turtle saw Xu Ran disappear. It couldn¡¯t resist sticking its head inside the bucket again, but before it got stuck again, a claw held its head back. ¡°Meow-¡± (You can¡¯t do that!) Ziyun shook its head seriously. ¡°Charming?¡± Aside from Xu Ran, this was the first time the Golden Scale Turtle had been touched by anyone else. This made it pay attention to Ziyun and Star, who had been around it all this time. If felt uneasy at first, but after sniffing Ziyun¡¯s paw, it seemed to recognize the familiar scent and quickly calmed down again. The Golden Scale Turtle, not understanding Ziyun¡¯s intentions, tried to stick its head into the bucket again but was stopped once more by Ziyun. It finally obediently stayed by the edge of the bucket, lapping up the milk with its tongue. Seeing the new member obediently listening, Ziyun nodded satisfactorily. Soon, a returning Xu Ran brought even more food. Two meters¡­three meters¡­four meters¡­ Under the stunned gaze of Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star, the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s body grew increasingly larger as it rapidly absorbed a large amount of nutrients. The growth didn¡¯t show signs of slowing down any time soon. Xu Ran chuckled helplessly after preparing food for it back and forth. Indeed, the System couldn¡¯t be wrong. At this rate, he would believe even if it was said that the turtle would grow into a Super Large Pet Beast. Time ticked away every minute and second. The Golden Scale Turtle, which seemed to be always starving and indiscriminately accepting all kinds of food like a bottomless pit, finally began to slow down its eating. It was full. The size of the Golden Scale Turtle, which was initially smaller than Ziyun, in a short time increased to nine meters. The width of the shell on its back alone was seven meters wide, and each scale on the shell was larger than Ziyun¡¯s body. Its limbs had become robust and powerful, much more robust than before. Even if it had to support such a large shell, it was effortless, and it could even run quickly in the foster area. ¡ö¡öSo this is the true posture of the Golden Scale Turtle.¡± While staring at the Golden Scale Turtle curiously exploring the boundless earth, Xu Ran touched his chin, a look of contemplation on his face, ¡°Speaking of which, isn¡¯t its power fluctuation a bit high?¡± ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Indeed.) Standing beside Xu Ran, Star nodded seriously. It still remembered clearly the state it was in when it first became a Transcendent Being. At that time, its power was much weaker compared to the Golden Scale Turtle of this moment. On the contrary, the current Golden Scale Turtle seemed to be in a perfect Transcendent Stage. ¡°Meow-¡± (Why do I feel it has already reached the perfect Transcendent Stage?) Ziyun glanced at the Golden Scale Turtle, then at the Frost Dust Wolf frolicking not far away, and could not determine for a while who was stronger. ¡°impossible!¡± Xu Ran shook his head and laughed, ¡°This little guy hasn¡¯t been pressured to grow up due to external forces. If it has reached the perfect Transcendent Stage, it probably would have already¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face suddenly froze. Because the Golden Scale Turtle, which had been curiously exploring the area, suddenly stopped moving. The next moment, a blinding Evolve Light emanated from its body. Xu Ran:¡±???¡± Including the judgement about the hatching of the Beast Egg just now, this little guy had made him eat his words twice today! The Golden Scale Turtle, who had blindly advanced, was like a black hole, swiftly absorbing the Earth attribute Power in the surrounding space. Seeing this, Xu Ran quickly cooperated, using the Control hub to gather more Earth attribute Power. Under the gaze of him and his two pets, the body of the Golden Scale Turtle grew visibly in size. With every breath, it broke the ten-meter mark, evolving from Large Size Pet Beast to Super Large Size Pet Beast. Fifteen meters.-.Twenty meters¡­Twenty-five meters! The body of the Golden Scale Turtle froze again, with a length that had reached twenty-seven meters. If Star was to stand next to the Golden Scale Turtle, it would have seemed small. But now, the Golden Scale Turtle was like a moving small hill. This was not just a Super Large Size pet beast, it was even close to the category of a Giant Pet Beast. Its power also increased along with it, but this time, it has only just broken through the Elite Stage. The corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. This size, wasn¡¯t it certain to reach the Giant Pet Beast range at the Leadership Stage? This guy¡­ He tilted his head up, looking at the Golden Scale Turtle, which was over ten meters tall. A strange expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Though a lot of Earth attribute Pet Beasts are very large and could easily reach the category of Large Size Pet Beast, ones with a size like Golden Scale Turtle are indeed quite rare. Feeding this beast in the future would probably not be simple. ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle, who was accidentally promoted, was feeling very excited about its current power, and it couldn¡¯t wait to share this joy with its closest friend. But after looking around, it didn¡¯t find Xu Ran. It sniffed a little, smelling the familiar scent in the air. It slowly lowered its head and finally found Xu Ran. There was a puzzled expression in the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s big eyes. Why had the guy who fed it become so small? It looked around at Xu Ran and the two pets beside him who once seemed much larger than it but now appeared so tiny. Maybe it should become a bit smaller too? A naive and pure thought appeared in the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s mind. The power engraved deep in its bloodline was subconsciously activated. Under the gaze of Xu Ran and the two pets, the Golden Scale Turtle, which was as tall as a five or six-story building, rapidly shrunk. Finally, it was only about four or five meters long, roughly the same size as Star. Xu Ran blinked. This is¡­ ¡°Reduction?¡± Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 137: The Terror of the Fetal Breath Chapter 205: Chapter 137: The Terror of the Fetal Breath Orb!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow?!¡± (Is it really reduction?) Upon Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. It had long coveted this skill! If it could directly acquire this teachable skill, there would be no need to exchange skill fragments, how delightful. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I want it too!) The Star beside him also had a gleam in its eyes. After familiarizing itself with its own capabilities over time, it realized, after reaching the elite stage, although its power has become stronger, the growth in its body size has led to certain inconveniences in life. Seeing the amazing effects of reduction, it was eager to experience it. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Seeing the longing look on the faces of the two pet beasts, Xu Ran stroked his chin, pondering over the possibility of obtaining reduction from the Golden Scale Turtle and teaching it to the other two pet beasts. When he was previously cleaning and caring for the stray pet beasts for free, he discovered that the standards for obtaining pleasure value and plucking fur to get skills are not the same. To gain pleasure value from the cleaning and caring target, the target must have a master, who is not himself. There isn¡¯t too much requirement towards the objects he cleans and cares for, whether they are transcendent beings or ordinary pets, all can be included. Xu Ran had confirmed this when he was cleaning the dog of a peculiar customer who insisted on bringing his pet dog in. The way to determine plucking fur is different from the conditions of gaining pleasure value. The target of plucking fur must be a transcendent being, it cannot be Xu Ran¡¯s own pet beast, but it doesn¡¯t state that it must be a pet beast with a master. When cleaning and caring for the stray pet beasts, he has obtained skills from plucking fur before. So¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyes met the innocent big eyes of the Golden Scale Turtle. As long as he cleans and cares for it before contracting with it, he can obtain its skills through plucking fur, and with the current B-level plucking fur, to get one-star skills, the success rate is one hundred percent. Of course, there¡¯s no need to rush for this. The Golden Scale Turtle was just born and didn¡¯t need cleaning and caring at the moment. He would wait for when it needs it. ¡°Apart from reduction, do you have any other skills?¡± Xu Ran quickly stepped forward, gently reaching out and touching the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s lowered head. ¡°Charming?¡± The Golden Scale Turtle happily rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s palm, but it did not answer Xu Ran¡¯s question and instead displayed a confused look. Having just been born and not yet made a contract with Xu Ran, to quickly understand Xu Ran¡¯s words was not easy for it. ¡°Meow-¡± (Watch me!) Facing this situation, Ziyun took the initiative once again. It patted the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s shell, signaling for it to watch, then swung its claw abruptly in the open air. ¡°Zizz ¡± The pierce sound of electric arc cutting through the air suddenly exploded in the void, fierce electric light brewing in Ziyun¡¯s palm, and then it brutally bombarded the air next to it, causing a smoky whirl and the ground revealed fine cracks. ¡°Charming!!!¡± Witnessing such a horrifying scene for the first time, the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s brown eyes widened, and fear was written all over its face. But soon after, the innate ability within its bloodline slowly transformed the fear on its face into contemplation. Seemingly, it could resist such terrifying attacks? With a bit of hesitance, the Golden Scale Turtle started to operate its own power instinctively, Earth attribute power suddenly exploded from its body, under the gaze of Xu Ran and the two pet beasts, hard rocks started to sprout and layers of rock were formed enveloping the Golden Scale Turtle. A larger Golden Scale Turtle stone statue appeared before them. ¡°Is this a defense skill?¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Earth attributes are mostly good at defense, hence it is normal to have defense skills. ¡°Ziyun, try the defense level, don¡¯t injure it.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (No problem!) Ziyun appeared on top of the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s scales in a flash, operating its fighting attribute power a little, and slapped against the scales. Despite not using a skill, it still posed a great threat to the Golden Scale Turtle with its three thousand points of power. ¡°Boom!¡± Accompanied by a deep boom, the Golden Scale Turtle shuddered as a whole, but the area where Ziyun¡¯s palm touched, no crack appeared. Not only that, but a sharp rock spike had suddenly appeared in that section. Revoking its claws after the slap, Ziyun was still scraped by the rock spike that suddenly appeared. A white light flashed and the wound disappeared immediately, then Ziyun returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side. ¡°Crack ¡± As Ziyun retreated, the rocks around the Golden Scale Turtle shattered quickly and vanished, it shook off the stone dust from its body, looking somewhat disappointed. It could feel that the one who attacked it just now, that level of offensive has reached the limit of its defense capacity, any stronger then its protective layer would be crushed. Yet that attack was significantly weaker than that claw. It seems like its power is still very weak¡­ What the Golden Scale Turtle didn¡¯t know was that Xu Ran and the other two were even more astounded. ¡°This defensive power even made a damage return effect¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, somewhat unsure, ¡°For just having reached the elite stage, with stardust level proficiency, can a two-star skill attain this strength?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Indeed it won¡¯t.) Ziyun nodded in agreement. To compute an estimate of a skill¡¯s power based on its growth stage and skill proficiency isn¡¯t hard.. Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 137: The Terror of the Fetal Breath Chapter 206: Chapter 137: The Terror of the Fetal Breath 0rbl_2 Translator: 549690339 The strength of a typical two-star skill is within a certain range, but the skill demonstrated by the Golden Scale Turtle was not within the range of a two-star skill. Its strength was more akin to the strength of a two-star skill after fusing two separate two-star skills. So, was this a two-star skill like Dragon Power, which was naturally stronger than the norm? ¡°Little guy, what other skills do you have?¡± An interested look appeared on Xu Ran s face. This was great, a naturally exceeded-standard strength that would require less resources to upgrade to three stars. It would probably be enough to only fuse one two-star skill to reach three stars. Ziyun and Star were nearly moved to tears with envy. The Golden Scale Turtle, intelligent by nature, also understood Xu Ran¡¯s intentions after the recent experience. Want to see what abilities it had¡­ The Golden Scale Turtle twisted its large eyes, actively sensing the innate abilities hidden within its bloodline. ¡°Charming!¡± Soon, the Golden Scale Turtle made a discovery. It raised a claw and pounded forcefully on the ground. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Along with a dull blast, a strong tremor spread across the ground around the Golden Scale Turtle like an earthquake, followed by spider-web-like cracks crisscrossing the earth. This crack not only appeared on the earth, it also extended to everything above the earth. When it passed by a rock on the ground, the rock immediately shattered. When it passed by a withered tree, the tree instantly turned into sawdust. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± As the crack headed towards them, Star neighed and stomped a forehoof on the ground, instantly applying a Night Rune on Xu Ran, and Ziyun. Above the rune, a black pattern turned light when the crack arrived, blocking the attack, but it did not dissipate. The strike of the Golden Scale Turtle did not surpass the defensive power of Star¡¯s one rune. ¡°Charming!¡± Seeing that its attack had inadvertently hurt its friends, the Golden Scale Turtle retracted its paw like someone who had touched an electric wire, looking guilty and anxious. It was the first time it had used a skill, it lacked proficiency, let alone control, so its skill output was indiscriminate. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Xu Ran chuckled and patted the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s head, which was hanging in guilt, ¡°go ahead and release it, don¡¯t worry about hurting us.¡± After consoling the Golden Scale Turtle, he started examining the skill effect. The range of this skill covered a 50-meter radius. The data was quite astonishing, given that its proficiency was at o. The power of this skill was also impressive, similar to Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. It was a wide-ranging attack. However, the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound was centered on the caster and extended into a spherical region, while the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s skill covered a circular area on the ground and everything above it. Neither the air nor the underground were affected. This was confirmed by Xu Ran after checking by digging into the ground. What an interesting skill. From its power, it could be said that, like the previous defensive skill, its strength exceeded that of typical two-star skills. Another strong two-star skill? ¡°Do you have other skills?¡± Xu Ran looked at the Golden Scale Turtle again, his eyes full of encouragement. Confirming that no one was hurt by its mistake, and that no one blamed it, the Golden Scale Turtle regained confidence. Its eyes rotated quickly and found a completely new ability. ¡°Charming!¡± Along with the roar of the Golden Scale Turtle, a wall made of rocks rose from the ground, blocking in front of it. Oh? Another defensive skill? A smile appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, ¡°Ziyun, let¡¯s test it again!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (No problem!) Ziyun nodded, landing a heavy palm on the rock wall with the same amount of force as before. ¡°Boom!¡± Along with a low hum, the rock wall didn¡¯t suffer any damage. Ziyun¡¯s eyes became sharp. Ziyun had been cautious not to hurt the Golden Scale Turtle before because the protective barrier had been on its body, but now there was no need to worry. It wanted to see just how strong this skill¡¯s defense truly was! One-tenth¡­two-tenths¡­ After acquiring the fighting attribute, Ziyun¡¯s control over its own strength became especially precise. It increased its attack power by increments until it had doubled the power. Only then did the first crack appear on the rock wall. Such strong defense. There was a touch of admiration in Ziyun s eyes. Most of the elite-level pet beasts at the same power level as the Golden Scale Turtle could not withstand such a powerful attack. But the Golden Scale Turtle withstood it using only a defense skill with 0 proficiency. The defense strength of this skill was evident. The test ended, and Ziyun leisurely returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side. Surprise was also evident in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. This skill was purer than the previous defensive skill, without the counter-attack effect, but the defense was more pronounced as a result. just in terms of defense, its intensity had already exceeded the two-star range. Three strong two-star skills! Xu Ran took a deep breath, somehow expecting the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s next skill. Given such a strong innate ability, the Golden Scale Turtle presumably has four two-star skills. So is the last two-star skill the same as the first three? Encouraged by Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s body surged with an earthy yellow glow. Its aura instantly connected with the earth, and to Xu Ran¡¯s senses, the little consumed when the Golden Scale Turtle unleashed its skills were completely recovered in a breath¡¯s time. Was this a skill similar to Night Capture, capable of drawing power from the environment and recovering itself?! Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up completely. Even for the same type of skill, there were differences. The earth attribute corresponds to the earth. There is only half the time in a day that is night, and the earth exists everywhere, so the upper limit of this skill is higher than that of Night Capture. Moreover, the recovery speed needs to be considered. This skill had a stronger recovery speed than Night Capture at the same proficiency level, so its intensity could reach two stars. Although it was not the strong two-star skill he was expecting, it was enough¡­ Before Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts ended, the Golden Scale Turtle had made a new move. ¡°Charming!¡± It roared, a rock wall once again rose from the ground. Unlike the previous rock wall, at this moment, a yellow halo identical to the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s body covered the rock wall. This¡­could it be¡­? An idea flashed in Xu Ran¡¯s mind, startling him. ¡°Ziyun! Attack with the same force as before!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Ziyun stepped forward and struck the rock wall with the same force that had created a crack earlier. This time, the rock wall remained intact. ¡°Keep increasing the force!¡± Excitement permeated Xu Ran¡¯s voice. Ten percent¡­ twenty percent¡­ thirty percent¡­ Ziyun¡¯s power continued to increase until it was around three times the original force, another crack appeared in the rock wall. This was¡­ Amplification! Amplification of its other skills! Xu Ran, watching the Golden Scale Turtle reapply the first and second skills from before and getting varying degrees of results, could no longer hide the excitement in his eyes. If it only had a recovery effect, this skill would only be two stars. But with the added benefit of boosting its innate abilities, this skill¡¯s strength was definitely a strong two stars, slightly better than the previous three. Four strong two-star skills! ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle shook its head, indicating that was all the abilities it had. Its face wore a somewhat apologetic expression, as if it felt its abilities were somewhat lacking. All these skills combined were not as strong as its claw strike just now! It seemed to be quite weak¡­ Xu Ran looked at the Golden Scale Turtle, unable to help but take a deep breath. A rare one-star skill in Reduction, and four strong two-star skills. If this was said to be the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s innate talents, Xu Ran wouldn¡¯t believe it. Basing on his previous judgment, the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s innate talent after hatching was roughly equivalent to Star¡¯s. So, was all of this thanks to the Fetal Breath Orb?! Ziyun and Star also reached the same conclusion, followed by mutual sharp inhalation of breath, their eyes filled with envy. Darn it! They had met Xu Ran after they were born, and even if the Fetal Breath Orb was available then, they wouldn¡¯t be able to use it. How many skill fragments and skill fusion stones could be saved when the Golden Scale Turtle evolves? The Fetal Breath Orb is terrifying indeed! Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 138: Third Stage Contract, The Third Chapter 207: Chapter 138: Third Stage Contract, The Third Pet! _1 Translator: 549690339 Noticing the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s depression, Xu Ran guessed the cause of its disappointment and gently patted its head. ¡°It¡¯s normal that you¡¯re not as powerful as Ziyun now because it has already evolved once, and its overall strength is stronger than yours.¡± ¡°Charming?¡± The Golden Scale Turtle tilted its head with a questioning look in its eyes. Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. Even without a contract, transcendent beings that have had contact with humans could communicate with them to a certain extent, allowing him to get along smoothly with the inhabitants of the foster area, who could also understand his words. But the Golden Scale Turtle had just hatched from its egg, and was like a blank sheet. At this moment it was like a newborn baby, and it would be even more difficult to communicate with. If explanations are useless, comforting actions would do. Xu Ran held the Golden Scale Turtle, stroking its head. Feeling the familiar breath and gentle touch from the moment it was born, the slight emotional lowness in the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s heart was quickly banished to the clouds. It eyes once again revealed an emotion of enjoyment. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for tonight.¡± After comforting it for a while, Xu Ran gently patted the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s head. Even though it was reduced in size, the body type of the Golden Scale Turtle at this moment was still not suitable for living upstairs, so it had to stay on the lower floor for a while. However, the Golden Scale Turtle won¡¯t always remain in the lower floor. Once the skill proficiency of the reduction ability is enhanced, it can become even smaller. By the time it reaches the Starlight Level, it can be shrunk to about the same size as Ziyun. At that point, it will be able to live upstairs with Ziyun and Xu Ran. The situation is the same for Star. With its body type, even if it only learned reduction at the Stardust Level, it would be enough to shrink it down to one to two meters. Xu Ran looked around and divided an area of the same size next to the dark attribute area of Star, preparing an earth attribute environment suited for the Golden Scale Turtle. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re going to sleep here tonight!¡± ¡°Charming!¡± Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s gestures and intentions, the Golden Scale Turtle had a touch of unwillingness in its eyes. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll be with you!) Star whinnied and raised its hoof to gently tap on the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s shell. It pointed towards its dark attribute area, signifying that it was right next to the Golden Scale Turtle. ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s resistance lessened. From Star, it also perceived a familiar scent. This made it feel much at ease. The smart turtle vaguely guessed the reason it couldn¡¯t go upstairs. Was it because its body size was too big¡­ Then it will try to shrink itself! ¡°Good boy.¡± Looking at the obedient Golden Scale Turtle, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. As he expected, the character of a newborn pet beast is like a blank sheet of paper, and it was almost impossible that they would not get along well. Judging from the way Golden Scale Turtle interacts with him, Ziyun and Star, it¡¯s almost guaranteed that it will form a contract with him once the power of the contract breaks through the third stage. ¡°Star, take care of it.¡± After giving a gentle reminder, Xu Ran took Ziyun back to the store. Seeing Tony, who was still enthusiastically attracting customers, Xu Ran left a message of ¡°keep it up¡± and went straight upstairs before Tony could wink at him. He needed to meditate hard in order to break through the third stage! The basement floor. Seeing the Golden Scale Turtle looking in the direction where Xu Ran disappeared with a regretful look, Star knew what it had to do. What should it do¡­ It thought for a while, and a scene from its first night here, when Ziyun showed it around, flashed in its mind. It had just hatched, which counts as its first night here. Now that it was a senior, it was its turn to show the Golden Scale Turtle around! With the idea in mind, Star¡¯s eyes emitted an expectant light. It had always been the last to come before, and had never experienced the feeling of being a senior! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Come on, let me show you around!) Star raised its front hoof and lightly tapped the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s shell. ¡°Charming?¡± Watching Star making a move to leave and then turning its head to look at it, the Golden Scale Turtle quickly understood its meaning. After taking one last look in the direction where Xu Ran and Zilyun had disappeared, it followed along in a cheerful manner. Being newborn, it was curious about everything, its thoughts came quickly and left quickly as well. Soon, the two pet beasts appeared in the area where the Frost Dust Wolf was. ¡°Awoo?¡± Feeling the unfamiliar aura of the visitors, the Frost Dust Wolf landed in front of Star and the Golden Scale Turtle after a few jumps from the other side of the snow mound. Feeling the presence of the two elite stage pet beasts, the Frost Dust Wolf, being a perfect transcendent beast itself was not panicked at all. Its nonchalant character was exactly the same as its Beast Master. ¡°Awoo?¡± What are you looking at! Staring at the Golden Scale Turtle who was curiously looking at itself, the Frost Dust Wolf stared back. After thoroughly eyeing the Golden Scale Turtle, it showed a satisfied look in its eyes. So what if you¡¯re stronger than me? You¡¯re smaller than me! It held its head high, its snow-white fur puffed up, making its body size look even more intimidating, which seemed to have a scare effect. A strange expression appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. Because it had raced with the Frost Dust Wolf before, Star was the most familiar with it in the foster area. Seeing that this fellow was putting on airs, Star could guess its intentions. But¡­ It had picked the wrong opponent this time. Looking at the contemptuous look from the Frost Dust Wolf, who seemed to be bigger than it, the Golden Scale Turtle was puzzled at first, then it became angry.. Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 138: Third Stage Contract, The Third Chapter 208: Chapter 138: Third Stage Contract, The Third Pet! _2 Translator: 549690339 Reduction instantly canceled! Watching its body quickly expand to a size that required it to look up, until finally blocking all of its vision, even the artificial light source above the dome was completely obscured. The giant Golden Scale Turtle completely enveloped it in shadow. The Frost Dust Wolf swallowed a mouthful of saliva, immediately tucked its tail between its legs, emitted a miserable scream and then turned tail and ran. ¡°Aw¡­woof!¡± Some vile beast wants to kill me! ¡°Charming!¡± The Golden Scale Turtle, having shrinked back to its size from before, proudly called out towards the Frost Dust Wolf and then happily trotted behind Star, heading toward the next area. A week passed in a blink of an eye. The two new members of the shop ¨C Tony and the Golden Scale Turtle, had gradually integrated into this big family. After let Tony in charge of shop¡¯s three business for three consecutive days, Xu Ran had a clearer understanding of Tony¡¯s abilities. When Tony was in charge of the Washing and Protection, his effect was on par with Xu Ran¡¯s. Even though his appearance and the process of Washing and Protection is a bit quirky, the customer feedback was still average, with many even finding it interesting. Take Liu Gu for example. Since the Washing and Protection became a 24-hour operation, even if the profits are halved, Xu Ran was able to get a harvest that did not lose to before. But there was a drawback. All the skills Tony gained from Plucking Fur would automatically be broken down into skill fragments and then half of them were given to Xu Ran. There was some difference from what Xu Ran had expected. Tony taking care of the Fosterage, however, had relatively limited help to Xu Ran. Although the fosterage limit can be substantially raised, Qingzhou City is too small. The market is limited, there are not so many Beast Masters bringing their Pet Beasts for fosterage unless they robbed all the other business. As for practice¡­ After Tony was in charge, the overall income was slightly lower than Xu Ran¡¯s one-day maintenance, but it could extend the training time by two hours, which also worked for Star and Ziyun. And Xu Ran had more time to devote himself to Washing and Protection and feeding Fosterage, making the income from the other two businesses somewhat increased. So¡­ After the three-day trial was over, Xu Ran finally decided to hand over the Practicing business to Tony. As for Golden Scale Turtle, it rapidly warmed up with One Person and Two Pets in a week. With more communication with Xu Ran, the clever turtle had understood the majority of human language. After Xu Ran could effectively communicate with One Person One Pet, he decided to give the Golden Scale Turtle a name, and no longer call it by its race name. After consulting with Ziyun and Star, and finally consulting the Golden Scale Turtle¡¯s own opinions, its name was decided to be Cancan, which implied ¡°golden¡±. And Xu Ran was the first person it saw when it was born, so during this period of time, Cancan¡¯s reliance on Xu Ran grew stronger. Popularly known, it is sticky. This made Ziyun feel an increasingly strong sense of crisis. Would the new little brother compete with it for the position in Xu Ran¡¯s arms in the future? Not good! Absolutely not good! Although the sense of crisis intensified, Ziyun still diligently performed her duties as a big sister. After learning that Star had already familiarized Cancan with the environment of the Foster Area, it began to urge Cancan to train. Thunder was originally restrained by the earth attribute, but due to the huge power gap between the two attributes, Cancan was both painful and joyful when training. As a newborn baby with a body length of 27 meters, Cancan endured the hardships that it should not endure at its age, and also initially felt part of the team¡¯s culture. Train hard! In his spare time, Star would take Cancan for a walk in the Foster Area, and occasionally bring Cancan to his own Dark Attribute living area, where the two lived harmoniously. Of course, the stone engraved with Cancan owing him 250 Value Points had been stashed away in advance. In the harmonious coexistence, the One Person, and Two Pets already considered Cancan as a new partner, even though they never mentioned it. ¡°Are you ready?¡± In the Foster Area on the first underground floor, Xu Ran looked at Ziyun, Star, and Cancan standing side by side and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Meow!¡± (Leader Stage!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes burst with excitement. During this period, it always kept up with its own training and resource absorption. Now Ziyun, who is visibly at the perfect Elite Stage, has accumulated a lot of power inside. It has begun to look forward to how much this power would boost its strength when it advanced. The fleeting glimpse of the carcass of the giant beast loomed in Ziyun¡¯s mind. After breaking through to the Leadership Stage, I must check immediately whether I can surpass the blockage set by the fallen Giant Beast and touch its body! Determined, Ziyun set his eyes on it. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (I am ready!) Star roared, consolidating its energy, awaiting. However, what it is waiting for is completely different from what Ziyun expects. When Xu Ran¡¯s contract power breaks through to the third rank, Star, having reached the peak of the Elite Stage, would need to restrain its own advancement with its strength. Xu Ran had already consulted Gu Wu in advance. Such power suppression is also a way of cultivation which can help a Pet Beast control its own power. ¡°Charming!¡± At the sight of the growing energy of the other two, the energetic Cancan shouted out. Xu Ran had already told him that after this breakthrough, he could become contracted with it. With this, it would become like Ziyun and Star. While still somewhat confused, Cancan understood that the relationship between Ziyun, Star and Xu Ran is closer than his own relationship with Xu Ran. Over the past few days, Xu Ran had bathed it twice. To achieve optimum cleaning, it had to undo its reduction during the washing and protection process. Thinking of Xu Ran painstakingly washing its large body just to make it feel comfortable, there was a touch of gratitude in Cancan¡¯s heart. Thus, it also wanted to be closer to Xu Ran! With the attention of the three Pet Beasts, Xu Ran sat cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes. Breakthrough! The one who was already within a hair¡¯s breadth of the third stage now broke through smoothly without any hindrance, thanks to the Meditation Acceleration Card. His body, like a black hole, absorbed the surging transcendental power around him. In his mind, the two light yellow vortexes deepened their color and while fuming dark yellow, they each allocated a portion of their power to form a third vortex. This is¡­the third contract position! The contract power, at this moment, reached the third stage! ¡°Boom!!!¡± Magnificent power was channeled back into Ziyun and Star through the Beast Taming Contract. With the increase in contract power, not only the number of contract positions increased, but also the proportion of power feedback from each Pet Beast and the strength of the contractual sensing. Xu Ran¡¯s momentum soared under the new feedback. But what soared faster than his momentum was Ziyun! The moment Xu Ran broke through, Ziyun felt the shedding of its shackles. Leadership Stage was beckoning it! Ziyun stepped boldly onto the ladder of a new growth stage. As it advanced, its power surged and its terrifying momentum soared, startling the numerous residents in the Foster Area. That is¡­ The momentum of Leadership Stage! In the glow, Ziyun¡¯s body quickly grew larger with a crisp sound of bone growth, swiftly increasing in size from about one meter in length to two meters in length. Its body became more balanced and robust, as if it had returned to its youth stage once again. Underneath its body, there seemed to be a mountain torrent of horrifying power lurking, making people palpitate. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star roared. Feeling the disappearance of the shackles, an unconscious desire to advance emerged. However, under its resolute will, this impulse quickly faded. Thanks to previously intentionally suppressing its own power, it felt alright at the moment. It had to keep it up until the moment of evolution. Star reminded itself and an increasing longing for evolution grew within it. Soon,very soon! ¡°Shoo¡ª¡ª ¡± At the end of the breakthrough, Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Ziyun who had already finished advancing, and then turned to Cancan. Up to now, he still didn¡¯t know what Cancan¡¯s skills were called and could only refer to them as Skill 1, Skill 2. There would be no need for such hassle in the future. ¡°Now, we can enter into a contract..¡± Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 139 Dragon Power, Teachable!_l Chapter 209: Chapter 139 Dragon Power, Teachable!_l Translator: 549690339 With a flicker of consciousness, Xu Ran projected the power from the third vortex that emerged in his mind through the breakthrough of contract power, spreading it towards the obedient Cancan before his eyes. Given Cancan¡¯s closeness to Xu Ran, there was not the slightest resistance during the contract process. At the moment the contract was completed, a buzzing sound echoed simultaneously in the minds of both Cancan and Xu Ran. The contractual sensing was completed for the first time between one person and one pet. ¡°Charming!¡± (Daddy!) Hearing the meaning of Cancan¡¯s words for the first time, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. It¡¯s said that newborn creatures consider the first person they see as their parents. So¡­ Is that how Cancan has been calling him all this time? ¡°I¡¯m your Beast Master, not your dad,¡± Xu Ran said, laughing and crying at the same time, patiently explaining the difference between the two. ¡°Anyway, even though I obtained your egg and helped you hatch, I¡¯m not your dad.¡± ¡°Charming-¡± (Understood!) Cancan was not disappointed by Xu Ran¡¯s explanation. In its eyes, regardless of the title, Xu Ran was the closest being to it. At the third stage of contractual sensing, Xu Ran could better understand Cancan¡¯s emotions and thoughts. Feeling Cancan¡¯s current mood, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes softened. He stretched out a hand, stroking Cancan¡¯s willingly lowered head, while opening his own panel. [Host: Xu Ran] Contractual Power: Third Stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] ¡­] Just as he was about to open Cancan¡¯s panel to view its details, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze suddenly froze on a certain spot on his personal panel. (¡ï¡ïDragon Power](Teachable) Xu Ran had obtained this skill a long time ago, by achieving B Level Plucking Fur. Due to the special nature of the Dragon Power skill, he had always been reluctant to dismantle it. But this skill, neither Ziyun nor Star could be taught, so it could only be temporarily stowed away. Now that the status of Dragon Power skill has become teachable, it is clear who the corresponding teaching object is. Xu Ran felt a sense of surprise, yet it made sense. Although Cancan¡¯s race is known as Golden Scale Turtle, its appearance seemed to suggest that it had some connection with dragons. So skills like Dragon Power, which can be mastered by dragon-type pet beasts, could also be acquired by it through instruction. This could be considered an additional joy. Without any hesitation, Xu Ran opened Cancan¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Cancan] Race name: Golden Scale Turtle Attribute: Earth Growth Step: Elite Stage (5460/20000) [+] Race Level: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïCovering the Earth (Starlight Level)] (46/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïEarth Collapse (Starlight Level)] (12/500) [ + ] [¡ï¡ïSturdy RockWall (Starlight Level)] (67/500) [ + ] [¡ï¡ïHeart of the Earth (Starlight Level)] (21/500) [+] [¡ï¡ïReduction (Starlight Level)] (2/500) [ + ] Xu Ran¡¯s gaze swept over Cancan¡¯s five talent skills, a satisfied expression appearing in his eyes. Thanks to his familiarity with Cancan, he quickly linked these skills one by one. The skill that covers the whole body with rocks is Covering the Earth; the skill that shatters a large area of the ground is Earth Collapse; the skill that creates a sturdy rock wall is Sturdy RockWall; the skill that recovers himself and amplifies other skills is Heart of the Earth. For elite level pet beasts, all skills reaching the Starlight Level is a basic requirement. Cancan, due to its uniqueness, had directly broken through to the Elite Stage upon hatching, all of its skill proficiencies starting at 0, a situation that was extremely rare. Luckily, in the past week, under the supervision of the seniors Ziyun and Star and by taking advantage of the unique training environment of the Earth attribute Training Area, Cancan was able to successfully elevate all its skills to the Starlight Level. Now, Cancan can easily reduce its size to about the same as Ziyun with the Reduction skill, and it¡¯s moved back to the second floor to live with Xu Ran. Another one moving back to the second floor is Star. In the past week, Xu Ran had performed Washing and Protection on Cancan twice. With a fixed target now, B Level Plucking Fur had gained the ability to direct the acquisition of skills, so both times he plucked fur, he gained the Reduction skill, which he then taught to Ziyun and Star. With Star¡¯s body size, it could reduce its body length to about one meter as soon as it mastered Reduction. At this size, it was totally like a tiny little horse, having more than enough space to move and sleep on the second floor. As for Ziyun¡­ Just having made a breakthrough and being at two meters long due to Leadership Stage, Ziyun showed no signs of panic. It walked over to Xu Ran, and by the time it reached him, it had reverted to its adorable size of one meter in length. With Reduction, they no longer had to worry about Xu Ran being unable to hold them! ¡°Let¡¯s see the strength of a king species at the leadership stage,¡± Xu Ran said, stroking its head as he opened Ziyun¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun] Race name: Flash Thunder Cat Attribute: Thunder, Fighting Growth Step: Leadership Stage (174k/3OOk) [+] Race Level: King Species ¡­] This power¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smirk. No wonder they say that each growth stage the pet beast advances, its power increases exponentially. The maximum power of 300k and the already owned took power are not even in the same league as the power at the elite stage. Today¡¯s Ziyun could easily defeat ten of its past selves. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs,¡± Xu Ran glanced at his wrist-watch, an expectant look on his face. ¡°If things go as usual, the new resource allocation should start soon.¡± Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 139 Dragon Power, Teachable 2 Chapter 210: Chapter 139 Dragon Power, Teachable¡¯ 2 Translator: 549690339 1 ¡®¡ª Through the Armored Rhinoceros, Xu Ran already knew that the Tiger Hunting Squad had returned with a full load once again. Based on the time, Lucky Liu should have arrived. Oh, right,¡± Xu Ran glanced at Cancan¡¯s puzzled face, ¡°Cancan, you won¡¯t get any Value Points until the next resource distribution. You can just observe and learn this time.¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (What are Value Points? What is resource distribution?) Cancan moved her head closer to Star, curiously asking questions. ¡®Xi Lu~ ¡± (Well, that¡¯s a long story¡­) Star began to slowly explain to Cancan the origin and specific content of the team¡¯s resource distribution rules, as this was their first popularization of the team¡¯s culture. Hearing that Xu Ran had so many magical resources, which could be evenly distributed among all members in each resource distribution, Cancan¡¯s eyes gradually widened. After a week of contact with this world, it was no longer the innocent young creature it had been at birth. Under the verbal instruction and personal demonstration of Ziyun and Star, it had already understood various concepts such as growth stages, skill proficiency, skill star level, and race stage, as well as their corresponding meanings. At this moment, Cancan¡¯s brown eyes were full of envy. It couldn¡¯t wait and wanted to gain so-called Value Points in the next resource distribution, then exchange those for the required resources to become stronger! In the middle of Star¡¯s story, the man and his three pets returned to the store. As Xuran had anticipated, Lucky Liu was already waiting in the rest room along with the bloodied Wind Lion Dog and the somewhat withdrawn Sea Wave Flower. ¡°Boss Xu, finally you¡¯re here,¡± Liu Gu laughed, then curiously looked around ¡°Where¡¯s Tony? Why isn¡¯t he here?¡± He promised me a special massage session next time.¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± The corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He didn¡¯t expect Liu Lucky to still remember this after a week of fighting. ¡°Tony is now responsible for sparring sessions. If Uncle Liu needs him, I can call him up later.¡± ¡°Ha ha, I can¡¯t wait,¡± Liu Gu scratched his head and laughed shyly ¡°That¡¯s settled then.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, there was a reason why Uncle Liu could chat with Tony. ¡°I¡¯ll start the Washing and Protection first,¡± Xu Ran glanced at Sea Wave Flower, ¡°Does Sea Wave Flower need Washing and Protection this time? Its condition doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°No need for now,¡± Liu Gu glanced at the Sea Wave Flower and slightly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not feeling well this time, it has nothing to do with dirt.¡± Oh? Then is it¡­¡± A curious look flashed across Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Tired,¡± Liu Gu gave Xu Ran an unexpected answer, ¡°This time we went out, our Tiger Hunting Squad cleaned up Wild Super Creatures and collected resources as usual, and also helped rescue some humans who were trapped by Wild Super Creatures.¡± ¡°These people are probably not locals of Qingzhou City, but we¡¯re not sure where they are from. When our squad found them, they were barely showing signs of life.¡± 5 ¡°You know, the Sea Wave Flower is the only one in our entire squad with healing abilities, but its healing skills haven¡¯t reached the Waning Moon Level yet, so its abilities are limited.¡± ¡°Treating so many people left it exhausted, and it could only keep these people alive, not wake them up.¡± The people have been sent to the association. The association has more powerful Healing Pet Beasts, so there should be a result soon,¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, ¡°I guess they were caught by Wild Super Creatures after leaving their city.¡± ¡°We should know once they wake up.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile faded slightly, ¡°Outside the city, it is indeed a dangerous place.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s telling me?¡± Liu Gu nodded in agreement, ¡°Without Leadership Stage strength, you have to be¡­ huh?¡± His gaze suddenly turned to Ziyun, who seemed to fade into the background behind Xu Ran. Despite looking harmless, even a bit cute, Liu Gu felt a terrible power coming from Ziyun when he looked closely. This power was not unfamiliar to Liu Gu. Occasionally, when meeting a beast master elder of Leadership Level from the association, his pets would have a similar power. You¡­¡± His eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯ve broken through to Leadership Level?!¡± What speed is this?! Ordinarily, it would take two or three years to progress smoothly from Contract Power First Stage to Second Stage, and more than ten years of meditation to advance from Second Stage to Third Stage. How much time has passed since I met Xu Ran? Not even a rocket is this fast?! ¡°Just broke through.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°I have to thank Uncle Liu for this.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Liu Lucky¡¯s Lucky Fish Aura, he might not have been able to draw the Meditation Acceleration Card, and naturally couldn¡¯t have achieved such a rapid breakthrough in Contract Power. ¡°Thank me¡­¡± Liu Gu¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank me for.¡± He just thought Xu Ran was joking. Thinking of how effortlessly Xu Ran has achieved a breakthrough in Contract Power, he, who had been stuck at the Second Stage Contract Power for nearly ten years, suddenly felt a pang of regret. Ah, I don¡¯t want to mention this matter anymore. ¡°Boss Xu, could you start on my Wind Lion Dog¡¯s washing and protection first?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly and quickly entered the grooming room with the enthusiastic Wind Lion Dog. ¡°Meow- ¡± (Resource allocation will soon be possible!) Watching the Wind Lion Dog enter the grooming room, Ziyun gleams with excitement in his eyes, quietly approaching Star and Cancan, and softly starts speaking. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯m already prepared!) Star roared, determination shining in his eyes. The goal for the day was togain our third, three-star skill! ¡°Charming?¡± (What does resource allocation have to do with grooming?) Following Ziyun¡¯s gaze to the tightly closed doors of the grooming room, confusion flickered in Cancan¡¯s eyes. It seemed like after the Wind Lion Dog went in for grooming, the two older members were certain that they would be able to start allocating resources afterwards. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s because¡­) Star moved closer to Cancan and seeing that Liu Gu and Sea Wave Flower in the lounge hadn¡¯t noticed them, he confidently told Cancan about what he found recently. From his experience in several resource allocation events, Beast Masters like to allocate new resources for them after they have serviced the last client. In all previous cases, there were no exceptions. So! Although Star was not clear about the underlying principle, the re-emergence of this guest meant that a new round of resource allocation was about to begin! ¡°Meow-¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun nodded seriously. As it has already broken through to Leadership Level, its demand for resources has also changed. In the past, it didn¡¯ t need physical points. Now, aside from Cancan, the pet most in need of physical point improvement is Ziyun. In addition, Beast Master Points are also necessary, it needs more resources for self-improvement. And also skill points. Although it hasn¡¯t tried yet, Ziyun has a strong premonition that he can now easily release the Full Moon Level Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. It¡¯s time to upgrade the other skills to Full Moon Level too! The best part is that Star doesn¡¯t particularly need these three resources at the moment, and Cancan isn¡¯t eligible to take part in this distribution either. So¡­ Meow, Hahaha- ¡°Charming!¡± (I can¡¯t wait!) After listening to the explanation from the two seniors, Cancan¡¯s eyes started to twinkle. Resource allocation, huh¡­ This sounds interesting! ¡°Awooo ¡± A weird low growl came from the grooming room. Accustomed to this, Ziyun and Star did not change expressions. Only the expectation in their eyes grew stronger. Cancan showed a surprised look. So not only him, other pets also made such sounds during grooming! A moment later, the door to the grooming room opened. Xu Ran led the rejuvenated Wind Lion Dog out of the grooming room; he then patted Liu Gu on the shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ll go and call Tony for a massage for you.¡± As an acknowledgement for his hard work, Liu Gu, or lucky Liu, deserved a relaxing massage from Tony. After all¡­ A purple reward has been yielded from this round of ten consecutive duties. Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 140: Havent Joined Yet, But Already in Debt?_l Chapter 211: Chapter 140: Haven¡¯t Joined Yet, But Already in Debt?_l Translator: 549690339 On his way to the training area, Xu Ran started to check the spoils from his recent ten-consecutive drawing. First, the purple items. Just one glimpse, and a smile bubbled up on his face. This time, it was far luckier than any previous ten-consecutive drawings. Two purple items from a single draw, unprecedented! These two purple items, one of them was the long-missed Meditation Acceleration Card. Considering the time, the second Meditation Acceleration Card only had less than ten days left, the recharge came just in time. As for the second purple Item- Seeing it, Xu Ran¡¯s smile deepened even more. Because another new item has appeared. It was a special item like a scroll, wrapped in a purple light. [Three-star Skill Scroll] [The Three-star Skill Scroll is a special item produced by the system, which can only be used by the host¡¯s Pet Beast. Using it will give the beast a new three- star skill, or upgrade an existing skill to three stars (this effect is invalid for skills that are already three stars or above).] Xu Ran: ¡°!!!¡± Looking at this brand new reward, Xu Ran¡¯s face took on a strange expression. The first time he entered the lottery page, besides the Holy Spirit Race Evolution Path, he saw another golden item-the Five-star Skill Scroll. The Three-Star Skill Scroll he obtained now was probably a lower-tier version of it. And its effect- star should like it very much. Initially, Xu Ran set a value of 500 value points for purple items, but now it seemed a little low. He had only come across the Meditation Acceleration Card and the King Species Evolution Route. The former couldn¡¯t be used by the Pet Beast, cannot be priced, and the value of the latter was not definite, lacking a suitable benchmark. But now, he had one. The Three-star Skill Scroll, if compared to the cost of promoting a normal two- star fusion skill to three stars, should be valued around 1,000 value points. The other purple item, the Fetal Breath Orb, was no lower in conversion. So- Xu Ran touched his chin, revealing a thoughtful look. Would it be a bit unethical to raise the price of purple items at this time? ¡°That¡¯s right, just like this, cleaning windows-¡± Tony¡¯s smarmy voice interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s musings. Seeing Tony and the Flame Fox doing a ¡°cleaning windows¡± dance up ahead, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°That¡­¡± ¡°Boss, what¡¯s up?¡± Tony habitually gave Xu Ran a combo of a heart-touching + wink, revealing a harmless smile on his face. ¡°Liu Gu is here. You promised him a massage¡­¡± ¡°Thankyou for reminding me, boss.¡± Tony¡¯s interest was piqued. His hands lifted, pinching in the air, the smile on his face growing even more harmless. He swayed to the rhythm of the music and quickly disappeared into the fire-type training area. ¡°Boss Xu, your employee is really¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao, who was concentrating on her own Pet Beast¡¯s training, finally couldn¡¯t help showing a speechless expression when she saw Xu Ran. It¡¯s too shocking for the eyes! To train Flame Wall, she ignored the strange dance choreography, but what the hell was this accommodative training with a burly man in a pink heart- patterned suit?! ¡°Um¡­¡± Xu Ran shrugged, ¡°Think positively, Teacher Tony1 s dance is very expressive, which helps to motivate the Flame Fox, right?¡± SuXiaoxiao: ¡°¡­Ah?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Xu Ran waved, leaving behind a clueless Su Xiaoxiao and a Flame Fox that was still cleaning windows. He had already figured out how to adjust the value points for the purple items. The adjustment was necessary as Purple wouldn¡¯t be the last, there might be red and gold items in the future. Once a mistake was made, the value of subsequent items might plummet. He¡¯ll let bygones be bygones on what was previously exchanged, otherwise, Cancan would owe even more. Moreover, the King Species Evolution Route will still be exchanged at 500 points. This way, the impact of the value adjustment of the purple items can be minimized. When Xu Ran came back to the first floor, the door of the grooming room was closed. From time to time, strange noises from Tony and Liu Gu came from inside. Xu Ran was a bit curious but had no idea to open the door and look inside. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go upstairs.¡± Seeing the Wind Lion Dog and the Sea Wave Flower waiting for Liu Gu in the rest area, Xu Ran took the chalkboard and chalk, gave a look to the three little ones. Seeing the familiar ¡°artifacts¡±, both Ziyun and Star¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. Cancan quickly realised what was happening too and followed them upstairs with a look of excitement and curiosity. One man and three beasts were soon in a room on the second floor. ¡°The new round of resource allocation starts now!¡± Looking at the three little ones with expectant faces, Xu Ran let out a small smile, ¡°Since we had some value points left over from last time, before the allocation, I will remind you of how much you each have.¡± ¡°First is Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun, then drew a cat head with chalk on the blackboard, and wrote the number ¡°2747¡± behind it, ¡°Ziyun, you have 2747 value points left.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Understood!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up. This was its little treasure chest! Whether it can grab more resources today depends on it. ¡°Sure?¡± (So much?) Looking at the string of numbers it could barely recognize, Cancan tilted its head, its face full of envy. With so many value points, you can exchange a lot of things, right? just now, Star and it mentioned that the King Species Evolution Path is only 500 value points. Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 140: Havent Joined Yet, But Already in Debt?_2 Chapter 212: Chapter 140: Haven¡¯t Joined Yet, But Already in Debt?_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Next is Star.¡± Xu Ran looked at Star, drew an identical pattern on the small blackboard to the star on Star¡¯s forehead, then wrote down the number ¡°34.17¡± next to it, ¡°Star has 3417 value points left.¡± Charming! (This is more!) Cancan looked shocked, staring at Star admiringly. Eventhough Star wasn¡¯t one to show off, feeling Cancan¡¯s gaze, it couldn¡¯t help but hold its head up a bit higher. ¡°Then, Cancan.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s gaze finally landed on Cancan. Charming? (Do I have any too?) Cancan blinked, its eyes showing a hint of surprise and anticipation. Didn¡¯t they say the value points would be allocated next time? Could it be¡­ Under Cancan¡¯s increasingly expectant gaze, Xu Ran drew a small turtle shell on the blackboard, then wrote the number ¡°-300¡± after it. ¡°You owe Ziyun and Star 150 value points each.¡± Huh? Wha-at?! Cancan¡¯s face froze with expectancy. Its amber eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. Being in debt? Why?! ¡°Strictly speaking, this happened before you hatched.¡± Xu Ran gave Cancan a sympathetic look. Before Cancan formed its contract, Xu Ran and the two pet beasts naturally didn¡¯t bring up the matter, but now Cancan had indeed formed the contract and it just happened to be time for resource allocation, so of course, he had to remind it. ¡°In simple terms, there was a resource at the time that needed 500 value points to accelerate your hatching and gave you greater potential.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°So Ziyun and Star decided to lend you 250 each, exchange it, and let you use it early.¡± Is that so¡­ Cancan blinked. The confusion in its eyes quickly turned into affection, and it gazed at Ziyun and Star with its teary eyes. Sister Ziyun and brother Star are so nice to me! But then, Cancan¡¯s little head started to turn. Something doesn¡¯t seem right? Charming? (So why is it 150 points now?) ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, and Ziyun and Star¡¯s expressions became a bit strange, ¡°because Ziyun and Star learned how to shrink from you, which is worth too points.¡± ¡°So, too points were deducted from the debt each.¡± They learned it from me? Cancan looked at Ziyun and Star. It had thought that all Transcendent Beings could use reduction when it saw both of them being able to use it. So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Charming? (Can they learn more skills from me to offset the debt?) Cancan, trying to make inferences, attempted to offset the debt. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t work.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°All your other skills are Earth attribute skills, which they can¡¯t learn.¡± Charming¡­ (Alright¡­) Cancan lowered its head, looking like it was about to cry. In the end, as a baby that had just been born for a week and was only twenty-seven meters long, was it still going to carry such a heavy debt? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start counting the resources we can exchange this time.¡± Xu Ran gently coughed, quickly changing the topic. He picked up a pencil and quickly wrote on the blackboard: ¡°Physical points: 6164 points (Remaining) +8190 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill points: 6150 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 3 (Star) +89 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion stones: 2 (Star) +8 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 430 points (Ziyun) +4433 points (Star) +4256 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Three Star Skill Scrolls¡± Compared to the previous list of resources, this list lacks some items. First is the teachable skills. Dragon Power has become teachable but can only be taught to Cancan, and as Cancan isn¡¯t participating in this resource allocation, it is still considered unteachable. In addition, this time, two purple resources were obtained from the ten consecutive pulls, but the remaining eight were Skill fusion stones, so there were no Energy Abundant Potions. Noticing that Ziyun and Star¡¯s gaze finally landed on ¡°Three Star Skill Scrolls¡±, Xu Ran smirked and circled it with chalk, ¡°This item allows gaining a new three-star skill, or upgrading an existing skill directly to three stars.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I want it!) At the moment Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, Star gave an excited neigh. ¡°This resource requires 1,000 value points in exchange.¡± Xu Ran added. But this, clearly did not defeat Star¡¯s enthusiasm in the slightest. Was it lacking in value points? No! It¡¯s time! With this Three-Star Skill Scroll and the undelegated 8 Skill Fusion Stones, it can possess four Three-Star skills today! With this, already having all skills at Waning Moon level, it would only lack a single Three-Star skill from fulfilling the evolution conditions! ¡°Meow-¡± (I give it to you-) Ziyun licked her paws. Although she was also a bit tempted after hearing the effect, considering the need of Star, she voluntarily gave up her claim. Noticing Cancan looking somewhat puzzled on the side, Ziyun stretched out her paw to pat the hard scales on her back, conveniently explaining to Cancan the excellent tradition of prioritizing evolving teammates in resource selection. ¡°Meow-¡± (This is our team¡¯s tradition¡­) ¡°Charming!¡± (I understand!) After listening to Ziyun¡¯s explanation, although Cancan didn¡¯t feel much participation in this distribution, she felt more integrated into this warm family. After explaining the effect of the Three-Star Skill Scrolls, the resources allocation officially began. ¡°This time the value points are 21,286, you each divide it in half.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°Plus the remaining, Ziyun has 13,390 points, Star has 14,060 points.¡± Ziyun and Star exchanged glances, then began a round of py trading. Star took the lead to exchange 2,690 Value Points into a Three-Star Skill Scroll, all Skill Fragments and Skill Fusion Stones. As for Ziyun, in urgent need of various resources to improve her strength, she unhesitatingly received all the Beast Master Points. Then, Ziyun and Star battled for ownership of the Skill Points. In the end, Ziyun, who had already broken through to the Leadership Stage and was in more urgent need to upgrade her skills to the Full Moon Level, exchanged 4,300 Skill Points to upgrade Destruction Thunder Claw and Fighting Body to the Full Moon Level. The remaining Skill Points were used to upgrade Step on Electric Traces to (1763/2000). Three skills at the Full Moon Level, the fourth skill is not far off! Star exchanged 1,850 Skill Points, combined with the training improvement of the past week, Star Chain was upgraded to the Full Moon Level. In the end, Ziyun exchanged the remaining 4,834 Value Points for Physical Points, and her balance of Value Points fell to zero again. On the other side, Star did not choose to exchange Physical Points. After the series of exchanges, the balance of Value Points remained 9,520 points. ¡°Charming!¡± (That¡¯s amazing¡­) The exchange between the two seniors had Cancan¡¯s mind in awe. Thinking about participating in the next one, her heart was filled with endless anticipation. But before that, it has to repay the debt it owes first! Just born and carrying such a heavy scale shell, its life was already hard enough. This debt is something it can¡¯t shoulder no matter what! ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯ve grown stronger, but also poorer¡­) After the exchange and point allocation was over, Ziyun sighed helplessly, a look of melancholy appeared on her face. She, who originally had a four-figure savings, had now instantly regressed to start. Although she still has over four thousand Beast Master Points, it will probably be very little left after a round of exchanges later. Also sighing, was Star. Staring at its nearly ten thousand remaining Value Points, its eyes were full of melancholy. The feeling of not being able to use up the money is really hard. Compared to that, it even envied its big sister more. Each time resources are distributed they can be quickly realized, transforming into one¡¯s own strength. Even though big sister is as poor as ever, the gap in strength between her and Star has widened again. So¡­ evolution! A resolute light shone in the eyes of Star. After evolution, it will again have no need to suppress its strength and can break through directly to the Leadership Stage. The lack of resource needs at this moment, will become a bottomless pit once again when that time comes. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Let¡¯s start Skill Fusion!) Star looked towards Xu Ran, with ambitious determination flaming in its eyes. Xu Ran nodded his head and opened the Skill Fragment exchange list of the Recycling function. [¡ï* Night Song] + [¡ï* Moon Hide] + [*¡ï Dark Sheen] [Fusion Success Rate: 7.1 %?] [Do you want to proceed with the Fusion?] [Yes][No] Starting tomorrow, we will resume regular updates at midday. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 141: New Discoveries about Skill Chapter 213: Chapter 141: New Discoveries about Skill Fusion_l Translator: 549690339 In terms of skill priority, Night Song actually fell short of Star Chain. After all, Star Chain allowed Xu Ran to meld with the stars, not only significantly boosting his strength but also completely eliminating the Beast Master¡¯s inherent vulnerability. It can be said that apart from the Night Rune, it¡¯s the most crucial skill for the stars. While Night Song was just a skill that increased speed. However, the awkward thing was that Xu Ran had failed to find an appropriate skill to meld with the Star Chain. He couldn¡¯t find a Dark Attribute or common skill that had a high success rate of fusing with the Star Chain. The best combination he came up with only had a success rate of one in a thousand. Although it was possible to force a fusion success with a skill fusion stone, Xu Ran felt there was still something lacking. Therefore, the fusion of the Star Chain had been shelved for the time being. Now, this Three-star skill scroll might be an opportunity. If he directly elevated it to three stars, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about finding a skill. The two skills he fused with Night Song were also carefully selected by Xu Ran, and their success rate was even higher than that of the Night Rune. Strictly speaking, the two-star skill Moon Concealment was not a speed- related skill, but a concealment skill. It allows the caster to hide within the shadows of the night, making their aura and form difficult to detect. The other skill, Dark Luster, was quite renowned among the Dark Attribute speed skills. Like Night Song, it also required darkness to be unleashed, needing Nightfall¡¯s assistance during the day, and this skill was extremely pure in terms of speed enhancement. In layman¡¯s terms, apart from speed, it offered nothing, even making it somewhat difficult for the caster to change direction due to the intense speed. Xu Ran was keen to see what kind of chemical reaction would occur when these two skills were fused with Night Song. After tossing down seven skill fusion stones, the fusion was successful. [¡ï¡ï Night Song (Waning Moon Level)] (14.6/2000X+] 4/4/4/ [¡ï¡ï¡ï Moon Concealment Star Racing (Waning Moon Level)] (146/2000X+] ¡°This skill¡­¡± Xu Ran, focusing on the star panel, savored the newly emerged skill, stroking his chin, ¡°It has a nice name.¡± ¡°Any new changes?¡± Xu Ran looked at the excited star, asking with curiosity. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Yes!) The star let out a series of hisses and began to introduce the changes to the new skill. Firstly, the speed. Under the fusion of Dark Luster and Night Song, two Dark Attribute speed skills, the speed of Moon Concealment Star Racing had significantly increased. If they were to encounter the big lizard outside the city again, the star was confident that it wouldn¡¯t even be able to taste its dust. Secondly, due to the integration of Moon Concealment, there was a novel concealment effect. Moon Concealment Star Racing, under night conditions, could conceal its own aura and tracks, making it difficult for others to find. Feeling that this description wasn¡¯t specific enough, the star even specially activated Nightfall, and then used Moon Concealment Star Racing. Its body just disappeared under the eyes of Xu Ran and the two pets, its aura almost non-existent. Only Ziyun, leveraging its strength from the Leadership Stage, faintly sensed the star¡¯s direction. This was enough to illustrate the strong concealment effect of this skill. ¡°Very good.¡± After listening to the star¡¯s introduction, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. The star running faster = he runs faster. The star can conceal its aura = he can conceal his aura. Round it up, he has become stronger. ¡°Let¡¯s try the three-star skill scroll next.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°Perfectly timed, upgrade your Star Chain to three stars.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Quickly, quickly!) The star couldn¡¯t wait. Strike while the iron is hot, get another three stars! ¡°Meow-¡± (Damn.) Ziyun on the side couldn¡¯t help revealing envious eyes. Why didn¡¯t it have such good things when it was preparing to evolve? It turned out that what a fellow resident had said in the Foster Area was true. The early bird suffers, the latecomer enjoys the benefit. ¡°Sure-¡± (I want to change to this in the future!) Cancan stared with wide eyes, having grown tired of expressing its envy. Under the expectant gaze of the three little ones, Xu Ran used the Three Star Skill Scroll, chose the star, and then, among the options of ¡°New Three Star¡± and ¡°Upgrade Existing Skill¡±, picked the latter, finally locking onto Star Chain. After these operations, a dazzling light along with the animation of the scroll opening nearly blinded Xu Ran. Under his anxious watch, the line that originally belonged to Star Chain in the star¡¯s panel seemed to be erased by an invisible eraser. In its place was a line of new text. [¡ï¡ïStar Chain (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) 4/4/4/ [¡ï¡ï¡ïFated Star Pulling (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) Is it¡­done? Looking at the smooth star upgrade, Xu Ran¡¯s face unexpectedly showed a bit of stupor. The three-star skill scroll, it¡¯s incredible! ¡°The effect of this skill¡­¡± Xu Ran looked at the star, was about to ask for a description, then decisively changed his mind, ¡°Never mind, just use it directly.¡± Increasing the star level will only make the skill stronger, possibly adding new effects, but existing effects will not be erased. As long as the Star Chain¡¯s effect was still there, trying it directly would be clearer than the star¡¯s description. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No problem!) The star hissed once, then signaled Xu Ran to sit on its back. This time, there were no reins. In the dark night, a glow swept across the star and Xu Ran, binding them together in an instant. ¡°Boom!!!¡± At that moment, a violent energy surged. With Ziyun¡¯s newly enhanced power feedback after breaking through to the Leadership Stage, and the higher power feedback ratio with Three Star Contract, Xu Ran¡¯s own power was not much weaker than the star¡¯s. Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 141: New Discoveries about Skill Fusion_2 Chapter 214: Chapter 141: New Discoveries about Skill Fusion_2 Translator: 549690339 According to the previous effect of the Star Chain, when a person and a pet link together, their powers are combined in a ¡°1+1¡± manner, and as the skill proficiency increases, there will be additional power growth after fusion. At the Full Moon Level, their combined power could reach around 60,000. But at the moment, linked by the brand-new Three Star Skill of Fated Star Pulling, Xu Ran can clearly feel, it¡¯s different. Also at the Full Moon Level, the extra power growth of Fated Star Pulling had reached a terrifying extent, to the point that the combined power of Xu Ran and Star had already exceeded 100,000. Even Ziyun, who was at the Leadership Stage, had a few serious looks on her face as if she felt a bit threatened by this power. However, the seriousness quickly disappeared from Ziyun¡¯s face and was replaced by excitement. Because under the state of fusion with Xu Ran, Star had shown the Night Rune. The stronger the power, the more potent the amplifying effect. Feeling the surge of her own agitated power under the blessing of the Night Rune, Ziyun had an illusion that she could slap a Leader Stage to death. ¡°All right, let¡¯s stop the experiment here,¡± Xu Ran smiled and jumped off Star¡¯s broad shoulders, looking at the remaining resources of Star, ¡°You still have 12 Skill Fragments and 3 Skill Fusion Stones, want to try upgrading Self-healing Power to Two Stars?¡± A thoughtful look appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. Now, only one Three Star Skill was left to be upgraded. And the most important Single Horn of the mature Night Demon Dragon in the main material for evolution hadn¡¯t been exchanged in Xieyun City yet. So, there was still plenty of time. With Ziyun¡¯s precedent of upgrading her self-healing ability to Superfast Self- healing, Star felt that it was a good choice to spend some resources to enhance her self-healing ability at this time. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Sure!) Having made the decision, Star gave her affirmative answer. ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran nodded, and was about to choose Recovery, the One Star Skill that had been fused with Self-healing Power before, and do the same fusion again. But just as he was about to click [Yes], his action stopped. Could there be other possibilities? Previously, Xu Ran had looked for the most suitable fusion skill for Ziyun¡¯s Self-healing Power among the Thunder Attribute and Common Skills. Now Star is going to fuse skills, and she needs to choose between Dark Attribute and Common Skills. Could there be a possibility that there is a more suitable fusion skill in the Dark Attribute than Recovery? With this thought in mind, Xu Ran silently retracted his hand and began searching in the Dark Attribute exchange list. His gaze finally rested on a particular skill. Indeed it was, and¡­ He was very familiar with this skill. [¡ïSelf-healing Power]+[*Night Capture] [Fusion Success Rate: 31.3%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] This success rate of fusion is higher than that of ¡°Self-healing Power+Recovery¡±, which is 27.9. What¡¯s more, Xu Ran had a bold idea that he needed to validate. ¡°Fuse it!¡± He shouted in a low voice and clicked [Yes] without hesitation. [¡ïSelf-healing Power (WaningMoon Level)](120/2000)[+] 4/ 4* 4¡ä [¡ï¡ïNight Embrace (Waning Moon Level)](120/2000)[+] His luck was a bit bad this time, even with such a high success rate, it took two stones to succeed in the fusion. But that¡¯s not an issue. If his guess works, perhaps he could save a lot of resources for Star. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (What¡¯s going on?) Star tilted her head in puzzlement. She could feel that a brand-new skill execution experience emerged in her mind. But this skill didn¡¯t seem to be Ziyun¡¯s Superfast Self-healing, right? However¡­ After feeling the effect of the skill, a surprised look appeared on Star¡¯s face. Even though it¡¯s different, she likes this one better! Night Embrace, drawing upon the power of the night to endlessly heal itself. Although it doesn¡¯t speed up the Self-healing like Superfast Self-healing, this skill focuses on a slow and steady stream. Superfast Self-healing needs to consume more of its own power, while Night Embrace has no consumption at all. ¡°Nothing, I just tried a little something,¡± Xu Ran gave a simple explanation, ¡°Oh yes, you still have one Skill Fusion Stone.¡± Having said that, Xu Ran started validating his guess. After some selection, the new skill fusion formula appeared before him. [¡ï¡ïLongNight]+[**Deep Breath]+[**Energy Storage] [Fusion Success Rate:7.4.%?] Even though he hadn¡¯t tried a new fusion on ¡°Long Night¡± yet, Xu Ran had already found the two two-star skills that suit it best. The two-star common skill, ¡°Deep Breath,¡± enables the user to efficiently converge power, reducing the consumption of skill use to a certain extent. The two-star common skill, ¡°Energy Storage,¡± allows the user to have an extra storage for power, much like a spare battery which can be charged normally and consumed when needed. These two skills are highly compatible with ¡°Long Night¡±, that¡¯s why the success rate of their fusion is so high. But¡­ Xu Ran directly replaced ¡°Energy Storage¡± with ¡°Night Embrace¡± which he had just successfully fused. [¡ï¡ïLong Night]+[**Deep Breath]+[**Night Embrace] [Fusion Success Rate:8.19fo] It worked! Seeing that the new fusion success rate had exceeded the previous one, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes sparkled with a touch of surprise. He followed the same method, replacing ¡°Deep Breath¡± with ¡°Energy Storage¡±. [¡ï¡ïLong Night]+[¡ï¡ïEnergy Storage]+[**Night Embrace] [Fusion Success Rate:8.7%o] Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± The success rate has increased again! His eyes were brimming with excitement. Should he¡­ go for a bigger gamble? Xu Ran took a deep breath, erased ¡°Energy Storage¡± once more, and replaced it with¡­ Nightfall! [ ¡ï *Long Night ]+[ ¡ï ¡ï Nightfall]+[ ¡ï ¡ïNight Embrace ] [Fusion Success Rate:i.i%] It¡¯s over one percent! Xu Ran exhaled a turbid breath, and then laughed bitterly. Fusing skills is indeed interesting. Although ¡°Self-healing Power¡± merged with ¡°Recovery¡± and ¡°Night Capture¡± respectively resulting in two healing skills, their development directions are completely different. ¡°Long Night¡± and ¡°Night Embrace¡±, which were both resulted from the fusion of ¡°Tenacity¡±, ¡°Self-healing power¡±, and ¡°Night Capture¡±, showed different effects ¨C one recovering power while the other healing injuries. However, ¡°Long Night¡± and ¡°Night Embrace¡± showed a high affinity because they both had fused with ¡°Night Capture¡±, making their fusion more likely to succeed. But there is still one problem now. Looking at the new fusion formula presented before his eyes, Xu Ran stroked his chin. Would these two skills, since they both fused with ¡°Night Capture¡±, result in a still two-star skill after the triple fusion, falling short of a three-star skill? ¡°Star, what do you think?¡± Xu Ran shared his discovery with Star, and then asked. Star seemed to be lost in thought. Such a fusion clearly had its advantages. If the skill formed by the fusion of ¡°Nightfall¡±, ¡°Night Embrace¡±, and ¡°Long Night¡± could inherit the characteristics of all three skills¡­that would be terrifying. Having all non-talent skills fused and only talent skills left would mean no need to further invest resources in ¡°Self-healing power¡± and would save resources. But the disadvantages of such fusion were also obvious. Firstly, Star had previously invested a lot of skill points in ¡°Self-healing power¡± and ¡°Nightfall¡±. After the fusion, the highest proficiency level would be inherited, meaning the previous investment would be wasted. In addition, as Xu Ran said, such a fusion might not reach three stars since there are repeated skills in the process. In this case, reaching three stars would require additional fusion. After a moment of struggle, Star¡¯s eyes gradually became firm. It had made its decision. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Let¡¯s give it a try!) Hesitation means defeat. What it needs is not more skills, but more comprehensive abilities! ¡°Meow-¡± Quietly listening to the exchange between Star and Xu Ran, Ziyun began to look thoughtful. Like Star, it also has two non-talent skills ¨C ¡°Superfast Self-healing¡± and ¡°Blood fury¡±, of which ¡°Blood fury¡± is still at one star, and its frequency of use has already decreased to a very low level. If Star¡¯s fusion goes smoothly and the effect is good, should it also try to combine all the non-talent skills to reduce the dispersion of skill points? If being bolder, could talent skills¡­ possibly be fused? At this thought, Ziyun looked at Star with anticipation in its eyes. Little brother, you go first to show us an example! Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 142: Return to the Giant Beast Remains! _1 Chapter 215: Chapter 142: Return to the Giant Beast Remains! _1 Translator: 549690339 With the new idea of skill fusion, however, even the best ideas are nothing without resources. Even if the success rate of the new skill fusion formula is high, it definitely can¡¯t be done with just a single skill fusion stone. Looking at the remaining 70,000 pleasure points, Xu Ran resisted the urge to directly draw a skill fusion stone and took a deep breath, turning his gaze to Ziyun on the side. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s exchange for the resources you need to become stronger next.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay!) Ziyun nodded slightly, expectation flashing in its eyes. After advancing to the Leadership Stage, its demand for power-enhancing resources has increased. With so many points, surely it can find something suitable? But Ziyun¡¯s expectations were bound to be dashed. ¡°High Level Energy Blocks, suitable for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts.¡± Xu Ran pointed at something similar to the middle-level energy blocks on the exchange list, ¡°a dual-attribute block requires 60 Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°I suggest you get 40 first.¡± ¡°¡­Meow?¡± (Just this?) Ziyun¡¯s eyes gradually became confused, followed by deep self-doubt. When it was at the Elite Stage, in addition to energy blocks, it could also absorb some other resources to enhance its strength. Why, now at the Leadership Stage, are there only energy blocks left? ¡°Because there are no more resources suitable for you left.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly and explained, ¡°Those resources you exchanged during your Elite Stage were actually suitable for the Leadership Stage. That¡¯s why your strength was able to increase so quickly.¡± ¡°Now those resources have been exchanged, and even if they were not, they wouldn¡¯t be of much help to you, now that you¡¯ve advanced to the Leadership Stage.¡± ¡°So all things considered, the energy blocks are the most cost-effective.¡± Xu Ran spread out his palms, ¡°Qingzhou City¡¯s resources are basically not available above the General stage.¡± After all, the only General Level Beast Masters in the whole of Qingzhou City are the City Master and Senior Gu. Life is difficult, the cat sighed. Ziyun shook its head helplessly. Understood. Qingzhou is too small, and it¡¯s becoming increasingly difficult to find things suitable for it. Suddenly thinking of something, Ziyun¡¯s spirits rallied anew. ¡°Meow?¡± (How about going to Xieyun City to exchange for better resources?) Originally, it didn¡¯t care much about the trip to Xieyun City. But at this moment, Ziyun¡¯s mindset changed. Going to Xieyun City to exchange for resources is also very important to it! Cancan, who was quietly watching the two elders utilising resources to get stronger with envy, blinked and sneaked over to Star, extended a claw to gently poke at Star, and lowered her voice to ask. ¡°Sure?¡± (What is Xieyun City?) ¡°XiLu~¡± (It¡¯s a long story¡­) Star let out a low hiss, briefly recounting the past events of the challenge competition between the Gu family and the newly promoted Beast Masters. After a short, hushed conversation, Cancan immediately understood. So, everyone will soon be heading to a bigger city? It¡¯s sounds so exciting! Expectation appeared in her eyes, filled with longing fo new experiences. ¡°Of course.¡± Hearing Ziyun¡¯s idea, Xu Ran nodded, a smile appearing on his face, ¡°It¡¯s a good idea to easily exchange for General Stage resources in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (When are we leaving?) Ziyun couldn¡¯t wait. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°The day before yesterday, when Senior Gu brought his pet beast for training, he mentioned that the departure date would be determined in the next few days.¡± ¡°And then there was no further updates.¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s eager appearance, Xu Ran stretched out a hand and gently rubbed its head, ¡°If you want more and better resources, there¡¯s another way.¡± His words paused for a moment. ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten where you evolved, have you?¡± Ziyun¡¯s expression froze, and it slowly turned solemn. Underneath Thunderbolt Half Mountain, that giant beast that only left a corpse, was the strongest Transcendent Being it had ever seen. Its power was formidable enough that even a ray of strength left behind before its fall had stopped it from advancing any further. How could Ziyun possibly forget such a feeling? Its motivation for becoming stronger these past days had been that giant beast. It hadn¡¯t expected that the corpse of the beast itself was also a high-level resource. So¡­ As long as it could make contact with it, there was hope of obtaining high-level Thunder Attribute resources? A flame, fueled by a newfound fighting spirit, began to flicker within Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Back then it was at the Elite Stage, not even fully developed, and even with the blessing of Star, it had been unable to break through the force left behind by the giant beast. But now, it was already at the Leadership Stage, the Star¡¯s blessing was no longer the Starlight Level Twilight Watch, but the Full Moon Level Night Rune, plus the Full Moon Level Fated Star Pulling serving as a boost to Star¡¯s own power! With everything combined, its current strength was far beyond what it had been before. It¡¯s time to go back there and take a look! ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s leave the city!) ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Star and Cancan, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s see just how strong we¡¯ve become!¡± ¡°Cancan has never seen the scenery outside the city since she was born. This time let¡¯s take it as an experience, just follow us.¡± ¡°Sure-¡± (Alright!) Cancan nodded obediently. Following Star big brother and Ziyun big sister, it felt super secure! ¡°Hahaha! As expected of you, Master Tony!¡± In the store on the first floor, Liu Gu slapped Tony¡¯s shoulder in high spirits, ¡°I feel much more relaxed after a set of massage.¡± Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 142: Return to the Giant Beast Remains! _2 Chapter 216: Chapter 142: Return to the Giant Beast Remains! _2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°This is my exclusive technique.¡± Tony winked at LiuGu, ¡°Mr. Liu, you¡¯re welcome to come back next time.¡± ¡°Are you guys done?¡± Xu Ran came downstairs with the three little ones, happened to overhear Tony¡¯s last sentence, and casually asked. ¡°Yes, Boss, I¡¯m returning to the training area.¡± Tony reported respectfully, then suddenly made a love heart gesture to Xu Ran, ¡°I¡¯ll miss you on the days you¡¯re not here, Boss.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you go ahead.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched, he waved his hand helplessly and then looked at Liu Gu, ¡°Uncle Liu, are there any unusual occurrences in the city area recently?¡± ¡°Unusual occurrences?¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, expressing a thoughtful look, ¡°Two groups of wild super creatures started fighting each other, does that count?¡± ¡°A hunting squad recently encountered them. They initially saw that there were a lot of them and thought they were going to be wiped out, but they began to fight each other and ignored the human Beast Masters. They didn¡¯t even notice the squad.¡± ¡°Guess what? These few guys were lucky and all made it back safely.¡± ¡°That¡­shouldn¡¯t count, right?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth slightly twitched, ¡°They were probably fighting over some special resources and so they didn¡¯t care about the humans.¡± ¡°I think so too,¡± LiuGu nodded in agreement with Xu Ran¡¯s speculation, ¡°Boss Xu, why are you asking this?¡± ¡°Later on, I plan to suspend business.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the clock on the wall, ¡°If we leave now, we can just catch the last opening of the city gate at dusk.¡± Liu Gu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Young man, are you here alone?¡± In the open space waiting for the city gate to open, a big man with a tiger tattoo on his body walked briskly towards Xu Ran, ¡°Why not join us, the Blood Wolf Hunting Squad? We¡¯ll give you a cheap escort rate.¡± No need.¡± Looking at the elite beasts that were following the man, Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°I can protect myself.¡± If I encounter danger as well, then neither could you protect me.¡± The big man seemed to have heard a joke and burst into laughter, ¡°Young man, you seem to be very confident. I wonder if you¡­¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Quiet!) Anxious to leave the city, Ziyun turned his head irritably towards the big man. The beast¡¯s heterochromatic pupils suddenly contracted, and a trace of the Leadership Stage Pet Beast¡¯s aura emitted. The big man¡¯s voice abruptly halted. Other ill-intended individuals in the vicinity who had initially thought Xu Ran to be a naivete, also ceased their intentions and quickly averted their gaze. Indeed, the most straightforward way to deal with a stranger¡¯s harassment is to show your own strength.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, looking towards the city gate, ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± The instant after Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, the city gate shuddered and then, accompanied by a low and continuous rumbling sound, a gap opened. ¡°Charming!¡± (Let¡¯sgo!) Shrunk down to an extreme length of about one meter, Cancan lay down on Star¡¯s broad back, obediently carrying Ziyun. He stared at the scenery outside the city gate that he had never seen before, his eyes filled with excitement. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± Star let out a neigh. Without using any skills, it started to run as fast as a bolt of lightning, which startled everyone. It didn¡¯t take long for it to disappear from everyone else¡¯s sight. After leaving the city gate, Xu Ran calmly took out a map. After identifying the direction for a while, he patted Star¡¯s neck, ¡°That way!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star quickly changed direction, heading for the orientation indicated by Xu Ran. Its fur and purple crystal-like eyes instantly turned into a pitch black that couldn¡¯t reflect any light. With the falling sunset, the Moon Concealment Star Racing was instantly activated under the blessing of Nightfall, hiding the aura of itself and its companions while swiftly moving like a stream of light. ¡°Charming!¡± (So fast!) Envy appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Even though his shape was different from other turtles, Cancan had one of the major problems that most turtle beasts had, that is, slow speed. Even if its huge body could cover several meters with each step, but compared to Star¡¯s current speed, it was nothing more than a small fraction. You both have your own advantages.¡± Seeing Cancan¡¯s petty mind, Xu Ran gently patted it on the head, ¡°Star is very fast, but under the same conditions, its defense is far worse than yours.¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (What about Big Sister Ziyun?) Cancan asked curiously. ¡°As for Ziyun¡­¡± Before Xu Ran had finished speaking, Ziyun, who was lazily lying on Cancan¡¯s scale shell, suddenly burst into an electric arc and instantly turned a passing black lizard into ashes. Then, nonchalantly returned to its original spot and flicked its claws. I hate black lizards the most, except for Shadow Chaser Lizards. ¡°You see.¡± Xu Ran shrugged towards Cancan. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (Iunderstand¡­) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but shudder, silently turned his head back, and looked ahead. I should avoid provoking the eldest sister in the future, I can¡¯t withstand a slap from her¡­ Ziyun, who had just broken through the Leadership Stage, was in a slightly inflated state, giving a slap to every dog that passed by. All along the way, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but express a moment of silence for those wild Transcendent Beings that were hit unintentionally. Thanks to Ziyun, all the wild Transcendent Beings with bad intentions scattered under the powerful aura of Ziyun¡¯s leadership stage, not daring to step forward. With Star¡¯s speed, before nightfall, the trio found the familiar strange mountain range according to the map drawn before returning to the city last time. Looking at the vast thunder clouds covering the scene, countless Thunder Snakes dancing wildly in the clouds, and the sight of the flames of heaven and earth pouring down on the peak, which seemed to have been cut in half by a long knife, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with shock. Is this¡­? The place where eldest sister completed her evolution? No wonder sister is so powerful, I can¡¯t even withstand one slap from her. Decided, when I evolve next time, I also want to find a spectacular place! ¡°Let¡¯s go, directly to the spot we were at last time.¡± Xu Ran started speaking while giving Cancan a strange glance. What is this little guy thinking? They quickly made their way to the strange rock wall where they had sensed something unusual in their previous visit. They removed the obstruction set up during the last visit, revealing a deep cave. After entering it for a moment, they appeared in front of the Giant Beast corpse. Despite having already witnessed the hundred-meter-long Giant Beast, Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star were once again deeply shocked by the terrifying aura that its body exuded, let alone Cancan who was seeing the Giant Beast corpse for the first time. ¡°Charming!¡± (Sobig!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but express his astonishment. He wondered if he would get this big when he reached the Leadership Stage. Moreover, the oppressive feeling that this corpse gave him was so strong, even stronger than the one brought by the eldest sister. Thinking of this, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but glance at Ziyun. Big sister, you have to work hard! Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at Cancan again. This little guy¡­ He smiled wryly, then climbed onto Star¡¯s back, ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Ready!) Star shrieked, and Fated Star Pulling was instantly released, linking it with Xu Ran. The formidable momentum escalated continuously, creating an energy storm around them. Even the light film formed by the Giant Beast¡¯s power started to ripple under this energy fluctuation. ¡°Ziyun!¡± Xu Ran shouted lowly and pointed towards Ziyun on the other side, who was ready to go. A complex, black rune appeared next to Ziyun. Its power surge was accentuated by the Night Rune, rising step by step, like an imminent flash flood. Dense and violent electric light jumped around her, and electric arcs punctured the air, pulsating around Ziyun. Even the earth couldn¡¯t fully conduct such terrifying power, and one by one, electric arcs rose from the ground to the sky, dancing wildly like Thunder Snakes. Ziyun deactivated its Reduction, and its two-meter-long body instantly turned into a heart palpating thunder. Its agile figure hidden in the flashing thunder light, like the god of thunder descended. Enveloped in the full-force amplification provided by Xu Ran and Star, Ziyun instantly disappeared from the original spot. Target, the Giant Beast¡¯s corpse! Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 143 Thunder Bead and Long Knife_l Chapter 217: Chapter 143 Thunder Bead and Long Knife_l Translator: 549690339 Thirteen meters! Last time, exhausting all the power of Ziyun, Xu Ran, and Star, they could only go this far after passing through the light film. But this time, in a single flicker, Ziyun¡¯s body appeared at the limit of the distance they reached last time. ¡°Meow-¡± (We¡¯re stable this time!) Feeling how different it was from last time, with almost no pressure or repelling force affecting him, Ziyun¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement and exhilaration. Looking ahead, approximately forty meters away from where he stood was the corpse of a giant beast, which looked like a small hill resting in a cave. He took a deep breath and started to charge forward step by step. Ten meters¡­ twenty meters¡­ thirty meters¡­ Even though he wasn¡¯t moving as fast as before, Ziyun¡¯s pace was still swift. The closer he got to the corpse of the giant beast, the stronger the repellent power that came from ahead. However, he was able to navigate his way through effortlessly. Eventually, forty meters! Looking at the giant beast¡¯s corpse just near him, and sensing the enormous and dreadful power hidden within the corpse, a solemn expression appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. ¡°Be careful!¡± Standing outside of the light film, Xu Ran expressed a serious tone and warned him in a low voice that echoed in the cave. This beast must have fallen a long time ago, but the power it scattered was still capable of forming such a strong light film repelling us. Who knows if this beast had left any other means before it fell? ¡°Meow-¡± (Iunderstand!) Ziyun nodded seriously, and then slowly lifted a paw wrapped in blazes of compiled thunders. The thunder on the surface his paw became profound in the blink of an eye, as if an intimidating power was brewing, ready to burst out. It felt as if a complete destruction would follow. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ¨C Destruction Thunder Claw! Wrapped in such power, Ziyun¡¯s muscles tensed up instantly. He slowly approached the giant beast¡¯s corpse, which was right before his eyes. ¡°Boom!!!¡± A low explosion echoed in the cave. The violet electricity instantly shot out in all directions. The Thunderforce within the giant beast¡¯s corpse was activated and began to overflow on the surface, making the dreadful aura it emitted clearer to sense. Faintly, one could even hear a bellow resembling that of a cow or a tiger coming from within the beast¡¯s corpse. Ziyun retreated a few steps after making contact, and immediately looked at the point of attack, the next moment his different colored eyes were filled with surprise and shock. Not a single hair was damaged on the beast¡¯s body! In the next moment, Ziyun¡¯s expression turned sorrowful. Damn it! He could not break the defense, then how is he supposed to extract high-level resources from the giant beast¡¯s body? ¡°Does it have such strong defensive power just by its body?¡± Xu Ran, who also witnessed this scene, became puzzled, ¡°What realm was this creature in before it died?¡± A supranormal species of Leadership Stage with dual attributes and a Full Moon level Three Star Skill could not even break its defense. That means, if this beast was alive, Ziyun could not even injure it even if he exerted all his effort? Are Supranormal beings of King Stage really that powerful? Or does this creature possess strength beyond the King stage? ¡°Meow-¡± (Such impressive defense¡­) Cancan, who roughly understood the situation with Star¡¯s explanation and looked with envy at the spot on the giant beast¡¯s corpse where Ziyun had attacked full force. Big sister could penetrate her defense with just a blow, yet this beast, which is much larger than her, can easily withstand big sister1 s attack even after so many years since its fall. If she reaches that level, wouldn¡¯t big sister cease to harm her? ¡°Meow!¡± (There¡¯s a change!) Star roared, its eyes suddenly turned pitch black with chain-like patterns spinning around its pupils. Sensing the faintly changing power within the giant beast¡¯s corpse, it immediately alerted. ¡°Be careful, Ziyun!¡± With the assistance of Fated Star Pulling1 s shared vision, Xu Ran was able to sense the dangers through Night Inspection in time after Star¡¯s warning, he promptly alerted with changes in his facial expression. ¡°Meow!¡± (I know!) In fact, without the warnings from the trio, Ziyun, who was the closest to the giant beast¡¯s corpse also sensed the anomaly. It seemed like the Thunderforce in his claw and the Thunderforce naturally found in the giant beast¡¯s corpse had shown some kind of resonance which caused the power that had been dormant in the beast¡¯s corpse for an unknown amount of time to suddenly become lively. More and more electricity was sprawling on the surface of the giant beast¡¯s body, releasing a horrifying aura causing Ziyun to take a few steps back. However, after retreating a few steps, Ziyun stopped. A puzzled look appeared on his face. Because the overflowing electricity seemed to have caused him no harm. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you have absorbed its power during evolution.¡± Xu Ran, who noticed the anomaly, quickly came up with a hypothesis and promptly voiced out, ¡°So the power it left behind did not harm you.¡± ¡°More likely, this power was conjured because it sensed a part of it in your power.¡± Is that so¡­ While listening to Xu Ran¡¯s analysis and considering the giant beast¡¯s corpse in front of him, which was becoming increasingly horrifying but was vaguely showing a hint of familiarity, Ziyun¡¯s eyes revealed a moment of hesitation. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 143 Thunder Bead and Long Knife 2 Chapter 218: Chapter 143 Thunder Bead and Long Knife 2 Translator: 549690339 b ¡ª In the next instant, hesitation solidifies into determination. Facing the increasingly wild electrical light, Ziyun takes one step at a time towards the corpse of the giant beast. Bolts of electricity erupt from Ziyun¡¯s body, seemingly in response to the electricity atop the beast¡¯s corpse. Although there is a vast gap between the two, it seems that the electricity atop the giant beast¡¯s corpse has sensed Ziyun¡¯s power and has begun to change. It starts to converge. The electric light, which originally filled almost all the space within the range of the light film, under the gaze of three of them, visible to the naked eye, is shrinking in the direction of the giant beast¡¯s corpse at this moment. Also shrinking are the outermost light film created by the force left by the beast¡¯s corpse¡¯s landing and the strong repulsion within it. The robust and terrifying giant beast¡¯s corpse, which Ziyun was not able to break open with all her power, within the electric light, is becoming increasingly transparent. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth slowly widens, shocked by the unfolding scene before him. Eventually, the beast¡¯s corpse, akin to a small hill, vanishes into the cavern beneath them. Nothing remains but a plain, rustic dagger hanging in the air, a small purple bead the size of a knuckle, and Ziyun squatting underneath them, a little lost in her eyes. ¡°Zzzzzz ¡± Accompanied by the sharp sound of the air being split apart, a bolt of electricity cuts through the long night, streaking down from the thundercloud and striking the mountaintop beneath the thundercloud as if it was sliced in half by a knife. If Xu Ran were to emerge from the cavern beneath the mountain and see this scene, he would surely be surprised. Unlike the terrifying thunder he saw when he arrived, the bolt has significantly weakened. 7 After the bolt fell, it was a long time before the next one descended. The dark and oppressive thundercloud which had been looming over the area for who knows how long was gradually thinning. The starlight and moonlight quietly fell on the mountain, outlining its silhouette. In the night, this scene is not as clear as during the day, still, it attracts the attention of many wild extraordinary creatures active in the vicinity. ¡°Howl ¡± A long howl comes from the east side of the hillside. The one making the sound was a giant silver wolf, about ten meters in size. Unlike the Frost Dust Wolf, this giant wolf has a clear, slightly glowing crescent mark on its forehead. A tremendous and palpitation-inducing sense of power swirls around its body. Its sharp and cold eyes gaze indifferently in the direction of the hillside. A fighting- type extraordinary creature, Silver Moon Wolf. Behind it, there are seven or eight Silver Moon Wolves that look similar but are about half its size, forming a pack. Their constant emission of powerful energy is enough to drive timid and weak creatures away. Nevertheless, not all extraordinary creatures fear the Silver Moon Wolf pack. ¡°Hiss-¡± The low, heart-stirring hissing sound, traveling from the southeast side of the mountain, is rather clear in the quiet night. A gigantic snake, about fifteen meters in length, with scales of dark green intertwined with frightful black patterns, lifts its head high from the south side of the mountain and stares at the Silver Moon Head Wolf. Its pair of slit eyes, like sharp needles, gleam with an icy glow. A dark attribute extraordinary creature, Dark Avatar Snake. ¡°Coo ¡± With a harsh and unpleasant call, a monstrous bird, its body engulfed in black flames and four wings spread out to a length of more than ten meters, descends from the sky and perches on a dead tree to the northeast of the mountain. In the black flames, two points of profound darkness gaze in the direction of the Dark Avatar Snake and the Silver Moon Head Wolf. A dark attribute extraordinary creature, Night Flame Crow. These three extraordinary creatures are the most powerful elite stage ones in the nearby area. If Xu Ran were here, he would be surprised to find that each of them is as powerful as the black lizard that chased them before. For some unknown reason, their strength is superior to a typical elite stage, but they still fail to reach the leader stage. After these three powerful extraordinary creatures appeared, a short standoff ensued. They occasionally stared in the direction of the mountainside, reverence in their eyes. ¡°Hiss ¡± The Beast King is dead, and its power has dissipated. A moment later, the Dark Avatar Snake hisses again. The other two extraordinary creatures, already familiar with each other and the mountain, immediately understand its meaning. A cryptic look flickers in their eyes. Shortly after, the Night Flame Crow gives a hoarse growl. ¡°Coo ¡± Do you want to devour its bones? ¡°Hiss ¡± Don¡¯t you desire the same? This is the body of the Beast King, devouring it gives us the chance to become a Beast King ourselves. The hesitation in Night Flame Crow¡¯s eyes gradually gives way to greed. The instinctual fear of an unimaginably powerful entity is erased by the temptation of potentially becoming a Beast King. ¡°Grr ¡± How should we split it? Looking at the two interlocutors that took the Beast Emperor¡¯s carcass as their own, a mocking expression flashed in the eyes of the Silver Moon Head Wolf. ¡°Awoo ¡± Even a fallen Beast Emperor isn11 something for your teeth to chew. Feeling the teasing in the voice of the Silver Moon Head Wolf, the Dark Erosion Snake¡¯s hissing became even lower, its gaze colder, staring in the direction of the Silver Moon Head Wolf. ¡°Sss ¡± What are you implying? The Silver Moon Head Wolf, with a hint of disdain in its eyes, turned its head towards the half mountain direction. After waiting for a while, it let out a long howl. ¡°Awoo ¡± Report to the Core Area, the core six kings will give us enough reward, and we don¡¯t have the power to monopolize the cadaver of the Beast Emperor. The Dark Erosion Snake¡¯s high head slightly lowered. Its serpentine body suddenly tensed up, pressing against the rough terrain, showing a defensive posture while slightly opening its mouth to reveal its long and pitch-black fangs. ¡°Sss ¡± What if I say no? A hint of disdain flashed in the eyes of the Silver Moon Head Wolf. ¡°Awoo ¡± Then I will make the report on my own. The word of the Silver Moon Head Wolf instantly infuriated the Dark Erosion Snake and the Night Flame Crow who were trying to take the carcass. The atmosphere in the half mountain area has suddenly become tense. Suddenly remembering something, a playful look appeared in the eyes of the Night Flame Crow as it looked at the Silver Moon Head Wolf. ¡°Grr ¡± The six kings probably don¡¯t have the energy to pay attention here for the time being, your report will be useless. The pupils of the Silver Moon Head Wolf contracted slightly, it heard a hint of arrogance from the other¡¯s words. ¡°Awoo ¡± What do you mean? ¡°Grr ¡± The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s recently born twelfth daughter is missing near a certain human city. ¡°Such a powerful force coalesced into such a tiny bead?¡± Approaching Ziyun and looking up at the Thunder Bead floating in the sky, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a trace of surprise. When he saw that Ziyun couldn¡¯t break through the defense of the Giant Beast¡¯s corpse, he thought that they would return from this venture empty-handed. Surprisingly, things went so well. The Giant Beast¡¯s corpse directly converged into a resource, simply out of convenience. ¡°Let¡¯s take this resource back along with this knife¡­¡± Xu Ran casually reached out towards the Thunder Bead in the sky. Before he even got close, a bolt of lightning instantly burst out from the Thunder Bead and struckXu Ran¡¯s hand heavily. ¡°Sss ¡± Xu Ran drew back his hand as if electrocuted ¨C right, he was really electrocuted ¨C his face showing a helpless expression, ¡°This thing is not easy to handle.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Let me do it.) Ziyun glanced at Xu Ran, then jumped lightly and approached the Thunder Bead. The Thunder Bead that had attacked Xu Ran voluntarily was completely indifferent when Ziyun approached, allowing him to effortlessly grab it out of midair, much to Xu Ran¡¯s chagrin. ¡°In that case, you keep it.¡± Looking up again, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on the plain long knife hanging in mid-air, its blade still stained with indelible dirt. Was it this modest knife that had cleaved the mountain and killed the Giant Beast? No matter how many times he saw it, Xu Ran always felt an overwhelming emotion welling up inside him. He once again raised his hand and slowly gripped the handle of the long knife. ¡°Hum ¡± Along with a low humming sound, the long knife started vibrating violently. Under Xu Ran¡¯s shocked gaze, a great momentum suddenly erupted from the knife, charging straight at him! Next, I¡¯ll write the next chapter, go, go, go. Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 144 The Power of a Single Sword_l Chapter 219: Chapter 144 The Power of a Single Sword_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Meow?!¡± ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± ¡°Charming!!¡± Facing the sudden changes, the three pet beasts went pale in unison. In their minds, Xu Ran¡¯s safety was just as important as their own. At this moment, the momentum bursting from the long knife was aimed at Xu Ran. ¡°Don¡¯t panic!¡± Xu Ran let out a low growl in the first place, followed by a muffled groan. The momentum from the long knife surged into his body. He felt a sharp pain as if his body was about to be torn apart, and in his daze, a picture gradually became clear in his mind. It was a human powerhouse with an indistinct face, and a terrifying aura surrounding him, making Xu Ran instinctively feel an intractable fear. In his hand, he held a plain long knife. Apart from its newness, it was no different from the knife Xu Ran was holding at the moment. Next, Xu Ran saw the original appearance of the giant beast corpse. The beast, with its terrifying aura, mountain-like form, and wrapped in electric light, panicked and fled when it saw the human powerhouse. The human powerhouse simply raised the long knife and slashed it down, splitting the mountain below in two. What a fantastic slash that was, Xu Ran could still feel a fierce force coming from the blade through the distance of time and the picture, it seemed as though the heavens and the earth were going to be shattered by the force of this single cut. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran let out another muffled moan, the increasingly severe pain throughout his body rendered him unable to continue watching, forcing him to loosen his grip on the long knife. It¡¯s a pity that he didn¡¯t see what happened next, nor did he know why the powerhouse had left this long knife here. He shook his head regretfully and then slowly closed his eyes. The images he had seen were still remarkably clear in his mind as if they had been etched in his brain. He repeatedly recollected the images and vaguely grasped some aspects of the slashing style. ¡°Pushing forward relentlessly¡­¡± Xu Ran muttered unconsciously, his eyes still closed. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (What¡¯s wrong with the Beast Master?) Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s hand that had held the long knife still bleeding but not reacting to the pain, even closing his eyes and falling into thought, Cancan cautiously approached Star and Ziyun and asked quietly. ¡°XiLu~¡± (I don¡¯t know¡­) Star let out a soft wail, shaking his head helplessly. It looked worriedly at Xu Ran¡¯s injured hand but regretted its lack of healing powers. Ziyun was also nervous, but compared to the two, he seemed calmer. With the thunder bead in his mouth, Ziyun allowed the bead to sporadically release electricity. Observing for a brief moment, Ziyun realised that the Thunder Bead was instinctively avoiding the direction of Xu Ran and the long knife, revealing a thoughtful expression on its face. ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s observe for a while.) As time ticked away, under the vigilant watching of the three little ones, Xu Ran continued to stay still with his eyes closed, but around him, a hint of fierce momentum slowly formed. Even though it was just a fraction compared to the momentum emitted by the dagger, it was unquestionably from Xu Ran himself. Xu Ran quickly opened his eyes and immediately stretched out his hand to grab the long knife, letting out a low hum once more. This time, Xu Ran didn¡¯t see any pictures, but the intense pain from the fierce intent of the knife piercing his body was still present. A bead of sweat trickled down Xu Ran¡¯s forehead, his lips pressing together firmly, his eyes revealing a hint of determination. This knife, it¡¯s a good weapon! After understanding a bit of the intent of the knife from its image, Xu Ran was certain of this. Perhaps it was just an ordinary knife before and was casually discarded by the powerhouse after a single use. Still, after soaking up the harsh intent and the power embedded in the corpse of the giant beast for so long, it has become extraordinary. This treasure, must be taken! Xu Ran gritted his teeth and employed all his strength to confront the knife trying to understand its mood. The huge gap between them shattered his rudimentary understanding of the knife¡¯s styles in an instant. But he recomposed it again and again, allowing his weak understanding of the knife to gradually become sharper. The knife, with its own inherent style, became the perfect sharpening stone, allowingXu Ran¡¯s understanding of it to progress at an unimaginable speed. After a while, the shimmering momentum of the long knife seemed to have exhausted its accumulated power and gradually receded. Xu Ran wiped the sweat off his forehead, looked at the bloodied hand that was still clutching the knife handle, and gave a crooked smile. At last, he got through it. This knife, is his! ¡°Alright, I¡¯m fine, just some minor wounds.¡± He looked around the three little animals who were guarding him and a smile appeared in his eyes. ¡°Star, Fated Star Pulling.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star let out a roar, instantly tethered the two with a trail of shooting stars. Xu Ran moved his mind, the dark light enveloped his injured hand, and miraculously, his wound healed at a visible rate. Two Solid Star Skills, Waning Moon Level-Night Embrace. Although he did not have the actual healing abilities, when it came to dealing with bugs, Xu Ran was a professional. After waiting for a little while, the dark light dissipated, and Xu Ran¡¯s hand that was tightly gripping the knife handle was restored to its original condition. He wrapped the blade with a piece of cloth and strapped the knife to his back, and with a wave of his hand said, ¡°We¡¯ve gotten huge gains this time. Let¡¯s leave this place!¡± Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 144 The Power of a Single Sword_2 Chapter 220: Chapter 144 The Power of a Single Sword_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Glug ¡± Silver Moon Head Wolf, don¡¯t be stubbornly ignorant! Off halfway up the hill, the Night Flame Crow let out an enraged squawk. Fury flickered in its eyes, and its aura exploded, rendering the pitch-black night even more profound. This stubborn fiend! The Beast Kings at present had no time to attend to this side. They, as the strongest three Transcendent Beings in the near area, could carefully coordinate to divide the beast emperor¡¯s corpse as long as they remained cautious. It was the Beast Emperor! Even the six Beast Kings that inhabited the core area of this Beast Field needed to look up to it, a powerful being! Even if they only got part of its corpse, which was void of its powerful energy, that would still be enough to help the three of them to realize an evolution that only one in ten could survive. But this cursed creature was insistent on blocking them and reporting the Beast Emperor¡¯s Corpse to the Beast Kings. ¡°Hiss ¡± We join forces, and kill it first! The Dark Corrosion Snake, the first to propose the collaboration, was beside itself with anger. Its eyes were filled with fierce murderous intent. The erect head swaying slightly and the tense body skimming the ground, the dark green power spread all around under the cover of the dark and the vegetation wilted rapidly wherever it passed. Sensing that the two super creatures were beginning to join forces, the Silver Moon Head Wolf showed no compromise in its eyes. It was very clear that its two old neighbours had fallen into greed and madness, losing the rationality they should have possessed. Wild Transcendent Beings had not entirely abandoned organisation and discipline. They had divided themselves into different beast territories according to different regions, and each beast territory was again divided into various areas. The hierarchical order within them was very rigid, and their organisation was highly strong. Sharing the corpse of the Beast Emperor with these two would most likely leave it with no gains, but instead drag it into the mess, and torn into pieces by the wrathful Beast Kings when the matter was exposed. Reporting the matter and getting rewards was the safest way to go. It had survived to the present, all because of this cautiousness. This time, it was no different. ¡°Howl ¡± The Silver Moon Head Wolf let out a deep howl, not at the two ¡°old neighbours¡± before it, but speaking to the companions that had followed it. Don¡¯t fight them. Let¡¯s go. As the words fell, the Silver Moon Head Wolf turned to leave. As a fighting attribute, it moved faster than these two. If it insisted on going, they could not catch up to it. The Dark Corrosion Snake and the Night Flame Crow glanced at each other, their murderous intents intensifying. Running away? If the Silver Moon Head Wolf reported to their superiors, they would not escape punishment. At this moment, the two Super Creatures reached a consensus. Kill the Silver Moon Head Wolf! Just as they were about to make a move, a noise from halfway up the hill reached them. The Dark Corrosion Snake, the Night Flame Crow, and the Silver Moon Head Wolf, who was preparing to leave, all stopped and turned their heads to look. On the rock wall at the foot of the hill, there appeared a cave entrance abruptly. A man with his three pets, all bearing ample spoils, came out of the cave and appeared before the three Super Creatures. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Looking at the three wild Super Creatures outside the cave with their strong aura and then at the Thunder Clouds that had dissipated above, Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. Of course, there was no Giant Beast Corpse and hence the anomaly had naturally vanished. It was normal for the Super Creatures in the vicinity to notice the change and come to check. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Ran, who was in a good mood, had no interest in doing anything harsh. He climbed onto Star, took Ziyun and Cancan with him, and ignored the changing looks of the three Super Creatures as he turned to go back the same way they came. And the three wild Super Creatures had their eyes all straightly fixed on that little bead Ziyun was holding in its mouth. Too familiar. The aura inside was too familiar to them! The three Super Creatures that lived around and guarded this hill all their lives were too familiar with the aura of that fallen Beast Emperor! At this moment, the Dark Corrosion Snake and the Night Flame Crow had their eyes turn bloody red. They had been guarding it for so long, only for someone else to pick the peach? And that too, a damned human being! ¡°Hiss ¡± ¡°Glug ¡± The two Super Creatures let out a roar together and then made the exact same move, swooping towards the direction where Xu Ran was. Having focussed all their attention on the Thunder Bead filled with massive energy, they did not even notice the aura of the Leadership Stage around Ziyun. The Silver Moon Head Wolf on the other side had surprise and astonishment flash in its eyes. Its gaze left the Thunder Bead and landed on Ziyun. The sufficiently calm creature realized something and swiftly stopped the eager members of its tribe. The next moment, facing the two transcendent beings that proactively attacked, Xu Ran let out a sigh, held back Ziyun, who wanted to make a move, and then pulled out the long sword from his back. ¡°I¡¯m in a good mood today, I really didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for you guys.¡± ¡°We all have our own troubles¡­¡± Xu Ran cast his long sword into the void and retracted it. ¡°But you, you¡¯re a little ungrateful.¡± As his words fell, the structure of the Dark Erosion Serpent was abruptly split into two at the seven-inch mark under the night sky. The black flames burning around the Night Flame Crow vanished in an instant. It had been sliced into two, its featherless blackbody heavily falling on the ground. Two wild Transcendent Beings that had lurked nearby for many years, with strength surpassing ordinary Elite Stage beings, were offered as sacrifices for Xu Ran¡¯s first sword practice. ¡± Indeed, this sword is good.¡± Wrapping the sword in a cloth again, Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction. The sword technique he understood was inherent in this sword, and when he wielded it, the result was more than the sum of its parts. Xu Ran could feel that with every use, the long sword helped him understand the sword techniques better. He might even be able to reach the level of that powerful person one day. Combined with the power fused with the stars under the guidance of Fated Star Pulling¡­ He cut down those two seemingly powerful Elite Stage Transcendent Beings as if they were mere chickens. He thought that having a star to avoid becoming the weak link in the team and dragging the pet beasts down was already the best outcome. After all, the star had no offensive capabilities, nor did he have any when linked to the star. He could only help out a bit and cheer them on. Unexpectedly, the long sword made up for this flaw. ¡°You don¡¯t want to make a move too, do you?¡± Leaving the long sword on his back, Xu Ran looked at the Silver Moon Head Wolf, that had not come forward from the beginning. Without saying a second word, the Head Wolf led its tribe and disappeared, leaving only a series of afterimages. Xu Ran was taken aback by its decisive actions. It seemed that not all wild Transcendent Beings were mindless. ¡°Meow-¡± (¡°Apity.¡±) Ziyun, cradled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, sadly shook its head. Xu Ran had already put away his sword. If that guy dared to make a move, he would definitely hand it over to Ziyun. Unfortunately, that guy ran away. It lost an opportunity to make a move¡­ ¡°You want to make a move, it¡¯s that simple, right?¡± Seeing the little guy¡¯s intentions, Xu Ran gave a wry smile, ¡°The two I just killed and that wolf were probably the strongest around here.¡± ¡°Now that the two are dead, finding where they lived, you should be able to gain a lot. You and Cancan can handle the ones along the way.¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (¡°And me?¡±) Cancan, who was faithfully lying under Ziyun, turned his head in surprise at Xu Ran¡¯s words. ¡°Apart from sparring with Ziyun, you haven¡¯t really fought with Transcendent Beings of the same stage yet. This is a rare opportunity.¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°Let¡¯s charge!¡±) Cancan got excited all of a sudden. Could it also start effortlessly defeating opponents now? ¡°You¡¯re still weak, start by working on your defense.¡± Oh, being beaten up, okay, no problem. Xu Ran laughed, his eyes quickly turned pitch black, with the chain pattern spinning, he had a clear view of everything around him. Suddenly, Xu Ran located the nests of the Dark Erosion Serpent and the Night Flame Crow. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going on a raid!¡± Although he said that Cancan would be working on defense, it wasn¡¯t just about being beaten. After all, Cancan also had attack skills. With Ziyun¡¯s protection and Star¡¯s power boost, Cancan recovered to its original body size and bulldozed its way through, getting a strong taste of feeling powerful. And the ones it couldn¡¯t handle were neatly and decisively dealt with by Ziyun. By the time the team of one person and three pets had finished scouring the nest of Dark Erosion Serpent and were heading straight to the nest of the Night Flame Crow, the Transcendent Beings they encountered along the way didn¡¯t dare to stand in their way and scattered like birds and beasts. However, once they entered the nest of the Night Flame Crow, Xu Ran¡¯s mood plummeted. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Looking at the fragmented human bones piled up in a corner of the nest, Xu Ran felt quite uncomfortable, even though he wasn¡¯t particularly sympathetic. ¡°The Night Flame Crowls dead. Consider it as me taking revenge for you all,¡± Xu Ran sighed, ¡°Rest in peace.¡± Ziyun suddenly saw something, it sprang out from Xu Ran¡¯s arms and quickly retrieved a photo pendant from the corner of the pile of corpses and placed it in Xu Ran¡¯s hand. The pendant was already broken, the photo inside was a bit yellowed, but still clear. An unfamiliar man, with the Furious Battle Cat standing behind him. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Was that¡­ Boss Cat? Failed to adjust the schedule, will continue tomorrow evening. Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 145: Boss Cats Bread l Chapter 221: Chapter 145: Boss Cat¡¯s Bread l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Boss Cat¡­¡± Looking at the photo on the medallion, Xu Ran fell into silence for a moment. He had thoroughly washed and cared for Boss Cat, so he was familiar with the cat¡¯s features. Even amongst other Furious Battle Cats, the differences between individuals were significant. So, he was certain that this Furious Battle Cat was indeed Boss Cat. Then, the identity of the strange man standing in front of it also seemed clear. He must be the Beast Master of Boss Cat who had fallen. Xu Ran did not actively seek information about Boss Cat¡¯s former Beast Master, but he learned some details through fragmented information occasionally mentioned by Zhang Heyear. Boss Cat¡¯s Beast Master was not a Leadership Level Beast Master, but an Elite Level one. Before losing his Beast Master, Boss Cat had been at the peak of the Elite Level for a long time, but he could not break through due to the limit of the Second Stage Contract Power. During a mission outside the city walls, Boss Cat¡¯s Beast Master and several other members from the Association encountered a sudden Beast Tide attack. To cover his comrades, he threw himself into the battle but eventually perished. Another beast that was contractually entwined with him also fell, but Boss Cat, whom he had contracted earlier with, survived. This was not because Boss Cat was cowardly or feared death, but because his Beast Master deliberately did so. At the moment of the Beast Master¡¯s fall, Boss Cat broke free of its shackles, broke through to the Leadership Level instantly, releasing even greater power, tearing a gap in the Beast Tide and helped the other Beast Masters escape alive. One of these Beast Masters was Zhang Heyear. From then on, Boss Cat, having lost its Beast Master, wandered alone in Qingzhou City and became the Boss of the stray Pet Beasts in the city. Boss Cat¡¯s greatest regret was not being able to retrieve the body of his Beast Master amidst the chaos of the Beast Tide. And now, it seemed that Xu Ran had inadvertently found it. Looking deep at the indistinguishable pile of corpses before him, Xu Ran knew that it was impossible to bring the body of Boss Cat¡¯s Beast Master back. But at least, he could do what was within his power. ¡°Cancan, dig a hole, let¡¯s bury them together.¡± ¡°Sure (Understood!) Although he did not understand what the medallion in Xu Ran¡¯s hand meant, the sight before his eyes had dealt a significant blow to Cancan, who was newly born, and his mood plummeted significantly. He dutifully nodded his head, then took a swipe at the earth with his paw. The majestic Earth attribute Power surged, the earth swiftly dipped, just like a bowl holding the pile of corpses, then the soil on the edges quickly spread towards the center, completely covering the mound of bodies under the earth. As an Earth attribute Pet Beast, this task was too simple for Cancan. ¡°You two look for anything useful, after we leave, we should return to the city.¡± Xu Ran carefully wiped the photo medallion with the corner of his clothes and spoke quietly. ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯llgo.) Ziyun¡¯s mood had also dampened due to the recent events. He disappeared in a blink, taking away whatever he considered valuable at the fastest speed, and returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side after a few breaths. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Xu Ran mounted Star¡¯s broad shoulders, holding Ziyun and Cancan, and quietly vanished into the dark night. ¡°Chirp-¡± Elsewhere outside the city, a fluffy creature the size of a soccer ball was waddling along. Its pure white feathers shimmered in the moonlight, and its small wings, which seemed disproportionate to its size, occasionally flapped, helping it jump between rocks more easily. After some effort, it finally managed to perch atop a pile of rubble. Its eyes, bright as the ocean and still so clear even in the darkness, gleamed with a humanistic sense of satisfaction. With just a little trick, it made those despicable creatures who wanted to catch it run in circles! It slightly raised its paws and looked towards a city in the distance. So, is that the place where human Beast Masters live? Dad always said humans are dangerous, but it didn¡¯t believe him! Let¡¯s go see! ¡°Roar!!¡± A roar interrupted its thoughts. It turned its head and quickly spotted a red male lion, ten meters long, far more powerful than the regular Elite Level creatures, rushing towards it with a panicky look in its eyes. Recognizing this familiar creature, a hint of annoyance and impatience surfaced within the eyes of the small creature. ¡°Chirp-¡± A clear chirping sound pierced the deep night. Its sapphire blue eyes shone brightly in the darkness and stared at the charging wild transcendent creature. ¡°Boom!!!¡± The powerful transcendent creature that was sprinting a second ago was lying on the ground the next, its expression one of ecstasy, its breath even, as if it had fallen into a beautiful dream. The small creature bobbed its round head in satisfaction. It was the only genius in its tribe who had reached full moon level proficiency at the elite level. Trying to catch it? Don¡¯t even think about it! Cheering under the moonlight, the small creature fluttered down from the highest point of the rubble pile using its chubby little wings and swaggered towards the city it had seen earlier. ¡°You stay in the shop and wait for me, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± As dawn broke, Xu Ran entered Qingzhou City against the tide of people leaving the city. After exchanging the resources he had collected from the two powerful Elite Level creatures at the Beast Master Association and earning a decent amount of Beast Master Points, he reminded the three little ones to wait in the shop after he returned. Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 145: Boss Cats Bread_2 Chapter 222: Chapter 145: Boss Cat¡¯s Bread_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow?¡± (Do you need me to accompany you?) Ziyun¡¯s eyes blinked, revealing a questioning expression. ¡°No need.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, touching the pocket on his chest, ¡°I¡¯m just returning this to Boss Cat, I can go alone for such occasion.¡± Ziyun showed a thoughtful look, nodding her head. After settling the three little ones, Xu Ran didn¡¯t linger, turning to leave. Watching his retreating figure, Cancan couldn¡¯t resist voicing the question that had been bothering her all the way. ¡°Sure?¡± (Who is Boss Cat?) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s a long story¡­) Star let out a low growl, beginning to slowly relay the story in which he had participated in its entirety. Hearing that the beast master of Boss Cat had died, and what they¡¯d just found and Xu Ran treasured, placed in the pocket on his chest, was perhaps the other¡¯s relic, Cancan¡¯s eyes quickly showed a look of sympathy. Oh no, Boss Cat is so pitiful! Once Star finished narrating the story, Cancan raised a paw to wipe her tears and asked the profound question. ¡°Sure?¡± (Sister Ziyun is a cat, is Boss Cat her boss?) Ziyun: (=<¡ö>=) ¡°Boss Cat!¡± Expertly navigating through streets and alleys and reaching a secluded district that had long been abandoned, Xu Ran walked deep into the alley and shouted. A hearing his sound, the alleyway responded with a ¡°rustle¡± and soon, a multitude of transcendent beings of all shapes stuck their heads out. The atmosphere in the field froze for a moment, before rapidly warming up. Every stray pet beast here had been washed by Xu Ran. Compared to the past, the number of stray pet beasts has noticeably decreased, but not every stray pet beast wants to re-contract with humans. It¡¯s difficult to completely get rid of them. Under proper guidance, they have become friendly towards humans, and the Beast Master Association simply went along with it. ¡°Longtime no see.¡± Xu Ran casually waved his hand towards the stray pet beasts, ¡°Where¡¯s Boss Cat?¡± The stray pet beasts didn¡¯t make a sound, merely looking to the side of Xu Ran. ¡°Meow-¡± From behind Xu Ran came the voice of Boss Cat. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran turned around to see Boss Cat carrying a sack of food, a smile appearing on his face, ¡°You went to find food for them?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat nodded, opening the sack in front of Xu Ran, taking out different types of pet beast food, and distributing them one by one to the stray pet beasts that had gathered. Soon, the stray pet beasts that had received food each left, and Boss Cat, rummaging through the now somewhat deflated sack, pulled out a bag of food to give to Xu Ran. ¡°I have a share too?¡± Xu Ran was speechless, looking surprised as he received it. It wasn¡¯t pet beast food, but a bag of fragrant, freshly baked bread. ¡°I haven¡¯t had breakfast yet.¡± Xu Ran opened the bag, took a bite, and asked with his mouth full, ¡°How did you buy human food?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± There was a hint of amusement in Boss Cat¡¯s eyes as it pulled another bag of the same bread out from the sack, opened it skillfully, and began eating while sitting next to Xu Ran. Seeing Boss Cat¡¯s actions, Xu Ran understood. It had bought the food for itself, and since he was there, it had shared one with him. However, for Boss Cat, who is at the leadership stage, such ordinary food can only satisfy its craving, it¡¯s hardly filling, right? As Xu Ran chewed on the sweet bread in his mouth, his chewing slowed and then stopped. He thought of a possibility. Turning his head, Xu Ran saw Boss Cat looking upwards at the sky with a mouthful of bread, a look of remembrance and longing in its eyes. Indeed. Xu Ran showed a look of understanding, continued chewing on the bread in his mouth, ¡°Did your beast master use to take you out for this sort of bread?¡± Boss Cat glanced at Xu Ran and nodded slightly. ¡°Meow-¡± The look of memory in its eyes deepened. Different transcendent beings have different racial traits. Some races are jealous, some are lazy. While that doesn¡¯t mean all individuals of this breed are this way, it¡¯s definitely a trait shared by the majority. The defining characteristic of the Furious Battle Cat breed is its insatiable appetite. When the Boss Cat was still in the Transcendent Stage, having just made the Beast Master Contract with its Beast Master, it was intrigued by all sorts of food and wanted to try everything it saw. Even though the Beast Master provided it with enough Pet Beast Food every day, the cat still showed interest in the Beast Master¡¯s everyday food. Back then the Beast Master only had one Pet Beast, and to satisfy it, all the food was always made in quantities enough for two, with one portion being prepared specifically for it. Every morning, the Beast Master would buy bread from a bakery close to his home ¨C two loaves of bread each time, one for himself and one for Boss Cat. This habit persisted all the way from when he was a student to when he became a member of the Beast Master Association. So, when he missed his Beast Master, he would go to that bakery and buy two loaves of bread ¨C one for himself to eat and one to save, which he would only eat reluctantly when it was about to go bad. The bakery¡¯s owner was no stranger to Boss Cat. Even after its Beast Master passed away, he would always greet Boss Cat in a friendly manner, personally choosing out the freshest and finest loaves from the batch to give to Boss Cat. The man and the beast sat in silence, finishing their bread. ¡°The bread was delicious.¡± Xu Ran meticulously folded the wrapping paper and threw it into a nearby trash can, before asking, ¡°How have you been lately?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat too, skillfully tosses its wrapper into a trash can. Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, it flexes its robust muscles in response, showing off its great power as a sign of being well. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Xu Ran smiles. In terms of physicality and spirit, Boss Cat seems to be in great condition. ¡°Yesterday, I made a trip to the outskirts of the city.¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s words trailed off, the smile on Boss Cat¡¯s face dwindled a bit. The outskirts of the City¡­ There was a touch of vacillation in its eyes. It has been a long, long time since it had left the city. The Wild Super Creature that killed its Beast Master was already taken revenge upon by it when it reached the Leadership Stage. By the time it returned to that area, the remains of its Beast Master were nowhere to be found. The outskirts of the city, where it once lived day and night, now held no incentive for it to stay as the only thing left were heart-wrenching memories. It gave a glance at Xu Ran. It seemed that Xu Ran faced no danger on his trip to the outskirts this time. That¡¯s enough for it. Just as these thoughts flooded Boss Cat¡¯s mind, Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°Do you remember a crow engulfed in black flame?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± The black flame? A crow? Boss Cat¡¯s eyes instantly sharpened. Its powerful fighting attribute burst out uncontrollably, causing the surrounding area to momentarily stagnate. It never forgot the Night Flame Crow, the one commanding all the other beasts during the Beast Tide that day. It never forgot how it desired to fight the crow to death when it stepped into the Leadership Stage, but was blocked by countless Elite Stage Super Creatures, and that inhuman taunting in the crow¡¯s eyes! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s dead.¡± Xu Ran said softly. ¡°I killed it.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± Dead? Boss Cat¡¯s eyes grew round with surprise as it gazed at Xu Ran in disbelief. Soon after, a certain guess seemed to arise in its mind as excitement and apprehension filled its eyes. ¡°This is all I could find.¡± Xu Ran gently placed the photo pendant onto Boss Cat¡¯s paw, saying, ¡°Keep this safe.¡± Silent in front of the familiar pendant, Boss Cat sniffed at the remaining scent on it, as though trying to find the Beast Master¡¯s scent amongst it. After a long time, it clenched the pendant tightly, its broad and sturdy paw pressing it against its face, letting big droplets of tears slide down from its fur. ¡°Meow-¡± The deep whimper echoed through the alleyway. Xu Ran sighed silently, standing up to leave. Perhaps right now, it¡¯s best to let it be alone for a while. Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 146 Cancans Math Class 1 Chapter 223: Chapter 146 Cancan¡¯s Math Class 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª It seems that Boss Cat has a deeply affectionate relationship with its Beast Master.¡± Stepping out of the alley, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh quietly. Because of running the Foster Shop, he had encountered many kinds of Pet Beasts, and each had different stories with their Beast Masters. However, this was the first time he had seen one like Boss Cat. Seeing the stately Boss Cat crying like a child, Xu Ran also felt uncomfortable. That was another reason why he chose to leave quietly. It is said that time can heal everything, but Xu Ran believed that no matter how long time passed, the impression of Boss Cat¡¯s Beast Master would not be erased from its heart. Perhaps, this is the bond between Beast Masters and their Pet Beasts? A smile crept onto Xu Ran¡¯s face. As he walked back to the Foster Shop, he was pondering about the three little ones waiting for him at the Foster Shop. I wonder what they are doing now? ¡°Meow-¡± (Two times four is eight!) In the Foster Shop, Ziyun had somehow found the Multiplication Table that it and Star had started learning from, and hit the table with its paw. ¡°Charming!¡± (I remember! Two times four is eight!) Cancan nodded seriously, repeating Ziyun¡¯s formula in a child-like voice. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Perfect!) Star raised a hoof and patted Cancan¡¯s shell, a look of admiration in its eyes. Keep studying math, little Cancan! Learn to do sums, and you can pay back next time when resources are allocated! Seeing Cancan¡¯s proud face as if to say ¡°this is too easy¡±, a hint of craftiness flickered in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s 1000 minus 7?) ¡°Charming- Charming?!¡± (Isn¡¯t that sim- simple?!) Cancan¡¯s proud expression disappeared quickly. He stretched out a claw to wipe off the non-existent cold Sweat on his forehead. Math is terrifying! ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Keep it up!) Star gave Cancan an encouraging look. Memorizing the multiplication table is just a beginning! ¡°Meow!¡± (Keepgoing!) This is the scene Xu Ran saw when he returned to the Foster Shop. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, his look of emotion disappeared and he asked, ¡°Doing math?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Exactly.) Ziyun nodded earnestly. All of this started after Xu Ran had left. Originally, the three little ones were calmly waiting for Xu Ran in the shop. Suddenly, Cancan looked at the price menu on the wall and sighed. Charming- ¡± (Such a long string of numbers, how much is that?) Realizing that Cancan, who would be part of the next resource allocation, hadn¡¯t learned math, the basic skill required within their team, Ziyun and Star instantly turned into math teachers and initiated teaching mode. Therefore, the situation at present. After Ziyun and Star explained everything, Xu Ran didn¡¯t know what to make of it all. However, indeed, Cancan should learn some math. Otherwise, he would be at a disadvantage during the next allocation of resources. ¡°In that case, you two keep teaching.¡± Xu Ran paused and added, ¡°Oh right, don¡¯t forget today¡¯s training¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, all three had already dashed towards the back door. A new day and a fresh eight hours of training time, every second must be utilized! Seeing their bustling enthusiasm, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Well then, he must strive as well. The next goal after breaking through to the Third Stage with the contract power is to breach the Fourth Stage. But, this step isn¡¯t so easy. It took Xu Ran about ten days to break through from First Stage to Second Stage, and from Second Stage to Third Stage took forty days. However, progressing from the Third Stage to the Fourth Stage will be even more difficult. Beast Masters hit bottlenecks when attempting to break through to the Fourth Sixth, and Eighth stages. If you say that anyone possessing the qualifications of a Beast Master can eventually achieve the Third stage through patient meditation, then to break beyond the Fourth stage requires not only patience, but also talent. Some Beast Masters could never reach the Fourth Stage throughout their lives. Even if they could break through the Fourth Stage, the Sixth and Eight stages still pose intimidating thresholds. This is similar to how Pet Beasts need to evolve to increase their growth limit. With that in mind, it is not possible for Xu Ran, who has just broken through to the Third Stage, to break through to the Fourth Stage in a short time, even with the help of the Meditation Accelerator Card. The Meditation Accelerator Card is not impactful enough!¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but murmuring, ¡°In the future, when drawing Red Items would there be something like an Enhanced Meditation Accelerator? Maybe a ¡¯ thousand-fold meditation acceleration!¡± After grumbling, Xu Ran stretched and opened the door to the Shop. Soon, the operation of the Starfire Foster Shop for the new day officially began. Since he can¡¯t break through to the Fourth Stage quickly, he¡¯ll strive to earn some resources for the three children at home for now. ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Within the Beast Master Association, Gu Wu slapped a letter on the conference table with a slightly grim expression. Paper correspondences are rare in this era. Due to the Wild Super Creatures, Signal Base Stations are difficult to establish outside human cities. But within the cities, technology still maintains a comprehensive legacy. Signal Base Stations can be used, and communication through messages is entirely possible. But paper correspondences are important in this era. They often imply that the news comes from other cities, almost entirely cut off from information. The letter on the conference table at the moment is from another city, namely the Second Level Town, Xieyun City, which had been in contact with them not long ago. Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 146 Cancans Math Class_2 Chapter 224: Chapter 146 Cancan¡¯s Math Class_2 Translator: 549690339 However, the content of it, infuriated Gu Wu. ¡°These idiots are absolutely stupid.¡± He, who was usually good tempered, was rare to be irritated, pointed at the letter cursing, ¡°Change the exchange into a contest among the young generation?¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°The resources of the Second Level towns are simply not comparable to the Third Level towns. The young Beast Masters there can access higher-level resources and they are much stronger than the Beast Masters of the Third Level towns. Is this a contest? This is clearly bullying!¡± ¡°It was supposed to be a chance for everyone to discuss how to form an alliance against the Wild Super Creatures, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to talk about this alliance once the game ends!¡± Gu Wu snorted, ¡°I don¡¯t believe this decision was made by Chairman Fang.¡± In front of Gu Wu sat an old man with white hair. He was tall and muscular, like an iron tower, and even seated, he exuded significant pressure. Having patiently listened to Gu Wu¡¯s complaints, the old man spoke in a gentle voice that did not match his frame. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m not surprised that Chairman Fang of Xieyun City made such a decision.¡± ¡± President He, don¡¯ t beat around the bush.¡± Gu Wu shook his head helplessly. ¡°You, even though you are powerful, are still inexperienced.¡± President He spoke with a chuckle, not at all irritated by the contents of the letter. This was He Nian, the city lord of Qingzhou City, president of the Qingzhou City¡¯s Beast Master Association, and the only General Level Beast Master in Qingzhou City before Gu Wu arrived. ¡°In an alliance, there must be a leader, and power cannot be disbursed.¡± He Nian spread out his hands, ¡°Do you think Chairman Fang will surrender his decision-making power to others?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Gu Wu shook his head, ¡°But as the only General Level Beast Master in the Second Level town attending this exchange event, isn¡¯t it natural for him to have the final say?¡± ¡°True enough, but¡­¡± He Nian paused for a moment, ¡°While ruling with power is easy, if he wants other cities to follow him, he needs to demonstrate his strength in other areas too.¡± ¡°Young Beast Masters represent future power.¡± He Nian laughed, ¡°From their present strengths, the differences between Second Level towns and Third Level towns becomes evident.¡± ¡°If I were Fang, I would do the same.¡± ¡°Good that you can see it that way.¡± Gu Wu rolled his eyes, ¡°But our young Beast Masters who are sent there will surely be under a lot of pressure.¡± Having spent some time in Xieyun City, he knew all too well how formidable the young Beast Masters there were. And among the Beast Masters being sent this time, one was his daughter. Could he not be angry? ¡°Take it easy.¡± He Nian laughed, ¡°I believe that at this moment, the cities that received the message, besides wanting to test Xieyun City¡¯s strength in the competition, are also looking to gauge the strength of the other Third Level towns.¡± ¡°Among the Third Level towns, there are some stronger and some weaker. We Qingzhou City only have General Level Beast Masters, not King Level Beast Masters, and are considered weaker among the Third Level towns.¡± ¡°If we can beat stronger Third Level towns in a competition, won¡¯t we gain more say in the future alliances? Isn¡¯t that profit?¡± ¡± I heard from you a while back that a young man named Xu Ran has successfully evolved his pet beast?¡± He Nian chuckled, ¡°I refuse to believe that the other cities can boast the same.¡± ¡°You see, isn¡¯t that our advantage?¡± ¡°Sigh, you don¡¯t know.¡± Gu Wu sighed lightly, looking at the optimistic He Nian, ¡°Outside of Xieyun City, there¡¯s a peculiar resource spot.¡± ¡°There is a special resource there called Heavenly Spirit Stone which can hasten the meditation of Beast Masters by a certain extent.¡± ¡°The age limit for Beast Masters in this exchange is 25. If one awakens at 15 years old and factors in the accelerating effects of the Heavenly Spirit Stone, there¡¯s a large chance of achieving Third Stage contract power.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice grew more serious. ¡°So, Xieyun City¡¯s choice must be Leadership Level Beast Masters.¡± ¡°The other cities don¡¯t have these conditions, how can they compete?¡± ¡°Xu Ran indeed evolved a pet beast successfully, but the disparity in early growth stages isn¡¯t something that evolution can fix.¡± ¡°And in Xieyun City, there¡¯s no lack of Beast Masters who successfully evolved¡­¡± ¡°Look, you¡¯re comparing with those people from Xieyun City again.¡± He Nian didn¡¯t seem discouraged by Gu Wu¡¯s words, instead, he laughed as he waved off Gu Wu¡¯s comments, ¡°Think bigger, don¡¯t see the Beast Masters from Xieyun City as your competition.¡± ¡°We should focus on defeating the Beast Masters from the other cities.¡± ¡°Instead of draining ourselves, we should drain others.¡± ¡°Okay then.¡± Gu Wu nodded reluctantly, seemingly accepting He Nian¡¯s proposal. He knocked on the letter on the table, ¡°The event¡¯s date has been brought forward by a few days. Allowing for travel time, we may have to set off in a week.¡± ¡°Outside the city, there¡¯sno problem, right?¡± GuWu¡¯swords slightly paused, ¡°I hear rumors that there have been some disturbances outside the town recently, seemingly abnormal activity.¡± ¡°Just a minor issue.¡± A gleam flickered in He Nian¡¯s eyes, ¡°A Beast King has lost its child near Qingzhou City.¡± Gu Wu: ¡°¡­ You call this a minor issue?!¡± ¡°No worries.¡± He Nian chuckled, ¡°There are only six Beast Kings in the 97th Beast Field, and President Zhao of Changshi City is keeping an eye on them, they dare not move.¡± ¡°At most, it would arrange some subordinates to look for its child. Qingzhou City might be even be more peaceful because of this.¡± ¡°What a pity-¡± He Nian stretched his body lazily, ¡°I wonder what the Beast King¡¯s child looks like. If we could trick it into forming a contract with one of us¡­¡± Gu Wu silently stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going to inform the young Beast Masters on the departure list.¡± This old man, who speaks without any filter, frightens him. Contracting a Beast King¡¯s baby. If the Beast King got angry, the whole Qingzhou City would be flattened. ¡°Too young, too timid.¡± WhenGu Wu left the conference room, He Nian, who was alone in the conference room, chuckled, raising his hand to touch the hideous scar on his face. As if thinking of something amusing, He Nian¡¯s laughter grew deeper. ¡°That kid is interesting, he managed to hatch the egg so quickly.¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving in seven days?¡± Looking at Gu Wu standing in front of him, a look of surprise crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, ¡°It takes a day to get there, and after we arrive, the event will probably last three to four days.¡± ¡°Your shop has many clients, and there are also fostered pet beasts, it¡¯s best to prepare in advance.¡± ¡°Thankyou for the reminder, Senior Gu.¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly. If it were before, he would have been worried about leaving for such a long time, wondering what to do with the fostered pet beasts in his store. Now, with Tony here, he doesn¡¯t have to worry about this issue anymore. The shop can suspend business for these days, and let Tony feed the fostered pet beasts. ¡°Also¡­¡± Gu Wu glanced at Xu Ran, hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell the truth, ¡°In fact, there have been some changes in the format of this exchange event¡­¡± He briefly mentioned the change of the exchange to a competition, ¡°In short, you may need to face a Leadership Level Beast Master, and his pet beast might have also completed its evolution.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go, there¡¯s still time.¡± He had a good impression of this junior, worried that if Xu Ran were to be discouraged by the Beast Masters of Xieyun City, it could affect his future development. ¡°So there¡¯s such a twist¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, his face becoming serious. After exchanging the last set of resources in Xieyun City, Star will be able to evolve and break through the Leadership Stage. Cancan¡­ Never mind. Better not to bring that up. With this, he might fare slightly worse compared to the Beast Masters of Xieyun City. As expected of a big city, to have such powerful opponents, so¡­ ¡°If I beat the Beast Masters of Xieyun City in a contest, is there any reward?¡± ¡°Yes! Win once and choose a Marshal Level resource of your choice.¡± Gu Wu casually answered, then paused, looking at Xu Ran, ¡°You¡­what are you¡­¡± ¡°Actually¡­¡± Xu Ran revealed a shy smile, ¡°A couple of days ago¡­¡± ¡°My contract power, happened to break through to the third stage.¡± GuWu: ¡°¡­What?¡± Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 147: Lucky Liu not coming? Ill take the initiative !_1 Chapter 225: Chapter 147: Lucky Liu not coming? I¡¯ll take the initiative !_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ you¡­¡± A look of surprise crossed Gu Wu¡¯s face, ¡°Are you joking with me?¡± Third Stage contract power. What does that mean? Even a Beast Master with good talent and extreme diligence would typically need to reach middle age for a successful breakthrough, assuming there were no other unusual circumstances. So how long did Xu Ran take? Gu Wu rubbed his temple, his expression filled with doubt about the world. If he remembered correctly, Xu Ran¡¯s victory over his daughter and the winning of the New Beast Master Challenge Match was only two months ago, right? At that time, he only had First Stage contract power. Even if he was already close to a breakthrough and successfully reached the second stage right after the competition, that would just mean he had only recently reached the second stage. The transition from just having breached the second stage to now breaking through to the third stage¡­ Since when could the speed of growing strength be so unprecedented?! ¡°I accidentally found a unique resource outside the city that significantly increased my contract power.¡± When Xu Ran acquired the Meditation Acceleration Card, he had already thought about how to explain his freakishly fast meditation speed if someone noticed it. ¡°I fully absorbed that resource and as a result, quickly broke through to the third stage.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°You could say it¡¯s a matter of luck, right?¡± Merely a matter of luck? Gu Wu looked strangely at Xu Ran. I don¡¯t like prying into other people¡¯s secrets, but don¡¯t take me for a fool! As for the resource Xu Ran mentioned, Gu Wu believed it. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t explain his absurd speed of practice, and in Xieyun City, there are special resources like the Heavenly Spirit Stone which accelerated meditation. So, it¡¯s not entirely impossible for other places to have resources that directly enhance contract power. But¡­ As for him ¡°coincidentally¡± finding it outside the city, Gu Wu didn¡¯t believe a single word. Thinking of the mysterious Starfire Foster Shop, Gu Wu had made some guesses. ¡°Alright.¡± He didn¡¯t continue on this topic, but instead asked with concern, ¡°After breaking through to the third stage of contract power, have you found a suitable third pet beast?¡± ¡°If not, I can help you find a high-potential Leadership Stage Pet Beast.¡± ¡°No need to trouble you, Senior Gu. I¡¯ve already contracted my third pet beast.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It was hatched from the beast egg I won in the last Challenge Match. The hatchling is the perfect candidate to be my third pet beast.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Gu Wu¡¯s expression turned complicated. He also knew about the situation in the Beast Egg Library. The beast egg that Xu Ran selected wouldn¡¯t be low in potential, making it a good choice for a contract. But¡­ The timing is a little tight¡­ There¡¯s not much time left till their spar. In this time, at most, Xu Ran could, with the help of resources, elevate the newly born pet beast to the Elite Stage. There is a slim chance of reaching the Leadership Stage. Even if it did, if the skill proficiency wasn¡¯t high enough, its strength wouldn¡¯t be great either. So, essentially, Xu Ran has only two pet beasts that can compete. And one of them seems to be a support type¡­ The excitement that arose from learning that Xu Ran had broken through to the third stage of contract power began to cool down as Gu Wu analyzed. The hope of surpassing Xieyun City¡¯s Beast Masters was still bleak. Could it really be as President He Nian said, to keep a cool mind and not to take the Beast Masters of Xieyun City as adversaries? Gu Wu let out a slight sigh. ¡°The beast eggs in the library have high potential, cultivate them well.¡± Gu Wu patted Xu Ran on the shoulder and left, ¡°Meet at the entrance of the Beast Master Association in seven days.¡± ¡°In seven days¡­¡± Watching Gu Wu¡¯s retreating figure, a hint of anticipation flickered in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, ¡°Finally, I¡¯ll get to see what the other cities are like.¡± ¡°One hundred and ninety thousand pleasure points¡­¡± Sitting in the shop, propping up his cheeks and staring at the personal panel before his eyes, Xu Ran muttered under his breath, ¡°Uncle Liu, if you don¡¯t come soon, I¡¯m going to leave.¡± Twenty draws! A full twenty draws worth of pleasure points! The foster shop business was booming. With the help of Teacher Tony, Xu Ran¡¯s efficiency in collecting pleasure points was increasing. A week passed, and adding the tens of thousands left over from last week¡¯s ten consecutive draws, he had enough pleasure points for two ten consecutive draws. He had been waiting for Liu Gu to arrive ever since he had accumulated ninety- five thousand pleasure points, enough for a ten consecutive draw. After all, he was about to head to Xieyun City. He wanted to try a draw before leaving in hopes of boosting his strength significantly at the last moment. But despite waiting and waiting, until he even had enough points for two ten consecutive draws, Liu Gu never came. Thinking of the impending departure to Xieyun City tomorrow, the frustration in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes deepened. Do I draw by myself without riding on Lucky Fish¡¯s mojo? Before the system upgrade, he was willing to try his luck. After the system upgrade, however, a single draw requires ten thousand pleasure points. If he gets unlucky, Xu Ran would be in pain for a long time. ¡°Strange, the Tiger Hunting Squad¡¯s regular cleanup mission outside the city is typically no longer than a week according to the past routine.¡± Xu Ran mumbled to himself, frowning slightly. He took a look at the underground area, his frown deepening. The Armored Rhinoceros hadn¡¯t been summoned to leave for several days. But its behavior was quite abnormal. For the past few days, it hadn¡¯t been happily rolling around in its favorite mud pond. Instead, it had been restlessly pacing around in its section. Did the Tiger Hunting Squad encounter some danger or trouble, preventing them from returning? And even if the Armored Rhinoceros goes, it can¡¯t help much, so Du Heng chose not to summon them? Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 147: Lucky Liu not coming? Ill take the initiative!_2 Chapter 226: Chapter 147: Lucky Liu not coming? I¡¯ll take the initiative!_2 Translator: 549690339 I Xu Ran¡¯s face tightens slightly. If that¡¯s the case, the situation could be rather grave. If Lucky Liu doesn¡¯t return, whom will he borrow his luck from for his future ten consecutive drawings? This is absolutely unacceptable! ¡°Ziyun, Star, Cancan!¡± Xu Ran calls out and the three little ones resting not far from him immediately open their eyes. ¡°We¡¯re off, heading outside the city!¡± ¡°Listen, I say¡­¡± ¡°No one should, at least one should not¡­¡± ¡°Have such bad luck, right?¡± In a cave somewhere outside the city on a hillside, Liu Gu wipes his dirty face, his expression filled with bitter resentment. He slowly sticks his head out of the cave and after seeing a large number of Wild Super Creatures pacing back and forth, his head retracts like if it was electrocuted. ¡°Stop peeking.¡± Zhang Yun, who sat further inside the cave, takes a sip of water from his waterskin and says, ¡°Although our position is hidden, there might be a Transcendent Being with extremely keen eyesight noticing us.¡± ¡°Liu Xue¡¯s Psychic Rat is responsible for reconnaissance, and that is enough. ¡°I know.¡± Liu Gu scratches his head, ¡°But if I can¡¯t see it for myself, I always feel ill at ease.¡± ¡°Calm down a little.¡± Zhang Yun shakes his head helplessly, then looks towards Du Heng, ¡°Du Heng, how much food do we have left?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all here.¡± Du Heng pats a large bag next to him, ¡°We still have a lot of our own food, but there¡¯s not much left for the Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Still unprepared.¡± Zhang Yun sighs deeply. ¡°Increasing the load will slow us down, it¡¯s fine to carry a week¡¯s worth of ? food.¡± Yan Fan slowly said, ¡°No one could have predicted such an accident.¡± Just as Xu Ran guessed, the Tiger Hunting Squad that set out together had indeed encountered an accident. Three days ago, they found a rather valuable resource in the depths of this cave. They happily gathered it together. However, when they were ready to leave the cave and head for the next location, the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad were dumbfounded to find that in the time they spent gathering resources, a large number of Super Creatures had appeared outside the cave. This group was large enough to form a small Beast Tide. The good news was, the Super Creatures were not targeting them and weren¡¯t even aware of their presence. They just needed to wait for the creatures to leave, then they could leave the cave. The bad news was, they never left. Three days! Do you know how they¡¯ve survived these three days?! In the areas outside the city where they completely lost signal, they were trapped by a group of Super Creatures in a small cave, forced to wait for them to disperse. ¡°Do you think¡­¡± Liu Gu couldn¡¯t help but glance again at the cave opening, but he didn¡¯t dare to stick his head out again, ¡°Where did those Super Creatures come from anyway?¡± ¡°I noticed a few species we¡¯ve never seen before.¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± Liu Xue retorts, ¡°The areas beyond Qingzhou City are not entirely explored yet. These areas are the gathering places of the Wild Super Creatures, anything can happen.¡± ¡°I just want to know when they¡¯ll leave!¡± She expresses her annoyance, ¡°Going beyond the time limit without returning will surely make our families anxious.¡± A moment of silence fills the cave. At the reminder of Liu Xue, they all thought of this, each of their faces showing some helplessness. If they do not leave, the Tiger Hunting Squad members really do not dare to go out. At this moment they were fortunate, those beasts were not paying attention, nor had they noticed these few humans. Once they go out, they would most certainly be detected. And once detected¡­ In the face of so many Super Creatures attacking, their fate was predictable. Suddenly, Liu Xue¡¯s expression turned from disappointment to seriousness. ¡°Quiet, conceal your presence!¡± Liu Xue whispers. Another crisis? The expressions of the other four members of the Tiger Hunting Squad subtly changed as they quickly concealed their aura with their pet beasts, making every effort to not make the slightest sound. Such situations had occurred several times over the past three days. There were always Transcendent Beings active outside the cave that, due to various coincidences, approached the cave. Whenever this happened, it would be the most nerve-racking moment for the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad. The previous times, they were somewhat lucky. Each time, those Transcendent Beings did not reach the cave, but rather paused midway and retreated, preventing their exposure. But this time¡­ As every second passed, the increasingly somber expression on Liu Xue¡¯s face caused the other four members of the Tiger Hunting Squad to tighten their lips, remaining utterly silent while their hearts gradually sank. It seemed that the approaching Transcendent Being this time did not retreat midway. ¡°Sigh-¡± After a while, Liu Xue¡¯s muted voice echoed through the cave, ¡°It has discovered the cave and is coming.¡± At this point, being exposed was inevitable; there was no further need to remain quiet. ¡°Attack!¡± Liu Gu gritted his teeth, ¡°Dog, kill with all your might! ¡°Woof!¡± The Wind Lion Dog¡¯s green eyes quickly became piercing. Its muscles tensed as it fixed its gaze on the entrance of the cave, its long fur standing on end, making its already large body appear even larger. In the next instant, a Transcendent Being curiously poked its head out from the cave entrance. Before it had a chance to take in the situation in the cave, the Wind Lion Dog, having gathered its momentum, tore it to shreds with a brutal claw attack, killing it on the spot. This commotion naturally caught the attention of the other Transcendent Beings. Just in a blink of an eye, several pairs of eyes turned toward their direction. The members of the Tiger Hunting Squad, targeted by countless hostile intents, broke into a cold sweat instantly. ¡°Break out!¡± Zhang Yun growled, ¡°Don¡¯t be living targets in the cave!¡± The other four responded in unison, leading their respective pet beasts out of the cave, boldly presenting themselves before the group of Transcendent Beings. ¡°Old Du, don¡¯t summon your Armored Rhinoceros.¡± As he gazed at the rushing, intimidating horde of beasts, Zhang Yun drew a deep breath, a resolute look filled his eyes. He patted Du Heng¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Stand behind us.¡± ¡°In the past, you were always the one responsible for the squad¡¯s defense.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s our turn to protect you!¡± ¡°Captain!¡± said Du Heng, his eyes welling up, ¡°Meeting you all is the greatest fortune of my life.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Liu Gu laughed heartily, directing the Wind Lion Dog to rip an approaching Elite Stage Transcendent Being into pieces with a single claw, ¡°Being able to meet you guys is also my great fortune!¡± Yan Fan, commanding the Three-armed Demon Ape that had activated Blood Fury, unleashed an unparalleled force that smashed the skull of a Transcendent Being amid a shrill sonic boom. His eyes then reddened as he bellowed, ¡°Same for me too!¡± ¡°And me!¡± Liu Xue shouted, the Psychic Rat and Sky Falcon each unleashed their full strength; despite being better at scouting, their combined efforts still managed to take down a Transcendent Being. However, in the face of thousands of Transcendent Beings, the attack of the Tiger Hunting Squad seemed insignificant. Faced with an enclosing horde of beasts rushing to attack, a look of despair ultimately surfaced in the eyes of the quickly exhausting group. ¡°Meow ¡± An elongated, dignified voice suddenly rang out from a distance at that moment. From within the figure that was almost like a black streak of light, an invisible suppression swept across the surroundings. Three-star skill, Waning Moon Level-King¡¯s Power! The awe-inspiring presence of the Leader Stage suddenly exploded. Just like a bright moon compared to fireflies in this Elite Stage area, the inherent suppression of the King Species against all the Leader Species is a suppression on the life level. The originally aggressive horde of beasts suddenly lost their composure, each revealing a doubtful expression, wanting to turn their heads to look in the direction where the King¡¯s Power was spreading from. However, they couldn¡¯t even manage these simple movements anymore. An enormous sea of thunder descended out of thin air! The terrifying lightning, as if having intellect, found each of the Transcendent Beings that had attacked the Tiger Hunting Squad. Three-star skill, Full Moon Level-Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound! The second chapter is estimated to be after midnight. Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 148: Cancans Evolution Path!_l Chapter 227: Chapter 148: Cancan¡¯s Evolution Path!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Am¡­ Am I dreaming?¡± Looking at all the Transcendent Beings that had turned into ash and the occasional bursts of electricity on the scorched earth, the untouched Liu Gu blinked, revealing a dazed expression. He hastily extended his hand and pinched himself hard, with a look of realization on his face, ¡°No pain, I must be dreaming.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pinching my leg!¡± Yan Fan gritted his teeth and then couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°We¡¯ve been saved.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve been saved.¡± Zhang Yun, who had experienced great joy and great sorrow in just a few seconds, shook his head violently and looked at Xu Ran who had emerged from the black mist. ¡°Good thing I made it in time.¡± Xu Ran exhaled, taking a look around, ¡°How did you guys get surrounded by so many Transcendent Beings?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a long story.¡± Zhang Yun shook his head helplessly, then his eyes filled with gratitude, ¡°Boss Xu, it¡¯s you who saved all of our lives.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Your experience of surviving outside the city, Team Leader Zhang, has been a great help to me, and everyone has been very kind to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right that I should check on you when you¡¯re in danger.¡± ¡°But, Boss Xu, how did you know we were here?¡± Liu Xue wiped her tears, asking with a hint of confusion. ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros hasn¡¯t been summoned in recent days, and you guys haven¡¯t returned.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°I was wondering, could it be that you guys have encountered some insurmountable problems, and that¡¯s why Uncle Du didn¡¯t summon the Armored Rhinoceros.¡± ¡°As for why I knew you were here¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°The map that Team Leader Zhang gave me earlier showed the areas your team usually frequents. I just took a chance looking around, and luckily I caught up.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Liu Xue nodded in understanding, then suddenly widened her eyes, ¡°Boss Xu, have you already become a Leadership Level Beast Master?!¡± ¡°Pure luck, pure luck.¡± Xu Ran laughed it off, changing the subject, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back to the city before anything else happens.¡± Despite being shocked by the speed of Xu Ran¡¯s breakthrough, the team members understood that this was not the time to waste. They quickly gathered their belongings, and without even bothering to take the resources from the numerous Transcendent Beings scattered all over the ground, they followed Xu Ran and left. ¡°You guys should hurry back and let your families know you¡¯re safe.¡± At the city gate, Xu Ran, riding on Star¡¯s back, waved at them. ¡°Boss Xu, for saving our lives, I will come to you to express my gratitude tomorrow.¡± Zhang Yun spoke earnestly. ¡°Er¡­ It¡¯s really not necessary.¡± Xu Ran scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m going with the Association¡¯s experts to Xieyun City tomorrow, I have no idea when I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m off now.¡± As Xu Ran turned to leave, he patted Liu Gu on the shoulder, ¡°Uncle Liu, we¡¯ll talk about the Washing and Protection of the Wind Lion Dog when I get back!¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Watching the quickly disappearing figure of Xu Ran and his three Pet Beasts, Liu Gu couldn¡¯t help but touch his chin. He had the feeling that¡­ Boss Xu had saved everyone just so he could pat him on the shoulder? Hmm¡­ He must be mistaken. On the other side, Xu Ran returned to the Foster Shop where the three little ones were waiting with anticipation. He smiled slightly, ¡°Cancan, how¡¯s your arithmetic coming along?¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯ve mastered five-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division!) Cancan¡¯s eyes shined as it quickly reported its learning progress. Did Xu Ran ask this because¡­ After Xu Ran¡¯s next words confirmed its guess. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s begin another round of resource allocation when we get back to the shop!¡± Xu Ran said with a mysterious smile, ¡°This time, there¡¯re quite a few things that are perfect for Cancan!¡± Two rounds of Ten Consecutive Drawing, yields were abundant. It was worth the trip outside the city. ¡°XiLu!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Star suddenly sped up its pace. To get to the shop as soon as possible and start the distribution, it even used its Moon Concealment Star Racing. A few minutes later, a man and his three pets appeared in the shop on the first floor. Inside the closed shop door, Xu Ran, under the watchful and eager eyes of the three little ones, took out the familiar ¡°magical instruments¡± ¨C a small blackboard and a piece of chalk, and began writing vigorously. ¡°Physical Points: 9520 points (remaining) + 8648 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 5440 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Teachable Skills: ¡ï¡ï Dragon Power (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 2 pieces (Star) + 79 pieces (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 1 stone (Star) + 17 stones (undistributed)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potions: 1 bottle (undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 4686 points (Ziyun) + 4433 points (Star) + 597 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°King Species Evolution Path xl¡± ¡°Three Star Skill Scroll xl¡± As Xu Ran finished writing down the resources for this distribution, a spark ignited in the eyes of the three Pet Beasts. ¡°Xi Lu!!¡± (There¡¯re so many Skill Fusion Stones!) Star¡¯s eyes were glowing brilliantly. Of its five Talent Skills, only the one-star skill, Tenacity, had not been upgraded to three stars. Currently, it was the two-star skill, Long Night. To upgrade it to three stars, the first method is to use Skill Fusion Stones for Skill Fusion, and the second method is to use a Three Star Skill Scroll, like they did in the previous resource distribution. And Star had determined the fusion formula for Long Night the last time. (¡ï¡ïLong Night] + [¡ï¡ïNightfall] + (¡ï¡ïNight Embrace] The Nightfall Skill came from Xu Ran¡¯s initial teachings. Night Embrace was the result of the fusion of the one-star skill Self-healing Power and the one-star skill Night Capture. Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 148: Cancans Evolution Path!_2 Chapter 228: Chapter 148: Cancan¡¯s Evolution Path!_2 Translator: 549690339 Unlike previous skill fusions, both of these skills were taught to Star early on and they both have Waning Moon Level proficiency. After fusing them, future Star not only will be able to maintain these traits, but also wouldn¡¯t need to spread its energy thin anymore, making it possible to enhance its Talent Skills more efficiently. So, it still chose to use the Skill Fusion Stone for fusion. Nearly twice as many Skill Fusion Stones as before will strongly guarantee its successful fusion! ¡°Charming!¡± (EvolutionPath!) Cancan¡¯s eyes are brighter than Star¡¯s. For Cancan, this is the first time to be involved in the resource allocation. Who would have thought that the first time of participating in resource allocation would bring such a surprise! Among the three Pet Beasts, Cancan is the only one who hasn¡¯t obtained the Evolution Path. Without a doubt, this resource belongs to it. With 500 Value Points, it¡¯s going to claim it immediately! Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. After the evolution, can it be as strong as its elder sister? ¡°Meow-¡± (Skill Points!) Ziyun was fixed on the remaining over five thousand Skill Points that could be allocated. Three of its skills have already reached Full Moon Level, and ¡°Step on Electric Traces¡± is not far from increasing proficiency level. With just under two thousand more Skill Points, it can upgrade it to Full Moon Level with the King¡¯s Power. Then all Three Star Skills will be upgraded to Full Moon Level! It¡¯s still far from Full Moon Level for all Skills, but it¡¯s almost there for all Three Star Skills! However¡­ Ziyun glanced at Cancan and sighed. Star¡¯s Skill Proficiency has all reached Waning Moon Level, there¡¯s no need for it to exchange Skill Points as a priority. But after Cancan redeemed the Evolution Path, it will have to prioritize the Skill Points again. Life is tough, kitty sighs. When would there be an Evolution Route above the King Species so that it would have the feeling of priority again! ¡°I guess I don¡¯t need to elaborate on these resources.¡± Xu Ran laughed as he looked at the Three little ones with sparkling eyes. ¡°After the last distribution, Ziyun has 0 Value Points and Star has 9520 Value Points.¡± ¡°After evenly distributing the resources this time, you each get 6375 points.¡± Xu Ran shrugged, ¡°Let¡¯s start exchanging.¡± He crossed his arms, leaning against Little Black¡¯s board, ready to enjoy the show. It¡¯s always fun to watch pets haggling over how to allocate resources. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯ll do the Skill Fusion first!) Star looked at Ziyun and Cancan and took the initiative. It only has one Three Star Skill left to meet all evolution conditions. By tomorrow when it goes to Xieyun City and exchanges the Single Horn of a mature Night Demon Dragon, it would be able to evolve at any time. So, the priority is the highest. Moreover, letting it complete the Skill Fusion first, the remaining Skill Fusion Stones can be given to Cancan who is about to obtain an Evolution Path. Presumably, Cancan¡¯s evolution demands Three Star Skills as well. Ziyun and Cancan had no objections. After Star smoothly fuses its skills showing the advantages of this approach, Ziyun will also follow suit, fusing Blood Fury and Superfast Self-healing into Talent Skills. So, Star¡¯s fusion at this moment serves as an example. Moreover, the intelligent Cancan, realizing that after Star completes this skill fusion, the remaining Skill Fusion Stones will be prioritized to it, has no objections. ¡°Then let¡¯s start with the fusion.¡± Xu Ran nodded. [**LongNight]+[**Nightfall]+[**Night Embrace] [Fusion success rate: 1.1%] [Proceed with the fusion?] [Yes][No] Let¡¯s start! The first fusion of three Two Star Skills with a success rate of over one percent gives Xu Ran unparalleled confidence. He puts in the Skill Fusion Stones without blinking an eye, and after a while, familiar words appear before him. [Fusion Success] [?¡ïLong Night (Waning Moon Level)](5i9/2OOO) 4¡¯^4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ïHeart of Eternal Night (Waning Moon Level)](519/2OOO) ¡°It took seven Skill Fusion Stones, including one originally from Star, and now there are eleven left.¡± Xu Ran reported the fusion results and then looked at Star, ¡°What¡¯s the effect of the new skill?¡± From its name, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but associate it with one of Cancan¡¯s powerful two-star skills. Heart of the Earth. He wondered whether the two were related. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (This skill is so powerful!) After carefully feeling the new skill, excitement showed in Star¡¯s eyes as it started sharing its joy with its buddies. The effects of the three skills fused into Heart of Eternal Night are all different, so the effect of the Heart of Eternal Night is bound to be complex. First of all, it¡¯s the effect brought by the fusion with Nightfall. Star can still use Dark Attribute Skills without restriction due to environmental factors. Besides that, there was an entirely new effect. That was, his dark attribute skills could receive an additional amplification. This effect was identical to Cancan¡¯s Heart of the Earth. In addition to that, the Heart of Eternal Night could also continuously restore his power and injuries. The biggest bug of this effect was that Night Embrace and Long Night originally had to absorb power from the dark environment. However, Nightfall¡¯s effect solved the limitation of the dark environment. So now, it had become recovery anywhere, anytime. ¡°I somewhat understand now why the fusion rate of these three skills is so high.¡± Xu Ran showed a thoughtful expression, ¡°Their combination, it can even exploit bugs.¡± ¡°No matter what, we have successfully achieved Three Stars.¡± He smiled and patted Star¡¯s head, ¡°I initially thought that these three skills might not fuse, after all, there¡¯s a duplicate skill among them. Turns out I was overthinking.¡± ¡°Then the next thing¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes turned to Cancan. ¡°Charming!¡± (Select the King Species Evolution Route!) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up, but remembered something immediately after. ¡°Charming!¡± (First, let¡¯spay off the debt!) It was already carrying a heavy shell and didn¡¯t want to shoulder any more burdensome debts! ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°A total of 800 value points, Ziyun and Star each add 150 points.¡± After saying this, Xu Ran locked the King Species Evolution Route on Cancan. Various evolution paths appeared before his eyes. [Evolution Path: Golden Scale Turtle (Earth)^Stone Shell Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï**¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï**] [Evolution Path: Golden Scale Turtle (Earth)->Rock Scale Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: Evolution Potential: ¡ï**¡î*] [Evolution Path:¡­] There¡¯s even an evolution path with zero-star evolution difficulty? Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched, suppressing his curiosity, he looked at Cancan, ¡°The evolution path has difficulty and potential separately. Paths with high evolutionary potential can go further in the future, but the difficulty of evolution will be higher.¡± ¡°What kind of evolution route do you plan to choose?¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (Can I choose?) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but lookback at Ziyun and Star. ¡°Meow-¡± (Choose the one with the highest potential.) Ziyun gave Cancan a ¡°trust me¡± look. ¡°Sure!¡± (Potential is high so we can go further.) Star¡¯s advice was in line with Ziyun¡¯s. Seeing this, Cancan no longer hesitated. ¡°Charming!¡± (Choose the one with Five Stars potential!) ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran began to filter out the paths with Five Stars potential. Then, his expression suddenly became stiff. There are actually two paths with five stars evolutionary potential?! And those two evolution pathways¡­ both had four stars evolution difficulty? After a brief stupor, Xu Ran swiftly looked at Cancan. He understood! The enhanced potential from the Fetal Breath Orb, was reflected here. ¡°You have two evolution paths with Five Stars potential,¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at Cancan, and slowly said, ¡°The first one is to evolve into a Dual attribute tortoise of Earth and Water, Xuan Ming Turtle.¡± ¡°The second one is to evolve into an Earth attribute Panlong Turtle.¡± ¡°The evolution difficulty of these two pathways is all Four Stars, and the potential is Five Stars.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°So, which one are you going to choose?¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (Two choices?) Cancan blinked. Damn, both options seemed very strong. ¡°Meow- ¡± (Choose the dual attributes!) Ziyun gave Cancan an encouraging look. How superior dual attributes are! And having an additional attribute means it¡¯s not easy to be restrained. ¡°Sure!¡± (Single attribute is also quite good.) For once, Star shook his head, contradicting Ziyun¡¯s view. Another attribute will undoubtedly increase the difficulty of future evolution. This time, the evolution may be Four Star difficulty, but the difficulty of future evolution isn¡¯t known. And¡­ Star raised one hoof and indicated toward the Two stars skill Dragon Power on the blackboard. This skill couldn¡¯t possibly be for the two of them, could it? Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 149 After Reduction of Star Chapter 229: Chapter 149 After Reduction of Star Rising¡­¡± 1 Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Meow¡­¡± (Dragon Power, huh¡­) Looking at the teachable skills on Little Black¡¯s evolution panel, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought. When they¡¯d first gotten this skill, Xu Ran had mentioned to them that he had acquired it, but since it wasn¡¯t a good fit, he wouldn¡¯t put it on their allocation But now, this skill had appeared on the list. It could only mean one thing ¨C Cancan could learn this skill. Dragon Power was a skill used by Dragon Pet Beasts, and from the race name of the Panlong Turtle, you could tell that it had a close relationship with the dragon race. From this perspective, Cancan seemed to have potential in evolving into Panlong Turtle, at least not any less than evolving into the dual attribute Xuan Ming Turtle. In the end, Ziyun turned his gaze towards Xu Ran. ¡°Meow?¡± (Xu Ran, what do you think?) Star and Cancan also turned their gazes over. When in doubt, ask the Beast Master. ¡°What do I think¡­¡± Xu Ran wore a thoughtful expression. For Xuan Ming Turtle, it was hard for him not to think of Xuanwu from the myths and legends of his previous life. As for Panlong Turtle, it reminded him of Baxia, also from myths and legends of his previous life. Could these two evolution paths correspond to those mythical creatures? Xu Ran wasn¡¯t quite sure about this. After all, such myths and legends did not exist in this world. But to make this decision, he probably had to refer to those legendary creatures from his previous life. Xuanwu was mainly associated with water. If Cancan evolves in this direction his earth attribute power would inevitably be dispersed, maybe even leaning ¡¯ more towards the water attribute later. Looking at his current skill system, Cancan focused on the earth attribute combining attack, defense, and augmentation all in one, which was quite ¡¯ comprehensive. The added water attribute would certainly make Cancan less likely to be countered, but it¡¯s hard for Xu Ran to say whether this will have a good or bad effect on his skills. At least, the water attribute wasn¡¯t that strong in terms of defense. However, if he evolves into Panlong Turtle, there would be no problem of attribute dispersion. The word ¡°Pan¡± reminded Xu Ran of ¡°rock¡±. If this was the name of the race after evolution, it meant that the new race would surely excel in defense. This was Cancan¡¯s current advantage and something missing from the team. Moreover, the word ¡°Dragon¡± in ¡°Panlong Turtle¡± was also quite tempting for Xu Ran. Setting everything else aside, who wouldn¡¯t want to ride on the back of a dragon? That¡¯s a dragon! Xu Ran took a deep breath, finally making the decision. ¡°Panlong Turtle.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (That¡¯s it then!) ForCan^an suffering from difficulty in making a choice, this moment was just too wonderful. 1 He agreed with Xu Ran¡¯s proposal without hesitation. And since Cancan had agreed, naturally Ziyun and Star would have no objections. Once decided, Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate to choose the evolution path of the Panlong Turtle. While the other evolution paths gradually faded away, more detailed information about this evolution path appeared before him. [Evolution Path: Golden Scale Turtle (Earth) _ Panlong Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***** Evolution Conditions: (If main material is missing, evolution is bound to fail. If auxiliary materials are missing, the success rate of evolution decreases) Evolution Ritual: Find an Earth attribute dragon carcass buried deep in the earth, comprehend the Dragon¡¯s breath, and complete the evolution.] ¡°Hey¡­¡± Looking at the evolution conditions, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The first evolution condition matched the evolution paths of Ziyun and Star previously. The condition being that the pet beast could not break through the Leadership Stage before the evolution. If there is no error, this might be a key point to increase the success rate of evolving from Leader Species to King Species. The later evolution conditions were quite a handful. All of its own talent skills needed to be upgraded to Three stars, besides mastering a Dragon-exclusive skill and upgrading it to Three stars, and then all the Three-Star skills had to reach the proficiency of Waning Moon Level. So¡­ Cancan needed to have six Waning Moon Level Three-Star Skills when he evolved? Xu Ran looked at Cancan and his expression turned strange. Ziyun had four, Star had five, Cancan had six. The next pet beast wouldn¡¯t need seven, would it? Xu Ran had never heard of the Dragon-exclusive skill mentioned in the evolution conditions, but it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out what that meant. His gaze inevitably fell on Dragon Power. It couldn¡¯t be found on the exchange list of the recycling function, and only Dragon Pet Beasts could master it. Without a doubt, it met the requirement. To teach Dragon Power to Cancan, and then upgrade all his skills to Three stars¡­ Xu Ran stroked his chin. In this case, apart from the single-star Reduction Skill, Cancan¡¯s other five skills seemed to be strong Two stars Skills, right? As long as he fused one Two stars skill, he could reach Three Stars? Looking at it this way, although the skill requirements were higher than Ziyun¡¯s and Star¡¯s, the difficulty of achieving them might actually be the lowest. No wonder it was Four Stars. The previous Fetal Breath Orb had really helped a Next, Xu Ran looked at the evolution materials under the evolution conditions. They seemed to be not so easy to collect. One portion of Earth attribute General Stage Dragon blood. Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 149 After Reduction of Star Rising... "_2 Chapter 230: Chapter 149 After Reduction of Star Rising¡­ ¡°_2 Translator: 549690339 Although it¡¯s not blood essence, a whole lot of dragon blood could still do significant damage to the General Stage, right? Earth attribute dragon blood essence of the King Stage. The King Stage blood essence is also required among the evolution materials for Ziyun and Star, this thing seems to be essential for the evolution into the King Species. But this time there is an additional requirement, it must be of the Dragon class. Because of this constraint, this resource can¡¯t be obtained in Qingzhou City either. The Earth attribute King Stage blood essence in the storeroom of the Beast Master Association in Qingzhou city comes from a King Stage rodent type Transcendent Being, Xu Ran had learnt about this in advance. As for the shattered rock marrow¡­ The corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Great, he had never heard of it, nor could he exchange it in Qingzhou City. But it¡¯s not all doom and gloom. Three auxiliary materials could be exchanged in Qingzhou City. Although it would be very difficult to find the three main materials in Qingzhou City, he was about to head to Xieyun City, and he could figure out a way there. As for the final evolution ritual¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s face began to show signs of distress. Where would he find the remains of an Earth attribute dragon that are buried deep in the ground? If he first finds the dragon remains and then buries them in the Earth, would that be considered? It doesn¡¯t seem like that would work. Then he would have to count on luck. ¡°Your evolution¡­¡± Raising his head and meeting Cancan¡¯s hopeful eyes, Xu Ran sighed, ¡°It might be a bit difficult!¡± ¡°Meow (Really)?!¡± Cancan¡¯s little face immediately tensed up, and his eyes became anxious. How tough is it going to be? ¡°First, you need to¡­¡± Xu Ran briefly explained to Cancan the details of the evolution path and then summed up, ¡°In short, you¡¯re going to need a lot of resources next.¡± ¡°Little guy, start working hard!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Okay!) After Xu Ran explained the details of his evolution path, a surge of fighting spirit erupted in Cancan¡¯s eyes. It had previously heard about the evolution paths of Ziyun and Star, and it seemed that his own evolution path was indeed more difficult. But because it has a more powerful talent, it was not afraid of this difficulty. Let the storm come more violently! ¡°Meow!¡± (I want to exchange for a three star skill scroll!) A painful but determined look appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes. A Three Stars Skill Scroll could directly upgrade a skill to three stars. Upgrading a One Star skill to Three Stars is naturally the most cost-effective choice. Although the size reduction skill at one star was already enough for it, the priority for advancement was very low. But since it had come this far, it decided to upgrade it to three stars first. In this way, it could focus more on improving other skills later. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Without asking, he knew which skill Cancan wanted to upgrade with the scroll. He quickly selected the reduction skill for use. The next second, the reduction skill in Cancan¡¯s skill list quickly faded away, and was replaced by a new skill. [¡ïReduction (Starlight Level)] (98/500)! + ] xb xb xb [¡ï¡ï¡ïJiezimixu (Starlight Level)] (98/500)] + ] It seems to be pretty good. Xu Rand nodded with satisfaction, looking at Cancan¡¯s shocked face, ¡°How¡¯s the new skill effect?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Huh?) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s voice, Cancan came back to his senses from the new sensation. On one hand, this was its first time upgrading a skill, and the feeling of having the memory of a skill wiped out and replaced by a new one was quite novel to it. On the other hand, this was the first time Cancan had a skill upgraded to Three Stars, the exhilarating feeling of breaking free from shackles also brought it great joy. Is this what it feels like to become stronger? After sensing the effect of the new skill, Cancan became even more excited. It had originally thought that no matter how much the reduction skill was enhanced it would just let it become smaller, and there was basically no need for improvement. It never expected that after being upgraded to three stars, this skill would give it a surprise! ¡°Meow!¡± (This new skill is extremely powerful!) With an excited expression, Cancan quickly explained the new effect of the skill. The skill Jiezimixu, compared to the previous reduction that could only decrease size, had a new effect ¨C increasing in size. It can increase its size proportionately to how much it can reduce. Of course, if it only had this new change, it would at most be considered as a two-star skill. The most powerful new benefit of Jiezimixu is that a Pet Beast¡¯s strength can change along with its body size. Ordinary size changes only alter the appearance, but Jiezimixu can affect strength in different ways when it comes to size reduction and enlargement. When the Pet Beast¡¯s size decreases, its power will slightly diminish, but its speed, reflexes, and frequency of skill usage all get a boost. The more the size is reduced, the greater the change. When the Pet Beast¡¯s size increases, its power will go up to a certain extent, but it¡¯s the opposite of shrinking. Its speed, reflexes, and frequency of skill use all decrease, the larger it gets, the more significant the change. In this way, Cancan has more possibilities! ¡°Great!¡± Upon learning of this new change in Cancan¡¯s skill, excitement flickered in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. How nice- Isn¡¯t this a double form? Shrink to normal size for a considerable increase in agility. Grow larger, and you¡¯ll move slower, but your power increases immensely. ¡°Meow?¡± (Is this possible?) ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Is this possible?) Awe-filled expressions appeared on the faces of both Star and Ziyun. They exchanged a glance, with excitement blooming in their eyes. Upgrade! They, too, already possess the reduction skill. Originally, this was for solving the inconvenience caused by growing larger as their strength increased in daily life. After achieving this, they didn¡¯t pay it too much attention. But if upgrading this skill to three stars has such an effect, then they must upgrade it! It¡¯s just one Three Star Skill Scroll, they¡¯ll snatch it next time! ¡°We still have plenty of resources.¡± Xu Ran smiled, tapping on Little Black Board, ¡°Let¡¯scontinue!¡± Ziyun and Star both turned their gaze towards Cancan. At this point, Star¡¯s evolution is only lacking one main material, and its priority in resource distribution is naturally lost. No, it shouldn¡¯t be said as lost, but rather, it¡¯s transferred to Cancan. Cancan showed a touched expression in its eyes. Without hesitation, it turned to look at the Skill Fragments and remaining Skill Fusion Stones on Little Black Board. Just upgrading one Three Star Skill had such an effect, it couldn¡¯t wait to enhance its other skills. However, the next moment, seeing only 79 Skill Fragments, a touch of helplessness and frustration flickered in its eyes. One more and it could exchange for two Two Star Skills! Why was it so unfortunate? ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯ll sell you the two I have left!) Seeing Cancan¡¯s desperate gaze fixed on the Skill Fragments, Star took the initiative. Since it bought all the Skill Fragments, there were two it didn¡¯t use after completing its upgrade. ¡°Charming?¡± (You can sell them to me?) Cancan widened its eyes, showing a surprised look. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Give me 20 Value Points, and these two Skill Fragments are yours.) While speaking, Star glanced at Xu Ran for further instructions. Although there had been an instance of borrowing money before, there has never been an instance of resource selling. ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran laughed and nodded. This development was quite good. Everyone exchanges resources, sometimes too many are exchanged. ¡°Charming!¡± (Deal!) Seeing Xu Ran in agreement, Cancan nodded without hesitation. With the trade successful, getting 81 Skill Fragments in one go, Cancan looked at Xu Ran with expectancy. ¡°Charming!¡± (Fuse Covering the Earth!) ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded and smiled. In his spare time, he had already chosen the right skills to fuse for Cancan. Now, he effortlessly opened the exchange list of the Recycling function. [¡ï¡ï Covering the Earth] + [¡ï¡ï Muddy] [Fusion Success Rate: 11.4%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] The skill ¡°Covering the Earth¡± has strong defensive and reflective effects, but there is one major issue. During the execution of the skill, Cancan cannot move because it¡¯s enveloped in a rock-hard shell. Muddy is a Two Star Skill that softens hard earth chunks and can quickly turn a solid land into a muddy field. The fusion of these two skills may solve the movement issue. Defense strength may decrease, but Xu Ran decided to trust the system. Firing up the second chapter, let¡¯s go! Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 150 Setting off, Xieyun City!_ 1 Chapter 231: Chapter 150 Setting off, Xieyun City!_ 1 Translator: 549690339 | Looking at a high success rate that he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, Xu Ran chuckled. Although Covering the Earth is a strong Two Stars Skill, its fusion with another Two Stars Skill is still calculated based on the fusion probability of two Two Stars Skills. So naturally, it is much higher than the fusion of three Two Stars Skills. Now there¡¯s only one question. Could this inherent Two Stars Skill, as he had imagined, be upgraded to Three Stars solely by fusing with another Two Stars Skill? Surely, he was about to find out. Without hesitation, he clicked on [Yes], and the new fusion began. Four fusion stones went down, and a prompt for Fusion success appeared in front of him. [¡ï¡ïCovering the Earth (Starlight Level)](214/500)[ + ] ¡ï¡ï¡ï [¡ï¡ï¡ïGiving Body to Fertile Soil (Starlight Level)](214/500)[+] It¡¯s here! That familiar feeling is here again! Cancan widened its eyes, feeling the euphoria coming from its new skill and sudden power increase, its eyes now filled with delight. It has become stronger again! ¡°Charming!¡± (This skill¡­) This time, without Xu Ran asking, Cancan had already taken the initiative to describe the details of the new skill. Just as Xu Ran had imagined, when Cancan invokes Giving Body to Fertile Soil, it covers its body with soft mud, which does not hinder its movements, improving its agility. Meanwhile, there¡¯s no drop in defense as he feared. The mud acted like a non-Newtonian fluid, normally soft but hardens when met with force. Beyond that, Giving Body to Fertile Soil has an additional effect. It¡¯s adhesion. If faced with a close-ranged attack like a Fighting Attribute Skill, the mud could interfere with the attacker¡¯s movements for a short period, making it unable to separate. At this moment, Ziyun, who was watching from the side, felt a strong sense of hostility. Ziyun: (=?=) Fighting attribute close combat skills get stuck, and Thunder attribute long- range attack deals reduced damage to Earth attribute. Doesn¡¯t Cancan counter him a bit too much? ¡°Well done!¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t hold back his praise and a joyful expression surfaced on his face. Without a doubt, this new skill is more versatile than the previous one. Indeed, Cancan is well suited for an augmentation in defense, choosing the evolution path of Panlong Turtle for it is correct. His speculation also gets confirmed, The strong Two Stars Skill only needs to combine with one, Two Stars skill to upgrade to a Three Stars skill and the fusion success rate is quite high. ¡°We can still fuse for another Three Stars Skill!¡± Seeing the remaining seven Skill Fusion Stones and 4.1 Skill Fragments, a hint of anticipation flashed in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. ¡°Charming!¡± (Heart of the Earth!) In the face of the third Three Stars skill upgrade, Cancan rides the wave of the power increase, feeling more excited, and without hesitation chose Heart of the Earth. After all, its other skills are elevated proportionally to this skill. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then paused his words, ¡°About this skill, I have two fusion plans, you can choose one.¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (Again?) The enthusiasm on Cancan¡¯s face died. Don¡¯t you put a selection phobic to such a difficult choice! ¡°It probably won¡¯t be hard to choose this time,¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°The first fusion plan is to combine a Two Stars Skill called Energy Storage with Heart of the Earth, which currently has the highest success rate.¡± ¡°The effect of Energy Storage allows the user to have the ability to store extra energy, charging at usual times and consume when needed, thus maintaining power for a longer duration.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Sounds pretty cool!) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up. This is something it doesn¡¯t have, and anything it doesn¡¯t have, it wants! ¡°Take it slow, listen to the second plan first.¡± Xu Ran slowly strokes its head, ¡°The second plan is to combine two One Star Skills with Heart of the Earth.¡± ¡°Fusing two One Star Skills you can get a Two Star Skill, which could still reach Three Stars when fused with Heart of the Earth, but the success rate will drop a lot, and it would need a lot more Skill Fusion Stones.¡± Cancan¡¯s eyes spun. It didn¡¯t refuse immediately. If a plan with a lower success rate is recommended by Xu Ran, it must have other benefits. ¡°Charming?¡± (What are these two One Star Skills?) ¡°One is Self-healing Power.¡± Xu Ran chuckled softly, ¡°Both Ziyun and Star have this skill. Star even fused it into Heart of Eternal Night in the past.¡± ¡°When you complete the fusion of this skill into Heart of the Earth, you will also have the ability to heal wounds.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes shimmered with expectancy, ¡°Already having a high defense, you¡¯ll now be able to recover from injuries rapidly and possess a greater advantage.¡± ¡°Besides, the other skill is called Earthquake Wave.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Cancan. ¡°It¡¯s a highly efficient scouting ability in the Earth attribute, able to sense a large range of surface and underground information.¡± ¡°If these two skills fuse into Heart of the Earth, the effect of your skill can be even more comprehensive.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°And with the Earthquake Wave learned, it will be much easier to find the location for your Evolution Ritual.¡± ¡°Of course, you can also upgrade these two skills separately after learning them, but in this case, you will have so many skills that your future upgrade resources will be spread out.¡± ¡°The first plan has a success rate of 10.9%; the second one, 2.1%,¡± Xu Ran finally revealed the success rates of both plans. Perhaps because the merger of one Two Star and two One Star Skills, the success rate of this three-skill fusion isn¡¯t too low. Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 150 Setting off, Xieyun City!_2 Chapter 232: Chapter 150 Setting off, Xieyun City!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Charming¡­¡± (Let me think¡­) Cancan, who suffers from choice-phobia, showed a serious look on his face. As Xu Ran said, this choice wasn¡¯t that complex. When Star successfully fused the Heart of Eternal Night, Cancan compared its own Heart of the Earth with it, admiring the self-healing effect of the Heart of Eternal Night. Learning and upgrading these two skills separately in the future will consume a lot of resources. So¡­ ¡°Charming!¡± (I choose Plan Two!) Isn¡¯t it just using a few more skill fusion stones? Each of its skills only requires a two-star skill to be upgraded to three-star, saving more than the evolution preparations of its two seniors! Moreover, such a fusion plan can also save 20 skill fragments! Rounding off, it¡¯s not a loss! It just doesn¡¯t know if the remaining seven will be enough. Cancan looked at its leftover skill fusion stones and gritted its teeth. Go for it! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded. [¡ï¡ïHeart of the Earth]+ [¡ïSelf-healing Power]+ [*Earthquake Wave] [Fusion success rate: 2.1%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes] [No] One¡­two¡­three¡­ The flashy fusion effect, like a monster devouring skill fusion stones, swallowed all the skill fusion stones Xu Ran invested. ¡°Just right.¡± Looking at the fusion success shown after investing the seventh skill fusion stone, Xu Ran¡¯s tense face relaxed. If it hadn¡¯t been successful this time, waiting for the next fusion would have been agonizing. [¡ï¡ïHeart of the Earth (Starlight Level)] (165/500) [+] 4*4*4* [¡ï¡ï¡ïEchoing of Earth Vein (Starlight Level)] (165/500) [+] ¡°What¡¯s the effect?¡± Xu Ran turned to Cancan. ¡°Charming!¡± (It has everything it should have!) After enhancing three skills to three-star in one day, Cancan was a bit numbed. The first thing it did when it came back to its senses was to tell Xu Ran about the changes in the new skill. Just as expected, Echoing of Earth Vein could absorb the power of the earth to heal itself and its injuries, increase the power of other earth attribute skills, and sense the surroundings and underground through its connection to the earth. All the effects of the fused skills were inherited and even enhanced. ¡°Charming!¡± (Now only Earth Collapse and Sturdy Rock Wall are left!) Cancan¡¯s eyes were full of excitement, even Ziyun and Star next to it had a hint of emotion in their eyes. Watching the whole process of Cancan¡¯s skill-enhancing, they both felt bitter. Raising a star used to be so difficult for them. ¡°No, there¡¯s still Dragon Power.¡± Xu Ran knocked on the blackboard. ¡°This is the dragon-exclusive skill you need for evolution.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Exchange it!) Cancan didn¡¯t even think about it, it just responded immediately. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran handed over the neglected Dragon Power to Cancan, and then changed his tone, ¡°You have 2,265 value points left.¡± ¡°Charming?!¡± (Is that all I have left?) Feeling the brand new memories and experiences emerging in its mind, Cancan¡¯s excitement came to an abrupt halt after hearing the second half of Xu Ran¡¯s sentence. It remembered¡­ the original value points assigned to it were over 6,000, right?! Darn it, why do the value points seem so insufficient! It quickly scanned through the remaining exchangeable resources. Physical points¡­ Forget it, this can wait. The improvement of the growth stage can be put aside for now, because it can¡¯t break through the leadership stage before it evolves. Skill points¡­ This is always a good thing, after all, it needs to reach the waning moon level for all skills. Just training by itself is a bit slow, especially the newly mastered Dragon Power, which is still at 0 proficiency. But it can¡¯t convert all value points into skill points, because¡­ Cancan¡¯s gaze fell on the 597 Beast Master points. The evolution materials it needs will certainly amount to a considerable number of points. Ziyun and Star, the two seniors, both have more than 4,000 points, so it also needs to save up. After all, it¡¯s going to Xieyun City tomorrow, so it must seize the opportunity. ¡°Charming!¡± (Exchange all Beast Master points, also the Energy Abundant Potion, and the remaining will be all for skill points!) After some struggle, Cancan made its decision. ¡°Meow-¡± (Welldone!) Ziyun instantly burst with excitement. By counting on its fingers, it figured that after getting the highest priority, Cancan wouldn¡¯t be able to exchange for many skill points, and could save almost 4,000. If it could consume all these skill points¡­ The three skills, Step on Electric Traces, King¡¯s Power, and Falling Thunder can all reach Full Moon Level! Six Full Moon Level skills, who else could compete?! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll exchange for 2,000 skill points.) ¡°Meow?!¡± (What?!) Ziyun¡¯s triumphant expression instantly freezes, looking at Star with a heartbroken gaze. Can¡¯t you choose something else?! Star gives an innocent look. Why are you looking at me, big sister? I¡¯m about to evolve, and after evolution, I can break through the leadership stage. It¡¯s totally normal to accumulate some skill points at this time. ¡°Meow-¡± (Boohoo-) Ziyun is on the brink of tears. Poor Falling Thunder, I can only favor you next time! ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ve finished distributing your skill points.¡± Xu Ran takes out a calculator. ¡°Resetting¡ª¡± After a series of electronic tones finish, Xu Ran puts down the calculator, ¡°Cancan exchanged 1618 skill points, Ziyun 1822 points, and Star 2000 points.¡± ¡°Do you want to use them now or¡­¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Use them now!) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Use some, save some!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Save them for later!) The three little ones give different answers. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran adds points according to the requests of the three little ones. For Ziyun, the newly exchanged skill points are just enough to raise Step on Electric Traces and King¡¯s Power to Full Moon Level. As a result, Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, Step on Electric Traces, Destruction Thunder Claw, Fighting Body, and King¡¯s Power, Ziyun¡¯s five three-star skills have reached Full Moon Level. Star has had two Full Moon Level skills, Night Rune and Fated Star Pulling, previously. This time, it chooses to add skill points to the Heart of Eternal Night with a proficiency of (519/2000), bringing it to Full Moon Level, leaving 519 skill points unused for now. Star¡¯s considerations are quite simple. After it evolves, there will definitely be new talent skills emerging, at least there will be King¡¯s Power. With some skill points left, the new talent skills can also be quickly upgraded. If it weren¡¯t for running out of priority, Star even wants to bag all the remaining skill points. After all, it is the richest among the three little ones. ¡°So now we¡¯re only left with physical points.¡± Xu Ran takes a look at the physical points, ¡°Including the balance from last time, there¡¯s a total of 18168 points.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Exchange all the remaining value points!) Star lets out a snort, eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. ¡°Meow?¡± Ziyun, who was about to suggest swapping all remaining value points for physical points, looks surprised. Did it hear that correctly? Was Star going to convert all the value points it just received and the remaining value points from before? ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I want to prepare for the leadership stage!) Looking at Ziyun, Star snorts eagerly. Once it finishes evolution and breaks through the leadership stage, it is going to use these physical points to quickly catch up with big sister. Its comeback is coming! ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll exchange all too!) Ziyun widens its eyes, immediately expresses its stance. It absolutely won¡¯t be caught up! ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran smiles and starts adding points to Ziyun. Growth Stage: Leadership Stage (19.3W/3OW) [ + ] 4¡¯4¡¯4¡ä Growth Stage: Leadership Stage (19.8W/3OW) [ + ] Feeling the distant path to completing the leadership stage, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Thanks to the thunder bead it obtained from the remains of the giant beast, its power increased rapidly over the past week, gaining over ten thousand growth progress in just one week. But relying solely on thunder attribute could pose problems in the long term. After all, it is a dual-attribute pet beast now. On the upcoming trip to Xieyun City, it has to exchange for resources suited to its fighting attribute. ¡°So after this round of distribution, we¡¯re left with this.¡± Xu Ran circles the final remaining items on the blackboard with a chalk. ¡°Physical Points: 13465 Points (Star)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 1618 Points (Cancan) +519 Points (Star)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 21 (Cancan)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 4686 Points (Ziyun) +4433 Points (Star) +597 Points (Cancan)¡± ¡°This time, you all have completely used up your value points.¡± Xu Ran smiles, ¡°That¡¯s great, value points sitting idle will always remain value points. Only when they¡¯re put to use, they can quickly be translated into formidable power.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go upstairs and rest.¡± ¡°We will set off with Senior Gu first thing tomorrow!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± ¡°Xi Lu-¡± ¡°Charming-¡± Responding to him were the eager voices of the three little ones. Writing the third chapter, full steam ahead! Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 151: Beast Field No.97_l Chapter 233: Chapter 151: Beast Field No.97_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu!¡± Early the next day, as soon as Xu Ran arrived at the square in front of the Beast Master Association, he ran into someone he knew. ¡°Good morning.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Su Xiaoxiao, who had a vibrant and bright smile on her face, ¡°Are you also participating in this exchange?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded enthusiastically, holding Gu Ling¡¯s hand, and after looking around, she lowered her voice, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here because of connections!¡± ¡°My family and Gu Ling¡¯s family are old friends, so Uncle Gu brought me along to broaden my horizons.¡± Su Xiaoxiao chuckled, ¡°Happens to be during the holidays!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m just going to have a look.¡± Gu Ling wrapped her arm around Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s, her face carrying a smile of faint helplessness, ¡°This exchange has been converted to a challenge, I don¡¯t know if they will be grouped by the stages of the Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°If not, my presence will just be for show.¡± On this point, her contract power hadn¡¯t reached the second stage just like Su Xiaoxiao, so there wasn¡¯t much difference between them. ¡°My father said, Boss Xu, you have already broken through the third stage?¡± Gu Ling glanced at Ziyun, who was following after Xu Ran, showing a look of envy, ¡°That was fast!¡± ¡°Abit of a fluke.¡± Xu Ran replied nonchalantly, ¡°Anyway, are there other people coming?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Ling nodded, ¡°There¡¯s also¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, a voice came from far away on the other side. ¡°Good morning, everyone!¡± As the voice fell, a colossal white figure rushed towards them at an alarming speed. ¡°Woof-¡± The Frost Dust Wolf, eight meters long and standing as tall as a two-story building, howled towards the sky, showing signs of an Elite Stage power fluctuation, and its eyes filled with a sense of pride. However, when it spotted the tiny, saucer-faced Cancan behind Xu Ran, it immediately retreated its tail, cut off its lengthened howl, and the entire dog¡­ ah, no, the wolf started behaving obediently. ¡°Did everyone have breakfast yet?¡± Xu Jiujiu, with a large backpack on her back and two big bags of hot steamed buns in her hand, greeted the three with a grin, ¡°I bought them from the breakfast shop downstairs of my house!¡± ¡°Thankyou, we¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Gu Ling and Su Xiaoxiao politely declined. ¡°I¡¯ll take a couple of buns.¡± Xu Ran, amusedby Xu Jiujiu¡¯s down-to-earth demeanor, grabbed a couple of meat buns, ¡°Broke through the Elite Stage?¡± Three days ago, Xu Jiujiu suddenly brought the Frost Dust Wolf, whom she had been fostering, back home. Xu Ran had then suspected that she might break through. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Xu Jiujiu puffed out her lean chest, ¡°The exchange is imminent, and I can¡¯t let other city Beast Masters look down on us!¡± With a flash of light, the Frost Dust Wolf disappeared on the spot. They were going to ride on Gu Wu¡¯s Pet Beast to Xieyun City. The space was limited, so larger Pet Beasts could only be summoned once they reached the destination. ¡°My second Pet Beast is not weak. Boss Xu, we¡¯ll have a chance to challenge each other again¡­¡± Xu Jiujiu began boasting, but upon noticing Ziyun behind Xu Ran, her voice abruptly stopped mid-sentence, ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°You?!¡± ¡°Oh, you missed it when you came to pick up the Frost Dust Wolf last time. Ziyun was training.¡± Xu Ran chuckled at the sight of Xu Jiujiu¡¯s shock, suddenly feeling a twinge of sadistic pleasure, ¡°I¡¯ve already reached the third stage. Try to keep up.¡± ¡°You.,.1¡­¡± Xu Jiujiu was at a loss for words. Irritated, she bit into a bun that she¡¯d pulled out of the bag, muttering under her breath. ¡°Too slick! Absolutely slick!¡± ¡°You guys finally got here.¡± Lyu Guang, walking alone, approached the four. ¡°Want some?¡± Xu Jiujiu, taking another intimidating bite of the bun, didn¡¯t forget to offer the bag to Lyu Guang. ¡°Sure.¡± Lyu Guang casually took two buns, then looked at Xu Ran, ¡°I heard from A Ji, you¡¯ve reached the Leadership Stage.¡± ¡°Uhm.¡± Xu Ran nodded, the image of A Ji¡¯s noisy figure causing a corner of his mouth to twitch involuntarily. A Ji was the student at Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion who had misunderstood him when he had visited. After visiting the Foster Shop once, he¡¯ d never been able to go back. A few days ago, he came by and saw that Ziyun had reached the Leadership Level. After his Combat Bear Apprentice had been washed and groomed, he left rather hurriedly. Concerning the fact that Lyu Guang knew about his breakthrough, Xu Ran was not surprised. ¡°Impressive, I¡¯ll catchup to you soon.¡± Lyu Guang nodded seriously without mentioning the mishap of almost tripping himself up when he first found out, then focused on eating his buns. After finishing two quickly, he turned to Xu Jiujiu, ¡°Can I have two more?¡± ¡°You really can eat.¡± Xu Jiujiu looked at Lyu Guang admiringly. ¡°Martial artists need a lot of food.¡± Lyu Guang casually picked up two more buns, his expression calm. A short while later. ¡°Two more?¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Xu Jiujiu couldn¡¯t help but rub Lyu Guang¡¯s still flat stomach and gave him a thumbs up, ¡°You can even eat more than me!¡± Watching this somewhat absurd conversation between the two, Xu Ran and Gu Ling started to show some strange expressions. Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s mouth hung open slightly, looking curiously at Lyu Guang¡¯s stomach from time to time, seemingly intrigued by his appetite. ¡°You¡¯re all here.¡± The amused voice of Gu Wu came from inside the Beast Master Association headquarters. As he stepped out, three young men and one woman followed close behind. ¡°Let me introduce you.¡± When he reached the group of five, Gu Wu introduced the four people behind him, ¡°Jiang Ruming, Cui Yongsheng, Shi Songnian, Mou Mengdan.¡± Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 151: Beast Field N0.97 2 Chapter 234: Chapter 151: Beast Field N0.97 2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°These four are Beast Masters who were selected by the Association. They are under 25 years of age and possess relatively strong powers.¡± ¡°During the new Beast Master challenge, they already were Elite Level Beast Masters and thus could not participate. They were chosen later through an internal selection process.¡± ¡°This time, I will be taking you nine to Xieyun City to interact with other young Beast Masters from various cities. It should be a good exposure.¡± Once Gu Wu finished his speech, the four exchanged courteous greetings with Xu Ran and others. Even when faced with the other four whose abilities were a notch lower than theirs, they didn¡¯t show any contempt. When it came to Xu Ran, they portrayed more respect. Apparently, they were already aware that Xu Ran had broken through to the Leadership Level. Moreover, two out of these four seemed familiar to Xu Ran, most likely being customers who had visited the Foster Shop in the past. Once the nine men were familiar with each other, Gu Wu cleared his throat,¡± Have you brought everything you need? Send any larger pet beasts home now and summon them when we reach Xieyun City.¡± Everyone nodded in unison, indicating they were ready. The next moment, a dazzling Hexagram Star Array appeared behind Gu Wu. Amid a sudden violent wind that swept across the whole square, a giant dragon covered in black scales, fifteen meters in length, flew out with a flap of its wings. ¡°Ch- ¡± (Still not as big as me!) Ziyun quickly covered Cancan¡¯s mouth who had just murmured under her breath. My goodness, would you kindly shut up? Looking at the Red-eyed Demon Dragon turning its head towards them, a twitch appeared on the corner of Ziyun¡¯s mouth as she sighed. I am so tired, it seems to be a struggle without me at home. ¡°Come on up.¡± Gu Wu glanced at Cancan with a hint of a smile in his eyes, signaling everyone to climb onto the back of the Red-eyed Demon Dragon. A moment later, the Red-eyed Demon Dragon let out a majestic roar, revealing its powerful strength at the General Level, and took flight into the sky amidst the shocked stares of the numerous onlookers. Even though wind-attribute strength wasn¡¯t its forte, the Red-eyed Demon Dragon, relying on its General Level might, managed to fly out of Qingzhou City in a short span of time, appearing outside the city. Its powerful aura made the numerous transcendental beings lurking outside shrink back in awe. ¡°Peep-¡± A plush creature covered in snow-white feathers, walking pompously in the wilderness suddenly paused. With a puzzled look, it observed the black shadow flying out of Qingzhou City into the distance. From what it had heard from the those lurking outside the city, this human city was named Qingzhou, and it had only two General Level Beast Masters. So this one must be one of the two, right? Now that he has left, then¡­ The little creature turned its eyes towards Qingzhou City, its azure eyes shimmering with intelligence. What a great opportunity! Its mission to sneak into the human city began, and it started marching towards the direction of Qingzhou City. All the wild transcendent creatures surrounding it seemed to ignore its presence, each going about their own businesses. Suddenly, it seemed to sense something and quickly changed its direction. A moment later, it appeared in a clearing. In the clearing, a six-man hunting squad was surrounded by about twenty transcendent creatures. Their faces were filled with despair, obviously not expecting to escape. ¡°Peep-¡± You guys are it! A spark of blue within the eyes of the little creature flickered. The next moment, all the humans and transcendent creatures present heard a majestic roar. The surrounding transcendent creatures changed their expressions and fearfully turned their heads around. Seeing something terrifying, they hurriedly fled, leaving behind the dumbfounded hunters. ¡°What just happened?¡± One of them rubbed his eyes, looking puzzled. ¡°Seems like there was a roar, and then these creatures were scared away¡­¡± Another Beast Master said softly, doubting his own words. ¡°Never mind that now!¡± The leader of the hunting squad, who seemed to be the captain, immediately snapped back to his senses. ¡°We should return to the city now while we can!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The others hastily packed the resources they had gathered while out of town. Then, along with their pet beasts, they made their way back to the city. ¡°That¡¯s strange, why does my backpack feel heavier?¡± One of them wore a puzzled expression. Instinctively, he wanted to check out his backpack, but his hand suddenly stopped mid-air. Deep within his eyes shimmered a blue glow. Then, as if naturally, he withdrew his hand, ¡°Never mind, must be my imagination.¡± ¡°Peep-¡± No need to walk by myself, yay! Comfortably lying in a backpack, swaying slightly with the humans¡¯ walking motion, the little creature patted its round belly with its small wings, showing a satisfied expression. Human city, here I come! Looking back at Qingzhou City, which was gradually becoming smaller until it was no longer visible, Xu Ran, now accustomed to the high altitude, had a strange glint in his eyes. Flying is indeed a peculiar experience. Xu Ran had been curious about flying back when he was watching a horse race atop a Tearing Wind Hawk Lion. Now, once again riding on the back of a Red-eyed Demon Dragon, his interest had grown even greater. Though Star could be ridden and can move very fast, its movement would still be affected by the terrain. At times, it still couldn¡¯t compare to flying beasts. Unless Star evolves to sprout wings, becoming a Pegasus. Hmm¡­ that doesn¡¯t sound too realistic. As for Ziyun¡­ Even if it could fly, its stamina isn¡¯t sufficient. As for Cancan¡­ Although it is considered a dragon, Cancan clearly does not have the ability to fly and is unlikely to evolve it in the future. Maybe¡­ I should contract a bird pet beast for my fourth beast? The kind that can carry me flying? Xu Ran stroked his chin, leisurely pondering the matter of his next pet beast. ¡°Little Xu, what are you thinking about?¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice came from the side. ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°Nothing much, I¡¯m just pondering what kind of beast I should contract for the fourth spot.¡± Huh? Because, after shrinking, the three little ones who were small enough to sit on the Red-eyed Demon Dragon with Xu Ran, all pricked up their ears. Our next companion? Is the Beast Master already considering this? ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran say this, Gu Wu put aside what he initially intended to say, revealing an interested look. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± ¡°Senior Gu, what do you think about bird pet beasts?¡± ¡°Birds¡­¡± Gu Wu pondered, ¡°The variety of bird pet beasts are rather plentiful, and there are several prominent species among them, nearly all of them are wind attribute.¡± ¡°After all, the prototypes of bird pet beasts are various birds, soaring in the sky, they are the closest to the power of the wind attribute.¡± Gu Wu paused for a moment, ¡°Of course, strong bird transcendents of other attributes do exist.¡± ¡°For example, in Beast Field number 97, one of the Beast Kings is a super ability attribute bird pet beast, adept at illusions and delusions. It is known as the Nightmare Beast King.¡± ¡°Beast Field number 97? Beast King?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a puzzled expression. At this moment, the super ability attribute bird pet beast didn¡¯t draw his attention. The other young Beast Masters also paused their conversations and glanced towards them with curiosity. They too were unfamiliar with these concepts. ¡°Hehe, if you are going to Xieyun City for an exchange, you will learn about these concepts sooner or later.¡± Gu Wu chuckled, ¡°Let me explain them to you in advance.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Everyone nodded in response, ready to listen attentively. ¡°For those who have lived in a single city all their life, they divide the world into only two parts: inside the city and outside the city. The city is where humans reside, and the outside is filled with wild super creatures and various dangers.¡± Gu Wu paused slightly. ¡°Actually, this way of thinking is not accurate.¡± ¡°If you look at it on a larger map, each human city is like an isolated island in the ocean. The surrounding water separates adjacent islands, hindering communication and visits between them.¡± ¡°These ¡®waters¡¯ are regions that belong to the wild super creatures. They have a more specific name ¨C Beast Fields.¡± ¡°According to the size and specific distribution of the Beast Fields, humans have numbered each of them. The smaller the number, the stronger the Beast Field.¡± ¡°The Beast Field we reside in is number 97, it contains seven 3 Level cities, Qingzhou City being just one of them.¡± ¡°And the second-level town we are going to, Xieyun City¡­¡± ¡°Its corresponding Beast Field is number 47.¡± Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 152: Night Demon Dragons Single Horn, get daze! _1 Chapter 235: Chapter 152: Night Demon Dragon¡¯s Single Horn, get daze! _1 Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing Gu Wu¡¯s words spoken in a casual tone, everyone except Gu Ling couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of astonishment. ¡°Uncle Gu, isn¡¯t Beast Zone No.47 much stronger than our N0.97?¡± A worried look appeared on Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. ¡°Indeed.¡± Gu Wu nodded slightly, ¡°Just as human cities are divided into First- level Capitals, Second Level Towns, and Third Level Townships, so are Beast Zones.¡± ¡°Based on strength, the Beast Zones can generally be divided into Beast Saint-level Beast Field, Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, and Beast King-level Beast Field.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s voice pause slightly, ¡°Beast Saint-level Beast Field starts from Zone No.l, ending at N0.10.¡± ¡°Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, begins from Zone No.ll, and ends at N0.72.¡± ¡°And below that, we have the Beast King-level beast kField.¡± ¡°Senior Gu, just how strong are the Beast King, Beast Emperor, and Beast Saint you mentioned?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°A Beast King is a Transcendent Being at the King Level.¡± ¡°A Beast Emperor refers to a Transcendent Being at the Emperor Level.¡± ¡°As for a Beast Saint¡­¡± A look of awe appeared in Gu Wu¡¯s eyes, ¡°That¡¯s an Ultra-Transcendent Being at the Holy Spirit Stage, a height that can only be reached by completing three evolutionary transitions, and is known to be the most powerful existence.¡± Three evolutions¡­ Panicked expressions appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. King, Emperor, Holy Spirit. Are these the three stages of evolution for species above the Leader level¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at the Three little ones. The Evolution Path of the Holy Spirit Race is a golden item. For now, the odds of him obtaining one are basically non-existent. To reach that level, both the pet beasts and he himself need to continue working hard. ¡°Ahem, we¡¯ve digressed a bit.¡± Seeing the shock on the faces of the young behind him, Gu Wu cleared his throat and effortlessly brought the topic back on track. ¡°In short, Beast Zone No.47 is indeed very strong, but there are also powerful Beast Masters among humans confronting them. Moreover, once we reach Beast Zone No.47, there will be powerhouses from Xieyun City to meet us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± The remaining journey was as Gu Wu said, a scare without peril. As they entered deeper into the Beast Zone, the number of wild Transcendent Beings at the Leadership Stage gradually increased to a point where even the Red-eyed Demon Dragon could not fully suppress them. However, when Gu Wu released his three other creatures at the General stage, things started to go smoothly again. After a day¡¯s journey, the group entered the scope of Beast Zone No,47. Once they got assistance from a King Level Beast Master, their situation improved even more. Finally, a massive city appeared before their eyes. The city was dozens of times larger than Qingzhou City and stood majestically in the wilderness. Even in endless desolation, it emanated an aura of impassable authority. Even from outside the city, Xu Ran and the others could see the bustling atmosphere inside. It was a grandeur that Qingzhou City couldn¡¯t match. ¡°This is our Xieyun City.¡± The King Level Beast Master responsible for meeting them was Zhou He, who looked somewhat proud at this moment, ¡°In our Xieyun City, we have one Beast Master at the Emperor Level, three at the Overlord Level, and eighteen at the King Level.¡± Hearing Zhou He list the power of the city like counting family treasures, everyone fell silent. This couldn¡¯t be compared with Qingzhou City. Even among Third Level Townships, Qingzhou City was at the bottom in terms of strength. And Xieyun City¡­ ¡°An Overlord Level Beast Master can already serve as the city lord of a Second Level Town.¡± Gu Wu spoke slowly, ¡°Among the nearby Second Level Towns, Xieyun City is the strongest.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Zhou He chuckled, ¡°On this occasion, we have also invited Beast Masters from the other Second Level Towns. You will see.¡± ¡°Even among Second Level Towns, there is a disparity in strength.¡± ¡°Other Second Level Towns are also coming?¡± Gu Wu¡¯s eyes revealed surprise, ¡°This was not mentioned before.¡± ¡°They volunteered.¡± Zhou He¡¯s eyes showed slight disdain, ¡°perhaps they didn¡¯t want us to corner all the Third Level Towns.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s eyes flickered, and he said no more. It seemed there was more to the situation than he knew. ¡°Um¡­ Senior Zhou, can I ask you something?¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t care who came, he only had one concern, ¡°Does the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City have Single Horns of mature Night Demon Dragons for exchange?¡± ¡°Single Horns from mature Night Demon Dragons?¡± Zhou He thought for a moment and chuckled, ¡°Plenty. Some time ago, a formidable person wiped out a nest of Night Demon Dragons. There were quite a few at the King and General stage, which caused quite a stir when they were brought back to the Association.¡± ¡°Could it be Lin Gong?¡± Gu Wu seemed to think of something, his expression shifting slightly. ¡°Right, it was him.¡± Zhou He glanced atGuWu, ¡°It seems you know him.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve had dealings before.¡± Gu Wu nodded, admiration in his eyes, ¡°In Xieyun City, he is the only one to break through to the King Level Beast Master before the age of thirty.¡± Lin Gong, huh¡­ Xu Ran quietly remembered this name. Thanks for the resources returned by Big Bro Star! He turned to look at Star, revealing a teasing smile. Soon, very soon. ¡°Lin Gong left the city again a few days ago.¡± Zhou He smiled, ¡°I wonder what surprise he will bring back this time. Let¡¯s not talk about this, let¡¯s go down.¡± As the group chatted, the Red-eyed Demon Dragon landed outside the towering gates of Xieyun City. Unlike Qingzhou City, the gates of Xieyun City were massive, so high that one had to look up just to see the top. The gates here were always open for people to come and go without fear of wild Transcendent Beings charging from the Beast Zone. Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 152: Night Demon Dragons Single Horn, get daze! _2 Chapter 236: Chapter 152: Night Demon Dragon¡¯s Single Horn, get daze! _2 Translator: 549690339 Just from this little detail, you could get a sense of the town¡¯s grandeur. Once inside the city, even the ordinary citizens spoke with a sense of ease and confidence that Qingzhou City lacked, leaving those who had never left Qingzhou City awe-struck. Even Xu Ran, who had seen grandeur in his previous life, couldn¡¯t help but marvel when he learned that the bird pet beasts carrying parcels in their claws were specialized in delivering packages and takeouts. He had never seen such a sight before. In a state of constant awe, Gu Wu led nine people to the hotel arranged by the Association. ¡°We are a little late, the timing is a bit rushed.¡± Gu Wu shook his head slightly, ¡°The distance makes communication more difficult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s seven in the morning now, and the exchange event starts at ten, so everyone quickly drop off your luggage. The food area is right downstairs where you can serve yourself.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll meet up at the hotel lobby at nine.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Everyone responded and then entered their rooms with their room cards and luggage. ¡°Ka!¡± As soon as he closed the door and tossed his luggage onto the bed, Xu Ran sat on the sofa in the hotel room and immediately took out his cellphone to log into the Xieyun City Beast Master Association. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (My main material!) Star¡¯s eyes were full of excitement. Finally, this day has come! Once he got the materials, he could evolve at any time! ¡°Meow!¡± (And me!) The anticipation in Ziyun¡¯s eyes was palpable. All the way here, they didn¡¯t say much, but they heard every bit of information Gu Wu had mentioned. They still had a long way to go before they could reach those powerful beings. So, they needed to hasten their progress! They needed to get their hands on the fighting attribute resources quickly! ¡°Charming!¡± (Check if there are materials for my evolution!) Cancan was also anxious. To have more points for exchanging what he wanted in Xieyun City, he didn¡¯t immediately exchange the auxiliary materials available in Qingzhou City after getting the points yesterday. After all, he would have chances to get those items later. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I need to authenticate first since I¡¯m a foreign Beast Master.¡± Xu Ran gave a helpless smile, quickly completed the authentication process, and entered the points exchange page. ¡°Found it!¡± A moment later, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, pointing to a slender, black single horn, ¡°This is it, the single horn of a Dark Night Demon Dragon at the Marshal level. It costs only 2400 points to exchange.¡± ¡°XiLu!¡± (Exchange!) Star spoke without hesitation. ¡°You still have 2033 points left, we can also exchange for some new resources, to be absorbed after you complete the evolution.¡± Xu Ran suggested. Star had no objections to this proposal. Although he could also exchange for Dark Attribute resources in Qingzhou City, they definitely didn¡¯t have as many varieties or as high levels as here. And¡­ ¡°Huh? The Dark Attribute Energy Blocks only cost 9 points?¡± Comparing to the resources prices he knew, Xu Ran was surprised to find that the resources here were generally cheaper than in Qingzhou City. ¡°Meow!¡± (We¡¯re at a loss!) Ziyun made an expression of profound regret. If it had not used its points and saved them to exchange here. Wouldn¡¯t it have saved a lot? ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll have chances in the future.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head in comfort. Considering the tendency of his system tasks, it probably wouldn¡¯t be long before he opened a branch here, so he won¡¯t lose too much if he exchanged his resources here. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange for this.¡± Soon, Xu Ran exchanged an item for Star priced at 1800 points, called ¡°Star Refining Dark Stone¡±, which was a Marshal level Dark Attribute resource. Then he exchanged for some miscellaneous resources, clearing out all of Star¡¯s points. ¡°Charming!¡± (It¡¯s my turn now!) Cancan looked at Xu Ran expectantly. ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Xu Ran looked through all the resources for exchange and his expression gradually became strange. ¡°Cancan¡­¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (What¡¯s wrong?) ¡°The good news is that all six materials you need for evolution are here.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°The bad news is, they¡¯re a bit expensive. Your points can¡¯t cover it.¡± ¡°The King Stage Blood Essence from an Earth Attribute Dragon here only costs 400 points, which is really cheap, but you can only afford this one and three auxiliary materials with your points.¡± ¡°The remaining two main materials, together, cost exactly 3000 points.¡± Cancan: (*Hl_1f) Ziyun looked at Cancan¡¯s pitiful appearance and suddenly seemed to hesitate. After pondering for a moment, it tentatively opened its mouth. ¡°Meow?¡± (What if I lend it to you?) ¡°Charming?!¡± (Really?) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. If they could gather all the needed evolution resources in one go here¡­ ¡°Charming!¡± (Next resource allocation, I¡¯ll repay you with 3000 Value Points!) ¡°Meow- ¡± (Better get it exchanged now, before I change my mind!) Ziyun was clutching its rapidly dwindling money bag, looking pitiful, weak and helpless. ¡°I¡¯m going to exchange it then!¡± Seeing Ziyun in such a pitiful and adorable state, Xu Ran consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, didn¡¯t Senior Gu say that defeating a Leadership Level Beast Master in a contest would be rewarded with General Stage resources?¡± ¡°We can choose Fighting Attribute ones or exchange them for Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That¡¯sright!) Ziyun nodded its head, seeming somewhat pacified. Its eyes gradually became sharp. No one can stop it from getting resources! ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve got all of Cancan¡¯s evolution materials now.¡± Xu Ran quickly finished the exchange, then opened the exchange list for Fighting Attribute resources, ¡°Ziyun still has 1686 points left, let¡¯s see if there are General Stage resources of this price.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Bigsis!) Cancan¡¯s eyes welled up. Hold your tongue. From now on, its loyalties lie solely with big sis! ¡°Meow!¡± (Remember to pay me back.) Ziyun licked its paw and looked at Xu Ran¡¯s phone with anticipation in its eyes. Every bit counts. ¡°This one is pretty good,¡± Xu Ran quickly found a Marshal Level resource called Resonance Bead, ¡°It can keep the wearer in a state of resonance to rapidly increase their Fighting Attribute.¡± ¡°Its price is 1600 points, just enough for an exchange.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (This is the one!) Ziyun didn¡¯t hesitate at all. They had already determined that the Thunder Bead quality was high, surpassing the resources of Marshal Level, so in the future, it needs to gain many Fighting Attribute Marshal Level resources to balance its growing Thunderforce. As long as it¡¯s Fighting Attribute, they¡¯re all welcome! After exchanging other various resources and clearing up the points of Ziyun and Cancan, Xu Ran satisfiedly nodded his head. ¡°We completed our main goal for coming to Xieyun City this time¡± ¡°I¡¯ve placed the order for resources, so now we just have to wait for the Association to deliver them.¡± He put down his phone, stretched his arms, ¡°Let¡¯s go down and see what¡¯s good to eat.¡± Mentioning food, all three little ones looked up with anticipation in their eyes. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯mhungry!) ¡°XiLu!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Eat, eat, eat!) The human and his three pets quickly packed up their belongings and rushed downstairs. As soon as they got to the dining area, they saw two familiar figures. Xu Jiujiu was voraciously eating a drumstick, her lips smeared with grease, and she was busy chewing with her puffed-out cheeks. Across from her sat the devoid-of-expression Lyu Guang. Comparatively, Lyu Guang¡¯s eating style was slightly more normal, but plates piled high around him suggested otherwise. Next to them, the eight-meter-longbig dog was wolfing down from its food bowl. There were also Lyu Guang¡¯s Brawl Bear Apprentice and the Vigorously Beetle, along with another pet beast that Xu Ran had not seen before. When that grey colored pet beast lifted its head upon hearing the noise and looked over, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Isn¡¯t that Bro Badger! ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Xu Jiujiu pointed at Bro Badger with the drumstick in her hand while chewing, and asked, ¡°This is my second pet, Rock Badger, cool, huh?¡± ¡°Ga!¡± Upon hearing his Beast Master mention him, the Rock Badger solemnly nodded its head. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran made a weird face, ¡°It suits you.¡± Cancan following behind couldn¡¯t help but take an extra couple of glances, then whispered softly. ¡°Charming?¡± (Is it bald?) The Rock Badger halted its movements. It rapidly set its sights on Cancan, battle intent flaring in its eyes. I, the Rock Badger, am NOT bald! You heard it here first, we¡¯re evolving tomorrow! Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 153: Imperial Crown!_l Chapter 237: Chapter 153: Imperial Crown!_l Translator: 549690339 | Bro Badger¡¯s war intent wasn¡¯t able to manifest. Noticing the mood change in her own pet beast, Xu Jiujiu flicked a chicken bone towards the Rock Badger¡¯s forehead. ¡°Just eat properly! We will be mingling soon!¡± She didn¡¯t want her naive and audacious second pet beast to pick a fight with Xu Ran¡¯s third pet beast. Even if they win, what¡¯s the use? Xu Ran has a pet beast at the Leadership Stage already, if this victory doesn¡¯t come, it would be embarrassing for her. ¡°Gah¡­¡± The Rock Badger touched its forehead, it seemed very docile in front of its Beast Master. It picked up the chicken bone from the ground, took a bite, then continued to chew it into pieces. Then, it continued to eat food from its food bowl. However, it would glance at Cancan from time to time, proving it had not forgotten the hairless comment Cancan made. It was determined to nullify that insult one day! Xu Ran was speechless, he took the three little ones to the buffet area, chose their food, then sat next to the two with a bowl of steaming rice noodles, ¡°Have you ever seen Beast Masters from other cities?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lyu Guang put down his bowl and calmly said, ¡°When Xu Jiujiu and I came, there were several Beast Masters at the buffet area. They were from a 3 Level town called Du Zhou City, they seemed powerful.¡± ¡°Du Zhou City¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. This city isn¡¯t the 3 Level Town in beast field 97, this was the first time he heard about it, he quietly took a mental note and began to chat with the two casually as they ate. Shortly after, the other people from Qingzhou City arrived and sat together, beginning to familiarize themselves further with one another. ¡°Xu Ran, your horse-type pet beast should have reached the peak of the Elite Stage, right? Why not advance it?¡± Mou Mengdan curiously asked during the casual chat. ¡°Because it¡¯s preparing for evolution.¡± Xu Ran chuckled and didn¡¯t hide anything, ¡°After evolution, it¡¯s time for it to break through to the Leader Stage.¡± ¡°Evolution¡­¡± Mou Mengdan¡¯s eyes filled with admiration, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided whether to let my pet beast evolve yet, after all, the risk of evolution is too high, it¡¯s not an exaggeration to call it a life or death gamble.¡± The others sitting nearby nodded in agreement. ¡°In larger cities, there are more formidable Beast Masters and more experience with evolution,¡± Gu Ling started, ¡°The Beast Masters in Xieyun City have figured out some patterns of evolution.¡± ¡°For instance, if a pet beast of the same species evolves, the requirements for evolution materials will reduce if its growth stage is lower, so it¡¯s more suitable to evolve when the growth stage is lower.¡± ¡°Also, evolution process requires a lot of vitality, supplementing resources that enhance vitality can effectively improve the success rate of evolution¡­¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s ears perked up, Gu Ling spread her arms, ¡°These are the only general evolutionary laws I know, the rest are specific to certain species.¡± ¡°Take my Dark Scale Dragon for instance.¡± She didn¡¯t hide anything either, pointing at her Dark Scale Dragon that was eating at the side, ¡°It¡¯s more prone to evolve into the Red-eyed Demon Dragon when it¡¯s angry, this is a specific rule of its species.¡± ¡°These insights are already invaluable.¡± Cui Yongsheng smirked, ¡°Especially that a lower growth stage makes it easier to evolve. I was intending to wait for my pet beast to reach the Leadership Stage before trying to evolve it, it seems the Elite Stage is more suitable.¡± The others nodded in agreement, expressing their gratitude towards Gu Ling. Even Xu Ran was listening attentively. He had already figured out these rules by comparing the evolution of the three little ones. What intrigued him more was that the Dark Scale Dragon is more likely to evolve into a Red-eyed Demon Dragon when it¡¯s angry. This reminded him of the evolution ceremony. Different evolution paths require different rituals, maybe this is how a specific species¡¯ evolutionary rules manifest, only¡­. it was not clear to other Beast Masters yet. Or could it be possible that corresponding knowledge exists in the more formidable first-level capitals than the second-level towns? ¡°They say evolution requires quite a lot of resources.¡± Lyu Guang glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Has your second pet beast prepared enough?¡± ¡°Almost.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I just used some Beast Master Points to exchange for some here, once the Association delivers them, it can evolve tonight.¡± ¡°What a pity,¡± sighed Su Xiaoxiao,¡± If evolution was completed earlier, Boss Xu¡¯s strength would certainly be much stronger during the exchange.¡± ¡°Heh heh, it doesn¡¯t matter that much.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s laugh came from the side, as he walked towards them, ¡°The exchange session lasts two days.¡± After saying this, he looked at Xu Ran in astonishment, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect your second pet beast to evolve too.¡± ¡°Thanks to Senior Gu.¡± Xu Ran replied courteously with a smile. If it wasn¡¯t for Gu Wu taking his four General Stage Pet Beasts for training during this period, he wouldn¡¯t have so many Beast Master Points to exchange resources. ¡°Thanks to me¡­¡± Gu Wu¡¯s mouth twitched a little. He didn¡¯t believe Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast¡¯s evolution had anything to do with him. ¡°Alright, time¡¯s almost up.¡± Gu Wu looked at the people and summoned pet beasts nearby, nodded slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to leave.¡± The meeting place prepared by the Beast Master Association was close to the hotel, it was an outdoor field with a super large battle platform in the middle that was more than a kilometer in length and width. Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 153= Imperial Crown._2 Chapter 238: Chapter 153= Imperial Crown¡¯._2 Translator: 549690339 This kind of platform is often seen in battles among the Leader stage. Around the platform, the seats for each city have been pre-arranged. The seats for Qingzhou City are located in an inconspicuous corner of the venue. ¡°Hmph!¡± After the guide staff left, Gu Wu snorted slightly dissatisfied. ¡°The seating arrangement probably reflects the strength of each city.¡± ¡°No problem, our Qingzhou City isn¡¯t the last one.¡± Xu Jiujiu casually pointed ? to another set of seats that was even more inconspicuous. ¡°They are worse off. ¡°That¡¯s Caixia City.¡± Gu Wu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Their General Level city master passed away, and a new General Level Beast Master has not emerged yet. If it wasn¡¯t for Xieyun City sending someone over to take temporary control, they would have probably still been in a headless state.¡± After hearing Gu Wu¡¯s words, even Xu Jiujiu fell silent. So, other than this unfortunate city, they are the weakest? ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Glancing at Xu Ran, Gu Wu felt his mood improve slightly. ¡°Others may look down on us, but let¡¯s show them what we¡¯ve got during the exchange.¡± ¡°in order to encourage exchange, the Xieyun City Beast Master Association has put together quite a few nice prizes. Once we return to Qingzhou City, our Association won¡¯t be stingy either.¡± Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly; it gave them a boost of morale. ¡°Senior Gu, what is the process for the match later?¡± Xu Ran proactively asked. This was related to his earning resources and could not be neglected. ¡°I was just about to explain.¡± Gu Wu nodded, ¡°The process is not complex. Beast Masters from each city can freely get on the stage, competing in pairs. They can choose any fighting method, but both people and Pet Beasts should only be touched, not harmed.¡± ¡°But what needs to be noted is that each Beast Master only gets one chance to receive a reward. The amount of the reward depends on the strength of your opponent.¡± Gu Wu paused for a moment, ¡°This is actually a restriction for Beast Masters from Xieyun City and other second-level towns to prevent Leadership Level Beast Masters from monopolizing the platform.¡± ¡°Only one chance to receive a reward?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face fell at this. He originally wanted to win more and get more rewards. What a pity. Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts, a trace of amusement flashed in Gu Wu¡¯s eyes, ¡°The Beast Master Association¡¯s reward is only once, but individual duels can be wagered on. There is no limit on this. ¡°A wager, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, ¡°I¡¯ll have to see how it goes first.¡± As they spoke, the Beast Masters from other cities gradually arrived at the scene. The most eye-catching seats in the middle of the venue were occupied by three parties. The number of Beast Masters from these three parties exceeded that of other cities, and their demeanor seemed more transcendent. Moreover, the aura of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts emanated from their teams, making their identities apparent. The one in the middle was the generation of young Beast Masters of this host city, Xieyun City, and on either side, were Beast Masters from the other two second-level towns. ¡°On the left is Cangxue City, and on the right is Juling City,¡± Gu Wu introduced. As the Beast Masters from these three second-level towns arrived, a deep, infinitely majestic chant descended from the sky, bringing an unparalleled air of authority. The slight noise in the venue abruptly stopped. The hundreds of young Beast Masters who had arrived were all gazing in awe at the figure slowly descending from the sky. It was a tiger, a hundred meters long, with two pairs of wings on its back, and black lines all over its white fur. The single horn on its forehead, short and sharp, seemed capable of ripping through space. It gave off palpitations-inducing fluctuations, and around it surged immense power. Looking at it was like staring at a vast ocean. ¡°Roar ¡± The tiger let out another majestic roar. Its mighty power swept around like a tidal wave. It turned into a tangible silvery glow, enveloping the tiger like a field. In the next moment, the tiger¡¯s aura soared into the sky. The space at this point produced countless small cracks. Even the power field that the tiger itself established tore apart, forming a huge hole above its head. The force of the realm converged crazily towards the round hole, as if to fill the void. However, under the surging momentum, it was unable to advance an inch. Ultimately, under the shocked gaze of the crowd, a heart-throbbing ring of energy formed above the tiger¡¯s head. It was as if a crown was being placed on its head! ¡°Four-star skill, Imperial Crown.¡± Gu Wu spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Just as the King Species have the King¡¯s Power, this is the exclusive power of the Emperor Species.¡± ¡°Senior Gu, is this a pet beast of the Emperor Stage?¡± Xu Ran asked, taking a deep breath. In his arms, Ziyun¡¯s fur stood on end, and its pupils drastically contracted. Despite its evolution to the King Species, it still felt a dual suppression of power and life level from the terrifying tiger above. ¡°No this is the Overlord Stage.¡± GuWu shookhis head slightly, ¡°From the Leader Species, each evolution increases the growth stage limit by two stages. The previous stage is known as the transition stage, as it is certain to breakthrough to the next stage over time.¡± ¡°The Overlord Stage is the transition stage belonging to the Emperor Species.¡± Gu Wu paused, ¡°The one who came is Vice-President You Shengjiang of the Association.¡± A transition stage¡­? Xu Ran nodded slightly. He knew that there was a General stage between the Leader Stage and the King Stage, and an Overlord Stage between the King Stage and the Emperor Stage. But he was hearing such a clear distinction for the first time. So, there should also be an unknown growth stage between the Emperor Stage and the Holy Spirit Stage? Xu Ran comforted the three little restless ones, and looked up at the unbeatable tiger in the sky. He had a vague feeling that just one such transcendent being was enough to destroy the entire Qingzhou City, and no one could resist it. Is the Overlord Stage already this powerful? The shocked expression slowly faded from his eyes and in its place, came anticipation and longing. Sooner or later, he too would reach such a level, or even higher! The momentum surrounding the tiger only lasted for a moment. With the tiger landing completely, its breathtaking power receded completely, making it unnoticeable. The crown signifying its power above its head also disappeared at this moment. But, that shocking scene had already eternally embedded itself in the hearts of all the Beast Masters present. A two-meter-tall man, resembling an iron tower, leaped down from the tiger¡¯s head and landed in the center of the field. ¡°Kids, you weren¡¯t scared by my Four-winged Black Tiger, were you?¡± ¡°I You Shengjiang, Vice-President of the Xieyun City Beast Master Association, on behalf of the Association, welcome you all.¡± You Shengjiang laughed, ¡°I¡¯m a straightforward person, so let¡¯s start the exchange now. ¡°Defeating an Elite Level Beast Master gives you either one Leader Stage resource or 400 Beast Master Points; defeating a Leadership Level Beast Master gives you either one General Level resource or 2000 Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s a proactive challenge or being challenged, everyone gets the opportunity to be rewarded once. If you defeat multiple people, the reward will be based on the strongest opponent.¡± ¡°in addition, I¡¯ll throw in an extra reward.¡± You Shengjiang grinned, taking out a jade-like resource emitting a soft white light, ¡°A Heavenly Spirit Stone, to speed up Meditation Training. Whoever goes on stage today, regardless of outcome, will receive one as a reward.¡± As You Shengjiang¡¯s words fell, the Beast Masters who originally wanted to wait and see quickly became agitated. This is a not-so-minor temptation for any Beast Master, especially the ones from 3 Level towns who have never seen this kind of resource. They were rubbing their hands in anticipation. Soon, a Beast Master stepped onto the stage and issued a challenge. ¡°Biwu City, Zhao Yi, Elite Level Beast Master. Who wants to spar with me?¡± ¡°I will!¡± As his words fell, another Beast Master jumped onto the stage on the other side. Without a referee, both of them summoned all their pet beasts and quickly began fighting. ¡°I¡¯ll get on the stage later too!¡± On the side of Qingzhou City, Xu Jiujiu was eager to try. Her small fists were clenched on her thighs, ¡°Xu Ran, when will you make your move?¡± ¡°No hurry.¡± Xu Ran rested his chin on his hand as he watched the Beast Masters spar, ¡°When the Leadership Stage goes on stage, then I¡¯ll make my move.¡± Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 154: Star Evolution! _1 Chapter 239: Chapter 154: Star Evolution! _1 Translator: 549690339 Time, passed by minute and second. Each time a pair of Beast Masters finished their duel, You Shengjiang would cheerfully hand out two Heavenly Spirit Stones, and also deliver the reward for the winner. As one reward after another was given out, the atmosphere in the audience became increasingly heated. Even the losers, their spirits lifted somewhat after receiving the Heavenly Spirit Stones. This made Gu Wu, who had originally complained about the duel, show a much better-looking expression. The Beast Masters from other parts of Qingzhou City were also infected by the lively atmosphere, watching the Beast Masters from other cities show off their impressive powers, they couldn¡¯t resist to step onto the stage one by one. Even Su Xiaoxiao and Gu Ling, who were still at the transcendent level, went on stage to duel with other Beast Masters, and finally returned to their seats with Heavenly Spirit Stones. Xu Ran was still waiting. Since he could only get a reward based on the strongest Beast Master he defeated, Xu Ran naturally opted for a Leadership Level Beast Master. The extra battles could be avoided. Besides, he was already a Leadership Level Beast Master, so it would be somewhat disgraceful to fight Elite Level Beast Masters. And such an opponent didn¡¯t make Xu Ran wait too long. An Elite Beast Master from the 3rd level town, who was full skilled at the Waning Moon level, ended up laughing last. After he defeated his opponent for the tenth time, a Beast Master from Xieyun City made his move. He was also an Elite Beast Master, but when his Pet Beast entered the arena, an intangible suppression enveloped everyone, causing the faces of the other Beast Masters to turn serious. King¡¯s Power! This was a Beast Master whose Pet Beast had evolved into a King Species! The final result was unsurprising, the Perfect Elite Stage King Species Pet Beast defeated the Beast Master who had won ten consecutive matches. Although his other Pet Beast was still from a Leader Species, it didn¡¯t stop everyone from feeling awe and holding some reverence for the Beast Master who came from these Second Level Towns. After winning a round and getting his reward, the Elite Beast Master from Xieyun City didn¡¯t stay on stage. He looked at his camp and then calmly stepped down. Before other Beast Masters could step onto the stage again, another Beast Master from Xieyun City came out. Seeing the three powerful Pet Beasts following him closely, the atmosphere in the audience fell still. This was¡­ a Leadership Stage Pet Beast! It¡¯s finally coming? The faces of the Beast Masters from the 3rd level towns were tense. They had heard that in the Second Level Town, it was not uncommon for Beast Masters to reach the Leadership stage before the age of 25, and they knew they would meet such in this exchange. They didn¡¯t expect to actually meet such an opponent here. Considering the chasm-like gap between the Elite Stage and the Leadership Stage, was there a Beast Master from the 3rd level towns who could defeat such an opponent? Their gazes landed on the still calm Beast Masters on both sides of Xieyun City. Perhaps only the Beast Masters from the other two Second Level Towns were capable of competing, right? The Beast Masters who didn¡¯t get a chance to go on stage before were regretful, because they probably wouldn¡¯t have a chance to go on stage from this point forward. ¡°Xieyun City, Ye Haoming.¡± The Beast Master who came out bowed to the audience under the stage, ¡°A modest beginning, is there anyone willing to duel with me?¡± There was silence in the field. ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s just as expected.¡± Sitting on the seat of Xieyun City to the left, a flamboyantly dressed young man lowered his voice and laughed, ¡°Xieyun City really is¡­¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t join in on the fun, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to be a cold scene, right?¡± ¡°The other 3rd level towns are weaker in momentum, next they will be at the mercy of Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this what they want?¡± said a beautiful woman sitting next to the young man calmly, ¡°They are overstepping their bounds, not only trying to win over the nearby 3rd level towns, but also reaching out for other 3rd level towns in the Beast Field.¡± ¡°We naturally have to stir up the situation and show our attitude.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go down and meet this guy.¡± The young man sneered, his gaze towards Ye Haoming contained some scorn, ¡°He seems self-aware, knowing that he¡¯s just a brick.¡± ¡°A Leadership Level without even one King Species Pet Beast, ha.¡± The young man was about to stand up but was stopped by the beautiful woman, ¡°Someone is going up.¡± The beautiful woman watched as a youth walked out from the seats of Qingzhou City, her eyes lit up with surprise, ¡°A small place actually has such a genius?¡± ¡°Qingzhou City, Xu Ran.¡± In the eyes of everyone, Xu Ran calmly stepped onto the stage, mimicking Ye Haoming¡¯s earlier gesture, he bowed to him. The light in Ye Haoming¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment. In his anticipation, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone from the 3rd level towns who could step onto the stage to fight him. Then, the other two Second Level Towns would probably send Leadership Level Beast Masters to spar with him so as to gauge the depth of these towns. Unexpectedly, things didn¡¯t go quite as he expected. Looking at the three Pet Beasts following Xu Ran, Ye Haoming¡¯s gaze finally settled on Ziyun, feeling a sense of danger coming from Ziyun, his pupils contracted slightly. It really was the Leadership Stage. From where Xu Ran walked out, it seemed that Qingzhou City wasn¡¯t a very impressive 3rd level town, and it was almost at the bottom. Unexpectedly, such a place could produce such a young Leadership Level Beast Master. However¡­ a hint of disdain flashed in Ye Haoming¡¯s eyes. Of the three Pet Beasts, only one of them has advanced. Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 154: Star Evolution! _2 Chapter 240: Chapter 154: Star Evolution! _2 Translator: 549690339 The combat power of the other two can be disregarded. Is that it? This is a free-for-all challenge with no restrictions on the means of battle ready; my three Leadership Stage Beasts can suppress them easily. Well, the purpose of my appearance is to demonstrate the gap between a Second Level Town and a Third-Level City. Since they dare to come up, let them know that there is a difference even between beasts of the Leadership Level! ¡°Alright, come on!¡± Ye Haoming gave a low shout, and the three pet beasts behind him were ready for battle. Next, he would go all out and deal with his opponent as quickly as possible. On the other side, Xu Ran and Ziyun were also communicating secretly through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need Star to help?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (No! A mere three unevolved Leadership Stage beasts, easy to defeat!) ¡°Meow!¡± (You guys just watch, I do it alone!) Ziyun, who was preparing to attack, was very rebellious and arrogant. It was its first battle after all its three-star skills were upgraded to the Full Moon Level. It was time to show its real power! ¡°Alright then.¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s insistence, Xu Ran, Star, and Cancan silently retreated two steps back. When Ye Haoming saw this, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes. What do they mean? Does the guy want to fight me with just one pet? A flame of nameless anger surged up in his heart. Cocky bloke from a small place! Then don¡¯t blame me for being rude! The angry intent of the Beast Master was perceived by the three Leadership Stage Pet Beasts, and they were all fired up and launched an attack towards Ziyun. At the same time, all three of them charged towards Ziyun. One of them was enveloped in red flames, and it spewed out a magnificent pillar of fire when it was a hundred meters away from Ziyun. The pillar of fire swept towards Ziyun like a cannonball. Even before it arrived, the waves of heat caused the surrounding air to expand rapidly, distorting the light and shadow. Fire attribute two-star skill, later named Waning Moon Class: Red Flame Cannon! Another was filled with an invisible terrifying power. Every time it took a step, it would silently leave a dent in the extremely hard fighting platform. Its figure moved at lightning speed towards Ziyun, reaching him in the blink of an eye. It raised a sharp claw, each claw tip like a blade that could cut through anything. Tearing through the air, it erupted in a sharp whistle as it attacked Ziyun. Fighting attribute two-star skill, Waning Moon class; Shattering Claw! The last pet beast was a bird. A green storm wrapped around it as if it were an arrow tearing through space, shooting swiftly towards Ziyun. Its speed was only second to the fighting animal pet. Its figure seemed to pause as it paused in mid-air. At the same time, its wings flapped hard, sending feather blades like knives flying, blocking Ziyun¡¯s escape from all sides! Wind attribute two-star skill, Waning Moon class; Wind Blade! The three beasts had evidently had a long time to work together. Under Ye Haoming¡¯s command, they coordinated quite well. As soon as the fighting beast appeared in front of Ziyun, Wind Blade had already sealed the nearby area, and the Red Flame Cannon was on the way. All it needed was for the fighting beast to land a hit, and then Ziyun would be met with a series of attacks! ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± A triumphant look appeared on Ye Haoming¡¯s face. Although his three beasts had just advanced to the Leadership Stage not long ago, and their skill proficiency had not been raised to the Full Moon level, their strong collaboration had produced an effect greater than the sum of its parts. Looking at Ziyun, who was still standing in the same spot and almost had no time to react, his eyes revealed a trace of contempt. Small places will always be small places. Even if they¡¯re lucky enough to break through to the Leadership Level, they can¡¯t compare to me in battle experience. All other beast masters at the venue were nervous at this moment. When they saw Xu Ran come out, the other Beast Masters from the third-tier cities were first surprised, then elated, as they were all on the same side at this moment. Xu Ran was at an absolute disadvantage from the get-go, causing all of them to hold their breaths. Those who were calm enough to calculate were the Beast Masters from the other two Second-Level Towns on either side of Cloud City, and the Beast Masters from Qingzhou City. The former had already figured out some clues, while the latter knew about Xu Ran¡¯s situation and were not too worried. Under the gaze of everyone, Ziyun¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and a purple light emanated from its unique dual pupils. ¡°Zzzzzz¨C¡± The next moment, accompanied by the sharp sound of the air being punctured, a low thunderous noise erupted in the field. ¡°Boom!¡± A brilliant burst of lightning engulfed the Combat System Pet Beast that was thrashing its claw. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ¡ö Step on Electric Traces! The Combat System Pet Beast that touched Ziyun¡¯s residual thunderbolts didn¡¯t even face Ziyun, but just fell to the ground, completely blackened. By now, Ziyun had already shown up in front of the Wind Pet Beast in the air. Gazing at the Wind Pet Beast, whose surprise in its eyes quickly dissipated and was trying to flap its wings to escape, Ziyun¡¯s eyes flashed with sharpness. Isn¡¯t it too late to try and escape now? Invisible majesty enveloped around in an instant, the Wind Pet Beast¡¯s body stiffened suddenly, as if tremendous pressure was pressing against it from all sides, making its breathing extremely difficult. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ¡ö King¡¯s Power! In the next instant, the Wind Pet Beast was simply swept away by Ziyun¡¯s tail. Sensing the rushing heat wave behind him, Ziyun slightly turned his head. A low and suppressed roar reverberated through the air in an instant. ¡°Meow¡­¡± A ball of deep purple light, roughly the size of a soccer ball and filled with terrifying lightning that made hearts palpitate, burst out from in front of Ziyun, swiftly charging towards the rushing flames. The powerful onslaught from ¡®Red Flame Cannon¡¯ crumbled in front of this deep purple light ball, utterly powerless. The light ball had already appeared near the Fire Pet Beast in its horror and transformed into a sea of thunder, completely devouring it! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ? Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound! With strength, skill star level, and skill proficiency superior to the three opponents, defeating three was a cakewalk. If not for Ziyun wanting to try out skills that had just been upgraded to Full Moon Level, it could have been even faster. Not even sparing a glance to the three Leadership Stage beasts that had fallen to the ground, Ziyun calmly strutted back to Xu Ran¡¯s side, resuming its harmless and obedient demeanor. ¡°What¡­¡± The triumphant grin on Ye Haoming¡¯s face, which had yet to recede, froze. What just happened? In the blink of an eye, how had he, who should have won, ended up losing instead? Huh? No way, why?! ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly at Ye Haoming, who looked as if he was questioning his life, then turned to You Shengjiang, ¡°Senior You, may I askfor a marshal-level resource of the Combat System?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± You Shengjiang looked deeply at Xu Ran. The original plan was to show the difference between the Beast Masters of a third-level town. But a slight misstep had rendered the effect reversed. After handing over a combat system resource and a Heavenly Spirit Stone to Xu Ran, You Shengjiang patted him on the shoulder, laughing, ¡°Impressive youth. Would you like another match?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran unhesitatingly shook his head, ¡°The last battle was too intense. My pet beast has consumed too much strength; I¡¯d rather not continue.¡± He had already secured the rewards. What¡¯s the point in fighting anymore? Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, You Shengjiang¡¯s smile stiffened momentarily, while Ye Haoming seemed even more frustrated. Too intense? Too much strength used? Do you even believe what you just said?! Though he wanted to send another more powerful Beast Master to defeat Xu Ran, keeping him for now seemed inappropriate. As he watched Xu Ran walk away with ease, You Shengjiang could only shake his head and say, ¡°The exchange continues.¡± Elsewhere, after returning to his seat with the resources, Xu Ran turned to Gu Wu. ¡°Senior Gu, I¡¯mgoingback to the hotel first.¡± ¡°Okay, you can go.¡± Gu Wu answered, looking somewhat perplexed. It might be for the best that Xu Ran left. Otherwise, he might be killed by the onlooking Beast Masters of Xieyun City through their stares alone, right? Watching Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure, Gu Wu¡¯s face broke into a smile. That was satisfying. So satisfying. Back at the hotel, before Xu Ran had a chance to check out what the Combat System resource You Shengjiang gave him was, he received another piece of good news. The exchanged resources had arrived. ¡°But of course, the logistics of a big city are truly fast.¡± sighed Xu Ran, turning to look at the overly excited star, ¡°Next, we need to prepare for evolution.¡± Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Chapter 155: Mad Dash under the Moonlit Chapter 241: Chapter 155: Mad Dash under the Moonlit Night_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°First, let¡¯s check the resources-¡± After receiving the alloy box containing all the resources from the hands of the powerful distributor, Xu Ran, along with the three little ones, elegantly came to the hotel room and started to check them from the opened alloy box. Just one look, and Star saw what it had been longing for day and night, the Night Demon Dragon single horn. ¡°xilu!¡± (This is it!) Star¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. All the preparations for the evolution had come to an end, it was time to undergo the final transformation! It had already felt, the power that, without deliberately increasing, was still getting stronger, hiding within its body. If it was delayed any further, it might really not be able to hold back the advancement. No time to lose! ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Xu Ran held the single horn, about one meter in length, in his hands and carefully felt it. The texture of the horn was not quite what he had imagined. He initially thought a dragon¡¯s horn should be hard, even covered with layer upon layer of keratin, extremely rough. But the feel of the Night Demon Dragon¡¯s horn was quite smooth, and it felt great to touch. Of course, what¡¯s more important is the powerful dark attribute power it harbors. ¡°This thing obviously isn¡¯t food.¡± Xu Ran glanced at it, and handed it over to Star, ¡°Hl hang it on you later, and you can use it to complete the evolution.¡± ¡°xilu!¡± (Good!) Star excitedly took the single horn, feeling the somewhat familiar power inside it, with anticipation in its eyes. ¡°According to the evolution ritual, you should be running wildly in the pure darkness, transcending to the utmost extent before you exhaust your last breath, and finally complete the evolution.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°In fact, I still don¡¯t really know what pure darkness really is.¡± ¡°But it certainly won¡¯t be during the day, so let¡¯s try it tonight.¡± ¡°xilu!¡± (Uhhuh!) Star nodded heavily. Next, Xu Ran began to check the other resources in the alloy box. This included all the materials for Cancan¡¯s evolution. Despite the heavy debt of 3000 points, seeing all her evolution materials gathered, and taking a solid step towards evolution, a joyful expression appeared on Cancan¡¯s face. It¡¯s worth it! Everything is worth it! Ziyun also gained two pieces of fighting attribute resources. One was the Resonance Bead exchanged for Beast Master points before, and the other was the resources just won. It was a resource that looked like a claw bone. Xu Ran compared them in the exchange list, and ultimately confirmed this resource was named Cracked Claw Bone. It could effectively improve the power of claw attacks and there was a certain chance to comprehend a three-star skill called Shredding Sky Cracks during the absorption process. This resource was worth 24.00 points in the exchange list. This was Xu Ran¡¯s first encounter with a resource that had a chance to comprehend a skill. Although it had limited improvement on strength, both he and Ziyun felt it was very worthwhile. If they managed to comprehend a three-star skill, it would be equivalent to saving 2000 value points. Moreover, the boost to claw skills could also be applied to the Destruction Thunder Claw. In spite of dishonoring the face of Xieyun City, You Shengjiang still gave him such a great resource. This way, the people of Xieyun City didn¡¯t seem too bad. ¡°It¡¯s not night yet, let¡¯s go out for a walk.¡± Xu Ran looked at the time and shrugged, ¡°Evolution can only begin at night, maybe we can take a stroll now, get familiar with the nearby environment, and also purchase the shop?¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten about the main task 2. Once he purchased a shop in Xieyun City, half of this task would be completed. Having managed for so long, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t calculated carefully, but he had quite a few million in his account, and buying a shop shouldn¡¯t be a problem. After all, the system did not specify the size. As for Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion, the three little ones naturally agreed. They packed up the alloy box,andtheman with the three pets happily walked out of the hotel. The first step in shopping, first have a lunch! ¡°knock knock knock- ¡± The sound of knuckles tapping on the wooden surface of the table, producing a crisp sound mixed with a somewhat muffled sound. Before long, the knocking stopped, the owner of the hand lifted it and looked at the sullen-looking young man in front of him. ¡°So¡­ you were defeated by a Beast Master from a level 3 town?¡± If Xu Ran were here, he would recognize the young man at a glance. He was Ye Haoming, who had lost to him earlier today. ¡°Let me explain.¡± A look of helplessness appeared on Ye Haoming¡¯s face, ¡°That guy only had one pet beast that had broken through the leadership stage, but not only had that pet beast evolved into a king species, all the skills it currently uses were of full moon level¡­¡± He glanced at the young man across from him, ¡°And that pet beast is very powerful, not like one that just advanced.¡± ¡°I guess, surely Qingzhou City made great efforts to groom such a pet beast for him in advance for the exchange meeting, and contracted it right after the contract power broke through the third stage.¡± Ye Haoming spoke resentfully. ¡°Anyway, you lost, and begged me to take revenge for you tomorrow.¡± The young man spoke calmly, ¡°You know, before Vice President You approached me, I had refused to participate, because I don¡¯t like bullying the weak.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± It seemed Ye Haoming had heard some rumors about the young man in front of him, and he looked at him tentatively. ¡°It costs extra!¡± The young man spoke indifferently. ¡°¡­Alright!¡± Ye Haoming gritted his teeth, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s exchange format is a bit different from today¡¯s, you duel him, I¡¯ll provide the resources for the duel, after you win, the two items are yours, and in addition, I¡¯ll give you one general stage resource.¡± Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Chapter 155: Mad Dash under the Moonlit Night_2 Chapter 242: Chapter 155: Mad Dash under the Moonlit Night_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Vice President You has also made a statement. Whoever defeats Xu Ran tomorrow will receive a reward personally from him, which is the equivalent of four General stage resources!¡± After saying this, Ye Haoming felt a pang in his heart. No matter what, he was the one that lost to Xu Ran, causing the Beast Master Association of Xieyun City to lose face, so he had to take some responsibility. If not for this, he wouldn¡¯t be as willing to cut his losses. ¡°I say¡­ aren¡¯t you confused about something?¡± The young man shook his head and crossed his legs, ¡°Let me do the math for you.¡± ¡°For the duel, Xu Ran must also put up a General stage resource. If I win, the resource is mine. That¡¯s fair enough, right?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Ye Haoming nodded. ¡°Vice President You rewards one on his personal account, that¡¯s his reward. If I win over Xu Ran and achieve it, that¡¯s also fair enough, right?¡± ¡°¡­Fair enough.¡± Ye Haoming nodded again, but his movement was slower this time. He had a feeling that something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°You¡¯re offering one resource for the duel. This resource must be provided regardless of whom you¡¯re asking to duel. In other words, it¡¯s not exclusively for me, right?¡± ¡°No¡­ Wait¡­¡± Ye Haoming furrowed his brow, sensing a problem here. Before Ye Haoming could figure it out, the young man grinned and clapped his hands together, ¡°You see, which means you¡¯re giving me a General stage resource for seeking my help.¡± ¡°Not enough, add some more.¡± ¡°That¡­ add one more?¡± Ye Haoming instinctively went along with the young man¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s settled.¡± The young man bared his white teeth in a bright grin, ¡°I promise to help you secure victory tomorrow!¡± ¡°My reputation, Qin Can, is guaranteed.¡± The young man stood up, gave Ye Haoming¡¯s shoulder a pat and gently pushed him out, ¡°See you, no need to walk me out.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Ye Haoming finally realized the trick in their conversation. When he turned to argue further, he found the door was already closed, with a ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ sign hanging on it. Ye Haoming:¡±¡­¡± He was tricked by Qin Can. ¡°Hello, based on your needs, we have finally selected this space for you. What do you think?¡± In a shop that hadn¡¯t been renovated, the real estate agent showed a polite smile to Xu Ran. ¡°Pretty good.¡± Xu Ran looked around and nodded satisfactorily. This shop was larger than the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City. Of course, it was only slightly larger in terms of appearance. And the layouts of both places were similar; both were two-story buildings with the upstairs that could be remodeled as a living area. As for the location, it was within the third ring of Xieyun City. Although not in the city center, it was much more bustling than the original location in Qingzhou City. The key point was, the price was not high. ¡°Three million seven hundred thousand paid in full, right?¡± Xu Ran turned to the real estate agent, ¡°I¡¯ll pay in full. Can you handle the paperwork and miscellaneous details for me?¡± ¡°Of course we can!¡± The agent showed deep respect, ¡°Sir, please follow me to make the payment, and the shop will be yours.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran snapped his fingers and followed the agent to complete the payment. An hour later, the shop was officially transferred to Xu Ran¡¯s name. Xu Ran looked at the system panel. [Main Task 2: Prevention Before Disaster] Task Description: Please upgrade the system clerk to the system store manager and own a shop in any Second Level Town. Task Reward: System ClerkX2, System Upgrade Experience+200] With a shop in Xieyun City, half of Main Task 2 was completed. Next, he needed to promote Teacher Tony to the system store manager. Thinking of the large amount of resources needed for the upgrade, Xu Ran felt a headache coming on. This would have to wait until Cancan successfully evolves. The priority of the three little ones¡¯ evolution is, of course, higher than the system task. However¡­ there was another matter that needed to be scheduled. Xu Ran rubbed his chin. Since he already had a shop, the opening of a branch was not far off. Although it hasn¡¯t officially opened yet, a little preheating couldn¡¯t hurt. He needed to think of a way to advertise, to let the name of the Starfire Foster Shop appear in the public eye in Xieyun City. ¡°So, I still have to participate in tomorrow¡¯s friendly exchange.¡± Xu Ran sighed lightly, ¡°Well, for the sake of business, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Looking at the somewhat dim sky, Xu Ran turned his head and saw the three little ones carrying big and small packages at their side. Well¡­ mainly Star and Cancan were carrying them. Ziyun was lazily lying on Cancan¡¯s shell, claiming it was to constantly feel the weight of the 3000-point debt, but in reality, it was just taking a lazy break after a tiring afternoon of shopping. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll first return to the hotel to put down our stuff, and then prepare for the evolution.¡± The venue for the evolution had already been found by Xu Ran in the afternoon. It was a long winding mountain road in Xieyun City that wasn¡¯t lit at night. This should be the place that best meets the requirements for the evolution ritual in Xu Ran¡¯s opinion. It¡¯s night. Bright lights were up, moonlight pierced through, stars filled the night sky. One man and his three little beasts hopped into a familiar cab, heading to the previously spotted winding mountain road. ¡°There¡¯s really no streetlight, perfect.¡± Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the sky with a hint of helplessness, ¡°But this moonlight¡­¡± With the moonlight, it couldn¡¯t be considered pure darkness, could it? ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I want to try!) Star spoke with conviction. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became a bit serious, ¡°If something goes wrong with the ritual, the evolution might become very difficult.¡± Star nodded again. It still wasn¡¯t clear what pure darkness was. But it didn¡¯ t want to wait any longer. It wanted to transcend itself, catch up with Ziyun¡¯s pace, and become more powerful. Only then could it be of more help to everyone. Feeling Star¡¯s aspirations, Xu Ran was slightly touched. He fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I will accompany you through the evolution.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (And me too!) ¡°Charming!¡± (And me too!) Ziyun and Cancan both raised their paws in unison. With a sense of touched feeling in their eyes, Star snorted and nodded emphatically. After swallowing all the evolution resources prepared by Xu Ran, Star unshrank and returned to its four-meter height, with the Night Demon Dragon¡¯s single horn fixed around its neck. Xu Ran, holding Ziyun and Cancan, climbed onto Star¡¯s back. They were at the foot of the winding mountain road, pointing toward the mountain top. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu!!!¡± Star let out a soaring cry, turned off the Heart of Eternal Night, and began to sprint mightily toward the front. Run! Start running! The resources that were just swallowed are now exploding within Star¡¯s body. Unruly energy seeped through every inch of its body. Xu Ran and the two little beasts on Star1 s back could feel this unusually clearly. ¡°Meow!¡± (It¡¯s starting!) Having gone through one evolution, Ziyun looked solemn. it knew that this was the most tormenting stage. Come on, Star! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star screamed out in pain. The energy explosion felt like spinning blades tearing its body apart, causing extreme pain all over. It seemed like it wanted to melt into Star. However, it seemed to lack some guidance, this uncontrollable power was running wild inside Star¡¯s body like a headless fly, but it still couldn¡¯t be fully absorbed. What¡¯s worse was that the resonating energy from the absorbed resources was still erupting continuously. This put Star under increasing pressure and agony. ¡°Meow-¡± (This state seems a bit wrong!) Focusing intently on watching Star¡¯s changes, Ziyun became a bit anxious. Though its own evolution had also been tough, the energy was always being absorbed under some unknown guidance, unlike Star¡¯s current situation where it was becoming more and more violent, but completely unable to absorb at all. Feeling Star¡¯s increasingly unstable state, a worried look appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes as well. Could it really be due to the moonlight? Xu Ran jerkily raised his head to look at the radiant moon in the sky. A bolt of lightning flashed through Xu Ran¡¯s mind. Something¡¯s not right, something¡¯s not right! What is darkness? Complete darkness is when you can¡¯t see anything. Even if there was no moonlight, Star, as a dark attribute beast, could still see everything around it due to its night vision ability. So¡­ ¡°Star, close your eyes and run!¡± Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Chapter 156 Darker than night! Brighter than stars!_l Chapter 243: Chapter 156 Darker than night! Brighter than stars!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Xi Lu!¡± In pain, Star let out a hoarse cry, his eyes quickly closing shut. He could no longer see the stars and moonlight outlining the mountain road, no longer could he rely on his own night vision to roam freely in the darkness. The closed eyelids shielded his purple crystal-like eyes, blocking all the light from the outside world. Thus, pure darkness descended. In a moment, Star felt as though he had lost his way. Coupled with the tearing pain all around him, his movement became uncertain. Could he continue to move forward? Would he stumble? Just then, a voice came, resolute, breaking through his hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, charge forward!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll guide you!¡± It was Xu Ran¡¯s voice! Slowly, Star¡¯s brows relaxed, his expression easing. Bearing the pervasive pain, he once again moved his sturdy hooves, charging ahead without a second thought. Even ifhecouldn¡¯tsee anything ontheroad, evenifhecouldn¡¯tseethe obstacles, couldn¡¯t see the bends in the mountain road, at this moment, Star felt a sense of tranquility in his heart. The savage and disorderly power surging within him seemed to find direction in response to the change in his emotional state. They began to merge bit by bit with Star¡¯s body, transforming into Star¡¯s own power. Star¡¯s momentum increased visibly, and the pain around him appeared to lessen at that moment. However, Xu Ran, Ziyun and Cancan still had their brows furrowed. They noticed that while all other resources had begun to be absorbed, the single horn that had always been hanging around Star¡¯s neck hadn¡¯t moved at all. This was the main material for evolution! Without it, how could the evolution be successful? ¡°Turn right ahead!¡± Xu Ran remained steadfast, continuing to guide Star¡¯s direction with a determined tone. However, his eyes carried a hint of worry, and he exchanged a glance with Ziyun. Ziyun was staring intently at the horn of the mature Night Demon Dragon, her face showing signs of contemplation. Although she had evolved once before, her evolution didn¡¯t have much in common with Star¡¯s, and she could only offer limited help at this moment. The refusal of the horn of the mature Night Demon Dragon to be absorbed, could it be that it couldn¡¯t simply be hung on the body, but should be worn in another way? Ziyun glanced over at an innocent Cancan and slightly nodded. A horn, after all, should naturally grow on the head! As Ziyun shared her conjecture via their contract bond, Xu Ran also lightly nodded. That seemed like a reasonable explanation. A horn that grew on the head, huh¡­ ¡°Star, keep running, I¡¯ll help you change the place where you wear the horn!¡± Xu Ran boomed. And, facing the oncoming strong wind, he removed the Night Demon Dragon horn hanging from Star¡¯s neck and attached it to the top of Star¡¯s head. After a moment, Xu Ran shook his head slightly. This mere attachment was still not enough to enable Star to absorb the energy. Then let¡¯s try another method! Xu Ran¡¯s gaze landed on the white scar between Star¡¯s eyebrows. This white scar was the most striking part of Star¡¯s body as it had a color that was entirely distinct from the rest. At this moment, Xu Ran had an idea. He tightly gripped the base of the horn and pressed it hard against the white scar between Star¡¯s eyebrows. The next second, something extraordinary happened. The horn that had previously shown no response, even though it was filled with massive energy, suddenly exploded with a deep light. Even in the black of night, Xu Ran could see that black power was rapidly flowing into Star¡¯s forehead, as if to paint everything black. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± An icy sensation enveloped Star, causing his sturdy body to shudder involuntarily, as if all the light was being swallowed at that moment. He had a feeling that even if he were to open his eyes now, nothing would be clear. He attempted to open his eyes, and everything was as he predicted. Everything had fallen into darkness. He¡¯d felt this before. It was when he was awakening, when he stepped into complete darkness, unable to search for anything. And now, such darkness had come again. Watching Star, whose fur had turned from purple to black at the tips, whose eyes were pitch black and devoid of any spirit, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes showed a trace of realization. So that¡¯s how it is. This is the true, pure darkness. Previously when he had told Star to close his eyes, it barely fulfilled the conditions necessary to absorb the resources. It was more of a stroke of luck. It was also because closing his eyes allowed Star to absorb power from the other resources, but failed to absorb any from the Night Demon Dragon¡¯s horn, that Xu Ran had noticed the abnormality with the horn. Immediately after, Xu Ran turned his attention to Star¡¯s forehead. Even now, the white scar on Star¡¯s forehead remained strikingly noticeable. The dark and overwhelming power from within the horn was spreading from the edge of the white scar, trying to consume the last bit of non-black existence. But that white scar was incredibly resilient. As if stimulated by the power of darkness, under the wide astonished eyes of Xu Ran and the others, it actually began to emit a faint glow! ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The white scar on Star¡¯s forehead was this unique? ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star suddenly let out a defiant roar, as the white scar began to glow, bringing a faint light into the world of darkness he was in. Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Chapter 156 Darker than night! Brighter than stars !_2 Chapter 244: Chapter 156 Darker than night! Brighter than stars !_2 Translator: 549690339 Although the light was shaky, it seemed that it would soon be consumed again. Yet, at this moment, the light was straight ahead of it, guiding it in its frenzied sprint! Its steps became increasingly firm, the power overwhelming its body no longer bound its movements, they only lent more force to its strides. ¡°Clip-clop¡­clip-clop¡­¡± In the silence of the night, the continuous sound of Star¡¯s firm hooves colliding with the road echoed out. Feeling Star¡¯s determination, the light of the White Scar shone even brighter. In the dumbstruck presence of Xu Ran and the two little ones, the White Scar which initially had been faltering like a lonely boat amidst a storm, was surprisingly starting to push back against the dark single horn! White light began to spread on the single horn! The single horn trembled slightly, as if angered, and seemed fearful as well. More power exploded from within it, trying to extinguish the last glimmer of light that was stubbornly resisting. The two began a tug-of-war confrontation! Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. The White Scar was a power Star had possessed since its awakening. It used to look more like a beautiful embellishment. This power was hidden deep within Star. But now, under the erosion of the single horn, this power was ignited. So¡­ If the White Scar triumphed over the single horn, would Star successfully complete its evolution? Thinking about it, Xu Ran cast an encouraging glance at Star. This was a battle they couldn¡¯t intervene in, a struggle originating from Star itself. So, hang in there! As if it felt Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, Star¡¯s fighting spirit grew more vigorous and the light of the White Scar on its forehead shone even brighter and more sparkling. The power within the Night Demon Dragon¡¯s horn, which had exploded, was continuously weakening, while the power of the White Scar derived from Star was ceaseless. As time passed, the balance of advantage silently tipped between them. In the end, light shone on the outline of the Night Demon Dragon¡¯s single horn, ripped apart the residual dark power within the horn, and calmed the crazily trembling horn rapidly. The next moment, the White Scar began migrating from Star¡¯s forehead. The base of the single horn was already touching the White Scar. It began to spread from the base to the tip of the horn, eventually resting on the tip, staining the very end white. Xu Ran quietly released his grip that had been holding the single horn. Somehow, the single horn once a meter long had now shrunk to half a meter, as if it had been polished, radiating the light of obsidian and emanating the aura of Star itself. He knew from this moment on, the single horn no longer belonged to the Night Demon Dragon. It was Star¡¯s own single horn. A dark single horn sparkling with starlight! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star let out a stirring cry. As the showdown between the White Scar and the single horn concluded, its struggle with darkness was unknowingly drawing to a close. The white light was getting closer and closer, as if it were within reach. Its robust hooves exploded with powerful strength. Star jumped with all its might, trying to reach that guiding radiance in its darkest hour. The white light transformed into countless images the moment it touched. It saw its father, who had always been its idol and goal, guiding it to run when it was young. It never possessed any transcendent powers, and would tire out after just a moment. Whenever this happened, its father would never turn back, he would just silently slow down to ensure he was always in its sight. It saw Xu Ran bringing out the Awakening Stone and placing it on its forehead, fulfilling its lifelong dream. In its previous state of being immersed in the fantasy of awakening, it did not realize what was happening in the world outside. However, this time, from a god¡¯s-eye view, it saw Xu Ran standing by its side the whole time, his eyes filled with anticipation. It saw Ziyun taking it around, while it was still naive after just awakening, to every corner of the foster care area. The foster care residents who, at the time were strangers, became familiar to it quickly through Ziyun¡¯s introduction. Tempered by Ziyun¡¯s poise with Star freshly integrated into the foster care community, they warmed up and helped him adapt to his new life quickly. It saw Cancan just after birth trailing behind it, listening to the introduction of the residents as patiently as Ziyun had done for it. Star, who had never been a senior before, was quite insecure in its heart. But Cancan¡¯s adoring look and ever-present curiosity about the world filled it with a sense of responsibility for the first time. It had thought the light guiding it was a dark star in the sky, a kindred soul to its own condition. At this moment, it realized that the guiding light had always been by its side. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!!!¡± Amidst a cacophony of complex emotions, brilliant white light erupted all around Star. Its strength soared visibly as it continued to ascend dramatically. At the same time, its shape within the bright light began to transform. In this moment, it was not only evolving but also advancing! Star, who was originally four meters tall, visibly grew stronger, maintaining its original size without getting bigger. On its initially pure black body, faint starlight appeared intermittally, like a flowing star chart, each fleeting image slightly different after each flash. Dazzling purple light appeared on Star¡¯s purple hooves. Each step produced a swirling star-cloud light at the place where Star¡¯s foot landed. A pointed horn dyed white at the tip, sparkling with an unquenchable brilliant light, as splendid as a diamond. It was like a bright star in the blackness. It no longer needed the guidance of starlight, because the starlight was on it! When the light faded, Star, in a new form, carried Xu Ran and the two small ones, galloping freely on the mountain road. At this moment, it was not for evolution, but for indulgence of its inner heart. ¡°Charge!¡± Looking at Star, who was in high spirits, Xu Ran laughed heartily, not immediately interrupting its galloping, but silently opening the system panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Star Race Name: Star God Horse Attribute: DarkAttribute Growth Stage: Leadership Stage (17.9w/30w)[ + ) Race Stage: King Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ïNight Rune (Full MoonLevel)](o/loooo)[ + ] [¡ï¡ï¡ïFated Star Pulling (Full Moon Level)](o/loooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïNight Inspection (Waning Moon Level)](315/2OOO)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïMoon Concealment Star Racing (WaningMoon Level)](3O1/2OOO)[ + ] [¡ï¡ï¡ïHeart of Eternal Night (Full Moon Level)](0/10000)[ + ] [¡ï¡ï¡ïKing¡¯s Power( Stardust Level)](o/ioo)[ + ] [¡ï¡ïImmortal Star Attraction(Stardust Level)](o/loo)[+]] There are two more skills¡­ Xu Ran nodded slightly. Unlike the changes before and after Ziyun¡¯s evolution, perhaps because there was no new second attribute, Star¡¯s previous skills did not change at all. The two extra skills, one of which is the King¡¯s Power that the King Species must master, and the other one is the two-star skill Immortal Star Attraction¡­ ¡°Star, cast Immortal Star Attraction!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Okay!) Star neighed, its eyes flickered with excited emotions. It just so happened that it wanted to try this new skill. As power surged, Star¡¯s single horn became even more brilliant, dazzling light circulated at the tip of the horn, as if it was about to turn the whole horn completely white. An unusual power spread from the horn all around, and Xu Ran felt that everything around him seemed to become brighter. Even though it was a dark attribute pet beast, it had a skill that could emit light¡­ Xu Ran chuckled and then opened his mouth to ask, ¡°What is the specific effect of this skill?¡± Based on the current situation, it seemed impossible to make a direct judgment. Star knew this as well, and immediately began to explain the specific effects of this skill. After it finished, surprised expressions crossed the faces of Xu Ran and the two small ones. The effect of this skill was extraordinary. It could break all illusions and lies, guiding the path with starlight. Because there were no illusions around at the moment, the light just now seemed unimpressive. If there were illusions around, the light just now could have instantly made the illusions disappear. The frequency of using this skill may not be too high, but it is crucial at certain key moments. ¡°Very good.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, and a satisfied look appeared on his face. Star¡¯s previous skills had already formed a system of their own. At this time, the Immortal Star Attraction was a kind of perfection to Star¡¯s auxiliary abilities, making it able to cope with more complex combat situations. Then next¡­ ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Addpoint!) Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Chapter 157: Ziyun, Please Whip Me Freelyil Chapter 245: Chapter 157: Ziyun, Please Whip Me Freelyil Translator: 549690339 Growth Stage:Leadership Stage (179k/3OOk)[ + ] ¡®V¡¯V¡¯V Growth Stage: Leadership Stage (193k/3OOk)[ + ] The 13,465 physical points that Star had previously exchanged were finally put to use at this moment. In the short time after the evolution, Star, which had originally stagnated, with a big gap away from Ziyun¡¯s power, had now come close to Ziyun. However, Ziyun was not at all flustered. After all, its growth stage progress has officially broken through 200k through the continuous absorption over the past few days. Next, it and Star started off at the same starting line and, all Beast Master Points and Remaining Value Points are reduced to zero. There¡¯s no way Star could catch up! If you really want to compare, it has a huge advantage in skill proficiency over Star! ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Keep adding Skill Points!) A sense of excitement and anticipation appeared in Star¡¯s eyes when it cried out. The remaining 519 Skill Points from the last exchange are now put into use at this moment. The Three Star Skill ¡°King¡¯s Power¡± and the Two Stars Skill ¡°Immortal Star Attraction¡±, both newly awakened, could breakthrough from Stardust Level to Starlight Level today! Even though they still have a considerable disparity from the other skills, focusing on training these two skills next would soon catch up to the other skills. After all, for Transcendent Beings at the Leadership Stage, Stardust Level and Starlight Level skills show increased proficiency, and their efficiency is higher. ¡°I suggest you hold off on using skill points,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°From 0 proficiency to Waning Moon Level requires 600 skill points. With your Leadership stage strength, training Stardust Level skills is very efficient. It¡¯s not impossible to improve by 81 points overnight.¡± ¡°Therefore, if you train a skill first and use skill points afterwards, you can raise either King¡¯s Power or Immortal Star Attraction to Waning Moon Level before tomorrow¡¯s exchange event.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is that so¡­) Star seemed to ponder Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion. Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion, is quite tempting for it. But the question now is which skill to choose. Star glanced at Ziyun and had an answer in its mind Train Immortal Star Attraction first! Even if King¡¯s Power is a higher-level skill, Ziyun, which also belongs to King Species, has already mastered it. Even if its proficiency improves quickly, it won¡¯t surpass Ziyun, which is already at Full Moon Level, and its help in tomorrow¡¯s battle is limited. It would be better to enhance Immortal Star Attraction. What if it comes in handy tomorrow? ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I will train Immortal Star Attraction!) ¡°It¡¯s a good choice.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly before suddenly thinking of something and smiled, ¡°Actually, there is a special way to train King¡¯s Power that¡¯s faster than what I taught Ziyun.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What is it?) Ziyun abruptly looked up, showing a curious expression. After its evolution was complete, Xu Ran taught it how to train several newly awakened skills, including King¡¯s Power. Does the Beast Master have an ace up his sleeve? ¡°This training method couldn¡¯t be implemented before.¡± Xu Ran patted its little head seeing Ziyun¡¯s puzzlement, ¡°But it can now, but it will only work for Star.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (So what¡¯s the method?) Ziyun looked disappointed. Dammit, it was the first to master King¡¯s Power! ¡°The method lets a Pet Beast with higher King¡¯s Power proficiency keep releasing the skill, while the one with lower proficiency defends with its own King¡¯s Power. In this process, the proficiency of King¡¯s Power will skyrocket.¡± Eh? Eh?! After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help looking at Star with a bewildered expression on its face. So¡­ do I have to use King¡¯s Power to oppress Star? The confusion in Star¡¯s eyes quickly faded, replaced by excitement. Big Sis using Full Moon¡¯s King¡¯s Power to suppress itself could improve its skill proficiency quickly? That would save so many Skill Points! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Please whip me as much as you want!) Ziyun:¡±???¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I won¡¯t do it!) Ziyun rolled its eyes dramatically. Isn¡¯t this just naked sparring? It won¡¯t do such a time-consuming and frustrating¡­ ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (100 value points for one day, I¡¯ll give you next time!) ¡°Meow!!!¡± (Deal!!!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up, and it quickly nodded. You should¡¯ve said there was a reward! 100 Value Points a day, let¡¯s do it! Xu Ran¡¯s smile twitched slightly, and a smile appeared in his eyes. These little guys have discovered a new use for value points again. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go back to the hotel.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°We have to perform well tomorrow and advertise for our new shop!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± ¡°Charming!¡± The thought of advertising made the three little ones all excited at the same time. With advertising, there will be more business. With more business, Xu Ran will give them more resources! For the sake of resources, let¡¯s press on! ¡°Holy shit!¡± Early the next morning, when the people of Qingzhou City convened again, a surprised shout came out from the crowd. Xu Jiujiu¡¯s expression was exaggerated, her eyes wide open as she looked at Star, who was following behind Xu Ran and had completely changed its shape and was emanating the powerful force of the Leadership Stage, she couldn¡¯t help but shudder. ¡°You evolved successfully in just one night?¡± ¡°Pure luck, it¡¯s all pure luck.¡± Xu Ran spoke with a hearty laugh. Behind him, Star, its glowing single horn lifted high, looked radiant even after staying awake the whole night. Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Chapter 157: Ziyun, Please Whip Me Chapter 246: Chapter 157: Ziyun, Please Whip Me Freely!_2 Translator: 549690339 After a night of intense training and Xu Ran¡¯s enhancement, its Immortal Star Attraction had successfully broken through to the Waning Moon Level! However, trailing behind Star were Ziyun and Cancan, looking quite dispirited, evidently having not gotten a good night¡¯s sleep. Probably too excited about its completed evolution, Star couldn¡¯t help but express its joy of becoming stronger last night. Xu Ran was meditating, so Ziyun and Cancan bore the brunt of it. Anyone would have trouble sleeping with a creature that continually emitted light and occasionally approached you, telling you that it had finally evolved. Had it not been for the exasperated Ziyun slapping Star, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to sleep the second half of the night. ¡°How can there be such good luck?¡± Gu Ling began, ¡°Boss Xu, you chose to evolve last night, surely you must¡¯ve had high confidence in it.¡± She glanced back enviously at the Dark Scale Dragon faithfully following behind her. Although she had encountered many talented young Beast Masters when she was living in Xieyun City, she did not have any contact with them at the time. This exchange and discussion was a novel experience for her as well. At this moment, a fire known as fighting spirit was burning inside Gu Ling. She hadn¡¯t obtained the second stage contract power yet since she had just awakened her contract power, but at least she can try to catch up with other Beast Masters in other areas, such as evolution. For instance, evolution. There are quite a few Transcendent Level Beast Masters who choose to let their Pet Beasts evolve. If others can do it, there¡¯s no reason she can¡¯t. After returning to Qjngzhou City this time, she would begin to prepare for the evolution! At this moment, the other Beast Masters also couldn¡¯t help showing envious expressions. Their Pet Beasts were still far from evolution. But Xu Ran had already completed the evolution of two Pet Beasts and breached the Leadership Level. This kind of gap was truly¡­ ¡°What are you guys chatting about?¡± Gu Wu approached with a composed smile. Xu Ran¡¯s impressive performance yesterday made him, as the team leader, very proud. Several acquaintances from the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City had taken the initiative to cultivate relationships ¨C an experience he hadn¡¯t had before. Nothing boosts morale like a happy occasion, and Gu Wu was naturally in a great mood today. ¡°Xu Ran¡¯s second Pet Beast has evolved.¡± Gu Ling glanced at her father and nodded towards Xu Ran. ¡°What¡¯s the commotion about? It¡¯s just an¡­¡± The smile onGu Wu¡¯s face froze half-way through his speech. ¡°¡­eh?¡± He turned his head sharply to look at Star trailing behind Xu Ran, unable to maintain his composed expression anymore. Even though Xu Ran had mentioned before that he would have his second Pet Beast evolve once he switched Evolution Resources in Xieyun City, is evolution something that could be achieved that easily? It¡¯s not¡­ Why is that?! ¡°Just a stroke of luck,¡± Xu Ran responded, wearing an innocent smile. Gu Wu was left speechless. It should be a happy occasion that Xu Ran became stronger, boosting their odds at today¡¯s exchange and discussion, but he somehow couldn¡¯t muster any joy. Forget it, he was tired, enough was enough. ¡°Today is the second day of the exchange, let¡¯s move.¡± His voice lost its cheerfulness, ¡°I¡¯ll explain the rules on the way.¡± ¡°There are some changes in the rules from yesterday.¡± ¡°The biggest change is the addition of wager battles.¡± Gu Wu paused slightly, ¡°I mentioned this before, but didn¡¯t go into details, because it wasn¡¯t part of the first day¡¯s agenda.¡± ¡°In a wager battle, one party challenges the other with equal stakes. The winner takes all after the fight.¡± ¡°The challenged party has the right to refuse, but refusing one same level challenge will forfeit the ability to challenge others for the day.¡± ¡°Refusing a challenge from a higher-level Beast Master won¡¯t have this effect, like an Elite Level Beast Master refusing a challenge from a Leadership Level Beast Master.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, appearing to be in deep thought. This rule was quite interesting. This way, unless one had absolutely no interest in wager battles, it would be difficult to reject a same-level challenge. But¡­ Glancing back at Ziyun and Star following behind him, a confident and relaxed smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. If it were yesterday, he might have had some reservations about the stronger Beast Masters in the Second Level Town. And now¡­ He really didn¡¯t believe that anyone was stronger than him. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t have to choose a duel. You can exchange ideas and spar like yesterday,¡± Gu Wu smiled, ¡°However, after winning today¡¯s sparring, there won¡¯t be any reward from the Association anymore.¡± ¡°Basically, that¡¯s about it. Does everyone understand?¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Everyone simultaneously nodded. While conversing, they had already arrived at the site where they had sparred yesterday. Today¡¯s sparring would also be carried out here. However, unlike yesterday, the positions of the people from Qjngzhou City had changed. Under the guide of a staff member, to the surprise of several people from Qjngzhou City, their location changed from a nondescript corner yesterday to the row of the best seats, just after three second-level towns. Those who were able to sit in this level of seats were among the best in the three-level towns, and they all owned a King Level Beast Master. In a blink of an eye, they understood. The only factor for this change could be Xu Ran. ¡°In anyplace, the most powerful comes first,¡± Gu Wu smiled, not surprised, ¡°Let¡¯s sit.¡± Everyone responded, and took their seats. As soon as Xu Ran sat down, he felt a pat on his shoulder. Xu Jiujiu leaned in front of Xu Ran with a mischievous face and lowered her voice, ¡°Boss Xu, doyou want a wife?¡± Xu Ran: ¡°???¡± ¡°Look, look.¡± Xu Jiujiu chuckled, lowered her voice, and pointed at a distance, ¡± There¡¯ s a girl looking at you over there!¡± Xu Ran turned his head and saw an indeed, a girl from another third-level town was looking at him. She quickly looked away when he noticed her. However, glancing around, Xu Ran¡¯s face quickly showed a helpless expression. ¡°There are so many people looking at me, and quite a few of them are men!¡± Presumably, the reason they were watching him was because of how he had suppressed the Leadership Level Beast Master of Xieyun City yesterday, right? ¡°Do you also want men?!¡± Xu Jiujiu exclaimed, this time without lowering her voice, and was heard by a large group around them. The field suddenly quieted down. Xu Ran clenched his fists, and a vein bulged on his forehead. ¡°Xuljiu! Jiu!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Jiujiu quickly covered her mouth, but her eyes still carried the expression of ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that kind of person¡±. With this, it seemed even more like an attempt to cover up the truth. Feeling the increasingly strange gazes around him, Xu Ran took a deep breath. Nevermind, he should ignore these antic like behaviour from a woman. Time quickly reached the official start of the exchange. Like yesterday, You Shengjiang stood on his Overlord stage tiger pet beast, descending from the sky. The shock brought by the sight of the Imperial Crown, whether visual or spiritual, had not diminished at all. It seemed that after being humiliated by Xu Ran yesterday, You Shengjiang had made today¡¯s show-off longer, presumably to boost the morale of the Beast Masters in Xieyun City. His gaze swept the crowd below until he found Xu Ran, where he breathed a sigh of relief. Good, he came. This kid made Xieyun City lose a lot of face yesterday. The young genius Beast Master who led the Xieyun City Beast Master Association was defeated just like a broken bamboo by a Beast Master from a third-level town. It was unbearable for anyone. What made him even more annoyed was that this kid just walked away. He did not even try to recover some dignity. Today, he was definitely going to recover that lost reputation. With that thought in mind, You Shengjiang¡¯s eyes fell on a corner of the Beast Master seats in Xieyun City. When he saw a slender young man with golden hair who had not appeared yesterday, his heart settled a bit. This lazy kid is finally here. In a split second, You Shengjiang pulled back his grandeur, landed slowly, and spoke loudly, echoing in all directions. ¡°Today¡¯s exchange is officially starting!¡± Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Chapter 158: The power of genius grows Chapter 247: Chapter 158: The power of genius grows every day!_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°The exchange has finally begun!¡± In the Beast Master¡¯s seat of Xieyun City, Ye Haoming couldn¡¯t help but sit upright. He glanced at the youngster who had his hands behind his back, legs crossed and eyes closed in recuperation, and couldn¡¯t help but speak softly, ¡±Qin Can, when are you planning to make your move?¡± ¡ö¡¯Don¡¯t rush me.¡± Qin Can didn¡¯t even bother lifting his eyes, ¡°Let me sleep a little longer.¡± Ye Haoming helplessly shook his head. Combining the previous rumors and the firsthand experience of last night, he had gained a good understanding of Qin Can¡¯s character, so he casually commented, ¡°If another Beast Master defeats Xu Ran, the reward from Vice President You will be gone¡­¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± A faint sound of wind whirring could be heard, and the figure leaning in the chair had already disappeared. In the center of the field, a figure appeared. ¡°Qin Can of Xieyun City, challenges Xu Ran of Qingzhou City.¡± Qin Can flicked his golden fringe, letting the sunlight shine on his handsome face, and shouted towards the direction of Qingzhou City. This caused a ripple effect. Ever since Xu Ran defeated the Leadership-level Beast Master of Xieyun City yesterday, everyone speculated that Xieyun City would retaliate in some way. But the surprise was that they showed their intentions right from the start of the exchange. The field was echoing with debates. At Qingzhou City¡¯s seating area, everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on Xu Ran. ¡°This guy wasn¡¯t with Xieyun City¡¯s team yesterday.¡± Lyu Guang began in a deep voice, ¡°There¡¯s no pet beast by his side either, so it¡¯s hard to gauge his power.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of him before.¡± Gu Ling, sitting beside him, looked at Qin Can¡¯s signature golden fringe and a hint of uncertainty flashed in his eyes. ¡°If the rumors are true, it¡¯s likely that all three of his pet beasts have already evolved.¡± As Gu Ling finished speaking, the expressions of others subtly changed. Yesterday, the strongest Beast Master of Xieyun City only had two evolved pet beasts. This guy was supposedly stronger? Despite the evolution of Star, everyone was suddenly apprehensive about the upcoming fight of Xu Ran. ¡°What Ling¡¯er said is right.¡± Gu Wu slowly nodded, ¡°There are quite a few Beast Masters in Xieyun City who have broken through to the Leadership level before the age of twenty-five. But only he has managed to fully evolve all three pet beasts before that age.¡± ¡°This is Qin Can, the strongest young Beast Master of Xieyun City. ¡°He didn¡¯t participate in yesterday¡¯s exchange. If he¡¯s here today, it is likely that he¡¯s targeting Xu Ran.¡± GuWu turned to Xu Ran, ¡°Becareful.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran just nodded slightly, obviously not too intimidated by the slightly less handsome youth on the stage. So what if he has three King species? There are differences even among Kings. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we are joining in.¡± Xu Ran slowly spoke, before leading Three little ones on stage one step after another. ¡°So, how much information have you gathered from your companions about me?¡± Looking at Xu Ran who had just stepped on the stage, Qin Can slightly tilted his head, revealing a ?-degree side profile, ¡°Unfortunately, that information is already outdated.¡± ¡°Because the power of a genius becomes stronger every single day! Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. This is the strongest young Beast Master of Xieyun City? ¡°What are we betting on for this game?¡± ¡°An Earth attribute General Stage Resource.¡± Qin Can pulled out a jade box from his waist and slowly opened it. Sitting in his seat, Ye Haoming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sting in his eyes. This resource was valuable. In order to tempt Xu Ran to accept the wager, he had done his homework on the attributes of Xu Ran¡¯s three pet beasts and had chosen a suitable resource. The moment the jade box opened, an overwhelming sense of power stormed out. Inside the box was an ordinary-looking root system, still covered in mud. But the moment Cancan saw it, her breathing became noticeably rapid. She felt intensely attracted to the resource in front of her. ¡°The Earth attribute General Stage Resource, the Milky Bamboo Stone Root.¡± Qin Can chuckled, ¡°The natural formation of stalactite and stalagmites happened to grow together, absorbing a large amount of Earth attribute power to transform from stone to actual trees. ¡°The roots of such stone trees possess exceptionally active Earth attribute power. Upon absorption, it will enhance Earth attribute Skills to a certain extent and can absorb power over a long period.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth 3,200 Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°Can you present a bet of the same value?¡¯ Earth attribute¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at Cancan, who was fixated on the Milky Bamboo Stone Root. Despite having gathered all the evolution resources, Cancan currently did not have a resource that could enhance her capabilities. This Milky Bamboo Stone Root could be utilized not just now; Cancan could continue to leverage it even after her evolution, breaking through to the Leadership Stage. However, it seemed he was unable to stake a wager of the same value¡­ Before Xu Ran could respond, Star suddenly let out a screech. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± (Bet my Star Refining Dark Stone!) ¡°Meow-¡± (And my Resonance Bead!) Ziyun licked her paw, an eager look flashing in her eyes. These two resources, obtained since their arrival at Xieyun City, were worth 1,800 and 1,600 Beast Master Points, respectively. Added together, they were worth a total of 3,400 Beast Master Points. Since some of the power had already been absorbed, the value decreased somewhat, but it was still of equivalent value to the opposing wager. ¡°Charming!¡± (No!!!) Seeing the resources presented by Ziyun and Star, Cancan¡¯s eyes widened. Having spent day and night with the two of them, Cancan was beyond aware of their need for the General Stage resources. Yet now, for her sake, they were willing to put up everything they had. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Chapter 158: The power of genius grows every day!_2 Chapter 248: Chapter 158: The power of genius grows every day!_2 Translator: 549690339 What Cancan found even more difficult to accept was that in this battle, it seemed she didn¡¯t even have an opportunity to intervene. Being only an Elite Stage pet, its only role was to stand by Xu Ran¡¯s side. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are you really thinking we¡¯re going to lose?) Ziyun slapped Cancan on the head, full of confidence in its eyes. They were just temporarily taken away, but after this battle, they would still belong to Cancan. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Exactly!) Star nodded in agreement, tapped Cancan¡¯s scale armor with her hoof, indicating it not to speak anymore. The Milky Bamboo Stone Root would be taken away by them! Looking at the spirited and confident seniors, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration, worship and emotion. She finally stood by Xu Ran¡¯s side in silence. After making some estimations in his mind, Qin Can on the other side of the fighting platform nodded satisfyingly. ¡°Bet!¡± Although these resources did not quite match the attributes of his own pet beast, the Beast Master Association could convert them into beast master points, so he would not lose anything. Considering that for making him to take action, Ye Haoming had already given him two general stage resources and after winning against Xu Ran, Vice President You would reward him with a general stage resource, Qin Can¡¯s mood was getting better and better. Fight one-round, gain six resources; where else could he find such a good deal? As for losing, Qin Can had not thought about it at all. There were only two on the opposing team at the leader stage, while his three pet beasts were all at the leader stage and were king-species, each with one or two skills upgraded to the full-moon level. How could he lose? If he were to lose, he¡¯d even reverse his last name! The Hexagram Star Array suddenly shone behind Qin Can¡¯s head. In the midst of the shrieking winds, three different shaped pet beasts emerged from the storm. One of them was humanoid and semi-transparent, shrouded in a mist that made it appear as if it was wearing a cloud-like dress. King species of the super ability attribute, Mist Song Envoy. Another looked like a rhinoceros, about seven or eight meters in length, covered in a hard rock shell. The heavy body caused the ground to rumble with each step. King species of the earth attribute, Earth Roaring Rhino. The last one was small, sometimes visible, sometimes not within the wind, making it hard to see its exact outline, and the occasional laughter came from all directions, making it impossible to predict where its attack would come from. King species of the wind attribute, Wind Unseen Force. The moment the three king species appeared, they all looked towards Xu Ran simultaneously. The next moment, an invisible pressure rolled towards Xu Ran and the three pet beasts. Three-star skill, Waning Moon Level-King¡¯s Power! The simultaneous eruption of the three king species made the air in the field almost solidify in an instant. Without even engaging in a fight, Qin Can seemed to be giving Xu Ran a taste of his power. ¡°Come on, show me what you¡¯ve got!¡± Qin Can laughed and pointed forcefully in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, triggering the simultaneous action of his three pet beasts. The Earth Roaring Rhino roared and spikes of rock protruded from its shell in an instant. With the display of enormous earth attribute power around it, it charged towards Xu Ran as if it were an armored vehicle. Three-star skill, Waning Moon Level-Rock Thorn Armor! With each step it took, the entire fighting platform exploded with a booming noise. The rebounding force spread in all directions, sweeping towards Xu Ran¡¯s direction! Three-star skill, Full Moon Level-Earth Shaking Roar! A chilling wind accompanied the Earth Roaring Rhino¡¯s charge, the green storm morphed into towering tornadoes. Three-star skill, Waning Moon Level-Tornado Group! At this moment, the Wind Unseen Force completely hid its trace and breath, like an assassin lurking in the dark ready to launch a deadly attack at any time. Three-star skill, Full Moon Level-Hidden Wind Charge! A mournful song echoed in the field, sounding like a frail candle that could be extinguished at any time. Yet even in the fierce wind and the roaring of the earth, nothing could drown it out. The clear voice, like a sharp needle, penetrated into the mind of Xu Ran and the three little ones, bringing intense pain. Three-star skill, Waning Moon Level-Soul Subduing Melody! At the same time, a sea full of floating corpses suddenly appeared before Xu Ran and the three little ones. Ferocious claws emerged from the sea of blood, followed by a sky-full of skeletons killing towards them. The Earth Roaring Rhino and Wind Unseen Force seemed to disappear at this moment. Yet the spine-chilling oppressive sense was still unambiguously clear, proving that they have not disappeared but were hidden by some special power. Three-star skill, Full Moon Level-Bloody Phantasmal Sonata! One close-quarter attack, one sneak attack, and one interference! The three king species pet beasts erupted with their fiercest attack in perfect sync in an instant. Qin Can seemed to disdain and underestimate Xu Ran, but when he actually made his move, he didn¡¯t hold back at all! Watching from afar as Xu Ran was surrounded by the three pet beasts, a playful smile appeared in Qin Can¡¯s eyes. Xu Ran, are you scared yet? Facing the storm-like attack, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes blazed with an equally high fighting spirit. This was the first time he encountered such a strong opponent. But so what. ¡°Ziyun! Star!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s cry resonated simultaneously in Ziyun and Star¡¯s minds through the contract sensing. ¡°Strike, let them see our strength!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes flashed with excitement. Scared? How could it possibly be scared! As the crushing King¡¯s Power of three Waning Moon Level kings enveloped it, it felt almost ignited. Star, Amp it up! ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Star let out a cry, raising its forefoot high. The black light enveloped it in an instant, the awe-inspiring momentum at this moment rose step by step, and the eternal night descended. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level- Heart of Eternal Night! Effect, Dark Attribute skills amplification! The bright stardust, like a diamond, sparkled on the single horn in the middle of Star¡¯s forehead. Like a light piercing through the darkness, it instantly tore apart the terrifying blood sea before everyone¡¯s eyes, revealing the Wind Unseen Force sharpening its blade in the wind, the Earth Roaring Rhino that had already sprinted forward, and the Mist Song Envoy with a dumbfounded expression. Two Star Skill, Waning Moon Level- Immortal Star Attraction! The next second, Star¡¯s raised forefoot heavily landed on the ground. The complex dark line pattern appeared around Ziyun in an instant. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level- Night Rune! At the moment when the three king species pet beasts attacked, Ziyun¡¯s power rose rapidly at a terrifying speed. 220,000¡­ 250,000¡­ 270,000¡­ Amidst the rapidly changing expressions of the three opponents, the power around Ziyun kept rising until it reached 300,000 before slowly coming to a halt. The corners of its mouth rose slightly. The next moment, the invisible pressure turned into ripples and enveloped in all directions from its center. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With a terrifying explosion, it seemed like something in the void was crushed by the terrifying pressure, and the King¡¯s Power that had been suppressing Xu Ran and the three pet beasts were crushed like rotten wood under the higher level Full Moon Level King¡¯s Power. The increasingly terrible pressure did not reduce, instantly enveloping the three king species pet beasts, whose expressions changed in shock. The next moment, an imposing voice resounded throughout the field. ¡°Meow¨C¡± As the voice echoed, a purple lightning struck the one kilometer square fighting platform, covering the entire field with a sea of thunderbolts. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level- Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound! Range, Full open!! The incoming tornado was shredded in an instant by the even more violent electric arc. The Wind Unseen Force hidden in the wind let out a painful cry, its petite body outlined by the crazy electric arc and then quickly turned into a burnt figure. In the terrifying thunder sea that could even pierce through the earth, the Earth Roaring Rhino¡¯s earth attribute felt like a joke. It writhed painfully on the ground. The jumping lightning filled its indestructible rock armor, leaving it defenseless. The graceful Mist Song Envoy trembled under the thunder strike, even its dress formed by mist was almost torn apart. The moan full of resentment turned into a sharp scream before abruptly ending when it fell to the ground. The thunder sea scattered, and Qin Can¡¯s three pet beasts were all annihilated. Looking at Qin Can¡¯s bewildered face, Xu Ran smiled. ¡°The strength of a genius is improving every single day, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 159: Boss Xu Never Forgets His Original Intentionl Chapter 249: Chapter 159: Boss Xu Never Forgets His Original Intentionl Translator: 549690339 Hearing Xu Ran repeat his words before the match, Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but shoot him a resentful glance. This damned guy! However, in the next moment, seeing Xu Ran pull out a flag from his backpack, Qin Can was taken aback, even his disappointment from his defeat was momentarily subdued. What is this guy¡­ doing? The same question arose in the hearts of all those unfamiliar with Xu Ran. Among the seats of Qingzhou City, the Beast Masters who had known Xu Ran for more than a day were now revealing strange expressions. ¡°Did any of you notice¡­ Xu Ran brought a bag on stage?¡± Xu Jiujiu asked gloomily. ¡°Didn¡¯t notice.¡± Su Xiaoxiao helplessly held her forehead, ¡°Everyone¡¯s attention was on that Qin Can guy earlier, Boss Xu just went up like that¡­¡± ¡°I heard before that Boss Xu likes to advertise, but I never saw it with my own eyes.¡± Mou Mengdan couldn¡¯t help widening her eyes, a puzzled look on her face, ¡°But, is there any use in advertising outside of Qingzhou City?¡± Others nodded in agreement, evidently carrying the same question in their hearts. Would Beast Masters from other cities risk coming to Qingzhou City for Washing and Protection because of an advertisement? This question was answered in the next second. Because Xu Ran, under the gaze of the crowd, finally unfurled that flag and started waving it vigorously. In the wind, the flag rustled, and the gilded letters on it became incredibly eye-catching. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop Xieyun City branch is about to open, stay tuned!¡± Upon seeing the words on the flag, the venue fell into a strange silence. The next moment, an uproar burst forth. Clearly, no one expected that this youth, who came from a small city and yet defeated the strongest young Beast Master of Xieyun City, would act like this¡­ Unexpectedly. ¡°Does Little Xu have a branch in Xieyun City?¡± Even Gu Wu, couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore at this moment, he turned to look at the others. Everyone looked at each other until Gu Ling seemed to recall something and said quietly, ¡°Boss Xu seemed to have asked me yesterday afternoon about where to find a real estate agent in Xieyun City¡­¡± Hearing this, everyone fell silent. ¡°So¡­¡± Gu Wu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, looking at Xu Ran who was still waving the flag on the stage, ¡°He bought a shop yesterday, hasn¡¯t opened it yet, but is already advertising in advance to preheat?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m more worried about is that, now that Boss Xu has a branch here, what will happen to the shop in Qingzhou City.¡± Su Xiaoxiao, resting her cheek on her hand, looked troubled, ¡°I don¡¯t want Little Flame to be taken care of by Teacher Tony!¡± Reminded by Su Xiaoxiao of this, everyone¡¯s expressions turned complex. ¡°Instead of worrying about this, why not take the opportunity to ask Boss Xu directly?¡± Gu Ling rubbed Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s head and suggested quietly. ¡°Yes!¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s do that!¡± ¡°Xu Ran, huh, I will remember you.¡± Handing the Milky Bamboo Stone Root to Xu Ran, Qin Can wore a disgruntled expression. His dissatisfaction wasn¡¯t because he had lost to Xu Ran. It was because¡­ This guy advertised using his defeat! Wasn¡¯t this taking advantage of him? When did he, Qin Can, start getting taken advantage of by others? ¡°Wait. When we meet again in Xieyun City, I will eventually reclaim this defeat!¡± After dropping a harsh statement, Qin Can turned and left. Well, this¡­ Xu Ran shook his head helplessly and handed the jade box, now in his possession, to Cancan, ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Charming ¡± Raising its front paws to hug the jade box, Cancan¡¯s eyes suddenly teared up. ¡°What happened?¡± Asked a surprised Xu Ran. Even Ziyun and Star who had just teamed up to secure a win, showed a cautious and wary expression on their faces. ¡°Charming!¡± (It¡¯snothing!) Cancan cradled the jade box with one paw and wiped away its tears with the other, shaking its head continuously. It didn¡¯ t know why it was crying. But seeing Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star go all out to win such precious resources for it, while it couldn¡¯t help in any way throughout, feeling like a mere spectator, it suddenly felt very upset. As if it was the one dragging the team down. ¡°Meow-¡± (Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry!) Ziyun hastily patted Cancan¡¯s head with a paw, his face filled with anxiety and concern. This little one, why did he suddenly start crying? ¡°XiLu~¡± (It¡¯s alright.) Star dropped its head to nuzzle Cancan¡¯s cheek. The purple crystal-like eyes full of reassurance and affirmation gradually calmed Cancan¡¯s nerves. ¡°When Star first met us, Ziyun had already reached the Elite Stage, and Star hadn¡¯t Awaken yet and was just an ordinary creature.¡± Through Contractual Sensing, Xu Ran sensed the crux of Cancan¡¯s troubles and began to speak softly. ¡°Charming?¡± (Is that true?) Cancan looked up at Star, a look of surprise on its face. Star, who has always been leading it, was once just an ordinary creature? ¡°XiLu!¡± (That¡¯sright!) Star nodded, giving a positive reply. Xu Ran laughed, ¡°You see, it has now caught up with Ziyun and can stand on its own.¡± ¡°You started later, but that¡¯s okay.¡± He reached out and gently stroked Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°In the future, you will definitely catch up with them soon.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) Cancan nodded furiously, its spirits quickly recovered, and any trace of its previous distress was gone. Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Chapter 159= Boss Xu Never Forgets His Original Intention_2 Chapter 250: Chapter 159= Boss Xu Never Forgets His Original Intention_2 Translator: 549690339 1 It turned its head to look at Ziyun and Star, a gleam of determination flashed tn its eyes. You¡¯re protecting me now, and I¡¯ll protect you in the future! ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve got the resources and the advertising is done, time to go.¡± Xu Ran grinned, ¡°We can take a good stroll around Xieyun City, but we have to go home tomorrow.¡± Going home¡­ A look of anticipation bloomed in the eyes of the three little ones. I wonder what Qingzhou City is like now. ¡°Chirp-¡± Staring Inside Qingzhou City, a little creature crouched in a corner, its sea-blue eyes filled with caution and scrutiny, watching a small food stall on the street. Its pretty blue beak, with nostrils constantly drawing in the delicious smells floating from the food stall, brought unbidden tears to the corners of the little creature¡¯s eyes. It used its wings to wipe the corners of its mouth, and its gaze turned serious again. It had been three days since it had entered this city belonging to humans. In these three days, using their clan¡¯s unique abilities, the little creature had been secretly observing everything about human society without raising any alarms. It found out that Dad was lying to it! The supposed deep hatred humans bear for Transcendent Beings, that even enslaved Pet Beasts are often mistreated by them. Absolute nonsense! These humans treated Pet Beasts incredibly well. Not only did they feed them delicious food that made it drool, but they also groomed their fur, bathed them and cleaned their surroundings! Thinking of the Beast Field, where the survival of the fittest reigned, weaker species could only become food for others, while stronger species were locked in fierce competition and there was no sanitation to speak of, the little creature felt like crying in comparison. This wasn¡¯t slavery, it was living in luxury! And also, the idea that human society is cruel where conflict would immediately lead to internal strife, self-claiming to be superior to Transcendent Beings yet doing the same things Transcendent Beings would do. That was also rubbish! In the three days it had been observing, it had seen numerous humans being punished and even locked up for issues that would be considered negligible in Transcendent Beings¡¯ society. Like defecating anywhere, mating with a human female who already has a mate¡­ The rules here were much more strict than in the Beast Field! After three days, the little creature became quite fond of its new experiences in the human world. It didn¡¯t want to go back! However, at this moment, it faced a serious challenge. The challenge was how to get the food from this stall. Based on its observance during this time, everything in the human world had to be bought with something called ¡® money¡¯. Taking without permission was called stealing and would be punished! It was a little princess in the Beast Field. If word got out that it was stealing in the human world, that would be so embarrassing! But it didn¡¯t have human money either. So¡­ Should it use its abilities¡­ The little creature was torn. If discovered by humans, it could be a bit risky. There seemed to be a few creatures more formidable than itself in this city. ¡°Meow?¡± Where do you come from, Transcendent Being? A low voice appeared behind the little creature. ¡°Chirp?!¡± The little creature¡¯s feathers exploded. It had used its abilities to hide, why was it detected? Damn it! It must have been seduced by the aroma of the food, causing a flaw in its abilities! Yes! It must have been that! It slowly turned around with great caution and saw a pair of big feet. ¡°Chirp?¡± The little creature blinked, slowly lifting its head to follow the feet upward, looking at a face with a few scars, which seemed rather fierce. (n=O = ) One step¡­two steps. The little creature carefully stepped backward, then turned around and bolted. ¡°Chirp!!!¡± Help! I¡¯m going to be eaten by a cat! As it ran, the little creature felt as though its paws had hit empty air, yet the fluttering scenery around it remained the same. It felt something grab its head, lifted it up, and slowly turned it around. It was face to face with the big face again. (*1T010 Dad, you were right. The human world, it¡¯s indeed dangerous! ¡°Meow?¡± Why were you running? Boss Cat scratched its head in confusion, then looked at the stall on the side of the road. This little creature seemed to have been staring at the stall just now. But it didn¡¯t pounce¡­ Boss Cat gave the little creature an approving look, then gently put it down, patted it on its head, and walked towards the stall. ¡°Meow!¡± Wait for me! ¡°Squeak?¡± I wasn¡¯t eaten? The little critter, holding its head with its wings, was looking at Boss Cat approaching a stall, a conflicted expression on its face. I¡¯ve been found, should I run¡­? In its indecision, it saw Boss Cat reaching to his waist for something when he arrived at the stall ¨C money. Money! This big fellow actually has human money! At this moment, the critter¡¯s eyes were filled with adoration. So impressive! How did he get it? Watching Boss Cat handing the money to the human at the stall and then picking up two fragrant meals, walking over to this side, a nervous and hopeful expression flashed in the critter¡¯s eyes. Two meals! Will they be for me? Hmm¡­not necessarily. This big guy is so big, could he eat two meals himself? Probably- Watching a meal being handed over to it, the little critter¡¯s eyes lit up. It¡¯s really forme! The critter held the food container with its wings and began to eat in an imagined and satisfying way. It really is delicious! ¡°Squeak!¡± You¡¯re such a good cat! The meaning behind its phrase was echoing in Boss Cat¡¯s mind, surprising the cat, who was about to taste the other food. Is this¡­ A One Star Super Ability Attribute Skill, Mind Induction? Watching the critter eat, seemingly unconcerned with its appearance, Boss Cat wiped the leftovers from the corner of its mouth with a paw, a hint of laughter flickering in his eyes. Good cat, huh¡­ ¡°Qin Can! Come out!¡± Ye Haoming was livid, his face reddened with rage. He was standing in front of a luxurious villa, shouting at the house. ¡°Give me back my resources!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, stop howling.¡± A slightly lazy voice resounded from behind Ye Haoming, ¡°I¡¯m not even home.¡± ¡°You dare¡­¡± Ye Haoming was about to retort, but he was cut off by Qin Can. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, come in and talk.¡± Qin Can rolled his eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re not going home, I need to.¡± ¡°Fine, you¡­¡± Ye Haoming nodded in anger and followed Qin Can into the house, but was interrupted again. ¡°Right, I won¡¯t charge extra this time.¡± Qin Can patted Ye Haoming¡¯s shoulder, appearing as if he was at a loss. Ye Haoming: ¡°¡­Ha?¡± With an incredulous look on his face, he watched Qin Can. He came to reclaim the two General Stage resources he gave Qin Can. Yet, this guy had the audacity to say he wouldn¡¯t charge extra? Where¡¯s his shame? You were defeated. You lost and you still have the audacity to charge extra? ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± Qin Can said with an expression that made it seem like it should be obvious, ¡°Think about it, why did you have to spend resources to get me to defeat Xu Ran for you? ¡°Of course it¡¯s because¡­¡± Just when Ye Haoming was about to reply, he was interrupted again. ¡°Because you were defeated by Xu Ran and have lost face for the association. The plan was compromised, so you need to make reparations,¡± Qin Can paused before continuing, ¡°Am I right?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± This time, Ye Haoming was thoughtful and had to admit that Qin Can was correct. ¡°Well then, that¡¯s settled.¡± Qin Can spread his hands and sighed, ¡°Look, now that I¡¯ve also lost, I¡¯m the one who has lost face. Everyone has forgotten about you, Ye Haoming. Hasn¡¯t your aim been achieved?¡± Ye Haoming: ¡°¡­Huh?¡± So, my aim isn¡¯t to make reparations to the association, but to have everyone forget my mistakes? Ye Haoming was deep in thought. That seems to make sense. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve ruined my reputation, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to me.¡± Qin Can said seriously, ¡°Isn¡¯t it considerate of me not to charge you extra for such a loss?¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Ye Haoming was starting to waiver, ¡°Thankyou?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I have things to do. You can go home first.¡± Qin Can nodded, pushing Ye Haoming out of the door and then shut it with a ¡® bang . ¡°Phew!¡± He took off his coat, revealing his pajamas beneath. ¡°With that intellect, I can swindle him three more times!¡± Outside, on his way home, Ye Haoming suddenly stopped. ¡°Hold on!¡± He scratched his head, ¡°What do you mean ruin your reputation? You didn¡¯t even fight, did you?¡± Looking at Qin Can¡¯s house, which was already some distance away, Ye Haoming stomped his foot in anger. ¡°How did I get conned again!¡± Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Chapter 160: Boss Cats Promise. _1 Chapter 251: Chapter 160: Boss Cat¡¯s Promise. _1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Meow-¡± From now on, just follow me. After finishing the delicious food, Boss Cat started to speak in a low voice. ¡°Chirp?¡± Follow you? The little one looked up with a thoughtful expression in its eyes. This big guy is also a Transcendent Being, but it can live alone in a human city. If I follow it, can I learn how to live in human cities too? Most importantly, learn how to earn money! That way, it could buy delicious human food for itself! With the lingering taste of the meal, the little one patted its belly with its wings, displaying a look of satisfaction. This kind of food is something it can¡¯t find in the Beast Field. It decided it would not leave until it had tried every kind of food available! Thinking of this, the little one nodded its head. It¡¯ll follow this big guy for a while! ¡°Meow-¡± Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you where I live. Upon seeing the little one agreeing to follow it, Boss Cat showed a satisfied expression. It led the little one deeper into the alleyway, all the while chatting. ¡°Meow-¡± We will go to the Starfire Foster Care Shop for a wash and protection when it reopens. ¡°Chirp?¡± Wash and protection? The little one tilted its head and trailed behind Boss Cat, anticipation in its eyes. During its three days of exploring human cities, it had become familiar with the concept of Pet Beast Foster shops. They were places where human Beast Masters temporarily placed their Pet Beasts, which provided various services for the beasts. They gave baths to the Pet Beasts, even trained them. In the Beast Field, only the offspring of the Beast King received such treatment. They were served by water attribute Transcendent Beings who bathe them and various Transcendent Beings helping them improve their skill proficiency. Here, every single Pet Beast could enjoy that. Having escaped from the Core Zone of the Beast Field, it had been a long time since it had been served by a water attribute Transcendent Being. Its white feathers had become dull due to the dust, causing it significant discomfort. Thinking that as an offspring of the Beast King, it could be served by humans, a flicker of contentment rose in the little one¡¯s heart. Such an experience, its other siblings surely wouldn¡¯t have had! ¡°Chirp?¡± How much does the washing and protection cost? Treat it as a loan from me! I will pay you back once I have earned money! It also remembered the twenty pieces it owed Boss Cat for the food. Once it learned to make money, it would definitely pay back at the first chance! It, the little princess of the Beast Field, would never owe someone! ¡°Meow-¡± Don¡¯t worry about the cost of washing and protection, that shop offers it for free to stray Pet Beasts. ¡°Chirp?¡± Stray Pet Beasts? ¡°Meow-¡± Adrift ones, like us. So in human cities, they refer to creatures like Boss Cat as stray Pet Beasts¡­ The little one¡¯s azure eyes sparkled with thought. If that¡¯s the case, then from now on, it too was a stray Pet Beast! ¡°Chirp?¡± Why does the shop offer free services to us? The little one couldn¡¯t help but ask, driven by curiosity. In the past few days, it had noted that money was very important to humans, needed for everything from food to clothing, housing, and commuting. As the washing and protecting services should cost money, wouldn¡¯t the human shop owner suffer a huge loss by providing it for free? A sense of amusement flickered in Boss Cat¡¯s eyes as it explained how the Starfire Foster Care Shop could afford to give stray Pet Beasts free services. Upon hearing this, the little one¡¯s eyes began to fill with yearning and hope. So they offer these services for free so stray beasts can find suitable Beast Masters, making them look good¡­ Such beings truly exist among humans. Indeed, its parent was wrong! ¡°Boss Xu, are you really going to open a branch in Xieyun City?¡± Upon their return to the hotel, Su Xiaoxiao gazed at Xu Ran with reluctance, ¡°Does this mean you won¡¯t be returning with us tomorrow?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Xu Ran responded, baffled. ¡°The branch in Xieyun City won¡¯t open for a while; I¡¯ll of course return to Qingzhou City first.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Su Xiaoxiao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. If she was no longer able to train and receive services at Xu Ran¡¯s shop, it would be disastrous. ¡°Once the new branch is open, Boss Xu, will you stay in Qingzhou City or move to Xieyun City?¡± Gu Ling curiously asked. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it yet, but I¡¯ll probably move to Xieyun City.¡± After spending several days in Xieyun City and seeing the difference between a second-level town and a third-level town, Xu Ran felt increasingly confident about his decision to expand into the bigger city. He¡¯d already reached B Level in Plucking Fur, but so far had only received a three-star skill from Gu Wu because only Gu Wu had such a skill amongst all those who brought their beasts to his shop in Qingzhou City. Moreover, Gu Wu mostly brought his beasts for training, not washing and protection. Although his shop offered services for King Stage beasts, he had not served a single King Level Beast Master since none were in Qingzhou City. In contrast, consider Xieyun City: the number of General Level Beast Masters was in the triple digits, and there were eighteen King Level Beast Masters. Treating these high-level Beast Masters at his shop would yield a higher profit. And let¡¯s not forget about the evolution materials for the ¡®Three little ones . It would be extremely difficult to gather these in Qingzhou City, whereas Cancan was lucky enough to gather all she needed during a single trip to Xieyun City. Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Chapter 160: Boss Cats Promise. 2 Chapter 252: Chapter 160: Boss Cat¡¯s Promise. 2 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª All evidence suggested that moving development from Qingzhou City to Xieyun City was a choice Xu Ran had to make. While he had many old friends in Qingzhou City, it wasn¡¯t as if he couldn¡¯t go back. 6 If Gu Wu could traverse the Beast Field all by himself, once Xu Ran broke through to the fourth Stage of contract power, he naturally could too. By then, a trip back to Qingzhou City wouldn¡¯t take much time. He even worried about his future lottery draws being cursed without Liu Gu around. ¡°So Boss Xu, what about the shop in Qingzhou City if you leave?¡± Su Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of something, her face changing to a peculiar expression, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t all the work be left to Teacher Tony?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°I will still hire two more shop assistants later, who will be responsible for the shop in Qingzhou City with Teacher Tony.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao cautiously asked, ¡°The two new shop assistants you ¡®re hiring won¡¯t be like Teacher Tony, will they?¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s words silenced him. He really didn¡¯t know about that. The system shouldn¡¯t be that unreasonable, right? Since it¡¯s random, he should get a more normal shop assistant next time, right? Even if the second one was still abnormal, there was still a third new shop assistant. He refused to accept that out of three system shop assistants, none would be normal. ¡°We will!¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°There has to be one normal shop assistant!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Unaware of what kind of shop assistant Xu Ran, who didn¡¯t even know what he might get himself, would hire, Su Xiaoxiao felt reassured and let out a sigh of relief under the impression that Xu Ran had promised her. All she worried about was three Tony-style shopkeepers taking over the storefront. Being reassured about this, she felt at ease. After Xu Ran explained the situation, the others left one after another. Tomorrow they will be heading back to Qingzhou City. Most of the group were visiting Xieyun City for the first time, so they naturally wanted to get a good look at the grandeur of the big city and bring back some local products. Xu Ran had the same plan. Even though he had strolled around the bustling streets the day before, it didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t continue shopping with his three little ones. The repercussions brought by defeating the Leadership Level Beast Masters of Xieyun City didn¡¯t even cross Xu Ran¡¯s mind as he spent half the day leisurely strolling around. The next morning, as they exited the majestic city gate of Xieyun City, the Red ¨C eyed Demon Dragon soared into the sky, carrying Xu Ran and the others, all heading back towards Qingzhou City. ¡°Finally home!¡± After a day¡¯s journey, Xu Ran, along with the three little ones, eventually returned to the Foster Shop, bidding the others farewell at the square in front of the Beast Master Association in Qingzhou City. ¡°Welcome home- Brother- ¡± Looking at Tony, who was holding a pink heart-shaped cake with candles lit on it, and winking at him from inside the shop, Xu Ran tersely shut the door with a ¡°pang¡± in silence. System, please don¡¯t let the future shop assistants be like this. Reopening the door and bracing himself against Tony¡¯s reproachful eyes, Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°How¡¯s everything in the shop since I¡¯ve been gone?¡± ¡°Everything is fine.¡± Tony smiled, ¡°The fostered pet beasts have been eating well-¡± b Alright, I understand.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his temples, ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, let¡¯s getbacktonormaloperations.¡± ¡°No problem, boss.¡± Tony winked at Xu Ran, ¡°Are you really not going to taste the special heart cake I prepared? The four candles represent the four days you were absent because¡­¡± He suddenly made a heart shape with his hand towards Xu Ran, ¡°The days without you feel like years- ¡± Has it really been four days since I last saw Tony¡­ Xu Ran reflected in silence. Perhaps this was why his resistance to Tony had weakened. ¡°I¡¯ll eat the cake later, you go and take care of the training area first.¡± Sighing inwardly, Xu Ran accepted the cake and waved Tony away. ¡°Okay, boss. I¡¯ve already finished feeding the fostered pet beasts for you this morning- ¡± Tony stepped lightly and entered the back door. Xu Ran casually dug a piece of cake and put it in his mouth. Hmm¡­ Tony¡¯s culinary skills are really good. ¡°You three have a try too, it¡¯s Tony¡¯s well-intentioned gesture after all.¡± The three little ones looked at each other, tentatively tasted it, then their eyes lit up. It didn¡¯t take long for them to devour the cake. He pushed open the door of the shop, hanging up the business sign. After a four-day hiatus, Starfire Foster Shop resumed operations. After consuming the cake, the three small beasts quickly slipped off to the training area. Having spent four days without training in the training area, they were very uncomfortable. They vowed to work harder to make up for the previous training volume. The previously much more powerful Ziyun, now felt a slight crisis with Star¡¯s evolution and advance. It was the first pet beast to make a contract with Xu Ran, arriving at the foster shop the earliest. If the upcoming Star was to surpass her, how could she allow Star to call her big sister? 6 Therefore, on the new day of training, Ziyun changed her usual routine of training a bit and then being idle a bit. The frequency of training significantly increased. As for Star, who just advanced, she also broke through to the Leadership Stage. There is too much room for her to improve. She was always the most hardworking one in the team and would not slack off at this moment. And then there¡¯s Cancan. After fighting the day before yesterday, her heart set a big goal. For the first time, she didn¡¯t need Ziyun and Star to urge her before she took the initiative to rush to the Earth Attribute Training Area for tough training. While sitting in the shop waiting for customers to come, Xu Ran felt the three little ones¡¯ tremendous enthusiasm. A gratified smile appeared on his face. The pet beasts¡¯ hard work is also a kind of incentive for him. He needs to work hard for the business to gather resources for them! So why have the customers not yet come? Perhaps it was because business was suspended for four days, and many customers did not know that the Starfire Foster Shop had started operating again. Almost half an hour passed with no customers coming in. This was rarely the case once Starfire got popular. However, Xu Ran didn¡¯t have to wait too long. An unexpected figure appeared at the shop door. ¡°Boss Cat? How did you get here?¡± Seeing the sturdy figure outside the door, Xu Ran showed a smile, ¡°Here for washing and maintenance? It¡¯s all yours now, no customers yet.¡±¡¯ ¡°Meow-¡± Not washing and protecting me. Boss Cat shook his head slightly. ¡°Not here for washing and protection?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Then you¡­¡± ¡°Twee-¡± An unfamiliar voice interrupted him. Hmm? Looking around, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed confusion. Where did the sound come from? The next second, he saw a small white head cautiously peeking out from the top of Boss Cat¡¯s head, looking at him. ¡°Meow-¡± It¡¯s him who needs washing and protection. Boss Cat¡¯s eyes were filled with laughter. He grabbed the little one hiding behind him with both paws, held him in his palms, and slowly handed it to Xu Ran. Only then did Xu Ran get a clear look at the little one who had just made the noise. It was a bird pet beast about the size of a football. Unlike ordinary birds, it had thick white fur all over. A pair of purplish-black little claws lethargically dangled in front of its belly, aided by the elevation from Boss Cat. It had two wings that did not match its body size, fluttering occasionally but powerless to lift it. Two white long feathers sprang up from its eyebrows, the tips of which were dyed blue, the only non-white area in its fur. What attracted Xu Ran the most were its two sea-blue eyes, which shone like sapphires, and a glance was enough to lose oneself in them. After making eye contact with Xu Ran, the little one tilted its head, raised a wing to block its front, and opened its pinkish-blue beak. ¡°Twee-¡± ¡°Ah¡­ sorry, I was lost in thought.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, snapping back to reality, ¡°So it¡¯s this little guy who needs washing and maintenance, right?¡± ¡°Twee!¡± The little one nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with anticipation. Xu Ran nodded and took another look at the little creature in front of him. As of today, he has seen many different kinds of pet beasts. However, he still couldn¡¯t quite tell what breed this stray pet beast was. So, a system identification is necessary. [Race name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super ability Growth stage: Elite stage Body Type: Small size Maintenance Need: ¡ï¡ï¡ï#* Evaluation: A princess in distress, who needs to be comforted with skilled hands.] Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Chapter 161: Boss Cats New Life 1 Chapter 253: Chapter 161: Boss Cat¡¯s New Life 1 Translator: 549690339 , ¡ª The distressed Princess¡­ Looking at the system¡¯s description, Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. What kind of description was this? Hmm¡­ the system probably had its regular glitches. Shaking his head slightly, Xu Ran picked up the Velvet Sparrow, then couldn¡¯t help but stroke it a few more times with his hand. It feels so good. Unlike regular Bird Pet Beasts, the Velvet Sparrow has long, dense down feathers covering most of its body, including its wings, except for two long feathers on its head. This type of down is only found on the bellies of typical This gave the Velvet Sparrow an extremely pleasant texture. Looking at the dirt on the surface of the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s body, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes filled with amusement, ¡°Let¡¯s go for a wash.¡± Once it¡¯s clean, this little guy will feel even better. ¡°Chirp!¡± The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s chirp was full of anticipation for the washing and grooming. Having been pampered from an early age, it naturally liked to be clean. Since slipping out of the Core Zone of Beast Field, it had been filthy and was growing somewhat impatient. Now, it could finally clean itself up. One couldn¡¯t help but wonder if human washing and grooming were better than the Water Attribute Beasts that had served it in the Beast Field. Watching both man and pet enter the grooming room, a smile appeared in Boss Cat¡¯s eyes. It walked familiarly to the rest area, took out an old plush cushion from its backpack and spread it on the sofa. Then, it sat upright and waited quietly for the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s washing and grooming to be finished. ¡°Wait a minute, okay?¡± After gently placing the Velvet Sparrow on the grooming platform prepared for Small Pet Beasts, Xu Ran went to a control panel nearby and began pre-cleaning preparations. Resources beneficial to the skin and fur and Super ability Attribute minerals with cleansing effects were added to the corner grinder by Xu Ran, ground into me, evenly rounded particles, and mixed with the cleaning sand. Sand bath, not a water bath, was the best grooming method for the Velvet Sparrow due to its unique fur structure. Soon, Xu Ran picked up a basin filled with a special tailor-made bath sand, one meter in diameter, and placed it in front of the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Jump in and have a roll.¡± ¡°¡­Chirp?¡± The Velvet Sparrow blinks its eyes, showing a puzzled expression. As a little princess of the Beast Field, what spectacle hadn¡¯t it seen? It really hadn¡¯t seen the spectacle in front of it. Bathing, isn¡¯t it supposed to be with water? Jumping into a basin full of sand and having a roll around¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it get even dirtier? It couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xu Ran again. The previous account by Boss Cat of Xu Ran and the Starfire Foster Care Shop came to its mind. This human shouldn¡¯t harm it, right¡­? Or else¡­ should it ask? As it thought, the azure in the bottom of the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes became increasingly brilliant. A voice abruptly appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. ¡°Human, can this really clean me? Will I not become dirtier the more I wash?¡± Huh? With a bit of surprise, Xu Ran looked at the Velvet Sparrow. Was this the Super ability Attribute of Mind Induction? Having previously trained a customer¡¯s Super Ability Attribute Pet Beast in this skill, Xu Ran was not unfamiliar with it. The effect of Mind Induction is straightforward ¨C it allows for unimped obstruction to communicate with all conscious beings. Although it is only a one-star skill in the Super Ability Attribute, it cannot be mastered through postnatal teaching and can only appear as a Talent Skill. Its prevalence is not high, so not many Super Ability Attribute Pet Beasts possess But any Super Ability Attribute Pet Beast with Mind Induction has one characteristic. It is that its intelligence is slightly higher than other Transcendent beings at the same level. Why had an Elite Stage Transcendent being with Mind Induction and superior intelligence become a Stray Pet Beast? He would have to ask Boss Cat when he went outside later. But now, he should answer this little creature¡¯s question first. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The size of the sand grains are just right. They can penetrate deep into the crevices of your fur during the rolling process and remove the dirt on your fur through friction. Since they are heavy, they will not stick to your body.¡± Looking at the Velvet Sparrow, who was appearing pensive, Xu Ran paused before adding, ¡°Your fur is not suitable for washing with water, trust me.¡± Is that so¡­ The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s doubtful expression gradually faded. It sounded quite reasonable. Could it be that its all its Water Attribute Pet Beasts had been mistaken? If that¡¯s the case, it should give it a try! ¡°Chirp!¡± (Here I come!) Having made its decision, the Velvet Sparrow wobbled its way to the basin. It flapped its tiny wings and jumped, grabbing the edge of the tub. Then, turning its back to the bath, it promptly collapsed into the tub. ¡°Duang-¡± The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s entire body fluttered like waves, and the bath sand it shook up quickly fell back into the basin without stirring up any dust, just as Xu Ran had said. What an interesting sensation! Savoring the icy cold bath sand snug against the downy fur on its back, and the crushed Super Ability Attribute resources emanating a distinct and comforting Super Ability Attribute Power, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s azure eyes closed satisfactorily. Then, it tentatively rolled within the bath tub. Each of the long, slender down feathers passed through the gaps in the bath sand. The bath sand, acting like a super fine comb, glided over the down feathers, removing loose fur and tiny dirt particles stuck to the down feathers. The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes bulged. This sensation¡­ This sensation! Although bathing with the Water Attribute Pet Beasts¡¯ help made it feel refreshed afterward, it felt heavy during the bath and as if it couldn¡¯t fly¡­ Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Chapter 161: Boss Cats New Life_2 Chapter 254: Chapter 161: Boss Cat¡¯s New Life_2 Translator: 549690339 | Oh, it couldn¡¯t fly in the first place. Now trying a sand bath for the first time, the Velvet Sparrow felt like it had opened the door to a new world. Simply turning its body over, it felt lighter than before! After a thorough wash, wouldn¡¯t it be able to fly up to the sky? Having tasted the benefits, the Velvet Sparrow began to eagerly roll around in the bath sand on its own without Xu Ran prompting. Rolling and rolling- Seeing the little critter¡¯s enthusiasm, Xu Ran suddenly smiled, then turned to start prepping for the second step in the process. It¡¯s insufficient to only use bath sand for cleansing. The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s down was slightly dry, and not smooth enough on the surface, it needed further care and beautification. So¡­ Very soon, Xu Ran appeared with a bowl. In the bowl was a light pink, jelly-like substance. ¡°Okay, okay, stop rolling around.¡± ¡°Tweet!¡± (Okay!) The Velvet Sparrow stopped its motion, rolled its body around so that its front was facing upwards, and then gave a somersault to stand up in the tub. After shaking its body a little, the remaining bath sand in its feathers was easily shaken off, and compared to before the care routine, the Velvet Sparrow now looked much cleaner, without any grime stuck to its feathers. ¡°Tweet?¡± (What¡¯s next?) At the sight of the bowl in Xu Ran¡¯s hand, curiosity and anticipation filled the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes. ¡°Treatment,¡± Xu Ran replied with a hint of a smile on his face. This was the first time he had to explain such procedures to the pet beast he was grooming. In the past, it was the Beast Masters of the pet beasts who asked the questions, and he would clarify their doubts. ¡°Your down is a bit dried out and split. That¡¯s because you¡¯ve been washing with water frequently before ¨C too frequently, in fact. That often prevented your plumage¡¯s natural oils from doing their job. This gel here can moisturize your down and make it smoother.¡± What a marvelous human. The Velvet Sparrow gave Xu Ran a surprised look. All it took was one glance, and Xu Ran could tell it had been washing with water. But¡­ washing frequently? The Velvet Sparrow pondered on this. Did a once-a-day bath actually count as washing too frequently? The grooming humans give Transcendent Beings is way more comprehensive than what¡¯s done in the Beast Field! Having had previous experience, the Velvet Sparrow now believed in Xu Ran¡¯s words without question. It willingly approached him, closed its eyes, held its head up high, and waited for Xu Ran¡¯s next move. Seeing the obedient Velvet Sparrow, Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction, then used a soft brush to apply the gel evenly on the down of the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s body, making sure each and every feather was thoroughly moisturized and cared for. Each follicle on the Velvet Sparrow sprouted over ten down feathers. As Xu Ran brushed the gel over it, the slight ticklish feeling followed from the down to the follicles, and then from one follicle to another, combining to create a ticklish sensation that grew tenfold, becoming crisp and intense. The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes, which had been closed, couldn¡¯t resist peeking at Xu Ran. This unprecedented sensation made the Velvet Sparrow twist its body involuntarily. It felt so relaxing- So, was this what grooming was all about? As the area covered by Xu Ran¡¯s gel application expanded, the ticklish sensation from the previous area hadn¡¯t completely subsided before the next appeared. The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s body ceased its writhing, replaced by a slight shivering. It felt as if its body was becoming increasingly light, as if the open sky itself was beckoning it. It seemed like a simple flap of its wings would allow it to actually fly up high. A melancholic low hum was squeezed out from the throat of the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Tweet ¡± ¡°Click-¡± The door to the grooming room opened. Boss Cat, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in the rest area, quickly opened his eyes and stepped out to look at the grooming room. In Xu Ran¡¯s palm was a pure white small Fur Ball, without a hint of other hues, whose two feathers on top of its head turned from white to blue, appearing adorably beautiful under the sun. The only unchanging feature was its bright sapphire eyes, which were as deep as the ocean. If the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s most attractive feature before was its eyes, then now, its soft, silky down was equally captivating. ¡°The grooming is complete,¡± Xu Ran smiled, gently setting down the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°Given its appearance, I imagine it¡¯ll find a suitable Beast Master pretty soon, right?¡± On hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Boss Cat scratched his head and looked at the Velvet Sparrow, an expression of helplessness on his face. Despite enjoying the little fellow¡¯s company, Boss Cat naturally hoped that the Velvet Sparrow would find a good home. Over the past few days, he had made attempts to introduce the Velvet Sparrow to Beast Masters in need of a Contract Pet Beast. Those Beast Masters did indeed love the Velvet Sparrow, they really wanted to make a contract with it. But the Velvet Sparrow wasn¡¯t interested, even a bit resistant, to that idea. Therefore, finding a suitable Beast Master for it wouldn¡¯t be as easy as it seems. The freshly cleaned Velvet Sparrow also shook its head vigorously. Because it couldn¡¯t tell where it came from, it had to pretend to be a stray pet beast, but it absolutely couldn¡¯t have a contract with a human Beast Master! The Velvet Sparrow looked up at Xu Ran, quickly changing the subject. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Human, your grooming skills are excellent, I¡¯ll come here every day!) ¡°Everyday¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention before, grooming shouldn¡¯t be too frequent. Considering your situation, if you¡¯re not especially dirty, grooming once every twenty days should be enough.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (That long?) The Velvet Sparrow looked disappointed. Having to wait twenty days to take a bath and bask in that wonderful sensation was quite a letdown. Boss Cat who was standing to the side glanced at Xu Ran and then looked at the disappointed Velvet Sparrow. He raised a paw to scratch his chin, his expression thoughtful. ¡°Meow-¡± He patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, pointed at the Velvet Sparrow and then pointed at the shop. ¡°Huh?¡± A look of astonishment graced Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°You want me to keep it?¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Let me stay here?) A similar look of astonishment appeared on the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s face. It hadn¡¯t expected Boss Cat to suggest such a thing. Even though it enjoyed its time here and had fun spending two days with Boss Cat, it felt somewhat reluctant to part with him at the moment. ¡°Meow, meow-¡± Boss Cat motioned for the Velvet Sparrow to help with the translation, then strung a series of words together. A moment later, Xu Ran understood his meaning. ¡°Did you meet this Velvet Sparrow just these past two days?¡± He stroked his chin and glanced at the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°Before meeting it, all the other stray pet beasts had already found homes so you no longer had any obligations.¡± ¡°Next, you want to change your lifestyle, so you hope that I can keep the Velvet Sparrow and help it find a suitable Beast Master in the future?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat nodded. He had been trying to find a Beast Master for the Velvet Sparrow these past two days also because of this reason. He had already planned to start a new life, but unexpectedly ran into this little fellow. Naturally, he had to make sure it was taken care of before he could feel at ease. The Velvet Sparrow who had been acting as a translator and listening to their conversation looked at Boss Cat, its gaze filled with more reluctance and even a bit of guilt. It turns out, the big guy was being held back because of it. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let it stay then.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Even if he agreed just for Boss Cat¡¯s sake, this was a favor he had to carry out. ¡°Meow!¡± Boss Cat nodded excitedly, opened his waist pouch, and was about to take out some money. ¡°Hey, hey, no need!¡± Xu Ran shook his head vigorously and grabbed Boss Cat, ¡°You¡¯re still living in a human city, you¡¯re going to need money.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat glanced at the price menu on the wall and seemed hesitant. Indeed, boarding fees were quite expensive. Starfire Foster had been grooming stray pet beasts for free, which already made it feel a bit guilty. If it doesn¡¯t pay for boarding the Velvet Sparrow, it¡¯d feel even worse. ¡°Chirp!¡± (You don¡¯t have to pay, I¡¯11 pay for myself!) As it watched the man and cat arguing, the Velvet Sparrow suddenly spoke up. It looked at Xu Ran, contemplated for a moment, and then spoke. ¡°Chirp!¡± (You¡¯re a Beast Master, right?) ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded and released Boss Cat, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t even need to pay.¡± The Velvet Sparrow shook its head. It didn¡¯t like taking advantage of people! Even though it didn¡¯t have any money, it had something else. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret about the evolution of transcendent beings in exchange!¡± Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 162: The Mysterious Velvet Sparrowl Chapter 255: Chapter 162: The Mysterious Velvet Sparrowl Translator: 549690339 ¡°The secret of evolution¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression faltered slightly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He indeed hadn¡¯t intended to ask for money, but now that the Velvet Sparrow had offered this as a barter, he was genuinely intrigued. At the same time, a bizarre feeling welled up in Xu Ran¡¯s heart. During the recent wash and protection process, the Velvet Sparrow had demonstrated a manner of speaking entirely different from other stray pet beasts, and now it mentioned the secret of evolution. Wasn¡¯t this information a stray pet beast shouldn¡¯t possess? Well, he might as well listen to what it had to say. The Velvet Sparrow looked around cautiously and whispered in a low voice. ¡°Chirp-¡± (To evolve from a Leader Species into a King Species, something called a Transcendence Flower, a kind of resource, is needed. Without it, the success rate would drop significantly.) Huh? Xu Ran was truly surprised now. He had already confirmed the benefit of the Transcendence Flower for evolution through the evolutionary paths of his three pet beasts. What Velvet Sparrow said was not incorrect. This also proved that this little thing really had some understanding of evolution. So, the question arose. What was the background of this ¡°stray pet beast¡±, Boss Cat, that he¡¯d only met a few days ago? ¡°Chirp?¡± (Is this secret enough?) Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s surprised expression, the Velvet Sparrow held its head high with a sense of accomplishment. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Xu Ran hastily nodded, and then asked, ¡°Velvet Sparrow, can you tell me where you come from and why you know all this?¡± The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s triumph froze on its face. Damn, too impulsive! No, it couldn¡¯t reveal its true identity now! A flicker of thought crossed the eyes of the Velvet Sparrow, and it quickly came up with a plan. Its sapphire-blue eyes welled with tears. As it wiped the tears with its little wing, it also began to whine tearfully. ¡°Chirp-¡± (I was¡­ orphaned when I was very young. I was discarded outside the city and almost died there. I barely made it back to the city¡­ These are things I heard when I was outside the city¡­) ¡°Chirp¡­achoo!!!¡± An odd sneeze echoed for a long while in a lush, dense forest. A hint of a terrifying aura seeped out from the depth of the forest, causing the transcendent beings living around the forest¡¯s perimeter to shrink back in fear. ¡°Chirp-¡± Continue. Deep in the forest, a colossal bird with white feathers tinged with a bit of purple-blue and a wingspan of over thirty meters began to inhibit its domineering aura, looking at its subordinate shivering below. The subordinate gathered its courage and continued to report. ¡°Aoo~¡± My lord, we have not found the twelfth princess yet. After speaking, it pressed its head firmly into the ground, not daring to lift it up. The twelfth princess was the king¡¯s most beloved daughter, said to be extraordinarily gifted. Now that the twelfth princess had disappeared, one could easily imagine the king¡¯s rage. It could only hope that it could leave in one piece after making the report. Above, where the subordinate¡¯s gaze couldn¡¯t reach, a peculiar look flickered in the eyes of the colossal bird. After a moment of silence, it slowly spoke. ¡°Chirp-¡± Continue the search. Upon hearing the king¡¯s calm voice, the subordinate¡¯s transcendent creature was stunned for a moment, followed by relief and jubilation. The king actually didn¡¯t hold it accountable! Even when his beloved daughter was missing, he remained so calm. It¡¯s no wonder that the king was considered among the most strategic of the six kings. It quickly nodded its head, turned around without saying a word, its eyes filled with determination. This time, it would certainly find the twelfth princess for the king! Watching its subordinate leave, the colossal bird folded its wings and gently landed on a tree trunk. Its eyes revealed sorrow as it stared in the direction of Qingzhou City. Orphaned at a young age¡­ The little cotton-padded jacket had a hole in it! ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Listening to Velvet Sparrow sob out its miserable past, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh. It seemed he¡¯d misunderstood. This was a poor little creature too. It had been abandoned by humans outside the city, so it was understandable why it would resist contract Beast Masters. Super creatures living outside the city were capable of evolving into Beast Kings or Beast Emperors, so they must know about evolution, possibly even more than humans. That they¡¯d be aware of the Transcendence Flower was not surprising. The Velvet Sparrow overhearing some of it was quite plausible. ¡°That¡¯s alright; it¡¯s all in the past now.¡± Xu Ran patted Velvet Sparrow¡¯s head gently, with a look of sympathy, ¡°You can stay here from now on.¡± Looking on the bright side, the Velvet Sparrow could also serve as a translator for him after it settles down. When he encountered pet beasts he couldn¡¯t communicate with, it would come in handy. Great! The Velvet Sparrow cheered internally, admiring its improved acting skills. With an innocent expression, it wiped away its fake tears. After observing human cities for a few days, it had realised that if it wanted to survive in a human city without attracting trouble, it would be challenging. With food and accommodation sorted, it considered its major problem resolved. ¡°I will take you to the foster area later to settle you in.¡± Without any suspicion, Xu Ran turned to Boss Cat after making this remark, ¡°As for you, how do you plan to live? Do you need my help?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± No need. Boss Cat shook its head and simply shared its plan. In short, it intended to join a hunting squad in Qingzhou City as one of its members, occasionally marching out of the city with the squad to clean up wild super creatures. Being a pet beast at the leader stage, Boss Cat was quite powerful. Now that there were no stray pet beasts needing its help, it was a waste for it to just loiter around in the city daily. Upon understanding Boss Cat¡¯s words through the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s translation, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew increasingly strange. Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 162: The Mysterious Velvet Sparrow_2 Chapter 256: Chapter 162: The Mysterious Velvet Sparrow_2 Translator: 549690339 Having spent so much time with Boss Cat, he started feeling that this big fellow didn¡¯t act much like a Pet Beast, but rather like a human being. If he wanted to join a hunting squad¡­ ¡°How about¡­ I introduce you to one?¡± Xu Ran tentatively suggested. ¡°Meow?¡± Boss Cat blinked, then quickly nodded. It was worried about which hunting squad to join. After all, it had never dealt with a hunting squad before. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Xu Ran quietly picked up his phone and dialed Zhang Yun. ¡°Hey, Team Leader Zhang, is your Tiger Hunting Squad short of men¡­ no, short of beasts, I mean. A Leadership Stage Furious Battle Cat¡­ oh okay, come on over.¡± On the other side, Zhang Yun, who was currently gobbling up noodles at a street stall, put down his chopsticks. He let out a hearty laugh to the astonishment of the fellow diners. ¡°Check, please!¡± A moment later, watching the departing backs of Zhang Yun and Boss Cat, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile. He knew everyone from the Tiger Hunting Squad well, and he was certain that they would get along with Boss Cat just fine. With Boss Cat, a Leadership Stage creature, the Tiger Hunting Squad would be even more formidable and less prone to dangerous situations. In this way, Lucky Liu would also be safe, making it easy for himself to opportunistically soak up some luck in the future. It was a win-win solution. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I will showyou around downstairs.¡± Xu Ran, accompanied by the Velvet Sparrow, went down the passageway behind the back door. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Is the place I¡¯m staying below here?) The Velvet Sparrow curiously looked all around, and when it reached the foster area, its eyes widened. ¡°Chirp!¡± (It¡¯s so big!) ¡± This area is yours from now on.¡± Xu Ran quickly assigned the Sparrow its area, making it into a living area suited for a super ability attribute creature that aligned with its living habits. Seeing the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s satisfied expression, Xu Ran nodded in agreement, ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Can I leave the shop and wander outside?) The Velvet Sparrow looked at him, a hopeful and satisfied look in its eyes. ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°When you want to go out, just follow the path we just went down. I won¡¯t limit your movements, but¡­¡± He paused for a moment, ¡°Remember to come back for meals.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (Okay!) The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes spiked with excitement. With free food and lodging and the liberty to roam around and familiarize itself with the city of humans, life couldn¡¯t get any better! Go back to the Beast Field? Not even a bit interested! Today it wouldn¡¯t venture out. The Velvet Sparrow looked at the living areas of the other Foster Care Residents. It had to take a good tour around here! After settling down the Velvet Sparrow, Xu Ran stretched lazily and returned to the storefront. To his surprise, there was a new customer waiting at the store. From his silhouette, he seemed to be a young boy. At the moment, he was staring at the price menu, deep in thought. ¡°Hello,¡± seeing the unfamiliar face, Xu Ran immediately brightened up and walked over. ¡°How can I assist you?¡± ¡°I heard from friends that your shop has the best washing and protection services in Qingzhou City, is that true?¡± The young boy turned to look at Xu Ran, his face serious and cautious. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say we¡¯re the best.¡± Xu Ran modestly replied, then paused for a beat, ¡°But none of our customers have ever been unsatisfied with our washing and protection services.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The young boy nodded, then hesitated before asking, ¡°Do you accept all types of Pet Beasts for washing and protection here?¡± ¡°We accept any Pet Beast as long as it¡¯s not larger than Super Large Size, and its growth stage is not higher than the King Stage.¡± Curiosity flickered in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes as he listened to the boy¡¯s question, ¡°Does your pet have anything unusual about it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The young boy nodded, ¡°It meets the size and growth stage criteria, but¡­¡± The youngster¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed a bit, ¡°It¡¯s dying.¡± ¡°Then you should find a place with treatment capabilities.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s gaze became more solemn, ¡°Washing and protection cannot treat the injuries of a pet beast.¡± ¡°No, Huo Huo is not injured.¡± The youngster shook his head slightly, ¡°Its lifespan has reached its end.¡± ¡°The lifespan has reached its end?¡± A look of astonishment appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. The lifespan of transcendent beings is not short. Depending on the species, their lives vary in length. However, they live longer than ordinary creatures, and their lifespan continues to increase as their growth stage rises. In this era, the majority of transcendent beings die because of serious injuries that have not been cured. Very few live a long healthy life to die of old age. ¡°May I ask, what¡¯s the situation with the pet beast named Huo Huo?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Alright.¡± The boy nodded, hesitated for a moment as if organizing his words, and then slowly started to speak. ¡°When I was born, Huo Huo was already very old.¡± ¡°The story about it was told to me by my father.¡± ¡°Many, many years ago, it was the pet dog of my great-grandfather.¡± Great-grandfather¡­ Xu Ran gasped. Going back several hundred years to my father¡¯s ancestors, no wonder its lifespan has reached the endpoint. ¡°Then, Huo Huo accidentally underwent a change and became a transcendent being. My great-grandfather, however, did not have the talent for taming beasts.¡± There was a hint of nostalgia in the boy¡¯s eyes. ¡°My great-grandfather thought about entrusting it to one of his friends, but Huo Huo was devoted to my great-grandfather. Even if it couldn¡¯t become his pet beast, it never left his side.¡± ¡°Because there was no beast taming contract, Huo Huo advanced all the way without any restrictions, breaking through to the leadership stage. My great-grandfather was not a beast master, but because he had Huo Huo, even elite level beast masters dared not offend him.¡± ¡°Later, my great-grandfather passed away.¡± The boy sighed, ¡°Huo Huo stopped eating and drinking for half a month until it gradually accepted the reality.¡± ¡°Since then, it has stayed with us, guarding my great-grandfather¡¯s descendants, all the way to my generation.¡± ¡°Many of my great-grandfather¡¯s descendants were beast masters. My father is even a leadership-level beast master.¡± ¡°But everyone in our family respects Huo Huo and treats it like an elder.¡± ¡°Now that its life is coming to an end, we¡¯ve tried many ways to prolong its life, all to no avail. There¡¯s no hope of it evolving further given its current state.¡± ¡°Transcendent beings have a premonition when their lives are about to end, Huo Huo has told us that it will leave us in one week.¡± ¡°Our family no longer needs its protection, it can be at ease.¡± The youngster shook his head slightly, ¡°So, I think, at least before it leaves this world, it should be done in a more dignified manner.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became solemn, ¡°I see, I understand now.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s roughly the situation, so, Boss Xu, can you do such washing and protection?¡± The youngster raised his head, stared at Xu Ran with hopeful eyes. ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Ran nods without hesitation, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s free of charge.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The youngster blinked, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, our family is quite wealthy, we can afford the cost of a washing and protection session¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a token of my goodwill.¡± Xu Ran shook his head. The story of the dog type pet beast named Huo Huo, guarding a family for nine generations, touched him deeply. He didn¡¯t consider himself a philanthropist, but after hearing the other party¡¯s story, he wanted to do what he could. He decided to provide a free washing and protection service when Huo Huo¡¯s life was at its end. ¡°This¡­¡± The boy stared into Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, seemingly understanding his intentions, his eyes filled with gratitude. He took a step back and bowed slightly. ¡°Boss Xu, I really can¡¯t thankyou enough.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡± Xu Ran laughed. ¡°In seven days, right? Do you need me to come to your place for the washing and protection?¡± ¡°No need,¡± the boy shook his head. ¡°Despite its old age, Huo Huo is a Leadership Stage Pet Beast. It can move by itself. That was its wish.¡± Xu Ran understood. Even at the very end of its life, it refused to show weakness¡­ He was very eager to meet this pet beast called Huo Huo. Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 163 First Gathering of the Four Little Ones_i Chapter 257: Chapter 163 First Gathering of the Four Little Ones_i Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow-¡± (How¡¯s the effects of the Milky Bamboo Stone Root?) ¡°Charming!¡± (Brilliant! I feel my power growing so fast!) ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (After all, this resource is worth three thousand four hundred Beast Master Points, more expensive than other resources.) The three little ones who finished their eight-hour training regrouped inside the elevator connected to the foster area and the training zone, discussing the day¡¯s training. Following behind Ziyun and Star, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation for the future. Already, three of its five talent skills have reached Three Stars. The remaining two talent skills and the taught skill, Dragon Power, are strong Two Stars. It only needs to merge another Two-Star Skill with each, and it can achieve the All Skills Three-Star Achievement. As for the All Skills Waning Moon level, no problem at all! In this way, all the evolution conditions can be completed. Plus the evolution materials it already gathered¡­ ¡°Charming!¡± (If all goes well, after the next resource allocation, I¡¯d be ready to evolve!) The anticipation in Cancan¡¯s eyes deepened a few more shades. The Milky Bamboo Stone Root, as an expensive resource even among the Marshal Level, boosts him greatly ¨C an Elite Stage beast. By the time it evolves, it may have already reached the peak of the Elite Stage. Then, like brother Star, it could complete the advancement during the evolution, jumping from the Elite Stage Leader Species to the Leader Stage King Species, making a leap in quality and catching up with seniors Ziyun and Star! ¡°Meow-¡± (Damn, I¡¯m so envious-) Ziyun, the first to complete the evolution, couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh. It no longer remembered how many resource allocations it had been through since it started preparing for evolution, only that it had taken a long time. On the contrary, Cancan is almost ready to evolve after just two resource allocations. ¡°Xi Lu-¡°(Indeed-) Star nodded in agreement. Its evolution, like Ziyu¡¯s, also took a long time. The two beasts that had already evolved looked at each other, reaching a conclusion. Indeed, the early bird gets the worm, the latecomer gets the benefit! Hearing the words of the two seniors, Cancan scratched his head in embarrassment, aware that he had inadvertently given them a significant psychological shadow. He quickly looked around, attempting to change the subject. Upon looking, he indeed made a discovery about the foster area. ¡°Charming?¡± (Who¡¯s that, a new resident?) Cancan raised his paw and pointed to a small white furball wandering around. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We got an extra living area.) The attentive Star quickly noticed the living area Xu Ran had carved out for the Velvet Sparrow and pointed in that direction. ¡°Meow?¡± (Shall we go over, say hello?) Reflected in Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes was the round-bodied Velvet Sparrow, its interesting appearance piqued its interest. For some reason, looking at this guy, it suddenly felt an urge to pounce on it, hold it in its front paws, then kick it with its hind legs, slap it away, and then chase after it to repeat the kick¡­ As it shook its head to squash this terrifying thought, Ziyun led the way to the Velvet Sparrow, with Cancan and Star following closely behind. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Thanks for your answer, let¡¯s get along well from now on!) Having greeted yet another Pet Beast, Velvet Sparrow nodded in satisfaction. After its departure, the blue glow in the eyes of the Fire Monkey standing in place silently faded. It then resumed its happy bouncing around the volcanic crater as if nothing had happened. Seeing this, Velvet Sparrow turned its head and waddled towards another residential area in the foster area. Spent several hours, it was visiting the neighbors in the foster area. Velvet Sparrow was curious about the reasons these neighbors came here. If it could learn from them the stories about their Beast Masters, that would be even better. Knowing more about them would help it understand human society more. Among the other residents of the foster area, some were very friendly, like the Armored Rhinoceros that happily rolled in the Mud Pond. It answered Velvet Sparrow¡¯s questions and even supplied the story of the Shadow Chaser Lizard. However, some residents were not so accommodating. Like that Fire Monkey just now. Whenever this happened, Velvet Sparrow had to slightly exert its power. Two Stars Skill, Full Moon Level Order of No Conquest. It subtly influenced others using Super Ability Attribute power, altering their behavioral Models without even they themselves noticing. This is the core skill of the Velvet Sparrow tribe, feared by countless Transcendent Beings in the core zone of the Beast Field. After upgrading this skill to Full Moon Level at the Elite Stage, Velvet Sparrow could deal with any situation among peers. Of course, this power is not omnipotent. If the power difference between two is too great, the other can easily resist this influence. In that case, Velvet Sparrow just had to humbly admit its defeat. Before reaching the next resident¡¯s area, Velvet Sparrow¡¯s steps halted. It saw three pet beasts approaching in its direction. Two of them carried the aura of the Leadership Stage creatures. And¡­ One of them, a Leader Stage creature, seemed to bear faint malice towards itself. Has its identity been discovered? The heart of Velvet Sparrow tightened. Standing still, it anxiously watched the newcomers, assessing whether the other party was a friend or foe and how it should respond. ¡°Charming!¡± (Are you the new resident who just moved in today?) Cancan approached Velvet Sparrow boldly, even circled around it once, appeared curious about the little furball¡¯s power level. Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 163 First Gathering of the Four Little 0nes_2 Chapter 258: Chapter 163 First Gathering of the Four Little 0nes_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Chirp-¡± (Yeah, yeah, where do you guys live?) The Velvet Sparrow let out a small sigh of relief, followed by a curious inquiry. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Its voice?) Feeling the echoing voice in his mind, Star was taken aback. ¡°Meow-¡± (This is Mind Induction, I¡¯ve seen it before.) In contrast, Ziyun was much more composed. It extended its claw, contemplating batting at the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s plump body like a ball of yarn, but it quickly dispelled the idea and concealed its intention by licking its paw nonchalantly. ¡°Meow-¡± (We live upstairs in the shop.) This guy was just about to tear me to shreds with one swipe, wasn¡¯t he? Absolutely! The Velvet Sparrow felt all its feathers puff up. It backed away cautiously in fear then quickly realized what Ziyun said. They live upstairs in the shop? ¡°Chirp?¡± (Is that also part of the Foster Area?) ¡°Charming!¡± (We are Xu Ran¡¯s pet beasts!) Cancan denied it with a shake of her head and revealed a proud expression. Xu Ran¡¯s pet beasts¡­ Mulling over Cancan¡¯s words, the Velvet Sparrow was surprised. Could it be that the human who cleaned and cared for it was a Leadership Level Beast Master?! But on second thought¡­ The Velvet Sparrow cautiously glanced at Ziyun. Since they are the boss¡¯s pet beasts, they shouldn¡¯t want to tear it up to pieces, right? Backing away a few more steps to stand next to Cancan, the weakest amongst the three little ones, the Velvet Sparrow felt a sense of safety. It then exhaled a breath of relief. ¡°Charming?¡± (Why did your Beast Master send you here?) Cancan curiously stretched out a claw to poke the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s smooth plump body, she recognized it was because Xu Ran had just cleaned it. ¡°Chirp- ¡± (I don¡¯t have a Beast Master.) The Velvet Sparrow shook its head, feeling slightly odd. It had been asking the other Foster Care Residents the same question until now, and suddenly found itself on the receiving end. And it couldn¡¯t resist. Seeing Ziyun, the Velvet Sparrow timidly tucked in its head. ¡°Charming?¡± (No Beast Master?) This increased Cancan¡¯s curiosity even further. Even Ziyun and Star appeared surprised. This was a unique situation amongst all the Foster Care Residents. Normally, the Beast Masters brought their pet beasts for fosterage and paid the fees. If there was no Beast Master, who paid the Foster Fee? ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Who paid your Foster Fee?) Star couldn¡¯t help but ask out of curiosity. ¡°Chirp!¡± (I paid forit myself!) Upon mentioning this, the Velvet Sparrow puffed out its chest in short-lived defiance. Me, the Velvet Sparrow, I paid for my own all-inclusive stay! ¡°Meow?¡± (You can earn money by yourself?) Ziyun looked at the Velvet Sparrow, contemplating whether it should report the bird to Boss Cat for punishment if it earned money illicitly. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Not money, it¡¯s a secret.) Seeing Ziyun asking the question, the sturdy Velvet Sparrow retracted its head in fear. Thinking of the secret it shared with Xu Ran, the Velvet Sparrow puffed its chest out again. It felt that it could stay tough for just a little while longer! ¡°Chirp!¡± (That secret is related to evolution. It will definitely help you guys evolve into the King Species in the future!) After saying this, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help but glance at Ziyun. Apart from the Transcendence Flower, it knew another secret related to evolution. That is, the optimal stage for the Leader Species to complete its evolution is the Elite Stage. This frightening guy was already at the Leadership Stage! It may look impressive now, but it might not even be able to evolve once it becomes a King Species in the future, then¡­ Chirp haha¡­ ¡°Charming?¡± (What secret? Ziyun and Star have both evolved, can you tell me about it?) Hearing the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s words, the soon-to-be-evolved Cancan quickly became excited. The expression of complacency on the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s face solidified instantly. ¡°¡­Chirp?¡± (You two¡­ are of the King Species?) Ziyun and Star looked at each other, quietly revealing the King¡¯s Power. Feeling the overwhelmingly familiar power that was unique to the King Species, the Velvet Sparrow staggered backwards, trembling like it had been struck by lightning. Ahaha¡­ Maybe I should¡­run away? Thinking about having to live under the same roof with such a terrifying creature in the future, the Velvet Sparrow suddenly felt a bit afraid. But considering the all-inclusive facilities, great environment, and the cleaning service this place offered, the Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t really want to run away anymore. Damn it! Having noticed the unusual behavior of Velvet Sparrow, Star silently turned his head to glance at Ziyun. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Big Sister, it seems afraid of you?) ¡°Meow-¡± (Impossible, absolutely impossible!) Ziyun shook her head vehemently. ¡°Charming!¡± (Big Sister is very easy to get along with!) Cancan poked Velvet Sparrow with his paw, pondering how to prove this point, and finally spoke earnestly. ¡°Charming!¡± (Everytime she beats me up, my injuries always heal by the next day!) That sounds even scarier! Velvet Sparrow¡¯s huge ocean blue eyes filled with tears. ¡°Charming!¡± (Canyou quickly tell me, what¡¯s the secret of evolution?) Still fixated on the secret mentioned by Velvet Sparrow, Cancan hurriedly urged. ¡°Chirp¡­¡± (It¡¯s just that evolution requires a Transcendence Flower¡­) ¡°Charming!¡± (Then there¡¯s no problem.) Having heard that the secret mentioned by Velvet Sparrow was this, Cancan scratched his head, and the hopeful expression in his eyes gradually faded away. ¡°Charming!¡± (We already know this!) Huh? What?! Velvet Sparrow took another blow of disbelief, looking at the three little ones stunned. ¡°¡­Chirp?¡± (You¡­know?) The three little ones nodded simultaneously. Yes, they¡¯ve known about it for a while now. What¡¯s the use of just having the Transcendence Flower, which is only a supplementary material? The main material is the most important for evolution. Watching the three little ones¡¯ calm expressions, Velvet Sparrow went blank, hugging his head with tiny wings. Let it think about it¡­ If they know, then as a Beast Master, Xu Ran certainly also knows¡­ And it just smugly revealed this secret¡­ Ahhh!!! Velvet Sparrow covered his eyes in agony, rolling on the ground. Such a loss of face! Unable to resist, Cancan retreated two steps, came to the side of his big brother and big sister and began to whisper. ¡°Charming?¡± (What¡¯s wrong with it?) After taking a glance, Star closed in on Cancan and whispered. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve heard that super ability type are often a bit neurotic. Could it be because of this?) ¡°Meow?¡± (Super ability type?) Ziyun took a look at Velvet Sparrow, her paw itchingly rustling again. She didn¡¯t pay attention earlier, but after Star¡¯s reminder, she also sensed the power fluctuations particular to the super ability type in Velvet Sparrow. Oh, the itch. It¡¯s said that super ability type and fighting type counter each other. Lately, she has only been beating up earth attribute Cancan, and hasn¡¯t fought with a super ability type yet. ¡°You¡¯ve already met Velvet Sparrow? And Ziyun even scared it away?¡± Looking at the three little ones lined up in front of him, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat amused. Meeting the innocent face of Ziyun, Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. Velvet Sparrow is a super ability type, Ziyun is a fighting type, these two types counter each other. Velvet Sparrow is a bird, Ziyun is a cat. Cats have been interested in birds since ancient times, it¡¯s racial oppression. And Velvet Sparrow also looks a lot like a ball of wool¡­ He probably understood what happened. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t mind it.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s pretty pitiful too, we can help keep an eye out for a suitable Beast Master for it.¡± ¡°Find it a good place to go sooner rather than later.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the three little ones nodded in agreement. Abandoned outside the city when she lost her parents at a young age, miraculously spared a life, almost starved to death when she returned to Qjngzhou City if it wasn¡¯t for Boss Cat. Velvet Sparrow really had a tough life! ¡°By the way.¡± Xu Ran remembered another thing, his expression becoming a bit serious, ¡°In a week, we will attend a funeral together.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Funeral?) ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a pet beast that has guarded a family for nine generations. It will leave this world in a week, and I will perform a Washing and Protection for it before it passes.¡± ¡°Because I offered to do the Washing and Protection for free, as a return, the owner invited me to attend its funeral.¡± ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll take the three of you to see.¡± Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 164 The Guardians Funeral_l Chapter 259: Chapter 164 The Guardian¡¯s Funeral_l Translator: 549690339 | Time, in its inadvertent passing, leaves traces of the years on everything, which no one can avoid or erase. It felt like just a moment, but a week has already passed. The day that Huo Huo, the pet beast who agreed to come, has arrived. Early in the morning, Xu Ran opened the shop door, but set up a ¡°Temporarily Closed Today¡± sign outside. To the customers who came to inquire, he politely declined them with a smile. The Starfire Foster Care Shop, today, opens for a special guest. The three little ones didn¡¯t rush into the training area for their daily eight-hour training. Instead, they accompanied Xu Ran in the storefront on the first floor, waiting for the guest to arrive. Besides the three little ones, at another corner of the store counter that Ziyun likes the most, a Velvet Sparrow, the size of a soccer ball, lazily props its small paws on the counter, allowing the morning sunlight to fall on its soft, shiny fur. Its small paw moved a bit, and the Velvet Sparrow turned its head to look at Xu Ran. Its voice naturally appeared in the minds of all living creatures in the store. ¡°Chirp?¡± (When are they coming?) ¡°They should be here soon.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the clock on the wall and then at the Velvet Sparrow. Because of the decision to take in the Velvet Sparrow a week ago, the Starfire Foster Care Shop gained an additional little rascal. Unlike other fostered residents, the Velvet Sparrow is very curious about the outside world, spending five or six hours wandering outside every day before returning home in time for meals. Considering that the Velvet Sparrow had lived outside the city for a long time, Xu Ran understood this and simply reminded it to be careful. However, as they spent more time together and he learned about the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s strength, he felt his reminders were somewhat redundant. As an Elite-stage beast, the Velvet Sparrow, aside from not having a Three-Star Skill, could suppress Cancan in various aspects, and even had a skill that had reached the Full Moon level. Two-star skill, Order of No Conquest. This skill, like psychological suggestion, could silently control others and was indeed horrifying if used nefariously. Two-star skill, Illusory Scenery. This skill could form false images, sounds, and breath fluctuations within a certain range around the Velvet Sparrow, misleading those outside of this range. Among the many illusion-type skills, the manifesting method of Illusory Scenery was quite special because it misled those outside its effective range, which meant it had a limitless effect range. However, this skill could be directly countered by Star¡¯s Immortal Star Attraction. This made the Velvet Sparrow feel very embarrassed when its illusion was instantly uncovered by Star a few days ago, and it vowed secretly never to use this skill in front of Star again. Two-star skill, Shadow of Deterrence. This skill allowed the Velvet Sparrow to remember the breath and suppression of powerful beings two stages above them and replicate it during critical moments, to achieve a shocking and influencing effect on the spiritual level when paired with Superpower Attribute¡¯s assault on consciousness. Unlike Illusory Scenery, the essence of this skill was a mental attack, and thus Star¡¯s Immortal Star Attraction could not crack it. Two-star skill, Soul Shatter Roar. This was solely a mental attack skill as well as the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s only straightforward offensive skill. Currently, it was also the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s only skill that was at the Starlight Level. It was evident that it didn¡¯t prefer to be offensive. Finally, it had a skill that helped the Velvet Sparrow communicate effortlessly with other creatures. One-star skill, Mind Induction. With these skills, it was virtually impossible for the Velvet Sparrow to encounter any danger in Qingzhou City unless it purposely caused trouble. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Alright, let¡¯s wait a little longer.) The Velvet Sparrow, waving its small paw, looked outside the shop door, anticipation sparkling in its eyes. After learning about today¡¯s event from Cancan two days ago, it had become intensely curious about the pet beast called Huo Huo. Even after living in a human city for ten days and seeing many deep bonds between pet beasts and human Beast Masters, it still found it hard to understand why, for the sake of a deceased human, a beast would voluntarily give up a freer life to protect the human¡¯s descendants day in and day out for hundreds of years. What¡¯s the meaning of such a gesture? So, the Velvet Sparrow insisted on going along to see for itself and hopefully get a chance to ask Huo Huo in person, seeking to clarify its inner doubts. Xu Ran didn¡¯t object to the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s participation. Having this beast act as a temporary translator was reasonable. After all, it was not being kept for nothing. ¡°Sure-¡± (They¡¯rehere.) Cancan slightly raised her head, her eyes reflecting seriousness. After integrating the Earthquake Wave, her newly enhanced Three-Star Skill, Echoing of Earth Vein, gave Cancan a wide range of detection abilities. With this detection ability, Cancan could sense a powerful but seemingly old creature, heading straight for the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Are they here? Xu Ran and the other three little ones quickly composed themselves, their expressions becoming more serious. A moment later, the heavy sound of footsteps arrived from outside the shop, gradually becoming clearer. A black dog type pet beast, five meters long and enveloped in red flames, walked into the shop. Its black short hair was not sleek and shiny, but rather dotted with patches of brown, much like age spots left by over-aging. Its figure was also slightly off, with somewhat atrophied muscles clinging to its bones. This caused what should have been a sleek and athletic being to appear thin and unhealthy. Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 164 The Guardians Funeral_2 Chapter 260: Chapter 164 The Guardian¡¯s Funeral_2 Translator: 549690339 | Its long ears stood straight, but occasionally drooped for a moment before it struggled to lift them again. Even the crimson flame that surged around it, appeared as if it was inadequately burning, presenting a thin and uneven color. Through its current state, Xu Ran was able to see a glimpse of its former majesty and dominance. However, all these had been erased with the passage of time, leaving behind only an old, Leadership Stage Pet Beast at the end of its life. Behind it, the teenager named Du Ziyu, who had arrived a week ago, followed by a middle-aged man who bore striking facial resemblance to him, confirming its identity. ¡°So, you must be Huo Huo.¡± Xu Ran quickly rose from behind the counter, walking towards it, looking up slightly, ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Woof-¡± Huo Huo lowered its head until it could look Xu Ran in the eye. Its slightly cloudy eyes revealed a friendly expression as it nodded slightly. ¡°Boss Xu, please take care of her!¡± Du Ziyu took a deep breath and spoke loudly. Compared to when he visited a week ago, his expression was much more serious at the moment, and there was a touch of sadness in his eyes that he couldn¡¯t hide. ¡°Boss Xu, I am Du Long.¡± The middle-aged man who came with Du Ziyu spoke in a deep voice, ¡°I was also involved in the joint arrest of kidnappers in Qingzhou City that day, but unfortunately, we didn¡¯t meet, which is a pity.¡± ¡°Thankyou for Huo Huo¡¯s matter.¡± The middle-aged man spoke with a slight pause, ¡°I owe you a favor for this.¡± ¡°Uncle Du, you¡¯re too polite.¡± Xu Ran smiled, then looked at Huo Huo, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll do the grooming now.¡± ¡°Woof-¡± Huo Huo nodded and followed closely behind Xu Ran. ¡°Twee-¡± (It says it hopes you can make it look a bit more like it did in its youth.) Velvet Sparrow jumped from the counter and quickly followed, translating the meaning of Huo Huo¡¯s thoughts to Xu Ran. The father and son of the Du family who also heard the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s voice were surprised, quickly followed by emotion. In Boss Xu¡¯s shop, was there really a translator who mastered mind induction to better communicate with pet beasts? That¡¯s really considerate. ¡°Its youthful vigor?¡± As he walked into the Grooming Room, Xu Ran glanced at Huo Huo who was following closely by his side, with a hint of self-confidence in his eyes, ¡°Leave it to me.¡± ¡°Click ¡± With the closing of the Grooming Room¡¯s doors, the grooming session for Huo Huo officially began. Outside the Grooming Room, Cancan seemed to have thought of something and suddenly spoke up. ¡°Whoa?¡± (Why can¡¯t the three of us follow Xu Ran, but Velvet Sparrow can?) The shop suddenly fell silent. The Three little ones looked at each other and fell into silence. Yeah, why is that? ¡°Boom!¡± Inside the Grooming Room, Xu Ran evenly smeared the specially formulated nursing oil all over Huo Huo¡¯s body, allowing the nursing oil to be lit by the red flames surging around Huo Huo. It burned fiercely outside its body, emitting a deep roar. This seemingly fierce scene was, in fact, especially comforting for Huo Huo. Within the flames, it slowly stood straight, its eyes full of relief. The once lustrous black fur became smooth and shiny again, even the previous brown spots were changed back to black with the coloring agent that Xu Ran had formulated, perfectly matching its original fur color. Atrophied muscles couldn¡¯t be replenished by grooming, but in Xu Ran¡¯s adjustments and trimming of the fur, it no longer seemed so weak and old. It replicated Huo Huo¡¯s previous state to the greatest extent possible. Its erect ears were implanted with invisible supports, returning them to their upright and lively state. As the nursing oil was completely burned away, the red flames surrounding Huo Huo became more intense and concentrated. It was no longer a dying ember, but seemed to be in its prime again, full of vigor. ¡°Woof-¡± A powerful and short sound came from within the flames. The rejuvenated Huo Huo¡¯s gaze became even brighter. It felt as if its body had regained its strength, as if it had really returned to its prime. ¡®Twee-¡± (It says you are really good at grooming, it feels like it has really become younger.) Velvet Sparrow looked up at Xu Ran. Thank you.¡± Xu Ran spoke softly, but his eyes flashed with a hint of sadness due to Huo Huo¡¯s words. He clearly knew that his grooming only changed Huo Huo¡¯s external state. What really made it feel younger was the last resurgence of life. It didn¡¯t have much time left. The father and son duo of the Du family, who were also aware of this, had a deeper level of sadness in their eyes. ¡°Woof-¡± Looking at the people who had watched it grow up, with such sadness in their eyes, Huo Huo slowly walked towards the father and son, with a hint of consolation in its eyes. It raised a paw to push open the door, then stepped out of the foster shop with firm strides. ¡°Foliowit!¡± Father and son of the Du family exchanged glances, silently following behind Huo Huo. ¡°We should go and see.¡± Xu Ran closed the shop door, climbed onto Star¡¯s back, and as usual picked up the reduced Cancan and placed it in front of him. Ziyun lay on Cancan¡¯s scale shell. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Take me with you!) The Velvet Sparrow followed behind with a swaying gait, watching the one person and three pets prepared to leave, it became anxious all at once. Ah, this¡­¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, bent down to pick up the Velvet Sparrow, and placed it on Cancan¡¯s scale shell too, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Velvet Sparrow: ¡°¡­¡± Looking at Ziyun, who was sitting just within reach, staring full of anticipation, an expression of utter despair gradually spread across its face. Just let me die, I¡¯m tired. ¡°Xi Lu Lu-¡± Star emitted a neigh, then with nimble steps quickly followed behind Huo Huo. Completely unfazed by those following behind, Huo Huo walked steadily and powerfully. Even in its last moment of life, even the Grim Reaper temporarily halted its life-reaping scythe, allowing it to regain the agility of its prime. Step by step, it moved towards a certain direction. After recognizing this direction, a deeper sadness filled the eyes of the Du family father and son who were following closely behind. That place, is where the founder of the Du family, the original owner of Huo Huo, was buried. Every once in a whde, Huo Huo would go there alone, sitting in front of the grave and becoming lost in its thoughts. And now, it has evidently chosen the best final resting place for itself. As a graveyard appeared up ahead, Xu Ran, who was following closely, also seemed to realis something. He inevitably let out a long sigh. ¡°Ah, what a loyal pet beast.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (What¡¯s this place?) The Velvet Sparrow heard Xu Ran¡¯s sigh and couldn¡¯t help but become curious. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be the grave of Huo Huo¡¯s former owner.¡± Xu Ran spoke softly. A cemetery, huh¡­ The Velvet Sparrow tiptoed and looked ahead. Time slowly passed. Huo Huo, familiar with the cemetery, promptly reached a tomb that looked quite old but obviousy had been well-maintained. Its steady steps gradually slowed down. One step¡­ two steps¡­ Huo Huo¡¯s movements became very gentle, as if worried about disturbing the person sleeping in the grave. Seeing this, Xu Ran dismounted from Star, with one finger on his lips gesturing for the four little ones to remain quiet. He then tip-toed to the side of the father and son of the Du family, silently watching Huo Huo¡¯s actions. Finally, Huo Huo arrived at the gravestone. It curled up its huge body around the tombstone. Just like it had protected the descendants of its owner for hundreds of years, from now on, its remains would guard this grave forever. At last, Huo Huo took a deep look at the Du family father and son and Xu Ran. The Velvet Sparrow blinked its eyes. Suddenly, it remembered the important question it had forgotten to ask. It took a secretive glance at Xu Ran, a faint hint of blue flashing in its eyes. ¡®Giving up your freedom to guard a human for a lifetime, is it worth it?¡± The questioning voice echoed in Huo Huo¡¯s mind. A hint of surprise swept across Huo Huo¡¯s eyes. It was then followed by a barely noticeable smile. ¡°Woof-¡± With a long sound, it finally closed its eyes. The strong aura around it dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye. The red flame, extinguished along with its life. The Velvet Sparrow stared blankly at the lifeless Huo Huo, its last words lingering in its mind. ¡°If you meet the right person, naturally you¡¯ll know the answer to this question.¡± Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 16 5 Sly One Man with Four Petsl Chapter 261: Chapter 16 5 Sly One Man with Four Petsl Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Let¡¯s go, we shouldn¡¯t disturb them.¡± After a moment of silence, Du Long spoke in a deep tone, ¡°We¡¯ve arranged for the gravesite to be revamped.¡± ¡°Bury it here in the same posture as Huo Huo.¡± ¡°I believe, whether it¡¯s my ancestors or Huo Huo, they would all prefer it that way.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran naturally did not have much say in the Du family s arrangements. ¡°As for the funeral?¡± ¡°This is not a suitable place for the funeral. I don¡¯t thinkHuo Huo would want many people to see it at this time.¡± Du Ziyu¡¯s eyes became slightly red, speaking in a soft voice, ¡°The funeral will be held tonight in the Du family Courtyard. Hopefully, Boss Xu can attend. ¡°Definitely.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously. After parting ways with the Du family father and son, he took one last look at Huo Huo before returning with the four little creatures. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Can I attend the funeral tonight?) The silence was broken by the Velvet Sparrow s chirp. ¡°Do you want to go too?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Yes!) ¡°Then let¡¯s go together. I think the Du family father and son won¡¯t mind.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his expression still carrying a trace of melancholy, ¡°I heard that for this funeral, the Du family will invite everyone who¡¯s had interactions with them over the years.¡± ¡°Holding such a grand funeral for Huo Huo, it¡¯s clear that the Du family saw it as a crucial part of their family.¡± The Velvet Sparrow turned its head to look at Xu Ran, curiosity flickering in its eyes. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Can a pet beast also be family?) ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Ziyun, Star, and Cancan have all become part of my family.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun nodded in agreement, recalling all the shared experiences with Xu Ran. Unconsciously, it was deeply connected to Xu Ran, sharing both honor and disgrace, their fates intertwined. Such a relationship could only pertain to family. ¡°XiLu!¡± (That¡¯s right!) Star emitted a neigh, its eyes full of touch. After the Horse Beast race, Xu Kun often brought different Horse-type pet beasts for washing and protection. The little buddies who had seen Star¡¯s transformed look were amazed and sincerely wished it well. Chasing Wind also came to check on it and expressed heartfelt thanks to Xu Ran. Leaving the Horse Beast Breeding Base to follow Xu Ran was the best decision it had ever made! ¡°Charming!¡± (Must be family!) Cancan nodded in agreement. To Cancan, who first laid eyes on Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star upon birth, the concept of a family was engraved deep into its bones. Like this¡­ Looking at the three little creatures¡¯ proud expressions, the Velvet Sparrow unexpectedly felt a twinge of envy. The journey back was wordless. Thanks to Star¡¯s speed, they quickly arrived back at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. With Huo Hue¡¯s matter settled, it was time to resume normal operations at the shop. Time flew, and soon it was night. Seeing Xu Ran arrive at the Du family Courtyard, Du Ziyu who was guarding the door immediately went to greet him, ¡°Boss Xu, let me take you in.¡± ¡°Thankyou.¡± Xu Ran nodded, entering the gates with four little creatures. He looked around curiously, ¡°Your Du family¡¯s courtyard is enormous.¡± ¡°After all, it is an accumulation of wealth from hundreds of generations.¡± Du Ziyu¡¯s expression was calm. He took no pride in it, ¡°Huo Huo had a significant contribution to this.¡± ¡°Without extraordinary power as our support, sometimes people can look down on us.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement. Thinking about the departed Huo Huo, he sighed and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Are there many attendees?¡± ¡°Quite a lot.¡± Du Ziyu glanced at the brightly lit villa, ¡°I heard some of the guests talking about you earlier. Maybe many of them are acquainted with you, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°That¡¯s expected.¡± Xu Ran laughed. The Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s reputation in Qingzhou City had attracted many powerful Beast Masters, and before he realized it, he had come this far. After leading Xu Ran into the hall, Du Ziyu excused himself. Today, he was responsible for welcoming guests and had to meet other visitors. As Xu Ran entered the solemn hall with the four little creatures, he was quickly recognized by people. ¡°Boss Xu, I didn¡¯t expect you to come!¡± A young lady approached Xu Ran with a smile on her face, ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°Long time no see.¡± Recognizing the woman who had visited his shop twice before, Xu Ran politely responded. ¡°Recently¡­¡± The woman seemed to want to say something, but her words were cut short by another voice. ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re here too!¡± Watching another man approaching from a distance, the woman shook her head helplessly and moved aside. ¡°Hello, hello!¡± Xu Ran responded politely to the vaguely familiar guest. Soon, a crowd had gathered around him. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Human social interactions are quite intimidating¡­) The Velvet Sparrow, who had retreated to one side, couldn¡¯t help but gasp tn surprise. ¡°Meow-¡± (Indeed¡­) Ziyun reached out a paw towards the Velvet Sparrow, then silently withdrew and began licking it. The Velvet Sparrow looked at Ziyun, subtly moved closer to Cancan, and remained silent. After Star revealed the ability to dispel illusions, the only creature that made it feel safe among the three little ones was Cancan. As a result, it had the closest relationship with Cancan. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (By the way, I think I saw someone familiar.) Looking around, Star murmured after a while. ¡°Meow?¡± (Who?) Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Chapter 165 Sly One Man with Four Pets_2 Chapter 262: Chapter 165 Sly One Man with Four Pets_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°XiLu~¡± (That¡¯s the Beast Master of Wind Lion Dog). Starchen lifted its hoof and pointed in a particular direction. Liu Gu was engrossed in a feast. Behind him was the Wind Lion Dog eating a meal as well. There was also a Sea Wave Flower hovering in the air, which seemed to be holding itself at a distance, looking rather disdainful of them. ¡°Meow!¡± (Indeed!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes shone brightly the moment it glanced at Starchen. ¡°Meow?¡± (How long has it been since we last had a resource allocation?) ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (It¡¯s been ten days since we left for Xieyun City.) Starchen looked serious as it gazed at Liu Gu, its eyes filled with an unknown implication. ¡°Meow¡­Meow?¡± (Do you think¡­if he visits the shop tomorrow, will the next resource allocation start?) Starchen didn¡¯t speak, it just silently nodded in agreement. This approach could be worth trying¡­ ¡°Charming?!¡± (Is that even possible?!) Cancan, who was observing the conversation between Ziyun and Starchen, had excitement glittering in his eyes. No one was looking forward to the next resource allocation more than Cancan! After all, once Starchen evolved, resource allocation would be Cancan¡¯s forte! ¡°Charming!¡± (Let¡¯s convince him to visit the shop for washing and protection tomorrow!) Cancan made the bold proposal. Ziyun and Starchen looked at each other. It seemed all three of them had the same idea. Hearing the three little ones converse, a somewhat confused Velvet Sparrow blinked its eyes and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Chirp?¡± (What are you talking about? What is resource allocation?) ¡°Meow-¡± (This is a secret only Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beasts can know!) Ziyun glanced at the Velvet Sparrow with a profound expression. Velvet Sparrow: ¡°???¡± Are you trying to pique my curiosity? Definitely! It turned its seeking gaze towards Starchen. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I can¡¯t say- I can¡¯t say-) Starchen slightly raised its head and shook it solemnly. Damn it! The Velvet Sparrow rolled its eyes in frustration and then looked towards Cancan, which it was on best terms with. ¡°Charming!¡± (There¡¯s no point looking at me. It¡¯s a secret-) Cancan spread its paws, showing a helpless expression. Velvet Sparrow: Driven by intense curiosity, it felt as though it was being tormented, a terrible feeling. ¡°Humph chirp!¡± (Humph! Fine, don¡¯t tell me then!) It turned its head away and huffed. But when it heard the three little ones continue to discuss, it couldn¡¯t help but prick up its ears. ¡°Meow?¡± (How can we make him come to the shop tomorrow?) Ziyun revealed a thoughtful expression and asked a key question. Starchen looked contemplative and quickly came up with an idea. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We are Pet Beasts, so let¡¯s influence his Pet Beasts!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Starchen is correct!) Cancan swiftly nodded its head in agreement. Just like that, the consensus was that they should tiptoe towards Xu Ran, who was still busy chatting with the guests, and sneak away. ¡°Chirp-¡± (I¡¯m coming as well!) Looking at the sneaky three little ones, the eyes of the Velvet Sparrow shimmered with a cunning light. Although it didn¡¯t know what resource allocation was, it guessed the intention of the three guys. They wanted to entice the human Beast Master to bring his Pet Beast for washing and protection at the shop and prepared to find a way through his Pet Beast. This task, for the Velvet Sparrow that was in possession of the Full Moon Level Order of No Conquest, was extremely simple. It wondered what plan they could come up with while it was available as an expert. Thinking this, the Velvet Sparrow waddled forward, following them. The three little ones noticed that Velvet Sparrow was following them, but didn¡¯ t mind. As long as Xu Ran¡¯s secret wasn¡¯t exposed, everything else was secondary. Soon, they appeared in front of Liu Gu. ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you Boss Xu¡¯s Pet Beasts?¡± Liu Gu recognized the three little ones at once and looked surprised, ¡°Is Boss Xu here too? Where is he?¡± All three looked in the direction of Xu Ran. ¡°Hey! I¡¯ll go and greet him.¡± Liu Gu chuckled, ¡°I was so busy eating, I didn¡¯t even notice.¡± ¡°Dog, do you want to go with me?¡± ¡°Woof- ¡± The Wind Lion Dog vigorously shook its head, and then continued with its meal already in progress. Being a dog, greeting people was too much to ask. For now, eating seemed to be the top priority. ¡°What about the Sea Wave Flower?¡± Liu Gu looked over at the nearby Sea Wave Flower. The Sea Wave Flower, silent as ever, followed along, signaling its intention to Liu Gu. ¡°Stay put, pup. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Having said this, Liu Gu walked towards Xu Ran with Sea Wave Flower. Opportunity!!! The eyes of the three little ones all lit up. They were originally thinking about how to distract the Wind Lion Dog, but they didn¡¯t expect everything to go so smoothly. The Velvet Sparrow following behind them couldn¡¯t help but facepalm. It was too easy, right? He has not used the Order of No Conquest yet! ¡°Meow-¡± (Hold on a sec!) Looking around, Ziyun quickly approached the Wind Lion Dog. ¡°Woof?¡± What¡¯s up? The Wind Lion Dog looked at Ziyun in surprise. Considering the terrifying power Ziyun showed when saving the Tiger Hunting Squad, it¡¯d stopped eating. ¡°Meow?¡± (Your fur is a bit dirty, do you want to go for washing and protection?) Ziyun gave the Wind Lion Dog a ¡°you-know-what-I-mean¡± look. ¡°Woof?¡± Washing and protection? A glint of light flickered in the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s eyes. It remembered the wonderful experience of washing and protection at Xu Ran¡¯s place. However, this glint of light quickly faded in the Wind Lion Dog¡¯s eyes. Due to the danger encountered last time, the Tiger Hunting Squad hadn¡¯t left the city recently and planned to rest for a while. Liu Gu had promised it before that he would take it for washing and protection every time they returned from outside the city. The last time they returned to the city, Xu Ran had already gone to Xieyun City. Because Sea Wave Flower couldn¡¯t tolerate even a tiny bit of dirt, Liu Gu took it to another washing and protection shop. Although the service there wasn¡¯t as good as Starfire Foster Care Shop, it was cleaned up nonetheless. It¡¯d better go for washing and protection after the next time it leaves the city. ¡°Woof.¡± I¡¯ll go next time! The Wind Lion Dog shook its head. Ziyun was taken aback. Could a pet beast actually refuse a Foster Shop¡¯s washing and protection? He looked for help from Star and Cancan who were standing aside. The two little ones joined forces trying to talk the Wind Lion Dog around. However, the Wind Lion Dog was stubborn. Once it¡¯d made up its mind, no matter what the three little ones said, it wouldn¡¯t go to a foster shop for washing and protection. Just as the three little ones were at a loss, a voice quietly echoed in their minds. ¡°How about I help you? But you will have to tell me, what exactly is resource allocation?¡± The three little ones looked at the Velvet Sparrow who was pulling a cute face, and then they looked at each other. They all thought of the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s Order of No Conquest. If that skill was used, it seemed¡­ Star and Cancan both looked at Ziyun simultaneously. Let elder sister decide on this matter! Ziyun seemed affected and her eyes were filled with thought. Choose some things that could be told, and tell? ¡°Meow- ¡± (Every once in a while, Xu Ran would distribute the resources he gained during this time to the three of us for upgrading. We¡¯d each select what we need.) ¡°Chirp!¡± (So that¡¯s how it is!) The Velvet Sparrow, whose curiosity was satisfied, was in a good mood. There was a flicker in his sea-blue eyes. Two-stars Skill, Full Moon Level- Order of No Conquest! The Wind Lion Dog, which was eating, had a flash of blue at the bottom of its eyes, and it slightly paused its eating. After thinking carefully, it¡¯s indeed somewhat dirty after a week. Let the Beast Master take it for washing and protection tomorrow. Yes, that¡¯s how it¡¯ll be done! Thinking of this, the Wind Lion Dog continued to eat happily. Feeling the feedback from the Order of No Conquest, the Velvet Sparrow gave the three little ones a look. Success! ¡°Uncle Liu, you¡¯re here too?¡± Having dealt with other guests, Xu Ran showed a hint of smile as he saw Liu Gu coming. What a coincidence. He heard that the Tiger Hunting Squad hasn¡¯t left the city for some time, and he was regretting missing Wind Lion Dog¡¯s last washing and protection. By now, he has already saved enough pleasure value for two Ten Consecutive Drawing sessions. He was still thinking when he would have an opportunity to rub off some of the Lucky Fish¡¯s luck. Just as he was thinking, the opportunity had arrived. ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Gu laughed, ¡°I had some communication with Senior Du Long before. We are familiar with each other, so I was invited¡­¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s familiar hand landing on his shoulder, the corner of Liu Gu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Again? ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran smoothly drew back his hand without leaving a trace, showed a smile on his face, and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Uncle Liu, do you know about the Boss Cat matter?¡± Chapter 263 - Chapter 166: The Fourth Favorite? _1 Chapter 166: The Fourth Favorite? _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Boss Cat¡­¡± Liu Gu¡¯s attention was quickly diverted, forgetting the little interlude that just happened, ¡°Speaking of which, I really have to thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard some things about it before, I didn¡¯t expect it to join our squad as an independent pet beast.¡± Excitement appeared on Liu Gu¡¯s face, ¡°With this, our squad now technically has Leadership Stage combat prowess.¡± ¡°We were initially planning to rest for a month or two, but due to this, the captain has decided to shorten our rest period.¡± Liu Gu scratched his head, but there was not much dissatisfaction on his face, ¡°We and Boss Cat need to accommodate each other.¡± ¡°I believe Boss Cat will be a trustworthy teammate.¡± Xu Ran spoke earnestly. ¡°I think so too.¡± Liu Gu laughed, chatted with Xu Ran a bit more, then excused himself to head in the direction of the Wind Lion Dog. Xu Ran lowered his waving hand, his face showing a hint of emotion. He had benefited from Liu Gu¡¯s luck so many times, yet it was still as steady as ever. Two batches of ten, resulted in two purple items. One was a three-star skill scroll, while the other was something new. And it was somewhat beyond his expectations. [Talent Skill Fusion Stone] [The Talent Skill Fusion Stone is a special item produced by the System, capable of fusing two or more talent skills to form a stronger skill.] [Warm Reminder: Do not attempt to fuse talent skills before the Emperor Species. ] This reward¡­ The corners of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He recalled that when he first received the skill fusion stone, he attempted to fuse Ziyun¡¯s Electric Spark with Electric Pursue. The fusion success rate was displayed as o, leading him to speculate that talent skills could not be fused. Later on, he tried fusing the talent skills of Star and Cancan, but the success rate was still o, which confirmed his conjecture. He never thought that talent skills could be fused, but not with an ordinary skill fusion stone. A purple-rarity Talent Skill Fusion Stone- Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but grimace. He could already imagine how difficult the fusion process would be. Moreover, his current three pets wouldn¡¯t be able to fuse using the Talent Skill Fusion Stone. The System specially added a tip, fully illustrating the importance of the issue. Only Emperor Species can fuse Talent Skills¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but show a thoughtful expression. What was the principle behind this? Talent skills were inherent skills that came with the awakening process, corresponding to the potential and abilities within a pet beast¡¯s lineage. When upgrading talent skills and upgrading other skills, the pet beasts¡¯ feelings were completely different. From this perspective, the fusion of talent skills perhaps signifies¡­ A unity of one¡¯s own power? Xu Ran made a few wild guesses, but in the end, there was no conclusion. He quickly checked the remaining rewards. Seventeen skill fusion stones, one Energy Abundant Potion. Great, the evolution conditions for Cancan would surely be met after this distribution. ¡°Charming!¡± (We can distribute resources tomorrow!) Cancan¡¯s excited voice sounded just then. Speak of Cancan, and Cancan appears. ¡°We don¡¯t have to wait until tomorrow, we can distribute resources tonight. However, how did you guys know?¡± Xu Ran curiously asked the three little ones whose faces were full of joy. Ziyun: ¡°????¡± Star: ¡°????¡± Cancan:¡±????¡± They can distribute resources tonight? They don¡¯t have to wait for the Wind Lion Dog to come for the Washing and Protection? The three little ones were dumbstruck. A nearby Velvet Sparrow covered its mouth and giggled. Although it didn¡¯t fully understand, bui- lt seemed like it had mooched off of Ziyun¡¯s enlightenment? A moment later, Xu Ran understood the whole story from Ziyun¡¯s dejected explanation. ¡°You three rascals¡­¡± Xu Ran laughed and shook his head while pointing at them, then turned and pointed at the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°And you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do this in the future, you can¡¯t abuse a skill like the Order of No Conquest.¡± I¡¯m not your pet beast, I won¡¯t listen to you! The Velvet Sparrow was about to retort, but when it met Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, it meekly lowered its head. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Alright alright-) ¡°Once the Wind Lion Dog comes tomorrow, give it free washing and protection.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°After all, it wasn¡¯t intending to come in the first place, I would feel bad collecting money.¡± Upon hearing this, the three little ones also lowered their heads guiltily. They also realized that what they did wasn¡¯t quite right. The solemn and dignified bell sounded in the hall. The chattering guests silenced all at once, the smiles on their faces quickly vanished, and their expressions became serious. The funeral and memorial ceremony for Huo Huo officially began. ¡°Upstairs!¡± Xu Ran waved his hand, and the three little ones who had returned to the store immediately rushed upstairs. The Velvet Sparrow watched them, its eyes filled with a hint of envy and loneliness. It felt like they were leaving it out. But the Velvet Sparrow knew that it wasn¡¯t Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast, so the resource distribution certainly wouldn¡¯ t involve it. ¡°Chirp-¡± (I¡¯m going back to the foster area, thanks for having me today!) It nodded at Xu Ran, swayed its tail, and headed towards the underground floor through the back door. Watching the Velvet Sparrow leave, Xu Ran gently shook his head and laughed. Truth be told, seeing the Velvet Sparrow with the three little ones today, he genuinely felt like it was one of his own pet beast. Should he¡­Contract this little guy for his fourth pet? Forget it, he¡¯d see what happens. Even if he was willing, the Velvet Sparrow might not agree. He could tell that it was very independent, didn¡¯t want to contract with humans, and it seemed to be hiding some secrets. Yawning lazily, Xu Ran leisurely headed upstairs. It¡¯s still early for the contract power to break through to the fourth stage. Chapter 264 - Chapter 166: The Fourth Favorite? _2 Chapter 166: The Fourth Favorite? _2 Translator: 549690339 There is plenty of time in the future. A moment later, in the room on the second floor, Xu Ran sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the three little ones lined up in front of him, he took out two ¡°artifacts¡± and began towrite. ¡°Physical points: 9213 points (not assigned)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 1618 points (Cancan) +5686 points (not assigned)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 21 pieces (Cancan) +86 pieces (not assigned)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 17 pieces (not assigned)¡± ¡°Talent Skill Fusion Stone: 1 piece (not assigned)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 1 bottle (not assigned)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 3192 points (not assigned)¡± ¡°Three Star Skill Scrolls xi¡± ¡°I know what you guys want to ask.¡± Looking at the three little ones staring intently at the Talent Skill Fusion Stone column, Xu Ran smiled knowingly, ¡°This Talent Skill Fusion Stone¡­¡± He roughly introduced the effects and limitations, and then spread his hands, ¡°In any case, this thing will be useful in the future, but you guys can¡¯t use it now, whether or not to exchange it in advance and stock it up is up to you.¡± The three little ones glanced at each other. ¡°Meow-¡± (I won¡¯t exchange it, let¡¯s just keep it.) Ziyun shook his head. When really needed, he could borrow from other little pals, just like how he lent 3000 Beast Master Points to Cancan¡­ Oh right, Cancan still owed him 3000 Value Points! Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but give Cancan an extra look. In any case, exchanging now doesn¡¯t make much sense. After some thought, Star and Cancan nodded, making the same decision as Ziyun. ¡°Then just hold onto it for now, I¡¯ll give you the corresponding Value Points ahead of time as a surplus.¡± Xu Ran nodded and then announced the Value Points situation this time. ¡°All of your previous Value Points were used up, there was no surplus, and this time the total Value Points are 22701 points, each of you will get 7567 points.¡± After that, Xu Ran looked at Cancan. As the only member of the team who is still preparing for evolution, it¡¯s still Cancan¡¯s priority to exchange. ¡°Charming!¡± (Firstly, fuse the skills!) Cancan¡¯s eyes glowed, full of anticipation. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded and glanced at the little blackboard, ¡°But even if you use all the Skill Fragments, you can¡¯t exchange for three Two Star Skills, why not exchange for a Three Star Skill Scroll?¡± Cancan shook his head. All of its remaining three skills are strong Two Star Skills. It just needs to fuse one Two Star Skills, and it can smoothly upgrade to Three Star. Using a Three Star Skill Scroll would be kind of a loss. With the experience of merging Echoing of Earth Vein last time, Cancan quickly thought of an alternative. ¡°Charming!¡± (We can use 20 Skill Fragments to exchange for two One Star Skills!) With this, a few more Skill Fusion Stones need to be consumed, but the skill effects that can be obtained are more diversified and do not incur a loss. ¡°That works, let me help you take a look.¡± Xu Ran opened Cancan¡¯s panel. ¡± ¡ï¡ï¡ïGiving Body to Fertile Soil (Starlight Level)¡± (387/500)!+] ¡°¡ï¡ïEarthCollapse (Starlight Level)¡± (328/500)!+] ¡°¡ï¡ïSturdy RockWall (Starlight Level)¡± (392/500)!+] ¡°¡ï¡ï ¡ïEchoing of Earth Vein (Starlight Level)¡± (339/500)1 + ] ¡°¡ï¡ï¡ïJiezimixu (Starlight Level)¡± (220/500)!+] ¡°¡ï¡ïDragon Power (Starlight Level)¡± (67/500)! + ] Out of the six skills, three still need to be fused. Eath Collapse and Sturdy Rock Wall are relatively easier to fuse, but Dragon Power isn¡¯t that easy to find a suitable skill for. So¡­ Xu Ran quickly had an idea. ¡°¡ï¡ï Earth Collapse ¡°+¡±¡ï * Shockwave¡± ¡°Fusion Success Rate: 11.9%¡± Shockwave is a common skill that causes damage to the air through high- frequency vibration. And Earth Collapse targets the ground and underground. After the two are fused, Earth Collapse is likely to become a skill with aerial capabilities. Just for this reason alone, it¡¯s enough for Xu Ran to choose it, let alone that it has a not low fusion success rate with Earth Collapse. ¡°¡ï¡ïSturdy Rock Wall¡± + ¡°¡ï¡ïRegeneration Power¡± ¡°Fusion Success Rate: 12.1%¡± Regeneration Power is a common skill that can achieve rapid regeneration, but its target of regeneration is not the caster himself, meaning it can¡¯t be used to heal injuries. It can regenerate certain released skills, making the skill no longer a one-time deal that depletes after it¡¯s released and can only be re-released, but it becomes a skill whose consumed part can be replenished by consuming power, achieving the enhancement of some skills. If it is fused with Sturdy RockWall, then the Sturdy RockWall will have the ability to self-regenerate. The defense is already strong enough, and it can regenerate after it¡¯s painstakingly shattered¡­ How beautiful is this to let it pass. [¡ï¡ïDragon Power]+[*Fervor]+[*Taunt] [Fusion success rate: 1.2%] The fusion success rate of Dragon Power is lower than Xu Ran¡¯s expectation. According to his guess, this might be related to Dragon Power being a dragon-exclusive skill. Luckily, they have plenty of skill fusion stones this time. They will force it through, even if the success rate is low. Fervor and Taunt are the most suitable skills Xu Ran found for fusion with Dragon Power among many one-star skills. The effect of the former is somewhat similar to Ziyun¡¯s Blood Fury, it can improve the caster all-around. Since the increase is much lower than Blood Fury, it has no side effects. While it¡¯s relatively ordinary, coupled with Echoing of Earth Vein, the double stacking can still significantly improve Cancan¡¯s power. As for the latter¡­ This skill can, to a certain extent, influence the opponent, induce resentment and other negative emotions, making it a priority to attack the caster. How does the saying go? For a good MT, pulling aggro is a required course. After the three skills are successfully fused, every time Cancan releases Dragon Power, it could increase his own buff and the hatred value of the opponent. It sounds quite impressive. Once the skills have been selected, Cancan¡¯s integration officially begins. The three skills stones were placed. [¡ï¡ï Earth Collapse (Starlight Level)] (328/500)! + ] 4* 4¡ä 4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth-shattering Skyfall (Starlight Level)] (328/500)! + ] Two more skill fusion stones are placed. [¡ï¡ï Sturdy Rock Wall(Starlight Level)] (392/500)! + ] 4¡¯4¡¯4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ï Eternal Iron Wall (Starlight Level)] (392/500)! + ] After completing the fusion of the first two skills, Xu Ran paused and looked at Cancan, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (The feeling is so wonderful!) Joy filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. With all the talent skills elevated to three stars, it felt as if the shackles of its potential were completely unlocked. Evolution is beckoning to it. ¡°What about the effect of the new skill?¡± Xu Ran asked again. Cancan interpreted the effects, then introduced the new skills to his buddies with excitement. As Xu Ran expected, Earth-shattering Skyfall is a skill that covers the sky, ground, and underground. Its range is a sphere centered on Cancan, which is similar to Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. But he was surprised by some of the changes in the skill effect. In addition to the original shock and shatter effects, Earth-shattering Skyfall also had a collapse effect at the end of the release. It could collapse and squeeze everything within the attack range, causing extensive one-time damage, and Cancan was the only one that could be exempted. Good news, the damage is higher. Bad news, it does not distinguish between friend and foe, so use it with caution. As for Eternal Iron Wall¡­ The rock wall has been changed to a steel wall, the defense has increased, and it has regeneration ability. It can quickly repair by draining Cancan¡¯s own power. Xu Ran¡¯s desired effect was achieved. The added regeneration ability alone could take this skill¡¯s defensive power up a few notches. ¡°Great!¡± Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction, then took a deep breath, ¡°Next, are you ready to elevate Dragon Power to three stars?¡± ¡°Unlike other skills, when a taught skill is promoted to three stars, you will suffer great pain.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Indeed.) Ziyun agreed with a nod from the side. It deeply understood this. ¡°Charming!¡± (Bring it on!) Determination filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. All talent skills are now at three stars. Cancan felt more powerful than ever. In one fell swoop, Dragon Power should also be upgraded to three stars! ¡°Okay!¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and threw down seven skill fusion stones. [¡ï¡ïDragon Power (Starlight Level)] (67/100)! + ] 4¡ä 4¡ä 4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ïDragon Blood Horn (Starlight Level)] (67/100)!+] As the prompts for the successful fusion of skills appeared, the power around Cancan violently surged. Dragon scales and fragmentary feathers grew disorderly and then disappeared on its body outside the shell. A wave of pain, like the tearing of flesh and blood, surged like a tide. Cancan gritted its teeth, shut its eyes tightly, and its face was full of pain. It took a long while before it finally dared to open its eyes, still with a lingering fear. ¡°Charming!¡± (Add points!) The conditions for evolution have been met, and it¡¯s only one step away! Chapter 265 - Chapter 167: Goal, Evolutional Chapter 167: Goal, Evolutional Translator: 549690339 ¡°Invest all your skill points into the Waning Moon Level, which only requires 1267 skill points, you have enough left over from before,¡± Xu Ran paused his speech, ¡°But there¡¯s no rush, let¡¯s first see the effect of your new skill after the Dragon Power has been upgraded.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Let me see!) Cancan nodded, only then remembered that he hadn¡¯t had the chance to experience the new skill he had just obtained. This skill had caused him so much agony, it must be stronger, right? He closed his eyes, and a moment later reopened them, his eyes revealing a satisfied expression. This pain, it didn¡¯t seem to have been endured in vain. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (The new skill¡¯s effect is¡­) Cancan started to introduce the effects of this Dragon Blood Horn, a three-star skill. After hearing it, surprise appeared on the faces of Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star. This three-star skill¡¯s effect really was somewhat special. Besides having the effects of three pre-fusion skills: suppression, self-enhancement, and taunt, Dragon Blood Horn also possessed an extremely unique effect related to dragons. As long as the essence of Dragon Pet Beast¡¯s blood is consumed, this skill can be enhanced, and the enhancement effect is related to the power of the Dragon Pet Beast that provided the blood essence. ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Can your own blood essence also do the enhancement?¡± ¡°Charming-¡± (Not possible.) Cancan shook his head slightly. After acquiring this skill, it developed a small special ability, which can discern what kind of pet beasts meet the requirements of Dragon Blood Horn, equivalent to determining what kind of pet beasts are considered Dragon Pet Beasts. Although it could learn Dragon Power, Cancan could feel that there seemed to be a difference between him and Dragon Pet Beasts at the moment, therefore, its blood essence couldn¡¯t be used to amplify the Dragon Blood Horn. Besides¡­ ¡°Charming?!¡± (Who would use their own blood, when the blood of other pet beasts can be used?!) ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The enhancement effect of this skill using Dragon Blood remains to be tested. If it¡¯s beneficial, in the future you might need to use quite a few Beast Master Points to exchange for the blood essence of Dragon Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Okay, now let¡¯s upgrade your skills.¡± Xu Ran chuckled and raised his hand to apply the skill points belonging to Cancan. All skills were upgraded to the Waning Moon Level, and the remaining 351 skill points, after consulting Cancan, were added to the Echoing of the Earth Vein. ¡°Charming!¡± (I can evolve!) Feeling the newfound power, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. After enduring so much suffering, it finally met all the evolutionary conditions and gathered all the materials needed for evolution! ¡°Next, all we need to do is to find a place suitable for the evolution ceremony.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then with a quick change in tone added, ¡°But an Earth attribute dragon¡¯s Extraordinary Corpse buried underground is not so easy to find.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (I understand!) Cancan nodded seriously. Of course, it understood. It added the remaining skill points to the Echoing of the Earth Vein bearing this in mind. The Echoing of the Earth Vein fused with the Earth attribute¡¯s detection skill, the Earthquake Wave, during the upgrade process, gaining an impressive subterranean exploration ability. This could prove key in finding a suitable location for the evolution ceremony! ¡°We¡¯ll leave the city tomorrow, but let¡¯s continue with the allocation for now.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the small blackboard. ¡°During the skill upgrade just now, you used 79 unallocated skill fragments and 12 skill fusion stones.¡± ¡°A total of 1990 Value Points.¡± Almost two thousand used up already¡­ A hint of stinginess appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes, it turned its gaze towards Ziyun. ¡°Charming!¡± (First pay off big sister¡¯s three thousand!) ¡°Meow!¡± (Okay!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up. It had been waiting for this moment. With the 3000 Value Points paid back by Cancan, Ziyun¡¯s Value Points exceeded ten thousand. After being suppressed by Star for so long, Ziyun had finally become the richest in the team! Wait, it could be even richer! Ziyun, as if having thought of something, slowly turned its gaze towards Star. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I have to give big sister 700 Value Points.) Star shook its head, its eyes displayed a hint of reluctance, but it still took the initiative to speak. Earlier, Star and Ziyun made an agreement, Ziyun used the power of the Full Moon Level King¡¯s Power to speed up Star¡¯s proficiency increase in King¡¯s Power every day, and Star would pay Ziyun 100 Value Points per day as a reward. Previously, all of Star¡¯s Value Points were exhausted during evolution, so it had been in debt. Now that new Value Points were in its account, it was time to start paying back. With the help of Ziyun, Star¡¯s King¡¯s Power had rocketed up, reaching the Waning Moon Level within a mere seven days without any extra skill point increases, and it has already gained a considerable amount of proficiency. So, Star did not hesitate to give these Value Points. ¡°Meow!¡± (3700 Value Points are credited!) Ziyun yelped in joy, its face filled with excitement. It, Ziyun, the richest in the team, who always pays its debts, had made it! Seeing the excited Ziyun, Xu Ran chuckled then turned his attention back to Cancan, ¡°You still have 2577 Value Points left. Is there anything else you want to exchange?¡± ¡°Charming-¡± (Let big sister Ziyun and big brother Star have a go-) The excitement in Cancan¡¯s eyes subsided, it glanced at the remaining items on the blackboard, then shook his head. It, who had met the evolution conditions and gathered the necessary materials, had lost its priority, being aware of what happened to Star previously, it knew this clearly. Chapter 266 - Chapter 167: Goal, Evolutionl_2 Chapter 167: Goal, Evolutionl_2 Translator: 549690339 Ziyun borrowed three thousand Beast Master Points from Xieyun City. With this financial backing, she was able to quickly gather all her evolution materials. She and Star also gambled using their own resources, winning her an Earth attribute resource valued at 3,40¡ã points. The latter propelled her to be complete in the Elite Stage in such a short time. Being taken care of so well by her older brother and sister, she wouldn¡¯t continue to take advantage after losing first dibs. There are many more great things after all, which her elder brother and sister surely need! ¡°Meow-¡± (Let me do it!) Ziyun reassuredly took a glance at Cancan, before speaking up on her own. The first resource she wanted to exchange was the three-star skill scroll. During the exchange, Ziyun specifically looked at Star. After all, like her, Star still had a skill that hadn¡¯t reached three-star status yet. ¡°XiLu~¡± (You go first.) Star shook his head, implying he was not in a rush. His Immortal Star Attraction, although just a two-star skill at present, was still enough for him. As for the one-star skill Reduction he got from Cancan, boosting it to a three- star Jiezimixu was tempting, but Ziyun¡¯s upgrade was more important. Star had already guessed what the elder sister was going to do with the three- star scroll. And reality confirmed his guess. ¡°Meow!¡± (I want to use the three-star skill scroll to upgrade Blood Fury!) Ziyun¡¯s voice was filled with determination. Seeing Star and Cancan keep their talent skills to the maximum degree, blending other teaching skills into them, she was deeply moved. Having evolved first, she hadn¡¯t thought about such operation before. But every coin has two sides. Ziyun could summarise the rules from Star¡¯s and Cancan¡¯s attempts, avoiding stepping on pitfalls. Today, Ziyun has a new plan for strengthening. Firstly, she is going to fuse the non-talent skills! Moreover, It was not a simple direct fusion. Ziyun¡¯s goal was massive. She already set her eyes on the new level above the three-star skills, four-star! Therefore, she intended to gradually enhance the non-talent skills to three- star, and then fuse them with talent skills in an attempt to reach four stars. The process might be more complicated, but higher stakes bring higher returns! Now, let her start with the one-star skill, Blood fury, which has been silently existing and has not been upgraded until now! ¡°Upgrade Blood Fury?¡± A trace of surprise appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. He looked up at Ziyun, seemed to understand her thoughts, and anticipation also appeared in his eyes, ¡°Then upgrade Blood Fury!¡± The three-star skill scroll was ready for use! [¡ïBlood Fury (Waning Moon Level)](612/2000)[+] 4,4,4, [¡ï¡ï¡ïScarlet Battle Intent (Waning Moon Level)](612/2000)[+] Ziyun closed her eyes and then slowly opened them. A hint of joy appeared in her eyes. Apparently, the effect of this new skill, which upgraded from one-star to three-star in one step, was quite satisfactory to her. ¡°What¡¯s the effect?¡± Detecting the fluctuation in Ziyun¡¯s mood, Xu Ran asked curiously. Even Star and Cancan were also looking forward to it at this moment. ¡°Meow- ¡± (The effect of the new skill is¡­) Ziyun took a deep breath and quickly started to explain. Hearing the description, the faces of the two pets and one human revealed a surprise. The previous Blood Fury could boost Ziyun¡¯s comprehensive power instantly, but the drawback was that it would cause temporary loss of rationality and would leave her in a weak state for quite some time after the effect ended. The advantages and disadvantages were both quite apparent. Now, compared to before, this skill has changed dramatically. It is no longer a common skill, but a fighting attribute skill. When this skill is used, it can greatly enhance Ziyun¡¯s comprehensive power, and also provide additional improvements to skills containing the fighting attribute. Its side effects have changed too. First, after Ziyun summoned it, she would no longer fall into an uncontrollable rage state, she would still be influenced by her battle intent and become more aggressive. Upon hearing this effect, Cancan immediately drew her head back. Her big sister right now is already so terrifying. If she becomes even more aggressive, then what would be left? Other than that, the previous side effect of the weakening that resulted from Blood Fury also changed. After using it, Ziyun would lose her Fighting Attribute powers for a short period of time, becoming purely a Thunder Attribute, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to use the corresponding skills associated with the Fighting Attribute. In this case, even though her strength would be weakened and the Destruction Thunder Claw, Fighting Body, Heartfelt Strike, and Scarlet Battle Intent would be temporarily unusable, it doesn¡¯t mean she would be completely unable to fight. Overall, this round of enhancement can be summed up in one word. Awesome! ¡°Meow!¡± (Skill fusion stone, I want to exchange three!) Feeling the joy of enhanced strength, Ziyun turned her attention to the five remaining skill fusion stones left after Cancan¡¯s exchange. Considering that Star was also exchanging, she chose to exchange only three. In reality, if you follow her subsequent strengthening plan, integrating a Talent Skill to Four Stars first, the three skill fusion stones are far from enough. She will need to save them up; once she has about a hundred or so, she can use them all at once. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (I¡¯ll take the remaining two.) Star nodded and took down the remaining two skill fusion stones. The upgrade of the Reduction skill was temporarily set aside. Upgrading the Immortal Star Attraction to Three Stars is her main goal for the time being, hence both the skill fusion stones and skill fragments are needed. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (I took one less skill fusion stone, could I have the remaining seven skill fragments?) Star turned an inquiring glance at Ziyun. Ziyun wore a distressed expression but eventually nodded in agreement, thinking that there will certainly be no shortage of skill fusion stones when resources are allocated next time. ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay then.) Then came the distribution of other resources. Ziyun exchanged the only available Energy Abundant Potion. Aside from her, both Star and Cancan already have skills that can quickly recover their strength and do not have a large demand for the Energy Abundant Potion. Then the three little ones divided the Beast Master Points equally. Cancan used all the remaining Value Points to exchange for Skill Points and added them to Echoing of Earth Vein. Echoing of Earth Vein (Waning Moon Level) (351/2000). 4,4,4, Echoing of Earth Vein (Waning Moon Level) (1864/2000). Although the skill did not reach Full Moon Level, it was very close. Afterwards, the remaining Skill Points were divided equally between Star and Ziyun. After they both added some points, their skill situations changed once again. Star, who previously only had the skills Night Rune, Fated Star Pulling, and Heart of Eternal Night at Full Moon Level, this time upgraded Night Inspection, Moon Concealment Star Racing and King¡¯s Power to Full Moon Level as well. From this point onwards, the only skills she has not attained Full Moon Level are Immortal Star Attraction and Reduction. Ziyun¡¯s improvement was just as astonishing. Having already decided to gradually merge non-Talent Skills into Talent Skills, she will not add Skill Proficiency to Superfast Self-healing, Scarlet Battle Intent and Reduction anymore. Prior to this, she had already upgraded all her Three Star Skills to Full Moon Level. So this time, the skills she needed to upgrade were Heartfelt Strike and Falling Thunder, both two-star Talent Skills. The problem is that with Ziyun¡¯s continuous training, the proficiency of these two skills has already increased. The total Skill Points needed to upgrade both to Full Moon Level are less than a thousand. Therefore, after a brief hesitation, Ziyun allocated the remaining Skill Points to Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound. This particular skill was the first to reach the Full Moon Level. Back then, Ziyun who was only at Elite Stage couldn¡¯t raise it any further. But after Ziyun reached the Leadership Stage, Full Moon Level skills could be further upgraded either by adding points or training to increase proficiency. With this, Ziyun, being the first beast to complete a contract, and the first beast to evolve on the team, took the lead in striving for a new skill proficiency above Full Moon Level. In the following Physical Point exchange, Star exhausted all her Value Points, and after Ziyun exchanged the remaining part, she still had an excess of 1000 Value Points, equivalent to the Talent Skill Fusion Stone that hasn¡¯t been exchanged. ¡°Allocation ended.¡± Xu Ran knocked on the chalkboard and said with a smile, ¡°Rest for the evening, we¡¯re leaving the city tomorrow.¡± ¡°The goal this time is to help Cancan complete the evolution!¡± Chapter 267 - Chapter 168*. Why didn’t you ask me earlier? —1 Chapter 168*. Why didn¡¯t you ask me earlier? ¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 I Early the next day. Xu Ran hung up the ¡°Closed for Now¡± sign on the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop and turned to leave. ¡°Boss ¡± A voice full of desolation came from behind Xu Ran, making the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. ¡°What is it now, Teacher Tony?¡± ¡°How long will you be gone this time?¡± Tony made a disheartened expression, ¡°I¡¯ll be so lonely tending to the shop by myself-¡± ¡°Not too long.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his forehead, ¡°If things go well, I¡¯ll be back today¡­¡± ¡°Sure!¡± (It must go smoothly!) Cancan interrupted Xu Ran, his eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness. This was its evolution, it would not allow failure! ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It will definitely go smoothly.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Where are you all going?) The Velvet Sparrow waddled out of the shop, preparing to begin a new day exploring Qingzhou City. Seeing the posture of the person and three pets about to leave, it couldn¡¯t help but reveal a curious and probing look. What are these guys up to? Last night, they should have already done the so-called resource allocation, right? So, are they not opening for business today because it has to do with the resource allocation last night? With this thought, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Take me with you!) ¡°Sure!¡± (No, no!) Without waiting for Xu Ran and the other two to speak, Cancan was shaking his head like a drum in quick opposition. The Velvet Sparrow was not part of their team. It would not be convenient to bring it along for something as important as an evolution. Although Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star didn¡¯t say a word, their expressions were also rejecting. The loss in the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes flashed by. Then it shook its round head, its upright feathers swaying. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your return then.) It flapped its little wings and waddled towards the other side of the street. ¡°Let¡¯s set off too.¡± Watching the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Ran spoke softly, then got up and rode away. Shortly after, the person and three pets stopped before the city gate. At this moment, the city gate was still closed. ¡°Four minutes until it opens.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the time and chuckled, ¡°Faster than expected.¡± ¡°XiLu~¡± (Of course.) Star issued a neigh, its eyes filled with a sense of accomplishment. The reason they arrived quicker was because its Moon Concealment Star Racing had upgraded to Full Moon Level last night, leading to a notable speed increase. ¡°Sure!¡± (When I complete my evolution and breakthrough to the Leadership Stage, I too will upgrade my skills to Full Moon Level one by one!) Envy was evident in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Ziyun and Star have managed to upgrade most of their crucial skills to Full Moon Level. However, Cancan¡¯s skill proficiency level was just over Waning Moon Level except for Echoing of Earth Vein. The prospect of upgrading proficiency seemed very distant. It was decided, after the evolution, Echoing of Earth Vein should be the first to be upgraded! ¡°Keep it up.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head encouragingly. Among the conversations of the person and three pets, the four minutes passed quickly. The city gate slowly opened with a deep rumbling sound under the gaze of hundreds of Beast Masters on the square. Star issued an excited neigh and, carrying two pets on its back, completely concealed its form and aura. Unnoticed by others, it crossed the city gate instantly and headed towards an unknown direction. However, its sprint didn¡¯t last long. It proceeded for about ten kilometers and then stopped. This distance had already taken them out of the protection range of Qingzhou City. They were separated from other Beast Masters and free from influences. ¡°Cancan, Echoing of Earth Vein.¡± Xu Ran threw Cancan on the ground from Star¡¯s back and gave it an order. So far, he had received no information on the remains of earth attribute dragons Extraordinary Beings. Therefore, Cancan was the only chance for treasure finding¨Cit was all up to it. In other words, it needed to stand on its own feet and find the site for its evolution. Neither Ziyun nor Star had this requirement during their evolution. Ziyun found a suitable site purely by accident. Whereas, Star¡¯s evolution didn¡¯t demand a specific site. Upon landing, Cancan rapidly reverted to its regular size. Amid the gusts of wind blown up in an instant, its body increased from less than one meter to a full 27 meters in an instant. Its massive claws were heavily pressed on the ground, looking like a small hill. ¡°Sure!¡± (Watchme!) Upon returning to its normal state, Cancan roared. Its form expanded again amidst Star¡¯s retreat, and with every breath, it passed thirty meters, transitioning from super large-size to the scale of a Giant Beast. Fifty meters¡­ one hundred meters¡­ one hundred and fifty meters¡­ In the end, it reached a terrifying length of two hundred meters, even surpassing the size of the remains of the Giant Beast they once saw at the foot of the Thunderbolt Half Mountain. Meanwhile, Cancan¡¯s momentum was also rapidly escalating at a frightening speed. Twenty thousand¡­ Thirty thousand¡­ Forty thousand¡­ When its momentum approached fifty thousand, far surpassing the usual range of the Elite Stage, Cancan¡¯s momentum gradually came to a halt. Three-Star Skill, Waning Moon Level: Jiezimixu! Pushing the enlarging body effect to the extreme was an exceptional experience for Cancan. Despite having an enormous body over two hundred meters in size, Cancan could only describe its movements as inexplicably heavy. Even the act of lifting its claws to take one step forward felt incredibly difficult. Chapter 268 - Chapter 168: Why didnt you ask me earlier? _2 Chapter 168: Why didn¡¯t you ask me earlier? _2 Translator: 549690339 This is the horrific side effect of improving one¡¯s strength under Jiezimixu, and also the critical reason why Ziyun and Star, despite their eagerness, did not immediately upgrade their Reduction to Three Stars. However, this impact is minimal for what Cancan needs to do next. ¡°Charming¡ª¡± With a roar to the sky, an earth-colored halo swirls around Cancan¡¯s huge body. The ground shakes vigorously, spreading in all directions from Cancan and turning into visible earthquake waves startling countless Wild Super Creatures who were watching from afar. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level-Echoing of Earth Vein! The Earth attribute power drawn from deep within the land brings Cancan¡¯s strength, which was already at its peak under the state of Jiezimixu, soaring again! Fifty thousand¡­ sixty thousand¡­ seventy thousand! One kilometer¡­ two kilometers¡­ three kilometers! Under the release of a skill close to Full Moon Level, everything within a radius of three kilometers and the same distance underground becomes clear in Cancan¡¯s perception! But it¡¯s not over yet! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯ll help you!) Star roars, and a faint light flashes around him. Accompanied by dark and complex runes swirling around Cancan¡¯s enormous body, a terrifying momentum brews around Cancan. Eighty thousand¡­ one hundred and twenty thousand¡­ one hundred and fifty thousand! The earth-shaking earthquake wave continues to expand, reaching levels that only a creature with Leadership Stage strength could touch! Four kilometers¡­ six kilometers¡­ eight kilometers! The next moment, after finishing the nearby reconnaissance, Cancan¡¯s aura rapidly fades, its body instantly returning to its original length of twenty-seven meters. The terrifying power just now had reached Cancan¡¯s limit of control. Even a full-force exploration had it somewhat drained. After all, Cancan is still only at the Elite Stage level at this moment, having yet to evolve. ¡°Charming!¡± (There¡¯s none in the vicinity.) Looking at the rapidly approaching Xu Ran and the two little ones, Cancan¡¯s expression shows a slight regret, with a shake of its head. However, it then pauses before speaking. ¡°Charming (But there are a dozen resources buried underground, one of which has reached the Leadership Stage level.) ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face shows a touch of surprise. He didn¡¯t expect there would be unexpected gains. But on second thought, it seems quite normal. Unlike within the city, the outside area serves as a habitat for Wild Super Creatures. There are often fallen Super Creatures causing the seepage of Transcendent Power, and some natural resources are randomly produced, like the Heart of the Thunder glow Stone. These resources may not have caused much commotion when born, and might not have been detected by others Super Creatures, thus remaining buried underground, waiting for a lucky one to discover. Other skills that can detect might find some, but surely not as efficiently as Cancan under the boost of Star. Therefore, even in areas that many people have known and explored, they can still find some good things that ordinary people can¡¯t. ¡°Can you dig it out?¡± Xu Ran looks at Cancan. ¡°Charming (Some can be dug up, but the one at the Leadership stage level is buried too deep.) A hint of helplessness can be seen in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Although, under the influence of Star, its detection range reaches eight kilometers, being detectable does not mean it can be easily reached. Cancan¡¯s skill system is quite comprehensive now but lacks the ability to drill ground. Relying on Earth Attribute Power to dig hard would take too much time. ¡°It seems I need to arrange an Earth Escape type skill for you.¡± Xu Ran strokes his chin, also realizing Cancan¡¯s shortcoming. ¡°But we¡¯U discuss that after the evolution.¡± ¡°Since the resource at the Leadership stage level can¡¯t be dugout, there¡¯s no need to waste time on that.¡± Considering the area he needs to explore on this trip out of the city, Xu Ran massages his temples. To better help Cancan find a suitable evolution site, Xu Ran and the three little ones had already attempted in the Earth Attribute Training Area to understand the detection range of Cancan using Echoing of Earth Vein under their combined amplification. The reason for not using Fated Star Pulling to tether Xu Ran and Star together to further increase the amplification effect is that it has already exceeded Cancan¡¯s endurance limit. The limit that Cancan can withstand at present is the one hundred fifty thousand reached by Echoing of Earth Vein + Jiezimixu + Night Rune. Having determined the detection range, Xu Ran divided all the areas within the outskirts of the Beast Field he knew into dozens of detection points, ensuring a comprehensive coverage. The mission this time out of the city is to detect all these points. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Next, to the next detection point!¡± As long as they are not too unlucky, a suitable place should be found for Cancan to evolve in such a vast area. ¡°Alright, our luck isn¡¯t that great.¡± At dusk the next day, Xu Ran stood with the three little ones at the last detection point and heaved a resigned sigh. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (What about my evolution¡­) Coming out of Jiezimixu state and returning to its original size, Cancan lowered its head in frustration, looking utterly disheartened. In the span of two days, they had searched dozens of detection points and found no trace of Earth attribute Dragon Extraordinary Being corpses, gradually dampening the enthusiasm they had felt when leaving the city. The last detection point also yielded no buried remnants of Earth attribute Dragon Extraordinary Beings, leaving Cancan utterly devastated. Cancan thought once it had met the evolution conditions and gathered the right materials, it would be very close to evolution. Never did it expect, this step would be so difficult. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be too upset.¡± Xu Ran sighed gently and motioned for Cancan to come over. Cancan quickly reduced its size, rubbing its head against Xu Ran¡¯s palm. ¡°We may not have found the right place for your evolution, but such places certainly exist,¡± Xu Ran said softly, ¡°We have only searched the areas that are shown on our map.¡± ¡°In the context of Beast Field 97, these areas may not even constitute one ten thousandths of the total.¡± ¡°Thus, as long as we keep searching, we are sure to find it.¡± The glow in Cancan¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. It seemed that there was still hope. ¡°Charming?¡± (When will we continue the search?) ¡°We must return home first.¡± Xu Ran paused a moment before saying, ¡°The upcoming areas are all uncharted territories. Your detection could alert some unknown transcendent beings, causing danger and trouble.¡± The best method would be to return to the city, gather more maps,¡± Xu Ran stroked Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°and come back for more comprehensive preparation!¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) Cancan nodded heavily. While it is eager to evolve, it understands from Xu Ran that this is the best course of action. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Xu Ran looked towards Qingzhou City, nestled at the end of their view. After much wandering, having screened a full circle, they returned to the area adjacent to Qingzhou City. The return journey wouldn¡¯t take up too much time, and they could just catch the city¡¯s final opening of the day. ¡°Chirp-¡± (So, you guys went to aid Cancan in its evolution?) The Velvet Sparrow studied the travel-weary company of one human and three pets. After waiting for two days and a night, its curiosity was finally satiated. It gave Cancan, who appeared the same and showed no increase in strength, a once over before flapping its wings and hopping onto Cancan¡¯s head to pat it. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Well¡­ Evolution is not an easy thing, failure is normal.) ¡°Charming!¡± (I haven¡¯t failed at all!) Cancan irritably shook its head, tossing the Velvet Sparrow onto a nearby artificial mountain. ¡°Charming!¡± (I just haven¡¯t found the right spot to evolve, that¡¯s all.) ¡°Chirp?¡± (What¡¯s this about the right spot for evolution?) The Velvet Sparrow looked at Cancan strangely before flapping its wings nonchalantly. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Let¡¯s hear it, maybe I might know?) Cancan gave the Velvet Sparrow a disgusted look, apparently not believing it. However, Cancan, who was not in the best of moods, still provided an answer offhand. ¡°Charming!¡± (I need to find a buried corpse of an Earth attribute Dragon Extraordinary Being¡­) Huh? The Velvet Sparrow looked at Cancan quizzically. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Why didn¡¯t you ask me earlier?) Still got 8000, let¡¯s do it! Chapter 269 - Chapter 169 - Xu Rans Doubt_l Chapter 169 ¨C Xu Ran¡¯s Doubt_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°What? The Velvet Sparrow knows a place like that?¡± He rushed back to the shop and before he could even take a breather, he heard such shocking news from Cancan. Xu Ran¡¯s expression immediately turned strange. His gaze moved from Cancan¡¯s enthusiastic big head to the Velvet Sparrow who was lazily sitting on Cancan¡¯s back, looking utterly relaxed. ¡°You really know where the carcass of a dragon-class super creature with earth attribute is?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but reconfirm. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Yeah, I just happen to know one.) The Velvet Sparrow raised a wing lazily, then repeatedly patted its rotund tummy. It¡¯s the little princess of Beast Realm after all, such a small matter is a piece of cake for it. It happened to know the location of an earth attribute dragon-class super creature corpse. Moreover, the aforementioned creature was considerably strong when it was alive, it had reached a king-level. The reason why it knew is that the creature was personally slain by its father. Otherwise, the six kings of Beast Realm might have become seven kings. Although it doesn¡¯t know why its father buried that king-level dragon-class super creature so simply, not taking anything from its body, the Velvet Sparrow has long gotten used to its father¡¯s eccentricities. Thinking about how it previously used Xu Ran¡¯s already known evolution secret in exchange for free board and meals, the Velvet Sparrow felt a bit embarrassed. With this, it should be able to offset its free meals and accommodation here, right? Thinking of this, the sparrow couldn¡¯t help but puff out its little tummy with pride. The Velvet Sparrow really knew¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stroke his chin. He remembered that the Sparrow had mentioned before, that it had once been abandoned outside the city and had struggled to live for a while out there. So it wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the vicinity around the city. If he was lucky enough to encounter Thunderbolt Half Mountain, perhaps the sparrow was likewise lucky and happened upon a suitable earth attribute dragon carcass for Cancan¡¯s evolution? Upon thinking about this, it seemed possible. ¡°Then¡­ can you tell me the location of that place?¡± Xu Ran deeply inhaled, inquiring with a tinge of tentativeness. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Of course not!) The Velvet Sparrow vigorously shook its head, immediately followed by a triumphant look in its eyes. ¡°Chirp-¡± (You guys have to take me with you, I¡¯ll lead the way.) ¡°Take you with us?¡± Xu Ran blinked his eyes. Thinking about how the Velvet Sparrow wanted to tag along yesterday before they set off, it suddenly dawned on him. This little guy wants to seize the opportunity to go out of the city with them. If the Velvet Sparrow can provide information on the evolution site, taking it along wouldn¡¯t be a problem at all. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran deeply inhaled, ¡°Rest for a night, we¡¯ll leave the city again early tomorrow morning. If you can indeed help us find Cancan¡¯s evolution site, you can stay with me for as long as you like in the future.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (It¡¯s a deal!) The Velvet Sparrow nodded in satisfaction. That¡¯s the words it was waiting for from Xu Ran! Hopping down from Cancan¡¯s back, the Velvet Sparrow swayed its way towards the foster area, waving its wing to Xu Ran and the three little ones behind it. ¡°Chirp-¡± (See you tomorrow then-) ¡°Chirp-¡± (In that direction, let¡¯s go!) On the next day, the excited Velvet Sparrow who was leaving Qingzhou City with Xu Ran and the three pets, pointed in a certain direction. ¡°Charming!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Cancan also let out an excited cheer, turning its head to look at the Velvet Sparrow on its back with gratitude in its eyes. If it weren¡¯t for the Velvet Sparrow, who knew when it would be able to complete its evolution. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check it out together.¡± Xu Ran checked the direction indicated by the Velvet Sparrow against the area map he had, he had only explored about twenty kilometers in that direction, the rest were all unknown territories. A trace of worry appeared on his face. Is the Velvet Sparrow really reliable? ¡°Chirp-¡± (I know this route very well, I assure you that we will reach safely.) Seemingly noticing Xu Ran¡¯s worry, the Velvet Sparrow patted its chest with its small wing, confidently answering. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Star raised its forelegs and with a roar, it took off at a breakneck speed. Following Velvet Sparrow¡¯s directions, he shot straight toward their destination. ¡°Caw?¡± At a place in N0.97 Beast Realm Core Area, a giant bird with wings spread wide to thirty feet suddenly fluttered its wings. It looked in a certain direction from afar; a touch of human like doubt flashed across its usually calm and indifferent eyes. Leaving the human city? How did this happen? What is that human kid doing by taking Little Twelve outside of the city? Even though it can sense Little Twelve¡¯s situation and circumstances with the hidden power left on Little Twelve, as it pleases, it was focused on other matters and couldn¡¯t keep an eye on Little Twelve around the clock. In the previous period, Little Twelve had been exploring the human city day after day, not encountering any dangers. So, it had also let its guard down, gradually not paying much attention these past few days. The fact that Little Twelve¡¯s location is now outside the human city, once again drew its attention to Little Twelve¡¯s situation. The next moment, its expression slightly changed. Did it hear something? Its own Little Twelve, is going to lead that human kid to find the corpse of Earth Crack Dragon King?! And the reason to find it, is to let that human kid¡¯s pet beast complete its evolution?! The Nightmare Beast King, whose authority intimidates N0.97 Beast Realm, once again showed the distressed expression of a worried father at this moment. Little Jacket, there¡¯s really a leak now! Chapter 270 - Chapter 169 - Xu Rans Doubt_2 Chapter 169 ¨C Xu Ran¡¯s Doubt_2 Translator: 549690339 | It had deliberately left the carcass of Runemaw Dragon King behind, as it was part of a certain scheme. If Little Shier and that human brat made use of it now, it would have to re-plan some things, and much of its painstaking effort would be wasted. The Nightmare Beast King let out a long sigh towards the sky. Initially, it had allowed Little Shier to run away from home, intending to use her disappearance as a pretext and reason to stir up commotion in Beast Field no. 97 and conceal some arrangements. Once Little Shier reached the human city and its power increased even further upon completion of its layout, it could overturn the standoff with humans under the guise of searching for its daughter, obliterating all human cities in Beast Field no. 97 before the human strongmen from other beast fields could react. To ensure Little Shier¡¯s safety in this process, it had also deliberately left an incredibly unique and hidden power on her. However, it seemed that despite all its calculations, there were still some oversights¡­ The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s gaze looked into the distance beyond the core area, its eyes flashing with complex light. After a moment, it quietly sighed and uttered a sharp whistle. ¡°Squawk!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± A deep roar came from not far away. The next moment, a huge -bodied Transcendent Being with the aura of a marshal stage swarming around it, crouched in front of the Nightmare Beast King. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression returned to indifference and calm. It gazed at the subordinate it trusted sufficiently and, after a long while, slowly began to speak. ¡°Squawk.¡± Go to Crackfoot Valley. Little Shier is there. The marshal-stage subordinate shuddered, lifted its head, and joy surfaced in its eyes. ¡°Roar?¡± Has Princess Twelve been found? ¡°Squawk.¡± Listen, upon seeing Little Shier, pretend to attack her and gauge the reaction of the human with her. ¡°¡­Roar?¡± The marshal-stage subordinate was a little baffled. Pretend to attack Princess Twelve? Gauge the human¡¯s reaction¡­ Princess Twelve is with a human? Why was it so bewildered despite understanding every word from the King? The marshal-stage subordinate couldn¡¯t help but shake its head. Forget it, the King¡¯s schemes were never easy to guess. Just carry out the orders. The marshal-stage subordinate bowed its head again, showing a posture of serious listening. The Nightmare Beast King nodded in satisfaction, then continued to speak. ¡°Squawk.¡± If the human protects Little Shier, act out a scene before returning; if the human flees and abandons Little Shier, kill him and bring Little Shier back. The marshal-stage subordinate nodded vaguely, its figure disappearing deep into the dense forest. With its gaze returning to a certain spot outside the core region, a hint of helplessness flashed in the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s eyes. Even if this situation was troublesome, she was still its child. The plan needs to be altered a bit, as long as the ultimate goal could be achieved. A glimmer of frenzy, long suppressed by calmness, flashed in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King. Beast Emperor, if other Beast Kings could become one, why couldn¡¯t it, the Demon Hawk, achieve the same? ¡°Velvet Sparrow, how much farther do we have to go? Xu Ran squeezed Star¡¯s belly with his legs, signalling it to stop for now before looking towards the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Chirp!¡± (It¡¯s just ahead, about three kilometers away.) The Velvet Sparrow fluttered its wings, its relaxed expression tinged with slight anticipation. Xu Ran seemed to know many secrets about evolution, otherwise, the two previous pet beasts wouldn¡¯t have been able to evolve so smoothly. If Cancan¡¯s evolution succeeded, it might learn something from witnessing it, possibly increasing its chances of success in its own future evolution. ¡°Three kilometers¡­¡± Xu Ran breathed a small sigh of relief. This place was not far from the region where leader stage Transcendent Beings roamed. If they went any deeper, they could very likely encounter leader stage Transcendent Beings, not just one or two, but in groups. Being surrounded by them would be dangerous, even for Xu Ran and the three little ones. With just a distance of three kilometers, they hadn¡¯t yet entered the leader stage activity area and were relatively safe. He couldn¡¯t help but take an extra look at the Velvet Sparrow. initially, as the Velvet Sparrow led him and the three little ones safely through numerous dangers, he became suspicious and speculative. After all the various things the Velvet Sparrow had previously shown were explainable as a result of living in the outer city area, but they were somewhat dubious. If the Velvet Sparrow harbored ill intentions and led them into a very dangerous area, that could spell disaster. But now, it seemed that the Velvet Sparrow could be trusted. ¡°Cancan, scout.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) Long-hidden excitement led Cancan to jump off Star¡¯s back, his body swelling in size. In utter shock, the Velvet Sparrow watched as Cancan grew to a length of 200 meters. ¡°Chirp¡­chirp!!!¡± (So¡­ so big!!!) Looking at Cancan, whose claw alone was bigger than its whole body, casting a shadow over it, the Velvet Sparrow was dumbfounded by this sight it was seeing for the first time. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cancan¡¯s true body size is not so big, at most, it¡¯s just 27 meters.¡± Xu Ran casually comforted. At most¡­27 meters¡­ The Velvet Sparrow looked at its soccer-ball-sized body, then glared resentfully at Xu Ran. Are you kidding me? On the other side, Cancan, with Star¡¯s help, had finished scouting the surrounding area. Returning to his original size, excitement and exhilaration filled his eyes. ¡°Charming!¡± (There is indeed a carcass of an Earth attribute Dragon-type Transcendent being! And also¡­) ¡°And also what?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Charming!¡± (It¡¯s king-tier!) Excitement filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. Before this, it was also unable to identify such powerful growth stages. But having visited Xieyun City once before, Cancan had even encountered more powerful Overlords, and many Generals and Kings. Now, it was confident that it had made no mistakes in identification. ¡°King tier?!¡± Xu Ran was stunned. He had thought that finding a leadership-tier carcass that hadn¡¯t evolved would be enough, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be a beast king! He turned sharply to the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°Did you know that this dragon carcass is king-tier?¡± The Velvet Sparrow blinked, its eyes suddenly revealed perplexing innocence. ¡°Chirp?¡± (King-tier? I didn¡¯t know that? I saw two extraordinary beings fighting that day, and one of them fell in front of me. I felt it was terrifying from afar and so I ran-) ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, couldn¡¯t help but cast a skeptical glance at the Velvet Sparrow. With innocent eyes, the Velvet Sparrow had a stare-down with Xu Ran. After a moment of the staring contest between man and pet, Xu Ran silently looked away. ¡°Since we have found the location, Cancan, prepare to evolve.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) Cancan nodded vigorously, and the golden-yellow halo started to gather around him. With the help of the Echoing of the Earth veins, all of its previous expend was rapidly recovering until it reached its peak form. ¡°Go!¡± Xu Ran shouted, clutching the reduced Cancan and signaled Star to charge. The last three kilometers quickly passed under the prompt pace of Star. The man and the four beasts finally appeared in a valley. This valley was different from others, from a bird¡¯s eye view, it resembled a horrifying footprint of hundreds of meters, the footprint-shaped valley was full of cracks, as if it was shattered porcelain, and a destructive power was leaking from every single crack. ¡°Charming!¡± (It¡¯s about 500 meters deep beneath here!) Cancan positioned himself at a certain spot, and looked down excitedly. ¡°Go.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°we are all at the ground, waiting for you to emerge from underneath, evolved, with a new form.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (If there¡¯s pain, don¡¯t be afraid, hang on!) Ziyun stared deeply at this little brother who grew up under his watch, feeling worried and nervous. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (If there¡¯s any problem, let us know through Contractual Sensing) Star raised his foreleg and tapped Cancan¡¯s scale. He and Ziyun have both evolved before, if Cancan ran into some issues during his evolution, they might be able to think of a solution. It was like when he encountered a problem during his evolution, Ziyun had helped him. But of course, Star hoped everything would go smoothly. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Good luck with your evolution-) Even the Velvet Sparrow sincerely delivered its blessing at this moment. ¡°Charming!¡± (Here I go!) Cancan took a deep breath, carrying everyone¡¯s blessings with him, used his Earth attribute power pushes aside the soil beneath him, and slowly sank into the ground. After a while, Cancan gazed at the King tier Earth attribute dragon carcass in front of him, which had fallen already, yet still radiated a terrifying momentum, its power has not dissipated too much. His evolution was about to begin! Chapter 271 - Chapter 170: Cancan Evolution! _1 Chapter 170: Cancan Evolution! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Is this¡­ the carcass of an Earth attribute dragon of the King Stage¡­¡± Feeling the force of the opponent that still sent shivers down his spine despite its downfall, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. Then, bravely raising one claw, he took his first step forward. Then came the second step, and the third. Eventually, Cancan reached the opponent. It was a dragon about fifty meters long, covered in earth-yellow scales, with a pair of incredibly sharp claws that made one¡¯s heart pound. With Cancan¡¯s current length of twenty-seven meters, he still looked like a tender child in front of it. The dragon¡¯s body had no wounds, and its body seemed remarkably intact. Only a pair of pupils that had lost their focus were wide open, filled with congealed blood, making it look like it had a purple-red film over it, an especially gruesome sight. Looking at it, Cancan remembered his own Evolution Ritual. Find the Earth attribute dragon carcass buried deep in the earth, comprehend the Dragon¡¯s Breath, and complete the evolution. So, at this moment, should he understand the aura of this Earth attribute dragon and complete his evolution in front of it? Looking into the horrifying eyes of the dragon, Cancan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble a bit. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out his claw to cover the dragon¡¯s immobile eyes with its eyelids, sighing in relief. Phew! That was scary! Now he could finally rest easy. Cancan raised both claws, holding a large bag hanging from his neck. Inside, it was filled with all the materials needed for his evolution. Having come this far, it was time to evolve. Cancan took out a crystal from the bag, which had countless cracks on its surface and a yellow glow emanating from inside, revealing its clear and transparent interior. Feeling the strong Earth attribute Power within it, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva. It was one of the main materials, the shattered rock marrow. For any Earth attribute Pet Beast, it is a great replenishment. For Cancan, it was just the cheapest of the three main materials. Then, Cancan took out a bottle containing Earth attribute General Stage Dragon Blood, added a drop of Dragon Blood Essence of King Stage, and finally added the shattered rock marrow. Watching the shattered rock marrow quickly melt into the Dragon Blood, the three main materials came together, producing terrifying energy. Cancan took a deep breath, took out a resource that looked like a stone and a bone, and continued to add it in. Earth Vein Bones, one of the supplementary materials. Next, he added a dewdrop and a flower bursting with a rainbow aura. The Life Dewdrop and the Transcendence Flower. At this point, all the materials needed for evolution had been combined into one. Cancan closed his eyes and dumped all the resources into his mouth at once. With the salty taste emerging in his mouth, the overwhelming and wild Power started to explode from his body with the passing of Time. A strange Power hid within the mixed forces. Before Cancan could perceive it, it swiftly burrowed into his limbs and body. ¡°Crack¨C Snap ¡± With the intense sound of cracking bones, Cancan¡¯s body began to bend at odd angles, his skin started to grow disordered and irregular scales, and what came with it were chaotic feathers. Sharp bone spikes started to emerge from various parts of his body, not waiting for Cancan to react, they pierced his body, creating multiple bloody holes. ¡°Argh¡­¡± Cancan¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. This pain was all too familiar. He had previously suffered similar backlash when his Dragon Power rose to Three Stars. But this time, the pain was much more intense and crazier. Bright red blood kept dripping from Cancan¡¯s body. Power and life were rapidly draining from his body at this moment, making it feel increasingly weak. No, it shouldn¡¯t be like this! Feeling the strange itching and intense pain all over his body, and seeing a bone spike that was growing from his cheek and was about to pierce his eye, Cancan¡¯s gaze suddenly became sharp. An earth-yellow light burst out from all over his body, like black holes, greedily and madly devouring the Earth attribute Power from the surrounding soil, restoring Cancan¡¯s Power and injuries at the fastest speed. This healing power formed a standoff with the growing bone spikes, making the unpredictable changes around Cancan¡¯s body abruptly stop. He let out a slight sigh of relief, still feeling the severe pain all over his body. Cancan knew he had only temporarily held the situation, if he couldn¡¯t find a more powerful measure soon, the standoff would be broken quickly. So, what should he do? What is this Power that is constantly causing his body to mutate? A hint of urgency and confusion flashed in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Should he¡­ ask Ziyun and Star for help? ¡°Drip- Drip-¡± In the quiet cave, only the sound of blood dripping from Cancan¡¯s body and falling into the ground could be heard. It eventually congealed into a stream as if being pulled by something, flowing towards the Earth attribute dragon in front of it. As soon as the blood touched the colossal body of the dragon, it quickly penetrated and disappeared. The next moment, a strange Power emerged from the dragon¡¯s body. Cancan¡¯s eyes widened at once. He could feel that this Power was very similar to the one that caused his mutation. It seemed that they were not the Transcendent Power of the Ten Attributes, but a Power that Cancan couldn¡¯t describe. And these two Powers were also different. If the Power that caused Cancan¡¯s mutation was a disorderly crowd in a noisy market, then the Power emerging from the dragon was like a marching army, orderly and organized. Chapter 272 - Chapter 170: Cancans Evolution!_2 Chapter 170: Cancan¡¯s Evolution!_2 Translator: 549690339 1 In a flash, Cancan seemed to understand something. Dragon¡¯s Breath! What emerged from the dragon was the Dragon¡¯s Breath mentioned in the Evolution Ritual! To comprehend the Dragon¡¯s Breath, it seems, would involve changing the chaotic forces in its body into an orderly existence like the Dragon¡¯s Breath! Upon understanding this, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. It got it! Feeling the recklessly crashing power within its body, which was constantly growing stronger, a fierce look flashed in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Once you enter my body, you have to obey me! Behave! Turning its will into a sharp edge, Cancan did its best to tear apart the wandering forces. This approach seemed to be effective; with a clear goal, Cancan¡¯s clear will was actually able to influence it to a certain extent. The collective force was repeatedly torn apart, constantly breaking down, and finally, under Cancan¡¯s astonished gaze, it became two distinct forces. One of them was remarkably similar to the Dragon¡¯s Breath, transforming from disorder to order. The other was also orderly, but it fundamentally differed from the Dragon¡¯s Breath; Cancan could sense a feeling from it that was more intimate to itself. That is¡­ Feeling these two entirely different forces, Cancan¡¯s heart came to a certain realization. The first force originated from itself and was a dragon¡¯s power. The second force also originated from itself, it belonged to the turtle, the most primal power it had. The reason why the previous force was chaotic, was because these two different forces were entangled together and were never noticed by itself. Like different colored threads getting tangled, initially, it¡¯s just a simple knot, but if it isn¡¯t untangled for a long time, it becomes an unimaginably complex, irreparable mess. Just now, it was like using scissors to cut these tangled threads and then categorizing them by color. Although it recognized the nature of these two forces, it also needed to find a solution. A look of contemplation appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Xu Ran had said that evolving into a Panlong Turtle was about gaining the power of a dragon, becoming a Dragon Pet Beast. The evolution materials, evolution conditions, and the Evolution Ritual all reflect this aspect. So, should it abandon the power of the turtle and completely turn into a dragon? Or should it¡­ in its own way, reintegrate these two forces? After only a moment¡¯s hesitation, Cancan¡¯s eyes shone with determination. Panlong Turtle, it¡¯s both a dragon and a turtle! It will reintegrate these shattered forces, allowing them to form a new order! Cancan immersed its mind into the Dragon¡¯s Breath before its eyes, then it began to clumsily imitate it, bit by bit combining its own power. During this process, its body underwent many spine-chilling transformations due to the power backlash, but eventually, these transformations began to subside. More and more power was being tamed by Cancan. And Cancan was becoming increasingly adept at this process. It even closed its eyes, allowing its senses to guide itself. Unbeknownst to Cancan, its body was undergoing changes. Unlike the transformations, these changes were orderly and controllable. Its head was widening, becoming larger. The head, which originally resembled a turtle, was at this moment covered with earth-yellow scales, its mouth full of sharp, interlocked large teeth. The single horn on its head and the two horns at the back of its head gradually grew larger, fully transforming into a dragon¡¯s head. The greyish white part of its belly was expanding and extending, stretching to the front of its neck, and the rear was extending to the part of its tail facing the ground. Large, hard scales protected these vulnerable parts, making Cancan¡¯s defense increasingly impregnable. Its four paws became larger and more powerful, its sharp claw edges seemed able to tear everything apart, several golden scales covered the top of the four paws, making Cancan¡¯s attacks more flexible. Cancan¡¯s body was visibly growing. In the blink of an eye, it broke through the 30-meter limit of super large pet beasts and continued to grow until it reached 36 meters. Yet at this moment, Cancan hadn¡¯t broken through the Leadership Stage! Boom!!! Feeling the boiling power all over its body, Cancan¡¯s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and a golden light appeared in the dark cave! Abandoning its earth-yellow color, Cancan¡¯s eyes completely turned into a cool golden slit pupil. When facing them, one could clearly see the heart-pounding black cracks within. From Cancan¡¯s eyes burst an imposing and powerful aura that made one subconsciously want to submit. Meow- (Is this my evolved form?) Feeling the power within its body more potent than before, the cold indifference in Cancan¡¯s eyes quickly faded, replaced by a look of surprise. It looked deeply at the giant dragon corpse before its eyes. Right now, it could feel a sense of kinship with the creature before its eyes. Something in the other party¡¯s body was calling out to him. However¡­ ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯ll come back later!) Cancan shifted his gaze from the giant dragon¡¯s carcass to the dome of the cave. Through the dome, he seemed to see everyone waiting for him on the ground above. Feeling his own new power, anticipation emerged in Cancan¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t wait to show his newfound self to his friends. His front paws stretched out, a earth-yellow halo swirling around Cancan¡¯s paws. The hard rock layer beneath his paws parted like water, stirring up ripples. The next second, Cancan leaps gently, plunging into the rock layer, while the blinding light of evolution erupted. Having completed the evolution, it¡¯s time to advance! ¡°Meow-¡± (Cancan has been down there for quite a while.) On the ground, Ziyun looks somewhat anxious. It paced in a circle, occasionally glancing at where Cancan had descended below the ground. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Yeah, I wonder if his evolution is going smoothly?) Star wasn¡¯t much better off than Ziyun, it stood on the spot, constantly raising its front hoof and stamping on the rock, making a ¡°ding ding ding¡± sound. Both of them watched Cancan since his birth, it can be said that Cancan¡¯s every day in this world is accompanied by the pair. This bond is very special, making them inevitably give Cancan a bit more care and attention. As for Cancan¡¯s evolution, the two were just as nervous as they themselves were during their evolution. ¡°You two.¡± Xu Ran, holding the Velvet Sparrow casually rubbed it, looked at the anxious faces of the two, smiling in amusement. Through the contractual sensing, he could vaguely sense Cancan¡¯s status. At this moment, Cancan had got past the most difficult stage. Up next was surely¡­ The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face stiffened slightly. An enormous power quickly feedback to him through the contract sensing. On the other end of the contract sensing was Cancan. Has the evolution completed? No, it¡¯s more than just evolution! Feeling the continuous, even increasingly enormous feedback, Xu Ran laughed. ¡°Alright, Cancan has completed the evolution, and even advanced!¡± Ziyun and Star abruptly stopped their movements. Before they could ask anything, the ground suddenly bulged. A giant beast measuring one hundred and eight meters long emerged from the ground like surfacing from water. Xu Ran and the three pets landed in the very centre of its back. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Cancan took a step forward, causing the earth to emit a violent rumble. He turned his head excitedly, looking at the dumbfounded human and three pets on his back, his eyes full of joy. ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯ve completed my evolution!) ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help sucking in a breath, ¡°this big?!¡± He had imagined that Cancan would grow larger once he reached the Leader Stage, but this size was somewhat beyond his expectations. If this is just the Leader Stage, Cancan can already cover a four-hundred-meter standard sports field. What would happen if he further breaks through to the General Stage, or even King Stage? ¡°Meow?¡± (Are you sure you didn¡¯t use Jiezimixu?) Ziyun raised his head to look at Cancan, whose opened mouth revealed teeth much larger than Ziyun himself. The whole cat was not okay. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (How big is this, who will carry who in the future?) A thoughtful look appeared on Star¡¯s face. Even if Cancan could reduce his size, it would be hard to shrink to a scale where he could carry the beast, right? The Velvet Sparrow pondered as Cancan inched closer with curiosity. How many of it could this guy eat in one bite? Chapter 273 - Chapter 171: The Strength of the Panlong Turtle! _1 Chapter 171: The Strength of the Panlong Turtle! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Cancan, maybe you should shrink a bit.¡± Looking up at his Pet Beast, Xu Ran helplessly shook his head. His original size was already enormous. If it used Jiezimixu to amplify its size to the limit, it would probably be even more excessive. Although, the size of a Pet Beast doesn¡¯t necessarily correlate with its strength. Some Pet Beasts even become smaller as their Growth Stage increases. But Cancan¡¯s extreme size was indeed unprecedented. ¡°Charming-¡± Cancan shook its massive head, recognizing that its size was a bit exaggerated. Immediately, it used Jiezimixu to reduce its huge body¡­again and again. Soon, it managed to reduce its size to around four meters. Which, for the moment, was its limit. ¡°Looks like you have to stay in the Foster Area temporarily until Jiezimixu is upgraded to the Full Moon Level.¡± Xu Ran gave a bitter smile. ¡°Charming!¡± (Let¡¯s work hard and become stronger!) Cancan¡¯s eyes shined brightly, nodding in agreement. Once the Proficiency of the Echoing of Earth Vein skill nears the Full Moon level, it will be time to upgrade Jiezimixu next! ¡°Let¡¯s see what new skills you have after evolution¡­¡± Xu Ran said, opening Cancan¡¯s skill panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Cancan Race name: Panlong Turtle Attribute: Earth attribute Growth stage: Leadership Stage (17.9W/3OW) Species Level: King Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ïGiving Body to Fertile Soil (Waning Moon Level)](15/2OOO)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth-shattering Skyfall (Waning Moon Level)](i3/2ooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïEternal Iron Wall (Waning Moon Level)](i7/2OOO)[ + ] [¡ï¡ï¡ïEchoing of Earth Vein (Waning Moon Level)](i887/2OOO)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïJiezimixu (Waning Moon Level)](22/2ooo)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïDragon Turtle¡¯s Power (Waning Moon Level)](2i/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ïBurrow Soil (Stardust Level)](o/ioo)[ + ]] ¡°Hmm?¡± Looking over all the skills, Xu Ran stroked his chin, revealing a surprised expression. From a Proficiency perspective, only the Tw stars Skill called Burrow Soil seemed to appear recently. So, where was King¡¯s Power? After going over the skills once more, Xu Ran focused on the Three Star Skill called Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power. The initial Dragon Blood Horn was replaced by this skill. Combining this with the would-be King¡¯s Power that has disappeared, an intriguing conjecture appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. Could these two skills have¡­ ¡°Cancan, what¡¯s the situation with Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power?¡± Hearing Xu Ran asking about this, Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. It had been wanting to tell Xu Ran about this! After evolving and sensing its own Power, it was shocked too! ¡°Charming!¡± (Dragon Blood Horn and King¡¯s Power merged during the evolution!) ¡°I thought so.¡± Xu Ran revealed an enlightened expression, ¡°The two Three Star Skills combined during the evolution process¡­¡± Among the three little ones, only Ziyun and Cancan had additional evolution conditions for their Skills. The changes in their additional Skills after their evolutions were different, too. Ziyun¡¯s additional Skill evolved into its Talent Skill, transforming from its original Thunder Attribute to a combination of Thunder and Fighting Attributes. Cancan¡¯s additional Skill, on the other hand, fused with the newly formed King¡¯s Power Skill. Hearing the conversation between Xu Ran and his Pet Beast, Ziyun¡¯s expression fell. It had assumed it would be the first in the team to fuse three-star skills. Never did it expect that Cancan, the most recent member/teammate, accomplished it first. What was more unbearable was that Cancan¡¯s Skill Fusion took place during the evolution process, without consuming a single fusion stone! Darn it! Star, standing by their side, also showed a hint of envy. The Power of two three-star skills fused together would undoubtedly surpass that of normal three-star skills by a lot. It wanted such a Skill too! As for the Velvet Sparrow, listening to Xu Ran and Cancan¡¯s conversation, it was completely dumbfounded. After evolution, both its three-star skills¡­fused? Some secrets its father once mentioned suddenly popped into Velvet Sparrow¡¯s mind. The key to evolution is the strengthening of Talent Skills, and it is through the improvement of Talent Skills that one¡¯s life level is elevated, thus reaching higher stages. Because developing Talent Skills to higher star levels gets increasingly difficult, Beast Kings are already very rare, let alone Beast Emperors and the even more mysterious Beast Saints. Among billions of Transcendent Beings, it¡¯s probably impossible for one to be born. Since ancient times, countless Transcendent Beings have climbed the Ladder of Evolution and paid the price with their lives, concluding that the key to evolution lies in the development and strengthening of one¡¯s Talent Skills. Through development, one can continuously strengthen his Talent Skills, getting closer to higher star levels, thus effectively reducing the difficulty of evolution. The most effective method of development and strengthening is to master additional skills, learn through analogy different skills, find the common points between the additional skills and the Talent Skills, and finally fuse them into one stronger skill. However, only a very small number of highly talented Transcendent Beings can accomplish this. Thinking of this, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help but take a cold breath. An unparalleled genius¡­is by my side? Looking at Cancan, which had become much more powerful than it after a single evolution and even had stronger talents, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help feeling inferior. Darn it, the human world is terrifying. The traditionally talented it from the Beast Field has been constantly hit hard on talent since coming to the world of Humans.. Chapter 274 - Chapter 171: The Strength of the Panlong Turtle! _2 Chapter 171: The Strength of the Panlong Turtle! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°How effective are these two skills?¡± Oblivious to the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s complex emotions, Xu Ran looked at Cancan with curious inquiry. ¡°Charming!¡± (Burrow Soil allows me to move through the ground as smoothly as swimming!) Cancan exclaimed excitedly. Although the newly-emerged Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power is a three-star skill, and not just any three-star skill but a fusion of two three-star skills, Cancan nevertheless prefers the newly-awakened two-star skill. The reason is quite simple. During previous explorations outside the city, even though no Earth attribute dragon carcass was found, Cancan used the Echoing of Earth Vein to detect hundreds of resources buried deep underground. With its previous abilities, it was hard to gather these resources ¨C they could only watch them lie buried underground. Now that Cancan has evolved, its strength has significantly increased and it can explore a much larger underground range, bound to discover even more resources. This skill came just at the right time. ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran quickly understood Cancan¡¯s intentions, a smile playing on his face, ¡°It seems that you have a new source of resources from now on.¡± The resources in the areas they had explored were not of very high grade, primarily of Elite Level, with occasional Leader Level items. There were no items of Marshal Level. However, given the vast quantity of these resources, gathering them all and exchanging them for Beast Master Points at the Beast Master Association would result in a substantial gain. Ziyun and Star simultaneously showed expressions of envy. As they still rely on Xu Ran for the resources to strengthen themselves, is Cancan about to become self-sufficient? ¡°Charming-¡± (As for the Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power¡­) Just as Cancan was about to introduce the other skill, a fierce roar came faintly from the deeper parts of the beast field. ¡°What is¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious. The three little ones also turned serious, their erstwhile relaxed expressions gone. In this roar, there was a hint of majesty that made one shiver. They were all too familiar with this ability. King¡¯s Power. And only the King¡¯s Power of a Waning Moon Level or above could have such an application! The person and the three pets looked in the direction the noise came from, alertness in their eyes. This was outside the city. Where did this sudden roar come from? ¡°Chirp¡­¡± Awe and confusion flashed through the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes. It seemed to recognize something familiar from the roar? ¡°Mount up!¡± Without any hesitation, Xu Ran immediately scooped up Ziyun and the Velvet Sparrow and sat on Star¡¯s broad back. Cancan was too big to sit on Star¡¯s body but it slowly submerged most of its body into the mud and activated the Burrow Soil skill. However, it couldn¡¯t help looking deep into the ground. There seemed to be something still attracting it on the corpse of the Earth attribute giant dragon of King Stage. ¡°Back to the city!¡± ¡°Charming¡­¡± (Okay¡­) Knowing the dangers outside the city, Cancan braced itself and followed Star, who was already running quickly towards Qingzhou City. However, their movement was quickly halted. The distant aura was approaching at very high speed, and even Stars running at full speed had no chance of escaping it. And as that aura became clearer, their expressions changed. ¡°General Stage?!¡± Xu Ran exclaimed in disbelief and astonishment. They hadn¡¯t even entered the area with Leader Stage beings, how could they encounter a General Stage Extraordinary Being? Such a creature should be in the core area of beast field 97, right?! Before seeing the creature, the three little ones felt a terrible pressure, and at that moment, their expressions became serious. This terrifying pressure gave them a feeling of powerlessness. The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s expression also changed. However, unlike the others, the Velvet Sparrow became flustered and surprised upon sensing the incredibly familiar aura. It couldn¡¯t possibly mistake this aura! Wasn¡¯t this one of its father¡¯s subordinates sent to find it? The creature had found it at this time?! For a moment, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes were full of guilt and deep regret towards Xu Ran and the three little ones. This was bad, it had dragged Xu Ran and the three pets into trouble! The opponent was coming straight for it, but seeing it with the human Beast Master, the Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t need to think about what it would do. It could already guess. Those who can step into the General Stage under its father would naturally be King Species. In terms of species hierarchy, the three of them had no advantage. In terms of growth stage, the gap between the General Stage and the leadership stage was like a vast chasm. So¡­ Looking at the revealed figure, its identity was just as the Velvet Sparrow had guessed. It was indeed an extraordinary being at the General Stage under its father, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help shouting out. ¡°Chirp!¡± (You guys just leave me and run, it won¡¯t hurt¡­ huh?!) Looking at the pair of ferocious claws tearing towards itself, the velvet sparrow was taken aback. It was a General Stage extraordinary being. That¡¯s not right¡­ Why did this guy want to attack itself?! Wasn¡¯t it afraid of its dad skinning it alive? ¡°Chirp!!!¡± (Help!!!) The velvet sparrow was panicked all of sudden. ¡°Cancan!¡± Xu Ran let out a low shout, his gaze focused on the purple tiger in the sky with black patterns all over its body. King Species of the Thunder Attribute, the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger! ¡°Charming!¡± In an instant, Cancan rose from the earth, its body ballooning in size within a breath¡¯s time. Ten meters¡­fifty meters¡­one hundred meters¡­ Even at its original height, Cancan showed no signs of stopping. Its robust body continued to grow in size. Two hundred meters¡­three hundred meters¡­five hundred meters!!! At that moment, Cancan was like a towering peak. Even the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger, which was more powerful, could only bow to it! Along with its increase in size, Cancan¡¯s momentum also soared. Two hundred thousand¡­three hundred thousand¡­five hundred thousand!!! An earthy yellow glow swept over Cancan¡¯s body in a flash, swirling as if flowing over a majestic mountain. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Echoing of Earth Vein! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯ll back you up!) Stars emitted a roar, with Dark Power surging around them, its momentum increasing at a pace not in the least bit inferior to Cancan¡¯s. Xu Ran, on its back, didn¡¯t know when, but he had already deeply connected with its power. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ¨C Fated Star Pulling! Complex black patterns appeared around Cancan¡¯s massive body in a flash, and in tandem with the Echoing of Earth Vein, Cancan¡¯s power once again surged. Six hundred thousand¡­seven hundred thousand¡­eight hundred thousand¡­ Nine hundred thousand¡­one million¡­one hundred and ten thousand! ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a booming noise, the Velvet Sparrow only felt a darkness before its eyes. A rapidly rising wall of steel on the ground fiercely blocked the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger¡¯s strike. The terrifying thunder-claw shadow only left faint traces on the wall of steel, and those few traces were gradually fading away at a rate visible to the naked eye. The Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger was dumbstruck. It had already prepared to withdraw its power. Did they really blocked it?! It, one of the four generals under the Nightmare Beast King, and nearly perfect at the Marshal Level, and with a Halo Level proficiency skill, was blocked by a few young ones at the Leader Stage? And what was with these young ones? They¡¯ve almost reached the Marshal Level in terms of strength! ¡°Charming!¡± (Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power!) Easily blocking the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger¡¯s attack, Cancan¡¯s eyes shone with exhilaration. It burst forth with all its might to execute its current strongest skill. An invisible force enveloped the surrounding area. With Cancan at the center, golden turtle light patterns flashed across the sky within a three-kilometer radius, instantly suppressing the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger on the scene! ¡°Meow-¡± (Watch me!) A glint of war-like anticipation flashed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes, with dark patterns fluttering around its body. A fierce light flashed deep in its eyes, and its figure had already appeared in front of the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger at the sound of the lightning bolt. You dare to challenge me? I will take your attack with my face, without moving an inch! A look of disdain flashed in the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger¡¯s eyes. However, the sight of a deep purple energy ball emerging in Ziyun¡¯s paw made its face turn paper white. It seemed that it could not withstand this object! Retreat! Remembering what its king had ordered, the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger didn¡¯t hesitate to turn and leave.. Chapter 275 - Chapter 172:1 Hate Daddy the Most! _1 Chapter 172:1 Hate Daddy the Most! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°So¡­he¡¯s left?¡± The vanishing roar of the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger, who showed no desire for battle and swiftly took his leave, kindled a look of surprise on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He could feel that even at their peak, they would have had difficulty defeating the opponent who had just assaulted them. The enemy¡¯s power was even stronger than the four pet beasts of Senior Gu. He had already planned to fight and retreat, relying on Cancan¡¯s strong defense to hold back the enemy and draw it into the area of Qingzhou City. However, he didn¡¯t expect the enemy to run away after just a brief encounter. ¡°Do you recognize that creature?¡± Xu Ran turned his head, glancing at the Velvet Sparrow, which was still in a state of shock. ¡°Chiu?¡± (Huh?) The Velvet Sparrow shook its head, finally pulling itself together from the shock. The Beast King¡¯s follower was attacking it specifically, yet Xu Ran and his pet beast had protected it¡­ And with only three Leadership Stage Pet Beasts, Xu Ran could actually stand up to the General stage¡­ Ugh, it was too confusing; it felt like its brain was about to break. As for that creature, the Velvet Sparrow shook its head without hesitation. ¡°Chiu~¡± (I don¡¯t know it!) ¡°It must have been a coincidence then,¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin. He had originally thought that the attacker had targeted the Velvet Sparrow first because they knew each other. Now it seemed, it was really a coincidence. With the situation being so chaotic, it was normal for the attacker to pick on the weakest first. However, the appearance of the General stage beast in the outer circle of the Beast Field was a matter of concern. ¡°We should head back to the city immediately,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice. ¡°Charming-¡± (There¡¯s still something underground¡­) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but speak, informing Xu Ran of the situation. ¡°King-level resources?¡± Xu Ran was slightly moved, ¡°Then you hurry and retrieve it, and then we¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) Cancan nodded, without any hesitation it sank back into the ground. After a moment, it emerged from the ground holding a football-sized earth-yellow crystal ball in its mouth. Trapped in the crystal ball was a lively giant dragon, exuding a powerful Earth attribute power; it was stronger than the Milky Bamboo Stone Root Cancan had previously found. ¡°Charming!¡± (Here it is!) Excitement filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. It could feel that, with the help of this resource, it wouldn¡¯t be too long before it could catch up with Ziyun and Star! ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran glanced in the direction the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger had left. Although the Leadership Stage activity area was calm at the moment, he dared not linger outside the city any longer. If he attracted a beast tide of the Leadership Stage level, he would hardly have room to fight back. Carrying Ziyun and the Velvet Sparrow, Xu Ran sat on Star¡¯s back and sprinted towards Qingzhou City, while Cancan burrowed back into the ground, following closely behind. Though burrowing didn¡¯t have speed bonuses, the Jiezimixu in its shrunken state could significantly increase its agility and speed. There was no issue with it keeping up with Star. After running a few miles, the Velvet Sparrow abruptly turned its head back, jumped from Xu Ran¡¯s arms onto his head, looking towards the core zone of the Beast Field, its eyes shone with a peculiar light. It seemed to understand something. That hateful father had left a mark on it! As the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter, the Velvet Sparrow was all too familiar with its father¡¯s power. One of those powers was a skill named Dormant Seed, which could discreetly mark an opponent and sense their condition and location. The duration of this skill was extremely long; the Velvet Sparrow calculated that it should still be effective at this time! Therefore, her father always knew her location. Her escape from the deep part of the Beast Field was deliberately allowed by him! That¡¯s why the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger retreated so easily, because it was probing! Was Xu Ran the target of the probe? So, the purpose of probing was¡­ The Velvet Sparrow lowered its head, turning to look at Xu Ran whom it was stepping on. Then¡­ It saw its own chubby belly. Phew! Damn it! The Velvet Sparrow made a grimace towards the core zone of the Beast Field. I hate dad the most! ¡°Velvet Sparrow? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Feeling the Velvet Sparrow moving around on his head, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Chiu~¡± (Nothing!) The Velvet Sparrow jumped back into Xu Ran¡¯s arms from his head with a ¡®swoosh¡¯, closed its big sea-blue eyes pretending to nap, yet after a while, it opened up a slit sneakily stealing a glimpse at Xu Ran. This human¡­ was quite just! ¡°Huh?¡± What did you say? Deep in the Beast Field, the Nightmare Beast King looked at its subordinate crouching in front of him, a strange and surprised look flashing in its eyes. It didn¡¯t know how many years it had been since something had happened beyond its expectations. At this moment, it was taken aback by the report from its subordinate. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The human accompanying the young princess is very strong, I really wasn¡¯t confident of defeating him¡­ The Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger¡¯s head sunk even lower. It knew it was somewhat disgraceful, but it was the truth. If it let its full power explode, it might be able to kill those three individuals. But it would definitely implicate the young princess. In other words, staying there wouldn¡¯t have helped against those three. The Nightmare Beast King glanced at its subordinate. The perception strength of the Dormant Seed is limited. Like its skill name suggests, it mostly remains dormant and only gets triggered when there is a situation that requires attention. Therefore, up until now, the Nightmare Beast King only knew that the human accompanying his daughter was a Leadership Level Beast Master, but knew very little else. There are many subordinates of his at the General stage, but the one in front of him was one of the four strongest generals. This kind of strength wasn¡¯t enough to defeat a Leadership Level Beast Master? Chapter 276 - Chapter 172:1 Hate Daddy the Most! _2 Chapter 172:1 Hate Daddy the Most! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Prr~¡± Tell me in detail about the situation you encountered. ¡°Roar-¡± The Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger, not daring to slack off, hurriedly recounted the entire process from when it appeared to when it retreated to the Nightmare Beast King. As it listened, the surprise in the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s eyes grew thicker. So these three pet beasts had all evolved into King species? That human was quite young, looking to be around twenty to thirty years in human years? The combined strength of three Leadership Stage Pet Beasts could reach the borderline of the General Stage? Quickly, the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger finished recounting the events, once again lowering its head. What awaited it was a lengthy silence. The atmosphere gradually became oppressive, so the Roaring Thunder Sky Tiger couldn¡¯t help but press its head hard against the ground. ¡°Prrr ¡± I understand. You may leave now. Hearing the king¡¯s voice as calm as always, it was as if it had been pardoned, disappeared from the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s view in the blink of an eye, swift as lightning. When those under its command left, the Nightmare Beast King raised its head, looking in the direction of Qingzhou City, its eyes filled with a contemplative look. This was the second time the situation had slipped out of its control. The first time was because of its unconventional daughter. The second time was because of the human Beast Master its daughter knew. Within the boundaries of the Beast Field N0.97, there is no Second Level Town. According to its understanding of the human world, this kind of Beast Master who could evolve three pet beasts to the Leadership Stage should not have appeared here. Unless¡­ The other party had a more terrifying background. A hint of wariness flashed across the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s eyes. What other trump cards do the humans in Beast Field N0.97 have, which it wasn¡¯t aware of? If it really were so, it needed to reconsider its relationship with the humans. The effectiveness of the Dormant Seed was soon about to end, as for its little daughter¡­ There were a few more traces of contemplation in the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s eyes. It wondered if that human was still lacking any pet beasts. ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Seeing the Qingzhou city appear at the end of their line of sight, Xu Ran heaved a big sigh of relief. ¡°After we enter the city, we also need to tell Senior Gu about the appearance of the wardens of the General stage.¡± He said softly, then looking at the four little ones, ¡°Finally, we can take a break.¡± Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all nodded together. On their journey, they always felt as if a terrifying existence was watching them from behind, that kind of elusive oppressive feeling lingering in their hearts, only completely dissipating at this moment. ¡°Chirp- ¡± (Are we there yet?) The Velvet Sparrow quickly opened its eyes, pretending to have just woken up, stretched its small wings in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, and lazily stood up. Being held by a human felt really good! Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but shoot a glance at the Velvet Sparrow, feeling her claws itch again. This guy slept all the way, Xu Ran¡¯s embrace was clearly hers! ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. In the midst of their conversation, the majestic city gate of Qingzhou city had appeared before them. Finally, they could return home. The moment they stepped into the city gate, Xu Ran dialed Gu Wu¡¯s number with his cellphone. ¡°Hello, Senior Gu. It¡¯s me, Xu Ran.¡± ¡°Oh, Xu Ran, what happened?¡± While holding the phone to his ear with one hand, Senior Gu placed down the soup he was holding with the other, signaling Gu Ling who was sitting across from him to start drinking first. Gu Ling blinked, continuing to take a small sip of the piping hot soup. Hmm¡­ Today it was yellow bean trotter soup, the slightly viscous texture and the delicious taste of the trotters blended together, it tasted quite unique. ¡°What? You encountered General stage Extraordinary Beings?¡± Listening to Gu Wu¡¯s exclaimation, Gu Ling who was holding a soup bowl suddenly trembling, and a few drops of soup splashed onto her cheek. She silently put down the bowl, pulled out a tissue to wipe her face while leaning in to listen to Gu Wu¡¯s phone conversation. This soup, she couldn¡¯t drink a single mouthful. ¡°Oh, you beat it back. That¡¯s good, as longasyou¡¯reokay¡­ Wait a moment!¡± Gu Wu¡¯s eyebrows raised, he couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, ¡°What did you just say? Your three pet beasts together repelled the General stage Extraordinary Beings?¡± ¡°Tap tap tap-¡± Accompanied by the hurried sound of slippers on the floor, Gu Ling quickly stepped up from her seat and approached the other side of the phone, a very serious expression on her face, refusing to miss a single detail. ¡°Senior Gu, it¡¯s not quite a repulsion.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s somewhat humble voice came from the other end of the phone, ¡°I think something must have affected it, so it voluntarily left after a brief fight.¡± ¡°No¡­is that the main point?¡± Gu Wu couldn¡¯t help slamming the table, causing ripples in the nearby soup, ¡°Your pet beast should still be at the leadership stage, right? How did you manage to take on a general-stage creature even for a moment?¡± ¡°Oh, you mean that.¡± Xu Ran laughed on the other end of the phone, ¡°Nothing much, just that my third pet beast evolved. It¡¯s very good at defense, and with the help of Star, under our combined forces¡­¡± ¡°Beep ¡± Gu Wu expressionlessly hung up the phone. ¡°Old Gu, that wasn¡¯t very becoming of your lofty characteristics.¡± Gu Ling glanced discontentedly at Gu Wu. She still wanted to hear more. ¡°No¡­¡± Gu Wu painfully tousled his hair, ¡°His third pet beast evolved?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°How long ago did his second pet beast evolve?¡± ¡°Has it been ten days?¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t even been ten days, has it?¡± ¡°No, why does he get to?!¡± Gu Ling returned silently to her seat, picked up her yellow bean trotter soup, and took a sip. Things have gotten to this point, might as well eat first. ¡°Doo doo doo¨C¡± Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Xu Ran blinked and then hung up. ¡°It must be the appearance of the general-stage creature that has Senior Gu very worried, so he¡¯s probably quickly went off to arrange some countermeasures now.¡± He nodded in understanding, ¡°Senior Gu, really is a good senior who spares no effort for Qingzhou City!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± ¡°Charming!¡± The three little ones all nodded in agreement. Even the Velvet Sparrow, who did not know Gu Wu before, had admiration in its eyes. In the middle of the call, the person with his four pets was already heading towards the Starfire Foster Care Shop. However, as they gradually approached the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became strange. ¡°Hold on.¡± He stopped Star, his face a mix of uncertainty. ¡°Did you guys hear some kind of sound?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What kind of sound?) Ziyun raised her ears, then asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s like, ¡®dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum dum-¡®.¡± Xu Ran hummed it and his expression became even stranger. This tune, it¡¯s so familiar¡­ Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s description, the four little ones all nodded. Clearly, they had all heard this sound. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­go see in the shop.¡± An ominous feeling enveloped Xu Ran¡¯s heart. Could it be? It can¡¯t be, right? As the man and his four pets got closer and closer to the shop, the rhythmic music grew clearer and louder, reaching a peak when they stood in front of the store door. Xu Ran dismounted and emotionlessly walked towards the shop door. Just as he was about to open the door, it was fiercely yanked open from the inside. A muscly man taller than one meter wearing a flamboyant pink suit stood before him, moving his fisted hands up and down to the beat of the music. The music, hitting the hook, also became even more clear. ¡°Konomamakimu 0 tsurete iku to¡­¡± (I will take you with me¡­) ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± The sound of fireworks as glitter and streamers sprayed from both sides of the store door and fell on Xu Ran. Xu Ran was silent. Behind him, the Velvet Sparrow tentatively nudged Cancan. ¡°Cheep?¡± (Is Mr. Tony always like this?) Cancan, a leadership-stage creature of king species that had just defeated a general-stage creature half an hour ago, couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back, looking a bit frightened. ¡°Charming-¡± (Occasionally, he does turn out to be like this¡­) As the dance ended, Mr. Tony, with a sunny smile on his face, gave Xu Ran a big hug. ¡°Boss, welcome back!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t need to go to such lengths.¡± Seeing the onlookers around him, Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°No no no, it had to be grand.¡± Tony¡¯s expression instantly became serious, but the next second, he caught Xu Ran off guard by making a heart with his hands, ¡°After all, I¡¯m about to get promoted under the wise and valiant leadership of my boss, right?¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± If possible, he didn¡¯t want this guy to be the system store manager! Chapter 277 - Chapter 173: Sprint for Main Task 2_1 Chapter 173: Sprint for Main Task 2_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°That¡¯s the situation.¡± inside the shop, Xu Ran spread his hands towards the four petrified little ones. ¡ö¡¯In the short term, there will be no more resource allocation.¡± ¡°After Tony becomes the store manager, we will move to Xieyun City. ¡°Meow?¡± (No resource allocation for a short time¡­) Ziyun reveals an expression of deep anguish. It hurts, hurts too much. Now that Star and Cancan have both completed their evolution and advanced stages, maintaining their strongest positions requires a lot of resources. To fulfill her grand plan of being the first to have four stars Skills also requires a lot of resources. Who can understand the pain of not having resources allocated? ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Sis, you still have other resources, wuuuu-) Star lifted a front hoof to hide its tears. At least Ziyun still has the Thunder Bead obtained from the giant beast remains at the bottom of Thunderbolt Half Mountain. Although the energy in it isn¡¯t very strong, it¡¯s of a high level. Ziyun has been absorbing it for so long, but there¡¯s no change. It looks like it¡¯s no problem to absorb it for a year and a half. On the other hand, it did manage to get more resources for evolution in Xieyun City, in addition to exchanging for one marshal level resource. But that¡¯s all there was. The remaining resources have been mostly absorbed by it. How is it supposed to survive the upcoming period without resource allocation? ¡°Sure-¡± (So, is it my turn to rise up?) Cancan on the side, on the other hand, does not reveal an expression like Ziyun and Star. On the contrary, it looked quite excited. After all, after its evolution, it gained the two-star Skill of burrow soil. With its strength, there is no problem for it to collect resources buried deep underground within a relatively safe region outside the city. If there are no resources, create them yourself! Exchange the unnecessary resources for Beast Master Points, and then exchange them for the needed resources. Cancan can maintain itself for a short period of time! Hearing Cancan¡¯s words, Ziyun and Star simultaneously turned their gaze to Cancan. Right! They had forgotten about you! ¡°Meow!¡± (Lend me some Points!) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Give me a loan!) The two little ones spoke in unison. Cancan, who had just paid off its huge debt in the last allocation of resources, couldn¡¯t help shivering. Damn, is it its turn to lend money? Unlike the laughter of the three little ones, the velvet sparrow seemed a little confused at the moment. ¡°Chirp-¡± (I¡¯m going back to the foster area first.) It flapped its wings at Xu Ran, turned around and walked towards the back door. In the underground passage to the foster area, only one voice reverberated in the velvet sparrow¡¯s mind. ¡°After Tony becomes the store manager, we will move to Xieyun City.¡¯ They¡¯re leaving the city? Then¡­what about itself? The velvet sparrow wriggled its body in a swaying manner, stopped in front of a small rocking chair, turned around, and then fell backwards. The soft velvet nest, made of soft velvet fabric, wrapped its round body like a cradle. This rocking chair, which was added by Xu Ran at the request of the velvet sparrow, was the place it liked to stay in its free time. But today¡¯s velvet sparrow found it somewhat boring. The rocking chair was good, but it lacked the warmth it wanted. It couldn¡¯t help thinking about Xu Ran¡¯s embrace when it returned to the city today. In its mind, it saw Ziyun, Star and Cancan¡¯s sincere smiles. ¡°Chirp-¡± Is it that good to contract with a human? It mumbled softly, its eyes flashing with a hint of loneliness. What will it do when they leave here? ¡ö¡öOnce Tony is promoted to The System Store Manager, we can open a branch.¡± Inside the shop, after the Velvet Sparrow left, Xu Ran was finally able to discuss some rather sensitive topics. ¡°But the promotion of Tony requires quite a lot of resources.¡± ¡°The easiest is a hundred thousand Pleasure value.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°With the current accumulation speed in the store, it will only take four or five days.¡± ¡°Hmm- Not bad.¡± Tony crossed his arms, showing off his muscular body, and gave a wink to the threesome, ¡°For the promotion, I¡¯ll work hard-¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the other two shop assistants had to wait until the completion of Main Task 2 to be available, he would never hand over the store to this unreliable-looking guy. Although in the past interactions, Tony showed a high level of professionalism. However, there were also quite a few people who were scared off by his appearance and words. ¡°In addition, it requires ten thousand physical points and skill points.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°According to the current rate of accumulation, it will probably take about ten days.¡± Ziyun, Star, and Cancan¡¯s eyes filled with tears in unison. Ten thousand Physical points, Ten thousand Skill points. Such good things, if used on them, would give a huge boost, but now they have to be used on Tony. For a time, the three little ones looked at Tony with dangerous eyes. This guy is a strong competitor! ¡°Afterwards, it¡¯s the hardest to accumulate ¨C one thousand skill fragments.¡± Xu Ran shrugged his shoulders, ¡°According to the current speed, it will probably take more than two months.¡± Xu Ran himself is also helpless about this. In theory, the three system skills of the same B Level should have similar rates of collecting resources, or at least should be within the same order of magnitude. But with The system skill of Plucking Fur, the resources obtained by Xu Ran are much lower compared to Drug Application and Pranks. The reason for this, actually, can¡¯t be blamed on Xu Ran. Among the three system skills, as the earliest acquired skill, Plucking Fur has a special trait, that is, it has some dependency on the strength level of the pet beast.. Chapter 278 - Chapter 173: Sprint for Main Task 2 2 Chapter 173: Sprint for Main Task 2 2 Translator: 549690339 | During the process of applying drugs and pranking, no matter whether the pet beast is at the Transcendent Stage or the King Stage, the physical points and skill points obtained are the same. But the effect of Fur Plucking is to randomly obtain the skills of the pet beast, so the strength of the pet beast itself matters. The current B level Fur Plucking can theoretically obtain three-star skills, a three-star skill can be broken down into 20 skill fragments, enough to increase Xu Ran¡¯s skill fragments harvest several times, not to mention useful three-star skills, which will be more profitable without breaking down. But¡­ there aren¡¯t many King Species in the whole Qingzhou City, so what to do? The current Xu Ran can only hope that, after arriving at Xieyun City, the effect of Fur Plucking can be maximized. The three little ones shed tears again. A thousand skill fragments, can be exchanged for a hundred one-star skills, twenty-five two-star skills, five three-star skills, but now they have to be used to upgrade the shopkeeper. What¡¯s more terrifying is that this means that they can¡¯t allocate resources for as long as two months! Two months! They won¡¯t be able to get through the day! Damn it! ¡°Boss, I think in this situation, we might be able to¡­ hmm?¡± Tony winked at Xu Ran. ¡°Just spit it out.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s corner of his mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Skill fragments come from Washing and Protection,¡± Tony showed a mysterious smile, ¡°and the accumulation of skill fragments is very slow because Qingzhou City lacks middle-layer Beast Masters.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. The so-called middle layer refers to the level of General and King. Tony¡¯s analysis hit the nail on the head. ¡°The situation in Qingzhou City can¡¯t change in a short period, and it¡¯s not possible to attract Beast Masters from other places to the shop, so¡­¡± Tony held up a finger, ¡°we only have one way.¡± ¡°Discount!¡± Tony drew a big heart in the air with his hands, and finally gathered his hands above his head, ¡°Use limited-time discounts to attract more customers for washing and protection, using quantity to replace quality!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s corner of his mouth twitched slightly, ¡°It sounds reasonable, but will it really work?¡± ¡°It has to work!¡± Tony patted his chest, ¡°Boss, trust me, put out the news tomorrow, and wait for the washing and protection to explode!¡± Xu Ran and the three little ones exchanged a glance. ¡°Well, let¡¯s give it a try.¡± ¡°Xiaoxiao!¡± The next morning, Lin Yue rushed to Su Xiaoxiao, panting and leaning on the table, unable to say a word for a while. ¡°Drink some water, take a breath.¡± Su Xiaoxiao helplessly handed over her water cup, ¡°When will you change your gasping habit, A Yue?¡± ¡°Heh heh~¡± After swigging a large gulp of water, Lin Yue chuckled, then remembered why she had come, ¡°I saw some super hot news on my way to school. You definitely wouldn¡¯t guess!¡± ¡°Stop beating around the bush, just say it.¡± Su Xiaoxiao reached out her hand and pinched Lin Yue¡¯s waist. ¡°I¡¯ll tell, I¡¯ll tell.¡± Lin Yue hurriedly begged for mercy, ¡°I saw that the Starfire Foster Care Shop has a limited-time discount on washing and protection services!¡± ¡°Boss Xu is offering discounts?¡± Su Xiaoxiao blinked, looking astonished. ¡°Yeah, you always complain that you¡¯ve introduced so much business to him but he never gives you a discount, right? Well, now the discount is here!¡± Lin Yue giggled, ¡°And it¡¯s a 50% discount-¡± ¡°50%¡­¡± Hearing this discount, Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s smile gradually faded. She didn¡¯t get happy, instead she seemed to remember something and looked disappointed. ¡°Xiaoxiao? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Lin Yue hurriedly shook Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°The washing and protection service is being discounted, you should be happy, right?¡± ¡°But¡­ I think, if the Starfire Foster Care Shop is suddenly offering such a discount, it might be a precursor to opening a branch.¡± Su Xiaoxiao shook her head and sighed slightly. ¡°Open a branch?¡± Lin Yue looked surprised, ¡°That¡¯s good news! It would be best if it opens near our house, which will make washing and protection services more convenient.¡± ¡°A Yue¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao looked at Lin Yue and finally couldn¡¯t help but reveal a hint of what she had accidentally learned when she went to Xieyun City. ¡°Boss Xu¡­ might be going to open a branch in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Brother! Brother!¡± ¡°Something terrible has happened!¡± Hearing the yelling outside the door, Lyu Guang in the tea room glanced at his father Lyu Hong, who was calmly sipping tea across from him, and then put down the tea cup in his hand, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± ¡°Just let this brat come in, I want to see what terrible thing has happened again.¡± Lyu Hong snorted and waved his hand. Lyu Guang helplessly turned his head to the door, ¡°A Ji, come in and talk!¡± ¡°Creak-¡± The door of the tea room was pushed open, and a figure rashly rushed in, ¡°Brother Lyu Guang, I tell you, you¡­uh¡­ Master, you are here too¡­¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to.¡± Lyu Hong sipped his tea, opening his mouth in annoyance, which made A Ji chuckle somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Get to the point, cut the chitchat.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± A Ji shrunk his head, becoming immediatly obedient, ¡°¡­It¡¯s just that¡­ The Starfire Foster Care Shop is offering a discount on cleaning and caring.¡± ¡°How much is the discount?¡± Looking at Lyu Hong, who suddenly got up and stood in front of him, A Ji blinked his eyes. Who was it just now that told him to cut the chitchat? But he dared not voice such a comment. A Ji immediately answered honestly. ¡°Fifty percent.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lyu Hong waved his large sleeve, ¡°Take all the pet beasts from our Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion there. This kid owes us from when he took the Power Bone Dust last time, we have to get our wool back this time!¡± Lyu Guang followed behind Lyu Hong, shaking his head helplessly. As if recalling something, a sense of regret began to show in his eyes. He had originally planned to break through to the third stage with contract power and have another match with this guy. Will there be such an opportunity in the future? ¡°Haha, we gained a lot more on this trip out of the city than before!¡± Liu Gu laughed as he walked through the open city gate, his face filled with the joy of a full haul. ¡°We owe a lot to Boss Cat!¡± Zhang Yun patted Boss Cat, who was following closely behind the others, ¡°Several times we encountered danger and it was thanks to Boss Cat that we were saved. After we exchange our harvest this time, you should take some more.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± This was everyone¡¯s contribution. A trace of smile was in Boss Cat¡¯s eyes. Over the past few days, it had gradually become familiar with its new teammates. These human Beast Masters possessed a straight-forwardness that it liked, making their rapport very harmonious. Although they could not fully understand Boss Cat¡¯s meaning, the Tiger Hunting Squad could understand most of it through their interactions over these past few days. For a moment, all kinds of praise for Boss Cat flooded in, making Boss Cat¡¯s smile even brighter. Feeling needed like this, felt really good. ¡°Speaking of which, we have to thank Boss Xu for introducing Boss Cat to us.¡± Du Heng smiled, ¡°Why don¡¯t we all go to the Starfire Foster Care Shop and get our pet beasts groomed?¡± ¡°I have no objections, I was going to go anyway.¡± Liu Gu laughed heartily, then looked to the others, ¡°What about you guys?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a promotion today, cleaning and grooming is half price.¡± Du Heng added with a smile, ¡°The Armored Rhinoceros told me.¡± ¡±We have to go!¡± X3 ¡°Meow-¡± ¡°Shadow Chaser Lizard, Variegated Dragon Sparrow, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s training.¡± Zhou Hao glanced at the timer on the wall of the training room and spoke softly. ¡°Crack!¡± The Shadow Chaser Lizard walked out from the dark, its black scales glinting with a deep and mysterious light. ¡°Squawk!¡± From the sky, the Variegated Dragon Sparrow plunged down, stirring up a gust of wind, and came to Zhou Hao¡¯s side with a whoosh. The two pet beasts looked at each other, and then instinctively averted their gaze. Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Zhou Hao¡¯s face. Despite nearly two months of trying, he hadn¡¯t been able to make these two pet beasts become friends. But at least, they were now able to accept each other¡¯s presence peacefully. As long as he continued his efforts, he believed that one day these two pet beasts would be able to coexist peacefully. This was his responsibility as a Beast Master, something he had previously overlooked. ¡°Here are your rewards.¡± Zhou Hao took out two bags of pet beast food and placed them in front of the Shadow Chaser Lizard and the Variegated Dragon Sparrow. ¡°After you finish eating, I¡¯ll take you to get groomed.¡± ¡°I heard that the Starfire Foster Care Shop is offering half price cleaning and grooming today-¡± Chapter 279 - Chapter 174 Two New Store Clerks l Chapter 174 Two New Store Clerks l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Qi He, Starfire Foster Care Shop has been offering their grooming discount for half a month now, won¡¯t you take your Pet Beast for a visit?¡± In a vacant classroom, one teenager patted the shoulder of the boy next to him, expressing his frustration, ¡°The discount might not be available tomorrow, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known about this discount for a while.¡± Qi He shrugged, ¡°But even at half price, Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s grooming fees are still higher than those at the Dawn Foster Store!¡± ¡°They¡¯re not directly comparable.¡± The persuading teen shook his head without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°You¡¯ve seen with your own eyes the effects on my Pet Beast after its grooming at Starfire.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t look much better to me.¡± Qi He continued to argue. ¡°Enough with the talk.¡± Seeing his persuasion was in vain, the friend shrugged Qi He¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, my treat! Today, I will show you what Starfire Care¡¯s grooming is really about!¡± ¡°I wish you said that sooner, let¡¯s go.¡± Qi He smirked. ¡°Hey! You cheeky devil!¡± As they exchanged banter, they found themselves standing at the entrance of Starfire Foster Care Shop. Seeing the long queue outside the Starfire shop, Qi He could not help but gasp, ¡°Are all these people here for grooming services?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His friend smirked, ¡°It never used to be this busy, but isn¡¯t it a half-price time-limited grooming deal now?¡± ¡°The whole of Qingzhou City knows about it, wouldn¡¯t the Beast Masters who used Starfire¡¯s grooming services want to take this opportunity to have their Pet Beast groomed?¡± ¡°Is it really that good?¡± Looking at the extensive queue, even the stubborn Qi He couldn¡¯t help but soften his voice. ¡°Enough talking, let¡¯s line up!¡± Without further ado, the friend grabbed Qi He¡¯s shoulder, taking him to stand at the end of the line. After waiting for an extended period, the guests in front had finally completed their grooming. Greeting them was Boss Xu Ran with a beaming smile. ¡°Welcome-¡± The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of exhaustion, but his tone was still excited. Even with the help of his three Top Tier Royals, the intense grooming task of the past half a month was still quite overwhelming. But such hard work was worth it. Teacher Tony¡¯s advice really paid off, as the speed of skill fragment accumulation during this period was beyond his imagination. [Recycling] (997 Skill Fragments) Looking at the small number next to the recycling function on his personal dashboard, Xu Ran¡¯s smile became even brighter. With just one more two-star skill from his current customer, all of Teacher Tony¡¯s advanced resources would be procured. In his good mood, Xu Ran suddenly remembered this slightly familiar customer, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Liu Yu, aren¡¯t you? I remember you¡¯ve brought your Pet Beast here for grooming two days ago.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Liu Yu puffed up his chest, obviously pleased with himself for being remembered by Xu Ran after only two visits. He patted Qi He beside him, ¡°This is my friend. My Pet Beast doesn¡¯t need grooming today, but his does.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran turned to Qi He, ¡°Sir, you can summon your Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Looking at the overly youthful boss in front of him, Qi He¡¯s previous stubbornness vanished. From behind him, within the flashing Hexagram Star Array, a giant bird with a dark green-black body flew out of a storm. [Race name: Gale Eagle Attribute: Wind Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Medium Grooming requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Review: A proud creature that matches its master perfectly. Both require the Host to open doors to new worlds with their own hands.] Half an hour later, the now dazzling Gale Eagle with a somewhat confused look in its piercing eyes tightly clung to Xu Ran¡¯s hands and was reluctant to let go. As Qi He took it away, there was a hint of longing and reluctance in its eyes. Looking at his Pet Beast now showing off an unprecedented grace and refinement, Qi He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with astonishment. As he knew the details of every inch of the Gale Eagle¡¯s body, Qi He had a better basis for comparing the changes before and after the grooming. At this moment, the undeniable proof made it impossible for him to stay confrontational any longer, and he firmly chose to have the Dawn Foster Store groom his Pet Beast from then onwards. ¡°I¡¯ll be back next time,¡± Qi He declared, his eyes glinting. Next to him, Liu Yu couldn¡¯t help but smirk at his successful recommendation. However, Boss Xu in front of him, despite his radiant smile, did not respond. ¡°Boss Xu?¡± Liu Yu couldn¡¯t help but speak out. ¡°Ah? Oh, sorry. I was just daydreaming.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, chuckled slightly in a somewhat apologetic manner, ¡°I welcome your future visits, but next time you come, it might not be me doing the grooming.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Liu Yu and Qi He were both taken aback by Xu Ran¡¯s words. ¡°Boss Xu, what do you mean by that?¡± Liu Yu suddenly became anxious, ¡°Is the Starfire Foster Care Shop going to be sold?¡± ¡°Um¡­ of course not.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°The Starfire Foster Care Shop is still here, but I¡¯ll be temporarily leaving for Xieyun City, where I¡¯ll open another Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Liu Yu suddenly fell silent, as if considering a certain possibility, he asked cautiously, ¡°Then, the one who will remain here is¡­ Teacher Tony?¡± ¡°He¡¯s one of them.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. Upon receiving affirmation, Liu Yu appeared as if he¡¯d been struck by thunder, and covered his head in agony. ¡°No!!!¡± On the side, Qi He, who hadn¡¯t met Teacher Tony before, was a bit puzzled, not understanding why his friend reacted so strongly.. Chapter 280 - Chapter 174 Two New Store Clerks_2 Chapter 174 Two New Store Clerks_2 Translator: 549690339 He looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Is that teacher Tony also really good at washing and protection? Can he compare with you, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°You can rest assured on this point.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Teacher Tony¡¯s washing and protection skills are no less than mine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright then.¡± Satisfied, Qi He nodded and, dragging a distraught Liu Yu, turned to leave. When they reached the corner outside the shop, he curiously asked his friend, ¡°Why did you react so strangely when you heard that Teacher Tony is taking over the shop?¡± ¡°Well¡­ How should I explain this to you¡­¡± Liu Yu made a face, as if constipated, ¡°Teacher Tony¡­ He is¡­ He is the type that¡­ just¡­¡± After struggling for a long time to describe Tony¡¯s eccentricities, Liu Yu finally gave up, patted Qi He on the shoulder and said, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ll understand once you see him after a while.¡± ¡°What you said is pretty much meaningless!¡± Qi He rolled his eyes helplessly. Turning his head, he saw the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop slowly closing, and asked in surprise, ¡°Were we the last customers?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Liu Yu shrugged, ¡°I think there won¡¯t be any discounts on washing and protection services from now on. I¡¯m lucky I moved quickly and brought you here.¡± ¡°Yeah, no more discounts on washing and protection¡­¡± Thinking about the original price of the washing and protection at Starfire Foster Care Shop, Qi He couldn¡¯t help showing a painful expression. It¡¯s so expensive! Unaware of the conversation between the two customers outside the shop, Xu Ran closed the shop door. At the moment, he was filled with excitement and anticipation. As he had expected, the B-Level Plucking Fur successfully obtained a two-star skill from Qi He¡¯s pet beast, and got 4 skill fragments after decomposition, fulfilling the last requirement. ¡°Dum dum dum-¡± Amid the sound of quick footsteps, Tony, dressed in a flashy pink suit, rushed in from the back door, throwing a wink at Xu Ran and saying, ¡°Boss-¡± ¡°Stop, stop, enough.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched a little. He looked past Tony towards the direction of the back door. Soon, the three little ones, who had stopped training halfway, came out from the back door in unison. Such a big event as the completion of the main task had to be witnessed by them as well. Once everyone was gathered, Xu Ran cleared his throat, and his expression gradually grew serious, ¡°After half a month of hard work, we have successfully gathered all the resources needed to promote Tony to the position of system store manager!¡± ¡°Yooho!¡± Tony whooped excitedly, then out of nowhere, pulled out a saxophone and started playing a stirring tune, swinging his body around. The three little ones, on the other hand, looked agonized. Such resources, if applied to any of them, would be enough to drastically strengthen them! Half a month! Do you know how they managed to survive this half a month? They had been living off the city¡¯s waste picked up by Cancan every day! Up to now, Ziyun had a debt of 3180 beast master points to Cancan, even when it had the Giant Thunder Bead. Star¡¯s situation was even worse. Due to lack of resources, he now owed Cancan 5030 beast master points. He had gone from being the richest in the team to being the poorest. Only Cancan was able to thrive outside the city, using his ability to detect Echoing of Earth Vein and move within Burrow Soil, along with his King Species¡¯ Leadership Stage strength. Not only did he quickly gain strength, he also collected a large amount of lOUs. However, thinking that after Tony¡¯s promotion, they would return to normal resource distribution again, a spark of hope flickered in the eyes of the three little ones. Suffering leads to sweet rewards! ¡°So now¡­¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, looking at Tony, ¡°Tony, I am going to promote you to system store manager, hoping that you will remember your original intention, work hard to maintain the shop¡¯s operations, and grow bigger!¡± ¡°Since the boss trusts me so much, I will give it my all!¡± Tony threw his saxophone aside, his face full of emotion. He slapped his chest, utters a deep ¡°thump thump¡± sound, and the exposed chest hair. ¡°Great.¡± Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Although it was just a promotion for a system clerk, it should still have a sense of ceremony. With a thought, a hundred thousand pleasure values, ten thousand physical points, a thousand skill fragments all disappeared. Tony, in front of him, burst into a dazzling light, somewhat similar to the glow of a pet beast advancing. Xu Ran was originally hoping that Tony would look more normal after being promoted to system store manager. However, once the light faded, Tony was still Tony. No, to be precise, he had become more flamboyant. Looking at Tony who had changed into an ultra-thin suspender suit, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but facepalm. Can this guy really be a store manager? Forget it, let¡¯s not look at this annoying thing anymore, let¡¯s take a look at the system tasks instead. [Main Task 2: Prevention Before Disaster (Completed) Task Description: Please host promote the system clerk to system store manager, and own a shop in any Second Level Town. Reward: System Clerk x 2, System Upgrade Experience +200] [Click to Receive] Receive! Xu Ran took a deep breath, looking at the vortex that appeared before his eyes. The previous tutor Tony, had also emerged from a similar vortex. He had no idea what the new clerk would look like this time. He couldn¡¯t help but place his clasped hands over his chest. God bless, he prayed, hoping it wouldn¡¯t be another weirdo. Please, let it be a more ordinary clerk! The three little pets glanced at each other, then also closed their eyes and made wishing gestures. ¡°Rustle-¡± A faint sound came from the depth of the vortex. Xu Ran and the three little ones all perked up their ears, with expectant expressions in their eyes, looking at the vortex. ¡°Oh?¡± Tony, who was no longer a teacher but now Manager Tony, crossed his arms and flashed a playful smile. ¡°My partner, is actually him?¡± ¡°Rustle-¡± The sound gradually became clearer. A weird expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Why did this sound seem familiar? Like¡­ the friction of plastic objects against each other? Just as this thought crossed his mind, a figure about 1.80 meters tall walked out of the vortex. The hopeful expressions on Xu Ran and his three pets froze. What the hell¡­ is that? At least Tony was human, but what was this in front of him? A green-skinned frog walking upright? Moreover, the frog was holding a stick, hung with a bunch of frog toys! What was it trying to do? Selling babies? ¡°This guy¡­ is wearing a mascot suit, right?¡± Xu Ran opened his mouth in a slightly questioning tone, stepped forward to touch the upright frog, and then tried to take off the frog head, hoping to reveal the real face under the mascot suit. The green-skinned frog remained silent, clasped its head with both hands, and ran off. ¡°Eh? It¡¯s not!¡± Seeing the green-skinned frog trembling behind Tony, Xu Ran lifted the hand that had just touched the frog. There was a look of disbelief on his face, ¡°This isn¡¯t a mascot suit?¡± ¡°Of course, it isn¡¯t. This is the System Clerk, Mr. Green Frog. He just looks like that.¡± Tony shrugged, ¡°Oh, he made those hand-crafted toys. It¡¯s his hobby. Boss Xu, would you like to buy one?¡± ¡°No, thank you!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched, then he looked back at the vortex. Two abnormal clerks in his shop were already too much! The third one must be normal, right? He was not asking for much, just a human, without Tony¡¯s unique flair, preferably one that kept a low profile¡­ Seeing a shadow flashing through the vortex, Xu Ran¡¯s expression froze. Unsure, he asked, ¡°Just now¡­ did something come out of the vortex?¡± ¡°XiLu~¡± (Over there!) Star, the one with the best vision among the three little ones, quickly turned its head in a certain direction. A pair of fierce eyes and a wide mouth appeared from the shadows in the corner of the shop, which made Xu Ran¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°What is this?!¡± ¡°This is the System Clerk, Mr. Black Clothes.¡± Tony waved at the shadow with a smile, ¡°Long time no see. From now on, we are colleagues.¡± A figure clad in black with only eyes and a mouth showing emerged from the shadows and also smiled. Yet, for some reason, that smile always gave off the impression of a suspect criminal. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­.Is this my new clerk?¡± Chapter 281 - Chapter 175 Main Task 3, Unexpected Function 1 Chapter 175 Main Task 3, Unexpected Function 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°So¡­¡± Looking at the two new system clerks standing in front of him, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched a little, ¡°What kind of abilities do you two possess?¡± ¡°They both can¡¯t speak, let me explain,¡± Teacher Tony chuckled, ¡°Mr. Green Frog excels at feeding, so he can be responsible for fostering.¡± ¡°The gentleman in black excels at training plans, so he can be responsible for companionship training.¡± As for me, I can take responsibility for washing and protection,¡± Teacher Tony revealed an anticipatory expression, ¡°Although I can handle all three tasks, the one I like the most is the washing and protection process, yo~¡± ¡°Feeding¡­ training plans¡­¡± Looking at the green-skinned frog and the man in black, Xu Ran was silent for a moment. He indeed had trouble imagining how these two clerks would work. Instead of that, let¡¯s first look at the Main Task 3 that was refreshed after completing the Main Task 2. [Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new] Task Description: Please open a branch in a second-level town, and reach 70% local fame (0.03/70). Task Reward: System Clerks x3, System Upgrade Experience +400] So it really is about opening a branch. From Main Task 2, Xu Ran already saw this coming. Now, it¡¯s a fame task right off the bat, and it¡¯s no less than 7o¡ã/o in a second-level town with much higher population. It truly lives up to being a main task. As for the already achieved 0.03% progress¡­ Without a doubt, this was probably the result of the last advertising trip to Xieyun City. The clashes between young Beast Masters in different cities are not public knowledge, so the advertisements only let those present and a few interested Beast Masters know about the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Given the large population scale of the second-level town, the progress was naturally pitiful. But speaking of it¡­ Didn¡¯t this technically mean that he had preemptively predicted the system¡¯s task? With this thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit proud. Such a simple system. How laughable. Bereft of tricks, you¡¯ve already been seen through by me! [Warm Reminder: The decoration of the Xieyun City store has been completed, maintained at the same scale as the Qingzhou City Store] Dad! System dad, I pay my tribute to you! Seeing the sudden system notification, Xu Ran sparked up. Great! This is very good! A decoration at the same scale as the Qingzhou City¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop, the start now would be much better than before. He was already, looking forward to it greatly! [Warm Reminder: New feature unlocked, can be checked in the personal panel] Eh? Seeing the second system notification, Xu Ran blinked his eyes and without hesitation, he opened the system panel. [Host: Xu Ran] Contract Power: Third Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (B Level)] (412/500) [Drug Application (B Level)] (1394/2000) [Pranks (B Level)] (1720/2000) Pet Beast Skill: None Physical points: 4299 (spendable) Skill Points: 3180 (spendable) Pleasure Value: 321019 System Upgrade Experience: 300/2000] [Lottery] [Recycling] (1 skill Fragment) [Transmission] Due to the half-a-month-fully-booked washing and protection services which always make up the bulk of pleasure points, Xu Ran has gained a huge pleasure value. Even after deducting the promotion necessary ten thousand points, he still has over three hundred thousand, enough for three more ten consecutive pubis. As for his physical points and skill points ¨C even after deducting ten thousand, he still has thousands left. When Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on the bottom of the system panel, it suddenly froze. Transmission, is this the new feature of the system? His thrilled heart and trembling hands, contemplating a certain possibility, he quickly clicked on the transmission function. A brand new panel, emerged before Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. On the panel was a tremendously broad map, and at one corner of this map, there were two bright spots almost sticking together. One of the bright spots had a green arrow, the other did not. A flash of excitement went through Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Could this be¡­ It is! Inter-branch transmission!!! The one with the green arrow represents the store he is currently in, which is the Starfire Foster Shop in Qingzhou City, and the one without the green arrow represents the other store that had been constructed ¨C Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City! The distance between Xieyun City and Qingzhou City is incredibly great. Even Senior Gu¡¯s general-stage pet beast would require a whole day and night without sleep to travel from one city to the other. But on the map, there¡¯s almost no distance between these two close points. Looking at the entire mainland map, shock shone in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. So this is the complete appearance of this world? Then, when he opens branches of the Starfire Foster Shop across this world one day, lighting up the entire map, what would that scene like? I, Xu, am in for this business! strong feelings suddenly surged in Xu Ran¡¯s heart. He suddenly thought about the origin of the name of the Starfire Foster Shop. ¡°The spark ignites the prairie fire.¡± The day he fulfills this will be the day of the prairie fire! Taking a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, Xu Ran tentatively clicked on the Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City. [Do you want to spend 10k pleasure value to transmit to the Xieyun City branch shop] [Yes] [No] So that¡¯s how it is! Seeing the pop-up system prompt, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but cheer out loud. Although it requires spending pleasure value, such pleasure value is actually nothing to him now. Without any hesitation, he clicked on [Yes], and the next moment, Xu Ran¡¯s figure disappeared from the shop. The three little ones all widened their eyes together. Just as they were about to ask about Xu Ran¡¯s whereabouts, they suddenly felt a strong sense of summoning.. Chapter 282 - Chapter 175 Main Task 3, Unexpected Function_2 Chapter 175 Main Task 3, Unexpected Function_2 Translator: 549690339 That is¡­ Xu Ran is summoning! Starfire Foster Shop, Xieyun City. Inside the closed store, a Hexagram Star Array appeared behind Xu Ran. Amidst the raging winds, the three little ones gradually emerged, curiously looking around at the decor that was identical to the Starfire Foster Shop in Qingzhou City. ¡°Sure?¡± (We¡¯re in Xieyun City already?) Surprise shone on Cancan¡¯s face. Amazing! ¡°It really is Xieyun City.¡± After a glance at the scene outside the store, Xu Ran nodded firmly, confirming this. He reopened the transmission function, the green arrow shifted to another point of light, and the original point of light lost the arrow. He tentatively clicked on the point of light corresponding to Qingzhou City. [Do you want to spend 10,000 pleasure points to teleport to the branch in Qingzhou City] [Yes][No] Just by spending twenty thousand pleasure points, you can easily go back and forth between Xieyun City and Qingzhou City? This is really a great deal. ¡°Ding-ding-¡± A slightly urgent ringtone interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. The sound wasn¡¯t from the cellphone he carried, but from a landline in the store. Wait, when did a landline appear in the store? And who would call a newly installed landline? Xu Ran sucked in a breath, feeling the situation suddenly turn weird. He gingerly picked up the landline. The next moment, Tony¡¯s enthusiastic voice came through the phone. ¡°Ohayd, Onii-chan~¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± Scared the hell out of him. ¡°Teacher Tony, what¡¯s going on?¡± Xu Ran knew that if the other party called, it certainly had a purpose. ¡°This is the most important new ability that a system store manager has, compared with a system clerk.¡± Tony gave a smug smile. ¡°The system store manager can contact the boss directly. The boss can talk to the designated store manager through a landline in any branch.¡± ¡°Conversely, all store managers can proactively speak to the boss about recent developments via the landline.¡± Understanding what this ability meant, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply. In this world, communications are limited to within a city, and the exchange of information between different cities is extremely difficult. But Teacher Tony could contact him directly from Qingzhou City to Xieyun City through the landline. And according to Tony¡¯s words, all system store managers can have this ability, so in the future, when he has new branches¡­ Isn¡¯t this a living, breathing, real-time intelligence network?! It can be said that the role of this store manager¡¯s ability is on par with teleportation. ¡°Of course, if the boss misses me, he can also call me late at night-¡± Tony¡¯s voice interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. His mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Tony, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Heartless boss, remember to pay the phone bill- giegiegie-¡± Tony let out an unbearable laugh and then hung up. Phone bill? What¡¯s that? Just as Xu Ran had this thought, a system notification popped up. [The call lasted 1 minute and deducted 1,000 pleasure points.] Xu Ran: ¡°¡­6.¡± Rubbing his temples, Xu Ran looked at the three little ones, ¡°Let¡¯s just stay in Xieyun City and open the store.¡± The most important resources of the three little ones are always with them, and they don¡¯t have much stuff to bring. As for Xu Ran himself, he was alone and didn¡¯t have much luggage to prepare. Having seen many familiar faces in the previous half-month of operation, he had in a way said goodbye. When he needs to go back to Qingzhou City in the future, he only needs to spend 20,000 pleasure points to teleport. So¡­ Since they were already here. After taking a look at the price list, identical to the one in Qingzhou City, Xu Ran pushed open the shop door. Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City is open for business today! ¡°The store in Xieyun City has opened.¡± Inside the Starfire Foster Shop in Qingzhou City, Tony clapped his hands, ¡°Fellow colleagues, the boss is working so hard, how can we slack off?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s work hard together and welcome a wonderful tomorrow!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of washing and Protection and receiving customers, you two take care of the rest.¡± The green-skinned frog and the black-clothed man nodded simultaneously and moved towards the back door of the store. Teacher Tony took out his pink apron from his bosom, gave it a shake in the air, and then with an expression full of solemnity, put it on, tying a bow at the back with his large fan-like palm, like a general donning his armor. ¡°So, next¡­¡± He pushed open the store door, looking at the queue of customers outside, he gave a love-filled wink. ¡°Ohayo- Onii-chan~¡± Underground, in the foster area. The black-clothed man waved at the green-skinned frog and headed straight for the training area. The green-skinned frog watched the black-clothed man depart with its dull eyes, then moved its feet forward, walking towards each resident of the foster area. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Who are you?) The Velvet Sparrow, who had been wandering in the foster area all day, was the first to notice the new guest. It wobbled up curiously and chirped a question. The green-skinned frog didn¡¯t answer, silent, it took a frog toy from the ones tied to its stick and handed it to the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Chirp?¡± (For me?) The green-skinned frog nodded. The Velvet Sparrow was amazed, as the frog toy suddenly exploded into smoke revealing a food bowl filled with food. This is¡­ Looking at its favorite food, the Velvet Sparrow seemed to come to a realization. This is the new employee Xu Ran mentioned before? What an odd but fun character. However¡­ The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed, and it struggled to show interest in its favorite food. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Are they not in the store any more?) The green-skinned frog gently nodded. ¡°Chirp?¡± (When will they return?) The green-skinned frog silently shook its head. The Velvet Sparrow glanced at the frog, then ate the food in the bowl quickly, wiping its beak with its wing. ¡°Chirp-¡± (I¡¯ve finished eating, thank you.) Watching the green-skinned frog carry a pile of frog toys to the other pet beasts, the Velvet Sparrow retracted its gaze and swung back onto the rocking chair in the living area. ¡°Chirp-¡± (This guy, leaves without saying a word¡­) In the training area, a pet beast, during its speed type skill training, lay lazily on the ground. The Beast Master was not there, nor was the human in the pink suit. It could play truant with ease! Just as this thought surfaced, the pet beast felt a sense of dreadful danger out of nowhere and shivered involuntarily. Giving a quick look around, it instantly locked eyes with a big tree. Approaching the tree step by step, a black shadow with a vicious laugh suddenly appeared before it. The pet beast screamed in terror and ran as fast as it could. Following behind it, the black-clothed man, with his signature grin and dead fish-eyes, held a glinting dagger, and swiftly followed. He chased, it fled. It was hard-pressed to escape. ¡°Qin Can, come out! You can¡¯t sneak out and pretend you just got back, I know you¡¯re in!¡± Hearing the familiar shouting from outside, Qin Can inside couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. The sucker came again. Although this guy was dumb and easy to deceive, he was really a bit too annoying. ¡°Coming, coming!¡± Donning a coat he went out, opened the door for Ye Haoming who was standing in front of the courtyard door then turned to enter the house, ¡°Alright, what is it this time?¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Ye Haoming snorted, ¡°This time I¡¯m here for official business, remember that kid named Xu Ran?¡± ¡°Xu Ran¡­¡± Qin Can narrowed his eyes, a figure surfaced in his mind, ¡°Didn¡¯t that kid go back to his small city home?¡± ¡°You know, I have a relative working in the Commerce Department.¡± Ye Haoming gave a smug hum, ¡°He sent me a message. A store named Starfire Foster Care Shop just completed its registration.¡± ¡°I have the address of this shop, don¡¯t you want to go see the little punk¡¯s shop with me and find some trouble for him?¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡­¡± Qin Can stroked his chin, thinking of the advertisement Xu Ran had made before. Looking at Ye Haoming, he abruptly asked, ¡°So, you¡¯re inviting me to find trouble with Xu Ran, right?¡± ¡°Right?¡± Ye Haoming nodded subconsciously then immediately with experience from being duped many times, he got a feeling of unease, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°Good, let me change, and we can go.¡± Qin Can said approvingly, then paused. ¡°Today¡¯s expenses are on Young Master Ye.¡± Chapter 283 - Chapter 176: Where Has Li Gui Gone?_l Chapter 176: Where Has Li Gui Gone?_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sure-¡± (How come there are no customers?) Cancan eagerly stared at the passers-by outside the shop door, a look of confusion on his face. When he was born, the Starfire Foster Care Shop was already well-known in Qingzhou City, with a constant stream of customers every day. He had never seen Starfire Foster Care Shop in such a depressed state. ¡°Meow-¡± (This is normal.) Ziyun, who had experienced such a situation before, calmly patted Cancan¡¯s shell. When it first met Xu Ran, the Starfire Foster Care Shop was in the same state. It was hard to have a few customers in a day. It was only later when it and Xu Ran participated in competitions and advertised to increase their fame, that the Starfire Foster Care Shop became popular in a short period of time. Now in the unfamiliar Xieyun City, some things have to start from scratch again. ¡°Sure?¡± (So that¡¯s it¡­) After hearing Ziyun¡¯s explanation, Cancan showed a contemplative expression. So, to make this shop as bustling as the one in Qingzhou City, advertising is needed? During its last visit to Xieyun City, it didn¡¯t quite understand the significance of advertising. But now with a stark contrast, the importance of advertising has become evident. Only after advertising, can there be more customers. Only with more customers, can there be more resources! So now the question is. ¡°Sure?¡± (How do we advertise?) The three little ones looked at each other, each showing a contemplative expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Seeing the three little ones like this, Xu Ran said calmly, ¡°After today¡¯s business ends, we¡¯ll see if there are any ways to advertise in Xieyun City, preferably a competition like before.¡± Thinking back to how the New Beast Master Challenge Match had increased Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s fame in Qingzhou City by 50%, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up in anticipation. While the three beasts and their master were lost in thought, time slowly passed. Just as Xu Ran thought that the first day of business in Xieyun City would end with zero customers, two unexpected figures appeared in front of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Yo, it¡¯s really you.¡± Ye Haoming walked into the Starfire Foster Care Shop with his hands behind his back, ¡°Almost a month without seeing you, I thought you didn¡¯t dare to come to Xieyun City.¡± Behind him, followed Qin Can, who was smiling as if he had found money. Qin Can¡¯s gaze lingered on Xu Ran for a moment, quickly moving past him to the three little ones behind him. When he saw Cancan, who looked quite different from before, his pupils slightly contracted and surprise flashed in his eyes. Has this guy evolved his third pet beast? Although this was something he had done a long time ago, this guy Xu Ran had defeated him with only two pet beasts. Now that the third pet beast has evolved as well, there¡¯s no doubt that his strength has become even stronger. ¡°Since the shop was already bought, it¡¯s natural to come.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the two of them, his expression calm, ¡°Welcome, what service do you need?¡± ¡°Service? Well, I¡¯d like to see your¡­¡± Ye Haoming nodded, remembering why he came, and began to look around the shop. After a while, his expression slightly changed as his eyes landed on the price list on the wall. This price¡­ ¡°Hiss ¡± He couldn¡¯t help but gasp, a look of disbelief appearing on his face, ¡°Your foster care shop is so expensive?¡± Without him looking for trouble, other foster care shops in Xieyun City could easily put this arrogant guy out of business, right? Qin Can, who had been silent, also saw the price list. He was taken aback at first, then a sense of agreement appeared in his eyes as he looked at Xu Ran. Everyone says that he, Qin Can, is a big swindler who specializes in swindling money. Comparing with Xu Ran, he really seemed like a small witch who has met a bigger one. This is daylight robbery! For a moment, Qin Can was filled with respect. A role model for our generation! ¡°Expensive?¡± Xu Ran tilted his head, ¡°What¡¯s expensive? We¡¯ve had this price for so many years!¡± ¡°Not expensive?¡± Ye Haoming widened his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s just talk about the price of washing and protection, the best washing and protection service in Xieyun City is the Beast Washing Foster Store, their small pet beast washing and protection, the most expensive package is only around four thousand.¡± ¡°Do you know the effect of their four thousand washing and protection? It¡¯s like having a new pet beast, and even because the washing and protection effect is too good, it significantly improves the pet beast¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°You!¡± Ye Haoming pointed to the price on the price list, ¡°Just a regular washing, 6666 yuan a time, this price is not expensive?¡± ¡°Who told you, that our washing is just a regular washing.¡± Xu Ran spoke with a slightly strange expression, while secretly noting the place called Beast Washing Foster Store in his mind. Is this one of his competitors in Xieyun City? ¡°No?¡± Ye Haoming¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain, he was about to say something more, but was suddenly pulled aside by Qin Can who had been silent until now. ¡°Wait.¡± Qin Can waved at Ye Haoming, and then pulled him out of the shop door and talked in a low voice outside the shop, ¡°Did you forget something?¡± ¡°What?¡± Ye Haoming asked subconsciously, a puzzled look in his eyes. ¡°What are you here for?¡± Qin Can looked at Ye Haoming. ¡°To pick a fight, right? This guy beat us¡­¡± ¡°Remove ¡®us two¡¯.¡± Qin Can waved. ¡°Alright. This guy beat me, now he¡¯s opened a shop in Xieyun City, can¡¯t I get my dignity back?¡± Ye Haoming sniffed. ¡°So how do you plan to pick a fight?¡± Qin Can looked at Ye Haoming again.. Chapter 284 - Chapter 176: Where Has Li Gui Gone?_2 Chapter 176: Where Has Li Gui Gone?_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I initially planned to have a wash at his place and then find fault¡­¡± Ye Haoming revealed his plans, his expression slightly frustrated, ¡°But, this guy charges so much, wouldn¡¯t I look like a sucker if I paid?¡± Aren¡¯t you already a sucker? Unable to stop himself, Qin Can muttered in his heart, then took a deep breath, ¡°But if we want to openly find fault, isn¡¯t this the only way? Or¡­ do you want to use some underhanded tricks?¡± ¡°Damn it! My actions are always above board!¡± Ye Haoming huffed, ¡°Fine, let it be washed, I¡¯ll find a ton of faults afterward that he won¡¯t be able to keep his shop running!¡± Having made up his mind, Ye Haoming went back into the shop. Qin Can followed behind him, nodding in satisfaction. Now that¡¯s more like it¡­ If Ye Haoming was unwilling to get his own pet cleaned, how would he persuade this guy to treat them? Xu Ran is pretty skilled, but whether he¡¯s good at grooming is still unclear, so of course, we need to have this guy try it out first. ¡°Boy, wash my pet beast.¡± Ye Haoming looked at Xu Ran¡¯s storefront, then snorted, and the Hexagram Star Array flashed behind him. A bullish beast with a rugged figure and a length of eight meters, covered in red hair, stepped out of the fierce wind, then exploded with the majestic aura of a leadership stage, raising its head and letting out a long, low moo. ¡°Moo ¡± It was a Flame Barbarian Bull, a fire attribute leader species. ¡°Meow-¡± (Oh, it¡¯s you.) Ziyun, lounging on the counter, gave a yawn and lazily glanced at the Flame Barbarian Bull. It still remembered the day when this beast and two other leader stage pet beasts tried to gang up on it, only to be easily defeated by Ziyun alone. Really useless! The Flame Barbarian Bull¡¯s gaze fell on Ziyun, and it quickly calmed its aura, like a good child terrified of a bully, it hung its head low, even its flame-covered tail stopped swinging. Obviously, it recognized Ziyun, who had easily stunned it that day. Looking at the Flame Barbarian Bull who readily admitted defeat in front of his pet beast, the corner of Ye Haoming¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. But then he remembered that his purpose this time was not to fight with Xu Ran, but to find fault in Xu Ran¡¯s shop. He was a customer, and the customer is God! With that in mind, Ye Haoming regained his confidence and looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Give my pet beast a good grooming!¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran revealed a smile and did a system identification. [Race Name: Flame Barbarian Bull Attribute: Fire Growth Stage: Leadership Stage Size: Large Maintenance Need: ***** Evaluation: A Flame Barbarian Bull that has once been defeated by the host, facing the host¡¯s skillful hands, the poor thing probably doesn¡¯t stand a chance to resist.] Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± Why does it sound so forced? ¡°Flame Barbarian Bull, come with me.¡± Xu Ran signaled to the chastised Flame Barbarian Bull, then looked at Ye Haoming, ¡°The Beast Master can accompany the grooming process, or you can wait in the lounge over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just wait in the lounge.¡± Ye Haoming snorted and without hesitation, turned and walked towards the lounge. A long, long time ago, he was also curious about grooming services at pet care shops, thinking he could learn and save some money himself. But after actually observing it, he realized the grooming procedure was too complicated, he couldn¡¯t remember any of it, and he didn¡¯t want to do it himself. Better to simply pay money and let the pet beasts enjoy the grooming. So, just like before, Ye Haoming chose not to accompany him this time. He spotted several snacks he was interested in the lounge. He planned to eat a lot later, to make up for the 66666 yuan grooming fee! Sitting on the couch, Ye Haoming grabbed a handful of snacks and shoved them into his mouth, chewing fiercely while glaring at the closed grooming room. This damn shop, it looks very small. That¡¯s why he intentionally chose the largest pet beast among his three. Judging from the size of Xu Ran¡¯s shop, he thought there might not even be enough room for the Flame Barbarian Bull to turn around in the grooming room. He wanted to see if Xu Ran would be able to groom his pet beast properly. Qin Can sat next to Ye Haoming with a cheery smile, opened a bag of snacks and started to eat leisurely. He was thinking about how he could coax this dolt into paying for the grooming of his own pet beast later. ¡°Moo~¡± The Flame Barbarian Bull looked around in surprise. The enormous space inside the grooming room took it by surprise and left it quite astonished. ¡°Lie down here.¡± Xu Ran patted the shoulder of the Flame Barbarian Bull, pointing towards the grooming table set up specifically for large pet beasts. Having been patted by Xu Ran, the Flame Barbarian Bull shivered and quickly became timid again. It obediently laid down on the grooming table, its long red fur spreading out on both sides. Looking at the Flame Barbarian Bull clinging tightly to the grooming table, for some reason, Xu Ran felt as if this eight-meter-long massive creature was giving him the impression of an innocent flower about to burst into tears. Helplessly rubbing his face, he cast aside the ridiculous thoughts in his mind. Xu Ran skillfully prepared the bath liquid, adjusted the water temperature, and then poured the warm water over the robust body of the Flame Barbarian Bull. ¡°Splish splash-¡± Accompanied by a soft sound, the bath liquid slid down the bull¡¯s towering back, cleaning the slightly disheveled fur and making it neat again. Then, the bath liquid trickled down to the tips of the fur, which was closely attached to the grooming table, washing away the dirt on the surface of the fur, leaving a grey-black trace on the porcelain grooming table before finally flowing into the drain. The eyes of the Flame Barbarian Bull widened instantly. As the bath liquid was poured, it felt the warm liquid meandering along the texture of its skin, like a gentle caress, evoking a sense of warmth within it. Although it had undergone quite a few grooming sessions before, it was experiencing such a magical sensation for the first time. [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +20] Xu Ran glanced at the Flame Barbarian Bull and a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. It was really providing him with quite a lot of pleasure value. His gaze became increasingly focused, and his movements likewise became gentler. As the first client to experience the grooming service of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, you should properly experience our shop¡¯s services! The Flame Barbarian Bull¡¯s robust body trembled slightly as waves of warmth rolled over its body, bringing it one wave of strange feelings after another. Its gaze gradually became hazy, and it couldn¡¯t help but raise its head slightly, staring into the dim lights. A sound was about to escape from its throat. Suddenly, the image of Xu Ran appeared in the eyes of the Flame Barbarian Bull. This caused it to sober up a little. The Flame Barbarian Bull naturally knew the intention of its Beast Master. If that were the case, what would the Beast Master think if he couldn¡¯t hold back and made noises due to comfort? Thinking of this, the Flame Barbarian Bull kept its mouth shut tightly, not allowing the sound that was almost squeezed out to escape, and only let out slightly heavy breathing noises. [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +30] Hmm? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at the Flame Barbarian Bull. It increased by 20 points once before, but now suddenly it increased by 30 points at once? He naturally noticed the movements of the Flame Barbarian Bull just now. Like other pet beasts that had been groomed here before, the Flame Barbarian Bull was also on the verge of making strange noises. But this guy managed to forcefully suppress the urge to make noise through sheer willpower. So, did that increase the amount of pleasure value? This fellow¡­Isn¡¯t it some kind of masochistic commitment? He shook his head to clear his mind of these thoughts. After Xu Ran had finished dampening and preliminarily combing its fur, he immediately began to conduct a more thorough cleaning. With the orderly progress of the cleaning, the pleasure of the Flame Barbarian Bull constantly increased. It kept its eyes tightly closed and its mouth shut, refusing to make a sound. Only increasingly heavy breathing and low humming sounds constantly squeezed out from its nostrils. [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +50] [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +50] [Pleasure value from¡­] However, despite trying so hard, the Flame Barbarian Bull finally couldn¡¯t help but make a sound under the manipulation of Xu Ran. ¡°Moo¡ª¡± [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +40] Xu Ran:¡±???¡± Seeing the increase in pleasure value drop in the moment the Flame Barbarian Bull made a sound, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes instantly flared with anger. My pleasure value! After using a clean cloth to block the mouth of the Flame Barbarian Bull, the grooming continued. [Pleasure value from the Flame Barbarian Bull +55] Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Yes¡­ that¡¯s more like it.. Chapter 285 - Chapter 177: The Second Lucky Fish?_l Chapter 177: The Second Lucky Fish?_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Moo ¡± The strange sound coming from the grooming room caused Qin Can, who was watching TV while snacking, to pause for a moment. He turned his head towards Ye Haoming, who was still munching away with a ¡®crunch crunch¡¯ sound, ¡°Did you hear any weird noise?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Haoming paused, then perked up his ears attentively towards the direction of the grooming room. After a long while without hearing anything, Ye Haoming shook his head, ¡°Maybe you misheard?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Qin Can glanced at Ye Haoming. Since Ye Haoming, the Beast Master, said so, he didn¡¯t insist otherwise. However¡­ Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but glanced again in the direction of the grooming room. The strange noise from earlier, wasn¡¯t it something a Flame Barbarian Bull would make? Does Xu Ran¡¯s grooming¡­ have any problems? Forget it, they would see the condition of the Flame Barbarian Bull when it comes out later. If there¡¯s something wrong with the Flame Barbarian Bull, he can use this situation to save some money as his conscience dictates. Time passed slowly. Soon, the door of the grooming room was opened. Qin Can and Ye Haoming both stopped what they were doing and looked over. In the opened door of the grooming room, a mountainous figure stepped out slowly under the guidance of Xu Ran. It was a powerful bull, its entire body covered with red fur as if it was on fire, sporting two bloody horns on its head, and a tail that was ablaze with dazzling golden-red fire. The gorgeous color of sunset shone all around under the lighting. Above its robust frame, the overwhelming power was visible to the naked eyes. Seeing his pet beast, Ye Haoming¡¯s mouth gaped open, eyes wide in disbelief. He considered himself a competent Beast Master who took great care of his pet beasts, often bringing them for grooming to what he had previously mentioned, the best pet beast foster shop in Xieyun City. But he had never seen such an impressive grooming effect before. It was as though his pet beast had transformed entirely. The difference between it changing from an Iron Axe to a Silver Axe and a Gold Axe, is substantial. In this moment, a thought crept into Ye Haoming¡¯s mind. The grooming price of 66666 is simply too worth it¡­ However, the very next moment, he remembered the reason for his visit. He came¡­ to cause trouble, right? ¡°Are you satisfied with the result?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°Wait a moment, let me check¡­¡± Ye Haoming circled the Flame Barbarian Bull a few times and couldn¡¯t find a single fault. He scratched his head anxiously, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this¡­¡± ¡°Haoming-¡± A soft voice came from behind Ye Haoming. Qin Can walked up with a chuckle, patting Ye Haoming¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Can I have a word with you?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ye Haoming nodded, took one last glance at Xu Ran, and followed Qin Can temporarily out of the foster shop. Outside the shop, the two of them huddled their heads together again. ¡°Have you found any faults with Xu Ran¡¯s method?¡± Qin Can asked. ¡°No.¡± Ye Haoming shook his head, his voice tinged with disappointment, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this? Why does his grooming¡­¡± ¡°Why does his grooming have no flaws?¡± Qin Can continued for Ye Haoming, a smile sneaking onto his face, ¡°Trust me, there¡¯s nothing in this world without flaws. His grooming method definitely has its disadvantages, but you just haven¡¯t noticed them yet.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± Ye Haoming blinked. ¡°That¡¯s right, I have already noticed some clues.¡± Qin Can paused for a moment, ¡°You don¡¯t want your pet beast to continue being groomed, and don¡¯t want to keep giving money to Xu Ran for no reason right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ye Haoming, driven by Qin Can¡¯s logic, nodded subconsciously. ¡°In that case, let me reluctantly help you find his weaknesses.¡± Qin Can put on a righteous expression, ¡°Let me handle the next grooming session!¡± ¡°Then¡­ thanks?¡± Ye Haoming scratched his head, feeling a bit familiar with this situation. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I¡¯m just doing what I should.¡± Qin Can smiled faintly, patting Ye Haoming on the shoulder, ¡°If you really want to thank me, just cover the grooming cost for me.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± As he watched Qin Can stride into the foster shop, Ye Haoming couldn¡¯t help drawing a cold breath. Something¡¯s wrong! This is very wrong! This guy, he¡¯s really just trying to use my money to find faults in Xu Ran¡¯s grooming, isn¡¯t he? Isn¡¯t this just giving money to Xu Ran? ¡°Wait! You¡­¡± Watching Qin Can quickly summon his pet beast and follow Xu Ran into the grooming room, a now sober Ye Haoming ran in after him, only to be greeted by the closed grooming room door. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± As he stepped into the grooming room, Qin Can¡¯s pupils shrank to pinpricks. He looked around in shock, then turned to Xu Ran, a strange look in his eyes, ¡°Space Expansion Technology?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Xu Ran nodded, with a calm expression, ¡°To better utilize space and provide our pet beasts with superior service, our shop employs Space Expansion Technology. The actual space is larger than it appears.¡± ¡°Just a bit larger?¡± Qin Can twitched the corner of his mouth. He was always the one showing off in front of others, he didn¡¯t expect the tables to be turned this time. Even he, who was regarded as the most talented young Beast Master in the Second Level Town, did not have such deep pockets to open a shop with Space Expansion Technology. This guy from a 3 Level Town¡­ he isn¡¯t as simple as he seems on the surface. ¡°Regardless, groom my Earth Roaring Rhino first.¡± Inhaling deeply, Qin Can pointed at his beast that was standing beside him, the Earth Roaring Rhino, whose size exceeded even that of the Flame Barbarian Bull by a circle, almost reaching the upper limit of a large pet beast.. Chapter 286 - Chapter 177: The Second Lucky Fish?_2 Chapter 177: The Second Lucky Fish?_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his eyes full of expectation. Unlike the Flame Barbarian Bull, Qin Can¡¯s Earth Roaring Rhino has already evolved once and is now of the King Species. This means, he could potentially get a Three-Star Skill from it! Moreover, the Earth Attribute Skills are well suited for Cancan. Therefore, not only Qin Can is looking forward to this grooming session, Xu Ran is also equally excited about it. ¡°Lie down here.¡± The Earth Roaring Rhino obediently walked towards the grooming table, and under Xu Ran¡¯s instructions laid down on it. After Xu Ran¡¯s preparation work was done, the grooming officially began. The warm water flowed along the creases of the Earth Roaring Rhino¡¯s body, taking away visible dirt. At the same time, the soothing massage effect penetrated its skin, relaxing it from within. The Earth Roaring Rhino slightly squinted its small eyes, the expression on its face showing a bit of indulgence. This was the first time it had experienced such a comfortable grooming, so it couldn¡¯t help but hum contentedly. ¡°Uh-¡± Qin Can, who was sitting by the side, stroked his chin and nodded slightly. Although he didn¡¯t understand grooming, he could see that Xu Ran¡¯s skills were definitely impressive. After all, it was rare to see his Earth Roaring Rhino so comfortable just at the beginning of the grooming. What made him happier was that the bill for this expensive pampering was being footed by someone else. Hmm¡­ He should be nicer to Ye Haoming in the future. Half an hour later, the two owners and their pets came out of the grooming room. Ye Haoming, who had been anxiously waiting in the shop, quickly came forward. After seeing the Earth Roaring Rhino which, like a completely rejuvenated beast, had become especially majestic and imposing, he dragged Qin Can out of the shop door. ¡°Indeed, you weren¡¯t really out to find any faults with Xu Ran at all. You were just tricking me into paying for the grooming!¡± Ye Haoming glared at Qin Can and rebuked him. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qin Can¡¯s expression changed, looking even more wronged than Ye Haoming, ¡°I was really trying to find out what¡¯s wrong with this guy. Moreover, I have already discovered something off about Xu Ran.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Haoming was slightly taken aback and reflexly asked, ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°This man, his background is very mysterious, he doesn¡¯t seem like a Beast Master from a 3 Level Town.¡± Qin Can said word by word, ¡°As for more problems, I haven¡¯t figured it out yet. But if we groom another pet beast, I would probably be able to tell.¡± ¡°Then you go.¡± Ye Haoming immediately urged. ¡°Alright, thank you Haoming for paying for the grooming of two pet beasts.¡± Qin Can gave Ye Haoming a grateful look and turned around to leave. ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Haoming reached out to hold Qin Can, but discovered that this guy was running away quickly. ¡°Hang on, when did I say I was going to pay for the second one?!¡± ¡°Boss Xu, let¡¯s continue with the second one!¡± Qin Can, who had returned to the shop, laughed and sent the Earth Roaring Rhino back to its original place, summoning the Wind Unseen Force, ¡°Ye Haoming is still paying, let¡¯s go quickly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face was also filled with a bright smile. The grooming session for the Earth Roaring Rhino yielded good results earlier. And yes, it was a Three-Star Skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth Shaking Roar] (Teachable) This Earth Roaring Rhino had shown off this skill during its battle with Ziyun. The skill could not only be taught to Cancan, but Xu Ran was also able to predict that it would be very compatible with the Earth-shattering Skyfall. Indeed, it was correct to move to the Second Level Town. Here, there are many pet beasts that have evolved once, and they can utilize the B-level Plucking Fur to its fullest extent. Xu Ran could already anticipate gaining more and more Three-Star Skills through plucking, allowing the three little ones to continue improving, and step by step reaching Four Stars. The two of them entered the grooming room again, leaving Ye Haoming, who had caught up, to hit a wall, eventually having no choice but to pay dejectedly. ¡°Thankfully the Wind Unseen Force is a Small Pet Beast.¡± Ye Haoming touched his chest to regulate his breathing, then gritted his teeth, ¡°If Qin Can says he wants to groom the Mist Song Envoy later, I definitely won¡¯t foot the bill!¡± ¡°I, Ye Haoming, will not be a sap!¡± The three little ones who were watching the shop for Xu Ran in the shop exchanged a look quietly. ¡°Meow?¡± (Do you think this guy will pay for the third time?) Ziyun yawned unconcernedly, asking casually. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I think he will.) Star couldn¡¯t help nodding, his expression quite certain. ¡°Sure-¡± (I think so too.) Cancan nodded, then changed the subject. ¡°Sure?¡± (Xu Ran looked very happy earlier, could it be that he got a Three-Star Skill while grooming?) Upon hearing Cancan¡¯s inquiry, both Ziyun and Star¡¯s expressions changed simultaneously. Yes, they were so focused on Ye Haoming, the big suffering seed, that they didn¡¯t react at all. As Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beasts, they knew him very well. The current look on his face indicated that Plucking Fur had obtained a teachable skill that didn¡¯t need to be broken down into Skill Fragments. Combined with the fact that the Earth Roaring Rhino belonged to the King Species¡­ So, did he get a Three Star Skill?! Upon this realization, both Ziyun and Star gazed at Cancan simultaneously. The skill obtained by Plucking Fur would definitely belong to Cancan. Despite a Three Star Skill also requiring 2000 Value Points to exchange, just like using Skill Fragments, there is only so much resource allocation for each Skill Fragment. Saving up 200 to exchange for a Three Star Skill is not easy. So, Cancan still got a bargain. ¡°Meow-¡± (The one that just went in is Wind attribute.) Ziyun sighed helplessly, her eyes towards the Grooming Room were filled with resentment. When will a Thunder Attribute King Species come? Xi Lu~¡± (He just got a Three Star Skill, he shouldn¡¯t get a second one now.) Star lowered her head and brushed against Ziyun in a comforting gesture. Ziyun lifted her head, looking at him with resentful eyes. Do you think your words are comforting me? Both little ones sighed and looked at the still-beaming Cancan. If they don¡¯t make an effort, they¡¯ll soon be overtaken by the third one! Amidst the whispers of the three little ones, the door of the Grooming Room was pushed open, and Xu Ran walked out with the Wind Unseen Force looking refreshed. Unlike the Flame Barbarian Bull and Earth Roaring Rhino before, the Wind Unseen Force is a wind elemental Pet Beast. Its body is naturally translucent, with a peculiar structure that has no internal organs. After grooming, the appearance of the Wind Unseen Force didn¡¯t change much¡­no, it¡¯s more accurate to say it doesn¡¯t have an appearance at all. The refreshed body merged into the wind and disappeared. ¡°Qin Can, you won¡¯t trick me into treating you again!¡± Ye Haoming, who had been waiting for a long time, was so angry that he spoke directly in front of Xu Ran, ¡°If you want to groom, continue grooming here, I won¡¯t accompany you! I¡¯m leaving!¡± Having said that, Ye Haoming turned around and left. ¡°Huh?!¡± This time, it was Qin Can who was stunned. As he watched Ye Haoming¡¯s fading figure, he rubbed his temple somewhat annoyedly. ¡°The old saying is right, you can fool me once or twice but not three times.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xu Ran watched this scene unfold with a bright smile, ¡°Our shop has just opened, there is a promotional event, buy two care services and get one free.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Can¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, looking at Xu Ran. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°So your third Pet Beast can get the grooming service for free.¡± That¡¯s a lie! The three little ones, who witnessed their Beast Master lie through his teeth, shouted inwardly. There¡¯s a problem, a big one! When Xu Ran just walked out of the Grooming Room, his smile was so genuine you could almost see it dripping. This type of smile meant only one thing! He had also obtained a Three Star Skill during the grooming of Wind Unseen Force! Feeling the inward complaints of the three little ones, Xu Ran glanced in their direction and subtly made a ¡°don¡¯t let the cat out of the bag¡± gesture. Indeed, as the three little ones speculated, Xu Ran had once again gained another Three Star Skill from Wind Unseen Force. [¡ï¡ï¡ïTornado Group] (Untrainable) If gaining the first Three Star Skill had filled Xu Ran with anticipation for his future life in Xieyun City, then the second Three Star skill that came immediately after, redirected his attention to Qin Can. What a familiar scene¡­ Xu Ran glanced at his Pleasure value, which was high enough for three Ten Consecutive Drawings, then looked back at Qin Can, who had just summoned the lovely humanoid Pet Beast, the Mist Song Envoy, with a serious expression. Could you be the second Lucky Fish? Let¡¯s verify that with the upcoming grooming! That¡¯s it for today, let me think about how to groom a humanoid Pet Beast without getting flagged by review.. Chapter 287 - Chapter 178: Washing and Protection for the Human-shaped Pet Beastll Chapter 178: Washing and Protection for the Human-shaped Pet Beastll Translator: 549690339 ¡°Follow me.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Mist Song Envoy, his expression gradually turning solemn. Having run a foster shop for such a long time, he had washed and cared for hundreds of kinds of Pet Beasts, but this was the first time dealing with a human-shaped Pet Beast. The Mist Song Envoy had human-like hands and feet, roughly one meter and seventy centimetres tall, and even had flowing long hair, like a human. Its semi-transparent body was mostly hidden beneath a cloak made of condensing mist. Even its face seemed veiled with mist, so Xu Ran couldn¡¯t tell if its features were similar to a human¡¯s. Only a pair of bright eyes were visible through the mist, their gaze causing Xu Ran to feel slightly dazzled as they stared directly at him. He¡¯d experienced the same sensation when making eye contact with the Velvet Sparrow, but compared to it, the Mist Song Envoy, a Leadership Stage King Species, was clearly more imposing. This was a characteristic of Super-Ability Attribute Pet Beasts; most of them, especially those skilled in illusions and psychic attacks, had very bright eyes. The Mist Song Envoy lightly nodded, then followed behind Xu Ran toward the Grooming Room. This time, Qin Can opted not to follow along. His entering the Grooming Room was purely to prevent Ye Haoming from finding him. Now that Ye Haoming had fled, he no longer felt the need to hide there. As Qin Can casually sat in the rest area and started to open a bag of snacks, he paused. He couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look in the direction of the three little ones. Were those three little guys just watching him? His face expressed bewilderment and suspicion. Because when he looked over, Ziyun was lazily lying on Cancan¡¯s shell, leisurely licking its paw. Cancan and Star were huddled together, whispering in each other¡¯s ears. Was it just his imagination? He slowly returned his gaze. Almost simultaneously, the three little ones stopped their actions and looked toward Qin Can, expectation gleaming in their eyes. After the last time when the three little ones conned the Wind Lion Dog into grooming with the Velvet Sparrow, causing a funny situation to arise, Xu Ran explained to them why he always allocated resources after Lucky Liu arrived. Upon understanding the real situation, the three little ones finally understood. Now, two of Qin Can¡¯s Pet Beasts had gained a Three-Star Skill during their grooming. If his third Pet Beast managed the same, he might replace Liu Gu and become the second Lucky Fish! From then on, they wouldn¡¯t have to return to Qingzhou City. As long as they encountered him in Xieyun City, and conducted the lottery drawing based on pleasure value, they could start a new round of resource distribution! Thinking this over, the three little ones became very interested in Qin Can. Qin Can seemed to sense something and cast a questioning look in their direction again. However, the quick-witted three little ones were ahead of him. They quickly looked away and pretended to be doing other things. Thus, there was a tense standoff between Qin Can and his three beasts outside the Grooming Room. Inside the Grooming Room, a similar standoff was happening between Xu Ran and Mist Song Envoy. Xu Ran¡¯s hands were evenly coated with shiny essential oil which reflected in the light, then he slowly smeared it onto the back of the Mist Song Envoy, who was laid out on the care platform. The soft misty veil was no impediment in this process. The chill of the essential oil sent a shiver through the Mist Song Envoy. Its bright eyes, shining through the mist, squinted slightly. As Xu Ran continued his muscle kneading, its eyelids gradually relaxed, revealing its current satisfaction, despite not being able to see its facial expression. Its tense form relaxed again, becoming soft under Xu Ran¡¯s powerful kneading. [Pleasure Points from the Mist Song Envoy +20] [Pleasure Points from the Mist Song Envoy +20] [Pleasure Points from¡­] Ignoring the system notifications popping up before his eyes, Xu Ran continued to massage the place where he had earlier smeared the oil. Then he poured some more oil in his palm and went on to the next spot. The temperatureless skin of the Mist Song Envoy felt like human skin to touch, giving Xu Ran a weird feeling of massaging a human. Brushing that strange thought aside, Xu Ran kept kneading the Mist Song Envoy¡¯s back seriously. As Xu Ran¡¯s hands gradually moved downward, the Mist Song Envoy¡¯s satisfaction and comfort seemed to intensify. By the time he began kneading around its lower back, it had taken on a seductively blurred expression. Unable to resist, the Mist Song Envoy began to gently tremble, shaking off the surrounding mist and revealing the impressive curves beneath. A barely suppressed sound was squeezed from its throat. ¡°Mew¡ª¡± [Pleasure Points from the Mist Song Envoy +30] [Pleasure Points from the Mist Song Envoy +30] [Pleasure Points from¡­] After a long five hundred thousand words of grooming, the door of the Grooming Room was slowly pushed open. Xu Ran stepped out, followed by a wobbly Mist Song Envoy which had to use a hand to lean against the doorframe, its eyes still slightly unfocused. ¡°Grooming complete.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile was exceptionally radiant, because another Pet Beast skill had appeared on his system. [¡ï¡ï¡ïSea of Clouds Trace] (Unshareable) All three Pet Beasts had obtained a Three-Star Skill after grooming, an almost impossible occurrence at the current B-Level plucking fur stage. So, it¡¯s almost certain that Qin Can also possesses Lucky Fish attributes. ¡°Listen Xu Ran, that grooming¡­¡± Qin Can, who came forward, looked somewhat strange.. ¡°Was it really appropriate?¡± Chapter 288 - Chapter 178: Washing and Protection for the Human-shaped Pet Beast! _2 Chapter 178: Washing and Protection for the Human-shaped Pet Beast! _2 Translator: 549690339 Can¡¯t blame him for thinking the wrong things, the noises the previous two Pet Beasts made while being groomed were already strange, hearing Mist Song Envoy¡¯s voice from outside the grooming room made him even more suspicious. This type of Super Ability Attribute Pet Beast influences the emotions and mental state of its opponent through its singing. Its vocal tonality is naturally very pleasant. Hearing it making such sounds, one can¡¯t help but think the wrong things. Especially, when the one who came out of the grooming room had such a¡­ improper look on his face. ¡°How could that be!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became serious in an instant. As it involved his own reputation, he felt the need to save it. ¡°Our shop provides legitimate foster services, all the services provided are proper.¡± ¡°¡­Alright then.¡± Qin Can¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Then, IlL.what are you doing?¡± He¡¯s coming! The three little ones who were silently observing on the side saw Xu Ran suddenly extend his hand towards Qin Can¡¯s shoulder, their eyes lit up with excitement synchronously. ¡°Nothing, there¡¯s some dust on your shoulder, I¡¯ll help you to brush it off,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, patted a few more times on Qin Can¡¯s shoulder, and pulled his hand back. However, his mood did not appear as calm as it did on the surface. Confirmed! Qin Can has a lucky fish body constitution! The first time he leeches off the luck, Xu Ran just tried a streak of ten, after the two purple lights confirmed Qin Can¡¯s lucky fish body constitution, he simply used up the remaining two streaks of tens as well. The latter two streaks of tens also showed purple, totalling four purple items with three streaks of tens. As for what they were, he could check once Qin Can left the store. ¡°¡­you¡¯re actually pretty decent.¡± Qin Can paused, then turned around, ¡°if there¡¯s nothing else, I will¡­¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! There¡¯s one more thing!¡± Xu Ran suddenly remembered something and hastily stopped Qin Can, ¡°I¡¯m new in Xieyun City and there¡¯s something I¡¯d like your advice on.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A smile quickly emerged on Qin Can¡¯s face as he turned around, ¡°In consideration of you giving Mist Song Envoy a free grooming, I won¡¯t charge you any consultation fees this time.¡± Wait? Consultation fee? Xu Ran blinked. Nevermind, this isn¡¯t important. The reason he suddenly stopped Qin Can wasn¡¯t because of the other party¡¯s lucky fish body constitution, it¡¯s because of another reason. Before Qin Can and Ye Haoming arrived, Xu Ran and the three little ones were planning to find out if there were any upcoming competitions in Xieyun City that they could participate in, after the day¡¯s business ended. In front of Qin Can, Xu Ran suddenly realised that he could ask him this question. Qm Can should be one of the top young Beast Masters in Xieyun City. He would certainly know of such news. ¡°Do you know if there are any upcoming competitions in Xieyun City that are suitable for Leadership Level Beast Masters?¡± Xu Ran started to ask seriously. ¡°Competitions suitable for Leadership Level Beast Masters¡­¡± Qin Can fell into contemplation, then quickly examined Xu Ran up and down, a look of slyness flashing in his eyes, ¡°I can answer this question, but I¡¯m going to have to charge for the next one.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± In his eagemess to know Qin Can¡¯s answer, Xu Ran nodded without hesitation. The three little ones also looked at Qin Can with anticipation in their eyes. Doing well in the competition means they can advertise. With advertisements, the shop¡¯s fame will increase. When the shop¡¯s fame increases, business will be better! The better the business, the more resources they will get! The more resources they get, the stronger they will become! Therefore, competition equates to getting stronger! ¡°There are no competitions suitable for Leadership Level Beast Masters in the near future. Strictly speaking, such competitions are rarely held in Xieyun City.¡± Qin Can gave the answer, and seeing Xu Ran and the three little ones¡¯ look of disappointment, he quickly added, ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of advertising Starfire Foster Shop by participating in an exchange like before to attract more people, I have another method.¡± Being as smart as he is, he can guess Xu Ran¡¯s intentions from context clues. ¡°What method?¡± With an unexpected twist in the conversation, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡®Hmm¡­ I mentioned it earlier, for this question, there¡¯s a fee.¡± Qin Can showed a cunning smile. ¡°In the future, if you can offer my three pet beasts three free grooming services, I¡¯ll tell you the answer.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Xu Ran blinked. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t figure out who was at a disadvantage here. ¡°Deal! No problem!¡± Xu Ran nodded without hesitation. He was worried that Qin Can, a lucky charm in Xieyun City, wouldn¡¯t come to the shop in the future. Hmm? Seeing that his request had been so easily agreed to, Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but take a second look at Xu Ran. He thought that the two of them would bargain, he had even set his bottom line at one free grooming service for each of his three pet beasts. After all, what he was about to say, Xu Ran would gradually learn if he stayed a little longer in Xieyun City. Unexpectedly, Xu Ran agreed. Could it be¡­ A trace of strangeness flashed through Qin Can¡¯s eyes. Could this guy named Xu Ran be a scapegoat, just like Ye Haoming? If that was the case, he really would have to visit this shop more often. The fewer scapegoats there are, the more they should be cherished! With a million thoughts racing through his mind, Qin Can spoke with a beaming smile. ¡°As a second-level town, Xieyun City is a step above three-level towns in terms of overall strength.¡± ¡°In three-level towns, pet beasts that have evolved once are rare, but in Xieyun City, pet beasts that have evolved once are not uncommon, and there are even some that have evolved twice, but such pet beasts are still rare in Xieyun City.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Ran nodded slightly. Even though the overall strength has increased by only one step, there is a gap of two growth stages between three-level towns and second-level towns, coupled with the gaps caused by successive generations, the overall strength of the two is not at the same level. Qingzhou City, by comparison, is weak among three-level towns. Xieyun City, on the other hand, is strong among second-level towns. This contrast is even more stark. ¡°Strong overall strength means that the younger generation in Xieyun City includes many powerful Beast Masters.¡± Qin Can glanced at Xu Ran. ¡°So, to encourage these Beast Masters to continuously improve themselves and become stronger, Xieyun City has something that three-level towns don¡¯t have.¡± ¡°The Beast Trainer Ranking.¡± ¡°Beast Trainer Ranking?¡± Xu Ran muttered these three words, quickly making associations and guesses in his mind, ¡°a list to measure the strengths of the Beast Masters?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the idea, but it¡¯s not entirely accurate,¡± Qin Can mysteriously smiled, ¡°The Beast Trainer Ranking is actually a collective term for various different lists for Beast Masters, not just one.¡± ¡°The criteria for these lists also vary.¡± Qin Can paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°For example, the Attack Power Ranking.¡± Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. Attack power! When it comes to this, it is invigorated! This list, it has to get on it no matter what! Or, for instance, the Defense Power Ranking.¡± Cancan quickly perked up. Defense power! This is its strong suit, it has to give it a try! On the side, Star also couldn¡¯t help but straighten its body, staring intently at Qin Can. Is there a Support Role Ranking? However, Qin Can went on to give a few more examples, but there was no list suitable for Star. This elicited a look of disappointment in Star¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will look into this later, and surely there will be a list that will allow you to showcase your strengths.¡± Noticing the change in Star¡¯s mood, Xu Ran reached out and gently stroked its mane, then signaled for Qin Can to continue speaking. These different types of lists are also divided according to different strength levels. Different growth stages have different sub-lists.¡± Qin Can laughed, ¡°Some of the more valuable lists offer Beast Master Points rewards from the Association once you make it on.¡± ¡°And these rewards are settled on a weekly basis. As long as you maintain your ranking, you can receive points every week.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Xu Ran responded with a satisfied expression. What sets a city apart is the ranking. With this ranking system, powerful Beast Masters have more ways to earn Beast Master Points, no wonder they generally tend to be stronger than those in three-level towns. ¡°That¡¯s about it for the Beast Trainer Ranking.¡± Qin Can looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Every Beast Master in the city pays attention to the ranking. If your name appears on it, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to promote your shop, right?¡± Xu Ran nodded vigorously and the three little ones also looked eager to try. Use competitions to advertise? No problem at all! The Beast Trainer Ranking is a godsend! Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 179: You Call This a Pseudonym?! _1 Chapter 289: Chapter 179: You Call This a Pseudonym?! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Take care- Welcome to come again-¡± Xu Ran warmly saw off Qin Can, then looked at the hanging clock on the wall and quickly closed the shop door. Perfect timing, after all the fumbling, it was time to close for the day. ¡°So now¡­¡± He turned to look at the Three Little Ones, his face quickly becoming serious, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Ready!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Ready!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Ready!) The eyes of the Three Little Ones shone as they responded in unison. Is it starting? The long-awaited resource allocation! ¡°First, well distribute resources.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°Once we¡¯ve improved our strength after resource allocation, well go to the Beast Trainer Rankings together.¡± ¡°The sooner we advertise, the better!¡± With that, he started checking the three consecutive ten draws he made earlier. There were four purple items, one of which was a Talent Skill Fusion Stone, one was a Meditation Acceleration Card, and the remaining two were Three-Star Skill Scrolls. In addition to that, there were twenty-four skill fusion stones and two Energy Abundant Potions. Good timing, the previous Meditation Acceleration Card was about to expire, so he renewed it. After checking everything, Xu Ran pulled out a brand-new blackboard and chalk from his side. This was also part of the system¡¯s renovation. Seeing the long-awaited ¡°divine tools¡±, the Three Little Ones¡¯ eyes were full of anticipation. Xu Ran was not one to tease, he quickly wrote down the currently available resources to allocate. ¡°Physical Points: 4566 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 3390 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 7 (Star) + 41 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Teachable Skills: ¡ï ¡ï¡ï Earth Shaking Roar (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 3 (Ziyun) + 2 (Star) + 24 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Talent Skill Fusion Stones: 2 (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potion: 2 bottles (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 6384 points (Undistributed)¡± ¡°Three Star Skill Scrolls: 2 pieces (Undistributed)¡± The eyes of the Three Little Ones fell on the teachable Three-Star Skills, and then Ziyun and Starfire looked at Cancan in synchrony. Without a doubt, this skill was the Earth attribute Three-Star Skill they just obtained from the Earth Roaring Rhino. ¡°Charming!¡± (I want this skill!) Expectation filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. There was yet to be a Pet Beast that had a Three-Star Skill fusion in the team, so Cancan would be the first in the team to step up! ¡°The total value of all resources is 23250, and each of you will get 7750.¡± Xu Ran paused a moment, ¡°Ziyun previously had a balance of 1000 value points, while Starfire and Cancan each had 0.¡± ¡°The distribution can begin.¡± The moment Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, Cancan turned to look at Ziyun and Starfire. What goes around comes around! The Beast Master Points earned by picking up trash need to be repaid! I, Cancan, am going for a super upgrade this round! Seeing Cancan¡¯s sparkly eyes, both Ziyun and Starfire revealed helpless expressions, especially Starfire. It finally got over seven thousand value points, but after paying back the over five thousand value points it owed, it was left with just over two thousand. But the debt that needed to be repaid had to be paid off. Ziyun and Starfire owed Cancan 3180 and 5030 value points respectively. After the debt was paid, the nearly equal wealth status of the Three Little Ones rapidly diverged. Ziyun: 5570 Value Points Starfire: 2720 Value Points Cancan: 15960 Value Points ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Wu wu wu-) Looking at its remaining value points, Starfire shed tears of unwillingness. There was a time when it was the richest beast in the team, and both Ziyun and Cancan had borrowed money from it. Who would have thought that the tide would turn, and it would fall into such a state today. Suddenly, its eyes widened. Starfire realised the reason why it had suddenly become poor recently. That rock! The rock it used to keep accounts was left in the underground level of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City. It became so poor because it no longer had the rock! Next time it returns to Qingzhou City, it must remember to bring the rock to Xieyun City, and sleep with it every day! Quietly noting this, Starfire turned its head to look at the blackboard and took the initiative to speak first. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I need a Three-Star Skill Scroll!) Putting aside the Immortal Star Attraction for the time being, Starfire wanted to upgrade Reduction to Three-Star and then find a way to fuse it with one of its Talent Skills. Ziyun glanced at Cancan and then spoke sombrely. ¡°Meow-¡± (I want the other Three-Star Skill Scroll!) ¡°Charming!¡± (I want the Earth Shaking Roar!) Cancan did not compete with Ziyun and Starfire for the Three-Star Skill Scroll. Considering that the only skill it needed to upgrade was Burrowing, it decided to wait until the next round of resource allocation. Its main goal now was the Three-Star Skill that belongs to it! After determining the target to be redeemed, Cancan turned to look at Xu Ran. ¡°Charming?¡± (Which skill can Earth Shaking Roar fuse with?) ¡°It can fuse with Earth-shattering Skyfall.¡± Xu Ran said while selecting these two skills to enter the fusion interface. [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth Shaking Roar]+[***Earth-shattering Skyfall] [Fusion Success Rate: 1.2%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] The success rate of Three-Star Skill fusions is significantly lower than that of Two-Star Skills, almost on par with the success rate of Three Two-Star Skill fusions. However, Cancan¡¯s firm gaze had already made it clear that it was determined. So¡­ [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth-shattering Skyfall (Waning Moon Level)] (453/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ïEarthquake and Sky Collapse (Waning Moon Level)] (453/2000) [+] Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 179: Chapter 290: Chapter 179:You Ca^ T^*s a Pseudonym?! _2 Translator: 549690339 Eight fusion stones were thrown into the mix, resulting in the team¡¯s first successful three-star skill fusion! ¡°Charming!¡± (This skill is good¡­so good¡­) Feeling the emergence of a brand-new skill memory in her mind, Cancan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡ö¡¯What¡¯S so good?¡± Xu Ran, looking at the momentarily lost for words Cancan, curiously asked, ¡°How¡¯s the new skill?¡± ¡ö¡öCharming-¡± (It seems like there¡¯s no change¡­ just an increase in power and a larger range¡­) After experiencing the effects of the new skill, Cancan showed a look of surprise. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran scratched his chin. The previous skill fusion, the new skill would always change to some extent, integrating aspects of multiple skills. This time¡¯s skill fusion, it only enhances power? Could it be because these two skills were already extremely similar? ¡°NO matter what, an increase in power and attack range is good.¡± Xu Ran scratched Cancan¡¯s head to comfort her. ¡ö¡öMerging just two three-star skills is so difficult, I don¡¯t know how many three-star skills are needed to fuse into a four-star skill.¡± He shookhts head helplessly, looking towards Ziyun and Star, ¡°Where do you want to use your skill scrolls?¡± ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Reduction!) Star let out a cry, its eyes filled with anticipation. Previously, Cancan directly upgraded Reduction with a three-star skill scroll to obtain Jiezimixu. If everything went as expected, it should get the same skill. With this, could it also become bigger like Cancan? Thinking of this, anticipation filled Star¡¯s eyes. If it, as the team¡¯s support core, had increased power by sacrificing speed and agility when enlarged, it would improve support for the entire team. This sounds very promising! ¡°Ok.¡± What Star had thought of, Xu Ran naturally thought of too. He nodded without hesitation and used the three-star skill scroll on Star. But the next moment, both pet and owner were dumbfounded. Reduction didn¡¯t ¡®star-up¡¯ as they had expected. [¡ïReduction (Waning Moon Level)) (125/2000) [+] Hl [¡ï¡ï¡ïGap Flow Shuttle (Waning Moon Level)] (125/2000) [+] ¡°Isn¡¯t the star-up of the three-star skill scroll fixed?¡± Xu Ran was surprised, then looked at Star, who was comprehending the new skill, ¡°How do you feel? What¡¯s the effect of the new skill?¡± ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (I feel¡­) Star¡¯s eyes, like purple crystals, gradually brightened. Although it wasn¡¯t the skill it expected, this new skill was more in line with its needs to some extent! -Xi Lu!¡± (This skill can only reduce size, but after reduction, speed can be significantly increased!) -Meow?¡± (Isn¡¯t this just half of Jiezimixu?) Ziyun, who was beside them, curiously asked. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s not the same!) Star quickly shook its head, then started explaining the differences between the two. Jiezimixu can reduce size to increase speed and agility, but the drawback is that it sacrifices power. Whereas Gap Flow Shuttle can increase speed and agility without reducing power! This skill purely boosts speed and agility, if there is any side effect, it¡¯s probably reduction in size after casting. Star, already capable in speed, will boost its speed to a terrifying level with Moon Concealment Star Racing and Gap Flow Shuttle. ¡ö¡öThe effect of Reduction turned into a side effect of the new skill¡­¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, his expression becoming a bit strange, ¡°Star-up of a skill, really is wonderful.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Indeed.) Ziyun, who was next to him, nodded in agreement. Originally, it wanted to use the three-star skill scroll on Superfast Self-healing, but now that it knew that Reduction star-up might produce other skills, it also wanted to give it a try. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m using it on Reduction too!) ¡°Ok.¡± Xu Ran smiled. He too wanted to see what kind of surprise a simple reduction could bring. Three-star skill scroll, use! [¡ïReduction (Waning Moon Level)] (197/2000) [+] 1U [¡ï¡ï¡ïMartial Arts Specialization (Waning Moon Level)] (197/2000) [+] Another new skill? An intrigued expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. What will be the effect of this skill? ¡°Meow?!¡± (This skill?!) Upon experiencing the skill¡¯s effect, Ziyun shot his eyes wide open, his face painted with an expression of delight. ¡°What¡¯s the effect?¡± Xu Ran asked hastily. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (The effect of this skill is¡­) After listening to Ziyun¡¯s explanation, Xu Ran and the other two little ones began to pull strange faces. Martial Arts Specialization is a fighting attribute skill. Its effect is simple: it adjusts the entire body or a part of it to make oneself more combat-ready. This adjustment includes enlarging, reducing, and changing shape. As a three-star skill, this is not all it can do. The more amazing aspect lies in the word ¡°specialization . As Ziyun changes its shape, it can also confer corresponding enhancements. Enlarging can impart greater weight and power: shrinking can confer lightly and more agility: turning claws into blades can provide a slashing effect of the blade: transforming the tail into a whip can give the flexibility of the whip¡­ This skill closely relates to reduction, but it also seems unrelated. ¡°According to the skill¡¯s effect¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up with expectation as a thought struck him. He grabbed Ziyun¡¯s tail, ¡°Can you turn it into a knife?¡± Ziyun:¡±???¡± Eventually, Ziyun did not turn into a knife. According to her, the Waning Moon Level of Martial Arts Specialization is not yet able to perform that degree of specialization, neither is the Full Moon Level. The Halo Level that is above the Full Moon Level may be possible. This made Xu Ran temporarily drop this adolescent idea. Afterward, the three little ones continued to divide the resources. Cancan used 8 skill fusion stones, the remaining 16 were split evenly between Ziyun and Star, neither of them chose to use them immediately. After witnessing the difficulty of Cancan¡¯s three-star skill fusion, they needed to be more prepared. After exchanging the skill fusion stones and three-star skill scrolls, Star had only three digits left of value points. Knowing it couldn¡¯t exchange much, it chose to swap the remaining value points for Beast Master Points. Ziyun, the only one among the three little ones who didn¡¯t have a cruising skill, opted for two bottles of the Energy Abundant Potion, and the remaining value points were also exchanged for points. After all, upon reaching Xieyun City, there are too many valuable things that can be exchanged for points. Finally, the evolution completed, Cancan, who lagged behind Ziyun and Star in all respects, happily accepted all the physical points, skill points and skill fragments of its junk collection money. Finally, it had a balance of 2000 value points, and it did not exchange the talent skill fusion stone. Before this, the Echoing of Earth Vein, which Cancan had reached near the Full Moon level half a month ago, had been improved to the Full Moon level through its training efforts. Now that more than 3,000 skill points have been dropped, Jiezimixu and Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power have successively reached the Full Moon Level. The more than 4000 physical points also brought it one step closer to Ziyun and Star. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll prepare to set off.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the slowly setting sun, ¡°Let¡¯s go see that Beast Trainer Ranking that Qin Can talked about. The three little ones, whose strength had once again increased, nodded unanimously. It¡¯s the right time. Their current strength needed an opportunity to be displayed. The quickly agreed upon host and his three pets set off straight away, and after asking along the way, they soon arrived at the location of the Beast Trainer Championship. Although built by the Xieyun City Beast Master Association, the Beast Trainer Rankings were located on the other side of Xieyun city, a gigantic hollow venue that was stacked with countless small chambers like bubbles. In the middle of the venue, rows of giant electronic screens up to a hundred meters tall were constantly displaying the rankings to the public. Those various ranking information details. Even though it was already twilight, Xu Ran could still see many shadows in front of the rankings. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going to sign up.¡± He had already spotted the sign-up station at the grand entrance of the venue. After verifying his Beast Master¡¯s identity, the staff member looked up at Xu Ran, ¡°Have you never challenged the Beast Trainer Rankings before?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you can choose to use your real name or pseudonym for the challenge.¡± Xu Ran:¡±!!!¡± ¡°I can use a pseudonym?¡± An expression of surprise and delight appeared on his face. ¡°Of course, some Beast Masters don¡¯t want to reveal their names.¡± The staff member smiled, ¡°It¡¯s quite common.¡± ¡°Then I choose to use a pseudonym!¡± Xu Ran laughed, accepting the pen and paper and quickly scribbling down a few characters, ¡°This, thank you.¡± After handing back the piece of paper, Xu Ran walked straight in with the three little ones, leaving behind the stunned staff member looking at the paper. ¡°The pseudonym is¡­Starfire Foster Care Shop?! Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 180: Who on earth is this person?!_l Chapter 291: Chapter 180: Who on earth is this person?!_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°So this is the Beast Trainer Ranking¡­¡± Standing in front of a 100-meter high electronic screen with the little ones, Xu Ran tilted his head back. As he squinted slightly in the dazzling light, he observed the lines of text on the screen. The top and the largest line was the name of the ranking. ¡°Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Attack Power Ranking¡± Under this line were rows of names. The higher the name, the larger the font, the brighter the light, and the more conspicuous it was. Xu Ran¡¯s attention was drawn to the name in the first place. ¡°Number 1, Du Hongchen, Nine-shadow Demon Cat, Combat power: 53923.¡± After the ranking was the Beast Master¡¯s name, then the corresponding Pet Beast¡¯s species, and finally the exact combat power figure. Presumably, this figure must have been a standard set by the Beast Master Association. ¡°Meow-¡± (The first ranked one is also a cat-type pet!) Excitement and fighting spirit flashed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Being a cat-type pet beast of the same Leadership Stage, I wonder what my combat strength would be. It¡¯s decided! The next goal is to surpass this Nine-shadow Demon Cat and become the new first-ranked on this list! After idly patting the enthusiastic Ziyun, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze continued downwards. He did not see Qin Can¡¯s name until the 218th position. ¡°Number 218, Qin Can, Wind Unseen Force, Combat power: 23987.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Qin Can said to be the strongest Beast Master of the younger generation? Why is his ranking so low?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Hey, kid, you haven¡¯t been to the Beast Master Ranking before, have you?¡± A middle-aged man standing beside Xu Ran chuckled upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, ¡°Strongest of the young generation? That¡¯s just among the young ones.¡± He pointed at the name at the top of the ranking, ¡°Look, ¡®Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Attack Power Ranking,¡¯ what does it mean?¡± ¡°All living ones, still at the Leadership Stage, qualify to be on the list.¡± The middle-aged man shrugged, ¡°How many Leadership Level Beast Masters do we have in Xieyun City? Many have been stuck at the Fourth stage of contract power for decades!¡± ¡°How can Qin Can compare to them?¡± ¡°I see, thank you for educating me.¡± Xu Ran was enlightened and understood the reason. In that case, those at the front of this list should be King Species Pet Beasts at the Leadership Stage who have reached the Perfect Leadership Stage of power. Their skills even reach Halo Level proficiency. This sort of power indeed was not something Qin Can could compare to, not even Ziyun at this point¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at the still high-spirited Ziyun by his side. He planned initially to take first place on some ranking list to make a name for the Starfire Foster Shop overnight. Now it seems that this plan is a little idealistic. First, try to get as high a ranking as possible, and then slowly work his way up the list. Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day. Xu Ran turned his head to look at another ranking list next to him, and then hesitated for a while before turning his head to look at the middle-aged man who enthusiastically explained things to him just now, ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s the difference between this ¡®Historical Leadership Stage Pet Beast Attack Power Ranking¡¯ and the list we just looked at?¡± ¡°Of course there is a difference.¡± The middle-aged man chuckled, ¡°Every list has two replicates, one is called the ¡®Current Ranking¡¯, and the other is called the ¡®Historical Ranking¡¯.¡± ¡°The ¡®Current Ranking¡¯ is just what you were looking at. Those who can be listed are only living objects that remain at this power level. Once they fall or break through to a higher level, they will be automatically removed from the list.¡± ¡°And the ¡®Historical Ranking¡¯¡­ will not remove anyone.¡± The middle-aged man pointed to the second list Xu Ran was looking at, ¡°Since the establishment of the Beast Master Ranking nearly 300 years ago, everyone who has ever been on this list will appear here.¡± ¡°Regardless of whether they are still alive, or whether they are still at this power level.¡± The middle-aged man paused for a moment, ¡°This list will record their highest historical achievement.¡± ¡°There is a ranking settlement for the Current Ranking once a week with rewards of different Beast Master Points according to the ranking, while the Historical Ranking will give a one-time ranking reward.¡± ¡°But the reward for the latter is much richer.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to carefully examine the second list. Du Hongchen, who ranked first in the list earlier, is only 87th in the Historical Ranking. As for Qin Can, his name is not found in the Historical Ranking at all. Each ranking list only shows the names of the top 500. If it exceeds that, one can only find it out through the Beast Master Badge. They¡¯re not qualified to be on the list. Clearly, Qin Can who was over 200 places in the Current Ranking, was placed after the 500th place in the Historical Ranking. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze focused on the first place of the Historical Leadership Stage Pet Beast Attack Power Ranking. ¡°Number 1, Fang Canghai, Jade Mysterious Azure Dragon, Combat power: 74398¡± ¡°This person is¡­¡± Xu Ran had the feeling that he had heard this name somewhere before. A look of shock appeared on his face, mixed with a bit of confusion. ¡°Of course it¡¯s our Chairman Fang.¡± The middle-aged man laughed, ¡°I heard that Chairman Fang has been crushing his peers since he became a Beast Master. You¡¯ll find that he¡¯s number one on many of the Historical Rankings if you look at a few more.¡± ¡°Probably only such a strong person could become an Emperor Level Beast Master.¡± Saying this, the middle-aged man expressed admiration with a hint of emotion. ¡°So it¡¯s Chairman Fang.¡± Xu Ran understood. This name, Gu Wu had mentioned it a few times before. No wonder it sounded familiar to him.. Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 180: Who on earth is this person?!_2 Chapter 292: Chapter 180: Who on earth is this person?!_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow!¡± (First surpass the Nine-Shadow Demon Cat, then surpass the Jade Mysterious Azure Dragon!) The flame of battle within Ziyun¡¯s eyes grows more intense. With the spirit of a newborn calf not fearing the tiger, it couldn¡¯t wait to start competing in the rankings at this very moment. ¡°Charming-¡± (Should I give it a try too?) Influenced by Ziyun, Cancan had also gained a bit of eagerness to try. While defense is what it excelled at the most, its attack was not weak either, especially after just integrating an earth attribute output skill, the powerful three-star skill Earthquake and Sky Collapse. ¡°Xi Lu-¡®1 (I hope there¡¯s a ranking list suited for me!) Star gave a sigh, its gaze uncontrollably drifting towards the rows and rows of rankings behind them, a hint of anticipation surfacing in its eyes. It had no hope of making it onto the attack power ranking list. This ranking list was aimed at individual pet beasts, so it couldn¡¯t even assist Ziyun or Cancan. But among all these rankings, there must be one suited for it, right? ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s test the waters with this ranking list first.¡± Xu Ran smiled and turned his head to the middle-aged man beside him. ¡°Uncle, can you tell me where the testing area for the attack power ranking list is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s marked at the bottom of each list.¡± The middle-aged uncle pointed to a corner at the bottom of the list. Below the current list and historical list, the words ¡°C12¡± were written. This indicated that the testing area corresponding to the ranking list was in the C12 section. Xu Ran looked around and quickly found the corresponding place with a prominent sign. ¡°Thank you, uncle.¡± He nodded in gratitude towards the middle-aged uncle and then walked towards the testing area with the three little ones. ¡°Hehe, to be young is truly great.¡± Looking at the departing Xu Ran, the middle-aged man laughed lightly, then patted his head, ¡°I forgot to ask what his registered name was.¡± Although it¡¯s almost impossible for a Beast Master participating in the Beast Master Rankings for the first time to make the list, that young man¡¯s pet beast seemed quite formidable. What if? ¡°Alright, it¡¯s our turn now.¡± After waiting for a while outside the C12 testing area, as the previous tester left, the red light above the entrance turned green again. Xu Ran led the three little ones quickly inside, entering the closed testing area. There was no staff to guide within the testing area, but there was a detailed process introduction on the promotional image at the entrance. After entering the testing area, Xu Ran stood with Star outside the testing range, looking at the eager Ziyun and Cancan. ¡°Which one of you two is going first?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Go for it!) Ziyun gave Cancan an encouraging look. It wanted to observe for a while longer. ¡°Charming!¡± (Watch me do it!) Confident, Cancan strode into the testing range. In the next moment, the testing program was activated and countless energy converged transcendental beings appeared within the testing range. They were of various races and attributes, and after converging, they just stood in place and did not launch an attack against Cancan. This was the method for testing attack power. These energy converged transcendental beings were targets for testing, they had the same defensive power and attribute counter-acting relationships as real transcendental beings, allowing the power of attacks to be calculated from multiple dimensions, obtaining a specific value. Under the gaze of Xu Ran and Ziyun, and Star, Cancan¡¯s form grew rapidly against the wind. A hundred meters¡­ three hundred meters¡­ five hundred meters¡­ seven hundred meters!!! After reaching the Full Moon Level, the capabilities of Jiezimixu to both shrink and grow had improved further. Previously at its limit of five hundred meters, its limit was now seven hundred meters. Cancan, with its massive size occupying a quarter of the testing area, had its combat power skyrocketing in the process, causing an awe-inspiring storm to envelop the entire field! If it weren¡¯t for the testing area being closed off, preventing the outside world from being able to see the specifics inside, just this sight alone would be enough to leave many people stunned! ¡°Charming!¡± The sound of Cancan¡¯s excitement echoed throughout the testing area, and an earthy-yellow halo alongside slight tremors of the ground instantly enveloped Cancan. After the Full Moon Level of Jiezimixu, the Full Moon Level of Echoing of Earth Vein provides another boost to Cancan, amplifying its power and providing additional amplification effects to all earth attribute skills. In the next moment, an invisible force suddenly erupted from Cancan, sweeping across all directions, causing a golden Dragon Turtle Light Pattern to faintly appear in the void. The light in Cancan¡¯s pure golden eyes gleamed, the black patterns within them becoming clearer, like an abyss swallowing everything, suppressing its surroundings, and an ever-increasing momentum was emerging in all directions. Three-star skill, Full Moon Level ? Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power! This powerful three-star skill, which had naturally fused during the evolution process, now completely unleashed its due power when facing a wide range of enemies. For a moment, all energy-form opponents began to tremble as if they were about to collapse. After three consecutive amplifications, Cancan slowly lifted a forepaw, then slammed it heavily against the ground. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Wild power, with Cancan as the center, swept in all directions. The strength engulfed both the sky and the earth, shattering and annihilating every energy rival in the field. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level¡¯s Earthquake and Sky Collapse! The testing area made of special material remained undamaged in the process. A moment of silence later, the screen displayed Cancan¡¯s final test results. ¡°Combat Power: 4.2832.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I haven¡¯t surpassed the current number one in the rankings¡­¡± A hint of regret appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s a pity, if the Earthquake and Sky Collapse was leveled up to Full Moon Level, my score could definitely be higher¡­ In an instant, its initial body size of more than seven hundred meters shrunk to about one meter. It took steps towards Xu Ran and the two little ones. ¡°You¡¯ve already done great.¡± Seeing Cancan¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran smiled and patted its head, ¡°Your growth stage progress is only at 200,000, there¡¯s still a significant room for improvement.¡± ¡°And¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice slightly paused, ¡°This score¡­ seems to have already entered the top twenty.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Next, it¡¯s my turn!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes beaming with anticipation. Seeing how well Cancan performed, it can¡¯t let the team down. To be honest, it has been a long time since it has gone full strength, thus it is not sure of its own strength. ¡°Ding ¡± While Ziyun was preparing to make a move within the testing area, outside it in the Beast Trainer Ranking region, a clear electric bell sounded abruptly. Those silently discussing the rankings around the field instantly stopped their ongoing activities, looking around. Their gaze then locked onto one of the flashing light rankings. ¡°It¡¯s the current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List!¡± No one knows who shouted first, and right after that, others appeared in front of that list at an apace. Their eyes fixated on the ranking on the electronic screen. Whenever there is a change in the rankings, such an electric bell would sound, and the ranking with flashing lights is the one undergoing changes. Despite the bell ringing several times daily with so many Beast Masters in Xieyun City, the onlooking crowd was still excited, embracing any ranking changes with great enthusiasm. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the name ranked 500th started glowing first, indicating that there will be changes in his ranking. ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Tao, he is going to break into the ranks?¡± One of the spectators recognized this Beast Master ranked 500th and guessed. ¡°Jiang Tao didn¡¯t come today, it¡¯s impossible for him to break into the rank.¡± Another one quickly denied, ¡°It¡¯s a newcomer coming onto the list, pushing him down!¡± A newcomer! The spectators¡¯ eyes became interested. This is an interesting topic of conversation. The names of several famous Leadership Level Beast Masters in Xieyun City who are not yet on the list flashed in their minds. Who could it be? As expected, Jiang Tao¡¯s name disappeared from the list. However, the next moment, everyone¡¯s expressions changed simultaneously. That¡¯s because almost all the names on the list lit up at this moment. From 499th place all the way up to 18th place! Then, to the astonished spectators, those 482 glowing names all moved back a place simultaneously. A new name, shining with dazzling light, appeared in the 18th place! This is¡­a drop-in!!! Amidst the spectators¡¯ commotion, that name gradually became clearer. When their names became clear, the expressions on the spectators¡¯ faces all came to a halt. ¡°18th place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Panlong Turtle, Combat Power: 42832.¡± This pseudonym¡­ Who exactly is this person?! Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 181: Ziyun breaking into the Chapter 293: Chapter 181: Ziyun breaking into the Historical Rankings!_1 Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Hiss ¡± Standing right at the front of the crowd since the beginning, a middle-aged man couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air upon looking in the direction of C12 area. Though several Beast Masters had gone in for testing in the C12 area just moments ago, for some reason the image of the young man who had asked him a question earlier sprang to mind. It couldn¡¯t be him, could it¡­ ¡°Old Yu, you recognize this sudden entry bigshot?¡± a hand tapped on the man¡¯s shoulder from behind. The man turned around, a small smile on his face, ¡°Old Zhou, you¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yeah, just happened to catch this interesting show.¡± The bald man known as Old Zhou nodded, ¡°Your expression just now was quite unusual, like you recognize this Starfire Foster¡­Goodness, this fake name is really ridiculous.¡± ¡°I have a guess, but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s him.¡± Old Yu shook his head, ¡°It could also be someone else.¡± ¡°No matter, let¡¯s go take a look!¡± Old Zhou pointed at the crowd heading towards C12 area, ¡°That Beast Master must still be in the C12 area, we¡¯ll know who it is once they come out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not rush.¡± Old Yu held back Old Zhou, and glanced again at the leaderboard. His voice paused. ¡°If it¡¯s the person I¡¯m thinking of, there might be more changes to the leaderboard.¡± Those three Pet Beasts of that youngster, they all look strong¡­ ¡°Meow!¡± (Now it¡¯s my turn!) Ziyun, standing at the center of the testing area, glanced at the energy body opponents that had gathered around it, a sharp intent to battle shining in its eyes. The next moment, dazzling electric light erupted from around it. ¡°Boom!¡± Accompanied by the majestic power of thunder surging in Ziyun¡¯s body, as if from nothingness, a low rumbling sound of thunder could be faintly heard. The formidable power lying below Ziyun¡¯s skin was fully activated at that moment, making its seemingly delicate body emanate heart-stopping energy fluctuations. After such a long period of training, absorption of resources, and upgrading, Ziyun¡¯s growth stage progress had already exceeded 250,000, nearing perfection in the Leader Stage. Even Star and Cancan were far behind it for now. As the first Pet Beast contracted by Xu Ran and the team¡¯s principal damage dealer, it had been a while since Ziyun had a proper battle. But now, after continuous power-ups, it finally had the chance to unleash its full potential! The blue-purple lightning quietly dyed a layer of scarlet light. Even the fur on Ziyun¡¯s body also faintly shone scarlet. Its odd-colored pupils were dyed a similar scarlet at that moment. The sharp intent to do battle surged upward with each surge of its strength, slicing skywards! Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level-Scarlet Battle Intent! ¡°Crackle ¡± Accompanied by a sharp sound of air being pierced through by an electric arc, Ziyun¡¯s figure vanished in an instant, leaving behind only a lingering image made of Thunder. Its body instantly appeared before the mass of energy body opponents. The long-latent power within its tense body exploded forth like a torrential flood bursting forth from the quiet. A claw swung forward created waves in the air, as if a massive rock had caused a whirlwind! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level-Fighting Body! As the claw descended, its form changed subtly. The bared claws shone with a cold, metallic sheen and appeared larger and more powerful. Frightening power gathered around Ziyun¡¯s claws and let loose heart-shaking fluctuations. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level-Martial Arts Specialization! Under the gaze of Xu Ran, Star, and Cancan behind it, Ziyun surged upwards, its peak strength descending in a whoosh. A moment of silence followed, then terrifying lightning exploded forth, trailing behind it a power like the onset of destruction. The lightning was like countless shattered blades. The Pet Beast that took the hit was instantly ground to dust, and the residual power surged forth in all directions, shattering hundreds of energy body opponents around them. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level-Destruction Thunder Claw! ¡°Sure¡­¡± (So frightening¡­) Cancan, who had been beaten by Ziyun often, she couldn¡¯t help but shrink back, revealing a timid expression on its face. If this claw lands on it, it doesn¡¯t know if it could handle it. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Big sis is so powerful.) In Star¡¯s eyes, a light of admiration could be seen. On the other hand, Xu Ran wore a gratified smile on his face. Without realizing it, Ziyun had grown from a starving Stray Cat to such powerful being. After striking once, Ziyun quickly retreated while its aura uncontrollably declined. The unseen fighting force rapidly converged into its body like it was temporarily sealed and couldn¡¯t be used. The energy bodies in the field gradually dissipated. After a moment¡¯s silence, the results of Ziyun¡¯s test appeared. ¡°Combat power: 51228¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Just a little short!) Looking at its test results, Ziyun helplessly shook its head. This combat power was very close to the Nine-shadow Demon Cat¡¯s! When Superfast Self-healing upgrades to three stars, together with Fighting Body, Scarlet Battle Intent, and Martial Arts Specialization, it would push its strength to a new peak. It would definitely be first! ¡°It¡¯s already quite good.¡± Xu Ran came forward with a smile and patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°Your combat power is even higher than the third one on the current leaderboard.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should get out of here.¡± ¡°Eh, that Beast Master with the fake name ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯ still hasn¡¯t come out?¡± Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Chapter 181: Ziyun Breaking into the Chapter 294: Chapter 181: Ziyun Breaking into the Historical Rankings!¡ª2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Don¡¯t know, it should be soon. Let¡¯s wait a bit more.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I just heard that the Beast Master looks quite young, maybe just in his twenties?¡± ¡°Fake news, right? A twenty-something Beast Master parachuting in and beating the 18th ranked Shang Xin?¡± ¡°I also feel it¡¯s fake. I heard Shang Xin has already been notified. Hehe, there¡¯s going to be a good show!¡± Outside the C12 test site, the spectators waiting for the mysterious Beast Master inside the site are starting to gossip. However, they didn¡¯t see the Beast Master come out from area C12, but another bell rang out. Which leaderboard is changing ranking again?¡± Someone in the crowd chuckled and habitually turned to look at the leaderboard area. As he saw the flickering light on the leaderboard, he opened his eyes wide in surprise and exclaimed out loud. ¡°It¡¯s that board again!¡± The crowd buzzed again. Obviously, this means that the Beast Master in Area C12 has not finished raising his rank. For a moment, they were torn between waiting for the mysterious Beast Master to appear or going to see the new changes on the leaderboard. Amid their indecision, another leaderboard next to the current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List lit up. It was¡­ The Historical Rankings of Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power! Unlike the flickering light of the current board, the anomaly of the Historical Rankings board was more obvious. Bright light surrounded the electronic screen, and a ray of light shot up from the base of the screen, forming a column of light that reached the sky! ¡°The Historical Rankings also changed!¡± Accompanied by someone¡¯s astonished cry, those who were still indecisive quickly returned to the leaderboard area. Changes in the current leaderboard occur a few times each day. But changes in the Historical Rankings often don¡¯t occur more than a few times a month. More importantly, the one being tested in area C12 at the moment was a mysterious Beast Master whom they had never heard of before. After parachuting into the top twenty of the current leaderboard, was he going to parachute into the Historical Rankings too? Old Yu, who waited early in front of the two leaderboards, suppressed his shock and patted his friend on the shoulder, saying nonchalantly, ¡°I told you so.¡± 7 ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Old Zhou gave Old Yu a thumbs-up, and then stared at the eaderboard whose rankings were about to change. ¡°How high do you think this mysterious Beast Master can reach in the Historical Rankings?¡± ¡°I have no idea.¡± Old Yu shook his head slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± As the two talked, the others who had left but returned swarmed around the two leaderboards. Under their watchful eyes, the rankings on the two lit-up leaderboards began to change. The first to change was the current board. The name of some poor guy who had just slipped from the 499th to the 500th place ht up again and then quickly fell off the board under everyone¡¯s gaze. After that, new names from the new 499th to the nearly top 3rd, a total of 497 names lit up at the same time, their rankings brushed back one place. In the blinding light, a new name emerged at the third position. ¡°Third place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Flash Thunder Cat, Combat Power- 51228¡± After parachuting into the 18th place, this mysterious Beast Master used another Pet Beast to parachute into the 3rd place on the leaderboard! Everyone held their breath in unison, looking at the other Historical Rankings board. b As soon as the changes on the current board ended, the Historical Rankings Board began to change. The first to light up was the Beast Master ranked 500th. After being informed by a few who knew the facts, everyone paid their respects to this Beast Master who had fallen in the Beast Tide decades ago, watching his name disappear from the Historical Rankings. Then, from the 499th to the 372nd in the Historical Rankings, all the names lit up. Under the incredulous gaze of the crowd, a new name parachuted into the 372nd place in the Historical Rankings. ¡°I remember¡­¡± someone spoke up hesitantly, ¡°the reward for breaking into the top 400 in the Historical Rankings for the first time seems to be¡­io,ooo Beast Master Points.¡± Everyone fell silent. 10,000 Beast Master Points¡­ Ordinary Beast Masters couldn¡¯t earn that many in their entire life, and this mysterious Beast Master had easily earned it. Xet¡¯s go.¡± In the crowd, Old Yu tugged at Old Zhou¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Area ¡°Huh?¡± Old Zhou looked puzzled, ¡°Leave now? Aren¡¯t we waiting for the Beast Master to finish testing his third Pet Beast? Won¡¯t the leaderboard change again later?¡± Old Yu was silent for a moment, remembering the figure of the young man rom earlier, ¡°There won¡¯t be any more changes.¡± His observational skills were always sharp. Of the three Pet Beasts the young man brought, only two showed interest in this leaderboard, while the other Pet Beast looked at the other leaderboards. So, it¡¯s highly likely that the pet beast isn¡¯t adept at combat. ¡°I believe you.¡± Thinking about Old Yu¡¯s certainty earlier, Old Zhou began to believe him a little more. The two of them passed through the crowd waiting for the third round of leaderboard changes and headed towards area C12, where they ran into Xu Ran, who was curiously looking around. ¡°Strange, why is everyone over there?¡± Looking at the swarm of people crowded around the leaderboard, a puzzled expression surfaced on Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Hehe, they are there to see the changes in your ranking.¡± A bright smile quickly spread across Old Yu¡¯s face. As expected, he guessed right. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re here too.¡± Faced with this uncle who had patiently explained things to him earlier, Xu Ran smiled friendly, then showed a slight surprise. ¡°Just getting on the leaderboard is causing such a commotion?¡± Old Yu:¡±¡­¡± Old Zhou:¡±¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just simply getting on the leaderboard.¡± Old Yu shook his head helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s common for newcomers to get on the leaderboard, but it¡¯s quite rare to see one that goes straight into 18th place and 3rd place on the current board, and even into 372nd place in the historical rankings.¡± ¡°Oh, right! There¡¯s also the historical rankings.¡± Xu Ran slapped his forehead only realizing it then, ¡°So, are there Beast Master Points rewards?¡± ¡°There are ten thousand Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°Meow?! (Ten thousand?!)¡± Ziyun¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. It looked at Xu Ran. Who should these ten thousand points belong to? ¡°They¡¯re yours.¡± Seeing what Ziyun was thinking, Xu Ran immediately said ¡°The points earned from the rankings, is given to whoever earned them, and we split if earned together.¡± Ziyun¡¯s face was filled with even more happiness. The Beast Trainer Ranking is such a good thing! Although the reward for the historical ranking can only be obtained once it can strive to continue improving its ranking and continue to get rewards! Also, being 3rd place on the current leaderboard, it should receive quite a substantial reward at the end of the week, right? It could see instant wealth right in front of it! Star and Cancan both revealed envious looks. They had already been thinking about climbing the rankings, and now, they wanted to do so even more earnestly. For more Beast Master Points, charge forward! After knowing the reason, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at the crowd discussing in front of the leaderboard again. These people, they should all have seen his alias, right? Then¡­ Xu Ran casually opened the main task, his face filled with joy. The progress of the Main Task 3 went from the previous (0.03/70) and directly became (0.12/70). Not only the crowd in front of him, but the news was probably still spreading. After fermenting for a few days, it should be able to break through 1% soon. Indeed, it¡¯s effective. That being the case, let¡¯s add some fuel to the fire! ¡°Let¡¯s go, we will check other leaderboards.¡± Xu Ran, leading his three little ones, was about to leave. ¡°Wait a moment, young man.¡± Old Yu hurriedly stopped Xu Ran, chuckled ¡°May I know your name?¡± ¡°Xu Ran.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Old Yu slightly nodded, secretly noting down this name, ¡°I am Yu Changming, a journalist for the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report, I am very familiar with the leaderboards here.¡± ¡°If you are willing to answer a few of my questions, I can guide you.¡± This was the real reason why Yu Changming had initiated a conversation. The importance of getting firsthand information from such a young Beast Master who had just made it onto the leaderboard goes without saying. ¡°Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report?¡± A surprised expression crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Now it was Yu Changming¡¯s turn to be surprised, ¡°It¡¯s a newspaper authorized by the Beast Master Association, which carries all Beast Master related news, many people love reading it.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t know before, but I know now.¡± Xu Ran flashed a brilliant smile. They really delivered the pillow just as sleep arrived. ¡°You can ask however many questions, feel free..¡± Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 182: Stars Speed l Chapter 295: Chapter 182: Star¡¯s Speed l Translator: 549690339 ¡°That¡¯s truly great.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s friendly cooperation made Yu Changming let out a sigh of relief. He knew that him being a guide to Xu Ran was nothing more than a trivial help compared to Xu Ran agreeing to his interview. Under such circumstances, Xu Ran¡¯s willingness to agree made this overly powerful young man seemed to be modest and friendly. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the next ranking then.¡± Yu Changming suppressed the urge to start the interview immediately, initiated a conversation, ¡°Can I ask, how old are you?¡± ¡°Twenty-three.¡± ¡°Twenty-three¡­¡± Even though he had an expectation, Yu Changming was still shocked by Xu Ran¡¯s young age. ¡°Given so, suitable rankings for you, besides those for Leadership Level Beast Masters and Leadership Stage Pet Beasts, also include the Beast Trainer Ranking by age.¡± ¡°Could you introduce me to all those?¡± Xu Ran asked further. Indeed, Yu Changming understands the Beast Trainer Ranking specifically, his explanation was a lot different from Qin Can¡¯s vague introduction before. ¡°Sure, we can walk and talk.¡± Yu Changming pointed to a direction, then started to speak slowly, ¡°The ranking for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts, which you just participated in, is for individual beasts.¡± ¡°The Beast Master and his other pet beasts can¡¯t participate, or it would be considered as a violation of the Beast Trainer Ranking rules.¡± ¡°Aside from the ranking that tests the power of a single pet beast, there¡¯s also a ranking that evaluates the overall strength of a Beast Master, targeting the Beast Master himself and all his beasts, and it is divided according to the Beast Master level.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many rankings divided by age, given your current age, you can try the Beast Trainer Ranking for youths between the ages of 20 and 30.¡± ¡°Those are the three ways of ranking.¡± Yu Changming paused, ¡°of course, no matter which type of ranking, you should choose based on your own strengths to get the highest ranking possible.¡± ¡°Could you reveal what the pet beast you didn¡¯t rank earlier excels in?¡± Yu Changming glanced at Star, who was silent behind Xu Ran, constantly searching left and right for the suitable rankings for himself. ¡°Star is a support type pet beast, not only can it provide enhancements for teammates, but it also possesses high speed.¡± Xu Ran pat Star¡¯s head, and started to introduce a bit proudly. ¡°Enhancements and speed huh¡­¡±A look of ¡°As expected¡± white appeared on Yu Changming¡¯s face, ¡°in terms of enhancements, you can show off in rankings targeting Beast Masters, speed¡­ hng.¡± He stopped his steps and pointed at a board not far away, ¡°This one, you might want to give it a try.¡± Xu Ran and the three little ones looked up, following the sound and soon saw the name of the new ranking. ¡°Leadership Level Pet Beast Velocity Chart¡± Next to it, there was also the corresponding Historical Rankings. Speed¡­ In an instant, Star¡¯s eyes lit up. Isn¡¯t this ranking made for him?! Although being useful in group fights already made him very happy, if possible, he also wanted to independently shine. If it could get onto this ranking and the Historical Rankings next to it, wouldn¡¯t it also be able to gain Beast Master Points like Ziyun? For Star, who recently became rather poor, this was too important. ¡°Meow!¡±(I want to try it out!) ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. Just right, the three-star skill that Star hadn¡¯t tried yet after leveling up from Reduction was a speed-increasing skill called Gap Flow Shuttle. His gaze scrolled from the top name in the leaderboard downward, quickly landing on the current first rank. ¡°First place, Liu Pei, Wind Ostrich, Speed: 4i7.4m/s¡± Unlike the battle strength chart with incomprehensible battle power standards, the Velocity Chart had a very clear standard for speed. The first contestant¡¯s speed had already surpassed the speed of sound. This made Xu Ran seem a bit serious. At the Leadership Level, the horrendous speed surpassing that of sound was extremely difficult. Under normal circumstances, those good at speed, the General Stage, could reach such speed with relative ease. Previously, using the Heart of Eternal Night¡¯s boost and Moon Concealment Star Racing¡¯s acceleration, Star absolutely could not surpass the speed of sound. But that was just before. Let¡¯s see how fast Star can go now, with the boost from Gap Flow Shuttle! ¡°Go Star!¡± Xu Ran waved his fist at Star from afar, showing his encouraging expression. ¡°Meow!¡±(Win the Beast Master Points back!) Ziyun gave its longtime comrade a pat. ¡°Charming!¡±(Big brother Star, you can do it!) Cancan nodded heavily, his eyes carrying a bit of admiration. Between Ziyun and Star, if you say Cancan respects and fears Ziyun, then to Star, it¡¯s like the respect a kid gives to an elder. After all, when they first came to this world, Star accompanied him for a long time. ¡°Meow!¡±(I will!) Feeling the weight in the eyes of his comrades, Star nodded heavily, then with high speed, flew towards the Velocity Chart below, indicated on test area C23. ¡°It seems like the relationship between you and your pet beasts is very harmonious..¡± Watching the interaction between one human and three pets the whole time, Yu Changming started to speak with a smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going with it?¡± Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 182: Stars Speed_2 Chapter 296: Chapter 182: Star¡¯s Speed_2 Translator: 549690339 | ¡°No need.¡± Xu Ran pointed to the leaderboard in front of him, a look of trust appearing on his face, ¡°At this time, we as partners should wait in front of the leaderboard to see the refresh as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Yu Changming seemed to understand something and a smile appeared on his face, ¡°So while waiting for your pet beast to be tested, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, revealing a sincere smile, ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m quite looking forward to it.¡± The influence of the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report was unknown, but it shouldn¡¯t be too low. The appearance of the name Starfire Foster Care Shop would certainly be a great help in completing the main task 3. He must cooperate wholeheartedly with this opportunity. Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s reply, the smile on Yu Changming¡¯s face deepened. The Beast Masters he had interviewed in the past were quite impatient about this, only Xu Ran cooperated so well, using words like ¡°looking forward to it¡± to encourage him. What a humble and noble youth he was. He must write a few good words for him in the report. Yu Changming, whose impression of Xu Ran was excellent, secretly decided, and then asked the first question which had been puzzling him, ¡°Why is your pseudonym so strange, it seems to be a¡­ store name?¡± Here it comes! Xu Ran¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop is a shop I just opened, providing washing and companion training services for pet beasts of super-large size and below, and king stage and below¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s eloquent introduction, which seemed to have been rehearsed countless times without any hitches, Yu Changming¡¯s face was slightly taken aback, ¡°¡­huh?¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Is it my turn?) Star neighed and patiently waited for the previous Beast Master and his pet beast to leave the C23 test site, then rushed towards the entrance. Even without Xu Ran accompanying him, Star was confident that he could easily handle the rules of the test, which he had seen outside the entrance. After touching the Beast Master Badge of Xu Ran at the scanning area and completing the entry according to the steps in the previous C12 test, Star entered the testing ground alone under the slightly strange gaze of other Beast Masters and pet beasts. It was clear that the Xieyun City Beast Master Association had invested a lot of resources in the construction of the Beast Trainer Ranking. Each test site looked the same size, but depending on the function, there were different interiors. This was the real Space Expansion technique. Every inch of space created was valuable. Only Cloud City, whose city lord had reached the Emperor Level, had the confidence to use it extensively. The characteristic of the previous C12 area was large, while the characteristic of the current C23 area was long. It was a winding track, five kilometers long. The test for the Speed Chart did not require running from the start to the finish. The pet beast could stop at any time during this course, and the highest instantaneous speed before stopping would be the pet beast¡¯s score. In other words, even if this speed only lasted for an instant, it could also be included in the final score. This made Star, who was blessed with the Heart of Eternal Night and had a full battery life, feel a bit regretful. Such a test didn¡¯t seem to fully exploit his advantages. However¡­ Since he¡¯s here¡­ A battle spirit emerged in Star¡¯s eyes, which were as purple as crystal. Breaking the sound barrier? He had a feeling. When he fully used the Gap Flow Shuttle, he might be able to do it. So, let¡¯s run! Star forcefully stepped on the ground with his four hooves. As a born runner, he quickly regained the rhythm of running, feeling the rushing wind around him with his powerful body. This is not enough! This is just the start! With his eyes as purple as crystal fixed on the front, Star was quietly cloaked in a smoky, dark force, like a cloak belonging to a child of the night. In the escalating momentum, Star¡¯s speed continued to rise visibly and kept increasing. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level-Heart of Eternal Night! ¡°Tap ¡± Accompanying a loud sound of a hooves hitting the ground, Star, who had just leaped in the air, seemed to have entered another world in the next instant¡ª his figure faintly translucent, and his aura vanished. In the blurry light and shadow, Star was cloaked in the cloak of the night, like a ghost in the dark, his speed suddenly increased, so fast that only a blurry outline was left. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level Moon Concealment Star Racing! So now¡­ Facing the howling wind, Star¡¯s eyes became sharper. Let me see, the effect of the Gap Flow Shuttle! His body gradually shrank while sprinting, as if he had entered Doraemon¡¯s Gulliver¡¯s tunnel, the blurred light and shadow shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye. Three meters¡­ two meters¡­ one meter¡­ Star¡¯s figure became increasingly tiny, even smaller than a newly born little horse, yet its speed surged frighteningly as its body shrank. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Gap Flow Shuttle! ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± The deafening boom echoed in Star¡¯s ears. The increasingly intense gale formed an impervious barrier, blocking Star¡¯s path. It was getting closer, inching towards the speed of sound! Star¡¯s eyes became even more fierce. Its body continued to shrink, to the point where it seemed like it could be easily lifted by a single hand. And yet, its speed reached a mind-boggling level. In a sudden moment, Star felt that the fierce wind barrier in front had been shattered and the deep booms could no longer be heard in its surroundings. It seemed as if it had entered a silent world, suddenly transitioning from extreme noise to tranquillity. Bright light emanated from the single horn on its forehead, illuminating everything around it. Even though there were no illusions that needed to be dissipated, Star wanted to shine brightly at this moment! ¡°Thud¡­!¡± At last, Star stopped at the finish line of the runway. In front of it, the screen displayed its test results after a moment of silence. ¡°Speed: 459.1m/s¡± This was¡­ Star¡¯s speed! ¡°Ding¡­!¡± Hearing the bell sound all of a sudden, Xu Ran and Yu Changming temporarily halted their interview. ¡°What is this sound?¡± Having heard the bell for the first time, Xu Ran looked curious. He then looked at the flickering Velocity Chart of the current Leadership Stage Pet Beasts in front of him, ¡°is this the notification sound for ranking changes?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Yu Changming nodded. There was still plenty on his mind, the few simple Q&A just now had uncovered a vast amount of information. ¡°So that¡¯s why so many people were crowding around the rankings when I was climbing up just now,¡± Xu Ran realized, ¡°a ranking change sure makes a big fuss, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°This is nothing,¡± Yu Changming shook his head, pointing at the pillar of light erupting from the Historical Rankings beside them, ¡°now this is a big commotion.¡± ¡°Made it into the Historical Rankings?¡± A smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Looks like I¡¯m going to receive Beast Master Points as a reward again.¡± While the rankings hadn¡¯t started to shift yet, Xu Ran quickly scanned the placements on the Historical Rankings. Liu Pei, who was currently in first place, had also made it into the top ten of the Historical Rankings, sitting at ninth. It seemed that he was not a simple character either. Yet, the one who truly outshined them was no other than the number one on the Historical Records. ¡°First place, FangCanghai, Speedy Winged Kite, Speed: 5O3.4m/s¡± ¡°Once again, Chairman Fang is first.¡± Xu Ran clicked his tongue, his curiosity about the prodigy he had never met growing. ¡°You¡¯ll see plenty more later.¡± Yu Changming laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk anymore, the ranking has started to move!¡± While the two were conversating, the crowd had already started gathering in front of the rankings, their eyes fixed on the two lists, filled with chatter. The current chart was the first to see a change in rankings, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s gaze. The one in 500th place lit up, and then disappeared from the list. Seeing this familiar scene, the crowd¡¯s expressions subtly changed. Could it be that one again¡­ Before they could finish their thoughts, the following change on the chart left everyone wide-eyed. All of the names on the list, from position 1 to 499, lit up and then all moved down one place. A new name took the spot originally held by the one in first place. ¡°First Place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Star God Horse, Speed: 4591 m/s¡± This was¡­ A leap to first place!!! Have been very busy these past few days and my daily routine has been quite erratic. I will adjust it and stop here for today, will make it up with two chapters over the weekend.. Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 183: Cancans Ambition l Chapter 297: Chapter 183: Cancan¡¯s Ambition l Translator: 549690339 The current ranking¡­first? Looking at this suddenly appeared name, the entire crowd was astonished. It¡¯s him again! It¡¯s that mysterious Beast Master called the Starfire Foster Shop again! This guy didn¡¯t even test the combat power of his third pet beast and changed the ranking while everyone was anxiously waiting. He caught everyone off guard so that until now, not many people knew his true identity. And this time, his results are even more amazing than before. Previously, Liu Pei, who ranked first on the current list, had his Pet Beast, the Wind Ostrich, breaking through the speed of four hundred, which was a very astonishing result. It could enter the top ten in Historical Rankings, which was very rare. Quite a few people speculated that when Liu Pei becomes stronger and can¡¯t keep his current ranking, his Historical Ranking would probably enter the top three. And now, the Beast Master who seemed difficult to surpass has been parachuted above, and, the score exceeded by a large chunk! ¡°Quick, look at the Historical Rankings!¡± Someone shouted, and the others surprised by this quickly regained their senses and shifted their gazes towards the Historical Rankings. After the changes in the current rankings, the Historical Ranking also began to change. Everyone who had seen the results of the mysterious Beast Master was not interested in the 500th place of the Historical Ranking which was about to disappear. They all turned their eyes to the third person on the Historical Ranking. ¡°Third place, Qin Yue, Gale Dragon, Speed: 458.7m/s.¡± The mysterious Beast Master who just appeared¡­ he¡¯s taking her spot! ¡°It¡¯s Qin Yue!¡± Someone in the crowd murmured, ¡°She was a real demon, always at the top of the Velocity Chart before descending from the rankings a few years ago, and now she¡¯s scored on the Suai Stage Rankings.¡± ¡°This Qin Yue is known for her hot temper. Now that the mysterious ¡®Starfire Foster Shop¡¯ took her place in the Historical Rankings, she might be looking for trouble.¡± ¡°Speaking of, I still have no idea who this ¡®Starfire Foster Shop¡¯ Beast Master is.¡± ¡°This time I won¡¯t be fooled anymore, I¡¯m going to block him in C23!¡± II II Xu Ran heard what others were saying in the crowd, and his expression became strange. ¡°Young friend Xu Ran, are you planning to reveal your identity?¡± Yu Changming laughingly asked. After a previous conversation with Xu Ran, Yu Changming had learned a lot about him and realized that he had misunderstood him before. That¡¯s why the young man was so proactive in his interview ¡ª he wanted his shop to be known by more people¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter, it was a win-win situation. In Yu Changming¡¯s view, Xu Ran used his shop¡¯s name as a pseudonym, ostensibly also to increase the fame of the shop. In this case, not confessing his identity could be a good idea. People love exploring unknowns, and this could generate a bigger discussion. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s not reveal it for now.¡± According to others, if he took the ranking from Qin Yue, who was a General Level Beast Master, he might get in trouble. General Level, like Senior Gu¡¯s power. When the wind is high, play it safe! He quickly contacted Star through Contractual Sensing, telling it to not come out in a hurry, and he¡¯d find a chance to summon it back later. ¡°My young friend Xu Ran is indeed a wise man.¡± Yu Changming nodded in agreement, smiling. Xu Ran, who was still explaining the situation to Star, looked up blankly. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Bang-¡± Accompanied by a deep closing of the door, the house shook violently. Qin Can came down from upstairs, looking surprised at the woman changing shoes by the door, ¡°Sis, you¡¯re back early?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The woman finished changing into the indoor slippers, lifted her head and revealed a bright and beautiful face under the light. The features similar to Qin Can reflected the superior genes of their parents. However, the next moment, the woman leaped up quickly like a kangaroo, pounced on Qin Can, and threw him over her shoulder. His handsome face made a close encounter with the ground, and a hint of fierceness appeared in those cat-like eyes. ¡°I heard, you little bastard, lost to a Level 3 city Beast Master?¡± ¡°Sis! It hurts! It hurts!¡± Qin Can yelled helplessly, ¡°That¡¯s old news, seriously!¡± ¡°Old news?¡± Qin Yue snorted lightly, let go of Qin Can, moved her foot off his butt, ¡°I¡¯ve been out for a month, and I come back to this news. Qin Can, aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not entirely my fault.¡± Qin Can stood up rubbing his back, ¡°That guy¡¯s really strong and mysterious. The Level 3 city is definitely a smokescreen.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when you check it out.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about a Leadership Level Beast Master?¡± Qin Yue leisurely stretched on the couch, ¡°I¡¯ve been out on a mission outside the city for a whole month, I¡¯m not interested in this petty news.¡± ¡°A whole month!¡± Qin Yue held up her middle finger, ¡°Do you know how I spent this month? Huh?¡± ¡°This time I came home, I¡¯ll rest for at least two months, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving the city again!¡± Qin Yue vowed and then glanced at Qin Can, ¡°By the way, is there any money left on my Beast Washing Foster Shop¡¯s washing and protection card?¡± Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 183: Cancans Ambition_2 Chapter 298: Chapter 183: Cancan¡¯s Ambition_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I have to take those restless little brats of mine for a good wash and brush-up. They¡¯ve been out and about for a month and gotten filthy.¡± ¡°Ah¡­there¡¯s more.¡± Qin Can nodded and then seemed to remember something, his face becoming a bit strange, ¡°Then again, I¡¯d recommend a different place. There¡¯s a new foster shop in town that¡¯s been much better with washing than the Beast Baths.¡± ¡°They have a shop that good? I¡¯ve got to try it!¡± Qin Yue¡¯s eyes lit up, her interest piqued immediately, ¡°What¡¯s the shop¡­¡± ¡°Ding Ling Ling ¡ª¡± A call rang out from Qin Yue¡¯s waist belt. She gave Qin Can a ¡°quiet, I¡¯m on the phone¡± gesture, then answered ¡°Hello? Xiao Yu? What¡¯s up?¡± Just as Qin Can was about to mention the Starfire Foster Care Shop, he closed his mouth. The caller was her elder sister¡¯s best friend, and her elder sister had just returned from the outskirts of the city. Their phone conversation could last for a couple of hours, so he decided to just wait until they were finished. With that thought, he quietly took a step back, but the very next moment, Qin Yue¡¯s exclamation made him stop in his tracks. ¡°What the heck?!¡¯1 ¡°My third place on the historical leaderboard of beast speed rankings in the Leadership Stage is gone?!¡±¡± Ah, this¡­ Qin Can¡¯s ears perked up. Your sister is indeed very strong, but in Xieyun City, where talent is abundant, there were still many others who possessed considerable power at the same stage. That¡¯s why his older sister didn¡¯t have any particularly impressive achievements in the Beast Trainer Rankings. Except for speed. Among the four beasts his sister trained, one of them was a Gale Dragon, a king species with a wind attribute that was practically unmatched in terms of speed. Because of it, when she was a Leadership Level Beast Master, she once topped the speed charts. When she dropped out of the rankings, she even reached third place in the Historical Rankings. This was her highest ranking as a beast master and something she took great pride in. And now¡­someone had taken her third place? Though only one rank separates third and fourth place, they hold very different meanings. The third place means being in the top three, while the fourth is only in the top ten¡­ The mechanics of the Historical Rankings meant that she, who had already broken through to the General Level, had no chance of trying to challenge and surpass her previous record¡­ With this in mind, Qin Can couldn¡¯t resist glancing over at Qin Yue, who was growling and looking very sour. Given what he knew about his elder sister, the one who took her third place was in for a beating. The call ended quickly, and after putting the phone away, Qin Yue flopped back onto the couch, grumbling, ¡°That bastard, wait till I recover in a few days. I¡¯ll make him pay!¡± ¡°Sis, what happened?¡± Qin Can really couldn¡¯t hide his schadenfreude as he sat down on another couch next to Qin Yue, ¡°Who took your third place? Was it Liu Pei, who¡¯s consistently lead in the current rankings?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not up to the task yet.¡± Qin Yue grumbled, ¡°Liu Pei is about to have a breakthrough, I don¡¯t think he can surpass me when he steps down the rankings.¡± ¡°Some never seen before beast master popped out of the blue! Made his ranking debut by shooting straight up above me!¡± Just saying this made Qin Yue angry. If he had surpassed her one step at a time, she could have accepted that. But this type, intentionally not attempting the ranking and then suddenly giving it everything to reach the top, was just too unexpected! ¡°There should at least be some foreshadowing! Who does that?!¡± Qin Yue slammed a hand on the couch, being very outspoken. ¡°Sis¡­ remember to keep up appearances¡­¡± Qin Can¡¯s mouth twitched a bit, but then something seemed to register, and his expression changed slightly. A beast master who had never appeared before¡­ A leaderboard for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts¡­ Could it be him? But can he really achieve such a level? He never showed such a ridiculous speed before, did he? ¡°Sis, is the beast master who surpassed you surnamed Xu?¡± Even though he was doubtful, Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but confirm with his older sister. ¡°No.¡± Qin Yue shook her head. Qin Can was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard his sister speak again. ¡°The guy used a pseudonym, called ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯, sounds strange as hell, I doubt he¡¯s up to anything good.¡± Ah? What?! Qin Can blinked in surprise. A pseudonym is the Starfire Foster¡­? Sure, he taught Xu Ran to advertise after achieving high ranks and getting attention in the rankings, but he didn¡¯t teach him to advertise like this?! No, that¡¯s not the point. The one who surpassed his sister really was that guy?! ¡°Forget about all this, I¡¯ve only just returned to the city, and there¡¯s already so much bad news, it¡¯s exhausting.¡± Qin Yue slouched on the couch, one hand on her stomach and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something fun, what¡¯s the name of that place you mentioned that was so good at washing and grooming?¡± Qin Can:¡±¡­¡± Should he speak up, or not? ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± (Eighty thousand Beast Master Points?!) The star brought secretly back to Xu Ran¡¯s side, gasped in surprise upon hearing the reward for the third place in the Historical Rankings. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s eighty thousand.¡± Xu Ran nodded. When he first found out from Yu Changming, he was also shocked by this enormous reward. The amount of Beast Master Points awarded for different ranking zones in the Historical Rankings of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts is fixed. The first 500, 400, 300 and 200 each received a reward of five thousand Beast Master Points. That¡¯s why Ziyun had received ten thousand Beast Master Points all at once previously. The first 100 and 50 each received a reward of ten thousand Beast Master Points. The first 10, 3 and 1 each received a reward of twenty thousand Beast Master Points. On a single Historical Ranking, you can get up to one hundred thousand Beast Master Points as a reward. And Star, landing directly in third place, can get eighty thousand Beast Master Points. This represented an astronomical sum that he would hardly be able to spend in a short amount of time. Upon realizing that he was about to possess eighty thousand Beast Master Points, Star was moved to tears. At that moment, he felt the immense difficulty of overcoming his previous state of poverty. Never again would he have to endure those impoverished days! ¡°Meow-¡± (I also want to try the Velocity Chart.) Ziyun, standing next to him, showed a look of envy. Previously, he had been quite pleased with himself for earning ten thousand Beast Master Points. But look at Star now! Isn¡¯t it all about speed? With his Step on Electric Traces, his speed isn¡¯t bad either! Just needed to test instantaneous speed, then he could take off from the starting point, reach the finish line, then instantly return to the starting point, and easily top the Historical Rankings! ¡°I just asked, there are some limitations to the Velocity Chart test. Jumping speed skills don¡¯t count, only trajectory speed skills can be included.¡± Xu Ran tousled Ziyun¡¯s head helplessly. Jump and trajectory are a kind of classification for speed skills. Jump means to instantly appear from one location to another, such as teleportation, trajectory refers to normal movement. Although fast enough speed will also have a teleportation-like effect, the trajectory will be blocked, but the jump will not, so there is an essential difference between the two. Ziyun¡¯s Step on Electric Traces, the normal movement belongs to the trajectory speed skill, but the return process belongs to the jump skill. But Ziyun¡¯s normal movement speed is much slower compared to Star, certainly not breaking the sound barrier. And the lowest on the Historical Velocity Chart in the top five hundred is already approaching the speed of sound. Compared to charging the Velocity Chart, the Combat Power List is more suitable for Ziyun. After all, he still has a lot of room for improvement in the Leadership Stage. ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright-) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s analysis, Ziyun sighed. Damn it, he could only console himself. After subsequent strength improvements, he would charge the Historical Combat Power List. The Beast Master Points that Star gains, he will be able to gain sooner or later. ¡°Charming!¡± (What about me!) Cancan, who was also envious, seemed restless. It, too, wanted Beast Master Points! In the Combat Power List test just now, even though it performed pretty well, it was a lot worse than Ziyun, and it didn¡¯t even make it into the Historical Rankings. Next, they had to let it try the other lists, to see if it could gain any Beast Master Points, right? ¡°Alright, it¡¯s your turn next.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, then looked at Uncle Yu, ¡°Uncle Yu, where is the Defence list?¡± ¡°Over there.¡± Yu Changming pointed out the location of the Defence list. He then looked at Cancan, who was following behind Xu Ran, ¡°Is this the Panlong Turtle, which ranks 18th on the current Combat Power List? Is it good at defense?¡± ¡°Charming-¡± (Yes, that¡¯s me. But I¡¯m 19 now.) Cancan nodded, but looked a little weak. This rank sounded impressive, but was nothing compared to Ziyun and Star. Later, when it came to its best defense, it must make the Historical Ranking! It needs to prove its worth, that all the beatings it took from Ziyun as a child weren¡¯t in vain! Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 184:1, Can Aotian, Taking off from the Ground!_l Chapter 299: Chapter 184:1, Can Aotian, Taking off from the Ground!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°This is the Defense Power List.¡± Under the guidance of Yu Changming, Xu Ran and his three pet beasts arrived in front of another leaderboard. Xu Ran glanced back, at this time, many people were still gathered around the speed chart and the C23 test area, not a single person was before the Defensive list. Good. He shifted his attention back to the leaderboard in front of him, the first text he saw was an eye-catching line at the top of the list. ¡°Current Leader Stage Pet Beast Defense Power List¡± Underneath this line was the one with the highest defense power. ¡°1st Place, Xu Chao, Steel Shield Dog, Defense Power: 61232¡± Over sixty thousand defense power¡­ Xu Ran touched his chin. By comparison, it seemed that the standards given by the Beast Master Association for defense power and combat power are the same. It was unclear what these standards were exactly. He looked at Cancan who was eager to try and pointed at the inscription at the bottom of the leaderboard with a smile, ¡°You can go to the C07 test field on your own.¡± ¡°Just like with Star, I¡¯ll summon you back later.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Understood!) Cancan nodded with a serious expression, then strode boldly towards the corresponding test field with a high spirit. Defense, was the area it was best at. Pay attention to this! This time, it must make the Historical Rankings and gain Beast Master Points! After sending off Cancan, Xu Ran refocused on the list and a somewhat familiar name came into his view. ¡°3rd Place, Shang Xin, Ground Beast, Defense Power: 57339¡± ¡°This Shang Xin¡­¡± Xu Ran started hesitantly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I see her name on the leaderboard before?¡± ¡°Haha, your Panlong turtle pushed her down to the 18th place in the Combat Power List.¡± Yu Changming laughed, ¡°If you can surpass her ranking this time, that would be a second victory.¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, estimating Cancan¡¯s defense. ¡°Maybe¡­ there might be a possibility?¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) After the previous tester completed the test, Cancan stepped quickly into the test area, raising its head high, its eyes filled with anticipation. Before entering, it had read the specifics about the Defense Power test. Unlike other tests, the Defense Power test has two sections. One is the Defensive Power test against Attribute Resistances, the other is the Defensive Power test when faced with suppressed attributes. In other words, Cancan was going to face a thunder attribute attack first, followed by a wind attack, and the final score would be based on its ability to defend under these two extreme conditions. Wind attack, Cancan wasn¡¯t very familiar with. But the thunder attribute, it was extremely familiar with. With a fighting spirit surging in its eyes, Cancan looked at the prompt for the test to start, let out a roar, and then rapidly expanded, creating a gust of wind around it. Amidst the smoke and dust, Cancan, now the size of a 700 meter giant beast, emitted a yellow glow around its body, with the illusion of a dragon turtle flashing occasionally in the sky. It had already adjusted itself to peak condition by consecutively casting Jiezimixu, Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power, and Echoing of Earth Vein. A stream of lightning, roughly the thickness of a man¡¯s arm, emerged from the void, then struck down violently towards Cancan¡¯s body, touching a scale on Cancan¡¯s shoulder with a sharp ¡°zip¡± sound before¡­ Scraping the scales. Seeing such an attack, Cancan¡¯s eyes flashed with contempt. That¡¯s it? Any casual strike from Ziyun was stronger than this, right? ¡°Charming!¡± (Make it stronger!) Cancan roared to the sky, starting to taunt the testing equipment. The next moment, it was dumbfounded. Dense lightning flashed around, forming a large thunderball that enclosed it. Looking at the thousands of light points on the surface of the thunderball growing brighter, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but swallow. No way¡­ Isn¡¯t the appetizer a little lighter compared to the main course? It didn¡¯t dare to show off now, it immediately covered its body surface with a thick layer of mud as if it had rolled around in a thick mud pond. But this soft mud felt inexplicably unshakeable. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level, Giving Body to Fertile Soil! Although it was Waning Moon Level, with Full Moon Level proficiency under Echoing of Earth Vein boosting, the protective power of Giving Body to Fertile Soil was already infinitely close to the Full Moon Level. Combined with Cancan¡¯s escalating power, it gave a sense of being invincible. The moment Cancan completed the spell, hundreds of bolts of lightning burst out of the thunderball from different positions, each one having similar power to the one it had just faced. They were like sharp spears, piercing towards the mud around Cancan, then sank like stones in the sea, not stirring up any waves. The lightning was different from before. Because of the thunderball, the lightning maintained its power even after initially striking. It drew more power and continued to attack Cancan¡¯s body through the space that had been pierced, as if in a continuous electrocution. Such electrocution was getting stronger at a speed visible to the naked eye as more and more lightning burst out of the thunderball. Aware that something was wrong, Cancan put away its contempt. The yellow glow around its body grew brighter, the Echoing of Earth Vein reached its peak, continuously enhancing its own defense power by drawing Earth¡¯s power. One thousand¡­ two thousand¡­ three thousand¡­ More and more electric lights wreaked havoc around Cancan, like wildly dancing snakes of thunder, trying to pierce through the mud and attack Cancan¡¯s body underneath.. Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 184:1, Can Aotian, Taking off from the Ground!_2 Chapter 300: Chapter 184:1, Can Aotian, Taking off from the Ground!_2 Translator: 549690339 This isn¡¯t enough! In Cancan¡¯s eyes, a sharp gleam emerged. His massive body remained motionless, unshaken by the electricity. The continual electric attacks were wholly absorbed by his Giving Body to Fertile Soil. At this moment, he, covered in mud, seemed to have transformed into a mountain. Four thousand-five thousand-six thousand. Seemingly angered by Cancan¡¯s attitude, the Thunderball¡¯s lightning emission speed started to accelerate, covering Cancan¡¯s body with ever more Thunderbolts, wrapping it densely. Under such intense electricity, even the Giving Body to Fertile Soil began to struggle. Gradually, Electric Arcs started to bounce on the surface of the mud. This showed that Giving Body to Fertile Soil could not absorb and transmit the Thunderforce in time, causing an overflow of the attack. Charming! (It¡¯s kicking in! It¡¯s kicking in!) Feeling the strong tingling sensation brought by the overflow of Thunderforce, Cancan¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia. It felt like being beaten up by Ziyun. If it¡¯s just this, he can keep going! Charming! (Let¡¯s have more!) ¡°Crack!¡± Accompanied by continuous sharp sounds, the speed of the electric emission escalated once again. Seven thousand¡­eight thousand¡­nine thousand! Finally, when the number of Thunderbolts reached nine thousand, Giving Body to Fertile Soil completely lost its protective effect, and Cancan, whose defense was broken, was instantly charred by electricity. The next moment, the Thunderbolts and the Thunderball disappeared together. The first mock test of defense had been completed. Fine, you¡¯re mighty indeed. Dazed due to the electric shock, Cancan shook his head, a light-brown halo enveloped his body, rapidly healing his wounds. His eyes revealed a hint of fear. He had rarely confronted the Wind attribute. This attribute could restrain the Earth attribute, so the upcoming attack may not be that simple. So¡­ Cancan raised a claw and then pressed it heavily on the ground. Just performing this simple action with his gigantic seven-hundred-meter body unleashed a world-destroying majesty. Along with the violent roar, barriers radiating a light -brown light and a metallic luster sprang up from the ground. In a very short time, they rose almost a kilometer in height, and closed above Cancan¡¯s head, densely wrapping his huge body. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level: Eternal Iron Wall! The moment this skill was cast, sharp wind blades materialized from all sides of the testing ground and fiercely slashed down at the Eternal Iron Wall. The wind blades looked vaguely outlined, they didn¡¯t seem very powerful, but when faced with earth¡¯s defense, they had incredible destructive power. Each of them left a non-shallow trace on the hard barrier. Soon, the once bright and smooth surface of the Iron Wall was filled with marks left by wind blades, becoming battered beyond recognition. Cancan, hiding under the Iron Wall, felt the situation outside and heaved a sigh of relief. Just this? It was a little threatening but not much. As the Earth attribute power poured in, the Eternal Iron Wall activated its other effect ¨C the numerous cuts started to fade quickly, eventually disappearing, leaving behind the smooth surface of the wall. But before Cancan could rejoice, the next wave of wind blade attacks followed. Unlike the previous attack, this time it was double-bladed wind! After the first wind blade left a trace, the second one quickly followed, landing at the same spot, leaving a deeper trace. Feeling the increasingly significant vibrations around his body, Cancan¡¯s eyes quickly became serious. The Wind attribute is a little terrifying¡­ Under his desperate control, Earth attribute power continuously poured into the Eternal Iron Wall, continually repairing the damage caused by the wind blades. Triple-blade wind-quadruple-blade wind¡­quinquennial-blade wind¡­ Unlike the test with the Thunder attribute, the Wind Attribute¡¯s test was a huge challenge to Cancan¡¯s defense. Ultimately, under the seven-blade wind, the Eternal Iron Wall was torn apart by countless wind blades. Cancan, hiding under the Iron Wall with Giving Body to Fertile Soil activated, could not escape either and became heavily wounded. The wind blades dissipated quickly. During Cancan¡¯s healing, his final test result appeared. ¡°Defense: 60194¡± Charming! (Stable!) Excitement flashed in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Before coming, he had specifically checked the historical defense rankings and the Beastmaster at the 500th position. With his defense power, he could easily make it onto the list. Beast Master Points, here I come! ¡°Sister Xin, you¡¯re here!¡± At the entrance of the Beast Trainer Ranking, a girl with long black hair rushed over tiredly. Another girl who had been waiting at the gate went up to meet her. ¡°You mentioned on the phone earlier that my spot on the Combat Power List was taken?¡± The first to receive the news, Shang Xin, grabbed the hand of the girl who greeted her, ¡°What exactly happened? Tell me as we walk.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The girl nodded, telling Shang Xin everything she knew about the situation. When they reached the Combat Power List, Shang Xin had already learned about the whole process from her friend. Seeing herself now at rank 20, Shang Xin¡¯s expression became a bit odd. Having your ranking taken by some powerful Beast Master really is annoying! Shang Xin¡¯s thoughts about challenging the mysterious Beastmaster named ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± who was in third place faded as she looked at the ranking. The one who pushed her off the rank wasn¡¯t even their strongest Pet Beast. ¡°Sister Xin, it¡¯s okay,¡± the girl beside her comforted, holding on to Shang Xin s arm. ¡°Your greatest strength is defense, not just anyone can get the third spot on the defense rankings!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shang Xin chuckled, a touch of pride in her eyes. ¡°But I also need to keep an eye on the attack rankings, the weekly settlement is coming up. ¡°Being in the 20th position is too risky. If there are any more fluctuations in the ranking, there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll fall out of the top 20 and miss out on a lot of Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve climbed the rankings,¡± Cubing her sleeve up, a battle spirit ignited in Shang Xin¡¯s eyes. ¡°At the very least, I¡¯ve got to put that Panlong Turtle in its place!¡± ¡°Okay! Go Sister Xin!¡± The girl waved her hand vigorously in the air, watching as Shang Xin entered testing site C12. A moment later, a ¡°ding-¡± bell rang throughout the venue. On the current Combat Power List, Shang Xin¡¯s ranking had returned to 18th, while the Panlong Turtle had fallen to 20 th. ¡°Sister Xin, you¡¯re amazing!¡± The girl complimented Shang Xin, who walked out calmly, an admiring look on her face. ¡°My Rip Wind Demon Bird has improved a little this month.¡± Shang Xin glanced at her ranking, and breathed out a sigh of relief. Good, good, backto 18th, it¡¯s not being stolen. Just as Shang Xin was thinking about this, another pleasant bell rang out. ¡°Ding-¡± Were there new ranking changes? Shang Xin¡¯s eyes swept elsewhere, looking for the flashing leaderboard. The next moment, her expression stiffened slightly. The changes were on the Defense Rankings?! For some reason, an uneasiness began to creep up in her heart. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s go check it out!¡± Shang Xin¡¯s tone conveyed her urgency, as she grabbed the girl next to her, and rushed towards the defense rankings. There were also people who had been eagerly awaiting the ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± on the Velocity Chart, but never got to see that mysterious Beastmaster. At this moment, all of them had a sense that something was off. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up!¡± Seeing so many people converging towards the Defense Rankings, Shang Xin¡¯s uneasy premonition grew stronger. A moment later, the two girls appeared before the leaderboard. The changes in the ranking on the current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Defense Ranking had already ended. A new, yet familiar name to everyone present, appeared in the second place on the leaderboard. ¡°2nd Place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Panlong Turtle, Defense: 60194 Seeing herself now at rank 4, Shang Xin was stunned. The current weekly rankings divide the rewards more intricately, the top 100 are almost divided into ten brackets, and the top ten rewards differ for each rank. Falling from third to fourth, her rewards were considerably less. Compared to this, the small gain from getting back in the top 20 Combat Power List mean nothing. She, who did not want to be outdone, had been thoroughly outdone. And it was by the same person, the same Beast. Why¡­ why is this happening? Is this person named Starfire Foster Store deliberately trying to get on her bad side?! Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 185 - The New Goal of the Three Chapter 301: Chapter 185 ¨C The New Goal of the Three Little Ones_l Translator: 549690339 Shang Xin was still questioning her existence in the crowd, when the surrounding crowd once again burst into an uproar. Following the end of the current Defense List ranking changes, the Historical Rankings began to fluctuate. After the unfortunate withdrawal of the 500th rank, the large group of names from the 499th rank all the way to the 269th lit up at the same time, and then uniformly moved down one rank. A new name, shining with a dazzling light, appeared in the 269th place on the Historical Rankings, replacing the name that had previously held this position. The reward for entering the top three hundred of the Historical Rankings in one go was¡­ Fifteen thousand Beast Master Points! With the rank on the Historical Rankings, this Beast Master who had yet to show his face had won a wealth that normal Beast Masters would struggle to get in decades. This made the onlooking crowd feel both envious and more curious about the identity of this mysterious Beast Master, known as the ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡±. Who could it be, possessing such a powerful ability, yet having never competed before? ¡°That guy must not be in the testing area!¡± someone in the crowd exclaimed, ¡°He must have let the pet beasts go in for the test themselves, then hid in a corner and summoned them back!¡± ¡°He might be among us at this very moment!¡± Hearing this, the crowd stirred, with everyone glancing around, trying to figure out who this mysterious Beast Master could be. Quite a few Beast Masters were casting suspicious glances at Xu Ran. Although the two pet beasts by his side seemed harmless, one was a cat and the other a horse, both seemingly matching the mysterious Beast Master¡¯s pet beasts. Could it be him¡­? For a moment, those noticing Xu Ran looked at him with increasingly puzzled expressions. Feeling the stares from those around him, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Even though the Starfire Foster Care Shop was located in Xieyun City, and he would inevitably be found out under this pseudonym, he hoped it wouldn¡¯t happen now. He couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. Although he hadn¡¯t seen much of the Beast Trainer Rankings, he wouldn¡¯t be staying in Xieyun City for just a day or two and there was plenty of time. Therefore¡­ In light of the circumstances, it was best to leave first. ¡°Uncle Yu, I shall take my leave. Goodbye for now,¡± Xu Ran decisively waved at Yu Changming, then quickly left with Star and Ziyun. Once he was out of the Beast Master Rankings area, he summoned Cancan back from the C07 testing area. The man and his three pets swiftly disappeared into the dim night, leaving behind in the Beast Master Rankings crowd who once again missed finding the mysterious Beast Master. ¡°Sister Xin, don¡¯t worry. I believe that with your strength, you can quickly surpass that mysterious Beast Master,¡± a girl next to Shang Xin in the crowd lightly shook her arm and encouraged. ¡°It¡¯s tough¡­¡± Shang Xin shook her head slightly, with a touch of loss in her eyes. Unlike the Combat Power List, she had just refreshed her Defense List score yesterday, so she knew very well that she, now fallen to the fourth place, wouldn¡¯t be able to surpass the other person in a short time, not even the third place. It was all because of that guy! Shang Xin couldn¡¯t help but glare at the name hanging in second place on the list. In three days, it would be time for the current rankings to be settled weekly. That person had knocked her down in two out of the three rankings he had competed in, causing her to lose many rewards in the process. Even if it wasn¡¯t intentional, he was still detestable! After a moment of silence, Shang Xin turned to the girl beside her, ¡°Xu Li, isn¡¯t your father working in the commercial department?¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up, Sister Xin?¡± The named girl asked curiously. ¡°Could you help me find out¡­¡± Shang Xin hesitated slightly, ¡°Whether there is actually a shop called Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Li nodded, took out her cellphone and stepped aside, ¡°Then you wait for me, I¡¯ll ask my father.¡± Watching the familiar girl leave, Shang Xin¡¯s eyes flickered. If it¡¯s indeed a shop, I¡¯ll visit it tomorrow and ask if that guy did it on purpose! There were not a few smart people in the crowd. After a long time of waiting for the mysterious Beast Master to appear, and without seeing any new list ranking changes, many people in the crowd realized that the Beast Master might have left and started tracking him down using this special pseudonym. For a time, many people in Xieyun City received phone calls asking if they knew about a foster care shop called Starfire, and similarly, many posts asking about it popped up on social media platforms. With more and more posts, naturally, many uninformed people who hadn¡¯t come to the Beast Master Rankings began to ask for details. The news that a Beast Master named ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± made it to the Historical Rankings three times spread rapidly. A storm was brewing. ¡°Phew, finally back in the shop.¡± Upon returning to the shop, Xu Ran stretched lazily, then showed an expectant smile, ¡°Let me see, what was the advertisement impact tonight.¡± Thank you for the pseudonym feature of the Beast Trainer Rankings. Originally, Xu Ran and the three little ones¡¯ planned advertising methods were much more complex than now, and they may not have had such immediate effects. As long as he was on the Ranking for a day, people would continually see the name of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. As long as he made progress on any list, the Starfire Foster Care Shop would attract more attention. There is no better way to advertise. [Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 185 - The New Goal of the Three Chapter 302: Chapter 185 ¨C The New Goal of the Three Little 0nes_2 Translator: 549690339 Task description: Please ask the host to set up a branch in a second-level town, and reach a local reputation of 70% (3-2/70) Task reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience +400] Seeing his fame increase by more than ten times since he set out, a satisfied smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Although the current pace of popularity increase is slower than when he was in Qingzhou City, this is mainly because Xieyun City has a more substantial population base. So, this kind of improvement is already better than he expected. ¡°Meow?¡± (How effective is our advertising?) Ziyun leaned in curiously in front of Xu Ran and asked. ¡°The effect is very good.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°If nothing happens, there should be quite a few guests tomorrow, although not necessarily everyone will spend money.¡± With the store open, Xu Ran doesn¡¯t think these people who heard the news would have no way to find him. So¡­ Isn¡¯t the business coming? Open the situation! Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s affirmative reply, the three little ones all showed excited expressions. If the Foster Shop business improves, they will get more resources. In this way, the speed of getting stronger will naturally be faster. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (My advertising effect must be the best!) Star let out a neigh, his eyes filled with a touch of pride. Being third in the historical rankings of the Leadership Stage Pet Beast speed list, his ranking result today was the best among the three little ones, so the advertising effect is naturally the best! ¡°Charming!¡± (My advertising effect is also definitely not weak.) Cancan hummed, not willing to show weakness. It also broke into the top 300 of the historical list, and even took the second place on the current list, so there must be many people who have noticed the Starfire Foster Care Shop because of it! ¡°Meow¡­¡± (You two¡­) A glint of fierceness flashed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Obviously, it was the first pet beast to be contracted, but at this moment it was ranked third, which made it a little unhappy. As the oldest, it must boost its team spirit! ¡°Meow!¡± (Tomorrow I¡¯m going to the Beast Trainer Ranking again!) Ziyun hummed, burning with soaring fighting spirit in her eyes. The negative effects brought by the Scarlet Battle Intent have completely disappeared, its fighting power has recovered, and its strength has returned to its peak. It has tried the Combat Power List today, and it will go there again tomorrow, trying to attack the second place. Not just that, it will try other lists tomorrow! For instance, the speed list that Star has tried. Although it has a high probability of not being able to make the historical list, occupying a high enough ranking on the current list can still earn a certain Beast Master Points reward at the end of the week settlement. Not only that, when its name appears on more lists, it will inevitably attract more attention, bringing even bigger advertising effect for Starfire Foster Care Shop. In its life, Ziyun will never be lesser to any beast! ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯m going too!) Cancan responded in kind. As the only pet beast among the three little ones that has tried two lists so far, it was very interested in getting on the list. Cancan, who is younger than Ziyun and Star, has a strong competitive spirit, just thinking about every rank on the list is like defeating an unknown opponent makes it inexplicably excited. It, the Panlong Turtle, is fired up! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I think I can try the Defense List?) Even Star, also seemed eager to have a go. After the previous Twilight Watch level up to become Night Rune, Star can not only bless other teammates, but also bless itself. But if it blesses itself, it can¡¯t enhance its strength, it can only increase its defense power with the Rune. Therefore, besides speed, its defense power was also quite considerable. Although it¡¯s not as abnormal as Cancan, there¡¯s still a good chance to enter the top 500 of the defense list. After going in, it could also get a weekly settlement reward! Although it has already earned 80,000 Beast Master Points through the historical speed list, who would say no to more points? ¡°All go.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Without staff, the daily training time in the training area has returned to six hours. After you finish your daily training, you can go around every day.¡± ¡°Try different ranking, verify your daily progress from another perspective, and advertise our shop by the way.¡± The three little ones nodded in unison. They have already remembered the process of competing for rankings. Next, as long as they bring Xu Ran¡¯s Beast Master Badge to verify their identities, they can compete for the rankings on their own while Xu Ran is managing the shop. As mature pet beasts, they have to earn their own Beast Master Points! ¡°In addition, we can also compete for rankings together after the shop closes every day.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face carried a bit of anticipation, ¡°Uncle Yu said, in addition to the individual pet beast rankings, there are also rankings for Beast Masters and Pet Beasts together.¡¯ Speaking of this, Xu Ran looked towards the wall of the shop on one side. There, hung a long knife with a handle bound in white silk, revealing only a very old and worn-out handle. He has never revealed the power of that one blade he sensed in the valley under Thunderbolt Half Mountain. If the strength of a Beast Master and a Pet Beast can both be part of the Beast Master Rankings, then¡­ It¡¯s time to unsheath the blade. ¡°Oh yes, one more thing.¡± Looking at the eager faces of the three little ones, Xu Ran cleared his throat, ¡°Next, the interval of our resource allocation should be lengthened.¡± Eh? Eh?! The faces of the excited three little ones were like thunderstruck, and their expressions collapsed. Why? ¡°Because your strength has become stronger.¡± Xu Ran softly opened his mouth at the three confused faces, ¡°Less than ten thousand physical points a week isn¡¯t a significant enhancement to your growth stages.¡± ¡°To upgrade a skill from Full Moon Level to Halo Level requires ten thousand skill points. You might not even be able to upgrade one in a week.¡± ¡°If you need to fuse skills now, skill fragments need to be exchanged for three-star skills. One requires 200 skill fragments. You might not be able to exchange a few in a week.¡± ¡°The same goes for skill fusion stones. To fuse skills from three stars to four stars, the required skill fusion stones will certainly be much more than from two stars to three stars.¡± Listening to Xu Ran¡¯s analysis, the expression on the faces of the three little ones gradually changed from puzzled to helpless. It has to be admitted that what Xu Ran said is correct. A resource allocation once a week is already gradually lagging behind the improvement of the three little ones strength. It¡¯s too little, and seems scarce no matter what. In this case, frequent distribution might not necessarily be a good thing. But, considering the fact that it will take even longer for resource allocation to take place in the future, the expression of the three little ones became somewhat gloomy. Unknowingly, resource allocation has become their most anticipated event. It has transformed from a mere selection and exchange of resources to a means of the three little ones bonding with each other. Through this process, they would understand each other¡¯s power progress and future direction, striving forward together. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be extended for too long.¡± Seeing the dimming expressions of the three little ones, Xu Ran shookhis head helplessly, ¡°Let¡¯s change from once a week to once every two weeks.¡± One thing he didn¡¯t mention. There¡¯s not enough resources for distribution, but now that we have arrived at Xieyun City, the gains from running his foster shop will definitely be higher than before. And the Qingzhou City branch is always providing him with pleasure value, skill points, physical points, and skill fragments. Although there is a certain percentage of income taken from Qingzhou City, his overall resource income has almost doubled. And this is just the beginning. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but think of the reward for Main Task 3. Three system clerks. With these system clerks, he can open another branch and have more income. In the long run, his income will inevitably double again and again. The Pet Beasts are putting so much effort into getting stronger, he as a Beast Master cannot fall behind. In Xu Ran¡¯s mind, an image of the vast world map emerged. At this moment, he was still in a corner of the world. One day, he wants to flood the map with points belonging to the Starfire Foster Care Shop and have Starfire Foster Care Shops in every corner of the world. But before that¡­ ¡°It¡¯s dark now, time to sleep.¡± Xu Ran stretched, walking towards the upper floor, ¡°We¡¯ll work hard again tomorrow.¡± Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 186 Linglong Butterfly Cleansed of Chapter 303: Chapter 186 Linglong Butterfly Cleansed of All Mundane Worldliness l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ha-¡± The next morning, Xu Ran sat at his bedhead, rubbing his sleepy eyes, looking at the three little ones on the room floor. Star had shrunken his body to about one and a half meters in height, kneeling on the floor with his head lowered against Cancan¡¯s shell. Cancan, having shrunken to about a meter under the full moon level of Jiezi Sumi, was curled up inside his shell with only his head sticking out, resting on Star¡¯s tail. Between these two cuddly little fellows lay a fluffy ball of white tinged with a bit of purple, that was Ziyun, who had also shrunken. Seeing the harmony and affections of the three little ones, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile. When Xu Ran made movements getting out of bed, the three little ones woke up one after another, quickly looking towards Xu Ran, energetically rushing into the washroom and obediently washing their faces. The first to develop this habit was Cancan, who had an instinct to mimic the behavior of the people and beasts around him after hatching from the egg. After seeing Xu Ran wash up, he quickly learned how to do it himself. Later, seeing Cancan so clean, Ziyun and Star, as his seniors, felt embarrassed and followed suit. After quickly changing his clothes, Xu Ran also entered the washroom. After finishing his washing under the watchful eyes of the three little ones, he tidied up the sink and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Food, food!) Cancan swallowed saliva, his face full of anticipation. The pet beast food prepared by Xu Ran was loved by the three little ones, but Cancan loved it the most because it contained Transcendent milk specially prepared for him, a leader stage babe who is a hundred and eight meters in body length. Xu Ran, and the three pets got to the basement floor, where he served three portions of their meal under their hopeful gazes. Different from each other while eating, the three little ones individually managed their food. Ziyun liked to lick it with its barbed tongue, scraping off food layer by layer and swallowing it. Occasionally when it came across chunky pieces of meat, it would chew them with the teeth on both sides, making a slight ¡°crunch¡± sound. Sometimes it would use its paw to scrape the plate, gathering the scattered food together, making it easier for him to eat next, and then lick its paw clean. In contrast, Star ate much more roughly. His food, although essentially a part of a transcendent being, was still primarily grass and grains with occasional chunks of milk for seasoning. Each time Star would lower his long head right into the food, chewing boomingly. Before evolution, he used to eat his food from a bucket. However, after evolution, his single horn would pierce the food bucket. After several attempts, Xu Ran changed it to a large, wide-mouthed food bowl, solving the problem of inconvenient feeding. Cancan, who was much longer than before after his evolution, had the same problem, so he, who used to eat from a bucket, also switched to a wide-mouthed bowl just like Star. Cancan¡¯s food varied greatly, but it was soaked in milk, and in the end, it looked something like oatmeal. Cancan liked to eat with his head close to the bowl, always making a mess of his face, which he would then lick clean with his long tongue. Watching the three little ones eating, Xu Ran had a bowl of noodles that he had prepared for himself. He squatted on the ground and started eating hungrily. Looking at the large foster area, which was as grand as the one in the Qingzhou City branch, but lacked a tenant, Xu Ran suddenly said, ¡°Do you think¡­ we¡¯ll have a tenant move in today?¡± Hearing this, the three little ones all momentarily ceased their eating, exchanging glances, eyes filled with expectation. Each resident that would lodge in the shop would also have a unique significance for the three little ones. They would interact daily and get along with each other. This kind of relationship was like interacting neighbors. Some particularly friendly renters in Qingzhou City had even become familiar friends with the three little ones. Like the Velvet Sparrow. So, regarding what kind of first tenant Starfire Foster Shop of Xieyun City would receive, the three little ones were very curious. ¡°Meow!¡± (If there are new residents, let us know with Contractual Sensing!) Ziyun looked at Xu Ran with hopeful eyes. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. He slurped down the last bite of his noodle, stood up, and collected the finished little ones¡¯ food bowls. ¡°You guys go to the training area for training, I¡¯m going to open the shop.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Got it!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Got it!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Got it!) The three little ones opened their mouths in unison, watching Xu Ran leave, then they walked to the training area together. On the other hand, Xu Ran returned to the shop and opened the door. Starfire Foster Shop began a new day of business¡­ Seeing the woman who had barged in as soon as the doors opened, Xu Ran¡¯s face momentarily faltered, then he broke into a smile, ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Shop¡­¡± The woman glanced around the shop, then her gaze fell on Xu Ran, ¡°Was it you who topped the leaderboard yesterday?¡± ¡°This question¡­¡± Xu Ran was not at all surprised by her question, and he had already thought of an answer, ¡°No comment.¡± The woman gave Xu Ran a speechless look, and after a pause, she said, ¡°Whether it was you or not, that person must have something to do with you..¡± Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 186 Linglong Butterfly Cleansed of Chapter 304: Chapter 186 Linglong Butterfly Cleansed of All Mundane Worldliness_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I am Shang Xin.¡± Shang Xin? Xu Ran scratched his head, a look of confusion flickering in his eyes. That sounds familiar. Who is it again? Shang Xin, who had been keeping an eye on Xu Ran, noticed the confusion in his eyes and a hint of disappointment flashed in her own. Seems like it¡¯s not him. Maybe as many Beast Masters speculated last night, the newly opened foster shop had spent a lot of money to hire a big shot to top their charts under a pseudonym. ¡°Tell him, that I will eventually take back my position on the defense leaderboard.¡± Oh! Understanding dawned in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Now he remembered, she was the Beast Master he had surpassed twice. After a night¡¯s sleep, he had completely put this matter behind. If Shang Xin hadn¡¯t mentioned her last sentence, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered. ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, then asked, ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, why not check out our shop¡¯s services?¡± Shang Xin appeared contemplative. With the help of Xu Li, she had easily found the location of the shop and came over early in the morning. One reason was to express her determination as she did just now; the other reason was her curiosity about the mysterious Beast Master who hadn¡¯t yet appeared. It was obvious from Xu Ran¡¯s natural reply that he indeed had a connection with the mysterious Beast Master. In that case, staying a bit longer in the shop might provide more information about the mysterious person. With this thought, Shang Xin slowly nodded. It just so happened that one of her three Pet Beasts needed grooming. No matter where she did it, the result would be the same. So why not here¡­ Shang Xin¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. She saw the price menu on the wall. ¡°You¡­¡± Shang Xin¡¯s eyes widened, turning to look at Xu Ran who was smiling, ¡°Did you make a mistake with your prices?¡± ¡°The price is correct.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°While our price might be higher, it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°Every shop claims to be worth it.¡± Shang Xin glared at Xu Ran, her tone more severe, ¡°Give my Linglong Butterfly a wash!¡± Although the price was several times higher than her usual grooming shop, as a Beast Master at the Leadership Level, Shang Xin obviously didn¡¯t lack money. Consider it an investment to find out more about the mysterious Beast Master. Such a cheater! Shang Xin glared at Xu Ran again while scanning the payment code. In her opinion, this guy Xu Ran was exploiting customers¡¯ curiosity about the mysterious Beast Master to cheat them. She could imagine that she definitely wouldn¡¯t be the last one. Upon payment, a Hexagram Star Array emerged behind Shang Xin. Amidst the strong wind, a large butterfly about two meters in wing-span, covered with delicate scales and semi-transparent throughout, flew out of the tempest. Feeling the strong wind blowing against him, Xu Ran raised an eyebrow and casually initiated a System Identification. [Race name: Linglong Butterfly Attribute: Wind Growth Stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: ***** Review: As one of the most beautiful Pet Beast Species among butterflies, this little butterfly is like a dusty pearl. It¡¯s time to use skillful hands to remove its lead hues.] One of the most beautiful Pet Beast Species among the butterflies? Having grown accustomed to extracting useful information from the System¡¯s unorthodox reviews, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the Linglong Butterfly before him. Its form was indeed quite elegant, but the wings were somewhat mucky. If the System was right, its appearance should greatly improve after a wash. After all, it had a Washing and Protection requirement of five stars. ¡°Follow me.¡± Xu Ran beckoned to the Linglong Butterfly, and then headed towards the Grooming Room. The Linglong Butterfly didn¡¯t immediately follow, but instead, turned its translucent, crystal-like eyes toward Shang Xin on the side. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Shang Xin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Upon receiving the Beast Master¡¯s response, the Linglong Butterfly flapped its wings, following behind Xu Ran, and Shang Xin also stepped into the Grooming Room. As soon as he entered, a look of astonishment flashed in Shang Xin¡¯s eyes. Surprisingly, the small storefront contained an unexpectedly spacious grooming space. This space clearly didn¡¯t match the exterior of the shop. In Shang Xin¡¯s recollections, the only things that could be hke this were¡­ Sensing that possibility, a hint of surprise flashed in Shang Xin¡¯s eyes, and he couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Xu Ran. According to the information received from Xu Li, this shop had just opened for business the day before yesterday after just completing its registration process. Unbelievably, a newly opened shop had such depth to it. No wonder there was such a mysterious Beast Master taking up the mantle of the store¡¯s name. While Shang Xin was in awe, Xu Ran had finished receiving a wealth of information that poured into his mind, learned about the habits of the Linglong Butterfly species, and looked at the Linglong Butterfly with an odd look in his eyes. He finally understood why the system claimed this creature to be a hidden gem. As a Wind Pet Beast of the butterfly variety, the Linglong Butterfly¡¯s wings have a very special property, allowing the wind to pass through them unimpeded. The problem was that the dust and other dirty particles that are normally unseen in the wind couldn¡¯t pass through the butterfly¡¯s wings. So, it was like a born air purifier. Each time it fluttered its wings, it would attract the dirty particles from the air onto its wings. Over time, the accumulation of dirt would cause its originally vibrant wings to lose their color. At the same time, what the Linglong Butterfly lost was the speed that it should have possessed as a Wind Pet Beast. Its speed was among the top in the Wind Pet Beasts. However, increasingly heavy wings would drastically reduce its speed. The problem of dirty wings was not hard to solve. Regular grooming would cleanse the dirt, and that¡¯s it. But there was another problem, the wings of the Linglong Butterfly are extremely difficult to clean. Based on the condition of the Linglong Butterfly¡¯s wings and other parts of its body, it can be seen that Shang Xin had previously sought other Foster Shops to groom it. However, these grooms were only able to care for the body, unable to scrub clean the wings. This led to the Linglong Butterfly¡¯s condition not improving much. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of a Beast Washing Foster Store, they¡¯re famous for their grooming.¡± Xu Ran looked at Shang Xin, ¡°Have you taken it there for grooming? Were they able to clean the Linglong Butterfly¡¯s wings?¡± ¡°I have.¡± Shang Xin¡¯s expression turned slightly gloomy on this topic. ¡°They do have a method to clean the wings, but many of the scales on the wings will fall off in the process, requiring a long recovery period.¡± ¡°The Linglong Butterfly suffers great pain during the process, so I didn¡¯t agree.¡± The Linglong Butterfly is a very rare and seldom seen Pet Beast Species. Even in a second-level city like Xieyun City, the number of Beast Masters who have contracted with this species could be counted on one hand. At first, Shang Xin was blown away by the beauty of the Linglong Butterfly and contracted it without hesitation. It was only after he realized the difficulties of thoroughly cleaning its wings did he view it as a big problem. Shang Xin looked at Xu Ran, feeling like his question had a deeper meaning, ¡°Could it be, you can clean them?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Xu Ran nodded affirmatively without hesitation, giving Shang Xin a positive answer, ¡°Give me ten minutes, and I promise to return to you a Linglong Butterfly in its prime.¡± As his words fell, Xu Ran began the preparations quickly at the operation table. The main reason for the difficulty in grooming a Linglong Butterfly is that most people don¡¯t know how to properly clean its wings. But with the knowledge passed on from the system, Xu Ran naturally didn¡¯t have these problems. The grooming method of the Linglong Butterfly is Wind Wash. Crushing the custom-proportioned Wind attribute resources into incredibly tiny particles and, using a blowing technique, directing it onto the wings of the Linglong Butterfly. These tiny particles would replace the dirt deposited on the wings of the Linglong Butterfly, forming crystal-like deposits on the wings¡¯ surface. And these resources could be absorbed by the Linglong Butterfly! While the butterfly absorbed them, these particles could effectively nurture the delicate scales on the butterfly¡¯s wings and even polish them. As such when the Linglong Butterfly finishes absorbing these particles, it will be like a brand new butterfly. It really is as simple as that. Ten minutes later, Shang Xin watched as the Linglong Butterfly fluttered its glowing, dazzling wings in the grooming room, creating sparkles in the air. He was filled with surprise. ¡°If I were you, I would try the Velocity Chart for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts now..¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Maybe it can overtake others by a shortcut?¡± Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 187: The Velocity Charts Plunge Chapter 305: Chapter 187: The Velocity Chart¡¯s Plunge Again_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°You¡¯re welcome to visit us again-¡± Standing at the door of the pet adoption shop, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile as he watched Shang Xin happily leave, cuddling the Linglong Butterfly. The satisfied departure of the first client of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City was a good sign. What about those two customers who came yesterday? Well¡­ They don¡¯t count. Xu Ran didn¡¯t have to wait long for the second customer to step into the shop. He was a young man who, judging from his clothing, belonged to a rich family. However, he looked somewhat worn out. He walked in alone, looked at Xu Ran, and asked, ¡°Excuse me, do you offer pet care services here?¡± ¡°Yes, we do,¡± stood up Xu Ran, ¡°What kind of pet beast do you need to foster?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit expensive?¡± Rather than answering Xu Ran¡¯s question, the young man¡¯s attention got drawn to the price tag on the wall of the shop, making him slightly frown, ¡°It¡¯s my first time hearing about payment in Beast Master Points for foster services.¡± Beast Master Points as payment? Xu Ran looked at the young man with surprise. Within the shop, only beast fostering services for general level and king level pet beasts require payment in Beast Master Points. Is this young man complaining casually, or are the pet beasts he is going to foster of such high levels? He looked slightly younger than Xu Ran himself, it wasn¡¯t possible that the power of his contract had reached such a degree, was it? ¡°Let me take a look at your fostering environment first.¡± The young man didn¡¯t leave because of the price. He turned to the door, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Roar-¡± Accompanied by a low growl, a human-shaped pet beast, emitting wild and ferocious breath and about four meters in height, walked step by step into the shop from outside the door. Its limbs were similar to those of humans, but were extraordinarily muscular, and it was covered in thick fur. It didn¡¯t have a separate head, its facial features were situated in the middle of its body, surrounded by mottled scars, many of which looked like they had just healed. And its aura¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. The Suai stage! ¡°This is your pet beast?!¡± He could not help but ask out loud due to the surprise. ¡°No.¡± The young man shook his head, ¡°Is there a rule that one can only foster their own pet beast?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t such a rule¡­¡± Xu Ran looked again at the ferocious-looking beast following the young man. It didn¡¯t look like it had been forced to come, and the young man likely didn¡¯t have the power to do that. As such, he decided not to inquire further. ¡°Please follow me, I will show you our fostering area.¡± Gathering his thoughts, Xu Ran led the young man and his petthrought the back door towards the foster area. ¡°So there¡¯s an underground area.¡± Walking through the underground passage, the young man seemed to suddenly understand. He had thought that the shop only had the exterior areas and didn¡¯t look like a place that offered foster services. Turns out this was the case. ¡°Our shop has another world hidden inside.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly, casually taking a System Identification of the beast following behind the young man. With the myriad of evolutions of the pet beasts, it was impossible for him to identify many of the evolved pet beasts, so he had to rely on the system. Race name: Combat Furball Attribute: Fighting Growth stage: General stage Body type: Large Washing and Protection require¡­ Xu Ran didn¡¯t need to look at the Washing and Protection requirements, so this guy is called Combat Furball¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the Combat Furball who was following behind the young man. It didn¡¯t look aggressive, on the contrary, much like the young man, it appeared to be in a rather low mood. ¡°May I ask, how did you find out about our shop?¡± Xu Ran asked casually. ¡°My home is nearby, I just happened to pass by.¡± Though the young man didn¡¯t seem much interested in chatting, he answered Xu Ran¡¯s question, ¡°Your shop is the first one I¡¯ve seen that asks for Beast Master Points as payment for General stage foster services, quite an eye-opener.¡± Seeing the young man¡¯s reluctance to talk further, Xu Ran didn¡¯t push, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit more curious. Once you reach the General stage, King stage or even higher growth stages, the value of the daily feeding resources becomes quite high. Of course, for Beast Masters of corresponding levels, they can generally afford this type of expenditure. How do the other foster shops in Xieyun City who don¡¯t take Beast Master Points for payment do it? Seems like after understanding more about Xieyun City, he needed to check on this. After all, the scale and tier of foster shops in big cities are higher, there should be some reference points to learn from. While they were talking, they had already reached the first underground level. Gazing at the wide, seemingly never-ending foster space in front of him, the young man¡¯s face showed shock for the first time, ¡°This¡­This is¡­¡± ¡°Space Expansion technology?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded calmly, ¡°Our shop uses Space Expansion technology. We can plan a suitable living space for each fostered pet beast to ensure they have plenty of room. Additionally, we customize the daily feed.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Initially, the young man, who thought payment in Beast Master Points was outrageous and had absolutely no plans of keeping the Combat Furball here, was now showing some hesitation. He looked at Combat Furball and then gritted his teeth, ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll foster for half a month first!¡± Half a month¡­ Xu Ran quickly did the mental math. The daily foster fee for a General stage pet beast is 266 Beast Master Points. For half a month, it would be 3,990 Beast Master Points. Very good, if more customers like this come, there will be a new source of Beast Master Points.. Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 187: The Velocity Charts Plunge Chapter 306: Chapter 187: The Velocity Chart¡¯s Plunge Again_2 Translator: 549690339 As expected from a major city, the possibility of fostering a General Stage Pet Beast did not exist in Qingzhou City. The only two General Level Beast Masters present had no need for such a service. ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded, took out the control hub, and designated a foster area for the Combat Furball in the presence of each pet owner. He then made adjustments to the terrain and environment according to their suggestions. ¡°The Combat Furball can move in now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming with you to make the payment. Please take good care of it.¡± The young man looked at Xu Ran, and then gently patted the fluffy body of the Combat Furball. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, don¡¯t blame yourself for my father¡¯s issues.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up in half a month!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Combat Furball stretched out its strong arms, gently hugged the young man, and the eyes that seemed to always radiate with ferocity, became gentle. It seems like there¡¯s a story there¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stroke his chin. The Combat Furball¡¯s low spirits might impact his accumulation of pleasure value, right? For the sake of pleasure value, it¡¯s time to become a spiritual mentor! ¡°Tap!¡± Standing in front of the Beast Trainer Ranking, a hint of hesitation appeared on Shang Xin¡¯s face. But soon, the hesitation turned into determination. ¡°We will make it onto the list, Linglong Butterfly.¡± She looked at the Linglong Butterfly in her arms and whispered. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Linglong Butterfly¡¯s antennae trembled lightly, making a slight sound, and it fluttered out of Shang Xin¡¯s arms, circling around her twice. Its stunning appearance attracted quite a crowd. Shortly after the successful entry verification at the entrance, Shang Xin and her pet headed straight to the current Leadership Stage Pet Beast¡¯s Velocity Chart. Standing in front of the Velocity Chart, Shang Xin couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we are going to¡­¡± ¡°Oh? If it isn¡¯t Shang Xin!¡± A sarcastic voice from the side made Shang Xin¡¯s face darken slightly. She turned her head and, as expected, saw a familiar face. ¡°Hou Huafei, after so many years, you¡¯re still the sardonic sissy.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a sissy?!¡± Hearing Shang Xin¡¯s words, a tall man in a half-opened shirt walking towards them, his face instantly turned gloomy. ¡°Whoever gets angry is the sissy.¡± Shang Xin calmly stared at the man. A tense atmosphere emerged between the two. After a standoff, Hou Huafei snorted and showed a mocking smile. ¡°Face the facts, Velocity Chart is not the place for you. Scram to your Defense and Combat Power Lists.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Hou Huafei chuckled. ¡°I heard that the mysterious Beast Master who was causing a stir last night suppressed you on both lists?¡± ¡°It¡¯s mutual.¡± Shang Xin pointed at the current Velocity Chart. ¡°Your current third spot has now become the fourth, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re on two lists,¡± Hou Huafei shot back. ¡°And your loss is bigger than mine.¡± Shang Xin: She really couldn¡¯t refute that. The man in front of her was causing Shang Xin a fair amount of irritation. Their animosity started when they were still Elite Level Beast Masters, and the Velocity Chart had everything to do with it. The Linglong Butterfly was Shang Xin¡¯s second pet. During the Elite Level Beast Master phase, its butterfly wings were not as damaged as now, and it had an impressive speed. It helped Shang Xin secure a good spot on the Elite Level Pet Beasts¡¯ Velocity Chart, still ranking in the top five hundred of the historical rankings. At that time, the pet beast of another Beast Master had a speed comparable to Linglong Butterfly¡¯s. The two kept trading spots on the chart, often being overtaken and then taking the lead again. Their ranks were always close. Those who love and hate each other on the chart usually either become friends because of familiarity, or they completely fall out and become enemies. Shang Xin and Hou Huafei were the latter. However, the good times did not last. As time passed, the condition of the Linglong Butterfly worsened, and Shang Xin¡¯s rank was left further and further behind by Hou Huafei¡¯s pet beast. She finally gave up the struggle for the Velocity Chart and concentrated her efforts on other charts. By the time she reached the Leadership Level, Shang Xin had never even visited the Velocity Chart. However, Hou Huafei¡¯s formidable talent had allowed him to surge to the third spot on the Leadership Level¡¯s Velocity Chart. Oh, now he¡¯s fourth. ¡°Hiss!¡± Just as Shang Xin was unsure of how to respond, the Linglong Butterfly next to her suddenly let out a soft hiss. It naturally remembered the Beast Master of the pet beast it had been competing with on the ranking chart during the Elite Level Beast Master period. At this moment, it sensed the other party¡¯s ridicule and contempt, and the anger and helplessness of its Beast Master, and a towering fighting intention was already kindled in its heart. Even its beautiful, crystal-like eyes became sharp. Coming back to reality by the sound of her own pet beast, Shang Xin¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. She turned her head to look at Hou Huafei who was preparing to laugh at her, and suddenly spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet, what do you say?¡± Hou Huafei raised an eyebrow. He was all too familiar with those words. Because betting had always been something he loved to do. Back when they were at the elite level, he and Shang Xin had made many bets on the ranking of the Velocity Chart, and each time he was the one who initiated it. When did it become Shang Xin¡¯s turn to propose a bet? ¡°What¡¯s the wager?¡± Hou Huafei¡¯s eyes flashed with amusement as he pointed to the current Velocity Chart beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re betting on your rank in this chart.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Shang Xin nodded, ¡°I¡¯m betting that I can make it to the top fifty, the stake is a thousand Beast Master Points.¡± As she said this, her heart was pounding. The competition on the Velocity Chart had been fierce lately. She had never tried to break into the chart before, and attempting to make it into the top fifty would be a significant challenge for her Linglong Butterfly. After all, not everyone was a freak who hustled under the pseudonym ¡°Starfire Foster¡±. But, she just didn¡¯t want to see Hou Huafei looking smug, plus, this was also the goal that the Linglong Butterfly had just told her. ¡°It seems I can make a small fortune today, I¡¯m in.¡± Hou Huafei chuckled, showing no hesitation, ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, but you¡¯ve become more impulsive.¡± ¡°Whether I¡¯m impulsive or not, you¡¯ll find out soon.¡± Having received Hou Huafei¡¯s confirmation, Shang Xin, with her Linglong Butterfly, made her way to Testing Field C23 without looking back. A few minutes later, accompanied by a clear electronic sound echoing throughout the venue, the current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Velocity Chart lit up brightly. Hou Huafei, who had been standing in front of the leaderboard waiting, furrowed his brows slightly. What was going on? It was Shang Xin¡¯s score? Could this woman actually make it to the leaderboard? He glanced at the speed of the newly lit 500th place, then at the speed of the 50th place, and felt a little more certain after comparison. Even if this woman made it to the leaderboard, she was still far from the top fifty. It was extremely difficult to increase one¡¯s speed once it reached a certain level¡­ Seeing the name that lit up a second after the 500th place disappeared, Hou Huafei¡¯s breath came to an abrupt halt. This¡­ This!!! From the 499th place to the 5th place, a total of 495 names lit up at the same time, then moved down one spot. It was so close! He, currently ranked 4th, was just a tiny bit away from having his ranking light up too! Before he could recover, that familiar yet strange name appeared below his ranking. ¡°5th place, Shang Xin, Linglong Butterfly, Speed: 324.6m/s¡± How is this possible? How is this possible?! Looking at Shang Xin¡¯s ranking right next to his own, Hou Huafei¡¯s breathing rapidly became ragged, flashes of Sky Thunder exploding in his mind. Didn¡¯t her Linglong Butterfly go to waste back when they were at the elite level? Why¡­ ¡°Ah! What a pity!¡± A voice with a touch of mockery appeared next to Hou Huafei. Shang Xin, holding the aloof Linglong Butterfly whose wings had become even more dazzling, appeared next to Hou Huafei, her expression somewhat regretful. ¡°If I knew this would happen, 1 would have betted on the top five.¡± She glanced at Hou Huafei. ¡°If I were to bet on the top five, someone wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take the bet, even for ten thousand Beast Master Points, right?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Hou Huafei was at a loss for words, he glared fiercely at Shang Xin, ¡°Don¡¯t get too smug, your ranking is still below mine!¡± ¡°Then let me officially inform you.¡± Shang Xin¡¯s smile faded, and a fierce determination flickered in her eyes. ¡°From now on, your ranking on the Velocity Chart is not going to be stable.¡± Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 188: Is the Lucky Fishs Sister also a Lucky Fish?_l Chapter 307: Chapter 188: Is the Lucky Fish¡¯s Sister also a Lucky Fish?_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°You wait and see!¡± Pointing at Shang Xin, Hou Huafei turned and walked away. Admittedly, he felt a strong sense of crisis from the rankings. There was no time to be complacent. In order to secure his rank before the weekly settlement, he must immediately proceed with a more rigorous training with his Pet Beast! Watching Hou Huafei¡¯s departing figure, a rich smile spread in Shang Xin¡¯s eyes. Although the rankings of both the combat power and defense lists had dropped due to the mysterious Beast Master, thanks to him, she found Starfire Foster Care Shop. Not only was there a washing and protection service to help the Linglong Butterfly thoroughly clean its wings, but she also landed at fifth place in the velocity chart where she hasn¡¯t appeared for a longtime. Adding things up, this week¡¯s settlement¡­ If she could keep her rank steady, the settlement reward would not decrease, but rather it would be somewhat higher than before. Speaking of which¡­ Suddenly, Shang Xin seemed to remember something and quickly pulled out her cell phone to dial a number. ¡°Hello, Sister Xin, have you been to Starfire Foster Care Shop? There was a slightly naive voice from Xu Li on the other end of the phone. ¡°Yes.¡± Shang Xin¡¯s eyes were full of smiles. She remembered. This girl, who was seven or eight years younger than her, had become acquainted with her because they both had contracted a very rare Pet Beast, the Linglong Butterfly. So¡­ ¡°Xu Li, take your Linglong Butterfly to Starfire Foster Care Shop, you¡¯ll be surprised.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± ¡°3990 Beast Master Points have been transferred. The young man completed the transfer of the Beast Master Points, he couldn¡¯t help but look at Xu Ran and reminded again, ¡°I hope you will take good care of it for the next half month.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I will do my best to make each Pet Beast in the shop feel at home.¡± Xu Ran spoke earnestly, then changed his tone, ¡°However, I feel there¡¯s more to your Fosterage.¡± ¡°If possible, I hope you can tell me the specifics.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°It will help me to better take care of the Pet Beast.¡± Perhaps moved by Xu Ran¡¯s last sentence, the young man opened his mouth after a brief hesitation, ¡°I don¡¯t really like talking about my family matters, but for Combat FurbalL.I will briefly explain.¡± He paused, seemed to be sorting out what he wanted to say, then slowly began, ¡°My name is Zhou Che, my father is a General Level Beast Master, and Combat Furball is his Pet Beast.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Through the conversation between Zhou Che and Combat Furball just now, he had vaguely guessed this possibility. If not for that, a General Stage Pet Beast would hardly be so close to a young man who was not its own Beast Master. ¡°My father is a member of the Hunting Squad outside the city. He hunts down the Extraordinary Beings outside to earn the resources needed by the family.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but rub his ears. General Level Beast Master¡­a member of the Hunting Squad. This gave him, who had dealt with the Tiger Hunting Squad in Qingzhou City many times, a surreal feeling. So this is what a second level town is like? No wonder he always felt that the elite-level, leadership Beast Masters here seemed to have nothing to do and could afford to be onlookers in front of the ranking boards. So, Leadership Level is still in the novice village huh? Zhou Che¡¯s narration continued, and Xu Ran quickly suppressed his chaotic thoughts and continued to listen. ¡°The Extraordinary Beings outside the city are very dangerous. Some days ago, my father and his Hunting Squad were ambushed by a small group of General stage Extraordinary Beings. Several people were seriously injured, a few Pet Beasts fell, and the loss was heavy.¡± ¡°My father is one of those who lost his Pet Beast.¡± Zhou Che¡¯s expression became more gloomy, ¡°He had a Pet Beast since I was a kid, it left us forever in that battle.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, a look of sympathy emerged on his face, ¡°And your father? ¡°His life is not in danger, but he¡¯s also seriously injured. Due to the backlash of his Pet Beast¡¯s fall, he¡¯s now in a coma and is expected to wake up in about half a month.¡± Half a month¡­ Xu Ran had a hunch, but he still needed to ask more to confirm, ¡°So why send Combat Furball out for Fosterage?¡± ¡°Because it feels guilty.¡± Zhou Che spoke softly, ¡°Combat Furball¡¯s evolutionary previous species was Fiery Bun, a powerful but flawed character in the combat attribute.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Although he didn¡¯t know Combat Furball, Fiery Bun was a species also owned by someone in Qingzhou City and had been sent to Starfire Foster Care Shop for washing and protection. As a combat attribute Pet Beast naturally possessing four two-star skills, Fiery Bun¡¯s potential was beyond question. But as the species¡¯ name suggested, it had a very fiery temperament and could explode over small things. What¡¯s more, it hada one-star skill named Frenzy. That was the same Frenzy that Xu Ran wanted to merge with Ziyun¡¯s Blood Fury before, but it didn¡¯t pan out. ¡°After Combat Furball evolved, it became more steady to a certain extent, but the fiery temperament was still there, it could be triggered under certain special circumstances.¡± ¡°The day they were ambushed, its hidden fiery temperament was triggered. Although this enhanced its power to some extent, it lost the most important orderliness in the Hunting Squad and a hole appeared in the squad¡¯s defensive formation.¡± ¡°Because of this, some people in the squad were very dissatisfied with Combat Furball, and Combat Furball was feeling very guilty about it.¡± Zhou Che¡¯s eyes flickered with pain, ¡°In the two days since father1 s coma, it had a severe emotional trauma.¡± Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 188: Is the Lucky Fishs Sister also a Lucky Fish?_2 Chapter 308: Chapter 188: Is the Lucky Fish¡¯s Sister also a Lucky Fish?_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Combat Furball and I have grown up together. It¡¯s my family, so I hope it can temporarily leave its home surroundings. Once my father wakes up, everything will be fine.¡± ¡°I believe that my father is not blaming it either. The Combat Furball listens to my father the most. By that time, it will certainly become cheerful again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a clear idea of the situation,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his eyes full of sympathy for Combat Furball. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will take good care of it.¡± He took a breath as he watched Zhou Che leave. This resident is a tricky one. Loss of sanity due to innate character flaws, leading to irreparable consequences. It was its fault, but it wasn¡¯t intentional. And that is precisely the root of Combat Furball¡¯s self-blame. To make it cheerful again, a way to keep it from reverting to that state must be found. So¡­ Xu Ran rubbed his chin. Does such a method exist? ¡°Xu Ran, I¡¯m back again!¡± Hearing the familiar voice outside the door, Xu Ran quickly snapped back to reality. He¡¯d have to think about how to help Combat Furball later. We should first solve the problem at hand. ¡°You¡¯re not here for grooming, are you?¡± Seeing Qin Can stride into the store, Xu Ran rubbed his forehead helplessly, ¡°Although I¡¯ve promised to groom your pet beasts for free three times, frequent grooming isn¡¯t good for them, so I won¡¯t accept it this time.¡± ¡°No problem, it¡¯s fine.¡± Qin Can gave a hearty laugh, a hint of barely perceptible pain flickering in his eyes. He then took a step aside, revealing a slender figure standing behind him, ¡°Let me introduce, this is my sister, Qin Yue.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded, then realizing the name sounded familiar, his voice sharply went up, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite capable, young man. You even squeezed me out of the historical velocity chart for the leadership stage.¡± Qin Yue walked over with a smile and patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re much better than my useless brother.¡± ¡°Ah ha ha~¡± Xu Ran forced out a laugh, sweat trickling down his back. What a small world. Was a general-level big shot at his doorstep now? He couldn¡¯t help but recall the crowd¡¯s discussion about this woman from their spectating session yesterday. A big devil, hot-tempered¡­ He stole her ranking, she wouldn¡¯t beat him up for it, would she? Thinking of this, Xu Ran gave Qin Can a resentful look. The town¡¯s lucky fish sure is a scam, isn¡¯t it? ¡°My brother told me you promised him a free grooming service three times for each of his three pet beasts,¡± Qin Yue coughed softly. ¡°Which makes a total of nine free grooming times, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°Alright then.¡± Qin Yue patted his shoulder, ¡°You can deduct four times from his total, and arrange it for my four pet beasts!¡± Huh? Xu Ran looked at Qin Can. Qin Can, standing behind Qin Yue, showed off an ugly smile that was worse than crying, ¡°Just do as my sister said.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded. The fact that they weren¡¯t causing him trouble made him feel a lot better. The concern of his pseudonym being later exposed had also decreased. The only thing he regretted was¡­ he was at a slight loss. He promised Qin Can free grooming because Qin Can was the town¡¯s lucky fish, which could be used to lure him into the shop more often, giving himself numerous opportunities to catch the lucky aura. If Qin Yue used some of the sessions, naturally, Qin Can would visit the shop less often. Forget it, he¡¯ll worry about that later. ¡°You can summon the pet beasts that need grooming now.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qin Yue nodded, and the Hexagram Star Array behind her flickered, with waves of energy causing a storm. In the storm, a dragon pet beast with a slender form and green streamlined scales flew out, flapping its wings. ¡°Hey ¡± This green-scaled dragon pet beast just flew out and gave Xu Ran a dissatisfied look, a hint of annoyance on its face. ¡°Haha, this is my pet beast, the Gale Dragon. The ranking you stole on the historical board belonged to it.¡± Qin Yue laughed when she saw this, then explained. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. She had summoned the Gale Dragon first. This woman must be doing this on purpose, right? [Race name: Gale Dragon Attribute: Wind Attribute Growth Stage: General Stage Size: Large-Sized Maintenance Need: ***** Evaluation: The arrogant little female dragon has not yet realized that she has become a captive. The host must use his graceful hands to let her fully understand who is the master here.] Little dragoness, captive¡­ The system is getting better and better at using words. Despite developing enough resistance to the System¡¯s nonchalant reviews, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth, then turning to the Gale Dragon, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯m coming too!¡± Qin Yue chuckled and followed him into the grooming room. On the way here, she heard from her little brother that this shop had actually used Space Expansion technology in the grooming room. She had not seen such an advanced technology many times and naturally wouldn¡¯t miss the chance to have a look. As she entered the grooming room, as expected, Qin Yue was startled by the much larger space inside than outside. But after seeing Xu Ran start diligently preparing the Gale Dragon for grooming, she suppressed her urge to yell out in surprise, pulled up a little stool, and sat in the corner, watching Xu Ran¡¯s grooming process carefully. Soon, a strange sound, fraught with a hint of winding, as if it couldn¡¯t help but escape after forcibly suppressing it, echoed endlessly in the grooming room. ¡°Oh¡ª¡± Watching Xu Ran¡¯s serious grooming movements and her Gale Dragon¡¯s infatuated gaze, Qin Yue, who had witnessed the whole process, was thoroughly stunned. This¡­ What¡¯s going on? After completing the grooming process for the Gale Dragon, Xu Ran opened his personal panel and was shocked. [***Wind Driving](Non-teachable) A new Three-Star Skill had emerged in his Pet Beast Skill column through fur plucking. Following the three Three-Star Skills he got from Qin Can yesterday, the first plucking session of the day has resulted in another Three-Star Skill. And this Three-Star Skill came from Qin Can¡¯s sister. So, was this a coincidence or¡­ Xu Ran rubbed his chin and turned to look at Qin Yue, who was looking at her Gale Dragon back and forth with a satisfied expression, ¡°The second pet beast can be groomed now.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Qin Yue¡¯s eyes flashed with excitement. If she had some doubts about the grooming effects that Qin Can praised to the skies before coming for grooming, even after seeing the post-grooming conditions of his several pet beasts, after grooming her Gale Dragon, she was thoroughly convinced. Such grooming effects surpassed all the foster shops in Xieyun City. And this was a newly opened store. ¡°Come on, time to groom my second pet beast!¡± Qin Yue cheerfully spoke, while the Hexagram Star Array behind her lit up again. She recalled her Gale Dragon, and a human-shaped pet beast, about three meters tall and wielding a thunderbolt lance, walked out of the storm. It was a Thunder Attribute King Species, the Crimson Lightning General. ¡°Take care!¡± Standing at the door of the fosterage shop, Xu Ran waved goodbye to the beaming and satisfied Qin Yue, his face also shining with a smile. All four of Qin Yue¡¯s pet beasts had been successfully plucked. In two days, he has gained seven new Three-Star Skills. The Lucky Fish of Xieyun City certainly delivered. She even purchased one and got one free. At first, he suspected that this fortune had little to do with Qin Yue and was purely because Qin Can, the Lucky Fish of Xieyun City, was present. However, halfway through grooming the third pet beast, Qin Can temporarily left the store due to other business, and it did not affect the plucking of the third and fourth pet beasts at all. This was enough to prove that the four Three-Star Skills he attained from Qin Yue¡¯s four pet beasts had nothing to do with Qin Can. There can be two Lucky Fishes! Moreover, there¡¯s another piece of good news. Among Qin Yue¡¯s four pet beasts, two of them belonged to the Thunder attribute and the Dark attribute. Added to Qin Can¡¯s Earth attribute pet beast, the seven Three-Star Skills from plucking fit perfectly to give his three pet beasts each an additional new skill. Two Lucky Fishes from one family benefitted three little ones. Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 189 Release of Extract Jade Chapter 309: Chapter 189 Release of Extract Jade Beastmaster Report!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯m not used to having two less hours of training time!) After finishing her six-hour training, Ziyun walked out of the training area with a look of melancholy on her face. Previously, when she was at the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City, thanks to Teacher Tony¡¯s accompaniment, each pet beast¡¯s maximum stay in the training area per day was increased from six hours to eight hours. Now, without the system staff in the new shop, the training efficiency has fallen back to what it was. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (But we can go and challenge ourselves on the Beast Trainer Ranking.) Star whinnied. Compared to Ziyun, it saw more advantages. Although it was two hours less per day for training, the other benefits of being in Xieyun City were greater for the three little ones, so it was largely advantageous for them. ¡°Charming!¡± (I was just considering what to exchange for the Beast Master Points I earned yesterday!) Cancan twisted her body, her eyes filled with anticipation. The Beast Master Points reward for the historical rankings wasn¡¯t instantly credited once the corresponding rank was achieved. The Beast Master Association had a verification process which was completed within twenty-four hours. If they calculated the time, it should arrive today. Yesterday evening, while Xu Ran was deep in meditation, the three little ones huddled together studying what resources could be exchanged using Xu Ran¡¯s cellphone. Even though the points hadn¡¯t been credited yet, they had to do their homework in advance. Hearing Cancan¡¯s words, Ziyun and Star also had expectant looks in their eyes. Counting the points that hadn¡¯t yet been credited, they each had over ten thousand Beast Master Points. These Beast Master Points could be used to exchange not only marshal-level resources but also king-level resources. There¡¯s a significant difference between king-level resources and marshal-level resources. First of all, the energy they provide is much stronger. King-level resources, derived from king-level extraordinary beings, are 5-10 times stronger in energy intensity than marshal-level, allowing the three little ones to absorb them for a longer time and progress to the perfect leadership stage faster and enter the accumulation stage. Secondly, and more importantly, most king-level resources have a feature that most marshal-level resources do not possess. Previously, Ziyun obtained a marshal-level resource known as the Cracked Claw Bone, which gives the absorber a small chance of gaining a three-star skill. Unfortunately, Ziyun did not gain the corresponding skill from the resource. Such a feature is relatively rare in marshal-level resources, and even if it does exist, the chances of gaining it are small, as was with the Cracked Claw Bone. However, with king-level resources, the chance of gaining the corresponding three-star skill of the extraordinary being when it was alive is extremely high. This occurrence is related to the skill proficiency of the extraordinary being itself. The skill proficiency corresponding to the king-level growth stage is the halo level. Upon reaching the halo level, the skill gets a significant boost, creating a closer connection with the extraordinary being itself, and more deeply inscribing it into the body and the bloodline. From this point on, the skill can be manipulated more flexibly and has a chance to be developed at a deeper level. At this time, the resources produced by the extraordinary being after its fall would leave traces of the corresponding skill, making it easier for the pet being that absorbs it to sense and master the skill through these traces. Previously, they were limited by Beast Master Points, but now they have enough. When choosing between marshal-level and king-level resources, the three little ones don¡¯t need to think about it¡ªunthinkingly choosing king-level is the right answer. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (With my points, I can even exchange for two of the most expensive king-level resources!) Star whinnied, her eyes filled with a few points of anticipation. Yesterday, she spotted several dark attribute resources. As soon as the points are credited, she¡¯ll exchange for them! ¡°Meow-¡± (Damn it!) Hearing Star¡¯s words, Ziyun¡¯s little face fell. Yesterday, Star received eighty thousand Beast Master Points, while she only got ten thousand. Adding to the previous points she had saved, she could only exchange for the poorer king-level resources. The ones she had her heart set on costed too much. So¡­ ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s go to Beast Trainer Ranking later!) Ziyun gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with fighting spirit. What about the historical rankings? She¡¯ll try all the lists, there must be a place where she can get Beast Master Points! ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯ll come too!) Cancan nodded her head vigorously, having only five thousand more points than Ziyun, she felt the crisis as well. Now that the resource distribution cycle has lengthened, they have to rely more on themselves if they want to get stronger! As the three little ones were talking, they entered the foster area and quickly discovered the first living area that appeared there. ¡°Charming!¡± (We have a new neighbor!) Surprise and anticipation appeared on Cancan¡¯s face. She moved her feet and quickly headed in that direction. Ziyun and Star exchanged a glance and followed closely behind. Before the three little ones even got close, a rather domineering breath surged from the living area. The next second, Combat Furball appeared. The horrific atmosphere of the marshal level made the three little ones change their face in unison. Their own aura exploded as they prepared to fight the enemy. However, in the next moment, the pressure from this breath dissipated, and the look of fierceness in Combat Furball¡¯s eyes was forcibly retracted, replaced by a deep sense of regret.. Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 189 Release of Extract Jade Chapter 310: Chapter 189 Release of Extract Jade Beastmaster Report!¡ª2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Roar!¡± Sorry, I got carried away again. The three little ones looked at me, I looked at them, each of us gathering ourselves. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are you okay?) Looking at the disheartened expression on Combat Furball¡¯s face, Ziyun swallowed the things he was about to say and began to ask out of curiosity. Combat Furball wobbled its body a little. ¡°Roar-¡± I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that I had made a big mistake due to impulsiveness before, so I¡¯m always reminding myself to control my emotions. Having said that, Combat Furball nodded its body upwards and downwards towards the three little ones before turning around and going back to its living area. This made the three little ones who originally planned to chat with the new resident give up the idea. After all, this General-stage little guy didn¡¯t seem too friendly. Cancan uplifted one of its claws, and swung it forward with force. ¡°Sure-¡± (Next, we go to the Beast Trainer Ranking!) ¡°Welcome to our shop-¡± Seeing another customer coming in, Xu Ran had a courteous smile on his face. There were already five or six new customers who came in today. Although it was incomparable to the bustling scene at Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City, the instant effect of advertising was so evident that he was very satisfied with the advertisement last night. The new customer was a teenager with an explosive hairstyle. As soon as he entered the shop, his gaze found Xu Ran right away, ¡°Are you the mysterious Beast Master who rushed the ranking yesterday?¡± ¡°No comment.¡± Xu Ran smiled a little. This question had been asked by several customers earlier. And he¡­hasn¡¯t¡­ ¡°Hmph! The newspaper has said it all, it¡¯s you!¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s reply, the teenager rolled his eyes and shook the newspaper in his hand. Newspaper? Xu Ran¡¯s smile seized for a moment, looking at the newspaper that the teenager was waving around in his hand ¨C the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report¡¯s big characters were distinctly visible to the eye. Uh oh. He almost forgot about the interview with Yu Changming yesterday ¨C today the Starfire Foster Care Shop would appear in the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report. ¡°How long has this newspaper been on sale?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Just released, still warm!¡± The teenager smiled, ¡°Stop pretending! I knew it was you!¡± ¡°I suspected it was you when I saw you at the chart yesterday!¡± So this teenager was at the scene yesterday¡­ ¡°Well, it¡¯s me.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°Can I take a look at that newspaper?¡± ¡°Sure, here you are. But you have to give it back after you read it, I have not finished reading it yet!¡± The teenager with the explosive hairstyle cheerfully handed over the newspaper. ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded, took the newspaper and read it carefully, soon shaking his head in disappointment. Not on the front page. Although he rushed the ranking quite fast, in a big city like Xieyun City, such incidents would not make into the main headline, unless he surpassed the historic achievement of Chairman Fang, then maybe there¡¯s a sliver of possibility. It was on the third page that Xu Ran saw the related news about Starfire Foster Care Shop. Yu Changming described the situation of Starfire Foster Care Shop, and all the contents were the questions he asked last night. With the exposure of these contents, his true identity has naturally been exposed too. ¡°Well, let it be exposed.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly. He didn¡¯t plan to hide his identity for long. Before this, he was a little concerned that Qin Yue would cause trouble for him. Now that he discovered Qin Yue is the second imp from Xieyun City, he wishes that Qin Yue would show up more often, so naturally he wouldn¡¯t worry about it. But¡­ Xu Ran had a thought. The newspaper has been released, then the fame of the shop¡­ ¡°Here¡¯s your newspaper back.¡± Xu Ran handed the newspaper back to the teenager with the explosive hairstyle, while casually opening the task panel to have a look. [Main task 3: Out with the old, in with the new Task Description: Please host open a branch in Second Level Town and its local fame reaches 70% (7.3/70) Task Rewards: System Clerk X3, System Upgrade Experience +400] The fame has doubled from last night, already completed a tenth of the task progress. And while Xu Ran was checking, the progress increased by 0.2. This shows that the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report still has great potential. After all, it has just been released recently and there is still a lot of room for growth. That¡¯s good, very good. Thinking that he was getting closer to completing Main Task 3, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face became even brighter. He turned his head and looked at the teenager with the explosive hairstyle at his side, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, need any service?¡± ¡°Oh, uh ¡­¡± The teenager with the explosive hairstyle scratched his head. He only saw the content in the newspaper, so he came to ask Xu Ran for confirmation as soon as possible. As for shopping at the foster shop, he really didn¡¯t plan on it. However, for some reason, when he heard Xu Ran say ¡°You¡¯ve come all the way here,¡± he felt like trying out the service. ¡°Then¡­ let¡¯s give it a try?¡± The young man said, turning to glance at the price list at the side. One second¡­ Two seconds¡­ Three seconds¡­ ¡°Goodbye!¡± The young man turned around and left. With these prices, there¡¯s no way he, Li Aotian, could afford to shop here! ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Watching the young man¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Ran shook his head reluctantly. Well, if the price scares him off without even wanting to try once, there have previously been quite a few customers like this. Now that the newspaper has been sold, more customers should come, right? Just as Xu Ran was thinking this, the enthusiastically charged three little ones walked out from the back door. ¡°Meow?¡± (Did the Beast Master Points arrive yet?) Ziyun approached Xu Ran, her eyes gleaming as she asked the question. ¡°Not yet, it should be soon,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°You¡¯re all headed to the Beast Trainer Ranking?¡± The three little ones nodded unanimously. ¡°Then go ahead,¡± Xu Ran spoke, pausing slightly, ¡°The newspaper featuring our store has just started selling, and more people are getting to know about Starfire Foster Shop, it¡¯s the right time for you guys to rank up.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Leave it to me!) Ziyun nodded heavily, glanced at Star and Cancan beside her. Yesterday, these two juniors took all the limelight, today it¡¯s her turn! Star and Cancan glanced at each other, a competitive look flashing in both their eyes. Even though they overshadowed Ziyun in the ranking yesterday, there are still many charts they haven¡¯t attempted yet. So, they need to continue working hard today! Star took the Beast Master Badge from the drawer behind the counter using his mouth, and dashed out of the shop, followed by Ziyun and Cancan. The three little ones headed towards the Beast Trainer Ranking. Watching them leave, Xu Ran turned his gaze to a new customer who just walked in. The customer was silent for a moment before pointing at Xu Ran and shouted. ¡°Indeed! You are that mysterious Beast Master!¡± Xu Ran:¡±¡­¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Who¡¯s going first?) After successfully entering the Beast Trainer Ranking with Xu Ran¡¯s Beast Master Badge, Ziyun looked at Star and Cancan, her eyes questioning. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll go try the Defense Chart first!) Star let out a roar, taking the lead. Yesterday, when Cancan went to try, it felt an eager itch to give it a go as well. In its view, aside from the Velocity Chart, this is probably the most suitable chart for it. ¡°Sure-¡± (The Defense Chart test will include two kinds of attacks, one that you suppress and one that suppresses you, gradually intensifying over time!) Having already tried the Defense Chart, Cancan quickly provided a reminder, though it soon wore a thoughtful expression. How should the mutual suppression between the Dark Attribute and Light Attribute be calculated? ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Got it!) Star nodded to indicate it understood, then strutted towards the C07 testing area. ¡°Meow?¡± (Shall we wait by the Defense Chart for its test results?) Ziyun suggested with a touch of curiosity in her eyes. Cancan nodded, and the two little ones familiarly went to the current Leader Stage Pet Beast Defense Chart. Looking at her name high up in second place, Cancan¡¯s eyes flashed with pride, her head held high. Then, she got slapped by Ziyun. ¡°Meow-¡± (You¡¯re not even first yet, stay humble!) Ziyun leisurely retracted her paw. If Cancan is acting arrogantly being in second place, what should she, who¡¯s third, do? Damn it! The two little ones started to wait, and Star who had successfully entered the C07 testing area began its own challenge. As complex and dark mysterious patterns covered its body, Star looked at the quickly converging Light Spears around it, its expression becoming gradually serious. Defense Chart, charge! Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 190: Its never-ending, isnt it?_l Chapter 311: Chapter 190: It¡¯s never-ending, isn¡¯t it?_l Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Crack¡ª¡± With a flash of the Light Spear piercing through Star¡¯s Night Rune, a scattering of Light Spears dissipated in moments, Star, standing calmly in the center of the testing area, his somewhat chaotic aura was quickly restored to its peak by the Heart of Eternal Night. A hint of regret flashed in his eyes, akin to Purple Crystals. He was just close to fending off all the Light Spears. Every Light Spear had the same strength, with the defense of the Night Rune, one line could resist one spear. The current Night Rune had seventeen lines, each use was capable of resisting seventeen Light Spear attacks, and could continuously be activated. Theoretically, this test didn¡¯t pose a great challenge to Star. But, there were far too many Light Spears. As the test neared completion, Light Spears were pouring down like rain from all directions. Even with Star¡¯s endless stamina, continuously activating the Night Rune to resist became strenuous, leading to defense failures. Star, with his stamina restored to its peak, showed a hint of expectation in his eyes. The Defense rankings had two rounds: one against a suppressed attribute, and the other against a counter attribute. Dark and Light attribute counter each other, under this situation, the second round would have¡­ Looking at the test zone now filled with floating purple-black energy orbs, the expectation in Star¡¯s eyes gradually turned into joy. The Dark attack was undoubtedly better suited for showcasing its defensive capabilities. So, where would he finally rank? ¡°Your Pet Beast washing and caring have been completed.¡± In the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran emerged with the refreshed Pet Beast after its caring session, much to the astonishment of his customers. ¡°You¡¯re worthy of being my idol; your caring level completely outclasses Beast Washing Foster Store!¡± A young customer gave Xu Ran a thumbs up, eyes gleaming, ¡°Idol, rest assured, I¡¯ll visit repeatedly in the future.¡± ¡°I really appreciate that.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The young man in front of him was called Song Shi, the same customer who had recognized him while the ¡®Three Little Ones¡¯ were leaving. After confirming that he was the mysterious Beast Master from yesterday¡¯s competition, Song Shi showed great enthusiasm, referring to him as an idol. It must be said, this was Xu Ran¡¯s first experience with such treatment. ¡°Idol, rest assured, I¡­¡± Song Shi was about to say something when his phone rang. He answered it after a ¡°please wait¡± gesture. Song Shi soon let out an exclamation. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°9th in the Defense rankings?!¡± Immediately after, he turned his head, eyes sparkling as he looked at Xu Ran. What? Xu Ran seemed slightly stunned, then speculation crept into his eyes. Could it be¡­ ¡°Idol! You¡¯re awesome!¡± Song Shi swiftly approached, ¡°Your Star God Horse ranked ninth in the Defense rankings!¡± ¡°Is that the black horse that left the shop earlier? Could I take a picture with it next time?¡± ¡°¡­ Sure.¡± Xu Ran forced a smile, while a flicker of curiosity arose in his heart. It seemed like the ¡®Three Little Ones¡¯ had started their ranking competition. I wonder what places they¡¯ll get today? Xu Ran¡¯s gaze rested on the long knife hanging on the shop wall. Once business was finished for the day, there were still many leaderboards to compete on. Let¡¯s warm up with the Three Little Ones first. ¡°9th place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Star God Horse, Defense: 52102¡± Seeing the updated leaderboard rankings, the watching crowd was thrown into uproar once again. ¡°It¡¯s that Beast Master from ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯ again! What¡¯s his backstory?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t read today¡¯s Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report, right? This Beast Master is the boss of Starfire Foster Care Shop, it¡¯s a newly opened foster shop.¡± ¡°What? The boss of a foster shop has such skills? Where is this shop?¡± II II Listening to the discussions going around, Ziyun and Cancan looked at each other. ¡°Meow?¡± (Could I¡­ try the Defense leaderboard?) Seeing Star and Cancan successively obtaining good scores, Ziyun flexed his paw, a touch eager to give it a try. Though, it doesn¡¯t possess a single skill that could serve as a defense skill. How are those words again? The best defense is a good offense. If your strength is high enough, you can use an attack as defense! ¡°Sure?¡± (Perhaps you should try something else?) Upon hearing this, Cancan¡¯s expression became strange. If he remembered correctly, the Defense ranking rules are to withstand attacks without fighting back. If they could counterattack in the rank competition, why would there be a separation between defense and attack? ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright then.) Watching Star returning casually, Ziyun stretched out his paw at him. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let me try next!) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Okay!) Looking up at his own ranking, Star felt a few moments of joy as he passed the Beast Master¡¯s Badge to Ziyun. Since they only had one Beast Master¡¯s Badge, the Three Little Ones could only compete one at a time. ¡°Meow!¡± (Now, watch me!) Badge in paw, Ziyun walked towards another leaderboard with a spring in his step. The interactions of the Three Little Ones also garnered quite a bit of attention. ¡°These three seem to be the Pet Beasts of that ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯, right?¡± ¡°Seems so? If they¡¯re here, where¡¯s that mysterious Beast Master?¡± Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 190: Its never-ending, isnt it?_2 Chapter 312: Chapter 190: It¡¯s never-ending, isn¡¯t it?_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a chance¡­ that Beast Master is opening a shop?¡± They all exchanged glances, and then someone growled out. ¡°We should follow! Let¡¯s check it out together!¡± This suggestion won many people¡¯s approval, and soon, the bystanders formed a large group, trailing behind the three little creatures. ¡°Meow-¡± (These Beast Masters seem to be following us, huh?) Cancan noticed first and tapped Star with her paw. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let them follow!) Ziyun, unruffled, raised her head slightly and swaggered at the front. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to rise in the ranks while others were watching? Soon, she stopped in front of one of the leaderboards. At the top of the leaderboard was the name of the list. Current Power List of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts¡¯ Reflexes. Reflexes were another indicator of a Pet Beast¡¯s strength, one that Ziyun was very confident in. Combat System Pet Beasts inherently have stronger reflexes than other Beasts. Add to that Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Attribute, which gives her exceptional speed. The victory she had not achieved in the Combat Power list yesterday, she was going to take it all back through the Reflexes list today! Ziyun¡¯s eyes landed on the current top of the leaderboard. ¡°1st place, Qi Changhong, Lotus Mantis King, Reflexes: 46892¡± Perfect, today¡¯s target, is you! Ziyun¡¯s gaze quickly slid from the top down to the bottom of Reflexes List, settling on the indicator of the test site at the very bottom. C04. ¡°Testing ground C04 is over there!¡± Amid the crowd gathered around, a girl volunteers to show the direction. ¡°Meow-¡± Ziyun nodded her thanks to the girl, transformed into an electric flash, and disappeared in a few quick movements. The girl gaped at the spot where Ziyun had disappeared, and then her eyes lit up. ¡°She is so stunning!¡± Totally unaware of the impact her cool departure and exceptional looks made on a color-crazed girl, Ziyun soon entered the C04 testing area as she wished. The testing space was a sphere, with a circular platform in the center for the tested Pet Beast. According to the rules of the test, Ziyun needed to deactivate her size reduction. She grew from her tiny size to two meters in no time, exuding a strong sense of power. The next moment, the circular platform began to shrink. It quickly went from being hundreds of meters in size to a diameter of four meters. For Ziyun, such a space was almost squeezing her dodging room to the limit. Ziyun¡¯s expression gradually grew serious. She looked around, scrutinizing the numerous round holes embedded in the wall of the spherical testing space. Soon, with the start of the test, these holes would randomly strike attacks at her, and all she could do was keep dodging. This test made Ziyun remember the days when Xu Ran first started training her, practicing Electric Pursue. The similarities between the past training and the current test were striking. However, the current test is clearly much more challenging. ¡°Beep ¡± As an electronic beep echoed in the testing area, Ziyun¡¯s muscles tightened beneath her fur. Her heterochromatic eyes flashed with an unmatched fierce light, and her pupils rapidly dilated, turning from needle-tip shaped to circular. Sixteen holes on the spherical wall lit up simultaneously. The next moment, red energy spheres became traces, rushing towards Ziyun, wrapped in a roaring wind. ¡°Crackle ¡± Electric light burst around Ziyun¡¯s body, the next moment, she moved swiftly like electricity, dodging between the red lights. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level-Step on Electric Traces! Ever since this skill acquired the ability to gather electric light traces, Ziyun never deactivated it during the casting process. In reality, though, it is controllable. After all, this skill was initially a pure speed enhancement skill, without so many effects. Right now, abandoning some complicated skill effects, Ziyun maximizes the speed boost of this skill, combined with her horrifying response speed. Even when facing such oppressive attacks, she still seemed to handle it with ease. Seventeen¡­ Eighteen¡­ Nineteen¡­ The number of holes lighting up at once continues to increase, and even the speed of the attacks increases as the number of holes does. The difficulty of the test is escalating, and within this escalation, it¡¯s gradually approaching the tester¡¯s limit. From afar, all one could see was a surge of purple electricity on a platform with a diameter of only four meters. Within the electricity, a white and purple entangled figure shimmered at a speed undetectable to the naked eye. Red lights like long spears stabbed into the electric light but could not harm it at all. ¡°Beep ¡± After an unknown period, another electronic beep resounded. Ziyun¡¯s figure suddenly freezes in mid-air as a cloud of red smoke rapidly bursts at its waist. Hit. Despite its extreme speed, after a long time of dodging, Ziyun still has a few oversights. ¡°Meow!¡± (Damn it!) Discontent flickers in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. In its anticipation, it could have lasted longer. The reason for the mistakes now is due to its physical strength not being able to keep up with such a long duration of extreme consumption. If it were Star or Cancan here, this wouldn¡¯t have happened, would it? It can¡¯t help but entertain this thought. What if it arranges a stamina or recovery type skill for itself in the following skill fusion? Ziyun shakes its head, clears its train of thought, and then looks up at the words floating in the air. ¡°Reflexes: 49326¡± A smile gradually appears on Ziyun¡¯s face. I, Ziyun, am proud and elated! ¡°Ding ¡± As the familiar electronic sound rings, the current Reflexes List lights up, and the spectators waiting in front of the list burst into cheers. ¡°Here it comes! The rankings are changing!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how high that Flash Thunder Cat can climb!¡± ¡°Wait¡­ the Historical Rankings also lit up!¡± ¡°My God, that¡¯s at least top five, right?¡± Amid the discussion and exclamations of the spectators, the current list¡¯s ranking begins to change. First, the 500th place drops off the list under the sympathetic eyes of the crowd. Ironically, this unlucky bastard is right on the spot. Seeing his gatekeeper status on the list disappear, he covers his chest in agony, his face showing a helpless expression. The loss of one place is the difference between receiving a reward or not. However, nobody in the field sympathizes or pays attention to his pain. Because as the 1st to the 499th place all releases light and then collectively fell one place, everyone on the field couldn¡¯t help but let out gasps of awe. This is¡­ a leap to the first place! It seemed to have happened once yesterday, and it happened again today. Is the boss of Starfire Foster Care Shop really so amazing? Why are you running a foster care shop if you¡¯re so strong?! Amid the astonished and puzzled looks from the crowd, the new first place appears in the dazzling light. ¡°1st place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Flash Thunder Cat, Reflexes: 49326¡± After clearly seeing the corresponding reflexes value, everyone turns their heads to the Historical Rankings that have not changed and checks the reflexes value of every person on the list, determining Ziyun¡¯s position on the Historical Rankings. As the position on the Historical Rankings is determined, the atmosphere in the field suddenly falls into stagnation. This result¡­ Under everyone¡¯s silent gaze, the 500th place of the Historical Rankings dejectedly leaves, and then the 499th to the 2nd place all lights up. Historical Rankings, 2nd place! ¡°Meow?¡± (I¡¯m only second?) Ziyun, back by Star¡¯s and Cancan¡¯s side, has a look of both excitement and regret on its face. Being the 2nd on the Historical Rankings means it can earn 80,000 Beast Master Points. If it had advanced one more place, it could have gotten an additional 20,000 Beast Master Points. However, this regret quietly disappears after seeing who the first place was, replaced by an upsurging battle intent. ¡°1st place, Fang Canghai, Speedy Winged Kite, Reflexes: 52123¡± It has seen numerous lists where this man holds the first place on the Historical Rankings. Ziyun turns to look at its two companions. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll surpass him someday!) Can¡¯t write any more, as an apology I¡¯ll send a 200 yuan red packet in the readers¡¯ group at twelve thirty.. Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 191: Charging Rankings with Chapter 313: Chapter 191: Charging Rankings with Sword !_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡­ This must be the place!¡± The sound came from outside the door, and soon a middle-aged Beast Master walked into the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Xu Ran, who had just sat down shortly before, quickly stood up, his face breaking into a smile, ¡°Welcome.¡± Ever since the three little ones went for the rankings, more and more customers had started coming to the shop. Some of these customers had seen articles about the Starfire Foster Shop in the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report, while others had noted the ranking efforts of the three little ones and had come for a nosy. The vast majority did not spend any money in the Starfire Foster Shop, but the small remainder made the shop lively and bustling. Any kind of exposure-induced popularity is temporary, but Xu Ran firmly believes that he has the ability to retain this popularity and transform it into something else that attracts customers. Its reputation. ¡°Humph. Don¡¯t bother with the pleasantries.¡± The middle-aged man grunted, his expression sour, ¡°Your Flash Thunder Cat knocked me from the top spot on the Reflexes List!¡± First in reflexes? Xu Ran blinked. When did this happen? Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s baffled expression, Qi Changhong became even more frustrated, ¡°Ask your Pet Beast!¡± ¡°I will ask.¡± Xu Ran used Contractual Sensing to contact Ziyun. Quickly, Ziyun¡¯s excited voice emerged in his mind. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes soon filled with surprise. It actually achieved second place in the historical Reflexes List? He had always thought that attack power was Ziyun¡¯s strongest attribute, but now it seemed that Ziyun¡¯s reflex speed was impressive too. ¡°Ahem!¡± A heavy cough snapped Xu Ran back to reality. Looking at the irritated Qi Changhong, Xu Ran quickly flashed a smile, ¡°Sir, I understand your frustration, but there are ways to surpass my Pet Beast.¡± ¡°What methods?¡± Qi Changhong, initially vexed, showed curiosity, ¡°Do tell?¡± ¡°The method is straightforward.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the price list for the Accompanying Training Service on the wall, ¡°Our shop has a high-quality Accompanying Training Service that can greatly increase your Pet Beast¡¯s training efficiency. Naturally, this would greatly enhance its reflexes.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ It sounds reasonable, but you¡¯re just advertising yourself, aren¡¯t you?¡± Qi Changhong rubbed his chin. Considering how powerful Xu Ran¡¯s three Pet Beasts were, he was somewhat convinced by his words. But as Qi Changhong turned his head and saw the prices on the price list, that seed of trust instantly evaporated. ¡°This shop is a rip-off!¡± Qi Changhong grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re charging so much for a Leadership Stage accompanying practice. I don¡¯t believe people would¡­¡± ¡°Squeak-¡± Before Qi Changhong could finish his sentence, the shop¡¯s back door opened. A young girl, holding a rather petite Pet Beast, walked out excitedly, ¡°Boss, your training method is incredible! My fluffy mouse¡¯s Skill Proficiency has broken through!¡± ¡°Oh, you have a customer?¡± The girl noticed Qi Changhong, stuck her tongue out, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you then, I¡¯ll be back next time!¡± ¡°We look forward to your next visit,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he waved goodbye. He then looked back at the silently fuming Qi Changhong. Silence is golden at such times. ¡°You¡­ I¡­ you¡­¡± Qi Changhong opened his mouth to speak but finally strode towards the store¡¯s back door, ¡°Get me an hour of accompanying practice!¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded, quickly following him. Another deal done! ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯ve just reported our ranking situation to Xu Ran.) Ziyun tossed the Beast Master Badge he held in his mouth to Cancan, then began licking his paw. ¡°Meow!¡± (Your turn!) ¡°Well¡­¡± (Let me think¡­) Cancan¡¯s face showed a hint of confusion. Even though it had been clamoring to go for other rankings before coming here, now that it was here, it wasn¡¯t sure which ranking would suit it best. Velocity Chart? For something as slow-moving as Cancan, this ranking was absolutely out of the question. Reflexes List? Ziyun had just told it and Star about what was tested in the Reflexes List. With its large body and somewhat slow movements, it would be a sitting target in Test Area C04 without any room for maneuver. Cancan looked all around, finally locking its gaze on one direction. Taking unhurried steps, Cancan walked towards that list, with Ziyun and Star following behind, followed by a crowd of onlookers trying to catch the latest goss. Quickly, an electronic screen over a hundred meters high appeared in front of everyone. This was a brand-new list. Seeing its name, a wave of murmurs broke out among the onlookers. Unexpectedly, the Panlong Turtle had chosen this list! Current Leader Stage Pet Beast Body Size Chart! Ziyun and Star, standing behind Cancan, exchanged surprised glances. They never expected there would be such a list among the Leader Stage Pet Beast rankings. They hadn¡¯t paid any attention to it before. Because this list, although as high as other Leader Stage lists, was much dimmer than the others, and so didn¡¯t stand out. ¡°Um¡­ This is an auxiliary list. It¡¯s less important than the main ones, so the rewards for topping it are only one-fifth of the normal lists. It¡¯s a sort of encouragement,¡± someone explained.. Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 191 Climbing the Ranking with a Sword! _2 Chapter 314: Chapter 191 Climbing the Ranking with a Sword! _2 Translator: 549690339 | Seeing Cancan¡¯s determination, as though prepared to win the rankings, a member of the audience couldn¡¯t help but remind them. The reward is a fifth of those from previous lists? The three little ones collectively looked at the historical rankings next to the leaderboard in front of them. Their gaze shifted from bottom to top, eventually settling on the first place of the historical rankings. ¡°First place, Yu Wei, Cloud Gang, maximum body length: 62 meters¡± ¡°Charming?¡± (Historical first place, just like this?) A hint of disdain flashed in Cancan¡¯s eyes as he casually marchvs towards the C09 test site corresponding to the rankings. First place on the historical rankings, that¡¯s decided. If it was a normal leaderboard, it could earn one hundred thousand Beast Master Points in one go. Since this is a subsidiary leaderboard, it only gets as many points as a fifth of a normal leaderboard, so it could get twenty thousand Beast Master Points, but¡­ Who would think that points are redundant? Compared to the Beast Master Points that are difficult to obtain from other battles, this wave of points is unbelievably easy to acquire. Ziyun and Star shook their heads slightly. This is Cancan¡¯s talent. It¡¯s not something that can be learned through envy. Compared to the main leaderboard, the movements of the subsidiary leaderboard are much more subtle. If there is a change in rankings, there will be no echoing bell sound in the entire field. Only the flickering lights of the current leaderboard and the historic leaderboard, symbolizing the change in ranking. Amidst the crowd¡¯s exclamation, the top spot of the current list changed hands first, followed by the historical list. Top spot on both lists! Looking at the terrifying body size that left the original first place far behind, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but discuss. ¡°That Panlong Turtle actually has such a huge physical size in real life? Then why does it look so small?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember the first place in the current list, when they came for testing, their pet beast almost got stuck at the entrance of the test site.¡± ¡°You guys are all clueless. This is a One-Star Reduction Skill! The Panlong Turtle must master this skill, which is why it can shrink its size at will.¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s discussion, Ziyun and Star helplessly shrugged. These guys, none of them guessed right. However¡­ The two little ones couldn¡¯t help but look at the name of the first place in the historical rankings. ¡°First place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Panlong Turtle, maximum body length: 108 meters¡± Although it is a subsidiary list and not a main list, letting Cancan, the last one to sign the contract, take the first place in the historical rankings, still makes them a bit competitive. They are the elder ones, they need to fight harder to get up in the rankings! ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯m back!) Cancan, shrunken to the extreme by Jiezimixu, returned to the side of Ziyun and Star, holding his head high and looking at his name at the top of the electronic screen. Although he knew the result of this ranking rush before he started, seeing his ranking in such a high position, he couldn¡¯t help but feel even more delighted. Twenty thousand Beast Master points. Secured! Although it is not as much as the Beast Master Points earned by Ziyun and Star, the points Cancan has are enough for him to exchange for two King-level resources he wants! ¡°Xi Lu~¡° (Next is my turn!) Star beckoned to Cancan, indicating Cancan to give him the Beast Master Badge. It already had an idea of which ranking list it is going for next! ¡°Welcome next time-¡± After seeing off the last customer in the shop, Xu Ran relieved a sigh. Today, all kinds of services added up, the foster shop received twenty-one clients, and the number of spectators was even more numerous. Such footfall in the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City was quite popular. Xu Ran closed his eyes, sensing the existence of the three little ones regardless of distance with the help of Beast Taming Contracts. Like three invisible lines, one end is connected to him, and the other end to the three little ones. Xu Ran¡¯s consciousness is like a hand plucking strings, plucking these three lines. The next moment, he established contact with the three little ones. ¡°How did you three fare in the challenge?¡± As soon as Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts were transmitted, the three little ones started enthusiastically reporting their results from the other end of the Beast Taming Contract. During the day-long attempt to climb the leaderboards, Ziyun secured first place on the Reflexes List, second place in its history, seventh on the Velocity Chart, third on the current Attractiveness Chart, and fourteenth in its history. The last chart Ziyun hadn¡¯t originally planned to try but, on the recommendation of a casual bystander, it decided to give it a shot and ended up scoring some easy Beast Master Points. Yes, it was the same person who was left dazed by Ziyun earlier on. Star secured ninth place on the current Defence chart, second place on the Stamina Chart, and fifty-eighth in history, with the latter bringing in 30,000 beast master points. Cancan claimed the top spot on both the current and historical Body Size Chart, and third on the current Stamina Chart, and seventy-sixth in history. Its high rank on both historical charts earned it 50,000 Beast Master Points. The three little ones had quite a successful day of leaderboard-climbing. ¡°Excellent,¡± Xu Ran opened his eyes slowly, a hint of eagerness swimming in them, ¡°Ziyun and Cancan, meet me at the Beast Trainer rankings area.¡± Once he had given the order, he severed the Contractual Sensing and strolled over to a sword hanging on the wall, its handle wrapped in silk cloth. He carefully removed it as the Hexagram Star Array behind him burst into dazzling light. Star emerged from thin air, and seeing Xu Ran with the sword, a zealous look flickered in its eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With a hop onto the horse, Xu Ran and Star quickly vanished from in front of the foster shop. Standing shoulder to shoulder at the entrance of the Beast Trainer rankings, Ziyun and Cancan were intently gazing in the same direction, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. These casual observers had been following the three little ones all the way, witnessing their impressive runs on the leaderboards. Seeing their unusual behavior now, they couldn¡¯t help but start whispering among themselves. ¡°Where did the Star God Horse go?¡± ¡°It seems like it was summoned by the owner of the Starfire Foster Shop.¡± ¡°Why are these two pet beasts still here? Are they going to climb the leaderboards again?¡± ¡°Are you stupid? The Star God Horse, currently first and third in history on the Velocity Chart, was called back. What else could be happening? It¡¯s a horse-type pet beast, what¡¯s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of it?¡± ¡°You mean¡­ a mount?¡± ¡°Is the owner of the Starfire Foster Shop about to make an appearance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late, if they were going to open the shop, they should have done it by now, right?¡± ¡°Damn it! All the shops are closed, why are we still hanging around here? What a waste of a day!¡± ¡°Well, what else could you do? Deliver goods outside the city?¡± ¡°Everyone, quiet! Something¡¯s happening over there!¡± The gossiping spectators fell into a flurry before quickly quietening down. Following Ziyun and Cancan¡¯s direction of gaze, they could see a separate shadow rushing from the end of the road, its figure clearly visible in the glow of the setting sun. ¡°Hee-haw~¡± Almost in the blink of an eye, the shadow had reached them. Accompanied by a clear, excited neigh, the outline became sharp and defined. A pair of hooves were raised high before slowly touching the ground, revealing the young man sitting on Star¡¯s back to everyone present. The elegant young man was much younger than everyone had imagined. He was casually clothed in a short-sleeved T-shirt, with an ancient-looking long sword wrapped in silk cloth slung on his back. He held the reins in one hand while the other hand rested on the sword¡¯s handle. He dismounted. Though the action was simple, he made it seem especially graceful and composed. In his presence, the previously aloof and mysterious pet beasts appeared playful and endearing. So this was the mysterious Beast Master who emerged as a dark horse, the owner of Starfire Foster Care Shop? Within the crowd, some who had met Xu Ran yesterday and recognized him looked enlightened. For most, however, their faces were filled with astonishment and surprise. ¡°Nice to meet you all,¡± Xu Ran, who had already learned of the situation from Star on the way, was not surprised at all. He smiled at the onlookers, ¡°Feel free to visit our Starfire Foster Shop whenever you¡¯re free.¡± After casually throwing in an ad, Xu Ran took his hand off the sword handle and strode towards the Beast Trainer Ranking¡¯s entrance. Today, with a sword in hand, he was climbing the leaderboard! Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Chapter 192 - Topping the List With One Strike! _1 Chapter 315: Chapter 192 ¨C Topping the List With One Strike! _1 Translator: 549690339 Entering the Beast Trainer Ranking area, under the guidance of his three little ones, Xu Ran viewed their daytime ranking records. In the process of touring, more and more people began to follow them. Many were unaware of why so many people were closely following such a Leadership Level Beast Master. After asking, they learned that he was the mysterious Beast Master that sparked much discussion today and consequently, they also became interested and decided to follow along to see. Soon, Xu Ran and his three pets finished their tour and arrived at another ranking region. This ranking region was also for the Leadership Level, but the three little ones had not attempted it during the day. Because this was the Beast Master¡¯s ranking, not for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts. Now, with Xu Ran¡¯s arrival, they finally had the qualifications to try. Seeing Xu Ran enter this area, the onlooking crowd became excited. Many even took out their cell phones and started contacting friends. While the Pet Beast Ranking was certainly of interest, even more intriguing was the Beast Master¡¯s ranking, as it represented an overall assessment of a Beast Master¡¯s strength, presenting a more comprehensive perspective. Unlike the diverse and numerous Pet Beast Rankings, there were only three categories and six rankings in the Beast Master List. The three categories are Beast Master¡¯s Individual Combat Power Ranking, Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast Team Power List, and Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. The Beast Master¡¯s Individual Power Ranking, as it suggests, measures the combat power a Beast Master can deploy without their pet beast. For a Leadership Level Beast Master, the third-stage contract power enables him to have a higher power feedback ratio. The cumulative feedback of three Leadership Level pet beasts can grant him the strength similar to a weak Leadership Stage. Although a Beast Master¡¯s power primarily comes from the pet beasts, there are some who endeavor to enhance their personal strength, developing unique fighting methods. So, the Beast Master¡¯s Personal Power Ranking was born. Among the three lists, it was the least popular, with the other two rankings being more popular. The Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast Team Power List, as the name suggests, ranks all of a Master¡¯s pet beasts¡¯ collaborative efforts in battle. In the corresponding test for this list, the Beast Master can only command through contractual sensing and cannot participate in the fight himself. It evaluates the command ability of the Beast Master and the overall strength of the Pet Beasts. As for the last one, Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, it¡¯s the most straightforward list among the three. Both Beast Masters and pet beasts can join the battle, and the rankings are determined based on their overall strength displayed. It reflects the Beast Master¡¯s ability closest to real combat situations and is the most valued among the three Beast Master rankings. After all, the Beast Masters who can appear on this list are without exception, powerful. They can step into Suai Stage or even higher levels in the future. They will undoubtedly leave the guardianship of Xieyun City, confronting the boundless wild super creatures outside the city. Each category has two listings: the current one and the historical one. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fluttered among the six lists, eventually landing on the Leader Level Beast Master¡¯s Individual Power Historical Rankings at the top of the list. ¡°1st Place, He Hongtu, Battle Power: 324.42¡± ¡°This is the previous grandmaster of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, a very famous Beast Master in Xieyun City known for developing personal strengths.¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s gaze landed on the name, someone in the crowd began to introduce him. Xu Ran nodded slightly in their direction to express his gratitude. Then, he gently patted the hilt of his sword, a smile spreading across his face as a combat mentality welled up within his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll try this one first.¡± Individual power, huh¡­ The blade he had acquired by chance, he hadn¡¯t had an opportunity to draw it yet. He wondered how he would compare to the Beast Masters who specialize in personal combat power development? Seeing that Xu Ran was determined to challenge this ranking, the onlooking crowd was instantly excited. Some even directly contacted the Beast Masters associated with He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, asking them to hurry over and watch. Ignoring the voices around him, Xu Ran left his three little ones in front of the ranking list and strides toward the corresponding testing area. Test venue C03. As a niche list, the C03 testing venue was empty. As Xu Ran validated his identity and entered, soon enough, the doorway of the venue was packed with Beast Masters who had come to watch the excitement. As they stared at the closed door, they couldn¡¯t help but discuss among themselves. ¡°I see he¡¯s carrying a sword, is he good with it?¡± ¡°I feel like his sword is quite old, it probably isn¡¯t simple.¡± ¡°Why do I feel that his sword is almost rusted, like some scrap metal. Can this really be used as a weapon?¡± ¡°Who knows, let¡¯s watch and see¡­¡± ¡°Shhh ¡± The faint sound of silk rubbing against the blade echoed in the silent test room. Xu Ran gently removed the silk wrap from the blade circle by circle and tossed it at his feet, revealing the rusty long sword beneath the silk wrap. Although the long sword was rusty, there was a strangely intimidating aura hidden within it, causing anyone who saw this sword to feel a subtle palpitation. He held the hilt with both hands, pointed the blade diagonally upwards, and then looked at the energy being forming in front of him while slowly closing his eyes. A sharp wave of Knife Intent flowed around Xu Ran, then silently merged into the long sword in his hand. The sword resonated with it, causing the blade hidden under the rust to subtly gleam, as though some force was being triggered. Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 192 - Topping the List With One Strike! 2 Chapter 316: Chapter 192 ¨C Topping the List With One Strike! 2 Translator: 549690339 One man and one blade, their auras gradually intertwining, the blade thrusting into the sky as if to pierce the heavens and the earth. Holding the long blade, Xu Ran at this moment seemed like a drawn sword, waiting for his opponent to offer himself up. In the next moment, Xu Ran suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light bursting from his pupils as the long blade traced a beautiful arc in the air. The invisible blade momentum wrapped up the tangible air wave, splitting all the things it touched into two, coming down with an unstoppable force onto the transcendent being in front of him. The split energy body of the transcendent being shattered into countless specks of light. Xu Ran sheathed his sword, picked up the silk cloth on the ground and wrapped the blade once again. At the same time he finished wrapping the blade, the test venue displayed his power status. ¡°Power: 40823.¡± ¡°This power¡­¡± Xu Ran gazed at his test result and froze for a second, then chuckled, ¡°Rank one, as long as there¡¯s a hand!¡± ¡°Ding ¡± A solid and powerful bell sound echoed in the Beast Master Ranking area, causing everyone within its range to reveal a look of astonishment at this very moment. This was¡­ the sound of the Beast Master List changing rankings? Which list was it? For a moment, countless people looked around until their gaze finally fell on two closely placed, simultaneously glowing lists in the center of the field. On one of the lists, the light rapidly flashed. On the other list, a pillar of light shot up to the sky. Such a scene was all too familiar to the regular Beast Masters present. This was when someone simultaneously appeared in the current list and the historical list, causing a change in rankings! Increasingly more people gathered in that direction. The crowd that had been waiting in front of the list revealed a look of astonishment. Because the change in rankings on the current list had already updated! Looking at the name that had suddenly appeared in the first place on the list, everyone was stunned. ¡°This¡­ power¡­ seems to have surpassed He Hongtu¡­¡± The weak voice of one person made everyone fall silent. The next moment, the ranking on the historical list changed. He Hongtu, who had originally been in first place, was now officially a thing of the past and had fallen to second place. ¡°Wasn¡¯t someone going to contact someone from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall just now?¡± The voice of someone else in the crowd made the atmosphere in the field even more eerie. That guy who contacted He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall will probably get beaten up, right? ¡°Meow-¡± (We¡¯re going in soon too!) Ziyun moved her paw, her eyes revealing an excited expression. The other two categories of the Beast Master List required the participation of a pet beast. Seeing Xu Ran stealing all the glory, it could hardly hold back any longer. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s time for me to shine!) Star couldn¡¯t help but raise its head, letting out a roar. Compared to Ziyun, it was even more excited at this moment. As the support role in the team, although it had gained a lot of Beast Master points in the previous Pet Beast Ranking, it hadn¡¯t found an opportunity to truly showcase its best ability. Team combat was the best arena for it to shine! ¡°Charming!¡± (Let me handle the defense!) Cancan let out a low roar, and a yellowish glow began to fill its body involuntarily. It was time to fight side by side with the senior beasts again! Just as the three little ones were fired up and ready to go, Xu Ran¡¯s voice emerged in their minds, ¡°Come on over to testing area Col.¡± Here it comes! The three little ones exchanged glances and then walked side by side towards testing area C01, where Xu Ran was waiting for them after completing a round of testing. Seeing that Xu Ran who had just completed the test didn¡¯t come over, but instead the three little ones who had been waiting in front of the list left the list and headed towards C01, the crowd of onlookers were initially stunned, then quickly reacted. Amid cheers and expectant gazes, they followed closely behind the three little ones, then watched as one man and three pets entered the testing area. Test site Cot corresponds to the Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking! This list is known by many as the true test of a Beast Master¡¯s level of ability. Many of the Beast Masters who have achieved high rankings in the Pet Beast Team Power List don¡¯t actually rank that high on this list. Because when a Beast Master joins the fight, more unexpected situations will arise! The true strength of this rising Beast Master and his rank on this list will soon be revealed! ¡°So this is test site C01¡­¡± Entering C01 with the three little ones, Xu Ran looks at the vast world and the purple-black soil in front of him, and the wind carrying the scent of blood, his expression gradually becomes serious. He¡¯s very familiar with this scene. It¡¯s the scene that would appear outside the city, in the Beast Field. This oppressive feeling is even stronger than that outside Qingzhou City, because this is Xieyun City. This testing area simulates the Beast Field of Xieyun City. Much stronger than Beast Zone No. 97¡­ it¡¯s Beast Zone No. 47! ¡°Charge!¡± Xu Ran doesn¡¯t hesitate and mounts up, drawing his sword! The long blade seems to sense the bloody scent in the air. A fine red light quietly flows on the rusty surface. The blade itself trembles faintly, emitting a clear sound, like a thirst for blood. Starlight flies out of nowhere, linking Xu Ran¡¯s aura with the stars within an instant. As their aura fully merges, their majestic power dramatically soars. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level- Fated Star Pulling! The next moment, three black patterns fly out from the body of the star, covering itself, Ziyun, and Cancan respectively. The intricate and star-like mysterious runes emit a quiet glow, as if they want to dye the surrounding daylight with the color of night. With the quiet light, the majesty of Ziyun and Cancan quickly increases within a single breath, swiftly surpassing the power of a Leadership Stage Pet Beast! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level Night Rune! ¡°Roar!!!¡± Cancan roars upwards and its body rapidly expands against the wind. On an endless wilderness, it transforms into a striking hillock. Its power dramatically increases again, with a land-yellow halo completely covering its body and giving it the boon of the earth. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level Jiezimixu! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level- Echoing of Earth Vein! ¡°Meow-¡± The colored pupils of Ziyun have contracted to their limit, reflecting the emerging beast shadows from the distance, as if to swallow them all. The sharp electricity shoots from every inch of its body, making it nearly elemental. Its fore claws, full of dreadful power, become more sturdy and powerful, with each claw as sharp as a blade, brewing a horrific aura in them. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level- Martial Arts Specialization! As the strength of one man and three pets rises, their enemies finally reveal themselves completely. It¡¯s a boundless sea of countless beasts shrouded in dust. I¡¯s a beast tide of a number you can¡¯t count, making one feel despair at a glance. And this beast tide is their next test challenge! ¡°Roar!!!¡± Cancan¡¯s expression becomes serious. Its sharp front claws fiercely slam into the earth. As the land-yellow halo flows, numerous tremendously hard walls sprout from the ground, protecting one man and three pets within, quickly forming a fortress that is easy to defend but tough to attack. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level- Eternal Iron Wall! An invisible suppression, with Cancan¡¯s mountain-like body at its center, quickly covers a range of a thousand kilometers in all eight directions, completely covering the transcendent beings at the front of the beast tide! As the light and shadow of the Dragon Tortoise briefly appear, the covered transcendent beings are suddenly apprehended by dreadful suppression. Weaker ones can¡¯t even stand upright, yet, their eyes are filled with anger and killing intent. The target of this anger and killing intent is Cancan, the one who has caused the suppression. Before defeating it, they won¡¯t see any other rivals in their eyes! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power! The next moment, countless transcendent beings swarm them, overwhelming one man and three pets all at once. The battle begins! Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 193 Problems of Foster Care Residents_l Chapter 317: Chapter 193 Problems of Foster Care Residents_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a huge noise, an area enclosed in a sphere of thunder-light was added to the already severely damaged testing area. The terrifying sea of thunder instantly erupted and swallowed countless transcendental creatures. In the numerous electric arcs wandering in the sea of thunder, one could faintly see the struggling shadows of these transcendental creatures. Large numbers of transcendental creatures completely shattered under the powerful force of Ziyun, turning into light points scattered all over the sky. Ziyun¡¯s own power had also become somewhat intangible due to the continuous and intense battle. The power of the fighting attribute had already dissipated due to the backlash of the Scarlet Battle Intent. Now it could only use the power of the thunder attribute, which was also nearly exhausted. Behind it, Cancan, who was responsible for defense, and Star, responsible for power enhancement, also showed signs of fatigue. The fortress made from the Eternal Iron Wall had collapsed and been repaired countless times under the siege of countless transcendental creatures. Star¡¯s Night Rune had also been bestowed upon Ziyun countless times, helping it withstand the enemy¡¯s attacks. Although there were skills for recovery, the overall condition of their power was much better than Ziyun¡¯s. However, they were still extremely fatigued from constantly being on high alert during the battle. Looking at the beast tide which showed no intention of retreating, a touch of fear emerged in the hearts of the three pet beasts and their master. They were like an isolated island in the raging waves. Even though they still had the strength to counterattack at this moment, they would soon be completely swallowed by the surging huge waves. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here,¡± Xu Ran said softly. It was their first attempt to challenge the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, mainly as a trial. The strength they had displayed now was enough. As Xu Ran¡¯s words fell, the beast tide froze as if paused, silently fixed in place. Then, countless transcendental creatures turned into numerous lights in the sky and vanished. The test, ended. After a moment¡¯s pause, their final score for this round appeared in front of the three little ones and their master. ¡°Overall power: 329451¡± Is it this high? Xu Ran looked at the score for a while, then suddenly smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s see what our current ranking is.¡± ¡°Ding ¡± A low bell rang, resonating for a long time in the Beast Trainer Ranking area. As soon as Xu Ran and the three little ones entered the C01 testing area, the excited and anticipatory cheers of the onlookers who had surrounded the current Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking board emerged. They were watching the lighted up ranking list. For a moment, there was an upsurge of voices, nearly turning over the dome of the Beast Trainer Ranking Pavilion. Even under such crowded conditions, there was still a small open space left at the front of the ranking list. Three figures stood in that open space. One of them was a man with long black hair and a cross scar on his face. The man had his arms crossed, showing no emotion, and there was no pet beast accompanying him. Just standing there, he gave off the ferocious aura of a wild beast. Even amid the cheering and attention focused on the changes in the ranking list, many people still turned their eyes towards him, attentive to his reaction. Because this man, named He Junlong, was also on the current ranking list, and his rank was not low. He was ranked 9th. Moreover, he had another identity. He was the biological grandson of He Hongtu, the next head of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall. Yes, it was He Hongtu, who had just been pushed down from the first place in the historical rankings by Xu Ran. Standing beside He Junlong was a middle-aged man with a short stature and a harmless look to both humans and animals. His bald head reflected a bit of light under the illuminating lights, and wearing glasses gave him somewhat the feel of a corporate worker. However, this unremarkable man standing in the crowd commanded the respect of everyone present because his current ranking on the list was even higher than that of He Junlong¡¯s. The current Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking 5th rank holder, Li Dajin. Ordinary name, ordinary appearance, but this high-ranking position was enough to prove that all ordinary things were merely illusions to him. The last of the three was a woman. She wore her hair in a high ponytail, and there was a slight arrogance in her phoenix eyes. She was the only Beast Master among the three who had summoned her pet beast. A long snake pet beast, as thick as a water barrel and covered with colorful scales, constantly spit out signals, deterring people from approaching. Snake woman Cai Han, currently ranked 4th in the Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. The three were all currently ranked in the top ten, so they naturally knew each other. Apart from He Junlong who came upon hearing the news, the other two happened to be in this place. ¡°This mysterious Beast Master has certainly stirred up quite a storm in the past few days.¡± Li Dajin pushed his glasses which were reflecting the lights, revealing a warm smile, ¡°Several current first-place ranks have been taken by his pet beast.¡± ¡°I heard this Beast Master is only in his twenties or thirties, a true young hero II If those who were unfamiliar with Li Dajin heard his words, they would probably think this was pure admiration. However, Cai Han and He Junlong, who were aware of his situation, simultaneously flashed a strange look in their eyes. When Li Dajin started praising someone, it was rarely a good sign. ¡°Oh right, I heard that he even took the first place in the personal power ranking?¡± Li Dajin turned to look at He Junlong, and began to speak with a chuckle.. Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Chapter 193 Problems of Foster Care Residents! Chapter 318: Chapter 193 Problems of Foster Care Residents! Translator: 549690339 ¡°Humph!¡± Seeing the other party touch on sensitive topics, He Junlong¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Having his grandfather surpassed by that mysterious Beast Master always made him feel inexplicably inferior. All this time, his grandfather¡¯s no.i position on the personal power historical rankings had been one of the prides of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall. Now that the honor was lost, there was significant dissatisfaction in the Hall. Upon hearing that the person was going for the overall power ranking, He Junlong proactively came over, wanting to see who this mysterious person was. ¡°I heard, that person runs a Foster Shop.¡± Cai Han slowly broke the silence, her voice as cold as her demeanor. ¡°Has any of you ever visited his shop?¡± Li Dajin shook his head slightly, while He Junlong laughed disdainfully, ¡°I heard his foster shop¡¯s service prices are much higher than other places, perhaps he is overly money-minded?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± From the crowd not far from the trio, a shy young girl raised her hand. ¡°I have been there, their service really is excellent¡­¡± Feeling the gazes of the three Beast Masters on her, the girl pulled back her hand, moved back, and stood behind the crowd. How scary! ¡°So the service is excellent, huh¡­¡± Cai Han muttered, her eyes flashing a thoughtful gleam. The next moment, sensing something, she abruptly looked up at the ranking board in front of her. Others who had also noticed the changes did the same. After continuous light flickering, the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking had finally begun to change! Accompanied by the dimming of the name at the 500th place, in the nervous gazes of many, the 499th place started climbing, lighting up every place it passed, all the way to the 4th. ¡°Whoa ¡± There was an uproar among the crowd, then their gazes fell on the three people at the top of the rankings. The highest-ranked among them was precisely the 4th place. Which meant¡­ The rankings of these three individuals were all going to drop by one place! Upon seeing his name lit up on the leaderboard, Li Dajin lowered his head to adjust his glasses, hiding his keen gaze behind them, and shook his head slightly, ¡°Truly, heroes emerge from the young-¡± At this moment, the same words held a slightly different meaning. He Junlong¡¯s stern face was unable to remain composed, as he was looking at Xu Ran who had far surpassed him in rank, his eyes were wide open. No way¡­ How is this possible? While strong individual combat power contributes minimally to the overall strength, a Beast Master¡¯s own power could hardly surpass that of his Pet Beast, no matter how strong it was. How could this guy have such a strong overall power while having such a high individual combat power at the same time? He¡¯s not even thirty, has he been getting stronger since he was in his mother¡¯s womb? Seeing her rank drop from 4th to 5th, Cai Han¡¯s gaze also flashed a moment of surprise. She had specifically come to the Beast Trainer Ranking because she had heard that Li Dajin was going to come today. Their rankings had always been close, and it was time for the weekly settlement. She was worried that Li Dajin, who seems harmless but is actually cunning, would steal rankings, so she decided to secure her current position. She never expected that before Li Dajin had a chance to make a move, her rank was stolen by a stranger Beast Master. ¡°4th place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Overall Power: 329451¡± After taking a deep look at this name, Cai Han turned around and left with her Pet Beast. Starfire Foster Care Shop, huh? She has taken note of it. Noticing Cai Han¡¯s departure, the crowd automatically made way for her. After Cai Han disappeared from the field, Xu Ran, accompanied by his three little ones, slowly walked out from the C01 testing area. In a funny coincidence, he stopped right beside Li Dajin and He Junlong at the ranking board. ¡°4th place?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, his face showing a hint of dissatisfaction, ¡°Isn¡¯t that low?¡± Although none of the three little ones had reached the Perfect Leadership Stage yet, and they hadn¡¯t yet had time to break through to the Halo Level, let alone the Full Moon Level for many of their skills. But they collaborated harmoniously and had such a well-rounded skill set, he hadn¡¯t expected not to make it to the top three or make it onto the Historical Rankings. Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the three little ones nodded approvingly, their faces showing a tinge of regret. Next time they must work harder to achieve a higher ranking! Meanwhile, the spectators nearby, as well as Li Dajin and He Junlong who caught Xu Ran¡¯s words, gained a rather interesting expression. This ranking¡­ He¡¯s not satisfied with it?! ¡°Hmph! Arrogant!¡± He Junlong snorted. In his gaze towards Xu Ran, there was a hint of hostility, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s easy to get into the top three?¡± ¡°And you are¡­¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°I, He Junlong, of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall¡­¡± ¡°Ah, the one who ranked tenth.¡± Xu Ran revealed an enlightened look, then lightly patted He Junlong¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Do you want to become stronger? Want to climb higher on the leaderboard?¡± ¡°Come to Starfire Foster Shop, I¡¯ll make your dream come true!¡± He Junlong:¡±¡­¡± Spectating crowd:¡±¡­¡± It¡¯s clear, this guy really loves to advertise his shop! ¡°Oh? Your shop has such an effect?¡± Li Dajin, who stood nearby, pushed up his glasses, revealing an interested smile, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran smiled warmly, ¡°Our shop¡¯s Washing and Protection service can effectively enhance the state of your Pet Beast, the Foster Care Service can promote the overall power of your Pet Beast over time, and the Accompanying Training service can efficiently enhance the proficiency of your Pet Beast¡¯s skills.¡± ¡°Then tomorrow, I might just have to bring some friends over to see for myself.¡± Li Dajin seemed to have thought of something and chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Bringing friends? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, his gaze towards Li Dajin becoming warmer. What a good man! Looking at Li Dajin¡¯s retreating figure, He Junlong¡¯s eyes flashed with thought. First, Xu Ran snatched the top position on the Individual Combat Power Ranking from his grandfather, now he¡¯s swooped in above his own rank, pushing him to tenth. If he immediately rallied the others in the Martial Arts Pavilion to oppress Xu Ran, it would be rather lowly and unwarranted, tarnishing their reputation. Li Dajin¡¯s departure served as a wake up call for him. Perhaps, he could¡­ ¡°I will also be coming tomorrow.¡± Having thought of something, He Junlong¡¯s eyes sparkled briefly, then he snorted and swaggered off. ¡°Welcome, welcome-¡®1 Xu Ran¡¯s smile widened. Although he sensed that these guys might have some ill intentions, a customer is still a customer. As long as he can gain Pleasure Value, they¡¯re all good people! ¡°All of you are also welcome to Starfire Foster Shop.¡± Xu Ran bid farewell to the surrounding spectators with a bow, climbed onto his horse with Ziyun and Cancan, and under everyone¡¯s watchful gaze, left the scene. With the competition over, it was time to prepare dinner for today¡¯s new Foster Care Residents. ¡°Ding dong dong¡ª¡± In the underground layer of the Foster Area, Xu Ran struck the large Iron Pot he was holding, creating a clear and pleasant sound, catching the attention of the new residents in the shop. Realizing it was mealtime, three distinctly different Pet Beasts emerged, quickly surrounding Xu Ran. Aside from the Combat Furball, two other Pet Beasts were delivered today. They were two Leadership Stage Pet Beasts, owned by the same Beast Master, sent here because they were bullying the owner¡¯s newly Contracted third beast¡­ All problem residents. Under the powerful General Stage Combat Furball, the two Leadership Stage Pet Beasts behaved obediently, each of them taking their own food and eating it greedily. Under the influence of the healthy and delicious food, the two beasts quickly felt an overflowing Power surging through their bodies, as if they had an unending source of energy. A moment later, after putting down their empty food bowls, they each went back to their living area, growling loudly and constantly writhing to relieve the overflowing energy. Compared to them, the Combat Furball remained quite composed. Even when faced with such delicious food, it still maintained its good eating manners, carefully chewing one bite at a time, only moving onto the next bite when the last one was completely swallowed. It even casually observed the three little ones eating alongside it. ¡°Roar-¡± You seem to be in a good mood? Looking at the carefree appearance of the three little ones, an envious look flashed in the Combat Furball¡¯s eyes, and it roared inquisitively. ¡°Meow-¡± (We rushed to the Beast Trainer Ranking today! We earned a lot of Beast Master Points!) The cheerful Ziyun volunteered this information. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Beast Trainer Ranking¡­ A look of excitement appeared in Combat Furball¡¯s eyes, quickly fading to be replaced with a sense of restraint and withdrawal. Watching this, Xu Ran appeared thoughtful. Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 194 Points Received, Exchange for New Resources!_l Chapter 319: Chapter 194 Points Received, Exchange for New Resources!_l Translator: 549690339 The Combat Furball was sent to stay in the store because of its character flaw. In certain situations, it can lose control. The Hunting Squad where the Combat Furball¡¯s Beast Master belonged was besieged by a small group of Transcendent Beings. In this process, its loss of control was one of the causes of heavy damage to the squad. At this moment, the unusual behavior of the Combat Furball got Xu Ran¡¯s attention. He had faith in the recipes provided by the system. For any Pet Beast, food prepared according to the recipe is incredibly delicious. Before this, no other Pet Beast behaved so peculiarly while eating, even the Shadow Chaser Lizard, which had expressed low emotions during the fosterage process in Qingzhou City, ate quickly. Moreover, the Combat Furball has the character defects of being impulsive and irritable. So, there is only one answer. It is voluntarily restraining itself. It restrains its own words and deeds, struggling with its character flaws at every moment. This can be seen in the Combat Furball¡¯s emotional changes when Ziyun mentioned the Beast Trainer Ranking. As a race that is inherently combative, the Beast Trainer Ranking, which can show power to the greatest extent, must have interested and excited it in the past. But at this moment, it shows a sense of retreat. It seems that the accident in the hunting team has had a significant impact on it, causing it to instinctively evade anything that could trigger a loss of emotional control. Xu Ran sighed slightly in his heart. Only the person who caused the problem can solve it. What the Combat Furball needs is the comfort and consolation of its Beast Master who is still unconscious. As for what he can do¡­ He will add some calming resources to its food tomorrow. Soon, the Combat Furball finished its meal, politely handed its bowl to Xu Ran on its own, and then turned back to its living area. Watching the Combat Furball¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Ran put away the food bowl and quickly returned to the second floor with the Three Little Ones. ¡°Ding dong ¡± A pleasant notification sound came from the cell phone. Xu Ran opened it and a smile appeared on his face. ¡°The Beast Trainer Ranking rewards have arrived, not only from yesterday but also from your ranking today.¡± The Three Little Ones were at first stunned, then their eyes sparkled. Beast Master Points! So many, many Beast Master Points! They had been watching the points exchange list for so long last night, and now, at last, it can come in handy! ¡°Don¡¯t rush.¡± Xu Ran comforted the Three Little Ones. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he said, ¡°Let me see how many points each of you got. ¡°Ziyun, 372nd place in the historical combat power rankings, rewarded with ten thousand Beast Master Points; 2nd place in reflexes historical rankings, rewarded with eighty thousand Beast Master Points; 14th place in appearance historical rankings, rewarded with eight thousand points¡­¡¯ At this point, Xu Ran looked at Star and Cancan oddly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you two try out this appearance ranking?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± ¡°Sure-¡± The two little ones shook their heads in unison. They are both males! What self-respecting male beast would compete in appearance? ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°Ziyun received a total of ninety-eight thousand points. Adding to the leftover points before, you now have over a hundred thousand points available.¡± ¡°Next, let¡¯s see Star¡¯s.¡± There was a slight pause in Xu Ran¡¯s tone. ¡°Star, 3rd place in the historical speed rankings, rewarded with eighty thousand Beast Master Points; 58th place in stamina historical rankings, rewarded with thirty thousand Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°The Beast Master Points from before are just leftovers, so you have one hundred and ten thousand points available now.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star nodded heavily. Who understands, folks? The feeling of sudden wealth is simply marvelous! ¡°Then there¡¯s Cancan¡­¡± As Xu Ran looked at Cancan¡¯s award details, his expression was somewhat peculiar. He never expected there to be a body size chart. This ranking is tailored to Cancan. It¡¯s literally giving away points. ¡°269th place in the historical defense rankings, rewarded with fifteen thousand Beast Master Points; 1st place in the body size historical rankings, rewarded with twenty thousand Beast Master Points; 76th place in the historical stamina rankings, rewarded with thirty thousand Beast Master Points. Adding with the leftovers from before, you have a total of eighty thousand points available.¡± ¡°This is all for now. The rewards for the two charts we rushed together in the evening haven¡¯t been issued yet. When they are, you can split them. ¡°In three days, there¡¯s a weekly settlement. You have several rankings on the current charts, but not on the historical rankings, so you can still get some points as rewards then.¡± Xu Ran summed up the rewards they would receive and then looked at the Three Little Ones, all of them excited. ¡°So now, it¡¯s time to exchange the King-level resources for you.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (I want Golden Thunder Crystal, Super-Optoconduct Stone, and Piercing Thunder Bone Needle!) Almost the moment Xu Ran finished speaking, Ziyun, who had already made up his mind, quickly asked for the resources she wanted. ¡°Already decided?¡± Xu Ran was first surprised, then speechless. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve done your homework.¡± He opened the exchange list, and quickly saw the three resources Ziyun had mentioned. Golden Thunder Crystal, exchanged for forty thousand Beast Master Points. This is almost the most expensive price among resources of the King-level. And its effect justifies its price. Inside the Golden Thunder Crystal, a golden thunderbolt is condensed. It is different from the purple thunderbolt that Ziyun currently has. It can be considered a higher-level power of thunderbolt. When under an equal force, it can have a greater power. During the absorption process of this resource, a Thunder Attribute Pet Beast¡¯s Thunderforce can be refined by the golden thunderbolt becoming purer. While enhancing the overall power, it also brings some improvement to the power of thunderbolt.. Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 194 Points Received, Exchange for Chapter 320: Chapter 194 Points Received, Exchange for New Resources!_2 Translator: 549690339 As a king-level resource, when absorbed, pet beasts have a relatively high probability of comprehending a three-star skill called Crimson Gold Electroplating. Previously, Ziyun acquired a skill called Scarlet Battle Intent, which could enhance itself while also boosting fighting skills. Crimson Gold Electroplating has a similar effect, but the boost is applied to thunder attribute skills. By using Crimson Gold Electroplating, Ziyun¡¯s thunderforce will temporarily become golden, carrying the immense power of golden thunderbolts, while also enhancing itself. The downside of this skill is that it considerably increases the consumption of thunder attribute skills. If Ziyun manages to comprehend this three-star skill through the Golden Thunder Crystal, it could potentially fuse with the Scarlet Battle Intent in the future, however¡­ ¡°Were you previously planning to fuse Scarlet Battle Intent with the Fighting Body?¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a bit of conflict?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (No conflict, no conflict at all!) Ziyun shook its head vigorously and a confident look appeared on its face. As a saying goes, plans can¡¯t keep up with changes. After viewing the exchange list, it came up with better ideas. It would be somewhat wasteful to fuse Scarlet Battle Intent with the Fighting Body. It could simply fuse it with other skills to create a purely burst-oriented four-star skill! The overlapping side effects may even counteract each other! As for the problem of lacking one skill that was supposed to be fused with the Fighting Body, the second resource it chose to exchange could just solve it. ¡°Meow-¡± (Check out the Super-Optoconduct Stone!) Ziyun urged Xu Ran. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded and soon found it among the king-level resources of the fighting attribute. Super-Optoconduct Stone, exchange price 35,000 Beast Master points. The power of the fighting attribute comes from within oneself. The stone enhances this process, allowing pet beasts to better master their own power, and therefore drastically boosting the strength of the fighting power. More importantly, by absorbing this resource, there¡¯s a high chance of acquiring a three-star fighting attribute skill known as Super Phase Field. The usefulness of this skill is immense. Traditional fighting attribute skills are mostly close-combat skills. Super Phase Field uses one¡¯s own fighting force to form a field within a certain range, achieving remote control of fighting attribute skills. Within the field, all fighting attribute skills can undergo certain changes, changing from close-combat to long-range. For instance, Ziyun¡¯s Fighting Body can have an effect similar to reaching across mountains to milk a cow within the Super Phase Field. By replacing Scarlet Battle Intent with this skill and fusing it with the Fighting Body to ultimately upgrade it to a four-star skill, the resultant effects would be dramatically different. In a nutshell, the future looks promising. ¡°Not bad, both resources you chose are excellent.¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head in satisfaction and then opened up the third resource Ziyun wanted to exchange. Piercing Thunder Bone Needle, exchange requires 20,000 Beast Master points. A Kings-level resource, it¡¯s the cheapest among the three resources chosen by Ziyun. As you get what you pay for, its effects are relatively inferior. Beyond the regular boost in power upon absorption, you can also have a fair chance of acquiring a Thunder attribute three-star skill called Puncture Thunder Spear. This is a ranged output skill, which seems to be mergeable with Falling Thunder. However, Ziyun¡¯s Falling Thunder has not fused with any skills since its awakening after evolution and is still at two stars. Before fusing it with a three-star skill, it¡¯s best to find a way to upgrade Falling Thunder to three stars. ¡°Alright, Ziyun¡¯s three resources have been exchanged.¡± Xu Ran looked at Star and Cancan next to him, ¡°Have you two decided what resources to exchange for?¡± ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (I want to exchange for Meteorite Fragment, Late Night Echo Snail, and Fate Necklace!) ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Xu Ran checked out these three resources one by one. Soon, a surprised look appeared on his face again, ¡°You guys are so good at choosing, it made me feel superfluous as a Beast Master.¡± Meteorite Fragment, exchange requires 30,000 Beast Master points. This resource is said to be a piece of an extraterrestrial meteorite that broke off after falling. It can release a strange extraterrestrial power, leaning towards the dark attribute, but its actual attribute is more complex. It fits well with Star¡¯s condition. Absorbing this resource may even yield better results than it would for ordinary dark attribute pet beasts. Moreover, the three-star skill, Star Falling Power, that can be perceived after absorbing this resource, is also quite interesting. This skill has a similar effect to Heart of Eternal Night, as it can attract power from beyond the heavens and provide a comprehensive boost. Being a boosting skill, it can be fused into Heart of Eternal Night in the future. Late Night Echo Snail, exchange requires 40,000 Beast Master points. This resource is also quite interesting. This is a naturally formed, conch-shaped resource that can retain the power of deep night. After a dark attribute pet beast absorbs it, there¡¯s a chance of comprehending a skill called Late Night Echo. A three-star skill, Late Night Echo. After executing this skill, all dark attribute skills released by the dark attribute pet beast will be amplified and a residual echo effect will be added. This effect can prolong the duration of dark attribute skills on the target, transitioning from the instant disappearance to a slow decay until it finally fades away. If it¡¯s a dark attribute attacking skill, instead of ending after hitting the opponent, under the boost of Late Night Echo, it can continue to inflict damage on the enemy over a period of time. Moreover, this skill can be used on dark attribute boosting skills as well. With it, the boosting effect of the Night Rune could be elevated even more. The two resources that Star chose, and the skills gained, can both be adapted to Heart of Eternal Night and are perfect for skill fusion. This is clearly not a coincidence, but an intentional choice by it. As for the last resource, the Fate Necklace. Exchanging for it also requires 30,000 Beast Master points. This is an attribute-less special resource. Pet beasts of any attribute can absorb it to enhance themselves, however, due to the need for attribute conversion, there will be some discounted absorption of power. This is similar to attribute-less energy blocks and attributed energy blocks. Despite these circumstances, its exchange value is still 30,000 Beast Master points because absorbing the Fate Necklace can yield a very unique skill. A attribute-less three-star skill, Fate Link. This skill can establish a link between the user and multiple other targets. Once linked, the user can continuously feed their power to the linked targets, or draw power from them. This link can be easily broken when resisted, hence it can¡¯t be used against enemies. But for linking among teammates, it¡¯s very effective. After learning of this skill¡¯s effects, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Ziyun. Among the three little ones, only Ziyun doesn¡¯t have any sustained skills. It¡¯s clear whom this skill is for without a second word. After acquiring this skill, Star will be able to transfer its power to Ziyun and can also draw power from Cancan to deliver to Ziyun. With two of them acting as support and one dealing the main attacks, this is an invincible logistical formation. Besides, this skill seems very compatible with Fated Star Pulling for fusion. ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead with these exchanges!¡± Xu Ran made a grand gesture and instantly 100,000 Beast Master points were deducted.. ¡°What about Cancan?¡± Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 195 Snake Woman Cai Han_l Chapter 321: Chapter 195 Snake Woman Cai Han_l Translator: 549690339 | (let me think¡­) Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Cancan showed a thoughtful expression. Unlike Ziyun and Star¡¯s certainty, Cancan was dazzled yesterday by the wide array of earth attribute resources. Moreover, she initially thought she would only get 15,000 Beast Master Points, so she hadn¡¯t made a decision on how to choose the resources. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let me help you think.¡± Seeing Cancan¡¯s indecisive little look, Xu Ran chuckled and opened the redeeming list of earth attribute resources. One person and one pet, their heads huddled together, stared at the screen, and Ziyun and Star kept popping their heads trying to give their advice. Soon, the master and the three pets determined the resources that Cancan needed. There were two resources in total, one is called ¡®Earthcore Marrow¡¯, which required 30,000 Beast Master Points for exchange, and the other is ¡®Glorious Gold Dragon Scale¡¯, which required 50,000 Beast Master Points for exchange. Earthcore Marrow is a naturally occurring King-level resource. It harbors an extremely pure earth attribute power from the depths of the earth, and it gives excellent support to any earth attribute pet beast¡¯s power enhancement. The three star skill that can be obtained from absorbing it is equally sophisticated, called ¡®Earth-splitting¡¯. This is an earth attribute long-range attack skill, and unlike general attack skills, it isn¡¯t instant or requires powering up, but a rarely seen delayed action skill. Where there¡¯s earth, Cancan can use this skill like a preset time bomb, leaving an energy point that can be detonated under her control. As long as the energy point is within Cancan¡¯s range, she can detonate it under her control. The size of the specific range depends on Cancan¡¯s proficiency in the skill and her own power. However, it should be noted that this energy point will gradually lose power over time after being used. If it is not detonated, it will naturally disappear as the energy is completely depleted. So, the timing of the detonation should be noted. Even with these shortcomings, it doesn¡¯t hinder it from becoming a very important skill for Cancan. With this skill, Cancan¡¯s attack methods could become more diverse. Imagine, after setting up the energy points in advance, Cancan stands among the beast swarm and taunts her opponents with the Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power¡­ That scene would be simply cool beyond words. Besides, the other resource, Glorious Gold Dragon Scale, is equally extraordinary. Cancan originally noticed it because the first word of this resource shares the same name with her. The facts proved that occasionally trusting first impressions and intuition is the right thing to do. After reading the detailed annotations, Xu Ran confirmed that this resource is very suitable for her. According to the introduction of this resource, it came from an earth attribute king-level dragon-like extraordinary being that almost evolved into the Emperor Species. To kill it, a Overlord Level Beast Master of Xieyun City was even dispatched. And this dragon scale is not a normal dragon scale, it is a reverse scale left on the body of that dragon-like extraordinary being after the evolution failed. Because of this, the value of this resource is slightly higher than common king-level resources, but the price is worth of its effect. Apart from providing power enhancement for earth attribute pet beasts, the Glorious Gold Dragon Scale can also provide another kind of enhancement to dragon pet beasts, making their forms slightly change and become more perfect. In addition, after absorbing it, Cancan will have an opportunity to gain a three-star skill called ¡°True Dragon Reverse Scale¡±. In situations of being on the verge of death, powerless and extremely angry, it can burst out with extraordinary power without side effects, but this skill has a long cooling time. If she can integrate this skill with the already strong three-star skill Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power, there might even be other special effects. In a nutshell, although this resource is expensive, it is basically tailor-made for Cancan. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange for these.¡± Xu Ran quickly completed the exchange of these two resources, then looked at the three little ones who were excited to the point where they couldn¡¯t wait to immediately get the resources and chuckled, ¡°Although Xieyun City¡¯s delivery service is very fast, it won¡¯t come until tomorrow morning at the earliest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s get some sleep tonight.¡± With that said, he assumed the pose of sitting cross-legged in deep meditation, slowly closing his eyes. A second later, he opened his eyes again. He had almost forgotten something important. [Main Task 3: Out with the Old, in with the New Task description: Please host to open a branch in a Second Level Town, and get local fame to reach 70% ( 20.1/70). Rewards: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience +400] Fame has broken through 20%? Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up with delight, then he finally closed his eyes, at ease. Meditation! Aim to break through the Fourth Stage contract power! Watching Xu Ran quickly enter the state of deep meditation, the three little ones exchanged glances. ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s sleep, we¡¯ll need to work hard to become strong after getting the resources tomorrow.) Ziyun yawned while stepping on Cancan¡¯s scales, and then lightly jumped to lay next to Star who was kneeling on the ground. She flipped over comfortably with her belly up, two front paws hanging on her chest, neck highly lifted, forehead touching the ground, and fell asleep. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We should also sleep.) Star lowered her voice and moved both her front hooves gently, making her belly stick to Ziyun a bit more. Then she slowly closed her eyes, like purple crystals, let her head droop slightly and soon started to snore softly. ¡°Hmm~¡± (Good night-) Watching Ziyun and Star fall asleep one after the other, an excited Cancan who had a bit of difficulty sleeping helplessly shook her head. She moved her body to one side, retracted her four paws and tail into her shell. Burying her head on her own scales, she quickly fell asleep.. Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 195 Snake Woman Cai Han_2 Chapter 322: Chapter 195 Snake Woman Cai Han_2 Translator: 549690339 Early the next morning. ¡°Ding ding ding-¡± With Xu Ran tapping a spoon on a pot, three dwellers rushed frantically more than yesterday to face Xu Ran, their eyes on the food bowl in Xu Ran¡¯s hand, quietly waiting for Xu Ran to distribute their respective food. ¡°This is the food for Crack Sky Eagle and Dark Electric Flood.¡± Xu Ran gave the two food bowls to the two leadership-stage dwellers in the shop, then handed the biggest bowl to the Combat Furball. ¡°This is yours.¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The Combat Furball nodded, stepped forward, and took over the food bowl with both hands. ¡°Eve added some calming substances into your food today. I hope this can help you.¡± The Combat Furball feeding slightly paused when it heard this, glanced at Xu Ran with gratitude, then carried its food bowl back to its own place and started eating as unhurriedly as yesterday. Xu Ran who was patiently waiting for Combat Furball to finish eating suddenly got a call. ¡°Hello, yes¡­ huh, it¡¯s me¡­ okay.¡± Xu Ran soon hung up the phone, looking at the three little ones who had finished eating and were now perking their ears to eavesdrop. ¡°The resources arrived.¡± ¡°You guys can just leave the food bowls here when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll clean them up later.¡± After instructing the three dwellers, Xu Ran, with three joyous little ones, headed towards the shop. Seeing the backs of one man and three pets leaving, the Combat Furball gradually stopped eating, an envious and painful expression in its eyes. It had close companions just like them. But one of them fell in that accident due to its impulsiveness. Would the other two ever forgive it again? ¡°Thank you, senior. I have signed it.¡± Xu Ran returned the delivery receipt to the King Level Beast Master in charge of delivery. ¡°Heh, no trouble.¡± The King Level Beast Master smiled, couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Xu Ran. Though the leader-level chart was nothing serious to him, he had heard about the commotion the young Beast Master, standing before him, caused on the Beast Trainer Ranking yesterday. A Beast Master who could exchange such a large amount of Beast Master Points for resources at once must be exceptional. So even he wouldn¡¯t display an overly arrogant attitude due to his own power. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± The King Level Beast Master turned to leave, glanced at the price menu on the wall, and twitched the corner of his mouth. He really dares to charge¡­ ¡°Have a safe journey, senior!¡± Watching the departure of the King Level Beast Master, Xu Ran turned back to look at the three little ones. The three little ones were currently gathered around an open alloy box. The box was full of treasure light and the rich energy made the surrounding air become a bit thick. Eight King-level resources combined, it was wealth that anyone would covet. ¡°Ok, take your respective resources.¡± Xu Ran gently reminded them, ¡°Absorb as much as you can and increase your power as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (No problem!) Heavy Purple Cloud nods heavily, holding three resources in his arms, laughing joyfully. With these three king-level resources, it was confident that it could reach the Perfect Leadership Stage in a short time. Although it wouldn¡¯t be easy to quickly increase the skills to the Full Moon Level without skill points, it could try! And if it can successfully gain the corresponding three-star skill from these three resources, its power can rise a little more. In this way, it isn¡¯t a problem to improve its ranking and gain new rewards on the charts it had struck before! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I want to absorb the Fate Necklace as soon as possible!) Star twirled the modest looking necklace on its neck, which was faintly suffused with mysterious power, a hopeful expression on its face. After absorbing the Fate Necklace, it hoped to gain the so-called Fate Chain skill. In this way¡­ Star glanced at Purple Cloud and remembered how it let Purple Cloud use the Full Moon Level King¡¯s Power to speed up the growth of its own King¡¯s Power every day, all at the cost of loo value points a day. Purple Cloud still lacked an endurance skill, and after the Energy Abundant Potion runs out, the cost of training would be significant, right? If it uses Fate Chain to swiftly replenish its power and drastically increase its training efficiency¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be fair to charge 200 value points per day? ¡°Charming!¡± (Beast Trainer Ranking, is just so much!) Cancan shoved a brilliant golden scale into a crevice in its own shell, pretending it was its own scale, holding a rock in its arms that pulsated with thick earthy yellow halo, wearing a broad smile. With these resources, how could it not rise in Beast Trainer Ranking? In a while, it would overshadow the Wild Beast Chart with its achievements and nobody would even notice it! Xu Ran sent the three little ones to the training area and returned to the storefront after tidying up their food bowls, opening the shop door a second time. Several customers were already standing outside, waiting for the doors to open. 20% fame, that¡¯s terrifying. A bright and polite smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ready to welcome a particularly busy day. ¡°Welcome!¡± ¡°Is this the Starfire Foster Shop?¡± A woman with high ponytail and phoenix eyes, exuding an aura that naturally kept people at a distance, stood in front of the Starfire Foster Shop. Looking at the bustling scene inside, a thought popped up in her eyes. ¡°Hiss-¡± Accompanied by a slight hissing sound, a snake pet beast covered with colorful scales peeked out its head, rested on the woman¡¯s cheek and gazed at the shop with its chilling eyes, tongue flickering. ¡°You want to give it a try?¡± The woman stroked the snake¡¯s head. ¡°No beast master in Xieyun City can solve your problem. At this point, we can only try our luck.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, the woman walked towards the Starfire Foster Shop. The snake wriggled its body and followed closely behind. As the pair entered the shop, the bustling atmosphere inside the shop momentarily stagnated. Looking at the infamous Snake Woman, Cai Han, and feeling her innate icy aura, many waiting customers quieted down. ¡°Welcome!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile remained, as if he wasn¡¯t affected by the other¡¯s intimidating aura. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Cai Han didn¡¯t say a word. She looked around and fixed her gaze on the price menu. The exorbitant prices at Starfire Foster Shop slightly raised her elegant eyebrows, after which, Cai Han looked at Xu Ran with a very serious gaze. ¡°Oh¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± Having been stared at by the icy beauty, Xu Ran started to feel uncomfortable. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like one who trades on one¡¯s reputation,¡± Cai Han muttered in a voice only she could hear, ¡°Maybe he really is capable; thus, the high prices.¡± ¡°Huh? What did you just say?¡± Xu Ran blinked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Cai Han finally spoke to Xu Ran. ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s wrong with my Jade Snake King?¡± Was she referring to the snake pet beast around her? Xu Ran turned to the snake around Cai Han and initiated the system identification. [Race name: Jade Snake King Property: Water-based Growth stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Medium-size Washing and Protection requirements: ***** Evaluation: Who would have thought there would a pet beast that looks better the dirtier it gets? But the accumulated dirt has seriously affected its health, it¡¯s time for the host to use his skilled hands to clean it] Huh? Looking at the evaluation given by the system, Xu Ran showed a look of surprise. Generally, being dirty refers to ugliness and uncleanliness. Are there really pet beasts that look better when dirty? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the Jade Snake King in front of him. Its vibrant and colorful scales did indeed add a touch of brilliance. As the scales on its body were still smooth and colourful, without the system¡¯s identification, he almost would have thought that this pet beast had no washing and protection requirements. What¡¯s the deal with this pet beast? Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 196: The Pet Beasts Beauty Dips After Washing and Protection?_l Chapter 323: Chapter 196: The Pet Beast¡¯s Beauty Dips After Washing and Protection?_l Translator: 549690339 Although the system identification has already provided some information about the Jade Snake King, to solve the problem as requested by Cai Han, Xu Ran needs more detailed information. ¡°Could you tell me what kind of problem your pet beast is suffering from?¡± Xu Ran asked in a serious tone. ¡°Okay.¡± Cai Han nodded slightly, ¡°After the Jade Snake King evolved, as time went by, its scales have gradually shown various colors.¡± ¡°I originally thought this was a good thing. I was happy seeing it getting better and more beautiful. But as time went by, the Jade Snake King began to show problems such as slower strength improvement, slower movements, and slower reaction speed. Only then did I realize something was wrong.¡± ¡°My Jade Snake King is like this today due to some accidents. This king species has never been recorded before in Xieyun City, so I have been to several foster shops, but they were not able to solve its problem.¡± Speaking so much at once is unusual for the ice beauty Cai Han. She herself seemed to have been unaccustomed, and after she finished, she paused for a long while before asking Xu Ran, ¡°So, do you have a solution?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, examined the Jade Snake King, and then nodded, giving an affirmative answer, ¡°Yes.¡± Combined with the system¡¯s evaluation and Cai Han¡¯s narration, he had some speculation about the situation of the Jade Snake King. If his guess is correct, those colored scales that visually improved the appearance of the Jade Snake King were actually the dirt on its body. Although this sounded ridiculous, anything was possible in a world of supernatural beings. ¡°There are two more people ahead of you, you can go to the waiting room to rest for a moment.¡± After leaving a sentence, Xu Ran turned around and entered the grooming room to continue the washing and protection work for the pet beast that was paused midway. Not until Xu Ran turned around and left, did Cai Han suddenly snap out of her daze. A solution! He said there is a solution! In her icy eyes, a trace of nervous and expectant emotions emerged. ¡°Hiss-¡± The Jade Snake King lowered its head and rubbed Cai Han¡¯s cheek softly. Compared to the excitement of its Beast Master, the Jade Snake King seemed relatively calm at the moment. Having been with its Beast Master for so long, the Jade Snake King knew that under her icy exterior and aura, she had a soft heart. Many foster shops had previously assured that they could solve its problem, but they all ended in failure. Even so, every time when a solution was promised, Cai Han would always feel anxious and hopeful. Through the third-stage Beast Taming Contract, the Jade Snake King could clearly perceive the feelings of its Beast Master, which stirred some feelings within it. No matter what, it had chosen the right Beast Master. Both girl and beast entered the nearby waiting room. About half an hour later, it was finally their turn. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Xu Ran walked up to them, ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cai Han quickly followed, but when she saw where Xu Ran was going, she looked a little puzzled, ¡°To the grooming room?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The situation of the Jade Snake King is not complicated. It just needs a grooming session. Once grooming is completed, its condition will naturally improve.¡± ¡°¡­Just grooming?¡± Even Cai Han couldn¡¯t help but show some surprise on her face, ¡°Is it really that simple?¡± She had always thought that the problem with the Jade Snake King was due to some unexpected circumstances during its evolution, causing it to develop some special defects. A grooming would solve it? This seemed a bit hasty. ¡°Trust me.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice was still firm, which helped Cai Han understand. The grooming fee for medium-sized pet beasts was nothing to her. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to give it a try. If it didn¡¯t work, then¡­ Looking at the suddenly enlarged and far more spacious interior of the grooming room compared to the outside world, Cai Han was first surprised, then her expression changed when she seemed to realize something. She looked carefully at Xu Ran, not saying a word, but her trust in him grew a little deeper. She had never seen anyone use the space expansion technology in such a way before. But with such confidence, perhaps there was a chance? ¡°There¡¯s a stool over there, feel free to sit down.¡± As Xu Ran spoke, he processed the vast knowledge that poured into his mind as soon as he entered the grooming room. A moment later, he had a thorough understanding of the situation of the Jade Snake King. So¡­ that was what was going on? Xu Ran¡¯s expression was a bit strange as he turned and went to the preparation table to get all the items needed for grooming the Jade Snake King. Meanwhile, he abruptly asked, ¡°Your Jade Snake King, was it a swimming snake in the bath before it evolved, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Cai Han looked at Xu Ran in surprise. She hadn¡¯t mentioned that. There are not a few water attribute snake pet beasts. The fact that he could pinpoint the species of the Jade Snake King before its evolution showed that he knew something. ¡°Then it¡¯s correct.¡± Xu Ran nodded, picked up a bucket of a lightly green bath dew with the fragrance of fresh vegetation, walked to the care platform where the Jade Snake King was located, took out a syringe to draw some bath dew, and then gently dropped it on the surface of its scales. ¡°Drip-drip ¡± ¡°Sssssss ¡± A series of soft and crisp noises came from where the bath dew came into contact with the Jade Snake King¡¯s scales. Countless tiny bubbles rose from the scales, burst, and brought out a colored smoke, as if they were being corroded by strong acid.. Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 196: The Pet Beasts Beauty Dips Chapter 324: Chapter 196: The Pet Beast¡¯s Beauty Dips After Washing and Protection?_2 Translator: 549690339 , Having prepared in advance, Xu Ran casually took out a vacuum cleaner, suctioning away the colored smoke, then continued to drip the liquid onto other parts of the body. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± The jade Snake King, which had closed its eyes and was peacefully awaiting its grooming, suddenly opened them wide. It extended its tongue, emitting a faint hissing sound with a slight tremor. What¡¯s happening?! In its perception, as the bath dew fell, a feeling of being scorched by flames traveled from its scales into its body, causing intense discomfort. But following that discomfort was a strange sense of relief and relaxation, indescribable in words. The spot that had previously felt as if it were on fire then began transmitting an electrifying, tingling sensation, causing it to momentarily experience the joy of a newfound taste. Its body couldn¡¯t help but twitch slightly from the continuous sensation of burning heat and electric-like tingles. Its previously straight tail curled up swiftly, while the rest of its body slowly tensed up. [Pleasure Value from Jade Snake King +30] [Pleasure Value from Jade Snake King +30] [From¡­] Seeing the continuous prompts of pleasure points, Xu Ran chuckled. As expected of the five-star washing and protection requirement, the pleasure value is really high. ¡°This¡­¡± Cai Han, who had been standing by and observing, was growing more and more astonished. Though she was surprised at the Jade Snake King¡¯s reaction, what surprised her even more was the effect of the grooming. From where she was sitting, she had just enough view to see the area where Xu Ran had first dropped the bath dew. That area, which had been producing bubbles and colored smoke continuously, had changed from its previous dazzling colors to a translucent, clear jade-green color! That¡¯s¡­ A look of joy emerged in Cai Han¡¯s eyes. That was the original color of the Jade Snake King¡¯s scales after evolving! It really turned back! With the scales¡¯ color turning back, Cai Han had no doubt left that Xu Ran would be able to solve the other problems of the Jade Snake King. This time, she had finally found someone who could truly help the Jade Snake King! Time ticked away, and soon enough Xu Ran, who had covered the entire body of the jade Snake King in bath dew, took out a cotton brush and cleaned all the dew off. Now completely transformed, the Jade Snake King, its body adorned with jade-green scales, appeared before Cai Han¡¯s eyes. After methodically finishing the subsequent maintenance work, Xu Ran patted the Jade Snake King¡¯s body, ¡°Okay, we¡¯re done. Before Xu Ran¡¯s hand could move away, the Jade Snake King quickly wrapped its slender tail around his arm. It squirmed anxiously, giving Xu Ran a somewhat hazy look as if trying to remember this human, then slowly untwined its tail. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Cai Han looked at Xu Ran with somewhat complex emotions, -May I ask, will your shop always stay here? If the Jade Snake King has similar issues in the future, I might need your help again.¡± -Unless something unexpected happens, this shop will always be open.¡± Xu Ran paused, an odd look in his eyes, ¡°But the Jade Snake King¡¯s problems aren t big. As long as you¡¯re a bit careful, similar issues shouldn¡¯t appear in the future.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± An expression of surprise flashed in Cai Han¡¯s eyes, ¡°You said¡­ the issues aren¡¯t big?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The Race called Swimming Bath Snake constantly secretes pure water condensed from water attribute energy from its scales, always appearing as though it just came out of a bath, hence its Race name.¡± ¡ö¡¯I see.¡± Cai Han nodded, ¡°But after evolving into the Jade Snake King, it has not had such a problem.¡± ¡°Not that it doesn¡¯t happen, but it¡¯s restraining itself.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Jade Snake King, ¡°I think, it¡¯s never told you about this, has it?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Cai Han looked at her long-contracted Pet Beast in surprise. How could this be¡­ Then, she looked into the Jade Snake King¡¯s eyes, and her heart gave a violent jolt. It¡¯s true! Being incredibly familiar with the Jade Snake King, she could understand its thoughts just with a gaze. It was indeed, concealing something from her! -Why are you restraining yourself?¡± Cai Han gently asked, one hand stroking the Jade Snake King¡¯s head. ¡°Because of the strong toxin.¡± Before the Jade Snake King could respond, Xu Ran had already given the answer,¡±The Water Snake originally is a pure Water Attribute Pet Beast, but after evolving into the Jade Snake King, its water power changed a bit, each of its attacks now contain a strong toxin.¡± ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Cai Han couldn¡¯t help but think about the process of the Water Snake¡¯s evolution. initially, she had made extensive preparations for the Water Snake¡¯s evolution, even spent a lot at buying some secret information about the king species evolved from Water Snake for its smooth evolution. However, in an accident, the Water Snake mistakenly ate a resource containing potent poison. It was weak at the time and was on the verge of death, in her desperation, Cai Han chose to let the Water Snake evolve in this life-or-death situation. Unexpectedly, the evolution was successful, and the poison was gone, but the Water Snake transformed into a completely new form ¨C the Jade Snake King. From then on, all its attacks carry a strong poison, posing a great threat to its opponents and significantly enhancing Cai Han¡¯s overall combat power. In the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, the Jade Snake King contributed a lot to her high ranking. ¡°The evolved Jade Snake King retains its original traits. It secretes water condensed from its water power through its scales, but its water power has changed, and the water it secretes contains strong toxins.¡± ¡°Such potent toxins could significantly impact people and other pet beasts nearby, so the Jade Snake King chooses to restrain its instinct and not secrete water containing toxins.¡± ¡ö¡öHowever¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice slightly paused, ¡°This action causes the toxin to accumulate under its scales, causing the scales to become colorful.¡± ¡°Although the toxin is the Jade Snake King¡¯s own and won¡¯t poison it, the accumulation over a long period will still damage its body, which refers to the problems you pointed out earlier.¡± ¡°Colorful scales are indeed more attractive, but the purpose of Washing and Protection is not just to make the pet beasts look better, but also to adjust their physical and mental states.¡± Xu Ran looked a little emotional as he said this. Admittedly, this Washing and Protection session gave him a deeper understanding of it. ¡°I see.¡± Cai Han¡¯s expression became complex. She gently stroked the Jade Snake King¡¯s head and then softly opened her mouth, ¡°If you say the problem isn¡¯t so serious, there should be a way to solve it, right? -Of course.¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°It¡¯s better to dredge than block. The solution is naturally to let it secrete the liquid containing strong toxins normally.¡± ¡°Ssss!!!!!¡± The jade Snake King¡¯s pupils instantly turned icy cold. It spat its forked tongue at Xu Ran, the aura of its Leadership Stage exploding. Obviously, it didn¡¯t appreciate Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion, nor did it want its own Beast Master to follow it. The toxins it would secrete would inevitably have serious effects on its Beast Master whom it was always with, and this was something it didn¡¯t want to see. -Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Ran chuckled. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished talking yet.¡± ¡°Among the water-attribute skills, there¡¯s a Three-Star Skill that can be mastered through training and learning called ¡®Water Extraction Drying¡¯. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve heard of it.¡± -You¡¯re referring to¡­¡± A hint of thoughtfulness appeared in Cai Han¡¯s eyes, ¡°That skill that can dehydrate the opponent?¡± ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s the one.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°It¡¯s said that when that skill is enhanced to its limit, it can dehydrate a flesh-and-blood body into a dried corpse in an instant, causing the opponent to die immediately.¡± ¡°TO solve the Jade Snake King¡¯s problem, the Stardust Level Water Extraction Drying is enough.¡± -With this skill, the Jade Snake King can separate the strong toxin from the water, solving not only the problem of the toxin but also gaining a new attack method.¡± As Xu Ran said this, his voice paused slightly, his smile growing brighter, ¡°If you want to learn the skill, I recommend trying our shop¡¯s Accompanying Training Service.¡± If it weren¡¯t for attracting business, Xu Ran wouldn¡¯t have talked so much.. Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 197 Visitor from Hes Martial Arts Chapter 325: Chapter 197 Visitor from He¡¯s Martial Arts Halil Translator: 549690339 ¡°The skill of Water Extraction Drying is not difficult to teach.¡± Within the training area, in front of the one person and their pet, Xu Ran speaks calmly. If this had happened earlier, Cai Han would never have believed Xu Ran¡¯s words. The higher the skill star level, the more difficult it is to acquire through training, and there are even certain requirements for species and potential. For example, the pet beasts of the leader species will almost never learn a three-star skill in an acquired manner. The difficulty of mastering a three-star skill through training is extreme, and it is not unusual for a king species to struggle through ten or half a month of training to learn just one three-star skill. How could teaching such a skill be simple? But after witnessing Xu Ran effortlessly solve countless problems that had stumped many Beast Masters using mere Washing and Protection, and revitalize her Jade Snake King, Cai Han does not hesitate to believe what Xu Ran said at this moment. ¡°What should I do?¡± She gently stroked the head of the Jade Snake King and spoke softly. Knowing that this silly creature had become what it once was to avoid hurting her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little more sympathy for this pet beast with which she had first formed a bond. ¡°The core of this skill is a deeper understanding and control of water power.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°Because the control of water power becomes stronger, it can extract moisture from the air.¡± ¡°So, to learn it, the Jade Snake King needs to improve its control of water power, and try to manipulate water from a distance.¡± Hearing this, Cai Han nods continuously. Indeed, the person who easily solved the problems of the Jade Snake King¡¯s body also directly uncovers the truth when assessing the skill. ¡°So, what do we need to do?¡± Cai Han continued to ask. ¡°What we have to do is play a game called ¡®Big Ball Eats Little Ball¡¯.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly, ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± Play a game? Cai Han raised her eyebrows slightly. What kind of game can get the Jade Snake King to learn a new three-star skill? She had met many skilled sparring trainers before. Each of them had their unique skills, and some had unique insights on certain skills, enabling pet beasts to train in a more efficient way. But using a game for training¡­ was a bit too special. Big Ball Eats Little Ball¡­ A look of curiosity appeared in Cai Han¡¯s eyes. What kind of game is this? Cai Han¡¯s doubt didn¡¯t last long. Very soon, Xu Ran, who had taken out the training equipment from the training equipment room, came up to her and her pet beast. It was a training device that looked like a super large game machine, but the screen of the game machine was replaced by a colorless transparent glass. Inside the glass, there were water droplets of various sizes. These droplets did not drop, but instead were controlled by the device to move irregularly. ¡°This one is yours.¡± Xu Ran pointed to a small recess in the lower left corner of the glass screen. Inside the recess was a droplet of water that hadn¡¯t completely formed yet. ¡°Use your water power to control it.¡± ¡°Hiss-¡± Even though it didn¡¯t know how to do the training yet, there was a look of interest in the eyes of the Jade Snake King. The light blue halo flowed between its green scales, and soon the droplet of water was formed under the control of the Jade Snake King. ¡°Next, control this droplet of water and touch other droplets of water.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused and then started explaining the rules, ¡°Note, you can only touch droplets smaller than yours.¡± ¡°After touching, your water droplet will engulf them and become bigger.¡± ¡°But at the same time, you need to avoid droplets bigger than yours as much as possible. Otherwise, your droplet will be engulfed by them, and the game will have to start over.¡± ¡°Hiss-¡± The Jade Snake King slightly moved its head to indicate that it had understood, showing a look of eagerness to try. Even Cai Han, who was standing nearby, found the game quite interesting after listening to Xu Ran¡¯s rules. ¡°Then let¡¯s¡­ begin.¡± Clapping his hands, Xu Ran pointed to the game machine in front of him¡­oh no, the training equipment, signaling the Jade Snake King to start its show. ¡°Hiss-¡± Confidence glowed in the eyes of the Jade Snake King. As a pet beast of the water species, king variety, its control over water was almost innate, such a simple and understandable little game was simply¡­ The next moment, looking at its own engulfed water droplet, the Jade Snake King had a doubtful expression on its face. Huh? Why did it lose so quickly? After the game started, before it had time to react, it was squeezed between two bigger water droplets and was swallowed without any way to retreat. No good! Let¡¯s do it again! The Jade Snake King was in a hurry. It was the king of the water species¡­ Seeing itself being engulfed after only managing to touch two smaller droplets again, the Jade Snake King was silent. Standing next to it, Xu Ran observes the Jade Snake King¡¯s experiences of the game twice and couldn¡¯t resist touching his chin. It seemed this training equipment was not very user-friendly. It was most exciting if it displayed an expression like ¡°The Big Water Droplet consumed your brain,¡± or a bright red ¡°Death¡± each time a water droplet was swallowed. After watching a few more times and observing the Jade Snake King gradually discern a pattern after several failures, Xu Ran turned his head and said to Cai Han, ¡°Alright, now you accompany the Jade Snake King in training.¡± ¡°When it completes this game and swallows all the water droplets, it will have mastered the Water Extraction Drying skill..¡± Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: Chapter 197 Visitor from Hes Martial Arts Chapter 326: Chapter 197 Visitor from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall_2 Translator: 549690339 After speaking, Xu Ran waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave the training area. This¡­ Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, Cai Han fell silent. So, the training partner was himself? However¡­ Looking at the slightly red-eyed Jade Snake King making a comeback, Cai Han couldn¡¯t help but speak out, ¡°To the right, to the right! You died the last time because you went left! Swallow that green droplet!¡± ¡°¡­ Hiss?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity it¡¯s not a General level pet beast, otherwise you could earn quite a few Beast Master Points for training it once.¡± Walking in the underground tunnel, Xu Ran sighed, ¡°But with the shop¡¯s reputation getting better and better, General level beasts will start coming soon, right?¡± Thinking of this, Xu Ran felt even more motivated. If more General level or even King Level Beast Masters visit the shop, the Beast Master Points he could earn in a day might reach tens of thousands. Pushing the back door open and stepping into the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s face was filled with an expectant smile. But this smile quickly stiffened. Because he was stunned to find that his shop was packed with a group of muscular men who had just gone down for a little while. ¡°What is this¡­?¡¯1 Xu Ran asked, seeing the other customers huddled in the corner like bullied weaklings due to these muscular men. ¡°We are from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, here to patronize your shop!¡± A muscular man quickly stepped forward, crossing his arms and looking at Xu Ran, ¡°I have to say, your shop¡¯s business is great and the prices are high too.¡± ¡°But we from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall aren¡¯t short on money!¡± The muscular man waved his hand, ¡°Everyone, start with a round of grooming! It¡¯s on me!¡± ¡°Thank you, Young Master He!¡± All the muscular men shouted in unison, their powerful voices merging to make the shop tremble slightly. ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, looking at the familiar muscular man in front of him, ¡°He Junlong, right? Thanks for supporting the business, but with so many people, we might not finish grooming today.¡± ¡°No problem! If we can¡¯t finish today, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow!¡± He Junlong¡¯s hands, clasped in front of his chest, tightened, revealing ¡®crisp¡¯ sounds, a glint in his eyes, ¡°But I¡¯ll say this upfront, if the grooming is not good and doesn¡¯t satisfy us¡­¡± ¡°Crisp, crisp-¡± Behind him, a group of men from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall made the same gesture and the sound of bone cracking filled the air. Xu Ran was silent for a moment before responding with a dumbfounded expression. He thought these guys were here to wreck his shop, but is that all they want? ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Who¡¯s first?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He Junlong¡¯s gaze was slightly frozen. Is he this confident? He truly had no good intentions that day, as the annoying person in front of him was using the ridiculous name ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡±, to step on the honor of his own Martial Arts Hall and rank on top of the personal Power Listing, even surpassing him in the comprehensive Power Listing. This guy needed a lesson. So, after the morning training in the martial arts hall was over, he brought his apprentices here. Seeing the pricing of Starfire Foster Care Shop, he wasn¡¯t angry; in fact, he was even happier as it was the perfect excuse to pick on him. With services priced two to three times higher than other foster shops, having higher demands makes sense, right? It¡¯s the perfect opportunity to nitpick, to find a reason to smash this guy¡¯s shop! However, facing his provocation, this guy is still so calm. Does he truly have the abilities, or is he just dumb? He Junlong gave Xu Ran a deep look, ¡°Then let¡¯s start with me!¡± As his words fell, the Hexagram Star Array flickered and unfolded behind him, a seven-meter-long beast that resembled a wolf, shaped like a lion, has two horns on its head, four hooves, and a body that was burning with red flames emerged from the storm. As soon as it appeared, the store was filled with a rolling heat wave, the temperature rose quickly by several degrees, and bystanders backed away. ¡°Grr ¡± Releasing a shrill and strange roar, the beast looked around and then turned its gaze towards Xu Ran, giving off an oppressive pressure. Seeing the beast in front of him, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze held a touch of surprise. When he thought of Martial Arts Halls, he thought of the Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion in Qingzhou City. The Bamboo Leaf Martial Arts Pavilion employs martial arts in conjunction with Fighting Attribute pet beasts for combat, leading him to mistakenly believe that all Martial Arts Halls operate in the same manner with their contracted pet beasts all being fighting Attribute pet beasts. Unexpectedly, He Junlong¡¯s pet beast turned out to be of the Fire Attribute. He wiped the sweat bead on his forehead and casually activated the System Identification. [Race name: Flame Wolf Sovereign Attribute: Fire Attribute Growth stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Large Maintenance Need: ¡ï¡ï¡ï*¡î Review: A wolf that is on fire, the host needs to quickly use their dexterous hands to give this little burning creature a thorough cleaning and care, make it feel comfortable!] Little burning creature¡­ There was a slight twitch at the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth. Whether the Greedy Flame Wolf was burning or not, he had no idea, but the System was certainly getting sassy. ¡°Follow me in.¡± Xu Ran waved his hand at the Greedy Flame Wolf and then turned to enter the grooming room. ¡°Growl-¡± The face of the Greedy Flame Wolf was full of reluctance, as it hesitated to move forward from its original position. ¡°Off you go, go get groomed!¡± He Junlong showed an unsurprised expression, giving a kick to the hind legs of the Greedy Flame Wolf, signaling it to follow quickly. Under the urging of the Beast Master, the Greedy Flame Wolf finally lagged behind and followed Xu Ran into the grooming room. Watching the fading figures of the man and his pet, a triumphant smile emerged on He Junlong¡¯s face. Choosing the Greedy Flame Wolffrom the three pet beasts, he naturally had his own intentions. This pet beast was the most resistant to grooming among the three. The Greedy Flame Wolf resists grooming, not because Fire attributes dislike water, but for deeper reasons. Unlike other Transcendent Beings, the flames on the body of the Greedy Flame Wolf continuously burn off all the dirt on its body. And the filth that could exist on the Greedy Flame Wolf has a very burn-resistant characteristic. So, the dirtier the Greedy Flame Wolf, the more vigorous its flames would be. And this vigorous flame made the Greedy Flame Wolf feel stronger, making it very happy. It didn¡¯t want its flames to diminish after cleaning, so it utterly resisted grooming. Grooming such a pet beast, He Junlong just wanted to be picky, it couldn¡¯t be easier. This guy, his name is Xu Ran, right? Today, his own shop will be smashed! No one can save it! ¡°Growl-¡± Looking at the spotlessly clean interior of the grooming room and the firmly closed door behind him, the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s face was filled with gloom. It had not been groomed for almost half a year. Only then did it accumulate such dirt on its body, making its flames so vigorous. Even some of its own secretions have been burning from half a year ago and have not been completely incinerated yet. Gathering all this dirt on its body, was it easy for it? If it was just cleaned, the Greedy Flame Wolf really couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°It looks like you don¡¯t really like grooming?¡± Looking at the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s reluctance, Xu Ran casually joked, and then began to receive the corresponding knowledge from the System. After receiving it, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face stiffened a little. To some extent, the Greedy Flame Wolf really shouldn¡¯t like grooming. Pulling out such a pet beast for him to groom, It seems that guy He Junlong harbors some deep resentment towards him, huh? But¡­ Just like this, it will not stump him. Xu Ran turned his head to look at the Greedy Flame Wolf next to him and showed a mysterious smile, ¡°Do you want to have even more vigorous flames?¡± The reluctant expression on the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s face paused for a moment, its ears twitching as if it found the suggestion somewhat unbelievable. ¡°Growl?¡± Become more vigorous? ¡°Of course, it¡¯s actually very simple.¡± Xu Ran quickly gave a positive response. ¡°Growl!¡± It wanted that! The Greedy Flame Wolf nodded heavily, its eyes full of anticipation. The amount of flame around its body, for its race, is just like the beautiful tail feathers of a male peacock, it¡¯s a symbol of showing off its strength. If it could make its own flames become more vigorous and make itself look more intimidating, let alone grooming, it would even brave climbing a mountain of knives or entering a sea of fire! Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 198 Little Bunny, Watch Out!_l Chapter 327: Chapter 198 Little Bunny, Watch Out!_l Translator: 549690339 Looking at Flame Wolf¡¯s expectant expression, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. If the Pet Beast didn¡¯t cooperate, the washing and protection process would be quite troublesome. Discussing beforehand, encouraging the Pet Beast to cooperate, it¡¯s a good thing for both, Xu Ran, who¡¯s responsible for the care, and the Flame Wolf being cared for. The words he spoke to Flame Wolf were not empty promises. He indeed had a way to make Flame Wolf¡¯s flames more vigorous after the grooming, not weaker. It was just a matter of taking into account the principle of the Flame Wolf¡¯s body engulfed in flames. if Flame Wolf¡¯s flames became more vigorous when there was fuel, then a special substance could be applied to the fur beneath Flame Wolf¡¯s flames, which could serve a protective role and maintain combustion for a long time. This approach, other foster shops would struggle to replicate, but Xu Ran with his special formula, could easily achieve it. After adjusting the water temperature and preparing the bath dew, Xu Ran made a ¡°please¡± gesture towards Flame Wolf. ¡°Growl!¡± Human, you must keep your word! Obsessed with its vigorous flames, Flame Wolf gave a reminder, then obediently lay down on the care platform, even voluntarily extinguishing its burning flames, revealing the dark red fur underneath. Without the flame¡¯s obstruction, Flame Wolf¡¯s fur details became clearer, it hadn¡¯t bathed in half a year, its fur was stuck together, the smell of grease mixed with muskiness hit Xu Ran. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but exhale a sigh, his face turning into a weird expression. This level of filth was at least a four-star, why did the system assign three stars this time? Was it because it had considered Flame Wolf¡¯s special requirement of the outer flames? Never mind, it doesn¡¯t matter now. Let¡¯s start the clean-up! Xu Ran evenly sprayed the prepared bath dew on Flame Wolf¡¯s dark red fur, then used a fine-toothed comb to gently untangle the matted fur. The colorless and transparent bath dew slid down the fur, joined up on the grooming platform, and turned grey-black. Flame Wolf closed its eyes tightly, its body slightly trembling, under Xu Ran¡¯s skilled and gentle touch, it showed an extremely comfortable expression. Although it was always reluctant to be bathed, it had to admit, the feeling was quite delightful, and the human¡¯s grooming method was better than any it had received before, it made Flame Wolf feel like it was floating on air. [Pleasure value from Flame Wolf +20] [Pleasure value from Flame Wolf +20] [From¡­] After initial combing and untangling the knots, Flame Wolf¡¯s fur had changed from the previous dark red appearance, the color became more vivid, and the wet fur was visibly smoother after being combed, which was very pleasing to the eye. This was just the beginning. When the fragrant shampoo was sprinkled on Flame Wolf¡¯s fur, Xu Ran began to gradually rub it on its massive body, with moderate strength reaching the deep roots of the fur, deeply cleaning each hair follicle. Soon, a suppressed and slightly abnormal sound came from the grooming room. ¡°Growl¡ª¡± Hearing this slightly strange sound, the people laughing and talking inside the store fell silent. One of the hefty men from the He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall nudged He Junlong with his shoulder, ¡°Dragon bro, this seems to be your Flame Wolf¡¯s voice right?¡± ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible!¡± He Junlong without any second thought, quickly shook his head, ¡°Flame Wolf hates grooming very much, it would never make such a strange noise because of grooming, it would be more likely to be angry!¡± As his words fell, another weird noise came from the grooming room. So, everyone couldn¡¯t help but look at He Junlong with strange eyes. ¡°This¡­¡± He Junlong looked a bit confused. He quickly used the Contractual Sensing to feel his pet¡¯s status and found that his pet was really enjoying itself at the moment. This shouldn¡¯t be, right? He Junlong opened his eyes wide, couldn¡¯t help but look towards the direction of the grooming room. Could it be that this guy, Xu Ran, know some kind of magic? While everyone was waiting, the door of the grooming room quickly opened again. ¡°Roar-¡± Before anyone could see the figure coming out of the grooming room, the roaring sound of flame burning vigorously came from within. The next moment, He Junlong, who had been eagerly observing, suddenly opened his eyes wide. Emerging before his eyes, following Xu Ran, was a giant beast bathed in scarlet flames. Compared to the previous flames, the current ones became more vigorous after grooming instead of weakening. Moreover, the previous flames were discolored due to different impurities, although it was burning vigorously. At this moment, the burning flame was a perfect scarlet, even showing a hint of gold, making Flame Wolf, who was bathed in it, look extraordinarily majestic. No! Something is wrong! He Junlong took a cold breath. How did it turn out like this? After grooming, Flame Wolf¡¯s flames have increased even more? Could there a problem with this guy¡¯s grooming method? ¡°A Huo, put out your flames!¡± Considering some possibilities, He Junlong¡¯s eyes flashed, signaling Flame Wolf to quickly extinguish the flames on its body.. Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 198 Little Bunny, Watch Out! 2 Chapter 328: Chapter 198 Little Bunny, Watch Out! 2 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Gulp-¡± The Greedy Flame Wolf reluctantly shook its head. It loved its current flames so much, that it couldn¡¯t bear to extinguish them for even a second. However, it still obeyed the Beast Master. It obediently extinguished its flames, allowing He Junlong to see every detail of its fur. At that moment, a wave of gasps broke out from inside the shop. He Junlong, who was closest to the Greedy Flame Wolf, resembled someone struck by thunder, his face full of surprise and bewilderment, ¡°How is that possible?¡± Originally, seeing such robust flames around the Greedy Flame Wolf, he thought that Xu Ran not only didn¡¯t clean the wolf, but rather made it dirtier. But upon seeing the current condition of the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s fur, He Junlong was completely stunned. The fiery-red fur was densely packed all over the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s body. Each strand was extremely smooth, clinging to its strong body. Moving slightly with its actions, under the light, the fur glowed, looking as if it had been waxed. Whether it was ablaze or had its flames extinguished, the Greedy Flame Wolf¡¯s condition was more dominant and handsome than anything He Junlong had ever seen before. Such condition clearly indicated the excellent grooming it had undergone. ¡°You¡­¡± He Junlong turned to Xu Ran abruptly, intending to ask ¡°How did you do it?¡± But he decided not to, thinking that even if he asked, Xu Ran wouldn¡¯t answer. He was a bit silent for a moment. Providing his most difficult pet for grooming, he thought it would be easy to find faults, but now, he couldn¡¯t find a single thing wrong with the Greedy Flame Wolf. ¡°Do you have any other pets that require cleaning and grooming?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile, showing no surprise at He Junlong¡¯s reaction. ¡°Yes!¡± He Junlong gritted his teeth, transported the Greedy Flame Wolf back to its previous summoning spot, and then let the Hexagram Star Array shine again. Shortly, a brand-new pet beast appeared on the spot. It was a pet beast with a particularly unusual form. It looked like a rustic armor swept up by a violent wind and assembled into a humanoid shape, its body empty, but two blue light points existed where the eyes should be. ¡°Next, groom it!¡± He Junlong pointed to the pet beast by his side, crossed his hands over his chest, and a triumphant smile appeared on his face. This pet beast originally was an Energy Body Pet Beast, but after evolving, it obtained a partial physical form. Although it did not resist grooming like the Greedy Flame Wolf, the grooming of this pet beast was not a simple task either for anyone skilled in grooming! Oh, right, one more thing. ¡°I see your shop allows the Beast Master to accompany during the grooming process,¡± He Junlong smirked. ¡°This time, I want to accompany you!¡± He refused to believe that he wouldn¡¯t be able to find any faults while watching Xu Ran groom his pets right in front of his eyes! ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then looked at the second pet beast He Junlong had summoned, with curious eyes. He had never seen this type of pet beast before. ¡°Race name: Wind Commander. Attribute: Wind attribute. Growth stage: Leadership Stage. Body Type: Medium. Maintenance Need: ¡ï *¡ï**. Review: The rustic armor conceals a forgotten past, and beneath its empty body lies a soul longing for comfort!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal a hint of surprise. This was the first time he had seen such a system evaluation. Interesting. He Junlong s second pet beast was a wind attribute creature, completely different from the earlier fire attribute. What exactly was the heritage of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall? ¡®Come with me.¡± Xu Ran turned and walked towards the Grooming Room again. Although this Wind Commander seemed not simple, neither was he, Xu Ran. In the Grooming Room, there is nothing he couldn¡¯t clean! Except for Beast Master clients. He Junlong, followed by the Wind Commander, quickly caught up, staring at Xu Ran with a look full of fighting spirit. This time, he must find Xu Ran¡¯s prob¡­ The moment he stepped into the Grooming Room, He Junlong¡¯s expression froze. What is¡­ He quickly turned his head towards the suddenly open space around him, and then looked at Xu Ran with astonishment, ¡°Space expansion technology?!¡± ¡°No need to be so surprised.¡± Xu Ran calmly gestured for the Wind Leader to lay down on the grooming platform. ¡°It¡¯s just to make the grooming room more spacious.¡± He Junlong:¡±¡­¡± For some reason, he felt like he was being played by this guy. Within the He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, there was a special training room that had been opened up using space expansion technology. It had consumed most of his father¡¯s, the current headmaster of the He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, fortune. Therefore, he knew exactly how expensive such technology was. He Junlong scoffed, sitting in the chair and watching Xu Ran get ready to groom. He was now considering whether or not he could afford the damages if he vandalized this shop. Unfazed by He Junlong¡¯s gaze, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes were solely focused on the Wind Leader that was obediently lying on the grooming platform. It¡¯s troublesome. Very troublesome. Grooming this pet beast was not a simple task. This pet beast had some physical form, the armor and the light blue winds within it were all parts of its body. It was not difficult to clean the outer layer of the armor, but regular grooming methods could not clean the inside because that part was completely connected to the Wind Leader¡¯s body. And unfortunately, that was the dirtiest area. So¡­ Suddenly, Xu Ran¡¯s hand held a transparent bag filled with tiny, jade white granules, each one polished to perfection, similar in size to small pebbles. He opened a corner of the bag, tipped it towards the Wind Leader¡¯s mask, and gently said, ¡°Good boy, swallow it.¡± ¡°Crackle ¡± The crisp sound echoed as Xu Ran poured the jade white granules into the Wind Leader¡¯s mask. The Wind Leader, subconsciously opening its mouth, swallowed them. Vaguely, inside the light blue transparent body within the armor, countless jade white granules wrapped up by the turbulent winds created by the Wind Leader were like polishing sandpaper, quickly grinding down the inside of the armor, creating a slightly harsh ¡°krr krr¡± sound. ¡°Whew¡ª¡± The corresponding bright spots for eyes on the Wind Leader¡¯s mask flickered quickly, indicating its extreme discomfort. The granules scraping the inner side of its armor spread a strange tickling sensation throughout its body, a feeling it has never experienced before. It felt uncomfortable and yet somewhat lost in it, hence the sobbing sound of the wind. [Pleasure value from Wind Leader +25] [Pleasure value from Wind Leader +25] [From¡­] ¡°You¡­¡± He Junlong abruptly stood up, ready to question Xu Ran about what he did to his pet beast, but Xu Ran interrupted him. ¡°This is a specially designed grooming sand, specifically created for the situation of the Wind Leader. It can completely clean the inside of its armor and will be expelled from its body later, not affecting its health.¡± He Junlong grumbled and sat down, ¡°You continue.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, a touch of amusement in his eyes. This guy is always looking for trouble. His gaze towards the Wind Leader gradually softened. Next¡­ It¡¯s pleasure time. Half an hour later, Xu Ran leisurely walked out of the grooming room, followed by the transformed Wind Leader and He Junlong with a frustrated expression for not finding anything to pick on. As soon as they left the grooming room, the two of them and their pets immediately noticed the unusual atmosphere inside the shop. Those from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall who were previously noisy and discussing loudly, were now standing respectfully as if they were Weka birds, their hands folded over their bellies, standing upright as if they were being trained. In front of them stood a tall man with white hair, who emanated an unstoppable force, similar to a human-shaped wild beast, but was propped up on a cane. If you looked closely, you could see that the cane appeared to be made from the bone of a Transcendent Being, concealing its own fierce power. The man faced these apprentices with his back towards Xu Ran and He Junlong. However, He Junlong¡¯s eyes widened in shock as soon as he saw him, and he let out a surprise exclamation. ¡°Grandpa?!¡± Hearing the voice behind him, the man turned around to reveal his slightly aged but still majestic face, slowly raising his cane. ¡°You little brat, prepare to be disciplined!¡± Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 199 - Open-minded Grandfather Chapter 329: Chapter 199 ¨C Open-minded Grandfather He_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Crack ¡± ¡°Smack ¡± ¡°Ah ¡± Accompanied by a series of crisp sounds and continuous screams, the helpless He Junlong soon had more than a few marks from a beating adorn his face and body. The sight was too horrifying to bear. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, but he had no intention of stepping forward to intervene. After all, it was a grandfather punishing his grandson, it was not his place to interfere. Furthermore¡­ seeing the cane being wielded with such force as if it could easily shatter rocks, he did not want to step forward and invite humiliation. Before long, under the trembling gaze of the disciples of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall, Old Master He leisurely withdrew his cane, looked at He Junlong standing obediently in front of him and grunted heavily. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Despite his aged appearance, Grandfather He¡¯s voice was still full of strength. Only with his voice echoing within the shop, the whole shop trembled. Even without summoning his Pet Beast, one could tell from this alone, that Grandfather He¡¯s Beast Master Rank was definitely not low. Hearing his slightly angry voice, whether it was He Junlong, who had been battered or the other disciples of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall who had been left in fright, all of them collectively shrunk back in fear. ¡°As a junior hall master, leading a group of disciples and apprentices to cause trouble in someone else¡¯s shop, what kind of behaviour is this?¡± Grandfather He struck the ground twice with his cane, sending out muffled ¡°thud thud¡± sounds, ¡°This is the behaviour of a hooligan!¡± ¡°Grandfather, I¡­¡± Hearing Grandfather He¡¯s words, He Junlong had difficulty keeping face, ¡°I was just¡­¡± ¡°Just what?¡± He grunted, ¡°The small achievement I had at the Leadership Level, if it is gone, then it is gone. Has our Martial Arts Pavilion always relied on it?¡± ¡°Causing trouble for others over such a small matter, tarnishing the reputation of our Martial Arts Pavilion, this is the true foolishness!¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I was wrong, Grandfather.¡± He Junlong¡¯s face turned from pale to blue, quietly admitting his mistake. Seeing that his grandson admitted his mistake, Grandfather He¡¯s face softened slightly. He turned to Xu Ran, striding over with the help of his cane. Xu Ran¡¯s face slightly tensed up. He had seen the ferocity of this old man clearly just now. And from He Junlong calling him ¡®grandfather¡¯, he could guess his identity. It was He Hongtu, who had topped the individual power ranking for Leadership Level Beast Masters for decades before Xu Ran came along. The man standing before him had long surpassed his initial strength. He could be at the General Level, or possibly even King Level. If he were to get a beating from him too¡­ Just as Xu Ran was feeling slightly apprehensive, He Hongtu who was standing in front of him looked at him carefully and then suddenly chuckled. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ Good!¡± He patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, ¡°Such a promising young man, you are the one who surpassed my achievements at the Leadership Level?¡± Xu Ran was taken aback, then instantly felt a great relief. It seemed that this old man was not looking for a quarrel with him. ¡°Hello senior, I am feeling¡­¡± Xu Ran displayed a polite smile, just as he was about to say something, He Hongtu waved his hands to interrupt him. ¡°What is there to feel inferior about?¡± He Hongtu¡¯s face held a playful smile, ¡°When I was young, I was unbeatable among Beast Masters of the same stage; I was even prouder than you are now.¡± ¡°You are young, you ought to be spirited! With your abilities, you should be confident!¡± He hmmphed and smiled, ¡°I heard that you use a blade?¡± ¡°Kind of.¡± Xu Ran looked at He Hongtu with a hint of surprise. He didn¡¯t expect that Grandfather He would turn out to be such an open-minded and amicable old man. ¡°Using a blade is good. A blade, it¡¯s unstoppable.¡± He Hongtu¡¯s face held a hint of nostalgia, ¡°When I was young, I met a master of the blade, who even gave me some pointers. But that master has since disappeared.¡± ¡°When you are free, you can come and visit our Martial Arts Pavilion!¡± He Hongtu patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, admiration clear on his face. ¡°Thank you for your generous compliments, Grandfather He. I¡¯ll make sure to visit when I get the chance.¡± Xu Ran responded courteously. He Hongtu nodded in agreement, then turned to his well-behaved disciples, and grunted, ¡°If you are here for Washing and Protection, do it properly; if anyone dares to exploit our Martial Arts Hall¡¯s prestige to bully others, the house rules will show no mercy!¡± Upon hearing He Hongtu mention house rules, fear flickers in the eyes of the disciples, it seemed that the house rules were incredibly strict. ¡°Also, you lads are all tall and burly, why are you all crowding in here? Don¡¯t you know that you¡¯re interrupting business!¡± ¡°Get out and line up, and while you¡¯re at it, help maintain some order!¡± ¡°If anyone causes trouble, I will hold you accountable!¡± With Grandfather He¡¯s words echoing, the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall scampered out of the foster shop like a flock of scared birds, then obediently lined up outside the foster shop waiting for their turn. Watching the scene, Xu Ran¡¯s face grew peculiar. Originally, he felt a bit of regret. Although Grandfather He¡¯s appearance saved him some trouble, chasing away the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall would also mean losing quite a few customers. There were bound to be some formidable Beast Masters among them, and he might have been able to acquire some good skills from them. But who would have thought, Grandfather He¡¯s move not only disciplined these disciples, it also made them obediently line up waiting for their turn at Washing and Protection¡­ Seeing the disciples all collectively behaving well, Grandfather He nodded satisfactorily, picked up He Junlong as if he were a little chick with one hand, held his cane with the other and strode off majestically. He soon left the foster shop.. Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 199 - Open-minded Grandfather Chapter 330: Chapter 199 ¨C Open-minded Grandfather He_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Farewell!¡± Looking at the shop that had returned to normal, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel moved. What a generous Grandfather He. At the same time, his curiosity about He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall grew. It seems that he should find an opportunity to visit them. ¡°That Starfire Foster Care Shop is just a short way ahead.¡± On the street, Li Dajin lowered his gaze slightly and concealed the grin in his eyes, pointing ahead. Behind him were five people, three men and two women. They maintained a certain distance from each other, seeming to not know each other but yet obliged to walk together for a common purpose with resigned looks on their faces. ¡°Mr. Li, I still feel your earlier words might be exaggerated.¡± A lady in a long dress slowly began, ¡°How can a pet shop that just recently opened pose a threat to our shops which have been operating for decades?¡± ¡°Hrnph-¡± After the lady finished, a middle-aged man with split-end whiskers sneered, ¡°Our Beast Washing Foster Store will naturally not be threatened by such small fry, but it might not be the same for your Pearl Foster Shop.¡± ¡°Then why did you come?¡± The lady calmly looked at the split-whiskered man, showing no indication of anger at his provocation. The man with split whiskers did not answer, only adjusting his whiskers with his thumb and forefinger. A tall thin man standing somewhat close to him spoke up, ¡°After all, Brother Du has the freedom to go where he pleases.¡± ¡°Everyone knows that your Emperor Foster Shop and Beast Washing Foster Store are in cahoots, what¡¯s the honor in bullying a woman!¡± The man dressed most formally of the group snorted, while sneaking peeks at the lady. ¡°Ha, bootlicker!¡± The tall man scoffed disdainfully. ¡°You¡­¡± The formally-dressed man¡¯s face grew cold and was about to retort when he was interrupted by the only short-haired woman in their group. ¡°Is that it up ahead?¡± The woman showed an expression of surprise as she pointed towards a shop not far in front of them, ¡°So many people are queuing up, didn¡¯t they just recently open?¡± Upon hearing her words, everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the Starfire Foster Shop. Their countenances reflected their unease. After only a few days, such a long queue had formed? Li Dajin¡¯s words were not false; if they ignored this, the business of their shops might indeed be affected. Li Dajin was puzzled by the long line himself, but upon noticing a particular group of people, his smile widened. ¡°You misunderstand, those queuing outside are not necessarily customers.¡± ¡°Yesterday, the owner of this shop usurped the first place in the Personal Power Listing for Leadership Level Beast Masters, replacing Grandmaster He Hongtu of He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall who had held the position for dozens of years. He also offended He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall in the process.¡± ¡°These seem to be people from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall.¡± The split-whiskered man interjected with an odd expression playing on his face, ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯re implying that¡­¡± ¡°Exactly, these people are most likely here to cause trouble for this shop, just like us.¡± Li Dajin chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t it quite a coincidence?¡± ¡°Regardless, even if they were really customers, they would not pose a threat to our Emperor Foster Shop.¡± The tall man¡¯s face relaxed slightly and hastily added, ¡°His popularity is merely temporary. They won¡¯t be able to retain customers without proper service.¡± ¡°Brother Qi is correct.¡± The man with split whiskers subgroup-consciously touched his beard with his forefinger and thumb, nodding in agreement. ¡°Hehe, let¡¯s go.¡± Li Dajin laughed, a glint in his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s see what the Starfire Foster Care Shop is really capable of.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s appearance atop his head could be likened to trampling on Li Dajin while he was advertising his own shop. Doing such a thing always came at a price. The group of six quickly walked towards the shop, ignoring the queue of disciples from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall standing outside the door, heading directly towards the entrance. They were suddenly stopped by several muscular hands. ¡°Stop!¡± The disciple from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall who reached out to halt them looked stern, ¡°Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re all queuing? Go to the back!¡± ¡°Queue¡­?¡± Li Dajin momentarily felt awkward as he readjusted his glasses. For some reason, he had a sudden premonition. The expressions of the five pet shop owners standing behind him shifted slightly. Who would queue up when they came looking for trouble? Unless¡­ these guys weren¡¯t here to stir up trouble, but really brought their pet beasts for fosterage or other business at this shop. ¡°Haha, you misunderstand, we¡¯re not here for any washing and protection services or other business,¡± Li Dajin chuckled, ¡°We¡¯re here to speak to the boss of this store.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The leading disciple from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall looked at Li Dajin incredulously, slowly lowering his hand that was in front of him, ¡°Then I apologize for misunderstanding.¡± After him, the others who had their hands out to stop the six men also slowly put their hands down. Without saying a word, Li Dajin walked straight into the shop. But those who followed him in were no longer the original five. The beautiful woman¡¯s eyes shone with curiosity as she suddenly reached out to stop the shorter-haired woman next to her, subtly shaking her head. The shorter-haired woman¡¯s eyes flickered, seemingly catching on to what the beautiful woman was implying, and stayed put, not making a move to follow. The well-dressed man who had always been observing the beautiful woman, also silently stopped in his tracks now. The only ones who followed Li Dajin were a small mustachioed man and a skinny tall man. One was the owner of the Beast Washing Foster Store and the other was the owner of the Emperor Foster Shop. The former was recognized as the top foster store offering washing and protection services in Xieyun City. The latter was the only shop in Xieyun City that could foster Overlord stage and Emperor stage pet beasts. Even Chairman Fang who was an Emperor Level Beast Master, had once fostered his pet beasts at this shop. ¡°Welcome to¡­?¡± Xu Ran, who had just finished the washing and protection service for a previous customer, sensed someone entering the store and instinctively greeted them. Puzzlement filled his eyes as he glanced at the queue that was still a long line outside the door, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, please join the queue.¡± ¡°Haha, it seems Boss Xu Ran has misunderstood something,¡± Li Dajin said with a push of his glasses and resumed his smile, ¡°Allow me to introduce, this is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone has to wait in line,¡± Xu Ran pointed outside unflinchingly. With so many customers waiting in line, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to let someone cut in. Interrupted, anger flashed across Li Dajin¡¯s eyes. Before he could continue, the mustachioed man behind him grunted, ¡°Quite arrogant, aren¡¯t you? Just a mere foster shop that¡¯s only opened a few days ago¡± ¡°And these prices.¡± The skinny tall man quickly interjected, pointing to the price menu he had just seen, ¡°With these rates, can you look yourself in the mirror and justify them?¡± ¡°I can, and they¡¯re justified.¡± Xu Ran patted his own chest, unwavering and turned his head towards the door, ¡°Uh¡­ is it Li Dong? Come in together!¡± ¡°Coming!¡± The leading disciple from He¡¯s martial arts hall sprinted into the shop, a respectful smile replacing the arrogance he had shown initially, ¡°Brother Xu, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°These three came to cause trouble.¡± Xu Ran indicated the three men before him, and then shouted to the outside, ¡°Next please-¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Li Dajin and his companions wore surprised and angry expressions. Before they could react, they saw Li Dong¡¯s jovial smile twist into a menacing snarl. The old master had said, anyone that came to stir up trouble, makes for excellent practice! So,¡­ ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s get to work!¡± With Li Dong¡¯s command, ten and more disciples from He¡¯s martial arts hall rushed into the shop. Surrounded by these burly men, Li Dajin and his companions were like small lambs caught in a pack of wolves. Without a chance to resist, they were promptly lifted and tossed out of the shop. ¡°Thump-¡± x3 As the beautiful, short-haired woman, and the well-dressed man looked at the three men sprawled before them, they exchanged glances, and silently took their places at the end of the queue. Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 200 The Shock of A Companion_l Chapter 331: Chapter 200 The Shock of A Companion_l Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Brother Xu, my pet beast looks like it¡¯s been changed for a new one.¡± The disciple from He¡¯s Martial Arts Hall who had just finished washing and grooming his pet beast, had a radiant smile on his face, ¡°Before, I am really sorry. After this, I will definitely frequent your store!¡± ¡°You¡¯re very welcome.¡± Xu Ran replied, giving a casual yawn, and then called towards the shop entrance, ¡°next one-¡± Soon after, a beautiful woman stepped into the foster shop. She observed the interior of the Starfire Foster Shop with a curious gaze, glancing briefly at the price menu on the wall before averting her sight. ¡°Hello, how may I assist you?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Her nasal tones resembled that of malt sugar, smoother than honey. After a brief pause, she opened her mouth, ¡°Why don¡¯t you start by washing and grooming my pet beast.¡± Behind her, the Hexagram Star Array shone brightly. The next moment, a pup-like pet beast appeared, blanketed with fur that resembled hair, falling sleekly and straight around its small and petite form. On top of the pup¡¯s forehead, a tuft of hair was tied into a pigtail with a hairpin, the end hanging backward so that the overgrown hair from the top of the head wouldn¡¯t obstruct its large dark eyes. ¡°Woof!¡± The little thing let out a shout towards Xu Ran. The charge of its Elite Stage strength coupled with its body, that was even smaller than a regular dog¡¯s, made it look ferociously cute. [Race name: Linglong Dog Attribute: Super ability Growth stage: Elite stage Body type: Small size Washing and protection requirement: Review: After finishing grooming, please remember to tie a small pigtail for this cute little friend. A bun hairstyle would also be a good choice-] Tie a pigtail¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly at the corners. Who would have thought that the first time he would help someone tie a pigtail would not be for a cute little girl, but for a dog? ¡°Come on.¡± Xu Ran bent slightly, picking the little one up, then glanced at the beautiful woman, ¡°You can either opt to accompany us in the grooming room or wait outside.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± The beautiful woman responded without hesitation and then followed him into the grooming room with her graceful strides. The two of them along with the pet beast entered the grooming room, and soon the door of the grooming room closed again. Outside the shop door, a short-haired woman and a man in suit exchanged a glance after having watched the interaction. ¡°Next, well review Sister Jin¡¯s performance.¡± The short-haired woman murmured in a voice only audible to the two of them, ¡°Well know what¡¯s going on with this shop in a while.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The man nodded heavily. However, worry quickly appeared on his face, ¡°But with Lady Jin alone with that lad, wouldn¡¯t it be¡­¡± The short-haired woman couldn¡¯t help but face-palm, a look of aversion appearing on her face. Even though she didn¡¯t like the owner of the Emperor Foster Shop, but he did say one thing that was true. This guy is nothing more than a dog-licker! ¡°This¡­¡± The beautiful woman widened her eyes, taking in the scene inside the grooming room. At first, she only thought that the grooming room was somewhat more spacious than she imagined, but it didn¡¯t take long for her to realize that this was more than just a bit larger. The space here far exceeded the size normal for a shop¡¯s interior. With this bizarre situation, there seemed to only be one possibility. Space expansion technology! Such technology was something her Pearl Foster Shop didn¡¯t have the capabilities to implement even if they wanted to. And even if they could, she certainly wouldn¡¯t afford to do so. Because the cost of using space expansion technology to create space far exceeds the cost of creating an equal-sized space by constructing a building. Yet, the youngster in front of her effortlessly utilized such valuable technology to expand his grooming room. Understanding surfaced in the woman¡¯s eyes. She finally understood why the trio Li Dajin was thrown out earlier. No one from the trio could even compare to the depth of resources that this youngster displayed. It¡¯s natural he wouldn¡¯t care about them. A stir in the grooming room interrupted the beautiful woman¡¯s chain of thoughts. Looking at Xu Ran and the Linglong Dog who had already started grooming, the beautiful woman took a deep breath and sat straight, keenly observing every moment without batting an eye. Like Beast Washing Foster Shop, her Pearl Foster Shop was also known for washing and protection services. However, aside from conventional washing and grooming, the Pearl Foster Shop also provided a relatively lesser seen service. And that was pet beast beauty treatment. The Pearl Foster Shop was known for enhancing a pet beast¡¯s appearance and physique by trimming fur or dipping special paints, making the pet beast stand out from the rest. It was because of this unique service that, even though the washing and grooming standard was slightly lower than Beast Washing, Pearl Foster Shop managed to maintain its footing amid the fierce competition in Xieyun City. A pet beast like Linglong Dog required constant grooming, otherwise its white fur would easily discolor because of the dirt, drastically dropping its overall charm. During grooming, beauty treatments must also be taken care of. The Linglong Dog was relatively small-sized, but its fur grew rapidly, had a texture similar to human hair, and could easily touch the ground or obstruct its eyes. Therefore, this was quite a difficult pet beast to look after. One must wonder how the young man in front of her would fare? ¡°Wham¡ª¡± Xu Ran, standing at the care platform, didn¡¯t pay any mind to the beautiful matron¡¯s keen gaze. Remaining entirely focused, he scooped a ladleful of bath liquid and gently poured it all over the Linglong dog¡¯s body, letting it sanitarily trickle down their spine. It was obvious that the Linglong dog was already well-groomed. Its fur hadn¡¯t discoloured due to dirt, but was only slightly coarse and dull, with only quite minor dirt marks here and there. After rinsing, Xu Ran took out a poodle comb and meticulously combed their fur. The rounded front of the comb was tightly pressed against the root of the Linglong dog¡¯s fur, on its skin and hair follicles, creating shallow impressions on the skin. Yet, along with consistent pressure, it proceeded to glide towards both sides of the dog¡¯s body. It induced a sensation akin to mild electric tingles which enveloped the Linglong dog from the inside out. [Pleasure value from the Linglong dog +20] [Pleasure value from the Linglong dog +20] [From¡­] Its grape-like, profound eyes exhibited a bit of blankness and incomprehensibility. While its body slightly trembled, the dog raised its head and made a slightly gentle sound. ¡°Woof¡ª¡± The whole sight had left the beautiful matron in a slightly strange mood. Given that she regularly groomed her Linglong dog, they were accustomed to the whole grooming ordeal, unphased by ordinary grooming methods, and bearing no specific reaction to the process. Why was it that under this young man¡¯s care, the Linglong dog made such contented expressions? Could it be that his grooming skills were truly that extraordinary? Observing Xu Ran gently comb the Linglong dog¡¯s fur, its bewildered eyes, and its slightly strange noise, the matron couldn¡¯t help but shift her body around, an ineffable, peculiar feeling coursing through her. Swiftly, Xu Ran finally managed to comb the Linglong dog¡¯s fur smoothly down both sides along its spine, parting the fur from the middle. Upon completing the initial wetting and combing, Xu Ran immediately initiated a deep fur treatment and washing process for the Linglong dog. The dog¡¯s voice grew progressively odder, and the matron couldn¡¯t help but squirm here and there. Nevertheless, her expressions grew more and more focused, mirroring the continuous grooming process. After an unnoticeable period of time passed, Xu Ran used a hairdryer to thoroughly dry the Linglong dog, taking out a small pouch and retrieving a sharp pair of scissors. Was he about to start grooming it? The matron promptly sat upright. Under her attentive gaze, Xu Ran drew a deep breath, and started his artful cutting. Under the lights, his scissors gleamed frostily, dancing around the Linglong dog¡¯s body. As more and more white fur flew into the air, the outline of the dog¡¯s body underwent rapid transformation. The Linglong dog, whose side fur had already grown past its paws and nearly grazed the floor, had now become a short-furred dog after Xu Ran¡¯s trimming, the transformation transpiring in a merely few breaths. However, its fur was not entirely cut off. The hair on the dog¡¯s ears, head, snout, limbs and tail was preserved to an extent, leaving those parts longer. The final outcome did not look remotely like the Linglong dog of before, but its cuteness had burgeoned multiple times following Xu Ran¡¯s grooming. ¡°This¡­¡± the matron¡¯s eyes inadvertently widened. Such a trimming method was unimaginable to her, yet the result was nothing short of superb. She looked at Xu Ran with a gaze filled with incredulity. This young man was surprisingly proficient even in pet grooming! ¡°Phew ¡± After quickly grooming and removing the leftover fur from the dog¡¯s body, Xu Ran casually fashioned a cute topknot on its head. He then picked it up and handed it over to the matron, ¡°Done, have a look at the new style.¡± After handing the Linglong dog over to the matron, Xu Ran wiped off the beads of sweat on his forehead. Filling in for Tony, proving to be quite nerve-wracking indeed. ¡°Achoo!¡± In the Starfire Foster Shop in Qingzhou City, while grooming a Flame Fox, Tony suddenly sneezed. He then rubbed his nose, ¡°Strange, why do I feel like someone is missing me?¡± ¡°Mr. Tony, I reckon you¡¯re having an illusion.¡± Sitting at the wall seat inside the grooming room, Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t hold back her forehead smack, ¡°Also, isn¡¯t your grooming taking a bit too long?¡± ¡°Too long?¡± Tony came back to his senses and looked at the Flame Fox lovingly, ¡°No, not long at all.¡± Suddenly, Tony¡¯s strange laughter echoed around the grooming room. ¡°Little fox~hiahiahia~¡± Inside the grooming room, Su Xiaoxiao sighed deeply and looked speechlessly at the ceiling. Being alone while grooming the pet sometimes proved to be quite helpless. Previously, when Boss Xu was around, she could be felt at ease leaving the Flame Fox alone in the grooming room. But now, even if she accompanied the Flame Fox, she could not shake off her worries. Tony¡¯s grooming process was truly frightful. Woohoo, when will Boss Xu return! An orthodontic bracket popped out in the middle of the night. I must stop here tonight and think about how to tackle this issue¡­ If I sort it out by tomorrow, I¡¯ll make up for the one thousand words that are lacking today with a five thousand words chapter.. Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 202: The Final List_l Chapter 334: Chapter 202: The Final List_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sister Jin, how did it go?¡± Seeing Jin Mingzhu walking out of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, the short-haired woman quickly approached her. Her tone was full of curiosity and intrigue as she inquired. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jin Mingzhu¡¯s expression was somewhat absent-minded, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ does this shop really have the capacity to threaten us?¡± The man in a suit promptly spoke up, his tone unintentionally intensified when pronouncing the word ¡°us¡±. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± The short-haired woman nodded, not noticing the unusual tone from the man in the suit. Under their expectant gazes, the woman gradually returned to her senses. Threatening? Did this shop have the capability to be a threat to them? As she entered the store, she would have considered this a joke. And now, she still thought it was a joke. Her own Pearl Foster Shop, or even all of the foster shops in Xieyun City combined, which one could compare to this one? Maybe in the eyes of that young man, they aren¡¯t even considered a threat? At this thought, Jin Mingzhu¡¯s face contorted into a bitter smile. It was immense, the disparity was too great. If she had already given up on the idea of competing with Xu Ran after witnessing his washing and protection service, then after seeing the foster area and training area led by Xu Ran, she no longer harbored thoughts of being an enemy. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing the two still expectantly waiting for her opinion, Jin Mingzhu gave a resigned sigh and wordlessly turned to the street they had arrived from, ¡°Take my advice and do not make an enemy of this shop in the future.¡± ¡°About this shop¡­ It¡¯s better that you two remain oblivious.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The short-haired woman was slightly taken aback by Jin Mingzhu¡¯s words. Who is Jin Mingzhu? She is a well-known figure in the pet fostering industry in Xieyun City and is renowned for her grooming skills. However, such an ambitious and vivacious woman is now speaking with such a defeated and depressed tone. Her disinterested tone of voice made the short-haired woman intensely curious about what she had just experienced. ¡°Mingzhu, we¡¯ll listen to you.¡± The man in a suit chuckled and quickly nodded in agreement, ¡°I promise not to be enemies with this shop!¡± The short-haired woman rolled her eyes in annoyance. What a suck-up! Following Jin Mingzhu, the short-haired woman could not help but glance back at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. At this moment, her curiosity about the Starfire Foster Care Shop was piqued. By tomorrow, she needed to learn as much as she could about that shop. With this thought, the short-haired woman withdrew her gaze. The two women and the man soon disappeared down the street. Soon after Jin Mingzhu left, the Starfire Foster Care Shop also reached the end of its operating hours. Closing the shop door, Xu Ran stretched lazily and contacted the three little ones through contractual sensing. The three little fellows had ducked out after their training and took the Beast Master Badge while Xu Ran was busy. After a day¡¯s work, they had managed a few small advancements in the leaderboards they had previously dared to challenge, however the overall rewards were minimal. Nevertheless, these three were not disheartened. After all, the upgraded rankings were another way to validate their increased power and as for rewards, they still had plenty left from before. Now, it was time for Xu Ran to also start challenging the leaderboards. The leaderboard for the Leadership Level Beast Masters had three divisions. He had challenged two of them yesterday and today it was time to attempt the last division, Leadership Level Beast Masters Pet Beast Team Power List. That is, a list where the Beast Masters couldn¡¯t get involved and the pet beasts had to cooperate and fight amongst themselves. In the majority of cases, the ranking here aligns with the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. Still, there are exceptions. For instance, if a Beast Master¡¯s pet beast is not adept at defense and the master himself doesn¡¯t know how to fight effectively, it may occur in the Overall Power Ranking where the Beast Master is the weak link holding back his pet beast. On the other hand, if the Beast Master and pet beast have had long-term cooperation, then the Beast Master might not only stop being a hindrance but could also start to play a significant part, bringing out a combined effect where one plus one is greater than two. The Overall Power Ranking might then be higher than the Pet Beast Team Power List. Behind Xu Ran, the Hexagram Star Array shone brightly, and soon, Star appeared from the violent wind, heading to pick up Xu Ran to go to the Beast Trainer Ranking. Star Express, will definitely succeed. At the entrance of Beast Trainer Ranking. Looking at Ziyun and Cancan sitting side by side, their eyes gazing into the distance as if waiting for something, it had become a regular spectacle for the crowd. ¡°Isn¡¯t it about time for the Starfire Foster Care Shop to close for the day?¡± ¡°Correct, I was just at the Starfire Foster Care Shop today, their business hours end about now.¡± ¡°With the attention from the Beast Trainer Ranking and newspaper reports, Starfire Foster Care Shop must be getting a lot of customers, right? This person isn¡¯t just a formidable Beast Master; he¡¯s also a cunning businessman who could come up with this kind of idea.¡± ¡°I wonder if others will follow suit.¡± ¡°Heh, you need the corresponding power to imitate this, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve heard that a Beast Master named Qin Can has started leasing pseudonyms. As long as the payment is generous, he can change his name on the leaderboard to match the shop name or any other name¡­¡± ¡°¡­Ha? Is that even possible?¡± ¡°Are we getting sidetracked? Shouldn¡¯t the main point be how Starfire Foster Care Shop still managed to finish the day¡¯s business with so many customers?¡± ¡°Is that the focus? Shouldn¡¯t we be discussing whether Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s service was good or not?¡± The people present all turned their eyes to a member of the crowd who had claimed to have visited the shop that day. ¡°I only went for the washing and protection service, so I can only say a bit on that. It¡¯s quite expensive; twice as much as the Beast Washing,¡± he said candidly. ¡°But the washing and protection from this shop are far better than the Beast Washing. I took my pet beast and entered the ranking after finishing today¡¯s service, and our position advanced by more than three hundred places.¡± ¡°Who would have thought! This gentleman here is some big shot on the ranking board. Which board? What rank? That¡¯s quite a bit of advancement!¡± ¡°Um¡­ Elite Pet Beast Combat Power List ¨C currently ranked 6432.¡± ¡°Psh!¡± scoffed the questioner, rolling his eyes. Over six thousand doesn¡¯t even make it on the leaderboard; only the Beast Masters themselves can check the score. And it¡¯s also at the elite level. Improving by a few hundred places at this level doesn¡¯t seem out of the ordinary. However, this person¡¯s words incited a look of contemplation and interest on the faces of many onlookers. Maybe they should check it out in a few days? ¡°Here he comes! The cunning businessman is here!¡± A sharp-eyed person in the crowd interrupted everyone¡¯s thought process. Even today, many people don¡¯t know Xu Ran¡¯s real name. In addition to referring to him as the ¡°mysterious Beast Master,¡± many have begun calling him ¡°cunning businessman.¡± Upon seeing Ziyun from Star Express standing up and moving his ear, a strange expression crossed his face. If Xu Ran found out that even in Xieyun City he cannot escape being labeled a ¡°cunning businessman,¡± one wonders what he would think. ¡°Charming!¡± (Here he comes!) With anticipation in her eyes, Cancan called out. Go after the rankings! Yesterday¡¯s run for the leaderboards gave it a taste of success. Although it had just started absorbing the two king-level resources and had not yet acquired the hidden three-star skill, it had improved noticeably in just one day, moving up a spot in the Combat Power List. Even though its Defense Ranking didn¡¯t move up, the historical ranking advanced by over a dozen places, an equally significant improvement. So, anxiously, it was ready to challenge the Pet Beast Team Power List! Under the gaze of the two little ones, Star Express quickly stopped in front of the Beast Trainer Ranking. Xu Ran dismounted, patted the two little ones who came to greet him, took his Beast Master Badge, and headed straight for Testing Area C02. The test area corresponds to the Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List that the team of one man and three pets did not challenge yesterday. Behind the team, followed the crowd who had called their friends to watch the spectacle. Once they disappeared into the testing area, some stayed outside the door, waiting to be the first to see Xu Ran complete the challenge, while others surrounded the scoreboard, anticipating the first update on the rankings. Undoubtedly, Xu Ran would make the leaderboard, the question was where his rank would be. In the testing area, Xu Ran stood alone on an elevated platform, watching the simulated scene of the city outskirts below. Just as in yesterday¡¯s overall power test, the scene and opponents were the same. The only difference was that this time, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t join in; he could only command from the platform. Besides, Xu Ran didn¡¯t plan on doing much commanding either. After spending so much time together, training for as long as they had, and experiencing so many battles, the three little ones had already built up a rapport and extensive experience. They no longer needed Xu Ran¡¯s command for every move as they did at the beginning, instead were capable of making their own decisions and actions. So¡­ ¡°Let me see the full extent of the three of you now!¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s voice echoed in the minds of the three little ones simultaneously, a battle intent rose in their eyes. Xu Ran was watching them from above! The situation was similar to a child performing on stage while the parents watched from below. At this moment, the only thought in the minds of the three little ones was to give their all and show Xu Ran their power! With a loud roar, Cancan¡¯s figure swelled up, kicking up a gust of wind while transforming into a movable mountain. Unseen pressure, accompanied by the shimmering Dragon Turtle Light Patterns, rolled in all directions. Ziyun, though not as impressive in size right beside Cancan, also exploded with the same intimidating force that was impossible to disregard, its domineering presence and rogue electric arcs filled the air. Accompanied by a clear cry, dark patterns emerged on Cancan and Ziyun, which propelled their aura to new heights, peaking in an instant. The battle that belonged to the threesome commenced in an instant! Three thousand words today, I had to adjust my braces, toothache got me out of shape so I could only meet the standard with seven thousand words¡­. Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 203: A bet that seems unwon l Chapter 335: Chapter 203: A bet that seems unwon l Translator: 549690339 ¡°How long has that deceptive shopkeeper been inside?¡± ¡°Roughly about half an hour now?¡± The spectators waiting in front of the current Leadership Level Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List looked at one another and broke into vivid discussions. The duration of the time to challenge the list depends on the specific list, but generally speaking, the rush for the Pet Beast Team Power List would not take this long. So¡­ what exactly happened in the C02 test area? ¡°Make way, make way.¡± A slightly arrogant voice brought temporary silence to the spectators around, and an invisible force cleared a path through the crowd. Soon, two figures stepped forward from the back of the crowd, appearing in front of the list. In response to such brazen behavior, no one in the crowd displayed anger or dissatisfaction, because these two arrivals were not strangers. Standing in the front is a bald youth. He¡¯s not particularly tall, but his sports attire combined with his rugged facial features, and a conspicuous and ferocious scar on his bald head, made him appear rather intimidating. The moment they saw him, a fraction of the crowd couldn¡¯t resist casting their eyes towards the second place on the current Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List. ¡°Number 2, Qu City, Pet Beast Team Power: 341239¡± Apart from having a high ranking on the list in front of them, the bald man currently also ranks third on the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. Xu Ran¡¯s ranking after challenging the list yesterday was just below his, with not a big gap between them. The person standing behind him appeared a few years younger. Hair tied back with a headband, causing the hairs on his forehead to stick up, not much different from a mohawk. The one who spoke out earlier was him. His flamboyant hairstyle matched his slightly arrogant voice, and his skills definitely lived up to this boldness. ¡°Number 3, Mu Yunchao, Pet Beast Team Power: 330276¡± The third place on this list in front of them belonged to him. And his ranking on the Overall Power List was even higher, currently in second place on the list. Mu Yunchao and Qu City, with back-to-back rankings on two lists, had a heated competition, but in daily life they were great friends. It¡¯s common for the two to travel together. And now that they¡¯re here, it seems that everyone could guess their purpose. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a pretty impressive newbie lately.¡± Mu Yunchao grinned, looking around at the spectators, ¡°Is he in C02?¡± After receiving affirmative answers from the crowd, Mu Yunchao crossed his arms, nudging Qu City next to him with his shoulder, ¡°Do you think, his strength could surpass ours?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Compared to Mu Yunchao, Qu City was more composed, at this moment looking at the slowly opening list and speaking slowly, ¡°He¡¯s climbed up to the fourth place in the Overall Power List, unless there¡¯s a surprise, he should also be in this position on the Pet Beast Team Power List.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just wait and see then.¡± Mu Yunchao shrugged, then suddenly spoke again, ¡°Speaking of which, my Sky Mystery has improved significantly in strength recently, I might just surpass you on the Pet Beast Team Power List.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said that many times.¡± Qu City gave a calm smile, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when you surpass me, my three pet beasts are not vegetarians, they should be able to break through to 350,000 team power soon.¡± The spectators were stupefied by their casual conversation. Having already progressed this far, their strength could still increase at such a rapid rate. The topdogs on this list seemed out of reach for ordinary Beast Masters like themselves. ¡°Ding ¡± A deep and powerful bell echoed throughout the Beast Trainer Ranking area. The conversation between Mu Yunchao and Qu City paused momentarily. The whispering around them also abruptly halted. After a brief pause, everyone simultaneously turned their attention to the Pet Beast Team Power List in front, which started to flicker. The newcomer, who¡¯s been making waves recently, and has spent more than half an hour in the testing area, has he finally finished with the list rising challenge? As the 500th rank darkened and DESCENDED simultaneously, the large list above started to gradually highlight the ranks set to change starting from the 499th and moving up. 300th position¡­200th position¡­100th position¡­50th position¡­ Until the 10th position lit up, the crowd gathered tightly around the list weren¡¯t too surprised, after all, Xu Ran had already risen to the fourth place in the Overall Power Ranking yesterday. According to the usual pattern, he would probably stop at this position on the Pet Beast Team Power List as well. However, a calm expression soon disappeared from everyone¡¯s faces. Because after the fourth rank highlighted, the third rank followed. Suddenly, countless pairs of eyes turned towards Mu Yunchao. ¡°Instead of catching up to me, you should think about recapturing your rank first.¡± After waiting silently for a while, Qu City breathed a sigh of relief as he made sure his second place was not going to light up, turned to look at Mu Yunchao with a bit of a smirk in his voice. Mu Yunchao: Watching his own rank drop to fourth, replaced by a brand-new name, his expression instantly turned sullen. ¡°Wait for it.¡± Mu Yunchao lifted his head to seriously read the words on the big screen. ¡°Number 3, Starfire Foster Shop, Pet Beast Team Power: 337742¡± ¡°Just a few thousand power¡¯s difference, I¡¯ll surpass him in no time.¡± He snorted and began walking towards the C02 area. But the very next moment, his steps faltered.. Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 203: A Bet that Seems Unwon 2 Chapter 336: Chapter 203: A Bet that Seems Unwon 2 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª At this moment, the crowd carved out a path, as Xu Ran with his fatigued three little ones moved from Area C02 to the front of the ranking board. The battle lasting over half an hour was a considerable test for the three little ones. Cancan and Star who possessed the endurance skills were fine. However, for Ziyun, such a long full-throttle combat was almost impossible. The reason they were able to maintain such a long battle today had to do with Star¡¯s good luck. Perhaps it was because Star was naturally compatible with the ability called The Fate Necklace. On the first day of obtaining the destiny chain skill, Star successfully acquired the hidden three-star skill within. As a result, it became the first among the three little ones to obtain skills from a king-level resource. Because of this skill, during today¡¯s battle, Star continuously transferred its own power and Cancan¡¯s power to Ziyun, providing a strong endurance for Ziyun¡¯s explosive output. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the proficiency of the Fate Necklace was currently at the stardust level, there would be certain restrictions on the output power. They could have fought for an even longer time. The ability to maintain continuous combat is clearly one of the standards used to measure the power listing. Therefore, the three little ones performed better today. ¡®Third place, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran, who had proceeded to the front of the leaderboard, glanced at this rank and nodded approvingly without paying attention to the surroundings. He had witnessed all the efforts of the three little ones and was pleased with their rank. But then, his gaze flickered, seeming to find something interesting. It seemed that the two people listed ahead and behind him were the same ones who were previously ahead of him on the overall power list before. If he hadn¡¯t surged to the top today, their rankings should have been next to each other on this very list. So¡­ ¡°This Mu Yunchao and Qu city¡­¡± Xu Ran touched his chin and couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Would it be inappropriate if I separate them?¡± The volume of Xu Ran¡¯s voice was not loud, yet definitely not small either. In an instant, an eerie silence fell over the crowd. Many turned their attention to the two unsuspecting individuals he had just mentioned. ¡°You!¡± Mu Yunchao glared and pointed at Xu Ran, ¡°Just you wait, I¡¯m going to beat you!¡± Having said this, he headed in the direction of the C02 testing area with great determination. ¡®What¡­¡± Xu Ran blinked in confusion. The next moment, a hand stretched out in front of him. ¡°Nice to meet you, my name is Qu City, the guy just now was Mu Yunchao.¡± Qu City chuckled. Huh? It was only then that Xu Ran realized that the two he had randomly mentioned both happened to be present at the scene. Embarrassed, he extended his hand to shake hands with Qu City, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± It s nothing.¡± Qu City waved his hand in disinterest, ¡°However, YunChao is quite competitive. It will be hard for you to maintain your third place.¡± ¡°Is it? Let¡¯s see.¡± Xu Ran glanced in the direction of area C02. Their powers were pretty close, so the opponent indeed had a chance to surpass him. But even if he was temporarily overtaken, he was confident to push past again. Not long after, the solemn sound of a bell echoed. The rankings of Mu Yunchao and Xu Ran highlighted simultaneously and then swapped under everyone¡¯s gaze. Xu Ran, who had just advanced to third place, fell back down to fourth. ¡°3rd Place, Mu Yunchao, Pet Beast Team Power: 339233¡± ¡°4th Place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Pet Beast Team Power: 337742¡± Soon, an enthusiastic Mu Yunchao returned, glancing at Xu Ran triumphantly, ¡°To surpass me, you have to work harder!¡± Unwilling to accept their hard-won rank being suppressed again, all of the three small beasts wore unconvinced looks on their faces. They wished they could immediately seize back their ranking, but their hearts outran their strength. Leaving aside the fact that the three little ones were currently exhausted, the side effects of Ziyun¡¯s Scarlet Battle Intent hadn¡¯t fully dissipated, and its Fighting Attribute power couldn¡¯t be used temporarily. Xu Ran touched his chin and looked at Mu Yunchao, who seemed eager to fight, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll come back around the same time tomorrow.¡± ¡°Come on! I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± Mu Yunchao was immediately fired up. After Qu City, he finally found another competitor. This excited the ever eccentric and combative Mu Yunchao. ¡°The ranking will be settled the day after tomorrow. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing if you can surpass me!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Xu Ran smiled, and then reminded by some past events, took the initiative to speak, ¡°How about a bet?¡± ¡°Betting on what?¡± Mu Yunchao grinned, ¡°Let me hear it.¡± If I win, come to my shop for ten grooming sessions.¡± Xu Ran smiled and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s just talk about what happens if you lose!¡± Mu Yunchao was quite confident in holding his rank on the list tomorrow and immediately replied. ¡°If I lose, you can come to my shop for ten grooming sessions for free.¡± said Xu Ran, without hesitation. During Mu Yunchao¡¯s testing process, he gleaned some information about his pet beast from the idle chit-chat of the onlookers nearby. Mu Yunchao had a super ability attribute pet beast called Sky Mystery, which was the strongest among his three pet beasts, possessing a skill called Moving Shadows. This skill wasn¡¯t a super ability attribute skill, it was attributeless. However, Xu Ran didn¡¯t find this skill among the three-star common skills that could be exchanged, implying that it was a unique skill. The effect of Moving Shadows was simple but appealing: it could instantly swap places with a specified object. The fact that Mu Yunchao could get a higher rank in the overall power listing than in the pet beast team power listing was closely related to this skill. Since he could swap places with Sky Mystery at any time, Mu Yunchao not only wouldn¡¯t be a drag during fights, but he could also make the overall team cooperation more versatile. If the Three little ones could master this skill, their cooperation possibilities would be even more diverse. Therefore, he needed to figure out a way to acquire this skill. ¡°This bet of yours¡­¡± Mu Yunchao¡¯s expression started to appear strange. No matter the outcome, he would have to go to Xu Ran¡¯s shop for ten grooming sessions, the only difference being whether he would have to pay or get it for free? Why did it feel so odd? There was an illusion that he would still be at a loss even if he won¡­ ¡°Your shop¡¯s grooming¡­what¡¯s the price?¡± Mu Yunchao tentatively asked. ¡°Small pet beast grooming, 6666 per session; medium-sized pet beast grooming, 26666 per session; large pet beast grooming, 66666 per session; super large pet beast grooming, 266666 per session.¡± Xu Ran quoted the prices with a smile. Suddenly, there was a burst of noisy discussions in the crowd. Not everyone was aware of the exact prices at the Starfire Foster Shop, even though they heard that the charges were high, they had no idea just how high. For many in the crowd, this was the first time they knew how much the Starfire Foster Shop charged for pet grooming. The prices were almost double that of the best grooming service in Xieyun City. ¡°Deal!¡± After doing the math in his head, Mu Yunchao resolutely replied. If he won, he would be getting several hundred thousand based on his calculation. Although it wasn¡¯t a large sum for him, bets were meant to be a bonus. He was sure to maintain his third place, and no one could take that from him! ¡°Until tomorrow, goodbye.¡± Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction upon receiving a definite reply, and left quickly with the Three little ones. His opponent¡¯s skill is destined to be his! ¡°Dinnertime!¡± In the basement of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran distributed the prepared food bowls to the six residents who swarmed to him. In addition to the three pet beasts that were fostered yesterday, three brand new residents arrived at Starfire Foster Shop today. They belonged to the same Leadership Level Beast Master who needed to foster his pet beasts for a day due to his own circumstances. Initially, he planned to foster his pet beasts into the Emperor Foster Shop, which had the best foster environment in Xieyun City. However, he saw the scene of the Emperor Foster Shop¡¯s boss being thrown out that day, and on a whim, he inspected the foster environment of the Starfire Foster Shop. He decided to foster his pet beasts here after being greatly amazed. Even though it¡¯s just a one-day fostering, Xu Ran¡¯s service wouldn¡¯t be compromised. After a feast, the three new residents, full of spirits, returned to their resting areas and caused a ruckus. ¡°Roar-¡± Combat Furball placed the clean food bowl in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, bobbed its body to say thanks, and then turned to leave. Watching the creature¡¯s back, Xu Ran stroked his chin. It felt like today¡¯s Combat Furball was even calmer than usual. Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Chapter 204 New Commission ! Chapter 337: Chapter 204 New Commission ! Translator: 549690339 The next morning, after finishing breakfast with the three little ones and six pet beasts, Xu Ran pushed open the shop door. The customers waiting outside the shop early in the morning brought him a good mood to start a new day. The Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report is a daily newspaper, and the coverage of the day before yesterday has lost its subsequent impact with the release of a new issue. However, the popularity of the Starfire Foster Care Shop has not dropped but is steadily rising. The reputation gained from running the shop for the past two days is beginning to ferment. ¡°Welcome.¡± Looking at the exploratory and expectant customers at the front of the line, Xu Ran quietly opened his mouth. Business for the day started at that moment. As expectant customers came and satisfied customers left, time flew by quickly. Xu Ran, who was busy the whole time, didn¡¯t notice that two figures appeared outside the shop door. ¡°Is this the place?¡± Leading him was a middle-aged man with a square face, and as he looked at the nearby shop, a helpless expression appeared on his face, ¡°Have you summoned me here just to see what this shop is true or false?¡± ¡°Little girl, do you understand how busy I am every day, especially nowadays, I am still worrying about your Uncle Zhou¡¯s matter.¡± ¡°Oh, Dad!¡± A short-haired, delicate-faced woman held the middle-aged man¡¯s hand, with a hint of coquetry in her face, ¡°Just have a look, this shop is definitely not ordinary, otherwise, Sister Jin wouldn¡¯t have reacted like that.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go yourself?¡± The middle-aged man shook his head helplessly. ¡°Because they saw me yesterday.¡± The short-haired woman shrugged her shoulders, ¡°If I went today, it would be clear to them that we were probing.¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± Still reluctant, the middle-aged man grumbled, but he gave up after making eye contact with the short-haired woman, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go and see.¡± He then directed his steps towards the Starfire Foster Care Shop. The short-haired woman gave a satisfied nod, glanced around, quickly found a drink shop, ordered a beverage and took a seat near the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows to observe from afar. Without waiting long, the middle-aged man smoothly entered the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°I want to see what is so special about this place¡­¡± The short-haired woman took a sip of her drink and instantly made a painful face. ¡°So sour!¡± ¡°Hello, welcome!¡± Noticing the new customer, Xu Ran casually greeted and couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the man. This middle-aged man with a square face carried a hint of authority. It seems like he¡¯s no ordinary person¡­ A thought quietly slipped into Xu Ran¡¯s mind, and he then asked, ¡°What kind of service do you need?¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± The middle-aged man, whom his daughter had called, did not know exactly what he wanted. At this moment, he turned his head and eyed the price menu on the wall, and a glimmer of surprise flickered in his eyes. Such a price¡­ He¡¯s quite bold. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a wash and care.¡± His gaze finally stopped on the cleaning and caring price menu, ¡°But my pet beast is large in size, your shop might not be able to accommodate it.¡± ¡°Is it a Super Large Pet Beast?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed understanding. The shop can only accommodate Large Pet Beasts, and any beast larger than that would need to be directly summoned into the Grooming Room for washing and care. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Xu Ran pointed towards the Grooming Room and signaled the middle-aged man to follow. They soon entered the Grooming Room. ¡°Hmm?¡± Looking around the suddenly wide-open space, the middle-aged man¡¯s face showed surprise for the second time. He didn¡¯t say much and promptly lit up a hexagram star array behind him. In the sudden burst of wind, a powerful force that gave Xu Ran a momentary feeling of suffocation erupted from the void. Watching a giant sculpture, with a wingspan of nearly thirty meters fly out from the gust, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed surprise. A King Stage Pet Beast! This middle-aged man is actually a King Level Beast Master. ¡°Super Large Pet Beast, can it be washed and cared for?¡± The middle-aged man asked with a smile. ¡°Yes, it can!¡± Xu Ran nodded, his face showing anticipation as well. I have to say I¡¯ve never cared for a king-level pet beast. This is also a challenge for him. ¡°Let¡¯s get started then.¡± The middle-aged man nodded slightly and then sat down in the accompanying seat nearby. Looking at Xu Ran, who was guiding his beast to the super large size wash platform in the center of the Grooming Room, he seemed curious. Initially, he just wanted this young man to wash his pet beast casually, then check the fosterage and training area of his shop, considering it as discharging his duty to his daughter. But after seeing the Grooming Room expanded with the space expansion technique, the middle-aged man¡¯s ideas quickly changed. This Washing and Protection Shop seems more than meets the eye. With this in mind, why not actually probe? This Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle is the pet beast among his five that demands the most washing and care, and it¡¯s also the most challenging one to care for. He wanted to see to what extent this young man could wash and care for it. As for the middle-aged man¡¯s intentions, Xu Ran had no clue. But after using the System Identification on the giant eagle in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but once again mock his quirky system. [Race Name: Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle Attribute: Wind Growth Stage: King Stage Body Type: Super Large Size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: This is a very dirty giant sculpture, Host, quickly use your magical hands to rub it, to bring it new pleasure and comfort!] I understand the logic, but why call a perfectly fine wind eagle a giant sculpture? Xu Ran pulled at the corner of his mouth and turned around to prepare for the upcoming washing and protection. The washing and protection of the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle is not too complicated, like any other bird pet beast, the key is in feather detail care. But the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle before his eyes was somewhat dirty. It had large patches of damaged feathers, some almost glued together, and a lot of dirt on its feathers. Paired with a body that almost reaches thirty meters when its wings are spread, providing care and protection for it is quite a hassle. Soon, Xu Ran finished preparing the bath dew, adjusted the corresponding temperature, and began gently soaking the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle and its nearly human-sized feathers using a showerhead. Real- Feather by feather care. Just the preliminary removal of the dirt stuck on each feather already took Xu Ran half an hour. Luckily, this effort is rewarded. The Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle¡¯s massive body visibly becomes much cleaner, while Xu Ran¡¯s appropriately strengthed grooming makes the Eagle quite comfortable. Its colossal body comfortably twists a few times, and from its beak ¨C hard enough to easily peck through gold and stone ¨C occasional humming sounds are emitted. [Pleasure value from the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle +35] [Pleasure value from the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle +35] [From¡­] Xu Ran, seeing the repeatedly popping up pleasure value prompts before his eyes, stretches his body a bit, and begins the following washing and protection step. Deep cleaning, feather care, trimming, and grooming¡­ Soon, strange yet slightly excited sounds from the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle came from within the grooming room. Hearing the weird sounds his pet beast was making, the middle-aged man¡¯s expression also became somewhat unnatural. As a King Level Beast Master, his contract power has already reached the fifth rank. Fifth rank contract sensing, able to equally sense the pet beast¡¯s situation. So¡­ He decided to temporarily block it out for now. However, amidst the uneasiness, the keen observer noticed the visible changes of the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle with each of Xu Ran¡¯s movements. This grooming effect¡­ The middle-aged man¡¯s expression gradually turned into surprise. When did such an impressive young man come to Xieyun City? After a long wait, Xu Ran completely dries off the Spirit Wind Eagle¡¯s feathers. The brand new Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle lets out a sharp scream, its eyes full of excitement. At this moment, it feels its normally heavy feathers become incredibly lightweight. It does not know why, but the unnatural feeling that always existed after grooming is nowhere to be found this time. The middle-aged man quickly walks to the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle, and after closely examining its feathers, looks even more surprised. He knows his pet beast best. The Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle¡¯s feathers, already irreparably damaged from years of warfare. The tiny down on the feathers has become coarse and rare. This type of damage makes it hard to return to peak condition even with the most meticulous grooming. And yet, in the hands of this youth, who is even younger than his own daughter, the Extreme Spirit Wind Eagle¡¯s feathers seem to be completely restored. This is¡­ ¡°Perfect grooming?!¡± The middle-aged man fiercely looks towards Xu Ran, his voice filled with surprise and shock, ¡°Can you perform perfect washing and protection?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Ran blinked. This is the first time he¡¯s heard this term. ¡°Senior, what do you mean by perfect washing and protection?¡± The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment. Doesn¡¯t this young man in front of him know? ¡°Grooming is a type of maintenance and care for a pet beast¡¯s condition.¡± He slowly began, ¡°Even if done well, there is a limit to this type of maintenance and care.¡± ¡°Just like a broken glass, the cracks will still be there even if you glue it back together. Even with timely grooming, as the beast ages and engages in long-term combat, there will inevitably be a decline in its condition.¡± ¡°However, there is one type of grooming that¡¯s an exception. This type of grooming can fully remove the decline in a pet beast¡¯s condition and provide the best repair to any issues. This,¡± the middle-aged man looked at Xu Ran, ¡°is Perfect Grooming.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin. His washing and protection skills came from The System, so it¡¯s natural for it to be impressive. ¡°Then what I did should count as the Perfect Grooming you spoke of.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s glance towards Xu Ran changes. Originally, he came to this foster shop to test it due to his daughter¡¯s request. But now, his thought has changed. Testing is no longer important. He has another more important task to entrust to the young man before him. Three thousand, wasted.. Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 205: Home Washing and Protection? Chapter 338: Chapter 205: Home Washing and Protection? 1 Translator: 549690339 The middle-aged man followed Xu Ran out of the grooming room after returning the pet beast to its original place. ¡°Young sir, what is your last name?¡± The middle-aged man slowly spoke, his voice already treating Xu Ran as an equal, and not condescending due to his own powerful status as a King-Level Beast Master. ¡°No need for pleasantries, my last name is Xu.¡± Xu Ran responded politely. ¡°Alright, Boss Xu.¡± The middle-aged man looked at Xu Ran, his eyes filled with some emotion, ¡°I never thought I¡¯d find the technique that I¡¯ve been searching for in a young man like you.¡± ¡°Let me introduce myself, my name is Hui Hetian, and I am the owner of Huiyun Foster Shop.¡± ¡°Huiyun Foster Shop?¡± Xu Ran looked at him with surprise. When Jin Mingzhu came yesterday, he mentioned that the short-haired woman who had come with her but didn¡¯t spend money in the shop was the daughter of the Huiyun Foster Shop owner and currently in charge. As for the owner of Huiyun Foster Shop, he stopped running the shop a long time ago and has a somewhat mysterious status, with rumors hinting at quite a bit of power. Looking at the demeanor, temperament, and strength of the man before him, these rumors might not be unfounded. The fact that this man was willing to reveal his identity after the grooming process might not be for the same reason as Jin Mingzhu. ¡°Nice to meet you, Boss Hui.¡± Xu Ran looked at the middle-aged man before him, ¡°Aside from pet beast grooming, you must have other matters to discuss with me, right?¡± ¡°I like dealing with smart people.¡± Hui Hetian nodded, ¡°I hope that you can do me a favor and help groom a certain pet beast.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s just grooming, you can bring the beast that needs grooming to our shop, we can accommodate any pet beast within the Super Large Size range.¡± ¡°The problem is¡­¡± Hui Hetian gave a helpless wry smile, ¡°It¡¯s a giant pet beast at the General Stage.¡± ¡°A giant pet beast?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed surprise. In the category of Transcendent Beings, giants usually refer to those with a body size between thirty and two hundred meters. Although for many Transcendent Beings, the stronger ones are usually larger, this growth is limited and most Transcendent Beings below the King Stage would not exceed the Super Large Size category. Only a small part of the Transcendent Beings, those with unique talents in terms of size, could possibly break through this category. So far, Xu Ran hasn¡¯t seen many giant Transcendent Beings. The first one was the carcass of the Giant Beast below Thunderbolt Half Mountain. That suspected King Stage Beast was too meters long, fitting into the giant category. However, after Xu Ran and the three little ones had seen a real King Stage Pet Beast, they made a preliminary judgment that the Giant Beast was definitely more powerful and might have been a Beast Emperor or an Overlord Stage Transcendent Being that hadn¡¯t reached Beast Emperor yet. The second one was the hundred-meter-long Four-winged Tiger summoned by the Deputy Chairman of the Xieyun City Beast Master Association when they first arrived in Xieyun City. That Beast was also at the Overlord Stage. The third one was Cancan after evolving to the Leadership Stage. Unlike the previous two, Cancan was able to reach this size at the Leadership Stage purely due to its special talents. ¡°Boss Hui, you¡¯ve seen the situation of our shop.¡± Xu Ran pointed at the Grooming Room, ¡°I may not be able to groom a giant pet beast in such an environment.¡± ¡°I heard that there are a few grooming rooms in Xieyun City that can groom giant Pet Beasts.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly before continuing, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you approach them?¡± ¡°Their techniques aren¡¯t up to my requirements.¡± Hui Hetian shook his head, a hint of helplessness on his face, ¡°You may not know, Boss Xu, that before I ran Huiyun Foster Shop, I was the captain of a Hunting Squad.¡± ¡°Thanks to my strength and excellent ability to make friends, I made many friends who are General Stage and King Stage Beast Masters during my time as the captain of the Hunting Squad.¡± ¡°And that is why Huiyun Foster Shop has always done well ¨C those Beast Masters are more willing to entrust their pet beasts and those of their relatives and friends to our service due to our past relationship.¡± A glint of understanding appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. So that¡¯s the truth behind the powerful background rumoured outside. However, in a big city like Xieyun City, there are only a few Overlord Level Beast Masters and only Chairman Fang at the Emperor Level. Under these circumstances, a group of General Stage and King Stage Beast Masters sticking together is indeed a force that can¡¯t be ignored. He didn¡¯t speak because he knew that what the other party would say next might be related to his plea for help. ¡°I have a friend who was in the same Hunting Squad as me.¡± There was a nostalgic look on Hui Hetian¡¯s face, ¡°We fought side by side for more than a decade. After I quit, he continued.¡± ¡°Awhile ago, he also quit and came to find me.¡± ¡°The reason he quit has to do with one of his Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°That Beast is called the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast ¨C the giant pet beast I mentioned just now.¡± ¡°This beast has a very serious state of imbalance. Ordinary grooming can no longer improve its condition. Its deterioration has even affected its health, and its vitality has progressively declined over time.¡± ¡°That serious?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look more shocked. He had never heard of a state of imbalance so bad it threatened a creature¡¯s life. ¡°This may have to do with its nature as a Transcendent Being of energy.¡± Hui Hetian slightly shook his head, ¡°Treating it only alleviates its symptoms but doesn¡¯t solve the root problem. Hence, a person with perfect grooming skills is needed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been looking around for him for a long time, even considering going to the nearest First-level Capital.¡± Hui Hetian looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Fortunately, I found you.¡± ¡°Your foster shop doesn¡¯t have enough space, but that¡¯s not a problem.¡± Hui Hetian paused slightly, ¡°The grooming room of Huiyun Foster Shop can accommodate giant pet beasts, if you don¡¯t mind, I can arrange for the grooming to be done there.¡± ¡°If you can help with the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast issue, consider it a favour that I, Hui Hetian, owe you.¡± Hui Hetian spoke seriously. After a slight silence, a thoughtful expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Having been armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience in pet beast grooming by the system, he could handle the grooming process well even in other shops¡¯ grooming rooms. So the only trouble for him would be¡­ He would need to suspend his business. It would take at least half a day to groom a giant pet beast. ¡°Squeak-¡± As Xu Ran was deep in thought, the back door of the shop was quietly opened. The three little ones popped their heads out from the back door and appeared beside Xu Ran. Their six-hour training time had ended, and just like yesterday, these three little ones were planning to rush to the Beast Trainer Ranking. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll come over when I finish my business.¡± Xu Ran tossed the Beast Master Badge to them, remembering his bet with Mu Yunchao yesterday. Watching the excited backs of the three little ones, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on Cancan. Only when the three little ones completely disappeared did he thoughtfully withdraw his gaze. ¡°The potential of Boss Xu¡¯s pet beasts is extraordinary.¡± Hui Hetian chuckled, having had the good sense not to interrupt earlier, ¡°I wonder what Boss Xu thinks about my suggestion just now?¡± ¡°Borrowing the grooming room of your Huiyun Foster Shop to groom that giant pet beast is fine.¡± Xu Ran thought for a moment and then spoke slowly, ¡°However, I have a condition.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Hui Hetian¡¯s eyes lit up. The youth in front of him agreeing so easily put him in a good mood. As long as the other¡¯s condition was not excessive, he wouldn¡¯t mind. ¡°After finishing grooming that pet beast, I need to borrow your grooming room to groom another giant pet beast.¡± Xu Ran stated his condition. Just now when he saw Cancan, he suddenly remembered that he hadn¡¯t groomed Cancan for a long time since Cancan completed its evolution and broke through to the Leadership Stage. A look of surprise crossed Hui Hetian¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t expected Xu Ran¡¯s condition to be so simple, and he gained a bit more favor and admiration for the young man in front of him. ¡°No problem!¡± Naturally, Hui Hetian readily agreed to this simple request. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°The Starfire Foster Care Shop will be temporarily closed tomorrow, and I¡¯ll come to your Huiyun Foster Shop in the morning.¡± ¡°Then we look forward to your visit, Boss Xu!¡± Hui Hetian laughed heartily, his eyes filled with excitement. Having seen Xu Ran¡¯s grooming skills, he felt as though he could see the picture of his old friend¡¯s pet beast completely emerging from its current gloom. After making specific arrangements, Hui Hetian got up and left the Starfire Foster Shop. A short-haired girl who had been waiting for a few hours on the other side of the street suddenly stood up and quickly appeared in front of Hui Hetian. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s the situation with this shop?¡± ¡°Starfire¡­¡± Hui Hetian smacked his forehead. In his eagerness to invite Xu Ran to groom his old friend¡¯s pet beast, he had forgotten to check the foster and training areas of the Starfire Foster Shop. But¡­ it seemed there was no need anymore. ¡°That is a very impressive foster shop.¡± Hui Hetian¡¯s expression was grave and serious, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it because it has just opened its doors, but I believe that this shop is bound to surpass the Beast Washing Foster Store.¡± ¡°Really that amazing?¡± Surprise colored Hui Xingwei¡¯s face. She knew her father, whom she has always held in high regard, would not be wrong. She hadn¡¯t thought this seemingly ordinary shop could be so impressive. No wonder Sister Jin had that reaction yesterday. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going back.¡± Hui Hetian chuckled and started walking back the way they had come. Seeing Hui Hetian¡¯s relaxed expression, Hui Xingwei blinked and then with her hands behind her back, she followed light-footedly, ¡°Dad, you seem to be in a good mood?¡± ¡°Yes, because we¡¯ve settled the matter of your Uncle Zhou.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Three thousand words, four thousand for the second chapter, rush, rush, rush Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 206: Mu Yunchaos Bewilderment l Chapter 339: Chapter 206: Mu Yunchao¡¯s Bewilderment l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Phew ¡± Xu Ran stretched lazily, looking at the dimming sky outside the shop door with a smile on his face, ¡°Finally, today¡¯s business is over.¡± As usual, he communicated with the three little ones through Contractual Sensing, understood their ranking situation of the day and with the appearance of the flickering Hexagram Star Array, Star was summoned and appeared in the shop. ¡°XiLu~¡± Letting out an exhilarating call, Star lowered its head, brushing against Xu Ran¡¯s raised palm, its eyes full of intense excitement. The excitement derived from its significant progress today on the Beast Master Ranking. Moreover, it was its best performance ever on the Velocity Chart! Originally, when it competed for the first time a few days ago, Star had secured the top spot on the current Velocity Chart and the third place on the Historical Rankings. But today, taking advantage of the resources acquired in these few days and its own tireless efforts, Star successfully promoted its Historical Ranking to the second place, closely catching up with Chairman Fang¡¯s ranking. Although it didn¡¯t win any extra Beast Master Points, this small step served as a great motivator for Star. It¡¯s getting closer, the first place of the Historical Rankings is within reach! It, Star, wants to become the fastest Pet Beast in the Leadership Level! ¡°You did a great job.¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s head lightly, he never skimped on his encouragement for the improvements of his pet beasts, ¡°Let¡¯s go, now, it¡¯s the time for us to make an all-out effort.¡± ¡°XiLu~¡± Star raised its head once again, letting out a loud call, waiting for Xu Ran to secure himself on its back, then galloped out of the Foster Shop and turned into a shadow arrow, rushing in the direction of the Beast Master Ranking in the growing darkness. ¡°Here they come!¡± The crowd that had been waiting at the entrance of the Beast Master Ranking quickly saw the arriving figures of Xu Ran and Star, and immediately erupted in cheers. Because, they will soon witness an intense gamble. Standing at the very front of the crowd were Ziyun and Cancan, just like the previous few days, looking up shoulder to shoulder, waiting for Xu Ran¡¯s arrival. Behind them stood three people, two males and one female. One of them was Mu Yunchao, who was going to gamble with Xu Ran today, and the other was Mu Yunchao¡¯s good friend, Qu City. As for the last woman¡­ She was an ethereal-looking woman dressed in a simple and elegant long dress, gentle and quiet looking, yet nobody dared to casually glance her way. Because, this demure-looking woman was currently the number one on both Pet Beast Team Power and Overall Power Rankings among Leadership Level Beast Masters. She held another identity that was more daunting. She was the only daughter of the Association Chairman of Xieyun City Beast Master Association, FangCanghai, FangYuling. Her appearance here, surprised everyone. ¡°I say, Miss Fang, there¡¯s no need for you to worry about me and Xu Ran competing for the third and fourth place, right?¡± Seeing Fang Yuling standing marginally further ahead than himself, Mu Yunchao¡¯s lips twitched a bit. How ruthless! Originally, he was supposed to be the center of attention today. But now, all the attention was stolen by this woman! ¡°Today is the last day before the weekly settlement, I am here to take a look.¡± FangYuling gave a slight smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will wait until your bet is over before I make my ranking.¡± ¡°Eh? You¡¯re already first yet you still want to rank?¡± Mu Yunchao¡¯s lips twitched again. ¡°I¡¯m not first on the Historical Rankings,¡± a competitive light glowed in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes. Everyone present exhibited a somewhat strange expression upon hearing this. Because the number one on both the Historical Rankings was that mythical man of Xieyun City without exception. But the problem is, the woman standing before them is that man¡¯s only daughter. The relationship between this father and daughter is truly¡­ ¡°So this is the Beast Master who¡¯s been the talk of the town over the past few days?¡± Fang Yuling glanced in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, just in time to see Xu Ran dismounting from Star. Her eyes showed a bit of amusement, ¡°So it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± Hearing Fang Yuling¡¯swords, Qu City couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously. ¡°Not really, I just know his name.¡± Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran approaching step by step, a smile in her eyes, ¡°There are quite a few people in the Association who bear a grudge against him.¡± She was also present at the Exchange Event between Xieyun City and other cities a month ago, but as her age exceeded the limit, she did not participate. So, she was not unfamiliar with that face which caused the plan of some people in Xieyun City Beast Master Association to fall through. Not paying any attention to Fang Yuling and Qu City¡¯s conversation, the moment he saw Xu Ran, Mu Yunchao walked forward energetically, ¡°Xu Ran, I specifically waited to rank until you arrived today!¡± Having a full day¡¯s time, he naturally found ways to find out Xu Ran¡¯s name. ¡°It¡¯s evident, you can¡¯t wait to get the Washing and Protection treatment at the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Xu Ran deliberately stressed the shop name, advertising it to the crowd. Mu Yunchao: ¡°¡­¡± It seems there¡¯s no problem with that, after all, whether he wins or loses, he will wash and care, but why does it feel a bit off? Behind him, Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes held a hint of amusement. She remembered that Xu Ran had advertised his shop in the Exchange Event back then while his shop had not even started operations¡­ Now once again seeing him, not only did he change the pseudonym of the ranking to the shop name, he also never missed a chance to mention his shop¡­ Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Chapter 206: Mu Yunchaos Bewilderment-2 Chapter 340: Chapter 206: Mu Yunchao¡¯s Bewilderment-2 Translator: 549690339 Such a strange character. However, Fang Yuling¡¯s puzzled gaze quickly fades, replaced by a look of surprise and confusion. The gap between this guy¡¯s strength shown in the previous communication and his current status on the Beast Trainer Ranking seems a bit too large, doesn¡¯t it? Comparing the past and the present, Fang Yuling¡¯s gaze at Xu Ran suddenly becomes more guarded. This guy, won¡¯t his ranking threaten mine soon, will it? ¡°Let¡¯s go. We are heading to Area C02.¡± Xu Ran takes a deep breath and slowly speaks. Tomorrow is the day of the Beast Master Points settlement. Today, the three little ones have gone through all the previous rankings again, refreshing their test scores. Apart from Ziyun, who didn¡¯t use his Scarlet Battle Intent, the three little ones gave it their all. Now, it¡¯s time to finalize the three rankings of the Beast Masters. I wonder how many Beast Master Points the three little ones and I can get as rewards after tomorrow¡¯s first weekly settlement. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Mu Yunchao shouts, following beside Xu Ran, and they walk towards Area C02 side by side together. Feeling a bit awkward to see Xu Ran accompanied by three pet beasts while he himself has none, a Hexagram Star Array lights up behind Mu Yunchao¡¯s head and three pet beasts walk out of it one after another. The first one to come out is a peculiarly shaped human-shaped pet beast. It looks like a puppet from a shadow play, with each of its joints connected by threads. One end of these threads is connected to the puppet pet beast, and the other end extends upwards into unknown areas. Due to this, its movements look quite stiff, like an invisible hand controlling it from behind, which gives people a slight feeling of horror. Super Ability King Species, Sky Mystery. At the moment of its appearance, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take an extra look. This was the first time he had seen such a bizarre pet beast. So the question now is, How to wash and protect the Sky Mystery? After the Sky Mystery appears, the second pet beast shows up with heavy steps following behind Mu Yunchao. It is a dog type pet beast with a particularly robust body, roughly five meters long. Unlike ordinary dog type pet beasts, it has a ring of peculiarly shaped fur wrapping around its neck. The interweaving fur forms a shield that is as large as its body, flashing a metallic cold light. Earth Attribute King Species, Steel Shield Dog. A handful of Beast Masters in Xieyun City possess this King Species, which is famous for its defense. The current first place in defensive power also belongs to a Steel Shield Dog but not Mu Yunchao¡¯s. The Steel Shield Dog evolved from Earth System Lead Species, Earthrock Dog. An evolution rule was found quite early on. Over time, a relatively stable evolution method was summarized and gradually spread with time. This is actually a rudimentary evolution path, far riskier than the evolution path Xu Ran obtained directly from the system. But it is much better than guessing the evolution purely based on luck. Only a second level town like Xieyun City has the capability to implement this. After all, a large number of Beast Masters capable of evolution must exist to summarize the evolution rules. Training Beast Masters and pet beasts requires resources. And the level of resource accumulation is closely related to the strength of the Beast Field. More resources mean higher risks. Looking at the shimmering metallic shield of the Steel Shield Dog and thinking that the one who surpasses him in the defensive ranking is part of the same species as this creature before his eyes, Cancan has a slight sense of dissatisfaction in his eyes. This thing doesn¡¯t appear to be as hard as his shell! Once he further improves his strength, the first place in the defensive ranking will definitely be his! After the Steel Shield Dog, the final creature that appears from the wild wind is a bug type pet beast with the shape of a bee, flapping its wings. Its six tentacles and tail end all have chillingly sharp long needles, appearing quite threatening. Wind Attribute King Species, Poison Stinger Mad Bee! At the moment the Poison Stinger Mad Bee showed up, Ziyun seemed to sense something and turned his head to look. A flicker of purple electricity passed through his unusual eyes. It¡¯s a shame that the Beast Trainer Ranking competition does not involve direct combat. Otherwise, he would like to test the strength of this opponent before him. ¡°Who¡¯s first?¡± With the summoning of the three pet beasts, the two of them had already arrived at the entrance of the C02 test field. Seemingly, thinking that summoning all his pet beasts would make him look more imposing than Xu Ran, Mu Yunchao¡¯s tone became somewhat arrogant. ¡°You go first,¡± Xu Ran said calmly with a smile, pointing to the entrance of the testing ground. ¡°I won¡¯t compete with you for it.¡± ¡°Heh!¡± Mu Yunchao chuckled. ¡°It seems that you also know that in the Beast Trainer Rankings, those who rush in first are usually overtaken. ¡°But!¡± A new level of self-confidence shined in Mu Yunchao¡¯s eyes, ¡°I, Mu Yunchao, choose not to abide by this superstition! ¡°I create my destiny, it doesn¡¯t control me!¡± ¡°Wait and watch!¡± Mu Yunchao made a taunting hand gesture towards Xu Ran. ¡°I¡¯m about to establish a score that you can¡¯t reach.¡± ¡°Old Qu, you should be careful too!¡± Mu Yunchao turned to point at Qu City who had followed them, ¡°I might even surpass you by accident!¡± After saying that, Mu Yunchao turned and walked inside the testing area. Outside the testing area, Qu City shook his head, chuckling and sighing simultaneously, ¡°This guy¡­¡± Even Fang Yuling, standing nearby, couldn¡¯t resist her curiosity and started asking questions. ¡°Has he always been this arrogant?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± answered Qu City, nodding. ¡°Always this arrogant.¡± ¡°Why are you friends with him then?¡± Xu Ran asked, his curiosity piqued by the conversation. At the question, a look of melancholy crossed Qu City¡¯s face. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a long story¡­¡± Xu Ran & Fang Yuling: ¡°Could you give us the short version?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep it brief¡­¡± Under their relentless probes, Qu City began to narrate the story of how they¡¯d met and become friends. Time flew by, and Qu City finished retelling the story about them. Meanwhile, the doors to the testing ground opened, revealing a glowing and excited Mu Yunchao. ¡°Almost surpassed you.¡± Mu Yunchao grinned at Qu City, then turning to Xu Ran he added, ¡°It¡¯s your turn now.¡± Xu Ran looked up, observing the current Beast Trainer Pet Beast Team Power Listing. While standing at the entrance of the testing field, he could clearly see the third ranking on the hundred-meter tall leaderboard. ¡°Third place, Mu Yunchao, Pet Beast Team Power: 341221 ¡°See that!¡± Mu Yunchao smugly patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, ¡°I didn¡¯t even use my full strength yesterday!¡± As he spoke, a tiny pang echoed in his heart. In his quest for rapid advancement, he had spent quite a bit of his Beast Master points on various items for his three pet beasts. Seeing that accomplishment, Xu Ran¡¯s face wore a look of surprise. He improved so much again? This Mu Yunchao, he¡¯s quite impressive. ¡°It¡¯s our turn now.¡± Xu Ran nodded, looking towards the three little ones standing beside him. In response to him, the three of them stared back with determination and fighting spirit in their eyes. The four of them entered the testing area together and the entrance door closed automatically. Looking at Xu Ran and his three pets disappearing inside, Mu Yunchao let out a chuckle, nudging Qu City standing beside him, ¡°Old Qu, if you don¡¯t pick up pace, I¡¯m going to overtake you!¡± At the sound of Mu Yunchao¡¯s gleeful words, Qu City¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Seeing such quick progress in Mu Yunchao¡¯s abilities, he couldn¡¯t deny feeling a sense of urgency. At the moment, the difference in team power between him and Mu Yunchao was barely two digits, which was almost negligible. ¡°I shall make a dash for it again later!¡± Qu City took a deep breath and slowly declared his intent. ¡°Even if you dash, it won¡¯t be enough, you¡¯ve plateaued and can¡¯t create a substantial gap¡± chuckled Mu Yunchao, ¡°I¡¯ll let you have this one. For now, I¡¯ll take third. But by the time we hit the next weekly score aggregation, I¡¯ll be definitely the¡­¡± ¡°Dong- ¡± Before he could finish, a pervasive tolling of a bell echoed in the Beast Trainer Ranking area. Mu Yunchao¡¯s laughter came to a sudden halt. Seeing the names of the current second, third and fourth place holders in the Leadership Level Beast Trainer Pet Beast Team Power List lit up, watching Xu Ran¡¯s name first surpass his, then Qu City¡¯s. Mu Yunchao¡¯s laughter drained away, replaced by deep perplexity. ¡°What?¡± Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 207: Mu Yunchaos Second Achievement! Chapter 341: Chapter 207: Mu Yunchao¡¯s Second Achievement! Translator: 549690339 Until Xu Ran rejoined Mu Yunchao, a look of disbelief lingered on his face. Why¡­why did this happen?! After all, he had exchanged a King-level resource for each of his pet beasts, all to ensure they achieved better results in today¡¯s race up the rankings. So, how could Xu Ran surpass his rate of improvement within a single day?! Standing beside Mu Yunchao, Qu City had an equally unhappy expression. He, too, had lost his current ranking position. However, he figured out the reason before Mu Yunchao did. ¡°During this time, he earned over 300,000 Beast Master Points from his historical rankings as a prize for the race.¡± Qu City said gravely, ¡°Such a massive number of Beast Master points is enough to prepare multiple King-level resources for each pet beast.¡± Mu Yunchao was surprised at first, then realization dawned across his face. So, that¡¯s how it is. Has he earned that many Beast Master Points from the ranking competitions? If one were to tally up the points from the first competition, he should have earned this many. After all, like Xu Ran, he was a formidable competitor who had ranked within the top three of the Leadership Level Beast Master¡¯s Double Board. Unlike Xu Ran, however, he earned his Beast Master Points gradually through his own and his pet beasts¡¯ improvements. Most of these points had been spent toward their progress immediately. ¡°Damn nouveau riche!¡± Mu Yunchao grunted, looking at the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face adding to his dissatisfaction, ¡°I lost, and a bet is a bet, I¡¯ll concede!¡± Thinking about the penalty for his lost bet ¨C washing and protecting his pet beasts ten times in Xu Ran¡¯s foster shop, which charged two or three times more than other stores ¨C he felt like he was being ripped off. Damn it! ¡°Welcome to the Starfire Foster Care Shop,¡± Xu Ran said, patting Mu Yunchao¡¯s shoulder with a hearty chuckle, ¡°Trust me, although the prices are high, you¡¯ll definitely feel the results are worth every penny after our washing and protecting treatments.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Mu Yunchao opened his mouth, about to retort, but as he saw Xu Ran turning to walk in the other direction, his words died in his throat. A hint of alarm crossed his face, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Competing!¡± With a casual wave, Xu Ran headed straight for the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. The cutoff was tomorrow, so naturally, he wanted to attempt a few more rankings to see if he could achieve better results. He was fairly satisfied with the new placement on the Pet Beast Team Power List, with the only regret being his current second place ranking still missing from the Historical Rankings. Unlike the other lists, this particular ranking seemed to hold greater value. Of course, not all Beast Masters on the current rankings failed to make it onto the Historical Rankings. Above him, a Beast Master named Fang Yuling not only held a place in the Historical Rankings but was listed seventh. Such a gaping disparity could not be overcome easily, even by Xu Ran¡¯s current form. However, Xu Ran believed that soon, he and the three little ones, with their steadily increasing strength, would catch up to her. For now, his plan was to make it into the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking and leave his name in the corresponding Historical Rankings. For this purpose, Ziyun even held back and didn¡¯t use the skill Scarlet Battle Intent, which had certain consequential side effects, during the previous competition. ¡°Tsk¡± Xu Ran stopped before the Coi testing ground and the crowd followed him. Under Mu Yunchao¡¯s nervous gaze, Xu Ran stepped into the testing grounds with the three little ones without hesitation. ¡°Damn.¡± Mu Yunchao took a deep breath, ¡°This guy is ruthless. He¡¯s targeting you, Old Qu!¡± Qu City:¡±?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who bet with him! How did it become targeting me?¡± Qu City looked puzzled. ¡°Look. In the Pet Beast Team Power Ranking, he took your second place, right?¡± Mu Yunchao glanced at Qu City and pointed to the Overall Power Ranking. ¡°You¡¯re third, he¡¯s fourth, and once he competes, your ranking will surely be jeopardized.¡± ¡°Although I have fallen down a place in the Pet Beast Team Power Rankings, from third to fourth, I can still hold my own and remain second on the Overall Power Ranking,¡± Mu Yunchao puffed out his chest, ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who stands to lose the most!¡± Qu City:¡±¡­¡± At first glance, it didn¡¯t seem to be a problem. But after some thought and analysis, Qu City quickly spotted the crux of the problem. ¡°How are you so sure that you can hold onto the second place?¡± Before Qu City could speak, Gang Yuling suddenly chimed in, her eyes full of amusement. ¡°Of course, I can hold onto it!¡± Hearing Fang Yuling doubt him, Mu Yunchao was immediately defensive. He patted his chest in confidence, his face full of certainty. ¡°I scrutinized it carefully. Although Xu Ran surpassed Old Qu and me just now, his pet beast team¡¯s strength was only a little over a thousand more than ours. The gap isn¡¯t that big.¡± ¡°And with the cooperation of my Sky Mystery pet, my performance in the Overall Power Rankings is much stronger than in the Pet Beast Team Power Rankings. That¡¯s why I managed to surpass Old Qu and seize the second place.¡± ¡°Now¡­ Humph.¡± Mu Yunchao looked composed and smug, ¡°I don¡¯t even need to compete again, he definitely can¡¯t surpass me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you also have no option to compete again?¡± Seeing Mu Yunchao¡¯s typical cockiness, Qu City quickly shot him down, ¡°Your pet beasts have exhausted a great deal in the recent competition, and none of them can recover to their peak condition within today..¡± Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Chapter 207: Mu Yunchaos Second Chapter 342: Chapter 207: Mu Yunchao¡¯s Second Achievement_2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°This is also the second reason why I believe he can¡¯t surpass me.¡± Mu Yunchao laughed cheekily, ¡°He just finished rushing through one ranking, then immediately started with the second one, taking no rest in between.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, can he unleash his full strength?¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe he might not even match his original performance?¡± ¡°Your analysis makes sense.¡± Fang Yuling said quietly, ¡°However¡­¡± In her mind, she pictured the scenes of Xu Ran¡¯s interactions, feeling that he isn¡¯t as reckless as Mu Yunchao portrayed him to be. ¡°Let¡¯s bet.¡± Thinking about Xu Ran¡¯s advertising efforts for his shop a month ago, a smile appeared in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes, ¡°If Xu Ran surpasses you in the rankings, you¡¯ll treat me to ten sessions of washing and protection at the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t, I¡¯ll pay for those ten sessions.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mu Yunchao looked at Fang Yuling in surprise, ¡°Miss Fang, are you also interested in the cleaning service offered by that devious businessman?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that, just tell me if you want to bet.¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s tone became indifferent once again. She was simply curious to see what was so special about this Beast Master¡¯s Foster Shop, from a 3rd Level City, that he had to advertise so vigorously. However, this was something she wouldn¡¯t explain to Mu Yunchao. ¡°Let¡¯s bet!¡± Mu Yunchao hesitated for only a moment before giving his decisive response. He had just been regretting the ten sessions he had been tricked into, now someone was offering to reimburse him for the cleaning and protection services, he couldn¡¯t be happier. As for the possibility of Xu Ran surpassing him in overall power¡­ Mu Yunchao couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the current overall power ranking. ¡°1st place, Fang Yuling, Overall Power: 416893.¡± ¡°2nd place, Mu Yunchao, Overall Power: 357823.¡± ¡°3rd place, Qu City, Overall Power: 332324.¡± ¡°4th place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Overall Power: 329451¡± He is separated from Xu Ran by Qu City, whose ranking is third and has a nearly 30,000 lead in power. Xu Ran just completed a climb in the rankings¡­ Ha! Stacked with debuffs, how could it be possible? ¡°Ziyun, it¡¯s time!¡± In test site C01, sitting atop Star¡¯s back and merging his breath with the starlight chains drawn from the void, Xu Ran gave a stern command. ¡°Meow!¡± (Watch me!) Briefly, a sharp purple lightning flash blinked in Ziyun¡¯s odd colored eyes. Next moment, out of the surrounding stirring electric light quietly spread a halo of scarlet light. Ziyun¡¯s strength, which was already boosted to the extreme by multiple amplifications, started to climb up again. In its vicinity, like tidal water that had been churned up uncontrollably, the Beast Tide retreated, leaving large blank spaces. That was the space left behind after countless energy creatures have been torn to shreds by Ziyun¡¯s wild electric light and phased out. And at this moment, as Ziyun¡¯s power is skyrocketing, energy beings seem to feel a lethal threat in their madness, instinctively showing signs of recoiling and fear. But the next moment, the Golden Dragon Turtle Light Patterns that filled the sky flickered again. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power! Under the provocation of the Full Moon Level Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power, the energy creatures, who were gradually calming down, once again returned to their frenzied emotions, charging at Cancan, who held its head high and looked invincible, like moths to a flame. Two colorless transparent chains, barely visible in the void, one end of the chain was connected to Ziyun, the other end to Star. The other chain was connected to Star at one end, and firmly connected to Cancan at the other. If one carefully observed the faintly visible chains in the void, they would find that its emergence has a specific rule. Starting from the end connected to Cancan¡¯s body, it flowed gradually toward Star, then along the chain connected between Star and Ziyun, finally disappearing over Ziyun. This pattern reflected the direction of power transmission. Ziyun, who possesses explosive power, currently had two power banks. The output that was previously unable to sustain after a brief burst, has now become a continuous output! Three Star Skill, Starlight Level Fate Necklace! As the skill that Star has been actively training for the past two days, the Fate Necklace has quickly risen from the Stardust Level of yesterday to the Starlight Level today. With the upgrade in skill proficiency level, the Fate Necklace transferred energy with higher efficiency and at faster speeds, akin to a regular charger transforming into a fast charger! This minor breakthrough brought Ziyun an almost infinite supply of power. Gazing at the rapidly approaching and expanding multitude of energy bodies, Ziyun¡¯s uniquely colored pupils constricted into needles, like an abyss, swallowing them all. It slowly but firmly raised a claw condensed with thunder, the claw, in an instant, became robust and powerful. Each claw blade resembled a knife-edge, seemingly capable of slicing through the space itself. ¡°Meow-¡± With a sharp roar, Ziyun¡¯s claw, filled with potential, swung out abruptly, creating a sharp gust in the void. The terrifying thunder pierced the air, emitting an endless ¡°crackle¡± noise. A terrifying claw shadow, nearly a hundred meters long, emerged and then shrouded over the countless oncoming transcendent beings. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level ¨C Destruction Thunder Claw! ¡°Boom!!!¡± A huge boom resounded, as countless transcendent beings vanished into thin air while screaming. The terrifying energy fluctuations created successive terrifying energy storms mixed with electric arc, all centered around the collision point. In the next instant, the newly touching ground Destruction Thunder Claw exploded again, transforming into thunderbolts that burst out in all directions, inflicting more widespread damage. This was the special effect brought on by the more flexible use of the Destruction Thunder Claw when it reached the Full Moon Level, it was currently Ziyun¡¯s most powerful attack under the enhancement of Scarlet Battle Intent. Feeling the almost boiling power within itself, a hint of scarlet silently appeared in Ziyun¡¯s pupils. Its body vanished in an instant, leaving behind only a remnant image of thunderbolt, flitting non-stop amidst the Beast Tide. Claw shadows were swung out wildly by Ziyun, as if it didn¡¯t care for its power consumption, amidst the Scarlet Battle Intent¡¯s lingering duration. Feeling the crazily draining power, Star and Cancan glanced at each other, their eyes both revealing a sense of helplessness. As the ear-piercing rumbling sound continued to echo in the testing ground, the surging Beast Tide was also simultaneously held back. After a while, the scarlet halo around Ziyun quietly disappeared, and its aura became slightly weaker. It returned reluctantly to its original position amongst the remnants of the thunderbolt. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Looking at the barely straying testing area and the few remaining energy bodies, Xu Ran chuckled. ¡°Any more, and it would be impolite.¡± ¡°Dang ¡± Accompanied by dull chimes, the current Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Rankings quickly materialize with flashing lights. Mu Yunchao, who had been focusing on the list, patted Qu City¡¯s shoulders with a hint of sympathy, ¡°Old Qu, don¡¯t be too sad, I¡¯m sure you can catch up.¡± Unexpectedly, Qu City did not respond. His body seemed to stiffen and his gaze was fixed at another place, he didn¡¯t even turn his head to look when Mu Yunchao spoke. Confused, Mu Yunchao followed Qu City¡¯s gaze, the next moment the smug smile on his face froze. It¡¯s lit up¡­ The historical rankings have also lit up! Just like the Historical Rankings of Leadership Level Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast Team Power, in the current Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, there was only Fang Yuling¡¯s name. If the historical ranking lit up, it meant¡­ Before Mu Yunchao could comprehend, the changes in the current rankings had already begun. Watching his name along with Qu City and Xu Ran¡¯s name light up, and then seeing he and Qu City dropped a place, with Xu Ran¡¯s name appearing in the spot formerly belonging to him, Mu Yunchao¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Second place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, total power: 362732¡± This¡­ This! How is it possible?! ¡°How could this guy possibly increase so much?!¡± Mu Yunchao exclaimed incredulously, and then uttered a bewildered ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to invite me for ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ service ten times.¡± Fang Yuling chuckled, then looked at the second name on the ranking board. Xu Ran, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you. Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 208 Start of Weekly Settlement!_l Chapter 343: Chapter 208 Start of Weekly Settlement!_l Translator: 549690339 The next second when the current ranking stopped changing, changes started to appear in the Historical Rankings. Everyone held their breath, looking at the overall Power Listing that had not undergone any changes in almost a month. The next moment, the Beast Master who was ranked 500th left in quiet desolation, and the names of those from 499 to 453 all lit up together. Xu Ran¡¯s name appeared at the 453rd position after all 47 names fell back one place. ¡°Looks good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice, filled with a hint of amusement, came at just the right time. He stepped out with the three little ones just in time to see the finalization of the Historical Rankings. Even though it was only the 453rd place, the gold content of the Beast Master¡¯s list and the Pet Beast Ranking were not the same. Every Pet Beast excels in different areas. When rushing to the Pet Beast Ranking, they would charge in the direction they are good at, as there are numerous types on the chart. The strong Pet Beasts on the board were actually dispersed. Take Star for example, its strength is undoubtedly formidable, but besides dusting off all competition on the Velocity Chart, its performance on many other charts is relatively mediocre, and on some, its name isn¡¯t even present. On these charts where Star¡¯s name could not be found, there were Pet Beasts that excelled in the corresponding directions and were also fiercely strong. No matter what these Pet Beasts excelled at, they will eventually sprint to the same chart as the Beast Masters ¨C the Beast Master List. Therefore, there are many tough contenders on the Beast Master List, especially on the Historical Rankings, where all the renowned strong Beast Masters of today can be found at a glance. To be able to rush into the Historical Rankings, Xu Ran was already very satisfied with the three little ones. As for the ranking¡­ The three little ones didn¡¯t even have skills at the Full Moon Level at this moment, so there was still a lot of room for improvement and there was absolutely no need to panic. Moving his gaze away from the ranking, Xu Ran saw the look of heartache on Mu Yunchao¡¯s face. ¡°Erm¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Ran went up to him with a smile, ¡°Is it because I snatched your second place?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He patted Mu Yunchao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°If you bring your Pet Beast to our shop for a few more Washing and Protection services, I believe there¡¯s hope for you to make a comeback.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s comforting words, Mu Yunchao strangely felt a hint of taunt in them. He always thought he was arrogant enough, but the young man before him was even more so. Who comforts people like that? And do you think your Washing and Protection skills are that exquisite, as to help me improve my combat power with just one session? ¡°A bet deed¡¯s a dreadful bond, indeed.¡± Mu Yunchao glanced at Fang Yuling next to him, scoffed, and then turned to leave. This forsaken place, he had no reason to stay! Watching the departing figure of Mu Yunchao, now it was Xu Ran¡¯s turn to be confused. ¡°What bet deed?¡± Xu Ran looked at Qu City who was still on the spot, wondering, ¡°Did something happen when I tried to climb the ranks?¡± ¡°Yunchao and this lady made a bet.¡± Qu City shook his head helplessly, looking at Fang Yuling, ¡°The stakes are ten times the cost of the Washing and Protection at the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Xu Ran was at a loss for words for a moment, looking at Fang Yuling, ¡°Who is this lady?¡± Previously, he had been focused on Mu Yunchao and Qu City. Although he had noticed this high-faced value girl, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to her. Only after hearing Qu City¡¯s words did Xu Ran vaguely sense that the woman was not easy either. Then remembering that the first place in Double Board was a woman¡­ It couldn¡¯t be her, could it? ¡°Fang Yuling.¡± Fang Yuling replied calmly, then glanced at him deeply, ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to your foster care shop, Boss Xu, for a month.¡± It seemed that the premonition she had earlier was about to come true. In a short span of time, Xu Ran had become the second place on the Double Board, his ranking very close to hers. Even she, who usually thought little of her peers who were Beast Masters, felt a bit anxious. Looking forward to it for a month? Xu Ran was surprised at first, and then he remembered that a month ago after coming to Xieyun City, he had placed an advertisement, and his eyes showed a look of realization. So, was Fang Yuling also present during that interaction a month ago? ¡°You¡¯re welcome anytime.¡± In the blink of an eye, Xu Ran opened his mouth with a smile. ¡°I need to have my Pet Beasts washed and cared for in a couple of days.¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s voice paused slightly, a touch of mischief appeared in her eyes, ¡°Charge it to Mu Yunchao¡¯s account.¡± With that, Fang Yuling walked past Xu Ran and went into testing site C01. Soon, along with the beam of light shooting towards the sky and the deep tolling of the bell, the Historical Rankings changed again. Fang Yuling, who was ranked 9th on the Historical Overall Power Listing, advanced three places and became the 6th on the Historical Overall Power Listing. Xu Ran, who had not left yet, looked at Fang Yuling¡¯s name hanging high on the Historical Rankings, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of admiration on his face, ¡°What an amazing Beast Master.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Indeed, it¡¯s impressive.) Ziyun nodded in agreement, a sense of competitiveness appearing in his eyes. The girl appeared to be around the same age as Xu Ran, and there was no reason why they should be weaker! Ziyun turned his head to look at Star and Cancan, who also had a competitive sparkle in their eyes. The short-term goal was to surpass this woman! ¡°Boss Xu does not need to consider her as a competitor because the gap between us is too big.¡± In Qu City¡¯s tone, there was a sense of melancholy, ¡°She is the only daughter of Chairman Fang, has an Emperor Level Beast Master as a father, and has a huge advantage in terms of resources.¡± ¡°Chairman Fang¡¯s daughter?¡± Xu Ran was initially shocked, and then he understood. Both surnamed Fang, both so strong. Makes sense, too much sense. Noticing the negative mood of Qu City, Xu Ran patted his shoulder, ¡°Even so, if you strive to become stronger, there¡¯s always a chance to surpass the others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading back now, see you next time.¡± As his words fell, Xu Ran mounted his horse and sped off. He still had to rush back to feed the inhabitants of his foster care. The three pet beasts fostered yesterday were already picked up today, but two more new inhabitants had arrived, making five mouths waiting for him to feed. ¡°Strive to become stronger always has a chance to surpass¡­¡± repeating the words uttered by Xu Ran just now, Qu City stared in the direction Xu Ran left, his face filled with more emotions and sighs. Unlike Mu Yunchao, Xu Ran, Fang Yu Ling, he was already in his thirties, approaching the age of forty in just a few years. Although the lifespan of a Beast Master would correspondingly increase as their strength grew and they continued to benefit from their pets, no matter what, he¡¯s not young any more at this age. Unable to break through the threshold of the fourth stage contract power, he became more mature as time went on from the previous youthful vigor just like Mu Yunchao. That was also the reason why he and Mu Yunchao became good friends. He saw his past self in him. It was understandable for him to feel frustrated after his once-proud Beast Trainer Ranking was surpassed several times in a row, but Xu Ran¡¯s words seemed to have invigorated him. Yes, after striving so hard for so many years, isn¡¯t giving up now equivalent to negating all of the past efforts? Taking in a deep breath, Qu City stepped towards the C02 Test Site. Working towards the ranking! Getting stronger! ¡°Ding Ding Ding-¡± The clear metallic sound of a spoon and a pot echoed in the foster area on the first basement floor of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Hearing the dinnertime signal, the three pet beasts that had been living at Starfire Foster Care Shop for a few days moved together. The two pet beasts that were fostered today realized the situation from their mates¡¯ actions and excitedly rushed over. ¡°Kah!¡± A cute-looking pet beast approached out of curiosity. It had a blue and white intertwining color all over its body. It hovered in the air without wings and had a long tail. Upon seeing the food bowls beside Xu Ran, its eyes started glowing, and it increased its speed. ¡°Glutinous Sprite, this is your dinner.¡± As he looked at the adorable little guy, Xu Ran¡¯s face lit up with a smile. He picked a palm-sized food bowl from among the many food bowls and handed it over. ¡°Kah!¡± Without hands, the Glutinous Sprite had a unique way of receiving things. Accompanied by its echoing voice, countless fine glittering particles appeared in midair. These particles formed a big hand, caught the food bowl, then formed a spoon, scooped up the food from the bowl, and brought it to its mouth. Super ability Attribute Two-Star Skill, Telekinesis. In the same Attribute, there are also different divisions. Super ability can be divided into two directions: Telekinesis and mental power, according to the different effects of their skills. Telekinesis performs physical attacks over the air with Super ability Attribute power, while mental power uses Super ability Attribute power for the deception and disruption tactics of illusion. The Velvet Sparrow is the latter, while Glutinous Sprite is the former. This elite pet beast inhabitant, although it¡¯s the weakest among the five, its rarity, even in grand cities like Xieyun City, is correspondingly enormous. ¡°Your Beast Master will come to pick you up after three days. Stay here well during these three days.¡± Xu Ran stretched a hand out, petting the glutinous, spongy head of Glutinous Sprite. ¡°Kah!¡± The Glutinous Sprite nodded vigorously. With such delicious food here and environment way better than home. Beast Master? It couldn¡¯t care less about where he goes and messes about! Moving his gaze from the Glutinous Sprite, Xu Ran looked toward the sudden shadow on the ground, ¡°Treefern Ghost Shadow, this is your food bowl.¡± The shadow quickly spread, as if a hand was stretching out. Xu Ran placed the food bowl on the ground, and next moment, the food bowl slowly sank into the shadow, and only sounds of chewing emanated. This new Dark Attribute inhabitant was somewhat similar to the Shadow Chaser Lizard, with abilities related to shadows. But what differentiated this Dark Attribute inhabitant was that its existence was in the form of a shadow itself. This was an extremely peculiar elemental transcendent being. After giving some special care to the two new inhabitants, Xu Ran distributed the food bowls to the three senior inhabitants. ¡°Roar!¡± The Combat Furball took its food bowl as usual, gratefully nodding towards Xu Ran. Xu Ran nodded in return, while slightly raising an eyebrow. Was he imagining things? He always felt that something was a bit off with Combat Furball. Well, let¡¯s observe it a bit more. Squashing the doubt in his heart, Xu Ran tidied up the food bowls after the five inhabitants had finished dinner, and returned to the living area on the second floor. With the moon hanging high in the sky, time arrived at midnight. ¡°Ding Dong¡ª¡± The sound of a notification echoed, awakening Xu Ran from his meditation. The once-a-week Beast Master List rewards settlement was here! Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 209: Huiyun Foster Shop_l Chapter 344: Chapter 209: Huiyun Foster Shop_l Translator: 549690339 I For those whose names are on the Beast Master List, there is always one night each week when sleep eludes them. It¡¯s the time of the weekly settlement for the Beast Trainer Ranking. The weekly rankings and competition will end at midnight, and all the Beast Masters on the list will receive corresponding rewards based on their own rankings. The details of these rewards will be sent to the corresponding Beast Masters through the registered contact method. Even Xu Ran, who is in deep meditation, can¡¯t help but temporarily stop the meditation and check the settlement details on his cellphone. The three little ones, also not fully asleep, open their eyes at the same time the cellphone reminder sounds, and sneakily gather beside Xu Ran. [Dear Beast Master Xu Ran (alias Starfire Foster Shop), your Beast Master List ranking as of this week has been settled. As of midnight, your rankings are as follows:] [Main List: Current Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking: 2nd place Current Leadership Level Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List: 2nd place Current Leadership Level Beast Master Individual Combat Power List: 1st place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List: 2nd place, 13th place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Velocity Chart: 1st place, 6th place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Defense List: 2nd place, 8th place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Reflexes List: 1st place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Stamina Chart: 2nd place, 3rd place] [Total rewards for the current main list rankings: 70650 Beast Master Points] [Sub-list: Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Beauty Ranking: 3rd place Current Leadership Stage Pet Beast Body Size Chart: 1st place] [Total rewards for the current sub-list rankings: 4250 Beast Master Points] [Total rewards: 74900 Beast Master Points] ¡°Wow!¡± After reading the statement from beginning to end, a look of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Although the combined rankings only amount to over seventy thousand Beast Master Points, and one can get eighty thousand for landing in the top three of the Historical Rankings, the difference between the two is quite clear. The latter is a one-time deal, while the former can be received every week. So, having so many points at the weekly settlement was beyond Xu Ran¡¯s expectations. Along with the weekly settlement notice came an attachment detailing the corresponding points for the current ranking, which clearly indicated the rewards for each rank. As it was his first time participating in the weekly settlement, Xu Ran quickly opened the attachment after a cursory look at the rankings. In the main list, the 1st place in the Leadership Stage Pet Beast Ranking can get 5000 Beast Master Points, the 2nd place can get 4000 Beast Master Points, and thereafter the rewards decrease with a gradually shrinking gap, and the 10th place can only get 1800 points. The points reward of the Leadership Level Beast Master List is three times the equivalent ranking in the Pet Beast List, while the sub-list only has half of the main list¡¯s reward. After looking at the detailed corresponding table and comparing his and the three little ones¡¯ rankings, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a look of realization. Looking at the three eager little ones, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a smile. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll divide these over seventy thousand Beast Master Points among you.¡± He paused briefly, ¡°However, you haven¡¯t yet fully absorbed the King-level resources at hand, right?¡± The three little ones shook their heads together. The resources at the King-level hold much more energy and are naturally slower to absorb. For a Leadership Level Beast Master to prepare an item for each of his Pet Beasts is considered a luxury. For the three little ones, having two or three items each is simply a waste. In this situation, one can imagine the speed at which the three little ones are absorbing. Even if they were to absorb at full speed, they would still need about ten days to fully absorb these resources. As of now, apart from Star, who has grasped the skill of Fate Necklace due to the matching necklace, Ziyun and Cancan have not yet obtained new skills from the King-level resources. ¡°So, after these resources are allocated, you should keep them for now.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Meals should be eaten bite by bite. Wait until these resources are all absorbed, and then absorb new ones.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay-) Ziyun was the first to accept this suggestion. Licking his paw, he lazily sprawled out at the head of the bed. Although he temporarily couldn¡¯t possess more new resources, the current resources were indeed enough for him to absorb for a while. Looking at it from another perspective, when the current resources are fully absorbed, they will likely experience another weekly settlement, at which point they will be able to save a batch of points. At that time, they can get a new batch of resources in abundance. This feeling of having surplus resources really gives a sense of security! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Speaking of which, shouldn¡¯t the resources be distributed in about ten days?) Star whinnied, his eyes, looking like sapphires, gleaming with anticipation. Hearing this, Ziyun and Cancan¡¯s eyes also began to sparkle. Yes indeed¡­ It was previously agreed that resources should be allocated every half a month. If they calculated the time, it seemed to be due in about ten days. Over the last few days, the three little ones have also recognized the advantages of having a longer resource allocation cycle. In the past, resources were distributed almost every week, and everyone was just focused on becoming stronger, neglecting to sort out their own power, which would inevitably lead to some imbalance in their strength. Through several days of contending for the Beast Trainer Ranking, they have realized their strengths and weaknesses. Next, they can purposefully choose resources to enhance and address their issues, becoming stronger in a more comprehensive manner. ¡°Charming!¡± (I can hardly wait!) Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 209: Huiyun Foster Shop_2 Chapter 345: Chapter 209: Huiyun Foster Shop_2 Translator: 549690339 Cancan roared, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he slapped the mattress. Among the three little ones, its overall rankings had dropped to the bottom again due to Ziyun¡¯s sudden rise in the reflexes list. Aside from undeniably being first on the sub-ranking, it astonishingly did not top any of the main rankings! Once it becomes stronger, it vowed to make a comeback and once again charge into the Beast Trainer Ranking! ¡°We need to keep working hard tomorrow,¡± Xu Ran smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the competition is really intense right after the rankings are calculated and the new weekly ranking begins. It would be an interesting experience tomorrow.¡± Having said that, Xu Ran tossed his cellphone aside and then casually opened the System panel. Counting the days, it had been two or three days since he had checked the status of Main Task 3. After the publication of the Extract Cloud Beastmaster Report, the reputation of the Starfire Foster Shop had risen to over 20%, he wondered how it was now¡­ [Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new Task Description: Please open a branch in Second Level Town and achieve a local reputation of 70% (30.1/70). Task Reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience +400] Looking at the brand-new progress bar, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. With fame exceeding 30%, it has reached another milestone. However, Xu Ran knew that this was the short-term effect of the previous scandal¡¯s heat not having fully dissipated. After all, he was just a Leadership Level Beast Master. For beast masters at the level of Beast Zone N0.47, it¡¯s very difficult to even set foot outside the city. Unless he does something even more remarkable next, the pace of increasing his fame will gradually slow down. ¡°Still need to find a way to advertise,¡± Xu Ran sighed softly, looking at the three little ones that had all found their own sleeping positions, he shook his head with a bitter smile, and closed his eyes again. What are you sleeping for? The night is long, meditation is the key! While Xu Ran was in meditation, thousands of Beast Masters in Xieyun City who were on the ranking list also received their respective settlement notifications. Not every Beast Master strives to improve their ranking just before the ranking list is about to be calculated. Some Beast Masters are more relaxed. They know that there are many people rushing to improve their ranks before calculation, so they choose to start making efforts after the calculation, at the beginning of a new round. Usually, as long as they try their best, their ranking will not drop too much when the list is calculated, and the rewards will not change too much. It is precisely because of this reason that they stop paying attention to the rankings after their efforts. A substantial number of these laid-back Beast Masters checked the rankings after the calculation as usual, only to suddenly notice that a new name had unexpectedly appeared high up on the list. Like spreading the news through the grapevine, they discovered the story of Starfire Foster Care Shop. A small-scale wave started to spread. This ripple also promptly reflected in the customer flow the next day. More guests arrived early to queue outside the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, only to be disappointed as they couldn¡¯t be attended to. That¡¯s because today was the day that Xu Ran and Hui Hetian had agreed to wash and protect the Giant Pet Beast at the Huiyun Foster Shop. Seeing the sign of suspended business in front of the foster shop, the curious crowd could only sigh with regret and plan to come back another day. After preparing the first meal of the day for the residents of the foster shop, Xu Ran rode on Star, and as quickly as a bolt of lightning, arrived early at the doorstep of the Huiyun Foster Shop. Looking at the Huiyun Foster Shop, which took up an entire building and seemed a few hundred times larger than the Starfire Foster Shop, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh in amazement. They really are wealthy. Outside the human cities, are the perilous Beast Fields. For humans, it¡¯s already not easy to hold onto their cities, and expansion is out of the question. For this reason, the cost of land in this world is unimaginably expensive. Even among Beast Masters, many can¡¯t afford a house. The cost of property in Xieyun City is even more expensive than in Qingzhou City. Under these circumstances, the Huiyun Foster Shop could occupy an entire building site, proof of its extravagant wealth. In comparison, the Starfire Foster Shop indeed looks excessively small. At this moment, Xu Ran fully empathized with every customer who questioned the prices after entering the shop. As Xu Ran arrived in front of Huiyun Foster Shop, Hui Hetian, who had been waiting, quickly approached with a smiling face, ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu, have you had breakfast yet?¡± ¡°I had it while feeding the Foster Care residents,¡± Xu Ran laughed. ¡°Good morning, Elder Hui.¡± His gaze fell on the short-haired woman standing behind Hui Hetian. This woman, who seemed only a few years older than himself, had been to Starfire Foster Care Shop once before. ¡°I¡¯ve already notified the Beast Master of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast, he¡¯s on his way here.¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s curiosity about the Huiyun Foster Shop, Hui Hetian smiled, ¡°Before his arrival, would you like a tour around our shop?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran nodded. This arrangement suited his purpose perfectly. After all, he had never visited other foster shops before. Although he had interacted with his peers back in Qingzhou City, he never had a chance to visit their shops. It was time to see what other foster shops were like. ¡°Boss Xu, this way.¡± Getting Xu Ran¡¯s affirmation, Hui Hetian led them deeper into the shop. The woman with short hair followed behind, two men and a woman led Xu Ran and his three pet beasts for a tour of the Huiyun Foster Shop. Upon entering, the space opened up abruptly. The semi-transparent dome was excellent in letting in natural light. The sunlight reflected off the special structure of the dome, forming a radiant waterfall, casting its glow on the statue in the center of the area. It was a giant sculpture as tall as a ten-story building, depicting a powerful and fierce Transcendent Being. Its body covered in long hair, with robust and potent claws, a pair of flesh wings on its back, looking like a cross between a lion and a tiger. ¡°What is this?¡± Gazing up at the giant sculpture, a hint of curiosity lit up Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s one of my pet beasts. When I was the captain of the Hunting Squad, there was an accident, and it died in the Beast Tide trying to protect me.¡± Hui Hetian stepped forward, a touch of sorrow on his face, as he patted the base of the statue. ¡°That¡¯s also the main reason why I decided to switch careers.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned solemn, his eyes reflecting empathy as he looked at the statue. ¡°Part of my pet beast¡¯s bones is contained within this statue.¡± Hui Hetian¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°I had fought desperately in the Beast Tide to retrieve them, by burying them inside this sculpture, it feels like it¡¯s still by my side.¡± ¡°Our price list of Huiyun Foster Shop is on the base of this statue.¡± Following directions, Xu Ran quickly noticed the prices of Huiyun Foster Shop. Compared to their washing and care prices, all service prices of Huiyun Foster Shop were about half as cheap, the charges for Suai Stage foster care and accompanying practice were still paid in cash, while the King Stage required cash plus Beast Master Points for payment. Moreover, Xu Ran saw a particular saying at the bottom of the price list. ¡°Fifty percent discount when purchasing with a hunting card.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a hunting card?¡± Xu Ran turned to Hui Hetian for an explanation. ¡°It¡¯s a type of discount card that our shop specifically prepares for Hunting Squad Beast Masters.¡± Hui Hetian smiled, ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned earlier, many of our customers are old acquaintances from the Hunting Squad.¡± ¡°These people frequently go outside the city, so many of them are regulars at the foster shops. And since I also come from a Hunting Squad, it¡¯s natural that I give them some consideration.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then looked around the area. The entire Huiyun Foster Shop consisted of three clear sections. The smallest being the cleaning area, The largest was the practice area. Compared to Starfire Foster Care Shop, the washing and caring area here was much more spacious since the Huiyun Foster Shop washing and care area could accommodate Giant Pet Beasts. However, the foster and practice areas seemed a little cramped compared to Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Could I visit the foster area?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Of course, this way please.¡± Hui Hetian agreed readily, leading Xu Ran towards the foster area. When the doors to the foster area opened, Xu Ran saw a scene quite different from his foster area. The Huiyun Foster Shop¡¯s fostering area completely imitated a natural environment, cleverly integrating living environments suitable for various pet beasts, where pet beasts different in size and habits coexist harmoniously. If Xu Ran¡¯s fosterage prepared standalone villas for pet beast residents, then the fosterage here is more akin to a dormitory. Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 210: Washing and Caring for the Chapter 346: Chapter 210: Washing and Caring for the Giant Pet Beast 1 Translator: 549690339 A skin monkey slid down the large rock elephant¡¯s nose, attempted to catch a small firebird in mid-air, but ended up landing disheartedly on a tree trunk. This scene amused the pet beasts around, causing them to break into laughter. The small firebird that had successfully dodged the monkey circled high above its head, seemingly mocking it with a series of chirps. Further away, a water trumpet creature emerged from the lake and sprayed a splendid fountain of water into the air. The water droplets eventually fell onto the pet beasts eagerly waiting around, resulting in joyous splashes and laughter. However, a fire pig that happened to be passing by was unfortunately caught in the showered, it grumbled and ran off, bumping into several grain mice and triggered another riotous scene. Silently watching these happenings, a look of admiration appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. While the foster area of Starfire Foster Shop was plentiful, he had never witnessed such a lively scene before. There were roughly more than a hundred pet beasts being fostered there. The number was more than the maximum limit of Starfire Foster, but it didn¡¯t feel crowded at all. The demands of different pet beasts varied, and these needs were organically combined here. It¡¯s hard to say if this foster shop or his store is better. Although he has the system, there are still aspects of other foster shops that are worth learning. ¡°Elder Hui, do other foster shops also foster in this way?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Of course not.¡± It was not Hui Hetian who answered, but Hui Xingwei standing beside him. With evident pride on her face, she proclaimed, ¡°Although we can¡¯t foster pet beasts above the king stage or giant pet beasts, this model is indeed the only one in XieyunCity!¡± ¡°I see.¡± Looking at Hui Hetian, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but humbly ask, ¡°Elder Hui, how did you come up with this model of fostership?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fun story,¡± Hui Hetian smiled, ¡°Thanks to my past experience in the hunting squad.¡± ¡°You know, hunting squads often have to exterminate small supernatural creature nests outside the city or way off creatures who came near to Xieyun City.¡± ¡°In the process, I was naturally exposed to the living habits of many wild supernatural creatures.¡± Hui Hetian paused slightly, ¡°Unlike pet beasts cultivated by beast masters, there is a wide variety of species in the wild.¡± ¡°Among these various species, besides the relationship of hunting and preying on each other, there also exists harmonious coexistence.¡± ¡°As a competent captain of a hunting squad, I had to try my best to understand the habits of as many supernatural creatures as possible, and I had done quite some research on this.¡± Hui Hetian smiled, ¡°So, the current foster model of Huiyun Foster Shop was born.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Xu Ran nodded slowly. According to Hui Hetian¡¯s introduction, this warm foster model references the way wild super creatures coexist in the beast field. This type of foster not only saves space but also allows every pet beast to enjoy a comfortable environment and companions to interact with all day and night. Leaving your pet beast here probably feels like dropping your child off at kindergarten. ¡°Various other foster shops also tried to imitate this foster model.¡± Hui Xingwei had a proud look on her face, ¡°But they lacked my father¡¯s experience, their imitation was shallow and over time various problems arose, resulting in them having to abandon the idea.¡± ¡°Experience¡­¡± Xu Ran muttered, a contemplative expression surfacing on his face. If it¡¯s about experience, he seemed to have a solution. Whenever a pet beast is fostered at his shop, the system will provide the respective food formula, but along with it, it also explains the habits of various pet beasts. Building upon this foundation, he could also try to reform his foster area in a similar way. This would give pet beasts an additional choice. Those who like solitude can reside alone, while those who enjoy companionship can live together. If they did that¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that lead to even greater pleasure value? ¡°I learned a lot.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously. ¡°Ring ring¨C¡± Hui Hetian¡¯s cellphone timely rang. After picking up the phone, he soon looked up at Xu Ran, ¡°My friend has arrived.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go to grooming.¡± Xu Ran was a bit excited. This was his first time grooming a giant pet beast. After finishing the grooming session for the giant, he should be able to arrange something for the three little ones as well. Thinking about this, Xu Ran turned his head to look at the three little ones. Excitement flashed across the faces of the three little ones, Cancan especially. Only heaven knows how long it¡¯s been since Cancan had enjoyed Xu Ran¡¯s grooming session after evolving. However, grooming can only be done in a normal state, and cannot be performed when shrunk. Xu Ran was helpless about this. Now that they could borrow someone else¡¯s bathhouse for grooming, Cancan couldn¡¯t wait! In addition to Cancan, Ziyun was equally excited. Even though he didn¡¯t say anything, coming third on the beauty ranking has always been a thorn in Ziyun¡¯s heart. It was definitely due to the lack of grooming! After a grooming session, it must secure the first position! The three humans and three pet beasts exited the foster area, quickly identifying a pet beast shrouded in clouds, standing tall around fifty meters, emitting fluctuations of general-ranked power, in the hall area of Huiyun Foster Shop. However, it was different from any other general-ranked beast Xu Ren has seen before. Its power fluctuation had a clear sense of weakening. Such a power fluctuation often appears on seriously injured pet beasts. The giant spirit cloud beast in front of him had no injuries, yet it was in serious decline, which was indeed unusual. A slightly short but muscular man stood in front of the giant spirit cloud beast. Seeing Hui Hetian, his eyes lit up and quickly approached. ¡°Bro Tian!¡± The man yelled and hugged Hui Hetian tightly, then he looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Is this the Boss Xu who can clean and care for White?¡± ¡°Yes, it is him.¡± Hui Hetian pointed to the man and introduced him to Xu Ran, ¡°My friend, Zhou Han.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± The man extended his hand to Xu Ran with a look of concern on his face, ¡°Time is of the essence, please, Boss Xu, start as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Having seen the condition of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast, he knew the sooner the cleaning is carried out, the better. Without wasting more words, they quickly occupied the entire grooming room with the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast. Xu Ran stood on the care platform, looking up at the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast¡¯s towering body, then he turned around to select resources and prepared for the grooming. In his mind, relevant knowledge about the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast has appeared. Ordinary pet beasts would not have a drastic deterioration in condition, even threatening life, due to the lack of grooming for a long time. But there is one kind of pet beast that is an exception. That is the Energy Body Pet Beast. These fleshless pet beasts can be fatal if they do not wash and care for a long time. The current status of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast is the best proof. It needs a thorough grooming that can repair its condition in order to hope to eliminate the current negative impact. And this happens to be within Xu Ran¡¯s abilities. ¡°Bro Tian, Boss Xu looks very young?¡±, Zhou Han who was observing in the corner of the grooming room couldn¡¯t help but whisper quietly to Hui Hetian, ¡°Is he really okay?¡± ¡°Old Zhou, trust me.¡±, Hui Hetian patted Zhou Han¡¯s shoulder, ¡°If he can¡¯t do it either, then I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no one else in Xieyun City who can.¡± With the completion of Xu Ran¡¯s preparations, he now had a modified vacuum cleaner in his hands. The opening of the vacuum cleaner expanded to a diameter of a meter, which was rather astonishing. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Doubts rose in Zhou Han¡¯s mind again and he couldn¡¯t help but look at Hui Hetian. Hui Hetian¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He also couldn¡¯t figure out what Xu Ran was planning to do. The next moment, a deep humming sound came from the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner, aimed at the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast, started up. Although the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast has a large body, its physical form is composed of cloud-like energy inside, with a large amount of cloud and fog drifting outside the beast. These clouds, under the suction of the vacuum cleaner, could not help but flow towards the vacuum cleaner and then pour into it. ¡°Grunt-¡± The Giant Spirit Cloud Beast moved its body, emitting a low voice. Absorbing such a small amount of cloud and mist wouldn¡¯t cause it discomfort, it just gave it a feeling of slight itching, like a mosquito bite. And that whiff of cloud and mist poured into the vacuum cleaner, flew out from the other side of the vacuum cleaner, and quickly merged back into the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast¡¯s body. ¡°What is he doing?¡± Discontent appeared on Zhou Han¡¯s face. Over the years, Zhou Han, who had closely lived with the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast, used to play with it in a similar way because of its special body structure. But now the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast did not need to play, but needed a thorough grooming! He couldn¡¯t help but take two steps forward, intending to stop it. ¡°Don¡¯t fret.¡± Hui Hetian extended an arm to block Zhou Han, his gaze flickered with a blend of sudden comprehension and surprise, ¡°Boss Xu is giving it a wash now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Han blinked, looking at Hui Hetian. If it weren¡¯t for his trust in this former leader of his hunting squad, with whom he had shared life and death, he would have thought he was being duped. ¡°Listen carefully, look carefully.¡± Hui Hetian pointed to the distinctive vacuum cleaner in Xu Ran¡¯s hand. At Hui Hetian¡¯s reminder, Zhou Han calmed down and quickly discovered something abnormal. The vacuum cleaner was constantly making ¡°gurulu¡± sounds. This sound did not sound like a typical vacuum cleaner, but rather like¡­ blowing bubbles underwater. Not only that, the clouds and mist released from the vacuum cleaner were somewhat different from those that had been sucked in; they seemed to be purified, becoming more ethereal and pure. Is this¡­ Zhou Han¡¯s eyes gradually widened, and at the same time, a strange sound echoed in the entire grooming room. ¡°Grunt¡ª¡± It was the cheer of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast! Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 211: Happiness Returns for the Three Little Ones! _1 Chapter 347: Chapter 211: Happiness Returns for the Three Little Ones! _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Oooh~¡ª¡± Listened to the constant sounds of pleasure and joy from the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast echoing in the grooming room, which were progressively growing stronger with time, no longer as the feeble groaning when he first came in. the expressions on their faces of Zhou Han and the father and daughter of the Hui family were all shock. This Giant Spirit Cloud Beast had once been groomed in Huiyun Foster Shop. Although its appearance had improved a lot after the previous grooming, its essence didn¡¯t improve much because its momentum carried a clear sense of decline. At this moment, accompanying the grooming process, the threesome could clearly feel that the conditions of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast were rapidly improving, its energy progressively increasing, creating a sense of returning to peak vitality. ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Han¡¯s eyes were red-rimmed, locking eyes with the refreshing Giant Lingyun Beast, this solid man couldn¡¯t help but tear up due to the excitement. His pet beast was going to be saved! In this moment, Zhou Han felt remorse for his previous rudeness and recklessness. Hui Hetian slapped his old friend¡¯s shoulder, his face contained a mixture of emotion as he watched Xu Ran, still in grooming, he couldn¡¯t help but admire him more. Even though they had known about this young man possessing such wonderful grooming techniques, seeing him groom the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast with their own eyes, was still jaw-dropping. It was as if unwinding a cocoon, stripping one wisp after another of the cloud that formed the body of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast. If the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast had a body of flesh and blood, it could be described as a process of washing the marrow and cutting the bone. ¡°Whew¡­¡± After an unknown period of time, Xu Ran wiped the sweat from his forehead and paused the vacuum. The next moment, everything in his vision was replaced by a flurry of white clouds. Within the cloud, Xu Ran could vaguely feel the body and warm power. That was the hug of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast expressing its gratitude. ¡°Big fellow, it¡¯s really easy to groom you.¡± Xu Ran laughed and patted the body of the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast. He originally thought that his first time grooming giant pet beasts would be much more troublesome than super-large pet beasts, but due to the unique structure of the Giant Lingyun Beast¡¯s body, the whole grooming process became so simple. All he needed to do was to keep changing the bath dew used to clean the clouds that made up its body. With the active cooperation of the Giant Lingyun Beast, the efficiency of the grooming was surprisingly high. ¡°Boss Xu, thank you so much.¡± Zhou Han strode forward, his face full of gratitude. He reached out his hands to firmly shake Xu Ran¡¯s hand, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I really wouldn¡¯t know what to do with Big White.¡± ¡°I just happened to know how to groom it, that¡¯s all.¡± Xu Ran was not complacent, he shook his head slightly, ¡°All credits should go to Elder Hui, if it weren¡¯t for him finding me and lending me the space in Huiyun Foster Shop, I wouldn¡¯t have known about this.¡± ¡°What I did is just a little thing that is not worth mentioning.¡± Hui Hetian chuckled, stepped forward, ¡°According to the previous agreement, the grooming room of Huiyun Fosterage can be loaned to you today.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t stand on ceremony then.¡± Xu Ran smiled and turned to Cancan.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Watch me enlarge!) Cancan yelled excitedly, then in the stunned gaze of the crowd, the little guy following Xu Ran transformed into a giant beast over 100 meters tall. The Giant Spirit Cloud Beast¡¯s, with its hefty body, looked like a child when it was in front of Cancan. Its large body had muscled the Giant Spirit Cloud Beast into a corner in the grooming room. Lucky for it, its body was made up of clouds, so it wasn¡¯t sterilized by this. ¡°This¡­¡± Looking at Cancan¡¯s huge size, even Hui Hetian¡¯s face was full of shock, ¡°Is this its original body size?!¡± Zhou Han¡¯s Giant Spirit Cloud Beast was already considered very large in the General stage. They did not expect at all that the little pet who was just a Leader Stage beast in the growth stage would actually have such an outrageous true body size. Thinking about this, Hui Hetian couldn¡¯t help but turned his gaze towards Star and Ziyun. I hope these two won¡¯t also¡­ Under Hui Hetian¡¯s gaze, Star and Ziyun also dismissed the shrinking effects of their bodies and returned to their original sizes. However, compared to the excessively large Cancan, their sizes were much more normal. Judging by Star¡¯s size, it could be considered a Large Pet Beast. Even if Ziyun returned to its original size, it would still only be a medium-sized pet beast. Seeing that these two didn¡¯t also grow to be so big, Hui Hetian couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. If these two were also that big, his grooming room might not fit them all. However¡­ This way, Hui Hetian understood why Xu Ran needed to continue borrowing his grooming room. ¡°Cancan¡¯s size is too large.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s claw. In front of Cancan¡¯s claw, his hand seemed incredibly small. Just the sharp claw edge alone was over five meters long. ¡°So, I can¡¯t groom it in my shop.¡± Indeed, it¡¯s too large. Hui Hetian nodded in agreement, then he took his daughter and old friend and left. ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave first.¡± He knows that for the upcoming time, Xu Ran probably wouldn¡¯t want them to participate. As a Beast Master, Hui Hetian understood that for a Beast Master who knows how to groom, grooming their own pet beasts was the most intimate moment. Soon, the door to the grooming room was closed, and only one human and three pets remained inside the room. ¡°Let¡¯s first groom Cancan together.¡± Looking at Ziyun and Star waiting quietly on the side, as well as Cancan, who lowered his huge head from the air, his face full of expectation, Xu Ran smiled.. Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Chapter 211: Happiness Returns for the Three Chapter 348: Chapter 211: Happiness Returns for the Three Little Ones! _2 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Meow?¡± (Can we help too?) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but lift its head, a look of surprise and astonishment appearing in its eyes. Grooming, in its view, was always something only Xu Ran could do. Could it help with this? ¡°Of course you can.¡± Xu Ran nodded, quickly formulating the bath dew for Cancan, dividing it into portions and putting them in front of Ziyun, ¡°You¡¯re the fastest, you can easily climb onto Cancan¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Help me spread the bath dew over different parts of its body.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (No problem!) Hearing that there was something it could do, Ziyun quickly nodded in agreement. It picked up a portion of the bath dew, and suddenly a thunderbolt flashed on its body. In the next moment, it easily turned into an afterimage, climbing onto Cancan¡¯s head, over a hundred meters high, and poured the bath dew from the top of its head. ¡°Charming¡± Cancan obediently stood still, feeling the bath dew pouring onto its head and flowing down between its scales. Taking away a month¡¯s worth of dirt and bringing a slightly warm touch, a nostalgic look appeared on its face. This feeling¡­ it loved it! Every portion of bath dew that Ziyun poured seemed insignificant compared to Cancan¡¯s massive body, but it had an advantage: speed. After leaving a second thunderbolt trace on Cancan¡¯s head, Ziyun returned to its original place in an instant, picked up the second portion of bath dew, and returned to Cancan¡¯s head, pouring the new bath dew next to the area it just washed. The technique ¡®Step on Electric Traces¡¯, which had reached the Full Moon Level, had become a godly skill for rapid transfer under its skilled control. As it moved so fast, it even created a continuous feeling like using a showerhead. More and more bath dew, carrying the dirt on and between Cancan¡¯s scales, slid down Cancan¡¯s massive head like a waterfall, leaving a winding stream on the ground, pooling toward the drain. Some of it flowed back from Cancan¡¯s hind brain, along its long fur towards its hard scales and robust body, finally falling to the ground along its limbs. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll help too!) Watching this scene, Star whined out loud. At this moment, it understood where it could help. An illusory chain stretched instantly from its body and connected to Ziyun. Hidden within it, immense energy surged, rapidly compensating for the significant consumption caused by Ziyun¡¯s quick and repeated usage of ¡®Step on Electric Traces¡¯. Having found where they could help, the two little creatures began to help Xu Ran steadily wet Cancan¡¯s body, and then began to wipe and care for it one area at a time. ¡°Charming-¡± (It feels so good-) Feeling the grooming of one man and two pets working together, Cancan comfortably closed its eyes, its expression relaxing. Feeling the warm flow of water continuously flowing down its body, wetting it, a sense of heaviness and fatigue instantly evaporated into thin air. Time ticked by, and Xu Ran finished grooming one of Cancan¡¯s claws. Standing on a stool, he wiped the fine sweat off his forehead, looked up at Cancan¡¯s muscular body connected to the claw. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m coming!) Star let out a whine, voluntarily moved to Xu Ran¡¯s side, hoisted him up, and then with a kick of its hooves, it easily landed on Cancan¡¯s scales. ¡°Well done.¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s mane, then stood on the scales and waved at Cancan, ¡°Come here!¡± ¡°Charming-¡± Cancan turned its slender head around and moved it in front of Xu Ran. Looking at Cancan¡¯s big head, Xu Ran took out a brush and began to gently scrub its cheeks and other parts of its head. ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯ll help too!) Jumping to Xu Ran¡¯s side, Ziyun who had been carefully observing Xu Ran¡¯s movements soon revealed an eager look. It got a second brush from somewhere, stood on Cancan¡¯s head, and started to help with the brushing, imitating Xu Ran¡¯s movements. Seeing that Ziyun could help too, Star didn¡¯t want to be outdone. It looked around, and quickly left Cancan¡¯s back. When it came back, each of its four hooves was tied with a small brush. ¡°Shhhh-¡± The sound of brushing resonated on the scales with Star¡¯s movements. Amid the bustling efforts of one man and two pets, Cancan¡¯s body visibly became cleaner. Every scale on its body had been finely polished, reflecting a bright luster under the light. The silky hair on the back of Cancan¡¯s head also became fluffy, and a slight breeze could blow it into a majestic flutter. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s Ziyun¡¯s turn for grooming next.¡± As soon as Xu Ran, who had readied the grooming supplies for Ziyun, began speaking, Cancan, now feeling refreshed after being groomed, responded. ¡°Charming!¡± (I want to help!) After the declaration, it started to shrink its body. However, Cancan did not shrink back to its previous size but reduced to roughly twenty meters. Then, it easily snatched the bath dew prepared for Ziyun from Xu Ran and doused Ziyun¡¯s head with it. ¡°Whoosh¨C¡± In an instant, Ziyun¡¯s elegant fur was soaked and stuck to its body, turning it into a drowned rat. Ziyun: owo ¡°The grooming is done, and now it¡¯s time to return to the shop.¡± Gazing at the rejuvenated trio in front of him, Xu Ran stretched out contentedly, ¡°Thanks to your help, the grooming went faster than expected,¡± he glanced at the sky, ¡°We can even open the shop for a while.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Then I will train for six hours!) The once again petite Cancan lifts its head high, its eyes filled with a warrior¡¯s spirit. However, its slightly blue eye socket made its declaration of battle a bit comical. The artist of this eye socket was of course Ziyun, who was lazily lying on Cancan¡¯s back. All because this creature suddenly doused it with a bucket of bath dew. When the one man and three pets exited the grooming room, business at the Huiyun Foster Shop had picked up. Seeing Hui Hetian and her daughter busy with customers, Xu Ran just greeted them briefly and snuck out with the pets. Soon, they returned to Starfire Foster Care Shop. Although the shop had a ¡°Suspended Business¡± sign hanging, there were still people waiting outside the shop door. A stunning woman stood quietly at the entrance and, noticing Xu Ran¡¯s return, turned her head to look, ¡°It appears I¡¯ve arrived just in time.¡± ¡°Fang Yuling?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise, and he silently admired the woman¡¯s remarkable pace. She said she would come yesterday, and here she is today. ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Xu Ran dismounted and opened the shop door, casually asking. ¡°Not long, six minutes,¡± Fang Yuling nonchalantly replied as she stepped into the shop, ¡°I never wait for anyone for more than seven minutes.¡± ¡°Does seven minutes hold some special meaning?¡± Hearing Fang Yuling¡¯s strange rule, Xu Ran, unable to suppress his curiosity, asked. ¡°It¡¯s not a good number.¡± Fang Yuling said, walking into the shop and glancing at the price menu, nodding slightly, ¡°As expected, quite expensive.¡± Before Xu Ran could explain that the services provided at his shop were worth the price, Fang Yuling added another comment, ¡°Put it on Mu Yunchao¡¯s tab.¡± ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± Xu Ran swallowed his prepared words and simply nodded, ¡°Which pet do you want groomed?¡± ¡°This one.¡± As Fang Yuling spoke, a hexagram array of starlight unfurled behind her. Revealed amidst the energy storm was a slightly thin pet beast flying out. It was an insect-like creature, the low hum emitted by its three pairs of wings beating rhythmically in the air. Explosive power surged through its slender legs; its four front claws, located right next to its shoulders, were reminiscent of arms. The creature, with a posture somewhat similar to a human¡¯s, had a long tail and sharp tail needle, giving an eerie feel. Ziyun¡¯s unique eyes narrowed significantly, eying this pet beast with wariness. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (This guy is so powerful!) Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 212: Evolutionary Sign?!_l Chapter 349: Chapter 212: Evolutionary Sign?!_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Race Name: Rapid Combat Bee¡± Attribute: Fighting Attribute Growth Stage: Leader Stage Body Type: Medium Maintenance Need: Evaluation: A proud and fearless berserker, worth using the ultimate grooming tactics to make it realize there are other things worth being crazy about besides fighting. The Rapid Combat Bee, huh¡­ Xu Ran moved his gaze from the pet beast in front of him to Ziyun. Judging by Ziyun¡¯s reaction and the pressure radiating from the creature, this pet beast is no less powerful than Ziyun. However, he has never seen Fang Yuling¡¯s name on any pet beast related rankings, which seems a bit unreasonable. As the number one on both Beast Master lists, the widely recognized strongest Leader Level Beast Master, Fang Yuling¡¯s pet should easily qualify to compete on the top of the pet beast ranking. ¡°Didn¡¯t you try the Pet Beast List?¡± Xu Ran got curious, ¡°This Rapid Combat Bee of yours should get quite a high ranking on the Combat Power List.¡± ¡ö¡öNo interest.¡± Fang Yuling just shook her head. ¡°Without surpassing my father¡¯s power, any ranking is meaningless.¡± Oh- Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Surpassing her father¡­ The formidable person who firmly ranks first in many historical rankings? He never expected the daughter of Chairman Fang to have such thoughts. He was about to mention that it could be a significant number of Beast Master Points, but thinking about Fang Yuling¡¯s background, he felt that perhaps it was not that important to her. After some thought, Xu Ran simply decided not to say a word. ¡°Let the Rapid Combat Bee come with me.¡± Pushing open the door to the grooming room, he waved towards Fang Yuling, ¡°You can choose to accompany us or wait in the rest room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accompany.¡± Without much hesitation, Fang Yuling immediately followed with the Rapid Combat Bee. As both of them and the pet entered the grooming room, the three little ones left in the shop began whispering. ¡°Charming?¡± (Was that guy very powerful just now?) Cancan raised a claw, scratching his head. Why didn¡¯t it feel anything? ¡±Meow~¡±(It might be a bit stronger than me.) Ziyun nodded heavily, with a serious look on his face. in addition to skills, pet beasts of different attributes have some common abilities, such as the inherent night vision of Dark Attribute Pet Beasts and the inherent intelligence of Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts. After evolving into the Fighting Attribute, Ziyun obtained the universal ability of Fighting Attribute. Combat Sensing. With this ability, it can better sense the hostility of its opponents and clearly feel the gap in strength between itself and other powerful beings. Such a tough guy, it had a strong feeling just now that if it were to face the Rapid Combat Bee, it would lose. And this is just one of Fang Yuling¡¯s pet beasts, not to mention the state of her other two pet beasts. No wonder she is the number one Leadership Level Beast Master on both lists. ¡°Meow!¡± (We have to try to get stronger too!) Ziyun turned to Star and Cancan, speaking quietly. They can¡¯t merely rely on the next resource distribution to get stronger. Before the resources are handed out, they have to make good use of the existing resources to get stronger. ¡°Charming!¡± (Okay!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go training!) The other two little ones, who had developed a tacit understanding through their daily interactions, understood Ziyun¡¯s thoughts at a glance. They nodded in agreement and rushed towards the back door. Not long after the three little ones left, the strange screeching sound of the Rapid Combat Bee, desperately trying to hold back yet unable to suppress, faintly came from the grooming room, echoing through the empty shop. Soon, the door of the grooming room opened, and Xu Ran walked out calmly, followed by Fang Yuling with an still calm face but an oddly strange look in her eyes and the Rapid Combat Bee whose compound eyes were filled with an enchanting glow. ¡°You can summon your second pet beast now.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the empty shop and, after confirming that the three little ones were at the training area through Contractual Sensing, turned his gaze to Fang Yuling. ¡°There¡¯S no second one.¡± Fang Yuling shook her head slightly, ¡°Currently, only the Rapid Combat Bee needs grooming. When the other two pet beasts need grooming in a few days, I¡¯ll come over. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, about to say something, but heard Fang Yuling¡¯s voice change. ¡°Show me your shop¡¯s foster area.¡± Huh? Xu Ran looked at Fang Yuling in surprise, ¡°Do you need pet beast foster service?¡± In his view, as the daughter of Chairman Fang, she should not need this service. No matter how big the pet beast, Chairman Fang¡¯s home would certainly have enough space to accommodate it, and Fang Yuling didn¡¯t seem to be planning on going on a long journey. And Fang Yuling¡¯s response confirmed Xu Ran¡¯s assumption. ¡°It¡¯s not me who needs to foster.¡± Fang Yuling paused in the middle of her speech, ¡°I have a friend who is looking for a foster shop to take care of her pet beast, so I¡¯m checking it out for her.¡± As she spoke, a hint of amusement flashed in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes. Due to her unusually cold personality and unusual identity, she didn¡¯t have many close friends. The friend she just mentioned was one of them. Although she came off aloof, Fang Yuling was a very friendly person deep down. Having seen Xu Ran¡¯s grooming skills, she couldn¡¯t help but think of her friend who couldn¡¯t find a satisfactory foster shop in all of Xieyun City. If the foster care service in Xu Ran¡¯s shop were as good as the grooming, she could recommend her friend to come here. Noticing Xu Ran¡¯s strange gaze, Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes flashed a hint of helplessness, she couldn¡¯t help but emphasize, ¡°She really is a friend.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Please follow me.¡± Seeing Xu Ran walking towards the back door, a look of surprise flashed across Fang Yuling¡¯s face, and she followed him curiously. Where exactly is the foster area of this foster shop? A moment later, Fang Yuling¡¯s question was answered. Looking at the boundless fostering space, a touch of emotion appeared on Fang Yuling¡¯s face. She had witnessed Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s space expansion technique in the grooming room before, but due to her origins, Fang Yuling was only slightly surprised, with no significant emotional upheaval. After all, she had seen larger scale space expansion techniques. But even Fang Yuling felt overwhelmed when she saw the foster area, which was entirely created out of nothing using space expansion technique. ¡°You¡­¡± Fang Yuling stared at Xu Ran, the surprise on her face becoming more pronounced. ¡°Is this all a foster area? ¡°Yes, the training area is located somewhere else.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then directed his gaze at the individual habitats in the foster area, his brows slightly furrowing. Before today, he had always thought that providing each pet beast with their own expansive habitat was a good thing. But after looking at the foster model of Huiyun Foster Shop, he felt that the inhabitants of his own foster shop might find it a bit monotonous, and boring. Although they could visit each other, they were kept at a distance. He would have to try to reform the foster environment in his shop when he had time over the next couple of days, similar to Huiyun Foster Shop¡¯s. Note to self, Xu Ran turned his gaze towards Fang Yuling who had finally settled down, ¡°The pet beasts fostering here will live in a tailored comfortable environment, and I will be responsible for their daily meals.¡± ¡°If your friend is interested, you can bring her in for a look.¡± ¡°I believe she would be willing to give it a try.¡± Fang Yuling nodded slightly. At least in her understanding, there was no foster shop with a more spacious living environment than here, and as for another crucial aspect of fostering, the daily food of the pet beasts¡­ ¡°Oh yes.¡± ¡°I almost forgot, it¡¯s feeding time.¡± Xu Ran slapped his forehead, ¡°Feel free to look around while I prepare food for the pet beasts.¡± Looking at Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure, Fang Yuling nodded in satisfaction. This was a perfect opportunity to check the quality of the pet beast¡¯s food for her friend. Xu Ran didn¡¯t leave Fang Yuling waiting for long, he prepared the food and placed it in food bowls. Then like always, he struck the iron pot with the spatula, making a ¡°Dang Dang Dang¡± clear sound. The familiar sound caused the inhabitants to emerge after a brief moment of quiet, flocking towards Xu Ran. ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting, I had to take a trip today.¡± Xu Ran was smiling as he distributed the food bowls to each pet beast, then waved them off with a ¡°Eat.¡± Without needing his command, the inhabitants had already started to scarf down their food, occasionally letting out a vigorous outcry, as if the food held some indescribable additives. Although the taste preferences of different pet beasts are not the same, she could already roughly guess from the inhabitants¡¯ reactions. And the Rapid Combat Bee behind her was also slightly swallowing at this moment. Seeing how delicious the food looked from their expressions, it started to feel hungry as well. ¡°This is yours.¡± Xu Ran took out a small food bowl and handed it to the Rapid Combat Bee. ¡°This is for you too. It can fill up your belly.¡± ¡°Buzz-¡± The Rapid Combat Bee nodded towards Xu Ran, gratitude and surprise in its compound eyes. The food bowl held intoxicatingly rich aromas making it almost unable to resist digging in immediately. However, being well-mannered, it looked enquiringly at Fang Yuling. ¡°Thank you, Boss Xu, give it a try.¡± Fang Yuling slightly nodded her head. Only then did the Rapid Combat Bee start gobbling down its food. Feeling the surprise and joy continuously transferred back from her pet beast, Fang Yuling¡¯s appraisal of the foster service in Xu Ran¡¯s shop rose another notch. Moving her gaze away from the Rapid Combat Bee, Fang Yuling continued to watch other inhabitants of the Starfire Foster Shop with interest. Because she did not need to foster, this was the first time she had come into contact with other Beast Masters¡¯ pet beasts that had been sent for fosterage. The experience of watching other pet beasts eat was quite special. Soon, her gaze fell on the Combat Furball. Watching the Combat Furball leisurely savouring its food, unlike the other pet beasts around it, and the subtle abnormal energy fluctuating around it, Fang Yuling¡¯s expression gradually turned to that of surprise. Is that¡­ ¡°A sign of evolution?!¡± Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 213: The Combat Furball Actually... ! Chapter 350: Chapter 213: The Combat Furball Actually¡­ ! Translator: 549690339 Hearing Fang Yuling¡¯s exclamation, Xu Ran followed her gaze towards the Combat Furball, and was slightly moved. These past few days, he had indeed noticed some unusual fluctuations in the Combat Furball, but he had never seen such fluctuations before, and couldn¡¯t pinpoint them, only confirmed that they had no negative effect on it. Looking at Fang Yuling¡¯s reaction, it appeared as if she knew what was happening with the Combat Furball, and¡­ She cried out an ¡°Evolutionary sign¡±, could this change be related to evolution? If this was indeed the case, then it was quite extraordinary. Combat Furball was a General Stage Pet Beast, therefore, it naturally was a King Species. If it had the opportunity to evolve again¡­ At this thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t keep still and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What do you mean by an evolutionary sign?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran, hesitated for a moment, and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, but you have to tell me what¡¯s going on with this pet beast.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. After receiving Xu Ran¡¯s affirmation, Fang Yuling paused for a moment before slowly speaking, ¡°The so-called evolutionary sign, is when Transcendent Beings find an opportunity to evolve.¡± ¡°The Beast Master Association in Xieyun City has a department specifically for studying the evolution of Transcendent Beings, called the Transcendent Evolution Department, whose job is to research the evolution of Transcendent Beings and find more laws of evolution.¡± ¡°Through their research, it has been found that every Transcendent Being has more than one direction of evolution. Each Transcendent Being has many possible evolutionary forms. There are two factors that determine which of these forms they evolve into.¡± ¡°First is the resources needed for evolution.¡± ¡°During the evolution process of Transcendent Beings, their Life Level is enhanced, achieving a transformation like a new body. Such a process cannot be completed easily, it needs a large supply of external energy.¡± ¡°The resources absorbed during evolution serve this purpose.¡± ¡°Since you have been able to allow three pet beasts to evolve, you should be familiar with this,¡± Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran. ¡°Correct.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Different Evolution Paths require different evolutionary materials, Fang Yuling was absolutely right about this. What she had just mentioned, the Transcendent Evolution Department within the Beast Master Association, had also intrigued him. Of course, what he was most interested in at the moment, was the second factor that Fang Yuling had not spoken of yet. ¡°Is the second one what you just mentioned as the evolutionary sign?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Yes and no,¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s words paused slightly, ¡°The second factor that determines the form of a pet beast after evolution, is called an Evolution shortcut by the Transcendent Evolution Department.¡± ¡°Some pet beasts, under the guidance of their own emotions such as anger, excitement, excitement, or under the influence of some special external environment, are more likely to evolve into a certain form. This situation is referred to as an Evolution shortcut.¡± ¡°As for this aspect, the Transcendent Evolution Department is still in the exploratory stage,¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s words paused slightly, ¡°A small portion of the shortcuts for pet beasts evolving into certain types have been discovered, but the vast majority remain unknown.¡± ¡°We firmly believe that each pet beast, each Evolutionary Form has a similar shortcut. And this, is our next research focus.¡± ¡°¡®We¡¯?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, I am also a member of the Transcendent Evolution Department.¡± Fang Yuling nodded slightly, showing no pride in this fact. ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded and appeared thoughtful. What these people were talking about as Evolution shortcuts sounded like the same thing as the Evolution Rituals. However, they should be a simplified version of the Evolution Rituals. So it turned out that beast masters in the second-level towns had vaguely discovered some mysteries of evolution. ¡°Then what is this Evolutionary sign?¡± Xu Ran continued to ask. ¡°The evolutionary sign is a rare situation we discovered while studying evolution shortcuts,¡± Fang Yuling paused slightly. ¡°If a pet beast hasn¡¯t evolved yet, but it accidentally aligns with the Evolution shortcut corresponding to a certain evolutionary form, there will be an abnormal energy fluctuation in its body. This is the Evolutionary sign.¡± ¡°Such a situation is extremely rare. Once it occurs, the success rate of the pet beast evolving into the corresponding form is very high.¡± ¡°In the research records of the Transcendent Evolution Department over the past few decades, there have only been a dozen or so such cases. Each of these cases, without exception, eventually completed their evolution with the help of the Beast Master Association.¡± ¡°What you mean is¡­¡± Xu Ran was slightly moved, ¡°Combat Furball can evolve into the Emperor Species?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Yuling nodded, seeming unaccustomed to speaking so much at once, she paused again, ¡°As I said before, the Beast Master Association will provide assistance.¡± ¡°Because such situations are too rare, and they are of great help to the Transcendent Evolution Department in studying the secrets of evolution. Therefore, the Association will offer significant support to pet beasts showing signs of evolution and their Beast Masters, helping them to complete evolution as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Roar-¡± The Combat Furball walked slowly to Xu Ran¡¯s side, handed him the empty food bowl, and then nodded at Fang Yuling. Fang Yuling hadn¡¯t deliberately lowered her voice during their conversation, and with the Combat Furball¡¯s abilities, it would surely have heard everything.. Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 213: The Combat Furball Actually..._ Chapter 351: Chapter 213: The Combat Furball Actually¡­_2 Translator: 549690339 Even under these circumstances, the Combat Furball calmly finished eating its food without showing any emotional fluctuations. This is already far from normal. Similarly, Fang Yuling, who also noticed this anomaly, asked, ¡°I¡¯ve already briefed you about the signs of evolution. Can you now tell me about the situation of this pet beast?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Combat FurbaU. After listening to Fang Yuling explain the association¡¯s emphasis on evolutionary signs and knowing that she was also part of the Transcendent Evolution Department, Xu Ran understood her previous loss of composure. There was nothing worth hiding in the story of the Combat Furball, so Xu Ran explained everything succinctly. Hearing once again about the mistakes it had made in the past, the Combat Furball, which had shown no emotional fluctuations even when facing imminent evolution, quickly became lost and remorseful, clearly impacted greatly by the incident. ¡°So¡­¡± After listening to Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, a thoughtful expression appeared on Fang Yuling¡¯s face. Consider the before and after comparisons of the Combat Furball, she could roughly infer that the evolutionary shortcut of this pet beast named Combat Furball is related to maintaining calmness. For more specific circumstances, it might require the Combat Furball to go to the Transcendent Evolution Department to cooperate with their research in order to confirm. And the cooperation of the pet beast cannot do without the Beast Master. This matter still needs to be negotiated with the Beast Master of the Combat Furball. Of course, Fang Yuling is confident that no Beast Master could refuse the Association¡¯s support. Didn¡¯t you say that the Beast Master is currently in a coma?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but to glance at the Combat FurbaU standing next to Xu Ran, ¡°How long until he awakens?¡± ¡°Probably ten days.¡± Xu Ran gently patted the fluffy body of the Combat FurbaU for consolation, ¡°The time left for Combat FurbaU¡¯s fosterage is also ten days.¡± ¡°Ten days¡­¡± Fang Yuling nodded slightly, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°By the way, I have three pet beasts to foster here.¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s tone shifted and a Hexagram Star Array emerged behind her. Two pet beasts, brimming with powerful aura, emerged from the energy storm and stood next to the Rapid Combat Bee. One, approximately seven or eight meters in length, had three vicious and ferocious dog heads. Flares of flames occasionally sprouted from its dark red fur, creating a remarkably formidable appearance. Fire Attribute King Species, Triple-headed Nightmare. The other pet beast was small and only about a meter tall. Its humanoid body was surrounded by a bright and pure glow. Above its head hung a glowing spindle, similar to a light bulb, suspended in front of its body. Light Attribute King Species, Lamplight Spirit. The energy fluctuations from them came second to none compared to the Rapid Combat Bee. They were peerless in their tiers. Seeing Fang Yuling¡¯s entire pet beast collection for the first time, Xu Ran could not help but acknowledge that her first place ranking on the double board was well-deserved while also curiously looking at Fang Yuling. Just a moment ago, didn¡¯t she say that she had a friend in need of a foster care service? In the end, it turns out that the friend was herself, isn¡¯t it? ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand!¡± RealizingXu Ran¡¯s thoughts from his glance, a ripple appeared in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll bring my friend over tomorrow. As for the fosterage service for my pet beasts, that was a last-minute decision.¡± Alright, I trust you.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression instantly became sincere. As long as you really do bring a friend here, I¡¯d believe anything you say! ¡°But¡­¡± A curious expression appeared onXu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Didn¡¯tyou say you didn¡¯t need a foster service?¡± ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t need to foster my pet beasts, but sometimes owners foster their pet beasts not because they don¡¯ t have time to care for them.¡± Fang Yuling glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°I simply want them to freeload some meals here for a few days.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Freeloading meals?¡± He nearly thought he had heard wrong. Although since the foster feature had been activated to now, many pet beasts that had been fostered in his shop were reluctant to return to their Beast Masters due to the delicious food here. But a Beast Master voluntarily bringing her pet beasts for fosterage just to freeload meals, Fang Yuling was the first. ¡°Correct, merely to freeload the meals.¡± Fang Yuling nodded. There was one thing she didn¡¯t tell him. The Transcendent Evolution Department had clear records of the situations of the ten odd pet beasts that had shown evolutionary signs before and after the symptoms appeared. Evolutionary signs being so rare, and the difficulty of their occurrence is naturally high. The fastest to show signs of evolution out of these dozen or so Pet Beasts was a Healing Pet Beast, who had been bullied by the other Pet Beasts contracted by the same Beast Master and had been depressed for half a year. After its evolution was completed, all its Skills became extremely offensive due to its star upgrade. It went from being the scapegoat who could only provide internal healing, to suddenly becoming the team bully who plays target practice with the other Pet Beasts. Compared to these Pet Beasts, the evolution process was too easy for Combat FurbaU. Just a few days of Fosterage at Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Shop and it¡¯s showing signs of evolution? This may have been due to the accident Combat Furball experienced earlier but the food that Xu Ran feeds Combat FurbaU every day may also have some effect. To figure this out, she planned to let her own Pet Beasts mooch some food. Even if there isn¡¯t any particular change, it doesn¡¯t hurt for her three Pet Beasts to try the food at the Starfire Foster Shop since they seem to enjoy it so much. Regardless, Fang Yuling didn¡¯t mind the cost of fostering at all. After all, she¡¯s a spendthrift rich lady. Alright then.¡± Realizing that Fang Yuling just wanted to mooch food by fostering her Pet Beasts, Xu Ran accepted the business with mixed feelings. Pleasure Value and Physical Points that were being freely given were not to be missed. The three Pet Beasts that Fang Yuling had summoned were currently gathered together, whispering amongst themselves. Through Contractual Sensing, they had already caught on to Fang Yuling¡¯s idea from her. Even though they were somewhat reluctant to be away from their Beast Master, these sensible beasts were willing to cooperate. What they¡¯re discussing right now is whether the food at this Foster Shop is really that good. Among the three beasts, the only one with any say was the Rapid Combat Bee who had just tasted Xu Ran¡¯s cooking. Currently, it was waving its four arms up and down, constantly making a low ¡°buzzing¡± sound, doing its best to describe just how delicious the food that Xu Ran makes is. The other two beasts who had yet to taste it showed looks of curiosity and anticipation. It sounds like staying here for a few days wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Looking at the looks in these two Pet Beasts¡¯ eyes, Xu Ran shook her head helplessly, turned around and walked into the Preparation Room. She quickly pulled out two new food bowls and placed them in front of them, ¡°Your first meal during Fosterage, welcome to our shop.¡± The two Pet Beasts swallowed their saliva, and in the next moment, they started eating. With the first bite, their minds were filled with one single thought. The Rapid Combat Bee was absolutely right! ¡°Goodbye, see you in ten days.¡± At the entrance of the Starfire Foster Shop, Fang Yuling dropped a sentence and turned to leave. She had already paid Fosterage fees for her three Pet Beasts for ten days. According to her, after those ten days, she will decide whether to continue mooching¡­ oh no, foster, based on the condition of her three Pet Beasts. And ten days later, when Combat FurbaU¡¯s Fosterage period ends, she will also bring the person in charge of the Transcendent Evolution Department to negotiate with Combat Furball¡¯s Beast Master. ¡°Farewell.¡± Watching Fang Yuling leave, Xu Ran dropped the hand he had been waving in farewell. [Pleasure value from Combat Furball +2] Seeing the notification of the sudden increase in Pleasure Value, a smile of satisfaction appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Combat Furball has become increasingly calm, its impulsive and irrational flaw seems to have been completely solved, and on top of that, it accidentally showed signs of evolution. With these signs of evolution, the Association will provide strong support to it and its Beast Master. It may even become a powerful Pet Beast at the Overlord Stage, or even at the Emperor Stage, one day. As its power strengthens, the mistake it made during that previous accident may gradually be made up by other methods, and people¡¯s impression of it will naturally change as well. ¡°But it seems like I haven¡¯t really done anything this time¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Other than adding some extras to its food.¡± Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 214: Going home, little furball._l Chapter 352: Chapter 214: Going home, little furball._l Translator: 549690339 | [Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new Task Description: The host is to open a branch in the Second Level Town and achieve a local Fame of 70% (40/70). Task Reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience+400] ¡°Huff ¡± Waking up early in the morning, seeing the panel in front of his eyes, Xu Ran exhaled a sigh of relief, and smiled, ¡°I knew it would reach 40% today.¡± Ten full days had passed since the Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s Fame hit 30%, and now, the shop¡¯s Fame has finally taken the next step. Looking at the more than halfway progress bar, Xu Ran felt like he would soon complete the main task 3. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Stretching, Xu Ran looked at the three little ones nearby, ¡°It¡¯s time to prepare the first meal of today for our residents.¡± Ten days had passed, and with the steady rise of the Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s fame, its reputation had also significantly increased, and it was no longer a shop with a name but no substance. When people mentioned this shop, many expressed that ¡°it¡¯s expensive, but it¡¯s worth the cost.¡± Apart from this, another impression was¡­ ¡°The boss of this shop is quite skilled, but he¡¯s a rather dishonest businessman.¡± Xu Ran felt quite helpless about this. How can he shake off this labelof being a ¡®dishonest businessman¡¯? This is absolute slander! Thanks to the increase in reputation, the Foster Shop¡¯s business was thriving, and more and more Beast Masters started placing their Pet Beasts here for foster care. The number of residents in the Foster Area soared from the initial single digits to the present two digits, exceeding thirty in total. ¡°Dingdingding ¡± ¡°Time to eat!¡± As the sound of the spatula hitting the iron pot echoed through the Foster Area, the residents who were accustomed to this sound quickly gathered and surrounded Xu Ran, waiting quietly for him to distribute the food. After receiving their meals, the Foster Care Residents dispersed according to their relationships, forming groups of three to five to taste the day¡¯s first delicious meal, not even Ziyun, Star, and Cancan were exceptions. Not far from the three little ones sat three formidable Leadership Stage Pet Beasts. They were eating heartily while having a low conversation, occasionally glancing at the three little ones. These were Fang Yuling¡¯s three Pet Beasts. On the day they were placed here by Fang Yuling, the three little ones discovered them. Over the past ten days, there had been quite a few open and hidden confrontations between the two sides, and they had come to know each other very well. ¡°Combat Furball, this is yours.¡± Xu Ran handed the last serving of food to Combat Furball, who was quietly waiting, not making a fuss. ¡°You¡¯re leaving today.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Combat Furball took the food bowl, with a few complex emotions in his eyes. There was anticipation, trepidation, and a hint of reluctance to leave this place. In the end, Combat Furball suppressed these emotions, nudged his body towards Xu Ran as usual, moved to a nearby corner and started eating alone. Withdrawing his gaze from Combat Furball, Xu Ran picked up a bowl of steaming dumplings and started gobbling them down while his eyes reflecting his thoughts. Last night, the young man who had brought Combat Furball for fosterage, Zhou Che, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s son, had paid a visit. He had informed Xu Ran that his father Zhou Tianwu had regained consciousness and wished Xu Ran not to tell Combat Furball yet. This indicated that Combat Furball¡¯s return home might encounter a few twists and turns. Let¡¯s hope everything goes well. After all¡­ Xu Ran glanced at Combat Furball. He was well aware of the changes in Combat Furball over these days. After breakfast and cleaning up the residents¡¯ food bowls, Xu Ran returned to the first floor. Knowing that today was the day that Combat Furball was due to leave, unlike their usual routine of training after breakfast, the three little ones followed Xu Ran to the shop on the first floor. The moment the shop door opened, standing outside was Zhou Che. And behind Zhou Che stood a middle-aged man who shared some facial similarities with him. The middle-aged man had a firm face, and his bare skin bore many ferocious scars. He only had one leg, the other amputated from the middle of his thigh, he held a crutch with his muscular hand and maintained his balance. His face didn¡¯t have much color, and his appearance as someone who had just recovered from serious illness quickly made Xu Ran recognize his identity. This was Combat Furball¡¯s Beast Master, Zhou Tianwu. ¡°Welcome,¡± Xu Ran nodded at the father and son, ¡°Are you here to pick up Combat Furball?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Che had a troubled look on his face and hesitated to speak. On the contrary, Zhou Tianwu broke the silence at this moment, ¡°You must be Boss Xu? I heard from Zhou Che that you¡¯ve been taking care of Combat Furball all these days.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been hard work, this is what I should do,¡± Xu Ran gently shook his head, ¡°Shall we get Combat Furball now?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Unlike Zhou Che, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°Dad¡­those uncles are still at home!¡± hearing Zhou Tianwu¡¯s words, Zhou Che was anxious and hurriedly spoke up. Zhou Tianwu raised his other hand that could still move, gestured it in front of Zhou Che, and said, ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying, but we have to face this situation.¡± ¡°Combat Furball is my pet beast, and if it does something wrong, I, as its Beast Master, will bear the responsibility with it!¡± Even though Zhou Tianwu¡¯s voice lacked some vigor, at this moment it sounded unusually strong and resolute. Hearing Zhou Tianwu¡¯s steadfast words, Zhou Che stopped speaking. In his heart, of course, he also hoped that Combat Furball could return home. But¡­ When he thought of the uncles sitting at home at this moment, his expression was filled with helplessness and conflict. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is there a problem with Combat Furball going back?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡± Zhou Che sighed, signaling Xu Ran to lead the way, while he supported Zhou Tianwu, catching up step by step. As the three arrived at the foster area on the basement floor, Zhou Che told Xu Ran the whole situation. It turned out that during this time, other beastmasters of the Hunting Squad, where Zhou Tianwu belonged, had for unknown reasons blamed all the problems of the accident on Combat Furball, claiming that the losses and casualties they suffered were caused by Combat Furball¡¯s impulsivity. Admittedly, Combat Furball¡¯s flaw bore some responsibility in the accident, but it was not all. This kind of post-event blame on Combat Furball was unfair. In the past, Zhou Che had been arguing for Combat Furball, but in the eyes of other beastmasters of the Hunting Squad, he was just a kid who knew nothing, his persistence didn¡¯t mean anything. Just last night, Zhou Tianwu, who had been unconscious for half a month, finally woke up. Before Zhou Che could even enjoy his happiness for long, the beastmasters of the Hunting Squad came to their door first thing this morning. They were looking for trouble with Combat Furball. This made Zhou Che, who was originally planning to take Combat Furball back, filled with hesitation and conflict, feeling that letting Combat Furball stay in foster care for some time to avoid the limelight was a better choice. After knowing Zhou Che¡¯s conflict and Combat Furball¡¯s situation, Zhou Tianwu decisively followed along with his not fully recovered body. Unlike Zhou Che, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s attitude was very firm. Combat Furball was his pet beast, and if it made a mistake, he would bear it with it together. Knowing the ins and outs of the matter, Xu Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t that the Zhou family chose to give up on Combat Furball, but that this came about for a reason. ¡°Combat Furball, is right here.¡± With the Zhou father and son by his side, Xu Ran stood in front of Combat Furball¡¯s living area. ¡°Little Furball is living well, thank you for your care Boss Xu.¡± Zhou Tianwu expressed his gratitude again, then turned his direction towards the living area. Combat Furball, who had already sensed the approach of its Beast Master, was coming over step by step. Its pace was not fast, and it was slowing down as it got closer and closer to Zhou Tianwu, looking very apprehensive. ¡°Little Furball, I am here to take you home!¡± Zhou Tianwu laughed heartily and shrugged off Zhou Che, who was supporting him, and staggered forward with his walking stick. Behind him, the Hexagram Star Array sparked with dazzling light. In the violent wind, the other two General Stage Pet Beasts appeared and gave friendly glances to Combat Furball. Clearly, they no longer blamed Combat Furball for the fall of their companion in the accident. ¡°Roar!!!¡± Seeing this scene, Combat Furball¡¯s pace became faster and eventually appeared in front of Zhou Tianwu, its body trembling nonstop, with large teardrops falling down. ¡°It¡¯s all past, it¡¯s all past.¡± Feeling the self-blaming emotions continuously coming from Combat Furball, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s face was filled with pity and remorse, ¡°Let¡¯s go home together, and we will bear anything together.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± What answered him was Combat Furball¡¯s confident voice. ¡°Boss Xu, we¡¯ll be going back first.¡± Standing at the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Zhou Tianwu spoke again, ¡°I¡¯m really grateful for your care of Combat Furball during this time, its condition has improved a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Xu Ran reiterated, then he paused before speaking again, ¡°However, have you thought about what to do next?¡± ¡°Those troublemakers are still at your home.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid, it won¡¯t be that easy to deal with.¡± Hearing Xu Ran allude to this problem, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s expression was slightly dimmed. This was also a big headache for him. The good brothers who had once faced life and death together were now like his enemies, as if they had forgotten their shared hardships. They only wanted to kill Combat Furball to avenge their pet beasts that had been sacrificed. But no matter what, Zhou Tianwu was very sure about one thing. That is, he could pay any price to make up for his good brothers in the past, but he would never let them hurt his family members. And their pet beasts were also his family. Seeing Zhou Tianwu¡¯s gloomy face, Xu Ran understood. He extended his hand and gently patted Zhou Tianwu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Uncle Zhou, return home with confidence.¡± Xu Ran grinned, ¡°I assure you that your troubles will be resolved.¡± ¡°Hopefully.¡± Zhou Tianwu sighed, then turned around with Zhou Che and the three pet beasts to leave. As he watched them go away, Xu Ran silently took out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Hello? Fang Yuling? Combat Furball has gone home.¡± Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 215 Mr. Zhou Tianwu, You Have a Very Good Pet Beast _1 Chapter 353: Chapter 215 Mr. Zhou Tianwu, You Have a Very Good Pet Beast _1 Translator: 549690339 [Extra for Warm Sun Leader!] ¡°Step¡­¡± Standing outside the entrance of a home he hadn¡¯t set foot in for half a month. Combat Furball paused, a trace of timidity and worry on its face as it peered incessantly into the interior. ¡°Pat~¡± A hand gently patted Combat Furball¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Little Furball, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Zhou Tianwu¡¯s voice was just as it had been in the past, instilling courage and confidence into Combat Furball, ¡°Do you remember what I said to you when we made our contract?¡± ¡°No matter how great the difficulty, we will stand together and face it head on.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± A flash of emotion flitted across Combat Furball¡¯s face. How familiar these words were. When it was still a weak Fiery Bun, Zhou Tianwu had said these words upon their first encounter, words it had never forgotten. Many years later, after so much time battling alongside each other, Zhou Tianwu remained the same. At this moment, its heart surged with a powerful courage. Seeing Combat Furball¡¯s mood return to normal, Zhou Tianwu gently nodded. Then, taking a deep breath, he limped forward and slowly yet firmly pushed open the door with the hand he could still use. Inside the Zhou family¡¯s living room, a little messy, sat four figures whose presence was in no way overshadowed by Zhou Tianwu¡¯s. At the sound of the door, their eyes uniformly shifted towards Zhou Tianwu. There was hesitation in their gazes, anger, hidden greed, and when their sights moved from Zhou Tianwu to Combat Furball behind him, their expressions turned into complete hatred. It was this creature¡¯s loss of control amidst the peril that had caused such a huge loss for all of them! ¡°Tianwu, we¡¯re here today to demand an explanation.¡± Among the group, a relatively calm man slowly spoke, ¡°What sort of explanation do you plan to give for Combat Furball¡¯s incident?¡± Zhou Tianwu deeply eyed the man who had spoken. It was the captain of his Sky Dragon Hunting Team, Xu Long. He had always been attentive to his team members, and he hadn¡¯t expected him to join the chorus against him today. Zhou Tianwu¡¯s already downcast mood sank even further. Perhaps, it was time to withdraw. ¡°I¡¯m Combat Furball¡¯s Beast Master, its mistake is my mistake.¡± Zhou Tianwu¡¯s voice, filled with a hint of exhaustion and hoarseness, responded, ¡°Captain, I, Zhou Tianwu, will proactively exit the Sky Dragon Hunting Team.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Before Xu Long could respond, a bitter-faced man nearby scoffed coldly, ¡°Zhou Tianwu, after a mistake on this scale, even if you wanted to stay in the Sky Dragon Hunting Team, it wouldn¡¯t be possible.¡± ¡°That hardly counts as an explanation!¡± Zhou Tianwu fell silent and looked towards the man with the bitter face. Among the team, his relationship with this man was relatively distant. Yet, that was only relative. Before this accident happened, the two of them had shared happy moments, drinking and joking together. Now, however, the man showed him no sympathy at all. While Combat Furball was certainly at fault, did it justify this? With a sigh in his heart, Zhou Tianwu slowly asked, ¡°What sort of explanation do you want?¡± ¡°I lost two Pet Beasts in that accident.¡± The bitter-faced man huffed, ¡°And all of it, was because of your Combat Furball¡¯s loss of control!¡± ¡°I can compensate¡­¡± Zhou Tianwu began to speak, but was interrupted by the bitter-faced man. ¡°You think I need your money?¡± The bitter-faced man stood up and stepped towards Zhou Tianwu, his eyes meeting Zhou Tianwu¡¯s. The room fell silent. The three Pet Beast behind Zhou Tianwu showed vigilant looks, and the Hexagram Star Array behind the bitter-faced man shone brightly ¡ªtwo equally powerful auras seemed ready to be unleashed at any moment. ¡°Liuhe, calm down.¡± Xu Long warned, ¡°Sit down, we can talk things through.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Liuhe snorted dismissively, seating himself back down on the sofa, ¡°An eye for an eye. Combat Furball killed my two Pet Beasts. Its life in return. The rest, considering our past camaraderie, you can compensate a King Species¡¯ price.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Hearing Liuhe¡¯s excessive demands, Zhou Tianwu laughed bitterly in anger, ¡°Considering our past camaraderie¡­ should I thank you then?¡± ¡°Was it Combat Furball who brought the Beast Tide that day?¡± Zhou Tianwu glared at Liuhe, ¡°Mistakes were made in exterminating the nest, a few escapees set off the Beast Tide. Was that Combat Furball¡¯s fault too?¡± ¡°Adding insult to injury, looting a burning house, so this is what my dear brothers have become¡± Zhou Tianwu chuckled bitterly, turning towards the remaining two men, ¡°Do the two of you also want Combat Furball¡¯s life? Combat Furball has only one life, it¡¯s not enough for all of you.¡± The remaining two exchanged glances, and soon the one who had originally shown hesitation slowly stood, ¡°Brother Wu, you just compensate me a King Species¡¯ price, and I¡¯ll call it even.¡± Zhou Tianwu¡¯s face gained a trace of relief, yet, at that moment, the last person¡¯s words made his expression became grave again. ¡°I¡¯ll leave as soon as you compensate me for my fallen Pet Beast.¡± The man took out a long list from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Tianwu. Just one glance was enough for Zhou Tianwu to fly into a rage. The compensation the man demanded was enough to raise two King Species Pet Beasts and even included things like emotional distress damages. Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 215 Mr. Zhou Tianwu, You Have a Chapter 354: Chapter 215 Mr. Zhou Tianwu, You Have a Very Good Pet Beast _2 Translator: 549690339 Another one taking advantage of the crisis to rob him blind! ¡°Rip ¡± After snatching the list and tearing it to shreds on the ground, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s face turned utterly gloomy. Behind him, Zhou Che quietly picked up a corner of the torn list, just in time to see the total compensation amount. His face also hardened with anger. These were the uncles he had always thought of as relatives and elders. At this point, looking at these few people, he had a feeling of seeing greedy wolves. ¡°Fine¡­fine!¡± Zhou Tianwu¡¯s voice was trembling slightly due to excessive anger, ¡°Since this is the case, I¡­¡± ¡°Toe, toe, toe ¡± The somewhat urgent knocking sound cut off Zhou Tianwu¡¯s words. Upon hearing the knock, the expressions on the faces of the four uninvited guest and the father and son of the Zhou family all changed. The faces of the four uninvited visitors showed a trace of surprise and disbelief, while Zhou family father and son looked lost and incredulous. The Sky Dragon Hunting Team had a total of six members. Other than the five people currently in the Zhou¡¯s living room, there was one more. He was the last Beast Master to join the team ¨C the junior Zhou Tianwu considered, who was rescued from danger outside the city several times, and who thus owed his life to him. At this time, the only one who would come home would probably be him. Could it be that at this time, he was also looking to take advantage of the crisis? Zhou Tianwu looked up at the sky in speechless despair, then spoke in a low voice, ¡°Che, open the door.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Zhou Che wiped his moist eye sockets and gritted his teeth. He opened the door, but his face looked slightly stunned the next moment. Because standing outside was an exceptionally beautiful woman he did not recognize, not the person he had expected.. ¡°Is Mister Zhou Tianwu¡¯s residence?¡± The woman had an aloof and distant disposition that seemed to keep people thousands of miles away ¨C even her voice was like that. The moment she spoke, she turned her gaze towards Combat Furball. After confirming her guess, she simply stepped in. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Che raised his hand and blocked her path, then asked, ¡°Why are you visiting my house?¡± The originally contentious five persons momentarily ceased their bickering due to the woman¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°Fang Yuling, representing the Transcendent Evolution Department of the Xieyun City Beast Master Association today.¡± Fang Yuling took out her corresponding credentials and flashed them in front of Zhou Che. She simply glanced at the group then quickly and accurately identified Zhou Tianwu from among the six people present. ¡°Mister Zhou Tianwu, due to the evolution signs that Combat Furball has displayed and its high potential to evolve into an Emperor Species, the Association will tilt resources and provide training to both you and Combat Furball.¡± ¡°Although there will need to be some collaboration with the Transcendent Evolution Department for experiments throughout the process, rest assured that your freedom will not be limited and there will be no danger to your lives.¡± As she spoke, Fang Yuling took out a document, ¡°Sign your name here to accept the Association¡¯s resource tilt and training support.¡± With the end of her speech, an eerie silence fell over the room. All eyes followed the sealed document in Fang Yuling¡¯s hand. ¡°You just¡­said what?¡± Zhou Tianwu shook his head, with an astonished and puzzled look on his face. For a moment, he thought that he hadn¡¯t woken up yet, that all this was just a dream of his. He¡­ could receive resource assistance and support from the Beast Master Association? And the reason¡­ was because Combat Furball could possibly evolve into the Emperor species?! He swiftly turned his head to look at the innocent Combat Furball. The Emperor Species¡­ what kind of concept was that? That is a mighty Pet Beast that could break through the King Stage¡¯s growth limit, advancing to the Overlord Level, or even Emperor Level. In the whole of Xieyun City, there was only one Emperor Level Beast Master and three Overlord Level Beast Masters. Their Pet Beasts were, of course, of the Emperor Species. Apart from these, only a few King Level Beast Masters possessed beasts of the Emperor Species. Since it was inevitable that these few King Level Beast Masters would step into the Overlord Level, their status and treatment had long differed from ordinary King Level Beast Masters. Could he, an insignificant General Level Beast Master, also have the chance to receive such treatment? At this moment, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s heart gave a jolt. ¡°Open it and take a look.¡± Expecting Zhou Tianwu¡¯s reaction, Fang Yuling calmly handed him the envelope and stood aside. ¡°Rustle¨C¡± As the faint sound of paper shuffling filled the air, Zhou Tianwu¡¯s pupils began to contract abruptly. Only after reading the contents of the document did he realize that what the woman known as Fang Yuling had said was not exaggerated, but instead, seemed somewhat understated. He could collect sixty free Heavenly Spirit Stones that accelerate meditation every month, a resource that typically took an ordinary Beast Master two days to deplete. One could almost say it was unlimited supply. In this manner, he could break through to the Fifth Stage of contract power at the fastest speed. As long as his aptitude wasn¡¯t poor, a successful breakthrough to the Sixth Stage of contract power was totally feasible! All resources needed for the Combat Furball¡¯s improvement and evolution would be provided by the Association, lifting a weight off Zhou Tianwu¡¯s shoulders. After all, the resources required for evolution into the Emperor Species couldn¡¯t be compared with those for the King Species. Even if Zhou Tianwu were to exhaust all of his wealth, he still might not be able to afford even a single item. This level of favor couldn¡¯t simply be summarized by a phrase like ¡°a certain slant of resources and nurturing¡±. Such favor, similar to a windfall from heaven, was solely due to the Combat Furball showing signs of evolution. There was a brief introduction about the signs of evolution in the documents. After reading it, Zhou Tianwu finally understood the situation. ¡°Little Furball, you¡­¡± Zhou Tianwu gently patted the fluffy body of the Combat Furball, his face filled with emotion, ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sign this document.¡± Once he confirmed the document was correct, Zhou Tianwu found a pen, wrote down his name, and returned the document to Fang Yuling. ¡°Thank you for the Association¡¯s cultivation!¡± Fang Yuling nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke, ¡°Mr. Zhou Tianwu, you have a very good Pet Beast.¡± ¡°During its fostering period, it continued to overcome its defects, forcing itself to maintain a calm state. That is the reason it showed signs of evolution.¡± ¡°Treat it well.¡± Leaving this sentence behind, Fang Yuling turned and left. The Zhou family¡¯s living room was back to silence. With what Fang Yuling had said before leaving echoing in his mind, Zhou Tianwu continued to stroke the Combat Furball, his face filled with satisfaction. ¡°Dad¡­¡± Zhou Che pulled on Zhou Tianwu¡¯s sleeve, pointing at the four mannequin-like figures on the sofa, ¡°What about them¡­¡± Zhou Tianwu came back to his senses abruptly, only then did he remember he still had a big problem to handle. His gaze temporarily left the Combat Furball, turning to the four former teammates who had been willing to abandon him in his time of need. The confrontation continued, but the atmosphere in the room was starting to become strange. They had heard every word that Fang Yuling had said just now. A teammate who they had shared triumphs and hardships with was on the verge of becoming a big figure in Xieyun City, while they had come to twist the knife¡­ ¡°There¡¯s no need for compensation, I am also at fault in this accident.¡± Liuhe was the first to stand up and hurriedly headed for the exit. ¡°Right, since the compensation list was torn, let¡¯s consider it as your compensations, let¡¯s call it quits on this matter.¡± The man who had brought out a long list also got up to leave. As for the hesitant man and Xu Long, the captain of the Sky Dragon Hunting Team, they stood up and looked at Zhou Tianwu with a complex expression. They didn¡¯t say anything, but they also turned to leave. ¡°Hold on!¡± After a short silence, Zhou Tianwu suddenly raised his voice. The four men who had already left the Zhou residence turned back to look at him. ¡°I said that I would bear the mistakes made by the Combat Furball.¡± Zhou Tianwu paused slightly, ¡°You have shown no mercy, I cannot be unjust.¡± ¡°For each fallen Pet Beast, I will cover fifty percent of the compensation.¡± ¡°From nowon, I have nothing to do with any of you.¡± Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 216 Sixty in a Row_l Chapter 355: Chapter 216 Sixty in a Row_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°With the Beast Master Association¡¯s support, those who intend to make trouble for Mr. Zhou Tianwu should know to wisely back off.¡± In the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran returned to the counter after taking care of a new customer, resting his chin on his hand and murmuring to himself. When he had called Fang Yuling, he deliberately mentioned the trouble Zhou Tianwu was currently experiencing. He wanted to ensure that the Beast Master Association was informed soon enough to prevent Zhou Tianwu and Combat Furball from encountering any dangers. Considering Fang Yuling¡¯s strong initiative, she must have already dispatched someone to handle the issue, or she might even have gone there in person. At this thought, Xu Ran got a sense of realization and looked towards the shop door. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Who else could the charming figure slowly stepping into the shop from the door be, other than Fang Yuling? ¡°Combat Furball¡¯s problem has been solved. Zhou Tianwu has agreed to accept the association¡¯s resource tilt and support.¡± Perhaps because Xu Ran participated in the process, Fang Yuling chose to tell him about the situation. Then, Fang Yuling shifted the topic, ¡°I¡¯m here to renew the feeding expenses for my three pet beasts.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Previously, Fang Yuling had paid ten days of fosterage fees in advance for her three pet beasts that were left here for meals. She implied that she would renew the fee if she was satisfied with the service. On the third day after she left her own pet beasts for fosterage, Fang Yuling truly introduced a Beast Master to foster their pet beast in the shop. Only then did Xu Ran truly believe that the ¡°friend¡± Fang Yuling had referred to was not herself. Now that ten days had passed, it was clear to see from Fang Yuling¡¯s decision that she was satisfied with how her three pet beasts were being fed here. Oddly enough, when this girl said she was freeloading, she was really freeloading. She would usually summon her pet beasts back for various trainings and sent them back just in time for meals without fail. This time, Fang Yuling paid a month¡¯s fosterage fees all at once. Then, she opened her mouth and said, ¡°Bring up Three-headed Nightmare and Luminary Spirit. They both need to be cleaned and cared for.¡± Then, Fang Yuling¡¯s tone became a bit more stern, ¡°Pay it from Mu Yunchao¡¯s account.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran was shocked. This woman clearly was not short of money; her stubbornness in certain areas was unexpectedly pronounced. Soon, two pet beasts arrived at the shop area from the basement floor, excitedly. After nuzzling with Fang Yuling, they obediently followed Xu Ran into the Grooming Room. Before long, strange noises could be heard from the Grooming Room again. After accompanying the two pet beasts for their grooming, Fang Yuling once again left. Meanwhile, the business at the Starfire Foster Care Shop continued to thrive. It had been more than half a month since the Starfire Foster Care Shop began operations in Xieyun City. After the initial turbulence, Xu Ran¡¯s growth in fame on the leaderboard could almost no longer promote the reputation of the shop. Without new exposures and advertising methods, the reputation growth began to slow down, and customers no longer lined up as much as before. However, good word of mouth brought many returning customers, keeping the shop¡¯s business booming. It was estimated to be comparable to the peak time when Xu Ran single-handedly ran the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City without the help of the System Clerk. Another busy day was coming to an end. Xu Ran, who had managed to snatch a few minutes of free time, was resting his head on his hand while looking out the shop door with an expectant expression. The last time he left, Qin Can had mentioned that he would come for a second grooming today. If he hadn¡¯t forgotten, he should be arriving soon, right? In Xu Ran¡¯s eager gaze, familiar figures appeared at the shop door. Moreover, there were two of them. In addition to Qin Can, his sister, Qin Yue, also arrived. This made Xu Ran even more pleasantly surprised. In the past two weeks, he had accumulated enough Pleasure value for six Ten Consecutive Drawing sessions. About half of it was accumulated from the Xieyun City branch over the past two weeks, while the other half was gained from the Qingzhou City branch. The share of the earnings from the three system clerks was not a small sum either. Today, perhaps he could try his luck with two Lucky Fish at the same time. ¡°Boss Xu, haven¡¯t seen you for half a month. I¡¯ve been hearing your news every day.¡± Qin Can grinned, still carefree kind of personality. But his eyes, as they looked at Xu Ran, had slightly changed from before. These days, he could hear news about Xu Ran almost every day. Unbeknownst to him, the Beast Master, who he thought he could quickly catch up to and was even several years younger than him, had already reached a level that was beyond his reach. Fang Yuling, the recognized Little Princess of Xieyun City and the first among the young generation. Her talent was comparable to her father, Chairman Fang. She also had considerable research in the field of evolution, something that even Chairman Fang did not have. At this moment, Xu Ran¡¯s rank on the Beastmaster Double Board was only second to Fang Yuling, and the gap between the two was shrinking each day. It was simply unimaginable. ¡°It¡¯s just a false reputation.¡± Xu Ran humbly shook his head. A false reputation¡­ Both Qin Can and Qin Yue¡¯s mouths twitched at the same time. Looking at Xu Ran¡¯s calm manner of speaking, they suddenly felt an urge to beat him up. ¡°Are both of you here for washing and care services?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to get my Earth Roaring Rhino groomed.¡± As Qin Can¡¯s words fell, the hexagram star array behind him lit up. Amidst the howling wind, a huge and burly rhinoceros stepped out, one step at a time. Among his three pet beasts, only the Earth Roaring Rhino, an Earth attribute pet beast, had a high Washing and Protection requirement and needed frequent care ¨C once every half a month. The other pet beasts required far less care. ¡°Give my Dark Soul Mother a round of washing and care.¡± Qin Yue opened her mouth slowly. At the same time, a pet beast that looked like a jellyfish and was pitch black, with a semi-transparent texture and suspended in mid-air, emerged from the Hexagram Star Array behind her. Dark Attribute king species, Dark Soul Mother. ¡°Thump Thump- ¡± the next second after summoning their pet beasts, Qin Yue patted Qin Can¡¯s shoulder and said in an incredibly natural tone, ¡°Add it to his account.¡± Ah, this¡­ Looking at Qin Can¡¯s miserable face, Xu Ran chuckled. ¡°I only have three free washings left, don¡¯t I?¡± Qin Can asked with a sorrowful look on his face. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded. He had previously promised Qin Can nine free cleaning trials. The last time Qin Yue came, four pet beasts consumed four of those trials, and this time each sibling cleaned one each, leaving three trials left. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Can gave a light sigh, sneaking a glance at Qin Yue. Older sister will be leaving town again in ten days, and he has to finish all the free trials before she returns. In fifteen days, the Earth Roaring Rhino will need a clean. The other two pet beasts are also due for their cleanings. That¡¯s perfect, he can use up all the free trials. He absolutely can¡¯t let his older sister pick up on this. No one should take advantage of him, Qin the great trickster! ¡°I¡¯ll go clean your pet beasts first.¡± Looking at the two pet beasts, one big and one small, Xu Ran took a deep breath and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Woo ¡± The Earth Roaring Rhino made a loud roar and tried to follow but was easily pressed down by a semi-transparent and soft black ribbon. The formidable pressure from a General stage to a leader stage allowed the Dark Soul Mother to cut in line easily, lightly following behind Xu Ran into the grooming room. Xu Ran noticed this and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. It¡¯s clear that, whether it¡¯s a pet beast or the Beast Master, Qin Yue is highly repressive of Qin Can. Soon, Xu Ran, who had completed the pre-cleaning preparations, approached the Dark Soul Mother. As an elemental pet beast, although the Dark Soul Mother has a jellyfish-like appearance, it doesn¡¯t possess a flesh body. Around its oval-shaped head, black fog rolled around, and from its head hung over a dozen long ribbons as light as nothing. If you lightly touch them, you will discover that these black ribbons are strangely smooth, like delicate silk. When it came last time, Xu Ran has cleaned the Dark Soul Mother thoroughly. But this time, the Dark Soul Mother still had a three-star cleaning demand. [Race name: Dark Soul Mother Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth stage: General stage Body type: Large Size Maintenance Need: ***** Rating: Beneath the sleek black ribbons hides the unknown secret of the Dark Soul Mother. May the host explore and dare to fathom with delicate hands.] Unknown secrets¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Having cleaned it once, he was fully aware of the Dark Soul Mother¡¯s secret. The Dark Soul Mother species, as a dark attribute elemental pet beast, has a lower tolerance for light than other dark attribute beasts. To survive in a light-filled environment, the Dark Soul Mother would tirelessly produce special dark element soul crystals from its body to cancel out this light. And so the Mother part of its name was born. After these dark element soul crystals cancel out the light, they leave some hard-to-remove impurities inside the Dark Soul Mother. In the natural environment, the Dark Soul Mother would regularly gather the impurities into a single one of its ribbons, then sever that ribbon, thereby eliminating the impurities as well. However, severing a ribbon weakens the Dark Soul Mother¡¯s power, causing it to enter a weakness period lasting about a week. But for those Dark Soul Mothers existing as pet beasts within human society, there¡¯s a better choice: accepting a thorough cleaning, which can remove the impurities. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll clean you up,¡± Xu Ran said softly, promptly starting to work. Not long after, the Dark Soul Mother made strange and peculiar sounds in the grooming room. ¡°The Earth Roaring Rhino is clean.¡± Walking out of the grooming room with a fully refreshed Earth Roaring Rhino, Xu Ran had a mysterious smile on his face. ¡°The two of you are our shop¡¯s 199th and 200th walk-in cleaning customers. If you don¡¯t mind, I hope I can take a commemorative picture with you.¡± Of course, the sequence was made up. Xu Ran only wanted an excuse to borrow some luck from both lucky fishes at the same time. ¡°No problem,¡± responded Qin Yue immediately, her mood significantly lifted by the excellent cleaning effect on the Dark Soul Mother. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Can rubbed his chin, asking, ¡°Boss Xu, will this photo be displayed in your shop? If yes, then I should get some portrait fees, right?¡± You¡¯re indeed you, Qin Can! Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, quickly responding, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll offer each of your pet beasts an addition three cleaning instances.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Qin Can chuckled smugly, shooting a triumphant look at Qin Yue. A satisfied smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face as well. He had been worried about not having an excuse to get these two lucky fishes to come back more often. This is what they mean about what you lack always comes at the right time. ¡°One, two, three, eggplant!¡± Working late tonight, this might be it, dammit! Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 217 The First Red Item!_l Chapter 356: Chapter 217 The First Red Item!_l Translator: 549690339 1¡® See you next time, Boss Xu!¡± Standing in front of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Qin Can¡¯s smile was particularly brilliant. He had once again received free washing and protection services from Xu Ran. Even better, this time his older sister wouldn¡¯t snatch his services. That¡¯s because his sister now had her own. And all of this was achieved through his own wit! ¡°Goodbye.¡± Waving vigorously at the siblings, Xu Ran¡¯s face was also filled with a smile. The combined luck of the two lucky fish, along with the method of drawing sixty times simultaneously, had finally allowed him to get the sought-after items he couldn¡¯t get before. Although Xu Ran hasn¡¯t checked what they are. But, they were red. Red! The item, even more treasured than the purple ones, was finally in his grasp! Once the figures of the Qin siblings disappeared from his view, Xu Ran immediately closed the door, took a deep breath and opened the rewards he had just drawn. With the lottery interface reopening, sixty glowing rays that were so bright they dazzled fluttered in front of Xu Ran, most of which were azure, like an azure ocean. Above the ocean, seven purple stars shimmered, signifying purple items. Above those, a glow more dazzling than any star came from the only red item among the sixty rewards. As Xu Ran¡¯s gaze settled on the red light, he finally saw the complete form of the red item. Upon seeing it, a puzzled expression gradually appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Because, this red item looked very familiar to him. It was a card with mysterious patterns and the word ¡°acceleration¡± on it. The reason it felt familiar was that he had received similar rewards before. Meditation Acceleration Card. However, compared to the purple Meditation Acceleration Card, the current one seemed more luxurious and mysterious, giving a feeling of a high-end version. This prompted Xu Ran to reach out and touch it. [Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card] [The Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card is a special item produced by the system. After use, the host¡¯s meditation speed will greatly increase for one month. This item cannot be used by existences other than the host.] ¡°Wow~¡± Xu Ran exclaimed emotionlessly. As expected, it¡¯s a Meditation Acceleration Card. Even though the word ¡°Advanced¡± was added, based on the description, there didn¡¯t seem to be much difference between the two. The only difference was that in the introduction of the Meditation Acceleration Card, it was described as ¡°the host¡¯s meditation speed will increase¡±, while the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card added the words ¡°greatly increase¡±. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see how greatly it will increase.¡± Shaking his head with a touch of disappointment, Xu Ran chose to use it without hesitation. The previous Meditation Acceleration Card had not yet expired, so by using the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card now, the acceleration should wait until the expiration of the current time¡­ Huh? Looking at the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, which had already begun to countdown, and the Meditation Acceleration Card, which was still counting down, Xu Ran fell into deep thought. Can these two cards be used together? If so, it might be interesting. Slowly closing his eyes, Xu Ran effortlessly entered a deep state of meditation. After a brief moment, he opened his eyes, clearly shocked. Six hundred times. After stacking one Meditation Acceleration Card and one Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, his meditation speed reached six hundred times that of not using the Meditation Acceleration Card. Previously, when only the Meditation Acceleration Card was used, the acceleration effect was one hundred times. If the effects of the two cards simply add together, then the acceleration effect of the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card alone would be five hundred times. ¡°Sheesh¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, and there was no longer any disappointment on his face from initially getting an Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card as his first red item. A five hundred times increase and the ability to stack effects¡­ Could he potentially break through to the fourth stage of contract power within a month?! With excitement filling his heart again, Xu Ran began to check the other rewards. Among the seven purple items, two were Talent Skill fusion stones, and, like before, they were of no use at the moment. Among the remaining five, four were three-star skill scrolls. The last one was a King Species Evolution Path, which he had not seen for a long time. With all three little ones having received their evolution paths and successfully evolved into King Species, the only one that could use this item seemed to be the fourth beast he would contract in the future. At this thought, Xu Ran suddenly remembered a little guy he had once thought of contracting. Since the system¡¯s transmission function can only transport Xu Ran himself, and even the pet beasts need to be transported by summoning them after transmission, Xu Ran had not seen the Velvet Sparrow left in Qingzhou City since he came to Xieyun City. ¡°I wonder how that little guy is doing now.¡± ¡°Chirp- Achoo!¡± Inside the foster area on the underground level of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City, the Velvet Sparrow suddenly sneezed, then rubbed its beak with its wings, looking around suspiciously before focusing its gaze in a certain direction. Transcendent beings with super ability attribute not only possess more intelligence than other transcendent beings of the same stage, they also have a stronger intuition. It could sense that someone or something in that certain direction was thinking about it, causing it to sneeze out of the blue. Was it its dad? No, the core area of Beast Field No. 97, where dad lives, was not in that direction. Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 217 The First Red Item!_2 Chapter 357: Chapter 217 The First Red Item!_2 Could it be¡­ Thinking of a possibility, the Velvet Sparrow paused its beak-scratching motion, a glint of gleefulness flashed in its eyes. Just silently leaving a beast here and now you remember me? Humph! It¡¯s too late! ¡°Thud, thud, thud-¡± A dull knocking sound echoed throughout the foster area. The Velvet Sparrow shook its head, suppressing the thoughts that had just surfaced. It waddled towards a direction. In the same direction, there were hundreds of Pet Beasts. Their strengths varied from the Transcendent Stage to the Leadership Stage, and their chorusing calls were quite a spectacle. Seeing the eager Pet Beasts, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes showed disdain. A fleeting blue light flashed in its eyes. The next moment, a Gale Wolf passing by halted, turned around, and slowly approached the Velvet Sparrow, lowering its head. The Velvet Sparrow hopped onto its head and pointed forward. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s eat!) ¡°Whoosh ¡± The Gale Wolf bolted, passing all the Pet Beasts, and quickly reaching the source of the sound. Halting, the Gale Wolf gradually lowered its head, letting the Velvet Sparrow step down from its head. When it raised its head again, the blue halo in its eyes, identical to the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s, quietly faded, replacing it was a bewildered look. Who am I? Where am I? What am I to do? Ignoring the perplexed Gale Wolf, the Velvet Sparrow waddled over to the Green-skinned Frog. ¡°Chirp!¡± (I¡¯m in a good mood today, I want to eat more!) The Green-skinned Frog nodded a little stiffly, took down a small frog toy from the hook and handed it to the Velvet Sparrow. Accompanied by a ¡°bang¡± sound, the small frog toy turned into a food bowl about one size larger than usual, filled with the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s favorite food. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Very good!) The Velvet Sparrow nodded contentedly, and then began to eat. If they feed it like this every day, it could live here all its life! The Hexagram Star Array shimmered with dazzling light, inside Xieyun City¡¯s Foster Shop, the three little ones appeared one after another from the whirlwind. Initially, they were puzzled; why didn¡¯t Xu Ran, like before, after summoning the Star, meet up with Ziyun and Cancan at the Beast Trainer Ranking? But seeing the small blackboard and chalk being brought out, the three little ones understood. The semi-monthly resource distribution was about to start! ¡°Sit tight, we¡¯re going to start distributing resources.¡± Xu Ran smiled, looking at the three excited little ones, ¡°The resources to be distributed this time, are more than any previous times.¡± Just from hearing what Xu Ran said, the three little ones¡¯ expectations were almost overflowing. With so many resources, will there be what they want? Under the gaze of the three little ones, Xu Ran picked up the chalk and began to write on the small blackboard: ¡°Physical points: 23133 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Points: 21098 points (undistributed)¡± ¡°Teachable Skills: ¡ï ¡ï¡ïThunder Penalty Gun (Thunder), ¡ï¡ï¡ïQuiet Night Breath (Darkness), ¡ï¡ï¡ïGround Binding Cage (Earth), ¡ï¡ï¡ïPuncture Explosion (Fighting), ¡ï¡ï¡ïDesolate Place (Darkness)¡± ¡°Skill Fragments: 7 (Star) +41 (Cancan) +1026 (undistributed)¡± ¡°Skill Fusion Stones: 11 (Ziyun) +10 (Star) +48 (undistributed) ¡± ¡°Talent Skill Fusion Stones: 4 (undistributed)¡± ¡°Energy Abundant Potions: 4 bottles (undistributed)¡± ¡°Beast Master Points: 0 points¡± ¡°Three Star Skill Scrolls: 4 (undistributed)¡± ¡°King Species Evolution Route (undistributed)¡± By the time Xu Ran finished writing the last word on the small blackboard, the shop was silent. After a moment of quiet, heavy breathing of the three little ones broke the silence. So many resources! That the physical points and skill points both exceed twenty thousand is one matter, even the scarce skill fragments have increased by more than a thousand all at once! Additionally, there are as many as five teachable Three-Star Skills! Among these five skills, two are suitable for Ziyun and Star, one for Cancan. But don¡¯t forget, Cancan had already received a Three-Star Skill on the first day he came to Xieyun City at Starfire Foster Care Shop. As a result, each of the three little ones can acquire two three-star skills from the instruction! Add to that the thousand skill fragments that can be freely exchanged for five three-star skills, four three-star skill scrolls, and close to fifty allocatable skill fusion stones. The fusion of three-star skills into four-star skills finally isn¡¯t just a fantasy! And with more than twenty thousand skill points earned from their ceaseless training, they could even bring forth skills of Halo Level proficiency, a level above Full Moon! ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m coming for the top spot on the Combat Power List!) Ziyun shouted excitedly, eyes filled with enthusiasm. Despite its many days of effort, it was still stuck at the second place in the current Combat Power List, unable to surpass the detestable Nine-shadow Demon Cat. This had always left Ziyun feeling aggrieved. Now, it finally can not only surpass the opponent, but also take the top spot! However¡­ thinking about Fang Yuling¡¯s three pet beasts, Ziyun felt a slight chill amidst the excitement. These three fellas hadn¡¯t aimed for the rankings. Otherwise, they would probably be much stronger than the Nine-shadow Demon Cat. So, it needs to continue to get stronger! ¡°The total resources add up to 76491 value points.¡± Xu Ran slightly paused, ¡°You each get 25497 value points.¡± ¡°In the last resource allocation, Cancan had a surplus of 2000 value points while Ziyun and Star did not have any remaining.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ ¡± (Seems a bit less.) Cancan shook its head with regret. Originally, it thought that it could redeem more stuff compared to Ziyun and Star due to the remaining value points from the last time, thus having an advantage. Now, it seems that these remaining points can only slightly increase the odds. Nothing to be done. The resource allocation this time is really too much. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll take the Thunder Penalty Gun and Puncture Explosion first!) Before Cancan and Star proposed their exchange requirements, Ziyun was the first to speak. As for this exchange requirement, Cancan and Star had no objections. After all, they have no use for these items. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded his head and began giving instructions. A moment later, Ziyun¡¯s eyes revealed a look of delight. The Thunder Penalty Gun is a long-ranged skill. It can summon a thunderbolt spear concentrated with strong Thunderforce from the sky, which falls in a certain direction, causing a certain range of attack and an even stronger attack to the central area, just like invoking thunder punishment. Puncture Explosion is a fighting attribute skill that enhances power. When you apply this skill, your power will have a strong piercing effect and explosive effect. With these, a pet beast can pose a greater threat to opponents with strong defense, and to those with weaker defenses, the damage inflicted will increase further. Ziyun is very fond of these two skills. More importantly, they just happen to be the missing pieces for Ziyun¡¯s skill fusion puzzle. Earlier, Xu Ran had redeemed three King-level resources for Ziyun. Now, Ziyun has fully absorbed these resources and, with power reaching the Perfect Leadership Stage, it also obtained the corresponding three-star skills. Crimson Gold Electroplating, Super Phase Field, Puncture Thunder Spear. Before this, Ziyun also had Scarlet Battle Intent, Superfast Self-healing, Martial Arts Specialization ¨C three non-talent skills. Hence, it now has a total of eight non-talent skills. Except for Superfast Self-healing, which is a two-star skill, the remaining seven are all three-star skills. So¡­ ¡°Meow!¡± (Exchange a three-star skill scroll to upgrade Superfast Self-healing to three stars!) Ziyun shouted loudly, eyes filled with anticipation. After the upgrade, it will be time to start skill fusion! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, then looked at Star and Cancan. The two little ones shook their heads simultaneously, indicating that they had no objections. With a total of four scrolls, it¡¯s no problem if Ziyun exchanges for one. [¡ï¡ï Superfast Self-healing(Waning Moon level)](i423/2ooo)[+] 4¡¯4¡¯4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ï Rapid Self-healing(Waning Moon level)](1423/2000)[+] Feeling the self-healing skill having climbed to a new level, Ziyun¡¯s eyes reflected a burning desire to fight. Next, it¡¯s time to show the real power! Four-star skills, here I come! Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 218: Fusion, Four Stars Skill! _1 Chapter 358: Chapter 218: Fusion, Four Stars Skill! _1 ¡°Next, are you going to fuse three skills with the Fighting Body?¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s grave expression, Xu Ran asked softly. Star and Cancan, too, realized what Ziyun was about to do. They exchanged frustrated glances. Damn, Ziyun has beaten them to it. Before this, the three little ones had debated about who would be the first pet beast amongst them to possess a Four Star Skill during this allocation of resources. Of course, Cancan thought it had the best chance, having completed a Three Star Skill fusion and possessing two strong Three Star Skills, bringing it closest to Four Stars. Ziyun and Star were not to be outdone since they had each hoarded some skill fusion stones while Cancan had none, giving them an advantage here. An argument the three little ones had never resolved before now seems to be settled. Taking advantage of teaching skills only she knew to paralyze the other two, Ziyun was the first to enter the skill fusion process. Star and Cancan realized they were late. At this point, they really couldn¡¯t stop Ziyun¡¯s skill fusion, so they stared at her with envy. ¡°Meow- ¡± (I choose Rapid Self-healing, Puncture Explosion, and Martial Arts Specialization!) After some thought, Ziyun made her final decision. Initially, her plan was to use Super Phase Field in this fusion, but after obtaining Puncture Explosion, her mind changed. This skill was clearly more suitable for the Fighting Body. So, it was selected! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, used a fusion stone to open the fusion interface, and his mouth twitched slightly in the next moment. (* ¡ï *Martial Arts Specialization]+[¡ï¡ï *Rapid Self-healing]+[ * ¡ï *Fighting Body]+[***Puncture Explosion] [Fusion success rate: 0.0093%] [Initiate fusion?] [Yes][No] This time, it didn¡¯t show in thousands. But are there too many ¡°o¡±s? Thousands, tens of thousands¡­ Xu Ran did the math on his fingers, his face turned black. Nine point three out of a hundred thousand?! Four Three Star Skills fusion, the probability is so low? Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at Ziyun, who was full of anticipation. How should he tell Ziyun about this despairingly low skill fusion success rate? ¡°Meow?¡± (Has the fusion started?) Noticing Xu Ran¡¯s facial expression change, Ziyun curiously tilted her head. It seemed like she didn¡¯t feel the fusion was successful. ¡°Not yet, it starts now.¡± Xu Ran gritted his teeth and clicked on [Yes]. The fusion of Three Star Skills was inevitable. So, let¡¯s test the waters with Ziyun¡¯s fusion. One¡­ five¡­ ten¡­ More and more fusion stones were thrown into the fusion process, and as the tips of [Fusion Failed] appeared one after another, the sticking ¡°0¡± in the fusion success rate began to gradually decrease until the probability exceeded one percent, rising towards a level Xu Ran could accept. Twenty¡­ thirty¡­ forty¡­ Xu Ran, whose scalp had turned numb from clicking [Yes], held his breath until the words [Fusion Successful] popped up and then let out a sigh of relief. ¡ï ¡ï¡ïFighting Body (Full Moon Level)](2195/10000)[+] (¡ï ¡ï¡ï ¡ïImperial Body (Full Moon Level)](2i95/lOOOO)[+] Four Stars! Xu Ran who was closely watching Ziyun¡¯s skill board, finally breathed easy when he saw the added star. Although he had guessed before that to attain Four Star Skills, a fusion of four Three Star Skills was required, guessing and actually experimenting were completely different. The team¡¯s first Four Star Skill was born! ¡°Meow ¡± A strange sound came from Ziyun¡¯s direction, making Xu Ran quickly snap out of his thoughts and can¡¯t help but look at Ziyun. At this moment, there was a hint of confusion in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. She slowly rolled on the ground, exposing her soft white belly, and her eyes were filled with a daze. This feeling¡­ This feeling!!! For a moment, Ziyun felt like she had seen her great-grandmother she never seen before. That strong, comfortable feeling that came from deep within her body and bloodline was far more intense than the feeling of upgrading from a Two Star Skill to a Three Star Skill during her time leading the species. It was a joy that Ziyun could hardly put into words! So this was what it felt like to become stronger! Getting up again, there was still a hint of satisfaction in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. She shook her head fiercely, and then looked at the two pets and one human looking at her. After briefly exploring her newly-born Four Star Skill, the daze in Ziyun¡¯s eyes completely dissipated, replaced by unparalleled excitement. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (This skill¡­ I¡­) ¡°How is it? How is the effect of this skill?¡± Xu Ran asked eagerly. ¡°Meow-¡± (I feel like I can really turn into a sword now¡­) ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran was taken aback, only then remembering the teasing suggestion he had made to Ziyun when she achieved her Martial Arts Specialization, to transform into a blade. At the time, Ziyun naturally could not do it, and according to his estimation, it would only be slightly possible at the Halo Level, by relying on the Martial Arts Specialization. But now, having fused Martial Arts Specialization into the Fighting Body, the Full Moon Level Immortal Body could already transform into a blade? That¡¯s not right. Xu Ran shook his head abruptly. This skill should have more than just this effect. ¡°What exactly does it do?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. Ziyun carefully sensed it for a while, then slowly answered. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (The effect of this skill¡­) Listening to Ziyun¡¯s explanation, the look of surprise on Xu Ran¡¯s face became more intense, while Star and Cancan were full of envy. The Immortal Body had gained a very special new effect called ¡°Imperishable¡±. This characteristic stemmed from the Three-Star Skill of Rapid Self-healing, but it was not exactly the same. Upon activating the Immortal Body, in addition to gaining incredibly powerful self-healing, Ziyun also gained the effect of being immune to pain during the healing process. Even with formidable self-healing powers, intense pain in battle could have a significant impact on one¡¯s performance. Even with a strong will, this impact could only be diminished, not completely ignored. With the temporary immunity to pain, Ziyun could fully utilize her own abilities even after being hurt, the significance of which was beyond doubt for those proficient in close combat Fighting Attributes. Apart from this, the Immortal Body had three other effects. The first effect inherited from Puncture Explosion, during the activation of the Immortal Body, the power would be amplified in both penetration and explosion aspects, making it more intimidating. The second effect came from Martial Arts Specialization, allowing for instantaneous adjustment of the structure of various parts of the body, generating corresponding amplifying effects. The third effect inherited from the Fighting Body, greatly enhancing the flexibility of the body while performing fighting skills, which received a comprehensive boost. These three effects, although almost unchanged from the original three-star skills, were far more powerful as a part of the four-star skill. This was why Ziyun could transform into a sword at the Full Moon Level. However, becoming a sword was just a playful idea of Xu Ran¡¯s, and the skill could do much more than that. Summing up all the effects of this skill, Xu Ran could only say one thing. ¡°A Four-Star Skill, it¡¯s terrifying.¡± In response to Xu Ran¡¯s exclamation, Star and Cancan unanimously nodded their agreement. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°It¡¯s my turn now!¡±) Cancan exclaimed, eager to try. Having witnessed the power of a four-star skill, it was desperate to have one! It already had two powerful three-star skills. It only needed to choose one of them, and then select two non-talent skills, to directly possess a four-star skill, which was even simpler than Ziyun¡¯s process. Ziyun could succeed, so could it! ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Hearing Cancan¡¯s excited voice, Xu Ran coughed awkwardly to break his initial excitement, ¡°Well, there¡¯s a piece of not-so-great news.¡± ¡°The skill fusion of Ziyun used¡­¡± ¡°48 skill fusion stones.¡± ¡°¡­Charming?!¡± (¡°¡­How many did you say?!¡±) Cancan was first stunned, then quickly calculated in its heart the number of skill fusion stones left after Ziyun¡¯s usage. Its expression instantly collapsed. Excluding the 11 stones Ziyun previously possessed, it had exchanged a total of 37 stones! Only 11 stones left for exchange. Worse still, since Ziyun used up that many to succeed, there was almost no chance it could succeed with only 11 skill fusion stones! ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (¡°How about¡­ I lend you some?¡±) Looking at Cancan¡¯s devastated face, Star softened and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. It once had 10 stones, if it exchanged 11 more stones, it would only have 21 stones. Like Ziyun, Star also needed four three-star skills to create a four-star skill, and 21 stones were far from enough. But Cancan¡¯s fusion was simpler, and perhaps 21 stones could hold hope? Hearing Star¡¯s words, Cancan¡¯s eyes instantly lit up. It looked at Star with tears welling up in its eyes. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°Bigbrother!¡±) ¡°Xi Lu (¡°You must succeed infusion ~¡±) Star lifted a hoof, gently tapped on Cancan¡¯s scales as a form of encouragement. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°Definitely!¡±) Cancan nodded heavily. It would, along with Star¡¯s part, fuse a four-star skill! ¡°How do you plan to fuse?¡± Watching the determined Cancan, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask with a smile. In response, Cancan thought for a moment. Unlike Star and Ziyun, its non-talent skills available for fusion were rather limited. From the previous King Level resources, it obtained Earth-splitting and True Dragon Reverse Scale. Now, together with the Ground Binding Cage which could be exchanged, these made up all that it could use for fusion. Among them, Cancan had firmly decided to fuse the skill True Dragon Reverse Scale with Dragon Tortoise¡¯s Power, but Earth-splitting and Ground Binding Cage were not suitable for fusion with Dragon Tortoise¡¯s Power. The latter created a bondage cage, completely restraining the opponent. So, Cancan¡¯s skill fusion seemed to have only one choice. Fortunately, this choice wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°Fuse the Ground Binding Cage, Earth-splitting, and Earthquake and Sky Collapse!¡±) Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Chapter 219: The Uniqueness of Star t Chapter 359: Chapter 219: The Uniqueness of Star t ¡°Alright!¡± Facing Cancan¡¯s resolute decision to proceed with the Skill Fusion, Xu Ran gave a slight nod. After borrowing ten skill fusion stones from Star, Cancan had a total of twenty- one. Still, Xu Ran felt that this fusion would be challenging. Looking at Cancan¡¯s determined eyes, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to dissuade her, so¡­ [¡ï¡ï¡ï Ground Binding Cage] + [¡ï*¡ï Earthquake and Sky Collapse] + [¡ï¡ï¡ï Earth-splitting] [Fusion success rate: 0.026%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Looking at the pop-up text, Xu Ran took a deep breath and selected [Yes]. Another round of ongoing failures in fusion began! As more and more skill fusion stones were being consumed, the success rate of evolution was also rising at a staggering speed. 1%¡­5%¡­1O%¡­ As the number of skill fusion stones neared depletion, the success rate of the upgrade still hadn¡¯t reached a safe level, and Xu Ran¡¯s heart sank. But the next instant, he paused his mechanical choice of [Yes]. [Fusion success] Did it actually work? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at the remaining skill fusion stones. There was only one left. This is¡­ With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Xu Ran looked at Cancan¡¯s panel. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Earthquake and Sky Collapse (WaningMoon Level)] (1093/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Land of Destruction (WaningMoon Level)] (1093/2000) [+] This skill name¡­it sounds quite domineering. Earthquake and Sky Collapse, a fusion of the previous Three Star Skill Earth- shattering Skyfall and Earth Shaking Roar, acquired from the Earth Roaring Rhino. Perhaps because these two skills are inherently similar, the new skill that Cancan obtained after fusion did not obtain any new effects. It only served to strengthen its existing effects in all aspects. Earth-splitting, was derived from Xu Ran¡¯s absorption of the King-level resource Earthcore Marrow. This skill allows Cancan to set up an energy point, which could be delayed to detonate and produce a powerful destructive force, catching its opponents off guard. The recently acquired Ground Binding Cage can bind opponents within a certain range, thus rendering them unable to move. While these three skills may not seem closely related, the feedback on fusion success rate revealed that they are quite compatible. So¡­ Xu Ran looked at Cancan, her expression slightly dazed. What sort of effect does this new Four Star Skill actually have? ¡°Charming- ¡± (That felt amazing!) Cancan shook her head vigorously, snapping out of her dazed state. At this moment, she was experiencing the joy that Ziyun had felt earlier. That breakthrough originating from her Life Level caused every inch of her flesh to rejoice, and this unprecedented feeling was truly intoxicating. ¡°Meow- ¡± (Tell us the skill effect quickly!) Ziyun slapped Cancan on the head, urging her. Having previously experienced this sensation, Ziyun seemed rather calm by now. Meanwhile, Star was full of curiosity. It had never experienced the feeling of upgrading a Three Star Skill to a Four Star Skill through fusion ¨C was it really that exhilarating? It decided that it would definitely give it a try the next time the resources were distributed! Upon Ziyun¡¯s reminder, Cancan came back to her senses, realizing that in her mind, memories of countless experiences from a new and stronger ability had appeared, while memories of Earthquake and Sky Collapse were slowly fading away. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (Let¡¯s see¡­) After thoroughly feeling out this newskill, Cancan¡¯s eyes gradually widened, even her breathing became slightly hurried. This is¡­ Could it be¡­ ¡°Charming!¡± (So powerful!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, a shocked and delighted expression on her face. ¡°Slap!¡± Ziyun gave her a slap on the back of her head. It¡¯s just a Four Star Skill ¨C everybody has them ¨C what¡¯s the effect? Hurry up and say, stop beating around the bush! Touching the back of her head with one paw, Cancan sobered up this time and began to explain in detail the effects of this called Land of Destruction skill. After hearing Cancan¡¯s description, everyone¡¯s expressions shifted into shock. Surprisingly, this new skill did not have the inherently powerful Earthquake and Sky Collapse as its core, but rather the Earth-splitting ability that was learned later on. The most crucial function of Earth-splitting, setting an energy point and delaying the explosion, had become the core mechanism of the new skill ¡®Land of Destruction¡¯ and received a significant boost. Previously, the energy point set up by Earth-splitting would rapidly weaken over time, limiting the destructiveness due to the delay. But with Land of Destruction, the destructive force of the energy point no longer diminishes with time but remains constant until it disappears after a certain period. This time can be adjusted according to Cancan¡¯s will and can last up to one day. Aside from enhancing the core mechanism of delayed explosion, the eruptive force of the Land of Destruction skill also received a historic boost. The distractive force originally dispersed in all directions from Cancan as the source in Earthquake and Sky Collapse, was now all integrated into the eruptive effect of Land of Destruction. The same applies to Ground Binding Cage. If, with the previous Earthquake and Sky Collapse, faster opponents had the possibility of escaping the skill¡¯s range, then with the additional binding force, this possibility becomes extremely remote. Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Chapter 219: The Uniqueness of Star_2 Chapter 360: Chapter 219: The Uniqueness of Star_2 Planting, detonation, binding, collapse. This skill known as ¡®Land of Destruction¡¯ gave Xu Ran a rather familiar sense of deja vu. He couldn¡¯t help but glance at Cancan, thinking of the only skill that Cancan still had at the two-star level, Burrow Soil. Under this skill, it could sneak into the earth silently, and combined with the effect of Land of Destruction¡­ Isn¡¯t this an absolutely perfect weapon for ambushing opponents! Unexpectedly, his pet beast with the largest size, the ultimate shield, surprisingly also had such a hidden attribute. This is simply¡­ ¡°Cool!¡± Xu Ran vigorously rubbed Cancan¡¯s head, his face showing a look of delight. Whether it was Ziyun or Cancan, the power of the four-star skills they obtained through fusion was beyond his imagination. If all goes well, when these three little guys evolve into the Emperor Species, their skills can all be upgraded to the four-star level. How strong they would be by then, Xu Ran dared not imagine. ¡°There¡¯s only one last skill fusion stone left.¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s back gently and spoke softly, ¡°Star lends Cancan nine, and Cancan pays 900 value points.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Noproblem!) Cancan nodded heavily, at the same time throwing a grateful look at Star. If not for Star lending him his own skill fusion stones, he would have to wait until the next resource allocation to complete skill fusion and obtain four-star skills. ¡°Now, it¡¯s Star¡¯s turn to exchange.¡± Xu Ran spoke softly. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Okay!) Star let out a neigh, then turned its gaze to Ziyun by its side. ¡°Meow-¡± (I know, I know-) Ziyun swayed her paw reluctantly. ¡°Meow!¡± (My value points, 2000 for Star!) Seeing that the eldest sister still remembered this matter, Star showed a satisfied expression. After receiving the skill Fate Necklace, it offered paid training and energy services to Ziyun every day, collecting 200 value points per day, provided it ten times over the past half a month. Now, it¡¯s time to collect the money! Although there is only one skill fusion stone left, when it comes to value points, Star currently has the most in the field. It looked at the small blackboard and had an idea after a moment. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Exchange Quiet Night Breath, Desolate Place, 433 skill fragments, and two three-star skill scrolls!) When it makes a move, it¡¯s impressive. With the first wave of exchange, Star consumed over ten thousand value points, attracting amazed looks from Ziyun and Cancan. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran gave a slight nod, then began skill teaching first. Quiet Night Breath is a skill obtained from Qin Yue¡¯s Dark Soul Mother. By activating this skill, the pet beast can quickly recover its own strength in a dark environment. Although this skill does not have as many effects as Heart of Eternal Night, its recovery speed is extremely astonishing due to its pure effect, which is far superior to the recovery speed of Heart of Eternal Night. Star, who already has Heart of Eternal Night, does not need to use this skill, but can use it as one of the materials for skill fusion. Even without thinking, it¡¯s clear that it would have a very high compatibility with the Heart of Eternal Night. In fact, Xu Ran obtained two three-star skills from that Dark Soul Mother, but one of the skills obtained was an attack type, so he couldn¡¯t teach it to Star. Another three-star skill, Desolate Place, was obtained from another Dark Attribute king species pet beast that Xu Ran had been washing and protecting over the past half a month. This skill is quite interesting. Although it doesn¡¯t count as an attack skill, Star could grasp it through teaching. However, it does have a controlling effect. The dark attribute pet beast that uses this skill will cover an area with dark power centring on itself, and the opponents within this dark power will temporarily lose the ability to use skills and can only fight with transcendent power. This effect is known as silence. The name of Desolate Place is derived from this. The only skill of Star¡¯s that could be considered offensive is Immortal Star Attraction, which can break illusions. In Xu Ran¡¯ s view, after upgrading the Immortal Star Attraction to three stars and then fusing it with Desolate Place, it might give Star a unique control skill, making it the second positional role within the team in addition to being supportive. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± Releasing a fervor-filled cry, the Star, excited by the two new skill effects, looked at Xu Ran. The man and the Pet Beast locked eyes, both seemingly having the same thought. ¡°Next, use the Three Star Skill Scroll to upgrade the Immortal Star Attraction?¡± Xu Ran asked with a grin. Star nodded eagerly. Of all its current skills, only this one remains at two stars. At least upgrade it to three stars first, then consider the issue of skill fusion. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly before using the scroll. [¡ï? Immortal Star Attraction (Full Moon Level)](217/10000)[+] [¡ï** Star Refusal Ring (Full Moon Level)](217/10000)[+] Star Ring¡­ Looking at the newly transformed skill, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stroke his chin. It feels¡­ The power of Star seems a bit different from traditional Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, no? Through Washing and Protection, he had come into contact with quite a few Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, none of which seemed to have a skill related to the stars like Star. Although noting that the Dark Attribute is not entirely darkness but refers to the attribute of the night, stars and moons are also part of the night. However, the dark power and corresponding skills of most Dark Attribute Pet Beast take the form of darkness. After thinking for a moment, Xu Ran still couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he shook his head helplessly. No matter, maybe if it evolves into a stronger species in the future, it might reveal some clues? ¡°What does this skill do?¡± Turning to the excited-looking Star, Xu Ran curiously asked. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (In addition to strengthening the effect of dispelling illusions, this skill also has the effect of dispelling negative impacts in the area!) Star began to excitedly explain its skill before finally demonstrating it on the spot. Accompanied by the dazzling light bursting from its glowing single horn, a ring of stars spread in all directions from the horn, rising steadily. An invisible force covered the whole scene, instilling a sense of tranquility in Xu Ran and the two little ones within the star ring area. ¡°Cancan, try Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power!¡± Xu Ran spoke softly. ¡°Charming!¡± Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s intentions, Cancan nodded earnestly, stepped back a few paces away from the range of the star ring, and then promptly used Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power. The golden Dragon Turtle Light Pattern flickered in the void, quickly spreading towards Xu Ran and the two pets. However, the normally unstoppable Dragon Turtle Power encountered severe resistance the moment it touched the star ring. The Dragon Turtle Light Pattern dimmed almost to the point of invisibility, and the taunting and suppressive effects originating from Dragon Turtle Power that Xu Ran and the two pets experienced were noticeably weakened by more than half. ¡°That¡¯s enough, you can stop.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, signaling Cancan to stop. Through actual testing, he roughly understood the effect of this skill. When the opponent has a skill that can cover your side and this skill has an effect that affects your side, Star Refusal Ring can protect your side by negating the opponent¡¯s negative impact. Of course, this negation also has to be measured based on the strengths and other aspects of both parties. For example, just now, Star¡¯s Refusal Ring couldn¡¯t completely neutralize Cancan¡¯s Dragon Turtle Power because Star and Cancan are of equal strength, both skills are Full Moon Level, but Dragon Turtle Power is a strong three-star skill. ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice took on a lighthearted tone, ¡°Star Refusal Ring is a range skill, and so is the Desolate Place.¡± ¡°Although Star Refusal Ring is not an attack skill, it can achieve targeted effects against the opponent, just like the Desolate Place.¡± ¡°Looking at it this way, these two skills are indeed well-matched. The success rate of fusion will not be low.¡± Star agreed and nodded, then remembering that it hadn¡¯t used up all of the resources it had just exchanged, it quickly spoke up. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Exchange 40 skill fragments for a two-star skill, then use the Three Star Skill Scroll to upgrade it to three stars!) Eh? Hearing Star¡¯s suggestion, Ziyun and Cancan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Can it be done like that?! Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 220: Beast Trainer Ranking, Are You Ready? _1 Chapter 361: Chapter 220: Beast Trainer Ranking, Are You Ready? _1 Three Star Skill Scrolls have two effects. One effect is randomly gaining a Three Star Skill; the other is enhancing a non- Three Star Skill up to the level of a Three Star. In theory, the former should be more cost-effective, as it¡¯s acquiring a new skill out of nowhere, yet in previous usage, the three little ones used it as a tool to enhance their existing Three Star Skills. And the reason is simple. Because a randomly appearing Three Star Skill brings considerable uncertainty. With each addition of Skill Points, each Skill Fusion, and each enhancement, the three little ones have come to realize that having more skills is not necessarily better. Fusing non-talent skills as much as possible into talent skills that can¡¯t be fused temporarily, and reducing the total number of their own skills, helps to focus resources more narrowly on their skills. And in the fusion process, the non-talent skills do not completely disappear; their skill effects also merge into the talent skill, forming part of the talent skill. Such enhancement is optimal. Therefore, obtaining a non-useful skill that cannot be used for fusion through a Three Star Skill Scroll, would be a frustrating thing for three little ones. To obtain new Three Star Skills, the three little ones prefer to exchange Teachable Skills or use 200 Skill Fragments to exchange for a specific Three Star Skill. Although the latter two consume more Value Points, they can steer a clearer course. However, now, the choice made by Cancan presents a brand new approach to Ziyun and Cancan. That is to exchange a Two Star Skill, and promote it to Three Star. This way, the total cost would only be one thousand four hundred Value Points, saving six hundred, and they can obtain a comparatively definite Three Star Skill through a precise Two Star Skill. Although exchanging a One Star Skill could save even more, from One Star to Three Stars there is much more uncertainty than from Two Stars to Three Star. This can be seen from the fact that the reduction skill uses three Three Star Skill Scrolls, but has turned into three different Three Star Skills. Having understood these nuances, Ziyun and Cancan were now looking at Cancan with added admiration. Impressive! Even Xu Ran, couldn¡¯t help the smile on his face growing wider. Many times, he wouldn¡¯t interfere in the resource allocation process among the three little ones, like choosing to exchange Two Stars and then upgrade to Three stars. Of course, he had thought of having it done this way, yet never reminded the three little ones. That being said, it seemed that it was always Cancan who first put forward either borrowing Value Points or selling resources to other Pet Beasts. This time was no different. ¡°What kind of Two Star Skill are you going to exchange?¡± Pushing aside his thoughts, Xu Ran asked aloud. HearingXu Ran¡¯s question, Cancan showed a thoughtful expression. The Three Star Skill that it wanted to exchange and then enhance was naturally for the purpose of Talent Skill Fusion, having determined this aim, the direction was pretty much set. At this moment, Cancan already had six non- talent skills. The earliest one was the Gap Flow Shuttle which came from the enhancement of the Reduction Skill. The Fate Necklace was obtained from the King-level resources, the Star Falling Power from King-level resource ¡°Star Fragment,¡± and the Late Night Echo Snail from the King-level resource ¡°Late Night Echo Snail.¡± Also, just recently acquired teaching skills were Quiet Night Breath and Desolate Place. Among these skills, Quiet Night Breath and Star Falling Power are both regenerative skills and will certainly be fused with Heart of Eternal Night in the future. The Gap Flow Shuttle, as a speed-enhancing skill, is only compatible with the fusion of Moon Concealment Star Racing. Featuring ways to amplify Dark Attributes, the Late Night Echo perfectly complements Night Rune and is the first choice for Night Rune fusion. The Fate Necklace has to be fused with Fated Star Pulling without question. As for the Desolate Place, it has already been determined to be fused with Star Refusal Ring in the future. Even though it possesses so many non-talent skills, Cancan hasn¡¯t been able to put together four skills that can be immediately fused into Four Star Skills. So¡­ Select the closest one to start. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (I need a Two Star Skill that fits with Quiet Night Breath, Star Falling Power and Heart of Eternal Night!) ¡°Fusing with Heart of Eternal Night first¡­¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran slightly nodded. The Heart of Eternal Night, combining restoration, healing, and amplification, has always been a crucial skill for Cancan. Enhancing it to Four Star first is a good choice. Since Quiet Night Breath and Star Falling Power primarily focus on regenerating effects, the next step is to choose an amplifying type Two Star Dark Attribute Skill. Xu Ran opened the exchanging list of Two Star Dark Attribute Skills and quickly locked onto a skill named Night Brilliance. This skill is a pure amplification skill; one of its effects is completely the same as one of Heart of Eternal Night, increasing all Dark Attribute Skills. In the opinion of Xu Ran, the degree of perfection of Heart of Eternal Night at this moment was already satisfying, containing enough effects. It was unnecessary to keep adding new ones. Remember: moderation is the best policy. Therefore, fusing with skills that have completely overlapping effects is the best choice. Exchange, teach, use the Scroll. In one sitting, there was soon an entirely new skill in Cancan¡¯s skill list. (¡ï¡ï¡ïBlackNight Sonata (Stardust Level)] (0/100)[+] ¡°How¡¯s the effect?¡± Xu Ran looked at Cancan expecting feedback. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I am very satisfied!) After briefly feeling the effect of this skill, Cancan excitedly nodded its head. As Xu Ran speculated, this purely Dark Attribute amplification skill did not encounter any abnormalities in its upgrade process from two-star to three- star. It simply evolved from a two-star level to a three-star level, without any other changes apart from a comprehensive enhancement of its amplifying effect. It would surely result in an epic level boost for the Heart of Eternal Night when the skill is fused with the other two non-talent skills. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (¡®I¡¯ll be the first to fuse in the next resource allocation!¡¯) A star cried out and looked at Ziyun and Cancan. Ziyun and Cancan cast each other a glance and both nodded decisively. They both already possess four-star skills, only Star still does not have one. That¡¯s why it¡¯s only reasonable for it to be given the first chance at fusion in the following round. With the affirmative response from his two companions, Star became even more excited. It¡¯s already eagerly anticipating the next resource allocation. ¡°You still have 4.00 Skill Fragments,¡± said Xu Ran, reminding Star. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (¡®Not yet needed!¡¯) Star shook its head. It¡¯s not necessary to prepare for the fusion of subsequent skills at such an early stage as the first four-star skill is yet to have a successful fusion. If during this process Xu Ran obtains new teachable skills or Star exchanges new King-Level resources and acquires new skills, it would not be worth it if there are duplicates. Good steel should be used on the blade edge! As Star laid out its ideas, Xu Ran nodded slightly with an approving look while Ziyun and Cancan also showed thoughtful expressions. It always seemed that¡­ Star was full of ideas during every resource allocation. Oh no! Could it be that this guy is the most intelligent amongst them?! ¡°Star¡¯s exchange has come to a temporary conclusion,¡± Xu Ran paused a little while looking at Ziyun and Cancan, ¡°What about you two, would you like to exchange anything?¡± ¡°Charming!¡±C The last three-star Skill Scroll!¡¯) Cancan spoke without hesitation and collected the last Scroll. It had almost forgotten that its Burrow Soil hasn¡¯t been upgraded yet! ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran gave a nod, knowing already where Cancan would put this scroll to use, without it needing to explain further. Moments later, the two-star Burrow Soil skill on Cancan¡¯s skill panel quickly vanished, replaced by a brand new skill. [¡ï¡ïBurrow Soil (Full Moon Level)](379/ioooo)[ + ] 4¡ä 4¡ä 4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ï Subterranean Shape Pond (Full Moon Level)](379/ioooo)[+] After understanding the effect of the new skill and reopening its eyes, Cancan, under the curious gaze of two beasts and one human, voluntarily introduced the new skill. Compared to the previous Burrow Soil skill, Subterranean Shape Pond, in addition to increasing the speed of burrowing under the earth, also has a new effect. Cancan can grant the same ability to objects and creatures it touches. Initially, Cancan could only burrow under the earth by itself, but now it has the ability to bring people or objects along while burrowing. Hearing this, Star suddenly wore a strange expression. It seemed to sense a hint of danger. Could its status as a mount be taken over by Cancan?! ¡°This skill isn¡¯t bad,¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin while giving his final judgement. Even though it seemed that this skill wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the strength of three-stars, it was indeed a three-star skill. Therefore, there must be some special aspects that even Cancan is not familiar with at this moment. Specific details could be explored later. As for now¡­ ¡°Continue with resource allocation!¡± After Cancan exchanged the final three-star Skill Scroll, the second round of resource allocation for the three pets began. Star, who had already exchanged more than 4.00 Skill Fragments, did not exchange any more. Ziyun and Cancan split the remaining Skill Fragments between themselves for exchange. As usual, the four Energy Abundant Potions were taken by Ziyun, who still has stamina demands, while Skill Points were once again contested over by the three pets. In the end, Cancan, who had more Value Points left, won the race. It exchanged the most Skill Points, all of which were added to its Land of Destruction, which had just upgraded to four stars. [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïLand of Destruction (Full Moon Level)](1093/10000)[+] 4¡ä 4¡ä 4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïLand of Destruction (Halo Level)](o/5oooo) Although it didn¡¯t possess the first four-star skill in the team, Cancan, by virtue of being the first to add points to the skill, successfully held the first Halo Level skill in the team. Ziyun and Star, on the other hand, added their Skill Points to the Immortal Body and Heart of Eternal Night respectively. Although they could not directly break through to the Halo Level, they were now not far from it. If all goes well, they might not need to wait until the next resource allocation, but could make the breakthrough simply through daily training. As for the other resources, the three pets temporarily had no demand and collectively chose not to allocate them. Once the resource allocation was over, Xu Ran threw the small blackboard and chalk aside and looked at the three pets whose overall strength had improved significantly. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for us to check the Beast Trainer Ranking!¡± Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 221: The Rivalry of Two Cats l Chapter 362: Chapter 221: The Rivalry of Two Cats l ¡°Tch~¡± Standing before the grand gates of the Beast Master List, Xu Ran and the three little ones all showed expectant expressions on their faces. Although this was not their first time here, this time, their strength had achieved significant growth. Unlike their previous slow climb up the rankings, they should be able to achieve a substantial bump all at once. Among the crowd entering and exiting the Beast Master List, many noticed this man with his three pets who had stirred up the wind and waves in the List half a month ago, but not many paid them mind. After all, their ranking was now stable. It seemed like they were only there for the usual daily ranking challenge. There was no shortage of strong contenders in the Beast Master List, and no one can maintain the spotlight for long. And this was exactly what Xu Ran wanted. He had already made quite a name for himself. With so many people keeping an eye on him in the daily ranking challenges, he was a tad uncomfortable. A decrease in the number of people watching him made the ranking challenge more relaxed. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Leading the three little ones, Xu Ran quickly stepped into the Beast Master List building. ¡°What ranking should we aim for first?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Combat Power List!) The response came from Ziyun in an eager, enthusiastic voice. Having mastered a Four-Star skill that normally only Emperor Species could grasp, Ziyun¡¯s strength had significantly improved. With these improvements, it should be able to surpass the current number one on the Combat Power List in one fell swoop, and bring her rank on the Historical Rankings from beyond a hundred to a higher rank, earning a sizeable amount of Beast Master Points. This time, it would lead the charge! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°But there¡¯s no need to go all-out. We will also be challenging the Beast Master List later.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I get it!) Ziyun nodded slightly. No matter how one sees it, the importance of the Beast Master List exceeds that of the Pet Beast List. Thus, when challenging the Combat Power List, it can¡¯t use Crimson Gold Electroplating or Scarlet Battle Intent in order to achieve better results in the successive Beast Master List challenge. However¡­ Feeling its own strength at this moment, Ziyun¡¯s eyes were still filled with a strong sense of confidence. Even if Scarlet Battle Intent was banned, and temporarily unable to use Crimson Gold Electroplating, I, Ziyun, am still invincible in the world! ¡°Charming¡± (I also want to try!) Seemingly affected by Ziyun, Cancan also seemed quite excited. Although its skill direction is mainly defensive, the one that had been upgraded to Four-Stars was its only pure attack skill. So the resource distribution didn¡¯t give a huge boost to Cancan¡¯s defense, but greatly enhanced its attack power. Compared to Ziyun¡¯s Immortal Body, it had another advantage, which was its Four-Star skill, Land of Destruction, that had already been promoted to the Halo Level ¨C currently the only Halo Level skill in the team! Cancan glanced at Ziyun, feeling a bit guilty. If it surpassed big sister in the rankings, would big sister give it a beating? It decided to raise the defensive skills quickly during the next resource allocation to avoid painful beatings! ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (You two do your best.) Star let out a neigh and gently shook its head. The Combat Power List wasn¡¯t of much concern to it. Since it hadn¡¯t yet gained any Four-Star skills through merging, Star didn¡¯t see a significant improvement in this round of resource allocation. It could only give mental support to Ziyun and Cancan. While the team of three was talking, they soon arrived at the testing location C12 for the Combat Power List. The door lit up in red with ¡°Testing In Progress¡±, showing that someone was currently being tested inside. Xu Ran and the three pets patiently waited. Before the person inside came out, a bell rang, echoing across the whole field. ¡°Ding ¡± As the bell rang, the entire Beast Master List quieted down a bit. The onlookers at different locations in the List started to search for the changing rankings. The next moment, numerous people threw their gazes toward a column of light soaring into the sky in the center of the field. It was the Historical Rankings changing! Among the rising murmurs, many figures quickly moved toward the light pillar, wanting to see which big shot had improved his historical ranking. ¡°That position¡­¡± Xu Ran had a somewhat uncertain look on his face, ¡°It seems to be the Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List we will be going for next?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (That¡¯scorrect.) Ziyun¡¯s expression held a touch of seriousness. It was too familiar with that list. At this moment, only the top three stars in the current list were on the Historical List. Since it was the second on this list, the one being tested now must be either the third one or the first one. For some reason, Ziyun had a strong premonition. The one challenging was not the third! The next moment, the Historical List lit up. Du Hongchen, who was previously ranked 87th on the Historical List, shot up through the ranks in a very short time. He jumped to the 4.8th position of the Historical Combat Power List! He made it into the top fifty! Xu Ran and the three pets went silent for a moment, then they simultaneously turned their gazes to the still closed door of the C12 testing location. At this moment, the door slowly opened. A man and a pet beast walked out one step at a time. Leading the way was a man who, despite his handsome appearance, held a slight softness. However, a chilling murderous intent was reflected in his eyes. Following him was a somewhat hazy beast in the form of a cat with a shadowy figure. As it moved, it continuously dragged out afterimages, its whole body covered in jet black fur. It was a Dark Attribute king species ¨C the Nine-shadow Demon Cat. Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 221: The Rivalry of Two Cats_2 Chapter 363: Chapter 221: The Rivalry of Two Cats_2 It¡¯s him! Ziyun¡¯s peculiarly colored pupils constricted instantly, staring back into the eyes of the Nine-shadow Demon Cat that was also gazing at it, an intangible clash of willpower fleeting between the two pet beasts. Throughout this period of rank climbing, it had never encountered the other, whose ranking had also never wavered in the slightest. Who would have thought that just as its strength greatly increased, and it was about to ascend to the top of the current ranking, this guy would actually come to challenge the rank, and his strength has also improved considerably. ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Du Hongchen also recognized Xu Ran in front of him, a playful look on his face, ¡°I have been in seclusion training for some time, I didn¡¯t expect you to pop up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the second of the Leadership Level Beast Masters, with the highest individual combat power, you¡¯re impressive.¡± ¡°But, you can stop coveting the first place in the Combat Power List.¡± ¡°Even Fang Yuling¡¯s pet beast might not be a match for my Nine-shadow Damo¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring it to our shop for some washing and care? Your Nine- shadow Demon Cat¡¯s fur is a bit rough. With proper care, it can perform at its best.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s sudden interruption left a look of bewilderment on Du Hongchen¡¯s face. ¡°A wash and care?¡± Du Hongchen couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xu Ran. He had heard rumors that this guy likes advertising. Now he saw it for himself. Here I am making a tough stand, and he¡¯s trying to turn me into a customer? This is really¡­ ¡°Sure.¡± Du Hongchen smirked, ¡°I see you want to climb the ranks too. If you don¡¯t surpass me, how about a free wash and care for my Nine-shadow Demon Cat?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran readily agreed. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t just advertise out of nowhere. The Nine-shadow Demon Cat may be the top-ranked pet beast in terms of combat power, but it also ranks high on the Velocity Chart, showing that this dark attribute pet beast is very good at speed. If they can snatch a dark attribute speed-based skill, Star would surely be thrilled. ¡°See you later.¡± Without saying more, Xu Ran led the three little ones into Area C12, leaving Du Hongchen behind with a look of disdain. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With a terrifying roar, a Leadership Stage Armored Rhinoceros with a body size of more than ten meters, robust and burly like a small mountain, was blasted into the ground by Ziyun¡¯s claw, leaving behind a deep pit. Its shattered body turned into countless points of light and dissipated. Watching this scene, Cancan, who was observing, couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Although the body size of the Armored Rhinoceros was much smaller than Cancan¡¯s, it seemed to already be imagining the scene of itself being beaten. The big sis is still the big sis, still fierce when fighting. ¡°Test over.¡± Xu Ran stood up and waved at Ziyun, indicating it to stop. With a flash, Ziyun appeared in front of Xu Ran. Apart from its vitality seeming slightly worn because of the continuous fighting just now, everything else was perfectly normal. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± Star neighed, and the ethereal chain instantly linked it with Ziyun. Accompanied by the continuous flashing of the chain¡¯s links, Ziyun quickly recovered to its peak strength at a visible speed. Star Brand Power Bank, with a main feature of being fast. After giving a grateful look to Star, Ziyun turned to look at the test result that just popped up. ¡°Combat Power: 60239¡± Broke sixty thousand! A look of excitement appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. Before this, its combat power, relying on the training it had done in this period was only a little away from fifty-three thousand, and its rank in the Historical ¡¯ Rankings had also improved from the original 372 to 107. And now, the improvement from a four-star skill has increased its combat power by a full seven thousand. This doesn¡¯t even include the bonus from Crimson Gold Electroplating and Scarlet Battle Intent. Looking at Ziyun¡¯s current combat power, Xu Ran suddenly spoke. ¡°What was Du Hongchen¡¯s combat power after his upgrade just now?¡± It¡¯s about time, he should be finishing his test soon.¡± Standing at the entrance of the C12 testing ground, Du Hongchen crossed his arms, a look of disdain on his face, ¡°Little Black, I¡¯ve earned you a free wash and care. Aren¡¯t you satisfied?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± The Nine-shadow Demon Cat licked its paw, its expression calm. It wouldn¡¯t be so easy to provide wash and care for it. Whether that human could do it well was still unknown. Due to its uniqueness, the Nine-shadow Demon Cat¡¯s body was actually superimposed by nine identical shadows. Because of the non-overlaps in the superimposition process, its body contour appeared blurred. Only one of these nine shadows is real, and the specific one varies with time. If the real one becomes clean, the other eight shadows will also become clean. That¡¯s why the Nine-shadow Demon Cat loves to lick its fur. One lick, nine times the pleasure! To wash and care for the Nine-shadow Demon Cat, one must first determine its physical form. There are only a few washing and care specialists in the entire Xieyun City who can do this. Well, it¡¯s free anyway. The Nine-shadow Demon Cat licked its paw twice again and glanced at the leaderboard. It hadn¡¯t charged the rankings for more than half a month, almost been surpassed by a fellow it had never heard of before, and what¡¯s more, like itself, it was also a feline pet beast. It wouldn¡¯t feel any closeness to the pet beast called Flash Thunder Cat just because they were both felines. On the contrary, it quite disliked its own kind. ¡°Ding ¡± A crisp bell rang through the beast trainer ranking area, causing Du Hongchen and the Nine-shadow Demon Cat¡¯s expressions to become serious at the same time. Was it someone else rushing the rankings that caused the change in the rankings, or was it Xu Ran who just went in? The next moment, the lit-up leaderboard caused Du Hongchen¡¯s heart to sink. In the Historical Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List, a column of light shot up into the sky, attracting attention. However, what made Du Hongchen¡¯s heart sink even further was the flickering light on the other leaderboard next to it. The current combat power list has also changed! It s widely known that those who rush the rankings can¡¯t possibly see a decrease in their rank. If the tested combat power doesn¡¯t exceed the previous test result, then the leaderboard ranking will be based on the previous test result. So, if a beast trainer who is currently rushing the rankings has a change in their ranking, their position can only improve. Wait a minute! As if he had thought of something, Du Hongchen¡¯s eyes shone with a different light. This guy named Xu Ran, he just went in with three pet beasts. Apart from the Flash Thunder Cat which was ranked second, closely pursuing his own Nine-shadow Demon Cat, there was also one named Panlong Turtle, which was famous on the pet beast leaderboard. Maybe the change in the rankings was because of it? However, the moment Du Hongchen had this thought, the ranking that lit up on the current board shattered his last hope. His name at the first place and Xu Ran¡¯s name in the second lit up together and then instantly swapped places. ¡°1st place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Flash Thunder Cat, combat power: 60239¡å Looking at the new name in the first place and the combat power number following it, Du Hongchen¡¯s pupils drastically contracted, and his face was full of surprise and confusion. How is that possible?! Hasn¡¯t this guy been rushing the rankings all this time? How could he suddenly increase his combat power by so much?! Equally bewildered and confused were the Nine-shadow Demon Cat. It slowly put down its paw, and in its shock it temporarily forgot to groom itself. It was¡­surpassed? By that little ragged cat? No, on what basis?! While the one-man-one-pet pair was stunned, cries of surprise kept coming from the audience in front of the Historical Rankings. After the change in the current rankings was over, the rankings on the Historical Combat Power List began to change. Ziyun, who was originally at 107th place, his name lit up instantly, then kept climbing in front of everyone¡¯s eyes. Top hundred¡­top fifty¡­top thirty¡­ Amid the exclamation of the crowd, Ziyun¡¯s rank finally settled at 25th place. 25th place on the Historical Rankings! You must know, that the higher you go, the greater the gap in combat power between the ranks. Once you reach the top fifty in the Historical Rankings, each rank increase is quite difficult. After all, those who rush the ranks face countless powerful pet beasts that have left their mark at the Leadership Level over the past three centuries. This guy¡­¡± Du Hongchen took a deep breath, involuntarily looking towards the tightly closed door of the C12 test site. But a moment later, his expression gradually became strange. For some reason, a sense of foreboding surged in his heart. The Flash Thunder Cat¡¯s rush rankings results have long since ended, so why hasn¡¯t Xu Ran come out yet? Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 222: Ziyun: What? Its abackstab!_l Chapter 364: Chapter 222: Ziyun: What? It¡¯s abackstab!_l ¡°Boom!!!¡± A light yellow halo soared up into the sky, pulling countless grains of sand from thin air, connecting each other by an invisible force, shaping up into a large net of terrifying entrapment. In the giant net, thousands of Transcendent Beings were frozen in their tracks, even twitching was impossible under such an enormous power disparity, let alone escaping this terrifying zone that will bring about their obliteration. The next moment, the Transcendent Beings along with the giant net started to collapse, as if an invisible, colossal hand was crushing them all together. With the immense pressure, their flesh and bone structures contorted. Following it, a wave of sky-shaking roars echoed throughout the battlefield. Centered on the gigantic net, a terrifying explosion sparked what nearly materialized into an energy storm, sweeping the entirety of the test field round after round. Four-star skill, Halo Level ¡ö Land of destruction! ¡°Sure-¡± Cancan swiveled its massive stature that stood like a mountain, lifted its head high, and let out a proud roar. Then, its body rapidly shrank. Within a split second, it transitioned from a hundred-meters-tall horrific body into a pet-sized small turtle of about one meter, and leisurely returned to Xu Ran. ¡°Excellent.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan on its head and looked up at the popped out testing result. ¡°Combat Power: 63196¡± Gazing at this combat power, the trio fall silent and Starfire and Cancan almost immediately turned to look at the petrified Ziyun. Ziyun: ¡°Meow meow meow?¡± Its triumphant expression instantly froze and the joy of being the top of the rank evaporated. Unexpectedly, instead of the Nine-shadow Demon Cat¡¯s comeback, it was Cancan who stabbed them in the back! This guy¡­ This guy!! Ziyun quickly turned its head, looking at Cancan who awkwardly darted its eyes in a different direction. I¡¯m first in combat power! Ahhhhhh! For a moment, Ziyun wanted to unleash the Crimson Gold Electroplating and Scarlet Battle Intent and take another test. However, thinking about the forthcoming Beast Master List, Ziyun temporarily let go of this idea and shot Cancan a fierce glare. Once the Immortal Body ranks up to Halo Level, it will definitely regain the top spot! As a pet entity that focuses on attacking skills, it is unthinkable that it would lose to Cancan, who only has one output skill. This is simply a shame for cats! ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should go out.¡± Xu Ran, with a grin, tousled Ziyun and Cancan¡¯s hair at the same time. ¡°We have both the first and second spots. It¡¯s pretty nice.¡± Upon hearing this, Ziyun felt a slight improvement in its mood. Right- No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s better to lose to its own teammates than to others¡­ But, it will reclaim this top spot! Definitely! ¡°XiLu-¡± (Cheer up!) Starfire was all too happy to facilitate the drama. After all, the Power Listing had nothing to do with it. The trio began to talk and laugh their way out of the testing venue, and soon they saw Du Hongchen, standing still as a statue. ¡°You¡­¡± Du Hongchen looked at Xu Ran who was walking towards him, his breathing gradually becoming more erratic. How dare he bully me like this. It¡¯s one thing to be surpassed by his Flash Thunder Cat, but now even his Panlong Turtle has surpassed me. Just remember, that Panlong Turtle was hardly qualified to be in the Historical Rankings before! With the shift in rankings, not only has the Panlong Turtle become the current list¡¯s number 1, but it has also miraculously broken into the top 10 places in the Historical Rankings. The top ten! He couldn¡¯t believe that Xu Ran had improved so much in such a short period. Remember, both these pets attempted the Combat Power List earlier today. Their combat power improvement was nearly zero, and they didn¡¯t improve their ranks any. So, there is only one explanation! Du Hongchen strides over to Xu Ran, extends his hand to grab Xu Ran¡¯s collar. However, he retracts it with realization, recalling that the young man in front of him was the number one in the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. ¡°Did you deliberately retain your strength to surpass me in front of my face?¡± The term ¡°sniping¡± is a special slang in Beast Master rankings, referring to deliberately holding back in the attempt to top the list until the Beast Master who¡¯s going to be surpassed is present. Although it¡¯s permitted by the rules, it¡¯s a great deal of embarrassment. Previously, Xu Ran had remained unflinchingly balanced, other than an initial jump, and once Du Hongchen arrived, the two pets of Xu Ran successively surpassed him, taking away his second spot. This caused him to speculate in this direction. ¡°Sniping?¡± Xu Ran, slightly taken aback, shook his head reluctantly. ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°My pet just so happened to have a significant increase in strength, so we came to try the ranking.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Du Hongchen¡¯s face cleared up a bit. Thinking about it carefully, he also felt the judgment he just made was ill- thought-out. Generally, those who choose to ¡°snipe¡± usually have previous resentment. He hadn¡¯t encountered the young man in front of him before, so there¡¯s no question of any sort of resentment. Additionally, since Du Hongchen just finished his closure today, there is no way Xu Ran could have known about it in advance. Was it a misunderstanding then? But how the heck did this guy manage to improve his pet¡¯s abilities so much in such a short time?! ¡°I apologize, it was a misunderstanding.¡± Du Hongchen shook his head. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, right? I will bring my pets over.¡± Leaving a response behind, Du Hongchen turned around and left. He finally had a major boost in strength and decided to show off it, but he didn¡¯t expect to lose face even more. This heartache, he couldn¡¯t bear to stay a minute longer. He had to excuse himself! Watching the other party leave, Xu Ran retracted his gaze and looked over at Starfire, ¡°Try to aim for a better speed type skill from that Nine-shadow Demon Cat.¡± A grateful look appeared in Starfire¡¯s eyes. Only now did it realize that the gamble Xu Ran had just mouthed off to the opponent was all for it. I¡¯m gonna cry, the Beast Master really cares about it! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Get on the Beast Master List!) Stars sparkled with desire in Starfire¡¯s eyes. Although its strength improvement was not as great as Ziyun and Cancan s since it didn¡¯t get a four-star skill or upgrade any skills to the Halo level, there was still some improvement. Only by using all of its supportive effects in collaboration with the greatly improved Ziyun and Cancan to top the remaining two lists of the Beast Trainer Rankings, could it repay its Beast Master for being so kind to it! ¡°Meow-¡± (Charge, charge, charge!) A hint of thrill appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. It had suppressed the urge to use explosive skills to surpass Cancan and reclaim the number one spot, leaving two explosive skills unused. No matter what happens, it has to reach number one in the Beast Master List this time! Not only the individual combat power list but also the overall combat power list and the Pet Beast Team Power List! All top positions, on this day! As Ziyun and Cancan successively became the current leaders of the Combat Power List and rose significantly in the Historical Rankings, the attention of the cucumber-eating masses, which had faded due to the Three Little Ones, returned once again. Seeing the direction Xu Ran and the Three Little Ones were heading, excitement arose in their eyes. That location¡­it¡¯ s the Leadership Level Beast Master List! Xu Ran, who has already claimed the top spots in both the current and historical rankings of the Leadership Level Beast Master¡¯s individual combat power, undoubtedly has the next goal in mind. Judging from the sudden power upgrade of his pet beasts on the Combat Power List, it is possible that Xu Ran will indeed accomplish his goal. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Today will indeed be big news! After all, the person he aims to surpass¡­ is that man¡¯s daughter! For a time, countless cucumber-eating frontliners summoned friends, creating quite a lively scene. Seeing the increasingly large crowd following behind, Xu Ran smiled. Would his fame increase a bit if he surpassed Fang Yuling and claimed the top three spots? The bottleneck in increasing his fame was due to his achievements not being astonishing enough. But it should be enough if he surpasses Fang Yuling, right? Soon, under the hopeful and excited gazes of the crowd, Xu Ran with his three little ones entered the Col testing area. Beast Masters Overall Power Ranking! One minute¡­ two minutes¡­ three minutes¡­ As time gradually passed, the crowd waiting outside the C01 testing area grew larger, until a deep and vast bell rang out, echoing through the entire venue. ¡°Ring¡ª¨C ¡± Corresponding to the booming sound, there was a multitude of gasps and murmurs from the crowd. ¡°Did he surpass her?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. The historical ranking might have changed.¡± ¡°True. Xu Ran¡¯s historical ranking was significantly lower than Fang Yuling s, it might change even if he doesn¡¯t surpass her¡­ ¡°No, he really did surpass her! The current ranking lit up! As exclamations echoed, the beam of light soaring into the sky alongside the subtly flickering light attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Under the intense gaze of all present, Xu Ran¡¯s ranking switched places with Fang Yuling1 s in an instant. ¡°1st place, Starfire Fosterage, Overall Power: 431762.¡± He really did surpass her! With the background noises bubbling over, everyone turned their gaze towards the Historical Rankings. The ranking of Starfire Fosterage, like a bolt out of the blue, jumped from over a hundred and emerged in the 4th place of the Historical Rankings. As Xu Ran stepped out of the C01 testing area, the cucumber-eating masses looked at him with renewed awe in their eyes. That was Fang Canghai¡¯s daughter, hailed as the Beast Master prodigy who most likely would surpass Fang Canghai, standing heads and shoulders above her counterparts. At this moment, this youth, several years younger than Fang Yuling, managed to surpass her in such an astonishing fashion. But soon, the awe in people¡¯s eyes changed to astonishment. Because Xu Ran, who had just topped the Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, calmly glanced at the leaderboard once before turning towards another testing area nearby. That was¡­ the C02 testing area! Could it be that Xu Ran intends to top these two heavyweight lists in one day?! Looking at Xu Ran, who disappeared through the doorway of the C02 testing area, the breathing of the cucumber-eating masses began to quicken. ¡°Are you ready?¡± in the CO2 testing area, Xu Ran stood on the high platform, looking down at his three little ones, their eyes brimming with excitement. The three little ones nodded in unison, their eyes filled with enthusiasm. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s do this!) Ziyun growled, its body surging with an invisible and powerful Fighting Attribute force. It had already used Crimson Gold Electroplating during the overall power test just now, and its Thunderforce was currently in a weak state due to backlash. But, it still had its Fighting Attribute force. And its strongest skill at present, was a Fighting Attribute ability. So¡­ Ziyun stared at the rapidly approaching Beast Tide through the smoke and dust with its beautifully colored pupils. It¡¯s time to show off its true strength! Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Chapter 223 Fang Canghais Laughter l Chapter 365: Chapter 223 Fang Canghai¡¯s Laughter l ¡°My god, in such a short time, Xu Ran has ascended to first in the overall power rankings?!¡± Among the crowd that had gathered at the news, Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but grimace, quietly exclaiming, ¡°This guy is simply absurd!¡± ¡°Look at him, then look at yourself.¡± Upon hearing Qin Can¡¯s words, Qin Yue rolled her eyes in annoyance. She then proceeded to slap the back of his head, ¡°He¡¯s a couple of years younger than you, yet he¡¯s already topped the Leadership Level Beast Master List twice!¡± ¡°Sis¡­ you didn¡¯t reach this ranking either, did you?¡± Qin Can held his head with both hands, speaking with a helpless expression on his face. At those words, Qin Yue was rendered speechless. After a moment of silence, she grabbed Qin Can¡¯s ear, ¡°You dare talkback?!¡± ¡°Sis! Sis! I was wrong!¡± Qin Can¡¯s handsome face contorted in pain as he tiptoed in the direction Qin Yue was pulling, trying to alleviate his earache. ¡°That¡¯s good as long as you recognize your mistake.¡± Qin Yue hummed, releasing Qin Can¡¯s ear at once. She crossed her arms, looking at the Beast Master List in front of her, ¡°Indeed, a formidable guy.¡± At this moment, she had no more grumbles about Xu Ran surpassing her in the Velocity Chart. For some of the monster-like talent, this was merely basic performance. ¡°Make way! Make way!¡± From the other side of the crowd, a disturbance arose, with intermittent shouts for people to make way for something. ¡°Who is it?¡± Qin Can was somewhat annoyed. He had struggled to get to the front of the crowd; Why should he make way? With this thought in mind, Qin Can couldn¡¯t help but tiptoe, trying to see over the sea of heads to understand what was happening. The next moment, Qin Can¡¯s expression froze and without a second word, he pulled Qin Yue aside, stepping back and making way like the others. ¡°Why are you pulling me? You¡­¡± Qin Yue instinctively began to ask only to be interrupted by long black hair sweeping past. That was¡­ Fang Yuling?! An expression of surprise crept onto Qin Yue¡¯s face. She couldn¡¯t help but follow Fang Yuling¡¯s figure until she stopped in front of the Beast Master Overall Power Ranking. Then, Qin Yue¡¯s surprise intensified into anticipation. Things were becoming more interesting. Although she existed in a different skill tier than Fang Yuling, Qin Yue had always been captivated by Chairman Fang¡¯s only daughter. Word had it that the young lady was cold and aloof. It was unexpected that even she was attracted by Xu Ran. Right, maybe she never thought that a peer could surpass her. What would her reaction be when Xu Ran comes out? Many spectators among the crowd, thinking along the same lines as Qin Yue, shifted their gaze from the C02 testing area to the young woman in front of them. Unaware of the many eyes observing her from behind, Fang Yuling gently lifted her head, intently looking at the two names at the top of the board. Since she topped the list, she had held her position firmly. Many had tried to surpass her hoping to prove themselves as the most powerful Leadership Level Beast Master; before this, none had succeeded. Having grown up surrounded by Emperor Level Beast Masters, including her father, and possessing a talent for evolution research that surpassed even her father, Fang Yuling had resources available to her that others could not even dream of. The more they wanted to surpass her, the more desperate they would feel. At this point, Fang Yuling, who had been at a standstill in the Third Stage Contract Power for a while, had maxed out the skill proficiency level of her three pet beasts to Halo Level, the peak level a Leadership Stage Pet Beast could attain. In such circumstances, Fang Yuling never thought that anyone could surpass her so effortlessly. How much time has passed since Xu Ran first attempted to break into the Beast Master List? In less than half a month, he had risen from obscurity to top the Beast Trainer Overall Power Ranking. If she was considered a monster, then what was he? Looking firmly at the name high above her, Fang Yuling was silent for a long while, eventually managing to ask, ¡°Where is he?¡± At Fang Yuling¡¯s question, the crowd fell briefly silent before a voice rang out from somewhere within. ¡°He is in the C02 testing area.¡± C02¡­ Fang Yuling suddenly looked up, shifting her gaze to another leaderboard nearby. The current Leadership Level Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List. Almost the moment her gaze fell on the leaderboard, a deep roar echoed through the entire Beast Trainers Ranking area. It was like a heavy hammer pounding the hearts of each spectator, as well as Fang Yuling¡¯s. ¡°Dang ¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± After reaching its peak, Ziyun¡¯s power swiftly plummeted, noticeable to the naked eye. It seemed weak in an instant as though the fearsome force was merely an illusion. It quickly shrank to its pocket-sized state and then began to stagger toward Xu Ran¡¯s direction, step by step. Having just used the Crimson Gold Electroplating skill, its Thunderforce had reached its absolute limit. Now, with the onset of Scarlet Battle Intent¡¯s backlash, its Fighting Attribute was temporarily sealed, leaving it completely drained. However, all of this was worth it. Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 223 Fang Canghais Laughter_2 Chapter 366: Chapter 223 Fang Canghai¡¯s Laughter_2 Behind it, the countless corpses of transcendent beings piled up like mountains. They shattered simultaneously, transforming into a rain of light that poured from the sky. Then slowly, they disappeared into thin air. A four-star skill, Halo Level- Immortal Body. Yes, Halo. Previously not far from reaching the Halo Level, Ziyun, in the midst of a fierce and relentless battle frenzy, took that step. Just like Cancan¡¯s Metropolis of Ruin, its proficiency reached the peak level of the leadership stage. Together with the Scarlet Battle Intent that specifically increased the power of fighting expertise skills, Ziyun was like an incarnate deity, making a witnessing Cancan unconsciously shrink its head. As it turns out, when big sis was hitting itself, she was holding back! ¡°You worked hard.¡± Reaching out his hand and gently rubbing Ziyun¡¯s head, Xu Ran, who was walking down from the high platform, held the creature showing signs of exhaustion in his arms. On his face, he wore a touch of regret. It was clear to see, Cancan surpassing it to become the top of the Combat Power List was a big shock to Ziyun. In the testing process of the overall combat power list, the oppressive sense displayed by Ziyun was extremely intense. With the power of the Scarlet Battle Intent combined with the breakthrough of the Halo Level four-star fighting expertise skill Immortal Body, Ziyun¡¯s power didn¡¯t seem like it was at the Leadership Level. ¡°Meow-¡± (I can become stronger!) Ziyun rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s palm, though its face was full of exhaustion, its eyes still carried the burning desire for battle. It had not tried using the Crimson Gold Electroplating and Scarlet Battle Intent at the same time. Otherwise, it would have been able to display even greater power. ¡°Try not to use both skills simultaneously.¡± Xu Ran, realizing Ziyun¡¯s idea, softly said, ¡°Both of these skills currently have significant side effects. The backlash from using them together is even bigger. It isn¡¯t necessary unless it¡¯s an absolutely desperate situation.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright, alright.) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun obediently nodded its head, the burning desire in its eyes slightly dimming. Then it glanced at Cancan who had shrunk and obediently stayed aside, it nodded in satisfaction. Good, it seemed that little brother Cancan finally understood who was the strongest in the team. So what if there was the Combat Power List? That was all just empty fame! Xu Ran smiled, then lifted his head to look at the test results that had popped up at some unknown time. ¡°Pet Beast Team Combat Power: 392398¡± If he remembered correctly, Fang Yuling¡¯s pet beast team combat power was thirty-eight thousand or so. So, did this mean he was now number one in all three lists? ¡°We should leave now.¡± Xu Ran turned to look at the three little ones, who also wore expressions of excitement, ¡°If we stay any longer, Fang Yuling might come give us trouble.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (If she comes, we¡¯ll hit her!) Ziyun in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, menacingly waved its paw. At this moment, it had absolute confidence that it could coordinate with Star and Cancan to defeat Fang Yuling¡¯s three pet beasts! However, the next moment, Ziyun felt a wave of intense exhaustion rushing towards it. Oh right¡­ it had almost forgotten that it was still in the backlash phase. ¡°Meow!¡± (A strategic retreat, we¡¯ll fight again next time!) Looking at the weak Ziyun, Star and Cancan agreed and nodded their heads. The person and his three pets walked out of testing area C02 while joking around. However, as soon as they emerged, their laughter ceased the moment they saw the figure waiting outside. Just as expected¡­ Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives¡­ Looking at Fang Yuling, whose expression could not be deciphered, Xu Ran gave a light cough and was about to speak when he saw the woman turn around and leave without uttering a single word. ¡°Eh¡­¡± Watching the hastily retreating Fang Yuling, an expression of contemplation emerged on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Everything else was easy to deal with, but she wouldn¡¯t stop fostering her pet beasts at the shop anymore, would she? At the top floor of the grand main building of the Beast Master Association, in a super-large office, a robust man with firm and steadfast features was sitting at his desk and carefully examined the files in his hand. ¡°Tap tap tap¡ª¡± The frantic knocking on the door broke his reading rhythm. ¡°Come in.¡± The man put down the files in his hand, calmly massaging his temples in an attempt to alleviate the fatigue from dealing with matters over the past few days. ¡°President!¡± As the office door was pushed open, a middle-aged man quickly stepped forward, a look of respect on his face. ¡°The replies from the other second-level towns have arrived.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± On hearing his subordinate¡¯s report, an interested look crossed the man¡¯s face. He took a stack of letters from him, opening and browsing through them one by one. While the man was reading, his subordinate stood nearby, a barely concealed look of awe and admiration in his eyes. In the Xieyun City Beast Master Association, only one person was referred to as the president. He was the strongest in Xieyun City, the only Emperor Level Beast Master ¨C Fang Canghai. After reading the letters, a hint of helplessness appeared on Fang Canghai¡¯s face. He shook his head slightly. ¡°It seems that these key towns have already secretly formed alliances.¡± ¡°We humans, living within the Beast Field, ought to band together in the face of such a crisis. However, some believe that I have ulterior motives¡­as if my ambitions have spiraled out of control¡­heh.¡± Fang Canghai shook his head again. ¡°We all reside within the Shining Holy Kingdom, under the jurisdiction of the first-level capital, Broken Abyss City. As a mere Emperor Level Beast Master, do they think I could cause an upheaval?¡± ¡°President, it appears that they are measuring the depth of a well with their own warped yardsticks.¡± The middle-aged manchimed in. ¡°However, their proposed plan¡­¡± ¡°Agree to their terms.¡± Fang Canghai declared calmly, ¡°They think that Leadership Level Beast Masters are ants, insufficient to display the strength of second-level towns? They want to exchange resources between General Level and King Level Beast Masters?¡± ¡°Then let them come!¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s face gradually turned serious. ¡°I can feel that an old friend from deep within the Beast Zone No.4.7 is growing restless.¡± ¡°An alliance is necessary.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The middle-aged man nodded heavily. ¡°Whew¡ª¡± Throwing the last envelope onto the table, Fang Canghai rubbed his temples again. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something lighter, there haven¡¯t been many pieces of good news lately.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± At Fang Canghai¡¯s words, a hint of hesitation and curiosity appeared on the middle-aged man¡¯s face. ¡°Speaking of lighter matters, I did hear something on the way here, though I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s good news.¡± ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± Fang Canghai glanced at his subordinate who had been with him for over ten years. ¡°Stop beating about the bush.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The middle-aged man nodded. ¡°Yu Ling has been dethroned as the number one on the Leadership Level Beast Master List.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± On hearing the news, Fang Canghai didn¡¯t look unhappy. Instead, he laughed. ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°Someone surpassing Yu Ling in the Leadership Level ranking is quite impressive.¡± Fang Canghai looked intrigued. ¡°Tell me, which genius Beast Master managed this? The Association can¡¯t afford to lose such talents, we need to provide them with more resources.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± On hearing Fang Canghai¡¯s question, the subordinate¡¯s look became even more peculiar. If it were a talented Beast Master from Xieyun City, that wouldn¡¯t be an issue. But the person who surpassed Fang Yuling¡­ ¡°That person is from Qingzhou City, the same Xu Ran who defeated all the Leadership Level Beast Masters from Xieyun City at the recent exchange event.¡± ¡°What?¡± On Fang Canghai¡¯s face, for once, something other than calmness appeared. Speaking of which, the revolt initiated by the alliance of other second-level towns was not entirely unrelated to Xu Ran. After all, in their letters, they mentioned the fact that all the Leadership Level Beast Masters from Xieyun City were beaten by a Beast Master from a mere third-level town. ¡°That kid¡­¡± Fang Canghai tapped on his desk with his finger, a contemplative look on his face. This Beast Master named Xu Ran who participated in the exchange event was even a few years younger than his daughter. A prodigy like this could not possibly have been nurtured in a third-level town. Where on earth did he come from? As he continued his pondering, Fang Canghai suddenly chuckled. ¡°Regardless, Yu Ling finally has a peer to target, and doesn¡¯t have to be obsessed with surpassing her father¡¯s rank on the Historical Rankings.¡± ¡°President, do we need to probe this Xu Ran?¡± The subordinate asked for instructions. ¡°No need.¡± Fang Canghai laughed. ¡°He¡¯s just a Leadership Level Beast Master. We¡¯ll observe him a little longer.¡± Chapter II: Go, go, go. Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 224 Call from Qingzhou City l Chapter 367: Chapter 224 Call from Qingzhou City l As it turned out, Xu Ran had been overthinking. Upon returning to the foster shop, he saw Fang Yuling¡¯s three beasts that were sponging off his food. She hadn¡¯t stopped lodging her pet beasts in the shop just because he had stolen her first place. This put Xu Ran at ease. ¡°Dinner is served!¡± Accompanied by the clanging sound of the iron pot and spoon echoing throughout the foster area, Xu Ran, who had just ascended with the three little ones to the top of the Beast Master Leader rankings, returned to his role as a foster shop owner, serving nutritious and delicious food to the well behaved, lined up pet beasts. With a smile in his eyes observing every foster care resident¡¯s mental and physical condition, his gaze finally rested on a vacant piece of land. Over the past half a month, this piece of land belonged to a somewhat special pet beast that suppressed its own nature due to its deep sense of guilt, ultimately gaining its own chance here. ¡°Combat Furball has left, huh.¡± Xu Ran sighed softly. Unless there are any unforeseen circumstances, its Beast Master will no longer let it be fostered. With the assistance of the Beast Master Association and the Transcendent Evolution Department, they will no longer encounter difficulties. He wondered if he would have the chance to meet it again in the future. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± After the three little ones had helped clean up the food bowls of the foster care residents, Xu Ran spoke softly. One person and three pets, carrying the exhaustion of the day, walked from the basement to the first floor shop. Just as they were about to go up the stairs to the second floor, a crisp and pleasant sound was heard. ¡°Ding dong-¡± ¡°Whose phone is it?¡± Xu Ran instinctively pulled out his own phone. Seeing that there were no notifications on it, he suddenly came to his senses. No, wait! This ringtone isn¡¯t from his own phone! Xu Ran swiftly turned his head to look at the landline phone sitting on the counter of the foster shop ¨C an antiquated and mysterious model that appeared to be no more than a decorative piece. Indeed, over the past half month of operation, this landline phone was basically just a decorative item. Up until now, only one person could get through to it. Teacher Tony! What¡¯s happened in Qingzhou City? Xu Ran looked at the three little ones, then swiftly walked over to the landline and picked up the receiver. From the other end of the receiver, came Tony¡¯s familiar and clear voice, carrying its usual buoyancy and deep resonance, ¡°Hey- Boss, it¡¯s been half a month, have you missed me?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Hearing Tony¡¯s off-key greeting as always, Xu Ran suddenly calmed down, ¡°You are calling because?¡± ¡°As the first system store manager appointed by the boss, I must show my loyalty from time to time, so now your faithful store manager Tony is going to report on the operation of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City for the past half month!¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s good.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Although he¡¯s constantly receiving the store¡¯s income from Qingzhou City foster shop in the form of pleasure value, skill points, physical points, and skill fragments minus employee share; he is indeed somewhat concerned about what¡¯s been happening in Qingzhou City foster shop over the past half month. Anyway, that was the shop he personally ran for two to three months, the place where it all began. ¡°Go ahead, what has been happening with the shop in Qingzhou City in the past half month?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s approving response, Teacher Tony¡¯s voice raised even higher as if he was injected with chicken blood, ¡°Next, your beloved Tony will give you a rundown on the operations.¡± ¡°In the past half month, the shop has provided pet beast cleaning and caring services 596 times, including 142 times for small pet beasts, 197 times for medium-sized pet beasts, 188 times for large pet beasts, and 69 times for super large pet beasts.¡± ¡°In the past half month, the shop has added 87 new residents, including 54 residents who have been staying since then, and currently, there are 97 foster residents.¡± ¡°In the past half month, the total training time for the pet beasts in the shop reached 5298 hours, successfully completed new skill teaching 12 times, successfully achieved skill proficiency breakthroughs 28 times!¡± ¡°And all of this, is thanks to the boss!¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­6.¡± Before this, he had always thought that people who fawn over their superiors were detestable, but at this moment, he suddenly experienced the joy of being the boss. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± After reporting the situation, Tony paused for a moment, then slowly spoke, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I need to report to you.¡± ¡°From the time you left Qingzhou City to start operating Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, a total of 92 customers have expressed their longing for you.¡± ¡°These customers are: Su Xiaoxiao, Zhang Yun, Du Heng¡­¡± Holding the phone, Xu Ran patiently listened as Tony recited all ninety-two names, his expression gradually changing. Among the ninety-two customers, there were those Xu Ran was very familiar with, and those he was not very familiar with, but remembered. All of them, without exception, were customers Xu Ran had once served in the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City. Originally, he had always thought that since he was an orphan, besides himself, probably the only people who would care about him were the three pet beasts he spent his days with. He never expected that so many people in this world would remember him, and even miss him. ¡°Tony, can system clerks teleport?¡± Xu Ran suddenly asked. ¡°Yes, they can.¡± Tony¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Both system clerks and system store managers have the ability to teleport to any shop, but this ability can only be used with the boss¡¯s permission.¡± ¡°In other words, as long as you agree, I and the other two clerks can appear in any shop.¡± ¡°Furthermore, transmission for system clerks and the store manager is free.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. He turned around to look at the three little ones behind him and began softly after a moment of silence, ¡°Tony, you and the other two clerks prepare yourselves.¡± ¡°After tomorrow, you will be in Xieyun City for a while, and I will be in Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Certainly, no problem at all, my boss-¡± Tony¡¯s voice was increasingly fervor, as if the prospect of new customers to cater to had excited him immensely. After getting a confirmation from Tony, Xu Ran puts down the receiver. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are we going back?) Having heard the conversation between Xu Ran and Tony, the three little ones looked surprised. Ziyun even raised the question proactively. For the three little ones, home is wherever Xu Ran is. Having stayed in Xieyun City for half a month, apart from Starfire occasionally missing his friends at the Mount Beast Breeding Base, Ziyun and Cancan had completely forgotten about Qingzhou City. How happy it is to climb the rankings here every day! ¡°Yes, we are going back for a visit.¡± Xu Ran smiled and patted Ziyun¡¯s head, then looked at Starfire and Cancan, who also looked confused. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t stay in Qingzhou City for too long.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, you will have a day of ranking.¡± ¡°I know, there are many rankings that you haven¡¯t yet challenged. Tomorrow evening, you won¡¯t need to rank in the Beast Master List, you can focus entirely on the Pet Beast Ranking.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun quickly turned his eyes towards Cancan. I¡¯ll lend you the title of the top-rated Combat Power for a day! I¡¯ll take it back tomorrow! ¡°The next Beast Master List weekly settlement is three days later, and once the ranking is finished tomorrow, subsequent rankings will hardly change at all.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°So, we will be back before the weekly settlement after next.¡± ¡°Which is ten days from now.¡± HearingXu Ran¡¯s plan, the three little ones looked thoughtful. In this way, going back to Qingzhou City seemingly doesn¡¯t affect their rewards for ranking. ¡°Besides letting you rank, there¡¯s another important reason for our leaving only after tomorrow.¡± Xu Ran paused again, a trace of a smile in his voice, ¡°The points for the Beast Master that were earned from today¡¯s ranking will be credited tomorrow.¡± ¡°Qingzhou City is the place where we first met. There are many people and things that we are familiar with. But it cannot be denied, the resources there are far less abundant than in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°So, we need to use Beast Master points to exchange some new resources, to ensure that your combat power will not be affected during our time back in Qingzhou City.¡± Finally, we¡¯re exchanging for a new batch of resources? The three little ones were stunned at first, but then their faces soon showed surprise and excitement. It had been more than ten days since the last time they absorbed and strengthened from the exchanged resources. At this point, they had mastered all the skills contained in the King-level resources that had been exchanged. Under normal circumstances, achieving this step means that they have absorbed about half of the King-level resources. But the reality is, they have absorbed more than eighty percent of them, and even completely absorbed one or two of them. So many abundant energies contained in the King-level resources easily let the three little ones reach the peak of the Leadership Stage, even the physical points allocated today were completely unused. The problem faced by the three little ones is urgent. They need more King-level resources. After this resource distribution, they finally appreciated the goodness of King- level resources. The additional skills gained from these resources have greatly sped up their skill fusion progress, otherwise depending only on the skills exchanged from Xu Ran would not have been enough. So, the exchange of resources must continue! The Beast Master points gained from the previous two weekly settlements, from Xu Ran¡¯s rankings in the three Leader Level Beast Trainer lists, and the extra points gained from the three cubs improvements in historical rankings have not been used yet. These points are all recorded by Xu Ran, and the amount of points that the three cubs have totalled more than 150,000. Diligently saving up for a thousand days, to extravagantly spend in an instant. After tomorrow, when the points from today¡¯s rankings are credited, it¡¯s time to exhaust all these points! ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs first.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, leading the three little ones to the second floor, ¡°I¡¯ll be meditating all night, you guys go to bed first.¡± With the extra meditation speed bonus from the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, even him, who has always been slack, has become more diligent. After all, it¡¯s not easy to win a red item, so he must make good use of it. Xu Ran is going to meditate all night? The three little ones looked at each other. That¡¯s just right, they need to study what King-level resources to exchange for after the points are credited tomorrow. It¡¯s settled! No one will go to bed tonight! When I have time, I will be live-streaming writing on Bilibili, occasionally the cats will appear in the frame. The ID is the same as my pen name. Interested readers can search and follow me. Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 225 Special Invitation_l Chapter 368: Chapter 225 Special Invitation_l The next morning. Xu Ran let out a sigh, slowly opening his eyes. Feeling his current condition, his face revealed a hint of surprise. Meditation, is quite a strenuous task, not only does it require clearing out distractions to sense the surrounding forces, it also demands active energy absorption, allowing the energy existing between heaven and earth to merge with contract power, thereby enhancing oneself. Therefore, unlike resting with eyes closed, long-term meditation can lead to consistent fatigue. After reaching a certain extent of meditation, it is necessary to adjust and recover depleted energy through sleep or other rest methods. The purple object that Xu Ran previously used, the Meditation Acceleration Card, even though it provides hundredfold speed, it doesn¡¯t make Xu Ran feel the hundredfold fatigue, nor does it reduce the fatigue caused by normal meditation. Even after using the Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran would still normally feel the fatigue. This was why Xu Ran could only meditate during the first half of the night and had to sleep during the second half. But now, Xu Ran surprisingly found another magical effect of the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, which was to completely remove the fatigue during the process of meditation. A whole night of meditation, he didn¡¯t feel fatigued at all, instead, he felt very energetic as though he had had a good sleep. This means, he can meditate for a longer time in the future, he could only meditate for half the night before, but now he can meditate for the whole night. The meditation time almost doubled, coupled with the six hundred times acceleration after the stacking of the two different Meditation Acceleration Cards, the efficiency of Xu Ran¡¯s meditation increased twelve times as much as when he used only the Meditation Acceleration Card. Red Reward, terrifyingly effective. ¡°It¡¯s really advanced¡­¡± Xu Ran mumbled and then turned his head to see the three little ones lying beside his bed. The three little ones, who used to wake up when he was awake, now are like they have stayed up late, they only slightly moved their bodies when they heard his awakening, and then fell back into a deep sleep. His cellphone was placed right next to the three little ones. ¡°You three¡­¡± Xu Ran laughed at their antics, guessing they had taken a sneak peek at the King-level resources that could be redeemed with points on his cellphone while he was meditating last night. Without waking them, Xu Ran quietly went downstairs after washing up and soon appeared on the basement floor. With the sound of ¡°clang, clang, clang,¡± the fostered pet beasts musically filled the entire fosterage space and quickly surrounded Xu Ran. ¡°Good morning!¡± Xu Ran greeted them with a smile, then started serving their food bowls one by one and said, ¡°In the following period, I won¡¯t be the one preparing your meals.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry, the food will be as delicious as always.¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the residents threw him a curious and surprised look. ¡°I will be absent from the shop for a while.¡± Xu Ran took a bowl of freshly cooked Handmade Beef Noodles and sat on a stone to eat, ¡°You stay here and make yourselves at home during this time.¡± Upon hearing this, a feeling of reluctance showed in the eyes of the fostered pet beasts. They had grown accustomed to eating Xu Ran¡¯s food and had come to like everything here, some even didn¡¯t want to return to their Beast Masters anymore. A home away from home. ¡°Alright.¡± Having quickly finished his noodles and seeing the residents had also finished their meals, Xu Ran started to clear the food bowls, then his figure disappeared on the spot. Watching Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure, the Bright Spirit among the beasts blinked with a slight shimmer of light, then nudged the Rapid Combat Bee on one side and the Three-headed Demon on the other side. The three pet beasts that spent all day together began to communicate quietly in a way they could understand. ¡°This human and his three pets surpassed us yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Now that he¡¯s leaving, is it our chance to overtake?¡± ¡°What are you waiting for, improve your strength! Among us three, you are the weakest!¡± ¡°What? The weakest one is clearly you!¡± The three pet beasts of Fang Yuling argued over ¡°who was the weakest¡± and reached a conclusion. Whatever the case, let¡¯s tell the Beast Master about this first! ¡°Welcome back!¡± Xu Ran waved at another client who had come to receive their pet, smiling on his face. Because he topped the Leadership Level Beast Master leaderboard last night, there were more customers today than before. Not only that, the previously slowing fame suddenly skyrocketed last night, making its increasing speed fast once again. The rapid increase in fame was due in part to his topping the Leadership Level Beast Master leaderboard, and more importantly, because he had surpassed Fang Yuling. The former was mostly followed by Leadership Level Beast Masters, while the latter was followed by Beast Masters of all levels in Xieyun City, so naturally, the discussion was much more intense. The genius daughter of Chairman Fang was surpassed by her peer, it¡¯s big news. Some even started guessing, how would Chairman Fang react when he heard the news. [MainTask 3: Out with the old, in with the new Task Description: Please have the host open a branch shop in a Second Level Town and reach 70% local fame (43.6/70). Task Reward: Three System Clerks, System Upgrade Experience +400] With a 3.6% increase in just one day, Xu Ran¡¯s smile thickened. Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 225 Special Invitation_2 Chapter 369: Chapter 225 Special Invitation_2 Hearing a new noise from outside the door, he shifted his gaze from the empty panel in the air and looked towards the newcomer. It was a middle-aged woman with a radiant smile and a strong sense of warmth. She stepped into the shop now, her gaze immediately turning towards Xu Ran, ¡°Hello, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Hello, hello.¡± Xu Ran hurriedly responded. Just as he was about to say something, his expression slightly changed as he looked towards the stairs leading to the second floor, ¡°You three woke up?¡± The three groggy little ones came down from the second floor and nodded in response to his words. Uh¡­ so sleepy. Xu Ran pointed towards the backdoor, ¡°In the preparation room of the foster area, I have prepared food for you, it¡¯s still hot, go eat it quickly.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Hearing that there was food, Ziyun¡¯s lethargic face suddenly brightened up. He shouted loudly and was the first to dash towards the back door, closely followed by Star and Cancan. ¡°Sorry for the little interlude just now.¡± Once the three little ones had gone, Xu Ran turned back to the middle-aged woman standing in front of the counter, ¡°Welcome, what service do you need?¡± ¡°Those are your pet beasts Boss Xu? They indeed look extraordinary.¡± The middle-aged woman was not upset by Xu Ran¡¯s perceived negligence, smiling she said, ¡°Let me introduce myself first, I come from Monster Wooden City, my name is Xu Qing.¡± ¡°Monster Wooden City?¡± A look of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He seemed to have heard of the name, but he didn¡¯t have any lasting impressions. ¡°It¡¯s normal if Boss Xu hasn¡¯t heard of it.¡± Xu Qing smiled, ¡°Monster Wooden City is the nearest Second Level Town to Xieyun City, and I am from the Beast Master Association of Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Ss.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp. It was actually a Second-Level Town. At this moment, Xu Ran remembered when he had heard about it. During the previous exchange event representing Qingzhou City, in addition to the 3 Level towns that had been invited, there were some Second Level Towns that had taken the initiative to come. These Second Level Towns rarely participated, some didn¡¯t even have a Beast Master make a move throughout, it was as if they had come to watch a show. Monster Wooden City, was one of those towns where no Beast Master participated, which was why Xu Ran¡¯s impression of it was not deep. ¡°So, what are you looking for me for?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a bit more confusion as he looked at Xu Qing, who claimed to be from Monster Wooden City. ¡°This is the situation.¡± Xu Qing smiled, ¡°As far as I know, Boss Xu, you are a Beast Master from Qingzhou City and you don¡¯t have any familiar friends or relatives in Xieyun City, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. ¡°Boss Xu has opened a branch in Xieyun City, presumably because Qingzhou City is too weak.¡± Xu Qing glanced at the price menu on the wall, ¡°In Qingzhou City, there are very few General Level Beast Masters, and there are no King Level Beast Masters.¡± ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s shop can foster King Stage Pet Beasts, it¡¯s really a pity to be in a place like Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s only natural for Boss Xu to seek development in a Second Level Town if he wants to expand his foster shop.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became more peculiar. Hearing the other party introduce himself, he had initially thought that they were here because of the power he had showcased yesterday. But now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°We, Monster Wooden City, hope to invite Boss Xu to open a foster shop there.¡± Xu Qing began in a soft voice. ¡°Although Monster Wooden City does not have Emperor Level Beast Masters, it¡¯s still strong and has many King Level Beast Masters, enough to meet your business needs, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°As long as you come, Monster Wooden City can provide you with a shop much larger than this one for free, without any taxes, and with multiple supporting¡­¡± ¡°Uh, sorry to interrupt.¡± Xu Ran stretched out his hand, his face showing confusion and astonishment, ¡°Monster Wooden City, hopes that I¡¯ll open a shop there?¡± He could understand every word that the other party said, but when put together, he found it difficult to comprehend. While the services provided by Starfire Foster Shop are indeed better than other foster shops, was a representative of the Beast Master Association from a Second-Level Town here just to invite him to open a shop there? ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Qing nodded, knowing the reason for Xu Ran¡¯s confusion, she slowly explained, ¡°Our Monster Wooden City is different from other Second Level Towns, there are almost no Washing and Protection Services in Monster Wooden City.¡± Huh? Upon hearing Xu Qing¡¯s words, a look of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Almost no washing and protection service? That shouldn¡¯t be the case? The role of washing and protection is not just to maintain the beauty of pet-beasts¡¯ appearance. It also helps them to maintain their good state. Even in ordinary 3rd level towns, washing and protection is an essential part of the pet-beast services industry. So, why doesn¡¯t Monster Wooden City, a Second Level Town, have it? ¡°All of this starts with the origin of Monster Wooden City,¡± Xu Qing began softly, ¡°Our Monster Wooden City and other second-level towns in Beast Zone No.47 have a stark difference in their origins.¡± ¡°Origins?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help raising his ears. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Monster Wooden City is located within the territory of an Emperor Stage Transcendent Being. Although there aren¡¯t any Emperor Level Beast Masters, we did gain the protection of that Transcendent Being, allowing us to thrive in the Beast Field.¡± ¡°¡­Within the territory of an Emperor Stage Transcendent Being?¡± Xu Ran almost thought he had misheard. Both pet beasts of Beast Masters and the transcendent beings outside the city are transcendent beings, but beings that have or used to have Beast Masters, humans are more accustomed to calling them pet beasts. So, the Emperor Stage Transcendent Being Xu Qing spoke of could be a wild transcendent being, aka the Beast Emperor of the Beast Field. A Beast Emperor, protecting humans? As he contemplated, Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows couldn¡¯t help but wrinkle slightly. ¡°Indeed,¡± Xu Qing nodded slightly, ¡°That Emperor Stage Transcendent Being is a towering tree, its race name is Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°Among the transcendent beings in the Beast Field, there are those who do not harbor hatred towards humans, and it is one of them.¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood maintains a friendly relationship with all beings, greatly favoring peace, and does not allow disputes and killings within its territory.¡± ¡°The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself is a healing type Beast Emperor. It can produce dew with washing and protection effects and give it to all the beings in its territory free of charge.¡± ¡°There are even such transcendent beings?¡± Xu Ran felt enlightened. At the same time, his confusion about why there were almost no washing and protection services in Monster Wooden City was also resolved. A Beast Emperor¡¯s dew, which must surely have excellent washing and protection effects, would make any washing and protection services in the fosterage shops of Monster Wooden City redundant. Demand determines the market. That¡¯s just how it is. However, Xu Ran still had a doubt. ¡°Then why are you inviting me to set up shop in Monster Wooden City now?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Ahint of helplessness crept onto Xu Qing¡¯s face, ¡°The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood hasn¡¯t produced any cleaning and protecting dew for more than three months now.¡± ¡°There seems to be some issue with its state.¡± ¡°Since we haven¡¯t developed washing and protection services before, the fosterage shops in the city can¡¯t deal with such a huge demand in a short period. Therefore, we have to invite foster shops from other cities to settle in to help address the urgent need.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what it was.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, appearing contemplative. He had understood the reasons for the unusual invitation. It seemed like a good opportunity. Greater demand would mean more pleasure value he would earn. But- Opening another branch in Monster Wooden City would mean having to temporarily close one of his current shops. After all, apart from himself, there were only three system employees who could operate the stores. The shop in Xieyun City couldn¡¯t be closed, since his main task 3 hadn¡¯t been completed yet. The shop in Qingzhou City couldn¡¯t be easily closed either, as it is where everything began. Besides, he had made up his mind to go back there for a while tomorrow. Probably only when the fame of his store in Xieyun City reached 70%, and he got 3 new system employees, could he consider going to Monster Wooden City. So¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t leave for now.¡± Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 226: Return to Qingzhou City l Chapter 370: Chapter 226: Return to Qingzhou City l ¡°In that case, I hope Boss Xu will consider us first when planning to open a new branch in the future.¡± Upon being refused outright by Xu Ran, Xu Qing did not appear overly disappointed. She left her contact information, stated that she would be staying in Xieyun City for a while, and then walked out of the Foster Shop. ¡°Monster Wooden City, huh¡­¡± Watching Xu Qing leaving, Xu Ran tapped his index finger on the desk as if lost in thought. He had been contemplating where to open a new branch after the end of his Main task 3, and after acquiring his three new employees. Now he seemed to have found a good option. Keeping this unique Second -Level Town in mind, and welcoming the next customer who walked in, he once again displayed a polite smile. ¡°Welcome-¡± ¡°Thank you for coming, hope to see you next time!¡± Having just seen off the last customer of the day, Xu Ran stretched and looked towards the three eager little ones gathered by his side. ¡°Tell me, how did you three do in the ranking today?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran initiate the inquiry, the ¡°Three Little Ones¡± immediately perked up. Each took their turn, bragging about their achievements in the day¡¯s rankings. The first was Ziyun, who utilized its full power in the Pet Beast Combat Power List, overtaking Cancan, who had barely warmed the top spot, returning to the top of the combat power list as expected. Its historical ranking also rushed to third place all at once. This resulted in an addition of forty thousand Beast Master Points. Moreover, the ¡°Three Little Ones¡± performed remarkably on the other lists that they hadn¡¯t had time to rank in yesterday. Almost all the rankings had improved significantly, and the Beast Master Points each had accrued ranged from ten to twenty thousand. After patiently listening to the detailed exploits of the three in the day¡¯s ranking, Xu Ran gently patted each of them on the head. ¡°You all did very well.¡± ¡°So, now we can exchange these points for resources.¡± He waved the cellphone in his hand, ¡°Yesterday¡¯s Beast Master Points have been credited, and a portion of today¡¯s points have also come in.¡± ¡°As for the remaining that haven¡¯t been credited, we will take care of them next time.¡± ¡°Up until now, Ziyun has one hundred and ninety thousand Beast Master Points, Cancan has one hundred and seventy thousand, and Star has one hundred and sixty thousand.¡± ¡°These Beast Master Points will be exchanged for corresponding King-Level resources today.¡± He paused briefly, then looked at the three eager little faces. ¡°You guys should have prepared quite a bit yesterday, right?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ve already decided what to exchange!) Ziyun raised one of its paws, speaking excitedly. Just with a rough estimate in its mind of its current Beast Master Points and the few valuable resources it had picked out the day before, it already had a concrete idea of what to exchange. This was the benefit of doing homework in advance! ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s start with Ziyun.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then opened the Beast Master Association¡¯s Points Exchange page. Star and Cancan who were about to open their mouths, exchanged looks and shook their heads in resignation. As expected from Ziyun, who topped the Reflexes List, its response was much faster than theirs. But the exchange of resources wasn¡¯t a distribution of resources. The Beast Master Points they were using were each their own and the resources they were exchanging for had no conflicts, there was no need to compete. So, they decided to first see what resource Big Sister had decided to exchange for. ¡°Meow- ¡± (I want Chenglei Crystal, Secret Method Broken Ring, Rapid Electric Leg Bone, Thunder Roar Liquid, and Meteor Split Beast Claw!) Almost without hesitation, Ziyun named the resources it wished to have, and went over to Xu Ran¡¯s side. It extended its long tail to point out on the screen where each item was located. It was evident that it has done quite a bit of homework. After reviewing the five resources that Ziyun wanted to exchange for, a hint of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Out of the five resources, except for Thunder Roar Liquid which was worth thirty thousand Beast Master Points, the rest were all worth forty thousand Beast Master Points, top resources at the king level. The Chenglei Crystal imparts a skill called Thunderforce Refinement. The effect of this skill is simple; it amplifies the attack power of Thunder Attribute pet beasts by purifying them. In this regard, it is similar to the effects of Crimson Gold Electroplating, only without the severe side effects. As Ziyun has never fused Crimson Gold Electroplating and Scarlet Battle Intent, the reason for choosing this resource now is quite clear. ¡°Which talent skill are you planning to use for this fusion of three skills?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. At first, he thought Ziyun would fuse Scarlet Battle Intent into Fighting Body, but it seems Ziyun has a new idea. Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Ziyun¡¯s eyes brimmed with smugness. ¡°Meow-¡± (Heartfelt Strike!) ¡°This skill?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s surprise deepened. Heartfelt Strike is a two-star fighting attribute skill that Ziyun awakened after evolving. By consuming more power, it can deal more lethal blows to enemies. In this regard, the skill is indeed very suitable for the other three skills. But¡­ Xu Ran couldn¡¯t imagine what the result would be when four burst-type skills, two of which had severe adverse effects, were fused together. His gaze then moved onto the other four resources that Ziyun had chosen. The corresponding Secret Method Broken Ring imparts a Fighting Attribute three-star skill called Broken Brand. This skill can leave a special brand on the opponent after an attack, thus causing continuous damage. This bears some similarities to Star¡¯s Echo of Midnight. In the case of Ziyun having a large number of offensive Skills, this Skill could be well adapted to many others, making it a good choice. The Rapid Electric Leg Bone corresponds to the Thunder Attribute Three Star Skill ¨C Rapid Electric Shadow. From its name alone, it can be discerned that this is a speed Skill, which could be fused with Step on Electric Traces. Thunder Roar Liquid and Meteor Split Beast Claw correspond respectively to the Three Star Skills Thunder Shake Earth and Meteor Split Claw. The former can pair with Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, while the latter matches with Destruction Thunder Claw. Suddenly considering something, Xu Ran turned his head to look at Ziyun, ¡°How do you intend to deal with the Skills: Puncture Thunder Spear and Thunder Penalty Gun?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (FallingThunder!) Ziyun wore an accomplished look on his face. He already had plans for the Skills that had been idling previously. Both of these Skills are remote single-target attack Skills, extremely similar to Falling Thunder. In this case, fusing them together would be the best choice. ¡°What about Super Phase Field?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (King¡¯s Power!) Ziyun answered smoothly. This is an inspiration he had gained from Cancan. As a Skill similar to a domain, Super Phase Field is not quite suitable for fusion with his other current Skills, but King¡¯s Power is an exception. King¡¯s Power is a range suppression Skill that¡¯s quite suitable for fusion with Super Phase Field. Just as Cancan fused Dragon Blood Horn with King¡¯s Power, Ziyun could add other abilities into King¡¯s Power through fusion. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then turned his gaze to Star after completing the exchange, ¡°What do you want to exchange for?¡± ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Twilight Crystal, Everburning Night Flame, Fading Night Tracing Stone, Solidifying Silk Thread) Finally, it was his turn. Star impatiently stated the resources he wanted to exchange for. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, indicating that he understood, and then began to check. The Twilight Crystal corresponds to the Three-Star Skill Dark Curtain. This Skill is a range hide Skill, capable of making a certain range around the caster hidden. ¡°Are you planning to combine this Skill with the Night Rune?¡± Xu Ran became thoughtful as he looked at the Skill¡¯s description. ¡°Xi Lu! ¡°(Yes!) Star nodded slightly. Although the hiding effect of this Skill could only be centered on the caster, the Skill¡¯s effect might change after being combined with the Night Rune. If it could become a skill that hides the object possessing the Night Rune, then the compatibility of this Skill with the Night Rune would be perfect. ¡°Worth trying.¡± After hearing Star¡¯s idea, Xu Ran nodded in agreement before turning to look at the remaining Skills. The Everburning Night Flame corresponds to a Dark Attribute burst Skill called Night Flame. This Skill can burn the caster¡¯s own Dark Power for a short-term increase in strength, and there are virtually no side effects. The one that it could pair with is probably the Heart of Eternal Night. After all, Star had previously planned to fuse Star Falling Power and Quiet Night Breath with Heart of Eternal Night. If Night Flame is added, that would make four Three Star Skills. The Fading Night Tracing Stone corresponds to the Three Star Skill Night Curtain Fading Trace. It¡¯s a speed Skill. Undoubtedly, Star intends to combine this Skill with Moon Concealment Star Racing. The Solidifying Silk Thread corresponds to the Skill called Solidified Tether. Its function is somewhat similar to Fated Chains ¨C it allows power to be transferred from one party to another. But compared to Fated Chains, Solidified Tether is much slower in transferring power. However, it has a special effect that the link between the two parties is very stable and will not weaken as the distance increases. Obviously, this is a Skill meant to be combined with Fated Star Pulling ¨C it enhances the stability of the Skill tether, which is crucial under certain conditions. ¡°These four resources are also quite good. Exchanged!¡± Xu Ran nodded approvingly and then turned his gaze towards Cancan. Unlike her last hesitant time, this time Cancan also had a clear target. ¡°Charming!¡± (I want to exchange for Refining Bone Dragon Marrow, Hard Soil Core, Unbreakable Stone, and Fortified Ground!) Listing out the resources she wanted, Cancan¡¯s face was full of anticipation. Refining Bone Dragon Marrow corresponds to the Skill Dragon¡¯s Breath. She plans to fuse this Skill and True Dragon Reverse Scale into Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power. The other three resources correspond to the Earth Attribute Three Star Skills Unshakeable Fortitude, Unbreakable Force, and Soil Strengthening respectively. All three Skills make Earth Attribute Power even more solid. As for their use¡­ Of course, it is to boost Eternal Iron Wall and make herself more resistant to beating! Thinking about the power of a full-force slap from Ziyun, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but shrink her head back. Before she could merge any defensive Four Star Skills, she had to behave herself. ¡°Alright.¡± Noticing Cancan¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran chuckled, finishing the exchange of all resources. Then, anticipation flickered in his eyes. ¡°When the resources arrive tomorrow morning, we¡¯U head back to Qingzhou City!¡± Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 227: You scoundrel, you finally came back!_l Chapter 371: Chapter 227: You scoundrel, you finally came back!_l ¡°Boss-¡± Wearing a saucy pink apron with lace borders and a heart-shaped opening at the chest, there was an excited and overjoyed expression in Teacher Tony¡¯s eyes, as if he wanted to give Xu Ran a big hug. ¡°Alright, Teacher Tony, you can spare us the reception ceremony.¡± Xu Ran expressionlessly pushed away his open arms, then subconsciously wiped his hands on his pants. ¡°The opening time of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City is fast approaching. From today, the management for the upcoming period will be handed over to you guys.¡± ¡°No problem, my dear boss-¡± Unperturbed by Xu Ran¡¯s resistance, Teacher Tony, riding the momentum from being pushed, spun on the spot, then quickly made a heart shape with his thumb and index finger. ¡°I will abide by all your requests-¡± A twitch played at the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth as he watched Tony and the man in black behind him, as well as the green-skinned frog, disappear on the spot. He then heaved a quiet sigh of relief. He suddenly felt that the two system clerks that didn¡¯t speak were pretty good, despite their odd appearances. Regaining his senses, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a look around. Even though there wasn¡¯t much difference in the decorations within the Starfire Foster Care Shops in Xieyun City and Qingzhou City, his familiarity with his own shop in Qingzhou City allowed him to clearly feel that they were different. Returning here, there was an unprecedented feeling of being home. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran shook his head and let out a soft chuckle, then gently placed the alloy box he had been carrying all along on the counter. This was what the powerhouse from the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City had delivered early in the morning. It contained the King-level resources that the three little ones had exchanged for the previous day. During their time in Qingzhou City, these resources would be the capital for the three little ones to improve. So now¡­ it was time to bring the three little ones over too. In a flash of thought, the Hexagram Star Array behind Xu Ran started to shine. The figures of the three little ones traversed thousands of miles, appearing instantaneously in the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City. As soon as they appeared, Ziyun started looking around the shop left and right, then with one light hop, jumped onto a corner of the counter. This corner had been its usual haunt. From the first day it encountered Xu Ran, it had stayed there. It had become a habit. In Xieyun City, Ziyun had often stayed in a similar place in the shop, but the two weren¡¯t quite the same. Yawning lazily, Ziyun comfortably tucked its paws into its chest, squinting its eyes slightly, a contented expression on its face. ¡°Meow-¡± (This place is more comfortable.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We are finally back!) Star burst into a neigh, with anticipation shining in its eyes. It remembered that it had left something in the Foster Care Shop here. It was the stone it used to account for Ziyun and Star earlier. Before having this stone, it had the highest wealth among them. After reaching Xieyun City, Star had been the poorest of them in both resource distributions. This must have something to do with it leaving the stone behind! This time, it wouldn¡¯t forget to carry the stone with it! Thinking of this, Star was already eager to try and see if the stone was still there. ¡°Charming!¡± (Going to see the Velvet Sparrow!) Cancan shook its head excitedly, a look of anticipation on its face. As the youngest of the three little ones, it unexpectedly got along well with the Velvet Sparrow. Every time the Velvet Sparrow mentioned things happening outside of the city, Cancan was extremely interested. Cancan¡¯s many discoveries while scavenging rubbish outside the city was also connected to the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s guidance. Finally able to meet its good friend again, Cancan couldn¡¯t wait to share its experiences in the Second Level Town with the Velvet Sparrow! ¡°Let¡¯s go; we should first go feed the tenants in the store.¡± After stretching his back, Xu Ran led the three little ones through the familiar route towards the back door. As the three system clerks left to take over his work in Xieyun City, the tenant limit in the Qingzhou City Starfire Foster Care Shop was once again reduced. But for the sake of customer experience, the extra part of the foster clients couldn¡¯t just be sent back directly. Fortunately, Teacher Tony solved this problem through reasonable arrangement and a tiny bit of black technology from the system. The part of foster tenants that exceeded the limit were still within the foster area but were being fed by the green-skinned frog clerk who shuttled between the two places. Xu Ran had already handed over to the green-skinned frog clerk. The familiar tenants he had previously fed were all entrusted to him, and the remaining spots were filled with tenants who had moved in after he left. All the tenants exceeding the limit were those who moved in after Xu Ran left, and the green- skinned frog clerk was responsible for feeding them. As for the Washing and Protection and accompanying training, the impact of the clerk¡¯s departure on these was relatively small. Xu Ran and the system clerk maintained the shop, and the impact was minimal. In a jiffy, a man and three pets effortlessly reached the underground level. Soon enough, the clanking sound of the spatula hitting the iron pot echoed throughout the foster space. Upon hearing this sound, the Pet Beasts, which were set to be fed by Xu Ran, all looked up towards the sound. Having grown accustomed to the slightly mechanical style of feeding by the green-skinned frog clerk, they sensed an anomaly at once. The pace and pitch of the clanking¡­ Was different! As the new tenants were still puzzled, the old tenants who had been fed by Xu Ran before all showed expectant looks. Was¡­ That human back?! Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 227 Ghost, You Finally Came Back! _2 Chapter 372: Chapter 227 Ghost, You Finally Came Back! _2 With this thought in mind, they each charged in the direction of the voice. A few moments later, two figures appeared before Xu Ran. Staring at the Dark Speed Leopard with a trace of confusion on its face, standing their ground, and the Velvet Sparrow that had nonchalantly jumped off its head, a hint of helplessness crept onto Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, don¡¯t use the Order of No Conquest lightly.¡± The Velvet Sparrow that had landed ignored him, and stared unblinkingly at Xu Ran and the three little ones behind him. After a while, it couldn¡¯t resist raising its wing to wipe its eye corner. ¡°Chirp~¡± (You guys might as well not come back!) ¡°Really?¡± Seeing the tsundere-like attitude of the Velvet Sparrow, Xu Ran chuckled and retrieved a food bowl from behind him, ¡°I prepared a special breakfast for you, won¡¯t you taste it?¡± The Velvet Sparrow huffed and turned its head to the side. ¡°Chirp~¡± (The food made by the Big Bullfrog isn¡¯t bad either!) ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± Xu Ran pushed the food bowl towards the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°Try it?¡± The Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t turn its head back, yet the nostrils at the end of its beak twitched slightly. A passing glint of astonishment flashed in its eyes before it picked up the food bowl silently and walked away. Seeing the Velvet Sparrow no longer being pettish, Xu Ran then turned his attention to the other residents that had come up, with excitement in their eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, time for lunch.¡± Amid a string of cheers, the food bowls were quickly distributed. Amid the crowd of beasts, the Velvet Sparrow was savoring the food in the bowl. It was unknown why, though the food made by the Big Bullfrog already tasted so good, when compared to Xu Ran¡¯s food, it seemed to lack something. Thinking of its disconcerting behavior just now, the Velvet Sparrow felt somewhat frustrated. On its way here, it had planned to at least sever ties with him for a day if it was truly Xu Ran coming back, but the taunting breakfast had lured it in. Damn it! ¡°Chirp~¡± (Long time no see, Velvet Sparrow!) CanCan brought its giant bowl over to the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s side. The Velvet Sparrow stole a glance at CanCan, a trace of astonishment in its eyes. Even though it had shrunk its body to its smallest, compared to the petite size of the Velvet Sparrow, CanCan was still several sizes larger. As an elite level pet beast, it couldn¡¯t perceive the current power level of CanCan clearly, but its sixth sense, attributed to its super ability, told it that the strength of the guy before it had increased again over the half month, and by a lot! This guy, who has just completed the evolution and broken into the Leader Stage, why is his power still progressing so fast? ¡°Chirp?¡± (What have you guys been doing this past half month?) Upon hearing this from the Velvet Sparrow, a hint of excitement flashed on CanCan¡¯s face. It was just thinking of how to make the Velvet Sparrow ask, and lo and behold, the Velvet Sparrow cooperated. ¡°Chirp~¡± (We went to Xieyun City, it¡¯s so big¡­) CanCan was munching down its food while sharing about its experience in the past half month with its good friend. Even though the occasional splashing of food remains made the Velvet Sparrow show a face of disgust, its actions were still very serious when listening to the stories. Before long, both CanCan and the Velvet Sparrow had finished their food, and CanCan¡¯s narration had also come to an end. Though the content told by CanCan was only what it could tell the Velvet Sparrow, these alone had given the Velvet Sparrow a sense of yearning. Just Qingzhou City had given it a lot of fun feelings. It had been here for almost a month, not once feeling bored. Each day it went out of the shop for a stroll, there were always new things to discover and experience. From CanCan¡¯s narrative, it got a glimpse of what the bigger human cities look like. Upon ranking, one may receive a lot of rewards from the Beast Trainer Ranking, and there was even a list for the individual pet beasts. Then if it made a move, how high a ranking would it be able to achieve? The Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help but let its thoughts wander, but after a moment, it proceeded to shake its head helplessly. It¡¯s not a pet beast after all, and it didn¡¯t have a way to travel such a long distance to Xieyun City. How infuriating, these guys went out to enjoy themselves behind its back and didn¡¯t even take it along! ¡°Meow~¡± (Finished eating?) Ziyun, who was not far away, raised her head from the empty food bowl and walked towards CanCan, seeing the familiar fluffy Velvet Sparrow, it couldn¡¯t help but move its paws again. Its fierce and evil appearance made the Velvet Sparrow tremble and hide behind CanCan. Noticing that her impulse had once again caused a misunderstanding, Ziyun silently withdrew her paws and showed a friendly smile to the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Meow~¡± (Long time no see~) The Velvet Sparrow shivered. Damn it! Is she trying to dull my vigilance?! ¡°Alright.¡± After all the pet beasts finished their meals, Xu Ran quickly cleared up the food bowls and looked at the three little ones, ¡°You guys take your resources and start training.¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to open the shop.¡± A smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°I wonder, if the first customer of the day will be a familiar face?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Whew~¡± A petite young girl stood in front of the door of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City, cradling a red fox in her arms. At this moment, her face was creased with doubt and helplessness. The Flame Fox had been diligently training all this while. However, this had resulted in a rapid increase in the necessity for washing and care. The Flame Fox, which initially required washing and care once a month, now required it almost every week. Any dirt and grime from training would affect its performance and subsequent training efficiency if not cleaned. Today, it was time to provide washing and care for the Flame Fox again. But¡­ ¡°I really don¡¯t want to see Teacher Tony again!¡± Su Xiaoxiao said, somewhat exasperated. Rubbing her forehead, she looked at the Flame Fox in her arms, ¡°Little Flame, can we come back tomorrow?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± The Flame Fox shook its head in a manner that was elegant yet firm. After numerous wash and care sessions at Starfire Foster Care Shop, it had grown to love cleanliness. The present dirtiness had reached its limit of tolerance, and any more delay would cause it to explode from frustration. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Xiaoxiao sighed, looking up at the sky. ¡°Do you like Teacher Tony washing and caring for you that much?¡± ¡°Meow¡­¡± Upon hearing Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s soul-searching question, the Flame Fox fell silent for a moment and showed a rare look of indecision. Did it really like it? It truly didn¡¯t know. Teacher Tony¡¯s appearance did not conform to its aesthetic standards for humans. Moreover, Tony¡¯s rough hands could not compare to Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s delicate and smooth ones. Even for a fox beast like it, Tony¡¯s boisterous yet effeminate voice felt awkward. In essence, accepting washing and care from such a human was always a weird and repellent experience. But all that disappeared with the relaxing and joyous feeling those rough hands provided during the washing and care process. It was a joy that it couldn¡¯t resist. So¡­ ¡°Meow!¡± Yes, it liked it! At Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s expression of shock, the Flame Fox nodded vigorously. ¡°What¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao looked like she was about to cry. ¡°What a calamity!¡± ¡°What calamity?¡± The shop door opened at that instant, revealing Xu Ran, who had overheard Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s remark. A look of curiosity came over his face. Su Xiaoxiao: ¡°!!!¡± She stood still for a moment, looking at the familiar figure at the entrance of the shop. After rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn¡¯t seeing things, her face lit up with surprise, replacing her hesitation and reluctance, ¡°Boss Xu! You¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back for a while.¡± Xu Ran nodded. His heart warmed a few degrees seeing Su Xiaoxiao as the first customer since his return to Qingzhou City shop, ¡°The Flame Fox is here for a wash and care, isn¡¯t it!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Su Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. And then, seeming to remember something, suddenly asked, ¡°Boss Xu, is Teacher Tony here?¡± ¡°The Flame Fox seems to like Teacher Tony¡¯s wash and care more.¡± Flame Fox: ¡°???¡± ¡°Meow!¡± What¡¯s this Beast Master talking about?! If given the choice, I¡¯d choose Boss Xu! The Flame Fox stretched out a paw and forcefully nudged Su Xiaoxiao¡¯s cheek. ¡°That might not be possible.¡± Looking at the Flame Fox¡¯s refusal, Xu Ran chuckled and shook his head, ¡°Teacher Tony has gone to manage the Xieyun City shop.¡± Su Xiaoxiao smiled brightly. ¡°Is that so? What a pity.¡± Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 228 Boss Xu... Who the hell are you? Chapter 373: Chapter 228 Boss Xu¡­ Who the hell are you? 1 ¡°Boss Xu, how long will you be staying here?¡± As they walked inside the shop together, Su Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help but ask. She understood that since Xu Ran had already opened a shop in Xieyun City, it would be hard for him to stay in a small place like Qingzhou City for long. He¡¯d probably leave again after a while this time he¡¯s back. ¡°I plan to stay for about nine days,¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°assuming there are no unexpected occurrences.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± said Su Xiaoxiao, her face dimming slightly. Even though she had speculated, receiving a definite response from Xu Ran still left her somewhat reluctant to let go. Considering this, the next grooming of the Flame Fox would also be personally handled by Boss Xu! Thinking this, Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit comforted in her heart. She had to share this great news with her good sisters as soon as possible, making sure they get all the services they need before Xu Ran leaves! ¡°Do you need to accompany the grooming?¡± Xu Ran asked, taking the Flame Fox from Su Xiaoxiao, just like before. ¡°No, no¡­¡± Su Xiaoxiao took out her cellphone, and started furiously tapping out messages. ¡°Little Flame can take care of himself.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded, bringing the Flame Fox into the grooming room. Before long, from the grooming room echoed a melodious, faint, and vague sound. ¡°Mew¡ª¡± Having notified all her sisters, Su Xiaoxiao paused, a look of reminiscence on her face, ¡°Ah~¡± He¡¯s back! They¡¯re all back! The familiar feeling of Boss Xu¡¯s grooming has finally returned! When Tony was grooming the Flame Fox before, although it also made similar sounds, this time was different, as if there was a bit more resistance and resignation. Not to mention, mixed in the sound was the equally loud voice of Tony. It was unbearable for the ears! Relaxing in the Beast Master resting room, Su Xiaoxiao opened a bag of chips, eating them to the sound of the Flame Fox¡¯s melody, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. That feeling was fantastic! It wasn¡¯t long before Xu Ran, holding the newly refreshed Flame Fox, exited and said, ¡°Thankyou for your patronage.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯ve already told Gu Ling and the others that you¡¯re back.¡± Su Xiaoxiao happily took the Flame Fox, rubbing her cheek abundantly against the silky smooth fur, then began to speak. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you. Thanks.¡± Xu Ran responded with a smile. Bumping into these familiar customers in Qingzhou City was really a pleasant surprise. ¡°Next up¡­¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s push harder together!¡± Inside the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, Teacher Tony, still wearing that pink apron, flexed his muscular biceps and shouted, ¡°Our new shop needs our care and protection!¡± ¡°We need to greet our brand new customers with our best spirit!¡± Tony turned his gaze toward the silent figure in the corner, a constant sinister smile on his face. ¡°Little Black, have you gathered intel?¡± The cloaked figure in black nodded slightly, one eye slightly squinted, and the other widened with excitement. Combined with the grin creeping up one side of his face, he gave off the air of a criminal suspect. He produced a shiny dagger out of nowhere and began to wave it around, causing the illusion that blood would spatter on his face any second. ¡°Very well.¡± Somehow discerning some sort of message from the black-clad figure¡¯s actions, Tony nodded approvingly, ¡°The boss has reached the top of the Leaderboard of the Beast Master Association. The customer flow will increase in the short term.¡± ¡°And what we need to do is¡­¡± Tony extended a hand, rotating it in the air before curling into a fist, ¡°to seize the opportunity.¡± ¡°Green-skinned Frog, how are things on your end?¡± Tony turned his gaze to the Green-skinned Frog who was also silent. After about three seconds, the Green-skinned Frog slowly turned towards Tony and slowly raised the stick on which hung many frog dolls. At this moment, only a single frog doll remained on the stick. In front of Tony, the Green-skinned Frog took off the last frog doll, and then threw it into its mouth. Frogs also get hungry¡­ ¡°Very good, it seems you have already fed all the pets being fostered once.¡± Tony nodded in satisfaction, ¡°What was their reaction? Remember, we want to give the pet beasts staying here a warm home-like feeling!¡± A home-like warmth¡­ The Green-skinned Frog tilted its head to the side after three seconds, a look of contemplation flashing through its intelligent eyes. Giving its own offspring to the pets being fostered was like giving them the warmth of a home! Although a few pets had shown resistance, they had been turned around through its influence! The Green-skinned Frog gently touched the stick in its hand, nodding vigorously. Super warm! ¡°Very good-¡± Teacher Tony laughed heartily, ¡°Then let¡¯s, start doing business!¡± He strode to the shop door, placed both hands on it, briefly paused, turned his head to look at the man in black and the Green-skinned Frog behind him. ¡°As soon as the boss completes Main Task 3, we will have three new colleagues and a new shop to boot.¡± ¡°The boss is not necessarily required to choose the system store manager from the newcomers, as you guys, who have been working for the boss for half a month, stand a greater chance.¡± Hearing this, the eyes of the man in black and Green-skinned Frog were faintly twinkling. ¡°So¡­¡± Teacher Tony laughed heartily, forcefully pushed open the shop door, ¡°Work hard, my colleagues!¡± The business hours have arrived. Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, open for business! Nearly at the same moment that Teacher Tony pushed open the shop door, the first customer who had been waiting outside quickly stepped into the shop. ¡°Boss Xu¡­¡± The customer who had entered the shop abruptly halted their footsteps, looking at Tony, who was approaching quickly as if wanting to give him a hug filled with love, with a horrified expression on their face. ¡°Who the hell are you?!¡± ¡°Welcome To- Our- Shop!¡± Tony stopped walking, made a heart sign towards the customer, ¡°We three are the employees hired by the boss, the boss is temporarily away and we¡¯re in charge of the shop.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The customer¡¯s face was hesitant; they couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back, exit the shop and look up at the unchanged shop sign, suspicion tingeing their face, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, my sweetheart- ¡± Tony¡¯s smile was refreshing, ¡°Please believe in the boss¡¯s professionalism in selecting employees. We are totally capable of the tasks in the shop.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Boss Xu¡¯s business is doing so well, it makes sense to hire a few staff to help out.¡± The customer reluctantly came around to it, but still couldn¡¯t help but to take an extra glance at Teacher Tony and the other two staff. Just wanted to say¡­ Does Boss Xu have any special preferences when it comes to hiring? ¡°Believe me, it¡¯s all a mere coincidence.¡± In Starfire Foster Care Shop in Qingzhou City, Xu Ran earnestly looked at the hurriedly arrived Zhang Yun, ¡°I¡¯m not purposely selecting peculiar employees.¡± ¡°And you call this not such a thing?¡± Zhang Yun looked at Xu Ran suspiciously, ¡°A few days ago I fostered my Stone Armored Dragon while arranging for three hours of accompanying training service each day for it, and guess what?¡± ¡°After the Stone Armored Dragon returned, it told me that the Frog employee would offer his own hatchlings to it as food every day while the one in black could scare it just by looking. The Stone Armored Dragon trained so hard for fear that they would attack it if it slackened off!¡± ¡°Ahh, this¡­¡± Xu Ran slightly coughed with a guilty conscience, ¡°Anyway, the results of the fostering and accompanying training were achieved, weren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t actually say, in fact, you do not.¡± Zhang Yun scratched his head, chuckled, ¡°The effect was really good!¡± ¡°Then that proves our employees are trustworthy.¡± Xu Ran spoke with a faint guilty conscience. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good that you, Boss Xu, are back.¡± Zhang Yun patted the Stone Armored Dragon standing behind him, ¡°Stone needs to be groomed.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran stood up, ready to take the Stone Armored Dragon for a wash, but Zhang Yun suddenly thought of something and hurriedly spoke, ¡°By the way, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I heard that when you were away, you had opened a branch store in Xieyun City?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°So, you will still go to Xieyun City next, right?¡± Zhang Yun asked tentatively. ¡°I¡¯ll be here for about eight or nine days, then I¡¯ll return.¡± ¡°Then can I entrust you with something.¡± Zhang Yun chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s a Transcendent Evolution Department in the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°There is an elder in the Transcendent Evolution Department who had exchanged some words with me before. I¡¯ve been wanting to write a letter to express my gratitude to him, but Xieyun City is too far for me to go, so¡­¡± ¡°So, you want me to deliver a letter for you?¡± Xu Ran finished the sentence for Zhang Yun before he could. ¡°Correct, that¡¯s it.¡± Zhang Yun quickly nodded, then his gaze was filled with anticipation as he looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate, he agreed with a nod. Speaking of it, the tradition he had started with the ¡®Three Little Ones¡¯ to advertise our shop for increasing fame was originally inspired by Zhang Yun. However, after several advertisements, Xu Ran had carried forward this good tradition. Nowadays, it was just a small matter of helping to deliver a letter, it¡¯s nothing big. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Zhang Yun expressed his gratitude, ¡°I¡¯ll hand the letter over to you tomorrow!¡± ¡°Alright, no rush.¡± Xu Ran nodded, then brought the Stone Armored Dragon into the Grooming Room. A moment later, a deep, hearty roar could be heard from inside the Grooming Room. ¡°Roar-¡± ¡°This familiar feeling¡­¡± Sitting outside the Grooming Room and hearing the familiar noise, Zhang Yun¡¯s face was filled with satisfaction. Thankfully, a few days ago he had resisted letting Teacher Tony help groom the Stone Armored Dragon! Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 229 Boss Cat, Its Time for You to Take a Bathl l Chapter 374: Chapter 229 Boss Cat, It¡¯s Time for You to Take a Bathl l ¡°Alright, the Stone Armored Dragon has completed its Washing and Protection.¡± Not leaving Zhang Yun waiting too long, soon, Xu Ran walked out with the Stone Armored Dragon, who wore a bewildered look on its face. Even though it had completed the Washing and Protection process, the Stone Armored Dragon still couldn¡¯t snap out of the lingering sensations it had experienced. The feeling of the high-speed rotating grindstone coming into contact with its tough yet sensitive body due to the washing was¡­unlike anything it had felt before. The Stone Armored Dragon licked its lips, unable to resist the urge to try the experience again. ¡°Thankyou, Boss Xu!¡± Seeing its own Stone Armored Dragon restored to peak condition, Zhang Yun nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Hl write a letter for you tomorrow. Could you please deliver it for me when you go to Xieyun City?¡± ¡°Not a problem, take care-¡± Xu Ran waved goodbye to Zhang Yun. Once Zhang Yun and his pet had left, Xu Ran turned to the Velvet Sparrow, who had appeared next to the counter. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The Velvet Sparrow tilted its head to look at Xu Ran and then straightened up. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Going out for a stroll-) ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly realized the Velvet Sparrow would leave fora stroll every day. He was surprised the bird kept this routine, as he had been away from the Qingzhou City shop for half a month. ¡°Off you go.¡± Xu Ran waved at the Velvet Sparrow as it waddled out of the shop door, then welcomed the next customer into the shop, ¡°Welcome.¡± After a moment of surprise, the customer exploded in excited cheers. ¡°It¡¯s Boss Xu!¡± The Velvet Sparrow, who had not yet gone far, turned its head back at the sound. It looked puzzled. ¡°Is this guy really that popular?¡± ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t bother with him!¡± Thinking about how Xu Ran hadn¡¯t returned for half a month, the Velvet Sparrow violently shook its head and waddled away. Soon, it crossed familiar streets and alleys, slipped through the high iron fence of a residential community with its tiny body, and arrived at the door of a house. Once it reached the door, the Velvet Sparrow gently tapped at the door with its hardened beak, making a dull knock-knock echo on the slightly old wooden door. ¡°Eh-you¡¯re here!¡± A voice came from inside. The Velvet Sparrow stopped knocking on the wooden door and waited quietly. ¡°Creak-¡± After a while, the door slowly opened. An old woman with a gentle face walked out from the house, leaning heavily on a walking stick. Her eyes had lost their sparkle, the pupils completely dilated, lacking the expression of normal eyes. This was a blind old lady. ¡°Little one, where are you?¡± There was a note of expectation in the old lady¡¯s voice, as she reached out and explored the space in front of her. Seeing the hand reaching above its head, the Velvet Sparrow paused for a moment, then sprung up to touch the palm of the lady¡¯s hand with its head. ¡°Ah, there you are!¡± The woman seemed delighted and softly said, ¡°I¡¯m counting on you today- ¡± ¡°Chirp-¡± (Leave it to me!) The Velvet Sparrow responded, and then a faint bluish glow flickered in its deep blue eyes. An invisible Super ability Attribute power spread all around. The next instant, the world came alive in the elderly woman¡¯s barren vision. Two stars Skills, Waning Moon Level ¨C Illusory Scenery. This skill, which confuses and misleads opponents by creating illusions, now takes on a whole new use in its hands. With the help of Super ability Attribute power, it can enable a blind person to ¡°see¡± the world again. ¡°So this is what you look like¡­¡± The elderly woman, who had temporarily regained her sight, gently crouched down and patted the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s head. ¡°What a cute little thing.¡± She looked around and then cautiously placed her walking stick at the door. After gently closing the door, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk around.¡± ¡°Chirp-¡± (Noproblem!) The Velvet Sparrow nodded and began leading the way for the elderly lady. It was Boss Cat who had found this job for the bird while they were wandering together. In this transcendent world, there are also ordinary people, some of whom are disabled. Not all disabilities can be completely healed by healing-type Pet Beasts. Those that can¡¯t be cured could make everyday life quite troublesome. Therefore, the Beast Master Association has a relevant department to help these disabled individuals. Aside from providing financial support, they would also rely on the powers of Transcendent Beings. Through the use of transcendent power, some ordinary impossible things can be made possible. For example, Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts that can create illusions can lend their abilities to blind people, allowing them to temporarily perceive their surroundings through Super ability Attribute power. This happened to be something the Velvet Sparrow could do. This kind of help, making use of transcendent power, is not personally assigned by the Beast Master Association. Instead, it¡¯s done through the posting of tasks by those in need, and Beast Masters can accept tasks based on their own abilities. Simple tasks can earn money, while more difficult ones might even yield Beast Master Points as a reward. Originally, such work wouldn¡¯t be possible for independent Transcendent Beings, because they would have some difficulty communicating with humans. But the Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t have this issue. Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 229 Boss Cat, Its Time for You to Take a Bath!_2 Chapter 375: Chapter 229 Boss Cat, It¡¯s Time for You to Take a Bath!_2 With the help of the One Star skill, Mind Induction, it was successfully recognized by the Beast Master Association and obtained the qualification to take on assignments. The task it is undertaking now was accepted yesterday. It needed to accompany an elderly lady named Tang Yueru for an hour stroll nearby, with a reward of a thousand dollars. One hour quickly passed, and the Velvet Sparrow, with the old lady, walked a complete round around the residential area and nearby streets. It was evident that the old lady was overjoyed. After all, the people she had known by voice, she could finally see their faces now. In the end, the Velvet Sparrow escorted the old lady home. Entering her home, the old lady stopped in front of a dusty mirror next to the gate, gently wiped off the dust, and looked at herself in the mirror, lost in contemplation. Even though some time had passed, the Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t interrupt. It curiously observed the old lady, wondering what she was thinking. ¡°So I¡¯ve grown this old¡­¡± the old lady murmured to her reflection, her face wearing a brilliant smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it, feeling my face every day with my hands. It¡¯s only when looking in the mirror that I realize how fast time has passed.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Aren¡¯t you upset?) Hearing the old lady¡¯s sigh, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help but curiously ask. In its eyes, whether it be humans or Transcendent Beings, all feared death. So everyone resisted the concept of aging. But this old lady seemed not to feel this way. ¡°I am.¡± The old lady nodded slightly and spoke calmly, ¡°But mostly, I¡¯m happy.¡± ¡°When I was eight, I lost my sight due to an accident. Even healing Type Pet Beasts couldn¡¯t treat me.¡± ¡°No man wanted a wife who couldn¡¯t fend for herself. As my parents and relatives passed away one after another, I ended up living alone.¡± ¡°Although living alone is boring, there are interesting things as well.¡± The old lady touched her face with one hand and touched herself in the mirror with the other, ¡°For example, with your help, I can see what I look like.¡± ¡°Chirp-¡± (It¡¯s just my job.) The Velvet Sparrow shook its head slightly. ¡°But it¡¯s very important to me.¡± The old lady spoke softly, ¡°Seeing the world once more was my only wish, and now, I have no regrets.¡± ¡°To live a life without regrets is the most important thing.¡± The old lady smiled, ¡°Sorry, I talked too much.¡± She turned around, took ten bills from her purse by the entrance, and handed them to the Velvet Sparrow, ¡°I¡¯m not rich, so no one was interested in my assignment. I¡¯m glad you were here; I hope you do not mind.¡± When she said this, there was a hint of apologizing on the old lady¡¯s face. Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts are relatively rare. There¡¯s even fewer that can restore sight to the blind and are willing to undertake such tasks. Therefore, the fees for similar tasks were often up to five figures, or even Beast Master Points rewards. ¡°Chirp-¡± (This is enough!) The Velvet Sparrow carefully took the bills with its chubby little wings and skillfully stuffed them into its pocket. It doesn¡¯t really need money anywhere else, occasionally takes a job for money, but it¡¯s only to have currency for food at the street snack stalls or to try the gaming venues in the human city. So, it didn¡¯t care too much about the amount of money. This is its hard-earned thousand dollars! It could buy quite a lot of tasty food! At this moment, the Velvet Sparrow thought of a dessert called Crispy Sweet Dumplings. It was a snack the Velvet Sparrow greatly enjoyed recently. The crispy outer layer concealed a soft and sweet inside. Its dark red melting center was especially sweet upon tasting, supposedly due to something called Brown Sugar. Anyway, eat it! ¡°Ah, right!¡± As if remembering something, the old lady turned around and walked into the house, ¡°Wait for me.¡± Quickly, the returning old lady held a small box of pastries. ¡°This is one of my little hobbies.¡± The old lady smiled, ¡°Because of my eyes, it may look a bit rough, but the taste is pretty good, you should try some.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (Okay!) Looking at the not-so-fine looking but exceptionally fragrant pastries in the small box in front of it, the Velvet Sparrow nodded fervently. Crispy Sweet Dumplings, see you tomorrow! It picked up the small box and gently placed it on its head, stuck between the two feathers on top of its head. The Velvet Sparrow swayed as it walked out of the old lady¡¯s house, waving at her. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Goodbye!) As the door closed, the world of color once again plunged into a void. The old lady reached out and felt around on the porch for a moment, picked up her wooden stick and started walking inside step by step, a smile on her face, her gentle voice echoing in the room. ¡°How wonderful-¡± The velvet sparrow carrying the little box arrived at the high iron fence. Looking at the thin cracks in the fence, comparing the size of the box, it helplessly shook its head. With the box, it¡¯s a bit tricky to get out¡­ Aha! Soon after noticing the residence¡¯s main entrance not far away, the velvet sparrow gently swayed and went along with one of the residents moving towards the main entrance. The resident, oblivious to the velvet sparrow¡¯s presence, swiped a card to get past the access control, and the velvet sparrow also successfully followed through. ¡°Twee-¡± (Perfect!) Velvet sparrow let out a cheer, then sneaked into a corner, carefully put down the little box it was carrying on its head, opened the box and was just about to taste one piece. Suddenly it thought of something, closed the box again, placed it back on its head, and started moving in another direction. In no time, the towering gate of Qingzhou City appeared before the velvet sparrow. Inside the city gate, a large area of the square is packed with people coming and going. There are hunting squads waiting for the city gate to open for hunting, squads returning from outside the city gate with various collected resources to sync with Beast Master Association¡¯s recycling point set up here, in exchange for Beast Master Points. There are also many hunting squads resting here, full of life. Struggling through the crowd, the velvet sparrow finally reached its destination. There was a huge piece of fur from a Transcendent Being, and on it laid a muscular, two-meter-tall cat-like creature ¨C a human-shaped pet beast. At the edge of the fur, there were some miscellaneous items. After joining the Tiger Hunting Squad, the Boss Cat refused the shelter from other squad members and moved all its belongings here, usually strolling nearby. When the Tiger Hunting Squad set out, it would also join. Due to Boss Cat¡¯s strong abilities and friendly disposition, the local managers tacitly allowed Boss Cat¡¯s long-term stay. ¡°Twee -¡± (Big Cat, I brought you some food!) Velvet sparrow picked up speed, swaying from side to side as it dashed forward. Then it tripped and its round body, along with the tiny box it was carrying, flew towards the Boss Cat direction. ¡°Meow?¡± Boss Cat opened its eyes, sat up quickly when it saw velvet sparrow, caught the little box with one paw, and gently put the velvet sparrow on the ground with the other paw. ¡°Twee!¡± (Try it!) After the velvet sparrow steadied itself, it excitedly pointed at the box. ¡°Meow?¡± What¡¯s this? Out of curiosity, Boss Cat opened the box and took a sniff, a look of interest appeared on its face. Looking at the intact little box and the four pastries placidly lying inside, Boss Cat glanced at Velvet Sparrow, thought for a moment, picked up one piece, and returned the rest to velvet sparrow. ¡°Twee-¡± (We¡¯ll split it equally!) ¡°Meow-¡± I¡¯ve already eaten, I¡¯m not hungry now. Boss Cat smiled, rejecting velvet sparrow¡¯s offer. ¡°Twee!¡± (Alright then!) Only then did velvet sparrow nod its head, savoring the pastry. After consuming a piece, surprise took over its facial features. The pastry made by the old lady was so delicious! The four pieces of pastry were quickly gobbled up. Seeing the look of desire to share on the velvet sparrow¡¯s face, Boss Cat asked it solicitously. ¡°Meow?¡± Did anything interesting happen? ¡°Twee¡­¡± (Let me tell you about today¡­) Excited, velvet sparrow told its story about helping the old lady regain her vision. Then, seemingly thinking of something else, it patted the Boss Cat on the arm. ¡°Twee!¡± (Xu Ran is back, it¡¯s time for your bath!) Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 230: Meet The Team Again 1 Chapter 376: Chapter 230: Meet The Team Again 1 ¡°Thank you for coming again-¡± Xu Ran waved cheerfully to his departing customer but was met with a resentful gaze. ¡°Next time I come, I guess I¡¯ll be greeted by Teacher Tony again, right?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched slightly, ¡°Unless something unexpected happens, yes.¡± ¡°Well, although Teacher Tony is really weird, I¡¯ll still come again.¡± The customers sighed deeply and reluctantly left the foster shop. ¡°It seems that Teacher Tony has left a significant psychological shadow on the clients in Qingzhou City.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, murmuring softly. ¡°It¡¯s all the system¡¯s fault!¡± After successfully blaming the system, he suddenly felt better. Sensing that there was a new movement outside the shop, Xu Ran quickly got up and began to greet his guest, ¡°Welcome¡­¡± Having a clear look at the visitor, Xu Ran¡¯s voice abruptly stopped, his smile becoming radiant, ¡°Boss Cat, long time no see.¡± ¡°Chirp-¡± (I brought them here!) The Velvet Sparrow hopped down from Boss Cat¡¯s shoulder, its feathers bristling with discontent as it hopped up to Xu Ran. ¡°Alright, alright, I acknowledge your contribution,¡± said Xu Ran, ruffling the head of the Velvet Sparrow, before turning his attention back to Boss Cat, ¡°You want a wash and care session?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Boss Cat nodded firmly, eyes filled with anticipation, and reached for its small bag tied around its waist. ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no need for that. Just like before, it¡¯s on the house.¡± Xu Ran quickly interjected. ¡°Meow-¡± Boss Cat shook its head and determinedly took out some money from its bag, counting it before placing it on the counter. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Boss Cat says it¡¯s making money now and can afford this.) The Velvet Sparrow casually translated for them. ¡°Alright then.¡± Xu Ran nodded reluctantly. Since joining the Tiger Hunting Squad, indeed, Boss Cat wouldn¡¯t be short of money. Speaking of which, it had been a while since he saw the other members of the hunting squad and Lucky Liu, he wondered how they were doing. No sooner had he thought of this than he heard a familiar voice outside. ¡°Boss Xu! We¡¯re here!¡± Soon, one by one, familiar figures entered the shop. With the addition of Boss Cat, the entire Tiger Hunting Squad had arrived. ¡°Boss Cat told us you were back, so we all came over,¡± laughed Liu Gu. ¡°It¡¯s not that Teacher Tony is bad, it¡¯s just that we¡¯re used to Boss Xu¡¯s delicate touch.¡± ¡°Last time when Teacher Tony cared for Wind Lion Dog, you were buddy-buddy with him. You guys even experienced his special Thai massage,¡± Yan Fan exposed on the side, trying to make Liu Gu awkward. ¡°Um¡­¡± Liu Gu scratched the back of his head, trying to defend himself, ¡°I was just being polite to Teacher Tony!¡± This caused the others to burst out laughing. ¡°Long time no see, it seems like you all are doing well.¡± Looking at everyone¡¯s relaxed and jovial atmosphere that¡¯s just like old times, a faint smile surfaced on Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°You can wait in the lounge, I¡¯ll take care of you one by one.¡± After saying this, Xu Ran gestured for Boss Cat to follow him. ¡°Meow-¡± I am first. Boss Cat politely nodded to its now-familiar companions, then followed Xu Ran into the grooming room. Not long after, strange noises filled the grooming room as Boss Cat attempted to hide its embarrassment and discomfort. ¡°Meow ¡± ¡°Take care! See you next time!¡± Watching the members of the Tiger Hunting Squad leave, Xu Ran¡¯s face was all smiles. In the process of providing care for each member¡¯s pet beasts, Xu Ran was updated on Boss Cat¡¯s happenings after its recruitment into the Tiger Hunting Squad by the squad members. Without strays becoming a burden, life was completely different for Boss Cat. Currently, Boss Cat had moved all its precious items to a corner in the large plaza at the city gate. Initially, the hunting teams expressed some dissatisfaction, but this quickly disappeared with Boss Cat¡¯s intimidating prowess and the support of the Tiger Hunting Squad. Admittedly, the Beast Master Association¡¯s stance played a crucial part too. Considering Boss Cat¡¯s past merits, what harm would a small corner of the plaza make? With a new place to call home, Boss Cat quickly adapted to its new lifestyle. Whenever the Tiger Hunting Squad left the city, it would follow them around. The resources it received ¡ª besides purchasing food for itself ¡ª didn¡¯t have any other noteworthy uses. Having a lifestyle that was not demanding yet easily satisfied. As a pet beast breed known for their fondness of sleep, now Boss Cat could dedicate sixteen hours a day to slumber. The remaining time was spent casually strolling around, effectively killing time. The city gate plaza, frequented by the hunting squad, was bustling with activity. In several ambush operations completed with the Tiger Hunting Squad, Boss Cat made significant contributions. This tough bundle of fur ¡ª who had shown remarkable skill proficiency over the past several years, having achieved the halo tier for all skills ¡ª would have dominated the Beast Trainer Ranking in Xieyun City just based on its skill level alone, if only it could have evolved. It¡¯s robust fighting power enabled the Tiger Hunting Squad to undertake less challenging tasks meant for Leadership Level hunting squads, thereby significantly increasing the team¡¯s overall earnings and making them all richer. The big house that Du Heng had been unable to buy was finally purchased, complete with a massive yard, so the Armored Rhinoceros no longer needed to be fostered. This morning, Xu Ran didn¡¯t see the big creature. Seeing his old friend¡¯s life getting better and better, Xu Ran was genuinely pleased. Stretching out, Xu Ran gazed at the direction of Xieyun City and muttered under his breath. ¡°I wonder how things are with Master Tony.¡± Xieyun City. Two figures stood outside the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Brother Zhang, is this pet care shop really as amazing as you said?¡± The younger of the two looked at the open door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, curious, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of this place before?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re uninformed!¡± The man referred to as Brother Zhang laughed heartily, ¡°You haven¡¯t been paying attention to the Leadership Level Beast Master rankings, have you?¡± ¡°Well, no. After all, I¡¯m just at the Elite Level.¡± The young man scratched his head, ¡°What¡¯s up with the Leadership Level Beast Master rankings?¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s been something big going on in the Leadership Level Beast Master rankings these past days.¡± Brother Zhang began excitedly, ¡°Fang Yuling, daughter of Chairman Zhang, had been the current rank one in both the Individual Combat Power and the Pet Beast Team Power rankings.¡± ¡°But now, her position at the top was snatched away overnight!¡± ¡°Not only that, the person who took her spot is also the current first on the Individual Combat Power ranking, which makes them the triple number one!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The young man¡¯s eyes showed surprise and disbelief, ¡°There¡¯s someone that amazing? What¡¯s their name?¡± ¡°Their name is¡­¡± Brother Zhang had a mischievous look in his eyes, ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Young man:¡±???¡± He blinked, looking at the shop named ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± not far away, his face filled with confusion, ¡°Brother Zhang, is this some sort of new joke?¡± ¡°No, no, no. The Beast Master¡¯s name really is Starfire Foster Care Shop because he¡¯s the owner of that shop.¡± Zhang pointed towards the nearby Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°And this shop, it blew up in popularity in a short period, trust me, its services are much better than any pet care shop in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The young man¡¯s face showed a trace of skepticism, but he couldn¡¯t help his growing curiosity about the shop in front of him, ¡°Let¡¯s go and see then.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Brother Zhang nodded heavily, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. Hook, line and sinker! Soon, this sheltered lad will experience firsthand the mighty Tony! The pair of them walked into the Starfire Foster Care Shop. A moment later, a voice of fear could be heard from inside the shop. ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t come over here!!!¡± Similar situations were happening all over Xieyun City. Those who had come to see this prodigal Beast Master, Xu Ran, after his triple ranking feat, were later surprised to find that he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, three unusual shop clerks had taken over, causing each of them to wear pained expressions. Shopping at the Starfire Foster Care Shop had suddenly become a painful yet pleasurable experience. While the value for service was far beyond any other foster shop in Xieyun City, the mental attack inflicted by the shop clerks on the customers and their pet beasts was immense. As they left the Starfire Foster Care Shop, all of them had the same thought. They couldn¡¯t be the only ones to suffer! It was time to randomly select a few lucky ones to share in their agony. With that thought in mind, these customers quickly found various excuses to bring their friends along. Unfortunately, that tactic soon fell through. Because the news travel fast. The folks who knew about the Starfire Foster Care Shop quickly learned of the change in shop clerks and their distinctive style. Aside from a minor few who became even more excited, the majority of the customers did not fall into the pit dug by their friends. Left without a choice, these customers who¡¯d wanted to bring their friends along turned their sights onto another group. Those who had not been paying attention to the Leadership Level Beast Master rankings and didn¡¯t know about the Starfire Foster Care Shop due to various reasons. The pain didn¡¯t lessen, but it could be spread! For instance, at the sight of his friend¡¯s pained and reluctant face, Brother Zhang¡¯s smile returned. ¡°Master Tony, care to give him a grooming service, it¡¯s my treat!¡± That night, as the business hours came to an end, Xu Ran sent off the last customer, stretched, closed the shop door, and exhaled, ¡°Phew! Finally done.¡± His face displayed an overjoyed expression. Many familiar faces had come because of the news. On top of running the business, he also found out about a lot of things that had happened during his half-month absence. He casually opened his task list and began going through it like always. The next moment, his smile froze. [Main Task 3: Out with the Old, In with the New Task Description: Please set up a branch shop in a Second Level Town and have the local fame reach 70% (47.9/70). Task Reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience+400] ¡°How did it surge that much?!¡± Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 231 What do you think of Velvet Sparrow?! Chapter 377: Chapter 231 What do you think of Velvet Sparrow?! Seeing his fame increase by over 4% in one day, Xu Ran immediately thought of the trio of system clerks located in Xieyun City. Could it be¡­ they¡¯ve stirred up something new? With this thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t resist picking up the landline on the counter and dialing the exclusive number for Xieyun City. ¡°Boss, hearing your voice again is thrilling, this is the first time you¡¯ve actively called me, you must be missing me¡­¡± ¡°Alright, Teacher Tony, hold up.¡± Xu Ran swallowed his twitching mouth corner, interrupting the words spoken by Tony with a low voice, ¡°Is today¡¯s business at the Xieyun City branch going well?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran mentioning the business within the shop, Tony¡¯s voice suddenly raised by an octave. ¡°Thanks to you boss, our store today was bursting with customers. However, through the combined efforts of myself and the other staff, everything was handled very well.¡± ¡°Thanks to me?¡± Xu Ran slightly raised his eyebrows. ¡°Of course.¡± Tony, on the other side of the phone, nodded heavily, ¡°It was because you gained the first position on all three Leader Level Beast Trainer Rankings in Xieyun City that we had so many customers today.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± In Xu Ran¡¯s voice, there was a hint of puzzlement. It sounded plausible. After all, reaching first place on all three rankings and surpassing Chairman Fang¡¯s daughter, FangYuling, was indeed astonishing and naturally boosted his fame. But¡­ That happened the day before yesterday. Theoretically, his fame should have increased most rapidly right after the event, hence yesterday¡¯s fame increase should have been faster than today. But, in reality, it was just the opposite. Somehow, Xu Ran felt something was amiss. It seemed like there was something he wasn¡¯t taking into account? Meanwhile in Xieyun City at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Tony wore a beaming smile while holding the phone. At that moment, the voices of two women chatting outside drifted in. ¡°Huh? They usually close at this time, why are they still open?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that they¡¯re still open! Yueyue, let¡¯s go in together and see just how magical this shop is.¡± ¡°You can count on it!¡± Noticing the commotion outside, Tony turned his head towards the two women entering the shop, ¡°Welcome!-¡± One of the women¡¯s expression changed drastically upon seeing Tony, while the other gave a triumphant smirk and pushed her friend forward, ¡°Teacher Tony, can you take care of her pet beast?¡± ¡°Cao! Yue!¡± The realization hit the woman and she shouted her friend¡¯s name before turning her gaze to Tony who was looking their way¡ªshe quickly shook her head, ¡°Excuse me!¡± ¡°Boss, let¡¯s talk later. We have customers.¡± Tony uttered into the phone before hurriedly hanging up, laughing heartily, and flashing a heart sign towards the woman, ¡°Welcome to Starfire Foster Shop!¡± ¡°Doo-doo-doo¡­¡± On the other end of the phone, hearing the busy signal on the line, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became odd. So this is what happened? At this moment, he seemed to understand something. It appeared the kind of friends that tricked other good friends into suffering seemed to exist in every world. ¡°Well, at least my fame has increased.¡± Xu Ran grinned while shaking his head. Although Tony may sometimes appear a bit unsettling due to his excessive enthusiasm, as system store manager, he would never act in a way that would turn off customers and make them never want to return. At most¡­ they would return despite feeling disgruntled. This unique method of increasing fame could indeed offer some new insights. Xu Ran stroked his chin, pondering the feasibility of letting Tony take charge if a similar situation ensued in the future. On second thought, it is better to just behave normally. ¡°Charming!¡± (We are back!) Cancan¡¯s voice came from outside the shop door, immediately followed by the sound of someone knocking on the door. Xu Ran re-opened the shop door, quickly spotting the four little creatures. In addition to Ziyun, Star, and Cancan, there was also the Velvet Sparrow that had accompanied them. ¡°How was it today? How did the gathering go?¡± Seeing the smiles on the four little creatures¡¯ faces, Xu Ran quietly asked. ¡°Charming!¡± (We found quite a lot of good stuff!) Cancan shook its shell excitedly. Pieces of resources, pulsating with energy, fell off its body and scattered across the floor of the shop. Yes, the four of them had gone scavenging outside the city again. Previously, only Cancan could burrow into the earth with its Burrow Soil ability, hence the gathering had to be carried out by it alone. But now, Burrow Soil has leveled up to the Three Star Skill, Subterranean Shape Pond, which not only is faster, but also grants the same ability to objects nearby. In other words, it can bring others along. Ziyun and Star, who had finished their six-hour training in the training area and have no need to pursue the Beast Trainer Ranking, chose to accompany Cancan to look around, conveniently taking along the Velvet Sparrow that knew a lot about the environment outside the city. It was clear they were efficient. These resources varied from Leadership Stage resources as the highest to Transcendent Stage resources as the lowest, which had almost no value for the three little ones to absorb or use. However, sheer quantity made them valuable when exchanged for Beast Master Points. ¡°Indeed, quite a good harvest.¡± Xu Ran took a quick look and swiftly tidied up the resources on the ground, ¡°After we gather a bit more in the next few days, I¡¯ll exchange them for Beast Master Points and split the points among you four.¡± Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 231 What do you think of Velvet Sparrow?_2 Chapter 378: Chapter 231 What do you think of Velvet Sparrow?_2 ¡°Chirp?¡± (Do I get a share too?) The Velvet Sparrow, which had been indifferent to everything, suddenly burst into excited light when it heard the words ¡°four¡± from Xu Ran¡¯s mouth. It even got its own share! ¡°Of course, after all, you have contributed to the collection of these resources,¡± Xu Ran nodded naturally, ¡°Tell me what resources you want to exchange, and I will help you do it then.¡± ¡°Chirp¡­¡± (The resources I want¡­) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s face showed a thoughtful expression. The enhancement of any transcendent being¡¯s strength requires the blessing of resources, it was no exception, let alone, besides the normal upgrade and growth stages, it still had the need for evolution. For the Velvet Sparrow, evolution was not a difficult thing, just go step by step according to the method of Daddy¡¯s evolution, and it could evolve into the King Species, Demon Hawk, just like Daddy. But when to evolve, the Velvet Sparrow had not made a decision yet. After all, evolution was a serious matter, even with Daddy¡¯s method, it still had a certain possibility of failure. Originally, the Velvet Sparrow was planning to sneak back to the core zone of the Beast Field by the side of Daddy after playing around in the human city for a while. But that time when it went out of the city, the Velvet Sparrow clearly sensed that Daddy had left a strength on its body to trace it. Looking at the time now, this force had long dwindled, Daddy knew its location but remained indifferent. This unusual reaction seemed to give the Velvet Sparrow some understanding. At this moment, it was not time to go back. So, it might need to gather the resources for evolution on its own. Thinking of this, the Velvet Sparrow nodded its head. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Thankyou then!) It looked at the three little beasts that were much stronger than itself, and couldn¡¯t help but hold up its little chest. After successful evolution, it would also break through the Leadership Stage. By then, it would not be weaker than these three guys! ¡°This is what you deserve.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we are going to the foster area. It¡¯s time to prepare dinner.¡± The four little beings who had been hanging about outside nodded together, their eyes lit up with anticipation. Soon, a delicious and hearty dinner was served in front of them and the residents of the underground floor. After a wolfish meal, Xu Ran took the three little ones back to the second floor to rest. ¡°Chirp-¡± (These guys¡­) The Velvet Sparrow, full after the meal, looked at the back of Xu Ran and three little ones walking away, wiped its beak with its fluffy wings, a hint of envy flashed in its large blue eyes. Although the environment of the foster area was comfortable, it was sort of yearning to live on the second floor like the three little ones. What am I thinking? I must be crazy! Shaking its head vigorously, discarding this thought from its mind, the Velvet Sparrow swayed over to its resting area. ¡°What do you three think of the Velvet Sparrow?¡± Walking upstairs, Xu Ran sat on the bed and turned his head to look at the three little ones who had found their places ready to sleep and suddenly asked. ¡°Meow?¡± (Velvet Sparrow?) Ziyun moved her ears, the image of the fluffy body of the Velvet Sparrow emerged in her mind, making her claws feel itchy again. Really want to catch this little fellow and have a good rumbling! A clever one, she had already known Xu Ran¡¯s intention. Although she didn¡¯t know why Xu Ran suddenly brought this up when he had just broken through to the third stage, Ziyun nodded after pondering for a moment. ¡°Meow-¡± (Notbad!) As for the Velvet Sparrow, she couldn¡¯t talk about disliking it, on the contrary, she sort of liked it in a different way. But seeing that the little one was so scared of her, she could only keep some distance from it. ¡°XiLu~¡± (I like it too.) The star-like purple eyes flickered with a thoughtful light. The smart it also understood Xu Ran¡¯s meaning and nodded slightly. The Velvet Sparrow was of the super ability attribute, different from all three of them, and it was already at the elite stage, with one skill reaching the full moon level. Being strong now meant that fewer corresponding resources would be needed after the contract was made. The difference in attributes means they are not in competition with each other in terms of teachable skills. Star made this rational analysis while also considering his own observation of the Velvet Sparrow. In his opinion, the Velvet Sparrow was a clever but quite immature little thing, and frankly, he didn¡¯t dislike the Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Charming?¡± (Velvet Sparrow? It¡¯s super powerful!) Among the three little ones, only Cancan didn¡¯t quite understand Xu Ran¡¯s meaning. As soon as he heard Xu Ran¡¯s question, he quickly answered, admiring eyes twinkling. Although his own strength was much stronger than the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s at this moment, under the guidance of the Velvet Sparrow, he could always find decent resources outside the city with precision, which made the young and naive Cancan admire him greatly. ¡°Meow- ¡± (That¡¯s not what he meant!) Looking at the clueless Cancan, Ziyun shook his head helplessly, extending his claw to pat Cancan¡¯s head and communicate Xu Ran¡¯s meaning to him. Understanding dawned in Cancan¡¯s eyes, followed by surprise. So that¡¯s what he meant! Does this mean he can play with the Velvet Sparrow every day? ¡°Charming!¡± (I agree!) ¡°It seems that all three of you agree.¡± Seeing the reactions of the three little ones, Xu Ran nodded slightly. The purpose of his question was obviously to make a contract with the Velvet Sparrow and make it his fourth pet beast. Originally, this issue didn¡¯t need to be discussed at this point. After all, considering the accelerating effect of the Meditation Acceleration Card, it would be several months before he could break through to the Fourth Stage of contract power. But with the unexpected acquisition of the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, his time to break through to the Fourth Stage of contract power sped up. If everything went well, he would reach it in about ten days. With this acceleration, the choice for the fourth pet beast became an issue that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. He had previously considered making a contract with the Velvet Sparrow, it was just a tentative idea then, but seeing the Velvet Sparrow again, the idea resurfaced. Despite the Velvet Sparrow appearing nonchalant about everything, underneath lay some mystery unknown to Xu Ran. However, he found the sparrow to be an interesting and talented fellow, who also had a fitting attribute. More importantly, it was already quite familiar with the three little ones. Making a contract with it is much better than finding a new pet beast to train and contract. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to it when I exchange Beast Master Points in a few days.¡± Xu Ran smiled. He also had an extra King Species Evolution Route. If the Velvet Sparrow was still as reluctant as before to make a contract with a human Beast Master, then let it feel the temptation of the Evolution Path a little bit. Having made up his mind, Xu Ran sat cross-legged and slowly closed his eyes. In an instant, he entered a deep meditation state. Time swiftly passed, and five days were gone. In these five days, Xu Ran had met almost all familiar customers at least once. His return was known to everyone in Qingzhou City, and the business of Starfire Foster Care Shop welcomed a surging increase again. After all, compared to Tony, everyone preferred Boss Xu to do the Washing and Protection. The busyness was only for Xu Ran. The three little ones who came back to Qingzhou City started to relax. After six hours of training every day, they went out of the city to look for resources and adventure. Accompanying them was the Velvet Sparrow, who would go out for a walk when the three little ones were training, and return to the shop to gather with them when their training was over. In these five days, under the precise guidance of the Velvet Sparrow and Cancan¡¯s efficient search, the resources they had collected had reached a level where the shop was almost unable to accommodate them. So Xu Ran made a phone call to have the Association members come and exchange the resources. Over five days, they had earned a total of 16,000+ Beast Master Points. ¡°You each take 4,000.¡± Xu Ran looked at the four little ones, who were all expectant, and then turned to the Velvet Sparrow with a smile. ¡°Velvet Sparrow, is there anything you want to exchange for?¡± A flash of excitement crossed the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes. According to what it had learned during this period, with so many Beast Master Points, it could exchange for all the resources needed for its evolution. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Fantasy Crystals, Suai Stage Blood Essence of the Super ability Attribute, Transcendence Flower, Efficacy Healing Water!) The expression on Xu Ran¡¯s face froze slightly. These resources¡­ Why do they seem a bit off?! > Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 232: Your Evolutionary Path Doesnt Chapter 379: Chapter 232: Your Evolutionary Path Doesn¡¯t Quite Workl Xu Ran was looking at the Velvet Sparrow with a surprised expression on his face. Something¡¯s not right. Very not right. The resources the Velvet Sparrow had just mentioned, individually they didn¡¯t seem much, but announcing them all at once gave Xu Ran a strong feeling of familiarity. Though not the King Stage Blood Essence, but the General Stage Blood Essence was rather similar, along with the Transcendence Flower, Superpower Attribute Illusion Crystals and the Efficacy Healing Water that also had healing effects¡­ The resources listed by the Velvet Sparrow, seemed to be the materials for some kind of Evolution Path? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the Velvet Sparrow. Even though the Velvet Sparrow had mentioned some secrets of evolution before, it only elaborated upon what Xu Ran already knew. So, Xu Ran was somewhat surprised, but didn¡¯t pay much attention to it afterwards. He accepted the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s explanation, assuming that it must have accidentally heard about it when it was outside the city. But, a few sporadic evolution secrets and a complete set of evolution materials were not the same concept. Initially, Xu Ran planned to wait for the Velvet Sparrow to exchange some resources, then show it the King Species Evolution Path suitable for him, consequently enticing it to form a contract with him. But, it seems that things are not going as expected. ¡°Are you planning to evolve by exchanging these resources?¡± Xu Ran asked quietly. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Yes!) The Velvet Sparrow nodded its head. It had previously mentioned the help Transcendence Flower can provide in its evolution. Xu Ran was equally aware of this fact. Its proposal of Transcendence Flower was within Xu Ran¡¯s speculation of it planning for evolution. However, he would definitely not be aware of the significance of other resources. These are the best evolutionary resources matched after countless trials by many inhabitants of the Velvet Sparrow tribe. ¡°Can you tell me the Race Name after your evolution?¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (Demon Hawk!) The Velvet Sparrow immediately answered, then blinked its eyes. Oops, it seemed to have spilled the beans. Based on the identity, it had fabricated previously, it was supposedly impossible for it to know the exact race post-evolution. It could explain away the evolution resources as it accidentally finding them during trials, but this ¡­ Feeling regretful in its heart, the Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t restrain from sneaking a glance at Xu Ran. Upon seeing Xu Ran apparently unaware of the slip-up, his facial expression remaining the same, the Velvet Sparrow secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, it was good. However, what the Velvet Sparrow didn¡¯t know was that at this moment, Xu Ran had already used the King Species Evolution Path on it. In the space between it and Xu Ran, numerous words that only Xu Ran could see floated in the void. [Evolution Path: Velvet Sparrow (Superpower) ¡ª Illusion Parrot (Superpower) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***¡î*] [Evolution Path: Velvet Sparrow (Superpower) -? Courageous Glede (Superpower) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ¡ï****] [Evolution Path:¡­] Xu Ran¡¯s eyes searched within the succession of Evolution Paths, eventually locking onto one of them. [Evolution Path: Velvet Sparrow (Superpower) -> Demon Hawk (Superpower) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: **¡ï**] This is the Evolution Path prepared by the Velvet Sparrow for itself, huh¡­ Xu Ran took another look at the Velvet Sparrow. This creature was indeed interesting. Although it was clearly just a Pet Beast abandoned from the city, it knew clearly about its own evolution path. At this moment, Xu Ran had a sudden impulse to find out what the Velvet Sparrow was really up to. But changing his mind, he gave up the idea. Everyone had their own secrets, the same notion applied to Pet Beasts. The anomalies he displayed during his store¡¯s operations, no one was digging to find out, right? Forget it. ¡°Your Evolution Path, it¡¯s not too good.¡± Velvet Sparrow:¡±?¡± A blank expression appeared in its eyes. What is this human talking about? Its Evolution Path isn¡¯t good? This was the Evolution Path that the Velvet Sparrow tribe had found to have the highest success rate after hundreds of years and hundreds of tribe members risking their lives. Based on this path, the Velvet Sparrow tribe gave birth to a Beast King, formulating the tribe into a Superiority Group that other Transcendent Beings would take a detour to avoid in the 97th Beast Field. How could such an Evolution Path not work? However, the Velvet Sparrow was unable to voice out these thoughts. After all, this would mean revealing its true identity. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Why not?) ¡°Because the potential is too low.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°Potential, refers to the possibility of evolving once more after the initial evolution.¡± ¡°You can understand it as, after evolving into a King Species, there¡¯s another chance to evolve, to become an Emperor Species.¡± ¡°If we rate the potential for different evolutionary types of Pet Beasts from low to high from one to five stars, then your Evolution Path, has only three stars in terms of potential.¡± Of the highest five stars, the evolution potential of the Demon Hawk was merely three stars¡­ With Xu Ran¡¯s words echoing in its mind, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s ocean blue eyes were momentarily lost. At this moment, it suddenly thought of its ¡°dad¡±, who had already reached the limit of the King Stage, and the countless times he had sighed in private. When it was young, it didn¡¯t understand, but now it does ¨C its dad wanted to take that step, to transform yet again. But, that step seemed extremely difficult for its dad. Were all these difficulties due to the low evolution potential of the Demon Hawk? Instinctively, it believed Xu Ran¡¯s words. After all, its dad was the strongest and most talented member of its tribe. If even he couldn¡¯t evolve into the Emperor Species, then perhaps it really was a defect of the Evolution Path itself. So¡­ The Velvet Sparrow gazed at Xu Ran, a glint of light reemerging in its sea-blue eyes. ¡°Chirp?¡± (You have a better evolution path, don¡¯t you?) ¡°Indeed, I do, but¡­¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (I want to make a contract with you!) The Velvet Sparrow suddenly spoke, cutting off what Xu Ran was about to say. Upon uttering those words, the velvet sparrow felt a mysterious relief in its heart. It understood that its decision to make a contract with Xu Ran wasn¡¯t purely based on the evolution path he hadn¡¯t told it yet, nor the fact that it couldn¡¯t verify the authenticity of this path. Such a thought had been budding in its heart throughout their past interactions. However, due to its personality and other reasons, it had never voiced this out. Now, taking this opportunity, the Velvet Sparrow expressed its thoughts. This mustbe what my ¡°dad¡± was thinking about too¡­ The Velvet Sparrow softly murmured to itself. If not for this, why would its ¡°dad¡±, who always took care of it, so readily abandon it in a human city without a word? ¡°Once we make a deal, there¡¯s no turning back,¡± Xu Ran said, a hint of a smile on his face upon hearing the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s words. The fourth pet beast, confirmed! Although this little fellow in front of him had a few secrets. But no matter how big its secrets were, they were nothing compared to The System. So there¡¯s no need to worry. ¡°No need to exchange those resources from earlier, I¡¯ll find a new evolution route for you.¡± After a slight pause, Xu Ran added, ¡°By the way, this should have been part of the resource distribution which you can only participate in after making a contract.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fulfilling it now in advance, but after making a contract, this will be deducted from your distribution.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (This is part of the distribution too?) The Velvet Sparrow blinked and looked at the three little ones whose gazes were full of goodwill, it was stunned. Although it had known about the resource distribution by the three little ones before, but¡­ What strange things have you guys distributed?! ¡°Chirp?¡± (When can we make a contract?) The Velvet Sparrow suddenly became a little eager. Don¡¯t hold an impart session behind my back, I want to participate too! ¡°Soon, in about ten days, I will break through the fourth stage of contract power and have the fourth contract slot.¡± Xu Ran responded while looking at the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s evolution route, eventually stopping on one of them. [Evolution Path: Velvet Sparrow (Super ability Attribute) -> Sleeping Bird (Super ability Attribute) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ¡ï****] This is the one! Once confirmed that this is the only evolution route of the Velvet Sparrow with a five-star potential, Xu Ran chose it without hesitation. Suddenly, with the dissipation of other evolution routes, the details of the current evolution route unfolded rapidly in front of Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. [Evolution Path: Velvet Sparrow (Super ability Attribute) ¡ª Sleeping Bird (Super ability Attribute) Evolution Difficulty: ***** Evolution Potential: ***** Evolution Conditions: Evolution Materials: Dreamer¡¯s Shadow (main), King-class Superpower Blood Essence (main), Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk (main), Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower (Missing main material will lead to guaranteed failure, missing supporting materials decreases success rate) Evolution Ritual: Complete the transformation evolution under the condition of having ten thousand living beings dreaming at the same time. The power of the dream must be swallowed.] This evolution route¡­ Xu Ran rubbed his chin. In terms of evolution conditions, the Velvet Sparrow has already met the first and third points, it just needs to upgrade all talent skills to three-star skills. With the current abundance of resources, making a contract and participating in a resource distribution can easily help it meet this condition. As for the evolution materials, they aren¡¯t a problem either. Although many aren¡¯t available in Qingzhou City. But they¡¯re definitely available in Xieyun City. This time, the most difficult part would be the evolution ritual. To have tens of thousands of living beings dreaming at the same time¡­ That¡¯s not quite easy to achieve. As Xu Ran was deep in thought, he met the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s expectant gaze. ¡°Chirp?¡± (What¡¯s the evolution route?) The Velvet Sparrow couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Your most potential evolution path is called Sleeping Bird,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°It has a five-star evolution potential, but the difficulty of evolution is correspondingly high¡­¡± Following this, Xu Ran told the Velvet Sparrow the rough situation of this evolution route. Hearing Xu Ran say that the Sleeping Bird has a five-star potential, the Velvet Sparrow was initially excited, but after hearing the entire evolution path, the excitement on its face turned to shock. This¡­ How can this be achieved? Just the skill upgrade to three stars seems absolutely impossible to it. Talent skills are supposed to upgrade after evolution, so how does one upgrade them before evolution? Also, the required evolution materials¡­other materials, it had seen with its ¡°dad¡±, but the Dreamer¡¯s Shadow¡­ This resource is extremely rare, even its ¡°dad¡± doesn¡¯t have it! Where can it find such a resource? Ziyun¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of laughter as it looked at Star and Cancan. Now is the time for them to step up! Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 233: The Nightmare Beast King that Rushes to the Beast Emperor l Chapter 380: Chapter 233: The Nightmare Beast King that Rushes to the Beast Emperor l ¡°Chirp?!¡± (What did you say?) Having listened to the chattering explanations of the three little ones, the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s expression shifted from initial bewilderment to now, surprise. Although the Velvet Sparrow hadn¡¯t contracted yet and the three little ones didn¡¯t reveal everything about the boosting process, just the mere knowledge that Xu Ran had a way to elevate a two-star skill to three-star was enough to render the sparrow speechless with astonishment. It turned its head to look at Xu Ran, sparks of admiration lighting up in its eyes. Having a high-potential evolution path and a way to elevate two-star skills to three-star without evolving, this human was just too amazing. Were all human Beast Masters like this? But according to its observations, the other Beast Masters¡¯ pets didn¡¯t seem so powerful. So, there could be only one truth! The Beast Master it chose was special! For a moment, the Velvet Sparrow felt a surge of secret delight in its heart. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry about the evolution conditions,¡± Xu Ran paused momentarily, ¡°Once we contract, I will be able to take you to Xieyun City. By then, getting the corresponding evolution materials won¡¯t be hard.¡± ¡°Our only problem is the evolution ceremony,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a trace of concern, ¡°With thousands of creatures dreaming at the same time, this ceremony might be a bit challenging to pull off.¡± The Velvet Sparrow opened its mouth to speak then closed it again. To its perspective, this seemed to be the simplest part of all. There were countless Transcendent Beings in the Beast Field; under its Dad¡¯s charisma, it could easily summon thousands who could dream simultaneously. This would be no sweat for its King-level Dad. After the initial excitement, the Velvet Sparrow suddenly became a bit concerned. You can¡¯t wrap fire in paper. Once it contracted with Xu Ran, its identity couldn¡¯t be hidden forever. Given the animosity between humans and the Transcendent Beings in the Beast Field, to the point of being mortal enemies, how would Xu Ran view it after he found out the truth? Thinking about this, the Velvet Sparrow fell into a sudden gloom. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s initially excited then suddenly low-spirited demeanor, Xu Ran softly asked. ¡°Chirp-¡± (Nothing!) The Velvet Sparrow shook its head vigorously, rallying its mood to keep Xu Ran from seeing its thoughts. Undeterred, Xu Ran turned his attention to the three little ones, ¡°Do you three want to exchange for resources?¡± The three little ones shook their heads in unison. The King-level resources they had previously exchanged for were still not completely absorbed. How could they settle for minor resources in Qingzhou City? ¡°Then, let¡¯s save them for later,¡± Xu Ran smiled, put away his cellphone, glanced at the fading daylight outside the shop door, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. We should head upstairs for bed.¡± ¡°Velvet Sparrow, do you want to come up with us?¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Me?) The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes lit up. All its previous negativity swept away in an instant, and its mood brightened considerably. Every time it saw the three little ones follow Xu Ran upstairs and it could only stay in the foster area, it envied them. Even though it hadn¡¯t contracted yet, it could now finally join them to sleep upstairs! ¡°Chirp!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) The Velvet Sparrow hopped off the counter, its pudgy body swinging side to side as it trailed behind the three little ones, following Xu Ran upstairs. ¡°Chirp-¡± (So this is where you guys sleep every day!) The Velvet Sparrow, which had ventured upstairs for the first time, flitted here and there, appearing quite curious about everything. It fluttered its wings, managed a jump from the floor to Xu Ran¡¯s bed, and started to inspect its surroundings. It was far less spacious than its lounge area downstairs, but for some inexplicable reason, Velvet Sparrow liked it here much more. Not only because Xu Ran and the three little ones were here, but also because this place evoked a sense of warmth that nowhere else had. The last time it felt such warmth was in Nightmare Palace, located in the core zone of the Beast Field, the stronghold of its race filled with its kin. But in contrast to the Nightmare Palace, this place had something more ¨C novelty. The Velvet Sparrow hopped about, flying to the bedside lamp, and quickly found the light switch. With a light tap from its beak, it turned on the light, then turned it off with another tap. Next, it fluttered onto the coat rack, inspecting Xu Ran¡¯s clothes with interest. Seeing how the Velvet Sparrow was curious about everything, the three little ones exchanged glances, then Cancan reached up its paw. ¡°Charming!¡± (This time, I got it!) Having said so, Cancan quickly went beside Velvet Sparrow. ¡°Charming!¡± (Come with me, I¡¯ll show you around the second floor!) ¡°Chirp!¡± (Okay!) The Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes lit up and it nodded vigorously. Soon, Cancan carried the Velvet Sparrow out of the bedroom to explore the rest of the rooms. Watching this scene, smiles appeared in the eyes of both Ziyun and Star. When Star had first arrived, Ziyun had guided it around the upstairs and downstairs surroundings. Likewise, when Cancan was born, Star had introduced it to the other residents in the downstairs foster area. Now, it was Cancan¡¯s turn to help Velvet Sparrow. Before long, Cancan returned with the Velvet Sparrow. Xu Ran was pleased to see the four little ones getting along better, then turned to Velvet Sparrow, ¡°Do you have a name? If not, shall I help you get one?¡± All this time, he had referred to Velvet Sparrow by its race name. Since he had decided to contract Velvet Sparrow as his pet beast, at least he should give it a name. Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 233: The Nightmare Beast King that Rushes to the Beast Emperor_2 Chapter 381: Chapter 233: The Nightmare Beast King that Rushes to the Beast Emperor_2 Name¡­ There was an inexplicable glow in the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s eyes. ¡°Chirp!¡± (My name is Twelve!) ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Xu Ran blinked, revealing a surprised expression. He was not surprised that the Velvet Sparrow already had a name, but rather that its name was so extraordinary. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll call you Twelve.¡± Xu Ran smiled and rubbed the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s head, then looked at Ziyun, Star, and Cancan. Speaking of which, the names of his four pet beasts all seemed to have different styles. Well, it¡¯s not a big deal. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Great!) Twelve slightly tiptoed, voluntarily rubbing Xu Ran¡¯s palm. Its sea-blue eyes slightly squinted, its face showing a somewhat contented expression. As the twelfth daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, the other members of its race and other Transcendent Beings in the Beast Field call it the Twelfth Princess. Only its parents and siblings call it ¡°Twelve¡±. This is a way of address unique to family. It loved being called by Xu Ran in this way. ¡°You lot should go to sleep, I need to meditate as much as I can.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, letting go of his hand and getting in a comfortable position on his bed. Emboldened by his decision to form a contract with Twelve, his motivation to meditate increased. The next moment, Xu Ran drifted into deep meditation. As she watched Xu Ran with his eyes closed in deep meditation, curiosity flickered in Twelve¡¯s eyes. Was this how human Beast Masters trained? This was her first time witnessing it. According to Xu Ran, in just over a dozen days, he could break through to the Fourth Stage of contract power, and form a contract with her. So¡­ Twelve cast an encouraging look at Xu Ran. Keep it up! The next moment, Twelve suddenly felt that something was off. Before she could turn back, she was in two fluffy claws. Huh? Huh?! Seeing Ziyun, who had embraced her, Twelve looked slightly horrified. ¡°Meow-¡± (Sleep time!) Ziyun stuffed Twelve into her arms, curled up, and showed a satisfied expression. Um- She had wanted to do this for a long time. Laying on Cancan¡¯s scales, with her head resting on Star¡¯s neck, Ziyun quickly closed her eyes, and slowly fell asleep. As time passed, poor little Twelve, curled up helplessly and unable to move in Ziyun¡¯s embrace, gradually came to her senses, her face showing a near-tearful expression. How was she supposed to sleep like this? While Twelve was slowly integrating into the little family of one human and three pets and nervously drifting off to sleep, The Nightmare Beast King remained conscious. At this moment, it had retracted its dreadful majesty of the king level completely, except for its huge and majestic body size. The rest of its power seemed to have fallen silent. But if you looked carefully, you could see that this tranquility was like the calm before a storm, hiding a surging power. The Nightmare Beast King wasn¡¯t in its usual spot in the core of the N0.97 Beast Realm, the forest where it and its kin resided, but was in a massive cave deep underground. Cancan would have been surprised to find that this cave was the very one where it had completed its evolution. A humongous earth-attribute dragon of king-level lay in front of the Nightmare Beast King, already cold but still instilling fear. The Nightmare Beast King stepped forward and gently rested its wings on the king¡¯s carcass. Even in death, the earth king¡¯s body still responded to the presence of its killer, emitting faint energy fluctuations as if expressing hatred that hadn¡¯t diminished, even in death. However, what it couldn¡¯t do in life, it certainly couldn¡¯t do in death. A hint of coldness flashed in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°Caw-¡± Let your death be of some meaning. The power of the super ability attribute rippled around it. The next moment, mysterious symbols appeared on the earth king¡¯s body, quickly draining the last bit of its power, which covered the inner wall of the cave. The power derived from the earth enveloped everything around, forming a windproof, flawless cocoon, hiding all fluctuations of power. Having done this, the Nightmare Beast King gently flapped its wings, shattering the now hollow corpse of the earth king into ashes that fell into a corner of the cave. It then flapped its wings again, and resources fell in front of it one by one. Any of these resources contained powerful energy fluctuations. The one at the top radiated a majesty even more terrifying than that of the Nightmare Beast King itself. This was a majesty that the Beast King could not possess, a majesty inherent to the Emperor Species! It was a resource¡­ of the Beast Emperor tier! ¡°Caw ¡± Whether it would be successful or not, it all came down to this one attempt. Even though the Nightmare Beast King, who had long been accustomed to hiding its emotions beneath the surface, had a glint of excitement flashing in its eyes at this moment. It has been scheming for so long, and finally, it is about to take this step. It was getting closer. Once the evolution was complete, all the struggles should come to an end. A terrifying power began to surge within the cave, but was completely hidden by the power covering the cave walls, preventing any Transcendent Beings from sensing any fluctuations in this area. The evolution of the Nightmare Beast King, was starting. In the No. 97 Beast Realm Core Area, there was a gigantic active volcano. This active volcano incessantly spewed out horrifying heat waves and toxic fumes from its crater. Even ordinary Transcendent Beings would face the danger of perishing just by getting close. At this moment, a powerful Transcendent Being stood by the crater of this volcano. Despite being one of the fire attribute Transcendent Beings with the best resistance to high temperatures, and even though its strength had already reached the General stage, this was the limit of where it could stay. This Transcendent Being was kneeling, its head bowed low, facing the direction of the volcano crater, continuously making noises, as if telling a story. A moment later, the heat wave erupting from the volcano crater suddenly became more aggressive, the continuously erupting smoke forced this General stage Transcendent Being to retreat a bit. ¡°Roar-¡± You¡¯re saying¡­ the Nightmare is hiding something from this king? A deep and terrifying roar echoed from inside the volcano. The next moment, a massive skull slowly emerged from the crater, its head covered with golden red magma, which quickly slid down as it raised its head, eventually revealing its dark red scales and the mottled traces on them. Following that, the formidable claws and body of this giant beast were revealed. Finally, it completely walked out from the lava where even ordinary Transcendent Beings could hardly survive if they got too close. From its towering position, it looked down upon its subordinate, and its king-stage majesty skyrocketed. One of the Six Kings of the No. 97 Beast Realm ¨C the Lava Beast King! The subordinate of the General stage trembled under the enormous majesty, until the Lava Beast King withdrew its momentum. It finally calmed down and made a hoarse voice. ¡°Hisss ¡± King, in recent times, there have been many abnormal activities from the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s subordinates. Based on these observations, I deduced that the Nightmare Beast King might have some other plans. After speaking, the General stage subordinate lowered his head a bit further. There was something else he didn¡¯t say. The Nightmare Beast King is the only Super ability Attribute Beast King among the Six Kings, with the highest wisdom in the entire Beast Realm. Undoubtedly, its plans would not be simple. But this, the subordinate wouldn¡¯t say. Because the Lava Beast King standing in front of it was the most volatile and murderous among the six kings. A statement carrying such implications could instantly provoke the Lava Beast King, turning it into a skeleton in the lava. After hearing the subordinate¡¯s words, a trace of disdain flashed in the eyes of the Lava Beast King. That old sly Nightmare must be up to no good. ¡°Roar!¡± Let¡¯s test it out a bit! ¡°Hisss-¡± King, how should we test it? Should we enter the territory of the Nightmare Beast King? The subordinate of the General stage couldn¡¯t help but look up at the Lava Beast King. In the Beast Realm, disputes never cease. As leaders of six different groups, the Six Kings naturally couldn¡¯t always coexist peacefully. They each had their own territories, and casually entering the territory of other kings was an extremely serious provocation. If that was what the king wanted to do, the consequences could be severe. The Lava Beast King grunted, and intense heat waves rolled out. ¡°Roar-¡± Didn¡¯t you say that the Nightmare lost a daughter and hasn¡¯t found her yet? If I remember correctly, you reported once that you found her in a human city. If that¡¯s the case¡­ it¡¯s reasonable for me to help the Nightmare find my niece, right? Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 234 Old Man He Nian l Chapter 382: Chapter 234 Old Man He Nian l Unaware of the conflicts within the Beast Field, Xu Ran was completely oblivious. After meditating all night, he felt that his contract power had increased considerably and nodded in satisfaction. He was close, breaking through to the fourth stage of contract power was just within reach. Upon hearing Xu Ran wake up, the four little beasts woke up one after another from their sleep. Except for Twelve who looked a bit out of sorts from not sleeping well, the other three were full of energy. ¡°We are going to freshen up and then prepare breakfast for you,¡± Xu Ran said, changing into his clothes and getting up. Breakfast? Twelve blinked its eyes and immediately perked up. But¡­ what¡¯s freshening up? Seeing the three little ones follow Xu Ran expertly into the bathroom, Twelve pondered, its eyes gleaming with curiosity and it ambled in too. As soon as it entered, Twelve¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but widen. It saw Ziyun standing on its hind legs on a stool, front paw on the wash basin and the other paw holding a special toothbrush. Ziyun brushed its teeth proficiently, working up a lot of foam quickly. Ziyun then dipped its head into a bowl of water nearby, took a big gulp, spit it out, and thus completed its freshening up routine. Star and Cancan, on the other hand, had different ways of freshening up. Star drank a glass of mouthwash as it had no flexible paws. After making some gargling noises, it spat it out, and its two rows of neat teeth were instantly clean. The cleaning of Cancan¡¯s teeth was the trickiest out of the three as it had all sharp dragon teeth arranged in two layers; conventional toothbrushes could not clean them properly. So, it used an electric toothbrush specially prepared by Xu Ran. With a humming noise, Cancan¡¯s teeth were well-cleaned. When it opened its mouth, it even looked more intimidating than usual. Seeing the actions of the three little ones, Twelve got somewhat puzzled. As everyone knows, birds don¡¯t have teeth. So, what could it do to not be the odd one out? Awaiting online for advice, somewhat urgently. Upon seeingTwelve¡¯s confused expression, Xu Ran smiled and brought forth a specially prepared stone, like magic, and put it in front of Twelve, saying, ¡°This is for you.¡± Twelve looked curiously at the stone in front of it and quickly understood its use. Slowly, it leaned forward, using its hard beak to rub onto the coarse stone. The surface of the stone quickly scraped off the dirt from its beak, easily restoring it to its original cleanliness. The next second, there was another smooth stone in front of it. ¡°This is a polishing stone for polishing. Try it out.¡± Twelve looked at Xu Ran and gladly rubbed its beak on the polishing stone. Instantly, its once dull beak from scrubbing was now shiny, even feeling a refreshing sense of renewal. Using the cleaned beak to smooth out its feathers, Twelve looked at its own mirror image and nodded in satisfaction. Day one of trying to fit in: Successful! ¡± Hope to see you again soon ¨C ¡± Seeing the customers leave satisfied, there was a hint of a smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Time flew by, and two days had passed since he agreed with Twelve to breakthrough the fourth stage contract power and form a contract with it. With the day¡¯s business over, he was going to head back to Xieyun City. Since there was no contract yet, Twelve still couldn¡¯t accompany Xu Ran to Xieyun City. However, the threesome had already agreed with Twelve to pick it up the following week. According to Xu Ran¡¯s judgement of his own progress in meditation, he would be able to breakthrough the contract power of the fourth stage within a week. He was going to Xieyun City first this time to help Twelve exchange for the resources needed for evolution. If all went well after contracting Twelve, he could even take it to Xieyun City to show its strength on the elite stage pet beast ranking. With this thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at Twelve, who was sitting next to the counter swinging its little stumpy legs. Knowing he would be parting with his trio buddies tomorrow, Twelve was especially clingy today. Although it didn¡¯t say a word, it didn¡¯t go on its usual wanderings but stayed by the counter accompanying him. Without Twelve¡¯s participation, the trio did not go out of the city to pick up garbage, and were still hard at work in the training area. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, after I return from Xieyun City tonight, I¡¯ll come back for you in afewdays,¡± Xu Ran said softly, stroking Twelve¡¯s head. ¡°Chirp!¡± (It¡¯s a deal!) Twelve nodded heavily, revealing a hopeful look in its eyes. After the contract is completed, it could then participate in resource allocation. It had been dreaming about this resource allocation mentioned frequently by the trio for a long time now. The anticipation and anxiety for the new evolution path filled its heart. The small conversation between the human and pet was disrupted as new customers walked into the store from outside. ¡°Welcome!¡± Xu Ran stood up habitually and was startled as he saw the old man who entered the shop. This old man, he had seen once before. When he won the New Beast Master Challenge Match, he had been awarded an opportunity to pick a beast egg from the Beast Egg Library. The old man was in charge of guarding the library back then. ¡°Good to see you again, sir,¡± Xu Ran quickly greeted him, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet you again.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± A hint of amusement flashed in the old man¡¯s eyes, ¡°But I have been wanting to see you again a few times now.¡± Huh? Xu Ran blinked in surprise. What did that mean? ¡°I am He Nian,¡± the old man introduced himself lightly. He Nian¡­ Hearing this name, at first, Xu Ran only vaguely recognized it. After a moment, his eyes widened. Isn¡¯t this the name of the President of the Beast Master Association in Qingzhou City? Could it be that the man before him is¡­ ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing the realization on Xu Ran¡¯s face, He Nian nodded, ¡°Just as you are thinking.¡± Before Xu Ran could speak, He Nian started walking into the shop while speaking. ¡°Initially, when you participated in the exchange, bringing such honor to Qingzhou City, I should have met with you. But at the time, I had other things to take care of.¡± ¡°Now, I finally have the opportunity.¡± ¡°Good day, President He.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but straighten up a bit. ¡°No need to be so formal.¡± He Nian laughed, giving Xu Ran a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Gu Wu has mentioned you a few times in my presence. Today, I¡¯m simply here as a customer, bringing my Pet Beast to be cleaned.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± He Nian answered softly, a sharp look flickering in his eyes. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded and then instructed He Nian to follow him into the cleaning room. ¡°Please summon your Pet Beast in the cleaning room.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Although old, He Nian¡¯s steps were steady as he followed Xu Ran into the cleaning room. ¡°Peep?¡± Watching the closed cleaning room door, the creature Twelve tilted its head in curiosity. It felt like the very powerful-looking human was watching it. Cleaning and caring for four General Stage Pet Beasts at once was not an easy task even for Xu Ran. By the time Xu Ran had finished cleaning the last of He Nian¡¯s General Stage Pet Beasts, the sky had gradually turned dusky. ¡°No wonder Gu Wu has told me so many good things about this shop.¡± Looking at his rejuvenated Pet Beasts, He Nian¡¯s face unfolded into a smile of admiration. ¡°Perhaps I should have come earlier.¡± ¡°President He is welcome here at any time.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°Even when I¡¯m not around, there are shop assistants to provide the cleaning service, and their skills are just as good as mine.¡± ¡°Oh really¡­¡± He Nian sighed lightly, ¡°Well, there might not be another chance.¡± At the very moment when his words fell, the urgent alarm sounded loudly throughout Qingzhou City. Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned rigid. This was the first time he had experienced this kind of alarm since he arrived here. Yet he knew what it meant. A Beast Tide. Moreover, it was an unresolvable Beast Tide. This was a warning for an impending citywide catastrophe! He turned his head sharply to look at He Nian, whose expression was calm and not perturbed in the slightest. Xu Ran immediately understood. Clearly, this association president somehow knew of the incoming disaster beforehand. That was why he had come to the Starfire Foster Shop today, to have his four Pet Beasts cleaned and cared for, to get them into top shape! That was why he had just mentioned ¡°there might not be another chance.¡± ¡°President He, this¡­¡± Xu Ran started, his words were cut off by a thunderous roar coming from somewhere. ¡°Boom!!!¡± At that moment, the entire Qingzhou City began to shake violently. It¡¯s happening this fast?! Xu Ran¡¯s heart sank. Attack arrives just breaths after the alarm?! What in the world is happening outside the city? ¡°Little Boss Xu, have you ever heard of the Beast King?¡± He Nian¡¯s calm voice landed heavily on Xu Ran¡¯s heart. ¡°Is the Beast King coming?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s pupils constricted sharply. ¡°Why would he come to our small city¡­¡± ¡°Roar ¡± An eccentric roar echoed from beyond the city walls, travelling across a vast distance. Even those unfamiliar with the language of the beasts could instantly grasp its meaning. ¡°Hand over the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, or face city extermination!¡± ¡°The daughter of the Nightmare Beast King¡­¡± Xu Ran murmured, his face reflecting confusion. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Unnoticed by him, the Beast standing dumbfounded on the counter, twelve, was even more bewildered. It recognized the owner of that voice. It was the Magma Beast King, one of the Six Kings from inside no.97 Beast Realm Core area and the one who had the worst relationship with its dad. Why wasn¡¯t it its dad looking for it? Why him? ¡°The Nightmare Beast King is one of the six kings within the no.97 Beast Realm Core area.¡± He Nian stepped out of the shop, and then turned to look at Xu Ran, his figure blinked out of sight, leaving behind a nonchalant comment. ¡°His species is the Demon Hawk.¡± Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 235: The Identity of Twelve has been Exposed! _1 Chapter 383: Chapter 235: The Identity of Twelve has been Exposed! _1 He Nian¡¯s figure had already disappeared outside the Starfire Foster Care Shop for a while now, yet Xu Ran still stood at the doorway, in a daze. The words that He Nian left behind as he left were still echoing in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s species is the Demon Hawk¡­ The Demon Hawk¡¯s prior species before evolution is the Velvet Sparrow¡­ And Twelve has the evolution path for evolution from Velvet Sparrow to Demon Hawk. He had already decided not to probe into the secrets Twelve was hiding and would know naturally when Twelve was willing to tell him. However, Twelve¡¯s secret is suddenly displayed before him at this moment. Twelve must have countless connections with the Nightmare Beast King. And in the roar just outside the city by the Lava Beast King, it mentioned handing over the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King. So¡­ Is Twelve the daughter of a Beast King in the Beast Field? Thinking of this possibility, a hint of absurdity inevitably emerged in Xu Ran¡¯s heart. Even now, his three Pet Beasts have all evolved into King Species, yet he is still very far from the King Stage. Therefore, when Gu Wu mentioned the Beast Kings and Beasts in the Beast Field, Xu Ran always felt that these were terrifying existences which he temporarily could not reach, and he simply listened to them as a kind of gossip. He never expected that he was so close to a Beast King and almost contracted with a Beast King¡¯s daughter. ¡°Meow?¡± (What happened?) The three little ones who also heard the commotion came to Xu Ran¡¯s side from the training area. Seeing Xu Ran in a daze, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but ask. Seeing that Xu Ran didn¡¯t answer, it turned its gaze to Twelve who had arrived here earlier than them. If it were in normal times, Twelve would probably squeak and tell the three little ones what happened right away. However, this one time, it just awkwardly turned its head to one side. In Twelve¡¯s mind at this moment, it was filled with the thought- Exposed¡­ Exposed!!! The smart creature had sensed the danger when it heard the old man mentioning its dad¡¯s race. After all, just yesterday, it had just revealed that it holds the evolution path from Velvet Sparrow to Demon Hawk. To add to that was the Lava Beast King¡¯s roar. Without a doubt, Xu Ran has figured everything out. Thinking of this, a trace of fear unavoidably appeared in Twelve¡¯s eyes as it felt like its dream was about to shatter. Knowing that it is the daughter of the Beast King, would Xu Ran still be willing to contract withit? Probably not¡­ It had just begun to get familiar with the three little ones, yet now it must become strangers again? Thinking of how it was gradually getting familiar with Ziyun¡¯s embrace every night, the thought of those two Beak Grinding Stones prepared for it in the bathroom every morning and the memories of all those day-to-day exchanges at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, its eyes filled with sadness. Feeling the low spirits of Twelve, the three little ones looked at each other, at a loss for what to do. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Once again, a terrifying roar resonating throughout Qingzhou City, shook the earth. Even more, a hot surge from the direction of the city gate rushed in, quickly raising the temperature in Qingzhou City. Closer, much closer! The residual power from the Lava Beast King was affecting the city, indicating that it had reached the city gate of Qingzhou City. The downfall of Qingzhou City could take place at any time! Listening to the resonating roar in his ears and feeling the tremors of the earth beneath his feet, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze quickly regained its focus. As he came back to his senses, his first move was to look at Twelve. All the many mysteries from the past were solved in his heart at this moment. Twelve was not a pet beast abandoned outside the city. It originally belonged to the city outskirts, to the Beast Field. Knowing the secrets behind the evolution and all was because it is the daughter of a Beast King. Its curiosity about human cities since it had never entered one before. Wild Super Creatures are humans¡¯ mortal enemies. Xu Ran had a clear understanding of this viewpoint from the first day he arrived in this world. But, is the hatred between the two really irreconcilable? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but think of the past month when Twelve was in Qingzhou City. It didn¡¯t harm any life, whether human or pet beast. It showed childlike greed for delicious food and curiosity for worlds it has never seen before. It interacted genially with other creatures. Although occasionally it would play tricks using its ability, it did not have malicious intentions. There were so many other images flashing through Xu Ran¡¯s mind. In the end, these images disappeared, and standing before him with its head down was Twelve. Is this little guy also scared? Seeing Twelve¡¯s behavior at this moment, Xu Ran felt a twinge of sympathy in his heart, and once again gently stroked its head like before. The tremors in Twelve stopped. After a moment of hesitation, it slowly lifted its head and looked at Xu Ran with its big sea-blue eyes. At this moment, those sea-blue eyes were really like hidden gems in the ocean, covered with a layer of mist. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Xu Ran spoke softly, ¡°No matter your identity, since we have agreed to contract, you are my pet beast.¡± ¡°Squeak?¡± (Really?) Disbelief and surprise instantly erupted in Twelve¡¯s eyes. The earlier self-doubt made it believe that Xu Ran would abandon it. Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 235: The Identity of Twelve has been Exposed! _2 Chapter 384: Chapter 235: The Identity of Twelve has been Exposed! _2 Unexpectedly, even after knowing his identity, Xu Ran was still willing to contract with him. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we will go to the city gate to see.¡± Xu Ran touched Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°Hiding here is not a solution, Qingzhou City is so small that it is probably already surrounded by that guy with Transcendent Beings.¡± Xu Ran and the three little ones could certainly leave through transportation, but Twelve could not follow. His breakthrough to the fourth stage of contract power still needed a few days, even if he now meditated incessantly at the last minute, he probably wouldn¡¯t make it in time. After all, a Beast King was approaching, and Qingzhou City only had two General Level Beast Masters, once the city could not be defended, its destruction would occur in an instant. The only one who could influence the Beast King was¡­ unexpectedly the father of Twelve, the Nightmare Beast King. But¡­ Would that guy stand on the side of the Humans? Holding Twelve in his arms, Xu Ran rode on Star, taking Ziyun and Cancan towards the city gate. ¡°By the way, do you know the Beast King who summoned the Beast Tide?¡± Xu Ran asked softly. ¡°Squeak-¡± (It is the Lava Beast King, the Beast King who has the worst relationship with father.) ¡°Ha?¡± A surprised look appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. When he heard that guy was looking for Twelve, he thought the Beast King and Twelve¡¯s father had a good relationship, so he¡¯s so righteous. It seems that it¡¯s not the case. ¡°Wait, in that case¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face suddenly turned a bit ugly, ¡°Why does the Lava Beast King want to find you?¡± Twelve shook its head. It was also unclear. But one thing was certain, once it fell into the hands of the Lava Beast King, it would definitely not end well. ¡°It seems like the Beast Field is also quite chaotic.¡± Xu Ran muttered, then shouted, ¡°Star, open the hiding effect of Moon Concealment Star Racing fully, find a position where you can see the situation at the city gate clearly, but don¡¯t get too close!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu-¡± Star roared, quickly understanding Xu Ran¡¯s meaning. Dark flowing light flickered around him, quickly enclosing one human and four beasts, as if it had entered a different dimension, the shape and breath of the humanoid and the four beasts almost imperceptible in the blink of an eye. After looking in all directions, Star changed direction and quickly charged vertically along the wall of a high building, eventually stepping onto the top of the building in one step. At this moment, the people inside the building had already been scared by the sudden noise and shaking and scattered away, with no one paying attention to the building, it became an excellent observation position. Standing at the top of the building, hiding themselves with the effect of Moon Concealment Star Racing, Xu Ran and the Four Little ones finally saw the situation at the city gate. The sturdy city gate, more than two hundred meters high and nearly twenty meters thick, now had a shocking large hole in it. The hole was about 40 to 50 meters in diameter, and the sturdy material of the city gate at the edge was still not completely solidified, continuously emitting smoke. In the smoke and dust, a terrifying giant beast covered in dark red scales appeared elusive. Through the hole, only part of its body could be seen, but just this part was already shocking. The Majesty unique to the King-level, emerged from its surroundings, forming invisible ripples, as if to conquer all that didn¡¯t submit. At its side and behind it, countless Transcendent Beings knelt on the ground under this strong Majesty, their eyes showing craziness and worship. In front of it, this Majesty almost became a solid substance, crushing towards the Human Beast Masters and countless Pet Beasts in the city. Fortunately, this Majesty was not fully effective. Eight General Stage Pet Beasts stood in front of everyone, striving to radiate their King¡¯s Power, jointly resisting the terrible Majesty from the other party. Seeing this scene, Xu Ran was slightly moved. He was very familiar with each of these eight General Stage Pet Beasts. He had washed and trained with four of them many times, and had just finished washing the other four. These are all the Pet Beasts of Gu Wu and He Nian. At this moment, they were doing their best to barely resist the King Level Majesty. Among the countless Transcendent Beings kneeling at the side of the Lava Beast King, the few closest to it also emanated the Majesty of the General Stage. If they also participated in this confrontation, the outcome would be obvious. At this moment, Xu Ran understood why He Nian had said those words. The King Level was simply too strong. Under the command of such a Transcendent Being, the scale of the Beast Tide would surge linearly, enough to destroy a 3 Level City. As Xu Ran was thinking, the Magma Beast King, locked in a standoff, seemed to become impatient and let out a roar again. ¡°Roar ¡± The terrifying sound wave, wrapped with majesty, whipped up a storm of energy and swept in all directions, while the meaning embedded in the Magma Beast King¡¯s roar once again emerged in everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°Humans, my patience is limited. Hand over the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter, or else Qingzhou City will be no more!¡± As his words fell, there was deathly silence. He Nian, who was riding on his pet beast, sighed inwardly and then spoke firmly, ¡°Honorable Magma Beast King, I¡¯m the city lord of Qingzhou City, may I say something?¡± In the midst of smoke and dust, the Magma Beast King¡¯s eyes turned towards He Nian. Meeting those huge eyes, fierce and slightly mad, He Nian faltered, but thinking about the countless humans behind him in Qingzhou City, he made every effort to maintain calm and composure. ¡°We have never heard of the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter and don¡¯t know anything about her.¡± ¡°But since the honorable Magma Beast King mentioned this¡­ I assume there must be one.¡± He Nian paused for a moment, and upon seeing a hint of reconciliation in the other party¡¯s eyes, he heaved a sigh of relief. If he had dared imply that this was a misunderstanding just now, he probably would have lost his life by now. ¡°So, it would be better if the Honorable Magma Beast King could give us some time to help you search in the city, what do you think?¡± He Nian slowly went on, his eyes shining slightly. In the 97th Beast Field, there are many 3rd level towns, but there is only one such town with a King Level Beast Master. That city is called Changshi City. A King Level Beast Master can have five King Stage pet beasts. The existence of Changshi City can limit the power of the six Beast Kings. Although they are more in numbers, they are not a united front. In comparison, the five King Stage pet beasts of a single Beast Master can work together and have stronger combat power. Under normal circumstances, the six Kings would not easily act and break this balance. Now that the Magma Beast King had acted, there should be some reaction from Changshi City. Apart from this, he had other arrangements as well, also yet to be completed. Therefore, he needed to buy as much time as he could to seek a chance for survival. As for the Magma Beast King¡¯s demand previously for handing over the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter in exchange for sparing the city, He Nian didn¡¯t even consider it. He had a deeper understanding of the relationships between the six Kings than anyone else. The Magma Beast King in front of him could arguably be considered the enemy of the Nightmare Beast King. Handing over the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter to it would be a sure death. Not to mention whether the Magma Beast King would keep its promise, even if it truly did, Qingzhou City wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the Nightmare Beast King seeking revenge in future. Sighing inwardly, He Nian turned his gaze to the Magma Beast King: ¡°How do you see it, sir?¡± The Magma Beast King remained silent for a while. It probably could guess that the human in front of it intended to stall for time, wanting to wait for the detestable human from Changshi City to arrive. And it was also waiting for the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s response. The Nightmare Beast King was cunning, and it had to probe out his possible tricks this time. ¡°Roar ¡± ¡°If not found in ten minutes, the city will be slaughtered!¡± After issuing another roar, the Magma Beast King¡¯s menacing air lessened slightly. Ten minutes¡­ A glint flickered in He Nian¡¯s eyes. Such a short time, President Zhao of Changshi City probably wouldn¡¯t be able to make it here. But his other arrangement¡­ There was just enough time. ¡°Fine! Honorable Magma Beast King, please wait. I will send someone to start the search right away!¡± Without any hesitation, He Nian agreed immediately. He turned his head and gave Gu Wu, who was standing silently next to him, a glance. Soon, an intense search began within Qingzhou City. Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 236 Battle of the Two Kings! _1 Chapter 385: Chapter 236 Battle of the Two Kings! _1 ¡°Chirp?¡± (What should we do?) Feeling uneasy and curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, Twelve twisted its body and lifted its head looking at Xu Ran with a hint of apology in its eyes. Earlier, He Nian and the Lava Beast King¡¯s conversation was heard where Xu Ran and his pets were. The apology in Twelve¡¯s eyes was not only towards Xu Ran, but also towards countless humans within Qingzhou City. After living here for a month, it had grown fond of many things and people in Qingzhou City. But at this moment, its existence had become their disaster. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes showed a contemplative look, and then he said softly, ¡°When will your father come?¡± ¡°Chirp-¡± (I don¡¯t know¡­) The Velvet Sparrow helplessly shook its head. Given its power, it was impossible for it to sense the exact location of its father. Under normal circumstances, its father should have already received the news and be on his way. However, if its father had been delayed by something¡­ The Velvet Sparrow somewhat dared not imagine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Ran said softly, ¡°No matter what happens, we will standby you.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Exactly!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We¡¯re in this together!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Never abandon a companion!) Hearing Xu Ran and the three little pets speak up, tears glistened in Twelve¡¯s eyes. After a moment, its gaze became firm. It vigorously shook its head. ¡°Chirp-¡± (If my father doesn¡¯t come, hand me over to the Lava Beast King.) ¡°Chirp-¡± (As long as my father is around, the Beast King can only imprison me at most.) It didn¡¯t want to drag down Xu Ran and the others, nor did it want to burden the countless people of Qingzhou City. ¡°Don¡¯t be too pessimistic.¡± Xu Ran sighed in his heart and forced a smile, trying to comfort it, ¡°President He seemed quite calm just now. Maybe he has other plans?¡± As he said this, Xu Ran felt a bit more respect and gratitude for the old man in his heart. Without a doubt, he knew Twelve¡¯s identity. But in the confrontation with the Lava Beast King, He Nian never mentioned it. Even though the search for the entire city was underway, Xu Ran could see that this search was more of a show for the Lava Beast King. Although he didn¡¯t know what was giving He Nian the courage, Xu Ran took note of this favor. Time passed by the minute and second, and soon the ten minutes that He Nian and the Lava Beast King had agreed upon was about to end. The horrifying presence around the Lava Beast King started to surge again. His gruesome and crazy red eyes, as if they were trying to swallow He Nian completely, stared at him intently. ¡°Roar ¡± ¡°Time is almost up!¡± ¡°Soon, very soon.¡± He Nian whispered, his eyes flashing with an eerie light. The next instant, a sudden change occurred. ¡°Screech ¡± A sharp cry filled with extreme anger echoed from the horizon. Along with the cry, an omnipresent pressure showed up that was no weaker than that of the Lava Beast King. A gigantic hawk ferociously flapped its wings, cutting through the void by relying on its physical strength and quickly swept towards them like a stream of light. Its form grew larger in the eyes of countless beings, and in no time, it appeared above the Qingzhou city gate. The overwhelming majesty attributable to a king covered the entire area! He Nian breathed a sigh of relief. The composure he had been forcing earlier vanished instantly, and a wry smile with a sense of relief appeared on his face. Thankfully, it arrived in time. His gaze landed on a translucent pet beast by his side, which had an exceedingly weak aura. Super ability attribute King Species, Jade Spirit King. This super ability attribute pet beast had a unique ability which can split and maintain avatars for a long time while possessing extremely great concealment Using its abilities, He Nian can know many things on the outside without leaving the house. The Jade Spirit King had several avatars hidden in the Beast Field in different locations, responsible for investigating all kinds of situations within the Beast Field. By coincidence, one avatar happened to be near the underground cave where Cancan had completed its evolution and saw traces of the Nightmare Beast King. By sacrificing an avatar, He Nian managed to call the Nightmare Beast King here. ¡°Next¡­¡± Looking at the Nightmare Beast King, which fixed its murderous gaze on the Lava Beast King immediately, He Nian took a deep breath, ¡°Everyone retreat!¡± The after-effects of a battle between two king stage transcendent beings were equally dangerous. Ignoring He Nian and the situation of the humans of Qingzhou City, The Nightmare Beast King stared at the Lava Beast King with sharp killing intent and fierce hatred in his eyes. Its evolution was not successful after all. Despite the many preparations and calculations, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s evolution still failed. Thankfully, it was calm enough to abandon everything at the critical moment. Not only was it not seriously injured due to the failed evolution, but its power even slightly increased. However, such gains were far from enough! The Nightmare Beast King needed something to vent its dissatisfaction with at the moment. The fool in front of it who knew neither life nor death was the perfect choice. In an instant, it knew what the Lava Beast King wanted to do. ¡°Screech ¡± ¡°Lava lizard, you asked for it!¡± Letting out a sharp cry, the Nightmare Beast King quickly lunged at the Lava Beast King. A vaporous, iridescent light erupted from all around it, transforming into countless fragments of residual imprints. Within each fragment, it seemed as though a different dream was flickering. Without exception, each of these fragments pulsed with a purple glow, flashing with an aura of negation and ominous ambience. It came across as if any creatures that came into contact with it would be plunged into a terrible nightmare, unable to extricate themselves. Demon Hawk, a creature that uses nightmares as its weapon! ¡°Roar ¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Facing the formidable approach of the Nightmare Beast King, the Magma Beast King chose to advance rather than retreat, the look in its eyes suddenly sparking with excitement and ferocity. A timely arrival! It had long been at odds with the Nightmare Beast King. So long, in fact, that the Magma Beast King had forgotten why they initially became enemies. And it had been longing for a battle with the Nightmare Beast King for a while! Golden-red rays of light exploded from the cracked dark-red scales of the Magma Beast King, like molten rock ready to spew forth, creating an astonishing wave of heat and a sky-covering firelight. The surrounding temperature soared in an instant. With the Magma Beast King at the center, the area around it was immediately transformed into a forbidden zone of life. The purple-black earth was evaporated dry of its last drop of moisture, cracks began to appear, and where the Magma Beast King¡¯s claws set foot, the soil melted under the terrifying high heat, turning into molten lava that was surging turbulently. Molten Lizard, a horrifying creature that feeds on molten rock! The two King Stage Extraordinary Beings collided in a blink of an eye, the fire attribute power and super ability attribute power shattered in their fierce confrontation, wrapped in an energy storm, sweeping outwards with explosive roars. At first, the surrounding creatures could barely make out the collision between the two. As the battle intensified, they could only vaguely glimpse the afterimages of this terrifying fight. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a piercing roar, the city wall of Qingzhou, which had already been melted into a large hole, couldn¡¯t withstand the aftershocks of the collision and finally collapsed. Fortunately, He Nian and Gu Wu had already organized the evacuation, so there were no casualties. ¡°Screech ¡± Accompanied by an extremely domineering sound, countless fragments of nightmares in the void suddenly exploded and transformed into numerous sharp blades, brutally piercing the giant body of the Magma Beast King! ¡°Roar ¡± Accompanied by the painful growl of the Magma Beast King, this evenly matched battle gradually began to tilt in the favor of the Nightmare Beast King. Retreating quickly in yet another collision, the Magma Beast King looked at the Nightmare Beast King with disbelief in its eyes. Why? Why had this beast¡¯s power suddenly increased so much? Hadn¡¯t the six of them, the great Beast Kings, already reached their respective limits, no longer being able to further progress? Why was the Nightmare Beast King still able to become stronger?! ¡°Roar ¡± ¡°Impossible! How could I possibly be no match foryou?¡± In response to the Magma Beast King¡¯s angry roar was the Nightmare Beast King with a spear made of countless nightmare fragments, gathered in mid-air. This spear pierced through the Magma Beast King but didn¡¯t leave any wounds on the giant¡¯s body. The massive body of the Magma Beast King suddenly became rigid, and the next moment its terrifying eyes dulled, and the aura around it started to collapse uncontrollably. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a rumble, the massive body of the Magma Beast King fell heavily to the ground. The Molten Lizard was no more. The Nightmare Beast King spread its wings and rose into the air, not even glancing at the Magma Beast King whose body was now nothing more than a corpse. Its gaze was filled with a touch of coldness and a threat as it stared distantly in the direction of the core zone of Beast Field. After a moment, it withdrew its gaze, trembling its wings and turned into a streak of light, flying towards Qingzhou City. Seeing this scene, the human Beast Masters, who had breathed a sigh of relief at the Magma Beast King¡¯s demise and were even beginning to celebrate their survival, quickly had their expressions change. Those who also showed changes in their facial expressions were Xu Ran and the Four Little Ones. At this moment, the Nightmare Beast King was coming directly towards their location! The ability of Star to camouflage was utterly useless in front of the Nightmare Beast King! A feeling of trepidation surfaced in Xu Ran¡¯s heart. I eloped with its daughter; is it seeking revenge by trying to get me? Considering this possibility, Xu Ran quietly opened the transmission map, pondering the likelihood of summoning the Three Little Ones to leave via transmission to Xieyun City before the Nightmare Beast King comes to kill him. However, as it turned out, this possibility was zero. Before he could make a move, the Nightmare Beast King had already appeared in front of Xu Ran, watching him quietly with its wings folded. Despite not displaying the majesty typical of a King Stage creature, just thinking about how it had just killed the Magma Beast King made the Nightmare Beast King seem extremely oppressive at that moment. Ziyun and Star both tensed up at the same time. ¡°Charming!¡± (¡°Come at me!¡±) Cancan shouted and then jumped straight off the rooftop. As it did so, its body size expanded violently from its original pocket-size to a giant beast over seven hundred meters long. Even standing on the ground, it could easily look down upon the Nightmare Beast King on the rooftop. Xu Ran: Ziyun: Star: Twelve: Nightmare Beast King: Shaking its head slightly, the Nightmare Beast King gently picked up Twelve with its claws, turned around, and left. Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Chapter 237: The Nightmare Beast Kings Concession! Chapter 386: Chapter 237: The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s Concession! ¡°Sure¡­¡± (Just like that? It¡¯s gone?) Cancan retreats to a petite body size, slumpily shrinking its head and staring towards the horizon, where the Nightmare Beast King has been reduced to a small dot. There¡¯s a look of melancholy in its eyes. In the time they have spent together, it has come to like the new companion and was waiting for Xu Ran to break through to the Fourth Stage of contract power and successfully form a contract with Twelve, officially integrating it into the family. Cancan was even beginning to look forward to the first time Twelve would participate in the allocation of resources. What reactions and performances would it have upon seeing those magical resources? But now, Twelve was taken away by the Nightmare Beast King, and everything seemed to be in vain. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (After all, the other party is Twelve¡¯s father-) Star signs a small sigh, shakes its head, and a touch of regret appears in its eyes. At this moment, it thought of its own father, Chasing Wind. It was his resolute decision to send Star to Xu Ran that led to Star¡¯s current status. Now, Twelve¡¯s father has shown up, and he wants to take Twelve away from Xu Ran¡­ Thinking of this, Star couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for Twelve. It couldn¡¯t resist turning its head to look at Xu Ran, wanting to know what he was thinking at this moment. ¡°Meow-¡± (What a pity, without Xu Ran¡¯s help, Twelve probably can¡¯t evolve into a Sleeping Bird.) Ziyun spread its paws, a look of regret on its face. Even if the Nightmare Beast King could help Twelve gather those evolution resources, without fulfilling the evolution conditions of upgrading all talent skills to three stars, Twelve¡¯s chances of successfully completing the difficult five-star evolution would be slim. ¡°Huff- ¡± Xu Ran breathed out a cloud of breath, hearing the sighs of the three little ones, looking at the Nightmare Beast King and his daughter who had disappeared in the distance, suddenly laughed, ¡°Then let¡¯s go get it back.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What?) ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Huh?) ¡°Sure?¡± (Are you going to bring Twelve back?) ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran composed himself, his face showing a touch of composure, ¡°I¡¯ve already invested in the King Species Evolution Route, so if I don¡¯t make a contract with Twelve, won¡¯t I be taking a big loss?¡± ¡°Moreover, the Nightmare Beast King did not attack us just now, he just took Twelve, which means there is still room to maneuver in this matter.¡± Thinking about the situation when the Nightmare Beast King descended just now, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed more confidence, ¡°Of course, not now.¡± ¡°Right now our strength is too weak to enter the core area of the Beast Field, so we need to enhance our power.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°Wait until you all reach the level of Unparalleled General Stage, then we¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°By then, with all of us working together, evena King-level could be dealt with, I believe the Nightmare Beast King would reconsider.¡± The three little ones looked at each other and then quickly had feelings of intense combat stirring in their eyes. That¡¯s right! At this moment, their power is still a long way from the King Stage, but with Xu Ran¡¯s contract power breaking through to the Fourth Stage, they can all successfully level up to the General Stage. Based on their previous massive accumulation of resources at the King-level, once they break through to the General Stage, they should be able to quickly reach perfection at the General Stage. All they need is to improve their skill proficiency, it wouldn¡¯t take too long to reach the Unparalleled General Stage. And once they reach that level¡­ With the strength of the team, even a King-level can be challenged! ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s level up first, and then go back to pick him up!) Ziyun, abandoning its previous pessimism, showed excitement in its eyes. It remembered the feeling of sleeping with Twelve a few nights ago. No one can take such a comfortable little fuzzball away from it! Star and Cancan nodded in unison, at this moment they also ignited their confidence under Xu Ran¡¯s encouragement. The King level, is not that intimidating. Let¡¯s do this! Seeing the grit and determination of the three little ones, Xu Ran nodded slightly, then looked in the direction where the Nightmare Beast King and Twelve disappeared. Wait a little longer, we¡¯U be there soon to pick you up! ¡°Chirp!¡± (Dad, I want to goback!) Locked in the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s sharp claws, which blocked every possible escape route, Twelve grumbled discontentedly after a series of futile struggles. Hearing his little girl¡¯s voice, the Nightmare Beast King had a helpless look in his eyes. ¡°Xi¡­¡± (Am I not sending you home now?) Hearing the words of Nightmare Beast King, Twelve¡¯s expression froze for a moment. Yes, its home is in the core area of Beast Field No. 97, and the direction its dad is heading towards now is indeed there. So, its dad was not wrong, he was indeed sending it home. But¡­ A look of bewilderment flashed in Twelve¡¯s eyes. When did it start regarding Qingzhou City, Starfire Foster Care Shop, and the place where Xu Ran lives as its other home? Maybe¡­ on the day it agreed to become his pet beast? No, it should be even earlier. When it checked into the Starfire Foster Care Shop and started spending every day with Xu Ran and the three pets¡­ As images of their times together flashed through its mind, a sense of reluctance was flooding Twelve¡¯s eyes. It didn¡¯t want to leave there yet. It was still waiting for Xu Ran¡¯s contract power to break through to the Fourth Stage in a few days and contract with him¡­ Sensing his daughter¡¯s emotions through his extraordinary perception, the Nightmare Beast King sighed deeply. ¡°Xi¡­¡± (I made a wrong decision. Initially, I should not have allowed you to stay in the city of humans.) Thinking of his own incomplete evolution, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression darkened. If he had become the Beast Emperor, the other Beast Kings would have had no choice but to bow down to him. Then it wouldn¡¯t have mattered who his daughter made a contract with, as long as she was happy. Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 237: The Nightmare Beast Kings Concession! Chapter 387: Chapter 237: The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s Concession! Now that his own evolution had not been successful, although he had managed to kill the Magma Beast King, which had caused some deterrent effects, the Magma Beast King was far from the strongest among the Six Kings. The other four Beast Kings were by no means easy to deal with. Whether they would join forces to target him next, the Nightmare Beast King couldn¡¯t be sure. Under these circumstances, he naturally couldn¡¯t let Twelve remain in the outside world. ¡°Squawk ¡± (That human is too weak and can¡¯t protect you, so you better stay by my side.) ¡°Chirp!¡± (I don¡¯t want to! I want to go back to Qingzhou City!) Twelve spoke firmly, her voice tinged with a hint of anger. She hadn¡¯t made a contract with Xu Ran yet, hadn¡¯t participated in the long- awaited resource distribution with the other three little ones, and there were so many things she hadn¡¯t done yet. She absolutely refused to stay by her dad¡¯s side! Hearing Twelve¡¯s firm opposition, a trace of surprise and astonishment surfaced in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King. At this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but recall Twelve before she had left the Beast Field. This daughter of his, although mischievous, had never once defied him. But this time¡­ His daughter was fighting so resolutely because of a human. ¡°Squawk- ¡± (Did that human use some bewitching spell on you?) Twelve turned her head to one side, remaining silent, but the resolute look in her big, sea-blue eyes never wavered a bit. ¡°Boom!¡± Accompanied by a low rumble, the massive body of the Nightmare Beast King gently landed on the branch, they had arrived at the territory of the Velvet Sparrow clan. He put his daughter down, then squinted his sharp, lavender eyes and stared into Twelve¡¯s eyes. After a moment of silence, the Nightmare Beast King heaved a sigh. ¡°Squawk-¡± (Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll give that human a chance.) ¡°Squawk-¡± (If he dares to appear here and come here to meet you, then I¡¯ll allow him to contract with you.) Having said that, the Nightmare Beast King let out a reverberating roar, and soon a General Stage Demon Hawk descended, guarding Twelve like a protector. Nodding at the Demon Hawk, the Nightmare Beast King turned and left, soon disappearing from the spot. Twelve glanced sideways at the Demon Hawk that was watching her, then lowered her head again. Daddy is a bad guy! He even assigned a subordinate to monitor her. She had originally wanted to tell him about her new evolution path, but now she decided not to share! Hmph! After grumbling in her heart for a bit, Twelve tiptoed to her feet, looking in the direction of Qingzhou City with a hint of melancholy and loss in her eyes. Would Xu Ran and the three of them¡­ come to find her? ¡°They will, they definitely will,¡± In the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran gratefully shook He Nian¡¯s hand, ¡°Thank you, President He, for helping to conceal Twelve¡¯s situation. The Starfire Foster Care Shop will always be here, we¡¯ll continue operating in Qingzhou City, that¡¯s my promise.¡± ¡°Hehe, good.¡± There was a bit more of a smile on He Nian¡¯s face as he nodded in satisfaction, ¡°In that case, I have a place to wash and care for my four pet beasts.¡± ¡°President He, there¡¯s another thing I¡¯m curious about,¡± said Xu Ran softly, looking at the ever-so-calm He Nian who hadn¡¯t shown the slightest bit of fear despite the recent chaos that had almost led to the destruction of the entire Qingzhou. ¡°When did you find out about Twelve¡¯s identity?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ good question.¡± He Nian laughed heartily, ¡°What if I said, the moment she entered Qingzhou City?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression shifted slightly. He didn¡¯t doubt He Nian¡¯s words. After all, there was no reason for the man to deceive him. But if Twelve¡¯s identity was discovered by He Nian the moment she entered Qingzhou City, why didn¡¯t he take action then? Or was it¡­ everything was under his control? If that¡¯s really the case, then this elderly man who has been in charge of Qingzhou City for decades is not simple at all¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not that exaggerated.¡± It seemed that He Nian had guessed Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts from the change in his expression, and shook his head with a smile, ¡°Actually, I wanted to see if there was a chance for a Beast Master to make a contract with the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°If we can establish a connection with a Beast King through this, our Qingzhou City will be much safer in the future.¡± ¡°Establish a connection with a Beast King?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. He didn¡¯t expect President He to have such a thought. ¡°Is it surprising? After all, humans and Transcendent Beings are mortal enemies.¡± He Nian smiled, ¡°Boss Little Xu, do you know how many species there are among the Transcendent Beings?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly. ¡°Not counting those evolved, just the initial Leader Species, I know there are more than three thousand.¡± He Nian spoke softly, ¡°These species coexist in the vast Beast Field.¡± ¡°Not only do they view humans as enemies, but they also have friends and foes among themselves.¡± He Nian¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°So to simply categorize Transcendent Beings as a group is a wrong conception.¡± ¡°The six Beast Kings also have their own spheres of influence and groups of follower species.¡± ¡°They are not entirely united. For example, the Nightmare Beast King and the Lava Beast King who fought today have a very poor relationship.¡± ¡°We humans are insignificant compared to the group of Transcendent Beings. If they are determined to annihilate humans, we simply cannot resist.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°But isn¡¯t there the one from Changshi City¡­¡± ¡°Are you talking about President Zhao from Changshi City?¡± He Nian shook his head slightly, ¡°It¡¯s true he is a King-level Beast Master, and it¡¯s also true that he has five King-stage Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°In a solo fight, he alone can confront the six Beast Kings, and now that there are only five Beast Kings left, he has more certainty.¡± ¡°But will the Transcendent Beings give him such an opportunity?¡± ¡°If there are dozens, even hundreds of General Stage Transcendent Beings that cooperate seamlessly, and countless Leader Stage and Elite Stage Transcendent Beings lurking around, President Zhao will still perish.¡± ¡°Too many ants can kill an elephant!¡± ¡°Remember, what¡¯s scary about Transcendent Beings is never their high-end combat power, but the astonishing order displayed by a large number of low- end combat forces under the command of the high-end combat power.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Thinking of that scene, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°To the Beast Field, we humans are just surviving in a narrow gap.¡± ¡°Transcendent Beings cannot be eradicated, and even if they could, we must not do that. Because the Pet Beasts we humans contract, the resources that make us stronger, all come from them, and therefore¡­¡± He Nian¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Coalition and manipulation are necessary actions.¡± ¡°If we can get a Beast King to secretly support Qingzhou City, solve the Beast Tide problem, allow the Beast Masters of Qingzhou City to exterminate Transcendent Beings more safely outside, Qingzhou City can develop rapidly.¡± Xu Ran nodded, understanding but not fully comprehending. So the high-level executives of the Beast Master Association need to consider issues from such a perspective. Too complicated, running a foster shop is simple and relaxed. ¡°Went off track.¡± He Nian gave a wry smile, ¡°It¡¯s no use talking about these things now, after all, the Nightmare Beast King has already taken the Velvet Sparrow.¡± ¡°Originally, I thought you would have a chance.¡± He Nian looked at Xu Ran and shook his head helplessly, ¡°Even you can¡¯t contract with that Velvet Sparrow, it just shows that it¡¯s destined that we in Qingzhou City can¡¯t establish a relationship with her.¡± Xu Ran was about to tell him his plan to go into the Beast Field and bring Twelve back after gaining more strength. But after thinking about it, Xu Ran silently closed his mouth. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± He Nian nodded at Xu Ran and left the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Take care!¡± Watching him leave, Xu Ran slowly closed the shop door and then turned to look at the three little ones behind him, ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time for us to go to Xieyun City.¡± The three little ones nodded in unison. The weekly settlement for the new week is about to begin. Before the settlement begins, they¡¯re going to refresh their ranking on the leaderboard! Compared to before, they now have a new incentive to become stronger. To break into the Beast Field and bring back Twelve! Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 238: Reclaiming Our Glory!_1 Chapter 388: Chapter 238: Reclaiming Our Glory!_1 ¡°Yo~ My dear boss-¡± Just as Xu Ran regained control of his senses after being teleported to the Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City, he found himself in the embrace of a muscular figure. ¡± I know you¡¯ ve just experienced something heartbreaking, let my warm embrace give you enough comfort¡­¡± Watching the big face getting closer and closer, Xu Ran emotionlessly raised his hand to hold it back, then pushed hard to extricate himself from this enthusiastic hug, ¡°Alright, teacher Tony, I appreciate your sentiment.¡± ¡°Alright- ¡± Tony dropped his hands regretfully, then made a heart shape towards Xu Ran, ¡°Boss, I hope our performance at the Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City during this period did not disappoint you.¡± As his words fell, the man in black and the green-skinned frog standing behind him quickly nodded in agreement. Although they didn¡¯t say anything, they cast their eager glances at Xu Ran simultaneously. However¡­ Due to their inherent temperament and style, these eager looks had slightly deviated, losing their original meaning. In Xu Ran¡¯s view, it seemed as though the teacher in black wanted to take him down, and the teacher of the green-skinned frog was clearly more foolish. ¡°What¡¯s with you two?¡± Seeing the performance of these two system clerks, Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s like this.¡± Tony chuckled, patted his two good colleagues on the shoulders, ¡°The main task 3 is about to complete. You will have three new clerks, and an unexpected new branch store, so¡­¡± ¡°These two want to compete for the position of the new system store manager.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A bewildered look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°It¡¯s about to be completed?¡± Without hesitating, he immediately opened the task panel, followed by an exclamation, ¡°Whoa¡±. [Main Task 3: Out with the Old, in with the New] Task Description: Please open a branch store in the second level town, and let the local popularity reaches 70% (69.1/70). Rewards: system clerks x3, system upgrade experience +400] Because he had been spending more time communicating with Twelve lately, he nearly forgot about the main tasks. Now that he had checked again, he was surprised to see that his fame had improved so much. With less than 1% remaining, Main Task 3 was about to be completed? Based on this rate, perhaps it would all be done by tonight? Thinking about this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and look at the man in black and the green-skinned frog. So, he really had to start considering who would be the second system store manager. However¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually turned strange. The man in black and the green-skinned frog, they don¡¯t seem to be able to speak, right? Can a system clerk who can¡¯t speak be a store manager? Keep in mind, the store manager has the authority to use the store¡¯s landline phone, he can call and report work and other matters. Assigning this work to a clerk who can¡¯t speak might not be a good idea, right? But the experience of the man in black and the green-skinned frog was indeed the oldest besides teacher Tony- Thinking about this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but hold his forehead. In his heart, he held a faint hope that the three system clerks brought by Main Task 3 would be somewhat more normal. So¡­ The decision on who will become the system store manager will have to wait until those three people¡¯s situations have been seen. ¡°This question, let¡¯s discuss it when the three system clerks arrive.¡± Xu Ran gestured to the three of them, ¡°You go back to Qingzhou City first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Teacher Tony nodded, shrugged his shoulders at the two colleagues behind him. You see, I¡¯ve already appealed to the boss for you. The man in black and the green-skinned frog cast appreciative eyes at Tony at the same time, their weird looks made even Tony ¨C with his abnormality-shiver a bit. The three of them disappeared from the shop at the same time, then the three little ones appeared in the Hexagram Star Array flashing behind Xu Ran. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the time, then looked at the three little ones, ¡°Before the settlement, we need to beat the clock.¡± The three little ones¡¯ eyes were burning with fighting spirit at the same time. It has been quiet for nine days, it¡¯s time for the Beast Mastery Ranking List of the leadership level to feel their strength! Xieyun City, Beast Master List. Accompanied by a low bell tolling through the entire area, the ranking of Fang Yuling on the Historical Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, rose by one place. And her current ranking had already returned to first place a few days ago. There are quite a few onlookers around the historical and current lists seeing the ranking change, they couldn¡¯t help but burst into discussion. ¡°What do you say, will he appear today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. There¡¯s only a few hours left till the weekly settlement, if Boss Xu were to appear, he would have already done so, right?¡± ¡°I went to the Starfire Foster Shop today. Those who are maintaining the shop are still those three. Boss Xu probably hasn¡¯t returned yet. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll miss this weekly settlement.¡± ¡°Speaking of those three¡­ Have you guys been to the Starfire Foster Shop for Washing and Protection recently?¡± As an unknown person spoke, the discussion quieted down. The surroundings became quiet, and the expressions of everyone on the scene became strange. Even if they have been, they would never admit it now! But before long, this tranquility was disrupted. ¡°I reckon Xu Ranis just scared.¡± A voice began, ¡°He knows that he won¡¯t be able to compete with Fang Yuling even if he shows up, so he chooses to hide.¡± ¡°You should know, not only has Fang Yuling surpassed Xu Ran¡¯s previous records this week, but she has also continuously advanced in the historical rankings, now nearly approaching Chairman Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Ran is nowhere near such prowess!¡± With this, the speaker revealed some arrogance on his face. ¡°Brother, I remember you. You pursued Fang Yuling a few days ago, and the flowers you gave were thrown in the trash can.¡± A nearby student gave him a look, chuckling, ¡°Even if you advocate for her, she won¡¯t appreciate it!¡± Thus, laughter echoed among the onlookers. ¡°You guys¡­¡± The man who had just spoken changed his expression slightly, huffed, then turned and left, unable to save face. Without the negative remarks, the other onlookers once again delved into heated discussions. Whether Boss Xu would appear tonight became the topic of their speculation. After all, it is rare for a Beast Master of the same stature to surpass Fang Yuling. They were extremely curious if this was just a one-time spectacle. Amid the clamor and heated discussions, Fang Yuling, with a calm demeanor, exited the C01 test zone. She looked up at herself, now listed first on the leaderboard, a strange glint flashing in her eyes. Will you show up? She quietly stood in front of the leaderboard waiting. Roughly half an hour later, she shook her head slightly and turned to leave. She didn¡¯t want to wait any longer. She had heard the ongoing discussions from the onlookers. If nothing unexpected happened, Xu Ran wouldn¡¯t appear tonight. Regarding her reclaiming the top spot on the weekly list, Fang Yuling didn¡¯t feel much joy. After all, the rewards for topping the leaderboards meant little to her. Xu Ran¡¯s absence made her feel as if her victory lacked accomplishment. ¡°Click¡­¡± The appearance of a familiar figure ahead caused Fang Yuling to halt. Noticing Xu Ran, who was in a hurry, briskly heading toward the leaderboard, her face revealed a hint of surprise. He¡¯s here? ¡°Almost didn¡¯t make it.¡± Xu Ran nodded at Fang Yuling and then smiled, ¡°Impressive. Your strength has greatly improved in just a few days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to take the test. See you!¡± Leaving behind these words, Xu Ran, along with the three little ones, turned and rushed toward the C01 test zone. Fang Yuling remained in place without moving, and after a while turned back to the spot where she had been observing the leaderboard. Since Xu Ran had come, she was curious to see how much his strength had improved in these nine days of his absence. There were also many onlookers who noticed Xu Ran¡¯s arrival. From one to ten, ten to a hundred, news spread quickly, and soon Beast Masters in the nearby area heard about it and quickly flocked to the Leadership Level Beast Master leaderboard. Included among them were even Beast Masters of other power layers. This was rare in the past. After all, most Beast Masters of different power layers mainly paid attention to their respective Beast Master Rankings. However, the Starfire Foster Care Shop had been in the limelight recently, and Fang Yuling, being Chairman Fang¡¯s only daughter, was also an extraordinary figure. Time passed by the minute and second. More and more Beast Masters wanting to witness this competition gathered around, virtually blocking off the nearby area. Just then, a low bell tone reverberated throughout the Beast Master Ranking zone. ¡°Here it comes!¡± No one knew who was the first one to shout excitedly, but everyone turned their eyes to the currently flickering light of the Overall Power List and the towering light column of the Historical Overall Power List. Second place on the Current List was Xu Ran, whose name was intensely watched by countless people. Everyone knew that a ranking of a Beast Master in the process of charging up the list could never fall, it could only rise. So, the only possible change in Xu Ran¡¯s ranking would be to the first place! The crowd¡¯s eyes were filled with excited expressions. This time, their arrival was too worthwhile! Fang Yuling, who was standing at the front of the crowd, also showed a regretful expression on her face. Still not quite there, huh? Seeing her name on the current leaderboard light up and swap places with Xu Ran¡¯s, she couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips. After being outranked, she had dropped all slack in this period and returned to her state of going all out to become stronger. Even so, she still couldn¡¯t surpass Xu Ran? After the final ranks were settled on the current list, Xu Ran¡¯s rank on the adjacent historical chart also quickly rose, eventually settling at second place. ¡°2nd Place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Overall Power: 452983¡± First on the Current List, second on the Historical List! ¡°Huh¡­¡± Fang Yuling took a deep breath, then turned and left. She had already guessed the outcome of the other listings. Rather than wasting time here, it was better to continue training vigorously. A moment after Fang Yuling disappeared from the spot, Xu Ran appeared in front of the leaderboard. ¡°Fang Yuling already left?¡± From the nearby crowd, Xu Ran received this information. He couldn¡¯t help touching his chin and looking at the first place on the historical list. ¡°1st Place, Fang Canghai, Overall Power: 487896¡± The gap is still quite big¡­ Hosted, but it drained me. Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 239 Three New Shop Assistants! 1 Chapter 389: Chapter 239 Three New Shop Assistants! 1 The rearrangement in the Leadership Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking was just the beginning. As Fang Yuling had expected, Xu Ran, who had not appeared within the domain of Xieyun City for nine days, stirred up the Beast Master Ranking again with his continuous surges forward. The Beast Master Pet Beast Team Power List, Pet Beast Combat Power List, Pet Beast Velocity Chart, Pet Beast Defense List¡­ Each time Xu Ran and his three pet beasts passed a test area, the ranking of a list would change. When they finished the last leaderboard sprint for the leadership level, a series of urgent bells sound echoed endlessly within the Beast Master Ranking. In the consecutive bell sounds, all the leaderboards within the Beast Master Ranking burst into sky-high glows, and pillars of light rose to the sky, rendering the dark night as bright as day. This peculiar sight was the first time both Xu Ran and the three little ones had seen. During the previous weekly settlements, they had returned to the Foster Shop. Yes, the weekly settlement had arrived! As the light pillar dimmed and the rankings above turned grey, representing temporary stability, a variety of message prompt sounds could be heard from the countless Beast Masters in the area, including Xu Ran. A moment later, Xu Ran raised his gaze from his cellphone and saw the eager and expectant expressions on the three little ones, his smile instantly deepened, ¡°Not bad, the total points from this week¡¯s settlement exceeded ninety thousand.¡± ¡± Last week¡¯s settlement was delayed to this week as we were not in Xieyun City,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°We got more than eighty thousand points last week as well. Adding the two weeks together, we¡¯ve gathered a lot of Beast Master Points.¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Keep up the good work!) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Cancan¡¯s eyes instantly filled with excitement. Tonight¡¯s surge saw it taking the current no.l spot on the Defense List. And this was just the beginning! To get Twelve back from the Beast Field, Can Aotian would still need to keep striving! ¡°Xi Lu~ ¡± (Looks like the next batch of resources is secured.) Star uttered a whinny, his eyes lit up with excitement. The resources of King-level that they redeemed ten days ago, the three little ones had already absorbed the majority of their power, and some of the abilities of the resources had been mastered. To continue to get stronger, resources could not be interrupted. It was time for Prevention Before Disaster, preparing for the next resource exchange! ¡°Meow-¡± (Let¡¯s go, we should gobacknow.) Only Ziyun carelessly let out a yawn, showing a bit of fatigue in his eyes. An entire night of ranking surges made it just want to go back to its room on the second floor of the Foster Shop now, and have a good sleep. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded, leading the three little ones to turn around and leave. ¡°Boss Xu, wait a minute!¡± a voice came from the crowd, ¡°Will those three clerks be working at the Starfire Foster Care Shop tomorrow?¡± With the voice of inquiry, the crowd that had been discussing non-stop due to the settlement suddenly fell into an eerie silence. Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on Xu Ran, full of anticipation. ¡°No, they have been transferred to other places.¡± Xu Ran shook his head. Not waiting for people to rejoice, he suddenly changed his tone, ¡°But if you would like¡­¡± ¡°No, no, no! We don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°Right!Wedon¡¯twanttoatall!¡± ¡°Let them stay away, we have Boss Xu, that¡¯s enough!¡± Before Xu Ran could finish his sentence, there was a sudden uproar around him. Seeing so, it was clear that the trauma Teacher Tony left them was quite extensive. But¡­ If nothing unexpected happens, these lovely customers will be disappointed tomorrow. With this thought in mind, a strange look flashed in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. He said that Teacher Tony and the others had been transferred elsewhere, but he didn¡¯t say that he would be the one operating the shop tomorrow. With a thought, a line of text appeared before Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new Task Description: Please host to open a branch in a Second Level Town and reach 70% local fame (69.6/70). Reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience +400 After a night¡¯s meditation, he would see three new clerks tomorrow morning. Just in time, he had saved up quite a lot of resources during this period, enough to directly promote a System Store Manager¡­ it¡¯s just that the three little ones would have to put up with it. Xu Ran waved to the crowd behind him with a cheery smile, jumped on Star¡¯s back, and quickly disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight with Cancan and Ziyun. ¡°See you all tomorrow then.¡± ¡°Bye, Boss Xu!¡± ¡°See you tomorrow, Boss Xu!¡± Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, the customers who had been tormented by Teacher Tony looked forward with great anticipation. Finally! Were they finally about to enjoy Boss Xu¡¯s service? There was no conversation overnight. Early the next day, Xu Ran opened his eyes slowly, awakening from his meditation. The lines of Main Task 3 appeared before his eyes again, but they were completely different from last night. Main Task 3: Out with the old, in with the new (Completed) Task Description: Please host to open a branch in a Second Level Town and reach 70% local fame. Reward: System Clerk x3, System Upgrade Experience +400 [Collect Reward] Seeing the last four words, Xu Ran, who was already spirited from a night of meditation, instantly became even more energized. Awakened by his movement, the three little ones quickly awoke from their sleep and glanced at Xu Ran. Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 239 Three New Store Clerks! _2 Chapter 390: Chapter 239 Three New Store Clerks! _2 ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have three new members to welcome today.¡± Xu Ran said quietly a sense of expectancy in his eyes, but alongside it, a hint of apprehension too. ¡¯ Dear system, please don¡¯t play any more tricks on me. Hearing about the arrival of new members, the three little ones also perked up. Based on their previous experience, their first thought was about the system¡¯s shop assistant rather than the contract pet beast. So, after the previous three assistants, is the shop going to welcome three new system clerks? Getting an affirmative reply from Xu Ran, the three little ones quickly got up and rushed towards the grooming station to start their grooming routine. In a short while, the man and his three pets appeared in the shop area on the first floor of the Starfire Foster Shop. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, looking back at his three little ones. ¡°Meow-¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Ziyun formally sat on the counter, its fluffy fur spreading out to both sides looking like an equilateral triangle head on. Its cute furry face was taut, showing a hint of nervousness. The previous three shop assistants had not only brought a big shock to the customers but also to it. This time, hopefully, there won¡¯t be such strange humans anymore! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m also ready!) Star nodded heavily, its eyes filled with thoughtful expressions at the same time. In this moment, its thoughts started to diverge. Given the situation at Qjngzhou City¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop, three shop assistants alone could sustain a shop. After gathering three assistants last time, Xu Ran took them to Xieyun City to open a new branch. If it¡¯s the same this time, does that mean the arrival of the three new shop assistants will mark their departure to another place? Thinking this, anticipation shone in Star¡¯s eyes. If it s true, where would they be going this time? ¡°Charming!¡± (Let¡¯sstart!) Expectancy showed in Cancan¡¯s eyes, and it couldn¡¯t resist urging. Unlike Star, it didn¡¯t think too much, but just thought the previous three shop assistants were very interesting and wanted to see if this time¡¯s shop assistants would be the same. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded, speaking softly, ¡°I¡¯m ready, too.¡± The question he had just asked was not only for the three little ones, but also for himself. He just hoped the system shop assistants would be a bit more normal! In the frenzy of mental yelling, Xu Ran pressed down heavily to receive the reward. A light door appeared abruptly in front of him and the three little ones, slowly opened, and with the sound of footsteps approaching from afar, the first figure emerged from the door. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze landed on the newcomer immediately. Then, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a little sigh of relief. Thank goodness, the system did a good job this time. The maid-coat shop assistant he had been hoping for appeared! And, it was cat-ear cat-tail version! Looking at the cute-looking shop assistant with her moving ears and slightly swinging cat tail, Xu Ran took a deep breath. Could these be real? ¡°Meow?¡± (Is she a cat, too?) After curiously looking around for a moment, Ziyun jumped off the counter and walked leisurely to her, showing a surprised look at the tail moving freely. It seems that way.¡± Xu Ran nodded, looking at the shop assistant ¡°You ¡­¡± A slightly coquettish little girl voice came at this moment. ¡°Hello boss-¡± ¡°Good¡­ Hello!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile intensified. Indeed she is a cat-eared maid-coat shop assistant, system you¡­ Wait a moment! The smile on his face faltered. Because it seemed that the one who spoke was not the cat-eared maid in front of him, but the figure who followed closely behind, emerging from the light door. Seeing the overweight middle-aged man with a full beard on his chubby face, half of Xu Ran¡¯s smile disappeared, ¡°Were you talking just now?¡± ¡°Yes, boss, it was him!¡± A tough, wild voice like a hoarse northwestern man came at that moment. The smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face disappeared completely. He looked at the cat-eared maid who spoke afterwards, then at the bearded big man who had spoken before, and held his head in pain. ¡°No! Tell me this isn¡¯t real!¡± The system has really sent him another unorthodox store clerk! ¡°Boss! Boss, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Do you need me to massage your temples for you?¡± ¡°lean do it too¡­¡± Seeing the pained expression on Xu Ran¡¯s face, the two newly appeared system clerks quickly showed their concern and rushed to his side, chattering away. Looking at the cat-eared maid clerk and the chubby, bearded clerk alternately speaking in rough, wild voices and delicate, cute voices, Xu Ran felt suddenly better. Well¡­ When the two of them spoke together, it felt a lot more normal. Just pretend to fool himself¡­ ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xu Ran sighed, looking at the two, ¡°You two, introduce yourselves.¡± ¡°Reporting to the boss, my name is Meow Meow!¡± ¡°Reporting to the boss, my name is Murong!¡± The two system clerks simultaneously opened their mouths. ¡°Very good.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Although the voices and appearances of these two didn¡¯t match, their behavior was quite normal. Already numb from the baptism of teacher Tony, he had become somewhat accustomed to it. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look towards the still silent light door. After so long, why hasn¡¯t the third clerk come yet? ¡°Is the boss waiting for the third colleague?¡± Noticing Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, Murong smiled. ¡°He¡¯ll probably take a while.¡± It seems you know each other.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Murong, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he appeared yet?¡± ¡°Unless things go wrong¡­¡± Murong paused slightly, a hint of mischief in his eyes, ¡°His arrival depends on his luck with fishing.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. It doesn¡¯t sound like he¡¯s a very serious person either. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s assign you tasks first.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°What are you both good at?¡± ¡°Boss, I¡¯m better at training.¡± Murong raised his chubby hand, volunteering enthusiastically. However, his babyish voice made for a bizarre combination. Training, huh¡­ Xu Ran stroked his chin, looking at Meow Meow at his side. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Reporting to the boss! I¡¯m better at washing and grooming!¡± Meow Meow raised his hand high and spoke excitedly, his tail wagging behind him, making him appear particularly playful and cute. If only he didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Good at washing and grooming.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°You can wash and groom without talking.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s see whether the clerk who hasn¡¯t appeared yet is good at fostering and feeding.¡± Xu Ran looked back at the light door. Before long, the sound of urgent footsteps coming from the light door grew louder. They had a sticky quality, as if someone wearing wet slippers was walking at a brisk pace. In no time, accompanied by a faint fishy smell, a man wearing a straw hat briskly walked out of the light door carrying a basket of fish in one hand and a fishing rod on his shoulder, smiling joyously. ¡°Hello, boss!¡± He greeted Xu Ran, quickly scooped out a vigorously struggling Elite Stage Dragon Pattern Carp from the basket. ¡°Agreeting gift!¡± Looking at the thrashing Dragon Pattern Carp in his hand, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment. Is this the fish he caught? If things go as expected, this clerk should be good at feeding¡­ Right? ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Boss, call me Fisherman!¡± ¡°Fisherman, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran looked at the third clerk, ¡°From now on, feeding will be your responsibility.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it covered!¡± The Fisherman pounded his chest, making a thumping sound, ¡°By the way, boss, have you chosen a shop manager?¡± Having said that, the Fisherman glanced at Meow Meow and Murong, his smile suddenly turning mischievous. ¡°Boss, you wouldn¡¯t want to put these two in charge of receiving customers would you?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. System, what kind of store clerks have you found for me! Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 240 Transcendent Evolution Chapter 391: Chapter 240 Transcendent Evolution Department! __1 In the end, Xu Ran decided to appoint the Fishing Old Man as the shop manager. Although the Fishing Old Man had been enjoying his days, he had indeed touched on Xu Ran¡¯s worries. Aside from his regular duties, the System Store Manager also handles client reception, so he must not only be articulate but also not discourage clients. One of the reasons why Teacher Tony became a manager, aside from being the most senior, was the fact that his two partners didn¡¯t know how to talk¡­ Fortunately, relying on his extremely charismatic personal style, Teacher Tony successfully made customers feel a burning sensation in their eyes with a look, yet they couldn¡¯t help but miss him when they looked away. Not only did he not turn away customers, but his wild man effect also attracted new ones. Now, Xu Ran needs to choose another store manager. Though the Black Clothed Man and the Green-skinned Frog were more experienced, it was too difficult to assume the heavy responsibility of being a manager without knowing how to speak, so they could only be compensated in other ways. Among the current three clerks, the Fishing Old Man is the most normal. Er¡­ relatively speaking. So choosing him as the store manager is the most ideal approach. With the envious glances of the three little ones, one hundred thousand pleasure points, ten thousand physical points, ten thousand skill points, and one thousand skill fragments were invested in the Fishing Old Man. Xu Ran¡¯s second system shop manager was born. ¡°Today, I leave the operation of Starfire Fosterage in Xieyun City to the three of you.¡± Looking at the three standing before him, Xu Ran spoke slowly. During his nine-day stay in Qjngzhou City, Xu Ran had already decided his next stop after acquiring three new system clerks. That¡¯s Monster Wooden City that had invited him to open a store. Since he knew the true identity of Twelve, witnessed the crisis in Qjngzhou city, and heard President He Nian¡¯s words, he became more certain about this idea. According to Xu Qing, who had invited him, Monster Wooden City is the only human city in Beast Zone No.47 under the protection of transcendent beings at the Emperor stage. Intuition tells Xu Ran that he could see some different things there. Of course, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t leave immediately. He would stay in Xieyun city for a few more days to make sure the three new clerks could maintain the operation of the shop while also doing some things he hasn¡¯t done before. For instance, helping Zhangu Yun deliver a letter to the Transcendent Evolution Department. Taking out the letter from Zhang Yun that was given to him earlier from the drawer of the counter, Xu Ran took it into his breast pocket, waved at the system clerks, and left the shop. ¡°The boss has left.¡± The Fishing Old Man stretched, ¡°I¡¯m going to feed the residents. You guys get familiar with the environment and prepare to receive customers.¡± ¡°You guys don¡¯t want the¡­boss to let other clerks take your jobs, do you?¡± ¡°The manager is right!¡± Meow Meow adorably extended a fist forward, swinging it vigorously a few times. Her thin and fair arm exposed a trace of baby fat on her cheeks, which was slightly rosy, made people want to take a bite. The occasional swaying cat ears and constantly wagging tail along with her maid outfit that completely wrapped her petite and slender figure made people want to hug her. However, all of this needs to be under the condition of not hearing her voice. ¡°Keep it up.¡± The Fishing Old Man held back the twitching of his lips, patted Meow Meow¡¯s shoulder, and then went through the back door of the store with Murong. Shortly after, the two separated, with Murong heading straight to the training area, and the Fishing Old Man created a pond in the foster area. With the fishing rod in hand, he cast a harsh line and looked at the splashing water from the fishing float in the distance. A contented expression appeared on his face. Taking out a massive horn out of nowhere, he yelled after turning it on. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready!¡± The sound echoed throughout the foster area, and soon the residents who heard the noise showed their forms, looked around curiously, and finally gathered around the Fishing Old Man according to the direction of the sound. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, there¡¯s enough for everyone.¡± The Fisherman glanced at the violently trembling fishing float, then pulled hard, strangely fishing out a food bowl full of food from the pond, and handed it to the pet beast closest to him. Then, the second one, the third one. Looking at the constant fishing for food from the pond, the foster beast stared in disbelief. One of them seemed to be extremely hungry, and it jumped directly into the pond during the Fishing Old Man¡¯s intervals of distributing food to other beasts, wanting to feast first. ¡°Hey¨C¡± The Fishing Old Man laughed, cast another hook, and directly fished this wet pet beast out of the pond, holding it up, ¡°You don¡¯t want to¡­become food for other beasts, do you?¡± Throwing the shivering foster beast aside, the Fishing Old Man continued to fish for food for the residents from the pond. This time, everyone became well-behaved, spontaneously lined up, waiting for their food to be delivered to their hands. After waiting patiently for all the pet beasts to finish eating, the Fishing Old Man threw the food bowl into the pond and stomped his foot. The pond quietly disappeared, leaving only him leisurely carrying the fishing rod through the underground passage back to the first level of the shop. ¡°It¡¯s time to open.¡± The Fisherman looked at the time on the wall and slowly pushed the shop door open. Outside the shop door, the staff who had heard of Boss Xu¡¯s return lined up early, with the one at the front rushing in as soon as the shop door opened, his face full of excitement. ¡°Boss Xu! You don¡¯t know how much I want you to give me¡­ Who are you?¡± ¡°Welcome, I am the manager of the Starfire Foster Shop, the angler.¡± The angler greeted with a smile, ¡°What kind of service do you need?¡± The smile on the customer¡¯s face gradually faded. What happened to the promise that Boss Xu would be running the store?! ¡°If it is not Boss Xu, then I will take my leave.¡± Disappointingly, the customer was about to leave but was stopped by the angler. ¡°Dear customer¡­¡± The angler began in a slightly deep voice, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you prefer that the fact Boss Xu washed and cared for you, to not be known city-wide?¡± Customer: ¡°???¡± Wait a minute? When did I say that?! ¡°What do you guys think¡­ can the three of them keep the store running well today?¡± As Xu Ran got off his horse outside the Beast Master Association, a mischievous smile crossed his face. Under the misdirection he gave last night, most customers should think that he would personally run the shop today, shouldn¡¯t they? In this situation, angler and the other two clerks must be under tremendous pressure. The three little ones glanced at each other and shook their heads unanimously. This is the question that the adorable kitten, little horse, and little turtle would not know. ¡°Well, let¡¯s finish the current work and see how it goes when I get back.¡± Xu Ran lazily stretched his body, took out the sealed letter from his pocket, and headed to the Beast Master Association. Sometime later, guided by a staff member, Xu Ran stood in front of a building adjacent to the Beast Master Association building. ¡°Transcendent Evolution Department,¡± these five big characters flashed dazzlingly on the outer wall of the building. The blade-like font came with a sharp and imposing aura that made people look up to it. There is no such department in the Beast Master Association of Qjngzhou City. Only second-level towns, which still hold their own amidst the turmoil of the Beast Tide, have significant energy and resources to carry out relevant evolution research. ¡°Mr. Xu, I have informed Mr. Liu Yu of your intentions.¡± The staff member led Xu Ran to the rest area in the lobby on the first floor and spoke with a smile, ¡°Please wait a moment here. Mr. Liu Yu will soon be here.¡± With that, the staffer turned and left. ¡°This place is really big.¡± After the staff member¡¯s figure disappeared, Xu Ran curiously started looking around. On the walls of the rest area, numerous well-framed pictures were hanging. Some photos recorded the historical figures of Xieyun City, some recorded the creation process of the Transcendent Evolution Department, and some showcased the notable research outcomes of the department. For example, one of the photos had a group of fierce-looking, robust pet beasts with wolf heads that looked utterly valorous and martial. That species is the King Species known as Wolf Warriors. The ability to produce this species in large quantities indicates that the Transcident Evolution Department has mastered the corresponding evolution paths to some extent. Lastly, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on a relatively recent photo at the back. On the photo, there was a burly middle-aged man riding a four-winged tiger with remarkable martial prowess. Xu Ran was not unfamiliar with the middle-aged man and the four-winged tiger. He had seen them once when he first entered Xieyun City. They denoted one of the three Overlord Level Beast Masters in Xieyun City, Vice President You Shengjiang. The four-winged tiger was an Emperor Species. ¡°Vice President You¡¯s Deluge Sky Tiger completed its evolution with the help of our Transcendent Evolution Department.¡± A slightly cold voice cames from behind Xu Ran. Xu Ran turned in surprise and opened his mouth, ¡°Fang Yuling? What are you doing here?¡± As soon as he spoke, he shook his head with a bitter laugh. She was originally from the Transcendent Evolution Department; it was only natural for her to be here. ¡°I should be the one asking that question, right?¡± Fang Yuling shook her head helplessly, ¡°I happened to pass by, why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m helping a friend deliver a letter to Senior Liu Yu of the Transcendent Evolution Department,¡± Xu Ran lifted the letter in his hand, ¡°I will go back as soon as I deliver the letter.¡± ¡°To Senior Liu?¡± Fang Yuling blinked, and her expression became somewhat strange, ¡°Then you may not be able to leave for a while.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hearing what Fang Yuling said, Xu Ran was slightly stunned. The next moment, the elevator door not far away opened, and a middle-aged man with disheveled hair, clear dark circles under his eyes, a bearded face, and an extremely sloppy appearance, came into view. ¡°Who is looking for me?¡± He asked out loud, quickly looking in Xu Ran¡¯s direction. ¡°Huh?¡± When his gaze swept over the three little ones behind Xu Ran, a violent frenzy appeared in the eyes of the middle-aged man, ¡°A new species?!¡± Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 241: Mad Scientist Liu Yu_l Chapter 392: Chapter 241: Mad Scientist Liu Yu_l ¡°The person you are looking for has arrived.¡± Watching the unkempt middle-aged man striding toward them, Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran, then quietly took two steps back. The next moment, Liu Yu eagerly grasped Xu Ran¡¯s hand, his gaze uncontrollably focused on the three little ones behind Xu Ran. ¡°You¡¯re the one looking for me, aren¡¯t you? Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Um¡­hello.¡± The man¡¯s enthusiasm left Xu Ran somewhat at a loss. ¡°You must be Senior Liu Yu, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Liu Yu nodded. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s like this.¡± Xu Ran took out the letter entrusted to him by Zhang Yun and handed it to Liu Yu. ¡°This is a letter from a man named Zhang Yun in Qingzhou City asking me to deliver. He said you two had some interactions before.¡± ¡°Qingzhou City¡­ Zhang Yun¡­¡± Liu Yu accepted the letter and tucked it into his jacket, then grabbed Xu Ran¡¯s hand. ¡°All that doesn¡¯t really matter. You¡¯re not busy, right, young man? Since you¡¯re already here, why don¡¯t we hang out in the Transcendent Evolution Department?¡± ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Fang Yuling beside him. She was hiding a smirk, seemingly amused by all this. Then, seeing Liu Yu¡¯s continuous attention toward the three little ones, he belatedly realized that Liu probably had some plans regarding his pet beasts. ¡°Come on, this way please.¡± Liu Yu chuckled and guided Xu Ran into the elevator. ¡°The Transcendent Evolution Department has twenty-one floors. Let me take you on a tour.¡± Feeling the intense grasp on his arm, Xu Ran suddenly had the feeling of boarding a pirate ship. He looked at Fang Yuling for help, only to see her silently following them into the elevator. ¡°The twenty-one floors of the Transcendent Evolution Department are divided according to the attributes of the pet beasts, with ten different attributes occupying two floors each,¡± Liu Yu began to explain in the elevator. ¡°One floor studies the evolution of the Leader Species, and the other studies the evolution of the King Species.¡± ¡°And what about the extra floor?¡± Intrigued by the topic initiated by Liu Yu, Xu Ran, who was attentively listening and putting aside other issues for the moment, quickly identified a gap in the explanation. ¡°Could you please tell me what the species of your pet beast was before and after its evolution?¡± Instead of answering Xu¡¯s question, Liu Yu grinned and pointed at Ziyun. ¡°Flash Thunder Cat. It was an Electric Chasing Cat before evolution.¡± Liu Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. Could it be that he has never seen both the beginning Leader Species and the evolved King Species before? In an instant, Xu Ran ignited all of Liu Yu¡¯s curiosity. ¡°The extra floor of the Transcendent Evolution Department is dedicated to studying how Emperor Species evolve into Holy Spirit Race. Because there are too few samples, it has not been divided by attribute and has its own floor.¡± After providing the answer to the previous question, Liu Yu swiftly changed the topic. ¡°This Flash Thunder Cat should be a dual-attributed pet beast of thunder and fighting, right? How did you manage to evolve a dual-attributed pet beast successfully?¡± A small twitch flickered at the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth. He saw the method of this research expert in front of him. One question for one answer? Fang Yuling, who hadn¡¯t spoken and silently stood in a corner of the elevator, now had a more pronounced smile on her face. Her mood seemed livelier here in the Transcendent Evolution Department than it had been at the Beast Trainer Ranking. ¡°You misunderstood.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly. ¡°Ziyun¡¯s fighting attribute only developed after evolution. Before that, it had a thunder attribute.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± Liu Yu nodded slowly and then froze. He looked at Xu Ran as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Just as the elevator stopped, the researchers outside, who were each busy with their tasks, heard Liu Yu¡¯s outburst and turned their attention toward them. Xu Ran twitched his mouth slightly and casually said, ¡°Senior, this was your second question.¡± Liu Yu fell silent for a moment before murmuring, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re quite something.¡± ¡°This is the Water Attribute Leader Species Evolution Study Area.¡± Taking a deep breath and forcibly suppressing his overwhelming curiosity, Liu Yu led Xu Ran out of the elevator. ¡°Common Water Attribute Pet Beasts of Xieyun City can all be found here.¡± As Xu Ran listened to Liu Yu¡¯s introduction, he started to examine the surroundings. The Transcendent Evolution Department, while not having many floors, had expansive area coverage for each floor and notable ceiling heights. Supported by top-level environmental simulation equipment, the environment here was just a little less perfect than his home training area. At this moment, Xu Ran and the others were on an island in a pond. Many busy researchers resided on the island. Some stood on the boundary between the island and the water, interacting with pet beasts that popped their heads out of the water. Others were busily recording something. From the many diverse Transcendent Beings visible in the clear pond, it was evident that Liu Yu¡¯s words were truthful. While Xu Ran was observing the surroundings, Liu Yu was also observing Xu Ran. The environment inside the Transcendent Evolution Department was simulated using the highest level of technology available in Xieyun City, making it nearly indistinguishable from the real environment. This young man was probably seeing it for the first time, wasn¡¯t he? Come on! Ask me anything you want! Liu Yu subtly squared his shoulders, ready for Xu Ran¡¯s questions. However, after quite some time, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t asked anything. He was just looking at Liu, indicating him to continue. This young man sure knew how to stay composed. ¡°Little Zhang, there¡¯s an evolution experiment scheduled soon, right?¡± Liu Yu muttered under his breath, then turned to a younger researcher. Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 241: Mad Scientist Liu Yu_2 Chapter 393: Chapter 241: Mad Scientist Liu Yu_2 ¡°Yes, there are three minutes until the start. We are about to perform the 329th evolution experiment on the Gold Koi Dragon,¡± The named researcher nodded in confirmation, specifying the experiment¡¯s species and the number of times it had been done. ¡°Good, just in time for this young gentleman to witness.¡± Liu Yu laughed heartily, patting Xu Ran on the shoulder while chuckling inwardly. Anyone seeing their Transcendent Evolution Department¡¯s evolution experiments for the first time is always surprised. Even if this lad manages to maintain composure, there¡¯s no way he won¡¯t have any questions! If he has questions, then I can in turn ask him mine! Give and take, that¡¯s his principle as Liu Yu! Upon hearing the words of the researcher known as Xiao Zhang, a surprised look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. Though Gold Koi Dragon has ¡®Dragon¡¯ in its name, it doesn¡¯t have a significant connection with dragon pet beasts. It¡¯s a reasonably common water attribute leader species, and many in Xieyun City have Beast Master Contracts with it. It¡¯s quite normal for such a common pet beast to be used as a subject for an evolution experiment. But the fact that it¡¯s been experimented on over three hundred times is a bit astonishing. He wondered about the circumstances of these pet beasts participating in the experiment. Xu Ran wanted to ask, but noticing Liu Yu occasionally glancing at him, he decided to keep quiet. If he asked, then Liu Yu¡¯s next question would likely be about Ziyun¡¯s evolution process, right? Three minutes passed quickly. Xu Ran followed Liu Yu, standing on the side of the island area. Accompanied by the sounds of splashing water from the pond, pet beasts brandishing golden scales and sharp four -clawed paws resembling a carp appeared one after another, neatly lining up in a row. From their coordinated actions and the anticipation in their eyes, Xu Ran could tell that these pet beasts were not forced to participate in the experiments. Instead, they seemed to have volunteered willingly. Voluteering pet beasts, huh¡­ Coming up with this possibility, Xu Ran chuckled to himself. Indeed, the intelligence of pet beasts exceeds that of ordinary creatures by far enabling them to understand human language and intentions. They are also ¡¯ likely to get attracted to the idea of evolution. ¡°Xiao Zhang, bring out the Transcendence Flower!¡± Liu Yu waved at Xiao Zhang and loudly called out, then glanced knowingly at Xu Ran, seemingly to say, ¡°you should ask about the use of the Transcendence Flower now.¡± Seeing Liu Yu act like this, Xu Ran found it amusing. This boss indeed has a quirky personality. It was within Xu Ran¡¯s expectations that a second-level town would have more knowledge about evolution and that the Transcendence Flower can increase the success rate during the evolution process. Thus, he didn¡¯t show any surprise. Noticing this, Liu Yu momentarily lost interest, but promptly regained his enthusiasm. He was determined to make this kid ask a question today! Two large alloy boxes were quickly brought over by Xiao Zhang. He opened one of them, and the Transcendence Flowers laid there quietly, shimmering with peculiarly wonderful light. Looking at this familiar resource, the three little ones seemed to reminisce about their evolution process, their eyes filled with nostalgia. With a blessing in their eyes, they looked at the Gold Koi Dragons eagerly waiting by the shore. Then, Xiao Zhang opened the other alloy box. Unhke the previously opened box containing Transcendence Flowers, this one held various resources. Every few were bundled together, placed within their respective containers labeled with different codes. It was apparent that these were the other resources used for the Gold Koi Dragon¡¯s evolution aside from Transcendence Flowers. Quickly, each Gold Koi Dragon was issued a Transcendence Flower and a container with evolution resources. Other researchers gathered around, holding various testing devices at the ready. They began conducting relevant tests and recordings in an organized rush. Scanning through the researchers, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze finally settled on the corner of the test site-a healing pet beast emanating a marshal-level energy. It was obvious that it wasn¡¯t the Transcendent Evolution Department¡¯s first experiment of this kind. They were even ready to handle severe after-effects in case of a failed evolution. So, what was the success rate of such evolutions? A curious expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Compared to the complete evolutionary path he had prepared for the three little ones, the evolutionary process of the golden carp dragon in front of him was much more rudimentary. Their strength was generally at the Elite Stage, which was in line with the evolution requirements of the King Species Evolution Route. However, it was clear that they lacked three-star skills and probably hadn¡¯t upgraded their skills to the Waning Moon Level either. That meant the evolution conditions were not met. Besides, there seemed to be no evolution ritual involved. Just evolution resources¡­? Xu Ran stroked his chin. Come to think of it, this was probably his first time witnessing the evolution of other pet beasts. ¡°Start!¡± Xiao Zhang started the timer and signalled the golden carp dragons to start evolving. Almost as Xiao Zhang¡¯s voice dropped, the golden carp dragons, who had long sensed then share of resources filled with vigorous energy, quickly absorbed these resources under the impulse of deep-seated desire for life. One minute¡­two minutes¡­ Before long, the scene fell into chaos. Every golden carp dragon had wild and agitated energy raging wildly on its body, and because of the different resources each consumed, their reactions varied. Some golden carp dragons lay motionless on the ground, only their breath became increasingly faint, seeming as though they would lose their breath at any moment. Others howled in pain, constantly rolling on the ground, their bodies showing cracks like porcelain, with blood constantly seeping out of the fractures. Some others shook uncontrollably, with uncontrolled flesh buds growing on the surface of their bodies, which was quite creepy to look at. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp and looked at the three little ones beside him with an questioning gaze. The three little ones also watched this scene with lingering fear, and after understanding what Xu Ran meant, they shook their heads slightly. Although their evolution was painful, it was still under control compared to the evolution process they were witnessing. Xu Ran nodded slightly, feeling a bit more fortunate. Luckily, there were evolution routes in the system¡¯s lottery drawing, which saved his pet beasts from suffering too much on the path of evolution and strengthening. Rarely, he started to genuinely appreciate the system. As time went by, one of the test instruments soon gave a sharp alarm, and the researcher in charge of monitoring shouted, ¡°Number u¡¯s energy value has exceeded the critical point, it¡¯s going to collapse!¡± Almost the moment his voice came out, a healing pet beast at the General Stage, which had long been ready, quickly took action, extracting the energy from the body of the 11th golden carp dragon with its special ability and forcefully halting the evolution process. With the simultaneous application of healing skills, the injuries brought on by the evolution of the golden carp dragon rapidly improved, but it looked extremely defeated. Failing an evolution experiment meant it¡¯s unlikely to be chosen again as the subject of a evolution experiment, even if it actively seeks it. All of the pet beasts that appeared here deeply yearned for evolution, such an outcome naturally crushed its spirits. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xiao Zhang put down his work, walked to that golden carp dragon, patted its head, then gently lifted it up and returned it to the pond, turning to look at others golden carp dragons. Not long after, the second carp dragon¡¯s evolution process went awry and was stopped immediately for treatment. Then came the third one, the fourth one¡­ In the end, of the thirty golden carp dragons in this experiment, only two successfully completed the final evolution and evolved into new individual of King Species. Experiment 329 is over, Number 6 and 18 have successfully evolved, record the resource ratio!¡± After calming down the golden carp dragons who failed in evolution, Xiao Zhang shouted excitedly, ¡°Get ready for the next experiment in a few days!¡± The researchers quickly completed their records amid cheers, and left the site after finishing up, leaving Xu Ran stunned on the spot. Is this success rate of evolution¡­ considered high?¡± I¡¯ll leave it here for today. Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 242 Evolution Law and Shining Holy Kingdom_l Chapter 394: Chapter 242 Evolution Law and Shining Holy Kingdom_l ¡°What do you mean by ¡®that¡¯s quite high¡¯?¡± Xiao Zhang, an excited researcher nearby Xu Ran, glared at him, slightly displeased. ¡°You, as an outsider.¡± ¡°This is an evolution experiment, an exploration of unknown evolutionary paths and species. Even if only one is successful, it¡¯s still substantial progress.¡± Xiao Zhang pointed at the two Golden Carp Dragons that had evolved into entirely new entities. ¡°Without mentioning anything else, merely the successful evolution of these two could supply valuable references for our upcoming research!¡± ¡°Look at this one!¡± Xiao Zhang pointed at one of the creatures, whose scales had changed from golden to blue gold, its body becoming more muscular. Sharp bone spikes had grown from its back. ¡°This is a Blue Gold Thorn Dragon.¡± ¡°The resources required for the evolution from the Golden Carp Dragon to the Blue Gold Thorn Dragon were discovered and confirmed previously. However, the resources we used this time weren¡¯t the same as before, there were considerable differences.¡± ¡°Two different sets of resources can evolve into the Blue Gold Thorn Dragon, indicating that the resource combinations that we previously confirmed may not be the most optimal solution. Following this point, we may be able to further optimize the evolution resources!¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s this one!¡± Xiao Zhang pointed to another experimental pet beast. Its body had turned pitch black and seemed enveloped in dense, dark fog with a faintly fishy smell. ¡°This is a new evolutionary form we¡¯ve never seen before!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to say much about its research value, right?¡± ¡°I stand corrected.¡± Confronted with an obviously disgruntled researcher Xiao Zhang, Xu Ran nodded remorsefully. He had been too hasty. With the help of the system, he had an extremely complete, high success rate of evolution path, but the rest of humanity in this world was still taking baby steps in their research on evolution. Even if it was a verbal slip, he shouldn¡¯t have said what he did. ¡°No worries!¡± Seeing that Xu Ran had accepted his words, Xiao Zhang¡¯s mood greatly improved. His previous dissatisfaction quickly dissipated. He patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, then turned to celebrate with his colleagues. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next area,¡± Liu Yu smiled, then paused, ¡°you asked a question earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Did I?¡± Xu Ran turned to look at Liu Yu. ¡°Yes, you did.¡± Liu Yu nodded slowly. ¡°You asked, ¡®Is this success rate quite high?¡±¡® ¡°Does that count?¡± A puzzled look appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, but it quickly disappeared. His eyes held a hint of amusement. ¡°But Liu senior, weren¡¯t you the one who answered?¡± Liu Yu: ¡°¡­¡± Darn, he missed a good opportunity! ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go!¡± Without waiting for Xu Ran, Liu Yu turned and walked towards the elevator they had come from, leaving Xu Ran and a smirking Fang Yuling behind. ¡°Is Senior Liu always like this?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but lower his voice to ask. ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Yuling lowered her voice as well. ¡°Senior Liu has an extreme curiosity and dedication to unknown species, but he is also a person who adheres strictly to his principles.¡± ¡°He believes that there should be an equivalent exchange for everything, including the exploration of knowledge. Therefore, when asking others questions, he will answer the same number of questions in return.¡± ¡°Senior Liu¡¯s personality is really¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression was a bit strange. He¡¯d never met such a principled person before. But to say that the other party was stubborn¡­considering how the other party kept inducing him to ask questions earlier, his principles were quite flexible.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Liu Yu¡¯s urging voice rang out from the elevator. Only after Xu Ran, Fang Yuling, and the three little ones all entered the elevator did Liu Yu leisurely remove his foot blocking the elevator door. He let the elevator door close and then turned to look at Xu Ran. ¡°We¡¯re moving to the next floor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a water attribute, but the next floor¡¯s studies are about the evolutionary pathways of the king species evolving into the emperor species.¡± Seeing the evident interest on Xu Ran¡¯s face, Liu Yu nodded satisfactorily. When he was in the elevator earlier, he realized his mistake. This young man¡¯s three pet beasts had all successfully evolved into king species, so he wouldn¡¯t be too concerned about how to evolve into king species. He wanted to impose a question in return for that, but the chip was not big enough. However, that was not a problem for Liu Yu. You¡¯re not interested in how to evolve into a king species, so how about how to evolve into an emperor species? You must be interested in that, right? At this moment, Xu Ran¡¯s response was within his expectations. This made Liu Yu feel somewhat triumphant inside. Aha, youngster, watch how I get the best of you! And Xu Ran was indeed more interested in how to evolve into an emperor species. After all, the three little ones would face this problem in the future, but until now, Xu Ran had not drawn the corresponding evolution path from the system. Unless there was a surprise, the evolution path to the emperor species was a red item, and the only red item he had drawn so far was the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card. From the practical usage, the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card was much stronger than the Meditation Acceleration Card, which also indirectly reflected the value of the evolution path to the emperor species. Soon, the elevator stopped again. The three of them stepped out and soon saw the scene on this floor. Similar to the previous floor, this floor was also constructed entirely of the highest level environmental mimicry. However, the specifics were different from the previous floor. Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 242 Evolution Law and Shining Holy Kingdom_2 Chapter 395: Chapter 242 Evolution Law and Shining Holy Kingdom_2 Here, there were no floating islands, the whole floor was underwater, only the paths and platforms in the water served as a sanctuary for researchers. In the larger water area, pet beasts radiating formidable auras could be seen everywhere, mostly at the Leadership Stage and General Stage, with only a few at the King Stage. ¡°Generally, the weaker the pet beast, the higher the success rate of evolution,¡± Liu Yu, who was leading the way, walked smoothly toward a certain area while speaking in a composed voice, ¡°Because the weaker it is, the more malleable it is.¡± ¡°When its power reaches the upper limit of the growth stage corresponding to its species stage, this pet beast is basically formed, and evolution will be more difficult.¡± ¡°But, other factors should also be considered.¡± His words paused for a while, and without waiting for Xu Ran¡¯s questions, he continued reluctantly, ¡°First of all, the growth status.¡± ¡°A newly born pet beast, its power is too weak, and its control over its own power is insufficient. This is an important factor leading to evolution failure.¡± ¡°So, we recommend that when pet beasts evolve, all skill proficiency exceeds their own stage by one. It is most suitable for Leader Species to evolve into King Species during the elite stage.¡± Perhaps it felt that Xu Ran, who had managed to evolve three pet beasts, must have known these basic understandings. Without waiting for Xu Ran¡¯s question, Liu Yu spoke them all out. On the other hand, Xu Ran remained composed, but there was a sense of sudden realization in his heart. The completion of evolution in the elite stage was consistent with what he had seen in the evolution conditions, which stated that one should not strive for leadership stage before it was reached. The proficiency level corresponding to the elite stage was the Starlight Level, while the evolution conditions required all talents of the pet beast to reach the Waning Moon Level, which also aligned with Liu Yu¡¯s words. Previously, when Xu Ran saw the content in the evolution line, he summed up some patterns even though there was always a feeling of knowing what but not knowing why. Now, combining Liu Yu¡¯s words and his own understanding, he finally grasped a key point. Being in a more malleable stage and having stronger control over one¡¯s power could both effectively increase the success rate of evolution. The former means that the pet beast should not reach the upper limit of the growth stage corresponding to the species stage. For instance, the Leader Species should not reach the Leadership Stage, and the King Species should not reach the King Stage, etc. The latter refers to having a higher level of proficiency in their skills, especially talent skills. Skill proficiency is equivalent to the pet beast¡¯s development and control over its own power. The higher the proficiency, the better control the pet beast has over its power. Facing the chaotic energy produced by absorbing a large amount of evolution resources in an instant, having a better control over one¡¯s power means less likelihood of collapse, and a successful transformation. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gradually lit up. By this logic, the best growth stage for King Species to evolve into Emperor Species should be the General Stage! Although the growth stages corresponding to the King Species only include the General Stage and the King Stage, it is because the best stage for the Leader Species to evolve into the King Species is not to exceed the Leadership Stage. Therefore, while the Leadership Stage is the highest stage for the Leader Species, it can also be regarded as the beginning of the King Species. The General Stage is the middle power stage. When at the Leadership Stage, the newly evolved King Species needs to familiarify with the newfound power and gain better control. When it reaches the General Stage, it will have fully met the conditions for evolution. As the fourth stage of the pet beast, the skill proficiency at the General Stage corresponds to the Full Moon Level, so¡­ ¡°The best scenario for King Species to evolve into Emperor Species is to reach the General Stage with all skills at the Halo Level!¡± Liu Yu: ¡°¡­¡± He, who had been acting superior and never looked back, now paused in disbelief and turned to look at Xu Ran. Wait, why is he not playing by the script?! He thought that after he briefly introduced some basic knowledge about Leader Species evolving into King Species, Xu Ran would naturally ask about King Species evolving into Emperor Species. After all, due to the rarity of King Species evolving into Emperor Species, such content would no longer be considered as common knowledge. But¡­ how did this guy figure it out so directly? Looking at Xu Ran, who seemed suddenly enlightened, Liu Yu couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful inside. Did I say too much? Damn, I thought of throwing a stone to get a gem, but as it turns out, I tossed out a stone and found a gem hidden inside it! This is a massive loss! Taking a deep breath, Liu Yu cleared his throat, ¡°Beast experiments involving the evolution of King Species are relatively rare and harder to control. Each experiment requires at least one Overlord Level Beast Master to be present.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s no experimentation today, but I will show you a video recording of a previous evolution experiment.¡± Liu Yu paused for a moment, ¡°though it¡¯s just a video recording, its value is not insignificant.¡± I¡¯ve already tossed out so many bricks, you better be appreciative, kid! ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his expectation visibly growing more intense. Coming to the Transcendent Evolution Department today was the right decision. The only thing to be aware of is not to ask questions actively. He¡¯d noticed that as long as he didn¡¯t ask a question, Liu Yu would start spilling new information to prompt him to ask. He really loved such seniors. Time flew by, with Liu Yu leading the way and Fang Yuling accompanying them, the trio, along with their pets, visited the entire Transcendent Evolution Department from the first to the twentieth floor. Having observed various attribute beast evolution experiments and records, Xu Ran felt he understood better about the evolution of pet beasts, and wasn¡¯t limited to following the preordained evolutionary path anymore. Meanwhile, Liu Yu was consistently provoked by Xu Ran¡¯s grit in this process. Because, from start to finish, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t asked him a single question. Even when he took Xu Ran to the experimental zones for Thunder, Fighting, Dark, and Earth attributes that correspond to his pet beasts, even when they saw a record of a King Species of corresponding attribute evolving into an Emperor Species, this tricky kid didn¡¯t ask any questions. However, Liu Yu was itching to know about how Xu Ran managed to add a new attribute to a pet beast during its evolution. ¡°Let¡¯s go up to the next level!¡± Liu Yu decided to pull out his trump card. You look down on the evolution of the Leader Species, and you figure out the evolution of the King Species on your own. So what if I show the record of an Emperor Species evolving into a Holy Spirit Species, what will you do then?! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded heavily, the excitement on his face growing even more intense. Holy Spirit Species. If it could be said that Xu Ran had already seen the Emperor Species in Xieyun City a few times and had some initial impressions, then the Holy Spirit Species belonged to a legendary level he had never ever experienced before. In the system¡¯s lottery, the Holy Spirit Species evolution path is a gold item. Xu Ran was confident that he definitely wouldn¡¯t draw it in a short time. So, if he could get a glimpse of the elegance of the Holy Spirit Species, his visit to the Transcendent Evolution Department would be completely worthwhile. ¡± In our territory of Xieyun City, there has never been a successful case of the evolution of the Holy Spirit Species.¡± In the elevator, Liu Yu started to explain, ¡°However, we do have some records of the evolution to a Holy Spirit Species.¡± ¡°These records are not ours, they leaked from Broken Abyss City.¡± As he said this, Liu Yu¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal longing and frenzy, ¡°That¡¯s the only first-level capital of the Shining Holy Kingdom.¡± ¡°That place, is every Beast Master¡¯s ideal Holy Land!¡± Shining Holy Kingdom¡­ A chill ran down Xu Ran¡¯s spine. Embarrassingly, up until today, he only knew that different human cities were somehow centrally controlled, and thus the Beast Master Association points from different cities were interchangeable, but he had no idea about the governing cities. This cluelessness was not just on his part; many people in the third level towns and even in the second level towns were equally in the dark. This was the first time he had heard the name of his own country. Almost the moment he heard the name, the silhouette of the Shining Holy Kingdom, vaguely divided into ten zones on the map when he had initiated the system transmission function, started to take shape in Xu Ran¡¯s mind. The contours of Shining Holy Kingdom were gradually becoming clearer in his head. Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 243: Holy Spirit Life Wheel!_l Chapter 396: Chapter 243: Holy Spirit Life Wheel!_l ¡°Come on, this is the place.¡± As the elevator came to a stop, Xu Ran followed closely behind Liu Yu¡¯s; both of them appearing in an exceptionally spacious hall. Compared to the previous twenty floors, this place seemed overly simple. After all, the previous floors not only used high-level environmental mimicry technology, but each floor also employed the technology of space expansion. While this twenty-first-floor hall, where no technology was used, strictly speaking, the size of this hall was the actual size of one floor of the Transcendent Evolution Department. In the center of the hall stood a column, the top of the column tilted, sporting a high-tech display screen. Walking straight to the front of the screen, Liu Yu deftly carried out an unlock process. Next, the hall suddenly darkened, and the surroundings instantly changed as if projecting a hologram, a massive pet beast suddenly appeared beside them. Furthermore, Xu Ran could perceive a trace of terrifying aura from it. That was¡­ a powerful aura that surpassed the king stage! Combining his previous analysis with his current perception, Xu Ran easily inferred that the pet beast in front of him had reached the overlord stage. This is also the most ideal stage for the Emperor species to evolve into the Holy Spirit species. In the scene, there was also a vague human figure whose face and physique could not be discerned clearly. From the interaction between the figure and the overlord stage pet beast, it was clear that he was the beast master of the overlord stage pet beast. The beast master and pet beast were having a conversation before the overlord stage pet beast began rapidly consuming various resources. Xu Ran widened his eyes, trying hard to make out what those resources were, but unfortunately, that seemed deliberately blurred in the projection. After a moment, the overlord stage pet beast emitted a painful roar. Its aura naturally radiated under the influence of chaotic power, and even the slight record of it forced Xu Ran and the three little ones to retreat continuously. It was hard to imagine what the scene would be like if they were standing beside it at this moment. The energy, encompassing all around, morphed into the unique territory of the overlord stage pet beast. At the top of that domain, the rising momentum pierced the void like a sharp sword, leaving a super-large energy ring pulsating with a terrifying majesty. The Imperial Crown, reappeared! Under the shocked gaze of Xu Ran and the three little ones, the Imperial Crown that had left an incredibly deep impression on them seemed to be collapsing at this moment. In the painful howl of the overlord stage pet beast, the power contained within the Imperial Crown kept crumbling. Ultimately, the Imperial Crown atop the overlord stage pet beast completely shattered, and its existence became incredibly faint. But in this faintness, there seemed to be a heart-throbbing power emerging! As time passed, that overlord stage pet beast seemed to revitalize from decay, and its momentum suddenly began to climb. Its form began to change under the dazzling light of evolution, and finally, much to Xu Ran¡¯s astonishment, it became incredibly vague. Simultaneously, the terrifying aura they could initially sense now became unperceivable. What appeared in their vision was only an incredibly vague and grand figure, and a mysterious purple-golden light wheel, with all kinds of intricate patterns that extended infinitely, slowly interweaving behind that figure! ¡°What is¡­ that?¡± In his shock, Xu Ran momentarily forgot his decision not to ask any questions and couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°Five-star skill, Holy Spirit Lifewheel.¡± Liu Yu gave a slight chuckle and glanced at Xu Ran. Even after watching the footage countless times, he would still be amazed by this scene, let alone this young boy. It seems that he managed to get him to ask a question. Now, he can also get the answer to his confusion. ¡°Just like the three-star skill King¡¯s Power and four-star skill Imperial Crown, the five-star skill Holy Spirit Lifewheel is a skill naturally developed by the Holy Spirit species.¡± Liu Yu paused for a moment, ¡°What you see now is the first Holy Spirit of the Shining Holy Kingdom, and he¡¯s also the only recorded Holy Spirit, whose evolution record is allowed to be viewed.¡± ¡°In this record, you can¡¯t see what it looks like after evolution, because the Holy Spirit species has an unobservable characteristic. As long as you see its image, think about its image in your mind, it will be sensed by it.¡± ¡°The Holy Spirit Lifewheel is the external representation of the power of the Holy Spirit, and it¡¯s the only feature of the Holy Spirit that can be recorded.¡± ¡°Regarding the Holy Spirit species, I can only tell you two things.¡± Liu Yu paused briefly. ¡°First, the evolution method of each Holy Spirit species is completely different.¡± ¡°Second, the power attribute of each Holy Spirit species is entirely different.¡± ¡°The Holy Spirit species possess uniqueness. Therefore, the evolution from the Emperor species to the Holy Spirit species is incredibly difficult.¡± ¡°Thank you for your explanation, Senior Liu.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. Unobservable, unique¡­ No wonder the Holy Spirit species is so mysterious. But¡­ Xu Ran turned around and exchanged a glance with the three little ones behind him. Each of them could see the frenzy and longing in each other¡¯s eyes. Such existence is truly alluring! The footage slowly faded at that moment, and the hall returned to its initial state. However, the posture of that Holy Spirit had already been firmly imprinted in the hearts of the master and his three pets. ¡°This is all you can see on this floor.¡± Liu Yu manipulated the screen for a bit, then turned to look at Xu Ran, ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time for us to move downstairs.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded subconsciously and followed Liu Yu into the elevator before suddenly realizing a problem, ¡°Can I view such precious information, along with the previous stuff, anytime I want?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Fang Yuling suddenly laughed out loud from one side. It was apparent that she had been holding back her laughter while watching the tug-of-war between an old and a young man all the way. ¡°You should check your Beast Master Points balance.¡± Fang Yuling said with a smile. ¡°Huh?¡± Sensing something was off, Xu Ran quickly pulled out his cellphone and opened the official website of the Beast Master Association. Seeing the balance of his Beast Master Points account, his expression turned stupefied. Two hundred thousand¡­ A whole two hundred thousand less! He immediately checked his Points consumption records. The most recent one notably read: ¡°View Holy Spirit Race evolution record, Points used 150000.¡± Above this record of spending, there was another one. ¡°Visit Transcendent Evolution Department, Points used 50000.¡± ¡°The visit fee is incurred by any Beast Masters who gain entrance to the first floor of the Transcendent Evolution Department, who are not members.¡± Fang Yuling chuckled, ¡°As for viewing the Holy Spirit Race evolution record, even members of the Transcendent Evolution Department must spend one hundred fifty thousand Points.¡± ¡°However, the good news is, repeated viewing only costs fifty thousand Points.¡± Fang Yuling paused, ¡°So, you are welcome to visit again.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Visit again? That¡¯s never gonna happen! Not a long time had passed, and he had just used up four to five king-level resources! ¡°Ding ¡± A crisp electronic sound echoed in the elevator, while at the same time, the descending elevator came to a halt. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s my turn to ask you a question.¡± Liu Yu grinned, feeling elated, ¡°How did your pet beast gain a second attribute during evolution?¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment. He had long prepared for such questions, knowing that it was impossible to hide everything completely. Inevitably, it couldn¡¯t be avoided. Under the guidance of Liu Yu, he had visited the first twenty floors of the Transcendent Evolution Department, witnessed many evolution experiments, and saw researchers celebrating due to a less than ten percent evolution success rate. Aside from feeling overjoyed at learning more about evolution, he also deeply appreciated the difficulty and hardship involved in evolution research. Gazing at Liu Yu who looked at him with a thirst for knowledge, Xu Ran heaved a sigh. Let it be, if he could help, he would. ¡°Because my pet beast, prior to evolution, elevated all its talent skills to three stars, greatly increasing its evolution difficulty. One of the resources it used was a Harmony Stone. Apart from that¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s words trailed off. ¡°My pet beast conducted the proper evolution ritual during the process of evolution.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Liu Yu took a deep breath, his eyes widening in disbelief. After a moment, he exerted a look of extreme determination, ¡°Ask whatever you want to know! Even if you were to ask what color underwear Chairman Fang wore today, I, Old Liu, would stake my own life to find out for you!¡± How to advance their talent skills to three stars ahead of schedule? What is the evolution ritual? At this moment, he had so many questions he wanted to ask. ¡°Senior Liu!¡± Fang Yuling blushed slightly at Liu Yu¡¯s outrageous storytelling involving her father, unable to help rolling her eyes. However, she also couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xu Ran with surprise. It turned out that this was how Xu Ran¡¯s pet beast evolved. ¡°The so-called evolution ritual is actually an upgraded version of the evolution shortcut you discovered before. Through the proper evolution ritual, pet beasts can be aided to the greatest extent in their evolution into a specific form.¡± Xu Ran paused briefly, ¡°The methods vary for different types of evolution, hence it requires individual exploration.¡± He certainly couldn¡¯ t reveal how he elevated skills to three stars. Because the method he used was skill fusion. As for whether under normal circumstances there is any other way for pet beasts to achieve this, he didn¡¯t know since he had never heard of such a thing. So, he could only reveal what he could reveal. Noticing Liu Yu and Fang Yuling¡¯s thoughtful expressions, Xu Ran knew that he couldn¡¯t keep answering their questions like this. A little hint was enough. ¡°I have things to attend to at the shop, so I¡¯ll leave first!¡± Waving to the two of them, Xu Ran mounted his horse and set off with his three little ones. ¡°Evolution ritual¡­¡± Liu Yu didn¡¯t come back to his senses until Xu Ran had already disappeared, ¡°So that¡¯s what the evolutionary signs are for.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been so close to the answer, but yet we¡¯ve been unable to make a breakthrough!¡± ¡°Huh! Boss Xu, then you¡­¡± Liu Yu suddenly looked up towards where Xu Ran had departed, a puzzled look crossing his face, ¡°Where did he go?¡± ¡°He left.¡± Fang Yuling shook her head slightly. ¡°Oh my!¡± Liu Yu stomped regretfully, ¡°Next time he comes, I will definitely prepare something more shocking for him!¡± ¡°That kid¡¯s got some secrets, we need to dig more out!¡± Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 244 Special Main Task 4!_1 Chapter 397: Chapter 244 Special Main Task 4!_1 ¡°I¡¯m not going to the Transcendent Evolution Department ever again!¡± After walking away, Xu Ran let out a breath of relief, after seeing the faint outline of the building in the distance. Going in and out, two hundred thousand Beast Master Points were gone. Who can stand that?! Even though the trip was productive, as he learned a lot of previously unknown evolution knowledge, and for the first time understood the strength of the Holy Spirit Race, he still felt a pang when it came to the sudden disappearance of his Beast Master Points. ¡°You¡¯ve drained most of my Beast Master Points. I probably don¡¯t have enough left to exchange for new resources.¡± He sighed with a pained expression at the three little ones, ¡°I was planning to exchange for some more resources before leaving Xieyun City.¡± They had already consumed most of the earlier batch of resources. The original plan was to exchange a large amount of Beast Master Points that he collected before. However, plans changed. So¡­ ¡°Star, halt!¡± Xu Ran suddenly saw two familiar figures on the road and asked Star to stop. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star let out a long whine and stopped. Its body, once hidden in plain sight, appeared naturally, with its person and two accompanying beasts. Qin Can and Qin Yue were startled by the sudden appearance of Xu Ran and his pets. ¡°Whoa!¡± Qin Can exclaimed in surprise, but then he recognized Xu Ran and a look of resentment appeared on his face, ¡°So, Boss Xu, where do you think I¡¯ve just come from?¡± ¡°Where?¡± Xu Ran dismounted, smiling warmly. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop!¡± Qin Yue pointed out, looking somewhat annoyed, ¡°We waited so long for that Tony guy to leave, and when he finally left, you weren¡¯t the one on duty but some other new clerk¡­¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Boss Xu.¡± Qin Yue couldn¡¯t help but grumble, ¡°You hire such odd clerks¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t find the exact words to describe her feelings and she blinked in silence. ¡°Yeah.¡± Qin Can empathetically agreed. The siblings had tried to visit the Starfire Pet Care Shop a few days earlier. Xu Ran had promised them free washing and protection services, which they fully intended to take advantage of. However, things changed when they arrived at the shop. It was a new guy called Tony who ran the shop instead of Xu Ran. Due to Tony¡¯s bizarre style, both decided to visit next time. They didn¡¯t have to wait long for the good news of Xu Ran¡¯s return. The surprised Qin siblings immediately rushed over, only to find a new clerk at the shop, not Xu Ran. ¡°Boss Xu, when could we get you to do the washing and protection for us yourself?¡± Qin Can scratched his head, looking somewhat exasperated. ¡°Right now.¡± Xu Ran smiled, a strange glint in his eyes, ¡°Both of you are regular customers now. I should treat you a little special.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Can was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy. ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the shop now. I¡¯ll tell Meow that I¡¯ll take care of you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Qin Yue shouted, ¡°You promised!¡± Leaving behind these words, they summoned their pet beasts and hurried back towards the Starfire Foster Care Shop, lest Xu Ran retract his offer. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a promise.¡± Xu Ran laughed and shook his head at their retreating figures. He then turned to his excited pets, ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the shop.¡± ¡°Since we can¡¯t utilize a resource exchange before leaving Xieyun City, let¡¯s benefit from the good luck of the Lucky Fish one last time.¡± As he spoke, Xu Ran remounted Star, along with Ziyun and Cancan. ¡°We¡¯re getting our resource allocation a few days early.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Great!) Star let out an excited whinny, its eyes gleaming in anticipation. It stomped its hooves, leaving a blurry afterimage as it disappeared completely, speeding off in the direction of the Qin siblings. Ziyun and Cancan echoed Star¡¯s excitement with enthusiastic cheers on its back. Even though they now had the Beast Trainer Ranking and could earn Beast Master Points based on their skills, and could even learn new skills with initiative, it was undoubtedly the resource allocations that they always looked forward to most. These allocations comprised of a large number of resources that could not be obtained anywhere else. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Ziyun anxiously patted Star¡¯s neck as though in a hurry, wishing they could get to the Starfire Foster Care Shop immediately. ¡°Easy.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, pointing at the Qin siblings they had just passed. ¡°We have to go back to the shop first and wait for them.¡± It¡¯s always the same routine: washing and protection first, then absorbing some of that lucky aura of theirs! ¡°Eh?!¡± Inside the Starfire Pet Care Shop, the cute and adorable Meow covered her mouth in surprise, eyes wide and luminous. Her ears twitched slightly and the wagging tail on her back paused abruptly. She looked surprised. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re going to do the washing and protection yourself?¡± The screeching noise echoing through the grooming room couldn¡¯t help but make Xu Ran wince a little, ¡°Not really. I¡¯m just helping two friends. Once they¡¯re done, I¡¯ll leave the work to you.¡± Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 244 Special Main Task 4*_2 Chapter 398: Chapter 244 Special Main Task 4*_2 ¡°Phew- That¡¯s better!¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Meow let out a slight sigh of relief, extending her fair and smooth little hand to gently pat her chest, the ripples spreading from her puffy maid apricot in synchrony, ¡°That scared me¡­¡± ¡°You keep this up and I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to die of fright.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched again, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m giving you a few hours off, go take a break!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Meow¡¯s eyes lit up and just as she was about to respond, she saw Xu Ran raise a finger to his lips. She obediently nodded, covered her mouth, and quietly left the grooming room. Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Although she still wasn¡¯t exactly formal, Meow was at least much more normal in her speech and behavior than Teacher Tony. Upon further consideration, her strange voice wasn¡¯t her fault, it must be the system¡¯s doing. Yes, it¡¯s all the system¡¯s fault¡­ [You have a new system task] Reading the text that suddenly appeared before his eyes, Xu Ran sucked in a sharp breath. It¡¯s all because the system is too serious! With a mix of excitement and eagerness, Xu Ran opened the task panel. The panel was left blank after he had completed Main Task 3, with no new main tasks immediately appearing. At the time, Xu Ran was so shocked by the addition of three new store clerks that he didn¡¯t have a chance to focus on this issue. Now, the long-awaited Main Task 4 appeared before Xu Ran. However, upon reading the descriptions for Main Task 4, a strange expression that was hard to describe appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. [Main Task 4: Spread and Multiply Task Description: Please host successfully open branches in four different Second Level Towns, Branch Popularity should reach over 50% to be considered successful. This task is stage-based and the rewards will be distributed in stages. Task Reward: System Skill Upgrade Command xi, System Upgrade Experience +600] [Current Stage Task: Successfully open branches in two different Second Level Towns. Task Progress: 1/2 Stage Task Reward: System Clerkx31 ¡°What is¡­¡± After reading the new main task, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t hold back a gasp. This task seemed somewhat different from the previous tasks. Main tasks could also be stage-based. However, considering the task content, Xu Ran found it reasonable. After all, with every new branch he opened, he needed three System Clerks to maintain the original shop. The task would be impossible to complete if the system didn¡¯t provide new clerks along the way. Subsequently, Xu Ran looked closely at the current stage task. Half of the task progress has already been achieved, no doubt, Xieyun City was also included. So, he only needed to open a branch in Monster Wooden City, reach over 50% popularity, meet the corresponding requirements, and complete the current stage task. He could then get three System Clerks in preparation for opening a new branch. Xu Ran rubbed his chin. Although the system didn¡¯t show the next stage task, he could guess it already. It would simply be open a store, get three clerks, until all four branches met the requirements to complete Main Task 4. Next, Xu Ran turned his gaze to the final reward for Main Task 4. His eyelids twitched slightly. Wow, it¡¯s actually this thing. He exited the task page and fixed his eyes on his personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Third Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] Star [ViewDetails] Cancan [ViewDetails] System Skills: [Plucking Fur (B Level)] (500/500) (Use the System Skill Upgrade Command to complete the upgrade) [Drug Application (B Level)] (2000/2000) (Use the System Skill Upgrade Command to complete the upgrade) [Pranks (B Level)] (2000/2000) (Use the System Skill Upgrade Command to complete the upgrade) System Upgrade Experience: 700/2000] During the first main task, Xu Ran had already upgraded all three system skills to the B Level. After such a long time, at the thriving Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran had already maxed out the experience of all three skills. However, these three skills didn¡¯t upgrade to A Level as he expected but instead a new line appeared. He had thought that the System Skill Upgrade Command was a piece of equipment won through a lottery draw, which was likely a red item due to its rarity, so he temporarily extinguished the idea of breaking through to A level system skills. He never expected this to actually be a system reward?! Moreover¡­ ¡°You¡¯re just giving me one?!¡± Xu Ran felt his breathing becoming more labored. So opening four branches, he can only upgrade one system skill, right? What a dog system! Muttering a curse in his heart, Xu Ran turned to look at the three little ones, who were gazing at him curiously, a realization hitting him that he had voiced his thoughts out loud. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the Qin siblings to come first.¡± He set aside the issues with the main task for the moment. No matter what, the system¡¯s guide to open branches coincided with his own thoughts, so he didn¡¯t resist it. The more branches he had, the more revenue he would earn. Each branch would continually provide him with pleasure value and various resources, it was a complete win-win for him. As for the upgrade of system skills¡­ He could always finish the main task later if necessary. As Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts churned, the Qin siblings, who had departed before them but arrived later, entered the Grooming Room under Meow¡¯s guidance. Seeing Xu Ran standing at the Care platform and preparing for grooming, the siblings let out a small sigh of relief. The moment they saw Meow¡¯s reception, they almost thought they had been tricked by Xu Ran. ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Qin Yue pressed down her eager to jump Qin Can, and first summoned her own pet beast. Qin Can looked aggrieved at being pushed to the corner of the Grooming Room by four general stage pet beasts, seething in silent anger. That darn elder sister! ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, looking at the four excited General Stage Pet Beasts. ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± ¡°Roar-¡± With a fervent and exciting roar, the Earth Roaring Rhino slightly shook his head, his gaze still somewhat confused. His fantastically robust limbs seemed to have lost their power. He barely stood up with a bit of a stagger, taking several steps before regaining his stability. Sensing his refreshed state, exhilaration surged through Earth Roaring Rhino¡¯s eyes. With his current condition, he could progress a few ranks on the Defense leaderboard for Leadership Stage Pet Beasts! Thinking of this, the Earth Roaring Rhino glanced at Cancan who was standing not far from Xu Ran, compared to its huge size was miniature, and it couldn¡¯t help but shrink its head a little. This guy is the current number one on the Defense leaderboard. In front of it, his defense power was like a little brother. For a moment, the overbearing attitude that had just emerged in Earth Roaring Rhino calmed down and returned to its previous calm demeanour. ¡°Alright, all seven pet beasts have been groomed.¡± Wiping his hands with a damp towel, Xu Ran looked at the satisfied Qin siblings, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°The effect is still best when Boss Xu does it personally.¡± Qin Yue chuckled, satisfiedly looking at the four General Stage Pet Beasts surrounding her, ¡°Boss Xu, we will look for you next time for grooming.¡± ¡°Although Meow is somewhat special, its grooming technique is not worse than mine.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, and then paused, ¡°Next time you come, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t find me.¡± ¡°Because in a few days, I¡¯ll be leaving Xieyun City for another place, and I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The faces of the Qin siblings, who were still excited moments ago, turned gloomy. ¡°Try to see the bright side.¡± Xu Ran chuckled lightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice when Meow doesn¡¯t speak?¡± ¡°Or you can choose to let Teacher Tony come here for grooming¡­¡± ¡°No, I think Teacher Meowis very good!¡± Qin Can shook his head vigorously, his expression becoming firm, ¡°So next, I¡¯ll leave my pet beasts in Teacher Meow¡¯s care!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Qin Yue nodded in agreement. Compared to Teacher Tony, Teacher Meow is way better! The subsequent new system clerks are no longer described in detail. Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 245 The Second Red Item!_l Chapter 399: Chapter 245 The Second Red Item!_l Watching the somewhat unwilling Qin siblings suddenly change their attitudes, Xu Ran shook his head and chuckled softly, while extending his sympathies to Teacher Tony. ¡°Ahem.¡± Xu Ran cleared his throat lightly, thought about his purpose and a flash of anticipation reflected in his eyes before fading away. ¡°When business was initially slow, your visits gave me a lot of encouragement. Beyond just business, I also see you both as friends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m personally cleaning and caring for your pet beasts today.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, you¡­¡± Qin Yue¡¯s face turned slightly emotional. She was a straightforward and generous person who valued loyalty. Such words touched her heart. Standing on the side, however, Qin Can looked somewhat bemused. He didn¡¯t know why, but he found Xu Ran¡¯s current demeanor very familiar. Wasn¡¯t this the feeling he got when he used to scam people? Uh oh¡­ Seeing his sister¡¯s emotional expression, Qin Can had an ominous feeling. His sister was usually immune to his scamming attempts, so why was she falling for someone else¡¯s so easily? ¡°Although I am about to leave Xieyun City and I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll see each other again, I will always miss you both.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed regret and attachment. The three little ones behind him also had similar looks of sadness on their faces. They were genuinely reluctant to leave. In the next city, who knows if they would find such lucky fish again? Xu Ran took a deep breath and began to speak slowly. ¡°So, I have a favor to ask.¡± Here it comes! Qin Can felt a foreboding sense of fear. As if he had seen through everything, he shook his head continuously as he saw his sister¡¯s trusting expression. His sister was not reliable at key moments; the responsibility fell on him. So, no matter what Boss Xu asked for, he definitely wouldn¡¯t agree! ¡°I hope I could take a photo with both of you.¡± ¡°No¡­huh?¡± Qin Can refused automatically. Then, he blinked, and realizing what Xu Ran had just said, he looked slightly bewildered. Just¡­ a photo? ¡°If not¡­¡± Xu Ran glanced at Qjn Can before his tone quickly dropped to sound sad, ¡°Then I¡­¡± ¡°Bang! Wham!¡± ¡°Fine! It¡¯s not a problem at all!¡± Qin Yue gave Qjn Can a hard slap on the back of his head. The force of it caused him to fall onto the floor. ¡°It¡¯s just a photo, Boss Xu, you don¡¯t need to listen to this silly boy!¡± Qin Can: ¡°¡­¡± With the help of the pet beasts, he picked himself up from the ground, rubbed the back of his head, and looked helpless. Since his sister has spoken, he could only oblige. However¡­ did Xu Ran say all that just to take a picture with them? Qin Can, who had initially thought Xu Ran would try to scam something tangible like him, was surprised. Taking a photo was not unacceptable. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± Xu Ran cheerfully tossed his cellphone to the eager Ziyun, then walked quickly to stand between the Qin siblings, putting his arms around them. Ten consecutive photos, let¡¯s go! ¡°Click-¡± In the snapping sound of the phone¡¯s camera, a photo of the three of them was captured. Among them, Xu Ran¡¯s smile was the most sincere. After taking the photo, the Qin siblings didn¡¯t stay long. They bade Xu Ran goodbye and headed home together. On the way home, Qin Can furrowed his brows and looked thoughtful. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing her brother¡¯s unusual behavior, Qin Yue casually asked. ¡°Something¡¯s not right, very not right.¡± Qin Can hesitated, his face showing doubt. ¡°I feel like there¡¯s something off about Boss Xu.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Yue raised her eyebrows. ¡°Older sis, do you remember the last time we both went to Starfire Care Shop for cleaning and caring, Boss Xu also requested to take a photo with us?¡± ¡°Of course, I remember. You even brought up the issue of portrait rights and Boss Xu provided us with three free cleaning services for all our pet beasts.¡± Qin Yue nodded, ¡°That photo, which is now hung in the lounge, isn¡¯t bad at all.¡± ¡°But this time, Boss Xu asked us for a photo again.¡± Qin Can stroked his chin thoughtfully, ¡°Also, it felt too easy to get free cleaning services from Boss Xu, this is not like a businessman.¡± ¡°I have a feeling that whenever we scam Boss Xu, he cooperates too well. It¡¯s as if he makes more profit even though it seems that we do.¡± His face twisted with struggle, ¡°But the problem is, I don¡¯t understand what he profits from.¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Qin Yue raised her hand and gave Qin Can another hard slap, ¡°You are always scamming people, trying to take advantage of them, and think that everyone is like you!¡± ¡°Boss Xu was just being courteous, he¡¯s generous!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate you saying bad things about him!¡± After finishing what she had to say, an indignant Qin Yue couldn¡¯t resist giving another slap to Qin Can¡¯s forehead, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with taking photos? Maybe Boss Xu likes taking photos?¡± ¡°Is¡­is that so?¡± Stunned by his sibling¡¯s two slaps, Qin Can shook his head, thinking that he was perhaps overthinking things. ¡°It seems I misunderstood Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Hee- hee-hee~¡± Sitting dumbfounded on the bed in the living room on the second floor, Xu Ran¡¯s face wore a bright smile, and he would occasionally laugh, causing the three little ones surrounding him to be a bit confused. Cancan gave a sidelong glance to Star. Elder brother Star, should we wake Xu Ran up? Star imperceptibly shook his head, then turned to look at Ziyun. Such an arduous task, of course, couldn¡¯t be carried out by him. My turn? Noticing the attention of the two little ones, Ziyun blinked and ruefully shook its head. With a graceful stride, it gently stepped onto the soft blanket, moved next to Xu Ran, and then raised a paw and lightly pushed on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Ran snapped out of it, quickly grabbing Ziyun¡¯s paw, then turning to the other two little ones, ¡°The evolution route for Emperor Species, It¡¯s here!¡± The reason he was so excited was that in the second round of lottery drawing, blessed by the double lucky fish, Xu Ran had once again won a red item. And this time, the red item was not an Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, but the long-desired Evolution Path for Emperor Species! He had just returned from the Transcendent Evolution Department and immediately won the evolution route for the Emperor Species. If such a thing were coincidence, Xu Ran would like it to happen a few more times. Huh? Huh?! Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the three little ones, after a brief stun, unanimously fell into an exhilarating cheer. Emperor Species! It can be said that after evolving into the King Species and experiencing the power brought by the transition of life level, the three little ones were always longing for another evolution, to become the stronger Emperor Species. Such longing reached its peak after seeing the shocking scene of the Emperor Species evolving into the Holy Spirit Race at the Transcendent Evolution Department! Now, the evolution route to the Emperor Species is right in front of them. So, how far would the Holy Spirit Race be in the future? ¡°Because we promoted a system store manager last night, there were almost no Skill Fragments in this round of resource allocation, and the Skill Points and Physical Points were also much less than before.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°But I believe, with the evolution route for Emperor Species, it should be enough, right?¡± The three little ones all nodded in agreement. Indeed, even if this round of resource allocation only brought this one item, it could be considered hugely significant. However¡­ Calm and collected after the initial excitement, the three little ones simultaneously realized a problem they needed to face. There was only one Emperor Species Evolution Route. Among the three of them, only one could know their future evolution path for now. The other two would have to wait until they obtained another Emperor Species evolution route. Upon this thought, the expressions on the faces of the three little ones changed gradually. Sure¡­ (I¡¯ll wait some more¡­) Regret colored Cancan¡¯s face as it was the first to back out from the race for the evolution route. Being the last one to complete the evolution, although it had practically caught up with Ziyun and Starfire in terms of strength level now, it was obviously not its turn yet for the next evolution. There will be a second after a first, Cancan believed that there would be more Emperor Species evolution routes in the near future. Thus, it could wait. After Cancan¡¯s statement, a trace of struggle emerged in Starfire¡¯s eyes. For this Evolution Route for the Emperor Species, it was also full of fascination and desire. But¡­ Turning to look at Ziyun, images of Ziyun¡¯s various care for it when it first came to Starfire Foster Shop sprang to Starfire¡¯s mind. Ziyun was the first to form a contract with Xu Ran and the first to complete the first evolution. Now, it should be the one to start the second evolution. Having thought about this, Starfire slightly shook its head. Xi Lu ¨C (Let Ziyun have it.) Meow!!! (Thankyou!) Ziyun, who originally was thinking about how to convince Starfire and Cancan to let it use the evolution route first, was taken aback when it heard the polite words from the two little ones, then was filled with gratitude. Meow- (After I become stronger, I¡¯ll protect you guys!) Ziyun nodded vigorously, then turned to look at Xu Ran. ¡°Well then¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled and used the Evolution Route for the Emperor Species on Ziyun. Much like when they used Evolution Route for the King Species, as Xu Ran used the item, a series of words appeared in his sight. (Evolution path: Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) -> Hidden Thunder Jungle King(Thunder, Fighting) Evolution Difficulty: ****** Evolution Potential: ****** [Evolution Path: Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) -> Thunder Destroyer(Thunder, Fighting) Evolution Difficulty: ****** Evolution Potential: **** **] [Evolution Path:¡­] Six stars¡­ Reading on, Xu Ran quickly realized the difference between Emperor Species Evolution Path and King Species Evolution Path. Firstly, in terms of stars. For the King Species Evolution Path, the maximum Evolution Difficulty and Evolution Potential was five stars, while for the Emperor Species Evolution Path, it had increased to six stars. Secondly, in terms of quantity. Compared to the previous hundreds of evolution paths, the paths presented before Xu Ran now were only about twenty. As a result, Xu Ran could easily find the only evolution path with a six-star Evolution Potential. [Evolution route: Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) -? Shock Sky Chase Cloud (Thunder, Fighting)] Evolution Difficulty: ****** Evolution Potential: **¡ï**¡ï] Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran chose this evolution path. This is it! Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 246: Ziyuns Emperor Species Chapter 400: Chapter 246: Ziyun¡¯s Emperor Species Evolution Pathil With Xu Ran selecting the final evolution path, the numerous evolution paths that were once in his sights began to disappear one by one, leaving only the chosen path that became increasingly clear, flashing a red glow. ¡°Meow?¡± (What is my evolutionary species?) With expectancy in his eyes, Ziyun asked aloud. Star and Cancan next to him also looked at Xu Ran nervously. Although they are not the ones using the Emperor Species evolution path, this is the first Emperor Species evolution path within the team. What it is like to evolve into the Emperor Species and how difficult it is, they are very curious. ¡°The evolution path for Emperor Species offers up to six stars for both difficulty and potential, I¡¯ve picked a path for you with a potential of six stars¡± said Xu Ran briefly before he ceased speaking. Because among the flickering rainbows, the evolution path he chose had already fully unfolded, with a vast amount of text appeared before his eyes. [Evolution Path: Flash Thunder Cat (Thunder, Fighting) -> Thunder Chaser (Thunder, Fighting) Evolution Difficulty: ****** Evolution Potential: ****** Evolution Requirements: Evolution Material: Extinct Thunder Attraction (main), Extreme Source Vein Crystal (main), Thunder Attribute Emperor Stage Blood Essence (main), Brilliant Gem (main), Eternal Life Calamity Dew (main) Evolution Ritual: ¡°Hiss¡­¡± After reading all the text, Xu Ran gasped. The evolution path of the Emperor Species is terrifying. As he anticipated, the evolution path of the Emperor Species required the Pet Beast to have not yet reached the King Stage. However, apart from that, some contents were beyond Xu Ran¡¯s expectations. Firstly, it¡¯s the second point in the evolution requirements. In addition to Ziyun needing to elevate all the talent skills to four-star before evolving, it also demands that at least four of the four-star talent skills that Ziyun has elevated, are duel-attribute ones of Thunder and Fighting. There are seven talent skills in total for Ziyun. Which means, during the time of skill star level upgrade, it needs to turn more than half of the talents into dual attribute skills. The process isn¡¯t that tough, it just needs to find appropriate Thunder Attribute skills and Fighting Attribute skills to integrate. This way, the requirements can be fulfilled. However, in that case, Ziyun¡¯s previous integration plan might need to be adjusted a bit. Xu Ran promptly clicked open Ziyun¡¯s skill list to check. Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, Step on Electric Traces, Destruction Thunder Claw, Immortal Body, King¡¯s Power, Heartfelt Strike, and Falling Thunder. Among Ziyun¡¯s seven skills, Immortal Body which was already promoted to four stars, is a pure Fighting Attribute skill, and Destruction Thunder Claw was originally both Thunder and Fighting dual attribute. So, among the other five skills, it needs to keep in mind the integration of skills¡¯ attributes when promoting three of them. The other thing that surprised Xu Ran was the requirement of skill proficiency for the Emperor Species evolution path. It¡¯s not Halo Level, but the Violent Sun Level which is above it. What is the concept of all skills being at Violent Sun Level? Now, the three of them combined only have two Halo Level skills. To upgrade a skill from Waning Moon Level to Halo Level, you need ten thousand Skill Points. And to upgrade a skill from the Halo Level to Violent Sun Level, you need fifty thousand Skill Points! This will surely take a very long time. Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned a little serious. In this case, it¡¯s more necessary to open a branch store. Considering his current income, it¡¯s not possible to accumulate so many Skill Points. However, if there are more branches, the income will multiple. This way, it can keep up with the enhancement speed of the Pet Beast¡¯s strength. Thinking about this, Xu Ran looked at the Evolution Material. Hmm¡­ At first glance, there¡¯s not one he recognizes. You¡¯re in Xieyun City after all. Xu Ran took out his cellphone, started looking on the Beast Master Points exchange interface. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are you checking my evolution material?) Ziyun sprang lightly, jumped onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, rubbed his face with its cheek, with excitement and joy in its eyes, it looked at the screen following Xu Ran¡¯s hand. The next moment, its expression stalled slightly. Because after Xu Ran entered the resource name ¡°Extinct Thunder Attraction¡±, the exchange interface, after a brief pause, eventually turned blank. ¡°No such item?¡± Xu Ran frowned a bit, a foreboding feeling began to form in his heart. This is Xieyun City. Among the nearby areas, this is the strongest Second Level Town. Theoretically, any resources existing in Beast Zone No.47 should be available here. But, he couldn¡¯t find the material needed for Ziyun¡¯s evolution. His fingers moved quickly, swiftly entering the second resource. Still blank. Xu Ran¡¯s face became somewhat harsh. According to the order of the evolution material in the previous King Species evolution path, the more precious and the more important the evolution material in the evolution process, it would be in front. Without a doubt, the first two resources are the most central among the main resources. And these two resources, can¡¯t be found in Xieyun City. With a sigh, Xu Ran continued to input the third resource. Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 246: Ziyuns Emperor Species Chapter 401: Chapter 246: Ziyun¡¯s Emperor Species Evolution Path!_2 Thunder Attribute Emperor Stage Blood Essence. This time, the points exchange platform finally offered a timely response. Yes! But, it¡¯s very expensive! After all, it¡¯s the blood essence of the Emperor Stage, even a single drop requires a staggering three hundred thousand Beast Master Points. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (Where am I supposed to get so many Beast Master Points?) Seeing the long string of zeros after the resource exchange price, Ziyun felt a wave of despair, as if she won¡¯t be able to evolve. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s disheartened expression, Xu Ran gently said, ¡°As long as it can be exchanged, the problem of points can be rather easily ¡¯ solved.¡± ¡¯ ¡°By the time we complete the pre-evolution preparation, we can come back to face the Beast Trainer Ranking. Then what we will be aiming for is not just the Leadership Stage.¡± ¡°The rewards for the General Stage Beast Trainer Ranking will greatly increase Three hundred thousand Beast Master Points may seem a lot, but it¡¯s not unattainable.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That sounds more like it.) Ziyun¡¯s expression eased slightly, and she felt a bit relieved. But thinking that the first two resources couldn¡¯t be found, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. Her own evolution seemed a bit troubling¡­ The last two resources, which were less precious than the Emperor Stage Blood Essence, were quickly located by Xu Ran in the exchange list. However, their value was not low either. Each of the two resources required a hundred and fifty thousand and a hundred thousand Beast Master Points, respectively. so, in order for Ziyun to gather enough materials for her evolution, she would need a total of five hundred and fifty thousand points just for the exchange. What¡¯s more troubling was that there weren¡¯t any clues on how to obtain the first two resources at the moment. Just have to take it one step at a time. Xu Ran sighed slightly, then turned his attention to Ziyun¡¯s evolution ceremony. Unlike the evolution ceremony for the King Species, the evolution ceremony for the Emperor Species seemed to be divided into two steps. The first step was to let Ziyun alone defeat a Thunder Attribute King Stage Extraordinary Being and a Fighting Attribute King Stage Extraordinary Being, gathering their core resources as auxiliary materials for her evolution. The second step was to complete the evolution in a designated area. Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. Up till now, the only time the three little ones managed to defeat an enemy of a higher stage was when they combined their forces after Cancan evolving, repelling the assaulting General stage Extraordinary Being. Besides that, the strength of the three little ones was relative to beings on the same stage. After all, there was an insurmountable power gap between every growth stage. In such circumstances, the difficulties for Ziyun to kill two King Stage Extraordinary Beings all by herself at the General Stage were evident. Besides, the second step of the evolution ceremony might seem straightforward, but it was somewhat strange. Ziyun was a cat-related Extraordinary Being, not a bird-related one. How could she complete her evolution at the pinnacle of the thunderclouds above? Thinking of this, Xu Ran sighed slightly. The evolution ceremony was indeed mysterious. Before the three little ones completed their evolution, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t understood the meaning of the evolution ceremony. Only after their evolution did he comprehend the importance of the ceremony from their accounts. Now, he dared not underestimate the evolution ceremony. To successfully evolve, every aspect of the ceremony must be executed without any shortcut. ¡°Meow?¡± (Is my evolution path difficult?) Seeing Xu Ran looking worried, Ziyun looked a bit anxious and worried. ¡°Sure?¡± (What is Ziyun¡¯s evolution path like?) Cancan anxiously tugged at Xu Ran¡¯s clothes, seeking answers. Unless something unexpected happened, it and Star would also choose the most challenging six-star potential evolution path like Ziyun, so Ziyun¡¯s evolution information could be used as their reference. Their difficulties should be about the same. Star, standing aside, moved its hooves. Seeing Cancan had already made a move, it silently withdrew its hoof, staring intently at Xu Ran. Obviously, it was also quite anxious. Under the urging of the three little ones, Xu Ran came back to his senses, realizing that he had yet to share the details of the evolution path. ¡°Ziyun, you must be prepared.¡± Xu Ran gently stroked Ziyun¡¯s head, his expression slightly serious, ¡°Your evolution is quite challenging.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯mprepared!) Ziyun took a deep breath, nodded vigorously, and urged Xu Ran to continue. Even the other two little ones couldn¡¯t help but draw near, holding their breaths. ¡°Just as we guessed earlier, you need to complete your evolution before reaching the King Stage, but¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice shifted, ¡°The proficiency required for evolution is not at the Halo Level for all skills, but at the Violent Sun Level.¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡öMeow?¡± (¡­What did you say?) Ziyun¡¯s expression slightly stiffened for a moment. Violent Sun Level¡­ It was hard enough for it to obtain its first Halo Level Skill, when would it ever be able to have a Violent Sun Level one? Cancan and Star looked at each other and simultaneously fell silent. Is this how they are going to evolve too? ¡°Besides, there¡¯s also the matter of skills.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°As expected, all innate skills need to be upgraded to four stars. Moreover, at least four of these talent skills need to be both Thunder and Fighting attributes.¡± ¡°¡­Meow meow meow?¡± (¡­What?) Ziyun¡¯s expression dejected for a while. Originally, it already had planned its skills. But, now after the appearance of the evolution conditions, these plans are obligated to adjust greatly. In other words, its efforts to plan were in vain. As for the issue of evolution materials, you¡¯ve seen it yourself.¡± Xu Ran shrugged, ¡°Out of the five main resources, three can be exchanged for Beast Master Points at the Beast Master Association. As for the other two, there¡¯s no clue yet.¡± ¡°But those are the two most critical ones.¡± ¡°Meow¡­¡± (It¡¯s over¡­) A look of desperation appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. It recalled the pain of not being able to find the necessary resources when it was time to evolve into the King Species. But abruptly, a touch of curiosity emerged in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Five main resources? ¡°Meow?¡± (Are there any auxiliary resources?) There are two.¡± Xu Ran gave Ziyun a complicated look. Ziyun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but it still carefully asked. ¡°¡­Meow?¡± (Then why not investigate them too?) ¡°Because you have to personally obtain those two auxiliary resources ¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, ¡°The first step of the evolution ritual requires you to independently kill one Thunder and one Fighting Attribute King Stage Transcendent Being. And you have to personally gather their core resources.¡± ¡°These two resources will be your auxiliary evolution materials.¡± Eh? Eh??? Ziyun was momentarily taken aback. It? Take down a King Stage? That¡¯s the Beast King level!!! For a moment, Ziyun was reminded of the Magma Beast King who once appeared and almost destroyed the entire Qingzhou City, and the Nightmare Beast King who is even more terrifying than it. It must kill such creatures?! And, that too at the Marshal Level?! And it has to kill two?! At this moment, Ziyun unusually became nervous. Is it evolving or reincarnating? ¡±Don¡¯t be afraid, there¡¯s always a solution.¡± Xu Ran gently patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°Just like we¡¯ll deal with the second step after finishing the first step of the evolution ritual.¡± Ziyun wanted to weep but failed to shed tears. Your words are not reassuring at all! ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s the second step of the evolution ritual?) At this moment, Ziyun completely lost the joy of obtaining the evolution path of the Emperor Species, seeing before its eyes one seemingly insurmountable mountain after another. The evolution of the Emperor Species is already so difficult, it can¡¯t imagine what it will be like when it comes time to evolve into the Holy Spirit Race. With a numb gaze, it looked at Xu Ran. Just spit it out. What¡¯s the second step of the evolution ritual? No matter how difficult it is, it will absolutely not flinch anymore! ¡°The second step of the evolution ritual¡­¡± Xu Ran thought for a moment, suddenly speaking, ¡°Ziyun, don¡¯t you think we should learn a flying skill?¡± ¡°Because, without accident¡­¡± ¡°Your place of evolution, will be in the sky.¡± Ziyun: ¡°???¡± What! Are! You! Saying?! Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 247: Preparation for Evolution, New Chapter 402: Chapter 247: Preparation for Evolution, New Four-Star Skill!_l When Ziyun heard the second step of the evolution ceremony, Ziyun was completely fascinated. The previous evolution conditions, evolution resources, and the first step of the evolution ceremony were hard enough, but at least it was hopeful if it gritted its teeth and tried its best. This last step¡­ It¡¯s just a kitten, why does it have to fly to the sky to evolve?! After a moment of silence, Ziyun gritted its teeth abruptly. ¡°Meow!¡± (learn!) It¡¯s simply learning a flying skill! If Twelve, as a bird pet beast, can¡¯t fly, it¡¯s quite reasonable for it, as a cat Pet Beast, to fly, isn¡¯t it? In that case, let it become the first pet beast in the team that can fly! ¡°Cheer up.¡± Xu Ran caressed Ziyun¡¯s head, his face filled with a bit of helplessness, ¡°The evolution of the Emperor species is obviously not something that can be prepared in a short time. We will work together and there will be a solution.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Okay-) Ziyun nodded slightly, looking a bit better. Upon careful consideration, although the content of the evolution path is more difficult than expected, it can still be resolved in the end. Hopefully, the Emperor species after evolution will be worthy of this evolution difficulty. At Ziyun¡¯s side, Star and Cancan had different expressions. After hearing about Ziyun¡¯s evolution ceremony, Star did not cease to worry. After all, it is a supportive pet beast that does not possess any kind of attack skill. If its evolution ceremony requirement is to hunt King Stage Extraordinary Beings just like Ziyun, it practically has no possibility of accomplishing it based on its capabilities. It would almost finish it off by overfeeding rather than actually hunting. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Star.¡± Noticing the constant emotions relayed through the Beast Taming Contract, Xu Ran gently stroked its single horn, ¡°Every evolution line has its unique ceremony, yours won¡¯t be the same as Ziyun¡¯s.¡± ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Hope my evolution path can be simpler.) Star neighed, and its eyes no longer showed the frenzied desire for the Emperor Species Evolution Route. The difficulty far beyond the King Species Evolution Route sobered Star up. ¡°Charming?¡± (Would the evolution be easier with just one attribute?) After pondering, Cancan suddenly asked. ¡°Probably.¡± After pondering for a moment, Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Previously, Senior Gu Wu stated that the difficulty of dual attribute pet beasts¡¯ evolution is far greater than single attribute pet beasts.¡± ¡°Also, when visiting the Transcendent Evolution Department, Senior Liu Yu mentioned this point.¡± He paused slightly, ¡°So, to ensure successful evolution, the requirements for dual attribute pet beasts to evolve are inevitably stricter.¡± ¡°I guess, it makes sense that in the evolution conditions, more than half of the talent skills had to be upgraded to dual attribute talents.¡± Xu Ran glanced at Ziyun. According to Senior Liu Yu¡¯s words, it¡¯s best for the pet beast to reach a higher skill proficiency before evolving to better control its power. Xu Ran agreed with this. The greater difficulty for dual attribute pet beasts to evolve compared to single attribute pet beasts is in managing the conflict and coexistence of two different attributes during the evolution process. If this balance is not well adjusted, it may fail at a crucial time during evolution. They say increasing Thunder Attribute skills to Violent Sun Level proficiency will allow Ziyun to sufficiently control Thunderforce during the evolution process, and the situation for Fighting Attribute is the same. Therefore, upgrading dual attribute skills to Violent Sun Level proficiency may better maintain the balance between the two powers. With this in mind, Xu Ran looked at Ziyun, ¡°Seems like, upgrading four skills to dual attribute skills is just the minimum requirement.¡± ¡°If you want abetter chance at evolution, it would be best for you to¡­¡± Ziyun quickly interrupted. ¡°Meow?¡± (Upgrade the remaining six talent skills all to dual attributes?) ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°What do you think?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Ziyun pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly. Four or six, there is no difference anyway! Since the previous plan has been disrupted, let¡¯s make it even messier! ¡°Then, let¡¯s officially start this round of resource distribution.¡± Looking at the three little ones, Xu Ran spoke softly, ¡°The Emperor Species Evolution Route is a red item superior to purple items. Let¡¯s set its value points at ten thousand.¡± After that, Xu Ran took out the blackboard and chalk and began to write down the resource list available for exchange this time. Since he has just completed the system store manager upgrade, this round of resources hardly includes skill fragments, new physical points, and skill points. However, there are many Skill Fusion Stones, and a lot of new purple items have been acquired. After totaling the overall value, Xu Ran deducted ten thousand points for Ziyun and then started the new round of distribution. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Let Ziyun choose first!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Let Ziyun pick first!) As soon as the distribution started, Star and Cancan unanimously agreed to give priority to Ziyun. After all, at this moment, Ziyun had entered into the preparation process of evolution. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (If you do not have enough value points, I can lend you some!) Apart from expressing its stance, Star also said to Ziyun very seriously while lifting a hoof slightly, drawing in the air twice with it. The stone for keeping accounts had brought along from Qingzhou City to Xieyun City and was certainly not forgotten. Finally, it can be put to use! With the generosity of the two little ones, Ziyun, touched, started to exchange resources to prepare for the Evolution Path just learned. First of all, there were two three-star skill scrolls. Up until now, Ziyun still had two talent abilities at the two-star level ¨C Heartfelt Strike and Falling Thunder. It was time to enhance them further. Let¡¯s start with the fighting skill, Heartfelt Strike. [¡ï¡ïHeartfelt Strike (Full Moon Level)] (4231/10000) [+] 4¡¯4¡¯4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ïJudgment Strike (Full Moon Level)] (4231/10000) [ + ] ¡°Judgment Strike¡­¡± Upon seeing the new skill name, Xu Ran revealed a trace of astonishment on his face, ¡°Such a domineering name.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, this skill probably doesn¡¯t have a childhood.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at Ziyun, ¡°Would we still proceed with the fusion as planned?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Yes!) After feeling the effects of the new three-star skill that had just been born, Ziyun had a more excited look in its eyes. Given the effects of this skill, once it successfully completes the fusion, the result would be extraordinary. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, using a skill fusion stone. [¡ï¡ï¡ïJudgment Strike]+[***Thunder Light Refinement]+[***Crimson Gold Electroplating]+[***Scarlet Battle Intent] [Fusion Success Rate:o.oo81%] [Proceed with Fusion?] [Yes][No] Looking at the four-star skills selected, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. During the last resource allocation, Ziyun had already expressed its idea. Crimson Gold Electroplating is a Thunder Attribute burst skill. It could bring a short-term strong Thunderforce amplification, but the side effect was a temporary loss of Thunderforce. Scarlet Battle Intent is a Fighting Attribute burst skill. Its effect was similar to Crimson Gold Electroplating, with the side effect being a temporary loss of Fighting Attribute power. These two skills had such similar effects that Ziyun wanted to completely fuse them together, to form a new skill, and fully harness their burst properties. It had to be said, this idea was very bold, but also very risky. After all, both of these skills had significant side effects. If the fused skill had more severe side effects, it probably couldn¡¯t be used casually. To avoid such a situation as much as possible, Ziyun made a compromise when choosing the other two three-star skills. Thunder Light Refinement, a new skill gained from the King-level resources selected during the last resource allocation, its effect was to refine Thunderforce for a milder amplification effect. Because it was mild, the side effects were small. Combining it with the first two skills might alleviate the side effects of the first two skills. The other skill, Heartfelt Strike, now Judgment Strike, a fighting skill with burst properties but no side effects, could also serve to mitigate potential side effects. Of course, these were all theoretical analyses. The actual conditions of the new skill after fusion, no one could guarantee. Aside from these factors, after obtaining the Emperor Species evolution path, Ziyun had one more reason to fuse them. Among these four skills, two were Thunder Attribute skills, and two were Fighting Attribute skills. The new skill resulting from their fusion would certainly be a dual-attribute skill. Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran checked the quantity of skill fusion stones this time. Probably because Xieyun City was much larger than Qingzhou City, and the system clerk¡¯s efficiency could be better used, during the time the system clerk was in charge of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, the rate of increase in pleasure value became faster. As a result, Xu Ran had done eight ten-consecutive draws this time, obtaining a total of 69 skill fusion stones. More than the last time. So¡­ Let¡¯s see what can be fused! He clicked on skill fusion without any hesitation, and then fell into a mechanical verification process amidst repeated reminders of fusion failure. One¡­ five¡­ ten¡­ The consumption of more and more skill fusion stones increased the success rate of the skill steadily, finally raising it to over one percent. One percent¡­ five percent¡­ ten percent¡­ Eventually, the action of Xu Ran selecting ¡®Yes¡¯ stopped. After using up a full 49 skill fusion stones, the fusion of the four three-star skills finally succeeded. [¡ï¡ï¡ïJudgment Strike (Full Moon Level)] (4231/10000) [ + ] 4¡¯4¡¯4¡ä [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïDivine Punishment (Full Moon Level)] (4231/10000) [ + ] Divine Punishment huh¡­ Xu Ran smiled. He liked this name. ¡°Meow ¡± Ziyun¡¯s body twitched slightly. Amid the great joy emanating from the depths of its body, it couldn¡¯t help but make a strange sound. A few moments later, it calmed down and there was a look of embarrassment in its eyes. But then it was replaced by a face full of joy and excitement. This new skill¡­ It was even better than it had imagined! Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 248: Goodbye Xu Qing l Chapter 403: Chapter 248: Goodbye Xu Qing l ¡°What¡¯s the effect of the new skill?¡± Seeing Ziyun¡¯s excited face as he grasped the new skill, Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°Charming¡± (Sis, spill it quickly!) Subconsciously extending her paw, Cancan wanted to nudge Ziyun, but halfway through, she timidly withdrew it and then started to urge with her voice. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Does the new skill have any significant side effects?) Star made a hissing sound, concern evident in its eyes. In its opinion, while it was essential for a new skill to unleash significant power, if it had severe side effects, then its usage would be limited. Most importantly, if the new skill consumed a lot of energy, Ziyun would need more power supplement during his daily training, and that¡¯s when the Fate Necklace would come into play even more than before. So¡­ Does this mean it can raise the price? Star was calculating in its heart, its concern growing even more intense. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (This skill¡­) Under the watchful eyes of the two pets and their owner, Ziyun didn¡¯t beat around the bush and promptly spoke of the new skill¡¯s effect. Divine Punishment, as a new skill formed by the fusion of four burst type skills, still retained its explosive nature. However, its skill effect was somewhat different from what the master and his pets had expected. According to their previous expectations, the four-star skill after fusion should be able to amplify both Thunder Attribute and Fighting Attribute powers. But in reality, Divine Punishment doesn¡¯t just amplify; it fuses. Yes, it fuses the powers of the two attributes together. During the execution of Divine Punishment, Ziyun¡¯s thunder force and fighting force would briefly fuse into a new kind of power, neither belonging to Thunder Attribute nor Fighting Attribute, and unleash a terrifying strike with this fresh force. This power is known as Divine Punishment Power! Although it only lasts for one strike, this strike¡¯s intensity far surpasses the amplifications brought by using Crimson Gold Electroplating or Scarlet Battle Intent individually. More notably, there¡¯s the side effect of Divine Punishment. This was the point that the master and his pets cared about most before fusion. The first side effect of the Divine Punishment skill is that it has a rather long cooldown period. With Ziyun¡¯s current Full Moon Level skill proficiency, it can only be used once every two days. However, as the skill proficiency improves, the cooldown period will shorten. As for the second side effect of Divine Punishment¡­ Due to the heaven-defying nature of Divine Punishment, Ziyun has to undergo a corresponding Divine Punishment and Rebound after each execution; and before completing the Divine Punishment Rebound, the Divine Punishment skill can¡¯t be activated again. However, a plus point is that Ziyun can choose when to start the Divine Punishment Rebound; he won¡¯t be rendered combat incapable immediately after a single strike during battles. He can wait until the battle ends and he is in a safe environment before accepting the rebound. ¡°Sounds like this skill is indeed much better than the previous four.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin and pondered after hearing Ziyun¡¯s introduction, ¡°Now only one last question remains.¡± ¡°How strong is Divine Punishment¡¯s rebound?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (It¡¯s a little scary-) Hearing Xu Ran mention this, Ziyun¡¯s face exhibited a tinge of fear. Though he hasn¡¯t officially used this skill yet, every time a new skill emerges, along with the influx of skill information into his mind, a wealth of experience using the skill also floods in, and Divine Punishment is no exception. Through these memories, he could indirectly feel the horror of Divine Punishment¡¯s rebound. The rebound was like a punishment brought upon by heaven and earth. ¡°That serious¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face was filled with helplessness, ¡°Then you should refrain from using it casually.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Alright-) Ziyun nodded faintly. While he had lost a skill for regular use, he had gained a trump card for crucial moments. More importantly, he had once been clueless about how to slay King Stage Extraordinary Beings, but now, after ascending to General Stage, he felt there was a chance he could pull it off. ¡°Meow-¡± (There¡¯s also the second three-star Skill Scroll.) Ziyun tugged at Xu Ran with his paw, urging him. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, applying the remaining Skill Scroll to Ziyun¡¯s only remaining two-star skill, Falling Thunder. [¡ï¡ï Falling Thunder (Full Moon Level)] (4976/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Heavenly Thunder Strike (Full Moon Level)] (4976/10000) [+] ¡°Meow-¡± (This skill is not bad.) Since it only ascended to three stars, Ziyun quickly accepted the situation with the new skill and nodded in satisfaction. Compared to the original Falling Thunder, the new skill didn¡¯t have much change in form, only its power was incomparable to before. With this, the skill could be fused with the other three-star skills in the subsequent resource distribution. ¡°As I recall, you said once Falling Thunder is upgraded to three stars, it should be fused with Puncture Thunder Spear and Thunder Penalty Gun.¡± Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°Therefore, the fourth three-star skill to be fused should be from the Fighting Attribute.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (We¡¯ll see later.) Ziyun squinted his eyes, unable to think of a suitable skill for the time being. ¡°No problem, we can exchange Skill Fragments.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°When fusing Heavenly Thunder Strike, I¡¯ll help you try out which skill is more compatible.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That sounds good..) Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Chapter 248: See You Again Xu Qing_2 Chapter 404: Chapter 248: See You Again Xu Qing_2 Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. Ever since they¡¯ve been able to exchange for king-level resources and acquired three-star skills, the three little ones haven¡¯t tried to use skill fragments to exchange for three-star skills to fuse existing skills for a while. But, no matter how you look at it, the skill pool obtained from fragment exchange is the most comprehensive. Also, after exchanging for the Emperor Species¡¯ evolution path before, Ziyun barely had any value points left, and was even in debt to Star. With an apologetic glance towards Star, who still hadn¡¯t acquired a four-star skill yet, Ziyun took a step back, signaling the end of her allocation. The remaining number of skill fusion stones was not much and could not facilitate the fusion of four three-star skills into four-star skills, therefore Star and Cancan each got a portion of the remaining resources in their respective turns. Following Star¡¯s previously innovated method, the two little ones used their not-so-many skill fragments to exchange for two-star skills, then upgraded them with three-star skill scrolls, supplementing the skills they needed for fusion. This concluded the resource allocation. After writing the remaining value points and resources of the three little ones on the blackboard, which would serve as the basis for the next allocation, Xu Ran placed the blackboard and chalk aside and looked at the three little ones. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go find Ms. Xu Qing and ask about the situation.¡± Before returning to Qingzhou City, Ms. Xu Qing of the Monster Wooden City had invited him to open a branch there, which coincided with his present intent. As such, there was no reason not to hitch a ride on this opportunity. Otherwise, for him alone, traversing Beast Field No.47 would be a troublesome task. At that time, without getting a definite response from Xu Ran, Xu Qing had left him her contact information and told him that she would be staying in Xieyun City for a while. Soon enough, Xu Ran, who had found Xu Qing¡¯s contact information, made a call. ¡°Beep¡­beep¡­¡± Soon, the call was answered, and Xu Qing¡¯s voice rang from the other end, ¡°Hello, Boss Xu, how have you been considering my previous invitation?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran cleared his throat and began, ¡°I plan to open a branch in Monster Wooden City.¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, there was silence on the line for a few seconds, then joy and excitement permeated Xu Qing¡¯s voice, ¡°That¡¯s fantastic.¡± ¡°To be honest, when I heard that the Starfire Foster Care Shop got three new employees to replace the previous ones today, I¡¯ve been waiting for your call, Boss Xu,¡± over the phone, Xu Qing chuckled, ¡°Anyway, welcome to Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Do you have any means to go to Monster Wooden City, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± After hearing Xu Qing¡¯s inquiry over the phone, a touch of embarrassment appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°To tell the truth, since coming to Xieyun City, I haven¡¯t even been to the outskirts of the city, and indeed, rd have some difficulty going to Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°No problem, there¡¯s a King Level Beast Master who¡¯s planning to go to Monster Wooden City in three days. If you¡¯re willing, Boss Xu, I¡¯ll talk to him, and he can take you along.¡± ¡°King level, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. This level of Beast Master, as long as they don¡¯t arbitrarily enter the core areas of Beast Field N0.47 and aren¡¯t too reckless, should be able to safely traverse the Beast Field. ¡°No problem, then I¡¯ll have to trouble Ms. Xu Qing.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re too polite.¡± On the other end of the phone, Xu Qing laughed and hung up, then turned to a middle-aged man sitting in front of her, ¡°Tianchao, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take him along when you go in three days.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The middle-aged man nodded slightly, ¡°But my business is urgent, so I hope he won¡¯t delay.¡± ¡°Boss Xu should be a punctual person.¡± Xu Qing¡¯s smile faded slightly, ¡°Is the duel between the General Stage Beast Masters of Second Level Town settled?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The middle-aged man nodded, ¡°If all goes well, there should still be two months.¡± ¡°In two months, each Second Level Town in Beast Zone No.47 will select five General Stage Beast Masters to participate in this duel.¡± The man¡¯s face grew somber. ¡°The Second Level Town corresponding to the final victor of this duel will have the power to make decisions in the future alliance of towns within Beast Zone N0.47.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know why Chairman Fang is in such a hurry.¡± Xu Qing shook her head with a troubled smile, ¡°As Monster Wooden City¡¯s resident ambassador in Xieyun City, I often have to stay in Xieyun City, so I can feel that many of Chairman Fang¡¯s decisions are very urgent.¡± ¡°It¡¯s as if he wants to gather all the forces as quickly as possible to make some major move.¡± ¡°Regardless of what he wants to do, let¡¯s wait until the Beast Masters of Xieyun City defeat the Beast Masters of the other Second Level Towns.¡± The middle-aged man slowly rose, ¡°Our Beast Masters from Monster Wooden City are not to be trifled with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Tell Boss Xu to wait for me at the city gate the morning after three days.¡± Watching the middle-aged man¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Qing rubbed her temples with one hand. For some reason, she always felt a sense of foreboding from Chairman Fang¡¯s actions. It seemed as if a massive storm that would sweep across Beast Zone N0.47 was fast approaching. A moment later, Xu Qing laughed at her folly. ¡°Must be an illusion.¡± ¡°We still have three days.¡± Xu Ran looked at the three little ones with a smile on his face as he hung up the phone, ¡°By that time, my contract power should be able to break through to the fourth stage.¡± Hearing this, the three little ones all showed expectant looks. With the absorption of a large number of king-level resources, they had already reached the perfect leadership stage early and had been at this stage for too long. With any luck, after advancing to the general stage, they could quickly approach full strength. However, thinking about the fact that after the upgrade of the contract power, Xu Ran would have a new contract slot, and the one who should have been beside Xu Ran and most looked forward to Xu Ran¡¯s breakthrough, Twelve, was not here, the mood of the three little ones dropped a notch. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Seeing the state of the three little ones, Xu Ran guessed their thoughts and spoke softly, ¡°Once we become stronger, we can find Twelve.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Wait till I evolve!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes suddenly ignited with fervor. Completing the evolution ritual meant it would have the strength to kill king-level extraordinary beings. But king-level extraordinary beings also have their distinctions in power. A being as terrifying as the Nightmare Beast King that can easily kill the Magma Beast King is surely not something the yet-to-evolve Ziyun at the general stage could defeat. Therefore, to rescue Twelve from the Nightmare Beast King, it needs to evolve and have even greater power! A General Stage ? Emperor Species vs a King Stage ¡ö King Species, naturally, the former would stand a better chance of winning. ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran lightly rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, after Ziyun evolves, we will return to Qingzhou City and visit the Nightmare Beast King in Beast Zone No.97.¡± ¡°Twelve may be its daughter, but she¡¯s also our companion.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°I believe the Nightmare Beast King should be a reasonable beast king.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun clenched a forepaw, and the purple electricity flashed and then disappeared. We¡¯ll appeal with reason! ¡°Hey, did you hear? Starfire Foster Shop has got a new batch of staff again, but Boss Xu is still not tending to customers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s old news, brother. Just got internet in your village?¡± ¡°Honestly, the new staff is much better than those before, especially Teacher Meow, she¡¯s really cute¡­ what¡¯s with that face?¡± ¡°Meow did not speak when taking care of your pet beast, did she?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s nothing.¡± In front of the Beast Trainer Ranking, small groups of idle spectators gathered for casual chat. Following Xu Ran reclaiming the top spot in the Leadership Level Beast Master list, there hadn¡¯t been any interesting news on the Beast Trainer Ranking for days. Even these onlookers started to get bored. However, their discussion topic soon changed. ¡°Hey, brother, do you see who that is?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Boss Xu? Why is he here?¡± ¡°Quick, quick, let¡¯s take a look!¡± Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 249: The Battle Record That Surpassed Fang Canghai! _1 Chapter 405: Chapter 249: The Battle Record That Surpassed Fang Canghai! _1 In front of Test Area No. C12, Xu Ran and his three little ones stopped. Behind them, numerous people were following, having noticed Xu Ran¡¯s appearance. The crowd was even growing, as many people were currently calling their friends to come over. Waving friendly to the crowd around them, Xu Ran set his gaze on Ziyun, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Ziyun heavily nodded, looking serious, not as if it was about to undergo a combat power test, but as if it was about to face a life-or-death crisis. Two days had passed since Xu Ran agreed with Xu Qjng about going to Monster Wooden City. Benefiting from the work of the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card and the standard Acceleration Card, Xu Ran was close to reaching the Fourth Stage of Contract Power. Tonight would be the time for his breakthrough to the Fourth Stage. However, before the breakthrough, Ziyun had an obsession. Although it was currently the first among the Leadership Stage Pet Beasts on Combat Power List, it still stood second on the Historical Rankings. Ziyun turned its head, look far back at the list. On the Historical Combat Power List, the name illuminated above its own seemed like a mountain standing tall for many years, an insurmountable peak. ¡°Top 1, Fang Canghai, Jade Mysterious Azure Dragon, Combat Power: 74398¡± Today, what it had to do, was to overcome this mountainous obstacle. Ziyun had this idea since the very first day when it saw the Beast Trainer Rankings. No, the same can be said for Star and Cancan too. But for them, surpassing Canghai at the Leadership Stage was out of reach. They would need to wait until they reached the General Stage to attempt this. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go in together to watch.¡± After taking a deep breath, Xu Ran softly said. While fulfilling Ziyun¡¯s long-standing obsession, this was also the first attempt for Ziyun to use the Divine Punishment skill. Over the past two days, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t let Ziyun use the skill of Divine Punishment. After all, once launched, it had to suffer a backlash to use it again. But now was an opportunity. Although Xu Ran was somewhat worried about the severe backlash of Divine Punishment, as a key skill of Ziyun, he must fully understand the effect of the Divine Punishment skill. They couldn¡¯t never try it. The voice of one human and three beasts soon disappeared before Test Area No. C12. But behind them, more and more people were gathering, and whispers began to spread among the crowd. ¡°Why has Boss Xu come here? Did he go to the wrong testing area?¡± ¡°Yeah, C12 Test Area corresponds to the Combat Power List of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts. His Flash Thunder Cat is already the current first and historical second on this list.¡± ¡°Is one of his other beasts to be tested?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it. Did you see the interaction between Boss Xu and the Flash Thunder Cat just now? Clearly, the Flash Thunder Cat is the one to be tested.¡± ¡°Could it be ¡­ Boss Xu¡¯s goal is¡­¡± ¡®Could it be1¡­? Considering certain possibilities, the onlookers all drew in a sharp breath. In the crowd, a little girl with double ponytails moved her eyes and quickly squeezed out of the crowd. After reaching a quiet corner, she took out her cellphone and made a call. ¡°Hello? Sister Yu Ling, Boss Xu seems to be challenging Chairman Fang¡¯s record!¡± Inside the Test Area No. C12, Xu Ran, Star, and Cancan gradually retreated to the safety zone on the edge, leaving the battlefield to Ziyun and cast encouraging glances at it. Feeling the encouragement from its companions, a purple light flashed and disappeared in Ziyun¡¯s unique pupils, making its momentum suddenly rise. Around it, thunderous light and invisible power began to stir. ¡°Ding ¡± Accompanied by a reverberating electronic sound within the testing area, the Transcendent Beings formed by energy appeared, their aura pulsating violently in the silence. Each of these figures had the power at the Leadership Stage level. And now, they would be the targets for Ziyun to test its strength. The power surging around Ziyun intensified, with rampant electric lights tearing everything around it to shreds, and then it suddenly moved around its body, turning it into a pure energy form. ¡°Zap ¡± Accompanied by the sound of an electric arc piercing through the air, Ziyun¡¯s figure disappeared in an instance, like teleportation, and appeared in the sky. The bones around its body crackled as the terrifying power continuously erupted. Its form was also rapidly changing. The long tail lengthened and straightened with a series of cracking sounds, the fluffy fur quickly contracted, forming an extraordinarily hard hilt. Its body and claws changed continuously, forming the blade of a long knife. At the same time, an unstoppable and invincible powerful aura emerged with the changes in Ziyun¡¯s body, steadily increasing, making the air around it seems almost solidified. Four-Star Skill, Halo Level: Immortal Body! Seeing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became rather interesting. He had only jokingly suggested Ziyun transforming into a knife, yet Ziyun had really turned into one? In the void, the long knife intertwined with white and purple colors started to tremble slightly. In an instant, a fierce fighting spirit and killing intent soared into the sky. The moment it turned into a knife, Ziyun¡¯s mind became unprecedentedly clear. As the most powerful beast in the team, it was initially the knife in Xu Ran¡¯s hands. And now, it would use its most powerful force to cut down all its opponents and climb over that seemingly insurmountable mountain! The electric light circling around Ziyun seemed to condense, suddenly becoming still, even the momentum that had been on the rise, was frozen at this moment. ¡°Crack ¡± Accompanied by a cracking sound that didn¡¯t exist but resounded in the hearts of one man and two beasts, Ziyun¡¯s aura quickly changed under their watchful eyes. The wildly violent thunderforce no longer existed, nor did the subdued but vast power of the Fighting attribute. The two types of power that made up Ziyun¡¯s strength disappeared without a trace at this moment. Instead, it was replaced by a whole new power that had completely fused the two types of power together! The long knife transformed by Ziyun swiftly dyed with black patterns in the void. With the appearance of the patterns, a power that made both the master and the two Pet Beasts extremely anxious, revived within Ziyun¡¯s body. It was not the darkness of the deep night, but it was like a trace of destructive power that had gathered everything, compellingly descending to the world at this moment. Four-star skill, Full Moon Level ? Divine Punishment! ¡°Meow¡­¡±(Too strong, isn¡¯t it?) Upon seeing the current state of Ziyun, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but shrink its head. It had no doubt that even if it used all its skills and maximized its defence power, it would still be easily pierced under this knife. The big sister at this moment gave it an extremely dangerous feeling! ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡±(So strong¡­) Star¡¯s eyes were shimmering, looking at the long knife ready to strike in the air, a hint of shock emerged in his eyes. As expected, the big sister will always be the big sister. Under the gaze of the master and two pets, the long knife transformed by Ziyun¡¯s body slashed through the void and fell rapidly. Even the space it passed by seemed unable to withstand such terrible power, uncontrollably setting off waves. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a violent explosion, the black long knife swiftly plunged into the ground. The dark light burst from the sword in all directions, quickly sweeping all the Transcendent Beings in the vicinity. ¡°Crack-¡± Under the master and the two pet¡¯s gaze, an energy protective cover that was originally nearly transparent quickly turned a dark color, resisting the remaining waves of the collision. But what was horrifying was that the energy protective cover couldn¡¯t even stop the residual wave, quickly forming cracks. The entire testing area fell into silence and darkness at the next moment. It took a long while for the waves to slowly stabilize. Looking at the fighting arena that had regained its light but had a huge pit, and frightening cracks at the edge of the pit, Xu Ran took a deep breath, a shocked look on his face. This one strike¡­ actually ruined the testing area?! Ziyun, already returned to her normal form, came back to Xu Ran¡¯s side. Looking at her piece of art, she stuck out her tongue and then cautiously spoke. ¡°Meow- ¡± (Can this still measure the combat power?) ¡°It should¡­right?¡± Xu Ran said with some uncertainty. The next moment, a series of light characters emerged in the void, confirming his guess. [Combat Power: 79999] ¡°Why does this number look so strange?¡± Upon seeing the combat power value, Xu Ran raised his eyebrows. ¡°Could it be that the test has reached its limit?¡± ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (I think it should be.) Star nodded in agreement on the side. Ziyun¡¯s abrupt burst of combat power was witnessed by everyone at the scene. Even the testing field was destroyed with its horrifying strike. Such a test result exceeding the testing limit seems to be taken for granted. ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun, a hint of excitement in his eyes, ¡°The actual combat power might even be higher?¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Of course!) Ziyun proudly held her head up high. I, Ziyun, am the strongest Pet Beast of the Leadership stage! ¡°Let¡¯s go. We should return.¡± Xu Ran stroked Ziyun¡¯s head. ¡°After we return, we¡¯ll stay guard while you go through the backlash¡± Upon being reminded of the backlash, Ziyun¡¯s expression immediately wilted. Damn it! ¡°Yu Ling sister, you¡¯re here!¡± The twin-tailed girl waved towards Fang Yuling who was rushing over and quickly walked up with an arm around her. ¡°Boss Xu is about to challenge Chairman Fang¡¯s first place on the Historical Rankings!¡± ¡°Hmm, I saw it.¡± Looking at the crowd in front of the C12 test area from a distance, Fang Yuling¡¯s face showed a complex expression. This guy¡­ After surpassing her, he¡¯s now setting his sights on the target that she wants to surpass? Thinking of this, Fang Yuling couldn¡¯t help but cast her gaze upon the Historical Rankings of Leadership Stage Pet Beasts. Under her father¡¯s far-leading ranking, the name ¡®Xu Ran¡¯ looked quite eye-catching. ¡°Second place, Starfire Foster, Flash Thunder Cat, Combat Power: 69128¡± Almost breaking the combat power of seventy thousand huh¡­ Seeing this record, Fang Yuling¡¯s heart twitched a bit. Xu Ran¡¯s Flash Thunder Cat is still over five thousand combat points away from her father¡¯s Jade Mysterious Azure Dragon. This gap is not something that can be¡­ ¡°Ding ¡± An electronic sound spread throughout the Beast Trainer Ranking at this moment. Watching the beam of light that had risen to the sky from the Historical Combat Power List, Fang Yuling stood frozen with her pupils sharply constricting. How could it be¡­ Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 250: Divine Punishment and Rebound, Breakthrough! ! Chapter 406: Chapter 250: Divine Punishment and Rebound, Breakthrough! ! ¡°First place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, Flash Thunder Cat, Combat Power¡¯ 79999¡å Upon seeing this brand -new line, replacing the figure once they perceived as unbeatable in their minds, the surrounding area fell silent in an instant. This silence was not just because Xu Ran had surpassed expectations, but also because this surpassing left their well-respected Chairman Fang trailing far behind. Like the calm before a storm, a moment of silence was followed by tumultuous cries of surprise. Even the casual onlookers who were dragged here by their friends were visibly moved. Chairman Fang has actually been surpassed?¡± Mind your words, it is only Chairman Fang¡¯s strongest Leadership Stage Pet Beast that has been surpassed!¡± ¡°Even so, that is still a remarkable feat. After all, Chairman Fang is the most talented man in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Did you guys notice that Boss Xu¡¯s score is very even?¡± Indeed, a normal test wouldn¡¯t yield such tidy figures, right? What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Indifferent to the discussions around her, Fang Yuling blankly stared at the figure behind Xu Ran¡¯s name, recalling the words her father had once said echoing in her mind. The Beast Trainer Ranking has a limit. Each different chart has its own limit. After reaching the limit standard, any exceeding value would not continue to increase but stay stagnant. The dialogue she had with her father back then is still clear in her mind now. ¡°Dad, if there are several people reached the rank limit standard at the same time, how would they be ranked?¡± ¡°Silly child, since the Beast Trainer Rankings were established, there has never been a case where the rank limit has been reached, let alone several people breaking the limit at the same time.¡± ¡°What if someone does reach the limit?¡± ¡°If someone does¡­¡± Then that person must be an unbelievably talented genius. Hiding their score is not just for protecting their secret, but also to prevent other beast trainers from being overly demoralized.¡± ¡°So¡­ there really are people who can surpass the limit.¡± Murmuring to herself, a touch of melancholy appeared on Fang Yuling¡¯s face. ¡°Ding-Ding-Ding¡­¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s historical ranking was firmly established, nine consecutive urgent bell sounds rang through the Beast Trainer Ranking area. The beam of light shooting sky-high from the Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat Power List did not grow dim when the ranking changed. Instead, it became increasingly bright amid the nine bell chimes. This unprecedented anomaly caught the attention of all and stirred up countless discussions. ¡°Sister Yuhng, what¡¯s going on?¡± The pigtails girl who had called for Fang Yuhng had a puzzled look on her face and tugged at Fang Yuling¡¯s sleeve. Fang Yuling stayed silent. She understood that this was a special display caused by the limit of the rankings being touched. Following this, the eye-catching beam of light will continue to shine for one day. After taking a deep look at Xu Ran and the three little ones who just walked out of C12 testing area, Fang Yuling, holding the hand of the pigtails girl, decided to leave. ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s no need to watch anymore.¡± ¡°Hehee-¡± With a neigh from Star, the person and the three pets who had just pierced through the Combat Power List in the Beast Trainer Ranking were back in their shop. Ziyun looked a bit odd, showing both excitement and a hint of sadness. Although it had achieved its aim and surpassed Chairman Fang¡¯s strongest Leadership Stage Pet Beast before breaking through to the General stage, But¡­ Considering the impending Divine Punishment and Rebound it had to face, Ziyun was on the verge of tears. ¡°Ziyun, have you decided whether to suffer the Divine Punishment and Rebound after breaking through to the General Stage, or before it?¡± Xu Ran gently stroked Ziyun¡¯s head, offering some comfort. ¡°Meow-¡± (Before the breakthrough¡­) Ziyun responded almost immediately. The severity of the Divine Punishment and Rebound was directly proportional to one¡¯s own cultivation. If it waited until it had broken through the General Stage, the punishment it had to accept would be much more difficult than accepting it now. It only used the Divine Punishment of Leadership Stage, but had to endure the Rebound of Marshal Level, hence it was at a loss either way. Moreover- Compared to accepting the Divine Punishment, the feeling of owing the Divine Punishment continuously gnawed at its heart more. ¡°That¡¯s fine too,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will accompany you through it.¡± ¡°Hehee!¡± (Ziyun will be fine!) Star neighed, its eyes showing a hint of comfort. ¡°Charming!¡± (Go SisterZiyun!) Cancan waved its claw at the air, its face full of confidence in Ziyun. Listening to the encouragement from Xu Ran and her two companions, Ziyun appeared somewhat more optimistic. At that moment, it felt as though a power forged from bonds and friendship filled its body. A mere Divine Punishment and Rebound? Bring it on! The next moment, a heartrending scream echoed from the second-floor living area. ¡°Meow ¡± Dense, black lightning instantly overwhelmed its body, like countless sharp blades, as if to tear its flesh apart. The sound of bones cracking could be heard, and similarly strange black patterns were moving around Ziyun¡¯s body, seemingly trying to destroy it from the inside. With a dreadful rebound all around its body that it couldn¡¯t control, Ziyun¡¯s body kept twitching. Finally, it lay on the ground limp as the rebound faded away. The whole process didn¡¯t last long, roughly one minute. However, from Ziyun¡¯s glazed eyes, it was evident that the pain was unbearable. ¡°Hehee!¡± (Hang in there, Ziyun!) Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 250: Divine Punishment and Chapter 407: Chapter 250: Divine Punishment and Rebound, Breakthrough!¡ª2 With a neigh, Star and Ziyun were invisibly linked by chains. The power gushed towards Ziyun¡¯s body relentlessly, aiding its quick recovery. ¡°Meow¡­¡±(This pain¡­ it¡¯s much stronger than exactly forcefully breaking through non-innate skills¡­) After a while, Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes sparkled again. It struggled for a bit and with Xu Ran¡¯s help, it got up again, feeling the lingering fear. Before this, the worst pain Ziyun had ever experienced was the rebound from forcefully trying to elevate a non-innate skill to three stars before it evolved. But compared to just now, that pain was just trivial. At the most intense moment of the Divine Punishment and rebound, Ziyun felt like every inch of its body was torn apart, nearly dying. That feeling¡­ Ziyun made a pitiful face. It swore, it would never use this skill lightly again! ¡°It¡¯s good that you pulled through.¡± Xu Ran gently stroked Ziyun¡¯s forehead to soothe it, and then whispered, ¡°So we have a rough idea how intense the rebound from the Divine Punishment is, we can¡¯t use it lightly in the future.¡± Star and Cancan nodded in agreement. Even as bystanders, they could feel Ziyun¡¯s pain. If it¡¯s not necessary, let the two of them take the actions instead. ¡°Rest for a while longer, when your condition is at its best, we will make the breakthrough,¡± Xu Ran arranged a meditative posture on the bed and looked at Ziyun. The mention of a breakthrough brought anticipation to Star and Cancan¡¯s faces. Even Ziyun, who had just been subjected to Divine punishment and rebound, and had yet to fully recover, became a little more animated. About half an hour later, Ziyun completely escaped the negative effects of Divine punishment and rebound. As it returned to peak form, it also regained its spirit. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s start!) Filled with zeal again, Ziyun made an expectant sound. ¡°Xihi!¡± (General stage, here I come!) ¡°Charming!¡± (I, Cancan Emperor, will break through to the general stage today!) Watching the three little ones excited, Xu Ran smiled slightly and slowly closed his eyes. Not long after he came to this world, when he first encountered danger, Gu Wu, who happened to be passing by, effortlessly solved the problem for him and dispersed the beast tide with a wave of his hand. Since then, the General stage has become a synonym for power in his heart. Even after subsequently seeing King level and even Overlord level Beast Masters, this initial impression was still indelible in his heart. After all the twists and turns, now it was time for him to breakthrough to the General stage. Come on! Fourth stage of contract power! Under the effect of the Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, Xu Ran¡¯s fluctuating emotions quickly calmed down. As he took a breath, he fell into deep meditation. ¡°Thud-¡± With a dull sound, a villa¡¯s luxurious door was slowly closed by Fang Yuling. A middle-aged man with a calm face was leaning on a sofa in the living room, reading a newspaper. Hearing the sound, he raised his head and smiled when he saw Fang Yuling, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just go out? How come you¡¯re back so soon?¡± Fang Yuling remained silent, walking in front of the middle-aged man, looking at her father who she had always been proud of. ¡°Dad, someone has surpassed your performance on the Historical Rankings and broke the upper limit of the list.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression remained calm when he heard the first half of the sentence. But when he heard the second half, it changed dramatically. ¡°Someone broke the upper limit of the list?¡± He quickly took out his cellphone, ¡°Which list?¡± ¡°Leadership Stage Pet Beast Combat List.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± Fang Canghai nodded and quickly accessed the relevant information with his privileges. Though reaching the upper limit means the Beast Trainer Ranking wouldn¡¯t display any higher value, the backend would keep a record and he could still check it. Soon, the real combat power value of Xu Ran appeared before his eyes. ¡°Almost 120,000 combat power?¡± Fang Canghai raised his eyebrows, ¡°I seem to have some impression, this Beast Master is the one who surpassed you earlier and achieved first place in the three lists of Leadership Level Beast Masters, right?¡± Normally, the busy and routine tasks of Fang Canghai wouldn¡¯t allow him to pay attention to the Beast Masters on the level of Leadership Level, even if they were ranked first on all three lists. However, due to his daughter, Fang Canghai paid more attention to this level¡¯s list. Coupled with reports from his subordinates, it naturally left an impression on him. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Fang Yuling nodded. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s leaning motion increased slightly, he closed his eyes and rubbed his eyebrows, his expression became a bit solemn. Though he told his daughter some details, he did not completely tell the truth. The setting of the upper limit for each list in the Beast Trainer Ranking is taken very seriously. Theoretically, it could cover the maximum strength of the species¡¯ rank which should be at that stage. In other words, as long as it was a Leadership Stage-King Species, it would almost be impossible to exceed the upper limit of the Leadership Stage Pet Beast Attack Power List. Unless¡­ The opposing side used some special means. Or the opposing side was no longer a Leadership Stage-King Species, but a Leadership Stage-Emperor Species. Thinking of this, Fang Canghai couldn¡¯t help but take out his cellphone again. With his authority, he pulled out the video record of Xu Ran¡¯s clearance. He would like to see what exactly this Beast Master¡¯s situation was. ¡°Can I have a look?¡± Fang Yuling, who figured out her father¡¯s intention, suddenly spoke up. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Fang Canghai glanced at his daughter, hesitated for a moment, ¡°Come over and have a look, but don¡¯t spread it.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Fang Yuling nodded vigorously and quickly sat next to her father. As Fang Canghai pressed the play button, the video of Ziyun going into action began to replay before Fang Yuling and her father. ¡°An unseen species.¡± Seeing Ziyun for the first time, Fang Canghai¡¯s face showed surprise, ¡°Thunder, Fighting Double Attributes? I have never heard of this type of cat species before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Flash Thunder Cat. Xu Ran gave it the Fighting Attribute during the evolution process.¡± Fang Yuling said. ¡°Gained a second attribute during the evolution process?¡± The surprise in Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes deepened. Without continuing to inquire, father and daughter quietly continued watching. Soon, they saw Ziyun leap into the air and transform into a long saber-shaped image. ¡°No, this skill seems wrong.¡± Fang Canghai pressed the pause button and frowned, ¡°The intensity of this skill has exceeded the level of a Halo Level Three Star Skill, why does it look like a Four Star Skill?¡± He then took another look at Ziyun¡¯s combat situation. Make sure the surroundings are still covered by the King¡¯s Power, not the Imperial Crown. ¡°It should not have reached the Emperor Species yet.¡± ¡°Xu Ran must have some special method.¡± Fang Yuling was silent for a moment, suddenly recalling Xu Ran¡¯s previous visit to the Transcendent Evolution Department, and his vague mention of the method of Flash Thunder Cat¡¯s evolution. When it was a Leadership Species, Xu Ran had already upgraded all the talent skills of the Flash Thunder Cat before its evolution to three stars. This sounded incredibly unbelievable. Since Xu Ran could achieve this, then perhaps he could also upgrade the talent skills of the Flash Thunder Cat to four stars. At this moment, a strong curiosity surged in Fang Yuling¡¯s heart. She really wanted to know how exactly Xu Ran achieved this. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be surprised?¡± Fang Canghai couldn¡¯t help but glance at Fang Yuling, put down this investigation for the time being, and clicked to continue playing. This skill was indeed very powerful and it might allow the pet beast to exceed the limit, but an attack power as high as 120,000 had far exceeded the limit. It seemed impossible to achieve just with a four-star skill. The next moment, Fang Canghai¡¯s expression changed. The process of executing the Divine Punishment skill appeared before his eyes. ¡°This is¡­¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression became unprecedentedly solemn, ¡°Attribute Jumping?¡± ¡°What?¡± Fang Yuling, who was also surprised by the powerful strength revealed by Ziyun at this moment, heard her father mention a new term and couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to look at him. ¡°Nothing.¡± Fang Canghai shook his head, ¡°I understand how this combat power of 120,000 came about.¡± Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 251: General Stage! Departure! _1 Chapter 408: Chapter 251: General Stage! Departure! _1 ¡°Dad! You¡¯re going to leave me hanging again!¡± Seeing Fang Canghai¡¯s astonished expression, Fang Yuling couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Only in front of her father would she show such a demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m not keeping you in suspense, it¡¯s just that some things are not suitable for you to know too early¡­ ¡°Fang Canghai shook his head gently, and seeing the dangerous look in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes, he coughed lightly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you. ¡°Do you know about the ten attributes of pet beasts?¡± Hearing Fang Canghai asking this question, which is common knowledge that almost everyone in this world knows, Fang Yuling couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes again, ¡°Of course I know, so is it relevant to attribute hopping?¡± Of course.¡± Fang Canghai paused for a moment, showing no intention of giving a direct answer, he then continued to lead, ¡°You have also seen the video record of the successful evolution into the Holy Spirit race preserved by the Transcendent Evolution Department.¡± ¡®What do you think the attribute of the pet beast that evolved into the Holy Spirit race was after the evolution?¡± Upon hearing this question, Fang Yuling was slightly stunned. She had never thought about this question. She knew the original attribute of the emperor species pet beast in the record, which was a light attribute pet. But¡­ After Fang Canghai¡¯s hint, she suddenly realized that the Holy Spirit that had completed the evolution didn¡¯t possess any traits of a light attribute pet, as if it was no longer a light attribute species. Before this, she would not have this kind of association. After all, the Holy Spirit race is mysterious, and all inexplicable things she would subconsciously believe to be the unique characteristics of the Holy Spirit race. But, at this moment when her father mentioned the so-called attribute hop¡­ Could it be¡­ ¡°When evolving into the Holy Spirit race, does the attribute also change?!¡± Sort of.¡± Fang Canghai gave an ambiguous answer, ¡°The attack of 120,000 just now from that pet beast, doesn¡¯t mean it has really reached such a level. ¡°According to my estimation, its real combat power should be around 90,000. The extra came from the anomalous result of the attribute power.¡± ¡°It should be a skill that has a similar effect as attribute hopping, causing the power of the attribute to fundamentally change for a short time, affecting the test results¡­¡± Fang Canghai paused, ¡°You just said his name is Xu Ran, right?¡± ¡°You seem to be familiar with him, could you tell me about him?¡± Fang Canghai was very interested in his daughter¡¯s story. There aren¡¯t many Leadership Level Beast Masters that can interest him. But the things Xu Ran showed just now are enough for him to pay attention to. You haven¡¯t finished talking!¡± Fang Yuling stared at Fang Canghai, ¡°When evolving into the Holy Spirit race, how does the attribute change?¡± ¡°You, this girl¡­¡± Fang Canghai shook his head helplessly, ¡°Some things, knowing too early will only lead you astray.¡± ¡°So be it, I will give you another hint, aren¡¯t you proud of being smart and having a talent for evolution research? Go do your own research.¡± Transcendent Beings have nine growth stages, and each growth stage should correspond to a skill proficiency level.¡± ¡°But why¡­ are there only seven skill proficiency levels?¡± ¡°What happens after reaching the seventh stage?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. What happens when a skill reaches the seventh proficiency stage? She is not really sure about this. Because, even her father¡¯s three pets, which are in the seventh growth stage ¨C the Emperor Stage ¨C their skill proficiency level is only in the full stage of the sixth stage ¡ª the Violent Sun Level. Her father has another four pet beasts, which are still stuck at the Overlord Stage. It¡¯s not because they can¡¯t break through, but according to her father¡¯s words, they still have a slight possibility of evolving into the Holy Spirit. And without exception, all these four pet beasts have at least one skill that has touched the threshold of the seventh proficiency level ¨C the Micro Light. Wait¡­ Why is the seventh growth stage called the Micro Light Stage?! At this moment, Fang Yuling¡¯s mind was somewhat confused. ¡°Alright, alright, stop thinking about it.¡± Fang Canghai patted Fang Yuling¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I have already told you, now quickly tell me, what is the situation with this Beast Master?¡± ¡°Humph! You can find out by yourself!¡± Fang Yuling was still unhappy about her father¡¯s obscure words. She stared at him, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you!¡± ¡°You, this girl¡­¡± Watching Fang Yuling closing her room door, Fang Canghai shook his head helplessly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask by myself.¡± He made a call with a quick swipe on his cellphone which was quickly connected. ¡°Little Li, help me look up a Beast Master named Xu Ran, the one who is number one in the three rankings of Leadership Level Beast Master.¡± After giving his instructions and hearing the affirmative response, Fang Canghai glanced at his daughter, ¡°I¡¯ll know about it in a while.¡± Fang Yuling ignored him, her mind was still reverberating with many thoughts, as if she vaguely grasped something, but it wasn¡¯t clear. After a moment¡¯s wait, Fang Canghai¡¯s cellphone rang. The Association staff who had just conducted the inquiry began to report on Xu Ran¡¯s situation. He runs a Foster Shop? Is this what geniuses like to do now?¡± Fang Canghai laughed, but his expression faltered when he heard the subsequent report from the Association staff, ¡°You said¡­ his name disappeared from the current ranking?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Fang Yuling, who was in a muddleheaded state, immediately came to her senses and abruptly raised her head to look at Fang Canghai. Xu Ran s name disappeared from the current ranking?! As for the rules of the Beast Trainer Ranking, Fang Yuling was all too familiar. A Beast Master¡¯s name disappearing from the current ranking could only signify one eventuality. That is, the Beast Master either died, disappeared for a long time, or made a breakthrough. Having just seen Xu Ran and his pets rushing to the top of the rankings not long ago, it wasn¡¯t possible for him to disappear for a long time and death was equally unreasonable. After all, in either of these cases, the Beast Master Association would need to verify and confirm before they would remove the name. So, there was only one possibility that could be applicable. Fang Yuling¡¯s heart shook slightly. The Beast Master badges issued by the Association have the effect of recording the level of strength. The only time when the Beast Master Ranking would perceive and result in a change in the ranking is during a breakthrough. Xu Ran¡­ has broken through the fourth stage of contract power! That fast?! ¡°He¡¯s already in the General stage?¡± Placing his cellphone down, Fang Canghai who had the same thought, stroked his chin, a hint of surprise crossing his face, ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°Give him two more months and he should be able to give me quite a surprise.¡± Ling¡¯er¡±, Fang Canghai stroked Fang Yuling¡¯s head, ¡°Shall we visit this Beast Master¡¯s foster shop tomorrow?¡± ¡°Phew-¡± Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes. A ray of light blue light instantly illuminates the entire room before quickly fading away. In the heart of his eyebrows where the power of the contract is stored, the original three contract powers shaped like deep yellow spirals have now split into four, and their color has also changed from deep yellow to light blue. The power of the contract, fourth stage! With the breakthrough comes the greater feedback of power from pet beasts and the brand-new contract ability. This is a huge breakthrough, allowing pet beasts and Beast Masters to cooperate harmoniously during battles. At the same time, Beast Masters can sense the specific situations of their pet beasts even if they are far apart. Feeling his newly acquired power, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction, then turned his attention to the three little ones in front of him. Under the effect of the size-reduction skill, their bodies have not changed much with the breakthrough, and their appearances have not changed much. However, much greater power than the previous perfect leadership stage has already burst from the three pet beasts! [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Flash Thunder Cat Attribute: Thunder Attribute, Fighting Attribute Growth stage: General stage (139.OW/15OWX+] Race Level: King Species Skills: (omitted)) [Contract Pet Beast: Star Race name: Star God Horse Attribute: Dark Attribute Growth stage: General stage (131w/150w)[+) Race Level: King Species Skills: (omitted)] [Contract Pet Beast: Cancan Race name: Panlong Turtle Attribute: Earth attribute Growth stage: General stage (134w/150w)[+) Race Level: King Species Skills: (omitted)] Looking over the pet beast panel of the three little ones before him, Xu Ran nodded slightly. The General stage, as expected, is a level where the pet beast¡¯s power dramatically changes. The upper limit of the three little ones¡¯ power has directly changed from the previous three hundred thousand to one million five hundred thousand. If they take all-out action now, it¡¯s an entirely different level from before. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ve reached the General stage!) There is a look of excitement in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. It clenched one of its forepaws tightly, a sudden, fierce light flashing in its eyes. At this moment, it feels it could beat a hundred of its former self! However¡­ Thinking of the Divine Punishment and Rebound it had just experienced, Ziyun quickly shrunk its head, its previously invincible aura fading a bit. The price of being invincible, it¡¯s too high¡­ ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (I¡¯ve also reached the General stage!) Star neighed, a look of invigoration in its eyes. It could feel that with the improvement in strength, all its faculties, including speed, had greatly increased! Even after all this time, Star still couldn¡¯t completely give up its pursuit of speed. Now, it could run even faster! ¡°Sure-¡± (So how big am I really now?) Unlike the other two little ones, Cancan, amidst its excitement, couldn¡¯t help but scratch its head with its paw. According to the previous pattern, its body size should continue to increase after the breakthrough to the General stage. But because it has always been controlling its body size with Jiezimixu, it doesn¡¯t know how big it actually is now. Looking around the room, Cancan sighed helplessly. There probably isn¡¯t a place right now where it can restore its normal body size. Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Chapter 252 Run! At Top Speed!!_1 Chapter 409: Chapter 252 Run! At Top Speed!!_1 ¡°This spot should do.¡± In the Earth attribute Training Area, one human and three pets stood on a flat valley, Xu Ran smilingly spoke, looking at Cancan behind him who was eager to give it a go. Eventually, Cancan couldn¡¯t resist its intense curiosity. It pulled Xu Ran and the other two little ones down from the room on the second floor, wanting to see how big its body had become after breaking through to the Marshal Level. In order not to disturb the residents in the Foster Area with the possible commotion made by Cancan, Xu Ran specifically chose to come to the deserted Training Area at midnight. It just so happened that the moment the clock struck midnight, the training time of the three little ones had refreshed. After Cancan finished its test, they could also test their power after breaking through. ¡°Charming!¡± (Watchme!) Cancan excitedly yelled out and moved its four robust claws, rushing forward rapidly. With every step it took, its body size increased slightly; its somewhat short tail end always stayed next to Xu Ran and the other three pets. Only after running about three hundred meters, Cancan¡¯s figure stopped changing, turning into a giant beast that was as gigantic as a small hill. After breaking through to the Marshal Level, Cancan¡¯s body shape became more exaggerated. Excitedly looking around, the unique feeling brought by its enormous size made Cancan somewhat excited. Very quickly, Cancan eyed a small hill nearby, its sturdy limbs stepped forward, and it then crashed into the hill, which was similar in size to it. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With a thunderous boom that echoed throughout the entire Training Area, the earth began to shake violently, and under the stunned gaze of Xu Ran, Ziyun, and Star, the small hill was smashed by Cancan in an instant, causing countless stones to fly around. ¡°Meow?¡± (This powerful?) Ziyun blinked its eyes, somewhat stunned. It had always thought that smaller body size was better and that a large size like Cancan¡¯s would seem clumsy and slow. But at this moment, its thoughts began to falter slightly. It seems¡­ it looks pretty cool! ¡°Can¡¯t believe this is just the Marshal Level¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Each time Cancan reached a new growth stage, its size would increase about three times compared to before. If this rate continues, Cancan¡¯s true size in the future could possibly be equivalent to that of a city. Moreover, Cancan has Jiezimixu, a skill that can further multiply its size several times when it bursts out with full power¡­ Thinking about this, Xu Ran looked at Cancan with a strange look in his eye. No wonder it came from an egg that he had chosen! Such extraordinary potential! It seemed obvious that Cancan, who usually stayed in a small size, was feeling quite unrestrained now. After smashing that small hill, it wasn¡¯t done yet. It started to dig up the ground with its claws, piling up the dirt to form another small hill, and then smashed it again¡­ Seeing Cancan having such a good time, Xu Ran broke a massive stone flying towards him with a poker face, then turned to Ziyun and Star and said, ¡°You two also try testing your power after breaking through here.¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (Noproblem!) Ziyun glanced around and nodded slightly. Although this was an Earth attribute environment, which suppressed Thunder Attribute, it was just right to test its own power. ¡°Zap ¡± With a sound of electric arc piercing the air, Ziyun¡¯s strange eyes were suddenly filled with purple electricity. It abruptly raised its head, targeting a fragment of rock flying towards it due to Cancan smashing the rocks, and in an instant, it was standing on top of it. Stepping on the scattered fragments in the air, Ziyun displayed an ease and composure as if it were on flat ground. In a few moments, it was already high in the sky. Looking at Star and Xu Ran, who were almost only two little dots down below, Ziyun¡¯s gaze was electrifying. In an instant, it transformed its form, just like what it had shown in the C12 test area before, into a long knife harboring a terrifying aura. The long knife slightly adjusted its direction in mid-air, then pointed at another hillside, stabbing fiercely through it, dragging a faint trace of purple and white light in mid-air. A moment of silence followed, and countless electric arc light sparks branched off from every corner of the mountain peak. Accompanying a loud rumbling noise, the entire mountain peak crumbled under this terrible strike and turned into a pile of stones sparking with electricity. ¡°Charming?¡± (That strong?) Taken aback by the enormous commotion, Cancan stopped what it was doing, turned its head to look in Ziyun¡¯s direction. Seeing the scene after Ziyun¡¯s strike, it involuntarily shrunk its head. That¡¯s scary, very scary- Quickly shrinking to a pocket-size of about one meter, Cancan retreated back to Xu Ran¡¯s side, its expression suddenly turning modest. Touching Cancan¡¯s head, Xu Ran looked up at the rainbow light flying at him. Soon, the long knife transformed by Ziyun was hovering in front of him. It didn¡¯t return to its original form, making its intention clear. ¡°I was indeed just joking.¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, but couldn¡¯t help but reach out and grip the hilt of the knife, formed by Ziyun¡¯s tail-end. He also wanted to know what kind of attack could be launched when the long knife turned into by the Marshal Level Ziyun matches with the Knife Intent that he had grasped. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (How about counting me in too?) Looking at Xu Ran holding the long knife, Star¡¯s eyes showed a trace of eagerness. While Ziyun and Cancan were testing their Newborn Power, it didn¡¯t take action because it didn¡¯t have any attacking skills. If it wanted to try its power, it could only do it by assisting its teammates. Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Chapter 252 Run! At Top Speed!!_2 Chapter 410: Chapter 252 Run! At Top Speed!!_2 This moment was indeed the best opportunity. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded without refusing Star¡¯s invitation, quickly climbed onto its broad back, tightened his grip on the long knife transformed from Ziyun, and a look of high spirits appeared on his face, ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu-¡± Star let out a roar, and beams of starlight emerged from the void behind it, turning into a bridge that linked it and Xu Ran. The power of the two was instantly connected together, and then progressively augmented under the additional enhancement from Fated Star Pulling. Two million¡­ four million¡­ six million! A terrifying momentum surged around Xu Ran and Star, and an even more overwhelming power surged towards the long knife formed by Ziyun at this moment. Not only the power belonging to Xu Ran and Star, but it also contained a hint of Knife Intent that Xu Ran mastered. ¡°Buzz-¡± The long knife transformed from Ziyun was trembling violently at this moment. Under normal circumstances, it definitely could not bear the influx of several times its own power, much less bear that hint of Knife Intent. However, after being transformed into a long knife with the Immortal Body, Ziyun has also been greatly reinforced in this aspect, so it can withstand such an overwhelming power and is still safe and sound, even looking somewhat excited. Even, its own thunder attribute power was also surging at this moment, as if it was trying to respond to Xu Ran¡¯s power! Watching this scene, Cancan seemed to be lost in deep thought. Something seems wrong. ¡°¡­Cha?¡± (¡­What about me?) At this moment, it suddenly got the feeling of being left behind by the team. Why does everyone else get to fuse but not it?! No! It wanted to fuse with Xu Ran too! A thoughtful expression appeared in Cancan¡¯s eyes. Star could fuse with Xu Ran because it had a unique auxiliary skill, Fated Star Pulling, which it couldn¡¯t learn. However, it could definitely try Ziyun¡¯s method! Isn¡¯t it just adding a special skill to change itself during the skill fusion? It could do it! Cancan¡¯s gaze traveled over Xu Ran¡¯s body and then landed on Xu Ran¡¯s bare torso. Armor, set it up! With a quick turn of thought, Cancan¡¯s gaze became firm. It would incorporate this skill in the skill fusion next time! Still oblivious to Cancan¡¯s plan to guide him towards the direction of beast armor, Xu Ran, who was feeling much stronger than before, drew a deep breath, focusing his gaze on the highest peak within the Earth Attribute Training Area. It was a towering peak that reached straight into the clouds, like a pillar supporting the entire sky, an impressive sight at first glance. Use it to test how powerful he was now! With a low shout, Xu Ran gripped the handle of the long knife even tighter, and then violently swung it towards the distant mountain peak. A black-ink-like blade light, in a blink of an eye, swung out from the blade. The quiet edge was as silent as the deep night, cutting through the void in an instant without making a sound at all. However, anyone who paid close attention would feel an extremely terrifying and sharp power concealed within it. At the forefront of the blade, a line of purple light stood out prominently. What should have been a wildly violent thunder attribute power was being subjected, at this moment, under the influence of the blade¡¯s momentum, to become tame. However, anyone could sense how terrifying the attack would be once it was allowed to explode. In just a blink of an eye, the blade light bridged a distance of thousands of meters, under the focused gaze of Xu Ran and his three pets, slashing towards the giant peak¡¯s waist. A bundle of purple-black lightning suddenly exploded from the waist of the giant peak, followed immediately by a large cloud of dust that completely covered the blade¡¯s cut. After a few noticeable tremors, the giant peak began to slowly tilt, the horrifying crack at the waist spread under the force of gravity, eventually encircling the entire waist of the mountain, dividing the peak in two. The front part of the giant peak, under the dumbstruck gaze of Xu Ran and his three pets, crashed to the ground with a loud bang. ¡°Boom!!!¡± A wave of an intense blast suddenly echoed through the entire Earth attribute training field. The entire place trembled violently at this moment, as if it were about to collapse. Even when the King Species trained here before, there has never been such a huge fluctuation. Xu Ran¡¯s combined effort with Star and Ziyun has reached the upper limit of the training space that can only accommodate King Stage Pet Beast training! The next moment, as if the world was spinning, Xu Ran and the three pets were forcibly teleported back to the elevator for the first-floor foster area leading to the training area. Looking at the now dim Earth attribute button, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help scratching his head, ¡°It seems like¡­we broke the Earth attribute training area? The three little ones glanced at each other, overcome with excitement, but also feeling a bit helpless. ¡± Sure?¡± (Can it be repaired?) A look of worry appeared on Cancan¡¯s face. If the Earth attribute was destroyed, how would it train in the future? Xu Ran pressed the dim Earth attribute symbol with his hand, and the worry on his face quickly disappeared. Because the moment he pressed it, a countdown appeared before his eyes. [23:59:52] It seems that the training area needs to be restored for a day after it collapses. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it can be used after a day.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°Besides, we are going to Monster Wooden City today, it won¡¯t delay your training.¡± ¡°Sure-¡± (That would be great.) Cancan quickly sighed in relief. With this little interruption, Xu Ran and the three pets gave up the idea of continuing to test their power. Knowing that everyone¡¯s combined power was not weaker than that of the King Stage, it was already enough. Without disturbing the residents in the foster area, Xu Ran, and the three pets returned to their second-floor room. As dawn broke and the time agreed with Xu Qing arrived, they brought the luggage they had prepared earlier and set off together. After waiting for a while at the agreed place, Xu Ran saw a middle-aged man dressed in a strong outfit with an impressive aura. The man came straight towards him after seeing him. This made Xu Ran quickly realize the man¡¯s identity, ¡°Are you Senior Sun Tianchao?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Sun Tianchao nodded slightly as he looked at Xu Ran. But then he abruptly noticed the aura of the three little ones standing behind Xu Ran, making his eyes wider, ¡°Wait a minute¡­you¡­aren¡¯t you a Leadership Level?¡± ¡°Uh ¡­I had good luck last night, and my contract power broke through to the fourth stage.¡± Xu Ran replied with a shy smile. SunTianchao: ¡°¡­¡± Even if one had talent and wasn¡¯t stopped by that threshold, it would take a lot of time and effort to improve the contract power to the fourth stage through meditation. And those who can strive to break through are considered lucky, as over half the people are blocked by that threshold. This is definitely not something that can be accomplished simply with good luck. He deeply looked at Xu Ran, and suddenly thought of something interesting. Unlike Xu Qing, Sun Tianchao came to Xieyun City this time just to wait for the results of the discussion of the senior management of the Xieyun City Beast Master Association. He hadn¡¯t visited Xieyun City before. But that didn¡¯t stop him from hearing about how the young man in front of him surpassed Chairman Fang on the historical rankings last night. Without a doubt, a Beast Master like this, setting aside his identity as the boss of the foster shop, would inevitably be among the top in any strength level. In two months, there will be a competition between General Stage Beast Masters across every Second Level Town, and Boss Xu, who has just broken through to the General stage, seems to have qualified. So¡­ Does Chairman Fang know that such a Beast Master has been taken away by their Monster Wooden City? Thinking about this, Sun Tianchao¡¯s tone became a bit urgent, ¡°Have you packed all your belongings?¡± ¡°All packed.¡± Xu Ran nodded. The Hexagram Star Array behind Sun Tianchao suddenly bloomed, and a giant eagle with a wingspan of over twenty meters flew out from the wind, hovering in the air, looking downwards. Accompanied by a sharp cry, the wind that rose instantly blew up Sun Tianchao and the three pets, dropping them onto the thick back of the giant eagle. ¡°Let¡¯s set off now.¡± Sun Tianchao said to Xu Ran calmly, while shouting frantically at his pet beast through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Run fast! At the fastest speed!!!¡± Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Chapter 253: City of the Demon Wood l Chapter 411: Chapter 253: City of the Demon Wood l ¡°Dad, why did you bring me so early?¡± In front of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, while looking at the yet to open shop, Fang Yuling¡¯s voice was tinged with a bit of helplessness, ¡°I told you yesterday, this shop can¡¯t accept pet beasts of Overlord and Emperor Stages.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Fang Canghai nodded calmly, ¡°But I happened to get up early today, so I thought we could come and take a look.¡± On the way¡­ Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes filled with a peculiar color. Their house, the Beast Master Association, and the Starfire Foster Shop pretty much formed an equilateral triangle within Xieyun City, where did the ¡®on the way¡¯ come from? In her view, the ¡®on the way¡¯ was fake, it was more plausible that her father was interested in Boss Xu. ¡°Dad, is it because he displayed a power similar to Attribute Transition yesterday, that you value him so much?¡± Fang Yuling couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s not the whole reason.¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, not denying this, ¡°In fact, the more important reason is his breakthrough to the General stage.¡± ¡°Originally, I thought he was around your age and wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the General stage in a short time.¡± Fang Yuling¡¯s face fell. How did it seem¡­ That her father was saying she was slow in cultivation? Damn it, she¡¯s obviously using the Heavenly Spirit Stone, which accelerates meditation, until she cannot bear the headaches. Isn¡¯t that good enough? It¡¯s Xu Ran who is the weirdo! She doesn¡¯t know how he managed to do it, reaching the fourth stage of Contract Power at merely twenty years old. Thinking of this, Fang Yuling felt a sense of powerlessness in her heart. She, who has always considered herself a genius, didn¡¯t expect to be completely suppressed by another person one day. In terms of power, he had already crushed her, becoming the top of the three rankings, although he had temporarily left the rankings, his historical rankings were still something she couldn¡¯t surpass in a short time. In talents, he is a few years younger than her, but he has already broken through to the fourth stage of contract power, leaving her far behind. Even in the studies of evolution, he seemed to be ahead of her. That day when Xu Ran visited the Transcend Evolution Department and dropped the concept of ¡°Evolution Ritual¡±, Liu Yu had already started his retreat to study it desperately. According to him, he won¡¯t step out of the Transcend Evolution Department building until he figures out what it¡¯s all about. Putting aside these messy thoughts, Fang Yuling turned to Fang Canghai, ¡°Is there something special about the General Stage?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t before, but there is now.¡± Fang Canghai spoke slowly, ¡°Originally you would¡¯ve found out in a few days¡¯ time, but knowing it now is no harm.¡± ¡°During the previous multi-city exchange, although the power of Xieyun City was demonstrated to the level 3 towns, it wasn¡¯t convincing to the other level 2 towns.¡± ¡°They proposed to hold a competition between Beast Masters of the General Stage, and the result of the competition would decide whether to ally and who will have the power of discourse within the Alliance.¡± ¡°The competition is in two months, and each level 2 town will send out five people.¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice paused a little, ¡°So in a few days, the Association will arrange a selection for the General stage, select five people, and train them with all efforts over the next two months.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Fang Yulingnodded in realization. No wonder her father values Xu Ran so much. After all, Xu Ran showed such great power at the Leadership Stage, and now he has broken through to the General Stage. With a bit of training, he is bound to achieve good results in the competition in two months. Fang Yuling also knew a little about the city alliance her father strongly promoted. Although she didn¡¯t know the specific reasons, she could feel her father¡¯s seriousness. In this case, it¡¯s only natural to come to the Starfire Foster Shop early. As she thought about this, a smile flashed in Fang Yuling¡¯s eyes. Speaking of which, the previous multi-city exchange ended rather abruptly because of the appearance of Boss Xu, but if Boss Xu represents Xieyun City in this competition, and promotes the Alliance among the cities, things will get interesting. While the father and daughter were talking, the closed door of the Starfire Foster Shop slowly opened. A man wearing a straw hat, a wearing a large gown, a fishing rod on his shoulder, and a fish basket in his other hand stood at the entrance. ¡°Welcome-!¡± He shouted at the Fang family duo standing outside the door, shaking the fish basket in his hand at the same time ¡°You two came at the right time, just caught an elite Purple Patterned Carp, one given free per order in the shop!¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Fang Canghai became slightly surprised and turned to Fang Yuling with questioning eyes. He only knew that Xu Ran was the owner of the Starfire Foster Care Shop and wasn¡¯t too interested in the specifics of the shop. He initially thought that seeing Xu Ran would be easy once the shop started operating, but he didn¡¯t expect to be greeted by another person. And¡­ Fang Canghai looked at the fish basket the other party was holding. Purple Patterned Carp is a weak and nutritious super fish with great taste. Fang Canghai has seen it in other places, but it¡¯s not available within the range of Xieyun City. This guy¡­ claims to have just caught it? ¡°He is one of the shop¡¯s employees.¡± Although Fang Yuling hadn¡¯t been to the shop for a few days, she knew a little about the situation of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, ¡°Xu Ran hasn¡¯t handled the shopfront himself for a while now and has hired three employees to do it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Fang Canghai nodded his understanding. It was perfectly normal for a gifted Beast Master not to operate the storefront personally. But the clerk that Little Boss Xu had hired seemed to be quite special¡­ Muttering to himself, Fang Canghai turned to the fisherman in front of him, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Xu Ran, is he around?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re looking for the boss. Regarding this¡­¡±The fisherman smiled, about to speak, when a delicate yet anxious voice interrupted. ¡°This is bad, really bad!¡± Was it another clerk? Fang Canghai followed the voice, his expression turning to astonishment. Before his eyes was a particularly rugged and burly man, his belly jiggling as he ran, appearing somewhat comical. The one who just spoke was this guy? Fang Canghai vigorously shook his head, unable to match the voice he just heard with the figure in front of him. Maybe he was hearing things due to his recent sleep deprivation? Yes, that must be it. Just as Fang Canghai arrived at this conclusion, Murong grabbed the fisherman¡¯s hand and spoke again, ¡°Manager, the Earth attribute Training Area has collapsed!¡± ¡°Mmm, I know.¡± The fisherman nodded calmly, ¡°Boss Xu said before he left Xieyun city that there won¡¯t be any accompanying training services for Earth attribute Pet Beasts today, or¡­¡± ¡°You could let them train in the other training areas. I believe in your abilities, you should be able to formulate a targeted special training plan, right?¡± The fisherman freed his hand from Murong¡¯s grip, then patted him on the shoulder. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint Boss Xu, right?¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Murong patted his chest, producing a dull thud, only then did he notice the father-daughter pair from the Fang family, ¡°We have guests. I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Having said that, he turned around and left, leaving behind a stunned Fang Canghai and a perplexed Fang Yuling. Even though Fang Yuling had heard about the unique styles of these three new clerks through her girlfriends, witnessing it firsthand was indeed quite an experience. ¡°This is¡­ one of Little Boss Xu¡¯s clerks?¡± Fang Canghai shook his head vigorously, attempting to erase the scene he just witnessed from his mind. Then, he picked up a keyword from the clerks¡¯ conversation. ¡°Boss Xu left Xieyun City?¡± Fang Canghai frowned slightly, ¡°Where did he go? To the outskirts?¡± Outside the Xieyun City was the perilous 47th Beast Zone. Although Xieyun City was confident enough to stand against it, even having its city gates wide open, it was generally advised not to venture outside the city unless one was at the General stage as a Beast Master. Even Beast Masters at the General stage would barely be able to fend for themselves outside the city. An ambush from a small group of Transcendent Beings or pet beasts could easily lead to their doom. So, Boss Xu just reached the General stage and left Xieyun City? This was quite impulsive. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± The fishing man flapped the brim of his straw hat and smiled slightly, ¡°The boss¡¯s whereabouts are confidential.¡± ¡°After all, it took me great effort to get promoted to the manager position, I wouldn¡¯t want to anger the boss and demote myself back to a clerk.¡± ¡°Instead¡­¡± The fisherman dangled the fish basket in his hand, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like a freshly hooked Purple Patterned Carp? It makes a lovely soup!¡± A dark-green streak of light, resembling an arrow released from its bow, cut across the void, dashing directly towards a certain direction. It slowed down only when a giant towering tree could be seen in the distance, eventually halting mid-air. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Sun Tianchao glanced at Xu Ran and smirked, pointing down at a massive city below, ¡°That¡¯s Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. The speed of a King Stage Pet Beast was far beyond that of a General stage, and the distance between Monster Wooden City and Xieyun City wasn¡¯t as far as Qingzhou City, hence, they¡¯d arrived within just an hour or two. Following Sun Tianchao¡¯s guidance, Xu Ran spotted the huge city beneath them. As a second-level town, Monster Wooden City was fundamentally different from Xieyun City in terms of environment. Or rather, it was fundamentally different from any other human cities Xu Ran had known. Here, there was no solid metal wall, hundreds or even thousands of meters high. Instead, there was a low wall barely more than ten meters high with negligible defensive capability, serving as the boundary marker for the human city. Inside and outside the wall, wild Super Creatures and human Beast Masters were entering and exiting the city, not fighting each other in bloody battles as Xu Ran had imagined, but rather interacting peacefully. The green-black giant eagle descended slowly. After Sun Tianchao jumped off its back, he grinned at the surprised Xu Ran behind him. ¡°Are you finding Monster Wooden City different from any other human cities you¡¯ve seen before?¡± ¡°If you stay here for a while, you¡¯ll see even more interesting things.¡± ¡°Anyway, welcome to Monster Wooden City.¡± Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Chapter 254: Monster Wooden Marketplace! Chapter 412: Chapter 254: Monster Wooden Marketplace! ¡°Boss Xu, this is the store that the Association has prepared for you.¡± Under the guidance of a staff member of the Demon Wood City Beast Trainer Association, Xu Ran, and the Three Little Ones, appeared in front of a large building within the Demon Wood City. ¡°It¡¯s quite big.¡± Xu Ran looked up at the building in front of him, which covered an area as large as a basketball court and was about a dozen stories high. He nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Which floor is my store on?¡± ¡°Which floor?¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the staff member was slightly stunned before comprehending, and then he laughed, ¡°Boss Xu misunderstood.¡± ¡°The whole building is yours.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°???¡± He couldn¡¯t help but look up and carefully observe the building in front of him again. Then he turned to the staff member with a smile on his face, ¡°Are you saying that this entire building is my store?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member nodded slightly, while feeling a little puzzled and odd. Before this, the Demon Wood City had invited many foster shops to settle in. Foster shops take up a large area and would thus not be cheap, so the Demon Wood City offered them a discount and tax reductions for several years in the future. However, to this young man, the Association of Demon Wood City offered a free store and a total tax exemption. Is his washing and protection technique so important to the Association? Or does he have something else that the Association needs? Suppressing his thoughts, the smile on the staff member¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Boss Xu, here are the documents related to the property. Please keep them safe.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Taking the documents from the staff member, Xu Ran was still somewhat dazed. Property is very expensive in this world. Although he didn¡¯t lack money at present, receiving such a generous gift upon arrival at the Demon Wood City gave him the feeling of owing a favor. ¡°I really appreciate the Association¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Boss Xu.¡± The staff member chatted for a while, and after completing his task, he turned and left, leaving Xu Ran, the three little ones, and a vacant building behind. ¡°It seems that this time we might not need to set our foster space underground.¡± Looking at his new store, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed more anticipation. [The system has detected that the host owns a new store in the Demon Wood City. Shall the system carry out renovations?] [Yes] [No] Xu Ran naturally chose [Yes]. Looking at the countdown of six hours in front of him and then turning his head to look at the nearly midday sky, he helplessly spread his hands, ¡°Very well, I can¡¯t open for business today.¡± Until the countdown ended and the store was successfully renovated, it was just in time for the end of the business day. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s go around the Demon Wood City.¡± Looking at the three little ones who were also very curious about this brand new city, Xu Ran happily began. After meeting with the Twelve, his view and understanding of wild super creatures also changed. Wild Super Creatures do not necessarily detest humans, they have their own emotions and communities. In that case, humans might not necessarily be incapable of peacefully coexisting with the other super creatures in the Beast Field, maintaining a peaceful situation. As the only known city with peaceful coexistence between humans and super creatures, the Demon Wood City is worth more of his thought and consideration. The three little ones and him, were ready to set off immediately. ¡°Selling Elite Stage Resources! Various types of resources available, welcome to shop, prices are favorable! Only accepting Beast Master Points!¡± ¡°Roar ¡± ¡°High-quality Pet Beast Species, come take a look!¡± ¡°Roar-¡± In the midst of lively peddling mixed with occasional roars of super creatures, Xu Ran and the three little ones all showed interest. After asking several pedestrians along the way, they finally found the Monster Wooden Marketplace, which was said to be the busiest place in the Demon Wood City. The city coexists peacefully with wild super creatures outside, and naturally this led to communication between the two. With time, trading resources and other necessities became the norm. Translating the currency system of humans for super creatures was difficult, hence to fulfill the barter needs of both parties, the Monster Wood Marketplace was created. Here, super creatures can bring out their gathered rare resources in exchange for items needed from human society. Humans also found a peaceful way to obtain resources. Just hearing the description, Xu Ran and the three little ones were already full of fascination for the Monster Wooden Marketplace. Seeing the bustling scene of the marketplace now, they couldn¡¯t help but want to join in immediately. However, before they could enter, a skinny boy who looked like he was still underage appeared in front of Xu Ran and the three little ones. He sized up Xu Ran and the three little ones who had hidden their aura and did not display the majesty of their General Stage. A smile appeared on his face, ¡°Mr. Beast Master, do you need a translator?¡± ¡°Need what?¡± Xu Ran blinked, confused. ¡°Well, there are many wild super creatures coming and going here, and they have all sorts of races. Each race¡¯s language is different.¡± The boy chuckled, ¡°For foreigners wanting to communicate with them, it can be quite difficult.¡± Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 254: Monster Wooden Chapter 413: Chapter 254: Monster Wooden Marketplace_2 ¡°How did you know I¡¯m not a local?¡± Xu Ran became interested when he heard what the little boy said, ¡°My attire doesn¡¯t seem to be different from the locals, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you in the Monster Wood Marketplace before.¡± The little boy had a proud expression on his face, ¡°My home is nearby. I¡¯ve grown up in this marketplace and have impressions of all the locals. But you, sir, I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Xu Ran smiled, intrigued, ¡°So, I can¡¯t understand what these transcendent beings are saying. Can you?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The little boy puffed out his chest, ¡°My name is Li Tutu and I am the best translator around here. There isn¡¯t a single language of transcendent beings that I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Really? Can you understand what I¡¯m saying then?) Upon hearing Li Tutu¡¯s claim, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but curiously pipe up. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Li Tutu scratched his head in embarrassment, glancing over at Ziyun, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this species before, so I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s saying.¡± ¡°Interesting kid.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°I suppose you don¡¯t offer your translation services for free, do you?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Li Tutu coughed lightly, seemingly a little embarrassed by his inability to understand Ziyun¡¯s language, ¡°Just give me 20 Beast Master Points per day.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Xu Ran nodded, agreeing to this arrangement. Whether or not Li Tutu could really understand the various languages of the transcendent beings in the marketplace was secondary. What mattered most was that Xu Ran indeed needed a local guide. ¡°Please follow me!¡± Upon receiving Xu Ran¡¯s affirmative response, Li Tutu instantly beamed, leading Xu Ran and the three little ones swiftly past the gates of the marketplace while commenting, ¡°The Monster Wood Marketplace has two gates.¡± ¡°One gate is built into the city wall to facilitate the comings and goings of wild super creatures from outside the city. The other gate is within the city, which is the one we¡¯re passing through.¡± ¡°A gate in the city wall?¡± Xu Ran found it strange. Other cities would build high walls in fear of attacks from wild super creatures from outside the city. Those with lower defenses even had their gates open only at a certain time, kept closed and heavily guarded at other times. In comparison, Monster Wooden City not only had unusually low walls that super creatures could easily scale, it even had a gate outside the city wall specifically designed for wild super creatures to gain direct access to the marketplace. How odd¡­ Behind him, the three little ones were huddled together, whispering among themselves. ¡°Ha?¡± (This person said he can understand what super creatures speak. Is he like Twelve then?) Cancan stared curiously at Li Tutu in the front, asking softly. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (Twelve communicates with other creatures using super ability skills. This human simply understands super creatures because he¡¯s been around them for a long time.) Star shook her head, dismissing Cancan¡¯s speculation. ¡°Meow- ¡± (He can¡¯t even understand what I am saying!) Ziyun shook her head, a smug look in her eyes. However, in the next moment, thinking of Twelve made the three little ones feeling a bittersweet longing. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We will bring it back soon.) Star let out a low humming sound, looking at the humans and wild super creatures cohabitating peacefully in the marketplace. Hope flickered in her eyes. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Do you think¡­ Qingzhou City could become like this?) ¡°Sir, do you have a place in mind that you would like to visit?¡± After passing through the gates, Li Tutu directed his gaze at Xu Ran. ¡°A place I¡¯d like to visit¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, looking thoughtful, ¡°Is there a place to eat around here? It¡¯s midday now, time for lunch.¡± ¡°You came to the right person, sir.¡± Li Tutu chuckled with a mysterious smile, ¡°The best restaurant in Monster Wood Marketplace, I know it well!¡± ¡°Not only do they prepare delicious food for humans, but they also have food for pet beasts and wild super creatures!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran nodded satisfactorily, feeling smart for letting Li Tutu accompany them, ¡°Take us to see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s this way!¡± Li Tutu scanned the surroundings and quickly led Xu Ran and the three little ones down a small path in the marketplace to a fairly old restaurant. ¡°Beastman Restaurant?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the sign and revealed an odd look, ¡°Really a simple and straightforward name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the ordinary name fool you, this place is anything but ordinary.¡± Li Tutu grinned, then waved to a burly man busy inside the restaurant, ¡°Uncle Zhang, we have guests!¡± ¡°Great!¡± The restaurant owner laughed heartily, quickly came forward, and warmly invited Xu Ran and the three little ones, ¡°Please come in.¡± ¡°Roar-¡± A snake, about ten meters long, with coin-patterned scales all over its body, slowly peered out from behind the counter, looked towards Xu Ran¡¯s side, flicked its tongue, and then retracted its head. Earth System Lead Species, Money Boa ¡°This is the restaurant¡¯s deputy manager.¡± Li Tutu laughed, ¡°It¡¯s greeting you!¡± ¡°Deputy manager?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look at the Money Boa, which reached the Leadership Stage, ¡°Isn¡¯t it Boss Zhang¡¯s Pet Beast?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Hearing this, Boss Zhang, who was walking in front, shook his head with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary guy who hasn¡¯t awakened the contract power, how could I possibly make a contract with a super creature at the Leadership Stage?¡± ¡°I¡¯m partners with Big Jin; we do business together.¡± Boss Zhang pointed to the Money Boa, ¡°Big Jin is its name.¡± ¡°Partners?¡± Sitting down where Boss Zhang indicated, Xu Ran¡¯s curiosity intensified, ¡°How does that work?¡± Humans partnering with super creatures in business, Xu Ran had never dared to imagine it before. Moreover, this guy isn¡¯t a Beast Master who can subdue super creatures, he¡¯s just an ordinary guy. Just as Boss Zhang was about to speak, new guests entered the restaurant. ¡°Uncle Zhang, go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll explain.¡± Li Tutu kindly suggested that Boss Zhang attend to the other guests, then began to explain, ¡°Uncle Zhang may not be a Beast Master, but he¡¯s got terrific cooking skills.¡± ¡°He not only knows how to cook human food, but is also familiar with super creature cuisine. As long as you provide him with resources, he can cook up delicious food that thoroughly satisfies super creatures.¡± On hearing this, Xu Ran¡¯s face was filled with surprise. No wonder Boss Zhang could partner with a super creature; he must be quite skilled. ¡°Boss Jin Er is the chieftain of a Money Boa group outside the city. They have ample supplies of super resources. After tasting Zhang¡¯s cooking, Boss Jin Er decided to start a business with him.¡± ¡°Because this restaurant is co-owned by super creatures and humans and serves both these groups, it¡¯s named ¡®Beastman¡¯.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face wore a smile. He was quite familiar with the Money Boa species. What particularly impressed Xu Ran about this species, besides the eye-catching money patterns on their scales, is their typically greedy nature. This race loved hoarding all kinds of resources they didn¡¯t even use. In time, a Money Boa¡¯s den would become a little treasury. A chieftain of the Money Boa race indeed had copious resources, and the idea of partnering with humans to utilize these resources showed that this Money Boa was indeed interesting. ¡°Let¡¯s order.¡± Li Tutu pointed at two different colored menus on the table, ¡°The red one is for humans, blue is for super creatures.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran picked up the red menu and handed the blue one to the three little ones who sat expectantly. The three little heads immediately huddled together; Ziyun was in the middle flipping through the menu, while Star and Cancan watched from each side. The three little ones whispered and quickly decided on their dishes. On Li Tutu¡¯s recommendation, Xu Ran also ordered a few dishes. After putting down the menu, Xu Ran relaxed and smiled. ¡°Now, let¡¯s taste the local food.¡± Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Chapter 255: Shopping, Sound Recording Conchl Chapter 414: Chapter 255: Shopping, Sound Recording Conchl ¡°I have finished eating.¡± Setting down his chopsticks, a satisfied expression surfaced on Xu Ran¡¯s face. The Beastman Restaurant recommended by Li Tutu served really tasty food. With Chef Zhang¡¯s skills, he would have been at least a senior chef in Xu Ran¡¯s previous life. From the reactions of the three little ones, they too seemed very satisfied with this meal. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality, sir,¡± Li Tutu said, setting down his chopsticks. The smile on his face grew even brighter. Although he was paid to be a guide and translator, meals were not included. Originally, Li Tutu planned to take care of his own lunch, but he didn¡¯t expect Xu Ran to invite him to eat together without hesitation. ¡°It was nothing.¡± Xu Ran waved his hand casually, stood up and walked to the counter to pay. Seeing this, Li Tutu quickly followed. After all, Boss Jin Er was the one in charge of collecting the money at the counter. ¡°Sss~¡± Big Jin flicked his snake¡¯s tongue out, although his eyes naturally carried a savage chill, it bore no malice. Instead, there was a touch of kindness. ¡°Boss Jin Er says the total bill is 144 Beast Master Points¡­¡± Li Tutu translated Big Jin¡¯s message, and then looked at Xu Ran with a haunted expression. What in the world? At that moment, he almost thought he had misheard. A meal costs Beast Master Points? And so much too! He would have to work as a guide for a whole week to earn enough to pay for this meal! Something¡¯s not right¡­ A thoughtful look appeared on Li Tutu¡¯s face. He was very familiar with the prices at the Beastman Restaurant. The dishes he and Xu Ran had eaten would only have cost about one or two thousand Union Coins, which would only be one or two Beast Master Points. Why were there so many? Could it be¡­ Suddenly, Li Tutu turned to look at the three pet beasts behind Xu Ran. Did these three fellows spend so much on their food? ¡°Sss~¡± Looking at Li Tutu¡¯s shocked face, Big Jin shook his head and flicked his tongue again. Li Tutu understood. So the food he and Xu Ran had eaten was practically free. Those 144 Beast Master Points, were entirely the cost of the three pet beasts¡¯ meals. But that brings up another question¡­ What kind of pet beasts could eat hundreds of Beast Master Points in one meal? Considering a certain possibility, Li Tutu started looking at Xu Ran with a newfound awe. ¡°Sir, are you a General Stage Beast Master?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran replied with a faint smile, not bothering to hide it. In his store, the cost for fostering a General Stage Pet Beast for one day is 266 Beast Master Points. The majority of this cost accounts for the pet beast¡¯s daily food. The three little ones consuming over a hundred Beast Master Points for a meal was, in fact, quite normal. In the past, the three little ones used to eat with residents in the foster area. The cost of this was accounted as part of the running expenses and was automatically deducted by the system, making it look like they didn¡¯t have any daily expenses. The cost of maintaining pet beasts is very high. After verifying with Jin Er that Li Tutu¡¯s translation was correct, Xu Ran paid the bill and left the restaurant without hesitation. With their bellies full, it was time to take a stroll around the bustling market of the Monster Wooden City. ¡°Sir, this way!¡± Snap back from his shock, Li Tutu looked at Xu Ran with new found admiration. He quickly walked ahead, indicating the way for Xu Ran. Soon, they arrived at the most bustling location in the market, accompanied by his three pets. ¡°This is Sky-touching Main Road.¡± Li Tutu explained, ¡°Sir, you must know that the wild super creatures in and around our Monster Wooden City are all blessed by the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu.¡± As he was speaking, Li Tutu glanced in the direction of the Sky-touching Xuanmu. Even from within the city, you could still see a part of the immense canopy of the giant tree. ¡°When this market was established, it was approved by the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu, so the Association named main road of the market ¡®Sky-touching Main Road.''¡± Li Tutu paused for a moment, ¡°The other sections of the market are like branches branching off from the main trunk.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding, and couldn¡¯t help but follow Li Tutu¡¯s gaze towards the location of the Sky-touching Xuanmu. Since the areas surrounding the city receive protection from the Sky-touching Xuanmu making them free of chaos and killing, he could consider venturing out of Monster Wooden City to get a closer look at Sky-touching Xuanmu when he had the chance. After all, this was the first Beast Emperor he had encountered so far. When he saw the solitary figure of Sky-touching Xuanmu standing amidst the forest from a distance before entering Monster Wooden City, the visual impact left a deep impression on Xu Ran. While they were talking, a commotion suddenly erupted from the crowded people ahead. Soon, the crowd parted to make way for a group of Red Flame Bears, Super Creatures of the Fire Attribute, covered in red fur and with short tails like burning fireballs, lumbering towards them. The Red Flame Bear, a warrior species of super creatures known for its ferociousness, appeared rather gentle and even a little simple-minded at this moment. ¡°Roar-¡± The leader, the strongest and most high-ranking Flame Tail Bear in the pack, sniffed the smell in the air and let out a low growl. It stretched out a robust and strong paw in the air and swung it around, signaling its clan to move in a certain direction. Then these Flame Tail Bears let out cheers, accelerated their pace, swiftly passed by Xu Ran and rushed towards a stall on the other side of the market. ¡°This is a group of Flame Tail Bears who have come to stroll the market together.¡± Li Tutu timely introduced, ¡°They really like a local delicacy called the Honey Oil Fruit.¡± ¡°And they disdain the honey used by humans in the cooking process of the Honey Oil Fruit, so they bring their own honey.¡± Li Tutu pointed at the two Flame Tail Bears at the end of the pack, each of them carrying a large jar of honey, swaying as they walked. The honey exhibited a bright orange-red color. A few drops splashed out of the jar as it swayed, igniting a bright spark in the void. Flame brewed honey. Xu Ran quickly recognized this fire attribute transcendent resource. It is the honey brewed by another transcendent being known as the Red Flame Bee. Compared to ordinary honey, it is naturally more suited to the needs of the Flame Tail Bears. Watching the Flame Tail Bears who were surrounding a distant stall, staring at the stall owner cooking the characteristic Honey Oil Fruit, their mouths watering, Xu Ran could not help but burst out laughing. Wild transcendent beings also had such lovely sides. ¡°Woo ¡± A low but extremely penetrating hum came from beside Xu Ran, like a horn blowing, causing Xu Ran to remove his gaze from the distant Flame Tail Bears and look towards a stall not far away. In front of that stall stood a human pet beast with a somewhat odd appearance. It was about one meter tall, short and chubby, with an extremely peculiar mouth like a long horn. Super ability system leader species, the Sound Hunter. Noticing Xu Ran¡¯s glance coming its way, it stretched out a paw and enthusiastically waved towards Xu Ran, seeming to signal Xu Ran to take a look at its stall. ¡°That Sound Hunter often sets up stalls at the Monster Wooden Marketplace.¡± Li Tutu recognized the figure and whispered, ¡°What it sells is also somewhat special, sir, you might have a look.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and check it out,¡± Xu Ran nodded. Without Li Tutu¡¯s introduction, he was curious to see what it was like for a wild transcendent being to have a stall. The two men, followed by the three little ones, quickly appeared in front of the Sound Hunter. On its stall, items resembling small conchs were neatly arranged. ¡°What is this?¡± Xu Ran carefully picked one up and looked at it curiously. ¡°Wow ¡± The Sound Hunter let out another deep horn sound. ¡°It says this is a Sound Recording Conch.¡± Li Tutu translated, ¡°It records various sounds using its super ability attribute power.¡± ¡°Each Sound Recording Conch records completely different sounds. You just need to put your ear to the conch¡¯s opening to hear them.¡± ¡°As long as the Sound Recording Conch is not damaged, the sound can be preserved for several years.¡± ¡°It made only one sound, but you have translated it into a long speech.¡± Xu Ran joked with a smile, and then placed the Sound Recording Conch to his ear. ¡°Because I¡¯ve learned about it before¡­¡± Li Tutu chuckled, when he saw Xu Ran starting to listen to the sounds in the Sound Recording Conch, he quickly shut his mouth and stayed quiet. A somewhat ethereal howl entered Xu Ran¡¯s ears through the opening of the Sound Recording Conch. The sound was lightweight and distant, one after the other, carrying a few soothing and healing feelings, making Xu Ran feel a lot relaxed. ¡°This should be the voice of the Spirit Clouded Whale, right?¡± Xu Ran quickly identified the species corresponding to this kind of sound. A hint of surprise appeared in the eyes of the Sound Hunter, and while nodding slightly, it let out a short deep horn sound. ¡°It says you are right,¡± said Li Tutu, surprisingly looking at Xu Ran. Was he so capable to identify the species of a pet beast simply by its call? No wonder he was a a General Level Beast Master, that was incredible! ¡°Spirit Clouded Whales are special.¡± Xu Ran noticed Li Tutu¡¯s gaze with a smile and casually introduced, ¡°As a super-large-sized Wind Pet Beast, although it is a fish species, it swims in the air.¡± ¡°Its voice is considered the most beautiful, possessing the healing effect of soothingemotions.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll buy this one.¡± With the deal made, the Sound Hunter also had a satisfied look in its eyes. Glancing at the three little ones behind Xu Ran, the Sound Hunter showed a thoughtful expression. Soon, it put out another long horn sound. ¡°Woo ¡± ¡°It says if you buy three, it will give you one for free.¡± Li Tutu translated. ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran looked at the Sound Hunter with surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected that the transcendent beings setting up stalls at the Monster Wooden Marketplace would also offer discounts. Given that¡­ Xu Ran turned his head to the three little ones, who were already eager to try, ¡°You pick one each!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll check this out!) Ziyun quickly scooped up an attractive light purple conch that it had been eyeing earlier and gently put it to its ear. Hearing the ¡°huh-loo huh-loo¡± sound echoing from the conch, a delighted expression quickly appeared in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. This is the one! ¡°Charming!¡± (I¡¯ll check this out!) Cancan picked up another conch that bore some resemblance to a dragon scale, and after hearing a faint dragon roar, it quickly nodded. Very good, it liked this one! Star glanced at the other two smaller ones who had picked up conches with their claws, and then looked at its own hooves, falling into deep thought. How was it going to listen? Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Chapter 256 Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes!_l Chapter 415: Chapter 256 Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes!_l ¡°Rustle-¡± The bags full of various items in Xu Ran¡¯s hands rubbed against each other, making a slight noise as he moved. Behind him, Star and Cancan were also carrying a lot of things on their backs. Only Ziyun seemed quite leisurely, lying lazily on Cancan¡¯s shell, curiously watching the surroundings. Time seemed to spin, and an hour had already passed as Xu Ran and his three pets strolled through the Monster Wooden Marketplace. The city, unlike other second-level towns, had many exotic items Xu Ran had never seen before. Faced with these interesting little things, Xu Ran boldly waved his hand. Buy! Guided by Li Tutu, a local guide, the group quickly entered a shopping spree and before they knew it, they couldn¡¯t carry any more bags. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Looking back at the Monster Wooden Marketplace, some lingering regret filled Xu Ran¡¯s face. The peaceful co-existence of the transcendent beings and humans here was both novel and intriguing to him. The area they¡¯d explored today only covered less than a tenth of the market. If he had time later, he¡¯d love to come back a few more times. But before that, he needed to open a shop. With a thought, a countdown timer for the store¡¯s renovation appeared before Xu Ran. [Remaining time for store renovation: 0 hours 4.8 minutes 33 seconds] Seeing the less than an hour left for the renovation, Xu Ran knew it was time to head back. Once the new shop opens here, his primary task would be to increase the fame of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Monster Wooden City to 50%. Thinking of this, Xu Ran turned his gaze to Li Tutu standing beside him. After an afternoon¡¯s interaction, Xu Ran found out that this seemingly underage boy was already a transcendent level Beast Master. He was not only familiar with the Monster Wooden Marketplace, but also had a profound knowledge of the entire Monster Wooden City. So¡­. ¡°Li Tutu, does Monster Wooden City have a Beast Trainer Ranking?¡±, Xu Ran asked. To enhance fame, the only method Xu Ran could think of was advertising. If there is a Beast Trainer Ranking or something similar in Monster Wooden City, the process would be much more manageable. ¡°Beast Trainer Ranking?¡± Li Tutu blinked in surprise, his face showing confusion, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a ranking list where Beast Trainers or pet beasts of the same strength level are ranked in different categories¡­¡±, Xu Ran briefly explained the concept of the Beast Trainer Ranking, and then looked at Li Tutu with hopeful eyes. ¡°Does Monster Wooden City have something similar?¡± Li Tutu thought seriously for a moment, comparing his familiar things with the ¡°Beast Trainer Ranking¡± in Xu Ran¡¯s description, and then decisively shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Sir, this thing you mentioned does not exist in Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Ran gave a slight sigh, realizing that it would be difficult to replicate the rising fame method of Xieyun City in Monster Wooden City. ¡°Does Monster Wooden City have any large-scale competitions?¡± Xu Ran asked, seeking an alternative. If there were, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to use the same method to raise popularity in Monster Wooden City as he did in Qingzhou City. ¡°Monster Wooden City doesn¡¯t.¡± Li Tutu considered for a moment, and once again gave Xu Ran a disappointing answer. However, his tone turned around and he added, ¡°But Monster Wooden Domain does.¡± Huh? There was a glimmer of light in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. After spending an afternoon in Monster Wooden Marketplace, he had gained a fairly good understanding of Monster Wooden City and its surrounding areas. Monster Wooden City was named so because it was located within the Monster Wooden Domain. And The Monster Wooden Domain is a territory that the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood carved out for itself inside Beast Zone No.47. Its size is dozens of times that of Monster Wooden City. Besides Monster Wooden City, the rest of the area is inhabited by various wild super creatures. Even the wild super creatures living here still had to abide by the rules set by Sky-touching Mysterious Wood; they couldn¡¯t easily cause trouble or indiscriminately kill. Therefore, the Monster Wooden Domain was the most orderly place in Beast Zone No.47. Undoubtedly, competitions held within the Monster Wooden Domain were bound to be much larger in scale than those in Monster Wooden City. However¡­ ¡°Can we, the humans, participate in competitions held in the Monster Wooden Domain? What are the specifics?¡± asked Xu Ran curiously. Competitions for human Beast Masters usually had a few commonly seen types. But a competition involving both humans and transcendent beings sounded much more complicated. ¡°We are one of the residents in the Monster Wooden Domain, so of course we can participate.¡± Li Tutu grinned, ¡°However, it¡¯s not easy to rank in the competitions held by the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°Can you elaborate?¡± Xu Ran casually sat on a chair by the road, prompting further. ¡°No problem!¡± Li Tutu nodded, slightly organized his language, and started, ¡°The competition held within the Monster Wooden Domain is called Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± ¡°Sounds pretty domineering.¡± The serious look on Xu Ran¡¯s face indicated his keen interest. He pricked up his ears to listen carefully, even the three little pets seemed interested. Any competition with a title like ¡°Ten Thousand Tribes¡± had to be special. ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, as the name suggests, is a competition that all races within the Monster Wooden Domain can participate in. Regardless of whether they are humans or any transcendent being, they are all eligible to register for participation.¡± ¡°This competition has a long history and is presided over by the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself..¡± Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: Chapter 256 Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes !_2 Chapter 416: Chapter 256 Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes !_2 The Beast Emperor is personally presiding over it? Xu Ran and the three little ones all showed surprised expressions. ¡°It is said that the origin of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is because the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood set a rule in the Monster Wooden Domain, prohibiting indiscriminate slaughter and troublemaking. However, every year a large number of Transcendent Beings are punished for breaking these rules.¡± ¡°The reason being that some species are naturally warlike and murderous, and they struggle to control their impulses over time.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Like the Combat Furball, who managed to forcefully suppress its own impulses, even showing signs of evolution from over-suppression, is rare. Most Transcendent Beings with a fiery and impulsive temperament are unable to thoroughly control their tempers, they often lose control, making it difficult to strictly follow the rules of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°Considering it would be better to channel their impulses than try to suppress them, the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood eventually decided to hold a competition across the entire Monster Wooden Domain every year, letting these warlike tribes fight to their hearts¡¯ content.¡± ¡°With such a method of diffusion, the order in the Monster Wooden Domain did actually get much better, hence, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes continued until now.¡± Having said this, Li Tutu couldn¡¯t help but glance in the direction of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. ¡°Though the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood has stopped producing Mystical Wood Dew for the past few months, and seldom responds to other Transcendent Beings and humans, it has made it clear that this Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes will proceed as usual.¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding, also looking in the direction of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Mystical Wood Dew, which as Xu Qing previously mentioned, is the dew born from the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood and has a special washing and protection effect. It¡¯s said that the Mystical Wood Dew is the product of the diffusion of the power of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. In the past, hundreds of thousands of drops were produced every day. Even the weakest tribes in the Monster Wooden Domain were able to gather a considerable amount. However, no Mystical Wood Dew has been produced for nearly four months now. Previously, when strolling through the Monster Wooden Marketplace, Xu Ran found that many of the pet beasts of the Transcendent Beings and human Beast Masters in the marketplace had significant Washing and Protection requirements. This was due to the shortage of Mystical Wood Dew. ¡°How is the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes fought?¡± Xu Ran asked with a curious look on his face. Apart from Transcendent Level Beast Masters, higher-level Beast Masters all have more than one pet beast at the corresponding growth stage contracted, giving them an overwhelming advantage in a competition against Transcendent Beings. It would seem that there must be some restrictions in this regard, right? ¡°Erm, about that¡­¡± Li Tutu scratched his head and looked at Xu Ran, ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is held in different tiers according to strength.¡± ¡°General stage Extraordinary Beings and General Level Beast Masters belong to the same division, but General Level Beast Masters can only utilize the power of one pet beast at any given time.¡± Li Tutu paused for a moment, ¡°You can switch midway, but you cannot summon two or more at the same time.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded. In this way, the situation of Beast Masters outnumbering the Transcendent Beings is avoided. But strictly speaking, even so, Beast Masters still hold some advantage in such a competition. After all, having more pet beasts means more variability. Of course, Beast Masters also have weaknesses, such as their own strength being weaker, which could become the Achilles heel during a battle with a pet beast. ¡°As for the style of the competition¡­¡± Li Tutu paused for a moment, ¡°It takes place on a platform constructed by the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself, in a king of the hill type battle.¡± ¡°At that time, the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood will form a special battlefield with one hundred leaves using its branches. Each leaf represents a platform. If you can ascend and hold your position until the end of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, you can win the corresponding ranking.¡± ¡°King of the hill?¡± Xu Ran was interested. This was something new that he had never tried before. In just a moment, his mind was already filled with countless ways he could utilize this for advertising. ¡°Yes,¡± Li Tutu nodded, seeming to remember something, and then added, ¡°And depending on your rank in the king of the hill battle, you will receive different rewards.¡± ¡°I heard that the reward for the first place in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes this year at the General Level is something called a¡­ something vein crystal.¡± ¡°Extreme Source Vein Crystal?!¡± Xu Ran was startled and blurted out subconsciously. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it!¡± Li Tutu quickly nodded. ¡°Meow?! (What?!)¡± Ziyun, who was initially lying lazily by the side, instantly raised its fur in surprise at this moment. It opened its differently colored eyes wide and stared intensely at Li Tutu. Aren¡¯t these my evolution resources? ¡°¡­What¡¯s up?¡± Sensing the strange atmosphere, Li Tutu tentatively asked for some clarification. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, where do I sign up for it?¡± He never expected that one of the main materials for Ziyun¡¯s evolution would appear in front of them this way. Previously, in the point redemption list of the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City, Xu Ran wasn¡¯t able to find it! However, thinking about the fact that the one who made the offer was a Beast Emperor, Xu Ran felt somewhat relieved. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a Beast Emperor, who has been operating in the Beast Field for many years, to have all kinds of resources in their hands. Speaking of which¡­ If he had a chance to directly communicate with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood after participating in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, could he ask for hints about the whereabouts of the other missing main material for Ziyun¡¯s evolution? Upon this thought, Xu Ran felt even more strongly that he absolutely couldn¡¯t miss out on this Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. If he performed well, he could not only make his name known by completing the task 4 of the main task but also gain one of the main materials for Ziyun¡¯s evolution, and even have the chance to inquire about the whereabouts of the other main material for Ziyun¡¯s evolution. Three victories in one shot. ¡°Well, you can sign up at the Beast Master Association.¡± Li Tutu glanced at Xu Ran and added hopefully, ¡°Mr. Xu, are you planning to participate? If so, I¡¯ll definitely be there to cheer for you on the scene!¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to give it a try.¡± Xu Ran smiled, changing the subject, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I plan to leave.¡± ¡°Today, thank you for being my guide and translator.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty!¡± Li Tutu responded brightly, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Xu!¡± Xu Ran waved to Li Tutu, perched on the broad back of Star, holding Ziyun and Cancan, turned into a dark shadowy figure, and quickly disappeared from sight. ¡°Truly a General Level Beast Master.¡± Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, a sense of envy and admiration flickered in Li Tutu¡¯s eyes. ¡°When can I be as powerful?¡± After standing still for a moment, Li Tutu abruptly shook his head, slapped his cheeks with both hands, then turned towards a certain booth in the Monster Wooden Marketplace. This booth had the most comprehensive collection of resources in the whole Monster Wooden Marketplace, and its prices were very fair. Because behind this booth, was the Beast Master Association of the Monster Wooden City. Using the twenty Beast Master Points that he had just earned, Li Tutu picked a few transcendent-level resources at the booth, handed his Beast Master Badge to the booth owner, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take these resources.¡± ¡°Thank you for your business-¡± The booth owner took Li Tutu¡¯s Beast Master Badge with a warm smile, swiped it on the relevant device, deducted the consumed points, and returned it to Li Tutu. Just as Li Tutu was about to reach for his badge, he hesitated. ¡°What do you think of the young man you just met?¡± The booth owner lowered his voice subtly as he asked. ¡°Mr. Xu is a very friendly person.¡± Li Tutu replied calmly, not betraying any emotion. ¡°Friendly, eh¡­¡± The booth owner slowly released his grip on the Beast Master Badge, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°One hundred Beast Master Points have been transferred to your account.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Tutu¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll pick a few more resources.¡± ¡°Recycling points, huh? Go ahead, choose whatever you want!¡± The booth owner flashed a sly smile, waved to Li Tutu, allowing him to choose freely, then gazed in the direction where Xu Ran disappeared. ¡°To let such a talented Beast Master just slip away, Xieyun City really is¡­.¡± Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: Chapter 257 Opening! The First Customer! _1 Chapter 417: Chapter 257 Opening! The First Customer! _1 ¡°Shop renovation countdown: 0 hours 0 minutes 13 seconds¡± Standing in front of the closed door of the Starfire Foster Shop, watching the countdown of less than a minute appearing in front of him, a smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. Perfect timing. Looking at the shop in front of him, which seemed unchanged from the outside, Xu Ran felt a surge of anticipation. So¡­ what would the system transform this new shop into? ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s take a look together.¡± He softly spoke to the eagerly awaiting three little ones behind him, then pressed his hands on the door and watched the countdown in front of him. Three¡­ Two¡­ One! The moment the countdown ended, Xu Ran pushed open the shop door forcefully. The sight within the Monster Wooden City¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop unveiled before his eyes. Perhaps due to adapting to the local conditions, or maybe the different choice of location allowed the system more free play, the third Starfire Foster Shop, located in Monster Wooden City, exhibited a completely different decorating style from before. Almost entirely constructed from solid wood, the unadorned and unpolished flooring and decor gave a sense of raw natural beauty. Just stepping inside, Xu Ran could smell the pleasant fragrance of wood wafting in the shop. Stretching out his hand and touching the clearly-etched wood grain on the surface of the counter ¨C it felt substantial yet comforting ¨C a surprising delight crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. Unexpectedly, the system had deviated from its usual pattern this time. ¡°Meow-¡± (This spot is not bad!) Ziyun, being familiar, jumped onto the counter from Cancan¡¯s back, lying down at the place where it used to be, tucking its paws into its chest. As soon as it lay down, it felt a distinct difference in texture. The slightly coarse wood grain pressed against its soft belly, maintaining warmth excellently, providing it with a comfortable feeling it had never experienced before. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out other places.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, then led the way to the guest lounge on the side. Perhaps to match the natural decorating style, the guest lounge had dramatically changed. Rows of wooden tables and chairs had replaced the original large sofas, with board games of this world replacing video games on the tables. Even the junk food that used to be on the snack rack had been replaced with various dried fruits. ¡°Try this.¡± Nonchalantly opening a bag of pistachios, Xu Ran exited the lounge with the three little ones while eating and showing off. Speaking of which, the lounge in the shop was indeed a bit too youthful before. Those who were stronger Beast Masters tended to be middle-aged. They were not interested in those games, such a lounge suited them better. Maybe, this could attract more powerful Beast Masters? With this thought, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face grew more profound. Hmm¡­ these pistachios are quite fragrant. Together, Xu Ran and the three pets savored the pistachios while entering the Grooming Room. Despite the shop¡¯s area being many times larger than before, the Grooming Room had been expanded using the Space Expansion technology. Compared to the variety in external decor styles, the working areas like the Grooming Room did not seem to have many changes. After a brief look, confirming that the Grooming Room was still the style he was familiar with, even the positioning of the tool cabinet and care platform remained the same as before, Xu Ran left the Grooming Room with relief, promptly leading the three little entities to the elevator on the first floor, heading straight to the second floor. With a short sense of weightlessness and a ¡°ding¡± sound, they had reached the second floor of the Foster Shop. The second floor, expanded using the Space Expansion technology, appeared far more vast than it looked from outside, so vast that the boundary was almost invisible. Seeing the wilderness all around and the world appearing as if it had been reset, Xu Ran instantly realized what this place was. The Foster Area. The Foster Area, which had originally been placed on the basement floor, was finally seeing some daylight due to the abundance of floors. Compared to the Foster Areas of Qingzhou City and Xieyun City, the Foster Area of Monster Wooden City lacked some vitality at the moment as it appeared rather desolate. But this situation would improve as the shop gained fame and more tenants moved in. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out the next ten floors.¡± Xu Ran smiled, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. Although he hadn¡¯t been there yet, he already knew what the third to the twelfth floor resembled. Because when he was choosing floors in the elevator just now, he had seen the attribute icons for ten training areas. ¡°Ding¡­¡± The elevator stopped on the third floor, and seeing the water world outside the elevator, Xu Ran¡¯s face expressed an ¡°as expected¡± expression. Although the external structure of the shop had changed considerably, the Starfire Foster Shop was still the same old Starfire Foster Shop. Floor by floor, Xu Ran finally went from the twelfth floor First Attribute training area to get into the elevator and press the button for the thirteenth floor, the last one. ¡°What do you guess the next floor will be?¡± With the feeling of weightlessness coursing through him again, Xu Ran turned his head to look at the three little ones. ¡°Charming!¡± (It¡¯s where we sleep!) Cancan¡¯s eyes sparkled as it answered first. ¡°I think so too.¡± Xu Ran smiled, an odd glint in his eyes, ¡°On another note, the number thirteen is not very auspicious.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Why isn¡¯t it auspicious?) Ziyun turned its head, curiously asking. Thinking of ¡°13¡±, it would remind it of Xu Ran and the three of them. The number seemed wonderful, suitable for the floor of a living area. How could it be inauspicious? Before Xu Ran could answer, the elevator door slowly opened after a clear electronic sound. Within the similarly natural and original decor, the living area for Xu Ran and the three little ones came into view. Bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room¡­ Although the decorating style was drastically different from the previous Starfire Foster Shop, the layout of the new home for Xu Ran and the three pets remained the same as before. ¡°It looks pretty good.¡± After checking all the rooms on the thirteenth floor, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Meow?¡± (You haven¡¯t said why the number thirteen is inauspicious yet!) Ziyun was very concerned about what Xu Ran had just said and couldn¡¯t help but ask again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Ran smiled and rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°I just heard about it before.¡± ¡°This shop is our new start in Monster Wooden City, so from now on, thirteen is our lucky number!¡± ¡°Meow-¡± (That seems more like it.) Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Now we¡¯re only six hours away from midnight, can we use the Training Area?) Star, who had been silent all along, whinnied, with a look of expectation flashing in his eyes. At these words, Xu Ran and the other two little ones fell silent. They couldn¡¯t help but look at Star with odd eyes. Please, they had just arrived in Monster Wooden City today! Didn¡¯t have to rush so much! ¡°Once the shop is decorated, the Training Area can be used.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve already given you the corresponding access.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (See you at midnight then!) Star snorted and turned to enter the elevator, heading for the floor with the Dark Attribute Training Area. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ve come to Monster Wooden City at great pains, I¡¯m going to play for a day!) Ziyun hummed and looked towards the elevator. Charming-¡± (I¡¯m not going either, I want to have a good night¡¯s sleep!) Cancan nodded in agreement and also looked at the elevator. After a longer silence, the two little ones looked at each other. ¡°Charming?¡± (Why aren¡¯t you going to play?) ¡°Meow?¡± (Why aren¡¯t you going to sleep?) After asking each other at the same time, the two little ones paused and then rushed towards the elevator in unison. What game? What sleep? Starfire dare not become stronger secretly behind them! Watching the three little ones disappearing into the elevator, Xu Ran shook his head and laughed, a few more gratifications in his eyes. Seeing that all three Pet Beasts were trying so hard, he also felt better. Since this is the case, he, as a Beast Master, should not slacken off. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xu Ran quickly entered a deep meditation under the superimposed effects of the two Meditation Acceleration Cards. The breakthrough of contract power to the Fourth Stage is just a start. In Xieyun City, the General Stage is just enough to leave the city, giving a glimpse into how strong the competition is. So even though he has just broken through, he mustn¡¯t be arrogant¡­ Continue the charge towards the Fifth Stage contract power! The next day, early morning. After waking up early and washing up with the three little ones, Xu Ran and the three little ones enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the second-floor Foster Area and then came down to the first-floor shop together. One has to say, compared to the previous arrangement of feeding the residents from the second floor to the basement first, then from the basement to the ground floor, the new shop¡¯s layout is much more logical. With the timing right to open the shop door, Xu Ran turned to the three little ones, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to train today?¡± Upon hearing this, the three little ones shook their heads together. Last night, they trained till midnight, and are still tired at this moment, today¡¯s training will have to start in the afternoon at earliest. ¡°In that case, you three can accompany me to open the shop.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s set a small goal for the first day of opening.¡± After a slight pause, Xu Ran slowly began under the curious gaze of the three little ones, ¡°Serve one customer.¡± The expressions of the three little ones suddenly turned odd. What kind of goal is this?! But as it turned out, the goal Xu Ran set was indeed reasonable. Because after several hours of opening, with noon approaching, no customer had yet entered the Starfire Foster Shop. Even the previous Qingzhou and Xieyun Foster Shops did not experience such a downturn when they first opened. ¡°It seems that Ms. Xu Qing was right.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, ¡°It¡¯s indeed hard to run a Foster Shop in Monster Wooden City.¡± Even though the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood has not produced Mystical Wood Dew for a long time, the Beast Masters in the city are not used to seeking the help of foster shop to care for their Pet Beasts. Therefore, running a Foster Shop in Monster Wooden City is not easy. ¡°No worries, let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± Xu Ran leaned back on his chair, his attitude decidedly calm. He believed that once they got their first customer, the situation would improve drastically. Just as one person and three pets were eagerly waiting, a voice came from the outside of the shop door. ¡°Eh? A new foster shop has opened here?¡± As the sound came, a young man walked in curiously. Xu Ran stood up immediately, flashing a polite smile. ¡°Welcome to our shop-!¡± Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Chapter 258 Is your shop this cheap? ! Chapter 418: Chapter 258 Is your shop this cheap? ! Entering the store was a young man with a naive and somewhat boyish demeanor. He looked around at the store¡¯s decorwith curiosity, his face lighting up with amazement. ¡°Your store¡¯s decoration is beautiful!¡± ¡°Thank you for your compliment.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°May I know what services you need?¡± ¡°Do you have washing and protection services?¡± The young man hesitated a bit before cautiously asking, ¡°Since there haven¡¯t been any Mystical Wood Dew for so long, I heard that some Foster Shop in the town have started offering bathing services.¡± ¡°Yes, we do.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°The price list is behind you.¡± ¡°Really?! ¡± Clearly, stumbling upon the service he needed in the first Foster Shop he walked into has the boy practically ecstatic. When he turned his head to where Xu Ran was pointing and saw the price menu on the wall, his face showed even more excitement. ¡°Is it so cheap?!¡± Mystical Wood Dew ceased to exist months ago, and only a few Foster Shops in Monster Wooden City can offer bathing services for pet beasts. Given the supply-demand imbalance, the price of bathing services has naturally soared. But seeing the price of the washing services at this shop, the boy was surprised to find that it was a full forty to fifty percent cheaper than elsewhere. Hearing the young man¡¯s exclamation, Xu Ran, who had just been prepared to say ¡°you get what you pay for,¡± held his tongue for a moment, swallowing his words back down. It was the first time that someone found the prices at the Starfire Foster Care Shop cheap. He momentarily felt as though he had priced things wrongly on the menu. But clearly, that was an illusion. There was no issue with the prices on the menu, the real issue was the undeveloped bathing industry within Monster Wooden City. After only a moment¡¯s hesitation, Xu Ran displayed an obvious expression. ¡°Yes, as you can see, our washing service prices are indeed cheap and affordable.¡± ¡°Is it so cheap because the effect is not good?¡± The young man, quite reasonably, looked a touch worried. After all, he had just walked into what seemed to be a brand-new store, with no reputation to speak of just yet, and he had no idea about the quality of their services. ¡°Rest assured, I will do my best to treat each pet beast that comes to our shop with care.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression conveyed unwavering reliability. ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯ll bring it in for a bath!¡± The boy¡¯s face lit up with anticipation, swiftly turning around and hurrying out of the shop, leaving Xu Ran clueless behind him. It? Was he talking about his pet beast? If it was his pet beast, why didn¡¯t he just summon it directly? ¡°Xi Lu~ ¡± (I have a feeling that what the other party is going to bring for a bath may not necessarily be his pet beast.) Star, who had been watching the whole process, suddenly voiced out her thoughts after a flash of consideration in her eyes. ¡°Not his pet beast?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see what he¡¯s going to bring.¡± The young man seemed to live nearby. He didn¡¯t keep Xu Ran and the three little ones waiting long before he returned, standing once again at the entrance of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. And behind him was an adorably simple-minded creature. It was a transcendent being covered in grey-black fur that looked a bit like a raccoon, but was about two meters tall. [Race name: Earth Raccoon Attribute: Earth Growth Step: Elite Stage Body Type: Medium Needs for Washing and Protection: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: An earth raccoon that hasn¡¯t experienced the joy of a bath for several months, it needs to be thoroughly pleased by the host¡¯s skillful hands, making up for the long-lost experience!] Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. No matter which city, the system¡¯s appraisals are always so unserious. ¡°Da Xiong, this is the place!¡± The boy slapped Da Xiong¡¯s slightly protruding and resilient belly, chuckling, ¡°I promised you before that I would get you a bath, and now I¡¯m fulfilling that promise.¡± ¡°Ooof~¡± The Earth Raccoon surveyed the interior of the store, nodded in satisfaction, belaying expectation on its face. From the time when Mystical Wood Dew ceased to exist until now, it had been several months since it had properly cleaned its body. Even though it¡¯s a species that isn¡¯t particularly clean, the uncomfortableness still bothered it. ¡°This way, please.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°The Beast Master can choose to accompany the pet beast for the bath, or wait in the rest area on the side.¡± ¡°Beast Master?¡± The young man blinked and then burst into laughter, ¡°I¡¯m not Da Xiong¡¯s Beast Master, we are good brothers.¡± ¡°Good brothers?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the young man, then at the Earth Raccoon standing next to him, its expression rather innocent. The latter seemed to be an untamed transcendent creature that had not signed a contract with humans. Such a situation would be virtually implausible in other cities, but in Monster Wooden City, following what he witnessed yesterday, Xu Ran found it pretty normal. ¡°Although I¡¯m not a Beast Master, I¡¯d like to accompany it for the bath, is that alright?¡± After explaining, the young man looked at Xu Ran with expectant eyes, obviously, he was quite curious about Xu Ran¡¯s bathing services. ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ran nodded, leading the young man and the Earth Raccoon into the grooming room. Soon after, exclamations of surprise echoed from within the grooming room. ¡°Wow! Your store¡¯s bathing area is so high-end?¡± ¡°Absolutely, when it comes to washing, we¡¯re professionals.¡± Xu Ran smiled, watching the young man gauge the room curiously from left to right. He then pointed to the care platform for medium-sized pet beasts, ¡°Earth Raccoon, lie down over there.¡± Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Chapter 258 Is your shop this cheap?_2 Chapter 419: Chapter 258 Is your shop this cheap?_2 ¡°Lulu!¡± No problem! The earth raccoon nodded, knowing that the human in front of him was about to groom him. It obediently lay down on the care platform, quietly waiting for the grooming to begin. The young boy also became more well-behaved, sitting in his own companion seat without making a sound to disturb Xu Ran¡¯s preparation for grooming the earth raccoon. His eyes never left Xu Ran, watching him curiously with every movement he made. Xu Ran skillfully mixed the special bath dew for the earth raccoon. Quickly, he evenly sprinkled the bath dew on the body of the earth raccoon using the handheld showerhead in his hand. The fine and long fur of the earth raccoon was wetted instantly, fitting tightly to its body and revealing its slender body underneath its fluffy fur. The bath dew flowed over the body of the earth raccoon along the fur, penetrating to the roots of the fur, wandering in every hair follicle, bringing a warm sensation of flow. For a moment, the earth raccoon couldn¡¯t help but open its eyes wide, with a long-lost happy expression on its face. The last time it had such a thorough wash was five months ago when it was washed with Mystical Wood Dew. Now, it finally felt the similar joy and comfort. For a while, a particularly cheerful cheer unconsciously came out from its mouth, echoing around the entire grooming room. ¡°Lulu-¡± The boy watching at the side was also surprised now. It was not his first time watching the washing and protection service in a foster shop, but compared to other foster shops providing the same service, this one obviously seemed much more professional. Such great skills, but selling at such a low price? For a moment, the boy¡¯s face had a feeling of discovering a treasure. If he is happy with the grooming results later, he would definitely recommend this shop to his friends and family! Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help taking another look at the earth raccoon. No wonder it was a pet beast that hadn¡¯t been groomed in months. A simple shower already gave such a strong reaction. If that¡¯s the case¡­ It¡¯s time to show the real skills! Putting the showerhead aside, Xu Ran evenly applied the prepared bath shampoo along the spine of the earth raccoon. The same warm shampoo felt like electricity, starting from the back of the head, all the way down the raccoon¡¯s tailbone, and then spreading to the sides of the body. The strange feeling, like being shocked all of a sudden, made the eyes of the earth raccoon even wider. Even when it was washed with Mystical Wood Dew, it had never felt such a strange sensation! However, the earth raccoon¡¯s surprise came a bit early. Because following the pour of shampoo, Xu Ran¡¯s kneading movements also began. Aligning his fingertips with the earth raccoon¡¯s wet fur, Xu Ran used just the right amount of force to rub every inch of the fur, revealing the root of the hair, allowing the cleaning power of shampoo to reach deep into the hair. The strange sensation as if each hair follicle was being massaged made the earth raccoon¡¯s eyes gradually bewildered. It was a great pleasure that it had never experienced before and was somewhat irresistible now. A more melodious sound, a little ethereal, squeezed out from the slightly opened mouth of the earth raccoon. ¡°Lulu¡ª¡± ¡°Please take care, welcome back next time-¡± At the entrance of Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran waved goodbye with a smile to the boy named Qi Le and his earth raccoon friend. After a perfect grooming, the fur color of the earth raccoon has changed from its original dark grey to light grey, and the patterns and spots on it can vaguely be seen. Its fur became fluffier. The fur, which was somewhat stuck together and appeared dirty due to oil, is now completely soft. Behind the earth raccoon, its big tail was high up like a feather duster, gently swinging at the slightest movement. Compared to when it came, the earth raccoon was completely rejuvenated now. ¡°Definitely.¡± Qi Le nodded seriously, revealing a sincere smile on his face, ¡°Boss Xu, your grooming skills are really amazing, and the price is so affordable. I will definitely recommend you to my friends!¡± ¡°That would be the best.¡± Xu Ran smiled slightly, watching the two leave, then stretching lazily,¡± Business tasks for today are successfully completed!¡± Although the washing and grooming did not yield any pleasure value due to the fact that the Earth Raccoon was a wild Super Creature, the business objective had been achieved, making it a good start. What¡¯s more¡­ even though there was no pleasure value, the fur plucking skill was still effective, and a two-star earth attribute skill was gained. Skill Fragment +4. The three little ones looked at each other with relaxed expressions on their faces. It seemed that the shop¡¯s operation here in Monster Wooden City should be no problem. If Starfire Foster Shop runs well, Xu Ran will be able to earn more resources for them. With more resources, they can become stronger faster. So doing well in business equates to becoming stronger! ¡°Xila!¡± (I¡¯m going to train!) Revitalised, Starfire feels full of energy in an instant, fatigue swept away, she lets out a triumphant shout and quickly heads towards the elevator. Seeing this, the other two little ones who didn¡¯t want to show weakness followed closely. ¡°Meow!¡± (Wait for me!) ¡°Charming!¡± (Wait for me!) ¡°Da Xiong, we will part here, see you in a few days!¡± At the gate of Monster Wooden City, Qi Le waved goodbye to the Earth Raccoon. ¡°Lu~¡± In the Earth Raccoon¡¯s eyes, there was a hint of reluctance, and it reached out its sturdy paw to gently pat Qi Le¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay, didn¡¯t we agree that I would visit your Ground Raccoon Tribe territory to play with you in a few days?¡± Qi Le smiled, ¡°It will be my first time visiting the territory of a wild Super Creature. Do you have any good food there?¡± ¡°Lu!¡± The Earth Raccoon nodded vigorously, then made continuous ¡°lu, lu, lu¡± sounds while clumsily gesturing in mid-air. Surprisingly, Qi Le was able to keep up with the Earth Raccoon¡¯s narration, continuously nodding and saying things like ¡°Hmm hmm, I¡¯m already looking forward to it¡±, ¡°That sounds good, it¡¯s something I would like¡±. After communicating for a while, the pair of good friends reluctantly parted ways. The Earth Raccoon headed deeper into the Monster Wooden Domain, closer to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, while Qi Le retraced his steps back. As an Earth attribute Extraordinary Creature, the Earth Raccoon may look simpleminded, but its strength is by no means weak. Its talent skill, Burrow Soil, allows it to move freely underground. In no time, the Earth Raccoon safely returned to its tribe¡¯s territory. ¡°Lu-¡± ¡°Lulu-¡± Sounds similar to the Earth Raccoon¡¯s voice were faintly heard from the territory. Near the territory, the silhouettes of several Earth Raccoons playfully romping in the forest could be seen. Not far away, on a blank piece of ground, many Earth Raccoons lay side by side with their bellies up to the afternoon sun. This was a common resting posture among the Ground Raccoon Tribe. Warming their bellies made them feel comfortable. Noticing Da Xiong¡¯s return, the other members of the Ground Raccoon Tribe turned their eyes to him. After seeing his refreshed appearance, the area became silent for a few seconds. Those who had been playing around stopped and stared at Da Xiong in astonishment, one of them even fell from a tree that it had only half climbed. Those who were lined up basking their bellies sat upright, fixating on Da Xiong. Among these tribe members, most of them were as dirty as Da Xiong before he had been washed and groomed, some even dirtier. Everyone¡¯s unable to get washed, so it didn¡¯t matter if they were all dirty. But if someone cleaned up at this moment¡­ The next instant, the tribe members swarmed around Da Xiong, continuously making ¡°lu, lu, lu¡± noises, enquiring about the washing and grooming. Excitement was apparent in their eyes, and they were most interested to find out if the grooming was a result of the Mystical Wood Dew. If it was¡­ That means the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu started to produce Mystical Wood Dew again! This would be a gospel to the whole Monster Wooden Domain! However, Da Xiong¡¯s answer was destined to disappoint them. Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Chapter 259: An Unexpected Customer Chapter 420: Chapter 259: An Unexpected Customer Group_i ¡°Luh?¡± Beast Emperor? No, it¡¯s not! Hearing his companion¡¯s endless inquiries, Da Xiong quickly recovered. However, facing the eager gazes of his tribe, he could only tell them the truth ¨C the Beast Emperor still hadn¡¯t produced any Mystical Wood Dew. ¡°Luh¡­¡± A wave of disappointment echoed around them. The Beast Emperor still hadn¡¯t produced any Mystical Wood Dew, evaporating the glimmer of hope they had just kindled. They hadn¡¯t cleaned their bodies in such a long time that they could noticeably feel the toll it was taking on them. It wasn¡¯t just them, all the transcendent creatures in the Monster Wooden Domain were in the same state. ¡°Luh!¡± Everyone, quiet down! A rather commanding voice came from the earth raccoon tribe. The strongest earth raccoon in the tribe stepped forward to face Da Xiong. It carefully examined Da Xiong, surprise evident in its eyes. This isn¡¯t Mystical Wood Dew. Bathing in Mystical Wood Dew didn¡¯t give these results. ¡°Luh?¡± Where did you get this? The Earth Raccoon leader asked. ¡°Luh luhluh-¡± It¡¯s from where a human in Monster Wooden City washed me! When it came to his grooming, the glow in Da Xiong¡¯s eyes had become even brighter. This made him recall the comfortable time he spent during the grooming, the feeling as if he had almost flown off had surfaced once again. ¡°Luh¡­¡± So, humans can provide grooming services as well¡­ A thoughtful expression crossed the Earth Raccoon¡¯s face. The Earth Raccoon tribe wasn¡¯t originally from the Monster Wooden Domain. They moved here as a tribe after the domain had been established. So much time had passed that the tribespeople who had experienced the migration were nearing the end of their lifespans. Only it, being the oldest among them, was a witness to that era. Although humans lived in harmony with the wild transcendent creatures in the Monster Wooden Domain, the Earth Raccoon Tribe Leader instinctively kept its distance based on past experiences. However¡­ Looking at the anticipation in the tribe, the leader of the earth raccoon tribe sighed inwardly. ¡°Luh?¡± What¡¯s the price for humans¡¯ grooming? The price? Hearing the leader¡¯s question, Da Xiong seemed to be lost in thought. He had seen the price for grooming on the wall of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Both he and the other members of his tribe fell within the category of medium-sized pet beasts, and each grooming session cost 26,666 yuan in human currency. Human currency wasn¡¯t used among the wild transcendent beings; they preferred to use Beast Master Points, or resources of equivalent value. Round it up, grooming cost about 27 Beast Master points, in resources it is¡­ Daxiong¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly and he blurted out excitedly, ¡°Luh!¡± Three Luminous Earth Stones can be exchanged for a grooming session! Luminous soil stones, an earth attribute resource found deep underground, were something of a transcendent level. When exchanged with Beast Master points, nine points could get you one. Due to these stones¡¯ unremarkable value and rarity, they were infrequently seen. However, for the earth raccoons, who possessed the burrowing ability, finding these resources was not really a challenge. As a matter of fact, the reason they chose this area as their territory was the abundance of Luminous Soil Stones hidden deep underground. You could even describe it as a Luminous Soil Stone mine! Three stones for one grooming session was not only inexpensive for the earth raccoons, it was practically a steal! Without any free Mystical Wood Dew available, the fact that they could exchange such a low cost for a grooming session was great! Seeing the eagerness of the other members of the tribe, the Earth Raccoon tribe leader waved its paw after pondering for a moment. ¡°Luh!¡± Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re all going to Monster Wooden City for grooming! ¡°I wonder if we will have any business this afternoon? In the foster shop, Xu Ran sat behind the counter, resting his chin in his hand, and watching the pedestrians outside. A few curious guests had come in for a look after Qi Le and Da Xiong¡¯s departure, but none of them made any purchases. So, he could only hope for some afternoon customers. However, with time passing and no new customers entering the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became one of disappointment. Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the shop. ¡°Luh!¡± The next moment, Da Xiong appeared at the entrance. Recognizing the reappearing Da Xiong, Xu Ran was taken aback, he couldn¡¯t help but stand up and greet, ¡°You¡¯re back? Were you not happy with the grooming?¡± ¡°Luh~¡± Da Xiong shook his head vigorously. Dissatisfied? Impossible! Raising one paw to signal Xu Ran to wait, Da Xiong then popped his head out of the shop door and let out a loud shout outside the shop. A moment later, a flurry of Earth Raccoons, similar in appearance to Da Xiong, walked into Xu Ran¡¯s shop, causing Xu Ran to widen his eyes in astonishment. What¡¯s going on now? ¡°Purr!¡± Seeing the baffled look on Xu Ran¡¯s face, Da Xiong strode over to the price menu hanging on the wall and whacked the pricing for medium-sized pet beasts with his paw. Then, he walked up to Xu Ran and produced three diamond-shaped soil-yellow stones pulsating with energy. ¡°What is this?¡± Xu Ran took the stones subconsciously, a bewildered look on his face. He had some impression of this sort of resource. These were a type of Transcendent resource known as Luminous Soil Stones. They would usually cost around 10 Beast Master Points to exchange, equivalent to roughly 30,000 yuan for three¡­ Wait, what?! Watching Da Xiong push one of his tribe members to him and point at the Grooming Room, then looking at the three Luminous Earth Stones in his hand and the price chart on the wall, an odd look spread across Xu Ran s face. ¡°You mean¡­ pay for grooming with resources?¡± ¡°Purr!¡± Seeing that Xu Ran finally got his meaning, Da Xiong nodded in satisfaction. At the same time, he swiped at nonexistent sweat on his forehead with his paw. So tiring! Communicating with Qi Le was much easier. At this moment, Da Xiong started missing his good friend. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face. Using Transcendent resources, which could be exchanged for Beast Master Points to pay for grooming, he was undoubtedly profiting. After all, one Beast Master Point theoretically equated to a thousand yuan, but in reality, no one was willing to make such a trade. Even though he wouldn¡¯t gain any Pleasure value for grooming these dozens of Earth Raccoons. Even though this group of customers was a bit strange and didn¡¯t quite fit the target customers for a Foster Shop. But¡­ He had just opened his shop, it was better than having nothing to do. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll groom you all next!¡± Having made up his mind, Xu Ran nodded towards the group of Earth Raccoons. ¡°Purr Purr Purr!¡± The Earth Raccoons immediately burst into excited cheers. One that appeared to be the most elderly and also the most powerful among them stepped forward. He walked up to Xu Ran, giving him a deep look. ¡°Purr-¡± Human, on behalf of my tribe, I thank you in advance. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Although he couldn¡¯t understand the Earth Raccoon s language, he could infer from its attitude. Xu Ran smiled in response. In a short while, a line of Earth Raccoons stood obediently at the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, each waiting for Xu Ran to groom them in turn. ¡°Come back tomorrow for the rest.¡± As the sun sank and dusk approached, Xu Ran looked at the majority of Earth Raccoons still waiting for grooming and shrugged helplessly, ¡°Our Shop needs to suspend business now.¡± ¡°Purr Purr Purr?¡± The Earth Raccoons who hadn¡¯t been groomed yet were taken aback and became quite anxious. After witnessing their companions looking as clean as Da Xiong after grooming, they had already begun fantasizing about their post- grooming appearance. Now he tells them that their grooming couldn¡¯t continue today? Several Earth Raccoons quickly approached Xu Ran, trying to emotionally persuade him to stay open for them. Ziyun, who has finished her training and returned to the counter, narrowed her eyes slightly. She was on the verge of demonstrating her aura of a General stage King Species when a commanding voice rang out. ¡°Purr!¡± Keep quiet, everyone! The leader of the Earth Raccoon Group stepped forward, sharply knocking on the heads of a few raccoons who were closest to Xu Ran. He then nodded at Xu Ran, indicating that he would maintain order here. ¡°Thankyou.¡± Xu Ran smiled politely, then spoke regretfully to the still- ungroomed Earth Raccoons, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t have any more time today. I promise to finish grooming everyone tomorrow.¡± Having received Xu Ran¡¯s promise and with the stare of the group leader on them, the Earth Raccoons immediately calmed down. Under the guidance of their leader, they orderly left the Starfire Foster Care Shop, even taking away the trash they left behind. ¡°Meow-¡± (I was about to take action.) After the Earth Raccoons left, Ziyun lazily snuggled her two front paws back into her bosom, half closing her eyes as she sprawled on the counter. Seeing those Earth Raccoons getting so close to Xu Ran, about to clutch at his clothes, she couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°This is the Monster Wooden City, where wild super creatures are no longer targets for human aggression.¡± Xu Ran laughed aloud and patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°They won¡¯t do anything to me, and besides¡­¡± ¡°Even if they wanted to do something, my current strength is enough to subdue them.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t contracted a fourth pet beast, causing the feedbackhe received to still come from the Three Little Ones. But with the higher power feedback ratio of the Fourth Stage contract power and a significant increase in the Three Little Ones¡¯ strength after advancing, Xu Ran¡¯s own power is not to be underestimated. He could now easily suppress Leader Stage strength, even if he couldn¡¯t fight General Stage barehanded. ¡°Meow-¡± (I was just worried-) Ziyun willingly moved her head into Xu Ran¡¯s hand and rubbed against it forcefully. Her Beast Master is not someone who can be approached casually by others! ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Xu Ran smiled at the clingy Ziyun, ¡°Where did Star and Cancan go? It¡¯s time for dinner.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (The two of them?) Ziyun blinked, a thoughtful look in her eyes. That¡¯s right! The two of them had clearly finished their six-hour training with her, so why was she the only one in the shop accompanying Xu Ran? Where did they go?! Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: Chapter 260: Explorer Cancans Discovery! _1 Chapter 421: Chapter 260: Explorer Cancan¡¯s Discovery! _1 In the shop, while each person and their pet were pondering where Star and Cancan had gone, deep in the earth in a part of the Monster Wooden Domain, Cancan, who had adjusted her body to dozens of meters in length, was carrying Star and heading back in the direction of Monster Wooden City. A yellowish-brown halo rippled around both pet beasts, causing the soil and solid rock layers to make way for them, as if melted instantly, when they encountered the halo, thereby creating an underground passage for them. Three Star Skill, Full Moon LevebSubterranean Shape Pond! A hint of anxiety flashed in Star¡¯s eyes as he stood on Cancan¡¯s back. ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (By now, the shop should have finished for the day. I wonder if Xu Ran and Ziyun will be mad when they realize we¡¯re missing.) Upon hearing Star¡¯s words, Cancan shook his head thinking about the times he was trashed by his elder sister, unable to help but shrink back. But, their discovery from sneaking out this time gave Cancan a bit more confidence in his heart. ¡°Charming!¡± (Telling Xu Ran about what we found, he¡¯ll definitely praise us!) Hearing Cancan¡¯s words, Star nodded slightly, easing his expression. Indeed, they didn¡¯t just sneak out of Monster Wooden City for a lark. ¡°Xi Lu-¡± (Anyway, I came along with you to keep an eye on you!) Star added unconvinced. ¡°Charming-¡± (Sure, sure!) Cancan shook its head a bit, and the speed of the transformation flow abruptly increased. Then, its expression slightly froze. From deep within the land in front, an energy fluctuation of the same Earth attribute was felt. Moreover, these fluctuations did not stem from dead Transcendent Resources, but from the energy fluctuations emitted by Transcendent Beings. And, these fluctuations also had a trend of getting closer. Is this¡­ Before it could figure it out, the two sides had already seen each other. A group of Earth Raccoons with grey fur, about two meters tall, with joy on their faces, immediately froze after seeing Cancan¡¯s huge body and sensing the overwhelming strength. It¡¯s a General stage Transcendent Being! A being too formidable to provoke for the Earth Raccoon Group. Even their leader was only at the Leadership Stage! ¡°Lu~¡± Just passing by, by no means intended to offend. The leader of the Earth Raccoons made a quick decision, immediately offering a respectful and apologetic gesture deep in the earth. He then ordered the rest of his tribe to take a detour around Cancan. Looking at the quickly departing Earth Raccoons, a surprised look appeared on Cancan¡¯s face. Are they afraid of me? A cunning color flashed through its eyes, and Cancan could not help but want to catch up and play a little prank. ¡°Xi Lu ¨C ¡± (Hurry back to the shop.) Star, sensing Cancan¡¯s plan, quickly put an end to it by raising a front paw and forcefully pressed on Cancan¡¯s shell. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (Alright¡­) Cancan nodded regretfully and obediently accelerated in the direction of Monster Wooden City. Giving Cancan a glance, Star suddenly spoke. ¡°Xi Lu ¨C ¡± (Those Earth Raccoons¡­ they should have been cleaned and protected in our store.) ¡°Charming?¡± (Huh?) Cancan blinked, a surprised expression appeared on his face. Those were wild Super Creatures, right? How could they have been cleaned and protected in our store? ¡°Xi Lu- ¡± (A portion of those Earth Raccoons have clearly been recently cleaned and protected, and that quality of cleaning and protection could only be done in our store, not others.) Star analyzed seriously. He had unmatched confidence in Xu Ran¡¯s Cleaning and Protection skills. ¡°Charming!¡± (We¡¯ll go back and ask then!) Cancan slightly tilted his head up, sensing the landscape above the ground through Echoing of Earth Vein. ¡°Charming- ¡± (Hold tight, we¡¯re surfacing!) ¡°The two of them are on their way back.¡± Through Contractual Sensing and feeling the exact position of the two little ones, a peculiar expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. When did these two sneak out? It was understandable to some extent if Cancan snuck out: even if it is now a General stage pet, it was not even two months old since it hatched, therefore behaving childishly, being mischievous, and sneaking out to play was pardonable. But, why did Star follow him as well? ¡°Meow- ¡± (These two kids¡­) Ziyun stretched out his languidly on the counter, then lightly leaped on the ground, unable to help but swipe a paw in the air. It had already begun to contemplate on how to beat Star and Cancan once they return. They snuck out to play, and they didn¡¯t take him with them! The two didn¡¯t keep everyone in the shop waiting for too long, and soon the dust-covered figures of Cancan and Star appeared at the entrance of the shop. Seeing Xu Ran and Ziyun, who were staring at them, the two little ones collectively shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What were you doing outside of the city for no reason?¡± Xu Ran crossed his arms and started to ask leisurely. ¡°Charming¡­¡± (I wanted to go out of the city and see¡­) Cancan hung its head in embarrassment. Ever since it gained the abilities to play around in the Subterranean Shape Pond and detect the Echoing of Earth Vein, allowing it to freely explore various resources outside the city, Cancan had become enamored with this feeling. Back when it was in Xieyun City, Cancan had always wanted to see what kind of treasures it could find in Beast Zone No.47, which was known for its abundant resources. Unfortunately, Beast Zone No.7,7 was too dangerous. Even going as a leader was asking for trouble¡ªlet alone with the constraint of the Beast Trainer Ranking¡ªit never got the chance to go. Now staying in the Monster Wooden City, located within the same Beast Zone No. 7,7, which prohibits provocation and killing in its Monster Wooden Domain surrounding it, it¡¯s much safer than other places. Moreover, since Cancan had recently broken through to the General Stage and gained more self-preservation skills, it could no longer suppress the urge to explore. On the second day of arriving in Monster Wooden City, Cancan sneaked out of the city, wanting to take a look at the scenery of Beast Zone No.47. Cancan managed to slip by the easygoing Ziyun, but its actions weren¡¯t left unnoticed by the more careful Star. Soon, the escape of one pet beast turned into an escapade of two. ¡°You rascal¡­¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, gently tapping Cancanon the head, ¡°Even though Monster Wooden Domain is safer than other beast zones, we just got here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not familiar with the place, and there are many things that we haven¡¯t explored yet, so you really shouldn¡¯t be reckless.¡± Xu Ran then turned to look at Star, ¡°And you, since you knew to follow Cancan, why didn¡¯t you tell me through Contractual Sensing?¡± ¡°Xilu-¡± (I¡¯m sorry.) Star admitted its mistake diligently, lowering its head with an embarrassed expression on its face. ¡°It¡¯s good you understand your mistake.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression softened, ¡°So no more sneaking out for a while. We¡¯ll explore the surroundings once we¡¯ve acclimated¡­¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (No!) ¡°Xilu!¡± (No!) Before Xu Ran could finish, Cancan and Star simultaneously raised their heads, voicing their strong disagreement. ¡°You two¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but laugh in exasperation, ¡°Still up to no good,huh?¡± ¡°Xi lu~¡± (No, we really found something today!) Star shook its head, explaining. ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. Cancan actually found something just by wandering around? ¡°What did you find?¡± The two pets looked at each other, before Cancan took the lead to speak. ¡°Charming- ¡± (I heard thunder deep within the earth!) ¡°Meow?¡± (What?) Ziyun¡¯s ears pricked up, surprise filling its eyes. Why did it feel.Jike it was somehow relevant to this? ¡°Thunder beneath the earth?¡± Surprise crept onto Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Did you go to explore it?¡± ¡°Charming¡­¡± (No¡­) Cancan lowered its head again. Speaking of this, it felt quite regretful. The sound of thunder beneath the deep earth was at the limit of detection through the Echoing of Earth Vein. By the time it reached that distance, even the Echoing of Earth Vein could only vaguely sense some noises. According to Cancan¡¯s estimation, the resource emitting the thunder noise was at least at King-level. Furthermore, there were energy fluctuations from a powerful Transcendent Being nearby. Considering many factors including that the time of Xu Ran¡¯s store closing was nearing, to avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass, Cancan and Star decided to give up on the exploration for the time being. ¡°I see.¡± After listening to Cancan¡¯s account, Xu Ran nodded in understanding, ¡°So, do you remember the location?¡± ¡°Charming!¡± (Yes!) Cancan nodded vigorously. It had completely memorized the location and even left some markers only it and Star would understand, making it more convenient to find next time. Xu Ran nodded, mulling over it for a moment before speaking firmly. ¡°Given this, you two really shouldn¡¯t act recklessly.¡± ¡°We still don¡¯t know much about that resource or the Transcendent Being nearby. The two of you exploring this on your own is too dangerous.¡± Looking at the dejected faces of the two pets, Xu Ran changed his tone, ¡°That¡¯s why we should all go together.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Yes! I must go!) Ziyun nodded emphatically, enthusiasm gleaming in its eyes. Not being included in Cancan and Star¡¯s outing had already upset Ziyun. Not to mention, hearing about the resource Cancan had found, it was very likely a Thunder attribute resource. This had more to do with it. How could it miss the trip to find resources! Caught by the sudden change of attitude, Star and Cancan paused before bursting with joy. ¡°Xilu!¡± (Then let¡¯s set off now!) Star excitedly lifted its hoof. Thinking of the combined tactics of Xu Ran¡¯s Fated Star Pulling and Ziyun transforming into a sword, anticipation welled up in its heart. ¡°Charming!¡± (Together!) Cancan nodded vigorously. At this moment, it thought of some potentially dangerous places it sensed during the afternoon exploration. Maybe, they could explore all of them along the way! With the addition of Ziyun and Xu Ran, it suddenly felt more confident. ¡°Don¡¯t rush.¡± Seeing the three little ones eager to set off right away, Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it tomorrow.¡± ¡°Today, we have something more important to do.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s words paused briefly at the sight of three curious beasts. ¡°We haven¡¯t signed up for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes yet.¡± Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: Chapter 261: Dispute Cases within the Association_1 Chapter 422: Chapter 261: Dispute Cases within the Association_1 ¡°Alright, here we are.¡± Lightly patting Star¡¯s back to signal it to stop, Xu Ran dismounted and looked up at the magnificent edifice not far ahead. Monster Wooden City Beast Trainer Association. This was Xu Ran¡¯s second visit. The first time was when he just arrived at Monster Wooden City yesterday. Sun Tianchao left them here, handed them over to the corresponding staff, arranged everything, and then left to handle his own affairs. ¡°Crunch Crunch~¡± Behind Xu Ran, Cancan and Ziyun closely followed and descended from Star¡¯s back. Ziyun landed gracefully, following Xu Ran leisurely. Its cloud-like elegant tail was raised high and swayed slightly. Cancan, who was following Ziyun, occasionally reached into the small bag on his back and pulled out two or three Luminous Earth Stones and put them into his mouth. Yes, those are what the Earth Raccoon used to pay for the washing and protection fee. Such Transcendent Stage resources were merely a drop in the ocean for Cancan, who was at the General Stage, and could only be used as snacks. But to tell the truth, they tasted quite good. As soon as the trio and three pets entered the Beast Trainer Association, their prominent General Stage aura quickly attracted the attention of the staff. ¡°Welcome, sir, how may I help you?¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s a Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes in half a month.¡± Xu Ran looked at the staff member, ¡°Could you tell me where I register for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes?¡± ¡°Sir, your timing isn¡¯t very good.¡± The staff member slightly regretfully spread his hands, ¡°The registration for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes just ended at midday today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face instantly darkened. Really? If he had known earlier, he would have come last night. Ziyun, who was at his side, was even more like being struck by thunder, and its tail dropped down. Damn it! The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was related to its evolution resources! ¡°Could you make an exception? I didn¡¯t miss it by much, right?¡± Xu Ran asked in a negotiating tone, ¡°Can you bend the rules a bit?¡± The three little ones glanced at each other, then simultaneously squeezed out adorable expressions, looking at the staff member. ¡°Sir¡­¡± The staff member helplessly put his hand on his forehead, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to accommodate you, it¡¯s just that I¡­¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the authority to make exceptions.¡± A voice came from behind the staff member. Sun Tianchao strode over, and when he saw Xu Ran, a smile appeared on his face, ¡°Boss Xu has interest in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Seeing Sun Tianchao, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened and he quickly nodded. Monster Wooden City and Xieyun City, although both are Second Level Towns, they are not the same. In Monster Wooden City, there were only two Overlord Level Beast Masters, and there was not even a single Emperor Level Beast Master. So although Sun Tianchao¡¯s strength was only at the King Level Beast Master, his status in the Monster Wooden City Beast Trainer Association was not low. The staff member was right. As an ordinary member of the association, she indeed couldn¡¯t decide such things. But, Sun Tianchao could! ¡°Senior Sun, can you put in a good word for me and add me to the registration list?¡± Xu Ran asked sincerely. ¡°I could, but we have a condition.¡± Sun Tianchao smiled teasingly, ¡°You can¡¯t participate with the name ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯.¡± Having stayed in Xieyun City for a few days, he certainly wasn¡¯t completely unaware of Xu Ran. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! He saw it coming! Luckily, he had a second advertising plan. So, after only a moment¡¯s thought, Xu Ran firmly nodded, ¡°No problem!¡± ¡°Then follow me.¡± Sun Tianchao nodded and turned to the staff member at the side, ¡°Xiao Qi, go busy yourself.¡± ¡°Okay, Vice-President Sun!¡± The staff member nodded and turned to leave. Xu Ran and the three little ones quickly followed behind Sun Tianchao, proceeding in a certain direction. ¡°You came just at the right time, I¡¯m in charge of submitting the registration materials to the Beast Emperor.¡± Sun Tianchao pointed to the file bag under his arm, ¡°Any later, I would have set off, and there really would be no way to register again.¡± ¡°That was a close call.¡± Xu Ran breathed a sigh of relief and showed a grateful look, ¡°Thank you, Senior Sun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Sun Tianchao nonchalantly waved his hand. While talking, the two of them entered an office. ¡°Xiao Zhou, add one more registration.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The staff member was momentarily startled, then showed a sudden understanding after seeing Xu Ran follow in behind Sun Tianchao, ¡°Hello, please give me your Beast Master Badge.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Xu Ran handed over the badge he had prepared earlier. ¡°Alright.¡± A moment later, the staff member returned the badge, along with a small booklet, ¡°This is a general introduction to the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, you can take a look.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran had been worrying about not having access to detailed information on the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. He accepted the booklet as if it was a precious treasure. ¡°Alright, I should be leaving.¡± Sun Tianchao put Xu Ran¡¯s registration information into the same file bag, waved to Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, good luck with the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes! I¡¯m counting on you!¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Watching Sun Tianchao¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Ran smiled, thanked the staff member again, and turned to leave the registration office. Just as he stepped out of the office, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t wait to open the booklet in his hand. Ziyun quickly hopped up, landing on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, and its head drooped down, next to Xu Ran¡¯s cheek. Star lowered its lofty head, reaching Xu Ran¡¯s other side. Seeing the twosome swiftly occupying prime positions, Cancan¡¯s face showed a bit of helplessness. It quickly stretched its originally meter-long petite figure to three meters, and its head hung over Xu Ran¡¯s head. Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: Chapter 261: Dispute Cases within the Association_2 Chapter 423: Chapter 261: Dispute Cases within the Association_2 Perfect! Ignoring the antics of the three little ones, Xu Ran¡¯s attention was fully focused on the small booklet in his hands. Li Tutu¡¯s previous explanation was too cursory, and many details were left untouched. But considering his opponent¡¯s low strength, it was hardly surprising. At this point, Xu Ran finally learned the full details of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, formally known as the Battle of the Thousand Tribes Vying for Supremacy, is organized by the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu and is a contest in which all sentient beings within the Monster Wooden Domain could participate. It is held annually. Apart from providing opportunities for the quarrelsome Transcendent Beings to vent their frustrations, it is also a chance for the Transcendent Beings within the Monster Wooden Domain to vie for better resources. According to different strengths, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is divided into four stages¡ªElite Stage, Leadership Stage, General Stage, and King Stage. Each stage is conducted at different times. In every battle, the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu would morph its branches into a stairway to heaven. This stairway has a hundred leaves, each capable of accommodating a corresponding strength Transcendent Being for battle. In the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, besides the final placing determined by the height of the leaf placements along with the distribution of ranking rewards, every leaf has a reward item prepared by the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu. At the moment the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes officially ends, the remaining competitors on the leaves could claim the corresponding rewards. As per the height of the leaves, the value of the rewards increases from bottom to top. However, the best reward isn¡¯t necessarily at the topmost leaf. After all, there are ten different attributes to the resources. What suits one best is the best resource. So, besides fighting for ranking rewards, the suitability of the resources on the leaves should also be taken into consideration. ¡°The General Stage is the third stage of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± Xu Ran slowly closed the booklet. ¡°According to the introduction, each stage of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes will last for a day.¡± ¡°So, let¡¯s familiarize ourselves with the rules first. We will also get a chance to watch the Battles of the Elite Stage and the Leadership Stage in advance.¡± The three little ones nodded in agreement. After reading about the rules in the booklet, they shared this idea. ¡°No matter what, the registration is done, and the burden on our hearts is finally lifted.¡± Xu Ran gently patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°We must get that Extreme Source Vein Crystal.¡± At this moment, Star and Cancan also expressed their determination to give their all. ¡°Meow~¡± (Excellent!) Ziyun brushed against Xu Ran¡¯s hand, her eyes filled with excitement. Evolution Progress +1! Then, Ziyun sneaked a glance at the other two little ones. In that case, she¡¯d write off their leaving her out of their fun earlier today! Just as Xu Ran and his three Pet Beasts were about to leave the Beast Master Association, an angry voice echoed from the entrance of the Association. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined my Pet Beast with your cleaning. I demand an explanation today, regardless of what!¡± Huh? Hearing these words, Xu Ran and his pets halted their steps, looking towards the source of the commotion. At the center of their vision, two men were confronting each other. A staff member from the Association stood by them, trying to mediate the situation. However, his face was filled with a mix of helplessness and unease. At the center of the scene, apart from the two men and the staff member, there was also a Pet Beast. It was a Transcendent Being resembling a ferocious lion with mighty muscles all over its body and two curved, pointed dragon horns on its head. Under its dark brown fur, a terrifying power seemed to be surging. Dark Attribute General Stage ¡¤ King Species Pet Beast, Lion Dragon Beast. However, at this moment, this beast, which should have been majestic and intimidating, appeared somewhat ridiculous. This was because the mane around its neck had been completely shorn off, making it look as if it were a lion missing its crown. There were also visible trimmings on its tail. After such a rough trim, the stalwart Lion Dragon Beast seemed to have lost some of its awe-inspiring demeanor, taking a nosedive in the attractiveness department. No wonder the Master of the Lion Dragon Beast, a visibly angry middle-aged man, would utter such words. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn his gaze towards the man standing in conflict with the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s Beast Master. His expression was rather unpleasant. It was apparent that the words of the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s Beast Master had caused him great embarrassment. Besides Xu Ran, many people within the Association had noticed the situation over here due to the loud voice just now. They also roughly guessed what was going on, and immediately all eyes were on the Foster Shop Owner, curious to find out which foster shop it was. Upon closer inspection, the expressions of the people present changed to one of astonishment. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Boss Liu from the Universe Foster Store?¡± A passerby not far from Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°They also launched Washing and Protection Services? But their skills are way too poor, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡± Xu Ran lightly tapped the man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°The Universe Foster Store you just mentioned, is it famous?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The passerby nodded vigorously, ¡°This is one of the top three Foster Stores in Monster Wooden City in terms of overall service level, um¡­excluding Washing and Protection, that is.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Looking at that Foster Shop Owner again, there was a hint of strangeness in his eyes. Clearly, the owner of the Universe Foster Store had seen more and more foster stores in Monster Wooden City launching Washing and Protection services, and so decided to follow suit. From a business perspective, this approach was not to be blamed. But¡­ It seemed that the other party had overly simplified the concept of Washing and Protection, thus leading to this current debacle. Thinking of this, Xu Ran crossed his arms and continued to watch with interest. As more and more people recognized him, the expression on Liu Yu, the owner of the Universe Foster Store, became increasingly unpleasant. The unfolding of events was pretty much as Xu Ran had speculated. With the successive introduction of Washing and Protection services by other foster stores, the survival space of the Universe Foster Store was being squeezed. After all, customers who had used the washing and protection services elsewhere might likely give the rest of their business to other foster stores too. So, this new trend posed a significant threat to the Universe Foster Store, which has always stayed away from it. The Universe Foster Store needed to have its own Washing and Protection technique. From Liu Yu¡¯s standpoint, Washing and Protection was simply about cleaning a dirty pet beast. He thought those in the same industry were charging ludicrous prices for such a minor service. So, he had intentionally set his Washing and Protection prices much lower than his competitors, personally tending to the pet beasts. Thanks to the low prices and the reputation the Universe Foster Store had always had, there was a continuous stream of customers coming in for Washing and Protection services. Initially, things were progressing smoothly. Relying on his self-learned cleaning techniques, Liu Yu successfully cleaned the customers¡¯ pet beasts. However, the good times didn¡¯t last, as he soon ran into huge trouble when he undertook the Washing and Protection of the Lion Dragon Beast brought in by the customer at hand. Large patches of tangled fur appeared on the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s body, tangles so severe that Liu Yu could not comb through. Faced with this situation, in his desperation, Liu Yu chose another method. Clip! Wouldn¡¯t the problem be solved by just trimming off the tangled fur? The idea was good indeed, but Liu Yu had clearly overestimated himself. After trimming off the tangled fur, the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur became uneven and pitted. To fix this, Liu Yu had to trim some of the untangled fur as well. But as he wasn¡¯t very skilled, he ended up creating more uneven patches after each trim, forcing him to keep trimming¡­ In the end, the Lion Dragon Beast was practically shaven bald by him. As more and more people were paying attention to what was happening, Liu Yu was filled with regret for impulsively starting a new service, and was also feeling extremely anxious. It was one thing if the Washing and Protection service had issues, but if it ruined the reputation the Universe Foster Store had built over time, that would be a major issue. So, he couldn¡¯t admit fault too easily! With that in mind, Liu Yu took a deep breath and spoke solemnly, ¡°Your pet beast has severe tangles in its fur in many places that are impossible to untangle. Trimming was the only solution. There is nothing wrong with our Washing and Protection Service. The result would be the same wherever you go for the service!¡± Before he could say anything else, Xu Ran¡¯s voice echoed leisurely. ¡°Who said that the result would be the same wherever the service is performed?¡± Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: Chapter 262 You Really Are Smart_1 Chapter 424: Chapter 262 You Really Are Smart_1 ¡°Who are you?¡± When Liu Yu turned his head and saw a young face he had never seen before, his expression became even colder, and his tone was quite rude, ¡°It¡¯s not your place to speak, is it?¡± Ignoring the angry Liu Yu, Xu Ran turned his head and looked directly at the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast, ¡°If you trust me, you can bring your pet beast to my foster shop for secondary washing and protection.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say much, but at least it will be much better than the current situation.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Hearing this, Liu Yu¡¯s face turned completely black, and his gaze towards Xu Ran became more hostile. He thought it was just someone coming to make trouble. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a colleague. Although he had never seen this kid before and didn¡¯t know which foster shop he was from, the act of stealing his customer in front of him, wasn¡¯t it the same as cheating right in his face? ¡°I don¡¯t know which foster shop you are from, but the customer in my shop has a problem, so it should be us who solve it!¡± Liu Yu said in a deep voice, then looked at the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast. ¡°If you are not satisfied with the washing and protection effect, we can adjust it for free until you are satisfied.¡± Feeling the nods of approval from the surrounding stares at his words, Liu Yu¡¯s heart relaxed a little. As the saying goes, as long as the attitude is right, even making a mistake can be forgiven. Seeing this, Xu Ran shrugged subtly and looked at the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast. His expression was a bit more conflicted, ¡°In that case, it¡¯s up to you¡± Hearing this, the Beast Master showed a thoughtful expression on his face. He didn¡¯t want to cause a scene at the Beast Master Association, but Liu Yu hadn¡¯t been as sincere when he was at the Universe Foster Shop. His demand was simple, merely to solve the problem of pet beast washing and protection. At this moment, the problem was not just about appearance, it was more than that. The Lion Dragon Beast was a transcendent being with a very strong sense of self-esteem. Its beautiful fur collar was its favorite part. Now it has been trimmed short, which made it depressed. Over time, this would affect its strength. Now, Liu Yu has expressed his attitude. As an old customer of the Universe Foster Shop, he was also willing to give them another chance. But¡­ before that, he wanted to know who this young man was, so that he could make a better judgement and choice. Thinking of this, the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast turned his head to look at Xu Ran, ¡°Can you tell me, which foster shop is yours?¡± ¡°My foster shop is called Starfire Foster, and we just started operating in Monster Wooden City a few days ago.¡± Xu Ran replied naturally. As his words fell, a mocking look appeared on Liu Yu¡¯s face, and the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast also looked disappointed. Even the surrounding spectators were whispering to each other. A newly opened shop dared to confront the Universe Foster Shop? Although the Universe Foster Shop made a mistake in its foster services, it wasn¡¯t something that any Joe Blow could compete against, right? As for the reactions of these people, Xu Ran had expected it. So, after a brief pause, he added, ¡°Our shop used to operate in Xieyun City. We were invited by the Beast Master Association to open a branch in Monster Wooden City.¡± Boom! As soon as these words came out, everyone was slightly stunned. Unlike the 3-Level towns that are isolated and have a hard time getting out of the city, communication between Second-Level towns is somewhat difficult, but not impossible. Because of this, everyone knows about each other¡¯s towns. This is no exception for Monster Wooden City, located in the Monster Wooden Domain. Everyone knew that Xieyun City was the most powerful city in Beast Zone No.47. Therefore, Xu Ran¡¯s words wrapped the Starfire Foster Shop in a cloak of mystery. Coming all the way from such a powerful Second-Level town, and even being invited by the Beast Master Association to open a branch here¡­ At this moment, no one cared about the fact that this shop had just opened. What replaced it was a strong curiosity. ¡°Tips from Xieyun City?¡± The Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast had a dazzling look in his eyes, and looked more interested. He had heard that foster services had always existed in places outside Monster Wooden City, so they were more systematic. And Xieyun City, as the strongest Second-Level town nearby, any shop that can survive there would naturally not be bad. Maybe, this young man really has a solution to the problems of the Lion Dragon Beast? On the side, Liu Yu¡¯s expression became even uglier at this moment. He came from Xieyun City? He had vaguely heard before that in order to solve the pet beast washing and protection needs of the Beast Masters in the city, the Beast Master Association had specially invited some shops from other Second-Level towns to settle in Monster Wooden City and open branches to accept the customers with overloaded washing and protection requirements. The most notable one was the recently popular Wind and Cloud Foster Shop, which came from the Second-Level town of Xuanxing City. Now its customer flow was not inferior to the top ten foster shops in Monster Wooden City. But even so, there had been no foster shops from Xieyun City until now. After all, for a place like Xieyun City, Monster Wooden City was nothing more than a bigger backwater. This young man actually came from Xieyun City? If it¡¯s true, he would be a serious threat. But is this really true? He was so young, just looked like a kid. Just then, Liu Yu saw a passing staff member of the Association and his eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Zhang He! Please come over here!¡± Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Chapter 262 You Really Are Smart_2 Chapter 425: Chapter 262 You Really Are Smart_2 ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The staff member who heard the voice came over and looked at Liu Yu. ¡°He claims his store was invited to settle in by the Association from Xieyun City, and you¡¯re in charge of this work. Is this true?¡± Liu Yu pointed at Xu Ran, his voice involuntarily raising so that others could also hear. Indeed! How old is this young man? Are what he says really feasible? At this thought, the others snapped out of their previous shock, and a hint of doubt appeared in their eyes. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Xu.¡± Zhang He turned around, and seeing Xu Ran, the smile on his face deepened. ¡°That is right. Mr. Xu was indeed invited by the Association from Xieyun City.¡± ¡°Mr. Xu, how¡¯s your pet fosterage shop looking? I will definitely come and visit when it officially opens.¡± Xu Ran also recognized this staff member who took him to see the shop two days ago. He smiled slightly, ¡°Thank you for the support, we just opened yesterday.¡± ¡°Yesterday?!¡± A look of surprise flashed across Zhang He¡¯s face. Although the building given to Xu Ran is large, only the exterior has been decorated. In order to allow Xu Ran to build according to his own ideas, the interior is entirely in a rough state. Handed it to him the day before yesterday, and opened yesterday?! As expected of a Beast Master from Xieyun City, very efficient indeed. An admiration appeared in Zhang He¡¯s eyes, ¡°In that case, I will definitely come when I find some free time in the next few days.¡± Next Zhang He turned to look at Liu Yu, who he already knew, ¡°Boss Liu, Boss Xu¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop is a top pet fosterage shop in Xieyun City. You are peers and should exchange more¡­ why does your expression look so ugly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Liu Yu took a deep breath, struggling to calm his gloomy expression and shocked heart. Turns out¡­ it¡¯s real. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll excuse myself first.¡± Zhang He looked around and then excused himself. Although he noticed the strange atmosphere here, he still had urgent matters to attend to. With Zhang He¡¯s confirmation, no one doubted Xu Ran¡¯s identity here anymore. After a moment of silence, Liu Yu slowly spoke, ¡°Even if you are a fosterage shop relocated from Xieyun City, this matter doesn¡¯t give you the right to intervene. At our Universe Foster Store, we will treat our customers¡­¡± ¡°Boss Liu, hold on a moment.¡± The Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast interrupted Liu Yu¡¯s words, ¡°You just said that your shop would enhance my Lion Dragon Beast for free and solve the current problem, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Liu Yu quickly nodded, managing to squeeze out a slight smile, ¡°Mr. Zhou, you are a regular customer of our shop, please trust our services.¡± Although Liu Yu was sincere at this moment, the customer who had just been tricked obviously didn¡¯t seem to buy it. ¡°In that case, please lay out the solution for me.¡± The customer said calmly, ¡°If I¡¯m satisfied with your solution, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯m considering trying out this man¡¯s fosterage shop.¡± ¡°You¡¯re always welcome.¡± Xu Ran showed a smile. It¡¯s not like he had to snatch this customer, but their grooming was truly terrible. Upon closer inspection of the Lion Dragon Beast, Xu Ran could affirm this, in addition to the messy trimming, the fur care of the Lion Dragon Beast was also terrible, it really was just washed clean. Xu Ran didn¡¯t believe that they could come up with a satisfactory solution. Therefore, Xu Ran was also curious about what kind of solution the boss of Universe Foster Store would come up with. For a moment, everyone else¡¯s gaze fell on Liu Yu. A bead of cold sweat emerged from Liu Yu¡¯s forehead. He made an after-sale proposal just to placate things momentarily. If worst comes to worst, he¡¯d swallow his pride and secretly seek help from other familiar fosterage shops, without airing the matter publicly, the reputation of Universe Foster Store wouldn¡¯t suffer too much damage. Unexpectedly, the customer now wants him to propose the solution. What the hell does he know about solutions, with the fur already trimmed like this, can he make it grow back? But Liu Yu knew all too well, any attempt to evade at this point would be fruitless, he had to immediately offer a solution that would satisfy the customer, otherwise, the customer would surely seek help from the Starfire Foster Shop. And his Universe Foster Store, would suffer a major blow to its reputation all at once. At this thought, Liu Yu couldn¡¯t help but glare at Xu Ran. It¡¯s this damned kid! If it weren¡¯t for him, the customer would surely have accepted my proposal and things could have temporarily settled down. Taking a deep breath, in his desperation, Liu Yu thought of his wife who was losing hair rapidly, a spark of inspiration darted across his mind. ¡°Hair plugs!¡± Liu Yu exclaimed loudly, ¡°We could use a method similar to human hair plugs to attach artificial fur to your Pet Beast, restoring it to its original appearance!¡± Upon finishing, a release of tension displayed itself as a small, relaxed smile on Liu Yu¡¯s face. Regarding the solution he had come up with on the spot, Liu Yu was highly satisfied. If the fur has been cut too short, just replace it with a fake one¡­ ¡°Snort~¡± A laughter that could not be contained resounded in the silence. Xu Ran held one hand in front of his mouth, his expression strained as he tried to suppress his laughter. He gave a violent cough, and waved his hand to Liu Yu and the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s Beast Master, ¡°Excuse me, I couldn¡¯t help it. Please, continue.¡± Using artificial fur on a Pet Beast. The person who came up with this idea, Liu Yu, was really clever. The body of an ordinary creature is constantly undergoing metamorphosis under the influence of Transcendent Power after awakening as a Transcendent Being. Even their fur would undergo the same transformation. The fur of a powerful Transcendent Being could become indestructible. Therefore, the Washing and Protection of Transcendent Beings is not as simple as a bath in the ordinary sense. The process of Washing and Protection involves allowing care products mixed with specific Transcendent Resources to be absorbed into the fur, providing deep nourishment. Liu Yu¡¯s solution might seem to solve the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s problem on the surface, but in reality it¡¯s like amputating a leg and replacing it with a prosthetic, and moreover, a bad quality plastic one. Thinking of this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast. It¡¯s not his place to say more at this point, he could only hope that the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast would comprehend the discrepancy. After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s laughter, the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast showed a contemplative expression. At first, he thought this solution was okay. But after hearing the laughter of Mr. Xu, he had a vague feeling that something was not quite right. Attaching fake fur to the Lion Dragon Beast, even if the appearance looks the same, the fur is ultimately not the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s own. They are burdens that definitely affect the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s power. And also¡­ The customer turned his head and exchanged a look with his Pet Beast. In the eyes of the Lion Dragon Beast, he saw a firm refusal. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I cannot accept this method.¡± Having made up his mind, the customer spoke calmly, and then turned to Xu Ran, ¡°You said you can provide a secondary washing and protection for my Lion Dragon Beast, is that true?¡± Before Xu Ran could respond, Liu Yu quickly returned to his senses from his disappointment and anger. He fiercely glared at Xu Ran, who had messed up his plans, and then spoke in a low voice, ¡°Secondary washing and protection? This guy is probably just trying to trick you!¡± ¡°The fur of the Lion Dragon Beast has already been cut this way, I can¡¯t make the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur grow back, so how could he?¡± Hearing this, a peculiar glint flashed in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. This tone¡­ Feels kind of familiar¡­ ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t we have a bet?¡± Seeing the angry Liu Yu, Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°We¡¯ll bet on whether or not I can complete the washing and protection of the Lion Dragon Beast.¡± A bet? Liu Yu was slightly stunned and then spoke in a deep voice. ¡°What do you want to bet?¡± ¡°Simple.¡± Xu Ran pointed to the Lion Dragon Beast, ¡°If I succeed, your Universe Foster Store must recommend your wash and care customers to my shop.¡± ¡°You wish!¡± Liu Yu snorted, ¡°And if you fail, I want you to work in our store for a year!¡± ¡°Seems to me like you¡¯re the one who is dreaming.¡± Xu Ran looked at Liu Yu with a smirk, ¡°But deal.¡± Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 263: Coordination of Washing and Protection!_1 Chapter 426: Chapter 263: Coordination of Washing and Protection!_1 ¡°Let¡¯s set the time for tomorrow morning.¡± After agreeing on the bet with Liu Yu, Xu Ran turned his head to the Beast Master of the Lion Dragon Beast, whose name was Zhou Hong, ¡°Tomorrow, apart from the morning, I will have to serve some special guests and wouldn¡¯t be able to attend to you.¡± ¡°How about at eight in the morning, after my Foster Shop starts functioning?¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Zhou Hong nodded briskly. He was more eager than Xu Ran to get his Pet Beast groomed as soon as possible to help its recovery. ¡°Boss Xu, I trust my Lion Dragon Beast in your hands.¡± Zhou Hong said sincerely. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll give it my best.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face looked serious, as if to show his willingness. He had bet his next year to do this job. He couldn¡¯t not take it seriously. To enhance his fame as quickly as possible, he had to go all out. Even for him, addressing the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s issue was not an easy task. Good thing is, though not easy, it doesn¡¯t mean impossible. ¡°I¡¯d like to see what you will do tomorrow,¡± Liu Yu said maliciously. By now, the reputation of the Universe Foster Store was ruined. Thus, Liu Yu plans to bet against the freedom of this guy in front of him for a year to make him realize the price of interrupting. Liu Yu never considered the possibility that Xu Ran could win the bet. A clipped pet growing its fur back just by grooming? Really think grooming can do everything? After leaving the address of his foster store, Xu Ran left with his three little beasts. The incident that happened in the Beast Master Association spread across Monster Wooden City like a gust of wind with the help of the gossips. Many already knew that Starfire Foster, previously operating in Xieyun City, had settled in Monster Wooden City. As soon as they settled in, they picked a fight with Universe Foster Store, a top three in Monster Wooden City. And that bet has also been propagated, outing it to more people. On the other side of Monster Wooden City, there was a Foster Care Shop named Wind and Cloud. Although it¡¯s been less than a month since it started, it has garnered many loyal customers due to its unique grooming skills and quality foster care services. It has broken into the top 10 for the daily influx of customers in Monster Wooden City. In front of the Wind and Cloud foster shop, a spectacled man who looked well-educated greeted customers with a warm smile. This man had a name that didn¡¯t match with his image. Liu Fengyun. He was the owner of the Wind and Cloud foster store. Among all the out-of-town foster stores invited to Monster Wooden City by the Beast Trainer Association in Monster Wooden City, Wind and Cloud foster won the most customers, thanks to Liu Fengyun¡¯s business strategy and quality of service. Even though it was late, Liu Fengyun hurriedly stepped forward and welcomed another customer with an even brighter smile, ¡°Welcome~¡± ¡°Boss Liu, can you groom my pet beast?¡± That customer laughed, ¡°After the last grooming session, it has been eager to come here again every day!¡± ¡°Being chosen by you and your pet beast is our honor.¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°Shall I do it?¡± ¡°No, no, no. Let the same woman do it as before,¡± the customer quickly shook his hand. Liu Fengyun nodded knowingly and with a snap of his fingers. Shortly thereafter, a beautiful woman came out and signaled the Pet Beast behind the customer to follow her into an empty grooming room. ¡°By the way, Boss Liu, do you know that another foster shop has come to Monster Wooden City from Xieyun City?¡± A customer asked casually while waiting. ¡°Xieyun City¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s smile momentarily faltered, ¡°Do their foster shops also come to Monster Wooden City to open branches?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± The customer shrugged, ¡°But the boss of that new foster store is quite interesting. You don¡¯t know, I was there at that time¡­¡± The customer went on to recount the incident at the Beast Master Association, before looking at Liu Fengyun, ¡°If it were you, Boss Liu, could you make that Lion Dragon Beast grow its fur again?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a hint of thought. After a moment, he shook his head slightly, ¡°By using acceleration drugs, you can restore it to its original state in a month, but I cannot do it with a single grooming session.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± the customer suddenly looked curious, ¡°You are the best groomer I have ever seen, and even you can¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°If I guess correctly, the Boss Xu you are talking about can¡¯t do it either.¡± Liu Fengyun hinted at something and continued to smile. ¡°Huh?¡± The customer looked surprised, ¡°His bet with Boss Liu of Universe Foster Store is not small. If he loses, he needs to work at Universe Foster Store for a year. If he can¡¯t do it, then why would he bet that way?¡± ¡°Is there a possibility¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a strange smile, ¡°That he doesn¡¯t want the Lion Dragon Beast to regrow its hair at all?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°I plan to entirely change the style of the Lion Dragon Beast.¡± Back at his foster shop, responding to the curiosity of the three little ones, Xu Ran said so. ¡°Even with the best hair growth drugs, it would take half a month for the Lion Dragon Beast to recovery,¡± Xu Ran shook his head helplessly, ¡°So wanting to recover immediately to its previous state is simply impossible.¡± ¡°But, even if it can¡¯t recover to its previous state, it doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t be trimmed into another style.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (But how is this different from what Liu Yu did before?) Star gave a neigh, filled with curiosity and confusion. What Liu Yu did isn¡¯t just styling, right? Why when Xu Ran continues to groom, can he make the Lion Dragon Beast better? The principle is actually very simple.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at the three little ones, then fixed his gaze on Ziyun. ¡°For example, if I trim Ziyun¡¯s tail furry shorter and leave the rest as is.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (What!?) Ziyun¡¯s pupils shrink, she quickly hid her large, floaty tail like a cloud between her back legs. Don¡¯t look at me! I don¡¯t have a tail! She wouldn¡¯t want a beautiful tail like this to be reduced to just a skinny tail! It would be too ugly! ¡°Sure~¡± (That would definitely not look good.) Cancan imagined Ziyun¡¯s shorter tail fur and quickly shook his head. ¡°If I were to, on this basis, trim the fur around Ziyun¡¯s neck, and make some adjustments on her body fur as well¡­¡± As Xu Ran spoke, he took out his pen and started to sketch on a white piece of paper. Soon, an image of Ziyun with shorter fur appeared on the sheet. ¡°What do you think?¡± After the sketch was complete, Xu Ran showed the drawing to the three little ones. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It seems to look not bad like this?) In Star¡¯s voice, there was a hint of uncertainty. Could it be his aesthetics was off, why does a short-haired Ziyun seem quite good-looking? ¡°Sure~¡± (Indeed.) Cancan, on the side, nodded in agreement. It felt that this styling looked good. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (This¡­) Staring at the unmistakably different image of herself on paper, Ziyun¡¯s eyes widened initially then, unexpectedly, she seemed moved. It wasn¡¯t entirely unacceptable to change her appearance once in a while¡­ ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t actually cut Ziyun¡¯s fur.¡± Xu Ran quickly tore up the sketch, dispelling the thoughts of the three little ones, ¡°I advocate for the natural beauty of pet beasts, and wouldn¡¯t make such adjustments unless necessary.¡± ¡°The previous one was just a simple example.¡± He crumpled the wasted paper into a ball and threw it into the bins, and went on, ¡°The essence of grooming is to find a balance.¡± ¡°Aside from cleaning, the most crucial part of grooming is to maintain the pet beast in its prime state by enhancing its overall balance.¡± ¡°For wind attribute pet beasts with feathers or fur, their fur should be kept as smooth and silky as possible, so that in flight or wind battles, they can showcase their needed flexibility without any hindrance.¡± ¡°For water attribute pet beasts, their skin tends to be smooth or they possess oil-secreting hair that is water resistant. During grooming, it is very important to maintain the balance of their fur¡¯s oil and water.¡± ¡°Thunder attribute, fire attribute, earth attribute¡­ all kinds of attributes and species have their corresponding grooming needs, and these needs are determined based on their abilities and physique¡­¡± Xu Ran paused to see the puzzled faces of the three little ones, and laughed helplessly, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about this.¡± ¡°Anyway, the Lion Dragon Beast will be as good as new after tomorrow¡¯s grooming.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the sky and changed subjects, ¡°I need to start meditating, you three can go play.¡± Upon hearing what Xu Ran said, the three little ones glanced at each other, a glint of ambition flashed in their eyes. But before any ideas could form, Xu Ran¡¯s next comment was already spoken. ¡°But you are not allowed to leave the city again!¡± ¡°Sure~¡± (Alright¡­) Cancan replied listlessly, feeling like an explorer who¡¯s lost his dreams. ¡°Meow~¡± (When would we get to see the place Cancan was talking about~) As Ziyun shook her head, her eyes filled with expectancy. She had a hunch that the thunderous sound, buried deep underground, meant something important to her! ¡°Tomorrow then.¡± Already sitting cross-legged on the bed in a meditation pose, Xu Ran casually responded, ¡°After grooming the Lion Dragon Beast tomorrow, I¡¯ll begin grooming the rest of the Ground Raccoon Tribe.¡± ¡°If all goes well, the grooming should be done by the end of the day.¡± ¡°Then after closing, we can go out of the city to take a look.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°It just so happens that Star will get more blessings at night.¡± As he spoke, Xu Ran slowly closed his eyes and sunk into deep meditation. At this moment, however, Star and Cancan¡¯s expressions changed slightly. Those ground raccoons will indeed be groomed in the shop! Oh no! If they see them tomorrow, won¡¯t they be socially embarrassed?! Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_1 Chapter 427: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_1 Time passed, and it was the next morning. The time for the bet between Xu Ran and the owner of the Universe Foster Store, Liu Yu, which had been settled yesterday, had arrived. Early in the morning, Zhou Hong, with his Lion Dragon Beast whose appearance had greatly deteriorated, arrived in front of the Starfire Foster Care Shop following the address given by Xu Ran the day before. For Xu Ran and Liu Yu, this was a gambit with significant stakes on the line, and for him, it was the only chance for his pet beast to recover. Time passed by the minute and second. The shop door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop had not yet opened, yet more and more people were standing outside. These were the people who had witnessed the argument between Xu Ran and Liu Yu with their own eyes or had heard about it from others, and had therefore come specifically to watch the spectacle. Although Xieyun City didn¡¯t have as powerful forces to maintain peace and order, the biggest feature of Monster Wooden City was its peace and stability, so there were plenty of idle bystanders as well. During their wait, the door of the Starfire Foster Care Shop slowly opened. ¡°Welcome to the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Xu Ran stepped out of the shop door, smiling at Zhou Hong. Behind him stood the three little ones who had come with him. ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu.¡± Zhou Hong curiously glanced at the natural layout inside the shop through the door, ¡°Shall we start now?¡± Without waiting for Xu Ran to answer, someone among the bystanders couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Wait a minute! The other main character hasn¡¯t arrived yet!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Let¡¯s wait for Boss Liu to arrive!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s wait a little longer for Boss Liu, to avoid any disputes.¡± Xu Ran spread his hands. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Zhou Hong calmed down and nodded slightly. Not making the crowd wait too long, a figure quickly approached from a distance. The crowd automatically made way for him, and Liu Yu walked up to Xu Ran and Zhou Hong without expression, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°Please come in.¡± Xu Ran extended his hand, motioned towards the shop, and then turned around and went in. Including the bystanders, everyone excitedly followed inside. They had never seen this Starfire Foster Shop before, so aside from witnessing the bet firsthand, they also wanted to see what made this foster shop from Xieyun City different. Upon entering the shop, Zhou Hong looked around and quickly spotted the price menu. The washing and protection prices entered his view, slightly lifting his eyebrows. The Lion Dragon Beast, being a large pet beast, would require over a hundred thousand at those foster shops in Monster Wooden City that already offer washing and protection services. And at the Universe Foster Store, it only cost ten thousand. This was one of the reasons why he chose the Universe Foster Store without hesitation. And the result, clearly, wasn¡¯t good. Cheap goods are never good, it was a lesson learned the hard way. Therefore, the moment he saw that Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s prices were also cheaper than other shops¡¯, his confidence in Starfire Foster Care Shop diminished a bit. ¡°Hehe.¡± Liu Yu glanced at the price menu and laughed out loud, ¡°Your washing and protection prices are also cheaper than other shops, who knows about your skills.¡± Seeing the expressions of the two and the changing faces of other bystanders, Xu Ran understood what was going on. For a moment, he felt somewhat helpless. He never expected that there would be a day when he would be doubted for charging too little. ¡°If you look at the price for fosterage and accompanying training, you should know that our shop¡¯s charges are not cheap.¡± Xu Ran helplessly spread his hands, ¡°In fact, washing and protection services in other cities are cheaper than in Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°And Starfire Foster Care currently has three branches in different cities, all with uniform pricing.¡± Three branches in three different cities? Just hearing this, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but feel a little amazed. What kind of confidence is needed to achieve this? After Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, they looked at the prices for fosterage and accompanying training, and indeed found these two services to be more expensive than the most expensive ones in Monster Wooden City. So¡­they simply unified the pricing of their chain stores? For a moment, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but look at Liu Yu with somewhat unfriendly eyes. Were they being misled by this guy again?! Liu Yu opened his mouth only to close it immediately after. He suddenly felt it would be better not to speak. After all, the final judgment would depend on the result of the grooming. No matter how eloquently the young man talked, if he was unable to restore the Lion Dragon Beast that had already been shorn, he was bound to lose! Thinking of this, Liu Yu glared at Xu Ran hatefully and stopped talking. As for Zhou Hong, after hearing Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, his confidence in Starfire Foster Care Shop was reignited. ¡°Boss Xu, I entrust my Lion Dragon Beast to you then.¡± Gently pushing the Lion Dragon Beast, indicating it to follow Boss Xu, Zhou Hong had a pleading expression on his face. ¡°Please be assured, I will do my best.¡± Xu Ran smiled, stretched out his hand and touched the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s huge head, ¡°Do you want to accompany the grooming session, or wait in the outside lounge?¡± ¡°You can accompany?¡± Zhou Hong was taken aback for a moment and nodded without hesitation, ¡°Then I choose to accompany!¡± Although he had regained a lot of confidence in Starfire Foster Care Shop, if the grooming could be done right in front of his eyes and he could watch the whole process, he would feel even more assured. Thinking of this, Zhou Hong couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Liu Yu. The reason why the Lion Dragon Beast was groomed like this at Universe Foster Store was largely because Universe Foster Store did not allow the Beast Master to accompany the grooming process. Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: Chapter 264: Cashing in the Bet! (Two-in-one)_2 Chapter 428: Chapter 264: Cashing in the Bet! (Two-in-one)_2 By the time the Lion Dragon Beast was sent to him after the cleaning and caring procedure, it was too late for any regrets. Liu Yu¡¯s gaze flickered at this moment. Can people accompany him during the cleaning and caring process? He wanted to see what made this guy¡¯s cleaning and caring procedures different. ¡°Since people are allowed to accompany, I suppose Boss Xu won¡¯t mind if I also go in and observe?¡± Liu Yu sneered coldly and spoke leisurely. ¡°That¡¯s not my decision to make.¡± Xu Ran shook his head. then looked at Zhou Hong, ¡°The Lion Dragon Beast is Mr. Zhou¡¯s pet beast. How to clean and care for it, and who is allowed to accompany, he has the final say.¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Liu Yu turned his head and squeezed out a thin smile. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what do you think¡­¡± Zhou Hong hesitated for a moment. Instinctively, he didn¡¯t want this man who had cut his pet beast¡¯s fur too short to enter the grooming room. But thinking of the bet between Liu Yu and Xu Ran, Zhou Hong knew that doing so would indeed be the best choice for both of them. ¡°In that case, Boss Liu, you can follow too.¡± Zhou Hong spoke in a deep voice and then looked at the eager onlookers on the side, ¡°You all stop asking, too many people would affect Boss Xu.¡± With one sentence, Zhou Hong obliterated the onlookers¡¯ ideas to follow inside. He nodded at Xu Ran, signaling that he could proceed. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Xu Ran turned his head and led the Lion Dragon Beast towards the grooming room. Zhou Hong and Liu Yu followed closely. Soon, the door of the grooming room was closed, leaving a stunned crowd outside. ¡°Wait..¡± In the crowd, a middle-aged man with half-rimmed glasses and scholarly demeanor adjusted his glasses and slowly said, ¡°The Lion Dragon Beast is so big, the cleaning and caring should take about half an hour.¡± ¡°In half an hour, we will know the outcome of this bet.¡± ¡°Boss Liu, why did you leave your store to come here?¡± Someone recognized the owner of the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop and teased him. ¡°I¡¯m here to learn a thing or two.¡± Liu Fengyun laughed, his gaze once again falling on Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s price menu. If the pricing is uniform across all cities, then the young man who dared to offer such a price is indeed quite confident¡­ His eyes showed a deep interest. After seeing the Lion Dragon Beast with his own eyes, Liu Fengyun was clear, that even if he exhausted all his strength, he could hardly maintain the beast¡¯s condition. What kind of level could this Boss Xu achieve? He was very curious. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Come, lie down here.¡± Inside the grooming room, under Xu Ran¡¯s direction, the Lion Dragon Beast obediently lay on the grooming platform for large pet beast, waiting for Xu Ran¡¯s next step. Although its race name means both lion and dragon, the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s temper is very stable. It will conscientiously execute the instructions of both the Beast Master and others. ¡°Well done, I¡¯ll give you something good later.¡± Xu Ran gently patted the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s big head, then turned around and began his preparations for the cleaning and caring. In a corner of the grooming room, Zhou Hong quickly recovered from seeing the interior of the grooming room. His hands clenched slightly, looking at his own pet beast. He was curious about the care that the Lion Dragon Beast was about to receive, and felt very nervous. Could this Boss Xu really do as he said? On the other hand, Liu Yu looked more serious. Without comparison, there is no harm. From Starfire Foster¡¯s grooming room, he saw one word. Professional. Among them were many instruments and items he didn¡¯t recognize, which made him vaguely feel that the young man in front of him, like he said, indeed had strong grooming skills. Could it be¡­ that I will lose this bet? Thinking of this, Liu Yu suddenly felt restless. Once he loses, he will have to refer customers who require grooming services to Starfire Foster, and this would be working in someone else¡¯s favor. It¡¯s easy to understand what a great blow this would be to Universe Foster. No, we have not necessarily lost! Liu Yu took a deep breath, forcibly cheered himself up, and stared at Xu Ran who was preparing . He knew the condition of the Lion Dragon Beast too well because it was his doing. When trimmed like this, apart from letting the Lion Dragon Beast regrow its own new fur slowly, there were no other options. Thinking of this, Liu Yu¡¯s eyes lit up with confidence. He, had not reached the point of losing yet! Without paying attention to Liu Yu¡¯s thoughts, Xu Ran quickly prepared the special bath dew for the Lion Dragon Beast. As he had said earlier, in order to reward the Lion Dragon Beast for being obedient, he especially added a resource to the bath dew that could make the beast feel better, to help relieve the psychological shadow caused by having its fur clipped too short. After adjusting the water to the right temperature for the Lion Dragon Beast, Xu Ran grabbed the showerhead in one hand, evenly sprayed the bath dew on the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s body, and with his other hand gently stroked its fur, so that the bath dew penetrated deeper into the fur. The comforting temperature of the water suddenly wetted Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur. The warm feeling was just right, causing the beast to shiver with pleasure as if its whole body had warmed up. The bath dew continuously seeped into the gaps at the roots of the hairs, dissolving the dirt residues untouched during the hasty cleaning in the Universe Foster Store, and then flowing down with the dirt, gathering in a shallow grey stream beneath the grooming platform. Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_3 Chapter 429: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_3 On seeing this scene, Zhou Hong¡¯s expression subtly changed. He could naturally tell that this was just a preliminary wash and basic cleaning for his Lion Dragon Beast. But the problem was, the Lion Dragon Beast had already undergone bathing and grooming yesterday. Even though that bath was rather poor, but¡­ Did they not even wash it clean? With this thought, Zhou Hong turned to glance at Liu Yu, his look carried an added touch of displeasure. Wiping the slight sweat off his forehead, Liu Yu was already feeling immense pressure. He had clearly washed the Lion Dragon Beast inside and out twice yesterday, yet there was still so much dirt left? Or did the Lion Dragon Beast get dirty overnight? Feeling Zhou Hong¡¯s discontented gaze, Liu Yu figured, it must be the former. This left him even more dumbfounded. The grooming trimmed remains, hadn¡¯t it been cleaned properly?! Before he could think further, a pleasant noise echoed in the grooming room. ¡°Roar~¡± It was the voice of the Lion Dragon Beast. Under Xu Ran¡¯s gentle massage at the base of its fur, the Lion Dragon Beast experienced an electrifying pleasure all over its body. Every hair follicle was tenderly cared for, making it feel like returning to a warm, cozy cradle. The Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s eyes slowly became glazed, and a contended look appeared on its face. [Pleasure value from Lion Dragon Beast +30] [Pleasure value from Lion Dragon Beast +30] [From¡­] Seeing the continuous pop-up notifications, Xu Ran¡¯s smile brightened a bit more. After two days of the store opening, he finally saw the first increment in pleasure value. He had given grooming services to the Ground Raccoon Tribe for half a day yesterday, and while he had received numerous Skill Fragments, he gained no pleasure value since all the raccoons were wild Super Creatures. Here was the first pleasure value earned by the Monster Wooden City¡¯s Starfire Fosterage. Thinking of this, he looked at the Lion Dragon Beast with an even friendlier gaze. The force he used in his hands unconsciously became more gentle and soft. As a result, the tremors of the Lion Dragon Beast intensified. This comfortable feeling made its entire body seem lighter. Although it was a creature of the Dark Attribute, at this moment it suddenly felt the joy of the Wind Attribute. ¡°Roar~~¡± Another sound, stranger than before, was squeaked out from its mouth. Zhou Hong immediately cut off his shared perception with the Lion Dragon Beast. As he looked towards Xu Ran, his gaze held hints of surprise and joy. The surprise was from seeing this side of the Lion Dragon Beast that he had never seen before, despite its character being stable and obedient. The joy came from the realization that this grooming service that was so comfortable to the Lion Dragon Beast could indeed solve its problems! On the other hand, the look on Liu Yu, who had witnessed this scene, had grown even darker. He remembered very clearly that during the grooming he had given the Lion Dragon Beast yesterday, the beast gave no feedback or resistance, lying limply on the Care platform like a corpse. And now¡­ Looking at the creature, shaking in delight with a confused stare, Liu Yu felt as if he was being repeatedly slapped in the face. His hands clenched into fists, his breath becoming more rapid. Damnit!! Another wash¡­fur care¡­ deep hair repair¡­ Xu Ran finished all the steps in an orderly manner, and weird noises from the Lion Dragon Beast echoed in the Grooming Room. Liu Yu¡¯s expression, initially embarrassed, had now turned numb. Watching Xu Ran who was performing a grooming procedure far more professional than his own with such ease and artistry, Liu Yu clung to his last shred of hope. That was, even after all these steps, the length of the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur had not changed, and the areas which were originally bald remained bald. He hadn¡¯t lost yet! Soon, after completing all the hair care procedures, Xu Ran took out a delicate long pair of scissors and a long comb while the hair was still damp. After meticulously combing and separating the fur of the Lion Dragon Beast into hundreds of different sections, Xu Ran held one section of the fur and snipped it with a ¡°clack¡±. Accompanied by a tuft of damp fur falling on the floor beneath the Care platform, the entire Grooming Room fell silent. ¡°What¡­¡± Zhou Hong was just rejoicing that he found a great bathing and grooming service, but now he couldn¡¯t help standing up, his fists clenched as he looked at Xu Ran, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Hahaha, isn¡¯t it obvious? He¡¯s giving the Lion Dragon Beast a haircut!¡± Liu Yu, initially shocked, burst into laughter. Trim! Trim more! Originally, he had been wondering what method Xu Ran would use to make the Lion Dragon Beast grow more fur. He never expected that Xu Ran had no such thoughts and was planning to continue trimming the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s hair. It was already trimmed so baldly, wouldn¡¯t it become even balder with further trimming? Thinking of this, Liu Yu felt overjoyed. It was evident that this guy, Xu Ran, indeed had skills in grooming. It just so happened that their Universe Foster Store lacked talent in this area, getting him to work for him for a year was a great deal! After a year, when he had learned this technique, he would kick this annoying guy out! For a moment, Liu Yu had even planned his actions when the gamble ended after a year. Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_4 Chapter 430: Chapter 264 Fulfilling the Bet! (Two in One)_4 He couldn¡¯t help but grin already, only to hear Xu Ran speak calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t rush.¡± Xu Ran gave a little wave of the scissors in his hand. ¡°Even if we¡¯re all trimming, the results can be vastly different, just like how I can still clean a pet beast even after others have attempted to do so.¡± The smirk on Liu Yu¡¯s face vanished instantly. At that moment, he felt as if he had been trampled on. After the initial excitement, Zhou Hong¡¯s emotions had cooled slightly. He had to admit, the moment he saw Xu Ran take out scissors to trim the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur, he instantly had a gut feeling that Xu Ran might ruin the beast too. But as Xu Ran said, there can be a difference even in trimming and grooming. Xu Ran¡¯s previous grooming work had bolstered his confidence somewhat, combined with the fact that the wager between Xu Ran and Liu Yu was substantial, meant he was willing to bet on Xu Ran once more. However, as Zhou Hong slowly retook his seat, he couldn¡¯t help but remind him, ¡°Be gentle, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my hands are very steady.¡± Xu Ran smiled faintly, then reached out to soothe the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s emotions. Once more subjected to the trimming of its fur, the creature seemed visibly more nervous. The small episode in the grooming room passed, Xu Ran¡¯s trimming continued. Locks of hair fell to the floor under his scissors, accumulating into a small mountain of dark fur standing stark against the clean white marble tiles. Seeing the pile of fur, Zhou Hong couldn¡¯t help but twitch a smile despite telling himself to have faith in Boss Xu. At this moment, he desperately wanted to know what Boss Xu actually planned to do. But looking at Xu Ran¡¯s focused expression and nearly phantasmagoric speed, Zhou Hong worried that any interference from him might bring about unpredictable consequences. At one side, Liu Yu was watching the hair pile up at Xu Ran¡¯s feet, a satisfied smirk playing on his face. The amount of fur that Xu Ran had cut was nearly two or three times the amount that he had trimmed the day before. Based on Xu Ran¡¯s rate of trimming, wouldn¡¯t this Lion Dragon Beast end up completely bald? No matter what the other party does, it would be him who won this bet! ¡°Snip¡­¡± Having delicately trimmed the last strand of fur, Xu Ran gently wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead, inspected each area of fur thoroughly, then heaved a sigh of relief and put down the scissors on the toolkit. Next, he picked up a comb and gently started combing the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur. While removing the broken hair hidden in the fur, the originally messy fur of the Lion Dragon Beast due to trimming gradually began showing its true style. The dark, thin hair clung tightly to the skin, short but remarkably soft, perfectly highlighting the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s strong physique. Although it was totally different from the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s previous image, this fresh look was not inferior, but rather brought a sense of novelty as if it had undergone a skin change. Zhou Hong¡¯s clenched hand slowly relaxed. Although the grooming process for the Lion Dragon Beast was not completely over yet, seeing it now, he knew that he could accept this grooming result. The term ¡®able to accept¡¯ even felt a bit too harsh. It would be more accurate to say that he was extremely satisfied with this outcome based on the original state! Finally, after Xu Ran finished the drying and shaping, the grooming of the Lion Dragon Beast was complete. After being dried, the Lion Dragon Beast¡¯s fur became even softer, reflecting a glossy radiance like silk under the light, perfectly displaying the contours of the beast¡¯s muscles. ¡°Roar~~~¡± Upon seeing its own brand new appearance in the mirror, the Lion Dragon Beast first showed a stunned expression; even the previously remaining confusion in its eyes seemed to have cleared up quite a bit. Upon realizing that the completely new image in the mirror was actually itself, the beast¡¯s mood clearly became much more invigorated. Clearly, it too quite liked its new shape. ¡°The grooming is finished.¡± Xu Ran wiped his hands and walked up to Zhou Hong, giving a small smile. ¡°I hope you are satisfied.¡± ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied!¡± Zhou Hong nodded emphatically without hesitation. Liu Yu¡¯s face, on the other hand, was pitch black. If both the Beast Master and the Pet Beast are satisfied, it¡¯s the best confirmation of the grooming effect. Obviously, he lost this gamble. As the three of them, along with the Lion Dragon Beast, emerged from the grooming room, the crowd that had waited outside for a long time couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. They still remembered how the Lion Dragon Beast had looked when it went in. And now looking at the one that walked out¡­ It was as if they had switched out the Pet Beast! For a moment, those Beast Masters whose pets also had grooming needs were swayed. With this case before them, if even a Lion Dragon Beast which had been shorn bald could get a new lease on life in this shop, what would their own pets look like after grooming here? Thinking of this, they could no longer hold back, quickly moving forward to surround Xu Ran. ¡°Boss Xu, how long is your store open every day?¡± ¡°Boss Xu, do you have a membership card here? I¡¯ll get one!¡± ¡°Boss Xu, you¡­¡± ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t rush!¡± Seeing the crowd coming forward, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but wave his hands, laughing, ¡°Our shop¡¯s opening hours are posted on the outside door, and we don¡¯t have any membership cards or other recharge services. The price menu is right on the wall, transparent prices.¡± ¡°If anyone has any other questions, please ask one at a time.¡± ¡°Then Boss Xu, can my pet come for grooming now?¡± An impatient Beast Master promptly asked. The other Beast Masters also nodded in agreement. Obviously, as soon as Xu Ran said ¡°yes¡±, they would call over their pets in the next moment. ¡°I suggest you all come back tomorrow.¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°I already have an appointment today.¡± He had already caught sight of the Ground Raccoon Tribe waiting quietly outside, not yet entering. Today, he still had grooming to be done for the members of the Ground Raccoon Tribe that didn¡¯t receive it the day before. He didn¡¯t have time to attend to so many guests. When they heard Xu Ran say this, the crowd¡¯s excited feelings calmed a bit. The next moment, a voice was heard in the crowd. ¡°Boss Liu, where are you going?¡± As those words fell, everyone turned their eyes towards the shop door. Liu Yu was half-bent over, with one of his feet already stepping outside the door. Obviously, he wanted to slip away. Realizing he was found out, Liu Yu angrily glanced at the crowd, but couldn¡¯t find who was the one that shouted. He awkwardly retracted his foot, trying to cover his embarrassment with a soft cough, ¡°I suddenly remembered some urgent matters in my shop. I have to leave first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Xu Ran quickly went forward, ¡°Boss Liu, you haven¡¯t forgotten about our bet, have you?¡± This was the method, which he had found with such difficulty, to increase his fame. He couldn¡¯t let this guy escape! With Monster Wooden City¡¯s top-three ranked Universe Foster Store drawing in customers, the fame of Starfire Foster Care Shop could at least increase by 5%! ¡°The wager¡­ I¡­¡± Liu Yu¡¯s expression subtly changed, finding it hard to respond. ¡°So many of us are watching, Boss Liu. A businessman should keep his word.¡± From within the crowd, Liu Fengyun, adjusting his glasses, suddenly spoke. Liu Yu¡¯s expression changed slightly, a fierce struggle showing in his eyes. Eventually, he gritted his teeth, ¡°Fine! According to our previous bet, customers from the Universe Foster Store who have grooming needs will be directed to you!¡± After saying so, Liu Yu, unable to maintain his composure, turned and left without hesitation. Watching him leave, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Yes¡­that¡¯s more like it! Chapter 435 - Chapter 435: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score! Chapter 435: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score! Soon, the leader of the Ground Raccoon Tribe appeared in front of the most powerful of those Earth Rock Rats. Being of the same Leadership Stage in strength, this Earth Rock Rat was no stranger to the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. It was the most powerful member under the Earthy Rat Clan Leader and held a high status within the Earthy Rat Clan. ¡°Lulu~¡± What are you chatting about? His eyes filled with kindness, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader knowingly asked. The powerful Earth Rock Rat glanced at the surrounding Ground Raccoons and then at the equally refreshed Clan Leader. Finally, it couldn¡¯t resist asking. ¡°Squeak~¡± Did you get some new Mystical Wood Dew? In its view, only the magical offering from the Xuanmu Beast Emperor ¡ª Mystical Wood Dew ¡ª could make these Ground Raccoons so collectively clean. But, Mystical Wood Dew clearly had not been produced for several months, so where did the Ground Raccoon Tribe get so much of it? Could it be¡­ they were rewarded and gifted by the Xuanmu Beast Emperor for some reason? The thought flashed through its mind, and a hint of envy appeared in the eyes of the Earth Rock Rat. That was the Beast Emperor, far above them in countless aspects. Even a slight offering could give their low-rank species a chance to become a Beast King. Guessing the other¡¯s thoughts from the changing look in its eyes, a hint of a smile and a sigh of admiration flickered in the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s eyes. Although they had received Washing and Protection at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, solving their tribe¡¯s grooming issues, it still hoped the Xuanmu Beast Emperor would recover soon. This was also the common wish of countless Transcendent Beings of the Monster Wooden Domain. After all, they had all received the protection of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Shaking its head to clear the muddle of thoughts, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader looked at his old friend before him with a smile. ¡°Lulu~¡± It wasn¡¯t Mystical Wood Dew, it was groomed by humans for us. ¡°Squeak?!¡± Humans?! Hearing the Clan Leader¡¯s answer, the Earth Rock Rat¡¯s eyes widened, a hint of surprise surfacing in its eyes. This surprise was due to an unexpected answer, but even more so from seeing the change in the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. Unlike the Ground Raccoons, the Earthy Rat Clan was an indigenous race of Transcendent Beings from the Monster Wooden Domain. When the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood occupied the territory, they had already settled there. Over the years, they had grown accustomed to the presence of humans and had a harmonious relationship with them, even occasionally entrusting their outstanding young ones to human Beast Masters for contract agreements. Therefore, they found it puzzling every time they saw the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and his tribe deliberately keeping a distance from humans. And now, this old fellow who was always reluctant to interact with humans suddenly changed? Reading this strange suspicion in the Earth Rock Rat¡¯s eyes, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s face reddened, but luckily, its gray fur was enough to hide this abnormality, allowing it to appear calm as it changed the subject. ¡°Lulu~¡± Want to know where that Foster Shop is? ¡°Squeak~¡± Tell me! The Earth Rock Rat nodded vigorously, its thoughts returning to another surprising aspect. The Washing and Protection by humans in Monster Wooden City actually had such an effect? In its opinion, the grooming effect on these Ground Raccoons was even better than using Mystical Wood Dew. But in the past, humans in Monster Wooden City did not have this technique, as far as it remembered. ¡°Lulu~¡± That place is located at¡­ With a series of gestures, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader quickly made the Earth Rock Rat, which frequented the city far more than itself, understand the exact location of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Squeak!¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± The other nearby Earth Rock Rats from the same clan secretly noted this location, equally excited. Unlike the Ground Raccoons, the Earthy Rat Clan, due to their frequent burrowing, easily accumulated dirt that even Earth attribute Power couldn¡¯t clean, thus having a greater need for grooming. Several months without grooming had already made some within the clan start to dislike burrowing. But burrowing was also a part of their cultivation to hone themselves and grow stronger. This negligence was not acceptable! So, having a grooming service that could replace Mystical Wood Dew, they were eager to grow wings and fly there immediately! Watching the eager Earth Rock Rats, a hint of amusement appeared in the eyes of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. For the grooming Xu Ran offered to his tribe, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader always felt a sense of gratitude. By doing this, he hoped he could repay Xu Ran, right? Aside from the pleasant shock, the highest-ranking Earth Rock Rat among them suddenly calmed down. It thought of a concern. Mystical Wood Dew was a resource produced by the Beast Emperor. Even though it was abundant and thus not considered precious enough to be freely gifted to all creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain, it was still power from the Beast Emperor level. Mystical Wood Dew was granted freely as a blessing from the Beast Emperor, but humans within Monster Wooden City were very good at doing business. Washing and Protection that could compare to Mystical Wood Dew¡­ must be expensive, right? With this in mind, the Earth Rock Rat couldn¡¯t help but take a glance at the Ground Raccoon Tribe, feeling a bit more at ease. Their Earthy Rat Clan¡¯s wealth may not compare to that of the Ground Raccoons, capable of wielding Burrow Soil, but it wasn¡¯t far off. If the Ground Raccoons could afford grooming for the entire tribe, then the price must be within their means as well. Still, it had to ask. ¡°Squeak?¡± How much money does that human¡¯s Washing and Protection cost? ¡°Lulu!¡± Only three Luminous Soil Stones! Before the Clan Leader could speak, a Ground Raccoon rushed forward excitedly, twirling its fluffy tail like a duster, and interjected. Chapter 436 - Chapter 436: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_2 Chapter 436: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_2 Three Luminous Soil Stones? The members of the Earthy Rat Clan¡¯s eyes lit up in unison. For these Earth Extraordinary Creatures, gathering resources like Luminous Soil Stones wasn¡¯t difficult, nor were they precious resources. Three Luminous Soil Stones just to have one clan member go for Washing and Protection? The quicker-reacting Earth Rock Rats had already begun to count on their claws, calculating how many Luminous Soil Stones their whole clan would need for Washing and Protection. Before they could figure it out, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader shot a disdainful glance at the Ground Raccoon that had interjected, and then slightly shook his head. ¡°Grr~¡± Don¡¯t listen to its nonsense! The price for Washing and Protection isn¡¯t three Luminous Soil Stones. Eh? The Earth Rock Rats, who had just been excited, felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them after hearing the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s words, immediately calming down. Indeed¡­ how could Washing and Protection, comparable to the precious resource Mystical Wood Dew, be equivalent to Luminous Soil Stones which they hardly used for cultivation? That Ground Raccoon must have been joking, the real price must be more expensive¡­ Without waiting for the Earth Rock Rats to ask, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader already shook his head slightly, speaking up again. ¡°Grr~ Grr~¡± Washing and Protection is based on body size, we are Medium Size, but you can only be considered Small Size, so your Washing and Protection price is resources equivalent to seven Beast Master Points~ Eh? The Earth Rock Rat clan members were stunned once more upon hearing this. Due to their frequent interactions with humans, they were quite familiar with Beast Master Points, and often used this special equivalent when trading resources with humans. Three Luminous Soil Stones, when converted into Beast Master Points, amounted to twenty-seven points. Yet they only needed seven Beast Master Points to get one clan member washed and protected?! That means¡­ With one Luminous Soil Stone, they could even have leftovers?! With this realization, the eyes of the Earth Rock Rat clan members shone brightly, their faces filled with delighted expressions. Isn¡¯t this price way too cheap?! ¡°Squeak~¡± No time to lose, I¡¯m off! With no more desire to stay on the Ground Raccoon¡¯s territory, the mighty member of the Earth Rock Rat Clan greeted the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and departed with its clan members. Watching their silhouettes recede, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s eyes were filled with mirth, yet he didn¡¯t forget to throw out a reminder. ¡°Grr~¡± That shop has closed for the day, you can only go tomorrow morning! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Make a big score?¡± Hearing Liu Fengyun¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s face carried a hint of surprise. This Boss Liu, who seemed refined and scholarly, had a bandit-like edge to his speech. ¡°What do you mean exactly by making a big score, Boss Liu?¡± Xu Ran asked with interest. Deep down, he wasn¡¯t someone who settled for the status quo either. If what the other party mentioned suited his taste, he wouldn¡¯t mind joining in. ¡°That¡­¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, paused for just a moment without giving a direct answer, but posed a question instead. ¡°I saw Boss Xu providing Washing and Protection Service today with the accompaniment of beast taming customers, which means there¡¯s nothing in the process that couldn¡¯t be seen by others, is there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. The techniques he had learned from the system were not simply something one could learn by watching; as for the formulae for those wash fluids, even the slightest deviation could lead to drastic errors, and merely watching wouldn¡¯t enable learning anything. Therefore, he could confidently let others watch the entire Washing and Protection process. ¡°Our Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop operates the same way.¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a pleased smile of finding a kindred spirit, ¡°I believe that the real value of excellent Washing and Protection lies in the experience, not in something that can be stolen with a glance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just you and me ¨C most of the ones invited to Monster Wooden City to run Foster Shops from out of town feel the same,¡± Liu Fengyun paused again, ¡°Compared to them, the local Foster Shops around here are¡­ heh heh.¡± He shook his head lightly, chuckling, ¡°I still remember, after our Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop gradually started doing better, these local peers never ceased to spy on our shop.¡± ¡°And after launching their Washing and Protection Services, they did not welcome customers to join, keeping everyone who wanted a look out,¡± Liu Fengyun shook his head slightly, ¡°Such overprotectiveness, really petty-minded.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression also became somewhat peculiar, ¡°I thought Universe Foster Store was an exception.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that.¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°Boss Xu asked me earlier how we were planning to make a big score.¡± ¡°None of us, the Foster Shops from out of town, want anything more than to gain a firm foothold locally, to have a good number of clients.¡± ¡°Therefore, we naturally need to make more people aware of our shops and show them exactly what our Washing and Protection Services are like.¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s eyes carried a hint of anticipation, ¡°I was thinking¡­ to bring everyone together for a public Washing and Protection showcase!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes sparkled as he swiftly nodded. Liu Fengyun had hit the nail on the head with one of his remarks ¨C they needed to let more people know about their shops. This perfectly aligned with the system¡¯s task to increase fame. And holding a public showcase of Washing and Protection, just thinking about it was enough to outline the concept. To display the entire process of Washing and Protection to everyone, to let them see the contrast of Extraordinary Creatures before and after clearly. There simply wasn¡¯t a more direct and appealing method than this. ¡°Boss Liu, do you have more concrete ideas? When and where will it be held?¡± Xu Ran asked eagerly, his face filled with anticipation, ¡°Our Starfire Foster Care Shop is in!¡± Chapter 437 - Chapter 437: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_3 Chapter 437: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_3 ¡°Uh ¡­,¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a hint of helplessness. When he came to find Xu Ran, he had guessed that Xu Ran would probably agree to the suggestion. But Xu Ran¡¯s proactive and enthusiastic response still caught him off guard. ¡°Boss Xu, don¡¯t rush, actually, this is just an idea I had today.¡± His face showed a bit of embarrassment, ¡°You are the first one I came to for advice.¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t have a problem, Boss Xu, next I will take the lead in negotiating with other foster shops from out of town to see which stores will participate and then determine the exact time ¡­ What do you think?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Ran nodded and then suddenly thought of something, adding, ¡°But it¡¯s best to finish within half a month.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve signed up for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes and might be busy in half a month.¡± ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed obvious surprise; he almost thought he had heard wrong. Then, seeing the three small creatures behind Xu Ran, Liu Fengyun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°It seems that, apart from being a skilled foster shop owner knowledgeable in Washing and Protection, Boss Xu is also a talented Beast Master.¡± ¡°I will be there to cheer for you then,¡± Liu Fengyun cracked a little joke before returning to the main topic, ¡°Half a month¡¯s time is definitely more than needed, Boss Xu can be at ease about that.¡± ¡°As for the exact time, I will strive to confirm it by this time tomorrow, and then I will come to notify you, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Great, it¡¯s much appreciated, Boss Liu,¡± Xu Ran nodded. After seeing the other party off, Xu Ran then brought the three small ones back inside the store. Close the door, enjoy dinner, and proceed with Meditation Training. A night without words. When Xu Ran slowly woke from his meditation the next morning and gradually opened his eyes, the early morning had arrived. Seeing the morning light scattered on the bed and falling on the three little ones huddled together in sleep, casting a pale golden sheen on them, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t resist taking out his phone to capture the moment. Startled by the shutter sound, the three little ones groggily opened their eyes and, seeing Xu Ran getting up, gradually became more alert. ¡°Looks like you all had a good sleep,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, and then changed clothes before heading to the bathroom, ¡°Hurry up and wash up, it¡¯s time for breakfast!¡± With that, the three little creatures were completely awake. Breakfast! Let¡¯s go! Soon, one person with three pets were sitting around in the spacious second-floor Foster area. Using the system¡¯s ability to change the terrain, Xu Ran conjured up a dining table and leisurely ate the rice noodle rolls he made himself, with the three small ones also enjoying their meal on his two sides and across from him. ¡°The Foster area is still a bit too empty.¡± After another bite of rice noodle roll, Xu Ran looked around at the spacious terrain with a helpless shake of his head, ¡°It¡¯s been two days since arriving at Monster Wooden City, and it seems like all the customers are here for Washing and Protection.¡± ¡°I wonder when the first foster customer will arrive.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I think it should be soon.) Ziyun lifted its head from the wide bowl, wiped its mouth with its paw, then leisurely licked its paw and calmly spoke. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (With more people coming for Washing and Protection, foster customers should gradually increase too.) Starfire expressed its opinion with a neigh. ¡°Char?¡± (But the creatures coming for Washing and Protection seem to be wild Transcendent Beings, they probably don¡¯t have the need for fostering, right?) Cancan ¡°howled¡± as it finished the last of the food on its plate and then spoke up. ¡°You all make good points,¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin and said with a smile, ¡°But the previous Washing and Protection were for Transcendent Beings, which was an unexpected situation.¡± ¡°Now that the Earth Raccoon Tribe is done with Washing and Protection, we should be getting some regular customers,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°After yesterday¡¯s challenge, Beast Masters interested in the Starfire Foster Care Shop should come today.¡± ¡°As long as they experience the services of Starfire Foster, I believe there will be customers who will actively recommend our shop to the people around them, making our clientele grow,¡± as he spoke, Xu Ran quickly cleared the tableware and food bowls from the table, ¡°Let¡¯s go, down to the first floor.¡± Quickly taking the lift down to the first floor, Xu Ran walked briskly to the front door of the shop and opened it with a smile of anticipation, ¡°Wonder who today¡¯s first customer will be?¡± The next moment, upon seeing the situation outside the shop, Xu Ran¡¯s smile slightly stiffened. What¡¯s this? There were not the teeming crowds he had anticipated. Instead, it was teeming with rats. Looking at the Earth Rock Rats, all covered in gray Stone Scales, small in body type but not lacking in strength, Xu Ran¡¯s expression slowly turned blank. Could someone tell him what¡¯s going on?! ¡°Squeak~¡± ¡°Squeak squeak~~¡± Seeing Xu Ran open the door, the Earth Rock Rats seemed very happy, constantly calling out, hopping and gesturing something in front of him, looking quite honest and not at all like fierce Transcendent Beings. But ¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Xu Ran massaged his brow, ¡°Don¡¯t all speak at once, one at a time!¡± Understanding Xu Ran¡¯s words, the Earthy Rat Clan quickly settled down, neatly splitting in half to create a path. At the other end of the path, two figures quickly approached Xu Ran. One of them was an Earth Rock Rat, larger than the others and also stronger than the rest of the Earth Rock Rats. Chapter 438 - Chapter 438: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_4 Chapter 438: Chapter 266: Make a Big Score!_4 As for the other one¡­ Looking at the friendly, somewhat naive smile on the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s face, Xu Ran felt he had already guessed the origin of this group of Earthy Rats. ¡°Loo~¡± Good morning! The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader greeted Xu Ran enthusiastically. ¡°Ahahaha¡­ Good morning,¡± Xu Ran responded with a wry smile after guessing the meaning behind the other¡¯s gesture and expression, and he greeted back in kind. It seemed that the words he had said at breakfast had come true. Customers who had experienced the service at Starfire Foster Care Shop were now recommending it to other customers around them. Only¡­ these customers were not humans. Looking at the number of Earth Rock Rats, which was even greater than the Ground Raccoon Group, Xu Ran sighed silently. Although Earth Rock Rats are small Transcendent Beings and the Washing and Protection time would be shorter, so many would still keep him busy for the entire day. ¡°Come on, come on!¡± Xu Ran gestured for the Earth Rock Rats to follow in resignation, ¡°Line up and come in for Washing and Protection!¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± (I¡¯ll go first!) The Earthy Rat Clan Leader who came with the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader glanced at the other eager clan members with a threatening look, then followed excitedly behind Xu Ran, grinning foolishly as he entered the Washing and Protection room. Bath time, bath time! Little Rat me, I¡¯m gonna enjoy a good wash today! ¡°Lie down here.¡± In the Washing and Protection room, Xu Ran looked at the expectant face of the Earthy Rat Clan Leader and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. This guy was a complete opposite to the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. Even the system¡¯s evaluation said as much. [Race name: Earth Rock Rat Attribute: Earth attribute Growth stage: Leadership Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evaluation: An individual with no wariness towards humans and an extreme desire for Washing and Protection. It¡¯s already feeling pleasure even before the Washing and Protection has started, offering no challenge whatsoever, which is rather dull, to be honest~] ¡°Wait for me a moment, I need to make some preparations.¡± After assessing the situation of the Earthy Rat Clan Leader, Xu Ran turned around to get things ready at the workbench. ¡°Squeak~¡± The Earthy Rat Clan Leader nodded obediently, lying still on the Washing and Protection table, with a somewhat dopey smile on its face. As the system had evaluated, it seemed to already feel pleasure even before the Washing and Protection had begun. Xu Ran, who had swiftly finished all the preparations for Washing and Protection, soon held a toolkit in his hands. He took out a sharp iron spike with a flat rear end and a lightweight hammer, walked over to the Earthy Rat Clan Leader, positioned the sharp end of the spike in the cracks of its Stone Scales, and lightly tapped the flat end with the hammer. ¡°Dut~¡± With a dull yet somewhat crisp sound emanating from within the Washing and Protection room, the grime wedged between the Stone Scale cracks that couldn¡¯t be dissolved by Earth attribute Power shattered at the impact, sending shards scattering to either side. The body of the Earthy Rat Clan Leader also trembled at the same moment. In their original body structure, there shouldn¡¯t have been any gaps between the Stone Scales where dirt could accumulate. It was the incessant buildup of this indissoluble grime that had forced the scales apart, allowing more filth to accumulate and ultimately leading to a vicious cycle that left the sensitive flesh beneath the Earth Rock Rat¡¯s scales exposed. Every time they burrowed into the soil became an uncomfortable experience for the Earth Rock Rat. Now, with the gentle taps from Xu Ran¡¯s hammer, the striking sound echoing as if it were resonating inside the skull, the Earthy Rat Clan Leader suddenly felt an indescribable sensation of tingling all over its body. The sensation of electricity coursing through one side, coming swiftly from the location of the iron tag, quivered through the hard Stone Scales and sensitive body, reaching the deepest part. The Earthy Rat Clan Leader¡¯s gaze became more erratic, involuntarily lifting its head slightly, dazzled by the light overhead, the surrounding scenery seemed to blur into obscurity. It felt its body becoming lighter under the gentle hammering, a tingling sense of comfort accumulating within, eventually turning into an unbearable itch. ¡°Thump~¡± The last strike from Xu Ran fell at that moment. All the dirt hidden in the crevices of the Stone Scales was shattered as the scales snugly fitted together at that instant. The unbearable itch also vanished at the same time, replaced by a refreshing feeling and a slight sense of emptiness that enveloped the Stone Scales around its body, surging deep within the Earthy Rat Clan Leader¡¯s heart. Its gaze grew even more dazed. A strange and slightly twisted tone squeezed out from its tightly clenched mouth with difficulty, echoing long within the washing and protection area. ¡°Squeak~~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome back anytime~¡± At the entrance of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran waved goodbye to the satisfied Earthy Rat Clan, a hint of undeniable exhaustion in his eyes. Spending the whole day washing and grooming the same race was not just physically taxing, but also a test of his mental fortitude and patience. Fortunately, these Earth Rock Rats, which hadn¡¯t received washing and protection for a long time, provided him with ample pleasure feedback. Although the Pleasure value wasn¡¯t adding up in the account, their reactions during washing and protection were also a great motivation for Xu Ran. It¡¯s just¡­ ¡°At this rate, who knows how long it will take to achieve the Fame target¡­¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh, casually opening the system tasks. [Main task 4: Branching Out Task description: Please have the Host successfully set up branch stores in four different Second Level Towns. A branch store is considered successfully set up when its Fame exceeds 50%. This is a phased task, and rewards are dispensed in stages. Task reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x1, System Upgrade Experience +600] [Current Phase Task: Successfully set up branch stores in two different Second Level Towns. Task Progress: 1/2 Xieyun City (Completed) Monster Wooden City (2.3/50) Phase Task Reward: System Clerk x3] Hm? Reading line after line of text, Xu Ran¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened. After entering Monster Wooden City and opening the second foster shop in a Second Level Town, the Fame progress could actually be displayed normally again? He hadn¡¯t checked the task interface for several days, only seeing it now. But after taking a closer look at the progress, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became one of bewilderment. It had¡­ passed two percent?! Xu Ran was clear about the simplicity of increasing Fame in Xieyun City. In the beginning, the growth of Fame could be described as glacial, and it stayed below 1% for several days in a row. After all, Fame corresponded with the vast population base of Xieyun City. As a Second Level Town, though Monster Wooden City may not be as strong as Xieyun City, its population base is by no means inferior, and due to the peaceful environment, it was even slightly larger than that of Xieyun City. Under such circumstances, Fame had imperceptibly broken through two percent. A contemplative look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. He was reflecting on the past few days. Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: Chapter 267 Xu Rans Suggestion Chapter 439: Chapter 267 Xu Ran¡¯s Suggestion When discussing the fame of a storefront in a city, it is naturally assumed to mean the proportion of humans in that city who are aware of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. But at this moment, Xu Ran developed a whole new understanding of the term ¡°fame¡±. It may not be such a straightforward calculation. For the Beast Masters of this world, Pet Beasts have always been considered contract partners and collaborators, with an equal relationship in terms of their contracts. Therefore, it¡¯s natural that the Pet Beasts¡¯ awareness of the Starfire Foster Care Shop could also be a criterion for its fame. Due to the enormous population of a city, the previous Xu Ran found it difficult to conduct precise investigations into fame and was unable to obtain a definitive answer. But now, he seemed to see a clue. Monster Wooden City is a city unlike any other human settlement. A huge group of wild Transcendent Beings lives in the surrounding Monster Wooden Domain and maintains a friendly relationship with the people inside Monster Wooden City. Even more, these Extraordinary Creatures can freely enter and exit Monster Wooden City. In this case, it¡¯s not unreasonable to say that they are also a part of Monster Wooden City. When measuring the storefront¡¯s fame in Monster Wooden City, the system seems to have considered this, including the wild Extraordinary Creatures in its calculations. Therefore, Xu Ran, who had almost exclusively provided Washing and Protection Services to the Earth Raccoon and Earth Rock Rat from the Extraordinary Creature Group over the past two days, unexpectedly gained more than two percent fame. Thinking of this, Xu Ran stroked his chin, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes. Although he still couldn¡¯t grasp the system¡¯s method of measuring fame, the discovery at hand seemed to be an exploitable point. If he continued to provide Washing and Protection Services to wild Transcendent Beings, might the speed of fame increase become even faster? With this thought, Xu Ran felt a surge of anticipation. He wondered whether the Earth Rock Rats and Earth Raccoons would introduce new species to him, allowing him to test this theory. ¡°Boss Xu!¡± The voice from outside the store interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s soaring thoughts. The next moment, Liu Fengyun stood at the entrance of the Foster Care Shop and waved to Xu Ran. ¡°Boss Liu, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± Xu Ran smiled and quickly approached him, ¡°How did the discussion go?¡± Yesterday, Liu Fengyun had come with a proposal to join all the Foster Shops that had come from outside the city in a big event, to hold a Public Wash and Care Exhibition to counter the local Foster Shops¡¯ combined suppression. Xu Ran had already agreed yesterday and now hoped the other party would bring good news from the other Foster Shops. And judging from his expression, it was most likely the case. ¡°I visited all the Foster Shops that had relocated here today,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile on his refined face, ¡°Including both of our shops, out of 17 Foster Shops from outside the area, 15 agreed to join in a Public Wash and Care Exhibition.¡± ¡°Oh? That many?¡± Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction. Although not all of them, with each shop having different Washing and Protection rules, having fifteen shops willing to conduct a Washing and Protection demonstration in public was already beyond his expectations. ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t expect there to be so many,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded. ¡°Given the circumstance that the Universe Foster Store took advantage of the situation to collude with other local Foster Shops against us, everyone has heard about it, perhaps that¡¯s the reason.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, I¡¯ll go straight to discussing the next steps,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile as he pulled out several pages of printed papers from his chest, ¡°This is the provisional event plan I¡¯ve coordinated with the other thirteen Foster Shops, after confirming our respective needs.¡± ¡°Please take a look, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Let me see!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, not expecting the other to be so well-prepared; he immediately took it and began to read. Soon, Xu Ran¡¯s voice contained a hint of surprise. ¡°In two days? That soon?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded. ¡°First, the sooner this is done the better, as the combined action against us has already started, and any delay would affect all of us.¡± ¡°Also, the Public Wash and Care is expected to last one day. Participating in the public event will undoubtedly impact the day-to-day operations of the shops, even requiring a temporary one-day closure, and each Foster Shop has different schedules¡­¡± Here, Liu Fengyun glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient for you in two days, I have an alternative date, which is in five days.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing inconvenient on my end, so let¡¯s do it in two days,¡± Xu Ran shook his head. Liu Fengyun had a point; this event¡¯s timing was better sooner rather than later. At this moment, Xu Ran was managing Starfire Foster Care Shop in Monster Wooden City with just three little ones to look after, so it was very convenient to close anytime. ¡°Then we¡¯ll set the date for two days from now.¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, took out another provisional plan, and a pen, and quickly started annotating the event date. And Xu Ran continued to read. It had to be said, not only was Boss Liu very proactive, but his work was also very meticulous. This provisional plan had detailed arrangements for every aspect. According to his plan, the Public Wash and Care Exhibition would be open to all Beast Masters in Monster Wooden City. The fifteen Foster Shops would take turns occupying the temporarily constructed Public Washing and Protection area, providing free Washing and Protection Services for any interested clients¡¯ Pet Beasts. And within this segment, there was an interesting, mildly competitive rule. Chapter 440 - Chapter 440: Chapter 267 Xu Rans Suggestion_2 Chapter 440: Chapter 267 Xu Ran¡¯s Suggestion_2 Although the washing and protection services were free, guests could reward the foster shop according to their satisfaction with the results of the services. The different foster shops occupied the washing and protection spaces for different periods, with time slots fairly distributed based on the flow of people. Less popular time slots were longer, while more popular slots were shorter, to ensure a comparable flow of visitors. By the end of the day¡¯s public washing and protection exhibition, the most popular shop would be determined based on the total amount of rewards received. Seeing this, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes flashed, and he nodded incessantly. He had joined the event precisely to enhance the fame of his shop. Undoubtedly, if his shop could be rated as the most popular, the increase in fame would be significantly larger. And Xu Ran was very confident about obtaining this honor. ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied with this plan,¡± Xu Ran nodded quickly, ¡°How will the time slots be distributed at that time?¡± ¡°The fifteen shop owners will draw lots on the spot,¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°Only in this way can it be the fairest.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement, then continued to read on. Soon after reviewing the plan, Xu Ran looked up at Liu Fengyun, ¡°Boss Liu, has the location of the event not been decided yet?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, ¡°The initial plan was to hold the event in the large square in front of the Beast Master Association, where there¡¯s a large number of Beast Masters coming and going every day and the crowd is bigger, but¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s voice paused slightly before he continued, ¡°To use that space, we need to negotiate with the Beast Master Association in advance. I plan to confirm this tomorrow, and only then can the location be set.¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± A hint of a smile appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. He suddenly remembered his earlier speculation about the system¡¯s method of determining fame. If wild Transcendent Beings could also be included in the system¡¯s scope for fame assessment, then why not include them in this event as well? ¡°Boss Liu, I have a suggestion.¡± ¡°Good, Boss Xu, please speak,¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s expression became a bit more serious. Having witnessed the young man¡¯s washing and protection skills, he now regarded this younger boss as an equal. Without a doubt, Xu Ran would be a formidable contender for the most popular foster shop, so his opinion was particularly important. ¡°Boss Liu, the rules you designed are all very good, and I agree with them, but¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice trailed off slightly. Hearing the word ¡°but,¡± Liu Fengyun knew that Xu Ran was about to come to the point. His expression grew even more serious as he prepared to listen intently. ¡°I feel that, Boss Liu, you might have overlooked the differences between cities.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a touch of surprise. The differences between cities? What did he mean by that? ¡°Boss Xu, please be more specific.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded, took a moment to choose his words, then said, ¡°Boss Liu, you must be aware that Monster Wooden City is not quite like other Second Level Towns.¡± ¡°This city is protected by the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m aware,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, ¡°To be honest, when I first came here and saw a city protected by the Beast Emperor, I was very surprised.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Outside Monster Wooden City, in the Monster Wooden Domain, countless wild Transcendent Beings maintain a good relationship with the Demon Wood Domain.¡± ¡°The Monster Wooden Marketplace serves as the bridge for communication and interaction between the two.¡± ¡°Numerous wild Transcendent Beings in the Monster Wooden Marketplace exchange the resources produced by their species for what they need through friendly trade with humans.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a harmonious atmosphere outside of the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± Hearing Xu Ran mention the Monster Wooden Marketplace, Liu Fengyun¡¯s face also showed a hint of wistfulness, ¡°Our Xuanxing City, which is not far from the territory of another Beast Emperor, is much more dangerous compared to here.¡± Hearing Xu Ran mention the Monster Wooden Marketplace, Liu Fengyun seemed to guess something. He glanced at Xu Ran and then said, ¡°So, Boss Xu, are you planning to hold the event at the Monster Wooden Marketplace?¡± ¡°That is indeed what I¡¯m thinking.¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, ¡°The liveliest place within Monster Wooden City, without a doubt, is the Monster Wooden Marketplace.¡± ¡°Holding a public Washing and Protection exhibition there would yield better results for us.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face showed a hint of contemplation, ¡°Boss Xu, I don¡¯t deny the prosperity of the Monster Wooden Marketplace, but compared to Beast Masters, there are more wild Transcendent Beings from the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s invite these wild Transcendent Beings to the event as well,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°After all, foster shops are in business to make money.¡± ¡°If we can do business with human Beast Masters, why can¡¯t we do business with wild Transcendent Beings?¡± ¡°After all¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, thinking of the Earth Raccoons and the Earthy Rat Clan that he had served with Washing and Protection in the last few days, his eyes brimming with amusement, ¡°they will pay us, and even better, they pay with resources, don¡¯t we earn more that way?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Liu Fengyun pondered for a while and then nodded slightly, ¡°Our foster shops are opened to do business.¡± ¡°If we can do business with human Beast Masters, naturally we can do business with wild Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Such a thing would be impossible in other cities, but in Monster Wooden City, it can be realized.¡± Thinking of the Transcendent Beings that roamed the Monster Wooden Marketplace, Liu Fengyun couldn¡¯t help but consider. They could understand human language, and they could even express their demands clearly through various gestures and body language. They did not harbor the same animosity towards humans as the wild Transcendent Beings Liu Fengyun had in mind, who would attack upon sighting humans. Instead, they would obediently follow human rules and pay honestly when buying things in the Monster Wooden Marketplace. Doing business with them¡­ For a moment, Liu Fengyun¡¯s heart swelled with anticipation. ¡°To tell you the truth,¡± he said with a laugh, shaking his head, ¡°I and the other foster shop owners have been in Monster Wooden City longer than you, Boss Xu, but when it comes to integrating into this city, you have us beat by a mile.¡± At this point, Liu Fengyun suddenly remembered that both times he came to Starfire Foster, he saw Xu Ran washing and caring for wild Transcendent Being clans. ¡°While we were still thinking traditionally, only treating Beast Masters as customers, Boss Xu had already included the Transcendent Beings of Monster Wooden City into his clientele.¡± ¡°This is all coincidental¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face grew more helpless, ¡°Anyhow, that is my suggestion. I hope Boss Liu and the others can consider it.¡± ¡°I will discuss it with them.¡± Liu Fengyun nodded earnestly, ¡°If we¡¯re to hold this event at Monster Wooden Marketplace, then the venue problem becomes much easier to solve.¡± ¡°Once the arrangements with the Beast Master Association are completed, we can set up on the most bustling Sky-touching Main Road in the Monster Wooden Marketplace¡­¡± Saying this, Liu Fengyun lowered his head and began to write swiftly on the tentative plan in his hand. Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, he must have been coming up with many new ideas as he wrote. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Raising his head, Liu Fengyun gave Xu Ran a smile, ¡°If all goes well, I believe my colleagues will agree.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, wait for my good news!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Waving goodbye to his visitor, Xu Ran turned to the three little ones and spread his hands, ¡°Work is over for today, let¡¯s go and prepare dinner together.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± ¡°Chah~¡± Around the shop, the cheers of the three little ones echoed. On the other hand, after hearing Xu Ran¡¯s proposal, Liu Fengyun once again demonstrated his remarkable ability to act swiftly. By the next morning, Liu Fengyun visited Xu Ran again, telling him the other foster shops had all agreed to the plan and that the negotiations for renting the venue from the Beast Master Association were complete. In short, the Public Wash and Care Exhibition was fully confirmed, and all that remained was waiting for the following day¡¯s arrival. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C These past few days I¡¯ve been busy taking care of someone in the hospital, and it¡¯s been very difficult to manage even 7,000 words daily. If I had not taken too much leave at the beginning of the month and run out of leave, I would have preferred to take a break from writing¡­ Today it¡¯s only 4,000, I need to make an adjustment. Chapter 441 - Chapter 441: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge! Chapter 441: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge! ¡°` A day¡¯s time, neither fast nor slow. Amid the eager anticipation of the fifteen foster care store owners, the agreed-upon Public Wash and Care Exhibition officially began. Early in the morning, the fifteen owners gathered at the prearranged location. For the vast majority of them, this was their first meeting since arriving in Monster Wooden City. For a time, compliments such as ¡°I¡¯ve long admired your reputation¡± were exchanged warmly, and no one showed the slightest disdain towards Xu Ran, the youngest amongst them. After all, the clash between the local and foreign foster shops had started with him. Word of the conflict between Starfire Foster and Universe Foster Store had spread to some extent, so everyone was well aware that this seemingly youthful man possessed impressive Washing and Protection skills. A brief and friendly conversation also allowed Xu Ran to get acquainted with the others. The foster care shop owners before him hailed from over ten Second Level Towns, covering almost all of the Second Level Towns in Beast Field No. 47. Considering the possibility of opening branches in their cities in the future, Xu Ran was also keen on establishing good relations with them. ¡°Alright,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile, noticing that it was about time, ¡°the rest can wait until after the public grooming event is over.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, our event site is almost ready. Let¡¯s see if it meets your Washing and Protection requirements.¡± At his words, the chatter ceased, and everyone¡¯s face lit up with interest. The primary concern for everyone participating in the Public Wash and Care Exhibition was whether their Washing and Protection requirements would be satisfied. After all, each had their own methods of grooming, necessitating various materials and tools. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡°A good chef can¡¯t cook without rice.¡± If the necessary items for their Washing and Protection methods were not available, the effectiveness of the public demonstration would certainly be impacted. Attending this event was all about showcasing the before and after effects of their grooming skills to gain more Fame and customers for their stores. If anything went awry, the event could backfire, not only failing to increase Fame and clients but potentially causing existing customers to drift away. Liu Fengyun, of course, had taken their concerns into consideration. Thus, he had once again visited each foster shop owner the day before, asking for a list of their Washing and Protection needs to organize and set up everything himself. Now that all the essentials were arranged, he confidently invited the other fourteen owners to have a look. ¡°Great!¡± A burly man with a full beard laughed heartily, ¡°Boss Liu is indeed highly efficient!¡± Qi Cang, the owner of the Gray Wolf Foster Store, came from King Dragon City, a Second Level Town. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s all go take a look together,¡± commented another elegant woman in a form-fitting long dress, smiling gently. Du Huayan, the owner of Hundred Flowers Foster Store, came from Bright Radiance City, another Second Level Town. The other foster care shop owners also agreed and followed Liu Fengyun¡¯s lead into the heart of the Monster Wooden Marketplace. The marketplace was just opening for the morning and already bustling with activity. The lively atmosphere differed from what Xu Ran had experienced on his last visit. Perhaps due to it being breakfast time, many stalls were selling morning-friendly food, with lines not only of Humans but also a few early-rising Transcendent Beings. Xu Ran even spotted a Little Night Mink queuing at a stall. This Dark Extraordinary Creature, a nocturnal being that slept during the day, appeared to be drowsy, probably planning to sleep after the meal. So¡­ for it, was this a late-night snack? The thought brought a smile to Xu Ran¡¯s face. As he was looking around and enjoying this other side of the morning market, a savory breeze brought a lunch box in front of him. ¡°Boss Xu, this is yours,¡± Du Huayan said, placing the lunch box in Xu Ran¡¯s hands before handing another one to another foster care shop owner nearby. ¡°Thank you, Du!¡± Xu Ran came back to his senses and quickly thanked her, then opened the lunch box. Inside, there was food from one of the stalls they had just passed. It appeared that Du Huayan had bought breakfast for herself and had thoughtfully included the others. Despite having already eaten, Xu Ran had no intention of wasting her kindness. ¡°Come, let¡¯s all try some,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, using the bamboo skewers from the lunch box to share the delicious food with the three little ones beside him. By the time the lunch box was empty, the group had reached the most central and bustling area of the Monster Wooden Marketplace. Sky-touching Main Road. They were in the middle of Sky-touching Main Road, which was the heart of the marketplace. At this location was a sizable open-air plaza, now temporarily rented out, with a huge stage set up. The stage was concealed, keeping it hidden from the eyes of onlookers, who were curiously gathered around, eager to see what was inside. ¡°Boss Liu, why the secrecy?¡± bellowed Qi Cang with his booming voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a public grooming event?¡± ¡°` Chapter 442 - Chapter 442: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_2 Chapter 442: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_2 ¡°` ¡°Mr. Qi, please don¡¯t be anxious,¡± Liu Fengyun laughed, his demeanor calm, ¡°When it¡¯s time to start, these curtains will be removed.¡± ¡°But for now¡­ let¡¯s keep them closed.¡± Noticing the gaze of everyone present and pre-empting any questions, Liu Fengyun volunteered an explanation, ¡°You must have seen that, right now, there are quite a few passersby and wild Transcendent Beings stopping to watch.¡± ¡°Maintaining a sense of mystery can pique their curiosity even more and when the event officially starts, it will draw more people to come up and try.¡± ¡°Of course, this is only one of the reasons, the more important reason is¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s voice paused slightly, then dropped a few notches, ¡°Our joint effort this time is to counter the local Foster Shops.¡± ¡°They were the first to join forces to suppress us, and we were just forced to retaliate,¡± Liu Fengyun paused again, ¡°Although we are not afraid of them, for the sake of a more secure event, it¡¯s better to delay their receipt of the news.¡± ¡°Boss Liu¡¯s concerns make sense,¡± Du Huayan smiled, ¡°It seems that entrusting this matter to Boss Liu was indeed a wise choice.¡± ¡°Boss Du is too kind,¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s smile brightened up a bit, ¡°Let¡¯s not stand here. Let¡¯s go in and take a look at the site.¡± ¡°As for the site we have set up this time, I am quite satisfied with it.¡± Having said that, he led the way to a small door not far away, pushed it open, and entered the stage which was still enclosed at the moment. Including Xu Ran, the other fourteen Foster Shop owners followed suit. Soon, the surprisingly open Washing and Protection area was before everyone¡¯s eyes. For a moment, everyone couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. Because, although the stage had only started being set up since last night, it already very near completion. Some of the weaker Foster Shops even felt that the Foster Area in front of them was better than their own stores. ¡°Everyone, check if there¡¯s anything missing from the washing and protection equipment we¡¯ll need before the event officially starts,¡± Liu Fengyun said as he picked up a lottery tube from a nearby counter and shook it, ¡°Once that¡¯s confirmed, it¡¯s time to draw lots to decide the order of our showcases.¡± ¡°No problems over here,¡± Qi Cang strode around the Foster Area, quickly returning to indicate that everything he needed for washing and protection was available, then took a bamboo stick out of the lottery tube Liu Fengyun held. After a glance at it, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°This luck is just¡­¡± While speaking, he passed the bamboo stick for the others to see. On it was the number ¡°1.¡± It meant that Qi Cang was scheduled to do his washing and protection in the very first time slot. ¡°There¡¯s no need to mind, Mr. Qi,¡± Liu Fengyun explained with a smile, ¡°The first time slot starts at eight and ends at ten. Although this slot might have fewer visitors, it lasts longer than the others.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Qi first finished checking, drew lots first, and got the first time slot. That could be a good omen,¡± Du Huayan commented with a restrained smile, ¡°Perhaps today¡¯s most popular Foster Shop will be your Gray Wolf Foster Store, no?¡± ¡°I dare not presume!¡± Hearing this, Qi Cang waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take the lead and show my face, for everyone¡¯s amusement.¡± Amongst the laughter, the second Foster Shop owner finished checking his washing and protection equipment and came back to draw lots. Then the third, and the fourth¡­ By the time Xu Ran had finished confirming his Foster needs with his three little ones, he was the ninth to draw lots. ¡°Boss Xu, please,¡± Liu Fengyun smiled and handed over the lottery tube, now with only seven sticks remaining, to Xu Ran. ¡°All right.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, then randomly picked out one stick. Before him was the number ¡°5.¡± ¡°The fifth time slot, from two in the afternoon to three,¡± Qi Cang smiled, ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re in luck, drawing one of the time slots with the highest foot traffic, though that means the duration will be shorter.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Xu Ran nodded, understanding. The shorter duration of the busier times slots was pre-arranged. This arrangement wasn¡¯t due to the quantity of guests. After all, washings vary in time needed; whether it¡¯s one hour or two, there are only so many Pet Beasts you can wash. It was about exposure. Given the same length of time, the foot traffic during Xu Ran¡¯s slot would be twice that of Qi Cang¡¯s, meaning twice as many people would learn about Starfire Foster, naturally compensating Qi Cang with a longer time. In this respect, the arrangement was without flaw. After Xu Ran, five more Foster Shop owners came to draw lots in succession. The last bamboo stick in the lottery tube was Liu Fengyun¡¯s. ¡°Now that everyone has drawn lots and knows their showcase times,¡± Liu Fengyun shook the now-empty lottery tube in his hand. ¡°Then, it¡¯s time for the event to begin.¡± Though he had finished speaking, the stage curtains, controlled by the staff, were lifted, unveiling the stage¡¯s interior to the curious onlookers and wild Transcendent Beings outside. And the fifteen people on stage could also see the surprised expressions of the passersby and wild Transcendent Beings outside. ¡°So now, the time is yours, Mr. Qi,¡± Liu Fengyun patted Qi Cang on the shoulder and pointed at a man quickly walking toward them, holding a megaphone, ¡°This is Zhou Hang, the host for today¡¯s event. Leave the hosting to him.¡± ¡°` Chapter 443 - Chapter 443: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_3 Chapter 443: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_3 ¡°Please enlighten me, everyone.¡± Zhou Hang said with a polite smile, then turned on the megaphone in his hand, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Beast friends from Monster Wooden Domain! Hello, everyone!¡± As his voice, amplified by the megaphone, echoed throughout the Central Square of Modu Main Road, more and more people and beasts turned their attention to the area and converged towards it. Liu Fengyun and the other thirteen foster shop owners exchanged glances and silently left the stage. The next two hours, the stage belonged to Qi Cang and his Gray Wolf Foster Store. ¡°There is no need for everyone to stay here all the time.¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile after stepping down from the stage, looking at the other thirteen foster shop owners including Xu Ran, ¡°I have already informed you of your times in advance, just make sure to come back before the designated time starts.¡± However, after Liu Fengyun finished speaking, no one present seemed inclined to leave. ¡°Boss Liu must be joking,¡± laughed one owner with a goatee, stroking his smooth beard, ¡°How could we miss such a rare opportunity to exchange washing and protection techniques with everyone?¡± ¡°Our Shengtian Pet Foster Care has specifically suspended business for today¡¯s event, so we could take this chance to learn washing and protection techniques from our peers.¡± ¡°Same here!¡± After this foster shop owner finished speaking, many others laughed and joined in the chorus. Clearly, they all shared the same idea. ¡°Meow?¡± (Are we also staying?) Ziyun leaned in close to Xu Ran and asked quietly. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his face filled with anticipation, ¡°I plan to stay as well to see the washing methods of other foster shops.¡± His washing techniques were taught by the system, which definitely differed from those of other foster shops in this world. Now that he had his own insights into the Washing and Protection methods, observing and learning from the techniques of other foster shops was an opportunity to broaden his knowledge. This was also one of the reasons he had agreed to Liu Fengyun¡¯s invitation. Seeing the three little ones looking hesitant, Xu Ran knew what they were thinking. ¡°You three go back to the shop and train. You don¡¯t need to stay with me all the time.¡± ¡°If I need you for anything, I will summon you in advance.¡± ¡°Chah!¡± (Okay!) Cancan nodded vigorously, excitement twinkling in its eyes. ¡°Of course, you can only train back at the shop. We¡¯re not discussing going out of the city,¡± Xu Ran quickly added, squashing the adventurous Cancan¡¯s little schemes. ¡°Chah¡­¡± (Alright then¡­) The light in Cancan¡¯s eyes dimmed. It had become an explorer without a dream. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran smiled helplessly, ¡°After today¡¯s event is over, I will take you out of the city to have a look tomorrow.¡± It had been a few days since Cancan and Star last sneaked out for an adventure. Were it not for this unexpected event, Xu Ran might have taken them out of the city the day before to check out the place Cancan had discovered. So, as soon as this event concluded, it would be time to schedule a city outing. ¡°Chah!¡± (Yay!) Cancan¡¯s mood swung like a roller coaster, brightening up again in an instant. Ziyun and Cancan climbed onto Star¡¯s back, the three little ones nodded at Xu Ran, and then vanished from sight. As Xu Ran¡¯s gaze shifted from the leaving backs of the three little ones and returned to the stage, an expectant look appeared on his face. After the host¡¯s brief opening remarks and introduction of the event rules, the first contestant had already taken the stage. It was a Beast Master, his slightly stiff demeanor suggesting he had never before allowed his Pet Beast to receive foster shop care. ¡°Sir, in these months since Mystical Wood Dew has ceased to appear, how have you helped your Pet Beast with body cleaning?¡± ¡°Um¡­ washed with a tap?¡± ¡°But your Pet Beast is a Fire Attribute Pet Beast.¡± Amid a few queries that drew laughter from the bystanders, Qi Cang approached the customer with a face that, though wild-looking, now held a reassuring expression, ¡°Please rest assured and hand over your Pet Beast to me, I¡¯ll make it as good as new.¡± ¡°Okay¡­okay.¡± The Beast Master nodded, and behind him, the Hexagram Star Array lit up. Amidst the gusting winds, a monkey covered in flames appeared before the crowd. Fire Attribute Transcendent Stage Leader Species, Little Flame Monkey. Compared to a healthy, well-built Little Flame Monkey, the flames around this one were noticeably less vibrant, and its color was somewhat dim. It was visibly not in great condition. ¡°Hmm¡­ Please follow me!¡± After circling around the Little Flame Monkey to assess its condition, Qi Cang clearly had a plan for its care, and confidently pointed to the washing station, gesturing for the Little Flame Monkey and its Beast Master to follow. Before long, the Little Flame Monkey was placed on the washing station, and Qi Cang began his preparation for the washing care. Below the stage, the foster shop owners, under Liu Fengyun¡¯s guidance, had found good viewing seats and were engrossed in observing Qi Cang¡¯s preparation details while also engaging in discussions. ¡°That Little Flame Monkey just now looked in rough shape, this is not going to be an easy cleaning job. I wonder if Mr. Qi can handle it.¡± ¡°I feel like if that Little Flame Monkey was handed over to me, I¡¯d struggle a bit. I hope I won¡¯t encounter such a difficult washing subject when it¡¯s my turn.¡± ¡°Haha, who knows?¡± Chapter 444 - Chapter 444: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_4 Chapter 444: Chapter 268: Public Wash and Care Exhibition! Undercurrents Surge!_4 ¡°¡­¡± As Xu Ran listened to the exchanges of other store owners, a contemplative expression surfaced in his eyes. According to the system¡¯s assessment, the current Washing and Protection requirement for this Little Flame Monkey was four stars, which was already considered difficult to groom. Of course, that was for other people. For Xu Ran, the Little Flame Monkey before him was not enough to pose a challenge. In just a moment, the corresponding Washing and Protection plan appeared in his mind. So¡­ What he was more curious about now was, how would this Mr. Qi Cang respond? Under the watchful eyes of Xu Ran and the other store owners, Qi Cang quickly finished his preparations and then began the official grooming. In his hand, there appeared a rough-surfaced, dark red stone. ¡°Is that a Flint Stone?¡± one of the Foster Shop owners whispered, ¡°It¡¯s good at kindling fires, is Mr. Qi planning a Fire Bath?¡± A Fire Bath involved using a kindling material to ignite some special combustible resources, which during burning would release the energy contained within, melding into the Pet Beast¡¯s body, nourishing and repairing it with energy. This method was basically something only a Fire Pet Beast could use. As for the Little Flame Monkey right now, it was indeed the perfect candidate. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a Fire Bath.¡± Another Foster Shop owner, who had a closer relationship with Qi Cang and obviously knew about Qi Cang¡¯s grooming methods beforehand, chuckled and said, ¡°Mr. Qi is skilled in the Stone Washing Method.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The Foster Shop owner who had mentioned the Fire Bath looked confused, ¡°Stone Washing Method? What is that¡­?¡± ¡°Zzzt~¡± A scraping noise from the stage interrupted his question. The audience looked towards the source of the sound just in time to see Qi Cang holding a Flint Stone, scraping it at an intricate angle along the side of the Little Flame Monkey¡¯s body. As the Flint Stone grazed the Little Flame Monkey¡¯s fur, it sparked a trail of fire towards the sky. The Little Flame Monkey¡¯s facial features slightly furrowed, seemingly enduring pain, but soon after each scrape from the Flint Stone, its tightened features gradually relaxed, revealing a comfortable expression on its face. Eventually, the look of pain completely disappeared, replaced by total comfort, even causing the Little Flame Monkey to involuntarily hum in pleasure. And with each scrape, the flames around its body visibly grew more vigorous, the red glow tumbling upwards, casting a red hue over the entire grooming platform. Seeing this scene, the spectators burst into an uproar, and among these sounds, there were also diverse Beast Roars. Clearly, it wasn¡¯t only the human Beast Masters who were moved by the apparent grooming results, but also the wild Transcendent Beings felt an impulse. ¡°This Stone Washing Method is Mr. Qi¡¯s forte. It appears simple, just scraping the body¡¯s surface with a Fire Attribute stone, but in fact, it¡¯s quite sophisticated,¡± previously mentioned Foster Shop owner chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this method, but doesn¡¯t it seem to have quite a few limitations?¡± another Foster Shop owner couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°Only a portion of Pet Beasts are suitable.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the previous Foster Shop owner nodded, ¡°There¡¯s no grooming method that suits all Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Formulating corresponding Washing and Protection methods based on the Pet Beast¡¯s conditions, that¡¯s what we need to do.¡± Hearing this, the others couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement. On the stage, the grooming of the Little Flame Monkey ended quickly, and the Beast Master was obviously very satisfied with the post-grooming results. After listening to the host explain the reward rules, he did not hesitate to give 15,000 yuan, expressing his gratitude. This price was already higher than the Gray Wolf Foster Store¡¯s charge for small Pet Beast grooming, causing the hearts of the other Foster Shop owners to race with desire, itching to try it out for themselves. The atmosphere at the event instantly heated up with this perfect start, and after the Little Flame Monkey¡¯s Beast Master left the stage, the number of audience members eager to hop up surged dramatically. The atmosphere at the Universe Foster Store was strikingly different from that of the open-air Washing and Protection exhibitions. At this moment, the door of the Universe Foster Store was temporarily closed, and a wooden sign reading ¡°Temporarily Closed¡± hung on the door. However, the Universe Foster Store was not empty; in fact, there were more people inside than usual. Besides the owner, Liu Yu, there were about ten men and women of various temperaments. Only, their expressions were none too pleased. ¡°Everyone, I believe you have also received the news,¡± Liu Yu¡¯s voice was somewhat somber, ¡°those foster shops from outside the area have joined forces.¡± ¡°They have conducted public Washing and Protection demonstrations at the Monster Wooden Marketplace to gain popularity for themselves.¡± ¡°You should be aware that such actions pose no small threat to us.¡± ¡°What threat? No threat at all,¡± one of the owners snorted dismissively, ¡°If they can do it, naturally we can too.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, we can hold a similar event. With our fame in Monster Wooden City, we can reclaim the customers they¡¯ve attracted in minutes.¡± ¡°I have to say, Mr. Tian, your words are somewhat amusing,¡± another owner couldn¡¯t help but shake his head, ¡°If our Washing and Protection techniques were really that good, would we need to join forces to suppress them?¡± With that said, everyone fell silent. Indeed. These establishments had been invited by the Beast Master Association of Monster Wooden City from various Second Level Towns to set up shop, so their strength goes without saying. By contrast, they had never before dabbled in the Washing and Protection Service, and many aspects of the business were like feeling stones to cross the river; they were simply no match for the others in terms of experience. If their own abilities were truly not lacking, then how could these local foster shops, which already enjoyed high popularity and reputation, be threatened by a few outsiders with no local foundation? A public Washing and Protection Exhibition is both easy and difficult. Easily done by simply borrowing a venue and setting up a stage. The difficulty lies in the fact that locally, foster shops hold their privately developed Washing and Protection techniques very close to their chest, unwilling to make them public. Even if they were willing to disclose them, following an exhibition already conducted by the out-of-town foster shops, mimicking them would do no more than make them the object of ridicule, clumsily wielding the tools of another¡¯s trade. ¡°Doing the same as them, holding such public demonstrations of Washing and Protection is definitely out of the question,¡± Liu Yu shook his head, dismissing the suggestion, ¡°But we can¡¯t just sit here and wait for our demise either.¡± Hearing Liu Yu¡¯s words, everyone nodded in agreement. Clearly, they all shared the same thought. The opposition has made their move, and they couldn¡¯t just lie down and take it, could they? ¡°Mr. Liu, you seem like you might have an idea?¡± one of the owners observed Liu Yu carefully before suddenly speaking up. ¡°I indeed have an idea,¡± Liu Yu nodded, ¡°but it will require a bit of help from all of you.¡± ¡°Doing the same as them, holding such public demonstrations of Washing and Protection is definitely out of the question,¡± Liu Yu shook his head, dismissing the suggestion, ¡°But we can¡¯t just sit here and wait for our demise either.¡± Hearing Liu Yu¡¯s words, everyone nodded in agreement. Clearly, they all shared the same thought. The opposition has made their move, and they couldn¡¯t just lie down and take it, could they? ¡°Mr. Liu, you seem like you might have an idea?¡± one of the owners observed Liu Yu carefully before suddenly speaking up. ¡°I indeed have an idea,¡± Liu Yu nodded, ¡°but it will require a bit of help from all of you.¡± Chapter 445 - Chapter 445: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty! Chapter 445: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty! ¡°Washing and protecting a difficult Pet Beast? I actually do have one,¡± After hearing Liu Yu¡¯s idea, one of the local Foster Shop owners chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a Wind Bell at the Leadership Stage. Not only is it difficult to wash and protect, but the Beast Master also has a bad temper.¡± ¡°If those outsiders don¡¯t wash and protect it well, just the Beast Master throwing a fit will be enough to give them a hard time,¡± Having said that, a somewhat schadenfreude expression appeared on the face of the local Foster Shop owner; clearly, he had witnessed such scenes before. ¡°Wind Bell¡­¡± Liu Yu muttered under his breath, a contemplative look in his eyes, before turning to the other Foster Shop owners, ¡°What do you all think about this option?¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do,¡± another local owner shook his head, ¡°Although washing and protecting a Wind Bell is quite troublesome, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not enough to stump them, after all¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but puff out his chest as he said this, ¡°I¡¯ve already figured out how to wash and protect a Wind Bell, and those outsiders from other Foster Shops have more experience and might also have their methods.¡± Upon hearing his words, the other Foster Shop owners cast envious and jealous glances at him. ¡°If that is the case, let¡¯s all suggest some other choices,¡± Liu Yu nodded in understanding and then looked at the others. ¡°I have an idea,¡± the owner who had just revealed his knowledge on washing and protecting the Wind Bell spoke with a smile, ¡°How about we let them wash and protect an Earth Rock Spirit? That¡¯s definitely going to be difficult.¡± ¡°Earth Rock Spirit? That¡¯s child¡¯s play,¡± another local owner smirked with pride, clearly aware of how to wash and protect such Transcendent Beings. So, this suggestion clearly wasn¡¯t reliable either. ¡°In my Foster Shop, there is indeed a Pet Beast that is quite suitable,¡± a person who had been quiet during the previous discussions suddenly spoke up, ¡°Although my shop has never washed and protected it before, I know its difficulty level has to be high.¡± Everyone turned to look at the person who had just spoken, and then they each showed a reflective look, obviously having some ideas and speculations. ¡°Are you talking about¡­ that Exquisite Flower King that has been fostered at your shop for a long time?¡± Liu Yu asked tentatively, excitement flashing in his eyes, ¡°The Pet Beast that even Mystical Wood Dew can¡¯t completely wash and protect?¡± ¡°Exactly, the Exquisite Flower King,¡± confirmed the owner with a slight nod, ¡°I¡¯m confident I can persuade its Beast Master to bring it to the event.¡± ¡°Even Mystical Wood Dew, produced by the Beast Emperor, can¡¯t wash and protect it thoroughly, I don¡¯t believe those outsiders have any way to do it!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that!¡± ¡°Hehe, the washing and protecting difficulty is sure to be high!¡± The other owners expressed their stance, clearly having no objections to this proposal. They had vaguely heard about the Exquisite Flower King one or two years ago. Mystical Wood Dew can wash and protect even the Demon Wood Domain¡¯s Beast King, but it just can¡¯t do a complete job on it, only able to complete a part of the process. Now that there¡¯s been no Mystical Wood Dew for several months, its condition can only have worsened. Those outsiders from other Foster Shop owners are bound to be stumped by it. Once washing and protection fails¡­ Hehe! Thinking of the consequences, they couldn¡¯t help but let out snickers in unison. ¡°Bring those Pet Beasts mentioned just now too,¡± Liu Yu said with a visibly more relaxed expression, ¡°I heard they are taking turns showing off at the Public Wash and Care Exhibition from fifteen Foster Shops.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll prepare several more tricks up our sleeve, to really play with them.¡± As he spoke, a stern look flashed in Liu Yu¡¯s eyes. He thought of Xu Ran. It didn¡¯t matter what happened with the other shops, but that Exquisite Flower King, it had to be assigned to the Starfire Foster Care Shop! This time, there¡¯s no way to let that person continue to be insolent! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Du¡¯s washing and protection techniques are really unique,¡± At a seat not far from the stage of the Public Wash and Care Exhibition, Xu Ran watched a Pet Beast that had just been washed and protected by Du Huayan and was now refreshed, as its Beast Master continuously expressed gratitude to Du Huayan and gave a generous reward of twenty thousand, he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Before Du Huayan, he had already witnessed the washing and protection methods of three different Foster Shop owners. Each method was focused on a different aspect, unique in its own right, and opened Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. But what surprised him the most was Du Huayan¡¯s method. The most distinctive feature of Du Huayan¡¯s method was the extensive use of floral Transcendent Resources during the washing and protection process, which through collection, extraction, and special blending, formed bath liquids with various effects. Conditioning, repairing, maintaining¡­ Besides the usual effects of washing and protection, there were even bath liquids with medical uses, such as promoting the recovery of external injuries and facilitating the repair of burns and scalds. ¡°Their Hundred Flowers Foster Store specializes in that,¡± The elderly man wearing glasses who sat not far from Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Even in our Bright Radiance City, Hundred Flowers is quite a famous Foster Shop.¡± This elderly man was Zhang Qinglan, the owner of the Lanhe Foster Care Store, and like Du Huayan, he came from the Second Level Town Bright Radiance City. The two had known each other for a long time before coming to Monster Wooden City. ¡°Boss Du was born into the Du family in Bright Radiance, a special family specializing in studying extraordinary flora. Her strength comes from being immersed in it from a young age,¡± Zhang Qinglan sighed, ¡°That¡¯s something you can¡¯t just learn!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Boss Xu, it¡¯s your turn after Boss Du, right?¡± Another owner spoke with a friendly smile, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Pet Beasts you took over from the Universe Foster Store that were considered beyond saving, were washed and protected by you to the point of being completely transformed.¡± Chapter 446 - Chapter 446: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_2 Chapter 446: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_2 ¡°Today, I finally get to see your skills in action.¡± ¡°A complete transformation would be an exaggeration.¡± Xu Ran smiled modestly, ¡°According to the schedule, Ms. Du should be able to wash and groom one more pet beast before it¡¯s my turn to take the stage and embarrass myself.¡± ¡°Boss Xu is too modest!¡± ¡°Hahaha, Boss Xu is the youngest here, truly a case of a young hero!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the other shop owners laughed amiably. In the midst of everyone¡¯s conversations and laughter, Ms. Du Huayan on the stage also welcomed her final customer. It was a man with a slightly sullen complexion, by his side was a large bell floating in the air, shimmering with a faint green light. The surface of the bell was also covered in green patterns that resembled flowing water. A Wind attribute Leader Stage Transcendent Being, the Wind Bell. ¡°We thank this gentleman for coming on stage, and now Ms. Du Huayan, the owner of the Hundred Flowers Foster Store, will begin the grooming for your Pet Beast!¡± The host spoke briefly and then walked off the stage, leaving it to Ms. Du Huayan. Ms. Du Huayan slightly furrowed her brows, gazing at the hovering Wind Bell. After a moment, her brows relaxed, revealing a smile, ¡°Please follow me.¡± Outside the stage, the normally chatty foster shop owners became more serious as they watched the events on stage. ¡°Wind Bell¡­ Certainly, grooming a half-elemental form Transcendent Being is not simple,¡± Zhang Qinglan said, watching his fellow villager begin preparations with a slight frown. ¡°As far as I know, the Hundred Flowers Foster Store previously did not accept elemental Pet Beasts for grooming because their grooming methods would not be effective with elemental creatures.¡± ¡°This is a public grooming; there is no way to refuse the customer, but if the grooming does not go well, it could negatively affect the Hundred Flowers Foster Store.¡± ¡°That would be rather bad.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but frown along, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if Ms. Du has mastered any other grooming methods.¡± ¡°I think, Boss Du must be confident,¡± Liu Fengyun spoke up softly, ¡°After all, she seems quite composed right now.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s voice slightly paused, and a grave expression surfaced in his eyes. ¡°It seems that, among the audience, I¡¯ve spotted a few individuals who shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°People who shouldn¡¯t be here?¡± Qi Cang raised his eyebrows and couldn¡¯t help but stand up to look around. His gaze quickly locked onto a certain area, and his expression turned ugly, ¡°It¡¯s those guys!¡± The others followed Qi Cang¡¯s gaze and soon also saw the group in question. Leading them was Liu Yu, along with local foster shop owners who had joined forces to suppress them. The rival shop owners seemed to notice their looks and looked back challengingly and with ill intent. ¡°Boss!¡± An employee dispatched from the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop to assist hurried over, walked up to Liu Fengyun, and whispered a few words before taking his leave. Once the employee had left, Liu Fengyun¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°It¡¯s confirmed,¡± he looked at the Wind Bell and its Beast Master on the stage, ¡°The Beast Master of that Wind Bell came here with the local foster shop owners.¡± Instantly, everyone¡¯s expression changed. The meaning behind this was self-evident. The Wind Bell¡¯s Beast Master was in cahoots with the local foster shops. Choosing a pet beast that Ms. Du was not familiar with grooming was an intentional act by the rivals! ¡°Thankfully, Boss Du is prepared.¡± Zhang Qinglan, previously worried about his fellow villager, now looked at Ms. Du Huayan¡¯s actions and relaxed slightly. Because Ms. Du Huayan was now using a different grooming method than before. She was not using the bath liquids made from grassy and woody type Transcendent Resources. Instead, she used a handful of mixed, finely ground, lightweight sandy grains. This was the most common grooming method used for Wind attribute elemental Transcendent Beings. All the necessary grooming resources and materials were ground into grooming sand, then the Wind attribute elemental Transcendent Being would absorb them. The grooming sand, carried by the wind, would then deeply cleanse both the inside and outside of its body before being expelled. ¡°With such a method, the Wind Bell can be groomed thoroughly, at least eighty percent,¡± another foster shop owner commented, ¡°As a semi-elemental type Transcendent Being, the Wind Bell¡¯s grooming still requires some additional things.¡± ¡°Ms. Du must be aware of this,¡± Xu Ran pointed to an item Ms. Du Huayan had prepared on the grooming table, ¡°That is the grooming paste Ms. Du has just mixed, intended for cleaning and maintaining the actual physical parts of the Wind Bell.¡± The group engaged in a flurry of discussions about the Wind Bell¡¯s grooming. Meanwhile, on stage, Ms. Du Huayan completed the grooming of the Wind Bell with poise, without any mishaps. In just over ten minutes, the green light around the Wind Bell deepened, and an invisible energy wind swirled around it. Its body gleamed with a lustrous sheen, looking as if it was thoroughly refreshed. It swayed in the air, ringing out a cheerful ¡®lingling¡¯ to express its gratitude to Ms. Du Huayan. And the sullen-faced Beast Master had a somewhat relieved expression at this moment. Although he had come with the local foster shops and was likely aware of their intentions, he was a customer, not a lackey of those shops. So when the Wind Bell was well groomed, he wouldn¡¯t deliberately trouble the owner who did the grooming. And moreover¡­ He was beginning to consider whether to entrust the grooming of the Wind Bell and his other two Pet Beasts to this place called the Hundred Flowers Foster Store in the future. Chapter 447 - Chapter 447: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_3 Chapter 447: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_3 ¡°` This store seems more reliable. After listening to the host explain the reward rules, the man, no longer wearing a grimace, tipped thirty thousand yuan without hesitation before turning with Wind Bell and leaving. As the wash and care session for Wind Bell concluded, the cleaning time for Hundred Flowers Foster Store was also drawing to an end. The host, holding a microphone, began to maintain the atmosphere in the venue, acting as a bridge between the changes of the two foster shops, while Du Huayan on stage neatly packed up her grooming supplies before stepping down. It wasn¡¯t until she walked off the stage that her seemingly relaxed facial expression became a little strained. ¡°Phew! That was close!¡± In front of her colleagues, Du Huayan couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for having handled a similar case a few days ago and learning some techniques for washing and caring for half-elemental pet beasts, today could have been a disaster.¡± ¡°Haha, the effect of your grooming was pretty good, no need to worry,¡± Zhang Qinglan laughed heartily with a relieving smile on his face, ¡°The first wave of attacks from those local foster shops seems to have been easily defused by you.¡± ¡°Local foster shops?¡± Du Huayan asked curiously. Completely focused on grooming for her clients, she was unaware of what had transpired. It was through the back and forth of the others that Du Huayan came to understand that the customer who had gone on stage was not a chance occurrence. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± A fleeting look of displeasure appeared in Du Huayan¡¯s eyes, but it quickly gave way to concern. She turned to look at Xu Ran and said softly, ¡°Little Boss Xu, it¡¯s your turn to go on stage next, and I don¡¯t think they will let it go easily.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, his expression calm. Having learned that Wind Bell had been deliberately arranged by the local foster shops, he had already mentally prepared for such a scenario. Having completely offended Universe Foster Store, he would likely be the one to receive the harshest retribution. But¡­ what of it? A trace of amusement flickered in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. No matter how you plot and scheme, you can¡¯t beat the fact that I have a trick up my sleeve¡­ ¡°Next, please welcome the owner of Starfire Foster Care Shop from Xieyun City, Mr. Xu Ran, to the stage to present a new round of the Public Wash and Care Exhibition!¡± Accompanied by the host¡¯s fervent voice, Xu Ran stood up, and after giving the local foster shops¡¯ direction a glance, he walked up to the stage with his head held high. ¡°He¡¯s going up!¡± Seeing Xu Ran take the stage, Liu Yu, standing in a corner of the crowd, let out a low grunt, ¡°It¡¯s time for the Exquisite Flower King to make an appearance.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The owner of the foster shop where the Exquisite Flower King resided glanced at Liu Yu. He was well aware of the history between the two men. Since the Exquisite Flower King was bound to appear sooner or later, he did not mind lending a hand to Liu Yu. With that thought, he smiled at a middle-aged man beside him, ¡°Then next, it¡¯ll be Mr. Zhao¡¯s turn to take the stage.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The middle-aged man looked somewhat reluctant, ¡°We had an agreement that if they can¡¯t properly groom my Exquisite Flower King, your shop will go all out to find a solution for my pet¡¯s grooming.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the owner clenched his teeth, ¡°Our shop will see it done! Even if it means appealing to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself.¡± ¡°Good!¡± The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction and then strode towards the stage. At the same time, on the other side of the stage, a youth watching Xu Ran take the stage appeared bewildered. ¡°Tutu, do you want to take your pet beast with me to that Hundred Flowers Foster Shop we just saw for a grooming session?¡± Standing next to the youth was a short chubby boy of similar age who was looking quite hopeful, ¡°That place seemed awesome!¡± ¡°Tutu?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Tutu was snapped back to reality by his companion tugging on his arm, ¡°Dazhu, what did you just say?¡± Zhou Dazhu shook his head helplessly and repeated what he had said. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s not rush,¡± Li Tutu said, his eyes fixed on Mr. Xu on the stage, full of anticipation, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see!¡± Images of the time he had spent with Xu Ran flashed through Li Tutu¡¯s mind. He never expected that the congenial General Level Beast Master would turn out to be the owner of a foster shop! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Now then, let¡¯s invite the first client to the stage with a round of warm applause!¡± As the host spoke, a significant round of applause erupted on the side of the stage. Looking at the dense crowd at the peak time beneath the stage, Xu Ran¡¯s face bore a calm smile, and his hands, hidden behind his back, clenched suddenly in that moment. He had to seize this opportunity! The details of the grooming he was about to perform had to be perfect. Only by grooming the pet beast to the best degree possible could he etch the name of Starfire Foster into the hearts of people and accelerate the increase in fame! With anticipation in his heart, Xu Ran stared steadily at the middle-aged man approaching the stage. ¡°We thank this gentleman for coming up. Next, Mr. Xu Ran, owner of Starfire Foster, will take care of your pet beast!¡± After dropping this remark, the host turned and left. ¡°Hello,¡± Xu Ran greeted with a smile, though internally he guessed whether the man was one of those sent by the local foster shops, ¡°You can summon your pet beast now.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the middle-aged man sighed softly. Although he wasn¡¯t holding much hope, he quickly displayed the summoning array. With the Hexagram Star Array twinkling, a slender pet beast appeared, stepping out from the surge of energy it aroused. ¡°` Chapter 448 - Chapter 448: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_4 Chapter 448: Chapter 269: High Difficulty? No Difficulty!_4 Following that, gasps of amazement resounded throughout the room. There was no denying it; the condition of the Pet Beast was dreadfully poor. It was a humanoid Pet Beast that walked on two legs and had two arms sprouting from its torso; its figure was slender, with a waist as thin as a flower stem. At the tips of both its hands and feet, there were no palm-like structures as seen in humans; instead, there were smooth root-like structures without any offshoots, and at the wrists and ankles, it had exaggeratedly large flower buds, with similar buds atop its head resembling a crown. This Transcendent Being as a whole had a smoky pink hue, and it should have been an incredibly attractive Pet Beast. However, the deep brown rust-like blemishes that spread across every part of its body, reminiscent of withering flowers, made it look extremely bizarre. Without question, this was a Pet Beast in urgent need of Washing and Protection to adjust its condition. Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly at this moment. Because the evaluation from the system for the Pet Beast in front of him was somewhat troubling¡­ [Race name: Exquisite Flower King Attribute: Earth Growth stage: General stage Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evaluation: Given its special Washing and Protection requirements, in the many years gone by, no treatment has ever reached its core. Pleasure has always been fleeting, leaving only a deeper yearning. It¡¯s time for the Host to use their skilled grooming techniques to fill its heart!] Setting aside the system¡¯s increasingly frivolous evaluation content, Xu Ran grasped a faint suspicion brewing in his mind. Could this Pet Beast possibly be¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Even Mystical Wood Dew cannot be used for its Washing and Protection?!¡± Below the stage, the various Foster Shop owners from out of town showed expressions of shock and anger. Mystical Wood Dew is a special resource produced by the Beast Emperor. It could be said that, if not for the Beast Emperor¡¯s halted production, these skilled Foster Shops from out of town would scarcely have a chance to survive here. How miraculous is such a resource? And how extremely difficult to groom must a Pet Beast be that even such a resource cannot Washing and Protection it? ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s expression at that moment was just as dark. ¡°It was during a chance occurrence that I learned about the existence of this Exquisite Flower King.¡± ¡°It is said to be an extremely unique Evolutionary Form that has never been seen before in Monster Wooden City. With high difficulty in grooming, even Mystical Wood Dew can¡¯t thoroughly clean it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention never seen in Monster Wooden City, I¡¯ve been in Xuanxing City for all these years and I¡¯ve not heard about such an evolved Exquisite Flower King.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of it either.¡± ¡°Neither have I¡­¡± The various Foster Shop owners shook their heads one after another, their faces showing helpless expressions. Running a Foster Shop, regardless of the service provided, requires an in-depth understanding of the respective species, so servicing the Leader Species is the simplest. Because there are detailed records for almost all existing Leader Species. It¡¯s more challenging when providing Washing and Protection for a King Species that has evolved once. That¡¯s because many King Species have brand-new Evolutionary Forms, never before seen by anyone. In such cases, providing service requires starting from scratch, with the only point of reference being the species¡¯ previous form before evolution. That is also why there is a substantial gap in depth and strength between Foster Shops catering to Leadership Stage or below and those serving up to King Stage or below. And for higher Emperor Species, the services required to keep up becomes even more difficult. This Exquisite Flower King was precisely the kind of case these Foster shops feared encountering. Not only is there no precedent, but the service difficulty is also extremely high. Conventional services are inadequate for its needs, and even a miraculous resource like Mystical Wood Dew is insufficient. Then, how could Boss Xu possibly manage? At this moment, no one had confidence in Xu Ran. ¡°Boss Xu has already stepped onto the stage,¡± Du Huayan said softly, her eyes showing a grave expression, ¡°If he fails, Starfire Foster¡¯s reputation might be ruined.¡± ¡°It was my oversight,¡± Liu Fengyun took in a deep breath and took responsibility, ¡°For all future guests who will take the stage, I will request that they summon their Pet Beasts for inspection first, and only after confirming they are no issue will they be allowed on stage.¡± ¡°As for Boss Xu¡­¡± Liu Fengyun glanced at Xu Ran on the stage, a hint of apology flickering in his eyes, ¡°The best way I can think of to salvage this is to tell all present about the situation with this Pet Beast.¡± ¡°If they all knew that even Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t wash and protect the Exquisite Flower King, then Boss Xu¡¯s failure afterwards would bring much less of a negative impact.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only thing we can do,¡± sighed Du Huayan softly. Other foster shop owners also had a touch of sympathy on their faces. Boss Xu was so young, and he was the last to come to Monster Wooden City among them. This is truly¡­ Such a pity. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Hey, have you heard? The washing and protection of that Exquisite Flower King is especially difficult.¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± ¡°They say that even Mystical Wood Dew can¡¯t properly wash and protect the Exquisite Flower King, which is why it¡¯s in such bad shape.¡± ¡°What? There are Transcendent Beings that Mystical Wood Dew can¡¯t wash and protect?¡± ¡°Yeah, if Mystical Wood Dew can¡¯t do it, can this young man succeed in washing and protecting it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see much hope, just his bad luck.¡± ¡°Indeed, I think we could give him another chance, and after he washes and protects the next Transcendent Being, then we can determine the washing and protection level of his shop.¡± ¡°You have a point there¡­¡± Similar, covert conversations were happening at many places in the audience. Under Liu Fengyun¡¯s arrangement, the staff secretly planted among the crowd deliberately guided the conversations, and soon everyone there knew the details about the Exquisite Flower King. In their hearts, they already expected Xu Ran to fail in his washing and protection task, so naturally, they wouldn¡¯t feel too disappointed when the actual failure occurred. As Liu Fengyun said, this was probably the best way he could think of to help Xu Ran. However¡­ On the stage, Xu Ran didn¡¯t seem to need it. ¡°Please lie down here.¡± After signaling the Exquisite Flower King to lie on the corresponding washing and protection table for a medium-sized Pet Beast, Xu Ran began various preparations for the washing and protection with a calm expression. Undoubtedly, washing and protecting this Pet Beast would be very difficult. Even for him, with the system, it was the case. But, when there are difficulties, you overcome them. It¡¯s just a withered flower. Just pump it full of nutrition and it¡¯s done. Soon, Xu Ran finished his preparations and stood up straight. However, he didn¡¯t start right away. The Hexagram Star Array twinkled into existence behind him. The next moment, Star and Cancan stepped out of the fierce wind. ¡°This time for the washing and protection, I need both of your help.¡± After giving a few instructions to the two Pet Beasts, Xu Ran then officially began the washing and protection process. Accompanied by the shower gel, at just the right temperature, being sprayed from the shower head onto the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s delicate body, evenly soaking its slightly wilted leaves and petals. Just pump it full of nutrition and it¡¯s done. Soon, Xu Ran finished his preparations and stood up straight. However, he didn¡¯t start right away. The Hexagram Star Array twinkled into existence behind him. The next moment, Star and Cancan stepped out of the fierce wind. ¡°This time for the washing and protection, I need both of your help.¡± After giving a few instructions to the two Pet Beasts, Xu Ran then officially began the washing and protection process. Accompanied by the shower gel, at just the right temperature, being sprayed from the shower head onto the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s delicate body, evenly soaking its slightly wilted leaves and petals. Chapter 449 - Chapter 449: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King! Chapter 449: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King! ¡°` The moment the Fate Necklace linked the Exquisite Flower King with Cancan, the slender body of the Exquisite Flower King couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Before it, Cancan, who belonged to the same earth-based species, was clearly at the same growth stage, but the latter¡¯s strength was so formidable that the power surging towards it felt especially abundant. The body of the Exquisite Flower King also became slightly swollen due to the infusion of this power, as if it had some difficulty bearing it, and bulges faintly appeared on its body. The large buds around its body that were on the verge of blooming also quietly cracked open at this moment, revealing petals that were originally tightly stacked and closed without a single gap, showing a posture that had never been seen by anyone else in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Now is the time! Xu Ran¡¯s hands, which were quietly placed on the open petals of the Exquisite Flower King. Then, those hands, evenly smeared with bath gel, took advantage of the lubrication of the gel to quickly penetrate along the direction of the petals, reaching the deepest part of the slightly opened bud in an extremely short time. The movements of the Exquisite Flower King froze at that moment. A depth that had never been reached before caused its body to uncontrollably tremble as if it had been electrified. The tips of its limbs, smooth as root tips, kept straining to bend at this moment, trembling as if cramping, while the buds all over its body couldn¡¯t help but open further in the trembling, as if expecting Xu Ran to proceed further with the washing and protection. Indeed, this was the case. A relaxed smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. The Exquisite Flower King is a very peculiar evolution species. Its original species was the Jade Wood Spirit, a humanoid Pet Beast resembling a wooden puppet, which could evolve along a rare path under certain specific circumstances to become the form it is in now. Compared to the Jade Wood Spirit, the most distinctive feature of the Exquisite Flower King is the closed buds that fill its entire body. These buds are also the source of its difficulty in washing and protection. These buds are not merely decorations on the body of the Exquisite Flower King; once they bloom, the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s power would continuously leak out. Therefore, the buds around the Exquisite Flower King are usually tightly closed to ensure that its own power does not dissipate. It is only when the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s own strength is in excess and the vast power needs an outlet that these buds would quietly open a gap. This, due to the extreme rarity of the Exquisite Flower King species, is likely something it has never realized itself. And the buds that have always been closed have become a place for dirt and grime to accumulate within the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s body, hiding a large amount of waste secreted from inside it. If these impurities accumulate too much, they can lead to even more serious problems, causing signs of corrosion to appear uncontrollably on the petals of the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s body. Such traces not only make the Exquisite Flower King uncomfortable but in more serious cases can even prevent its strength from continuing to increase. Although this Exquisite Flower King hadn¡¯t reached that point yet, it wasn¡¯t far off. Luckily, it met Xu Ran. With Cancan¡¯s immense Earth attribute Power and the Fate Necklace of Stars, Xu Ran easily brought the Exquisite Flower King to a state of power overflow, causing the tight buds to open a gap. What followed was quite simple. Feeling the petals that tightly wrapped around his palm and half his forearm, Xu Ran gently rubbed the inner side of the petals. The touch of fine, chicken-skin-like bumps made his heart sigh slightly, and his gaze towards the Exquisite Flower King softened a few degrees. ¡°Next, I will take care of it for you,¡± he said. After speaking, he gently used his arm and palm to open the closed buds even more and then poured another kind of specially prepared bath gel into the bud. The cold touch made the violently trembling body of the Exquisite Flower King stiffen slightly, and the continuous electrifying sensation seemed to cool down a bit at that moment. In exchange was a strange pleasure sensation that it kept revisiting. It could easily feel every single detail of the icy bath gel flowing between the forced-open buds. As the slippery bath gel kept streaming along the gaps between the petals inside the bud, eventually reaching the unseen bud at the deepest place and completely soaking it in chilliness, the body of the Exquisite Flower King became light and ethereal in an instant. Its light green eyes suddenly become blurry, the slightly raised head above showed more buds unconsciously blooming, and from its slightly open mouth came an odd and provocative sound uncontrollably. ¡°Mmm~~¡± [Pleasure value from the Exquisite Flower King +50] [Pleasure value from the Exquisite Flower King +50] [From¡­] Watching the popup of a large amount of pleasure value, Xu Ran¡¯s smile deepened. However, he did not notice that, with such a violent reaction from the Exquisite Flower King during the washing process, the entire event venue suddenly fell into an eerie quiet. Many parents with children couldn¡¯t help but cover their children¡¯s eyes, which even included some from Extraordinary Creature Races. Others who looked at Xu Ran also carried an indescribable strangeness in their eyes. The other fourteen foster shop bosses from out of town, who had been worried about Xu Ran before, now looked at each other in bewilderment. ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s performance while washing the Exquisite Flower King¡­ seems to be not bad?¡± Qi Cang touched his sideburns, his expression gradually becoming strange, ¡°But isn¡¯t the reaction of this wash a bit too exaggerated?¡± ¡°` Chapter 450 - Chapter 450: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_2 Chapter 450: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_2 ¡°This must be due to Boss Xu¡¯s unique Washing and Protection technique,¡± Liu Fengyun sighed with a helpless smile, ¡°I hope Boss Xu can successfully complete the Washing and Protection.¡± Not far from the two of them, Du Huayan remained silent, but at some point, her charming face blushed with a trace of crimson. She slightly adjusted the tight long skirt that accentuated her enticing waist and hips, then once again straightened her sitting posture. Meanwhile, the other Foster Shop owners had an array of strange expressions. The atmosphere at the event, which had initially been pessimistic about Xu Ran, had vanished without a trace. However¡­ this new atmosphere might not necessarily be good for Xu Ran either. All of this went unnoticed by Xu Ran, who was completely absorbed in his own world, fully engrossed in the Washing and Protection work on the Exquisite Flower King before him. He quietly waited for the bud to be fully saturated with the bath liquid, until a drop of the liquid seeped from the tip of the bud, trickling down its outer edge, and finally fell to the ground. Only then did Xu Ran stop pouring the bath liquid. Keeping his hand that had been inserted into the bud in place to prop it open, he skillfully donned a latex glove with fine, soft rubber tips on the inside and reached in deep. Then, Xu Ran started using gentle strength and skilled techniques to rub away the accumulated dirt within the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s body. With Xu Ran¡¯s ongoing actions, the shaking of the Exquisite Flower King grew more and more intense. It felt an odd burning sensation within the previously cool comfort, as if its body was about to be set aflame, and the continuously kneading hands imparted a powerful shock, akin to an electric jolt. The slightly raised head of the Exquisite Flower King suddenly lifted higher, and in its pale green eyes, the dreamy look intensified, as if about to brim with moisture. Even its originally elliptical pupils subtly deformed at that moment, seemingly about to transform into heart shapes. In the venue, only its increasingly peculiar sounds echoed. ¡°Ying~~~¡± [Pleasure value from the Exquisite Flower King +70] [Pleasure value from the Exquisite Flower King +70] [From¡­] Seeing the content expression on the Exquisite Flower King, Xu Ran nodded slightly. With the ultra-thin nature of the latex gloves, he could almost perfectly sense the feedback from the touch on the inner side of the petals. The granules, like gooseflesh, were particularly stubborn. Even after being soaked in the bath liquid, they could not be shed with too gentle a touch. Thus, it was time to increase the strength. Bringing his index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger together, Xu Ran pressed the pads of these four fingers against the surface of the inside of the petals. Then, with a force strong enough to create visible protrusions on the outer wall of the bud, he slowly slid over the inner side of the petals. Bit by bit, filth by filth, those stubborn stains were finally completely peeled off the inner side of the petals after being sufficiently soaked by the bath liquid and with enough force applied, revealing the newly born, delicate inner surface of the petals. The dazed look in the eyes of the Exquisite Flower King and the uncontrollable trembling of its entire body reached a climax at this moment. It felt the currents coursing through its body suddenly intensify, accompanied by an indescribably itchy sensation that made its body convulse involuntarily. The power of this convulsion spread from the tips of its root-like limbs to every bud base upon its body. The buds of the Exquisite Flower King were supposed to be under its own control to open and close. However, having never seen one of its kind and lacking understanding of its own species, this Exquisite Flower King had never managed to do so over a long period of time. At this moment, under the stimulation of Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection, the Exquisite Flower King fortuitously managed to do it. One after another, the buds no longer needed Xu Ran¡¯s hands to forcefully prop them open. In the astonished gazes of many, they slowly unfurled to their maximum size, revealing the internal cherry-pink pistils, and with a gentle breeze, light pink luminance scattered about. At that moment, it truly demonstrated the meaning behind the name ¡°Flower King¡±! ¡°In the future, remember to open your buds regularly,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, continuing with the task at hand. With the cooperation of the Exquisite Flower King, the work that followed would be much simpler. About half an hour later, the agile Xu Ran finally finished Washing and Protection on the last bud of the Exquisite Flower King. The rust-like blemishes that clung to its petals like tumors were completely gone after a thorough cleansing and the subsequent nourishing techniques applied by Xu Ran. Left standing on the stage was only a graceful humanoid Pet Beast with cherry-pink blossoms opening upon its pale green body. This was the true form of the Exquisite Flower King. Even though the Fate Necklace bestowed by the stars had dissipated, the blooming buds of the Exquisite Flower King still remained open. Presumably, after having been held back for so long, it could not help wanting to show off its most beautiful side to others. ¡°If the buds are open for too long, you¡¯ll soon feel weak,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as a reminder, which finally made the boastful Exquisite Flower King behave. The Exquisite Flower King was capable of devouring plant-based Transcendent Resources to enhance itself quickly. These buds that could open to release power were a protective mechanism when it consumed resources too powerful to absorb, not tools for displaying charm. The Exquisite Flower King turned its head to look at Xu Ran, its pale green eyes filled with a tinge of grievance and reluctance. Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_3 Chapter 451: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_3 The man before him was the first human to Wash and Protection down to its deepest core. That peculiar sensation made its body quiver slightly even now as it reminisced. Xu Ran, however, had not noticed the Exquisite Flower King¡¯s gaze. After he completed the Washing and Protection, he wiped his hands and returned to his previous calm and composure, his eyes turning towards the middle-aged man whose expression had turned into one of immense admiration. ¡°Are you satisfied with the Washing and Protection?¡± ¡°Satisfied! I couldn¡¯t be more satisfied!¡± The man quickly snapped back to reality upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s voice and immediately responded without hesitation. Since his Pet Beast had accidentally evolved into the Exquisite Flower King, Washing and Protection had become a major problem for both him and his Pet Beast. Even the Mystical Wood Dew produced by the Beast Emperor couldn¡¯t thoroughly Wash and Protection it, which had nearly made the Beast Master lose all hope. It was said that the Beast Emperor himself possessed a much stronger ability for Washing and Protection, which might solve the issue, but that was clearly beyond the reach of a General Level Beast Master like him. But now, Xu Ran had done it. The middle-aged man, who had harbored no hope before coming onto the stage, felt a sudden surge of unexpected joy. At this moment, all the middle-aged man wanted to do was to express his gratitude by any means possible. That¡¯s right! A reward! The middle-aged man, who had read the rules of the event earlier, finally remembered the rules for this event. Without waiting for the host to come up and speak, the man walked straight to the reward box and, without any hesitation, took out all the Money he had on him and put it in. ¡°Um¡­ this gentleman is a bit preemptive, I haven¡¯t even introduced the rules yet¡­¡± The belated host chuckled awkwardly, then as he saw the amount displayed on the reward box, his voice shot up, ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop has received a reward of two million Yuan!¡± Two million! The surrounding area erupted in a moment of amazement over this unprecedented large sum of reward. Even Xu Ran himself appeared quite surprised. After all, this amount was much higher than the prices at his shop for Washing and Protection. ¡°Sir, you didn¡¯t have to reward so much.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a must!¡± The middle-aged man shook his head firmly, ¡°Boss Xu, you have no idea how many methods I¡¯ve tried in order to give the Exquisite Flower King a complete Wash and Protection.¡± ¡°This pinnacle state that it¡¯s showing now, I¡¯ve only seen it right after it had completed its evolution. It hasn¡¯t shown such a state for many years.¡± ¡°So, you must accept this token of my appreciation!¡± ¡°This¡­ well, then, thank you very much,¡± Xu Ran shook his head in resignation, ¡°I really appreciate it.¡± ¡°It is I who should be thanking Boss Xu,¡± the middle-aged man chuckled, leading the reluctantly departing Exquisite Flower King off the stage. After a moment of silence, the venue suddenly burst into an unprecedented cheer and applause. Almost every spectator standing below the stage couldn¡¯t help but applaud for the incredible Washing and Protection that Xu Ran had just performed. Although the process was somewhat unorthodox, the young man¡¯s skills in Washing and Protection had undoubtedly surpassed their expectations! Before this event, everyone in Monster Wooden City held Mystical Wood Dew in the highest regard. For those who were accustomed to collecting Mystical Wood Dew from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood for their monthly Washing and Protection, this product of the Beast Emperor was undoubtedly the pinnacle of Washing and Protection. Even though the Wash and Protection skills demonstrated by the various Foster Shops had been exquisite, matching the effects achieved by Mystical Wood Dew, the deeply ingrained notion had not disappeared from their minds. Until Xu Ran made his move. A Pet Beast that even Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t Wash and Protection was effortlessly cared for in his hands, its appearance improving by more than just a notch, looking as if it had been replaced with a completely different Pet Beast. With such a miraculous scene unfolding before their eyes, even the most stubborn and outspoken of them had to admit that Xu Ran¡¯s skills in Washing and Protection had indeed surpassed Mystical Wood Dew! At that moment, everyone¡¯s gaze towards Xu Ran became passionate. The words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± were etched firmly in their minds. Even the fourteen Foster Shop owners from other regions, who had been sitting and watching the competition, couldn¡¯t help but rise to their feet and generously applaud Xu Ran. One could say that Xu Ran¡¯s actions not only built his own reputation but also vindicated Washing and Protection, hinting at the potential elevation of its status in Monster Wooden City! In a corner of the event venue, a group of men and women stood out with their low spirits amidst the festive atmosphere. Unlike the lively noise on and off stage, they were quiet, each with an uglier expression than the last. ¡°What do we do now?¡± After a long while, one of the local Foster Shop owners grunted and looked towards Liu Yu. ¡°What we thought was difficult, he solved effortlessly. Instead of slapping his face, it¡¯s our faces that have been soundly slapped!¡± ¡°Exactly, they say you¡¯re crafty, Liu Yu, but it seems that¡¯s not really the case!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Liu Yu took a deep breath, raised his voice sharply, his face full of shame and gloom, ¡°Was this plan just my idea?¡± Before coming here, didn¡¯t all of you agree with this plan?¡± ¡°Did any of you think that a Pet Beast which even Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t Wash and Protection would be so easily taken care of by someone else?¡± At Liu Yu¡¯s retort, the others gradually closed their mouths. Indeed! Letting the Exquisite Flower King get Wash and Protection was a decision they had all agreed on. It was a pity that they had all been so full of themselves, certain that they could thwart the plans of the outsiders, only to end up becoming their stumbling block. Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_4 Chapter 452: Chapter 270: The Reborn Exquisite Flower King!_4 ¡°All right, let¡¯s go back,¡± the owner of the Foster Shop where the Exquisite Flower King had originally been staying said, shaking his head slightly, ¡°Now that it has come to this, we¡¯ll have to truly fight them in this business war.¡± ¡°If we lose, we¡¯ll just have to give up the Washing and Protection Service and return to our original fostering and accompanying training business to protect our own small patch.¡± A sigh went up from the crowd as they followed him and left the venue. But the same question echoed in everyone¡¯s mind. By giving up the Washing and Protection Service, could they really protect their small patch? If other foster shops from outside the area provided such good Washing and Protection Service, wouldn¡¯t their fostering and accompanying training service be inferior? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°We have half an hour left for Starfire Foster¡¯s operation, so please welcome the next guest!¡± Amid the fervor of the announcer¡¯s voice, there was some commotion at the entrance. Xu Ran looked over with anticipation. Who¡­ would his second guest be? As he awaited with expected eyes, the curtain that had been drawn was lifted, and a rotund Transcendent Being appeared, striding on its two short legs onto the stage. It was covered with layers of long, dense, purple fur, with only two small light purple eyes peeking out, blinking at Xu Ran, and it said hello to Xu Ran by shaking the two distinctive feelers on top of its head, as it had no hands. There was no Beast Master by its side, and the unique aura of a wild Transcendent Being made its origins quite clear. This was a Transcendent Being from the Monster Wooden Domain! Suddenly, quiet whispers spread among the audience below. Even the Transcendent Beings curiously watching from the crowd showed surprised and bewildered expressions. Compared to humans, wild Transcendent Beings were less receptive to Washing and Protection. In the wild Transcendent Beings¡¯ world, there was a more defined hierarchical order, which engendered blind worship of the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood in their hearts. Although this event was for both human Beast Masters and wild Transcendent Beings, since the morning, no wild Transcendent Being had come on stage¡ªall who did were human Beast Masters. This one in front of them was the first wild Transcendent Being to attempt the Washing and Protection Service at this event. While the audience was surprised, Xu Ran also made a System Identification to learn about this guest in front of him. [Race name: Sleep Demon Attribute: Super ability Growth Step: Elite Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evaluation: A Transcendent Being that symbolizes luck and sleep, if the host gives it a pleasurable Washing and Protection experience with skillful hands, something unexpected might happen~] Symbolizing luck and sleep? Xu Ran paused for a moment, taking a closer look at the Transcendent Being in front of him. This was the first time the system provided such a special reference. And the last line of the evaluation was particularly surprising to Xu Ran. Although the system¡¯s evaluations were always less than serious, putting aside that frivolous content, the occasional gems of insight it provided were always important. It seemed this Transcendent Being in front of him was quite special. With that thought, Xu Ran immediately perked up with great interest. ¡°Welcome here, to receive my Washing and Protection.¡± He gave his brightest smile, pointing to a small-sized Washing and Protection table nearby, ¡°Please follow me there for the bathing.¡± ¡°Looby~¡± The Sleep Demon responded, touching the tips of its two feelers together in the air, as if a shy little one extended two index fingers and poked them together shyly, despite its lack of hands. Under Xu Ran¡¯s guidance, the Sleep Demon cooperatively lay down on the Washing and Protection table, waiting for him to complete the preparations for the cleansing. Soon, the Washing and Protection officially began. With the warm water flowing from the showerhead, it moistened the Sleep Demon¡¯s body evenly, running down from the tips of its slightly rough fur to the roots, then passing around the follicles, and finally merging into a light grey stream, the Sleep Demon¡¯s eyes revealed a look of contentment. Compared to the previous Exquisite Flower King, the Washing and Protection process for the Sleep Demon seemed much more routine. After completing the initial wetting, Xu Ran applied whipped nourishing shampoo to his hands, spreading it evenly over the Sleep Demon, then began to rub and massage. With his kneading, the shampoo permeated evenly to the roots of the fur, and every inch of the hair follicles gently trembled under such meticulous massaging. However, this time, Xu Ran felt as if something was missing during the Washing and Protection. Usually by this point, the Pet Beast undergoing Washing and Protection would have already been making strange sounds, accompanied by uncontrollable light tremors. Whereas the Sleep Demon at the moment¡­ Under Xu Ran¡¯s massage, it actually closed its tiny eyes and fell into a deep sleep, breathing deeply. ¡°This¡­¡± A strange expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Could it be that this fellow¡­ gets tired more easily? With this thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but increase the strength of his massaging. You must make a noise for me today! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Phew¡­¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, a look of exhaustion on his face. Washing and Protecting this Sleep Demon felt more tiring than washing the Exquisite Flower King before. No matter how much he increased the strength of his Washing and Protection, the Sleep Demon slept so sweetly, even starting to snore at the end. In the end, Xu Ran simply had to give up on the idea of applying more force and, following the standard Washing and Protection procedure, methodically completed a full set of Washing and Protection and maintenance work. Just when Xu Ran was blow-drying its fur, thinking that this guy would continue to sleep soundly on the table, the Sleep Demon that had slept through the entire washing process opened its little eyes, got up from the Washing and Protection table, and hopped down lively from the table. ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Ran opened his mouth, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Looby?¡± The Sleep Demon moved to the large mirror set up to inspect the results of the Washing and Protection, and saw itself, its fur smooth as silk and shimmering with an incredibly supple luster in the sunlight, a satisfied look in its eyes. ¡°Looby!¡± Clearly, it was satisfied with Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection results. ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Xu Ran nodded, but his mind recalled the evaluation from the system during the previous identification. Washing this Sleep Demon would lead to an unexpected event? So¡­ what could that event be? With this thought, he couldn¡¯t help but look towards the Sleep Demon. ¡°Looby!¡± The Sleep Demon, just awakened, now fully alert while admiring its new look, had become completely refreshed. Having always loved cleanliness and after the Mystical Wood Dew ceased production, it was finally able to wash itself clean again! Having been watching the scene for quite a while now, it knew that the time had come to reward this human! To reward someone was to give them something valuable from oneself¡­ A contemplative look appeared in the Sleep Demon¡¯s eyes, and it quickly thought of something, waddling over to the reward box. It just so happened to have something it couldn¡¯t use itself; in that case, it might as well give it to the human in front of it as a token of gratitude! ¡°Looby~¡± The Sleep Demon called out and then, from who knows where, produced a small clump of crystal-clear material, placing it in the reward box before waddling off the stage. ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing the clump of material, Xu Ran suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Could this be¡­ Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk?! Chapter 453 - Chapter 453: Chapter 271: Tearless Sorrow of the Twelve Chapter 453: Chapter 271: Tearless Sorrow of the Twelve Gently lifting up the bundle of tender silk which seemed almost insubstantial, each strand delicate and translucent, sparkling with a strange rainbow luster under the sunlight, Xu Ran confirmed his judgment. This was the rarely seen super ability attribute resource, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk. And for Xu Ran, it held a special purpose. That was as one of the main materials for the Twelve Evolution. Although he hadn¡¯t formed a contract with Twelve yet and couldn¡¯t keep Twelve by his side, Xu Ran had long considered it as his Pet Beast, always on the lookout for evolution resources for it. Besides the auxiliary materials that were easy to obtain, there were three main evolution materials for Twelve. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence, and Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk. The first type of resource could be exchanged in Xieyun City, costing only four or five thousand Beast Master Points, so Xu Ran had already exchanged it in advance for Twelve. The second resource could also be exchanged in Xieyun City, and after learning about Twelve¡¯s father¡¯s identity, it seemed there might be an even better way to obtain it¡­ But only the third type of resource, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, was not available for exchange in either Qingzhou City or Xieyun City. It wasn¡¯t because of its high value, but simply because it was rare and obscure. Fortunately, Xu Ran had already checked its description and pictorial information in Xieyun City, so once he encountered Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, he could identify it at first glance to avoid missing out on a treasure right under his nose. And now, his thorough preparation evidently paid off. ¡°Are you really going to give me this resource?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at the Sleep Demon beside him, who was trying hard to keep its little eyes wide open, looking quite adorable. ¡°This is Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, very rare.¡± ¡°Looby~¡± The Sleep Demon nodded its head, giving Xu Ran a confirming gaze. As a super ability attribute Pet Beast, it certainly knew what this resource was. But¡­ is this thing rare? The Sleep Demon tilted its head, showing a slightly puzzled expression. Isn¡¯t this the silk spun daily by the little pets it was raising? Watching the human in front of it cherish the Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk and treat it like a treasure, the Sleep Demon¡¯s face showed a disdainful expression as if to say ¡°you haven¡¯t seen the world.¡± The tentacles on its head shook, signaling that the gift was his, then it wobbled away from the scene. Oblivious that he had been scorned by his special guest just then, Xu Ran chuckled and carefully stored the silkworm silk away, while the host¡¯s voice echoed through the venue. ¡°Congratulations to Boss Xu for receiving the transcendent resource gifted by a guest!¡± ¡°After professional evaluation, this resource is worth 500 Beast Master Points. According to the rules of this event, congratulations to Boss Xu for receiving a reward of five hundred thousand Yuan!¡± With the host¡¯s announcement ringing out, gasps of amazement spread throughout the audience. Just this one resource had already exceeded the total rewards of the previous four Foster Shops! But given Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection performance earlier, the audience felt it was well-deserved. After all, not just anyone could complete the Washing and Protection for a transcendent being that even Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t entirely cleanse! ¡°Thank you, everyone,¡± Xu Ran said, his face also wearing a satisfied smile. Now, it seemed there was a good chance he would win the title of most popular Foster Shop of the event. And what mattered even more was¡­ Xu Ran touched the Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk he had tucked away in his pocket. He had found the last piece of the evolution resources for Twelve. Now, all that was left was to bring Twelve back. Behind Xu Ran, the Hexagram Star Array flashed; Ziyun emerged from the Wind and exchanged a glance with Xu Ran, both human and pet brimming with anticipation. Soon, very soon! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Achoo!¡± In area number 97, the core zone of the Beast Field controlled by the Nightmare Beast King, Twelve suddenly sneezed, then rubbed its beak with its plump wings and looked in a certain direction, a trace of confusion in its eyes. With the extraordinary sixth sense of a super ability attribute Pet Beast, Twelve could feel that the source of its sneeze was vaguely coming from that direction. But, that direction didn¡¯t seem to be Xieyun City. Could it not be Xu Ran and the others? Then who else could it be? After much thought, Twelve gave up pondering. After all, the location it faintly sensed was even farther away than Xieyun City. Lazily lying in its nest on the tree branch, which was made from the softest fur of transcendent beings, Twelve flipped over to expose its round belly to the sun, letting the light filter through the leaves and cast spots on it. Gazing at the diffuse light mist in the sky, Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes gradually glazed over. ¡°Chirp~¡± (So boring~) It had been nearly a week since its father brought it back. At the moment, it remained under house arrest. Although Twelve couldn¡¯t see its father¡¯s subordinates around, it knew that once it left the nest beyond a certain distance, they would appear and follow right behind it, never leaving its side. So aside from eating and sleeping, there didn¡¯t seem to be much else for Twelve to do. Although¡­ before slipping away from the Beast Field core area and secretly mixing into the human city, Twelve had spent every day like this. But longing for the diverse experiences of the human city, Twelve had now become a bird with higher aspirations! It wanted to earn money through its own capability as before, and then buy all sorts of delicious foods it liked! With this thought, Twelve couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Chapter 454 - Chapter 454: Chapter 271: Tearless Sorrow of the Twelve_2 Chapter 454: Chapter 271: Tearless Sorrow of the Twelve_2 That day, Dad made a compromise. As long as Xu Ran dared to come looking for itself, it would let itself leave. Although the time it had spent with Xu Ran wasn¡¯t too long, Twelve was certain that it hadn¡¯t chosen the wrong person. He would definitely come! But when he would come, Twelve had no way of predicting. It just hoped that Xu Ran would come sooner rather than later. As Twelve was sighing, an excited voice approached rapidly from a distance. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Twelve sis! I¡¯m here again!) Twelve¡¯s eyes quickly regained their sparkle, and it turned to look at another Velvet Sparrow waddling its way toward itself with a bit more of a smile in its eyes. That was the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s sixteenth daughter, the one among all its children with whom it had the best relationship. After returning here, Xiaoxiao would run over every day to listen to it talk about what it saw and heard in the world of humans. This was also one of the few amusements it had to relieve its boredom throughout the day. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Xiaoxiao, come over, come over!) Twelve scooted over to the side to make room for its younger sister, Sixteen. A moment later, the two Velvet Sparrows lay side by side, basking their rotund bellies in the sunshine, and started chirping away in conversation. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Where did I leave off yesterday?) ¡°Chirp!¡± (Twelve sis! Yesterday, you left off at using Mind Induction to help the humans in the city find their dog! Then what? Did you find it?) ¡°Chirp¡­ Chirp!¡± (I remember now¡­ Stupid dog!) Twelve¡¯s eyes showed a recollective gleam, and after a moment, it couldn¡¯t help but roll its eyes. The dog it found kept barking at it non-stop, nearly giving it a fright! ¡°Chirp~¡± (Well, after that¡­) Twelve organized its words then continued the story where it had left off yesterday, recounting its experiences in the human city. Next to it, Xiaoxiao¡¯s equally azure eyes began to reveal a touch of longing and yearning. The cities of humans sounded so interesting. It was just a pity that she didn¡¯t have the same talent as Twelve sis and was much more timid. Sneaking out of the Core Area of Beast Field and into human cities was something she could only dream of. The two Velvet Sparrows talked for quite some time before Xiaoxiao reluctantly got up from Twelve¡¯s nest. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Twelve sis, I have to go for today¡¯s training.) The Nightmare Beast King was quite strict with its children, organizing daily training to hone their Talent Skills. Only Twelve, who was exceptionally gifted and had reached the pinnacle of proficiency at the Elite Stage early on, could avoid such group training. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Off you go, off you go~) Twelve waved its little chubby wing at its sister, then suddenly seemed to think of something and asked in a lower voice. ¡°Chirp?¡± (What about the resources you were helping me scout for?) At this, Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes flashed a human-like shade of helplessness. ¡°Chirp~¡± (No one has heard of the Dreamer¡¯s Shadow.) ¡°Chirp¡­ Chirp~¡± (As for the Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk¡­ the ones that were in the treasury, Dad used them just recently, the day before you were brought back.) Twelve¡¯s azure eyes dimmed again, and it continued to lie there like a salted fish, waving its little fat wings at its sister to signal her to leave first. After Sixteen had gone, Twelve couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply. Damn it! It had thought that by coming to the land of a richer Extraordinary Creature Group, it could start collecting some of the resources it needed for evolution. It had never expected that of the three most important main materials, two were untraceable. At this thought, Twelve¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but take on a wanting-to-cry-but-having-no-tears expression. If things kept going like this, when would it be able to evolve? It wouldn¡¯t be that by the time its peers completed their second evolution, it still hadn¡¯t evolved, would it? Surely not, surely not? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°The reception hours for Starfire Foster Care Shop have ended!¡± As the sound of the bell rang out, Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s showcase time during this Public Wash and Care Exhibition came to an end. The last few minutes left no time to entertain a new customer, so Xu Ran simply introduced the store¡¯s situation, taking advantage of the last opportunity to advertise for the shop. From the audience¡¯s reaction, the effect seemed quite good. With the rapid assistance of the three little helpers, Xu Ran finished tidying up the scene and, after handing over to the next foster shop owner to take the stage, returned to the waiting seats with the other foster shop owners. Upon his return, Xu Ran was greeted with a round of warm applause. ¡°Boss Xu is truly impressive,¡± said Liu Fengyun as he quickly came forward, his eyes filled with a hint of admiration. ¡°When the Exquisite Flower King was brought to the stage, we all thought you wouldn¡¯t be able to wash and groom it. Little did we expect, we had underestimated you.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qi Cang laughed heartily. ¡°Boss Xu, at such a young age to possess such grooming skills, it really puts me to shame.¡± ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Du Huayan chimed in with a smile, ¡°Boss Xu¡¯s grooming techniques are so magical, I hope there¡¯s a chance to learn from you in the future.¡± ¡°Oh, not at all,¡± Xu Ran said with a blush, facing the numerous greetings laced with compliments and friendliness, ¡°the grooming skills of everyone here has also given me quite a few insights. We¡¯re just learning from each other after all.¡± Seeing that Xu Ran, despite his young age and superior grooming skills, remained so humble, the other foster shop owners¡¯ admiration deepened even more. Taking advantage of the moment before the next foster shop owner started serving customers on stage, everyone engaged in a lively discussion about the two grooming cases Xu Ran had just handled. Time flew by quickly in the relaxed atmosphere. When the stores in the Monster Wooden Marketplace gradually turned off their lights and closed for the night and the bustling marketplace quieted down, the one-day Public Wash and Care Exhibition event also came to a close. Amid the fervent voice of the host, the title of the most popular foster shop indisputably fell upon Starfire Foster Shop. Although the Sleep Demon group had set the precedent and the subsequent foster shops also received wild Transcendent Beings and were rewarded with Transcendent Resources, none of those resources could compare in value with the Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk. The benefit of winning the title of most popular foster shop was also quite clear for Starfire Foster. This was more than just an honor in name; Liu Fengyun had already made arrangements with the local newspapers of Monster Wooden City to cover today¡¯s events, and the most popular foster shop would also be mentioned in the reports. It was evident how much this would help raise the fame of the business in the future. As the event ended, the busy foster shop owners said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Under the rush of stars, Xu Ran quickly returned to Starfire Foster Shop, from which he had been away for a day. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing there aren¡¯t any new residents in the shop,¡± Xu Ran said with a chuckle, ¡°otherwise, I would¡¯ve had to come back to feed them midway through.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Who knows? Maybe there will be soon?) Starfire whinnied with a glint of amusement in its eyes. It had seen all the feedback from Xu Ran¡¯s grooming process today. The enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience were enough to prove the popularity of Starfire Foster Shop, and if all went well, more and more customers would start arriving tomorrow. So, there would likely be new residents soon. ¡°You¡¯re right about that.¡± Hearing Starfire¡¯s analysis, Xu Ran nodded with a smile and then casually opened the system panel. [Main task 4: Branching Out Task Description: Please assist the Host in successfully opening branches in four different Second Level Towns. A branch is considered successful if its fame reaches above 50%. This task is in stages, and the rewards will be distributed in stages. Task Reward: 1 System Skill Upgrade Command, +600 System Upgrade Experience] [Current Stage Task: Successfully open branches in two different Second Level Towns. Task Progress: 1/2 Xieyun City (Completed) Monster Wooden City (8.4/50) Stage Task Reward: 3 System Clerks] ¡°Wow!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed surprise as he caught sight of the fame, ¡°It went up by six percent in one day?¡± While Monster Wooden Marketplace is indeed the busiest part of Monster Wooden City, the day¡¯s foot traffic couldn¡¯t possibly amount to six percent of the entire city¡¯s population. Clearly, there was consideration of the wild Extraordinary Creature Group at play as well. Moreso, it was inseparable from Xu Ran¡¯s successful grooming of the Exquisite Flower King. The fact that a Pet Beast impossible to groom with Mystical Wood Dew had been successfully groomed by the owner of Starfire Foster was quite the talking point. ¡°It seems there won¡¯t be any shortage of customers knocking on our door tomorrow,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew thicker on his face. Tomorrow? Cancan blinked, suddenly remembering something important. ¡°Cha!¡± (After we close for business tomorrow, let¡¯s leave the city together!) ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Overtime, just 4000 words for today¡­ The chapter from yesterday has been released with some modifications. Chapter 455 - Chapter 455: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident Chapter 455: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s head out of the city!¡± Hearing Cancan¡¯s slightly urging voice, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but smile. It seems that staying in the city for the past few days had indeed made this little one, who had a strong desire to explore, feel a bit stifled. Having delayed for so many days, it was time to schedule a trip out of the city. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s head out of the city to find the thunderous sounds from the deep underground!) Ziyun rubbed against Xu Ran¡¯s face, its heterochromatic pupils filled with anticipation. Although it had not yet sensed the specific details of the thunder, if all went well, there should definitely be something related to the Thunder Attribute. It would be even better if it could enhance its current strength! The trio of pets and their owner chatted and laughed, quickly reaching the bedroom on the thirteenth floor. After a hasty wash, the three little ones cuddled up together and quickly fell into dreams. Xu Ran, on the other hand, sat cross-legged on the bed, using the still-effective Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card to diligently complete his cultivation. The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, when Xu Ran opened the tightly shut door of his shop, he was greeted by a bustling crowd of customers who had already been waiting outside the door. Seeing Xu Ran opening the door, the previously whispering customers grew silent for a moment before starting to speak one after another. ¡°I heard that your shop¡¯s Washing and Protection is even more impressive than Mystical Wood Dew, is that true?¡± ¡°Let me try it quickly, you all move aside, I¡¯ll test the waters for you!¡± ¡°Give it up, scooter. Your beads have almost fallen on my face. Queue up nicely!¡± ¡°Roar~¡± ¡°You guys¡­¡± Listening to the occasional Beast Roar mixed in, Xu Ran opened his mouth, his expression gradually turning to surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve come so early?¡± Although he had anticipated that, after yesterday¡¯s Public Wash and Care Exhibition, there would certainly be many customers coming to the shop for Washing and Protection today. But the fact that so many customers had shown up before the shop even started its business still took Xu Ran by surprise. It¡¯s worth noting that even at the peak of business in Qingzhou City and Xieyun City, it had never been like this. However, Xu Ran had overlooked one thing. This is Monster Wooden City. All the Pet Beasts and Transcendent Beings here have accumulated a considerable amount of dirt over the past few months due to the pause in supply of Mystical Wood Dew from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. If described using The system¡¯s Washing and Protection requirement, the Pet Beasts and Transcendent Beings here had at least a three-star requirement for Washing and Protection. Previously, even though Washing and Protection Services had begun to appear in Monster Wooden City, the vast majority of people still harbored doubts and prejudices, maintaining a wait-and-see attitude. Until¡­ A Pet Beast that Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t clean was transformed by Xu Ran¡¯s dexterous Washing and Protection skills, emerging as if it was brand new. This made the many watchful people truly realize that Washing and Protection could replace Mystical Wood Dew and even surpass it. As a result, those Pet Beasts and Transcendent Beings with high Washing and Protection requirements naturally couldn¡¯t stay put. Among the long line in front of him, there were even a few people who had started queuing last midnight. After fermenting overnight, the news of the Public Wash and Care Exhibition spread like the wind, and more and more people got to know Starfire Foster Care Shop. By the time Xu Ran opened the door, it had led to the scenario before him. ¡°I¡¯m first!¡± The young man at the very front of the line, with two obvious dark circles on his face, clearly having not slept all night, raised his hand, then chuckled, waving to the crowd behind him, ¡°I¡¯ll go in first~¡± Having said that, he hurriedly walked into the shop. ¡°Please wait a moment, one at a time.¡± Xu Ran gave the other customers an apologetic smile and then entered the shop as well, ready to receive the first client. The moment the young man with the dark circles entered the shop, he was attracted by the Price Menu hanging inside. ¡°Medium-sized Pet Beasts for 26666 each¡­¡± he muttered softly, then without hesitation, he summoned his Pet Beast behind him, ¡°Wash it!¡± With the Energy Storm that lifted, a leopard-like Pet Beast about two meters in length with pale blue fur stepped out from the void step by step. It had deep blue spots on its body, a smooth, dark blue Single Horn on its head, and what was most eye-catching were its three long tails, composed entirely of water. As it appeared, Xu Ran also saw the results of the System Identification in front of him. [Race name: Three-tailed Yan Leopard Attribute: Water Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evaluation: This is a creature that desperately yearns to be pleased by the Host¡¯s skillful hands, so please wholeheartedly satisfy its needs.] Water Attribute, huh¡­ A thoughtful expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. After operating the Foster Shop for so long, Xu Ran had also discovered some patterns in Washing and Protection. Among them was the pattern related to Attributes. The least common Pet Beasts in the Washing and Protection Shop were Water Attribute Pet Beasts. The reason for this is that the majority of Water Attribute Pet Beasts possess the capability to clean themselves, allowing them to maintain their prime condition for a longer period. Of course, there were exceptions. Such as Lucky Liu¡¯s Sea Wave Flower seen before, and now, the Three-tailed Yan Leopard before him. As a Water Attribute Pet Beast, and one of the more uncommonly offensive ones at that, the Three-tailed Yan Leopard has a high resistance to Water Power, which is reflected in its fur¡¯s strong hydrophobic properties. Its soft and fine fur could easily block Water Power, dissolving an opponent¡¯s power one or two layers when facing a foe of the same attribute. Chapter 456 - Chapter 456: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_2 Chapter 456: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_2 The heavens are fair: with such power gained, as a price, the three-tailed demonic leopard¡¯s fur cannot even be penetrated by its own water attribute power. This leads to the situation where the dirt in their fur cannot be thoroughly cleaned by themselves. Over time, the three-tailed demonic leopard would start to feel uncomfortable all over. The three-tailed demonic leopard in front of them was in this exact predicament. But for Xu Ran, this wasn¡¯t a problem at all. If water can¡¯t be used to wash and protect the fur, then other methods could be employed. A sand bath was an excellent choice. ¡°Follow me,¡± Xu Ran indicated the door to the Washing and Protection room and gestured for the three-tailed demonic leopard to follow him. Then he glanced at the young man with dark circles under his eyes, ¡°Are you coming?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The young man with dark circles nodded emphatically, a look of expectation in his eyes, ¡°I heard your washing process is pretty unconventional, and I want to see it!¡± Very unconventional washing process¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°Everyone says so,¡± chuckled the young man with dark circles, ¡°Come on, Boss Xu, stop hiding it¡ªwhat exactly did you do before running a Foster Shop?¡± Xu Ran pretended not to hear and quickened his pace, swiftly taking the pet and its owner into the Washing and Protection room. At this point, the young man with dark circles had no more time to pay attention to Xu Ran¡¯s previous occupation. Inside, the indoor space was even more significant, and the luxurious complete washing facilities took his breath away. He had been at the Public Wash and Care Exhibition yesterday. While observing the Foster Shops showcasing their spectacular washing processes, the young man with dark circles also noticed the various washing equipment on stage. That kind of washing equipment looked very professional; it was impressive and daunting. Now, seeing a washing room much more luxurious than the one from the day before, his eyes lit up instantly. In such circumstances yesterday, Boss Xu managed to perform such a challenging wash for a pet that Mystical Wood Dew could not clean. Today, in a better environment, Xu Ran¡¯s skills should be even better, right? Thinking this, the young man with dark circles didn¡¯t care about anything else. He quickly grabbed a small stool, sat down, and watched Xu Ran¡¯s washing process with bated breath. Unconcerned with his first client¡¯s rich inner drama, Xu Ran quickly ground various resources into uniform fine particles for bath sand, starting the first Wash and Protection of the day. Soon, a combination of pleased and slightly strange sounds came from the three-tailed demonic leopard within the Washing and Protection room. ¡°Welcome to come again~¡± Standing outside the Foster Shop, Xu Ran¡¯s smile had become somewhat stiff. In just a morning, he had served over ten clients. Even though he tried his best, the number of clients he could accommodate was still meager compared to the long queue outside the door. Fortunately, the waiting clients seemed to notice this as well. Realizing they had no hope of being served today, they gradually dispersed, planning to come back tomorrow or at another later time. Thus, with noon arriving, only a few figures persisted in the queue outside. ¡°Welcome¡­¡± As Xu Ran¡¯s gaze caught a glimpse of the next client approaching, he was about to greet the customer with practiced ease when he recognized the person¡¯s face. His words halted abruptly, and his smile became more animated, ¡°Tutu, you¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Seeing Xu Ran again, Li Tutu¡¯s face was full of excitement, ¡°Mr. Xu, I saw your entire washing process yesterday!¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing! I was almost nervous to death when the Exquisite Flower King went on stage, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to wash a pet that even the Beast Emperor couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Mystical Wood Dew couldn¡¯t wash it. The Beast Emperor himself would definitely be more amazing.¡± Xu Ran smiled modestly, ¡°So, you¡¯ve come for a wash, too?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Tutu nodded vigorously, following Xu Ran into the store, he soon saw the Price Menu hanging on the wall. He chuckled, scratching his head with a somewhat goofy expression, ¡°Luckily, my Pet Beast is a small one. That means I can save quite a bit of Money!¡± As he spoke, a small hamster with dark golden fur and no bigger than a palm poked its head out of a pocket on his chest. Carefully cupping his hands together, Li Tutu lifted the small hamster out of the pocket and smiled at Xu Ran, ¡°Mr. Xu, this is my Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Golden Whisker Mouse.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. He didn¡¯t need a System Identification to recognize this Earth attribute Pet Beast, which was small and high in aesthetic value. Unlike the usual Earth attribute Pet Beasts with large Body Types, strong Defense, and wide attack range, the Golden Whisker Mouse was known for its agility and strong exploration Skills. As an elite race, it had four Talent Skills, two of which were exploration-type, one movement-type skill, and only one attack-type skill, which wasn¡¯t very strong. Such characteristics made it more of a support role in Pet Beast teams. To his surprise, Li Tutu had chosen such a Pet Beast as his first. ¡°Jin, let¡¯s go together for the Washing and Protection,¡± Li Tutu stated, recognizing the origin of his own pet. Cradling Jin carefully, he followed Xu Ran into the Washing and Protection room. Noticing this, Xu Ran¡¯s brow rose slightly. Why did he feel¡­ Li Tutu¡¯s attitude towards his Pet Beast was a bit odd? Chapter 457 - Chapter 457: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_3 Chapter 457: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_3 But he didn¡¯t say much more, and after the two of them entered, he slowly closed the door of the Washing and Protection room. Washing and grooming the Golden Whisker Mouse, which was rather small even among small Pet Beasts, didn¡¯t take Xu Ran much time. About ten minutes later, a rejuvenated Golden Whisker Mouse lazily lay in Li Tutu¡¯s palm, coming out of the Washing and Protection room. Compared to when it went in, its fur was now a brilliant dark gold color, becoming exceptionally smooth and shimmering with a bright gold luster under the light, looking like a precious treasure. Its several slender pure gold whiskers were also made perfectly straight after Xu Ran¡¯s care and trimming, adding a touch of nobility to it. Li Tutu was clearly very satisfied with the grooming results, and the smile on his face couldn¡¯t be contained as he came out and paid without any hesitation. ¡°Mr. Xu, thank you so much for the washing and grooming! Jin looks so good now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I should do,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t need to keep calling me Mr. Xu, just call me Boss Xu like the other customers do.¡± ¡°Alright then, Boss Xu,¡± Li Tutu readily agreed. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded, looking at the Golden Whisker Mouse that Li Tutu was constantly cradling in his palm, he couldn¡¯t help but voice the doubt he had during the washing and grooming, ¡°Your attitude towards your Pet Beast seems a bit special?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Li Tutu looked at Xu Ran and then at the Golden Whisker Mouse in his palm, ¡°What¡¯s special about it?¡± ¡°I feel like you¡¯re treating it like a pet,¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly, ¡°Throughout the entire washing and grooming process, you showed excessive concern for it, as if it isn¡¯t your Pet Beast, but your pet.¡± Hearing these words, before Li Tutu could react, the always lazy Golden Whisker Mouse in the palm of his hand opened its tiny eyes and looked at Xu Ran with an acknowledging gaze. ¡°Pet Beast¡­ pet¡­¡± A blank expression appeared on Li Tutu¡¯s face. He thought for a moment, then shook his head, ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Of course there¡¯s a difference.¡± Xu Ran was dumbfounded, ¡°Pet Beasts are the partners of Beast Masters, they should have a relationship like comrades-in-arms or friends, whereas pets would not be like that.¡± ¡°Partners, huh?¡± Li Tutu looked at the Golden Whisker Mouse in his palm, his face lighting up with a warm smile, ¡°Boss Xu, actually Jin¡¯s awakening was an accident.¡± ¡°Initially, it was just a pet hamster that I kept.¡± ¡°A long time ago, I found Jin dying beside a pile of trash. When I saw it was still breathing, I hurriedly took it home to take care of.¡± ¡°Maybe it was because Jin was strong, but it really did pull through from the brink of death under my care, and recovered its health.¡± ¡°Since then, we became dependent on each other.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a surprised expression. He suddenly remembered that when he first explained Ziyun¡¯s origins to others, he had said that Ziyun was a Stray Cat that had accidentally awakened into a Transcendent Being. Of course, the story of Ziyun¡¯s past was made up¡ªits actual awakening was through the use of an Awakening Stone. But it appeared that this young man¡¯s Pet Beast really did have an accidental awakening. ¡°So, what was the situation with its awakening?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help asking further. ¡°That¡­¡± Li Tutu touched the Golden Whisker Mouse, a thoughtful look crossing his face, soon recalling the details of that time, he slowly began, ¡°Back then, just like now, I was working as a guide for human Beast Masters in the Monster Wooden Marketplace.¡± ¡°Back then I wasn¡¯t a Beast Master yet, being a guide was just a way to earn Money to help the family, so I only took Money as compensation.¡± ¡°Then one day, a customer didn¡¯t have Money on them, and gave me an Earth attribute Transcendent Resource as compensation instead,¡± Li Tutu¡¯s face broke into a smile. ¡°That Resource was worth four to five Beast Master Points, several times more than my guide fee. Although I didn¡¯t need the Resource, I accepted it.¡± ¡°At that time, Jin showed a special liking for that Earth attribute Resource. Seeing that it liked it, I didn¡¯t exchange it for Money but kept it for Jin to play with.¡± ¡°Later one day, when I woke up, I found out that the Resource was eaten by Jin, and Jin had transformed into its current form.¡± ¡°I guess, its awakening must have been because it ate that Resource, right?¡± Li Tutu¡¯s voice carried a hint of uncertainty as he spoke. After all, he had never heard of such a situation before. ¡°Eating a Resource, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin. Ordinary creatures that consumed a Resource containing Transcendent Power would meet only one fate, and that was to die on the spot. An extraordinary awakening couldn¡¯t possibly be such a simple matter. However, from Li Tutu¡¯s description, Xu Ran did have some other speculation. Perhaps this Golden Whisker Mouse intrinsically had some affinity with Earth Extraordinary Power, so after living with that Earth attribute Resource every day, it gradually absorbed enough Earth attribute Power to complete its awakening. The Earth attribute Resource was just the first meal it had after its awakening. Thinking like this, things started to make sense. ¡°As for what you said, Boss Xu, about me treating Jin as a pet¡­¡± Li Tutu scratched his head, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I interacted with it in such a way before it awakened, so I¡¯ve gotten used to that?¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± Chapter 458 - Chapter 458: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_4 Chapter 458: Chapter 272: The Unusual New Resident_4 As his voice faded, Xiaoxiao, who had been lying lazily in his arms, suddenly propped up her body to sit upright, shook her head towards him, her eyes sparkling with human-like illumination. ¡°Eh?¡± Li Tutu¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, ¡°Xiaoxiao, you¡­¡± Through Contractual Sensing, Xiaoxiao clearly conveyed her thoughts to him. She was already a Pet Beast capable of handling things on her own, not just a pet that lay in the palm of Li Tutu¡¯s hand every day! ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Li Tutu said, his face showing a touch of embarrassment, ¡°But why didn¡¯t you say anything before?¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± Xiaoxiao made a few gestures, then glanced at Xu Ran. Li Tutu understood. Because they had always interacted in this way, Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t know how to speak up. It was Boss Xu¡¯s question that brought the issue to the forefront, making Xiaoxiao brave enough to express her thoughts. From the time Xiaoxiao awakened into a Golden Whisker Mouse until now, he hadn¡¯t conducted any Skill Training for a Pet Beast, nor used the Golden Whisker Mouse¡¯s Skills, still raising her as a pet that couldn¡¯t do anything, keeping her company. This way of interaction was not what Xiaoxiao wanted! ¡°I understand,¡± Li Tutu nodded with a sudden realization, ¡°In that case, from now on I¡¯ll treat you as a contract partner!¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± The Golden Whisker Mouse nodded with satisfaction, stood up from the palm of Li Tutu¡¯s hand, and climbed nimbly up his arm, soon perching on Li Tutu¡¯s shoulder, rubbing against his face, and then looking around seriously, as if keeping watch for him. Seeing the Golden Whisker Mouse¡¯s departure from her usual indolence, Li Tutu also realized that his past approach might have been somewhat improper. He looked gratefully at Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, with that said, we¡¯ll be taking our leave now.¡± ¡°Take care, and welcome to visit again next time,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, waving at the departing duo, then stretched leisurely. The casual chat had delayed quite a bit of time, so that would be it for the morning¡¯s business. Sensing someone entering outside the door, Xu Ran called out without turning back, ¡°Hello, the morning hours are over, please come back in the afternoon.¡± The response came with a voice tinged with a bit of confusion. ¡°Squeak?¡± Huh? Not a human? Hearing the sound, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look. Standing at the entrance of the store was a round-headed, round-bodied creature, about one and a half meters tall, looking a bit like a honey badger, but not as slender, appearing somewhat short and stout, and a little slow-witted at first glance. In one look, Xu Ran recognized its species. Fighting Pet Beasts, Combat Badger. Despite its name and appearance relating to being slow-witted, its combat power ranked amongst the very top in the Fighting Attribute Leading Race, possessing four Two-star Talent Skills. So, was this a wild Combat Badger? After waiting for a while and not seeing its Beast Master, Xu Ran subconsciously made this judgment. He quickly approached the Combat Badger, ¡°Are you here for Washing and Protection as well?¡± Handling the Washing and Protection for wild Transcendent Beings was not a first-time experience for him. No problem! Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the Combat Badger¡¯s little ears twitched, its eyes shimmered with intelligence, and soon it shook its head. ¡°Squeak~¡± ¡°Not for that?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face took on an added expression of surprise, ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Seemingly aware of the difficulty in communicating with the human before it, the Combat Badger didn¡¯t continue to speak. It looked around, quickly finding the Price Menu on the walls of the Foster Shop. Waddling over to the Price Menu, the Combat Badger scanned through the various numbers, finally settling on one. ¡°Snap!¡± With a crisp sound, the Combat Badger slapped one of the Price Menus. [Elite Stage Pet Beast Foster Care: 6666/Day] Looking at this particular Price Menu and then back at the Elite Stage Combat Badger, after a long moment, Xu Ran spoke with an uncertain voice. ¡°You want to foster?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯ve been thinking,¡± Li Tutu said with increasing embarrassment. ¡°But why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier?¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± Jin made a few more gestures and then glanced at Xu Ran. Li Tutu understood. Because their interaction had always been this way, Jin didn¡¯t know how to broach the topic. It was only after Boss Xu¡¯s questioning put the issue in the open that Jin bravely expressed its thoughts. Since awakening as a Golden Whisker Mouse, Li Tutu hadn¡¯t provided any Skill Training for it as a Pet Beast, nor had he utilized the Golden Whisker Mouse¡¯s skills. He continued to take care of it as if it were a pet that couldn¡¯t do anything, letting it keep him company. This way of interaction wasn¡¯t what Jin wanted! ¡°I understand,¡± Li Tutu nodded, his face showing a dawning realization. ¡°In that case, from now on, I will treat you as a Contractual partner!¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± The Golden Whisker Mouse nodded in satisfaction, got up from Li Tutu¡¯s palm, and nimbly climbed up his arm. In no time, it was standing on Li Tutu¡¯s shoulder, rubbing against his face, then looked around earnestly as if keeping watch for him. Seeing the Golden Whisker Mouse shedding its usual lazy behavior, Li Tutu also realized that his past actions might have been somewhat improper. He looked gratefully at Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, given the circumstances, we¡¯ll take our leave now.¡± ¡°Safe travels, and you¡¯re welcome to come again,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he waved goodbye to the departing pair and then stretched lazily. The casual conversation had taken up quite a bit of time, so he decided to call it a day with the morning¡¯s business. Sensing a presence outside the door, Xu Ran called out without turning around, ¡°Hello, the morning business is over, please come back in the afternoon.¡± The response he received was a voice tinged with a bit of confusion. ¡°Ji?¡± Hmm? Not human? Upon hearing that sound, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn to look. Standing at the entrance of the shop was a round-headed, approximately one-and-a-half-meter-tall critter, looking somewhat like a badger but not as sleek. Instead, it looked rather short and plump, and utterly endearing. With just a glance, Xu Ran recognized its species. Fighting Pet Beasts, the Combat Badger. Despite its name and appearance being related to clumsiness, it possessed a Combat power among the top tier of the Fighting System Leading Race, with four Two-Star Talent Skills. So, was this a wild Combat Badger? After waiting for a bit with no Beast Master appearing, Xu Ran subconsciously came to this conclusion. He quickly approached the Combat Badger, ¡°Are you here for Washing and Protection?¡± He had hosted the Washing and Protection of wild Transcendent Beings before. No big deal! At Xu Ran¡¯s question, the Combat Badger¡¯s tiny ears twitched, and its eyes sparkled with intelligence. It quickly shook its head. ¡°Ji~¡± ¡°Not for that?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a bit of surprise. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Realizing the difficulty of communicating with the human before it, the Combat Badger didn¡¯t continue speaking. It glanced around and soon found the Price Menu on the wall of the Foster Shop. It wobbled over to the Price Menu, scanning over each one until its gaze settled on a particular entry. ¡°Slap!¡± With a crisp sound, the Combat Badger slapped one of the Price Menus. [Elite Stage Pet Beast Fostering: 6666/day] After looking at the Price Menu and considering the Elite Stage Combat Badger, Xu Ran finally spoke with a tentative voice. ¡°You want to foster?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 459 - Chapter 459: Chapter 273 The Warning of the Earth Raccoon Chapter 459: Chapter 273 The Warning of the Earth Raccoon Xu Ran didn¡¯t have to wait too long; the Combat Badger, which looked famished, had already gobbled up all the food in its bowl, leaving it spotlessly clean. Even when Xu Ran came forward to clean up, it obediently handed over its empty bowl. From its lingering look and its earlier eager actions, Xu Ran could tell that it really liked the food he had prepared. ¡°From now on, consider this place your home and stay well,¡± Xu Ran smiled at the somewhat special Combat Badger, took the bowl, and turned to leave. Consider it home¡­ Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, a contemplative look appeared in the eyes of the Combat Badger. The recently digested food provided it with an abundance of energy and, feeling as if it had endless vitality, the Combat Badger abandoned its contemplation. It dashed back to its living area, making ¡°squeak squeak¡± noises along the way and soon stirred up a great commotion in its living space. However, the commotion quickly subsided. The Combat Badger seemed to have sensed the noise and its somewhat silly-looking eyes swiftly became more piercing; it quickly turned its head and looked towards the elevator leading to the other floors with a wariness. There stood three little ones who had just finished their training and were now descending the stairs together, making a detour to the second floor. Having held little hope for the new resident¡¯s arrival, they were all visibly shocked when they first noticed the change in the foster area. ¡°Meow?¡± (A new neighbor?) Ziyun curiously tiptoed, peering towards the Combat Badger¡¯s foster area. Thanks to its familiarity with the foster area, it recognized at first glance that this living space seemed to be crafted for Fighting Pet Beasts. So¡­ the first resident in the Monster Wooden City shop is a Fighting Pet Beast? Thinking this, Ziyun¡¯s gaze sharpened slightly. It had already spotted the other party. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (That looks like a Combat Badger.) Star, who had also noticed the Combat Badger, let out a neigh, a hint of realization flashing in its eyes. Having seen this species before at the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, it had quickly recognized it. ¡°Cha!¡± (It seems quite alert.) Cancan lifted a paw and scratched its head, speaking tentatively. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check it out.) Ziyun, with its tail held high, led the way with its graceful cat steps, moving swiftly yet silently, and in just a few breaths, it was already in front of the Combat Badger. ¡°Meow~¡± (Welcome to your new home~) The Combat Badger, initially tense due to sensing the aura of three General Stage Pet Beasts, gradually relaxed. It seemed the others were friendly? The sharpness in its eyes was replaced once more with a silly expression. ¡°Squeak?¡± (Are you also foster residents here?) Faced with the Combat Badger¡¯s inquiry, laughter appeared in the eyes of the three little ones. ¡°Cha!¡± (We aren¡¯t fostered, we are the pet beasts of the shop owner!) Cancan shook its head, its eyes gleaming with a touch of pride, quickly answering first. That human? A shock flashed through the Combat Badger¡¯s mind. No wonder it had faintly felt a threatening power emanating from that human, enough to endanger itself. As a General Level Beast Master, even without summoning his Pet Beasts, the strength of the human alone would be sufficient to subdue it. With this thought, the Combat Badger became even more timid. After taking another look at the three little ones, the Combat Badger suddenly asked. ¡°Squeak?¡± (Do you ever have conflicts with your Beast Master?) ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome back anytime~¡± At the entrance of the Starfire Foster Shop, Xu Ran saw off another satisfied customer, who couldn¡¯t stop praising his service, the smile on his face growing even more content. The business in the afternoon was no less impressive than in the morning. If anything, it was even better. In just half a day, there had already been new customers referred by those who visited in the morning, indicative of the rapidly spreading good reputation of Starfire Foster. Although there was no second fostering customer yet, and no one had tried the accompanying training service, all business was still concentrated on Washing and Protection. Xu Ran believed that the day when all services bloomed was not too far off. Glancing at the sky, which was gradually darkening, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help stretching himself. ¡°Almost time to end today¡¯s business,¡± Xu Ran muttered, then looked towards the three little ones whose expressions obviously became expectant. Clearly, they were all looking forward to the outing planned for after closing time. The trip to a place outside of Monster Wooden City, searching for that special spot that Cancan had discovered last time in the Monster Wooden Domain. However, before Xu Ran could close the shop door, a young man with a look of urgency hastily stepped into the store. ¡°Excuse me¡­ have you seen a Combat Badger?¡± While speaking, the young man gestured through the air, ¡°About this tall¡­ this big¡­ with a simple and honest expression.¡± Xu Ran, initially bewildered, gradually took on a strange expression upon hearing the young man¡¯s description. Because what the young man described seemed to be the very Combat Badger he had fostered in his shop earlier that day. ¡°Are you¡­ looking for it for a reason?¡± After a moment of silence, Xu Ran asked slowly. ¡°It¡¯s really here!¡± The young man lit up when he noticed that Xu Ran did not immediately deny it, but instead posed a question back to him, ¡°I had just heard that it made its way to this block, and I¡¯ve been asking around the shops!¡± Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoons Warning_2 Chapter 460: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoon¡¯s Warning_2 Taking a deep breath, the young man¡¯s expression became more serious, ¡°Let me introduce myself, my name is Kang Cheng, and I am the Beast Master of that Combat Badger.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°???¡± Isn¡¯t that Combat Badger a wild Transcendent Being? ¡°Wait a moment¡­¡± Xu Ran massaged his forehead, ¡°You said you are its Beast Master? Then there should be a Beast Taming Contract between you two, right?¡± ¡°Of course, there is,¡± the young man quickly nodded. ¡°Then¡­ why are you going around asking for the location of your own Pet Beast?¡± Xu Ran astutely pointed out the inconsistency. ¡°Not to mention the Contractual Sensing of the second stage already allows one to sense the general location of their Pet Beast, even if you couldn¡¯t, can¡¯t you just summon it back to your side?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Kang Cheng fell briefly silent, before speaking faintly, ¡°But all of this requires the willingness of the Pet Beast to cooperate¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Ran was slightly startled, then he understood. Beast Taming Contract between a Pet Beast and a human Beast Master is a kind of mutual and egalitarian bond. Whether it¡¯s the Pet Beast or the Beast Master, both can actively and temporarily shield this intrinsic sensing effect of the contract. The summoning of a Pet Beast is likewise; it isn¡¯t guaranteed that the Pet Beast will appear just because the Hexagram Star Array is activated. If the Pet Beast does not want to come, it can refuse, leading to a failed summoning. However, neither of these two things had ever happened with the three little ones; or rather, most Beast Masters and their Pet Beasts do not encounter such situations. If what the young man claiming to be the Combat Badger¡¯s Beast Master was saying was true, then his relationship with the Combat Badger probably belonged to that kind of rare situation. ¡°Meow~¡± (He¡¯s probably telling the truth.) As Xu Ran was still determining whether to believe Kang Cheng¡¯s words, Ziyun, who had been observing, suddenly spoke up. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Indeed.) ¡°Chirp!¡± (I believe him too.) Star and Cancan also nodded together, showing their agreement. Seeing such a reaction from the three little ones, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but throw them an inquisitive glance. Then, the three little ones took turns explaining some things Xu Ran did not know about. It turns out, when the three little ones finished their training at noon, they had already encountered the Combat Badger. Upon learning that they were someone¡¯s Pet Beasts, it was very curious whether they had ever had conflicts with their owner, and inquired about some of the usual interactions between a person and their three pets. If the Combat Badger were a wild Transcendent Being, this could be explained as the other party being curious about human Beast Masters. But after Kang Cheng appeared, there seemed to be another explanation for everything. Because Kang Cheng¡¯s words corroborated with the Combat Badger¡¯s behavior, that¡¯s why the three little ones were so certain. Moreover, the words of the three little ones also affirmed the situation in Xu Ran¡¯s mind, which had previously harbored some doubts. ¡°Your Pet Beast is inside our shop.¡± Xu Ran said, looking back at Kang Cheng, whose expression was anxious yet filled with concern, and spoke without hesitation, his tone then shifted, ¡°However¡­ there are some things I need to tell you beforehand.¡± ¡°It paid for ten days¡¯ worth of boarding fees on its own, and is currently in a boarding state at our establishment.¡± ¡°Where did it get the Money?¡± Kang Cheng dumbfounded, ¡°It didn¡¯t take any Money from home when it ran away, did it?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°It paid with a piece of Transcendent Resources¡­¡± ¡°Was it a Power Source Stone?¡± Before Xu Ran could finish speaking, Kang Cheng reacted swiftly and asked. This also allowed Xu Ran to be completely sure that the other party truly was the Combat Badger¡¯s Beast Master. Because what the Combat Badger had handed over was indeed a Power Source Stone. Thinking of this, Xu Ran nodded. ¡°This prodigal thing!¡± Kang Cheng couldn¡¯t help but blurt out a complaint, ¡°It¡¯s just boarding for ten days; why would it need a Power Source Stone?¡± After speaking, he raised his head and suddenly noticed the Price Menu hanging on the wall of Xu Ran¡¯s shop and fell silent. It seemed¡­ the price for ten days of boarding really was the cost of a Power Source Stone? ¡°The boarding fees at your establishment are too expensive, aren¡¯t they?¡± Kang Cheng frowned, ¡°I¡¯ll pay in cash, please refund me that Power Source Stone.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to board it for ten days, I¡¯ll take it away later, just count one day¡¯s fee.¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, then spoke somberly, ¡°Refunding the resource is no problem, but whether you can take it away or not is not for you to decide.¡± ¡°The Money was paid by the Combat Badger; it¡¯s our shop¡¯s customer. Even if you are its Beast Master, taking it away requires its own agreement.¡± Xu Ran had already implicitly perceived a hint of the issue existing between the Beast Master and the Pet Beast, as Kang Cheng was more concerned about the boarding fee than being eager to see his runaway Pet Beast at first. Therefore, he naturally couldn¡¯t let him take away the Combat Badger lightly. As Xu Ran had just mentioned, the customer this time was not Kang Cheng, but the Combat Badger. ¡°Hey, what are you doing!¡± Kang Cheng¡¯s expression turned displeased, ¡°I already told you I am its Beast Master, why does taking it away require its approval?¡± ¡°Sorry, but these are the rules of our shop,¡± Xu Ran gave the three little ones a look, then turned and walked towards the elevator to the second floor, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask now if it wishes to leave with you, please wait.¡± ¡°Stop right there!¡± Kang Cheng quickly followed after, but having barely taken a step, he was enshrouded by three intimidating presences, making it impossible for him to advance any further. Looking at the three little ones eyeing him by his side, Kang Cheng awkwardly retracted his step. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Combat Badger, I thought you were a wild Transcendent Being without a Beast Master!¡± Chapter 461 - Chapter 461: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoons Warning_3 Chapter 461: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoon¡¯s Warning_3 On the other side, Xu Ran came up to the Combat Badger with a chuckle and patted its shoulder, ¡°Your Beast Master is here to find you.¡± ¡°Chirp¡­¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the simple and honest look in the Combat Badger¡¯s eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deepness that had never been seen before. It glanced at Xu Ran, then lowered its head, visibly becoming dejected. Xu Ran could easily tell from the Pleasure value feedback from the system. ¡°I heard you ran away from home,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, speaking softly, ¡°Now that he¡¯s come to you, do you want to go home with him?¡± Home¡­ The Combat Badger hesitated only for a moment before shaking its head resolutely. ¡°Understood,¡± Xu Ran stood up and dusted off his behind, ¡°Then that¡¯s what I¡¯ll tell him.¡± Noticing the concern in the Combat Badger¡¯s eyes, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became serene, ¡°Just make yourself comfortable staying here.¡± ¡°However¡­ after all, he is your Beast Master, and whatever conflicts you have between you need to be resolved. Running away is not a solution.¡± After giving this reminder and seeing the Combat Badger looking thoughtful, Xu Ran turned and left, quickly returning to the store on the first floor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the Combat Badger does not want to leave with you,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°Please leave. Our shop will provide it with the best care, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°You can leave your contact information. If the Combat Badger wants to go back with you, I will contact you immediately.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Kang Cheng, looking at Xu Ran returning alone, already had an ugly expression on his face, and it grew even more unsightly upon hearing these words. Warily glancing at the three Pet Beasts beside Xu Ran, Kang Cheng left without saying a word and didn¡¯t leave his contact details. After stepping out of the store, he took a deep look at the sign of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Starfire Foster Care Shop, huh¡­ Forcing me apart from my Pet Beast and preventing us from seeing each other, I will definitely lodge a complaint with the Beast Master Association! I don¡¯t believe that the Association will sit idly by when such things happen! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Alright, we can set out now.¡± Watching Kang Cheng¡¯s receding figure, Xu Ran shook his head slightly. He always felt that he had gotten himself into a bit of trouble. But it wasn¡¯t a big problem. Turning to look at the three little ones beside him, a smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Alright, we can set out now.¡± In the cheers of the three tiny beasts, one man and three beasts quickly closed the shop and embarked on their journey. As the sun set in the west, the sky gradually dimmed. This moment was the perfect time for Star to showcase its strength. In its lightning-fast and silent progress, the trio swiftly crossed Monster Wooden City¡¯s virtually undefended low city wall, entering the Monster Wooden Domain. Leaving the city so effortlessly was quite a unique experience for Xu Ran. And the fresh scent of grass that greeted him outside the city invigorated Xu Ran and once again made him aware of the differences between Monster Wooden Domain and other regions. Although he didn¡¯t go outside of Xieyun City, Xu Ran had been on the outskirts of Qingzhou City several times. Outside Qingzhou City, it was desolate and dead. The land there was littered with blood and bones from countless battles. Over time, even the soil turned a bloody dark purple. On such blood-soaked earth, no vegetation could grow; only a bare expanse with occasional white bones and long-dead branches protruding. Even the air outside the city carried a hint of blood that never quite dissipated. And the nights outside the city were even more dangerous, fraught with peril. Stepping into it, one was constantly afraid of being targetted by hunters. Remembering the scenes outside Qingzhou City from memory, and then contrasting them with the quiet night before him, where only a few fireflies danced in the soft grass and low shrubs, Xu Ran¡¯s face held even more of a pensive expression. The scenery of the Monster Wooden Domain had a feeling of a utopia amidst the chaos of the world. ¡°Where did you hear that Thunderous Sound before?¡± Xu Ran asked, patting Cancan on its head. ¡°Chachacha!¡± (Let me see¡­ over there!) Cancan looked around, quickly found the markers it had left before, and pointed them out to Xu Ran. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran patted Star on the back and spoke softly. Indeed, it was a good opportunity to take a closer look inside the Monster Wooden Domain. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star let out a neigh and started to gallop. Feeling Xu Ran¡¯s intentions, it deliberately slowed down a bit, maintaining a sufficiently fast pace while still allowing Xu Ran the luxury to look around and observe the Monster Wooden Domain under the cover of night. This night, there were no lurking dangers, just tranquility. On the road, they also encountered a group of night foxes out foraging. After exchanging nods from a distance, they left each other undisturbed, each going their separate ways. Soon, they were halfway through their journey. ¡°Cha!¡± (We¡¯re almost at the place where Star and I were last time!) Finding more of the marks it had buried in the ground, Cancan¡¯s expression became more certain. Last time, Star and it had come to a location nearby! ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, signaling Star to speed up. In their swift advance, man and three beasts finally arrived at a Serene Valley. This was where Cancan and Star had sensed the Thunderous Sound from deep underground and had returned from far away. Chapter 462 - Chapter 462: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoons Warning_4 Chapter 462: Chapter 273 Earth Raccoon¡¯s Warning_4 ¡°` ¡°Then it¡¯s all up to you now,¡± Xu Ran said, dropping Cancan to the ground. Cancan nodded composedly and as it stepped forward, its body swiftly expanded with the wind, quickly returning to its original size of over three hundred meters, resembling a small mountain rising in a valley, a spectacular sight indeed. It raised its head slightly as a tawny halo circulated around its body, its imposing aura climbing higher and higher while invisible fluctuations spread rapidly in all directions from its center. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level¡¤Echoing of Earth Vein! With the highest intensity of detection maxed out, Cancan once again perceived the thunderous sound from deep underground. Its massive head turned in a certain direction as its deep voice echoed through the valley. ¡°Chia~¡± (Over there!) Having determined the exact location, Cancan shook and in a few breaths, returned to its one-meter petite body type, standing by Xu Ran¡¯s side. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded, looking in the direction that Cancan had just detected, ¡°then we will¡­¡± Before he could finish, he turned his head as if sensing something and then paused slightly. Before his eyes, several na?ve and adorable heads popped out from the ground. This is¡­ Earth Raccoons?! Seeing several Earth Raccoons that had just been washed and protected at his Foster Shop, Xu Ran was at a loss for words, ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Luru~¡± The fully emerged Ground Raccoon Clan Leader gave Xu Ran a peculiar glance. You ask me? I want to ask you the same thing! Having just finished dinner, it had sensed such intense Earth attribute fluctuations near its habitat and naturally brought its tribe to check it out. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the aura felt so familiar, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader would not have risked showing up with its tribe. And after emerging to check, it too was filled with questions. Why was the Foster Shop owner from the humans¡¯ city here? But¡­ this was also a good opportunity. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had always been grateful to Xu Ran for washing and protecting its tribe, and now that the latter had appeared in their habitat, it as the host must extend its hospitality! ¡°Luru~¡± (Come visit our habitat!) ¡°Luruluru!¡± (Yes, yes, yes!) The other Earth Raccoons around cheerfully echoed the call. Upon understanding the situation, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He hadn¡¯t expected to stumble upon the territory of the Earth Raccoons. He turned his head to look at Cancan, and with a thought prompted by Contractual Sensing, he inquired, ¡°The location you¡¯re sensing now, it¡¯s still the same one from before, right?¡± ¡°Chia~¡± (That¡¯s right.) With Cancan¡¯s affirmative response, Xu Ran nodded slightly. If that was the case, then there was no need to worry about any unexpected changes for the time being. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had extended a cordial invitation, and he too was curious to see what the life of wild Transcendent Beings was like. And¡­ that thunderous sound from deep underground was nearby; as a tribe capable of burrowing, the Ground Raccoon Tribe couldn¡¯t have been completely unaware of it. Perhaps he could obtain some further information from the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader? With a plan in mind, Xu Ran turned towards the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and spoke with a smile. ¡°Then I thank you all for your invitation.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C A young-looking Earth Raccoon carried a bunch of Colorful Fruits that gleamed with colorful light, walking briskly towards the human and his three pets before dumping the fruits onto the soft grass before them. After making a funny face at Xu Ran, the young Earth Raccoon picked up one of the fruits that had fallen on its way over, carelessly wiped it on itself, and then stood aside happily munching on it. ¡°Luru~¡± (These are our tribe¡¯s favorite Colorful Fruits, you humans like them a lot too.) The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, sitting cross-legged near Xu Ran, introduced with a light in his eyes and a smile in his voice. ¡°I see them often.¡± Understanding the meaning, Xu Ran smiled, picked up a fruit, and popped it into his mouth. With a ¡°crunch,¡± the juice-filled and crisp sweet flesh entered Xu Ran¡¯s mouth. At the same time, the trace of Transcendent Power contained within was easily absorbed by Xu Ran. This Extraordinary Plant called Colorful Fruit was also power-containing, but harmonious without any specific Attribute, having only a nourishing effect. After consuming one, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction and gave the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader a thumbs up. The three little ones by his side also showed faces of surprise and contentment, obviously also conquered by the pretty looking fruits. While enjoying the various delicacies shared by the Ground Raccoon Tribe, Xu Ran also laughed and chatted with the members of the tribe; although many of their communications required guessing and gesturing, the friendly atmosphere was not diminished because of it. As the sky grew completely dark and a clear moon rose slowly, Xu Ran and the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader finally returned to the topic of Xu Ran¡¯s purpose for coming. ¡°Luru?¡± (Did you come here for a reason?) The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader voiced out while gesturing, inquiring. ¡°Indeed, there is something,¡± Xu Ran nodded, making no attempt to hide the reason, ¡°Cancan left to explore around the city previously and had reached near this area.¡± ¡°Chia~¡± (It was the day we met you guys.) Cancan explained from the side. Upon hearing Cancan¡¯s explanation, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader immediately remembered. That day, on their way back from Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Shop, the tribe bumped into Cancan who was returning to the city. If the other party had started from near their habitat, then everything made sense. ¡°Cancan discovered that there are special thunderous sounds coming from deep underground near here,¡± Xu Ran said, carefully watching the expression on the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s face change. Sure enough, when the Clan Leader heard about the thunderous sound, his expression gradually became serious. ¡°We came today to take a look at what exactly is there,¡± Xu Ran smiled, looking at the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, ¡°Do you have any idea what it could be?¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak. ¡°Luru~¡± (There, something very terrifying exists¡­) ¡°` Chapter 463 - Chapter 463: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Chapter 463: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Knowing that he could not persuade Xu Ran and company to abandon the idea of exploring the Thunderous Land, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader simply stopped trying. After offering his most sincere blessings, he watched in silence as the trio with their three pets set off on their journey. As a Leader Stage creature, he fell into that terrifying nightmare, but it was possible that they, being of the General Stage and even stronger, might not. They would surely return safely. Only after Xu Ran and the three pets disappeared from his vision did the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader slowly turn around to face his own clan. ¡°Luru~¡± The night has deepened, it¡¯s time for us to sleep. One by one, the earth raccoons in the group obediently nodded and returned to their burrows to sleep. Soon, the land that belonged to the earth raccoons was once again empty. Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to the Ground Raccoon Group, Xu Ran and his three pets quickly reached the location deep underneath the ground that Cancan had detected, where the thunderous sound was hidden. They hadn¡¯t yet delved underground and were still on the surface. According to Cancan¡¯s description, the underground source of the thunderous sound was right beneath their feet, over five thousand meters below the surface. And upon sensing again, Cancan, unsurprisingly, detected another powerful presence near the thunderous sound. Combining this with what the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had experienced during his own explorations, it was without doubt that there was a guardian at that Thunderous Land. Therefore, the trio and their pets did not immediately plan to dive below. They needed a more meticulous plan. ¡°Based on what the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader said, the nightmare he fell into is likely a power of that very strong guardian,¡± Xu Ran analyzed. ¡°And it seems the guardian does not have much malice, or else the Clan Leader wouldn¡¯t have been able to free himself by just retreating a few steps.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (If that¡¯s the case, leave it to me!) Starlight nodded slightly and a glint of starlight flickered on the single horn on its forehead. Nightmares and illusions should be similar powers, both falling within the super ability attribute. Moreover, after the Immortal Star Attraction evolved into the Three-Star Skill, Star Refusal Ring, it also gained the ability to dispel negative effects, widening the scope of what it could resolve. Thus, if the guardian¡¯s power only caused people to fall into nightmares, it might be able to render that power ineffective with its own! ¡°Indeed, with your Star Refusal Ring, our chances of a successful operation this time will greatly increase,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. He insisted on exploring this place after learning of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s experiences because he thought of Starlight¡¯s ability to somewhat counteract those effects. ¡°Can you sense that guardian¡¯s specific strength?¡± Xu Ran asked, turning to Cancan. ¡°Chaa~¡± (That might not be possible¡­) Cancan shook its head slightly, its face taking on a troubled expression. It wasn¡¯t that it couldn¡¯t, but didn¡¯t dare to. The power of Echoing of Earth Vein was easily perceived by living creatures. After all, it relied on vibrations. Cancan had been at the very edge of the detection range when looking for the thunderous sound and the guardian, relying on scant traces to explore without being easily discovered. Using the power of Echoing of Earth Vein to detect the specific strength of the guardian below was something Cancan could do, but once detected, the guardian would certainly notice the exploratory force, and that would be alerting the enemy. ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding and then patted Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°Well done, Cancan is maturing and not so reckless anymore.¡± ¡°Chaa~¡± Cancan bashfully lowered its head. The last time they ventured out of the city, it hadn¡¯t considered so much. If the more meticulous-thinking Starlight hadn¡¯t reminded it, it might have approached for a closer look. So it felt somewhat undeserving of such praise. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll have to proceed with caution,¡± Xu Ran mused, speculating based on the experiences of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. ¡°That guardian¡¯s protection must have a certain range.¡± ¡°Once we enter within that range, we will be attacked and fall into a nightmare.¡± At this point, an expression of helplessness crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Ideally, the best approach would be for each of us to maintain some distance from the others so that if the one in front falls into a nightmare, the one in back could pull him out of range.¡± ¡°But¡­ our ability to descend underground relies on Cancan¡¯s Subterranean Shape Pond,¡± Xu Ran looked at Cancan, ¡°so we can only move together underground.¡± ¡°Chaa~¡± (It has to be that way.) Cancan helplessly spread out its paws. Subterranean Shape Pond granted the ability to delve into the earth on the condition that contact was maintained between individuals. As soon as they parted, that granted power would cease to exist. And without the ability to move underground, Xu Ran and the two non-Earth attribute pets would probably be immobilized, making it far too dangerous. Let¡¯s hope that this problem can be solved when reaching a higher star level or proficiency. ¡°We¡¯ll set off together, moving at a slower pace,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath. ¡°Approach the Thunderous Land bit by bit with Starlight¡¯s Star Refusal Ring activated throughout the journey.¡± ¡°Any sign of movement, stop immediately, assess the situation, and then decide on the appropriate countermeasures.¡± ¡°Also,¡± Xu Ran looked at Ziyun, ¡°leave an afterimage on the surface before you dive.¡± ¡°This way, you can always return using Step on Electric Traces, just in case.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (As if such a ¡®just in case¡¯ would happen!) Chapter 464 - Chapter 464: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Part 2 Chapter 464: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Part 2 Ziyun shook its head reluctantly and spoke out. Even if it truly encountered danger, it would not do this! After all, it would be the only one to return, effectively abandoning Xu Ran and the other two little ones. No matter what kind of opponent it faced, it would never do such a thing! ¡°I¡¯m just worried about unexpected situations,¡± Xu Ran said with a wry smile when he saw Ziyun¡¯s resistant expression, feeling a warmth in his heart, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we won¡¯t leave any behind.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just be careful, and it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I¡¯ll lead the way!) A vibrant fighting spirit ignited in Ziyun¡¯s eyes as it volunteered first. Although everyone had set out together, because Cancan¡¯s body was so large, the actual entry into the protective range would definitely be staggered. That place in the Thunderous Land was most likely related to the Thunder Attribute, and it was also the strongest attacker in the team, so there was no shirking this responsibility now. Soon, it planned to stand on top of Cancan¡¯s head. In doing so, it would be the first to enter the range! Nightmare? There was not a trace of fear in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. A mere nightmare would not defeat it! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll support everyone!) Star let out a neigh. Though Cancan¡¯s body was large, Star¡¯s Star Refusal Ring was sufficient to cover it and also envelop Ziyun and Xu Ran, who were standing on top of Cancan. As the support corner of the team, it would do everything in its power! Support to the max! ¡°Qia!¡± (Then let¡¯s set off!) Cancan shouted excitedly. Being naturally curious about everything, it felt as though its explorer¡¯s soul was now ablaze with passion! With a step forward, Cancan¡¯s miniature frame swelled against the wind, quickly restoring to a span of over three hundred meters, its massive form like a small mountain, exuding an overwhelming presence even in the night. Its head, as majestic as a true dragon¡¯s, seemed to lower from the clouds until it reached the ground. ¡°Meow~¡± (Charge~) Full of excitement, Ziyun shouted, its figure flashing as it jumped onto Cancan¡¯s head, clinging to the single horn on its forehead, its heterochromatic eyes burning as they looked toward the unseen depths below. ¡°Ziyun, be careful,¡± Xu Ran cautioned before joining Star and ascending onto the thick, solid scales in the center of Cancan. From this position, Star¡¯s Star Refusal Ring could cover Cancan¡¯s entire body better, and Xu Ran stood with Star because the two were going to be linked by the Fated Star Pulling contract. Accompanied by a born starlight shuttling from the void, the vital energies of Xu Ran and Star merged rapidly from two into one, and under the special enhancement of Fated Star Pulling, they climbed steadily, like a deep and conspicuous glimmer in the night. The next moment, intricate, dark patterns emerged around Ziyun and Cancan, swirling around them, and an instantaneously firm resistance, solid and indestructible as a boulder, descended, while the momentum of Cancan and Ziyun soared at this moment! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level¡¤Night Rune! ¡°Qia~¡± (Good!) Feeling its power growing stronger, Cancan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. Due to the special circumstances, it was not convenient for it to use Echoing of Earth Vein and Jiezimixu to enhance itself right now, otherwise the large movements would instantly alert the guardian below. Therefore, the only enhancement power it could rely on was Star¡¯s Night Rune. Fortunately, the main character of this action was not it, but rather Ziyun, which was now holding onto the single horn on top of its head, its eyes filled with sharp thunderous light. Under the enhancement of the Night Rune, Ziyun¡¯s presence had already climbed to its peak, its limbs and body nearly turned into lightning at the same time, with sharp electric light constantly piercing the air, emitting sharp thunderous roars. Even a hint of obscure black appeared in the depths of its eyes. That was the power of Divine Punishment, ready to be unleashed at any moment. Although Ziyun still vividly remembered the consequences that the last Divine Punishment brought, if it really came down to a critical moment, it would use it if it had to! After all, this was its strongest skill at the moment. Also because of this subtle gathering of power, Ziyun was surrounded by an extremely dangerous presence, like a sharp long knife, not to be faced directly! ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With everything ready, Xu Ran gave the command in a low voice. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± With a scream from Star, bright starlight blossomed from the tip of its single horn, scattering in all directions, ultimately covering Cancan¡¯s whole body, enveloping Xu Ran and the three pets within. What followed was a sensation of tranquility and peace. Though this starlight seemed to have no effect at the moment, its very existence was a strong protective force, a reassuring presence! Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level¡¤Star Refusal Ring! The next moment, Cancan¡¯s massive body began to submerge like sinking into a mud pond, descending slowly and steadily as the hard soil and rock around it seemed to soften, creating slight ripples around its body. Soon, Cancan¡¯s body had completely disappeared underground. The surface returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened. Below ground, the exploration of one person and three pets officially began. Under Cancan¡¯s precise control, they continued to descend at a slow pace. After a while, Cancan¡¯s voice echoed in the minds of Xu Ran and the other two little ones. ¡°Qia~¡± (We have sunk two kilometers.) ¡°Continue,¡± Xu Ran responded with Contractual Sensing, his expression growing more serious. Chapter 465 - Chapter 465: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling_3 Chapter 465: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling_3 The distance of five kilometers was now almost half covered. As they drew ever closer to the Thunderous Land, they also neared the protective range of the Guardian. ¡°Meow~¡± (Steady on!) The black light in Ziyun¡¯s eyes deepened a shade. Since Cancan was in a state of descent, its head was at the lowest point. And Ziyun, who clung to Cancan¡¯s single horn, naturally became the one closest to the bottom. It had to ensure that the first to enter the enemy¡¯s defense range, was itself! Cancan did not respond, but the speed of descent remained stable. Two kilometers¡­ three kilometers¡­ four kilometers! The closer they got to the ground below, the thunderous sounds, barely perceptible only to Cancan earlier, could now be faintly heard by all three pets and their owner! ¡°Boom~ Boom~¡± The deep thunder roared like the shout of the thunder god, echoing in the depths of the earth for a long time, accompanied by a humming noise and the light, continuous tremors emanating from the earth! It was as if the divine thunder, belonging to the heavens, had been trapped deep within the earth and enraged completely! There really was thunder! Excitement lit up the eyes of the four companions. Especially for Ziyun, with its Thunder Attribute. Upon hearing that thunder, it instinctively felt a power calling to it from even deeper below. This was the mutual attraction between Thunder Attribute forces! At this moment, it could confirm that the power below definitely belonged to the Thunder Attribute, and its energy was not weak! At the very least, it was no less than the King Stage level resources! However, in the next instant, the expressions of all four companions changed abruptly. Almost at the same time, they sensed an invisible force surging towards them, which was quite formidable, and far exceeded the upper limit of the General Level. It was¡­ Power of the King Stage level! The force crashed heavily against the Star Refusal Ring that Starlight had activated early on, and the twinkling starlight around it seemed to have entered an invisible mill, swiftly dimming. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Starlight was shocked and enraged, the starlight at the tip of its single horn shining to the extreme in the pitch-black depth of the earth, standing out prominently. It exerted all its own and Xu Ran¡¯s power to try to fend off the opposing force. Their first contact lasted only an instant. Realizing that this intruder was not as easy to deal with as expected, the invisible force paused for a moment, and then actually retracted. This¡­ The owner and three pets were slightly taken aback. Before they could react, an even more powerful force swept over them like a tidal wave! That power¡­ All four of them went pale simultaneously. If the previous force was of the King Stage level, then the current one already had elements that surpassed that level. It may not have reached the Overlord Stage, but it was similar to the Nightmare Beast King, having already exceeded the limits of the King Stage! And unlike the previous force, this one seemed to possess a unique quality, such that the Star Refusal Ring, which Starlight struggled to maintain, had no effect on it! ¡°Meow~¡± (Face death!) Ziyun was the first to react, the pitch-black color in its eyes instantly spreading out, nearly turning its heterochromatic eyes completely black. An extreme sense of danger emerged from around it at that moment. However, in the next instant, its body suddenly stiffened, the black light also dispersing in a flash, and the expression in its eyes began to dissipate. A hint of struggle appeared in the depths of Ziyun¡¯s eyes, yet against the opponent at hand, its resistance seemed rather futile. In just a moment, Ziyun, who had entered the range first, had its consciousness dragged into a nightmare. Cancan followed closely behind. Then came Xu Ran and Starlight. Cancan¡¯s massive body was like an ark traveling beneath the earth, and at this moment, that ark seemed to have hit a rock, its forward momentum rapidly halting. Only the faintly pulsating Earth Attribute Power instinctively encircled the owner and three pets, maintaining their ability to dive underground. The depths of the earth quietened down. Only the continuous thunder, which seemed to never cease, faintly emerged, not stopping for a long time. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± A streak of lightning, like a long spear piercing the earth, traced a bright fissure in the void, then ferociously struck the ground. ¡°Meow!!!¡± With a piercing cry, a small cat covered in somewhat dirty white fur, with beautiful heterochromatic eyes, huddled fearfully in the corner of the street. Its wide eyes stared at the center of the road, where the figure was burnt black beyond recognition. It was its closest playmate, with whom it had always fought side by side against other stray cats, sharing any scraps of food they managed to scavenge together. And now, its friend had lost its life and was transformed into something utterly unrecognizable. The white cat with different colored eyes didn¡¯t understand why, having just walked this street they had traversed countless times before its friend, everything had changed so drastically. The bicolor-eyed white cat retreated a little, trying to curl even tighter into the corner it had already reached. Looking at the vicinity of its companion¡¯s charred body, where electric arcs sporadically shot from the ground, its ears, with their long tufts of fur, were completely folded back against its head, and its slightly open mouth panted continuously. A blinding bolt of lightning streaked across its field of vision. The next moment, the same deafening roar as before sounded again. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Chapter 466 - Chapter 466: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Part 4 Chapter 466: Chapter 274 Nightmare, Thrilling Part 4 The terrifying sound of thunder made the breathing of the white cat with heterochromatic eyes more and more rapid, its chest and abdomen strained with convulsive movements, its body curling even tighter. But those eyes, already narrowed to pinpoints, remained fixed on the sky above, where the traces of lightning were slowly fading. It¡¯s that! The white cat with heterochromatic eyes realized. The one that had killed its companion was the thunderbolt exploding in the sky! At that moment, immense fear engulfed its heart. This was something it could not understand, a power that earth and sky could not resist. But it knew that such power, which could easily take away its companion¡¯s life, could just as easily take away its own life. It gathered its long tail a little closer, hugged it tightly to its chest, and couldn¡¯t help letting out a series of soft whimpers. Flashes of electric light and thunderous sounds echoed time and again. Then, the sound of pouring rain arose, ¡°whalala,¡± and a torrential downpour crashed down. This was a sudden thunderstorm. Letting the icy rainwater flood over its hiding corner, soaking its body, the white cat with heterochromatic eyes curled up anxiously, daring not to move an inch, its body violently trembling with every peal of thunder. Once¡­ twice¡­ No idea how long had passed, the rain began to subside, and the dark clouds dispersed. The gentle sunlight sprinkled down, illuminating the city ravaged by the thunderstorm, and also soothing the frightened hearts of every creature. The body of the white cat with heterochromatic eyes, now somewhat stiffened, gave a slight twitch. Its long fur completely drenched, it appeared somewhat gaunt as it clung to its body. Staying curled up for so long made its body stiff. It took a good while for the white cat with heterochromatic eyes to recover, it stepped out from the only corner that offered a sense of security during the thunderstorm, shook the water off its body, and then sneezed several times in a row. It walked silently to where the body of its companion lay still in the middle of the road, looking at the charred body twisted into a ghastly position, fear once again rising in its eyes, and after a good while, let out a low wail. ¡°Meow~¡± The next moment, its body shook violently. In confusion, came a bit of clarity. That¡¯s not right! This is a memory from the past! It¡¯s Ziyun! At this moment, it¡¯s in the midst of a nightmare! Vividly recalling itself and the current situation clearly, a robust will to fight emerged in the white cat with heterochromatic eyes. It had long accepted the tragic memories of the past and overcame its fears. It no longer feared lightning, at this moment, it was the master of thunderbolts! The scenery around hadn¡¯t changed, but Ziyun¡¯s form began to subtly transform. It was no longer the pitiable stray cat, soaked by the downpour, it had regained its rightful body and power. A nightmare, that¡¯s all it was! Ziyun¡¯s eyes gleamed with a touch of pride. Memories can¡¯t bring it down! However, the next moment, its expression stiffened slightly. Because the scene around it, after it had returned to its original form, also began to undergo earth-shattering changes. Xu Ran, Star, and Cancan appeared before its eyes. And in front of them appeared a terrifying creature, its form indistinct but with an overwhelmingly vast presence, giving Ziyun a feeling of irresistible dread. Before Ziyun could react, Xu Ran and the other two were utterly devoured by a boundless thunderbolt, leaving only Ziyun, staring in shock. ¡°¡­Meow?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C That was the companion it played with most closely when facing other stray cats, they would always fight shoulder to shoulder, and it would bring back any food they scavenged to share with each other. And now, the other had lost its life, transformed into something the cat completely did not recognize. It couldn¡¯t understand why, just walking down this street they had tread countless times before its companion, things turned out this way. The white cat with heterochromatic eyes slowly backed away, trying hard to curl even tighter in the corner it had already reached. Gazing at the scorched corpse of its companion nearby, occasional Electric Arcs sprung up from the ground. Its ears, long tufts of fur and all, were now pushed forcefully back, flat against the back of its head, while its slightly parted mouth panted continuously. A blinding flash of Thunderbolt streaked across its field of vision. The next moment, the same explosive sound as before once again filled the air. ¡°BOOM!!!!¡± The terrifying Thunderous Sound made the breathing of the cat with heterochromia even more rapid, its chest and abdomen struggling to contract, its body curling tighter. Yet its eyes, now constricted to pinpoints, remained fixated on the fading traces of electricity in the sky above. It was that! The cat with heterochromia realized. It was the Thunderbolts bursting in the sky that had killed its companion! At that moment, immense fear clung to its heart. This was a force beyond its comprehension, a Power the heavens and earth couldn¡¯t resist. But it knew, such Power, capable of easily claiming its companion¡¯s life, could just as easily claim its own. It drew its long tail in closer, hiding it desperately in its embrace, unable to stop emitting faint meows of distress. Flashes of Light and Thunderous Sounds echoed back and forth, repeatedly. Soon after, the ¡°whooshing¡± sound of rain started, and a downpour crashed down abruptly. This was a sudden Thunderstorm. Despite the chilling rain flooding its hidden corner, soaking its body, the cat with heterochromia curled up tensely, not daring to move an inch. With every peal of Thunder, its body would tremble violently. Once¡­twice¡­ Time passed indeterminably, and eventually, the rain lessened and the clouds dispersed. Sunlight gently fell, illuminating the city ravaged by the storm and simultaneously soothing the frightened hearts of every creature. The cat with heterochromia¡¯s now stiff body twitched slightly. Its long fur, completely drenched, clung to its shrunken frame. The prolonged curling made its body stiff. After a good while, the cat with heterochromia started to recover, stepping out of the corner that had been its only source of security during the storm, shaking the water off its fur, and then sneezing several times consecutively. It walked silently up to its companion¡¯s body lying still in the middle of the road, looked at the charred corpse frozen in a grotesque pose, and fear surged in its eyes once again. It took quite a while before it let out a low meow of mourning. ¡°Meow~¡± The next moment, its body trembled violently. In bewilderment, it gained a bit more clarity. Something was wrong! This was a memory from its past! It was Ziyun! It was in the midst of a nightmare! Vividly remembering itself and understanding the current situation, a rich fighting spirit emerged in the cat with heterochromia¡¯s eyes. It had already come to terms with its miserable memories from the past and had even overcome its own fears. No longer afraid of Thunderbolts, it was now a master of Lightning! The scenery around it hadn¡¯t changed, but the form of Ziyun began to subtly transform. It was no longer the pitiful Stray Cat soaked by the storm; it had returned to its original, powerful body and strength. The nightmare was nothing more than this! A sense of pride gleamed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Memories were not enough to defeat it! However, the next moment, its expression stiffened slightly. Because the surroundings, upon the restoration of its original form, began to undergo a drastic change. Xu Ran, Star, and Cancan appeared before it. And before them emerged an indiscernible entity of immense scope and invincible presence, eliciting from Ziyun a sense of inescapable dread. Before Ziyun could react, Xu Ran and the other two were engulfed by a boundless surge of Thunderbolts, leaving Ziyun staring agape. ¡°¡­Meow?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Chapter 275: Dragons Skeletal Remains, Thunder Dragon Stone Chapter 467: Chapter 275: Dragon¡¯s Skeletal Remains, Thunder Dragon Stone ¡°` Accompanied by the steadfast neigh of Star, the illusory scene shattered in an instant. In the silence, Star gazed at the caring figure of its father, Chasing Wind, as he dissolved into nothingness, leaving the resolution in its eyes undiminished. In the next moment, Xu Ran and the other two little ones materialized not far ahead. Has this nightmare ended? Excitement surfaced in Star¡¯s eyes. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m coming~) With a neigh, it raised its hooves and dashed toward its companions. However, at the next moment, a look of astonishment appeared in Star¡¯s eyes. With every step it took forward, its companions moved farther ahead, widening the gap between them until they were merely specks in the distance, just as Star once could not catch up with the other Little Horses in its memory. ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Ran! Time to eat!¡± Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Ran rubbed his eyes and sat up from the bed. He glanced at the familiar furnishings, his gaze sharpening as his expression suddenly changed. Is this¡­ my home from my previous life? How is that possible? Hadn¡¯t I already transmigrated? He vividly remembered that just moments ago, he and his three Pet Beasts were fighting side by side and had been attacked by a mysterious King Stage Guardian, causing him to lose consciousness. Could it be that I died again in that battle and transmigrated back here? Or is this a nightmare spun by that Guardian? That¡¯s right! The system! Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened, and he summoned The system with a thought. Seeing the familiar system panel and the Pet Beasts still listed there, Xu Ran heaved a sigh of relief. It seems I haven¡¯t transmigrated back. This is merely a nightmare constructed by the other party. But truth be told¡­ Xu Ran curiously surveyed his surroundings, amazed. That this nightmare would be in the world of his former life was beyond his expectations. ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡± Accompanied by several brisk knocks, the door opened at that moment, and a middle-aged woman wearing an apron stepped in, frowning slightly at the sight of Xu Ran. ¡°Ran, why didn¡¯t you respond when I called you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming!¡± Xu Ran chuckled, quickly got out of bed, approached the woman, paused, and then hugged her tightly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve missed you.¡± ¡°This child¡­ what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± The woman¡¯s face held a touch of confusion. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Ran laughed and let go of his mother, ¡°Where¡¯s dad?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the living room. If you don¡¯t get up, he¡¯s going to whack you again,¡± the woman replied, slightly irked. ¡°That¡¯s okay, I kind of miss getting smacked by dad,¡± Xu Ran continued to laugh carelessly, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s for breakfast, Yangchun noodles?¡± ¡°Yes, and I added two fried eggs for you,¡± the woman nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic, it¡¯s been months since I had a bite of that,¡± Xu Ran laughed heartily, rushing to the dining table. Seeing the familiar steaming thin noodles topped with two perfectly fried eggs, his eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden slightly. If this is a nightmare, then let it last a little longer. He remembered this day. This was the last day in this world, where after eating his mother¡¯s breakfast, he, unemployed after graduation, set out for a job interview, only to be involved in a car accident on his way there; when he woke up, he was in another world. ¡°Sleeping late again,¡± grunted the middle-aged man in the living room as Xu Ran sat down. Putting the newspaper on the coffee table, he came to sit at the dining table. ¡°Is getting up early really that difficult for you?¡± ¡°Dad, how many young people can manage to wake up early these days?¡± Xu Ran swallowed a mouthful of Yangchun noodles and responded with a smile. Inside, a familiar feeling surfaced. It seemed that the conversation back then was the same. ¡°Hmph, once you¡¯re done eating, clean yourself up. Look at that bird¡¯s nest of hair; what company would hire someone who can¡¯t be bothered to groom himself?¡± The middle-aged man shook his head slightly and stopped speaking, quietly eating his noodles. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Looking at his stern yet loving father, Xu Ran gave a silent laugh, then turned to his mother, who was still busy tidying up the kitchen. ¡°Mom, stop tidying up and eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The mother came out with two small dishes, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± With each bite of the Yangchun noodles, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes were brimming with nostalgia. What was once an ordinary dish now seemed like the rarest of delicacies, each bite savored with care. After finishing the bowl of noodles, leaving no soup behind, Xu Ran reluctantly handed over his bowl and chopsticks. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Why did you eat so cleanly today?¡± His mother looked surprised, then laughed it off, ¡°As long as you¡¯re full, go and give it your all, hopefully landing that new job today!¡± ¡°Get the job¡­¡± Xu Ran glanced at the clock on the wall. In his former life at this moment, he would have already left the house. What came next was the car accident and the transmigration. Because of the leisurely pace he took in eating his noodles just now, he was still at home. So¡­ This nightmare should also be coming to an end, right? As the surroundings began to blur into unreality, Xu Ran let out a silent sigh, then flashed the brightest of smiles at his parents. ¡°Mom, Dad, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m doing really well now.¡± As his words fell, the scene around him, along with his mother standing there with the bowl and chopsticks and his father sitting at the table with the newspaper, all dissolved into nothingness. ¡°` Chapter 468 - Chapter 468: Chapter 275: The Dragons Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_2 Chapter 468: Chapter 275: The Dragon¡¯s Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C In the deep, dark depths underground, within a serene and spacious cavern, a figure covered in long fur, slightly rotund, and quite massive in size, sat casually on the ground. It had a pair of strange, purple-black eyes that seemed as if, with just one gaze, could easily plunge a person into terrifying nightmares. Around it surged an invisible yet immensely oppressive formidable power, belonging to a King Stage, even slightly surpassing it. At this moment, in front of this powerful creature, there were four energy mirrors converging into being. In the first mirror, a Thunder Beast with an indistinct shape was fighting with Ziyun, who, though small in stature, was covered in pitch-black thunder light. Seeing the terrifying black power enshrouding Ziyun within the mirror, a majesty that even shook its soul was revealed, prompting a hint of caution in the eyes of the powerful creature. During a reconnaissance just a moment ago, it had already vaguely sensed something extraordinary about this pet beast belonging to humans. Was the full extent of its capabilities being displayed now in this nightmare? With this thought, the powerful creature¡¯s eyes filled with contemplation, and it turned its head to look at the second mirror, Inside the second mirror, was Star, running with all his might, trying to catch up with his companion. Seeing it completely immersed in the second layer of dreams, a faint smile of amusement and pride appeared in the eyes of the powerful creature. However, this trace of amusement and pride vanished as its gaze shifted to the third mirror. There, the powerful creature saw a terrifying giant beast, more than a kilometer in length, sprawled on the ground, sound asleep. For a moment, those normally indifferent and mysterious purple-black eyes showed a hint of helplessness. Indeed, dealing with such a carefree being was not its forte. Despite using every ability it had, it failed to uncover this individual¡¯s inner shadows and painful experiences. Therefore, it could only forcibly detain it with dream power. The purple-black eyes then shifted to the last mirror on the other side, where it looked into chaos within the mirror, its gaze filling with wariness and confusion. For some reason, it was unable to see the nightmare of this human who should have fallen into its dream trap. It seemed as though some more powerful force was blocking its probing. At this thought, the powerful creature scratched its head with a somewhat helpless look, and its deep voice echoed in the cavern. ¡°Lulu~¡± It turned its head towards the rock wall to its side. On the other side of the wall surged a magnificent Thunderforce. Additionally, the low thunderous sounds occasionally resounded, echoing through the entire cavern. There lay something it must safeguard. Even if the intruder was very strong this time, it had to¡­ ¡°Looby~¡± A slightly juvenile, cheerful voice echoed from far within the cavern, interrupting the powerful creature¡¯s train of thought. Warmth filled those purple-black eyes of the powerful creature. It moved its gaze from the mirrors and looked towards the direction of the cavern¡¯s upper passage. Soon, a figure similar to it, but much smaller and rotunder, a little fuzzy ball, stepped by step came closer to the powerful creature. ¡°Looby~¡± The little fuzzy ball¡¯s forehead antennae moved, gently touching the body of the powerful creature. This was their kind¡¯s greeting, a sign of dependency. ¡°Lulu?¡± Have you just fed the dream weaving silkworm? The powerful creature lifted its large hand and stroked the little fuzzy ball¡¯s head, the smile in its eyes becoming even richer. ¡°Looby!¡± Yes! The silkworm silk we collected last time is all used up! The little fuzzy ball nodded, its light purple eyes full of joy and anticipation, as though recalling something delightful. ¡°Looby?¡± Would you be mad if I gave the dream weaving silkworm silk to humans? ¡°Lulu~¡± It¡¯s just some silkworm silk; as long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s what matters. The powerful creature touched the little fuzzy ball¡¯s forehead antennae with reassurance in its voice. ¡°Looby!¡± That¡¯s great! The little fuzzy ball nodded in relief, the look of anticipation in its eyes growing more intense. It had memorized the name and address of that shop. Once it harvested new dream weaving silkworm silk, it would go there again for a wash! Then, the little fuzzy ball noticed the mirrors in the air. It was not unfamiliar with this ability of the powerful creature. ¡°Looby?¡± Is there another intruder? It looked carefully at the images within the mirrors and, recognizing Star and Cancan in the second and third mirrors, a look of surprise appeared on its face. Eh? Isn¡¯t that¡­ It remembered, the day it entered the human city and, just before going up on stage for Washing and Protection on its own accord, the human called Xu Ran summoned two Pet Beasts to assist the one before it undergoing the process. And those two Pet Beasts looked just like the ones right now in the mirrors. An incredible guess dawned upon the little fuzzy ball. Its light purple eyes couldn¡¯t help but widen. ¡°Looby?!¡± The intruders are them?! ¡°Lulu?¡± You know them? The powerful creature turned its head to look at the little fuzzy ball at its side, surprise in its purple-black eyes. ¡°Looby~¡± I know them; previously, I¡­ The little fuzzy ball¡¯s antennae on its head moved, and it quickly conveyed the details of its past interaction to the powerful creature beside it. After hearing the little fuzzy ball¡¯s account, the powerful creature¡¯s eyes revealed a contemplative expression. Chapter 469 - Chapter 469: Chapter 275: The Dragons Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_3 Chapter 469: Chapter 275: The Dragon¡¯s Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_3 ¡°` ¡°Looby~¡± The little furball gently touched the powerful being with its tentacles, its eyes filled with a hint of pleading. ¡°` The powerful creature¡¯s eyes were full of displeasure, but after making eye contact with the little furball, it shook its head helplessly. ¡°Lulu~¡± Well, fine¡­ but if they want to take what I¡¯m guarding, it won¡¯t be easy. With a casual wave of its hand, the four mirrors in front of it shattered and dissipated. On the other side, a person and three pets, who couldn¡¯t wake up from their respective dreamscapes, opened their eyes at the same moment. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Shaking off the dreamscape at the first opportunity, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze immediately fell on the three little ones who were gradually coming to their senses. In Ziyun¡¯s eyes, there was still some residual madness and fierce killing intent, suggesting that the previous nightmare had quite an effect. Star¡¯s mood seemed a bit down, apparently not yet completely free from the nightmare. But as for Cancan¡­ Xu Ran looked at Cancan, who seemed to have just woken up from sleep, with a more puzzled expression in his eyes. What had this guy experienced in the nightmare? ¡°Meow~¡± (I¡¯m fine.) Having come to its senses, Ziyun shook its head slightly, eyes tinged with a trace of fear. In the second layer of the nightmare, it had watched helplessly as the thunderbolt being, far beyond its match, killed Xu Ran and the other two pets instantaneously, plunging it into madness and triggering the Divine Punishment for a desperate fight. Now awake, the first thing it did was to check its own condition, thankfully finding no traces of having used the Divine Punishment. In other words, it didn¡¯t have to endure the pain of the Divine Punishment a second time. But¡­ The memory of seeing its companions being killed in the dream, yet being powerless to help, infused Ziyun¡¯s eyes with a hint of anger and unwillingness. What if such a day actually comes in the future? At that thought, Ziyun suddenly felt a strong sense of urgency. It was only at the General stage now, still far too weak. It had to evolve as soon as possible! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m fine too.) Star whinnied softly, giving a slight shake of its head. In the second layer of the dreamscape, it was partially lucid, aware that it was all a nightmare. But, faced with companions it couldn¡¯t touch, it had still abandoned its original rationality, foolishly chasing after them. Thinking about this, Star couldn¡¯t help but sigh to itself. It looked like it needed to become calmer, huh~ ¡°Cha~¡± (Slept quite well~) Cancan shook its large head, its face still displaying a bit of confusion. And its distinct reaction also caused Xu Ran and the other two pets¡¯ expressions to turn peculiar. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Should we continue forward?) Star asked with a whinny. Hearing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became contemplative. At this moment, he was uncertain about the hidden Guardian¡¯s intentions. No doubt, the simultaneous escape from the nightmare was orchestrated by the other party. So, was the purpose to warn them, or¡­ But one thing Xu Ran was clear on. The Guardian¡¯s strength surpassed their expectations, and even with Star¡¯s Star Refusal Ring, they couldn¡¯t resist its power. Thus, continuing deeper with an unclear stance from the Guardian obviously posed an undeniable threat. While the person and three pets hesitated, a subtle and invisible fluctuation, carried on the thunderous sound, spread towards them. At the instant this non-aggressive fluctuation touched the person and three pets, a thought arose in their minds. It was an invitation. From that hidden, powerful Guardian. The Guardian wanted to meet them. The three pets exchanged glances, then looked toward Xu Ran. ¡°Let¡¯s go see,¡± Xu Ran hesitated for a moment, then spoke without hesitation. If the other party had wanted to harm them, they had had numerous opportunities a moment ago. So, this shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous for them. ¡°Thinking positively, maybe after talking with the Guardian, it might be willing to give us the thing from the Thunderous Land,¡± Xu Ran said jokingly, trying to lighten the somewhat tense atmosphere. With Xu Ran¡¯s decision made, the three pets no longer hesitated. Cancan shook its head; it no longer needed to preserve its strength for fear of startling the enemy. Its earthy-hued energy spread to the surroundings, quickly pinpointing a hidden cave deep in the ground and swiftly moving towards it. Before long, Cancan led Xu Ran and the other two pets through the rock wall and into the spacious cavern. In the cavern, the unceasing thunderous sound echoing proved its proximity to the Thunderous Land. However, at this moment, the person and the three pets were no longer concerned about the Thunderous Land. Their gaze unanimously fixed on a creature inside the cavern, about fourteen meters tall, with sturdy limbs, four tentacles atop its head, and eyes of a deep purplish-black filled with strange light. Judging by the strength of its aura, the person and three pets could easily determine that this was the Guardian guarding the Thunderous Land, whose power faintly exceeded the limits of the King Stage and was the one who had acted against them just now. Although the Guardian had voluntarily backed off, feeling its crushing power at this moment still made Xu Ran and the three pets tighten up, not daring to let their guard down. And then, at that moment, a somewhat familiar, cheerful voice echoed in the empty cavern. ¡°Looby~¡± Chapter 470 - Chapter 470: Chapter 275: The Dragons Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_4 Chapter 470: Chapter 275: The Dragon¡¯s Skeleton, Thunder Dragon Stone_4 Accompanied by the voice, a small furball emerged from the rear of the Guardian. Looking at the light purple eyes and the flexible tentacles on top of its head, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed an extra measure of surprise and astonishment, ¡°Sleep Demon group?!¡± With just a glance, he had determined that this Sleep Demon in front of him was the same one he had previously washed during a public Washing and Protection session. However, what was it doing here? Wait a second¡­ Xu Ran looked at the Sleep Demon, then at the Guardian with its large body and strong strength. Although the two had quite different appearances, there were still many common characteristics to find. So¡­ was this Guardian an evolutionary form of the Sleep Demon? Then what was the relationship between this Sleep Demon and it¡­ Before Xu Ran could continue pondering, the Guardian issued a low sound. ¡°Lulu~¡± At the same time, the meaning corresponding to its voice appeared in the minds of the human and his three Pet Beasts. (Have you also come for the Thunder Dragon Stone?) ¡°Thunder Dragon Stone?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but glance at a certain side of the Rock Wall; he could sense that the magnificent Power of the Thunder Attribute was behind that part of the wall, ¡°What is that?¡± Although Xu Ran had already learned about many Transcendent Resources, such resources were still just the tip of the iceberg in the transcendental world. This Thunder Dragon Stone mentioned by the Guardian before him was unknown to him. As Xu Ran expressed his doubt, the three little ones also showed a look of confusion on their faces. Clearly, they had never heard of such a resource either. ¡°Esteemed predecessor, we sensed underground Thunderous Sounds, so we wanted to take a look and weren¡¯t aware of any Thunder Dragon Stone,¡± Xu Ran hesitated for a moment, then thickened his skin and smiled, ¡°Since we¡¯re here already, may we take the Thunder Dragon Stone with us?¡± The Guardian glanced at Xu Ran. Then, a thoughtful look appeared in its eyes as if it were considering and weighing something. Eventually, the Guardian spoke again in a deep tone. ¡°Lulu~ Lulu~¡± (The Thunder Dragon Stone is a Transcendent Resource of the Overlord stage, formed from the leaking Power of the Thunder Attribute that coalesced after an Overlord stage Thunder God Silent Dragon fell here, leaving its corpse behind.) (That Thunder God Silent Dragon showed me great kindness, so I am here to guard its corpse.) (In regard of the Washing and Protection you provided for my child, I can allow you to take away one piece of the Thunder Dragon Stone.) (But¡­) The voice paused slightly, and the Guardian¡¯s eyes grew sharper. ¡°Lulu~¡± (You may only take away a single piece, and you must not damage its corpse.) ¡°No problem!¡± Xu Ran spoke without hesitation. Before arriving here, he had already prepared himself to return safely, even if it meant coming back empty-handed. Now that he heard the Guardian before him agree to let him take away a piece of the so-called Thunder Dragon Stone, he was too delighted to care about anything else. After all, from the description, it was an Overlord level Thunder Attribute Transcendent Resource. Such a resource would be a tremendous uplift for Ziyun. Ziyun was just at the crucial point of evolving into an Emperor Species, and this resource came just at the right time. Thinking this, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze towards the Sleep Demon was suddenly filled with goodwill. The system¡¯s statement was correct after all; the Sleep Demon really could bring him good luck. This good fortune might not refer to the Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk from before. It probably referred to this very encounter. ¡°Lulu~¡± (Follow me.) After a glance at the human and his three Pet Beasts, the Guardian turned and headed towards the direction of the Thunderous Sounds; the Rock Wall in front of it cracked open, revealing a dazzling purple Thunder Light inside the Cave. A dragon-class super creature corpse, over a hundred meters long and remarkably well-preserved, with a fierce and domineering appearance, lay quietly on the other side of the large cave. Nearby, on the rock wall and the ground, grew prism-shaped purple crystals, like naturally formed crystals. These purple crystals contained immense power, with golden dragon-shaped lightning constantly crashing against the surface of the crystals, making a buzzing sound like thunder. The thunderous sound that reached outside the cave was the collective resonance of the sounds emitted from these purple crystals. ¡°Lulu~¡± (These purple ones are all Thunder Dragon Stones, pick one.) The Guardian spoke calmly and then stood at the entrance of the cave, watching the human and his three pet beasts. Xu Ran took a deep breath and, after exchanging glances with the three little ones, slowly stepped forward. Under his lead, the human and three pet beasts first respectfully bowed slightly to the fallen dragon corpse before starting to quietly make their selection. This detail filled the Guardian¡¯s eyes with a hint of goodwill. In its heart, it made a silent decision. Seeing that this human and his pet beasts showed such respect for the Thunder God Silent Dragon, which had bestowed grace upon itself, the Guardian decided that if they didn¡¯t pick a sufficiently good Thunder Dragon Stone, it would give them one from its own treasured collection. Completely unaware that their small gesture had won them such a favorable impression, Xu Ran and the three little ones huddled together and soon carefully extracted a Thunder Dragon Stone about one meter in length. In the smooth crystal surface of the Thunder Dragon Stone, the golden dragon-shaped thunder made Ziyun¡¯s eyes light up instantaneously. It could feel that the purple crystal wasn¡¯t anything particularly precious; what was truly valuable was the golden dragon-shaped thunder sealed within it. Such thunder, formed from the pooled power of the Thunder God Silent Dragon before them, was different from ordinary thunder. To absorb it would bring about unimaginable improvements! However¡­ Ziyun turned its head to look at the other Thunder Dragon Stones surrounding them. It knew that it was not yet the time to make a choice. Since they could only take one, it had to be the very best! ¡°Let¡¯s go look somewhere else,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, guessing from Ziyun¡¯s expression what it was thinking, and then carefully placed the Thunder Dragon Stone back in its original position. Together, the human and three pet beasts continued searching and quickly found another Thunder Dragon Stone of roughly the same size. They put it down and searched again. Xu Ran soon realized this was quite inefficient. After all, there were thousands of Thunder Dragon Stones of various sizes within the cave. ¡°Let¡¯s split up and search,¡± he said to the three little ones, making a decisive call. The three little ones also understood that searching separately was more efficient, nodded their heads, and without hesitation divided up and searched in four different directions. Before long, Cancan¡¯s somewhat excited voice echoed in the cave. ¡°Cha!¡± (This one¡¯s so big!) Xu Ran and the other two little ones looked immediately, quickly seeing Cancan carefully holding a Thunder Dragon Stone and nodding in indication. And that Thunder Dragon Stone was two meters long. The golden dragon-shaped thunder inside was dazzling. ¡°Very nice!¡± Xu Ran gave Cancan a thumbs up from a distance, ¡°Everyone keep looking! If we don¡¯t find a better one, we¡¯ll choose Cancan¡¯s!¡± Ziyun and Star nodded their heads, not to be outdone, and began their search. Soon, Ziyun also found a Thunder Dragon Stone that was roughly two meters in length. Meanwhile, Star¡¯s gaze settled on a somewhat special Thunder Dragon Stone amidst a cluster of others. This Thunder Dragon Stone didn¡¯t display any golden dragon-shaped thunder. Its color also wasn¡¯t as clear, appearing somewhat murky. It looked as though something existed within it, but Star couldn¡¯t see clearly. After only a moment of hesitation, Star carefully hoisted this special Thunder Dragon Stone onto its back and turned to walk toward Xu Ran. It had decided on that one! To bring it back for Xu Ran to see! Chapter 472 - Chapter 472: Chapter 276: The Special Thunder Dragon Stone, The Entity Within!_2 Chapter 472: Chapter 276: The Special Thunder Dragon Stone, The Entity Within!_2 But¡­ It still felt that the Thunder Dragon Stone it had chosen was not bad. Just like how it had once been an ordinary one among a group of extraordinary ponies, perhaps this Thunder Dragon Stone was also a dust-covered gem? ¡°Meow~¡± (Let me see~) Ziyun gently placed its paw on the cool surface of the Thunder Dragon Stone, then slowly infused its own Thunderforce into it, attempting to resonate with the power of the Thunder Dragon Stone itself. However, the next moment, its expression became slightly stunned. The sliver of Thunderforce it had infused into the stone was like encountering the gaping maw of an abyss, instantly absorbed by the Thunder Dragon Stone. This¡­ What¡¯s going on?! Ziyun, somewhat incredulous, infused even more power, but the Thunder Dragon Stone in front of it seemed extremely hungry, greedily absorbing all the power it injected. At this, a competitive glint unavoidably flashed in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Streaks of electricity shot out from its body, piercing through the void before precisely targeting the Thunder Dragon Stone in front of it under Ziyun¡¯s control. You like to eat it, huh? I¡¯ll let you have your fill! Seeing Ziyun¡¯s actions, Xu Ran and the other two little ones also showed surprised expressions on their faces. What¡¯s the situation here? The next moment, their surprise turned to astonishment. Because faced with this powerful blast of Thunder Attribute attack, the Thunder Dragon Stone completely absorbed it, without allowing any of it to escape. ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran touched his chin, his face taking on a thoughtful look, ¡°Ziyun, how will you choose?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Let me think¡­) Ziyun looked at its own piece, then glanced at the one Star had chosen, its face showing hesitation. It was obvious that the Thunder Dragon Stone Star had chosen was not simple. But compared to a normal Thunder Dragon Stone, it was unknown. If they took it back only to find it was not as good as the one they had chosen, that would be a great loss. On the other hand, if they found it to be better after bringing it back, that would be a massive win. After pondering for a moment, Ziyun gritted its teeth. Being a gambler, so be it. I¡¯m in! ¡°Meow!¡± (I choose this one!) As it spoke, Ziyun placed its paw on the Thunder Dragon Stone that Star had chosen. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Good!) A smile flashed in Star¡¯s eyes. Though not knowing why Ziyun changed its mind. But being confident in its own judgment, it felt very happy. ¡°Since a choice has been made, let¡¯s return to the Guardian,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, picking up the Thunder Dragon Stone chosen by Ziyun, and headed with the three little ones towards the entrance of the cave. Before long, they saw the Guardian waiting calmly at the entrance of the cave. ¡°Lulu?¡± (You¡¯ve chosen this Thunder Dragon Stone?) Upon arriving, the Guardian scrutinized the Thunder Dragon Stone, a hint of confusion in its deep black eyes. It was very familiar with this cave. But it had never seen this particular Thunder Dragon Stone before. ¡°Lulu?¡± (Where did you find this Thunder Dragon Stone?) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It was in a corner inside the cave¡­) Star neighed, describing where it had found the stone. The Guardian pondered for a moment and then shook its head slightly. It remembered the place described by Star and had not discovered this Thunder Dragon Stone there. If nothing was amiss, it was probably an unformed Thunder Dragon Stone. This human and his three Pet Beasts really knew how to choose; among all the high-quality Thunder Dragon Stones in the cave, they had actually selected such a piece. ¡°Lulu~¡± (Are you sure you want to choose it?) The Guardian couldn¡¯t help but ask again. ¡°Meow!¡± (Certain!) Ziyun spoke firmly. Having made a choice, stick to it till the end! ¡°Lulu~¡± (In that case, follow me.) The Guardian nodded slightly and walked towards another area. Before the human and his three Pet Beasts had chosen their Thunder Dragon Stone, the Guardian had already decided that if the stone they chose was too inferior, it would give them one of its treasured stones as a gift and make friends. The stone they had now chosen couldn¡¯t even be described as inferior. So¡­ Expertly, the Guardian reached into the rock wall and soon pulled out a small piece of amethyst-colored crystal and handed it over to the human and his three beasts. ¡°Lulu~¡± (This one is for you as well.) ¡°Meow?!¡± (This¡­) Seeing that Thunder Dragon Stone, Ziyun suddenly widened its eyes. In the Guardian¡¯s hands, this Thunder Dragon Stone was much smaller than those in the cave, only about thirty centimeters in length and quite miniature in appearance. But within such a small Thunder Dragon Stone, there lurked an almost complete golden Dragon-shaped Thunder. This streak of Thunder was much larger than the one Ziyun had chosen moments ago, almost filling the entire crystal! There were stones like this?! Not only was Ziyun taken aback, but Xu Ran and the other two little ones also showed the same surprised expressions when they saw the Thunder Dragon Stone nearly dyed amethyst by the golden Thunderbolt. Seeing the expressions on the human and three beasts, a hint of amusement appeared in the Guardian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Lulu¡­¡± (The growth of a Thunder Dragon Stone follows a pattern¡­) As the Guardian narrated, the human and three beasts¡¯ faces revealed a dawning understanding. It turned out that the Thunder Dragon Stones continuously absorbed the power from the Thunder God Silent Dragon residing in the cave to grow. Initially, they would expand in size with the increase in power, the purple crystal part growing larger, and the power of the golden Dragon-shaped Thunder inside would also strengthen. Chapter 475 - Chapter 475: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms Chapter 475: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms Hearing what the two workers had to say, Xu Ran momentarily felt as if he had misheard. Quickly realizing what they meant, a look of amusement mixed with exasperation appeared on his face, ¡°Gentlemen, the actual situation is not like that.¡± ¡°Please, tell us. We are here today to understand what¡¯s going on,¡± said one of the workers in a quite friendly manner, taking out pen and paper and preparing to take notes. ¡°You both should know that if a Pet Beast wishes to leave with its Beast Master, I absolutely cannot stop it,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°After all, the other party only needs to summon their Pet Beast to take it away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary Foster Shop owner, with no power to intercept someone else¡¯s summoning.¡± Upon hearing this, the two Association workers exchanged a glance. Indeed, this was the biggest mystery in the case. ¡°So what exactly happened?¡± another worker couldn¡¯t help but ask further. ¡°Here¡¯s what happened,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment to organize his thoughts before continuing, ¡°That Combat Badger showed up at our shop by itself yesterday noon, offering an item as payment for foster care, requesting to be fostered.¡± As he saw the workers¡¯ expressions turn odd, Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°It is indeed a bit bizarre, I was also surprised at the time.¡± ¡°At first, I thought it was a wild Transcendent Being.¡± ¡°The one who pays the money is a customer,¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°As a shop owner, serving my own customers and preparing an appropriate fostering environment for them is only reasonable, right?¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the two workers nodded subconsciously. There really wasn¡¯t anything wrong with this. ¡°Then what about Mr. Kang Cheng¡¯s complaint that you prevented him from meeting his Pet Beast?¡± the lead worker paused his rapid note-taking to inquire. ¡°Well,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression took on a hint of innocence, ¡°since the Combat Badger paid to be fostered here, it became a resident of our shop.¡± ¡°If someone wants to visit a resident of our shop, it¡¯s only proper for me as the owner to ask whether it wishes to meet them or not,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°The Combat Badger did not wish to see the other party, even if he was its own Beast Master.¡± At this point, the expressions of the workers from the Association became somewhat more serious. They exchanged looks, and then the worker who had followed toe gave a low hum, ¡°Kang Cheng, after assuring us so solemnly at the Association that he would treat the Combat Badger well, now he has done such a thing!¡± Both were no fools; considering the fact that the Combat Badger could not be summoned away by Kang Cheng, it was clear who was more credible. So, after comparing the statements of Kang Cheng and Xu Ran, they quickly formed their own judgment on the matter. Clearly, Kang Cheng did something unpleasant to the Combat Badger; otherwise, a Pet Beast that was usually easy to get along with wouldn¡¯t have done something like this. ¡°An unequivocal promise?¡± Hearing the worker¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a touch of curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± He had originally thought that the matter was simply a case of a Beast Master named Kang Cheng mistreating the Combat Badger, leading to the pet¡¯s flight from home. Now it seemed that the story was more complicated than he had imagined, wasn¡¯t it? How could there be involvement from the Beast Master Association in a Beast Tamer Contract Pet Beast? ¡°It¡¯s a bit complicated,¡± the lead worker replied to Xu Ran¡¯s inquiry without concealment, his expression filled with a trace of melancholy, ¡°To put it simply, Kang Cheng wasn¡¯t the Combat Badger¡¯s original Beast Master.¡± ¡°The Combat Badger¡¯s original Beast Master?¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew even more astounded. ¡°Has passed away.¡± The other worker spoke with a voice slightly heavy with sadness, ¡°The Combat Badger¡¯s first Beast Master, though not a worker with our Beast Master Association, was a very enthusiastic and kindhearted person.¡± ¡°He had assisted our Association¡¯s work on many occasions, only to perish in an accident while trying to save others.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but grow solemn, inwardly feeling a pang of regret for the Beast Master he had never met. ¡°The biggest wish of that Beast Master before his departure was for his Pet Beast to be well cared for,¡± the worker¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, ¡°He was only an Elite Stage Beast Master, and one of his Pet Beasts even perished in that accident with him.¡± ¡°What remained was only the Combat Badger.¡± ¡°We, the Beast Master Association, took this matter very seriously and took the Combat Badger in, searching for a sufficiently outstanding Beast Master to entrust with it.¡± ¡°How did it end up with Kang Cheng?¡± Xu Ran frowned slightly. That guy, he didn¡¯t seem like an outstanding Beast Master, did he? After hearing the story of the Combat Badger¡¯s previous Beast Master, he even felt that Kang Cheng didn¡¯t deserve to make a contract with the Combat Badger. ¡°The reasons are complex,¡± the worker replied with a wry smile, ¡°During the inspection by our Beast Master Association, Kang Cheng performed very well in various aspects.¡± ¡°Plus, he has some connections in the Beast Master Association, and many people spoke well of him.¡± ¡°So¡­ the Association ultimately decided to entrust him with the Combat Badger.¡± ¡°And what about the Combat Badger¡¯s own opinion?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask. The Pet Beast¡¯s contract can¡¯t be enforced by the Association, can it? Chapter 476 - Chapter 476: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_2 Chapter 476: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_2 ¡°Boss Xu, you run a foster shop, so you should also be aware of the Combat Badger¡¯s habits,¡± the head work staff member spoke up at this moment. ¡°Although this species is very brave in battle, they¡¯re quite naive and silly in everyday life.¡± ¡°The Combat Badger was aware of its previous Beast Master¡¯s wish. Back then, its only thought was to fulfill the other party¡¯s desire.¡± ¡°Immersed in the pain of losing its Beast Master, the Combat Badger itself had no complaints about the contract.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment. He could imagine that when the Association¡¯s work staff made that decision, they must have hoped Kang Cheng could comfort the Combat Badger¡¯s agony, allowing it to feel the love and warmth of a Beast Master, and lead it out of the shadows into a happy and joyful life again. Unfortunately, it seemed the trust was misplaced. Even at this moment, Xu Ran still had no idea what exactly happened between the Combat Badger and Kang Cheng, but it was clear Kang Cheng had not kept the promise he made when he took the Combat Badger from the Beast Master Association. ¡°Although it¡¯s a bit presumptuous, Boss Xu¡­¡± The work staff member with reddening eyes paused for a moment, ¡°Do you think we could go see the Combat Badger?¡± ¡°Sure, follow me.¡± This time, Xu Ran didn¡¯t mention anything about needing to seek the Combat Badger¡¯s opinion. He promptly led the two work staff members into the elevator to the second floor. Soon, the vast foster area appeared before the eyes of the two work staff members. With wide eyes, they saw the only embellished area within the large foster grounds. ¡°That¡¯s the Combat Badger¡¯s living area in our shop,¡± Xu Ran pointed to the area where the Combat Badger resided and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that the Combat Badger is currently the shop¡¯s only foster pet beast; otherwise, it could go visit other residents and hang out.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ For a foster environment like this, how much does it cost?¡± The previously tearful work staff member couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cool air, momentarily pulling back from their sad emotions. ¡°I noticed just now that the Elite Stage seems to be 6666 Yuan a day,¡± the leading work staff member smiled, ¡°With this cost-performance ratio, I even feel like fostering my own pet beast here.¡± Seeing the Combat Badger living in such comfortable conditions, the two work staff members actually felt a sense of relief, and their tones naturally lightened up a bit. ¡°Our shop provides full care for any fostered pet beasts, and the Combat Badger is certainly no exception,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, quickly approaching the Combat Badger that was sprawled out on a rockery, fast asleep. ¡°Combat Badger, wake up.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± The Combat Badger lazily opened its eyes, seeming to notice for the first time that there were other people around, and slowly sat upright, looking towards Xu Ran. Following that, its gaze settled on the work staff behind Xu Ran. ¡°It¡¯s me! It¡¯s been a long time,¡± the work staff member whose eyes had reddened now approached the Combat Badger with a brilliant smile, ¡°Are you doing well now?¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± The Combat Badger nodded contentedly. With delicious food and a comfortable environment, nothing could be better! ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± The work staff member seemed very familiar, quickly climbing up the rockery to sit beside the Combat Badger, ¡°Can you tell me what happened between you and Kang Cheng?¡± As he spoke, a Hexagram Star Array shimmered to life behind the work staff member, and amidst the blowing wind, a pentagon-shaped pet beast floated out from the array. Super ability Attribute Pet Beast, Star of Magic. Xu Ran recognized the species of the pet beast at a glance, and his expression became knowing. This species is one of the few within the Super ability Attribute clan that possesses Mind Induction, capable of the same ability as the Velvet Sparrow and can serve as a translator. ¡°Xu Zhou is our Association¡¯s jack of all trades; he steps forward whenever communication with Transcendent Beings is necessary,¡± the leading work staff member next to Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°May I ask, how should I address you?¡± Xu Ran asked while keeping an eye on the Combat Badger¡¯s response. ¡°Zhou Rong,¡± the leading work staff member introduced himself. The two men didn¡¯t continue chatting, instead focusing more intently on Xu Zhou and the Combat Badger. Assisted by the Star of Magic, the Combat Badger seemed to gradually open its heart, constantly uttering ¡°chirp chirp¡± noises, telling Xu Zhou something. And while Xu Zhou still maintained a reassuring smile on his face, a visible anger started to emerge in his eyes. He had learned the specifics from the Combat Badger. After jumping down from the rockery, Xu Zhou walked beside Zhou Rong, his smile disappearing completely, ¡°Kang Cheng, what a character.¡± ¡°What exactly did Kang Cheng do?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. He was also quite curious about this. Although Kang Cheng wasn¡¯t the original owner of the Combat Badger, what despicable acts could have been committed to make the Combat Badger run away from home, unwilling to respond to a summons? ¡°That guy Kang Cheng, every time he provided resources for the Combat Badger, he would dwell on the value of these resources, telling the Combat Badger how good he was to it and that it should repay him well in the future,¡± Xu Zhou said angrily. ¡°Such prolonged interactions placed a great psychological burden on the Combat Badger.¡± ¡°Living together with Kang Cheng, it felt guilty even for eating regular food resources and was hesitant to use too many resources for training.¡± Chapter 477 - Chapter 477: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_3 Chapter 477: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_3 ¡°In the end, the Combat Badger felt that it was too terrible and chose to leave,¡± ¡°What?¡± After hearing the whole story, both Zhou Rong and Xu Ran¡¯s faces showed expressions of disdain and anger. Isn¡¯t this the legendary PUA? The Combat Badger had already experienced the grief of its first Beast Master¡¯s death, and to encounter such harsh criticism from its second Beast Master was just too much. For a moment, both of them felt a surge of righteous indignation. ¡°No wonder the Combat Badger, after coming to my foster shop, ate its food as if it hadn¡¯t had a good meal in a long time,¡± Xu Ran said in a low voice, his gaze towards the Combat Badger filled with sympathy. ¡°Hmph! Having the Combat Badger stay by Kang Cheng is even worse than having it at Boss Xu¡¯s foster shop!¡± Xu Zhou spoke resentfully. ¡°Who acts like that as a Beast Master?¡± ¡°The Combat Badger helped him with so many Association tasks and made quite a bit of money, yet he still had to haggle over the daily expenses of the pet beast.¡± The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. Hearing Xu Zhou¡¯s angry complaint, Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, then he spoke in a low voice, ¡°That might actually be an idea.¡± ¡°If it were a normal pet beast, the Association would have no right to forcefully demand that a Beast Master dissolve the contract with the pet beast, but the Combat Badger doesn¡¯t fall into that category.¡± ¡°It was initially entrusted to Kang Cheng by the Association. Once it¡¯s confirmed that Kang Cheng hasn¡¯t treated it well, the Association has the right to make Kang Cheng give up the Combat Badger.¡± At this point, Zhou Rong turned his head to look at Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, leave this matter to us. But if the Combat Badger really dissolves its contract with Kang Cheng, could your foster shop continue to take care of it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran responded without hesitation. ¡°Not only will we continue fostering, but it will also be free of charge.¡± Xu Ran felt deeply sympathetic towards the Combat Badger¡¯s experiences. If it truly dissolved its contract with Kang Cheng, he was willing to let it stay for free. ¡°There¡¯s no need for it to be free,¡± Zhou Rong said with a slight smile. ¡°How can the Beast Master Association take advantage of the citizens?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Combat Badger¡¯s fostering costs will be recorded on the Association¡¯s account.¡± ¡°Er¡­ then I won¡¯t be polite with the Association,¡± Xu Ran said sheepishly. ¡°I hope you can truly accomplish this.¡± ¡°As for that, I am somewhat confident,¡± Zhou Rong replied, giving the Combat Badger one final glance before gesturing to Xu Zhou, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We have official business back at the Association.¡± Xu Ran quickly walked ahead of the two, leading them back to the first floor. ¡°Um¡­¡± As he watched the two staff members about to leave the shop, Xu Ran suddenly remembered something and began to ask, ¡°I wanted to ask if you know where I can obtain a map of the surrounding area?¡± ¡°A map?¡± The two paused, turning to Xu Ran before Zhou Rong took the initiative to ask, ¡°What kind of map do you need, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°The broader the scope, the better, the more detailed, the better,¡± Xu Ran said without hesitation. He had been planning to ask the Beast Master Association for a map to compare with the one he got from inside the Thunder Dragon Stone yesterday. Now that there were staff from the Association present, it was a good opportunity to inquire. ¡°The broader the scope, the better, the more detailed, the better¡­¡± Zhou Rong repeated Xu Ran¡¯s words, looking a bit perplexed. That request¡­ it felt as if it said something yet nothing at all. ¡°I happen to have a detailed map of the entire Monster Wooden Domain,¡± Zhou Rong said after thinking it over, taking out a folded map from his chest and handing it to Xu Ran, ¡°Consider it an apology for intruding today. This is for you, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°I hope it can be of help to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you, thank you, Mr. Zhou Rong!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up as he carefully took the map, and after seeing the two off, he quickly unfolded it. A map that included Xieyun City and the entire Monster Wooden Domain appeared before Xu Ran. The map was quite detailed, even delineating the habitats of wild Transcendent Beings precisely. If the location on the piece of paper he had acquired yesterday was indeed within the Monster Wooden Domain, Xu Ran was sure he could find it! Feeling exhilarated, Xu Ran began to carefully compare the lines etched deep in his memory with the map in his hand. But soon, Xu Ran¡¯s excitement turned to bewilderment and disappointment. There was nothing. He compared the entire map three times over and didn¡¯t find any area that matched the piece of paper from the previous night that might be a map of the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Could it be¡­ his speculation was wrong? Touching his chin, curiosity crept onto Xu Ran¡¯s face. Either the paper was not a map but something else entirely, or it was indeed a map, but the corresponding location was not nearby. Either possibility meant that the clue to the Extinct Thunder Attraction was slipping further away from them. Finding it just became more difficult. Thinking of the three little ones in training, Xu Ran sighed softly to himself. Forget it, it¡¯s best not to tell them about this for now, especially Ziyun. This little guy stayed up all night yesterday because of the clue to the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Silently putting away the map in the deepest part of the drawer behind the counter, Xu Ran composed himself and reopened the shop door. With the first customer entering, the business at Starfire Foster Care Shop, though late, had begun. With the bustling trade, time always passed quickly, and before Xu Ran realized it, it was already the afternoon. The three little ones, having completed their training, were lazily sprawled around on the first floor, keeping Xu Ran company. Chapter 478 - Chapter 478: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_4 Chapter 478: Chapter 277: Beyond the Darkness, a New Village Blooms_4 After satisfying their curiosity about the Thunderous Land, Cancan, the most restless of the three little ones, also seemed to have quieted down for the time being. ¡°Welcome to the light¡­¡± Upon hearing the noise from outside the door, Xu Ran, who had just seen off a customer and had only had time to stretch, turned his head to look outside. His voice paused, and a smile spread across his face, ¡°Senior, you¡¯re here.¡± Standing at the door were two furry bundles, one large and one small. The larger one was ten meters tall, and its massive body barely fit into the expanded store, while the smaller one was about one meter in height. Together, the small one looked like a tuft of fur that had fallen from the large one. It was the Sleep Demon and its father, the Guardian of the Thunderous Land. The large and the small had come at Xu Ran¡¯s invitation to experience washing and protection. ¡°Lulu~¡± (I¡¯ve arrived.) The Guardian nodded, looking at Xu Ran with a hint of strangeness in his gaze. After entering the cave where the Thunder God Silent Dragon had perished yesterday, it felt vaguely that the Thunder Dragon Stone that Xu Ran and the three little ones had taken away wasn¡¯t as simple as it had thought. But, having spoken, it could only give it away. ¡°You¡¯re very welcome.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, promptly running a System Identification. [Race Name: Dream Pursuer Attribute: Super ability Growth Stage: Monarch Stage Body Type: Super Large Size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: This is a big tuft of fur with dreams in its heart, but cleanliness is equally important for its body.] Dream Pursuer¡­ Is this the actual race name of the Guardian? Xu Ran glanced at the large tuft of fur before him, his smile growing even richer. ¡°Senior, please follow me.¡± Having said this, Xu Ran signaled the three little ones to mind the store and then walked towards the washing and protection room behind him. The Sleep Demon stayed in the store, looking around with curiosity, and then its light purple eyes turned to the three little ones who were also staring at it. ¡°Looby?¡± In the washing room, Xu Ran quickly finished a series of preparations for the washing and protection. Gazing at the Dream Pursuer lying down quietly but still appearing extremely large, he took a deep breath and began to carefully section off its long and dense fur. After dividing the Dream Pursuer¡¯s fur into dozens of different areas, Xu Ran picked up the shower head and carefully sprayed it over one area to moisten the fur. The warm water flowed down through the fissures of the Dream Pursuer¡¯s fur, passing over the skin hidden beneath the fur. A strange sense of tickling pleasure caused the Dream Pursuer, already looking forward to this, to twist its body slightly. ¡°Lulu~¡± (Your washing and protection is very comfortable.) The deep voice of the Dream Pursuer echoed in the washing room. ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it, Senior.¡± Xu Ran smiled, quickly soaking the fur in the section before him, then applied shampoo and began to meticulously scrub it with his palms. With Xu Ran¡¯s just-right rubbing force, the slight tickling was amplified, making the contentment in the Dream Pursuer¡¯s eyes grow deeper. Then, its purple-black eyes slowly closed, and it fell into a comfortable sleep, softly snoring as the sound echoed in the washing room. Xu Ran paused his movements slightly, his face showing a hint of amusement. The Dream Pursuer truly lived up to being an evolved form of the Sleep Demon. Both of them had a really¡­ Remarkably synchronized and unique reaction to being washed. Letting out a soft sigh, Xu Ran raised his head to look at the Dream Pursuer¡¯s huge body. If nothing unexpected happened, the being should be able to sleep for several hours now. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Lulu~¡± Feeling the comfortable sensation around its body fade gradually, the Dream Pursuer slowly woke from its deep sleep. It sat up slowly, a look of surprise emerging in its eyes. It, which formerly felt discomfort sporadically throughout its body, now felt unprecedented comfort, and even using its power seemed more natural than before. Glancing at the huge mirror on the side of the Washing and Protection room, the Dream Chaser¡¯s eyes filled with even greater astonishment. Is this¡­ myself? The larger one was ten meters tall, and its massive body barely fit into the expanded store, while the smaller one was only about a meter tall. This large and small pair standing together made the smaller one seem like a mere tuft of fur that had fallen off the larger one. They were none other than the Sleep Demon and its father, the Guardian of the Thunderous Land. The large and small had come at Xu Ran¡¯s invitation to experience Washing and Protection. ¡°Lulu~¡± (I have arrived.) The Guardian nodded and looked at Xu Ran with a glance that held a hint of strangeness. After entering the Cave where the Thunder God Silent Dragon had fallen yesterday, it faintly felt that the Thunder Dragon Stone that Xu Ran and the three little ones had taken was not as simple as it had thought. But since it had already been offered, it could only be given away. ¡°Welcome, welcome,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, nodding and swiftly performing a System Identification. [Race name: Dream Chaser Attribute: Super ability Growth Stage: Monarch Stage Body type: Super Large Size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: This is a big fur ball with dreams in its heart, but cleanliness is equally important to its body.] Dream Chasers¡­ Was that the race name of the Guardian? Xu Ran took another look at the big fur ball in front of him, his smile growing thicker. ¡°Senior, please follow me,¡± Xu Ran said, then signaled the three little ones to look after the shop and headed towards the Washing and Protection room behind him. The Sleep Demon stayed inside the store, curiously looking around, and then those light purple eyes turned to the three little ones who were watching it. ¡°Looby?¡± Inside the Washing and Protection room, Xu Ran quickly finished a series of preparatory tasks for the washing. Looking at the Dream Chaser, which was now lying down quietly but still appeared extremely large, he took a deep breath and started meticulously partitioning its long and fine fur. After dividing the Dream Chaser¡¯s fur into dozens of different areas, Xu Ran picked up the showerhead and carefully sprinkled it over one of the areas to wet the fur. The warm water flowed down through the gaps in the Dream Chaser¡¯s fur and passed over the skin hidden beneath it. A strange tingling and pleasure, which had already been anticipated by the eager Dream Chaser, made it twist its body gently. ¡°Lulu~¡± (Your Washing and Protection is very comfortable.) The deep voice of the Dream Chaser echoed in the room. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re satisfied, Senior,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, quickly soaking the fur in the area in front of him completely before applying the shampoo and carefully rubbing it in with his palms. With Xu Ran¡¯s just-right strength in kneading, that tingling sensation was amplified, causing the comfort in the Dream Chaser¡¯s eyes to become even more intense. Then, its dark purple eyes slowly closed, and it fell into a comfortable sleep, its breathing morphed into soft snores that reverberated in the Washing and Protection room. The Washing and Protection efforts of Xu Ran stalled briefly, and his face took on a slightly peculiar color. The Dream Chaser truly lived up to its evolution from the Sleep Demon. Their reactions during Washing and Protection were¡­ Remarkably synchronized and unique. With a slight sigh, Xu Ran lifted his head to look at the Dream Chaser¡¯s massive body. If nothing unexpected happened, it should be able to sleep for a few hours now. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Lulu~¡± As the comfortable sensation around its body gradually faded, the Dream Chaser slowly woke from its deep slumber. It sat up slowly, a look of surprise emerging in its eyes. The body that used to feel uncomfortable here and there now felt unprecedented comfort, and even using its powers became more effortless than before. Glancing at the huge mirror on the side of the Washing and Protection room again, the Dream Chaser¡¯s eyes filled with even more astonishment. Is this¡­ myself? Chapter 479 - Chapter 479: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones Prepared Surprise Chapter 479: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones¡¯ Prepared Surprise ¡°This place, is Demon Wooden City.¡± In the empty Foster Shop, Xu Ran spread a large sheet of paper across the table and quickly drew a circle in the middle of it with a pen in hand. ¡°According to yesterday¡¯s search, the resting place of the Dream Pursuer Apostle and the Thunder God Silent Dragon should be here.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin and soon marked a spot on the paper outside of Demon Wooden City based on his memory from rushing through the area yesterday. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (This position is to the southwest of Demon Wooden City.) Star raised its head to look at the faint starlight emerging in the sky as the day grew dark outside the shop, quickly determining the spatial relationship between the position Xu Ran marked and Demon Wooden City. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (So, towards its southwest direction¡­) A serious expression appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face, and their gaze shifted southwest from the marked position, soon touching upon a faint line. That was the boundary of the Monster Wooden Domain initially drawn by Xu Ran on the paper. ¡°If the place the Thunder God Silent Dragon looked at before its fall was truly the position of the Extinct Thunder Attraction, then it is very possible that the Extinct Thunder Attraction lies outside the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face bore a complex expression. The good news was there was new progress regarding the clue to the Extinct Thunder Attraction. The bad news, however, was that the place where the Extinct Thunder Attraction might be located was likely full of danger. The peace and tranquility outside Demon Wooden City existed only within the Monster Wooden Domain. Stepping out of the Monster Wooden Domain and leaving the sphere of influence of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu would mean that Xu Ran and the three little ones were about to enter the perilous Beast Field. That kind of danger required cautious attention, even for them who had now reached the General level. ¡°Chya?¡± (How about we go check it out carefully?) Cancan¡¯s little heart couldn¡¯t help but thump excitedly. The heart of the once dormant explorer seemed to stir restlessly under the attraction of a new goal. ¡°No.¡± After a brief contemplation, Xu Ran unhesitantly rejected Cancan¡¯s suggestion. Seeing Cancan¡¯s head droop in an instant, Xu Ran reached out and rubbed its head, ¡°The area outside the Monster Wooden Domain is too dangerous. We¡¯d need to make many preparations to go there, so we must plan slowly.¡± ¡°In the meantime, we have something more important to do, haven¡¯t you forgotten?¡± ¡°Chya?¡± (More important things?) Cancan tilted its head, a look of thought and curiosity appearing in its eyes. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.) Star let out a gentle neigh as a reminder. In an instant, realization dawned on Cancan¡¯s face. That¡¯s right! It almost forgot about that! Counting the time, there were only about ten more days until the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. And if they went to explore the lands outside Demon Wooden City now, they would inevitably spread themselves thin and get tied up with numerous distractions. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s prepare for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes first.) Ziyun spoke softly, a more cautious look in its eyes. Compared to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, which was still speculative, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was obviously more important as it related to another Main Material for Evolution, the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. After all, it was a clearer clue. ¡°Chya~¡± (Alright~) Cancan shook its big head, suddenly becoming obedient. Though playful, it knew how to prioritize things. The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was clearly more important. ¡°Alright, today¡¯s business is about to close.¡± Standing up, Xu Ran quickly closed the shop door, ¡°Washing and Protection for the Dream Pursuer Apostle took up most of the afternoon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go grab some food, and while we¡¯re at it¡­ check on Combat Badger¡¯s condition.¡± A hint of a smile appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, thinking of Combat Badger fostered on the second floor. Having learned about its background, he couldn¡¯t help but feel extra concern for Combat Badger. Decided then, tonight he would treat it to a little extra during dinner. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s with Combat Badger?) Sensing something unusual from Xu Ran¡¯s tone, Ziyun sprang up lightly onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder and asked with curiosity. ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s a long story.¡± Xu Ran smiled and began to recount the experiences of Combat Badger briefly to the three little ones as they entered the elevator to go up to the second floor. By the time Xu Ran entered the Preparation Room to prepare food for Combat Badger and the three little ones, he had just finished telling the story of Combat Badger. Stopping as usual outside the door to the Preparation Room, the three little ones watched Xu Ran slowly close the door, then glanced at each other. ¡°Chya~¡± (I seem to eat quite a lot too, don¡¯t I?) Cancan murmured to itself, a look of wistfulness on its face. Since its birth, every meal it had was prepared by Xu Ran himself, who not only varied the flavors for it but also guaranteed nutrient-rich meals. This made it grow accustomed to its current lifestyle and somewhat took it for granted. Listening to how Combat Badger lived with Kang Cheng, it suddenly realized that consuming so much could possibly be quite a burden for Xu Ran. ¡°Meow~¡± (Yes, indeed.) Ziyun nodded in agreement, memories of the past surfacing in its mind. Initially, it was just an ordinary Stray Cat, scavenging for food in trash cans every day; being fed by kind people now and then was already a great happiness. After meeting Xu Ran, being taken in by him, its diet improved drastically, first through nutritious Cat canned food, and as it awakened as a Transcendent Being, it then received various foods for Transcendent Beings. Chapter 480 - Chapter 480: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones Prepared Surprise_2 Chapter 480: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones¡¯ Prepared Surprise_2 By the time Xu Ran began fostering other Pet Beasts, its meals were upgraded yet again. One could say that meeting Xu Ran marked the beginning of its blissful life. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We should also do something more for Xu Ran.) Star whinnied softly, its eyes filling with emotion. Xu Ran had done so much for the three of them, even enduring humiliation and bearing the burden of washing and caring for other pets while being labeled as ¡°unprofessional¡±¡­ It was time to repay Xu Ran! ¡°Cha!¡± (I have an idea!) Cancan blinked its eyes, quickly coming up with a plan. It stealthily glanced at the still-closed door of the Preparation Room, then huddled close to Ziyun and Star, whispering something to them. As Ziyun and Star listened, their expressions gradually turned expectant. This sounded¡­ like a great idea! ¡°What are the three of you chatting about?¡± Xu Ran, pushing a food cart out of the Preparation Room, saw this and asked with a smile. The three little ones quickly dispersed in an understanding manner, shaking their heads to indicate nothing was amiss. ¡°Alright then.¡± Watching the secretive trio, Xu Ran smiled unconcernedly and then rang the bell on top of the food cart, which echoed crisply throughout the Foster area. Soon, the Combat Badger hurried over to Xu Ran with a light step. It seemed that the morning¡¯s exchange hadn¡¯t affected it in the slightest. It was still the same carefree and simple-minded creature. ¡°Combat Badger, try this,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, handing the food bowl to the Combat Badger, ¡°I¡¯ve got a new flavor for you today.¡± ¡°Ji?¡± Curiosity filled the Combat Badger¡¯s eyes as it carefully took the bowl, sniffed it, and then its eyes lit up with excitement. With its keen sense of smell, it detected a faint fishy aroma; there was fish added to tonight¡¯s meal! This was a new flavor it had never tasted before! It quickly placed the bowl on the ground, scooped up some with its paw, and rapidly popped it into its mouth. ¡°Aowu!¡± Accompanied by a soft chewing noise, the Combat Badger¡¯s eyes brimmed with happiness. This completely new and delightful flavor had it utterly enchanted. Seeing the Combat Badger¡¯s joyful demeanor, joy twinkled in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes as well. Xu Ran had specifically added a Transcendent Being called the Miao Dragon Fish for it, known for its delicious taste, tender flesh, and nutritious and tasty meat. However, it was beyond the meal standard for Elite Stage Pet Beasts and normally wouldn¡¯t show up in their food ingredients. But then again, who could resist when the Combat Badger was so adorable? ¡°Let¡¯s eat too.¡± Watching the Combat Badger enjoy its meal, the already hungry Xu Ran and the three pets felt even hungrier. Xu Ran took out the food prepared for the three little ones, then took out the two dishes and a soup with rice he had conveniently prepared for himself from the bottom of the food cart, and placed it on the top layer of the cart. He then unfolded a small folding chair. In an instant, the food cart turned into a dining table. In a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, Xu Ran, the three pets, and the Combat Badger quickly finished their dinner. ¡°Combat Badger.¡± While cleaning up the cutlery, Xu Ran suddenly thought of something and called out to the Combat Badger as it was about to turn away. ¡°Ji?¡± The Combat Badger looked back, its small eyes curiously gazing at Xu Ran. ¡°Have you ever considered leaving your current Beast Master?¡± Xu Ran weighed his words before asking. Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou made their decision when the Combat Badger wasn¡¯t there. Thus, it probably didn¡¯t know yet that two staff members from the Beast Master Association were making efforts to help it be released from the Beast Taming Contract. ¡°Ji?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the Combat Badger appeared momentarily stunned. After a brief silence and contemplation, it nodded slightly, then shook its head. Kang Cheng wasn¡¯t exactly kind to it. But if it left Kang Cheng, where else could it go? It would just be contracted by another Beast Master. And it didn¡¯t want to adapt to a third Beast Master. Never mind, let it be. Once the ten days of fostering here were over, it would return to Kang Cheng¡¯s side. With this in mind, the Combat Badger looked a little listless, turning and heading toward its comfortable living area. The more it thought, the more it realized it needed to cherish these few days. With a full stomach, it was time to sleep, sleep, sleep! ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± Seeing the Combat Badger¡¯s head-shaking and turning away, Xu Ran misunderstood its reaction, a look of surprise crossing his face, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I better tell Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou quickly so they don¡¯t need to find ways to release you from the contract.¡± ¡°Originally, they were planning for you to continue staying here, with the costs covered by the Beast Master Association.¡± The Combat Badger¡¯s steps paused slightly. Then, its body, which seemed a bit sluggish, suddenly seemed as if it was about to blur into an afterimage, as it quickly approached Xu Ran, its eyes filled with excitement and exhilaration. ¡°Ji?!¡± Was this human telling the truth? After leaving Kang Cheng, it wouldn¡¯t have a new Beast Master? Not only that, but it could also stay here permanently? Thinking about the comfortable environment and delicious food of Starfire Foster Care Shop, the Combat Badger couldn¡¯t help but swallow its saliva, its face showing a look of temptation. If it¡¯s about that, then I¡¯m not sleepy at all, aow! ¡°It seems you do want to.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, realizing that the Combat Badger might have misunderstood him earlier, ¡°You should rest early. I hope the two association staff will bring good news soon.¡± ¡°Ji!¡± The Combat Badger nodded emphatically, watching Xu Ran and the three little ones leave before turning back to its living area. Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones Prepared Surprise_3 Chapter 481: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones¡¯ Prepared Surprise_3 No longer lazy, the Combat Badger now seemed to to radiate energy and hope from head to toe. Elsewhere, back on the thirteenth floor of the living area, Xu Ran, as usual, chatted idly with the three little ones before sitting cross-legged on the bed, doubling the speed of his deep meditation with two Meditation Acceleration Cards in an effort to improve himself. But the three little ones, who, as usual, should have fallen asleep quickly after Xu Ran¡¯s meditation, did not go to sleep as obediently as in the past. After making sure that Xu Ran had fallen asleep, they exchanged glances and then tiptoed out of the room. Shortly after, seemingly remembering something, Ziyun quickly returned, silently and stealthily grabbing Xu Ran¡¯s cellphone from the nightstand with its light steps before disappearing again. The room fell into silence, with only Xu Ran, deep in meditation, completely unaware of the happenings. Outside the room, Ziyun, now with the cellphone, soon met up with Star and Cancan at the elevator entrance. ¡°Meow~¡± (Got it!) Ziyun said in a hushed voice, shaking the cellphone it was carrying. ¡°Char?¡± (Can we really make human food with this thing?) Cancan curiously widened its eyes and asked. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (The cellphone can search for how to make human food.) Star nodded calmly. ¡°Char!¡± (Then let¡¯s go!) Cancan waved its paw silently in the air and excitedly stepped into the elevator. Ziyun and Star exchanged glances and followed closely behind. At dinner time, having heard the Combat Badger¡¯s story, they suddenly felt how truly grateful they should be for the food they had always taken for granted. So, they also wanted to do something for Xu Ran. And Cancan, whose head was always filled with bright ideas, suddenly thought they could make Xu Ran a meal. A meal, of human food. This seemingly hasty idea was approved by Ziyun and Star, leading to their current course of action. Before long, the three little ones stepped out of the elevator and headed straight to the Preparation Room on the second floor within the foster area. In the living area where the Combat Badger slept soundly, its ears twitched as if sensing something, but it turned over and continued to sleep soundly. Inside the Preparation Room, the three little ones busily and methodically began their task. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s leave the research to Star.) With a casual flick, Ziyun tossed the cellphone straight to Star. Out of the three, Star was the one who could recognize the most characters, and since using the cellphone to look for recipes was its idea, it readily took on the task. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (Research, huh¡­) Star looked at the cellphone in front of it and then at its own hard hooves, large enough to cover the phone¡¯s screen, and fell into thought. But it didn¡¯t take long for the clever creature to come up with a solution. Star¡¯s body size shrank again, from the two meters it was after the previous shrinking down to a tiny size of about thirty centimeters. Then, looking at its hoof, now about as thick as Xu Ran¡¯s fingers, Star nodded in satisfaction and began to operate the phone. After skillfully punching in Xu Ran¡¯s unlock code, the screen lit up. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (It looks like searching is done with¡­ this?) Star muttered softly, with a hint of uncertainty, as it opened an app called ¡°Qiandu¡± on the phone. Soon, the familiar interface appeared, making its eyes light up. This is it! It had seen Xu Ran operate this before and still had an impression of it. With slight unfamiliarity, Star began to type ¡°how to make human food¡± into the search bar. But the content that popped up made its expectant expression stiffen slightly. ¡°Is this really food that humans can eat?¡± ¡°A roundup of twenty foods that exceed the limits of human imagination.¡± ¡°Warning! This food doesn¡¯t seem like something humans should eat!¡± ¡°¡­¡± What is all this?! Star¡¯s face, now full of human-like bewilderment, showed it felt confident in its search terms. ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s the matter?) Sensing Star¡¯s unusual demeanor, Ziyun came over to take a look, and its expression also became somewhat helpless. ¡°Meow~¡± (You have to ask in a human way.) Star realized at once. That¡¯s right, both the ones who asked and the ones who answered questions on the cellphone were humans; the inquiry phrased in the way Pet Beasts would ask wouldn¡¯t yield the desired answer. With a new approach, Star deleted the previous text and searched ¡°cooking methods for delicacies¡± instead, and much more normal results popped up this time. But¡­ Faced with a dazzling array of dishes, it found itself in a pickle again. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Human food has so many varieties, what shall we make?) Upon hearing this question, Ziyun¡¯s face showed deep thought and recollection. As a fragment from the depths of its memory surfaced, its heterochromatic eyes suddenly brightened. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s look for braised pork!) The impression was that Xu Ran really enjoyed this delicacy, having mentioned it several times in front of it. Choosing this, Xu Ran was sure to like it! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No problem.) Star nodded without any objections. Out of the three little ones, Ziyun had lived with Xu Ran the longest; if anyone knew Xu Ran¡¯s tastes best, it was definitely Ziyun. Soon, the recipe for braised pork was easily found. As the dense text entered its view, Star suddenly fell silent again. It was true it could recognize characters, but why were these words it knew so hard to understand when strung together? Chapter 482 - Chapter 482: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones Prepared Surprise_4 Chapter 482: Chapter 278: The Three Little Ones¡¯ Prepared Surprise_4 ¡°` What caramelizing sugar¡­ braising¡­ Left with no other choice, it had to start from scratch, searching for the specific meaning of each unfamiliar term. ¡°Meow~¡± (This task is all yours.) After only a glance, Ziyun gave up the struggle and decisively handed the job over to Star, then turned its head toward Cancan, who had cozied up to the stove to carefully study it. ¡°Meow?¡± (How¡¯s your preparation going, Cancan?) ¡°Chya¡­¡± (Human cooking utensils look so complicated.) Cancan¡¯s face bore a rather solemn expression. Being the one who made the suggestion, it realized upon actual operation that things were apparently simpler in its mind. The human kitchenware before its eyes was more complex than it had anticipated. Using it to cook food was quite a challenge¡­ ¡°Meow~¡± (This is a pot, you need to place it on the stand, and then ignite it¡­) Ziyun stretched out its paw, recalled Xu Ran¡¯s movements when stir-frying, and pointed at the iron pot hanging on the wall. However, at the step of igniting, it hit a snag. Because it couldn¡¯t quite remember how to light the fire. Luckily, Cancan was clever enough. Following Ziyun¡¯s commands to place the pot correctly, it quickly found the stove¡¯s ignition switch and, after several attempts, discovered the trick to press down before turning. ¡°Chya!¡± (Done!) Watching the flames spitting out and charring the bottom of the pot, Cancan excitedly turned off the fire, emitting an excited sound. The first step was finally completed! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ve organized the needed ingredients.) With a neigh, Star¡¯s face regained its composed expression. After relentless effort, it had looked up the meanings of all those unfamiliar terms. Thus, the method for cooking braised pork was no longer a secret in its eyes! The braised pork is no challenge to me, Star has comprehended it! Adeptly listing the various ingredients needed, Star looked toward Ziyun. The task of finding the ingredients was handed to Ziyun. ¡°Meow~¡± (Wait for me.) Ziyun nodded, and in the next moment, its figure flashed and disappeared from the spot, leaving behind only a lingering image of gathering thunderbolts. It took quite a while before the lingering image reformed into Ziyun¡¯s body, and in its mouth was a bag full of ingredients. Judging by the logo on the bag, these ingredients came from a nearby store that operated twenty-four hours a day. Although it was the middle of the night, the ingredients Ziyun brought out were quite fresh. ¡°Meow~¡± (We can start now!) ¡°Chya!¡± (I¡¯m ready!) Cancan clamped the spatula in its mouth, nodding as a signal. ¡°Xi Lu¡­¡± (Then let¡¯s begin with the first step¡­) Star glanced at the phone and then began to give out instructions. After a bustle of hasty activity, a shapeless charred object appeared on the small table next to the stove. The three little heads grouped together, looking at their masterpiece, deep in thought. ¡°Chya?¡± (Will Xu Ran like to eat this?) Cancan put down the spatula it was holding and picked up a small piece to taste, then quietly swallowed it down a moment later. ¡°Chya?¡± (I think it¡¯s not bad?) Upon hearing this, the looks in Star¡¯s and Ziyun¡¯s eyes suddenly became strange as they looked at Cancan. Of course, you think it¡¯s not bad. Earth attribute Pet Beasts find earth tasty. This thing is obviously not right at all! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I can smell the burnt scent; this stuff definitely won¡¯t suit Xu Ran¡¯s taste.) ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed, braised pork doesn¡¯t look like this.) Ziyun nodded affirmatively, agreeing with Star¡¯s words. ¡°` It had seen Xu Ran make braised pork before¡ªwith its deep reddish-brown color, the tender meat would jostle gently on the plate as it was served, refracting an enticing, glistening sheen under the light, nothing like the dark mess in front of it now. So¡­ ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s do it again.) Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but glance at the ingredients beside it. Considering it might need several attempts, it had bought ten portions of ingredients. But now, it seemed¡­ that they might not be enough¡­ Ten times¡ªcould it really make delicious braised pork after just ten tries? ¡°Cha!¡± (One more time!) Rejected by Ziyun and Star, Cancan nonetheless appeared full of enthusiasm. It devoured its own creation without disdain, then picked up the spatula, a fighting spirit kindling in its eyes. Today, it, Cancan the Can Emperor, would definitely conquer the art of braised pork! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The next morning. Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes, emerging from a state of meditation, his consciousness returning to reality. Instinctively, he turned his head to the side, looking towards where the three little ones usually slept, and his expression paused slightly. None of the three were in the room. ¡°Ziyun? Star? Cancan?¡± Xu Ran called out tentatively but didn¡¯t receive a response from the three little ones. ¡°Strange,¡± he muttered softly, then quickly got up to dress, ¡°What are these three up to today?¡± After hastily washing up, Xu Ran carefully checked the thirteenth floor living area, confirmed the absence of the three little ones, and then a pondering look crossed his face. ¡°Could it be¡­ they¡¯ve gone to train early in the morning?¡± Considering this possibility, a doubtful expression appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Normally, the three little ones would start training after a breakfast they thoroughly enjoyed. Breakfast was an important energy boost for them and the motivation to start a day full of vigor. Skipping breakfast to train directly was inconsistent with his understanding of his three little ones. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s head to the training area to check,¡± Xu Ran gave up on pondering and entered the elevator, heading sequentially to the Thunder Attribute, Fighting Attribute, Dark Attribute, and Earth Attribute Training Areas. After not seeing the familiar figures of the three little ones in the Training Areas, he stood in the elevator and used the Contractual Sensing, then unhesitatingly pressed the button for the second floor. Soon, as the elevator doors opened, Xu Ran saw the figures of the three little ones. But¡­ ¡°You three didn¡¯t stay up all night, did you?¡± Xu Ran, looking at the excitedly approaching three who couldn¡¯t hide their fatigue, suddenly sniffed, ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (We¡¯ve prepared a surprise for you!) Ziyun hopped onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, signaling for him to check out the Preparation Room. ¡°Surprise?¡± Surprised himself, Xu Ran asked, ¡°Why would you suddenly prepare a surprise for me?¡± Star and Cancan, standing beside, didn¡¯t answer, but their expressions were full of anticipation. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go have a look.¡± Seeing the secretive demeanor of the three little ones, Xu Ran chuckled and walked towards the Preparation Room. As he pushed open the door of the Preparation Room, a burnt smell hit him, causing his expression to stiffen slightly. Then, he saw the familiar dish quietly placed on the table. ¡°Is this your doing?!¡± Xu Ran asked instinctively, but an answer was already forming in his heart. Who else but the three little ones would secretly prepare a meal for him? The chaos in the Preparation Room suggested they had been busy all night, failing numerous times. Looking at the auto-shut-off phone lying next to them, out of power, Xu Ran could even imagine them consulting the phone while attempting to cook the braised pork. For a moment, he found it amusing, but a warm current welled up in his heart nonetheless. ¡°Cha!¡± (Taste it and see!) Cancan urged excitedly. Taste the handiwork of me, Cancan the Can Emperor! ¡°Who eats braised pork first thing in the morning!¡± Xu Ran laughed to himself but didn¡¯t hesitate to lift the plate and took a bite from it. ¡°Delicious!¡± Chapter 483 - Chapter 483: Chapter 279: Xu Rans Targeted Sparring Partner Chapter 483: Chapter 279: Xu Ran¡¯s Targeted Sparring Partner To be fair, the special surprise that the three little ones cooked up for Xu Ran together didn¡¯t taste that great, far from the braised pork Xu Ran made by himself. But the moment he tasted it, Xu Ran felt something beyond the flavor of the food. It was the amalgamation of the three little ones¡¯ intentions and hard work. After finishing the plate of braised pork without leaving a single piece, Xu Ran slowly put down the plate and then looked at the three little ones with a complex expression, ¡°You stayed up all night just to help me make a dish of braised pork?¡± ¡°Chic!¡± (This was my idea!) Cancan proudly raised its head, eager for praise. ¡°You little rascal.¡± Xu Ran tapped Cancan¡¯s head gently, then gave it a good rub, hugging Ziyun and Star¡¯s heads tightly in the process. A moment later, he let go of the three little ones. ¡°Alright, go wait outside, breakfast will be ready soon.¡± The three little ones exchanged glances, then quickly left the preparation room. After a night of hustle and bustle, they were already feeling hungry, fortunately, because their dietary structure differed, the aroma of the braised pork didn¡¯t tempt their appetites, or it would have been even more torture for them. Even so, when they heard Xu Ran say that breakfast would come soon, they did not dare to dawdle, fearing that if they left the preparation room later, it would interfere with Xu Ran¡¯s work and delay their breakfast further. Inside the preparation room, looking at the mess on the walls and the table, Xu Ran shook his head with a chuckle, then swiftly began to tidy up, and methodically prepared breakfast for the three little ones and the Combat Badger. The three little ones had tried hard to prepare food for him; today¡¯s breakfast ought to be a special treat for them. Soon, with the crisp sound of a bell echoing throughout the foster area, breakfast was also set in front of the three little ones and the Combat Badger. Looking at their meals that were clearly more generous than usual, the three little ones exchanged glances, eyes full of surprise. Time to eat! Watching the three little ones devour their food, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face grew even thicker. His gaze then shifted to the Combat Badger beside them. It was the third day since this somewhat special resident had moved in. Compared to the first two days, the Combat Badger was still eating somewhat crudely, but overall, he seemed much more composed, as if gradually becoming accustomed to the life rhythm and rules of the foster area. This was clearly a good thing. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help thinking of the two staff members from yesterday. Xu Zhou and Zhou Rong had returned to the Association to work on releasing the Combat Badger¡¯s contract, and Xu Ran wondered if they had been successful. He hoped that good news would come soon. Muttering silently in his heart, Xu Ran patiently waited until the four pet beasts finished the food in their bowls and then approached to clean up. ¡°You three can train later today, go upstairs and get some sleep first.¡± Seeing the three little ones unconsciously heading to the training area, Xu Ran spoke softly, ¡°Remember to rest.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Okay~) Ziyun went with the flow and nodded its head. Being typically lazy and having not slept all night, and just having had a full meal, it was indeed feeling quite sleepy at the moment. Following that, Cancan also quickly nodded in agreement. As the initiator and the one who actually carried out this plan, it, too, was very tired! It needed some rest! Even Star, who was always the most competitive of the three little ones, exceptionally agreed with Xu Ran¡¯s suggestion to sleep for a while first. Watching the three little ones ride the elevator up to the thirteenth floor together, Xu Ran let out a chuckle, then went down to the ground floor, ready to open for business. Perhaps today was indeed a lucky day. Not long after he had opened the shop door, Xu Ran welcomed the two staff members he had been thinking about. Seeing the relaxed smiles on Xu Zhou and Zhou Rong¡¯s faces, Xu Ran knew that the matter with the Combat Badger must have reached a satisfactory conclusion. ¡°Boss Xu, good morning!¡± Xu Zhou greeted Xu Ran with a wave of his hand, then cut to the chase, ¡°The Association has agreed.¡± ¡°The process was a bit convoluted, but the outcome is positive,¡± Zhou Rong said with a smile as well. As he previously mentioned, Kang Cheng had some connections within the Beast Master Association. The proposal to have the Association mediate the release of the Combat Badger from Kang Cheng¡¯s contract was unsurprisingly met with opposition by some Association members who were on good terms with Kang Cheng. Fortunately, as an Association staff member, Zhou Rong had brought a law enforcement recorder with him to the Starfire Foster Care Shop yesterday. It faithfully recorded everything. After Zhou Rong presented irrefutable evidence of Kang Cheng¡¯s mistreatment of the Combat Badger, even those who had tried to defend Kang Cheng fell silent. Thus, the proposal was finally passed. ¡°Now that the Association has passed it, when can the contract between Kang Cheng and the Combat Badger be dissolved?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. Dissolving a Beast Taming Contract between a Beast Master and a Pet Beast is much more difficult than forming one. To form a Beast Taming Contract, it only requires the consent of both parties. To dissolve the contract, however, a special and complicated dissolution ceremony is required, along with some specific materials. All of this is under the control of the Beast Master Association. Therefore, dissolving a contract can only be done through the Beast Master Association. ¡°Anytime,¡± Xu Zhou replied promptly. ¡°Actually, the reason we came here besides telling you the good news is to temporarily take the Combat Badger away.¡± ¡°After its contract with Kang Cheng is officially dissolved, we¡¯ll bring it back here.¡± Zhou Rong added on the side. Chapter 484 - Chapter 484: Chapter 279: Xu Rans Targeted Sparring Partner_2 Chapter 484: Chapter 279: Xu Ran¡¯s Targeted Sparring Partner_2 ¡°The foster environment at Starfire Foster Shop has also been approved by the Association, and from now on, the Association will officially entrust the Combat Badger to Starfire Foster Shop.¡± ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded without hesitation, ¡°Yesterday, I had already asked for the Combat Badger¡¯s opinion, and it is willing to continue living here after the dissolution of the contract.¡± ¡°If I were it, I¡¯d be willing too.¡± Zhou Rong cracked a small joke before following Xu Ran and Xu Zhou towards the foster area on the second floor under Xu Ran¡¯s lead. Knowing that Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou had come to take it to dissolve the contract, the Combat Badger also seemed quite exceptional. It cooperated with the two staff members as they walked out of the shop and then looked back at Starfire Foster Shop reluctantly. Once the contract was officially dissolved, it would come back! The two men and their pet Beast walked to an open space near the Starfire Foster Shop, where Zhou Rong summoned a giant eagle with a wingspan of about ten meters to take Xu Zhou and the Combat Badger in the direction of the Beast Master Association in Monster Wooden City. On the swift flight of the giant eagle, it only took a few breaths before the Association appeared before them. ¡°Let¡¯s go, inside.¡± Zhou Rong glanced at the time, his expression turned more serious, ¡°Kang Cheng has already arrived at the Association.¡± ¡°Chi~¡± The simple and foolish expression that the Combat Badger always had on its face now gradually faded away, replaced by a more human touch of concern and worry. Facing the Beast Master who would soon dissolve the contract with it, this was indeed not something it could be happy about. The two men and the Combat Badger reached the door of a special chamber within the Association. Before they even entered, they heard Kang Cheng¡¯s angry voice coming from inside. ¡°Why? The Pet Beast that has contracted with me, the Association says it will be dissolved just like that?¡± Upon hearing this voice, the duo and their Beast paused in unison in their movements to enter. It was clear that Kang Cheng was resisting the decision of the Association. Indistinct voices of staff members trying to counsel and persuade could be heard from inside, but their efforts did not seem to have the desired effect. Kang Cheng¡¯s voice was still angry. ¡°Pampered with good food every day, how have I been bad to the Combat Badger? It¡¯s been deceived, I¡¯ve always said there¡¯s something wrong with that shop!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t investigate that shop but instead force me to dissolve the contract?¡± Hearing such words, the Combat Badger standing outside the door bowed its head in silence, its previously good mood seemingly swept away in an instant. The expressions on Xu Zhou and Zhou Rong¡¯s faces also turned somewhat grim. ¡°Hmph! Unrepentant!¡± Xu Zhou snorted softly and pushed the door open. Inside, Kang Cheng was confronting the staff members, his face red with emotion, and he now appeared before them. At the sound of the door, Kang Cheng turned instinctively, and upon seeing the Combat Badger standing outside, he suddenly perked up, stepped forward quickly, and raised his voice, ¡°Combat Badger, tell them, have I been bad to you?¡± ¡°Pet Beast food, all kinds of resources, which one didn¡¯t I get for you whenever you wanted?¡± ¡°Where will you find a Beast Master like me?¡± ¡°Tell them you were tricked, that it wasn¡¯t really your choice to dissolve the contract, right?¡± Watching Kang Cheng¡¯s eager expression, tinged with a hint of appeasement, the Combat Badger silently took a small step back. Noticing the Combat Badger¡¯s movement, Kang Cheng¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. ¡°It asks, you give?¡± Xu Zhou couldn¡¯t help but snort, ¡°Then may I ask, has the Combat Badger ever asked for any resources?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kang Cheng shook his head instinctively, then hurriedly started defending himself, ¡°It never asked me for resources, how can that be my fault? If it did ask, I would certainly find a way to provide.¡± ¡°Absurd!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Excessively flaunting your kindness to the Combat Badger, constantly reminding it to repay you¡ªsuch a high-pressure, suffocating environment is the real reason the Combat Badger did not want to ask you for any resources.¡± ¡°Pet Beasts are the foundation of a Beast Master¡¯s strength. Enhancing Pet Beasts and providing them with necessary resources is a Beast Master¡¯s duty. That is not a favor you are providing the Combat Badger, and it is certainly not a reason to oppress it with words!¡± ¡°If this is your attitude towards the Combat Badger, then you do not deserve to be its Beast Master, and the Association¡¯s decision to dissolve the contract will not change!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Hearing Zhou Rong¡¯s scolding, Kang Cheng¡¯s complexion shifted subtly, ¡°I don¡¯t care; I absolutely won¡¯t agree to the contract dissolution!¡± ¡°As long as I don¡¯t agree, the dissolution ritual can¡¯t proceed, can it?¡± Hearing Kang Cheng¡¯s words, a hint of bemusement appeared in the eyes of the staff members present. ¡°Perhaps the ritual for dissolving contracts is so rarely used and obscure that many people are not familiar with it.¡± Xu Zhou suddenly chuckled, ¡°So, before the ritual takes place, I need to clarify some things for you.¡± ¡°To dissolve a contract, it¡¯s not required that both the Pet Beast and the Beast Master agree.¡± Xu Zhou continued solemnly, as Kang Cheng¡¯s expression changed rapidly, ¡°Just one party¡¯s consent is needed, combined with a specific ritual, to complete the dissolution.¡± ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this!¡± Upon learning that his consent was not needed to dissolve the contract, Kang Cheng was as if struck by Thunder Strike, his last bit of confidence completely dispersed, and intense resistance and fury appeared in his eyes, ¡°This is my Pet Beast!¡± ¡°But it was entrusted to you by the Association, and you have not fulfilled your responsibilities.¡± Zhou Rong spoke sternly and then gave a signal to his colleagues. Chapter 485 - Chapter 485: Chapter 279: Xu Rans Targeted Sparring Partner_3 Chapter 485: Chapter 279: Xu Ran¡¯s Targeted Sparring Partner_3 Xu Zhou and the staff member who was already in the room quickly stepped forward, restrained the struggling Kang Cheng, and pressed him down at one side of the ritual platform. ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Rong looked towards the Combat Badger, his voice softened a little, ¡°Over here.¡± Under Zhou Rong¡¯s direction, the Combat Badger took steps, one by one, till it stood at the other side of the ritual platform. ¡°Combat Badger!¡± Kang Cheng¡¯s expression turned slightly ferocious as he spoke, his voice filled with pleading and coaxing, ¡°Will you come home with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you better from now on, just give me a chance, okay?¡± Hearing Kang Cheng¡¯s words, the Combat Badger¡¯s face showed a hint of hesitation and struggle. Noticing the change in the Combat Badger¡¯s expression, Zhou Rong let out a small sigh in his heart, paused his preparations for the ritual, and looked at the Combat Badger, ¡°Make your decision.¡± ¡°Whether to dissolve the contract with Kang Cheng, and be taken care of by the Starfire Foster Care Shop under the Association¡¯s commission, or to maintain the contract with Kang Cheng and continue as his contracted partner.¡± In the Combat Badger¡¯s mind, the myriad comforts and carefree days at the Starfire Foster Care Shop quickly materialized, contrasting with the lingering depression and oppression that filled its heart day after day under the contract with Kang Cheng. This, it seemed, was not a very difficult choice to make. The Combat Badger¡¯s gaze became resolute again, and it nodded vigorously in Zhou Rong¡¯s direction. ¡°Squeak~¡± The contract, it had to be dissolved today! Understanding the Combat Badger¡¯s intent, the last sliver of hope in Kang Cheng¡¯s eyes dissipated. He fell silent, with anger and resentment seeming to brew in his eyes. Reading the Combat Badger¡¯s intent, Zhou Rong breathed a small sigh of relief and then without hesitation activated the ritual on the platform. Accompanying a wispy special light that rose from the center of the ritual platform, like a long knife slicing through the middle of the Combat Badger and Kang Cheng, the invisible contract was cut apart. In that moment, both the Combat Badger and Kang Cheng felt the contract that had bonded them melt away swiftly like snow under the warm sun. Kang Cheng¡¯s power plummeted at that moment. The dissolution of his contract with the Combat Badger meant that he had lost the power reinforcement brought about by having a Pet Beast. On the other hand, the moment the contract was severed, an intense Evolve Light suddenly burst forth from the Combat Badger. The next moment, in full view of all, the Combat Badger¡¯s body type began to grow quickly, and its aura climbed dramatically, breaking through from the Elite Stage to reach the Leadership Stage. It had been an exceptional Pet Beast among those at the Elite Level, having reached the peak of the Elite Stage even before its contract with Kang Cheng, and in the past days, it had indulged in so many delicacies at the Starfire Foster Shop. Now with the contract dissolved, the shackles that hindered its growth were also removed. Unexpected yet reasonable, the Combat Badger advanced to the Leadership Stage. And this meant that Kang Cheng was even less likely to contract with the Combat Badger again. ¡°The contract is dissolved.¡± Seeing the Combat Badger, now advanced to the Leadership Stage, Xu Zhou¡¯s face beamed with a radiant smile, he affectionately patted the Combat Badger¡¯s head, ¡°You¡¯ve broken through just as the contract was dissolved, seems like Boss Xu has been feeding you some pretty good stuff, eh!¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± Despite the significant increase in strength, the Combat Badger still had that somewhat simple and honest expression. Hearing Xu Zhou¡¯s words, it nodded agreeably. And that was no ordinary stuff. The best thing it had ever eaten in its life, was probably the food it had these last two or three days at the Starfire Foster. ¡°Kang Cheng, you can go back now.¡± Having dissipated the remaining energy on the ritual platform, Zhou Rong looked at the still silent Kang Cheng and spoke in a deep voice. Without a word, Kang Cheng stood up from the ground and left the ritual room in silence. Seeing this scene, Zhou Rong¡¯s brow knitted slightly. If the other party had cursed a few times, he would probably be more at ease. Now, seeing Kang Cheng¡¯s drastically different behavior compared to before the contract was dissolved, he, instead, had an inexplicable sense of foreboding. Could it be that this guy would make trouble for Boss Xu? At that thought, Zhou Rong fell silent. Boss Xu was a General Level Beast Master, how could he be threatened by an Elite Level Beast Master who only had one Pet Beast left? However, he would still mention it to Boss Xu when sending the Combat Badger back, just to be on the safe side. ¡°Combat Badger, stay here at the Association for a bit. After I¡¯ve dealt with the following procedures, I¡¯ll send you back,¡± he said, then turned and left the ritual room. ¡°Bro Xu, I¡¯m going to leave too,¡± another staff member said with a cheerful smile, waving to Xu Zhou, ¡°The Combat Badger is all yours now.¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead with your business,¡± Xu Zhou acknowledged as he watched the other leave, then patted the Combat Badger¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s rather stuffy here, how about we take a walk around the Association?¡± ¡°Squeak~¡± The Combat Badger nodded, a look of anticipation and nostalgia appearing in its eyes. After the demise of its first Beast Master and before contracting with Kang Cheng, it was cared for by the Beast Master Association and lived within the Association¡¯s premises. Because of its naturally amiable character, the Combat Badger was quite popular within the Association, often liking to wander around the premises, with many staff members remembering it fondly. Speaking of which, since contracting with Kang Cheng, it had been a long time since it had visited the Association. Xu Zhou quickly summoned the Star of Magic and, leading the Combat Badger, left the ritual room to wander around the Association. With the assistance of the Star of Magic, the interactions between the man and the beast faced no barriers. The Combat Badger quickly diluted the fleeting sense of emptiness it felt after the contract was dissolved with its past memories and Xu Zhou¡¯s words. Chapter 486 - Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Xu Rans Targeted Sparring Partner_4 Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Xu Ran¡¯s Targeted Sparring Partner_4 Soon, a person and their pet arrived at the foster care area within the Beast Master Association. These foster care areas were not as fully equipped as the foster shops and were only used in some special circumstances for emergency use. For example, the Combat Badger, which had lost its Beast Master, had temporarily stayed here. And now, there were still several Pet Beasts in the foster care area. ¡°You should recognize that Money Flower; it moved in even before you did and still hasn¡¯t found a suitable Beast Master,¡± Xu Zhou said, introducing the new faces to the Combat Badger as if he cherished them, ¡°This is a Vine Armor Turtle, this is a Water Chain Dragon, and this is¡­¡± With his brief introduction, the Combat Badger got a preliminary impression of the unfamiliar faces in the foster care area. It walked in with a swagger, taking the initiative to communicate and interact with these Pet Beasts that, for various reasons, had to be temporarily fostered here. Meanwhile, Xu Zhou didn¡¯t disturb them, leaning quietly against the door, listening to the translations fed back to him by the Star of Magic. However, soon, as he listened to what the Combat Badger was saying, his expression gradually became somewhat strange. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C On the other hand, at Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran¡¯s happiness for the Combat Badger was quickly diluted by the busy business that came flooding in as soon as they opened for the day. Today was destined to be another busy day. After providing Washing and Protection services for four Beast Master customers and receiving full praise, the fifth customer walked into the shop without delay. ¡°Welcome to Star~fire!¡± Xu Ran stood up with a smile, looking at the customer in front of him. This was a somewhat green-looking young man, seemingly not yet an adult, whose expression at the moment was particularly downcast, even to the point of seeming despondent. Behind him stood a Pet Beast that resembled a mushroom. With a large mushroom cap, this Pet Beast¡¯s eyes were unusually expressive, faintly sharp, and its slender body had four sprout-like protrusions, which were its hands and feet. It was a Leader Species of the Earth attribute, the Healing Mushroom. The instant he recognized this kind of Pet Beast, Xu Ran¡¯s mind also conjured up its corresponding particulars. The Healing Mushroom was an exceptionally outstanding Healing Pet Beast. Normally, having more than one healing skill would qualify it as a healing type of Pet Beast. The Healing Mushroom itself had four Two stars Skills, and all four of the Two stars Skills were healing abilities, with only one One Star skill, Vine Slash, as an offensive skill. It could be said to be a natural healer. As these pieces of information flickered in his mind, Xu Ran¡¯s face wore his trademark smile, ¡°Hello, are you here for washing and protection?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Let¡¯s talk about washing and protection later,¡± surprisingly, the young man shook his head without hesitation, and then immediately explained his purpose, ¡°I¡¯ve come to hope you can provide Intensive Training for the Healing Mushroom.¡± ¡°Are you saying¡­ sparring?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a touch of surprise. Until now, the shop¡¯s business had mainly been Washing and Protection, with the Combat Badger being the only one in foster care, and as for sparring, no one had ever inquired about it. Unexpectedly, a customer had come asking for sparring. However, after only a brief pause, Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew even warmer. Sparring was great! After all, the resource corresponding to sparring was Skill Points. This was very important for the three little ones. If this deal went well, he might even be able to open up the sparring market in Monster Wooden City and earn a large number of Skill Points. ¡°No problem, leave it to me!¡± With that thought, Xu Ran patted his chest without hesitation, ¡°We can talk while walking.¡± He led the young man and the Healing Mushroom into the elevator, casually pressed the floor corresponding to the Earth attribute Training Area, and then casually began to ask. ¡°What skills do you plan to provide Intensive Training for the Healing Mushroom? Healing Spore? Calm Spore? Fast Healing Acceleration?¡± Soon, a person and their Pet Beast arrived at the emergency Foster Care area inside the Beast Master Association. These Foster Care areas weren¡¯t as fully equipped as a Foster Shop and were meant to be used only in special, emergency situations. For example, the Combat Badger that had lost its Beast Master had temporarily lived here in the past. Now, within the Foster Care area, there were several Pet Beasts present. ¡°You should recognize that Money Flower, it moved in before you did and still hasn¡¯t found a suitable Beast Master,¡± Xu Zhou enumerated to the Combat Badger, ¡°This is the Vine Armor Turtle, this is the Chain Water Dragon, and this is¡­¡± With his brief introductions, the Combat Badger got a preliminary impression of the new faces in the Foster Care area. It swaggered in, proactively starting to communicate with the other Pet Beasts who, for various reasons, also had to temporarily stay here. Meanwhile, Xu Zhou didn¡¯t interrupt them and quietly leaned against the door, listening to the translations provided by the Star of Magic. However, before long, as he listened to the Combat Badger¡¯s words, his expression gradually became rather odd. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C On the other hand, back at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, the happiness Xu Ran felt for the Combat Badger was quickly overshadowed by the rush of business that started as soon as the shop opened. Today was destined to be another busy day. After giving Washing and Protection to the Pet Beasts of four Beast Master customers and receiving generous praise, the fifth customer immediately entered the shop. ¡°Welcome~¡± Xu Ran smiled as he stood up to look at the new customer. It was a somewhat green-looking young boy who appeared to be underage, and right now, his expression was very downcast, almost as if he had lost all will to live. Behind him stood a Pet Beast that resembled a mushroom. With a large mushroom cap on its head, the Pet Beast¡¯s eyes were unusually expressive, subtly sharp. Its slightly slender body featured four sprout-like protrusions that served as its hands and feet. An Earth attribute Leader Species, Healing Mushroom. The instant he recognized this type of Pet Beast, Xu Ran¡¯s mind was also flooded with relevant information. The Healing Mushroom was an exceedingly excellent Healing Pet Beast. Normally, having at least one healing skill would qualify as a Healing Pet Beast. And the Healing Mushroom itself, with four Two stars Skills, had all of them as healing skills, with only one One Star skill, Vine Slash, being an offensive skill. It could be said to be a born healer. As this information flashed through his mind, Xu Ran¡¯s face carried his signature smile, ¡°Hello, are you here for Washing and Protection?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Let¡¯s talk about Washing and Protection later,¡± contrary to Xu Ran¡¯s expectation, the boy shook his head without hesitation, then promptly explained his purpose, ¡°I came to ask if you could help with Intensive Training for the Healing Mushroom.¡± ¡°You mean¡­ sparring?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face took on a look of surprise. Up to now, the shop¡¯s business had primarily been Washing and Protection, and aside from the Combat Badger, they only had foster service. As for sparring, it was something no one had ever inquired about. Unexpectedly, a customer had come asking for sparring. But after just a moment¡¯s pause, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face grew even wider. Sparring was great! After all, the resources corresponding to sparring were Skill Points. These were very important for the three little ones. If this deal went well, there was a chance to break into the training market of Monster Wooden City and earn a considerable amount of Skill Points. ¡°No problem, leave it to me!¡± With this in mind, Xu Ran quickly slapped his chest in assurance, ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡± He led the boy and the Healing Mushroom into the elevator, casually pressing the button for the floor corresponding to the Earth attribute Training Area, and then casually struck up a conversation. ¡°Which skill do you want to focus on for the Intensive Training of the Healing Mushroom? Healing Spore? Calm Spore? Fast Healing Acceleration?¡± Chapter 487 - Chapter 487: Chapter 280: Xu Rans Special Training Method Chapter 487: Chapter 280: Xu Ran¡¯s Special Training Method ¡°I understand your request,¡± Standing in an Earth attribute Training Area within a valley, Xu Ran looked calmly at the young man in front of him and his Pet Beast. Although the young man wanted his Healing Mushroom to train the One Star skill Vine Slash, this wasn¡¯t his fundamental goal. What the young man really wanted was to rectify the special ambitions of his off-concept Pet Beast and bring it back to the essence of a Healing Pet Beast. However, to achieve this, it was necessary to upgrade its only offensive skill to Waning Moon Level. As such, the Healing Mushroom, currently at the Transcendent Stage, would not be able to enhance the skill further. With its spare energy, the Healing Mushroom would have no choice but to upgrade the other Four stars Skills, indirectly achieving the young man¡¯s objective. Thinking this way, Xu Ran glanced at the Healing Mushroom that was occasionally slashing at the empty air with its sprout-like arms, looking particularly eager to fight. If he remembered correctly, this species was usually friendly and kind-hearted. A belligerent Healing Mushroom like this one had never been heard of by him, let alone seen until today. ¡°Yeah! As long as you understand,¡± the young man sighed in relief, ¡°then please enhance the Vine Slash of the Healing Mushroom to Waning Moon Level as soon as possible.¡± ¡°No, according to what you¡¯ve described, the Healing Mushroom should not be training Vine Slash, but rather its other Four stars Skills,¡± Xu Ran said with a slight smile. ¡°I know that too, but it doesn¡¯t want to train,¡± the young man said with a headache, spreading his hands helplessly. ¡°No worries, it may not want to train elsewhere, but that doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t want to here,¡± Xu Ran paused briefly, ¡°Just a moment.¡± He turned and walked towards the training equipment room and quickly brought out a Fighter Model about one meter tall, looking extremely agile as if made for combat. It held a spear in its hands, its expression slightly unruly, and even standing there quietly, it seemed to exude an indomitable, all-powerful aura. ¡°So cool!¡± The young man¡¯s eyes lit up at just one glance. Being able to contract a Healing Mushroom as his first Pet Beast indicated that he wasn¡¯t particularly enthusiastic about combat. Nevertheless, at the sight of the Fighter Model, he couldn¡¯t help getting a surge of adrenaline. The young man felt this way, not to mention the Healing Mushroom, which seemed eager to fight at any moment. After circling the Fighter Model Xu Ran placed on the ground a few times, the Healing Mushroom¡¯s brown-green eyes shone continually, its face showing an excited expression. ¡°What is this model?¡± the young man couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Rather than a model, it has a more appropriate name,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°This is a custom Accompanying Training Puppet.¡± ¡°Accompanying Training Puppet?¡± The young man was taken aback, then quickly grasped the purpose of this cool-looking puppet, ¡°So, you want the Healing Mushroom to fight with it?¡± As he asked this question, a tinge of disappointment surged in the young man¡¯s heart. After all, before Xu Ran brought it out, he had said that the Healing Mushroom could directly train its other Four stars Skills. Now it seemed¡­ the training was still for Vine Slash¡­ Although the training method was a bit special, that was it. Such a thought involuntarily crossed the young man¡¯s mind. Guessing the young man¡¯s thoughts from the slight change in his expression, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face became a bit more peculiar, ¡°I haven¡¯t asked for your name yet?¡± ¡°I am Du Tan.¡± ¡°Alright, Du Tan, to understand the specific way of training, let the Healing Mushroom fight with it, and you will see,¡± Xu Ran said as he tapped the Accompanying Training Puppet, which quickly came to life as if infused with a soul. Already emanating a strong aura standing still, once it moved, it was incredible. The casual wielding of its spear stirred a sense of exhilaration. ¡°Goo~¡± The Healing Mushroom, also overhearing the exchange between its owner and the Beast Master, had its eyes gleaming and quickly positioned itself in front of the puppet. Regardless of whatever scheme or trick Xu Ran had in mind to make it train skills it did not wish to, it just wanted to go all out against the puppet before it! The Puppet¡¯s eyes flickered with a red glow, sensing the Healing Mushroom¡¯s momentum and will to fight, quickly locked onto it, then the spear danced a flourish in the air, pointing obliquely at the Healing Mushroom in a challenge. ¡°Goo!¡± The Healing Mushroom let out a low roar, its sprout-like hands swiftly elongated, and its tips and edges became sharp, resembling a pair of long swords. Each swipe through the air produced a sharp swishing sound. One Star Skill, Starlight Level¡¤Vine Slash! Indeed, nearing Waning Moon Level Proficiency, even as a One Star skill, Vine Slash was not inferior to ordinary Two stars Skills in the hands of the Healing Mushroom. Clearly, it must have gone through considerable training to reach this stage. ¡°Now, let the battle begin!¡± Xu Ran shouted, simultaneously pulling Du Tan a few steps back, clearing space for the fight. At this moment, Du Tan no longer held much hope that Xu Ran would directly train the other Four stars Skills. The current setup very much looked like they were going to train Vine Slash. But, Vine Slash it was then. Thinking about the Accompanying Training Services he had used before, which could only help the Healing Mushroom train Vine Slash, it didn¡¯t matter where the training took place, so Du Tan became indifferent. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but inwardly criticize Li Tutu for being unreliable. Chapter 488 - Chapter 488: Chapter 280: Xu Rans Special Training Method_2 Chapter 488: Chapter 280: Xu Ran¡¯s Special Training Method_2 He thought that the foster shop recommended by Li Tutu might have something different. As thoughts raced through his mind, the battle between the Healing Mushroom and the puppet officially began. Meanwhile, Du Tan¡¯s chaotic thoughts were swiftly suppressed the moment he saw the puppet make its move. Cool! So cool! The sparring puppet used only a few simple deflects to easily parry the Healing Mushroom¡¯s attacks, accurately hitting the tips of the double blades the Healing Mushroom had transformed its hands into, forcing it back. A sense of profound simplicity almost overflowed in that instant it struck, as if a true combat master, having been through countless battles, grasped the essence of fighting and combat. The Healing Mushroom felt the same way. Engaging closely with it, the Healing Mushroom perceived this feeling even more clearly. After just a few exchanges, the Healing Mushroom felt as though it had been instructed by the opponent; the aesthetic finesse of its fighting skills and the impeccable spear techniques left it in awe. In an instant, unprecedented excitement appeared in the Healing Mushroom¡¯s eyes. Battling such an opponent, every second was a huge gain! Seizing this opportunity, it was certain its Vine Slash skill and combat techniques could make significant improvements! Thinking this, the Healing Mushroom let out a low cry and went all out, swinging its pair of blades to create a continuous whooshing sound, slashing through the air with a myriad of blade shadows. Against the Healing Mushroom¡¯s all-out assault, the puppet seemed to handle it with ease. It accurately picked out the true pair of blades from the myriad of shadows, and as the red glow in its eyes flickered, it thrust forward in an instant! ¡°Ding¡ª¡ª¡± With a crisp sound of iron and gold clashing echoing through the air, the multitude of blade shadows instantly dissipated, and the tip of the puppet¡¯s long spear was touching the exact point where the two blades crossed, with deadly precision. ¡°Grr!!¡± Again! The more excited the Healing Mushroom became, the more fiercely it clashed with the puppet. Watching his Pet Beast battle the puppet, Du Tan, who was spectating from the side, couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the puppet¡¯s skills. At the same time, his emotions were quite complex. Ever since he formed a contract with his Healing Mushroom, he could clearly feel its love for combat. Although he always wanted it to train healing-type skills, he could only respect the Healing Mushroom¡¯s wishes, focusing on Vine Slash first, and taking the roundabout path to salvation. Now, seeing the Healing Mushroom once again display its fervor for battle, there was a moment when Du Tan began to question whether he had been too harsh on it. What¡¯s wrong with letting it be a combat-focused Healing Mushroom according to its own preferences? Just as Du Tan was about to persuade himself to change his mind, the situation in the arena suddenly changed. The puppet¡¯s impeccable spear movements showed a slight flaw at one moment, and a blade shadow managed to pass through without being fully blocked, successfully striking the puppet. ¡°Crack~¡± A loud crack announced the appearance of a huge fissure on the puppet¡¯s body, which was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground. ¡°Gulp?!¡± The Healing Mushroom, still in the posture of delivering that slash, revealed a hint of astonishment in its eyes. It didn¡¯t feel there was anything special about its strike. Why hadn¡¯t the opponent blocked it? It must have been an accident¡­ With its strength, there¡¯s no way it could not block it. Just as the Healing Mushroom was gearing up for a blood-pumping battle, it couldn¡¯t help but call out to Xu Ran by its side in an urgent tone. ¡°Gulp? Gulp!¡± Are there any more puppets like this one? Bring out another! It was far from having had its fill! The amusement in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes deepened instantly. Not satisfied yet? That¡¯s the point. You¡¯re meant to feel unsatisfied! ¡°Sorry, our foster shop only has this one sparring puppet,¡± Xu Ran pretended to regret as he spread his hands, and after seeing the Healing Mushroom¡¯s mood quickly sink, he suddenly added, ¡°However¡­ this puppet can be healed.¡± ¡°Gulp?¡± The Healing Mushroom quickly looked up, its expression one of confusion as it gazed at Xu Ran. ¡°That¡¯s right, although it¡¯s a puppet, it can be repaired by healing skills and brought back into operation.¡± Xu Ran nodded towards the Healing Mushroom, his tone affirmative as he continued, ¡°So you just need to heal it, and you can continue fighting.¡± ¡°Gulp~¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the Healing Mushroom¡¯s eyes brightened, and it rushed to the fallen puppet, its large mushroom cap emitting a bright green glow, as tiny points of energy surged toward the large crack in the puppet¡¯s body. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level Healing Spore. With the flow of energy, the edges of the crack on the puppet¡¯s body began to grow slowly, showing signs of healing. As it saw its actions taking effect, the Healing Mushroom let out a burst of delighted cries. Then it shook its blades back into bean sprouts and placed them together on the puppet¡¯s wound. Light green halos sped out from the Healing Mushroom¡¯s hands, covering the entire area of the puppet¡¯s wound. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level Fast Healing Acceleration. Earthly yellow halos emerged from where the Healing Mushroom¡¯s feet made contact with the ground. They then rose around its body, enveloping both the Healing Mushroom and the puppet. A vibrant vitality subsequently surged through. Two stars Skills, Stardust Level Earth Healing. With that, the Healing Mushroom employed all three of its two stars healing-type Skills, aside from its Calm Spore that soothed and stabilized emotions. Seeing this, Du Tan¡¯s expression instantly turned to one of delight. Chapter 489 - Chapter 489: Chapter 280: Xu Rans Special Training Method_3 Chapter 489: Chapter 280: Xu Ran¡¯s Special Training Method_3 This was the first time he had seen his own Pet Beast exert itself so diligently in using its healing abilities. Even when he occasionally hurt himself and had the Healing Mushroom help him heal, the creature was reluctant to use its healing spores. He suddenly turned to look at the calmly composed Xu Ran, a hypothesis gradually forming in his mind. Could it be¡­ this was the real training method?! Under the Healing Mushroom¡¯s efforts, the puppet¡¯s wounds healed at an accelerated pace, visibly closing up rather quickly, until they were completely healed. Witnessing the puppet return to motion and stand up, the Healing Mushroom clapped its hands and shouted with excitement. ¡°Gu!¡± Dispensing with its healing power, the Healing Mushroom stepped back and transformed its hands into long knives, pointing obliquely at the puppet, adopting a posture that invited battle. Now, the battle could resume! Facing the Healing Mushroom¡¯s challenge, the puppet swayed its body and then, holding a long spear, responded without hesitation. Once again, the two clashed in battle, engaging in a spirited bout that lasted over ten rounds. Then, the puppet was once more sent flying by the Healing Mushroom¡¯s slash, leaving behind a massive wound. The Healing Mushroom paused, its previously unbridled joy in combat abruptly stalled, causing it immense discomfort. Unable to endure, it rushed forward and performed a triple healing sequence on the injured puppet. Battle, injury, healing, battle¡­ This cycle repeated over and over, while the onlooking Du Tan¡¯s expression grew more and more animated. Engrossed in the action, the Healing Mushroom itself failed to realize that it spent far more time healing the puppet than it did fighting it. This wasn¡¯t training for Vine Slash at all, it was training for healing skills! As an observer, Du Tan saw clearly that the puppet, with its superb combat skills, made the Healing Mushroom drool over it like a lecherous wolf spotting a beautiful woman. But in the actual combat, the sparring puppet was as fragile as a sheet of paper, and after a bout of fighting, just when the Healing Mushroom was nearing the height of enjoyment, it would intentionally expose a flaw, allowing the Healing Mushroom to grievously wound it. Yes, intentionally expose a flaw! After watching a few more times, Du Tan completely realized that the puppet¡¯s combat skills were flawless on purpose. Not only that, its injuries were also very difficult to heal. Comparing the Healing Mushroom¡¯s healing intensity to the puppet¡¯s recovery condition, Du Tan could easily judge that healing it was two or three times more challenging than normal healing. Faced with such a patient, the Healing Mushroom would have never been willing to heal it proactively in the past. But! The puppet could! With the constant temptation of ¡°heal now and continue fighting,¡± the Healing Mushroom not only wanted to heal it but was highly proactive in doing so! The training methods of this Foster Shop were too clever! In an instant, Du Tan felt guilty for his prior misunderstanding. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve figured it out.¡± Seeing Du Tan¡¯s look of sudden realization, Xu Ran smiled and patted his shoulder, ¡°So, the next round of sparring training is up to you.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ eh?¡± It wasn¡¯t until Xu Ran had disappeared from view that Du Tan suddenly realized there was a problem. Sparring¡­ wasn¡¯t that supposed to be done by the staff of the Foster Shop?! However, turning his head, he looked at the Healing Mushroom, which was still eagerly involved and hadn¡¯t realized it had been tricked, and Du Tan let out a sigh internally. Forget it, that¡¯s not important. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Having perfectly resolved the issue of the first sparring client who came to the door, Xu Ran was in a very good mood. And no sooner had he returned to the store on the first floor, seeing Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou come back, his mood improved even further. ¡°Has the contract been dissolved?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Indeed, the contract has been dissolved,¡± Zhou Rong nodded in confirmation, ¡°Starting today, the Combat Badger and Kang Cheng no longer have a contract.¡± ¡°This is certainly good news for the Combat Badger,¡± Xu Ran smiled brightly. ¡°Only, Boss Xu, you should be careful too,¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Kang Cheng is not a very forgiving person. After this ordeal, he is definitely going to harbor resentment towards you and your Foster Shop.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Xu Ran waved his hand dismissively, ¡°He¡¯s just an Elite Level Beast Master, what can he do to me?¡± ¡°Anyway, I am in the right.¡± Zhou Rong nodded slightly. His thoughts were not much different from Xu Ran¡¯s. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about that,¡± Xu Ran said with an indifferent smile, ¡°What about Combat Badger? When is it coming back?¡± ¡°Regarding this¡­¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran mention Combat Badger, Zhou Rong¡¯s expression turned somewhat strange, and he couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Xu Zhou. Hmm? Was there some other complication? Noticing the change in Zhou Rong¡¯s expression, Xu Ran raised an eyebrow in curiosity. ¡°Let me explain,¡± Xu Zhou cleared his throat and stepped forward, ¡°Boss Xu, I want to know how many more Pet Beasts your shop can accommodate at the moment?¡± ¡°Our current capacity is fifty. Since no other residents are here besides Combat Badger, we can accommodate forty-nine more,¡± Xu Ran answered without hesitation and then glanced at Xu Zhou, ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well then, that reassures me,¡± Xu Zhou let out a slight sigh of relief, and then his expression turned somewhat helpless, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing: after dissolving Combat Badger¡¯s contract, I took it for a round at the Beast Master Association.¡± ¡°And then¡­ we went to the Beast Master Association¡¯s Foster Area. Combat Badger lived there before its contract with Kang Cheng.¡± Chapter 490 - Chapter 490: Chapter 280: Xu Rans Special Training Method_4 Chapter 490: Chapter 280: Xu Ran¡¯s Special Training Method_4 ¡°There are still a few Pet Beasts living there at this moment, one of which is familiar with the Combat Badger,¡± Xu Zhou¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°During their interaction with the Combat Badger, they heard about its description of Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°After that¡­ they too showed a strong desire to come to Starfire Foster Care Shop,¡± Xu Zhou¡¯s face took on a somewhat helpless smile. In the Association¡¯s foster area, they lived quite well, and everyone treated them fairly. Why did each and every one of them think about running off? ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± After hearing Xu Zhou¡¯s explanation, Xu Ran¡¯s expression also turned odd. He never expected that the Combat Badger, after a visit back to the Beast Master Association, would actually start advertising for Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°If the Association doesn¡¯t mind, our shop is very keen to welcome them,¡± Xu Ran said without hesitation. This was a great opportunity that he had to seize. ¡°Not just these few Pet Beasts, in the future, if the Association has other Pet Beasts without a Beast Master that need temporary fostering, they can all be sent to Starfire Foster Care Shop. Our shop will do everything possible to create a warm and comfortable living environment for them.¡± Not only that, considering that the Association takes in Pet Beasts without a Beast Master for charitable reasons, our shop can offer a 50% discount to the Association, charging only half the foster care fee for all Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, you¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s earnest words, Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou were both moved, ¡°Doing this, you¡¯ll lose a lot of money.¡± ¡°Money is an external possession,¡± Xu Ran gestured dismissively, putting on an indifferent front, ¡°Although I am just a foster shop owner, I also have a kind heart. Being able to help the Association is a great honor for me.¡± ¡°Considering that the Association¡¯s staff is limited, there might be a problem managing too many ownerless Pet Beasts, I have another small request,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused again, a hint of earnestness in his eyes. ¡°I hope the Association can issue a certificate for our shop, stating that our shop is the designated foster for ownerless Pet Beasts recognized by the Association. This way, when new ownerless Pet Beasts appear in Demon Wood City, they can come directly to my shop, saving the Association a lot of work.¡± ¡°This!!!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes widened, filled with emotion, ¡°Boss Xu, you are really too kind!¡± At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the Combat Badger¡¯s first Beast Master. That person also did their best to cooperate and assist the work of the Beast Master Association, even sacrificing their young life in the process. And now, this young man in front of him was also showing such enthusiasm. No wonder the Combat Badger liked to stay in this foster shop; perhaps¡­ there was a reason like this behind it. ¡°Boss Xu, the Association is fortunate to have someone with your dedication,¡± Zhou Rong made a decisive statement, ¡°Please wait, I will go back and ask for instructions right away.¡± ¡°Once the Association agrees, the certificate will be sent to your shop immediately, and the ownerless Pet Beasts, including the Combat Badger, will subsequently all be entrusted to Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Having said that, Zhou Rong, along with Xu Zhou, turned and left the Starfire Foster Care Shop without hesitation, leaving Xu Ran with a smile on his face. ¡°Perfect!¡± Watching the two leave, Xu Ran¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°Once the certificate is hung on the wall, the customers coming in and out for Washing and Protection will definitely be more interested in trying out the store¡¯s Foster Care Service.¡± ¡°Moreover, this is indeed an honor for the foster shop,¡± Xu Ran clapped his hands, his face showing a relaxed expression. The foster shops in Demon Wood City were different from those in Xieyun City. The business at Starfire Foster Care Shop here had become booming in a very short period of time, but it was booming only in terms of Washing and Protection; Foster Care and Accompanying Training services were neglected. This was related to the background of Demon Wood City itself, and also because Starfire Foster Care Shop had never properly demonstrated the results of Foster Care and Accompanying Training. For Xu Ran, all three services were obviously important. After all, they were related to the acquisition of Skill Fragments, Physical Points, and Skill Points, respectively; just offering the Washing and Protection service was not a satisfactory state. Therefore, Xu Ran had also thought about using some methods to let the customers of the Foster Shop learn more about the other services. However, those methods had little effect. After all, the price for Washing and Protection in Demon Wood City was high, making the prices at Starfire Foster Care Shop seem cheap in comparison, but for Foster Care and Accompanying Training, the prices in Demon Wood City were not much different from those in other cities. ¡°` Therefore, the prices of Starfire Foster Shop seemed quite expensive. Now, if they could get an endorsement from the Beast Master Association, it would clearly be a great boon for the business expansion of Starfire Foster Shop. If nothing unexpected happened, the number of foster residents would soon increase, and with more fostering, the accompanying training service could also be improved by some means. Physical points and skill points, aren¡¯t they on their way? With his hands clasped behind his head, Xu Ran wore a pleased expression on his face and couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh. However, the noise from the elevator soon interrupted his daydreaming. As the elevator doors opened, Du Tan, who looked amazed, walked out with a Healing Mushroom that appeared somewhat exhausted, as if its energy had been drained. They had only bought one hour of accompanying training time today, and now, that hour had passed. ¡°Do you need to extend the time?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile. ¡°Not for now, I still have to go to class later,¡± Du Tan shook his head, then his expression turned to one of admiration, ¡°Boss Xu, the accompanying training service at your shop is really incredible! Next time, I will definitely bring the Healing Mushroom here again!¡± ¡°Always welcome,¡± Xu Ran smiled, watching the boy and his pet depart. After leaving the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Du Tan quickly returned to his school with his Healing Mushroom. Demon Wood City Sixty-third Beastmaster Middle School, commonly known as Sixty-three Middle. Upon entering his class, Du Tan immediately walked up to a boy sitting in the corner and slapped his shoulder vigorously. ¡°Tutu, the foster shop you recommended is amazing!¡± ¡°Did it work?¡± Li Tutu bared his teeth, revealing an expectant smile. Du Tan was one of the few friends he could talk to at school. Today, when he saw that Du Tan was having a bit of trouble, he thought of Xu Ran¡¯s Starfire Foster Care Shop and suggested that Du Tan give it a try. Du Tan also truly trusted him and went without a second thought. And now, it seemed the effect was pretty good? ¡°More than just effective!¡± Du Tan exclaimed in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s wonderful, can you believe my Healing Mushroom spent fifty minutes training its healing skill during that one hour of training time?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Li Tutu¡¯s eyes widened. He was well aware of the situation with Du Tan¡¯s Healing Mushroom. Before, it was quite difficult to get the Healing Mushroom to use its healing skill, and now it was actually willing to train the healing skill actively? ¡°So your problem is solved, right?¡± Li Tutu looked at Du Tan. ¡°Yes,¡± Du Tan said with a smile on his face, ¡°Next class, the Demon King Qi won¡¯t criticize me anymore.¡± The Demon King Qi was Qi Yue, the Pet Beast Skill Training teacher of Du Tan¡¯s class. Qi Yue had criticized Du Tan more than once for his Healing Mushroom¡¯s complete lack of training in healing skills. In Qi Yue¡¯s words, although Du Tan¡¯s Healing Mushroom had a peculiar personality, indulging it was the root cause of its continued avoidance of training in healing skills. Later, there would be another class with Qi Yue, and judging by the Healing Mushroom¡¯s previous behavior, Du Tan guessed he was in for another reprimand. But¡­ At this moment, Du Tan was for the first time looking forward to Demon King Qi¡¯s class starting sooner. ¡°` Chapter 491 - Chapter 491: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop Chapter 491: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop ¡°Number fourteen, Du Tan.¡± A robust middle-aged man with a beard on his face that gave him a somewhat bandit-like appearance held a name list in hand and called out the next student to be tested in a full, resonant voice, while his gaze settled on a certain individual within the group. For this student, who was scolded almost every time they had a class, Qi Yue had an indelible impression and even felt a sense of frustration at his lack of progress. In his view, there were some issues with the nature of Du Tan¡¯s Healing Mushroom. As a pure healing type Pet Beast, it only wanted to engage in combat, which was utterly nonsensical. And Du Tan¡¯s indulgence towards the Healing Mushroom was equally problematic. Beast Master, the focus is on the ¡°Master¡± part. If one couldn¡¯t control their own Pet Beast and only allowed it to train in the skills it liked based on its nature, that was definitely not the mark of a good Beast Master. This was precisely why he was stricter with Du Tan than with other students, constantly telling him to be firmer and make the Healing Mushroom obediently train in healing type skills. Thinking of this, Qi Yue crossed his arms and scrutinized Du Tan, who had stepped forward into the open space in front of him, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. This kid seemed a bit different today. In previous classes, he had always been like a quail with its head tucked in, fearful of catching Qi Yue¡¯s attention, but today he stood at the very front, walking out with his head held high, looking quite confident. Ah, this kid. Qi Yue chuckled to himself and pointed to the healing skills testing target nearby, ¡°Begin, let me see how your Pet Beast has improved over the past week.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Du Tan nodded calmly and swiftly pointed at the healing target, ¡°Mushie, use your healing skills on this target!¡± ¡°Goo?¡± (Healing?) Upon hearing these two words, a flash of reluctance and hesitation crossed Healing Mushroom¡¯s eyes. As expected, it¡¯s still the same¡­ Just as Qi Yue¡¯s anticipation had risen due to Du Tan¡¯s confidence upon entering the stage, he sighed inwardly after noticing the Healing Mushroom¡¯s reaction. Du Tan, too, felt a pang of disappointment. The Healing Mushroom was still resistant to healing. Although it had undergone intensive training at Starfire Foster Care Shop, its nature wasn¡¯t that easily changed. Luckily, Du Tan had a new tactic. Via Contractual Sensing, he quickly spoke to Healing Mushroom, ¡°Behave during the lesson, and after class, I¡¯ll take you to fight that puppet!¡± ¡°Goo?!¡± (Really?!) In an instant, Healing Mushroom was sorely tempted! Although that puppet was always getting injured, requiring it to interrupt the fight to heal, there was no denying that the puppet¡¯s exquisite combat skills provided significant insight. After an hour of combat, it felt its own swordsmanship had improved! So, it had to go! With the incentive of a sparring partner, Healing Mushroom¡¯s fighting spirit was ignited, and it stepped forward without hesitation, approaching the healing target closely. Seeing this, Qi Yue was slightly taken aback. It seemed his judgment might have been made too hastily. Judging by the Healing Mushroom¡¯s current actions, it really seemed to have changed somewhat; he was just not sure how Du Tan had managed that. His gaze turned to the test data display next to the healing target, as he picked up the data from the previous test. Now, let¡¯s see how much progress Healing Mushroom has made over the past week! The healing target was a dummy that closely resembled a human, riddled with deliberate injuries that could be treated and eliminated with healing type skills. The specific amount of healing could be measured by a specially designed detector. Standing in front of the healing target, Healing Mushroom somehow found itself thinking of the puppet it fought with. It wondered, if the healing target was completely healed, could it also fight with it¡­ With that thought, Healing Mushroom placed its hands on the healing target adeptly and three different healing skills descended all at once. Hmm? Noticing this, Qi Yue¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. There truly was improvement! Utilizing several healing skills at once also increased the consumption substantially. Previously, Healing Mushroom was unwilling to do so, opting to test each skill one by one. At this moment, it had unhesitatingly used three skills simultaneously, which was a positive change. Qi Yue¡¯s attention immediately shifted to the rapidly changing and then quickly stabilizing test data display. [Healing Rate: 1872/second] ¡°This¡­¡± Seeing the specific results of the test, Qi Yue was even more surprised and couldn¡¯t help but glance down at the data in his hand. Healing Spores: 216/second. Fast Healing Acceleration: 423/second. Healing of the Earth: 519/second. In the previous test, Healing Mushroom had tested the three skills separately. Since the focus of each Two stars skill was different, the amounts of healing varied. When casting all three skills together, the healing rate simply needed to be summed up. By this calculation¡­ Healing Mushroom had improved the healing effectiveness of its three healing type skills by fifty percent in one week?! Witnessing this remarkable improvement, a smile of satisfaction couldn¡¯t help but appear on Qi Yue¡¯s usually stern face. He turned his head towards Healing Mushroom but then his expression froze slightly. What was this Healing Mushroom doing? Having completely healed all the wounds on the healing target, the Healing Mushroom, without anyone noticing, had transformed its sprout-like hands into two sharp longswords and was waving them about in the air, seemingly provoking the healing target for a bout of combat. Chapter 492 - Chapter 492: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_2 Chapter 492: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_2 By its side, Du Tan¡¯s expression was awkward to the extreme. ¡°No¡­ Big brother! This isn¡¯t that Combat Puppet!¡± He, who had intercepted the Healing Mushroom first, couldn¡¯t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and a strange thought suddenly emerged in his mind. Could it be¡­ that in the future, the Healing Mushroom, after healing each patient, would feel the urge to size up and compete with them?! ¡°Alright, this time your Healing Mushroom has made significant progress,¡± Qi Yue, not minding the Healing Mushroom¡¯s strange behavior just now, took out a pen and quickly recorded the new test data of the Healing Mushroom. ¡°This is commendable.¡± ¡°I have said before that the relationship between Pet Beasts and Beast Masters is one of equality. Although one party cannot forcefully command the other, there can¡¯t be a one-sided accommodation without limits either. Both parties need to work towards a better partnership through adjustments.¡± ¡°It seems you¡¯ve taken my words to heart,¡± Qi Yue paused in his note-taking and looked toward Du Tan. ¡°Fall back, next one.¡± ¡°Number fifteen, Du Yueyue.¡± A cute girl stepped out from the line, and Du Tan, for the first time not getting scolded in Demon King Qi¡¯s class, floated back to his seat amidst the admiring glances of other students. ¡°Hey hey~¡± A chubby boy sitting next to Du Tan nudged him with his elbow and winked, ¡°Brother Du, how did you do it? Share some tips with your brother, eh?¡± ¡°Zhao Hao,¡± Du Tan said with a smile, looking at the chubby boy. This chubby boy named Zhao Hao shared the same troubles that he had faced earlier: being too indulgent with their Pet Beast while the Pet Beast was too headstrong. As a result, Zhao Hao had also received his fair share of scoldings in Demon King Qi¡¯s classes. Of course, the specific situation of the other party¡¯s Pet Beast was not the same as Du Tan¡¯s. With this in mind, Du Tan understood why Zhao Hao was asking him this. However, he couldn¡¯t help but show a bitter smile on his face. People who were close knew their own affairs. The change in the Healing Mushroom wasn¡¯t because it had listened to Demon King Qi. It was because of that magical shop called Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Zhao Hao, actually¡­¡± ¡°You over there, stop talking!¡± Demon King Qi¡¯s rebuke made Du Tan quickly shut his mouth. Even Zhao Hao, who had been all ears, shivered and stood straight obediently. But his hands behind his back weren¡¯t so obedient, quickly gesturing a ¡°we¡¯ll talk after class¡± signal to Du Tan. Seeing this, Du Tan nodded in understanding. Time ticked away, and soon all the students completed their tests, and the bell signalling the end of class timely rang out. After Qi Yue¡¯s dismissive ¡°dismissed,¡± the students scattered like birds and animals, leaving in groups. Including Zhao Hao, five or six students immediately surrounded Du Tan. Most of them shared a similar situation to Du Tan¡¯s. They often got scolded in Demon King Qi¡¯s class and now they all wanted to know how Du Tan managed to achieve such a significant change in his Pet Beast. ¡°Quiet, quiet. I know what you all want to ask,¡± Du Tan coughed softly, sneakily glancing at Demon King Qi as he walked away, then began to speak, ¡°Actually, the reason my Healing Mushroom changed like this is that I went to a shop.¡± ¡°A shop?¡± Zhao Hao strained to widen his small eyes, quickly pressing for details. ¡°What shop?¡± The other students didn¡¯t speak, but their eyes were filled with the same question. ¡°It¡¯s a Foster Shop. As you know, Foster Shops offer Accompanying Training Services. I just had that shop train the Healing Mushroom¡¯s healing type Skills, which resulted in such great progress.¡± Upon hearing Du Tan¡¯s words, the student¡¯s expectant gazes quickly dimmed. ¡°What the¡­ Du Tan, that¡¯s not cool!¡± One of the students couldn¡¯t help but pout and complain. ¡°We all know that the Accompanying Training Services at Foster Shops can enhance the skills of Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°But our problem is that the Pet Beasts refuse to cooperate with training!¡± The other students nodded in agreement. Accompanying Training requires the willing participation of the Pet Beast. It¡¯s like finding a tutor for a child; if the child doesn¡¯t want to learn, it¡¯s no use hiring one. ¡°No no no, other Foster Shops won¡¯t do,¡± Du Tan chuckled, unoffended. ¡°Starfire Foster can, their Accompanying Training Service is simply unparalleled.¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Shop?¡± Zhao Hao¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. ¡°I know this shop. Their Washing and Protection services are terrific. I even took my Boiling Ape there a few days ago.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never heard that their Accompanying Training Service is anything special,¡± Zhao Hao said with a puzzled expression. ¡°Moreover, their service is several times more expensive than other Foster Shops.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason behind the higher price,¡± Du Tan patted Zhao Hao¡¯s shoulder and said earnestly, ¡°Before Boss Xu trained my Healing Mushroom, I also thought the price was high, but after the training, I didn¡¯t feel that way at all!¡± Seeing the doubtful looks on the other students¡¯ faces, Du Tan chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be skeptical. Let me tell you about that time.¡± ¡°When I went there, I didn¡¯t expect Boss Xu to be able to train the Healing Mushroom¡¯s healing type Skills. I just wanted him to help train its Vine Slash to the Waning Moon Level.¡± ¡°Guess what happened?¡± As he mentioned the training plan, Du Tan couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of awe on his face, ¡°That plan was just incredible!¡± Chapter 493 - Chapter 493: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_3 Chapter 493: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_3 ¡°` ¡°Hey, stop beating around the bush, what exactly is the plan?¡± Zhao Hao couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and urged. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Du Tan quickly continued, ¡°Boss Xu gave me the Healing Mushroom and I found a specially made Training Puppet¡­¡± He vividly described the training situation of the Healing Mushroom at Starfire Foster Care Shop, and after hearing the whole process, the expressions of the other students also changed from initial indifference to astonishment and yearning. ¡°Going by what you said, this Starfire Foster Care Shop really seems quite impressive¡­¡± one of the students couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°What exactly do they charge?¡± ¡°Transcendent Stage Pet Beasts are 666 Yuan per hour.¡± Zhao Hao, who had visited Washing and Protection once, quickly responded while a look of eagerness appeared in his eyes, ¡°Honestly, after hearing what you said, I want to give my Boiling Ape a try too.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Another student nodded in agreement, ¡°The training price for Transcendent Stage Pet Beasts is relatively affordable. Although 666 Yuan per hour is quite expensive, it¡¯s still okay to give it a try.¡± Hearing his words, the other students, who had been somewhat hesitant, also made up their minds. Yeah, it¡¯s just 666 Yuan, so why not try for an hour? If it really is effective and can help their Pet Beasts, then such a price is indeed worth it. ¡°Just so happens, I have to take the Healing Mushroom for a few hours of training after class.¡± Du Tan chuckled, ¡°We can go together.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°That¡¯s settled then!¡± The other students responded one after another, and an agreement to go to the Foster Shop for training together was reached on the way back to the classroom. Spotting the classroom nearby, Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes shifted, and he suddenly thought of something, ¡°Speaking of which, Du Tan, your Healing Mushroom seemed to want to take action against the training target after healing it, could it be¡­¡± Hearing Zhao Hao say this, a hint of strangeness appeared on the faces of the others. Before this, they had only found the behavior baffling. But after hearing about the Healing Mushroom¡¯s training at Starfire Foster, they instantly understood that the Healing Mushroom had mistaken the training target for the Training Puppet! ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Du Tan suddenly coughed twice, ¡°It¡¯s a minor issue, don¡¯t worry about it. Once the Healing Mushroom is well-trained, it should be resolved¡­¡± Thinking of his Pet Beast giving anyone it heals a strike afterwards, Du Tan couldn¡¯t help but shiver, his voice becoming a few notches firmer. ¡°No, it must be resolved!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Squeak~¡± Outside the Starfire Foster Care Shop, the Combat Badger excitedly pointed at the door close at hand, gesturing to the several Pet Beasts behind it. Look! This is the great place I told you about! Hearing what the Combat Badger said, the other Pet Beasts also showed looks of anticipation and excitement in their eyes. Yes, they were the ones that, after hearing the Combat Badger describe its life at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, couldn¡¯t help but yearn to ask the Association if they could also move in with the Combat Badger from the other Association Foster areas. Even before entering the shop, they were ¡°squeaking and cooing¡± in low voices, imagining the wonderful life ahead together. ¡°You guys¡­¡± Xu Zhou, who had summoned the Star of Magic the whole time, understood their conversation and a look of resignation appeared on his face, ¡°The Foster area of our Association isn¡¯t that bad, is it?¡± Hearing Xu Zhou say this, the Pet Beasts looked somewhat embarrassed, seemingly ashamed of their request. After all, it was already not easy for the Association to keep them free of charge. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Seeing the Pet Beasts still restrained, Xu Zhou quickly waved his hand, ¡°The Association is more than capable of taking care of you guys.¡± ¡°Look, we even brought the certificates.¡± He patted the hard case wrapped in silk cloth that Zhou Rong was holding, ¡°You can move in with a clear conscience, and stay as long as you like.¡± Upon hearing Xu Zhou say this, any worry in the Pet Beasts¡¯ hearts dissipated. Seeing them return to their previous excited state, a smile also appeared on Xu Zhou¡¯s face. And their somewhat peculiar group also attracted the attention of the customers queuing outside the Starfire Foster Care Shop. After all, they looked rather special. The Pet Beasts of various strength levels, the workers in Beast Master Association uniforms, and that silk-wrapped, somewhat mysterious hard case. Seeing them approaching, as if to enter the shop, a customer couldn¡¯t help but speak up and inquire, ¡°Excuse me, what¡¯s going on here?¡± The other customers remained silent, but pairs of curious eyes were already fixated on Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou. Seeing this, Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou didn¡¯t immediately enter the shop. After exchanging a glance, Zhou Rong stepped forward, unfolded the silk-wrapped document in his hand, revealing its true face. The rows of gilded text and the shiny seal of the Beast Master Association stamped at the end left no doubt about its authenticity. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯re staff from the Beast Master Association of Monster Wooden City,¡± Zhou Rong cleared his throat and spoke out loud, ¡°Today, upon the gracious invitation of Mr. Xu Ran, the owner of Starfire Foster Care Shop, the Association has reached a cooperative agreement with Mr. Xu Ran.¡± ¡°From now on, the Association will entrust Unowned Pet Beasts that meet the foster care requirements to Starfire Foster Care Shop. We also believe that Starfire Foster Care Shop will provide them with the best care,¡± Zhou Rong paused slightly with his last words. ¡°` Chapter 494 - Chapter 494: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_4 Chapter 494: Chapter 281: The Full Bloom of Starfire Foster Care Shop_4 ¡°In addition, ownerless Pet Beasts that meet the conditions can also take the initiative to come to Starfire Foster Shop. After verification by the Association, all foster care expenses will be borne by them.¡± Upon hearing this, the guests in line fell silent for a moment before engaging in fervent discussion. It was well-known that the Association would care for ownerless Pet Beasts meeting foster conditions free of charge. And the foster conditions were quite straightforward. The Pet Beast itself had made significant contributions to the Association, the Pet Beast¡¯s Beast Master had made contributions and had been sacrificed, among a few other special circumstances. However, the Association¡¯s foster environment was indeed average, leading many ownerless Pet Beasts that qualified for foster care to avoid the Association, choosing instead to live on their own or to find a new Beast Master and start a new life. But now, the Association had actually initiated a new foster model¡ªentrusting foster shops to take care of the life of ownerless Pet Beasts! This, in turn, can be said to have greatly improved their treatment. However¡­ While surprised by the Association¡¯s change, many guests also focused on another key point. That was, the collaborator with the Association was the Starfire Foster Care Shop. The Washing and Protection Service of Starfire Foster Care Shop was well-known to many, but no one had ever heard whether its foster care services were good or bad. After all, its prices were out there for all to see. Yet, this development sparked interest in the faces of quite a few customers. Could it be that the Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s foster care service, just like its Washing and Protection Service, was also good enough to be recognized by the Association? ¡°Gentlemen, have you seen the foster environment at the Starfire Foster Care Shop? What¡¯s it like?¡± One of the queued guests couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°As for that question¡­¡± Zhou Rong held back Xu Zhou, who was about to speak, and smiled slightly, ¡°Seeing is believing. It¡¯s better for you to see it for yourself, sir.¡± Leaving the crowd pensive, he pulled Xu Zhou and directly entered the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Say, Zhang Tu, isn¡¯t your Pet Beast¡¯s foster period just up? Why not give it a try?¡± Another person in line turned to the man who had just asked the question, suggesting cheerfully. ¡°I indeed want to give it a try.¡± Zhang Tu nodded seriously, ¡°I am going to take a look firsthand, to see just what the fostering environment at the Starfire Foster Care Shop is like.¡± Hearing his words, more than one guest in line showed an interested look. It sounded like a good idea. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss Xu, I entrust these Pet Beasts to you.¡± Standing at the entrance of the Foster Shop, Zhou Rong and Xu Zhou smiled at Xu Ran. ¡°You are too polite. Thank you for bringing the certificate and spreading the word right in front of the shop.¡± Glancing at the certificate that was already hanging in the most conspicuous spot on the wall, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t conceal his smile. With that, the foster care service was secured. ¡°Boss Xu, no need to see us out, you have a lot of business to tend to, and there are still people queuing outside.¡± Zhou Rong pointed outside the door and then waved goodbye to Xu Ran along with Xu Zhou. ¡°Take care!¡± Xu Ran waved at the backs of the two staff members, then turned to the next customer walking into the shop, ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for the Washing and Protection Service.¡± Zhang Tu glanced at the certificate on the wall, then at the Price Menu next to it. Without looking at the clearly marked washing and protection prices, his gaze settled on the fostering prices. Immediately after, Zhang Tu couldn¡¯t help but internally complain. So expensive! The foster care price here was much higher than at other Foster Shops in the outside world. But¡­ he still wanted to take a look. ¡°Alright, the Pet Beasts ready for Washing and Protection can now be summoned, if it¡¯s Super Large Size, summon it inside the Washing and Protection room,¡± Xu Ran spoke proficiently. ¡°No rush, Boss Xu.¡± Zhang Tu smiled, ¡°Just now at the door, I saw the Association¡¯s staff awarding your shop a certificate¡­¡± ¡°Could I first take a look at your shop¡¯s foster environment? My Pet Beast just finished its previous Foster Care Services.¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem,¡± Xu Ran was invigorated, his smile became even more pronounced as he pointed towards an elevator to the side, ¡°Please walk this way.¡± The two quickly entered the elevator and soon arrived on the second floor. As the elevator doors opened, a vast and boundless Foster area appeared before Zhang Tu¡¯s eyes. ¡°This¡­¡± Zhang Tu widened his eyes, ¡°Is all this the Foster area?!¡± The store front of Starfire Foster Care Shop was already very large. Zhang Tu had never imagined that the interior would hide such a secret realm. ¡°That¡¯s right, the entire second floor is the Foster area,¡± Xu Ran calmly stated, ¡°To give Pet Beasts more space to move about, our shop used Space Expansion Technology to expand the Foster area several times.¡± ¡°Over there is the living area where the current residents, including the Combat Badger among others, have been staying,¡± Xu Ran had finished explaining the general situation of the Foster area and pointed towards the living area that had just been sectioned off for the ownerless Pet Beasts sent by the Association, including the Combat Badger. These living areas each had their own unique features, tailored specifically for different Pet Beast Attributes¡¯ living habits; not just that, there were also overlapping areas between them. These overlapping areas took into consideration the lifestyles of different Pet Beasts, enabling them to live together, and enjoy happiness collectively. This innovative customization approach was the inspiration Xu Ran had during his visit to Huiyun Foster Shop in Xieyun City. And after such changes, the effect was immediately evident. The Pleasure value of the fostered Pet Beasts comes from two aspects: one is the continuous Pleasure value from the comfortable environment, the other is from the Pleasure value brought by food. After Xu Ran changed the foster model, allowing the Pet Beasts¡¯ living areas to overlap with one another, the improvement of the former was very noticeable. Having just settled into their new home, the ownerless Pet Beasts including the Combat Badger were all excited; they gathered together in the overlapping living area, cheering and jumping joyously, their overwhelming satisfaction made Zhang Tu momentarily lost in thought. His mind swiftly flashed through the other Foster Shops in Monster Wooden City, but he had to admit, in front of Starfire Foster Care Shop, none could compete. With such a Foster environment, it¡¯s perfectly reasonable to charge a bit more! Just as this thought emerged in Zhang Tu¡¯s mind, Xu Ran¡¯s introduction did not stop, ¡°By the way, sir, what Growth stage is your Pet Beast?¡± ¡°General stage,¡± Zhang Tu responded subconsciously. ¡°Got it,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, indicating his understanding, ¡°Our shop will customize different foods for feeding based on the taste preferences and physical growth status of different Pet Beasts. This is a daily diet list for a previously fostered General Stage Crack Golden Dragon.¡± As he spoke, Xu Ran took out a long list and handed it to Zhang Tu. ¡°Since the species of your Pet Beast should differ from it, the food provided by our shop if you decide to foster your Pet Beast here, won¡¯t be identical to what¡¯s on the list,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°But it can serve as a reference for a meal standard.¡± ¡°Sss¡­¡± After reviewing the lengthy list from start to finish, Zhang Tu couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath. Just the resources on it that he recognized, if exchanged at the Beast Master Association, would cost more than three digits, not to mention some that he had never heard of that looked very rare. And the price for General Stage Pet Beast foster care at Starfire Foster Care Shop was 266 Beast Master Points per day. Zhang Tu, who previously thought the price was expensive, now only had one thought in his mind. Doing business like this, are they really not losing money?! ¡°Foster care! Let¡¯s do it now!¡± Chapter 495 - Chapter 495: Chapter 282: The Training Partner is on Fire too? Chapter 495: Chapter 282: The Training Partner is on Fire too? ¡°Thank you for choosing Starfire Foster.¡± Facing the excited customer Zhang Tu, Xu Ran¡¯s expression remained calm. After all, this was a matter of course. The ingredients provided by the system were priced according to market value when calculating costs; they were essentially equivalent to the foster care fees. However, the system had a mysterious source of ingredients, so the actual cost deducted was only thirty percent. As long as one saw the superior foster environment at Starfire Foster Shop and understood the luxurious meal standards, no one could refuse to send their Pet Beast here. Now that the Beast Master Association had opened up the situation with a certificate, it was up to his own capability to take it from there. Looking at the excited Zhang Tu, Xu Ran smiled and reminded him. ¡°Sir, would you like Washing and Protection as well?¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Zhang Tu slapped his forehead, only then remembering that his initial reason for coming to Starfire Foster Shop had been to get his family¡¯s Pet Beast a session of Washing and Protection. The Hexagram Star Array flickered behind him, and soon, four figures emerged from the energy-converging storm. ¡°I¡¯ll leave them in your care, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± After glancing at the four Pet Beasts, Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew a bit wider. This was a big deal indeed. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Busy yet fulfilling management time flew by in the blink of an eye. Zhang Tu, the customer interested in Starfire Foster¡¯s Foster Care Service, was just the beginning. After Zhang Tu, the shop¡¯s previously desolate foster services suddenly became popular. In just one afternoon, Xu Ran led seven or eight customers through a tour of the shop¡¯s foster environment. And without exception, these visiting customers decided to bring their Pet Beasts for fostering, though some had to wait a while because their current foster arrangements at other shops had not yet ended. The number of Starfire Foster Care Residents broke into double digits in just one afternoon. ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯ll leave my plump coo sculpture in your hands; you must take good care of it,¡± a customer transferring his Pet Beast reluctantly stood at the store entrance, once again urging Xu Ran. Just now, after seeing the foster environment at Starfire Foster, he had resolutely decided to pick up his Pet Beast early from the previous foster shop and bring it here. In his words, after seeing the environment at Starfire Foster, he couldn¡¯t bear to let his Pet Beast suffer at the previous shop any longer. Hmm¡­ I wonder how the unfortunate colleague is dealing with that mental shadow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Ran said with a warm smile on his face. As a fellow Beast Master, he understood the care hidden behind the customer¡¯s rambling words. ¡°I¡¯ve taken note of all the special instructions you mentioned just now. From now on, I¡¯ll do my utmost to give your Pet Beast the best life possible.¡± ¡°Hehe~ I trust you, Boss Xu.¡± The customer scratched his head, grinning, ¡°Previously, when I had Washing and Protection at your shop, I already felt you were very reliable.¡± ¡°I have to be reliable,¡± Xu Ran said calmly, nodding. ¡°But Boss Xu, there¡¯s something I¡¯m really curious about,¡± the customer¡¯s tone shifted as he suddenly asked, ¡°Your shop¡¯s Washing and Protection Service and Foster Care Service are both so amazing, what about your Accompanying Training Service?¡± Upon hearing this, the other customers waiting outside and those inside the shop turned their gaze towards him. Clearly, many customers harbored similar curiosities. If Starfire Foster had only one outstanding Washing and Protection Service, then perhaps people wouldn¡¯t make such inferences. But with both an excellent Washing and Protection Service and such an exceptional Foster Care Service, wouldn¡¯t the remaining Accompanying Training Service also be exceptional? ¡°That question¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face took on an added hint of amusement. The customers¡¯ curiosity was within his expectations. One could say, with the Foster Care Service breaking new ground, the Accompanying Training Service would soon follow. ¡°All I can say is that every service offered by our shop is worth its price. For the specifics of the Accompanying Training Service, you can experience it for yourself.¡± At Xu Ran¡¯s response, people couldn¡¯t help but roll their eyes. It seemed like Boss Xu had said something, yet not said anything at the same time. Just then, several somewhat naive voices came from one side of the crowd. ¡°Du Tan, is this the shop you mentioned?¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a long line; can we get a turn?¡± ¡°Uh, let me ask.¡± After a few brief exchanges, Du Tan stood on tiptoe from within the crowd, looking in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, ¡°Boss Xu, do we have to queue for training as well?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to queue for fostering or training,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°Only Washing and Protection requires queuing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Du Tan visibly relaxed, then quickly led his friends over to Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, my classmates and I would like to have Accompanying Training here!¡± In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to Du Tan and the young men and women behind him. Finding himself under so many stares, Du Tan¡¯s face took on a bewildered look, ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s happening?¡± Before Xu Ran could speak, the Beast Master who had fostered the plump coo sculpture couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and asked, ¡°Have you tried the Accompanying Training Service at Boss Xu¡¯s shop?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Du Tan nodded, ¡°I brought my Healing Mushroom here at noon. Boss Xu¡¯s Accompanying Training Service resolved a very troubling issue for me.¡± Chapter 496 - Chapter 496: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_2 Chapter 496: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_2 ¡°Oh?¡± Another customer showed a curious look on their face, ¡°Could you tell us exactly what the problem is?¡± ¡°Yeah, brother, do tell?¡± ¡°I want to know as well.¡± The other customers chimed in, their gazes at Du Tan gaining a few more degrees of eagerness. The charge for the accompanying training service was by the hour, but the rate was the same as fostering a pet of the corresponding growth stage for one day, which, compared to other foster shops, was also quite high, so naturally everyone was willing to learn about it for free. ¡°This¡­¡± Du Tan appeared a bit conflicted on his face. At that moment, a Zhao Hao from behind him patted his shoulder and squeezed his small eyes, ¡°Old Du, just tell them about it. It¡¯s still early, and it won¡¯t be too late if we go back home after one or two hours of training.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Upon hearing this, Du Tan nodded and then began to tell everyone about his experience of bringing his Healing Mushroom for training at noon, in a vivid and colorful way. Xu Ran walked back to the counter inside the shop and looked at the customers, whose faces revealed expressions of amazement after listening to Du Tan¡¯s story, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile a bit more. There was no better advertisement than the personal experience of the customers. Just for the effect of this advertisement, he would have to increase the intensity for the Healing Mushroom later on. Well¡­ let¡¯s change the training puppet from taking damage every thirty seconds to every twenty seconds! ¡°Have any of you others trained here at this shop before?¡± After hearing Du Tan¡¯s experience, the customers turned their curious eyes to Du Tan¡¯s friends. ¡°No.¡± Zhao Hao shook his head, ¡°All of us decided to send our Pet Beasts here for training after hearing Du Tan¡¯s experience.¡± Following Zhao Hao¡¯s response, the other classmates nodded in agreement. To witness such a significant transformation in Du Tan¡¯s Healing Mushroom, how could they possibly not be moved! And the other customers were also pondering in their hearts. After hearing Du Tan¡¯s story, even they began to feel the desire to try out the accompanying training service at the Starfire Foster Shop. Once he had finished recounting his experience, Du Tan, with his friends in tow, approached Xu Ran, ¡°We would each like to train for two hours.¡± The other customers quickly quieted down. They wanted to see how Xu Ran would handle these customers who had come for the accompanying training service. ¡°You¡¯re very welcome,¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded. ¡°Summon the Pet Beasts you need training for and tell me your ideas.¡± ¡°I will do my utmost to fulfill them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Zhao Hao, who couldn¡¯t wait any longer, was the first to raise his hand. In Qi Yue¡¯s class, who was a formidable devil, aside from Du Tan, Zhao Hao was the one who got scolded the worst, and each time he felt quite wronged. Because to some extent, it wasn¡¯t really his fault. Accompanied by a burst of glittering Hexagram Star Array, next to Zhao Hao appeared a Pet Beast as round as an egg, covered in fine, light gray fur, with two large dull eyes circled with rotating swirls. In an instant, Xu Ran and many of the customers recognized it. Superpower System Leading Race, Drowsy Egg. This was a Pet Beast proficient in psychic attacks, boasting a signature skill called Drowsy Gaze. A Drowsy Gaze with high proficiency could even put an opponent into an irrevocable sleep with just one look. So despite looking simple and cute, its strength was substantial. ¡°So, what skill do you want to train your Drowsy Egg in?¡± asked Xu Ran, ¡°Drowsy Gaze, Sleepy Fog, or Mental Impact?¡± The skills that Xu Ran mentioned were the three two-star Star Talent Skills of the Drowsy Egg. ¡°Uh¡­ Drowsy Gaze, I guess.¡± Saying this, Zhao Hao scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°But my Drowsy Egg might be a bit special.¡± ¡°It¡­ is nearsighted.¡± The moment Zhao Hao¡¯s words fell, the room fell into an eerie silence. Nearsighted¡­ Are you sure that¡¯s a problem a Drowsy Egg should have?! ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve heard of a pet beast having nearsightedness,¡± Xu Ran said, surprise creeping onto his face. ¡°Can you explain in detail?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Zhao Hao nodded quickly, now considering Xu Ran¡¯s accompanying training service as his last hope, ¡°My Drowsy Egg was born with poor eyesight and can¡¯t see things clearly from afar.¡± ¡°And this has made it difficult to train its inherent skill, Drowsy Gaze,¡± said Zhao Hao, a touch of helplessness on his face. ¡°Drowsy Gaze requires a clear view of the opponent, and nearsightedness greatly diminishes the potency of my Drowsy Egg¡¯s ability to execute this skill.¡± ¡°No matter how we train this ability, my Drowsy Egg¡¯s effective range of Drowsy Gaze never exceeds three meters¡­¡± As he spoke, Zhao Hao¡¯s expression began to turn tearful, ¡°Boss Xu, can this be solved?¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, then suddenly spoke up, ¡°How about we get it a pair of glasses for nearsightedness?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t work,¡± Zhao Hao shook his head. ¡°Although it¡¯s nearsightedness, the Drowsy Egg¡¯s condition is actually innate poor vision with factors of Transcendent Power, ordinary glasses can¡¯t improve it at all.¡± ¡°I understand now.¡± Xu Ran nodded slowly, and his expression became serious. A Drowsy Egg whose core skill was Drowsy Gaze, naturally had poor eyesight making it unable to see the opponent clearly, causing its proficiency in Drowsy Gaze to drop significantly. This issue would be much more troublesome than Du Tan¡¯s Healing Mushroom, which didn¡¯t like to heal and was bent on fighting instead. Chapter 497 - Chapter 497: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_3 Chapter 497: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_3 After all, the condition of the Drowsy Egg is innate. Therefore, there is only one solution to this problem ¡°Follow me.¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and then signaled Zhao Hao and the Drowsy Egg to follow him into the rising elevator. As the elevator doors closed behind them, the once quiet first floor of the shop immediately became bustling. ¡°Du Tan, do you think Boss Xu can solve Zhao Hao¡¯s problem?¡± A classmate nudged Du Tan¡¯s elbow, asking with curiosity, ¡°Even Demon King Qi had nothing to say about Zhao Hao¡¯s Drowsy Egg.¡± The others nodded sympathetically. They were all aware of the situation with Zhao Hao¡¯s Pet Beast. No matter what method Zhao Hao used to train the Drowsy Egg in Drowsy Gaze, it could not perform the skill well. Could such a situation be improved with just one visit to Starfire Foster Care Shop? ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Du Tan shook his head slightly, then quickly changed his tune, ¡°But I believe in Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Because the expression on his face just now was exactly the same as when he was conducting Intensive Training for my Healing Mushroom, which means he must be confident.¡± Aside from Du Tan and a few classmates, other customers in the store were also eagerly discussing this. After listening to Zhao Hao¡¯s account of the Drowsy Egg¡¯s situation, many people no longer believed that it could learn Drowsy Gaze. After all, that was an inherent defect. But there were some who had immense faith in Boss Xu, who had repeatedly worked miracles, believing that he might be able to do it. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the training process could not be observed, at this moment the Superpower Training Area would probably have been packed with these curious customers. Meanwhile, in the Superpower Training Area, Xu Ran was calmly taking out the training equipment for the Drowsy Egg. It was¡­ a pair of opaque eye masks. Placing this mask over its eyes, the lifeless eyes of the Drowsy Egg would be perfectly covered. ¡°Boss Xu, what is this?¡± Zhao Hao couldn¡¯t help but ask with curiosity as he watched Xu Ran put the mask on the Drowsy Egg. ¡°This is a training tool,¡± Xu Ran replied calmly. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Hao looked even more bewildered. Listen to what you¡¯re saying. It¡¯s Drowsy Gaze! Gaze! The Drowsy Egg already had poor eyesight, and now that both of its eyes were covered, how could it train in Drowsy Gaze? Seeing the doubtful and confused expression on Zhao Hao¡¯s face, Xu Ran did not immediately explain, but instead spoke softly, ¡°Drowsy Egg, use Drowsy Gaze.¡± ¡°Woo?¡± The Drowsy Egg made a sound of confusion but obediently followed Xu Ran¡¯s instructions, quickly executing Drowsy Gaze. Waves of invisible and strange power rapidly emerged from all around it, but as if unable to find a target to focus on, it quickly dissipated completely. ¡°As I suspected.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly upon observing this. ¡°Boss Xu, my Drowsy Egg already has trouble properly using Drowsy Gaze without the blindfold, and now with it, success is even less likely,¡± Zhao Hao couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°Are you really going to train it in Drowsy Gaze like this?¡± However, upon hearing Zhao Hao¡¯s question, Xu Ran quickly shook his head. ¡°Train in Drowsy Gaze? No, no, no.¡± ¡°What I¡¯m going to train it in now is another skill.¡± ¡°Uh¡­what skill?¡± Zhao Hao scratched his head, still looking puzzled. Wasn¡¯t it agreed to train the Drowsy Egg in Drowsy Gaze? How did it turn into another skill while training? At that moment, a wave of doubt about Starfire Foster surged in his heart. Could it be¡­ Du Tan and the owner of this shop conspired to deceive them? But Du Tan had no such motive¡­ While the plump Zhao Hao was contemplating various thoughts, Xu Ran spoke quietly, ¡°Actually, the skill Drowsy Gaze isn¡¯t related to eyesight.¡± ¡°It locks onto an opponent from a distance and releases Super ability Attribute power to make the opponent feel tired and dizzy,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°This lock-on requires a clear understanding of the opponent¡¯s silhouette.¡± ¡°Therefore, when the Drowsy Egg uses Drowsy Gaze, it will first glance at the opponent to facilitate lock-on, then launch an attack, which leads many to think that a glance from the Drowsy Egg can make one sleepy.¡± ¡°In fact, there are some misunderstandings here.¡± ¡°But even if it¡¯s as you say, what does that have to do with training?¡± Zhao Hao asked, a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°It¡¯s very relevant.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Knowing the principle behind Drowsy Gaze, one only needs to enable the Drowsy Egg to detect the outline of the opponent¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Seeing is the simplest and most direct method, but besides that, there are other ways to determine the opponent¡¯s silhouette.¡± 1 ¡°As long as the Drowsy Egg can master one, it can naturally use the skill Drowsy Gaze proficiently, which would fulfill your requirement.¡± Xu Ran paused before continuing, ¡°Judging from how the Drowsy Egg just performed Drowsy Gaze, its Proficiency is not low; it simply lacks the right target for lock-on.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Are you interested in having your Drowsy Egg learn a teaching skill with me?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Listening to Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. He finally understood what Xu Ran meant. The issue with the Drowsy Egg¡¯s vision was innate, and that was the main reason it couldn¡¯t successfully use Drowsy Gaze. Chapter 498 - Chapter 498: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_4 Chapter 498: Chapter 282: The Sparring Partner is on Fire, Too?_4 If a skill could allow Drowsy Gaze to be used without the need for eyesight, then undoubtedly, it would be an indirect but effective solution. ¡°What skill is it?¡± Zhao Hao quickly asked. ¡°A One Star Super ability Attribute skill, Super Sensing,¡± Xu Ran said leisurely, providing an answer that brightened Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Super Sensing?!¡± A look of surprise appeared in Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Will that work?¡± He was not unfamiliar with this skill. The One Star skill Super Sensing allows a Pet Beast to probe its surroundings using Super ability Attribute power. It could be said to be the skill that Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts find easiest to learn later in life. After all, Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts inherently possess stronger sensory abilities than Pet Beasts of other Attributes. With specialized instruction, this skill can be mastered by a Super ability Attribute Pet Beast in just a day or two, and sometimes even faster. ¡°For the next two days, I will bring the Drowsy Egg to train Super Sensing!¡± Zhao Hao spoke earnestly. ¡°Two days?¡± Xu Ran blinked, then let out a laugh, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± He glanced at the Drowsy Egg, blindfolded and unaware of its surroundings, and rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Two minutes will suffice.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C As everyone on the first floor looked on in eager anticipation, Xu Ran walked out of the elevator with poise. ¡°Boss Xu, how did it go?¡± Du Tan asked anxiously, ¡°Can the issue with my classmate¡¯s Pet Beast be resolved?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking if I can do it?¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It¡¯s already taken care of.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s already¡­ eh?¡± Du Tan blinked, then his expression turned to astonishment, ¡°That fast?!¡± From the time both individuals had entered the elevator to Xu Ran coming out alone, it had been at most ten minutes. The problem was resolved in such a short amount of time?! ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a calm expression, ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big problem. Teaching it a new skill to use in combination with Drowsy Gaze was enough to resolve the issue of poor eyesight.¡± Upon hearing this, an eerie silence fell over the shop. Listen to that, does that even make sense? Is teaching a new skill such an easy matter? Even the simplest of skills can¡¯t possibly be taught in just a few minutes, right? This foster care service of Boss Xu is a little too outrageous, isn¡¯t it? ¡°It¡¯s my turn, it¡¯s my turn!¡± Just as everyone was still in a daze, another one of Du Tan¡¯s classmates excitedly spoke up, ¡°My Pet Beast needs training too!¡± The other classmates quickly came to their senses. ¡°No way! Let me go first!¡± ¡°I was the first to step in the door with my left foot; let it be me!¡± ¡°The fortune-teller said I¡¯m missing a ¡®two¡¯ in my life today, so let me be the second!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Watching the clients argue with each other, Xu Ran shook his head with a smile. ¡°Everyone, one at a time!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Training Drowsy Gaze? No, no, no.¡± ¡°What I¡¯m going to train it on now is another skill.¡± ¡°Huh¡­ What skill?¡± Zhao Hao scratched his head, still looking confused. Wasn¡¯t the plan to train the Drowsy Egg in Drowsy Gaze? How did it change to another skill while they were in the midst of training? At this moment, a doubt about Starfire Foster Care Shop sprang up in his mind. Could it be¡­ that Du Tan and the owner of this shop had colluded to deceive them? But Du Tan had no motive for that¡­ As Zhao Hao, the chubby boy, pondered various thoughts, Xu Ran spoke in a quiet voice, ¡°Actually, the skill Drowsy Gaze has nothing to do with eyesight.¡± ¡°It locks onto the opponent from afar, releasing the Super ability Attribute power to make the opponent feel drowsy and dizzy,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°And this locking mechanism requires a clear knowledge of the opponent¡¯s physical outline.¡± ¡°So, when the Drowsy Egg casts Drowsy Gaze, it must first look at its opponent to lock on before launching its attack. This has made many people believe that the Drowsy Egg¡¯s Drowsy Gaze can make people sleepy with just one glance.¡± ¡°Actually, there are some misconceptions here.¡± ¡°But even if it¡¯s as you say, what does this have to do with training?¡± Zhao Hao asked with a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°The connection is quite significant,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°Once you understand the principle behind Drowsy Gaze, you just need to give the Drowsy Egg a way to discern the outline of its opponent¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Seeing is the simplest and most direct method, but aside from that, there are other ways to perceive the opponent¡¯s body outline.¡± ¡°As long as the Drowsy Egg masters one, it can naturally execute the Drowsy Gaze skill normally, which would also meet your requirement.¡± Xu Ran paused and then continued, ¡°Considering how the Drowsy Egg just used Drowsy Gaze, its proficiency is not low; it¡¯s just lacking a suitable target to lock onto.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°are you interested in letting your Drowsy Egg learn a teaching skill from me?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s explanation, Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes gradually lit up. He finally understood Xu Ran¡¯s point. The Drowsy Egg¡¯s problem with vision was congenital, which was the primary reason it couldn¡¯t successfully use Drowsy Gaze. If it could overcome the requirement for vision through a skill, it would undoubtedly be an ingenious workaround. ¡°What skill is it?¡± Zhao Hao asked quickly. ¡°A One Star Super ability Attribute skill, Super Sensing,¡± Xu Ran said leisurely, giving an answer that made Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes shine. ¡°Super Sensing?!¡± Surprise flashed in Zhao Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°That will do it?¡± He was not unfamiliar with this skill. One Star skill Super Sensing allowed a Pet Beast to detect its surroundings using Super ability Attribute power. It could be said to be the easiest skill for a Super ability Attribute Pet Beast to learn. After all, Super ability Attribute Pet Beasts naturally possess stronger sensory abilities than other Attribute Pet Beasts. With proper instruction, this skill could be mastered by a Super ability Attribute Pet Beast in just one or two days, and sometimes even faster. ¡°For the next two days, I will be training the Drowsy Egg in Super Sensing!¡± declared Zhao Hao earnestly. ¡°Two days?¡± Xu Ran blinked, then chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such trouble.¡± He glanced at the Drowsy Egg, which couldn¡¯t see its surroundings with its eye mask, and rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Two minutes will suffice.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C As everyone on the first floor waited eagerly, Xu Ran walked out of the elevator with grace. ¡°Boss Xu, how did it go?¡± Du Tan asked anxiously, ¡°Can my classmate¡¯s Pet Beast¡¯s problem be solved?¡± ¡°Are you asking if I could do it?¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been solved already.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s already¡­eh?¡± Du Tan blinked and then his face turned to shock, ¡°That fast?!¡± From when the two of them entered the elevator to Xu Ran coming out alone, it hadn¡¯t even been ten minutes in total. Could the issue really be resolved in such a short time?! ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Ran nodded nonchalantly, ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big problem. I just taught it a new skill to use in combination with Drowsy Gaze, and that solved the vision issue.¡± After these words, an eerie silence fell over the shop. Listen up, is that even possible? Teaching a new skill, is it really that simple? Even the simplest skill couldn¡¯t possibly be taught within just a few minutes, could it? Isn¡¯t Boss Xu¡¯s coaching service a bit too incredible? ¡°It¡¯s my turn now, it¡¯s my turn!¡± Just as everyone was still stunned, another of Du Tan¡¯s classmates spoke up excitedly, ¡°My Pet Beast needs coaching too!¡± The other classmates quickly came to their senses. ¡°No way! Let me go first!¡± ¡°I stepped in the door with my left foot first, so let me go!¡± ¡°The fortune-teller said I¡¯m missing a two in my life today, let me be the second!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Watching the customers argue with each other, Xu Ran shook his head and chuckled. ¡°Everyone, one at a time!¡± Chapter 499 - Chapter 499: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood Chapter 499: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood The Starfire Foster Care Shop not only offered excellent Washing and Protection Service, but the Foster Care Service and Accompanying Training Service were also remarkably newsworthy, spreading like wildfire through the night, slightly stirring up the Monster Wooden City. Unfortunately, Xu Ran, who had already completed the stage task, could no longer display the Fame of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Monster Wooden City. Otherwise, he would have found that the Fame had already surpassed fifty percent and was still climbing rapidly. And all of this fermentation became evident on the following day. Before the doors of the Starfire Foster Care Shop even opened, customers, drawn by its reputation, were already queuing up outside. Unlike before, among these customers were not only those coming for Washing and Protection but also new patrons interested in the Foster and Training services. They stood on the street bathed in the morning light, chatting quietly among themselves and occasionally looking toward the firmly shut doors of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, hoping to catch an early glimpse of the young yet mysterious owner of the foster shop. But they were bound to be disappointed. For the person who slowly opened the door and stepped out in response to the expectant crowd wasn¡¯t Xu Ran, but a new, unfamiliar face. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Starfire Foster Care Shop~¡± The newly promoted System store manager spoke with a clear, announcer¡¯s voice, ¡°I am the acting store manager, and today¡¯s business officially begins!¡± Although the crowd found something odd about the tone of the stranger, they were not in the mood to be concerned with that at the moment. All they wanted to know was where Boss Xu had gone. Suddenly, voices inquiring about Boss Xu¡¯s whereabouts started to rise and fall outside the shop. ¡°The boss is out on business today, so I, along with two other clerks, will be dedicated to serving you all.¡± The System store manager smiled and gestured toward the two clerks behind him. ¡°We¡¯ve all come for Boss Xu¡¯s skills. If he¡¯s not here, do you have the same level of expertise?¡± A customer couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Had I known this would happen, I wouldn¡¯t have queued up today.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, with Boss Xu not here, I¡¯ll come back tomorrow instead.¡± ¡°Me too¡­¡± Many customers couldn¡¯t help but voice their thoughts, their spirits dampening at the idea of the foster shop changing hands. ¡°Please rest assured, everyone. If the boss has entrusted the shop to us, he naturally believes we have the capability to maintain it,¡± the System store manager said loudly, then winked at a clerk behind him. That System Clerk nodded slightly and stepped forward, speaking softly, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, why not give us a try?¡± For some reason, after hearing the clerk say ¡°since you¡¯re already here,¡± the idea of leaving that had dawned on the customers started to waver. Indeed, since they were already there, why not give it a shot? The customers who had spoken up about leaving were no longer so resolute. The System store manager secretly gave the clerk a thumbs-up, then continued. ¡°Please come inside. Starting from today, the Starfire Foster will offer Washing and Protection services 24/7, and other services will be expanded accordingly.¡± ¡°We will provide each and every customer with the best possible service!¡± Wow~ Hearing that the services at the Starfire Foster were going to improve and expand, a flicker of excitement appeared in the customers¡¯ eyes. This news made them forget all about the change in the shop¡¯s management, and they swarmed in. Seeing this, the System store manager snapped his fingers. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Meanwhile, the absent Boss Xu, whom the customers thought of fondly, stood in front of the relatively low gates of Monster Wooden City, dressed in casual clothes and accompanied by three little creatures. Whether it was Xu Ran sitting comfortably on Star¡¯s back, Ziyun and Cancan also perched on Star¡¯s back, or Star itself bearing the weight of one person and two pets ¡ª all had their eyes filled with intense curiosity and anticipation. For today, they were embarking on a purposeless short trip, planning to visit as many wild Transcendent Beings within the Monster Wooden Domain as possible, and for the first time after nearly ten days in the Monster Wooden Domain, taking a good look at their neighbors. This idea was not something Xu Ran whimsically thought up early in the morning. In fact, on his first day in the Monster Wooden Domain, while overseeing the much more peaceful and harmonious domain from the sky compared to other areas of the Beast Field, he already had this notion. However, with a focus on running the store, although he had once left to find the Thunder Dragon Stone that Cancan discovered during an adventure, the strong purpose of that trip made him miss much of the scenery along the way. Now, easily¡­ no, very easily having completed the Fame task for the Starfire Foster in the Monster Wooden Domain and with three new System Clerks to maintain the new store, Xu Ran could take a temporary break to do things outside of managing the shop. Although it was still early morning, the city gates of Monster Wooden City were far from deserted. Numerous Beast Masters and ordinary people orderly made their way out of the city while many wild Transcendent Beings traveled in groups toward the city. Though many wild Transcendent Beings preferred to enter the city via the Monster Wooden Marketplace, there were also many whose destination was not the market but other places within the city, making the city gates a suitable choice at this time. After looking around, Xu Ran soon stood behind the departing crowd with the three little ones. However, before they could leave, he was recognized. ¡°Lul?¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, just arriving at the city, stood next to Xu Ran and the three small creatures. It tilted its head, wearing an inquiring expression. Chapter 500 - Chapter 500: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_2 Chapter 500: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_2 It came to the city today specifically to seek Xu Ran at the Starfire Foster Care Shop and ask for a favor, never expecting to encounter the very person it was looking for the moment it entered the city. ¡°Eh? Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, you¡¯re here too.¡± Xu Ran smiled and waved his hand, noticing the slightly odd expression in the other¡¯s eyes, he suddenly felt as though he¡¯d been caught slacking off at work, ¡°Today I¡¯m planning to leave the city, and I¡¯ve left the store to my employees.¡± ¡°Loo!¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader nodded in understanding. So that¡¯s what it was all about. But did Starfire Foster have employees? It had never seen them before. No matter, important matters take precedence. ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader extended a hand and stopped Xu Ran, who was about to exit the city, then made a series of sounds, accompanied by gestures, to communicate with Xu Ran. ¡°Uh¡­ celebration? festival? invitation?¡± After a round of charades, Xu Ran finally grasped the other party¡¯s meaning. ¡°Today, your Ground Raccoon Tribe and other nearby Extraordinary Creature Races are holding a celebration ceremony for the new members of each race, and you plan to invite me to attend?¡± ¡°Loo!¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader nodded vigorously, a smile on its face. For wild Transcendent Beings, reproduction was far more difficult than for ordinary creatures, and for this reason, each newborn member was extremely important to the community-based Extraordinary Creature Races. Every year, the Ground Raccoon Tribe and a few other friendly races would come together to celebrate the newly born members of their respective tribes. This was not only a celebration for newborns but also served as a bridge to maintain friendships between different races. Now, with this year¡¯s celebration about to begin, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader suddenly thought of Xu Ran. This was one of the few humans it recognized and approved of. Thus, it wanted to try inviting Xu Ran to see if he would accept the invitation. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had been worried that its invitation might affect Xu Ran¡¯s management of his shop, but now it seemed that this worry could be put to rest. ¡°Such a coincidence?¡± There was also a hint of surprise on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t expected to have just enough downtime to coincide with their celebration. According to the Ground Raccoon, in addition to itself and the Earth Rock Rat, races that Xu Ran was already familiar with, there would be quite a few other races he had never interacted with involved in the event. This piqued Xu Ran¡¯s interest immediately. Looking at each other, Xu Ran and the three little beasts quickly reached a consensus. Let¡¯s check it out! ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go have a look,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°Thank you for the invitation, but¡­¡± He paused slightly, ¡°I need to make a quick stop back home to grab a few things.¡± You can¡¯t show up to someone¡¯s celebration empty-handed; you¡¯ve got to bring some essentials. Not tableware but Washing and Protection supplies. The celebration described by the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had some similarities to a christening Xu Ran had in mind. Considering this, he thought maybe he could put his expertise to good use during the event. It would serve as a thank-you to the tribes that invited him. And, incidentally¡­ He would also get to see how customers were taking to the three new employees at the shop. Thinking of the three new employees and their style, which ran in the same vein as their predecessors, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became a bit peculiar. ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader nodded slightly, indicating it was no problem. Although it didn¡¯t know what Xu Ran was going to fetch, it had plenty of patience; after all, there was still a fair amount of time before the celebration began. Watching Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader decided to head towards the small market near the city gate. While Xu Ran was still away, it seemed a good idea to buy some human candies and snacks at the market; the various tribes all enjoyed eating these items. Especially the kinds with nuts. On the other hand, carried swiftly by Star, Xu Ran soon arrived at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Seeing the well-ordered queue outside the shop, he breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that in his absence, the three new employees had maintained order in the shop quite well. Xu Ran¡¯s appearance also caused a small stir among the waiting customers. ¡°Boss Xu is back¡ªare you going to manage the shop today?¡± One of the customers couldn¡¯t help but ask. Even though the acting store manager had assured them that their service would not be inferior to Xu Ran¡¯s, in the hearts of these untried customers, Xu Ran was obviously the most reliable. Hearing this, the other customers also looked on expectantly. ¡°Uh, sorry.¡± Facing the customers¡¯ expectations, Xu Ran cleared his throat and bowed slightly, ¡°I have other matters to attend to today, so the operation of the shop will be left to the three employees.¡± ¡°However, their service is no different from mine, and everyone can rest assured in choosing us. Trust in our Starfire Foster Shop,¡± Xu Ran sincerely said, nodding towards the System store manager who had come out in response to the noise. With Xu Ran personally vouching for him, the crowd placed more trust in what the acting manager had said earlier. Although they were still disappointed that Xu Ran would not be serving their Pet Beasts today, the customers were understanding. If only they knew that Xu Ran¡¯s ¡°other matters¡± involved going out for fun, their thoughts might have changed a bit. After calming the customers¡¯ emotions, Xu Ran signaled the three little beasts to wait at the entrance and then hurried into the shop. Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_3 Chapter 501: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_3 ¡°Hello, Boss.¡± The acting store manager greeted Xu Ran with a respectful smile, followed by a look of confusion. Wasn¡¯t it said that they were in charge of today¡¯s business? Why has the boss come back? ¡°I¡¯m going to take a set of spare washing and protection supplies out.¡± Xu Ran explained, then waved to the acting store manager, ¡°You go to the Accompanying Practice Area and attend to your business, there should be plenty of practice accompaniment services today.¡± Following Qingzhou City and Xieyun City, the third System store manager of Monster Wooden City mainly handled practice accompaniments. In this way, the three store managers each had different responsibilities, allowing the resources each store provided to Xu Ran to complement each other to some extent and strike a balance. After all, the System store managers only took twenty percent of all profits, offering Xu Ran far more resources than a staff member on a fifty-fifty split would. ¡°Indeed, there are many clients for practice accompaniment today.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, the System store manager turned to leave, no longer concerning themselves with Xu Ran¡¯s movements. Walking straight into the Washing and Protection room, Xu Ran nodded a greeting to the staff member in charge of washing and found a set of spare washing supplies in no time. Unlike the previously mixed-up washing supplies tailored for various Pet Beast Species, this set was a special version for all Pet Beast Species. Because it was universal, the washing effect was not as customized as tailored versions, but with Xu Ran¡¯s washing techniques, the difference wouldn¡¯t be too great. It was more than sufficient for washing newborns. Packing the necessary items into a small box, Xu Ran stepped out of the store again, waved goodbye to the clients at the door who were reluctant to leave, and then vanished in a flash under the rapid dash of Star. When he reappeared at the meeting place with the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader by the city gate, he just caught sight of the Clan Leader returning with a sack over his shoulder that was larger than its own body. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Ran, guessing the contents from the labels on the sack, smiled and considerately suggested, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of stuff here, Cancan can help later.¡± ¡°Chah~¡± (No problem!) Cancan, a mini version of itself sitting on Star¡¯s back, glanced at the huge sack several times its current size, and waved a paw without any strain. With nothing else delaying them, one human, three beasts, and the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader left the city side by side. After a distance from the city gate, Cancan leapt down from Star and transformed, quickly growing from its tiny size to dozens of meters in length. Though its body hadn¡¯t fully returned to its original state, such a size was quite satisfying to Cancan. It excitedly shook its head, then grabbed the sack from the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s hand and slung it over its back, signaling the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, Xu Ran, and the other two small ones to hurry up. Once out of the city, it was Cancan¡¯s world! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Indeed, my feeling back then was correct.) Star neighed, shaking its head helplessly. Ever since Cancan¡¯s Subterranean Skill was promoted to Three Stars and became the Subterranean Shape Pond capable of carrying people, Star had foreseen that its position as the team¡¯s mount was under threat. Now, the premonition had turned into reality. In some special circumstances, Cancan was indeed more suitable for carrying everyone than Star. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Cancan, don¡¯t dive too deep, we can enjoy the scenery.¡± ¡°Chah~¡± (Understood!) Cancan nodded its head, and after everyone was on its back, an earthen yellow halo flickered around its body. The next moment, its massive figure began to sink slowly. Not completely submerged underground, Cancan kept just its limbs and lower part of its shell buried, with its head and upper shell exposed. This allowed everyone sitting on the shell to have a normal view of the surrounding landscape. ¡°Lur~¡± A hint of envy appeared in the eyes of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. It could tell that the skill Cancan was using had an effect similar to Burrow Soil, but it was definitely higher level than Burrow Soil. Burrow Soil only allowed an Earth attribute Pet Beast itself to dive underground, unable to carry much. For instance, the sack the Ground Raccoon had just now couldn¡¯t be taken underground. But Cancan¡¯s skill could do this and even carry people. If it also mastered this skill, everyday life would be much more convenient. Of course, it was only a thought. After all, not everyone could like Xu Ran enhance the stars of a Pet Beast¡¯s Skills; ordinary Transcendent Beings only had a chance when evolving. ¡°Chah!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Once its height was stabilized, Cancan shouted and started speeding towards the location of the celebration, guided by the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. Even though ¡°full speed¡± for Cancan obviously couldn¡¯t compare to Star¡¯s pace, this was a good thing for Xu Ran and the other two little ones. After all, they were intending to take a closer look at the situation within the Monster Wooden Domain. The slower they traveled, the clearer they could see. And they had the Ground Raccoon, a local guide, right by their side. As Monster Wooden City receded further behind them, Xu Ran, entering deeper into the Monster Wooden Domain, also saw the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood growing larger in his line of sight. This was probably the largest Transcendent Being Xu Ran had ever seen among all. It was so big that it exceeded Xu Ran¡¯s understanding of Transcendent Beings. The Mysterious Wood¡¯s main trunk rose to tens of thousands of meters, with a thick and lush canopy that extended horizontally for dozens of kilometers, as if propping up the entire sky. Moreover, countless branches fell to the ground, taking root in the soil to become new branches. Chapter 502 - Chapter 502: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_4 Chapter 502: Chapter 283 The Secrets of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood_4 On the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, one could still see wild Transcendent Beings moving within the range of the forest. The phrase ¡°a single tree forms a forest¡± became a reality on the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Even Cancan, who expanded her body to the maximum using Jiezimixu, still found a great difference when comparing her body size with that of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. ¡°Cha~¡± (It¡¯s really so big¡­) As Cancan expressed her amazement, a hint of anticipation surfaced on her face. With each advancement, her own form had greatly increased in size. After a few more advancements, would she be as big as this, or even bigger? By that time, wouldn¡¯t any opponent be reduced to mere debris under a swipe of her claw? With this thought, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but indulge in flights of fancy. Xu Ran¡¯s expression, too, carried astonishment as he turned to ask the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader beside him, ¡°Has this Beast Emperor always been this large?¡± ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader pondered for a moment, then shook its head and gestured in the air. ¡°It¡¯s been expanding every year up until now?¡± Upon hearing the Earth Raccoon¡¯s answer, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in amazement. This Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu, was it still not satisfied with its current size? It was actually still expanding and extending its body. Could it be that it aspired to cover the entire Demon Wood Domain with its body? At that thought, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but crack a wry smile. If that were really the case, the Beast Emperor¡¯s size would have to grow dozens of times bigger at least. That would be rather exaggerated. ¡°Loo~¡± Different from Xu Ran¡¯s astonishment, in the eyes of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, a trace of concern and loss emerged. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sensing the other party¡¯s emotions, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°Does the Beast Emperor¡¯s body expand with side effects?¡± Upon hearing this question, the Earth Raccoon hesitated slightly, then gestured again. Combining the varying tones of ¡°Loo Loo,¡± Xu Ran quickly understood the content it intended to communicate. The enormous body of the Beast Emperor was not without its side effects. When the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader first arrived at the Demon Wood Domain, which had only recently been established, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood stood merely a kilometer high. Its form was immense, but not nearly as exaggerated as it was now. Back then, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could respond to the requests of every Transcendent Being within the Demon Wood Domain. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader was well aware that the Earth Raccoon Group that came to this place at the time was very grateful for the protection of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, so every day they would give a portion of the collected resources and items to it. In return, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood would always extend a branch to take these gifts and reciprocate with items of equal value to the Earth Raccoon Group. When the Earth Raccoon Group faced trouble, seeking help from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood always resulted in a prompt resolution. However, as the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood gradually expanded, all this began to change. The frequency with which the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood responded to other beings¡¯ calls started to decrease. What used to be a response every time turned into a response only once after several calls, and eventually, it became almost impossible to get a response. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, who had experienced the entire change, knew very well that it was not because the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood no longer wished to respond and help other beings. It was simply unable to do so. Clearly, this was the consequence of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s expansion in size. The colossal body made its perception of the outside world become dull. Now, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was even unable to sustain the natural production of Mystical Wood Dew. If it continued to expand, the eventual outcome of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood might be¡­ ¡°Cha¡­¡± (How scary.) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but shrink her head back. If this was the cost of becoming larger, then she didn¡¯t want to grow any further! ¡°You won¡¯t end up like that,¡± Xu Ran gently stroked its head, comforting her, ¡°The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood forcibly expanded its body to a ridiculous extent that its own strength couldn¡¯t cover, that¡¯s why it ended up like this.¡± ¡°Your growth in size is natural with each Growth stage, this is your original body type, so such a problem won¡¯t occur.¡± ¡°Cha~¡± (That¡¯s a relief.) Cancan let out a heavy sigh of relief, her face filled with a touch of gratitude. She had thought that if she continued to grow, she would end up like the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. After consoling Cancan, Xu Ran turned his head to look at the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. He had understood the problem with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, combining his own understanding of tree-like Extraordinary Creatures with the description from the Earth Raccoon. But there was still one very important issue. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself feel that there¡¯s a problem?¡± Xu Ran asked, puzzled, ¡°If it wants to, it should be able to control its body to stop expanding, or even shrink back to its original size, right?¡± ¡°Loo¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s eyes dimmed. This question had naturally occurred to them as well. About tens of years ago, when the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could still sporadically respond to everyone, countless Transcendent species within the Demon Wood Domain gathered to discuss the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s issue. In the end, representatives from various species were sent to call out to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood together. They wanted to attempt to persuade the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood to stop the behavior of expanding its body. At that time, the current Ground Raccoon Clan Leader was not yet the Clan Leader of the group, but it happened to be the representative sent by the Earth Raccoon Group. It had personally experienced that moment, and to this day, the memory was still vivid. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood responded to them. Its attitude remained friendly, but it was resolute when facing the persuasion of representatives from various species. Chapter 503 - Chapter 503: Chapter 284 Speculation and Celebration Opening Chapter 503: Chapter 284 Speculation and Celebration Opening ¡°` ¡°Born from death?¡± After much effort, Xu Ran finally understood this somewhat complicated paraphrase, and a contemplative look appeared on his face. Indeed, the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu seemed to have expectations for its own actions. It knew what would happen if it continued to expand the size of its body, and yet it persisted. Perhaps the secret lies within these four words. Born from¡­ death! ¡°So¡­ The Sky-reaching Xuanmu may have encountered some trouble that forced it to do so?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, speculating, ¡°This could explain the meaning of ¡®born from death,¡¯ but what is ¡®order¡¯ then?¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Could it be referring to the order of the Monster Wooden Domain?) Star, also deep in thought, suddenly spoke up, asking. ¡°The order of the Monster Wooden Domain¡­¡± Xu Ran slightly lifted his head and glanced at the distant and magnificent yet completely still Sky-reaching Xuanmu, which stood silent like a real tree, ¡°That assumption does have some possibilities.¡± Within the Monster Wooden Domain, there was a stability not found in other Beast Fields. Here, wild Transcendent Beings didn¡¯t engage in terrible upheavals; even though the primal food chain still existed, and some Transcendent Beings fed on others, they only hunted what they needed and didn¡¯t wantonly slaughter. Furthermore, the friendly and harmonious coexistence between Transcendent Beings and humans was absolutely unseen elsewhere. Here, something existed that was absent in other parts of the Beast Field. It was something called order. Indeed, because the Sky-reaching Xuanmu occupied this area and established new rules with the majesty of the Beast Emperor, this territory gradually became such a paradise. For the Sky-reaching Xuanmu itself, this was probably something it cared about deeply. After all, it had expended much energy to create this Monster Wooden Domain. But¡­ What did this have to do with its ¡®born from death¡¯? Xu Ran¡¯s mind was filled with various speculations in an instant, but he always felt there was a lack of some key factor, preventing him from seeing the truth of the matter. ¡°Forget it, the matters of the Beast Emperor level are beyond my comprehension.¡± Xu Ran shrugged helplessly and then turned to the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, ¡°The place for the celebration shouldn¡¯t be far from here, right?¡± While they were chatting, the Monster Wooden City had completely vanished from sight. Hearing this, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader turned his head to look around, quickly figuring out their current location, and then nodded at Xu Ran. ¡°Loo~¡± The location of the celebration was very close. Xu Ran nodded in understanding, his eyes filled with expectation. Judging from the direction they were heading and the position of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, the place of the celebration should be right in the core domain of the Monster Wooden Domain. The core domain of the Monster Wooden Domain was the area enveloped by the sweeping canopy of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, spanning dozens of kilometers. The lush canopy formed an umbrella that obscured the sky, starkly separating the world beneath it from the world outside. Even without having visited this area before, Xu Ran had heard of it. The core domain of the Monster Wooden Domain consisted of two layers. Beneath the canopy was the Shady Layer, where the dense foliage of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu blocked the sunlight, allowing only sparse light to trickle through. Numerous wild Transcendent Beings that enjoyed cool environments lived here. Whenever they looked up at the overbearing leaves of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu, they felt a deep sense of security. The canopy of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu was the second layer, the Canopy Layer, and it hosted an intricate network of branches that was a paradise for arboreal Transcendent Beings. They built their own nests at the junctures of branches, living and moving among the treetops year-round. The Sky-reaching Xuanmu not only allowed this behavior but also actively adjusted its branches to make them more suitable for nest-building. Even though the Sky-reaching Xuanmu had nearly stopped responding to the beings within the Monster Wooden Domain, this kind of adjustment still took place. As they neared, Xu Ran could clearly see more details of the exaggeratedly large canopy of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu. Every leaf of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu was of a neatly uniform circular shape, giving the impression that even their sizes were identical. Complex light green patterns spread over its deep brown branches, which were also quite symmetrical, even presenting an easily discernible symmetry. Observing the body details of the Sky-reaching Xuanmu up close, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. A remarkable sensation of dissonance emanated from the Sky-reaching Xuanmu. The growth of normal trees¡¯ branches should be irregular, and even though leaves typically have a similar shape, just like human fingerprints, no two leaves are exactly the same. These theoretical norms were not manifested on the Sky-reaching Xuanmu. Its branches were overly symmetrical, and every single leaf was a perfect circle¡­ He wondered if this peculiarity was the result of deliberate adjustment by the Sky-reaching Xuanmu or if it was naturally so. ¡°Cha!¡± (We¡¯re going in!) Cancan let out a low cry and then rose from the earth, revealing its entire body, stepping into the suddenly darkening Shady Area ahead. On the way here, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader had warned them that within the core domain of the Monster Wooden Domain, they could not use any skills to enter beneath the earth. This was the sole taboo of the core domain of the Monster Wooden Domain. ¡°` Chapter 504 - Chapter 504: Chapter 284 Guessing and Celebration Opening_2 Chapter 504: Chapter 284 Guessing and Celebration Opening_2 As for the specific reason, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader did not say, but it was probably related to the roots of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. As Xu Ran and his three Pet Beasts entered the shady layer with the Ground Raccoon, a cool feeling instantly surged towards Xu Ran and the three little ones. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (This place is so comfortable~) Star power whined, feeling the suddenly enriched Dark Attribute energy of the place, a look of satisfaction emerging in its eyes. ¡°Cha~¡± (Indeed~) Upon entering, Cancan shivered all over, unable to help itself from nodding in agreement. The moment it stepped into the area covered by the physique of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, it felt a rich Earth attribute Power that wasn¡¯t available outside. That was the power emanating from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself, yet it did not repel any creature that entered its vicinity. Instead, it showed an even closer affinity to creatures of the Earth attribute. Even the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader beside them had a look of nostalgia and relaxation on its face. Being an Earth Extraordinary Creature itself, upon visiting this place again and feeling the immense presence of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, it suddenly remembered the times from its youth when it followed the elders of its tribe to present the tribe¡¯s gifts to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Unfortunately, even though the Ground Raccoon Tribe still presents similar gifts under the leadership of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, such scenes can no longer be witnessed. Seeing that the other three had entered this place and felt very comfortable, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but shrink its head, nestling in Xu Ran¡¯s embrace. Was it the only one that felt this environment was unfriendly? The overly rich Earth attribute powers in the air around them completely suppressed the Thunder Attribute elements, reducing Ziyun¡¯s strength by as much as twenty or thirty percent when it used any Thunder Attribute abilities in such an environment. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you still have the Fighting Attribute,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, rubbing Ziyun¡¯s head to comfort it and then hopping down from Cancan¡¯s scales, ¡°We¡¯ll walk the rest of the way ourselves.¡± Unable to use Subterranean Shape Pond, there was no need to have Cancan carry them anymore. Sensing something, Xu Ran suddenly looked up, noting a few scrutinizing gazes from above disappear before they returned his gaze. Extraordinary creatures living within the Canopy Layer, huh¡­ ¡°Lu~¡± In the Canopy Layer, some creatures harbored strong curiosity towards newcomers. Noticing Xu Ran¡¯s movements, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader casually explained and then pointed at several figures that were rapidly approaching from this direction. ¡°Lu!¡± They were coming to meet us. ¡°Zhi~¡± ¡°Si~¡± ¡°Shasha!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The enthusiastic voices of various Extraordinary Creatures filled the air, and soon, creatures of different shapes and sizes appeared before Xu Ran and the three little ones. Besides the Earth Rock Rats they had already dealt with, Xu Ran also saw the Covering Earth Rock Snake, Sand Dragon Monster, Earth Lustrous, and other species. Without exception, all these species were earth-based. For a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew a bit odd. They say that wild Transcendent Beings tend to get along better with other Transcendent Beings of the same Attribute, and today he had witnessed this firsthand. It looked like the other species the Ground Raccoon had mentioned were likely to be Earth Attribute as well. ¡°Cha!¡± (Hello, everyone!) Seeing so many Earth Attribute wild Transcendent Beings, Cancan¡¯s face also filled with a sense of novelty and excitement. From these Extraordinary Creatures of the same Attribute, it felt a closeness and warmth, along with a subtle resonance that only those of the Earth Attribute could understand. Seeing Cancan, whose strength had reached the General Level, the other Extraordinary Creatures were first taken aback, becoming subconsciously restrained. However, after getting familiar with the introductions by the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and Earthy Rat Clan Leader, they quickly became comfortable and started interacting familiarly with Cancan. And throughout this process, they also did not neglect Star and Ziyun. The Earth Lustrous, which resembled a round and translucent dirt-hued Night Pearl with two lively eyes inside, rolled on the ground towards Ziyun. After a slight shake, it showed its goodwill in its own way. Looking at the round shape and small body of Earth Lustrous, Ziyun¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. In that moment, it forgot the unfriendliness of the area¡¯s environment, hurriedly pounced forward, holding the Earth Lustrous in its arms, pawing at it, a satisfied smile spreading across its face. ¡°This one is nice, fun~¡± Earth Lustrous: ¡°¡­¡± It wiggled slightly in Ziyun¡¯s arms, and realizing it couldn¡¯t escape the devil¡¯s clutches, it quickly calmed down and resigned itself to its fate. Watching this scene, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give a wry, muted laugh. Earth Lustrous is a very special kind of earth attribute Transcendent Being, their bodies, just like a Night Pearl, are completely made up of earth yuan. The biggest characteristic of these Transcendent Beings is their extreme laziness. They can bury themselves in the soil and, by absorbing earth attribute power from the soil, stay still for years at a time. Even more exaggerated, some have never moved from their birthplace until their death. At this moment, this Earth Lustrous was probably the same. Held by a terrifying Pet Beast that could easily tear it apart anytime, it couldn¡¯t be bothered to struggle more. Seeing that Ziyun made no other move, just occasionally toying with it using her paw pads, Xu Ran also made no move to stop them. Just let the two of them play. I believe both Ziyun and Earth Lustrous are enjoying this process. Following that, Xu Ran turned his gaze to another side. Next to Star, stood a Human-shaped Pet Beast about one meter tall. It had facial features similar to humans, but its appearance showed brown-grey, bark-like wrinkles; it was clothed in a bamboo-woven garment and wore a straw hat on its head, holding a wooden walking stick in its hand. Earth System Lead Species, Withered Wood Elder. This species is known as ¡°The Wise Ones of the Earth attribute,¡± and their three Two stars Skills and one One Star Skill are all non-attack type Skills, each with extremely high utility. Their experienced-looking exteriors correspond to their sharp insight into the outside world and their ability to think critically. At this moment, this strong Withered Wood Elder was softly communicating with Star, occasionally tapping his walking stick twice on the ground rapidly, a yellow-green glow flashing by. It was his Talent Two stars Skill, Wood Grain Secret Language. This Skill is similar to sending a telegraph, with no effect for a single Transcendent Being, but once the number of Transcendent Beings using it increases, it could lead to a qualitative change. Now, the Withered Wood Elder was communicating with Star while simultaneously using Wood Grain Secret Language to connect with his distant kin. ¡°Lur~¡± After a brief exchange and getting to know each other, the Ground Raccoon turned its gaze toward the Withered Wood Elder, with a hint of inquiry. ¡°Ka~¡± The Withered Wood Elder nodded slightly and lifted his walking stick, indicating that he had already sent the message of Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and Xu Ran¡¯s arrival to his own clan. ¡°Sashas!¡± The Sand Dragon Monster let out an excited shriek, lowering its massive body as hundreds of legs extended simultaneously, gesturing for everyone to climb aboard. This was an earth-based Transcendent Being resembling a centipede, with quite impressive Defense abilities and also high mobility. Its rock-brown exoskeleton gave an impression of coldness and strength. At this moment, this strong Withered Wood Elder was softly communicating with Star, occasionally tapping his walking stick twice on the ground rapidly, a yellow-green glow flashing by. It was his Talent Two stars Skill, Wood Grain Secret Language. This Skill is similar to sending a telegraph, with no effect for a single Transcendent Being, but once the number of Transcendent Beings using it increases, it could lead to a qualitative change. Now, the Withered Wood Elder was communicating with Star while simultaneously using Wood Grain Secret Language to connect with his distant kin. ¡°Lur~¡± After a brief exchange and getting to know each other, the Ground Raccoon turned its gaze toward the Withered Wood Elder, with a hint of inquiry. ¡°Ka~¡± The Withered Wood Elder nodded slightly and lifted his walking stick, indicating that he had already sent the message of Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and Xu Ran¡¯s arrival to his own clan. ¡°Sashas!¡± The Sand Dragon Monster let out an excited shriek, lowering its massive body as hundreds of legs extended simultaneously, gesturing for everyone to climb aboard. This was an earth-based Transcendent Being resembling a centipede, with quite impressive Defense abilities and also high mobility. Its rock-brown exoskeleton gave an impression of coldness and strength. Chapter 505 - Chapter 505: Chapter 285: Newborn Baptism Chapter 505: Chapter 285: Newborn Baptism ¡°Lulu?¡± How do you feel about this location? The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader turned his head to look at Xu Ran, who had just set foot on solid ground, his eyes showing an inquisitive look. On the way, Xu Ran had already shared his idea of performing the Washing and Protection service for each newly born member of the celebration crowd with the leaders of the various clans. The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and the Earthy Rat Clan Leader, who had dealt with Xu Ran on numerous occasions, naturally had no objections. But other earth-based species who had little interaction with Xu Ran felt hesitant upon hearing that Xu Ran would perform a Washing and Protection service on the new members they highly valued. Fortunately, with the enthusiastic recommendation and assurance of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader and the Earthy Rat Clan Leader, such hesitation quickly dissipated. Xu Ran¡¯s plan for Washing and Protection eventually won everyone¡¯s approval and gratitude. And the spot chosen for Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection service was this earthy platform, built jointly by the Earth Extraordinary Creatures. Now, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader was inquiring whether the platform was suitable for Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection service or if there needed to be any changes. ¡°This platform is very good, just a few minor adjustments will suffice,¡± Xu Ran smiled, briefly described the environment he needed for the Washing and Protection, and soon, an Earth attribute Pet Beast skilled in earth manipulation swiftly completed the necessary adjustments to the platform. ¡°Lulu~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader gesticulated a few times at Xu Ran, then waved his hand and, leading the other Clan Leaders, turned and left. Xu Ran understood what the other party meant. There was still some time before the celebration began, and during this time, he was free to look around. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s greet these Earth Extraordinary Creatures,¡± noticing that there were quite a few wild Extraordinary Creatures whom he hadn¡¯t met before coming and going, Xu Ran relaxed and turned his head to the three little ones. ¡°Cha~¡± (Make friends!) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up, repeatedly nodding its head. It loved making new friends the most! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star emitted a sharp call, a look of interest flashing in its eyes. The Withered Wood Elder they had spoken with earlier possessed the same penchant for thought as it did, and their enjoyable conversation made Star feel differently about the earth-based species. Initially, it thought all earth-based species were as headstrong and straightforward as Cancan. ¡°Cha¡­ Achoo!¡± Cancan couldn¡¯t help but sneeze, looking around in confusion. What was going on? Could it be that someone was thinking about it? Cancan couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at its friends, as Star shifted its head guiltily away. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Ziyun reluctantly let go of the Earth Lustrous Clan Leader it had been holding in its arms, but without much regret on its face. It had seen many equally interesting beings among these wild Extraordinary Creatures and was eager to get close to them. One human and three Pet Beasts quickly mingled into the Beast Swarm, surrounded by a group of young and curious wild Extraordinary Creatures. ¡°Gudu?¡± The first to approach was a small creature covered with earthy yellow fur, resembling a fuzzy ball; its eyes, hidden beneath its fur, furtively sized up the human and the three beasts, as if to ascertain the identity of the human before them. ¡°Asbestos Dumpling, come here.¡± Xu Ran immediately recognized the creature¡¯s species, chuckled to himself, waved at it, and sat down on a big stone nearby. The called Asbestos Dumpling¡¯s fur exploded outwards, and then it rolled towards Xu Ran, bouncing at the end and landing on Xu Ran¡¯s thigh. Despite seeming light and fluffy, the weight it exerted on Xu Ran¡¯s thigh was similar to that of a rock of equal size. Fortunately, such weight was almost negligible for Xu Ran. He stretched out his hand to skillfully hold the Asbestos Dumpling in place, then began to stroke its fur, quickly eliciting a series of soft cooing sounds from the creature. Given the Asbestos Dumpling¡¯s apparent willingness to cling to Xu Ran, it seemed like it had no intention of leaving any time soon. Even Ziyun, seeing its brazen behavior, felt its paws itch with the urge to do something. The other wild Extraordinary Creatures, who had merely come to crowd around but had not approached, began to sense Xu Ran¡¯s goodwill from his actions towards the Asbestos Dumpling and grew more accepting of him. They each came closer to Xu Ran and the three little ones, making various sounds, expressing their friendliness in their own ways. Mixed in were all sorts of curious questions about Xu Ran, but understanding them completely was still somewhat difficult for him. At times like this, Xu Ran would miss Twelve, who was far away in Beast Field 97. If Twelve were here, the situation would undoubtedly be smoother. ¡°One at a time, don¡¯t rush!¡± Aware of the problem after Xu Ran spoke up, the little ones quickly nominated a small representative, a Withered Wood Elder whose strength was still at the Transcendent Stage, but whose appearance revealed signs of old age. ¡°Gu Sou~¡± The Withered Wood Elder handled a wooden walking stick in its hands. It had eight fingers, but they were as nimble as a human¡¯s, rapidly gesturing in the air. It was unclear where this little Withered Wood Elder had learned so many human gestures, but combining them with its varied tones of voice, Xu Ran soon understood its meaning. With the help of this little translator, Xu Ran patiently answered the little ones¡¯ questions about things like ¡°what human cities are like¡± and ¡°whether human food is tasty.¡± Chapter 506 - Chapter 506: Chapter 285: Newborn Baptism_2 Chapter 506: Chapter 285: Newborn Baptism_2 For a moment, Xu Ran felt as if he had stepped into a nursery. Fortunately, the swift return of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader soon resolved the encirclement around Xu Ran. With the appearance of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, all the little critters scattered in a ¡°whoosh,¡± especially a few small ground raccoons that had been extraordinarily lively just now, had now become as docile as quails. It was apparent that the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader¡¯s consistent image in the Beast Swarm was one of dignity and seriousness. ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader looked at the little ones, pondered for a moment, and then took out a handful of human snacks that he had just bought from Monster Wooden City when he had met Xu Ran. At this, the little ones immediately let out cries of delight and gathered around once more. Indicating for them to divide it on their own, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader turned his head to Xu Ran. ¡°Loo~¡± ¡°Is it about to begin?¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding, then glanced at the little beasts scrambling for the sweets, ¡°They are the main characters today, huh?¡± He had already noticed that the abilities of these Transcendent Beings were basically at the Transcendent Stage, and they were among the weaker ones within this stage. Such power most likely meant they had just been born recently. ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader nodded, then shook his head. ¡°Only a part of them?¡± Xu Ran guessed its meaning once more, nodded in understanding, and shook the small box in his hand, ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader expressed a few words of gratitude and quickly led Xu Ran and three little ones onto the high platform. Below the high platform, the Transcendent Beings who had previously been chatting in small groups or playing with each other quieted down upon noticing the commotion above. On the high platform stood one of the clan leaders with the oldest qualifications among the various groups, rumored to have experienced the dawn of the Monster Wooden Domain. Not only the Ground Raccoon Tribe but also members of many other groups nearby held the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader in reverence, casting watchful eyes at this moment, waiting for the Clan Leader to announce the details of the celebration. ¡°Loo loo loo~¡± The Ground Raccoon emitted several short sounds, then extended a paw to point at Xu Ran standing beside it, and began to introduce Xu Ran¡¯s identity and what Xu Ran was about to do. As its voice fell, the gazes of the various group members shifted towards Xu Ran, followed by a slight commotion of chattering in the field. The members of the Ground Raccoon and Earth Rock Rat tribes, along with a few members of other tribes who had been to Monster Wooden City, were naturally familiar with Xu Ran, but many other Transcendent Beings were meeting Xu Ran for the first time. Hearing that Xu Ran was going to help their group¡¯s new members with Washing and Protection, and that the effects were only slightly less than that of Mystical Wood Dew, the Extraordinary Creatures got excited. ¡°Doom¡ª¡± A deep knock brought silence to the field again. Also ascending the high platform, the Withered Wood Elder Clan Leader, acting as the host of today¡¯s celebration, looked calmly at everyone, and then gestured for the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader to continue. ¡°Loo loo~ Loo!¡± With a tone bearing a touch of solemnity, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader finally raised his arm in a cry, announcing the official start of the ceremony. The first part of the celebration was for each group¡¯s new members to make their first public appearance. Among a hullabaloo of cheers and shouts, an Earth Lustrous the size of a fist, resembling a brownish-yellow Night Pearl, slowly rolled onto the high platform, presenting itself in front of the Beast Swarm. This was a newly born member of the Earth Lustrous tribe. Elemental Transcendent Beings didn¡¯t have the concept of reproduction; every member of their group was born randomly, and because of this, it was much more difficult for them to produce new members compared to other Extraordinary Creature Groups. In similar past events, the Earth Lustrous tribe did not participate, as seeing other groups celebrate new members while having none themselves was indeed depressing. Fortunately, this time the Earth Lustrous tribe also had their new member. The Clan Leader, who had stayed motionless in the earth for several years, uncharacteristically rolled over with a young clan member to attend the celebration. And this Earth Lustrous also proved its mettle by skillfully demonstrating each of its skills on the stage to the applause of the audience below, showing no signs of laziness and appearing rather spirited. Soon, the Earth Lustrous on stage finished its demonstration. From those slightly glowing eyes hidden within its body, one could see that it was equally satisfied with its performance. ¡°Gusu~¡± With a hint of a smile in his eyes, the Withered Wood Elder gestured for the Earth Lustrous to head over to where Xu Ran was to receive its cleansing. The gaze of the Beast Swarm, too, followed the Earth Lustrous¡¯s movements and finally rested on Xu Ran. The beasts were equally curious to see what Human Washing and Protection looked like. ¡°Hello,¡± Xu Ran said softly, crouching down slightly to pick up the rolling Earth Lustrous, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I will give you a wash now.¡± The preparations needed for the Washing and Protection of the Earth Lustrous had been completed by Xu Ran while it was showcasing its skills. Next, the Washing and Protection could proceed directly. The next moment, Xu Ran placed the Earth Lustrous into a small basin filled with warm bath solution. ¡°Muyi~¡± The hard shell of the Earth Lustrous trembled slightly the moment it touched the bath solution. As the warm bath solution enveloped it, the Earth Lustrous could distinctly feel its body being nourished by a strange and yet comforting power. This wondrous sensation felt like drinking a cup of ice water during the dog days of summer, thoroughly refreshing. The eyes within its spherical body couldn¡¯t help but squint a little. As the Earth Lustrous relaxed its expression, Xu Ran placed a finger on its body to sense its condition. Only when the Earth Lustrous¡¯s crystal-clear yet hard exterior gradually softened under the special bath solution to the consistency of jelly, easily indented with a gentle poke, did Xu Ran slowly lift it out of the solution. The Earth Lustrous was now in the ideal state for Washing and Protection. With Xu Ran¡¯s skilled techniques, the softened body of the Earth Lustrous was squeezed into different shapes, almost as if it were being molded into clay. This step in the Washing and Protection process made the curious watching Beast Swarm reveal anxious expressions. Wouldn¡¯t the Earth Lustrous suffer pain from such Washing and Protection? But the next moment, as the sounds of contentment emanated from the Earth Lustrous, countless Extraordinary Creatures in the swarm quickly relaxed. It seemed it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. With Xu Ran¡¯s smooth and flowing Washing and Protection routine, the wash of the Earth Lustrous was finally completed. Its body became hard again, but the appearance was visibly altered compared to before. Its body became cleaner, resembling an untainted glaze from within, and its earthy yellow color turned even more lustrous, with a faint, captivating halo. Even those eyes hidden within its body now sparkled with more animation, clear and vivid. The effects of the Washing and Protection were visibly evident before and after. The Earth Lustrous Clan Leader in the audience was visibly surprised and pleased. It had come to expose new members of the tribe to the world and to share the good news of new members with old friends, yet it had encountered a human so adept at Washing and Protection! As a Pet Beast of the elemental class, it was more susceptible to the impact of its own state. The interruption of Mystical Wood Dew was a significant inconvenience for the Earth Lustrous Clan Leader and other members of its group. Now, it appeared they could Chapter 507 - Chapter 507: Chapter 286: Beast Emperors Well Chapter 507: Chapter 286: Beast Emperor¡¯s Well With the Washing and Protection of the small Earth Lustrous completed, the Withered Wood Elder Clan Leader, acting as the host, gently tapped the ground with his wooden staff. Accompanying the spread of shallow yellow-green ripples, the Withered Wood Elder kinfolk below, who had received the message, quickly brought up the new members of the second group to perform. Compared to the previous lone Earth Lustrous, this time the number of new members from the performing tribe was significantly more, totaling seven. They were seven human-shaped Pet Beasts with a rocky white hue, looking like they had been carved from stone. They weren¡¯t very tall, approximately one meter in height, and when they stood up, they reached only up to Xu Ran¡¯s waist, with a single horn protruding from the top of their heads. Earth System Lead Species, Small Rock Creatures. Unlike their stable, stone-like appearance, these seven Small Rock Creatures were quite lively in character; as soon as they arrived on stage, they couldn¡¯t help but look around curiously, their gaze primarily focused on the various Washing and Protection tools Xu Ran had. It wasn¡¯t until a slightly dissatisfied ¡°Mmm~¡± sounded from below that the seven Small Rock Creatures quickly settled down, stood in the prearranged formation, and then began a demonstration of their Skills, which had obviously been rehearsed in advance. Compared to the demonstration of the lone Earth Lustrous just now, the presentation of the Small Rock Creatures was much more interesting, not only because there were more of them but also because they added some cooperation among each other, balancing strength display with entertainment value. Watching them, Xu Ran almost thought that they had been trained by a skilled Pet Beast trainer. When the seven Small Rock Creatures resumed their positions and finished their individual performances, amidst the enthusiastic cheers and shouts from below the stage, Xu Ran, standing atop the platform, couldn¡¯t help but join in with encouraging applause. The celebration of the wild Transcendent Beings was more interesting than he had imagined. Of course, it was not ruled out that the wild Transcendent Beings of the Monster Wooden Domain had conceived and thought differently from wild Transcendent Beings in other places due to their long-term contact with humans, which led to the emergence of such human-like community activities. ¡°Mmm-mm~¡± ¡°Mmm~¡± Like ones who had just completed a mission, the Small Rock Creatures returned to their lively personalities. They swarmed toward Xu Ran, staring at him with eager eyes and occasionally uttering urging sounds. They had already seen the effects of the Washing and Protection on the Earth Spirit Bead. Now, driven by their curious and active nature, they were eager to try it themselves as soon as possible. ¡°One at a time, everyone will get their turn,¡± said Xu Ran with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the seven Small Rock Creatures and quickly settling on one of them, ¡°Let¡¯s start with you.¡± ¡°Mmm-mm!¡± The selected Small Rock Creature pointed at itself in disbelief, then quickly raised its two arms, cheering with joy. The other six companions cast envious gazes but obediently stood aside, waiting for their selected peer to be washed and groomed first. ¡°Come over here,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, pointing to the Washing and Protection table prepared for the Small Pet Beasts. After the Small Rock Creature lay down, he gently moistened its body with the bath gel he had already prepared. As the water hit the hard, rock-like body of the Small Rock Creature, its color changed slightly, with deeper blue shades appearing amidst its rocky white. ¡°Mmm~¡± The Small Rock Creature couldn¡¯t help but shiver, feeling a sense of comfort. At that moment, it felt the warm water flow across its body, infiltrating every joint and mingling with the accumulated deposits that had been making it uncomfortable, softening them. A sense of comfort and relaxation washed over it. As Transcendent Beings composed entirely of stone, the Small Rock Creatures had a multitude of joints in their bodies to allow for freedom of movement. These joints made their stone bodies flexible but also caused them considerable trouble. Because of their Earth attribute, they were too prone to accumulating dust and dirt. If the dirt was on the surface of their bodies, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to clean, but if it settled in the joints¡­ It would not only make the Small Rock Creatures feel clumsy but also difficult to cleanse, compounding over time. In the long run, the joints of the Small Rock Creatures could even get clogged with this accumulated grime, preventing movement and eventually leading to a complete loss of mobility. The Small Rock Creatures living in the Monster Wooden Domain were once fortunate to have Mystical Wood Dew as a basis, meaning they didn¡¯t have to worry like their kin on the outside. However, with the cessation of Mystical Wood Dew, their bodies began to develop problems. Below the stage, a Small Rock Creature over three meters tall sat with an air of perfect Leadership Stage and a burly body that made it appear quite threatening. It was the Clan Leader of the Small Rock Creature species. At this moment, the Small Rock Creature Clan Leader watched intently as Xu Ran began the Washing and Protection, anticipation evident in its eyes. It hadn¡¯t expected that attending the celebration would bring such a pleasant surprise. If even their Small Rock Creature species could easily be washed and groomed by this human, then they had a new solution to their joint problems. But¡­ could it really be done? The hands of the Small Rock Creature Clan Leader involuntarily clenched into fists. The next moment, a claw beside it reached out and gently patted the hand of the Small Rock Creature Clan Leader. It was a slender claw covered in gray-brown long fur. Chapter 508 - Chapter 508: Chapter 286: Beast Emperors Well_2 Chapter 508: Chapter 286: Beast Emperor¡¯s Well_2 Its owner was the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader. ¡°L¨±~¡± Having ended the opening act and sitting in the audience like everyone else, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader cast a resolute glance at the Clan Leader of the Rocky Creatures before turning his gaze toward Xu Ran onstage. He believed that the problem of the Rocky Creatures was not an issue for Xu Ran. And indeed, it was so. After using a Washing and Protection brush to preliminarily clean the surface of the Rocky Creature¡¯s body, Xu Ran took out a special long brush that looked like a feather duster but with very thin metal wires in the middle of the long bristles to hold them in place, capable of easily reaching deep into crevices for cleaning. In the midst of the Rocky Creature¡¯s utterly content expression, Xu Ran slowly inserted the long brush into the articulation gap of the creature¡¯s wrist and then gently brushed along the direction of the gap. In an instant, the Rocky Creature¡¯s eyes widened dramatically. Although its body was made of rock, its sense of touch was not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, it was even more keenly aware of its surroundings thanks to its rocky exterior. Just like at this moment, it could clearly feel a thick layer of grime that had been quiet in the joint crevice for a long time being swept away instantly by Xu Ran¡¯s brush, much like autumn winds blowing away the fallen leaves. The physical feedback couldn¡¯t be wrong; the Rocky Creature felt as if it had suddenly become lighter. The cleaned areas itched slightly because of the fine bristles, and an unprecedented sense of satisfaction flooded its heart. Its expression became even more content, its rigid body starting to tremble unconsciously, while a strange and short sound was squeezed out of its mouth. ¡°Mmm~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Done~¡± With adept skills, Xu Ran swiftly completed the Washing and Protection for the seven Rocky Creatures. The already lively seven Rocky Creatures, feeling an unprecedented lightness and relaxation in their bodies, became joyously animated. Before even leaving the stage, they had already started to play with each other. Seeing the stark contrast in the seven Rocky Creatures before and after their Washing and Protection, the countless Transcendent Beings sitting below fell silent for a moment. But after that, they looked towards Xu Ran with burning enthusiasm. Having performed Washing and Protection for two completely different species with such effective results, Xu Ran¡¯s capabilities were fully convincing to those present. So next¡­ Clan leaders of various species rubbed their hands in anticipation. They had already made preparations, ready to seek out this human named Xu Ran for Washing and Protection after the celebration was over! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Once all the clan groups¡¯ young members had finished their carefully prepared debut presentations, the first part of the ceremony concluded. Under the rallying cry of the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader, the various clans began to hop and howl around the stage, creating such a lively scene that it even attracted many species already living in the Monster Wooden Domain Core Area to come and watch. The three little ones, initially somewhat restrained, also gradually integrated into this warm atmosphere, eventually joining in the jumping and howling with the other wild Transcendent Beings as if they were one of them. And Xu Ran became incredibly popular all of a sudden. Clan leaders of various species approached him, each with the same requests. They hoped that Xu Ran could perform Washing and Protection for the other members of their clans. For such a request, Xu Ran naturally had no reason to refuse. After giving them the address of Starfire Foster Care Shop, he quickly received reservations from more than a dozen species. Luckily, the Washing and Protection work had already been handed over to the system staff, so there was nothing for him to worry about. Let the system staff take care of the hard work. When the second part of the ceremony also came to an end, the interesting celebration concluded, and evening approached. Xu Ran, who had originally planned to explore the Monster Wooden Domain aimlessly, changed his itinerary for the day because of his encounter with the Ground Raccoon. Fortunately, this change was very worthwhile. Throughout the day, not only did he learn about the secrets of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, witness the sights of the Monster Wooden Domain Core Area, but he also took part in the lively festival. ¡°L¨±?¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader walked up to Xu Ran and quietly asked him a question. ¡°You¡¯re asking when I¡¯ll be going back?¡± Xu Ran paused a bit, ¡°Soon, but before I go, there¡¯s one more thing I want to do.¡± The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader didn¡¯t speak, but a few more questions appeared in his eyes. ¡°How did you used to call out to the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu?¡± Xu Ran suddenly asked with a smile, ¡°I want to try and see if I can get a response.¡± ¡°L¨±~¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s idea, the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader sighed, shook his head helplessly. A response from Sky-touching Mysterious Wood? That¡¯s too difficult, far too difficult. Over the years, it had tried countless times, each ending in failure. Looking into Xu Ran¡¯s determined eyes, the Earth Raccoon¡¯s heart softened a bit. Oh well, what harm would there be in letting them try? ¡°Loo~¡± The Earth Raccoon pointed in a certain direction and then walked ahead of Xu Ran and the three pets to lead the way. Unlike the typical fickle temperament of a Beast Emperor, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, though also a Beast Emperor, was extremely amiable. When it first established the Monster Wooden Domain, it even purposely set up a few special areas to facilitate the creatures within the domain to seek its help. Now the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood rarely responded to calls, but those special areas had withstood the test of time for hundreds of years without a single issue. Under the guidance of the Earth Raccoon, a man and three pets soon arrived at one of these places. It was a well situated within the forest. Unlike the wells Xu Ran had in mind, its rim and inner walls were completely made of intertwined vines, with clear well water constantly bubbling out. Xu Ran tried scooping up a handful, finding it pleasantly cold. What was more noteworthy was the vine on one side of the well¡¯s rim. This vine seemed to weave up from the well to reach the treetops, or rather the vines that hovered above the canopy fell straight down to the ground, eventually forming this well. ¡°Is this vine a branch of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood?¡± Xu Ran looked up curiously and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How do we call out to it?¡± ¡°Loo~¡± Looking at the familiar spot, the Earth Raccoon¡¯s eyes revealed a touch of nostalgia. Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, it raised both of its paws and began gesturing. Xu Ran quickly understood. ¡°If we want to offer an item to the other party, should we just toss it directly into the well water?¡± ¡°If we seek assistance from the other party, should we just shout into the well?¡± ¡°Loo~¡± The Earth Raccoon nodded rapidly then stepped back, giving space to Xu Ran and the three little ones. Hastily deciding to attempt communication with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, a man and three pets exchanged glances. Quickly, Cancan courageously raised a paw to volunteer. The Beast Emperor was of the Earth attribute, and Cancan was the same. Logically and emotionally, it should have an easier time getting a response from the other party, right? Ziyun and Star exchanged a glance and also thought Cancan made sense. The Monster Wooden Domain was the Earth attribute¡¯s territory, and Cancan was a pure Earth attribute creature. ¡°We could try,¡± Xu Ran nodded decisively. The next moment, Cancan took a step forward, and its body size swelled with the wind. Returning to its original size was not enough; it also cast the magnifying state of Jiezimixu, pushing its strength higher and higher. Dozens of meters¡­ hundreds of meters¡­ eventually surpassing a kilometer! Cancan¡¯s terrifying aura surged in every direction, and its mighty presence, nearing the King Stage, caused a slight commotion in the core area of the Monster Wooden Domain. The Transcendent Beings living in the Shady Layer all looked in their direction, and many creatures in the Canopy Layer also peered down at the astonishingly large creature. They noticed Cancan¡¯s position as well, and for a moment, they all showed curious and interested looks. Was this creature trying to summon the Beast Emperor? And would the Beast Emperor respond? Amidst the creatures¡¯ speculation, Cancan, having expanded to its maximum size, slowly lowered its gigantic head towards the well, and then it opened its huge, terrifying mouth to let out a powerful shout that shook the surroundings. ¡°Chaa!!¡± (Beast Emperor wake up!!!) Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Ziyun: ¡°¡­¡± Star: ¡°¡­¡± Fair enough, this was so very Cancan. Chapter 509 - Chapter 509: Chapter 287: Conversation with Beast Emperor Chapter 509: Chapter 287: Conversation with Beast Emperor Accompanied by Cancan¡¯s powerful presence, already close to that of a King Stage, and its booming voice shaking the surroundings, the clear water within the Beast Emperor¡¯s Well stirred up ripples, one circle after another. Along with the emergence of the ripples, a powerful and majestic power faintly radiated from the mouth of the well, the direction of its bottom. That immense power was identically sourced from the sturdiest of woods deep in the forest, the ones that seemed to touch the sky. It was the aura emanating from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. At this moment, Cancan, which had just a moment ago been bursting with vigor, now shrank back like a mouse who had encountered a cat, quickly retracting its body to a pocket-sized form and obediently hiding behind Xu Ran, occasionally stealing glances at the well¡¯s mouth. Even as its magnificent presence was now subdued, and all that remained of its previous voice was a faint echo, the ripples in the water within the well did not subside but seemed to grow more intense instead. Seeing this scene, Xu Ran and the other two little ones held their breath in unison. Could it be¡­ it really awakened the Beast Emperor? The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader nearby also couldn¡¯t help but widen its eyes. It watched the persistent ripples in the well water with slightly hurried breaths. It vaguely remembered that a long time ago, when their calls to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood were answered, similar occurrences took place. Could it be¡­ Xu Ran and his Pet Beast did it?! Sharing this thought, other wild Transcendent Beings, drawn by Cancan¡¯s earlier commotion, also cast their gazes in this direction. After a moment of dead silence, a clamor arose all around as various voices of the Transcendent Beings came one after another, and their presences surged forth swiftly. As weak as those at the Elite Stage, as powerful as the General Stage, they were plentiful and varied. The Transcendent Beings living in this area appeared all at once, enlivening the previously quiet jungle. Their gazes towards Xu Ran bore no malice but rather held a hint of curiosity. After all, after such a long time, there were very few who could cause an anomaly at the Beast Emperor¡¯s Well as easily as the human before them. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± Following a prolonged and sharp cry, a large Azure Hawk with a powerful presence descended swiftly from the high tree canopy. With its appearance came an aura stronger than Cancan¡¯s earlier peak state, spreading out with a deafening force. King Stage. This was a true King Stage creature, a being at the Beast King Level. As it made its appearance, all the Transcendent Beings that had just emerged bowed their heads unanimously, becoming a bit more subdued. After the King Stage Azure Hawk landed, its gaze carried a mix of excitement and nostalgia as it stared in the direction of the well¡¯s mouth. Yet just moments later, the excitement and nostalgia faded somewhat. After a slight shake of its head, the Azure Hawk locked its gaze on Cancan, the instigator from before, and let out a sharp cry. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± At the same time, the meaning embedded in its call became apparent in the minds of the surrounding creatures. ¡°Little one, try again.¡± Almost simultaneously with the Azure Hawk¡¯s statement, the ripples emanating from within the well began to subside, and, in the end, that powerful aura disappeared completely. This almost successful call still ended in failure. It was clear that the King Stage Azure Hawk had already sensed this, which is why it asked Cancan to try again. ¡°Chaa?¡± (¡­Really do it again?) Seeing the gaze of the Azure Hawk and other surrounding Transcendent Beings, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but draw back its head. Its heart was also filled with disappointment as it watched the dissipating ripples in the well water. But at the same time, it was also filled with relief and the fear following its previous recklessness. Asking it to do it again right now, Cancan felt a little faint-hearted. ¡°Try again,¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment, then stroked Cancan¡¯s head and spoke softly, ¡°This time we were almost successful, maybe next time we will indeed succeed, right?¡± ¡°Chaa~¡± (Then I¡¯ll try again!) Seeing Xu Ran also encouraging it, Cancan bit its teeth, cheered itself up in its heart, and took another step forward. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll help you too.) Starlight crowed, its gaze towards Cancan filled with encouragement. It thought that Cancan¡¯s failure to awaken the Beast Emperor just now might have been due to insufficient strength. Therefore, this time it would also join in, using the Night Rune to bolster it, which should make things more certain. ¡°Chaa!¡± (Okay!) Hearing Starlight¡¯s words, Cancan nodded firmly, feeling a bit more confident. The wild Transcendent Beings that had crowded around, having already witnessed Cancan¡¯s increased body size, now quickly made way, leaving a large empty space. In the next moment, Cancan shouted loudly as it swiftly grew in size amidst countless watching eyes, its presence climbing higher and higher. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Starlight roared, and the starlight patterns that faintly covered its body brightened all at once in that moment. An immeasurable dark power soared into the sky, while a complex and pitch-black pattern rapidly emerged on Cancan¡¯s body. With the enhancement of the Night Rune, Cancan¡¯s presence instantly broke through its previous peak and reached the King Stage level in the astonished gaze of the beasts around, only slightly weaker than the Azure Hawk¡¯s presence. Feeling this increasingly formidable presence of Cancan, the Azure Hawk¡¯s eyes revealed anticipation. It couldn¡¯t help but flap its wings and rise into the air, positioning itself above Cancan¡¯s proudly lifted huge head, closely watching Cancan¡¯s next move. This time¡­ will it awaken the Beast Emperor? As one of the most loyal subordinates of the Beast Emperor, it had been far too long since it was able to converse with the slumbering Beast Emperor. Chapter 510 - Chapter 510: Chapter 287: Conversation with Beast Emperor_2 Chapter 510: Chapter 287: Conversation with Beast Emperor_2 If it had the chance to speak even a single sentence with the other party during this opportunity, it would feel a bit more at ease. With this thought in mind, the look in Azure Hawk¡¯s eyes, as it gazed upon Cancan, was filled with even more anticipation. Come on, rash younger generation boy! Amidst the breath-held attention of all beings around, Cancan¡¯s head slowly drooped down as before, until it was finally facing directly above the well opening. In those sparkling golden eyes appeared a hint of contemplative light, and then without any hesitation, Cancan shouted loudly towards the well below. ¡°Char~¡± (¡°Beast Emperor, wake up quickly!¡±) As Cancan¡¯s voice spread, the surface of the well within, as expected, once again rippled in layers upon layers. With the last occurrence as a comparison, anyone could tell that the waves this time were several times more intense. Along with the surge of the waves, more majestic power belonging to the Beast Emperor started to churn up from the bottom of the Beast Emperor¡¯s Well. If one could say that the Beast Emperor¡¯s Well was a tightly closed door, and on this side of the door were beings calling for the Beast Emperor, and on the other side was the Beast Emperor himself, then the previous call was like opening a very small crack in the door, only letting through a sliver of light. This time, it was as if a much larger crack had opened, enough for those outside the door to clearly glimpse the scene inside. The previously quiet Beast Swarm surrounding the area now once again showed signs of excitement and tension in their gaze. Undoubtedly, compared to the last time, the chance of this strange human getting a response from the Beast Emperor was much greater this time. Among the Beast Swarm, the older ones could vaguely remember the grandeur of the past. The ripples stirred up now seemed to vaguely reproduce the scene from those days. Countless beings held their breath tightly, watching the undulations. Would the Beast Emperor respond? Under the tense watch of one human, three guardians, and countless wild Transcendent Beings, the well water that was stirring began to become more and more violent. The power overflowing from the bottom of the well also started to intensify along with it. It was as if an invisible hand was slowly yet firmly pushing open that long-sealed door! Eventually, the turmoil of the well water reached its limit, boiling up as if tumultuously turbulent, and under the gaze of countless beings, the water in the well began to sink rapidly. Various cheers erupted from all directions. Many within the Beast Swarm who had experienced this scene knew what it meant. It signified that the Beast Emperor had responded to Xu Ran! ¡°Lur!¡± Quick, take the opportunity to communicate with the Beast Emperor! The always calm and gentle Ground Raccoon Clan Leader couldn¡¯t help but let out an excited shout, his gaze urging Xu Ran with a bit of haste, signaling him to quickly speak. Including the Azure Hawk of the King Stage and other beings, everyone¡¯s gaze froze upon Xu Ran. Although they were hoping to piggyback on Xu Ran¡¯s call to speak a few words with the Beast Emperor, they definitely had to let this major contributor of the call go first. In the center of everyone¡¯s attention, a hint of contemplation appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Truth be told, coming here to see and try to call the Beast Emperor was his sudden idea. Even at first, he had not considered that the Beast Emperor would respond to him, given that the Beast Emperor had not responded to any other beings for so long. It was only after Cancan almost succeeded last time that he began to think on his feet about what he should ask the other party. At this moment, with the well of the Beast Emperor churning with a powerful aura that was uniquely its own, Xu Ran already had an idea in his mind. He strode forward, placing his hands on the edge of the well, and shouted loudly. ¡°Pardon the disturbance, Beast Emperor, I wish to know the whereabouts of the Extinct Thunder Attraction?¡± Yes, the first question Xu Ran wanted to know was regarding the most pressing issue for him and his three companions. That was about the whereabouts of the last piece of evolution material for Ziyun. Xu Ran¡¯s voice echoed within the empty Beast Emperor¡¯s Well, but what answered him was a silence. ¡°This¡­¡± Viewing this scene, a hint of surprise and bewilderment flashed across Xu Ran¡¯s face. If he still wasn¡¯t feeling the immense presence of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, he might even think that this call had failed as well. Why wouldn¡¯t the other party respond to him? ¡°Char?¡± (¡°Is the Beast Emperor still not fully awake?¡±) In Cancan¡¯s still large eyes, a hint of confusion appeared. It moved closer to the well once more, looking as if it was about to let out a second roar, when the Azure Hawk that had been guarding the surrounding area slightly flapped its wings, using a twist of wind to interrupt Cancan¡¯s action. ¡°Liu~¡± ¡°Humans, you need to wait a while, for even the long-silent Beast Emperor will have some difficulty responding.¡± An Azure Hawk chirped softly, its eyes looking toward the mouth of the well, filled with respect and admiration. Reminded by the King Stage Azure Hawk, Xu Ran also had a moment of realization. Indeed, when one just wakes up, there is a brief blank in consciousness, commonly known as grogginess. If the silent state of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu is also regarded as a deeper level of sleep, then its period of grogginess would naturally be much longer. Then I¡¯ll just wait patiently a little longer. The man and his three pets no longer spoke, quietly watching the direction of the well. One minute¡­ Two minutes¡­ After about ten minutes of waiting like this, a faint wisp of thought finally emerged from the well. Just as the King Stage can project the meaning of their words into the minds of other creatures, the moment this thread of thought arrived, all the creatures present understood its meaning. However, after understanding, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat deflated. Because the Beast Emperor¡¯s response was ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Even a being as powerful as it had no clue about the Extinct Thunder Attraction. ¡°Meow~¡± (It seems that the Extinct Thunder Attraction is indeed very difficult to find¡­) Ziyun sighed softly, a hint of helplessness crossing its face. But it quickly turned this helplessness into an even stronger fighting spirit. If it can¡¯t be found, then search even harder! Feeling the breath of a living Beast Emperor up close, it could sense the vast gap between itself and the other, like a chasm between Life Levels. Only through another evolution could it possibly reach such heights. ¡°Forget it,¡± Xu Ran quickly adjusted his mood as well. He had prepared two questions. Now that the first question had not received a satisfactory answer, it was time to ask the second one quickly! ¡°Beast Emperor senior, is it possible to transform Beast Field No. 97 into what the Monster Wooden Domain is like now?¡± Xu Ran asked softly, his gaze filled with a hint of inquiry. Even the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood couldn¡¯t change Beast Field No. 47, and it could only occupy a corner and change the area under its control. With Xu Ran¡¯s current strength, such a change was even more out of reach. But in Beast Field No. 97, with only a few Beast Kings, it might be possible to attempt such a thing. Having grown close and interacted with Twelve, Xu Ran¡¯s preconceptions about wild Transcendent Beings had dissipated. Seeing a place like the Monster Wooden Domain that seemed like a Holy Land to both Humans and wild Transcendent Beings, new ideas had begun to form in his heart. Could he¡­ try as well? As his question was posed, the breath within the well hesitated for a moment. It seemed the other party hadn¡¯t expected Xu Ran to ask such a question. Soon, there was a fluctuation in the breath inside the well. It wasn¡¯t because it was groggy and needed time to recover, but because it was pondering how to answer his question. After a good while, a whisper of thought came through. ¡°Enough power to suppress everything.¡± ¡°Power?¡± A trace of surprise appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. He had thought that the Beast Emperor would have some special advice, but the final answer turned out to be so simple and brutal. Yet considering the situation inside the Monster Wooden Domain, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a hint of enlightenment. Indeed, that seemed to be the case. Didn¡¯t the original Beast Emperor forcibly occupy the Monster Wooden Domain, arbitrarily commanding all creatures not to kill each other? Only after feeling the change in the Monster Wooden Domain did everyone begin to gradually accept and ultimately support the rules set by the Beast Emperor. Everything followed a gradual process. And its beginning was indeed power. Chapter 511 - Chapter 511: Chapter 288: New Clues to Extinct Thunder Attraction! The Next Target! Chapter 511: Chapter 288: New Clues to Extinct Thunder Attraction! The Next Target! ¡°` Just as Xu Ran was about to have an epiphany and opened his mouth, preparing to strike while the iron was hot by asking about other matters, a sharp cry came from the side. ¡°Cree~¡± ¡°Humans, may I have a few words with the Beast Emperor?¡± Unlike the calm and majesty from before, the voice of the King Stage Azure Hawk now carried urgency and a hint of appeal. Unlike Xu Ran, who was immersed in the Beast Emperor¡¯s answers, the Azure Hawk clearly sensed that after answering the second question, the Beast Emperor¡¯s thoughts had grown tired. If Xu Ran continued to ask questions, perhaps after the next one, the Beast Emperor¡¯s presence would fade, and this session of responses would come to an end. And it would miss the rare moments of the Beast Emperor¡¯s lucidity. But the Azure Hawk also knew that its request was somewhat preposterous. After all, the Beast Emperor had awakened to respond to the human before it, not to itself. So, it was willing to offer Xu Ran a certain compensation. And this compensation, after hearing the two questions Xu Ran had asked the Beast Emperor, it already had an idea. ¡°Cree~¡± ¡°Regarding Extinct Thunder Attraction, I¡¯ve heard some things¡­¡± ¡°Please go ahead, Elder!¡± Almost the instant the Azure Hawk spoke these words, Xu Ran quickly stepped back several steps, yielding his place at the mouth of the well to it. The two questions he was most eager to ask had already been asked, and any further questions were not so critical. Who could have imagined that the Azure Hawk Beast King might have a lead on something even the Beast Emperor did not know? The situation had taken an unexpected turn. However, it made sense, considering the Azure Hawk Beast King was a Bird Pet Beast, a Transcendent Being with a greater range of activity and broader experience, while the Beast Emperor had recently been in prolonged silence, detached from worldly affairs. The Azure Hawk cast a grateful glance at Xu Ran, not bothering to say more, eagerly taking advantage of the Beast Emperor¡¯s presence before it dissipated and began to emit a series of earnest cries. Under its careful control, the meaning behind these cries remained unknowable to any other being; this was a conversation solely between it and the Beast Emperor. The Beast Emperor quickly transmitted a thought solely to it, and though the content was unknown, from the Azure Hawk¡¯s near-tearfully joyful demeanor, it was evident that its purpose in communicating had been achieved. As the Azure Hawk Beast King had expected, even though the Beast Emperor¡¯s presence briefly roused, it could not maintain for a prolonged period, and soon, the presence began to wilt before quickly dissipating. From the satisfied expression of the Azure Hawk Beast King, it was apparent that it had received the answers it sought. Having taken one last look at the Beast Emperor¡¯s Well, the Azure Hawk Beast King, in high spirits, waved its wings at Xu Ran and the three little ones. ¡°Cree~¡± ¡°Human boy, come aboard, I¡¯ll take you to find the Extinct Thunder Attraction.¡± Originally, it had only intended to inform Xu Ran of the lead. But now, it planned to express its gratitude for the precious opportunity Xu Ran had given up with more tangible actions. ¡°Thank you so much, Elder,¡± said Xu Ran gratefully, with a smile, quickly stepping forward and leaping onto the Azure Hawk¡¯s broad back. Ziyun and Star followed closely behind, and the last to join was Cancan, whose body size had rapidly shrunk to a portable scale. Even the Azure Hawk Beast King couldn¡¯t help but glance back at Cancan as it boarded, as its impressively large body type from earlier had made a deep impression, and it had not expected the actual weight to be so light. ¡°Elder Ground Raccoon, I¡¯ll be leaving with Elder Azure Hawk first! Thank you so much for today!¡± Xu Ran waved to the Ground Raccoon Clan Leader below, and soon, he and the three little ones tightly grasped the long feathers behind the Azure Hawk. Once all a human and three beasts were seated, the Azure Hawk issued a piercing cry, flapped its wings forcefully¡ªthe overwhelming presence of the Beast King Level unfolded, stirring up tumultuous winds, and it soared into the sky. Like a streak of azure light across the sky, the Azure Hawk carried a human and three beasts away in a direct line. ¡°Lur~¡± Quite a smooth journey! The Ground Raccoon Clan Leader waved in the direction Xu Ran and the Azure Hawk had departed, silently sending his blessings before nodding to the other creatures gathered there and turning to leave. With the tribal festival concluded, there was still much for it to do. Meanwhile, high in the sky, the human and three beasts experienced something quite extraordinary. Originally, they had thought their flight experience would be unpleasant at the terrifying speed of the Azure Hawk Beast King. But the reality was quite different. An invisible pale azure Light film constantly surrounded the body of the Azure Hawk Beast King, quietly dissolving the oncoming winds so that even at such speeds, they could not reach Xu Ran and the three little ones at all. Wind attribute Two stars Skills, Wind Stabilization. Not all Wind Pet Beasts adept at high-speed flight possess this skill, but those that do are the most suited for riding. The current Azure Hawk Beast King was one such beast. Of course, Xu Ran dared not even think of contracting it. However, it reminded him of the Nightmare Beast King, also a Bird Pet Beast, and then, of Little Shier. Xu Ran remembered that before meeting Little Shier, he had contemplated contracting a Bird Pet Beast so that he could ride the great bird soaring through the sky in the future. Now, his dream of a Bird Pet Beast had come true, albeit only halfway. Expecting Little Shier to fly with him was simply too demanding. Considering this, Xu Ran, seated on the back of the Azure Hawk Beast King, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. Then, settling his mind, he began to observe the surrounding environment. ¡°` Chapter 512 - Chapter 512: Chapter 288: New Clues to Extinct Thunder Attraction! The Next Target!_2 Chapter 512: Chapter 288: New Clues to Extinct Thunder Attraction! The Next Target!_2 ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s in the southwest direction.) Star, standing by, had a glint in his eye as he looked up at the sky, quickly determining the direction they were heading. ¡°Meow?¡± (Does that mean we¡¯re on the right track?) Excitement filled Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Since hearing from the Azure Hawk Beast King that it knew of the Extinct Thunder Attraction, that excitement had never left its eyes. ¡°It seems our previous guesses were not wrong,¡± said Xu Ran, reaching deep into his bosom where the drawings that recorded clues about the Extinct Thunder Attraction, found within the Thunder Dragon Stone, were kept. After lightly touching it to confirm that the drawings were still on his person, Xu Ran spoke softly, ¡°Senior Azure Hawk, where do we need to go?¡± ¡°Screech~¡± ¡°The place we¡¯re going to is outside the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± The Azure Hawk Beast King let out a sharp yet friendly sound and started to recount slowly while they were flying. ¡°As you know, the world outside the Monster Wooden Domain is not so peaceful. Transcendent Beings slaughter each other, and they are hostile towards humans as well.¡± ¡°Before I met the Beast Emperor, I too was one of them.¡± ¡°I was already tired of such killing, so the Monster Wooden Domain deeply attracted me, and I have long considered myself a part of the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°Every once in a while, I would leave the Monster Wooden Domain and wander around nearby areas to see if there were other Transcendent Beings in the same situation that needed help, bringing them back into the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding. Poaching talent¡ªhe got it. ¡°About a year ago, I was wandering through the area I¡¯m about to take you to,¡± reminisced the Azure Hawk Beast King, a hint of memory in its eyes, ¡°when, unexpectedly, I came upon a confrontation between two Beast Kings.¡± ¡°Both of these Beast Kings were Thunder Beast Kings, and they seemed to be fighting over some resources, ending up in a fierce battle.¡± ¡°Because I interrupted by accident, they seemed worried that they would both get hurt and I would benefit from it, so they quickly ceased fighting.¡± The Azure Hawk Beast King paused slightly in its speech. ¡°I clarified my identity, and the misunderstanding was resolved. Out of respect for the Beast Emperor, they spoke with me for a bit.¡± ¡°During our conversation, I learned of the cause of their struggle; they were indeed fighting over a very important piece of Thunder Resources.¡± ¡°That resource was called the Extinct Thunder Attraction.¡± ¡°So which of the two Beast Kings ended up with the Extinct Thunder Attraction in the end?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s heart tightened, and his voice couldn¡¯t help but become more anxious. A year ago! Two Thunder Beast Kings! Even if the two Beast Kings stopped their fight at the time due to the Azure Hawk Beast King¡¯s interruption, it had been a year since then¡ªa victor must have emerged, right? If the one who obtained it had already started using that resource¡­ Thinking of that possibility, Xu Ran became anxious. Next to him, Ziyun also looked more solemn than ever before. This sounded like a big problem¡­ ¡°No one got it,¡± smiled the Azure Hawk Beast King, ¡°because according to them, the Extinct Thunder Attraction doesn¡¯t appear immediately; it requires a certain opportunity, and what they were fighting over was the qualification to keep watch over this resource.¡± ¡°Eventually, after I advised them, the two Beast Kings decided to temporarily halt their fight and wait together for the Extinct Thunder Attraction to appear.¡± ¡°As of now, the Extinct Thunder Attraction probably hasn¡¯t appeared yet,¡± the Azure Hawk Beast King turned back and looked at Xu Ran, ¡°I will take you from afar to see the exact location of that place. If you also wish to compete for this resource, then it¡¯ll be up to you.¡± ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded, his expression somewhat resigned. So¡­ if it hadn¡¯t been for the Azure Hawk Beast King meddling, the Extinct Thunder Attraction would be guarded by a Thunder Beast King. And now, it was being guarded together by two Beast Kings? He couldn¡¯t help but glance at Ziyun beside him. Although one of the Evolution Conditions for Ziyun was to single-handedly defeat one Thunder Beast King and one Fighting Beast King, clearly, it didn¡¯t yet have the strength to contend with a Beast King at this moment. Even with the power of its companions, it was doubtful they could handle one. And the Guardians were two Beast Kings. Fortunately, the Extinct Thunder Attraction had not yet appeared in the world at this moment. He and the three little ones still had a chance to prepare. Soon, the figure of the Azure Hawk Beast King was fixed in the void. It flapped its wings and hovered in midair, its gaze directed at a certain spot ahead. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± ¡°Any further, and those two Beast Kings would be able to detect my presence.¡± ¡°However, this should be close enough.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior,¡± Xu Ran nodded, followed the Azure Hawk Beast King¡¯s gaze and looked ahead, then his pupils contracted slightly. Indeed, as the Azure Hawk Beast King had said, this distance was already sufficient to see the location of the Extinct Thunder Attraction. After all, it was far too conspicuous. The gaze fell upon a small valley. Completely different from the surrounding areas, this entire valley was dyed purple by the enshrouding Thunder Light. From time to time, one or two mysterious and enigmatic symbols flashed by within the valley, and with each flash, purple-black exotic thunder would descend from the sky, thundering into the valley. Yet, around the valley, the skies were clear for thousands of miles, utterly cloudless. This exotic thunder arrived abruptly, unusually peculiar. Piecing together the information he had gathered about the Extinct Thunder Attraction, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. That¡¯s it! Hidden within this valley was the Extinct Thunder Attraction! Thankfully, this resource hadn¡¯t yet been claimed. Although the troubles that would follow were no small matter, at last they had a target and didn¡¯t need to search around aimlessly like headless flies. Beside him, Ziyun¡¯s eyes gleamed the moment the purple-black exotic thunder appeared. It could vaguely feel that the purple-black Thunderbolt had an immense attraction for it, and this attraction was not solely due to the incredibly strong Thunderforce it contained, but also because it held a special substance. That substance bore some resemblance to the Power it used when executing Divine Punishment! At this moment, a single thought dominated Ziyun¡¯s mind. To obtain it! It absolutely must obtain it! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It seems like there is a human city over there.) While Xu Ran and Ziyun were staring intently at the distant mountain peak hiding the Extinct Thunder Attraction, Star¡¯s gaze quickly shifted towards a city some distance away from the valley. Even though from their line of sight the city was just a tiny point, being visible from this distance left no doubt that the scale of the city exceeded that of a 3 Level town; chances were it was a Second Level Town. ¡°Yes, I see it too.¡± Regaining his composure, Xu Ran also noticed the Second Level Town not far from the valley with Star¡¯s guidance. ¡°Senior, do you know what that human city is called?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but point in the direction of the Second Level Town and ask. ¡°That¡¯s a human Second Level Town called Bright Radiance City.¡± Without needing to look in that direction, the Azure Hawk Beast King already knew which one Xu Ran was referring to and shook its head slightly. ¡°I once tried to interact with the humans there, but unfortunately, they seemed to consider me just another Beast King from the Beast Field and nearly attacked me on the spot.¡± ¡°After all, senior¡¯s strength is formidable; in the eyes of humans outside of the Monster Wooden Domain, the threat is significant.¡± Xu Ran chuckled while quietly noting down the name. Bright Radiance City, huh¡­ In just an instant, two figures popped into his mind. The owners of the Hundred Flowers Foster Store and Lanhe Foster Care Store in Monster Wooden City seemed to hail from Bright Radiance City. It seemed that¡­ After returning to Monster Wooden City, it was essential to pay a visit to these two. Chapter 513 - Chapter 513: Chapter 289 Chapter 513: Chapter 289 Accompanied by a piercing screech, the Azure Hawk Beast King, with a wingspan of tens of meters and an aura of the King Stage swirling around its body, slightly retracted its wings and, like an arrow piercing through the clouds, its figure rapidly plunged from the high sky toward the earth. Just as its body, which almost seemed to transform into a streak of azure light, was about to collide with the ground, the Azure Hawk Beast King swiftly spread its wings to the maximum. Accompanied by a gust of wind that whipped up and stirred endless clouds of dust, its form instantly transitioned from motion to stillness and then gently touched down. Xu Ran, with his three little pets, jumped down from the sturdy back of the Azure Hawk Beast King and looked at Monster Wooden City, which was within close reach, before turning to look at the Azure Hawk Beast King beside him, ¡°Thank you for bringing us here, Senior.¡± ¡°Screech~¡± With a screech, the Azure Hawk Beast King flapped its wings twice as if to say it was no big deal, then it soared high into the sky and vanished into the horizon in an instant. It wasn¡¯t until the Azure Hawk Beast King had departed that Ziyun, who had been immersed in excitement, finally spoke eagerly. ¡°Meow!¡± (We must get our paws on the Extinct Thunder Attraction!) Even at this moment, the powerful aura of the Extinct Thunder Attraction still lingered in its mind, too potent to dissipate; and although they had not yet fully witnessed this resource, a glimpse was enough for Ziyun to know just how crucial it was. It was a resource that they had to obtain, no matter what! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will get it,¡± Xu Ran gently rubbed Ziyun¡¯s head and glanced at the Sky-reaching Xuanmu of the Beast Emperor, visible from where they stood. ¡°In a few more days, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes will begin.¡± ¡°Once the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is over and we get the Extreme Source Vein Crystal, it will be time for us to leave.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is it really time to leave?) Star let out a whinny, a hint of reluctance in its eyes. It seemed that Monster Wooden City would be the city where they stayed for the shortest amount of time. But everything here had made a deep impression on them. The thought of leaving made Star feel a sudden sense of unwillingness to go. ¡°Chah!¡± (The gate to the Monster Wooden Marketplace is right here, let¡¯s visit the marketplace one more time!) Cancan, who was beside them, looked at Star and suddenly suggested. ¡°That sounds good,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. The place where the Azure Hawk Beast King had set them down was just right at the gate that opened to the Monster Wooden Marketplace from outside of the city. Entering through this gate and crossing the marketplace would take them into the city. Not counting the time of the Public Wash and Care Exhibition, it had been a while since Xu Ran and his three little ones had visited the Monster Wooden Marketplace. Now, approaching evening, a stroll through the Monster Wooden Marketplace would be a perfect time to head back to their shop. The man and his three pets quickly entered the gate to the marketplace, but they hadn¡¯t gone far before they unexpectedly encountered a familiar figure. ¡°Li Tutu!¡± Xu Ran called out with a smile, waving to the other. Li Tutu, who had just seen off a visitor, heard the voice and quickly turned to look, his eyes lighting up when he recognized the caller, then he jogged over. ¡°Boss Xu, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Went outside the city for a stroll today, just got back,¡± Xu Ran replied casually, then inquired, ¡°How¡¯s business lately?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the same as before,¡± Li Tutu said with a smile, ¡°Every day, there are a few Beast Masters who come from other cities because they¡¯ve heard about me. I¡¯m one of the most familiar guides to the Monster Wooden Marketplace ¨C there¡¯s no one like me.¡± At this, Li Tutu appeared quite proud, puffing out his chest. ¡°As a guide, you are indeed excellent,¡± Xu Ran nodded in agreement. He still remembered how much Li Tutu¡¯s assistance had helped him avoid many troubles during his first visit to the marketplace. ¡°What about you, Boss Xu? Why aren¡¯t you managing your shop today and instead are out of the city?¡± Li Tutu chuckled, ¡°I heard quite a few complaints from your customers at the marketplace today!¡± ¡°Complaints?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is it dissatisfaction with our services?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Li Tutu shook his head, ¡°They are very pleased with the service, but I heard quite a bit of grumbling about the new employee at your shop.¡± ¡°They say the new hire you¡¯ve got is really strange.¡± ¡°Ah, about that¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, realizing he couldn¡¯t continue on this subject, and quickly changed the topic, ¡°Although the new staff might be strange, the service is still very good. They¡¯re capable enough to run the shop after I¡¯ve left.¡± ¡°Leaving?!¡± Li Tutu was indeed shocked by this more substantial piece of news, briefly forgetting his earlier question, ¡°Boss Xu, are you going to leave Monster Wooden City?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°you know that I¡¯m not originally from Monster Wooden City. I came here at the invitation of the Monster Wooden City Beast Master Association to open a branch.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, I knew that Boss Xu is from Xieyun City,¡± Li Tutu nodded. ¡°Well¡­ not exactly¡­ but let¡¯s not dwell on that,¡± Xu Ran cleared his throat, ¡°In any case, business in Monster Wooden City is on the right track now, and it¡¯ll soon be time for me to leave and see other places.¡± ¡°So¡­ after the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, you¡¯ll be leaving Monster Wooden City?¡± Li Tutu suddenly recalled the first time he met Xu Ran when Xu Ran asked him about the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Time-wise, the battle was about to start. What Xu Ran had just mentioned about ¡®in a while¡¯ must be referring to that event. Chapter 514 - Chapter 514: Chapter 289 Chapter 514: Chapter 289 ¡°Indeed,¡± Xu Ran did not deny, ¡°for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, I must participate if it involves something I desire.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Li Tutu nodded and then suddenly had an idea with some anticipation, ¡°Boss Xu, are you planning to hang around the Monster Wooden Marketplace today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°When I think about it, it was only the first day that I properly browsed the Monster Wooden Marketplace after arriving at Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a rare opportunity today, so I¡¯ll take another look.¡± ¡°Then let me be your guide again,¡± Li Tutu spoke loudly, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to places we didn¡¯t visit last time.¡± ¡°That would be nice,¡± Xu Ran did not refuse the kind offer, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you.¡± ¡°No trouble at all,¡± Li Tutu nodded without hesitation. Seeing Xu Ran getting ready to transfer some Beast Master Points on his phone, he quickly shook his head, ¡°No need for money this time.¡± ¡°No money?¡± Xu Ran paused mid-motion, looking at Li Tutu in surprise. ¡°Mmhmm!¡± Li Tutu nodded emphatically, not giving a reason but skillfully navigating past the bustling crowd of the marketplace, leading Xu Ran down a small path. A moment later, they had taken a shortcut and arrived at a new area of the Monster Wooden Marketplace they hadn¡¯t reached before. ¡°This is another area of the Monster Wooden Marketplace known as the Contract Area,¡± Li Tutu introduced while leading the way, ¡°As the name suggests, this is where human Beast Masters and wild Transcendent Beings make agreements with each other.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated area?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s interest was piqued upon hearing Li Tutu¡¯s explanation, ¡°So, what¡¯s the difference between the contracts here and usual contracts?¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a difference, and not a small one,¡± Li Tutu paused briefly, pointing at an outdoor stall, ¡°Look over there, Boss Xu.¡± Following Li Tutu¡¯s pointing finger, Xu Ran saw a somewhat funny scene. A human Beast Master was sitting in front of a snack booth, but he wasn¡¯t eating; there was no food from the booth in front of him. Instead, his mouth was constantly moving, as if he was saying something. In front of the little Earth round bear seated across from him, however, there were all kinds of food, and it was heartily eating with great gusto, clearly feeling festive and pleased from a distance. Next to the little Earth round bear, there were two much stronger Earth round bears just standing by, not intervening but silently watching the small Earth round bear eat merrily and listening to the words of the human Beast Master. Observing such an unusual scene, a few notes of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Those two Earth round bears look like the parents of that little one?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with that human Beast Master? Is the little Earth round bear his Pet Beast?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the difference in the Contract Pet Beast process in the Contract Area I was telling you about,¡± Tutu chuckled, ¡°If everything¡¯s as usual, that human Beast Master has yet to form a contract with the little Earth round bear.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the process of trying and seeking approval.¡± ¡°Buying all that food for the little Earth round bear is a way to increase its favorability towards him.¡± ¡°The Monster Wooden Marketplace¡¯s Contract Area was set apart some time after the marketplace was established,¡± Li Tutu indicated the surroundings, ¡°There¡¯re normal services catering to the needs of humans and Pet Beasts for food, drink, play, and enjoyment.¡± ¡°But the core of everything here is aimed at creating contracts.¡± ¡°Wild Transcendent Beings who are willing to let the young members of their species contract with human Beast Masters can bring the young ones here.¡± ¡°Because wild Transcendent Beings tend to be stronger than the domestically bred Pet Beast individuals, there are quite a few Beast Masters eager to contract with them.¡± ¡°Beast Masters with contracting needs come here, make their selections based on the type of Pet Beast they want, and then attempt to form a contract.¡± ¡°However, since wild Transcendent Beings have families and tribes, to contract with them, you need not only the individual Pet Beast¡¯s consent but also the approval of its family group,¡± Tutu paused for emphasis, ¡°So, it¡¯s essential to show sincerity.¡± ¡°Entertaining the Contract Pet Beast and its tribe with food and fun is the usual way to show sincerity.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned amused. Why does it sound like a matchmaking event? ¡°Look, that Beast Master has succeeded,¡± Li Tutu suddenly spoke up, pointing to the same Beast Master who had been treating the Earth round bear to food. The two previously inactive large Earth round bears started to take food from the table, just like the small one, and began to eat. And the Beast Master, whose expression had been somewhat tense, after observing this development, visibly relaxed, his smile deepening. ¡°Is that considered a success?¡± Xu Ran was curious. Does the young Contract Pet Beast¡¯s tribe accepting the food indicate success? What¡¯s the custom behind this? ¡°Most wild Transcendent Beings don¡¯t go for much roundabout commotion, their ways of expressing emotions are much more straightforward,¡± Tutu explained with a smile, ¡°If they didn¡¯t approve of the Beast Master, they wouldn¡¯t eat his food.¡± ¡°Because accepting food implies the need to reciprocate the kindness.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Xu Ran nodded, having grasped the concept following Li Tutu¡¯s explanation. The next moment, the table, fully laden with food, was rapidly emptied by the voracious eating of the three Earth round bears, and the smiling Beast Master stood up, leaving with the three bears in tow. Chapter 515 - Chapter 515: Chapter 289 Chapter 515: Chapter 289 ¡°` ¡°Next, they¡¯re going to sign the contract,¡± Li Tutu said, withdrawing his gaze from the fading figure of the man with three beasts and smiling, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Boss Xu, and see what else there is.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Ran nodded, following Li Tutu deeper into the contract area. Along the way, he saw many successful contract cases, but also Beast Masters who, because of their rudeness, failed to secure a contract and instead were beaten up by the relatives of the Contract Pet Beasts, leaving with bruised faces and swollen noses. The novel contract model greatly amused Xu Ran, and he couldn¡¯t help but think of the second question he had previously asked the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu. How to build an area similar to the Monster Wooden Domain. He couldn¡¯t help but imagine that if such an area were indeed built, whether similar scenes would occur. By the time Xu Ran came back to his senses, they were already standing in front of the gate on the other side of the Monster Wooden Marketplace. Outside the gate was the view inside Monster Wooden City. ¡°Boss Xu, the place we just went to is the market area we hadn¡¯t visited before,¡± Li Tutu said with a smile. ¡°Are we done already?¡± Xu Ran looked back, still wanting more of the Monster Wooden Marketplace, ¡°Well then, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Li Tutu chuckled, ¡°we welcome Boss Xu to come again!¡± ¡°Really, no guide fee?¡± Xu Ran asked, unable to resist. ¡°No need, no need,¡± Li Tutu shook his head, ¡°Last time I guided you, I already made a pretty penny on the side.¡± ¡°¡­On the side?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nothing much, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Li Tutu hesitated slightly, glanced around, and then spoke in a lower voice, ¡°After I sent you off that day, someone from the Association inquired about you.¡± ¡°The Association?¡± Xu Ran knitted his brows for a moment and then guessed what might be the reason. At that time, he had just arrived in Monster Wooden City, and it was normal for the Association to inspect and test him. What Li Tutu meant was probably this situation. ¡°Boss Xu, you won¡¯t blame me for revealing your information, right?¡± Li Tutu¡¯s expression was apologetic, ¡°I swear, I definitely didn¡¯t say anything bad about you!¡± ¡°Telling the truth is just fine,¡± Xu Ran smiled and patted Li Tutu on the shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, and you don¡¯t need to feel guilty about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late today, until next time,¡± Xu Ran said, looking up at the increasingly dimming skies, waved to Li Tutu, and then mounted Star, taking off with the other two little ones. It was time to check how the new clerk affected the business on the first day. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Following Star¡¯s neigh, Xu Ran dismounted and then looked towards the door with a hint of surprise at the line of customers that was no less bustling than his own shop, even more lively. At this hour, it was nearly the end of the shop¡¯s usual business hours, yet there were still so many customers lined up waiting. It seemed the three system clerks were as excellent as ever in their duties. Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction and then walked toward the shop door. Before he entered, he heard the familiar voice of the Washing and Protection Clerk. ¡°Sir, since you¡¯re here, why not give your Pet Beast a good wash and protection after training to maintain its best condition? Isn¡¯t that perfect?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched slightly. The clerk knew how to persuade. Without waiting for him to enter, the customer¡¯s voice came out. ¡°It does seem like a good idea¡­ then¡­ one wash, please?¡± ¡°Of course, dear guest, right this way~¡± Xu Ran entered with a bittersweet smile, catching a glance of the ¡®since you¡¯re here anyway¡¯ clerk leading the customer towards the Washing and Protection rooms. Without a doubt, the good business was partly thanks to his effort. ¡°Boss, welcome back.¡± The System store manager sat behind the counter, arms laid out on the surface before clasping his hands in front of his chest with a professional smile, ¡°The business is heading in a better direction thanks to the efforts of myself and the other two colleagues.¡± ¡°Well done, I trust you guys,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯m heading upstairs, keep up the good work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡± The System store manager smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to welcome the next customer, his smile brightening even more. ¡°Welcome~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew swiftly under the diligent work of the three system clerks. Soon, it was the day before the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Having been reassured by the first day¡¯s endeavor, Xu Ran happily stepped back, leaving the Monster Wooden City¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop entirely in their hands, claiming it was to let the customers of Monster Wooden City get used to the new clerks quickly. But in reality, he was wandering the outskirts of Monster Wooden Domain with the three little ones, enjoying some rare leisure time. Besides the first day¡¯s interference with the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, Xu Ran did not attempt to summon it again. Of course, according to his guess, the chances of getting a response from it a second time weren¡¯t high. Last time, perhaps it awoke from its slumber because it sensed Cancan¡¯s uniqueness. Similarly, Xu Ran did not disturb the Ground Raccoon Tribe again. Instead, with the three little ones, he tried to reach out and communicate with the creatures within the Monster Wooden Domain on his own, to gain a broader understanding of the domain. And the three little ones, though they hadn¡¯t trained every day, hadn¡¯t fallen behind in developing their skills by sparring with various wild Transcendent Beings. ¡°` Chapter 516 - Chapter 516: Chapter 289 Chapter 516: Chapter 289 Because the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was to happen the next day, Xu Ran and his three small companions unusually did not go out today, preparing for the upcoming fight while waiting for the staff of the Beast Master Association to come and notify them of the relevant matters. This wait did not last too long. The Starfire Foster Care Shop had just opened for the day when the staff arrived. The person responsible for the notification was Zhou Yang, the same staffer who had handled the registration before. ¡°Boss Xu, long time no see.¡± Zhou Yang¡¯s face was full of smiles, and his expression towards Xu Ran was noticeably more polite than before. In this period, with the rapidly increasing fame of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, Zhou Yang had come to understand that the Beast Master brought for late registration by the vice president that day was no ordinary person, and his attitude naturally shifted accordingly. ¡°Mr. Zhou, long time no see.¡± Xu Ran replied with a courteous smile, ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes starts tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Yang nodded, ¡°Boss Xu, you are at the General Level, so the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes has been scheduled for you on the third day.¡± ¡°This is the list of leaf awards and ranking rewards for the General Level Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± While speaking, Zhou Yang handed a small booklet to Xu Ran. ¡°Moreover, I need to reiterate something to Boss Xu.¡± Zhou Yang¡¯s expression grew a bit more serious, ¡°During the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, you must not kill your opponents, nor maliciously inflict serious injury on them, or the Beast Emperor will personally punish you.¡± ¡°Even the Beast Master Association of Monster Wooden City will not intervene then.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran took the booklet and nodded, indicating he got the message, ¡°Thank you for the information, Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I need to say.¡± Zhou Yang¡¯s expression relaxed slightly, ¡°As for other details, Boss Xu can observe the Battles of Ten Thousand Tribes at the Elite and Leadership Stages in the next two days to get a clearer picture.¡± ¡°That was exactly my plan,¡± Xu Ran said with a nod and a smile. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Zhou Yang nodded to Xu Ran, then turned and left. As there were quite a number of local Beast Masters registered for this session of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, he had a busy day ahead of him. Watching Zhou Yang go, Xu Ran immediately opened the booklet. The three small ones, who had remained silent until now, had their eyes glued to the booklet the moment it appeared and almost instantaneously crowded around. ¡°Meow!¡± (Extreme Source Vein Crystal!) Excitement filled Ziyun¡¯s distinctive eyes as its gaze swiftly searched the list. ¡°Let¡¯s look together,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, and quickly began flipping through the list. There were two types of rewards in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. The first was the leaf award. At the time, one hundred leaf fighting platforms, made from Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, would hide one resource each. When the time limit for the platform ended, whoever stood on the platform would automatically receive that award, as well as a corresponding ranking for the leaf platform. The ranking awards were the second set of prizes distributed according to the rankings. The value of both sets of rewards was roughly equivalent. However, since the rewards were split into ten attributes, to acquire two suitable resources, some trade-offs would need to be made. For instance, for a certain contestant, both the leaf award of platform number five and platform number eight might be suitable, but the ranking reward of platform five might not be suitable, whereas the ranking reward of platform eight was suitable. In this case, the lower-ranked platform number eight might be more appropriate for the contestant. Basically, the moment the two lists of rewards were confirmed, the particular leaf platform that each contestant needed to fight for would also be settled. The approach for Xu Ran and his three small companions in choosing was more straightforward and forceful. That was, they would rather obtain another useless award but ensure to get the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. So¡­ ¡°Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three,¡± Xu Ran said in a low voice, his eyes fixed on a line in the leaf award list. There, it boldly read ¡°Extreme Source Vein Crystal.¡± Just standing on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three and persevering until the end of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes would bring the resource to him. ¡°Meow!¡± (We must obtain it!) A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. No malicious harm, huh? This time, if anyone dares to stop it from getting the Extreme Source Vein Crystal, it would beat them up! ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Should we check the reward for the third rank?) Star asked in a low growl, curiously inquiring. No matter what the ranking award was, Ziyun¡¯s evolution was the most important, so choosing Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three was imperative. However, if the ranking award for platform number three also suited them, it would indeed be a joyous fortune. ¡°Let me check,¡± Xu Ran also contemplated this and nodded swiftly before continuing to flip through the booklet. In a short while, the third place ranking award appeared before them. ¡°Star Scar Night Light Stone?¡± Xu Ran said with a hint of surprise upon seeing this unfamiliar resource, ¡°This seems to be a Dark-type resource.¡± The next moment, Xu Ran and the other two small ones all turned their gaze towards Star. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (How wonderful~) Joy was evident in Star¡¯s cry. This second resource could be for it, and that couldn¡¯t be better. Compared to Ziyun and Cancan, who already possessed Four Stars skills, it was somewhat behind and definitely needed a quick boost. ¡°It seems luck is also on our side.¡± Chapter 521 - Chapter 521: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star! Chapter 521: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star! For characters with fragile builds who rely on DPS, aside from explosive output, another very important element is, of course, elusive speed that makes it difficult for opponents to catch. Ziyun was keenly aware that she was not skilled in terms of defense, unable to be without flaws like Cancan, so she needed to find a different approach, to perform even better in the realm of speed. The fourth Four Star Skill she chose to enhance was Step on Electric Traces. This skill, which had been upgraded from the initial Electric Arc, had accompanied Ziyun throughout her entire growth and strengthening journey. Now, it was time to elevate it to the highest star level it could currently achieve. One of the evolution conditions for Ziyun required at least four Four Star Skills that were dual-type, Thunder Attribute and Fighting Attribute. With the successful fusion of Divine Punishment and Astonishing Thunder Fury, half of this goal had already been met. The remaining two Four Star dual-type skills included one that was already a dual-type skill, Destruction Thunder Claw. As for the last dual-type skill, Ziyun planned to choose between King¡¯s Power and Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, while Step on Electric Traces would remain as its original trait, upgrading to Four Star as a pure Thunder Attribute skill. The three skills that were to be fused with Step on Electric Traces had already been gradually gathered by Ziyun, through absorption of resources from the King Stage tier and the enhancement from Three Star Skill Scrolls. What was needed were just a sufficient quantity of skill fusion stones. ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s begin!) With eyes filled with anticipation, Ziyun turned to Xu Ran and urged him. ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, then once again opened the Skill Fusion interface and selected Step on Electric Traces along with the other three skills that Ziyun had prepared. Fusion¡­ began! After numerous attempts signifying fusion failure with a purple-grey light, that one distinct flash of color was unmistakably clear. After 42 failures, Step on Electric Traces slowly vanished from Ziyun¡¯s panel. In its place was a brand new Four Star Skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Step on Electric Traces (Halo Level)](1982/50000)[+] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Path of Destruction (Halo Level)](1982/50000)[+] ¡°Meow~~~¡± Ziyun trembled uncontrollably, the instinctual joy of life transformation from when Astonishing Thunder Fury was upgraded to Four Star had not completely subsided, and now a new Four Star Skill brought waves of tremendous pleasure. Its eyes slightly squinted, making strange noises uncontrollably from its throat. It took quite a while this time to gradually calm down. Realizing Xu Ran¡¯s and the other two¡¯s gazes, a sense of embarrassment instantly welled up in Ziyun¡¯s heart. ¡°Meow¡­ Meow!¡± (It¡¯s an instinctive reaction!) Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but argue, then looked at Cancan. Cancan had also experienced the upgrade to Four Star skill and should understand, right? ¡°Chirp~¡± (I understand.) Cancan nodded affirmatively, showing understanding. The peculiar feeling that came with the upgrade from Three Star to Four Star, Cancan hadn¡¯t forgotten it even now. That must be the happiness of growing stronger. As Xu Ran watched the interaction between Ziyun and Cancan and heard Star¡¯s snort mixed with anticipation and impatience, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Following the completion of Ziyun¡¯s second Skill Fusion, it was now Star¡¯s turn for Skill Fusion. Different from the other two, it would be Star¡¯s first time experiencing such an event. Although it had previously experienced its Talent Skill upgrading from Two Stars to Three Stars, upgrading from Three Stars to Four Stars was clearly a whole different matter. So, what exactly does that feel like? So anxious¡­ ¡°What is the effect of your new skill like?¡± asked Xu Ran, still smiling, as he looked over at the interactions among the three creatures. ¡°Meow¡­¡± (The new skill, you ask¡­) Reminded by Xu Ran, Ziyun quickly refocused on the matter at hand. Experiencing the myriad of skill usage scenarios and memories that suddenly surfaced in her mind, the light in her heterochromatic eyes began to shine brilliantly. This skill¡­ Fit her situation so incredibly well! Having fully grasped the entire skill, Ziyun couldn¡¯t resist immediately sharing the details of this skill with Xu Ran and the other two. As they had initially anticipated, the fused new skill was a pure Thunder Attribute skill, and compared to the original Step on Electric Traces, it was a qualitative change. The original Step on Electric Traces allowed Ziyun to not only move at extremely high speeds but also to leave behind shadows of accumulated Thunderforce along her movement path. These shadows could linger for a while and, if touched by an enemy in mid-course, would automatically explode, causing a small area of Thunder Attribute blast damage. During the lifespan of the shadows, Ziyun could at any time return to any one of the shadows¡¯ positions. While this skill could also inflict damage, its primary function was still to enhance speed. Path of Destruction was a skill that equally emphasized both speed and damage. It retained Ziyun¡¯s speed from Step on Electric Traces and greatly enhanced it, eradicating the production of shadows and the effect of returning to them. In their place, a brand new effect was introduced. Lei Jing. After deploying Path of Destruction, Ziyun¡¯s trajectory would solidify into Lei Jing, and any enemies touching the Lei Jing would suffer Thunder Strike damage and a strong paralyzing effect. Ziyun herself and the Lei Jing were one and the same; she could appear at any spot on the Lei Jing without any restrictions. It covered all the effects of the original Step on Electric Traces, and even added the one key element Ziyun had been lacking. Chapter 522 - Chapter 522: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star!_2 Chapter 522: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star!_2 Control! All you need to do is be aware of your own movement trajectory, get more familiar with the brand new skills, and Ziyun can easily use Path of Destruction to create layers of imprisoning thunder cages, trapping the opponent inside without any chance of escape. Once the opponent inadvertently touches Lei Jing, suffering heavy damage and paralysis effects, Ziyun can appear in front of it in no time, and there¡¯s no need to say more about the resolution that follows. After understanding the effects of Ziyun¡¯s fourth Four Stars skill, Xu Ran and the other two little ones all widened their eyes in amazement. It always feels¡­ that all four of Ziyun¡¯s new skills are frighteningly powerful. Four Stars skills, horrific as such! ¡°Sigh~¡± (Good thing I have Land of Destruction¡­) Cancan showed a relieved expression. Even though all of Ziyun¡¯s skills are strong, its Land of Destruction, in terms of strength, is no less powerful than Ziyun¡¯s skills, and it¡¯s even an area-of-effect killing skill that Ziyun doesn¡¯t have. So, no big deal! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is it my turn now?) Star couldn¡¯t help but let out an eager whinny, urging on. Seeing that Ziyun¡¯s two brand new skills were as powerful as the previous two Four Stars skills, Star, who didn¡¯t have a single Four Stars skill, was incredibly envious. Four Stars skills, it wants them too! ¡°Next up, it¡¯s Star¡¯s turn,¡± said Xu Ran with a smile, touching Ziyun¡¯s head. Seeing how impressive Ziyun¡¯s two skills were had put him in an even better mood. ¡°Is the first skill Star is going to fuse Heart of Eternal Night?¡± asked Xu Ran with a smile. He remembered this very clearly. Long ago, Star began preparing for the fusion of the Heart of Eternal Night skill. The other three skills had been chosen early on. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Correct!) Star nodded emphatically. Heart of Eternal Night was initially its sole One Star skill, Tenacity. But after a long period of diligent training and enhancement, the skill became the most important one for Star. It allowed Star to have inexhaustible power like a perpetual motion machine, it could help Star heal any injury swiftly, and fully amplified Dark Skills. It was only natural to prioritize such a versatile skill to elevate to Four Stars first. ¡°Let¡¯s begin then,¡± said Xu Ran with a slight nod, and then reopened the Skill Fusion page. [¡ï¡ï¡ïHeart of Eternal Night]+[¡ï¡ï¡ïStar Falling Power]+[¡ï¡ï¡ïQuiet Night Breath]+[¡ï¡ï¡ïNight Ignite] [Fusion Success Rate: 0.0191%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Looking at the familiar prompt that popped up on the panel, Xu Ran took a deep breath. This was Star¡¯s first time attempting to fuse a Four Stars skill, but even more important, with the addition of the skill Star Falling Power, this would be Star¡¯s first Four Stars skill meeting extra evolution conditions. Let¡¯s see then what sort of transformation would take place. With a mental shout, Xu Ran pressed the [Yes] button without hesitation. Once¡­ twice¡­ five times¡­ ten times¡­ One after another, fusion stones dematerialized in the system¡¯s storage, and attempt after attempt at Skill Fusion ended in failure. In the end, Xu Ran¡¯s swiftly moving hand came to a halt in mid-air. In front of him, dazzling colorful lights illuminated four words. [Fusion Success] Almost at the same time, the original skills disappeared from Star¡¯s panel, replaced by a new skill that came into view. [¡ï¡ï¡ïHeart of Eternal Night (Halo Level)](3213/50000)[+] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïPrayer of Starry Night (Halo Level)](3213/50000)[+] This skill¡­ A look of surprise appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Just from the name alone, it seemed completely unrelated to the original Heart of Eternal Night. But being the upgraded version of Heart of Eternal Night, its effects were bound to be more than what could be deduced from just the name of the skill. So¡­ it was now up to Star to reveal the answer. Turning his gaze to Star, Xu Ran soon had a wry smile on his face. Let¡¯s wait a little longer then. Let Star fully experience the joy of a skill leveling up. Thrilling! Too thrilling! Feeling an odd sense of pleasure and a sense of achievement like a leap in Life Level seeping from every tiny corner of its body, Star couldn¡¯t resist the urge to howl at the sky, venting the emotions in its heart at this moment. And it did just that. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± With a fervent whinny, Star raised its front hooves high, its robust body reflecting smooth and astonishing Light under the lamp. Accompanied by the heavy stomping of its front hooves on the ground, its formidable Power surged upward from all around it. At this moment, Star, with its first Four Stars skill, was wildly arrogant. ¡°Meow~¡± (Now you understand our feelings, right?) Seeing Star¡¯s excited state, Ziyun lay lazily on the bed, squinting its heterochromatic eyes with a look that said ¡°I knew it would be like this¡±. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (This feeling is wonderful!) Star nodded vigorously, then came back to its senses, beginning to explore the memories and countless images about its new skill suddenly appearing in its mind. After that, it became even more excited. Before fusing this skill, it had imagined countless possible outcomes. The new skill, however, turned out to be much better than the best possible result it had envisioned. Shaking its head vigorously, Star couldn¡¯t wait to share its joy with its buddies. Prayer of Starry Night, like the previous Heart of Eternal Night, was an enhancement skill. However, compared to the previous Heart of Eternal Night, this skill not only dealt with more buffs, but its enhancement effects were almost doubled. Chapter 523 - Chapter 523: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star!_3 Chapter 523: Chapter 291: The First Four-Star Skill of the Star!_3 In order to facilitate understanding, it can be viewed as two separate skills: one is Night Prayer and the other is Star Prayer. Night Prayer inherits all the effects of the Heart of Eternal Night: recovery, self-healing, and empowering Dark Skills, and it significantly enhances these effects beyond their original scope. Star Prayer, on the other hand, possesses entirely new skill effects: strengthening, protection, and empowering Star Power skills. Strengthening is an ability inherited from one of the four fused skills, Night Ignite, which allows the star to significantly increase its strength in a short time. This enhancement, coupled with the skill effect, can produce a synergistic outcome greater than the sum of its parts. Protection is a completely new effect that none of the four fused skills possess. It can gather the power of starlight to form an indomitable Guardian that surrounds the star. This defensive power cannot be shared with companions like the Night Rune, but it can be shared with Xu Ran through Fated Star Pulling. What¡¯s more, its defense is much stronger than that of the Night Rune, even against formidable opponents one Growth Stage higher, it provides the star with much more leeway for maneuver. As for the final empowering of Star Power skills, it is similar to Night Prayer, except that the target of empowerment has changed. When the skill enhanced by Prayer of Starry Night is also a Dark Attribute skill and related to Star Power, both Night Prayer and Star Prayer¡¯s benefits will take effect simultaneously, resulting in a multiplicative enhancement. For example, if both enhancements are 3, the final enhancement effect is not 6, but 9! ¡°This Prayer of Starry Night¡­¡± After hearing the introduction from the star, a peculiar look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. Without a doubt, the star¡¯s first four-star skill is in no way inferior to Ziyun and Cancan¡¯s skills in terms of strength, and it rightly deserves the name of a four-star skill. But¡­ He always felt that the emergence of this skill had dug a sizable pit for the star. According to the additional requirement of the star¡¯s Evolution Conditions, the star needs at least three four-star skills to be related to Star Power. Out of the seven Talent Skills of the star, choosing three to fulfill this condition is not particularly difficult, so this additional requirement is not hard to meet. However, now that the first skill to be fused even has a cumulative enhancement effect for Dark and Star Power skills¡­ Doesn¡¯t this mean that¡­ ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I want to change the planned fusion of subsequent skills, and fuse all skills into those related to Star Power!) The star¡¯s resolute words caused a sigh to rise in Xu Ran¡¯s heart. As expected. If subsequent four-star skills were simply Dark Attribute skills, then Prayer of Starry Night would only benefit partially, which would be a significant loss. Given the star¡¯s nature, it would definitely not make such a choice. Therefore, it would certainly make things harder for itself, ensuring that all skills were connected to Star Power to maximize the enhancement from Prayer of Starry Night. ¡°Prayer of Starry Night, along with the Fated Star Pulling enhanced by Rise Star and the Star Refusal Ring, are the three skills we can think of that are related to Star Power,¡± Xu Ran said softly, looking at the star. ¡°They just happen to meet the extra requirements for evolution.¡± ¡°If you want the other four skills to also be related to Star Power, that won¡¯t be as easy,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± The star pondered for a moment and then nodded firmly again. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯m sure!) Even though the star had no idea how the other four skills could connect with Star Power, it still wanted to try. Besides its inherent dislike of being at a disadvantage, there was another key factor that the star did not mention. That was the sense that it somehow felt that it was meant to do this. Whether it was the abilities awakened afterward or the evolution that followed, the star had a feeling that its ability center seemed to keep transitioning from the Dark Attribute towards a new power. That new power was not any of the ten Attributes but rather Star Power. It seemed as if the Dark Attribute was just a stepping stone. This notion was very strange, but it often surfaced in the star¡¯s mind and reached its peak with the appearance of the Evolution Conditions for the Emperor Species¡¯ Evolution Path. If so, by possessing more skills that resonate with Star Power, wouldn¡¯t the star¡¯s chances of successful evolution be higher? Although it hadn¡¯t tried yet, it was as if a voice in the star¡¯s mind kept telling it that this was feasible. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ve already made your decision, I¡¯ll support you with all my might,¡± Xu Ran said, stroking the star¡¯s head softly. The skill fusions of the star had almost exhausted all the Skill Fusion Stones. The few remaining were not enough to complete another four-star skill fusion, and had to be reserved for the next resource allocation. Subsequently, the three little ones began to distribute the remaining resources according to their leftover Value Points. After some modesty and amicability, the allocation of all resources came to a conclusion. The surplus Physical Points allowed the very close-to-General Stage three little ones to reach the complete General Stage, and the additional points also enabled them, already with Halo Level skills, to steadily progress towards the Violent Sun Level of Skill Proficiency. After writing down the remaining states of the three little ones on the Little Blackboard, Xu Ran casually placed the two ¡°Divine Artifacts¡± back in the corner, ¡°Rest well tonight, tomorrow we¡¯ll go see the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± ¡°Although the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes taking place tomorrow is not at our Leadership Stage level but at the Elite Stage level, it¡¯s good to familiarize ourselves with the venue and the process in advance.¡± Having said this, Xu Ran quickly sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, entering a state of Deep Meditation on the bed. The last Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card had just expired today, and Xu Ran was worried that his Meditation speed would significantly decrease. The fact that the new Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card arrived so timely was unexpected. Coupled with the renewal of the Acceleration Card, his rapid Meditation could continue for a good while longer. This made Xu Ran appreciate the preciousness of Meditation acceleration even more and even caused him to practice with increased diligence. Watching Xu Ran immediately sink into Meditation, the three little ones exchanged glances. Rest well? No way! Chapter 524 - Chapter 524: Chapter 292: The Battle Begins, Thousands of Clans Vie for Supremacy! Chapter 524: Chapter 292: The Battle Begins, Thousands of Clans Vie for Supremacy! At this moment, Zhang Zhu truly felt what it meant to ¡°want to find a crack to crawl into.¡± He had naively thought that if he encountered Boss Xu in the upcoming competition, he would need to figure out how to go easy on him. Never had he expected that Boss Xu would actually be a General Level Beast Master. General Level! In a Second Level Town like this, Beast Masters of this level were not particularly rare, but each one held a fairly high status. A General Level Beast Master like Xu Ran, who runs a foster shop and daily performs washing and caring for various pet beasts, was unheard of. ¡°Boss Xu, you¡­¡± Zhang Zhu opened his mouth as if he were about to ask something but didn¡¯t dare to, his expression clearly becoming a bit more tense. ¡°Running a foster care shop is a personal hobby of mine,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, patting Zhang Zhu¡¯s shoulder as if he saw what the latter wanted to ask. ¡°I haven¡¯t experienced the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes before, so I want to get familiar with it beforehand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be watching today¡¯s competition closely, so you¡¯ll need to work hard,¡± he said, giving Zhang Zhu a supportive hand gesture, ¡°After all, you are a guest of our Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Zhang Zhu nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with renewed fighting spirit. Boss Xu had such a high opinion of him; he felt he needed to perform even better. In that instant, a thought swiftly emerged in Zhang Zhu¡¯s mind. If he managed to achieve a good ranking in today¡¯s Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, he would definitely find a way to let more people know about the Starfire Foster Care Shop! As the two conversed, the team moved quickly. In a short while, Xu Ran could see the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, which seemed to grow larger as it got closer. Compared to the last sighting of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, it seemed to have grown even bigger now, clearly, its trend of expanding outward showing no signs of abating. On one side of the massive body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, Xu Ran also saw from afar the competition site for this Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. It was a Sky-reaching Pillar, specifically constructed from the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, about a hundred meters thick. On the side of this Sky-reaching Pillar, from bottom to top, were spiral platforms each spanning several hundred meters. Each platform was supported by an incredibly large leaf, and at the center of each leaf platform, there surged rich energy fluctuations. Those were the leaf rewards hidden within the platforms. Seeing this, a look of awe couldn¡¯t help but appear on Xu Ran¡¯s face. It had to be said, although its colossal size brought great troubles to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, such a massive body indeed produced a stunning impact under certain conditions. Just like at this moment, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood simply extended a single branch and easily constructed such a vast competition arena. Zhang Zhu, standing nearby, apparently already had his sight set on a platform to compete for. His gaze was firmly fixated on a particular leaf, his fighting intent growing even stronger. A moment later, he withdrew his gaze, noticing Xu Ran¡¯s expression. Knowing it was his first time seeing the Battle of Ten Thousand Races, he began to explain proactively, ¡°The Sky-reaching Pillar and leaf platforms will continue to expand over the next three days.¡± ¡°The current size of the leaf platforms is only three hundred meters in diameter, which is designed for battles in the Elite Stage.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, for the Leadership Stage, the size of the leaf platforms will expand to one kilometer. The day after, in the General Level, it will be three kilometers, and on the last day, at the King Stage, it will be ten kilometers¡­¡± As he spoke, Zhang Zhu¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but show a bit of wistfulness. ¡°I saw the conditions of the last day of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes last year. It was truly magnificent, as with the expansion of the fighting platforms, the Sky-reaching Pillar will grow thicker and taller, even surpassing the size of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself.¡± ¡°I can roughly imagine that,¡± Xu Ran inhaled sharply, his expression of awe growing even deeper. Each leaf platform with a scale of ten kilometers, over a hundred such leaves spiraling to the clouds, such a battle arena was utterly astonishing. And the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood that shaped such an arena was incredibly powerful. One could assume it to be among the virtually invincible at the Beast Emperor level, right? But¡­ A tinge of worry inevitably emerged in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Supporting its own body was already a massive burden for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood at present, necessitating long periods of slumber to alleviate this pressure. In such a situation, it was still committing to constructing a colossal arena not inferior to its own size to host the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Could there really be no problem? Looking at Zhang Zhu¡¯s face, full of excitement and eagerness, who had never considered this point, Xu Ran sighed softly in his heart. Perhaps he was being over-concerned. ¡°Boss Xu, I need to go check in at the Waiting area for the Battle of Ten Thousand Races,¡± Zhang Zhu pointed towards the venue not far away, at two tall Gigantic Spirit Ostriches wearing special floral crowns on their heads. By their side, a medley of Transcendent Beings and Humans were already gathered. Obviously, these two Giant Spirit Ostriches, known for their intelligence, were de facto staff members responsible for check-in today. ¡°Alright, go ahead, do your best!¡± Xu Ran smiled and sent his well wishes again, watching as Zhang Zhu departed and then turning his gaze back to his three little ones, ¡°The first Battle of Ten Thousand Races hasn¡¯t started yet; shall we take a walk around?¡± Upon entering the competition venue, he had already seen many lively stands. Yes, stands. Just like the stands in the Monster Wooden Marketplace, during this grand event in the Monster Wooden Domain, many shrewd individuals had also brought valuable items from their tribes to set up shops. Chapter 525 - Chapter 525: Chapter 292: Battle Begins, Thousands of Races Compete for Supremacy!_2 Chapter 525: Chapter 292: Battle Begins, Thousands of Races Compete for Supremacy!_2 Moreover, unlike the Monster Wooden Marketplace, most of the stands here were occupied by Transcendent Beings. It happened to be a time when all the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain were gathered here, creating a cacophony of noise in a lively scene. ¡°Meow~¡± (I want to look at that!) Ziyun sniffed the air, catching a whiff of a scent that intrigued it, and quickly fixed its gaze on one of the stalls, a look of anticipation on its face. ¡°All right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, and then, with the three little ones, he quickly walked over to the stall. The vendor was a Gem Kite, small and agile, adorned with gem-like, twinkling, colorful crystals all over its body, which made it very attractive to look at. At the moment, this Gem Kite had its wings folded and was standing on the ground, with a pile of various fruits in front of it that resembled a small hill. These fruits stemmed from various Extraordinary Plants, and at first glance, there were at least dozens of varieties; even Xu Ran could not help but marvel when he saw them. Although they weren¡¯t of high value, collecting so many varieties was no easy feat. However, thinking of the temperament and abilities of the Gem Kite, Xu Ran felt a burst of clarity in his mind. This species enjoyed tasting and collecting all kinds of Transcendent fruits, and with their Super ability Attribute, they could even digest fruits of other Attributes and convert the power within on their own. So, it was reasonable for a Gem Kite to offer these fruits. Ziyun took another sniff, and its gaze finally settled on a fruit with a black skin covered in green and purple stripes. The scent that attracted it came from this very fruit! Ziyun extended a paw to point at the fruit, and then looked at Xu Ran. ¡°Meow!¡± (I want that one!) ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded his head, crouching down to inquire with the Gem Kite, ¡°How are you selling these fruits?¡± The Gem Kite¡¯s colorful eyes sparkled with intelligence as it shifted its gaze slightly. ¡°Rui~¡± As it spoke, an invisible thought reached Xu Ran and the three little ones. ¡°Exchange them for other things that interest me.¡± Super ability one-star skill, Mind Induction. ¡°All right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He hadn¡¯t expected this species to possess the same ability as Twelve. This would make communication much more convenient. After pondering for a moment, he quickly took out a small, well-packaged item from his pouch and handed it over to the Gem Kite, ¡°Will this do?¡± The Gem Kite stared at the unfamiliar item in front of it and tilted its head slightly. ¡°Rui?¡± (Can I open it?) ¡°Of course, this is food. You can give it a taste first,¡± Xu Ran said, smiling as he passed the item over to it. It was a snack that he regularly prepared for the three little ones, also made from Transcendent Resources, without any Attribute distinction, suitable for consumption by any Attribute. The snack had received rave reviews from all three little ones. Presumably, the Gem Kite before him would like it too. The fruit that Ziyun had taken a fancy to wasn¡¯t particularly valuable; it just happened to be to its liking, making food a suitable item for exchange. Upon hearing that it was food, a look of curiosity emerged in the eyes of the Gem Kite. It used its sharp beak to tear open the packaging and soon picked up a crispy snacking slice resembling a potato chip and chewed on it twice before swallowing. Next, its eyes lit up instantly. Obviously, this previously untasted flavor was to its satisfaction. ¡°Rui~¡± (It¡¯s a deal!) The Gem Kite casually flapped its wings, and the fruit that Ziyun had taken an interest in flew out from the pile and landed in Ziyun¡¯s hands. ¡°Meow~¡± (I¡¯m starting to eat!) Ziyun sniffed again and then ferociously bit into it with an ¡°aowu¡±. The fruit looked somewhat like a black plum, with a black, thin skin lined with green and purple that was edible, and inside was the dark purple flesh. Faintly visible between the flesh were tiny leaping Electric Arcs, which might have rendered any non-Thunder Attribute Pet Beast with a numb mouth if they ate it. But for Ziyun, these were minor issues. After finishing the fruit in just a few bites, leaving only a shiny purple pit behind, Ziyun wiped off the dark purple juice remaining on its mouth, looking thoroughly satisfied. Delicious! Equally content was the Gem Kite. The snack Xu Ran had brought was devoured in the blink of an eye, half gone already. Seeing the pit in Ziyun¡¯s hands, the Gem Kite couldn¡¯t resist adding another piece of information. ¡°Rui~¡± (That¡¯s a Green Lightning Purple Fruit, you can try planting the pit if you like it, maybe it will grow into a Green Lightning Purple Fruit Tree!) ¡°Meow?¡± (Can I really do that?) Ziyun¡¯s eyes lit up, and it clenched the once-to-be-discarded pit in its hands tightly. It looked up at Xu Ran, its eyes searching his for confirmation, wanting to know if what the Gem Kite said was true. ¡°In theory, it¡¯s possible,¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin, ¡°But the Green Lightning Purple Fruit Tree can only grow in places dense with Thunderbolt energy, and if you can¡¯t find such a place, you¡¯ll need to fertilize it every day if you want to plant it.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (How do I fertilize it?) Ziyun pursued the question. It was apparent that it really enjoyed the fruit it had just eaten. ¡°Fertilizing isn¡¯t difficult, just water it with Thunderforce every day,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°If you really want to plant it, you can keep it for now.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll plant it once we reach Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (No problem!) Ziyun happily stored the pit. ¡°Do you two want one?¡± Xu Ran turned to Star and Cancan. ¡°Rui~¡± (Give me another packet of the snack from earlier, and I can give you two fruits.) Chapter 526 - Chapter 526: Chapter 292: Battle Erupts, A Myriad of Tribes Compete!_3 Chapter 526: Chapter 292: Battle Erupts, A Myriad of Tribes Compete!_3 The Gem Kite took the initiative to speak. ¡°Chia!¡± (Then I¡¯ll take that one!) Cancan scanned through the pile of fruits and quickly fixed her gaze on one of them. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I choose this one!) Star was equally quick in choosing another fruit. After the exchange of money and goods, Cancan and Star, having tasted the fruits, also voluntarily left behind the seeds, seemingly sharing the same idea as Ziyun. Xu Ran smiled at the sight. It seemed that, once in Bright Radiance City, the three pets would have a new daily task: taking care of their respective fruit trees. 1 After bidding farewell to the Gem Kite, one person and three pets turned towards other stalls, quickly blending into the bustling marketplace. Time passed by the minute and second, when suddenly a clear rustling sound dispersed throughout the vicinity. Every creature in the competition area and nearby swiftly stopped what they were doing, their gazes turning towards the direction of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. The next moment, an invisible notion emerged in the minds of all creatures. ¡°Ten minutes remain until the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes begins.¡± ¡°Ten minutes, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran placed the resource he was examining back on the booth, and then looked at his three pets, ¡°Let¡¯s go find a place to sit.¡± Next to the Sky-reaching Pillar of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, there were branches actively hanging down from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. These branches, with numerous big and small forks, served as natural spectator seats. Even before the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood issued a reminder, many creatures had already chosen their spots, and amidst the cover of lush green leaves, the branches were dotted with the silhouettes of beasts and people. Fortunately, the branches of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood were really large, so Xu Ran and the three pets easily found a fairly decent viewing spot in the middle section. Sitting here, one could see both the high-level Leaf Arenas and the low-level Leaf Arenas, virtually encompassing the whole scene of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes at a glance. While the audience was searching for seats, the contestants of this Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes also began to appear one after another. With no host and no introductions of contestants, they simply stood in a circle around the base of the Sky-reaching Pillar to signify that they were ready for the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. The selection of the audience was met with enthusiastic encouragement. Various fervent Beast Roar sounds rose and fell. Xu Ran even saw several Roaring Bears not far from him, so excited that they almost fell off their seats; it was unclear what they were so thrilled about. Following the gaze of these few Roaring Bears, Xu Ran noticed that among the appearing contestants was a small Roaring Bear. Oh, that was nothing then. Zhang Zhu¡¯s figure also appeared within Xu Ran¡¯s sight. It was apparent that the previously battle-hungry Zhang Zhu was now quite nervous, continually glancing around, perhaps trying to spot Xu Ran. Unfortunately, it was easier to spot a contestant from the audience seats, but much more difficult to find someone in the audience from a contestant¡¯s position. The ten minutes passed in an instant. As the gradually arriving audience had mostly found their seats and settled down, the contestants on the field were also making ready to act. Another crisp sound of leaves rubbing against each other reverberated throughout the competition area. Once again, an invisible notion descended. ¡°The competition begins.¡± The next moment, the poised contestants sprang into action. With set targets in mind, their movements were remarkably synchronized, as they launched themselves toward the Leaf Arenas above. The side of the Sky-reaching Pillar was intentionally pitted to help Transcendent Beings without the ability to fly climb up rapidly; there were even small caves for them to take a brief rest. Those with the ability to fly, on the other hand, had some advantage in this phase. They just needed to spread their wings, and they were already surpassing the hard-climbing contestants in height. ¡°Chia?¡± (What would happen if they attacked each other at this moment?) On the branch, Cancan, staring with wide eyes at the group of contestants, suddenly spoke up. ¡°According to the rules of the competition, they can¡¯t attack each other at this time,¡± Xu Ran explained with a smile, ¡°The only place where fights are allowed in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is the arena.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (But it seems they can interfere with other contestants?) Star let out a low growl, looking in a certain direction. It was a Wind attribute Four Wing Bird, whose flapping wings stirred up a gale, turning into several small tornadoes that affected other flying contestants in the race. This also caused quite a few climbing contestants to stumble and sway. And such an action wasn¡¯t stopped or punished. ¡°It seems there¡¯s some leeway in the rules of the competition,¡± Xu Ran, having also noticed, stroked his chin and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. But soon, he had no time to think about it any longer. For the first battle on the arena of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes had begun! While other contestants had yet to reach their targeted arenas, on the number one hundred Leaf Arena at the bottom, two figures had already engaged in battle. It was a fight between an Earth Lizard Dragon and a Fire Fierce Monkey, one Earth and one Fire. Even though they were just at the Elite Stage, their moves already carried quite a potent force. For a while, many eyes in the audience turned in their direction. In the end, the Fire Fierce Monkey, with its more powerful offensive skills, heavily blasted the Earth Lizard Dragon out of the arena, concluding this battle. The Fire Fierce Monkey itself had also expended a great deal of strength during the fierce fight. A pale Light film quietly covered the number one hundred Leaf Arena, and mist began to form inside, while the energy on the arena visibly thickened. Chapter 527 - Chapter 527: Chapter 292: Battle Erupts, Thousands of Clans Clash!_4 Chapter 527: Chapter 292: Battle Erupts, Thousands of Clans Clash!_4 This was the cooling-off period after a successful defense of the arena. If the defenders were allowed to continually accept challenges from other competitors, they would eventually be worn down by the relentless battles, regardless of their strength. At some point, they would be exhausted, which would be unfair to the defenders. Therefore, every time a defense was successful, and the light film rose, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood would release its power to help the defender recover quickly. Before the light film dissipated, the challengers were not allowed to enter the arena. Of course, this recovery was not endless, and the light film could not last forever. If the injuries were too severe or the exhaustion too great, and the defenders had not recovered during the appearance of the light film, they would ultimately have to leave the arena dejectedly. About three minutes passed, and the light film quietly faded away. The Fire Fierce Monkey on the arena, who had been taking the time to recover, leaped up, its strength not fully restored to its peak but already back to seventy to eighty percent. With the arrival of the second challenger, the second battle for it commenced. However, by this time, the number of spectators focusing on the Fire Fierce Monkey had dwindled. During these three minutes, the other contestants had taken their places one after another, and a series of exciting battles were underway on the leaf arenas, drawing the attention of a large audience. Xu Ran¡¯s attention had also moved away from the Fire Fierce Monkey. His gaze was fixed on the seventh arena. Compared to the arenas below, the seventh arena was already at a higher layer, reaching thousands of meters in height. Battling there gave a sense of fighting atop the clouds. And one of the contenders on the seventh arena was Zhang Zhu, who had chatted with Xu Ran for a long time when leaving the city. According to the rules of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, Beast Masters could summon a Pet Beast to combine with their own strength for combat, where the Pet Beast could be switched out, but not during the midst of a battle. And Transcendent Beings, when facing off against Beast Masters, were allowed to attack the Beast Tamers themselves. At this moment, the creature Zhang Zhu had summoned was his first and most attuned pet, the Flame Dragon Beast, which resembled a ferocious dinosaur enshrouded in flames, every movement radiating an astonishing heat. At the Elite Stage level, this Flame Dragon Beast was almost at its peak. Other spectators who were paying attention to this battle couldn¡¯t help but express their amazement and start discussing when they saw the state of the Flame Dragon Beast. The opponent to this man and his beast was a blue-green phoenix bird. In stark contrast to the Flame Dragon Beast, a continuous stream of cold mist surged around it, causing the surrounding temperature to drop rapidly and ice fragments to form incessantly. An Ice attribute Leader Species, the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird. Daring to ascend to such heights as the seventh layer, the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird clearly had great confidence in its own strength, and it indeed had the corresponding backbone. For it was from a Beast King Group within the Monster Wooden Domain, a Transcendent Being whose path of evolution was already clear! Fire against ice, as soon as their battle began, it escalated to a fever pitch, far more intense than the previous fight between the Earth Lizard Dragon and Fire Fierce Monkey. The Ice Blue Phoenix Bird was clearly well-prepared, fully aware that its current opponent was a Beast Master, and that the weakest point for a Beast Master was their own body. So, while dealing with the Flame Dragon Beast, the phoenix bird attempted to break through several times, aiming directly at Zhang Zhu¡¯s true self. However, as a Beast Master, Zhang Zhu was naturally vigilant against this very attack. Besides the four formidable two-star Talent Skills that the Flame Dragon Beast naturally possessed, it had also been taught an additional two Fire Attribute two-star Defense Skills, which protected Zhang Zhu exceptionally well, foiling the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird¡¯s attempts to land a successful strike. The battle between the two sides entered a stalemate after an initial flurry of intense action. The ice crystals sublimated in the scorching heat, and puff after puff of white vapor veiled the battling arena with a sheer layer of gauze. Chapter 528 - Chapter 528: Chapter 293: Huh? Boss Xu?! Chapter 528: Chapter 293: Huh? Boss Xu?! ¡°Good morning, Boss Xu!¡± ¡°Boss Xu, are you going to watch the competition again today?¡± ¡°Eh? What¡¯s that you¡¯re carrying on your back, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Continuously responding to the greetings from customers, Xu Ran cheerfully walked out of the Starfire Foster Care Shop with the thunderous long sword wrapped in cloth on his back, along with his three little companions. Before long, after making his way through the crowd of customers, he swung himself onto Star¡¯s back and raced towards the city gates like the wind. At the gates of Monster Wooden City, a remarkably unified swarm of people formed a thick, long queue, heading straight to today¡¯s Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes venue. This was already the third day of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Having witnessed the grandeur of the Elite Stage battle of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes two days ago, Xu Ran did not miss yesterday¡¯s Leadership Stage battles either. He saw the competition venue expand several times overnight and also watched the fiercer battles, witnessing the birth of the top hundred leaders of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes before returning home satisfied. Today, unlike the previous two days where he sat in the audience as a spectator, Xu Ran would be personally participating in the General Stage level of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Thanks to the last two days of watching the competition, he and his three companions had gained quite an understanding of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, so even though it was their first time competing, they wouldn¡¯t feel entirely unfamiliar with it. In place of that unfamiliarity, there was a strong sense of anticipation. This anticipation stemmed not only from the opportunity to acquire the Main Material for Evolution for both Star and Ziyun during the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, but also from the intense competitive atmosphere of battle that ignited their passion and combat spirit. To perform better in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, Xu Ran even brought with him the long sword acquired from Thunderbolt Half Mountain, which he seldom carried. Following the large contingent, one man and his three beasts quickly arrived at the competition venue they had visited the previous two days. Although it was the same place, the competition venue had expanded significantly overnight, leaving both Xu Ran and the other spectators with a sense of familiar unfamiliarity. What had been the Leaf Arena with a 300-meter diameter two days before, had now expanded to a 3,000-meter scale, increasing a hundredfold in size. The Sky-Reaching Pillar that supported these arenas had become immensely spectacular, piercing the clouds and holding up the sky. ¡°I can hardly imagine what tomorrow¡¯s competition venue will look like,¡± Xu Ran muttered to himself, craning his neck with effort just to catch a glimpse of the top of the Sky-Reaching Pillar. The venue for tomorrow¡¯s King Stage level of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes would reach its largest scale, nearly matching the size of the Sky-Touching Mysterious Wood itself. At that time, the audience will be situated on the body of the Sky-Touching Mysterious Wood. It is said that will be the most bustling day of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. ¡°Cancan!¡± (We must come to watch the competition tomorrow!) Gazing up at the ever-expanding competition venue, Cancan exclaimed excitedly. Due to its large body type, it instinctively had a special fondness for gigantic things. While the Leaf Arena was already quite big, in Cancan¡¯s eyes, it was still not quite enough. Now, if it could revert to its original body type, it would reach a 300-meter scale, and if it were to fully utilize Jiezimixu to further enlarge its body type, it could even reach two to three thousand meters. This Leaf Arena wouldn¡¯t be enough for it to stretch out in! Therefore, it wanted to see what tomorrow¡¯s competition venue would look like. Although it wouldn¡¯t be able to participate at that time, having a look would be good too! ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s first focus on winning today¡¯s competition smoothly.) Ziyun raised a paw and gently tapped Cancan¡¯s head, revealing a bit more solemnity in its eyes. Although it was confident about successfully defending Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, the leaf rewards were tied to its Evolution Materials, and it could not afford to lose them! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Indeed, we should focus on today¡¯s match first.) Star neighed in agreement with Ziyun¡¯s words. Tomorrow¡¯s matters could wait until tomorrow. Today¡¯s resources had to be secured first! This wasn¡¯t just about Ziyun¡¯s evolution; it was also crucial for his own evolution. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll definitely come tomorrow,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, patting Cancan¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for the last three days; how could we miss the most exciting fourth day?¡± ¡°But for now¡­¡± Xu Ran looked around and soon spotted the Gigantic Spirit Ostrich from the past two days, handling the competitors¡¯ check-in with a special wreath on its head. ¡°It¡¯s getting late; we should go check in now.¡± ¡°Gah~¡± Watching Xu Ran and his three companions approach, the Gigantic Spirit Ostrich let out a low grunt, tilted its head, and motioned for Xu Ran and his little trio to present their participation certificates. Xu Ran, who had previously picked up the corresponding certificate from the Beast Master Association, quickly fumbled out a distinctive Certificate Stone from his chest and handed it over. Though it appeared to be a common, even irregular, stone, it bore the unique aura of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu, impossible for anyone to counterfeit. The Gigantic Spirit Ostrich lowered its long neck, sniffed at the Certificate Stone, swallowed it with a gulp amidst Xu Ran¡¯s twitching lips, showing a satisfied expression, then pointed with its beak to a nearby passage, indicating that Xu Ran should enter. The competitors¡¯ check-in was completed just like that, simply and swiftly. This scene caught the attention of many nearby people. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Boss Xu? Why is he participating in the competition as well?¡± A Beast Master from Monster Wooden City, who had come to watch the competition, tapped his companion¡¯s shoulder. Chapter 529 - Chapter 529: Chapter 293: Huh? Boss Xu?!_2 Chapter 529: Chapter 293: Huh? Boss Xu?!_2 ¡°Boss Xu? Which Boss Xu?¡± his companion¡¯s face still showed a hint of sluggishness in his reaction. ¡°Who else could it be, the one from Starfire Foster Care Shop! You just recommended their Washing and Protection services to me the day before yesterday!¡± Seeing the blank expression on his friend¡¯s face, he pointed towards the direction of the contestant registration area, speechless, ¡°Look, he¡¯s gone in!¡± ¡°Really, Boss Xu?!¡± His companion finally snapped back to reality, and following his friend¡¯s gesture, he saw Xu Ran¡¯s figure, his expression gradually turning to astonishment, ¡°Is he here to provide Washing and Protection services for some contestant?¡± ¡°¡­Are you dumb?¡± The person who had spotted Xu Ran was at a loss for words for a moment, ¡°He went in with a Certificate Stone! He¡¯s here to compete!¡± ¡°Compete? Boss Xu?!¡± His companion couldn¡¯t help but gasp in surprise, ¡°This is the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes at the General level!¡± ¡°Enough with the chit-chat, let¡¯s hurry up and grab good seats to watch the battle!¡± The excitement in the eyes of the man who had found Xu Ran was palpable, ¡°I have a feeling that today¡¯s Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is going to be interesting!¡± Similar conversations were happening in many places around them. Watching Xu Ran successfully enter the contestants¡¯ passage with the Certificate Stone and truly head towards the direction of the Sky-reaching Pillar, a flurry of discussions quickly arose around them. Boss Xu was no stranger to them. However, in the eyes of most people, Boss Xu was just the owner of a foster shop known for excellent technical services but somewhat listless. Since his shop had employed staff, he rarely managed the shopfront personally. They had never considered that such a foster shop owner could also be a General Level Beast Master capable of participating in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. And just as surprised were the other human Beast Masters participating in the competition. ¡°Boss Xu?! Am I seeing things?¡± A General Level Beast Master who had arrived early to prepare for battle under the Sky-reaching Pillar couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes when he saw Xu Ran standing next to him. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Zhao Tuo.¡± Xu Ran recognized the man who had visited his shop several times to purchase hundreds of hours of training time for his three Pet Beasts, smiling a bit more on his face, ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been some time¡­ No, that¡¯s not right! That¡¯s not important!¡± Zhao Tuo abruptly shook his head, quickly snapping back from Xu Ran¡¯s playful banter to the initial crucial point, ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re actually participating in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes?¡± As a General Level Beast Master himself, Zhao Tuo was not completely oblivious to Xu Ran¡¯s abilities. However, because the power of the three little ones was concealed, in Zhao Tuo¡¯s view, Xu Ran could only be considered a below-average strength contender among General Level Beast Masters. And the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was the peak battle of all equivalence in strength across the entire Monster Wooden Domain. Such a battle was not something someone of Xu Ran¡¯s strength should be participating in. ¡°It¡¯s about being involved.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, speaking casually. The man before him, Zhao Tuo, had made a strong impression because he personally received and devised the training plans for the other¡¯s four Pet Beasts. Zhao Tuo¡¯s four Pet Beasts all had reached the completion stage of the General Level, and their Skill Proficiency was even close to the full Halo Level. Among the General Level, he was indeed not weak. And from the look in the other¡¯s eyes, Xu Ran could roughly guess what he was thinking. ¡°It¡¯s about being involved¡­¡± Zhao Tuo¡¯s expression turned a bit peculiar, but since Xu Ran had put it that way, naturally he didn¡¯t feel it was right to say much else, ¡°Can you disclose which Leaf Arena you¡¯re aiming for, Boss Xu?¡± ¡°Number Three.¡± Xu Ran replied, nonchalantly and openly. ¡°Number Three, huh¡­¡± Zhao Tuo let out a slight sigh of relief. The Leaf Arena he had his eyes on offered two rewards at Number Fifteen, and there was no competition between the two of them, nor a need to confront each other. This meant he didn¡¯t need to worry about facing Xu Ran in battle and how to go easy on him¡­ Wait a moment! Number Three?! Zhao Tuo couldn¡¯t help but bulge his eyes. In the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, every ten levels marked a tier, and the rewards for the same tier were of equivalent value, differing only in Attribute. Everyone would choose the Leaf Arena within the same tier that best suited their needs, so the rankings of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes did not entirely correspond to the rankings of strength. But without doubt, the higher-tier Leaf Arenas would see fiercer competition. Leaf Arenas Number One to Ten were outright Shura Fields; even Zhao Tuo, who had considerable confidence in his abilities, had decided after careful consideration to painfully opt out of those challenges, settling for the Number Fifteen Leaf Arena instead. Unexpectedly, Boss Xu had directly chosen Number Three Leaf Arena¡­ For a moment, Zhao Tuo didn¡¯t know what to say. After a brief silence, he spoke slowly, ¡°Boss Xu, if I¡¯m not mistaken, the leaf reward of Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three is of the Fighting Attribute, and the ranking reward is of the Dark Attribute, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Boss Xu might be participating in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes for the first time, so you may not be aware,¡± Zhao Tuo¡¯s voice paused slightly. ¡°Once the two rewards for each Leaf Arena are announced in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, the opponents you¡¯ll encounter in this battle have pretty much been set.¡± ¡°The leaf rewards and ranking rewards of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes rarely feature the same Attribute.¡± ¡°This ensures that you will face opponents with different Attributes, avoiding a contest restricted to just one Attribute.¡± ¡°Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, being one of the top ten Leaf Arenas, will attract the strongest Fighting and Dark Attribute General Stage from inside the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± Zhao Tuo¡¯s voice paused briefly, ¡°On our Beast Master side, there is a tough character who happens to have two Pet Beasts, each of these two Attributes.¡± As he spoke, he pointed to a figure on the other side, ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look and quickly identified the person Zhao Tuo had pointed out. It was a man he hadn¡¯t seen before, probably someone who had never visited Starfire Foster Care Shop. The man was tall and robust, resembling an iron tower, and his presence brimmed with a ferocious aura, making him seem like a human-shaped Transcendent Being. Behind him stood a humanoid Transcendent Being, its body covered in sharp, pointed bony spikes, and its hands replaced by mantis-like sharp scythes. Just one glance evoked a strong sense of danger. It was an unidentified General Stage Fighting Pet Beast. Although at the moment only one of the man¡¯s Pet Beasts was visible, its formidable power made it clear that he was not someone to be trifled with. ¡°His name is Tuoba Hai, one of the rare combat fanatics among the Beast Masters of Monster Wooden City,¡± Zhao Tuo said in a low voice. ¡°The entire Monster Wooden Domain forbids deliberate trouble-making and killing, so he often leaves the domain to engage in fierce battles in more dangerous areas.¡± Leaving the Monster Wooden Domain on their own to fight in other areas of Beast Field Number 47? Upon hearing such a description, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. That¡¯s a real hardcore fighter¡­ Others fight against wild Transcendent Beings to defend their homes and survive, but his actions are purely for polishing his own skills. After all, the Monster Wooden Domain is peaceful and thriving. Seemingly aware of Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, Tuoba Hai turned slightly, and his indifferent eyes looked towards Xu Ran. For a moment, Xu Ran felt as if he was being targeted by a regal lion. Just as Zhao Tuo had said, this was a formidable character. So, does that mean I¡¯ll have to confront him for the victory on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three? ¡°Meow!¡± (Fear not!) Ziyun stared fiercely at the other party, and even exchanged a momentary look with the Fighting Pet Beast behind Tuoba Hai. Its eyes, mismatched in color, were not only fearless but also surged with a sharp battle intent. This battle was about securing its Evolution Resources! ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Beat him up!) Even Starfire, who was usually more mellow, had a cry that became more fervent at the moment, clearly unafraid. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I shall have a fair contest with that Beast Master named Tuoba Hai,¡± said Xu Ran, whose smile now carried a hint of concealed sharpness, influenced by the emotions of his two Pet Beasts. ¡°You¡­¡± Zhao Tuo shook his head helplessly, obviously not very optimistic about Xu Ran¡¯s chances, ¡°And what I¡¯ve just mentioned is only the situation on the Beast Master side!¡± ¡°If you really intend to vie for Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, Boss Xu, the bigger challenge will come from the wild Transcendent Beasts within the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± Chapter 530 - Chapter 530: Chapter 294: This Place, Is Mine Now! Chapter 530: Chapter 294: This Place, Is Mine Now! ¡°Wild Transcendent Beings in the Monster Wooden Domain?¡± Upon hearing Zhao Tuo¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes filled with even more curiosity and surprise. Initially, in Xu Ran¡¯s mind, Beast Masters would undoubtedly pose a greater threat to him than wild Transcendent Beings. After all, the former could switch between different Pet Beasts, and they could also join the battle alongside their Pet Beasts. From the sound of Zhao Tuo¡¯s words, were there wild Transcendent Beings that were more threatening than the Beast Master named Tuoba Hai they just encountered? ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Tuo nodded slightly, his expression turning a bit more serious, ¡°Within the Monster Wooden Domain, some wild Transcendent Beings pose a threat even greater than Powerful Beast Masters of the same stage.¡± ¡°You should know that the status hierarchy among wild Transcendent Beings is very distinct based on their strength. This holds true no matter how savage other places might be or in the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°As for the highest status within the Monster Wooden Domain, that naturally belongs to the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu. Besides that, it can roughly be divided into three different levels.¡± ¡°The first is the Leading Groups, creatures of this level do not have a stable Evolution Path inheritance. Without special opportunities, they are destined to remain in the Leadership Stage for life, with their highest combat power being within the Leadership Stage.¡± ¡°The second is the Beast King Group. They have summarized certain rules of evolution that allow their members to evolve towards a certain King Species as much as possible. Their combat power could leap significantly, with the strongest reaching the King Stage.¡± ¡°As for the third¡­¡± Zhao Tuo¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°that would be the Quasi Emperor Group.¡± ¡°Quasi Emperor?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his face showed even deeper surprise, ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°The so-called Quasi Emperor refers to Transcendent Beings at the Overlord stage,¡± Zhao Tuo looked around, lowering his voice slightly, ¡°Besides the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood in this Monster Wooden Domain, there are three Overlord stage beings.¡± ¡°And their families are known as the Quasi Emperor families.¡± ¡°They are called Quasi Emperors not only because their strength hasn¡¯t reached that of a Beast Emperor, but also because their evolutionary paths are unclear and haven¡¯t formed a heritage. The other members of their groups can hardly replicate their Evolution Path.¡± ¡°So¡­ aside from the group¡¯s strongest being at the Overlord stage, they don¡¯t differ much from the Beast King Group?¡± Xu Ran asked tentatively. ¡°There still is a difference,¡± Zhao Tuo shook his head slightly, ¡°As Overlord stage beings, they can acquire more resources to develop their clan, making them several times stronger than the ordinary Beast King Group.¡± ¡°Stronger strength also allows them to better guide the more talented youngsters in their clans, making the junior members of the clan much stronger.¡± ¡°The reason I bring this up is that one of the Quasi Emperor groups is of the Dark Attribute,¡± Zhao Tuo quietly pointed towards a nearby location where three ferocious looking Transcendent Beings were situated, ¡°One of the three Quasi Emperor groups is the Night Bear clan.¡± Xu Ran followed the direction of Zhao Tuo¡¯s finger and then his gaze sharpened slightly. There were three massive and burly bear-like Transcendent Beings standing over ten meters tall each. Their grey-black fur was marked with pitch-black patterns, which occasionally flickered with dark light, causing the area around them to also become dim. The visible ferocious aura caused other competitors nearby to voluntarily steer clear, leaving a large empty space around the creatures. Among these three Night Bears, there was also a distinction of strength. They stood in a triangular formation, with the two in the back slightly deferring to the one in front who was somewhat taller and exuded the most formidable ferocity. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It is very powerful.), Star neighed, its eyes reflecting a measure of recognition. As a Dark Attribute Pet Beast, it was able to sense that the leading Night Bear¡¯s strength could even exert pressure on it. Furthermore, unlike itself which was only skilled in support, the Night Bear was a Dark Extraordinary Creature with explosive output. ¡°Meow~¡± (Not afraid!) Ziyun stretched lazily on Star¡¯s back, its heterochromatic eyes squinting. The Night Bear was formidable, but who would win and who would lose would be decided only after the clash! ¡°Both the rank reward for number three and the leaf reward for number six are Dark-type Resources, so at least two of the Night Bears will contend for these two resources,¡± Zhao Tuo shook his head lightly, ¡°They are difficult to deal with.¡± ¡°Aside from the Quasi Emperor Night Bear clan, there¡¯s also another strong contender for Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three,¡± Zhao Tuo¡¯s tone shifted, pointing towards another side, ¡°See that Broken Jade Kite there? Its reputation in the Monster Wooden Domain isn¡¯t small.¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look and quickly spotted a Kite bird standing quietly to one side, pooling its wings, with feathers smooth and lustrous like jade, and the distinct patterns within them giving it the semblance of beautiful, shattered jade. The bird seemed to be resting with closed eyes, and nearby it too was a small clearing where no one dared to stand close. Sensing the being¡¯s aura for a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became one of surprise. This Transcendent Being of the Kite bird species was actually of the Fighting Attribute. A Fighting Attribute Bird Pet Beast was something he saw for the first time. And Ziyun, who hadn¡¯t been too tense around the Night Bears, instantly tensed up upon seeing the Broken Jade Kite. Its innate sharp sense of its opponents as a Fighting Pet Beast told it that this creature posed an even greater threat than the Night Bears they had seen before. Chapter 531 - Chapter 531: Chapter 294: This Place, is Mine Now!_2 Chapter 531: Chapter 294: This Place, is Mine Now!_2 ¡°What is its origin?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°As for the origin of this Broken Jade Kite, I¡¯m afraid only it knows.¡± Zhao Tuo laughed, ¡°It came to the Monster Wooden Domain from another place, alone, but its strength is by no means weak. It even has a brief confrontation experience with the Beast King.¡± ¡°No one recognizes it, not even knowing what its initial species was before it evolved.¡± ¡°Now that it has appeared here, it is clearly eyeing the resources within the top ten of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± Zhao Tuo paused slightly, ¡°The rewards for Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three and the ranking rewards for number eight are both Fighting Attribute resources. It¡¯s just a matter of which one it¡¯s eying.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded, understanding the possible opponents he might encounter later at Leaf Arena Number Three. The first one is Tuoba Hai. According to Zhao Tuo¡¯s introduction, the opponent has both Fighting Pet Beasts and Dark Attribute Pet Beasts. Although he doesn¡¯t know the attributes of the other two Pet Beasts, he is very likely to choose Leaf Arena Number Three for the competition. The second one is the Night Bear clan. There are three members in the Night Bear clan. With two rewards in the top ten containing Dark-type Resources and the Quasi-Emperor clan¡¯s style of doing things, along with their own formidable strength, there will definitely be a clash for Leaf Arena Number Three. Lastly, there is the somewhat mysterious Broken Jade Kite. If nothing unexpected happens, the opponent will choose either Arena Number Three or Number Eight, and Xu Ran must also prepare himself mentally in case it chooses Number Three. ¡°Boss Xu, why don¡¯t you change your target to a different Leaf Arena?¡± Zhao Tuo spread his hands and spoke softly. Having said so much, he naturally hoped that Xu Ran could face reality and find a Leaf Arena that he was more confident about, rather than stubbornly choosing the hellish difficulty of Leaf Arena Number Three. After all, aside from these three, the capabilities of the other competitors wouldn¡¯t be weak either. Boss Xu¡¯s choice of Number Three was commendable for its courage, but it¡¯s doomed to be without result. ¡°No, I still choose Leaf Arena Number Three.¡± Xu Ran smiled helplessly, ¡°Because the two rewards from Arena Number Three are exactly what I need.¡± Beside him, Ziyun and Star both nodded in agreement. For their Evolution Materials, no matter what kind of competitors they are, they must be defeated! ¡°Chah~¡± (I will give it my all as well.) Cancan shook its head and spoke with a determined voice. Helping its companions was helping itself. If Ziyun and Star could complete their evolution as soon as possible, then all the resource allocation that followed would prioritize it! Well¡­ not necessarily. If nothing unexpected happens, by that time, number twelve should have rejoined them, right? ¡°Boss Xu, you¡­¡± Seeing that Xu Ran was still adamant about choosing Leaf Arena Number Three as his target even after his advice, Zhao Tuo¡¯s expression became complex, ¡°Then I wish you a smooth success.¡± ¡°Thanks for your kind words.¡± Xu Ran smiled. Though, he was not afraid of these three potential strong competitors. However, if he could obtain the rewards of Leaf Arena Number Three without encountering them, naturally, it would be even better. The time flew by as the two of them spoke. ¡°Soso~¡± The clear sound of leaves rubbing against each other echoed, and at the same time, the invisible will of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu descended, informing the competitors waiting under the Sky-reaching Pillar that the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was about to begin. In an instant, the atmosphere among the competitors under the pillar became tense, faintly charged with a sense of imminent conflict. Zhao Tuo no longer spoke to Xu Ran and took a few steps away, maintaining a certain distance from the other competitors. He summoned his Pet Beast, beginning to prepare for the upcoming fierce battles. ¡°Star, you and Cancan wait for me under the Sky-reaching Pillar,¡± said Xu Ran as he dismounted, stroking the mane on the back of Star¡¯s head and speaking softly. According to the rules of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, whether it¡¯s the initial race or the later guarding and challenging of arenas, Beast Masters can only cooperate with one Pet Beast. Therefore, for the initial racing part, Xu Ran chose to cooperate with Ziyun. As a feline Pet Beast, it is more skilled at climbing trees than Star. Besides, the current Ziyun, with its Four Stars speed skill, the Path of Destruction, had improved dramatically, and its speed was even superior to Star¡¯s. The most important thing was that, in addition to speed, the Path of Destruction had another effect. That was the formation of a Lei Jing along the path, causing thunder strikes and paralyzing effects on any opponent it touched. After two days of observation, Xu Ran had confirmed that not directly attacking other competitors was the rule during the racing process. However, if someone was incidentally affected, it fell within the rules and was not a violation. The Lei Jing formed by the Path of Destruction was now within that scope. As for Star and Cancan, they would wait below the Sky-reaching Pillar. Once Xu Ran reached Leaf Arena Number Three, calling them up would be in time. ¡°Chah!¡± (Go for it, Ziyun!) Cancan, still in its miniature state, stayed on Star¡¯s back, waving its claws at Ziyun as a form of encouragement. Worry was written in Star¡¯s eyes, however. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Can Ziyun¡¯s stamina keep up?) It was common knowledge that among the trio, Ziyun had the weakest endurance. No, Ziyun had absolutely no endurance. With its explosive power, it might exhaust its strength in a very short time. While Star was confident about Ziyun¡¯s speed, if Ziyun ran out of energy halfway¡­ That would be quite awkward. ¡°Meow!¡± (Who are you looking down upon!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes flickered with discontent and it couldn¡¯t help but huff. Chapter 532 - Chapter 532: Chapter 294 Here, its mine!_3 Chapter 532: Chapter 294 Here, it¡¯s mine!_3 Now, it¡¯s no longer the creature it used to be! After all, it has reached the peak of the General stage as a Pet Beast, and you think it would exhaust its energy halfway up the Sky-reaching Pillar? Ziyun raised its head, its eyes filled with a touch of pride. Just a small tree¡­ well, not that small. Regardless, it will have no problem climbing to the top in one go! Wriggling in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, Ziyun quickly leaped down, its deliberately shrunken body returning to its original size rapidly. Having broken through to the General Level, Ziyun¡¯s true length was four to five meters, making it a Large Pet Beast, and carrying Xu Ran posed no issue whatsoever. ¡°Here I come,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, grasping Ziyun¡¯s soft and elegant fur, settling himself on its back. And truth be told, sitting on Ziyun¡¯s back felt completely different from sitting on Star¡¯s. The soft fur gave Xu Ran the sensation of sitting on a throne draped with sable fur. ¡°Meow~¡± (Feels pretty good!) Ziyun nodded in satisfaction, carrying Xu Ran and taking a few steps on the spot, getting used to the new state. It really hadn¡¯t carried Xu Ran before, as this task had always fallen to Star, and it felt a novel sensation for a while. A moment later, a familiar voice resounded once again. At the same time, the mental reward from the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu. ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, begins!¡± Almost instantaneously as the mental message arrived, the competitors who had been ready below the Sky-reaching Pillar shot off like arrows released from bows, each using their own methods to charge towards the upper reaches of the pillar. ¡°Yoh¡ª¡± Accompanied by a sharp cry, the Broken Jade Kite, which seemed to be resting with closed eyes, suddenly opened its azure eyes and took off into the sky with a flap of its wings. With the vigorous flapping, a whirlwind abruptly kicked up around, throwing up dust from the ground into the air. Despite being a Fighting Attribute, its take-off momentum was even more ferocious than those of the Wind attribute. An invisible force wrapped around its wings, as though an endless stream of power was erupting. The air was violently displaced, serving as a powerful force propelling it upwards. The moment it lifted off, its figure became blurred, appearing like a streak of cyan light, rapidly darting toward the top of the Sky-reaching Pillar! On another side, Zhao Tuo¡¯s Pet Beast had changed to a different one by his side without anyone knowing when. Gone was the fierce and formidable Fighting Pet Beast from before, replaced by a silhouette that seemed like a shadow or a ghost. The instant the mental message descended, the shadowy figure enveloped Zhao Tuo and then slowly sank into the earth, turning into a vague black line on the ground, rushing toward the Sky-reaching Pillar, then along its exterior straight upward, its speed equally astonishing. ¡°Roar~¡± With roars filled with a fierce aura, three Night Bears set off together, wasting no time in action. Despite their massive bodies, their agility was impressive. Sharp claws viciously penetrated the outer wall of the pillar, and coupled with their powerful climbing, their ascent was swift. Within mere breaths, they had climbed over a hundred meters. Watching the competitors take the lead, Xu Ran shook his head and chuckled, then nodded at Star and Cancan, who had stayed in place. ¡°Ziyun, it¡¯s our turn to make a move,¡± he said. ¡°Meow!¡± (No problem!) Within Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes, purple electric lights suddenly burst forth. It had been waiting for this moment for far too long! The new skill it had just acquired two days ago had only been used in the Training Area during the past two days, and it couldn¡¯t wait to let its opponents witness its strength! ¡°Crackle¡ª¡± Accompanied by the grating sound of electric arcs piercing the air, Ziyun¡¯s presence soared, and purple electricity violently exploded around it. Even its body seemed to transform into a semi-energetic form, taking on a translucent purple hue. The next instant, Ziyun¡¯s hind paws gripped the ground firmly, muscles tensed like a drawn bowstring, and after a very brief buildup of energy, it burst forth with power! ¡°Boom!!!¡± Along with a deep thunderous sound, Ziyun¡¯s figure disappeared on the spot, reappearing nearly instantaneously a hundred meters up the side of the Sky-reaching Pillar! Simultaneously, a clear, light purple path formed instantly between its starting position and its current one. Within that light purple path, lingering lightning sparks had not yet dissipated, and a potent Thunderforce could be discerned, enough to make anyone¡¯s heart tremble. Almost without pausing, Ziyun¡¯s figure flashed again, another hundred meters accomplished, and a second light purple path was formed. Then came the third, the fourth. In the span of breaths, Ziyun had already reached a height of five hundred meters, leaving behind a path marked with long-lasting, clear creases wherever it passed. The previous leaders that had been higher than it were suddenly left behind in a moment. Now, the only creatures above Ziyun were a few Transcendent Beings extremely adept at speed from the flying category. And Ziyun¡¯s unexpected, silent strike immediately shocked all competitors, simultaneously drawing all the gazes from the spectator stands. ¡°Is that¡­ Boss Xu?!¡± Looking up, barely discerning that distant leading figure, Zhao Tuo¡¯s expression suddenly became stupefied as he was about to commence his first hundred meter sprint. So, Boss Xu¡¯s Pet Beast is this powerful?! That¡­ Thinking of the words he had just spoken to the other party, Zhao Tuo felt a sense of impending doom. On the side of the Sky-reaching Pillar, the rapidly traversing black line also halted at the same moment, forming a tiny dark spot. As shadows spread out from the spot, it soon revealed the figure of Tuoba Hai¡¯s Dark Attribute Pet Beast. Tuoba Hai stepped out from within its body with a serious look in his eyes as he gazed at the empty space filled with Lei Jing¡¯s presence, and then he glanced at his own Pet Beast. Chapter 533 - Chapter 533: Chapter 294: This Place, is Mine Now!_4 Chapter 533: Chapter 294: This Place, is Mine Now!_4 The Dark Attribute Pet Beast twisted its body, quickly separating a small cluster of shadows that lunged towards the Thunder Path. ¡°Crackle¡ª¡± The sudden explosion of lightning instantly devoured the shadow cluster, its terrifying majesty causing Tuoba Hai¡¯s pupils to narrow slightly and prompting those contestants who were originally closer to the Thunder Path to feel like they were in imminent danger, quickly maintaining a certain distance from it. Tuoba Hai looked up once again, his gaze thoughtful as he could barely make out Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure. Thunder Attribute, huh¡­ He hadn¡¯t expected Monster Wooden City to conceal such a formidable Beast Master. The rewards for the number eight Leaf Arena and the rankings prize for the number four Leaf Arena were both of the Thunder Attribute; presumably, the opponent¡¯s target was one of these two? Thinking this, a trace of disappointment flickered across Tuoba Hai¡¯s eyes. Regrettably, their goals were not aligned. There would be no chance to confront each other in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. However, his disappointment was quickly replaced by a frenzy. It didn¡¯t matter. As long as that person was still in the Monster Wooden Domain, he would sooner or later seek them out for a battle! He was once again swallowed by his own Pet Beast and then continued to climb upwards. On the other side, the speed at which Xu Ran and Ziyun charged upwards had not slowed in the slightest with the passage of time. In just a few breaths, they had already reached the middle section of the Sky-reaching Pillar. Even those Transcendent Beings known for their incredibly fast flying speed who had taken the lead in the charge had fallen behind them one by one. At this moment, the only thing still in front of them was that streak of cyan light. Broken Jade Kite! This Broken Jade Kite was truly mysterious; although not a Wind Attribute being, it overtook one Wind Attribute Transcendent Being after another with its formidable Fighting Attribute physical strength, seizing the lead from all contestants. Yet, Xu Ran and Ziyun were slightly faster. The distance between them closed gradually. ¡°Meow~¡± (Charge!) As Ziyun fixed its gaze upon the Broken Jade Kite ahead, it seemed to be touched by the joy of the stars for a moment. Thinking that the other could potentially be a strong competitor in the upcoming third arena battle, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but feel an impulse to measure itself against it. The Broken Jade Kite, too, had already sensed the rapidly approaching presence below. Mild surprise welled up in its heart as it couldn¡¯t help but glance below with its aquamarine eyes. A human Beast Master? It could sense that the Pet Beast below was not stronger than itself, and was even subtly weaker, yet their speed seemed unreasonably fast. Thunder Attribute, huh¡­ In that moment, due to the Pure Thunder Attribute Skill of Destruction used by Ziyun, the Broken Jade Kite had the same thought as Tuoba Hai. If everything went as expected, the other¡¯s target must be either the fourth or eighth arena. And the resources for the Fighting Attribute were in the third and the eighth arenas. Their goals overlapped, but it was not a significant problem. Because the resources for the Fighting Attribute in these two arenas were different, and what the Broken Jade Kite needed was the Fighting Attribute resource housed in the third arena, the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by another deep thunderous sound, Ziyun¡¯s figure instantaneously surpassed the Broken Jade Kite, becoming the highest among all contestants. The Broken Jade Kite calmly watched as the others caught up without showing any reaction. After all, their goals were not the same. However, glimpsing the remnants of the Lei Jing near it, the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s eyes showed a hint of interest. With a powerful flap of its wings, a feather broke off, falling like a sharp dart, heading straight for the Lei Jing. The next moment, the erupting lightning devoured the feather, and the clash of two different energies created a small energy storm. Something doesn¡¯t seem right¡­ Surprise flitted through the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s heart. Chapter 534 - Chapter 534: Chapter 295 Fierce Battle, Defending the Arena Chapter 534: Chapter 295 Fierce Battle, Defending the Arena Because the chosen Leaf Arena was so high, by the time Xu Ran climbed onto Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, the battles at the other leaf arenas below had already started one after another. The first few arenas that started the contest had even finished their fights, determining the first champion, and entered into the mid-battle rest period within the light films that rose from the arenas. However, no matter how exciting these battles were, when Xu Ran stepped onto Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three and confronted the Broken Jade Kite poised on the same platform, the majority of the crowd¡¯s attention turned their way. After all, the higher the Leaf Arena, the more likely it was to feature stronger competitors and more intense, thrilling battles. And the two about to begin their fight were particularly interesting. One of them had arrived at Demon Wood Domain about half a year ago, and with his robust strength, soon made a name for himself; he had a legendary experience of briefly contending against a King Stage with only General stage prowess, yet no one knew of his past. As for the other¡­ Those unfamiliar with him were surprised by such a suddenly emerging Powerful Beast Master, while those who knew him were even more astonished than those who didn¡¯t. Isn¡¯t that Boss Xu?! Who can tell them why Boss Xu appeared at the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, and moreover, seemed to possess considerable strength?! For a moment, the whole spectator stand plunged into a rumble of noisy chatter, with countless humans and wild Transcendent Beings discussing fervently, holding different speculations about the upcoming battle. In the spotlight, Xu Ran, having taken the stage and facing the Broken Jade Kite, sighed softly in his heart. It seemed his luck wasn¡¯t very good. The Broken Jade Kite hadn¡¯t chosen another arena with Fighting Attribute resources as the reward but had chosen Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three instead, making this battle inevitable. ¡°Hum¡ª¡ª¡± Accompanied by a deep humming sound, a light film surged up from the edges of Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three and slowly closed into a hemisphere in the sky. Rich and brimming with life, a power that can be easily absorbed by Pet Beasts of any attribute burst forth from the leaves, blocked by the light film, without dissipating. Inside the light film, it transformed into a sanctuary for recovery, where both injured contestants and those exhausted could quickly recuperate. For the other leaf arenas, only after the conclusion of one battle and the emergence of the first champion would such a light film appear, but the top ten Leaf Arenas had their own little quirks. Due to the significant strength required to reach this position, a recovery light film would appear even before the first battle started. About a minute later, the light film slowly faded, revealing both a person and a Pet Beast inside who had returned to their peak condition, as well as the Broken Jade Kite. ¡°Ziyun, do you want to take this battle?¡± Xu Ran asked solemnly, his gaze slightly intensifying as he looked at the Broken Jade Kite, which was radiating a powerful aura in the distance. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll do it!) Ziyun nodded vigorously, speaking without hesitation. Having gained so many resources in the distribution two days ago and becoming even stronger than before, Ziyun urgently needed an opponent to test its newfound might. And the Broken Jade Kite was just right for this. ¡°Crackle¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp sound of electricity burst forth, and Electric Arcs emerged from Ziyun¡¯s body, dancing wildly in the surrounding void, making its presence suddenly become dangerous. ¡°Let¡¯s do this then!¡± Xu Ran shouted, unfurling the layers of cloth binding the long sword on his back, drew his sword, and pointed its tip towards the Broken Jade Kite. This was not just a battle between Ziyun and the Broken Jade Kite. As a Beast Master, he was also a target for the opponent and could attack as well. ¡°Yo¡ª¡ª¡± The Broken Jade Kite trilled softly, shifting its gaze from Ziyun for the first time, looking towards the long sword in Xu Ran¡¯s hand, a hint of surprise glinting in its eyes. The creature sensed a terrifying power within that long sword that could threaten its own safety, and what was more important, this power felt oddly familiar. It seemed¡­ that it had experienced something similar before. What was it? Contemplating for a moment and finding no answer, the Broken Jade Kite cast aside the thought for now and locked its teal eyes back onto Ziyun. Although this human appeared somewhat unusual, it still considered that the most threatening entity remained the Pet Beast that seemed to be of the Thunder Attribute but indeed possessed both Thunder and Fighting attributes. Without any warning or countdown, the battle between them erupted in an instant. ¡°Boom!!!¡± A deep explosive roar boomed on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three as Ziyun¡¯s figure instantly vanished in one spot and appeared at the side of the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s body, leaving behind a light purple path nearly hundreds of meters long in the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Path of Destruction! Observing the Broken Jade Kite, still frozen in place as if it hadn¡¯t yet reacted, Ziyun¡¯s dichromatic eyes flashed ruthlessly, and in the next moment, it abruptly lifted its claws, tearing ferociously towards the Broken Jade Kite! ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡± With a violent humming sound, a claw shadow tens of meters wide, brimming with both the power of thunder and Fighting Attribute, appeared out of nowhere, plummeting towards the Broken Jade Kite. Its swift descent caused a piercing howl through the air and raised a surge of energy. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Destruction Thunder Claw! In just an instant, the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s figure was engulfed by the massive claw shadow, and the terrifying destructive power kicked up dust clouds that filled the arena. Chapter 535 - Chapter 535: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_2 Chapter 535: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_2 However, Ziyun, witnessing this scene, showed no joy on his face. At the instant when the claw shadows fell, he had already sensed something was amiss. He instantly turned his head, looking in another direction. A kite bird shimmering with jade-colored light had appeared there at some point and was now hurling toward Xu Ran! And what the claw shadows enveloped was not the Broken Jade Kite, but merely a piece of jade that turned to powder under the shadows in an instant. Three Star Skill, Halo Level: Shattered Jade Form! Among the audience watching the battle from outside the arena, those who were familiar with the abilities of the Broken Jade Kite now had an expression of ¡°as expected.¡± Shattered Jade Form was a very strong Substitute Ability of the Broken Jade Kite. It could not only create decoys to confuse its opponent but also grant a certain degree of concealment to the real body, making it very difficult for the opponent to detect the real body before destroying the decoy. Luckily, Ziyun was very fast, and its reaction was also strong, otherwise, by the time it destroyed the decoy, the Broken Jade Kite might have already reached Xu Ran. Even so, the distance between the Broken Jade Kite and Xu Ran was very close now, just a few hundred meters. To the Broken Jade Kite, such a distance was nothing more than a flap of its wings. Exposed, the Broken Jade Kite no longer maintained the cautious speed that was impaired by fear and suddenly flapped its wings with force, sending a fierce sweep through the void around it! ¡°Buzz~¡± Accompanying the eruption of the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s formidable power, the space around it seemed to distort for a moment as it flapped its wings. The next instant, like an arrow released from a bowstring, it rushed toward Xu Ran with fierce winds. To deal with a Beast Master, naturally, the weaker Beast Master himself should be the breakthrough point. While the Broken Jade Kite had great strength, it was also sufficiently cautious. Only, it seemed to have forgotten something. Xu Ran and Ziyun didn¡¯t understand its abilities, but did it truly understand the abilities of this duo? ¡°Zi La¡ª¡± Accompanying a sharp explosive sound, electric currents burst forth in the void. Next to Xu Ran, at the point where Lei Jing began, a figure rapidly reformed amidst the lightning, taking on Ziyun¡¯s shape. Ziyun, which had just landed, didn¡¯t hesitate and raised one of its forepaws to viciously grab at the sky. The next moment, thunder burst from the clear sky! An immense bolt of lightning, seemingly born from nowhere, accurately struck toward the jade shadow that was rapidly sweeping through the air. That almost anticipatory strike seemed poised to collide head-on with the Broken Jade Kite, and its ferocious and inexplicable aura left no doubt that, if struck directly by the lightning, the condition of the Broken Jade Kite would not be good. ¡°Yi¡ª¡± With a sharp cry mixed with a touch of shock and rage, the arrow-like shape of the Broken Jade Kite shifted quickly. It flapped its wings viciously forward, using powerful force to sharply decrease its speed, like slamming on the brakes, to avoid a direct encounter with the bolt of lightning. The immense kinetic energy made the jade-like patterns on its body even clearer. Such a sudden deceleration during high-speed flight, even for the physically strong Fighting Pet Beasts, was not something easy to withstand. What made the Broken Jade Kite more uncomfortable was that despite its efforts, it still couldn¡¯t completely dodge this attack. In the instant the lightning struck the Leaf Arena, it exploded like a nuclear blast, accompanied by a thunderous sound that echoed throughout the venue, spraying countless lightning bolts that danced like Thunder Snakes, sweeping everything within dozens of meters and engulfing the recently halted body of the Broken Jade Kite in an instant. Four Star Skill, Halo Level: God Lightning Rage Thunder! Under the first effect of God Lightning Rage Thunder, its full force was displayed at this moment. As a long-range area of effect skill, its strength had already surpassed what was expected of the General Level, causing the audience outside the arena to exclaim repeatedly. Many customers who had dealt with Starfire Foster Care Shop now looked at the imposing Ziyun, struggling to connect it with the small cat that lay on the counter of Xu Ran¡¯s shop every day. Although by leveraging its special skill, it almost gained the advantage and attacked Xu Ran himself, from what really transpired¡­ That powerful and mysterious Broken Jade Kite had seemed to be under pressure from the start¡­ Looking at the dazzling lightning on Arena Three, all the spectators began to feel a bit nervous. Could the Broken Jade Kite withstand this wave of attacks? Could it launch another effective offensive? Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, as the lightning gradually dissipated, the figure of the Broken Jade Kite also became clear in everyone¡¯s view. Scattered around it were pieces of shattered jade, apparently the result of using some kind of Defense Skill at the moment it was engulfed by the lightning. However, it was evident that this skill had not completely blocked the attack. The jade patterns on its body seemed as if they were really shattered, becoming clear and fearsome, and those cyan-green eyes appeared dimmer by several shades. What further indicated its condition was the slightly listless momentum of the Broken Jade Kite. The last strike had dealt a heavy blow. That was despite the Broken Jade Kite reacting promptly, not entering the very center of Astonishing Thunder Fury¡ªthe area where it was most powerful. ¡°Yi¡ª¡± With a cry, the Broken Jade Kite spread its wings for the first time, lifted from the ground, and after swooping up a hundred meters into the sky, it stopped, flapping its wings and once again confronting the human and their Pet Beast. In its eyes surged a profound and serious color. After an exchange of blows, it had probably grasped the measure of this opponent. Chapter 536 - Chapter 536: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_3 Chapter 536: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_3 It was precisely because it had figured things out that it could no longer see through them. On top of its original might and speed, with the added ability to return, Broken Jade Kite was now entirely certain that the dual attribute pet beast¡¯s speed skills exceeded the three-star threshold and had reached the level of four stars. At the same level of four stars was also the hit that had just landed on it. Thinking of that terrible strike, a trace of fear unavoidably flickered in Broken Jade Kite¡¯s eyes. If it had reacted just a bit slower, perhaps it would be lying down already? In theory, only Emperor Species should possess four-star skills. But after feeling Ziyun¡¯s aura from up close, Broken Jade Kite could confirm that Ziyun had not completed its second evolution. It was still the same King Species as itself. Though puzzled, a stronger will to fight surged within Broken Jade Kite as a result. Even if it did not know why the opponent had such powerful skills, as long as it was also at the General stage¡¤King Species, there was no reason it would lose to the opponent! Thinking of its own origins and identity, Broken Jade Kite took a deep breath and once again soared higher into the air. Multiple shadows peeled off from its charging form, spinning rapidly around Broken Jade Kite and, together with its body, transforming into a whirling spear blade that shredded everything. The next instant, like the Sword of Damocles, Broken Jade Kite, with an overwhelming momentum, thrust directly at the human and pet on the arena. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Broken Jade Killing Robbery! ¡°Meow!¡± (Coming again!) Seeing Broken Jade Kite, which had just endured its strike and yet didn¡¯t retreat from difficulty, Ziyun¡¯s eyes shone with a ferocious light. As it lifted its forepaw again, a thunderbolt encapsulating mysterious divine might descended from the void. However, this time, the thunder did not strike the ground as before but fell upon Ziyun¡¯s paw. That mighty thunder, capable of tearing everything apart, tamed like a docile lamb in Ziyun¡¯s claws, obediently converging according to Ziyun¡¯s will and then further converging until it formed an almost solid, purplish-black Thunder Spear. Anyone could feel the extremely dangerous and terrifying aura emanating from that spear. It was a force of similar intensity to the earlier one, but much more solidified. The Broken Jade Kite, hurtling towards the human and pet at full speed with lightning-like swiftness, also had its pupils constrict violently at this moment. A tremendous sense of crisis emerged within it in an instant. Then, in another instant, Ziyun made its move! With an extremely light-motioned twist of its waist, an invisible power was infused into its claws in an instant, and with this strength belonging to the Fighting Attribute, Ziyun ferociously threw the spear it was clutching in its claws. ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡± Accompanied by a sharp howling of the wind, the purplish-black Thunder Spear turned into a lingering afterimage and rapidly flew out¡ªit wasn¡¯t a mere throw but one of the effects of God Lightning Rage Thunder¡¯s second skill, unpredictable in might. Watching the rapidly approaching purplish-black spear shadow and feeling the faint intent to lock on sweeping over, Broken Jade Kite¡¯s pupils shrank to pinpoints, and a powerful determination erupted from within. ¡°Crack¡ª¡± With a crisp sound echoing across the Leaf Arena, the Broken Jade Kite, which was originally on a collision course with the purplish-black spear, dissipated into a sky filled with blue light and vanished, even escaping the lock-on power inherent in Astonishing Thunder Fury. This¡­ Surprised looks appeared simultaneously on the faces of Xu Ran and Ziyun. What¡¯s going on?! Outside the arena, the highly-exciting battle prompted gasps and heated discussions among countless spectators. When they saw Broken Jade Kite disappear, another wave of gasps erupted. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Was Broken Jade Kite shattered?¡± ¡°How is that possible, the spear hadn¡¯t even touched Broken Jade Kite; this must be an ability it activated on its own.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know about Broken Jade Kite¡¯s abilities? What is this?¡± ¡°This¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard about Broken Jade Kite having this ability before¡­¡± As the spectators were discussing heavily with many starting to guess what ability Broken Jade Kite was displaying, on the other side of the stands, a gigantic lion with a formidable aura looked at Broken Jade Kite¡¯s ability with a complex expression in its eyes. ¡°Woof¡ª¡± Before, were you wounded by it using this ability? Next to it, another beast with a similarly terrifying aura, a land tortoise, asked in a deep voice, its eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°Roar~¡± More or less. The giant lion shook its head, apparently not too willing to recall that experience. After all, as a Beast King, being defied by a Transcendent Being at the General stage and even getting wounded was nothing honorable for it. ¡°Roar~¡± That human kid is going to lose. The voice of the lion Beast King was filled with certainty. Having witnessed Broken Jade Kite¡¯s move, the lion Beast King was very clear that the human could not win. ¡°Woof¡ª¡± I, on the other hand, think that human will win. The land tortoise Beast King¡¯s eyes held a hint of interest as it looked towards Xu Ran and Ziyun on the Leaf Arena. A General stage fellow possessing two skills with power surpassing three stars¡ªit felt that the human might still have other surprises in store. The lion Beast King stayed silent, focusing intently on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. Skills surpassing three stars in strength¡­ Wasn¡¯t what the Broken Jade Kite had just displayed also the same? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C On Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. With its target suddenly vanishing, the purplish-black Thunder Spear ultimately stabbed into the Leaf Arena, blasting open countless terrifying fissures in it. Chapter 537 - Chapter 537: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_4 Chapter 537: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle, Defend the Arena_4 Streak after streak of green light timely emerged, the cracks visibly repaired at a speed discernible to the naked eye, but to leave such marks on the arena made from the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu at the General Level proved the mightiness of that strike. However, Xu Ran and Ziyun did not take this to heart. At the moment, the only thing on their minds was to find the suddenly vanished Broken Jade Kite. ¡°Ziyun, watch our surroundings,¡± Xu Ran commanded in a low shout, tightly gripping his long knife and slowly closing his eyes. A sharp knife aura, as if it could split the heavens, surged from the blade, merging with Xu Ran¡¯s momentum in a blink of an eye, then spread out in all directions. Under this knife aura, with his eyes closed, Xu Ran acquired another way of sensing his surroundings, and thus faintly perceived a clue. There was something hidden in the void all around. They were countless invisible shards, too tiny for the naked eye to detect, floating lightly in the air and omnipresent throughout the Leaf Arena. On each shard, there was a trace of the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s aura, so faint and dispersed that Xu Ran and Ziyun had almost failed to detect it just now. ¡°Ziyun.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What do we do?) ¡°Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, cover the entire arena.¡± ¡°Meowww¡ª¡± After a brief exchange between master and pet, a commanding voice that carried authority suddenly echoed throughout the arena. As the voice resounded, countless thunderbolts surged and erupted on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, transforming it into a Thunder Sea. The grandeur of it was so unexpected that even Ziyun, the initiator, jumped in fright. Feeling its power draining like a floodgate had been opened, Ziyun was instantly dumbfounded. Since when had Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound become so powerful?! Only Xu Ran, slowly opening his eyes, paid no attention to the ocean of thunder around him, leisurely rewrapped the cloth around his long knife, and then calmly slung it on his back as if he had anticipated all this. Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound was Ziyun¡¯s first Three Star Skill. For a long time, it was Ziyun¡¯s strongest output skill. Although it was trending towards obsolescence due to the upgrading of other skills, in certain special circumstances, its role remained irreplaceable. Such as now. The essence of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound is to hide Thunderforce within the sound, spreading it in all directions. During this process, any object the sound touches will cause the unstable Thunderforce to explode instantaneously. At a low Proficiency level, Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound could only react to visible objects, causing thunder damage within range. But as the Proficiency level of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound increased, even objects invisible to the naked eye could not escape its assault. The aforementioned invisible shards were among those affected. Since there were innumerable shards, the might of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound unleashed by Ziyun reached an unprecedented level. Although Xu Ran was unclear about what the Broken Jade Kite would do next after using this ability, striking first was always the right move. The current state of the Broken Jade Kite might make it difficult for many opponents to deal effective damage, but this didn¡¯t include Ziyun. ¡°Yow¡­¡± Letting out a pained and weak cry, the body of the Broken Jade Kite, along with the converging thunder light, reconstituted. Its azure-green eyes were filled with reluctance, and the twitching Electric Arcs around its body made it nearly impossible for it to twitch. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C On Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. Accompanied by the sudden disappearance of the target, the purple-black thunder spear ultimately stabbed towards Leaf Arena, causing countless terrifying cracks to explode on the platform. Streams of green light emerged timely, repairing the cracks at a speed visible to the naked eye, but leaving such marks on a platform crafted from Sky-touching Mysterious Wood by a Beast Emperor with General stage power was enough to demonstrate the terrible force of the strike. However, Xu Ran and Ziyun did not take this to heart. At this moment, they only had one thought in mind, which was to find that suddenly vanishing Broken Jade Kite. ¡°Ziyun, help me watch the surroundings,¡± Xu Ran exclaimed in a low voice, gripping his long sword and slowly closing his eyes. A sharp sword momentum, as if it could split the heavens, rose from the blade, merged with Xu Ran¡¯s aura in a blink of an eye, then spread out in all directions. Under this sword momentum, Xu Ran, with his eyes closed, gained another way to perceive his surroundings, thus vaguely detecting a clue. In the void around him, something was hidden. It was countless bits of jade that were too small for the naked eye to detect, lightly floating in the air, ubiquitous across the entire Leaf Arena. On every piece of broken jade, there was a trace of the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s energy, so faint as to be almost imperceptible ¡ª because it was so thin and scattered, Xu Ran and Ziyun had barely noticed any sign of it before. ¡°Ziyun.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What should I do?) ¡°Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, cover the entire field.¡± ¡°Me-wow¡ª¡± After a brief exchange between human and pet, a domineering voice suddenly resounded throughout the field. With the echo of the voice, suddenly, countless thunderbolts surged and burst across Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, turning the whole area into a Thunder Sea. The scale was so grand that even the originator Ziyun herself was startled. Facing the power that drained as fast as a breached dam, Ziyun was instantly stunned. Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound¡­ when had it become so powerful?! Only Xu Ran slowly opened his eyes, not even glancing at the surrounding sea of thunder, he leisurely wrapped his long sword in cloth again, and then calmly slung it on his back as if he had anticipated all of this. Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound was Ziyun¡¯s first Three Star Skill. For a long time, it had been Ziyun¡¯s strongest offensive skill. Although now it seemed to be marginalized due to the upgrading of other skills, in certain situations, its usefulness was irreplaceable. Like now. The essence of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound was to hide the Thunderforce in the sound, spreading it all around. During this process, any object touched by the sound would cause the unstable Thunderforce to explode instantly. At low Proficiency levels, Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound could only react to visible objects, causing thunder damage within the area. But as the Proficiency level of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound increased, even things invisible to the naked eye could not escape its attack. The previously unseen broken jade was one such object. Because there were so many fragments of jade, the power of Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound this time had reached an unprecedented level. Although Xu Ran was not clear about what the Broken Jade Kite intended to do next after using this ability, it was always right to strike first. For many opponents, causing effective damage to the Broken Jade Kite in this state might be difficult, but this did not include Ziyun. ¡°Yo¡­¡± Producing a pained and weak cry, the body of the Broken Jade Kite reformed with the gathering thunder light, its eyes filled with reluctance. The continuously flickering Electric Arc around its body made it difficult to even twitch. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 538 - Chapter 538: Chapter 296: Youre Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?! Chapter 538: Chapter 296: You¡¯re Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?! ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± Watching the Broken Jade Kite disappear into the horizon, Xu Ran let out a slight sigh of relief. Setting aside the three little ones who had grown up with him, who seemed to have their settings turned up, the strength of this Broken Jade Kite was extremely rare at the General stage level. At that last moment, Xu Ran could vaguely guess that the opponent¡¯s skill must have been some critical skill that, if allowed to be executed successfully, might not even be easily countered by Ziyun. Alas, the opponent¡¯s skill was precisely restrained by Ziyun¡¯s Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound; it was over before it even began. If the one facing off hadn¡¯t been Ziyun, but Cancan, then that Broken Jade Kite¡­ Oh, Cancan has the Land of Destruction. It seems then that the Broken Jade Kite could only have defeated Star. Star: ¡°???¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I¡¯ve almost recovered!) Ziyun, on the side, was already back at full health. In this arena shrouded by a light film, the energy was unimaginably dense, and after special modifications by the Beast Emperor, it was very easy to absorb. Add to that the Fated Star Pulling skill Star had executed as soon as it appeared. Ziyun, who had not been injured, only exhausted, recovered very quickly. ¡°Stay sharp,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°This light film should be fading soon, and our rest time between defenses is about to end.¡± ¡°Soon, other strong opponents will come on stage, and we must not underestimate them.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Understood!) Ziyun responded and quickly adopted a ready-to-fight posture. ¡°Not so fast.¡± Seeing Ziyun looking so, Xu Ran smiled, ¡°You won¡¯t be needed in every fight; we have to give Star and Cancan a chance to perform too.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± (Exactly, exactly!) Cancan nodded vigorously, with a look of complete agreement in its eyes. After all, it was the second powerhouse and the top defender in the team ¨C how could it merely watch its companions show off in such a situation? It had Four-Star skills too! Even Star let out a neigh, nodding in agreement. Although it didn¡¯t really have any offensive methods of its own. But the rules of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes stated that a Beast Master must fight in tandem with one Pet Beast, which changed the equation. The Fated Star Pulling was about to showcase its splendor once again! And¡­ It also wanted to try out the effects of its newly fused Four-Star skill, Prayer of Starry Night! ¡°Meow~¡± (Alright, alright~) Seeing its two companions brimming with the zeal of battle, Ziyun shook its paw in resignation and stepped back. It looked like Ziyun¡¯s dream of dominating the arena from start to finish was doomed to remain unfulfilled. ¡°In a while, I will choose one of you three based on the strength of our opponents,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, pointing to the platforms on the Sky-reaching Pillar meant for climbing and resting, ¡°Those who aren¡¯t chosen, wait on the platforms outside the arena.¡± All three little ones nodded, signifying they understood. As the trio of one human and three beasts communicated, the light film enveloping the entire arena slowly dissipated. The outside scene became visible. Although Xu Ran¡¯s fight with the Broken Jade Kite had not taken much time, there were quite a few strong and fast contenders among the rest. On the upper Leaf Arenas number one and two, and the other top ten below, fierce battles had already begun in succession, and outside the third arena where Xu Ran was, several figures with fighting spirits high in the sky had appeared. As the light film completely vanished, the third arena was once again open for challenge, and these figures looked at each other as if pondering who should make the first move. They seemed to have reached a tacit agreement in silence. A Transcendent Being that looked like a specter, shrouded in black mist, floated onto the stage, and then a slit opened in its round belly, from which a fierce-looking man emerged. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze slightly intensified. It was Zhao Tuo, previously mentioned, the Beast Master known as Tuoba Hai! It was unexpected that after the battle with the Broken Jade Kite, Xu Ran would face off against Tuoba Hai so soon. Compared to wild Transcendent Beings, he was more accustomed to human Beast Masters and knew full well that the power of a strong Beast Master, combined with their Pet Beasts, was no simple sum. This opponent in front of him should not be underestimated. While Xu Ran examined his adversary, Tuoba Hai, who had come onto the stage, was also sizing up Xu Ran. Those hawk-like eyes held strong desire for combat and curiosity. Since when did Monster Wooden Domain have such a formidable General Stage Beast Master? Originally, when he saw that Xu Ran was using a Thunder Attribute Pet Beast, he thought he might not encounter Xu Ran, but fate had made their paths cross regardless. But¡­ that was precisely what he wanted! A frenzy appeared in Tuoba Hai¡¯s eyes. He was a pure warmonger. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been born in the peaceful Monster Wooden City but yearned for the chaos of other Beast Fields. For Tuoba Hai, encountering an opponent with similar strength and battling against them was a great joy. Therefore, he never missed the annual Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, which he had attended many times. Because the speed of his own Pet Beast was very fast, he had watched the second half of Xu Ran¡¯s fight with the Broken Jade Kite. Tuoba Hai had also kept an eye on the Broken Jade Kite and even thought about facing them in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, but now, it seemed unlikely. The explosive skill of Xu Ran¡¯s overpowered Pet Beast ignited a fire in him. Chapter 539 - Chapter 539: Chapter 296: Youre Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_2 Chapter 539: Chapter 296: You¡¯re Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_2 If possible, he hoped he could take his Pet Beast and battle against it! As this thought crossed his mind, the Hexagram Star Array behind Tuoba Hai flickered rapidly. The ghost-like Dark Attribute Pet Beast was sent back to its designated spot, and amidst the energy storm sweeping up, the initial Pet Beast that had followed him, a menacing and fierce-looking Fighting Pet Beast, stepped forward. Fighting King Species, Sickle Stabbing Battle King! This was Tuoba Hai¡¯s first Pet Beast, as well as the strongest among his four Pet Beasts. More importantly, the Sickle Stabbing Battle King shared a temperament very similar to Tuoba Hai himself. They both aspired to battle with the strong. ¡°Come on! Let me see your strength!¡± Having summoned his battle Pet Beast, Tuoba Hai shouted at Xu Ran. ¡°Meow?¡± (Should I go?) Seeing a Fighting Attribute opponent, Ziyun moved its paw slightly, a surge of impulse to take action welling up inside. However, remembering Xu Ran¡¯s prior words, it turned its gaze towards Xu Ran, waiting for him to make a decision. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± After glancing at the terrifyingly fierce Fighting Pet Beast in the distance, Xu Ran hesitated only for a moment before making up his mind, ¡°Let Cancan go.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± (Me?) Cancan was momentarily stunned, then excitement sparked in its golden eyes. Cancan had heard the words spoken by that human called Zhao Tuo as well. According to Zhao Tuo, this human named Tuoba Hai was likely one of the more threatening challengers at the Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three today. To face such a challenger, Xu Ran had chosen it. What did that indicate? It meant Xu Ran recognized its strength! Cancan, who had seemed somewhat invisible in the team due to Ziyun¡¯s dominance, suddenly felt touched at that moment. Turns out, Xu Ran had always been aware of its improvements! With that in mind¡­ Cancan turned its head, looking towards the opponent who seemed quite threatening. Let them see the might of Can Emperor! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Fight on!) Star, not chosen by Xu Ran, wasn¡¯t disheartened; it glanced at Ziyun and then the two small ones quickly left the arena, ascending the platform of the Sky-reaching Pillar connected to the Leaf Arena and quietly watched the situation in the arena. Upon witnessing this scene, Tuoba Hai¡¯s expression froze slightly. He had assumed Xu Ran would send out the Thunder and Fighting Dual Attribute cat Pet Beast from the previous battle. After all, such a powerful Pet Beast seemed like the opponent¡¯s main Pet Beast. Unexpectedly, facing him, Xu Ran had dispatched another Pet Beast. A turtle that seemed to have average strength? What was this, an underestimation of himself? In an instant, a wave of anger surged through Tuoba Hai. Impulsive as he was, he immediately bellowed out. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you using the Pet Beast from the previous battle? Are you looking down on me?¡± ¡°Looking down on you?¡± A trace of surprise appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, ¡°Saying that, it seems like you¡¯re the one looking down on my Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Huh!¡± (Underestimated!) Cancan, beside him, nodded in agreement, a hint of discontent appearing on its face. What did it mean that switching to it was looking down on him? Was that not thinking it was weaker than Ziyun? Hmm¡­ although that was true. But it wasn¡¯t that much weaker, okay! ¡°Hmph! Then bring it on!¡± Having heard Xu Ran¡¯s response, Tuoba Hai spoke no further, though dissatisfaction still lingered in his heart. Anyone could tell, Xu Ran¡¯s Pet Beast now seemed weaker than the previous one¡­ Huh? Watching as its form expanded with the wind, the once inconspicuous little turtle transformed into a beast tens of meters tall in a flash, and its presence continued to climb, rapidly becoming powerful in an extreme amount of time. Tuoba Hai¡¯s expression stiffened. This guy¡­ what¡¯s happening?! Those in the audience who were continuously observing Xu Ran¡¯s side, particularly those who had dealt with Starfire Foster Care Shop and weren¡¯t strangers to that little turtle, also echoed the cry of shock. That was clearly a harmless little turtle with a very friendly nature, even taking the initiative to greet customers. Why did it suddenly change this much? And in the next moment, both Tuoba Hai and the audience realized they had been surprised too soon. Because tens of meters tall, a size that could easily qualify for a Super Large Size Pet Beast, was not the ¡°little turtle¡¯s¡± limit. Fifty meters¡­ a hundred meters¡­ two hundred meters¡­ three hundred meters! Reverting from its reduced state to its original size, Cancan¡¯s transformation paused briefly. At the same time, its enormous aura, befitting the General Level pinnacle, surged skyward, sweeping towards Tuoba Hai. For some reason, looking up at the beast akin to a small mountain, Tuoba Hai breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost thought the creature could keep growing indefinitely¡­ Now, it seemed, this was its limit. Feeling Cancan¡¯s not-so-weak presence at this moment, Tuoba Hai¡¯s previous anger faded. It seemed the young man in front of him hadn¡¯t lied; this Pet Beast¡¯s strength probably wasn¡¯t weak either. ¡°Sickle Stabbing, attack!¡± With a low shout, Tuoba Hai drew two curved blades from his waist and charged towards Cancan together with Sickle Stabbing Battle King. Having received the feedback from his four General Level pinnacle Pet Beasts, Tuoba Hai¡¯s own strength had also touched upon the General Level, though much weaker than Sickle Stabbing Battle King, he could still barely keep up with its pace. Fighting side by side, man and Pet Beast, such a sight was relatively rare among Beast Masters, but seeing that it was Tuoba Hai, the combat maniac, it made perfect sense to everyone. Chapter 540 - Chapter 540: Chapter 296: Youre Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_3 Chapter 540: Chapter 296: You¡¯re Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_3 Standing atop Cancan¡¯s head, Xu Ran looked down at the man-and-beast duo charging towards him, arms crossed, exuding the demeanor of a master. ¡°Cancan, keep going.¡± ¡°Chaa~¡± (Understood!) With a roar that echoed throughout the entire arena, Cancan¡¯s body abruptly expanded once more from its original state. Five hundred meters¡­ one thousand meters¡­ one thousand five hundred meters¡­ As its body continued to swell, Cancan¡¯s momentum climbed steadily. Although it wasn¡¯t as rapid as when it reverted to normal size, it was still impressively quick. By the time it expanded its body to over two thousand meters, reaching the limit of the Mustard Xumi Current Stage, its momentum had increased by two to three times, surpassing the scope of the General stage and faintly touching upon the King Stage level. With its expansion came extreme sluggishness in movement, but to others who were unaware of this, the sight was beyond shocking. Keep in mind, the size of an arena at the General stage is only about three thousand meters in diameter. The arenas in the top ten are slightly larger, with a diameter of only four thousand meters. And now, this Transcendent Being, by merely standing there, occupied nearly a third of one competition area. The entire Leaf Arena Number Three seemed to sag under its colossal size. How¡­ How do you fight this? The same question arose not only in the minds of the spectators but also in the mind of Tuoba Hai, who, as Xu Ran¡¯s opponent standing in the arena, along with the Sickle Stabbing Battle King, had halted their original charge. Gazing up at the shadow overhead, both man and beast swallowed their saliva in unison. Although size and strength aren¡¯t always equivalent, with such a size, would you believe it if someone said it wasn¡¯t powerful?! ¡°Sss?¡± The Sickle Stabbing Battle King turned to its Beast Master and uttered an inquiring sound. Are we still fighting or not? It enjoyed battling the strong, but it didn¡¯t enjoy being beaten one-sidedly! Facing Cancan, whose oppressive form was slowly lowering its head, and Xu Ran, who looked tiny on Cancan¡¯s head but was a presence no one dared to ignore, Tuoba Hai forcefully swallowed his saliva. ¡°Fight!¡± ¡­One second later¡­ Observing Tuoba Hai and the Sickle Stabbing Battle King who were both ejected from the arena, held aloft on an invisible light film, and delivered to a nearby platform, silence fell over the entire venue. Even participants on other arenas couldn¡¯t help but frequently glance towards Xu Ran¡¯s location, internally relieved that they weren¡¯t the ones targeted. Wasn¡¯t this cruelty? Since when did the Monster Wooden Domain produce such an immensely powerful Beast Master?! As the battle concluded, Cancan rapidly shrank down from its form that occupied half the arena, reverting to a portable size of about one meter. Seeing this, no one dared to underestimate the seemingly ordinary little turtle any longer. If provoked, it truly could morph into a Giant Beast in an instant¡­ Compared to Ziyun, Cancan consumed less energy. This was an arena constructed by the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Although it was accommodating to other Attributes, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself was of the Earth attribute, granting Earth attribute Pet Beasts some extra consideration here. Hence, after the light film rose, within just a few breaths, Cancan had completely recovered. ¡°After this, we should get some temporary relief,¡± said Xu Ran with a smile, looking at the three little ones who had regrouped. After both Ziyun and Cancan displayed such formidable strength, anyone wishing to climb the arena to claim the throne would have to measure the difference in their powers first. If they rationally forfeited, they could retain their strength to contend for a lower-ranked arena. If they insisted on challenging and incurred injuries and depletion they could not rapidly recover from, they might have to leave the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes empty-handed. The three little ones nodded in unison. Although not being able to clash with more opponents was a bit regrettable for them since their strength had only recently advanced, the fact that they could more easily obtain the evolution materials for Ziyun and Star was undoubtedly a good thing. Once the light film dissipated, the situation was much as Xu Ran had anticipated. The figures that were previously standing outside the arena, waiting for their turn to challenge, had not increased. Instead, there were only a sparse one or two remaining. When they caught Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, even these few indecisive waiters seemed to make up their minds, turning away to head to other arenas. This left no challengers waiting to fight for the throne. ¡°Completely free,¡± Xu Ran commented upon seeing this and casually spread his hands towards the three little ones. He then casually sat down cross-legged on the spot. Even without the dense energy and the aura of life within the light film, being a part of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the Leaf Arena had its own abundant energy along with a faint fragrance that could stabilize emotions. It was an excellent place for meditation. Slowly closing his eyes, Xu Ran entered a state of meditation in front of countless spectators and contestants. The three little ones stood guard around him, assuming protective stances, and quietly waited. Compared to the life-and-death struggles happening on other arenas, especially the top ten, the scene on Leaf Arena Number Three was quite peculiar. So much so that many spectators, while watching other battles, couldn¡¯t help but sneak glances at arena number three. This guy¡­ he¡¯s not really going to meditate until the end of the contest, is he?! Time ticked by, second by second. In the top ten Leaf Arenas, barring number three, almost every single one had undergone more than ten bouts of combat. Among these arenas, there were few where the lord had not changed. Chapter 541 - Chapter 541: Chapter 296: Youre Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_4 Chapter 541: Chapter 296: You¡¯re Telling Me This Is a Little Turtle?!_4 Compared to the fierce competition on the other platforms, Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three seemed to possess a tranquil peace from years past. The meditating Xu Ran, the guarding three little ones, and the empty challenger¡¯s platform all seemed as if they would continue this way until the end of the competition. However, things were clearly not going to go so smoothly. With the appearance of three Night Bears, cloaked in grey-black fur, slowly climbing up and only now having reached the top ten area, a new storm was imminent. The three Night Bears had missed the moment when Ziyun and Cancan had splendidly shown their might; at present, they were completely unaware of Xu Ran¡¯s strength. It was evident that they did not care much about the strength of their opponent. This is the confidence of a Quasi Emperor species. They were in no hurry to seize the platform immediately, for it was within their reach whenever they desired. After reaching the top ten layers, the three Night Bears communicated briefly before the two weaker ones headed straight for Sixth Leaf Blade Arena. The Sixth Leaf Blade Arena offered rewards suitable for the Dark Attribute, making it ideal for them. The third bear, who was the strongest of the trio, made its way directly towards Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. The sight caused the audience to burst into heated debate once again. It wasn¡¯t easy. It was way too difficult. Finally, there was a contender to break Xu Ran¡¯s defense of the platform! For some reason, seeing other contenders fighting tooth and nail while Xu Ran meditated calmly, even the audience felt somewhat irritated. This Night Bear¡¯s arrival was just in time! The three guardians beside Xu Ran quickly sensed the Night Bear¡¯s presence and woke Xu Ran immediately. Slowly opening his eyes, a hint of helplessness appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. If possible, he really wanted to meditate this way until the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes ended, then make a swift getaway with the evolution materials for his two Pet Beasts. Yet, the appearance of the Night Bear was also within his expectations. ¡°Let Star perform this time,¡± Xu Ran said with a stretch before sitting up on Star¡¯s back, then took down the rewrapped long saber and slowly uncovered its cloth. The final moments of the battle against Broken Jade Kite saw Xu Ran wrap the cloth around the saber with flair, and now unwrapping it proved to be quite the hassle. As it turned out, showmanship comes with a price. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Leave it to me!) Star neighed with an excitement that could not be hidden in its eyes. This was its debut after obtaining its first Four Star Skill, a rare opportunity that had to be seized! Ziyun and Cancan naturally understood Star¡¯s feelings; among the three, indeed only Star had yet to make a move in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Therefore, the other two happily left together, heading towards the platform reserved for spectators. Xu Ran¡¯s choice, as observed by countless spectators, sparked another wave of hot debate. Undoubtedly, whether it was Ziyun¡¯s explosive output or Cancan¡¯s conspicuous large body type, both left a deep impression on them. Inevitably, they were also a bit curious about the third Pet Beast beside Xu Ran. Where there¡¯s a first and second, there must be a third. What kind of strength did this third Pet Beast possess? Looking at the person and horse standing on the platform, everyone¡¯s eyes were full of inquiry and curiosity. Finally, the Night Bear made its way lazily onto Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three atop the Sky-reaching Pillar. It glanced at Xu Ran and Star before them, with a hint of disdain flashing in its eyes. The Beast Master, it had encountered them before. Their reliance was on nothing more than a greater number of Pet Beasts, winning by sheer quantity. With only one Pet Beast allowed in the battle, it wouldn¡¯t be its match. If the human had sent out the Pet Beast that had previously thundered down Lei Jing with astonishing speed, it would¡¯ve been more cautious; but as for this one in front of it¡­ Being of the same Dark Attribute, it could sense the opponent¡¯s general situation. It seemed that this was not a Dark Attribute Pet Beast adept at dealing damage. What were those contenders doing before its arrival? How could they have let such a person successfully hold the arena? The Night Bear grumbled in its heart as a towering fighting spirit swiftly rose in its eyes. No matter what, it had taken control over Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three! ¡°Roar!¡± Humans, come and fight! Swiping a claw in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, the Night Bear instantly transformed into a pitch-black afterimage, lunging toward Xu Ran. Contrasted with its sluggish performance climbing the Sky-reaching Pillar before, it was now so fast that it was almost invisible, and within just a few breaths, it had closed the distance to a few hundred meters from Xu Ran. Three Star Skill, Halo Level Shadow Step! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C This Night Bear came at just the right time! The three little ones guarding Xu Ran quickly sensed the situation with the Night Bear and immediately woke Xu Ran. Slowly opening his eyes, Xu Ran¡¯s face bore a hint of helplessness. If possible, he really wished to meditate until the end of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, successfully obtain the evolution materials for the two Pet Beasts, and then make his escape. But the appearance of the Night Bear was also within his expectations. ¡°Let Star handle it this time,¡± Xu Ran stretched languidly, flipped over to sit on Star¡¯s back, then took down the long blade he had re-slung across his back, slowly unwrapping the cloth covering it. As suave as Xu Ran was in wrapping the blade with cloth in the final moments of his battle with the Broken Jade Kite, unwrapping it now was just as troublesome. As it turns out, showing off comes at a cost. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Leave it to me!) Star neighed, hardly concealing the excitement in its eyes. This was its first debut after acquiring a Four Star Skill, a rare opportunity it must seize! Ziyun and Cancan naturally understood Star¡¯s feelings, and among the three little ones, only Star had not yet taken action in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Thus, the two little ones cheerfully paired up to leave, heading to the spectator platform to watch the battle. Xu Ran¡¯s choice, observed by countless spectators, once again ignited a fierce debate. Without a doubt, whether it was Ziyun¡¯s explosive offense or Cancan¡¯s strikingly large body type, both left a deep impression on them. Inevitably, they grew curious about the third Pet Beast that appeared beside Xu Ran. If there¡¯s a first and a second, then there must be a third. What kind of strength would this third Pet Beast have? Looking at the figure of a man and a horse standing on the platform, everyone¡¯s gaze was filled with inquiry and curiosity. At the top of the Sky-reaching Pillar, the Night Bear finally lumbered onto Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. It glanced at Xu Ran and Star in front of it, a trace of disdain flashing in its eyes. The Night Bear had encountered Beast Masters before. What they relied on was nothing more than a greater number of Pet Beasts, winning by quantity. In a situation where only one Pet Beast could be dispatched, it wouldn¡¯t be a match for the bear. If the human in front of it had sent out the same Pet Beast that had previously traversed Lei Jing with astonishing speed, it might have been a bit more cautious, but as for the one in front of it now¡­ Being of the same Dark Attribute, it could sense the general condition of its opponent. This didn¡¯t seem to be a Dark Attribute Pet Beast known for its offensive skills. What were those contestants doing before it arrived? How did such a person manage to successfully defend the arena? The Night Bear grumbled in its heart as a towering fighting spirit swiftly rose in its eyes. No matter what, it had taken control over Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three! ¡°Roar!¡± Humans, come and fight! Swiping a claw in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, the Night Bear instantly transformed into a pitch-black afterimage, lunging toward Xu Ran. Contrasted with its sluggish performance climbing the Sky-reaching Pillar before, it was now so fast that it was almost invisible, and within just a few breaths, it had closed the distance to a few hundred meters from Xu Ran. Three Star Skill, Halo Level Shadow Step! Chapter 542 - Chapter 542: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise! Chapter 542: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise! [Please refresh during the day for possible revisions after initial release] Looking at the lingering dust, the audience members widened their eyes and furrowed their brows in tension, as if waiting for the curtain to rise on an extraordinary spectacle. On one side was one of the three Quasi Emperors of the renowned Monster Wooden Domain; without any members of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu present, they were, by default, the dominant existence just below the Sovereign and above all spirits in their realm. The other was the owner of the Foster Shop, who had struck twice in succession, each time with a different Pet Beast, each one astonishing the audience in turn. The only unknown in this match was that Xu Ran had sent out a third Pet Beast that had not yet appeared in the competition. So, who gained the advantage in their first clash? As the dust slowly cleared amidst the engulfing haze, the audience, gripped by both tension and anticipation, couldn¡¯t help but grow more puzzled. It was too quiet. Normally, a collision between the two sides would generate an energy storm enough to disperse the dust; however, it now dissipated far too slowly, as if there had been no further movement after that initial contact. What had happened? Curiosity swelled within the hearts of the spectators, and finally, the dust faded enough to reveal the scene inside. Seeing the current state of the man and his Pet Beast opposite the Night Bear, the competition grounds fell abruptly silent. Then, a stir erupted. Xu Ran held a long knife, its sharp tip nearly touching between the eyes of the Night Bear; the blade¡¯s fierceness had pierced through the bear¡¯s thick and incredibly defensive fur, revealing a hint of flesh beneath. The Night Bear, stripped of its usual fierceness and combativeness, stood rigidly still, with a look of terror in its dark eyes, as though frozen in fear. ¡°You¡¯ve lost,¡± Xu Ran slowly withdrew the knife, calmly regarding the Night Bear. The process of the collision was actually quite simple. The Star¡¯s Prayer of Starry Night easily withstood the Night Bear¡¯s strongest attack, and Xu Ran struck with a slash, stopping at the last moment, fixating the blade on a vital spot between the Night Bear¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Roar!¡± Once the knife was withdrawn, the Night Bear shuddered violently, its eyes turning to Xu Ran now colored with anger and unwillingness. But, ultimately, it turned its massive body and stepped down from Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. In that moment when the long knife swung towards it, the bear truly felt caught in an inescapable trap, as though awaiting death itself. As though the knife had once cut down Transcendent Beings far more powerful than itself. As a member of the Quasi Emperor class, and the strongest within its same stage peers, this was the first time in the Night Bear¡¯s life that death had felt so close. Even after stepping off the platform, the Night Bear had not fully escaped the chilling shadow of that moment. With a fierce shake of its head, it sluggishly made its way towards the adjacent Sixth Leaf Blade Arena. This year, only three members of the Night Bear tribe had entered the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes at the General level. It was the strongest of the trio, with the other two on par with each other. Therefore, as they had prepared beneath the Sky-reaching Pillar, it had been decided unanimously that it would claim the reward of Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, while the other two would take turns to win the prize of the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena. In the end, the winner of the two would decide the ownership of the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena through a duel, while the one who lost would head for one of the platforms numbered ten or higher. In this way, their tribe could claim two of the top ten Leaf Arena rewards, upholding the reputation of the Quasi Emperor tribe. However¡­ things didn¡¯t go as expected. Because it had been defeated. Cleanly, decisively, without ambiguity. The two Night Bears on the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena, also of the same race, had witnessed the battle of their fellow tribesman. Unlike the fate of the Great Night Bear, their battle had gone smoothly, with one of the Night Bears effortlessly securing the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena. But seeing their Great Bear approaching them, they already knew its intention. With a resigned glance at each other, they stepped down from the arena, conceding the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena to their leader and made their way towards the platforms below number ten. Among the eleventh to twentieth, there were still two platforms offering Dark Attribute rewards, and both of them could secure one each by fighting. ¡°Roar~¡± As he gave his departing companions a glance of apology, the Great Night Bear suddenly turned its head toward a certain direction in the stands. Shortly thereafter, an expression of self-reproach and guilt quickly surfaced on its face. In the stands, a powerful creature enshrouded in a blackness as deep as ink, its body swirling with dark mist, sat hunched over on its front paws at the finest spot in the stands. Its form was not large, appearing to be only about three meters in height, but its aura was as bottomless as an abyss, seemingly able to swallow all probing powers without trace. Even the presence of a Beast King Level entity would feel compelled to silence in its sight. The Clan Leader of the Night Bear Quasi Emperor tribe, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. This was the Night Bear¡¯s Evolutionary Form, an existence of the Overlord stage, the emperor amongst its kind. Watching the most capable member of its tribe within the General Stage fall so swiftly at Leaf Arena Number Three, only to dejectedly make its way to the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor withdrew its gaze, its face devoid of both sadness and joy. The human Beast Master had won his earlier two bouts, and the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor had watched them too. Chapter 543 - Chapter 543: Chapter 297: Reward in Hand, Unexpected Change!_2 Chapter 543: Chapter 297: Reward in Hand, Unexpected Change!_2 Thus, it was neither surprised nor overly concerned by the defeat of its younger kin. The opponent was indeed stronger, it was just regrettable to lose that precious Dark-type Resource. ¡°Wuu~¡± This human boy, however, is quite remarkable. A deep, throaty call emanated from the side of the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. It was a Feather Dragon whose body shimmered with bright green patterns and who bore six pairs of turquoise-golden wings on its back. Unlike the traditional Scale Dragon Type, it had a dragon¡¯s body but no scales, covered instead with feathers. Only around its turquoise-golden eyes was there a ring of golden scales, adding a touch of stunning beauty. Matching its striking appearance was its strength, which was on par with that of the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. This was the Clan Leader of the Blue Feather Dragon Clan, one of the three great Quasi-Emperor ranks, the Gold-Blue Dragon. Compared to the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor¡¯s placid disposition, the Gold-Blue Dragon¡¯s beautiful eyes showed a strong and keen interest. ¡°Wuu~¡± All three of his Pet Beasts seemed to possess Four Stars Skills. Especially the first one, which had more than one Four Star Skill. As an Emperor Species that had completed its second evolution, the Gold-Blue Dragon was all too familiar with the potency of Four Stars Skills, and it had already discerned the full extent of the three young ones¡¯ abilities from a mere observation. And that was what intrigued it the most. How could it possess Four Stars Skills without having evolved? ¡°Sus~¡± The one that received a response from the Beast Emperor was his Earth attribute Pet Beast. Another voice sounded at this moment. It came from the last of the three Quasi-Emperors, a giant tortoise covered in rocks. Its body spanned more than three hundred meters, roughly the size of Cancan¡¯s original form at the moment. However, unlike Cancan, it was entirely tortoise-like without any dragon features, and its rocky shell was speckled with the mottled signs of age, suggesting it had lived for an exceedingly long time. Overlord stage¡¤Emperor Species, the Tortoise of Longevity. Whether it was the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor or the Gold-Blue Dragon, respect was evident in their eyes as they looked toward the Tortoise of Longevity. In terms of strength, the Tortoise of Longevity was the least among the three. But in status, the Tortoise of Longevity was subtly regarded as the most revered. That¡¯s because this Tortoise of Longevity was the earliest follower of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu. It is said that when the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was still a sapling, this old tortoise liked to lie beneath it to rest. The two supported each other through the years, sharing a bond of profound affection. And the Tortoise of Longevity was the only being that could communicate with the Beast Emperor at any time. Even now, when the Beast Emperor often fell into silence, the Tortoise of Longevity could still always get a response. Of course, the Tortoise of Longevity did not abuse this closeness to heedlessly disturb the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood whose state was worsening day by day, and only sought its opinion when necessary. Also because of this, the Tortoise of Longevity represented the will of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu to a certain degree. The always silent Dark Abyss Bear Emperor spoke for the first time. ¡°Roar~¡± Is it because that Earth attribute Pet Beast bears a resemblance to someone you know? Amusement flickered in the eyes of the Tortoise of Longevity as it nodded slightly and then shook its head. It was partially aware of the situation that day. Familiar with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, it knew that the reason for Cancan¡¯s awakening was partly due to the fact that it was also an Earth attribute transcendental creature of the tortoise kind, boasting such an exaggerated body type, and partly due to sensing Cancan¡¯s astonishing potential. The Tortoise of Longevity itself also harbored a certain fondness for Cancan. Beyond the innate affinity shared by creatures of the same attribute, it felt an indescribable closeness to Cancan, as if the latter were a relative it had never met. However, having lived for such a long time, the Tortoise of Longevity had too many kin, real and otherwise, to be certain of their connection. In any case, it felt a considerable affinity for that Earth attribute Pet Beast. ¡°Wuu~¡± What a pity. Seeing the expression of the Tortoise of Longevity, the Gold-Blue Dragon shook its head slightly, a hint of disappointment in its eyes. It had wanted to find the creature and uncover the secret of how it had acquired Four Stars Skills prematurely. But since the Tortoise of Longevity and the Beast Emperor himself had taken interest, it would be best not to attempt anything rash. Shaking its head, the Gold-Blue Dragon put aside a certain thought and swiftly changed the topic. ¡°Wuu?¡± Why did the Beast Emperor ask us to preside over the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes this time? The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was an event that occurred annually. For the three Overlord stage Quasi Emperors, it was a game of contention among the younger generations, not something that merited too much attention. Occasionally, one or two would make an appearance but never to oversee the entire event. For all three to appear and preside over the entire duration was unprecedented. And this was at the request of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu in advance. The request was somewhat inexplicable, and now the third day had come, the Gold-Blue Dragon could not resist asking about the reasoning. Upon hearing this question, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor also turned its gaze toward the Tortoise of Longevity. It too wanted to hear the Tortoise of Longevity¡¯s explanation. Since the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had stopped the supply of Mystical Wood Dew, the atmosphere in the Monster Wooden Domain had begun to shift subtly. Even this instance of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes had started to exhibit changes not seen in previous years. All this was something the Tortoise of Longevity should be most aware of among them. But¡­ this old creature was very tight-lipped, never letting slip the slightest hint. Faced with the inquiring gazes of the other two Quasi Emperors, the Tortoise of Longevity showed a trace of helplessness in its eyes. This wasn¡¯t their first attempt to probe the situation with the Beast Emperor. Chapter 544 - Chapter 544: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise!_3 Chapter 544: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise!_3 ¡°` And although it knew some things, these things were absolutely not to be revealed. After pondering for a moment, the Tortoise of Longevity slowly opened its mouth. ¡°Sss~¡± All I can say is that in the near future, the Monster Wooden Domain might face a significant crisis. If it manages to endure, the Monster Wooden Domain will witness new developments; however, if it fails to do so, the entire Monster Wooden Domain might cease to exist. And during the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, it is when the crisis is most likely to occur. Hearing such words from the Tortoise of Longevity, the other two Quasi Emperors exchanged a look and fell silent. As clever as they were, they quickly thought of something, and their expressions grew solemn. Is the catastrophe upon us? Utterly unaware of the profound conversation happening between the three Quasi Emperors, Xu Ran, after repelling the Night Bear, once again carelessly sat cross-legged on the Leaf Arena and resumed the meditation that had been interrupted before. The three little ones encircled him, guarding Xu Ran. From the way Star Ao held his head higher than before, it was clear that the newly acquired Four Stars skill had played a significant role, boosting its confidence. It had finally caught up with the other two little ones! For the following time, no challengers appeared on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. Anyone could see that among the tough nuts to crack, Xu Ran was certainly the toughest. Rather than stepping up to try, it was better to look for opportunities on other platforms. And the audience also gradually got used to the unique scenery of Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. With all three Pet Beasts showing such formidable strength, Xu Ran certainly had the right to meditate audaciously in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. But¡­ Remembering that this man was the owner of a Foster Shop, the audience still harbored an indescribable emotion. They had seen ridiculous things, but nothing as ridiculous as this. Eventually, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes came to an end amidst a familiar rustling sound. The intense competition for the arenas drew to a close. A hundred Leaf Arenas each found their masters, and the rewards hidden within those arenas slowly dissipated the energy shrouding them, revealing their true form. On Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, one man and three beasts surrounded the newly appeared Extreme Source Vein Crystal. The Extreme Source Vein Crystal was a piece of light purple, clear crystal, with sharp protuberances like a sea urchin on its surface. Inside it, one could see a silver-white droplet flowing slowly. Mere proximity allowed the man and three beasts to feel its powerful energy. That was a force beyond the level of the King Stage, dense and strong. Ziyun felt its Fighting Attribute power crazily surging, a primal longing for life making it almost unable to resist the urge to devour the resource in one gulp. Undoubtedly, this resource would be of great help to it. No wonder then that it was one of the main materials for evolving into an Emperor Species. Sensing Ziyun¡¯s impulse, Xu Ran stretched out a hand to stop it and took out an already prepared resource storage box to carefully put away the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. The moment the box closed, the energy was completely blocked inside. Ziyun shook its head and regained its composure. After securing the box, Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go claim the other reward,¡± he said. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C However, seeing their leader approaching, the two Night Bears already knew what he intended. With a resigned look at each other, they voluntarily stepped down from the arena, giving up the Sixth Leaf Blade Arena to their leader and headed towards the platforms numbered beyond ten. Among platforms number eleven to twenty, there were two more that awarded Dark-type Rewards; they could each claim one if they acted. ¡°Roar~¡± Watching its leaving companions with a hint of guilt, the leader of the Night Bears suddenly had a premonition and turned sharply to look in a certain direction of the stands. Immediately after, a look of self-reproach and guilt swiftly crossed its face. In the stands, a powerful figure, black as ink and enveloped in dark fog, had its front paws crossed and was seated at the best spot available. The creature wasn¡¯t large, about three meters tall, yet the aura it exuded was unfathomably deep, as if it could swallow all probing forces whole. Even the existence at the Beast King Level had to remain silent in its presence. The Clan Leader of the Night Bear lineage, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. This was the Night Bear¡¯s Evolutionary Form, an Overlord stage Emperor Species¡¯ being. Watching the most excellent General Level member of its clan fall so quickly on Leaf Arena Number Three, then scurrying to the sixth, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor withdrew its gaze, its expression neither sad nor joyful. The human Beast Master¡¯s previous two battles had also been witnessed by the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. As such, although surprised at the defeat of its kin, it wasn¡¯t overly so. The opponent was indeed stronger; it was a pity about that precious Dark Attribute resource. ¡°Hmm~¡± This human kid does have some peculiarities. A low growl came from the side of the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. It was a Feather Dragon, its body shimmering with bright green patterns, and six pairs of azure-gold wings on its back. Unlike the traditional Scale Dragon Type, it had the body of a dragon but no scales, covered in feathers instead, and only around the azure-gold eyes were there rings of golden scales, giving it an even more striking appearance. As splendid as its appearance was the fact that its strength rivaled that of the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor. It was the Clan Leader of another one of the three major Quasi Emperor clans, the Blue Feather Dragon Clan, the Gold-Blue Dragon. ¡°` Chapter 545 - Chapter 545: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise!_4 Chapter 545: Chapter 297: Reward Obtained, Unexpected Surprise!_4 Compared to the calmness of the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor, a strong interest flashed in the beautiful eyes of the Gold-Blue Dragon. ¡°Wu~¡± His three Pet Beasts seemed to have mastered Four Stars Skills. Especially the first one, who had more than one Four Stars Skill. As an Emperor Species that had completed its second evolution, the Gold-Blue Dragon was all too familiar with the strength of Four Stars Skills; with just a distant observation, it had already discerned the depth of the three little ones. And this, was the most curious point for it. Without evolution, how could they possess Four Stars Skills? ¡°Sss~¡± It was his Earth attribute Pet Beast that had received a response from the Beast Emperor not long ago. Another voice, at this moment, came through. It belonged to the last of the three Quasi Emperors, a giant tortoise covered all over with rocks. Its Body type was over three hundred meters, close to Cancan¡¯s current primeval Body type. However, compared to Cancan, its form was entirely that of a tortoise, devoid of any dragon traits. Its rocky shell bore the mottled marks of many years, suggesting it had lived for a very long time. Overlord Stage¡¤Emperor Species, Tortoise of Longevity. As the gaze turned to the Tortoise of Longevity, both the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor and the Gold-Blue Dragon showed a bit more respect in their eyes. In terms of strength, among the three, the Tortoise of Longevity could only be considered the weakest. But in status, the three generally held the Tortoise of Longevity in the highest regard. Because this Tortoise of Longevity was the earliest follower of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu. It was said that when the Sky-reaching Mysterious Wood was still but a sapling, this old turtle liked to rest beneath it; the two supported each other throughout the journey and shared a bond of exceptional depth. And the Tortoise of Longevity was also the only one who could communicate with the Beast Emperor at any time. Even now, when the Beast Emperor frequently fell into silence, the Tortoise of Longevity was still able to get a response each time. Of course, the Tortoise of Longevity would not abuse this kinship to easily disturb the Sky-reaching Mysterious Wood, whose condition was deteriorating; it would only seek its opinion when necessary. Also because of this special bond, the Tortoise of Longevity represented the will of the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu to a certain extent. For the first time, the always silent Dark Abyss Bear Emperor spoke up. ¡°Roar~¡± Is it because that Earth attribute Pet Beast has a form that you recognize? A trace of mirth appeared in the eyes of the Tortoise of Longevity as it nodded slightly, then shook its head. It was somewhat aware of that day¡¯s events. The Tortoise of Longevity, familiar with the Sky-reaching Mysterious Wood, knew that Cancan had awakened it partly because it, too, was a Transcendent Being of the Earth attribute turtle kind with such an exaggerated Body type, and on the other hand, it was because it sensed Cancan¡¯s astonishing potential. As for the Tortoise of Longevity itself, it also held a certain fondness for Cancan. Apart from the natural affinity shared by those of the same attribute, it also vaguely sensed an indescribable kinship from Cancan. It seemed as if Cancan was kin it had never met before. However, having lived for such a long time, the Tortoise of Longevity had encountered too many kin of all sorts, so it could not be certain. Nevertheless, that Earth attribute Pet Beast made it feel warmly close. ¡°Wu~¡± What a pity. Seeing the expression of the Tortoise of Longevity, the Gold-Blue Dragon shook its head, its eyes showing a hint of disappointment. Originally, it wanted to seek out the other party to uncover the secret of how they had mastered Four Stars Skills ahead of time. But since the Tortoise of Longevity and the Beast Emperor were paying attention to it, it would be best not to attempt lightly. Shaking its head, the Gold-Blue Dragon quenched a certain thought in its mind and then quickly changed the subject. ¡°Wu?¡± Why has the Beast Emperor asked us to preside over the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes this time? In the past, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes commenced yearly. For the three Overlord Stage Quasi Emperors, it was a minor quarrel amongst the younger generation and they did not pay too much attention; if one or two of them showed up, they would not stay throughout. For all three to appear simultaneously and preside over the entire event was unprecedented. And this was all because the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu had made an advance request. The request was somewhat inexplicable, and now that it was already the third day, the Gold-Blue Dragon could not help but inquire about the specifics. Hearing this question, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor likewise turned its gaze toward the Tortoise of Longevity. It too wanted to hear the explanation from the Tortoise of Longevity. After the Beast Emperor Sky-touching Xuanmu had temporarily stopped the supply of Mystical Wood Dew, the atmosphere throughout the Monster Wooden Domain had gradually begun to change. Even in this session of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, there had been some changes that weren¡¯t usually present. Of all these changes, the Tortoise of Longevity should have been the most aware amongst the three of them. But¡­ this old fellow was very tight-lipped, not letting slip the slightest hint. Facing the probing gazes of the other two Quasi Emperors, the Tortoise of Longevity¡¯s eyes showed a trace of helplessness. This wasn¡¯t the first time the other two had tried to probe into the state of affairs regarding the Beast Emperor. Although it was privy to some information, this was absolutely not to be divulged. After pondering for a moment, the Tortoise of Longevity began to speak slowly. ¡°Sigh~¡± All I can say is that there may soon be a considerable crisis emerging in the Monster Wooden Domain. If we successfully weather it, the Monster Wooden Domain will see new development, but if we cannot endure it, the entire Monster Wooden Domain, might well cease to exist. And during the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, is when the crisis is most likely to arrive. Hearing the Tortoise of Longevity speak in such a way, the other two Quasi Emperors exchanged a glance and fell into silence. As intelligent as they were, they quickly made some inferences and their expressions became grave. Is the catastrophe approaching? Unaware that the three Quasi Emperors were engaged in such a serious exchange, Xu Ran who had just fended off the Night Bear once again carelessly sat cross-legged on the Leaf Arena, continuing the meditation that had been interrupted before. Three little Pet Beasts guarded the periphery, protecting Xu Ran. The way Star Ao¡¯s head was held higher than before showed that the newly acquired Four Stars skill had been effective in the recent battle, giving it significant confidence. It had finally caught up with the pace of the other two little ones! In the time that followed, no more challengers appeared on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. Anyone could see that among all the tough opponents, Xu Ran was certainly the toughest to crack. Instead of making an attempt on that platform, it would be better to seek opportunities on other arenas. And the audience had gradually become accustomed to the unique scene on Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three. With all three Pet Beasts displaying such formidable strength, Xu Ran indeed had every right to meditate so casually during the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes. Only¡­ Considering that this man¡¯s identity was that of a Foster Shop owner, the audience still harbored an indescribable sentiment. They had seen the outrageous, but never something quite this outrageous. Ultimately, the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes drew to a close amidst a familiar rustling sound. The intensely combative tournament had come to a halt. A hundred Leaf Arenas each had found their masters, and the leaf rewards hidden within the Leaf Arenas revealed their true forms as the energy shrouding them dissipated one by one. On Leaf Fighting Platform Number Three, a man and his three Pet Beasts had surrounded the newly emerged Extreme Source Vein Crystal. The Extreme Source Vein Crystal was a clear, light purple crystal with sharp protrusions on its surface, resembling that of a sea urchin. At its very core, one could see a thread of silvery white liquid slowly circulating. Just by getting close, the man and his three Pet Beasts could feel its powerful energy. It was the power of a resource that exceeded the King Stage level, rich and potent. Ziyun felt its Fighting Attribute power surge wildly, a visceral longing for life making it want to swallow the resource whole without hesitation. Undoubtedly, this resource would be of great benefit to it. It¡¯s no wonder that it was one of the main materials for evolving into an Emperor Species. sensing Ziyun¡¯s intention, Xu Ran stretched out a hand to stop it and took out a resource storage box he had prepared earlier, carefully storing the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. As the box closed, the energy was completely sealed within. Ziyun shook its head, returning to normal. After stowing the box away, Xu Ran smiled. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and claim the other resource.¡± Chapter 546 - Chapter 546: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change! Chapter 546: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change! The four-day long Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes reached its final and most spectacular day, as today¡¯s contenders were all powerful fighters from the King Stage. Even the Sky-reaching Pillar, formed by the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, appeared much more majestic and spectacular than in previous days, having reached a second instance of its size by comparison. Therefore, the audience that came to the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes today was the largest of the four days. After Xu Ran and his three little companions were seated, the previously empty seats around them were quickly filled with Humans and wild Transcendent Beings. Judging by the excited discussions, they were all looking forward to the upcoming matches. Accompanied by the howling of the wind, a figure like green jade landed beside the one human and three pets, its sharp claws capable of tearing through metal and stone tightly grasping the branches, standing calmly. Looking at the Broken Jade Kite, which had been defeated by Ziyun the previous day, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. Why had it come to his side? The Broken Jade Kite glanced at Ziyun with a hint of wariness, then let out a low chirping sound. This chirping was not a simple beast cry; it was mixed with some obscure and complex syllables, giving it an odd rhythmic sense. To his surprise, Xu Ran found that through this rhythmic sense, he could understand the other party¡¯s meaning to some extent. ¡°Human, did you also come to the 47th Beast Field from someplace else?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Xu Ran nodded frankly. For him, his original home was Qingzhou City, located in the 97th Beast Field, which was indeed an outsider to the 47th Beast Field. Upon hearing this, the Broken Jade Kite showed an expression of ¡°as I thought.¡± After being defeated by Ziyun yesterday and returning, it couldn¡¯t figure out why such a powerful figure had suddenly emerged, disrupting its plan to acquire resources. Moreover, possessing Four Stars Skills while being of a King Species didn¡¯t sound like something that should exist in a Beast Emperor-level Beast Field. After some thought, the Broken Jade Kite came to the only possibility it could think of: that the other party, harboring a similar purpose, likewise came from a place beyond the Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. Upon inquiring briefly about Xu Ran, and learning that Xu Ran had also arrived in the Monster Wooden Domain within the past two months, the Broken Jade Kite became more certain of its speculation. Now, it had received confirmation from Xu Ran¡¯s own mouth. After answering the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s question, Xu Ran looked at it, ¡°Why do you ask? And you used ¡®also,¡¯ which suggests you¡¯re not from the 47th Beast Field either, are you?¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s inquiry, the Broken Jade Kite slightly lifted its head with a bit of pride in its eyes and chirped again. ¡°Correct. I, like you, come from the 8th Beast Field. You must be a human from Broken Abyss City, right? Have you ever heard of the Liuyu Saint Clan?¡± ¡°Wait a second¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly raised his hand to interrupt, then rubbed his brow. That was a lot to take in. When he had first learned the significance of the Beast Fields from Gu Wu, he had been told that the top ten Beast Fields were Beast Saint-level Fields, inhabited by formidable beings of the Saint Rank, places of extreme danger. The 8th Beast Field was among them. Further understanding had granted Xu Ran more information. He was currently living in a country called Shining Holy Kingdom. This kingdom was very, very large and unlike the nations of his past life, resembling more a federation composed of human cities of various sizes, governed by the sole First-level Capital, Broken Abyss City. The Shining Holy Kingdom wasn¡¯t the only country in the world. Within its domain, there was only one of the top ten Beast Fields, the 8th Beast Field. As for the situation beyond the Shining Holy Kingdom and the other nine Beast Saint-level Fields, to Xu Ran, it was still a blank slate. So¡­this Broken Jade Kite came from the 8th Beast Field? And its background was not minor? Liuyu Saint Clan¡­ Couldn¡¯t ¡®Saint Clan¡¯ mean a clan that has a Saint Rank Transcendent Being?! Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help taking a few more glances at the Broken Jade Kite. He knew that it had a mysterious origin, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be so mysterious. And because of his own answer, the other party seemed to have mistaken him for someone from Broken Abyss City. At this moment, Xu Ran resisted the urge to reveal the truth. Since the other party believed so, let it continue to believe it a little longer. Having finally encountered a creature of extraordinary origin, he should fish for more information to understand more about the 8th Beast Field and Broken Abyss City. The three little ones who shared Xu Ran¡¯s mind seemed to understand intuitively, each quickly lowered their heads, trying hard not to let the Broken Jade Kite see their stifled smiles. ¡°You guessed right, but I don¡¯t know much about the Liuyu Saint Clan,¡± Xu Ran posed with a similarly proud attitude, hands clasped behind his back, and spoke deliberately. ¡°Hmph~¡± The Broken Jade Kite let out a low hum, dissatisfaction flickering in its eyes, but it didn¡¯t say more. Within the 8th Beast Field, there was more than one Beast Saint in charge. At that level, their relations with the human¡¯s Beast Saints weren¡¯t completely about life-and-death enmity; the relationships were quite complex. As Xu Ran had speculated, the Broken Jade Kite belonged to the Liuyu Saint Clan, and the clan¡¯s strongest member was actually a Saint Spirit Rank Transcendent Being known as Liuyu Beast-Saint. The Liuyu Beast-Saint didn¡¯t have much interaction with Broken Abyss City, so it was normal for humans to be unaware of it and its species. ¡°Our clan¡¯s Beast-Saint¡¯s strength is unfathomable. Even among the eleven Beast-Saints of the 8th Beast Field, it ranks in the upper tier,¡± bragged the Broken Jade Kite, ¡°It has clashed with the Killing Spirit Saint from your Broken Abyss City without falling behind.¡± Chapter 547 - Chapter 547: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change!_2 Chapter 547: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change!_2 Good! Keep talking! Xu Ran applauded the Broken Jade Kite madly in his heart, while secretly alarmed. Could there really be as many as eleven Beast Saints in the eighth Beast Field¡­ Just consider, the Beast Emperor in the forty-seventh Beast Field probably doesn¡¯t even have that many. Xu Ran¡¯s only impression of Saint Rank Transcendent Beings remained from what he had seen previously at the Transcendent Evolution Department of the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City. It was the scene of the evolution of the number one pet beast of the Saint Rank in the Brilliant Holy Kingdom, and that mysterious and powerful Wheel of Life of the Saint Spirit had become the most profound memory Xu Ran had of the Saint Spirit level Transcendent Beings. For a moment, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but envision the spectacular sight of Wheels of Life of the Saint Spirit piercing through heaven and earth, and his heart surged with excitement. Being able to stand firm in such a powerful beast domain, the strength of Broken Abyss City must also be noteworthy. How powerful could this Killing Spirit Saint be? He couldn¡¯t help but sit up straighter, leaning a little closer in the direction of the Broken Jade Kite, curious to see what other information might jump out of its mouth. However, the Broken Jade Kite seemed not interested in continuing this topic, shaking its head and issuing a chirp. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about this~¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve all come to the Monster Wooden Domain, our goals should be the same.¡± ¡°Has Broken Abyss City also received the news?¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Ran¡¯s ears perked up instantly. Although the Broken Jade Kite no longer mentioned the matters of the eighth Beast Field, leaving him somewhat regretful, the question it raised immediately after was seemingly brimming with information. The Broken Jade Kite had come to the Monster Wooden Domain a few months ago, roughly around the time the supply of Mystical Wood Dew stopped. Now, mentioning so-called ¡°goals,¡± and considering the undercurrents in the Monster Wooden Domain and the hinting words of the Beast Emperor from yesterday¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He had a feeling that something very important that he was unaware of was about to occur. Ignoring Xu Ran¡¯s silent contemplation, the Broken Jade Kite, as if finding a kindred spirit, had never doubted Xu Ran¡¯s identity and continued speaking on its own accord. ¡°Sky-touching Mysterious Wood is attempting to break through to the Beast Saint. This holds significant implications, and if it succeeds, it will affect the existing power structure of not only the eighth Beast Field but also Broken Abyss City.¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s on our side as a Transcendent Being, you¡¯ve seen the situation in the Monster Wooden Domain. After breaking through to the Beast Saint level, it may not necessarily remain on our side; it¡¯s more likely to be neutral.¡± ¡°My tribe¡¯s Beast Saint has heard of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s situation. Based on what it¡¯s said, if Sky-touching Mysterious Wood truly completes its evolution, with ¡®Order¡¯ being its attribute post-transition, its future achievements will be boundless.¡± ¡°However, my tribe¡¯s Beast Saint is not optimistic about its evolution.¡± The Broken Jade Kite calmly shook its head, ¡°Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have sent only me here to witness.¡± ¡°The humans from Broken Abyss City must really hope that Sky-touching Mysterious Wood successfully evolves, right?¡± After babbling on for a while and yet to receive any response from Xu Ran, the Broken Jade Kite paused slightly, then turned its head to meet Xu Ran¡¯s stupefied gaze. ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know, do you?¡± ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Xu Ran swallowed hard, struggling to digest the even larger influx of information and regain composure, ¡°Of course I know.¡± Still, his mind was overwhelmed by towering waves. Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡­ is going to evolve! Even though he had some vague guesses based on the Earth Raccoon¡¯s descriptions, hearing it directly from the Broken Jade Kite still shocked him. So, does that mean the evolution will happen soon? The Broken Jade Kite was here for this evolution, and the eighth Beast Field was highly attentive to it? What about Broken Abyss City then? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. The Broken Jade Kite had mistaken him for an emissary from Broken Abyss City, but he knew very well, he had no relation to Broken Abyss City whatsoever. So¡­ did Broken Abyss City not know about this? At that thought, Xu Ran felt a slight sinking feeling. In the Broken Jade Kite¡¯s earlier words, there was also a piece of key information revealed, such as Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s intent to make ¡°Order¡± its attribute after transitioning. The word ¡°Order¡± was not new to Xu Ran; he knew from what the Earth Raccoon had relayed that Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had mentioned it before. But what did ¡°attribute post-transition¡± mean? Another question equally perplexed Xu Ran. Knowing that Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was about to evolve, he had some speculations concerning the temporary cessation of Mystical Wood Dew¡¯s emergence. Just like a young pet beast before its evolution, keeping itself in peak condition, the provision of Mystical Wood Dew was also a drain for Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Halting the drain could better prepare it for evolution. But¡­ why would Sky-touching Mysterious Wood still expend such tremendous energy and strength to maintain the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes if even the supply of Mystical Wood Dew had halted? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but look up at the Sky-reaching Pillar that towered into the clouds, stretching to the heavens. Was there a special meaning behind such an action? As Xu Ran¡¯s mind stormed with thoughts, the Broken Jade Kite, because of the change in Xu Ran¡¯s expression a moment before, began to have some doubts about him. ¡°Are you really sent here by Broken Abyss City?¡± Even if a bit slow to catch on, the Broken Jade Kite had sensed something off by now. ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± Seeing no point in pretending any longer, Xu Ran scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not.¡± The Broken Jade Kite: ¡°¡­¡± So it had just rambled on, all for nothing?! Chapter 548 - Chapter 548: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change! - 3 Chapter 548: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change! ¨C 3 ¡°However, you seem to know a lot; could you tell me more?¡± Xu Ran quickly leaned in, flashing a good-natured smile. ¡°You¡­¡± Broken Jade Kite intended to refuse without hesitation, but it suddenly felt a barely perceptible sense of danger emanating from Ziyun beside it. Recalling the awful state of yesterday¡¯s battle, it quickly became more docile, ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xu Ran amiably patted the back of Broken Jade Kite, ¡°You just mentioned that the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu would take order as its attribute after leaping, what does that mean?¡± ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know about this either?¡± Astonishment tinged Broken Jade Kite¡¯s gaze as it looked at Xu Ran. Originally, Xu Ran denied coming from Broken Abyss City, and Broken Jade Kite simply thought that he was from another power at the same level. But, Xu Ran¡¯s question made Broken Jade Kite suddenly realize that it had completely misjudged the situation. How could someone who has had contact with existences at the Saint Rank not even know such common knowledge? Pride briefly flitted across its eyes, but quickly subsided under Ziyun¡¯s threatening glare, ¡°Transcendent Beings evolve from the Emperor Species to the Holy Spirit Race, experiencing an attribute leap in the process.¡± ¡°Their attributes will no longer be the traditional ten major attributes but will transform into unique high-level attributes based on their individual comprehension of power and rules.¡± ¡°If the ten major attributes are like a liquid state, then the high-level attributes are like a solid state, entirely different in terms of energy levels, which is why there is an absolute chasm between the Holy Spirit Race and the Emperor Species.¡± After simply explaining the significance of attribute leap, Broken Jade Kite couldn¡¯t help but snort proudly. ¡°Now you see how powerful the Saint Rank is?¡± ¡°This Kite was born into the Holy Race, I advise you not to¡­¡± Xu Ran rubbed his chin in deep thought, interrupting casually. ¡°Ziyun.¡± ¡°Crackle¡ª¡± Accompanied by a sharp sound of Electric Arc, Broken Jade Kite became as docile as a quail in an instant. Meanwhile, thanks to Broken Jade Kite¡¯s explanation, Xu Ran¡¯s mind was suddenly brimming with thoughts. It turns out that the ten major attributes are not the only attributes in the world; they are more like a basis when Transcendent Beings reach the level of the Holy Spirit Race, they evolve from the basic attributes into more powerful advanced attributes. In a flash, Xu Ran thought of the power of Divine Punishment exhibited by Ziyun, the unique Starlight Power of the stars, and Cancan¡¯s Dragon Power. Could this be a glimpse into the embryonic form of advanced attributes? Coming to this conclusion, Xu Ran massaged his temples. What Broken Jade Kite said should be true. So far, the only Saint Rank Transcendent Being he had ever seen was a nearly breathless image, but now, with the concept of attribute leap, looking back at that image, Xu Ran still found some validation. The unknown First Spirit of the Radiant Empire showed indeed a starkly different display of powers from its original attributes at the moment of its evolution. And the only way to gain a clearer understanding of this change was one. That was to witness the birth of a Holy Spirit Race being with his own eyes. ¡°Did the evolution of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood take place after the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes?¡± Turning to Broken Jade Kite, who seemed to know quite a bit, Xu Ran suddenly asked. Hearing this question, Broken Jade Kite¡¯s expression turned somewhat unnatural. It seemed very reluctant to answer this question. ¡°Meow~¡± (Behave!) Ziyun slowly lifted a paw wrapped in thunder and light, pressing it onto Broken Jade Kite, the action filled with intimidation. Broken Jade Kite shuddered, inwardly lamenting, but still spoke honestly, ¡°It¡¯s happening today.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s pupils slightly dilated. Today?! You¡¯ve got to be joking! He abruptly looked towards the Sky-reaching Pillar that the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had become, and then at the near-silent true body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself. Today was the last day of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes; having spent such significant energy on the battle, why wouldn¡¯t the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood wait a few days before evolving? Its condition was already poor, and after such extensive energy consumption from the battle, was there really a chance it could successfully evolve? As Xu Ran stood bewildered, the next words from Broken Jade Kite answered all of his questions. ¡°The Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes is the Evolution Ritual of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°Since the very first Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, it has been preparing for this evolution.¡± ¡°After many rehearsals of the ritual, this time, it¡¯s for real.¡± Evolution Ritual! Xu Ran was surprised at first but then understood. He was not unfamiliar with the Evolution Ritual. The three little ones had gone through their respective Evolution Rituals while evolving from the Leader Species to the King Species. And in the future, as they evolve from the King Species to the Emperor Species, the Evolution Ritual would be unavoidable. The Evolution Ritual was unpredictable and sometimes illogical, yet paradoxically fitting for the evolutionary process of Transcendent Beings, significantly enhancing their chances of successful evolution. Upon learning from Broken Jade Kite¡¯s words that the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes was the Evolution Ritual of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the questions Xu Ran could not understand earlier now had answers. Why did the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood stop supplying Mystical Wood Dew a few months in advance to prepare for its evolution, yet still insisted on holding the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes? Why did the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, yesterday, seem to persuade him to leave this place sooner? Chapter 549 - Chapter 549: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change!_4 Chapter 549: Chapter 298: Beast Field Number Eight! Sudden Change!_4 All this was because the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was happening today. If the evolution were successful, it would ascend to the Holy Spirit Race, destined to be future warriors of Saint Rank. If Broken Jade Kite¡¯s words had no issue, then the Attribute of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood after evolution would be Order. Bearing the Order Attribute, it was bound to maintain the stable condition of the Monster Wooden Domain and, with its more formidable strength, bring such states to even more places. This was not for other creatures but for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself. Therefore¡­ Xu Ran held a supportive and blessing attitude towards the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. ¡°Ah~ What a pity!¡± Suddenly, Broken Jade Kite, still being held down by Ziyun, sighed faintly, ¡°The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood wanting to evolve isn¡¯t so simple.¡± ¡°Does it have a very low success rate for its evolution?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but nervously ask. ¡°Probably about a ten percent success rate,¡± Broken Jade Kite glanced at the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood in the distance, ¡°It prepared for so long, so a slightly higher success rate is normal.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That success rate can be considered high?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Broken Jade Kite glared at Xu Ran, ¡°This is the evolution of the Holy Spirit Race, having a ten percent success rate is already defying the heavens!¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, ¡°Then what did you mean by it¡¯s not so easy?¡± ¡°Hehe~¡± Broken Jade Kite suddenly chuckled slyly, ¡°Because¡­¡± ¡°In the 47th Beast Field, there are also seven Beast Emperors¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s pupils slightly contracted, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose in his heart. The very next moment, the earth violently trembled. While he had been conversing with Broken Jade Kite, the King Stage level of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes had already begun, with mighty Beast Kings and King Level Beast Masters clashing in several exchanges. Xu Ran, preoccupied by more pressing matters, had paid no attention to the battle. During that instant, all the King Stage competitors halted their fighting at the same time, and along with the audience, which had fallen into dead silence, they looked towards a certain direction with eyes filled with horror and astonishment. A Giant Dragon with a body length of a kilometer, shimmering in golden brilliance, was approaching step by step. Its presence rose to the skies, agitating all around it, and even though the actual body was still miles away, the overwhelming force came rolling in like a landslide. Furthermore, violent roars and tremors from the earth kept coming with each step of the golden Giant Dragon, sending the entire Monster Wooden Domain into turmoil. A moment later, shocking exclamations and screams abruptly sounded from the spectator stands, with phrases like ¡°Golden¡± and ¡°Beast Emperor¡± faintly discernible. In that instant, Xu Ran¡¯s expression rapidly changed. In terms of size, the Giant Beast before him might not even compare to Cancan in its Sumi state, but compared to Cancan¡¯s terrifying aura, it was like comparing a tsunami to a small pond. That aura surpassed the reach of a Beast King. Even an existence at the Overlord stage would be far inferior. That was¡­ the aura of an Emperor Stage! ¡°This one must be the Golden Dragon Emperor from the 47th Beast Field, right?¡± Broken Jade Kite wore an expression that seemed to relish in the unfolding drama. Then, turning resignedly towards Ziyun, ¡°Can you let me go now? I need to run for my life.¡± ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, it¡¯s not the only one coming.¡± ¡°A clash of Beast Emperors, a mere echo of their collision alone is enough to obliterate me.¡± ¡°Ziyun, let it go,¡± Xu Ran looked deeply at Broken Jade Kite, ¡°Today¡¯s events were all misunderstandings. If I have a chance to visit the 8th Beast Field later, I will pay a visit to your Liuyu Saint Clan.¡± The premise being that by then he could win against that Liuyu Beast-Saint. Xu Ran silently added in his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± Broken Jade Kite muttered grumpily, ensuring Ziyun was no longer holding it down, then immediately flapped its wings violently, speeding away in the direction farthest from the two Beast Emperors. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (What should we do then?) Star let out a whinny, its gaze towards Xu Ran filled with inquiry. At this moment, the creatures around were already fleeing in panic due to the ferocious approach of another Beast Emperor. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood did not prevent the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain from fleeing. Instead, it opened its shelter to them, shielding them from the oppression of the Golden Dragon Emperor¡¯s might. ¡°Go!¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t hesitate. He took Ziyun and Cancan and mounted the back of Star, ¡°Let¡¯s get to a farther place!¡± The Broken Jade Kite couldn¡¯t survive the aftermath of the battle between the two Beast Emperors, and neither could he, could he? The only plan for now was to get away. But¡­ Xu Ran didn¡¯t want to just leave the Monster Wooden Domain. He wanted to see with his own eyes what it looked like for an Emperor Species to evolve into a Holy Spirit Race. He wanted to confirm whether the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could complete its evolution under such difficult circumstances. ¡°Screech!!!¡± A sharp cry, carrying a terrifying sense of oppression and astonishing high temperatures, descended from the heavens, bearing down on the entire Monster Wooden Domain. Under the sweeping heatwave, the originally fertile soil of the Monster Wooden Domain began to dry and crack at a visible rate, with massive amounts of water being evaporated into thin air. A giant bird, enshrouded in golden-red flames and shaped like a sun wrapped in firelight, impossible to see clearly, appeared and launched the first probing attack on the Monster Wooden Domain. Beast Emperor No. 47 of the Beast Field, the Flaming Crow Emperor! ¡°Go!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s pupils shrank as he urged in a low shout. The second Beast Emperor had arrived; who knew if there would still be any hope of escaping if they delayed any longer. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star understood the urgency of the situation, neighed fiercely, and with its front hooves raised, sped off towards the direction the Broken Jade Kite had fled for its life. As Star passed by, a torrent of Earth attribute Power surged into the sky, clashing heavily with the scorching heatwave that was bearing down from above. The powers of the Fire Attribute and Earth attribute collided with each other in the void, their shattered forces entwined, transforming into an unbounded energy storm that lashed out in all directions. In successfully diffusing this probe, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood shook violently, like a canopy covering the heavens, and a green face quickly emerged in the void, its eyes filled with bewilderment and confusion. ¡°What is the purpose of you two visiting my Monster Wooden Domain?¡± The Golden Dragon Emperor stopped in its tracks, standing at the edge of the Monster Wooden Domain, with a pair of crimson eyes staring at the face of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Its body was much, much smaller compared to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. However, in their clash of auras, the Golden Dragon Emperor did not seem to be much weaker. With a fierce roar, the intent of the Golden Dragon Emperor swept across in all directions. ¡°Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, do you aspire to become a Saint?¡± ¡°Become a Saint? Who told you that?¡± the face of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood slowly shook its head, ¡°Such a level is not something we can aspire to, is it?¡± The Golden Dragon Emperor was at a loss for words; upon hearing Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s unequivocal denial, puzzlement also emerged in its eyes. Could it be¡­ their information was mistaken? In the next moment, an increasingly massive amount of Earth attribute Power suddenly emerged from deep within the ground. ¡°It¡¯s buying time!¡± The Flaming Crow Emperor let out a sharp cry, like a sun that had suddenly fallen, and charged toward the true body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. ¡°Stop it!¡± Streams of golden-red flames swept past, igniting eternal fires that engulfed vast areas of the Monster Wooden Domain in flames in an instant! The Golden Dragon Emperor quickly realized it had almost been deceived. Within its crimson eyes, anger and killing intent surged, and the golden dragon scales gleamed brilliantly as all its power gathered in its dragon claws, striking fiercely toward the ground. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a world-ending boom, about one-tenth of the Monster Wooden Domain turned into soaring dust in this one attack, utterly obliterated! Sensing similarly powerful auras quickly approaching from different directions! After a moment of silence, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood let out a long sigh. ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± Chapter 550 - Chapter 550: Chapter 299: Deadwood Meets Spring, the Realm of a Semi-Saint! Chapter 550: Chapter 299: Deadwood Meets Spring, the Realm of a Semi-Saint! ¡°Star, we can slow down a bit now.¡± Having fled for God knows how long and feeling that the earth-shattering commotion behind had become bearable and would no longer reach him, Xu Ran gently patted Star¡¯s shoulder, signalling it to slow down. It was unclear whether the Broken Jade Kite had foreseen this escape route and made ample preparations, as luckily, along the way, Xu Ran and his three little companions managed to avoid any encounters with Beast Emperors rushing to the scene. Otherwise, whether they could have come out unscathed was an unknown. Glancing at the Broken Jade Kite in the sky not far away, which had also stopped moving and maintained a distance from him with a hint of wariness, occasionally flapping its wings and looking in the direction of the Monster Wooden Domain, Xu Ran quickly turned his head and looked towards the incessant noises coming from behind. On his first day arriving at the Monster Wooden Domain, under the escort of the King Level Beast Master Sun Tianchao, Xu Ran had looked down upon the entire Monster Wooden Domain from the sky. It was like a green emerald inlaid upon the vast land, in stark contrast to the chaotic Beast Field, full of vibrant life and peaceful order. But at this moment, out of the other seven Beast Emperors of the Monster Wooden Domain, a total of five had arrived. Even if none of them were a match for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood alone, their combined force was still peerlessly powerful. In the face of their assault, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, which was in the critical moment of evolution, found it quite difficult to resist. Standing at Xu Ran¡¯s location, one could see the Monster Wooden Domain starting to crumble and sink. An endless wildfire consumed the vibrant greenery, gaping fissures tore through the Earth, and the fertile soil turned rough and fragmented. Then there was the devastating flood from another side, freezing all vitality with extreme cold¡­ For the creatures within the Monster Wooden Domain that had not had the chance to flee, this was evidently an unprecedented disaster. From where Xu Ran stood, one could see the situation in the Monster Wooden City, the once-thriving city now lay in ruins. Fortunately, the city¡¯s populace was being orderly evacuated, escorted by Powerful Beast Masters, deeper into the Monster Wooden Domain. Under the protection of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s canopy, the remaining life of the Monster Wooden Domain could catch a temporary breath. Still, the situation was far from optimistic. Because under the joint siege of the five Beast Emperors, the very body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood began to show signs of damage. Its vast canopy, which had filtered sun like heaven¡¯s own umbrella, was now visibly being infiltrated and eroded by different Attribute Powers. Withering, freezing, breaking¡­ Its branches began to turn decrepit, and the sound of its presence carried a sense of late twilight, like an elder on the brink of death, suffering at the hands of thugs. And a greater threat came from below. The Golden Dragon Emperor, who had appeared first, was using brute strength to dig large, deep pits in the fractured Earth. Although the pits were empty, its intentions were clear to anyone. It aimed to strike at the roots of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood! Though the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was a Transcendent Being of the Beast Emperor level and a tree, its roots were the core of its power and life! Without the rich foliage above, it was just a light wound, and albeit damages to the trunk were not beyond repair. But if the roots were damaged, it would be fatal for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood! Based on the progress of the Golden Dragon Emperor¡¯s intensive digging, it seemed to be close to finding the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s roots! For the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, a life and death crisis was indeed just around the corner! Anxiously watching this scene, Xu Ran¡¯s hands clenched tightly, and involuntary cold sweats broke out on his back. From the current situation, unless the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could complete its Evolution Ritual immediately and step into the ranks of the Holy Spirit Race, there seemed to be no other way out. But how difficult it was to make that step under the joint opposition of five Beast Emperors? Glancing at the Broken Jade Kite in the air, carefree and unconcerned about the life and death of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, merely relishing the spectacle, Xu Ran suddenly spoke. ¡°Ziyun, bring that guy down.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Understood!) Ziyun nodded vigorously, and with a peal of thunder, instantly appeared in front of the Broken Jade Kite. The Broken Jade Kite, suddenly coming to its senses, had a drastic change in expression and inwardly cursed itself for not keeping further away, but it was too late to resist as Ziyun smacked it right before Xu Ran. ¡°Human, what are you trying to do?¡± asked the Broken Jade Kite indignantly, its tone tinged with anger after being caught multiple times, ¡°Do you wish to offend our Liuyu Saint Clan?¡± ¡°Since you know about the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s Evolution Ritual being part of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, you must know more detailed things, right?¡± Ignoring the ineffective threat from the other party, Xu Ran grabbed the Broken Jade Kite, ¡°Tell me, what does the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood need for its evolution?¡± He wanted to help the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood within his ability to do so. ¡°You think I¡¯ll talk?¡± retorted the Broken Jade Kite stubbornly at first, but under Ziyun¡¯s deadly glare, it quickly relented, ¡°It¡¯s the reverence and adherence to order of all beings.¡± ¡°The order isn¡¯t just the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s own order, but a special power composed by the founder and those who comply.¡± ¡°The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself is just a part of the order, without the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain adhering to the order, its order is incomplete.¡± ¡°So, it needs to evolve at the moment when its reputation is at its peak, and the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain revere the order it established the most, leveraging the faith of other creatures.¡± Chapter 551 - Chapter 551: Chapter 299: Deadwood Springs Anew, The Realm of the Semi-Saint!_2 Chapter 551: Chapter 299: Deadwood Springs Anew, The Realm of the Semi-Saint!_2 ¡°At this point in time, it is the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s grip on the Broken Jade Kite loosened slightly, his face showing a look of realization. His understanding of the Evolution Ritual came solely from the system, knowing only the outcomes and not the underlying principles. The effect that the Evolution Ritual had during the evolutionary process could only be deduced post-evolution. Like having the answers and working backwards to understand the process. But, other creatures in this world do not have the system. For them to be aware of the Evolution Ritual meant they had a deeper understanding of evolution than Xu Ran, enabling them to deduce the answers without having them in hand. And indeed, the Broken Jade Kite had not disappointed him. Thus, Xu Ran now knew what the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood most needed to complete its evolution. That was the recognition and veneration of the order of the Monster Wooden Domain by the beings living within and composing its order. However¡­ Looking at the chaotic Monster Wooden Domain, where creatures could only shiver helplessly under the canopy of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, Xu Ran felt a sudden weight in his heart. In such circumstances, would they still acknowledge the order of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood? ¡°It¡¯s no use.¡± The Broken Jade Kite seemed to sense Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts, its voice tinged with a bit of schadenfreude, ¡°Although this is the 47th Beast Field, once reaching the Emperor Stage, there will be¡­¡± It suddenly paused, as if realizing it was about to reveal something forbidden and secretive, quickly skipping the topic, ¡°In any case, the other Beast Emperors also know this.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? Their first move wasn¡¯t to attack the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, but to attack the Monster Wooden Domain.¡± ¡°Because the Monster Wooden Domain is the foundation of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution.¡± ¡°At this moment, with only one in ten living beings surviving, immersed in pain and despair, how could they continue to approve of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood?¡± The Broken Jade Kite stopped talking and silently observed the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, its eyes reflecting a mix of amazement and regret. Even in the Monstrous Eight Beast Field, ambitious Beast Emperors like the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood are very rare. The strength of the leap attribute directly determines the post-evolution strength but also decides the difficulty of the evolution. An order, as a leap attribute, is a formidable power. If the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could successfully evolve and harness it, it would claim its place in the entire Eighth Beast Field. Unfortunately¡­ Power, to an extent, also dictates one¡¯s allegiances and stances. The path the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood must take is inherently contrary to that of the Eighth Beast Field. The involvement of the Eighth Beast Field¡¯s shadow is likely behind the five Beast Emperors who acted today. Therefore, its failure is almost certain. ¡°No, it won¡¯t be so.¡± Xu Ran whispered, looking in a certain direction. That was Monster Wooden City, now in ruins, with one particularly noticeable tall building standing out. Under the onslaught of the Beast Emperors, it was completely undamaged, even intact. Because that was the Starfire Foster Care Shop. The enhancement from the system meant that mere Beast Emperors could not possibly destroy it. ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to Monster Wooden City.¡± Without hesitation, Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s back and commanded in a firm voice. After the first round of ravaging, the five Beast Emperors had shifted their focus to targeting the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself, paying less attention to the wider area of the Monster Wooden Domain. Monster Wooden City had become a relatively safer place. In such a vast city, it was impossible for everyone to move under the shelter of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood in a short time; the few who managed to get there were in the minority. The majority, who remained, were unlikely to have all perished under the Beast Emperors¡¯ rampage. They must be somewhere within Monster Wooden City. Finding them and temporarily relocating them to the expanded space within the Starfire Foster would not only save their lives but could also aid in the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood to some extent. Even if all else failed, Xu Ran could still use the shop¡¯s transmission system to safely escape from danger. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star, feeling the urgency from the Beast Master, let out a cry and turned around, darting toward Monster Wooden City like a shadow. The Broken Jade Kite, still held by Xu Ran, was dumbfounded and began to struggle fiercely. ¡°Human, let go of me! I won¡¯t go!¡± What a joke! With six Beast Emperors still battling, although Monster Wooden City wasn¡¯t at the center of the conflict, who knew if one of them might randomly strike at the city¡ªits little life would then be over! ¡°Behave yourself! You are a captive now!¡± Xu Ran barked, his voice carrying a threat, ¡°If the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood doesn¡¯t evolve successfully and this crisis isn¡¯t resolved, you will keep it company in its burial.¡± This creature might still be hiding some critical information. In such desperate times, Xu Ran had to force it to cooperate. ¡°Madman! You¡¯re a madman!¡± The Broken Jade Kite¡¯s eyes widened, its face filled with aggrieved pain, ¡°I¡¯m just an onlooker! Why are you capturing me?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Quit your bitching! Don¡¯t move!) Ziyun raised his paw and gave the Broken Jade Kite a blow. The Broken Jade Kite suddenly fell silent, but its eyes, filled with immense sorrow and rage, still couldn¡¯t help looking at Xu Ran. If glares could kill, it would have killed Xu Ran a billion times over! With Star¡¯s high speed, one man, three pets, and one bird swiftly entered Monster Wooden City. Xu Ran casually tossed Cancan onto the ground, ¡°Search for the people!¡± Chapter 552 - Chapter 552: Chapter 299: Deadwood Comes to Life, The Semi-Saint Realm!_3 Chapter 552: Chapter 299: Deadwood Comes to Life, The Semi-Saint Realm!_3 ¡°Got it!¡± (Leave it to me!) Cancan nodded vigorously, and while it usually seemed a bit on the erratic side, it proved to be quite reliable in a crisis. The moment it landed, a yellow glow rapidly enveloped it, before rippling outward in all directions. Three Star Skill, Halo Level: Echoing of Earth Vein! After only a breath or two, Cancan suddenly looked toward a certain area of Monster Wooden City. ¡°Got it!¡± (There are lots of people over there!) ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened. Indeed, as he had anticipated, the people who had stayed in the city had not all perished. If nothing unexpected happened, they were probably taking refuge in a temporary shelter under the Beast Master Association¡¯s guidance, waiting for the chaos to end. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s check it out!¡± Without any hesitation, Xu Ran commanded in a low voice, speeding up on his journey with the three small ones. Before reaching the location Cancan had indicated, those concealed sensed something approaching from outside, and a figure in the Beast Master Association¡¯s uniform rapidly approached Xu Ran. The man was a stranger wearing the uniform of the Beast Master Association. He was initially taken aback, but then quickly recognized Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, come in quickly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay out here,¡± Xu Ran stopped the man, then glanced at the place where everyone was taking refuge. It was an open square with no towering buildings around; the area was crowded with about a thousand people who were erecting a temporary shelter under the direction of a few Beast Masters in an orderly fashion. However, their efficiency was not high. Shaking his head slightly, Xu Ran looked at the association member, ¡°Please lead these people to the Starfire Foster Care Shop for refuge, it¡¯s safer there.¡± Glancing at the Starfire Foster Care Shop, which stood unblemished and thus particularly conspicuous, the worker nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°Do you know where other survivors are? My shop can squeeze in a few million people for a short time without a problem,¡± Xu Ran estimated the space of the foster area and inquired. ¡°A few million¡­¡± The worker was briefly amazed, followed by joy, ¡°I know!¡± He quickly took out a map with special markers, ¡°This is the refuge arrangement the Association distributed to us early this morning; I didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d use it right away.¡± ¡°Wait a second!¡± Xu Ran snatched the map and interrupted the man, ¡°Did you just say, early this morning?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The worker nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t know why the Association would distribute this, but every worker received this map early this morning.¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, then looked at the map in his hand. The small map not only indicated the locations of hundreds of large and small shelters but also clearly marked the areas and divisions, clearly showing which shelter belonged to which area. Having made such preparations in advance there was no doubt, the Beast Master Association had known about the impending disaster beforehand. And the only possible source of their information was Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself. So, before its evolution, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had anticipated the possible events and taken measures for them? In that moment, Xu Ran let out a breath of relief. Being prepared beforehand meant that there would be fewer casualties than imagined. If this was the case with Monster Wooden City, then it¡¯s likely Sky-touching Mysterious Wood would have made similar arrangements among the Transcendent Beings within the Monster Wooden Domain. With that, the situation might not be as bad as it seemed. For the first time since the arrival of the five Beast Emperors, relief appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the other shelters and find them.¡± After these words, Xu Ran rode on Star, racing like the wind. ¡°Hey! You!¡± Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, the worker opened his mouth then slowly closed it. He stood still for a moment before turning to address a Beast Master behind him, ¡°Li Feng, take everyone and move to the Starfire Foster Care Shop!¡± ¡°Hong Guang, Ao Chong, Qin Yuan! You three come with me in the lead, go to the other shelters and tell them to move as well!¡± It would be more efficient for everyone to notify survivors, rather than relying on just Xu Ran alone. With Xu Ran and other workers¡¯ coordination, at that moment, all the shelters in Monster Wooden City began to stir into action simultaneously. Three system clerks, appointed by Xu Ran to receive tasks, worked alongside the association members from Monster Wooden City, methodically gathering all the survivors and bringing them to the foster area for temporary refuge. Seeing a scenario in Monster Wooden City that was vastly different from what it had expected, Broken Jade Kite fell into silence. Originally, it had almost passed a death sentence on Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. But now, the arrogance from the eighth Beast Field was beginning to waver ever so slightly. It suddenly felt that maybe, just maybe, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution actually had a glimmer of hope. ¡°Out with it, no more hiding,¡± after initially settling the city survivors, Xu Ran sought out Broken Jade Kite again, ¡°Is there any other way to help Sky-touching Mysterious Wood?¡± ¡°¡­ The blessing of all creatures.¡± After a pause, Broken Jade Kite reluctantly revealed the answer. At this point, it had been forcefully tied to the same fate as Xu Ran by Xu Ran; there was no escaping for it if Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution failed. Left with no choice, Broken Jade Kite had to cooperate. ¡°On the fourth day of each Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, there is a grand celebration organized by Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. There¡¯s rain made from Mystical Wood Dew to baptize all creatures, and there are also various Transcendent Resources to be raffled, with quite a few being of King Stage caliber.¡± Chapter 553 - Chapter 553: Chapter 299: Deadwood Springs Anew, The Realm of the Semi-Saint!_4 Chapter 553: Chapter 299: Deadwood Springs Anew, The Realm of the Semi-Saint!_4 The Broken Jade Kite¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°All these are just appearances.¡± ¡°At the end of this celebration, there will be a segment where the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain express their gratitude and blessings to the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, and that is another focal point of the ritual.¡± ¡°It can become an anchor for the evolution of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, preventing it from getting lost in the tumultuous Order Force.¡± ¡°So we also need to organize everyone to bless the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood?¡± Xu Ran realized, ¡°The more creatures that offer blessings, the better?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the Broken Jade Kite nodded. ¡°Got it,¡± Xu Ran nodded and was just about to stand up, but he noticed a middle-aged man had at some point appeared by his side, ¡°You are¡­¡± ¡°Su Yunchuan,¡± the middle-aged man introduced himself. ¡°President Su, hello!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became serious. The man before him was the President of the Beast Master Association in the Monster Wooden Domain, and the only Overlord Level Beast Master of the Monster Wooden Domain. He hadn¡¯t expected him to stay in the ruined Monster Wooden City, or that he had entered the foster area of the shop along with the other survivors. ¡°At times like this, there¡¯s no need to fuss over such trivial matters,¡± Su Yunchuan waved his hand, ¡°I heard some of your conversation with the Broken Jade Kite a moment ago.¡± ¡°Indeed, what we need to do now is to gather more creatures from the Monster Wooden Domain to pray for the Beast Emperor.¡± ¡°Without a doubt, the more focused and unified the process, the better the result,¡± Su Yunchuan¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°According to the original plan, we could only pray separately at each shelter.¡± ¡°But with the variable that is Starfire Foster Care Shop, we have a better option.¡± Su Yunchuan turned his head to look at the foster area, which still seemed vacant despite accommodating so many survivors, ¡°Little Boss Xu, would you mind accommodating a few more survivors?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Xu Ran replied without hesitation. ¡°Then, please follow me,¡± Su Yunchuan nodded slightly and walked towards the exit of the foster area, ¡°Broken Jade Kite, there¡¯s no need for you to come.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran left the Broken Jade Kite behind and quickly caught up with the three little ones. The two of them quickly exited the Starfire Foster Care Shop and went in a certain direction. As they walked on, a look of surprise came over Xu Ran¡¯s face. Because the direction they were heading was towards the Beast Master Association. ¡°We are now going to the Beast Master Association,¡± Su Yunchuan explained, noting the change in Xu Ran¡¯s expression, ¡°Below the Association, there are roots of the Beast Emperor.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression was one of shock, ¡°The Beast Emperor¡¯s roots are in the Monster Wooden City?¡± Even now, the earthquake tremors and the storm of energy were still ongoing. The Golden Dragon Emperor was probably still searching for the roots of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. And the roots of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood were in Monster Wooden City?! ¡°Not exactly,¡± Su Yunchuan shook his head slightly, ¡°Deep beneath the ground of the entire Monster Wooden Domain, the roots of the Beast Emperor exist.¡± ¡°While expanding its body type, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood is expanding its roots at ten times the speed, and it is because of these roots that it can keep an eye on every little thing that happens within the Monster Wooden Domain at all times.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°But wasn¡¯t it said that the Beast Emperor has already¡­¡± ¡°Indeed, due to the expansion of its body, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s ability to control its body has significantly reduced, and it frequently needs to slumber, but its more extensive root system keeps it from appearing as bad off as one might think.¡± ¡°Before today, this was a secret known by very few creatures in the Monster Wooden Domain,¡± Su Yunchuan¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°But after today, it will no longer be a secret.¡± ¡°The Golden Dragon Emperor¡­¡± worry colored Xu Ran¡¯s face. If the entire Monster Wooden Domain was filled with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s roots, wouldn¡¯t it be easy for the other to find them? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t find them.¡± Chapter 554 - Chapter 554: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint! Chapter 554: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint! ¡°Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, how much longer can you hold on!¡± Wrapped in the majesty of a sky-scouring blaze, the Flaming Crow Emperor let out a low, hoarse screech. With every flap of its wings, which were enveloped in flames, it left scorching marks of Fire Attribute power on the branches of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Looking down at the seemingly calm and indifferent illusory face below, the Flaming Crow Emperor couldn¡¯t help but let out a sneer, its eyes filled with an even denser ferocity. That very expression! Every time it saw this creature with that expression, it couldn¡¯t help but want to burn it to ashes. A long time ago, before the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had established its own power base at the current location of the Monster Wooden Domain, the Flaming Crow Emperor, due to its brutal nature and indiscriminate killing, had a significant conflict with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Back then, the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s strength was no match for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, and after repeatedly being bested, it developed a deep hatred for it. Even after hundreds of years, it still could not forget that hateful face! The fact that it, along with other Beast Emperors, had interrupted the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution today and was on the verge of slaying it on the spot, brought a sense of satisfaction to its eyes. You too have this day! The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood gazed calmly at the opponent, and although it felt the opponent¡¯s intense malice, it did not let any emotion ripple across it. Even when facing the siege of five Beast Emperors, it was still as undisturbed as an ancient well. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the face of gathered energy looked a bit fainter than at first, suggesting a hint of weakness, the five Beast Emperors might even have the illusion that they hadn¡¯t injured their opponent at all. Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, have you given up resisting and resigned yourself to capture? No, impossible! All five Beast Emperors recalled their past dealings with this unique Beast Emperor. Beneath its calm and indifferent demeanor lay boiling ambition and perseverance. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood would use any means necessary to obtain what it wanted! How could such a Beast Emperor, after quietly preparing for hundreds of years and now just one step away from joining the Holy Spirit Race, give up because of their arrival? This guy is up to something big! Almost simultaneously, such a thought emerged in their minds. The five Beast Emperors exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with murderous intent. Just then, a trace of concealed elation that had gone unnoticed by any creature briefly flickered in those illusory eyes. As the battle commenced, the always silent Sky-touching Mysterious Wood suddenly spoke up, ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t expect so many old friends to come today.¡± As the sound of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s voice faded, the offensive of the five Beast Emperors eased slightly. They too wanted to hear what this fellow had to say now that the overall situation seemed settled. ¡°The Crow Emperor has old grudges to settle with me, so its arrival was within my expectations,¡± Sky-touching Mysterious Wood glanced at the Flaming Crow Emperor, then turned its gaze toward the golden Giant Dragon still searching for its roots on the ground, ¡°The Dragon Emperor has suffered losses at my hands before, so it makes sense for him to come.¡± ¡°And what of you three? Why have you appeared at this moment?¡± Sky-touching Mysterious Wood looked calmly at the remaining three Beast Emperors, ¡°Phoenix King, Demon Monarch, Dragon Hawk, we have no grudges or grievances. Why cut off my chance to ascend to sanctity?¡± A creature with ice-blue feathers throughout its body, elegant in both stature and every dignified move, emanating endless chill, stopped its assault in that moment. Its bright blue eyes looked up, locking gaze with the immense face of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. It was the Cold Blue Phoenix King, one of the eight Beast Emperors of Beast Field No. 47. Facing the question from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, it stayed silent for a moment before letting out a clear, resounding cry. ¡°At the request of others, do not blame me, Mysterious Wood Emperor.¡± ¡°I see, I¡¯d almost forgotten¡ªyou have good relations with both the Dragon Emperor and Crow Emperor,¡± a look of realization appeared in the eyes of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood as if it had only just understood this point. It turned its head, gazing into the void at another massive creature whose form was unstable and entirely made of water, ¡°Flood Lake Demon Monarch, I recall you had some dispute with the Crow Emperor. Why would you also take action to assist it now?¡± Upon hearing this, the body of the Flood Lake Demon Monarch violently trembled, churning the mist in the void and emitting a deep roar. ¡°I¡¯ve killed countless in my life. You fraternize with human Beast Masters, and once you become a Saint Spirit, you might not spare me. Better to strike first and gain the upper hand!¡± ¡°I have no intention of settling scores. You must have been influenced by some words¡­ But it¡¯s too late for words now,¡± a look of helplessness appeared on the face of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. It shook its head slightly and then looked at the last figure. ¡°And you? Dragon Hawk?¡± ¡°I thought you would be the least likely to come.¡± Within the gaze of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, was a mighty creature that looked part eagle, part dragon. It was covered with dark purple scales, and long feathers adorned its wings. As it flapped, countless bolts of lightning stirred in the void, its power inscrutable. One of the eight Beast Emperors of Beast Field No. 47, God Lightning Dragon Hawk! Upon hearing the words of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the God Lightning Dragon Hawk fell silent momentarily. Among the seven other Beast Emperors, it alone had once had friendly relations with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Although there had been little interaction for a long time, the past friendship remained, and indeed, among the seven Beast Emperors, it was the least likely to be here. But¡­ Thinking of the reason for its arrival, the God Lightning Dragon Hawk sighed. ¡°Mysterious Wood Emperor, you¡¯re surely aware that the Monster Wooden Domain has long been an outlier within Beast Field No. 47.¡± Chapter 555 - Chapter 555: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_2 Chapter 555: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_2 ¡°Maintaining the status quo, we could still tolerate, but your breakthrough to Saint Spirit has touched our bottom line. Not only can we not tolerate it, but the higher realm cannot tolerate it either.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already chosen a path of death. Does it matter who takes action?¡± ¡°The higher realm¡­ what an imposing presence!¡± Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s previously calm expression quickly turned icy cold upon hearing those two words, ¡°Unable to come on their own, yet they resort to such tricks to hinder other beings from evolving into Saint Spirits.¡± ¡°Once I break through to Saint Spirit, I will rebuild order and sweep away all obstructing voices!¡± The voice of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood suddenly became fervent and full of fighting spirit, its aura escalating sharply at that moment, acquiring an even more profound sense. Below Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the fertile soil at its feet rapidly transformed into an almost desert-like forbidden zone, as the powerful Earth attribute Power was incessantly drawn from the depths of the ground, merging into Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s body. Its branches and leaves, already heavily damaged under the relentless onslaught of the five Beast Emperors, began to sprout anew at that moment. Almost in the blink of an eye, they had returned to their original state. And that was not all! Those branches and leaves continued to grow, stretching wildly in the void, instantly intertwining with each other to form giant hands, which ferociously lashed out at the five Beast Emperors. In that moment, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, abandoning its previously defensive stance, boldly took on five opponents at once, initiating an attack! All the beings from the Monster Wooden Domain who had been curled up under its vast canopy and required all its might to protect from the onslaught of the five Beast Emperors were now nowhere to be seen! And this was the greatest confidence behind Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s audacious assault! ¡°Not good!¡± The Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s expression drastically changed upon sensing this shift. They had already learned some of the secret details of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution through certain channels. That¡¯s why, as soon as they emerged, they attacked the entire Monster Wooden Domain, indiscriminately killing beings inside the domain, to disrupt Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s Evolution Ritual at its root. When they found Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was desperately defending the surviving beings of the Monster Wooden Domain, they were both surprised and unsurprised, and tacitly switched their target to attack Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. With these beings from the Monster Wooden Domain as a distraction, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood could not bring its full strength to bear and was no match for them. And if it were to forsake these beings from the Monster Wooden Domain, the order that Sky-touching Mysterious Wood painstakingly built over hundreds of years would crumble in an instant, the Evolution Ritual would forever lose its chance, and the outcome would remain unchanged. Indeed, just as they had anticipated, Sky-touching Mysterious Wood maintained a defensive stance throughout, directly enduring all their attacks without striking back. But now, the situation had changed. Those beings from the Monster Wooden Domain, who should have been under the protection of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, had suddenly disappeared. And Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had no more concerns holding it back. Watching the giant hand quickly enlarging in its field of vision, the Flaming Crow Emperor let out a cry of shock and anger. In that moment, its body seemed to ignite completely, with terrifying fire lighting up the sky and earth, almost becoming a second sun in the sky. The ravaging flames swept across the entire void, heavily bombarding the hand woven from branches and leaves. Countless branches and leaves could not withstand such flames, their green color rapidly fading to grey-brown. Deprived of moisture, they started to burn quickly. But behind them, more branches and leaves grew even faster, covering and replacing the dead ones, continuously reforming into an even larger tree hand, relentlessly advancing towards the Flaming Crow Emperor. ¡°Seeking death!¡± The Flaming Crow Emperor roared, its golden-red eyes filled with ferocity. Its sharp beak opened and a blindingly bright ball of fire swiftly converged, then shot out like a laser, piercing through the center of the hand! Wherever it passed, the void seemed to melt, and at the center of that leafy hand, a huge hole was instantly burned through. Foul scents of charring and burnt marks continuously spread, with the growth of the branches and leaves being halted at once. This was the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s ultimate skill! Four Stars Technique, Violent Sun Level¡¤Burning Flame Disaster Light! With a low grunt, the Flaming Crow Emperor furiously flapped its wings, ready to fly out through the newly formed hole to escape the danger. Just then, an invisible and unpredictable force suddenly descended. Accompanying it was the indifferent voice of Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. ¡°This place forbids crossing through the hole!¡± In an instant, the Flaming Crow Emperor felt as if it was mired in mud, the gap that was less than a hundred meters wide now seemed billions of meters long, impossible to fly through! With the word spoken, the law followed! Fear beyond control appeared for the first time on the face of the Flaming Crow Emperor. ¡°This is¡­ Order attribute?!¡± How is this possible? How could it be so fast?! They had been attacking Sky-touching Mysterious Wood all along, disrupting its evolution! The Monster Wooden Domain had been reduced to ruins, and even the Sky-reaching Pillar that constituted the battlefield of the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes had been toppled by their combined strength. In such circumstances, why could Sky-touching Mysterious Wood master the Power of the Advanced Attribute so quickly?! ¡°This is still not the Order Attribute, just a crude use of it,¡± a hint of amusement crept into Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s voice as it faced the terrified Flaming Crow Emperor, ¡°It¡¯s time to end this.¡± Chapter 556 - Chapter 556: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_3 Chapter 556: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_3 ¡°This place, restoration accelerates!¡± As the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood spoke again, the once unrecoverable void began to be replenished by countless branches and leaves at a visible speed, even the Flaming Crow Emperor deep within saw its power and injuries recover at a much faster pace. Just as the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had said, at this moment it had not yet fully controlled this power, to the extent that it could only be indiscriminately used, without distinguishing between friend and foe. However, feeling the acceleration of its power and injury recovery, there was not a hint of joy on the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s face. Because from beginning to end, its expenditure of energy was negligible, and it had not been injured at all. Watching helplessly as it was entwined and sealed by countless branches and leaves, as if to be completely sealed away, madness flickered in the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s eyes. It let out a fierce scream, the flames around its body burning even more vigorously, the endless fire sweeping in all directions, making the entangling branches and leaves have to temporarily retract from its sharpness. And without giving it a moment to breathe, the next words of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood caused the Fire Attribute Flaming Crow Emperor to feel as though it was in an ice cellar. ¡°This place, wood fears not fire!¡± ¡°No!!!!¡± The Flaming Crow Emperor screamed in fury but could only watch helplessly as the branches and leaves, which had previously retreated, instantly entwined it tightly, making it unable to move at all. The eternal flame burning on its body was enough to melt gold and stone, but now it couldn¡¯t even slightly alter the color of these leaves. This¡­ is it the crushing pressure of an Advanced Attribute? A hint of despair emerged in the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s eyes. And it was not the only one that was desperate. ¡°This place, physical strength is powerless!¡± With a low shout, the Golden Dragon Emperor, feeling its boundless power being rapidly weakened, could only accompany the shout with furious roars as countless branches and leaves tightly bound it, immobilizing it completely. ¡°This place, wood fears not cold!¡± In the midst of angry cries, the Cold Blue Phoenix King too had no choice but to be captured without a fight. ¡°This place, water takes form!¡± The Yuan Attribute Beast Emperor, the Flood Lake Demon Monarch, who could normally transform into water and easily escape through the gaps in the branches and leaves, was also captured without resistance. ¡°This place, wood conducts electricity!¡± The God Lightning Dragon Hawks¡¯ electricity, ripping through the void, upon the utterance of the Beast Emperor¡¯s word, vanished as if facing an abyss, absorbed entirely by the surrounding branches and leaves that enveloped it, channeled into the ground below, and completely lost its effectiveness. Already at a disadvantage due to its Attribute being suppressed, it could now only offer a wry smile, honestly ceasing its attacks and letting the branches and leaves bind it layer by layer. In just an instant, the balance of victory and defeat flipped. Within the void, five Beast Emperors were simultaneously sealed by the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, utterly devoid of their previous arrogance. This is the formidable strength of the Holy Spirit Race! If the Leader Species, King Species, and Emperor Species represent the continuous evolution of the Life Level, a succession of leaps in power strength, then the advancement from Emperor Species to Holy Spirit Race represents a jump that far surpasses the previous two evolutions. It signifies a leap in Attribute! Transcendent Beings, from now on, are no longer bound by the rules of the ten Attributes of heaven and earth, possessing their own unique Attribute, their own unique path. Only then can one be sanctified! Even if just one member of the Holy Spirit Race with an Advanced Attribute appears, facing an opponent of the ten major Attributes, they can exert a similar overwhelming pressure. Not to mention the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, with its lofty ambitions, submerged for centuries just to master the Power of Order, which is one of the top amongst Advanced Attributes. Even now displaying just a fraction of its power, it¡¯s already enough to easily suppress Beast Emperors of the same Life Level! The gap between Advanced Attributes and the ten basic Attributes is like a chasm in the sky! After sealing five invaders in an instant, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s indifferent expression suddenly revealed a hint of agony. Ordinary evolution is already defying the natural order, fraught with difficulties, let alone the final leap from the Emperor Species to the Holy Spirit Race. The difficulty is unimaginable. At this moment, it was still extremely far from completing its evolution. In such circumstances, to forcibly use the newly born power that was not yet fully its own, the consequences are obvious. This would undoubtedly add considerable difficulty to its evolution, but the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had no choice. Looking profoundly at the five Beast Emperors in the void who could no longer interfere with its evolution, the ethereal visage of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood slowly faded away. Its aura rapidly waned, the restless and bizarre power rampaging crazily over the dreadful canopy that stretched for tens of kilometers. Its branches sometimes twisted, sometimes deformed, and even in certain areas of the canopy, there appeared the strange sight of leaves growing branches, the distortion and chaos turning the appearance of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood into something indescribable in an instant, its pained thoughts radiating continuously towards the outside. That was the backlash of the Power of Order. Feeling this scene, the five Beast Emperors fell silent in unison. They knew all too well that the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was at the crucial moment of evolution and that if they could only make a move, it could result in the failure of its evolution, and its immediate demise. But the branches and leaves that had solidified the Power of Order on them had been deliberately disconnected by the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood itself, becoming independent shackles that would not loosen with its aberration. This left them only to watch helplessly as this great opportunity unfolded before their eyes, yet unable to do anything about it. Time was marching on bit by bit. The aberration of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood grew even more frenzied, its branches even began to ooze crimson blood, and its leaves sprouted numerous fierce and irregular eyes, as if it transformed from a tree¡¯s body into a hybrid of tree and flesh. Chapter 557 - Chapter 557: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_4 Chapter 557: Chapter 300: Deadwood Springs Anew, Semi-Saint!_4 A terror-inducing, frenzied aura dispersed from every corner of its body. The five Beast Emperors trembled simultaneously at this moment. All of them had undergone two evolutions, yet compared to the ordeal of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, their past evolutions were like mud to clouds. Is this the evolutionary backlash that the Holy Spirit Race must suffer? Witnessing the increasingly dangerous aura of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, they even forgot that they were now captives, thoroughly engrossed in the spectacle. And the hideous avatar of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was also reflected in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Standing on the ramparts of Monster Wooden City, staring at the grotesque form of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment before turning to the Broken Jade Kite beside him, ¡°Why is the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood so difficult?¡± In his memory, the evolutionary recordings he saw in Xieyun City didn¡¯t seem to have such a horrifying scenario. The Broken Jade Kite was no longer bound, but seeing the current situation, it had no intention of leaving. It shook its head when it heard the question. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C In such a circumstance, how could the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood grasp the power of advanced attributes so quickly?! 1 ¡°This can hardly be considered the Order Attribute, it¡¯s merely a superficial exercise of it,¡± the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood said, a hint of amusement in its voice, ¡°It¡¯s time to end this.¡± ¡°This place, recover faster!¡± As the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood spoke again, the previously irreparable void began filling up with countless branches and leaves at a speed visible to the naked eye. Even the Flaming Crow Emperor, buried deep within, felt its power and wounds healing at an accelerating pace. As the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had said, at this moment its control of this power was not yet complete, hence its influence was indiscriminate, affecting friend and foe alike. However, despite the rapid restoration of his power and wounds, the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s face showed not a hint of joy. Because from the very beginning, its consumption had been minimal, and it had not been injured. Watching helplessly as it was entwined and constrained by countless branches and leaves, seemingly about to be sealed forever, the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s eyes flickered with madness. It let out a fierce screech, the flames around its body burning even more fiercely. Endless fire swept in all directions, and the approaching branches had no choice but to recede from its sharp edge. Yet before it could catch its breath, the next words from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood made the Fire Attribute Flaming Crow Emperor feel as if it were in an ice cellar. ¡°In this place, wood fears not fire!¡± ¡°No!!!¡± The Flaming Crow Emperor let out an angry shriek, but could only watch as the branches it had forced back a moment ago now swiftly entangled it tightly, rendering it completely immobile. The eternal flames on its body that could melt metal and dissolve stone, now couldn¡¯t even slightly discolor those branches. Is this the overwhelming superiority of advanced attributes? A glimmer of despair emerged in the eyes of the Flaming Crow Emperor. And it was not the only one feeling despair. ¡°In this place, flesh loses strength!¡± Accompanied by a low shout, the Golden Dragon Emperor felt its boundless strength rapidly diminishing, and could only roar in anger as countless branches bound it tightly, leaving it unable to move an inch. ¡°In this place, wood fears not cold!¡± Amid the indignant cries, the Cold Blue Phoenix King similarly had to submit helplessly. ¡°In this place, water takes form!¡± The Yuan Attribute Beast Emperor, Flood Lake Demon Monarch, which could easily escape through the gaps in the branches by turning into water, was also captured helplessly. ¡°In this place, wood can conduct electricity!¡± The God Lightning Dragon Hawk¡¯s electricity that could pierce through the void became like it had encountered a bottomless pit after the Beast Emperor¡¯s words. It was absorbed by the surrounding branches and directed into the ground below, completely losing its intended potency. Already restrained by its opposing attribute, it could only smile wryly and stop its attacks, allowing itself to be securely bound by the layers of branches. In just an instant, the balance of victory had tipped. In the void, five Beast Emperors were simultaneously sealed by the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, stripped of the arrogance they had displayed before. This was the formidable might of the Holy Spirit Race! If one were to say that the Leader Species, King Species, and Emperor Species represented the continual evolution of life levels and the multistep leaps in power, then the upgrade from the Emperor Species to the Holy Spirit Race far surpassed the previous two evolutions. It was a leap in Attributes! Transcendent Beings were no longer bound by the rules of the ten Attributes between heaven and earth; they now possessed their unique Attributes, their unique paths. Only then, could they be considered holy! Even just any member of the Holy Spirit Race possessing an Advanced Attribute, when facing an adversary with one of the ten basic Attributes, could perform the same sort of crushing defeat. Not to mention the ambition of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, which lay dormant for hundreds of years, just to master the Power of Order, one of the more superior Advanced Attributes. At this moment, just a shred of that power was enough to easily suppress Beast Emperors of the same life level! The gap between Advanced Attributes and the ten basic Attributes was like a chasm! After instantly sealing the five attackers, the indifferent expression of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood suddenly registered a trace of pain. Ordinary evolution was already going against the natural order, full of difficulties, not to mention this last barrier ¡ª evolving from the Emperor Species to the Holy Spirit Race. The level of difficulty was unimaginable. At this time, it still had an extremely long way to go to complete its evolution. In such a situation, forcibly using a power that had just been born, not yet fully integrated into itself, the consequences were predictable. It would inevitably increase the difficulty of its evolution, but the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had no choice. After giving the five Beast Emperors in the void, now unable to interfere with its evolution, a profound look, the ethereal face of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood slowly faded away. Its aura quickly wilted, and the agitated, anomalous power went rampant over its terrifying canopy that spanned dozens of kilometers. Its branches and leaves twisted, deformed, and in some areas of the canopy, there appeared the strange phenomenon of branches growing out of leaves, the distortion and chaos making the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s appearance become indescribable in an instant, with surges of pain continually radiating into the outside world. That was the backlash of the Power of Order. Feeling this scene, the five Beast Emperors all quieted down. They knew all too well that the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was at a critical moment in its evolution and that with just a little interference, they could cause its evolution to fail and perish on the spot. But the branches and leaves encasing them had already hardened with the previously exerted Order Force and had been actively disconnected by the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood from each other, now forming independent shackles that would not loosen with the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s changes. This left them with no choice but to helplessly watch a prime opportunity unfold before their eyes, unable to do anything about it. Time passed, bit by bit. The anomalous condition of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood grew increasingly wild, its branches even beginning to seep scarlet blood, and its leaves sprouted numerous gruesome and irregular eyes as if its wooden body had morphed into a patchwork of wood and flesh. An aura of horror and madness permeated every inch of its form. The five Beast Emperors shuddered together at this moment. They were elites who had undergone two evolutions, but compared to what the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was enduring, their past experiences paled in comparison. Was this the evolutionary backlash of becoming a member of the Holy Spirit Race? Watching the increasingly dangerous aura of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, they even forgot that they were now prisoners, engrossed in observing this spectacle. The grisly form of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was also reflected in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Standing on the wall of Monster Wooden City and observing the ghastly form of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment before turning to the Broken Jade Kite beside him, ¡°Why is the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood so difficult?¡± In his memory, the evolution records he saw in Xieyun City did not seem to contain such terrifying circumstances. The Broken Jade Kite was no longer bound, but seeing the situation at hand, it had no intention to leave and simply shook its head in response. Chapter 558 - Chapter 558: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmus Gift! Chapter 558: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmu¡¯s Gift! Starfire Foster Care Shop, Foster area. The spacious foster area was somewhat crowded. Inside the foster area, countless creatures had their eyes tightly shut, adopting postures of respect and reverence that were characteristic of their own species, continuing their devoted prayers for the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. Until a certain moment, a familiar thought appeared in their minds. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. I have received your blessings. You may stop now.¡± The calm and gentle thought made numerous creatures in the area open their eyes in surprise. If the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu was in such a stable state, did that mean¡­ The next words from the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood confirmed the creatures¡¯ speculations. ¡°Come out, everyone. To witness the birth process of the Holy Spirit Race can also be considered a fine opportunity.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes showed an excited expression as he shouted, ¡°Everyone, please keep order. Do not crowd, and leave here in a queue!¡± The three staff members understood and immediately took on the role of maintaining order, directing the crowded and restless creatures in the foster area to leave in an orderly fashion. It took a while before everyone had left the Starfire Foster Care Shop and stood within the ruins of what had been Monster Wooden City. Through the collapsed walls and tall buildings, every creature could see the state of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood at this moment. Its body was much larger than before, almost covering half of the Monster Wooden Domain. The falling dead leaves covered the scarred Monster Wooden Domain, and the dried, blackened branches faintly bore the remnants of prior madness and indescribable chaos. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood at this moment looked like a giant tree that had withered and died. Yet within its silent body, all creatures could feel an immense, indescribable power, a presence that made them unconsciously want to prostrate in worship, gestating rapidly. ¡°Crack~¡± A crystal-clear sound echoed from the remnants of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, like the first cry of a newborn, resonating with an enchanting magic. All creatures, as if by some prearranged signal, turned their gazes to a spot amidst the expansive, withered branches of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. There, on the decrepit limb, the first crack appeared, revealing a dazzling aqua-gold light beneath. ¡°Crack~ Crack~¡± More sounds of splintering followed. After the first, they arose one after another until they merged into a chorus. More and more cracks appeared all over the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, spreading from the tips of the branches to its main trunk. Streams of aqua-gold light shone out from the cracks, overlapping and intersecting, casting bright pathways of light into the void. Eventually, when the number of these fissures peaked, the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood shuddered violently. ¡°Whooosh¡ª¡± Accompanied by the sound of collapsing tiles, the withered outer layer that clung to the tree¡¯s body completely peeled away onto the ground, revealing a new being of aqua-gold before everyone¡¯s eyes. It was a towering tree with aqua-gold patterns from its trunk to its branches. Each branch unfurled as though it could shatter the sky, with each slight movement carrying the weight capable of crushing the void itself. A force, surpassing the level of Beast Emperor, burst forth from around it, sharp and domineering like a spear piercing the heavens, instantly clearing clouds for hundreds of miles, revealing a washed clear sky. The next moment, the aqua-gold light around the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood grew increasingly blinding. Converging in the sky, the enigmatic power and novel Attribute contained within rapidly altered the surrounding space and the forces that previously existed there. In the end, mysterious patterns wove together behind the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, one end connected to it and the other rooted in the surrounding void, forming a magnificent Wheel of Life. Xu Ran¡¯s breath caught at this moment. Five Stars Skills, Saint Spirit Wheel of Life! This was the second time he witnessed this symbol unique to the Holy Spirit Race. But compared to the last time, the shock this brought was undoubtedly more profound. Because the inscrutable power of the Holy Spirit Race could not be recorded or replicated, Xu Ran had only seen its external manifestations when watching the recording last time. But this time, Xu Ran not only saw clearly the posture of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood stepping into the Holy Spirit Race but also distinctly felt, on the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life above, that overwhelmingly powerful, transcendent presence unique to the Holy Spirit Race, beyond the ten Attributes. Leap Attribute, Order! At this moment, all creatures could not help but cheer. Witnessing the unique power that only the legendary Holy Spirit Race could wield, they knew that the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had succeeded. Beast Domain No. 47 had its first member of the Holy Spirit Race! The next moment, their cheers turned to gasps of awe. For the pose of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood changed once again. Under the gaze of all creatures, its body, which spanned half of the Monster Wooden Domain, began to contract for the first time. Like a retracted spear returning to the hand, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood halted its expansion that hadn¡¯t ceased for hundreds of years. It rapidly retracted all its branches back into its body and, accompanied by a hazy aqua-gold light, its trunk also visibly shrank before their very eyes. ¡°Boom, boom, boom~¡± With each deep roar, the land of the entire Monster Wooden Domain trembled violently, as if a dragon were turning over beneath it. All creatures could clearly feel the ground beneath their feet sinking slowly, as if a layer had been suddenly extracted from the earth below. Chapter 559 - Chapter 559: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmus Gift! _2 Chapter 559: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmu¡¯s Gift! _2 Within a few breaths, the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had shrunk to a few hundred meters, which, compared to its previous form that blotted out the sky and often measured in tens of thousands of meters, could be considered miniature. Its roots no longer took hold in the earth below, but instead, as it withdrew, they became like countless straws drawing power, piercing the void and becoming part of the order, extending into an invisible, mysterious domain. Transformed and no longer an Earth Extraordinary Creature, it had shed the shackles of the land and attained perfection in form. As its body changed, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood also moved closer to the vicinity of Monster Wooden City, so that all beings could better witness the process of its power¡¯s transformation. There was no doubt that this was the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s way of showing its gratitude. And how much the watching beings could understand or realize from this process was their own fortune. Once all its branches had retracted and all its roots had fully returned, the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood finally stopped shrinking. The once immensely huge body now stood only ninety-nine meters tall, petite not only when compared to other creatures of the Beast Emperor level but even when compared to some larger Beast Kings. But none dared to question its power. For the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood remained sky-high and earth-deep, and as its body changed, it even became more dazzling and captivating. The next moment, the branches of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood burst forth with an even richer green-gold glow. The first green-gold leaf unfolded at the tip of its branches. Its shape was regular and symmetrical, with intricate gold patterns that contained inscrutable power. Soon after came the second, the third¡­ In the end, nine hundred and ninety-nine leaves unfolded on the body of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, not one more, not one less. Compared to the count-less leaves of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s past, the current number was far fewer, but all creatures could feel that these leaves were anything but ordinary; with the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, they too possessed unfathomable might. With the growth of new branches and leaves, the transformation of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s body finally came to an end. It faced the beings, and it seemed as if a pair of eyes was looking out from the void. An invisible will spread across the area, proclaiming to heaven and earth. ¡°From this day forth, I am a Demon Wood Semi-Saint!¡± Epic level Saint Spirit Race, referred to as Semi-Saint! Saint Rank Saint Spirit Race can be addressed as The Saint! In response to it, endless shouts and cheers extended. From now on, the Monster Wooden Domain possessed a Semi-Saint, and a bright future lay readily within reach! ¡°Tortoise of Longevity, Dark Abyss Bear Emperor, Gold-Blue Dragon, step forward.¡± With the reverberation of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s intention, three Quasi Emperor Clan Leaders of the Overlord stage emerged from the crowd. Knowing they couldn¡¯t contend with creatures of the Emperor Stage when disaster struck, they took their respective clans under their protection, upholding the responsibility of safeguarding the life within the Monster Wooden Domain, and after Xu Ran stepped forward, they too entered the Foster area of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Now stepping out, they each restrained their aura, looking up with utmost reverence at the Semi-Saint of Demon Wood in the void, and as if thinking of something, their eyes brimmed with anticipation. A hint of a smile appeared in the intentions of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. ¡°The three of you have followed me through much hardship and have great merits.¡± ¡°I once said that when I become a saint, it will be the time for you three to become emperors.¡± ¡°Now, it is time to fulfill that promise.¡± As the words of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint fell, excitement shone in the eyes of the three Quasi Emperors. An invisible and inscrutable force began to stir, enveloping the area around. The voice of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, filled with immeasurable authority, echoed forth. ¡°In this place, the Emperor Species have no bottlenecks!¡± A just-unfolded leaf fell in response, dissolving into countless points of light before everyone¡¯s eyes as the power of order enveloped the vicinity along with the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s words. At the same time, the three Overlord stage Transcendent Beings felt the power that had restrained them, the force that prevented them from reaching the next Growth stage, quietly crack a gap. Such a rare opportunity naturally was not to be missed. One by one, they activated their Power, surging to the skies, striving to breach the bottleneck that confined them. After a few breaths, three increasingly powerful auras soared to the heavens. That was no longer an aura of the Overlord stage, but of the Emperor Stage level. Henceforth, the Beast Field number 47 added three more Beast Emperors to its ranks! Witnessing this scene, Su Yunchuan in the crowd showed a trace of envy. In that instant just before, of his six Pet Beasts, the ones that had evolved into the Emperor Species had all felt their own bottlenecks loosening at the same time. However, as Pet Beasts, their Growth stages were still constrained by another bottleneck. This was the hierarchy of the contract power of the Beast Master. The current Demon Wood Semi-Saint was still not powerful enough to resolve the basic rules of this world with its own power, and the recent blessing was solely targeted at the Emperor Species, not including the Overlord Level Beast Masters. Nevertheless, Su Yunchuan understood that he did not have the privilege to ask the Demon Wood Semi-Saint for help in breaking through. Unlike those three Quasi Emperors who had always followed the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, humans within the Monster Wooden Domain were more like protected tenants. They revered the Demon Wood Semi-Saint but did not entirely submit to it. Su Yunchuan and the three little ones who also saw this scene were once more astounded. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint, having completed its final evolution and breaking through to the Epic level, could effortlessly elevate three Quasi Emperors of the Overlord stage to the Beast Emperor level with a mere wave of its hand. This display, akin to a miracle, already bore a semblance to the stature of a Saint Spirit. Chapter 560 - Chapter 560: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmus Gift! _3 Chapter 560: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmu¡¯s Gift! _3 Xu Ran¡¯s heart surged with emotions. The Saint Rank, is the most powerful existence in this world. And now, he had finally witnessed a portion of this level of power with his own eyes. At this moment, the three little ones also felt an immense longing for the Holy Spirit Race within their hearts. If they too became part of the Holy Spirit Race, what kind of power would they wield? With this thought, different visions appeared in the minds of the three little ones. What Ziyun imagined was the overwhelming and terrifying power that seemed capable of annihilating everything when she deployed Divine Punishment, If she evolved into the Holy Spirit Race, how powerful would she be with similar powers? Star envisioned the starry sky that he could gaze upon every night. Those stars had long been deeply etched into his heart, and now, it seemed he had the chance to become one of them. As for Cancan, the first thing that came to its mind was the form of a dragon. But¡­ Out of the corner of its eye, looking at the five Beast Kings still sealed by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint in the distance, particularly at the Golden Dragon Emperor wrapped in golden dragon scales, remembering the Earth attribute Dragon Extraordinary Being that had been killed by the Nightmare Beast King to become part of its own Evolution Ritual, Cancan fell silent. How come all the Dragon Extraordinary Beings it encountered seemed so¡­ inferior? Maybe it¡¯s time to flee? Dragons don¡¯t seem to amount to much¡­ Meanwhile, after empowering the three loyal subordinates, the gaze of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint turned toward the five sealed Beast Kings. With a thought, the Order Force that had bound the Beast Kings dissipated into nothingness, and without its solidified power, the branches and leaves also turned to ash and scattered. The five Beast Kings were free once more. However, they no longer possessed the slightest intention to battle the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. If their rudimentary use of Advanced Attributes could trap them, how fearsome would the Demon Wood Semi-Saint be now that it had successfully evolved and could control its own powers? ¡°Flaming Crow Emperor, Golden Dragon Emperor, both of you bear old grudges against me, and today you allied with other Beast Kings to stop my evolution,¡± ¡°Today, you will stay.¡± As the indifferent voice of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint sounded, two leaves sliced through the void, aimed at the two named Beast Kings. ¡°You¡­¡± As the slowly drifting leaves approached, unavoidable, terror and ferocity filled the eyes of the Flaming Crow Emperor, ¡°Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, you won¡¯t come to a good end, Beast Field number eight won¡¯t tolerate your presence!¡± ¡°They will not let go¡­¡± The hoarse scream of the Flaming Crow Emperor abruptly stopped as the leaves cut through the air. Its golden-red eyes rapidly lost their luster, and the huge power within it began to dissipate into the world. The Flaming Crow Emperor, fallen! Compared to the hysterical Flaming Crow Emperor, the Golden Dragon Emperor was much more composed, watching the now silent Flaming Crow Emperor and letting out a soft sigh. ¡°I should never have provoked you.¡± The next moment, as the leaf fell, the huge body of the Golden Dragon Emperor collapsed to the ground. The Golden Dragon Emperor, fallen! The fall of two Beast Emperors made the expressions of the other three emperors utterly terrified. Yet, they didn¡¯t dare to flee. Because they knew all too well, there was no escaping the palm of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. ¡°You three¡­¡± After exterminating two Beast Emperors, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s gaze shifted to the other three. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a choice,¡± it spoke slowly after a brief silence, ¡°Submit, or die.¡± ¡°We submit!¡± The three Beast Emperors made their choice without hesitation, each detaching a portion of their origin power and handing it over to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. This was the way in the Beast Field to express loyalty and submission to a stronger being. With this piece of origin in hand, the master could easily inflict heavy damage on the submissive one. After securing the origin from the three Beast Emperors, the breath of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint relaxed a bit, losing its previously sharp edge. It suddenly turned its head to look at Xu Ran. ¡°Human boy, follow me.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± Xu Ran, who snapped back to reality, pointed at himself, his face registering a look of astonishment, ¡°Are you calling me, elder?¡± ¡°Yes, you.¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint nodded, then turned and drifted in the direction of the Core Area of the Monster Wooden Domain. ¡°We¡¯ll follow!¡± Quick to understand, Xu Ran quickly picked up Ziyun and Cancan, then leaped onto Star¡¯s back. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± Accompanied by a cry from Star, the three companions turned into a blur, closely following the Demon Wood Semi-Saint and vanishing from the other creatures¡¯ sight. As the Demon Wood Semi-Saint left, the creatures exchanged glances, and a short silence fell upon the place. And then, cheers and shouts of jubilation erupted. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had ascended to sainthood, and a celebration was undoubtedly forthcoming. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Elsewhere, deep in the Monster Wooden Domain. The place where the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had once rooted was now a massive, bottomless pit. This was the mark it had left on the earth after pulling out its root system. Now, Xu Ran and the Demon Wood Semi-Saint stood before this pit. ¡°Thank you for providing a safe haven for everyone during a time of crisis,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint said after a moment of silence, its voice tinged with a hint of emotion. ¡°Without it, my evolution might not have been so smooth.¡± Although it had prepared for this evolution hundreds of years in advance, constantly fortifying and stabilizing the Monster Wooden Domain¡¯s order and rehearsing the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes for the Evolution Ritual year after year, It was only when it faced the Rebel of Order Attributes during the evolution that it realized it had underestimated the difficulty of this evolution. Chapter 561 - Chapter 561: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmus Gift! _4 Chapter 561: Chapter 301: The Secret of the Saint Spirit, Xuanmu¡¯s Gift! _4 The madness of the Rebel of Order Attributes pushed its tenacious will to the brink of collapse time and again. Were it not for Xu Ran¡¯s assistance, simply allowing the creatures of the Demon Wooden Domain to pray for blessings individually, it might truly not have survived that challenge, ultimately becoming a crazed walking corpse. So¡­ ¡°Within the scope of my abilities, is there anything you need my help with?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C A few breaths later, three increasingly powerful auras soared into the sky. Those were no longer the auras of the Overlord stage, but of the Emperor Stage. From now on, Beast Emperor of Beast Field No. 47 gains three more sovereigns! Witnessing this scene, in the crowd, Su Yunchuan¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of envy. In that very moment, among his six Pet Beasts, the ones that had evolved to the Emperor Species simultaneously felt their own shackles loosen. However, as Pet Beasts, their Growth Stage was still constrained by another layer of limitation. This was the stage of the Beast Master¡¯s contract power. The present Demon Wood Semi-Saint was still insufficient in using its own power to dissolve the most basic rules of this world, and the recent empowerment was only targeting the Emperor Species, not including the Overlord Level Beast Masters. Nevertheless, Su Yunchuan was also clear that he did not possess the qualifications to ask the Demon Wood Semi-Saint for help in achieving a breakthrough. Unlike the three Quasi-Emperors who had always been following closely by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s side, Humans within the Monster Wooden Domain were more like protected tenants. They held reverence for the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, but had not completely submitted to it. Xu Ran and the three little ones, also observing this scene, were again profoundly shaken. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint, having completed its final evolution, breaking through to the Epic level, was able to empower three Overlord stage Quasi-Emperors to the Beast Emperor level seemingly with a simple gesture. This divine-like display almost had the demeanor of a Saint Spirit. Xu Ran¡¯s heart surged with emotion. The Saint Rank represents the most powerful beings in this world. And now, he finally witnessed a portion of this rank¡¯s power with his own eyes. In this moment, the same longing for the status of the Holy Spirit Race ignited within the three little ones. If they too could become part of the Holy Spirit Race, what kind of power would they wield? With this thought, different images surfaced in the minds of the three little ones. Ziyun envisioned the terrifying power that seemed capable of annihilating everything, the power she¡¯d wield when casting Divine Punishment, should she evolve into a Holy Spirit Race, How powerful would it be to possess a similar strength? Star imagined the starry sky he looked up to every night. Those stars had long been etched deeply in his heart, and now, he seemed to have the chance to become one of them. As for Cancan, the first thing that came to mind was the image of a Dragon. But¡­ Catching a glimpse at the edge of his vision towards one of the five sealed Beast Emperors in the distance, still bound by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, Cancan considered the Golden Dragon Emperor decked out in golden Dragon Scales and remembered the Earth Dragon that had been killed by the Nightmare Beast King, becoming part of its own Evolution Ritual¡ªa Dragon from the Dragon Extraordinary Beings it deemed inferior¡ªCancan fell silent. Why did it feel like all the Dragon Transcendent Beings it encountered were so weak? Perhaps it¡¯s better to make a run for it early? Dragons don¡¯t seem to achieve much¡­ Meanwhile, after granting strength to three loyal subordinates, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint turned its gaze to the five sealed Beast Emperors floating in the void. As it willed, the Order Force that bound the five Beast Emperors faded into nothingness, and with the dissipation of the solidifying force, those branches and leaves turned to ash. The five Beast Emperors regained their freedom. However, they had completely lost the will to battle the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Mere manipulation of advanced attributes had trapped them, and now that the evolution was complete, allowing the control of its own powers, how terrifying must the Demon Wood Semi-Saint have become? ¡°Flaming Crow Emperor, Golden Dragon Emperor, You two hold a grudge against me, and today you joined forces with other Beast Emperors in an attempt to prevent my evolution,¡± ¡°Today, you shall stay.¡± As the indifferent voice of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint rang out, two leaves tore through the void, aiming for the two named Beast Emperors. ¡°You¡­¡± Feeling the slowly drifting leaves that left him no place to hide, the Flaming Crow Emperor¡¯s eyes were filled with ferocity and terror, ¡°Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, you won¡¯t come to a good end, the Beast Field No. 8 will not tolerate your existence!¡± ¡°They won¡¯t let go¡­¡± The shrill cries of the Flaming Crow Emperor ceased abruptly as leaves were severed. Its golden-red eyes swiftly lost their luster, as the vast power that surrounded it began to disperse into the world. The Flaming Crow Emperor, perished! In contrast to the hysterical Flaming Crow Emperor, the Golden Dragon Emperor was much calmer. Looking at the silent Flaming Crow Emperor, it let out a slight sigh. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t have provoked you in the first place.¡± The next moment, as leaves fell, the massive body of the Golden Dragon Emperor collapsed to the ground with a thud. The Golden Dragon Emperor, perished! The demise of the two Beast Emperors left the expressions of the other three Beast Emperors filled with immense fear. However, they didn¡¯t even dare to flee. Because they knew very well that they could not escape the hand of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. ¡°The three of you¡­¡± After slaying the two Beast Emperors, the gaze of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint turned toward the other three Beast Emperors. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a choice,¡± it said slowly after a moment of silence, ¡°submit, or die.¡± ¡°We submit!¡± The three Beast Emperors made their choice without hesitation, each separating a portion of their origin power and handing it over to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. This was the way in the Beast Field to submit to the stronger beings, a sign of allegiance. With this portion of the origin in hand, the subdued can easily inflict heavy damage upon the submitters. Having secured the origin of the three Beast Emperors, the aura of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint calmed down somewhat, no longer as sharp as before. It suddenly turned its head, looking in the direction of Xu Ran. ¡°Human child, follow me.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± Xu Ran, who suddenly came to his senses, pointed to himself and a look of astonishment appeared on his face, ¡°Senior is calling for me?¡± ¡°Yes, you.¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint nodded and then twisted its body, drifting towards the direction of the Core Area of the Monster Wooden Domain. ¡°Let¡¯s follow!¡± Xu Ran quickly understood, picked up Ziyun and Cancan, and sat on the back of Star. ¡°Xi Lu Lu!¡± With a neigh from Star, one person and three Pet Beasts turned into a blur, closely following behind the Demon Wood Semi-Saint and vanished from the sight of all living creatures. As the Demon Wood Semi-Saint departed, the living creatures looked at each other, and the area fell into a brief silence. Then there was an overwhelming roar of cheers and shouts. The Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had become sacred, and the subsequent celebration ceremony was probably unavoidable. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Elsewhere, deep within the Monster Wooden Domain. Where the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had originally taken root, there now lay an immense, seemingly bottomless pit. That was the mark it left on the earth after extracting its roots. At this moment, Xu Ran and the Demon Wood Semi-Saint stood before this pit. ¡°Thank you for providing a safe place for everyone in a critical moment,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint slowly spoke after a moment of silence, its voice carrying a tinge of emotion, ¡°Without it, my Evolution Ritual might not have been so smooth.¡± Although it had been planning for this Evolution for hundreds of years, constantly consolidating and stabilizing the order of the Monster Wooden Domain and rehearsing the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes as an Evolution Ritual year after year. But only when it reached the point of Evolution, combating the Rebel of Order Attributes did it realize that it had underestimated the difficulty of this Evolution. That wildly intense Rebel of Order Attributes pushed its resilient will to the brink of collapse time and again. If it weren¡¯t for Xu Ran¡¯s help, if it had allowed the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain to pray for blessings separately, it might not have survived that challenge and ended up as a deranged walking corpse. So¡­ ¡°Within my abilities, is there anything you need my help with?¡± Chapter 562 - Chapter 562: Chapter 302: Semi-Saints Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells! Chapter 562: Chapter 302: Semi-Saint¡¯s Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells! ¡°` Boom!!! As the Demon Wood Semi-Saint leisurely revealed this little-known secret, Xu Ran¡¯s pupils constricted violently, thunder seeming to roar in his mind. Originally, he had thought that possessing a brand new Leap Attribute and a significant enhancement in strength was all there was to the uniqueness of the Saint Spirit Race. He never expected that there was such a specialty in the skills of the Saint Spirit Race. The Micro Light Level is the seventh stage of Proficiency, the level that comes after the Violent Sun Level, and is the highest skill proficiency level that Xu Ran is currently aware of. Xu Ran had assumed that there were still higher levels of proficiency, just that he had not reached that stage yet, so he didn¡¯t know what it specifically entailed. He never expected that this was indeed the final proficiency level. Having all Talent Skill proficiencies reach the Micro Light Level is a necessary condition for evolving into the Saint Spirit Race. This matches perfectly with the Evolution Conditions that the system has stipulated within the Evolution Path regarding the requirement for Skill Proficiency. What further surprised Xu Ran was the method in which the Saint Spirit Race enhanced their strength. Without new proficiency levels, their way of enhancing strength was to fuse Talent Skills, one by one, into the Wheel of Life of the Saint Spirit, until only the Wheel of Life remained as the sole skill, allowing for a successful breakthrough to the Saint Rank? In that moment, Xu Ran suddenly recalled that during the lottery drawing with Pleasure value, he had obtained a certain purple item many times. Talent Skill Fusion Stone! So far, Xu Ran had never used it, because fusion of Talent Skills could only be attempted by a member of the Emperor Species. The Talent Skill Fusion Stones he had gradually accumulated were nearly twenty in number, and if what the Demon Wood Semi-Saint said was true, then the importance of this resource would skyrocket tremendously after reaching Emperor Species! Behind him, the three little ones glanced at each other. In this moment, they unanimously decided that in the next resource allocation, they must trade away all the previously saved Talent Skill Fusion Stones! Although they couldn¡¯t use them now, saving them for future use was just perfect! ¡°Senior, after becoming a member of the Saint Spirit Race, can one fuse skills on their own?¡± Xu Ran asked softly. If he were to reach that stage in the future, he could rely on the Talent Skill Fusion Stones to quickly complete the fusion of Talent Skills, but other Transcendent Beings without Talent Skill Fusion Stones must have other methods, as those who had already entered the Saint Rank certainly did. ¡°Yes,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint nodded slightly, ¡°As you see, after Transcendent Beings evolve into the Saint Spirit Race, they can use Power to actively remodel themselves.¡± ¡°I was able to transform my previous body into what it is now; naturally, I can also fuse Talent Skills with each other.¡± ¡°Of course, this process is not simple,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°The fusion of Talent Skills is based on a deeper understanding and control of one¡¯s own Power and requires a long time.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded in realization. It seemed that even when other creatures could fuse Talent Skills, Talent Skill Fusion Stones still had a strong auxiliary effect. ¡°Thank you, Senior, for telling me so much that I didn¡¯t know before.¡± With his doubts dispelled, Xu Ran spoke gratefully. ¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks, compared to the help you¡¯ve given me, this is but a trifle,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint gently swayed his body, causing the azure-golden leaves hanging from his branches to rustle softly against each other with a ¡°sasa¡± sound. One of the azure-golden leaves fell in response, drifting into Xu Ran¡¯s hands. ¡°Senior¡­ what is this?¡± Xu Ran held the leaf cautiously, his heart racing. After all, this was by no means an ordinary leaf. Previously, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had easily helped three Overlord Stage Transcendent Beings to break through to the Emperor Stage with a leaf just like this one. And with two leaves, he had easily slain two old Beast Emperors that had long been famous within Beast Field number 47. Now, such a leaf in Xu Ran¡¯s hands felt as light as a feather yet as heavy as a thousand catties. ¡°It¡¯s called the Order Badge,¡± the voice of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint carried a hint of a smile, ¡°You may consider it as an Epic level tier resource.¡± ¡°And its function is quite simple, to change a certain rule within a range for a short time, versatile in use. It can be applied to enhance oneself, to confront enemies, or to other various situations, as long as you can conceive of it.¡± ¡°This!!!¡± Xu Ran gasped sharply, his face showing an expression of immense surprise and joy. Changing the rules within a range for a short time! He had already witnessed for himself the power that the Demon Wood Semi-Saint could wield with such an ability. If he used this resource, could he also manifest such a power once? ¡°Many thanks, Senior!¡± Xu Ran bowed excitedly to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, carefully tucking the Order Badge close to his chest. This was probably the most valuable gift he had ever received. An Epic level tier resource! The Demon Wood Semi-Saint nodded slightly, then continued to speak. ¡°There are a few things to be mindful of when using it.¡± ¡°Firstly, only I can truly control the power of Order, so the rule you create with it will indiscriminately affect everything within its range, including yourself.¡± ¡°Secondly, the duration of this resource¡¯s effectiveness is determined by the specifics of the rule you set. The more specific the rule you define, and the greater its deviation from the original rules of the world, the shorter its effective time will be.¡± ¡°` Chapter 563 - Chapter 563: Chapter 302: Semi-Saints Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_2 Chapter 563: Chapter 302: Semi-Saint¡¯s Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_2 ¡°Senior, what does the second rule mean?¡± Xu Ran asked with a trace of confusion on his face. It sounds a bit abstract, doesn¡¯t it? What does it mean that the more specific the defined rule is, the greater the deviation from the intrinsic rules of the heavens and earth, the shorter its effective time will be? ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint pondered for a moment before slowly saying, ¡°Let me give you a simple example. Just now I helped the three Quasi Emperors enhance their strength, and the rule I changed was ¡®Emperor Species have no bottlenecks.¡¯ ¡°If I had changed the rule to ¡®The Tortoise of Longevity, the Dark Abyss Bear Emperor, and the Gold-Blue Dragon have no bottlenecks,¡¯ it would achieve the same effect of helping them break through, but the power consumed would increase more than tenfold.¡± ¡°Because the latter is a more specific rule, it consumes more power.¡± ¡°Another example¡­¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint paused for a moment before continuing, looking towards the three little ones behind Xu Ran, ¡°If you encounter an opponent more powerful than yourself, and you need to use the Order Badge to set rules to weaken your opponent and strengthen yourself.¡± ¡°At that time, if the rule you set is for your three Pet Beasts to become stronger, this Order Badge might last only a few breaths before its power is exhausted.¡± ¡°But if the rule you set is for the Thunder Attribute, Fighting Attribute, Dark Attribute, and Earth Attribute to become stronger, the Order Badge could last for about two minutes.¡± With two simple examples, Xu Ran easily understood which rules were more specific and how to extend the duration of the Order Badge while achieving the desired effects by establishing more general rules. ¡°Then what does it mean by the deviation from the intrinsic rules of the heavens and earth?¡± Xu Ran asked earnestly. It was crucial for him to fully understand this in order to make the best use of this precious resource. ¡°This is also easy to understand,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint explained patiently, ¡°For example, you set a rule to increase the Meditation speed of this area, it could be tenfold, or even a hundredfold.¡± ¡°The existing rule of the heavens and earth is the normal Meditation speed, the bigger the deviation from the original rule, the shorter the duration will be.¡± ¡°I see now,¡± Xu Ran realized. So that¡¯s what it meant. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior. I¡¯ll be sure to use this treasure when it¡¯s most needed!¡± Xu Ran once again sincerely thanked the other party for their kindness. The three little ones behind him felt the same joy. Who knows when this resource will be needed. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint said no more, his gaze solemnly sweeping over the battered Monster Wooden Domain, ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to rebuild our shattered home.¡± ¡°Then I will not disturb Senior any longer,¡± Xu Ran took his leave wisely, riding on Star and speeding away. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint did not look in Xu Ran¡¯s direction again. Its roots emerged from the void and plunged into the huge pit on the ground, extending swiftly beneath the earth¡¯s surface. As its body contracted, it also expanded simultaneously. Rooting itself back in its original place, the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind the Demon Wood Semi-Saint erupted with blinding brilliance. Majestic Power of Order radiated out from it as the center, sweeping through the entire Monster Wooden Domain like a fierce wind and spreading farther outward. Bits of green-gold leaves quietly shattered, transforming into a sky full of sparkling lights, as the rich Power of Order turned into kindling, covering the Monster Wooden Domain with a new layer of rule-based power. The rough and shattered land turned smooth again, the barren soil became fertile once more, the burnt flora ashed by flames regrew, the wounded creatures all healed, and the desolate earth returned to its original vitality in a breath¡¯s time. ¡°Stop here!¡± Xu Ran, halfway through his journey while riding Star, showed a spark of emotion and gestured for Star to halt. Looking around at the Monster Wooden Domain that had been rejuvenated before his eyes, Xu Ran drew a sharp breath, turning his head to look at the shadow once again covering the sky and earth behind him. He was in the business of Washing and Protection for Transcendent Beings, while the other was cleansing the entire Monster Wooden Domain. Such was the might of a Semi-Saint, terrifying indeed. The eyes of the man and his three beasts simultaneously reflected anticipation and longing. When would they be able to achieve such strength themselves? ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s find the Extinct Thunder Attraction!) Ziyun let out a high call, its eyes full of burning fighting spirit. Previously, it had set becoming an Emperor Species as its goal, but having seen the strength of the Holy Spirit Race, it was no longer satisfied with just that. Evolving into an Emperor Species was merely a small step in its journey to become stronger. And now, it was time to take that small step! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Little Boss Xu, you really plan to leave Monster Wooden City?¡± Standing at the entrance of the Starfire Foster Shop, Su Yunchuan looked a bit regretful, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve heard about you for a long time, Boss Xu, it¡¯s just that I never had the chance to meet you.¡± ¡°If you are willing to stay, the Beast Master Association of Monster Wooden Domain can offer you the position of vice president.¡± ¡°Although your strength is only at the General Level, your potential is so vast, and you played a major role in the recent events, I believe everyone would be convinced.¡± ¡°I am flattered by Chairman Su¡¯s generous offer,¡± Xu Ran smiled and clasped his hands towards Su Yunchuan, ¡°but my ambition lies elsewhere, and I must decline.¡± Seeing the determination in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes, Su Yunchuan sighed lightly, giving up on further persuasion, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let it be.¡± ¡°Outside the Monster Wooden Domain, wild Transcendent Beings harbor hostility towards Humans. Since you come from Xieyun City, Boss Xu, you must be well aware. How about I escort you part of the way?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Xu Ran shook his head again, ¡°As long as I do not encounter a Beast Emperor or Quasi Emperor, I should be able to handle it with my strength.¡± Chapter 564 - Chapter 564: Chapter 302: Semi-Saints Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_3 Chapter 564: Chapter 302: Semi-Saint¡¯s Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_3 Under the cooperation of the three little ones, even against a Beast King, Xu Ran had the power to fight. With such strength, in the 47th Beast Field, if not walking sideways, at least there was no need to be excessively cautious and timid. If possible, Xu Ran hoped that fewer people knew about the Extinct Thunder Attraction the better. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Thinking of Xu Ran¡¯s strength, Su Yunchuan felt relieved, ¡°With that said, I will take my leave now.¡± Waving his hand towards Xu Ran, Su Yunchuan turned around and left. The Monster Wooden Domain had experienced a catastrophe the day before, and now it was recovering from the ruins, with much awaiting revival. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint expanded the reach of the Monster Wooden Domain to include more areas and showed a momentum for further expansion; in the future, its span would inevitably be larger than now, and perhaps one day, encompassing the entire 47th Beast Field wasn¡¯t impossible. The news of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s breakthrough to become a Demon Wood Semi-Saint spread like the wind throughout the entire 47th Beast Field, attracting more wild Transcendent Beings to come and pledge allegiance. The original residents needed to re-divide their living areas, and relationships with the new residents also needed to be smoothed out. As the representative of the humans, Su Yunchuan would be very busy in the following days. This was also a significant reason why he wanted to recruit Xu Ran. Regrettably, Xu Ran¡¯s ambition was not there. The system had given him a series of quests to open branch stores and a world map mostly shrouded in fog, which meant he could not settle in one place. After giving a few last instructions to the three System Clerks, Xu Ran, with his three little companions, turned around and walked out of Monster Wooden City, heading southwest. Yesterday, upon returning to Monster Wooden City, he had already visited those two Foster Shop owners from Bright Radiance City. Even though the two owners were still unsettled by the sudden change, they were very pleased to learn of Xu Ran¡¯s purpose and gave him a map to Bright Radiance City. With the map in hand, Xu Ran¡¯s solo journey through the wild areas swarming with Transcendent Beings outside the Monster Wooden Domain was much more secure, promising a journey with few twists and turns. After teaching a lesson to a few who were unwise on the road, one human and three pets arrived without too much peril at the place the Azure Hawk Beast King had previously brought them to. Standing there, they once again saw the small valley hiding the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Just like the last time they saw it, the valley was still enveloped in misty thunder light, causing the entire mountain to be dyed purple. Above the valley, there were times when formidable thunderbolts cleaved out of nowhere, without any sign and leaving no trace. Everything about the place proved that the Extinct Thunder Attraction was still well settled within the valley and hadn¡¯t appeared in the world. Taking a slight breath of relief, Xu Ran glanced at the map in his hand. Such an unusual valley was clearly not unknown to the nearby Bright Radiance City, as the map clearly marked the location of the valley and named it ¡°Fallen Thunder Valley.¡± Moreover, there were two five-pointed star symbols marked on the location. This signified that within the range of Fallen Thunder Valley, there lived two Beast Kings, making it extremely dangerous and best to avoid. And this perfectly corroborated what the Azure Hawk Beast King had mentioned previously. ¡°Meow~¡± (My Extinct Thunder Attraction!) Feeling the familiar aura once again, Ziyun¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. It was the one! The Main Material for Evolution that it had been longing for! ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty,¡± Xu Ran patted Ziyun¡¯s head to soothe it, ¡°The Extinct Thunder Attraction has not yet appeared in this world; we can¡¯t get it now, and we shouldn¡¯t alert anyone unnecessarily.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll head to Bright Radiance City first.¡± Taking a deep breath, he shifted his gaze away from Fallen Thunder Valley in front of him, looking towards the towering Second Level Town on the edge of his vision. Even from a distance, Xu Ran could feel the stringent defenses of this town, which, under a completely different environment for survival than Monster Wooden City, showcased the bearing a Second Level Town should have. Bright Radiance City, despite being slightly smaller than Xieyun City, didn¡¯t differ much in other aspects. Perhaps because of its proximity to Xieyun City, the two shared many similarities in their construction styles. As Star sped along, the silhouette of the city rapidly grew in their view, and eventually, Star halted before the towering city gates of Bright Radiance City. Xu Ran dismounted, took out his Beast Master Badge and other identification materials from his pack, and then entered the city gate with his three small companions. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± A somewhat urgent sound quickly rang out at the city gate. The next moment, a Beast Master riding a General Level flying pet beast descended from a watchtower in the sky, landing in front of Xu Ran, ¡°A new face, huh? Little brother, did you come from another city?¡± ¡°Yes, Monster Wooden City.¡± Xu Ran calmly presented his documents. ¡°Monster Wooden City?¡± The Beast Master checked Xu Ran¡¯s documents and returned them, ¡°No issues with your identity, but I heard the Beast Emperor Sky-reaching Xuanmu became a Semi-Saint, even defeating two other Beast Emperors.¡± ¡°When others are hurrying to move to Monster Wooden City, you instead run to our Bright Radiance City?¡± ¡°I¡¯m someone who likes traveling,¡± Xu Ran chuckled. ¡°¡­Right.¡± The Beast Master stepped aside to clear the way, ¡°You need to go to the Beast Master Association of our Bright Radiance City as soon as possible to handle the relevant formalities; otherwise, your Beast Master Points won¡¯t work in our city.¡± ¡°I understand all that,¡± Xu Ran said with an appreciative smile, mounted Star once more, ¡°Could you point me the way? How do I get to the Beast Master Association?¡± ¡°Follow this road, it¡¯s at the end,¡± the Beast Master casually pointed, then watched as one human and three pets transformed into a fleeting shadow disappearing instantly, ¡°The speed¡¯s a bit outrageous, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 565 - Chapter 565: Chapter 302: Semi-Saints Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_4 Chapter 565: Chapter 302: Semi-Saint¡¯s Gift! New Beginnings and Farewells!_4 ¡°No wonder he dared to run over from the Monster Wooden Domain alone¡­¡± the Beast Master uttered, then suddenly smacked his own head with annoyance, ¡°I forgot to ask him what the situation is like over there now.¡± ¡°This is a major event affecting the entire number 47 Beast Field, and I happened to meet someone involved, yet I actually forgot to ask!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Mr. Xu, your migration procedures have been completed, and the points and deposits on your Beast Master account can be used within Bright Radiance City,¡± the staff member said with a polite smile. ¡°Besides that, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Vice-President Liu from our Bright Radiance City would like to have a few words with you.¡± ¡°Vice-President Liu?¡± Taking the procedure certificate from the staff member, Xu Ran showed a puzzled expression on his face, ¡°It¡¯s my first time in Bright Radiance City, I shouldn¡¯t be acquainted with this Vice-President Liu, should I?¡± ¡°Indeed, you don¡¯t, but you come from Monster Wooden City, and yesterday in Monster Wooden City¡­¡± The staff member did not continue but gave Xu Ran a ¡°you know what I mean¡± look. Xu Ran understood. Was the other party curious and wanting to contact him to find out about the situation in the Monster Wooden Domain? ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran smiled. Just arriving in a new city, one must build good relationships with the bigwigs of the Beast Master Association. This way, his own branch shops might receive some conveniences. Of course, he would only talk as an observer about things he could actually discuss. Soon, under the guidance of this staff member, Xu Ran met that Vice-President Liu. The man was burly and seemed to have an air of a jianghu bandit about him. As the staff member introduced, Vice-President Liu¡¯s full name was Liu Kuang. His contract power had reached the Sixth Stage, but it was a pity that he had not managed to evolve a Pet Beast into the Emperor Species. Therefore, he had contracted six King Stage Pet Beasts, making him stronger than a King Level Beast Master but not as much as an Overlord Level Beast Master. He ranked third in power in Bright Radiance City. The top two were Overlord Level Beast Masters. Upon meeting Xu Ran, Liu Kuang did not put on airs as the Vice-President or a high-ranking senior. He started chatting casually with Xu Ran, which made Xu Ran feel more fondness for this Beast Master. Sure enough, he told Liu Kuang everything he could. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, it¡¯s just a pity I couldn¡¯t witness it with my own eyes.¡± Liu Kuang¡¯s face showed a bit of longing, ¡°To see the evolution process of an Emperor Species into a Saint Spirit Race with one¡¯s own eyes would already be an incredible opportunity.¡± ¡°So, young brother Xu, why didn¡¯t you just stay peacefully in the Monster Wooden Domain and instead run off to our Bright Radiance City?¡± Liu Kuang lifted his big hand and patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°With the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood becoming a Demon Wood Semi-Saint, it will surely look after the creatures of the Monster Wooden Domain more. I think your strength is not weak, and you are so young, you should seize that opportunity.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Actually, my main job is running a foster shop.¡± ¡°Oh, running a foster shop, huh¡­ Wait, what?!¡± Liu Kuang¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°You? A foster shop owner?¡± Xu Ran looked to be under thirty, yet he was already a General Stage Beast Master, and the strength of his three Pet Beasts seemed quite formidable. Such potential in their Bright Radiance City could already crush countless peer Beast Masters. And you¡¯re telling me you are a businessman running a foster shop? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ran puffed out his chest and sat up straight, ¡°My foster care shop is called Starfire Foster, and I have already opened branches in three cities. I have come to Bright Radiance City this time to open the fourth branch here¡­¡± ¡°Hold on a minute¡­ My brain¡¯s a bit muddled¡­¡± Liu Kuang rubbed his forehead. Opening a branch¡­ You really are a businessman, aren¡¯t you? To leave behind such talent and opportunity and come all the way to Bright Radiance City just to open another branch ¨C should I admire your dedication or think you¡¯re being reckless? ¡°Forget it.¡± Liu Kuang shook his head, ¡°Here in Bright Radiance City, the competition in the foster industry is pretty fierce. Have you picked a good location for your shop, young brother Xu?¡± As he asked the question, Liu Kuang glanced at Xu Ran¡¯s expression and his lips twitched slightly, ¡°It seems not.¡± ¡°Could you recommend one to me, elder brother Liu?¡± Xu Ran took the opportunity to climb up the social ladder, showing a warm smile. Chapter 566 - Chapter 566: Chapter 303: Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition? Chapter 566: Chapter 303: Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition? ¡°Creak~¡± Accompanied by a slight creak, the classic doors opened a crack. After seeing who was outside, the doors of Dawn Building No.1 were slowly opened, though the face of the person inside clearly displayed impatience, ¡°Bringing people to see the building again?¡± ¡°Mr. Zhao, we meet again. Let me introduce him,¡± Zhang Li¡¯s face wore a smile that was not at all affected by the other¡¯s impatience, ¡°This is Mr. Xu Ran, the Beast Master from Demon Wood City, who has come from far away.¡± After introducing Xu Ran, she naturally turned to look at him, ¡°This is Mr. Zhao Heyear, the owner of Dawn Building No.1.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhao, hello.¡± Xu Ran greeted with a polite smile, ¡°I am interested in purchasing Dawn Building No.1, but I¡¯ve heard from Ms. Zhao that this is not such a simple matter.¡± ¡°It seems you¡¯ve already heard.¡± Zhao Heyear¡¯s expression cleared slightly, ¡°My building is for sale only to the person I want to sell it to; otherwise, no matter how much they offer, I will not sell.¡± ¡°What kind of person would Mr. Zhao consider selling to then?¡± Xu Ran asked with a smile, ¡°Could you be more specific?¡± ¡°That I can do.¡± Seemingly appreciative of Xu Ran¡¯s attitude, Zhao Heyear¡¯s face softened further, ¡°The person who buys Dawn Building No.1 must meet two conditions.¡± ¡°My Dawn Building No.1, you could say, has the best storefront location on Bright Avenue, bar none.¡± ¡°So, the first condition is that the buyer must be undisputedly the best in the field they intend to operate in, to match the prestige of my Dawn Building No.1.¡± ¡°This is the main reason why no one has been able to buy Dawn Building No.1 in the past few months,¡± Zhang Li explained softly, ¡°Those who want to purchase the building mostly aim to use the geographic advantage of Dawn Building No.1 to further their business.¡± ¡°Those who are undisputedly the best in their field are very cautious about changing their store¡¯s location as they already have a customer base.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Xu Ran said, a look of realization crossing his face. Indeed, operators that had achieved the number one spot in their industry would not easily change their store¡¯s location, as this could lead to the loss of existing customers. However¡­ Buying Dawn Building No.1 and using its geographical advantage to open a branch should not be difficult for other operators, right? At this thought, a hint of confusion appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. And in the next moment, Zhao Heyear¡¯s words resolved all his doubts. ¡°The second condition¡­¡± Zhao Heyear spoke slowly, ¡°The operator who buys Dawn Building No.1 can only run it as the exclusive store in Bright Radiance City, and cannot open branches.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± That condition was rather stringent. ¡°Mr. Zhao is an architectural designer, not only the owner but also the designer of Dawn Building No.1,¡± Zhang Li smiled helplessly, explaining gently, ¡°In Mr. Zhao¡¯s heart, Dawn Building No.1 is like his child.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± nodded Zhao Heyear in agreement, ¡°Young man, you should be able to understand the feeling of wanting to entrust one¡¯s child to a suitable person, right?¡± ¡°When you put it that way, I can understand it somewhat,¡± Xu Ran nodded after stroking his chin. Isn¡¯t this just like a father-in-law who hopes his future son-in-law is outstanding, yet doesn¡¯t want him to be a scoundrel? While such a mindset in this context might seem odd, after putting himself in the other¡¯s shoes, Xu Ran chose to respect it. ¡°Mr. Zhao, I can satisfy your second condition,¡± Xu Ran slowly spoke up, ¡°I won¡¯t hide from you that my intention to buy Dawn Building No.1 is to operate a foster shop.¡± ¡°Although I have stores in other cities, I can assure you that there will only be one store in Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Zhao Heyear was silent for a moment, ¡°You meet the second condition.¡± ¡°As for the first condition¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°I am quite confident in becoming the first in the foster industry of Bright Radiance City, but how can I prove this point having just arrived in the city?¡± ¡°If it were any other industry, you indeed wouldn¡¯t be able to prove it, nor would you qualify to buy my store,¡± Zhao Heyear glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°But in the foster industry¡­ there just happens to be an opportunity that could prove it right now.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A look of curiosity appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°What opportunity?¡± ¡°Mr. Zhao is probably referring to our Bright Radiance City¡¯s triennial Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition,¡± Zhang Li chimed in with a smile, ¡°Actually, I had planned to tell you about this after helping Mr. Xu secure the shop.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. The Cleaning and Caring Exhibition sounded like it would be similar to the open-air cleaning and caring event held in Monster Wooden City. The previous open-air event brought a surge of customers to Starfire Foster Care Shop, allowing Starfire Foster Care Shop to meet its 50% fame requirement in a short time. If he could replicate the process of skyrocketing fame in Bright Radiance City through a similar event, it would be wonderful for Xu Ran! Xu Ran, of course, had not forgotten why he had come to Bright Radiance City. Opening a shop there was only secondary, the most important task was to guard the Extinct Thunder Attraction. By meeting the fame requirement as quickly as possible, he could soon summon the three System Clerks to take over the management of the shop in Bright Radiance City. Then, he could be a hands-off store owner, lying back to collect income from four shops while preparing with his three little ones for fighting over the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Chapter 567 - Chapter 567: Chapter 303: Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition?_2 Chapter 567: Chapter 303: Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition?_2 ¡°` So, the top priority is to raise the fame of Starfire Foster Care Shop! ¡°Ms. Zhang, could you elaborate?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Zhang Li smiled, ¡°Washing and Protection isn¡¯t just about improving appearances, it¡¯s also an important way to maintain a Pet Beast¡¯s state and physical functions, so the Beast Master Association of Bright Radiance City encourages the emergence of more talent in the Washing and Protection field.¡± ¡°The Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition is an event created for this purpose.¡± ¡°Caretakers skilled in cleaning and caring for Pet Beasts can register to participate, and during the two-day exhibition, they will attend to the Pet Beasts that come for Washing and Protection.¡± ¡°At the end of the exhibition, the Association will award a ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title and a prize based on the positive feedback received from the Washing and Protection of the Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°The Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition is held once every three years, and the next one will take place in three days. You can register at any time before it starts.¡± Zhang Li smiled at Xu Ran, ¡°Mr. Xu, your timing couldn¡¯t be better.¡± ¡°If you can get the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯, you might be worthy of my Dawn Building No.1.¡± Zhao Heyear folded his arms and spoke emotionlessly. From his eyes, it was clear he held no hope for this. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Then I might as well give it a try.¡± After listening to Zhang Li¡¯s introduction to the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition, he was determined. He simply had to participate in this event. ¡°Mr. Zhao, I¡¯ve imposed on you long enough today, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Xu Ran stood up, bowed to Zhao Heyear, and turned to leave Dawn Building No.1. Zhang Li followed him out, smiling, ¡°Mr. Xu, would you like me to show you some other shops for sale?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t refuse and followed Zhang Li to look at other available shops. But having seen the finest with Dawn Building No.1, all other shops seemed to lack that certain something for Xu Ran. After looking around, not only had Xu Ran not given up, but he wanted Dawn Building No.1 even more. If he could get the title of ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± at the exhibition and have the advantage of the shop¡¯s location, he could become a hands-off shopkeeper in no more than a week. Do you understand the value of being a hands-off shopkeeper, ahoy! ¡°It seems Mr. Xu still prefers Dawn Building No.1.¡± Zhang Li pursed her lips with a smile, showing an I-knew-it expression, ¡°If so, then I wish Mr. Xu good luck in the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition.¡± ¡°I really have to try hard.¡± Xu Ran smiled and waved goodbye to Zhang Li, then turned to look at the three little ones following him, ¡°Let¡¯s settle the shop matter first, and next we¡¯ll focus all our efforts on competing for the Extinct Thunder Attraction.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (No problem!) Ziyun waved its claw, appearing full of enthusiasm. It would be helpful in Washing and Protection too! The Extinct Thunder Attraction has been dormant in Fallen Thunder Valley for so long, a few more days won¡¯t make a difference! And¡­ Ziyun had a premonition. When the Extinct Thunder Attraction was about to appear, it might perceive it instinctively. Because the power of the Extinct Thunder Attraction and the black power that merged with it after it performed Divine Punishment had a slight similarity; there might be some resonance between the two. With Ziyun expressing this, Star and Cancan naturally had no objections. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll find a hotel in Bright Radiance City to stay temporarily for two days. When the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition starts, we¡¯ll also get familiar with Bright Radiance City¡¯s environment,¡± said Xu Ran, stretching languidly and pointing to a hotel not far away. ¡°That hotel looks good, let¡¯s check it out.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time passed, and two days went by. In those two days, Xu Ran and the three little ones enjoyed a rare period of calm after the catastrophe in the Monster Wooden Domain. The emotional roller coaster from witnessing the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood had also stabilized quite a bit due to the new experiences in Bright Radiance City during that time. And the first battle of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City was about to begin. On the first day of the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition, Xu Ran, who had already completed the registration in advance, appeared at the event site with the three little ones. It was a vast open space where a hundred enclosed Washing and Protection rooms had been temporarily built, each able to accommodate Large Pet Beasts for Washing and Protection. Caretakers who registered for the exhibition would draw lots to choose their respective Washing and Protection rooms. Over the next two days, they would serve the Beast Masters and their Pet Beasts from all over Bright Radiance City. The Washing and Protection were free, with the Beast Master Association footing the bill for the resources used during the process. It wasn¡¯t just a stage for the talent in Washing and Protection, but also a small benefit that the Beast Master Association offered to all Beast Masters in Bright Radiance City. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Xu Ran, here to register for the exhibition.¡± Approaching the staff of the organizers, Xu Ran presented his registration proof, ¡°When does the draw for selecting the Washing and Protection room start?¡± ¡°The drawing is done on a first-come, first-served basis. Please come this way.¡± Quickly, the staff member led Xu Ran to the drawing area. ¡°Chop!¡± (Let me draw!) ¡°` Cancan raised one paw, volunteering spiritedly. ¡°Let the King of Dragon Turtles, who controls good fortune, draw the best grooming room on the field!¡± ¡°Alright, you do it.¡± Seeing Cancan so excited, Xu Ran smiled and stepped aside. Cancan walked up confidently, reached a paw into the draw box to feel around, and then pulled out a sealed metal cylinder. The staff took the metal cylinder, skillfully opened it, and pulled out a rolled-up blueprint, which they spread out to display. It was a map of all the cleaning and caring rooms at the pet beast exhibition, but one of the rooms was colored strikingly red, unlike the others. That was the room that Cancan had drawn for Xu Ran. Upon seeing that location, Cancan¡¯s face, previously full of pride and confidence, instantly fell. Because that location was not only secluded but also far from the entrance to the exhibit area. Even without much understanding of the business, Cancan could tell it wasn¡¯t a good spot. ¡°Chah~¡± (Darn it, my luck has run out for today¡­) The head that had been held high slowly drooped, and its expression immediately wilted. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xu Ran chuckled and patted Cancan¡¯s head to comfort it. Xu Ran had not expected Cancan¡¯s luck to be so bad. In such an exhibition, the results of washing and protection were clear to see, the strength and weaknesses could easily be judged even by laymen, and the quality of the grooming room¡¯s location would only have a temporary effect. It wasn¡¯t a big problem. ¡°Chah!¡± (I will work hard to attract customers!) Cancan took a deep breath and let out a loud shout. If luck wasn¡¯t helpful, then it would have to rely on hard work! ¡°Mmm¡­ you keep it up,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. Hopefully, Cancan wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble this time. Taking the indicator map of the drawn grooming room, Xu Ran left with the three little ones and soon arrived in front of his assigned grooming room. At the entrance of the empty grooming room was a blank white signboard with ink and brushes, available for the caretakers participating in the exhibition to write the name of their grooming room for easy identification and distinction. After dipping the brush in ink, Xu Ran wrote ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± without hesitation. He stepped back two paces to view the overall effect and then nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop?¡± A curious voice suddenly came from not far away, as a middle-aged man walked out from the neighboring grooming room, his face bearing a questioning look, ¡°Young man, you seem somewhat unfamiliar, eh?¡± ¡°Hello, uncle.¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded in greeting, ¡°I haven¡¯t been in Bright Radiance City for long.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± the middle-aged man nodded in understanding, ¡°so this Starfire Foster Care Shop is where you work? How come I¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± ¡°Well¡­ this is the shop I¡¯m planning to open,¡± Xu Ran said with a shy smile. Middle-aged man: ¡°¡­¡± So, it hasn¡¯t opened yet? The middle-aged man¡¯s expression relaxed slightly for a moment. Having drawn a poor lottery position, he no longer held much hope for a good result in this grooming exhibition; if a strong competitor emerged next door, his chances would dwindle even further. Therefore, upon noticing Xu Ran, the new neighbor, the middle-aged man promptly came over to gather information. While Xu Ran was young, in Bright Radiance City there were caretakers even younger than him with astoundingly good washing and protection skills; there was no guarantee that this young man wasn¡¯t a dark horse in hiding. But having heard about Xu Ran¡¯s background, the middle-aged man felt relieved. From out of town, no shopfront yet. He wasn¡¯t boasting, but there wasn¡¯t a single city nearby that could match Bright Radiance City in overall cleaning and caring standards! After all, cities that valued washing and protection services as much as Bright Radiance City did and cultivated such talent were few and far between! So, it was unlikely that this young man could pose much of a threat. ¡°Young man, I have good expectations for you.¡± Thinking this, the middle-aged man slapped Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder with a chuckle, ¡°Drawing adjacent grooming rooms must be fate; let¡¯s look out for each other in the next two days, shall we?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile. The peers in Bright Radiance City were indeed hospitable. Chapter 568 - Chapter 568: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish? Chapter 568: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish? ¡°Boss Xu, I have tried many washing and protection services for my Liuli Stone Dragon, but yours is the best I have ever seen,¡± A Beast Master excitedly hugged a pretty lizard with glaze-colored scales all over its body. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame that the washing exhibit only lasts for two days.¡± ¡°No worries, after the exhibit, my foster shop will officially start operating. Feel free to drop by anytime,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, pointing at the five big characters on the door of the washing room. ¡°The washing environment in the store is even better, and the results will be even better.¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, right? I¡¯ll remember that. I¡¯ll definitely come here in the future!¡± The Beast Master nodded seriously and then turned to leave with his pet beast. ¡°Take care~¡± Waving at the departing guest, Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew even richer. After waiting for so long, he had finally opened for business. The guest who had just left was the first one to choose his services during the exhibit. To establish his reputation, he had washed the Liuli Stone Dragon with extraordinary care and effort, almost giving it a feel of a different race. Clearly, the guest was very satisfied with the washing result. A zero breakthrough had been achieved; things should only get better from now on. As for the second customer¡­ ¡°Hello, I wonder if there are any restrictions on the washing services here?¡± Well, here comes one. Xu Ran turned to look at the girl who had spoken. She was a girl with long hair that reached her waist, dressed in a long dress and looked quiet and demure. At the moment, her eyes were full of curiosity as she looked at him and his washing room. ¡°Restrictions?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin. ¡°Due to the space constraints of this facility, we can¡¯t wash super large-size pet beasts and those at the Overlord or Emperor Stage are beyond my service range.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no problem!¡± The girl¡¯s face lit up with a smile. Behind her, a hexagram star array flickered, and a fox with long red fur all over its body stepped out amidst the wind raised by the surging energy, then lightly leaped into the girl¡¯s arms. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly. At first, he thought it was a Flame Fox, which reminded him of an old friend in Qingzhou City, but upon closer examination, he realized this pet beast was quite distinct from a Flame Fox. Its long red fur was not entirely red but rather showed a gradient from the roots to the tips, giving it a layered look reminiscent of a splendid sunset, breathtakingly beautiful. Another difference from the Flame Fox was that it had six long, large tails that swayed flexibly behind it, adding a touch of charm and dignity. A fire attribute leader species, Rosy Flame Demon Fox. After a moment of searching his memory, Xu Ran matched it with its corresponding race. As a fire attribute leader species just like the Flame Fox, the Rosy Flame Demon Fox was much rarer and more sought after since it not only possessed four two stars skills of a top leader species but was also one of the few with a clear evolutionary path from early on. It could evolve into a fire attribute king species, the Jiu Xuan Flame Fox. ¡°Can you wash my Xiaoliu for me?¡± Holding the Rosy Flame Demon Fox up to Xu Ran, Chou Yue asked with anticipation. She had been prepared to go to Liu Cang at Green Cloud Pet Foster Care Shop for washing, but after seeing the Liuli Stone Dragon, it only took her a second to change her decision. She had a hunch that this unfamiliar young man and his unfamiliar foster shop might provide her with a pleasant surprise. ¡°Of course, not a problem.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he took over the Rosy Flame Demon Fox. [Race name: Rosy Flame Demon Fox Attribute: Fire Growth Step: Elite Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: A lucky little fellow, it¡¯s been well-cared for by its Beast Master, but there are some hidden impurities deep within that aren¡¯t easily remedied by simple grooming. Host, make your move, maybe there are other unexpected gains waiting for you?] Hm? Giving a glance at the system¡¯s evaluation, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes moved slightly. Unexpected gains? For the system to give such an assessment, perhaps this Rosy Flame Demon Fox had some special qualities that he had yet to discover. ¡°Please come in.¡± Inviting Chou Yue into the washing room, Xu Ran quickly set the Rosy Flame Demon Fox down on the washing platform and started preparing for the washing process. Ziyun, who was in sync with Xu Ran, needed only a look from him to understand the resources he needed and brought them swiftly like a shadow. Meanwhile, Star stood quietly by, waiting to infuse Xu Ran with more power when he felt weary. Chou Yue casually found a seat and sat down, her eyes filled with unexpected colors as she watched the preparatory process of the man and his two pets. Quite novel, indeed. This wasn¡¯t her first time observing a caretaker¡¯s washing process, but it was her first time seeing a pet beast acting as an assistant during the process. After all¡­ many caretakers themselves weren¡¯t very strong, and strong Beast Masters wouldn¡¯t be willing to engage in this profession, providing services for other people¡¯s pet beasts. But it seemed that this young man was an exception. He was not only a Beast Master, but he was also quite strong. There were two pet beasts inside the washing room and one guarding the door outside, indicating that he had to be at least a Leadership Level Beast Master. Thinking that she was an Elite Level Beast Master, but having a Leadership Level Beast Master washing her pet beast felt somewhat unusual. As she idly pondered, a smile unwittingly formed at the corners of Chou Yue¡¯s mouth. Chapter 569 - Chapter 569: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_2 Chapter 569: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_2 On the other side, Xu Ran had already swiftly prepared everything necessary for the bathing and care. He adjusted the water temperature and quickly picked up the showerhead, walking up close to the Rosy Flame Demon Fox. Using the palm of his other hand to block the stream of water spraying from the showerhead, he let the warm cleansing liquid gently soak the fur of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox through the cushioning of his palm. Being of the Fire Attribute, pet beasts naturally resist water, so this silently nourishing method was able to minimize their inner repulsion to the greatest extent. Of course, the secret weapon that made Fire Pet Beasts fall in love with washing and caring were the various Nourishing Fire Element Resources blended into the bath liquid. Feeling the soft flow of water saturate all its fur, sticking to its body like a warm embrace, the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s eyes, hued like the dawn, gleamed with extra satisfaction. It couldn¡¯t help but wriggle its body, emitting a slightly enchanting sound. ¡°Ying~¡± It seems the cries of fox-like pet beasts are all quite similar. Xu Ran glanced at the Rosy Flame Demon Fox and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes. In front of him, a prompt notifying him of the received Pleasure Value from the Rosy Flame Demon Fox had just appeared. Next, it was time to exhibit his expertise. Xu Ran gently placed his hands on the fully dampened fur of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox, and then spread his fingers, placing them on different parts of its body, to begin a deep, gentle, yet effective kneading. Under Xu Ran¡¯s professional manipulation, the Power circulating within the Rosy Flame Demon Fox began to accelerate the absorption of the bath liquid¡¯s nourishing components. To the Rosy Flame Demon Fox, this novel sensation was equally thrilling. Xu Ran¡¯s every finger penetrated deeply into its skin, touching each point and leading to every hair follicle, the meticulous and thorough kneading made every inch of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s body shiver in exhilaration. Like fine currents of electricity continuously coursing through it, its slender body involuntarily began to quiver slightly, and its dawn-colored eyes grew even more hazy and transfixed. As the intensity of Xu Ran¡¯s technique grew, the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s body trembled more noticeably, the misty sense of enchantment in its eyes brimmed and looked as though it could overflow at any moment. The expression on the Rosy Flame Demon Fox became increasingly peculiar, as if it were struggling to contain something, yet the more it tried to hold back, the less it seemed able to do so. Finally, a long-repressed, winding and deep moan escaped from its throat, tinged with a touch of bashfulness. ¡°Ying~~¡± Watching her pet beast behave so strangely throughout the process, Chou Yue, who had been watching the entire time, saw her initial amusement stiffen on her face. She even felt somewhat like she was sitting on pins and needles at the moment. Watching the young man wash and care for her pet beast, Chou Yue actually felt like she was observing something scandalous. Such things should never be discovered by others, yet here she was watching it happen right before this human and beast duo, which made her feel an urge to leave the place. And considering one of the parties was her pet beast, her feelings became even more complicated. The washing and care service here is just too weird! Chou Yue sighed internally, suddenly feeling like she was on the wrong boat. ¡°Ying~~~¡± Another cry, even stronger and more peculiar than before, echoed through the grooming room, and Chou Yue couldn¡¯t help but cover her eyes with her hands to avoid watching. But a few seconds later, the gaps between her fingers stealthily widened, revealing her large eyes. I¡¯m just concerned about my own pet beast¡­ Right, that¡¯s it! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Wuwuwu¡ª¡± With a hum of the hairdryer, Xu Ran completely dried the last inch of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s fur, and after a simple combing, he smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s finished.¡± ¡°Ying~~¡± The Rosy Flame Demon Fox slowly stood up from the grooming table, shook its body vigorously, making its fur, which shimmered like glints of light and became even fluffier, appear as sleek as a clump of evening clouds descending to earth, stunningly beautiful. Its eyes still retained a hint of haziness and longing, but as it gradually came back to its senses, it too knew its grooming session was over. It jumped down lightly to the ground, then trotted over to Chou Yue¡¯s side. ¡°This¡­¡± Chou Yue bent down and carefully hugged her pet beast, afraid that any careless movement would mar the impeccable style. Awe filled her eyes, and the odd feelings from the grooming process were now completely pushed out of her mind. Indeed, her intuition was right! Chou Yue had taken her pet to many Foster Shops for cleaning and care, but even the best of them could not bring her Rosy Flame Demon Fox to the condition it was at now. This unfamiliar young Caretaker had given her a marvelous surprise! On the other hand, Xu Ran was also checking the rewards of his work. Normally, when grooming a Leader Species pet beast at Elite Stage, he wouldn¡¯t bother to check the gain. Because now, as a B Level Plucking Fur, obtaining Two stars Skills was almost guaranteed, and Two stars Skills had little significance for the three small ones and could simply be broken down into Skill Fragments to be done with it. However, the phrase The system had provided after scanning the Rosy Flame Demon Fox had piqued his interest. And upon checking, he truly found some unusual aspects. Under the Pet Beast Skills section, there were three new skills. [¡ï¡ï Flame Blossom] (Untransmittable) [¡ï¡ï Burning Flame Slash] (Untransmittable) Chapter 570 - Chapter 570: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_3 Chapter 570: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_3 [¡ï¡ïRock Needle](Teachable) The skills he had obtained before had already been cleared and decomposed by him, so these three skills could only originate from today¡¯s cleaning and care. Rock Needle must have been the Earth attribute Skill obtained from the previous grooming of the Liuli Stone Dragon. And the remaining two Fire attribute Skills¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s gaze couldn¡¯t help but drift towards the Rosy Flame Demon Fox cradled in Chou Yue¡¯s arms. To gain two skills from a single session of Plucking Fur? The system¡¯s Plucking Fur effect is that after use, there is a probability of obtaining the target Pet Beast¡¯s Skill, with the probability changing along with the Pet Beast Skill Star Level and the System Skill¡¯s level. It does not state that only one Pet Beast Skill can be obtained, which means it is indeed possible to gain multiple Pet Beast Skills from one Plucking Fur session. However, Xu Ran had only discovered this for the first time since obtaining the Skill. Even though it might have happened before without his notice, it was without a doubt that the probability was extremely rare and uncommon. Could this be the unexpected gain the system mentioned? But one more two-star Skill for him was merely four more Skill Fragments, which was just a drop in the bucket for his three small Pet Beasts. Wasn¡¯t such a gain too meager? ¡°Hello, please help me with the grooming of my other Pet Beast!¡± Chou Yue¡¯s voice interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. Watching Chou Yue, who had already summoned her second Pet Beast, Xu Ran quickly snapped back to reality and showed an enthusiastic smile, ¡°No problem!¡± Chou Yue¡¯s second Pet Beast was a Vitality Dog. It was a small-sized dog type Pet Beast with a Super Ability attribute, covered in short white curls, very similar in appearance to the Bichon Frise, lively and astute, and also had four powerful two-star skills in the direction of telekinesis, also a Pet Beast with great potential. From the choice of her two Pet Beasts, one could see Chou Yue¡¯s preference for their appearances when selecting her beasts. And Chou Yue indeed took great care of her two Pet Beasts. The Washing and Protection requirement for the Vitality Dog was still only two stars. However¡­ [Race Name: Vitality Dog Attribute: Super Ability Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage Body Type: small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: A lucky little fellow, it¡¯s been well-cared for by its own Beast Master, but some hidden deep-seated dirt can¡¯t be simply dealt with by grooming, host please take action, perhaps there will be other unexpected gains, huh?] Seeing the system¡¯s assessment word for word, Xu Ran fell into contemplation. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Seeing Xu Ran motionless, Chou Yue curiously inquired. ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xu Ran took a deep look at Chou Yue. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Belonging to the same Fire Attribute Leader Species as the Flame Fox, the Rosy Flame Demon Fox was much more sought-after and rare because it was not only a top-rated Leader Species with four two-star Skills but also one of the few Breeds with a clear evolutionary path available early on. It could evolve into the Fire Attribute King Species, the Jiu Xuan Flame Fox. ¡°Can you groom my Little Six?¡± Holding the Rosy Flame Demon Fox in her arms and lifting it to Xu Ran, Chou Yue asked expectantly. Originally planning to go to Liu Cang at Green Cloud Pet Foster Care Shop next door for grooming, after seeing the Liuli Stone Dragon, it took her only a second to decide to make a different choice. She had an intuition that this unfamiliar young man and his unfamiliar foster shop might bring her a surprise. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he took the Rosy Flame Demon Fox from her. [Race Name: Rosy Flame Demon Fox Attribute: Fire Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage Body Type: small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: A lucky little fellow, it¡¯s been well-cared for by its own Beast Master, but some hidden deep-seated dirt can¡¯t be simply dealt with by grooming, host please take action, perhaps there will be other unexpected gains, huh?] Hmm? Glancing casually at the evaluation given by the system, Xu Ran¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Unexpected gains? For the system to give such an assessment, there must be some special aspects of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox that he had not yet discovered. ¡°Please come in.¡± Inviting Chou Yue to enter the grooming room with him, Xu Ran quickly placed the Rosy Flame Demon Fox gently on the grooming table and then turned to start preparing for the grooming session. Ziyun, who was in tune with Xu Ran¡¯s intent, needed only a glance from him to understand what resources he needed and swiftly gathered and delivered them like a fleeting shadow. Meanwhile, Star stood quietly to the side, waiting to infuse Xu Ran with more power when he grew tired. Chou Yue casually took a seat, looking at the preparations of the one man and two beasts in surprise. It was indeed novel. It wasn¡¯t her first time witnessing a grooming process by a Caretaker, but it was the first time she saw Pet Beasts acting as assistants during grooming. After all¡­ many groomers themselves didn¡¯t have great strength, and those Beast Masters with strength wouldn¡¯t be inclined to engage in this profession, serving other people¡¯s Pet Beasts. And the young man before her seemed to be an exception. Not only was he a Beast Master, but also his strength was not weak. With two Pet Beasts inside the grooming room and one guarding outside, it indicated that he was at least a Beast Master of the Leadership Level. Realizing that she herself was only an Elite Level Beast Master, yet having her Pet Beasts groomed by a Leadership Level Beast Master felt somewhat strange. Lost in her thoughts, a hint of a smile crept onto Chou Yue¡¯s face without her noticing. On the other side, Xu Ran had also efficiently completed the preparations needed for the grooming. Adjusting the water temperature, he quickly took the showerhead, blocked the spray with the palm of his other hand, and allowed the warm grooming solution to wet the fur of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox in the gentlest way possible through the buffer of his palm. Chapter 571 - Chapter 571: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_4 Chapter 571: Chapter 304: A New Lucky Fish?_4 Fire Pet Beasts naturally resistance to water, so this silent and gentle moisturizing method could reduce their resistance to the greatest extent. Of course, the most important thing was the variety of nourishing fire element resources blended into the bath liquid, which were the secret weapons that made Fire Pet Beasts fall in love with cleaning and caring. Feeling the gentle flow of water saturate its fur, making the fur cling to its body as if being embraced by warmth, the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s eyes colored like the dawn became more contented. It couldn¡¯t help twisting its body, making a slightly enchanting sound. ¡°Ying~¡± It seemed that the cries of fox-type Pet Beasts were quite similar. Xu Ran glanced at the Rosy Flame Demon Fox and a smile appeared in his eyes. Before him, the prompt of pleasure value from the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s accounts had appeared. Next, it was time to show off his technique. Xu Ran placed his hands lightly on the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s thoroughly wet fur, then spread his fingers and pressed them onto different parts of the fox¡¯s body, starting to massage deeply with a soft yet effective force. Under Xu Ran¡¯s professional stimulation, the power circulating within the Rosy Flame Demon Fox started to absorb the nourishing components of the bath liquid faster. For the Rosy Flame Demon Fox, this novel sensation was stimulating as well. Each of Xu Ran¡¯s fingers penetrated deep into its skin, pulling at every hair follicle from points to planes, the thorough massage made every inch of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s body shudder with joy. Like a continuous delicate current roaming through its body, its lithe form began to quiver unconsciously, and those dawn-colored eyes grew more hazy and distant. As Xu Ran increased the intensity of his technique, the trembling of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s body grew more obvious, a misty bewilderment overflowing in its eyes as though it might spill out at any moment. The expression of the Rosy Flame Demon Fox became more and more abnormal, as if it was struggling to restrain something, but the more it tried to hold back, the less it could do so. In the end, a repressed low moan that had been held back for a long time emerged from its throat, mixed with a hint of embarrassment. ¡°Ying~~¡± Watching her own Pet Beast act so bizarrely, Chou Yue, who had been observing the entire process, had her smile frozen on her face earlier and even felt pins and needles at this moment. Watching the youth clean and care for her own Pet Beast, Chou Yue felt as if she were witnessing something shameful. Such things should never be seen by others, but there she was, watching in the presence of the youth and her Pet Beast, which made her feel the need to leave the place in embarrassment. And considering one of them was her own pet, her feelings became even more complex. Isn¡¯t the cleaning and caring here too strange? Chou Yue let out a sigh in her heart, suddenly feeling as if she had boarded a bandit¡¯s ship. ¡°Ying~~~¡± Another sound, even stronger and more peculiar than before, echoed in the cleaning room, and Chou Yue couldn¡¯t help covering her eyes with both hands, not wanting to see. But in a few seconds, her fingers slightly parted, revealing her wide-open eyes. I¡¯m just concerned about my own Pet Beast¡­ Yes, that¡¯s right! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡ª¡ª¡± With the buzzing sound of the hair dryer, Xu Ran completely dried the Rosy Flame Demon Fox¡¯s fur down to its last inch, combed it out simply, and spoke with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s finished.¡± ¡°Ying~~¡± The Rosy Flame Demon Fox slowly stood up from the cleaning table, violently shook its body, causing each hair to become incredibly soft and fluffy, as if glowing, its hair had become more voluminous, creating a silky vision like a sunset descending upon the mortal world, absolutely stunning. Its eyes still held a hint of haziness and longing, but gradually regaining its senses, it knew its cleaning was over. With a graceful leap, it landed on the ground, and then trotted over to Chou Yue¡¯s side. ¡°This¡­¡± Chou Yue bent down, carefully holding her Pet Beast, afraid to even move in case she ruined the flawless groom. Astonishment filled her eyes; the strange sensation during the cleaning process was now completely out of her mind. Indeed, her instincts were right! Chou Yue had taken her own Pet Beast for cleaning and caring at many Foster Shops, and even the best of them could definitely not bring her Rosy Flame Demon Fox to the state it was in now. This unfamiliar young caretaker had given her a huge surprise! On the other side, Xu Ran was also checking the fruits of his grooming labor. Under normal circumstances, grooming a Leader Species Pet Beast of the Elite Stage wasn¡¯t something he would check his rewards for. Because at his B Level, acquiring Two stars Skills through Plucking Fur was almost a certainty, and Two stars Skills no longer held much meaning for his three little ones¡ªthey were directly decomposed into Skill Fragments. However, the phrase that the system had presented after scanning the Rosy Flame Demon Fox had caught his attention. And upon checking, he indeed found something unusual. In the Pet Beast Skill column, there were three new skills. [¡ï¡ïFlame Blossom]£¨Non-teachable£© [¡ï¡ïBurning Flame Slash]£¨Non-teachable£© [¡ï¡ïRock Needle]£¨Teachable£© The skills he had obtained before had already been cleared and decomposed by him, so these three skills could only have come from today¡¯s grooming. Rock Needle must be the Earth attribute Skill he had obtained from grooming the Liuli Stone Dragon earlier. As for the remaining two Fire attribute skills¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s gaze couldn¡¯t help but drift towards Chou Yue¡¯s embrace where the Rosy Flame Demon Fox was. Plucking Fur once and obtaining two skills? The System Skill Plucking Fur¡¯s effect allows a chance to acquire the target Pet Beast¡¯s skills after use, with the probability changing depending on the Skill Star Level of the Pet Beast¡¯s skills and the level of the System Skill. It doesn¡¯t state that only one Pet Beast Skill can be acquired, which means there is indeed a possibility to obtain multiple Pet Beast Skills from a single Plucking Fur. But Xu Ran had only noticed this occurrence once since getting the skill. Even though it¡¯s possible that it happened before and he didn¡¯t notice, there is no doubt that such a probability is exceedingly rare and unusual. Could this be the unexpected reward that the system mentioned? But an extra Two stars Skill for him was just four more Skill Fragments, which was a drop in the ocean for his current three little ones. Isn¡¯t that reward a bit too meager? ¡°Hello, please groom my other Pet Beast!¡± Chou Yue¡¯s voice interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s train of thought. Watching Chou Yue summon her second Pet Beast, Xu Ran quickly snapped back to reality and displayed an enthusiastic smile, ¡°No problem!¡± Chou Yue¡¯s second Pet Beast was a Vitality Dog. It was a Dog Type Pet Beast from the Super ability Attribute with a small body size, covered in short white curly fur, resembling a Bichon Frise, lively and clever, and also possessing four powerful Two stars Skills in the psychic realm, a Pet Beast with high potential as well. Chou Yue¡¯s preference for aesthetics when picking her Pet Beasts could be seen from her choice of the two. And indeed, Chou Yue took great care in maintaining her two Pet Beasts, as the Washing and Protection requirement for the Vitality Dog was still only two stars. However¡­ [Race name: Vitality Dog Attribute: Super ability Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: A lucky little guy, it¡¯s been well looked after by its Beast Master, but some hidden dirt deep inside isn¡¯t something simple care can resolve. Host, take action, perhaps there will be other unexpected rewards?] Looking at the system¡¯s evaluation word for word, Xu Ran fell into deep thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing Xu Ran motionless, Chou Yue asked curiously. ¡°Nothing much,¡± Xu Ran said as he took a deep look at Chou Yue. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 572 - Chapter 572: Chapter 305 Du Huayans Letter Chapter 572: Chapter 305 Du Huayan¡¯s Letter ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s the Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Chou Yue nodded, a hint of regret on her face, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the bad draw of the location, the entrance to that grooming room wouldn¡¯t be so deserted.¡± Having said that, she seemed to realize something and looked at Du Qian with surprise, ¡°You seem to know about this shop?¡± ¡°Ah~ I do indeed.¡± Du Qian rubbed his temples, ¡°If it¡¯s him, then it¡¯s not surprising.¡± At these words, a strong sense of curiosity surged in Chou Yue¡¯s heart. She opened her mouth, about to ask who exactly he was when Jiang Min, who had come back to her senses, quickly interrupted. ¡°Qi An brother, can we skip the line and get washed and protected first?¡± Jiang Min put her hands together and made a cute face, ¡°Qi An brother is really too popular, the queue is just too long, I¡¯ve already waited for more than an hour~¡± ¡°Thank you for your support.¡± There was a smile on Du Qian¡¯s face, but just when Jiang Min thought he would agree, he spoke without changing his smile, ¡°But no cutting in line.¡± Jiang Min: ¡°¡­¡± Gazing past Jiang Min, Du Qian looked towards the long queue behind him, his face also showing a touch of helplessness. He was well aware of his groom rate; the people currently in line were enough to keep him washing for two days, not to mention more would keep coming. He sighed slightly and signaled to an assistant not far away. The assistant understood and quickly handed over a megaphone. Taking the megaphone, Du Qian spoke out loud, ¡°Dear fellow Beast Masters, I thank you all for your trust and affection, but there are simply too many people in line right now.¡± ¡°With such a long queue, the wait times will increase accordingly, and it¡¯s even possible that a two-day wait might not ensure service, and that¡¯s something none of us want to see.¡± ¡°Therefore, I hope you will try other grooming rooms as well. Any grooming room standing here is worthy of your trust.¡± There was a slight pause in Du Qian¡¯s speech. ¡°If you really aren¡¯t sure which one to choose, you can walk a bit deeper. There¡¯s a grooming room called ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯ that¡¯s worth a try.¡± As soon as these words came out, applause erupted from the crowd. With such remarks, it was as if he had opened up the game, making everyone instantly feel even more favorable towards this young caretaker. The disappointment Jiang Min felt from being refused a chance to skip the line dissipated in an instant, her eyes turning into stars as she looked at Du Qian¡¯s handsome face, so close at hand. Even Chou Yue revealed a look of surprise and admiration. To be able to speak such words, Du Qian was indeed not simple. After Du Qian¡¯s speech, people in the rear of the queue began to disperse, most of them heading deeper as advised. They wanted to try out the grooming room personally recommended by Du Qian. Seeing this scene, Du Qian smiled faintly, tossed the megaphone back to his assistant, and turned to enter the grooming room. The assistant blinked, then quickly followed him in. ¡°Qi An, why do that?¡± He complained with some incomprehension, ¡°It¡¯s bad enough pushing customers away, but why go out of your way to recommend another groomer? Isn¡¯t that helping the competition?¡± ¡°This is your first grooming exhibition as the chief groomer for the Hundred Flowers Foster Store after taking over from your sister, and winning the ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title is important!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Du Qian smiled and began to clean the grooming table, preparing for the next washing and protection. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Seeing this, the assistant hurriedly took over the task, grumbling as he cleaned, ¡°If you know, why do it? That ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯ I¡¯ve never even heard of, why help them?¡± Smiling silently, Du Qian watched the assistant clean and grumble, recalling the letter his sister had sent some days ago. At the invitation of the Monster Wooden City Beast Master Association, his sister, who had been the chief groomer at the Hundred Flowers Foster Store, represented the Du family from Bright Radiance City and established a branch of the Hundred Flowers store in Monster Wooden City, prompting his own promotion to chief groomer. His sister had not severed her links with Bright Radiance City after moving to Monster Wooden City, regularly sending letters back home, writing about her various experiences in Monster Wooden City and expressing her care and greetings to the family. In her last letter, Du Qian noticed something his sister mentioned, which he found quite intriguing. In Monster Wooden City, there was a foster care shop named Starfire. The shop¡¯s owner, like his sister, wasn¡¯t a local of Monster Wooden City but instead had opened a branch store at the invitation of the Monster Wooden City Beast Master Association. In the letter, his sister repeatedly described the other¡¯s grooming skills with words like ¡°magical,¡± ¡°ingenious,¡± and ¡°astonishing,¡± and the other was also a young person. This made Du Qian mentally note down this foster care shop, regretting that the other was not in Bright Radiance City and wishing he could witness the other¡¯s grooming skills for himself. And now, here he was in Bright Radiance City, hearing the same name again. Combining that with the astonishing state of the girl¡¯s pet beast after grooming, Du Qian was at least seventy percent sure that the other was the person his sister had mentioned. Despite not knowing why the other had appeared here, Du Qian¡¯s wish to witness the other¡¯s grooming skills was likely to be fulfilled. No, just witnessing was not enough. How could he not have a match with such a skilled groomer? Because a bad location was drawn, the business was quiet? Chapter 573 - Chapter 573: Chapter 305 Du Huayans Letter_2 Chapter 573: Chapter 305 Du Huayan¡¯s Letter_2 It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll share my customers with you! He wanted to see, under the same conditions of saturated client flow, who between them could get more praise from the Beast Master customers for their washing and protection skills. ¡°Qi An, it¡¯s all cleaned up.¡± The assistant nimbly finished tidying up the washing station and called out loud. ¡°Help me call in the next customer.¡± Du Qi An rolled up his sleeves to the middle of his upper arms and spoke slowly. ¡°Huh? Okay!¡± The assistant was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly walked out of the washing room. Having worked with Du Qi An for a long time, the assistant was very familiar with his habits. Normally, Du Qi An would roll his sleeves up to his elbows when washing, but sometimes, he would roll them up even further, all the way to the middle of his upper arms. Often, this meant he was finally getting serious. The assistant had been worried because of Du Qi An¡¯s move to turn away customers, but now he was filled with confidence. A serious Du Qi An was bound to take down the Cleaning Saint! Pushing open the door of the washing room, the assistant shouted outside. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Next!¡± Having sent off another satisfied customer, Xu Ran waved at the forming line outside, prompting the Beast Master at the very front to step forward with anticipation while the other waiting customers jostled again at the sight of the freshly groomed Pet Beast. Initially, there were doubts about this caretaker that Du Qi An had recommended but whom they had never heard of and whose Foster Shop was utterly unfamiliar. But as each Pet Beast came out transformed after the session, those doubts had turned into confidence and intense anticipation. This caretaker had real skills! At that moment, many people silently thanked Du Qi An in their hearts. That young man, when he recommends a master, he truly means it! ¡°Mr. Xu, I was recommended by Du Qi An. You¡¯ve got to give my Pet Beast a good cleaning!¡± Stepping inside the washing room, the new customer chuckled and initiated the conversation. ¡°Rest assured, I will give my best effort for each washing and protection session,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile, yet a flicker of peculiar light passed through his eyes. The customer probably thought he was well-acquainted with Du Qi An, hence playing this card of sentiment. But¡­ He genuinely didn¡¯t know the caretaker named Du Qi An. An hour ago, the appearance of a sudden queue outside his shop had also taken him by surprise. After learning that these customers were recommended by a caretaker named Du Qi An, his feelings were rather complex. However, Xu Ran had some clue about why Du Qi An would do this. Knowing that Du Qi An was from the Hundred Flowers Foster Store and that he shared the Du surname, Xu Ran had a rough idea of the situation. Previously in Monster Wooden City, the owner of Hundred Flowers Foster Store was Du Huayan, she had been invited to set up a branch there, with the main location in Bright Radiance City. Clearly, the Hundred Flowers Foster Store where Du Qi An worked was this main branch. Moreover, Du Huayan had once casually mentioned to him during a chat that she had a brother who was good at cleaning and caring¡­ If there were no surprises, this caretaker named Du Qi An was indeed Du Huayan¡¯s brother. So, did he learn about Xu Ran from Du Huayan and decide to help him out at this time? Thinking about this, Xu Ran¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but show a trace of wistfulness. Just arriving in Bright Radiance City and he already owed someone a favor. Once the cleaning exhibition was over, he would have to visit the Hundred Flowers Foster Store to express his thanks. As his thoughts wandered, his hands didn¡¯t slow down, and with Ziyun¡¯s cooperation, he had already completed the preparation work for washing and protection of the waiting Pet Beast. This customer¡¯s Pet Beast was a Wind attribute Flying Scythe Weasel. Despite its palm-sized Body type, it was a standout among the Leader Species of the Wind system, possessing astonishing speed and powerful attacks, capable of claiming the lives of living beings in an invisible and unpredictable manner. However, at this moment, this ruthless Wind assassin revealed a vulnerable side under the soaking of Xu Ran¡¯s bath liquid, its body shaking involuntarily, its face bearing a relaxed and content expression, and its eyes clouding with a misty, dazed look. Soon, a quaint and odd sound echoed in the washing room and faintly passed through the door. ¡°Squeak~~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Phew~ it¡¯s done, your Pet Beast¡¯s cleaning and caring are finished,¡± Liu Cang shook his slightly sore wrists, looking towards the waiting customer. ¡°Let me have a look.¡± The one who had waited for quite a while quickly approached, inspecting their now radiant Pet Beast, a satisfied expression surfacing on their face, ¡°Mr. Liu¡¯s washing skills are just as good as before!¡± ¡°Hehe, you flatter me,¡± Liu Cang laughed and waved his hand modestly, ¡°It¡¯s all part of the job.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m really thankful for Mr. Liu¡¯s washing and protection,¡± the customer, cradling their Pet Beast, said with joy on their face, ¡°Do you need me to call the next customer for you?¡± ¡°Er¡­ Thank you very much, but not for the moment,¡± Liu Cang shook his head. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Mr. Liu any longer; I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± the customer nodded, carrying their Pet Beast out the door of the washing room. Only when the door to the washing room closed once more did Liu Cang slump to the ground, waving his hands and revealing a helpless expression, ¡°As one gets older, the physical condition really does decline.¡± ¡°In the past, I could handle over a dozen Pet Beasts in a row with no trouble, now just a few have me needing a rest.¡± Chapter 574 - Chapter 574: Chapter 305 Du Huayans Letter_3 Chapter 574: Chapter 305 Du Huayan¡¯s Letter_3 As he was speaking, behind him the Hexagram Star Array flickered, and a Pet Beast that somewhat resembled a golden mushroom rapidly appeared. Light Attribute, Transcendent Stage ¡ª Leader Species, Golden Mushroom. Liu Cang was also a Beast Master, except his talent was quite ordinary, and he didn¡¯t harbor a strong desire to become more powerful. He had contracted a Light Attribute Pet Beast with healing capabilities to assist with his grooming work. Following Liu Cang¡¯s reach towards the Golden Mushroom, it skillfully released a puff of light mist, enveloping his wrist. In a warmth-filled moment, Liu Cang instantly felt the soreness in his wrist greatly relieved. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s good to have you,¡± Liu Cang said, patting the Golden Mushroom¡¯s head once the treatment finished, his face showing a bit of longing. ¡°If a Beast Master becomes stronger, their physical condition improves, making grooming more efficient.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity that powerful Beast Masters disdain the work of a Caretaker.¡± At this point, Xu Ran¡¯s figure suddenly popped into Liu Cang¡¯s mind. That somewhat unfamiliar young man, he must be a formidable Beast Master, right? With three Pet Beasts, he must be at the Leadership Stage, right? And he¡¯s still so young¡­ A hint of envy appeared in Liu Cang¡¯s eyes. That young man¡¯s grooming efficiency was probably much higher than his own. But still¡­ When it comes to grooming techniques, of course, he was the stronger one! Thinking this, a bit more smugness crept into Liu Cang¡¯s eyes, as if regaining some self-confidence. He pushed himself off the ground with both hands and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Jin. Come with me to take a look outside.¡± Liu Cang had a habit. Once he started a grooming session, he would not leave the grooming room midway. So from the first customer, he remained in his little corner, and even for calling in the next customer, he would have the previous one do it. At this moment, he was suddenly curious about how long the queue outside his door had become and¡­ what was the situation like in the other grooming rooms. Presumably, the line of customers waiting outside his grooming room should be the longest in the nearby area, right? Even though this location was rather remote, since the grooming exhibition had been running for a while, there should have been quite a few customers waiting at the entrance who became impatient and decided to look deeper inside for a grooming room. Thus¡­ With his hands on the grooming room¡¯s door, Liu Cang¡¯s face revealed some expectation. Daring to guess, could there be twenty customers lined up at the door? With this thought, Liu Cang swung the door open. Then, the smile on his face stiffened slightly. One¡­two¡­three¡­four¡­ Only a mere four people were queued outside the door. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Caretaker room personally recommended by Du Qian was somewhere they wanted to try. Watching that scene, Du Qian smiled faintly, threw the megaphone to his assistant, and turned to walk into the grooming room. The assistant blinked and hurriedly followed. ¡°Qi An, why do this?¡± He complained somewhat bafflingly. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to push queued customers away, but why specifically recommend another Caretaker to them? Isn¡¯t that feeding the competition?¡± ¡°This is your first time participating in the grooming exhibition as the Chief Groomer of the Hundred Flowers Foster Store, succeeding your sister. Winning the title ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ is very important for you!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Du Qian smiled and started cleaning the grooming table, readying for the next grooming session. ¡°Let me do it,¡± the assistant said as he stepped forward to take over, complaining while he cleaned. ¡°If you know this, why still do it? That ¡®Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯ I haven¡¯t even heard of, so why help them?¡± Du Qian remained silent but smiled, watching the assistant tidy up while grumbling, and he couldn¡¯t help recalling the letter his sister had sent him the other days. Because of the invitation from the Monster Wooden City Beast Master Association, his sister, who had been the Chief Groomer at the Hundred Flowers Foster Store, represented the Du family of Bright Radiance City and opened a branch of Hundred Flowers Foster in Monster Wooden City, which in turn led to his promotion to Chief Groomer. His sister, now in Monster Wooden City, hadn¡¯t cut off contact with Bright Radiance City; she would regularly send letters back home, sharing her experiences in Monster Wooden City and expressing her care and greetings for the family. In his sister¡¯s last letter, Du Qian noted something his sister mentioned that caught his attention. In Monster Wooden City, there was a Foster Shop called Starfire Foster. The owner of that shop, like his sister, wasn¡¯t a local of Monster Wooden City but had moved there at the invitation of the Monster Wooden City Beast Master Association to open a branch. In the letter, his sister repeatedly described the other party¡¯s grooming techniques as ¡°magical,¡± ¡°ingenious,¡± and ¡°astonishing,¡± and mentioned that the person was also a youth. This made Du Qian mentally note down this Foster Shop and regret that since it wasn¡¯t in Bright Radiance City, he couldn¡¯t witness the grooming skills for himself. And now, here he was in Bright Radiance City, hearing the same name. Combining that with the astonishing condition of the girl¡¯s Pet Beast after grooming, Du Qian had at least a seventy percent certainty that this was the person his sister mentioned. Although he didn¡¯t know why this person had appeared here, his desire to witness the other¡¯s grooming skills was likely to be satisfied. No, merely witnessing wasn¡¯t enough. How could he not directly compete against such an impressive Caretaker? Did he end up with a bad location in the lottery, resulting in slow business? No problem, I¡¯ll share my customers with you! He wanted to see who, under the same saturated customer flow, could win more approval from the Beast Master clients through their grooming. Chapter 575 - Chapter 575: Chapter 305 Du Huayans Letter_4 Chapter 575: Chapter 305 Du Huayan¡¯s Letter_4 ¡°Qi An, it¡¯s all set.¡± The assistant swiftly completed the cleaning of the grooming table and spoke aloud. ¡°Help me call the next customer in,¡± Du Qian rolled up his sleeves to the midsection of his upper arms and slowly said. ¡°Huh? Okay!¡± The assistant, momentarily stunned, quickly sported a hint of joy in his eyes and briskly walked towards the entrance of the grooming room. He had worked with Du Qian for a long time and was very familiar with his habits. Normally, when Du Qian groomed pets, he would roll his sleeves up to his elbows, but sometimes he would roll them up even higher, all the way to the midsection of his upper arms. Oftentimes, this indicated that he was about to seriously get to work. The assistant had been worried because of Du Qian¡¯s action of actively dismissing customers, but now he was filled with newfound confidence. A Du Qian who was serious about his work was bound to take the title of Cleaning Saint! Pushing open the door of the grooming room, the assistant shouted outside. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Next!¡± After sending off yet another satisfied customer, Xu Ran waved to the burgeoning queue outside the door, prompting the Beast Master customer at the very front to step forward eagerly, while the others in line started to rustle due to the freshly groomed Pet Beast. Initially, they held a degree of skepticism towards this groomer recommended by Du Qian, an unfamiliar name, and even the Foster Shop was completely new to them. But as each Pet Beast emerged from the grooming, transformed and refreshed, that skepticism had long turned into confidence and intense anticipation. This groomer truly had the skills! At this moment, many silently thanked Du Qian in their hearts. That boy, when he recommends a master, he really means it! ¡°Mr. Xu, I came on Du Qian¡¯s recommendation. Make sure you clean my Pet Beast well!¡± The new customer chuckled as he entered the grooming room and initiated conversation. ¡°Rest assured, I will do my utmost for every grooming session,¡± Xu Ran smiled and replied, though a brief flicker of peculiarity flashed in his eyes. The other person probably thought he was well acquainted with Du Qian, hence playing this card of sentiment. But¡­ He really didn¡¯t know the groomer called Du Qian. An hour ago, he was just as surprised to see the sudden queue outside his shop. After learning that all these customers had been referred by a groomer named Du Qian, his feelings were quite mixed. Nevertheless, Xu Ran wasn¡¯t completely clueless as to why Du Qian had done this. Upon learning that Du Qian was from the Hundred Flowers Foster Store and shared the surname Du, Xu Ran roughly guessed the whole story. Previously in Monster Wooden City, the owner of the Hundred Flowers Foster Store was named Du Huayan, who had been invited to establish a branch in Monster Wooden City, with the main store located in Bright Radiance City. Clearly, the Hundred Flowers Foster Store where Du Qian worked was indeed the main store. And, during a casual conversation, Du Huayan once mentioned she had a brother who was adept at grooming¡­ Without a doubt, this groomer named Du Qian must be Du Huayan¡¯s brother. Somehow he had learned about his existence from Du Huayan, and so he helped him out at this time? Thinking this through, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a touch of melancholy. Having just arrived in Bright Radiance City, he already owed someone a favor. After the grooming exhibition ended, he¡¯d have to visit the Hundred Flowers Foster Store personally to express his thanks. While pondering, his hands remained swift, and with Ziyun¡¯s cooperation, he had already finished preparing the Pet Beast for its washing and protection. This customer¡¯s Pet Beast was a Wind attribute Flying Scythe Weasel. Despite its palm-sized body type, it stood out among the Leader Species of the Wind attribute, boasting astonishing speed and powerful offensive abilities, snatching lives in its elusive movements. However, at this moment, under the influence of Xu Ran¡¯s cleansing solution, the ruthless Wind assassin quickly revealed its vulnerabilities, its body trembling involuntarily, its face expressing comfort and relaxation, and its eyes filled with haziness and trance. Soon, a melodious and peculiar sound echoed within the grooming room and even faintly passed through the door. ¡°Squeak~~~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Phew~ it¡¯s done, your pet beast cleaning and caring is complete.¡± Liu Cang shook his slightly sore wrist and looked towards the waiting customer. ¡°Let me see.¡± The customer who had been waiting for a while stepped forward quickly, inspecting their pet beast that was now looking radiant, a look of satisfaction appearing on their face, ¡°Mr. Liu¡¯s cleaning skills are as good as ever!¡± ¡°Hehe, you flatter me,¡± Liu Cang laughed as he waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s all part of the job.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m really grateful for Mr. Liu¡¯s services,¡± the customer said, holding their pet beast joyfully, ¡°Do you need me to call the next customer for you?¡± ¡°Er¡­ thank you very much, but there¡¯s no need for now,¡± Liu Cang shook his head. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Mr. Liu any longer, I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± said the customer, nodding and walking out the door with their pet beast. Once the door of the cleaning room closed again, Liu Cang collapsed to the ground, swinging his arms, his face showing a helpless expression, ¡°As I get older, my physical condition has definitely declined a lot.¡± ¡°In the past, cleaning over a dozen pet beasts in a row was no problem, but now I need a break after just a few.¡± As he spoke, the Hexagram Star Array behind him flickered, and a pet beast that looked somewhat like a golden mushroom swiftly appeared. Light Attribute Transcendent Stage, Leader Species, Golden Mushroom. Liu Cang was also a Beast Master, but his talents were quite mediocre, and he didn¡¯t have much desire to become stronger. He contracted a light attribute pet beast with healing abilities to assist him in his cleaning work. As Liu Cang extended his hand towards the Golden Mushroom, it skillfully released a mist of light, enveloping his wrist. In the warmth, Liu Cang immediately felt a great relief from the soreness in his wrist. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m lucky to have you,¡± Liu Cang said, petting the Golden Mushroom¡¯s head after the treatment ended, his face then filling with longing, ¡°If a Beast Master becomes more powerful, their physical condition also improves, making cleaning more efficient.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, powerful Beast Masters find the work of a caretaker beneath them.¡± At this point, Liu Cang suddenly thought of Xu Ran. That unfamiliar-looking young man, isn¡¯t he a strong Beast Master? With three pet beasts, he must be at the Leadership Stage, right? And he¡¯s still so young¡­ Envy glinted in Liu Cang¡¯s eyes. The young man¡¯s cleaning efficiency probably far surpasses his own. But still¡­ When it comes to cleaning skills, naturally, I¡¯m stronger! With this thought, Liu Cang¡¯s eyes regained some of his self-satisfaction, as though he had found back some of his confidence. He propped himself up with his hands and stood up, ¡°Come on Jin, accompany me outside to take a look.¡± Liu Cang had a habit, which was that once he started cleaning, he wouldn¡¯t leave the cleaning room halfway through. So from the first customer onwards, he had stayed in his little corner all along, even asking the previous customer to call in the next one. At this moment, he was suddenly curious about how long the queue outside his door was, and¡­ what the situation was like in the other cleaning rooms. Presumably, the line of customers outside his cleaning room should be the longest in the nearby area, right? Although his location was a bit out of the way, the cleaning expo had been going on for a while, and there should be quite a few customers from the entrance who gave up after waiting for a long time and decided to go deeper looking for cleaning rooms. So¡­ Placing his hands on the door of the cleaning room, Liu Cang¡¯s face held a bit of anticipation. Daring to make a guess, could there be twenty customers in the queue outside? With that thought, Liu Cang swung the door wide open. Immediately after, the smile on his face stiffened. One¡­ two¡­ three¡­ four¡­ There were only a sparse four people in line outside. Chapter 576 - Chapter 576: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony Chapter 576: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony The door to the washing and protection room opened once again under Du Qian¡¯s watchful gaze. Xu Ran, who had just seen off another customer under the moonlight, came out and waved to the somewhat restless and excited customers behind him, then cupped his hands around his cheeks and spoke up clearly. ¡°Everyone, thank you for your support and trust in me and the Starfire Foster Care Shop. Until the end of the cleaning and caring exhibition, this washing and protection room will remain open.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late now, please be mindful of the time, and don¡¯t let waiting in line delay your other affairs. Rest assured, I will be here.¡± His words caused the queuing crowd to stir once more. Working tirelessly to wash and protect for everyone without earning a single penny, such dedication from a caretaker was truly admirable. Some clients, who were hesitant about continuing to queue because of the late hour, felt reassured like taking a calming pill after hearing these words, and chose to wait without hesitation. Others were also reassured and decided to come back early in the morning to queue, opting to leave for now. After a moment of commotion, the number of people in line decreased, but the eyes of the waiting customers looking towards Xu Ran were filled with expectation. ¡°Next, please.¡± Seeing this, Xu Ran smiled and spoke, then turned and entered the washing and protection room. Not far away, Du Qian, standing in the shadows, fell silent. Was this the cleaning master his sister had mentioned, the one who was even more excellent than himself? He suppressed the urge to step forward and converse with Xu Ran, turning instead towards his own washing and protection room. Keep it up! If others can stay up all night, so can I! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew rapidly amidst the bustling cleaning and caring exhibition. With a good start on the first day, Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection room achieved full, non-stop service with no idle time on the second day. With the cooperation of Ziyun and Star, even after washing and protecting continuously for two days and one night, he hardly felt tired at all. And Cancan, who kept watch outside the door, was not completely without use. Its body, enlarged to about fifty meters, was quite conspicuous, taller even than the washing and protection rooms provided by the organizers, attracting more passersby Beast Masters while also deterring the petty thieves. With the full cooperation of one person and three pets, the renewed appearance of more and more pet beasts of the Beast Masters walking in the street caught countless eyes, and more and more Beast Masters learned about the amazing skills of this unfamiliar caretaker at the cleaning and caring exhibition. As a result, the reputation of Starfire Foster Care Shop spread even before officially starting its business. Soon, the evening of the second day of the cleaning and caring exhibition arrived. With the tolling of a bell that resounded throughout the venue, wails of disappointment emanated from the crowds outside the doors of each cleaning and protection room. These cries came from the Beast Masters who had queued for a long time but still hadn¡¯t had their turn. Because with the ringing of that bell, the pet beast cleaning and caring exhibition had ended. They had missed the free services and would now have to pay for cleaning at the Foster Shop. When the bell tolled, Xu Ran was washing and protecting a customer¡¯s pet beast. Hearing the bell, the customer¡¯s face suddenly lit up with happiness, ¡°Looks like I¡¯m in luck, just in time for the last slot.¡± ¡°The last slot?¡± Xu Ran turned to glance at the customer with a touch of confusion in his eyes, ¡°Why is it the last slot?¡± ¡°Huh? Mr. Xu, you didn¡¯t know?¡± the customer asked, surprised, ¡°The ringing of the bell signifies the end of the exhibition.¡± ¡°According to the rules of the exhibition, if the cleaning is not finished when the bell rings, it can continue, and the customer can still give a rating to the caretaker.¡± ¡°But for the caretaker¡¯s subsequent customers, they cannot give ratings, meaning it won¡¯t affect the outcome for the ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title,¡± the customer scratched his head, ¡°That title should be quite important to you guys, right?¡± ¡°For me, the title is indeed very important,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, at the same time recalling the scene when he had sent off the previous customer and the current one had entered. Perhaps knowing that there wasn¡¯t much time left until the end of the exhibition, several had given up queuing, and the line had shortened considerably, leaving only a dozen or so customers. With that thought, Xu Ran slowly spoke, ¡°But customers are more important than titles.¡± ¡°Your pet beast is all clean now.¡± ¡°Eh? Done!¡± The customer¡¯s attention quickly shifted to his own pet beast. He stood up and hurried forward, gazing at the fluffy little hamster pet beast in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, his face showing a look of delight. ¡°Boss Xu, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen my Golden Eye Rat styled like this, it¡¯s fantastic!¡± he said while carefully picking up his pet, eyes brimming with affection. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± Xu Ran smiled, quickly tidied up the washing and protection table, then walked towards the door of the room. Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s actions, the customer snapped out of it and quickly followed, starting to inquire, ¡°Boss Xu, when you said customers are more important than titles, what did you mean by that?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t answer directly but simply smiled and then opened the door to the washing and protection room, addressing the people standing still with sighs, ready to leave, ¡°Those of you who were queuing before, please don¡¯t leave. I will continue to provide free washing and protection.¡± ¡°Of course, those who queue up afterwards won¡¯t be included.¡± ¡°Next, please.¡± After a moment of silence, the customers waiting outside Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection room burst into cheers, grateful they hadn¡¯t given up too soon. The customer at the very front of the line was as ecstatic as if he had won the lottery, walking up to Xu Ran and thanking him repeatedly. Chapter 577 - Chapter 577: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_2 Chapter 577: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_2 The customer who had just finished his pet¡¯s cleaning and caring before him, felt an inevitable sense of disappointment and helplessness. Now Xu Ran¡¯s words sounded like music to his ears, and the joy of turning great sorrow into great joy was unprecedented. He took a deep look at the sign reading ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± in the cleaning room and silently decided that next time he needed his pet beast cleaned and cared for, he would stick to this shop! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C While the queue outside Xu Ran¡¯s cleaning room remained as is, other caretakers gradually completed their final cleanings and left their rooms to head to the awards venue organized by the host. There, the organizers would announce the final recipient of the ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± title and present different awards to other caretakers who had performed exceptionally well and received high praise during the cleaning exhibit. About half an hour after the chiming of the clock had ceased, the venue was filled with caretakers eager to learn who would claim the title, and the host invited by the Beast Master Association was standing on stage. ¡°Good evening, caretakers,¡± the host said with a smile as warm as a spring breeze. ¡°Everyone has worked hard these past two days.¡± ¡°Without further ado, I believe what everyone is most concerned about is which caretaker here has received the most praise and will earn the honorary title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯¡ªan honor bestowed only once every three years.¡± As the host¡¯s words ended, a chorus of agreement rose from the seats, and eager expressions crossed the faces of the caretakers. The title of Cleaning Saint is an honorary title awarded once every three years. Moreover, it is a title with an expiration date. The validity of this title lasts only for three years, and one must participate in the next pet beast cleaning and caring exhibit to claim it again. Those caretakers who had attained it in the past could only be addressed as ¡°Former Saints.¡± At that moment, there were several such individuals present. However, as the saying goes, new generations continue to surpass the old, and these newcomers were becoming increasingly formidable, making it more difficult for the previous title holders to reclaim their status. ¡°So¡­¡± the host drew out the suspense and slowly raised the card in his hand. Once he had everyone¡¯s attention, his tone shifted, ¡°Let us first unveil the list of outstanding caretakers of this exhibit!¡± Immediately, a collective hush fell over the audience. An outstanding caretaker was one who ranked in the top twenty in terms of overall score during the exhibit, with different awards granted according to their respective standings. While this was also a matter of anticipation, it paled in comparison to the honor of ¡°Cleaning Saint.¡± However, this was no exception for the audience. There had never been an awards event where the most significant award was presented first. And¡­ Once the rankings of the outstanding caretakers were determined, the ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± was naturally decided. After lightening the mood in the venue, the host began to call out the winners¡¯ names from the twentieth position, inviting each to the stage to receive their corresponding awards. Each award recipient¡¯s appearance on stage kept the atmosphere perpetually high. Du Qian, sitting among the crowd, occasionally turned his head to look around. But from the start of the awards ceremony to now, he had not seen the figure he was looking for. Has Xu Ran not arrived yet? Du Qian was increasingly puzzled. With so much time having passed since the chimes resonated, even if the last pet beast Xu Ran was cleaning was a time-consuming large pet beast, and even if the clock had just started ringing during his cleaning, he should have finished by now, shouldn¡¯t he? As the name of the third-place caretaker was called, Du Qian grew more impatient. Up until now, he had not heard his own name, nor had he heard Xu Ran¡¯s name. Confident in his own cleaning skills, Du Qian was also confident in Xu Ran¡¯s. Therefore, barring any surprises, the glorious title of ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± would be decided between the two of them. At such a critical moment, the absence of his counterpart was utterly baffling to Du Qian. Could it be that Xu Ran, being new to Bright Radiance City, was not very familiar with the rules of the pet beast cleaning and caring exhibit and couldn¡¯t find the venue for the awards? For a moment, he regretted not taking a detour to Xu Ran¡¯s cleaning room after finishing his own work to check on him and accompany him here. Then, they could have exchanged a few words on the way, making up for the missed opportunity to get acquainted the previous night¡­ As Du Qian¡¯s thoughts raced, the host, holding the card, began to speak deliberately. ¡°Second place, Du Qian!¡± Is it me? Du Qian was taken aback and then shook his head with resignation. He had still failed to surpass Xu Ran. It seems my sister was right; Xu Ran is indeed strong. Despite a tinge of disappointment, Du Qian felt more determined and curious about Xu Ran. As for the title, he was still young; there would be other chances to earn it. He walked onto the stage step by step, casually responding to the host¡¯s compliments, and once again scanned the seated guests from his elevated position. From this vantage point, he could see clearly. Xu Ran indeed had not come. After receiving his award, Du Qian returned to his seat, his eyebrows furrowed. Xu Ran, where had he gone? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Next up¡­ Achoo!¡± Xu Ran, just about to call the next client, suddenly sneezed without warning, rubbing his nose with some surprise on his face. As a General Level Beast Master, could he really have caught a cold? ¡°Mr. Xu, are you feeling alright?¡± asked the next client about to step forward, concerned. ¡°I heard you stayed up all night washing and caring for everyone yesterday. Maybe you should call it a day for today?¡± Chapter 578 - Chapter 578: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_3 Chapter 578: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_3 ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Xu Ran shook his head with a smile, glancing at the customer¡¯s pet following behind. Just three more customers to go. Having come this far, there was no point in giving up halfway. ¡°Come on in!¡± ¡°This¡­ okay,¡± the customer no longer insisted, following Xu Ran into the Washing and Protection room, ¡°When Mr. Xu¡¯s foster shop opens, I¡¯ll definitely refer some friends.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll thank you in advance then. If everything goes well, we should be officially open in a couple of days,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, gesturing for the customer¡¯s Pet Beast to wait on the grooming table for its wash and protection service. Watching Xu Ran methodically prepare for the washing and protection, the customer suddenly remembered something, ¡°Mr. Xu, by this time, the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ should have been announced already.¡± ¡°In my opinion, you stand a very good chance of getting the title. Aren¡¯t you going to check it out in person? It¡¯s not a small honor, you know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Xu Ran said, shaking his head slightly. ¡°If it¡¯s mine, it won¡¯t slip away.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Let¡¯s give the warmest applause to congratulate Caretaker Xu Ran for achieving the highest overall score in the Washing and Protection, being today¡¯s top honoree and also the winner of the ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title!¡± In the host¡¯s fervent voice, the venue erupted into enthusiastic applause. However, amongst those clapping below, many eyes were filled with confusion. Before this, they had never heard of such a person. Where did he come from? And as the applause on stage continued longer and longer with no one coming up, their confusion only deepened. Where is he? Soon, the applause began to thin, and sensing something amiss, the venue fell into silence. The host¡¯s face also showed a few traces of bewilderment. The situation was clearly beyond expectation. The most important award, and the winner is nowhere to be found? ¡°Does anyone here know Xu Ran, or know where he might be right now?¡± In desperation, he could only turn to the other caretakers in the audience for help. The audience looked at each other; after a while, a middle-aged man stood up, ¡°My Washing and Protection room is right next to his.¡± That was Liu Cang from Green Cloud Pet Foster Care Shop, who once had the honor of the ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± title as well. Now he¡¯s one of the former ¡°Holy Hands¡± present, but this time around he only achieved the eleventh spot, which elicited sighs from people. Seeing everyone looking at him, Liu Cang fell silent, ¡°Unless something unexpected happened, he should still be at his own Washing and Protection room.¡± ¡°When I left, there were still customers lining up outside his door.¡± ¡°It seems¡­ he plans to finish washing and protecting all these overtime clients.¡± As Liu Cang finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the crowd. Every face showed a look of surprise. Clearly, they had thought of every possibility, but never anticipated this. Not long after, many faces showed admiration. Weren¡¯t there customers lined up outside their own shops when the bells rang? Of course, there were. But they never considered continuing to provide washing and protection services for these clients because the awards ceremony was about to begin. Comparing unpaid washing that wouldn¡¯t earn a score with receiving an award, the choice was obvious. All they could offer was a ¡°sorry¡± or a promise of a discount when clients came back to the shop for services later. But now, someone disregarded the awards to provide free washing and protection for the queued clients. What¡¯s more ironic is that the most important award belonged to him. There were also quite a few people who smirked with taunting expressions, thinking Xu Ran¡¯s actions somewhat foolish. With the awardee absent from the scene, the host could only resort to making small talk and awkwardly interacting with the audience to kill time. As seconds and minutes passed by, an Association staff member eventually took the stage, receiving the microphone from the host. ¡°Since Mr. Xu Ran isn¡¯t present, his award will be temporarily held by the Association. He himself can collect it later at the Association,¡± they announced. ¡°The ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title is now in effect; from this moment, Mr. Xu Ran will hold the title and its corresponding honors for the next three years.¡± Upon finishing, the staff member returned the mic to the host and left the stage. ¡°I declare this award ceremony concluded!¡± the host, as if pardoned, quickly followed the script to wrap things up and announced the end of the awards. Finally, he no longer had to make awkward conversation! When the host had also left the venue, only caretakers remained. Without any hesitation, Du Qian stepped out of the venue and briskly walked in the direction of a certain memory. The other caretakers in the audience turned their gaze to Liu Cang. ¡°Brother Cang, where is that Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection room? Lead us there?¡± one caretaker asked, and the others echoed the request. ¡°It¡¯s over there.¡± Liu Cang pointed, pausing as he watched Du Qian¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°So, Du Qian is also going to find him.¡± The crowd exchanged glances and then, one by one, they hurriedly started to follow Du Qian. Unfortunately, they were destined not to encounter the man who had claimed the honor without showing his face. Having been notified by the staff that the title was in effect and that he could collect his award later at the Association, Xu Ran, after completing the wash and protection for the last client, rode away on his Star beneath the grateful gazes of the customers, quickly disappearing into the night. At that moment, his mind was only on Dawn Building No.1. He was going to be a ruthless homebuyer. By the time Du Qian and the other caretakers arrived, Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection room was empty, with the plaque hanging conspicuously, the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop¡± catching the eye. Chapter 579 - Chapter 579: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_4 Chapter 579: Chapter 306: The Allegiance of Holy Hands, Irony_4 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C At such a critical moment, the other party actually hadn¡¯t shown up, which left Du Qian utterly puzzled. Could it be that Xu Ran, having just arrived in Bright Radiance City not long ago, wasn¡¯t very clear about the rules of the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition and couldn¡¯t find the place for the award ceremony? For a moment, he felt some regret, thinking he should have taken a detour to Xu Ran¡¯s cleaning room after the competition ended and brought him over together. That way, they could have exchanged a few words on the way, making up for the regret of not having met the previous night¡­ While Du Qian¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts, the host took the card in hand, and began to speak word by word. ¡°Second place, Du Qian!¡± Is it me? Du Qian was stunned for a moment, then shook his head wryly. Still, he hadn¡¯t managed to surpass Xu Ran. It seems my sister was right, Xu Ran¡¯s strength is indeed formidable. Although slightly disappointed, more than that, Du Qian felt a surge of combativeness and curiosity toward Xu Ran. As for the title, he was still young; there would be more opportunities for him to win it in the future. He walked up to the stage step by step, casually dealing with a few complimentary remarks from the host, his gaze once again sweeping over the seats below in distraction. Standing high on this spot, he could see clearly. Xu Ran indeed hadn¡¯t come. After collecting his reward, Du Qian returned to his seat, frowning deeply. Xu Ran, where had he gone? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Next¡­ Achoo!¡± Just as Xu Ran was about to call the next person, he suddenly sneezed without warning and rubbed his nose, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. As a General Level Beast Master, could he actually catch a cold? ¡°Mr. Xu, are you feeling alright?¡± the next customer, who was getting ready to step forward, asked with concern, ¡°I heard you stayed up all night cleaning and caring for everyone¡¯s pet beasts. Maybe you should call it a day?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xu Ran shook his head with a smile, looking past the customer. There were only three customers left. Having come this far, there was no sense in giving up halfway. ¡°Come on in!¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± The customer stopped trying to persuade him and followed Xu Ran into the cleaning room, ¡°When Mr. Xu¡¯s Foster Shop opens, I¡¯ll definitely refer my friends.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll thank you in advance then. If all goes well, it should be officially open in a couple of days,¡± said Xu Ran with a smile, gesturing for the customer¡¯s Pet Beast to wait at the cleaning station. As he watched Xu Ran methodically proceed with the pre-washing preparations, the customer suddenly remembered something, ¡°Mr. Xu, around this time, they should be announcing the ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ title.¡± ¡°In my opinion, you stand a very high chance of winning that title. Aren¡¯t you going to check it out? That honor is no small matter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly. ¡°What¡¯s meant for me won¡¯t escape.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Let¡¯s give a warm round of applause and congratulate the caretaker Xu Ran for obtaining the highest rating in the entire cleaning contest and for becoming today¡¯s first place winner, as well as the recipient of the title ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯!¡± Amidst the host¡¯s fervent voice, the venue burst into enthusiastic applause. However, many in the audience clapping their hands were filled with puzzlement. Before this, they had never heard of such a person. Where had he emerged from? And as the applause on the stage continued for an increasingly long period without anyone coming forward, their confusion deepened. Where was he? Soon, the clapping became sparse, as if sensing something amiss, the venue fell into silence. Puzzlement also appeared on the face of the host. The current situation was clearly beyond expectation. The most important award was at hand, yet the recipient was nowhere to be seen? ¡°Does anyone here know Xu Ran, or where he might be now?¡± Out of options, he could only seek help from the other caretakers in the audience. The crowd exchanged glances, and after a while, a middle-aged man stood up, ¡°My washing and protection room is right next to his.¡± That was Liu Cang from the Green Cloud Pet Foster Care Shop, who once had the honor of being called ¡°Cleaning Saint.¡± Now, he was one of the ¡°former Saints¡± present, and this time at the cleaning showcase, he had only managed to secure the eleventh spot, a subject of sighs. With all eyes on him, Liu Cang fell silent for a moment, ¡°If nothing unexpected happened, he should still be in his own washing and protection room.¡± ¡°When I left, I saw there were still customers lining up outside his room.¡± ¡°It seems¡­ he plans to finish cleaning for those overtime customers.¡± As Liu Cang¡¯s voice faded, an eerie silence enveloped the venue. Surprise showed on everyone¡¯s face. Clearly, they had contemplated all possibilities, but this had not occurred to them. However, within moments, many faces showed admiration. When the bell rang, were there not people queued outside their own cleaning rooms as well? Of course, there were. But they had not considered continuing to clean for these customers because the award ceremony was about to start. When compared to an award ceremony, a rating-less, non-profit cleaning seemed obviously less important. All they could do was utter an ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± or promise some discount for cleaning later at the shop. But now, there was someone who disregarded the award ceremony, insisting on completing the cleaning for the waiting customers for free. And more ironically, the most significant reward of the ceremony belonged to him. There were also quite a few who looked on with scorn, considering Xu Ran¡¯s behavior somewhat foolish. Since the awardee was not present, the host had to make idle conversation, awkwardly chatting with the audience to pass the time. As the minutes and seconds ticked away, an Association staff member stepped onto the stage and took the microphone from the host. ¡°Since Mr. Xu Ran is not present, the Association will temporarily keep his award, and Mr. Xu Ran himself will collect it from the Association later on.¡± ¡°The title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ is now in effect; from this moment, Mr. Xu Ran will bear this title and its corresponding honors for the next three years.¡± After finishing, the staff member returned the microphone to the host and left the stage. ¡°I declare this award ceremony concluded!¡± the host announced, relieved, quickly going through the scripted closing remarks. He was finally freed from the awkward chitchat! When the host also left, only the caretakers remained in the venue. Without the slightest hesitation, Du Qian stepped out of the venue and headed briskly in a particular direction he remembered. The other caretakers then turned their gazes to Liu Cang. ¡°Big Brother Cang, where is Xu Ran¡¯s room? Can you take us to have a look?¡± one of the caretakers asked, and the others echoed in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s just over there.¡± Liu Cang pointed, pausing as he watched Du Qian¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°It turns out Du Qian is also going to find him.¡± The group exchanged glances and then followed swiftly, trailing behind Du Qian. Regrettably, they were destined never to see the man who had received the honors without making an appearance. Having been notified by the staff that the title was in effect and that he could collect his reward from the Association later on, Xu Ran, after serving the last customer in the thankful eyes of the patrons, rode away on his ¡®Star,¡¯ hastening away into the night. At that moment, his heart was set on Dawn Building No.1. He intended to be an unfeeling homebuyer. When Du Qian and the other caretakers arrived, Xu Ran¡¯s cleaning room was empty, with only the signboard hanging there conspicuously bearing the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Chapter 580 - Chapter 580: Chapter 307: Starfire Foster Care Shop Opens in Bright Radiance City! Chapter 580: Chapter 307: Starfire Foster Care Shop Opens in Bright Radiance City! ¡°Du Zhou, did you hear? The Association held a Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition the other day.¡± On Bright Avenue, one of two people walking side by side nudged the other with his shoulder and asked with a chuckle. ¡°What? There was such a great event and you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± Du Zhou took a deep breath, his expression suddenly filled with heartache, ¡°The Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition was only for two days, it¡¯s already over, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you now, aren¡¯t I?¡± The one who had asked earlier laughed ¡®heh heh¡¯ and patted Du Zhou on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re very timely with your news.¡± Du Zhou snorted and shook off his hand, ¡°Enough said, Zhang Peng, I¡¯m going to disown you as a friend for a day!¡± ¡°Alright then, since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t tell you the big news from last night¡¯s Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition,¡± Zhang Peng shrugged, feigning indifference. Du Zhou predictably took the bait, his ears perking up as he grabbed hold of him, ¡°Spill it, what¡¯s the big news?¡± ¡°Heh heh.¡± Zhang Peng chuckled, ¡°You¡¯d never guess who won the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ for this edition of the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition?¡± ¡°Was it Du Qian from Hundred Flowers Foster Store? Or Chu Ranran from Red Snow Foster Home? Or maybe Duan Yunchu from the Sails Foster Home?¡± Listing several renowned caretakers in Bright Radiance City in one breath, Du Zhou paused for a moment, ¡°I think Du Qian is the most likely, supporting our own kin.¡± After speaking, he glanced at Zhang Peng¡¯s expression and couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me none of them won?¡± ¡°Correct, the one who won the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ is a caretaker named Xu Ran!¡± Zhang Peng nodded his head, his eyes gleaming with pride as if he had been present at the event. ¡°Xu Ran? Never heard of him,¡± upon hearing Zhang Peng¡¯s answer, the confusion in Du Zhou¡¯s heart not only remained unresolved, it deepened even further, ¡°Which Foster Shop does he work for?¡± ¡°This is where it gets interesting,¡± Zhang Peng smiled, ¡°Xu Ran is not associated with any Foster Shop in Bright Radiance City right now. He¡¯s from out of town, and soon, he¡¯ll be opening his own shop here.¡± ¡°The name of the shop is already decided; it¡¯s going to be Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± Zhang Peng with the air of one who knew Xu Ran well continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯ll open within at most half a month.¡± ¡°From out of town¡­ no shop¡­¡± Du Zhou pondered the interesting news Zhang Peng had shared and couldn¡¯t help but press for more, ¡°Anything else interesting?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Zhang Peng gave a look that said ¡®you¡¯ve come to the right person,¡¯ ¡°You should know that after the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition ends, there is an award ceremony where they honor outstanding caretakers and announce who has won the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯.¡± ¡°Seems there¡¯s something like that,¡± Du Zhou nodded, ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Xu Ran won the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint,¡¯ but last night he didn¡¯t show up at the award ceremony,¡± Zhang Peng patted Du Zhou¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Guess why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not guessing, quit beating around the bush,¡± Du Zhou¡¯s eyebrows lifted, a hint of menace in his eyes, ¡°Spit it out!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Zhang Peng raised his hands in surrender, ¡°The reason is, Xu Ran had unfinished guest pets to clean and care for, so he missed the award ceremony still caring for his patrons.¡± ¡°By that time the Cleaning and Caring Exhibition had already been over for more than an hour; logically, customers who hadn¡¯t queued up in time wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy free cleaning services.¡± ¡°But Xu Ran still cleaned all the queued guests for free before leaving.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Du Zhou¡¯s face showed a trace of surprise, ¡°Hearing you say that, this caretaker named Xu Ran really seems dedicated. I¡¯m tempted to take my Pet Beast to him for cleaning.¡± ¡°Heh heh,¡± Zhang Peng smirked mischievously, ¡°Guess why I know all of this so clearly?¡± ¡°Because among the guests who didn¡¯t queue up but were lucky enough to receive Xu Ran¡¯s services yesterday, I was among them.¡± Du Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± If looks could kill, he would have murdered this annoying friend! ¡°Take it easy, take it easy,¡± sensing Du Zhou¡¯s glare, Zhang Peng quickly spoke up to assuage him, ¡°Just wait ten days or half a month, maybe Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Care Shop will open.¡± ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Du Zhou stood still, grabbing Zhang Peng, ¡°You said earlier that Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Shop hasn¡¯t opened yet but its name has been decided.¡± ¡°What was the name again?¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop, ¡®Star¡¯ as in star, ¡®Fire¡¯ as in flame.¡± ¡°Then look over there.¡± Du Zhou raised a hand, pointing in the distance. There stood a grand and majestic building at the most conspicuous spot at the center of Bright Avenue, one of the landmarks on Bright Avenue. It was Dawn Building No.1. Both were familiar with Dawn Building No.1. After all, they could see it every time they went shopping; they were accustomed to it. In their memory, Dawn Building No.1 always had a ¡®for sale¡¯ sign, but for some reason, no one seemed to take over this excellently located building. But now, as their gaze shifted simultaneously towards the building, they quickly noticed something different about Dawn Building No.1. The ¡®for sale¡¯ sign was gone, and in its place was a striking plaque. The five characters on the sign were written with powerful, dynamic strokes. Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°I¡¯ll be¡­¡± Zhang Peng couldn¡¯t help but gape, his face reflecting his shock. Just yesterday, Xu Ran had been welcoming every cleaning guest to visit his Starfire Foster Care Shop in the future, and today the shop was already up and running? Chapter 584 - Chapter 584: Chapter 308: A Building with Inherent Lucky Fish Attribute?! Chapter 584: Chapter 308: A Building with Inherent Lucky Fish Attribute?! The Koi Property is a concept both profound and enigmatic. It may only affect a certain individual or type of people, or it could bring good luck to everyone. However, people with this attribute don¡¯t have the words ¡°I am a Koi¡± written on their foreheads, making it tough to judge its true existence directly. To determine whether someone was his Koi, Xu Ran had a simple and crude method, which was to see if he could continuously acquire the highest level Skills available from Plucking Fur. This method had proven successful time and again in the past. Back in Qingzhou City, Xu Ran¡¯s Plucking Fur had just upgraded from D-level to C-level, and the highest skill he could obtain had evolved from one star to two stars. At that time, Liu Gu, who obtained two star skills in succession, became his first Koi. By the time he arrived in Xieyun City, Xu Ran¡¯s Plucking Fur had been upgraded to B-level, capable of obtaining three star Skills. It was in the same manner that he discovered the Koi Property of the Qin families brother and sister. Regrettably, he did not encounter such people later in Monster Wooden City. Now, having arrived in Bright Radiance City, things seemed to have changed. The Koi girl Chou Yue he met the day before was only an Elite Level Beast Master. She did not own a King Species Pet Beast, and it was impossible to obtain a Three Star Skill from her Pet Beast through Plucking Fur, so her Koi Property manifested in another way. Acquiring two Two Stars Skills at once. Today, Xu Ran met a Beast Master who, in succession, managed to Pluck four Three Star Skills, but he was not a Koi, with a ten streak and no purples. Plus, the Green-eyed Thunder Snake that he just took care of had also gained a Three Star Skill¡­ Xu Ran stood still, slightly tilting his head up to gaze at the ceiling. So, could there be a possibility¡­ The ones with the Koi Property weren¡¯t the two clients before him, but this building itself? ¡°Boss Xu, we¡¯ve paid in full and are leaving!¡± Hearing Zhang Peng¡¯s voice, Xu Ran snapped back to reality. Seeing Du Zhou and Zhang Peng standing at the door, with their Pet Beasts looking as good as new, eager to stroll on the streets, Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Take care.¡± After the two had left, Xu Ran returned to the counter, tapping it lightly with his fingers, his face revealing a look of anticipation. He wanted to see how the next client would perform. His wait did not last long. Perhaps because Du Zhou and Zhang Peng¡¯s Pet Beasts were too eye-catching, it wasn¡¯t long before someone arrived, motivated by curiosity. ¡°Boss, was that very large Thunder Attribute snake Pet Beast groomed by you?¡± ¡°It was me.¡± Xu Ran stood up and looked at the newcomer. She was a short-haired female Beast Master, her delicate features carried a hint of sharpness. Behind her was a slender, cherry blossom-colored snake Pet Beast. Compared to the Green-eyed Thunder Snake that was nearly thirty meters long, the creature in front of him was much smaller, its length was no more than ten meters, and its body was considerably leaner. Taking her question when she entered as a clue, Xu Ran could guess her intention. ¡°Do you want to have your Pet Beast cleaned and cared for?¡± ¡°Mhm mhm.¡± The short-haired woman nodded, ¡°How much does it cost?¡± ¡°Price Menu is over there.¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Following Xu Ran¡¯s direction, the woman quickly saw the Price Menu hanging on the opposite wall, ¡°Large Pet Beasts 66,666 Yuan for one session?¡± She frowned slightly, clearly finding it a bit expensive, but the astounding sight of the Green-eyed Thunder Snake made her tempted to try. ¡°Hiss~¡± The snake Pet Beast behind her hissed, seemingly reminding its Beast Master of something. The woman quickly looked up, following her Pet Beast¡¯s gaze, and soon noticed the banner hanging high on the wall. ¡°Cleaning Saint?¡± Surprise was clear in the short-haired woman¡¯s eyes. If it was the work of the Cleaning Saint, the price seemed more acceptable. Taking a deep breath, she made her decision. ¡°Please groom my little Sakura.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile while he activated the System Identification. This cherry blossom-colored snake was something he had not seen before. It was time to check the species. [Race Name: Yingluo Flower Snake Attribute: Super ability Growth Stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Large Size Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: Contrary to its cold and fierce stereotype, this is a snake Pet Beast known for its agility, cuteness, and high attractiveness. The Host is expected to use his skillful hands to reveal its unknown side!] Reveal¡­ what the hell. Xu Ran¡¯s lips twitched slightly, then he looked at the short-haired woman¡¯s Pet Beast. Yingluo Flower Snake¡­ Just as described by the System Identification, this snake Pet Beast was entirely different from the Green-eyed Thunder Snake they had earlier. Its slender body gave it a distinctive elegance, and the cherry blossom-colored scales elevated its appearance to a new level. Through perception, Xu Ran could feel that, although the Yingluo Flower Snake was only at the Leader Stage, it was also a King Species. It was perfect for testing his recent speculation. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Xu Ran made a ¡°please¡± gesture and led the way into the grooming room. ¡°Let¡¯s go, little Sakura,¡± the short-haired woman spoke softly, a hint of expectation in her eyes, and followed with the Yingluo Flower Snake close behind her. Once the door to the grooming room closed again, the three small pets exchanged looks and couldn¡¯t help but start whispering to one another. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Just like Twelve, it¡¯s of the Super ability too~) Cancan propped its head with one paw, speaking with interest. Chapter 585 - Chapter 585: Chapter 308: A Building with Its Own Lucky Fish Attribute?!_2 Chapter 585: Chapter 308: A Building with Its Own Lucky Fish Attribute?!_2 ¡°` ¡°Meow~¡± (It¡¯s nowhere near as fun as Number Twelve.) Ziyun shook her head with indifference. Every time it saw the plump Number Twelve, it couldn¡¯t resist the urge to pounce and play, but it had zero interest in this long fellow. Thinking of Number Twelve, Ziyun¡¯s paws involuntarily twitched. Time-wise, it had been more than half a month since they¡¯d parted. Yet, it always felt like it had been much longer. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We will bring it back.) Star seemed to understand Ziyun¡¯s thoughts and slowly opened its eyes with a hiss. ¡°Meow~¡± (That¡¯s a must.) Ziyun¡¯s paw slightly arched, sharp Claw Edge protruding from the pad, with a bit more sharpness in its eyes. It was close, very close. Once it obtained the Extinct Thunder Attraction and met the other Evolution Conditions, it would evolve for the second time immediately. Once evolved, it would definitely reclaim its little pillow! While the trio communicated, a strange hissing began to emanate faintly from the Washing and Protection room. Hearing the noise, all three looked as if they were watching a good drama unfold. Fourth Stage contract power allowed the Beast Master and the Pet Beast to temporarily share senses. So even without entering the Washing and Protection room, they could watch the whole process through Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Watching the delicate and gentle Yingluo Flower Snake uncontrollably writhing in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, the expressions of the three pets grew increasingly peculiar. ¡°Meow~¡± (Stop looking.) Ziyun raised a paw and smacked Cancan next to it. Do you not understand what is meant by ¡®not suitable for young pets¡¯? Cancan, who was smacked out of the blue, looked aggrieved and cut off the shared connection. Why, what¡¯s wrong? Young pets need to grow too! Do you know how much psychological shadow such a smack might cast on a three-month-old baby that¡¯s three hundred meters long! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome back anytime~¡± Standing outside the shop, Xu Ran sent off the short-haired woman with a smile who was satisfied with her visit. Behind her, the appearance of the Yingluo Flower Snake had undergone a transformative change from when it arrived. Every thin, semi-transparent scale had been meticulously washed and polished by Xu Ran, shimmering under the sunlight with a bright and lustrous sheen, the cherry pink gradient appearing vivid and distinct, as if flower petals had settled upon its body. The already very good-looking creature, after a round in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, now possessed a certain charm almost magical enough to bewitch all living beings. Hmm¡­ perfect for the Super ability Attribute it naturally excelled in, skills like illusions and charm, complementing each other. ¡°Boss Xu, your Washing and Protection skills are really amazing.¡± The short-haired woman¡¯s skepticism upon arrival was gone, replaced by the demeanor of a devoted fan after the service, ¡°I¡¯ll recommend your shop to my friends!¡± ¡°Then I couldn¡¯t be more grateful.¡± Xu Ran waved at the short-haired woman with a smile, his already great mood getting even better. When the woman¡¯s figure disappeared from sight, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze swept over the system panel. A brand-new skill had been added to the system panel. [¡ï¡ï¡ïBewildered Heart Branding](Not teachable) This new skill originated from the Yingluo Flower Snake that just left. It could silently implant a controlling brand on an opponent, triggering it when needed to briefly control the opponent¡¯s actions. The duration of control depended on the power gap between the sides, and the brand would disappear automatically after activation. Even among the elusive and varied Super ability Attribute skills, this one stood out as particularly rare and unique. The previous five Three Star Skills Xu Ran had acquired were broken down into Skill Fragments, including the Thunder Attribute skills gained from the Green-eyed Thunder Snake, as they didn¡¯t suit Ziyun. This skill, however, could be kept for Number Twelve¡¯s use in the future. And Xu Ran¡¯s good mood wasn¡¯t just because he got a nice new skill¡ªit also almost confirmed a theory he had. Who says, only Humans can have the Lucky Fish Property? Xu Ran stood in his shop and casually tried a ten-consecutive draw, then his face fell. Hmm¡­ another ten-consecutive draw without purple. It seemed his theory still needed further verification. ¡°Is this the ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ Mr. Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Shop?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Hearing the inquiry outside, Xu Ran swiftly turned around, instantly putting on an enthusiastic smile. ¡°Welcome~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew by in the bustling business. In the blink of an eye, the first day of operations at the Starfire Foster Shop in Bright Radiance City came to an end. Compared to the first day¡¯s business of the past three branches, the Bright Radiance City branch was like hitting the jackpot right at the start, already hosting more than a dozen customers. Although they all came for the Washing and Protection service and didn¡¯t try other services, it was enough for Xu Ran. Moreover, through one day¡¯s trial, Xu Ran refined his theory. As he suspected, the Dawn Building No.1 indeed came with the Koi Property. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Koi Property is an unfathomable concept. It might only affect a specific person or type of person, or it might bring good luck to everyone. However, there¡¯s no ¡°I am a Lucky Fish¡± sign floating above the head of someone with this property, making it difficult to ascertain its existence directly. Xu Ran had a brutally simple way to judge whether someone had his Lucky Fish, which was whether he could repeatedly obtain the highest possible Skills to pluck from them. This method had been unfailingly effective in the past. ¡°` Chapter 586 - Chapter 586: Chapter 308: A Building with its Own Koi Property?!_3 Chapter 586: Chapter 308: A Building with its Own Koi Property?!_3 ¡°` Back in Qingzhou City, Xu Ran¡¯s Plucking Fur had just been upgraded from D-level to C-level, with the highest obtainable Skills going from one star to two stars, and Liu Gu, who had successively acquired two stars Skills, became his first Lucky Fish. By the time he got to Xieyun City, Xu Ran¡¯s Plucking Fur had been promoted to B-level, and the highest Skill he could obtain had become a three-star Skill. It was also by the same method that he discovered the Koi Property of the Qin families brother and sister. Unfortunately, later in Monster Wooden City, Xu Ran failed to meet such a person. Now, however, upon arriving in Bright Radiance City, it seemed as though the situation had changed slightly. The Lucky Fish girl Chou Yue he met the day before yesterday was just an Elite Level Beast Master. She did not possess a King Species Pet Beast, nor could she obtain a Three Star Skill through the Plucking Fur from her Pet Beast, so her Koi Property manifested in another way. Acquiring two two-star Skills at once. Just today, Xu Ran encountered a Beast Master who had plucked four three-star Skills in a row, but the other party wasn¡¯t a Lucky Fish¡ªwith ten consecutive tries and no purple. Adding on to that, the Green-eyed Thunder Snake that had just been washed and protected also acquired a three-star Skill¡­ Xu Ran stopped in his tracks, slightly lifting his head to look at the ceiling. Could there be a possibility¡­ That the one with the Koi Property is not the two customers in front of him, but this building itself? ¡°Boss Xu, we¡¯ve paid, so we¡¯re leaving now!¡± Zhang Peng¡¯s voice brought Xu Ran back to his senses. Looking at Du Zhou and Zhang Peng, who were already standing at the shop door with their Pet Beasts looking brand new, eager to stroll down the streets, Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Take care.¡± Once the two had left, Xu Ran returned behind the counter, gently tapping it with his fingers, his face showing a look of anticipation. He was curious to see how the next customer would perform. And his wait did not last long. Perhaps due to Du Zhou and Zhang Peng¡¯s Pet Beasts being too eye-catching, it was only a few minutes before someone came asking, ¡°Boss, was that very large Thunder Attribute snake Pet Beast washed and protected by you?¡± ¡°It was I,¡± Xu Ran stood up and looked at the newcomer. She was a short-haired female Beast Master with gentle features yet a hint of fierceness in her eyes, followed by a slender cherry-pink snake Pet Beast. Compared to the nearly thirty-meter-long Green-eyed Thunder Snake, the Pet Beast in front of her was much smaller, less than ten meters in length, and noticeably more delicate. Combining her question upon entry and Xu Ran¡¯s guesses about her intentions, he asked, ¡°You want to get your Pet Beast washed and protected?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the short-haired woman nodded, ¡°How much does it cost?¡± ¡°The Price Menu is over there.¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Following Xu Ran¡¯s instructions, the short-haired woman quickly saw the Price Menu hanging on the wall opposite, ¡°Large Pet Beast washing and protection for 66,666 Yuan a time?¡± She slightly frowned, evidently finding it somewhat expensive, but recalling the stunning sight of the Green-eyed Thunder Snake, she felt tempted to give it a try. ¡°Sss~¡± The snake Pet Beast behind her hissed, seemingly reminding its Beast Master about something. The short-haired woman quickly looked up following the Pet Beast¡¯s gaze and soon spotted the banner hanging high on the wall. ¡°Cleaning Saint?¡± There was unmistakable astonishment in the short-haired woman¡¯s eyes. If it were the Cleaning Saint, then such a price might be acceptable. She took a deep breath and made her decision. ¡°Please clean and protect my Xiao Ying.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, nodding and at the same time, initiating the System Identification. This cherry-pink snake was something he had never seen before. He was quite curious to find out its Race name. [Race name: Yingluo Flower Snake Attribute: Super Ability Growth Stage: Leadership Stage Body Type: Large Size Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evaluation: Far from the cold and fierce stereotypes, this is a Snake Pet Beast known for its agility, cuteness, and high attractiveness. It looks forward to the Host revealing its undisclosed side with adept hands!] Develop¡­ what the hell. Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, then he looked at the short-haired woman¡¯s Pet Beast. Yingluo Flower Snake¡­ As described in the System Identification, this Snake Pet Beast vastly differed from the Green-eyed Thunder Snake seen before, its slender body granting it a unique grace, and the cherry-pink scales added another level to its aesthetics. Through perception, Xu Ran could feel that, although the Yingluo Flower Snake was merely at the Leadership Stage, it was also a member of the King Species. Perfect, he could test his recent conjecture with it. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Xu Ran gestured an invitation and then led the way into the Washing and Protection room. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xiao Ying,¡± the short-haired woman softly spoke, a glimmer of expectancy in her eyes as she followed with the Yingluo Flower Snake. As the doors to the Washing and Protection room closed once more, the three little ones inside exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. ¡°Cheer~¡± (It¡¯s Super Ability Attribute just like Twelve~) Cancan propped its head with one paw, expressing interest aloud. ¡°Meow~¡± (It¡¯s nothing compared to Twelve.) Ziyun shook its head with indifference. The sight of the round Twelve always inspired it to grab hold and play; in front of this elongated creature, it had no interest whatsoever. Thinking of Twelve, Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but move its paws restlessly. Counting the days, it had been more than half a month since they had parted. Yet it felt as if they had been apart for a very long time. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We will bring it back.) Seemingly understanding Ziyun¡¯s thoughts, Star opened its eyes slowly, hissing softly. ¡°` Chapter 587 - Chapter 587: Chapter 308: A Building with Its Own Koi Property?!_4 Chapter 587: Chapter 308: A Building with Its Own Koi Property?!_4 ¡°Meow~¡± (Of course.) Ziyun¡¯s paws slightly arched, sharp Claw Edges popping out from the pads, eyes gleaming with a few more slices of sharpness. It was close, so very close. Once it acquired the Extinct Thunder Attraction and met the other Evolution Conditions, it would immediately undergo its second evolution. After successfully evolving, it would definitely reclaim its little cushion! As the three little ones communicated, strange hissing sounds started to faintly emanate from within the Washing and Protection room. Hearing that noise, the three little ones simultaneously showed an expression of watching an interesting show. Fourth Stage contract power could allow the Beast Master and Pet Beast to temporarily share senses. Therefore, even without entering the Washing and Protection room, they could watch the entire washing process through Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Watching the delicate and gentle Yingluo Flower Snake uncontrollably writhing in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, the expressions of the three little ones also became increasingly bizarre. ¡°Meow~¡± (Stop looking.) Ziyun raised its paw and gave Cancan a slap on the side. Don¡¯t you understand what ¡®not suitable for young creatures¡¯ means? Cancan, who was unjustly slapped, wore an aggrieved expression and cut off the shared senses. Look what happened? Young creatures need to grow too! Do you have any idea how traumatic that slap was for a three-month-old baby creature that¡¯s three hundred meters long? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome to visit again~¡± Standing outside the shop, Xu Ran smiled as he bid farewell to the short-haired woman who was leaving satisfied. Behind her, the appearance of the Yingluo Flower Snake had undergone an earth-shattering transformation from the time of arrival. Each of its thin and semi-transparent scales were meticulously polished by Xu Ran, sparkling with a bright and lustrous sheen under the sunlight, the gradient cherry-pink colors appeared vivid and distinct, as if petals had fallen on its body. The already high-valued snake, after being handled by Xu Ran, now possessed a magic capable of fascinating all living creatures. Well¡­ Aptly, as a Super ability Attribute creature, it was skilled in illusion and charm-type Skills, and this complemented it well. ¡°Boss Xu, your Washing and Protection skills are truly amazing,¡± the short-haired woman was no longer dubious as she had been upon arrival. After experiencing the washing session, she had become a loyal fan of Xu Ran, ¡°I¡¯ll recommend your shop to my friends!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m even more grateful,¡± Xu Ran smiled and waved to the short-haired woman, his already great mood getting even better. Once the woman had disappeared from view, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze swept over the system panel. On the system panel, there was a new Skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Bewildered Heart Branding] (Not teachable) This new Skill originated from the Yingluo Flower Snake he had just handled. It could silently embed a controlling brand on an opponent and trigger it when necessary, briefly controlling the opponent¡¯s actions. The duration of the control depended on the power gap between the two parties, and after activating once, the brand would automatically disappear. Even among the elusive Super ability Attribute Skills, this one could be considered quite rare and special. The five Three Star Skills he had acquired earlier had all been dismantled into Skill Fragments by Xu Ran, including the Thunder Attribute skills acquired from the Green-eyed Thunder Snake, as they were not a good fit for Ziyun. But this Skill could be kept for use by Ten in the future. The reason for Xu Ran¡¯s good mood wasn¡¯t just because he had acquired a nice new Skill, but also because he had obtained another Three Star Skill, which almost confirmed a suspicion in his heart. Who says only Humans can have the Lucky Fish Property? Xu Ran stood in the shop, carelessly performed ten consecutive draws, then his expression fell. Hmm¡­ Another ten draws without a purple. It seemed that this speculation still needed further verification. ¡°Is this ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ Mr. Xu Ran¡¯s Foster Shop?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± hearing the inquiry from outside the shop, Xu Ran quickly turned around and put on a warm smile. ¡°Welcome~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew by as the business thrived enthusiastically. In the blink of an eye, the first day of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City came to an end. Compared to the first day¡¯s business at the three other branches, Bright Radiance City¡¯s branch could be described as a wildly lucky start, having welcomed over a dozen walk-in customers on its first day. Although they all came for the Washing and Protection service and did not try other services, for Xu Ran, this was already enough. In addition, through a day of experimentation, Xu Ran had gradually perfected his hypothesis. Just as he suspected, this Dawn Building No.1 did indeed possess the Lucky Fish property. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Meow~¡± (Stop looking.) Ziyun lifted a paw and gave Cancan, who was beside her, a slap. Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s meant by young beasts shouldn¡¯t watch? Cancan, perplexed by the sudden slap, wore a face full of grievance as she cut off the shared connection. What¡¯s the matter? Young beasts need to grow too! Do you realize how much of a mental shadow this slap could cast on a three-month-old baby beast that¡¯s three hundred meters long? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome to come again~¡± Standing at the shop¡¯s entrance, Xu Ran smiled and bid farewell to the satisfied short-haired woman who was leaving. Behind her, the appearance of the Yingluo Flower Snake had undergone an earth-shattering transformation from when it arrived. Each of its delicate, semi-transparent scales had been meticulously polished and cleaned by Xu, now shimmering in the sunlight with a bright and lustrous sheen, its gradient cherry-pink color as vivid and clear as if petals had fallen upon its body. The already attractive creature, having been treated by Xu Ran, had acquired a seductive magic that appealed to all living beings. Hmm¡­ Fittingly, as a creature with Super ability Attribute, it was adept at illusion and charm type skills; this treatment complimented its natural talents. ¡°Boss Xu, your Washing and Protection skills are really top-notch,¡± the short-haired woman, no longer as skeptical as when she arrived, had become a loyal fan after experiencing the grooming, ¡°I will recommend your shop to my friends!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m even more grateful,¡± Xu Ran waved to the short-haired woman with a smile, his already excellent mood becoming even better. As the woman disappeared from sight, Xu Ran glanced over the system panel. On the system panel, there was a new skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Bewildered Heart Branding] (Non-teachable) This new skill, originated from the recently treated Yingluo Flower Snake. It could silently implant a brand of control on an opponent that could be triggered when needed, briefly controlling the target¡¯s actions. The duration of control depended on the power difference between the two parties, and after being activated once, the branding would automatically disappear. Even amongst the elusive Super ability Attribute skills, this skill was considered quite rare and special. The five Three Star Skills previously acquired had all been decomposed by Xu Ran into Skill Fragments, including the Thunder Attribute skills obtained from the Green-eyed Thunder Snake because they were not compatible with Ziyun. This skill, however, could be kept for future use by Twelve. The real reason for Xu Ran¡¯s good mood wasn¡¯t just the acquisition of a decent new skill, but also because obtaining another Three Star Skill had almost confirmed his speculation. Who says that only Humans can possess the Lucky Fish property? Xu Ran stood in the middle of the shop, took a chance with a ten-pull, and then his expression fell. Hmm¡­ another ten-pull without a single purple. It seemed that his hypothesis still required further verification. ¡°Is this Mr. Xu Ran¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop known as ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, this is the place.¡± Upon hearing the inquiry outside the store, Xu Ran quickly turned around, immediately putting on an enthusiastic smile. ¡°Welcome to visit~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew by in a bustling business operation. In the blink of an eye, the first day of business at Bright Radiance City¡¯s Starfire Foster Care Shop came to an end. Compared to the first day¡¯s business at the three other branches, Bright Radiance City¡¯s branch could be described as a wildly lucky start, having welcomed over a dozen walk-in customers on its first day. Although they all came for the Washing and Protection service and did not try other services, for Xu Ran, this was already enough. In addition, through a day of experimentation, Xu Ran had gradually perfected his hypothesis. Just as he suspected, this Dawn Building No.1 did indeed possess the Lucky Fish property. Chapter 588 - Chapter 588: Chapter 309: Du Qians Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject! Chapter 588: Chapter 309: Du Qian¡¯s Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject! ¡°Welcome to visit again~¡± With the support from the Association, the business on the second day after the opening exceeded Xu Ran¡¯s imagination by a wide margin. Having seen off another satisfied customer, even Xu Ran, with his strong physique, began to feel a hint of fatigue. Looking at the long line of customers still waiting outside the shop, he knew it was time to summon Star. Soon, a clear and fervent neigh resounded throughout the shop. Star, having had its rest and fully rejuvenated, immediately linked with Xu Ran through the destiny chain, transferring its power to him to dispel his exhaustion. ¡°Hard work,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he patted its head, ¡°the business is so good today, we might need your help a few more times.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No problem!) Star neighed, shaking its head and settled next to the counter in the open space. Ziyun and Cancan, who were awakened by the summoning commotion, quickly appeared in the shop as well, watching with interest as Xu Ran greeted the next customer. Seeing the long line outside the shop, the three creatures couldn¡¯t help but whisper to each other. ¡°Meow?¡± (Why is the business so good today?) ¡°Chirp~¡± (Don¡¯t know!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Anyway, good business is a good thing.) ¡°Meow!¡± (Right, this way we can summon more staff faster to share Xu Ran¡¯s workload!) While the three little ones were exchanging words, Xu Ran efficiently finished the washing and protection task for this customer and, after seeing him out of the shop, gestured for the next customer to come in. Soon, a young figure entered the shop. It was a handsome man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, with a habitual smile on his face that gave off a feeling of a spring breeze. What attracted the most attention were his hands. The man¡¯s hands were white and smooth, with very faint lines and well-defined, slender joints that were particularly eye-catching. ¡°Hello, what Pet Beast do you need washing and protection for?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give the man a few glances before casually asking. ¡°My name is Du Qian,¡± the man said with a smile, suddenly introducing himself. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran was momentarily taken aback, then revisited his assessment of the man. Of course, he had not forgotten that at the Pet Beast Washing and Protection exhibition, a caretaker from the Hundred Flowers Foster Store named Du Qian had taken the initiative to direct traffic to him, helping him quickly overcome the initial embarrassment of having no customers. ¡°Ms. Du Huayan is your¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s my older sister.¡± Du Qian said with a smile, his face showing a hint of pride. Clearly, he held a deep admiration for his sister who had even greater washing and protection skills. ¡°I thought so.¡± Xu Ran revealed a look of realization and enthusiastically shook his hand, ¡°I¡¯m really grateful for your help at the exhibition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small matter,¡± Du Qian shook his head slightly, ¡°My sister mentioned your washing techniques in her letter, she believes they are the most magical she has ever seen.¡± ¡°Even though I have not witnessed them myself, I trust her judgment. A caretaker like you should not be obscured by an out-of-the-way location.¡± ¡°And I believe, even without my little help, the title ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ would still have been yours.¡± In the midst of their conversation, Du Qian looked up at the pennant on the wall with a hint of yearning in his eyes, ¡°The flag is great, I¡¯ll bring out a better performance in three years to take it from you.¡± ¡°Hahaha, agreed,¡± Xu Ran laughed heartily. After a brief exchange, he felt a considerable sense of kinship with the young caretaker standing before him, who was even younger than himself, ¡°I suppose you are here today for something more than just a chat, right?¡± ¡°Indeed, I have specially reserved an hour of washing and protection appointment time, and it¡¯s not for chatting,¡± Du Qian nodded appreciatively, ¡°If possible, I would like to observe the process of you washing and caring for other customers¡¯ pets.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll keep quiet and won¡¯t interfere with your business.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not a problem,¡± Xu Ran nodded without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°and we could even discuss techniques if the customers agree.¡± ¡°That would be wonderful,¡± Du Qian¡¯s eyes lit up. Every caretaker has key points in their washing technique. Just by watching with the naked eye, even someone with as good washing skills as Du Qian would find it hard to fully comprehend these key points. But conversation changes everything. ¡°Shall I go call in the next customer?¡± ¡°Please.¡± Du Qian made a welcoming gesture, retreated to a corner of the shop, smiled kindly at the three curious little creatures looking over and then turned his attention towards the shop entrance. Shortly after, Xu Ran came back with a muscular man in tow. ¡°Sir, which Pet Beast of yours requires washing and caring?¡± Xu Ran asked with a polite smile. ¡°This one.¡± Behind the big man, the Hexagram Star Array flickered, and soon, a Bird Pet Beast with two heads and a body engulfed in crimson flames, cried shrilly as it burst out of the windstorm. With its arrival, the temperature inside the shop also started to climb rapidly. [Race Name: Double-headed Flame Crow Attribute: Fire Growth Stage: General Level Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Review: This special individual with two heads holding different consciousnesses could potentially provide double the Pleasure Value when cared for!] After glancing at the system¡¯s rather serious evaluation, a rich smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. If you¡¯re saying this, then I¡¯m really gearing up now. In the realm of Transcendent Beings, those with multiple consciousnesses are relatively rare. Xu Ran had heard of a few, but had never cared for one until now. Chapter 589 - Chapter 589: Chapter 309: Du Qians Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_2 Chapter 589: Chapter 309: Du Qian¡¯s Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_2 ¡°` This experience was a first for him. Behind Xu Ran, Du Qian, who had remained silent, also showed a hint of surprise on his face. He too, had recognized the Double-headed Flame Crow at the same time. However, unlike Xu Ran, he was not completely unfamiliar with this particular Double-headed Flame Crow. Because it happened to have undergone washing and protection at his place once. This Double-headed Flame Crow had some differences from the normal ones. Normally, even though Double-headed Flame Crows have two distinct consciousnesses, these consciousnesses are like twin brothers, very compatible with each other, and they coordinate well, rarely conflicting or quarrelling. But this Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s two consciousnesses often conflicted and lacked understanding with each other. Such anomalies could also affect the washing and protection process. What one consciousness prefers in terms of washing and protection might not necessarily be liked by the other. And vice versa. He still remembered the effort it took to wash and protect this Double-headed Flame Crow. It had taken the strength of nine bulls and two tigers, and in the end, his sister had to step in and lend a hand for it to be successfully completed. Although it had already been a year since then, and he was not as skilled as he was now, Du Qian still felt somewhat hung up about it. Glancing at Xu Ran, who was preparing to take on the washing and protection work for the Double-headed Flame Crow, Du Qian hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°That¡­ the two consciousnesses in this Double-headed Flame Crow¡­ might have some conflicts.¡± Xu Ran looked at Du Qian in surprise and then carefully observed the Double-headed Flame Crow. Thanks to Du Qian¡¯s reminder, he quickly noticed that the two heads bathed in the light of fire indeed seemed to have some hostility towards each other. Sharing a body but not getting along? Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned somewhat curious. ¡°So Du Qi is here too.¡± Hearing Du Qian¡¯s voice, the big man only then realized there was a third person in the store. He wasn¡¯t angry about Du Qian pointing out his pet beast¡¯s problem, just smiled and said, ¡°Since Du Qi has already mentioned it, I won¡¯t hide it.¡± ¡°Indeed, my Double-headed Flame Crow had a little accident during its evolution, resulting in poor coordination between the two consciousnesses, often leading to conflict¡­¡± At this point, the big man also showed a bit of helplessness, ¡°Often during washing and protection, one consciousness feels comfortable while the other gets restless.¡± ¡°This has caused the washing and protection to often end prematurely, and I¡¯ve almost been blacklisted by the caretakers.¡± The big man spread his hands, ¡°I heard you are the new ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ and decided to try bringing them here.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran sent a look of gratitude towards Du Qian. If Du Qian hadn¡¯t reminded him, this client probably wouldn¡¯t have honestly disclosed these details. As a result, washing and protecting this Double-headed Flame Crow would undoubtedly add a lot of difficulty. But¡­ it sounded quite interesting. ¡°Sir, this is the situation.¡± Xu Ran began slowly, ¡°Du Qi and I are having an exchange about washing and protection, would you mind if we used your pet beast as a case study for our professional exchange?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The big man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± He hadn¡¯t taken the initiative to explain his pet beast¡¯s problem at first, which was certainly his fault. But the big man wasn¡¯t trying to give Xu Ran a hard time, he was just worried that Xu Ran would refuse to wash and protect his pet beast if he spoke up. With some guilt in his heart, it was naturally hard for him to refuse Xu Ran¡¯s request. Moreover, having Du Qian, who had previously washed and protected the Double-headed Flame Crow, there might make the result of Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection even better. ¡°Thank you for your generosity.¡± Du Qian¡¯s smile blossomed as he nodded in appreciation to the big man. Without a doubt, such a rare washing and protection case held extremely high value for exchange. ¡°Follow me.¡± Having agreed on the arrangement, Xu Ran gestured for the Double-headed Flame Crow to follow him into the washing and protection room. ¡°Caw¡ª¡± One of the heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow showed an excited and expectant look, quickly stretching towards Xu Ran, as if wanting to follow him into the washing and protection room. However, the other head twisted towards the direction outside the washing and protection room, appearing somewhat reluctant, as if unenthusiastic about being washed and protected. Without the cooperation of its sibling, the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s flying became stiff and unnatural. Seeing its sibling not cooperating even for washing and protection, the first head became angry. It glared fiercely at the second head and let out a series of shrill cries, sounding as if it were swearing. The second head wasn¡¯t one to be bullied, responding with equally harsh cries. Before even entering the washing and protection room, the two had already begun to argue again. ¡°Stop arguing and enter the washing and protection room.¡± In the end, it was the big man¡¯s stern command that made the two heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow temporarily cease their dispute, and the second head stopped being stubborn, obediently cooperating with the first head and flying towards the washing and protection room. Standing at the entrance of the washing and protection room, Xu Ran watched this scene unfold, suddenly feeling less confident about the washing and protection he was about to undertake. Earning double the pleasure value seemed a little challenging¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Welcome back again~¡± With the help of the Association, the business on the second day of opening was much busier than Xu Ran had imagined. After seeing off another satisfied customer, even someone with Xu Ran¡¯s physical endurance began to feel a touch of fatigue. Looking at the long queue still outside the store, he knew it was time to summon Star. ¡°` Chapter 590 - Chapter 590: Chapter 309: Du Qians Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_3 Chapter 590: Chapter 309: Du Qian¡¯s Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_3 ¡°` Shortly after, a clear and fervent neighing echoed throughout the store. Having had a good rest and refreshed, Star quickly used the destiny chain to connect with Xu Ran, transferring his own power to him to alleviate his fatigue. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he patted its head, ¡°Today business is booming, so we might need your help a few more times.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No problem!) Star neighed, shaking its head and taking its place next to the counter. Aroused by the summoning noise, Ziyun and Cancan quickly appeared in the store as well, curiously watching Xu Ran attend to the next customer. Looking at the long line outside the store, the three little creatures couldn¡¯t help whispering to each other. ¡°Meow?¡± (Why is the business so good today?) ¡°Cha~¡± (Don¡¯t know!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Anyway, good business is a good thing.) ¡°Meow!¡± (That¡¯s right, this way we can summon more staff sooner to share Xu Ran¡¯s workload!) As the three little ones chatted, Xu Ran efficiently finished washing and caring for the customer and after seeing them out, signaled for the next one to come in. Soon after, a young figure entered the store. He was a handsome man, looking to be just over twenty, with a habitual smile on his face that gave off a spring breeze feeling. Most striking, however, were his hands. The man¡¯s hands were white and smooth, his palm lines very faint, and his fingers well-defined and slender, drawing the eye. ¡°Hello, what kind of Pet Beast do you need grooming for?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra glances at the man before casually asking. ¡°My name is Du Qian,¡± the man said with a smile, suddenly introducing himself. ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Ran blinked in slight surprise and then took a closer look at him. Of course, he hadn¡¯t forgotten that at the Pet Beast Cleaning and Caring Exhibition, a caretaker named Du Qian from Hundred Flowers Foster Store had taken the initiative to redirect customers to him, helping him overcome the embarrassing situation of having no clients at first. ¡°Ms. Du Huayan is your¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s my elder sister,¡± Du Qian said with a smile, pride coloring his face. Clearly, he held deep admiration for his sister whose cleaning skills were superior to his own. ¡°I thought as much,¡± Xu Ran said, revealing an enlightened smile and warmly shaking Du Qian¡¯s hand, ¡°I really appreciate your help at the exhibition.¡± ¡°It was nothing,¡± Du Qian shook his head slightly, ¡°My sister mentioned your grooming technique in a letter, she believes yours is the most miraculous she has ever seen.¡± ¡°Even though I have never witnessed it myself, I trust her judgment. A caretaker like you shouldn¡¯t be obscured by a remote location.¡± ¡°Moreover, I believe that even without my little help, the title of ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯ would still have been yours.¡± During the conversation, Du Qian looked up at the banner on the wall, his eyes filled with longing, ¡°The banner is nice, I will put up an even better performance in three years and take it.¡± ¡°Hahaha, good,¡± Xu Ran laughed heartily. After a brief exchange, he felt a strong connection with the young caretaker in front of him, ¡°I reckon your visit today isn¡¯t just for a casual chat, right?¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve specifically set aside an hour for a grooming appointment, and it¡¯s not to chat,¡± Du Qian nodded in agreement, ¡°If possible, I would like to observe you as you cater to other clients.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will keep quiet and won¡¯t disrupt your business.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s no problem at all,¡± Xu Ran nodded without hesitation, ¡°We can even have some technical exchanges if the clients agree.¡± ¡°That would be really great,¡± a spark of excitement shone in Du Qian¡¯s eyes. Every caretaker¡¯s technique has its critical points. Just by observing with the naked eye, and despite already having a pretty good technique, it was difficult for Du Qian to completely grasp those key aspects. But with an exchange, it would be different. ¡°Shall I call the next client then?¡± ¡°Please.¡± Du Qian gestured for Xu Ran to proceed and retreated to a corner of the store, smiling friendlily at the three little ones who were curiously peeking over, then turned to look outside the store. Soon, Xu Ran led a burly man into the store. ¡°Sir, what Pet Beast do you need groomed?¡± Xu Ran asked politely with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s this one.¡± Behind the burly man, the Hexagram Star Array flickered, and promptly, a bird Pet Beast with two heads and its body ablaze with crimson flames screeched sharply as it flew out of the swirling winds. With its appearance, the temperature in the store began to rise rapidly. [Race Name: Double-Headed Flame Crow Attribute: Fire Growth Stage: General Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: This special individual with two heads has different consciousnesses, grooming it might yield double the Pleasure Value!] Taking a look at the system¡¯s rare serious evaluation, Xu Ran¡¯s smile suddenly grew more intense. If you¡¯re saying that, then I¡¯m going to get excited. Among the Transcendent Beings, those with multiple consciousnesses are relatively rare. Xu Ran had heard of a few but had never groomed any before. Such an experience would be a first for him. Behind Xu Ran, Du Qian, who had remained silent, also looked surprised. He recognized the Double-Headed Flame Crow at the same time. However, unlike Xu Ran, he was not completely unfamiliar with this Double-Headed Flame Crow. Because, as it happens, it had once been groomed at his establishment. ¡°` Chapter 591 - Chapter 591: Chapter 309: Du Qians Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_4 Chapter 591: Chapter 309: Du Qian¡¯s Visit, A Rare Washing and Protection Subject!_4 This Double-headed Flame Crow had certain differences from a normal one. Typically, although Double-headed Flame Crows have two distinct consciousnesses, these consciousnesses are like twin brothers, very much in sync with each other, with a tacit understanding that rarely leads to internal strife or disagreements. But this particular Double-headed Flame Crow often experienced conflicts between its two consciousnesses, lacking the camaraderie typically seen in others of its kind. Such anomalies could also affect Washing and Protection work. What one consciousness liked in terms of cleaning and caring, might not be what the other preferred. And vice versa. Qi An still remembered when it was he himself performing the Washing and Protection on the Double-headed Flame Crow. Du Qian had exerted an enormous amount of effort, and in the end, it was only with his sister¡¯s intervention that they successfully completed the task. Though this incident occurred a year ago, and at that time his skills were not as polished as they are now, Du Qian still took this matter to heart. Glancing at Xu Ran, who was about to take on the Washing and Protection work of this Double-headed Flame Crow, Du Qian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn¡¯t help speaking up, ¡°That¡­ The two consciousnesses of this Double-headed Flame Crow¡­ might have some conflicts.¡± Xu Ran looked at Du Qian in surprise, then examined the Double-headed Flame Crow more carefully. With Du Qian¡¯s reminder, he quickly noticed that the two heads bathed in the firelight indeed seemed to have some hostile feelings towards each other. Sharing one body yet not living in harmony? Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew more peculiar. ¡°So Du Xiao Ge is also here.¡± Hearing Du Qian¡¯s voice, the burly man realized that there was a third person in the shop. The man was not upset upon Du Qian pointing out his Pet Beast¡¯s issues but merely smiled, ¡°Since Du Xiao Ge has already mentioned it, I won¡¯t keep it hidden.¡± ¡°Indeed, my Double-headed Flame Crow had a bit of an accident during its evolution, causing the two consciousnesses to lose their harmony and often enter into conflicts¡­¡± Speaking of this, the burly man also seemed helplessly frustrated, ¡°Often during Washing and Protection, when one consciousness feels comfortable, the other starts to act out.¡± ¡°This has led to many incomplete Washing and Protection sessions, and I¡¯m almost blacklisted by the caretakers.¡± The big man spread his hands, ¡°I heard you¡¯re the new ¡®Cleaning Saint,¡¯ so I decided to try my luck bringing them here.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Xu Ran gave Du Qian a grateful look. If it had not been for Du Qian¡¯s reminder, this customer might not have disclosed these details. With this knowledge, cleaning and caring for this Double-headed Flame Crow would undoubtedly be more challenging. However¡­ it sounded quite interesting. ¡°Sir, here¡¯s the thing,¡± Xu Ran slowly began, ¡°Du Qian and I are engaged in an exchange on Washing and Protection. Would you mind if we use your Pet Beast as a case study for our exchange?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The burly man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± His initial failure to honestly declare his Pet Beast¡¯s issues was his mistake after all. But the burly man was not trying to cause trouble for Xu Ran; he was merely concerned that if he spoke up, Xu Ran might refuse to attend to his Pet Beast. With a hint of apology in his heart, he naturally found it difficult to decline Xu Ran¡¯s request. Plus, since Du Qian had previous experience washing the Double-headed Flame Crow, having him there might improve the outcomes for his own Pet Beast¡¯s washing and caring. ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± Du Qian¡¯s smile brightened as he nodded in acknowledgment to the man. Undoubtedly, this rare Washing and Protection case held extremely high value for exchange. ¡°Follow me,¡± Xu Ran signaled to the Double-headed Flame Crow to follow him into the Washing and Protection room after they had agreed. ¡°Caw¡ª¡± One of the heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow showed excitement and anticipation, quickly leaning towards Xu Ran as if eager to follow him into the Washing and Protection room. However, the other head turned towards the outside of the Washing and Protection room, appearing somewhat reluctant and seemingly indifferent to the Washing and Protection. Without the cooperation of its companion, the movements of the Double-headed Flame Crow became noticeably stiff and unnatural. Seeing its companion unwilling to even cooperate with the washing and protection, the first head became instantly furious. It glared fiercely at the second head, emitting a series of sharp cries that sounded suspiciously like swearing. The second head, not one to be easily bullied, retaliated with equally sharp cries. Even before entering the washing and protection room, the two were already at odds again. ¡°Stop quarreling and go to the washing and protection room.¡± Ultimately, it was the heavy-set man¡¯s stern command that made the two heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow cease their quarreling; the second head abandoned its stubbornness and obediently, in cooperation with the first, flew toward the washing and protection room. Standing at the entrance of the washing and protection room, Xu Ran watched this unfold, suddenly feeling uncertain about the washing and protection work ahead. This double pleasure value is going to be a tough earn¡­ Speaking of which, the heavy-set man spoke with a hint of helplessness, ¡°Often during the washing and protection, one consciousness feels comfortable while the other becomes restless.¡± ¡°This results in frequently interrupted washing and protection sessions; I¡¯m almost blacklisted by those caretakers.¡± The heavy-set man spread his hands, ¡°I brought them here to try my luck, hearing you¡¯re the new ¡®Cleaning Saint¡¯.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Ran gave Du Qian a grateful look. If Du Qian hadn¡¯t given him a heads up, this customer might not have been forthcoming with this information. Therefore, performing washing and protection work on this Double-headed Flame Crow undoubtedly will increase the difficulty substantially. However¡­ it seems like it could be quite interesting. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s like this,¡± Xu Ran began slowly, ¡°Du Qian and I are in the middle of a discussion about washing and protection techniques; would you mind if your Pet Beast were to serve as a case study for our discussion?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The heavy-set man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Not being upfront about his Pet Beast¡¯s issues was primarily his fault after all. But the heavy-set man didn¡¯t intend to make things difficult for Xu Ran on purpose; he just worried that revealing the issues might lead to Xu Ran refusing to perform the washing and protection on his Pet Beast. Carrying a trace of apology in his heart, he naturally found it hard to refuse Xu Ran¡¯s request. Plus, Du Qian had previously conducted washing and protection on the Double-headed Flame Crow. With him present, the result of Xu Ran¡¯s work might turn out even better. ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± Du Qian said, his smile radiant as he nodded his thanks to the heavy-set man. Undoubtedly, such a rare washing and protection case held immense value for academic discussion. ¡°Follow me,¡± Xu Ran gestured to the Double-headed Flame Crow, signalling for it to enter the washing and protection room. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± One of the heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow showed an expression of excitement and anticipation, quickly reaching out in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, as if eager to follow him into the washing and protection room. However, the other head seemed to twist away reluctantly toward the outside of the room at that moment, appearing unwilling and seemingly indifferent to the prospect of washing and protection. Without the cooperation of its companion, the movements of the Double-headed Flame Crow became noticeably stiff and unnatural. Seeing its companion unwilling to even cooperate with the washing and protection, the first head became instantly furious. It glared fiercely at the second head, emitting a series of sharp cries that sounded suspiciously like swearing. The second head, not one to be easily bullied, retaliated with equally sharp cries. Even before entering the washing and protection room, the two were already at odds again. ¡°Stop quarreling and go to the washing and protection room.¡± Ultimately, it was the heavy-set man¡¯s stern command that made the two heads of the Double-headed Flame Crow cease their quarreling; the second head abandoned its stubbornness and obediently, in cooperation with the first, flew toward the washing and protection room. Standing at the entrance of the washing and protection room, Xu Ran watched this unfold, suddenly feeling uncertain about the washing and protection work ahead. This double pleasure value is going to be a tough earn¡­ Chapter 592 - Chapter 592: Chapter 310 First Exploration Chapter 592: Chapter 310 First Exploration The Beast Master of the Double-headed Flame Crow was named Zhou Zhu. He knew his Pet Beast¡¯s condition like the back of his hand. As a Transcendent Being with two independent consciousnesses, the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow was somewhat different from the evolution of other Transcendent Beings. Its initial species was the Red Fire Crow, and to evolve from a Red Fire Crow into a Double-headed Flame Crow required the assistance of another Red Fire Crow. After the evolution, the assisting Red Fire Crow would permanently lose a portion of its Power because a part of its spirit would become the other consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow during the evolution. Moreover, the assisting Red Fire Crow would lose the possibility of evolving into a Double-headed Flame Crow. No creature willingly becomes the wedding dress of another, and Zhou Zhu, in his desperation to evolve his Red Fire Crow, had no choice but to capture a wild Red Fire Crow and force it to cooperate with the evolution. The evolution was successful, but it also failed. His Red Fire Crow became a Double-headed Flame Crow of the King Species, but the newly born consciousness was too independent and seemed to solidify the resentment of that wild Red Fire Crow, instinctively enjoying the act of contradicting the original consciousness. Its Power became muddled and stiff due to the mismatch between the two consciousnesses, a sign of which was the dark and mottled colors of the flames that surrounded the Double-headed Flame Crow. Originally, after numerous failed attempts and fruitless visits to powerful individuals for help, Zhou Zhu had given up on improving the condition of the Double-headed Flame Crow. But at this moment, as the flames surging around the Double-headed Flame Crow gradually became pure and bright, and the mottled colors rapidly diminished, the flame named hope reignited in Zhou Zhu¡¯s eyes. The calm giant couldn¡¯t control his emotions, and he rushed to the front of the Washing and Protection station, his hands bracing against the station, staring intently at the Double-headed Flame Crow that was close at hand, before speaking in a hesitant voice. ¡°Boss Xu, can you¡­solve the problem with my Pet Beast?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try,¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t make any promises, just mysteriously smiled and continued his rubbing motions without a break. His forceful hands left indentations all over the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body as he continuously scraped along the muscles and bones of the Double-headed Flame Crow, lubricated by bathing oils, fully activating the fire Power within the Double-headed Flame Crow with each massage point. Once, twice, thrice¡­ The Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s cries became increasingly clear and piercing, and the flames around it grew more intense and vigorous. Eventually, Xu Ran released his hands and stepped back a few paces. Accompanied by flames that shot up to the sky, the Double-headed Flame Crow flapped its wings and hovered in the air. Its aura was distinctly different from before, the flames around its body pure and bright. Between its two heads, there was no longer the previous dissonance. ¡°This¡­¡± Du Qian, who had witnessed the whole process, was dumbfounded and completely baffled. In his mind, Washing and Protection should have been a service to maintain the state of a Pet Beast. How could it be that, with Xu Ran, even the issue of consciousness conflict of the Double-headed Flame Crow could be so easily resolved? Before he could voice his question, Zhou Zhu couldn¡¯t help but speak out. ¡°Boss Xu, how exactly did you do it?¡± His eyes were filled with excitement, ¡°In the years following the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow, I have visited many researchers of evolution, powerful Beast Masters.¡± ¡°They all expressed their inability to help with the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s problem.¡± ¡°But you resolved the issue so simply.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Because, this problem is actually quite easy to solve.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you must have forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate during the evolution, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes,¡± Zhou Zhu looked somewhat uncomfortable, but still nodded, ¡°I really couldn¡¯t find any Red Fire Crow willing to cooperate voluntarily, so I had to resort to this strategy.¡± ¡°For a Red Fire Crow to evolve into a Double-headed Flame Crow, it needs to consume a part of the spirit of another of its kind. The closer in strength the other is to the Red Fire Crow itself, the easier the evolution,¡± Xu Ran calmly stated, ¡°But there¡¯s one thing worth noting here.¡± ¡°That is, spirit includes the emotions and obsessions of the original Red Fire Crow.¡± ¡°If the other of the same kind is willing to cooperate, it can minimize its own influence, and the second consciousness of the evolved Double-headed Flame Crow is derived from the first consciousness. Although it is independent, its likes and personality are similar, so they naturally harmonize well.¡± ¡°But if the other of the same kind is unwilling to cooperate¡­¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°Its own emotions and obsessions will remain more in the spirit that is taken away, thus affecting the newly born second consciousness.¡± ¡°You forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate with the evolution of your Red Fire Crow, the other¡¯s emotions were naturally resistant, and that hint of emotion at the time merged into the spirit consumed by your Red Fire Crow, creating the new consciousness.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Red Fire Crow, ¡°Therefore, the likes and actions of the second consciousness towards the first consciousness will always subconsciously resist.¡± ¡°Commonly known as, being contrary.¡± ¡°If so, the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s personality should be unchangeable, right?¡± Du Qian couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Why just through Washing and Protection can it be changed?¡± Looking at the Double-headed Flame Crow now, its two heads appeared particularly harmonious with each other, nowhere near the previous hostility; it seemed like it had transformed from mortal enemies to best buds in an instant. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly grinned, ¡°People who are good at Washing and Protection being good at brainwashing makes sense, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 593 - Chapter 593: Chapter 310 First Exploration_2 Chapter 593: Chapter 310 First Exploration_2 Du Qian: ¡°???¡± Zhou Zhu: ¡°???¡± ¡°Just kidding,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°the second consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow naturally opposes the first, but it has none of the memories of that forced Red Fire Crow.¡± ¡°Essentially, for the Double-headed Flame Crow, it¡¯s just a second self with a rebellious attitude.¡± ¡°To make the underlying subconscious of the other side disappear, the first thing to do is to increase its sense of identity with the first consciousness.¡± ¡°The one that disliked being washed and protected began to enjoy it under my care, just like the first consciousness, and this is how I covertly dissolved its inner defenses.¡± ¡°Then comes the task of using washing and protection techniques to reorganize the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s internal power.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Beast Master of the Double-headed Flame Crow was named Zhou Zhu. He was well aware of his Pet Beast¡¯s condition. As a Transcendent Being with two independent consciousnesses, the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow was also somewhat different from other Transcendent Beings. Its initial species was the Red Fire Crow, and to evolve from a Red Fire Crow into a Double-headed Flame Crow, it required the assistance of another Red Fire Crow. After the completion of the evolution, the assisting Red Fire Crow would permanently lose a portion of its power, because part of its spirit would transform into the second consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow during evolution. Furthermore, the assisting Red Fire Crow would lose the potential to evolve into a Double-headed Flame Crow. No creature willingly makes sacrifices for another, so Zhou Zhu, intent on evolving his Red Fire Crow, had no choice but to capture a wild Red Fire Crow and force it to cooperate in the evolution. The evolution was successful but also a failure. His Red Fire Crow had transformed into a King Species, the Double-headed Flame Crow, but the newly born consciousness was too independent and seemed to solidify the wild Red Fire Crow¡¯s grievances, instinctively enjoying opposing the original consciousness. Their power was disjointed and stiff due to the discordance between the two consciousnesses, visible from the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s flames, which were dark and speckled with impurities. Originally, after repeated failed attempts and fruitless visits to powerful individuals for help, Zhou Zhu had given up on improving the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s condition. But now, as the flames around the Double-headed Flame Crow gradually became pure and bright, and the impurities rapidly diminished, Zhou Zhu¡¯s eyes reignited with the flame of hope. This calm and robust man couldn¡¯t control his emotions and hurried to the washing and protection platform. He propped himself up on the platform with both hands and stared fixedly at the Double-headed Flame Crow close at hand, then he spoke in a hesitant voice. ¡°Boss Xu¡­ can you resolve my Pet Beast¡¯s problem?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try,¡± Xu Ran did not make a firm promise but simply smiled mysteriously, his kneading motions continuing uninterrupted. His powerful hands left indentations on the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body, sliding over its muscles and bones with the aid of bath oil, and each point of kneading fully stimulated the flame power within the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body. Once, twice, three times¡­ The cries of the Double-headed Flame Crow became clearer and more piercing, its flames growing more intense and vigorous. Finally, Xu Ran released his hands and stepped back a few paces. As flames soared into the sky, the Double-headed Flame Crow flapped its wings and hovered in mid-air. Its aura was now clearly different from before; the fiery light around it was pure and bright, and there was no longer any disharmony between its two heads. ¡°This¡­¡± Du Qi An watched the entire process in shock, completely bewildered. Washing and protection, in his mind, were supposed to be services for maintaining a Pet Beast¡¯s condition. How had it become such an easy fix for the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s consciousness conflict issues when it came to Xu Ran? Before he could voice his question, Zhou Zhu couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Boss Xu, how exactly did you do it?¡± His eyes were full of excitement, ¡°During these years after the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow, I visited many evolution researchers and powerful Beast Masters.¡± ¡°They all said they couldn¡¯t help with the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s issues.¡± ¡°But you resolved it so easily.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Because this problem was actually easy to resolve.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, during the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow, you must have forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right.¡± Zhou Zhu looked a bit awkward but nodded, ¡°I really couldn¡¯t find any Red Fire Crow willing to cooperate voluntarily, so I had no choice but to resort to that.¡± ¡°To evolve a Red Fire Crow into a Double-headed Flame Crow, it needs to consume part of the spirit of another of its kind. The closer the strength of the other is to the Red Fire Crow itself, the easier the evolution,¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°but there¡¯s something that needs attention here.¡± ¡°And that is, the spirit contains the emotions and obsessions of the original Red Fire Crow.¡± ¡°If the other of its kind is willing to cooperate, it can minimize its own impact, and the second consciousness that evolves out of the first is although independent, yet its likes and personality are similar, resulting in a natural harmony.¡± ¡°But if the other of its kind is unwilling¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°its emotions and obsessions will be more profoundly embedded in the spirit taken away, thereby affecting the newly born second consciousness.¡± ¡°You forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate with your Red Fire Crow¡¯s evolution; the emotions were surely resistant. That slight emotion at the time merged into the spirit swallowed by your Red Fire Crow, shaping the new consciousness.¡± Chapter 594 - Chapter 594: Chapter 310 First Exploration_3 Chapter 594: Chapter 310 First Exploration_3 Xu Ran looked at the Red Fire Crow, ¡°So, the second consciousness inherently resists the preferences and actions of the first consciousness.¡± ¡°A common term for it is ¡®contrarianism.¡¯ ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the personality of the Double-headed Flame Crow must be unchangeable, right?¡± Du Qian couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and asked, ¡°Why can it be changed just by ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯?¡± Now looking at the Double-headed Flame Crow again, the two heads seemed especially harmonious, devoid of the previously tense hostility. It seemed as if they had gone from mortal enemies to best pals in an instant. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly cracked a smile, ¡°Those skilled in ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ would logically be adept at ¡®brainwashing¡¯ as well, right?¡± Du Qian: ¡°???¡± Zhou Zhu: ¡°???¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± Xu Ran laughed, ¡°Although the second consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow instinctively opposes the first, it doesn¡¯t have any memories of the forced Red Fire Crow.¡± ¡°Essentially, for the Double-headed Flame Crow, it is simply another self with a defiant nature.¡± ¡°To make the subconscious of the other fade away, one must first strengthen its identification with the first consciousness.¡± ¡°Not fond of ¡®Washing and Protection,¡¯ it gradually began to enjoy ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ under my treatment, similar to the first consciousness, which is effectively a silent dissolution of its internal defenses.¡± ¡°Following that, it¡¯s about using ¡®Washing and Protection¡¯ techniques to reorganize the power within the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body.¡± The Beast Master of the Double-headed Flame Crow was named Zhou Zhu. He knew his Pet Beast¡¯s situation like the back of his hand. As a Transcendent Being with two independent consciousnesses, the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow also differs from that of other Transcendent Beings. Its original species is the Red Fire Crow. To evolve from the Red Fire Crow to the Double-headed Flame Crow, it requires the assistance of another Red Fire Crow. After the evolution, the assisting Red Fire Crow will permanently lose a portion of its Power, because a part of its Spirit will become the other consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow during the evolution. Furthermore, the assisting Red Fire Crow will lose the possibility of evolving into a Double-headed Flame Crow. No creature willingly sacrifices itself for others, so Zhou Zhu, desperate to ensure the successful evolution of his Red Fire Crow, had no choice but to capture a wild Red Fire Crow and force it to cooperate with the evolution. The evolution was successful, but also a failure. His Red Fire Crow became a member of the King Species, the Double-headed Flame Crow, but the newly born consciousness was too independent and seemed to have solidified the wild Red Fire Crow¡¯s resentment, instinctively clashing with the original consciousness. Their Power, due to the mismatch between the two consciousnesses, became discordant and stiff, a symptom of which was the darkness and mottled colors within the flames surrounding the Double-headed Flame Crow. Originally, after countless failed attempts and fruitless visits seeking help from the strong, Zhou Zhu had given up on the thought of improving the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s condition. But now, as the flames gushing around the Double-headed Flame Crow gradually became pure and bright, with the mixed colors swiftly reducing, Zhou Zhu¡¯s eyes once again ignited with a flame called hope. The normally composed big man couldn¡¯t control his emotions and hurried to the front of the ¡°Washing and Protection¡± platform, leaning over with both hands on the table, staring intently at the Double-headed Flame Crow within arm¡¯s reach, and then spoke with a hesitant voice. ¡°Boss Xu, can you¡­ solve my Pet Beast¡¯s problem?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t make any guarantees but simply smiled mysteriously, his hands continuing their pressing and kneading motions. His strong hands left indentations on the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body, scraping over the beast¡¯s muscles and bones in the slick oil, with each pressure point fully stimulating the fire Power within the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body. Once, twice, thrice¡­ The cries of the Double-headed Flame Crow grew sharper and clearer, and the flames engulfing it became increasingly intense and vibrant. In the end, Xu Ran released his hands and stepped back a few paces. With flames shooting up to the sky, the Double-headed Flame Crow flapped its wings and hovered in midair. Its aura was clearly different from before, the surrounding firelight pure and brilliant, and there was no more disharmony between its two heads. ¡°This¡­¡± Du Qian, who watched the entire process, was dumbfounded and completely bewildered. ¡°Washing and Protection¡± in his mind should have been a service to maintain the state of a Pet Beast. How could it, when performed by Xu Ran, so easily resolve the issue of the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s conflicting consciousness? Before he could voice his question, Zhou Zhu on the other side couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Boss Xu, how exactly did you do it?¡± His eyes were filled with excitement, ¡°In the years since the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s evolution, I¡¯ve visited many evolutionary researchers and powerful Beast Masters.¡± ¡°They all expressed their helplessness regarding the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s problem.¡± ¡°But you resolved it so simply.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Because, the problem was actually easy to solve.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, during the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow, you must have forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes.¡± Zhou Zhu¡¯s expression became somewhat uncomfortable, but he still nodded, ¡°I truly couldn¡¯t find a Red Fire Crow willing to cooperate voluntarily, so I had to resort to this strategy.¡± ¡°To evolve from a Red Fire Crow into a Double-headed Flame Crow, one needs to absorb part of another of the same species¡¯ Spirit, and the closer the strength of that species is to the Red Fire Crow itself, the easier the evolution.¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°But there is one thing to note here.¡± ¡°That is, Spirit includes the emotions and tenacity of the original Red Fire Crow.¡± Chapter 595 - Chapter 595: Chapter 310 First Exploration_4 Chapter 595: Chapter 310 First Exploration_4 ¡°If another of the same species is willing to cooperate, it can minimize its own influence, and the second consciousness of the evolved Double-headed Flame Crow is born from the first consciousness. Although they are independent, their likes and personalities are similar, which naturally leads to perfect harmony,¡± ¡°But if another of the same species is unwilling to cooperate¡­¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°Its emotions and obsessions would leave a greater imprint within the Spirit that was taken, thereby influencing the newly born second consciousness.¡± ¡°You forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate with your Red Fire Crow¡¯s evolution, and the other¡¯s emotions were naturally resistant. That bit of emotion at that moment merged into the Spirit that your Red Fire Crow devoured, forging a new consciousness.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Red Fire Crow, ¡°So, the second consciousness tends to subconsciously resist the first consciousness¡¯s preferences and actions.¡± ¡°Commonly known as, being contrary.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s personality should be unchangeable, right?¡± Du Qian, who couldn¡¯t help but be curious, spoke up, ¡°Why can it change just with Washing and Protection?¡± Looking at the Double-headed Flame Crow now, its two heads seemed to be getting along exceptionally well, showing none of the previous animosity, as if in an instant they had gone from mortal enemies to best buddies. ¡°Well about that¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly cracked a smile, ¡°Those who are skilled at Washing and Protection being good at ¡®brainwashing¡¯ makes sense too, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Du Qian: ¡°???¡± Zhou Zhu: ¡°???¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°While the second consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow instinctively opposes the first consciousness, it doesn¡¯t have any memories of the Red Fire Crow that was forced.¡± ¡°Essentially, for the Double-headed Flame Crow, it¡¯s just a second self with a rebellious streak.¡± ¡°To erase the underlying subconscious resistance, you first need to increase its sense of identification with the first consciousness.¡± ¡°The one that disliked Washing and Protection grew to enjoy it under my care, just like the first consciousness did. This is secretly dissolving its inner defenses.¡± ¡°Following that, it¡¯s about using Washing and Protection to restructure the powers within the Double-headed Flame Crow.¡± The Beast Master of the Double-headed Flame Crow was named Zhou Zhu. He was well aware of his Pet Beast¡¯s condition. As a Transcendent Being with two independent consciousnesses, the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow was different from that of other Transcendent Beings. Its initial species was the Red Fire Crow. To evolve from a Red Fire Crow into a Double-headed Flame Crow, it needed the assistance of another Red Fire Crow. After the evolution was complete, the assisting Red Fire Crow would permanently lose a portion of its Power, as part of its Spirit would transform into the second consciousness of the Double-headed Flame Crow. Moreover, the assisting Red Fire Crow would lose the possibility of evolving into a Double-headed Flame Crow itself. No creature is willing to make a wedding dress for another, and Zhou Zhu, in his wish to ensure the successful evolution of his Red Fire Crow, reluctantly caught a wild Red Fire Crow and forced it to cooperate in the evolution. The evolution was successful, yet it failed too. His Red Fire Crow became a King Species Double-headed Flame Crow, but the newly born consciousness was too independent and seemed to have solidified the grievances of the wild Red Fire Crow, instinctively enjoying clashing with the original consciousness. Their Power also became chaotic and rigid due to the discord between the two consciousnesses, manifesting as flames around the Double-headed Flame Crow that were dark and mottled with many impurities. Originally, after repeated failed attempts and fruitless visits seeking help from the powerful, Zhou Zhu had given up on improving the condition of the Double-headed Flame Crow. But at this moment, as the flames surging around the Double-headed Flame Crow gradually became pure and bright, with impurities swiftly diminishing, hope reignited in Zhou Zhu¡¯s eyes. The composed man couldn¡¯t contain his emotions as he rushed to the Washing and Protection station, leaned heavily on the counter, and stared at the Double-headed Flame Crow up close. He then spoke, his voice tinged with hesitation. ¡°Boss Xu, can you¡­ solve the problem with my Pet Beast?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try,¡± Xu Ran replied with a mysterious smile, his kneading motions on the beast continuous and unending. His strong hands left indentations on the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s body, gliding through its muscles and bones amidst the bath oil, each press thoroughly stirring up the fire power within the beast. Once, twice, thrice¡­ The Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s cries became clearer and sharper, its flames around it growing more intense and fierce. Eventually, Xu Ran released his grip and stepped back several paces. As flames surged towards the sky, the Double-headed Flame Crow fluttered its wings and hovered in the air. Its aura had changed noticeably from before, the flames around its body pure and bright. The discordance between its two heads was also gone. ¡°This¡­¡± Du Qian, who had been watching the entire process, was struck dumb, completely bewildered. In his mind, Washing and Protection should only be a service to maintain the Pet Beast¡¯s condition. How did it turn out that Xu Ran could easily resolve even the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s consciousness conflict issue? Before he could voice his question, Zhou Zhu on the other side couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Boss Xu, how exactly did you manage to do that?¡± His eyes were filled with excitement, ¡°In the years following the evolution of the Double-headed Flame Crow, I¡¯ve visited many evolution researchers and powerful Beast Masters.¡± ¡°They all said there was nothing they could do about the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s problem,¡± he added. ¡°But you¡¯ve solved the issue so simply.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°because this problem was actually quite easy to solve.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, when evolving the Double-headed Flame Crow, you must have forced another Red Fire Crow to cooperate, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right,¡± Zhou Zhu¡¯s expression became somewhat awkward, but he nodded, ¡°I couldn¡¯t find any willing Red Fire Crows, so I resorted to this last measure.¡± ¡°To evolve into a Double-headed Flame Crow, a Red Fire Crow needs to absorb part of the spirit of another of its kind. The closer the strength of the other is to the Red Fire Crow itself, the easier the evolution,¡± Xu Ran spoke calmly, ¡°but there¡¯s a catch.¡± ¡°That spirit contains the emotions and obsessions of the original Red Fire Crow.¡± ¡°If the other of its kind is willing to cooperate, it can minimize its influence, making the second consciousness born from the evolution nearly identical to the first in preference and personality, naturally creating perfect harmony.¡± ¡°However, if the other does not wish to cooperate¡­¡± Xu Ran paused briefly, ¡°its emotions and obsessions will linger more in the spirit taken, influencing the newly formed second consciousness.¡± ¡°You forced another Red Fire Crow to help your Red Fire Crow evolve, the opposition¡¯s emotions were naturally resistant. That trace of emotion at that time merged into the spirit consumed by your Red Fire Crow, creating a new consciousness.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Red Fire Crow, ¡°Thus, the second consciousness will always subconsciously oppose the preferences and actions of the first.¡± ¡°Commonly known as, being contradictory.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the Double-headed Flame Crow¡¯s personality should be unchangeable, right?¡± Du Qian couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity, ¡°Why can Washing and Protection change it?¡± Looking at the Double-headed Flame Crow now, its two heads seemed unusually harmonious together, none of the previous hostility apparent, as if they had instantly gone from mortal enemies to best buddies. Chapter 596 - Chapter 596: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror Chapter 596: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror Star had once again lifted its hooves to journey on, and Thunder Peak wasn¡¯t too far away. At its speed, it took only a dozen or so breaths to reach the foot of Thunder Peak. Signaling to Star to maintain Moon Concealment Star Racing¡¯s stealth capability, Xu Ran dismounted and stood in place, slightly tilting his head to look towards the middle of the mountain. With some distance in between, the view hadn¡¯t been clear, but now, along with one person and three Pet Beasts arriving at the foot of the mountain, he could make out more details. Fierce mountain rocks occasionally exploded with a burst of electric light. Beneath every flash of light, one or two slender and thin silhouettes could faintly be seen. Those were Thunder Sound Bats. With his sharp eyesight, Xu Ran was able to clearly discern those figures, and his heart steadied slightly. Although Thunder Sound Bats weren¡¯t Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they too preferred to be active at night. At this moment, it was their most active time. The surging electricity across the mountain was the result of the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ rapid skimming. It was evident that, being Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, they enjoyed the sensation of stimulating light with their movements, and would even actively gather in the electric light as if to bathe in it. Even Ziyun, upon seeing the movements of the Thunder Sound Bats, couldn¡¯t help feeling tempted to try. It looked rather fun. ¡°Don¡¯t forget our main task,¡± Xu Ran tapped Ziyun¡¯s head lightly and whispered, ¡°Thunder Sound Bats have a Two stars Skill called Electric Sound Echo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a detection class Skill, and even Star¡¯s Moon Concealment Star Racing might not be completely undetectable to them.¡± ¡°So, we need to keep ourselves as quiet as possible,¡± Xu Ran looked around before pointing in another direction, ¡°Let¡¯s go there and see, circling around these guys.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star walked at the forefront, stretching out the stealth power of Moon Concealment Star Racing to its full extent, cloaking itself, Xu Ran, and the two smaller companions behind it. One person and three Pet Beasts tiptoed around the area where the Thunder Sound Bats played and frolicked, quickly arriving at an even more remote and quiet part of the mountainside. There, they found several clear cave entrances, about one meter in size, pitch-black inside, with no way to tell just how deep they were. Now and then, Xu Ran could spot one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out from the cave entrances, and others from different areas entering them. Without a doubt, the other end of these openings must be where the Thunder Sound Bats nested. ¡°Cancan~¡± (Should we go take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a little longer,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The situation is unclear for the moment; don¡¯t go in to avoid any accidents.¡± ¡°Cancan?¡± (Then shall I try Echoing of Earth Vein to probe?) Chapter 597 - Chapter 597: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_2 Chapter 597: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_2 The distance was quite far, and the view was not clear. But now, as a person with three Pet Beasts arrived at the foot of the mountain, he saw more details. On the fierce-looking rocks, from time to time, a streak of Thunder Light would explode. And with each flash of Thunder Light, one or two slender and skinny figures appeared faintly. Those were Thunder Sound Bats. Having looked at those figures with his strong eyesight, Xu Ran¡¯s heart steadied slightly. Although Thunder Sound Bats were not Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they too preferred to be active at night. At this moment, it was their most active time. The surging Thunder Light throughout the mountain was also due to the fast sweeping flight of the Thunder Sound Bats. Clearly, they as Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts relished the sensation of their movements stirring up Thunder Light and would even willingly flock to the midst of the Thunder Light as if to bathe in it. Even Ziyun, upon seeing the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ actions, could hardly resist the urge to try it out. It looked quite fun. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the task at hand,¡± Xu Ran tapped Ziyun¡¯s head with neither light nor heavy touch and spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°Thunder Sound Bats have a Two stars Skill called Electric Sound Echo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a detection type Skill, and even Star¡¯s Moon Concealment Star Racing may not be entirely undetectable by them.¡± ¡°Therefore, we need to make our noises as minimal as possible,¡± Xu Ran looked around and then pointed in another direction, ¡°Let¡¯s go over there and pass by this group of creatures.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star walked at the front, maximally expanding the concealment power of Moon Concealment Star Racing, enveloping itself, Xu Ran, and the other two small ones behind. The person and three Pet Beasts tiptoed around the area where the Thunder Sound Bats were frolicking and playing, soon reaching another part of the mountain that was quieter and more secluded. There, clear cave entrances were seen, about a meter in size, pitch-black inside, with no way to tell how deep they were. Every now and then, Xu Ran could see one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out of the caves; others from different places entered them. Without doubt, the other end of these entrances must be where the nests of the Thunder Sound Bats were located. ¡°Cha~¡± (Shall we go take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The situation is unclear for the time being, don¡¯t go in yet, to avoid any accidents.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Then shall I use Echoing of Earth Vein to probe?) The starting point of Star¡¯s next sprint was not too far from Thunder Peak. With its speed, it would take only a dozen breaths to reach the foot of Thunder Peak. Signaling for Star to continue maintaining the concealment ability of Moon Concealment Star Racing, Xu Ran dismounted, stood in place, and looked up slightly toward the mountain waist. The distance was quite far, and the view was not clear. But now, as a person with three Pet Beasts arrived at the foot of the mountain, he saw more details. On the fierce-looking rocks, from time to time, a streak of Thunder Light would explode. And with each flash of Thunder Light, one or two slender and skinny figures appeared faintly. Chapter 598 - Chapter 598: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_3 Chapter 598: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_3 Those were Thunder Sound Bats. With his keen eyesight, Xu Ran could make out those figures and felt slightly more certain in his heart. Although Thunder Sound Bats were not Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they too preferred nocturnal activities. At this moment, they were most active. The electric sparks that rocked the entire mountain were also a result of the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ swift flight. It was apparent that as Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, they enjoyed the sensation of stirring up sparks with their movements, even actively approaching the light sparks as if to bathe in them. Even Ziyun couldn¡¯t help feeling tempted to try when she saw the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ antics. It looked quite fun. ¡°Don¡¯t forget our main task,¡± Xu Ran tapped Ziyun¡¯s head with moderate force and lowered his voice, ¡°The Thunder Sound Bats possess a Two stars skill called ¡®Electric Sound Echo¡¯.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a detection type of skill, and even Star¡¯s ¡®Moon Concealment Star Racing¡¯ may not be completely undetectable to them.¡± ¡°Therefore, we need to keep our noise as low as possible,¡± Xu Ran looked around, then pointed in another direction, ¡°Let¡¯s go that way, avoiding this group.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star walked at the forefront, stretching the power of ¡®Moon Concealment Star Racing¡¯ to its maximum extent to envelop itself, Xu Ran, and the other two little ones behind it. The man and his three Pet Beasts tiptoed around the area where the Thunder Sound Bats were frolicking and quarreling, soon reaching another secluded and deeper part of the mountainside. There, there were several clear cave entrances, roughly one meter in size, with interiors so dark that it was impossible to judge their depth. Every now and then, Xu Ran could see one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out of a cave entrance, as well as others from different places entering the caves. Without a doubt, the other end of these entrances must be where the nests of the Thunder Sound Bats were located. ¡°Cancan~¡± (Shall we take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The situation isn¡¯t clear for now, don¡¯t go in yet to avoid any accidents.¡± ¡°Cancan?¡± (Shall I use ¡®Echoing of Earth Vein¡¯ to probe a bit?) Star¡¯s position for beginning its journey once more wasn¡¯t too far from Thunder Peak. With its speed, it took just a dozen breaths to reach the foot of Thunder Peak. Signaling Star to continue maintaining the concealment power of ¡®Moon Concealment Star Racing¡¯, Xu Ran dismounted, stood in place, and slightly looked up towards the mountainside. The distance was relatively far, too far to see clearly, but now that he had arrived at the foot of the mountain with his three Pet Beasts, he could see many more details. On the ferocious mountain rocks, an electric light would occasionally explode. And with each burst of light, one or two long and slender figures appeared faintly. Those were Thunder Sound Bats. With his strong eyesight, Xu Ran saw those figures and his heart felt slightly more certain. Although Thunder Sound Bats were not Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they still liked nocturnal activities. At this moment, they were at their most lively. Chapter 599 - Chapter 599: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_4 Chapter 599: Chapter 311: Thunder Peak, Night of Terror_4 The surging electric light across the mountain was also caused by the rapid swooping of the Thunder Sound Bats. It seemed that as Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, they really enjoyed the sensation of stirring up electric light with their movements, even actively moving into the light as if bathing in it. Even Ziyun, upon seeing the actions of the Thunder Sound Bats, could hardly resist wanting to try it himself. It looked like quite a bit of fun. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what we¡¯re here for,¡± Xu Ran tapped lightly on Ziyun¡¯s head and spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°The Thunder Sound Bats have a Two stars Skills called Electric Sound Echo.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a detection skill, and even Star¡¯s Moon Concealment Star Racing might not be completely undetectable to them.¡± ¡°So, we need to make our movements as quiet as possible,¡± Xu Ran surveyed the surroundings and then pointed in a different direction, ¡°Let¡¯s go check over there, bypassing this bunch.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star led the way, stretching the stealth power of Moon Concealment Star Racing to its fullest, cloaking itself, Xu Ran behind it, and the other two little ones. The man and three Pet Beasts tiptoed past the area where the Thunder Sound Bats were frolicking and soon arrived at another, more secluded and tranquil part of the mountainside. There, there were several distinct cave entrances, roughly a meter in size, with pitch-black interiors that made it impossible to assess their depth. Every now and then, Xu Ran could see one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out from the caves and others from different places entering into them. Without a doubt, the other side of the caves must be where the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ nests were located. ¡°Cha~¡± (Shall we take a look?) Cancan was somewhat eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, ¡°The situation is unclear for now, let¡¯s not go in yet to avoid accidents.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Shall I use Echoing of Earth Vein to probe?) Star suggested, ready to start again from its position, not far from Thunder Peak. With its speed, it took just a dozen breaths to reach the base of Thunder Peak. Signaling Star to continue maintaining the stealth power of Moon Concealment Star Racing, Xu Ran dismounted and stood still, looking up towards the mountainside. It was quite a distance away, and not very clear, but now, as the man and three Pet Beasts arrived at the base of the mountain, he saw more details. On the fierce-looking rocks, electric light would occasionally explode. And beneath each flash of electric light, one could glimpse one or two slender and delicate figures. They were the Thunder Sound Bats. Clearly seeing those figures with his powerful vision, Xu Ran felt a slight certainty in his heart. Although the Thunder Sound Bats were not Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they likewise enjoyed being active at night. This moment was their most active time. The surging electric light across the mountain was also caused by the rapid swooping of the Thunder Sound Bats. It seemed that as Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, they really enjoyed the sensation of stirring up electric light with their movements, even actively moving into the light as if bathing in it. Even Ziyun, upon seeing the actions of the Thunder Sound Bats, could hardly resist wanting to try it himself. It looked like quite a bit of fun. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what we¡¯re here for,¡± Xu Ran tapped lightly on Ziyun¡¯s head and spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°The Thunder Sound Bats have a Two stars Skills called Electric Sound Echo.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a detection skill, and even Star¡¯s Moon Concealment Star Racing might not be completely undetectable to them.¡± ¡°So, we need to make our movements as quiet as possible,¡± Xu Ran surveyed the surroundings and then pointed in a different direction, ¡°Let¡¯s go check over there, bypassing this bunch.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star led the way, stretching the stealth power of Moon Concealment Star Racing to its fullest, cloaking itself, Xu Ran behind it, and the other two little ones. The man and three Pet Beasts tiptoed past the area where the Thunder Sound Bats were frolicking and soon arrived at another, more secluded and tranquil part of the mountainside. There, there were several distinct cave entrances, roughly a meter in size, with pitch-black interiors that made it impossible to assess their depth. Xu Ran would occasionally see one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out of the cave entrance, as well as Thunder Sound Bats from other places entering the cave. Without a doubt, the other end of the cave entrance must be where the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ nest was located. ¡°Cha~¡± (Should we go take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran slightly shook his head, ¡°The situation is unclear for now, don¡¯t go in there yet to prevent any accidents.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Then should I use Echoing of Earth Vein to detect?) The position where Star raised its hoof to depart was not far from Thunder Peak. With its speed, it took only a dozen or so breaths to reach the foot of Thunder Peak. Signaling Star to continue maintaining the stealth capability of Moon Concealment Star Racing, Xu Ran dismounted, stood on the spot, and slightly raised his head to look toward the position midway up the mountain. Being quite a distance away, the details were not clear, but now, with one person and three Pet Beasts arriving at the foot of the mountain, he saw many more details. On the ferocious rocks, occasionally there would be a flash of electric light. And with each flash of light, one or two slender and delicate silhouettes were faintly visible. Those were Thunder Sound Bats. Seeing those figures clearly with his powerful vision, Xu Ran¡¯s heart steadied slightly. Although Thunder Sound Bats were not Dark Attribute Pet Beasts, they still preferred to be active at night. At this moment, it was their most active time. The surging electric light covering the mountain was also due to the fast swooping of the Thunder Sound Bats. It was evident that, as Thunder Attribute Pet Beasts, they enjoyed the feeling of stirring up electric light with their movements, to the extent that they would even actively move into the light as if basking in it. Even Ziyun, seeing the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ actions, felt somewhat uncontrollable urge to give it a try. It looked quite interesting. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what we¡¯re here for.¡± Xu Ran tapped Ziyun¡¯s head lightly and spoke in a low voice, ¡°The Thunder Sound Bats possess a Two stars Skill called Electric Sound Echo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a detection skill, and even Star¡¯s Moon Concealment Star Racing may not be able to completely avoid detection by them.¡± ¡°So, we need to make as little noise as possible,¡± Xu Ran looked around and then pointed in another direction, ¡°Let¡¯s check over there, bypassing this group.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go.) Star walked in front, extending the stealth power of Moon Concealment Star Racing to its fullest, enveloping itself, Xu Ran, and the other two little ones behind it. One person and three Pet Beasts tiptoed around the area where the Thunder Sound Bats were frolicking, quickly arriving at another more secluded part of the mountain waist. There, clear cave entrances were visible, about one meter in size, with pitch-black interiors that made it impossible to determine their depth. Xu Ran would occasionally see one or two Thunder Sound Bats flying out of the cave entrance, as well as other Thunder Sound Bats from other places entering the cave. Without a doubt, the other end of the cave entrance must be where the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ nest was located. ¡°Cha~¡± (Should we go take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran slightly shook his head, ¡°The situation is unclear for now, don¡¯t go in there yet to prevent any accidents.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Then should I use Echoing of Earth Vein to detect?) Without a doubt, the other end of the cave entrance must be where the Thunder Sound Bats¡¯ nest was located. ¡°Cha~¡± (Should we go take a look?) Cancan seemed eager to try. ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Xu Ran slightly shook his head, ¡°The situation is unclear for now, don¡¯t go in there yet to prevent any accidents.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Then should I use Echoing of Earth Vein to detect?) Chapter 600 - Chapter 600: Chapter 312: Slashing the Bat King! Chapter 600: Chapter 312: Slashing the Bat King! [Editing in progress, check back tomorrow] A hint of anticipation flickered through the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. After guarding against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, it had a thorough understanding of its adversary¡¯s abilities, estimating its own chances of winning a fight to the death at about sixty percent. Therefore, it was certain to be the one to have the last laugh. It had already decided that after taking the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race once more to migrate, seeking out a secluded and safe location to earnestly attempt evolving into the Emperor Species. Beast Field No. 47 was about to hear the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King¡¯s proclamation! ¡°Squeak~~¡± For the coming two months, I shall not return. Looking at his wife, the Queen of the race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King spoke thusly. The last two months were of utmost importance, not tolerating the slightest negligence. A look of reluctance was in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen, but it also understood how vital that resource was to its husband and their whole race. After prattling a few words of advice and blessings, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King depart before returning with the majority of the Thunder Sound Bat Race. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (They¡¯re here!) With a fervent neigh, Star pierced the pitch-black night, its echo resounding through the desolate valley. Its eyes, now entirely transformed into pure black with mysterious chains intertwined within, gazed intently at a rapidly enlarging speck on the horizon, glimmering with a strange radiance. Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Night Inspection. This skill, developed and elevated through fusion, now had numerous uses, but that didn¡¯t interfere with its original function of enhancing eyesight. In the darkness of night, it remained Star¡¯s most advantageous surveillance method. ¡°Hmm?¡± Startled from meditation, Xu Ran immediately opened his eyes and followed Star¡¯s gaze, leaping without hesitation from the large stone upon which he was seated onto Star¡¯s back. ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (They¡¯re here!) Ziyun, already tensed and ready to spring at Star¡¯s warning, responded with a cry and its aura rapidly shifted. Its slender body transformed in an instant into a white and purple longsword that seemed as though it could slice through the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± With a neigh, Star¡¯s starlight converged from the void, twisting into invisible chains linking it to Xu Ran. In an instant, the auras of the man and beast blended as one, their power skyrocketing like a rocket! Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Fated Star Pulling! Yet, this was still not the end! Amidst the profound darkness and the bright starlight woven together, layer upon layer of splendid radiance that resembled the starry sky showered down on Star and Xu Ran, propelling their power to surge once again! Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Prayer of Starry Night! Holding strength at its peak, Xu Ran uttered a low command and grabbed Ziyun, now in the form of a longsword, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. In that moment, his aura became deep and piercing, while at the tip of the longsword, the radiance formed an edge that seemed capable of piercing the heavens! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the battlefield to me!) Cancan barked, and a torrential earthy yellow halo surged around him before sweeping across the land like a fierce wave and spreading far into the distance. Its body swiftly enlarged, not continuing to grow immense but reverting to its original body type, resembling a small hillock, firmly defending by Xu Ran¡¯s side! Nodding towards Cancan and beholding the figure becoming clearer in the void, Xu Ran took a deep breath and, without hesitation, swung the longsword! ¡°Clang!!!¡± A resonant sword cry shattered the stillness of the night! A blade of concentrated thunder as its edge and the dark, profound night as its body tore through the sky, ruthlessly striking at the unsuspecting Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! That night was startling! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C A hint of anticipation flickered through the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. After guarding against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, it had a thorough understanding of its adversary¡¯s abilities, estimating its own chances of winning a fight to the death at about sixty percent. Therefore, it was certain to be the one to have the last laugh. It had already decided that after taking the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race once more to migrate, seeking out a secluded and safe location to earnestly attempt evolving into the Emperor Species. Beast Field No. 47 was about to hear the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King¡¯s proclamation! ¡°Squeak~~¡± For the coming two months, I shall not return. Looking at his wife, the Queen of the race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King spoke thusly. The last two months were of utmost importance, not tolerating the slightest negligence. A look of reluctance was in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen, but it also understood how vital that resource was to its husband and their whole race. After prattling a few words of advice and blessings, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King depart before returning with the majority of the Thunder Sound Bat Race. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (They¡¯re here!) With a fervent neigh, Star pierced the pitch-black night, its echo resounding through the desolate valley. Its eyes, now entirely transformed into pure black with mysterious chains intertwined within, gazed intently at a rapidly enlarging speck on the horizon, glimmering with a strange radiance. Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Night Inspection. This skill, developed and elevated through fusion, now had numerous uses, but that didn¡¯t interfere with its original function of enhancing eyesight. In the darkness of night, it remained Star¡¯s most advantageous surveillance method. ¡°Hmm?¡± Startled from meditation, Xu Ran immediately opened his eyes and followed Star¡¯s gaze, leaping without hesitation from the large stone upon which he was seated onto Star¡¯s back. Chapter 601 - Chapter 601: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_2 Chapter 601: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_2 ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m here!) Ziyun, already taut with anticipation from the star¡¯s warning, responded. Then, in a swift motion, his slender body transformed into a longsword with a white-purple hue that seemed capable of slicing through the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star let out a spirited neigh, as starlight converged from the void, twisting into invisible chains, linking it with Xu Ran. In an instant, the bond between person and pet fused, and their power began to surge up like a rocket, climbing higher and higher! Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Fated Star Pulling! And yet, this wasn¡¯t all! Amidst the intertwining darkness and bright starlight, layers upon layers of splendorous glow, reminiscent of the celestial dome, showered around Star and Xu Ran, catapulting their power once more to explosive heights! Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Prayer of Starry Night! Having reached the peak of his strength, Xu Ran let out a low shout and grabbed the longsword that Ziyun had become, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. His aura became profound and piercing in an instant, and at the tip of the longsword, the radiance appeared sharp enough to pierce the skies! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the clearing to me!) Cancan let out a low cry, a majestic earthen-yellow halo swirling around him, then unfurled like a tempest, sweeping across the land and spreading toward the distance. His body quickly grew larger, stopping short of continuous enlargement but returning to his original size, standing like a small mountain, firmly guarding by Xu Ran¡¯s side. Nodding at Cancan and gazing at the increasingly distinct figures in the void, Xu Ran took a deep breath and then swung the longsword without hesitation! ¡°Clang!!!¡± A clear ring of the sword shattered the silence of the night! A sword shadow, with a blade of concentrated lightning and a body as dark and profound as the night sky, tore the heavens asunder, viciously aimed at the unprepared Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! This night, a frightful encounter! A flicker of anticipation passed through the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. Having been on guard against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, it knew the other¡¯s abilities like the back of its hand, now fighting a life-and-death battle, it calculated about a sixty percent chance of victory. So, it would surely have the last laugh. It had already planned that after taking the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race to migrate once again, seeking a remote and safe place to focus on evolving into the Emperor Species. This Legion Field No. 47 should finally hear the voice of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! ¡°Squeak~~¡± I won¡¯t come back for the next two months. Looking at his wife, the queen of the race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King said so. The last two months were of the utmost importance, not a time for carelessness. In the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen, there was reluctance, but she also understood how crucial that resource was to her husband and their entire race. After several murmured advices and blessings, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched as the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King departed, then led the main body of the Thunder Sound Bat Race back home. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (I¡¯m here!) Star let out a passionate neigh, echoing in the empty valley amid the pitch-black night. Its eyes, now completely turned pure black with mysterious chains tangled within, gazed from afar at a tiny spot rapidly growing larger at the edge of heaven, a strange gleam flickering in its gaze. Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Night Inspection. This skill, having evolved and improved, now had multiple uses, but that didn¡¯t hinder its original purpose of enhancing vision. In the darkness of night, it always served as Star¡¯s most advantageous surveillance method. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran, deep in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of Star¡¯s gaze. Without any hesitation, he leaped from the large rock where he was sitting cross-legged onto Star¡¯s back. ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m here!) Ziyun, already taut with anticipation from the star¡¯s warning, responded. Then, in a swift motion, his slender body transformed into a longsword with a white-purple hue that seemed capable of slicing through the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star let out a spirited neigh, as starlight converged from the void, twisting into invisible chains, linking it with Xu Ran. In an instant, the bond between person and pet fused, and their power began to surge up like a rocket, climbing higher and higher! Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Fated Star Pulling! And yet, this wasn¡¯t all! Amidst the intertwining darkness and bright starlight, layers upon layers of splendorous glow, reminiscent of the celestial dome, showered around Star and Xu Ran, catapulting their power once more to explosive heights! Four Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Prayer of Starry Night! Having reached the peak of his strength, Xu Ran let out a low shout and grabbed the longsword that Ziyun had become, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. His aura became profound and piercing in an instant, and at the tip of the longsword, the radiance appeared sharp enough to pierce the skies! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the clearing to me!) Cancan let out a low cry, a majestic earthen-yellow halo swirling around him, then unfurled like a tempest, sweeping across the land and spreading toward the distance. His body quickly grew larger, stopping short of continuous enlargement but returning to his original size, standing like a small mountain, firmly guarding by Xu Ran¡¯s side. Nodding at Cancan and gazing at the increasingly distinct figures in the void, Xu Ran took a deep breath and then swung the longsword without hesitation! ¡°Clang!!!¡± Chapter 602 - Chapter 602: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_3 Chapter 602: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_3 A clear and piercing sound of a blade shattered the night¡¯s silence! A blade shadow, its edge formed of thunder gathered to the utmost extreme and its body the profound and dark night sky, ripped through the heavens, slashing viciously at the unsuspecting Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! This night, souls were startled! A hint of anticipation flickered in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. After being on guard against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, the bat king was confident in its understanding of its opponent¡¯s abilities, and now facing a life-and-death struggle, it had about a sixty percent chance of victory. So, it was certain it would have the last laugh. It had already decided that after taking away the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race to migrate again to a remote and safe place to wholeheartedly attempt evolving into an Emperor Species. This Beast Field No. 47 ought to have the voice of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! ¡°Squeak~~¡± I won¡¯t be coming back for the next two months. Gazing at his wife, the queen of the race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King thus spoke. The last two months were of utmost importance, allowing no room for negligence. In the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen lingered reluctance, but it understood just as well how vital that resource was for its husband and the entire race. After chatting incessantly with a few words of caution and blessing, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King leave, then led the large troop of the Thunder Sound Bat Race back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (He¡¯s here!) Star issued an exuberant neigh, echoing through the empty valley in the pitch-black night. Its eyes, now transformed into pure black with mysterious chains intertwined within, stared distantly at a small dot rapidly enlarging at the edge of the sky, flashing with a strange light. Three Star Skill, Halo Level?Night Inspection. This skill, with its fusion and enhancement, now possessed many uses, yet this did not hinder its original purpose of enhancing visual acuity. In the darkness of night, it was always Star¡¯s most advantageous monitoring tool. ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Ran, who was deep in meditation, abruptly opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of Star¡¯s gaze, then unhesitatingly leaped from the large stone where he was seated cross-legged onto Star¡¯s back. ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (He¡¯s here!) Ziyun, already tensed and ready to spring at Star¡¯s warning, responded with a sound and then its aura shifted rapidly, its slender body transforming into a white-purple longsword that seemed capable of slicing through the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level?Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star neighed, and starlight converged from the void, tangling into invisible chains linking itself with Xu Ran, instantly merging the aura of man and pet into one, their power skyrocketing in a moment like a rocket! Three Star Skill, Halo Level?Fated Star Pulling! And yet, there was more! Amidst the intertwining darkness profound and the bright starlight, layers of splendor as magnificent as the starry sky cascaded around Star and Xu Ran, propelling their power to surge once again! Four Star Skill, Halo Level?Prayer of Starry Night! With his strength at its peak, Xu Ran let out a low shout and grabbed Ziyun in its longsword form, a sharp light emerging in his eyes. His aura in that instant turned deep and sharp, and at the tip of the longsword, the light transformed into a blade edge that seemed capable of piercing the sky! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the clean-up to me!) Cancan let out a low bark, and a tremendous earthy yellow halo surged around him, then swept out like raging waves, extending towards the distance. His body rapidly enlarged, not continuing to grow massive, but reverting to its original body type like a small hill, steadfastly guarding Xu Ran¡¯s side! Nodding toward Cancan and eyeing the figure becoming clearer in the void, Xu Ran took a deep breath and then, without any hesitation, swung the longsword! ¡°Zeng!!!!¡± A clear and piercing sound of a blade shattered the night¡¯s silence! A blade shadow, its edge formed of thunder gathered to the utmost extreme and its body the profound and dark night sky, ripped through the heavens, slashing viciously at the unsuspecting Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! This night, souls were startled! A hint of anticipation flickered in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. After being on guard against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, the bat king was confident in its understanding of its opponent¡¯s abilities, and now facing a life-and-death struggle, it had about a sixty percent chance of victory. So, it was certain it would have the last laugh. It had already decided that after taking away the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race to migrate again to a remote and safe place to wholeheartedly attempt evolving into an Emperor Species. This Beast Field No. 47 ought to have the voice of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! ¡°Squeak~~¡± I won¡¯t be coming back for the next two months. Gazing at his wife, the queen of the race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King thus spoke. The last two months were of utmost importance, allowing no room for negligence. In the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen lingered reluctance, but it understood just as well how vital that resource was for its husband and the entire race. After chatting incessantly with a few words of caution and blessing, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King leave, then led the large troop of the Thunder Sound Bat Race back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (He¡¯s here!) Star issued an exuberant neigh, echoing through the empty valley in the pitch-black night. Its eyes, now transformed into pure black with mysterious chains intertwined within, stared distantly at a small dot rapidly enlarging at the edge of the sky, flashing with a strange light. Three Star Skill, Halo Level?Night Inspection. This skill, with its fusion and enhancement, now possessed many uses, yet this did not hinder its original purpose of enhancing visual acuity. Chapter 603 - Chapter 603: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_4 Chapter 603: Chapter 312: Slaying the Bat King!_4 In the heart of the night, it was always the most advantageous surveillance method for the stars. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran, who was deep in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of the stars¡¯ gaze without a moment¡¯s hesitation, then leaped from the large boulder where he sat cross-legged onto Star¡¯s back. ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Coming!) Ziyun, whose body had already tensed at Star¡¯s warning, responded. Then, with its aura quickly changing, its slender body transformed into a white and purple longsword that seemed capable of slicing through the void. Four Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star let out a neigh as starlight gathered from the void, intertwining into invisible chains that linked it with Xu Ran. In an instant, master and pet¡¯s auras fused as one, and their power skyrocketed as if on a rocket, climbing by leaps and bounds! Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Fated Star Pulling! And it wasn¡¯t over yet! As the profound darkness and bright starlight interwove and flickered, layer upon layer of resplendent light, like a starry dome, showered down beside Star and Xu Ran, pushing their power to surge once again! Four Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Prayer of Starry Night! Xu Ran, having elevated his strength to its peak, let out a low shout, raised his hand, and grabbed the longsword that Ziyun had transformed into, his eyes shimmering with a sharp light. His aura became profound and keen in an instant, the tip of the longsword radiating a glow that seemed capable of piercing the heavens! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the clearing to me!) Cancan let out a low shout, and a majestic earthy-yellow halo surged around him. Then, like raging waves, it swept across the land and spread towards the distance. His body swiftly enlarged. Although he did not continue to grow massive, he returned to his original size, standing like a small mountain firm beside Xu Ran! Xu Ran nodded at Cancan and, gazing at the gradually materializing figures in the void, took a deep breath and then slashed with the longsword without any hesitation! ¡°Zeng!!!¡± The clear sound of the blade cleaved through the silence of the night! A blade shadow that had gathered the pinnacle of thunder as its edge and the dark, profound night sky as its body tore through the heavens, ruthlessly slashing towards the unsuspecting Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! This night was startling. A glint of anticipation flashed in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. Having kept a wary eye on the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, the Bat King knew his opponent¡¯s capabilities as well as the back of his hand. Now, facing life-or-death combat, he saw a sixty percent chance of victory. So, he was sure to be the one to laugh last. He had already planned. Once he secured the Extinct Thunder Attraction, he would lead his race on another migration, to a remote and safe place to earnestly attempt evolution into an Emperor Species. It was time for Beast Field #47 to hear the voice of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! ¡°Squee~~¡± I won¡¯t be coming back for the next two months. Looking at his wife, the queen of his race, thus spoke the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. The last two months were critical, allowing no room for error. The eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen held reluctance, but she understood how crucial that resource was to her husband and to their entire race. After rambling on with several words of caution and blessings, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched as the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King left, then led the bulk of the Thunder Sound Bat Race back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Coming!) Star let out a fervent neigh that echoed through the empty valley in the pitch-black night. Its eyes, now completely turned pure black with mysterious chains entwined within, stared at a rapidly enlarging point on the horizon, twinkling with a strange light. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Night Inspection. This skill, as it merged and enhanced, had gained many uses, but that didn¡¯t hinder its original function as a skill to improve vision. In the pitch darkness, the stars always serve as the most advantageous means of surveillance. ¡°Hmm?¡± While meditating, Xu Ran suddenly opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of the starlight. Without hesitation, he leapt from the large stone where he was sitting cross-legged onto the back of Star. ¡°Ziyun!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m here!) Ziyun, already tense and ready at the warning of Star, responded and then his aura rapidly changed. His slender body shook and transformed into a longsword that seemed capable of slicing through the void, its white and purple glow shining brightly. Four Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤ Immortal Body! ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Star neighed as starlight gathered from the void, intertwining into invisible chains connecting it to Xu Ran. In an instant, master and pet¡¯s auras fused into one, their strength soaring as if riding on a rocket, climbing higher with each second! Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤ Fated Star Pulling! And it didn¡¯t stop there! As the depths of darkness interwove with the bright starlight, layers upon layers of gloriously resplendent light akin to the starry sky cascaded around Star and Xu Ran, propelling their power to surge once more! Four Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤ Prayer of Starry Night! Raising his strength to its peak, Xu Ran let out a low shout and grasped the longsword that Ziyun had become, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint. His aura became deep and edged in an instant, with the tip of the sword shining so brightly it seemed to pierce the heavens! ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave the clean-up to me!) Cancan roared lowly as a majestic earthy yellow halo surged around him, then swept across the land like raging waves, spreading towards the distance. His body rapidly grew larger, not continuing to increase in size, but returning to its original body type, like a small mountain, firmly guarding Xu Ran¡¯s side! Nodding towards Cancan and looking at the increasingly distinct figures in the void, Xu Ran took a deep breath and then, without any hesitation, swung the longsword! ¡°Tzing!!!¡± A clear and melodious sword cry shattered the silence of the night! A blade shadow, formed by the ultimate convergence of thunder as the blade edge and the dark, profound night sky as the blade body, tore through the heavens, striking mercilessly at the unsuspecting Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! This night was filled with shock! A hint of anticipation flashed in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. After being on guard against the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow for over a year, it knew its opponent¡¯s abilities like the back of its hand. The bat king believed it had a sixty percent chance of winning this life-or-death battle. Therefore, it would surely be the last one laughing. It had already planned that after taking the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it would lead its race to migrate again, to a secluded and safe place to focus on evolving into an Emperor Species. This Beast Field number 47 should hear the voice of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King! ¡°Squeak~~¡± I won¡¯t return for the next two months. Looking at his wife, the Queen of his race, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King spoke thus. The last two months were of the utmost importance, brooking no negligence. There was a tinge of reluctance in the eyes of the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen, but she also understood the importance of that resource for her husband and for their entire race. After muttering a few words of caution and blessing, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat Queen watched the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King leave, then led the majority of the Thunder Sound Bat Race back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s coming!) Star let out an impassioned neigh that echoed through the empty valley in the pitch-black night. Its eyes had turned completely black, with mysterious chains woven within, fixedly gazing at a fast-growing dot at the edge of the sky, shimmering with an unusual light. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤ Night Inspection. This skill had developed many uses with its fusion and level-up, but that didn¡¯t interfere with its original function of enhancing vision. Chapter 604 - Chapter 604: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base Chapter 604: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base [Under revision, available tomorrow morning] Having decided how to arrange Song Xuan¡¯s tasks, Xu Ran glanced at the business card in hand and remembered something else. Just now, Song Xuan had invited him to first visit her Pet Beast Breeding Base. And he was indeed somewhat interested. On one hand, an on-site visit would allow him to see the specific conditions of the Pet Beasts that required Washing and Protection. How many small size, medium size, how many large size, and how many Pet Beasts with Washing and Protection requirements above four stars¡ªthese would all be clear at a glance. On the other hand¡­ Xu Ran was genuinely curious about the Pet Beast Breeding Base. Thinking about it, he had already been at the Fourth Stage for some time. With the meditation speed provided by stacking two Meditation Acceleration Cards, Xu Ran could feel the beckoning of the Fifth Stage from afar. If nothing unexpected happened, his breakthrough should occur in no more than two months. Therefore, considering the choice for his fifth contract beast needed to be scheduled in advance. Although he had not reclaimed Twelve, and the fourth contract had not yet been made, did that conflict? Not at all. For his fifth Pet Beast, Xu Ran currently had only one requirement. That was, it must not share the same Attribute with the other four. Thus, his choices were narrowed down to water, fire, ice, wind, and light Attributes. As for other requirements and directions, Xu Ran had none. Perhaps looking at the Pet Beasts at the Breeding Base could bring him some inspiration. With this thought, Xu Ran quickly made a decision to take the three little ones to have a look during today¡¯s lunch break. Using Contractual Sensing to convey his decision to the three little ones training diligently in the Training Area, Xu Ran quickly walked to the entrance of the Foster Shop, shouting to the long line of customers waiting outside. ¡°Next, please.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Chya?¡± (Did you hear what Xu Ran said? He¡¯s going to take us to the Pet Beast Breeding Base at noon.) The three little ones who had finished training walked out of the Training Area almost simultaneously. Cancan approached Ziyun and Star, lowering its voice sneakily and starting to talk. ¡°Meow~¡± (Xu Ran told me too. I think he¡¯s probably planning to find our fifth member, right?) Ziyun calmly licked its paw, but the occasional flicker of nervousness in its eyes still betrayed it. No wonder it would think so. Although none of the three little ones came from a Pet Beast Breeding Base, they were all quite clear on what purpose a Breeding Base served. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (What I¡¯m worried about now, is if Twelve might become the fifth contracted.) Star whinnied, its eyes showing a meaningful depth. Xu Ran¡¯s fourth contract slot was still vacant, and Twelve had yet to complete a contract. If a suitable fifth member was encountered, it was quite possible they could occupy the fourth contract slot. In that case, who would be the fourth was really hard to say. ¡°Chya~¡± (That couldn¡¯t be, right?) Cancan scratched its head, muttering to itself in a low voice. Ziyun remained silent, but its gaze towards Cancan held a hint of strangeness. Based on the order of acquisition, Cancan should have been Xu Ran¡¯s second Pet Beast. However, at that time, Cancan was still in its egg and unable to contract, so the second beast Xu Ran contracted was Star. In a sense, Star¡¯s concern might very well become a reality. The three little ones, chatting back and forth, both looked forward to having a new fifth member and worried about Twelve, far away in Beast Field 97. Soon, they appeared together in the shop. As soon as they reached the shop, Xu Ran jokingly smacked each beast on the head and spoke with a mix of laughter and helplessness, ¡°What nonsense are you all thinking? I¡¯m just going for a look, not necessarily to find the fifth Pet Beast right away.¡± ¡°Moreover, the fourth contract slot is reserved for Twelve, and even if we really find a suitable fifth member, that decision won¡¯t change.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t heard the three little ones¡¯ conversation directly, Xu Ran, through Contractual Sensing, had clearly sensed their thoughts. ¡°Meow~¡± (I was wrong~) Ziyun touched its head, embarrassed at the spot where Xu Ran had just knocked. It was the first to speculate that Xu Ran was looking for a fifth Pet Beast. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I was also mistaken.) Star whinnied, likewise looking a bit embarrassed. It was the one guessing Xu Ran might contract the fifth beast first. ¡°Alright, this time we¡¯re just going to see what a Pet Beast Breeding Base looks like, to do a field inspection. They are our clients, after all.¡± Xu Ran explained Song Xuan¡¯s request to the three little ones simply, ¡°Anyway, looking at the Pet Beasts is just by the way.¡± The three little ones nodded in understanding. So that¡¯s what it was! With the misunderstanding cleared up, Xu Ran picked up Ziyun and Cancan, hopped onto Star¡¯s back, and quickly set off from the shop. The Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base was far from unknown within Bright Radiance City. After asking a few passersby and following the navigation, Xu Ran quickly found its exact location and soon arrived. Looking at the sprawling base¡¯s entrance, with the words ¡°Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base¡± prominently displayed along with the emblem of tender green sprouts, Xu Ran nodded slightly. It looked quite decent. The base¡¯s entrance gate was bustling with Beast Masters going in and out. Some looked very young and were accompanied by their parents, their faces full of excitement, likely young Beast Masters about to make their first Pet Beast contract. With so many people entering the base, the business of Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base must be doing well. However, Xu Ran shook his head slightly at the sight of the situation at another exit of the base. Not one person leaving the base had a Pet Beast by their side. Chapter 605 - Chapter 606: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base_3 Chapter 606: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base_3 Xu Ran nodded in understanding and followed Song Xuan toward the passage. Just as they entered the passage, a small and agile pet beast dashed towards the two of them and then with a light leap, landed in Song Xuan¡¯s arms. It was only then that Xu Ran could see clearly that it was a green-spotted cat with a wind attribute. The condition of the green-spotted cat was not very good, as it had several obvious wounds on its body. Although they were healing, it seemed to be undergoing decent treatment, but it had not fully recovered yet. ¡°Is the green-spotted cat one of the four wind attribute species at your breeding base?¡± Xu Ran asked casually. ¡°No,¡± Song Xuan shook her head, ¡°The four wind attribute species at our Pet Beast Breeding Base are the Windbreaker Eagle, Wind God Deer, Azure Heron Dragon, and Cloud Crossing Kite. This green-spotted cat just plays there occasionally, since the environment inside is very friendly to the wind attribute.¡± ¡°This poor little guy has not been at the base for long, I¡¯ve been taking care of it personally,¡± Song Xuan said with a touch of compassion as she stroked its head, ¡°Those four species are very amiable and won¡¯t bully it.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. He was familiar with the four species Song Xuan mentioned. Each of the four species was naturally equipped with four two stars skills, top-tier leader species, which wasn¡¯t unusual in a Second Level Town. After listening to Song Xuan, he became more interested in the green-spotted cat in her arms, ¡°Does this little fellow also need washing and protection?¡± ¡°It is still recovering from its injuries, I¡¯m not sure if it can¡­¡± ¡°It can,¡± Xu Ran replied affirmatively, ¡°Not only that, but incorporating some resources to help with healing during the washing and protection process can also speed up its recovery.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s do the washing and protection together!¡± Song Xuan said without hesitation. And the green-spotted cat seemed to understand their conversation, poking its head out and meowed at Xu Ran to express its thanks. ¡°So, why did this green-spotted cat get injured?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but curiously inquire. From Song Xuan¡¯s words, he could infer that the injury to the green-spotted cat was definitely not caused by Song Xuan. ¡°That¡­¡± Song Xuan¡¯s voice paused for a moment, a trace of dissatisfaction in her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s the neighboring Wind and Cloud Pet Beast Breeding Base.¡± ¡°I found this green-spotted cat by chance at their base.¡± ¡°¡­ Ah?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°You run a breeding base, do you need to buy pet beasts from other breeding bases?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Song Xuan shook her head, ¡°The Wind and Cloud Base, they breed a group of Fierce Wind Apes. To cultivate their wild nature, they threw this green-spotted cat into their habitat, making it an object for the Fierce Wind Apes to bully.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Ran was somewhat taken aback. ¡°After all, Fierce Wind Apes are expensive, while green-spotted cats are cheap,¡± Song Xuan spoke with a deeper meaning, her eyes filled with disgust and disdain. On hearing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned somewhat unsightly. The Fierce Wind Apes were a combative and brutal pet beast species. Although they lived in groups, they were not cohesive; the stronger members of the tribe found joy in oppressing the weaker ones. He also understood the implication in Song Xuan¡¯s words. Fierce Wind Apes that were bullied for a long time by their own kind would certainly not be saleable as pet beasts, as both their physical and mental states would have issues. This would be a significant loss for a Pet Beast Breeding Base. To prevent this, they add an individual that everyone in the group can bully to the Fierce Wind Apes¡¯ community. As a result, there would be no Fierce Wind Apes suppressed to the point of being unsaleable. The green-spotted cat had become this unlucky individual. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand it and bought the green-spotted cat,¡± Song Xuan¡¯s eyes dimmed, ¡°But I¡¯m afraid that within that group of Fierce Wind Apes, there¡¯s already a new victim.¡± ¡°Such behavior is indeed excessive,¡± Xu Ran spoke gravely, ¡°Are there no regulations against such actions by breeding bases?¡± ¡°The Association hasn¡¯t made any such demands, and since the Wind and Cloud Base is privately owned, the person in charge has the final say in many matters,¡± Song Xuan said, shaking her head slightly as she gently stroked the green-spotted cat in her arms, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this, I¡¯ll take you to see the Windbreaker Eagle instead.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C With the misunderstanding cleared up, Xu Ran picked up Ziyun and Cancan, mounted Star, and quickly set off from the shop. Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base was not unknown within Bright Radiance City. After casually asking a few passersby, Xu Ran quickly made his way to the specific location, following the navigation without delay. Looking at the large gate of the base with the sign ¡°Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base¡± in big characters, embellished with green bud patterns hanging high, Xu Ran nodded slightly. It did appear to be reputable. Beast Masters continuously entered the base entrance. Some appeared very young, with their parents accompanying them, their faces filled with excitement; presumably, these were prospective Beast Masters about to contract their very first pet beast. With so many people entering the base, Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base¡¯s business should be flourishing. However, Xu Ran shook his head slightly at the situation at the other gate of the base. Every person leaving the base was unaccompanied by a pet beast. Such a situation probably indicated some issues with the operation of Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base. With no interest in critiquing someone else¡¯s business, Xu Ran¡¯s visit was solely to inspect the actual conditions of the pet beasts within the breeding base. After a brief observation, he approached the entrance, took his place at the end of the queue, and waited to enter. Chapter 606 - Chapter 607: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base_4 Chapter 607: Chapter 313 Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base_4 The three little ones each reined in their auras and followed closely behind, looking around curiously. Clearly, such an experience was also a first for them. In front of Xu Ran, a father and son were lined up, and their conversation quickly drew Xu Ran¡¯s attention. ¡°Dad, my classmate said that Green Bud¡¯s Pet Beasts are all kind of abnormal. Do we really need to pick a Pet Beast here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always good to shop around. Green Bud is, after all, an established Pet Beast Breeding Base in Bright Radiance City. Let¡¯s have a look first, and if it¡¯s really not up to snuff, I¡¯ll take you to another breeding base to check them out.¡± ¡°Alright then, it¡¯s a deal,¡± the boy agreed reluctantly, his lack of hope evident in his manner. Hearing the two clearly from behind, Xu Ran stroked his chin, a look of curiosity growing on his face. Green Bud¡¯s Pet Beasts¡­ abnormal? What kind of abnormalities are we talking about? After a moment¡¯s thought, he extended a hand to pat the shoulder of the boy in front of him and then asked cheerfully, ¡°Young man, it¡¯s my first time here. Can you tell me what¡¯s so abnormal about Green Bud¡¯s Pet Beasts?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s a lot to tell,¡± the boy said with a hint of exasperation. ¡°Green Bud¡¯s Ripple Fish tend to climb trees together, Flame Heart Pigs like taking baths, Stone Monsters tear down the house every so often, Little Electrics discharge everywhere, and then there¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Enough! Don¡¯t go on,¡± the boy was about to continue but was stopped by his father, who patted him on the shoulder and gave an apologetic smile to Xu Ran, ¡°Sorry about that. Kids will say the darndest things. Green Bud isn¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°However, the previous manager of Green Bud passed away two years ago, and ever since his granddaughter took over, there have indeed been some changes.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, touched his chin, and looked thoughtful. Ripple Fish are a water attribute Pet Beast. Hearing that Ripple Fish climb trees does sound quite bizarre. But¡­ Xu Ran had a much deeper understanding of many Pet Beasts than the average person and he knew that Ripple Fish have a very special trait. They prefer high places. Flame Heart Pigs are a Fire Attribute Pet Beast. It¡¯s well known that Fire Attribute Pet Beasts naturally dislike contact with water and are very averse to bathing, which involves prolonged contact with water. But¡­ Flame Heart Pigs are a bit different. Though they have flesh and blood bodies, their hearts are almost elementally transformed, existing in the form of flames. This gives them an extremely high internal temperature. This internal temperature, when radiated outward, can make the Flame Heart Pig¡¯s epidermis overheat, which doesn¡¯t harm their health but does cause changes in their temperament. When overheated, the Flame Heart Pig¡¯s strength is somewhat enhanced, but they become more restless and lack stability. Many people probably see this as a flaw in the Flame Heart Pig¡¯s nature, but their overheated state can actually be controlled with a very simple physical cooling method. Right, taking baths. Besides, the abnormal behavior of the Stone Monster and the Little Electric, as mentioned by the boy, also made sense to Xu Ran and seem to have their own internal logic and necessity. In other words, these behaviors that appear abnormal to others, are, in fact, normal. Far from lowering his opinion of the Green Bud Base, the boy¡¯s words piqued Xu Ran¡¯s curiosity even more about what went on inside. Did Miss Song Xuan, who came in the morning, truly understand the habits of Pet Beasts? Or was it due to some other reason? Xu Ran didn¡¯t have to wait too long. While he was talking with the father and son in front of him, the line in front of him had gradually moved into the base, and now it was his turn. Entering the interior of the base, what caught the eye was an open space and, at the center of this space, a signpost. Next to the signpost was a rack with guide maps placed on it, available for visitors to take and familiarize themselves with the internal layout of the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base. All of this, curiously enough, resembled the zoos from Xu Ran¡¯s previous life. Xu Ran stepped forward, grabbed a guide map, and glanced over it for a moment, quickly making sure. It wasn¡¯t just similar, it was practically identical. Aside from the animals in the park being replaced with Pet Beasts, which one could choose to pay for and take away after, the breeding base wasn¡¯t much different from a zoo at all. ¡°Welcome to Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, we hope that everyone here can find a companion worthy of a lifetime¡¯s partnership, and we wish you all a pleasant life!¡± A familiar voice came to Xu Ran¡¯s ears through the speakers. Xu Ran looked around and soon spotted a slender silhouette holding the sound equipment. Sensing Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, Song Xuan looked towards Xu Ran¡¯s direction. After recognizing him, a look of surprise and astonishment appeared on her face. She handed the sound equipment to another staff member next to her, gave a few quick instructions, then hurried over to Xu Ran. ¡°Boss Xu, how come you didn¡¯t tell me you were coming?¡± ¡°I was just casually looking around; I didn¡¯t want to trouble you,¡± Xu Ran replied with a polite smile. ¡°How can you say that? Let me take you around; I know this place best.¡± Song Xuan smiled, took the guide map from Xu Ran¡¯s hand, and put it back on the rack where it was before. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please follow me this way,¡± Song Xuan gestured to Xu Ran and then walked towards the nearest passage, ¡°Over here is the living area for the Wind attribute Pet Beasts, where there are four types of Wind Pet Beasts to choose from, totaling 29 individuals.¡± Xu Ran nodded in understanding and followed Song Xuan towards the passage. No sooner had they entered the passage than a petite and agile Pet Beast dashed swiftly towards them and, with a graceful leap, landed in Song Xuan¡¯s arms. Only then did Xu Ran see clearly that it was a Wind-attribute blue-spotted cat. The blue-spotted cat¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t good, with several obvious wounds on its body. Although the wounds were healing and it seemed to be receiving decent treatment, they hadn¡¯t healed completely yet. ¡°Is the blue-spotted cat one of your base¡¯s four Wind-type species?¡± Xu Ran asked casually. ¡°No,¡± Song Xuan shook her head, ¡°The four Wind-type species at our Pet Beast Breeding Base are the Windbreaker Eagle, Wind God Deer, Azure Heron Dragon, and Cloud Crossing Kite. This blue-spotted cat just occasionally comes here to play because the environment is very conducive to Wind types.¡± ¡°This poor little one hasn¡¯t been at the base for long, and usually, I personally take care of it,¡± Song Xuan said, stroking the cat¡¯s head with sympathy, ¡°Those four species are all easy to get along with, they don¡¯t bully it.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. He was aware of the four species Song Xuan mentioned. Each of the species naturally possessed four Two stars Skills and were top-tier Leader Species, which wasn¡¯t unusual for a Second Level Town. After listening to Song Xuan, he grew more interested in the blue-spotted cat in her arms, ¡°Does this little fellow also need Washing and Protection?¡± ¡°It still has injuries; I¡¯m not sure if it can¡­¡± ¡°It can,¡± Xu Ran assured her, ¡°Not only that, but by incorporating some resources that help with healing during the Washing and Protection process, it can speed up its recovery.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s do it together!¡± Song Xuan spoke without hesitation. The blue-spotted cat seemed to understand their conversation as well and poked its head out to ¡°meow¡± at Xu Ran, expressing its thanks. ¡°So, why did this blue-spotted cat get injured?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask, driven by curiosity. From Song Xuan¡¯s words, he could infer that the blue-spotted cat¡¯s injuries definitely weren¡¯t caused by Song Xuan. ¡°About that¡­¡± Song Xuan paused, her eyes filling with dissatisfaction, ¡°It¡¯s the Wind Cloud Pet Beast Breeding Base next door.¡± ¡°This blue-spotted cat, I accidentally found it in their base.¡± Chapter 607 - Chapter 608: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire! Chapter 608: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire! Nature is the best teacher for all living creatures. Wild Transcendent Beings, without anyone to guide them, can grasp various life and combat skills by relying on their own wisdom and trials. And in the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Song Xuan¡¯s free-range attitude towards the pet beasts has allowed them to master some skills that are ordinarily hard to learn. Even more precious than the skills themselves is the process they went through to achieve all this. ¡°Boss Xu, do you think¡­ could it be that there¡¯s something wrong with my training methods?¡± Song Xuan, completely unaware of what Xu Ran was thinking, spoke up with a touch of helplessness. ¡°Although I want them to live unrestrained, finding each their own home is also my wish.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with your training methods, it¡¯s just¡­ you might need to change the way you make more Beast Masters accept them,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°not just for Washing and Protection at my place.¡± ¡°What way?¡± Song Xuan asked, curiosity in her eyes. ¡°You need to make the Beast Masters who come to select understand that these seemingly abnormal behaviors of theirs all have their reasons,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°You remember what I just said, right?¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± Song Xuan¡¯s eyes gradually lit up. During the tour of the four Wind attribute pet beasts, Xu Ran had provided reasonable explanations for each of the beasts¡¯ unusual behaviors. If she could write these explanations down and inform the incoming Beast Masters using display boards or something similar, then they wouldn¡¯t think the pet beasts¡¯ behaviors were abnormal. With that, they would naturally be more accepting of the beasts from the base! ¡°Boss Xu, please wait a moment!¡± Song Xuan hurried off. After a little while, she found some paper and a pen from somewhere and noted down all the reasons for the behaviors of the four pet beasts that Xu Ran had mentioned, even asking Xu Ran to confirm the parts she wasn¡¯t clear about. Looking at the densely packed words on the paper, Song Xuan¡¯s face was full of an expectant smile, ¡°Boss Xu, shall I take you to the next park for a visit?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran chuckled. Seeing these little guys, who were smarter than the average pet beasts, being disliked as ¡°abnormal¡± was also distressing for Xu Ran; being able to help them find suitable Beast Masters faster was a good thing. Leaving the Wind Attribute Park, the two immediately went to the adjacent Fire Attribute Park. As soon as they entered, they were met with rolling heat waves. ¡°Meow~¡± Curled up in Song Xuan¡¯s arms, the green-striped cat meowed softly and twisted its body uneasily, clearly uncomfortable with the intense heat. ¡°Little guy, I¡¯ll come find you in a bit.¡± Song Xuan gently set it down and watched as it quickly ran back to the Wind Attribute Park before getting up to face Xu Ran, ¡°In the Fire Attribute Park, there are a total of five Leader Species, but there are fewer individuals, only 26.¡± ¡°These five species are the Flame Melting Turtle, Fire-tailed Bear, Fire-eating Ghost, Flame Heart Pig, and Nether Flame Wolf.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded, his eyes showing a hint of anticipation. Just like the four species in the Wind attribute area, the five species in the Fire attribute area were also among the top of the Leader Species, each possessing four two-star Talent Skills. Xu Ran was very curious about what kind of unusual behavior they would display. ¡°Chah~¡± (Flame Melting Turtle, huh¡­) Cancan stretched out a claw, imitating Xu Ran by touching its chin, and pondered. Could Xu Ran possibly contract a Flame Melting Turtle, allowing the turtle species to expand in his team? Oh, it¡¯s a Dragon Turtle, never mind then. ¡°Let¡¯s first take a look at the area where the Flame Melting Turtles are,¡± Song Xuan smiled, taking the lead with paper and pen in hand, ready to take notes. Soon, the two people and three beasts arrived at an artificial volcano crater scene. As before, there were already several Beast Masters gathered in twos and threes, prepared to pick their pet beasts. Seemingly sensing the newcomers in the park, a wave of heat swept over them, and from the bubbling lava of the volcano, several heads that resembled alligators emerged, their shells looking like little volcanoes. On their sturdy shells, red lava continuously spewed out from the center, flowing towards the edges and finally solidifying into dark red rocks at the periphery. The Flame Melting Turtles moved their bodies slowly, step by step approaching the crowd. Despite their slow movements, their steady steps gave a sense of reliability and security one could trust. As one of the few offensively and defensively capable species within the Fire attribute, Flame Melting Turtles were extremely popular. Among the crowd, the eyes of many Beast Masters picking their pet beasts lit up. At that moment, it seemed as if they were seeing their dream turtles. However, the next moment, the Flame Melting Turtles simultaneously stopped in their tracks. Their actions were uniform as they pressed their heads against the ground all at once. Just as everyone wondered what they were going to do, the turtles¡¯ sturdy limbs suddenly exerted force, flipping their originally steady shells over so that they stood upright like wheels. Then, the Flame Melting Turtles retracted their limbs and heads into their shells. With their heads no longer supporting them on the ground, their round shells began rolling down the hillside towards the crowd like uncontrolled wheels. Seeing this, the spectators¡¯ expressions turned particularly interesting. Chapter 608 - Chapter 609: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Unquenchable Flame!_2 Chapter 609: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Unquenchable Flame!_2 Clearly, this was a stark contrast to the overbearing and powerful Flame Melting Turtles they had anticipated. At the moment, they looked like they were performing in a circus, comically entertaining. ¡°Let¡¯s check out the others,¡± some Beast Masters couldn¡¯t help but shake their heads before turning to walk to the next enclosure. Meanwhile, Cancan, who stood behind Xu Ran, suddenly had his eyes light up. These guys are so interesting! Its playful nature couldn¡¯t help but mimic them, trying to roll around quickly like those Flame Melting Turtles. However, it wasn¡¯t long before Cancan silently stopped its actions. Its head was stuck by the dragon horns, unable to retract¡­ Dammit! With a hint of regret, Cancan ceased its movements, eyes filled with envy as it watched the intertwined rolling shells. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star whinnied softly, tapping its hoof on Cancan¡¯s shell as a gesture of comfort. Ahead, the conversation between Xu Ran and Song Xuan resumed. ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s the reason for these Flame Melting Turtles¡¯ behavior?¡± Song Xuan, no longer concerned with the guests who had left, picked up her pen and paper and looked at Xu Ran with eyes brimming with curiosity. ¡°They¡¯re clearing the sedimentary rock around their shells,¡± Xu Ran understood their intention with just a glance. ¡°The shell of a Flame Melting Turtle is like a little volcano, constantly erupting magma from the center, flowing down its shell and solidifying at the edges, causing the shell to gradually expand.¡± ¡°As the shell expands, the Flame Melting Turtle itself will also grow and become bigger, which is an inevitable part of its lifecycle.¡± ¡°However, in most cases, the growth rate of the Flame Melting Turtle¡¯s shell far exceeds the rate of its body¡¯s growth, making the shell excessively heavy and severely impacting their movement and normal life.¡± ¡°Therefore, Flame Melting Turtles kept as Pet Beasts often need to go to the Foster Shop for Washing and Protection to remove those redundant sedimentary rock shells,¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°and what these Flame Melting Turtles are doing has a similar motive.¡± ¡°It might look like play, but it effectively rubs away the overly deposited material on the shell¡¯s edges, keeping them in better physical condition.¡± At this point, a smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°If the Pet Beasts at your base were all this trouble-free, the workload for washing and protection would be greatly reduced, and I¡¯d have to offer you a discount.¡± ¡°Thank you, Boss Xu,¡± Song Xuan quickly noted down what Xu Ran had just said and smiled, ¡°There¡¯s no need for a discount. The information you¡¯ve shared is so precious, how could I take advantage of you?¡± ¡°I just happen to know a bit more,¡± Xu Ran said nonchalantly, shaking his head without much concern. After observing the health of these Flame Melting Turtles for a while longer, Xu Ran followed Song Xuan into the next area of the Pet Beasts¡¯ habitat. There were creatures known as Fire-tailed Bears. The Fire-tailed Bear species were also regulars at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. In appearance, they were very similar to ordinary bears, with fur colors reminiscent of flames, the only special feature being their distinctive tail. The tail of a Fire-tailed Bear was a flame that burned fiercely and never extinguished. This flame clung to its fur without igniting it and was a part of its body. This was also the origin of its name. Following Song Xuan into the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s activity area, Xu Ran soon saw several amiable Fire-tailed Bears. Some were chewing on their favorite food, Fire Bamboo, while others were playfully frolicking with vigor, a delightful sight for anyone to see. Not far from the Fire-tailed Bears, several Beast Masters stood ready to choose, and Xu Ran even spotted someone familiar. It was the father and son who had been ahead of him when they entered the base. The conversation between this father and son duo entered his ears once again. ¡°These Fire-tailed Bears aren¡¯t bad, right? I told you, Green Bud¡¯s Pet Beasts are quite decent,¡± the father said with a smile, ¡°How about we contract one of the Fire-tailed Bears?¡± ¡°They¡¯re so-so, at least better than the previous ones,¡± the son still sounded a bit stubborn, but his eyes showed a growing interest. These Fire-tailed Bears did indeed seem quite normal. However, before arriving here, the son had personally witnessed many abnormal behaviors of the Pet Beasts at the Green Bud Base, leaving him somewhat wary. Who knows whether these Fire-tailed Bears might suddenly start acting up the next second? As the saying goes, what you fear is what you get. The next second, what he feared really happened. A Fire-tailed Bear finished gnawing the Fire Bamboo in its hand, lazily stood up from the ground, and then pressed its butt against the rock behind it, wiggling from side to side. Its tail of pure flame scorched back and forth across the rock, quickly leaving a deep black char mark. Seemingly influenced by this Fire-tailed Bear, the others also put down what they were doing, found rocks closest to them, and started rubbing and wriggling in the same way. This pose¡­ It looked rather indecent. ¡°Look at the burn marks on these rocks!¡± one of the Beast Masters suddenly pointed at the rocks around them and exclaimed. Everyone turned to look and belatedly realized that every rock had similar horizontal char marks. Previously, they had thought these were caused by something else, but now it was clear that the Fire-tailed Bears had scorched them with the flames on their rear ends. The Beast Masters who were just now quite taken with the bears once again showed an array of expressions on their faces. Chapter 609 - Chapter 610: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire!_3 Chapter 610: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire!_3 They found it hard to imagine how they would be laughed at and ridiculed by other Beast Masters if they contracted with such a Fire-tailed Bear and took it back with them. ¡°See, I told you the Pet Beasts at Green Bud all have issues.¡± The youngster who hadn¡¯t had a chance to express his opinion earlier let out a sigh of relief and then shrugged at his father. ¡°This¡­¡± The father was at a loss for words and could only shake his head, ¡°Then let¡¯s take a look at the next one¡­¡± ¡°No need to look further!¡± The boy waved his hand impatiently, ¡°We might as well check out the nearby Wind and Cloud Base, where the Pet Beasts are pretty decent.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The father nodded and followed his son toward the exit. Soon, in the entire living area of the Fire-tailed Bears, only Xu Ran, who spoke calmly, and Song Xuan, who was looking down and taking notes, remained. ¡°Although the Elemental State tail of the Fire-tailed Bear is very small and cannot be used as a means of attack, it serves a special function which is to help the Fire-tailed Bear sense the temperature of the surrounding environment, thereby indirectly sensing everything around it.¡± ¡°This is considered a unique little ability of the Fire-tailed Bear besides its Talent Skills, but very few people realize this and actively help them develop it.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s never developed, the fire tail of the Fire-tailed Bear will become dull and insensitive, no longer able to use this ability.¡± ¡°And the way to develop it is very simple, that is, to frequently expose the tail to relatively strong stimuli until this ability is completely solidified.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Their current action of rubbing their tails against the Rock Wall is aimed at this.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Song Xuan, having finished taking notes, revealed an expression of realization, ¡°No wonder¡­¡± She stopped before finishing her sentence. ¡°No wonder what?¡± Xu Ran turned his head curiously to look at Song Xuan, only to find Song Xuan staring blankly in a certain direction. Following Song Xuan¡¯s gaze, Xu Ran¡¯s face took on a surprised expression. He saw a Fire-tailed Bear that was somewhat different from the others. While the other Fire-tailed Bears had been active, this one hadn¡¯t shown up. Now, as the other Fire-tailed Bears began to rub their tails, it stepped out, sat on a nearby boulder, and with both paws propped against its head, enviously watched its companions. On its backside, it had a small tail different from the other Fire-tailed Bears¡ªa tail of pure flesh and blood, not in the Elemental State. Though its fur bore the same flame color as the other Fire-tailed Bears, it looked so out of place. ¡°What is this?¡± Xu Ran looked at Song Xuan in surprise. ¡°Number Six is a mutated Fire-tailed Bear,¡± Song Xuan spread her hands, ¡°It doesn¡¯t have the characteristic flame tail of a Fire-tailed Bear, so it¡¯s quite withdrawn, a bit of a loner.¡± Number Six was the nickname of this Fire-tailed Bear. The Pet Beast Breeding Base reserved the right to name the Pet Beasts, allowing the Beast Master who took them away to give them a new name based on their own preferences and ideas. ¡°Based on what you just said, rubbing their tails is the way Fire-tailed Bears develop their special ability,¡± Song Xuan sighed softly, ¡°Perhaps because it has no fire tail, Number Six can¡¯t develop its ability.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, that would indeed¡­ Eh?¡± Xu Ran was about to say something when he suddenly saw Star walking step by step toward Number Six, the Fire-tailed Bear. ¡°Boss Xu, what is your Pet Beast doing?¡± Song Xuan asked with a puzzled look. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let it be,¡± Xu Ran shook his head and chuckled, probably understanding what Star was thinking. Perhaps, in Number Six, it saw a glimpse of its former self. ¡°Let¡¯s give them a moment to make friends.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Aren¡¯t you going to rub tails with your buddies?) Star¡¯s voice echoed in Number Six¡¯s ear. Caught off guard by the sudden question, Number Six jumped up, then after seeing Star, settled back down in its place. ¡°Luhou~¡± (You¡¯re that human Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast, right?) When it came out, Number Six had already seen Xu Ran and Song Xuan not far away, and it remembered the three Pet Beasts behind Xu Ran. Noticing the inquiring look in Star¡¯s eyes, Number Six shook its head in irritation. ¡°Luhou~¡± (I don¡¯t have a fire tail, rubbing it would be useless.) It responded dispiritedly and then turned its head away, clearly not wanting to continue discussing a topic that upset it. Since its youth, it had been different from its fellows. Every time they rubbed their fire tails, it was left out, leading to frequent feelings of loss and increasingly becoming a loner. Whatever, no fire tail, so be it! Humph! Looking at the defiant Number Six, Star¡¯s eyes flickered with complex emotions. It gently tapped the other with its hoof and let out a soft neigh. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°As the shell expands, the Flame Melting Turtle will gradually grow and become larger, which is an inevitable process it must go through.¡± ¡°However, the shell of the vast majority of Flame Melting Turtles expands much quicker than their physical growth, resulting in overly heavy shells that severely impede their movement and normal life.¡± ¡°Therefore, Flame Melting Turtles, kept as Pet Beasts, often need to go to the Foster Shop for Washing and Protection to remove those excessive sedimentary rocky shells,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused, ¡°what these Flame Melting Turtles are doing right now serves a similar purpose.¡± ¡°It may seem like frolicking, but it effectively removes the overly sedimentary material at the edges of their shells, keeping them in a better physical condition.¡± As he said this, a smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°If the Pet Beasts at your base were all so easy to take care of, the workload for Washing and Protection would decrease a lot; I¡¯d have to give you a discount.¡± Chapter 610 - Chapter 611: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire!_4 Chapter 611: Chapter 314: Mutated Race, The Inextinguishable Fire!_4 ¡°Thank you, Boss Xu.¡± Song Xuan quickly jotted down what Xu Ran had just said and smiled as she spoke, ¡°There¡¯s no need for a discount, the information you¡¯ve shared is so precious, how could I take advantage of you?¡± ¡°I just know a bit more, that¡¯s all.¡± Xu Ran nonchalantly shook his head, not considering it a big deal. After examining the health of the Flame Melting Turtles for a moment longer, Xu Ran followed Song Xuan into the next area where the Pet Beasts lived. There, belonged to a species known as the Fire-tailed Bear. The Fire-tailed Bear species, too, was a regular client at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. In appearance, it was very similar to an ordinary bear except for its fur, which was flame-like in color. Its distinctive feature was its unique tail. The tail of the Fire-tailed Bear consisted of an everlasting flame that burned tirelessly. This flame clung closely to its fur but would never ignite it; it was a part of its body. That was the origin of its name. As Xu Ran entered the Fire-tailed Bears¡¯ activity area following Song Xuan, he quickly saw several amiable Fire-tailed Bears. Some were chewing on their favorite food, Fire Bamboo, with big bites. Others played lively games, full of vigor, bringing joy to those who saw them. Not far from the Fire-tailed Bears, there were several Beast Masters ready to make their selections, and to Xu Ran¡¯s surprise, he even spotted an acquaintance. It was the father and son who had been in front of him when entering the base. Once again, the conversation between the father and son drifted into his ears. ¡°These Fire-tailed Bears aren¡¯t bad, right? I told you the Pet Beasts of Green Bud are quite good.¡± The father said with a smile, ¡°How about we pick a Fire-tailed Bear to bond with?¡± ¡°They¡¯re so-so, I guess; at least they seem better than the previous ones.¡± The young man, still a bit reluctant, had more interest in his eyes now. These Fire-tailed Bears did seem quite normal. However, before coming here, the young man had personally witnessed many abnormal behaviors of the Pet Beasts at Green Bud Base and was still somewhat cautious. Who knows if these Fire-tailed Bears might suddenly have a crazy moment in the next second? As the saying goes, fear brings about what one dreads. The very next second, what he feared actually happened. A Fire-tailed Bear that had just finished its Fire Bamboo lazily stood up from the ground, and then pressed its rear end against the rock behind it, twisting from side to side. Its small tail, made entirely of fire, scorched back and forth on the rock, quickly leaving behind a deep black burn mark. Seemingly influenced by this Fire-tailed Bear, the other bears put down what they were doing and found the nearest rock to start rubbing and twisting against as well. This posture¡­ Seemed quite indecorous. ¡°Look at the burn marks on these rocks!¡± one of the Beast Masters suddenly pointed at the surrounding rocks and exclaimed softly. The crowd looked over and belatedly realized that every rock around them bore similar horizontal scorch marks. Previously they had thought it was caused by something else, but now it was clear that these marks had been burnt into the rocks by the Fire-tailed Bears¡¯ fiery rears. The Beast Masters, who had been so moved just moments ago, once again exhibited colorful expressions. They found it hard to imagine how they might be laughed at and scorned by other Beast Masters if they were to contract one of these Fire-tailed Bears to take home. ¡°See, I told you the Pet Beasts from Green Bud have issues,¡± the young man who had yet to express his opinion exhaled with relief and then spread his hands out towards his father. ¡°Well¡­¡± The father was at a loss for words and could only shake his head, ¡°Then let¡¯s look at another one¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± The young man waved his hand impatiently, ¡°It would be better to check out the Wind and Cloud Base next door. Their Pet Beasts are all very impressive.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the father nodded and followed his son towards the exit. Soon, only Xu Ran, who spoke calmly, and Song Xuan, who was bent over taking notes, remained in the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area. ¡°` ¡°Although the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s elemental tail is quite small and not a weapon of attack, it has a special function, which is to help the Fire-tailed Bear perceive the ambient temperature around it, thereby indirectly sensing everything around it.¡± ¡°This is considered a unique little ability of the Fire-tailed Bear in addition to its Talent Skills, yet few people realize it and actively help the Fire-tailed Bear develop it.¡± ¡°If it is never developed, the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s fire tail will become dull and insensitive, no longer able to use this ability.¡± ¡°And the way to develop it is very simple: it just involves frequently exposing the fire tail to intense stimulation until this ability is completely solidified.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°Their current action of rubbing their tails against the rock wall serves this very purpose.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Having finished taking notes, Song Xuan revealed an enlightened expression, ¡°No wonder¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish her sentence and stopped abruptly. ¡°No wonder what?¡± Xu Ran curiously turned to look at Song Xuan, but found her staring blankly in a certain direction. Following Song Xuan¡¯s gaze, Xu Ran¡¯s expression took on a hint of surprise. He saw a Fire-tailed Bear that looked somewhat different from the others. It hadn¡¯t appeared when the other Fire-tailed Bears were active, but now that the others began to rub their tails, it stepped out slowly, sat on a large rock nearby, propped up its head with its paws, and looked enviously at its companions. On its rear end was a small tail unlike those of the other Fire-tailed Bears ¨C not in an Elemental State, but made of pure flesh and blood. Although it had the same flame-colored fur as the other Fire-tailed Bears, it appeared so out of place. ¡°What is this?¡± Xu Ran asked in surprise, looking at Song Xuan. ¡°Number Six is a variant Fire-tailed Bear.¡± Song Xuan spread her hands, ¡°It lacks the signature flame tail of Fire-tailed Bears, so it has a low self-esteem and is somewhat reclusive.¡± ¡°Number Six¡± was the nickname of this particular Fire-tailed Bear. The Pet Beast Breeding Base reserves the naming rights of the Pet Beasts, and the Beast Master who takes it away can give it a new name according to their own preferences and ideas. Referring to what you just said, rubbing tails is how Fire-tailed Bears develop their special abilities.¡± Song Xuan sighed softly, ¡°Maybe because it has no fire tail, Number Six can¡¯t develop its ability.¡± ¡°Is that so, well then¡­ eh?¡± Xu Ran was about to say something when he suddenly noticed Star approaching Number Six step by step. ¡°Boss Xu, what is your Pet Beast doing?¡± Song Xuan looked puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let it be.¡± Xu Ran shook his head with a wry smile, likely understanding Star¡¯s thoughts. Perhaps, in Number Six, it saw a glimpse of itself from the past. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit, allow them to make friends.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (You don¡¯t rub your tail with your companions?) Star¡¯s voice rang in Number Six¡¯s ear. Number Six jumped with a start at the sudden question, quickly stood up, and then sat back down in its spot after recognizing Star. ¡°Lu Hou~¡± (You¡¯re that human Beast Master¡¯s Pet Beast, right?) When it had come out, Number Six had already seen Xu Ran and Song Xuan not far away, and it also remembered the three Pet Beasts behind Xu Ran. Noticing Star¡¯s inquisitive look, Number Six shook its head in irritation. ¡°Lu Hou~¡± (I don¡¯t have a fire tail, so rubbing is useless.) It replied, somewhat disheartened, then turned its head away, clearly unwilling to continue discussing this upsetting topic. From when it was little, it had been different from its friends, always left out when they rubbed their fire tails, which often made it feel lost and gradually more reclusive. What about a fire tail, if it doesn¡¯t have one, so be it! Hmph! Looking at the defiant Number Six, Star¡¯s eyes shimmered with a complex emotion. It gently tapped the other with its hoof, letting out a soft whinny. ¡°` Chapter 611 - Chapter 612: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area Chapter 612: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area [Under Revision, check again tomorrow night] ¡°The feathers at the very end of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are composed of thunder elements. Feathers of this energy form can repair themselves after wear and tear, and they allow the owls to fly faster.¡± ¡°But the downside is also obvious. Feathers in an energy state are unable to clearly sense wind direction, and this lack of subtle perception results in the Raw Thunder Owls having speed without the flexibility in flight.¡± ¡°The reason why the Raw Thunder Owls at the base keep changing directions during flight is to train their flexibility in flight, to make up for their own shortcomings.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Song Xuan was quickly jotting down Xu Ran¡¯s explanations and, after a moment, smiled in relief. ¡°The last species, I¡¯ve seen them all.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Finally having reviewed all the Pet Beasts of the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran had an initial estimate of the conditions of the hundred or so Pet Beasts awaiting Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-range breeding methods, these Pet Beasts had figured out quite a few small life skills to help maintain their condition. Although they had not received Washing and Protection before, their conditions were still pretty good, with only a very few having Washing and Protection requirements exceeding Four Stars. This would accordingly reduce the workload for Washing and Protection. ¡°Those few Pet Beasts that I pointed out earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop in the next two days for Washing and Protection.¡± Xu Ran instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll set aside special time later to provide Washing and Protection for the rest.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Song Xuan nodded without hesitation, lifting up the notebook in his hands, showing a grateful expression, ¡°And thank you for sharing this knowledge with me today. I believe it will greatly improve everyone¡¯s impression of the beasts at the base.¡± ¡°I just hope that these fine Pet Beasts can find suitable Beast Masters as soon as possible,¡± Xu Ran said, pausing slightly, then turned his head toward the little one that followed closely behind him, covered in fiery-colored fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given a thanks gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, Number Six, who had decided to follow Xu Ran, joined the visiting group and followed closely behind Xu Ran, just like the other three young ones. At first, it felt somewhat aloof from Cancan and Ziyun, but this feeling of strangeness quickly faded as the three little ones chattered back and forth with it. It was now tentatively becoming part of the group. ¡°Number Six is also lucky to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan said with a smile, suddenly reminding her, ¡°But Mr. Xu, ¡®Number Six¡¯ is just its code name. When you take it back, you can give it a better name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°I¡¯m very good at naming.¡± Upon hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering with the other three young ones, suddenly wore an odd expression on its face. It wondered how on earth the individual who had almost named it ¡°Electra¡± could think so highly of his naming skills¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I have to open for business this afternoon, so I must say goodbye now.¡± Feeling the faint disdain from Ziyun behind him, Xu Ran chuckled and swiftly bid farewell to Song Xuan. ¡°Star!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Here!) Star neighed, stretching a few inches taller to facilitate better communication with Number Six, having shrunk earlier for the same purpose. It stepped forward with raised forehoofs, approaching Xu Ran¡¯s side, ready to be mounted. ¡°Luhou?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Watching Star¡¯s movements, Number Six blinked its eyes in surprise. Star¡¯s ability to enlarge wasn¡¯t surprising to it; it should have noted Star shrinking in front of it earlier. However, recently integrated into the group of one human and three beasts, it was still somewhat clueless about what was to come. ¡°Cha~¡± (We¡¯re going home!) Cancan, the second one to befriend Number Six and naturally sociable, extended a paw to pat Number Six on the shoulder, excitedly speaking. Going home? Number Six paused, followed swiftly by a surge of eager anticipation in its eyes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°The feathers at the very end of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are composed of thunder elements. Feathers of this energy form can repair themselves after wear and tear, and they allow the owls to fly faster.¡± ¡°But the downside is also obvious. Feathers in an energy state are unable to clearly sense wind direction, and this lack of subtle perception results in the Raw Thunder Owls having speed without the flexibility in flight.¡± ¡°The reason why the Raw Thunder Owls at the base keep changing directions during flight is to train their flexibility in flight, to make up for their own shortcomings.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Song Xuan was quickly jotting down Xu Ran¡¯s explanations and, after a moment, smiled in relief. ¡°The last species, I¡¯ve seen them all.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Finally having reviewed all the Pet Beasts of the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran had an initial estimate of the conditions of the hundred or so Pet Beasts awaiting Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-range breeding methods, these Pet Beasts had figured out quite a few small life skills to help maintain their condition. Although they had not received Washing and Protection before, their conditions were still pretty good, with only a very few having Washing and Protection requirements exceeding Four Stars. This would accordingly reduce the workload for Washing and Protection. ¡°Those few Pet Beasts that I pointed out earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop in the next two days for Washing and Protection.¡± Xu Ran instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll set aside special time later to provide Washing and Protection for the rest.¡± Chapter 612 - Chapter 613: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_2 Chapter 613: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_2 Four Stars and above, with a relatively urgent Washing and Protection requirement and not many in number, prioritizing their care won¡¯t hinder the improvement of Fame, which Xu Ran had already pointed out during his earlier inspection. ¡°No problem,¡± Song Xuan nodded without hesitation, lifting the notes in his hand with a grateful expression, ¡°And I have to thank you for sharing this knowledge today. I believe with this, everyone¡¯s impression of the Pet Beasts in the base will greatly change.¡± ¡°I just hope these excellent Pet Beasts can quickly find suitable Beast Masters,¡± Xu Ran spoke, pausing briefly, before turning to look at the little one close behind him, who was covered in flame-colored fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given me a thank-you gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, Number Six, who had decided to follow Xu Ran, joined the visiting group, following close behind him just like the three little ones. Initially, it was somewhat unfamiliar with Cancan and Ziyun, but this sense of unfamiliarity quickly dissipated as the three little ones exchanged words with it. It could be considered to have preliminarily integrated into the group. ¡°It¡¯s also lucky for Number Six to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan said with a smile, before suddenly reminding him, ¡°However, Boss Xu, ¡®Number Six¡¯ is just its codename. When you take it back, you can give it a nicer sounding name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, ¡°My naming skills are quite high.¡± Hearing this, Ziyun, who had been whispering with the other three little ones, suddenly took on a strange expression. It wondered how the guy who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± convinced himself he had high naming skills¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I have business this afternoon, so I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± perceiving Ziyun¡¯s faint disdain, Xu Ran laughed it off and quickly took his leave from Song Xuan. ¡°Star!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Present!) Star neighed, its body, which had shrunk to better communicate with Number Six, swiftly grew a few sizes larger. It raised its forehooves to step forward, moving up beside Xu Ran, ready to be mounted. ¡°Lu ho?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Watching Star¡¯s movements, Number Six blinked curiously. The fact that Star could grow larger wasn¡¯t a surprise to it since it had already seen Star shrinking before its eyes. But having just blended into the companionship of one human and three beasts, it was still somewhat clueless about what was to come next. ¡°Cha~¡± (We are going home!) The ever-friendly Cancan was the second one to get close to Number Six. Now, it extended a paw and patted Number Six¡¯s shoulder, speaking excitedly. Going home? Number Six paused for a moment, then its eyes also lit up with strong anticipation. ¡°The feathers at the very tips of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are composed of thunder elements, enabling them to self-repair after wear and tear and allowing them to fly faster.¡± ¡°But the downside is also clear: the energy-state feathers cannot perceive wind direction clearly, and this lack of subtle perception robs the Raw Thunder Owl of flight agility despite its speed.¡± ¡°The reason why the Raw Thunder Owls in the base frequently change direction while flying is to train their agility and compensate for their weakness,¡± Xu Ran explained. ¡°I understand now,¡± Song Xuan quickly jotted down Xu Ran¡¯s explanations, then smiled with relief a moment later, ¡°That¡¯s the last species. I¡¯ve seen them all now.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Xu Ran nodded. Having now assessed all the Pet Beasts in the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran had a preliminary estimate of the situation for the over one hundred beasts awaiting Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-range breeding method, these Pet Beasts had figured out numerous little tricks to help maintain their condition. Although they hadn¡¯t received Washing and Protection before, their conditions were still decent, with only a few requiring more than Four Stars level of care. This meant that the workload for Washing and Protection would also be correspondingly reduced. ¡°Those few Pet Beasts I pointed out earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop for Washing and Protection in the next two days,¡± Xu Ran reminded her, ¡°I¡¯ll set aside time to take care of the rest myself later.¡± Four Stars and above, with a relatively urgent Washing and Protection requirement and not many in number, prioritizing their care won¡¯t hinder the improvement of Fame, which Xu Ran had already pointed out during his earlier inspection. ¡°No problem,¡± Song Xuan nodded without hesitation, lifting the notes in her hand with a grateful expression, ¡°And I have to thank you for sharing this knowledge today. I believe with this, everyone¡¯s impression of the Pet Beasts in the base will greatly change.¡± ¡°I just hope these excellent Pet Beasts can quickly find suitable Beast Masters,¡± Xu Ran spoke, pausing briefly, before turning to look at the little one close behind him, who was covered in flame-colored fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given me a thank-you gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, Number Six, who had decided to follow Xu Ran, joined the visiting group, following close behind him just like the three little ones. Initially, it was somewhat unfamiliar with Cancan and Ziyun, but this sense of unfamiliarity quickly dissipated as the three little ones exchanged words with it. It could be considered to have preliminarily integrated into the group. ¡°It¡¯s also lucky for Number Six to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan said with a smile, before suddenly reminding him, ¡°However, Boss Xu, ¡®Number Six¡¯ is just its codename. When you take it back, you can give it a nicer sounding name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, ¡°My naming skills are quite high.¡± Chapter 613 - Chapter 614: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_3 Chapter 614: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_3 ¡°` Hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering to the other three little ones, suddenly made a somewhat strange expression. One really had to wonder how the person who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± could ever think they had a high level of naming skill¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I have to open for business this afternoon, so I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Feeling the faint disdain from Ziyun behind him, Xu Ran laughed it off and quickly bid farewell to Song Xuan. ¡°Star!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Yes!) Star neighed, and its body, which had shrunk to better communicate with No. 6, quickly grew a few inches. It lifted its front hooves and took two steps forward, moving up beside Xu Ran to be prepared for riding. ¡°Lu Hou?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Watching Star¡¯s movements, No. 6 could not help but blink its eyes. It was not surprised that Star could grow larger; after all, it had shrunken in front of it earlier. But No. 6, having just merged into the group of one person with three little Pet Beasts, was still a bit clueless about what was to come next. ¡°Chah~¡± (We¡¯re going home!) Cancan, who had quickly become familiar with No. 6, was the second to warm up to it; it now reached out a paw and patted No. 6¡¯s shoulder, speaking excitedly. Going home? No. 6 paused for a moment and then there was a strong look of anticipation in its eyes. ¡°The feathers at the very end of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are composed of Thunder elements. Such energy-state feathers can automatically repair themselves after abrasion and help them fly faster.¡± ¡°But the disadvantage is also apparent, and that is, the energy-state feathers cannot sensitively perceive the direction of the wind. This lack of subtle perception robs the Raw Thunder Owl of flexibility in flying despite its speed.¡± ¡°The Raw Thunder Owls at the base keep turning during flight to train this flexibility and compensate for this inherent shortcoming.¡± ¡°I understand now.¡± Song Xuan quickly noted down Xu Ran¡¯s explanation and smiled with relief a moment later, ¡°I¡¯ve finished observing the last species.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Having reviewed all of the Pet Beasts at the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran now had an initial estimate of the condition of these hundred-plus Pet Beasts requiring Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-ranging breeding method, these Pet Beasts had figured out quite a few small tricks to help maintain their condition. Although they had not previously undergone Washing and Protection, each one of them was still in pretty good shape, with only a very few requiring Washing and Protection above Four Stars. This meant that the workload for Washing and Protection would be accordingly lighter. ¡°The few Pet Beasts I pointed out earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop for Washing and Protection in a couple of days,¡± Xu Ran instructed, ¡°I will set aside time specifically to wash and protect the rest later.¡± The ones above Four Stars had relatively urgent Washing and Protection requirements, and as their numbers were few, early Washing and Protection would not delay the increase in Fame, something Xu Ran had already pointed out during his inspection. ¡°No problem.¡± Song Xuan nodded without hesitation, raised the notebook in her hand, and showed a grateful expression, ¡°And thank you for sharing all this knowledge with me today; I believe it will greatly improve everyone¡¯s perception of the Pet Beasts at the base.¡± ¡°I just hope that these excellent Pet Beasts can find suitable Beast Masters as soon as possible,¡± Xu Ran said, pausing slightly as he turned to look at the little one following closely behind him, its body covered in flames-colored fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given me a thank you gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, No. 6, who had decided to follow Xu Ran, joined the visiting group, following Xu Ran just as the three little ones did. At first, it felt a bit unfamiliar with Cancan and Ziyun, but this feeling vanished quickly as the three constantly talked with it. It had also somewhat integrated with the group. ¡°No. 6 is lucky to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan smiled and then reminded, ¡°But Boss Xu, ¡®No. 6¡¯ is just a code name. When you take it back, you can give it a nicer name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°I¡¯m very good at naming.¡± Hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering with the other three little ones, suddenly wore a somewhat strange expression again. One really had to wonder how the person who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± could ever think they had a high level of naming skill¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I have to open for business this afternoon, so I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Feeling the faint disdain from Ziyun behind him, Xu Ran laughed it off and quickly bid farewell to Song Xuan. ¡°Star!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Yes!) Star neighed, and its body, which had shrunk to better communicate with No. 6, quickly grew a few inches. It lifted its front hooves and took two steps forward, moving up beside Xu Ran to be prepared for riding. ¡°Lu Hou?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Watching Star¡¯s movements, No. 6 could not help but blink its eyes. It was not surprised that Star could grow larger; after all, it had shrunken in front of it earlier. But No. 6, having just merged into the group of one person with three little Pet Beasts, was still a bit clueless about what was to come next. ¡°Chah~¡± (We¡¯re going home!) Cancan, who had quickly become familiar with No. 6, was the second to warm up to it; it now reached out a paw and patted No. 6¡¯s shoulder, speaking excitedly. Going home? No. 6 paused for a moment and then there was a strong look of anticipation in its eyes. ¡°The feathers at the very end of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are composed of Thunder elements. Such energy-state feathers can automatically repair themselves after abrasion and help them fly faster.¡± ¡°` Chapter 614 - Chapter 615: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_4 Chapter 615: Chapter 315: The First Resident of the Foster Area_4 ¡°` ¡°But its drawback is also quite obvious. Energy-state feathers are unable to clearly sense wind direction, which means the Raw Thunder Owl has speed but lacks the agility in flight.¡± ¡°The reason why Raw Thunder Owls in the base constantly change direction during their flight is to exercise their agility and to compensate for this shortcoming.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Song Xuan said, quickly jotting down Xu Ran¡¯s explanations. Moments later, she smiled with a sense of relief, ¡°That¡¯s the last species, I¡¯ve seen them all now.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Xu Ran nodded. Having inspected all the Pet Beasts of the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran had formed a preliminary estimate of the condition of the more than one hundred Pet Beasts awaiting Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-range breeding method, these Pet Beasts had figured out many little life hacks to help maintain their condition. Although they had not previously received Washing and Protection, their condition was still quite good, with only a very small number exhibiting Washing and Protection requirements over four stars. As a result, the work for Washing and Protection would be accordingly lighter. ¡°Those Pet Beasts I mentioned earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop for Washing and Protection in the next two days,¡± Xu Ran instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll make time to uniformly take care of Washing and Protection for the rest later.¡± Four Stars and above, the Washing and Protection requirements were relatively urgent, but there weren¡¯t many, carrying out the task earlier wouldn¡¯t delay the improvement of Fame, Xu Ran had already pointed this out during the inspection. ¡°No problem,¡± Song Xuan nodded decisively, raising her notebook with an expression of gratitude, ¡°Also, thanks for sharing all this knowledge with me today. I believe this will dramatically change people¡¯s impressions of the Pet Beasts in the base.¡± ¡°I just hope that these excellent Pet Beasts can find suitable Beast Masters as soon as possible,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s words paused briefly, then he turned to look at the little one following close behind him, cloaked in fiery red fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given me a thank-you gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, Number Six, who had decided to follow Xu Ran away, joined the inspection team and followed closely behind Xu Ran, just like the other three little ones. In the beginning, it was somewhat estranged from Cancan and Ziyun, but this estrangement quickly faded as the three little ones chatted with it back and forth. It had preliminarily integrated into the group. ¡°It¡¯s lucky for Number Six to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan smiled, then suddenly reminded, ¡°But Boss Xu, ¡®Number Six¡¯ is just a code name. When you take it back, you can give it a better-sounding name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°I¡¯m very good at naming.¡± Hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering with the other three, suddenly displayed a rather odd expression. It¡¯s hard to know how the one who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± once thought he was good at naming¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I¡¯ve got business to attend to this afternoon, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave now,¡± sensing Ziyun¡¯s faint disdain behind him, Xu Ran chuckled and quickly bid farewell to Song Xuan. ¡°Star!¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (Present!) Star neighed, its body, which it had shrunk to better communicate with Number Six, rapidly grew several sizes. It lifted its front hooves forward two steps, moving over to Xu Ran¡¯s side, ready to be mounted. ¡°Luhou?¡± (What¡¯s this?) Watching Star¡¯s movements, Number Six blinked its eyes involuntarily. Star being able to grow larger wasn¡¯t surprising to it, as it had surely shrunk right in front of it before. ¡°` But having just integrated with the trio of owner and pets, it was still a bit clueless about what to do next. ¡°Chah~¡± (We¡¯re going home!) The sociable Cancan, who was the second to get friendly with Number Six, now extended a paw and patted Number Six on the shoulder, speaking excitedly. Going home? Number Six was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes also lit up with intense anticipation. ¡°The feathers at the very end of the Raw Thunder Owl¡¯s wings are made of thunder elements; these energy-form feathers can repair themselves automatically after wear and tear, and they enable the owls to fly faster.¡± ¡°But the downside is also obvious, energy-form feathers cannot clearly sense wind directions, this loss of subtle perception means that Raw Thunder Owls have speed but lack flexibility in flight.¡± ¡°The reason the Raw Thunder Owls at the base keep turning during flight is to practice their flight flexibility and to compensate for their shortcomings.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Song Xuan quickly jotted down the words Xu Ran explained, and after a moment she smiled with relief, ¡°That¡¯s the last species. I¡¯ve seen them all now.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Ran nodded. Having inspected all the Pet Beasts at the Green Bud Pet Beast Breeding Base, Xu Ran had an initial estimate of the conditions of the more than a hundred Pet Beasts awaiting Washing and Protection. Thanks to Song Xuan¡¯s unique free-range breeding method, these Pet Beasts had figured out quite a few little skills that helped them maintain their condition. Although they hadn¡¯t undergone Washing and Protection before, they were all in pretty good shape, with only a very few of them having Washing and Protection requirements above Four Stars. This way, the workload for Washing and Protection would be accordingly lightened. ¡°The few Pet Beasts I pointed out earlier, bring them to my Foster Shop for Washing and Protection in the next two days,¡± Xu Ran instructed, ¡°I will make time later on to wash and protect the rest all at once.¡± Those above Four Stars, with relatively urgent Washing and Protection needs and in small numbers, could have their Washing and Protection done earlier without affecting the increase in fame; this Xu Ran had already emphasized during his inspection. ¡°No problem.¡± Song Xuan nodded without hesitation, showing her notebook with a grateful expression, ¡°And thank you for all the knowledge you shared today. I believe with this, everyone¡¯s impression of the base¡¯s Pet Beasts will greatly change.¡± ¡°I just hope that these excellent Pet Beasts can find suitable Beast Masters as soon as possible.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, then he turned to look at the little one following close behind him, covered in flames-colored fur, ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve already given me a thank-you gift.¡± After leaving the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s living area, Number Six, having decided to follow Xu Ran, joined the visiting party, following closely behind Xu Ran just like the other three little ones. It was initially a bit unfamiliar with Cancan and Ziyun, but this feeling of unfamiliarity quickly dissipated as the three little ones chatted with it, back and forth. It could be considered to have initially integrated into the group. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate for Number Six to be able to follow you,¡± Song Xuan smiled and then reminded, ¡°But Boss Xu, Number Six is just a code name. You can give it a nicer name when you take it back with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Ran nodded seriously, ¡°My naming skills are pretty high-level.¡± Hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering with the other three little ones, suddenly looked a bit odd. It¡¯s hard to know how the one who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± ever thought they were good at naming¡­ Hearing this, Ziyun, who was whispering with the other three little ones, suddenly looked a bit odd. It¡¯s hard to know how the one who almost named it ¡°Electra¡± ever thought they were good at naming¡­ Chapter 615 - Chapter 616: Chapter 316 Abnormal Foster Care Residents and the Exposed Twelve Chapter 616: Chapter 316 Abnormal Foster Care Residents and the Exposed Twelve [Under revision, check back tomorrow morning] Compared to the skills of a normal Fire-tailed Bear, the skills of Starfire had clearly ascended a level in terms of strength. Though it had lost the overall power enhancement of the Fire Attribute known as the ¡°meaning of Flames,¡± the new skill it had acquired, ¡°Undying Flame,¡± was much more dominant. In the current tests, its upper limit was not even discernible. The only thing probably limiting it was the strength of the caster itself. Initially, Xu Ran had just felt that Starfire was somewhat special and wanted to buy it to observe. At this moment, he felt like he had stumbled upon a treasure. If it weren¡¯t for other Beast Masters¡¯ concerns about mutated Pet Beasts lacking subsequent Evolution Paths, such a unique existence as Starfire would have been snapped up quickly, not waiting for him to come and take it away. After playing with Starfire for a while longer, Xu Ran glanced at the time and stood up, ¡°It¡¯s about time, I need to open the shop.¡± Visiting the Green Bud Base with the three little ones to see Pet Beasts had almost consumed the entire lunchtime break. Now, the afternoon business hours were upon him. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll stay here~) Wind shook its head and let out a whinny. It was worried that Starfire might be uncomfortable in its new environment and wanted to stay longer to help Starfire acclimate faster¡ªto get to know the place and each other. Hearing Wind speak up, Ziyun and Cancan also didn¡¯t want to leave. These days, they had synchronized their training schedules to Xu Ran¡¯s evening meditation time, freeing up their days for other activities. ¡°Then all three of you can stay,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°When the afternoon¡¯s business is over, I¡¯ll make you something delicious.¡± Hearing about the treats, all three little ones¡¯ eyes lit up in unison. They eagerly nodded, and seeing the curious expression on Starfire¡¯s face, Cancan quickly patted its shoulder and then gesticulated excitedly about how tasty the Pet Beast Food Xu Ran made was. After listening, the reddish eyes of Starfire also lit up. Delicious food! Want to eat! Seeing the four little ones¡¯ reactions, Xu Ran chuckled, waved at them, and quickly disappeared from the Foster area. Stepping into the shop, he saw a long queue formed outside the door, stretched lazily, and opened the closed shop door. The afternoon¡¯s business, begun! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss Xu, I saw your Price Menu, and besides the Washing and Protection Service, you also offer Foster Care Service?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded, eyeing the customer before him. The Price Menu on the wall was glanced at by every client who entered, but up to this point, services other than Washing and Protection remained unexplored by anyone. After all, Xu Ran already held the industry¡¯s highest title of ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± in regards to Washing and Protection, akin to receiving an Association¡¯s endorsement, which warranted the price that was significantly higher compared to other Foster Shops. But he didn¡¯t have similar honors or recognition for other services, and seeing the equally pricey options, customers inevitably had their hesitations. Since the opening of the shop, this was the first time someone had inquired about a service beyond Washing and Protection. The customer was a burly man named Zong Hua who, upon getting a positive response from Xu Ran, took another look at the Foster Care prices on the wall and after some thought made a decision, ¡°I was planning to change my Pet Beast¡¯s Foster Shop. Could I take a look at your Foster area first?¡± ¡°Not a problem at all,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew richer. True, Starfire was the first resident of the Foster area. But that wasn¡¯t considered a business deal; it was a different matter entirely. If this order went through, the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City would officially be open for business. He couldn¡¯t help but glance at the Pet Beast following behind Zong Hua¡ªa Pet Beast covered in silver fur, with a humanoid body resembling a primitive warrior exuding a fierce aura. Fighting King Species, Silver Hair King. As a notorious King Species within the Fighting Attribute, it was the most loyal guardian in life and a fearsome demon in battle, making adversaries tremble at the very mention. Just moments ago, this Silver Hair King had received Washing and Protection services at Xu Ran¡¯s, and its gleaming and immaculate appearance now was evidence of its peak condition. And now, its Beast Master was preparing to entrust it to Xu Ran for Foster Care. Without a doubt, this would be a wise choice. ¡°Please follow me,¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the direction of the Foster area, then led the way. Perfectly timed, as the afternoon business had been running for nearly two hours, and it was a good opportunity to check on what the four little ones were up to. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Huh? Where did they go?¡± In the Foster area, looking at the specially constructed living quarters for Starfire, which were completely empty with no sign of it or the three little ones, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but voice his confusion. However, a surprised exclamation next to him quickly brought him back to his senses. ¡°Boss Xu, this Foster space is much bigger than I imagined,¡± Zong Hua was astounded as he gaped at the immense Foster area, unable to see its borders. While he was filled with amazement, a spark of excitement appeared in his eyes. Originally, he had only thought of checking out the Foster environment because the Silver Hair King had received much better Washing and Protection than he had expected. But now, confronted with this extraordinary environment, he was completely convinced. ¡°That must be the living quarters for the Fire Pet Beast,¡± Zong Hua pointed to the area Xu Ran had built for Starfire, ¡°Where¡¯s the living area for the Fighting Attribute?¡± Chapter 616 - Chapter 617: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_2 Chapter 617: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_2 ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Zong, you¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Xu Ran said with a wry smile, ¡°That area is just a living space for one of the residents, not for Fire Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°If Silver Hair King chooses to stay here, I will custom-make a habitat roughly the same size for it,¡± Xu Ran said, shaking the control hub in his hand. ¡°A habitat just for Silver Hair King?¡± Zong Hua couldn¡¯t help but confirm once more. This somewhat overturned his understanding. Normally, because of space and cost limitations, Foster Shops offer only two types of fostering plans. The first is to have Pet Beasts live in relatively small spaces, taking them out to a large communal area for exercise at fixed times each day. This option offers a lower fostering experience for the Pet Beasts but tends to be cheaper. The second option is to build and design communal living areas for each Attribute and place Pet Beasts of the same Attribute together. This option provides a higher fostering experience where not only can the Pet Beasts enjoy a comfortable living environment, they can also make new friends, though this comes at a higher cost. But no matter which method, in front of Xu Ran¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop, they seemed somewhat insignificant. To custom-tailor exclusive living spaces for each Pet Beast, and to have them be so large? For a moment, Zong Hua couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had misunderstood or misheard. ¡°If Silver Hair King likes company and makes new friends here and wants to live with a friend, that can be arranged,¡± Xu Ran paused slightly, ¡°In that case, the total area of their living space would double in size.¡± ¡°In short, the living area will be multiplied by the number of Pet Beasts staying,¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the spacious fostering area, his face showing a touch more confidence, ¡°As you can see, space is the least of our concerns here.¡± ¡°Board it! Board it now!¡± Having received Xu Ran¡¯s affirmative response, Zong Hua immediately made a decision, ¡°Let¡¯s start with a month of care, and we¡¯ll extend later!¡± Looks like he¡¯ll be a long-term resident. ¡°Now, I shall customize a living area for Silver Hair King.¡± Xu Ran smiled, asked about Silver Hair King¡¯s preferences, and in a short while, a habitat exclusively for Silver Hair King rose up from the ground. ¡°Silver, this is much better than any previous foster environment.¡± Zong Hua looked contentedly at the environment exclusively for his Pet Beast, bursting into laughter as he patted Silver Hair King¡¯s sturdy arm and called its name. ¡°Roar~¡± Silver Hair King nodded heavily, its face revealing excitement and anticipation. Without any hesitation, Zong Hua transferred the payment and looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Then, Boss Xu, I trust you to take good care of my Pet Beast.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°Please trust in the professional standards of Starfire Foster.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave then, I have to pick up my child.¡± Zong Hua smiled, taking another look at Silver Hair King¡¯s habitat, ¡°Seeing Silver¡¯s great foster environment, I rest easy.¡± Waving goodbye to Silver Hair King, Zong Hua turned and walked towards the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out,¡± Xu Ran followed quickly, ready to leave. ¡°Roar~¡± Silver Hair King let out a high-pitched roar mixed with excitement and reluctance, waving its robust arms powerfully behind them. On the way back to the storefront, Xu Ran reached out with his Contractual Sensing to contact the three little ones. ¡°Where are you three? Why can¡¯t I see Starfire either?¡± In the next moment, Xu Ran accessed a view shared by Star. In the field of vision, Starfire was diligently training at the foot of a fiery volcano, with Ziyun and Cancan acting as its sparring partners. Seeing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became a bit strange. How did these little guys end up taking Starfire to the Fire Training Area? Well, let them be. It looked like Starfire was quite happy there, anyway. ¡°Boss Xu, could I ask you a favor?¡± Zong Hua suddenly spoke up, snapping Xu Ran back to reality. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If my Silver Hair King doesn¡¯t seem very happy during the fostering process, please contact me right away,¡± Zong Hua said, handing Xu Ran a business card. ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran took the card, and smiled, ¡°But I think it really likes our foster environment and should be able to live happily.¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m just being cautious,¡± Zong Hua chuckled. As they spoke, the two had arrived at the storefront. Zong Hua waved to Xu Ran and turned to leave. Watching Zong Hua¡¯s retreating figure, Xu Ran turned and headed back to the shop. Suddenly, he sensed that something was amiss. It seemed¡­something was missing. The Pleasure value? Where was that huge Pleasure value?! Silver Hair King had entered the foster state and seemed to really like its new living conditions, so it should have started generating Pleasure value by now. Did he overlook the Pleasure value notifications because there were too many? Xu Ran casually opened the notification bar and scrolled through it, only to see his smile gradually fade away. The latest Pleasure value gain was from Washing and Protection of Silver Hair King. It hadn¡¯t offered even the slightest bit of Pleasure value during its Foster Care Service. Xu Ran immediately opened the surveillance to check on Silver Hair King¡¯s current situation and found it vigorously training in Fighting techniques against wooden dummies on an open ground. For Fighting Pet Beasts, this is a form of entertainment, and logically, there should be some Pleasure value. Especially since¡­ During its Fighting training, Silver Hair King¡¯s expression seemed quite relaxed. Chapter 617 - Chapter 618: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_3 Chapter 618: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_3 ¡°` What¡¯s going on? Xu Ran was somewhat puzzled. He suddenly remembered what Zong Hua had said before leaving, took out the business card Zong Hua had just given him, and his face showed a hint of indecision. Maybe¡­ take another look? Could it be that the Silver Hair King is just slow to warm up? Observe for another day or two, and if there are still issues, contact Zong Hua then. After putting away the business card, Xu Ran turned his head to look at the customers queuing outside the door. ¡°Next, please!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C As Xu Ran expanded and strengthened the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City, within Beast Field No. 97, a revolution initiated by the Nightmare Beast King finally settled down. Under the bloody suppression and the precedent set by the Lava Beast King, the other four Beast Kings eventually bowed their stubborn heads and chose to submit to the Nightmare Beast King. Hence, Beast Field No. 97 had a de facto ruler. During this process, the beneficiaries were undoubtedly those groups that had been following the Nightmare Beast King from the beginning. The Velvet Sparrow species, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s own kind, became the most dominant presence in Beast Field No. 97. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Compared to ordinary Fire-tailed Bear skills, Starfire¡¯s skills clearly moved up a notch in strength. Although it lost the overall enhancement of Fire Attribute skills known as the Meaning of Flames, the new skill Undying Flame that replaced it was much more domineering, and current testing hadn¡¯t revealed the limits of this skill yet. The only thing limiting it was probably the strength of the user itself. Initially feeling that Starfire was just a bit special and wanting to buy it for observation, Xu Ran now felt as though he had stumbled upon a treasure. Had it not been for other Beast Masters¡¯ concerns about mutated Pet Beasts lacking subsequent Evolution Paths, a distinctive existence like Starfire should have been in high demand and wouldn¡¯t have been waiting for him to take home. After playing with Starfire for a while longer, Xu Ran glanced at the time and stood up, ¡°It¡¯s about time for me to open the shop.¡± Visiting the Green Bud Base with the three little ones to watch Pet Beasts had nearly consumed the entire lunch break, and now it was time to open for business in the afternoon. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll stay here~) Star shook its head gently, letting out a neigh. It was worried that Starfire, being new to a strange environment, might feel uncomfortable and wanted to spend more time with it to help Starfire get accustomed to the place and to each other faster. Hearing what Star had said, Ziyun and Cancan also didn¡¯t feel like leaving anymore. Now they had adjusted their training time to the evenings when Xu Ran meditated, leaving them more free time during the day to do other things. ¡°Then all three of you stay,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°Once I¡¯m done with the afternoon¡¯s business, I¡¯ll make you something delicious to eat.¡± Hearing about delicious food, bright lights sparked in the eyes of the three little ones. They nodded eagerly, and seeing the curious look of Starfire, Cancan quickly patted its shoulder and then excitedly began to describe how delicious the Pet Beast Food Xu Ran made was. After listening, bright red lights also began to shine from Starfire¡¯s red eyes. Delicious food! Want to eat! Seeing the four little ones behaving this way, Xu Ran let out a chuckle, waved at them, and quickly disappeared into the Foster area. He, stepping into the shop, stretched lazily as he saw the queue that had formed outside the door, then unlocked and opened the closed shop door. Afternoon business, begins! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss Xu, I see that your Price Menu lists both Washing and Protection Service and Foster Care Service?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded as he looked at the customer in front of him. The Price Menu on the wall was glanced at by every person who entered, but so far, aside from the Washing and Protection, the other services had remained unheeded. After all, Xu Ran already had the title of ¡°Cleaning Saint¡± in the Washing and Protection service, which was tantamount to receiving the Association¡¯s certification, justifying the price which was much higher than that of other Foster Shops. But in other areas of service, he lacked similar honors and recognition, and seeing the expensive service prices equivalent to Washing and Protection, customers naturally had their concerns. It was the first time someone had inquired about a service other than Washing and Protection since the shop opened. The customer was a robust man named Zong Hua, who, after receiving a positive answer from Xu Ran, glanced again at the Foster Care price on the wall. After a moment of contemplation, he made up his mind, ¡°I¡¯m planning to switch Foster Shops for my Pet Beast. May I take a look at your Foster Care environment first?¡± ¡°Not a problem at all,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile deepened. Although Starfire was technically the first resident in the Foster area, it didn¡¯t count as business, as the nature was different. If this deal went through, the Starfire Foster Care Service in Bright Radiance City would officially open. He couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to glance at the Pet Beast behind Zong Hua, coated in silver fur with a humanoid form, resembling a primitive wild man full of fieriness. Fighting King Species, Silver Hair King. Known in the Fighting Attribute for being a loyal guardian in life and a fearsome demon in battle. Just now, the Silver Hair King had received a Washing and Protection Service at Xu Ran¡¯s shop, and now its gleaming appearance was proof of its peak condition. And now, its Beast Master was planning to continue to foster it at Xu Ran¡¯s place. Without a doubt, it would be a wise choice. ¡°Please follow me,¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the direction of the Foster area and then took the lead. ¡°` Chapter 619 - Chapter 619: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_4 Chapter 619: Chapter 316: Abnormal Foster Care Residents and Exposed Twelve_4 Just as I thought, the shop had been open for nearly two hours in the afternoon¡ªit was a good opportunity to see what the four little ones were up to. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Eh? Where did they go?¡± Within the foster area, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but let out a puzzled sound as he looked at the custom-built living area for Yinghuo, completely empty and devoid of a trace of it and the other three. However, he was quickly brought back to reality by an exclamation from beside him. ¡°Boss Xu, this foster space is much larger than I imagined.¡± Staring at the boundless foster area in stupefaction, Zong Hua couldn¡¯t help but exclaim repeatedly while a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. Originally, he had only thought of checking out the foster environment because the Washing and Protection effects for the Silver Hair King were much better than expected. But now, having seen this obviously extraordinary setting, his heart was completely won over. ¡°That over there is the living area for Fire Pet Beasts, right?¡± Zong Hua pointed at the living area Xu Ran had built for Yinghuo and asked, ¡°Where is the living area for Fighting Attribute beasts?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Zong, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Xu Ran gave a wry smile, ¡°That¡¯s just the living area for one resident; it¡¯s not the living area for Fire Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°If the Silver Hair King chooses to stay here, I¡¯ll custom-build a living area roughly the same size for it.¡± After speaking, Xu Ran shook the Control hub in his hand. ¡°Just for the Silver Hair King, a single Pet Beast?¡± Zong Hua couldn¡¯t resist confirming it once more. This somewhat overturned his knowledge. Normally, Foster Shops, due to space and cost constraints, offer only two types of foster plans. The first type allows Pet Beasts to live in a rather confined space, taking them to a large communal activity area for airing at set times each day. This plan doesn¡¯t offer a high-quality foster experience but is typically more affordable. The second type involves constructing and designing public living areas for each Attribute, fostering Pet Beasts with the same Attribute together. This plan provides a better foster experience. Not only can the Pet Beasts enjoy a comfortable living environment, but they can also make new friends. However, the price is consequently higher. But whichever method is used, in comparison to Xu Ran¡¯s Starfire Foster Shop, they all seemed somewhat insignificant. Custom-building exclusive and such large living areas for each Pet Beast? In an instant, Zong Hua couldn¡¯t help doubting whether he had misunderstood or misheard. ¡°If the Silver Hair King enjoys the bustle and has made new friends here, wanting to live with a friend is also possible.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly as he spoke, ¡°By doing so, their combined living area would be double the current size.¡± ¡°In short, the living area¡¯s size will be multiple times the current scale depending on how many Pet Beasts are living there.¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the vacant foster area, his face taking on a more confident expression, ¡°As you can see, what I have no lack of here is space.¡± ¡°Foster! Foster it now!¡± On receiving Xu Ran¡¯s affirmative answer, Zong Hua made an instant decision, ¡°Let¡¯s start with a month of foster care, and we¡¯ll renew afterward!¡± It looked like he was going to be a long-term resident. ¡°Now then, I¡¯ll custom-build a living area for the Silver Hair King.¡± Xu Ran smiled and inquired about some of the Silver Hair King¡¯s preferences. Moments later, a living area exclusively for the Silver Hair King rose from the ground. ¡°Silver, this is much better than the previous foster environment.¡± Zong Hua looked at the environment exclusive to his Pet Beast with satisfaction, laughed heartily, and patted the sturdy arm of the Silver Hair King as he called its name. ¡°Roar~¡± The Silver Hair King nodded vigorously, its face showing a mix of excitement and anticipation. Zong Hua transferred payment without hesitation and looked towards Xu Ran, ¡°So Boss Xu, I¡¯ll leave my Pet Beast in your care.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°Please trust the professional level of Starfire Foster.¡± ¡°Then I will be taking my leave, it¡¯s almost time to pick up my child,¡± Zong Hua said with a smile, taking another glance at the Silver Hair King¡¯s living environment, ¡°Seeing that Silver has such a nice foster environment, I can leave with peace of mind.¡± Zong Hua waved at the Silver Hair King and turned towards the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll see you out.¡± Xu Ran quickly followed, about to leave. ¡°Roar~¡± The Silver Hair King let out a mixed cry of excitement and reluctance, vigorously waving its robust arms behind them. On his way back to the shop, Xu Ran thoughtfully used Contractual Sensing to contact the three little ones. ¡°Where are you three? Why is Yinghuo missing too?¡± The next moment, Xu Ran received a shared view from Star. In the field of view, Starfire was training hard at the foot of a volcano engulfed by blazing red flames, accompanied by Ziyun and Cancan. Watching the scene, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat peculiar. How did these three little fellows end up taking Starfire to the Fire Training Area? Never mind, let them be. Starfire seemed to be quite happy anyway. ¡°Boss Xu, may I ask you for a favor?¡± Zong Hua suddenly spoke up, snapping Xu Ran back to attention. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If my Silver Hair King seems unhappy during the foster period, please contact me immediately,¡± Zong Hua said as he took out a business card and handed it to Xu Ran. ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran took the card and smiled, ¡°Although, I think it likes the foster environment of our shop quite a lot, and should be able to live happily here.¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m just being cautious,¡± Zong Hua chuckled. As they talked, the two had arrived at the storefront. Zong Hua waved to Xu Ran and turned to leave. As Xu Ran watched Zong Hua¡¯s departing figure, he turned and headed back to the shopfront. Suddenly, he sensed something was slightly off. It seemed¡­ something was missing. Where was the Pleasure value? His significant Pleasure value?! The Silver Hair King had entered the foster state and seemed to really like the new foster environment, so it should have provided Pleasure value by now. Was it because there were too many Pleasure value notifications that he overlooked it? Xu Ran casually opened the notification bar and browsed through it, his smile gradually fading. The most recent Pleasure value gain was from washing and protecting the Silver Hair King. It hadn¡¯t provided even a trace of Pleasure value during the Foster Care Service. Xu Ran then opened the surveillance to check on the Silver Hair King¡¯s current situation and found it practicing Fighting training against a wooden dummy in an open field. For a Fighting Pet Beast, this was a form of entertainment; logically, it shouldn¡¯t be without Pleasure value. Furthermore¡­ The expression on the Silver Hair King¡¯s face looked quite relaxed during the Fighting training. What was happening? Xu Ran was somewhat baffled. He suddenly thought of Zong Hua¡¯s words before he left, took out the business card that Zong Hua had just given him, and a hint of conflict appeared on his face. Should he¡­ wait and see? Perhaps the Silver Hair King was just slow to warm up? If the problem persisted after another day or two of observation, then he would contact Zong Hua. Having tucked away the business card safely, Xu Ran looked towards the customers lined up outside the door. ¡°Next, please!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C While Xu Ran expanded and strengthened the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City, inside the Beast Field number 97, a revolution initiated by the Nightmare Beast King finally settled. Under the bloody suppression and taking a lesson from the precedent of the Lava Beast King, the other four Beast Kings ultimately bowed their proud heads and chose to submit to the Nightmare Beast King. Since then, Beast Field number 97 had a definitive ruler. And throughout this process, those tribes that had originally followed the Nightmare Beast King benefited the most. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s own species, the Velvet Sparrow clan, in particular, became the new powerhouses walking sideways through Beast Field number 97. Chapter 620 - Chapter 620: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King Chapter 620: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King [Under revision, check tomorrow] ¡°Hiss?¡± (So, that human Beast Master claims to have mastered an evolution path for the Velvet Sparrow that is more powerful than the Demon Hawk?) Although the twelve words spoken under duress were full of ambiguity, the nearly demonically intelligent Nightmare Beast King still instantly extracted the most crucial information. The first thought that surged in its heart was that it was absurd and unbelievable. As the de facto ruler of Beast Field 97, the Nightmare Beast King did not only operate within its own domain; it had also visited other Beast King-level Beast Fields nearby and had even been to adjacent Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. And the purpose of its travels was exactly to seek evolution paths for the Velvet Sparrow. For wild Transcendent Beings, especially those as intelligent as it, exchanging evolution paths with the same species in other Beast Fields is a very effective way to improve their own evolutionary path. If it encounters a Velvet Sparrow group that has also evolved into Demon Hawks, it can compare the differences between the two species¡¯ evolution paths and further optimize its own species¡¯ evolution path. If it encounters a Velvet Sparrow group with a different evolutionary form, that would be even more cause for celebration, as it allows the species more evolutionary choices and possibilities. After traveling through surrounding Beast Fields and comparing various aspects, the Nightmare Beast King ultimately concluded that, for the time being, the Demon Hawk remains the strongest evolutionary form of the Velvet Sparrow species. Under these circumstances, its daughter suddenly telling it that there is a stronger evolution path, and the source of this message is merely a human boy living in a 3 Level Town, how could it possibly believe it? ¡°Hiss~¡± (I think you have been deceived by that human.) The Nightmare Beast King spoke in a deep voice, and its originally not too bad impression of Xu Ran plummeted at this moment. The twelve, who had been vague and did not want its father to know the exact situation, became dissatisfied in an instant upon hearing its words. ¡°Cheep!¡± (Xu Ran is not a swindler!) The Nightmare Beast King, looking at the stubbornness in twelve¡¯s eyes, sighed internally. ¡°Hiss~¡± (He is but a human boy from a 3 Level Town, how could he possibly comprehend, let alone master, such an evolution path?) ¡°Cheep!¡± (But Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all evolved successfully following the evolution path he provided!) ¡°Hiss?¡± (Are you talking about his three Pet Beasts?) Hearing this, the Nightmare Beast King was slightly stunned. Reminded by twelve, it vaguely remembered that when it saw the opponent previously, the three Pet Beasts had indeed completed their evolution. This was quite rare in a 3 Level Town. Could this human truly possess an evolution path, including one for the Velvet Sparrow? At this moment, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s original doubt wavered slightly. However, it quickly seemed to think of something and shook its head again. ¡°Hiss~¡± (They might belong to Pet Beast Species whose evolution paths humans have already mastered, but the Velvet Sparrow is not among them.) Having traveled through a Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, the Nightmare Beast King had witnessed the scale of Second Level Town. It knew, compared to these weak cities of Beast Field 97, where a strike from a Beast King could bring destruction, Second Level Towns were almost unshakable. There, stronger Beast Masters resided, and there were also things that 3 Level Towns did not possess. Those were parts of Pet Beast evolution paths that humans have mastered through generations of attempts. With these evolution paths, powerful Beast Masters emerged frequently in Second Level Towns. And in its quest to find and complete the evolution path for the Velvet Sparrow species, the Nightmare Beast King did not overlook the evolution paths mastered by humans. By ambushing human Beast Masters and searching their memories using superpower means, it could be mostly sure that humans did not currently possess the evolution path for the Velvet Sparrow. Even if there was any, it would be a rudimentary and weak evolution path. Xu Ran¡¯s ability to evolve three Pet Beasts successfully was exceptional in Beast Field 97, but in Second Level Towns, it was nothing special. If he had a way to make contact with Second Level Towns, it would not have been impossible to achieve. Therefore, using this as proof that he possessed a stronger evolution form for the Velvet Sparrow did not hold much persuasive power. Looking at his daughter¡¯s still stubborn eyes, the Nightmare Beast King steadied its spirit. ¡°Hiss~¡± (Regarding the evolution path that human boy gave you, is there more specific content?) Since his daughter was searching for resources, it meant that the human had at least given her some information. It wanted to discern the truth of this evolution path, thereby causing his daughter to completely give up hope. For other wild Transcendent Beings, this might be difficult, but for the Nightmare Beast King, it was not a challenge. Because it had once attempted to break through to the Emperor Species level. Although it ultimately failed, in the process of striving for that entirely new Life Level, it still caught glimpses of whispering secrets. This was the biggest secret hiding behind wild Transcendent Beings. In every evolutionary process, they capture cryptic whispering voices teeming with chaotic and colossal information regarding the ultimate secrets of life evolution. As long as they could by chance capture a whisper concerning the secrets of their own species, there would be a chance to soar to great heights. While there were no binding rules, the idea of burying this secret deep in their hearts and never letting other beings know was branded into their minds like a mental imprint from the moment they first heard those chaotic whispers. Chapter 621 - Chapter 621: Chapter 317 The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_2 Chapter 621: Chapter 317 The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_2 And such murmurs do not occur during a Pet Beast¡¯s evolution. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s breakthrough failure was incredibly fortunate, capturing a hint of secrets that happened to be closely related to the essence of evolution. It gained a profound understanding of evolution. As long as Twelve could provide more detailed information, it could easily identify contradictions and errors in the Evolution Path, thereby proving it to be nothing more than a human boy¡¯s fabrications. Seeing his father still full of disbelief, Twelve¡¯s stubborn temper flared up instantly. Since he had already led his father to deduce the truth, he might as well let him know that the Beast Master he chose was no ordinary one! ¡°Chirp!¡± (This Evolution Path is¡­) Without much hesitation, Twelve spoke out the entire content of the Velvet Sparrow evolving into the Sleeping Bird¡¯s Evolution Path. As Twelve¡¯s voice fell, an eerie silence enveloped the scene. For the first time, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression showed a significant change. To it, this Evolution Path seemed absurd. Expecting a Leader Species to raise all Skills to Three Stars before evolving was as ridiculous as a fool¡¯s dream. From what it had gleaned from the mysterious murmurs, only the Holy Spirit Race could elevate Four Star Skills to Five Stars. And that was not mere Star elevation but the integration of all Talent Skills into the Wheel of Life, essentially different. Upgrading Skills is a characteristic of evolution, how could it be accomplished before evolving? But just as the Nightmare Beast King was about to refute this Evolution Path and tell his daughter that it was undoubtedly flawed, it fell silent once more. Aside from that point, the Evolution Path seemed flawlessly perfect, even awe-inspiringly so to it. Whether it was the combination of Evolution Materials or the set-up of the Evolution Ritual, both felt impeccable. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Hiss?¡± (So, that human Beast Master claims to have a stronger Velvet Sparrow Evolution Path than the Demon Hawk?) Although forced to speak, Twelve¡¯s words were laced with vagueness, but the clever Nightmare Beast King instantly distilled the key information. The first thought that rushed to its mind was one of absurdity and disbelief. As the de facto ruler of Beast Field No. 97, the Nightmare Beast King was not only active within its own domain but had also visited neighboring Beast King-level Beast Fields and even nearby Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. Its travels were aimed at searching for the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s Evolution Path. For wild Transcendent Beings, especially one as intelligent as the Nightmare Beast King, exchanging Evolution Paths with other species in different Beast Fields is a very effective way to refine one¡¯s Evolution Path. If it encountered other Velvet Sparrow tribes that evolved into Demon Hawks, it could compare the differences in their Evolution Paths and further optimize its own species¡¯ Evolution Path. If it encountered Velvet Sparrows with different evolutionary types, that would be even more auspicious, as this could give the species more evolutionary choices and possibilities. After visiting nearby Beast Fields and making numerous comparisons, the Nightmare Beast King concluded that, for now, the Demon Hawk remained the strongest evolutionary form for the Velvet Sparrow tribe. In such circumstances, its daughter suddenly told it of a stronger Evolution Path, and the source was merely a human boy from a 3 Level Town¡ªhow could it possibly believe that? ¡°Hiss~¡± (I think you have been deceived by that human.) The Nightmare Beast King spoke gravely, its initially decent impression of Xu Ran plummeting at that moment. Twelve, who had been vague and reluctant to let his father know the exact situation, became instantly indignant upon hearing these words. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Xu Ran is no deceiver!) The Nightmare Beast King looked into Twelve¡¯s defiant eyes and sighed internally. ¡°Hiss~¡± (He¡¯s just a boy from a 3 Level Town, likely only half-understanding evolution, how could he possess such an Evolution Path?) ¡°Chirp!¡± (But Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all evolved successfully following the Evolution Path he provided!) ¡°Hiss?¡± (Are you referring to his three Pet Beasts?) Hearing this, the Nightmare Beast King was slightly taken aback. After being reminded by Twelve, it vaguely remembered that indeed, when it saw the opponent before, his three Pet Beasts had already completed their evolution. This was relatively rare in a 3 Level Town. Could it be that this human truly possessed some Evolution Paths, among them that of the Velvet Sparrow? At this moment, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s original skepticism began to waver slightly. However, it quickly shook its head as if recalling something. ¡°Hiss~¡± (They might be Pet Beast Species whose Evolution Paths are already mastered by humans, but the Velvet Sparrow is not among them.) The Nightmare Beast King, having visited a Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, had seen the state of a Second Level Town. It knew that compared to the small, fragile human cities of Beast Field No. 97, which could face destruction at the hands of a Beast King, Second Level Towns were nearly unshakable. There, more powerful Beast Masters resided, along with some elements that did not exist in 3 Level Towns. Those were the Evolution Paths for certain Pet Beasts that humans had mastered over generations. Leveraging these Evolution Paths, powerful Beast Masters emerged frequently in Second Level Towns. And the Nightmare Beast King, who sought to find and complete the Evolution Path for the Velvet Sparrow tribe, did not overlook the Evolution Paths held by humans. Chapter 622 - Chapter 622: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_3 Chapter 622: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_3 It relied on ambushing human Beast Masters and used superpower means to search their memories, effectively determining that humans had not yet mastered the Evolution Path of the Velvet Sparrow. Even if they had, it would be nothing more than a rudimentary and weak Evolution Path. Xu Ran being able to lead three Pet Beasts to successful evolution made him stand out in Beast Field 97, but in a Second Level Town, it was nothing noteworthy. If he could establish contact with Second Level Town, it was not impossible for him to achieve it. Therefore, to claim he had mastered a more powerful evolutionary form of the Velvet Sparrow was not very persuasive. Seeing his daughter¡¯s still defiant eyes, the Nightmare Beast King steeled himself. ¡°Screech~¡± (¡°Regarding the Evolution Path that human boy gave you, is there anything more specific?¡±) His daughter was searching for resources, which meant that the human had given her some information. He wanted to discern the truth of this Evolution Path, thereby making his daughter give up completely. This would be difficult for other wild Transcendent Beings, but not for the Nightmare Beast King. Because once, it had attempted to break through to the Emperor Species. Although it ultimately failed, during the process of challenging this entirely new Life Level, it still caught whispers of a voice. This is the greatest Secret hidden behind the wild Transcendent Beings. In every evolution process, they would capture strange whisperings filled with chaotic and enormous information, involving the ultimate secrets of life¡¯s evolution. Just by catching a glimpse of the Secret related to their own species, they would have the chance to soar to the skies. There are no constraints or rules, but the thought of burying this Secret in their hearts and not letting other beings know it, is imprinted in their minds like a steel stamp from the first time they hear these chaotic whispers. Such whisperings, however, do not occur in the evolution of Pet Beasts. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s breakthrough failed, but its luck was extraordinarily good; the secret it caught was closely related to the essence of evolution. This gave it a profound understanding of evolution. As long as Twelve could mention more specific information, it could easily find contradictions and errors within the Evolution Path, thus proving this was nothing more than nonsense spouted by that human boy. Seeing her father¡¯s face still full of disbelief, Twelve¡¯s stubbornness surged. Since she had already allowed her father to speculate the true facts, she might as well let him know, the Beast Master she chose was extraordinary! ¡°Chirp!¡± (¡°This Evolution Path is¡­¡±) Without much hesitation, Twelve blurted out the content of the Evolution Path for the Velvet Sparrow to evolve into a Sleeping Bird. As Twelve finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the scene. For the first time, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression showed a noticeable change. This Evolution Path seemed so ridiculous to it. Improving all Skills of a Leader Species to Three Stars before evolution was like a delirious dream. From what it understood amidst those mysterious whispers, only the Holy Spirit Race could raise Four Star skills to Five Stars. And that was not merely an increase in stars; it was about integrating all Talent Skills into the Wheel of Life, which was fundamentally different. Increasing the star rating of Skills is a characteristic of evolution; how could it be completed before evolution itself? Yet, as the Nightmare Beast King was about to refute this Evolution Path and tell his daughter that there was definitely something wrong with it, it fell silent once more. Because apart from that issue, there seemed to be no flaw whatsoever in this Evolution Path; it was so perfect that it astonished the king. Whether it was the pairing of Evolution Materials or the setup of the Evolution Ritual, everything felt impeccably crafted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C¡°Screech?¡± (¡°So, the human Beast Master is claiming to have an Evolution Path for the Velvet Sparrow that is stronger than Demon Hawk?¡±) Although Twelve¡¯s words were vague when she was forced to speak about the situation, the shrewd Nightmare Beast King instantly refined the most critical information from them. The first thought that flew to his mind was how ludicrous and unbelievable it was. As the de facto ruler of Beast Field 97, the Nightmare Beast King was not only active in its own domain, but had also visited other Beast King-level Beast Fields and even nearby Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. And its travels were indeed in search of the Velvet Sparrow¡¯s Evolution Path. To wild Transcendent Beings, especially those as intelligent as it, exchanging Evolution Paths possessed by their species with other domains was an effective way to improve their own. If it encountered a Velvet Sparrow group that also evolved into Demon Hawks, it could compare the evolutionary differences between the two and optimize its own species¡¯ Evolution Path. If it came across a group of Velvet Sparrows with a different evolutionary form, it would be an even greater cause for celebration because this meant more evolutionary choices and possibilities for the species. After traveling around neighboring domains and making various comparisons, the Nightmare Beast King concluded that for the time being, the Demon Hawk remained the strongest Evolutionary Form of the Velvet Sparrow species. In such circumstances, when his daughter suddenly told him of a stronger Evolution Path, and the source was merely a human boy from a 3 Level town, how could he possibly believe it? ¡°Screech~¡± (¡°I see, you¡¯ve been deceived by that human.¡±) Chapter 623 - Chapter 623: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_4 Chapter 623: Chapter 317: The Doubtful Nightmare Beast King_4 The Nightmare Beast King spoke in a deep voice, his originally somewhat favorable impression of Xu Ran plummeting at this moment. Twelve, who had been somewhat vague and did not want to let her father king know the exact situation, felt discontented the moment she heard his words. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Xu Ran is not a liar!) Looking at Twelve¡¯s stubborn eyes, the Nightmare Beast King sighed inwardly. ¡°Screech~¡± (He¡¯s just a young man from a 3 Level town, he probably only has a partial understanding of evolution, how could he possibly grasp such an evolution path?) ¡°Chirp!¡± (But Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all successfully evolved following the evolution path he gave!) ¡°Screech?¡± (You¡¯re talking about his three Pet Beasts?) Upon hearing this, the Nightmare Beast King was slightly taken aback. After being reminded by Twelve, it vaguely remembered that indeed, the three Pet Beasts of the human had completed their evolution when it saw them before. This was also relatively rare in a 3 Level town. Could it be that this human really did have some evolution paths, including one for the Velvet Sparrow? At this moment, the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s initial skepticism was slightly shaken. However, it quickly seemed to recall something and shook its head again. ¡°Screech~¡± (They might be Pet Beast Species whose evolution paths have already been mastered by humans, but the Velvet Sparrow is not among them.) The Nightmare Beast King, who had traveled through a Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, had seen the scale of a Second Level Town. It knew that compared to the relatively weak Beast Fields like number 97, where a Beast King could bring about destruction to human cities, Second Level Towns were nearly immoveable. There, more powerful Beast Masters resided, and also there were things that 3 Level towns did not possess. These were some of the Pet Beast evolution paths that humans had mastered through generations of attempts. With these evolution paths, strong Beast Masters frequently emerged in Second Level Towns. And the Nightmare Beast King, in its quest to find and complete the evolution path for the Velvet Sparrow race, had not overlooked the evolution paths mastered by humans. It relied on ambushing human Beast Masters, using Super ability Attribute means to search their memories, and could basically be certain that humans had not yet mastered the evolution path of the Velvet Sparrow. Even if there was one, it was at best a crude and weak evolution path. Xu Ran¡¯s ability to successfully evolve three Pet Beasts was special in Beast Field number 97, but in a Second Level Town, it was nothing out of the ordinary. If he found a way to make contact with a Second Level Town, he might well be able to achieve it. Therefore, this did not provide much persuasive evidence that he possessed a stronger evolutionary form for the Velvet Sparrow. Looking at his daughter¡¯s still stubborn gaze, the Nightmare Beast King steadied his mind. ¡°Screech~¡± (Concerning the evolution path that human boy gave you, is there any more specific content?) His daughter was searching for resources, which indicated that the human had at least given her some information. It wanted to judge the truth of this evolution path in order to completely disillusion his daughter. For other wild Transcendent Beings, this might be difficult, but for the Nightmare Beast King, it was not a challenge. Because, it had once attempted to break through to the Emperor Species. Although it ultimately failed, in the process of trying to reach that completely new Life Level, it still captured some whispering voices. This is the biggest Secret hidden behind wild Transcendent Beings. In each process of evolution, they would capture strange murmuring whispers, filled with messy and vast information about the ultimate secrets of life evolution. If they could by any chance capture a hint related to their own species¡¯ Secret, they would have a chance to soar to the skies. Although there were no bonds or rules, the thought of burying this Secret deep within their hearts, never to let other creatures know, was branded into their minds like a steel stamp at the moment they first heard those chaotic whispers. And such whispers, in the evolution of a Pet Beast, would not occur. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s breakthrough had failed, but its luck was surprisingly good, catching a hint of a secret that was intimately related to the essence of evolution. This gave it an incredibly deep understanding of evolution. As long as Twelve could provide more specific information, it could easily find contradictions and errors within the evolution path, thereby proving that these were just nonsense spouted by that human boy. Seeing his father still full of disbelief, Twelve¡¯s stubborn temper flared up. Since it had already led its father to deduce the true nature of the facts, why not simply show that the Beast Master he chose was extraordinary! ¡°Chirp!¡± (This evolution path is¡­) Without much hesitation, Twelve blurted out the evolution path content for the Velvet Sparrow to evolve into the Sleeping bird. As Twelve¡¯s words ended, an eerie silence fell over the scene. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression showed a noticeable change for the first time. This evolution path seemed so absurd to it. Having a Leader Species upgrade all skills to Three Stars before evolution was like a fool¡¯s dream. From the mysterious whisper it had learned from, only the Holy Spirit Race could upgrade Four Stars skills to Five Stars. And that wasn¡¯t just a pure upgrade, but an integration of all Talent Skills into the Wheel of Life, fundamentally different. Upgrading skills is a feature of evolution, so how could it be completed before evolution? But just as the Nightmare Beast King was about to refute this evolution path and tell its daughter that this evolution plan was definitely flawed, it fell silent once again. Because aside from that one point, this evolution path was so flawless in every other aspect that it even seemed perfect, astonishing the Beast King. Whether it was the pairing of evolution materials or the setting up of the evolution ritual, everything felt impeccably arranged. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C This gave it an incredibly deep understanding of evolution. As long as Twelve could provide more specific information, it could easily find contradictions and errors within the evolution path, thereby proving that these were just nonsense spouted by that human boy. Seeing his father still full of disbelief, Twelve¡¯s stubborn temper flared up. Since it had already led its father to deduce the true nature of the facts, why not simply show that the Beast Master he chose was extraordinary! ¡°Chirp!¡± (This evolution path is¡­) Without much hesitation, Twelve blurted out the evolution path content for the Velvet Sparrow to evolve into the Sleeping bird. As Twelve¡¯s words ended, an eerie silence fell over the scene. The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s expression showed a noticeable change for the first time. This evolution path seemed so absurd to it. Having a Leader Species upgrade all skills to Three Stars before evolution was like a fool¡¯s dream. From the mysterious whisper it had learned from, only the Holy Spirit Race could upgrade Four Stars skills to Five Stars. And that wasn¡¯t just a pure upgrade, but an integration of all Talent Skills into the Wheel of Life, fundamentally different. Upgrading skills is a feature of evolution, so how could it be completed before evolution? But just as the Nightmare Beast King was about to refute this evolution path and tell its daughter that this evolution plan was definitely flawed, it fell silent once again. Because aside from that one point, this evolution path was so flawless in every other aspect that it even seemed perfect, astonishing the Beast King. Whether it was the pairing of evolution materials or the setting up of the evolution ritual, everything felt impeccably arranged. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 624 - Chapter 624: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! Chapter 624: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! [Content under modification, incomplete. Please do not subscribe if this concerns you.] ¡°Explain the details.¡± Xu Ran massaged his temples and spoke into the phone. ¡°Why do I find it hard to understand?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t quite understand it myself.¡± Mr. Tony sighed. ¡°Today, the Nightmare Beast King suddenly arrived at Qingzhou City. President He and Mr. Gu Wu confronted it, and after a short while, the Nightmare Beast King left.¡± ¡°Then¡­ President He came to my store and told me that the Nightmare Beast King was looking for you.¡± ¡°No other details?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but press on. ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Xu Ran massaged his temples again, hung up the phone, and turned to the three pets. ¡°It seems we need to make some changes to our plan.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What happened?) Ziyun asked curiously. ¡°Today, the Nightmare Beast King came to Qingzhou City looking for me,¡± Xu Ran said, pausing slightly, ¡°It likely has something to do with Twelve.¡± ¡°So, we might need to go back and meet the Nightmare Beast King.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (But I haven¡¯t evolved yet!) Upon hearing this, Ziyun became anxious. Presently, it was not capable of defeating the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°We¡¯re not going back to fight.¡± Xu Ran gave a resigned smile and patted Ziyun¡¯s head. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, it probably has to do with Twelve¡¯s Evolution Path.¡± After consideration, he could only think of this reason why the Nightmare Beast King would seek him out so urgently. However, this was also an opportunity. Originally, they had planned to wait until Ziyun¡¯s evolution was complete and then, with absolute power, take Twelve away. If they could convince the Nightmare Beast King to agree to this contract more peacefully, it would naturally be for the better. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It looks like Twelve will rejoin the team soon.) A smile flickered in Star¡¯s eyes, thinking along the same line as Xu Ran. ¡°Cha!¡± (Then let¡¯s set off now!) Cancan, who had just been clamoring to continue exploring outside the city, was now eager to return to Beast Field No. 97. ¡°No rush.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head. ¡°The situation with Twelve is certainly important, but we need to pay attention to the developments here as well.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll leave the city tonight and investigate Fallen Thunder Valley on the ground,¡± Xu Ran said, his expression more serious. ¡°At least, we need to confirm roughly how much longer it will be before the Extinct Thunder Attraction emerges, so we can return to Qingzhou City with peace of mind.¡± ¡°Ziyun has a faint resonance with the Extinct Thunder Attraction. As long as the distance between them is close enough, I believe we can accomplish this task,¡± Xu Ran said, pausing slightly again, ¡°The only problem is that Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s take care of it too!) A fighting spirit instantly surged in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. Presumably, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King were beings of the same power level; otherwise, the two would not have fought to a stalemate. If they could kill the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could be taken down too! ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran thought it over and voiced his disagreement. ¡°Tree-like Transcendent Beings are difficult to move but, conversely, their methods can be more troublesome.¡± ¡°Killing the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King yesterday was mainly because we caught it off guard and inflicted heavy damage before it could unleash its full strength. Otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain.¡± ¡°Having lived in Fallen Thunder Valley for so long, and possibly even before the Extinct Thunder Attraction, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow holds the home advantage. When facing it, it¡¯s impossible to go unnoticed.¡± ¡°Moreover, killing one of them has already achieved the goal. There¡¯s no need to take the risk of killing the other.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Okay then.) Ziyun retracted its protruding claws reluctantly. It seems there would be no battle tonight. ¡°When the Extinct Thunder Attraction emerges, there will be plenty of opportunities,¡± Xu Ran said with a comforting smile and then opened the store door. ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± Under the cover of night, one human and three Pet Beasts quickly vanished from Bright Avenue, appeared outside of Bright Radiance City, and soon the silhouette of Fallen Thunder Valley appeared in their sight. The occasional flashes of wild thunderbolts gave the valley under the moonlight an added sense of madness and desolation, stirring a strange excitement in Ziyun¡¯s heart. It felt an indistinct sense of familiarity within those thunderbolts. And as they drew closer, that sense of familiarity grew stronger. Soon, Xu Ran and the three pets stopped at the foot of the mountain outside Fallen Thunder Valley. From there, they could already feel the power of lightning within the valley clearly. This was their first time being so close to Fallen Thunder Valley. Xu Ran dismounted and turned to look at Ziyun, ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I want it!) A look of longing flickered in Ziyun¡¯s unusual eyes. ¡°I¡¯m asking if you can sense when the Extinct Thunder Attraction is going to emerge,¡± Xu Ran said, covering his forehead with his hand in resignation. Hearing this, Ziyun¡¯s eyes showed a bit of embarrassment. It quickly began to sense earnestly and after a moment, shook its head. ¡°Meow~¡± (It¡¯s a bit far, we need to get a bit closer.) ¡°Get closer¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Then let¡¯s climb up.¡± Having said that, he took the lead to step forward, climbing towards the top of the mountain outside the valley. Almost at the same time, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow in the valley turned its head towards Xu Ran¡¯s direction. Through its unique root sensing, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could detect that the newcomers were a human and three General Stage Pet Beasts. Such a combination could only mean a Beast Master. Another fool who doesn¡¯t know whether to live or die. To any beings entering Fallen Thunder Valley, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow would show no mercy. Chapter 625 - Chapter 625: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _2 Chapter 625: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _2 It couldn¡¯t let even the slightest news of the Extinct Thunder Attraction slip out, especially since it was about to emerge. The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow temporarily severed the energy delivery from its roots to the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Slender as ribbons, its branches and leaves gently swayed, the conspicuous thunderbolt patterns on them flickering uncertainly, as if harboring a terrifying power within. It had made its preparations, ready to strike the moment the other party climbed to the top of the hill from outside the valley and saw the situation inside. It would eliminate them instantly. While gathering strength, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow caught a glimpse of an empty stone pillar to the side, and a thought abruptly appeared in its mind. The Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, could it have been this human Beast Master who killed it? The next moment, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow was amused by its own thought. How could it be possible! How could a mere General Level Beast Master kill the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. In its opinion, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King must have been slain by another powerful Beast King or a King Level Beast Master; that would make sense. Feeling the human drawing closer to the peak, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow calmed its emotions, and on its swaying branches and leaves, the brewing might grew more terrifying. ¡°Meow~¡± (Alright, I can feel it!) Mid-climb, Ziyun paused for a moment, a clear expression of joy appearing on its face. ¡°You can feel it?¡± Xu Ran signaled Star and Cancan to stop, then turned to Ziyun, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the Extinct Thunder Attraction now?¡± Ziyun slowly closed its eyes, then opened them after a short while. ¡°Meow~¡± (About one more month¡¯s time!) ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Tell me the specifics.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his forehead, speaking into the phone, ¡°Why do I find it somewhat unclear?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m not too clear myself.¡± Mr. Tony sighed deeply, ¡°Today, the Nightmare Beast King suddenly appeared in Qingzhou City. President He and Mr. Gu Wu confronted it, and not long after, the Nightmare Beast King left.¡± ¡°Then¡­ President He came to the shop and told me that the Nightmare Beast King was looking for you.¡± ¡°No other details?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but press for more. ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his forehead again, hung up the phone, and turned to the three little ones, ¡°It seems our plan needs some adjustments.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What happened?) Ziyun asked curiously. ¡°The Nightmare Beast King came to Qingzhou City today looking for me.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°It must be related to Twelve.¡± ¡°So, we might need to make a trip back to meet the Nightmare Beast King.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (But I haven¡¯t evolved yet!) Ziyun became anxious upon hearing this. Its current self couldn¡¯t beat the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°We¡¯re not going back to fight.¡± Xu Ran gave a wry smile and patted Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°If things go as expected, the Nightmare Beast King probably knows about Twelve¡¯s Evolution Path.¡± After considering it, this was the only reason Xu Ran could think of for why the Nightmare Beast King would be in such a rush to find him. However, this was also an opportunity. Originally, they had planned to wait until Ziyun completed its evolution and then use their absolute strength to take Twelve away. If they could convince the Nightmare Beast King to agree to the contract in a more peaceful manner, that would naturally be better. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It seems Twelve will be joining us soon.) Star, thinking along the same lines as Xu Ran, revealed a hint of a smile in its eyes. ¡°Cha!¡± (Let¡¯s set off now then!) Cancan, who had just been clamoring to continue exploring outside the city, was now eager to return to Beast Field No. 97. ¡°No hurry.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°Twelve¡¯s situation is important, but so is the one here.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll leave the city tonight and do some fieldwork in Fallen Thunder Valley,¡± Xu Ran said, his expression growing more serious, ¡°At the very least, we need to confirm how long it will take for the Extinct Thunder Attraction to emerge, so we can rest easy when we return to Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Ziyun feels a vague resonance with the Extinct Thunder Attraction. As long as the two are close enough, I think we should be able to complete this mission,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°The only problem is that Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s deal with it too!) Fighting spirit surged instantly in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. It seemed that the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King were beings of the same strength level; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have fought to a deadlock. If they could kill the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could be dealt with as well! ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran thought for a moment and then objected, ¡°Tree-like Transcendent Beings find it difficult to move but as a result, their methods can be more troublesome.¡± ¡°Yesterday, when we killed the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, we caught it by surprise and inflicted a heavy wound first, which kept it from unleashing its full strength; otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain.¡± ¡°The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow has lived in Fallen Thunder Valley for a long time, maybe even before the Extinct Thunder Attraction existed there, giving it home court advantage. If we confront it, it¡¯s impossible to go unnoticed.¡± ¡°Moreover, killing one of them has already served our purpose; there is no need to risk going after the other.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Okay then.) Ziyun reluctantly pulled back the paw it had extended. It seemed there would be no battle tonight. ¡°There will be many opportunities once the Extinct Thunder Attraction emerges,¡± Xu Ran consoled with a smile, then opened the shop door, ¡°Let¡¯s set out.¡± Using the cover of darkness, the man and his three pets quickly disappeared on Bright Avenue and showed up outside Bright Radiance City. Before long, the outlines of Fallen Thunder Valley were already visible in their sight. Chapter 626 - Chapter 626: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _3 Chapter 626: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _3 Fierce thunderbolts streaking across occasionally gave Fallen Thunder Valley under the moonlight an extra dose of madness and desolation, causing a tremor in Ziyun¡¯s heart. It sensed a vague familiarity within that thunder and lightning. Moreover, as the intensity approached closer and closer, that feeling of familiarity grew stronger and stronger. Soon, Xu Ran and the three little ones stopped at the foot of the mountain outside Fallen Thunder Valley. Here, they could already clearly feel the power of the thunder within Fallen Thunder Valley. This was their first time being so close to Fallen Thunder Valley. Xu Ran dismounted, turned his head to look at Ziyun, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I want it!) Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°I meant do you sense when the Extinct Thunder Attraction will emerge,¡± Xu Ran said helplessly as he touched his forehead. Hearing this, Ziyun¡¯s eyes carried a hint of embarrassment. It quickly began to sense seriously, and after a moment, shook its head. ¡°Meow~¡± (It¡¯s a bit far, we need to get closer.) ¡°Get closer¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Then let¡¯s climb up.¡± Having said that, he took the lead, began to climb toward the mountain peak outside the valley. Almost at the same time, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow inside the valley turned its head towards the direction Xu Ran was in. Through its unique root perception, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow sensed that the newcomers were a human and three General Stage Pet Beasts. This configuration could only belong to a Beast Master. Another fool who knows no better. The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow would not show mercy to any being entering Fallen Thunder Valley. It could not allow a slightest leak about the emergence of the Extinct Thunder Attraction, especially now when its emergence was imminent. The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow momentarily cut off its roots¡¯ transfer of energy to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, and its willowy, ribbon-like branches began to gently sway. The striking thunder patterns on them flickered brightly and dimly, as if some terrifying power was brewing within them. It was ready for action¡ªonce the other party climbed from outside the valley to the mountain peak and saw the situation inside the valley, it would strike immediately, annihilating them in an instant. In the midst of preparing, a thought abruptly crossed the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow¡¯s mind as its peripheral vision caught an empty column aside¡ªcould it be that this human Beast Master was the one who killed the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King? The next moment, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow laughed at its own thought. How could that be possible! A mere General Level Beast Master killing the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King was simply unthinkable. To the Gold Willow, it seemed far more plausible that the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King had been killed by another powerful Beast King or a King Level Beast Master. That would make sense. Sensing that the human was getting closer to the mountain peak, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow calmed the emotions swirling in its core. The intimidating power brewing on its swaying branches grew more and more frightening. ¡°Meow~¡± (I got it, I can feel it now!) In the midst of climbing, Ziyun¡¯s movements suddenly paused, and its face expressed evident joy. ¡°You sensed it?¡± Xu Ran motioned for Star and Cancan to stop, then looked at Ziyun, ¡°What¡¯s the current status of the Extinct Thunder Attraction?¡± Ziyun slowly closed its eyes and then opened them after a moment. ¡°Meow~¡± (About a month¡¯s time left!) ¡°Give me the specifics,¡± Xu Ran rubbed his forehead and spoke into the phone, ¡°Why do I feel somewhat confused?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m not very clear either.¡± Mr. Tony sighed, ¡°Today, the Nightmare Beast King suddenly came to Qingzhou City, and President He and Mr. Gu Wu confronted it. Not long after, the Nightmare Beast King left.¡± ¡°Then¡­ President He came to the shop and told me that the Nightmare Beast King was looking for you.¡± ¡°Any other details?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask further. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Xu Ran massaged his forehead, hung up the phone, and turned to the three little ones, ¡°It seems we need to make some changes to our plans.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What happened?) Ziyun asked curiously. ¡°Today, the Nightmare Beast King came to Qingzhou City looking for me.¡± Xu Ran paused slightly in his speech, ¡°It probably has something to do with Number Twelve.¡± ¡°So, we might need to take a trip back and meet the Nightmare Beast King.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (But I haven¡¯t evolved yet!) Upon hearing this, Ziyun immediately became anxious. Currently, it was no match for the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°We¡¯re not going back to fight,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile of resignation, patting Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°If nothing goes wrong, the Nightmare Beast King likely knows about Number Twelve¡¯s evolution path.¡± After some thought, he could only conclude that this was why the Nightmare Beast King was so urgently seeking him out. However, this also presented an opportunity. Originally, their plan was to wait until Ziyun had completed its evolution and then to take away Number Twelve with absolute strength. If they could peacefully convince the Nightmare Beast King to agree to this pact, it would naturally be better. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Seems like Number Twelve will be joining the team soon.) Star, who had come to the same conclusion as Xu Ran, had a hint of a smile in their eyes. ¡°Cha!¡± (Then let¡¯s depart now!) Cancan, who had just been clamoring to continue exploring outside the city, was now eager to return to Beast Field 97. ¡°No rush.¡± Xu Ran patted the head of impatient Cancan, ¡°The matter with Twelve is certainly important, but we also need to pay attention to the situation here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re heading out of the city tonight to survey Fallen Thunder Valley on the spot,¡± Xu Ran said with a more serious expression, ¡°We need to at least confirm how long it will be before the Extinct Thunder Attraction emerges so we can return to Qingzhou City and rest easy.¡± ¡°Ziyun has a faint resonance with the Extinct Thunder Attraction. As long as the two are sufficiently close, I believe we should be able to complete this task,¡± Xu Ran said, pausing briefly, ¡°The only problem is that Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.¡± Chapter 627 - Chapter 627: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _4 Chapter 627: Chapter 318: Return to Qingzhou, Meet the Beast King! _4 ¡°Meow!¡± (Take it down as well!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes instantly filled with a fighting spirit. It seemed that the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King were existences of the same strength level; otherwise, their battle would not have been so evenly matched and indecisive. Since they could kill the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow was equally viable! ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment and expressed his objection, ¡°Tree-like Transcendent Beings move with difficulty, but by contrast, their methods are more troublesome.¡± ¡°Yesterday, we killed the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King mainly because we caught it off guard and severely injured it first, preventing it from exerting its full strength. Otherwise, the outcome is unpredictable.¡± ¡°The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow has lived in Fallen Thunder Valley for a long time, even perhaps earlier than the existence of Extinct Thunder Attraction, holding the home field advantage. When facing it, it¡¯s impossible not to be detected.¡± ¡°Moreover, killing one of them has already achieved our goal; there¡¯s no need to risk killing another.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Alright then.) Ziyun reluctantly retracted its extended claw. It looked like there would be no fight tonight. ¡°When the Extinct Thunder Attraction emerges, there will be opportunities.¡± Xu Ran smiled and consoled, then opened the store door, ¡°Let¡¯s depart.¡± Taking advantage of the night, one person and three Pet Beasts quickly disappeared on Bright Avenue, appearing outside of Bright Radiance City. Before long, the outline of Fallen Thunder Valley was already in their sight. The sporadic violent thunderbolts added a sense of madness and silence to Fallen Thunder Valley under the moonlight, stirring something in Ziyun¡¯s heart. It could feel a familiar sense within the thunderbolts. And as they drew closer, that sense of familiarity grew stronger. Soon, Xu Ran and the three little ones stopped at the foot of the hill outside Fallen Thunder Valley. From here, they could already clearly sense the power of the thunder within the valley. This was their first time being so close to Fallen Thunder Valley. Xu Ran dismounted from his horse and turned to Ziyun, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I want it!) Ziyun¡¯s eyes, distinguished in color, sparkled with anticipation. ¡°I meant whether you can feel the timing of the emergence of the Extinct Thunder Attraction.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his forehead helplessly. Hearing this, a hint of embarrassment appeared in Ziyun¡¯s eyes. It immediately began to sense seriously, and after a moment, shook its head. ¡°Meow~¡± (It¡¯s a bit far, we need to get closer.) ¡°Get closer¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Then let¡¯s climb up.¡± Having said that, he was the first to move, beginning to climb towards the peak outside the valley. Almost at the same moment, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow within the valley turned its head in the direction of Xu Ran. With its unique perception through its roots, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could sense that the newcomers were a human and three General Stage Pet Beasts. Such a combination could only belong to a Beast Master. Another fool courting death. The Thunder Patterned Gold Willow harbored no mercy for any creature that entered Fallen Thunder Valley. It could not let even a trace of news about the Extinct Thunder Attraction leak out, especially at the critical juncture of its imminent emergence. Temporarily cutting off its roots¡¯ energy transmission to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, the ribbon-like branches of the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow gently swayed. The prominent thunderbolt patterns on its leaves were flickering, seemingly brewing a terrible power within. It was ready. The moment the other party climbed to the top of the hill from outside the valley and saw the situation within, it would strike immediately, eradicating them on the spot. While gathering its strength, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow¡¯s peripheral vision caught the empty stone pillar on one side, and a thought abruptly entered its mind. The Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, could it have been this human Beast Master who killed it? The next moment, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow was amused by its own thought. How could that be possible! A mere General Level Beast Master, how could he possibly slay the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. In its view, the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King must have been killed by other powerful Beast Kings or a King Level Beast Master, that would make sense. Feeling the human getting closer and closer to the mountain peak, the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow calmed its emotions, and the might brewing among its swaying branches became even more terrifying. ¡°Meow~¡± (Okay, I¡¯ve felt it!) While climbing, Ziyun paused abruptly, her face revealing a clear expression of joy. ¡°You felt it?¡± Xu Ran signaled Star and Cancan to stop, then looked toward Ziyun, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the Extinct Thunder Attraction now?¡± Ziyun slowly closed her eyes, and after a moment, opened them again. ¡°Meow~¡± (About one more month!) ¡°Tell me the details.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his brow, speaking into the phone on the other end, ¡°Why do I feel somewhat confused?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m not very clear either.¡± Mr. Tony sighed, ¡°Today the Nightmare Beast King suddenly arrived in Qingzhou City, President He and Mr. Gu Wu confronted it, and not long after, the Nightmare Beast King left.¡± ¡°Then¡­ afterwards, President He came to the shop and told me that the Nightmare Beast King was looking for you.¡± ¡°Any other details?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask further. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Xu Ran rubbed his brow again, hanging up the phone, and turning to the three little ones, ¡°It looks like we need to make some changes to our plan.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What happened?) Ziyun asked with curiosity. ¡°The Nightmare Beast King came to Qingzhou City looking for me today.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°It must be related to Twelve.¡± ¡°So, we might need to take a trip back and meet the Nightmare Beast King.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± (But I haven¡¯t evolved yet!) Upon hearing this, Ziyun became immediately anxious. Right now, she couldn¡¯t defeat the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°We¡¯re not going back to fight.¡± Xu Ran gave a helpless smile, stroking Ziyun¡¯s head, ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, the Nightmare Beast King likely knows about Twelve¡¯s Evolution Path.¡± After thinking it over, this was the only reason he could imagine why the Nightmare Beast King would seek him out in such a hurry. However, this was also an opportunity. Initially, they planned to wait for Ziyun to complete her evolution and then take Twelve by sheer strength, but if a more peaceful solution could persuade the Nightmare Beast King to agree to this pact, that would naturally be better. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It seems Twelve will be rejoining our team soon.) Star, thinking along the same lines as Xu Ran, had a hint of a smile in his eyes. ¡°Cha!¡± (Then let¡¯s set out right now!) Cancan, who had just been clamoring to continue exploring outside the city, was now eagerly yapping to go back to Beast Field 97. ¡°No rush.¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head, ¡°The situation with Twelve is certainly important, but this situation also needs our attention.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll leave the city tonight and assess the situation in Fallen Thunder Valley firsthand.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became more serious, ¡°We at least need to confirm how much longer it will take for the Extinct Thunder Attraction to emerge, so we can have peace of mind when we return to Qingzhou City.¡± ¡°Ziyun has a vague resonance with the Extinct Thunder Attraction; as long as the two are close enough, I think we should be able to complete this task,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°The only problem is that Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (Let¡¯s deal with it too!) A fighting spirit surged in Ziyun¡¯s eyes instantly. It seems that the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King are beings of the same strength level, otherwise, they would not have fought to a stalemate. If the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King could be slain, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could be too! ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran thought for a moment and expressed his opposition, ¡°Tree-like Transcendent Beings are difficult to move, but correspondingly, their methods can be much more troublesome.¡± Chapter 628 - Chapter 628: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird! Chapter 628: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird! [No content, do not subscribe yet] Equally dumbfounded was the Twelve nestled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. That¡¯s not right? This is not right! Since when did Star also gain a Four Star Skill? That skill Ziyun just used didn¡¯t seem like its usual Immortal Body, did it? How long has it been since I saw them, and they have new Four Star Skills? In an instant, an additional hint of resentment towards its ¡°dad¡± formed in Twelve¡¯s heart. If it hadn¡¯t been captured by its ¡°dad,¡± it might also have a Four Star Skill by now! It then immediately turned its gaze towards Cancan, who was stepping out. This guy wouldn¡¯t also have a new Four Star Skill, would he? The next moment, Twelve found some comfort from Cancan¡¯s performance. Thankfully, the Four Star Skill Cancan mastered was still the same as before. After the three little ones finished displaying their skills, Xu Ran once again met eyes with the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°Senior, can I now form a contract with Twelve?¡± The Nightmare Beast King fell silent for a moment. Witnessing three King Species Pet Beasts displaying Four Star Skills in person, its preconceived notions were strongly challenged at this moment. Undoubtedly, if Xu Ran could elevate Three Star Skills to Four Stars, then upgrading Two Star Skills to Three Stars would be even simpler for him. ¡°You may.¡± In the end, the Nightmare Beast King nodded its head. ¡°Yay!¡± Cancan couldn¡¯t help but let out a cheer. Under its influence, Ziyun and Star also cheered together. Watching the three little ones getting excited, Xu Ran smiled and then pulled forth the fourth contract slot that had been vacant for a long time, quickly forming a contract with Twelve in his arms. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] Twelve [View Details] ¡­] Looking at the updated personal panel in front of him, Xu Ran casually clicked on Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super ability Growth Stage: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Race Tier: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï Order of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)](0/10000) [¡ï¡ï Illusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)](0/10000)[+] [¡ï¡ï Shadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)](968/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ï Soul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)](122/2000)[+] [¡ï Mind Induction (Waning Moon Level)](312/2000)[+]] It was clear that Twelve had been busy during their time apart. Not only had it acquired a second Full Moon Level skill, but it had also elevated its Soul Shatter Roar, previously at Starlight Level, to Waning Moon Level. With this, the proficiency requirements for evolution were completely met. All that was lacking now was an upgrade in its Talent Skills. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I¡¯ve been waiting for this day!) Twelve also let out a cheer, but soon noticed the unusual look in its old father¡¯s eyes and quickly settled down again. Sighing in resignation in its heart, the Nightmare Beast King turned to Xu Ran and suddenly fluttered its wing. One by one, resources appeared before Xu Ran. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower. At a glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. The next moment, the Nightmare Beast King fiercely slashed its wing against another, leaving a fierce wound, then peeled off a drop of blood glowing with a rich blue-purple light, making it float in front of Xu Ran. Super ability Attribute King Stage Blood Essence. With this, all the materials for Twelve¡¯s evolution were gathered. A look of astonishment appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He had planned to quickly gather the materials needed by Twelve after forming the contract, but he did not expect the Nightmare Beast King to take this step in advance. The surprises the Nightmare Beast King brought to Xu Ran did not stop there. ¡°I have already conquered Beast Field 97 and can summon tens of thousands of wild Transcendent Beings at any time to perform mass hypnosis, meeting the requirements for Twelve¡¯s Evolution Ritual.¡± The Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran, pausing slightly. ¡°Now, can we upgrade Twelve¡¯s Talent Skills?¡± Chapter 629 - Chapter 629: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_2 Chapter 629: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_2 ¡°` [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] Star[View Details] Cancan[View Details] Twelve[View Details] ¡­] Looking at the updated personal panel in front of him, Xu Ran casually clicked on Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race Name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super Ability Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïOrder of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)](0/10000) [¡ï¡ïIllusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)](0/10000)[+] [¡ï¡ïShadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)](968/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ïSoul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)](122/2000)[+] [¡ïMind Induction (Waning Moon Level)](312/2000)[+]] It was clear that during their time apart, Twelve had not been idle. Not only had it acquired a second Full Moon Level skill, but it had also elevated the previously Starlight Level Soul Shatter Roar to Waning Moon Level. With that, the requirements for evolution proficiency were now fully met. The only thing lacking was the upgrading of the Talent Skills. ¡°Chiu~¡± (I¡¯ve finally waited for this day!) Twelve also let out a cheer, but quickly noticed the odd look in its father¡¯s eyes, and suddenly became obedient again. Sighing helplessly in his heart, the Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran and suddenly fluttered his wings. A series of resources appeared in front of Xu Ran. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrops, Transcendence Flower. At a glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. The next moment, the Nightmare Beast King violently slashed one wing with the other, leaving a vicious wound, then extracted a drop of blood glowing with rich blue-purple light, and floated it in front of Xu Ran. Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence. With that, all of Twelve¡¯s materials for evolution were assembled. Astonishment spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. He had initially planned to gather the materials Twelve needed as soon as he contracted with it, but he hadn¡¯t expected the Nightmare Beast King to already have taken care of it. And the surprises that the Nightmare Beast King brought to Xu Ran didn¡¯t end there. ¡°I have already conquered Beast Field number 97 and can summon tens of thousands of wild Transcendent Beings at any time to perform a mass hypnosis, fulfilling the requirements for Twelve¡¯s Evolution Ritual.¡± The Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran, his voice pausing slightly. ¡°Can we now upgrade Twelve¡¯s Talent Skill?¡± Also dumbstruck was Twelve, nestled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. Wait a minute? This isn¡¯t right! Since when did Star also have Four Star Skills? The ability Ziyun just used didn¡¯t seem to be the Immortal Body from before, right? How long had it been since he last saw them, and they already had new Four Star Skills? In an instant, Twelve felt a twinge of resentment towards its dad. Had it not been captured by its father, perhaps it would have had a Four Star Skill by now! Immediately after, it turned its gaze to Cancan who was stepping forward. This fellow wouldn¡¯t have a new Four Star Skill too, would they? The next moment, Twelve found some comfort in Cancan¡¯s performance. Thank goodness, the Four Star Skill Cancan mastered was still the previous one. Once the three little ones had finished their displays, Xu Ran looked at the Nightmare Beast King once again, ¡°Elder, may I now contract with Twelve?¡± The Nightmare Beast King fell silent for a moment. Having personally witnessed three King Species Pet Beasts display Four Star Skills, its original beliefs were severely shaken. Without a doubt, for Xu Ran who could elevate Three Star Skills to Four Stars, upgrading Two Stars to Three Stars would be even simpler. ¡°You may.¡± Eventually, the Nightmare Beast King nodded. ¡°Cha!¡± (That¡¯s great!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but cheer. Influenced by Cancan, Ziyun and Star also joined in the jubilation. Looking at the excitement of the three little ones, Xu Ran smiled and then extended the fourth contract slot that had been empty for a long time. He quickly formed a contract with Twelve, nestled in his arms. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] Star[View Details] Cancan[View Details] Twelve[View Details] ¡­] Looking at the updated personal panel in front of him, Xu Ran casually clicked on Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race Name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super Ability Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïOrder of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)](0/10000) [¡ï¡ïIllusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)](0/10000)[+] [¡ï¡ïShadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)](968/2000)[+] [¡ï¡ïSoul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)](122/2000)[+] [¡ïMind Induction (Waning Moon Level)](312/2000)[+]] It was clear that during their time apart, Twelve had not been idle. Not only had it acquired a second Full Moon Level skill, but it had also elevated the previously Starlight Level Soul Shatter Roar to Waning Moon Level. With that, the requirements for evolution proficiency were now fully met. The only thing lacking was the upgrading of the Talent Skills. ¡°Chiu~¡± (I¡¯ve finally waited for this day!) Twelve also let out a cheer, but quickly noticed the odd look in its father¡¯s eyes, and suddenly became obedient again. Sighing helplessly in his heart, the Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran and suddenly fluttered his wings. A series of resources appeared in front of Xu Ran. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrops, Transcendence Flower. At a glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. ¡°` Chapter 630 - Chapter 630: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_3 Chapter 630: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_3 ¡°` The next moment, the Nightmare Beast King slashed one of its wings against the other, leaving a fierce wound, and then peeled off a droplet of blood surging with rich blue and purple light, causing it to float in front of Xu Ran. Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence. With this, all the evolution materials for Twelve had been gathered. A look of astonishment immediately appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He had originally thought to gather all the materials Twelve needed quickly after forming the contract, but he hadn¡¯t expected the Nightmare Beast King to have already completed this step ahead of time. And the surprises the Nightmare Beast King had for Xu Ran didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°I have already conquered Beast Field No. 97 and can summon tens of thousands of wild Transcendent Beings at any time to perform mass hypnosis, meeting the requirements for Twelve¡¯s Evolution Ritual,¡± the Nightmare Beast King said to Xu Ran, pausing slightly. ¡°Now, can I upgrade Twelve¡¯s Talent Skills?¡± Equally flabbergasted was Twelve, nestled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. That¡¯s not right? This isn¡¯t right! Since when did Star also master Four Stars Skills? The skill Ziyun had just used didn¡¯t seem to be the Immortal Body it had before, right? How long had it been since they last saw each other, and they already have new Four Stars Skills? In an instant, Twelve felt a new grievance against its ¡®dear dad¡¯ welling up. If it hadn¡¯t been snatched away by its ¡®dear dad,¡¯ maybe it would also have Four Stars Skills by now! It then turned its gaze towards Cancan, who was stepping forward. This guy, he wouldn¡¯t have a new Four Stars Skill, too, would he? The next moment, Twelve found some comfort from Cancan¡¯s performance. Thank goodness, the Four Stars Skill Cancan mastered was still the same one from before. Once the three little ones had all finished showcasing, Xu Ran once again met the gaze of the Nightmare Beast King, ¡°Elder, may I now form a contract with Twelve?¡± The Nightmare Beast King fell silent briefly. Having witnessed all three King Species Pet Beasts displaying Four Stars Skills, its old notions had been severely shaken. Undoubtedly, for Xu Ran, who could elevate Three Star Skills to Four Stars, raising Two Stars Skills to Three Stars would be even simpler. ¡°Yes.¡± Finally, the Nightmare Beast King nodded. ¡°Yip!¡± (Great!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but cheer aloud. Infected by its enthusiasm, Ziyun and Star also cheered in unison. Seeing the three little ones¡¯ excited antics, Xu Ran smiled, and then pulled forth the fourth contract slot that had been vacant for a long time, quickly forming a contract with Twelve in his arms. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] Twelve [View Details] ¡­] Looking at the updated personal panel in front of him, Xu Ran casually clicked to open Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race Name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super ability Growth Step: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Race Stage: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ïOrder of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [¡ï¡ïIllusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ïShadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)] (968/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ïSoul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)] (122/2000) [+] [¡ïMind Induction (Waning Moon Level)] (312/2000) [+]] It was clear that during their separation, Twelve had not been inactive. It had not only acquired a second Full Moon Level skill but had also raised its Soul Shatter Roar from Starlight Level to Waning Moon Level. With that, the requirements for evolution proficiency were completely satisfied. The only thing missing was to upgrade its Talent Skills. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I¡¯ve finally waited for this day!) Twelve also cheered, but quickly noticing its father¡¯s unusual gaze, it promptly became well-behaved again. With a sigh in his heart, the Nightmare Beast King looked towards Xu Ran and suddenly flapped its wing. One after another, resources appeared before Xu Ran. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower. With just one glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. ¡°` Chapter 631 - Chapter 631: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_4 Chapter 631: Chapter 319: The Deep Slumber Bird!_4 When the three little ones had all finished their demonstrations, Xu Ran once again met the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s gaze, ¡°Senior, can I enter into a contract with Twelve now?¡± The Nightmare Beast King was silent for a moment. Having witnessed three King Species Pet Beasts display Four Stars Skills, its original perceptions were now strongly challenged. Without a doubt, for Xu Ran, who had enhanced Three Star Skills into Four Stars, upgrading Two Star Skills to Three Stars would be even simpler. ¡°Yes,¡± the Nightmare Beast King ultimately nodded. ¡°Yippee!¡± (That¡¯s great!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but let out a cheer. Under its influence, Ziyun and Star also cheered in unison. Looking at the excitement of the three little ones, Xu Ran smiled and then pulled forth the fourth contract slot that had been vacant for some time, and quickly established a contract with Twelve in his arms. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] Twelve [View Details] ¡­] Looking at his updated personal panel, Xu Ran casually clicked on Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race Name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super ability Attribute Growth Step: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Species Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï Order of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [¡ï¡ï Illusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï Shadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)] (968/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï Soul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)] (122/2000) [+] [¡ï Mind Induction (Waning Moon Level)] (312/2000) [+] ] It was clear that Twelve had not been idle during their time apart. Not only did it acquire a second Full Moon Level skill, but it also upgraded Soul Shatter Roar from Starlight Level to Waning Moon Level. With this, the requirements for Evolution Proficiency were thoroughly met. All that was lacking now was to upgrade the Talent Skills. ¡°Cheep~¡± (I¡¯ve finally waited for this day!) Twelve also let out a cheer, but quickly noticed its old father¡¯s strange look and suddenly turned demure again. With a resigned sigh in his heart, the Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran and suddenly flapped a wing. One after another, resources appeared in front of Xu Ran. Dreamer¡¯s Shadow, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower. At a glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s Evolution. The next moment, the Nightmare Beast King slashed one wing with the other, creating a savage wound, then extracted a droplet of blood glowing with rich blue-purple light, allowing it to float in front of Xu Ran. Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence. With this, all the Evolution Materials for Twelve had been gathered. A look of astonishment appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He had originally thought to gather the needed materials for Twelve after contracting it, but the Nightmare Beast King had preemptively accomplished this step. And the surprises the Nightmare Beast King had for Xu Ran didn¡¯t end there. ¡°I have already conquered Beast Field number 97 and can summon tens of thousands of wild Transcendent Beings any time to perform mass hypnosis, fulfilling the Evolution Ritual requirement for Twelve,¡± the Nightmare Beast King said to Xu Ran, pausing for a moment. ¡°Now, can the Talent Skills for Twelve be upgraded?¡± Equally stunned, Twelve, who was nestled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, began to wonder. That isn¡¯t right, is it? Something¡¯s off here! When did Star also acquire Four Stars Skills? The skill Ziyun just used didn¡¯t look like Immortal Body, did it? How come they have new Four Stars Skills after such a short time apart? Securely in its father¡¯s bosom, Twelve felt a slight resentment. If it hadn¡¯t been captured by its dear dad, it might have had Four Stars Skills by now! Immediately after, it turned its gaze to Cancan, who was stepping forward. This guy, he wouldn¡¯t have a new Four Stars Skill too, would he? The next moment, Twelve found a small consolation from Cancan¡¯s performance. Fortunately, the Four Stars Skill Cancan had was still the same one as before. The Nightmare Beast King fell into a brief silence. Witnessing three King Species Pet Beasts unleash Four Stars Skills, its original perceptions were now strongly challenged. Without a doubt, if Xu Ran could upgrade Three Star Skills to Four Stars, then upgrading Two Stars Skills to Three Stars would be even more straightforward. ¡°Agreed,¡± the Nightmare Beast King finally nodded. ¡°Chaq!¡± (Fantastic!) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but cheer out loud. Under its influence, Ziyun and Star also cheered together. Watching the excited little ones, Xu Ran smiled and then drew forth the fourth contract slot that had been empty for a long time and swiftly formed a contract with Twelve in his arms. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Fourth Stage Contract Pet Beasts: Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] Twelve [View Details] ¡­] Looking at the updated personal panel in front of him, Xu Ran casually clicked open Twelve¡¯s panel. [Contract Pet Beast: Twelve Race Name: Velvet Sparrow Attribute: Super ability Attribute Growth Stage: Elite Stage (20000/20000) Race Rank: Leader Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï Order of No Conquest (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [¡ï¡ï Illusory Scenery (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï Shadow of Deterrence (Waning Moon Level)] (968/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï Soul Shatter Roar (Waning Moon Level)] (122/2000) [+] [¡ï Mind Induction (Waning Moon Level)] (312/2000) [+] ] It was evident that during their separate time, Twelve had been anything but idle. Not only had it acquired a second Full Moon Level skill, but it also upgraded the previously Starlight Level Soul Shatter Roar to Waning Moon Level. With this, the proficiency requirements for evolution were thoroughly met. All that was missing was the upgrade of Talent Skills in terms of stars. ¡°Jiu~¡± (I have finally waited for this day!) Twelve also cheered, but it quickly noticed its father¡¯s unusual gaze and quickly became docile again. With a helpless sigh in his heart, the Nightmare Beast King looked towards Xu Ran and suddenly flapped its wings. One after another, resources appeared in front of Xu Ran. Fantasy Crystals, Dream Weaving Silkworm Silk, Fantasy Crystals, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower. With just a glance, Xu Ran recognized these as the resources needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. The next moment, the Nightmare Beast King slashed fiercely at one of its wings with the other, leaving a ferocious wound, then extracted a droplet of richly colored blue-purple light and allowed it to float toward Xu Ran. Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence. With this, all the materials for Twelve¡¯s evolution were assembled. Surprise crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. He had been planning to gather the materials that Twelve needed as quickly as possible after forming the contract, but he never expected that the Nightmare Beast King had already taken this step ahead. And the surprises that the Nightmare Beast King brought to Xu Ran didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°I have already conquered Beast Field No. 97 and can summon tens of thousands of wild Transcendent Beings at any moment for a group hypnosis to meet Twelve¡¯s Evolution Ritual requirements,¡± said the Nightmare Beast King, pausing slightly as it looked towards Xu Ran. ¡°Now, can we upgrade the stars of Twelve¡¯s Talent Skills?¡± Equally stunned was Twelve, curled up in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. That¡¯s not right. Something¡¯s not right! Since when did Star also master a Four Stars Skill? The skill Ziyun used earlier didn¡¯t seem like its previous Immortal Body, did it? How long have they been apart, and they already have new Four Stars Skills? In an instant, Twelve felt a slight resentment towards its father. If it hadn¡¯t been caught by its father, it might have had Four Stars Skills by now! It immediately turned its gaze to Cancan, who was stepping forward. This fellow couldn¡¯t have a new Four Stars Skill too, could he? The next moment, Twelve found some consolation from Cancan¡¯s performance. Thank goodness, the Four Stars Skill Cancan had was still the previous one. After the three little ones completed their showcase, Xu Ran once again exchanged glances with the Nightmare Beast King, Chapter 632 - Chapter 632: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve! Chapter 632: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve! [Content incomplete, will be supplemented during the day] After a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally settled on the resources placed on the side of the high platform. Each of these resources was pulsating with tremendous energy, any single one of them worth the sum of all the power within its body. And now, it was about to devour these resources in one breath, absorbing their energy entirely as the driving force for its own evolution. There was no doubt that this process was dangerous. A slight misstep could result in being burst by the overly powerful energy, dying on the spot. But this was the ordeal all evolutions had to face. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one gulp. Lastly, it drank up the drop of Blood Essence that originated from its father. The Blood Essence, full of life and power, became the solvent for all, melting all the resources into one, also causing the conflicting energies to reach their most violent intensity in an instant. Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes filled with pain in that moment. At this instant, it felt as if there were multiple forces fighting within its body, each battling on its own, completely indifferent to its life or death. They mercilessly tore apart Twelve¡¯s innards, causing its breath to weaken rapidly in a very short time. Yet, as its breath weakened, the energy fluctuations around Twelve¡¯s body surged wildly at an abnormal speed, a stark contrast that marked the beginning of the evolution going out of control. ¡°So soon?¡± Xu Ran was shocked, his expression turning tense quickly. When the three little ones had evolved into the King Species before, they too had moments of life-and-death crisis, but that was after the evolution had progressed to a certain extent. Had Twelve just started ingesting the resources and was already in such danger? ¡°This should be related to my blood,¡± the Nightmare Beast King, who was on the side, seemed to realize something, his voice growing deep. ¡°The evolution requires Blood Essence from the Superpower-tier King Level, but I am not an ordinary King Stage.¡± ¡°My blood is stronger.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King said, closely watching Twelve¡¯s unusual state, and began to speak slowly. ¡°The Blood Essence you humans obtain, often comes from a master who has long passed away, but I am still alive, and I am right here.¡± ¡°This is my blood. How could I let it harm my daughter?¡± Pride shone in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King. ¡°Watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping Bird, she won¡¯t be an ordinary Sleeping Bird.¡± As if in response to the words of the Nightmare Beast King, the raging powers that had consumed Twelve seemed to suddenly hit the pause button and quieted down. Yet in Twelve¡¯s own perception, the situation was entirely different. The wild and chaotic powers within its body raged in separate battles, rending its flesh from the inside out, but as the Blood Essence carrying these powers made contact with Twelve¡¯s wounds and its own blood, everything changed. The Blood Essence, which had been inconspicuous before, seemed to awaken in this moment, exploding with a terrifyingly powerful force. Vaguely, one could even glimpse the figure of a colossal Demon Hawk flashing through the blood light. And the soaring force was not aimed at Twelve. It suppressed all the conflicting energies of the evolution resources in an extremely ruthless and unreasonable manner. Like a father pressing down the head of a thug who was harming his daughter, holding him under the water, the dominant force melded all the other powers into the Blood Essence. Evolution¡ªan undeniably arduous process¡ªis about gradually absorbing the disparate evolution materials and ultimately integrating their powers to transform them into one¡¯s own. However, the power hidden within the Blood Essence was now undertaking a similar act. It shattered and blended the forces that had merged into the Blood Essence, bit by bit, and then infused the completed integrated portion, along with a part of the Blood Essence, into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C After a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally settled on the resources placed on the side of the high platform. Each of these resources was pulsating with tremendous energy, any single one of them worth the sum of all the power within its body. And now, it was about to devour these resources in one breath, absorbing their energy entirely as the driving force for its own evolution. There was no doubt that this process was dangerous. A slight misstep could result in being burst by the overly powerful energy, dying on the spot. But this was the ordeal all evolutions had to face. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one gulp. Lastly, it drank up the drop of Blood Essence that originated from its father. The Blood Essence, full of life and power, became the solvent for all, melting all the resources into one, also causing the conflicting energies to reach their most violent intensity in an instant. Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes filled with pain in that moment. At this instant, it felt as if there were multiple forces fighting within its body, each battling on its own, completely indifferent to its life or death. They mercilessly tore apart Twelve¡¯s innards, causing its breath to weaken rapidly in a very short time. Yet, as its breath weakened, the energy fluctuations around Twelve¡¯s body surged wildly at an abnormal speed, a stark contrast that marked the beginning of the evolution going out of control. Chapter 633 - Chapter 633: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_2 Chapter 633: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_2 ¡°` ¡°So soon?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his expression quickly became tense. When the three little ones evolved into King Species before, although there were also moments of life-or-death crisis, those only occurred after the evolution had progressed to a certain extent. Had it become so dangerous just after Twelve swallowed the resources? ¡°This must be related to my blood,¡± said the Nightmare Beast King standing beside, his voice growing deeper. ¡°Evolution requires the Blood Essence of a Superpower-tier King Level, but I am not a common King Stage.¡± ¡°My blood, is stronger.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King, keeping a close eye on Twelve¡¯s current abnormalities, continued slowly. ¡°The Blood Essence obtained by you humans usually comes from a host that has long since perished, but I am still alive, right here.¡± ¡°This is my blood, how could I let it harm my daughter?¡± Pride shone in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King, ¡°Watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping bird, it will certainly not be an ordinary one.¡± As if in response to the words of the Nightmare Beast King, the power inside Twelve that had been undergoing frenzied backlash, as though a pause button had been pressed, calmed down. Yet Twelve¡¯s own perception of the situation was completely different. Those violent, chaotic powers fought each other within its body, riddling its form with countless internal wounds. But when the Blood Essence carrying those powers made contact with Twelve¡¯s injuries, with its own blood, everything changed. The originally silent Blood Essence seemed to awaken in that moment, bursting out with a terrifyingly powerful presence. One could even glimpse the massive form of a Demon Hawk flashing within the blood light. And the target of this rising momentum was not Twelve. It suppressed all conflicting energies from the evolutionary resources in a brutal, unreasonably forceful manner. Like a father holding down the head of a scoundrel harming his own daughter, drowning him in water, the dominant power integrated all other powers into the Blood Essence. The most arduous process of evolution is undoubtedly the gradual absorption of disparate Evolution Materials and the ultimate consolidation of their power into one¡¯s own. However, now, the power hidden within the Blood Essence was undertaking a similar action. It slowly shattered and blended the powers that had merged into the Blood Essence, eventually integrating the fully merged minor portion along with some Blood Essence into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. After a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally landed on the stack of resources placed at the side of the platform. Each of these resources was pulsing with immense energy, any single one equivalent to the total sum of all the forces within its body. And now, it was about to swallow these resources in one go, absorbing their energy completely as a means to fuel its own evolution. Undoubtedly, this process was fraught with danger; a slight miscalculation could lead to being burst by the overwhelming energy and dying on the spot. But, this was an ordeal all evolved beings had to face. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one go. Lastly, it drained the drop of Blood Essence from its own father to the very last. That Blood Essence, full of life and power, became the solvent for all others. It merged all the resources into a single crucible, exacerbating the conflict between differing energies to the most intense point in an instant. Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes filled with pain in that moment. It felt as though several forces were waging war within its body, fighting independently and completely disregarding its life or death. They ruthlessly ravaged Twelve¡¯s internal structure, rapidly weakening its vitality within a brief period. Yet, as the vitality dwindled, the energy fluctuations around Twelve were rising at an alarmingly fast rate. This extreme contrast signaled the beginning of an evolution gone awry. ¡°So soon?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his expression quickly became tense. When the three little ones evolved into King Species before, although there were also moments of life-or-death crisis, those only occurred after the evolution had progressed to a certain extent. Had it become so dangerous just after Twelve swallowed the resources? ¡°This must be related to my blood,¡± said the Nightmare Beast King standing beside, his voice growing deeper. ¡°Evolution requires the Blood Essence of a Superpower-tier King Level, but I am not a common King Stage.¡± ¡°My blood, is stronger.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King, keeping a close eye on Twelve¡¯s current abnormalities, continued slowly. ¡°The Blood Essence obtained by you humans usually comes from a host that has long since perished, but I am still alive, right here.¡± ¡°This is my blood, how could I let it harm my daughter?¡± Pride shone in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King, ¡°Watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping bird, it will certainly not be an ordinary one.¡± As if in response to the words of the Nightmare Beast King, the power inside Twelve that had been undergoing frenzied backlash, as though a pause button had been pressed, calmed down. Yet Twelve¡¯s own perception of the situation was completely different. Those violent, chaotic powers fought each other within its body, riddling its form with countless internal wounds. But when the Blood Essence carrying those powers made contact with Twelve¡¯s injuries, with its own blood, everything changed. ¡°` Chapter 634 - Chapter 634: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_3 Chapter 634: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_3 The Blood Essence, once unconcerned and quiet, seemed as if it were suddenly awakened at this moment, bursting forth with a terror so potent that one could even catch a glimpse of a massive Demon Hawk flashing in the blood light. However, the target of this explosive momentum that shot towards the heavens was not Twelve. With extreme ferocity and no regard for reason, it directly suppressed all clash of energy from the Evolution Resources. Like a father pressing down the head of a villain harming his daughter, drowning him forcefully in water, that dominant power melded all the other forces into the Blood Essence. Evolution, the most arduous process, undoubtedly lies in gradually absorbing the diverse Evolution Materials, eventually unifying their power, transforming it into one¡¯s own. Yet now, this power hidden within the Blood Essence, was doing something similar. It ground and merged the forces infused into the Blood Essence, piece by piece, ultimately integrating a small portion that had completed fusion, along with some Blood Essence, into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. After a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally settled on the various resources placed at the side of the raised platform. Each of these resources pulsated with tremendous energy, each one worth all the combined power within its body. And now, it intended to consume these resources in one go, absorbing their energy entirely as the driving force for its own evolution. There was no doubt that this process was perilous; an understanding that at the slightest mishap, it might be blasted apart by the overwhelming power and perish on the spot. But, this is what all evolution must go through. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one gulp. In the end, it drained the drop of Blood Essence from its own father to the last. The Blood Essence, brimming with the breath of life and power, became the solvent to everything; it melded all the resources together and caused the conflicts between different energies to reach their most intense in a flash. Torturous pain was written all over Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes in an instant. At this moment, it felt as if multiple forces were battling within its body, fighting individually without any concern for its life or death. These forces ruthlessly tore at Twelve¡¯s inner body, causing its breath to weaken considerably in a very short period. However, as it¡¯s breath weakened, the energy fluctuations around Twelve surged unnaturally rapidly, signifying the beginning of an out-of-control evolution. ¡°So soon?¡± Xu Ran was startled, his expression turning tense quickly. Although there were moments of life-and-death crisis when the three little ones evolved into King Species, it all happened after the evolution reached a certain stage. Had Twelve just swallowed the resources and was already in such danger? ¡°This should, relate to my blood,¡± the Nightmare Beast King beside him seemed to realize something, speaking in a lower tone, ¡°Evolution requires Superpower-tier King Level Blood Essence, but I am not just any King Stage.¡± ¡°My blood, is stronger.¡± ¡°However, there is no need to worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King watched closely Twelve¡¯s abnormal condition, and spoke slowly, ¡°The Blood Essence you humans obtain is often from those whose owners have long perished, but I am still alive, right here.¡± ¡°This is my blood, how could I let it harm my own daughter?¡± In the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King, pride glimmered, ¡°Watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping bird, it will certainly not be an ordinary one.¡± As if in response to the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, the power that had been chaotically backlashing inside Twelve seemed to have been paused, settling down suddenly. Yet, to Twelve itself, the situation was entirely different. The violent, disordered energies within its body clashed fiercely, rending its flesh from inside, but when the carrying Blood Essence came into contact with Twelve¡¯s wounds, with its own blood, everything changed. The Blood Essence, once unconcerned and quiet, seemed as if it were suddenly awakened at this moment, bursting forth with a terror so potent that one could even catch a glimpse of a massive Demon Hawk flashing in the blood light. However, the target of this explosive momentum that shot towards the heavens was not Twelve. With extreme ferocity and no regard for reason, it directly suppressed all clash of energy from the Evolution Resources. Like a father pressing down the head of a villain harming his daughter, drowning him forcefully in water, that dominant power melded all the other forces into the Blood Essence. Evolution, the most arduous process, undoubtedly lies in gradually absorbing the diverse Evolution Materials, eventually unifying their power, transforming it into one¡¯s own. Yet now, this power hidden within the Blood Essence, was doing something similar. It ground and merged the forces infused into the Blood Essence, piece by piece, ultimately integrating a small portion that had completed fusion, along with some Blood Essence, into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. After a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally settled on the various resources placed at the side of the raised platform. Each of these resources pulsated with tremendous energy, each one worth all the combined power within its body. And now, it intended to consume these resources in one go, absorbing their energy entirely as the driving force for its own evolution. Chapter 635 - Chapter 635: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_4 Chapter 635: Chapter 320: The Brand New Form of Twelve!_4 Without a doubt, this process was dangerous, and the slightest carelessness could result in being burst by the overly powerful energy, ending in instant death. But this was what all evolutions had to go through. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one breath. At last, it drained that single drop of blood essence from its own father. The blood essence, filled with the breath of life and power, became the solvent of everything; it fused all the resources into one, also causing the conflicts of different energies to reach their most intense point in an instant. Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes were filled with pain in that instant. At this moment, it felt as if multiple forces were battling inside its body, each one fighting on its own, with no regard for its life or death. They ruthlessly wreaked havoc inside Twelve¡¯s body, causing its breath to weaken drastically in a very short period of time. But as its breath weakened, the energy fluctuations around Twelve were abnormally skyrocketing at a high speed; this extreme contrast marked the beginning of uncontrolled evolution. ¡°So quickly?¡± Xu Ran was startled, and his expression quickly became tense. When the three little ones evolved into the King Species before, there were moments of life and death crisis, but those only came after the evolution had reached a certain stage. Had Twelve just swallowed the resources and was already this dangerous? ¡°This should be related to my blood,¡± said the Nightmare Beast King beside him, his voice growing heavy as if he had thought of something, ¡°Evolution requires the blood essence of a Superpower-tier King Level, but I am not an ordinary King Stage.¡± ¡°My blood is stronger.¡± ¡°But there is no need to worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King kept a close eye on Twelve¡¯s current abnormality, and slowly continued, ¡°The blood essence you humans obtain is usually from beings long dead, but I am alive and right here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my blood; how could I let it harm my daughter?¡± A hint of pride was in the eyes of the Nightmare Beast King, ¡°Watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping Bird, it will not be an ordinary Sleeping Bird.¡± As if in echo of the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, the previously berserk and rebounding power within Twelve seemed to suddenly hit a pause button and calmed down. However, in Twelve¡¯s own perception, the situation was completely different. Those violent, chaotic powers, each fighting for itself within its body, rendered its physique riddled with holes from the inside, but as soon as the blood essence carrying these powers touched Twelve¡¯s wounds, and came into contact with its own blood, everything changed. The originally unassuming blood essence seemed to be awakened in that instant, erupting with an incredibly powerful aura; it was as if one could briefly glimpse the huge form of a Demon Hawk flashing in the blood light. And the imposing aura, which soared into the sky, was not targeting Twelve. It suppressed all the conflicting energies of the evolution resources in a manner that was brutally ruthless and illogical. Like a father pinning down the head of a thug harming his daughter, holding him under the water, the dominant power melded all the other energies into the blood essence. The most challenging part of evolution was undoubtedly the process of gradually absorbing the diverse evolution materials, eventually integrating their powers and turning them into one¡¯s own. However, now, the power hidden within the blood essence was doing something similar. It gradually crushed and blended the powers that had entered into the blood essence, eventually integrating small completed portions along with some of the blood essence into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. After taking a deep breath, Twelve¡¯s gaze finally landed on the resources placed on one side of the raised platform. All of these resources surged with tremendous energy, any one of them was worth as much as the total amount of power inside its body. And now, it intended to devour all these resources in one breath, absorbing all their energy to fuel its own evolution. There was no doubt that this process was dangerous. A slight misstep could result in being blown apart by the overwhelming energy, dying instantly. But this was an ordeal all evolvings had to go through. Without hesitation, Twelve swallowed all the resources in one gulp. Lastly, it drained the drop of Blood Essence originating from its father. The Blood Essence, filled with the breath of life and power, became the solvent for everything, melding all the resources together, and causing the conflict between different energies to reach the most intense level in an instant. Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes filled with pain in that moment. At this moment, it felt as if multiple forces were waging war within its body, fighting each on their own, completely indifferent to its life or death. They ruthlessly ravaged the insides of Twelve¡¯s body, causing its aura to wilt within an extremely short period. But as its aura wilted, the energy fluctuations around Twelve¡¯s body also surged abnormally fast. This extreme contrast was the beginning of a loss of control over the evolution. ¡°So soon?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s heart jumped, and her expression quickly became tense. When the three little ones evolved into the King Species before, there were moments of life-and-death crisis, but those came after the evolution had reached a certain extent. Twelve had just swallowed the resources and was already so dangerous? ¡°This should have to do with my blood,¡± the Nightmare Beast King beside her seemed to realize something, and spoke in a deep voice, ¡°What is needed for evolution is the Blood Essence of a Superpower-tier King Level, but I am not an ordinary King Stage being.¡± ¡°My blood is stronger.¡± ¡°However, there is no need to worry too much,¡± the Nightmare Beast King continued intently watching Twelve¡¯s current odd state, speaking slowly, ¡°The Blood Essence you humans acquire often comes from a master who has long since died, but I am still alive, and right here.¡± ¡°This is my blood, how could I allow it to harm my daughter?¡± There was a hint of pride in the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s eyes, ¡°Just watch, even if Twelve evolves into a Sleeping Bird, it will not be an ordinary Sleeping Bird.¡± As if responding to the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, the force that was previously in a frenzied backlash within Twelve seemed to suddenly hit pause, calming down. Yet, in Twelve¡¯s own perception, the situation was entirely different. The wild, chaotic forces, each fighting for themselves within its body, had left its body riddled with holes from the inside. But as the Blood Essence that carried these forces touched Twelve¡¯s wounds, and made contact with its own blood, everything changed. The previously subdued Blood Essence seemed to awaken in this moment, exploding with an extremely horrific surge of power. Vaguely, one could even glimpse the giant figure of a Demon Hawk flashing through the blood light. And the rising force was not targeting Twelve. It suppressed all the conflicting energies of the evolution resources in a brutally fierce, unreasonably forceful manner. Like a father holding down a thug harming his daughter, forcibly submerging the thug¡¯s head in water, that dominating force integrated all other forces into the Blood Essence. Evolution¡¯s most challenging phase was doubtlessly the gradual absorption of the diverse Evolution Materials, eventually integrating their power and transforming it into one¡¯s own. And now, the power hidden within the Blood Essence was undertaking a similar action. It slowly shattered and blended the powers that had merged into the Blood Essence. And then, it incorporated both the newly fused small fraction and some of the Blood Essence into Twelve¡¯s body. Bit by bit. Chapter 636 - Chapter 636: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve Chapter 636: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve [The content is incomplete, please do not subscribe yet.] ¡°Is the problem on our human side?¡± Upon hearing the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a hint of surprise. This was something he hadn¡¯t predicted. According to his thoughts, humans were the weaker party in front of the Beast Field, merely defending the city had already resulted in no small number of casualties, they should be the ones most desiring peace and should not have any reason to oppose this proposal. Therefore, he just needed to convince the Nightmare Beast King, and everything would naturally proceed smoothly. Hearing the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s implication, could it be that it was not so? ¡°It seems you are unaware of the situation in the other 3 Level towns within 97th Beast Field,¡± the Nightmare Beast King guessed the reality based on Xu Ran¡¯s puzzled expression and slowly started speaking. ¡°Within the 97th Beast Field, there are a total of 7 3 Level towns, among which the strongest is Changshi City, where there is a King Level Beast Master, and the most powerful Beast Master seated in the remaining six towns are at General Level.¡± The Nightmare Beast King paused for a moment, ¡°Among the seven human Beast Masters seated in these towns, four hold extreme animosity towards us Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Their goal is to enslave the wild Transcendent Beings and turn the entire 97th Beast Field into human territory.¡± ¡°This includes Changshi City.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, it is difficult for them to agree to coexist peacefully with Transcendent Beings, and even if they agree, it is likely they will have ulterior motives.¡± The Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless there is an absolutely powerful being who can dominate them,¡± Xu Ran took over the conversation with understanding. ¡°Yes.¡± The Nightmare Beast King nodded slightly, ¡°I am stronger now than before, but not yet dominant. We still need an even more powerful being to successfully call upon the creatures of the 97th Beast Field to make such a change.¡± ¡°A new order is established upon absolute strength,¡± the Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran, ¡°The blueprint you¡¯ve described is very beautiful, but to realize it, you need to become stronger.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Similar words had been said by the Semi-Saint of Demon Wood as well. In the end, if he wanted to turn the 97th Beast Field into a Holy Land like the Monster Wooden Domain, he still needed to be powerful enough himself. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, senior, I shall take my leave for now. I¡¯ll come to find you when my strength is sufficient,¡± Xu Ran bowed slightly to the Nightmare Beast King and turned to leave. ¡°Go ahead.¡± The Nightmare Beast King opened one wing slightly and gave a soft pat to Twelve, pushing it in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, then flapped its wings and disappeared into the sky. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Daddy!) Twelve¡¯s eyes were filled with reluctance, and only after the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s figure could no longer be seen did it flap its wings and quickly follow Xu Ran. It lightly landed on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder and looked at Ziyun in his arms. From now on, it would no longer need to compete with Ziyun for a spot. ¡°Meow~¡± Ziyun stretched lazily and contentedly closed its eyes. Xu Ran¡¯s embrace could only belong to it! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the goal to be achieved so smoothly,¡± feeling the Star¡¯s lightning-fast speed, Xu Ran turned his head to look at Twelve on his shoulder, ¡°Originally, we had planned to steal you back after Ziyun evolved into the Emperor Species.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (So that¡¯s how it was~) Twelve suddenly understood. It seemed that it had exposed its Evolution Path, leading its ¡°dad¡± to go directly to Qingzhou City to find Xu Ran, which had expedited everything. Otherwise, it would have had to wait until Ziyun evolved into the Emperor Species before it could¡­ Wait a minute¡­ ¡°Chirp?!¡± (Emperor Species?!) Twelve stared at Ziyun, dumbfounded. It hadn¡¯t been separated from its companion for long, had it? How had it already started preparing to evolve into the Emperor Species? ¡°Meow~¡± (Yeah~ I¡¯ve already exchanged for the Evolution Path, and not just that, Star has exchanged as well.) Ziyun licked its paw and began to speak unhurriedly. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Yes.) The Star, racing through the air, let out a whinny, affirming Ziyun¡¯s words. Emperor Species Evolution Path! Twelve swallowed reflexively, its eyes shining even brighter with desire. It wanted one so badly! But sensing Twelve¡¯s thoughts, Cancan looked at it warily. ¡°Cha!¡± (The next one is mine!) It had been looking forward to it for a long time, and it couldn¡¯t let Twelve get ahead of it. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Alright, then I¡¯ll take the one after the next.) Twelve quickly calmed down, casually flapping its wings. Since Xu Ran managed to get two in such a short time, getting another two shouldn¡¯t take too long. It had just evolved into the King Species, so its next evolution surely wouldn¡¯t be so soon. And¡­ During the evolution it owed Ziyun and the Star quite a lot, so when its first share of resource allocation arrived, it would have to repay that part. Thinking of this, Twelve spoke somewhat sheepishly. ¡°Chirp?¡± (The things Ziyun and Star lent me today, are they expensive?) ¡°They¡¯re okay,¡± Xu Ran touched his chin, ¡°Two Three Star Skill Scrolls, 37 Skill Fusion Stones, and 240 Skill Fragments used for Skill Fusion, in total adding up to 8,100 Value Points.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve opened quite a few branches recently, so I have a lot more resources,¡± Xu Ran said with a chuckle, ¡°By the next resource distribution, you should still have about half left after paying off your debts.¡± About half¡­ Twelve¡¯s expression drooped. That doesn¡¯t sound very promising! ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, compared to the other three you¡¯re already much better off,¡± Xu Ran patted Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°After all, the evolution materials were provided by senior Nightmare.¡± Chapter 637 - Chapter 637: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_2 Chapter 637: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_2 ¡°Back then, they spent quite a few Value Points for Evolution Materials.¡± Upon hearing this, Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all nodded in agreement. Especially Ziyun, whose evolution occurred before Xu Ran had ever visited a Second Level Town, and those rare and scarce Main Materials for Evolution were all found by luck by it and Xu Ran. Upon hearing Xu Ran say this, No. 12 immediately felt better. ¡°Chirp?¡± (So, are we heading to Xieyun City next, or Monster Wooden City?) No. 12 had heard before that after reaching Beast Field No. 47, one person and three pets opened a branch in Xieyun City, and from the recent conversation between Xu Ran and the Nightmare Beast King, it knew there was also a branch in Monster Wooden City. In No. 12¡¯s view, Xu Ran¡¯s destination could only be one of these two. ¡°No, neither of them,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re going to Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°¡­Chirp?¡± (Where¡¯s that?) No. 12 showed a puzzled expression. Was there a new branch? It had only left for a little over twenty days, yet it felt it was already falling behind in updates? ¡°Chah~¡± (Not just a new branch, but also a new companion!) Cancan let out a he-he laugh, unable to contain itself. What? A new companion? No. 12¡¯s eyes widened even further. It wasn¡¯t the youngest in the team anymore? It had a ¡®little brother¡¯ now? In an instant, it became completely absorbed in the thought of the unknown new companion. ¡°The Firefly is still on probation,¡± Xu Ran tapped Cancan¡¯s head gently, then looked at No. 12, ¡°Once we get to Bright Radiance City, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (We¡¯re about to arrive at Qingzhou City.) Star neighed sharply, looking at Qingzhou City whose outline was now visible, and abruptly sped up. It wasn¡¯t long before one person and four pets crossed through the city gate and entered the city. [These past few days, I¡¯ve had recurring fevers. I apologize deeply for my inability to return to normal as promised. I visited the hospital today, and they¡¯ve prescribed me new medication; my condition has mostly stabilized. I will start writing diligently from tomorrow.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Is the problem on our side, the humans¡¯?¡± Hearing the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. This was unexpected for him. By his reasoning, humans were the weaker side in front of the beast realm, protecting their cities at great human cost. They should, therefore, be the ones most desiring peace, and should have no reason to object to this proposal. Thus, if he could persuade the Nightmare Beast King, everything should naturally proceed smoothly. But from what the Nightmare Beast King suggested, could it be otherwise? ¡°It seems that you are not aware of the situation within the other 3-Level towns in Beast Field No. 97,¡± the Nightmare Beast King guessed the situation from Xu Ran¡¯s puzzled look and slowly started to explain. ¡°Within Beast Field No. 97, there are a total of 7 3-Level towns. The strongest among them is Changshi City, which has a King Level Beast Master; the most powerful Beast Masters in the other towns are at the General Level.¡± The Nightmare Beast King¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°Among these seven human Beast Masters stationed in the towns, four hold extreme hostility towards us Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Their goal is to enslave the wild Transcendent Beings and turn the whole Beast Field No. 97 into human territory.¡± ¡°That includes Changshi City.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, it¡¯s very difficult for them to agree to coexist peacefully with Transcendent Beings, and even if they agreed, it¡¯s highly likely they would do so insincerely,¡± the Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless a supremely powerful figure that can outmatch them steps forward,¡± Xu Ran interjected with understanding. ¡°Yes.¡± The Nightmare Beast King nodded slightly, ¡°While I am now stronger than before, I am not yet powerful enough to dominate. We need an even more powerful individual to successfully rally the beings of Beast Field No. 97 for such a change.¡± ¡°New order is built upon absolute strength,¡± the Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Your vision is very magnificent, but to achieve it, you need to become stronger.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Similar words had been spoken by the Semi-Saint of the Demon Wood. In the end, if he wanted to turn Beast Field No. 97 into a Holy Land like the Monster Wooden Domain, he still needed his own strength to be sufficiently formidable. ¡°With this in mind, I¡¯ll take my leave, senior. When my power is enough, I¡¯ll come to find you,¡± Xu Ran bowed slightly to the Nightmare Beast King before turning to leave. ¡°Go,¡± the Nightmare Beast King spread one wing and gently nudged No. 12 towards Xu Ran, then with a flap of his wings, vanished into the sky. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Daddy!) No. 12¡¯s eyes were filled with reluctance, and only when the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s figure was no longer visible did it flutter its wings and quickly follow after Xu Ran. It settled gracefully on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, casting a glance at Ziyun in his arms. From now on, it no longer had to compete with Ziyun for a spot. ¡°Meow~¡± Ziyun stretched lazily and closed its eyes contentedly. Xu Ran¡¯s embrace was for it alone! ¡°The fact that everything went so smoothly was unexpected,¡± Xu Ran felt Star¡¯s lightning-fast speed and looked at No. 12 on his shoulder, ¡°Originally, we planned to snatch you back after Ziyun had evolved into the Emperor Species.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (So that was the plan~) No. 12 suddenly understood. It seemed that its evolution pathway was exposed, prompting Xu Ran to directly go to Qingzhou City to find Xu Ran, and this accelerated everything. Otherwise, it would have had to wait until Ziyun evolved into the Emperor Species before¡­ Wait a moment¡­ ¡°Chirp?!¡± (Emperor Species?!) No. 12 stared blankly at Ziyun. It had not been apart from its friends for long, had it? Chapter 638 - Chapter 638: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_3 Chapter 638: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_3 Why has the preparation for evolving into the Emperor Species already begun? ¡°Meow~¡± (Yeah~ I¡¯ve already exchanged for the evolution path, and not only that, Star has exchanged as well.) Ziyun licked its paw, speaking slowly and deliberately. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Indeed.) The swiftly moving Star whinnied in affirmation of Ziyun¡¯s words. Emperor Species evolution path! Twelve couldn¡¯t help but swallow, its eyes becoming more brightly lit. It really wanted it! Sensing Twelve¡¯s desires, Cancan gave it a wary glance. ¡°Chah!¡± (The next one is mine!) It had been looking forward to this for a long time and wouldn¡¯t let Twelve take the lead. ¡°Tweet~¡± (Alright, then I¡¯ll take the one after the next.) Twelve quickly calmed down, casually flapping its wings. Since Xu Ran was able to get two in such a short time, then getting another two shouldn¡¯t take too long. It had only just evolved into the King Species; its next evolution surely wouldn¡¯t come so soon. And¡­ When it evolved, it owed Ziyun and Star quite a few things. When its time for the first resource allocation came, it would still have to repay that part. Thinking of this, Twelve spoke with a touch of guilt. ¡°Tweet?¡± (Those items Ziyun and Star lent me today, were they expensive?) ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Two Three Star Skill Scrolls, 37 Skill Fusion Stones, and 240 Skill Fragments used for skill fusion. In total, that comes up to 8100 Value Points.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve opened quite a few branches recently, so there¡¯s been an increase in resource earnings.¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°By the time of the next resource allocation, you should still have a small amount left after repaying your debt.¡± A small amount¡­ Twelve¡¯s expression drooped. That doesn¡¯t sound good! ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened, you¡¯re already doing much better than those three.¡± Xu Ran patted Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°After all, Nightmare Senior provided the evolution materials.¡± ¡°They spent quite a few Value Points for their evolution materials back then.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Ziyun, Star, and Cancan nodded together. Ziyun in particular, because Xu Ran hadn¡¯t been to Second Level Towns yet when it evolved, and those rare and hard-to-find Main Materials for Evolution were obtained by them through sheer luck. Having heard what Xu Ran said, Twelve¡¯s spirits immediately lifted. ¡°Tweet?¡± (Are we going to Xieyun City next? Or Monster Wooden City?) Before, it had heard that after arriving at Beast Field 47, one human with three pets had opened a branch in Xieyun City, and Xu Ran¡¯s conversation with the Nightmare Beast King revealed that there was also a branch in Monster Wooden City. To Twelve, the places Xu Ran intended to visit could only be these two. ¡°No, it¡¯s neither of the two.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°We¡¯re going to Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°¡­Tweet?¡± (Where¡¯s that?) Twelve looked puzzled. A new branch again? It had been only a little more than twenty days since they left, and it felt like it was struggling to keep up with the updates. ¡°Chah~¡± (Not just a new branch, there¡¯s a new partner too!) Cancan chuckled and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. What? A new partner? Twelve¡¯s eyes grew even wider. Was it no longer the youngest in the team? Did it have a ¡®little brother¡¯ now? In an instant, its attention was entirely captivated by the prospect of an unknown new partner. ¡°Firefly is still on a probationary period.¡± Xu Ran tapped Cancan¡¯s head lightly and then looked at Twelve, ¡°Once we get to Bright Radiance City, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (We are about to arrive at Qingzhou City.) Star whinnied, looking at Qingzhou City, whose outline was now visible, and suddenly accelerated. Soon after, one human with four pets passed through the city gate and entered the city. ¡°Is the problem on our human side?¡± Hearing the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words, a look of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. This was unexpected. According to his thinking, humans were the weaker party in front of the Beast Field. Merely defending the city had already resulted in significant casualties. They should be the ones most eager for peace and thus should not have any reason to object to the proposal. Therefore, as long as he could persuade the Nightmare Beast King, everything else should proceed smoothly. But from what the Nightmare Beast King implied, was that not the case? ¡°It seems you are unaware of the situation with the other 3 Level towns within Beast Field 97.¡± Reading Xu Ran¡¯s confusion, the Nightmare Beast King guessed the truth and spoke slowly. ¡°Within Beast Field 97, there are a total of 7 3 Level towns. The strongest is Changshi City, which owns a King Level Beast Master. Each of the other six towns is presided over by a Beast Master at General Level.¡± The Nightmare Beast King paused for a moment, ¡°Among the seven human Beast Masters in charge, four hold enormous hostility towards us Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Their goal is to enslave the wild Transcendent Beings and turn the entire Beast Field 97 into human territory.¡± ¡°This includes Changshi City.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, it is highly unlikely for them to agree to coexist peacefully with Transcendent Beings. Even if they do agree, they¡¯d likely renege on their word behind the scenes.¡± The Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless there is an absolute power that can dominate over them.¡± Xu Ran caught on and continued. ¡°Yes.¡± The Nightmare Beast King nodded slightly, ¡°I am now stronger than before, but not enough to be considered dominating. We still need a stronger presence to rally the creatures of Beast Field 97 for such a change.¡± ¡°The new order is built upon absolute strength.¡± The Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Your vision is beautiful, but to achieve it, you need to become stronger.¡± Chapter 639 - Chapter 639: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_4 Chapter 639: Chapter 321 Fireflies and the Twelve_4 ¡°I understand.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. The same words had been said by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. In the end, if he wanted to turn Beast Field No. 97 into a holy land like the Monster Wooden Domain, he still needed his own strength to be powerful enough. ¡°With that being said, senior, I¡¯ll take my leave now. When my strength is sufficient, I¡¯ll come to find you.¡± Xu Ran gave the Nightmare Beast King a slight bow and turned to leave. ¡°Go ahead.¡± The Nightmare Beast King opened one wing and gave Twelve a gentle push in Xu Ran¡¯s direction, then flapped its wings and disappeared into the sky. ¡°Cheep~¡± (Daddy!) Twelve¡¯s eyes were filled with reluctance, and only after the Nightmare Beast King was completely out of sight did it flap its wings to catch up with Xu Ran. It landed lightly on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder and looked at Ziyun cradled in Xu Ran¡¯s arms. From now on, it wouldn¡¯t have to compete with Ziyun for a spot. ¡°Meow~¡± Ziyun stretched languidly and closed its eyes contentedly. Xu Ran¡¯s embrace belonged to it alone! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect things to go so smoothly,¡± Xu Ran said, feeling the starry speed as he glanced at Twelve on his shoulder. ¡°Originally, our plan was to wait until Ziyun evolved into the Emperor Species before we snatched you back.¡± ¡°Cheep~¡± (So that¡¯s how it is~) Twelve suddenly realized. It seemed it had revealed its evolution path, prompting daddy to go directly to Qingzhou City to find Xu Ran, which had expedited everything. Otherwise, it would have had to wait until Ziyun evolved into the Emperor Species before¡­ Wait a second¡­ ¡°Cheep?!¡± (Emperor Species?!) Twelve gazed at Ziyun with its mouth agape. It hadn¡¯t been separated from its buddy for long, had it? How come it was already preparing to evolve into the Emperor Species? ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed~ I¡¯ve already exchanged for the evolution path. Not only that, but so has Star.) Ziyun licked its paw and spoke unhurriedly. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Yes.) The starry speedster neighed in affirmation as it raced on, confirming Ziyun¡¯s words. Emperor Species evolution path! Unable to contain himself, Twelve swallowed hard, its eyes shining more brightly. It really wanted it! Seemingly sensing Twelve¡¯s thoughts, Cancan gave it a wary look. ¡°Cha!¡± (The next one is mine!) It had been looking forward to its share for a long time and wouldn¡¯t let Twelve get there first. ¡°Cheep~¡± (Alright then, I¡¯ll wait for the one after next.) Twelve quickly composed itself, flapping its wings nonchalantly. If Xu Ran had managed to acquire two sets in such a short period, then getting another two sets shouldn¡¯t take too long. It had only recently evolved into a King Species; its next evolution certainly wouldn¡¯t come so soon. And¡­ It had incurred quite a debt to Ziyun and Star for its evolution and when its first share of resources came, it still had to repay that part. With this thought, Twelve asked with a bit of guilt. ¡°Cheep?¡± (The stuff Ziyun and Star lent me today, is it expensive?) ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Two Three Star Skill Scrolls, 37 Skill fusion stones, and 240 Skill Fragments for the fusion, totaling up to 8100 Value Points.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve opened quite a few branches recently, so the resource income has increased a lot.¡± Xu Ran spoke cheerfully, ¡°By the next resource distribution, you should still have a little left after paying off your debt.¡± A little left¡­ Twelve¡¯s expression drooped. That doesn¡¯t sound good at all! ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, you¡¯re already doing much better compared to the three of them,¡± Xu Ran patted Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°after all, the evolution materials were provided by Senior Nightmare.¡± ¡°Back then, it cost the three of them quite a few value points to obtain their evolution materials.¡± Hearing this, Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all nodded in agreement. Especially Ziyun, when it evolved, Xu Ran hadn¡¯t yet visited a Second Level Town, and those rare and hard-to-find main materials for evolution had all been luckily found by it and Xu Ran. Upon hearing what Xu Ran said, Twelve suddenly felt much better. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Are we going to Xieyun City next, or Monster Wooden City?) It had heard before that after reaching Beast Field number 47, One Man Three Beasts had opened a branch in Xieyun City, and through the recent conversation between Xu Ran and the Nightmare Beast King, it learned that there was also a branch in Monster Wooden City. In Twelve¡¯s opinion, these were the only two places Xu Ran would likely visit. ¡°No, neither of those,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°We¡¯re going to Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°¡­Chirp?¡± (Where is that?) Twelve looked puzzled. A new branch? It had only been away for a bit over twenty days, so how could it feel like it was almost unable to keep up with the updates? ¡°Chuckle~¡± (Not just a new branch but also a new companion!) Cancan let out a chuckle, unable to contain herself from speaking up. What? A new companion? Twelve¡¯s eyes grew even wider. Was it no longer the smallest one in the team? Did it now have a junior? In an instant, its attention was completely captured by the unknown new companion. ¡°Fireflies are still under assessment,¡± Xu Ran tapped Cancan¡¯s head gently and then looked at Twelve, ¡°When we get to Bright Radiance City, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± (We¡¯ll soon arrive at Qingzhou City.) Star neighed, looking at the outline of Qingzhou City, which was now visible, and suddenly accelerated. Before long, one human and four beasts passed through the city gates and entered. ¡°Is the problem on our side?¡± Xu Ran asked, surprise coloring his face as he listened to the Nightmare Beast King. This was unexpected. From his point of view, humans were the weaker party in front of the beasts of the Beast Field; just defending the cities had already caused considerable casualties. They ought to be the ones most desiring peace and should not have any reason to object to the proposal. Therefore, convincing the Nightmare Beast King should have been all that was necessary for things to proceed smoothly. The implication of the Nightmare Beast King¡¯s words was, perhaps, otherwise? ¡°It seems you are not aware of the situation within the other 3 Level towns in Beast Field number 97,¡± the Nightmare Beast King guessed the reality from Xu Ran¡¯s confused expression and slowly began to speak. ¡°Within Beast Field number 97, there are a total of seven 3 Level towns, with the strongest being Changshi City, which has a King Level Beast Master. The most powerful Beast Masters in the other six towns are at the General Level.¡± The Nightmare Beast King paused for a moment, ¡°Among these seven Beast Masters, four have extreme hostility towards us Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Their goal is to enslave wild Transcendent Beings and turn the entire Beast Field number 97 into human territory.¡± ¡°This includes Changshi City.¡± ¡°Under these circumstances, they would find it difficult to agree to a peaceful coexistence with Transcendent Beings, and even if they agreed, they would likely do so insincerely,¡± the Nightmare Beast King glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless there is an absolute power that can override theirs,¡± Xu Ran said, understandingly finishing the sentence. ¡°Exactly,¡± the Nightmare Beast King nodded slightly, ¡°Although I am now stronger than before, I don¡¯t yet dominate. We still need a much stronger being to stand forth to successfully rally the creatures of Beast Field number 97 for such change.¡± ¡°The new order is built upon absolute power,¡± the Nightmare Beast King looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Your blueprint is beautiful, but to realize it, you need to become stronger.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded lightly. The same words had once been said by the Semi-Saint of Demon Wood. Ultimately, if he wished to turn Beast Field number 97 into a Holy Land like the Monster Wooden Domain, his own strength had to be sufficiently powerful. ¡°In that case, Senior, I shall take my leave for now. I will come to seek you out when my strength is adequate,¡± Xu Ran bowed slightly to the Nightmare Beast King and turned to leave. Chapter 640 - Chapter 640: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes Chapter 640: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes ¡°` [No content, to be supplemented tomorrow] This was their first action target with their little friends since contracting with Xu Ran. It had to exert a part of its power! In this regard, Number Twelve had an advantage the other three did not possess. It came from the Beast Field, from a group of wild Transcendent Beings. It understood the group of wild Transcendent Beings better than Xu Ran and the other three. After pondering for a moment, Number Twelve suddenly spoke up. ¡°Chirp~¡± (If I¡¯m not mistaken, the powerful creatures that have discovered the Extinct Thunder Attraction should not be limited to the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.) ¡°Meow?¡± (Are there others?) Ziyun was startled and couldn¡¯t help asking, her expression becoming much more grave. According to the information they had gathered before, the Thunder Attribute Beast Kings guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction were only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, the latter of which they had already ambushed and successfully killed. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could be a threat to them. Hearing Ziyun¡¯s puzzlement, Number Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (In the wild, if Transcendent Beings find a resource that is useful to them but cannot be obtained immediately, guarding it is just one option.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (In addition, there are some who, after ensuring the safety of the resource, will leave their marks and means of surveillance, and then wait for easy prey.) (Generally speaking, the latter is more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Could it really be so?) Star let out a neigh, and its expression became grave upon hearing Number Twelve¡¯s words. If what Number Twelve said was true, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King might only be the forces in plain sight, with possibly one or even several more powerful Transcendent Beings lurking in the dark, also eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction? ¡°Meow~¡± (Then, is there a way to discover them?) Ziyun grew impatient. The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight for the resource in the future was causing her significant anxiety. Fortunately, Number Twelve quickly gave an affirmative answer. ¡°Chirp~¡± (There¡¯s a way.) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, and having spent a long time with the Beast King, Number Twelve was extremely sensitive to the aura of the Beast King level. With just one visit to the Fallen Thunder Valley, it was confident it could confirm whether a powerful Beast King was coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction and had left a mark. ¡°Cha!¡± (No time to lose, let¡¯s go tonight!) Cancan shouted excitedly, her eyes brimming with excitement. Cancan, the Adventurer, was setting out on a new adventure! ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s inform Xu Ran about this first.) Ziyun took a deep breath and reached out to the busy Xu Ran through Contractual Sensing. In the Washing and Protection room, Xu Ran paused for a moment as he was caring for a Pet Beast. What does that mean? According to Number Twelve¡¯s speculation on the wild Transcendent Beings, the Beast Kings eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction could be more than just the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow? Suddenly, he felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Fortunately, Number Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t certain. Whether it was true or not needed to be investigated in person. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there something wrong with my Pet Beast?¡± asked the customer who had been closely watching Xu Ran¡¯s actions when he stopped, unable to contain his curiosity. Even the Pet Beast, which was previously full of joy, now cast a reproachful glance at him. You¡¯re supposed to keep going! ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized and refocused his attention on the current cleaning and caring, while responding to the quartet through Contractual Sensing. ¡°We¡¯ll take action tonight.¡± This was their first action target with their little friends since contracting with Xu Ran. It had to exert a part of its power! In this regard, Number Twelve had an advantage the other three did not possess. It came from the Beast Field, from a group of wild Transcendent Beings. It understood the group of wild Transcendent Beings better than Xu Ran and the other three. After pondering for a moment, Number Twelve suddenly spoke up. ¡°Chirp~¡± (If I¡¯m not mistaken, the powerful creatures that have discovered the Extinct Thunder Attraction should not be limited to the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.) ¡°Meow?¡± (Are there others?) Ziyun was startled and couldn¡¯t help asking, her expression becoming much more grave. According to the information they had gathered before, the Thunder Attribute Beast Kings guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction were only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, the latter of which they had already ambushed and successfully killed. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow could be a threat to them. Hearing Ziyun¡¯s puzzlement, Number Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (In the wild, if Transcendent Beings find a resource that is useful to them but cannot be obtained immediately, guarding it is just one option.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (In addition, there are some who, after ensuring the safety of the resource, will leave their marks and means of surveillance, and then wait for easy prey.) (Generally speaking, the latter is more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Could it really be so?) Star let out a neigh, and its expression became grave upon hearing Number Twelve¡¯s words. If what Number Twelve said was true, then the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King might only be the forces in plain sight, with possibly one or even several more powerful Transcendent Beings lurking in the dark, also eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction? ¡°Meow~¡± (Then, is there a way to discover them?) Ziyun grew impatient. The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight for the resource in the future was causing her significant anxiety. ¡°` Chapter 641 - Chapter 641: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_2 Chapter 641: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_2 Fortunately, Twelve quickly gave a positive response. ¡°Jiu~¡± (¡°There¡¯s a way.¡±) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King who had spent a lot of time with the Beast King, Twelve was particularly sensitive to the aura of the Beast King Level. If she could just make one trip to Fallen Thunder Valley, she was confident that she could confirm whether a powerful Beast King coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction had left a mark. ¡°Cha!¡± (¡°No time to waste, let¡¯s go tonight!¡±) Cancan shouted loudly, her eyes filled with excitement. She, Cancan the Explorer, was about to make a comeback! ¡°Meow~¡± (¡°First, let¡¯s tell Xu Ran about this.¡±) Ziyun took a deep breath and linked to the busy Xu Ran through Contractual Sensing. Inside the cleaning and caring room, Xu Ran¡¯s hand, which was attending to a Pet Beast, paused slightly. What does that mean? According to Twelve¡¯s speculation about wild Extraordinary Creatures, could there be more than one Beast King eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction aside from Thunder Patterned Gold Willow? Suddenly, he felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Fortunately, Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t a certainty. Whether it¡¯s true or not required an actual investigation. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there some problem with my Pet Beast?¡± The customer who had been closely watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements became anxious as Xu Ran paused and couldn¡¯t help but ask. Even the utterly pleased Pet Beast gave a look of silent reproach at this moment. Will you please continue? ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized, focusing his attention back on the washing and protection, and responded to the four small creatures through Contractual Sensing. ¡°We act tonight.¡± This was their first mission together since he had made a contract with Twelve and its buddies. He must exert a part of his own strength to succeed! And in this regard, Twelve had an advantage that the other three did not possess. It came from the Beast Field, from the group of wild Extraordinary Creatures. It knew the wild Extraordinary Creature Group better than Xu Ran and the other three. After pondering for a moment, Twelve suddenly spoke up. ¡°Jiu~¡± (¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the powerful creature that found the Extinct Thunder Attraction is probably not just Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.¡±) ¡°Meow?¡± (¡°Are there others?¡±) Ziyun was taken aback and couldn¡¯t help but ask, her expression becoming much more serious. According to the information they had gathered earlier, only Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King were guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction, with the latter already ambushed and successfully killed by them. Logically, it should only be the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow that might threaten them. Hearing Ziyun¡¯s perplexity, Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Jiu~¡± (¡°In the wild, if Extraordinary Creatures find a resource that is useful to them but cannot be obtained immediately, guarding it is just one of the options.¡±) ¡°Jiu~¡± (¡°Besides, there are those who, after ensuring the safety of the resource, will leave their mark and surveillance methods, and then lie in wait.¡±) (In general, the latter are more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (¡°Could it really be so?¡±) Star neighed, and upon hearing Twelve¡¯s words, its expression turned serious. If what Twelve said was true, could there be one or even several more powerful Extraordinary Creatures lurking in the dark, eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction alongside Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King? ¡°Meow~¡± (¡°Then is there a way to discover them?¡±) Ziyun became anxious. The unknown was the most terrifying. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight for the power of the Extinct Thunder Attraction made them feel a restless anxiety. Fortunately, Twelve quickly gave a positive response. ¡°Jiu~¡± (¡°There¡¯s a way.¡±) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King who had spent a lot of time with the Beast King, Twelve was particularly sensitive to the aura of the Beast King Level. If she could just make one trip to Fallen Thunder Valley, she was confident that she could confirm whether a powerful Beast King coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction had left a mark. ¡°Cha!¡± (¡°No time to waste, let¡¯s go tonight!¡±) Cancan shouted loudly, her eyes filled with excitement. She, Cancan the Explorer, was about to make a comeback! ¡°Meow~¡± (¡°First, let¡¯s tell Xu Ran about this.¡±) Ziyun took a deep breath and linked to the busy Xu Ran through Contractual Sensing. Inside the cleaning and caring room, Xu Ran¡¯s hand, which was attending to a Pet Beast, paused slightly. What does that mean? According to Twelve¡¯s speculation about wild Extraordinary Creatures, could there be more than one Beast King eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction aside from Thunder Patterned Gold Willow? Suddenly, he felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Fortunately, Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t a certainty. Whether it¡¯s true or not required an actual investigation. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there some problem with my Pet Beast?¡± The customer who had been closely watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements became anxious as Xu Ran paused and couldn¡¯t help but ask. Even the utterly pleased Pet Beast gave a look of silent reproach at this moment. Will you please continue? ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized, focusing his attention back on the washing and protection, and responded to the four small creatures through Contractual Sensing. Chapter 642 - Chapter 642: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_3 Chapter 642: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_3 ¡°Meow?¡± (Are there others?) Ziyun was taken aback and couldn¡¯t help but ask, his expression becoming much more solemn. According to the information they had gathered earlier, the only Thunder Attribute Beast Kings guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction were the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, the latter of which they had ambushed and successfully killed. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow should be a potential threat to them. After hearing Ziyun¡¯s doubts, Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (In the wild, Transcendent Beings may find a resource useful to them but not immediately obtainable. Staying there is just one way to guard it.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (Besides, there are those who, after ensuring the safety of the resource, will leave their mark and surveillance methods, and then wait for the prey to arrive.) (In general, the latter is more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is that so?) Star neighed, and upon hearing Twelve¡¯s words, its expression became solemn too. If what Twelve said was true, then were Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King just the visible forces, with potentially one or even several more powerful Transcendent Beings lurking in the darkness, eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction? ¡°Meow~¡± (Is there a way to discover them?) Ziyun grew anxious. The unknown is the most terrifying thing. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight over the Extinct Thunder Attraction in the future was causing anxious restlessness. Fortunately, Twelve quickly provided a positive response. ¡°Chirp~¡± (There is a way.) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, who had spent a long time with the Beast King, Twelve was extremely sensitive to the aura at the Beast King Level. As long as it could visit the Fallen Thunder Valley once, it was confident it could confirm whether strong Beast Kings coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction had left their marks. ¡°Cha!¡± (No time to waste, let¡¯s go tonight!) Cancan shouted excitedly, eyes filled with the thrill of adventure. It, Cancan the Explorer, was ready to make a comeback! ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s inform Xu Ran about this first.) Ziyun took a deep breath and used Contractual Sensing to reach out to Xu Ran, who was busy. In the cleaning room, Xu Ran¡¯s hands, which were caring for a Pet Beast, paused slightly. What does this mean? According to Twelve¡¯s speculation about wild Transcendent Beings, could there be more Beast Kings eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction besides the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow? He suddenly felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Luckily, Twelve also said that it wasn¡¯t certain. Whether it was true or not, they needed to investigate in person. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there a problem with my Pet Beast?¡± The customer, who had been intently watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements, couldn¡¯t help but ask when he stopped. Even the Pet Beast, which had been immensely enjoying its Washing and Protection, cast a grievous look at him. Continue, won¡¯t you! ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized and pulled his attention back to the task at hand, while replying to the four little ones through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Tonight we act.¡± This was its first mission with its buddies since forming a contract with Xu Ran. It must exert a part of its own power! And in this regard, Twelve had an advantage that the other three didn¡¯t. It came from the Beast Field, from a group of wild Extraordinary Creatures. It understood the group of wild Extraordinary Creatures better than Xu Ran and the other three. After a moment of thought, Twelve suddenly spoke out. ¡°Chirp~¡± (If I¡¯m not mistaken, there should be more than just the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow that discovered the Extinct Thunder Attraction.) ¡°Meow?¡± (Are there others?) Ziyun was taken aback and couldn¡¯t help but ask, his expression becoming much more solemn. According to the information they had gathered earlier, the only Thunder Attribute Beast Kings guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction were the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, the latter of which they had ambushed and successfully killed. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow should be a potential threat to them. After hearing Ziyun¡¯s doubts, Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (In the wild, Transcendent Beings may find a resource useful to them but not immediately obtainable. Staying there is just one way to guard it.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (Besides, there are those who, after ensuring the safety of the resource, will leave their mark and surveillance methods, and then wait for the prey to arrive.) (In general, the latter is more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is that so?) Star neighed, and upon hearing Twelve¡¯s words, its expression became solemn too. If what Twelve said was true, then were Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King just the visible forces, with potentially one or even several more powerful Transcendent Beings lurking in the darkness, eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction? ¡°Meow~¡± (Is there a way to discover them?) Ziyun grew anxious. The unknown is the most terrifying thing. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight over the Extinct Thunder Attraction in the future was causing anxious restlessness. Fortunately, Twelve quickly provided a positive response. ¡°Chirp~¡± (There is a way.) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, who had spent a long time with the Beast King, Twelve was extremely sensitive to the aura at the Beast King Level. As long as it could visit the Fallen Thunder Valley once, it was confident it could confirm whether strong Beast Kings coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction had left their marks. ¡°Cha!¡± (No time to waste, let¡¯s go tonight!) Cancan shouted excitedly, eyes filled with the thrill of adventure. It, Cancan the Explorer, was ready to make a comeback! Chapter 643 - Chapter 643: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_4 Chapter 643: Chapter 322: The Trail of the Sparrow Behind the Scenes_4 ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s first tell Xu Ran about this.) Ziyun took a deep breath and used Contractual Sensing to reach out to the busy Xu Ran from afar. Inside the washing and protection room, Xu Ran¡¯s hands paused slightly while he was caring for the pet beast. What do you mean? Based on Twelve¡¯s conjecture about the wild Transcendent Beings, could there be more than just the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction? He suddenly felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Fortunately, Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t absolute. Whether they really exist needs to be investigated in person. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there something wrong with my pet beast?¡± asked the customer sitting nearby who had been intently watching Xu Ran¡¯s movements, unable to restrain his curiosity as he saw Xu Ran pause. Even the usually delighted pet beast threw a resentful glance his way. Just get on with it! ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Xu Ran hurriedly apologized, refocusing his attention on the washing and protection at hand, and responded to the four little ones with Contractual Sensing. ¡°Tonight¡¯s the move.¡± After its contract with Xu Ran, this was its first operational target along with its friends. It had to exert part of its own power! In this respect, Twelve had an advantage that the other three did not possess. It came from the Beast Field, from a group of wild Extraordinary Creatures. It understood the group of wild Extraordinary Creatures better than Xu Ran and the other three small ones. After pondering for a moment, Twelve suddenly spoke up. ¡°Chirp~¡± (If I¡¯m not mistaken, the powerful being that discovered the Extinct Thunder Attraction isn¡¯t just the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.) ¡°Meow?¡± (There are others?) Ziyun was startled and couldn¡¯t help but ask, his expression growing much more solemn. According to the information they had previously gathered, the Thunder Attribute Beast King guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction was only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King, the latter of which they had ambushed and successfully slain. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow might pose a threat to them. After hearing Ziyun¡¯s doubts, Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (In the wild, an Extraordinary Creature that finds a resource useful yet unattainable will guard it; this is but one method.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (Besides, some after securing the safety of the resource will leave their mark and surveillance, then wait for their prey.) (Generally, the latter is more dangerous than the former.) (Because the latter also happens to be their hunting targets.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Could this really be the case?) Star whinnied, its expression becoming solemn as well upon hearing Twelve¡¯s words. If based on Twelve¡¯s statement, then could it be that the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King were just forces out in the open, and that even more powerful Transcendent Beings, also eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction, might exist in the shadows? ¡°Meow~¡± (Is there a way to discover them?) Ziyun grew anxious. The unknown is the most terrifying. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they¡¯d have to battle in the upcoming struggle was causing him an anxiety that made it hard to sit still. Fortunately, Twelve quickly provided a positive response. ¡°Chirp~¡± (There is a way.) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King who had spent a long time with Beast Kings, Twelve was highly sensitive to the aura of the Beast King Level. If it could visit Fallen Thunder Valley just once, it was confident it could confirm whether a powerful Beast King was coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction and had left a mark. ¡°Cha!¡± (There¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s go tonight!) Cancan shouted, its eyes filled with excitement. It, Cancan the Explorer, was about to make a grand reappearance! Fortunately, Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t absolute. Whether it truly existed needed to be verified by an actual investigation. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there a problem with my Pet Beast?¡± The customer, who sat nearby and intently watched Xu Ran¡¯s movements, couldn¡¯t help but ask when Xu Ran paused. Even the delighted Pet Beast was casting a resentful glance at him at this moment. Come on, keep going! ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized, refocused on the task of cleaning and caring at hand, and simultaneously replied to the four little ones with Contractual Sensing. ¡°Tonight we take action.¡± This was their first operation target since the contract with Xu Ran and his friends. It must demonstrate a part of its power! In this regard, Twelve had a distinct advantage that the other three little ones did not possess. It came from the Beast Field, from the group of wild Extraordinary Creatures. It knew wild Extraordinary Creature groups better than Xu Ran and the other three little ones. After pondering for a moment, Twelve suddenly spoke up. ¡°Chirp~¡± (If I¡¯m not mistaken, the powerful creature that has discovered the Extinct Thunder Attraction is probably not just the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow.) ¡°Meow?¡± (There are others?) Ziyun was startled and couldn¡¯t help but ask, and its expression also became much more solemn. According to the information they had gathered earlier, the Thunder Beast King guarding the Extinct Thunder Attraction was only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King. The latter had already been ambushed and successfully killed by them. Logically, only the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow should pose a threat to them. Hearing Ziyun¡¯s doubts, Twelve shook its head slightly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Out in the wild, if Extraordinary Creatures find a resource that is useful but cannot be immediately obtained, guarding it is just one method.) ¡°Chirp~¡± (Besides, there are those who, after ensuring the resource is safe, would leave their mark and surveillance measures, and then wait for prey.) (Generally speaking, the latter are more dangerous than the former.) (Because the former is also their hunting target.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Could it really be that way?) Star neighed, its expression growing solemn after hearing Twelve¡¯s words. If according to Twelve¡¯s theory, were the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow and the Thunder Ray Mysterious Bat King just the visible forces, and could there possibly be one or even multiple Extraordinary Creatures stronger than these two, also eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction in the shadows? ¡°Meow~¡± (Then is there a way to detect them?) Ziyun was somewhat anxious. The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Not knowing how many Beast Kings they would have to fight for the resource in the future made it feel a restless anxiety. Fortunately, Twelve quickly gave an affirmative response. ¡°Chirp~¡± (There is a way.) As the daughter of the Nightmare Beast King, who had long been around the Beast King, Twelve was very sensitive to the aura of the Beast King Level. As long as it could make one trip to the Fallen Thunder Valley, it was confident that it could confirm whether a powerful Beast King was coveting the Extinct Thunder Attraction and had left a mark. ¡°Chat!¡± (No time to lose, let¡¯s go tonight!) Cancan shouted excitedly, its eyes brimming with excitement. It, Cancan the Explorer, was about to return to the adventure! ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s tell Xu Ran about this first.) Ziyun took a deep breath and connected to the busy Xu Ran through Contractual Sensing. In the cleaning and caring room, Xu Ran¡¯s hands caring for the Pet Beast paused for a moment. What does that mean? Was Twelve suggesting that there might be more than one Beast King eyeing the Extinct Thunder Attraction, apart from the Thunder Patterned Gold Willow? He suddenly felt a headache coming on. This could be troublesome. Fortunately, Twelve also said it wasn¡¯t absolute. Whether it truly existed needed to be verified by an actual investigation. ¡°Boss Xu? Is there a problem with my Pet Beast?¡± The customer, who sat nearby and intently watched Xu Ran¡¯s movements, couldn¡¯t help but ask when Xu Ran paused. Even the delighted Pet Beast was casting a resentful glance at him at this moment. Come on, keep going! ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Xu Ran quickly apologized, refocused on the task of cleaning and caring at hand, and simultaneously replied to the four little ones with Contractual Sensing. ¡°Tonight we take action.¡± Chapter 644 - Chapter 644: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve Chapter 644: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve [Content incomplete, to be supplemented] ¡°Knock, knock, knock~¡± Accompanied by a sequence of somewhat dull knocking sounds, the door was swiftly opened from the inside. The one who opened the door was a girl who looked to be about seven or eight years old, dressed in a cute princess dress, seemingly ready to go out and play. ¡°Daddy!¡± Upon seeing Zong Hua outside the door, the girl¡¯s face immediately burst into a brilliant smile and swiftly threw herself at him; however, when she saw the somewhat shifty figure behind Zong Hua, her face quickly turned pale. As if the terrible scene from half a year ago had flashed through her mind again, the girl screamed and quickly backed away. Zong Hua¡¯s wife, upon hearing the noise, hurried over and embraced the girl, gently patting her back to soothe her. After seeing Silver Hair King, her face clouded with displeasure, ¡°Husband?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to have Silver Hair King move back in with us,¡± Zong Hua walked inside, speaking sternly, ¡°It¡¯s not been happy outside, and it didn¡¯t do anything wrong back then. If it weren¡¯t for it, Ru might not be with us anymore.¡± ¡°I know, but Ru is very scared, and she¡¯ll keep having nightmares with Silver Hair King in the house,¡± Zong Hua¡¯s wife said helplessly. ¡°Regarding that matter, please let my Pet Beast help,¡± Xu Ran, who followed Zong Hua into the Zong Family home, said with a smile. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zong Hua¡¯s wife only now noticed Xu Ran, who had entered the house with her husband. ¡°This is Xu Ran, the owner of the Foster Shop where Silver Hair King is currently staying,¡± Zong Hua took the initiative to introduce, ¡°He has a Pet Beast that can help Ru.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please let me try,¡± Xu Ran said softly, touching Twelve, which was on his shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Zong Hua¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t help but look towards Zong Hua, and after a glance between the spouses, she slowly let go of her daughter, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zong Ru, amidst her sobs, also heard the conversation of the adults, wiped her tears, and slowly stood up. The next moment, she walked toward the couch on her own, laid down, and closed her eyes, quickly drifting into dreamland. Twelve extracted an invisible thread from Zong Ru¡¯s body, then fluttered its wings, hovering above Zong Ru. Its azure blue eyes shimmered with light, and where its gaze fell, Zong Ru¡¯s body underwent a strange transformation, becoming like a transparent vessel containing a swirling mass of grey-black mist. Having witnessed countless dreams during the Evolution Ritual, Twelve was well aware that this color of mist represented that Zong Ru was currently experiencing a nightmare. Connecting their hearts, Twelve entered into Zong Ru¡¯s nightmare the next moment. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°No¡­don¡¯t, don¡¯t come over!¡± Zong Ru screamed, frantically running through the empty and secluded streets, with two fierce figures closely following behind her. One of the figures was already torn apart, and from its tattered body, one could vaguely make out that it was a wolf-type pet beast. This torn-apart body, which now in Zong Ru¡¯s dream had not lost the ability to move, had vicious claws proliferating from every split in its form, allowing the beast to sprout countless legs and move swiftly. The vision of multiple maws filled with sharp teeth emitting fierce and terrifying howls was enough to strike fear into the hearts of those who heard. The other monster was equally terrifying, if not more so. It was covered in indistinct blood, intermixed with fragments of viscera and shredded flesh of unknown origin. Even without being close, one could almost be overwhelmed by the terrifying smell of blood, endowing it with a demonic and extraordinary terror. Chased by such horrifying creatures, Zong Ru¡¯s face was distorted by fear as she ran relentlessly but could not escape the pursuit of the monsters behind her. A sense of despair spread throughout the dreamscape. When Twelve appeared in the dream, what it saw was the scene before its eyes. The figure covered in flesh and viscera was grotesquely distorted by nightmare imagery but could still be recognized as Silver Hair King. Seeing Zong Ru¡¯s incredibly frightened appearance, Twelve sighed softly and then fluttered its wings. The next moment, the entire dreamscape began to fracture like a broken mirror, revealing cracks which ultimately dissolved into myriad bubbles and vanished. As the previous scene dissipated, the surroundings quickly changed. The deserted street gradually filled with blurred figures and sounds of hawkers mingled with the aroma of various foods. The only distinct figures were Zong Ru and the towering Silver Hair King behind her. The two walked through the streets; at this moment, Zong Ru was not frightened of Silver Hair King and was even occasionally chatting merrily with it. Twelve watched all this in silence. It knew that all dreams were grounded in real memories, and what it was seeing now was the real memory segment corresponding to the nightmare that haunted Zong Ru. This was the unique power of the Sleeping bird, born of absorbing the dreams of ten thousand beings during its evolution, an instinct that manifested during its transformation. The memory continued, and a pet beast resembling a wolf-dog crossed the street and approached Zong Ru and Silver Hair King. Confronted by this unfamiliar pet beast, Zong Ru showed little wariness. Meanwhile, Silver Hair King behind her quickly became vigilant. Filled with the Fighting Attribute, it sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the other. ¡°Do you want to eat my candied haw? Ru asked cheerfully, offering the treat in her hand, ¡°Here, it¡¯s for you.¡± Chapter 645 - Chapter 645: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_2 Chapter 645: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_2 Just at that moment, an abrupt change occurred. The eyes of the wolf-type pet beast suddenly turned blood red, and it let out a ferocious roar, poised to pounce on Zong Ru. The distance between them was perilously close, and Zong Ru seemed about to be torn apart by the beast when an equally ferocious roar came from behind her. The Silver Hair King, already on guard, took action. At the moment the wolf-type pet beast made a move against Zong Ru, the Silver Hair King immediately categorized it as an enemy without hesitation. And enemies needed to be deterred with the most powerful show of force! It stepped in front of Zong Ru without hesitation, flinging its opponent away with a palm strike, then rushed forward to engage in combat. The battle between the two pet beasts was exceptionally brutal, but ultimately, the Silver Hair King, at the cost of sustaining multiple injuries, killed its adversary. It savagely tore the wolf-type pet beast apart, letting its blood cover its body. This was the Silver Hair King¡¯s way of demonstrating its valor, but it had not anticipated how horrifying such a bloody scene would be for a little girl who had grown up in a greenhouse. In terror and confusion, Zong Ru fainted. When she woke again, the immensely shocking image haunted her like a nightmare, day and night. The memory halted abruptly, and within the dark space, only Zong Ru remained, sitting with her knees drawn up and her head buried deep between them. Twelve flapped its wings and gently landed on Zong Ru¡¯s shoulder. In the darkness, it let out a clear and melodious chirping sound. ¡°Chirp~¡± The next moment, day broke. Surrounding her appeared a fairy-tale-like, colorful castle, and in front of Zong Ru, the nightmare¡¯s bloody Silver Hair King emerged. With the help of cute creatures, the Silver Hair King washed away the filth from its body and put on a handsome coat. Together with those endearing little creatures, it danced, eventually extending its large hand towards Zong Ru. In the end, Zong Ru and the Silver Hair King danced together amidst the light and cheerful music. A Three Star Skill, Halo Level: Flawless Illusion Realm. Watching his creation, Twelve nodded in satisfaction, flapped its wings again, and consciousness returned to reality. It chirped at the girl lying on the couch, lost in dreams, with a slight smile on her lips. The next moment, Zong Ru, immersed in the Endless Sleep, was awakened. The girl sat up somewhat dazedly but soon her gaze became clear. She looked around anxiously as if searching for something, and when her gaze fell on the Silver Hair King hiding behind her father, it paused quietly. In the next instant, she screamed and jumped up, and, under the stupefied gaze of Mr. and Mrs. Zong, rushed over to the Silver Hair King, her small body stretching wide to embrace it tightly. The Silver Hair King stood frozen in place, its eyes¡ªstrikingly similar to a human¡¯s¡ªfilled with astonishment and disbelief. Its body trembled violently as its large hands carefully touched Zong Ru, then gently wrapped around her petite frame. It had been too long since it last felt such a warm and familiar embrace. Mrs. Zong, looking at the large and small figure embracing each other, instantly felt her eyes redden as tears slid down her cheeks. Even Mr. Zong couldn¡¯t help wiping the dampness from the corners of his eyes. Before that incident, Zong Ru was the one in the family who loved the Silver Hair King the most; the large and the small were almost inseparable. But after that incident, everything changed. Now, seeing a scene they hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, the couple¡¯s feelings were indescribable. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I did well, didn¡¯t I?) Twelve, having completed its task, flew onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, its face full of anticipation for praise. ¡°You did great,¡± Xu Ran said, seriously, as he stroked Twelve¡¯s head. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Knock knock knock~¡± Accompanied by a series of somewhat dull knocks, the door quickly opened from the inside. The opener was a girl who looked about seven or eight years old, dressed in a cute princess dress, seemingly ready to go out and have fun. ¡°Daddy!¡± Seeing Mr. Zong outside the door, the girl¡¯s face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile, and she quickly flung herself at him. But when she saw the somewhat evasive figure behind Mr. Zong, her face quickly turned pale. As the terrifying scene from half a year ago flashed through her mind, the girl screamed and quickly backed away. At the sound, Mrs. Zong rushed over and swiftly embraced the girl, patting her back to comfort her. Upon seeing the Silver Hair King, her expression turned displeased, ¡°Husband?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to let the Silver Hair King move back in with us,¡± Mr. Zong entered the house with a serious face, ¡°It¡¯s not happy outside, and it did nothing wrong in that incident. If it weren¡¯t for it, Ru might not be alive today.¡± ¡°I know, but Ru is very scared, and she will continue to have nightmares with the Silver Hair King in the house,¡± Mrs. Zong said helplessly. ¡°Regarding this matter, please let my pet beast help,¡± Xu Ran, who had entered the Zong Family home alongside Mr. Zong, said with a smile. ¡°Who are you?¡± Mrs. Zong noticed Xu Ran, who had come in with her husband, for the first time. ¡°This is Xu Ran, the owner of the Foster Shop where the Silver Hair King is currently staying,¡± Mr. Zong introduced, ¡°He has a pet beast that can help Ru.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please let me give it a try,¡± Xu Ran touched Twelve, perched on his shoulder, and spoke softly. ¡°This¡­¡± Mrs. Zong hesitated but then slowly released her daughter from her embrace after exchanging a look with her husband, ¡°Please, it¡¯s a trouble.¡± Zong Ru, who had been sobbing, also heard the earlier conversation. She wiped away her tears and slowly stood up. Chapter 646 - Chapter 646: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_3 Chapter 646: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_3 The next moment, she walked to the sofa on her own, lay down, closed her eyes, and quickly fell into a dream. Twelve pulled an invisible thread from Zong Ru¡¯s body, then flapped its wings and hovered in the air above her. The light in its sea-blue eyes swirled, and where its gaze landed, Zong Ru¡¯s body underwent a peculiar transformation, becoming like a transparent container, inside which was a rotating mass of gray-black mist. Having witnessed countless dreams during the Evolution Ritual, Twelve knew very well that such a color of mist signified that Zong Ru was currently experiencing a nightmare. It connected to her through heartbeats and entered Zong Ru¡¯s nightmare the next moment. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t come near me!¡± Zong Ru screamed, sprinting down the empty and quiet street with relentless speed, while two vicious figures closely pursued her from behind. One of them was already torn apart, and from its ruined body, one could vaguely discern that it was a wolf-type pet beast. This torn physique had not lost the ability to move in Zong Ru¡¯s dream; every ripped part of its body was filled with fierce claws, giving it numerous feet and rapid movement. Moreover, mouths full of sharp teeth emitted ferocious and terrifying howls, instilling fear in anyone who heard them. The other monster was equally dreadful, if not more so. It was covered in indistinct blood, with bits of entrails and shredded flesh that seemed to come from nowhere, exuding a dreadful stench before it even drew close, making it as terrifying as a devil. Being chased by such two horrifying monsters, Zong Ru¡¯s expression twisted from sheer terror; she kept running but could not escape the pursuit of the monsters behind her. A sense of despair spread throughout the dream. When Twelve appeared in the dream, what it saw was the scene before its eyes. The figure covered in blood and visceral fragments, though monstrously modified due to the dream¡¯s influence, could still be roughly made out to be the Silver Hair King. Seeing Zong Ru¡¯s expression of utter fear, Twelve sighed softly, then spread its wings. The next moment, the entire dream started to fracture like a broken mirror, cracks appearing throughout until it dissolved into countless bubbles and vanished. As the previous scene dissipated, the surroundings quickly changed. On the empty streets, blurry figures began to emerge, along with the sounds of hawking and the fragrance of various foods mixing together. The only clear presence in the field was Zong Ru and the tall Silver Hair King behind her. The two of them walked down the street, and at this moment, Zong Ru showed no fear of the Silver Hair King, even occasionally chatting cheerfully with it. Twelve watched all of this quietly. It knew that all dreams are anchored in real memories, and what it was seeing now were the actual memories entwined with Zong Ru¡¯s nightmare. This was the unique power of the Sleeping bird, the instinct born from evolving by absorbing the dreams of ten thousand beings. The memory continued, and a pet beast resembling a wolf-dog crossed the street and approached Zong Ru and the Silver Hair King. Facing this unfamiliar pet beast, Zong Ru still showed little guard. But behind her, the Silver Hair King¡¯s gaze quickly became wary. Being of the Fighting Attribute, it sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the other creature. ¡°Do you want to eat my candy apple?¡± Zong Ru asked cheerfully, offering the candy apple in her hand, ¡°Here, it¡¯s for you.¡± At that moment, a sudden transformation occurred. The wolf-type pet beast¡¯s eyes turned blood red instantly, and it let out a vicious roar, about to pounce on Zong Ru. With both being in such close proximity, it seemed inevitable that Zong Ru would be torn to shreds, but a roar just as fierce came from behind her. The already alert Silver Hair King sprang into action. The moment the wolf-type pet beast made a move against Zong Ru, the Silver Hair King unhesitatingly classified it as an enemy. And an enemy was to be deterred with the strongest show of force! Without hesitation, it shielded Zong Ru, knocking the assailant flying with a swipe of its paw, then rushing forward to fight it. The battle between the two pet beasts was extremely brutal, but ultimately the Silver Hair King emerged victorious at the cost of numerous injuries, viciously tearing the wolf-type pet beast apart and allowing its blood to drench its body. This was the Silver Hair King¡¯s way of showcasing its valor, but it had not anticipated how horrifying such a bloody sight could be for a little girl grown in a greenhouse. In shock and confusion, Zong Ru passed out. When she awoke once more, this overwhelming scene haunted her night and day like a terrible nightmare. The snippet of memory abruptly ended, and in the dark space, only Zong Ru remained, sitting down with her arms wrapped around her knees, burying her head deeply between them. Twelve flapped its wings and gently settled on Zong Ru¡¯s shoulder. In the darkness, it emitted a clear and melodious chirp. ¡°Chirp~¡± The next moment, daylight broke. Around them, colorful fairy-tale-like castles appeared, and in front of Zong Ru materialized the Silver Hair King, previously covered in filth from the nightmare. With the help of various adorable creatures, the Silver Hair King cleaned its dirty body and dressed in a nice coat. It danced with the lovely creatures, and in the end, extended its broad hand to Zong Ru. Ultimately, Zong Ru and the Silver Hair King danced together in the light and cheerful music. Chapter 647 - Chapter 647: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_4 Chapter 647: Chapter 323 Psychiatrist Twelve_4 ¡°` Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Flawless Illusion Realm. Looking at its masterpiece, Twelve nodded in satisfaction, flapping its wings again as its consciousness returned to reality. It called out to the girl lying on the sofa who was lost in her dream, her lips slightly upturned, and the next moment, Zong Ru, immersed in Endless Sleep, was awakened. The girl sat up somewhat bewildered, but her eyes quickly became clear. She looked around frantically, as if searching for something, and when her gaze fell on the Silver Hair King hiding behind her father, she froze. The next instant, she screamed and jumped up, and under the stunned gaze of Mr. and Mrs. Zong, she rushed to the Silver Hair King and stretched out her tiny body as much as she could, hugging it tightly. The Silver Hair King stood frozen, its eyes, so similar to those of humans, filled with shock and disbelief. Its body trembled violently, and its large hands cautiously touched Zong Ru, then gently encircled her petite frame. It had been too long since it had felt such a warm and familiar embrace. Mrs. Zong¡¯s eyes instantly reddened as she watched the large and small figures embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks. Even Zong Hua couldn¡¯t resist wiping his moistened eyes. Before that incident, Zong Ru was the one who loved the Silver Hair King the most in the family, and they were almost inseparable. But after that incident, everything changed. Now, seeing a scene they had not seen for a long time, their emotions were beyond words. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I¡¯m awesome, aren¡¯t I.) Twelve, having completed the task, flew onto Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, its face full of expectation for praise. ¡°You did a great job,¡± Xu Ran said seriously as he stroked Twelve¡¯s head. ¡°Knock knock knock~¡± Along with a series of slightly dull knocks, the door was quickly opened from the inside. The door was opened by a girl who looked about seven or eight years old, wearing a cute princess dress as if she were ready to go out and play. ¡°Daddy!¡± The girl¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy upon seeing Zong Hua outside the door, rushing towards him. However, when she noticed the somewhat evasive figure behind Zong Hua, her face turned pale. As if the terrifying scene from half a year ago had flashed in her mind again, the girl screamed and quickly backed away. Upon hearing the commotion, Mrs. Zong hurried over and held the girl soothingly while patting her back. After seeing the Silver Hair King, her face grew displeased, ¡°Husband?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to let the Silver Hair King move back in with us,¡± Zong Hua stated seriously as he walked into the house, ¡°It¡¯s not been happy outside, and it did nothing wrong in that incident. If it weren¡¯t for him, Ru might not have survived.¡± ¡°I know, but Ru is scared, and she¡¯ll keep having nightmares with the Silver Hair King at home,¡± Mrs. Zong replied helplessly. ¡°Let my Pet Beast help with that,¡± Xu Ran, who followed Zong Hua into the Zong Family home, said with a smile. ¡°Who are you?¡± Mrs. Zong finally noticed Xu Ran, who had entered the house with her husband. ¡°This is Xu Ran, the owner of the Foster Shop where the Silver Hair King is staying,¡± Zong Hua introduced, ¡°He has a Pet Beast that can help Ru.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please let me try,¡± Xu Ran said softly, touching Twelve, which was perched on his shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Mrs. Zong couldn¡¯t help but look at Zong Hua, and after a moment of eye contact, she slowly released her daughter from her embrace, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zong Ru, sobbing, also heard the conversation, wiped her tears, and stood up slowly. The next moment, she walked to the sofa on her own, lay down, and closed her eyes, quickly falling into a dream state. Twelve drew an invisible thread from Zong Ru¡¯s body, then flapped its wings and hovered in the air above her. Its sea-blue eyes full of light, where its gaze landed, Zong Ru¡¯s body underwent a strange transformation; it looked like a transparent container, within which a mass of grey-black clouds swirled incessantly. ¡°` Having witnessed numerous dreams during the Evolution Ritual, Twelve was keenly aware that this color of mist indicated that Zong Ru was currently experiencing a nightmare. With their hearts connected, Twelve entered Zong Ru¡¯s nightmare in the next moment. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t, don¡¯t come any closer!¡± Zong Ru screamed, frantically running along the empty and quiet street with two vicious figures closely on her heels. One of them had already been torn to shreds; from its mangled body, one could make out that it was a wolf-type pet beast. This mangled body, which hadn¡¯t lost the ability to move in Zong Ru¡¯s dream, had fierce claws filling every torn part of its body. These claws scraped against the ground, endowing it with countless feet that allowed it to move with swift agility. Their mouths, full of sharp teeth, emitted ferocious and terrifying howls, making one shudder with fear upon hearing them. The other monster was equally horrifying, if not more so. It was covered in vague blood, mixed with chunks of viscera and shredded flesh from unknown sources; the stench of its terrible, blood-curdling scent hit one from afar, making it seem like an incredibly frightening devil. Being chased by such terrifying monsters, Zong Ru¡¯s expression twisted with fear; she kept running but could not escape the pursuit of the two creatures behind her. A sense of despair spread throughout the entire dreamscape. When Twelve appeared in the dream, what it saw was the scene unfolding before its eyes. The figure covered with flesh and chunks of viscera, though monstrously twisted by the power of intent, could still be roughly identified as the Silver Hair King. Seeing Zong Ru¡¯s extremely fearful countenance, Twelve sighed softly and then fluttered its wings. In the next moment, the entire dreamscape shattered like a broken mirror, developing many cracks that finally dissipated into countless bubbles. As the previous images dissipated, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly. On the empty street, indistinct figures began to appear, along with cries of hawkers and the smell of various foods mingling together. The only distinct figures in the midst of it all were Zong Ru and the towering Silver Hair King behind her. The large and the small one walked down the street, Zong Ru showing no fear of the Silver Hair King; she even chatted happily with it from time to time. Twelve quietly observed all this. It knew that all dreams were sustained by true memories, and what it was seeing now were the real memory fragments corresponding to the nightmare that haunted Zong Ru. This was the unique power of the Sleeping Bird, which had evolved by absorbing the dreams of ten thousand creatures and developed this instinct during its evolution. The memory continued, a pet beast resembling a wolf-dog crossed the street and approached Zong Ru and the Silver Hair King. Faced with this unfamiliar pet beast, Zong Ru showed no undue caution. But the Silver Hair King behind Zong Ru quickly became wary in its gaze. The Fighting Attribute beast sensed a dangerous aura emitting from the other. ¡°Do you want to eat my candied hawthorn?¡± Zong Ru asked, smiling as she offered her candied hawthorn stick, ¡°Here, for you.¡± At that moment, a sudden change occurred. The wolf-type pet beast¡¯s eyes turned blood red in an instant, and it let out a fierce roar as it lunged toward Zong Ru. The distance between them was extremely short, and just as Zong Ru was about to be torn apart by the creature, an equally fierce roar came from behind her. The already vigilant Silver Hair King made its move. The moment the wolf-type pet beast made its move against Zong Ru, the Silver Hair King did not hesitate to categorize it as an enemy. Chapter 648 - Chapter 648: Chapter 324: Cancans Route! The Examination of Fireflies! Chapter 648: Chapter 324: Cancan¡¯s Route! The Examination of Fireflies! [Content to be added, do not subscribe for now] ¡°Then let¡¯s start with Cancan¡¯s evolution path first,¡± Xu Ran said, smiling at the eager emotion Cancan was radiating. Ziyun and Star silently nodded in agreement. As they had already obtained the Emperor Species evolution path, they had no plans for this precious resource. However¡­ Once Cancan possessed an evolution path and was ready to evolve, they would have to give priority to Cancan for the exchange of resources. Thinking of this, a contemplative look appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. Its gaze eventually settled on the Four Star Skill Scroll. With the Four Star Skill Scroll, it could upgrade its remaining three Three Star Skills to Four Stars more quickly and meet all the conditions required for evolution in advance. This way, it wouldn¡¯t have to compete with Star and Cancan for resources later on. Therefore, Ziyun was determined to secure the Four Star Skill Scroll this time. While Ziyun pondered, Xu Ran had already applied the Emperor Species evolution path to Cancan. Rows of text appeared before his eyes. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Rock Deity Dragon Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Broken Rock Deity Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path:¡­] As Xu Ran browsed through the options for Cancan¡¯s evolution, he casually asked, ¡°Six Star Potential?¡± ¡°Chah!¡± (Six Star Potential!) Cancan nodded vigorously without any hesitation. Naturally, it wanted to evolve into the strongest creature! ¡°Then there¡¯s only this one,¡± Xu Ran said after reviewing all the evolution paths, his gaze landing on one in particular. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] Seeing the name of this evolutionary type, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a rare sense of confusion and puzzlement. What did the ¡°Ancient City¡± in the species name mean? Never mind, it was probably just a strange naming convention. He reassured himself, and then clicked to view the complete evolution path. As the lines of text became clearer in his vision, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew increasingly bewildered. This was probably not just a matter of a strange name. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evolution Conditions: 1. All Panlong Turtle Talent Skills must be upgraded to Four Star before evolution, with at least three skills able to increase body size 2. All Talent Skills reach Violent Sun Level Proficiency Evolution Materials: Marrow of Thick Soil (main), Eye of the Gargoyle (main), Vein Origin Stone (main), Emperor Stage Blood Essence of Earth Dragon (main), Brilliant Gem (main), Eternal Life Calamity Dew (main) Evolution Ritual: 1. Attract a city, translocate it over ten thousand miles. 2. Carry the city on your back, and under the blessings of countless creatures within the city, complete the final evolution.] Even Xu Ran, who had seen two unusual Emperor Species evolution paths, found Cancan¡¯s evolution path to be extremely outlandish after reading it. ¡°Chah?¡± (How¡¯s my evolution path?) Meanwhile, Cancan was staring wide-eyed, with a look of anticipation. This made Xu Ran fall silent for a moment before he had to convey the truth,¡±Your evolution path might be a bit difficult to achieve.¡± ¡°Chah!¡± (No problem!) Cancan waved its paw nonchalantly. It was fully prepared psychologically. ¡°Chah?¡± (Is it necessary to hunt down Earth attribute Kings? I could try that!) ¡°No, your evolution path doesn¡¯t require that,¡± Xu Ran shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to fight with Kings.¡± ¡°Chah?¡± (Then why is the evolution path considered difficult?) Cancan looked puzzled, and even Ziyun and Star couldn¡¯t help but lean in closer. Equally curious was Twelve, who had never witnessed an Emperor Species evolution path. Facing four pairs of eyes brimming with a desire to know, Xu Ran shook his head. ¡°Cancan¡¯s evolution path is notably different from Ziyun and Star¡¯s.¡± ¡°First off, it has one fewer evolution condition.¡± ¡°Cancan¡¯s evolution conditions do not require the Growth Stage to not exceed the King Stage, which means Cancan can complete its evolution at the King Stage.¡± ¡°Chah?¡± (Isn¡¯t that a good thing?) Cancan¡¯s eyes widened. Undoubtedly, being able to evolve at the King Stage meant it had more time to prepare and accumulate power. If it weren¡¯t for the possibility that a higher Growth Stage could lead to a solidification of the Life Level, all creatures would prefer to evolve at a higher Growth Stage. It would be safer. ¡°Indeed, it is a good thing,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. ¡°But your evolution ritual is a bit off.¡± ¡°According to the requirements of the evolution ritual, you need to attract a city and translocate it over ten thousand miles,¡± Xu Ran paused, looking at the stunned Cancan. ¡°You heard right, actually attract a city.¡± Cancan: ¡°¡­¡± Though it was true that as Cancan grew, its body size became increasingly absurd, suggesting it could attract a city seemed far-fetched. ¡°For this reason, when you upgrade your Talent Skills to Four Stars, you need at least three skills that can increase your size,¡± Xu Ran added. ¡°Jiezimixu is one; you need two more.¡± Chapter 649 - Chapter 649: Chapter 324: Cancans Route! The Examination of Fireflies! _2 Chapter 649: Chapter 324: Cancan¡¯s Route! The Examination of Fireflies! _2 ¡°` ¡°Chia¡­¡± (This¡­) Cancan opened her mouth, then slowly closed it again. If her growth stage reached the King Stage, her body type would probably expand further, and with three skills that increased body size, she might actually reach the terrifying size capable of pulling a city. ¡°Chia~¡± (If it¡¯s just pulling an uninhabited city, it¡¯s not impossible.) Though the evolution conditions were outrageous, Cancan had already prepared herself to give it a try in order to become stronger. ¡°It probably can¡¯t be an uninhabited city,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°because there¡¯s a second part to your evolution ritual.¡± ¡°Carry a city on your back and complete the evolution with the blessings of the living beings within the city.¡± ¡°This means that your evolution needs the power of blessings,¡± Xu Ran said, his expression growing somewhat peculiar. The last one needing blessings to evolve was the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. But the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood evolved into the Holy Spirit Race, whereas Cancan was just evolving into the Emperor Species. What was so special about this race named Ancient City Turtle Dragon? Cancan, upon hearing this, fell silent as well. Was this truly her evolution path? ¡°Chia¡­¡± (Could it be that we¡¯ve got the wrong evolution path?) ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a mistake,¡± Xu Ran assured Cancan with a confident look. The only one among the four little ones who had not obtained an evolution path, Twelve, couldn¡¯t help but cast a sympathetic glance at Cancan. Having roughly understood the evolution paths of Ziyun and Star, it was apparent that Cancan¡¯s path was significantly more difficult in comparison. Just the idea of shouldering a city was beyond its imagination. Ziyun and Star, who had already obtained their evolution paths, also looked at Cancan with no less pity in their eyes. This poor child was finally about to be crushed by the weight of life. After a while, Cancan lay weakly on the bed, her face showing an expression of utter despair. She gave up on struggling and chose to accept reality. To evolve successfully, she would not only have to meet the evolution conditions and obtain the evolution materials but also find a city willing to migrate with her. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue with the allocation of resources,¡± Xu Ran said, petting Cancan¡¯s head as a gesture of consolation before starting to distribute the other resources. ¡°Meow~¡± (I need Four Star Skill Scrolls!) Ziyun spoke up decisively, directing a pleading gaze at Star beside her. ¡°Meow~¡± (I have three skills left, after I make them all star-up, I won¡¯t compete with you guys anymore.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Okay.) Star neighed, weighing the options, and decided to agree. Following that, the two Pet Beasts each took away enough Skill fusion stones for one skill fusion and other items; Ziyun used all the Value Points she had saved to exchange for a large number of Skill Points, concluding their distribution. Cancan, who had also gained the right to priority in allocation after obtaining her evolution path, clearly had no intention of utilizing it and only chose a large number of Skill Fragments for herself after Ziyun and Star had finished their distribution, to prepare for any emergency. Twelve, participating in skill allocation for the first time, had only half of its value points left after paying off its previous debt. It exchanged for the Three Star Skill Bewildered Heart Branding which Xu Ran had reserved for it, and then swapped for a small number of fusion stones to hold onto temporarily. As the distribution of resources was completed, the four little ones began to methodically use the resources they had just acquired. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Then let¡¯s start with Cancan¡¯s evolution path first.¡± Sensing Cancan¡¯s immense eagerness, Xu Ran spoke with a smile. Ziyun and Star nodded silently in agreement. Having already obtained the Emperor Species evolution path, they had no thoughts about this precious resource. However¡­ Once Cancan had her evolution path and entered the preparatory stage for evolution, they would have to yield resource allocation to little brother Cancan. Thinking of this, a contemplative look emerged on Ziyun¡¯s face. Her gaze finally rested on the Four Star Skill Scrolls. With the Four Star Skill Scrolls, she could elevate her remaining three Three Star Skills to Four Stars more quickly, meeting all the necessary conditions for evolution before anyone else. This way, she wouldn¡¯t have to compete over resources with Star and Cancan later on. So, she had to get her paws on this round of Four Star Skill Scrolls no matter what. While Ziyun was contemplating, Xu Ran had already applied the Emperor Species evolution path to Cancan. Lines of text appeared before his eyes. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Rock Deity Dragon Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Broken Rock deity Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path:¡­] While swiping through the various options for Cancan¡¯s evolution, Xu Ran casually asked, ¡°Six Star Potential?¡± ¡°Chia!¡± (Six Star Potential!) Cancan nodded vigorously without any hesitation. To evolve, she naturally wanted to become the strongest! ¡°Then there¡¯s only this one.¡± After flipping through all the evolution paths, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze settled on one in particular. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] Seeing the name of this evolutionary form, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a rare hint of confusion and blankness. What did the words ¡°Ancient City¡± in the race name mean? Never mind, it was probably just a somewhat strange naming convention. ¡°` Chapter 650 - Chapter 650: Chapter 324: Cancans Route! The Examination of Fireflies!_3 Chapter 650: Chapter 324: Cancan¡¯s Route! The Examination of Fireflies!_3 ¡°` He comforted himself and then opened the complete Evolution Path. As lines of text became clear in his vision, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew increasingly strange. This seems¡­ to be more than just a weird naming. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evolution Conditions: 1. All Panlong Turtle Talent Skills must be upgraded to Four Stars before evolution, with at least three skills capable of increasing body type 2. All Talent Skills must reach Violent Sun Level Proficiency Evolution Materials: Marrow of Thick Soil (main), Eye of the Gargoyle (main), Vein Origin Stone (main), Emperor Stage Earth Attribute Dragon Blood Essence (main), Brilliant Gem (main), Eternal Life Calamity Dew (main) Evolution Ritual: 1. Lead a city, migrating thousands of miles. 2. Carry the city on your back and complete the final evolution under the blessings of countless lives within the city. ] Even though Xu Ran had already come across two bizarre Emperor Species Evolution Paths, the Evolution Path for Cancan still seemed extraordinarily ludicrous. ¡°Chaq?¡± (How is my Evolution Path?) On the other side, Cancan¡¯s eyes were already wide with anticipation. This made Xu Ran slightly silent, after which he could only tell the truth, ¡°Your Evolution Path, it might be a bit challenging to complete.¡± ¡°Chaq!¡± (No problem!) Cancan waved its paws indifferently. It was fully prepared, mentally. ¡°Chaq?¡± (Is it about hunting Earth attribute Kings? I could give it a try!) ¡°No, your Evolution Path doesn¡¯t require that,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°You don¡¯t need to fight against Kings Stage opponents.¡± ¡°Chaq?¡± (Then why is the Evolution Path difficult?) Cancan showed a puzzled look, and even Ziyun and Star couldn¡¯t help but gather around. The similarly curious were Twelve, who had never encountered an Emperor Species Evolution Path before. Facing four pairs of eyes brimming with curiosity, Xu Ran shook his head. ¡°Cancan¡¯s Evolution Path is quite different from that of Ziyun and Star.¡± ¡°Firstly, there¡¯s one fewer evolution condition for it.¡± ¡°Cancan¡¯s Evolution Conditions don¡¯t require not breaking through the King Stage in Growth Stage, which means Cancan could evolve at the King Stage.¡± ¡°Chaq?¡± (Isn¡¯t that a good thing?) Cancan¡¯s eyes widened. Without a doubt, being able to evolve at the King Stage meant it had more time to prepare, to gather strength. If life levels didn¡¯t become fixed due to a high Growth Stage, all creatures would prefer to evolve at a higher Growth Stage. It would be safer. ¡°It is indeed a good thing,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°but there¡¯s something odd about your Evolution Ritual.¡± ¡°According to the Evolution Ritual, you need to pull a city, migrating for thousands of miles,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment before he looked at the stunned Cancan, ¡°You didn¡¯t hear me wrong, it¡¯s about pulling a city.¡± Cancan: ¡°¡­¡± Although its body type had been growing increasingly larger with growth, reaching grotesque proportions, pulling an entire city would still be far from possible. ¡°For this, you need to have at least three skills that can enlarge your body type when your Talent Skills are upgraded to Four Stars,¡± Xu Ran added, ¡°Jiezimixu is one of them; you need two more.¡± ¡°Chaq¡­¡± (This¡­) Cancan opened its mouth and then slowly closed it again. If its Growth Stage reached the King Stage, its body type should further expand, plus the effect of three body-enlarging skills, it might indeed achieve the terrifying body type capable of towing a city. ¡°Chaq~¡± (If it¡¯s just towing an unpopulated city, that might be doable.) Though the Evolution Conditions were ludicrous, Cancan was ready to try it for the sake of becoming stronger. ¡°It probably can¡¯t be an unpopulated city,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Because there¡¯s a second part to your Evolution Ritual.¡± ¡°Carry the city on your back, completing the evolution amid the blessings of the creatures within the city.¡± ¡°This means that your evolution requires the power of blessings,¡± Xu Ran said, his expression becoming more bizarre. The last to need blessings for evolution was the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. But the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood evolved into the Holy Spirit Race, whereas Cancan was only evolving into the Emperor Species. Just what sort of background does this species named Ancient City Turtle Dragon have? Hearing this, Cancan silenced as well. Was this truly its Evolution Path? ¡°Chaq¡­¡± (Could we have the wrong Evolution Path?) ¡°Rest assured, it¡¯s not wrong,¡± Xu Ran gave Cancan an affirming look. The only one among the four small ones not to have obtained an Evolution Path, Twelve, couldn¡¯t help but send a sympathetic glance toward Cancan. It had a rough understanding of Ziyun and Star¡¯s Evolution Paths. Compared to theirs, Cancan¡¯s was certainly more challenging. Just shouldering an entire city was a scenario it could not even imagine. And Ziyun and Star, who already had their Evolution Paths, looked at Cancan with no less sympathy in their gaze. This poor child was finally going to be crushed by the weight of life. After a while, Cancan lay powerlessly on the bed, its expression one of utter despondency. It gave up on struggling and chose to accept reality. To evolve successfully, it not only had to meet the Evolution Conditions and obtain the Evolution Materials but also had to find a city willing to migrate with it. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s continue with the resource allocation,¡± Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head as a form of consolation, then proceeded to allocate other resources. ¡°` Chapter 651 - Chapter 651: Chapter 324: Cancans Route! The Examination of Fireflies! _4 Chapter 651: Chapter 324: Cancan¡¯s Route! The Examination of Fireflies! _4 ¡°Meow~¡± (I need a Four Star Skill Scroll!) Ziyun didn¡¯t hesitate to speak up, while casting a pleading gaze towards Star beside it. ¡°Meow~¡± (I still have three skills left, after all are upgraded to stars, I won¡¯t compete with you guys anymore.) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Okay.) Star neighed in agreement, weighing the options before deciding to consent. Following that, the two Pet Beasts each took enough Skill Fusion Stones and other items to fuse a skill once. Ziyun used up all the Value Points it had saved to obtain a large number of Skill Points, thus concluding their distribution of resources. Now that Cancan had acquired its Evolution Path and therefore had the right of priority in resource distribution, it evidently had no intention to use it yet. Only after Ziyun and Star had finished their distribution did it select a large number of Skill Fragments for itself, just in case. In its first participation in skill distribution, Twelve, after paying off its debts with the Value Points it got, had only half left. It redeemed the Three Star Skill ¡®Bewildered Heart Branding¡¯ that Xu Ran had previously reserved for it and then exchanged a small number of Skill Fusion Stones to stockpile for the time being. With the distribution of resources complete, the four little ones started using their newly acquired resources in an orderly fashion. ¡°Then let¡¯s start with Cancan¡¯s Evolution Path first.¡± Feeling Cancan¡¯s eager emotions, Xu Ran smiled and spoke. Ziyun and Star nodded silently, indicating agreement. They had already acquired the Evolution Path of their Emperor Species, so they had no thoughts about this precious resource. However¡­ Once Cancan owned an Evolution Path and was ready to evolve, they would have to appropriately yield resources to this junior, Cancan. Thinking of this, a contemplative look appeared on Ziyun¡¯s face. Its gaze finally settled on the Four Star Skill Scrolls. With a Four Star Skill Scroll, it could upgrade its remaining three Three Star Skills to Four Stars more quickly, fulfilling all the evolution conditions in advance. In doing so, it wouldn¡¯t have to compete for resources with Star and Cancan later on. Therefore, this time, it was determined to secure the Four Star Skill Scroll. As Ziyun was contemplating, Xu Ran had already used the Emperor Species Evolution Path on Cancan. Lines of text appeared before his eyes. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Rock Deity Dragon Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Broken Rock Deity Turtle (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î] [Evolution Path: ¡­] As he scrolled through the options for Cancan¡¯s evolution, Xu Ran casually inquired, ¡°Six Star potential?¡± ¡°Cha!¡± (Six Star Potential!) Cancan nodded vigorously without any hesitation. As for evolution, of course it wanted to evolve into the strongest! ¡°Then there¡¯s only this one.¡± After reviewing all the Evolution Paths, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze settled on one in particular. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] Seeing the name of this evolution form, a rare look of confusion and wonder crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. What did the words ¡°Ancient City¡± in the race name mean? Forget it, it¡¯s probably just a somewhat strange name. He reassured himself, then clicked to open the complete Evolution Path. As the lines of text became clear before his sight, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew increasingly puzzled. This is probably¡­ not just as simple as having a strange name. [Evolution Path: Panlong Turtle (Earth) ¡ú Ancient City Turtle Dragon (Earth) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evolution Conditions: 1. All of Panlong Turtle¡¯s talent skills must be enhanced to four-star skills before evolution, and at least three skills should be able to increase its body size. 2. All talent skills reach Violent Sun Level proficiency. Evolution Materials: Marrow of Thick Soil (main), Eye of the Gargoyle (main), Vein Origin Stone (main), Emperor Stage blood essence of Earth Dragon (main), Brilliant Gem (main), Eternal Life Calamity Dew (main) Evolution Ritual: 1. Lead a city, migrate for thousands of miles. 2. With the city resting on its back, complete the final evolution under the blessing of countless creatures within the city. Even Xu Ran, who had seen two incredible Emperor Species evolution paths, found Cancan¡¯s evolution path particularly absurd after seeing it. ¡°Cha?¡± (How is my evolution path?) Meanwhile, Cancan had already widened its eyes, looking forward with an expression of expectation. This caused Xu Ran to fall silent for a moment before he could only tell the truth, ¡°Your evolution path might be a bit difficult to complete.¡± ¡°Cha!¡± (No problem!) Cancan waved its paw nonchalantly. It was already fully mentally prepared. ¡°Cha?¡± (Does it mean I have to hunt down Earth attribute King Stage? I can try that!) ¡°No, your evolution path doesn¡¯t have such a requirement,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°You don¡¯t need to fight with King Stage creatures.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Then why say the evolution path is difficult?) Cancan looked puzzled, and even Ziyun and Star drew close out of curiosity. Equally curious was Twelve, who had never seen an Emperor Species evolution path before. Facing four pairs of eyes filled with the desire for knowledge, Xu Ran shook his head. ¡°Cancan¡¯s evolution path is quite different from Ziyun¡¯s and Star¡¯s.¡± ¡°First, it has one less condition.¡± ¡°Cancan¡¯s evolution conditions don¡¯t require not breaking through to King Stage for its growth stage, meaning it can complete its evolution while at King Stage.¡± ¡°Cha?¡± (Isn¡¯t that good?) Cancan¡¯s eyes widened. Without a doubt, being able to complete evolution at King Stage meant it had more time to prepare and accumulate power. If it weren¡¯t for the risk that a higher growth stage might solidify life levels, all creatures would prefer to evolve at a higher growth stage. It would be safer. ¡°Indeed, that is a good thing,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°But there¡¯s something quite off about your evolution ritual.¡± ¡°According to the requirements of the evolution ritual, you need to lead a city, migrating thousands of miles,¡± Xu Ran paused, looking at Cancan, who was completely dumbfounded, ¡°You heard right, actually lead a city.¡± Cancan: ¡°¡­¡± Although it could grow increasingly larger with its growth, if it came to leading an entire city, it was still far from sufficient. ¡°For this, when you enhance your talent skills to four stars, you need at least three skills that can increase your body size,¡± Xu Ran added, ¡°Jiezimixu is one of them, you¡¯ll need two more.¡± ¡°Cha¡­¡± (This¡­) Cancan opened its mouth, then slowly closed it. If its growth stage reached King Stage, its body size should further increase. Together with three skills that could enlarge its body size, it might just reach the terrifying size necessary to lead a city. ¡°Cha~¡± (If it¡¯s just about leading an uninhabited city, that might be doable.) Although the evolution conditions were outrageous, Cancan was already ready to try in order to become stronger. ¡°It probably can¡¯t be an uninhabited city,¡± Xu Ran shook his head, ¡°Because there¡¯s a second part to your evolution ritual.¡± ¡°Carry the city on your back, completing the evolution amidst the blessings of the city¡¯s creatures.¡± ¡°This means your evolution needs the power of blessings.¡± As Xu Ran spoke, his expression became somewhat odd. The previous creature that required blessings to evolve was the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood. But Sky-touching Mysterious Wood evolved into the Holy Spirit Race, while Cancan is just evolving into an Emperor Species. Chapter 652 - Chapter 652: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly Chapter 652: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly [Content to be added] ¡°So, which skill do you plan to enhance to Violent Sun Level?¡± After upgrading Star¡¯s second Talent Skill to Four Stars, Xu Ran asked. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Prayer of Starry Night, I guess.) Star didn¡¯t hesitate much and quickly gave an answer. Although the recently promoted Four Stars Star Oath was equally important, bringing Prayer of Starry Night up to Violent Sun Level would yield more enhancements. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Moments later, on Star¡¯s panel, the skill progress and point addition icons behind Prayer of Starry Night disappeared, leaving only the conspicuously large letters of [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïPrayer of Starry Night (Violent Sun Level)]. With that, Star¡¯s distribution of resources came to a conclusion. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze shifted to Cancan and Twelve, who were waiting aside. ¡°Cha~¡± (I¡¯ll pass.) Cancan shook its head. During the recent resource distribution, it had only hoarded some Skill Fragments. After witnessing the repeated changes to Ziyun and Star¡¯s Skill Fusion plans, it deeply understood how plans can¡¯t keep up with changes and decided to just leave them untouched. ¡°Jiu~¡± (My Bewildered Heart Branding!) Twelve flapped its wings, eyes filled with anticipation. Upon seeing the skill, it instantly thought of the excellent synergy with Lead Silk Vertical Soul and decisively switched to this skill. This was one of its few gains during this round of resource distribution. ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded, promptly teaching out this skill that had been reserved for Twelve in advance. The resource distribution for the four little ones was now complete. After tallying the remaining resources and the Value Points of the four little ones, Xu Ran put down the chalk in his hand. However, his eyes were still fixed on the blackboard. Because there was still one resource on the blackboard that hadn¡¯t been exchanged. It was a King Species Evolution Route. At this moment, all four little ones could no longer make use of it. But if the system had it in the Lottery Drawing, it would not be without reason. After a brief silence, Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°What are your opinions about Firefly?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Firefly?) Ziyun blinked. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Counting the time, Firefly has already been with us for half a month. What do you think? Is it suitable to become our new companion?¡± Upon comprehending Xu Ran¡¯s question, the four little ones looked at each other, their expressions a bit more serious. It concerned their future partner; they had to be cautious. After some thought, Star was the first to speak. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I think it¡¯s quite nice but sometimes lacks self-confidence.) It quickly recalled a recent incident and shared it with the others. Business at Starfire Foster Care Shop was getting on track, and increasing numbers of residents were in the Foster area, including an Elite Stage Fire-tailed Bear. After seeing Firefly, it mercilessly mocked Firefly. Perhaps because of past psychological shadows, Firefly was especially quiet when facing the Fire-tailed Bear, enduring the mockery without retort and later brooding for quite some time before recovering. And this was why Star thought Firefly lacked confidence. ¡°Meow~¡± (I actually think it¡¯s quite confident, just a bit reckless.) Ziyun countered, its dichromatic eyes gleaming amusedly as if it had remembered something. There was a time when a King Stage new resident came to the Foster area. As Ziyun needed to defeat a King Stage to evolve, it sought a sparring match with the newcomer. To their surprise, their bout was mistaken by Firefly, who thought Ziyun was being bullied and charged in with a yell, forgetting it was merely a Transcendent Stage little Karami. ¡°Cha~¡± (The bird eggs roasted by Firefly are really delicious!) Cancan said earnestly. One day, it brought some unknown bird eggs found by the group outside the city to Firefly, who instantly roasted them. The roasted eggs turned out to be incredibly tasty, a flavor Cancan still vividly remembered. Twelve gave Cancan an annoyed glare, then voiced its thoughts. ¡°Jiu~¡± (I think it¡¯s quite fun.) Over the past half-month, Twelve had often used illusions to tease Firefly. Firefly fell for them every time without getting angry and even persistently pestered Twelve to keep playing. As each of the four little ones chimed in one after another, a clearer picture of Firefly emerged. And in Xu Ran¡¯s heart, an answer gradually formed. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go and conduct a final assessment of it now,¡± Xu Ran stood up, ¡°If it passes the assessment, then this King Species Evolution Route will be our gift to it.¡± ¡°Jiu?¡± (Assessment?) Twelve cocked its head, looking puzzled. It didn¡¯t remember such a procedure when it joined the team. Twelve couldn¡¯t help but turn its head towards Cancan, hoping for an explanation. However, Cancan was just as bewildered as Twelve. After all, it was hatched and contracted by Xu Ran from the start, so there was no talk of any assessment. Star thought for a moment then turned its gaze to Ziyun. It didn¡¯t remember going through such a step either. ¡°Meow~¡± (Why are you all looking at me?) Ziyun spread its paws. It didn¡¯t know either¡­ ¡°Stop looking at each other, this is a new idea I had recently,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Now that our little companions have grown in number, the requirements for new ones need to be stricter.¡± Chapter 653 - Chapter 653: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_2 Chapter 653: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_2 ¡°First and foremost, the most important point in choosing a new partner is still the need for harmony in relationships with all previous partners and no irreconcilable conflicts,¡± Xu Ran paused before continuing, ¡°Secondly, there should be no conflict in Attributes so that we can make better use of our resources.¡± ¡°The third point is team positioning,¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t something to consider when I contracted with you guys, but now that you all have your respective roles in the team, we need to consider whether the new partner¡¯s position will conflict with the existing ones.¡± ¡°For example,¡± Xu Ran pointed at Ziyun, ¡°Ziyun¡¯s role is as the strongest single-target output in the team. Although Ziyun also has area damage, single targeting is clearly Ziyun¡¯s most prominent feature.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed, that¡¯s true.) Ziyun nodded in agreement. ¡°Ka?¡± (What about me, what about me?) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but inquire about its own role. ¡°Cancan¡¯s position is, of course, as the team¡¯s most solid shield,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°In terms of Defense, you are in a class of your own.¡± ¡°Besides that, Cancan also bears the important task of being a secondary damage dealer.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but puff out its chest proudly. ¡°Star¡¯s role is to assist and cooperate with me,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°The existence of Star Oath has bound you and me together, allowing us to cover each other in battle and prevent the typical weaknesses that other Beast Masters might have.¡± ¡°And many a supportive and protective Skills lay the foundation for you to assist our teammates in combat.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Understood!) Star neighed in response. It could be said that among the four, its role was the clearest. ¡°As for Twelve¡­¡± Xu Ran glanced at Twelve, ¡°Illusion and psychic tactics may not be direct offensive methods, but combined with a comrade¡¯s attack, they can often achieve effects greater than the sum of their parts.¡± ¡°For the time being, I¡¯ve assigned you the role of Controller Hand within the team.¡± ¡°Chiu~¡± (Understood!) Twelve nodded its head. In the past half-month of exploring beyond the city with the other three, their coordination had become increasingly tacit. Oftentimes, all Twelve needed to do was cast an Endless Sleep, and the rest wouldn¡¯t require its intervention. This aligned perfectly with the role of Controller Hand. ¡°Chiu?¡± (What about Firefly?) Having learned its own role, Twelve couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°Firefly, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Based on the abilities it has shown so far, I¡¯ve assigned it the role of strongest area damage dealer in the team, to coordinate with Ziyun.¡± ¡°But whether it can live up to this role, I¡¯m not sure,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°Hence, an evaluation is necessary.¡± ¡°Not only to assess Firefly¡¯s temperament but also its potential.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Lu ho?¡± (Are we starting new training?) In the Foster area, Firefly looked at the neatly gathered Xu Ran and four companions, its large, crimson eyes reflecting surprise. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°Your previous training has always been with them, but today I plan to teach you a more efficient way to train.¡± ¡°So, are you willing to train according to my arrangements?¡± Firefly¡¯s eyes widened instantly, and it nodded earnestly, its face full of anticipation. The efficiency of the training method wasn¡¯t as important at this moment; what mattered most to it was that this training was being directed by Xu Ran himself. Over the past half month, Xu Ran had never appeared during its training sessions. According to the four little ones, Xu Ran was meditating diligently, striving to become stronger. Firefly could understand this but occasionally felt lonely. Now that Xu Ran was training with it for the first time, it was determined to do its best! With this mindset, Firefly followed closely behind Xu Ran with large strides. Perched on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, Twelve seemed to sense something, turning its head to glance at Firefly, its sea-blue eyes flickering slightly. The other three were silent as well. This was an evaluation, naturally, they couldn¡¯t reveal to Firefly. Soon, Xu Ran and the five little ones arrived at the Fire Training Area. In the past half-month, Firefly had often come here with the other four, making use of this unique environment to train its Skills. However, today¡¯s training was bound to be different. Xu Ran quickly took out a special material woven blanket, spread it on the flat ground, and then gestured for Firefly to stand on it. ¡°Lu ho?¡± (What is this?) Firefly hopped curiously on the blanket, its face brimming with curiosity. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°So, which Skill do you plan to advance to Violent Sun Level?¡± After raising Star¡¯s second Talent Skill to Four Stars, Xu Ran asked. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Prayer of Starry Night.) Star didn¡¯t hesitate much and quickly gave his answer. Though the newly promoted to Four Stars Star Oath was also important, raising the Proficiency of Prayer of Starry Night to Violent Sun Level could bring even more enhancements. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Moments later, on Star¡¯s panel, the progress and point allocation indicators for Prayer of Starry Night disappeared, leaving only the conspicuous words [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Prayer of Starry Night (Violent Sun Level)]. With that, Star¡¯s resource utilization reached a pause. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze turned to Cancan and Twelve, who were waiting on the side. Chapter 654 - Chapter 654: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_3 Chapter 654: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_3 ¡°Nah~¡± (I don¡¯t need it.) Cancan shook its head. During the recent resource distribution, it had only hoarded some Skill Fragments, bearing witness to how Ziyun and Star¡¯s Skill Fusion plans had changed repeatedly. It deeply realized that plans can¡¯t keep up with changes and simply decided to save them for later. ¡°Chirp~¡± (My Bewildered Heart Branding!) Twelve flapped its wings once, eyes filled with anticipation. Upon seeing this skill, it immediately thought of how well it could combine with Lead Silk Vertical Soul and decisively swapped for this skill. This was one of its rare gains from this round of resource distribution. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran smiled and nodded, quickly teaching the skill he had reserved in advance. The resource distribution for the four little ones was now complete. After tallying up the remaining undistributed resources and the four little ones¡¯ surplus Value Points, Xu Ran put down the chalk in his hand. However, his gaze remained fixed on the blackboard. For there was still one resource on the blackboard that had not been redeemed. It was a King Species Evolution Route. At this moment, all four little ones had no need for it. But the system¡¯s lottery drawing it out was not without reason. After a moment of silence, Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°What do you four think of Firefly?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (Firefly?) Ziyun blinked its eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Considering the time, Firefly has already been with us for half a month. What do you think of it? Is it suitable to be our new partner?¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the four little ones looked at each other, their expressions turning more serious. It was about their future partner, so they had to be more careful. After a moment of thought, Star spoke first. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I think it¡¯s pretty good, but sometimes it lacks confidence.) It quickly recalled an incident from a while back and shared it with the others. The Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s business had gotten on the right track, and the number of residents in the Foster area was increasing. One of these residents happened to be a Fire-tailed Bear, which had reached the Elite Stage. Upon seeing Firefly, it didn¡¯t hesitate to mock Firefly. Perhaps because of past psychological shadows, Firefly was unusually silent in front of the Fire-tailed Bear, quietly enduring the ridicule without retorting. It was sulky for several days before it recovered. And this was why Star felt Firefly lacked confidence. ¡°Meow~¡± (I think it¡¯s quite confident, just a bit rash.) Ziyun countered, with a hint of amusement in its heterochromatic eyes as it seemed to recall something. Once, a King Stage new resident came to the Foster area. Ziyun needed to defeat a King Stage to evolve, so it wanted to spar with the newcomer. Little did they expect their sparring to be misunderstood by Firefly, who thought Ziyun was being bullied, let out a scream, and charged right in, completely forgetting it was just a Transcendent Stage little cramit. ¡°Nah~¡± (The bird eggs roasted by Firefly are delicious!) Cancan spoke earnestly. One day, Cancan brought the unidentified beast bird eggs they had found exploring outside the city area the day before to Firefly, and Firefly ended up roasting the eggs. Those roasted eggs were extraordinarily tasty, something that Cancan still remembered vividly. Twelve glared at Cancan unimpressed and then expressed its thoughts. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I think it¡¯s quite interesting.) In the half-month they spent together, Twelve frequently used Illusions to tease Firefly. Although Firefly was tricked time and again, it never got mad, and even pestered Twelve to keep playing. The four little ones each had their say, and soon they sketched out an image of Firefly. And in Xu Ran¡¯s mind, an answer was gradually forming. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s go and conduct the final evaluation on it right now.¡± Xu Ran said as he sat up, ¡°If it passes the evaluation, this King Species Evolution Route can be a gift for it.¡± ¡°Chirp?¡± (Evaluation?) Twelve cocked its head, a puzzled look on its face. It didn¡¯t remember any such procedure when it joined the team. Unable to help itself, Twelve turned to look at Cancan, hoping for an explanation. Yet Cancan was nearly as confused as Twelve. After all, it had been contracted by Xu Ran upon hatching, so there was no such assessment to speak of. Star thought for a moment before turning to Ziyun for answers. It, too, didn¡¯t remember going through such a step. ¡°Meow~¡± (Why are you looking at me?) Ziyun spread its paws. It didn¡¯t know either¡­ ¡°Stop looking at each other. This is a recent idea of mine.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°As more and more little partners join us, the requirements for our new friends have to be more strict.¡± ¡°First and foremost, and most important in choosing a new partner, is that they need to have harmonious relationships with all previous partners, with no irreconcilable conflicts.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice paused for a moment, ¡°Besides that, the second requirement is that their Attributes don¡¯t conflict with one another, allowing us to make better use of resources.¡± ¡°And the third point is the role within the team.¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t necessary when I contracted you guys, but now that you all have established roles within the team, we have to consider whether the roles of new partners will clash when making selections.¡± ¡°For example.¡± Xu Ran pointed to Ziyun, ¡°Ziyun¡¯s role is as the team¡¯s strongest single-target damage dealer. Although Ziyun also does area damage, single-target is clearly Ziyun¡¯s most outstanding feature.¡± Chapter 655 - Chapter 655: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_4 Chapter 655: Chapter 325: An Examination of the Firefly_4 ¡°` ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed, that¡¯s true.) Ziyun nodded in agreement. ¡°Chirp?¡± (What about me, what about me?) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but inquire about itself. ¡°Cancan¡¯s role, of course, is as the team¡¯s sturdiest shield.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°In terms of defense, you¡¯re in a league of your own.¡± ¡°Besides that, Cancan also bears the important task of being a secondary damage dealer.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s words, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but puff out its chest. ¡°Star¡¯s role is to support and coordinate with me.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°The existence of Star Oath binds you and me together. During combat, our combined efforts can make up for the weaknesses common to Beast Masters.¡± ¡°And the many buff and protection skills are your foundation for assisting your teammates in battle.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Understood!) Star neighed in response. It could be said that among the four littles, its role was the clearest. ¡°As for Twelve,¡± Xu Ran glanced at Twelve, ¡°Illusion and mental tactics might not be direct offensive methods, but when combined with a companion¡¯s attack, they often have an effect greater than the sum of their parts.¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯ve designated you as the team¡¯s Controller Hand.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Understood!) Twelve nodded its head. During the past half-month exploring outside the city with the other three littles, their coordination had become more and more tacit. Often, all Twelve needed to do was cast an Endless Sleep, and it wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything that followed. This fell perfectly in line with the role of a Controller Hand. ¡°Chirp?¡± (What about Firefly?) After knowing its own role, Twelve was curious about Firefly¡¯s. ¡°Firefly¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Based on the abilities it has shown so far, I¡¯ve designated it as the team¡¯s strongest group-damage dealer, to work in conjunction with Ziyun.¡± ¡°But whether it can live up to this role, I¡¯m not certain.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°Therefore, an assessment is necessary.¡± ¡°Not only to assess Firefly¡¯s temperament but also to gauge its potential.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Luhou?¡± (A new training session?) In the foster area, Firefly looked at the neatly arranged one human and four pets in front of him, surprise flickering in its large red eyes. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°Previously, your training has always been accompanied by them, but today I plan to teach you some more efficient training methods.¡± ¡°So, are you willing to train according to my arrangement?¡± Firefly¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, and it nodded earnestly, its face full of anticipation. Whether training methods were efficient or not wasn¡¯t so important at that moment; what mattered most was that Xu Ran was personally instructing its training. Over the past half-month, Xu Ran had never appeared during its training sessions. According to the four littles, Xu Ran was meditating diligently, striving to grow stronger. Although Firefly understood this, it sometimes felt lonely. Now, with Xu Ran accompanying it in training for the first time, Firefly was determined to do its absolute best! With this mindset, Firefly followed closely behind Xu Ran, taking big steps. Resting on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, Twelve seemed to sense something, turned its head to look at Firefly, and its sea-blue eyes flickered slightly. The other three littles also kept quiet. This was an assessment matter, and naturally, they could not tell Firefly. Soon, Xu Ran and the five littles arrived at the Fire Training Area. Over the past half-month, Firefly had frequently come here, accompanied by the other four littles, to train its skills using the unique environment. ¡°` However, today¡¯s training was destined to be different. Xu Ran quickly took out a blanket woven from a special material and spread it on the flat ground, then signaled Fire to stand on it. ¡°Luhou?¡± (What is this?) Fire hopped curiously on the blanket, its face full of wonder. ¡°Star¡¯s position is to assist and cooperate with me,¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°The existence of ¡®Star Oath¡¯ binds you and me together; in battle, our joint effort can prevent the team from having the usual weaknesses of a Beast Master.¡± ¡°And the many augmentation and defense skills are the foundation for you to assist teammates in battle.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Understood!) Star gave a whinny in response. It could be said that, among the four little ones, its position was the clearest. ¡°As for Cancan¡­¡± Xu Ran glanced at Cancan, ¡°Illusory realms and psychic tactics may not be direct offensive methods, but when combined with a companion¡¯s attack, they can often achieve an effect greater than the sum of their parts.¡± ¡°For now, the role I assign to you is the team¡¯s Controller Hand.¡± ¡°Chiu~¡± (Understood!) Cancan nodded. In the past half month of exploring outside the city with the other three little ones, their coordination had also become increasingly tacit. Often, Cancan only needed to cast ¡®Endless Sleep,¡¯ and it didn¡¯t need to worry about the rest. This coincided perfectly with the role of the Controller Hand. ¡°Chiu?¡± (And what about Fire?) Now knowing its own role, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but become curious. ¡°Fire, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Based on the abilities it has shown so far, I have assigned it the role of the strongest group attacker in the team, to coordinate with Ziyun.¡± ¡°But whether it is up to the task, I¡¯m not sure,¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°Therefore, it needs to be assessed.¡± ¡°Not only to assess Fire¡¯s temperament but also its potential.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Luhou?¡± (Are we starting new training?) Inside the foster area, Fire looked at the neatly arrayed one person with four beasts, its big red eyes showing a hint of surprise. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, his face wearing a smile, ¡°Previously, your training was always accompanied by them, but today I plan to teach you some more efficient training methods.¡± ¡°So, would you like to train according to my arrangements?¡± Fire¡¯s eyes widened in earnest, nodding seriously with an expectant look on its face. Whether the training methods were efficient was not so important at the moment. What mattered most was that this was training directed personally by Xu Ran. In the past half month, Xu Ran had never appeared during its training. According to what the four little ones said, Xu Ran was meditating hard, striving to become stronger. Fire could understand this, but sometimes it felt lonely. Now that Xu Ran was accompanying it in training for the first time, it was determined to do its best! With this mindset, Fire followed closely behind Xu Ran with big steps. Perched on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, Cancan seemed to sense something, turning its head to glance at Fire, its sea-blue eyes flickering slightly. The other three little ones remained silent as well. This being an assessment, they naturally couldn¡¯t tell Fire. Soon, Xu Ran and the five little ones arrived at the Fire Training Area. In the past half month, Fire hadn¡¯t been short on visits here with the company of the other four little ones, utilizing the unique environment to train its skills. However, today¡¯s training was destined to be different. Xu Ran quickly took out a blanket woven from a special material and spread it on the flat ground, then signaled Fire to stand on it. ¡°Luhou?¡± (What is this?) Fire hopped curiously on the blanket, its face full of wonder. Chapter 656 - Chapter 656: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock Chapter 656: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock [Content to be added] ¡°Poison Fire Bear, huh¡­¡± Receiving the firefly¡¯s answer, Xu Ran nodded his head without surprise. The abilities of the Poison Fire Bear were indeed very similar to the firefly¡¯s abilities after its mutation. Evolving into this evolutionary route could bring out its characteristics to a greater extent. ¡°Then let¡¯s see what the Poison Fire Bear¡¯s evolution path requires,¡± he laughed heartily and then, without further hesitation, chose the Poison Fire Bear. As other evolution paths faded away one by one, the evolution route for the Poison Fire Bear finally unfolded before Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. [Evolution Path: Fire Ear Bear (Fire) ¡ú Poison Fire Bear (Fire) Evolution Difficulty: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evolution Potential: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Evolution Conditions: 1. Fire Ear Bear has not broken through to the Leadership Stage 2. Fire Ear Bear¡¯s Talent Skills must be elevated to Three Star Skills before evolving 3. Other skills must reach Waning Moon Level proficiency, Undying Flame must reach Full Moon Level proficiency Evolution Materials: Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow (Main), Fire King Level Blood Essence (Main), Fire Purifying Stone (Main), Earth Core Fire Seed, Life Dewdrop, Transcendence Flower (Missing Main Material guarantees failure of evolution. Absence of auxiliary materials reduces success rate of evolution.) Evolution Ritual: Absorb a large amount of Fire Poison in the place where Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow grows to complete the final evolution.] After reviewing the entire evolution path from start to finish, Xu Ran touched his chin uncontrollably. ¡°This evolution path¡­¡± ¡°Luhou?¡± (Is it very hard?) The firefly asked with concern. At this moment, every move Xu Ran made affected its heart deeply. ¡°Not too difficult,¡± Xu Ran shook his head. Although the firefly¡¯s evolution conditions were a bit more stringent compared to the four little ones¡¯, including the normal skill upgrades and the specific demand for Undying Flame to reach Full Moon Level. But to Xu Ran at this moment, it was not difficult to achieve; it could be considered trivial. What intrigued him more was the firefly¡¯s evolution ritual. It required the completion of evolution in the birthplace of the most important Main Material for Evolution, which meant that it wouldn¡¯t be quite right to exchange for the evolution material called Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow through the usual channels of the Beast Master Association. Preferably, acquiring this resource in its place of origin and then immediately carrying out the evolution would be best. Soon, Xu Ran informed the firefly of all the requirements for evolution. Hearing this somewhat distant evolution information, the firefly¡¯s head went blank. Evolution seemed so difficult. Watching the bewildered firefly, Twelve barely held back a laugh and extended its wings to pat its head. ¡°Chiu~¡± (Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not as difficult as you think.) Once upon a time, it had felt the same upon hearing its own evolution path for the first time, as if it were unattainable. However, it turned out that with Xu Ran, these things indeed weren¡¯t difficult. ¡°No need to rush.¡± Xu Ran patted the firefly¡¯s head and smiled reassuringly, ¡°You remember the training methods I taught you today, right?¡± ¡°Next, focus on training Undying Flame and try to improve the Skill Proficiency of Undying Flame as much as possible.¡± ¡°As for the others, once I break through the Fifth Stage contract power and the contract is completed, the evolution will surely proceed smoothly.¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± (No problem!) The firefly nodded vigorously. Anyway, training was all it took! In the air, it waved its bear paws with vigor and was about to continue training. It felt the world spin the next moment and when it came to its senses, it realized it had appeared in the Foster area. ¡°You have already trained in the Fire Training Area for eight hours today, which is over the limit.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Balance work with rest, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (We¡¯ll include you in our training next time.) Star let out a purring sound, its eyes carrying a hint of affection. From now on, they would have one more hardworking little partner in their training sessions. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Ziyun, check how much longer we have.¡± Standing on the scorched vegetation below, electrified by the dense Thunderforce in the air, Xu Ran stared at the flashing lightning in the sky and suddenly spoke. ¡°Mew~¡± (About five more days.) Ziyun closed its eyes slightly, and after a sensing session, quickly provided the exact time when the Extinct Thunder Attraction would appear. ¡°Five days, huh¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes were pensive, and after a moment he nodded, ¡°Then there¡¯s still time.¡± ¡°We should head back to Xieyun City.¡± Xu Ran turned his head, looking back at the four little ones. It had been ten days since the last resource distribution. During these ten days, the four little ones had fully digested the power from their last improvement, and their strength had significantly advanced. Ziyun, after its own relentless efforts, had already upgraded its four skills to the Violent Sun Level proficiency. Now, only three skills were left needing just a few more Skill Points in the next distribution to fulfill the proficiency requirement for evolution. And only the Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound skill, remaining to be enhanced to Three Stars, was set to be upgraded during the next resource allocation. It was getting closer and closer to its evolution. Following close behind was Star. Although only two skills were raised to Four Stars, Star has always been the most diligent in training among the four little ones, not at all falling short in Skill Proficiency compared to Ziyun who had the most points added. With steady progress, it had successively reached Violent Sun Level Proficiency in three skills over the past ten days, now catching up with Ziyun. Cancan, seemingly motivated by Ziyun and Star¡¯s simultaneous proficiency breakthroughs, also intensified its training. Its only Four Star Skill, Land of Destruction, had likewise achieved Violent Sun Level proficiency. Chapter 657 - Chapter 657: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_2 Chapter 657: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_2 Compared to the three pets that had joined the team earlier, Twelve¡¯s progress was a little more modest. Having just broken through to the General Level not long ago, it hadn¡¯t had time to raise all its Skills to the Halo Level, but it already possessed two Halo Level Skills. In addition to the four pets¡¯ diligent efforts, Firefly, who had not yet formed an official contract and joined this family, was also striving hard. During the relentless training of the past ten days, it successfully raised the Proficiency of its Undying Flame to the Waning Moon Level. It should be noted that this was achieved without any additional points allocated; reaching such Skill Proficiency was quite a feat for Firefly. While working hard to become stronger, Xu Ran and the four pets never ceased their exploration of the areas outside the city. Apart from the depths of Fallen Thunder Valley, which they had yet to penetrate so as not to alarm any potential threats, they had explored all other regions and their harvest was far from meager. Now, as the emergence of Extinct Thunder Attraction drew ever closer, and the unusual phenomena of Thunderbolts became increasingly distinct, the entire atmosphere of Fallen Thunder Valley grew progressively tense. At such a critical time, the man and his four pets had other plans in mind. Because Xu Ran was just one step away from the Fifth Stage contract power. Once Xu Ran broke through, Cancan, who could evolve after ascending to the King Stage, would be the first to make the breakthrough. With the strength of the Beast King Level, it would add considerable weight to the contest for the Extinct Thunder Attraction. But before that, they needed to visit Xieyun City, to blaze through the Beast Trainer Ranking at the General Level, and claim all the rewards due to them. Otherwise, the loss would be more than just trifling. ¡°Tweet~¡± (Are we going to challenge the Beast Trainer Ranking?) Twelve issued an expectant cry, its eyes filled with eager anticipation. Previously, when the three younger pets took on the Beast Trainer Ranking at the Leadership Stage in Xieyun City, it hadn¡¯t formed a contract with Xu Ran and thus couldn¡¯t accompany him to Xieyun City. After hearing the three pets vividly recount their honors and gains from the Beast Trainer Ranking, Twelve¡¯s envy was undeniable. Now, it finally had its chance to participate. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xieyun City, the Beast Master Association, the Beast Trainer Ranking. Every day, Beast Masters come to this majestic and towering structure. They either admire the powerful Beast Masters listed, listening to others narrate their glorious exploits, or they attempt to climb the ranking themselves to gauge the gap between them and those on the list, each with different goals in mind. On this particular day, a group of new faces appeared in front of the Beast Trainer Ranking. Looking up at the lofty jade-like lists, their faces bore expressions of eager anticipation. ¡°Is this the Beast Trainer Ranking of Xieyun City?¡± asked one of the Beast Masters with a flamboyant hairstyle, chuckling, ¡°I¡¯ve heard this place bears the footsteps of the strongest Beast Masters throughout Xieyun City¡¯s history. I wonder, how many can Yun Tianao surpass?¡± ¡°Young man, you sure are confident. Surpassing how many?¡± A middle-aged uncle beside him couldn¡¯t help but speak out upon hearing this, ¡°Are you from out of town?¡± ¡°Tianao, be quiet.¡± The leading Beast Master patted the man known as Yun Tianao, then greeted the middle-aged uncle with a slight bow, ¡°Uncle has good insight, we come from Zhou Tian City.¡± ¡°May I ask where is the ranking list for General Level Beast Masters?¡± ¡°The General Stage?¡± The middle-aged uncle¡¯s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, as the man before him appeared very young, seemingly not even thirty years old. At such an age, to have reached the General Level, one must surely be extraordinary. ¡°Over there.¡± The middle-aged uncle pointed to the area where the General Level Beast Trainer Ranking was located, then turned and left. ¡°Hey, uncle, don¡¯t go.¡± Yun Tianao shouted, seemingly still wanting to drag the middle-aged uncle along, but he was stopped by the lead man. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look,¡± the leading man said, shaking his head slightly, then led his group in the direction indicated by the uncle. ¡°Tianao, we must be more careful here in Xieyun City,¡± the leader advised as they walked. ¡°What¡¯s there to be careful about?¡± Yun Tianao replied dismissively, ¡°We¡¯ve come for the exchange battle precisely to show them what we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Otherwise, these Beast Masters from Xieyun City might think they¡¯re the best in the world!¡± Yun Tianao snorted, ¡°We acknowledge President Fang Canghai¡¯s strength.¡± ¡°But our Zhou Tian City is the 47th Beast Field¡¯s most dangerous Second Level Town. With a minor beast tide every three days and a major one every five days, any Beast Master that survives is someone who has fought their way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. There are none that aren¡¯t strong.¡± ¡°In comparison, Xieyun City¡¯s younger generation is like flowers grown in a greenhouse; what do they have to compare with us?¡± Hearing this, the others from Zhou Tian City also showed approving expressions; it was clear that at heart, they didn¡¯t hold much regard for the Beast Masters of Xieyun City. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Beast Masters from other cities,¡± the leader warned them but seeing that his companions were unconvinced, he shook his head and gave up the lesson. He halted his steps, looking at the towering Beast Trainer Ranking in front of him, he spoke slowly, ¡°You already know the rules for challenging the ranking from our journey here.¡± ¡°With that said, let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± ¡°Heh heh, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been waiting to hear,¡± Yun Tianao chuckled, and then rushed without hesitation towards the list he had already identified. The others dispersed like birds and beasts, each dashing towards different lists. Before long, the ¡°clang¡± of bells cascaded one after another, echoing throughout the Beast Trainer Ranking area. One after another, the lists lit up, clearly indicating a widespread attempt at climbing the rankings. Chapter 658 - Chapter 658: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_3 Chapter 658: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_3 Such a spectacle immediately attracted the attention of the entire Beast Trainer Ranking area. The gasps and buzzing discussions blended into one when they saw the high-ranking names newly parachuted one by one onto the lists, all prefixed with ¡°Zhou Tian.¡± Without question, these Beast Masters hailed from Zhou Tian City. As the top ranks of the Beast Trainer Ranking were occupied one after another by these outsiders, the Beast Masters of Xieyun City grew restless. This was a clear challenge to their territory! Make calls, rally the troops! One by one, local ranked Beast Masters of Xieyun City were summoned, and the battle for rankings between the two cities was on the verge of ignition. Although Xieyun City wasn¡¯t short of strong competitors, who consecutively stepped up to claim ranks to regain face for the city¡¯s Beast Masters, it was to the crowd¡¯s astonishment that those from Zhou Tian City were indeed stronger. The moment the most prestigious position of the General Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking was taken by Zhou Tian City¡¯s Yun Tianao, a collective sigh swept through the Beast Trainer Ranking area. At testing area D01, Yun Tianao looked at his own name proudly displayed at the top of the most prestigious list within the General Stage ranks and a smug smile appeared on his face. Eyeing the disappointed Beast Masters from Xieyun City before him, he sneered, ¡°You Beast Masters of General Level from Xieyun City aren¡¯t up to the mark.¡± ¡°Is this the best you can do?¡± ¡°What are you so proud about?¡± One of them couldn¡¯t hold back and spoke out, ¡°You¡¯ve only claimed the first place on the current ranking. In the Historical Rankings, you¡¯ve barely made it into the top ten.¡± ¡°Historical Rankings¡­¡± Yun Tianao glanced at the Historical Rankings board next to him and could not help but click his tongue lightly, ¡°You people from Xieyun City really can¡¯t take a loss. What¡¯s the point if Chairman Fang¡¯s ranking in history cannot be Transcended?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong,¡± another Beast Tamer suddenly interjected, ¡°Chairman Fang¡¯s ranking on the Historical Rankings isn¡¯t invincible.¡± ¡°He has been surpassed by someone else.¡± ¡°And that person is now also a General Level Beast Master.¡± ¡°Oh? Who is it?¡± A flicker of surprise crossed Yun Tianao¡¯s eyes, yet his tone remained unforgiving, ¡°Is it Liu Chen or Wu Xufeng?¡± The two names he mentioned belonged to the two strongest General Level Beast Masters of Xieyun City, both of whom currently ranked second and third in the Overall Power Listing, just below him. ¡°It¡¯s neither,¡± one of the Beast Masters huffed, ¡°If he hadn¡¯t left Xieyun City, it wouldn¡¯t be your turn to run wild here today.¡± ¡°Heh, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve made up someone,¡± Yun Tianao showed a scornful sneer, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for your petty bragging.¡± ¡°If such a person exists, let him show up.¡± ¡°Look,¡± Yun Tianao pointed to his own name that now dominated over all others from Xieyun City, ¡°I am the first place now!¡± ¡°Clang¡ª¡± Just as Yun Tianao¡¯s words fell, a clear bell tolled suddenly. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the General Level Beast Master Overall Power Ranking, where Yun Tianao¡¯s name hung high, began to flicker. Amidst the emerging lights, a brazenly new name shoved Yun Tianao¡¯s down with force, becoming the new number one. ¡°First place, Starfire Foster Care Shop, overall strength: 46921433¡± Yun Tianao: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing the name that had just parachuted above his own, his mind went blank. What in the world was this?! This overall strength score had literally doubled his own. Was this even achievable for a General Level Beast Master?! Before he could collect his thoughts, the changing ranks on the Historical Rankings took his breath away. Fang Canghai, who had previously dominated the first place of the Historical Rankings, was now trampled under the same name. This newcomer had Transcended the achievements of the General Level¡¯s Fang Canghai! How was this possible?! At that moment, only one question surged in Yun Tianao¡¯s mind. Who is he?! And around him, after a moment of silence, the Beast Masters suddenly erupted into unanimous cheers. ¡°It¡¯s Boss Xu!¡± ¡°Boss Xu is back!¡± ¡°When did he get here? It wasn¡¯t just now, was it?¡± ¡°No matter when, his arrival couldn¡¯t be more timely!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± The voices buzzed with excitement, while the crowd surged toward testing area D01. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the entrance to testing area D01 revealed the figures of one man and four beasts. Seeing the people approaching him, Xu Ran was first startled, then revealed his signature smile, ¡°Everyone, long time no see.¡± ¡°Boss Xu, long time no see!¡± ¡°How many days will Boss Xu stay this time?¡± ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± The enthusiastic responses made Xu Ran¡¯s smile even broader. After being away for so long, he hadn¡¯t expected Xieyun City¡¯s patrons to be still so warm. ¡°Enough talk now, I need to check out another ranking list,¡± Xu Ran said, pointing to the neighboring D02 Testing Area, ¡°I just got back and need to hurry up and challenge all the lists. If I remember correctly, isn¡¯t the ranking settlement tomorrow?¡± ¡°Take your time, Boss Xu.¡± ¡°After you, sir.¡± The crowd quickly made way, allowing Xu Ran to proceed to the next testing area smoothly. Meanwhile, Yun Tianao finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd. Watching the retreating figures of Xu Ran and his four small companions, he couldn¡¯t hold back his inquiry. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Boss Xu, the only man who has ever surpassed Chairman Fang¡¯s historical accomplishments,¡± one of the Xieyun City Beast Masters chuckled, ¡°You folks from Zhou Tian City should get a taste of the real gap.¡± Chapter 659 - Chapter 659: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_4 Chapter 659: Chapter 326: Giving Xieyun City A Bit of a Shock_4 Almost right after the Beast Master¡¯s words fell, the same bell sounded throughout the entire Beast Trainer Ranking. ¡°Pet Beast Comprehensive Power Listing Number One, an unexpected arrival!¡± It was as if a magical switch had been flipped, and the leaderboards at the General Stage level began flipping rapidly, undergoing a complete shuffle in no time. By the time Xu Ran walked out of the last testing area, the top rows of all the leaderboards prominently featured the words ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Everyone, stop following me; I need to head back to open the shop,¡± said Xu Ran, waving to the countless people trailing behind him as he walked out, ¡°For the next two days, all services at Starfire Foster Care Shop are 20% off! Everyone¡¯s welcome!¡± With that, Xu Ran mounted Star and hurriedly made his escape. The onlookers at Xieyun City¡¯s Beast Trainer Ranking were as numerous as before, unstoppable. The Beast Masters of Zhou Tian City, for some reason, had already regrouped. Watching Xu Ran¡¯s departing figure, the leading Beast Master suddenly pulled an onlooker to the side and started asking questions. ¡°Excuse me, what services was he referring to?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know yet? The Starfire Foster Shop is a foster shop here in Xieyun City, and Boss Xu is the owner of that shop,¡± the onlooker replied with a hey-hey laugh to the group from Zhou Tian City, ¡°I suggest you give it a try; their services are truly outstanding!¡± ¡°The owner of a foster shop¡­¡± Yun Tianao fell silent. They, the talented Beast Masters of Zhou Tian City, had actually been defeated by the owner of a foster shop? ¡°It seems¡­ he hasn¡¯t really looked at us at all,¡± another Beast Master from Zhou Tian City muttered under his breath, ¡°He couldn¡¯t have just come here by chance, could he?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd from Zhou Tian City became even more silent. At this moment, silence was more powerful than any words. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Chairman, our Xieyun City¡¯s Beast Trainer Ranking has just been taken over by the Beast Masters from Zhou Tian City. Do we really not need to intervene?¡± In front of Fang Canghai, the deputy spoke with a slightly anxious expression. ¡°At this rate, without waiting for the exchange battle to begin, the confidence of our Beast Masters in Xieyun City will already be almost shattered.¡± ¡°Intervene?¡± Fang Canghai calmly took a sip of his tea and shook his head slightly, ¡°When outmatched, how can we intervene?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The deputy was momentarily at a loss for words, clearly stumped by Fang Canghai¡¯s question. Indeed, were they to manipulate the rankings from behind the scenes and cancel them, wouldn¡¯t that destroy the century-old credibility of the Beast Trainer Ranking? ¡°So, we just stand by and watch?¡± The deputy couldn¡¯t help but ask again for confirmation. ¡°We just stand by and watch,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, his face emotionless, ¡°Now it¡¯s Zhou Tian; before long, others from the Second Level Towns will take action as well.¡± ¡°A livelier Beast Trainer Ranking is better with more people.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, Chairman.¡± The deputy took a deep breath, ¡°The exchange battle is related to the future influence of the Stronghold Alliance. Given our poor performance on the Beast Trainer Ranking, do we really stand a chance in the exchange battle?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Fang Canghai picked up the teacup in his hand and a figure couldn¡¯t help but appear in his mind. He took a sip of tea, then set down the teacup and slowly spoke, ¡°There will be a way when we get to the mountain.¡± The assistant looked at Fang Canghai and fell silent. In his memory, Fang Canghai always seemed extremely composed in the face of anything, never startled or upset by any event. Perhaps, this was the true Chairman Fang. In comparison, he still lacked maturity. The deputy thought to himself when suddenly the door to the office was pushed open. Fang Yuling walked in quickly, smiling as she said, ¡°Dad, your ranking on the Historical Listings has been surpassed again.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s at the General Level.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°Zhou Tian has such a talent?¡± ¡°No.¡± Fang Yuling shook her head slightly, ¡°Boss Xu has returned.¡± ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡± A faint sound of rushing wind was heard, and by the time the deputy came back to his senses, both Fang Yuling and Fang Canghai had vanished from the office. The deputy fell into silence once more. So Chairman Fang also has this side to him? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Stop following me, I have to get back to the shop,¡± Xu Ran said, waving his hand at the countless people trailing behind him as he walked away. ¡°For the next two days, all services at Starfire Foster Care Shop will be 20% off! Everyone¡¯s welcome!¡± After dropping this remark, Xu Ran mounted Star and hastily made his escape. The onlookers at the Xieyun City Beast Trainer Ranking were just as numerous as before, unbearable. The Beast Masters from Zhou Tian City had somehow already regrouped. Watching Xu Ran¡¯s retreating figure, the leading Beast Master suddenly grabbed a bystander, asking aloud, ¡°Excuse me, what service was he talking about?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? The Starfire Foster is a foster shop in our Xieyun City, and Boss Xu is the owner of the shop,¡± the onlooking crowd replied with a hehehe laugh, seeing these visitors from Zhou Tian City. ¡°I suggest you give it a try, their services are really great!¡± ¡°The owner of a foster shop¡­¡± Yun Tianao fell silent. Were these geniuses from Zhou Tian City really defeated by the owner of a foster shop? ¡°It seems¡­ he never looked at us from start to finish,¡± another Beast Master from Zhou Tian City muttered under their breath. ¡°Could it be that he just happened to be here?¡± At this remark, the people of Zhou Tian City grew even quieter. At this moment, silence spoke louder than words. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Chairman, the Beast Trainer Ranking of our Xieyun City has been taken over by Zhou Tian City¡¯s Beast Masters. Shouldn¡¯t we intervene somehow?¡± Before Fang Canghai, his deputy spoke with an anxious expression. ¡°If this continues, without even waiting for the exchange battle to begin, our Xieyun City Beast Masters¡¯ confidence will have been thoroughly shattered.¡± ¡°Intervene?¡± Fang Canghai sipped his tea indifferently, shaking his head slightly. ¡°If the skill is inferior, how can we intervene?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The deputy was at a loss for words, apparently stumped by Fang Canghai¡¯s question as well. Indeed, were they expected to rig the results and cancel their rankings? If they did that, the hundred-year credibility of the Beast Trainer Ranking would be ruined in an instant. ¡°So we¡­ just watch?¡± the deputy couldn¡¯t help but confirm once more. ¡°Let¡¯s just watch,¡± Fang Canghai nodded faintly, his expression steady. ¡°Now it¡¯s Zhou Tian City coming to us, in a while, other Second Level Towns will take action too.¡± ¡°The Beast Trainer Ranking, the more people, the merrier.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, Chairman,¡± the deputy took a deep breath. ¡°The exchange battle relates to the future say in the Stronghold Alliance. With such poor performance on the Beast Trainer Ranking, do we really stand a chance in the exchange battle?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Fang Canghai lifted the teacup in his hand, an image involuntarily surfacing in his mind. He took a sip of the tea, then placed the cup down, speaking slowly, ¡°There¡¯s always a solution when we get to the bridge.¡± The assistant looked at Fang Canghai and fell silent. In their memory, Fang Canghai always seemed extremely composed, never surprised or perturbed by anything. Perhaps, that¡¯s what Chairman Fang really is. In comparison, they still had a long way to go to reach such maturity¡ª This thought crossed the deputy¡¯s mind when suddenly, the office door was pushed open. Fang Yuling stepped briskly into the office, smiling as she spoke, ¡°Dad, your Historical Rankings have been transcended again.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s someone of the General stage.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Does Zhou Tian City have such a talent?¡± ¡°No,¡± Fang Yuling shook her head slightly. ¡°Boss Xu is back.¡± ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± A faint sound of the wind breaking was heard, and by the time the deputy came back to their senses, Fang Yuling and Fang Canghai had both disappeared from the office. The deputy fell into silence once more. So Chairman Fang also has this side to him? Chapter 660 - Chapter 660: Chapter 327: Fang Canghais Purpose and the Upper Realms Scrutiny Chapter 660: Chapter 327: Fang Canghai¡¯s Purpose and the Upper Realm¡¯s Scrutiny ¡°Cha!¡± (King Stage, I have arrived!) Cancan let out a lofty cry of triumph and then decisively stepped out of the shackles that had already loosened. Its momentum climbed step by step, surpassing the General Stage in an exceedingly short time and reaching an even higher realm. Vast Earth attribute Power swirled around Cancan; the outline of its body began to blur, as if with the enhancement of strength, its body naturally wanted to expand but was controlled by Cancan to shrink back to its original size. Eventually, Cancan¡¯s aura stabilized once more. Although it seemed no different from before on the surface, there was already a significant change in its presence; the faint aura that emerged carried the majesty of a monarch. King Stage! Feeling its current strength, Cancan¡¯s bright golden eyes were filled with excitement. At this moment, it felt like it could take on ten Beast Kings! [Contract Pet Beast: Cancan Race Name: Panlong Turtle Attribute: Earth Attribute Growth Stage: King Stage (128.2w/150w) Species Rank: King Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ï Giving Body to Fertile Soil (Halo Level)] (23128/50000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Land of Destruction (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Eternal Iron Wall (Halo Level)] (32396/50000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Echoing of Earth Vein (Halo Level)] (42165/50000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Jiezimixu (Halo Level)] (41174/50000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power (Halo Level)] (37986/50000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Subterranean Shape Pond (Halo Level)] (32489/50000) [+] ] Seeing that Cancan¡¯s stats had increased more than fourfold from before, Xu Ran nodded slightly. With such strength, they now had a trump card to compete openly with other powerful entities hiding in shadows for the Extinct Thunder Attraction. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s have Cancan be the strongest in our team for a while.) Seeing Cancan¡¯s strength had far surpassed her own after its advancement, Ziyun¡¯s face showed a hint of competitive spirit. The position of the strongest in the team was only temporarily conceded! Once she evolved and successfully broke through to the King Stage, she would regain the title of the strongest in the team! ¡°After the points are settled, we¡¯ll head back to Bright Radiance City,¡± Xu Ran said with a silent smile, looking at Ziyun¡¯s competitive demeanor, before speaking softly. All four little ones responded in unison, revealing their anticipation. The rewards from the Beast Trainer Ranking at the General Level were already ten times that of the Leadership Stage, and the points they had earned from today¡¯s onslaught on the rankings were significant. Once these rewards were credited, they could exchange them for numerous resources. Just as one man and four beasts were indulging in their fantasies, a soft knock came from outside the door, and the voice of the Fishing Old Man soon followed from outside. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s someone here to see you.¡± ¡°To see me?¡± Surprised appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face as he quickly stood up, made a gesture to the four little ones, and then opened the door. The four little ones followed closely behind Xu Ran as they all stepped out of the room. The next moment, they saw the visitor standing behind the Fishing Old Man. ¡°Fang Yuling? Long time no see,¡± Xu Ran greeted with a smile upon seeing the familiar face, but he quickly realized something and turned his head toward the calm and composed middle-aged man standing in front of Fang Yuling, ¡°Are you¡­ Chairman Fang?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, gazing intently at Xu Ran, ¡°I never expected that Xieyun City would have a Beast Master prodigy like you.¡± ¡°I am far from being a prodigy, just a bit luckier than others,¡± Xu Ran responded modestly, which was also true to some extent. However, such a response seemed too understated in the eyes of the Fang father and daughter. Fang Yuling¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily. If this guy in front of her wasn¡¯t considered a prodigy, then what was she? After a pause, Fang Canghai also couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. ¡°Good lad,¡± Fang Canghai regarded Xu Ran with an appreciative look, ¡°I wanted to invite you to represent Xieyun City in the exchange battle taking place in half a month, but it seems I¡¯m a step too late.¡± ¡°The exchange battle¡­¡± Xu Ran patted his forehead, only then remembering such an event. But missing this exchange battle did not cause him any regrets, for his breakthrough to the fifth stage was essential to increase Ziyun¡¯s chances of acquiring the Extinct Thunder Attraction. ¡°Chairman Fang, I have a question,¡± looking at Fang Canghai up close, Xu Ran suddenly spoke up, ¡°You seem really keen on uniting the human cities in Beast Field 47 and even beyond. Why is that?¡± This question had long been on Xu Ran¡¯s mind. The first time he left Qingzhou City for Xieyun City and engaged in exchanges with young Beast Masters from other cities, it was for this purpose. The upcoming exchange battle was also driven by this aim. Why exactly was Chairman Fang so persistent about this matter? ¡°You want to know?¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes flashed, then he smiled faintly, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that complicated.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you were also in the Monster Wooden Domain when the Demon Wood Half-Saint evolved,¡± Fang Canghai continued. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran in surprise and then appeared to realize something, a look of enlightenment crossing her face. At that time, Fang Yuling and Fang Canghai had first sought out Xu Ran, who had just left Xieyun City, and they had not encountered each other. At that time, Xu Ran was on his way to Monster Wooden City. Shortly after Xu Ran¡¯s arrival at Monster Wooden City, the Monster Wooden Domain experienced such a world-shaking upheaval. Chapter 661 - Chapter 661: Chapter 327: Fang Canghais Purpose and the Upper Realms Scrutiny_2 Chapter 661: Chapter 327: Fang Canghai¡¯s Purpose and the Upper Realm¡¯s Scrutiny_2 For a moment, Fang Yuling looked at Xu Ran with a sense of discomfort in her gaze. Could it be that Xu Ran was also involved with the affairs of the Monster Wood Domain? ¡°I didn¡¯t really do much,¡± Xu Ran coughed lightly as he noticed Fang Yuling¡¯s strange look, ¡°I just helped the Monster Wood Semi-Saint prepare for the Evolution Ritual¡­¡± Fang Yuling: ¡°???¡± You call that not doing much? ¡°The Evolution Ritual¡­¡± Fang Canghai also fell silent for a moment before shaking his head slightly, ¡°As for the matter, it all started with the Monster Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s evolution.¡± ¡°In fact, when I had just become an Emperor Level Beast Master more than a decade ago, the Monster Wood Domain had already caught my attention.¡± ¡°After all, the order there was completely different, and it was of significant referential importance for other Second Level Towns,¡± Fang Canghai said, with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, ¡°I visited the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°Perhaps because my strength was comparable to it at the time, the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood treated me very courteously, and even disclosed its plans to me.¡± ¡°When I learned of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s purpose for establishing the Monster Wood Domain, I was shocked,¡± Fang Canghai said with a smile, ¡°Preparing for hundreds of years, building an area that is a paradise for both humans and transcendent beings, all for the sake of its own evolution.¡± ¡°Such grandeur was something I couldn¡¯t match.¡± ¡°Without any hesitation, I decided to help the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice paused slightly, ¡°After all, it was clear to anyone that the successful evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood would be beneficial to humanity.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but nod, feeling surprised at the same time. Chairman Fang helped the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood? Then why didn¡¯t I see Chairman Fang¡¯s figure on the day of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood¡¯s evolution? ¡°You must be wondering why you didn¡¯t see me that day,¡± Fang Canghai said with a smile, noticing Xu Ran¡¯s confusion and asking. ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran didn¡¯t hide his thoughts after being directly addressed. He nodded and looked at Fang Canghai, ¡°Chairman Fang, where were you at that time?¡± ¡°I was intercepting the remaining Beast Emperors while deterring some guys who were preparing to make a move in secret,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes flashed with a chilling intent, ¡°These guys had been hiding in the 47th Beast Field for a long time, just waiting for the moment to strike during the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood.¡± ¡°The obstacles the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood faced during its evolution were far more than the five Beast Emperors you saw.¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply. So, the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood was even more perilous than I had imagined? ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve strayed a bit,¡± Fang Canghai said, shaking his head slightly. ¡°Overall, based on the unique rules and stance of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, I had to help it complete its evolution.¡± ¡°But the evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood is a double-edged sword.¡± ¡°It will add a powerful ally to the human side, but it will also draw the attention of the Upper Domain to the inconspicuous 47th Beast Field.¡± ¡°Upper Domain?¡± Not quite understanding, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask aloud. ¡°Just as human cities are connected to each other, Beast Fields are tightly linked due to the strict hierarchy among wild groups of transcendent beings. This connection is more like a superior-subordinate relationship.¡± ¡°Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields command the Beast King-level Beast Fields, which are in turn governed by the Saint Spirit-level Beast Fields,¡± Fang Canghai said, his speech pausing briefly, ¡°This relationship defines the hierarchy of Upper and Lower Domains.¡± ¡°Like many other Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields, the 47th Beast Field is subordinate to the 8th Beast Field,¡± Fang Canghai said with a note of gravity, ¡°Originally, the 8th Beast Field wouldn¡¯t bother with a Beast Emperor-level domain.¡± ¡°Being of the Upper Domain, they are even more arrogant and would not easily meddle with the affairs of the Lower Domain,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s speech halted for a moment, ¡°This arrogance gave humans a much-needed breathing space.¡± ¡°But now, have the Upper Domains set their sights on the 47th Beast Field because of the Monster Wood Semi-Saint?¡± Xu Ran asked, catching a hint of subtext in Fang Canghai¡¯s words. ¡°Exactly,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, ¡°Once targeted by the Upper Domain, the 47th Beast Field will become even more dangerous, and the human cities here need to unite as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the main reason I¡¯ve been tirelessly working towards the formation of the City Alliance.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran said, a look of realization dawning on him. Fang Canghai had long been planning to help the Monster Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s evolution, even anticipating the response from the Upper Domains after its successful evolution. And for this reason, he had been urging human cities to ally swiftly. Fang Yuling, standing to the side, looked at her father with a changed expression. Even she had never heard about the things her father was discussing just now. She wasn¡¯t even aware of her father¡¯s involvement in the evolution of the Monster Wood Semi-Saint. No need to mention, these prophetic plannings and actions. Was his father really this insightful? At this moment, within his daughter¡¯s heart, Fang Canghai¡¯s figure grew even more imposing. ¡°Can I help the alliance in any way?¡± Xu Ran suddenly asked. Only now did he realize the exigency the human city alliance had reached. ¡°Originally, you could have participated in the exchange battles,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s tone paused for a moment, ¡°but now, you¡¯d better focus on improving your strength.¡± ¡°Everything has been arranged; having the will is enough.¡± ¡°The Beast Master Points of your Beast Trainer Ranking settlement, I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to settle them in advance for you; they are now in your account,¡± a hint of a smile flickered in Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes, ¡°You¡¯re in need of these points now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Having said that, Fang Canghai didn¡¯t wait for Xu Ran to respond, and, taking Fang Yuling, turned and left. It wasn¡¯t until the figures of the Fang family father and daughter disappeared that Xu Ran suddenly reacted, looking toward his own Beast Master account. On the account, a string of Beast Master Points dazzled him a little. They were actually credited! Not only the points earned through breaking into the Historical Rankings but also this week¡¯s settlement reward points had been credited at the same time! ¡°Exchange, right now,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, turning his head towards the equally excited four little ones. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯ll go first!) Ziyun was the first to step forward, its face full of intense anticipation. Its main materials for evolution were the Extinct Thunder Attraction, Extreme Source Vein Crystal, Thunder Attribute Emperor Stage Blood Essence, Brilliant Gem, and Eternal Life Calamity Dew ¡ª five items in total. Of these, the Extreme Source Vein Crystal had already been successfully acquired during the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes in the Monster Wooden Domain, and news of the Extinct Thunder Attraction had been found, with its emergence expected in a few days. Xu Ran had always neglected to search for the remaining three resources for Ziyun. Because these three resources were available within the Beast Master Association of Xieyun City. However, due to a lack of sufficient Beast Master Points, they had not been exchanged. Now, that was no longer an issue. With the credit from the reward for making it up the rankings, purchasing the remaining three resources was more than enough for Xu Ran! Without any hesitation, he chose to exchange, then Xu Ran immediately turned his gaze to the equally excited Star next to him. Star¡¯s evolution also required many materials. Town Star Stone, Dawn Star Radiance, Star Scar Night Light Stone, Dark Emperor-level Blood Essence, Brilliant Gem, Eternal Life Calamity Dew. A total of six evolution materials, except for the Star Scar Night Light Stone, which was also acquired in the Battle of Ten Thousand Tribes, the other five were yet to be found. Through the Beast Master Association¡¯s point exchange, Xu Ran successfully obtained the last three for it; now only two resources, Town Star Stone and Dawn Star Radiance, were left. Next was Cancan¡¯s evolution materials. The Earth attribute Dragon Emperor Stage Blood Essence, Brilliant Gem, and Eternal Life Calamity Dew were all succinctly acquired, completing half the collection of evolution materials instantly. Although the remaining half was bound to be very difficult, the future looked promising! Since the subsequent Evolution Path had not yet been obtained, the portion of the Beast Master Points belonging to Twelve was temporarily reserved by Xu Ran. Once Twelve also received the Emperor Species Evolution Path, they would proceed with the exchange. Xu Ran also didn¡¯t forget about Yinghuo, who hadn¡¯t arrived in Xieyun City. The detailed information about the growth location of the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow and other evolution materials was exchanged by Xu Ran all at once. As for the cost Yinghuo would have to pay¡­ Accruing debt before joining the team had already become a tradition. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Having visited all the relatives, I¡¯ll return home tomorrow and will update with a 4k word chapter then. Chapter 662 - Chapter 662: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts Chapter 662: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts [Just 2,000 more, will complete it soon.] In the night, Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City. Though the street lamps were already lit, the business at the Starfire Foster Care Shop remained bustling. The Washing and Protection Service, maintained by the System Clerk, had switched to 24-hour operations. Customers lined up outside the shop, forming a long queue that seemed to fend off the chill of the night with its fervent atmosphere. Inside the Foster Shop, the System Store Manager had just seen off a client and was about to call in the next one when suddenly, he sensed something and looked in a certain direction. Next, Xu Ran¡¯s figure appeared within the Foster Shop, accompanied by a flicker. ¡°Is business still good tonight?¡± Xu Ran glanced at the long line outside, gave a slight nod to the System Store Manager, and then summoned the four little ones waiting for him. Under Fang Canghai¡¯s special care, the resources Xu Ran exchanged were delivered almost as soon as he placed the order, allowing them not to wait long and to finish their business in Xieyun City within a day. Before long, one human and four pets returned to the living area inside the shop. On Xu Ran¡¯s empty bed, a tiny figure was curled up in the blankets, its head occasionally flickering with a flame that, upon contacting other things, did not ignite. It was the firefly who hadn¡¯t formed a contract yet and thus couldn¡¯t accompany Xu Ran to Xieyun City. Xu Ran and the four little ones exchanged glances, then a smile emerged on his face. He tiptoed to the firefly¡¯s side, leaned close to its fire-lit ear, and softly called out, ¡°Firefly? Wake up, Firefly.¡± ¡°Purr~¡± The firefly made a low purring sound; its round ears twitched, and the flames on them grew more vigorous. It seemed to be sleeping sweetly, merely wriggled a bit under the blanket, and then fell asleep again. Seeing the firefly¡¯s love of sleep, Ziyun became playful and carefully stretched out a paw to press it on the firefly through the blanket. Immediately after, a flash of Thunder flickered in the dark. ¡°Purr-hou?!¡± The electric shock made the firefly jump, its flame-colored fur puffing up in an instant as if its body had swelled. It woke up all at once, leaping up from the bed and looking around. Upon seeing Xu Ran and the four little ones, the firefly blinked. ¡°Purr-hou?¡± (Am I dreaming?) Hadn¡¯t everyone gone to another city? ¡°Peep~¡± (We finished early and came back~) Twelve flapped its wings and then a mischievous glint appeared in its sea-blue eyes. ¡°Peep?¡± (Why are you sleeping on the bed?) The firefly was silent for a moment before it suddenly covered its face with its bear paws, with the flames on its ears growing fiercer. How embarrassing! It was afraid of the dark when sleeping alone, so it had covered itself up tightly and squeezed onto the bed. It thought no one would find out, but to its surprise, everyone returned so quickly! ¡°It¡¯s okay to sleep on the bed.¡± Xu Ran patted the firefly¡¯s head with a smile, then paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°From now on, whenever we go somewhere else, there¡¯s no need to leave you behind.¡± Hearing the implication in Xu Ran¡¯s words, the firefly quickly put its paws down, surprise flickering in its red eyes. ¡°Purr-hou?¡± (Is there a contract spot available?) ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve just broken through to the Fifth Stage of contract power,¡± laughed Xu Ran. ¡°We can form a contract now.¡± As he spoke, he slowly extended a hand, on which a magnificent deep-blue insignia of contract power hovered. It was the tangible manifestation of a contract spot. All that was needed was for the firefly to touch this insignia to finalize their contract. ¡°Purr-hou!¡± (Contract!) The firefly did not hesitate to reach out a bear paw and press it onto the insignia. The smooth formation of the contract allowed the firefly to instantly understand Xu Ran¡¯s intentions. The need for communication between the two no longer required the assistance of Twelve. ¡°Speaking of which, now is the perfect time for you to form a contract,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°If all goes well, in a few days you should be able to catch the new round of resource distribution.¡± ¡°Purr-hou?¡± (Resource distribution?) The firefly scratched its head with a paw, having no concept of what that entailed. Before officially forming a contract with Xu Ran, the four pets had kept this matter a secret from it. Now, however, the firefly was entitled to share in the secret. ¡°Peep~¡± (Resource distribution is¡­) Twelve, having only participated in resource distribution once, couldn¡¯t wait to put on a senior¡¯s air and began educating the firefly. As Twelve explained, the firefly¡¯s eyes grew brighter and brighter. So everyone had been engaging in such an interesting activity behind its back! At this resource distribution, could they really obtain precious Evolution Materials that could increase one¡¯s star level without evolving? Suddenly, the firefly thought of its own Evolution Path. No wonder when it saw that seemingly hopeless Evolution Path, no one took it too seriously. With Xu Ran, the impossible could become possible! Seeing the firefly¡¯s look of eager anticipation, Twelve timed its reveal of another surprise perfectly. ¡°Peep~¡± (This time in Xieyun City, we¡¯ve prepared all your Evolution Materials.) ¡°Purr-hou?!¡± (Really?!) The firefly¡¯s eyes shone even brighter. Evolution Materials, all ready to go? For a moment, the firefly felt a bit embarrassed. It hadn¡¯t even accompanied everyone to that city called Xieyun City, yet they had already prepared its Evolution Materials. Such kind of favor¡­ ¡°Purr-hou~¡± (I really can¡¯t thank you all enough!) The firefly spoke with a sincere expression. Chapter 663 - Chapter 663: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_2 Chapter 663: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_2 Twelve¡¯s gaze flashed mischievously, the look of a successful prank fleeting. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Don¡¯t mention it, you still owe these debts!) Finally, I can see what it looks like for the other little friends to be in debt! Firefly: ¡°¡­¡± Owe¡­debt? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss Xu, I really appreciate all the trouble you¡¯ve gone through.¡± Seeing her revitalized Rosy Flame Demon Fox, Chou Yue was surprised and delighted, but an embarrassed expression appeared on her face, ¡°I heard you haven¡¯t participated in the store¡¯s service for half a month, yet you made an exception for me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right to give back to loyal customers,¡± said Xu Ran seriously, ¡°I may be heading to other cities soon, so while I¡¯m still in Bright Radiance City, I want to take the time to give back to my loyal customers.¡± ¡°Boss Xu is going to other cities?¡± Drawn by the content of Xu Ran¡¯s words, Chou Yue couldn¡¯t help but show a look of regret, ¡°Are you not coming back?¡± ¡°I might return but won¡¯t stay too long,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°The Starfire Foster Shop in Bright Radiance City is just a branch. Its operations have matured and no longer need my oversight. I plan to go to other cities to open new branches.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± The look of regret on Chou Yue¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Well, even if Boss Xu isn¡¯t here, I¡¯ll still come to this shop often.¡± ¡°That would be an honor for Starfire Foster,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile, then watched her leave. There was only one or two days left until Extinct Thunder Attraction would emerge. Once he seized the Extinct Thunder Attraction, there would be no reason to stay in Bright Radiance City any longer. Xieyun City, Monster Wooden City, Bright Radiance City. With just one more Second Level Town, he would be able to complete all the side tasks for main task 4. He was still looking forward to the rewards of main task 4. Advancing a system skill to A-level was so challenging, it must have something extraordinary about it. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Can we start the next resource distribution now?) Twelve, who usually hid in the shop observing every single customer, swiftly appeared and drew close to Xu Ran, a look of anticipation on its face. It had seen Xu Ran once again cleaning and caring for that Lucky Chou¡¯s Pet Beast! The last time Xu Ran had done the same thing was the previous time! ¡°Almost, with Extinct Thunder Attraction not yet emerged, let¡¯s make one last overall enhancement,¡± Xu Ran nodded, smiling, and turned towards the living area. ¡°Chirp!¡± (Yay!) Twelve quickly followed, calling out to the other little friends with contractual sensing while asking anxiously. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Is there an Emperor Species evolution path this time?) ¡°Not this time, definitely next time.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Alright~) A moment later, all five little ones gathered together. On their five different faces, all wore expressions of anticipation. They watched intently as Xu Ran wrote on a small blackboard, as if trying to predict something from the not yet completed board. ¡°Loo-hoo~¡± (Evolve, evolve!) Firefly, participating in resource distribution for the first time, was noticeably excited. In the past two days, in order to obtain more resources during the distribution, it had seriously crammed some math. Now, it was able to perform four-digit addition and subtraction with ease! It believed, with such math skills, it would be up to today¡¯s resource distribution! ¡°Alright, all the resources are here,¡± Xu Ran said, setting down his chalk, ¡°The total value points added this time are 124280, dividing evenly among the five of you, each gets 24856 value points.¡± Firefly: ¡°¡­¡± Counting on its paws, it suddenly wore a look of utter despair. Oh no, it¡¯s a five-digit number! Lucky Chou¡¯s performance remained stable as always. After a series of ten bets, she brought two red items for Xu Ran. One was an Advanced Meditation Acceleration Card, and the other was a Four-Star Skill Scroll. Thus, only one item was available for resource distribution. The Emperor Species evolution path Twelve anticipated can only wait to see if there is a chance in the next resource distribution. Without much small talk or pretense, the five little ones quickly began exchanging and trading resources. The highest priority remained with Ziyun. Not only because it had only one skill left that wasn¡¯t raised to four stars, getting close to all skills reaching the Violent Sun Level, but also because Extinct Thunder Attraction could emerge at any time, its enhancement was crucial in contesting for the Extinct Thunder Attraction. Dropping forty-seven Skill Fusion Stones at once, the panel of Ziyun slowly dimmed and the first talent skill that was upgraded to three stars disappeared, replaced by a brand-new skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shake Heavenly Sound (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shocker (Violent Sun Level)] ¡°This new skill, its name is somewhat similar to Extinct Thunder Attraction,¡± Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s a good sign.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the effect of the skill?¡± However, faced with Xu Ran¡¯s question, Ziyun¡¯s expression turned somewhat vacant. It took a good while before it slowly came back to its senses. ¡°Meow~¡± (This skill¡­ it¡¯s kind of like the Extinct Thunder Attraction.) ¡°Eh?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Extinct Thunder Attraction is a resource, how can your skill be very similar to it?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (This skill¡¯s effect¡­ also generates thunder from the void.) Ziyun quickly explained itself. Thunder Shocker inherited the original properties of Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound but gained significant improvements and enhancements. It no longer required sound as a medium. With just a thought from Ziyun, it could conceal thunderforce in a vast surrounding area and trigger it when needed, creating powerful Thunder Strike damage without any warning. Chapter 664 - Chapter 664: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_3 Chapter 664: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_3 As Ziyun had described, the process was very similar to the display of Extinct Thunder Attraction, with the only difference being that the triggered Thunder Strike effect was not as terrifying as that of Extinct Thunder Attraction. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± After listening to Ziyun¡¯s description, Xu Ran stroked his chin, showing a thoughtful expression. A moment later, his eyes grew brighter. ¡°It seems that this skill is indeed a good omen,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile thickened on his face, ¡°I have a bold idea, and if it can be realized, our chances of securing the Extinct Thunder Attraction will increase by quite a bit.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What idea?) Ziyun asked curiously. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that later,¡± Xu Ran said with a mysterious smile, ¡°Let¡¯s continue with the resource allocation.¡± ¡°Now all your skills have been upgraded to Four Stars, and the post-upgrade skills also meet the Evolution Conditions, the only thing left is Skill Proficiency.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Exchange for Skill Points!) Ziyun said without hesitation. Its Main Material for Evolution is now only the Extinct Thunder Attraction, and in other areas, there is no room for improvement for the moment. The only thing it can do now is to upgrade the remaining three Talent Skills to Violent Sun Level. In doing so, by meeting the full skill requirement of Four Stars and all skills at Violent Sun Level, it would reach a truly invincible state at the General Stage. ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran nodded and quickly started allocating points. Ziyun had not been idle in the past half month, its Skill Proficiency had been rapidly increasing. Therefore, after spending over ten thousand Skill Points, it reached its goal of having all skills at Violent Sun Level. ¡°Meow!¡± (I have finished!) Feeling the surge of immense power within its body, Ziyun declared the end of its exchange with satisfaction. The next time resources were allocated, its evolution would likely be complete without any surprise, and its priority for exchange would disappear. It was time to give the opportunity to other teammates. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is it my turn?) Star cried out in excitement. Its gaze immediately fell upon the words ¡°Four Star Skill Scrolls¡± on Little Black¡¯s board. Ziyun had its own plan for its last skill, so it did not use this item. Thus, the best user for this item was naturally Star. And Star indeed had a use for the Four Star Skill Scroll. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Use the Four Stars Skill Scroll on the Night Rune!) Star said without hesitation. In choosing this skill, it had its own considerations as well. Firstly, Star had not yet found any skills suitable to merge with this one, so directly using a Four Star Skill Scroll to upgrade would not be a waste. Secondly, and most importantly, The battle for the Extinct Thunder Attraction could come at any time, and it would certainly be brutal. By upgrading this skill to Four Stars, it would help the team even better. ¡°Meow~¡± (Thank you~) Ziyun looked deeply at Star, instantly understanding its intent. Xu Ran, who also understood Star¡¯s intention, smiled slightly and used the Four Star Skill Scroll. Dazzling red light accompanied the disappearance of the Night Rune on Star¡¯s panel, and in its place, a whole new skill appeared. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Night Rune (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Star God Blessing (Violent Sun Level)] ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a few hints of surprise as he looked at the new skill, ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± Besides needing all Talent Skills upgraded to Four Stars, Star¡¯s Evolution Conditions required at least three post-upgrade skills to be linked with Star Power. After discussions between Xu Ran and Star, they concluded that although the Evolution Conditions required three, having more skills connected with Star Power could be helpful for the final evolution. The Night Rune was a pure Dark Skill, and it was not related to Star Power in itself. Xu Ran thought that directly using the Four Star Skill Scroll to upgrade the skill would result in a new Four Star Skill that would not be associated with Star Power. But to his surprise, there was such a delightful twist. ¡°What¡¯s the effect of this new skill?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask aloud as he watched Star recover from its daze. Star didn¡¯t answer. Or rather, it gave an answer with its actions. In an instant, dazzling starlight appeared beneath the feet of Xu Ran and the other four pets, weaving mysterious patterns in the void and transforming into an unbreakable protective force. The aura of the man and his four pets began to climb with each breath. The original Night Rune already provided a significant boost in strength, but now the Star God Blessing¡¯s increase was even more terrifying. Even Cancan, who had reached the King Stage, felt his power had almost doubled under the boost of Star God Blessing. However, a powerful skill was bound to have equally significant consumption. After casting it for a short while, Star had to dissipate the power of Star God Blessing. Its aura had become noticeably weaker than before, a rare sight for Star which was almost endlessly energetic. After quickly casting Prayer of Starry Night, Star soon replenished its consumed power, but its face still showed a trace of lingering fear. ¡°It seems that although this skill is strong, we can¡¯t fully deploy it for the time being,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, understanding the situation, ¡°This might also be related to Cancan. Using a General Level to boost a King Stage surely requires significant energy.¡± ¡°Star, try excluding Cancan and boosting the rest of us.¡± Chapter 665 - Chapter 665: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_4 Chapter 665: Chapter 328: Thunder Starts_4 ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let me give it a try.) Ziyun nodded and cast the spell again. This time, all companions except Cancan were enhanced, and Ziyun¡¯s consumption clearly slowed down, with its own recovery rate now sufficient to make up for it. ¡°Cha~¡± (It seems I temporarily can¡¯t be enhanced.) Seeing this, Cancan immediately became disheartened. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re already very strong on your own,¡± Xu Ran gently patted Cancan¡¯s head and spoke with a smile, ¡°And you have your own skill that amplifies your strength. This time¡¯s resource allocation allows us to upgrade Jiezimixu to four stars.¡± ¡°Cha~¡± (Oh, right!) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up, and a look of eagerness appeared on its face. In this resource allocation, Ziyun completed all its enhancements and thus gained the chance to exchange for skill fusion stones. New skills, let¡¯s go! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C However, when facing Xu Ran¡¯s inquiry, Ziyun¡¯s expression appeared somewhat blank. After a while, it slowly came back to its senses. ¡°Meow~¡± (This skill¡­ it¡¯s similar to Extinct Thunder Attraction.) ¡°Eh?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Extinct Thunder Attraction is a resource; how can your skill look like it?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (The effect of this skill is also to create thunder out of the void¡­) Ziyun quickly explained. Thunder Shocker inherited the characteristics of the original Thunder Shake Heavenly Sound, with significant enhancements and improvements. It no longer required sound as the medium; with just a thought from Ziyun, it could hide Thunderforce within a massive range and trigger it when necessary, creating powerful Thunder Strike damage without any warning. As Ziyun said, this process was very similar to the external performance of Extinct Thunder Attraction, the only difference probably being that the triggered Thunder Strike effect wasn¡¯t as terrifying as that of Extinct Thunder Attraction. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± After hearing Ziyun¡¯s description, Xu Ran stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face. A moment later, his eyes grew brighter. ¡°It seems this skill is indeed a good omen,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face filled with a thick smile, ¡°I have a bold idea. If it can be realized, our chances of fighting for Extinct Thunder Attraction will increase considerably.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (What¡¯s the idea?) Ziyun asked curiously. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later,¡± Xu Ran said with a mysterious smile, ¡°Let¡¯s continue with resource allocation.¡± ¡°Now that all your skills have been upgraded to four stars and the stars-upgraded skills also meet the evolution conditions, the only thing left is skill proficiency.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Exchange for skill points!) Ziyun spoke without hesitation. Its main material for evolution was only the Extinct Thunder Attraction left, with no room for improvement elsewhere for the time being. What it could do now was upgrade the remaining three talent skills to the Violent Sun Level. By doing so, with all skills at four stars, and all skills at the Violent Sun Level, it would reach the truly invincible state of the General stage. ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded and quickly started allocating points. Ziyun had been busy in the past half-month as well, with its skill proficiency continuously rising rapidly, so after consuming over ten thousand skill points, it achieved the goal of having all skills at the Violent Sun Level. ¡°Meow!¡± (I¡¯m finished!) Feeling the powerful force surging within it, Ziyun declared the end of its exchange with satisfaction. By the next resource allocation, if nothing went wrong, its evolution would have been completed, and its priority for exchange would also disappear. It was time to give other companions a chance. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Is it my turn now?) Ziyun let out an excited screech. Its gaze instantly fell on the words ¡°Four-Star Skill Scrolls¡± on Little Black¡¯s board. Ziyun had its own plan for its last skill, so it didn¡¯t use that item. Thus, the best user for this item naturally became itself. And it just happened to have an application for the four-star skill scrolls. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Use the four-star skill scrolls on the Night Rune!) Star didn¡¯t hesitate to speak up. Choosing this skill, it had its own considerations. First, Star hadn¡¯t found any suitable skills to fuse with this one yet, so upgrading directly with a four-star skill scroll wasn¡¯t a waste. Furthermore, and most importantly, the competition for the Extinct Thunder Attraction, which could come at any time, was bound to be brutal. And by upgrading this skill to four stars, it could offer better assistance to everyone. ¡°Meow~¡± (Thank you~) Ziyun took a deep look at Star and instantly understood the other¡¯s intention. Xu Ran also understood Star¡¯s intention and, with a slight smile, used the four-star skill scroll. Dazzling red light, accompanied by the Night Rune, dissipated on Star¡¯s panel, replaced by a brand-new skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Night Rune (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Star God Blessing (Violent Sun Level)] ¡°Hmm?¡± Looking at the new skill, surprise painted Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± Star¡¯s evolution conditions, in addition to all talent skills being upgraded to four stars, also required at least three upgraded skills to be linked with Star Power. After a discussion between Xu Ran and Star, they concluded that although the evolution conditions required three, having more skills linked with Star Power might help with the ultimate evolution. Night Rune was purely a Dark Skill and had nothing to do with Star Power. Xu Ran had thought that using a four-star skill scroll to upgrade would not result in the new four-star skill being linked with Star Power. Unexpectedly, there was such a pleasant surprise. ¡°How does this new skill perform?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask as he watched Star regain its senses from the daze. Star didn¡¯t answer. Or rather, it responded with its actions. In an instant, dazzling starlight appeared under the feet of Xu Ran and the other four pets, intertwining in the void into mysterious patterns, forming an indestructible protective force. The aura of each individual and pet climbed steadily with every breath they took. The original Night Rune had already greatly boosted their strength, but the Star God Blessing was now even more terrifyingly potent. Even Cancan, who had reached the King Stage, felt like her power had almost doubled under the amplification of Star God Blessing. But a powerful skill inevitably came with equally significant consumption. After displaying the skill for a short while, Star had to dissipate the power of Star God Blessing. Its aura was notably more wilted than before, a rare condition for a creature that normally seemed to have boundless stamina. Quickly casting Night Prayer, Star soon replenished the consumed power, but a lingering trepidation remained on its face. ¡°It seems that, although this skill is strong, we cannot fully deploy it for now,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, understanding, ¡°It might be related to Cancan too. Amplifying a General Level to boost a King Stage is naturally a great drain.¡± ¡°Star, try bypassing Cancan and amplify the rest of us.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I¡¯ll give it a try.) Star nodded and used the skill again. This time, all the other pets except Cancan benefited from the boost, and Star¡¯s consumption slowed noticeably, its own recovery rate now sufficient to compensate. ¡°Chah~¡± (It seems I can¡¯t be boosted for now.) Cancan immediately became disheartened upon seeing this. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re already very strong,¡± Xu Ran gently stroked Cancan¡¯s head and smiled, ¡°Plus, you have your own power-boosting skills, and this time, we can upgrade Jiezimixu to four stars.¡± ¡°Chah~¡± (Right!) Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up, eager to try. With this resource allocation, Ziyun completed all its upgrades and had the chance to exchange for a skill fusion stone. New skills, charge forward! Chapter 666 - Chapter 666: Chapter 329: Thunder Stirs in All Directions, Xu Ran Makes a Move chapter 666: chapter 329: thunder stirs in all directions, xu ran makes a move ¡°` ¡°zzzap¨D¡± accompanied by a sharp and piercing boom that came out of nowhere, a deep purple-black bolt of lightning cleaved from the void, fiercely striking the ground and shattering the already pitted earth even further. standing not far from the impacted area, xu ran quietly watched the rising dust and then couldn¡¯t help but let out a light sigh, ¡°it seems that it is indeed not far from its emergence.¡± at this moment, they were still at some distance from fallen thunder valley, yet the world-ending thunder had already reached such an expansive range. compared to xu ran¡¯s first sight of fallen thunder valley, the fluctuations of the extinct thunder attraction had become unfathomably stronger. such a commotion could no longer be concealed. xu ran could already feel that coveted gazes were being cast from all directions, with a considerable number of creatures approaching this place. ¡°meow?¡± (shall we enter fallen thunder valley now?) ziyun asked, struggling to contain itself. as the emergence of the extinct thunder attraction drew nearer, its senses became clearer and clearer. even standing outside of fallen thunder valley, it could feel the force within the valley, which appeared in its perception as clear as the blazing sun. the extinct thunder attraction had fully awakened. ¡°wait a little longer,¡± xu ran said softly after surveying the surroundings, ¡°right now, inside fallen thunder valley, there¡¯s only the thunder patterned gold willow.¡± ¡°the extinct thunder attraction is not a resource it can absorb easily.¡± ¡°xi lu~¡± (other creatures are approaching, and there are quite a few of them.) star powerfully neighed, warily scanning the surroundings. almost the moment after it warned them, silhouettes rapidly approached from afar, appearing not too far from where xu ran stood. they looked at fallen thunder valley with eyes filled with vigilance and desire, followed by a contemplative glance towards xu ran, who had arrived earlier. the scene fell into a brief silence. the next moment, cancan couldn¡¯t help but nudge ziyun with its paw. ¡°chirp~¡± (there seems to be a fighting beast king over there!) xu ran and his pet beasts looked in the direction of the sound and soon saw a towering figure with arms crossed and standing upright. it was a transcendent being covered in white bone armor, pulsating with a strong and fierce aura. as cancan had said, this was a beast king of the fighting attribute. drawn by the commotion, not only thunder attribute extraordinary beings had come, but other attributes were well represented. and the fighting beast king, upon detecting cancan¡¯s gestures, casually pulled a giant bone saber off its back. the blade pointed distantly in xu ran¡¯s direction, its indestructible bone structure trembling and echoing a dull sound through the void. ¡°you human ant, what is here?¡± ¡°chirp?¡± (does this guy really need a beating?) cancan¡¯s eyes quickly flashed with displeasure. just as it was about to revert from its compact size to its original form, revealing the formidable presence of having broken through to the king stage, it was restrained by a hand from xu ran. giving cancan a slight shake of his head to indicate that it was not yet the time to reveal its strength, xu ran calmly turned towards the fighting beast king, ¡°there¡¯s a piece of thunder resources that has appeared here, very precious. as for other things, i have just arrived and am not very clear about them.¡± ¡°thunder resources¡­¡± the fighting beast king fell silent for a moment, staring at fallen thunder valley, which was within arm¡¯s reach. it could naturally sense the rich thunderforce inside, but this was not enough to make it back down. in the wilderness, such unclaimed precious resources were not common; each one was extremely valuable. even if the attributes didn¡¯t match, they would still try to seize the opportunity to snatch them. if one were lucky enough to actually seize one, they could try to exchange it with other transcendent beings in need of that specific resource for a large amount of resources, which was a significant gain in itself. there were not a few beings holding a similar notion as the fighting beast king in the vicinity. none of the non-thunder extraordinary beings present had any intention of leaving. after a moment¡¯s silence, another being, a giant lion ablaze with red flames, let out a hoarse and vicious growl. ¡°white bone, this is the thunder patterned gold willow¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°securing this resource won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°rushing in recklessly, we have to pay a price, but it seems some creatures do not deserve to contend with us for this opportunity.¡± as it spoke, the being exuded unmistakable malice, its gaze sweeping over xu ran and several extraordinary beings at the scene that had not yet reached the king stage level. ¡°flame lion, i understand what you¡¯re implying.¡± the white bone king nodded slightly, and within its empty skull eye sockets, a bloodthirsty crimson glittered, ¡°clear the field.¡± the instant these words landed, it, holding the massive bone saber in hand, began to walk towards xu ran step by step. clearly, it had chosen xu ran as the first target in its clearing operation. among all present were transcendent beings, and the only human naturally had to be eliminated first. the flame lion beast king grinned viciously, throwing itself toward an innocent general stage extraordinary being not far away without hesitation. several other beast kings also began to target general stage extraordinary beings nearby. ¡°meow~¡± (this guy seems to be as strong as the thunder ray mysterious bat king?) as it watched the white bone beast king closing in, ziyun¡¯s sharp claws sprang out from its paws, its heterochromatic eyes constricted, locking onto the white bone beast king like the abyss itself. having met all the evolution conditions, it was conveniently in need of claiming the life of a fighting beast king. since this fool dared to provoke, it had chosen him. cancan, who had wanted to show off its strength, felt ziyun¡¯s rising intent to kill and, remembering ziyun¡¯s evolution ritual, couldn¡¯t help but shrink back a little. ¡°` Chapter 667 - Chapter 667: Chapter 329 Thunder Roars in All Directions, Xu Ran Takes Action_2 chapter 667: chapter 329 thunder roars in all directions, xu ran takes action_2 it seems it¡¯s not my turn to act. ¡°luhou~¡± (is purple cloud about to make her move?) the slightly excited voice of firefly echoed in the minds of the person and four pet beasts present. it, being too weak to follow and currently using contractual sensing to share senses, was watching the entire scene from the foster shop. as it saw both sides poised to clash, its mood also became excited. this was a confrontation at the beast king level, how many elite stage pet beasts could experience this so vividly? ¡°jiu~¡± (looks like, the fight might not happen after all.) twelve had a feeling and looked towards the direction of fallen thunder valley before speaking softly. almost at the next moment after twelve made a sound, a huge and persistent thunderous sound echoed throughout fallen thunder valley, and countless dark purple thunderbolts fell from the sky, like heaven¡¯s sword stabbing into the valley. against the surging lightning, a dazzling light slowly rose into the air, even visible from outside the valley with utmost clarity. that was a mystical rune without a physical form, entirely woven from energy, indescribable in words, like a fragmented imprint of the natural laws, exhibiting extreme colors and brilliance. countless bolts of lightning struck at it but became its nourishment, greedily absorbed by it without any hesitation. the scene fell into dead silence, except for the terrifying sound of thunder, leaving only the countless greedy and heavy breaths. ¡°this is mine!¡± the flame lion beast king let out a mad roar, turning into a crimson afterimage, rapidly sprinting towards the direction of fallen thunder valley. the white bone beast king gave xu ran a deep look and then turned to follow the flame lion beast king. in the moment it got close, it sensed a hint of danger through its innate fighting attribute instincts. though it did not know why this mere general level human beast master seemed to pose such a threat, it was not interested in wasting time on such trivial matters now that the resource had emerged. consider that human lucky. each of the beast kings who had already cleared the area didn¡¯t dare to fall behind, fearing being a step too late in acquiring the resources, and chose to enter the valley without any hesitation. and xu ran, who had long awaited this day, did not pause for a moment. ¡°find a chance to kill that guy after entering the valley,¡± he lightly patted ziyun¡¯s head, casually deciding the fate of the white bone beast king, then hopped onto the broad back of star, ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°xi lu lu~¡± star let out a long whinny, bursting forth with such speed that even the king stage had to take notice. quickly turning into a shadow unseen in the dark night, it approached fallen thunder valley at a terrifying velocity. as silhouettes each utilized their abilities to approach fallen thunder valley, the thunder patterned gold willow inside the valley also made its move. branches adorned with purple patterns and glowing with a shiny gold color, like divine whips splitting the thunder, thrust directly towards the extinct thunder attraction in mid-air, and even when struck by thunder containing destructive power, these branches merely dimmed slightly. what was even more shocking was that the suspended extinct thunder attraction, upon sensing the presence of the thunder patterned gold willow, actually began to move towards it slowly and voluntarily. clearly, having guarded the emergence of the extinct thunder attraction for countless years, the thunder patterned gold willow had not been idle. on the contrary, it had made a lot of preparations. ¡°stop it!¡± cold red glimmers emerged in the hollow eyes of the white bone beast king, and it quickly pulled another giant bone knife from its back, fixing the handles together to instantly form a boomerang shrouded with a terrifying aura. with a casual flick, the boomerang formed of bone knives left a chilling white afterimage in the air, bringing a shrill howl as it slashed fiercely towards the branches of the thunder patterned gold willow in the void. the flame lion beast king¡¯s tricks were equally remarkable; its tail, which was like a whip, swiftly extended, its tip enveloped in flames to form the head of a giant serpent. accompanied by a piercing shriek, it quickly lunged at the branches. the other beast kings also employed their tactics, not wanting to let the thunder patterned gold willow succeed, as a torrent of wind blades, thunder spears, and rock thorns bombarded it all at once. ¡°boom!!!¡± accompanied by consecutive booming sounds, thick smoke quickly enveloped the firmament, then torn apart by constant lightning, revealing the scene covered by the smoke. the extinct thunder attraction was still flowing with dazzling light, completely unaffected by the aftermath of the previous assault, and instead, its aura seemed even stronger. on the contrary, the thunder patterned gold willow, after suffering attacks from so many beast kings at once, instantly became tragic. a great number of branches were slashed or burned off, with droplets of purple-gold liquid spurting from its severed limbs. the luster of the thunder patterned gold willow¡¯s shiny gold body notably dimmed, and after a brief silence, an angry roar echoed throughout fallen thunder valley. ¡°you all, are courting death!!!¡± at this time, each beast king that had struck, including xu ran who had mingled among them, stood at different positions above fallen thunder valley. above their heads was the suspended extinct thunder attraction, and beneath their feet in the deep valley, surged the limitless killing intent of the thunder patterned gold willow. ¡°golden willow beast king,¡± a mantis-like earth attribute beast king spoke unhurriedly, ¡°resource goes to those with the ability; there¡¯s no rule that says one can monopolize it.¡± as it spoke, its forelimbs, glistening with cold light, rapidly swung twice in the air, causing even the void to ripple slightly. with that action, it effortlessly severed several branches of the thunder patterned gold willow. Chapter 668 - Chapter 668: Chapter 329 Thunder Roars in All Directions, Xu Ran Takes Action_3 chapter 668: chapter 329 thunder roars in all directions, xu ran takes action_3 ¡°sword mantis beast king, how shameless of you.¡± the countless branches of the thunder patterned gold willow trembled, like a divine whip poised to strike, pointed at all the beings present, ¡°this extinct thunder attraction is nurtured by my own power; what right do you have to covet it?!¡± ¡°i¡¯m not afraid to tell you either.¡± enveloped in powerful thunderforce, a face formed from thunderbolt appeared in the void, glaring at the creatures below with a chilling gaze, ¡°this thunder patterned gold willow has been imbued with my prohibitions.¡± ¡°you cannot use it!¡± ¡°not only that, but you also cannot leave!¡± as the thunder patterned gold willow let out its final roar, those radiant golden branches that had been ready to unleash their fury shot out, indiscriminately attacking all the creatures present. in its rage, it had already developed an overwhelming desire to kill. ¡°do you think you have the power to do so?¡± the flame lion beast king roared angrily, laced with disdain, as it watched the branches growing rapidly larger in its field of vision. without hesitation, it lashed its serpentine tail of fire and leapt toward the thunder patterned gold willow with claws ablaze and towering the fire. but in the next instant, its expression underwent a drastic change. the extinct thunder attraction in the air flickered at that moment. suddenly, a bolt of purple-black thunderbolt, which was suppose to strike it, unexpectedly veered toward one of the branches of the thunder patterned gold willow and merged into it. the golden branches of the thunder patterned gold willow, which had been flowing with purple thunder patterns, instantly turned a dangerous shade of purple-black. before the flame lion beast king could dodge, the branch struck it fiercely. accompanied by an extraordinarily agonizing scream, half of the flame lion beast king¡¯s body turned to ash under the gaze of all. the remaining half of its body crashed heavily to the ground, its eyes already devoid of life. a beast king had perished just like that, which made the other beast kings look at those now purple-black branches with an extremely grave expression in their eyes. at that moment, an indifferent voice rang out. ¡°ziyun, divine punishment.¡± time seemed to still in that moment, and in the next instant, a dreadfully dangerous aura burst forth from ziyun, who stood beside xu ran. that power tore through the thunder brewing in the sky, outmuscling the branches of the thunder patterned gold willow and even the light that flowed on the extinct thunder attraction seemed to stagnate for an instant. the air froze at that moment, and as the surroundings became enshrouded in blackness, ziyun took a step forward, spreading a fierce intent to kill throughout the area instantly. four stars skill, violent sun level: divine punishment!!! this skill, with its terrifying side effects but unmatched dominance, was once again invoked by ziyun! even for ziyun, it was only the second time truly displaying this skill. the last time it was shown, the skill¡¯s mastery was barely at full moon level! the gap between full moon level and violent sun level is like night and day. the terror unleashed by divine punishment this time was far beyond any previous comparison. and this was just the beginning. a dark energy surged in all directions, swiftly extending its overwhelming presence to envelop the entire fallen thunder valley, covering all the creatures within and the extinct thunder attraction in the void. the next moment, a terrifying suppression descended. apart from those of thunder and fighting attributes, other creatures felt the elements related to them rapidly being stripped from the air in an almost suffocating pain. even creatures of the thunder and fighting attributes weren¡¯t totally immune, the ensuing indiscriminate oppression making them feel as if their bodies had suddenly become extremely heavy. the lightning in the sky slowed, and the light of the extinct thunder attraction dimmed slightly. the wildly dancing branches of the thunder patterned gold willow seemed to be caught in a muddy quagmire, and the white bone beast king also clutched its double swords, gazing in shock at this being it had once deemed beneath its notice. four stars skill, violent sun level: heavenly punishment!!! this new skill, derived from king¡¯s power of the king stage common skills, now possessed a terror that held real sway even over beings at the king stage. it was no longer a trifling matter but had become, in a sense, a crucial balance in the battle for victory! after unleashing two four-stars skills in succession, ziyun¡¯s indifferent, domineering black eyes finally turned towards the thunder patterned gold willow below in the valley. the next moment, with a thunderous sound that echoed for a long time, shaking the valley, ziyun¡¯s figure instantly appeared before the thunder patterned gold willow. behind it, a path formed by black lightning converged, filled with terrifying killing intent. in front of it, the thunder patterned gold willow, with a face still showing shock and astonishment, suddenly faced the formidable ziyun. ziyun slowly lifted its paw, and then, with an irresistible force, pressed it against the thunder patterned gold willow. the surging black thunderbolt coalesced into a massive ¡°Ö character in the void, countless electric arcs intertwined instantly, forming myriad winding and mysterious symbols upon the body of the thunder patterned gold willow. in that moment, the thunder patterned gold willow¡¯s flailing branches came to an abrupt halt as if the stop button had been pressed. the absorbed purple-black electricity, faced with the spreading black electric arcs, seemed to encounter a terrifying entity and hurriedly left the body of the thunder patterned gold willow, reconverging around the extinct thunder attraction. the branches of the thunder patterned gold willow returned to their radiant gold color, the flowing purple thunder patterns rapidly darkened, and then the golden branches swiftly faded. its large and vital body began to exude an increasingly intense scent of death. Chapter 669 - Chapter 669: Chapter 329 Thunder Roars in All Directions, Xu Ran Takes Action_4 chapter 669: chapter 329 thunder roars in all directions, xu ran takes action_4 ¡°` with power involuntarily overflowing into the air, the thunder patterned gold willow finally approached the end of its life. the thunder patterned gold willow, fallen! in the hollow eye sockets of the white bone beast king, the cold white pupils trembled violently at this moment. ziyun¡¯s recent move had made it feel an intense sense of life-and-death crisis. and just a short while ago, it had formed considerable enmity with that human who it had once deemed no more than an ant. at that thought, the white bone beast king suddenly became aware of an enveloping sense of murderous intent. ziyun, with the power of divine punishment not yet fully dissipated, turned her head, her pitch-black indifferent eyes already fixed on it. run!!! run quickly!!! the white bone beast king¡¯s mind was crazily echoing with its own roar, its instincts from the fighting attribute brought to the extreme at this moment, instantly realizing how powerful the opponent in front of it was. but by now, it was too late to run. for a black thunderbolt, filled with boundless terrifying power, was born out of nothingness, rapidly approaching ziyun. as the black thunderbolt passed by the extinct thunder attraction, its dazzling light trembled at that moment, revealing an almost human emotion that made all creatures present aware of its thoughts. the extinct thunder attraction was afraid! resources powerful enough to clearly surpass the overlord stage, having reached the emperor stage, were all fearing that abruptly appeared thunderbolt! yet, that thunderbolt, which held the entire field in awe, finally landed in ziyun¡¯s hands. in her now completely blackened claws, it circulated like a tame lamb, eventually forming a slender thunder spear. the thunder spear left her hand, flying towards the white bone beast king. before it had any chance to struggle or resist, the black thunder spear, surging with terrifying power, instantly pierced through the white bone beast king. four stars skills, violent sun level ¡¤ astonishing thunder fury!!! in the hollow eye sockets of the white bone beast king, the light instantly vanished. its body, made up of white bones, fell apart piece by piece, ending up as a small hill of bones, devoid of any hint of vitality. the white bone beast king, fallen! after slaying two beast kings in succession, ziyun¡¯s figure continued to flicker with successive thunderous sounds. by the time she returned to xu ran¡¯s side, her body no longer emitted black power, for the power of divine punishment had finally faded away. as for the side effects of divine punishment, naturally, she chose not to endure them at this critical moment. in ziyun¡¯s claws lay a piece of bone white as jade and a small section of solidified gleaming golden resin¡ªking stage resources left behind by the fall of the two beast kings. they would become the secondary materials for ziyun¡¯s evolution, the foundation for her stepping into the emperor species. after carefully storing the two resources, ziyun¡¯s gaze firmly locked onto the extinct thunder attraction in the sky. this resource was in its final moments before emergence, not yet ready to be taken away. to take it away, her own evolution would be just one step away! as the force of heavenly punishment dissipated, the suppression also faded, and the beast kings around once more felt the elemental forces close to their own. however, the memory of ziyun¡¯s swift killing of two powerful beast kings still firmly imprinted in their minds. one of the beast kings howled and backed away, no longer having the will to fight for the extinct thunder attraction. its actions broke the stagnant atmosphere, causing more beast kings to consider retreat. in the end, only a few creatures remained standing in place, gazing at the extinct thunder attraction in the sky while watching each other with wary eyes. ¡°chirp~¡± (that guy hasn¡¯t arrived yet.) cancan carefully observed the figures around her, then spoke in a lowered voice. ¡°it¡¯s probably not sure if ziyun can use divine punishment again,¡± xu ran said softly, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes, ¡°it¡¯s waiting.¡± ¡°we¡¯re also waiting.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [there are still a thousand words to come, please wait.] ¡°` its massive body, vibrant with life, began to exude an increasingly intense odor of death. as power involuntarily spilled into the air, the thunder patterned gold willow¡¯s life finally reached its end. the thunder patterned gold willow, deceased! in the hollow eye sockets of the white bone beast king, the pale luminescence trembled violently at that moment. ziyun¡¯s recent strike filled it with an intense sense of life-and-death crisis. and not long before, it had already developed considerable enmity with that human whom it had once viewed as no more than an ant. with that thought, the white bone beast king suddenly sensed a wave of killing intent enveloping it. ziyun, whose power of divine punishment had not yet completely dissipated, turned its head, and those pitch-black, indifferent eyes were already fixed upon the beast. run!!! run quickly!!! the white bone beast king¡¯s mind roared frantically with its own screams as its innate fighting attribute battle instinct came into full play at that moment, instantly realizing how formidable the opponent before it was. but now, it was far too late to run. because a black thunderbolt, harboring boundless power of terror, was born from the void, quickly approaching ziyun. when that black thunderbolt brushed past the extinct thunder attraction, the dazzling light of the extinct thunder attraction trembled at that moment, revealing an almost humanized emotion, allowing all beings present to sense its thoughts. the extinct thunder attraction was afraid! even a resource strong enough to surpass the overlord stage, having reached the emperor stage, feared that abrupt appearance of the thunderbolt! the thunderbolt that stunned the whole scene eventually landed in ziyun¡¯s hand, flowing between its fully blackened claws like a docile lamb, and eventually turned into a slender thunder spear. the thunder spear left ziyun¡¯s grasp, flying toward the white bone beast king. before it could struggle or resist, the dark thunder spear, surging with terrifying power, instantly pierced through the white bone beast king. four stars skill, violent sun level: astonishing thunder fury!!! in the empty eye sockets of the white bone beast king, the light instantaneously dissipated. its body, composed of white bones, crumbled into pieces, ultimately piling into a small mound of bones, never to animate again. the white bone beast king, deceased! after slaying two beast kings in succession, ziyun¡¯s figure flickered with peals of thunderous sound. by the time it returned to xu ran¡¯s side, no more black power surged on its body, the force of divine punishment finally subsiding. as for the side effects of divine punishment, it naturally wouldn¡¯t choose to endure them in such a crucial moment. in ziyun¡¯s claw were a piece of jade-like white bone and a small segment of solid golden resin, king stage resources left behind by the fall of the two beast kings. they would become auxiliary materials for ziyun¡¯s evolution, forming the foundation for ziyun to step into the emperor species. after carefully storing the two resources, ziyun¡¯s gaze firmly locked onto the extinct thunder attraction in the sky. this resource was in the final moments of its emergence and couldn¡¯t be taken away just yet. taking it would mean that its own evolution was just one step away! as divine punishment dissipated, the pressure from heavenly punishment faded too, and the beast kings around began to feel their connection to the elemental power that was native to them, but the horror of ziyun instantly killing two powerful beast kings still imprinted firmly in their minds. one of the beast kings roared as it retreated, already discarding any thoughts of fighting for the extinct thunder attraction. its action broke the stagnant atmosphere, prompting more beast kings to harbor thoughts of retreat. in the end, only a few beings still stood in place, gazing at the extinct thunder attraction in the sky while watching each other with wary eyes. ¡°chirp~¡± (that guy hasn¡¯t arrived yet.) cancan carefully observed the various figures around before speaking in a subdued voice. ¡°it¡¯s probably unsure whether ziyun can use divine punishment again,¡± xu ran said softly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, ¡°it¡¯s waiting.¡± ¡°we are waiting too.¡± Chapter 672 - Chapter 672: Chapter 330 Thunder Dragon vs Cancan, The True Mastermind_3 chapter 672: chapter 330 thunder dragon vs cancan, the true mastermind_3 gazing at the resplendent golden eyes that were close at hand yet untouchable, a heavy sense of dread suddenly weighed down on the profound thunder dragon¡¯s heart. the next moment, a series of deep rumbling sounds abruptly emanated from the void around them. ¡°boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!¡± as the deep rumbling noises continued unceasingly, the mysterious azure thunder dragon discovered in horror that everything around it was collapsing at an alarming rate. it suddenly felt an intense pain, signaling the shattering of its elemental body, bit by bit. a great deal of thunderforce spilled from the breaches in the profound thunder dragon¡¯s body, causing it to shrink smaller and smaller, until it could no longer sustain its elemental state and reverted back to its fleshy form. its body was covered in dripping dragon blood, as it despairingly watched the terrifying power that seemed to completely crush it, leaving it engulfed in darkness the next moment. under cancan¡¯s forceful grasp, the space binding the mysterious azure thunder dragon turned to dust in an instant, leaving behind only the twinkling extinct thunder attraction and an unvanished bright purple dragon scale hanging in the air. four stars skill, violent sun level¡¤land of destruction! profound thunder dragon, perished! after delivering that final blow, cancan¡¯s massive body quickly receded in size, returning to its original kilometer-long body type. its face bore traces of weariness mixed with a sense of longing for more. in the battle just now, for the first time, it had fully unleashed the power of the heaven-earth law, which was different from the previous jiezimixu; cancan could choose which attribute to strengthen while weakening another. it chose to diminish its own recovery. this was also why it was able to keep up with the mysterious azure thunder dragon during their fight. but the decrease in recovery also meant that what would have been a stamina for prolonged combat was now less than even ziyun¡¯s. just a single burst of exertion had left it feeling drained, a sensation it had not experienced in a long time. fortunately, such a sacrifice was worthwhile. when unleashing the full might of the heaven-earth law combined with the echoing of earth vein, cancan¡¯s power had soared terrifyingly close to the overlord stage. coupled with the violent sun level four stars skill land of destruction, it obliterated the mysterious azure thunder dragon in an instant. bear in mind, this was a beast king at the peak of great complement. the last one to achieve a one-shot kill had been the nightmare beast king. this meant that cancan¡¯s current strength was by no means inferior to its adversary. the battle was over, and instinctively, a dull yellow glow surrounded cancan as it, with its recovery restored, began to replenish its spent power. but the next moment, xu ran¡¯s voice echoed in cancan¡¯s mind. ¡°don¡¯t use the echoing of earth vein, take it slow.¡± ¡°what?¡± (is there still something amiss?) cancan¡¯s golden irises flickered slightly, comprehending xu ran¡¯s intent immediately, and the dull yellow glow began to fade away. it lay on the ground, appearing normal as it drew in the surrounding earth attribute power at a slightly slower pace than usual to slowly fill its enormous expenditure. at this rate, it would take at least ten minutes to recover to its peak condition. but cancan was not at all flustered. it had already sensed faint traces of starlight flickering around it, ready to connect itself with the stars at any moment. having completed its disguise perfectly, curiosity couldn¡¯t help but bubble up in cancan¡¯s mind. looking at the situation, xu ran was about to outmaneuver someone again. but who else was there to outmaneuver? it couldn¡¯t help but look towards the dragon scale not far away, left behind after the demise of the mysterious azure thunder dragon¡ªa resource at the king stage level. if it was capable of producing resources, there was no doubt that the mysterious azure thunder dragon was thoroughly dead. could it be that there was another hidden hand behind the scenes? in cancan¡¯s eyes, a flash of anticipation appeared and vanished. how thrilling! it enjoyed this! ¡°the extinct thunder attraction is ours now!¡± xu ran laughed heartily, leading the other three little ones swiftly towards the extinct thunder attraction that had fallen back to the ground, then mimed the action of picking it up. in the moment of bending down, a sharp glint passed fleetingly in xu ran¡¯s eyes. next instant, xu ran¡¯s body, holding the extinct thunder attraction, suddenly flew back several steps. a thunderbolt silently struck the original position of the extinct thunder attraction, instantly melting the surrounding earth and forming a small area of plasma. if xu ran had still been there, it¡¯s likely he would have been turned into plasma. seeing this, xu ran couldn¡¯t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, then turned to look towards a certain part of the void. ¡°cunning humans.¡± a muffled voice echoed throughout fallen thunder valley. at the same time, the spot xu ran was gazing at slowly twisted, and a figure emerged from the void, seeming as if it had just arrived or perhaps had been there for quite a while. it was a giant beast with the head of a lion and a body resembling an eagle, with a wingspan of forty meters. each feather radiated with unparalleled electrical light, and its third eye on the forehead seemed to possess a soul-stirring power. ¡°the feeling is mutual,¡± xu ran sighed lightly upon seeing the creature, his face showing no great surprise, ¡°you¡¯ve finally shown yourself.¡± the real entity eyeing the extinct thunder attraction, indeed, had appeared. ziyun and twelve both inhaled sharply at that moment. both of them had sensed a familiar power emanating from this being before them. this beast king turned out to be a rare dual attribute beast king, possessing both the thunder and super ability attributes. ¡°you know me?¡± the mysterious giant beast¡¯s gaze held a flicker of human-like astonishment. ¡°not at all,¡± xu ran shook his head slightly. in that instant, he had checked all the creatures mentioned on the adventure map, but none matched the being before him. Chapter 674 - Chapter 674: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves! Chapter 674: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves! ¡°What a tough guy.¡± Xu Ran muttered under his breath, his expression turning even graver as Cancan temporarily fell. Clearly, the creature before him had been here for quite some time, familiar with every ability Cancan had already used. The Phantom Thunder Gryphon in the sky swept its gaze over Cancan, finally settling on Xu Ran. It had thought that the Beast Master before it had already revealed his full strength, but unexpectedly, he still had cards up his sleeve. Fortunately, its companion¡¯s illusion didn¡¯t affect it, and it managed to dodge the powerful strike at the critical moment. ¡°Humans, hand over the Extinct Thunder Attraction.¡± The deep voice of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon echoed throughout Fallen Thunder Valley. It stared at the Extinct Thunder Attraction in Xu Ran¡¯s hands, a hint of chilling intent flashing through its eyes. ¡°You must be dreaming,¡± Xu Ran said, gripping the long sword transformed from Ziyun without hesitation and slashing out once more. The sword¡¯s gleam, carrying the terrifying power of thunder and darkness, ripped through the sky with a piercing boom and headed straight for the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. ¡°If you¡¯re not awake, let me wake you up!¡± ¡°Presumptuous!¡± The anger in the eyes of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon intensified. It flapped its wings rapidly, its feathers glowing with lightning instantly turning into energy, which then transformed into countless thunderbolt needles shooting towards the sword¡¯s gleam. For a moment, needles like a screen swept across the sky. Three Star Skill, Violent Sun Level: Phantom Thunder Needles! ¡°Boom!!¡± With a thunderous roar sounding like thunder, the two immensely powerful attacks collided instantly. Their colliding energies shattered, constantly rippling, and countless lightning bolts uncontrollably swirled within the energy storm. As the lightning faded, the numerous thunderbolt needles vanished into the void, and the strike that Xu Ran had swung also disappeared into thin air. The Phantom Thunder Gryphon proved with its actions that even without dodging, Xu Ran¡¯s sword strikes were useless against it. ¡°Since you refuse to see reason, then stay here forever!¡± The Gryphon roared, folding its wings and swiftly descending towards Xu Ran. A torrent of invisible Super ability Attribute power, mixed with violent Thunderforce, rapidly gathered around it, dragging a long trail in the void and forming a frightening sword light. The Phantom Thunder Gryphon, with its body as the sword tip, gained speed, eventually becoming almost just an afterimage, with its sharp momentum and boundless fighting spirit, it slashed down in an instant. Three Star Skill, Violent Sun Level: Sword of Demon Slaying! Watching the swiftly enlarging sword light in his vision, Xu Ran¡¯s expression quickly turned serious. Initially gripping the sword with one hand, he now pressed his other hand firmly on the hilt, pointing the sword tip towards the sound of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon¡¯s charge. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Starlight let out a screech, its surging starlight and dark veil rapidly circulating, as if forming a splendid Star Cloud. Facing the Gryphon¡¯s powerful attack, it had already pushed the Prayer of Starry Night and Star Oath to the limit. With the momentum reaching its peak, Xu Ran too completed his buildup. In the instant the Phantom Thunder Gryphon pounced, he savagely slashed with his sword. The sharpness of the sword¡¯s strike surged around him, and behind Xu Ran, a shadowy long sword formed, slashing out in unison with his own sword. The dazzling gleam of the sword detached from the blade, heading straight for the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. In the next instant, sword gleam and sword light touched. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Another violent boom ensued, and dust rose throughout Fallen Thunder Valley. Once the dust had settled, the Phantom Thunder Gryphon¡¯s figure reappeared; its wings trembled violently as if it had not completely shed the force of the recent collision. A bloodstain slowly emerged on its chest, continuously oozing blood. On the other side, Xu Ran didn¡¯t fare much better. The Star Cloud that enshrouded him and Starlight had completely dimmed and shattered, with streaks of blood appearing on Xu Ran and Starlight, making them look quite disheveled. The position where Starlight fought was no longer where it had struck previously. The nearly thousand-meter-long scar on the ground was the result of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon¡¯s ferocious attack. As the starlight gathered bit by bit, the wounds on Xu Ran and Starlight healed at a visibly rapid pace. He gasped heavily, then looked towards the Gryphon again, ¡°You¡¯re not that great either, huh?¡± ¡°Such strong recovery.¡± The Phantom Thunder Gryphon watched the wounds on Xu Ran and Starlight heal completely within breaths, its eyes showing a sign of seriousness for the first time. The most troublesome opponents in battle were those like these. In a battle of attrition, even ants can wear down an elephant. However, having managed to increase its strength so much in obscurity, the Phantom Thunder Gryphon was naturally not a common foe. With its rich combat experience, it knew how to deal with such opponents. Give up or make it quick. Since the enemy held the Extinct Thunder Attraction, it couldn¡¯t give up. So¡­ The Phantom Thunder Gryphon forcefully controlled the muscles around its chest, clamping the torn wound to stop the bleeding, then without hesitation flapped its wings again, rushing towards Xu Ran. With thunderous roars and rising dust, Xu Ran and the Phantom Thunder Gryphon crossed paths time after time. Empowered by both the Extinct Thunder Attraction and Star Oath, Xu Ran was able to exchange blows with the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. In the blink of an eye, they had clashed dozens of times. The injuries on Xu Ran and Starlight grew more numerous, but as they fought, they healed, hardly burdening them. Chapter 675 - Chapter 675: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_2 Chapter 675: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_2 ¡°` The long knife Ziyun had transformed into, that razor-sharp blade, also developed numerous large and small notches from the repeated strikes. However, the notches healed at a speed that was even faster than the rate at which Xu Ran and Star recovered from their injuries. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level¡ªImmortal Body! This skill not only allowed Ziyun to easily change shape, but it also possessed a tremendous healing ability! On the other side, things didn¡¯t look too good for the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. Despite its best efforts to avoid injury, its body still bore four or five large and small blade wounds after several clashes. Each wound became the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back at this moment. The killing intent in the eyes of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon grew more intense; it understood that it could delay no further and lunged forward even before Xu Ran could make a move. But the next moment, along with an enraged roar, the imposing pressure that suddenly descended halted its forward motion. In the void, streams of Dragon Turtle Light Patterns rapidly flashed, instantly enveloping the entire Fallen Thunder Valley. Along with the trembling mountains, Cancan, who had been lying on the ground, stood back up, its fierce gold-colored eyes staring dead at the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. ¡°Chia!¡± (That hurts a lot!) With a roar, its enormous claw, akin to a small mountain, crashed down towards the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. A flash of surprise crossed the eyes of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon once more. Recovering so quickly? It hadn¡¯t been like this just a moment ago, had it? Though surprised, its reactions were far from slow; it erupted with powerful energy and, transforming into an afterimage, swiftly dodged from under Cancan¡¯s crushing claw, widening the gap between them. Gazing at the minuscule figure before it, discontent filled Cancan¡¯s eyes. Recover quickly? That¡¯s because this time it wielded the Heaven-Earth Law, and its target wasn¡¯t the recovery! Sensing the Phantom Thunder Gryphon¡¯s power as much stronger than that of the Mysterious Azure Thunder Dragon, Cancan naturally didn¡¯t dare reduce its recovery, turning itself into a live target with only one shot at retaliation. Therefore, it had to reduce its defense. That was the reason it ended up in such a sorry state after being hit by the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. In the void, the pace of the Dragon Turtle Light Patterns accelerated suddenly, causing the entire Fallen Thunder Valley to shake violently under the tremendous and invisible pressure. The Phantom Thunder Gryphon¡¯s wing-flapping stuttered slightly, its movements momentarily hindered. In the next instant, Cancan¡¯s raised giant claw was already smashing towards it. Atop that massive claw, an immense earthy-yellow energy transformed into an incredibly deep vortex, as if possessing a formidable strength capable of swallowing everything. Land of Destruction reborn! With its recovery intact, Cancan now had the confidence to execute this most powerful move in succession. Its reappearance altered the expression of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. Again? This powerful skill, could it be as common as cabbages? It cursed inwardly, hurriedly dispersing the oppressive force around it, and flapped its wings to dodge. However, Cancan, which had already been evaded by the Phantom Thunder Gryphon twice, would not make the same mistake again. ¡°Chia!¡± (Star God Blessing!) Accompanied by a roar, dazzling Starlight appeared around Cancan in an instant. These starlights intertwined in the void, forming countless constellations that enshrouded its massive body. Meanwhile, Cancan¡¯s momentum rose sharply, while on the other side, Xu Ran and Star¡¯s combined strength suddenly plummeted. To support Cancan in its strongest state, even the combined force of Xu Ran and Star was stretched thin. Cancan only had one chance to strike. But when it comes to opportunity, once can be enough. In the void, the Dragon Turtle Light Patterns burst forth with blinding light. Like mystical runes, they wove together into unfathomable might, and the ascending pressure rendered the Phantom Thunder Gryphon, which had just broken free, completely immobile. In the next moment, upon Cancan¡¯s claw, the fully charged Land of Destruction smashed into the body of the Phantom Thunder Gryphon. The void suddenly collapsed at that moment, shattering into dust, and when all settled, all that remained was a single feather interwoven with purple and white patterns. That feather was the last evidence that the Phantom Thunder Gryphon had ever existed in this world. Cancan grabbed its trophy and swiftly shrank, jubilantly returning to Xu Ran and its other companions. ¡°Chia!¡± (I am so strong!) Clutching the feather, Cancan, as if it had transformed from a destructive beast to a somewhat goofy child, couldn¡¯t help but show a silly smile on its face. It had defeated the mightiest Beast King! ¡°Well done, but you can¡¯t forget Star¡¯s contributions,¡± Xu Ran tapped lightly on Cancan¡¯s head and then looked up at the sky. With the settling dust, the Thunder cloud attracted by the Extinct Thunder Attraction began to disperse. ¡°Star, help Ziyun recover.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Okay.) Star neighed, swiftly connecting Star Oath to Ziyun, aiding it to quickly recover the energy it had expended earlier. Once Ziyun was back at its peak, Xu Ran tossed the Extinct Thunder Attraction towards Ziyun, ¡°No time to waste, get ready for evolution.¡± The Evolution Ritual for Ziyun required its completion atop the skies, at the peak of the thunder clouds, and the current environment was just suitable. ¡°Cancan, get bigger.¡± ¡°Chia?¡± (I need to grow more?) Cancan, which had just decreased in size, was momentarily dumbfounded. ¡°The bigger, the better, and don¡¯t weaken your defense,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s words paused slightly, ¡°Use your height to send Ziyun above the thunder clouds.¡± ¡°` Chapter 676 - Chapter 676: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_3 Chapter 676: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_3 ¡°Meow~¡± (Please!) Ziyun patted Cancan¡¯s head before quickly gathering the evolution materials. Before the struggle for the Extinct Thunder Attraction began, Ziyun had carried all his resources with him. After all, the time for evolution might come at any moment. Having secured all the main materials for evolution, Ziyun grabbed the King Stage resources left by the two Beast Kings it had just slain. These were his auxiliary materials for evolution. After stowing all the resources away, Ziyun wrapped his bushy tail around them, then gracefully landed on Cancan¡¯s head. The next moment, Cancan¡¯s body began to grow rapidly in size. He raised his head high, lifting Ziyun up to the thunder cloud that hadn¡¯t dispersed in the void, and then his form became fixed. This time, it was his agility that he sacrificed. The one serving as a foothold didn¡¯t need agility anymore. Being able to take a beating was all that mattered. Looking uneasily at the thunder and lightning surging within the thunder cloud, Cancan¡¯s body quickly radiated an earthy yellow halo, as countless clumps of soil completely covered his huge body, turning him into a mountain piercing into the thunder cloud. Three Star Skill, Halo Level: Giving Body to Fertile Soil. ¡°Chya!¡± (Let¡¯s start!) Cancan, with only his pair of glittering golden eyes visible from the mud, shouted expectantly. This angle was arguably the best viewing perspective. Even those below, such as Xu Ran, Star, Twelve, and the absent Firefly, rapidly shared Cancan¡¯s vision to witness the first of their friends to evolve towards the Emperor Species. ¡°Meow~¡± (You guys are making me a little nervous.) Ziyun muttered softly, yet there wasn¡¯t much nervousness in his eyes; instead, a sky-high fighting spirit rose within as he stared at the thunder cloud below his body. All Skills at Violent Sun Level, all Skills Four Stars. Among his seven skills, apart from the Immortal Body, the other six were all dual attribute skills. Which other King Species could reach such a level besides him? At the General Level, he had independently slain two Beast Kings a stage above him. Aside from him, how many could make such a claim? With such ample preparation, Ziyun didn¡¯t believe there was any chance of failure for his evolution. Standing atop Cancan¡¯s head, he stepped forward a few paces, then without any hesitation, he began swallowing the evolution materials. As each of the evolution materials entered Ziyun¡¯s body, his aura grew increasingly restless and unstable. Eventually, after having consumed all resources except for the Extinct Thunder Attraction, his aura became chaotic and frenzied, like a powder keg that could explode at any moment. With the last bit of clarity forced in his dichromatic pupils, Ziyun picked up the Extinct Thunder Attraction and pressed it heavily against his forehead. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Following the thunderous sound that echoed for a long time above the cloud tops, Ziyun¡¯s figure vanished in an instant from the top of Cancan¡¯s head and appeared as high in the sky as possible. Massive amounts of energy erupted in all directions from Ziyun as the center, and despite lacking the ability to fly, he managed to maintain his position in the void at that moment. The power of the Extinct Thunder Attraction was activated immediately by the turbulent forces, and a dazzling light burst rapidly from Ziyun¡¯s head. The lightning, filled with immense destructive power, appeared out of nowhere in the void and, as soon as it materialized, it furiously struck towards the location of the Extinct Thunder Attraction, responding to its call¡ªalso its destiny. However, this time, between the lightning and the Extinct Thunder Attraction, a strange and powerful resistance emerged. The resistance came from Ziyun, from another force agitated within his body. Ziyun¡¯s body had turned translucent without notice; veins that should have been hidden inside his body became clearly visible, pulsating with intense and dazzling light. The force hidden within Ziyun¡¯s body was also being stimulated by this mysterious change, shooting out in every direction. This was the special power of the Extreme Source Vein Crystal. Unlike other attributes, the power of Fighting and Super Ability Attributes originated from within the bodies of Transcendent Beings, and the purpose of the Extreme Source Vein Crystal was to activate the Fighting Attribute power to the greatest extent. Normally, this activation should be gradual. But under the stimulus of the chaotic forces at that moment, the power of the Extreme Source Vein Crystal went berserk, and in an instant, a tremendous amount of power hidden in Ziyun¡¯s body was released. The withdrawal of these forces caused Ziyun to go from an inflated ball to an emptied one in an instant. It also kept the lightning drawn by the Extinct Thunder Attraction blocked outside of his forces. The lightning and Ziyun¡¯s forcibly activated Fighting Attribute power confronted each other outside his body, while inside Ziyun, the chaotic standoff didn¡¯t subside. The abnormal Fighting Attribute power and the Thunder Attribute power, like eternal enemies, were locked in a fierce battle within Ziyun¡¯s body. They came from the two Beast Kings that Ziyun had slain. The two powers harbored immeasurable hatred towards Ziyun that could not be dissipated; in that moment, it erupted, crushing each other while relentlessly destroying the battlefield, which was Ziyun¡¯s body. Streams of gentle and soothing power worked tirelessly to mend the continuously damaged battlefield, which was the life-affirming energy of the Eternal Life Calamity Dew that Ziyun had consumed. But the speed of this repair still couldn¡¯t keep up with the pace at which the two forces collided and destroyed each other. In just a breath, Ziyun¡¯s body became riddled with holes because of the clash of forces. Chapter 677 - Chapter 677: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_4 Chapter 677: Chapter 331 Difficult Victory, Ziyun Evolves!_4 Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes were brimming with intense pain. It tightly closed its eyes, simultaneously focusing on the confrontation outside while carefully observing the duel within. It knew that if it continued to let things run their course, there was almost no hope for a successful evolution. The only chance lay within Ziyun itself, within that calmly flowing drop of purple-red Blood Essence. Unlike the wild agitation of the other energies, the Thunder Attribute Emperor Stage Blood Essence was silently present as if it didn¡¯t exist at all, with strands of white radiance quietly circulating within the purple-red halo. That was the last piece of Evolution Materials integrated into the Blood Essence, the Brilliant Gem. Gazing at the quiet Blood Essence, Ziyun was clear in its heart that this was merely the calm before a torrential outbreak. That, after all, was a drop of Emperor Stage Blood Essence. An Emperor Stage, even though long fallen, the will lingering within its blood was enough to give it a hard time. At this moment, it appeared so docile primarily because of the Brilliant Gem. This resource harbored a natural affinity with Emperor Stage powers, which for Emperor Stage Blood Essence, was akin to an irresistibly delicious food. Before digesting this food, the Blood Essence was apathetic to everything else. But as food, the Brilliant Gem would also fortify the Blood Essence, along with the will of the Emperor Stage that lingered within it. Therefore, once the Blood Essence fully devoured the Brilliant Gem, Ziyun would endure a terrifying backlash. To prevent this, it had to absorb the strength of the Blood Essence as much as possible before the Blood Essence erupted, making Ziyun¡¯s already tough situation even more difficult. It exerted all its energy to stimulate the remaining Fighting Attribute power, controlling its own blood, continuously washing over the Emperor Stage Blood Essence. Every wash took away an extremely fine thread of power from the Blood Essence, providing the exhausted Ziyun with a trace of new strength. However, such washing was painful. It had nearly mobilized all the blood within Ziyun¡¯s body, and within that body, chaotic energies were wreaking havoc. Diverting a sliver of its mind, Ziyun manipulated its power, beginning to suppress the madly grinding Fighting Attribute and Thunder Attribute powers within its body. Armed with as many as six Violent Sun Level dual attribute Skills, it possessed an exceptional ability to balance attributes, and the conflicting powers which ordinary beings struggled to control were like docile lambs in Ziyun¡¯s hands. It swiftly took control of its own power and then began to intimidate those external forces. Deriving from two resources of King Stage quality, infused with the wills of two Beast Kings, that will, though full of hatred, was mostly fear. After all, Ziyun¡¯s invincible strength was the last scene witnessed by the two Beast Kings before their demise. Thus, as Ziyun¡¯s power enveloped its aura and came crashing down, the two external forces simultaneously recalled the fear they had felt during their lives. Their strife and combat eerily came to a halt. The Eternal Life Calamity Dew quickly seized this opportunity to restore Ziyun¡¯s damaged body with its vast vitality. Feeling the pain in its body begin to fade, Ziyun quietly breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, it seemed to understand why the Evolution Ritual required it to kill on its own. Swiftly absorbing the two kinds of power to fortify itself in the midst of suppression, Ziyun¡¯s gaze returned to that drop of Blood Essence. At this point, the Blood Essence was almost completely absorbing the power of the Brilliant Gem, and its original volume had also considerably shrunk due to the continuous blood wash. Seemingly sensing the crisis, the Blood Essence accelerated the absorption of the Brilliant Gem¡¯s power, and the vague shadow of a terrifying creature concealed within also began to further ferment. This was the will of the Emperor Stage hidden within the Blood Essence. Even just a trace was far superior to Ziyun at the moment. Therefore, it must not succeed! Ziyun let out an angry roar, as the powers from the Fighting Attribute and Thunderforce drawn from the two sources rapidly interwove and spun within its body, transforming into a millstone that erases all, heading towards that half-damaged drop of Blood Essence to suppress it. Under the sudden explosive suction within the millstone, the Blood Essence uncontrollably split into numerous fine branches, forcefully sucked in by Ziyun. The will of the Emperor Stage, barely maintaining its form, let out a fierce hiss. Its aura, however, grew weaker and feeble, ultimately exploding within Ziyun¡¯s body, dissipating completely into specks of light halos. With that, the power within Ziyun was completely unified. It opened its eyes imbued with endless thunder, looking towards the thunderbolts raging outside, trying to approach itself. In the prolonged standoff, the destructive thunderbolt and the forcibly blossoming power of the Fighting Attribute within Ziyun seemed to have undergone an unusual change. The boundaries between them began to blur, and at the junction, the two forces seemed to be merging, and a new power was being born. Ziyun, sensing this scene, had its eyes flicker. The next moment, an invisible force turned into a tide of shockwaves, rapidly spreading out from it in all directions, encompassing the clashing powers. Four Stars Skills, Violent Sun Level?Heavenly Punishment! Under the domain of Heavenly Punishment, both the Fighting Attribute¡¯s power and the Thunderforce were greatly enhanced. And Ziyun¡¯s control over both powers was also significantly strengthened. Feeling the colliding powers within the domain of Heavenly Punishment, it knew what to do next. Fusion! Complete fusion! At this moment, Thunder Shocker was activated by Ziyun, the Path of Destruction bloomed under its feet, Thunder Punishment meandered in its paws, and Astonishing Thunder Fury interwove in the void. At this moment, the already cooling Divine Punishment was also mysteriously stimulated, flickering a shroud of darkness deep within Ziyun¡¯s pupils. Six Violent Sun Level Dual Attribute Four Stars Skills, with their domineering and forceful postures, oppressed the raging powers, trying to fuse them together. Bit by bit. With the intervention of an external force, the intertwining speed of the two powers accelerated, their boundaries grew increasingly indistinct, and eventually, it was almost impossible to see any boundary at all. The purple-black thunder power was diluted, becoming semi-transparent purple power. Having fused with the Fighting Attribute¡¯s power, it faced no more obstacles and in a flash crossed all barriers, striking the Extinct Thunder Attraction on Ziyun¡¯s forehead. ?Boom!!!? Accompanied by a thunderous roar that shook the heavens, a brilliant white light of evolution burst forth above the dark thunder cloud, piercing heartlessly through the gloom, revealing a clear sky. On the ground, Xu Ran slightly narrowed his eyes, staring intently in Ziyun¡¯s direction. It was closer, even closer now. He felt a figure equipped with a tremendously formidable power rapidly approaching him. The next moment, the light of evolution slowly dimmed. Ziyun¡¯s form had also descended from the sky, appearing in front of Xu Ran. Chapter 678 - Chapter 678: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target Chapter 678: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target ¡°` [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race Name: Astonishing Cloud Chaser Attribute: Fighting Attribute, Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Monarch Stage£¨923.6w/1000w£© Species Stage: Emperor Species Skill List: [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shocker (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïPath of Destruction (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImmortal Body (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïHeavenly Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïDivine Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïAstonishing Thunder Fury (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïCloud Break Sky (Stardust Level)]£¨0/100£©[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImperial Crown (Stardust Level)]£¨0/100£©[+]] Looking at the rows of words before him, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of amazement on his face. Before today, he knew that there was a significant gap between King Species and Emperor Species, but only upon seeing the specific data did he realize how large it really was. Cancan, who is also at the Monarch Stage, only has a power progression cap of 600w, while Ziyun has a full ten million. This nearly double power gap means that Ziyun could effortlessly thrash several Cancans. And that¡¯s just the pure difference in strength. If one considers the overpowering force of the Imperial Crown, an exclusive skill of the Emperor Species, Ziyun¡¯s strength would be even more formidable. Having grasped an idea of Ziyun¡¯s current strength, Xu Ran immediately looked at Ziyun¡¯s skill list. Beneath the original seven skills, there were two new ones. Apart from the Imperial Crown, there was one called Cloud Break Sky. ¡°Ziyun, what does Cloud Break Sky do?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Meow!¡± (Watch this!) Wearing a proud expression, Ziyun immediately began to showcase its ability. It tilted its head slightly towards the sky, and then lifted a paw, pressing it into the air in front of it. ¡°Zzzap¡ª¡± An electric sound of air being pierced by thunderbolt resonated, and instantly, a condensed form of thunderous light gathered beneath its feet. With another step, another fragment of thunderous light was fixed in the void. One step¡­ two steps¡­ With each step Ziyun took, a path of thunder quickly formed in the void. It walked through the void on thunderous light as if on flat ground. ¡°Is this¡­ flying?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. Previously, even though Ziyun had a skill like Path of Destruction, it only helped with speed and did not grant the ability to fly. Now, with such leisurely movement, Ziyun still managed to stay in the air, which undoubtedly meant that it truly possessed the ability to fly. For a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became a bit strange. He remembered wanting a Pet Beast that could fly, one that could carry him to experience the joy of flying through the skies. After the Twelve Evolution, it indeed could fly, but it was still far from being able to carry him in flight. He never expected that Ziyun would realize this little dream of his first. ¡°Meow~¡± (That¡¯s not all~) Ziyun¡¯s face carried a hint of a smile. A four-star skill with only a simple ability like flying would be a bit underwhelming. Its speed suddenly increased, turning into a faint purple streak, and in the blink of an eye, it was already at an altitude of several hundred meters. Astonishing waves of air accompanied by a torrent of energy spiraled rapidly at its side, gathering and growing in strength with Ziyun¡¯s increased speed, until ultimately reaching an awe-inspiring level that left Xu Ran and the other little ones wide-eyed and slack-jawed. In the next moment, Ziyun, while sprinting, suddenly struck towards the thunder cloud in the sky that had not yet completely dissipated. The gathered energy found its outlet, unleashing like a terrifying cannon, enveloping power that seemed capable of annihilating anything, and heavily bombarding the thunder cloud. The thunder cloud in the void was completely dispersed, and the terrifying energy continued unabated, blasting towards an unknown location in the void. Only after fully executing Cloud Break Sky did Ziyun leisurely return to Xu Ran¡¯s side, showing off a proud look on its face. ¡°Meow?¡± (Impressive, right?) ¡°Impressive, I feel that once it levels up to Violent Sun Level, it won¡¯t be inferior to your other offensive skills,¡± Xu Ran said seriously, ¡°So, what exactly does this skill do?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (This skill¡­) Ziyun explained with a smiling face. Flying was merely a minor ability that came with Cloud Break Sky. The true effect of Cloud Break Sky was to accumulate power and then release it all at once, and the way it gathered power was somewhat unique. Speed. The faster Ziyun moved, the quicker it could accumulate power, and the resulting force would be even more astonishing. ¡°So¡­ you didn¡¯t fully use this skill just now?¡± After hearing about the skill¡¯s effect, Xu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°Your fastest speed is under Path of Destruction. If you used Cloud Break Sky with Path of Destruction¡­¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun nodded with a smile. On its own, this skill wouldn¡¯t differ much from the other offensive skills, but when coupled with the acceleration from Path of Destruction, the damage from this skill could increase exponentially. In this way, Cloud Break Sky would become Ziyun¡¯s strongest offensive skill after Divine Punishment. However, Divine Punishment had side effects, Cloud Break Sky did not. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic,¡± Xu Ran said, his face reflecting a relieved smile, ¡°Just this skill alone makes the evolution worth it.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (I went through a lot of hardships to gain this.) ¡°` Chapter 679 - Chapter 679: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, the Next Target_2 Chapter 679: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, the Next Target_2 Recalling the perilous evolution just now, Ziyun¡¯s heart was still in turmoil. ¡°Chia~¡± (I want to endure such hardships too~) Cancan, back to its pocket-sized body type, couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly. After Ziyun had completed its evolution, it had looked at Ziyun several times. As Ziyun¡¯s strength had greatly increased following the breakthrough, its brief reign as the strongest in the team had to be relinquished. Damn it! Star and the twelve, though they didn¡¯t speak, also looked at Ziyun with eyes full of envy. As for Firefly, who hadn¡¯t come to Fallen Thunder Valley but had remotely watched the entire process, was so envious that it was rolling around on the bed. Emperor Species! From Ziyun, they could clearly feel that overwhelming strength which utterly surpassed their own, a complete crushing of life levels. This was the allure of evolution. In an instant, those who had already acquired the evolution path of the Emperor Species rubbed their hands together in eager anticipation, their will to evolve stronger than ever before. Those who had not obtained the evolution path of the Emperor Species were even more looking forward to the next resource allocation, hoping for a new evolution path. They too wanted to become stronger! ¡°With Ziyun¡¯s evolution coming to an end, it¡¯s also a conclusion to this chapter.¡± Sensing the mood of the other four, Xu Ran smiled and looked around. The once Fallen Thunder Valley, after this battle, had many of its surrounding peaks leveled, the terrain had greatly changed, and with the Extinct Thunder Attraction absorbed by Ziyun, the endless thunderclouds dissipated. In a sense, the world no longer had a Fallen Thunder Valley. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Xu Ran said softly, then turned to Ziyun, ¡°You must also take the Divine Punishment and Rebound as soon as possible.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Ziyun, originally in a great mood from evolving into an Emperor Species, suddenly looked crestfallen. Divine Punishment and Rebound! It had almost forgotten about that. Thinking of the past pain it had experienced, Ziyun¡¯s expression was filled with conflicted emotions and helplessness. It wanted to escape, but there was no escape. Unless it never used Divine Punishment again, it had to face the rebound sooner or later. But, Divine Punishment was really useful! So far, Ziyun had not seen any ability more powerful than it; with one explosion of power, it could easily defeat stronger enemies. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s go back~) Ziyun let out a long sigh, showing an expression of resigned determination. Half an hour later, within the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City, Ziyun¡¯s scream, full of sheer agony, could be heard. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack our bags.¡± Touching Ziyun in his arms, who was looking desolate from enduring the Divine Punishment and Rebound, Xu Ran spoke with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s time to leave Bright Radiance City.¡± Choosing to open a branch in Bright Radiance City was because it was close to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, making it easy to monitor the situation. Now that the Extinct Thunder Attraction has been secured, and the branch¡¯s fame requirement has been met, staying here no longer had any purpose. It was time to head to a new city, to open the fourth branch store in a Second Level Town. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Where will we go next?) Star neighed inquisitively, curious about their next destination. ¡°The next city we¡¯re going to has some connection to you,¡± Xu Ran smiled and looked at Star. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Me?) Surprise flashed in Star¡¯s eyes, clearly unexpected that the next destination would be related to itself. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°With Ziyun having successfully completed its evolution, according to the sequence of obtaining the Emperor Species evolution path and the fulfillment of evolution conditions, you are next in line to evolve.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten your Evolution Ritual, have you?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Of course not!) Without hesitation, Star shook its head. Concerning its own evolution, it memorized every word about the Evolution Conditions, Evolution Materials, and Evolution Ritual¡ªit couldn¡¯t possibly forget. To evolve into Star Cloud Guardian, the Evolution Ritual consisted of two steps. First, assist a Transcendent Being below the Monarch Stage in defeating a Dark King Level Transcendent Being, obtaining its core resources as auxiliary materials for the evolution. Second, complete the evolution during Star Cloud Night when the stars are shining. According to the initial plan, the first step was for it to assist Ziyun in defeating a Dark King Level opponent. But life is full of unexpected events, and they had not encountered a suitable Dark King Level opponent during this time, and among the combatants for Extinct Thunder Attraction, none were of the Dark Attribute. Now that Ziyun and Cancan had both reached the Monarch Stage, Star would have to switch the subject of its assistance to either Twelve or Firefly. But Star was not worried. It believed in the rapid improvement of its companions¡¯ strength. And this step of the Evolution Ritual didn¡¯t pick a place. So, Xu Ran mentioning the next destination being related to itself could only be connected to the other part of the Evolution Ritual. During Star Cloud Night, amidst the reflections of the stars, complete the evolution. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Are we going to a city with stars?) ¡°Exactly,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I happen to know of such a city that can satisfy the requirement of ¡®stars shining together¡¯.¡± ¡°There, should be very suitable for you to complete your evolution.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Severe writer¡¯s block, this chapter is missing four thousand words, desperately trying to write more¡­] [Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun Race name: Astonishing Cloud Chaser Attribute: Fighting Attribute, Thunder Attribute Growth Stage: Monarch Stage (923.6w/1000w) Race stage: Emperor Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Shocker (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïPath of Destruction (Violent Sun Level)] Chapter 680 - Chapter 680: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target_3 Chapter 680: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target_3 [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImmortal Body (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïHeavenly Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïDivine Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïAstonishing Thunder Fury (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïCloud Break Sky (Stardust Level)](0/100)[+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImperial Crown (Stardust Level)](0/100)[+]] Looking at the lines of text before him, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but show a look of amazement on his face. Before today, he knew that the gap between King Species and Emperor Species was large, but seeing the specific data, he realized just how huge it really was. Cancan, also at the King Stage, had a power progression limit of only 600w, while Ziyun had a full ten million. This nearly double power gap meant that Ziyun could effortlessly trounce several Cancans. That was only the gap in pure strength. Considering the formidable oppressive power of the Imperial Crown, an exclusive skill of the Emperor Species, Ziyun¡¯s strength was even more formidable. Having concept of Ziyun¡¯s current strength, Xu Ran then looked toward Ziyun¡¯s skill list. Beyond the original seven skills, there were two completely new skills added. Apart from the Imperial Crown, there was another called Cloud Break Sky. ¡°Ziyun, what is the effect of Cloud Break Sky?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Meow!¡± (Watch closely!) Ziyun, with a smug expression, immediately began to demonstrate. It slightly raised its head to look at the sky, then lifted a claw and pressed it against the air in front of it. ¡°Zi la¡ª¡± Along with the sound of air being pierced by thunderbolt, a tangible thunder light converged instantly under its feet. With another step, more thunder light was fixed into the void. One step¡­ Two steps¡­ As Ziyun¡¯s steps moved forward, a path quickly formed in the void, gathering from the thunder. Thus, it walked on the thunder light as if treading on flat ground, moving through the void. ¡°Is this¡­ flying?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a trace of astonishment. Before, although Ziyun had the Path of Destruction skill, that skill could only help it move faster and didn¡¯t grant it the ability to fly. But now, Ziyun¡¯s slow movement was still sufficient for it to stay in the air, which undoubtedly meant that it truly had acquired the ability to fly. For a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat peculiar. He still remembered that he had once wanted a pet beast capable of flying, to carry him and let him experience the joy of flying through the air. After the Twelve Evolution, it became capable of flight, but it was still a long way from carrying him to fly. Unexpectedly, Ziyun had fulfilled his little dream first. ¡°Meow~¡± (That¡¯s not all~) A hint of a smile played on Ziyun¡¯s face. A Four Stars skill, if it had only as simple an ability as flight, would be somewhat unworthy of its name. Its speed suddenly accelerated, transforming into a light purple blur, and in a blink, it was already hundreds of meters in the sky. Incredible air waves, carrying vast energy, spun rapidly beside it, accumulating. As Ziyun¡¯s speed increased, the accumulated power became more and more terrifying, eventually reaching a level that left Xu Ran and the other three little ones dumbfounded. The next moment, Ziyun, while on the run, suddenly swung a claw at the thunder cloud in the sky that hadn¡¯t completely dispersed. The gathered power seemed to find a vent, like a terrifying cannon, enveloping a force that seemed capable of destroying everything, hitting heavily into the midst of the thunder cloud. The thunder cloud in the void was completely washed away, and the dreadful residual energy continued unabated, shooting into the unknown depths of the void. After fully displaying Cloud Break Sky, Ziyun then casually returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side, with a proud expression on its face. ¡°Meow?¡± (Impressive skill, isn¡¯t it?) ¡°Impressive. I feel that after its upgrade to Violent Sun Level, it¡¯s not any less powerful than your other output skills,¡± Xu Ran nodded earnestly, ¡°So what exactly is the effect of this skill?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (This skill¡­) Ziyun explained with a smile. Flying was just a minor ability attached to Cloud Break Sky. The true effect of Cloud Break Sky was to accumulate power and then release it all at once, and the way it accumulated power was somewhat unique. Speed. The faster Ziyun moved, the quicker it could accumulate power, and the resultant impact would be all the more astonishing. ¡°So¡­ you didn¡¯t fully deploy this skill just now?¡± After hearing about the skill¡¯s effects from Ziyun, Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows subtly rose, ¡°Your fastest speed is under Path of Destruction, if you use Cloud Break Sky while under Path of Destruction¡­¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Exactly!) Ziyun nodded with a smile. By itself, this skill wasn¡¯t much different from its other output skills, but paired with the acceleration from Path of Destruction, the damage from this skill could multiply. Consequently, it would become the strongest output skill after Divine Punishment for Ziyun. But Divine Punishment had side effects, while Cloud Break Sky did not. ¡°That¡¯s just wonderful,¡± Xu Ran said, a relieved smile on his face, ¡°Just for this skill alone, the evolution was worth it.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (It wasn¡¯t easy for me to get this.) Ziyun recollected the perilous evolution it had just undergone. ¡°Cha~¡± (I want to experience that kind of hardship too~) Cancan, back to its miniature body type, couldn¡¯t help muttering softly. After Ziyun completed its evolution, it had been looking at Ziyun several times. Chapter 681 - Chapter 681: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target_4 Chapter 681: Chapter 332: The Powerful Astonishing Cloud Chaser, The Next Target_4 Following Ziyun¡¯s breakthrough, which greatly enhanced its power, it had to cede its position as the temporary strongest in the team once again. Damn it! Star and Twelve, who were nearby, although silent, looked at Ziyun with equally envious eyes. As for Firefly, who hadn¡¯t come to Fallen Thunder Valley and was remotely watching the whole process, it was so envious that it was rolling on the bed. Emperor Species! From Ziyun, they could clearly feel that overpoweringly strong aura that completely dominated over them, an absolute crushing force of a higher life level. This is the charm of evolution. For a moment, those who had already obtained the evolution paths of the Emperor Species rubbed their hands in anticipation, their will to evolve stronger than ever. Those who hadn¡¯t obtained the Emperor Species evolution paths were looking forward even more to the next resource allocation, hoping for new evolution paths. They, too, wanted to grow stronger! ¡°Ziyun¡¯s evolution has ended, and with that, a chapter closes,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, surveying the surroundings, feeling the emotions of the other four companions. Once Fallen Thunder Valley, now after this battle, the surrounding mountaintops were significantly flattened, and the landscape had drastically changed. Furthermore, with the Extinct Thunder Attraction absorbed by Ziyun, the constant shroud of thunder was no more. In a sense, Fallen Thunder Valley no longer existed in this world. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Xu Ran spoke softly and then turned to Ziyun, ¡°The rebound of Divine Punishment also needs to be quickly endured.¡± Upon these words, Ziyun, who was initially in high spirits from evolving into the Emperor Species, had its expression collapse in an instant. Divine Punishment and Rebound! It had almost forgotten about this. Thinking about the pain it had experienced in the past, Ziyun¡¯s face was filled with conflict and helplessness. It really wanted to run away, but there was no escape. Unless it never used Divine Punishment again, it had to face the rebound sooner or later. But, Divine Punishment was so useful! Up until now, Ziyun had not seen a more powerful ability than it. With one burst, Divine Punishment allowed Ziyun to easily overcome enemies above its level. ¡°Meow~¡± (Let¡¯s go back~) Ziyun heaved a deep sigh, showing a resigned expression as if ready to meet its fate. Half an hour later, the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Bright Radiance City was filled with Ziyun¡¯s extremely pitiful screams of agony. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack our bags.¡± After caressing Ziyun in his arms, who looked utterly despondent after enduring the Divine Punishment and Rebound, Xu Ran smiled and spoke, ¡°It¡¯s time to leave Bright Radiance City.¡± Choosing to open a branch in Bright Radiance City was primarily because it was closest to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, making it easy to keep tabs on the situation. Now that the Extinct Thunder Attraction had been acquired and the branch¡¯s fame requirements were met, there was no longer any reason to stay here. It¡¯s time to head to a new city and start the fourth branch in a Second-Level Town. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Where are we going next?) Star let out a curious whinny. ¡°The next city we¡¯re heading to has some connection to you,¡± responded Xu Ran with a smile, looking at Star. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Me?) A look of surprise appeared in Star¡¯s eyes, not expecting the next destination to be related to itself. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Ziyun has successfully completed its evolution, and based on the order in which the Emperor Species evolution path was obtained and the conditions for evolution met, the next one prepared to evolve is you.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten your Evolution Ritual, have you?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Of course not!) Star shook its head without hesitation. Its own evolution was critical; it remembered every word regarding the evolution conditions, materials, and ritual firmly in its mind ¨C how could it forget? To evolve into Star Cloud Guardian, the Evolution Ritual was twofold. First, it had to assist a Transcendent Being not yet at the King Stage to defeat a Dark King Level Transcendent Being, obtaining its core resources as auxiliary materials for the evolution. Second, the Evolution Ritual should be completed on the night of Star Cloud when the stars shine upon us. Based on the previous plan, the first step should have been to assist Ziyun in killing a Dark King Level being. But unpredictable events like storms can arise; during this time, no suitable Dark King Level adversaries have been encountered, and none competing for the Extinct Thunder Attraction were of the dark attribute. Now that both Ziyun and Cancan have reached the King Stage, Starfire had to switch its assistance target to either the twelve or the fireflies. However, Starfire wasn¡¯t in a panic. It believed in the speed at which these two companions could increase their strength. And this phase of the Evolution Ritual wasn¡¯t picky about location. Thus, Xu Ran¡¯s mention of the next destination being related to him could only relate to the other step of the Evolution Ritual. On the night of Star Cloud, complete the Evolution when the stars cast their light. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Are we going to a city with stars?) ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I happen to know of a city that can meet the requirement of ¡®stars shining upon us.¡¯ ¡°There, you should find it very suitable for completing your evolution.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack our luggage.¡± Touching Ziyun in his arms, who looked despondent after enduring Divine Punishment and Rebound, Xu Ran spoke with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s time to leave Bright Radiance City.¡± Choosing to open a branch in Bright Radiance City was because it was closest to the Extinct Thunder Attraction, making it easy to stay informed about it. Now that the Extinct Thunder Attraction has been obtained, and the branch¡¯s fame requirements have been met, lingering here has lost its purpose. It¡¯s time to head to a new city and set up the fourth branch in a Second Level Town. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Where are we going next?) Starfire neighed inquiringly, full of curiosity. ¡°The next city we¡¯re going to has something to do with you,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, looking at Starfire. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Me?) Starfire showed surprise in its eyes, clearly not expecting the next destination to be related to itself. ¡°Exactly,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Now that Ziyun has successfully evolved, according to the order of obtaining evolution paths for Emperor Species and the fulfillment of evolution conditions, you¡¯re the next one to prepare for evolution.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten your own Evolution Ritual, have you?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Of course not!) Starfire shook its head without hesitation. Being concerned with its own evolution, it committed every word of the evolution conditions, evolution materials, and the Evolution Ritual to heart; how could it forget? To evolve into a Star Cloud Guardian, the Evolution Ritual is divided into two steps. First, to assist a Transcendent Being that hasn¡¯t reached the King Stage in defeating a Dark King Level Extraordinary Being and obtaining its core resource as an Evolution Material. Second, to complete the evolution on the night of Star Cloud, when the stars shine upon us. According to the previous plan, the first step was to assist Ziyun in killing a Dark King Level being. But as fate would have it like a sudden storm, suitable Dark King Level opponents haven¡¯t been encountered in this period, and none in the battle for the Extinct Thunder Attraction were of the dark attribute. Now that both Ziyun and Cancan have reached the King Stage, Starfire could only turn to either Twelve or the fireflies for assistance. Yet Starfire wasn¡¯t flustered. It trusted the pace at which these two companions were improving their strength. And this part of the Evolution Ritual didn¡¯t require a specific place. So, when Xu Ran mentioned that the next destination had something to do with him, it could only concern the other part of the Evolution Ritual. On the night of Star Cloud, complete the Evolution with the stars casting their light. ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Do we need to go to a city with stars?) ¡°Right,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°I just happen to know such a city that can fulfill the ¡®stars shining¡¯ requirement.¡± ¡°Over there, it should be quite suitable for you to complete your evolution.¡± Chapter 682 - Chapter 682: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances Chapter 682: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances ¡°Beast Master Association¡­ this should be the place.¡± Following the directions, a man with five Pet Beasts quickly arrived at the Xuanxing City Beast Master Association. The architecture was unfamiliar, but the grandeur was recognizable. After a few glances from outside, Xu Ran quickly entered with his five small companions. The more he visited new cities, the more familiar Xu Ran became with the procedures. He found the relevant service window, unfroze his account, and while receiving his Beast Master Badge from the staff, he asked a question. ¡°Excuse me, where can I obtain the Starlight Badge?¡± ¡°With your strength, sir, you can directly obtain the Starlight Badge by passing the power test,¡± the staff member said, looking at Xu Ran with courteous and respectful eyes. After all, a King Level Beast Master was already an essential pillar within a Second Level Town. ¡°The window is over there, turn left when you go out, and you¡¯ll see it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly in gratitude and then turned to leave. After Xu Ran had left, the employee still had a hint of amazement on his face, ¡°He¡¯s so young. This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen such a young King Level Beast Master. Did he start meditating in the womb or what?¡± ¡°Maybe he just looks young?¡± a colleague joked with a laugh, ¡°Some Pet Beasts have the ability to help Beast Masters maintain their appearances or to alter them.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± the employee said, suddenly enlightened, ¡°That does seem possible.¡± ¡°In any case, this is a senior King Level Beast Master. Let¡¯s not gossip behind his back,¡± another colleague chimed in with a slight frown, speaking more seriously, ¡°Li, according to regulations, when an out-of-town King Level Beast Master enters Xuanxing City, it needs to be reported.¡± ¡°Thanks for the reminder, Liu. I¡¯ll report it now.¡± The employee who had assisted Xu Ran slapped his forehead and quickly stopped gossiping to begin the reporting process. Meanwhile, Xu Ran, who was unaware that he had been mistaken for a disguised old monster, arrived at the window for the Starlight Badge application. He directly took out his Beast Master Badge and stated his purpose. ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to take the power test to get the Starlight Badge.¡± ¡°A power test?¡± The staff member glanced at the Pet Beasts behind Xu Ran. One¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Four¡­ Five¡­ Five Pet Beasts, King Level?! At that moment, the employee swiftly stood up, ¡°Please, this way.¡± He quickly led Xu Ran to a sealed room and began to explain the rules of the test. ¡°This room can conduct an accurate power test,¡± the staff member paused briefly, ¡°You can let all your Pet Beasts take action together, or just one, and as long as the total strength meets the standard, you will get the Starlight Badge.¡± ¡°The standard is roughly equivalent to the full strength of an ordinary General Level Beast Master, which is also the minimum strength to ensure one doesn¡¯t easily face danger when leaving the city.¡± ¡°Only with such strength can the Association confidently award the badge.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded to show he understood, and then with one hand on the long sword on his back, he walked step by step to the center of the room. The staff member: ¡°???¡± Seeing the five Pet Beasts left to the side, he couldn¡¯t help but question himself. Was there something unclear in my explanation? But before the staff member could figure it out, the clear sound of a sword being drawn echoed in the room. By the time the staff member realized what had happened, Xu Ran had already rewrapped his long sword in silk, affixed it to his back, and began walking back. The energy target in the air had been split cleanly in two. Seeing the green letters that read ¡°Test Passed¡± on the screen, the staff member¡¯s mouth hung open, and a human expression of bewilderment appeared on his face. A human-shaped beast?! ¡°Looks like I passed,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. He had decided on a whim to give it a try. Every time the contract power reached a new Growth Stage, it brought not only additional contract slots but also two significant improvements for a Beast Master. The first was the depth of Contractual Sensing. As the Contractual Sensing deepened, the rapport between the Beast Master and the Pet Beast would also rapidly improve. The second was the feedback of contract power. If the Pet Beast¡¯s strength remained the same, but the stage of contract power increased, the power the Beast Master could feedback from the Pet Beast would also increase. However, normally, an increase in the contract power stage corresponds to a rise in the Pet Beast¡¯s Growth Stage. Additionally, contracting a new Pet Beast in the extra contract slot can also result in new strength feedback. As a result, a Beast Master¡¯s strength would grow faster than their Pet Beasts with each increase in the contract power stage. By the Fifth Stage of contract power, the feedback was already close to 20% of the Pet Beast¡¯s own power, a substantial ratio. If all five Pet Beasts broke through to the King Stage simultaneously, the Beast Master¡¯s own strength could also reach the King Stage level. Therefore, the King Level Beast Master is a unique stage. The shortcoming of a Beast Master¡¯s own weakness would gradually disappear at this stage. Xu Ran was at this very stage now. Although three of his Pet Beasts had not reached the King Stage and were still at the Elite Stage, and the Firefly Feedback from Ziyun, which was barely better than nothing, his strength had already touched the threshold of the King Stage thanks to the formidable powers of Ziyun and Cancan. Therefore, Xu Ran wanted to try using his own strength to see if he could pass this test. Now it seemed that he could. ¡°Yes, you passed¡­¡± The staff member spoke woodenly. He had assisted many Beast Masters with their tests, but this was the first time he had seen someone leave their Pet Beasts behind and take on the challenge alone. Chapter 683 - Chapter 683: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_2 Chapter 683: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_2 It wasn¡¯t until Xu Ran reminded him that he remembered to award the badge. Soon after, Xu Ran, playing with a badge engraved with a star pattern and accompanied by five little creatures, strolled out of the Beast Master Association. Now, he had only one goal left. That was to find a place to stay for the night. If possible, it would be best to sort out the shop location issue as well. However, this task turned out to be smoother than he anticipated. Because just a few steps after leaving the Beast Master Association, Xu Ran saw an acquaintance. ¡°Xu¡­ Boss Xu?!¡± Liu Fengyun looked at Xu Ran in astonishment, his face filled with disbelief, ¡°I thought I was seeing things! It really is you!¡± ¡°What brings you to Xuanxing City?¡± ¡°Boss Liu, long time no see.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face also showed surprise, ¡°I thought you were still in Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Monster Wooden City is getting better and better, many of the bosses we met back then have chosen to stay and develop there.¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°But I still prefer Xuanxing City, so I came back.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you, why have you come to Xuanxing City?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s eyes sparkled with a teasing tone, ¡°You¡¯re not here to open a branch, are you?¡± Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet. Realizing something from Xu Ran¡¯s strange expression, Liu Fengyun¡¯s teasing face gradually shifted to astonishment, ¡°Are you really planning to open a branch in Xuanxing City?!¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve just arrived today,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll be counting on you more in the future.¡± ¡°You, this¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s expression became quite animated. He had long regarded Xu Ran as a friend, and naturally, he was happy for his friend to open a store in Xuanxing City, but with such an abnormal fellow coming in, his own foster shop was going to have a harder time. In Monster Wooden City, he had witnessed just how strong Xu Ran¡¯s Washing and Protection technique was, and it wasn¡¯t just the Washing and Protection that made Starfire Foster Care Shop strong; their foster and training services were equally matchless. Such a fellow was like a catfish disrupting a pond. ¡°Forget it, forget it.¡± He sighed deeply, Liu Fengyun waved his hand, ¡°Have you picked out a shop yet? Do you need my help?¡± ¡°In Xuanxing City, I still have some sway.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t chosen yet, please recommend a good shop for sale, Boss Liu.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, not standing on ceremony. ¡°Alright then, we¡ªoh no, that¡¯s not right.¡± Liu Fengyun smacked his forehead, ¡°I was so surprised to see you, I forgot I had something important to do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way to the Beast Master Association. Shall I finish there and then take you to see shops?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just come from there. Shall we go together?¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help you with, don¡¯t be shy.¡± Having found a reliable guide in Liu Fengyun, the problem of finding a shop location was halfway resolved. With nothing else to do, he might as well accompany Liu Fengyun back to the Association. ¡°That¡¯s fine too,¡± Liu Fengyun thought for a moment, with nothing to hide about his own matters, and nodded agreeably. Side by side, the two returned to the Beast Master Association, casually chatting along the way. Through Liu Fengyun, Xu Ran also learned about the current situation in Monster Wooden City. After the successful evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the realm of the Monster Wooden Domain kept expanding outward, and Monster Wooden City, once a ruin, also rose from the ashes, expanding its size. Now, in terms of the scale of the city, it was even larger than Xieyun City. More and more human Beast Masters came to the city, drawn by its name, migrating to within Monster Wooden City, injecting new blood into the city eager for revival. But the Washing and Protection Service of the foster shops in Monster Wooden City wasn¡¯t doing too well. Because the Semi-Saint of the evolved Demon Wood began to bestow treasures capable of cleansing and enhancing the condition of the creatures within the Monster Wooden Domain without any compensations. Not Mystical Wood Dew, but an upgraded version, Saint Spirit Dew. This meant that foster shops could only transition towards providing services like fostering and training companions. Xu Ran was already aware of this. The revenues from the Washing and Protection Services at Monster Wooden City¡¯s Starfire Foster Care Shop kept declining, while the other two services increased. He had seen it clearly through the system backend, and the system store manager of Monster Wooden City had also called him to explain the situation. After discussing the situation in Monster Wooden City, inevitably, the two turned to talk about what made Xuanxing City special. ¡°Boss Xu, our Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop in Xuanxing City has much stronger capabilities than during our Monster Wooden City days,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a chuckle, ¡°The main reason is Star Stone.¡± ¡°Many of our specialized equipment require Star Stone energy to function. They can¡¯t be used in Monster Wooden City, hence our abilities there were compromised.¡± ¡°Although your Starfire Foster Shop is strong, it won¡¯t be easy to outdo our Wind and Cloud here in Xuanxing City.¡± The confidence was evident on Liu Fengyun¡¯s face. ¡°Once my shop is settled, I will certainly visit,¡± Xu Ran smiled. He was also curious about the equipment energized by Star Stones. ¡°That¡¯s a promise.¡± Liu Fengyun nodded, then his tone changed, ¡°Here we are.¡± As they spoke, the two had returned to the Beast Master Association. This time, Liu Fengyun went directly into a particular area of the Association, while Xu Ran silently followed behind, not uttering a word. Shortly thereafter, they arrived at a conference room. In the conference room, a well-built man was holding a tablet, replaying a video. As Xu Ran and Liu Fengyun entered, the man looked up, but quickly his gaze shifted from Liu Fengyun to Xu Ran, following behind him, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. ¡°Vice President Qin, can the Association give me a result for the thing last time?¡± Chapter 684 - Chapter 684: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_3 Chapter 684: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_3 Sitting down in the conference room, Liu Fengyun looked at the burly man with neither subservience nor arrogance, ¡°According to Article 8 of Xuanxing City¡¯s public security law, a Beast Master who causes trouble for the common people must take full responsibility and pay double compensation for all losses.¡± ¡°Du Long¡¯s behavior has clearly constituted such troublemaking.¡± ¡°Four days have passed, so why has the Association not issued a resolution?¡± ¡°Sss~¡± Vice President Qin rubbed his brow, his face showing a hint of helplessness, ¡°This matter¡­ is indeed somewhat difficult to handle.¡± ¡°To this point, I might as well be frank with you,¡± Vice President Qin sighed, ¡°This Du Long is not an ordinary person, he has connections.¡± ¡°Therefore, to expect a just resolution to this matter, there¡¯s significant resistance.¡± ¡°Does the Beast Master Association intend to just watch and do nothing?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his voice taking on a few shades deeper. ¡°No¡­ Of course we won¡¯t do nothing,¡± Vice President Qin replied with a bitter smile, ¡°but it might require a little more time¡­¡± Standing behind Liu Fengyun, Xu Ran didn¡¯t say a word, but he was also quietly observing Vice President Qin. On the way here, Liu Fengyun had already given Xu Ran a brief explanation of the situation. And the situation was not complicated. The Beast Master named Du Long had gone to Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop to have his pet beast cleaned and groomed, but the person who received him was not Liu Fengyun, it was another hired groomer. This groomer was a woman with good looks. During the grooming process, Du Long, driven by lust, verbally harassed the groomer and showed tendencies to take action, which was sternly refused by the groomer. Liu Fengyun, who rushed over after hearing about the incident, did not hesitate to kick Du Long out. Yet, this action infuriated Du Long. He wreaked havoc in Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop and cursed as he left. Fortunately, Du Long had not completely lost his senses to injure or even kill someone; the only losses of Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop were some properties. After the incident, Liu Fengyun immediately reported it to the Beast Master Association for handling, but the decision on Du Long was delayed, prompting him to visit again. What followed, led to the current conversation. Clearly, this Du Long character had substantial connections, enough to give even the Vice President of the Beast Master Association a headache. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Still 3,000 words to go, hustling] ¡°This room can perform accurate strength tests.¡± The staff member paused before continuing, ¡°You may let your pet beasts fight together, or just one pet beast at a time. As long as the total strength meets the standard, you can acquire the Starlight Badge.¡± ¡°The benchmark is roughly equivalent to the full strength of an ordinary General Level Beast Master, which is also the minimum strength to ensure one won¡¯t easily encounter danger outside the city.¡± ¡°Only with such strength can the Association confidently bestow the badge.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Ran nodded in acknowledgment, then with one hand on the long sword at his back, he stepped towards the center of the room. Staff member: ¡°???¡± Looking at the five pet beasts left to the side, he fell into self-doubt. Was there anything unclear in his explanation just now? How come¡­ Before the staff member could figure it out, a crisp sound of a sword rang throughout the room. By the time the staff member snapped back to reality, Xu Ran had already rewrapped his long sword in silk cloth, secured it on his back, and began walking back. The energy target in the air had been split cleanly in two. Seeing the four green characters ¡°Test Passed¡± appear on the light screen, the staff member¡¯s mouth hung open, his face assuming an all-too-human blankness. A human-shaped beast?! ¡°It seems I¡¯ve passed,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. He too had made a spontaneous decision to try. With every stage increase in contract power, not only additional contract slots are obtained, but two significant improvements are also brought to a Beast Master. First, the depth of Contractual Sensing. As contractual sensing deepens, so does the rapport between a Beast Master and their pet beasts. Second is the Firefly Feedback of the contract power. With the pet beast¡¯s strength constant, the rise in stages of contract power also increases the power a Beast Master can receive in feedback from their pet beast. But typically, an increase in stages of contract power corresponds to an increase in the growth stage of pet beasts. Besides that, contracting with new pet beasts provides opportunities for new power feedback. This means that the strength of a Beast Master, as contract power stages increase, will grow faster than that of the pet beasts. By the Fifth Stage contract power, the feedback power is nearly 20% of the pet beasts¡¯ own strength, a considerable proportion indeed. If five pet beasts simultaneously breakthrough to King Stage, the Beast Master¡¯s own strength can also reach King Stage. Thus, the King Level Beast Master is a special stage. The shortcoming of a Beast Master¡¯s own weakness will gradually disappear at this stage. Xu Ran is currently in this stage. Although three of his pet beasts have not reached King Stage and are still at the Elite Stage, and the feedback from the Firefly is almost negligible, because of the formidable strength of Ziyun and Cancan, he had already reached the threshold of King Level. So, Xu Ran wanted to test if he could pass this test with his own strength. Now it seemed that he could. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve passed,¡± the staff member said woodenly. He had assisted many Beast Masters in testing, but this was the first time seeing someone leave their pet beasts aside and face the challenge alone. So much so, that it wasn¡¯t until Xu Ran reminded him did he remember to bestow the badge. Chapter 685 - Chapter 685: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_4 Chapter 685: Chapter 333: Strength Test and Acquaintances_4 Not long after, Xu Ran emerged from the Beast Master Association, toying with a badge engraved with stars, followed by his five little companions. Now, he had only one goal left. And that was to find a place to stay for the night. If possible, it would be best to sort out the shop issue as well. However, things turned out to be smoother than he had anticipated. Because just a few steps away from the Beast Master Association, Xu Ran saw a familiar face. ¡°Boss¡­ Boss Xu?!¡± Liu Fengyun stared at Xu Ran with astonishment, his face full of disbelief, ¡°I thought I was seeing things! It¡¯s really you!¡± ¡°How did you end up in Xuanxing City?¡± ¡°Boss Liu, long time no see,¡± Xu Ran was equally surprised, ¡°I thought you were still in Monster Wooden City.¡± ¡°Monster Wooden City has been getting better and better, and many of the shop owners we met back then have chosen to stay and develop there,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile, ¡°But I still prefer Xuanxing City, so I came back.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s talk about you, why are you in Xuanxing City?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s eyes held a teasing glint, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re here to open a branch?¡± Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet. Realizing something from Xu Ran¡¯s strange expression, Liu Fengyun¡¯s look of amusement gradually turned to shock, ¡°You¡¯re really here to open a branch in Xuanxing City?!¡± ¡°Indeed, I just arrived today,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be relying on you a lot from now on.¡± ¡°You this¡­¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s expression turned lively. He had already considered Xu Ran a friend, so naturally, he was happy about his friend opening a shop in Xuanxing City, but with such a freak coming, his own foster care shop might not have as easy a time as before. In Monster Wooden City, he had witnessed just how strong Xu Ran¡¯s washing and protection skills were, and the Starfire Foster Care Shop excelled not only in washing and protection but also in foster care and companion training. Such a person was like throwing a catfish into a pond. ¡°Forget it, forget it,¡± Liu Fengyun heaved a heavy sigh and waved his hand, ¡°Have you picked out a shop yet? Need some help?¡± ¡°I still carry some clout in Xuanxing City.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t chosen yet, please recommend a good shop for sale,¡± Xu Ran chuckled without any pretense with Liu Fengyun. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s¡­ oh wait,¡± Liu Fengyun slapped his forehead, ¡°Seeing you was such a surprise, I forgot I have business to attend to.¡± ¡°I need to make a trip to the Beast Master Association, shall I take you to see the shops afterward?¡± ¡°I just came from there, shall we go together?¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help with, don¡¯t be shy.¡± Now that he had found Liu Fengyun, a reliable guide, the problem of the shop was halfway solved. There was nothing better to do, so it made sense to accompany Liu Fengyun and take a look. ¡°That works,¡± Liu Fengyun thought about it; there was nothing about his own matters that needed to be kept secret, so he readily agreed. Side by side, the two made their way back to the Beast Master Association, casually chatting as they went. Thanks to Liu Fengyun, Xu Ran got to know a bit about the current situation in Monster Wooden City. After the successful evolution of the Sky-touching Mysterious Wood, the expanse of the Monster Wooden Domain kept expanding outwards. The former ruins of Monster Wooden City had also risen from the ashes, expanding in size, and now in terms of city scale, it was even larger than Xieyun City. More and more human Beast Masters, drawn by its reputation, were migrating into Monster Wooden City, injecting new life into what was once a desolate place. However, the washing and protection service for foster care shops in Monster Wooden City was not easy anymore. Because the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, successful in its evolution, had started to bestow treasures capable of cleansing and enhancing the state of the creatures within the Monster Wooden Domain free of charge. Not Mystical Wood Dew, but an upgraded version of it: Saint Spirit Dew. As a result, foster care shops could only transform their services towards fostering, companion training, and other such directions. Xu Ran was already aware of this. The revenues from washing and protection services at the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Monster Wooden City kept declining, while the revenues from other two services kept rising. He saw it all clearly through the system¡¯s backend, and the system store manager of Monster Wooden City had even called him to explain the reasons. After discussing the situation in Monster Wooden City, inevitably, the two of them touched upon the unique aspects of Xuanxing City. ¡°Boss Xu, our Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop is much stronger in Xuanxing City than it was in Monster Wooden City,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a chuckle. ¡°The main reason is the Star Stone.¡± ¡°Many of our specialized equipment require charging with Star Stones to be used. Such equipment can¡¯t be used in Monster Wooden City, which reduces the display of our power there.¡± ¡°Although your Starfire Foster Care Shop is strong, it won¡¯t be easy to surpass us here at Wind and Cloud,¡± said Liu Fengyun, with a hint of confidence on his face. ¡°Once I¡¯ve settled my shop, I will definitely come to visit,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile. He was also curious about the equipment that required Star Stone charging. ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded, then changed the subject. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± While speaking, they had returned to the Beast Master Association. This time, Liu Fengyun headed straight into a certain section of the Association, while Xu Ran followed in silence, not uttering a word. Before long, they came to a conference room. In the conference room, a well-built man was replaying a video on the tablet in his hands. As Xu Ran and his companion entered, the man looked up, but his gaze quickly shifted from Liu Fengyun and focused on Xu Ran following behind, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. ¡°Vice President Qin, can the Association give me a result regarding the last incident?¡± After sitting down in the meeting room, Liu Fengyun looked at the big man with neither servility nor overbearingness, ¡°According to Article 8 of Xuanxing City¡¯s public safety law, a Beast Master who instigates trouble with the general public should take full responsibility and pay double compensation for all losses.¡± ¡°Du Long¡¯s actions clearly constituted instigating trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been four days, why hasn¡¯t the Association provided a resolution?¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± Vice President Qin massaged his temples, his face showing a semblance of helplessness, ¡°This matter¡­ is quite tricky, indeed.¡± ¡°I might as well be upfront with you at this point,¡± Vice President Qin let out a sigh, ¡°This Du Long isn¡¯t just anyone, he has a background.¡± ¡°So, to get a fair result for this case, there¡¯s considerable resistance.¡± ¡°Is the Beast Master Association going to turn a blind eye?¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, his voice deepening a few notches. ¡°Not at all¡­ Of course, we won¡¯t ignore it,¡± Vice President Qin replied with a wry smile, ¡°But, it may take a little more time¡­¡± Xu Ran, standing behind Liu Fengyun, remained silent but was discreetly observing Vice President Qin. Liu Fengyun had already briefly explained his situation to Xu Ran on the way. And it wasn¡¯t complex. The Beast Master named Du Long went to the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop to have his pet beast cleaned and cared for, and was not received by Liu Fengyun himself but by another washing and protection service specialist they had hired. This service specialist was a woman with good looks. During the cleaning process, Du Long, overcome by lust, verbally harassed the service specialist and seemed inclined to take matters a step further, but was firmly rejected. Upon hearing the news, Liu Fengyun unhesitatingly kicked Du Long out, but this only infuriated Du Long. He wreaked havoc in the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop before leaving with curses and complaints. Fortunately, Du Long had not completely lost his mind to the point of injuring someone or worse. The only losses suffered by the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop were some property damages. After the incident, Liu Fengyun took the initiative to report the matter to the Beast Master Association for handling. However, the decision regarding Du Long was delayed, necessitating Liu Fengyun to pay another visit. The subsequent situation led to the current conversation. It was clear that this guy named Du Long had significant backing, giving even the Vice President of the Beast Master Association a headache. Chapter 686 - Chapter 686: Chapter 334: Xuanxing City Starfire Foster Care Shop, Grand Opening! Chapter 686: Chapter 334: Xuanxing City Starfire Foster Care Shop, Grand Opening! On the quiet streets early in the morning, two figures hurried along. Suddenly, one of them came to a stop. Noticing something amiss, the other turned his head and asked, ¡°Mu, coming?¡± ¡°When did a foster shop pop up here?¡± Tang Mu¡¯s gaze settled on a store by the street, his curiosity piqued. ¡°Starfire Foster?¡± His companion, Zhou Yong, followed his line of sight with interest, then shook his head, ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of it. Must be a new opening, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the Pingtian Foster Shop. I¡¯ve heard it offers the best foster care service in the entire Xuanxing City; I¡¯m even a bit jealous of your pet beast,¡± Zhou Yong chuckled. ¡°Hold on,¡± Tang Mu paused for a moment, ¡°I¡¯d like to check out this place first before deciding.¡± ¡°Oh my ancestors, to find a satisfactory foster shop for your pet beast, we¡¯ve nearly checked out every single shop in Xuanxing City,¡± Zhou Yong rolled his eyes, struggling to hide his impatience, ¡°We finally settled on Pingtian Foster Shop, and now you want to scout this place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pet beast¡¯s first time in foster care; I have to find the most suitable environment for it,¡± Tang Mu spoke earnestly, ¡°Honestly, if its body type hadn¡¯t grown too much with evolution, I would never consider such a choice.¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯ve discovered a foster shop we haven¡¯t seen before, why not take a look? What if, by chance, this shop has an even better environment than Pingtian Foster Shop?¡± ¡°You stubborn guy,¡± Zhou Yong shook his head in resignation. He was no stranger to his good friend¡¯s quirky temperament. Now that Tang Mu had made up his mind, it was like trying to pull eight oxen back. ¡°Fine, but we go straight to Pingtian Foster Shop after checking out this one,¡± Zhou Yong said with a roll of his eyes, ¡°All this time spent on finding a foster store for a pet beast, and you always drag me along. Give me a break!¡± As for the possibility of this shop having a better foster environment than Pingtian Foster Shop, Zhou Yong hadn¡¯t even considered it. What a joke, Pingtian Foster Shop is long-established and well-known in Xuanxing City, whereas he had never heard of the one in front of him until today. ¡°Alright.¡± Tang Mu nodded, a hint of embarrassment on his face. He realized how taxing the recent days must have been for Zhou Yong, running around Xuanxing City to find a suitable foster shop for his pet beast. But he didn¡¯t have many friends, and Zhou Yong was the only one with experience in pet fostering, so he had no choice but to ask for his help and advice. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to lunch at noon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal, I¡¯ll have something expensive,¡± Zhou Yong¡¯s spirits instantly lifted. Having reached an agreement, the two hastened towards the foster shop beside the street. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Inside the Starfire Foster Care Shop, having just finished breakfast with the five little ones, Xu Ran stretched leisurely and looked out nonchalantly at the somewhat deserted streets. After having dinner with Liu Fengyun the previous night and then separating, the new storefront had just been completed. After checking the entire premises, they settled in for the night. A night passed, and Xu Ran woke up early to start the first day of business at the Starfire Foster in Xuanxing City. Unlike the Starfire Foster in Bright Radiance City, this time, Xu Ran had the luxury of not feeling too much pressure to raise the shop¡¯s fame. He could just let things take their natural course. He definitely wouldn¡¯t leave here before Star¡¯s evolution. And Star¡¯s evolution was clearly not something that could be accomplished quickly. In terms of evolution conditions, Star still needed to raise four skills to four stars, and three more skills to reach Violent Sun Level proficiency. Regarding evolution materials, Star still lacked the Town Star Stone and Dawn Star Radiance, two key substances. So, if Star could evolve in one or two months, that would be quite good. Therefore, not having any customers come in for an hour of opening the shop, he still maintained his composure. After sipping some Fallen Star Tea he had bought on his way out of the restaurant the day before, Xu Ran felt invigorated and his mind became clearer. Besides Star¡¯s evolution, there was another matter that needed to be scheduled. That was the evolution of Starfire into a King Species. Now, with more and more resources at his disposal, evolving a Leader Species into a King Species had become a walk in the park for Xu Ran. Just one allocation of resources had been enough for Starfire to meet all evolution conditions and gather the necessary materials. The only thing holding back its evolution was the slightly special Evolution Ritual. The place where Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow grew was located in three parts of Beast Field 47 according to the intelligence Xu Ran had exchanged. Among these three places, one was within the dominion of a Beast King ¨C a no-go; the other two each had their pros and cons. One was on the edge of Beast Field 47, where neighboring zones contained Transcendent Beings of weaker strength, making it safer, but it was also farther from Xu Ran. The nearest of the four branches that Xu Ran ran in Beast Field 47 was still a three-day journey away from it. The other was central in Beast Field 47, very close to Xieyun City, only one or two hours away. However, this region was populated with stronger Transcendent Beings, including over a dozen Beast Kings. Originally, Xu Ran preferred the former for its safety despite the distance. Now, following Ziyun¡¯s evolution, Xu Ran had decided to choose the latter as the site for Starfire¡¯s evolution. Beast Kings? Ha! Put together they wouldn¡¯t even be a match for a single Ziyun! But there¡¯s no rush on this matter. It could wait a few more days, giving Starfire some time to prepare as well. Chapter 687 - Chapter 687: Chapter 334: Starfire Foster Shop in Xuanxing City, Grand Opening!_2 Chapter 687: Chapter 334: Starfire Foster Shop in Xuanxing City, Grand Opening!_2 Cancan and Twelve¡¯s evolution was equally unhurried. One had just started to prepare, while the other had not even acquired an evolution path and certainly couldn¡¯t evolve in the short term. The arrival of two figures into the shop interrupted Xu Ran¡¯s reverie. Seeing that a customer had finally come, Xu Ran put down his teacup and skillfully revealed a polite and friendly smile, ¡°Welcome~¡± ¡°Hello, how much does it cost to foster pets in your shop?¡± Tang Mu, entering the storefront, approached Xu Ran and got straight to the point. ¡°Foster care?¡± A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. It seemed that this time, the store¡¯s first deal might not be for Washing and Protection. ¡°You can look at the Price Menu behind you,¡± Xu Ran suggested. ¡°Alright.¡± Tang Mu nodded slightly and then turned around. Upon clearly seeing the rows of prices, a look of surprise crossed his face, but he remained silent. On the other hand, Zhou Yong, who had come with Tang Mu, immediately expressed his doubt, ¡°Your foster care rates are almost two to three times higher than other shops. Are you kidding?¡± ¡°Sir, the service determines the price,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile. ¡°After you see our foster environment, I believe you will have a new view of this price.¡± ¡°No service justifies that price!¡± Zhou Yong rolled his eyes, showing no inclination to even glance at the foster environment due to Xu Ran¡¯s words, ¡°Tang Mu, let¡¯s just go.¡± He had already branded the store known as Starfire Foster as a ¡°Black Shop.¡± However, upon hearing the words ¡°service determines the price,¡± a look of intrigue appeared in Tang Mu¡¯s eyes. His personality had a stubborn and earnest side. Rather than following hearsay, he trusted his own eyes more. That¡¯s why, after learning from Zhou Yong that Pingtian Foster offered the best foster service in Xuanxing City, he didn¡¯t immediately decide and instead dragged Zhou Yong around to inspect every foster shop big and small in Xuanxing City, before eventually choosing to foster at Pingtian Foster Shop. And now, Xu Ran¡¯s words had moved him. After several days of effort, all he sought was the best care for his Pet Beast. If the young owner¡¯s words were true, then the service here might indeed be exceptional. ¡°Zhou Yong, let¡¯s take a look at the foster environment first,¡± Tang Mu said without hesitation. ¡°Hey, you.¡± Zhou Yong, who had already stepped one foot out of the shop, wore a resigned look and silently stepped back in, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s take a look.¡± ¡°Please, this way,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, simultaneously letting out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the shop¡¯s first deal had not fallen through. As for the possibility that the two would opt not to choose Starfire Foster after inspecting the foster environment, Xu Ran had not even considered it. From the first shop in Qingzhou City to now, there had never been a case where someone did not choose Starfire Foster after seeing the foster environment. This was the source of his confidence. Under Xu Ran¡¯s lead, they soon arrived at an expansive, boundless wasteland. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so big? This must use Space Expansion Technology, right?¡± Zhou Yong¡¯s eyes widened, astonishment etched on his face from Xu Ran¡¯s grand gesture, ¡°Is all this space used for fostering?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile. ¡°At this moment, all of the area you see is used for fostering space. But since it¡¯s the shop¡¯s first day opening, there are no residents, so it seems a bit desolate.¡± ¡°It is indeed quite desolate,¡± Tang Mu agreed seriously. Though he was also taken aback by Xu Ran¡¯s grand gesture, his greater concern for his Pet Beast¡¯s quality of life quickly led him to spot the shortcomings here. The environment was too monotonous. Only Pet Beasts with an Earth attribute would probably adapt to such a terrain and geomorphology. And the Pet Beast he wanted to foster was not of the Earth attribute. ¡°A vast space is good, but a monotonous environment won¡¯t do,¡± Tang Mu shook his head. ¡°Do you only have this kind of foster environment?¡± ¡°No, you are mistaken, sir,¡± Xu Ran shook his head. ¡°Here is the undeveloped Foster area. We will customize the exclusive activity and living areas according to the actual Pet Beasts being fostered.¡± ¡°Have you ever heard of ¡®simulated environments¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is,¡± Tang Mu nodded in understanding. If that were the case, he could accept it. The Hexagram Star Array flickered behind Tang Mu, and soon a huge figure emerged from the storm. It was a Human-shaped Pet Beast, standing over ten meters tall, with green fur and mane all over its body, holding a bone rod in its hand and exuding a fierce aura. Wind attribute King Species, the Wind Roar Beast. After summoning the Pet Beast he intended to foster, Tang Mu looked towards Xu Ran again, ¡°Could you customize the activity area for my Wind Roar Beast as you mentioned?¡± ¡°I want to see the effect of the customization you talked about.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Xu Ran nodded, took out the Control hub, and after inquiring in detail about the Wind Roar Beast¡¯s preferences and habits, a space exclusively for it was constructed before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Whoa!¡± The Wind Roar Beast let out a cheer, dashed into it in a flash, and roamed through the sea of wind with a look of complete satisfaction on its face. Clearly, it liked the environment here. And Tang Mu, who felt the Contractual Sensing with the Wind Roar Beast, could sense that such emotion was something the Wind Roar Beast had never had in the previous inspections. Zhou Yong was equally agape. ¡°This huge area, all for the Wind Roar Beast?¡± He took in a breath of cold air, envy evident on his face. In an ordinary foster shop, perhaps this whole area would be the extent of the foster area, but here, such a vast space was dedicated to a single Pet Beast. Chapter 688 - Chapter 688: Chapter 334: Xuanxing City Starfire Foster Shop, Grand Opening!_3 Chapter 688: Chapter 334: Xuanxing City Starfire Foster Shop, Grand Opening!_3 Unfortunately, his Pet Beast no longer needed to be fostered. Even a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one¡¯s own dog nest. Otherwise, he would definitely choose this Foster Shop. Completely forgetting that just ten minutes ago he still thought this shop was a Black Shop, Zhou Yong turned to look at Tang Mu, ¡°What¡¯s there to hesitate about? Let¡¯s go with this place.¡± Who says Pingtian Foster Shop is the number one in Xuanxing City? In his opinion, it won¡¯t be long before this shop surpasses Pingtian Foster Shop. Tang Mu was also very tempted in his heart. However, he was well aware that for fostering, the environment was only one aspect. There was still another part that needed to be evaluated. ¡°I would like to know, how do you usually prepare food for the fostered Pet Beasts?¡± Tang Mu asked earnestly. ¡°We have a specialized food preparation room, please come this way.¡± Xu Ran smiled and quickly took them to a house where food was prepared. After taking a tour inside, Xu Ran magically produced a long list, ¡°If you choose our store for fostering, this will be the Wind Roar Beast¡¯s daily menu.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Tang Mu only glanced at it and couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it anymore. The food was much more sumptuous than what he prepared for the Wind Roar Beast, and it seemed very well-balanced nutritionally, leaving him unable to find fault. ¡°We¡¯ll settle on your place.¡± After handing back the menu to Xu Ran, Tang Mu made his decision. ¡°Thank you for choosing our shop.¡± A smile appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Excellent, the new store¡¯s first business deal was closed! Reluctantly leaving the Wind Roar Beast in the foster area, Tang Mu and Zhou Yong followed Xu Ran back into the storefront. Without any hesitation, Tang Mu paid for a month of fostering fees and then turned to Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, I¡¯m entrusting my Wind Roar Beast to you.¡± ¡°Rest assured, our shop will take great care of each fostered Pet Beast, making them feel at home,¡± Xu Ran said solemnly. ¡°Speaking of which, your shop is really peculiar.¡± Zhou Yong chuckled, ¡°I just realized that not only is fostering expensive here, but the cleaning and accompanying training services are also more expensive than elsewhere.¡± ¡°But like fostering, our prices depend on the service,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying your Washing and Protection is better than other places?¡± Zhou Yong said, half-believing, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Fostering environments can be improved with those expensive techniques, but how much can washing and protection improve?¡± Zhou Yong said skeptically, ¡°The best washing and protection in Xuanxing City at Wind Cloud Foster Shop is already the most impressive I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°It¡¯s just talk with no proof, sir. You might as well try it, and after trying, you¡¯ll naturally see the difference.¡± ¡°After I try it, I¡¯ll have to pay,¡± Zhou Yong rolled his eyes, then changed his tone, ¡°But I really do want to try it.¡± His Pet Beast just happened to need cleaning and grooming. Based on what he had just witnessed, Zhou Yong was indeed curious about what made this pricey Washing and Protection so special. ¡°But let me be blunt,¡± Zhou Yong huffed, ¡°I¡¯m a regular at Wind Cloud Foster Shop. I¡¯m not completely inexperienced with pet cleaning and grooming, so it won¡¯t be easy to pull the wool over my eyes.¡± ¡°Of course we won¡¯t fool you,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Yong turned to Tang Mu, ¡°Old Tang, are you going back first?¡± ¡°You said you were treating me to lunch, why go back now?¡± Tang Mu shook his head, ¡°You accompanied me for several days of inspections, accompanying you for a grooming session is nothing.¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯m curious about the level of grooming at this shop too.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Zhou Yong laughed heartily as the Hexagram Star Array behind him bloomed with light. Before long, a monkey-type Pet Beast enveloped in blazing flames stepped out of the whirlwind. Fire Attribute King Species, Refining Flame Monkey. ¡°Boss Xu, this one,¡± Zhou Yong said with arms crossed and a teasing smile. Choosing this particular one from his Pet Beasts, Zhou Yong obviously didn¡¯t do so randomly. Even though it was a King Species, the Refining Flame Monkey wasn¡¯t large in size; even at the General stage, it remained a Medium Size Pet Beast, and the cost of its grooming was lower. As a Fire Attribute Pet Beast, the Refining Flame Monkey was also the most difficult to groom among all of Zhou Yong¡¯s Pet Beasts. He wanted to spend less money, and at the same time, fully test the grooming skills of the young shop owner before him. Zhou Yong couldn¡¯t help but pat himself on the back for his cleverness. ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Refining Flame Monkey, not at all bothered by the fact that it was a Fire Attribute. No matter what Attribute, once they enter the Washing and Protection room, they¡¯ll have to cry out! System Identification, here we go! [Race Name: Refining Flame Monkey Attribute: Fire Growth Stage: General Level Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection Requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evaluation: The scorching flames cover its body, longing for grooming; this is one burning monkey that craves the deft touch of its Host to bring it joy!] Burning monkey¡­ Xu Ran was momentarily at a loss for words. System, oh system, this monkey might be flaming hot, but you¡¯re saucier. ¡°Please follow me,¡± Xu Ran regained his composure and turned towards the direction of the grooming room. ¡°Go on, go on,¡± Zhou Yong waved towards the Refining Flame Monkey and chuckled with a grin. He didn¡¯t have the habit of accompanying his Pet Beast during the grooming process. That¡¯s because Zhou Yong believed that seeing the state of the Pet Beast after the grooming, without watching the process, could give a clearer sense of the before and after comparison. Zhou Yong engaged his sensory sharing with the Refining Flame Monkey. That way, he could better experience what the Refining Flame Monkey felt during the grooming. Chapter 689 - Chapter 689: Chapter 334: Starfire Foster Shop in Xuanxing City, Grand Opening!_4 Chapter 689: Chapter 334: Starfire Foster Shop in Xuanxing City, Grand Opening!_4 This was what Zhou Yong was interested in. He wanted to see what was so special about this washing and protection that cost twice as much. ¡°Wuu~¡± The Refining Flame Monkey nodded and quickly followed Xu Ran. Through prior communication with Zhou Yong, it had learned that the foster shop for this washing and protection was not the familiar one it had known before. The one who would be caring for it was a completely new person. As the pair, human and pet beast, entered the cleaning and caring room, the door slowly closed behind them. Outside the room, Zhou Yong, who had no idea what awaited him and the Refining Flame Monkey, slapped Tang Mu¡¯s shoulder with a chuckle, ¡°Old Tang, their lounge doesn¡¯t look too bad, want to sit for a while?¡± Tang Mu nodded, and the two soon sat down in the lounge, starting to chat leisurely. Meanwhile, inside the cleaning and caring room, Xu Ran, having settled the Refining Flame Monkey, began the pre-wash preparations orderly and methodically. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Two thousand words remain, frantically typing away] ¡°Hoo-hoo!¡± The Wind Roar Beast let out a cheer and dashed into it, frolicking in the sea of wind, its face brimming with satisfaction. Clearly, it enjoyed the environment here. Tang Mu, who shared a contractual sensing with the Wind Roar Beast, could feel an emotion in the beast that it had never experienced during previous inspections. Zhou Yong stood by, equally gobsmacked. ¡°All this area, just for the Wind Roar Beast?¡± he inhaled sharply, a hint of envy coloring his expression. In an ordinary foster shop, such an area might represent the entire foster space, but here, such a large space was dedicated to just one pet beast. What a pity that his own pet beast no longer had the need for fostering. A golden kennel is not as good as its own doghouse. Otherwise, he would definitely choose this foster shop. Zhou Yong, who had thought of this establishment as a black shop just ten minutes prior, turned to Tang Mu, ¡°What are you hesitating for? Let¡¯s settle for this place.¡± So what if Pingtian Foster Shop was considered the best in Xuanxing City? In his opinion, it wouldn¡¯t take long for this shop to surpass Pingtian Foster Shop. In Tang Mu¡¯s heart, he was quite tempted. However, he knew well that for fostering, the environment was just one aspect. There was another part to consider. ¡°I want to know, how do you normally prepare food for the fostered pet beasts?¡± Tang Mu asked earnestly. ¡°We have a dedicated food preparation room, please follow me this way,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, quickly leading them to a building where the food was prepared. After a tour, Xu Ran magically produced a long list, ¡°If you choose our shop for fostering, this will be the daily menu for the Wind Roar Beast.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Tang Mu glanced at it and couldn¡¯t look away. The menu was much richer than the food he prepared for the Wind Roar Beast, and it seemed very nutritionally balanced, leaving him nothing to criticize. ¡°We¡¯ll go with your place,¡± he said, handing the list back to Xu Ran, making his decision final. ¡°Thank you for choosing our shop,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face displayed a hint of a smile. Good, the new shop¡¯s first business deal was sealed! After reluctantly leaving the Wind Roar Beast in the foster area, Tang Mu and Zhou Yong followed Xu Ran back into the shop. Without any hesitation, Tang Mu paid for a month¡¯s fostering and looked at Xu Ran, ¡°Boss Xu, I entrust my Wind Roar Beast to your care.¡± ¡°Rest assured, our shop will take great care of each and every fostered pet beast, giving them a home away from home,¡± Xu Ran replied solemnly. ¡°That being said, your shop really is strange,¡± Zhou Yong chuckled from the side, ¡°I just realized, not only is your fostering expensive, but your cleaning and accompanying training services are more expensive than elsewhere.¡± ¡°But just like fostering, our prices depend on the service,¡± Xu Ran responded with a smile. ¡°Oh? So your cleaning is better than other places too?¡± Zhou Yong asked skeptically, ¡°Really or not?¡± ¡°For fostering environments, you can improve it with those expensive technologies, but how much better can cleaning get?¡± Zhou Yong spoke with some disbelief, ¡°Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop is the best in Xuanxing City I¡¯ve seen so far for cleaning.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Words are wind; you might as well try it out for yourself. After the experience, you¡¯ll know where the difference lies.¡± ¡°Once I¡¯ve tried, I¡¯ll have to pay,¡± Zhou Yong rolled his eyes before his tone changed, ¡°but I really do want to give it a try.¡± His pet beast was just in need of washing and protection. Based on what he had seen earlier, Zhou Yong was quite curious: what exactly made this expensive service so special? ¡°But let me make one thing clear,¡± Zhou Yong huffed, ¡°I¡¯m a regular at the Wind and Cloud Foster Shop, and I¡¯ve had plenty of pet beast cleaning and caring, so I¡¯m not a complete layman. You won¡¯t have it so easy trying to fool me.¡± ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t dream of fooling you,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Yong looked towards Tang Mu, ¡°Old Tang, are you heading back first?¡± ¡°We agreed that I¡¯d take you out for lunch, why go back now?¡± Tang Mu shook his head, ¡°You¡¯ve accompanied me for a few days of evaluation; washing and protecting your pet beast for once is nothing.¡± ¡°And besides, I am quite curious about the level of service in this shop.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zhou Yong laughed heartily as a Hexagram Star Array burst into light behind him. Soon after, a monkey-type pet beast engulfed in raging flames stepped out from the swirling winds. It was a Fire Attribute King Species, the Refining Flame Monkey. ¡°Boss Xu, this is the one,¡± Zhou Yong crossed his arms and winked gleefully. Choosing this pet beast was not a decision made on a whim. Even though it was of King Species, the Refining Flame Monkey wasn¡¯t large in size. Having reached the General stage, it remained a medium-sized pet beast, which meant lower caring costs. Being a fire pet beast, the Refining Flame Monkey was also the most challenging one to clean and care for among all of Zhou Yong¡¯s pets. Sparing some money while thoroughly testing the young shop owner¡¯s service level, Zhou Yong felt like giving his wit a hundred likes. ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Refining Flame Monkey, not daunted by its fire attribute in the slightest. Whatever your attribute, once you enter the washing room, you¡¯ll sing for me! System Identification, let¡¯s go! [Race name: Refining Flame Monkey Attribute: Fire Growth stage: General Body Type: Medium Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î Evaluation: The scorching flames conceal its body¡¯s longing for care; this is a burned-out monkey that needs the host¡¯s nimble hands to provide joy!] Burned-out monkey¡­ Xu Ran was momentarily at a loss for words. Oh system, no matter how much this monkey burns, it isn¡¯t as saucy as you. ¡°Please follow me,¡± Xu Ran composed himself and turned towards the washing room. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Zhou Yong waved towards the Refining Flame Monkey, chuckling mischievously. He wasn¡¯t in the habit of accompanying his pet beast during the cleaning process. Because Zhou Yong believed assessing the before and after of a wash without watching the process allowed for a clearer perception of the differences. However, Zhou Yong activated sensory sharing with the Refining Flame Monkey. In doing so, he could better feel what the Refining Flame Monkey experienced during the wash. That was what Zhou Yong was concerned with. He was eager to see just what made this service cost double so special. ¡°Woo~¡± The Refining Flame Monkey nodded and followed closely behind Xu Ran. Through the prior communication with Zhou Yong, it knew that the foster shop for this washing session was not the familiar one from before. The one caring for it was also a complete stranger. As the man and the beast entered the washing room, the doors slowly closed behind them. Outside the washing room, Zhou Yong, who was completely oblivious to what awaited him and the Refining Flame Monkey, playfully patted Tang Mu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Old Tang, the lounge here seems pretty decent, shall we sit down?¡± Tang Mu nodded, and the two quickly settled down in the lounge for a chat. Meanwhile, inside the washing room, Xu Ran had the Refining Flame Monkey settled and was already starting the pre-wash preparations in an orderly fashion. Chapter 690 - Chapter 690: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve! Chapter 690: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve! ¡°Old Zhou, are you really not considering blocking the sense sharing?¡± Tang Mu looked helplessly at Zhou Yong, who clutched his fists against his thighs, his face turning an intense red, a look of restrained pain etched across his face. As time ticked by, Tang Mu had come to understand the reason behind Zhou Yong¡¯s unusual behavior. ¡°No¡­¡± Zhou Yong clenched his teeth, squeezing out the trembling words through his gritted teeth. Experiencing the pet beast cleaning and caring was something he did every time, and this time was no exception! So what if the cleaning is too comfortably intense? Bring it on! ¡°And you say I¡¯m the stubborn one, I think you¡¯re not much better,¡± Tang Mu said with a sigh, shaking his head and turning his head away so as not to witness Zhou Yong¡¯s current predicament. It¡¯s an eyesore. After some time, Zhou Yong, his face showing extreme restraint, let out a breath of relief, and his tensed body quickly relaxed, ¡°It¡¯s finally over.¡± ¡°Over?¡± Tang, with a curious look in his eyes, turned toward the direction of the cleaning room. Already curious about the high-priced services of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, he was now even more intrigued by Zhou Yong¡¯s strange reaction and eager to see the final result of the cleaning. Zhou Yong was equally curious¡ªhe could see through the eyes of his Refining Flame Monkey due to their shared senses but didn¡¯t have an overarching view and couldn¡¯t see the monkey¡¯s actual condition. This was the first time he had been in such a disheveled state during the pet beast cleaning, so naturally, he was very curious about the outcome of the cleaning. Amid their curious and expectant gazes, the door of the cleaning room slowly opened, and Xu Ran walked out briskly. Behind him followed a blazing inferno. It was the Refining Flame Monkey freshly finished with its cleaning. Now, the fire surrounding the Refining Flame Monkey was incredibly intense, as if it could burn everything to ash. Within the flames, one could vaguely see the smooth and muscular contour of its body, and its ferocious and powerful aura was on full display. Compared to before the cleaning, the Refining Flame Monkey seemed to have evolved completely, undergoing a dramatic transformation. This intense contrast had a strong visual impact, causing Zhou Yong and Tang Mu to immediately stand up and rush out of the waiting area. ¡°Hahaha, fantastic!¡± Zhou Yong, ecstatic, saw the current state of his Refining Flame Monkey and realized how incredible Xu Ran¡¯s cleaning was. At that moment, he even felt that the ordeal he had been through was worthwhile. Tang Mu also circled the Refining Flame Monkey a few times, examining it thoroughly, clicking his tongue in amazement. Such impressive cleaning services, he was tempted himself. It was just unfortunate that his pet beast had just gone through a collective cleaning a few days ago and didn¡¯t need cleaning at the moment. He would have to opt for Starfire Foster next time he needed cleaning as well. ¡°If Mr. Zhou is satisfied, that¡¯s wonderful,¡± Xu Ran said with a slight smile. ¡°Are there any other pet beasts that need cleaning?¡± ¡°Uh, this¡­¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Zhou Yong¡¯s smile froze on his face, and he cleared his throat awkwardly, ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll come back tomorrow.¡± Today was too intense; he felt like he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. If he had to clean a second pet beast right away, he would truly lose his composure on the spot. Better to take a breather first. Tang Mu, at his side, had a peculiar expression and helplessly covered his face with his hand. As an old friend of Zhou Yong¡¯s, he immediately guessed why Zhou Yong didn¡¯t continue with the cleaning for other pet beasts. This guy¡­ truly is as stubborn as they come. All could have been solved by simply blocking the sense sharing¡­ ¡°Alright, no problem,¡± Xu Ran responded with a small smile, oblivious to the events outside the cleaning room, not minding at all. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day then,¡± Zhou Yong said without hesitation, promptly paying the cleaning fee for the Refining Flame Monkey. He glanced at Xu Ran and then withdrew his gaze as quickly as if he had been shocked. For some reason, just looking at this guy made him recall all those sensations he had just experienced. ¡°Old Tang, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he tugged at Tang Mu, eager to leave Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Take care,¡± Xu Ran said with a cheerful smile, watching the first batch of customers leave his new shop, and then stretched lazily. Hidden in the shadows, Luminous fluttered its wings and landed on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, its sea-blue eyes full of mirth. ¡°Chirp~¡± (The beast master of that Refining Flame Monkey kept the sensory sharing on throughout the whole cleaning process~) ¡°Huh?!¡± Xu Ran blinked, showing a look of surprise. Because of his special cleaning method, the pet beasts that came to Starfire Foster for cleaning often made strange sounds. Beast Masters of General Level and above who came as customers almost always blocked their sense sharing during the cleaning to avoid embarrassing situations. Was there actually a Beast Master who was so headstrong as to keep the Contractual Sensing on the whole time?! ¡°I remember there¡¯s surveillance in the shop¡­¡± Xu Ran slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering something, and started operating the system behind the counter. Soon, the scene after he entered the cleaning room appeared before him. Watching Zhou Yong¡¯s increasingly odd posture in time with his own cleaning rhythm, Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually grew more amused. This really is¡­ stubbornness to the extreme. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City, Pingtian Foster Shop. Recognized as the top foster care service in Xuanxing City, the shop has a constant stream of customers every day. Every day, new Foster Care Residents are brought into the Pingtian Foster¡¯s fostering area, and those whose fostering period ends leave. Business is so booming that Pingtian Foster Shop even needs to use a booking system, which helps stabilize the number of residents in the fostering area through reasonable appointments and scheduling. Chapter 691 - Chapter 691: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_2 Chapter 691: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_2 Today, an unusual situation arose within the Pingtian Foster Shop. ¡°Boss!¡± An employee responsible for foster care reservations approached Tan Shao, the owner of Pingtian Foster Shop, with a rather unsightly expression, ¡°A customer who made a reservation to foster a Pet Beast today has reneged on their commitment.¡± ¡°Reneged?¡± Tan Shao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the employee, ¡°Did you confirm it over the phone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it.¡± The employee nodded, ¡°Moreover, the reason for reneging was that they chose to foster at another shop.¡± ¡°This is a case of being hijacked¡­¡± Tan Shao¡¯s frown deepened. It was occasional for a reserved client not to show up. Maybe due to some other factors, the client might have changed their mind about fostering, which was within reason. However, cases of reneging because they chose another Foster Shop were extremely rare at Pingtian. After all, Pingtian offered the best foster care services in the entirety of Xuanxing City. What¡¯s more admirable is that Pingtian did not increase its prices despite the higher quality of service, keeping them at the same level as other foster care shops. In such circumstances, the competitiveness of Pingtian Foster Shop goes without saying. For a customer to be snatched away from them was certainly not ordinary. ¡°Did you ask which Foster Shop they chose?¡± he swiftly turned his head, looking at the employee, ¡°Was it Wind and Cloud or Star Rain?¡± Within Xuanxing City, the three most famous foster shops were these three. The three Foster Shops each had their strengths and weaknesses: Pingtian excelled in fostering, Wind and Cloud were first in Washing and Protection, while Star Rain had the best Accompanying Training Service. In Tan Shao¡¯s view, only these two could possibly steal customers from his own business. Although in fostering they were not up to the level of his Pingtian Foster Shop, they could certainly hijack his customers by bundling other services. ¡°I did ask.¡± The employee quickly nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a Foster Shop called Starfire Foster Care Shop, apparently newly opened.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Tan Shao was provoked to laughter, ¡°What did you just say? A newly opened Foster Shop?¡± A new Foster Shop daring to take his customers? A flicker of anger rose in his eyes. With the exception of Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop and Star Rain Foster Shop, the other foster shops in Xuanxing City were not even on his radar, let alone this newly opened one. In Tan Shao¡¯s view, this was akin to a mighty lion being provoked by a rabbit. ¡°Teach them a lesson, let them know the rules of running a foster shop,¡± Tan Shao hummed lowly, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Understood!¡± The employee nodded rapidly and swiftly turned to leave. He already knew what to do. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City¡¯s Beast Master Association. Vice President Qin sat in his office, sipping tea while looking at the newspaper in his hand. When the tea was finished, and the newspaper had been flipped to the last page, he put it down and glanced at the time, muttering softly to himself. Then, Vice President Qin took out his cellphone and shared a video in a small group chat. [Qin Huaiyu: Came across something interesting, it¡¯s the strength assessment record of the Starlight Badge from yesterday. [Video]] After posting the video, he set his phone down, his eyes flickering slightly. This small group consisted of only six people, but these six were the most powerful in Xuanxing City. The Association¡¯s Chairman and the five Vice Presidents. Chairman Qi Yuan oversaw the overall situation while the five Vice Presidents were responsible for their own areas, managing the order of the entire Xuanxing City. Vice President Qin believed that once the Chairman saw the video, there would surely be a corresponding reaction. Then, it would be time to start the next part of the plan. Thinking this, Qin Huaiyu¡¯s gaze moved to a certain group member, his eyes glinting as he couldn¡¯t help but let out a low hum. Among the five Vice Presidents, Zhou Changhe was the highest in both power and authority. Once Chairman Qi Yuan stepped back from the frontlines, Zhou Changhe was the most likely successor for the Chairman¡¯s position. Probably for this reason, Zhou Changhe had a somewhat commanding presence over the other four Vice Presidents, and his relatives and cronies, flaunting his influence, had turned the Association into a mess. Qin Huaiyu had long found Zhou Changhe unsatisfactory, but he knew he couldn¡¯t outfight him and thus acted cautiously. This was why he couldn¡¯t give Liu Fengyun a definitive answer the day before. He couldn¡¯t afford a direct conflict with Zhou Changhe over this matter. Even if he wanted to help, it had to be done without Zhou Changhe¡¯s awareness. To avoid any suspicion, Qin Huaiyu deliberately delayed for a day, pretending to have just discovered the video today and shared it in the group. That way, even if Zhou Changhe was suspicious, he wouldn¡¯t be able to deduce anything from a video that, on the surface, had no apparent connection to Liu Fengyun. And as expected, soon after sharing the video, there was new activity in the group chat. [Zhou Changhe: This new King Level Beast Master sure is unfamiliar, must be from out of town, not many Beast Masters who master martial arts, Chairman come take a look @Qi Yuan.] Seeing this message, a strange smile appeared on Qin Huaiyu¡¯s lips. Attracted by the activity in the group, the other three Vice Presidents also began to comment, sharing their thoughts after watching the video. Eventually, Qi Yuan chimed in. [Qi Yuan: Looks interesting, is there a way to contact this person? I would like to exchange views on martial arts with him.] That¡¯s it! Qin Huaiyu felt a surge of satisfaction, quickly typing a response. [Qin Huaiyu: The assessment of the Starlight Badge was under my supervision, I have the records of this Beast Master, I¡¯ll handle it.] Chapter 692 - Chapter 692: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_3 Chapter 692: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_3 The other four vice presidents did not scramble to take on the task at this time. After all, the responsibility conferred by President Starlight had always been handled by Qin Huaiyu. Having Qin Huaiyu take care of this matter was also justifiable. The chat group quickly fell into silence again, and Qin Huaiyu, humming a tune from an opera, briskly walked out of the office. ¡°The fish~is about~to bite~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Hah~¡± Xu Ran yawned, resting his chin on his hand while watching the crowd outside the shop. As the time approached noon, the street in front of the shop became increasingly lively. As a newly opened shop, Starfire Foster Care Shop attracted many curious passersby, but those passersby did not turn into customers. Upon seeing the price menu, they left without hesitation. Several hours after opening, apart from the first two customers, there had been no business at all. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Was it this difficult when opening other branches too?) Twelve¡¯s twelve claws grasped the decorative branch sticking out next to the counter, asking curiously. ¡°Meow~¡± (To even have two customers in the morning is quite good already.) Ziyun lay lazily on the counter, not even bothering to lift its head, merely swaying its tail that was larger than its body. ¡°Yeah, every beginning is tough,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°For any new shop without fame, it¡¯s generally the same.¡± ¡°Once the shop¡¯s fame increases, we will start getting more and more customers.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Is that so¡­) Twelve nodded thoughtfully, then sensing something, turned its gaze towards the shop¡¯s doorway with a hint of anticipation in its eyes. ¡°Chirp!¡± (A new customer is coming!) As Twelve finished speaking, four figures quickly stepped into the shop. Xu Ran looked up, his gaze flickering slightly. These four men were sturdy and carried a somewhat fierce aura; they seemed like tough customers, probably quite strong. More importantly¡­ Xu Ran faintly felt some hostility emanating from these four men. Nevertheless, he still stood up and greeted them with a smile, ¡°Gentlemen, what services do you require?¡± ¡°What services does your shop offer?¡± the leader of the men asked in a deep voice. ¡°The price menu is just behind you,¡± Xu Ran said, raising a hand to indicate. The four men turned to look at the price menu, then exchanged glances with each other. Immediately after, the man on the left snorted disdainfully and stepped forward with an unpleasant expression, slapping his hand on the counter, ¡°Your prices are two to three times higher than elsewhere, it¡¯s clear extortion!¡± Looking at the man, the smile on Xu Ran¡¯s face gradually faded. Indeed, it seemed they had ill intentions. ¡°All the services offered by this shop are worth their price,¡± he said calmly, ¡°If you four have come to cause trouble, please leave.¡± ¡°Leave?¡± Another man smirked, ¡°I think you¡¯re just embarrassed and enraged because you¡¯ve been called out.¡± He strode toward the shop¡¯s entrance, shouting loudly as he did, ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to let everyone see what a swindler the owner of this Black Shop is!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Three thousand more words, furiously typing away] For some reason, seeing this guy instantly brought back those feelings from before. ¡°Tang, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he tugged at Tang Mu, hurrying to leave the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Take care on your way out,¡± Xu Ran watched with a cheerful expression as the first few customers left the new shop, then stretched lazily. Twelve, hidden in the darkness, fluttered its wings and landed on Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, its sea-blue eyes brimming with mirth. ¡°Chirp~¡± (That Beast Master of the Refining Flame Monkey had his contract sensing open the whole time during the washing and protection~) ¡°Huh?!¡± Xu Ran blinked in surprise. Because of his unique washing and protection techniques, pet beasts that came to Starfire Foster for grooming often made strange sounds. Beast Masters at the General Level or above usually blocked the sharing of their senses during the grooming process to avoid embarrassing situations. Was there really a Beast Master who was so bold as to keep the contractual sensing open throughout the entire process?! ¡°I think there are surveillance cameras in the shop¡­¡± Xu Ran smacked his forehead, suddenly remembering something, and began working at the counter. Soon, the footage from the washing and protection room appeared before his eyes. Watching Zhou Yong adopting odd postures in rhythm with his own washing and protection technique, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew increasingly amused. This was really¡­ boldness to the extreme. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City, Pingtian Foster Shop. As the most recognized foster service provider in Xuanxing City, the shop was frequented by a large number of customers every day. Every day, new foster care residents were admitted into Pingtian Foster Shop¡¯s foster area, and residents whose fostering period had ended left the place. Because business was so booming, Pingtian Foster even had to adopt a reservation system, using reasonable scheduling to stabilize the number of residents in the foster area. Today, a situation not usually seen occurred inside Pingtian Foster Shop. ¡°Boss!¡± The employee responsible for foster reservations sought out Tan Shao, the owner of Pingtian Foster Shop, with an unsightly expression, ¡°A customer who had a reservation to foster a pet beast today didn¡¯t show up.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t show up?¡± Tan Shao frowned and looked at the employee, ¡°Did you confirm by calling them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been confirmed,¡± the employee nodded, ¡°And the reason for not showing up is that they chose to foster at another shop.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been undercut¡­¡± Tan Shao¡¯s frown deepened. It was occasional for a reserved customer not to turn up. Perhaps due to some other factor, the customer might change their mind about fostering, which was within reasonable bounds. Chapter 693 - Chapter 693: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_4 Chapter 693: Chapter 335: You Have Such Nerve!_4 ¡°` However, it was extremely rare for someone to make a last-minute switch to another foster shop after making a reservation at the Pingtian Foster Shop. After all, it offered the best foster care service in the entire Xuanxing City. What¡¯s more commendable was that Pingtian Foster Shop did not raise its prices even though it provided better services; its prices were basically in line with those of other shops. In such a scenario, the competitiveness of Pingtian Foster Shop was self-evident. To steal a customer from them was no small feat. ¡°Did you ask which foster shop they chose?¡± he quickly turned his head, looking at the employee. ¡°Was it Wind and Cloud or Star Rain?¡± In Xuanxing City, the three most famous foster shops were these. Each of the three foster shops had its strengths and weaknesses; Pingtian was best at fostering, Wind was number one in washing and protection while Star Rain offered the best accompanying training service. In Tan Shao¡¯s view, only these two were capable of snatching business from them. Although they were not as good in the foster department as his own Pingtian Foster Shop, if they bundled other services, they could completely intercept their customers. ¡°I¡¯ve asked,¡± the employee quickly nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a foster shop called Starfire Foster Shop, I hear it has just opened.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Tan Shao was made to laugh out of anger. ¡°What did you just say? A newly opened foster shop?¡± A new foster shop daring to snatch his customers? Anger began to rise in his eyes. Apart from Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop and Star Rain Foster Shop, he did not take any other foster shops in Xuanxing City seriously, let alone a newly opened one. In Tan Shao¡¯s opinion, it was like a powerful lion being challenged by a rabbit. ¡°Teach them a lesson, let them know the rules of opening a foster shop,¡± Tan Shao hummed lowly, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Understood!¡± The employee nodded swiftly and turned to leave. He already knew what to do. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City Beast Master Association. Vice President Qin sat in his office, drinking tea while reading the newspaper of the day. When the tea was finished, so was the newspaper, turned to the last page. ¡°It should be about time,¡± he put down the newspaper, looked at the time, and muttered softly to himself. Then, Vice President Qin took out his mobile phone and shared a video in a small group. [Qin Huaiyu: Saw something interesting, it¡¯s the strength test record of the Starlight Badge from yesterday. [Video]] After sending the video, he put down his phone, his gaze flickering slightly. This small group consisted of only six people, but these six were the most powerful individuals in Xuanxing City. The president of the Association and the five vice presidents. Chairman Qi Yuan oversees the big picture, while the five vice presidents perform their respective duties managing the order of the entire Xuanxing City. He believed the Chairman would have a reaction upon seeing the video. Then the next step of his strategy could commence. Thinking this, Qin Huaiyu glanced at one of the group members, his eyes flickering as he couldn¡¯t help but snort softly. Among the five vice presidents, Zhou Changhe had the highest authority and power. Once Chairman Qi Yuan stepped back, he would be the likeliest successor to the presidency. Perhaps for that reason, Zhou Changhe bore a slightly imperious attitude toward the other four vice presidents, and his relatives and allies, flaunting their connections, caused chaos within the Association. Qin Huaiyu had a longstanding dislike for Zhou Changhe but knew he couldn¡¯t outmatch him, so he acted with caution. This was also why, yesterday, he couldn¡¯t give Liu Fengyun a definite response. He couldn¡¯t afford to come into direct conflict with Zhou Changhe over this matter. If he were to assist, it had to be done without Zhou Changhe noticing. To avoid suspicion, Qin Huaiyu deliberately waited a day before pretending to have just discovered the video, sharing it in the group today. In this way, even if Zhou Changhe were suspicious, he wouldn¡¯t be able to deduce anything from a video that superficially had no connection with Liu Fengyun. And things proceeded as he predicted. Not long after he shared the video, there was new activity in the small group. ¡°` [Zhou Changhe: This newly emerged King Level Beast Master seems quite unfamiliar, must be from out of town. It¡¯s rare for a Beast Master to master martial arts, Chairman, come take a look @Qi Yuan.] Seeing this message, a sly smile appeared on Qin Huaiyu¡¯s lips. Attracted by the commotion in the group chat, the other three Vice Presidents also started to chime in, sharing their opinions after watching the video. In the end, Qi Yuan chimed in. [Qi Yuan: Looks interesting. Is it possible to get in touch with this person? I would like to exchange some martial arts knowledge with him.] Success! Qin Huaiyu was inwardly overjoyed and quickly sent a message. [Qin Huaiyu: The assessment for the Starlight Badge was under my charge, and I have this Beast Master¡¯s information. I¡¯ll handle this matter.] The other four Vice Presidents didn¡¯t vie for this task at that time. After all, the awarding by President Starlight had always been Qin Huaiyu¡¯s responsibility. It made sense for Qin Huaiyu to handle this. The group chat quieted down quickly, and Qin Huaiyu, humming a tune from a play, strode out of the office. ¡°The fish~is~about~to~take~the~bait~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Ha~¡± Xu Ran yawned and, resting her chin on her hand, watched the stream of pedestrians outside the shop. As noon approached, the street in front of the shop became busier. As a newly opened store, Starfire Foster Shop attracted quite a few curious passersby, but these people did not turn into customers. After seeing the Price Menu, they didn¡¯t hesitate to turn around and leave. Hours into the opening, aside from the initial two customers, there had been no business. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Was it this difficult when opening other branches too?) Twelve¡¯s claws gripped the branch decorations beside the counter as it asked. ¡°Meow~¡± (Having two customers in the morning is already quite good.) Ziyun lay lazily on the counter, tail swinging, not bothering to lift his head, the tail almost larger than its body. ¡°Exactly, the beginning is always the hardest,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°New shops with no fame always start off the same.¡± ¡°When the shop¡¯s Fame grows, the customers will start to increase as well.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Is that so¡­) Twelve nodded thoughtfully, then sensed something, looking expectantly towards the shop¡¯s entrance. ¡°Chirp!¡± (There¡¯s a new customer coming!) As Twelve finished speaking, four figures briskly entered the shop. Xu Ran lifted her head, her gaze flickering slightly. Each of the four individuals was robust and carried a certain ferocity, not looking easy to provoke, likely quite strong. What¡¯s more important¡­ Xu Ran felt a hint of hostility coming from these men. Nevertheless, she still stood up and called out with a smile, ¡°Gentlemen, may I help you with any services?¡± ¡°What services do you have in this shop?¡± asked the man leading in a deep voice. ¡°The Price Menu is right behind you,¡± Xu Ran gestured with one hand. The four turned to look at the Price Menu, then exchanged glances. Following that, the man on the left snorted disdainfully, stepped forward with a sneer, and slammed his hand on the counter, ¡°Your prices are two to three times higher than elsewhere, you¡¯re clearly swindling people!¡± Observing the man, Xu Ran¡¯s smile gradually faded. Indeed, it seemed trouble had come calling. ¡°All services of this shop are worth their price,¡± she replied calmly, ¡°If the four of you have come to cause trouble, please leave.¡± ¡°Leave?¡± Another man chuckled, ¡°Looks to me like you¡¯re angry because you¡¯ve been called out.¡± He strode toward the shop¡¯s entrance, bellowing loudly as he went, ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to let everyone see for themselves the kind of crook that runs a Black Shop!¡± Chapter 694 - Chapter 694: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials! Chapter 694: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials! [Content incomplete, please do not subscribe yet.] ¡°Senior, for the gift of swordsmanship, this junior is indebted and has no way to repay.¡± Stowing the swordsmanship carefully in his bosom, Xu Ran once again expressed his gratitude sincerely. ¡°It¡¯s a trifle.¡± Qi Yuan smiled calmly, ¡°If you really feel uneasy about it, you can come and spar with me more often.¡± ¡°Certainly!¡± Xu Ran replied without hesitation. Just one sparring session with Qi Yuan had given him many insights into the way of the sword, and now that he had acquired a new swordsmanship, future sparring sessions with Qi Yuan could serve as confirmation for the swordplay. He was more than happy with such a good opportunity. Qi Yuan nodded slightly and then slowly began to speak, ¡°Little Xu, which city did you come from?¡± ¡°Bright Radiance City.¡± Xu Ran smiled. He wasn¡¯t surprised that Qi Yuan could tell he wasn¡¯t local, ¡°But I¡¯m not originally from Bright Radiance City.¡± ¡°Traveling around and growing stronger¡­¡± Qi Yuan nodded understandingly, ¡°That is indeed one of the paths for a Beast Master¡¯s growth.¡± ¡°We hit it off at first sight, and since you¡¯re in Xuanxing City, if there¡¯s anything you need help with, feel free to come to me,¡± Qi Yuan offered proactively. Through sparring with Xu Ran, not only had he felt Xu Ran¡¯s sword intent, but he also sensed the youth¡¯s vitality. Such a young King Level Beast Master who also possessed an Emperor Species Pet Beast certainly had limitless potential. Making a good connection was also the right thing to do. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior,¡± Xu Ran said with gratitude, ¡°It so happens that I have a matter I need to consult about.¡± ¡°Speak freely.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this,¡± Xu Ran said, gesturing for Star to come forward, ¡°this is my second Pet Beast, and I¡¯m readying it for evolution.¡± ¡°Oh? Is this Pet Beast also going to evolve into an Emperor Species?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Star, with a look of astonishment on his face. It seemed that the young man before him was more extraordinary than he had thought. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°Its Attribute is a bit special. Although it¡¯s a Dark Attribute, its Attribute is mixed with some Star Power.¡± ¡°Because of this uniqueness, I¡¯m hoping that when it evolves into an Emperor Species, it will evolve in a direction that emphasizes Star Power.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Now, that¡¯s interesting. Are you aware of the attribute transition when evolving into the Holy Spirit Race?¡± ¡°I have looked into this,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°Good to know.¡± Qi Yuan laughed, ¡°If your Pet Beast evolves in this way, it will indeed increase the success rate of evolving into the Holy Spirit Race in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking too,¡± Xu Ran also laughed, ¡°My coming to Xuanxing City is closely related to its evolution, and now, there are two key Evolution Materials that I¡¯m missing. If the Senior could provide some clues, this junior would be endlessly grateful.¡± ¡°A trifle,¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand, ¡°The materials needed to evolve into an Emperor Species may not be available in our Xuanxing City, but clues are still within reach, I can still help a bit. Tell me, what are the two materials?¡± ¡°One is called Town Star Stone, and the other is called Dawn Star Radiance.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly turned peculiar, ¡°The materials you need are these two?!¡± ¡°Does Senior have a clue?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened. He had only tried his luck by asking, not expecting that there might actually be a lead. ¡°If it¡¯s those two resources, I do know,¡± said Qi Yuan, with a complex look on his face, ¡°There¡¯s a Town Star Stone right here in Xuanxing City.¡± Before Xu Ran could get excited, Qi Yuan continued, ¡°But, I can¡¯t give it to you.¡± ¡°Because the Town Star Stone of Xuanxing City is the foundation of the protective Star Array. Without it, there¡¯d be no protective Star Array,¡± Qi Yuan said shaking his head regretfully. ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran looked astonished. In an instant, he discarded the idea of taking that particular Town Star Stone. While the evolution of Star was important, he could not bring himself to deprive a Second Level Town of its most critical security for the sake of a single Evolution Resource. Moreover, in terms of power, it was impossible for him to take such a resource from under the noses of several Overlord Level Beast Masters. ¡°Does Senior have knowledge of any other clues to Town Star Stones?¡± Xu Ran hurriedly inquired, ¡°I believe there should be more than just one, right?¡± ¡°Town Star Stones are extremely precious resources,¡± Qi Yuan pondered for a moment before slowly replying, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for clues, I can help you look through some old documents.¡± ¡°Within those documents, you should find the location where Xuanxing City¡¯s Town Star Stone was originally discovered. You could search around that location, there might be a discovery to be made.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran said gratefully. Despite the slim chance of another Town Star Stone appearing in the same location, having a clue was better than not having any. ¡°As for the Dawn Star Radiance¡­¡± Qi Yuan smiled, ¡°I do have a definite clue about that resource.¡± ¡°Not far from Xuanxing City, there lies a place known as Fallen Star Valley.¡± ¡°The valley wasn¡¯t formed naturally but from a fallen meteor, which imbues it with rich Star Power and resulted in the formation of some very special resources.¡± ¡°Our Xuanxing City was built here partly because of the Fallen Star Valley. Even the Star Stones are crafted from the ores mined within the valley.¡± ¡°And within the deepest part of the Fallen Star Valley lies the Dawn Star Radiance you seek.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Qi Yuan glanced at the excited Xu Ran, ¡°Due to the particularity of the Fallen Star Mountain Range, it has attracted many powerful Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°There are even a couple that are half a step into the Overlord stage.¡± Chapter 695 - Chapter 695: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_2 Chapter 695: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_2 ¡°` ¡°They are much more powerful than the average King Stage,¡± he said, ¡°comparable to your pet beast that has already evolved into the Emperor Species.¡± ¡°Defeating them is not an easy task,¡± Qi Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Fallen Star Mountain Range¡­¡± Xu Ran etched the place name firmly in his mind, ¡°Thank you for the clue, senior.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Qi Yuan smiled again, ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± ¡°There is one more thing.¡± Xu Ran smiled awkwardly, ¡°I have a friend who runs a foster shop in Xuanxing City¡­¡± He recounted in detail how Du Long had wreaked havoc at the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop without being punished by the Beast Master Association. After listening, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°Du Long¡­¡± he muttered the name under his breath, ¡°It sounds a bit familiar.¡± A moment later, a figure appeared in his mind. ¡°I am aware of this matter.¡± Qi Yuan hummed lowly, ¡°Rest assured, there will soon be a fair resolution to this incident.¡± ¡°You have my gratitude, senior,¡± Xu Ran said, relieved. He had also managed to help Boss Liu out with his issue. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City, Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop. Having just finished the washing and protection work for a prestigious customer, Liu Fengyun tidied up the cleaning room and walked out at a leisurely pace. One of the staff members in the foster shop suddenly walked over quickly. ¡°Boss! I have good news!¡± ¡°What good news?¡± Liu Fengyun glanced at the staff member, raising his eyebrows. The person before him had a unique job at the Wind and Cloud Foster: he was specifically responsible for collecting information about rival shops in Xuanxing City, allowing Liu Fengyun to be well-informed about other businesses. The marketplace is a battlefield. Simply minding his own business was not Liu Fengyun¡¯s style. ¡°Some customers of Pingtian Foster Shop were poached,¡± the employee said with a smirk, ¡°After the poaching, the Pingtian Foster Shop brought in a few thugs to make trouble at the other shop¡¯s location.¡± ¡°We can join forces with the victim to expose the actions of Pingtian Foster Shop, which will certainly damage their reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, ¡°Tan Shao is still up to his old tricks, as usual.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the shop that poached from Pingtian Foster Shop?¡± Liu Fengyun asked casually, ¡°It must be no small feat to outdo Pingtian, right?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to find out much about that shop,¡± the employee scratched his head, ¡°All I know is that it¡¯s a new shop, and the name is Starfire¡­¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop?!¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s head shot up instantly. ¡°Yes,¡± the employee said, surprised, ¡°Boss, do you know about it?¡± ¡°Haha, so it¡¯s Boss Xu.¡± Liu Fengyun chuckled, ¡°If it¡¯s him, it makes sense that he would poach from Pingtian.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not bother with this,¡± Liu Fengyun dismissed with a wave of his hand, ¡°Tan Shao is definitely no match for Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Boss, you mean the owner of that Starfire Foster Store is very formidable?¡± the employee asked incredulously. Previously, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the victim of the incident. Unexpectedly, the boss seemed to hold the store called Starfire Foster in high regard. ¡°After a while, you¡¯ll see,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile, ¡°Go on with your work.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± The employee spoke resignedly and then turned to leave. Watching the employee¡¯s departing figure, Liu Fengyun¡¯s face bore a smile, ¡°Setting up the shop in just one night, Boss Xu really acts with thunderous speed and windy efficiency.¡± ¡°As an old friend, I ought to congratulate him on the new store¡¯s opening.¡± Saying so, he stepped out of his own shop and headed towards the direction of the Starfire Foster Store. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C After expressing his gratitude to Qi Yuan several times, Xu Ran returned to his shop with his five small pets. On the way back, Star¡¯s movements were noticeably larger than before, showing a sprightly enthusiasm. It was clear that having some leads on both resources had excited it. ¡°After we close for the night, let¡¯s head to Fallen Star Valley,¡± Xu Ran said, patting Star¡¯s head with a smile. ¡°Meow~¡± (Those two at the Quasi-domineering Level, I¡¯ll take care of them!) Ziyun licked its paw, eyes ablaze with a fighting spirit. Although that guy named Qi Yuan had said those at the Quasi-domineering Level were a match for it, Ziyun felt Qi Yuan had no idea of its true strength. Mere creatures not yet at the Overlord Stage~ ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Thank you, Ziyun!) Star neighed, quickening its pace even more. If nothing unexpected happened, the Dawn Star Radiance would soon be within reach, and then all that would be left to find was the Town Star Stone. With the experience of Ziyun seeking the Extinct Thunder Attraction earlier, Star was already mentally prepared to spend more time and effort finding this most important evolution resource for itself. Soon, one man and five pets arrived back at the shop. Seeing the figure standing outside his shop door, surprise flashed across Xu Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Boss Liu? Why are you here?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [After working overtime for five days, I need to adjust my state. I owe four thousand words, which I will make up for tomorrow.] ¡°The kindness of the swordsmanship you bestowed upon me, I can never repay,¡± Xu Ran said, tucking the swordsmanship carefully into his chest as he expressed his gratitude once again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a minor matter,¡± Qi Yuan said with a calm smile, ¡°If you really feel obligated, you can come and spar with me some more.¡± ¡°Definitely!¡± Xu Ran agreed without hesitation. Just one sparring session with Qi Yuan had given him numerous insights into the ways of the sword, and now with the new swordsmanship, future sparring could serve to verify his techniques. ¡°` Chapter 696 - Chapter 696: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_3 Chapter 696: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_3 Sure, here¡¯s the translation: Such good fortune was more than welcome. Qi Yuan nodded slightly, then slowly asked, ¡°Little Xu, which city do you come from?¡± ¡°Bright Radiance City,¡± Xu Ran smiled, not surprised that Qi Yuan could tell he was not a local, ¡°but I¡¯m not originally from Bright Radiance City either.¡± ¡°Traveling around while getting stronger, eh¡­¡± Qi Yuan nodded in understanding, ¡°Indeed, this is one of the ways for a Beast Master to grow.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve hit it off so well, if there¡¯s anything you need help with now that you¡¯re in Xuanxing City, feel free to come to me,¡± Qi Yuan offered proactively. In their sparring, he had not only felt Xu Ran¡¯s blade aura but also sensed the youth¡¯s vitality. Such a young King Level Beast Master already possessed an Emperor Species pet beast; his future was boundless. Forming a good connection was only right and proper. ¡°Thank you for your kindness,¡± Xu Ran said gratefully with a smile, ¡°as it happens, there is something I¡¯d like to ask about.¡± ¡°By all means, speak your mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this.¡± Xu Ran gestured for Star to step forward, ¡°This is my second pet beast, and I am preparing for its evolution.¡± ¡°Oh? Is this pet beast also evolving into an Emperor Species?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Star, his expression filled with amazement. It seemed the youngster before him was more exceptional than he had imagined. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°its attribute is somewhat special; although it¡¯s a Dark Attribute, there¡¯s some Star Power mixed into it.¡± ¡°Because of this specialty, I hope that when it evolves into an Emperor Species, it will evolve towards a direction that focuses more on Star Power.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened slightly, ¡°Now, that¡¯s quite interesting. Do you know about the attribute transition involved in evolving into a Holy Spirit Race?¡± ¡°I have looked into that,¡± Xu Ran nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, ¡°if your pet beast evolves in that way, the success rate of later evolving into the Holy Spirit Race can be much higher.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same thing,¡± Xu Ran chuckled too, ¡°my coming to Xuanxing City is not unrelated to its evolution, and right now, I am still missing two very important Evolution Materials. If senior can provide some clues, I would be extremely grateful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trifle,¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand dismissively, ¡°the materials required for evolving into an Emperor Species might not necessarily be here in Xuanxing City, but if it¡¯s just a clue you¡¯re after, I can still offer some help. Quickly, what are the two materials you are looking for?¡± ¡°One is called Town Star Stone, and the other is Dawn Star Radiance.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly became complicated, ¡°the materials you need are these two?!¡± ¡°Senior has a clue?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened. He was just trying his luck with the question, not expecting there to be a lead. ¡°If it¡¯s these two resources, then I do indeed know,¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression was somewhat complex, ¡°there is a piece of Town Star Stone right here in Xuanxing City.¡± Before Xu Ran could get excited, Qi Yuan quickly added, ¡°But, I can¡¯t give it to you.¡± ¡°Because this piece of Town Star Stone in Xuanxing City is the foundation of the city¡¯s protective Star Array,¡± Qi Yuan said helplessly, shaking his head, ¡°without it, there is no protective Star Array.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran looked stunned. In a split second, he dismissed the idea of taking that piece of Town Star Stone. Although the evolution of Star was important, he could not commit to an action that would leave a Second Level Town without its most important safety guarantee for the sake of just one Evolution Resource. And in terms of strength, it was impossible for him to take such a resource right under the noses of several Overlord Level Beast Masters. ¡°Does senior have any other clues about Town Star Stones?¡± Xu Ran quickly asked, ¡°I believe that such resources should not be limited to just one, right?¡± ¡°Town Star Stones are extremely precious resources,¡± Qi Yuan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, ¡°If you want clues, I can help you check some ancient texts.¡± ¡°Within the records, we should be able to find the original location where the Town Star Stone in Xuanxing City was discovered. You could search in that location, perhaps you¡¯ll find something.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Xu Ran expressed his gratitude. Although the probability of a second Town Star Stone appearing at the same location was slim, having a clue was always better than none. ¡°As for Dawn Star Radiance¡­¡± Qi Yuan smiled, ¡°I do know a precise clue for that resource.¡± ¡°Not far outside of our Xuanxing City, there is a place called Fallen Star Valley.¡± ¡°The valley wasn¡¯t formed naturally, but was created by a fallen meteor from beyond the skies, containing rich Star Power, and it also gave rise to some extremely unique resources.¡± ¡°Our Xuanxing City was built here largely due to Fallen Star Valley, and even the Star Stones are produced by mining the ores within it.¡± ¡°At the deepest part of Fallen Star Valley, lies the Dawn Star Radiance you seek.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Qi Yuan looked at Xu Ran who had become visibly excited and added, ¡°due to the special nature of Fallen Star Mountain Range, it has attracted many powerful Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°There are even two nearly at the Overlord stage.¡± ¡°They are much more powerful than the average King Stage, and should be comparable in strength to your pet beast that has already evolved into an Emperor Species.¡± ¡°Defeating them won¡¯t be an easy feat,¡± Qi Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Fallen Star Mountain Range¡­¡± Xu Ran etched this name deeply into his mind, ¡°Thank you, senior, for the clue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trifle,¡± Qi Yuan smiled again, ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Xu Ran said with an embarrassed smile, ¡°I have a friend who runs a Foster Shop here in Xuanxing City¡­¡± Chapter 697 - Chapter 697: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_4 Chapter 697: Chapter 336 Clues to the Star Evolution Materials!_4 ¡°` He recounted in detail how Du Long had vandalized the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop without being punished by the Beast Master Association. After listening, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned ugly. ¡°Du Long¡­¡± he muttered the name softly, ¡°it sounds somewhat familiar.¡± Moments later, a figure emerged in his mind. ¡°I understand the situation,¡± Qi Yuan hummed lowly, ¡°rest assured, there will soon be a fair resolution to this matter.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, senior,¡± Xu Ran replied with a relieved smile. It seemed he had managed to help Boss Liu¡¯s matter as well. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xuanxing City, Wind and Cloud Foster Shop. Having just finished washing and protection work for a distinguished client¡¯s pet beast, Liu Fengyun tidied up the cleaning room and walked out at a leisurely pace. Suddenly, an employee of the foster shop hurried over. ¡°Boss! There¡¯s good news!¡± ¡°What good news?¡± Liu Fengyun glanced at the employee, raising an eyebrow. This employee had a special job at the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop¡ªhe was responsible for gathering intelligence on competitors in Xuanxing City, so that Liu Fengyun could keep his finger on the pulse of other businesses. Business is like the battlefield. Just minding his own business was not Liu Fengyun¡¯s style. ¡°A client from Pingtian Foster Shop was poached,¡± the employee said with a chuckle, ¡°after being poached, Pingtian hired a few thugs to cause trouble at the other shop.¡± ¡°We can team up with the victimized shop, expose Pingtian¡¯s actions, and damage their reputation,¡± suggested the employee. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, ¡°Tan Shao, that guy, still prefers sneaky tricks as ever.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the shop that poached Pingtian¡¯s client?¡± Liu Fengyun asked casually, ¡°If they managed to poach from Pingtian, they must be something, right?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t uncovered much about that shop,¡± the employee scratched his head, ¡°I only know it¡¯s newly opened, and the name is Starfire¡­¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop?!¡± Liu Fengyun immediately looked up. ¡°Yes,¡± the employee replied with surprise, ¡°Boss, you know about it?¡± ¡°Heh, so it¡¯s Boss Xu,¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°If he¡¯s behind it, then poaching from Pingtian makes sense.¡± ¡°Forget about that matter,¡± Liu Fengyun waved it off, ¡°Tan Shao is definitely no match for Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Does that mean the owner of the Starfire Foster Shop is very capable?¡± the employee asked, astonished. Until now, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the victim of the situation. Yet, it seemed that the boss placed considerable importance on this newly opened store named Starfire Foster. ¡°You¡¯ll find out in time,¡± Liu Fengyun said with a smile, ¡°go on with your work.¡± ¡°¡­All right,¡± the employee replied, resigned, before turning to leave. Watching the employee¡¯s retreating figure, Liu Fengyun¡¯s face bore a hint of a smile, ¡°To set up a shop overnight, Boss Xu really is decisive and efficient.¡± ¡°As an old friend, I should go and congratulate him on the new shop¡¯s opening,¡± he added. Saying this, he stepped out of the shop, heading in the direction of the Starfire Foster Shop. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C After thanking Qi Yuan repeatedly for his help, Xu Ran returned to the shop with the five small ones. On the way back, Star¡¯s running was noticeably more spirited than before, a sense of jubilation clear in its movements. It was apparent that having some leads on both resources was exciting. ¡°After business hours tonight, we¡¯ll go check out the Fallen Star Valley,¡± Xu Ran spoke while petting Star¡¯s head, smiling. ¡°Meow~¡± (Those two Quasi-Domineering Level, I¡¯ll handle them!) Ziyun licked its paw, a flame of battle lighting in its eyes. Although that guy named Qi Yuan said those at the Quasi-Domineering Level were a match for its power, Ziyun felt he had no idea of its true strength. Just a couple of nobodies not yet at the Overlord Stage~ ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Thank you, Ziyun!) ¡°` Star let out a whinny, quickening its pace even more. If everything went as expected, the Dawn Star Radiance would soon be within reach¡ªthen only the Town Star Stone would be left to find. With the lessons learned by Ziyun in searching for the Extinct Thunder Attraction, Star had braced itself to spend extra time and effort to seek out this most crucial Evolution Resource. Soon, one person accompanied by five pet beasts arrived at the storefront. Seeing the figure standing outside the door, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Boss Liu? What brings you here?¡± The employee in front of him held a special role at the Wind and Cloud Foster Care Shop; he was responsible for collecting information on his peers within Xuanxing City, ensuring Liu Fengyun had a detailed insight into the business dynamics of his competition. The marketplace is a battlefield. Head-down management of his own storefront was not Liu Fengyun¡¯s style. ¡°A customer from the Pingtian Foster Shop got snatched by someone else,¡± the employee chuckled, ¡°After the snatching, Pingtian got some thugs to cause trouble at the other shop.¡± ¡°We could team up with the victim, expose Pingtian Foster Shop¡¯s actions, and as a result, their reputation would surely take a hit,¡± the employee suggested. ¡°It¡¯s a good idea,¡± Liu Fengyun nodded slightly, ¡°Tan Shao, that guy, is still as eager as ever to play dirty tricks.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the shop that outsmarted Pingtian?¡± Liu Fengyun asked offhandedly, ¡°If they could outsmart Pingtian, they must be something special, right?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t find out much about that shop,¡± the employee scratched his head, ¡°I only know it¡¯s new, and its name is Starfire¡­¡± ¡°Starfire Foster Care Shop?!¡± Liu Fengyun suddenly looked up. ¡°Yes,¡± the employee¡¯s expression was one of surprise, ¡°Boss, you know of it?¡± ¡°Heh, so it¡¯s Boss Xu,¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°If it¡¯s him, then outsmarting Pingtian makes sense.¡± ¡°Let this matter be,¡± Liu Fengyun gestured dismissively, ¡°Tan Shao is definitely no match for Boss Xu.¡± ¡°Does this mean, the owner of this Starfire Foster Care Shop is really impressive?¡± asked the employee with a shocked expression. Until then, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the plight of the victimized party. But it seemed that Boss Liu viewed this Starfire Foster Care Shop with a sense of significance. ¡°You¡¯ll find out in time,¡± Liu Fengyun smiled, ¡°Go be busy.¡± ¡°¡­ Okay,¡± the employee spoke reluctantly and then turned to leave. Watching the employee¡¯s retreating figure, Liu Fengyun¡¯s face bore a smile, ¡°To get a shop up and running in one night, Boss Xu sure is decisive and efficient.¡± ¡°As an old friend, I should pay him a visit to congratulate him on the new store¡¯s opening,¡± he mused. With that, he stepped out of the store and headed in the direction of the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C After expressing his gratitude to Qi Yuan several times over, Xu Ran returned to the store with his five little ones. On the way back, Star¡¯s strides were noticeably larger than before, filled with a sprightly air. It was apparent that having some clues about both resources had excited it. ¡°After we close the shop tonight, we¡¯ll take a trip to the Fallen Star Valley,¡± Xu Ran said, patting Star¡¯s head and speaking with a smile. ¡°Meow~¡± (Those two at the Quasi-domineering Level, I¡¯ll take care of them!) Ziyun licked its paws, eyes ablaze with fighting spirit. Despite what Qi Yuan had said about Quasi-domineering Level beasts being on par with it, Ziyun thought he had no idea of its real strength. Just two creatures who hadn¡¯t reached the Overlord stage~ ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Thank you, Ziyun!) Star let out a whinny, quickening its pace even more. If everything went as expected, the Dawn Star Radiance would soon be within reach¡ªthen only the Town Star Stone would be left to find. With the lessons learned by Ziyun in searching for the Extinct Thunder Attraction, Star had braced itself to spend extra time and effort to seek out this most crucial Evolution Resource. Soon, one person accompanied by five pet beasts arrived at the storefront. Seeing the figure standing outside the door, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Boss Liu? What brings you here?¡± Chapter 698 - Chapter 698: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! Chapter 698: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! [This content is incomplete, please do not subscribe (normal updates will resume tomorrow)] ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Under the night sky, Xu Ran, with his four little ones, rode the Star at lightning speed and soon reached the destination. Before them lay a valley with a somewhat strange shape. Unlike common valleys, the valley¡¯s edge had layered and complex terrain formed by overlapping rocks, but the interior was a large depression, like the bottom of a pot. Under the cover of darkness, the rocks in the valley shimmered faintly, as if containing the power of the stars, and this light grew more intense the closer it was to the center of the valley. This was their destination, Fallen Star Valley. ¡°Crack~¡± Standing at the edge of the valley, Xu Ran casually broke off a piece of rock and examined it. Unlike ordinary rocks, this small piece occasionally twinkled and had strange, colorful patterns, like a special ore, looking extremely pretty. Cancan lifted a paw to touch the rock, then its expression turned more surprised. ¡°Chah~¡± (This rock contains not only Earth attribute power but also other powers.) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s Star Power!) The Star whinnied, sensing a trace of familiar power within the rock. As a Pet Beast with no Earth attribute, such a situation should not exist. All because the rock contained Star Power; it was this faint Star Power that made it feel an affinity. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Here, the effects of my ¡°Prayer of Starry Night¡± can be enhanced by more than thirty percent.) After feeling the rich Star Power around, Star¡¯s voice grew excited. No matter how numerous the stars above, where could be easier than the Star Power on the ground to absorb and utilize? ¡°Elder Qi Yuan mentioned the formation of Fallen Star Valley was related to the meteorites from outer space,¡± said Xu Ran, toying with the rock in his hand, smiling, ¡°It seems the Star Power from the meteorites has gradually been absorbed by the surrounding rocks.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and have a look.¡± Xu Ran looked towards the deeper parts of Fallen Star Valley, his eyes gleaming brightly. What a great place this was. One man with his five Pet Beasts rapidly crossed the rocky terrain on the periphery of Fallen Star Valley and entered the valley. The valley was surrounded by slopes on all sides, leading to the deepest point of the valley. Over a long period of erosion, the slopes were no longer smooth, with undulations and ancient gullies, but the overall trend had not changed. It was like a giant pot set into the earth, gathering the light of the stars. Upon entering, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew more cautious. For he had already felt an unfriendly gaze lurking in the dark. Unlike the valley exterior, Transcendent Beings had settled here. ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp sound of cutting through the air shattered the nights silence and swiftly attacked the man and his five beasts. It was a feather, which stabbed directly into a rock in front of Xu Ran, turning it to dust in an instant. This was a threat, as well as a warning. But faced with such a threat, Xu Ran didn¡¯t care. He turned his head to look at Star, ¡°How many?¡± The eyes of Star, once like purple crystals, had turned pitch black, and within them, black chains intertwined and wound around, looking extremely mysterious. Three Star Skill, Halo Level: Night Inspection. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Hundreds, with the highest at the Leadership Stage.) The Star whinnied, accurately reporting the number and strength of nearby beings. ¡°Just at the Leadership Stage?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, ¡°Twelve.¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Leave it to me!) Twelve spoke excitedly, then spread its wings and soared into the sky. Its bright sea-blue eyes gazed down below, like two glowing sapphires against the dark curtain of the night. An invisible force emanated from its center, sweeping the area in an instant. Amidst faint sounds of bodies hitting the ground and falling, all creatures hidden in the darkness instantly entered the realm of slumber. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level: Endless Sleep! For Twelve at the General Stage, using this skill on a group of creatures at most the Leadership Stage was enough to put them to sleep for several hours. At this moment, the skill allowed the man and his five beasts to penetrate deeper into the valley without alerting anyone. ¡°Well done.¡± Catching Twelve as it returned, Xu Ran praised satisfactorily, and then proceeded further. Group after group of Transcendent Beings were subjected to forced sleep by Twelve, and Xu Ran along with his five little ones ventured deeper into Fallen Star Valley. The Starlight twinkling in the night around them grew ever more brilliant, and the Star Power became increasingly rich. The strength of the Transcendent Beings had risen from the Leadership Stage to the General Stage. At this level, Twelve could no longer put them to sleep for an extended time. Sensing the intruders in the valley, powerful auras erupted, speeding towards the man and his five beasts, and soon appeared around them, entirely blocking all their retreat paths. An eerie silence fell over the scene, yet beneath this quiet there was a current of strong killing intent. To the Transcendent Beings who inhabited this place, there would be no goodwill towards the humans that appeared here. ¡°I¡¯ve come for a ¡®Dawn Star Radiance.''¡± Even surrounded by the creatures, Xu Ran remained calm and spoke with a smile, ¡°Give it to me, and I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Under the night sky, Xu Ran, with his four little ones, rode the Star at lightning speed and soon reached the destination. Before them lay a valley with a somewhat strange shape. Chapter 699 - Chapter 699: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _2 Chapter 699: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _2 Unlike ordinary valleys, the outer edges of this valley were lined with layers of complex terrain and rocky outcrops. But the interior, as a whole, was concave, resembling the bottom of a massive pot. Under the night sky, the rocks within the valley emitted a faint glow as if containing the power of stars, and this luminosity grew more intense as one drew closer to the heart of the valley. This was the place they were searching for¡ªthe Fallen Star Valley. ¡°Crack~¡± Standing on the outskirts of the valley, Xu Ran casually broke off a piece of rock to examine. Unlike rocks from the outside world, this small piece occasionally twinkled with a faint light and had peculiar colorful patterns on it, almost like a special ore, making it look very attractive. Cancan raised its paw to touch the rock, and then its expression turned somewhat surprised. ¡°Cha~¡± (This rock contains not only Earth attribute power but also other forces.) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s Star Power!) Star uttered a neigh. Within the rock, it sensed a power that felt familiar. As a non-Earth attribute Pet Beast, this should not have been possible. Everything was due to the Star Power contained within the stones; it was this faint hint of Star Power that evoked a sense of closeness. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Here, I can enhance the effect of the ¡®Prayer of Starry Night¡¯ by more than thirty percent.) Feeling the dense Star Power in the surroundings, Star¡¯s voice grew excited. No matter how many stars there are in the sky, where could they be more easily absorbed and utilized than the Star Power on the ground? ¡°Elder Qi Yuan once said that the formation of the Fallen Star Valley is related to a meteorite from beyond the skies,¡± Xu Ran said while playing with the rock in his hand, smiling, ¡°It must be the Star Power within the meteorite that was gradually absorbed by the surrounding rocks.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s take a look inside.¡± Xu Ran looked towards the deeper parts of the Fallen Star Valley, his eyes shining with brightness. This is a great place. The group of one man and five Pet Beasts quickly moved through the rocky outskirts of the Fallen Star Valley to enter the valley proper. The terrain inside the valley sloped downward on all sides, leading directly to the deepest part of the valley. These slopes, washed over by the long passage of time, were no longer smooth, taking on undulations and ravines that told of their ancient past. Yet the overall downward trend remained unchanged, like a giant cauldron embedded into the earth, channeling the light of the stars. Upon stepping inside, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew more cautious. For he could already sense the unfriendly gazes lurking in the shadows. Unlike the outside of the valley, this place was already inhabited by Transcendent Beings. ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp whooshing sound tore through the tranquil night, swiftly attacking the group. It was a feather that struck a rock directly in front of Xu Ran, turning the rock into powder in an instant. This was a threat as well as a warning. But faced with this threat, Xu Ran was unconcerned. He turned his head to look at Star, ¡°How many?¡± Star¡¯s amethyst-like eyes had unknowingly become pitch-black, with black chains intertwined within, adding an air of mystery. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Night Inspection. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Hundreds, with the highest only at Leadership Stage.) Star neighed, accurately reporting the number and strength of nearby creatures. ¡°Only Leadership Stage?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, ¡°Twelve.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Leave it to me!) Twelve spoke eagerly, then spread its wings and soared into the sky. Its bright, sea-blue eyes gazed down below, shining like two glowing sapphires amidst the dark canvas of the night. An invisible force radiated out from it as the center, sweeping through the surroundings instantly. Along with the soft sounds of bodies falling to the ground and collapse, all living creatures hidden in the shadows were cast into slumber in an instant. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level¡¤Endless Sleep! Ten, at General Level, could easily put a group of beings at the highest Leadership Stage to sleep for several hours. At this moment, this skill allowed the group, stealthy and undetected, to penetrate deeper without stirring the wildlife. ¡°Well done.¡± Xu Ran praised as he caught Twelve returning to his hand, and then they continued onwards. Batch after batch of Transcendent Beings were put to forced sleep by Twelve, as Xu Ran and the five Pet Beasts ventured deeper into the heart of Fallen Star Valley. The starlight that twinkled under the night sky became more resplendent, and the Star Power grew richer. The strength of the Transcendent Beings evolved from the previous Leadership Stage to the General Stage¡ªagainst creatures of this caliber, Twelve could no longer keep them asleep for long. Sensing intruders within the valley, powerful presences surged to the skies, hurtling towards the group at rapid speed. They soon appeared from all directions, sealing off all escape routes thoroughly. The setting fell into an eerie silence, but beneath this quietude surged a torrent of murderous intent. The Transcendent Beings entrenched here naturally harbored no good will towards the humans who had ventured into their territory. ¡°I am here for a piece of Dawn Star Radiance,¡± Xu Ran said calmly, his voice steady even amidst the encirclement of creatures, ¡°Give it to me, and I will leave immediately.¡± Under the veil of night, Xu Ran and his four Pet Beasts rode upon Star, lightning-fast, and quickly arrived at their destination. Before them was a valley with strangely shaped contours. Unlike ordinary valleys, the outer edges of this valley were lined with layers of complex terrain and rocky outcrops. But the interior, as a whole, was concave, resembling the bottom of a massive pot. Under the night sky, the rocks within the valley emitted a faint glow as if containing the power of stars, and this luminosity grew more intense as one drew closer to the heart of the valley. Chapter 700 - Chapter 700: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _3 Chapter 700: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _3 ¡°` We¡¯ve arrived, With a ¡°click,¡± Xu Ran, standing on the outskirts of the valley, casually snapped off a piece of rock and examined it. Unlike rocks from the outside world, this small piece had a faint glow flickering across its surface from time to time, along with some strange colored patterns, reminiscent of special ores and quite beautiful to look at. Cancan raised a claw to touch the rock, and then its expression became a bit more surprised. ¡°Chah~¡± (This rock contains not only Earth attribute power but also other forces.) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s Star Power!) Star whinnied. Within the rock, it sensed a familiar force. As a non-Earth attribute Pet Beast, this should not have been possible. Everything was because the rock contained Star Power. It was this slight Star Power that made it feel a kinship. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Here, I can enhance the effect of my Prayer of Starry Night by more than thirty percent.) After sensing the rich Star Power around it, Star¡¯s voice became excited. However many stars there may be in the sky, where can they compare to the Star Power in the ground that can be absorbed and utilized so easily? ¡°Elder Qi Yuan once said that the formation of Fallen Star Valley was related to celestial meteors,¡± Xu Ran toyed with the rock in his hand and smiled, ¡°It must be the Star Power within the meteors that were gradually absorbed by the surrounding rocks.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a look,¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the deeper parts of Fallen Star Valley, his eyes shining brightly. This is a good place indeed. A man and his five Pet Beasts quickly crossed the rocky area on the outskirts of Fallen Star Valley and entered the valley. Inside the valley, slopes descended on all sides, leading to the deepest part of the valley. These slopes, weathered over a long period, were no longer smooth. They had undulating terrain and ancient ravines, but the overall direction remained unchanged, like a giant pot embedded in the earth, gathering the light of the stars. Stepping inside, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became more cautious. For he had already felt a slightly malevolent gaze lurking in the dark. Unlike outside the valley, this place was already inhabited by Transcendent Beings. ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± A sharp whizzing sound ripped through the quiet night, swiftly attacking the man and his five beasts. It was a feather that pierced straight into the rock in front of Xu Ran, pulverizing it instantly. This was a threat as well as a warning. But Xu Ran was unconcerned with such a threat. He turned his head to look at Star beside him, ¡°How many?¡± Star¡¯s eyes, which were like purple crystals, had inexplicably turned pitch black. Within them, black chains interwove and twined, rendering them particularly mysterious. Three Star Skill, Halo Level ¨C Night Inspection. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Over a hundred, the highest only at Leadership Stage.) Star whinnied a response, accurately reporting the number and strength of nearby creatures. ¡°Only Leadership Stage?¡± Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, ¡°Twelve.¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Leave it to me!) Twelve spoke eagerly, then flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Its bright, ocean-blue eyes gazed downward, like two luminous sapphires against the dark night sky. An invisible force radiated from it, sweeping the area in an instant. Accompanied by soft thuds and the sound of falling bodies, all beings hidden in the dark immediately fell into a deep slumber. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level ¨C Endless Sleep! A General stage Twelve could easily put a group of creatures at the highest Leadership Stage to sleep for hours. At this moment, this skill allowed the man and his five beasts to infiltrate deeper without raising any alarms. ¡°Nicely done,¡± Xu Ran said, catching Twelve as it returned and complimenting it before they continued deeper. Batch after batch of Transcendent Beings were put to sleep by Twelve, and Xu Ran along with the five little ones ventured ever deeper into Fallen Star Valley. The Starlight, twinkling in the night around them, grew brighter and more brilliant, and the Star Power became increasingly concentrated. The strength of Transcendent Beings had progressed from the Leadership Stage to the General Stage. At this level, Twelve could no longer put them to sleep for extended periods. Sensing the intruders in the valley, a myriad of powerful presences rose to the sky, closing in swiftly on the man and his five beasts. Soon, they were surrounded from all sides, sealing off all possible escape routes. An eerie silence fell over the scene, but beneath this quiet, there was a palpable undercurrent of killing intent. The Transcendent Beings nesting here naturally bore no goodwill towards the Humans who had appeared. ¡°I have come to acquire a piece of Dawn Star Radiance,¡± Xu Ran said calmly, smiling even amidst the encirclement of beasts, ¡°Give it to me, and I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± ¡°` Chapter 701 - Chapter 701: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _4 Chapter 701: Chapter 337: Ziyun Takes Action, Dawn Star Radiance! _4 ¡°` Cancan raised its paw and touched the rock, then looked rather surprised. ¡°Chaa~¡± (This rock contains not only Earth attribute power, but also other powers.) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s Star Power!) The stars whinnied. Within the rock, it felt a sense of kinship with a faint power. As a Pet Beast not of the Earth attribute, such a situation should not exist. All because the rock was infused with Star Power, it was this faint glimmer of Star Power that made it feel close. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Here, the effectiveness of my Prayer of Starry Night can increase by more than thirty percent.) After sensing the dense Star Power around it, Starlight¡¯s voice became excited. No matter how many stars there are in the sky, where can Star Power on the ground be more easily absorbed and utilized? ¡°Previously, Elder Qi Yuan said that the formation of Fallen Star Valley was related to celestial meteors.¡± Xu Ran played with the rock in his hand and smiled, ¡°It must be that Star Power from the meteors has gradually been absorbed by the surrounding rocks.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check it out inside.¡± Xu Ran looked towards the deeper part of Fallen Star Valley with a bright gleam in his eyes. This is a good place indeed. One human and five Pet Beasts quickly traversed the rocky area around the perimeter of Fallen Star Valley and entered the valley. Inside the valley, slopes descend in all directions, reaching the deepest part of the valley. These slopes, eroded by the passage of time, were no longer smooth, showing undulations and weathered gullies, but the overall trend remained unchanged, like a cauldron embedded in the Earth, gathering the light of stars. Stepping into it, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat cautious. For he had already felt the slightly hostile gaze lurking in the darkness. Unlike outside the valley, Transcendent Beings had already taken residence here. ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp whooshing sound tore through the tranquil night, speeding towards one human and five Pet Beasts. It was a feather which pierced directly into a rock in front of Xu Ran, turning it to dust in an instant. This was both a threat and a warning. But Xu Ran was not concerned with such threats. He turned his head to look at Starlight, ¡°How many?¡± Starlight¡¯s amethyst-like eyes had unknowingly turned pitch black, with dark chains intertwined within, giving them a particularly mysterious look. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Night Inspection. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Over a hundred, the highest only at Leadership Stage.) Starlight whinnied again, accurately reporting the number and strength of nearby creatures. ¡°Only at Leadership Stage?¡± Xu Ran raised his eyebrows, ¡°Twelve.¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Leave it to me!) Twelve spoke excitedly, then flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Its bright sea-blue eyes gazed downward, shining like two luminous sapphires in the dark night. An invisible force centered around it swept out instantaneously in all directions. Following the slight sounds of bodies falling and creatures collapsing, all beings hidden in the dark instantly entered into slumber. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level¡¤Endless Sleep! Ten, at General stage, using this ability on a group of beings at most Leadership Stage, could easily put them to sleep for several hours. At this moment, this skill allowed one human and five small ones to penetrate deeply without alarming anyone. ¡°Well done.¡± Xu Ran praised as he caught Twelve, which had returned to his hand, and continued onwards. Batch after batch of Transcendent Beings were put into forced sleep by Twelve, and the steps of Xu Ran and his five little ones went deeper and deeper into Fallen Star Valley. The Starlight twinkling in the night around them grew brighter and the Star Power became more intense. The strength of the Transcendent Beings had risen from the previous Leadership Stage to the General Stage, and such creatures of this level could no longer be put to sleep for long by Twelve. ¡°` ¡°` Sensing the intruders within the valley, powerful presences shot up into the sky, rapidly approaching the human and five pet beasts, and soon appeared in every direction, completely blocking all their ways of retreat. An eerie silence fell over the scene, but beneath this quietude, intense killing intent flowed. For the humans who appeared here, the Transcendent Beings lurking would naturally not harbor any goodwill. ¡°I come seeking a piece of Dawn Star Radiance,¡± even faced with being surrounded by a host of beasts, Xu Ran remained quite calm, smiling as he spoke, ¡°Give it to me, and I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± ¡°We have arrived.¡± Under the cover of night, Xu Ran, with his four small ones, rode the star-powered wind at lightning speed and soon reached their destination. Before them lay a valley with rather odd shapes. Unlike ordinary valleys, the terrain around the edge of this valley consisted of layers of complicated rock formations, but the interior was concave as a whole, like a huge pot bottom. In the night, the rocks in the valley twinkled slightly with light as if they contained star power, and this glow became more intense closer to the center of the valley. This was where they were headed, the Fallen Star Valley. ¡°Crack~¡± Standing at the edge of the valley, Xu Ran casually broke off a piece of rock to examine. Unlike ordinary rocks, the surface of this small rock occasionally glittered and was streaked with strange, colorful patterns, akin to a special mineral, which looked quite pretty. Cancan lifted its paw and touched the rock, then its expression turned slightly surprised. ¡°Chirp~¡± (This rock contains Earth attribute Power and other forces as well.) ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s Star Power!) Star neighed in response. In the rock, it sensed a familiar power. As a non-Earth attribute Pet Beast, such a situation should not exist. Everything was due to the Star Power contained within the rock; it was this faint Star Power that made it feel kinship. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Here, I can enhance the effects of my Prayer of Starry Night skill by more than thirty percent.) Having sensed the rich Star Power around it, Star¡¯s voice grew excited. No matter how abundant the stars in the sky were, where could they compare with the Star Power on the ground, which was easier to absorb and utilize? ¡°Elder Qi Yuan once said that Fallen Star Valley was formed in relation to a meteor from beyond the heavens,¡± Xu Ran toyed with the rock in his hand and smiled, ¡°It seems the Star Power from the meteor was gradually absorbed by the surrounding rocks.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll have a look inside,¡± Xu Ran said, looking towards the deeper part of Fallen Star Valley, his eyes shining brightly. This is a good place. The human and five pet beasts quickly traversed the rocky area around the perimeter of Fallen Star Valley and entered the valley itself. All around the valley slope downward, leading to its deepest part. The slopes had undergone long periods of erosion and were no longer smooth, with undulating terrain and ancient gullies, but the overall trend remained the same, like a giant pot embedded in the earth, gathering the light of the stars. Setting foot inside, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew more cautious. Because he had already felt the slightly hostile gazes lurking in the dark. Unlike the area outside the valley, here Transcendent Beings had already taken up residence. ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp whistling sound tore through the tranquil night and rapidly attacked the human and five pet beasts. It was a feather that pierced straight into a rock in front of Xu Ran, turning it into dust in an instant. This was a threat, as well as a warning. But Xu Ran was unfazed by such threats. He turned his head to look at Star beside him, ¡°How many?¡± Star¡¯s eyes, once like amethysts, had turned pitch black and were entwined with black chains, looking especially mysterious. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Night Inspection. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Over a hundred, with the highest at Leadership Stage.) Star neighed, accurately reporting the number and strength of the nearby creatures. ¡°` Chapter 702 - Chapter 702: Chapter 338: Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies Chapter 702: Chapter 338: Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies ¡°Is this the Dawn Star Radiance?¡± Xu Ran stepped forward quickly, carefully picking up the gem that shimmered with dazzling light, a look of surprise appearing on his face, ¡°Such rich power.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let me see!) Star couldn¡¯t help but get close to Xu Ran, hanging its head low to stare intently at the evolution material that had just arrived. Under the starlight, its amethyst-like eyes also became bright. Feeling the rich Star Power within, Star felt as comfortable as if it were in a hot spring. Without a doubt, for it, this resource was a great supplement. ¡°Here, take it and keep it safe.¡± Xu Ran took out a pendant and secured the Dawn Star Radiance on it before hanging it around Star¡¯s neck. Then he turned to look at the Black Lion Beast King standing beside him with palpable trepidation, ¡°I have a question for you.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t those two at the Quasi-Dominant Level use this resource?¡± Upon hearing this question, the Black Lion Beast King was silent for a moment. ¡°Because, this resource cannot be absorbed.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes sharpened. The Dawn Star Radiance couldn¡¯t be absorbed? With limited knowledge about this resource, Xu Ran became more curious upon hearing the Black Lion Beast King saying this, ¡°Can you explain in detail?¡± ¡°This resource appeared at the very center of Falling Star Valley when Fallen Thunder Valley formed,¡± a hint of reminiscence appeared in the eyes of the Black Lion Beast King, ¡°Starry Sky Mother researched it the most and believed it to be the core of a fallen star.¡± ¡°When the meteor struck the earth, its outer layers shattered and dissipated, exposing it.¡± ¡°The core of a meteor?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give the pendant around Star¡¯s neck a few more glances. Unexpectedly, this Dawn Star Radiance had quite the background. ¡°Yes,¡± said the Black Lion Beast King slowly, ¡°It is extremely sturdy, so sturdy that even the combined efforts of the two Quasi-Dominants were unable to destroy it.¡± ¡°It contains powerful energy, but that energy couldn¡¯t be absorbed by the Overlords.¡± ¡°Starry Sky Mother had once tried to use it as evolution material in a crucial step to become an Emperor Species but failed. Meanwhile, the resource remained entirely intact.¡± ¡°Since then, the resource has been placed within this cavern.¡± ¡°That difficult?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback by the words of the Black Lion Beast King, ¡°But it seems quite absorbable to me?¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± The Black Lion Beast King instinctively looked towards Star and then abruptly froze in place. Because the Dawn Star Radiance hanging around Star¡¯s neck was now flickering and gradually releasing its energy into Star¡¯s body. The Black Lion Beast King couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, now even more shocked than when Ziyun had killed Starry Sky Mother. For hundreds of years since the appearance of the Dawn Star Radiance, no creature had been able to absorb its power. Never would it have imagined that it would be broken by the creature in front of it. After a long silence, a look of respect appeared in the eyes of the Black Lion Beast King. ¡°Perhaps, this resource has found its true owner.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Having obtained the Dawn Star Radiance, Xu Ran left Fallen Star Valley immediately with the five little Transcendent Beings that were not trembling in fear like the others. On the road back to the city, Star¡¯s steps were especially light. With this resource, the only Evolution Material it lacked was now down to the last one. Town Star Stone. As for how to obtain the Town Star Stone, that was a matter for future consideration. With the eye-catching Dawn Star Radiance around its neck, Star couldn¡¯t even maintain its stealth perfectly. It was like a beacon in the night, attracting countless envious gazes. However, when Ziyun once again displayed the Imperial Crown, those gazes disappeared in an instant. Emperor Species, indeed formidable. Before long, a man and five creatures returned to the storefront inside Xuanxing City. Only lying on the soft bed did they feel a sense of peace. ¡°Ding-dong¡ª¡± A notification sound from a cellphone rang out at that moment. Xu Ran picked up his phone to see a new unread message. The sender of the message was Qi Yuan. After a quick glance at the content of the message, a look of delight appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face, ¡°Star, there¡¯s news about the Town Star Stone!¡± ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± (Really?!) Still basking in the joy of acquiring the Dawn Star Radiance, Star abruptly lifted its head, eyes bursting with astonishing light. ¡°Do you remember what Elder Qi Yuan said when we visited him this afternoon?¡± Xu Ran shook his phone with a smile. ¡°Xuanxing City¡¯s protective Star Array cannot be destroyed, so this Town Star Stone can¡¯t be obtained, but Elder Qi Yuan has helped us pinpoint the location of this Town Star Stone.¡± ¡°If we go to the place where the Town Star Stones are produced, we will surely find some clues about the Town Star Stones, or if we are lucky, it¡¯s not impossible to find another one,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°Elder Qi Yuan has sent over the address.¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Where is it?) Star¡¯s eyes were full of anticipation. It was eager to set out immediately, heading for the site where the Town Star Stones were produced. ¡°It¡¯s a place called Silent Abyss,¡± Xu Ran said as he carefully checked the information, ¡°Qi Yuan is really considerate, even attaching a map in the attachment.¡± ¡°Let me look¡­ huh?¡± After seeing the location marked on the map, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes involuntarily widened, ¡°What a coincidence?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± (What¡¯s the matter?) Cancan, who was nearby, couldn¡¯t help but ask. The name ¡°Silent Abyss¡± ignited its spirit of adventure instantly. It sounded like a fascinating place! ¡°This place is very close to Poison Flame Valley,¡± Xu Ran started with a grin, ¡°Poison Flame Valley is where I chose for Firefly to evolve.¡± Chapter 703 - Chapter 703: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_2 Chapter 703: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_2 ¡°Luhou?¡± (Is that the place?) The firefly, who had thought it had nothing much to do with itself, suddenly lit up in the eyes. What a coincidence! ¡°Indeed, quite a coincidence,¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°This time, by taking a long trip, we can both explore the clues of the Town Star Stone and help the firefly complete its evolution.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (That¡¯s great!) Star nodded with joy. ¡°Jiu?¡± (So when do we set off?) Twelve tilted its head, its eyes filled with a hint of interest. Whether it was the firefly¡¯s evolution or the clues of the Town Star Stone, it was very interested. ¡°As for that¡­¡± Xu Ran showed a thoughtful expression, then made a decision after a moment, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the foster care exhibition ends, then we¡¯ll depart.¡± ¡°Counting the time, the foster care exhibition will be held in three days.¡± ¡°By then, we would have also stabilized our foothold in Xuanxing City.¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, looking towards the firefly, ¡°The firefly has been preparing for evolution during this time, right?¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± (Correct!) The firefly nodded vigorously. In the previous resource allocation, all of its skills had been improved to the Waning Moon Level, and the Three Star Skill, Eternal Burning Flame, raised by Undying Flame had even reached the Full Moon Level. But that wasn¡¯t enough! In its exchanges with the four seniors, the firefly learned that the higher the Proficiency of the Talent Skills at the time of evolution, the more help it would be for the evolution. During Twelve¡¯s evolution, it had two skills reach the Full Moon Level, whereas its own evolution conditions didn¡¯t require raising the Proficiency to the Full Moon Level. Compared to that, the preparations it had just enough to meet the evolution conditions were indeed insufficient! As a mutant species, there was always a trace of fear and trepidation about evolution in the firefly¡¯s heart. Therefore, it wanted to prepare even more. At the very least, it also wanted to have three skills reach the Full Moon Level! Time and again, seeing the great strength of the four seniors, it would be lying to say it wasn¡¯t envious. Therefore, it must give its all to complete this evolution! With this in mind, the firefly couldn¡¯t help but clench its claws. It needed to train even harder! ¡°Keep it up.¡± Xu Ran smiled and patted the firefly¡¯s head, then looked towards Star, ¡°These next few days, familiarize yourself with the Dawn Star Radiance¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Being able to absorb this resource might be due to your better Talent, your inherent Power also has many connections with Star Power.¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°This is a good thing, getting familiar with the power in advance can make the evolution smoother.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I understand.) Star nodded. Ziyun suddenly remembered something, and asked curiously. ¡°Meow?¡± (Has the Lucky Fish of Xuanxing City appeared yet?) ¡°The Lucky Fish¡­¡± Xu Ran touched his chin and shook his head helplessly, ¡°Not yet.¡± On the first day of business, Xu Ran also received six or seven customers, but none of these customers displayed any characteristics similar to that of a Lucky Fish. Therefore, Xu Ran wasn¡¯t sure whether there was a Lucky Fish in Xuanxing City. ¡°No worries, if there¡¯s still no Lucky Fish in half a month, I can go back to Bright Radiance City and bask in Miss Chou Yue¡¯s Lucky Fish aura,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Or I could try my luck in Qingzhou City or Cloud City.¡± ¡°Alright, go and train now.¡± Xu Ran sat upright from the bed, took a meditative posture, and soon entered deep meditation under the combined effects of two Meditation Acceleration Cards. Watching Xu Ran working hard to improve, the five little ones exchanged glances before confidently heading to their respective Attribute¡¯s Training Area. A night without words, only intense effort. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Just as Liu Fengyun had predicted, after the first attempt at sabotage, the Pingtian Foster Shop ceased to send people over. Starfire Foster Care Shop entered a peaceful development stage, and within just four days with excellent service, it gained a very good reputation in the nearby blocks and had already become somewhat famous. Stably receiving a dozen or twenty customers daily, the business of Starfire Foster Care Shop was now truly on track. The Fame of Starfire Foster Care Shop continued to rise steadily, and although it was only around 3% at the moment, it was already a good start. On this day, as Starfire Foster Care Shop just opened for business, it welcomed a special visitor. He was in uniform, representing the organizers of the Beast Master Association Pet Beast Foster Care Exhibition. ¡°Excuse me, is this Mr. Xu Ran, the owner of Starfire Foster?¡± The staff member entered the shop and got straight to the point. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s me,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, guessing the visitor¡¯s purpose, and quickly stepped forward, ¡°Has the foster care exhibition started?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [4,000 more words, working hard at it] ¡°So this is the Dawn Star Radiance.¡± Xu Ran quickly advanced, gingerly picking up the gem that glittered with dazzling light, his face showing a look of surprise, ¡°Such a rich Power.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let me see!) Star couldn¡¯t resist coming close to Xu Ran, lowering its head to gaze intently at the newly acquired Evolution Material. Under the starlight, its eyes, akin to purple crystals, became even brighter. Feeling the rich Star Power within, Star had the comfortable sensation of being in a hot spring. Without a doubt, this resource was hugely beneficial to it. ¡°Here, take it and keep it safe.¡± Xu Ran took out a pendant, fastened Dawn Star Radiance securely, and hung it around Star¡¯s neck. He then turned to the Black Lion Beast King, who was standing by skittishly, ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Chapter 704 - Chapter 704: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_3 Chapter 704: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_3 ¡°Why didn¡¯t those two Quasi-domineering Level beings use this resource?¡± Upon hearing this question, the Black Lion Beast King fell silent for a moment. ¡°Because this resource cannot be absorbed.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s gaze sharpened. The Dawn Star Radiance can¡¯t be absorbed? With limited knowledge about this resource, Xu Ran, now hearing what the Black Lion Beast King said, grew even more curious, ¡°Could you elaborate?¡± ¡°This resource appeared in the very center of Fallen Star Valley when Fallen Thunder Valley was formed,¡± the Black Lion Beast King recalled with a hint of reminiscence in his eyes, ¡°The Starry Sky Mother studied it the most and believed it to be the core of a fallen star.¡± ¡°The star struck the earth, its outer layers completely shattered and dissipated, exposing it.¡± ¡°The core of a fallen star?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give the pendant hanging around Star¡¯s neck a few more glances. It didn¡¯t look it, but this Dawn Star Radiance actually had an impressive origin. ¡°Yes.¡± The Black Lion Beast King slowly began, ¡°It¡¯s extremely sturdy, so much so that even when two Quasi-domineering Level beings joined forces, they couldn¡¯t destroy it.¡± ¡°It contains a powerful force within, but this force cannot be absorbed by either of the Overlords.¡± ¡°The Starry Sky Mother once tried to use it as Evolution Material to take the critical step toward becoming an Emperor Species, but ultimately failed, and the resource remained unscathed.¡± ¡°Since then, this resource has been left within these caverns.¡± ¡°That difficult?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue upon hearing the Black Lion Beast King¡¯s words, ¡°But it seems quite absorbable to me?¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± The Black Lion Beast King instinctively glanced in Star¡¯s direction, then suddenly froze in place. Because the Dawn Star Radiance hanging around Star¡¯s neck was, at that moment, twinkling as it gradually released its energy, transmitting it into Star¡¯s body. The Black Lion Beast King couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, his shock even surpassing that of Ziyun killing the Starry Sky Mother. The Dawn Star Radiance had been around for hundreds of years with no creature ever able to absorb its power; it was unimaginable that it would make an exception for the being before them. After a long silence, the Black Lion Beast King¡¯s eyes filled with a hint of admiration. ¡°Perhaps this resource has found its true master.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Having obtained the Dawn Star Radiance, Xu Ran, along with the five smaller Transcendent Beings who were not shaking in terror as usual, left Fallen Star Valley immediately. On the way back to the city, Star¡¯s steps were unusually light. With this resource acquired, only one last piece of Evolution Material was missing. The Town Star Stone. As for how to obtain the Town Star Stone, that was a matter for further consideration. With the eye-catching Dawn Star Radiance hanging on Star, it couldn¡¯t maintain its concealment perfectly, shining like a beacon in the night and drawing covetous gazes. However, when Ziyun once again displayed the Imperial Crown, those glances instantly vanished. The Emperor Species was not to be trifled with. Before long, Xu Ran and his five pets returned to their shop in Xuanxing City. It was only when they lay on the comfortable big bed that they felt a semblance of peace. ¡°Ding-dong¡ª¡± A smartphone notification sounded at that moment. Xu Ran picked up his phone and saw an unread message. The sender of the message was Qi Yuan. After a glance at the message, Xu Ran¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Star, there¡¯s news about the Town Star Stone!¡± ¡°Xi Lu?!¡± (Really?!) Star, still basking in the joy of acquiring the Dawn Star Radiance, abruptly lifted its head, eyes bursting with an astonishing light. ¡°Do you remember, when we visited Elder Qi Yuan at noon, what he said?¡± Xu Ran shook his phone with a smile. ¡°Xuanxing City¡¯s protective Star Array can¡¯t be destroyed, so the Town Star Stone there cannot be obtained, but Elder Qi Yuan helped us find the location of another Town Star Stone,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, ¡°Elder Qi Yuan sent the address over.¡± ¡°Xi Lu?¡± (Where is it?) Star was full of anticipation. It couldn¡¯t wait to set off, heading straight for the place where the Town Star Stone was produced. ¡°It¡¯s a place called the Silent Abyss,¡± Xu Ran checked carefully, ¡°Elder Qi Yuan is so considerate; he even attached a map in the attachment.¡± ¡°Let me see¡­ huh?¡± After seeing the location marked on the map, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes involuntarily widened, ¡°What a coincidence?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± (What¡¯s up?) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but ask. Upon hearing the name ¡°Silent Abyss,¡± its adventurous spirit instantly flared up. It sounded like a fascinating place! ¡°This place is very close to Poison Flame Valley,¡± Xu Ran said with a grin, ¡°Poison Flame Valley is where I¡¯ve chosen for Firefly to evolve.¡± ¡°Lu ho?¡± (Is that so?) Firefly, who originally thought this had little to do with itself, suddenly lit up. What a coincidence! ¡°Indeed, quite the coincidence,¡± Xu Ran nodded with a smile, ¡°In this way, with one trip, we can seek clues about the Town Star Stone and help Firefly evolve.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (That¡¯s great!) Star nodded joyously. ¡°Jiu?¡± (So when do we leave?) Twelve tilted its head to the side, its eyes also filled with interest. Whether it was Firefly¡¯s evolution or clues about the Town Star Stone, it was very keen to know. ¡°About that¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face took on a contemplative expression. After a moment, he made up his mind, ¡°Well, how about this: once the pet fostering exhibition is over, we¡¯ll set off.¡± Chapter 705 - Chapter 705: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_4 Chapter 705: Chapter 338 Clues of the Town Star Stone and the Evolution of Fireflies_4 ¡°Looking at the time, the foster experience exhibition is just three days away.¡± ¡°By then, we should also have gained a foothold in Xuanxing City,¡± said Xu Ran, pausing briefly before looking at Firefly, ¡°Firefly, have you been preparing for evolution all this time?¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± (Yes!) Firefly nodded emphatically. During the last resource allocation, its skills had all been raised to the Waning Moon Level; the Three Star Skill, Eternal Burning Flame, enhanced by the Undying Flame, had been raised to the Full Moon Level. But this, was still not enough! In its interactions with the four seniors, Firefly had learned that the higher the Proficiency of Talent Skills during evolution, the better it would aid the process. When Twelfth evolved, it had two skills that reached the Full Moon Level, yet its Evolution Conditions did not require Skill Proficiency to be raised to the Full Moon Level. By comparison, Firefly¡¯s mere meeting of the Evolution Conditions was far from enough! As a mutated species, Firefly always harbored a trace of fear and trepidation towards evolution, which is why it wanted to prepare even more. At the very least, it needed three skills to reach the Full Moon Level! After witnessing the four seniors¡¯ display of strength time after time, it would be a lie to say Firefly wasn¡¯t envious. That¡¯s why it had to give its all to complete this evolution! With this thought, Firefly couldn¡¯t help but clench its claws tightly. It needed to train even harder! ¡°Keep it up,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he patted Firefly on the head, then turned to Star, ¡°These next few days, you should familiarize yourself with the power of Dawn Star Radiance.¡± ¡°Being able to absorb this resource may be due to your better Talent and inherent Power¡¯s many connections with Star Power,¡± Xu Ran paused, ¡°This is a good thing. Getting to know the power in advance will make the evolution go more smoothly.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I understand.) Star nodded. Ziyun suddenly remembered something and asked curiously. ¡°Meow?¡± (Has the Lucky Fish of Xuanxing City shown up yet?) ¡°Lucky Fish¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin and shook his head helplessly, ¡°Not yet.¡± During the first day of business, Xu Ran had served six or seven guests, but none of them displayed characteristics like the Lucky Fish. Thus, Xu Ran was uncertain whether Xuanxing City had a Lucky Fish. ¡°No matter, if we still haven¡¯t found a Lucky Fish half a month later, I¡¯ll just take a trip back to Bright Radiance City and mooch off Miss Chou Yue¡¯s Lucky Fish aura,¡± Xu Ran said with a laugh. ¡°Otherwise, going to Qingzhou City or Xieyun City to rub off some of their luck is also an option.¡± ¡°Alright, you guys go and train,¡± Xu Ran said as he sat up straight on the bed, adopting a meditation posture, and quickly entered a deep meditation under the combined effect of two Meditation Acceleration Cards. Watching the industrious Xu Ran, the five little ones exchanged glances before heading to their respective Attribute Training Areas, as if it was second nature. A night passed without a word, save for the relentless grinding. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Just as Liu Fengyun had predicted, after their first attempt at sabotage, the Pingtian Foster Shop did not send anyone else to cause trouble. The Starfire Foster Care Shop entered a peaceful development stage, and within just four short days, it had earned a great reputation with excellent service and was already somewhat famous in the nearby blocks. Every day, a stable stream of fifteen to twenty customers visited, and the business of the Starfire Foster Shop had thoroughly gotten on the right track. Meanwhile, the Fame of the Starfire Foster Shop continued to rise; although it was only around 3% at the moment, it was a promising start. On this day, just as the Starfire Foster Shop had begun its business, it welcomed a special guest. He was dressed in a uniform, representing the organizer of the Beast Master Association¡¯s Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibition. ¡°May I ask if Mr. Xu Ran, the owner of Starfire Foster, is present?¡± the staff member entered the shop and got straight to the point. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up as he guessed the visitor¡¯s purpose and quickly approached, ¡°Has the foster experience exhibition started?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Four thousand words to go, liver-busting in progress]¡±Lurou!¡± (Yes!) Firefly nodded vigorously. In the last resource allocation, all its skills had been upgraded to Waning Moon Level, and the Three Star Skill Eternal Burning Flame, enhanced by Undying Flame, had even reached Full Moon Level. But this was still not enough! In its exchanges with the four seniors, Firefly learned that the higher the proficiency of talent skills at the time of evolution, the greater the help for the evolution. During its evolution, No. 12 had two skills that reached Full Moon Level, whereas its own evolution conditions did not require skill proficiency to be elevated to Full Moon Level. By comparison, just meeting the bare minimum for the evolution conditions was far from sufficient! As a member of a mutated species, Firefly always harbored a trace of fear and apprehension about evolution, so it wanted to prepare even more. At the very least, it wanted to get three skills to Full Moon Level! Every time it saw the four seniors demonstrate their formidable strength, it would be lying if it said it didn¡¯t envy them. So it had to give its all to complete this evolution! Thinking of this, Firefly couldn¡¯t help but clench its claws. It needed to train even harder! ¡°Keep it up,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile as he stroked Firefly¡¯s head before looking at Star, ¡°For the next few days, you should familiarize yourself with the power of Dawn Star Radiance.¡± ¡°You might be able to absorb this resource because your talent is better, and your own power has many connections with the Star Power,¡± Xu Ran paused for a moment, ¡°This is good news, getting to know the power in advance can make the evolution go more smoothly.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I understand.) Star nodded. Ziyun suddenly remembered something and asked curiously. ¡°Meow?¡± (Has the Lucky Fish of Xuanxing City appeared yet?) ¡°The Lucky Fish¡­¡± Xu Ran touched his chin and shook his head helplessly, ¡°Not yet.¡± On the first day of business, Xu Ran had also served six or seven customers, but none of them exhibited traits akin to a Lucky Fish. Therefore, Xu Ran was not sure whether Xuanxing City had a Lucky Fish. ¡°No worries, if there¡¯s no Lucky Fish after half a month, I¡¯ll go back to Bright Radiance City and borrow a bit of Miss Chou Yue¡¯s lucky aura,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°Otherwise, I could also go to Qingzhou City or Xieyun City to try my luck.¡± ¡°Alright, you guys should go train,¡± Xu Ran sat up straight on the bed, assuming a meditative posture, and soon under the combined effect of two Meditation Acceleration Cards, entered into a deep meditation. Watching Xu Ran striving to improve, the five little ones exchanged a glance, then headed to their respective attribute training areas as if they were on familiar ground. A night without words, only liver-busting. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time flies swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, three days passed. As Liu Fengyun had predicted, after the first attempt to cause trouble, Pingtian Foster Shop had not sent anyone over anymore. Starfire Foster Care Shop entered a peaceful development phase, and within a mere four days, obtained a fantastic reputation with excellent service, already becoming somewhat famous in the nearby neighborhoods. Every day, a steady stream of ten to twenty customers visited, and the business of Starfire Foster Care Shop was now firmly on the right track. Moreover, the fame of Starfire Foster Care Shop was continuously rising; although it was currently only around 3%, it had already made a fine start. That day, just as Starfire Foster Care Shop began its business, it welcomed a special guest. He was in uniform, representing the organizers of the Beast Master Association Pet Beast Foster Care Experience Exhibition. ¡°May I ask if this is the owner of Starfire Foster, Mr. Xu Ran?¡± the staff member entered the shop and got straight to the point. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, guessing the purpose of the visit, and quickly stepped forward, ¡°Has the Foster Care Experience Exhibition started?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Four thousand words to go, liver-busting in progress] Chapter 706 - Chapter 706: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu Chapter 706: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu Looking through the eyes of Pet Beasts, even the four main judges, who had served as the main judges for numerous exhibitions and seen many foster environments, couldn¡¯t help but be dumbfounded by what they saw inside the Starfire Foster Shop. ¡°This newly opened foster shop has actually integrated Space Expansion Technology directly with the foster area?¡± one of the main judges couldn¡¯t help but mutter quietly, ¡°This foster area is ridiculously big.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just big.¡± Another main judge said solemnly, ¡°He has also combined environmental simulation technology to achieve customization of pet fostering, meeting all the living needs of Pet Beasts.¡± ¡°My Pet Beast just told me something.¡± The third main judge spoke in a low voice, ¡°The owner of this shop has a Super ability Attribute Pet Beast that possesses telepathic skills.¡± Upon hearing this, the room briefly fell silent. A moment later, a judge couldn¡¯t help but whisper, ¡°Then haven¡¯t all the challenges we designed been solved by him?¡± Hearing this, the other judges began to talk amongst themselves, the initial ease on their faces replaced by a hint of dissatisfaction. Indeed, dissatisfaction. For them, the greatest joy of being judges was to bring out their troublesome Pet Beasts and let others worry about them. Now that Xu Ran had so easily solved the problem, it immediately made them feel as if they had lost face. ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± The fourth main judge said with a chuckle, his face full of confidence, ¡°I admit that the foster environment of this shop is beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°But, the foster experience exhibition isn¡¯t just about the foster environment.¡± ¡°Soon, the owner of this foster shop will face a brand new challenge.¡± He paused slightly, ¡°This time, I think he won¡¯t solve it so easily.¡± At the words of this main judge, all judges¡¯ eyes lit up. Right, they had almost forgotten about that. Fostering includes ¡°eating¡± and ¡°living,¡± and now that no one could find fault with the ¡°living¡± aspect, it didn¡¯t mean they would be able to deliver a perfect score in the ¡°eating¡± aspect. For the twenty Pet Beasts selected this time, they had sufficient confidence. Being picky eaters was the least of their problems. ¡°Just wait, he¡¯s going to get a taste!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Your feathers are really beautiful.¡± Xu Ran looked at the Red Brocade Bird in front of him with a big smile. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Thank you~) The Red Brocade Bird, which had a natural love for beauty, couldn¡¯t help but hold its slender neck high upon receiving the compliment, proudly flicking up the reddish crown of feathers on its head even higher. ¡°Red Brocade Birds need to eat small meals frequently, and I¡¯m about to prepare food for you now. Do you have anything you¡¯d like to eat or dislike?¡± Taking advantage of the bird¡¯s good mood, Xu Ran quickly began to inquire. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I hate the smell of fish, and I like¡­) The Red Brocade Bird shook its head, rattling off a long list of likes and dislikes quickly. Xu Ran rapidly took notes in his notebook, and by the time the Red Brocade Bird had finished speaking, he had filled a full three pages. Looking at the writing on the paper, Xu Ran¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. This was a bit troublesome. The dietary preferences of this particular Red Brocade Bird were quite special and vastly different from normal Red Brocade Birds; almost all the ingredients normally used to prepare food for Red Brocade Birds were not to its liking. It seemed that a change to the food formula was needed. ¡°Just give me a moment.¡± Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran flashed a smile and then turned to leave. Countless thoughts began to whirl in his mind. As the saying goes, learning one thing can aid in understanding others. Xu Ran had acquired hundreds of pieces of Advanced Nutrition Science knowledge for Pet Beasts from the system over time and already had some personal insight. Now, those insights acted as nourishment, gradually altering the ¡°Advanced Nutrition Science of Red Brocade Bird Species,¡± erasing the ingredients disliked by the Red Brocade Bird judges and replacing them with ones that had similar effects. Xu Ran¡¯s footsteps grew lighter. It did not take long for a new formula to emerge in his mind. He was confident that the Red Brocade Bird would find absolutely nothing unsatisfactory about this food. Striding into the food preparation room, Xu Ran quickly got to work. Soon, Xu Ran entered the living area of the Red Brocade Bird with a small food basin in hand. ¡°Chirp?¡± The Red Brocade Bird, which was leisurely preening its feathers, suddenly stopped its actions. Looking around in puzzlement, the soft parts at the base of its beak fluttered slightly as it delicately discerned an unusual fragrance that suddenly filled the air. It was a scent that the Red Brocade Bird had never encountered before. At the moment of its appearance, the Red Brocade Bird¡¯s hunger intensified instantly, and the longing for food caused its stomach to contract instinctively. Swallowing with difficulty, the Red Brocade Bird flapped its wings, turned into a crimson streak across the sky, and flew towards the source of the fragrance. Soon, it landed in front of Xu Ran, its cherry-red eyes blazing with intensity, fixated on the food basin in Xu Ran¡¯s hands. As it drew closer, the tempting scent grew more intense, brazenly invading its nostrils with undeniable potency. Inhaling the delightful aroma, the Red Brocade Bird was almost entranced. It stared fixedly at the food basin, eager to dive in and feast. ¡°This is all for you, take your time eating.¡± At that moment, Xu Ran¡¯s words sounded in the Red Brocade Bird¡¯s ears, as sweet as the most beautiful music. Chapter 707 - Chapter 707: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_2 Chapter 707: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_2 As soon as Xu Ran lightly placed the food bowl down, the Red Brocade Bird swooped in, its long neck bending low to take a big bite from the bowl. With the food entering its mouth, an intensely rich aroma instantly burst forth around the beak and nostrils of the Red Brocade Bird. This fragrance was mixed with a variety of complex Transcendent Resources, each one a flavor adored by the Red Brocade Bird! Surprise and satisfaction gleamed in the eyes of the Red Brocade Bird. After savoring it briefly, it lifted its drooping neck high, allowing the food to slide down its slender neck into its stomach under the force of gravity. After one bite, when the Red Brocade Bird looked back at the food bowl, its eyes were already filled with an unmistakable greed. Mine! All mine! It ate bite after bite, quickly finishing the not-so-abundant portion of food in the bowl. Before long, the Red Brocade Bird carefully picked up the last piece of food residue in the corner of the bowl and swallowed it elegantly as a fitting end to the meal. Seeing the large amount of Pleasure value provided by the Red Brocade Bird during its feeding, Xu Ran nodded contentedly. With the prompt of Pleasure value, this foster experience seemed nearly like cheating. After all, he could ascertain the real foster status of the Pet Beast at the moment through the earnings in Pleasure value. ¡°The food is very nutritious, just right for expending some energy after eating,¡± Xu Ran said, cleaning up the food bowl and smiling slightly at the Red Brocade Bird that was pulsing with surging power, ¡°I¡¯ll be going now. Just call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Lii~¡± (Okay!) The Red Brocade Bird nodded vigorously. It also belatedly realized that its body had become hot and bothered, the vast amount of power absorbed from the food putting it in an overly energetic state, which was quite uncomfortable to contain at the moment. Once Xu Ran¡¯s figure had vanished, the Red Brocade Bird let out a sharp and excited cry, flapping its wings as it began to soar in circles in its living area for a long time. Round and round it went. It had never felt this excited even during mating season. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°What time is it now?¡± In the meeting room of the Beast Master Association, a chief evaluator inquired casually. ¡°It¡¯s ten o¡¯clock in the morning,¡± one evaluator answered promptly, then turned to another person in the room, ¡°Old Zhou, isn¡¯t it time to feed your Red Brocade Bird?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± the evaluator known as ¡°Old Zhou¡± nodded, ¡°Its last meal was at seven in the morning. According to its usual habits, it should be hungry by now.¡± ¡°Looks like the owner of Starfire Foster is about to face a new round of challenges,¡± the questioning evaluator chuckled, ¡°Old Zhou¡¯s Red Brocade Bird is probably the pickiest eater of all our Pet Beasts, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Indeed, speaking of pickiness, that Red Brocade Bird is the worst,¡± another evaluator agreed, then turned to Old Zhou, ¡°You should ask Red Brocade Bird if it has been fed.¡± The other evaluators echoed the sentiment, their gazes turning toward Old Zhou. If it hadn¡¯t been fed and the Red Brocade Bird was left hungry, the foster experience would undoubtedly incur a penalty. Even if it had been fed, failing to cater to the Red Brocade Bird¡¯s taste would also result in a deduction of points. Being in a no-win situation, they were quite keen to see how the owner of the foster shop would handle this dilemma. ¡°Just a moment, I¡¯ll ask,¡± Old Zhou nodded and swiftly connected with the Pet Beast through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Red Cloud, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°Lii~¡± (I¡¯m great! Incredibly great! You have no idea!) When Old Zhou sensed the unusually high excitement in the Red Brocade Bird¡¯s thoughts, he frowned slightly. ¡°Have you eaten? How was the taste?¡± ¡°Lii~¡± (Just finished eating, it was so good it blew my mind!) Old Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± Do birds use idioms like that? He was about to ask more when the Red Brocade Bird sent an impatient thought. ¡°Lii~¡± (Busy flying in circles here, let¡¯s chat later!) After that, the Red Brocade Bird promptly severed the Contractual Sensing on its own. In that instant, Old Zhou was utterly speechless. Seeing Old Zhou fall silent with a shifting expression, the other evaluators felt as if cats were clawing at their hearts. One of the evaluators sitting next to him couldn¡¯t help but pat his shoulder, ¡°What¡¯s the situation, Old Zhou? Was it fed?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ it was fed,¡± Old Zhou snapped back to reality, answering his colleague reflexively. ¡°Not bad, so it was actually fed. I thought the owner of the foster shop might forget.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got a Pet Beast with which they can communicate freely, understanding Red Brocade Bird¡¯s dietary habits shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°But with the Red Brocade Bird being so finicky, even if it was fed, I doubt the results were good,¡± one of the evaluators remarked. The evaluators spoke one after another until all their gazes converged on Old Zhou. ¡°How did the Red Brocade Bird feel after eating?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Old Zhou hesitated for a moment, then spoke somewhat uncertainly. ¡°Soul¡­ soul-stirring?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The evaluators from the organizing body were dumbfounded, while on the other side at Starfire Foster, Xu Ran faced a new problem. ¡°You don¡¯t want to eat?¡± He looked at the Cloud Stepping Fox in front of him, frowning involuntarily. This Cloud Stepping Fox was thinner than a typical Pet Beast¡¯s build, it really should eat more to make up for it. Yet, this Cloud Stepping Fox was refusing to cooperate. ¡°Ying~¡± (I¡¯m too fat, I need to diet!) The Cloud Stepping Fox spoke earnestly, looking very determined. It wouldn¡¯t touch the food at all! Xu Ran fell silent for a moment and glanced at the Pleasure value income prompt. When he first entered here, the Cloud Stepping Fox provided 5 points of Pleasure value at once, but now it had dropped to 3 points. Chapter 708 - Chapter 708: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_3 Chapter 708: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_3 This meant that the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s foster care experience was deteriorating. This decline wasn¡¯t because the Cloud Stepping Fox had become dissatisfied with the living area¡¯s environment, but because it was not in a good state at the moment. In short, hunger was affecting its mood. In this situation, the Cloud Stepping Fox still insisted on not eating a bite of food, which made Xu Ran feel somewhat stumped for a moment. After hosting so many Pet Beast fosterings, this was indeed the first time he had encountered such a situation. Have Pet Beasts started to become anxious about their figures nowadays?! Wait a second¡­ figure anxiety¡­ A contemplative look appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. Content from some short videos he had seen in his previous life flashed through his mind. Looking at the Cloud Stepping Fox in front of him, stubbornly refusing to eat, Xu Ran steeled his heart. Let¡¯s give it a try, it might just work. ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Xu Ran dropped these words before spinning on his heel and departing with a swish. ¡°Ying~¡± (Whatever you try, I¡¯m absolutely not eating!) As Xu Ran¡¯s figure receded, the Cloud Stepping Fox let out a big shout. Only after Xu Ran¡¯s figure had disappeared did it lift a paw to rub its empty stomach. So hungry¡­ But I must endure! Determination filled the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s eyes. It wanted to become slimmer and prettier! As time ticked by, soon Xu Ran returned. He was pushing a food cart, accompanied by Twelve, and another Pet Beast. That was a Lingli Beast. It was also one of the twenty Pet Beasts under review this time. Entering the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s living area for the first time, the Lingli Beast curiously glanced around, though it occasionally cast its gaze toward the food cart that Xu Ran was pushing. A hint of delicious aroma wafting out from the cart made it swallow its saliva involuntarily. Watching Xu Ran approach, a bit of wariness appeared in the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ying~¡± (What are you going to do?) ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, time for lunch,¡± Xu Ran said with a chuckle, sitting down on the ground in front of the Cloud Stepping Fox and magically producing a food bowl from the cart. The Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s eyes widened, about to say ¡°I won¡¯t eat¡±, but it realized the food wasn¡¯t prepared for it. The bowl was placed in front of the Lingli Beast. The rich fragrance, unleashed with the opening of the bowl, instantly filled the entire area. Smelling the exotic rich aroma, the Cloud Stepping Fox couldn¡¯t help but swallow its saliva. Already hungry, it felt as if a little imp had stirred up its appetite, leaving it on the brink of losing its mind with hunger. On the other side, the Lingli Beast was even less composed. Its sharp sense of smell had detected the unusual aroma from the cart earlier, and now as the cart was opened and the bowl placed before it, the scent intensified, becoming almost a hundred times more potent. Equally hungry, the Lingli Beast didn¡¯t hesitate at all. It grabbed a handful and stuffed it into its mouth, barely chewing before swallowing, the delightful taste lingering on its tongue filling its eyes with surprise. ¡°Sha!¡± (This is delicious!) With a loud cry, the Lingli Beast accelerated its eating, its paws and face smeared with food juices, which somehow made it look even more appetizing. Watching the Lingli Beast¡¯s performance, Xu Ran smiled with satisfaction. Choosing it, there were numerous reasons. First of all, the Lingli Beast and the Cloud Stepping Fox were two types of Pet Beasts with similar living habits, comfortable to be around each other. Although the pair here didn¡¯t know each other, the Cloud Stepping Fox didn¡¯t oppose letting the Lingli Beast enter its territory. Secondly, the Lingli Beast and Cloud Stepping Fox had similar dietary habits, which meant the Lingli Beast¡¯s food would likely be something the Cloud Stepping Fox would enjoy. Lastly and most importantly, the Lingli Beast had a rather rough way of eating. Looking over at the Cloud Stepping Fox, who was staring wide-eyed at the Lingli Beast and swallowing saliva continuously, Xu Ran chuckled inwardly. I¡¯ll let you experience the thrill of a live eating show. No, this is much more powerful than a live eating show. After all, you can¡¯t smell the aroma with a live eating show. And this was not all that Xu Ran had prepared. He casually took out another food bowl from the cart and handed it to Twelve. Now, it was Twelve¡¯s time to perform. Twelve pretended to taste a mouthful from the food bowl, then curiously asked. ¡°Jiu?¡± (Why is today¡¯s food served chilled?) ¡°Cold food doesn¡¯t have calories,¡± Xu Ran said with a mysterious smile. ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t have calories, you won¡¯t gain weight.¡± ¡°Jiu!¡± (I see!) Twelve looked as though it had an epiphany and ate a few bites, then picked up a piece of meat that had both fat and lean parts. ¡°Jiu?¡± (Eating this won¡¯t make me fat?) ¡°That¡¯s fried meat,¡± Xu Ran spoke with a smile. ¡°All the calories have been fried away, it¡¯s zero-cal, so eat without worries.¡± ¡°Jiu!¡± (Alright then!) Twelve carefully savored the food in the bowl, occasionally picking out a type of ingredient to inquire about, and Xu Ran answered fluidly every time, always managing to prove the food wouldn¡¯t make one fat. The Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s ears had perked up without notice, it watched the Lingli Beast¡¯s live eating show and listened to the exchange between Xu Ran and Twelve echoing in its ears while feeling the gnawing hunger, its expression growing increasingly animated. ¡°Sha!¡± (I¡¯ve finished eating!) Soon, the Lingli Beast¡¯s bowl was empty, licked clean without a drop of soup left, and Twelve¡¯s bowl was empty as well. It wasn¡¯t even its mealtime yet; this was just an extra snack, so the portion wasn¡¯t large. ¡°Done eating, we should leave now,¡± Xu Ran said, pretending to tidy up the food cart, and then to his feigned surprise, he brought out another bowl, ¡°Huh? There¡¯s still one more bowl left?¡± Chapter 709 - Chapter 709: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_4 Chapter 709: Chapter 339: The Tricky Organizers and the Flawless Boss Xu_4 He turned his head toward the Cloud Stepping Fox, grinning as he spoke, ¡°It would be a waste not to eat the food that¡¯s been prepared. Why don¡¯t you eat it?¡± ¡°Ying~¡± (Waste¡­ wasting food is shameful, just this once!) The Cloud Stepping Fox picked up the food bowl with a conflicted expression and carefully took a bite. With just one bite, its light blue eyes turned into heart shapes, completely captivated by the delicious taste of the food. Already starving, it stopped pretending and began to gobble up the food greedily. Xu Ran stood with his arms crossed, a broad smile on his face. Dieting? It won¡¯t lose a bit! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Two thousand more words to go, burning the midnight oil] ¡°Bewitched¡­ bewitched by the taste?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The event organizers were dumbfounded, while on the other side at Starfire Foster Care Shop, Xu Ran encountered a new problem. ¡°You don¡¯t want to eat?¡± He looked at the Cloud Stepping Fox in front of him and couldn¡¯t help but frown. This Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s body shape was already on the thin side compared to normal Pet Beasts; it should eat more to fill out. Unexpectedly, the Cloud Stepping Fox refused to cooperate. ¡°Ying~¡± (I¡¯m too fat, I need to diet!) The Cloud Stepping Fox seriously made its case, its expression very determined. Food, it wouldn¡¯t eat a bite! Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, glancing at the Pleasure Value earnings prompt. Initially, the Cloud Stepping Fox contributed 5 points of Pleasure Value per session, but now it had dropped to 3 points. This meant that the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s foster experience was beginning to deteriorate. This decline was not because the Cloud Stepping Fox was dissatisfied with its living area, but rather because it was not in a good state at the moment. In short, hunger affected its mood. In such a situation, the Cloud Stepping Fox still insisted on not eating a bite of food, which instantly made Xu Ran feel somewhat challenged. Having hosted many Pet Beast fosters, this truly was the first time he encountered such a situation. Even Pet Beasts were starting to have body image anxieties these days?! Wait a second¡­ body image anxiety¡­ A thoughtful look crossed Xu Ran¡¯s face. He recalled some short video content he had seen in his previous life. Looking at the Cloud Stepping Fox in front of him, steadfastly refusing to eat, Xu Ran steeled his resolve. Let¡¯s give it a try, it might just work. ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Xu Ran said and quickly turned around to leave. ¡°Ying~¡± (No matter what you do, I absolutely will not eat!) Watching Xu Ran¡¯s retreating back, the Cloud Stepping Fox yelled out. Only when Xu Ran¡¯s figure disappeared did it lift a paw and rub its completely empty stomach. So hungry¡­ But it must endure! A resolute light shone in the eyes of the Cloud Stepping Fox. It wanted to become slimmer, more attractive! Minutes and seconds passed; soon enough, Xu Ran returned. He was pushing a dining cart, and beside him, along with Shi¡¯Er, followed another Pet Beast. It was a Lingli Beast. It was also one of the twenty Pet Beasts involved in this evaluation. Seeing the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s living area for the first time, the Lingli Beast looked around curiously but occasionally glanced at Xu Ran¡¯s dining cart. The faint scent drifting from the cart made it swallow its saliva involuntarily. Seeing Xu Ran approaching, the Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s eyes filled with extra vigilance. ¡°Mew~¡± (What are you going to do?) ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, time for lunch.¡± Xu Ran chuckled, sat down on the space in front of the Cloud Stepping Fox, and magically produced a food basin from the food trolley. The Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s eyes widened, about to say ¡°I don¡¯t eat that,¡± but realized the food wasn¡¯t prepared for it. This food basin was placed in front of the Lingli Beast. The rich aroma spread throughout the area as the lid of the food basin was opened. Smelling that exotic robust fragrance, the Cloud Stepping Fox couldn¡¯t help but swallow its saliva. Already hungry, it felt as if a mischievous sprite had awoken its cravings, making it nearly lose its sanity due to starvation. On the other side, the Lingli Beast was having an even harder time. Its keen sense of smell had detected the unusual aroma from the food trolley; now that the cover was opened, and the food basin was put before it, the fragrance almost intensified a hundredfold. Equally hungry, it didn¡¯t hesitate for a second, grabbed a handful, and stuffed it into its mouth, slightly chewed, and then swallowed, savoring the wonderful taste lingering on its tongue, its eyes full of surprise. ¡°Squawk!¡± (So delicious!) With a loud cry, the Lingli Beast¡¯s eating pace suddenly quickened, with juices from the food smeared all over its paws and face, but somehow making it even more appetizing. Watching the Lingli Beast¡¯s performance, Xu Ran smiled with satisfaction. Choosing it, there were many reasons. First, the Lingli Beast and the Cloud Stepping Fox were two pet beasts with similar habits, coexisting harmoniously. Although these two did not recognize each other, the Cloud Stepping Fox didn¡¯t mind the Lingli Beast entering its territory. Next, the dietary habits of the Lingli Beast and Cloud Stepping Fox were also very similar, meaning that the food preferred by the Lingli Beast was likely to be enjoyed by the Cloud Stepping Fox as well. Lastly, and most importantly, was the ravenous manner in which the Lingli Beast ate. Seeing the Cloud Stepping Fox staring at the Lingli Beast with widened eyes and continuously swallowing saliva, Xu Ran chuckled quietly to himself. I¡¯ll show you the power of a mukbang. No, this is far more impressive than a mukbang. After all, you can¡¯t smell the food in a mukbang. And this was not all Xu Ran had prepared. He leisurely took out another food basin from the food trolley and handed it to Twelve. Next, it was Twelve¡¯s time to perform. Twelve pretended to taste a bite of the food from the basin and then curiously asked. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Why is today¡¯s food chilled?) ¡°Chilled food has no calories,¡± Xu Ran said with a mysterious smile, ¡°No calories, no weight gain.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (I see!) Twelve made an expression of sudden enlightenment, took a few bites, then picked up a piece of evenly fatty and lean meat. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Will eating this not make me fat either?) ¡°That¡¯s fried meat,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°All the calories have been fried out, zero carbs, eat without worry.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (Alright!) Twelve slowly savored the food in the basin, occasionally picking out an ingredient and asking about it, and Xu Ran responded fluidly, always proving with various phrases that the food won¡¯t cause weight gain. The Cloud Stepping Fox¡¯s ears had perked up at some point, watching the Lingli Beast¡¯s mukbang while listening to the exchanges between Xu Ran and Twelve echoing in its ears, feeling the hunger in its body, its expression becoming increasingly rich. ¡°Squawk!¡± (I¡¯ve finished!) Soon, the food basin in front of the Lingli Beast was empty, licked clean without a drop of soup left, while Twelve¡¯s food basin was also empty. It wasn¡¯t really time for its meal; this was an extra, so the portion wasn¡¯t big. ¡°Meal¡¯s done, time for us to go,¡± Xu Ran said pretentiously as he started to pack up the food trolley, then, to his surprise, he produced another food basin, ¡°Huh? There¡¯s one left?¡± He turned his head toward the Cloud Stepping Fox and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯d be a waste not to eat the food that¡¯s been made. Why don¡¯t you eat it?¡± ¡°Mew~¡± (It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s shameful to waste food, just this once!) The Cloud Stepping Fox took the food basin with a conflicted expression, cautiously tasted a bite. With just one bite, its pale blue eyes turned into hearts, utterly conquered by the wonderful taste of the food. Hunger already gnawing at its stomach, it dropped its facade and soon gobbled down the food. Xu Ran crossed his arms and smiled broadly. Dieting? There¡¯s no losing a single pound! Chapter 710 - Chapter 710: Chapter 340: Late Night emo? What the heck! Chapter 710: Chapter 340: Late Night emo? What the heck! ¡°Here, these two bowls are yours.¡± Soon, Xu Ran brought over two bowls just like the one before and placed them in front of the Lingli Beast. ¡°Squeak!¡± (So much!) Seeing the food bowls in front of it emanating a familiar and tempting aroma, the Lingli Beast couldn¡¯t help but swallow its saliva, a glint of stealthy joy flashing in its small eyes. It pounced quickly, directly sticking its paws into the food bowls, grabbing mouthfuls of food from the bowls one after another and sending them to its mouth. Relishing the delightful taste identical to what it had experienced a moment ago, the Lingli Beast¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed in satisfaction. The joy of binge-eating, who understands it! Watching the Lingli Beast swiftly finish off the second bowl and sit on a large rock nearby to rest briefly before preparing to devour the third, Xu Ran stood by with crossed arms and a smile on his face. The two bowls appeared to be a lot, but they were a special comfort meal Xu Ran had prepared specifically for the Lingli Beast. A Pet Beast¡¯s eating quantity is not measured by the weight or volume of the ingredients but by the energy content of the food. If the energy content of the food is low, even if they eat several times their own volume, a Pet Beast might still be in a state of hunger. But if the food contains a strong energy content, it¡¯s possible they¡¯ll feel full after just one bite. The Lingli Beast¡¯s growth stage was at the Leadership Stage, but the two portions Xu Ran had prepared for it were configured for the Transcendent Stage. Although there were two full bowls, for the Lingli Beast, they were barely worth mentioning. This way, it wouldn¡¯t put too much strain on its body. And because it was only a reduced configuration, after Xu Ran¡¯s careful adjustments, the taste of the food was almost indistinguishable from the original recipe. In fact, the Lingli Beast, already satiated, was not very aware of its own state and naturally could not sense the reduction in the food¡¯s energy. Furthermore, Xu Ran added quite a few digestive aids to the two bowls of food, making it even less likely to affect the Lingli Beast. Seeing the Lingli Beast, wholly unaware of anything amiss, continuously providing him with pleasure value, Xu Ran¡¯s smile grew even wider. He was curious about what kind of reaction the organizers from the Beast Master Association, who had set up this challenge for him, would have upon seeing this scene. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°How is it? Is the Lingli Beast eating a lot?¡± In the Beast Master Association¡¯s meeting room, the other judges eagerly focused their attention on Zhao, the Lingli Beast¡¯s Beast Master. ¡°Hehe, it has already finished the second portion,¡± said Zhao with a trace of amusement in his expression, ¡°That point, he¡¯s got it in the bag.¡± ¡°Haha, at last, we have put the owner of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in a difficult position,¡± said Old Zhou, whose plans had previously failed, with a smile on his face. ¡°This is the ultimate no-win challenge, practically unsolvable.¡± The other judges nodded in agreement. Indeed, this challenge, in a certain sense, was unsolvable. Whether to give the Lingli Beast more food or not, both ways were wrong. If given, then the Lingli Beast would feel too full and uncomfortable, naturally leading to a decreased experience. If not given, the Lingli Beast wouldn¡¯t feel satisfied, and the experience would similarly decline. ¡°Old Zhao, the Lingli Beast must be overfed by now, right? After all, it¡¯s two portions of food,¡± asked another judge, ¡°If the Lingli Beast is now feeling unwell, we can directly deduct points from Starfire Foster Care Shop.¡± ¡°Hmm, let me check,¡± Zhao nodded and began to carefully sense the Lingli Beast¡¯s condition using contractual sensing. After a moment, his smile froze on his face. Why¡­ but in his perception, not only was the Lingli Beast not experiencing any discomfort from overeating, but its state of having eaten its fill had been somewhat alleviated? ¡°¡­ Old Zhao?¡± Seeing the change in Zhao¡¯s expression, the other judges couldn¡¯t help but feel a moment of apprehension. This scene was all too familiar. Those judges who had failed earlier had similar changes in expression. Could it be that their highly-anticipated Lingli Beast also¡­ ¡°Impossible?¡± Zhao¡¯s expression looked doubtfully at life, ¡°How can my Lingli Beast be feeling less full after eating more?¡± ¡°If it keeps eating like this, it¡¯s going to go from a state of fullness to hunger!¡± The judges: ¡°???¡± What¡¯s this? There¡¯s a saying for getting hungrier the more you eat? ¡°Old Zhao, ask the Lingli Beast about its exact condition to see what¡¯s going on,¡± one of the four main judges spoke up after exchanging glances with the others. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask,¡± Zhao nodded firmly, then began inquiring in detail into the Lingli Beast¡¯s condition through contractual sensing. A moment later, his face revealed an expression of utter disbelief, ¡°The owner of that foster shop fed my Lingli Beast a food formula for the Transcendent Stage.¡± ¡°And¡­ he also added digestive aids?!¡± As Zhao¡¯s words fell, the meeting room fell into a strange silence. Food formula for the Transcendent Stage¡­ If they remembered correctly, Zhao¡¯s Lingli Beast was at the Leadership Stage, right? Skipping two whole growth stages, that small amount of food was probably just enough for the Lingli Beast to savor the taste; it was likely almost digested before it even hit the stomach. And yet, the owner of that foster shop had added digestive aids. This way, it really would become hungrier as it ate more¡­ Not only were the Lingli Beast¡¯s eating needs met, but its health was also maintained. The challenge, initially deemed unsolvable by everyone, was now, surprisingly, solved through Xu Ran¡¯s innovative approach. ¡°This Starfire Foster Care Shop¡­ is not simple,¡± one of the four main judges couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath, his face showing a hint of admiration, ¡°He found a win-win solution to this??¡± Chapter 711 - Chapter 711: Chapter 340 Late Night emo? What the heck!_2 Chapter 711: Chapter 340 Late Night emo? What the heck!_2 ¡°Oh no!¡± one of the judges¡¯ expression changed, ¡°The Lingli Beast was the toughest challenge we had prepared in the ¡®eating¡¯ aspect.¡± ¡°If this has been solved, doesn¡¯t that mean the Starfire Foster Shop has performed perfectly in both ¡®eating¡¯ and ¡®living¡¯?!¡± Hearing this, the other judges also showed changing expressions. Indeed, fostering consists of nothing more than the combination of ¡°eating¡± and ¡°living,¡± and so far, all the challenges prepared in these two aspects have been perfectly handled by the Starfire Foster Shop, leaving no room for criticism. Are we going to just watch the other side complete the fostering so easily? Keep in mind, there has never been a foster shop in so many sessions of foster experiences that has achieved full marks! Even the Pingtian Foster Shop has a considerable gap from perfect scores! If a newly opened foster shop so easily obtains full marks, we, the judges, may well be accused of ¡®going easy¡¯ on them. ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Another lead judge remained rather composed, ¡°The evaluation of the foster experience isn¡¯t limited to just two dimensions.¡± ¡°Besides the ¡®eating¡¯ and ¡®living¡¯ aspects, there¡¯s one more: the possibility of sudden incidents during fostering.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve made quite a few arrangements for sudden incidents.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe that the Starfire Foster Shop can handle sudden incidents perfectly as well.¡± ¡°They¡¯re definitely going to encounter troubles they can¡¯t solve!¡± Hearing what the lead judge said, the other judges¡¯ eyes brightened. That¡¯s right, there are sudden incidents! Because the Starfire Foster Shop has performed too well in the current fostering, they had almost forgotten about this aspect. Sudden incidents can be considered the finale challenge of the foster experience and the point where problems are most likely to arise in pet beast fostering. The most important reason is that sudden incidents occur unpredictably. In the ¡°living¡± aspect of foster experiences, one only needs to prepare a suitable living environment for the pet beasts at the start, and there are generally no issues afterward. In terms of ¡°eating,¡± once the dietary habits of different pet beasts are understood, one simply needs to feed at set times to ensure there are no problems. Both of these caregiving methods are routine. However, while taking care of these two points, no foster shop can monitor each pet beast twenty-four hours a day. Therefore, once a pet beast experiences a sudden incident, it¡¯s difficult for the foster shop to detect something wrong immediately and take perfect measures in response. In foster experiences, this is the nightmare of all foster shops. Because these points are like the essay in a Chinese exam, you¡¯ve got to deduct some marks no matter what. Thinking this, all the judges¡¯ eyes lit up, and their faces showed a renewed fighting spirit. They wanted to see how long the Starfire Foster Shop could hold out! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°At last, I can take a break.¡± Xu Ran looked at the feeding plan in his hands and let out a slight sigh of relief. He had already arranged the feeding schedule according to the dietary habits of all the fostered pet beasts, and through the first round of feeding, had grasped these pet beasts¡¯ food preferences. The subsequent feedings only needed to follow the chart. ¡°There are still two hours until the next feeding,¡± Xu Ran put away the feeding plan, ¡°I can take on some washing and protection work during this time.¡± Walking briskly out of the foster area, Xu Ran entered the storefront on the first floor. As he opened the store door, passersby quickly took notice of Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s situation. Xu Ran didn¡¯t have to wait long before a young girl entered the shop, carrying a cute rabbit-like pet beast in her arms. ¡°Welcome to Starfire~Foster!¡± Xu Ran greeted with a smile, ready to welcome the customer. ¡°Hey boss, does your shop do pet beast cleaning and caring?¡± the energetic girl asked as soon as she entered, curiously looking around at the interior of the store. This seemed to be a newly opened foster shop; she wondered what the standards of their services were. ¡°Of course,¡± Xu Ran said with a slight smile, pointing behind the girl, ¡°The price menu is right behind you.¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± the girl turned around and was startled after seeing the washing and protection price, ¡°6666 for small pet beasts? Your shop is so expensive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile remained unchanged; after all, he had heard this kind of skepticism countless times before. He was just about to explain, but then he saw the girl hand over her rabbit-like pet beast without any hesitation, ¡°Let¡¯s wash it and see the result!¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± This time, it was his turn to be surprised. There were many who thought Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s fees were expensive, but it was the first time he saw someone who, while deeming it expensive, chose Starfire Foster without any hesitation. Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s surprise, the girl chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Qi Yuanyuan!¡± Realization dawned on Xu Ran¡¯s face. She was a client from yesterday who used the grooming service at the shop; it seemed the girl had come here drawn by the results of her friend¡¯s pet beast¡¯s grooming. No wonder she was talking big but acting straightforward. He took the pet beast from the girl and did a quick system identification on it. [Race name: Snowflake Rabbit Attribute: Ice Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: It¡¯s well known that rabbits usually don¡¯t make a sound unless they can¡¯t help it, so, Host, use your hands filled with magic to make it cry out in sound!] +1 to the system¡¯s bad teasing. A barely perceptible twitch appeared at the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth before he looked at the girl, ¡°I will take your pet beast for the cleaning and caring now, do you want to accompany it, or¡­?¡± ¡°Accompany!¡± the girl laughed, ¡°I haven¡¯t experienced a 6666-worth grooming before!¡± Chapter 712 - Chapter 712: Chapter 340 Late Night emo? What the heck!_3 Chapter 712: Chapter 340 Late Night emo? What the heck!_3 ¡°This way, please,¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the Washing and Protection room and then led the young girl inside. ¡°Wow~ What a large Washing and Protection room!¡± Upon entering, the girl looked around in surprise, like a curious baby, looking around. ¡°Wait here for a moment.¡± Unconcerned with the girl¡¯s surprise, Xu Ran gently placed the Snowflake Rabbit on the grooming table for small Pet Beasts and then turned to prepare everything needed for its washing and protection. Body wash, shampoo, hair conditioner¡­ All sorts of things required for washing and protection were quickly prepared by Xu Ran¡¯s skilled hands, and soon after, he picked up the shower head filled with body wash and approached the Snowflake Rabbit. The slightly cool body wash was sprayed evenly across the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s body, wetting the surface of its fine, long fur evenly. Xu Ran¡¯s hands followed closely, carefully parting the long fur bit by bit, allowing the body wash to seep into the base of the fur. Feeling the water envelop its body at a comfortable temperature, the massaging pressure around its body opened up its pores just right; the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s ice-blue eyes quickly clouded with confusion, a veil of mist covering its clear pupils. Its petite body trembled lightly in Xu Ran¡¯s maneuvering hands, an electrifying tingling feeling making it somewhat unable to control its own body. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s tripartite lips quivered, but no sound came out. [Pleasure value from the Snowflake Rabbit +30] [Pleasure value from the Snowflake Rabbit +30] [From¡­] As the notifications of pleasure values appeared, a more pronounced smile spread across Xu Ran¡¯s face. Once the fur of the Snowflake Rabbit was sufficiently drenched, he quickly poured the whipped shampoo down its back. The sudden coolness flowing down its spine startled the cold-loving Snowflake Rabbit; the pleasant scent of the shampoo, along with the intensified massage from Xu Ran, gradually made its consciousness flit and flutter. It felt its body becoming lighter and lighter, as if it could fly away at any moment. The Snowflake Rabbit instinctively raised its head slightly, and the light from the Washing and Protection room¡¯s bulbs dazzled it at that moment, sending it into a daze. Its body¡¯s trembles escalated, the quivering of its lips growing more pronounced, and a series of barely controllable heavy breaths became distinct and clear in the quiet Washing and Protection room. [Pleasure value from the Snowflake Rabbit +40] [Pleasure value from the Snowflake Rabbit +40] [From¡­] Still not making a sound? Glancing at the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s current state, Xu Ran decided to increase the pressure. The patter of his massaging hands suddenly turned wild, like a gusty downpour, each massage transferring just the right amount of pressure precisely onto the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s body. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s gaze grew more vacant. In that moment, it felt like a small boat on the crest of furious waves, ready to capsize at any second. The intense tingling sensation across its body was overwhelming, impossible to suppress, yet irresistible¡ªthe satisfaction after the massage made the rabbit¡¯s body shake even more violently. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s tripartite lips moved rapidly, and finally, a sound so faint it was barely audible yet undeniably real echoed within the Washing and Protection room. ¡°Mmm~~~¡± The young girl sitting aside and watching Xu Ran¡¯s grooming widened her eyes in disbelief at the sound. What¡¯s going on?! How could her mute bride be speaking?! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Take care, welcome back again next time!¡± Standing at the shop¡¯s entrance, Xu Ran sent off the dazed-looking girl with a beaming smile. She hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the shock of her own Pet Beast making a sound. Having contracted the Snowflake Rabbit for such a long time, she always thought it was mute! Never did she imagine that the creature simply chose not to speak! Watching the girl disappear into the crowd, Xu Ran withdrew his gaze and returned to the store. Then, his expression suddenly changed. A line of text appeared in front of his eyes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Only 2,600 left, working hard to burst out content] You should know, no Foster Shop in so many incarnation experiences has ever achieved full marks! Even the Pingtian Foster Shop has a considerable gap from the full marks! If a new Foster Shop manages to get full marks so easily, the evaluators might be accused of going easy on them. ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Another lead evaluator remained quite calm, ¡°The evaluation of foster experiences isn¡¯t limited to just two dimensions.¡± ¡°Besides ¡®eating¡¯ and ¡®staying¡¯, there¡¯s another aspect: emergency situations that may arise during fostering.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve made quite a few arrangements for such emergencies.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe Starfire Foster Care Shop can handle emergency situations flawlessly.¡± ¡°They will definitely encounter unresolved troubles!¡± Light dawned on the other evaluators upon hearing this lead evaluator¡¯s words. Yes, there are emergency situations! Due to Starfire Foster¡¯s outstanding performance so far, they almost forgot about this. Emergency situations can be considered the grand finale of foster experience challenges, and it¡¯s also the most problematic point in pet beast fostering. The most important reason is that emergencies happen randomly. In the ¡°staying¡± part of foster experiences, it only requires setting up a suitable living environment for the Pet Beast from the beginning, and there won¡¯t be much trouble afterwards. ¡°Eating¡± on the other hand, requires understanding the different dietary habits of Pet Beasts and consistently feeding at regular times to ensure no issues arise. Both of these caregiving methods are regular. Chapter 713 - Chapter 713: Chapter 340: Late Night emo? What the heck!_4 Chapter 713: Chapter 340: Late Night emo? What the heck!_4 However, beyond taking these two points into consideration, no foster shop can monitor each Pet beast around the clock, 24 hours a day. Therefore, once a pet beast encounters an emergency, it is very difficult for the foster shop to detect the issue immediately and take perfect measures in response. In the fostering experience, this is the nightmare of all foster shops. Because these points are like the essay portion of a language exam, where you are bound to lose a few marks no matter what. Thinking of this, the eyes of all the judges lit up, and their faces showed a renewed sense of fighting spirit. They were eager to see how long Starfire Foster Care Shop could hold on! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Finally, I can take a little break.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the feeding schedule in his hand and let out a small sigh of relief. He had already arranged the feeding times according to the dietary habits of all the fostered pet beasts and had gotten a sense of their food preferences after the first round of feeding. The subsequent feedings would just need to follow the schedule. ¡°There are still two hours until the next feeding,¡± Xu Ran put away the feeding schedule, ¡°I can take this time to offer some Washing and Protection.¡± He left the foster area quickly and made his way to the storefront on the first floor. As he opened the door to the shop, the passersby outside quickly took notice of the situation at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. It didn¡¯t take long for a young girl to enter the foster shop, carrying a cute rabbit-like Pet beast. ¡°Welcome~¡± Xu Ran greeted with a smile, ready to receive the customer. ¡°Boss, does your shop offer Pet beast cleaning and caring services?¡± The lively girl asked as soon as she entered, while curiously looking around at the shop¡¯s decor. It seemed to be a newly opened foster shop, and she wondered about the quality of their cleaning and caring services. ¡°Of course, we do,¡± Xu Ran replied with a slight smile and pointed behind the girl, ¡°The Price Menu is behind you.¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± The girl turned around, looked at the washing and protection prices, and was taken aback, ¡°Small Pet Beasts cost 6666? Your shop is too expensive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile remained unchanged, as he had already heard such doubts countless times. Just as he was about to explain, the girl didn¡¯t hesitate and handed her rabbit-like Pet beast to Xu Ran, ¡°Let¡¯s see the effect after one wash!¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± He was taken aback. There were many customers who thought the charges at Starfire Foster were expensive, but this was the first time he had seen someone criticize the price and then not hesitate to choose Starfire Foster nonetheless. The girl seemed to notice Xu Ran¡¯s surprise and giggled, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Qi Yuanyuan!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression showed he understood. This was a client who had received washing and protection services in the shop the day before; it seemed this girl had come following the reputation she witnessed from her friend¡¯s Pet beast cleaning and caring results. No wonder she was playing hard to get. He took the Pet beast from her arms and performed a System Identification. [Race name: Snowflake Rabbit Attribute: Ice attribute Growth stage: Transcendent Stage Body type: Small size Washing and Protection requirement: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î Evaluation: As is well known, rabbits under normal circumstances do not make a sound, unless they can no longer hold back. So dear Host, please let it make a sound with your magical hands!] The system¡¯s Bad Teasing +1. The corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched imperceptibly, and then he turned to the girl, ¡°I¡¯ll take your Pet beast for Washing and Protection now. Do you wish to accompany us, or?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accompany!¡± The girl giggled, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Washing and Protection worth 6666 Yuan before!¡± ¡°This way, please.¡± Xu Ran gestured towards the washing and protection room, then led the girl inside. ¡°Wow~ what a big washing chamber!¡± The girl entered the grooming room and looked around with amazement, her eyes roving curiously here and there like those of an excited child. ¡°Wait here.¡± Without paying much attention to the girl¡¯s amazement, Xu Ran gently placed the Snowflake Rabbit on the grooming table designed for small Pet beasts and then turned around to start preparing everything needed for the Washing and Protection. Bath gel, Shampoo, Conditioner¡­ All sorts of washing and grooming essentials were quickly prepared under Xu Ran¡¯s skilled operation. Before long, Xu Ran picked up the showerhead filled with bath gel and walked over to the Snowflake Rabbit. The slightly cool bath gel uniformly sprayed over the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s body, thoroughly wetting its fine long fur. Xu Ran¡¯s technique followed, carefully parting the long fur bit by bit, allowing the bath gel to penetrate to the roots of the fur. Feeling the water wrap around its body at a comfortable temperature and the kneading force from all around perfectly relaxing its pores, the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s ice-blue eyes swiftly gained a misty look, and its previously clear pupils now had a hint of haziness. Its petite body trembled slightly in Xu Ran¡¯s wandering hands, a tingling sensation making it struggle to control its own body. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s three-parted lips quivered, but no sound came out. [Pleasure value from Snowflake Rabbit +30] [Pleasure value from Snowflake Rabbit +30] [From¡­] One after another, pleasure value notifications appeared, making Xu Ran¡¯s face even more filled with a smile. After thoroughly wetting the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s fur, he swiftly poured the whipped shampoo down the rabbit¡¯s back. The sudden chill running down its spine delighted the cold-loving Snowflake Rabbit, which suddenly perked up. The pleasant fragrance of the shampoo, along with Xu Ran¡¯s intensified kneading, gradually made its consciousness flutter. It felt as if its body was becoming lighter and lighter, almost as if it could fly away at any moment. The Snowflake Rabbit instinctively raised its head slightly, and the lighting of the grooming room became dazzlingly bright at that moment, causing it to become somewhat entranced. Its body shook even more violently, and the quivering of its lips became more pronounced, a series of heavy breaths uncontrollably escaping, which were extraordinarily clear in the tranquil grooming room. [Pleasure value from Snowflake Rabbit +40] [Pleasure value from Snowflake Rabbit +40] [From¡­] Still not making a sound? Xu Ran looked at the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s current state and decisively decided to increase the intensity. His massage technique, gentle as a rain on banana leaves, suddenly became as fierce as a rapid storm, each kneading delivering just the right amount of force into the Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s body. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s gaze became increasingly hazy. At this moment, it felt like a frail boat about to capsize atop raging waves. The intense tingling sensation all over its body was irresistible and intoxicating, the pleasure following each knead made its body shudder even more violently. The Snowflake Rabbit¡¯s three-parted lips moved swiftly in systematization, and finally, a sound too faint to be heard but undeniably real echoed in the grooming room. ¡°Wu~~~¡± The girl sitting on one side watching Xu Ran groom widened her eyes when she heard this sound. What¡¯s happening? Her mute bride pet had spoken?! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Take care, welcome to come again!¡± Standing at the shop entrance, Xu Ran sent off the dazed girl with a cheerful smile. She had yet to recover from the shock of her pet beast making a sound. For so long after contracting the Snowflake Rabbit, she had believed her pet beast was mute! Little did she expect that the creature just didn¡¯t want to speak! Watching the girl disappear into the crowd, Xu Ran retracted his gaze and returned to the storefront. Then, his expression suddenly changed. A line of text appeared before his eyes. Standing at the shop entrance, Xu Ran sent off the dazed girl with a cheerful smile. She had yet to recover from the shock of her pet beast making a sound. For so long after contracting the Snowflake Rabbit, she had believed her pet beast was mute! Little did she expect that the creature just didn¡¯t want to speak! Watching the girl disappear into the crowd, Xu Ran retracted his gaze and returned to the storefront. Then, his expression suddenly changed. A line of text appeared before his eyes. Chapter 714 - Chapter 714: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance! Chapter 714: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance! ¡°` The truth proved that Xu Ran¡¯s expectations had been too idealistic. Past midnight, Xu Ran, who had been in deep meditation, slowly opened his eyes, looking helplessly at the line of text that suddenly appeared before him. [Joy Value Reminder: The pleasure value of the foster pet beast sweet bell has abnormally decreased] Here it came. The pleasure value had decreased abnormally again. What was the situation this time? Injured? Suddenly fell ill? Or something else? Xu Ran immediately picked up the control hub that was on his bedside and started viewing the monitors. In the surveillance footage, there sat a humanoid pet beast with a small and frail figure, and a bell larger than its body dangling from its head, quietly sitting in the deepest part of a cave, hugging its knees with a face pressed against them, void of any expression. This¡­ didn¡¯t seem like it was feeling unwell, did it? Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, a look of confusion appearing on his face. But from the surveillance footage, there was no apparent problem. He also checked the playback and still couldn¡¯t find a reason for the abnormal decrease in the sweet bell¡¯s pleasure value. It seemed that he could only go to the scene in person to have a look. He sat up from the bed, glancing around the empty room. At this time, all five little ones had gone for training. Throwing on a casual coat, Xu Ran left the room in his pajamas, quickly heading towards the foster area. Before long, he had entered the cave shown in the surveillance footage and found the sweet bell inside. The handheld night light emitted a hazy glow, illuminating the dark depths of the cave and the silhouette of the sweet bell. Approaching the sweet bell, Xu Ran heard a series of faint sounds. He cautiously drew closer and then discovered that the sweet bell was softly sobbing. So, it was in a bad mood? No wonder nothing was apparent from the surveillance. Xu Ran suddenly nodded in understanding as the hexagram star array behind him flickered rapidly. In the breeze, the figure of Wind materialized swiftly. Under Xu Ran¡¯s switch, it paused its training and appeared here. With such commotion, naturally, the sweet bell could not have been unaware. But its sobbing merely paused for a moment, then continued with its subdued weeping. Having Wind as a translator, Xu Ran immediately felt a bit more confident. He gently sat beside the sweet bell, softly asking, ¡°So¡­ is there something that¡¯s made you unhappy?¡± The sweet bell continued to hang its head in silence, though at this moment, the bell on its head shook slightly, emitting a clear ring. ¡°Bell~¡± (I don¡¯t know myself, I just suddenly felt very sad.) Suddenly felt very sad? Xu Ran¡¯s brows furrowed. Was this some kind of late-night emo? ¡°Is there no specific reason for feeling down?¡± The big bell atop the sweet bell¡¯s head gently swayed once more. ¡°Bell~¡± (I¡¯m unsure, I simply can¡¯t pinpoint it.) It seemed it indeed was late-night emo. Xu Ran roughly concluded in his mind. In life, there are always some displeasures, and these minor upsets can cause us slight unhappiness. If this unhappiness is suppressed for a long time without venting, it can erupt out of nowhere, turning into unexplained low spirits. You would find it hard to say that this low mood is due to any specific cause, as all the displeasures experienced over a period could act as a trigger. And such low moods tend to happen at night. The solitude of the long night, when emotional outbursts are most unexpected. ¡°Wait for me here,¡± Xu Ran gave Wind a look, signaling it to stay with the sweet bell, and then he left the cave. Soon, he returned with a small food bowl in his hands. The bowl contained an exquisite late-night snack he had prepared for the sweet bell, not only delicious but also had a soothing effect on the mood. The effectiveness of the food was immediate. As he gently placed the bowl before the sweet bell, it raised its face for the first time, revealing features similar to those of humans, though now streaked with tears. ¡°Give it a try. Eating something tasty will make you feel better,¡± Xu Ran smiled and made a ¡°please taste¡± gesture. The sweet bell hesitated for a moment, then nodded, taking the bowl and slowly starting to eat. The enchanting flavors dispelled the cloud of gloom from its heart, and on Xu Ran¡¯s pleasure value panel, the sweet bell¡¯s pleasure value began to rise steadily. However, the amount of late-night snacks in the bowl was quite limited, and it was quickly finished by the sweet bell, and as it set down the empty bowl, the pleasure value it provided began to drop again. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t working. Food could temporarily lighten its mood, but this method was merely a stopgap solution. Unless he prepared a continual supply of tasty food for the sweet bell all night, which was clearly impossible. Seeing the sweet bell about to bury its face in its knees again, Xu Ran hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Is there anything you feel like doing right now?¡± Since food wasn¡¯t effective, they might as well try doing something else to distract the sweet bell. The sweet bell paused for a moment, its eyes showing a pensive look before it shook its head gently, the large bell on its head jingling lightly. ¡°Bell~¡± (Right now, I don¡¯t want to do anything, I just feel so uncomfortable.) ¡°This¡­¡± Seeing the sweet bell¡¯s lack of interest, Xu Ran felt at a loss. How to dispel such low spirits? Wind stared at the silent sweet bell, as if seeing clumps of dark smoke enveloping it, and couldn¡¯t help but speak out. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Shall I give it a try?) ¡°` Chapter 715 - Chapter 715: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance!_2 Chapter 715: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance!_2 ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran glanced at Twelve, and then his eyes lit up. He had been so focused on using Twelve as a translator that he almost forgot about Twelve¡¯s other abilities. ¡°Good, give it a try!¡± He nodded without hesitation, then turned to Sweet Bell gently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t resist, let¡¯s see if we can alleviate your mood.¡± Sweet Bell nodded slightly. If possible, it naturally hoped its mood would improve as well. At that moment, Twelve¡¯s sea-blue eyes rippled like a tranquil lake, patterns of strange, flickering light echoing across them. An invisible force suddenly burst forth, enveloping Sweet Bell. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level¡¤Endless Sleep. The recently advanced Full Moon Level Endless Sleep erupted with powerful might, instantly plunging Sweet Bell into a deep slumber, falling into a profound level of sleep. The strength of Sweet Bell was merely at the Leadership Stage. Twelve, at the General Stage, could easily make it sleep for several hours. However, merely putting Sweet Bell to sleep wouldn¡¯t solve the problem. The extreme dip in its mood had affected its own state; even in sleep, it furrowed its brows, its expression pained, its body occasionally twitching. This was a sign of having nightmares. ¡°It¡¯s up to you now,¡± Xu Ran said softly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Leave it to me!) Twelve nodded quickly, and the sea-blue halo in the depths of its eyes intensified a few shades. Using the special abilities of the Sleeping Bird, its consciousness instantly descended into Sweet Bell¡¯s realm of dreams. The dreamscape of Sweet Bell was a barren and shattered world, scarred with ravines of varying depths that represented the embodiment of Sweet Bell¡¯s pain. Instead of devouring the nightmare whole, Twelve carefully flew over one of the ravines, peering down into it. The ravine twisted, soon revealing a somewhat tattered scene. In the scene, a human Beast Master lauded and praised another Pet Beast, with Sweet Bell standing by, evident envy and loss in its eyes. Were these Sweet Bell¡¯s Beast Master and companions? Twelve speculated, then swiftly flew over another ravine. The ravine quickly contorted, revealing another scene in which Sweet Bell fought against the lauded Pet Beast, who was stronger and soon left Sweet Bell battered and bruised. Twelve flew on without a word toward yet another ravine. This ravine revealed a scene where Sweet Bell had been injured fighting Transcendent Beings outside the city. One after another. Twelve traversed the tattered dream world, peering into all the past events that caused Sweet Bell¡¯s negative emotions. These past events originated from companions, Beast Masters, and formidable foes alike. It was these memories that caused Sweet Bell¡¯s mood to suddenly spiral uncontrollably. Having seen these ravines, Twelve had an idea. It flapped its wings, transforming into a blue arc across the sky, and swiftly reached the central void of the dream world. Invisible power burst from Twelve¡¯s body, spreading in all directions and soon encompassing the entire dreamscape. Everything around began to twist and transform; the broken world was instantaneously filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, infused with all elements of happiness and sweetness. Three Star Skill, Halo Level¡¤Flawless Illusion Realm. It watched as Sweet Bell, awestruck, looked around the dream world, then quietly departed. Have a pleasant dream. Back in the cave, Twelve slowly opened its eyes and gave Xu Ran a nod. Xu Ran turned to look at Sweet Bell. Where it had been tense, spasming occasionally with an expression of pain, now it lay naturally relaxed with a eased countenance, even bearing a faint smile. The Pleasure value also completely reverted to normal at this moment, even showing a slight increase. Xu Ran exhaled deeply. He knew that tonight, Sweet Bell would not be emo anymore. But the next moment, a sudden message caused Xu Ran¡¯s expression to stiffen slightly. [Joy Value Reminder: Pleasure value of the fostered Pet Beast Jade Fang Dragon has dropped significantly] Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but sigh. At this rate, he was the one who was going to be emo tonight. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Time passed swiftly, and soon it was the next morning. Seeing the organizer¡¯s staff appear outside the Foster Shop, Xu Ran fully relaxed and finally let go of the anxiety he had held. From last night till now, he had experienced eight instances of abnormal drops in Pleasure value, five of which were due to late-night emo, with the remaining three caused by other reasons. Fortunately, with Twelve¡¯s assistance, each of these incidents had been timely and properly handled. The cost, however, was that he hadn¡¯t been able to meditate properly all night. ¡°Fostering time is over, thank you for your hard work.¡± Compared to the day before, the staff members¡¯ smiles were significantly brighter, and the looks they gave Xu Ran even held a measure of respect. Although not a judge, being staff of the organizers, he was one of the first to understand the performance of Starfire Foster Care Shop. It could be said that Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s twenty-four-hour foster care performance shocked the entire Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibition¡¯s organizing department. Perfectly meeting all the foster requirements of the Pet Beasts, perfectly accommodating their dietary habits, and perfectly dealing with all sudden emergencies. Under three perfects, Starfire Foster Care Shop achieved the first perfect score in the exhibition¡¯s history. ¡°I¡¯ll go get them,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, turning to walk into the Foster area. Shortly after, he emerged with the twenty Pet Beasts for assessment. Chapter 716 - Chapter 716: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance!_3 Chapter 716: Chapter 341: Kill the Exhibition in Advance!_3 At this time yesterday, they were all behaving so uncooperatively that they even stood at the entrance of the Foster Shop and refused to come in. But today, their behavior had completely changed. Every Pet Beast moved sluggishly, their faces overtaken by obvious reluctance. After experiencing the meticulous care of the Starfire Foster Shop, they were no longer willing to leave. Not surprised by this scene, the staff member sighed helplessly, then gently addressed the twenty Pet Beast judges, ¡°Today we will visit the next Foster Shop, I believe they will also go all out to provide you with comfortable service.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for us to set off.¡± The twenty Pet Beast judges followed the employee, looking back three times with every step they took as they left the Starfire Foster Shop. Watching their retreating figures disappear from view, Xu Ran casually closed the door of the Starfire Foster Shop and then hung a ¡°Closed for Business¡± sign on it. He had already agreed with the five little ones that once the Pet Beast exhibition ended, he would take them to Xieyun City to enter both Poison Flame Valley and Silent Abyss. The former was the evolution ground for Firefly. The latter might contain clues about the last piece of evolutionary material needed for star evolution, the Town Star Stone. ¡°Are you all ready?¡± Xu Ran turned and looked behind him. The five little ones had long been ready to go, anticipation written all over their faces. ¡°Lu Hou!¡± (Ready!) Firefly swung its bear paw emphatically, its crimson eyes filled with burning battle spirit. At this moment, it was noticeably leaner compared to when it had first bonded with him. This leanness was not the emaciation of illness but a robustness filled with the sense of power. All of this stemmed from its incredibly diligent training efforts. Perhaps because of its origins and experiences in its youth, Firefly was the only one among the five whose training effort could rival that of Star¡¯s. Apart from the six hours in the Training Area, Firefly also tried its best to train in the Foster Area. It was well aware of its extraordinary nature. Being of a mutant breed, its path to advancement had been utterly blocked, but now with Xu Ran¡¯s help, it finally saw a sliver of opportunity. It was determined to seize this opportunity, regardless of the effort required. Such arduous effort had also paid off handsomely. Firefly¡¯s Talent Skills had already been upgraded to Full Moon Level for three of them, meeting the small goal it had set for itself. To possess three Full Moon Level skills before evolution! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I hope we can successfully find the Town Star Stone this time.) Star raised a hoof and gently touched the Dawn Star Radiance hanging around its neck, softly neighing. The other three were also brimming with enthusiasm. Although this mission wasn¡¯t directly related to each of them, as companions who lived together day and night, they had already formed a good tradition of mutual support through the countless times they had shared resources. The affairs of Firefly and Star were their affairs too. ¡°We¡¯re setting off!¡± Xu Ran smiled faintly, his figure disappearing inside the Starfire Foster Shop in Xuanxing City. Moments later, a sudden Hexagram Star Array appeared within the shop and transmitted the five little ones away. As one man and five beasts headed for Xieyun City, in another part of Xuanxing City, a Foster Shop named Mad Wolf Foster Shop opened its doors early, its decorations bright and festive. The owner of the Mad Wolf Foster Shop wore joyous attire, standing outside the door like a doorman, quietly waiting. Behind him, the employees of the Foster Shop stood neatly in two rows, uniforms matching. Their preparation seemed thorough. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Two thousand eight hundred left, working hard to get it done] Chapter 717 - Chapter 717: Chapter 342: The Unreasonable Bloody City Chapter 717: Chapter 342: The Unreasonable Bloody City Unaware of the events transpiring in Xuanxing City after his departure, Xu Ran continued on his journey. Even if he knew, he¡¯d probably take it in stride. After all, when it came to foster care conditions, Starfire Foster Care Shop had always been in a league of its own, unsurpassable. When Xu Ran summoned the five pet beasts inside the Xieyun City Starfire Foster Shop, his arrival stirred the Fishing Old Man, who was watching the store, to promptly come to greet him. ¡°Boss, good to see you!¡± Seeing the Fishing Old Man looking the same as always, complete with a straw hat and carrying a fishing rod even inside the shop, Xu Ran nodded and casually inquired, ¡°How¡¯s the business these days?¡± ¡°The business is doing even better than before, the three of us are almost too busy to keep up,¡± chuckled the Fishing Old Man. ¡°After all, Xieyun City has been bustling with activity lately!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes flashed with understanding, ¡°Because of the second-tier town¡¯s exchange battles?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the Fishing Old Man nodded slightly, ¡°These second-tier towns participating in the exchange battles have been arriving one after another, and many cities that aren¡¯t participating have also sent people to watch the battles. Xieyun City has seen quite a few visitors from out of town during this time.¡± ¡°Our Starfire Foster Shop has now unquestionably become Xieyun City¡¯s number one, attracting a considerable number of beast masters from other cities who have heard of our reputation, which has added a substantial amount to our business.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xu Ran nodded in realization and glanced outside the store. As usual, customers were lined up outside the shop, but among the queue, a portion dressed differently from the locals of Xieyun City stood out, clearly from out of town. ¡°That¡¯s good news,¡± Xu Ran said with a casual smile, ¡°Spreading fame ahead of time. Who knows, maybe we¡¯ll open branches in the rest of those second-tier towns in the future?¡± Although he hadn¡¯t completed main task 4 and couldn¡¯t see what main task 5 was, he felt that, judging by the system¡¯s usual manner, his upcoming tasks would likely involve opening more branches. ¡°Boss, your business is bound to grow and strengthen,¡± grinned the Fishing Old Man, ¡°So, what brings you to Xieyun City this time?¡± ¡°Just passing through,¡± Xu Ran spread his hands, ¡°I have some matters to attend to with my pet beasts. Keep up the good work managing the shop, all three of you.¡± After speaking, Xu Ran left the shop with the five little ones without a second glance. The Fishing Old Man¡¯s mouth twitched slightly as he watched Xu Ran leave, and he lapsed into silence. So¡­ it was just a passing visit¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± At the ever-open grand gates of Xieyun City, a giant dragon with a body spanning over ten meters in length, its scales as dark as ink and eyes as red as blood, slowly descended. A group of figures swiftly jumped off its broad back. The middle-aged man leading them looked towards Xieyun City with a touch of emotion, ¡°This time, we¡¯ve come mainly to broaden our horizons and gain some experience.¡± ¡°Senior Gu, our timing couldn¡¯t be better,¡± a teenager among them said with excitement, ¡°The city gates are open, so we can enter without waiting.¡± The middle-aged man surnamed Gu smiled more broadly at this comment. Before he could respond, a girl holding a Flame Fox beside him spoke up, ¡°Xieyun City isn¡¯t like our Qingzhou City. The gates here are always open, and no transcendent beings would dare to invade.¡± Those who had never been to Xieyun City before were awestruck, whispering among themselves in surprise. This group consisted of young beast masters traveling all the way from Qingzhou City. Aside from those selected in the last sparring exchange, a few more young beast masters with equally good talents had joined the ranks. And the middle-aged man leading the group was none other than Gu Wu. Indeed, as Gu Wu said, their purpose was to witness the clashes between General Level Beast Masters from various second-tier towns, to see how powerful beast masters fight, and to enhance their knowledge. ¡°Let¡¯s not stand around here,¡± said Gu Wu, seeing the excitement on the faces of the young men and women as if seeing himself the first time he came to Xieyun City. His face softened into a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Xiaoxiao, holding the Flame Fox, looked ahead eagerly at Xieyun City. Boss Xu¡¯s branch shop was in Xieyun City. Here, she¡¯d hopefully be able to meet him, right? ¡°Gu Ling, let¡¯s go to the Starfire Foster Shop together later!¡± She nudged the girl beside her with her elbow and whispered, ¡°I deliberately didn¡¯t have Little Flame washed and groomed in Qingzhou City!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Gu Ling looked at her good friend and nodded with a smile. With Gu Wu leading, the group made their way toward the city gates of Xieyun City. The boys and girls visiting for the first time were curious about Xieyun City, snapping photos with their phones and marveling as they carried on, which Gu Wu did not rush, but merely slowed down slightly. As they approached the city gate, a sudden angry shout came from behind their group. ¡°What are you pushing for? Are you blind?¡± Gu Wu frowned slightly and turned around, only to see a beast master from Qingzhou City in a stare-down with another beast master. ¡°I¡¯m not pushing! You bumped into me!¡± The Qingzhou City beast master named He Zhou protested with a hint of indignation, ¡°And yet you have the nerve to blame me?¡± ¡°Nerve?¡± The accusing beast master¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Say that again if you dare.¡± As his words fell, several beast masters dressed similar to him quickly gathered around, all looking rather hostile. The other party was not alone; it was also a team entering the city, and their clothing style was different from the local fashion of Xieyun City, clearly indicating they were visitors from another city. However, compared to the people from Qingzhou City, the strength of the other party was significantly higher by several levels. The Beast Master who had a verbal altercation with He Zhou had a Leadership Stage Pet Beast following him and was a Leadership Level Beast Master. Among the other Beast Masters, quite a few were General Level Beast Masters. ¡°You¡­¡± Realizing that the opponent was no pushover, He Zhou¡¯s face paled slightly, but his expression remained stubborn, and he wanted to continue the argument. He hadn¡¯t done anything just now. He had only been posing for a photo with his companions when suddenly a great force knocked him aside. Before he could react, the other party had accused him first, which was utterly infuriating. Before He Zhou could speak, a hand landed on his shoulder. Gu Wu patted He Zhou¡¯s shoulder and forcefully brought him behind himself. Then, he stepped forward and looked at the Beetle Master in front of him. ¡°Sirs, we come from Qingzhou City and are here to watch the battle at the invitation of the Xieyun City Beast Master Association. Today¡¯s incident is but a trifling matter; can we agree to let it go?¡± ¡°Qingzhou City? Never heard of it!¡± sneered the Leadership Level Beast Master, ¡°What backwater peasants. Don¡¯t think you can make us back down just by throwing Xieyun City¡¯s name around.¡± ¡°You want it to end? Fine, provide compensation.¡± He pointed to a broken ornament on his shoulder. ¡°This was carved from a General Stage beast bone, and it was damaged by your people. Demanding a Leadership Stage resource as compensation is not excessive, is it?¡± The people from Qingzhou City all showed angry expressions. ¡°A General Stage beast bone shatters from a single touch?¡± Su Xiaoxiao looked at the other party with disgust and couldn¡¯t help but speak out, ¡°You¡¯re extorting us!¡± Gu Wu waved his hand at Su Xiaoxiao and cast a more fierce look towards the people in front of him, with the Red-eyed Demon Dragon behind him unleashing the suppression of the General Stage, ¡°Which city are you from, and who is leading your team? Have him come out and speak to me.¡± ¡°We come from Bloody City.¡± A General Level Beast Master stepped forward from beside the Leadership Level Beast Master, with his General Stage Pet Beast also unleashing immense pressure, countering that of the Red-eyed Demon Dragon, ¡°The leader is not here; I make the decisions here.¡± The standoff at the city gate had already drawn the attention of many passersby, and at the mention of ¡°Bloody City,¡± murmurs of conversation rippled through the crowd. Gu Wu¡¯s expression became even more serious. Bloody City is a Second Level Town. Moreover, it has some distinctions compared to other Second Level Towns. Bloody City is built upon a special resource site. The resources produced from this site are very important, and Bloody City has risen quickly by occupying it, defending against the attacks of Transcendent Beings from the outside. But the abnormal Transcendent Power in the resource site has a certain influence on creatures who stay there for extended periods, amplifying their negative traits insidiously. Greed, irritability, manic behavior¡­ The amplification of these negative traits made the Beast Masters living in Bloody City harder to deal with, quick to resort to violence over trivial matters. He did not expect their luck to be so poor as to encounter these troublemakers. The situation was clearly one where the other party was looking for trouble. Although there was a significant power gap between the two sides, Gu Wu was not someone to be trampled upon either. Having lived in Xieyun City for many years, he knew how to handle the current situation. Without any hesitation, he took out his cellphone and dialed a friend¡¯s number from within Xieyun City. If you can¡¯t beat them, call for backup! Moments later, accompanied by a long cry, a giant eagle enveloped in the powerful aura of the King Stage descended from the sky. From atop the giant eagle, a burly man leaped down and strode over to Gu Wu¡¯s side, patting his shoulder, ¡°Old Gu, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen each other!¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Gu Wu said with a smile, looking at Li Chang, his good friend of several years. Once, both of them were General Level Beast Masters who had fought side by side on numerous occasions. Now, Li Chang had advanced to King Level, making him one of Gu Wu¡¯s few connections. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m hosting today; let¡¯s go have a drink!¡± Li Chang gestured and began leading Gu Wu and the group from Qingzhou City away. ¡°Hold on!¡± A General Level Beast Master from Bloody City called out in a low voice, ¡°You can leave, but leave the compensation behind!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hearing this, Li Chang¡¯s eyes narrowed, his King Level presence pressing down, ¡°I¡¯m going to have drinks with my friend; do I need to ask for your opinion?¡± ¡°Bullying others based on your higher status; what kind of skill is that?¡± At that moment, an indifferent voice rang out; a overpowering King Level presence exploded forth, dispersing the suppression brought by Li Chang¡¯s Pet Beast. Outside the city gate, a King Level Beast Master walked steadily forward. And his attire was identical to that of the people from Bloody City. He was the true leader of the group from Bloody City. ¡°I was but a step late, and you¡¯ve already caused trouble,¡± the leader chided the other Beast Masters from Bloody City as he approached, then turned to Li Chang and the people from Qingzhou City, ¡°But you will not escape the compensation you ought to pay.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Another 4,000 words to go, working furiously] Chapter 718 - Chapter 718: Chapter 343: Poison Flame Valley, Firefly Evolution! Chapter 718: Chapter 343: Poison Flame Valley, Firefly Evolution! ¡°Loo roar~¡± (So this is the Poison Flame Valley¡­) Gazing at the valley that quickly magnified before her eyes, feeling the heat wave rushing towards her face, the Firefly, filled with anticipation, wore an expression imbued with solemnity. Its sharp senses allowed it to clearly feel the terrifying and domineering fire attribute power contained within the valley before its eyes. That fire attribute power was not the same as the ordinary fire attribute power, carrying with it a strong sense of burning that made one feel uncomfortable and unwell. That was the fire poison included within the fire attribute power. All fire attribute powers within Poison Flame Valley were permeated with fire poison, and even for Fire Pet Beasts to absorb, it was very easy to suffer backlash from the fire poison. Furthermore, this fire poison was extremely penetrating, even capable of seeping into non-fire elements, and accumulating over a long period. Before long, one person and five Pet Beasts stopped outside the Poison Flame Valley. The ground ahead carried a hint of an unusual crimson, clearly demarcated from what lay behind. As Xu Ran took a step forward, he heard a ¡°sizzle¡± sound. The soles of his shoes that came into contact with the fire poison accumulated in the ground were instantly burned away a layer. Withdrawing his foot quickly, Xu Ran¡¯s face revealed a somewhat odd expression, ¡°In such a place, there are actually more than a dozen Beast Kings active?¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± (It¡¯s so hot, so hot! Cancan, who had followed Xu Ran in taking a step, rapidly withdrew its paws and violently shook them in the air twice, baring its teeth and grimacing. The fire poison itself didn¡¯t pose much harm to it, but the sense of burning brought by the fire poison didn¡¯t decrease in the slightest because of this. ¡°Loo roar~¡± (Let me try~) The Firefly stepped forward briskly, its crimson eyes filled with an eagerness to try. With each step it took, its paw pads lit up with crimson flames, contending against the fire poison hidden in the ground. Being a Fire Pet Beast itself, it adapted extremely fast. ¡°Try using Fluid Fire Avoidance,¡± Xu Ran reminded. Fluid Fire Avoidance was a skill upgraded with a Three Star Skill Scroll during the last resource distribution the Firefly had received. The skill originally was Fire Resisting, permitting the Firefly to be immune to fire attribute damage to a certain extent, but with the skill upgrade, an additional effect was added. Fluid Fire Avoidance could dissipate fire attribute power within a certain range. To the Firefly, which was of the fire attribute itself, this skill effect seemed somewhat superfluous. After all, by dispelling the fire attribute power, it also affected itself, considered a typical case of winning by hurting oneself as well. But at this moment, this effect happened to be of use. ¡°Loo roar~¡± (I¡¯ll try it!) With Xu Ran¡¯s reminder sparking a light in its eyes, the Firefly suddenly clapped its paws together in front of its chest. ¡°Snap~¡± Accompanied by a crisp sound, a pale red halo spread out from the Firefly as the center, in all directions, eventually forming a pale red hemispherical light film around a five-meter radius of the Firefly. Within the light film, the crimson color of the ground noticeably faded. It worked! Indeed, despite being special, the fire poison was also a kind of fire attribute power! Xu Ran¡¯s heart leapt with joy as he quickly rushed into the range covered by the light film. The other four little ones quickly followed, entering the light film and breathing in fresh air free from fire poison, they felt refreshed and invigorated. With the trouble from the fire poison resolved, one person and five Pet Beasts swiftly moved towards the interior of the Poison Flame Valley. The Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow is a rather special resource. It can be considered a crystal completely condensed from fire poison, containing the extreme power of fire poison. This kind of resource is rare elsewhere, but in fire attribute areas containing fire poison, it is always produced over many years of accumulation. According to the information Xu Ran obtained previously, the Poison Flame Valley had the possibility of discovering Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow both on the outskirts and the deepest parts. The deeper one went into the valley, the more intense the fire poison became, and the higher the probabilities of finding it. As they delved deeper, one person and five Pet Beasts inevitably received attacks from Transcendent Beings within the valley, but at this moment they were still in the periphery, and the strength of the Transcendent Beings was not too strong, at most at the Leadership Stage. No sooner had these Transcendent Beings shown themselves than they were expediently and crisply dealt with in a wave of combat, controlled by Lead Silk Vertical Soul, utilizing Heart Tide and sharingsensations with the twelve, they became ruthlessly efficient resource searchers, seeking out Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow for the one person and five beasts. The main tactic was to make full use of the resources at hand. And as the number of Transcendent Beings under the control of the twelve grew, they indeed found some clues. ¡°Cheep~¡± (Over there might have Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow!) The twelve abruptly looked in a certain direction, excitedly speaking out. ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran followed the direction of the twelve¡¯s gazes, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± At the moment, their location was roughly on the outer fringes of Poison Flame Valley, where it was not uncommon to encounter creatures at General stage, but the main inhabitants were still the Transcendent Beings of Leadership Stage. If they could find the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow here, it would mean that a single person along with five Pet Beasts would not need to venture into the deepest part of the Poison Flame Valley and risk running into the dozen or so King Stage creatures within. Although not afraid, Xu Ran still preferred to avoid trouble when he could. Of course, Ziyun was not quite as pleased. It glanced at the location where Twelve had discovered the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow and then at the direction of the deeper parts of Poison Flame Valley, letting out a slight sigh, feeling that it had lost a good opportunity to showcase its strength. Under Twelve¡¯s guidance, one person and five Pet Beasts changed direction and soon came upon a natural cave set into the rock wall. Outside the cave, a Transcendent Being with eyes devoid of life stood rigidly. ¡°Jiu~¡± (Your effort in finding resources has been successful, I¡¯ll spare you this time~) Twelve muttered, with a flash of light in its ocean-blue eyes. At the next moment, the Transcendent Being of Leadership Stage regained the sparkle in its eyes, looked at the single person and five beasts with fear, and without hesitation, ran away with all its might. Not bothering with the creature that had regained its freedom, Xu Ran and the five little ones set their sights on the dark cave nearby. From within the cave, indeed, a thicker concentration of Fire Attribute Power flowed out. ¡°Jiu~¡± (I just controlled it to go inside and take a look, and there is indeed a piece of Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow.) Twelve actively spoke up and began explaining. ¡°Then there¡¯s no mistake,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath, looked toward Yinghuo, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going in.¡± ¡°Luhou~¡± (Okay!) Yinghuo nodded vigorously and, looking at the cave in front of it, its steps became somewhat heavier. The cave was not very long, and after walking for about a few dozen meters, they arrived in a spacious chamber within the cave. The thick Fire Poison enveloped the entire chamber, and even Yinghuo, who was using its Fluid Fire Avoidance Skill, found it somewhat strenuous to completely block it out. In the center of this chamber, a thick red light illuminated the whole area. It was a spring-like feature, inside which flowed a thick, magma-like red liquid. Atop the magma, a dark red crystal floated quietly, as if it had just been separated out not long ago. At a glance, Xu Ran recognized that this was the last Main Material needed for Yinghuo¡¯s evolution. Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow. ¡°Yinghuo,¡± Xu Ran took out the other Evolution Resources he had prepared, and then took another deep breath, ¡°be careful when evolving.¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± Yinghuo hugged these resources and nodded vigorously. Its face was filled with anticipation, yet also etched with tension. Evolution is something that every being longs for, but it is also fraught with danger. Even though it had made all the preparations it could, Yinghuo still felt a bit of trepidation, having never evolved before. Ziyun seemed to perceive Yinghuo¡¯s mood and revealed a relaxed expression. ¡°Miaow~¡± (Relax, if I could succeed in evolving, you can too!) Without a doubt, among the five little ones, Ziyun had faced the highest Difficulty in evolving from Leader to King Stage. After all, it had to add an Attribute during evolution. Upon hearing Ziyun¡¯s comforting words, Yinghuo took a deep breath, its tension easing somewhat. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (You can do it, cheer up.) Starlet cried out sharply, offering its own comfort and encouragement. Yinghuo looked up into those amethyst eyes, reminiscing about the initial exchange it had with Starlet at the breeding base. Starlet, like Yinghuo, had faced similar circumstances and now had come this far. Yinghuo firmly grasped its bear paw and swung it forcefully. It definitely could do it too! ¡°Luhou!¡± (I¡¯m off!) Yinghuo looked at Xu Ran and the other four little ones, then walked towards the spring with the Evolution Materials in hand. With a light stomp, the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow was swept up in a pillar of fire that rose skyward from the magma, landing in its palm. Enveloped by an intense Fire Poison that reached its peak in an instant, Yinghuo¡¯s paw felt the corrosive assault despite the damage reduction from its innate Fluid Fire Avoidance, and a pained expression appeared on its face. Not daring to be careless, Yinghuo quickly swallowed the other materials one by one and then closed its hand around the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow, sitting cross-legged next to the hot spring gushing with heat. A few breaths later, Yinghuo¡¯s presence began to grow wild and unstable. The Resources it had swallowed were starting to take effect. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 719 - Chapter 719: Chapter 344: Fire Ear Bear vs Fire-tailed Bear, A Battle of Fireflies! Chapter 719: Chapter 344: Fire Ear Bear vs Fire-tailed Bear, A Battle of Fireflies! ¡°` ¡°Bear!!!¡± The deep booming sound of flames filled the consciousness world where Fire Eye resided. In an instant, a similarly intense blaze enveloped Fire Eye, allowing a strong sense of power to permeate every corner of its body. The same Full Moon Level Flame Body ignited a fighting spirit within Fire Eye. It raised its head and locked onto the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye in the sky, its crimson eyes spitting out flames that ignited in a split second. One Star Skill, Waning Moon Level: Fire Eye! With the skill¡¯s enhancement, the rapidly enlarging figure in its sight seemed to slow down, as if time itself had decelerated, allowing every detail to be more easily discerned. ¡°Roar!¡± (I won¡¯t lose!) Fire Eye roared, its hind legs powering off the ground as it leaped high into the air, crashing fiercely into the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye. Like two missiles colliding mid-air, the fiery Fire Attribute power of both combatants crushed together into a spreading Starfire, sending rolling waves of heat in all directions. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Following a deep booming sound, both Fire Eyes landed. They grappled tightly together like wrestlers in a match, using their strength to continuously struggle against each other. The high-temperature flames covering them burned one another, but their shared mastery of Fire Resisting Skills granted them high resistance to the flames. After a momentary deadlock, the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye let out an angry roar, its surrounding flames suddenly intensifying. Its momentum rose steadily, and the sudden surge tipped the evenly matched situation sharply in its favor. The next moment, the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye suddenly exerted force and flung Fire Eye away. Two stars Skill, Full Moon Level: Meaning of Flames. This buff skill that enhanced all Fire Attribute skills allowed the Fire-tailed Bear to gain the upper hand in this exchange. It looked proudly over at Fire Eye, which had fallen to the ground in the distance, its roars filled with a triumphant tone. Fire Eye rolled and stood up again, eyes locked onto its opponent. Meaning of Flames was a Skill it did not possess. For this reason, it couldn¡¯t amplify its own Fire Attribute Skills. But, it had the Undying Flame, something the Fire-tailed Bear did not have either. Who would win and who would lose was yet to be determined! Fire Eye dashed forward once more, the flames around its body subtly shifting to a deeper and more dense color. Two stars Skill, Full Moon Level: Undying Flame. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Once again, they collided, and amidst the spray of sparks, Fire Eye quickly fell back in the face of the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye, bolstered by Meaning of Flames. However, this time the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye couldn¡¯t quite smile in triumph. Beneath the flames that enshrouded its body, strands of even deeper-colored flames, like festering lesions, clung to its fur, burning incessantly and causing searing pain that made the Fire-tailed Bear Fire Eye¡¯s eyes flash malevolently. It roared and smacked its powerful bear paws on the ground, and the next instant, a fiery pillar erupted from the spot where Fire Eye had landed, completely engulfing Fire Eye. Two stars Skill, Full Moon Level: Sky-Burning Strike! ¡°Roar!¡± Fire Eye, not yet having managed to stand up, took a direct hit from this attack. Its body was involuntarily blown away, the burning sensation of Fire Attribute power causing intense pain that it couldn¡¯t help but cry out in agony. With its strike successful, the Fire Ear Bear Fire Eye¡¯s eyes once again gleamed with a smug look as it readied its paws, seemingly prepared to strike Fire Eye a heavy blow before it could land. But Fire Eye¡¯s response was equally swift. Enduring the pain, it adjusted its posture mid-air and lifted its paws high before forcefully dropping its weight. At the instant the Fire Ear Bear Fire Eye¡¯s next strike didn¡¯t materialize, Fire Eye landed hard and smashed its charged paws onto the ground. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With a low boom, the Fire Ear Bear Fire Eye, which had completed half of its starting move, was instantly engulfed by two pillars of fire that erupted from the ground, and it screamed miserably as the twin pillars of fire twisted together. Two stars Skill, Full Moon Level: Blazing Sky Dance! A single word in difference brought about a vastly amplified destructive power. Even against Sky-Burning Strike enhanced by Meaning of Flames, the power of this blow was considerable. Standing firm, Fire Eye watched the Fire Ear Bear Fire Eye get blasted into the air, the burning in its gaze growing more intense. Now, the tables had turned! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Meow~¡± (Is Fire Eye really okay?) Ziyun showed a worried expression as she watched Fire Eye flicker unstably amidst the blaze from a distance. ¡°Now, it can only rely on itself to get through this,¡± Xu Ran said, taking a deep breath and slowly speaking. Since the initial mutation, Fire Eye had been in a very special state. Its ears and tail alternated between igniting, switching back and forth between the Fire-tailed Bear and Fire Ear Bear forms. After the initial shock, Xu Ran had a rough guess about Fire Eye¡¯s condition. That was, Fire Eye¡¯s mutation was not complete. Remembering when it was first discovered, its tail had no burning flames, but the flames on its ears weren¡¯t stable either, appearing only when actively stimulated. After being brought back by Xu Ran, through a period of determined training and resource feeding, the characteristic burning of Fire Eye¡¯s ears finally stabilized. This likely meant that although Fire Eye had mutated from a Fire-tailed Bear to a Fire Ear Bear, the mutation wasn¡¯t very thorough. Inside Fire Eye¡¯s body, some of the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s power remained. ¡°` Chapter 720 - Chapter 720: Chapter 344: Fire Ear Bear vs Fire-tailed Bear, A Battle of Fireflies!_2 Chapter 720: Chapter 344: Fire Ear Bear vs Fire-tailed Bear, A Battle of Fireflies!_2 This incomplete mutation wouldn¡¯t reveal too many abnormalities on ordinary days, but during the critical moment of evolution, it could become a significant hidden danger. For evolution is essentially a leap in the life level. The Fire Ear Bear could evolve into the Poison Fire Bear, but the Fire-tailed Bear could not. Therefore, Firefly, with some power of the Fire-tailed Bear remaining in its body, would inevitably face the backlash of the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s power during evolution. At this moment, Firefly was in such a state. Under the stimulation of the evolutionary resources, it was amidst a stand-off of the racial powers. Win, and Firefly would completely stabilize as a Fire Ear Bear, hence successfully completing the evolution. Lose, and the power of the Fire-tailed Bear would devour the power of the Fire Ear Bear, making Firefly¡¯s race completely turn into the Fire-tailed Bear. Not only would it lose higher potential, but it would also lead directly to the failure of this evolution. And the bad news was, Firefly didn¡¯t have much time left. Such a stand-off couldn¡¯t go on endlessly. Because within the resources absorbed by Firefly, there was overwhelming power, and right now, it was wreaking havoc within its body. In the process of confronting itself, Firefly had no energy to suppress these powers, and if it let them go unchecked, over time Firefly¡¯s evolution would still fail. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze was fixed on the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow that Firefly held tightly with one paw. This was the only resource that Firefly had not been able to absorb. Because its method of absorption in this evolution was not to devour, but rather to simply hold it in hand. At the moment, the Fire Poison had completely corroded Firefly¡¯s paw and arm, making the fur¡¯s flame color deepen. If it could not absorb the power of other evolutionary resources quickly to confront the Fire Poison, Firefly¡¯s situation would become extremely dangerous. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Has the speed of the racial change slowed down?) Cancan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the area. ¡°Tweet~¡± (It seems to have slowed down.) Twelve observed carefully, then nodded slightly, affirming Cancan¡¯s discovery. Xu Ran¡¯s spirits lifted, his eyes locked on Firefly. Indeed, the speed at which Firefly was changing between the Fire Ear Bear and the Fire-tailed Bear was slowing down in a very noticeable trend. What did this mean? Could it be that the stand-off was about to end? Xu Ran¡¯s heartbeat couldn¡¯t help but speed up. One human and four pets fell completely quiet, only their encouraging thoughts transmitted non-stop to Firefly in front of them through Contractual Sensing. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± In the realm of consciousness, Firefly performed another Blazing Sky Dance, sending the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly flying away with force. The Fire-tailed Bear Firefly landed heavily and struggled noticeably as it tried to rise again. Its state was quite miserable, as the flames it had ignited itself were covered by an even deeper flame, making it look as though it was enveloped in two layers of differently colored flames. More importantly, the inner layer of flames that directly touched its body did not come from itself, but from the other Firefly. The relentless burning power continued to inflict heavy damage on the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly, and even the Fire Resisting found it difficult to withstand such scorching. The continuous, excruciating pain caused the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly¡¯s body to convulse repeatedly, and its will to fight was nearly worn away. The other Firefly wasn¡¯t faring much better. Its momentum had become very weak, and as the Undying Flame continued to burn, it dealt heavy blows to its opponent while also constantly draining its own power. This draining was rapid, causing Firefly to reach its limit faster than the opponent following the continuous burst. It walked with weary steps, step by step towards the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly until it reached the point where the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly lay unable to get up. The Undying Flame, having burned out its last bit of power, finally extinguished. The fur all over the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly had been completely burned off, leaving hideous scorch marks on the skin, looking utterly pitiful. ¡°Lurrrh~¡± (It¡¯s over!) Light struggled with the last bit of strength, punching towards the Fire-tailed Bear Light with all its might. Accompanied by a soft sound, the figure of the Fire-tailed Bear Light exploded into countless specks, which then converged onto Light itself. Without time to experience the changes brought by these specks, Light¡¯s consciousness swiftly left the realm of the mind, regaining control over its body. Sensing the restless power within its body due to the lack of suppression, Light immediately activated its own power, methodically suppressing and shattering it, bit by bit absorbing it to transform it into its own power. It must be fast, even faster! Light felt the stinging and burning sensation of half of its body being eroded by the Fire Poison, and deep down, it had a premonition that it had to absorb all the resource power before the Fire Poison could erode its entire body. Only by doing this could it complete its evolution. As time ticked away, the agitated power within Light¡¯s body gradually became tame under its vigorous absorption. If there were a score for energy absorption, then Light, having absorbed the experience of four predecessors¡¯ evolutions, had now turned in a perfect score. Finally, when the Fire Poison had spread throughout its entire body and was starting to spread to its other arm and legs, Light¡¯s aura completely stabilized. It slowly opened its eyes and locked its gaze onto the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow it was tightly grasping. The stinging and scalding from the Fire Poison spreading through most of its body made it extremely uncomfortable, wishing it could immediately throw away this damn thing. But reason told it that this was the final step of its evolution. Taking a deep breath, Light nodded at Xu Ran and the four little ones in the distance, then without hesitation, holding the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow, it jumped into a spring nearby! The intense power instantly enveloped Light¡¯s body, and the ever-increasing pain made Light¡¯s body shiver uncontrollably. But the Fire Poison spreading over Light¡¯s body was at that moment suppressed, as if a pause button had been hit, and its spread instantly halted. As expected! Feeling this happen, Light cheered joyfully despite the piercing pain it suffered. The moment it grasped the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow, it vaguely guessed what it needed to do to fully absorb the resource. The spring spewing lava was the birthplace of the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow and would also suppress its power. This was also why the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow always floated on top of the lava, never sinking into it. Under the suppression of the lava, Light took a deep breath and then released its resistance to the Fire Poison without any hesitation. Its body, already saturated with Fire Poison, began to deepen in hue. The Fire Poison, previously only penetrating its fur and skin, now started to dive deeper into Light¡¯s inner body as it willingly accepted it. Without a doubt, this process was painful. But it was also the most crucial step in Light¡¯s evolution. It needed to accept the Fire Poison, devour it, and ultimately integrate the power of the Fire Poison entirely with itself to evolve into a Poison Fire Bear. Being within the lava, although it brought greater pain, it lessened the harm from the Fire Poison and made the process smoother. As time passed, Light¡¯s body color grew deeper and eventually changed from its previous flame color to a deep red. As the previously spreading body parts completed their thorough penetration and absorption, the spread of the Fire Poison continued, soon covering Light¡¯s other arm and legs entirely with the deep red hue. Lastly, was Light¡¯s head. With the last bit of the body covered in deep red Fire Poison, a dazzling Light of Evolution burst forth from Light¡¯s body. This Light of Evolution broke through the lava, spewing from the spring as a brilliant column of light, striking the roof of the cave. Xu Ran and the other four little ones exchanged looks, their faces lighting up with anticipation and excitement. Success! The emergence of the Light of Evolution signified that the evolution had smoothly passed the accumulation stage and moved on to the transformation stage! A moment later, a figure shot out from the spring, bringing up a gushing flow of lava, and steadied its form inside the cave. One human and four creatures¡¯ eyes shone brightly as they quickly approached. Chapter 721 - Chapter 721: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss Chapter 721: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss ¡°Luhou!¡± (I¡¯ve evolved!) Watching its companions rushing towards it, the firefly slowly extinguished the flames burning around its body and raised its paws to let out a cheer. After the evolution, its originally not-so-large body now stood upright at about three meters tall, and its body type had transformed from a cub-like bear to that of an adult bear, losing some of its juvenile cuteness and gaining an air of ferocity and strength. The flame-colored fur that covered its body had now turned into a more vibrant cherry red, with only the fur on its chest retaining some of the flame-colored hairs, interweaving into a pattern of flames, like a brand. The fire that constantly enveloped the original double ears of the firefly had now moved to the forehead, like a third eye above the eyebrows, making the firefly look extraordinarily valiant. Its robust paws casually swung, sending sparks flying and continuously burning on the ground with ¡°crackling¡± sounds. [Illustration is still being drawn, to be added later] At this moment, it displayed the form of a Poison Fire Bear. ¡°Finally, the evolution is a success,¡± Xu Ran sighed with relief and said with a smile, ¡°The evolution difficulty for you was probably even higher than Ziyun¡¯s.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed it was.) Ziyun nodded in agreement, thinking back on the perilous moments of the firefly¡¯s evolution and could not help but break out in a sweat for it. Although my own evolution was difficult due to having an additional attribute, it was never this dangerous. ¡°Luhou~¡± (Good thing I won!) Thinking back to the previous fight with the Fire-tailed Bear Firefly, Firefly scratched its head, rubbed some sparks off its body with a hehe and a smile, and then, as if remembering something urgently, spoke out, ¡°Luhou~¡± (After absorbing the power of the Fire-tailed Bear, my skills seem to have changed!) ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran raised his eyebrows and casually opened Firefly¡¯s panel. Just right, let¡¯s check out the skill situation of Firefly after its evolution. [Contract Pet Beast: Firefly Race name: Poison Fire Bear Attribute: Fire Attribute Growth stage: Leadership Stage (24.8w/30w) Race stage: King Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ï Burning Soul Body (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Flame Dance Scorches the Sky (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Scorching Heart Flame (Full Moon Level)] (0/10000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Fluid Fire Avoidance (Waning Moon Level)] (698/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï Crimson Flame Eyes (Waning Moon Level)] (876/2000) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï King¡¯s Power (Stardust Level)] (0/100) [+] [¡ï¡ï Fire Eating (Stardust Level)] (0/100) [+] The last two skills were new skills added after Firefly¡¯s evolution; the five skills before them were Firefly¡¯s original skills. At a glance, Xu Ran noticed two of the first five skills had changed their names compared to before. The first was Burning Soul Body. This skill, upgraded from a two-star Flame Body, would have typically been named Demon Flame Body. The change in skill name meant the effects of the skill had also changed. The second was Scorching Heart Flame. This skill, upgraded from a two-star Undying Flame, would normally have been Eternal Burning Flame, but now it too had changed. The change of a three-star talent skill usually only occurred during Ziyun¡¯s evolution. However, Ziyun¡¯s evolution had added a new attribute, causing a change in the attribute of the talent skill, which was the reason for its skill change. Firefly did not gain a new attribute during its evolution process. Therefore, the reason for this change could very likely be related to Firefly¡¯s experience in clashing with its own Fire-tailed Bear power during the evolution process. Perhaps, with a portion of the Fire-tailed Bear¡¯s power remaining in its body, its past skills were not purely those of a Fire Ear Bear. After completely suppressing and absorbing the power of the Fire-tailed Bear, the talent skills of Firefly changed, and in the process of evolution, two new skills were added. Grasping the reason, Xu Ran stroked his chin with an interested expression, ¡°Let¡¯s go out and test the power of the new skills.¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± (No problem!) Firefly nodded vigorously, its face showing an eager expression. Through the new memories appearing in its mind, it already knew the general details of the new skills, which it liked very much. One human and five beasts strode out of the cave following the direction they had entered and arrived at an open space nearby. Firefly took two steps out, the flame on its brow instantly exploded into a large blaze of burning light, and as it made a charging motion through the flames, its body was instantly covered with hot and sticky profound flames. This flame was completely different in color from ordinary flames; the cherry red fire was bright but not blinding, yet it conveyed a sense of danger. Scanning the surroundings, Firefly quickly took a liking to a bare rock nearby. It walked up to it swiftly and then smashed down on it with a fierce paw. ¡°Boom!!¡± With a deep thunderous roar, the rock instantly shattered into dozens of pieces, each enveloped in the cherry red flames, continuing to burn. Under the watchful eyes of Xu Ran and the other four little ones, the cherry red flames slowly weakened until they disappeared. However, the crimson color on the surface of the rocks deepened even more. That was Fire Poison. Though the flames dissipated, the Fire Poison remained on the rocks. One could imagine, if the strike had hit a living being instead of a rock, the Fire Poison would have eroded the victim¡¯s body with each attack, causing continuous damage. Chapter 722 - Chapter 722: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_2 Chapter 722: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_2 ¡°Lurho!¡± (Watch closely!) Firefly shouted excitedly, indicating the display was far from over. With a forceful push from its legs, its figure suddenly transformed into a cherry-red afterimage, rapidly flickering across the ground. Rocks and mountain faces around it were marked with varying depths of cracks from Firefly¡¯s pounding, each bearing the same cherry-red flames as residue. Speed, strength, agility, coordination¡ªupon executing the Burning Soul Body, Firefly¡¯s overall physical attributes had significantly improved. Feeling its newfound power, Firefly seemed quite excited, experimenting for a good while before reluctantly coming to a standstill and dissipating the flames surrounding it. ¡°This transformation is quite good,¡± Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Fire Poison must be an intrinsic trait of the Poison Fire Bear, not an effect of its Skills. Compared to the previous Demon Flame Body, the current Burning Soul Body added an effect of lingering flames. It¡¯s a modest enhancement, but the main point is that it has a high compatibility with Firefly¡¯s Fire Poison. ¡°What differences are there between Scorching Heart Flame and Eternal Burning Flame?¡± Having seen the changes in Firefly¡¯s first skill, Xu Ran grew curious and expectant about the changes to Firefly¡¯s other Skills. ¡°Lurho!¡± (Let me demonstrate!) Firefly nodded and was about to execute the skill when its gaze suddenly shifted aside. Xu Ran and the four young ones also turned their attention in the same direction. Probably disturbed by the commotion Firefly had just made, six wolf-type pet beasts with fiery red fur peeked out from the crisscrossing rocks, eyeing them with a chilly gaze. They approached step by step, forming a encircling stance around Xu Ran and his five pets. Clearly, upon discovering Xu Ran and his group, they intended to wipe out the human Beast Master and his Pet Beasts in one fell swoop. ¡°Jiu~¡± (Here we go again~) Twelve shook its head slightly, ready to cast Endless Sleep, but Xu Ran stopped it with a look. ¡°Firefly, these Leader Stage Fierce Wolves are yours to handle; it¡¯s a good chance to test your new Skills,¡± Xu Ran said. ¡°Lurho!¡± (No problem!) Firefly clenched its claws firmly, bumping them together in front of its chest as its crimson eyes blazed with intense fighting spirit. Interrupt my skill demonstration, and you become the targets of my skill demonstration! It stepped forward, deliberately entering the encirclement of the six Fierce Wolves. The pack of Fierce Wolves first seemed startled, then their eyes revealed human-like mockery. The largest and strongest Fierce Wolf let out a long howl, prompting the others to quickly tighten the encirclement around Firefly. In a moment of silence, one of the Fierce Wolves leaped forward, its front paws gleaming like knife blades, covered in burning flames as it fiercely tore at Firefly. Two Stars Skills, Waning Moon Level¡ªFlame Claw! Firefly¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and in the next moment, its eyes were filled with blazing fire. As the flames lit up, everything around Firefly slowed down drastically in its perception, and its vision also changed, allowing it to see all changes in temperature and transcendent power. Three Star Skill, Waning Moon Level¡ªCrimson Flame Eyes! As the superior skill to Fire Eye, it perfectly inherited the enhancement to vision from Fire Eye, with a significant upgrade that gave Firefly a tremendous advantage in battle. The Fierce Wolf that had pounced looked as slow as a snail in Firefly¡¯s eyes. Without even using the Burning Soul Body, Firefly simply sidestepped and nimbly dodged the Flame Claw, then clenched one fist and, in the instant they passed by each other, landed a brutal punch on the wolf¡¯s flank. Cherry-red light exploded at the moment the fist collided with the Fierce Wolf, engulfing it completely in flames. The light in Firefly¡¯s eyes faded slightly, and the speed of time in its view returned to normal. The Fierce Wolf let out a wail, flying a dozen meters away before crashing heavily onto the ground, with the cherry-red flames burning everything they touched, as if they¡¯d never extinguish. Its body twitched, seemingly struggling to rise, but in the next instant, it was completely consumed by flames and fell silent. After throwing the punch, Firefly did not even glance at the Fierce Wolf it had knocked away; it turned around as if it had eyes on its back and met another sneak-attacking Fierce Wolf with a pair of strong bear paws. The wolf was less than a meter away from Firefly, its mouth wide open revealing grim, sharp teeth, with especially large canines covered in blazing flames exuding a dangerous aura. Two Stars Skills, Waning Moon Level¡ªFlame Tooth! The firelight in Firefly¡¯s eyes brightened again, the flow of time in its vision slowed once more, and everything became crystal clear. It could even make out the wolf¡¯s razor-like teeth and the flying saliva from its mouth, which filled Firefly¡¯s eyes with a flash of disgust and discontent. The extended bear paws swiftly raised, one reaching above the wolf¡¯s upper jaw and the other below its lower jaw, then fiercely clapped together. Shut your mouth! With the tremendous force from Firefly¡¯s paws coming together, the wolf¡¯s wide maw was forcibly closed, splattering blood from its jaws while its entirely flame-formed canines exploded within its mouth. The Fierce Wolf unable to cry out with its mouth clamped shut, could only emit a pained ¡°woo woo¡± noise through its nostrils. However, its suffering didn¡¯t last long, as cherry-red light burst from Firefly¡¯s palms, instantly engulfing and ending its life. Chapter 723 - Chapter 723: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_3 Chapter 723: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_3 Immediately after, the firefly grabbed the fierce wolf¡¯s head and hurled it violently, throwing its body towards the stunned pack leader. Everything happened so fast that the pack leader had yet to react when it was hit full-on by the fierce wolf, whose body was engulfed in flames. The flames swiftly spread from the corpse of the fierce wolf to the pack leader, instantly covering its body. ¡°Awoo¡ª¡± The pack leader let out a terrified and agonizing howl, writhing in pain on the spot under the continuous damage of the Scorching Heart Flame. After rolling around for a few breaths, its movements gradually slowed down, eventually becoming still and silent. The remaining three fierce wolves watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, fully aware they had encountered a formidable foe. One by one, they tucked their tails and fled in panic, not daring to look back at the carnage behind them. The firefly couldn¡¯t be bothered to chase after them. It stretched lazily, quite pleased with its recent performance. To its earlier self, the Leadership Stage was an incredibly powerful level. Even with three Full Moon Level skills, its chance of defeating a Leadership Stage opponent while being at the Elite Stage was still slim. And now, three Leadership Stage fierce wolves had been effortlessly taken down by it, a stark contrast to before, providing a clear understanding of its current power. It had grown stronger! However, glancing at the four seniors, any pride that had just risen in the firefly instantly vanished. Well¡­ compared to the four seniors, it still had a long way to go! ¡°Is this the effect of Scorching Heart Flame?¡± Xu Ran said, looking at the three bodies still burning on the ground, his face showing a touch of astonishment. The previous Eternal Burning Flame could indeed cause sustained burning and damage, but it was difficult to take an opponent¡¯s life in such a short span of time. This indicated that Scorching Heart Flame had a more potent damaging effect than Eternal Burning Flame. Of course, this was also related to the presence of Fire Poison. Setting aside the King¡¯s Power skill that all King Species have, the firefly had one last skill to test. That was the Two stars skill Fire Eating that it had acquired during its evolution. ¡°How effective is Fire Eating?¡± Xu Ran asked with curiosity. On hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, the firefly chuckled heh heh. During the recent battle, it had already considered demonstrating the effect of Fire Eating. This tactic was called forward thinking! It merely took a light inhale, and the flames raging on the rock walls, the bodies, and the earth seemed to encounter a devouring black hole, involuntarily drifting and flying towards the firefly before being swallowed by it directly. After completing this action, the presence around the firefly visibly recovered at the speed of sight. ¡°This skill¡­¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gleamed slightly, ¡°can absorb flames to replenish its own power?¡± ¡°Luhou!¡± (Exactly! Any fire will do!) The firefly nodded vigorously, its eyes filled with a hint of joy. Although this skill was only two stars, it held great appeal to it. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. The effects of this skill were quite interesting. Recovery skills weren¡¯t unique to the firefly. Star and Cancan also possessed recovery skills. However, their skills fundamentally differed from the firefly¡¯s. Star and Cancan¡¯s recovery skills accelerated their absorption of the ambient unclaimed elemental power to heal themselves. The firefly¡¯s Fire Eating, on the other hand, directly consumed flames to restore its power. The latter had its limitations, requiring flames for recovery, but it also had advantages the former lacked. That is, it could also be used as a combat skill while serving as a recovery ability. If it encountered an opponent with Fire Attribute, the firefly could offset the enemy¡¯s advantage by consuming their flames, achieving an effect of mutual demise. Coupled with its mastery of Fluid Fire Avoidance, a skill providing immunity to fire, the combination solidified the firefly¡¯s invincibility against same-attribute opponents. Xu Ran could already imagine the scene when the firefly faced an opponent of the same Fire Attribute. The only downside was that the firefly¡¯s skills were highly specific to the same attribute, losing some advantage when facing other attributes. It was a trade-off. However, there was still room for the firefly¡¯s skills to be upgraded to Four Stars; it wouldn¡¯t be able to rely solely on Four Stars Skill Scrolls for improvement. By considering skill fusion during the process, perhaps the firefly¡¯s attribute coverage could be broadened a bit. If it could cover all attributes¡­ ¡°The firefly¡¯s evolution has come to a successful conclusion,¡± Xu Ran mused, unable to suppress a laugh, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place now.¡± Finding the Heart Burning Poisonous Flame Marrow ahead of time without alerting the dozen or so Beast Kings deep within Poison Flame Valley saved them a lot of trouble. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go to the Silent Abyss!) Star neighed excitedly, stamping its hooves impatiently on the ground. The firefly¡¯s issue had come to a close, but Star¡¯s own adventure was far from over! ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran swiftly mounted his horse, and as usual, picked up the other Pet Beasts onto Star¡¯s back. But upon seeing the firefly, his face involuntarily showed a trace of amusement. The firefly used to be small enough to easily fit on Star¡¯s broad back. Now, standing three meters tall, it had reached the category of a Large Pet Beast, making it not so easy to ride on Star¡¯s back. More importantly, it hadn¡¯t undergone a Reduction. The firefly scratched its head, realizing the problem as well, its face showing a troubled expression. ¡°Luhou?¡± (How about I wait here and you summon me when you get there?) Chapter 724 - Chapter 724: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_4 Chapter 724: Chapter 345: The Might of the Poison Fire Bear, Silent Abyss_4 ¡°` ¡°No need,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve grown in size, it¡¯s time for you to learn Reduction.¡± ¡°Once your Reduction skill reaches Three Stars, it can fuse with the Burning Soul Body, which would be perfect.¡± ¡°From the previous allocation of resources, you¡¯ve still got some Value Points to spare, enough to exchange for a One Star skill easily.¡± At the sound of Xu Ran¡¯s arrangement, the light in Firefly¡¯s eyes sparked to life. ¡°Luhou!¡± (I want to learn!) Xu Ran smiled and nodded, casually exchanging 10 Skill Fragments for the One Star Reduction skill and taught it to Firefly. Quickly mastering the skill, Firefly¡¯s form wobbled for a moment, then, under the gaze of its companions, rapidly shrank from a height of about three meters down to around one meter. Though still looking slightly larger than before, it now fit comfortably on Star¡¯s back. ¡°Jiu?¡± (Am I the only one without Reduction now?) Seeing Xu Ran lift Firefly up, Twelve¡¯s expression turned a little quirky. Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all possessed upgraded and fused Reduction skills. Twelve had thought it would have Firefly for company, but now that Firefly had learned Reduction too, it was the only one left unable to change its Body type. Damn it! ¡°You don¡¯t need it for now,¡± Xu Ran reached over to his shoulder and stroked Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°Besides, your Talent Skills don¡¯t have a good fit with Reduction.¡± ¡°This means that integrating Reduction with your Talent Skills would be difficult.¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Okay then~) Twelve nodded its head helplessly. It understood the skill wasn¡¯t really effective for it, but it still felt a little gloomy being the only one without it. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With Firefly¡¯s size issue resolved, Xu Ran called out as he raised his arm, and Star charged forth with a clatter of hooves, racing away from Poison Flame Valley. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Silent Abyss was located about two hundred kilometers south of Poison Flame Valley. The abyss was constantly shrouded in a dark, profound mist, impervious to any attempt to peer into its depths, even at noon when the sun was at its strongest. This mist even had the miraculous effect of swallowing sound. All movements within the abyss failed to penetrate the enveloping fog. This only added to the Silent Abyss¡¯s mystery. Within Beast Field number 47, there were countless extraordinary terrains formed for various reasons, and the range covered by the Silent Abyss was so vast that it ranked among the top even among such terrains. In comparison, Poison Flame Valley was just a little brother. Such an expansive and extraordinary terrain was, of course, dangerous. In the adventurer¡¯s guide provided by Xieyun City, this area was marked as extremely hazardous, with even a King Level Beast Master facing a slim chance of survival within it. Furthermore, unlike other locations, there was no clear indication of how many Beast King Level creatures existed within the Silent Abyss. Because Xieyun City had also been unable to fully explore this aspect. And today, the Silent Abyss was welcoming a new visitor. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± Xu Ran said softly, signalling Star to halt, then dismounted and carefully walked towards the edge of the abyss. The sides of the Silent Abyss were of equal height, with the widest part spanning over a hundred meters, while the narrowest parts were only about ten or so meters across, as if the earth had been abruptly split open. But no matter its width, the view into the abyss was utterly obscured by the deep dark fog, leaving no detail visible. Xu Ran¡¯s steps paused at the brink of the abyss, the black mist at his feet swirling, a mere hand¡¯s breadth away from touch. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (There¡¯s a strong Dark Power down there.) Star, following behind Xu Ran, spoke slowly. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [1000 more words to go, working hard to burst the liver] More importantly, it lacked Reduction. ¡°` Firefly scratched his head, also realizing the problem, and showed a troubled look on his face. ¡°Luhou?¡± (How about I wait here, and you summon me when you arrive?) ¡°No need,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Now that your body type has grown larger, it¡¯s time for you to learn Reduction too.¡± ¡°Once Reduction is upgraded to Three Stars, it can merge with the Burning Soul Body, which will be just right.¡± ¡°You still have some Value Points left over from the previous resource allocation, enough to exchange for a One Star skill with ease.¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s arrangements, Firefly¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Luhou!¡± (I want to learn!) Xu Ran smiled and nodded, casually exchanging 10 Skill Fragments for the One Star Reduction skill and taught it to Firefly. Firefly, who quickly grasped the skill, trembled slightly and then quickly shrank under the watchful eyes of his friends, from a height of about three meters to around one meter. Although he still appeared larger than before, sitting on Star¡¯s back was now more than enough. ¡°Jiu?¡± (Am I the only one without Reduction now?) Watching Xu Ran lift Firefly up, Twelve¡¯s expression became a bit more peculiar. Ziyun, Star, and Cancan all possessed upgraded Reduction skills that had fused, and originally Twelve had thought he would have Firefly to keep him company, but now even Firefly had acquired Reduction, leaving him the only one unable to change his body type. Damn it! ¡°You don¡¯t need it for now,¡± Xu Ran reached to his shoulder and petted Twelve¡¯s head, ¡°Besides, your Talent Skills are not compatible with Reduction.¡± ¡°That means it would be difficult for you to integrate Reduction into your Talent Skills.¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Alright~) Twelve nodded helplessly. It was aware that this skill wasn¡¯t much use to itself, but it was still a little disheartened that everyone else had it except for it. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Having resolved Firefly¡¯s body size issue, Xu Ran called out energetically, and Star lifted its hooves, transformed into a shadow, and rushed towards the direction away from Poison Flame Valley. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Silent Abyss, located about two hundred kilometers south of Poison Flame Valley. At all times, the abyss is engulfed in a dark and profound mist, and not even at the brightest moment of noon can one catch a glimpse of anything within the abyss. And this fog also has the magical effect of swallowing up sounds. All motions inside the abyss fail to spread through the fog. This makes the Silent Abyss seem even more mysterious. In the Beast Field No. 47, there are countless superordinary terrains formed for various reasons, and amongst them, the area shrouded by the Silent Abyss is so vast that it ranks near the top even among these extraordinary landscapes. Compared to it, the Poison Flame Valley is just a little brother. Such immense superordinary terrain naturally also harbors dangers. In the adventurer¡¯s guide issued by Xieyun City, this region is marked as extremely dangerous, with even a King Level Beast Master facing a slim chance of survival upon entering. And unlike other places, the Silent Abyss is not clearly marked with the number of Beast King Level creatures present. Because even Xieyun City cannot fully ascertain this fact. And today, the Silent Abyss welcomed a new visitor. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here,¡± Xu Ran spoke softly, signaling Star to halt, then dismounted and cautiously walked towards the edge of the abyss. The sides of the Silent Abyss were of the same height, the widest part being hundreds of meters across, while the narrowest part was merely over a dozen meters wide, as if the earth had been abruptly cleaved open. But no matter the width, the scene inside the abyss was completely obscured by the deep dark fog, not allowing a single detail to be seen. Xu Ran¡¯s steps came to a halt at the edge, the black mist swirling at his feet, within easy reach with just an outstretched hand. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (There¡¯s a strong concentration of Dark Power below.) Star followed behind Xu Ran, speaking slowly. Chapter 725 - Chapter 725: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town Chapter 725: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town ¡°I never would have imagined that the bottom of the Silent Abyss would look like this.¡± Once again on solid ground, Xu Ran looked at the glimmering starlight fragments beneath his feet, his face revealing a mix of astonishment and incredulity. He had assumed that, as the upper regions were enshrouded in black fog, the lower reaches would be even worse. Surprisingly, as he neared the bottom of the abyss, the fog thinned, becoming more normal the further he descended. The situation here bore some resemblance to Fallen Star Valley, except the stardust did not scatter along the rock walls on either side of the abyss. Instead, it lay thick on the ground like a carpet. The tiny lights gathered together, giving Xu Ran the splendid sense of walking on a boulevard of starlight. Equally excited was Star. With the black fog no longer in the way, it sensed the dense Star Power of the place, reminding it that a Town Star Stone had once formed here, and suddenly, the probability of gaining something from this trip seemed much higher. ¡°The bottom of the Silent Abyss is vast,¡± Xu Ran said softly, looking around, ¡°We¡¯re probably going to have to search for a while.¡± Unlike the narrow fissure at the entrance, which was at most a hundred meters, the Silent Abyss widened to over a kilometer at the bottom and stretched for tens of kilometers, making the search for the Town Star Stone no simple task. Moreover, since the last Town Star Stone had been taken, it was uncertain if the exact location was still preserved. ¡°Chatter¡ª¡± (It would be nice if we could catch someone here to ask.) Cancan spoke lazily. When it came to probing for Star Power, even using Echoing of Earth Vein was of no help. ¡°That would be one approach,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°but there should¡­¡± He was about to say that there shouldn¡¯t be such fools running into them, but suddenly, he fell silent. A shadowy figure slowly emerged from a cave in the distant rock wall, its cold eyes immediately fixed on the one human and five Pet Beasts. It was a leopard-like Pet Beast, covered in pitch-black scales, enshrouded in a thin black fog, with a pair of crimson eyes full of ferocity and savageness, emanating power fluctuations of the King Stage. Dark King Level¡¤Ink Scale Leopard. ¡°Meow~¡± (Your big mouth really is blessed.) Ziyun glanced at Cancan, then stepped forward, locking his gaze on the Ink Scale Leopard, and with an unfolding aura, began a distant standoff. This Ink Scale Leopard was no simple creature; its aura faintly transcended that of the Great Complement Beast King, and although it might not match the Nightmare Beast King, it was only slightly weaker. Such strength would be near invincible in the outside world, where those of the Overlord stage rarely appeared, and yet here, in the Silent Abyss, the first Beast King they encountered possessed such power. Fortunately, such an opponent was still not a threat to it. But the next moment, Ziyun¡¯s expression grew more solemn. For after the Ink Scale Leopard appeared, another Beast King of comparable strength emerged from another cave in the rock wall. That was a lion, wreathed in dark flames, with pitch-black eyes that fixated on Ziyun the moment it appeared, eyes brimming with vigilance and hostility. Dark King Level¡¤Dark Demon Lion! Two Quasi-Domineering Level! No, there were three! Amidst the strange ¡°click-clack¡± sounds, the black fog overhead began to churn, and from within it, a creature with a wingspan of over twenty meters, resembling a giant bat, flew out. Its blood-red eyes focused on the one human and five Pet Beasts below. Dark King Level¡¤Ghost Bat! The expressions of the one human and five Pet Beasts changed subtly. The aura of this Ghost Bat was unfamiliar yet carried a hint of recognition. During their descent through the black fog, they had been assaulted by similar auras several times, but those were much weaker and had been promptly dealt with by Ziyun before they could even reveal themselves. Without a doubt, those attackers within the fog were closely related to the Ghost Bat before them. Now, in this somewhat confined space, the one human and five Pet Beasts faced opponents more formidable than ever before. Even previously in Fallen Star Valley, they had only faced two Transcendent Beings of the Quasi-Domineering Level at the same time. But now, there were three. ¡°Heh heh heh~¡± The Ghost Bat¡¯s cold gaze landed on Ziyun, its eyes revealing unhidden greed, ¡°A King Stage Emperor Species, quite the delicacy. Devouring you might just give me the chance to evolve once more.¡± ¡°You killed quite a few of my kin on your way here,¡± it spoke with deliberate slowness, ¡°Now, pay with your lives!¡± ¡°Human, coming here was your biggest mistake.¡± The Dark Demon Lion spoke with a growl, its eyes filled with chill resolve, ¡°The Silent Abyss is a forbidden zone for humans!¡± The Ink Scale Leopard did not speak; its aura only grew more dangerous. ¡°Meow~¡± (You all sure talk too much!) Ziyun¡¯s gaze flashed, countless bolts of lightning suddenly erupted around its body, stirring the void as its form became elemental. Then, accompanied by a deep roar reverberating throughout the bottom of the abyss, it appeared in front of the Ghost Bat in an instant. Its sharp claws charged with tremendous force, radiating an unpredictable and fearsome power, Ziyun viciously slammed a palm down on the Ghost Bat. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤Thunder Punishment! The Ghost Bat screeched, its body ¡°bursting¡± into numerous small bats that instantly scattered. A few bats were devoured by the explosion of Thunder Punishment, but the vast majority escaped unharmed, reassembling at another location to reform the shape of the Ghost Bat. Chapter 726 - Chapter 726: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_2 Chapter 726: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_2 The momentum had slightly diminished, but the Ghost Bat had not sustained significant damage from the recent strike, its crimson eyes filled with surprise and suspicion¡ªclearly, it had not expected Ziyun¡¯s skills to be so terrifying. Without paying heed to the Ghost Bat¡¯s reaction, a miss prompted Ziyun to instantly shift her gaze to the side, towards the Dark Demon Lion that was rapidly pouncing towards her, surrounded by a sky-high dark blaze. ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡± With a ferocious roar, the Dark Demon Lion quickly spat out a dark flame that had been ready to launch from its mouth, enveloping Ziyun like a cannon blast. The deep black light completely swallowed her. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± Almost simultaneously as the black light engulfed Ziyun, a violent thunderous sound came from behind. The silent Ink Scale Leopard had not targeted Ziyun as its first attack; instead, it locked its gaze onto the remaining person and four beasts from the beginning of the battle. At this moment, as the thunderous sound resounded, starlight-woven patterns rapidly dimmed, and rock walls that rose from the ground were shattered inch by inch, without time for them to heal. Even the combined defensive power of Starlight and Cancan barely managed to fend off the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s assault. ¡°Chah!!!¡± Cancan, filled with both alarm and rage, suddenly raised a claw. Woven with a halo sharp enough to grind anything in its path, she pressed it down fiercely towards the Ink Scale Leopard. The light pattern, woven from starlight, converged on Cancan¡¯s body, and with the blessing of the Star God Blessing, her momentum climbed with every fall of the massive claw. In that moment, Cancan was deeply troubled but unable to voice it. The abyss could barely accommodate its original body type, which meant Cancan could not use Heaven-Earth Law to maximize its size; she even had to slightly shrink her body, or she would be severely restricted in movement at the bottom of the abyss. Since its strength had not yet reached the full maturity of the King Stage, it was exceedingly difficult for it to face the Ink Scale Leopard head-on. Watching the massive claw fall, the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s crimson eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness¡ªit could feel that this power was a threat to itself. The black mist around its claws grew denser, almost completely enveloping its limbs. The Ink Scale Leopard turned into a shadow and swiftly dodged to the side. Two cold blade lights fell from the sky, coordinating with Cancan¡¯s giant claw, attempting to seal the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s range of motion. The next instant, an inexplicable drowsiness surged, causing the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s body to stiffen. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Zzzt¡ª¡ª¡± A piercing sound of electric light tore through the void. Ziyun appeared unscathed in another part of the void after being fully struck by the Dark Demon Lion, immediately turning her head back towards the direction of the person and four beasts with a flash of urgency and concern in her eyes. ¡°You should worry about yourself!¡± Accompanied by a taunting sneer, dark blade edges, along with the Ghost Bat¡¯s wing flaps, burst densely from the void and instantly enveloped all the space where Ziyun could dodge, like a curtain of rain. The very void twisted slightly under these blades, their terrifying momentum overwhelming the skies. ¡°Meow!¡± (It¡¯s you who should be worried about yourself!) Ziyun retorted unceremoniously while the thunderbolt pattern on her forehead instantly burst forth with blinding brilliance. Countless serpentine bolts of lightning abruptly materialized around Ziyun¡¯s body and pounced on the incoming blades. Accompanied by consecutive thunderous sounds, they swiftly devoured the dark blades and, undiminished, counterattacked. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤Thunder Shocker! With one strike, Ziyun didn¡¯t even look back at the result; she turned and thrust out a claw, heavily colliding with the approaching claw of the Dark Demon Lion that was ready to sneak attack from behind. A huge ¡°Thunder Punishment¡± rune interwove in the void, dark flames surged and reflected each other, the powers of the Thunder and Dark Attributes crushed against one another, eventually shattering into myriad fragments and scattered in the raging storm. ¡°Boom!!!¡± With a deep thunderous roar, the Dark Demon Lion was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the rock wall. The claw that collided with Ziyun spurting blood, white bones exposed, with continuous flashes of electric light. Ziyun shook off her paw and, with a flicker of her form, appeared right in front of the Dark Demon Lion before it could react. Ziyun raised her claw and grasped, and a thick, deep purple thunderbolt descended from the void, transformed into a terrifying thunder spear which she viciously thrust into the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s belly, nailing it to the rock wall. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤Astonishing Thunder Fury! ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡± The Dark Demon Lion let out a pitiful scream as its body convulsed continuously due to the violent invasion of the Thunderforce, a sizzling scent arose from the pierced belly, and the immediate severe injury caused it to lose its fighting capacity in an instant. One down. Ziyun¡¯s figure flashed again; she was already facing the Ghost Bat, which was also looking slightly ragged. The wide-range damage from Thunder Shocker forced it to avoid dispersal like it had against Thunder Punishment, reluctantly having to rely on other means to endure. After this hit, its vitality visibly declined, its body streaked with electric lights that occasionally twitched, having been seriously injured. ¡°Spare me!¡± Seeing the Dark Demon Lion nailed to the rock wall, the Ghost Bat cried out in a panicked scream, but Ziyun chose to ignore it as though she had not heard. Spare it? Letting it go now, who knew if it would ambush everyone from the dark mist once they got out of the abyss? Therefore, the Ghost Bat must not be spared! In the continuous flashes, the fully charged Cloud Break Sky was unleashed from Ziyun¡¯s raised claw, becoming the final blow to end the Ghost Bat. Chapter 727 - Chapter 727: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_3 Chapter 727: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_3 A strike descended, and only a short piece of the bat wing bone, emitting a dark glow, remained in the void. Grabbing the bat wing bone casually, Ziyun returned to the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s side, pulled out the Thunder spear pinning it down, and then grabbed the half-dead lion, flinging it towards Xu Ran and the other four little ones. As the battle with Ziyun came to a close, the fight between one human and four Pet Beasts also reached an end. Under the forced interference of the ¡°Endless Sleep,¡± the Ink Scale Leopard lost its only chance to make a full retreat. At the brink of life and death, between being smashed by a paw or grievously wounded by a blade, it chose the latter. At the cost of bearing the brunt of Xu Ran¡¯s slash, the Ink Scale Leopard managed to escape from the poised ¡°Land of Destruction.¡± That slash left a deep bone-exposing wound on its body, blood flowing out as if it cost nothing, causing the leopard¡¯s momentum to plummet rapidly, making even walking seem staggered. Ziyun, on returning, raised its paw to give the Ink Scale Leopard a fierce battle, further worsening its already serious wounds, and then dragged it along with the Dark Demon Lion in front of Xu Ran like dragging dead dogs. ¡°I¡¯ll ask, you¡¯ll answer,¡± Xu Ran began slowly, ¡°Answer correctly and I might spare your lives; answer wrongly and your lives end here.¡± The barely conscious Dark Demon Lion, with a fading breath, exchanged a glance with the Ink Scale Leopard before speaking hoarsely, ¡°Human, what do you want to ask?¡± ¡°Do you know about the Town Star Stone?¡± ¡°We know,¡± the Dark Demon Lion replied slowly, its gaze flickering. A gleam of deep light flashed across the red eyes of the Ink Scale Leopard, nodding quickly as well. Excitement appeared in Star¡¯s eyes, and she was about to continue asking when Xu Ran raised a hand to stop her. ¡°Let the two of them speak separately; if their stories differ, kill them both.¡± Having said that, Xu Ran crossed his arms and looked towards the lion and leopard. These two fellows were very cunning. As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the lion and leopard changed rapidly. Ziyun and Cancan each took one and quickly interrogated them. After comparison, the details were almost identical. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Still lacking three thousand, overworking my liver] A figure leisurely emerged from a cave in the distant rock wall, its cold eyes instantly fixating on one human and five beasts. It was a leopard Pet Beast with pitch-black scales all over its body, shrouded in a thin veil of Darkness, with fierce and ferocious red eyes, exhibiting power fluctuations at the King Stage level. Dark King Level¡¤ Ink Scale Leopard. ¡°Meow~¡± (Your mouth really is blessed.) Ziyun glanced at Cancan before stepping forward, focusing her gaze on the Ink Scale Leopard with a display of her own aura, confronting it from afar. This Ink Scale Leopard was not simple; its aura faintly transcended the Great Complement Beast King. Even if it couldn¡¯t compare to the Nightmare Beast King, it was only slightly lower. Such strength would be an almost invincible existence in the outside world at the Overlord stage; and yet, here in the Silent Abyss, the first Beast King they encountered possessed such power. Fortunately, such an opponent was still not a threat to it. But the next moment, Ziyun¡¯s expression suddenly turned a bit grave. Because after this Ink Scale Leopard appeared, another Beast King of similar strength emerged from another rock wall cave. It was a lion whose body was ablaze with dark flames, its pitch-black eyes upon appearance firmly locked onto Ziyun, filled with wariness and hostility. Dark King Level¡¤ Dark Demon Lion! Two Quasi-domineering Level! No, three! Accompanied by a strange ¡°crackle and pop¡± sound, the Darkness above churned and a bat-like creature, with a wingspan of more than twenty meters, flew out of the black fog, its crimson eyes fixating on the one human and five beasts below. Dark King Level¡¤ Ghost Bat! The expressions of the one human and five beasts changed slightly. The aura of this Ghost Bat was unfamiliar, yet carried a hint of familiarity. Several times, as they passed through the Darkness, similar auras attacked them, but those were much weaker and were disposed of by Ziyun before they could even appear. Undoubtedly, the attackers hidden in the Darkness were closely related to the Ghost Bat before them. Now, in this somewhat cramped space, the opponents that the one human and five beasts faced were unprecedentedly strong. Even previously in Fallen Star Valley, they had only faced two Quasi-domineering Level Transcendent Beings at the same time. And now, they were facing three. ¡°Hehehe~¡± The Ghost Bat¡¯s cold gaze lingered on Ziyun, revealing an undisguised greed, ¡°A King Stage Emperor Species, such a great tonic. Devouring you might give me the chance to evolve again.¡± ¡°Along the way, you¡¯ve killed quite a few of my kin,¡± it spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for you to pay with your lives!¡± ¡°Human, coming here was your greatest mistake,¡± the Dark Demon Lion spoke hoarsely, its eyes filled with severity, ¡°The Silent Abyss is a forbidden zone for Humans!¡± The Ink Scale Leopard did not speak, its aura simply growing more threatening. ¡°Meow~¡± (You all talk too much!) Ziyun¡¯s gaze flashed slightly, as countless bolts of thunder suddenly exploded around its body, resonating in the void; its body elementalized in an instant and, accompanied by a deep rumble echoing at the bottom of the Abyss, instantly appeared before the Ghost Bat. A sharp claw, charged with immense power that sent shivers down the spine, was pressed down fiercely towards the Ghost Bat with an unpredictable might. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤ Thunder Punishment! The Ghost Bat let out a screech; its body ¡°popped¡± and dissolved into numerous smaller bats, scattering instantly. Chapter 728 - Chapter 728: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_4 Chapter 728: Chapter 346: Trace of the Star Town_4 A few bats were swallowed up in the moment when Thunder Punishment erupted, but the vast majority of the bats escaped unscathed, regrouping elsewhere and returning to the form of the Ghost Bats. Their momentum dropped slightly, but the Ghost Bats didn¡¯t take much damage from that last strike, their blood-red eyes filled with a mix of shock and suspicion, clearly not having expected Ziyun¡¯s skills to be so terrifying. Without any regard for the reaction of the Ghost Bats, and with the first blow failing, Ziyun immediately turned her gaze to the side, toward the Dark Demon Lion that was rapidly pouncing toward her, its body enveloped in surging dark flames. ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡± With a fierce roar, the Dark Demon Lion quickly spewed out the dark flames it had been storing up in its mouth. The dark flames, like heavy artillery, enveloped Ziyun¡¯s body, with the deep black light completely swallowing her. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± Almost simultaneously as the black light swallowed Ziyun¡¯s body, a thunderous sound came from behind. The silent Ink Scale Leopard didn¡¯t target Ziyun first for its attack; from the beginning of the battle, it had locked its gaze on the remaining human and four beasts. At this moment, as the thunderous sound echoed, streaks of starlight interwoven into light patterns rapidly faded, and the rock wall rising from the ground crumbled inch by inch, unable to even repair itself. The combined defense powers of Star and Cancan could barely withstand the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s assault. ¡°Chah!!¡± With indignation and anger mixing together, Cancan suddenly lifted a claw, the light halo within it, like a grindstone, interweaving and descending toward the direction of the Ink Scale Leopard with force. The patterns of starlight woven together converged onto its body, and under the effect of Star God Blessing, Cancan¡¯s momentum rose with the falling of its enormous paw. At this moment, Cancan was unspeakably troubled. The abyss only just barely accommodated its original body size, which meant Cancan couldn¡¯t use Heaven-Earth Law to maximize its size. It even had to shrink its body slightly, otherwise its movements would be greatly restricted at the bottom of the abyss. For Cancan, whose strength hadn¡¯t yet reached the complete King Stage, confronting the Ink Scale Leopard head-on was extremely difficult. Watching the giant paw fall, a hint of gravity flashed in the red eyes of the Ink Scale Leopard; it could feel the power that was enough to threaten its own existence. The dark mist between its paws became denser, nearly covering its limbs completely, as the Ink Scale Leopard turned into a shadowy figure, swiftly dodging to the side. Two cold saber lights fell from the sky, working in conjunction with Cancan¡¯s giant paw to try to seal off the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s range of motion. The next instant, an inexplicable sense of drowsiness surged, causing the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s body to stiffen. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Zzzt¡ª¡ª¡± A sharp sound of electric light pierced the void, and Ziyun, who had been completely engulfed by the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s full-blown attack, appeared unharmed in another part of the void. She immediately looked back, casting an anxious and worried glance in the direction of the human and four beasts. ¡°Worry about yourself a bit more!¡± Accompanied by a taunting laugh filled with mockery, a series of dark blades appeared alongside the flapping wings of the Ghost Bats, shooting densely from the void and instantly enveloping all the space Ziyun could dodge to, like a curtain of rain. The very void twisted minutely under these blades, with a terrifying momentum that seemed to engulf everything. ¡°Meow!¡± (The one who should be worried is you!) Ziyun retorted unapologetically, the thunderbolt pattern on her forehead instantly bursting forth with dazzling brilliance. Countless serpent-like tendrils of lightning appeared abruptly around Ziyun and headed toward the dark blades. Accompanied by the intermittent sounds of thunder, they quickly devoured the dark blades and then, without losing momentum, counterattacked. Four Stars skill, Violent Sun Level?Thunder Shocker! With one strike, Ziyun didn¡¯t even look at the result and swung a claw back at the Dark Demon Lion who was preparing to ambush her, its lethal claws colliding heavily with hers. A giant ¡°Punishment¡± character interwoven with thunder patterns appeared in the void, the surging dark flames sweeping up around it, reflecting its light. The powers of the Thunder and Dark Attributes clashed against each other, eventually shattering into myriad fragments, swirling in the raging storm and scattering in all directions. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Accompanied by a deep roar, the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s body was thrown backward, crashing heavily against the rock wall, its claw that had collided with Ziyun oozing blood profusely, bones chillingly white, as thunder light flickered continuously. Ziyun shook its paw, its figure flashed, and before the Dark Demon Lion could react, it had already appeared in front of it. Ziyun raised its paw to grasp, and a thick deep purple thunderbolt descended from the void, turning into a terrifying thunder spear, plunging fiercely into the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s abdomen, nailing it to the rock wall. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level ¨C Astonishing Thunder Fury! ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The Dark Demon Lion let out a miserable scream, its entire body convulsing violently due to the rampaging invasion of the Thunderforce, a burnt smell wafting from the punctured abdomen, the instantaneous severe injury causing it to lose its combat abilities in the blink of an eye. One down. Ziyun¡¯s figure flashed again, already in front of the equally distressed Ghost Bat. The wide-range damage from the Thunder Shocker made it wary to disperse and dodge as it had before the Thunder Punishment; with no choice, it had to endure with other means. With this strike, its aura visibly wilted, its body covered in wandering lightning, occasionally twitching, clearly heavily injured. ¡°Spare my life!¡± Seeing the Dark Demon Lion nailed to the rock wall, the Ghost Bat was terrified to its core. It hissed a plea, but Ziyun pretended not to hear. Spare life? If I let go of this guy now, who knows if it will sneak attack us in the mist when we leave the abyss. Hence, the Ghost Bat must not be spared! In the midst of repeated phasing and flashing, the Cloud Break Sky, already charged to the extreme, was now cast by Ziyun with a wave of its paw, becoming the final blow that put an end to the Ghost Bat. With one strike, only a small section of bat wing bone radiating black light remained in the void. Casually grabbing the Bat Wing Bone, Ziyun returned to the Dark Demon Lion, pulled out the thunder spear that nailed it, then grabbed the half-dead Dark Demon Lion and flung it toward Xu Ran and the other four little ones. Just as Ziyun¡¯s battle came to a close, the fight involving one human and four pets also reached its conclusion. Under the forced disturbance of Endless Sleep, the Ink Scale Leopard lost its sole chance to get away unscathed. At the moment of life and death, it had to choose between being smashed by a paw or getting severely wounded by a blade, and it opted for the latter. By enduring Xu Ran¡¯s slashing blade, the Ink Scale Leopard managed to escape from the ready-to-strike Land of Destruction. That slash also left a deep, bone-exposing injury on its body, its blood flowing profusely like money was no object, making the Ink Scale Leopard¡¯s momentum plummet, its walking unsteady. The returning Ziyun lifted its paw and gave the Ink Scale Leopard a hefty taunt, further exacerbating its already severe injuries, then dragged it and the Dark Demon Lion in front of Xu Ran like dragging dead dogs. ¡°I ask, you answer,¡± Xu Ran spoke slowly, ¡°Answer correctly, and I might let you live. Answer wrongly, and your lives end here.¡± The recently awakened Dark Demon Lion, weakly breathing, exchanged a glance with the Ink Scale Leopard before growling weakly, ¡°Human, what do you want to know?¡± ¡°Do you know about the Town Star Stone?¡± ¡°We know,¡± the Dark Demon Lion replied, its gaze flickering slightly. A glint of deep light passed through the red eyes of the Ink Scale Leopard as it nodded swiftly. Excitement surfaced in Star¡¯s eyes, eager to continue the interrogation, but Xu Ran raised his hand to stop it. ¡°Make them tell separately. If their stories differ, kill them all.¡± Having said that, Xu Ran crossed his arms and looked at both the lion and the leopard. These two creatures, very cunning. At his words, the expressions of the lion and the leopard changed rapidly. Ziyun and Cancan each took one away, and soon squeezed out the specifics, which, upon comparison, were nearly identical. Chapter 729 - Chapter 729: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars Chapter 729: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to be a Town Star Stone, does it?¡± Xu Ran held the stone dug up by Cancan in his hand, his face showing surprise and confusion. He hadn¡¯t expected to find something new here after the Town Star Stone had been taken away hundreds of years ago. But the resource in front of him was clearly quite different from the Town Star Stone. According to the Dark Demon Lion¡¯s description, the Town Star Stone was a crystal, whereas the stone at hand was more like jade in texture, and although the Town Star Stone possessed a strong Star Power, this stone had it, but not much. Moreover, their sizes were quite different. The pit that held the Town Star Stone was big enough for a fist, but this small stone was only the size of a knuckle. ¡°Meow?¡± (Could it be an unevolved Town Star Stone?) Ziyun speculated. According to the Dark Demon Lion, the Town Star Stone could grow. Perhaps this was a newly sprouted Town Star Stone that hadn¡¯t yet grown? ¡°It¡¯s possible, but not likely,¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°And given the current content of Star Power in the Silent Abyss, even if it really is an unevolved Town Star Stone, it wouldn¡¯t have the chance to grow.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (Regardless, this stone must have some connection to the Town Star Stone.) Twelve expressed its opinion. ¡°Indeed, so it is a discovery,¡± Xu Ran chuckled, carefully storing away the knuckle-sized stone, ¡°Let¡¯s see if there are any other clues in the area.¡± One human and five Pet Beasts split up and dug three feet into the ground, not even sparing the Rock Wall. However, aside from this stone, they found nothing else. ¡°It looks like this is as far as the exploration goes,¡± Xu Ran said with a hint of regret, ¡°After we go back, we¡¯ll study the origins of this stone.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Great!) Star neighed, carrying a hint of expectation. For some reason, that small stone felt very special to it. Although the Star Power contained within was not strong, it gave it a feeling of extreme purity, and when it paid careful attention, its own Star Power would be slightly stirred. Therefore, this resource must be no simple thing. Furthermore, since it was found where the Town Star Stone originated, perhaps with it, they really could find the Town Star Stone? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The return journey was easier than the trip there because they had begun to understand the black fog, with Star continuously employing the Star Refusal Ring, successfully repelling the black fog and allowing the group to clearly see each other and the immediate surroundings. Leaving the Silent Abyss, the grand walls of Xieyun City soon appeared before them, thanks to Star¡¯s swift travel. And just as Xu Ran entered the gates of the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xieyun City, he saw an unexpected figure. ¡°Chairman Fang? What are you doing here?¡± He walked briskly up to Fang Canghai, a look of surprise on his face. ¡°Knowing you were coming back, I waited here especially for you,¡± Fang Canghai chuckled, his gaze at Xu Ran behind Ziyun full of meaning, ¡°If I had come later, I might have missed you again, right?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Xu Ran gave an awkward chuckle. Indeed, he had originally planned to directly transport to Xuanxing City after returning to Xieyun City. ¡°Congratulations on obtaining an Emperor Species Pet Beast,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°I thought I had enough expectations for your potential, but it seems I still underestimated the speed at which you become stronger.¡± As an Emperor Level Beast Master, Fang Canghai was well aware of the huge gap in strength between a Beast Master who possessed an Emperor Species and one who only had King Species. Even though Xu Ran currently only had one Emperor Species, and even three of his Pet Beasts had not reached the King Stage, he could easily overpower his peers at the King Level Beast Master level. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just luckier,¡± Xu Ran laughed, unconsciously petting Ziyun¡¯s head. Lucky¡­ Fang Canghai¡¯s lips twitched slightly. This young man in front of him was good in many ways, but he was too perfunctory when putting others off, not even bothering to change his excuse. ¡°I¡¯d like to have that kind of luck too,¡± Fang Canghai laughed at himself, then his expression became slightly more serious, ¡°I came to ask a favor of you this time.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression turned to one of surprise. Fang Canghai seeking his help? Could there be something that he, an Emperor Level Beast Master, couldn¡¯t do, but Xu Ran could? ¡°This isn¡¯t something that needs to be done right now,¡± Fang Canghai glanced around, ¡°It will happen after the exchange battle ends and the City Alliance is established.¡± He paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Do you know about the Mysterious Light Channel?¡± ¡°Of course, I do,¡± Xu Ran nodded. The Mysterious Light Channel was the largest and most ancient Extraordinary Zone in the 47th Beast Field, occupying a tenth of its territory. It was incredibly mysterious, and not only was it difficult for human powerhouses to enter, but Transcendent Beings also struggled to survive there. If other Extraordinary Zones were human no-go areas, then the Mysterious Light Channel was a no-go area for life itself. ¡°After reaching the Emperor Stage, I once ventured to the deepest part of the Mysterious Light Channel,¡± Fang Canghai paused again, ¡°There, I saw things I have never seen before.¡± ¡°I suspect that the deepest parts of the Mysterious Light Channel contain ruins.¡± ¡°Traces of a past that no one has ever known.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face showed a look of astonishment, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Chapter 730 - Chapter 730: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_2 Chapter 730: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_2 ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Fang Canghai pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly, ¡°I think you should know that the earliest appearance of Transcendent Beings dates back to about a thousand years ago.¡± ¡°Initially there were only a few, but in the subsequent hundred or so years, their numbers increased at an extremely fast rate until they completely occupied the world, supplanting its original inhabitants and becoming the new masters of this world.¡± ¡°However, the reproduction of Transcendent Beings is quite difficult; theoretically, they shouldn¡¯t have been able to grow at such an exaggerated rate.¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice paused, ¡°So there has been a hypothesis for a long time that Transcendent Beings are not from this world.¡± ¡°They might come from another world, simply having been transferred here by some kind of power.¡± ¡°Even¡­ to this day, there may be channels we don¡¯t know about, connecting two worlds and allowing Transcendent Beings to appear continuously.¡± ¡°Is there such a theory?¡± Xu Ran was startled. Having crossed into this world, he was certain that outside this world, there must be other worlds, but this was the first time he truly came into contact with such secrets. ¡°So¡­ Chairman Fang, the ruins you mentioned just now?¡± Xu Ran vaguely thought of something and his eyes gradually widened, ¡°Could it be?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s exactly what you are thinking.¡± Fang Canghai nodded slowly, ¡°That relic might very likely originate from the other world where Transcendent Beings exist.¡± ¡°This is a crisis, but it also may contain extremely important opportunities.¡± ¡°After the formation of the Alliance, I will invite all the Overlord Level Beast Masters to go there together, however, as a King Level Beast Master, you are the first one I have invited.¡± Fang Canghai looked at Xu Ran seriously, ¡°So, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°Go!¡± Xu Ran responded without hesitation. With such an opportunity, only a fool would not go. Xu Ran was full of curiosity about the potential existence of another world. Even if he obtained nothing, it would still be good to broaden his horizons. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°How shall I contact you when the time comes?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Ran blinked and then looked towards the Fishing Old Man who was attending to customers not far away, ¡°You can inform the store manager. He has a way to contact me.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, then his tone shifted, ¡°Regarding Bloody City, I¡¯ve already sent people to warn them.¡± ¡°Even though their behavior is influenced by other factors, this is not an excuse for their rampant actions in Xieyun City.¡± ¡°If there is a next time, I will personally go to have a chat with their chairman.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s smile became even more splendid. Leaving Xieyun City, his only concern was for the people in Qingzhou City. The Beast Masters from Bloody City were not easy to get along with and might seek revenge afterwards. When he intervened earlier, he had already threatened them, but such threats were ultimately not as intimidating as Xieyun City¡¯s own pressures. With Chairman Fang¡¯s personal involvement, things would be much simpler. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°It¡¯s just a small effort. Should you need help with anything else, you can also come to me.¡± ¡°Beast Field No. 8 could dispatch powerful figures at any time. Having one more powerful Beast Master adds to our confidence in confronting them.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Ran said, as Fang Canghai put it that way and he was not being polite any longer. As it happened, he had something he wanted to consult with him. ¡°Chairman Fang, have you heard of Town Star Stone?¡± ¡°Town Star Stone?¡± Fang Canghai raised an eyebrow, ¡°Centuries ago, Silent Abyss had one, which was taken by the second city lord of Xuanxing City and turned into the current Guardian Star Array.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything about the whereabouts of any other Town Star Stones,¡± Fang Canghai glanced at Xu Ran, then naturally his gaze fell on Star, ¡°Are you planning to use a Town Star Stone as Evolution Materials for it?¡± After all, being an Emperor Level Beast Master, Fang Canghai could see at a glance that the Dark Power within Star was somewhat special, mixed with Star Power. Such a Pet Beast successfully evolving into an Emperor Species held a high potential of reaching sainthood. It would indeed be a grand gesture to use a Town Star Stone as a purification material. ¡°I do have that idea,¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, ¡°The only problem now is that I can¡¯t find a Town Star Stone.¡± ¡°You went to Silent Abyss this time, didn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°Unfortunately, that place probably can¡¯t produce a second Town Star Stone.¡± ¡°Indeed, but we found this in Silent Abyss,¡± Xu Ran took out the stone they found, ¡°Chairman Fang, do you know what this is?¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression changed slightly as he took the stone and examined it carefully for a moment before shaking his head with regret. ¡°I cannot discern the details of this stone.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Could there really be such stones?¡± Inside the study of Chairman Qi Yuan at the Xuanxing City Beast Master Association, Qi Yuan looked at an extremely ancient manuscript with faded lettering in surprise. In the last couple of days, he had just happened to sort out the books in his study¡ªarranging various martial arts books and other miscellaneous texts into categories¡ªand then stumbled upon this manuscript sandwiched in one of the books. At a glance, he recognized its owner from the handwriting on the manuscript. If nothing was unexpected, it should have been left by the second city lord of Xuanxing City. The second city lord of Xuanxing City was also a remarkable person. During his living years, the most powerful Second Level Town in Beast Field No. 47 was not Xieyun City but Xuanxing City. As the only Emperor Level Beast Master in all of Beast Field No. 47, it was he who took the Town Star Stone and created the Star Array that protected Xuanxing City for hundreds of years. Chapter 731 - Chapter 731: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_3 Chapter 731: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_3 The moment Elder Qi Yuan saw the words ¡°Town Star Stone¡± on the manuscript, his curiosity got the better of him, and he began to read it directly. However, after reading the manuscript, his emotions fluctuated greatly. It was because the manuscript contained a secret related to the origin of the Town Star Stone. The Town Star Stone, it turns out, is grown. To birth a Town Star Stone, two conditions are necessary. The first is that the surrounding environment contains an enormous amount of Star Power. The second is to plant the seed of the Town Star Stone, a special resource known as Star Origin. The Star Origin itself is not highly valuable. But it can draw in the Star Power around it, allowing it to converge in a special way into root-like threads, extracting a vast amount of Star Power from the environment and condensing it into the Town Star Stone. It serves as the catalyst for the birth of the Town Star Stone; without it, even if the Star Power was dense, the Town Star Stone could not be formed. And after the birth of the Town Star Stone, the Star Origin remains unaffected. It can continue to influence the surrounding Star Power, gathering a second or even more Town Star Stones. Of course, this presupposes that the surrounding environment has enough Star Power to supply. But this is nearly impossible. Just the formation of one Town Star Stone caused the once Star Abyss to become the Silent Abyss; Elder Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t think of any place that could support the birth of more than two Town Star Stones. Besides, this manuscript also mentioned many other properties of Star Origin. Slowly placing the manuscript down, Elder Qi Yuan wore a pensive expression on his face. He recalled that not too long ago, Xu Ran had asked for clues about the Town Star Stone, and after scouring through information, he told Xu Ran that the Town Star Stone was born in the Silent Abyss. Today, the Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xuanxing City just so happened to be closed temporarily. Is it possible that Xu Ran went to the Silent Abyss in search of the clue to the Town Star Stone? If that¡¯s the case, would he have found the Star Origin? The thought crossed his mind, and Elder Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh silently to himself. After so many years, surely the Star Origin would have been discovered and taken away by now, right? Elder Qi Yuan took out his phone, thought for a moment, and sent Xu Ran a message. ¡°There is a new clue about the Town Star Stone, remember to find me after you return to the city.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xuanxing City. In a flash, Xu Ran appeared inside the closed shop front, and the next second the Hexagram Star Array flickered behind him, five little ones swiftly walked out of the energy storm. Having not obtained the clue to this little stone from Fang Canghai, Xu Ran was not too disheartened. He chatted with the other party for a few more words, hammered out the details of exploring the relics together, and after Fang Canghai left due to his busy schedule. Xu Ran didn¡¯t linger in Xieyun City either, and returned to Xuanxing City. The Fame task had yet to be completed; since he was going to explore the ruins with Chairman Fang later, he had to raise Xuanxing City¡¯s fame to 50% before that. But, this was not the most pressing matter at the moment. Xu Ran, astounded, took out the small stone that he had been carrying in his chest pocket. This stone that was previously quite ordinary and smooth as jade, now burst out with unbelievably bright light, almost too dazzling to look at directly. This sudden change immediately captured the full attention of all five pets. ¡°Chaa?¡± (Why did it suddenly light up?) Cancan widened her eyes in surprise, staring at the stone in Xu Ran¡¯s hand. Shi¡¯er wore a contemplative expression, slowly speaking up. ¡°Chiu~¡± (It seems it started when we arrived in Xuanxing City.) ¡°Xuanxing City¡­ could there be something special here?¡± Xu Ran blinked, and then it dawned on him. But Star was quicker to respond than he was. ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (It¡¯s the Town Star Stone!) Given that this stone was present at the birthplace of the Town Star Stone, it was natural to connect the two. The biggest difference between Xuanxing City and the other places they had traversed was the presence of the Protective Star Formation. And the Town Star Stone is the core of the Protective Star Formation. ¡°Indeed, this stone is connected to the Town Star Stone,¡± Xu Ran said with a joyful expression, ¡°What a pity that we can¡¯t access the Town Star Stone in Xuanxing City. Otherwise, it would be worth trying to see what kind of connection they share.¡± ¡°Ding dong¡ª¡± A crisp text message alert sounded, and Xu Ran instinctively picked up his phone. ¡°There is a new clue about the Town Star Stone, remember to find me after you return to the city.¡± Seeing this message from Elder Qi Yuan, his eyes brightened instantly. New clues about the Town Star Stone? This was truly double the joy. He immediately called Elder Qi Yuan to confirm that he was available and without a second word, stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s pay a visit to Elder Qi Yuan.¡± Xu Ran carefully placed the glowing stone into a box that would cut off the light, tucked it into his chest pocket, ¡°What¡¯s more, it¡¯s a good opportunity to see if Elder Qi Yuan knows the origin of this stone.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Let¡¯s go!) Star gave a spirited neigh, its eyes full of excitement. It felt it was one step closer to the Town Star Stone. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°You¡¯ve returned quite quickly.¡± In the Chairman¡¯s office, Elder Qi Yuan sipped his tea, surprised by the sight of the person and five pets before him. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be out of the city for several days before coming back.¡± The reason he sent the text message was he had thought that Xu Ran was not in the city. As soon as Xu Ran returned to Xuanxing City, any unread messages sent within the city would instantly be delivered to Xu Ran¡¯s phone upon reconnecting to the network, with no chance of missing them. ¡°Didn¡¯t go too far.¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Just there and back, half a day was enough.¡± Chapter 732 - Chapter 732: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_4 Chapter 732: Chapter 347: The Source of Stars_4 If we don¡¯t count the distance for the transmission from Xuanxing City to Xieyun City. Qi Yuan nodded slightly and dismissed the earlier speculation in his mind. Since Xu Ran was able to return within a day, it seemed he hadn¡¯t gone to the Silent Abyss, and it was a misunderstanding on his part. However, this was also a good thing. If he told Xu Ran the secrets of the Town Star Stone, he would be more careful when he went to the Silent Abyss in the future. If luck was on his side, what if he really found the Star Origin? ¡°I called you here this time because of this.¡± Qi Yuan carefully picked up the manuscript of the second lord of the city and placed it on the table, ¡°This manuscript, from the creator of the city¡¯s protective Star Array, is related to the origin of the Town Star Stone.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± In just a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°From this manuscript, I learned some information that I hadn¡¯t understood before.¡± Qi Yuan paused slightly before continuing, ¡°There¡¯s a special kind of resource called the Star Origin¡­¡± He briefly explained the relationship between the Star Origin and the Town Star Stone, and then continued. ¡°This Star Origin is said to be related to the very beginning of Star Power¡¯s origin. Apart from being able to give rise to Town Star Stones, Transcendent Beings that wield Star Power can carry it over time to purify Star Power.¡± ¡°Besides, there is another very important characteristic.¡± ¡°When the Star Origin is very close to a Town Star Stone, it will emit a bright light that will never extinguish until they are separated.¡± ¡°If you obtain the Star Origin, your difficulty in finding another Town Star Stone will be greatly reduced.¡± Qi Yuan became more serious as he explained this point, ¡°After so many years, I don¡¯t know if the Star Origin is still in the Silent Abyss.¡± ¡°If you go there, remember to look out for the whereabouts of the Star Origin.¡± After Qi Yuan finished speaking, both Xu Ran and the five Pet Beasts wore particularly odd expressions. As Qi Yuan was describing the connection between the Star Origin and the Town Star Stone, they had felt an uncanny familiarity. The thin strands, which transported Star Power like roots, and the stone underneath the Town Star Stone that resembled a seed¡­ All these descriptions matched the stone that had come into the possession of one man and five Pet Beasts. What finally confirmed it for them was the fact that the Star Origin would emit a dazzling light when it neared the Town Star Stone. The truth was, what they had excavated from the Silent Abyss was the Star Origin itself. With this Star Origin in hand, they could grow a Town Star Stone. Of course, this process would require a waiting time of more than a decade, and also an environment where the concentration of Star Power was not inferior to the Star Abyss. With this in mind, growing a Town Star Stone clearly wasn¡¯t a practical possibility. It would be more convenient to use the Star Origin as a detector to find another Town Star Stone. Even if there was none in the 47th Beast Field, perhaps a visit to other Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields might yield something? Moreover, the effect of the Star Origin in purifying Star Power was also critical for the Star creature. If all the Dark Power could be removed, leaving only the Star Power, wouldn¡¯t the Star creature directly achieve the crucial step of attribute jump? But even if this step were truly feasible, it would take at least hundreds to thousands of years. Given the current rate of the Star creature¡¯s advancement, it would have evolved into a Saint Spirit by then. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡± Qi Yuan, after taking a sip of his tea and finishing speaking, looked up only to find the strange looks on Xu Ran and the five Pet Beasts. ¡°This¡­ Elder Qi, if things are as expected¡­¡± Xu Ran started somewhat hesitantly, ¡°the Star Origin you mentioned, we might already have it?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but spit out his tea, coughing several times, before looking at Xu Ran in disbelief, ¡°What did you just say? You already have what?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, then reached into his chest and pulled out the box containing the Star Origin and opened it. The dazzling light, no longer confined by the box, instantly lit up the office, and also illuminated Qi Yuan¡¯s stunned expression. Drawing near the Town Star Stone, it automatically glowed, and its surface had a scattering of rare and pure Star Power, looking as smooth and radiant as jade, with a degree of translucence. All the descriptions perfectly matched those in the manuscript. Could it really be the Source of the Stars? ¡°You didn¡¯t go to the Silent Abyss, did you?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°We did, didn¡¯t we?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Our trip out of the city this time was to the Silent Abyss.¡± ¡°To the Silent Abyss? A round trip takes only half a day?¡± Qi Yuan felt a bit itchy in his head, as if he was growing a brain. This speed was just too outrageous. Even for him, steering an Overlord-stage Pet Beast to the Silent Abyss and back would take half a day, and that¡¯s not even including the time to search for resources. How on earth did Xu Ran do it? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°There, all set!¡± Inside the Foster Shop, Xu Ran hung a pendant he made by hand around the neck of Starfire, nodding in satisfaction. The pendant part of the handcraft was made from a box crafted out of Dark-type Resource Black Cloud Crystal, which held the Source of the Stars. The Black Cloud Crystal had the ability to absorb light, and using it to fashion a box for the Source of Stars allowed the blinding brightness to be firmly confined inside the box, without impacting the Source¡¯s purification of Starfire¡¯s Star Power. A truly genius idea. After flattering himself, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze fell on another pendant also hanging around Starfire¡¯s neck. That too was a material needed for Starfire¡¯s evolution, the Dawn Star Radiance. The two resources infused with Star Power resonated with each other, and Xu Ran felt as if he could already see Starfire starting to evolve. The Town Star Stone was not far off now! Suddenly thinking of something, Xu Ran raised his hand to open the task panel. [Main Task 4: Branching Out Task Description: Please establish branches in four different Second Level Towns. A branch is considered successfully established when its Fame reaches over 50%. The task is a stage task, with rewards issued in stages. Task Reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x1, System Upgrade Experience +600] [Current Stage Task: Successfully establish branches in four different Second Level Towns. Task Progress: 3/4 Xieyun City (Completed) Monster Wooden City (Completed) Bright Radiance City (Completed) Xuanxing City (16.2/50) Stage Task Reward: System Clerk x3] Thanks to a good reputation, the Starfire Foster Care Shop had already begun to make its mark in the past few days of business, with Fame growing by the day. Despite pausing business for a day, the increase in Fame not only did not diminish, but it actually rose. Xu Ran clearly remembered that when he left Xuanxing City that morning, the Fame was only at 11.4%, but now it had reached 16.2%. The fact that closing the doors actually increased the Fame even more gave Xu Ran the impulse to continue the suspension of business. Of course, he also knew that such an increase in Fame would not last. Business had to be conducted honestly to truly succeed. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 733 - Chapter 733: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money! Chapter 733: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money! ¡°` The following morning. The bustling streets were not yet crowded, as the peak hours for the commercial district had not arrived. However, in front of one tightly shut store, a long line of customers had already formed. They fixed their eyes on the door, whispering amongst themselves. ¡°Do you think Boss Xu will open up today?¡± ¡°I reckon he will. There¡¯s no ¡®temporarily closed¡¯ sign on the door today.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I think it will indeed open.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, have you guys heard a bit of gossip?¡± ¡°What gossip?¡± ¡°This year¡¯s Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibition is no longer suspenseful.¡± ¡°I remember the exhibition just started the day before yesterday, right? Each participating foster shop needs one day, so it should take at least half a month. How can there be no suspense already?¡± ¡°You might not believe it, but it¡¯s true. This time, one of the shops in the exhibition received a full score on their experience review.¡± ¡°What? A full score? Impossible!¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t that outrageous? Didn¡¯t the previous leader, Pingtian Foster Shop, only have about ninety points?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard the difficulty of this foster experience exhibition is quite high.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. There really is a full score, and it¡¯s farther than the horizon yet closer than it seems.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ the one that got a full score is Starfire Foster Care Shop?!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s Starfire Foster, then that makes sense. I¡¯ve fostered here for a day before, and the environment¡­ it¡¯s hard to describe.¡± ¡°Heh, how could you say ¡®hard to describe¡¯? Let me put it this way, compared to other foster shops, the fostering environment here is totally from a different world.¡± ¡°Is it that exaggerated? I¡¯m going to check it out for myself in a bit.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too. I want to check it out.¡± With nothing else to do, the waiting customers chatted among themselves. Soon, the news that Starfire Foster Care Shop had received a full experience score spread among all those in line. When they looked again at the firmly shut doors of Starfire Foster, anticipation filled their eyes even more. They didn¡¯t have to wait long. Soon the large doors of Starfire Foster Care Shop began to slowly open, and the sight of the young figure that appeared caused a stir among the waiting customers. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Across town in Xuanxing City, the scene at the front of Mad Wolf Foster Shop starkly contrasted with that at Starfire Foster. Zou Cheng, looking exhausted and lost, handed over twenty pet beast judges to the staff of the event organizers. His exhaustion stemmed from the past 24 hours during which these twenty troublesome pet beast judges had turned the whole foster area upside down. It wasn¡¯t just that they went on hunger strikes, refusing to eat; they fought with other residents in the same area, and there were even pets that cried all night for no apparent reason and couldn¡¯t be consoled. Not a single one of these pet beast judges was easy to deal with. Even when multiple staff members gave it their all, they were still played for fools by these pet beast judges. His confusion arose from the fact that, despite such efforts, the twenty pet beast judges still had not shown any signs of satisfaction toward him or the other staff. He didn¡¯t need the event organizers¡¯ staff to tell him¡ªhe already guessed that his experience score this time would be terrible. And it might be worse than any previous exhibition he had participated in. As he watched the staff take the twenty pet beast judges away into the distance, the weariness and confusion on Zou Cheng¡¯s face slowly turned to aggrievement. He truly didn¡¯t understand. If the service was bad and he didn¡¯t achieve a high score, he would have accepted that. If it was just due to ranking that led to a low final score, he could have just said it was bad luck and tried harder next time. But what was this? He¡¯d spent a year trying to improve the shop¡¯s fostering environment and offered a service quality and attitude that far exceeded that of the last exhibition. How could it be worse than the previous one? ¡°Boss¡­ Boss¡­¡± In the midst of this heavy atmosphere, a staff member hurried over and spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°I might know why the pet beast judges were dissatisfied.¡± ¡°What reason?¡± Zou Cheng spun around, his breathing slightly labored as he looked at his subordinate, ¡°Spit it out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the foster shop that was evaluated before us.¡± The employee whispered, unable to help but lower his head. ¡°The foster shop before us?¡± It took Zou Cheng a few seconds to remember which one the staff member was referring to, ¡°The new shop called Starfire Foster?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes,¡± the employee nodded, head drooping even lower. A puzzled look appeared on Zou Cheng¡¯s face. Just a new shop, and it had affected their Mad Wolf Foster Shop? ¡°Clarify your words, look at me when you speak!¡± Seeing how the staff member was beating around the bush and avoiding eye contact, the hot-tempered Zou Cheng became even more agitated, ¡°Stop beating around the bush.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The employee shuddered, quickly raised his head, bit the bullet, and blurted out as if he was staking everything on it, ¡°I heard that Starfire Foster¡¯s review score is expected to be a full score, they just haven¡¯t announced it because it¡¯s not time for the review yet.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± He sneaked a peek at Zou Cheng¡¯s face, which had become particularly animated, ¡°After experiencing their service, the pet beast judges were especially dissatisfied with our service.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Zou Cheng inhaled sharply, rubbing his cheeks with force, ¡°You¡¯re joking with me, right?¡± ¡°A new shop? A full score for the experience?¡± Looking at his employee¡¯s sincere expression, Zou Cheng¡¯s face grew darker and darker until it was as black as the bottom of a pot, ¡°Why would he get a full score?!¡± Mad Wolf Foster Shop had participated in several Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibitions, and although it had never achieved high scores before, Zou Cheng was very clear about how it all worked. ¡°` Chapter 734 - Chapter 734: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_2 Chapter 734: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_2 The Pet Beasts chosen by the hosts for evaluation all have certain problems, more or less, making them quite troublesome to deal with. These issues are very well hidden and utterly irregular, so no Foster Shop can cover every base and satisfy them all. The more perfection a foster environment and service can achieve, the more problems it can cater to, naturally leading to higher scores. To earn a perfect score, it means that all hidden issues of the twenty Pet Beasts must be discovered and resolved without causing any dissatisfaction from the Pet Beasts¡¯ evaluators during the process, which is nearly impossible. Even the consistently top-ranking Pingtian Foster Shop fluctuates around ninety points every time. How could this fledgling Starfire Foster Shop score a perfect grade?! ¡°Which Foster Shop is next in line?¡± Zou Cheng asked in a deep voice. ¡°It¡¯s Yang Guang Pet Boarding.¡± The employee quickly replied. ¡°Yang Guang¡­¡± Zou Cheng¡¯s eyes narrowed for a moment before he turned and left. ¡°Boss, where are you going?¡± The employee couldn¡¯t help but call out. ¡°To Starfire Foster Shop,¡± Zou Cheng responded without looking back, ¡°I want to see for myself what kind of Foster Service can earn a perfect score.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Business seems pretty good today,¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but stretch after attending to another customer. Probably because the shop was closed yesterday, there were unusually more customers today, and one thing was very peculiar. Almost every customer expressed the desire to tour the Foster area, even if they had no immediate need for fostering. Xu Ran initially led the customers on the tour himself, but as the number of visitors increased, he felt overwhelmed and simply handed the task over to Twelfth. If it was just a matter of communicating and introducing, Twelfth, having followed Xu Ran many times, was completely capable of handling it. If customers really had foster needs, he could step in afterward. Sure enough, with Twelfth¡¯s help, the efficiency increased significantly, and Xu Ran could focus entirely on Washing and Protection, drastically speeding up the pace of receiving customers. ¡°Welcome!¡± Sensing a new customer entering, Xu Ran quickly straightened his body, flashing a signature smile. However, the expression of the customer who entered this time seemed a bit unsightly. ¡°You must be Boss Xu from Starfire Foster Shop,¡± Zou Cheng looked Xu Ran up and down calmly, ¡°I am the owner of Mad Wolf Foster Shop, Zou Cheng.¡± While introducing himself, Zou Cheng inwardly scorned. The storefront might be nicely decorated, but what could a young whippersnapper like this kid amount to? ¡°Good to meet you, Boss Zou,¡± Xu Ran slightly restrained his smile, noticing the other party didn¡¯t seem to come for business, ¡°May I ask what brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to take a look at your shop,¡± Zou Cheng said somewhat stiffly, ¡°Can I see the price list?¡± ¡°It¡¯s behind you,¡± Xu Ran pointed towards the direction behind Zou Cheng. Upon turning around, Zou Cheng¡¯s expression instantly became animated. The prices here were twice that of his foster shop. Only after a full year of service improvement and foster environment expansion did his shop dare to raise its prices to the current level. On what basis does Starfire charge double? But remembering Starfire¡¯s possibly perfect performance, Zou Cheng forcefully swallowed the criticism that was on the tip of his tongue. ¡°Could you show me your Foster area?¡± Zou Cheng said solemnly. ¡°No problem,¡± Xu Ran glanced to his side. Twelfth appeared and cried out. ¡°Cheep~¡± (Follow me, I¡¯ll take you to the Foster environment.) Zou Cheng¡¯s expression darkened. He was, after all, the owner of a foster shop, and not only did Xu Ran not personally show him around, he didn¡¯t even arrange for an employee? He was being received by a Pet Beast. Absolutely outrageous! But this was where Zou Cheng misunderstood Xu Ran. If Xu Ran knew what Zou Cheng was thinking, he would certainly feel wronged. He also wanted to have an employee do the hosting, but he needed to have one first. Reaching 50% Fame was still a ways off. Despite feeling even more disgruntled, Zou Cheng said nothing more and followed Twelfth inside. He hadn¡¯t forgotten his purpose for coming here. That was to see for himself just what the Foster environment of Starfire Foster Shop was like. If it really was better than Mad Wolf¡¯s, and by a lot, he would concede. Beyond that, he harbored the notion to steal some secrets. Fostering after all isn¡¯t that different. If Starfire Foster really could make the Pet Beast evaluators¡¯ fostering experience reach full marks, then they must possess some unique tricks. If he could learn a thing or two¡­ Then Mad Wolf Foster Shop could definitely improve. The current state of Mad Wolf was achieved precisely by taking cues from Pingtian Foster Shop. With such a mindset, Zou Cheng followed Twelfth and soon reached the Foster area. Looking at the vast expanse of Foster space, he stood in place, rubbing his eyes in disbelief, ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°You built the Foster space with Space Expansion Technology?!¡± With just one glance, Zou Cheng felt his lips trembling. Seeing the Foster area filled with rich Extraordinary Energy, in his eyes, each inch was stuffed with innumerable amounts of Money. How much money would that be¡­ If his Mad Wolf Foster Shop also had such a huge Foster area¡­ Zou Cheng couldn¡¯t even dare to think about it. ¡°Stay calm, this is only the beginning,¡± Twelfth glanced at Zou Cheng with a chuckle in its mind. It was accustomed to seeing surprised customers, and it wasn¡¯t pleased with Zou Cheng¡¯s bluster, so it was time to give him a proper shock. ¡°Each pet beast at our Foster Shop has its independent living area, approximately one thousand meters in length and width, sufficient for most Pet Beasts to move freely.¡± Chapter 735 - Chapter 735: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_3 Chapter 735: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_3 ¡°The few Pet Beasts with overly large body types can have their exercise needs met by expanding their living areas,¡± ¡°After all¡­ our foster area is really quite large.¡± ¡°Heh, those are the living areas of the Pet Beasts that have already checked in.¡± Twelve pointed with his wings to the already occupied living areas, ¡°These areas have been customized according to the Attributes and preferences of the Pet Beasts, and they absolutely meet their needs.¡± Zou Cheng fell silent. With such generous accommodations, which Pet Beast wouldn¡¯t be satisfied? He had learned, but he had also been rendered obsolete. The way of the Starfire Foster Shop was a path that his Mad Wolf Foster Shop couldn¡¯t follow¡­ ¡°What about the dietary aspect?¡± Clinging to his last hope, Zou Cheng slowly spoke, ¡°May I take a look at your food preparation environment?¡± ¡°Of course, follow me.¡± Twelve flapped his wings and flew toward a small building not too far away. Entering the small building, various clean and sanitary cooking equipment caught Zou Cheng¡¯s eye, and he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the astonishing completeness. ¡°Our menus are also tailored according to the likes and nutritional needs of the Pet Beasts.¡± Twelve grabbed a sample menu with his claw and passed it to Zou Cheng, ¡°This is an example.¡± Zou Cheng grabbed the list, furrowing his brows as he started to read. Although he only had one copy of the menu, if he could discern something from it, perhaps he could learn a thing or two. Back in the day, he had looked at a few menus from Pingtian Foster Shop and, after several months of overnight research with a group of employees, came up with the current nutrition menu for Mad Wolf Foster Shop. He believed that as long as he could memorize this menu and study it upon returning¡­ What? As he read on, Zou Cheng¡¯s expression became bewildered. This was not right! This was very wrong! Because each city¡¯s surrounding environment and resources are different, with extremely difficult resource exchange, the resource situation in every city is actually different. A certain resource could be common and cheap in one city, yet scarce and expensive in another. This menu had a large number of resources that were rare and pricey in Xuanxing City, and if calculated according to the prices of resources in Xuanxing City¡­ Doing a quick calculation, Zou Cheng¡¯s face completely changed. He originally thought the fostering prices at Starfire Foster Care Shop were outrageously high. But if going by this menu, they were actually losing money on the deal. That didn¡¯t even count the cost associated with the foster area. How could this be learned? It simply couldn¡¯t! No, what on earth was going on with this shop? Could it be that what defeated him was financial power?! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss Zou, how do you feel?¡± Noticing Twelve¡¯s return, Xu Ran turned his head and asked. Zou Cheng seemed not to hear Xu Ran¡¯s question; he numbly followed behind Twelve, his eyes vacant and especially hollow. Seeing this, Xu Ran and Twelve exchanged a look. Did you use Lead Silk Vertical Soul on him? How could I? Absolutely not! Really? Really! Assured that Twelve had done nothing, Xu Ran let out a small sigh of relief. ¡°Boss Zou, are you alright?¡± Zou Cheng stopped beside Xu Ran, pausing in his tracks. He turned to look at Xu Ran, his eyes rapidly regaining their spark, and his serious, deep face quickly reddened around the eyes, tears brimming in his gaze. ¡°Boss Xu you¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re bullying people!¡± Watching Zou Cheng wipe away his tears and stride out of the shop, Xu Ran was left looking confused. He couldn¡¯t help but glance at Twelve. ¡°Did you really¡­¡± ¡°Tweet!¡± (I really didn¡¯t do anything!) ¡°Alright then¡­¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, ¡°Boss Zou is pretty weird.¡± Seeing how fierce he was upon arrival, Xu Ran thought he had come to cause trouble. It was a needless excitement. Xu Ran stuck his head out and shouted towards the shop door. ¡°Next, please!¡± Soon, a long-waiting customer entered the door with a cheery smile. Xu Ran was again engulfed in the bustle, quickly forgetting the recent episode. The business at Starfire Foster Care Shop was booming, but at this moment, another foster shop in Xuanxing City was plunged into chaos. This foster shop was called Yang Guang Pet Boarding. They ranked lower in Xuanxing City¡¯s foster care industry, with average service quality, but they thrived on cheap pricing, targeting an ordinary customer base. Logically, such a foster shop needn¡¯t have participated in the competition since they couldn¡¯t win a high ranking, but the boss of Yang Guang Pet Boarding was stubborn. Since the registration was free and there was nothing to lose, they might as well give it a go. Thus, in every Foster Experience Exhibition held, Yang Guang Pet Boarding participated, and this year was no exception. Though participation was the goal, Yang Guang Pet Boarding still made thorough preparations, with everyone from the boss to the employees bringing their best game. However, upon their arrival in the foster area, the twenty Pet Beast judges dealt a heavy blow to Yang Guang Pet Boarding. Having experienced the services of Starfire Foster Care Shop, they were already dissatisfied with Mad Wolf Foster Shop, a top-tier service in Xuanxing City, and now they were at the even worse Yang Guang Pet Boarding. The consecutive declines in foster quality had the twenty Pet Beast judges utterly disheartened, and some with bad tempers were displaying irritable and angry behaviors, like kegs of gunpowder ready to explode at the slightest touch. And the staff of Yang Guang Pet Boarding had made a significant oversight. They incorrectly placed two Pet Beasts of incompatible natures in the same foster area. Unsurprisingly, these two Pet Beasts quickly started fighting, and within a short time other Pet Beasts were also dragged into the combat, turning the whole foster area into an inexplicable melee. Chapter 736 - Chapter 736: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_4 Chapter 736: Chapter 348: He was Defeated by the Power of Money!_4 Like a wildfire, the already tense atmosphere, compounded by the sudden chaotic battle, completely unleashed the restlessness of the Pet Beasts. Even the General Stage and King Stage Pet Beasts couldn¡¯t help but join the fight. Although the hidden organizers, the Beast Masters, reacted immediately and controlled their own Pet Beasts, calling a halt to the battle, how terrifying was the momentum of a King Stage Pet Beast¡¯s full-force effort? The entire Foster area was shattered, completely rendered uninhabitable. Fortunately, they were lucid when they lashed out, and no casualties occurred. Faced with such an unexpected incident, the organizers were devastated. The Beast Masters showed up immediately, took away their Pet Beasts, announced the premature end of Yang Guang Pet Boarding¡¯s Foster Care experience, and promised that the cost of rebuilding the Foster area would be compensated by the organizers. While sending off the twenty Pet Beast judges, the owner of Yang Guang Pet Boarding cried like a two-hundred-pound fool, constantly muttering that he would never participate in a Foster Care exhibition again. Too horrifying! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boss! Something bad happened at Yang Guang Pet Boarding!¡± Inside Mad Wolf Foster Shop, an employee known for being well-informed rushed to Zou Cheng, gasping due to the fast run. ¡°What happened to Yang Guang Pet Boarding?¡± Zou Cheng asked calmly, his expression numb, almost indifferent to ridicule. ¡°They¡­¡± The employee took a deep breath and quickly continued, ¡°Their Foster area has collapsed!¡± Zou Cheng: ¡°???¡± He turned his head to look at the employee, his face full of disbelief, ¡°Collapsed?¡± ¡°Did Yang Guang Pet Boarding provoke some big shot? Was their place smashed up?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± The employee grimaced as if constipated, ¡°It was destroyed by the fostered Pet Beasts.¡± Zou Cheng: ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, he really didn¡¯t know what to say. Foster Shops in a Second Level Town generally have the qualification and strength for King Stage Foster Care. This qualification not only requires that the food provided must meet the daily intake of a King Stage, and the space provided must accommodate their regular activities, but there is also a requirement for robustness, to ensure that it won¡¯t be damaged through regular activities of a King Stage Pet Beast. Pet Beasts will inevitably show some of their power and release some energy during their daily activities. If the Foster environment is as frail as paper, it certainly cannot house Pet Beasts with great strength. This has nothing to do with the size of the space, but with its durability. And the requirements for sparring facilities are even higher than those for Foster areas. To qualify for King Stage sparring, one must provide an arena that¡¯s nearly impossible to destroy even when a King Stage exerts full force. The power unleashed during full-force efforts and that during regular activities are not on the same level. Under normal circumstances, Foster Shops with the means would upgrade their Foster environment to the same level of durability as their sparring facilities to avoid accidental damage. But Yang Guang Pet Boarding belonged to those without these means. Their Foster service is up to the King Stage, but sparring only goes up to the General Level. Therefore, their Foster environment could not withstand a King Stage exerting full force. Under normal circumstances, a King Stage Pet Beast would not randomly strike in a Foster area. It had been like this at Yang Guang for the past ten years with not a single accident happening. But the current situation was clearly exceptional. The King Stage had made a move, and the environment of Yang Guang Pet Boarding couldn¡¯t bear it. So, Yang Guang was wrecked. ¡°How could Pet Beasts just up and destroy the Foster environment?¡± Zou Cheng couldn¡¯t dwell on the setback he faced at Starfire Foster Care Shop and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Because¡­¡± The employee glanced at Zou Cheng, hesitating. ¡°If you don¡¯t speak properly right now, I¡¯ll dock half your salary this month!¡± Zou Cheng snapped angrily. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll tell you!¡± the employee said, clutching his wallet and on the verge of tears, hurrying to speak up, ¡°Because the twenty pet beast judges were in a terrible mood, and then the fight between the two Elite Stage pet beasts became the spark that set off a melee¡­¡± ¡°The reason why the twenty pet beast judges were in such a bad mood¡­¡± The employee stole a glance at Zou Cheng, ¡°is because the foster environment is getting worse day by day.¡± Zou Cheng fell silent. The foster environment at Yang Guang was far worse than that of Mad Wolf, so it made sense that the mood of the twenty pet beast judges was poor. But¡­ he mentioned it was getting worse with each passing day. Not only was Yang Guang worse than Mad Wolf, but also Mad Wolf was inferior to Starfire¡­ Once dead memories surged again, and thinking of the repeated blows he suffered at Starfire Foster Care Shop, Zou Cheng clutched his chest, slumped back in the chair, his eyes vacant, and with a twisted mouth, he let out a ¡°hehehe¡± sound. Seeing Zou Cheng¡¯s state, the employee was startled. He cautiously stepped forward and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Boss, are you¡­ alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Zou Cheng suddenly sat up, a ferocious light in his eyes. ¡°They! All! Must! Die!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The incident at Yang Guang Pet Boarding spread quickly through the entire foster industry due to its sensational nature, even showing signs of reaching beyond the industry. The foster shops scheduled to exhibit after Yang Guang Pet Boarding became restless. This was the first time in many Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibitions that pet beast judges had gone so far as to destroy the foster area. Although this was also related to the insufficient strength of Yang Guang Pet Boarding¡¯s own foster area. But it was still outrageous! If it happened to them during their turn, with these pet beast judges pulling the same stunt¡­ The owners of the foster shops lined up behind became increasingly frightened. Because these pet beast judges had already fought once. They had made enemies of each other, and even if they shook hands and made peace at the Beast Master¡¯s request, deep down they might not truly forgive each other. With this in mind, the possibility of a repeat melee at each subsequent foster shop would be higher. The urgent task was to find out why they fought in the first place! One by one, the foster shop owners activated their networks, inquiring left and right, and eventually came to an unbelievable conclusion. The instigator turned out to be a newly opened foster shop. Because it was newly opened, this shop was scheduled first in the Foster Experience Exhibition. But this shop handed in a perfect report card, leaving all the pet beast judges extremely satisfied. Consequently, all subsequent foster shops failed to satisfy the pet beast judges anymore, as if having savored delicacies, they found ordinary food unpalatable. Mad Wolf Foster Shop was the first to fall, with the pet beast judges leaving with darkened faces. Yang Guang Pet Boarding outdid them by getting their shop smashed up by the pet beast judges. After hearing this news, all the foster shop owners made the same decision unanimously. To visit Starfire Foster Care Shop! They wanted to see for themselves what kind of magic this shop possessed! On that day, Xu Ran felt quite puzzled. Because he had received visits from more than a dozen peers in succession, each one requesting to see the foster environment of Starfire Foster. These colleagues arrived with various expressions and left without a word, their faces bewildered, and those unaware might think Xu Ran was engaged in some shady dealings. And the organizers of the Pet Beast Foster Experience Exhibition, on that very night, received no less than eleven applications to withdraw from the event. They were bowing out! Chapter 737 - Chapter 737: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill! Chapter 737: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill! In the Beast Master Association meeting room of Xuanxing City, the organizers of the foster care experience exhibition convened. The usually cheerful and noisy meeting room was now more somber than the gloomy skies outside the window. The twenty pet beast evaluators first deeply self-reflected on their oversight before silently gazing at the stack of eleven applications on the table in the middle of the room. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it, how should we handle this?¡± one of the king-level main evaluators slowly started, with a serious expression, ¡°These foster shops resolutely refuse to participate in the foster care experience exhibition.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just skip them according to the byes and move on,¡± a judge couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°by order, it should be Wind and Cloud Foster Shop¡¯s turn tomorrow.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about the order¡­¡± another judge rubbed his brow, ¡°Out of seventeen participating shops, more than half are dropping out, won¡¯t the final scoring look like a joke when announced?¡± ¡°What worries me is not that,¡± another judge pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, ¡°I¡¯m concerned about the next pet beast foster care experience exhibition.¡± The meeting room once again fell into silence. In previous foster care experience exhibitions, although Pingtian Foster Shop always secured the first place, the gap between it and the other foster shops wasn¡¯t big¡ªit was a gap that could be closed. At least, this year, Mad Wolf Foster Shop almost caught up with Pingtian Foster Shop. Thus, there was still motivation for the other foster shops to participate. But if a foster shop like Starfire Foster appears in the exhibition, dwarfing other shops so much that they see no hope of catching up, the circumstances will definitely change. One could tell from the stubborn owner of Yang Guang Pet Boarding crying and saying he¡¯ll never participate again. One can imagine that if Starfire Foster Shop takes part in the next pet beast foster care experience exhibition, the likelihood of other shops signing up would significantly decrease. If the vast Xuanxing City ends up with only a few, or perhaps only two or three, foster shops participating, the very purpose of the pet beast foster care experience exhibition would be completely lost. And the possibility of excluding Starfire Foster Shop is even more inconceivable. Without a doubt, after this pet beast foster care experience exhibition, Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s fame is set to skyrocket, with a high chance of it becoming the number one foster shop in Xuanxing City. An exhibition without such a foster shop would also turn into a joke. ¡°This pet beast foster care exhibition will finish after comparing the last three participating foster shops, and we will then announce the final scores,¡± the four main evaluators decided after discussion, ¡°As for the next one¡­ we will decide whether to hold it based on the registration situation at that time.¡± The evaluators remained silent. Does that mean, if by that time no foster shop signs up, the pet beast foster care experience exhibition won¡¯t be held anymore? A judge couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh. ¡°This is really killing the exhibition¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C It wasn¡¯t until the following morning that Xu Ran learned about the withdrawal of eleven foster shops from the pet beast foster care experience exhibition. He had no choice but to be informed, as the organizers had sent staff to notify every participating foster shop. Furthermore, the staff member responsible for notifying Xu Ran relayed the whole situation to him in a tone brimming with resentment. When Xu Ran found out that everything stemmed from Starfire Foster¡¯s service being too good, he was naturally caught between laughter and tears, and when he learned that the next pet beast foster care experience exhibition might not be held because of this, he was at a loss for words. However, he couldn¡¯t be blamed for this, as the competition was simply too weak. After finally sending off the staff, Liu Fengyun showed up. ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯ve really made a name for yourself throughout Xuanxing City this time.¡± Liu Fengyun chuckled, not at all worried about their turn hosting the pet beast evaluators that day, ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way either.¡± He was no stranger to Starfire Foster Shop¡¯s unique foster environment, but even he hadn¡¯t anticipated such an unexpected development. ¡°Today it¡¯s your Wind Cloud Foster Shop¡¯s turn; I hope those pet beast judges don¡¯t tear your foster area apart,¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but express his concern. ¡°It won¡¯t happen,¡± Liu Fengyun waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Our foster shop might not compare to Pingtian, but we¡¯re not so bad that evaluators would come to blows over it.¡± ¡°And even if they did come to blows, our foster area won¡¯t be destroyed,¡± Liu Fengyun shrugged, ¡°I¡¯ve already resigned myself to not getting first place anyway.¡± ¡°My main reason for coming is to congratulate Boss Xu on securing the championship ahead of time and inadvertently killing the exhibition,¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face took on a mocking expression, showing that he too had received the news. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say at the moment. After entertaining Liu Fengyun for a while and seeing him off, Xu Ran officially started receiving customers. Just like the day before, a long queue formed outside the door, and every customer who entered requested to tour the foster area. This challenging task was entrusted to Twelve. Time flew, and three days passed. As the final three participating foster shops completed their receptions of the pet beast judges, this edition of the pet beast foster care experience exhibition came to an abrupt end amid a flurry of commotion. The organizers released the final experience scores, and Starfire Foster Shop won first place with a perfect score, while Pingtian Foster Shop, for the first time, took second place with a much lower score than in previous years, scoring only 76 points. To the surprise of many, Mad Wolf Foster Shop took third place. The early end to the exhibition left numerous Beast Tamers in Xuanxing City brimming with curiosity, eager to investigate the exact details. Chapter 738 - Chapter 738: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_2 Chapter 738: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_2 And then, they came across a surprise revelation that was late to the scene. The Starfire Foster Care Shop, which had forced numerous other foster shops to drop out of the competition with its unparalleled services, suddenly became known by countless people. The line of customers already filled the space in front of the shop, and now it grew even more. The fame of Starfire Foster Care Shop thus quietly exceeded 50%. On the evening of the day Xu Ran received the first-place medal, a line of text appeared before his eyes after closing the shop. [Main task 4 has been completed] Upon seeing these words, Xu Ran immediately opened the task page. [Main Task 4: Branch Out (Completed)] Task description: The Host must successfully establish branches in four different Second Level Towns, with the fame of each branch reaching over 50% to be considered a success. This task is a staged task, with rewards distributed in stages. Task reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x1, System Upgrade Experience +600] [Current Stage Task: Successfully establish branches in four different Second Level Towns.] Task progress: 4/4 Xieyun City (Completed) Monster Wooden City (Completed) Bright Radiance City (Completed) Xuanxing City (Completed) Stage task reward: System Clerk x3] [Claim Task Reward] Here it comes! Not only was the stage task completed, but with the fame of Xieyun, Monster Wooden, Bright Radiance, and Xuanxing in the Second Level Towns reaching 50%, Main Task 4 was thoroughly completed. Xu Ran took a deep breath and didn¡¯t hesitate to click on claim. Inside the shop with its doors firmly closed, accompanied by the sudden appearance of a portal, three brand-new System Clerks appeared one after another. The clerks were as irreverent as ever, but Xu Ran was now able to quickly compose himself. After briefly understanding the personalities and specialties of the three, he ultimately chose the one most suited to be promoted to store manager. With the System Clerk deployment completed in Xuanxing City, this meant that he no longer needed to tirelessly mind the shop every day; he could take it easy and do other things in secret. After settling the three System Clerks, Xu Ran looked back at the task panel. With the rewards for Main Task 4 claimed, a new main task had already appeared. [Main Task 5: Sharpen Your Axe Without Delaying the Work of Cutting Firewood] Beast Field No. 47 is about to face an unprecedented disaster, one that will envelop all cities within, affecting the normal operations of more than half of the Host¡¯s stores¡ªsomething both the system and the Host cannot tolerate. The Host is requested to assist the human forces within Beast Field No. 47, to achieve victory in this battle. As the saying goes, ¡°sharpen your axe without delaying the work of cutting firewood.¡± Only with a stable and peaceful environment can the Host conduct business more successfully. Task reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x2, System Clerk Direct Purchase Rights, System Upgrade Experience +700] Is this how the saying goes? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but scoff internally, while also being surprised by the particularity of this new task. It was actually asking him to assist in achieving victory over the calamity. As for the disaster mentioned by the system, Xu Ran already had a guess. If things went as expected, the calamity originated from Beast Field No. 8, starting with the successful evolution of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. This thought added a few more layers of pressure to Xu Ran¡¯s heart. But, seeing the generous task rewards, he felt he was up to the task. The completion of Main Task 4 had brought him a System Skill Upgrade Command, and with two more on the way, it meant he could elevate all system skills to B Level. Beyond that, having the right to directly purchase System Clerks was also significant. It meant Xu Ran no longer needed to acquire System Clerks through tasks, but could purchase them directly, staffing each branch immediately upon establishment. The significance of this was self-evident. After completing Main Task 4, the System Upgrade Experience had already reached 1300/2000, meaning the completion of Main Task 5 would bring another system upgrade. With the last system upgrade, the service range at Starfire Foster Care Shop had greatly improved, and the capacity for attending to Pet Beasts increased from Leadership Stage to King Stage. After this system upgrade, it was without a doubt that Starfire Foster Care Shop¡¯s capacity would be further enhanced, with all services upgraded as well. The future looked promising. Closing the task panel, Xu Ran held the newly obtained System Skill Upgrade Command and opened his personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran] [Contract Power: Fifth Stage] [Contract Pet Beasts:] Ziyun [View Details] Star [View Details] Cancan [View Details] Twelve [View Details] Firefly [View Details] [System Skills:] [Plucking Fur (B Level)] (500/500) (System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1) [Drug Application (B Level)] (2000/2000) (System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1) [Pranks (B Level)] (2000/2000) (System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1) ¡­] After selecting the System Skill Upgrade Command, Xu Ran looked at the three system skills and three different lines of text appeared before him. [Plucking Fur (A Level): After promotion, using this System Skill for Washing and Protection will always yield Three Stars or below skills, with a certain probability of acquiring Four Stars skills, and gain a permanent buff in Washing and Protection: Pleasure Value permanently increases by an additional 10% for all branches] [Drug Application (A Level): After promotion, using this System Skill for feeding will greatly increase Physical Points gained, and gain a permanent Foster Care buff: Pleasure Value permanently increases by an additional 50% for all branches] [Pranks (A Level): After promotion, using this System Skill for training partners will substantially increase Skill Points gained, and gain a permanent Training Partner buff: Pleasure Value permanently increases by an additional 30% for all branches] [Please select a skill to upgrade] Looking at the descriptions, Xu Ran fell into contemplation. Chapter 739 - Chapter 739: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_3 Chapter 739: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_3 At this moment, his mind was preoccupied with a single thought. Why did he have only one System Skill Upgrade Command? He wanted all three A-grade skills! Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran began to compare the differences between the three skills. The effect of Plucking Fur was undoubtedly the most useful; the chance of obtaining skills from Washing and Protection for three-star and below turned into a guaranteed outcome, and even four-star skills had become attainable. However, in the entire Beast Field 47, there were only so many Pet Beasts of the Emperor Species, and the Starfire Foster Shop could only accommodate Pet Beasts up to the King Stage, with even fewer qualifying Emperor Species ones. Counting on obtaining four-star skills through Washing and Protection was not feasible for now. Not until the system was upgraded to accommodate higher-stage Pet Beasts could the skill¡¯s effect truly come into play, but according to the rewards of main task 5, all skills would have been raised to A-grade by the time the system upgraded. Therefore, the priority of improving Plucking Fur actually wasn¡¯t high, since the permanent buff it came with was the least among the three skills. After advancing to A-grade, Drug Application would greatly increase the gain of physical points. Currently, the three little ones hardly ever exchanged for physical points anymore, because compared to other resources, the cost-effectiveness of physical points was somewhat low. If the gain from physical points could be multiplied by several times, Xu Ran might consider reducing their price, exchanging one value point for two or even more physical points. Besides, the buff that came with A-grade Drug Application was also quite tempting for Xu Ran. The Pleasure value gained from Foster Care Service, which was between Washing and Protection and accompanying practice, would surpass Washing and Protection and become the most important source of Pleasure value for the Starfire Foster Shop if it could be increased by 50%. It meant a significant increase in Pleasure value, and with more Pleasure value, the Lottery drawing would also yield more good stuff. The final A-grade Pranks skill was somewhere between the two previous options. Skill Points, unlike physical points, played an extremely important role until Pet Beasts reached the Violent Sun Level. Currently, only Ziyun and Star had Pet Beasts with all skills at the Violent Sun Level; the other three little ones still needed them greatly. The 30% buff to the Pleasure value gain from Pranks was also considerable, but since Pranks itself yielded relatively low Pleasure value, its contribution to Xu Ran¡¯s overall profit was limited. After weighing the three skills, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze finally settled on Drug Application. It¡¯s decided then, you¡¯re the one! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Still 3,000 words to go, crazily cramming] It was not until the next morning that Xu Ran learned eleven Foster Shops had withdrawn from the Pet Beast Care Experience Exhibition. He couldn¡¯t remain oblivious because staff from the organizing committee had personally notified each participating Foster Shop. Moreover, the staff member responsible for informing Xu Ran spoke with a vengeful tone, sharing the entire backstory of the incident with him. When Xu Ran found out everything had stemmed from Starfire Foster¡¯s too-good-to-be-true Foster Care Service, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of amusement and astonishment; and upon learning that the next Pet Beast Care Experience Exhibition might be canceled as a result, he didn¡¯t know what to say. It wasn¡¯t really his fault, the competition was just too weak. After finally sending off the staff member, Liu Fengyun showed up. ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯ve really made a name for yourself throughout Xuanxing City this time,¡± Liu Fengyun chuckled, showing no concern even though it was their turn to host the Pet Beast judges today. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect such a situation to occur either.¡± He was familiar with the unique environment of Starfire Foster, but such a bizarre turn of events was beyond even his expectations. ¡°It¡¯s your Wind and Cloud Foster Shop¡¯s turn today; I hope the Pet Beast judges won¡¯t cause your Foster area to collapse as well,¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t resist expressing his concern. ¡°It won¡¯t come to that,¡± Liu Fengyun waved dismissively, ¡°Our Foster Shop might not be as good as Pingtian¡¯s, but it isn¡¯t so bad that it would provoke the Pet Beast judges into a fight.¡± ¡°And even if they did fight¡­ our Foster area wouldn¡¯t collapse,¡± Liu Fengyun shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m lying low because there¡¯s no chance of winning first place anyway.¡± ¡°I mainly came by to congratulate Boss Xu for clinching the championship early and for ending the exhibition prematurely,¡± Liu Fengyun¡¯s face was tinged with playful mockery, clearly having received the same news. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± At a loss for words, Xu Ran managed to entertain Liu Fengyun and eventually saw him off before officially starting to welcome clients. Just as the previous day, a long line of customers waiting just outside the door streamed in, each asking to tour the Foster area. This arduous task fell to Twelve. As time passed, three days flew by. With the last participating Foster Shops gradually completing their reception of the Pet Beast judges, the Pet Beast Care Experience Exhibition ended abruptly amidst chaos. The organizing committee announced the final experience scores, and Starfire Foster Shop won first place with a perfect score. Pingtian Foster Shop fell to second place for the first time, scoring much lower than previous years at only 76 points. To the surprise of many, Mad Wolf Foster Shop took third place. The early end to the exhibition, eleven days before its scheduled conclusion, left countless Beast Tamers in Xuanxing City brimming with curiosity, eager to uncover the specifics. Soon after, they were hit with a late yet shocking revelation. The Starfire Foster Shop, which could make other Foster Shops withdraw one by one with its unrivaled Foster Care Service, instantly became known to an untold number of people. The line of customers outside the shop, already bursting at the seams, grew even longer. In this quiet and unassuming way, the Fame of Starfire Foster Shop broke through 50%. On the evening of receiving the first-place medal, with business over for the day, Xu Ran was greeted by a line of text. Chapter 740 - Chapter 740: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_4 Chapter 740: Chapter 349 Main Task 4 Completed, A-Grade System Skill!_4 ¡°` [Main Task 4 has been completed] Upon seeing these words appear, Xu Ran immediately opened the task page. [Main Task 4: Branching Out (Completed) Task Description: Please assist the host in successfully establishing branches in four different Second Level Towns. Branches with a fame reaching over 50% will be considered successfully established. This task is a phased mission, and the rewards will be distributed in stages. Task Reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x1, System Upgrade Experience +600] [Current Phase Task: Successfully establish branches in four different Second Level Towns. Task Progress: 4/4 Xieyun City (Completed) Monster Wooden City (Completed) Bright Radiance City (Completed) Xuanxing City (Completed) Phase Task Reward: System Clerk x3] [Receive Task Reward] Here it comes! It wasn¡¯t just the phase task that was completed. With the fame of Xieyun, Monster Wooden, Bright Radiance, and Xuanxing reaching 50% in the four Second Level Towns, Main Task 4 was thoroughly completed. Xu Ran took a deep breath and clicked to receive without any hesitation. Within the closed doors of the shop, alongside the sudden appearance of a doorway, three brand-new System Clerks materialized one after another. The clerks were as unorthodox as ever, but Xu Ran was already able to quickly settle his emotions. After briefly understanding the personalities and strengths of the three, he eventually promoted the one who was most suitable to be the manager. The configuration of the System Clerks in Xuanxing City was complete, which meant that he no longer had to laboriously tend to the shop every day. He could slack off and do some other things. After settling the three System Clerks, Xu Ran once again looked at the task panel. With the rewards for Main Task 4 claimed, a new main task had already appeared. [Main Task 5: Sharpen the Saw Without Delaying the Cutting of Wood Beast Field 47 is about to face an unprecedented disaster. This disaster will affect all cities within Beast Field 47, influencing the normal operation of more than half of the host¡¯s shops ¨C something that neither the system nor the host can tolerate. Please assist the human forces within Beast Field 47 to achieve victory in this battle. As the saying goes, ¡°Sharpen the saw without delaying the cutting of wood,¡± only a peaceful and stable business environment will enable the host to conduct business more effectively. Task Reward: System Skill Upgrade Command x2, System Clerk Purchase Rights, System Upgrade Experience +700] Is that really how you use the phrase ¡°Sharpen the saw without delaying the cutting of wood¡±? Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but mock the phrase while being surprised by the particularity of this task. He was actually being asked to assist in securing victory over the disaster. Regarding the disaster mentioned by the system, Xu Ran already had a guess. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the disaster was coming from Beast Field 8, originating from the successful evolution of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. This added a few shades of pressure to Xu Ran¡¯s heart. But seeing the generous task rewards, he felt he could handle it. The completion of the Main Task 4 had already brought him one System Skill Upgrade Command, and two more would mean he could upgrade all his system skills to A Level. Beyond that, the System Clerk Purchase Rights were equally important. This meant that Xu Ran would no longer need to acquire System Clerks through tasks, but could directly purchase them, outfitting a new branch with System Clerks right away. Its significance was self-evident. After completing Main Task 4, the system¡¯s upgrade experience had reached 1300/2000, meaning that with the completion of Main Task 5, the system was poised for yet another upgrade. The last system upgrade massively improved the services of the Starfire Foster Care Shop, and the maximum rank of Pet Beasts they could service was raised from Leadership Stage to King Stage. After this system upgrade, the limits of the Starfire Foster Care Shop would undoubtedly rise even further, and the services would also be upgraded. The future was looking promising. ¡°` ¡°` After closing the mission panel, Xu Ran pinched the System Skill Upgrade Command he had just obtained and opened his personal panel. [Host: Xu Ran Contract Power: Stage Five Contract Pet Beast: Ziyun[View Details] Starfire[View Details] Cancan[View Details] Twelve[View Details] Firefly[View Details] System Skills: [Plucking Fur£¨B Level£©]£¨500/500£©£¨System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1£© [Drug Application£¨B Level£©]£¨2000/2000£©£¨System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1£© [Pranks£¨B Level£©]£¨2000/2000£©£¨System Skill Upgrade Command 0/1£© ¡­] After selecting the System Skill Upgrade Command, Xu Ran looked again at the three system skills, and three different lines of text appeared before his eyes. [Plucking Fur (A Level): After promotion, using the system skill for Washing and Protection guarantees skills of Three Stars and below, with a certain probability to obtain Four Stars skills, and gains a permanent buff: Pleasure Value increases an additional 10%, effective in all branches] [Drug Application (A Level): After promotion, using the system skill for feeding results in a greatly increased gain in Physical Points, and gains a permanent buff: Pleasure Value increases an additional 50%, effective in all branches] [Pranks (A Level): After promotion, using the system skill for companionship training results in a substantial increase in Skill Points, and gains a permanent buff: Pleasure Value increases an additional 30%, effective in all branches] [Please select a skill to upgrade] Looking at the descriptive text, Xu Ran fell into deep thought. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind. Why does he have only one System Skill Upgrade Command? He wanted all three A-level skills! Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran began to compare the differences between the three skills. The effect of Plucking Fur is undoubtedly the most useful; the skill guarantees attainment of Three Stars and below during Washing and Protection, and now there is also a chance to obtain Four Stars skills. But in the entirety of Beast Field No. 47, there are only so many Emperor Species Pet Beasts, and Starfire Foster Care Shop is only capable of accommodating up to the King Stage Pet Beasts, with very few eligible Emperor Species in existence. Counting on acquiring Four Stars skills through Washing and Protection is not viable for now. It¡¯s only after the system upgrades, when it can accommodate higher-stage Pet Beasts, that the effectiveness of this skill can be truly realized, but according to the reward for the main task 5, by the time of the system upgrade, he would have already raised all skills to A Level. As such, raising the priority of Plucking Fur becomes unexpectedly low, especially since its permanent buff is the least beneficial out of the three skills. After the promotion to A Level Drug Application, the gain in Physical Points will see a massive increase. Currently, the three little ones hardly exchange for Physical Points anymore, because compared to other resources, the cost-effectiveness of Physical Points has become somewhat low. If the gain in Physical Points could increase by several times in the future, Xu Ran could consider lowering the price for Physical Points, exchanging one Value Point for two or even more Physical Points. Beyond that, the buff that comes with A Level Drug Application also greatly tempts Xu Ran. The Pleasure Value gained from the Foster Care Service, which lies between Washing and Protection and companionship training, would become the most important source of Pleasure Value for Starfire Foster if it could be increased by 50%. This means a significant increase in Pleasure Value, and with more Pleasure Value, he could get more good things from the lottery drawing. The final A Level Pranks fall between the two aforementioned skills. Skill Points, unlike Physical Points, are extremely important until the Pet Beasts reach the Violent Sun Level. Currently, only Ziyun and Starfire among the Pet Beasts have all skills at the Violent Sun Level; the other three little ones still need it. The 30% increase in Pleasure Value from Pranks is also quite appealing, but since Pranks inherently yield a relatively low Pleasure Value, its contribution to Xu Ran¡¯s overall revenue is limited. After weighing the three skills against each other, Xu Ran finally set his sights on Drug Application. It¡¯s decided, then. You¡¯re the one! ¡°` Chapter 741 - Chapter 741: Chapter 350 Talent Skill Fusion! Chapter 741: Chapter 350 Talent Skill Fusion! As a rather rare purple item, the probability of drawing a talent skill fusion stone compared to a regular skill fusion stone is incomparable. But Xu Ran, from the first time he obtained a talent skill fusion stone until now, had gone through numerous resource allocations. Accumulating bit by bit, the total number of talent skill fusion stones had reached forty-seven. Some of these talent skill fusion stones were traded early on in preparation for the five little ones¡¯ futures, while the rest remained unallocated. Ziyun, without any hesitation, used all its value points to exchange for the remaining talent skill fusion stones. With the exorbitant price of one thousand value points each, it wiped out both its remaining value points and the current earnings. Even so, it didn¡¯t feel even a bit of regret. For Ziyun, now evolved into the Emperor Species, any enhancement from other resources became negligible. To grow stronger, it was necessary to pioneer a whole new path. That was the talent skill fusion, a realm only accessible to the Emperor Species. After witnessing the evolution process of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint firsthand, the one person with five pet companions had learned some of the Saint Spirit Race¡¯s secrets from the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. After evolving into the Holy Spirit Race, an Emperor Species would not have its four-star talent skills upgraded to five stars; instead, it would possess a unique five-star skill called the Wheel of Life. The way a Saint Spirit grows stronger is by inscribing one talent skill after another onto the Wheel of Life and fusing them together with the Wheel. Ultimately, when all talent skills are inscribed, there remains only an incredibly powerful fused version of the Wheel of Life, which is the key to breaking through from the Epic level to the Saint Rank. Thus, the advancement of the Saint Spirit Race after evolution is a continuous process of talent skill fusions. Preemptively completing this process using talent skill fusion stones naturally meant a tremendous advantage for Ziyun of the Emperor Species. If it wasn¡¯t for the lack of funds, it would have liked to buy the talent skill fusion stones for the other companions as well. In the end, Ziyun had thirty-four talent skill fusion stones in its possession. ¡°How do you plan to fuse your talent skills?¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment and then looked seriously at Ziyun. As an Emperor Species, Ziyun possessed a total of nine talent skills. The most extreme method of fusion would be to combine all nine skills simultaneously. In this case, thirty-four talent skill fusion stones would not suffice for a successful fusion; at most, they could only slightly bolster the success rate. The more systematic approach would be to select two talent skills for fusion, and upon a successful fusion, fuse the new skill with a third one, until all are fused. With thirty-four talent skill fusion stones, there is a chance to complete one fusion. Beyond that, there are other fusion plans. Having no prior experience with talent skill fusion, Xu Ran was more interested in hearing Ziyun¡¯s own thoughts on the matter at this moment. Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Ziyun showed a thoughtful expression. Fusing all nine skills together was the first option it discarded. This method of fusion required a massive amount of talent skill fusion stones, and with no certainty of success, there would be no enhancement in strength before achieving fusion success. The method of fusing other skills one by one with a single skill was also quickly dismissed by Ziyun. Because it had a better plan. After evolving into the Emperor Species, Ziyun¡¯s nine talent skills were Thunder Shocker, Path of Destruction, Thunder Punishment, Immortal Body, Heavenly Punishment, Divine Punishment, Astonishing Thunder Fury, Cloud Break Sky, and Imperial Crown. These nine skills could actually be divided into five categories. Thunder Shocker, Heavenly Punishment, and Imperial Crown are all field-type skills with certain commonalities when used. Astonishing Thunder Fury and Cloud Break Sky are both long-range attack skills, again with similarities. Immortal Body and Thunder Punishment are close-combat attack skills, Divine Punishment is a burst skill, and Path of Destruction is a speed skill. Following this classification, Ziyun could fuse the skills of the five categories separately, reducing the nine talent skills down to five, and then fuse the five combined talent skills together. Since there is only one skill each in the burst and speed categories, the first phase required fusing the skills of three categories. Thunder Shocker + Heavenly Punishment + Imperial Crown Astonishing Thunder Fury + Cloud Break Sky Immortal Body + Thunder Punishment For its first attempt at talent skill fusion, it logically made sense for Ziyun to start with the simpler method of pairing skills for fusion, so after briefly considering between two options, it settled on Immortal Body and Thunder Punishment. Ziyun quickly shared its thoughts with Xu Ran, and the other four companions listened intently, deep in thought. After evolving into the Emperor Species, they would also attempt to fuse their talent skills, so Ziyun¡¯s current strategy held significant reference value. ¡°That¡¯s a very good idea,¡± Xu Ran agreed with Ziyun¡¯s plan. He selected a talent skill fusion stone and chose the corresponding two skills. [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Immortal Body] + [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Thunder Punishment] [Fusion Success Rate: 0.082%] [Proceed with fusion?] [Yes][No] Seeing the touching fusion success rate, the corner of Xu Ran¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The fusion of two four-star talent skills had an almost similar success rate to that of four three-star skills. Luckily, they hadn¡¯t attempted to fuse all nine talent skills together; otherwise, he could only imagine how many zeros would precede the success rate. Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran tentatively pressed [Yes], and as a talent skill fusion stone dimmed and disappeared, the words [Fusion Failed] appeared in front of his eyes. Chapter 742 - Chapter 742: Chapter 350 Talent Skill Fusion!_2 Chapter 742: Chapter 350 Talent Skill Fusion!_2 Fusion failure was within Xu Ran¡¯s expectations. His eyes were fixed on the increased probability of success after failure, and soon a look of surprise appeared on his face. After so many fusion attempts, Xu Ran had become very familiar with the increase in success rate that each failure added to the Skill Fusion Stone. One could say that before the start of a skill fusion, he could predict the success rate after a potential failure, and his estimates were very accurate. Thus, he immediately realized that the Talent Skill Fusion Stones increased the success rate by a much larger margin than the ordinary Skill Fusion Stones when a fusion failed! This meant that when the likelihood of fusion success was close, using Talent Skill Fusion Stones would significantly reduce the number of fusion stones needed to succeed! Continue! Having tried once, Xu Ran was now certain that the thirty-four Talent Skill Fusion Stones he held were enough to help Ziyun fuse at least one new skill. His consumption of Talent Skill Fusion Stones grew faster and faster until the words ¡°Fusion success¡± appeared before his eyes, prompting him to skillfully halt his actions. Twenty-six stones. With just twenty-six Talent Skill Fusion Stones, Xu Ran completed a skill fusion with a success rate of less than one in a thousand. He exhaled a breath of turbid air and immediately turned to Ziyun¡¯s panel. The Immortal Body and Thunder Punishment skills both dimmed and disappeared, replaced by a brand-new skill. [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïThunder Punishment (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImmortal Body (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡îAnnihilating Thunder Body (Violent Sun Level)] Success! Xu Ran¡¯s heart surged with excitement. As he looked closely, he soon discovered what made this Skill Fusion different from previous ones. In previous skill fusions, if a higher star level was not reached, the skill would maintain its original star rating. For example, the fusion of two Two Star Skills would form a stronger Two Star Skill, but it would still be Two Stars. But now, the fusion of two Four Star Talent Skills had resulted in a new skill with a Five Star rating, even though one of the stars was hollow, indicating that it was not a true Five Star Skill. Such a skill might more aptly be described as a quasi-Five Star Skill. With this in mind, Xu Ran turned to Ziyun and a look of surprise appeared on his face, ¡°Ziyun, why have you turned black?¡± ¡°Meow?¡± (I¡¯ve turned black?) Ziyun blinked, a look of bemusement on its face. With the successful fusion of the two Talent Skills, it felt as if the corresponding skill memories had been erased, replaced by countless depictions of the new skill in use. It felt the power of the new skill and was taken aback by Xu Ran¡¯s question. It turned its head, looking at the other four creatures, who all nodded in agreement with Xu Ran. ¡°Look.¡± Xu Ran took out a mirror and placed it in front of Ziyun. In the mirror, the white parts of Ziyun¡¯s fur remained unchanged, but the purple parts had somehow turned a deep, profound purple-black. The bemusement on Ziyun¡¯s face intensified, clearly unaware of this change. ¡°Could it be¡­ the fusion of Talent Skills can alter the form of Transcendent Beings?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, speculating, ¡°Talent Skills correspond to the source of a Transcendent Being¡¯s power, so perhaps the fusion of Talent Skills produces corresponding effects?¡± ¡°Forget it, just a color change, no big deal.¡± Xu Ran shook his head, quickly setting aside that speculation, ¡°How effective is this new skill called Annihilating Thunder Body?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± (The effect is quite good!) Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Ziyun set aside its small annoyance about turning black and became excited. It quickly began to describe the effects of Annihilating Thunder Body one by one. As a fusion of Thunder Punishment and Immortal Body, Annihilating Thunder Body possessed both skills¡¯ advantages and had been elevated to a certain extent. Upon using Annihilating Thunder Body, Ziyun¡¯s body would undergo a complete elemental transformation. In this elemental state, Ziyun¡¯s body would be filled with a special kind of thunder called Annihilating Thunder. This special Thunderbolt will affect all skills that contain the Thunder Attribute, adding a unique effect from Annihilating Thunder to other skills: the area hit becomes the opponent¡¯s vital spot, resulting in a significant increase in damage. Yes, it¡¯s that special effect from Thunder Punishment. Originally, this effect was only effective in the Thunder Punishment skill, but now it has become an effect included in all skills. In addition, due to the complete elemental transformation of the body, Ziyun also gained various effects such as the ability to freely change form, instantly recover from injuries, and be immune to physical attacks. These effects essentially covered the functions of the original Immortal Body. Clearly, this fusion was an epic enhancement for Ziyun, who was already very strong. The fusion of Talent Skills is not 1+1=2, but 1+1£¾2. ¡°Very good.¡± After listening to Ziyun¡¯s complete introduction, Xu Ran could hardly suppress a smile, ¡°There are still eight talent skill fusion stones left.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (Then let¡¯s save up again.) Ziyun opened his mouth without hesitation. Twenty-six talent skill fusion stones were enough to successfully fuse two Talent Skills, also to Ziyun¡¯s pleasant surprise. The remaining eight stones were obviously not enough for a second successful fusion, so it was decided to gather thirty stones and then go for it all at once. With the attempt at Talent Skill Fusion ending, Ziyun¡¯s involvement in resource allocation was completely finished; next up, it was Star¡¯s turn. Seeing Ziyun become stronger once again after fusing Talent Skills, Star¡¯s emotions surged, but realizing that evolution into the Emperor Species was the most important thing for it at the moment, Star quickly calmed down. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (First merge Moon Concealment Star Racing, then use the Four Star Skill Scrolls to upgrade Night Inspection.) ¡°Good.¡± Xu Ran smiled and began to select the skills needed to merge Moon Concealment Star Racing. In addition to Gap Flow Shuttle and Nightfall Trace, which had been prepared before, the last skill was called Starlight Trail, a speed skill associated with Star Power. Forty-two skill fusion stones vanished into thin air, and the Three Star Skill Moon Concealment Star Racing that hadn¡¯t been enhanced for a long time was about to skyrocket. [¡ï¡ï¡ïMoon Concealment Star Racing (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïChasing Stars (Violent Sun Level)] ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± The violently trembling body gradually settled, and Star excitedly let out a neigh. Without waiting for Xu Ran to ask, it swiftly introduced the effects of the new skill. Upon using Chasing Stars, Star¡¯s speed could receive an acceleration far surpassing Moon Concealment Star Racing. At the same time, its body would transform into an extremely special state called Star Spirit Body. Entering the Star Spirit Body state, all of Star¡¯s essences would be completely concealed, and its affinity with Star Power would increase. And this increase would vary with Star¡¯s speed, the faster it runs, the higher the affinity with Star Power becomes. Adding this brand new effect of Star Spirit Body to the original effect of Moon Concealment Star Racing, it was another huge enhancement for Star, which was striving towards the direction of Star Power with all its skills. And Star¡¯s surprise was not yet over. After using the Four Star Skill Scroll, Night Inspection brought it another new surprise. [¡ï¡ï¡ïNight Inspection (Violent Sun Level)] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïStar Gazing (Violent Sun Level)] Compared to the original skill¡¯s effect of enhancing vision and tracking enemies, the newly improved Four Star Skill underwent a complete transformation with the help of the Four Star Skill Scroll. Significantly enhancing vision in the darkness was its simplest effect. On top of that, Star Gazing added a new effect that allowed it to release the Eye of the Star once, observing a vast area around from an overhead perspective. Seated atop the pinnacle of stars, overlooking the land! And that wasn¡¯t all of the skill¡¯s effects! The other effect of Night Inspection, tracking enemies, upon being elevated to Star Gazing, became the ability to lock onto an opponent and randomly probe three of their abilities. To anticipate the enemy first, such a terrifying prospect! Chapter 743 - Chapter 743: Chapter 351 Incoming Call from Xieyun City Chapter 743: Chapter 351 Incoming Call from Xieyun City After upgrading two Talent Skills to stars, the exchange of Star resources came to a pause. Although there were still plenty of Value Points, there were no suitable resources worth exchanging, so the balance was temporarily kept, to be spent later when desirable resources were encountered. With the opening of Starfire Foster Care Shop in Xuanxing City, the resources that could now be allocated had once again increased. The remaining Skill Fusion Stones and other resources were sufficient to upgrade two Three Star Skills to Four Stars. Cancan and the twelve looked at each other. ¡°Chia!¡± (I and Twelve each upgrade a Four Star Skill!) ¡°Chiou!¡± (I agree.) Twelve nodded its head, its eyes filled with anticipation. Was it finally going to acquire its first Four Star Skill? After watching the three little ones obtain Four Star Skills, it fully realized the vast gap between Three Star and Four Star Skills. It could be said that just by having one Four Star Skill, its strength could easily increase by twenty to thirty percent. Now, after obtaining the Evolution Path of the Emperor Species, it was finally its turn. ¡°Good.¡± The two pets reached an agreement, and Xu Ran naturally had no objections. First to undergo Skill upgrading was Cancan. And this time, the Skill Cancan wanted to enhance was Giving Body to Fertile Soil. Yes, it finally remembered that its best skill was Defense. In the past few encounters with Quasi-Domineering Level, Cancan had realized that, because of the emphasis on Four Star Skills, it had slightly deviated from its path, and its Defense could only barely withstand the full force of Quasi-Domineering Level. Giving Body to Fertile Soil, a powerful Skill providing defense for itself, would not only not affect Cancan¡¯s agility in action, but it would also have a sticky effect on close-combat opponents. If it could be upgraded to Four Stars, Cancan could disregard attacks from the same stage, and its combat ability would see a significant enhancement as it could brazenly strike out with Land of Destruction. After a round of selection and discussion, Xu Ran finally determined the three Three Star Skills to be fused with Giving Body to Fertile Soil. The moment the forty-seventh Skill Fusion Stone dissipated, the words ¡°Fusion Success¡± appeared before him. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Giving Body to Fertile Soil (Halo Level)]£¨38237/50000£©[+] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Hollow Earth (Halo Level)]£¨38237/50000£©[+] Feeling the pleasure emerging around its body, Cancan couldn¡¯t help but let out a joyful shout. Countless new Skill memories emerged, making its expression grow increasingly excited. Clearly, this newly acquired Four Star Skill was extraordinary. ¡°What¡¯s the effect of the new Skill?¡± Xu Ran curiously inquired. Just by the name, he felt the Skill was powerful. ¡°Chia!¡± (This Skill can greatly immunize against all attacks!) With just one sentence, Cancan surprised all four pets and one person. Compared to the original Giving Body to Fertile Soil, Hollow Earth was an epic enhancement. As the name ¡°Hollow¡± implies, when exercising Hollow Earth, Cancan¡¯s body would not be covered with dirt, but the Earth attribute Guardian Power would protect a larger area of the body in a way invisible to the naked eye. Any attack that touched this Guardian Power would be weakened by the layered Earth attribute Power, leaving only a tiny fraction of it. And once an opponent entered the range of Hollow Earth¡¯s guardianship, the Skill would form an extremely strong binding effect, trapping them within. Combining defense and control into one, the effect of Hollow Earth complements Cancan¡¯s currently strongest offensive Skill Land of Destruction, forming a complete Skill chain. This means that Cancan, when facing the Quasi-Domineering Level again, would have the confidence to fight. ¡°Chiou!¡± (It¡¯s my turn, it¡¯s my turn!) Seeing Cancan¡¯s new Skill, Twelve was very envious and quickly urged on. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°which Skill do you plan to fuse first?¡± Upon hearing Xu Ran¡¯s question, Twelve responded without hesitation. ¡°Chiou!¡± (Lead Silk Vertical Soul!) Twelve had considered for a long time how to fuse its Skills. Among all the Skills, this was the one it wanted to enhance the most. Because this special Skill, capable of controlling and influencing other creatures, was the first Skill Twelve had reached Full Moon Level, and it was still widely used to this day. It was eager to know what special effects would emerge when Lead Silk Vertical Soul was upgraded to Four Stars. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°for the remaining three fusion Skills, one will be fixed as Interwoven Virtuality and Reality, another Skill will be Bewildered Heart Branding which I previously taught you, and besides these two, we need one more Skill.¡± After speaking, he casually opened the Skill Fragment exchange for the Three Star Skill List, discussing with Twelve. Before long, the person and the pet determined the last Skill. After the consumption of forty-one Skill Fusion Stones, Twelve¡¯s first Four Star Skill was born. [¡ï¡ï¡ï Lead Silk Vertical Soul (Halo Level)]£¨12823/50000£©[+] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Soul Seal (Halo Level)]£¨12823/50000£©[+] ¡°Chiou~¡± Twelve¡¯s eyes widened as it felt the pleasure from the Talent Skill upgrading spread throughout its body. More and more introductions about the Soul Seal Skill flooded into its mind, its eyes brimming with surprise and delight. Indeed, its choice had not been wrong! ¡°Soul Seal¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, pondering over the meaning of the Skill name. Finally, he chose to ask directly, ¡°What¡¯s the effect of the Skill?¡± Twelve looked spirited and began to introduce proactively. Soul Seal fully inherited the effect of Lead Silk Vertical Soul to control multiple targets and further enhanced it on that basis to an epic level. Twelve could preemptively condense Soul Seals, with a cap on the total amount that could be condensed. This cap would increase as the Skill Proficiency improved. With its current Halo Level status, the cap for Soul Seals was fifty. Chapter 744 - Chapter 744: Chapter 351 Incoming Call from Xieyun City_2 Chapter 744: Chapter 351 Incoming Call from Xieyun City_2 ¡°` When necessary, Twelve could imprint his soul seal on the target he wished to control. The soul seal contained a part of Twelve¡¯s own consciousness, allowing him to share vision with the target directly and manipulate it from greater distances. Previously, if Twelve wanted to share vision with a controlled target, he had to rely on the power of the tides of the heart while controlling. Now, he could achieve the same effect without them. However, this was just the first skill effect of soul imprinting. The second newly added skill effect was even more twisted. Besides using the controlled creature¡¯s own skills and abilities, a target under the control of a soul imprint could also use all of Twelve¡¯s skills, excluding the soul imprint itself. When the controlled targets used Twelve¡¯s skills, they relied on the super ability attribute power and skill imprint contained within the soul seal, so each use of Twelve¡¯s own skills would accelerate the breaking and dissipation of the soul seal. Although this limitation existed, the second effect of the soul imprint meant that Twelve would have dozens of avatars that could act simultaneously. For Twelve at this moment, it could be said to be an epic level enhancement. All his other skills are at three stars right now, but when all of these skills break through to four stars¡­ just the thought of it is exciting. ¡°The effect of this skill is really good.¡± After listening to Twelve¡¯s introduction, Xu Ran¡¯s face also showed a surprised expression. The fourth skill he chose was indeed a clone-type skill, but to have such a powerful effect after merging, the Interwoven Virtuality and Reality technique was indispensable. Just by pondering it briefly, he had already realized the terrifying potential of this skill. Imagine, if fifty controlled targets used Endless Sleep in succession¡­ Not to mention King Stage, even Overlord stage creatures would probably struggle to withstand such continuous, strong control, right? Once Cancan and Twelve each enhanced one of their four-star skills, they immediately began distributing other resources. Cancan currently had only two skills upgraded to Violent Sun Level, and Twelve hadn¡¯t upgraded any. They keenly needed skill points to help increase their skill proficiency. The available skill points were split evenly between the two little ones, and even then, they felt it was too little and were left wanting more. After exchanging for the most important skill points, the two little ones¡¯ distribution came to a conclusion. It was Firefly¡¯s turn. ¡°Loo hoo!¡± (I exchange all for physical points!) Considering the plummeting prices of physical points and as the only one who had not yet reached General stage, Firefly naturally wanted to promptly raise his Growth stage. Unable to catch up with his four seniors in other aspects for the time being, he decided to first reach a completed General level! With one breath, he exchanged nearly three hundred thousand physical points, almost emptying the stock, and under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Firefly daringly broke through the General stage, instantly surpassing Twelve in growth stage progress. With this, the resource distribution was thoroughly concluded. As soon as Xu Ran put away the small blackboard and chalk, there was a gentle knock on the door. It was the manager of Xuanxing City¡¯s shop, who had just been promoted not long ago. After receiving Xu Ran¡¯s response, the manager entered the room. ¡°Boss, the manager of the Xieyun City Fishing Old Man¡¯s shop has called.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Xieyun City, Starfire Foster Care Shop. Xu Ran appeared abruptly in a compartment inside the shop, and after a six-pointed star array flickered, he summoned the five little ones over. When he pushed open the door of the compartment and walked out, the Fishing Old Man, who had been waiting outside, quickly approached him. ¡°Boss, Chairman Fang said to find him at the Beast Master Association once you arrive.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded, his face showing a hint of anticipation. ¡°` The call from the Fishing Store Manager was because Chairman Fang had come to see him. According to their previous agreement, if nothing unexpected happened, this visit from Chairman Fang should be about the Mysterious Light Channel. ¡°You go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll head over now,¡± Xu Ran waved his hand to the Fishing Old Man and strode out of the shop. Immediately after, his expression subtly shifted. Observing the long line of customers outside the shop, Xu Ran keenly sensed something different about Xieyun City compared to usual. The exchange battles had clearly ended, yet the proportion of out-of-towners among the queue seemed even higher than during the exchange battles? He did not elaborate on his suspicion and kept it to himself, leaping onto Star¡¯s back and swiftly heading towards the direction of the Beast Master Association in Xieyun City. En route, the more he saw foreigners, the deeper Xu Ran¡¯s suspicions became. What had happened in the short span of days since the end of the exchange battles? And that question was answered upon reaching the Beast Master Association and meeting Fang Canghai. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve noticed the changes in Xieyun City too.¡± After hearing Xu Ran¡¯s concerns, Fang Canghai chuckled and pushed a cup of tea towards Xu Ran, ¡°Try this, Zhou Tian City¡¯s corn tea, light yet rich.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Ran accepted and took a sip, feeling as though the impatience from his hurried journey was smoothed away instantly. Having a sip of the tea himself, Fang Canghai slowly began, ¡°These past few days, Xieyun City has indeed undergone significant changes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just Xieyun City; more than half of the 3rd Level towns and Second Level towns within Beast Field 47, as well as some of the 3rd Level towns inside the Beast King-level Beast Fields nearby, have all experienced drastic changes.¡± ¡°This shift mainly stems from the migration of the cities¡¯ populations,¡± Fang Canghai explained, tapping the table with his finger, ¡°This is also the first resolution passed after the formation of the Alliance¡ª¡¯Strength from the South, Aid to the North¡¯.¡± ¡°All city Beast Master Associations in the Alliance, while ensuring the safety of their own city, will send as many high-rank Beast Masters as possible to be stationed in the northern cities.¡± ¡°Meanwhile, the northern cities¡¯ less capable elderly, women, and children are being moved to the southern cities under the escort of high-rank Beast Masters.¡± ¡°As for the reason behind this¡­¡± Fang Canghai paused for a moment, ¡°it¡¯s because Beast Field 8 is located to the north of Beast Field 47.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded in realization, his respect for Fang Canghai growing. Undoubtedly, such population migration would effectively preserve the human fighting force in the face of a potential attack from Beast Field 8, allowing for a swifter counterstrike. Moreover, the migration between human cities could quickly dissolve any barriers between citizens of different cities, reinforcing the concept of the Alliance in everyone¡¯s heart. It hasn¡¯t even been ten days since the Alliance was established. In such a short time, Fang Canghai had not only successfully implemented this resolution but had also shown remarkable execution, already achieving preliminary results. It was evident that he had been preparing for this for quite some time. ¡°In a while, the Monster Wood Semi-Saint will relocate the entire Monster Wooden Domain here,¡± Fang Canghai said with a smile, ¡°It will hold the fort in the north and transform the entire Monster Wooden Domain into the stronghold for the upcoming battle.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. It had been a while since he last saw the Monster Wood Semi-Saint; he still had the leaf given to him, which he hadn¡¯t had the heart to use. With the participation of the Monster Wood Semi-Saint, even if the opponent was from Beast Field 8, it seemed less frightening. After all, the opponent couldn¡¯t directly bring a Saint Rank down to the fight, could they? Broken Abyss City was not just for show. ¡°The reason I called you here is for the Mysterious Light Channel,¡± Fang Canghai said, taking another sip of tea and diving into the main topic, ¡°Exploring the Mysterious Light Channel was a key factor for the presidents of other city Beast Master Associations to agree to the alliance.¡± ¡°Nobody wants to stay weak, and without me leading, they wouldn¡¯t be able to enter,¡± he said. ¡°And that is exactly what I want to see,¡± Fang Canghai continued slowly, ¡°Calamity is upon us, and the stronger the high-rank Beast Masters become, the more hope we have of victory in the upcoming battle.¡± Chapter 745 - Chapter 745: Chapter 352: Mysterious Light Channel, Mysterious Ruins Chapter 745: Chapter 352: Mysterious Light Channel, Mysterious Ruins Two days passed by quickly. Having agreed on a time with Fang Canghai, two more days went by, and Xu Ran once again visited Xieyun City. The five little ones that came with him were exceptionally spirited. Over the past two days, they had fully digested the benefits of the resource allocation they received two days earlier and were now eagerly awaiting the upcoming exploration of the ruins. The meeting place Fang Canghai and Xu Ran had decided on was located in a valley about ten kilometers outside of Xieyun City. This valley was nothing special, which was precisely why it was not easily noticed. Though close to the bustling Xieyun City, it somewhat embraced the idea of darkness under the light. Entering the valley, Xu Ran soon saw Fang Canghai. Behind Fang Canghai stood three others, one of whom Xu Ran recognized, as he was You Shengjiang, the vice president who hosted the event when he represented Qingzhou City to visit Xieyun City for an exchange. Although he had never met the other two, their identities were quite apparent¡ªthey were the other two vice presidents of Xieyun City with Overlord Level strength. ¡°You arrived quite quickly,¡± Fang Canghai glanced at Xu Ran and chuckled, ¡°You should have met You Shengjiang before. These are Hu Yun and Qi Cheng.¡± ¡°Xu Ran, right?¡± You Shengjiang greeted with a hearty smile, ¡°The last time I saw you was during the city exchange, and back then you were just at the Leader Stage. I didn¡¯t expect that in just a few months, you¡¯ve already gained such formidable strength.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Xu Ran,¡± the only woman among the three smiled slightly, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t met you before, I¡¯ve heard your name many times.¡± ¡°Qi Cheng is mainly responsible for the Beast Trainer Ranking,¡± Fang Canghai offered a brief introduction. Xu Ran suddenly understood. Since his arrival in Xieyun City, the place he had visited the most was the Beast Trainer Ranking. Having refreshed the rankings scores time and again, it was no wonder that his name was often heard by the others. ¡°Hu Yun.¡± The other tall and thin middle-aged man nodded at Xu Ran as a greeting. He seemed somewhat silent and reserved, but Xu Ran could sense that, among the three Overlord Level Beast Masters, he gave off the most dangerous vibe. ¡°Hu Yun is just like that, a clamorous fellow,¡± You Shengjiang patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him.¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t mind,¡± Xu Ran shook his head without hesitation, then looked around, ¡°Haven¡¯t the Overlord Level Beast Masters from other cities arrived yet?¡± ¡°They should already be on their way,¡± Fang Canghai spoke slowly, ¡°When Overlord Level Beast Masters leave a Second Level Town, it means the town faces a greater crisis, so they need to make some arrangements.¡± ¡°Senior Fang, I have a question.¡± Hearing Fang Canghai say this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but voice a doubt he¡¯d had before. ¡°Gathering nearly all the seniors of the 47th Beast Field together for exploration, won¡¯t it pose a problem for the defense of the Second Level Towns?¡± ¡°Any other time, maybe, but right now, the 8th Beast Field could attack at any moment¡­¡± ¡°This timeframe is, in fact, the best,¡± Fang Canghai spoke calmly, ¡°Firstly, I¡¯ve already made contact with Broken Abyss City and learned some information.¡± ¡°The 8th Beast Field¡¯s entry has become a certainty, but it won¡¯t happen that quickly.¡± ¡°The Saint Spirit of Broken Abyss City and the Beast Saint of the 8th Beast Field are engaged in a very large scale resource struggle. Until this battle truly concludes, they have no spare energy to pay attention to us.¡± ¡°Though it¡¯s a bit disheartening to say, before the Monster Wooden Semi-Saint evolved, the 8th Beast Field hadn¡¯t even heard of the 47th Beast Field,¡± Fang Canghai said with a self-mocking smile. ¡°What is a catastrophe for us is merely a cleansing that doesn¡¯t require the Saint Spirit¡¯s personal involvement to them.¡± Xu Ran fell silent for a moment. Is the 47th Beast Field strong? Compared to the 97th Beast Field, where Qingzhou City resides, it¡¯s unfathomably more powerful. But such strength is relative. Before the rise of the Monster Wooden Semi-Saint, the entire 47th Beast Field had no more than eight Beast Emperors¡ªa strength which ranked in the middle to lower tier among the Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. The human side of the 47th Beast Field was even weaker. Across the entire Beast Field, there was only Fang Canghai who was Emperor Level. Therefore, it was quite understandable that the Beast Saint-level Beast Field wouldn¡¯t even consider the 47th Beast Field worth noticing. It was only after the evolution of the Monster Wooden Semi-Saint was complete that the Beast Field no. 47 truly came into their view. ¡°As for whether we¡¯ll encounter danger after entering the relic,¡± Fang Canghai paused for a moment, ¡°based on my observation, there seems to be a difference in the flow of time inside and outside the relic.¡± ¡°A day spent inside the relic might only be a few hours outside.¡± ¡°In addition, I¡¯ve already made contact with the Monster Wooden Semi-Saint.¡± He gave a slight smile, ¡°Taking advantage of the move of the Monster Wooden Domain, it¡¯s planning to conduct a thorough cleansing of the Transcendent Beings within Beast Field no. 47.¡± ¡°So, a brief departure won¡¯t put the Second Level Town at too much of a crisis. On the contrary, the gains from this excursion into the relic may well enable us to better face the incoming Beast Field no. 8.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded, his realization dawning. He was about to say something when his expression suddenly shifted, and he turned his head to look toward the sky. A rainbow light was approaching the valley at great speed. Upon entering the range of the valley, the rainbow light drastically slowed down, and with the energy storm that it kicked up, a splendidly golden Giant Bird spread its wings, slowly landing. Above the head of the Giant Bird, dazzling light interwove, forming a magnificent crown, and on the Giant Bird¡¯s back, a woman leapt down and walked toward them. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve arrived rather quickly,¡± the woman said, glancing around with a slight smile. ¡°Your Eternal Light Divine Kite is known for its speed, so it¡¯s no surprise you arrived so swiftly,¡± Fang Canghai said with a smile, ¡°Is Du Chun not with you? Didn¡¯t he come together with you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s coming from behind,¡± the woman crossed her arms and glanced back, ¡°There, he¡¯s here.¡± At the moment her words fell, a long dragon¡¯s roar came from outside the valley. A Giant Dragon covered with light blue scales approached, carried by a fierce wind, its crown of stormy convergence exceptionally striking. ¡°Here he comes, here he comes,¡± a man jumped down from the back of the Giant Dragon and looked at the woman, his eyes carrying a hint of reproach. ¡°This is Zhou Qing, the President of the Zhou Tian City Beast Master Association, and Du Chun, the Vice President,¡± You Shengjiang whispered an introduction to Xu Ran, ¡°Don¡¯t mind their seemingly discordant relationship; in actuality, they¡¯re a married couple.¡± ¡°You Shengjiang, still as annoying as ever after all this time,¡± Zhou Qing frowned and huffed, ¡°Who is this young fellow? Aren¡¯t you going to introduce him?¡± ¡°Ahahaha~¡± Caught by Zhou Qing overhearing his previous comment, You Shengjiang laughed awkwardly and quickly started to introduce, ¡°This is Xu Ran, who will join us in exploring the relic this time.¡± ¡°So young, yet already has an Emperor Species Pet Beast. Is he the next generation leader that you¡¯ve cultivated in Xieyun City?¡± Du Chun, quick to notice the abnormality of Ziyun, spoke up with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding,¡± Fang Canghai chuckled, taking the initiative, ¡°Strictly speaking, Xu Ran is not from our Xieyun City.¡± ¡°He has connections with Xieyun, Monster Wooden, Bright Radiance, and Xuanxing cities. The presidents of all three cities also know Xu Ran.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hearing this from Fang Canghai, Zhou Qing looked at Xu Ran with a touch of surprise and caution, ¡°Since when does our Beast Field no. 47 have a power that can cross cities?¡± ¡°Pfft~¡± At this comment, You Shengjiang couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, covering his mouth and shaking violently. Qi Cheng and Hu Yun exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with a hint of amusement. ¡°I have seen Zhou Elder, Du Elder,¡± Xu Ran knew it was time to say something, ¡°This junior is just an ordinary Foster Shop owner.¡± ¡°This junior has branches in all four cities, hence the acquaintance with the four presidents.¡± ¡°To be able to accompany and learn from all the esteemed elders this time is an extraordinary honor, owing to Elder Fang¡¯s high regard.¡± ¡°Foster Shop¡­¡± Du Chun repeated the words, his expression turning intrigued. Meanwhile, Zhou Qing quickly showed a smile after a brief moment of astonishment, ¡°In that case, Little Boss Xu, you must come and open a branch in Zhou Tian City soon.¡± A Foster Shop owner with such strength, and one recognized by Fang Canghai, had to be more than meets the eye. At this moment, Zhou Qing became even more curious about Xu Ran. ¡°I surely will,¡± Xu Ran said earnestly. The branches were definitely going to be opened, just not now. Once the Main task 5 is completed, and the System Clerks can be directly purchased, he planned to open branches in every human city in both Beast Field no. 97 and no. 47. By then, the daily acquisition of various resources would likely increase manifold compared to the present. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Only one thousand five hundred words left, furiously writing] Chapter 746 - Chapter 746: Chapter 353: The Mysterious Place Chapter 746: Chapter 353: The Mysterious Place ¡°Gentlemen.¡± Standing in front of the relic¡¯s gate, Fang Canghai¡¯s voice became more solemn, ¡°The key to the relic gate is in my hands, but since the method of opening cannot be satisfied, I have never entered the relic.¡± ¡°There are opportunities within the relic, but also unpredictable changes and crises may exist.¡± ¡°Please be ready to go all out at any moment.¡± Hearing Fang Canghai¡¯s words, everyone remained silent, but the atmosphere around them grew heavier. One by one, Pet Beasts were summoned, and in an instant, the aura of hundreds of Overlord stage Pet Beasts soared into the sky, completely dispersing the surrounding inexhaustible light. Standing close to You Shengjiang, Xu Ran nodded to the five little ones behind him. Although their strength was far inferior to the others, they too would give their all. Seeing that everyone was ready, Fang Canghai nodded, then took out a stone key, ancient and mysterious, full of patterns, from his chest. This stone seemed ordinary, but it fit perfectly into a depression in the center of the relic¡¯s gate. Without a doubt, this was the ¡°key¡± Fang Canghai had spoken of. Inserting the key into the notch, Fang Canghai turned to look at a few people in the crowd, ¡°You may now take action.¡± As his words fell, the golden giant bird behind Zhou Qing, along with several other Overlord stage Pet Beasts, gathered their power and infused it into the stone. All of these Pet Beasts were Light Attribute beasts. Fang Canghai¡¯s own Pet Beast did not possess Light Attribute powers, and according to his estimation, opening the gate required either a Light Attribute beast of the Emperor Stage or several Overlord stage Light Attribute beasts working together. For this reason, Fang Canghai simply invited all the high-ranking Beast Masters of Beast Field No. 47 to join him in exploring the relic. Under the efforts of the Light Attribute Overlord stage beasts, the patterns on the stone quickly lit up, followed by the patterns on the relic gate. The moment all the patterns were lit, the relic gate disappeared from everyone¡¯s view, and a pure white light film took its place. This light film completely shielded perception and sight, making it impossible for those standing outside the gate to see what was on the other side. The more this was the case, the more it stoked anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Fang Canghai stepped into the light film first, as if swallowed by it, and was followed by seven beasts, all disappearing from view. With Fang Canghai leading the way, the other Beast Masters no longer hesitated and entered one after another. Xu Ran followed the enthusiastic You Shengjiang into the light film, feeling the world spin around him, and in the next moment, he felt solid ground under his feet. He quickly turned his head to look around, and an astonished expression appeared on his face. When he had only seen the relic gate standing on the hilltop, he had realized that the relic might be in an alternate dimension. But the vastness of this alternate space far exceeded Xu Ran¡¯s expectations. It was as if another world lay beyond the gate; Xu Ran looked as far as he could and couldn¡¯t see any boundaries at all. More astonishing still, there were three suns hanging in the sky above his head. With not one but three Violent Sun Levels, the temperature here was extremely high, and the Light Series Power was richer than ever experienced before. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s a bit uncomfortable.) Star shook its head, its eyes displaying a touch of reluctance. While its powers contained Star Power, it was, after all, a Dark Attribute Pet Beast. For any Dark Attribute Pet Beast, such an environment would not be likable. ¡°Tolerate it for now.¡± Xu Ran patted Star¡¯s head, looked around the empty surroundings, and his face grew solemn. Clearly, everyone had entered this place one after another, but there were no signs of anyone around his location, and with no sight of the gate they had come through, there was only one possibility. After entering here, one would be randomly transmitted to a point in this alternate world. This was probably the worst-case scenario. ¡°Star, scout ahead.¡± Climbing on Star¡¯s back and connecting with it in an instant, Xu Ran spoke with a grave voice. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star let out a long, drawn-out neigh, and in the next moment, a black vertical pupil pattern light array appeared in the sky above. Its viewpoint quickly rose higher and higher until it seemed to be tens of thousands of meters in the sky, overlooking everything below. The vast point of view made everything around clearly visible. Four Star Skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤Star Gazing! Xu Ran and the other four little ones shared the view and gained an initial assessment of the environment through what Star could see. ¡°We¡¯re heading over there.¡± After a moment of pondering, Xu Ran pointed to a dense forest not far away, ¡°There are activities of Transcendent Beings, and it seems there are some special things there.¡± The five little ones naturally had no objections to Xu Ran¡¯s decision. Cautiously entering the dense forest, as the sound of footsteps ¡°rustled¡±, a strong aura rapidly approached from a treetop nearby. ¡°Chah~¡± (General stage.) Cancan¡¯s paws stirred up an earthy yellow halo in the ground, and with the Echoing of Earth Vein, it instantly detected the strength of the approaching figure. Almost the instant Cancan spoke, accompanied by a fierce, monstrous shriek, a golden-crystalline-encrusted ape, emitting an air of ferocity, lunged forward in a flash. Light Attribute King Species, Crystal Golden Ape. ¡°Luhou!¡± (I¡¯ve got this!) Seeing that the four seniors showed no intention to act, Firefly excitedly stepped forward as a brick-red flame wreathed around its brow, instantly transforming into a fire bear. Three Star Skill, Full Moon Level¡¤Burning Soul Body! Charging with an escalating momentum, Firefly collided with the Crystal Golden Ape without hesitation. Chapter 747 - Chapter 747: Chapter 353: The Mysterious Place_2 Chapter 747: Chapter 353: The Mysterious Place_2 ¡°Boom!!¡± The intense flames spread the rolling heat wave, setting off ripples in the space saturated with dazzling golden light, as the Light Attribute Power and the Fire Attribute Power collided instantly. The storm they stirred up in their mutual grinding tore the surrounding grass and trees away. The figure of the firefly was sent flying ten meters back, and after taking a few heavy steps to steady itself, it raised its head, its eyes filled with burning flames. ¡°Squeak!¡± The Crystal Golden Ape, struggling to recover from the storm, was also in bad shape. Although it held some advantage in strength due to its complete General Stage power, the strange brick-red flames were now covering the crystal stones on its body. The continuous burning sensation reddened the golden crystals, and the lingering pain filled the Crystal Golden Ape¡¯s gaze toward the firefly with an urge to kill. Xu Ran¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. The sudden attack and the almost innate malice of the Crystal Golden Ape puzzled him. ¡°Twelve, can you detect its past experiences?¡± ¡°Chiu~¡± (I¡¯ll try.) Twelve¡¯s eyes turned, and it cast an Endless Sleep on the Crystal Golden Ape. Watching the Crystal Golden Ape, which had murderous intent just a second ago, suddenly collapse, the firefly scratched its head, dispelled the flames that enveloped its body, and moved behind Xu Ran. Twelve flapped its wings, lightly flying over the fallen Crystal Golden Ape. Its sea-blue eyes shimmered with bright blue patterns as they slowly closed. Its consciousness skillfully sank into the Crystal Golden Ape¡¯s Dream World. A few breaths later, Twelve opened its eyes, looking down at the Crystal Golden Ape with astonishment. ¡°Chiu~¡± (Its dreams are filled with hatred for humans, wishing nothing more than to kill every human being.) ¡°Could there be other humans in this world?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew stern, ¡°Otherwise, why would it have such great hatred?¡± Twelve shook its head. ¡°Chiu~¡± (The human figures in its dreams are very blurry, giving me the feeling that it has never seen a human, yet the hatred is already there.) ¡°It¡¯s never seen humans but harbors hatred for them?¡± Xu Ran shook his head in confusion, looking at the Crystal Golden Ape that was about to wake up, he waved his hand, ¡°Make it a puppet.¡± ¡°Chiu!¡± (Alright!) Twelve nodded, and an intricate pattern from the depths of its eyes transformed into a seal that flew out in an instant, landing on the forehead of the Crystal Golden Ape and melding into it. The Crystal Golden Ape¡¯s struggle to rise abruptly halted, and after a brief struggle, its eyes became dull. Four Stars skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤Soul Seal! Twelve nodded in satisfaction. This was its only Four Stars skill, and it had already been upgraded with Skill Points to the Violent Sun Level, easily controlling others of the Same Stage. It took twelve half a day to condense a Soul Seal, but using it on the strong Crystal Golden Ape in front of them was not a waste. The controlled Crystal Golden Ape swiftly stood up and climbed a tree with a flash, heading deep into the dense forest. With this creature leading the way, they could avoid a lot of trouble for the team of one person and five pets. As they proceeded, Xu Ran and the five pets predictably encountered other Transcendent Beings. Just like the Crystal Golden Ape, under Twelve¡¯s detection, they discovered an innate hatred for humans. If a single Crystal Golden Ape was a coincidence, the fact that every Transcendent Being they met felt the same way could not be a coincidence. With the Crystal Golden Ape, Twelve conserved its Soul Seals and did not control a second puppet. With the five pets taking turns to act, these attacking Transcendent Beings were disabled one by one, none retaining the ability to fight. Yet Xu Ran¡¯s expression did not ease but grew more solemn. He was really curious about the inexplicable hostility of these Transcendent Beings. As they approached the depths of the dense forest, the presence of an intense Transcendent Power could already be clearly felt. Earlier, when Star used Star Gazing, Xu Ran discovered something special in the deepest part of the forest, which should be a treasure if nothing went wrong. The dense Transcendent Power now confirmed his guess. And¡­ ¡°Cha~¡± (Why do I feel that the resource ahead is related to the Earth attribute?) Cancan stopped, showing a puzzled look. Continuing forward, the Light Attribute energy did not change much. In contrast, the Earth attribute energy was gradually becoming richer. ¡°It should be.¡± Xu Ran looked at the three suns in the sky, smiling slightly, ¡°I originally thought that there were only Light Attribute treasures here, but I didn¡¯t realize there were others as well.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I estimate there¡¯s no Dark Attribute.) Star shook its head, its face taking on a somewhat helpless expression. In a place where Light Series Power is so dense, Dark Power would be suppressed, making it impossible for any valuable resources to naturally form. ¡°But it¡¯s possible to find resources related to Star Power here.¡± Xu Ran said reassuringly with a smile, ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll even find a Town Star Stone, right?¡± Star glanced at the dim, lightless source of Star Power on its chest. It wasn¡¯t buying this pie-in-the-sky! As one man with five pets talked and laughed, they got closer and closer to that Earth attribute resource in the depths. ¡°Jiu~¡± (That resource is guarded by a Beast King.) The situation of the resource was seen through the eyes of the Crystal Golden Ape by Twelve, who promptly warned them. ¡°Cha!¡± (I¡¯ll handle it!) Cancan quickly spoke up. This was its resource, after all, so naturally, it would be the one to take action. A King Stage, huh¡­ Expectation flickered in Cancan¡¯s eyes. The lowly soldiers and crabs they had just encountered didn¡¯t even have the right to force it to use its Hollow Earth. Finally, a worthy opponent had appeared, and this was a good chance to see the effects of Hollow Earth. Perhaps because the Beast King was right ahead, they didn¡¯t encounter any other attacks from Transcendent Beings on their journey and soon, the man with his five pets reached the deepest part of the dense jungle. Unlike the taller trees on the periphery, the deepest part of the jungle had only a grassy area, filled with a special plant that had golden veins on its surface. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze swept across the dense grassland, eventually settling on a towering natural stone platform. Atop that stone platform was an object that seemed to be part gold, part stone, and part wood; its energy connected naturally to the earth around it, pulsating with immense, rich Earth attribute Power. ¡°A Vein Origin Stone?!¡± Xu Ran exclaimed involuntarily. Cancan¡¯s eyes lit up at that moment. This was one of the Main Materials for its evolution, though not the most valuable one. He hadn¡¯t expected to find it so easily. The next moment, Cancan¡¯s gaze shifted, looking towards the Beast King that was slowly rising to its feet next to the stone platform, its body surrounded by a mighty aura. This Beast King had a humanoid appearance, clad in a full suit of bright golden armor, holding a two-meter-long sword in its hands, with nothing visible beneath the armor but a vague gleam of light; it had no physical body under the armor. Upon seeing it, the golden dragon eyes of Cancan slightly contracted, its face showing a solemn and excited expression. This opponent in front of it was powerful! It could really test its skills now! After a moment of tense standoff, the Armored Beast King, with its sword in hand, transformed into a streak of rainbow light, charging towards Cancan with incredible speed. ¡°Cha~¡± (Bring it on!) Cancan let out a loud cry as its body grew rapidly in the wind, instantly reverting to its original kilometer size; its massive claw, as formidable as a collapsing mountain, slammed down on the path where the Armored Beast King must pass. The rainbow light twisted instantaneously in the void, dodging Cancan¡¯s heavy strike with remarkable agility. When the Armored Beast King reappeared, it was already behind Cancan. The sword it raised high shone brightly, cutting down perpendicularly toward the earth in a flash. Cancan¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, and an invisible force swept over its entire body. It appeared as if it had done nothing, but suddenly, there was an added sense of solidity to its presence. The golden sword light shattered into pieces fifty meters from Cancan, as if it had hit a wall of air, and the backlash didn¡¯t reach Cancan at all. Along with the disintegration of the golden sword light, a phantom scale armor briefly emerged in the void before quickly fading again. Four Stars Skill, Violent Sun Level ¨C Hollow Earth! Seeing this, the Armored Beast King¡¯s figure shook slightly, clearly surprised that its full-force strike failed to breach the defenses of the giant beast before it. The golden light in Cancan¡¯s eyes flickered, and without hesitation, it raised its claw. In the center of its paw, an earthy-yellow halo spun rapidly, with the terrible Power of annihilation ready to be unleashed. Now, it was my turn! Chapter 748 - Chapter 748: Chapter 354: A Hidden Corner Chapter 748: Chapter 354: A Hidden Corner ¡°Boom!!¡± With the echoing burst of sound reverberating persistently in the area, an energy storm lifted the dense jungle around, and although Cancan¡¯s radiant claws shredded through the void, regrettably the Armored Beast King¡¯s tracks were still nowhere to be found. This Light Attribute Beast King was particularly adept in speed, and indeed Cancan was somewhat at a disadvantage while trading blows. Especially since it had refused the help of the twelve, wanting to test its own strength. Standing on the void, wielding a giant sword, the Armored Beast King faced Cancan¡¯s direction, and beneath the mask, the face made of light, its eyes suddenly became bright, conveying a sense of gravity and anger. The ancient and foreign language, with its body¡¯s tremor, spread through the void. Although they had never heard this language before, all five pets, upon hearing the sound, had the meaning surface in their minds. ¡°A lofty Beast King, why would you collude with the human race?¡± A trace of surprise appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. It was his first time hearing such a question. Because in the outside world, wild Transcendent Beings would never bother asking such nonsense. Why else but because they¡¯ve already contracted with human Beast Masters and taken a stand with humans? Therefore, upon hearing the strange question from the Armored Beast King, Xu Ran¡¯s mind flashed with a certain possibility. ¡°Cancan, don¡¯t rush to kill it. Get some information.¡± Upon receiving Xu Ran¡¯s thought conveyed through Contractual Sensing, Cancan responded with a ¡°Got it,¡± and its head cocked as it looked toward the Armored Beast King. ¡°Chirp?¡± (Don¡¯t you know why?) ¡°Could it be¡­ you are from the Traitorous Beast Clans?¡± the Armored Beast King¡¯s grip on the giant sword suddenly tightened, and its gaze toward Cancan turned icy, ¡°Humans reject all Beast Races, yet cunningly tempt with despicable means, causing treachery to arise within the Beast Race.¡± ¡°It is because of these traitors that we met defeat in the ultimate battle, ending up in such a state.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought that there would still be members of the Traitorous Beast Clans in existence.¡± ¡°If that is so, I must slay you with my own hands to avenge my ancestors!¡± Bellowing furiously, the Armored Beast King transformed into a rainbow light, with a might even more formidable than before, and charged towards Cancan in an instant. Seeing this, Cancan was momentarily stunned. It was just trying to get some information; why did this guy become even more hostile? ¡°Defeat it first but spare its life.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s thought arrived in an instant, steadying Cancan¡¯s mind. To spare its life, right? No problem! With a loud shout, the dark lines within its glistening gold eyes slowly swirled, and with the glow of earthy yellow light around its body, the land trembled violently as Cancan¡¯s form swelled once more in the stormy gale, and it fiercely swiped a claw toward the Armored Beast King. Perhaps stirred by earlier words that evoked certain memories, the Armored Beast King displayed a hatred far greater than before, and faced Cancan¡¯s even more tremendous attack without flinching. Outside the rainbow light, blinding flame colors shone. To the astonishment of the human and beasts, the Armored Beast King¡¯s aura continued to climb, rising even faster than Cancan¡¯s. In its hatred, the Armored Beast King had resorted to a self-sacrificing tactic. Under such means, regardless of whether this strike succeeded, the Armored Beast King itself would suffer a severe backlash. ¡°Boom!!¡± A muffled collision burst forth, and with the clash of sword radiance and the giant claw, invisible ripples pulsed through the void. That was the Hollow Earth protecting Cancan. The moment the sword radiance touched the Hollow Earth, it seemed to plunge into mire, slowing down and weakening until it finally drew closer to Cancan¡¯s body. Seeing this, the Armored Beast King didn¡¯t hesitate to propel itself forward, slashing with the next sword blow to the same spot forcefully. As the two sword glows intersected, the originally feeble blade suddenly grew formidable, and ultimately it succeeded in breaking through Cancan¡¯s Hollow Earth, leaving a deep gash on Cancan¡¯s giant claw. Without a glance at the wound on its claw, Cancan¡¯s massive draconic eyes immediately locked onto the Armored Beast King. The other effect of the Hollow Earth took hold the moment the Armored Beast King added the second sword strike. It had wounded Cancan, but at the same time, it found itself suddenly immobilized. ¡°Chirp!¡± (You lost!) Cancan excitedly roared as its other claw, wrapped in a force that ground everything to dust, came crashing down, enveloping the Armored Beast King in an instant. The void around them instantly collapsed, leaving the hitherto indestructible armor of the Armored Beast King covered with numerous mottled cracks that seemed nearly to burst apart, a sight horrendously alarming. Not allowing the surrounding forces to continue collapsing and after severely wounding the Armored Beast King, Cancan casually knocked it away. With a thud, the Armored Beast King was sent flying, crashing through a swath of trees before collapsing powerlessly to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have some questions for this fellow,¡± Xu Ran took a deep breath and started walking toward where the Armored Beast King had fallen. Humans rejecting some Beast Race¡­ Traitorous Beasts¡­ the final battle. Just from a casual questioning by Cancan, so much information had been extracted. This guy couldn¡¯t be left to die so easily. Cancan¡¯s body rapidly shrank, picked up the Vein Origin Stone from the stone platform with its mouth, and followed closely behind Xu Ran and the other four pets. Soon, the human and pets arrived in front of the Armored Beast King. At this moment, the Armored Beast King lost all its former invincibility, its armor fragmented and barely clinging to its body, and the luminescence from its body beneath the armor was much dimmer than before. Chapter 749 - Chapter 749: Chapter 354: A Hidden Corner_2 Chapter 749: Chapter 354: A Hidden Corner_2 The giant sword in its hand broke into two pieces from the middle, the blade stabbed into the earth, and the hilt lay beside. Upon sensing the approach of one human and five Pet Beasts, the Armored Beast King¡¯s body trembled slightly, struggling to stand up, but ultimately failed. ¡°Kill me,¡± the voice of the Armored Beast King was filled with depth and hatred, ¡°You treacherous scum, consorting with Humans, are surely seeking the tiger¡¯s skin.¡± ¡°Although I do not know where your deep hatred comes from¡­¡± Xu Ran calmly looked at the Armored Beast King, ¡°have you not heard of the Beast Master?¡± The Armored Beast King fell silent, even the struggle ceased momentarily. After a moment, it spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°What is a Beast Master?¡± ¡°Humans who contract with Transcendent Beings and command them in battle.¡± Xu Ran paused briefly, ¡°You just asked why Cancan helps me, because it is my contracted Pet Beast, fighting alongside me.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± The Armored Beast King¡¯s body trembled violently, the tumultuous emotions causing its breath to grow even weaker, ¡°This must be a Human trick, I have never heard of such a contract!¡± ¡°The feud between Humans and the Beast Race is irreconcilable!¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes narrowed. He remembered some of the things Fang Canghai had mentioned when he first introduced this relic to him. Some speculated that Transcendent Beings came from another world, and to this day, the entrance between that world and this one still exists, just undiscovered. Transcendent Beings continually entered this world through the entrance, ensuring that despite their difficulties in procreation, their numbers did not dwindle in the enduring conflict with Humans. And this relic most likely originated from that world. So¡­ is what the Armored Beast King spoke of the situation in that other world? Xu Ran decided to lay his cards on the table in order to gain more crucial information. ¡°In fact, you are probably not in your original world right now,¡± Xu Ran slowly began. ¡°In this world, the only Transcendent Power wielded by Humans is to contract with Transcendent Beings and to strengthen themselves through the mutual battle and nourishment from Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Indeed, many Transcendent Beings harbor hatred towards Humans, attempting to exterminate them, and the battle between Humans and Transcendent Beings continues to this day.¡± ¡°But there are also Transcendent Beings who try to coexist peacefully with Humans.¡± ¡°And that is what we hope for.¡± ¡°The idea that Humans reject all of the Beast Race does not exist.¡± ¡°Another world¡­¡± The body of the Armored Beast King shook violently, clearly shocked by what Xu Ran had disclosed, ¡°Is this some kind of deceit of yours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly, and behind him, a massive Hexagram Star Array appeared, with five golden beams of light shooting out from the center of the array and landing on the five creatures, ¡°You should be able to feel it, right?¡± What he was using at this moment was the manifestation of the Beast Taming Contract. This ability wasn¡¯t much of use, but it allowed the Armored Beast King to clearly sense the connection between him and the creatures, and even to perceive the content of the Beast Taming Contract. The Armored Beast King fell silent. If all previous occurrences could be considered the cunning plots of the deceptive Human before it, upon seeing this so-called contract, it was forced to believe. ¡°Is the outside world¡­ really no longer the world I once knew?¡± it murmured softly, its eyes filled with bewilderment, ¡°What does the outside world look like now?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get to that later,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve said quite a lot, now it¡¯s your turn to share what you know, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I am very interested in what you mentioned about the final battle.¡± ¡°The final battle¡­¡± The gaze of the Armored Beast King carried a hint of contemplation, ¡°It was the battle where the fate of Humans and the Beast Race was decided.¡± ¡°In that battle, our Beast Race lost and from then on was exiled to the harshest, most desolate, and barren regions of the continent, fenced in by Humans.¡± ¡°Fenced in?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Then how did you end up in our world?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± The Armored Beast King shook its head with difficulty, ¡°Most who personally experienced the final battle have passed away, and even if there were any, they would not be here.¡± ¡°All of the Beast Race here was born in this place.¡± ¡°All of our memories and hatred stem from the ancestral blood imprints.¡± ¡°And these inherited memories do not contain information on how we came to be here.¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (No wonder your dreams are so chaotic.) Twelve spoke suddenly. If the hatred is derived from fragmented ancestral memories within their bloodlines, naturally, it would seem extremely chaotic when viewed. This also explained why they, having never seen humans before, harbored such enmity towards them. ¡°Understood,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. Given this, it was probably difficult to get more information from the Armored Beast King. It hadn¡¯t experienced much, and many things were just fragmented memories inherited down the line. Fortunately, these snippets of information were enough for Xu Ran to deduce some things. In another world, humans and Transcendent Beings detested each other, leading to the so-called ¡°final battle,¡± after which the Transcendent Beings were exiled and restrained by humans. And these exiled Transcendent Beings eventually appeared in this world. The way they arrived here should be similar to how the ruins appeared in this place. ¡°One last question,¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Armored Beast King, ¡°Are there any humans from your world here?¡± ¡°No,¡± the Armored Beast King shook its head without hesitation, then added after a pause, ¡°But there are some things left behind by the humans.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes lit up, showing a look of surprise, ¡°Where?¡± The Armored Beast King fell silent, just gazing at Xu Ran. ¡°Star, heal,¡± Xu Ran commanded with a wave of his hand. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star neighed, and the Star Chain connected to the Armored Beast King instantaneously, repairing the shattered armor around its body in just a few breaths, and even the great sword was restored to its former glory. Its aura surged to the heavens but it merely stood in place with its sword, no longer attacking Xu Ran and the group. ¡°We have come here to explore, with no intention of wanton slaughter,¡± Xu Ran spoke slowly, ¡°Now, can you tell us what the humans from your world left behind here?¡± ¡°Go straight in that direction, and you will find a ruin,¡± the Armored Beast King pointed in a certain direction, ¡°That¡¯s what was left by the humans.¡± ¡°Initially, it wasn¡¯t a ruin but rather a secret place of the humans.¡± ¡°However, due to the hatred towards humans, any passing member of the Beast Race would vent their fury, and incidentally search for anything of use, turning it into a ruin over time.¡± Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± It didn¡¯t sound like there would be anything good left. This relic had been around for who knows how long, and at least a thousand Transcendent Beings had passed through, each pilfering it ¡ª what could possibly be left? ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look anyway,¡± Xu Ran said resignedly with a shake of his head and a bit of vain hope, turning towards the direction indicated by the Armored Beast King. The Armored Beast King watched silently as the man and five Pet Beasts departed until they vanished from sight, then turned back to its original guardian spot, leaving behind only a sigh. ¡°Another world, huh¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Xi Lu?¡± Xu Ran and the five little ones were making their way through the dense jungle in the direction pointed out by the Armored Beast King, when Star suddenly stopped, turned its head sharply, and looked in a certain direction. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing Star¡¯s unusual behavior, Xu Ran asked curiously. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (I just felt like something was following us.) ¡°Following us?¡± Xu Ran looked in the direction of Star¡¯s gaze, ¡°Did you find anything?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (No.) Star shook its head slightly, uncertain if there really was something trailing them. Because the presence was very faint. If it weren¡¯t for its Light Attribute, which clashed with its own, it wouldn¡¯t have noticed it at all. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s not worry about it for now,¡± Xu Ran laughed it off, shaking his head, ¡°It¡¯s probably just some overconfident little fellow planning to ambush us.¡± Hearing that, the five little ones dismissively shook their heads and moved on. A few dozen meters behind the man and five beasts, a tiny figure trembled desperately behind a tree trunk, its large eyes filled with fear. That was close¡­ almost got caught! Chapter 750 - Chapter 750: Chapter 355: Discovery Under the Ruins Chapter 750: Chapter 355: Discovery Under the Ruins The discovery of the star was quickly put out of the minds of the one master and his five pets as they moved on and finally saw the outline of a ruin up ahead. It was a collection of countless broken walls and ruins on a hillside, which one could determine at a glance, were definitely not traces left by Transcendent Beings, nor could they have formed naturally. ¡°Star, hurry!¡± Xu Ran urged excitedly. He had a premonition that here, he could find answers to some questions. For instance¡­ in another world without Beast Masters, how did humans overcome such powerful Transcendent Beings using what kind of power? ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Okay!) Sensing Xu Ran¡¯s excitement and anticipation, Star suddenly sped up its run. In just a few breaths, the master and his five pets were standing before the ruins. Looking at the ruins in front of him, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became somewhat more vivid. It was clear to see that the Earth Extraordinary Creatures here truly hated humans. The ground was littered with stone dust and rubble no bigger than a knuckle, with various claw marks densely covering the occasional larger stones. This level of destruction left no possibility of repair. ¡°Cancan, see if there is anything worth noting.¡± ¡°Chia~¡± (Okay.) Cancan nodded and then an earthy yellow halo rippled like waves, covering the entire ruins. The next moment, its eyes lit up. ¡°Chia!¡± (There¡¯s still something preserved here!) As soon as its words fell, Cancan was already striding in a certain direction. Xu Ran and the other four little ones brightened up and hurried to follow. Before long, Cancan was atop a pile of rubble and stone dust. Its two front paws rapidly and forcefully pushed aside the stone dust and rubble. Seeing this, everyone, without a word, joined in to help. As the rubble and stone dust were cleared away, the object beneath was revealed. It was a stone brick, now crisscrossed with web-like cracks, broken into three large pieces and countless smaller ones but was still reasonably intact, allowing the ancient patterns drawn on it to be discerned. ¡°Is this what you found?¡± Xu Ran asked curiously. The patterns on the stone brick indeed seemed valuable for reference. To his surprise, Cancan shook its head without hesitation. ¡°Chia!¡± (It¡¯s beneath the stone brick!) ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression shifted as he carefully moved the broken bricks aside, trying to keep them intact, and then peered beneath the stone brick. Underneath the stone brick, there was a deep groove, within which lay a stone pillar. From Xu Ran¡¯s position, he could only see the top and part of the side of the stone pillar, but even these glimpses were enough to shock him. Because the material of this stone pillar was distinctly different from the surrounding rubble! Special meant important! ¡°Up you go!¡± Xu Ran grabbed the top of the pillar and then his two arms forcefully exerted strength in an attempt to pull the pillar out from the groove. But this simple act ended in failure. It wasn¡¯t that his strength was insufficient, rather it seemed like the other end of the pillar was fixed within the groove. ¡°Chia?¡± (Should we dig around it, the pillar will be exposed.) Cancan couldn¡¯t help but suggest. ¡°Not yet, let me think of another way,¡± Xu Ran said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. He stepped forward again and started to search around the top of the stone pillar. Moments later, Xu Ran¡¯s expression flickered as he inserted his finger into a certain spot and applied a slight force. With a crisp ¡°click,¡± the earth trembled slightly, accompanied by the sound of mechanisms operating from underneath. Under the watchful eyes of the master and his pets, the stone pillar slowly rose. Perhaps the rarity of Earth attribute Transcendent Beings in the relics meant that few had probed underground, which could be why this repeatedly destroyed place still had a functioning mechanism. Eventually, the trembling stopped, and Xu Ran and his pets did not hesitate to surround the newly risen stone pillar, standing three meters tall, observing it carefully. At the top and bottom of the stone pillar were some exquisite bas-reliefs and patterns, but the middle section lacked such adornments; the smooth stone surface bore only six marks of varying depth and direction. Unlike the claw marks left by Transcendent Beings on other stones, these marks looked more like weapon damage. ¡°Is this¡­ a sword mark?¡± With his familiarity with long swords, Xu Ran quickly guessed after touching the marks. However, these sword marks seemed very ordinary, with no signs of any otherworldly essence left on them. ¡°Chia~¡± (There¡¯s a second pillar.) Cancan suddenly spoke up with a hint of surprise on its face. The first time it explored, it clearly only found the one stone pillar in front of it. But after the first pillar emerged, it casually checked again and discovered another pillar. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Chia!¡± (Over there.) Cancan ran towards the direction where it had detected the pillar, stopping about ten meters to the right of the first pillar after a short distance. The master and pets began to dig proficiently, then lifted the stone bricks and activated the mechanism to raise the pillar. This time, the pillar that emerged was similar to the previous one, except that the six marks were different, with some scrapes and other deeper, diamond-shaped indentations. ¡°This is a mark from a sword, right?¡± Xu Ran guessed after a while. ¡°Chia!¡± (A third one has appeared!) After uncovering the second location, Cancan quickly made a new discovery. Eventually, the master and his pets found a total of seven similarly designed stone pillars. Chapter 751 - Chapter 751: Chapter 355: Discovery Beneath the Ruins_2 Chapter 751: Chapter 355: Discovery Beneath the Ruins_2 These pillars were of uniform height and similar appearance, the only difference being the distinct traces on each. Knife, sword, halberd, dagger, and three other marks that Xu Ran did not recognize as being made by any known weapons. After closely observing the seven pillars, Xu Ran suddenly spoke, ¡°Do you notice anything odd about the positions of these seven pillars?¡± ¡°Meow~¡± (They form a circle, but their placement is somewhat odd.) Ziyun said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Chirp~¡± (It seems like one is missing?) After some thought, Twelve spoke with a hint of uncertainty. ¡°Rumble!¡± (It does seem like one is missing.) The firefly by the side walked around the pillars and nodded in agreement. The seven pillars were equidistant from each other, except for the two corresponding to the knife and sword, which were nearly twice as far apart. Together, they formed a perfect circle. Without a word, Xu Ran stepped to the spot where, theoretically, there should have been another pillar between the knife and sword pillars, and began to dig. After clearing away all the stone chips and dust, Xu Ran saw a whole paving stone. The paving stone had strange patterns on it, different from the ones found on the other pillars. Upon seeing this, a contemplative look appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. This area with the pillars was probably the only thing of value in the ruins. So, he had to find a way¡­ ¡°Crack~¡± A crisp sound made Xu Ran, who was on high alert, swiftly turn around to look. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I didn¡¯t mean to do it¡­) Cancan sheepishly retracted her claws; in front of her, the pillar corresponding to the dagger seemed to have been rotated slightly, aligning its bas-reliefs with Xu Ran¡¯s position. Seeing Xu Ran and the other four little ones all looking her way, Cancan looked sheepish. ¡°Chirp~¡± (I really just turned it casually¡­) ¡°Well done!¡± Xu Ran laughed heartily, his eyes lighting up. He strode to the nearest knife pillar, embraced it, and gave it a forceful twist. ¡°Crack~¡± Accompanied by a similar sound, the bas-reliefs on the knife pillar also turned toward the eighth position. The other four little ones figured it out too and began trying to rotate the pillars. Eventually, all seven pillars were aligned with the eighth position. Suddenly, something extraordinary happened! The previously inert pillars lit up in an instant, glowing as if coming to life, with the light on their surfaces brightening and dimming intermittently. Xu Ran could vividly feel the dense Light Series Power permeating the space around him rushing toward the pillars this moment, mercilessly devoured by the pillars. As the pillars absorbed the power, their aura grew stronger and stronger. Mysterious light patterns emerged on the pillars, finally converging at their tips, turning into seven beams of light that instantly projected onto the ground patterns in the eighth position. The patterns at the eighth position lit up one by one, eventually fully illuminating, and amidst the dazzling light, a Light Ball slowly formed. A trace of interest appeared on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He could feel a subtle attraction to the Light Ball emanating toward him. However, the five little ones did not feel the same pull. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out, you guys stay here,¡± he instructed, looking back before walking step by step toward the Light Ball. After a moment of hesitation, Xu Ran reached out and touched the Light Ball. Before his eyes appeared the seven pillars he had just unearthed. It was as if a voice told him he could only choose one of them. If that was the case¡­ then the knife it would be. Xu Ran did not hesitate and made his choice immediately. The next moment, Xu Ran¡¯s consciousness plunged into another realm of emptiness amidst the spinning world. A silhouette began to coalesce in this void. It was a child no older than five or six, wielding a knife longer than his own body, his expression stubborn and unyielding. He stood there quietly, gripping the long knife, staring at Xu Ran with a look of challenge in his eyes. Xu Ran was silent for a moment before picking up a long sword that appeared from nowhere, confronting the other. Although he did not understand the purpose of all this, nor why he had to bully a five- or six-year-old child, For now, he would just go along with the other¡¯s wishes. After a brief exchange, Xu Ran spotted an opening and with a single strike wounded the young child, whose figure then vanished. What appeared next was a boy around eleven or twelve years old, holding a knife. After just one glance, Xu Ran let out a gasp of surprise. For the boy with the knife bore such a striking resemblance to the child from moments before. Brother or¡­ Without giving it too much thought, Xu Ran swung his sword to meet the attack of the young man coming at him with a blade of his own. This time, it took Xu Ran a full twelve rounds to find an opening to strike at the youth¡¯s vital points. As the young man¡¯s figure faded away, Xu Ran already had some guesses in his mind. The previous two opponents had been the same person. The young man was what the child would look like after growing up. Because their swordsmanship originated from the same source, one could even clearly see the trajectory of the sword skills¡¯ growth. As Xu Ran pondered, a third figure appeared. This time standing before Xu Ran was a youth about seventeen or eighteen years old. He also held a long sword, and his expression was just as stubborn and defiant. Xu Ran no longer hesitated and swung his sword to engage in a flurry of combat with his opponent. In the void space, only the lingering sound of two long swords colliding could be heard. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Meow~¡± (How much longer until Xu Ran wakes up?) Ziyun squatted on a stone the size of a head, looking at Xu Ran, who was sitting cross-legged with his eyes shut tight, and a worried expression appeared on her face. After touching the Light Ball, Xu Ran just sat down cross-legged on the ground and hadn¡¯t moved since, his expression changing continuously. This left the five little ones unsure whether they should wake him up, so they could only stand guard around him, ensuring no other Transcendent Beings came to disturb him. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Wait a bit longer, I feel like Xu Ran is getting stronger.) Star neighed, a contemplative look on its face. Having linked with Xu Ran through the Star Oath many times, Star was the one among the five who was most familiar with Xu Ran¡¯s aura. At that moment, it could feel that Xu Ran¡¯s aura was gradually becoming sharper, which was obviously a good sign. ¡°Chia~¡± (I¡¯ve dug up another great thing.) Cancan excitedly ran back from not far away, holding a piece of broken statue in her mouth, which she placed on the ground and then looked at Xu Ran, who remained seated cross-legged. ¡°Chia?¡± (Is he not better yet?) ¡°Chiu¡± (Not so fast.) Twelve flew onto the statue to take a closer look, then disappointingly shook its head and fluttered its wings to the side. The so-called great things Cancan referred to were simply some of the few things within the ruins that retained some degree of integrity. However, these things themselves didn¡¯t hold much value. ¡°Chia~¡± (Alright then.) Cancan shook her head and turned to leave in another direction, intending to search again. After all, with Ziyun watching over, there definitely wouldn¡¯t be any problems. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Don¡¯t go too far away!) Star neighed again, as usual issuing careful reminders. Twelve glanced at Cancan, who was skiving, then at the nearby Firefly, who had found a spot on the ground and was seizing the opportunity to train hard, and sighed like a worried parent. Firefly at least was sensible. Not wanting the others to wait too long, Cancan quickly made her return. But when Cancan showed up again, the other four couldn¡¯t help but display a look of surprise. Because Cancan had returned with a creature in her mouth. As Cancan set it down, the trembling creature, upon facing the approach of the other four, simply fainted on the spot. ¡°Chia~¡± (Just found it along the way, this guy seemed to be peeking at us.) Cancan spoke casually. Peeking¡­ Star stared at the creature before them, their face soon showing a realization. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s the one that was following us in the dense forest before.) ¡°Chiu?¡± (Should we kill it?) Twelve cocked its head, watching the fainted creature twitch at the sound of its question, eyes filling with mischief. ¡°Meow~¡± (There doesn¡¯t seem to be any threat from this guy, let¡¯s keep him.) Ziyun leaned in for a closer look, feeling her paws itching slightly. Round! The creature was round! Everything was fine after the Twelve Evolution except that it was no longer round, and curling up didn¡¯t feel the same. Now she had finally come across another round creature! Ziyun¡¯s heterochromatic eyes lit up instantly, filled with excitement. Seeing this familiar gaze, Twelve shivered uncontrollably. Chapter 752 - Chapter 752: Chapter 356: Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers! Chapter 752: Chapter 356: Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers! ¡°Boom!!!¡± In the space of consciousness, Xu Ran held a long saber in his hand, fiercely slashing down at the figure before him. It was the first saber technique Xu Ran had mastered and was the most proficient in. Standing before him was a middle-aged man with a conical hat. The man watched the oncoming slash calmly, then slightly lifted the long saber he was clutching in his hand. Without much movement, simply raising the long saber, it perfectly met the most powerful part of Xu Ran¡¯s saber force, instantly revealing a flaw, then like an ink dragon, the saber thrust forth, piercing Xu Ran¡¯s body. With a flick, Xu Ran was thrown back to his original position like a torn sack. After struggling on the ground for a moment, Xu Ran¡¯s body slowly stood up. The wounds on his body had already completely healed. Injuries sustained in the consciousness space would heal anew, and this had been his seventh encounter with the man. This was the sixth opponent to appear in the consciousness space. To Xu Ran, the first three opponents were not difficult to deal with, with the fourth opponent he had exchanged blows evenly, and the fifth was almost equal in strength, taking three battles before he could narrowly claim victory. But this sixth opponent made him feel deep despair. No matter how he deployed his techniques, the middle-aged man with the conical hat could see through his saber in an extremely short amount of time and deliver a fatal blow. Xu Ran stood up again, taking a deep breath. After several bouts, he had already vaguely understood the significance of this place. From the beginning to now, all six opponents were the same person. They were manifestations of this person¡¯s different stages of swordsmanship progression, from easy to difficult. Furthermore, from start to finish, the opponent used the same set of swordsmanship, which became more ingenious with age, to the extent that Xu Ran couldn¡¯t see through it. And this set of swordsmanship should have six sabers in total. During the battle with the fifth opponent, Xu Ran deeply experienced this. Indeed, the stone pillar that represented the swordsmanship also bore six saber marks. So, by defeating the opponent here, could he possibly acquire the opponent¡¯s swordsmanship? Looking at the virtually unbeatable opponent before him, Xu Ran gripped the saber in his hand more tightly. He wanted to try again. Taking a deep breath and adjusting himself to the optimum state, Xu Ran chose an angle to strike with his saber that he hadn¡¯t used before, and after gathering his strength, he swiftly made his slash. A moment later, Xu Ran was once again impaled by the middle-aged man¡¯s long saber and casually thrown back to his original spot. The eighth failure. After a short rest, Xu Ran swung his saber once more. The ninth time. As Xu Ran once again stood up, the middle-aged man suddenly spoke. It was the same language used by the Armored Beast King, echoing in the space of consciousness. ¡°You have one more chance.¡± Only one chance left? Xu Ran held tightly onto the saber in his hands. This caught him somewhat off guard. Although the opponent before him was strong, he feared he was the last one. If he fell here, could he truly receive a reward? With gritted teeth, Xu Ran stood firm with the saber in hand, pointing its tip towards the opponent. He was clear that he couldn¡¯t possibly defeat the opponent before him, who far surpassed him, so¡­ ¡°This time, you strike first!¡± He wanted to see, for one last time, just how exquisite the opponent¡¯s swordsmanship truly was! The middle-aged man seemed to understand Xu Ran¡¯s words, nodded slightly, then thrust out with his saber. Xu Ran¡¯s pupils slightly contracted. It was that strike! When he battled the six-year-old version of his opponent, the opponent had used this same strike. The twelve-year-old counterpart had done the same. And in the subsequent three opponents¡¯ battles, he witnessed the increasing finesse of this strike. But all of it was incomparable to the strike before his eyes now. It seemed to connect heaven and earth; with one slash, the entire world twisted, drawing in endless power, as if it could split everything in two with a single blow. The next instant, all that Xu Ran could see was darkness. The middle-aged man disappeared, as did the space where they had fought. In the darkness, a faintly twinkling light quickly approached and appeared before Xu Ran, then flew into his brow. A flood of knowledge poured into his mind, causing Xu Ran¡¯s eyes to gradually widen. It was a swordsmanship called ¡°Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers,¡± but it contained only the contents of the first five sabers. The final saber was just a blank. Clearly, the swordsmanship was incomplete. But after seeing the first five sabers, Xu Ran was already extremely elated. Because the exquisiteness and power of this swordsmanship far exceeded any other he had encountered before. His consciousness quickly returned to reality, Xu Ran opened his eyes, a flicker of regret passing in the depths of his eyes. Regretfully, he had not defeated the sixth opponent; otherwise, he might have obtained a complete version of the swordsmanship. He hoped there would be a chance to return here in the future to complete the final strike. At this thought, Xu Ran slowly got up. Regardless, just acquiring the first five sabers of the ¡°Sky-Cleaving Blade Skill¡± meant that this trip had not been in vain. He quickly turned his head to the five little ones beside him, then his expression slightly stunned. What was Ziyun holding in her arms? ¡°Luhou!¡± (Xu Ran is awake!) Seeing Xu Ran awaken, Firefly reacted first, excitedly shouting, then quickly rushed over to give Xu Ran a bear hug. Afterward, the other four little ones also hurried over, curiously examining Xu Ran from top to bottom, trying to discern what advantages he had gained here. ¡°I¡¯ve acquired a set of swordsmanship here,¡± Xu Ran said, seeing the little ones¡¯ curiosity and smiling as he volunteered the information, ¡°If nothing goes wrong, with Star¡¯s and my combined efforts, we should be able to face the Quasi-Domineering Level.¡± Chapter 753 - Chapter 753: Chapter 356: Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers!_2 Chapter 753: Chapter 356: Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers!_2 ¡°Meow?¡± (This strong?) Ziyun couldn¡¯t help but show a surprised expression. Xu Ran currently relied on the fivefold power feedback from the contract, barely possessing the combat power of the King Stage, but Star was still at the peak of the General Stage. With the enhancement from the Star Oath and this swordsmanship, could he already face the Quasi-domineering Level? It seemed that this swordsmanship was much more powerful than any Xu Ran had encountered before. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ran smiled and his gaze fell upon the small creature Ziyun was holding in his arms. It was a smooth, ellipsoid-shaped creature, its body covered with countless tiny fuzz that were difficult for the naked eye to see, giving it a touch as smooth as velvet fabric. Its golden body had two large white eyes and was surrounded by a faint golden halo. However, at the moment, the little guy looked particularly frightened, with its halo rapidly shifting between brightness and dimness. With just one glance, Xu Ran recognized it. Light Attribute Leader Species, Bright Group. This harmless Transcendent Being was also very popular in the outside world and was not a rare sight at the Starfire Foster Care Shop. ¡°Where did you catch this Bright Group?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s the one that followed us from the previous dense forest.) Star neighed, taking the initiative to explain. ¡°So it¡¯s you,¡± Xu Ran, who had just acquired a new form of swordsmanship, was in a good mood. He crouched down to look at the Bright Group in front of him and even had the mood to joke, ¡°You¡¯re not planning to chase us down, are you?¡± ¡°Purji~¡± The Bright Group twisted its body tremblingly; it was merely at the Elite Stage and completely outmatched against one human and five beasts¡ªit was like delivering itself on a platter. ¡°Coo~¡± (It seems to hold no hatred for humans.) Twelve suddenly spoke up at the side. Before Xu Ran had awoken, it had already tried to hypnotize and enter the other¡¯s dreams. This little guy, unlike other Transcendent Beings living in the ruins, surprisingly held no hatred towards humans. ¡°That special?¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, ¡°Could it be because the Bright Group is naturally easy to get along with?¡± ¡°Purji~¡± The Bright Group shook its body, showing a pitiful expression. ¡°So what¡¯s your purpose for following us?¡± Xu Ran continued to ask. Upon hearing this question, the Bright Group¡¯s eyes showed a hint of hesitation and struggle. It seemed to want to say something, but in the end, it said nothing. ¡°Alright then,¡± Xu Ran patted the Bright Group¡¯s squishy body, ¡°Just stay honest and remain here; we¡¯re leaving.¡± Having just gained new swordsmanship, he was eager to find an opponent to test his blade on and was even more curious to see what other treasures this ruin might hold. Time waits for no one. Waving to the five little ones, Xu Ran turned and walked out of the ruins. Ziyun reluctantly let go of the Bright Group and quickly followed with the four little ones. Before long, one man and five beasts emerged from the ruins. ¡°Lurho~¡± (It¡¯s still following us.) Firefly, who was at the back, glanced behind and quickly noticed that the Bright Group was trailing far behind them, but had not ventured too close. ¡°Let it be,¡± Xu Ran looked back and was unconcerned, ¡°Star, Star Gazing.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (Right!) With an enthusiastic neigh, the pupil light pattern appeared once more above Star¡¯s head. With the shared senses from their Contractual Sensing, one human and five beasts could see a large nearby scene. This place was no longer within the range seen by their last Star Gazing. Although there was some overlap, most of it was brand new. With just a glance, all six sets of eyes turned simultaneously in one direction. ¡°You all saw it too, didn¡¯t you,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s face held a hint of anticipation, ¡°The desert covered with flying sand.¡± The five little ones nodded in unison. The desert was engulfed in swirling sand, yet in its very center lay an exceptionally bright source of light. The light cast by the source shone through the swirling sand, especially clear under the Star Gazing. Clearly, there was something valuable over there. ¡°There are treasures everywhere here,¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, and without another word, led the five companions straight ahead. Behind them, the Bright Group rolled its body, slowly following. It kept a close eye on the group of one human and five pets ahead, with a contemplative expression in its eyes. However, moments later, when it saw the group turn their heads to proceed in another direction, contemplation quickly turned to astonishment. That direction¡­ Oh no! The Bright Group felt a surge of urgency and immediately increased its rolling speed. It moved like a rolling ball across the land before hitting a small protruding stone heavily. ¡°Duang~¡± With a silky sound, the Bright Group was sent flying into the air and then landed heavily, its spherical body deforming upon impact, then snapping back to shape. The amazing elasticity then propelled it once again into the air. Using its unique technique of rolling and bouncing, the Bright Group was rapidly closing the distance with the group of one person and five pets. Of course, this was also because Xu Ran was walking, not riding on Star. Star was the first to notice the anomaly behind them, and on looking back, revealed a surprised expression, clearly not expecting the Bright Group¡¯s method of progression to be so peculiar. Then Xu Ran and the other four pets also turned around, gaping at the Bright Group as it bounced and rolled towards them at high speed. Xu Ran thought he had encountered quite a few Bright Groups before, but he had never seen such a unique way of moving. When it was about to approach the group of one person and five pets, the Bright Group¡¯s body tensed up; its elastic body deformed far less than before as it landed, which rapidly decreased the height of its bounce until it rolled back into its normal state. Following that, the Bright Group¡¯s body slowly transformed from an ellipsoid shape, its sides stretching flat and elongating, gradually taking on a shuttle form. Without its rounded shape, its rolling speed slowed down significantly, and it finally stopped precisely in front of Xu Ran, reverting to its original ellipsoidal shape with a ¡°Duang.¡± (0 0) Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Stunned by the Bright Group¡¯s magical movements, he was at a loss for what to say for a moment. But the Bright Group didn¡¯t forget the reason it had hurried over. It simply shook its body, quickly adjusting from the dizziness of its high-speed movement, and then its body vibrated slightly. ¡°Purji~¡± ¡°Chirp~¡± (It says the desert ahead is very dangerous and suggests we go around.) Twelve translated, then decided to allow the Bright Group to communicate directly by opening his mind. ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Ran snapped back to reality, his eyes showing a hint of surprise as he looked at the Bright Group, ¡°Do you know what¡¯s out there?¡± ¡°Purji~¡± (There are several Beast Kings near the core of the desert sands that are close to the Overlord Stage, you can¡¯t beat them!) The Bright Group spoke earnestly, worry written all over its face. ¡°Close to the Overlord Stage? Do you mean Quasi-Overlord Level?¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we have even more reason to go there.¡± Bright Group: ¡°???¡± It looked on, clueless at the group of one person and five pets before it. Beast Kings close to the Overlord Stage could easily defeat an Armored Beast King. Were these humans and pets really that powerful? ¡°Instead of that, what I¡¯m really curious about is why are you telling us this?¡± Xu Ran looked at the Bright Group, ¡°Logically, Transcendent Beings here should despise humans, right? Yet, you want to help us.¡± ¡°Purji?¡± (Despise? Why despise?) The Bright Group blinked its eyes. It had lived nearby since it could remember and had never seen the humans before it. Why hate them? Listenting to the Bright Group¡¯s counterquestion, Xu Ran found himself at a loss for words. Compared to the Bright Group before him, the other Transcendent Beings of this ruin seemed rather abnormal. Transcendent Beings in the ruins had never seen humans, yet held onto a hatred for them due to inherited memories. That the Bright Group felt no hatred suggested that its ancestors in the original world might have played a different role. Chapter 754 - Chapter 754: Chapter 357: The Might of Swordsmanship! Chapter 754: Chapter 357: The Might of Swordsmanship! ¡°Thank you for the reminder, but we still have to go in.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the hesitating Bright Group and suddenly spoke up, ¡°You¡¯re not planning on following us in, are you?¡± The Bright Group was silent for a moment. Just as Xu Ran thought it would choose to give up, the Bright Group suddenly spoke. ¡°Pooji~¡± (Then I must go in as well.) ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran was genuinely surprised this time. After all, the Bright Group in front of him was only at the Elite Stage, and entering would be no different from delivering food to the enemy, not to mention that it had just tried to persuade him not to go in. ¡°Pooji~¡± (I¡¯ll hide well when you are fighting! I won¡¯t drag you down! And I can heal!) Seeing the serious expression on the Bright Group¡¯s face, Xu Ran stroked his chin and looked contemplative. ¡°So¡­ what exactly is the reason you¡¯ve been following us?¡± Hearing this, the Bright Group became embarrassed again. However, after hesitating for a moment, it finally gave an answer. ¡°Pooji~¡± (I accidentally overheard your conversation with the Armored Beast King, and I want to see the outside world!) At those words, a realization dawned on Xu Ran. Perhaps because the little guy in front of him was too weak, their attention during the conversation with the Armored Beast King had been almost entirely on the opponent; they hadn¡¯t noticed such a small creature hiding nearby. With this in mind, he could understand why the Bright Group was so determined to follow him. After all, upon learning suddenly that there was a new world outside, it would definitely be curious to have a look. And they, who came from outside, naturally knew how to get out. Finally mustering the courage to reveal its thoughts, the Bright Group¡¯s large eyes looked at Xu Ran with hope. Xu Ran hesitated for a moment, then spoke, ¡°If it¡¯s just about taking you out of here, I can try.¡± The Bright Group in front of him was different from the other Transcendent Beings here, and it also had movements that normal Bright Groups did not possess. Plus, it had just mentioned that it was good at healing, but as far as Xu Ran could remember, Bright Groups did not possess healing skills. For its uniqueness, he was willing to lend a hand. ¡°Meow~¡± (I¡¯ll take it with me!) Ziyun scooped up the Bright Group with a paw, holding it in her embrace again. If anyone in the group of five wanted to take it away the most, it was definitely Ziyun. Feeling the familiar touch, Ziyun¡¯s face immediately revealed an evil grin. And the Bright Group once again fell into trembling. So¡­ so scary! Proceeding with the Bright Group in tow, the man and his five companions climbed over the hill in front of them and, relying on their sight, soon saw the scene that had been observed during Star Gazing. Sweeping sands formed walls across the desert, separating the inside from the outside, with the sands concealing heart-palpitating auras, as if underneath the dusky yellow hid unpredictable dangers. ¡°Cancan,¡± Xu Ran called out softly. ¡°Cha!¡± (Leave it to me!) Cancan let out a shout, and as the black patterns flowed within its gleaming golden eyes, streaks of Dragon Turtle Light Patterns flickered around and disappeared, unleashing an unfathomable power that swept over the area, a mighty suppression blanketing the sandy terrain without distinction. The stirring sands slowed and became incredibly heavy, crashing down to the earth, and the seemingly impenetrable walls of sand were easily torn open by a vast gap. The man and his five companions walked in without hesitation, the surrounding sand falling still around them, the raging sands unable to affect them at all. ¡°Jiu?¡± (There seems to be a surge of Super ability Attribute energy ahead?) Wind sensed the power permeating the sandstorm and showed an uncertain expression. ¡°There might be a Quasi-domineering Level with the Super ability Attribute,¡± Xu Ran said with a smile, ¡°Of course, it could be another situation.¡± ¡°The resources hidden within this desert are Super ability Attribute resources.¡± At these words, Star¡¯s eyes lit up, a glint of hope sparkling in the depths of his ocean-blue gaze. Hopefully, it¡¯s Super ability Attribute resources! As the man and his five companions continued deeper, the presence ahead became clearer and clearer, but within the sandstorm, other malicious presences detected their intrusion and rapidly locked onto them. One presence in particular, carrying a great suppression, approached them swiftly, causing Xu Ran and his five companions, who had not been hindered by any other Transcendent Beings so far, to stop in their tracks. ¡°Prepare for battle,¡± Xu Ran said quietly. Riding atop Star, he slowly drew the long sword strapped to his back, a look of anticipation in his eyes. This approaching aura was no ordinary one; it was likely one of the Quasi-domineering Levels from the deepest part of the desert. Good, he would use it to test his swordsmanship. The five companions each responded, but apart from Star, the other four showed no intention to fight in earnest and instead distanced themselves from Xu Ran, giving him enough space to wield his powers. Ziyun, clutching the Bright Group in her arms, moved the furthest away, clearly not worried about Xu Ran getting into danger. Seeing this, the Bright Group¡¯s eyes gradually widened, its expression becoming one of bewilderment. In its view, the strongest among the man and his five companions was certainly Cancan, for it had witnessed Cancan¡¯s victory over the Armored Beast King. Beyond that, Ziyun, who was holding it, felt extremely formidable as well. And now both were distancing themselves from Xu Ran¡ªwhat about him? Before it could voice its question, a deep booming sound suddenly resonated all around them. ¡°Boom!!!¡± As Xu Ran raised his long sword, pointing it ahead, a huge shadow within the yellow sands began to emerge from obscurity to clarity. Chapter 755 - Chapter 755: Chapter 357: The Might of Swordsmanship!_2 Chapter 755: Chapter 357: The Might of Swordsmanship!_2 It was a crow covered in pitch-black feathers, its eyes and claws of the purest black, with a wingspan of forty meters. With its appearance, an aura of deathly stillness immediately enveloped the entire arena, causing even the windblown sand to halt. ¡°Sssshhh!¡± With a harsh and unpleasant cry, the Crow Beast King¡¯s gaze locked onto Xu Ran the moment it appeared. A hint of abstruse depth flashed through its pitch-black pupils, and a wave of intense hostility and murderous intent rapidly spread through the void. In the next instant, the massive Crow Beast King swooped toward Xu Ran like a cloud descending from the sky, its terrifying and stern power converging between its sharp claws, forming an unbelievably fearsome force. Three Star Skill, Violent Sun Level?Dark Rift Claw! Facing the stroke filled with killing intention, Xu Ran didn¡¯t dodge or evade. The Sky-Cleaving Blade Skill rapidly flashed through his mind, and then he slashed out with his blade, unhurried and at ease. This slash was like an antelope hanging by its horns, leaving no trace, yet it effortlessly cut into the wind of the Crow Beast King¡¯s claws, colliding with the beast¡¯s sharp talons. Only upon the clash did the hidden, earth-shattering power within the long blade explode like an avalanche. Within the shadow of the deep blade were specks of starlight bursting forth, like light tearing through the night, instantly shattering the Crow Beast King¡¯s unstoppable assault and leaving a deep gash on its claws, marked by blood. As dark red blood sprayed out, the Crow Beast King let out an angry roar and was forced to swiftly put distance between itself and Xu Ran. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, the first strike¡ªPiercing Cloud Stance! With the Crow Beast King repelled by a single strike, Xu Ran held his blade in both hands, his face displaying a calmness untroubled by ripples, yet his heart couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of excitement. It worked! He had seen this cut countless times at the Pillar Ruins, but it felt entirely different when he executed it himself. The Piercing Cloud Stance is the first of the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, and it focuses on perception. The blade¡¯s trajectory touches everything around it, touching the force of the opponent¡¯s attack, slashing at the weakest point once found, and breaking through the adversary¡¯s defenses. This was a method of using the blade¡¯s trajectory Xu Ran hadn¡¯t considered before. Even though it was just the first strike, its influence on him was immense. And the power of the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers was just beginning. The subsequent second, third, and up to the sixth strikes, each more powerful than the last. With just the first strike showing such effect, Xu Ran was filled with indescribable excitement and a surge of pride welled up in his heart. ¡°Again!¡± He bellowed, pointing his long blade directly at the Crow Beast King in the sky. At this moment, the Quasi-Dominant Level seemed trivial in his eyes. ¡°Insolent ant!¡± The Crow Beast King let out a frenzied howl, its eyes becoming increasingly deep and terrifying. The black light around its body erupted, almost forming flames that enveloped it entirely. An extremely dangerous aura burst forth from its body, and the next moment, countless black feathers fell like raindrops, completely covering the area where Xu Ran and the stars were positioned. Each feather flickered with a cold, faint light and was wrapped in burning black flames. Three Star Skill, Violent Sun Level?Dark Feather Annihilation! Though its rage had intensified, the Crow Beast King had clearly learned its lesson, no longer engaging in close combat with the sword-wielding Xu Ran but instead keeping its distance in an attempt to wear him down. However, facing the black feathers that seemed to engulf the sky and all the space in his field of vision, as well as all potential evasive positions, Xu Ran¡¯s expression hardly changed. The long blade in his hand suddenly traced an arc of light through the air, like a fleeting crescent moon, instantly shattering a feather, then the second, and then the third. Each dark arc was as swift as Amazing, the previous one still not dissipated when the next followed closely, layer upon layer like blooming flower petals, beautiful in their indomitable strength. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, the third strike¡ªHidden Blossom Style! This technique could attack or defend. To attack is to cut off all the enemy¡¯s retreats; to defend is to shatter all the enemy¡¯s attacks. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes turned the color of the night sky, within which was a galaxy in reverse, each black feather appearing as slow as a tortoise crawling. Specks of starlight wove above his head into vertical pupil-like patterns of light, instantly casting toward the Crow Beast King. Four Star Skill, Violent Sun Level?Star Gazing! Effect, ability insight! After instantly discerning the opponent¡¯s three Talent Skills, the blade light in Xu Ran¡¯s hand became even more fierce. The sword flowers bloomed tragically in the void, devouring all the black feathers into oblivion. In the next instant, before the Crow Beast King could react, Xu Ran squeezed the belly of Star fiercely. Accompanied by a clear and piercing neigh, he rode Star and leaped towards the high skies, while letting out a low shout. ¡°Cancan!¡± ¡°Cha!¡± (I¡¯m here!) Cancan, who had been guarding from a distance, shared an understanding with Xu Ran and already knew what to do. A terracotta halo rose from Cancan¡¯s paws to the earth, and a rock pillar erupted from the ground, appearing right beneath Star¡¯s feet in midair! Immediately after, the second and the third appeared. Star¡¯s body blurred in rapid descent until only a shadow remained, yet the stone pillars raised by Cancan managed to keep up with the steps of Star¡¯s charge. A ladder of stone pointed directly to the heavens; at the top of the stairway, Xu Ran raised his sword to strike the utterly bewildered Crow Beast King. ¡°Quite bold of you!¡± The Crow Beast King was instantly enraged by Xu Ran¡¯s provocatively offensive gesture, and any budding intent to retreat was snuffed out in an instant. Transcendent Beings with the ability to fly have an absolute sensitivity towards air superiority. The sky is their home turf! And at this moment, the despicable human before it was attacking in a manner that felt like a taunt to the Beast King in the air. Then let there be battle! With a steeled heart, the Crow Beast King roared fiercely and swung its wings powerfully. Black flames around its body swept the heavens as its terrifying presence peaked in an instant, its deep black eyes locked onto Xu Ran like an unfathomable abyss. After a moment¡¯s charge, its colossal wings crossed and slashed down towards Xu Ran. A hundred-meter-long ten-bladed shadow formed in an instant, carrying heart-palpitatingly terrifying fluctuations as it violently chopped down towards Xu Ran. Three Star Skill, Violent Sun Level ¡¤ Dark Cross Slash! This was the Crow Beast King¡¯s strongest offensive skill, and at this moment, the beast had only one thought¡ªto tear the human before it to shreds. Thus, it didn¡¯t hesitate to employ its most powerful skill that it had previously deemed unnecessary to use. Gazing at the massive cross before him, the starlight shimmering around Xu Ran stirred into countless ripples under the sharp aura, yet his expression remained utterly calm. Luckily, Star Gazing had discerned exactly this skill among the three the opponent held, so he had anticipated the King would make this move. Star Gazing¡¯s insight was not merely about knowing which skills the other possessed, but also about being clearly aware of the skills¡¯ effects and essence. With this, along with swordsmanship¡­ As the cross-shaped blade shadow neared, Xu Ran suddenly closed his eyes. The sword¡¯s momentum flowed like water, invisibly surging around him and forming a dense field of force. At the moment the blade shadow entered the field, an energy perspective invisible to the eyes instantly pinpointed its weakest spot. There it is! Xu Ran¡¯s eyes snapped open, the nebula within them dispersed at that instant. His sword moved. With an untraceable slash, the grand cross blade shadow suddenly became frantic and unstable, as if a tower built from countless blocks had its foundation block removed, causing it to spiral out of control in an instant. ¡°Collapse!!!¡± With a thunderous sound, the pitch-black blade shadow in the sky exploded. The terrifying momentum didn¡¯t reach Xu Ran before scattering in all directions. Amidst the darkness so thick it almost materialized, Xu Ran¡¯s long sword, like a star at dawn, pierced the astonished Crow Beast King in the chest. Without giving the Crow Beast King any chance to resist or struggle, in Xu Ran¡¯s serene expression, the long sword unleashed a force that pierced heaven and earth, annihilating all of the Crow Beast King¡¯s vitality in an instant. A glimmer of confusion flashed in the Crow Beast King¡¯s black eyes, and then all the light within them faded. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, fifth strike¡ªLifeless Stance! Chapter 756 - Chapter 756: Chapter 358: Yang Guang Celestial Palace! Chapter 756: Chapter 358: Yang Guang Celestial Palace! ¡°Pfft¡­purrji!¡± (So¡­so powerful!) Clutching Bright Group tightly, Ziyun¡¯s eyes widened as she watched Xu Ran effortlessly defeat a creature at the Quasi-domineering Level, her face filled with shock. ¡°Meow~¡± (It seems there really was something good in that stone pillar earlier.) Ziyun also showed a hint of eagerness. Previously, Xu Ran had to cooperate with Cancan after linking with the Star Power to kill a Quasi-domineering Level creature. Now that Cancan had acquired a new Four Stars Skill, he could face a Quasi-domineering Level creature on his own, and Xu Ran¡¯s strength had also surged after acquiring swordsmanship. In that case, if it used the Immortal Body to turn into a long sword and fought alongside Xu Ran, what level of strength could they reach? Almost at the same moment Ziyun thought of this, Xu Ran, who had just brandished his long sword, also looked in Ziyun¡¯s direction, clearly having reached the same conclusion. After carelessly flicking the supernatural resource left behind by the fallen Crow Beast King¡ªa pitch-black claw bone¡ªXu Ran¡¯s gaze then shifted toward the interior of the desert. With the fall of the Crow Beast King, the atmosphere had not eased but had become even more tense. The presences in the desert center that had locked onto Xu Ran from afar were now surging more violently. They hadn¡¯t come to the aid of the Crow Beast King, but having sensed its demise, they now had a certain understanding of Xu Ran¡¯s strength and had become even more cautious, unwilling to act rashly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go see what kind of resources are hidden inside,¡± Xu Ran suggested softly, riding upon Star, not slowing down his pace into the depths, but instead gradually accelerating. His actions clearly infuriated the existences that were covertly targeting him, as their auras surged even more violently. The thick sandstorm in front of them was forcefully torn apart by Cancan¡¯s Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power one after another, revealing a bright light ahead that gradually became clearer. Also becoming clearer were the massive, blurry figures around the light. Each of them possessed a power not inferior to that of the Crow Beast King. A total of five Quasi-domineering Level creatures! After the Crow Beast King had fallen, it was surprising for Xu Ran that there were still so many strong creatures here. ¡°Ziyun!¡± Ziyun tossed Bright Group that was in her arms to a firefly by her side and dashed towards Xu Ran. Bright Group felt its body spin rapidly a few times before falling into a fluffy embrace. ¡°Luho~¡± (Hello there~) The firefly carefully held Bright Group and greeted it. Sensing that the firefly¡¯s presence was much weaker than Ziyun¡¯s, Bright Group suddenly felt the relief of having survived a disaster, though it still wasn¡¯t a creature it could defeat; at least the terrifying suffocation was gone. It looked curiously at Ziyun, who was dashing forward, and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Purrji~¡± (What is she going to do?) ¡°Luho~¡± (Big sister is going to fight alongside Xu Ran.) The firefly spoke earnestly, its face full of anticipation and longing. Seeing the expression on the firefly¡¯s face, Bright Group blinked. ¡°Purrji?¡± (Can they win?) The firefly glanced at the five figures, which were becoming clearer from being blurry. Although they had never faced so many Quasi-domineering Level creatures together before, the firefly still had full confidence in its companions. ¡°Luho!¡± (They definitely can!) Almost the instant the firefly¡¯s words fell, Cancan¡¯s Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power tore through the last layer of sandstorm in front. At the center of the desert covered by endless sand, where not a single grain of sand was present, and even some green plants grew as if stepping into another world. The five figures of various sizes, all radiating the presence of the Quasi-domineering Level, stood in line, silently staring at the intruders before them. With the Crow Beast King being killed in such a short time, none of them dared to fight alone at this moment. Without any communication, the five Quasi-domineering Level creatures tacitly chose to join forces. Xu Ran rode on Star, charging at the five Quasi-domineering Level creatures at full speed. His hands were empty; the ancient sword that had killed the Crow Beast King had been stowed behind him. Not far from Xu Ran, a series of Thunderous Sounds accompanied by roars that shook the entire area and disturbed the surroundings materialized in an instant. Flitting through the Lei Jing, a figure intertwining purple and white flickered constantly, chasing Xu Ran and Star. As it moved at an extreme speed, the invisible and imposing Power around it rolled up violent thunder into whirlwinds, wildly intertwining and converging. This scene even diverted the five Quasi-domineering Level creatures¡¯ attention from Xu Ran for a moment, as they seriously turned to look at Ziyun by his side. King Stage¡¤Emperor Species! This terrible creature was not one any of them could withstand! Together, if they did not give their all today, they would likely stay here forever! ¡°Damn humans, despicable traitor beasts!¡± With a terrifying roar, a Giant Dragon at the center charged towards Xu Ran first, ¡°Attack together!¡± To the left and right of the Giant Dragon, a Tiger with wings on its back and a Phoenix radiating golden light also took action at the same time. Further away, a humanoid Transcendent Being holding a broadsword and another Transcendent Being with a body as nebulous as a mist coordinated with the other three. In an instant, five different attacks rapidly fell towards Xu Ran, blocking all his escape routes. Within the overwhelming force, even the void twisted, and the extreme violence carried a heart-palpitating danger. Chapter 757 - Chapter 757: Chapter 358: Yang Guang Celestial Palace!_2 Chapter 757: Chapter 358: Yang Guang Celestial Palace!_2 This was the full-force strike of five Quasi-Dominating Level figures! Before the attack even arrived, the energy storm and terrifying suppression it whipped up came crashing down towards Xu Ran, causing the starlight-congealed gown around his body to ripple with layers of undulations. Yet Xu Ran¡¯s expression remained quite calm at this moment. Faced with such an onslaught, he made only a simple move. That was to slightly reach back with the hand on the same side as Ziyun, like a runner preparing to grasp the baton in a relay race. ¡°Boom!!!!¡± Accompanying the final thunderous blast, Ziyun¡¯s front claw instantly landed in Xu Ran¡¯s palm; in the next moment, its body twisted and transformed with incredible speed into a soaring long saber. Layers of Thunder Light and invisible Fighting Attribute power clung tightly to the saber, ready to burst forth! After evolving into an Emperor Species, Ziyun transformed into a saber for the first time! The Cloud Break Sky that was unleashed concurrently with the Path of Destruction had already accumulated a tremendously vast strength. This power was fermenting within the saber that Ziyun had become, ready to explode with Xu Ran¡¯s next slash! The moment he gripped the saber, Xu Ran exhaled a breath of foul air. The surrounding void seemed to solidify in an instant, even the attacks that were close at hand seemed to slow down. He lifted the saber horizontally, effortlessly sweeping it across. A dazzling saber light flashed by, leaving behind a deep rift in the void, with all the incoming attacks collapsing rapidly upon touching the rift, like a punctured balloon losing all its momentum. The five Quasi-Dominating Level figures stood silently in their original spots, motionless. After a good while, five lines of blood appeared, and then, under the spurting blood, the five Quasi-Dominating Level figures were split in two, dying on the spot. The fourth saber of the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers¡ªRainbow Severing Force! This was the fastest strike among the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, saber force like a rainbow, here and gone in a flash. Though it lasted only a moment, it was an outburst of Xu Ran and Ziyun¡¯s full strength. Below the Dominating Stage, this slash meant certain death. Sitting within the embrace of the Bright Group, Cancan¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Flicker too revealed a hint of surprise, which shortly turned into pride. ¡°Lou hou!¡± (I told you, they could definitely win!) Twelve, having no patience to wait, immediately flapped its wings towards a stamp-like item flashing with brilliant light in the void as soon as the five Quasi-Dominating Level figures fell dead. The stamp shimmered with a brilliant light, pulsing continuously in the void. This stamp seemed to be only half of a complete stamp, constantly self-repairing in an effort to become whole, but each time one part was restored, another part would fade, ensuring it remained perpetually half of a complete stamp no matter the restorations. Throughout this process of repair and fading, the immense Super ability Attribute power also fluctuated undecidedly between the directions of psychic and Illusion. Super ability Attribute resources, True-False Fragment. These were the resources hidden within the desert and also one of the Main Materials for Twelve¡¯s Evolution into the Emperor Species. ¡°Looks like our luck is indeed not bad,¡± Xu Ran said. From the first glance upon entering the Core Area of the desert, he saw the True-False Fragment, and now seeing Twelve taking it, a smile appeared on his face. The two resources they had found were respectively required for Cancan¡¯s and Twelve¡¯s evolution, and along the way, he had learned an incredibly powerful swordsmanship, which had elevated his own strength by a level. This relic was indeed a good place. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave,¡± Xu Ran said softly, looking around at the greenery left in this place. ¡°After we go out, we¡¯ll make haste to check out another location.¡± He had a feeling that the time people could continue to stay inside the relic was not much longer. When the time came, everyone would be automatically transmitted out by the relic itself. Without the threat of Quasi-Dominating Level figures, the speed at which the group, consisting of one person, five beasts, and a group, left the Flying Sands Desert had noticeably increased. With the rapid advancement of Star and Cancan¡¯s constant protection, they successfully left from the other side of the desert in no time. ¡°Star, continue star gazing,¡± Xu Ran glanced back at the desert and spoke quickly. Several good finds had come through star gazing. It had to be said that this skill, enhanced during the last resource allocation, was indeed very handy. Star emitted a clear, resonant neigh as starlight converged right above its head, and just when it seemed ready to form another vertical pupil, the void around them shook violently. The next moment, a thunderous roar filled the entire ruins. Star gazing was interrupted, the converging starlight rapidly dissipated, and the five pets and their master didn¡¯t have time to care as they turned toward the direction of the turmoil and the roaring sound, witnessing an unbelievable sight. It was a majestic palace rising slowly from the earth, adorned with countless gilt shadows. Mysterious sounds resonated for a long time, and the entire palace shimmered with dazzling light, instantly drawing the attention of every creature within the ruins. ¡°What is that?¡± Xu Ran gaped in astonishment. As the palace kept rising amidst the roaring sound, it finally fixed in the void. Once the palace was settled, a column of light that pierced the sky enveloped it completely, as if a protective power was shrouding it. On the outside of the palace, Xu Ran could vaguely spot a familiar jade color. It was a dragon shadow that, compared to the palace, was exceedingly small. ¡°Is that Chairman Fang?¡± Recognizing the mightiest pet beast of Chairman Fang, a look of surprise appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. Without any hesitation, he patted Star on the neck, ¡°No need to search around anymore; let¡¯s head straight there!¡± Without a doubt, that palace, making such a dramatic entrance, must have treasures far more valuable than anywhere else. Surely other Beast Masters who entered the ruins were now making their way to the palace. An opportunity like this was not to be missed! ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Hold on tight!) Star neighed with fervor, and its running speed suddenly accelerated. The star patterns on its body, sometimes hidden and sometimes apparent, became utterly manifest at this moment, clearer than ever. With these patterns, Star¡¯s affinity with the power of stars soared. Prayer of Starry Night functioned naturally, harnessing the power of starlight and rapidly enhancing Star, This enhancement, strengthened by the increased affinity, was much more powerful than before, and it further increased Star¡¯s speed. With the increase in speed, the star patterns grew brighter, continuously raising Star¡¯s affinity with the power of stars. Thus, a cycle was formed. Chasing Stars, as opposed to Moon Concealment Star Racing, introduced the effect of the Star Spirit Body which harmonized perfectly with Prayer of Starry Night, enabling Star¡¯s running speed to increase nearly without limit. Its body shone with ever-brighter starlight, and eventually, it resembled a meteor streaking through the void, heading towards the palace. Closer now, even closer! Only when the palace and that towering light column were directly in front of them did Star voluntarily slow down, its star patterns dimming and returning to their original faint state once it stopped. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± After the exhilarating run, Star let out a long neigh, gazing at the light column that pierced the sky in front of it. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived quite fast.¡± Alongside the descent of the jade-colored giant dragon, Fang Canghai¡¯s voice emerged beside Xu Ran. As he spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but look at Star with a mix of astonishment and disbelief. He had seen Star¡¯s approach just moments ago. ¡°Chairman Fang, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Xu Ran pointed at the palace engulfed in the light column, unable to contain his curiosity. ¡°Well¡­¡± Chairman Fang looked around. One after another, presences were speeding towards this place, and soon they revealed themselves ¨C the other Overlord Level Beast Masters who had entered this place. Waiting until most of his companions had arrived, Fang Canghai began to explain, ¡°What you are seeing now, this palace, is called Yang Guang Celestial Palace.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it should be the only human structure in these ruins that has not been destroyed.¡± ¡°I found a Transcendent Being of Emperor Stage here and inadvertently activated the residual power of Yang Guang Celestial Palace while killing it,¡± Fang Canghai shrugged, ¡°and then, it turned into this.¡± Chapter 758 - Chapter 758: Chapter 359: Confrontation, Enter the Heavenly Palace! Chapter 758: Chapter 359: Confrontation, Enter the Heavenly Palace! Hearing Fang Canghai¡¯s words, everyone fell silent in unison. They had killed an Emperor Stage Transcendent Being unintentionally, triggering and then activating a site that certainly didn¡¯t look ordinary. Do you even hear what you¡¯re saying? Even Xu Ran, for a moment, looked at Fang Canghai with a somewhat strange expression in his eyes. It always felt like this senior carried a bit of his own style. ¡°Alright, the Yang Guang Celestial Palace isn¡¯t the issue right now,¡± Fang Canghai, seemingly feeling that it wasn¡¯t quite right to put on airs, coughed lightly, ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve attracted all the Transcendent Beings of the entire site.¡± As his voice fell, terrifying auras rapidly approached from all directions. In but a breath¡¯s time, dozens of incredibly formidable creatures arrived on the scene, their eyes revealing a fierce light as they regarded the group. Any one of them was far stronger than those Quasi-domineering Level beings Xu Ran and the five little ones had killed before because these were genuine Overlord Stage beings. The difference was only one character, but it was like night and day. Quasi-domineering Level beings, being King Stage creatures trying to evolve into Emperor Species and failing, possessed far greater strength than ordinary King Stage beings because they had faintly touched that threshold. But in terms of Life Level, they were still considered King Species. Whereas Overlord Stage beings were genuine Emperor Species. And at this moment, the arrival of these dozens of Overlord Stage beings was just the beginning. They did not strike immediately but bowed their heads in unison, even the Imperial Crowns above their heads silently dimming down. The next instant, five colossal crowns, each far surpassing the combined brilliance of dozens of Overlord Stage Imperial Crowns, descended from the void. Five Beast Emperors arrived together, encircling the pillar of light that pierced heaven and earth as well as the group of people below the pillar. ¡°Humans, we should thank you for opening the Yang Guang Celestial Palace for us,¡± one of the Beast Emperors cloaked in a fierce wind, its form extremely blurry, laughed coldly with a hehe, ¡°We of the Beast Race could never have broken its seals.¡± ¡°To repay you, I¡¯ll give you a swift death.¡± ¡°You sure talk a lot,¡± Fang Canghai glanced at the other party, the Hexagram Star Array shimmering behind him, and in the next instant, a Kite bird swept along by violent winds emerged from the void, its Imperial Crown thunderously descending as its cold eyes locked onto that Beast Emperor from afar. This sudden turn of events startled all the Transcendent Beings present. Not because an extra Beast Emperor had suddenly appeared, but¡­ ¡°You are not Humans,¡± another Phoenix, surrounded by dazzling light, spoke solemnly, its expression suddenly filled with doubt and uncertainty, ¡°When did the power of your kind turn out like this?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about the Humans of your world, we certainly are not,¡± Fang Canghai sneered, ¡°But does that matter?¡± ¡°The Yang Guang Celestial Palace is our must-have prize!¡± As Fang Canghai¡¯s voice fell, one after another, the Beast Emperors swiftly descended. A total of five Emperor Stage Pet Beasts faced off against the encircling five Beast Emperors, ten Imperial Crowns suspended like ten great suns in the sky, their momentum vast and unfathomable. Meanwhile, at Fang Canghai¡¯s feet, his strongest Pet Beast, an azure-colored Azure Dragon had not even made a move yet. Overlord Level Beast Masters from various Second Level Towns were no longer silent, each commanding their Pet Beasts to act. In terms of numbers, the Humans even held the advantage. At this point, the only one who hadn¡¯t moved was Xu Ran. It wasn¡¯t his choice; Transcendent Beings below the Overlord Level simply didn¡¯t have the qualifications to stand here, and he couldn¡¯t beat any of these creatures. Behind him, the five little ones looked at each other¡ªyou look at me, I look at you¡ªbefore finally commenting pompously on the domineering emperors present. ¡°Meow~¡± (Look at that big guy, it¡¯s also a cat!) ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Why aren¡¯t there any horses?) ¡°Cha~¡± (I see several turtles, and even more dragons.) ¡°Chirp?¡± (Shouldn¡¯t birds be the most numerous?) ¡°Luhou¡­¡± (Actually, there are quite a few bears too¡­) Listening to the five little ones¡¯ nonchalant chatter, and witnessing a grand scene he had never seen before in his life, the Bright Group was overwhelmed with fear, almost fainting. Was it abnormal, or was this world abnormal?! The sudden appearance of even more Overlord and Emperor Stage beings on the Humans¡¯ side also stupefied the Transcendent Beings present. Even the hatred at the forefront of their minds was temporarily dispersed, at this moment filled with a single thought. Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? ¡°Although I don¡¯t know exactly what kind of struggle you¡¯ve had with the Humans of your world, we¡¯re not interested in getting involved, and there¡¯s no need for you to lump us together with them,¡± seeing that intimidation had subdued the other side, Fang Canghai¡¯s tone eased slightly. ¡°If you set aside that hatred, the rule of Transcendent Beings is the survival of the fittest. Now that we are stronger, you should know what to do, right?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The Radiant Phoenix snorted softly, its tone laced with extreme dissatisfaction, ¡°I admit you have some advantage, but if it comes to a fight to the death, you might not come out on top either.¡± ¡°The Yang Guang Celestial Palace belongs to this place by right; you outsiders think to compete for it alone, bypassing us?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s a contest of skills then?¡± Fang Canghai sneered, ¡°We shall enter together, whoever gets it, keeps it.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± The voice of the Radiant Phoenix still carried a heavy dissatisfaction, but it also knew that this was the best result it could hope for. These inexplicably powerful newcomers held the advantage against all the premier forces of this realm. Chapter 759 - Chapter 759: Chapter 359: Confrontation, Entering the Heavenly Palace!_2 Chapter 759: Chapter 359: Confrontation, Entering the Heavenly Palace!_2 Desiring no further conversation, the Radiant Phoenix gave the other four Beast Emperors a look, then they all flew into the column of light together. In an instant, mysterious runes emerged from the column of light, enveloping the five Beast Emperors with an invisible suppressing force that thunderously descended, causing their might to rapidly fall from Emperor Stage until it settled at King Stage. This shocking scene caused the movements of the five Beast Emperors to stiffen, and their expressions turned particularly ugly. What¡¯s going on? Has the Yang Guang Celestial Palace been lost for so many years only to have such restrictions within it? ¡°Hahaha~¡± Seeing the discomfiture of the five Beast Emperors, Fang Canghai laughed heartily as he stepped into the column of light, but the next moment he couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. Because the abilities of his six Emperor Stage Pet Beasts were also suppressed to the King Stage by the same suppressing force. Even the power that he felt through his Beast Taming Contract was not spared from the catastrophe. ¡°It seems everyone is the same,¡± You Shengjiang muttered under his breath, then without hesitation, he led his own Pet Beasts into it. As an Overlord Level, both his own strength and the strength of his six Pet Beasts were likewise suppressed to the King Stage. At this moment, the situation became very clear. The strength of any creature that entered and exceeded that of the King Stage would be suppressed. Seeing this, Xu Ran¡¯s expression instantly became animated. Upon hearing that Fang Canghai and the Radiant Phoenix had reached an agreement to enter on the basis of each relying on their own abilities, he had almost given up on the idea of entering. After all, running into any Overlord Stage would be enough to give him a rough time. He had no idea that this Yang Guang Celestial Palace could actually suppress all power to the King Stage! With this, he still had a chance. Although all the creatures present were of the Emperor Species, being suppressed to the King Stage still meant they were of the King Stage¡¤Emperor Species, which was not much different from Ziyun. However, there were still differences in strength among the Emperor Species, and the Astonishing Cloud Chaser with its potential of six stars was undoubtedly among the strongest. All skills are Four Stars, and most skills are Dual Attribute skills. Now who else is there? Apart from Ziyun, Cancan and Crow combined should also be able to handle one opponent, and he alone with Star should be able to handle another. The Bright Group would act as the atmosphere lamp, and the fireflies were responsible for taking care of the Bright Group. In this way, they also counted as having three King Stage¡¤Emperor Species combatants. If they encountered any solitary creatures, they could also take the initiative to give them a thorough beating. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll enter too.¡± Having calculated for a moment, Xu Ran suddenly gained considerable confidence, waved his hand, and led the five small ones into the column of light. Feeling their entry, the runes within the column of light flickered. However, these runes flew to Xu Ran and the five small ones only to voluntarily disperse in front of them. Truly weak, bad luck! The other Overlord Level Beast Masters and Overlord Stage Transcendent Beings were also not daring to delay, fearing that lagging behind might give others a chance to snatch the good stuff; they surged into the column of light like a dark tide¡ªXu Ran swore he had never seen so many Overlord Stage in his life. Just like dumplings being dropped into boiling water. Sensing the urgency, he didn¡¯t dare to delay any longer. He fiercely squeezed Star¡¯s belly, his form shooting through like a long rainbow piercing the sun, making for the silent depths of the Heavenly Palace. The earth gave rise to rock walls, each one taller than the last, transforming into a ladder reaching straight to the Heavenly Palace, with one man and five beasts surpassing one powerful creature after another, rushing into the opened gates of the Heavenly Palace without hesitation. After entering, it suddenly opened up. Xu Ran¡¯s steps came to an abrupt halt in the vast main hall of the Heavenly Palace. All the Transcendent Beings that had entered before him had stopped here. Because above everyone¡¯s heads, at the highest point of the dome, were embedded dazzling, colorful, giant gems. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that within those gems, a variety of rare treasures were concealed, and the light was also emanating from these treasures. ¡°Chah!¡± (That¡¯s the Eye of the Gargoyle!) Cancan let out a low cry, lifting its head high, gazing at one of the gems in the dome, that stone-like, eyeball-like orb. In just an instant, it recognized that this was another material it needed for its evolution! Xu Ran nodded slightly but did not take action immediately. The five Beast Emperors and Chairman Fang all stood still, which definitely meant something; he wanted to see what was so unusual about these gems first. Just at this moment, a figure swiftly flew in from the main entrance. It was a crow covered in crimson-gold feathers, wrapped in rolling heat waves that made other creatures retreat by three feet. As soon as it entered the main hall, its gaze settled on the gems in the air. Its eyes instantly burst with an incredibly greedy and eager light. The Overlord stage fire crow flapped its wings fiercely without hesitation and took off, flying towards the high sky. Seeing the other beings standing around undisturbed, Xu Ran suppressed the urgency in his heart and held his breath as he watched the fire crow. Initially, the fire crow was calm and composed. But as it flew about halfway up, its speed gradually slowed down, and its expression became increasingly painful. Even so, the fire crow did not give up. Looking at the gems so close at hand, the fire crow squeezed out every bit of potential, trying to take away a treasure from one of the gems that seemed infinitely attractive to it. A clear ¡°snap¡± rang out in the deadly silent main hall, followed by a grating sound of bones cracking. The fire crow¡¯s body twisted rapidly and then, before the eyes of all, was instantly crushed by an immense force, turning into a mist of blood. What was even more eerie was that the blood mist did not drift down but was instantly absorbed by the gems above the dome. After absorbing the blood mist, the lustre of the gems became a few notches brighter. ¡°In this main hall, the closer to the dome, the stronger the pressure around. The pressure at the dome¡¯s location is enough to burst even an Emperor Species at the King Stage,¡± said You Shengjiang, who had at some point appeared beside Xu Ran. ¡°Before you arrived, there had already been five or six unfortunate folks who died here. What¡¯s more frightening is that those gems absorb the flesh and blood of the burst victims to strengthen themselves, in other words¡­¡± You Shengjiang paused, ¡°the more who die, the harder it is to get the items.¡± ¡°What about long-range attacks?¡± Xu Ran asked with a solemn expression. ¡°Long-range attacks?¡± You Shengjiang laughed, about to speak, but then he suddenly shut his mouth. Because there were already impatient creatures starting to try. On the side of the Transcendent Beings, a fox-like Overlord suddenly spewed a cannon-like flame towards the high sky. In the past, such flames could easily incinerate everything, leaving not even ash behind. But now, before the eyes of all, the flame was rapidly weakened, dimming and fading away before even reaching the dome. If that were all, it might not have been too bad, but after the flame dispersed, a thread-like beam of light instantly shot down from the dome. Before the fire fox could react, it pierced right through its head. A tiny hole appeared in the fire fox¡¯s head, and then it collapsed loudly to the ground, losing all signs of life. Xu Ran: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can¡¯t get close, can¡¯t attack?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression became intriguing, ¡°So how do we take away the things in the gems?¡± ¡°If I knew, I would have taken them already,¡± You Shengjiang spread his hands. Xu Ran was momentarily at a loss for words. Forget it, Vice President You is unreliable. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Could it have to do with the colors of these gems?) Star carefully observed the gems above the dome and then suddenly spoke up. ¡°The colors of the gems?¡± Xu Ran looked up. There were nine gems above the dome, each of a different color. But what did that mean? ¡°Chirp!¡± (Look at those stone statues!) Twelve shifted his gaze away from the dome above and scanned the other objects within the main hall, then suddenly his body trembled as he let out a low cry. Xu Ran looked around and then a look of surprise appeared on his face. Too focused on looking at the dome, he had not noticed the surroundings. Within this main hall stood nine colossal humanoid stone statues, each holding a different weapon, uniformly displaying a stark white rock color, save for one distinct feature. That was their eyes. The eyes of the statues were painted with different colors, the nine colors exactly matching those of the gems in the air! Chapter 760 - Chapter 760: Chapter 360: The Secret of the Statue Chapter 760: Chapter 360: The Secret of the Statue ¡°` After hearing the speculations of Star and the others, Xu Ran had to admit that there was indeed a high probability that the nine gems above the dome were related to the nine stone statues in the main hall, but what exactly was the connection between them? Memorizing the positions of the nine stone statues, Xu Ran slowly closed his eyes. The positions of the nine stone statues in the main hall quickly took shape in his mind. Their outlines, as well as the position of the nine gems, were quite different, and the sequence of colors was even more unrelated. Clearly, the relationship between the two wasn¡¯t as simple as a one-to-one correspondence. Otherwise, in this vast main hall, there wouldn¡¯t have been a complete lack of discoverers. So what exactly was their relationship? Xu Ran opened his eyes, looking at one of the statues, momentarily hesitant about his next move. The other creatures in the area had also discovered a possible connection between the statues and the gems, but that was all; they couldn¡¯t quite figure out the nature of the connection. Cancan stared intently, and suddenly, her gaze locked onto two of the statues, her golden eyes whirling quickly. ¡°Chirp~¡± (Could it be that the blue-eyed statue seems to be looking at the green-eyed statue? Do they have some kind of connection?) Hmm? Upon hearing Cancan¡¯s casually spoken words, Xu Ran was slightly startled and quickly looked in the direction indicated. Indeed, at first glance, the blue-eyed statue seemed unremarkable, but if one followed the direction of its gaze, it was indeed looking straight at the position of the green-eyed statue. Xu Ran shifted his gaze to the green-eyed statue. Cancan¡¯s words had given him a significant insight, and soon he realized that the green-eyed statue was also looking at another statue. It wasn¡¯t looking back at the blue-eyed statue but at the red-eyed statue! With that discovery, Xu Ran swiftly looked to the red-eyed statue, and soon found that it was staring at the purple-eyed statue. Blue-eyed, green-eyed, red-eyed, purple-eyed, pink-eyed, white-eyed, golden-eyed! Following the gaze of each statue, Xu Ran¡¯s attention finally settled in the direction of the golden-eyed statue. Unlike the others, it wasn¡¯t looking at any statue. Instead, it raised its head to gaze towards the dome. Could this be the final statue? No! Xu Ran quickly realized he had overlooked something. With nine statues in total, there were still the black-eyed and the orange-eyed statues left! Xu Ran quickly turned and soon discovered the black-eyed statue was looking at the orange-eyed statue, while the orange-eyed statue was looking at the blue-eyed statue. So, was this a sequence of sights starting from the black-eyed statue and ending with the golden-eyed statue? Once again, following the gaze of the golden-eyed statue towards the dome, a thought struck Xu Ran. Following this sequence of colors, the gems corresponding to adjacent colors were all closely nestled together. Clearly, his line of thinking was correct. Next was how to use this insight to solve the trial before him. Xu Ran¡¯s gaze was fixed intensely on the black gem embedded in the dome. At this moment, this gem, deep as ink, became the breakthrough point. Xu Ran¡¯s conjecture was shared with the five Pet Beasts through Contractual Sensing, and at that moment, all five Pet Beasts also stared at the black gem together, hoping to collectively offer some assistance to Xu Ran. Attempt to break this gem? This thought had barely surfaced in Xu Ran¡¯s mind before he suppressed it firmly. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the scene of an Overlord-stage Transcendent Being attempting to directly attack the gems in the dome, failing to make a mark and then being instantly killed by the hidden power within the dome. The risks of a rash attempt were simply too great. The next moment, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Another fearless Transcendent Being had made a move. This one was a lion-like Overlord-stage Transcendent Being with a Fire Attribute. Whether by coincidence or not, the gem it attacked was the very same black one. This gave Xu Ran a slight sense of elation. Good, he didn¡¯t need to test the waters himself. The commotion caused by the Fire Attribute lion quickly drew the attention of all the hesitant beings in the main hall. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a column of fire it emitted rose swiftly into the air toward the direction of the black gem. The next moment, the expressions of every being in the arena changed. For the column of fire shot upward without encountering any obstacle or suppression, hitting the black gem squarely. Accompanied by a loud bang, the black gem shattered, and a hidden treasure fell quickly from the sky. The Fire Attribute lion roared with joy, but before it could reach for the prize, one of the five Beast Emperors extended a paw and seized the treasure directly. The Fire Attribute lion¡¯s expression froze, and though it seethed with anger internally, the pressure of strength forced it into a respectful pose, as if it had willingly relinquished the item. ¡°This treasure isn¡¯t suited to your Attribute,¡± said the Beast Emperor, seemingly understanding the Fire Attribute lion¡¯s thoughts, speaking calmly, ¡°However, you have merit in breaking the black gem. Once you leave this place, I will reward you.¡± The Fire Attribute lion breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed its gratitude. As one gem was shattered, the atmosphere in the area heated up abruptly. It wasn¡¯t long before a second Overlord-stage Transcendent Being couldn¡¯t contain itself and made a move towards the gems in the dome. Xu Ran only glanced once and wrote off this Transcendent Being as dead. After the black should have come the orange. But this creature had attacked the purple gem. Clearly, it hadn¡¯t discerned the pattern and thought that if the black stone could be shattered, then so could the others. Just as Xu Ran had predicted, the Overlord-stage being¡¯s attack was quickly suppressed and dissipated, and the next instant, a thread-like ray of light struck down, instantly killing the Overlord-stage being. This calmed the others who were eager to try their luck. They, like the newly killed Overlord-stage creature, had thought to attack any gem on a whim and see if luck was on their side. The success of the Fire Attribute lion had misled them into believing the suppression above the dome had vanished. Now it seemed, not everyone could be so fortunate. ¡°` Seeing the creatures inside the main hall regain their caution, Xu Ran gently exhaled a breath of fouled air. He knew the opportunity had arrived. The Eye of the Gargoyle that Cancan needed was sealed within a green gemstone. In front of it lay orange and blue gemstones. Xu Ran dared not be overly confident; he knew that relying on his own power, it was impossible to take away so many resources under the watchful eyes of all. Even if he managed to break the seals, they would be snatched away; at most, he could only preserve one. Therefore, he had not set his sights on the other resources from the beginning. Instead of waiting for other creatures to gradually break the seals on the two gemstones in front, it would be better to use the resources within those two gemstones as bait and smoothly take away the Eye of the Gargoyle. ¡°Ziyun,¡± Xu Ran turned his head to glance at Ziyun and quickly began to communicate with it through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Meow~¡± (Understood.) Ziyun¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and it nodded emphatically. Terrific bolts of thunder burst forth from its body in an instant, and the sudden surge in momentum drew countless gazes from the surroundings. The Beast Masters among the humans saw Xu Ran was about to make a move and each revealed a worrisome expression. Fang Canghai¡¯s face was the first to become extremely solemn. Until now, the human side had not made a move. Was Xu Ran going to be the first? Under the watchful eyes of many, Ziyun¡¯s form flashed like lightning, accompanied by a deep booming sound. Treading on Lei Jing, it flickered rapidly toward the gemstones suspended high up in the air. A fearsome bolt of lightning emerged from the void, striking down towards Ziyun in mid-air in an instant. Ziyun reached out with its paw, casually grasped the lightning, and then hurled it vehemently. The target, the orange gemstone! ¡°Boom!!!¡± Amid the tense gazes, the bolt of lightning exploded rapidly, and the horrific thunder instantly shattered the orange gemstone. Only the resource within was spared, as it was released from the confinement of the gemstone to slowly descend from the dome. Ignoring the resource that was falling, Ziyun tightly caught another bolt of lightning that struck down, preparing to attack once again. Seeing this scene, many Transcendent Beings that were prepared to ambush Ziyun and snatch the resource stopped their actions. As they halted, Ziyun hurled the second lightning spear toward the blue gemstone. ¡°Boom!!!¡± Another sound of a gemstone shattering echoed, and seeing Ziyun, who was already gripping the third bolt of lightning and not even glancing at the resource falling from the blue gemstone, the crowd erupted in astonishment. Being able to shatter the gemstones twice in a row proved that this Pet Beast was not simply trying its luck; it had indeed discovered the hidden rules within the main hall. By now, the resources within the orange gemstone had already found their owner in the blink of an eye, and from the beginning to the end, Ziyun had not glanced at them. It seemed to have no intention of participating in the competition for the resource within the blue gemstone, which baffled all the creatures present. Helping others without expecting any rewards? Impossible, right? In the brief moment when everyone was stunned, Ziyun¡¯s lightning spear had already shattered the green gemstone. It disappeared from its spot in an instant. Accompanied by another Lei Jing, it directly grabbed the newly fallen Eye of the Gargoyle and, with a flash, used Lei Jing to return to Xu Ran¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Ran had already been preparing with the other four little ones to retreat and without a second word, he casually grabbed Ziyun and mounted Star to flee. There was a low doorway beside the main hall, likely leading to the next opportunity. Of course, while making his escape, Xu Ran did not forget another important matter. A hidden voice echoed in Fang Canghai¡¯s ears. ¡°Senior, pay attention to the direction the statues are facing!¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes shone with a strange light. Two out of the six Emperor Stage Pet Beasts behind him instantly made moves to cover Xu Ran¡¯s retreat, and at the same time, his gaze rapidly swept across the statues. With Xu Ran¡¯s reminder and the order in which he had shattered the four gemstones just now, Fang Canghai quickly uncovered the pattern. A radiant smile appeared on his face. Good! Very good! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C What would happen next in the main hall, Xu Ran did not know. But barring any unexpected events, most of the resources from the remaining five gemstones would end up in the hands of the humans. At the moment, he followed the small doorway and quickly passed through the corridor to arrive at another hall. Compared to the main hall, this one was smaller in scale; it appeared to be a side hall. Inside, about a dozen beings were present, all of whom turned to look at Xu Ran. These beings were those who had given up on the opportunities in the main hall and had arrived here ahead of time. Xu Ran paid them no heed. The Eye of the Gargoyle was temporarily swallowed by Cancan and hidden in its stomach, not easily detectable. Walking over to a secluded corner, he began to carefully observe everything inside the side hall. Unlike the layout of the main hall, there were no statues in the side hall, nor gemstones in the dome. Instead, there stood several tall stone pillars. There were twelve pillars in total, all of the same size, each one about as thick as two people hugging and about five meters tall. At the top of each pillar, a hazy halo enveloped it, containing immense energy fluctuations, but the specifics were not visible. The twelve pillars were located in the center of the side hall, and the ground was engraved with mysterious patterns. The positions of the twelve pillars were precisely the twelve critical nodes of the pattern. The Transcendent Beings which had arrived early were circled around, yet none of them had taken the initiative to act. Smelling the lingering scent of blood within the side hall, Xu Ran knew that these pillars definitely also contained unknown dangers. For the time being, Xu Ran refrained from acting rashly and instead carefully observed everything in the side hall, trying to find clues to solve the puzzle. The Transcendent Beings that had been closely watching Xu Ran showed disappointment in their eyes. They were hoping that this human would rashly enter the range of the pillars, allowing them to obtain the opportunities before them more quickly. One of the beings, resembling a Jackal Overlord, flickered in its gaze slightly, then let out a faint chuckle, ¡°Human, why not try to obtain the treasures atop the pillars?¡± ¡°If it were that easy, you wouldn¡¯t still be here,¡± Xu Ran replied evenly, without changing his expression. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not easy, but there are successful precedents,¡± the Jackal Overlord chuckled, ¡°look at that pillar.¡± Chapter 761 - Chapter 761: Chapter 361: Blood Sacrifice? Beast Sacrifice! Chapter 761: Chapter 361: Blood Sacrifice? Beast Sacrifice! Sensing that the Transcendent Beings inside the temple harbored ill intentions, Xu Ran naturally couldn¡¯t be bothered to keep up pretenses with them. Accompanied by his five small Pet Beasts, he quickly searched every part of the side hall, trying to find a clue. Time was of the essence. Unless something unexpected happened, the five remaining gems in the main hall had likely been shattered by now, and once their resources had been claimed, whether it be other Beast Masters or Transcendent Beings, they would all make their way here through the passage. Therefore, he needed to find clues that would be advantageous for himself and the Humans as quickly as possible. Diligence pays off, and soon Xu Ran stopped in front of a wall in the side hall, where all the bricks were engraved with clear and mysterious lines. But the brick in front of him depicted a clear image among the countless ordinary ones, unremarkable at first glance but distinctly different once noticed. It was a scene of a Human fighting a Transcendent Being. This one image alone couldn¡¯t prove anything. But Xu Ran knew he had grasped a corner of the clue. Feeling the veiled eyes of other Transcendent Beings glancing his way, Xu Ran knew he couldn¡¯t linger here too long, or he would give himself away. He silently moved away from that brick and started scanning the other bricks for anomalies. Soon, another brick with an image was discovered. Following the previous one, this showed a Human defeating a Transcendent Being. Xu Ran shifted his gaze quickly, searching for other special bricks. Suddenly, he caught sight of an unusual brick. On that brick, twelve Humans were capturing a Transcendent Being, surrounding a special formation with twelve stone pillars. That formation, identical to the one in the side hall, made Xu Ran vaguely realize something. Could it really be what he was thinking? No sooner had the thought occurred to Xu Ran than he saw four bricks with images, on which Transcendent Beings were nowhere to be found, with only twelve Humans standing in the formation, cheering. ¡°Cancan, find a way to erase the images on this brick!¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and he turned to block the view of the other Transcendent Beings while speaking through Contractual Sensing. ¡°Chah!¡± (Yes!) Cancan immediately acted, its claws glowing with an earthy yellow light. In the next instant, a thin layer of stone resembling the brick¡¯s color coated the surface, covering all the images and even replicating the patterns of the surrounding bricks. In this way, the deception was nearly flawless. Xu Ran continued his search until he was certain there were no more bricks with hidden images, then returned with an indifferent expression to stand before the twelve-pillar formation. ¡°Humankind boy, have you found something?¡± The Jackal Overlord chuckled coldly, speaking casually. ¡°Even if I had, I wouldn¡¯t tell you.¡± Xu Ran glanced at the other party, replying calmly. The Jackal Overlord didn¡¯t take offense but instead, its gaze flickered. It had been suspecting whether Xu Ran had discovered something, but with such a reaction from Xu Ran, it now felt that he probably hadn¡¯t found anything at all. As Xu Ran was exchanging words with the Jackal Overlord, new movement came from the passage: figures emerged, and following Fang Canghai, five Beast Emperors from the side of the Transcendent Beings appeared. None of these Beast Emperors had decreased in number, but each was wounded, indicating that the main hall had witnessed an intense struggle. The state of Fang Canghai¡¯s six Emperor Stage Pet Beasts was slightly better, but they too were not unscathed. Subsequently, the Overlord stage beings and the Overlord Level Beast Masters from the Human side also poured into the passage, entering the side hall. The Humans quickly banded together, with Fang Canghai shooting an inquiring glance at Xu Ran, who had entered the side hall earliest. Without much hesitation, Xu Ran directly shared his discovery with the excitement of a pounding heart, ¡°Elders, in this side hall, we have the advantage.¡± ¡°The Yang Guang Celestial Palace is a relic left by a powerful Human civilization from another world, so many of its arrangements were made to benefit Humans.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this place was where the Humans from that world would sacrifice Transcendent Beings after hunting them and obtain treasures.¡± ¡°Combining what we know about the Humans from that other world and the content of the murals, this guess is likely not wrong,¡± Fang Canghai spoke slowly, ¡°but you said we have the advantage, how so?¡± ¡°On the mural, the twelve Humans brought back more than twelve Transcendent Beings for sacrifice,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°but in the last image, they all disappeared.¡± ¡°This suggests that even if twelve Transcendent Beings die within the formation, the formation will continue to attack Transcendent Beings, but Humans can enter it to gain treasures!¡± ¡°So, we don¡¯t have to do anything, just wait for them to enter and sacrifice themselves eleven more times, and we can take the treasures right before their eyes?¡± You Shengjiang¡¯s face showed a somewhat smug expression. Sounded exhilarating indeed. Other Beast Masters also began to smile at this moment. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not that easy,¡± Fang Canghai dashed a bit of cold water on the group, ¡°I saw the five Beast Emperors also questioning the earlier entered Transcendent Beings. They must be aware that this formation demands the sacrifice of twelve lives.¡± ¡°But they certainly don¡¯t know what¡¯s on the murals on the bricks.¡± ¡°So, we must make good use of this information asymmetry.¡± Almost as soon as Fang Canghai¡¯s voice fell, the Radiant Phoenix let out a clear croak, ¡°Humans, this place requires the sacrifice of twelve lives. Our side of Transcendent Beings has already sacrificed one.¡± Chapter 762 - Chapter 762: Chapter 361: Blood Sacrifice? Beast Sacrifice!_2 Chapter 762: Chapter 361: Blood Sacrifice? Beast Sacrifice!_2 ¡°` ¡°We contribute five more, and you provide the remaining six, how about we split the treasure of this place evenly?¡± ¡°How about not.¡± Fang Canghai chuckled, ¡°Pet Beasts are our life-or-death partners, how can we sacrifice them so easily?¡± ¡°Pretense, all humans are like this.¡± Another Beast Emperor sneered, ¡°Your so-called contracts are nothing more than enslaving our Beast Race.¡± ¡°Anyway, we would never send our companions into the array voluntarily.¡± Fang Canghai, uninterested in arguing, spoke calmly, ¡°How about this instead, you fill it with twelve lives, and we will let you have the treasure first.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± The Radiant Phoenix¡¯s gaze instantly sharpened upon hearing this. It had proposed an equal contribution of six lives each, considering that the humans would not let go of the treasure at hand. Since both sides were vying for it, it was natural that not all sacrifices should come from their side, the Transcendent Beings. But Fang Canghai¡¯s words seemed to imply something else. The human side didn¡¯t want the treasure here? There must be a problem! If the resources here weren¡¯t the issue, then the humans must have some clues unknown to them. It stared intensely at Fang Canghai, trying to discern something from his eyes. Fang Canghai met its gaze without wavering, remaining composed. Taking a deep breath, the Radiant Phoenix¡¯s aura soared skyward like a blinding burst of light, making the entire side hall seem as if it were directly exposed to sunlight. Its fierce aura surged heavenward, rapidly bearing down on Fang Canghai. ¡°We each contribute six lives, and there will be no concessions on this matter!¡± ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. He knew that the others had become suspicious. After all, before this, their Beast Masters had fought to the death with the Transcendent Beings in the main hall for a few resources, yet now they were readily letting go of the resources. With a helpless shake of his head, Fang Canghai murmured, ¡°Take action!¡± The Beast Masters, already prepared to strike, responded in unison. Their Pet Beasts quickly dispersed, and before the Transcendent Beings could react, they were swiftly toppled towards the array¡¯s direction. One after another, the Transcendent Beings howled in fury and confusion, struggling to control their bodies to avoid the fatal consequences of falling into the array. But because the humans were well-prepared, some Transcendent Beings did not react in time; in the next second, they were shattered by the array, turning into a rain of blood. Witnessing the blood rain and how the array mercilessly devoured it, quickly dimming the nine pillars, the five Beast Emperors flew into a rage in an instant, their Imperial Crowns blasting skyward. And the other Transcendent Beings also fell into a frenzy, launching a counterattack. Moments later, an Overlord Level Pet Beast was struck by three Overlord Level Transcendent Beings working together and was sent into the array, dying instantly. The corresponding Beast Master of the fallen beast grunted, eyes reddening in an instant, grinding teeth and coordinating with his other Pet Beasts in a frenzy of retaliation. The other Beast Masters also united in their hatred, and before long, one of the previously striking Overlord Level Transcendent Beings was sent into the array. As the light from all twelve pillars dimmed, the chaos in the arena instantly froze. The Transcendent Beings, who had been closely monitoring the array, ceased their movements, and the humans did the same. ¡°Go!¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s roar echoed throughout the hall, taking the lead in leaving his Pet Beast behind and rushing towards the array ahead. The other Beast Masters followed suit, each charging into the array. ¡°Want to compete in speed?¡± One of the Beast Emperors let out a fierce roar, poised to rush into the array, only to be instantly restrained by the Radiant Phoenix. In the next instant, an Overlord Level that had entered the array was crushed by the array, causing its expression to turn ugly. As it watched the Beast Tamers enter the array unscathed, it was infuriated, its aura trembling violently. ¡°Despicable humans!¡± Seeing that those Beast Tamers entered the array without bringing their Pet Beasts, it had already sensed something was amiss, and now, seeing this scene, how could it not understand the situation? The array had indeed been unlocked. But the only ones who could enter were still humans. Twelve lives were sacrificed, with humans losing only one Overlord, while their side had fallen eleven Overlords! ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this place after all, is a human relic.¡± Fang Canghai sneered, raising his hand to shatter the dim shield on the stone pillar before him. ¡°` Other Beast Masters acted in quick succession, and soon the twelve treasures placed atop the stone pillars were fully revealed. Xu Ran took a deep breath, his gaze instantly fixed on one of the items. It was a long saber embedded atop the stone pillar. Around the saber, natural saber auras wrapped around, slightly distorting the empty space around it. The sharp edge of the blade reflected a cold light, and its bold aura evoked a strong desire in Xu Ran. He wanted this saber! Although the broken saber was good, it was no longer sufficient since he acquired the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers. As if sensing Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts, Fang Canghai casually made a gesture, and the long saber obediently flew up, heading towards Xu Ran, ¡°Xu Ran, you¡¯re a saber user. This one¡¯s for you.¡± The other Beast Masters remained silent. Although Xu Ran was the weakest among them, he was the one who found the secrets of this place twice. In terms of merit, he deserved one of the treasures. ¡°Thank you!¡± Xu Ran raised his hand to grasp the hilt, and the long saber suddenly let out a soft cry, as if resentful of being wielded, its radiant saber auras becoming frenzied in an instant, slicing fine bloodlines onto Xu Ran¡¯s body. Xu Ran¡¯s eyes quickly sharpened, the saber force he had comprehended from the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers instantly erupted, inch by inch suppressing the surging saber auras back into the saber. When all the saber auras were forcibly suppressed back into the saber, the saber also gave off a reluctant shiver, gradually calming down. This one was a typical bully that feared the strong. In the clash of saber forces just now, Xu Ran had also come to know the name of the saber in his hand. The saber¡¯s name was Mozhui. Satisfied, Xu Ran put away Mozhui and looked around. By this time, the other treasures had also found their new owners. The Overlord Level Beast Master who lost a Pet Beast in the recent melee took an extra piece as compensation, while the rest chose according to their needs. While the humans were dividing the treasures, the atmosphere outside the array grew increasingly tense. The Transcendent Beings didn¡¯t act, but they watched the array with covetous eyes. Clearly, they had no intention of giving up. But the human side had naturally anticipated the current situation. ¡°Act, block them,¡± Fang Canghai ordered in a low voice, striding out of the array and walking towards the passageway leading to the next opportunity. Five Beast Emperors were about to take action when they saw six Emperor Stage Pet Beasts with no intention of leaving, stepping forward to block their path. The other Beast Masters did the same. One by one, the Transcendent Beasts were intercepted by their Pet Beasts, and even the five little ones joined forces to block two or three Overlords. As they watched all the humans enter the next chamber of opportunity, the Radiant Phoenix laughed in rage at the Pet Beasts blocking the way, ¡°This is what you get for cooperating with the humans!¡± ¡°Humans are always cunning, no matter the world!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve abandoned you, and you¡¯re still so delusional, blocking us for them?!¡± The response to the Radiant Phoenix, however, was the Pet Beasts¡¯ looks of pity, as if they were looking at an idiot. Seeing such a look made the Radiant Phoenix even angrier, ¡°Am I wrong?¡± The strongest Pet Beast of Fang Canghai that remained, an azure-colored Azure Dragon, finally couldn¡¯t help speaking out the collective mind of the Pet Beasts, ¡°Ah, yes, yes, yes.¡± Not waiting for the Radiant Phoenix to continue inciting, the next moment all the Pet Beasts radiated golden light, with the Hexagram Star Array twinkling under their feet. Before everyone¡¯s eyes, they simply vanished on the spot, leaving behind a group of Transcendent Beings staring in astonishment. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± one of the Overlords muttered in confusion after a moment, breaking the silence. ¡°After them!¡± The fury in the Radiant Phoenix¡¯s eyes almost turned tangible as it lunged towards the passageway. They had been played! Chapter 763 - Chapter 763: Chapter 362 Lucky Cancan Chapter 763: Chapter 362 Lucky Cancan At the moment when all the Transcendent Beings were in a frenzy, another side chamber located on the other side of the passageway lit up behind each Beast Master with a Hexagram Star Array. In the midst of the storm that was kicked up, all Pet Beasts returned. ¡°They really know nothing about the methods of a Beast Master,¡± Fang Canghai chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that such a trick can only deceive them once.¡± ¡°Being able to deceive them once is enough,¡± Zhou Qing, not far from Fang Canghai, slowly said, ¡°Chairman Fang, there are only four halls in this Yang Guang Celestial Palace, right?¡± ¡°Correct, one main and three side halls, four halls in total,¡± Fang Canghai nodded. When the Yang Guang Celestial Palace appeared, he had rode the Giant Dragon to circle around and observe, so he had some understanding of the structure of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace. ¡°Above the four halls, there is a second level, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, one must go through all the halls to be able to enter it.¡± ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t we just give up on this side hall and head to the next one?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed as he took the initiative to speak, ¡°Those Transcendent Beings will definitely not want to give up the opportunities here, so that would give us a moment to delay them.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Fang Canghai wore a contemplative expression, surveying the surroundings. Unlike the previous two halls, this one could be said to be completely empty, without a single object that looked like a treasure. ¡°Xu Ran, what do you think?¡± He turned his inquiring gaze to Xu Ran, who was carefully observing in silence. The other Beast Masters also looked over at this moment. With Xu Ran¡¯s impressive performance in the previous two halls, all the Beast Masters present had high expectations of him. ¡°I think¡­¡± Xu Ran scratched his head, not having found many important clues, ¡°with almost no treasures visible in this side hall, those Transcendent Beings likely won¡¯t linger, and might even think that we¡¯ve taken the treasures here and have already entered the fourth hall.¡± ¡°More importantly, I feel that the treasures here might be even more important than those in the first two main halls,¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice held a certain firmness. Hearing this, Fang Canghai immediately looked surprised, ¡°Have you already discovered the opportunities here?¡± ¡°Not yet, but I have some speculations,¡± Xu Ran turned his head to look at the empty hall, exchanging a glance with Cancan. ¡°Cha~¡± (¡°Look at me!¡±) Cancan extended a paw, pressed firmly upon the Earth, and then a terracotta-colored halo erupted around them. After one breath¡¯s time, the halo dissipated, and Cancan walked confidently to a certain spot within the hall. Just as expected! A hint of joy appeared in Xu Ran¡¯s eyes. If the secret was not on the ground, then it could naturally be beneath it. He quickly walked over to the spot indicated by Cancan, carefully examining the floor tile under his feet. This floor tile¡­ looked like a painting, but upon closer inspection, there was an incongruent spot. He cautiously stepped forward, pressing down an inch on the mismatched spot, and then the entire painting seemed to harmonize. A deep roaring sound echoed from beneath, and the whole floor tile instantly split into two, flipping outward to reveal a stone pillar that was slowly rising. Stone pillar! Xu Ran¡¯s eyes brightened. He was familiar with this scene! ¡°Cancan! Continue!¡± signaling Cancan to keep looking for other pillars, Xu Ran began to examine the pillar that had just risen. Unlike the pillars he encountered in the ruins before, this one bore no marks of weapons, smooth as new. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Fang Canghai strode over, looking at the stone pillar with a puzzled expression. ¡°I previously discovered a ruin left by a human force from another world; it had become a ruin, but some opportunities there were not destroyed,¡± Xu Ran explained, ¡°Seeing that this place was empty, I thought of this possibility.¡± ¡°This must be a method of protecting legacies in that world, and the things they protected, are probably more precious than what we¡¯ve discovered before.¡± Hearing this, the other Beast Masters showed excited expressions. They agreed with what Xu Ran said. They hadn¡¯t expected to be so lucky, discovering the way to open this place so quickly. ¡°Good thing we didn¡¯t just leave, otherwise we would have missed out on this precious opportunity,¡± Qi Yuan said with a laugh and a hint of self-mockery. As everyone talked and laughed, Cancan had already found the second unusual spot. With the experience of the first, Xu Ran repeated the process, and quickly the second pillar rose amid the rumbling sound. As Xu Ran and Cancan prepared to activate the third spot, a series of rumbling sounds came from the passageway, making all the Beast Masters present slightly change their expressions. The Transcendent Beings were coming. ¡°Block them in the passageway,¡± Fang Canghai grunted, making a decisive command, as six Emperor Stage Pet Beasts simultaneously unleashed their power, blocking the entrance to the passageway. Just now, humans had taken the first step with a strategem to block the following Transcendent Beings; the narrow yet sturdy passageway was not something that Transcendent Beings suppressed to King Stage strength could forcibly break through. As long as the humans¡¯ Pet Beasts focused their fire on the other side of the passageway, keeping the Transcendent Beings at bay, they¡¯d have no strategy left. Other Overlord Stage Pet Beasts followed closely behind, attacks bursting towards the passageway entrance without a dead angle. The Transcendent Beings who had just peeked their heads out of the passageway were directly confused by a barrage of attacks, and their charge was immediately contained amidst angry roars. The third, the fourth, the fifth¡­ One by one, stone pillars activated by Xu Ran slowly rose from beneath the floor tiles. Eventually, within the originally empty palace, a total of ten stone pillars appeared. These ten pillars formed a gigantic circle, and when the last pillar had completely risen, the tremendous power hidden within the pillars was immediately triggered, gathering together and causing the center of the palace to rapidly distort in space. Chapter 764 - Chapter 764: Chapter 362 Lucky Cancan_2 Chapter 764: Chapter 362 Lucky Cancan_2 A dark and obscure cave entrance appeared in the center of the palace. On the other side of the entrance, there were countless points of light, like stars. ¡°I¡¯ll go in and scout ahead,¡± Fang Canghai nodded at the others and strode into it. After a moment, Fang Canghai emerged from the darkness, his expression a bit strange. ¡°Chairman Fang, did you find anything?¡± The other Beast Masters asked one after another. ¡°It¡¯s hard to describe, what I found is very precious, but useless to me,¡± Fang Canghai paused, ¡°It¡¯s information on the location of a Saint Rank resource, but it¡¯s not in our world.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Was the location of a Saint Rank resource precious? Without a doubt. Just the location alone already exceeded the value of an Emperor Stage resource. After all, the Saint Rank is the strongest among the existing power levels. But since the Yang Guang Celestial Palace originated from another world, the location it provided was naturally that of another world, and could be said to be completely useless. Compared to entering another world, it might be easier to kill a Saint Spirit. ¡°Forget it, you guys try,¡± Fang Canghai shook his head helplessly, ¡°maybe you¡¯ll have better luck.¡± ¡°Xu Ran?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait,¡± Xu Ran cleared his throat, ¡°you go first.¡± He never had much confidence in matters of luck. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± You Shengjiang, who had been itching to go, laughed heartily and strode into the darkness. Moments later, he emerged with an odd look on his face, ¡°I got a sword technique? It feels pretty powerful.¡± ¡°Though you¡¯ve never used a sword, Old You, you certainly look the part,¡± Qi Cheng smiled with pursed lips. ¡°Go away!¡± You Shengjiang waved his hand irritably, ¡°I¡¯ll get a sword when I¡¯m back and figure it out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Qi Yuan entered and soon came out with joy on his face, holding a resource in his hand that had reached the Emperor Stage level in terms of energy intensity. Immediately, many envious gazes were cast his way, even Xu Ran felt a pang of desire. One by one, the Beast Masters entered the dark cave to try their luck; some, like Fang Canghai, were unfortunate and only obtained completely useless resource clues, while others had great luck and acquired valuable resources. When all the other Beast Masters had entered the cave, Xu Ran finally stood up, walked nervously into the darkness. Entering the cave, all he could see was darkness enveloping him, making everything else dim, without a trace of light. However, this sensation lasted only about the span of a breath. Soon after, countless shiny points appeared in the air, all of equal size, some bright and some dim, each faintly projecting an aura that attracted Xu Ran. Intuitively, Xu Ran understood the rules of this place. He could choose one of the points of light to take with him, the specifics of which would be revealed after his selection. He could judge based on the brightness of the light and the aura projected from the points. No wonder the seniors¡¯ picks varied in quality, this was no different from a blind box drawing. Xu Ran complained to himself and then walked toward the nearest point of light. This point was quite bright, and the faint aura it projected also brought a distinct sensation of heat to Xu Ran. Unsurprisingly, it should be related to the Fire Attribute. He then approached a second point of light. Uh¡­ Thunder Attribute. Wait a minute¡­ Xu Ran stroked his chin and stopped in his tracks. He suddenly felt that this aimless search was inefficient, and the process of drawing from these blind boxes gave him a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. That¡¯s right, it was similar to when he searched for a Beast Egg in the Beast Egg Library. How had he found Cancan¡¯s egg back then? If he remembered correctly, he used a blue item that the system drew, an Insight Mirror. It¡¯s just a pity that he hadn¡¯t drawn it again after that. After so many lottery drawings, Xu Ran had realized that the items drawn by the system often had a strong bias and were usually useful to him. This randomness wasn¡¯t serious at all. So, what were the odds of drawing an Insight Mirror if he tried his luck now? ¡°System, you understand what I mean, right?¡± he murmured to himself, then opened the lottery drawing page. The last resource allocation had just finished not long ago, and he didn¡¯t have many Pleasure points left, but he could still afford to do forty or so single draws. With the ¡°Insight Mirror¡± in his mind, Xu Ran started to do single draws after a long absence. By the third draw, a smile appeared on his face. System daddy loves me! With the Insight Mirror put on, Xu Ran quickly scanned all the light points before his eyes. At this moment, each light point changed in his view. Although he still couldn¡¯t see what was inside them, they became large and small, some as tiny as a knuckle, others as big as meters in diameter. Without doubt, the bigger the light point, the better the stuff inside. With the godly assist of the Insight Mirror, the speed of screening light points suddenly increased. Xu Ran picked only the large ones, stopping and going, and quickly reached the dark depths. A massive ball of light almost ten meters in diameter caught Xu Ran¡¯s full attention. You¡¯re the one! He took a deep breath and pressed down hard on this light point. The next moment, the lights all around dimmed, while the one in Xu Ran¡¯s hand shone even more brightly. The effect of the Insight Mirror disappeared automatically, and an object fell into Xu Ran¡¯s palm from the dazzling light. Xu Ran felt a sudden heaviness in his hand, as if he had picked up a little mountain, and he stumbled. He quickly used his other hand too, veins popping on his forehead, and with all his might, he finally managed to lift the thing which was no bigger than half of his palm. This was really outrageous, considering that Xu Ran¡¯s strength now was no less than that of King Stage. With the power to destroy a 3 Level town, one can imagine how great that strength was, and yet such power was still needed to lift this tiny object. Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look. It was a six-sided crystal, with earthy yellow liquid slowly flowing beneath a surface clear as glass. The earthy yellow liquid had a dense texture, containing a tremendous power that moved Xu Ran instantly. If one observed carefully, they could see cold metals, the stark whiteness of rocks, and the brown-green of plants mixed into the earthy yellow liquid, containing a massive life force. Looking at this wholly unfamiliar resource, information Xu Ran once looked up in the documents came to his mind. Is this¡­ Marrow of Thick Soil?! Xu Ran¡¯s expression gradually became strange. Could this ruin be Cancan¡¯s lucky place? Otherwise, how could he explain that among the four resources obtained, three were related to Cancan? The Vein Origin Stone obtained from defeating the Armored Beast King, the Eye of the Gargoyle from the main hall, and the Marrow of Thick Soil he had just acquired. Had Cancan¡¯s Evolution Materials just come together like this? With both hands struggling to move the Marrow of Thick Soil, Xu Ran already knew why it had such a terrifying weight. The term ¡°Thick Soil¡± referred to the earth itself, not merely thick dirt. In the attributes of this world, the Earth attribute corresponds to the earth itself. Metals, rocks, trees, all of these are a part of the earth and thus belong to the Earth attribute as well. Therefore, Thick Soil can be seen as the most complete, purest Earth attribute Power. The Marrow of Thick Soil is the product of the supreme compression of Thick Soil¡¯s Power. This tiny piece of Marrow of Thick Soil, smaller than the size of a palm, was equivalent to the power contained in thousands of acres of land compressed together, hence its incredible heaviness. Having struggled to move it out of the black hole, Xu Ran directly handed the Marrow of Thick Soil to Cancan, which was already waiting outside the black hole. ¡°Wow!¡± (Awesome!) Excited, Cancan temporarily swallowed and stashed away the Marrow of Thick Soil. Even as a creature of the Earth attribute, it couldn¡¯t help but buckle under the weight of the Marrow of Thick Soil. The other four creatures cast envious glances. Why is Cancan so lucky!!! Chapter 765 - Chapter 765: Chapter 363: Double Heavens Que! Chapter 765: Chapter 363: Double Heaven¡¯s Que! Because Xu Ran transferred resources to Cancan so quickly, even the Beast Masters present were unable to recognize what exactly Xu Ran had obtained. The only certainty was that it must be a resource. ¡°Let¡¯s withdraw,¡± Fang Canghai said with a hint of a smile in his eyes as he looked at the blocked entrance tunnel, which the Transcendent Beings still couldn¡¯t break through. All the Beast Masters present responded in unison, then left their Pet Beasts behind and proceeded alone to the next side hall. Seeing this, the five leading Beast Emperors almost burst with rage. However, they were at a disadvantage against the group of menacing Pet Beasts and stood no chance, only able to silently curse these detestable humans for not obtaining the opportunity that lay ahead. Unlike the previous three palaces, the interior of the fourth palace was extravagantly decorated, with finely carved mysterious statues everywhere and relief murals on the walls depicting various Transcendent Beings. In the center of these decorations was a spiral staircase leading to the dome. The second floor! A look of excitement instantly appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. According to Fang Canghai¡¯s previous observations, the Yang Guang Celestial Palace had only two floors. Normally, the higher the floor, the more important it is. Therefore, the second floor must have even more precious treasures than the first floor. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡­,¡± Fang Canghai began loudly, taking a step forward. All the statues and murals suddenly lit up at the same time, and a tremendous force descended, instantly making him stoop. Fang Canghai¡¯s face slightly changed, and the other Beast Masters also showed various reactions. ¡°It seems not so easy to get to the second floor,¡± Qi Yuan murmured as he took a step forward. A similarly massive force landed on his shoulder, making Qi Yuan temporarily stop in his tracks. The other Beast Masters also came forward one by one to lightly feel the pressure. As Xu Ran took a step, he felt as if a heavy boulder had been added to him, making even lifting his leg especially strenuous. Gravity. There was some kind of array here that could enhance gravity! He looked around, then reached towards the nearest statue. If the statue was glowing, it must be part of the array. If he could destroy it, perhaps he could deactivate the array. The thought was good in his mind, but the moment Xu Ran reached out, he realized something was wrong. As his hand neared the statue, the gravity it endured suddenly increased dramatically, as if a mountain was pressing down on his arm. The terrifying pressure caused Qin Chuan¡¯s elbow to twist uncontrollably, his forearm went straight down, and he couldn¡¯t lift it even a bit. Clearly, this was a protective measure inherent to the statue, making it extremely difficult to approach and destroy it. What about long-range attacks? Xu Ran withdrew his hand and flexed his arm, recovering from the increased gravity, then drew the Mozhui Blade strapped to his back and stepped back several paces. The newly acquired formidable long blade in Xu Ran¡¯s hand burst forth with a fierce cutting force in an instant. He slowly lifted the blade over his head, took a deep breath, then swiftly brought it down, the blade gleaming like a crescent, carrying a sharp whistling sound as it slashed towards the statue in front of him. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers¡ªSecond Slash, Crescent Slash! This powerful strike turned the heads of the other Beast Masters around him, the fierce momentum seemingly able to effortlessly slice through anything. However, the moment the blade¡¯s energy neared the statue, it abruptly stopped, then emitted a grating noise and instantly shattered. Seeing this, Xu Ran silently sheathed the Mozhui Blade, ¡°The array probably can¡¯t be destroyed. We¡¯ll have to endure it.¡± ¡°Moreover, the closer to the statues, the stronger the gravity, so everyone should try to keep away from the statues within the array.¡± ¡°This is indeed a bit challenging,¡± Fang Canghai chuckled, looking at the densely packed statues in front of him. In this vast palace, there were hundreds, if not thousands of statues. To withstand such a powerful force of gravity and still be mindful to navigate around them suggested that the second floor indeed was difficult to enter. Fang Canghai, gradually adjusting to the heavy pressure, took a deep breath and then proceeded with large strides towards the spiral staircase. One step, two steps. Although Fang Canghai¡¯s footsteps sounded particularly heavy due to gravity, they remained steady. In the process of moving forward, he still had enough strength to observe his surroundings and avoid the nearby statues. ¡°Follow Chairman Fang,¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, following closely behind. The other Beast Masters also caught on, closely following in Chairman Fang¡¯s footsteps, forming a long line. Though the array was difficult, it wasn¡¯t too hard. As long as there was one person strong enough to find the correct path, others could simply walk in his footsteps to pass through smoothly. Just as this idea dawned on everyone, reality harshly slapped them across the face. As Fang Canghai made it about halfway into the array, the entire array suddenly made a low rumble. This sudden change caused everyone to instantly halt their steps. Then, they stared dumbfounded as they found the statues within the entire array range beginning to slowly move! Although the statues moved very slowly, taking quite a while to shift by about the length of a finger, which wasn¡¯t much different from a snail¡¯s pace, this still cast a shadow over everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°Be careful, I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± Fang Canghai spoke sternly, then took several more steps forward. His expression darkened, and the expressions of the others changed as well. Because as Fang Canghai drew nearer to the staircase at the center of the array, the statues moved faster. Chapter 766 - Chapter 766: Chapter 363: The Second Layer of Heavens Gate!_2 Chapter 766: Chapter 363: The Second Layer of Heaven¡¯s Gate!_2 Seeing this, Fang Canghai didn¡¯t hesitate to step back several paces, returning to the position he was in before the statue moved. The array emitted another trembling sound, and the moving statue instantly ceased its motion. The scene fell into a deadlock for the time being. As long as someone continued to move forward, the statues would also move, and the further forward one went, the faster the statues would move. Around these statues was an extremely terrifying gravity. One could imagine what would happen if someone carelessly collided with a statue. It was very likely that the Beast Master would be instantly crushed by the statue¡¯s terrifying gravity. Looking at the ladder leading to the second floor, everyone felt it was a thorny problem. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Fang Canghai said in a deep voice after a moment of standoff, ¡°The gravity here is already very strong. If we keep waiting around here, we¡¯ll only exhaust our strength.¡± Everyone showed a look of helplessness but had no choice but to exit along with Fang Canghai. ¡°Statues won¡¯t do, what about the bas-reliefs?¡± the vice-chairman of Xieyun City, Qi Cheng, spoke thoughtfully. She walked step by step toward the walls of the palace adorned with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, eventually stopping in front of a particular bas-relief. Under the tense gaze of the crowd, she slowly reached out her hand towards the bas-relief. To everyone¡¯s surprise, there was no terrifying gravity around the bas-relief like that around the statues, and she easily touched the bas-relief itself. Seeing this, looks of astonishment appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. Because when the array was activated, these bas-reliefs, along with the statues, were evidently glowing together, indicating they were both related to the array. The statues couldn¡¯t be touched, but the bas-reliefs could. At this moment, everyone¡¯s minds were struck by the same thought. What would happen if these bas-reliefs were destroyed? Qi Cheng¡¯s eyes flashed, clearly having thought of the same question. The hand she had on the bas-relief suddenly exerted force, but in the next moment she winced in pain and withdrew her hand as if electrocuted. When she withdrew it, her hand was slightly twisted, as though it had been fractured. ¡°It¡¯s a rebound.¡± Qi Cheng¡¯s voice took on a heavier tone as she bore the pain and corrected the position of her hand bones, speaking with a muffled voice, ¡°The bas-relief rebounded my power and injured my hand.¡± ¡°A rebound?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly and he stepped forward to control his power and punch the bas-relief before falling silent. In the moment he focused on the bas-relief, he felt the same force rebound onto his own fist. Because he deliberately controlled his power, he wasn¡¯t hurt, but there was no doubt that Qi Cheng¡¯s judgment was right. The others stepped forward to try it out one by one. Xu Ran restrained the impulse to draw his sword and lightly slapped the bas-relief, feeling the rebounding force within it, and his face showed a contemplative expression. Rebound¡­ Gravity¡­ If one were to use the power of the bas-reliefs to block the array, it might be possible to cancel out the gravity in the array, but since the bas-reliefs couldn¡¯t be destroyed, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to make use of their unique power. Xu Ran pondered while walking around, his hand aimlessly wandering over the surface of the bas-reliefs. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Just now, he felt a sense of activity in his fingertips. He sharply looked towards the bas-relief he was touching and then saw what he had unwittingly touched a moment ago. It was a fierce dragon head bas-relief, with a round pearl held in its mouth. In the world of Beast Masters, such an image of a dragon clutching a dragon pearl also existed, so Xu Ran hadn¡¯t paid it much heed at first. But at this moment, he suddenly realized something. The dragon pearl in the mouth of the dragon head bas-relief was moveable! It was fixed in place within the dragon¡¯s mouth, but with a slight lift, it could be directly taken out! The moment he took the dragon pearl out and held it in his hand, Xu Ran revealed a smile. So that¡¯s how it is. ¡°Everyone look for dragon heads!¡± Xu Ran held the dragon pearl aloft, ¡°The dragon pearls can be taken out, holding them should allow us to pass through the array!¡± Upon a single glance at the Dragon Pearl and the dragon head beside Xu Ran, everyone immediately understood how to operate it. They began searching along the walls within the hall. After scouring the four walls, they found only nine Dragon Pearls, which meant they had to ascend the ladder in two groups. Xu Ran, who was the first to discover a Dragon Pearl, naturally belonged to the first group. After a brief exchange, the rest quickly determined the remaining eight candidates. Under Fang Canghai¡¯s leadership, a group of nine people holding Dragon Pearls strode into the array. The remaining Beast Masters watched tensely. When they saw the array activated once again, yet the people walked as though on level ground, and even seemed lighter on their feet, they couldn¡¯t help but cheer. With such speed, even if the statues came to life, they could easily dodge them! In no time, the first group had crossed half the distance. Once again the array vibrated, the statues began moving erratically, and as the nine continued deeper, their speed kept increasing until afterimages appeared. But no matter how fast the statues moved, the nine, unbound by gravity, could easily evade them. In the midst of cheers from those waiting outside the array, Fang Canghai, Xu Ran, and the other seven successfully reached the staircase leading to the second level. The moment they reached the staircase, the Dragon Pearls in their hands violently trembled, bursting with an urge to break free. The nine looked at each other, then released their hands simultaneously. Like nine streaks of rainbow light crossing the array, the Dragon Pearls instantly flew back into the mouths of the dragon head reliefs. The second batch of eager Beast Masters quickly obtained the Dragon Pearls and entered the array. Eventually, everyone gathered at the staircase and moved to the second level together. At the same time, a series of Hexagram Star Arrays appeared, and the Pet Beasts that were blocked in the second side hall were called back one by one. As all the human Beast Masters and Pet Beasts disappeared up the staircase to the second level, the entrance passageway of the third side hall soon filled with furious roars. Figures crossed the passageway in an instant, and upon seeing the empty third side hall, their expressions turned particularly grim. ¡°Damn humans!¡± the Giant Dragon Beast Emperor among the five Beast Emperors let out a roar and, without any hesitation, spread its wings and pursued them. Already proud and unyielding, it had been completely driven mad by the frustration of being blocked at the passage entrance. The next moment, the statues in the center and the relief sculptures on the walls all lit up, and a terrifying gravity smashed down on the Giant Dragon Beast Emperor. It stumbled mid-air and crashed heavily towards the ground. ¡°Scram!¡± The Giant Dragon Beast Emperor¡¯s fierce gaze locked onto the statues lighting up in the area, the rancor in its heart made it want to crush everything in sight to smithereens. Its enormous claw lunged without hesitation towards the nearest statues, while its huge tail swept across other statues on the opposite side, and its massive body pressed down like Mount Tai onto the statues below. ¡°Stop!¡± The Radiant Phoenix suddenly perceived something and its expression changed in an instant. However, its warning was already too late. As the Giant Dragon Beast Emperor¡¯s body touched the statues, a terrifying gravitational force erupted violently, instantly tearing its massive body to pieces, blood splattering on the spot. The faces of the other four Beast Emperors darkened in an instant. With the fall of one Beast Emperor, their ability to face off against the detestable humans was further diminished. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Already proud and unyielding, it had been completely driven mad by the frustration of being blocked at the passage entrance. The next moment, the statues in the center and the relief sculptures on the walls all lit up, and a terrifying gravity smashed down on the Giant Dragon Beast Emperor. It stumbled mid-air and crashed heavily towards the ground. ¡°Scram!¡± The Giant Dragon Beast Emperor¡¯s fierce gaze locked onto the statues lighting up in the area, the rancor in its heart made it want to crush everything in sight to smithereens. Its enormous claw lunged without hesitation towards the nearest statues, while its huge tail swept across other statues on the opposite side, and its massive body pressed down like Mount Tai onto the statues below. ¡°Stop!¡± The Radiant Phoenix suddenly perceived something and its expression changed in an instant. However, its warning was already too late. As the Giant Dragon Beast Emperor¡¯s body touched the statues, a terrifying gravitational force erupted violently, instantly tearing its massive body to pieces, blood splattering on the spot. The faces of the other four Beast Emperors darkened in an instant. With the fall of one Beast Emperor, their ability to face off against the detestable humans was further diminished. Chapter 767 - Chapter 767: Chapter 364: The Long Bygones, Yang Guang Cultivation Method Chapter 767: Chapter 364: The Long Bygones, Yang Guang Cultivation Method ¡°` ¡°This¡­¡± Seeing the man in the pavilion, the expressions of the crowd changed dramatically. Clearly, they had never contemplated the possibility that within the relic there existed another world with humans. Soon, however, Fang Canghai noticed something was amiss. ¡°This is not his true self,¡± he said gravely, his eyes filling with bewilderment. Because he could not fully discern the state of the other at this moment. ¡°Indeed, this is not my true self,¡± the man replied with a slight smile upon hearing Fang Canghai¡¯s words, ¡°My true self has long perished; this is but a remnant consciousness.¡± ¡°I mean no harm,¡± his face carried traces of reminiscence and nostalgia, ¡°Once, I led the strong from the Heavenly Palace to suppress the Dawn Realm, sealing countless from the Beast Race, sinking into silence here, unaware of the passing of time. Your language is quite foreign to me, which must mean the world has changed dramatically.¡± ¡°I wish to know what the situation is like beyond the Dawn Realm now.¡± ¡°Does the world still remember the Yang Guang Celestial Palace? Is the Cangming Boundary Stele still stable? Has the Beast Race retaliated?¡± he asked, glancing at the people and frowning slightly. ¡°Your strengths seem very illusory, full of vigor but lacking spirit; yet surprisingly, your realms are not low. Has the tradition of martial arts in the human race really decayed to such an extent?¡± ¡°Odd, with such illusory strength, how do you manage to command so many from the Beast Race? Could it be through enticement?¡± Listening to the man¡¯s murmurs, everyone¡¯s expressions froze in unison. If they hadn¡¯t misheard, it seemed this fellow thought them weak? ¡°Shall I speak?¡± Fang Canghai glanced at the people behind him, then began speaking slowly. Everyone nodded in agreement. Among their group, Fang Canghai, as the leader, was naturally the most qualified to converse with the other party. With consensus reached, Fang Canghai stepped forward, approaching the man, ¡°Senior, the situation may be somewhat different from what you think,¡± he said slowly. ¡°The Dawn Realm you¡¯ve mentioned should be the relic space in which we currently are, right?¡± Fang Canghai stated, ¡°It originally did not belong to our world and appeared here due to some unknown reasons.¡± ¡°So, we and you are not from the same world.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The man showed a look of utter astonishment, clearly not expecting such a revelation, ¡°While still alive, I had heard that beyond the heavens there were other heavens, but I never imagined it to be true.¡± A touch of regret showed on his face, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that I have perished, otherwise I would have wished to see the wonders of this new world.¡± Looking again at Fang Canghai and the crowd, his eyes showed a slight change, ¡°So, you are not of illusory strength, but your power is different from ours?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Canghai nodded, ¡°In our world, the power we possess is the Beast Taming Power. We form contracts with Transcendent Beings to command them in battle, and we strengthen ourselves through the power reflected back by these beings.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the man¡¯s face revealed an epiphany, ¡°No wonder you can travel alongside so many from the Beast Race.¡± ¡°In our world, humans and the Beast Race are mortal enemies,¡± the man shook his head slightly, lamenting, ¡°If our world also possessed such power, perhaps that battle would not have occurred.¡± ¡°Senior, the Transcendent Beings in our world originally came from yours,¡± Fang Canghai stated somberly, ¡°According to historical records, they appeared suddenly.¡± ¡°Had our ancestors not discovered the power of Beast Taming to oppose them, we might have been annihilated by the Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°Even so, the situation for the human side is still not very favorable.¡± ¡°It seems there is more to that battle than I am aware of,¡± the man¡¯s expression shifted continuously, and after a while, he spoke slowly, ¡°Since you¡¯re not from the same world as I am, then you didn¡¯t come here to reminisce with me, did you?¡± ¡°Senior, I want to know what exactly was the so-called final battle in your world,¡± Fang Canghai asked slowly. Various signs indicated that the appearance of Transcendent Beings in this world had a significant connection with that battle between humans and the Beast Race in another world. Uncovering the secret might provide a way to solve the ongoing issues with Transcendent Beings at their source. ¡°The final battle¡­¡± the man fell silent for a moment before he slowly continued, ¡°In our world, the method of human cultivation was Martial Tao.¡± ¡°Martial Tao involved cultivating spirit, which refers to the exploration of one¡¯s own power.¡± ¡°During the process of cultivation, the earliest human powerhouses discovered that the resources left behind by fallen members of the Beast Race greatly assisted in the advancement of Martial Tao.¡± ¡°The Beast Race was fierce, delighting in slaughtering humans, thus it was only natural for humans to kill members of the Beast Race to improve their Martial Tao cultivation,¡± ¡°Over time, the hatred between the two grew deeper and became utterly irreconcilable.¡± ¡°The Beast Race repeatedly invaded human territories, and human powerhouses often entered the lands of the Beast Race to slaughter and obtain more cultivation resources, escalating the conflict until both sides were blinded by rage,¡± the man paused before concluding, ¡°That led to the final battle.¡± ¡°It was a battle where both humans and the Beast Race staked their fate and survival, spreading across the entire continent, leaving no creature unscathed.¡± ¡°Ultimately, several peerless human powerhouses burned their essence, strength, and spirit to achieve victory in the final battle, driving the main forces of the Beast Race to the Cangming Lands, the most desolate corner of the world,¡± ¡°The humans reforged three Supreme Divine Weapons and created the Cangming Boundary Stele to completely seal the main forces of the Beast Race in the Cangming Lands, never to emerge again.¡± ¡°The Dawn Realm was a minor world in our world, held by the Yang Guang Celestial Palace.¡± ¡°` Chapter 768 - Chapter 768: Chapter 364: The Long Bygones, Yang Guang Cultivation Method_2 Chapter 768: Chapter 364: The Long Bygones, Yang Guang Cultivation Method_2 ¡°To permanently solve the calamity of the Beast Race, the human race drove all the remaining power of the Beast Race here. We sacrificed ourselves, forever sealed the Dawn Realm, and branded the gateway to the Dawn Realm within the Cangming Boundary Stele, bolstering the seal¡¯s power in the stele,¡± ¡°As for what happened afterwards, I no longer know,¡± the man shook his head slightly, ¡°I too wish to know why the sealed Dawn Realm has appeared here.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior, for informing us of the details of the final battle,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes showed a contemplative expression, and he made a mental note of ¡°Cangming Boundary Stele¡± and ¡°Cangming Lands,¡± ¡°We have another matter to ask of you here.¡± ¡°Our homeland is about to face an unprecedented catastrophe,¡± his voice grew much lower, ¡°This catastrophe may cause massive casualties and even result in countless humans being displaced.¡± ¡°We ventured here to find a way to become stronger, to enhance our individual strength in order to face the upcoming disaster.¡± ¡°I wonder if you could assist us in some way,¡± he said. ¡°Aren¡¯t the treasures within the four palaces of Yang Guang enough?¡± the man slowly spoke. ¡°We are grateful for the treasures you bestowed upon us, but I¡¯m afraid they alone may not be sufficient,¡± Fang Canghai replied with a helpless expression. If there were any other way, he wouldn¡¯t want to pester an aged man whose only legacy was a lingering will for help, thickening his face. For the sake of the humans in Beast Field number 47, losing face was acceptable. ¡°You certainly don¡¯t stand on ceremony,¡± the man laughed softly, ¡°If you were from the same world as I, for the sake of the human race, I would, without hesitation, oblige.¡± ¡°But you are not from my world, so if you wish to receive anything from me, you must give something in return,¡± he said. ¡°Please enlighten us, senior,¡± Fang Canghai said with a solemn expression, ¡°What must we give in order to receive your assistance?¡± ¡°A promise,¡± the man spoke slowly, ¡°You promise me one thing, and I will help you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If the world you come from ever becomes an enemy of my world in the future, and my world is defeated,¡± a flash of light passed through the man¡¯s eyes, ¡°you must do your utmost to preserve a path to survival for my world¡¯s human race.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Fang Canghai blinked. The other¡¯s request was indeed unexpected. Could the two worlds truly encounter each other in the future? Fang Canghai felt it was unlikely to happen in his lifetime. ¡°I am willing,¡± without hesitation, Fang Canghai nodded quickly. ¡°Not just you,¡± the man looked towards the people behind Fang Canghai. ¡°I am willing,¡± ¡°And me,¡± One by one, the people voiced their willingness. Among the crowd, Xu Ran¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. Whether it was an illusion or not, each time another person said they were willing, the aura of the man in front seemed to weaken slightly. ¡°I am willing,¡± suppressing his thoughts, he too spoke up with the others. [System detected the intrusion of Foreign Realm Oath Power and has neutralized the impact on the host.] The line of text that appeared instantly caused Xu Ran¡¯s eyes to narrow. The system had actually popped up at this moment. Oath Power¡­ Did that mean the man had used some unknown method to make everyone abide by the promise they had just given? Thoughts swirling in his mind, Xu Ran kept his outward demeanor unchanged. The man, unaware of any anomaly, saw that everyone had said ¡°willing,¡± and his face took on an additional smile, ¡°Show me this so-called Beast Taming Contract of yours.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, the Hexagram Star Array behind him intertwined, producing a mysterious power that surged, making the man¡¯s eyes narrow slightly. ¡°Interesting power,¡± the man nodded his head slightly, indicating for Fang Canghai to withdraw the power, and then fell into deep thought. ¡°Your Beast Taming Contracts are intriguing,¡± after a moment, he spoke slowly, ¡°they can receive nurturing power from the contracted Beast Race.¡± ¡°But your strength is insubstantial because, after receiving that nurturing power, you don¡¯t know how to use it,¡± he went on. ¡°If you manipulate and master the nurturing power according to the ways of Martial Tao, making it solid, your individual combat power could see a considerable boost in a short time,¡± the man looked at Fang Canghai, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Individual power¡­¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression shifted slightly. This could work. After the Beast Master¡¯s contract power reached the Fifth Stage, the power feedback from the five King Stage Pet Beasts was already sufficient to elevate his own strength to the King Stage. Once contract power entered the Sixth Stage, more Pet Beasts fed back power, and the proportion of feedback power further increased, allowing the Beast Master¡¯s individual combat ability to surpass that of the Pet Beasts. Even so, Overlord Level and Emperor Level Beast Masters still primarily commanded their Pet Beasts in battle, as they had limited means to utilize their own power directly. Many high-ranking Beast Masters studied weaponry and martial arts in an attempt to develop their own strength to a certain extent. However, there is no complete system for this yet. If they could learn from another world¡¯s established martial methods, the Beast Master¡¯s individual combat power combined with the Pet Beasts would be a formidable alliance. Besides, there was another important point. If they really could obtain the methods of Martial Tao¡¯s practice¡­ Perhaps there was another way to quell this battle. Thinking of this, Fang Canghai did not hesitate anymore. ¡°Please bestow the method, senior.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the man contemplated for a moment, and then lightly tapped his forehead with one hand. A bright speck of light appeared at his fingertip, which then flickered slightly, and a profound method of cultivation was revealed to everyone present in the garden. ¡°This is a special cultivation method I created by combining your Beast Taming Contracts and the various Martial Tao practices of my world. It is named ¡®Yang Guang Cultivation Method¡¯, as a remembrance to my Yang Guang Celestial Palace.¡± ¡°It is getting late, and it¡¯s time for you to leave,¡± the man slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you have promised me.¡± The next moment, everyone in the garden vanished from their spot. The man¡¯s figure became ethereal, his outline no longer clear. Alone, his face showed traces of fatigue. Being just a wisp of obsession, he had first covertly employed the Foreign Realm Oath Power, and then expended his strength to deduce a cultivation method. Now, he was like a lamp running out of oil. But all of this was something he had to do. ¡°What exactly happened after the final battle?¡± Worry crossed the man¡¯s eyes. There were many untold secrets about that battle, which he had never revealed. Based on Fang Canghai¡¯s descriptions, the man was almost certain that the appearance of the Beast Race and the Dawn Realm in this world was not a coincidence. That¡¯s why he had guided everyone present to make an oath. If the scenario he dreaded ever unfolded in the future, there would at least be a glimmer of hope to remedy the situation. Feeling his power uncontrollably dissipating, struggling even to maintain his form, the man shook his head slightly. His figure, along with the entire garden, vanished like a mirage, leaving only a sigh echoing in the void. ¡°It¡¯s over, I¡¯ve still left a trace in this world,¡± he murmured. Meanwhile, outside the Yang Guang Celestial Palace, Powerful transcendent beings surrounded the radiance of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace, and Fang Canghai and his companions would have been startled to see the scene. The number of Transcendent Beings appearing here far exceeded those that had entered the Yang Guang Celestial Palace before. Not only were there dozens more Overlords, but two more Beast Emperors as well. Countless King Stage and General stage Extraordinary Beings stood battle-ready in the outer circle in an orderly array. Amidst the tense atmosphere, the Radiant Phoenix spoke gravely to the crowd of beasts, ¡°In the past, the Yang Guang Celestial Palace suppressed our ancestors. The treasures left by the Yang Guang Celestial Palace should rightfully belong to us, yet now there are humans competing for them.¡± ¡°These humans truly deserve to die!¡± ¡°As soon as they come out, we will attack together.¡± ¡°Today, they will not take away anything, and they will leave their lives here!¡± The beasts roared with fervor but suddenly stopped as if their throats had been clutched, falling silent. The Radiant Phoenix turned sharply to look behind her. The Yang Guang Celestial Palace within the column of light was dissipating like a mirage, and the pillar that pierced the heavens rapidly retracted, eventually disappearing from sight. The humans it sought to trap, however, had already vanished without a trace. Chapter 769 - Chapter 769: Chapter 365: The Archangel Accuses, Semi-Saints Clash! Chapter 769: Chapter 365: The Archangel Accuses, Semi-Saints Clash! ¡°` As Fang Canghai and his companions entered the ruins within the Mysterious Light Channel, the departure of a pillar-like Overlord Level Beast Master triggered undercurrents throughout Beast Field number 47. In a jungle at the northernmost part of Beast Field number 47, two Transcendent Beings knelt on the ground in silence, awaiting something¡¯s arrival. An aura as terrifying as an abyss faintly emerged from them, causing all creatures that lived in this jungle to shrink back in fear and trembling. Emperor Stage. Present here were two of the few Beast Emperors in all of Beast Field number 47. Within this Beast Emperor-level Beast Field, they were supposed to be the most powerful beings among Transcendent Creatures, making it hard to imagine what could make them display such a servile posture. As time ticked by, the two Beast Emperors maintained their devout stance without showing any disrespect due to the lengthy wait. Suddenly, at the other end of the jungle, five figures approached. The four figures in the rear each had distinct forms, but their power was not much less than that of the two Beast Emperors kneeling on the ground; they were also strong beings at the Beast Emperor level. Yet, their radiance was wholly overshadowed by the figure at the front, rendering them nearly invisible. For behind that figure, luminous and majestic Power that linked heaven and earth wove together to form a grand Wheel of Life, crushing down with the weight of Life Level, causing every inch of the other creatures present to tremble. Saint Spirit Wheel of Life! This leading figure was a powerful being that had evolved into the Holy Spirit Race. The two Beast Emperors waiting on the ground grew even more respectful as the five figures drew near, and they spoke in unison. ¡°Welcome, emissary.¡± The Holy Spirit Race at the front merely glanced briefly at the two Beast Emperors with its eyes, and they immediately felt somewhat suffocated. One of the Beast Emperors standing behind the Holy Spirit Race grunted, ¡°Are all the Beast Emperors of Beast Field number 47 so lacking in manners? Only two Beast Emperors come out to meet when an Upper Realm Demigod arrives. Where are the others? Do they have no legs?¡± Hearing these mocking words, the faces of the two Beast Emperors turned somewhat bitter. ¡°Your Eminence, the other Beast Emperors of Beast Field number 47 are either serving under the Monster Wooden Domain¡¯s Semi-Saint, having surrendered a part of their origin, or are direct descendants of the Semi-Saint. Therefore, only we have come,¡± they replied. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that the Demigod spoke for the first time. ¡°Semi-Saint? Nothing but a False Saint.¡± That domineering tone carried a powerful disdain for all creatures, causing the two Beast Emperors to lower their heads even more. ¡°Hmph! Without the recognition of Beast Field number 8, who dares to claim sainthood?¡± The same Upper Realm Demigod leveled a sneer, ¡°Our Demigod currently represents Beast Field number 8. Even if it were another Demigod, they would have to personally receive us, let alone a mere False Saint.¡± ¡°The False Saint of Beast Field number 47 has sown chaos, and order has crumbled. We, on behalf of Beast Field number 8, have come to exact justice,¡± stated the Demigod solemnly. With those words, the situation in Beast Field number 47 was firmly set, ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the two Beast Emperors stood up together, not daring to raise their heads towards the Demigod, and they stood at the very back of the group with bowed heads. ¡°You two have rendered a service by reporting this issue, and Beast Field number 8 will not overlook your merits. After this matter is settled, a reward will be given and your tribes will be allowed to migrate to Beast Field number 8,¡± said another of the Upper Realm Beast Emperors among the four, looking at the two local Beast Emperors with a pleasant face. Upon hearing this, both Beast Emperors revealed expressions of joy. Out of eight original old Beast Emperors within Beast Field number 47, with the successful evolution of the Monster Wooden Domain¡¯s Semi-Saint, five Beast Emperors either perished or submitted, leaving just these two. As Beast Field number 47 had almost become a one-Semi-Saint dictatorship today, wasn¡¯t their risky appearance here precisely to connect with the Upper Realms? In their eyes, staying in Beast Field number 47 had been because they could be second to none within this Emperor Level Beast Field. If even that could no longer be guaranteed, why not move to the much broader space of Beast Field number 8? After all, whose subjects were they if not servants? Guided by the two host Beast Emperors, the group of seven beasts unhesitatingly headed toward the newly relocated Monster Wooden Domain, situated at the central point of Beast Field number 47. Outside the Monster Wooden Domain, a Beast Emperor swiftly appeared. It was the Tortoise of Longevity, a direct descendant of the now-ascended Semi-Saint Beast Emperor of Demon Wood. With meaningful gaze, it eyed the two familiar figures in the party, then spoke slowly, ¡°On behalf of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, I have come to greet our guests.¡± ¡°For just a False Saint, quite the grand reception,¡± the Demigod Beast Emperor sneered again, ¡°You know to welcome us now, what were you busy with earlier?¡± A slight shadow crossed the face of the Tortoise of Longevity, but its long years of experience quickly restored its composure, ¡°Please come in.¡± With that, it turned and entered the Monster Wooden Domain. The Upper Realm Demigod¡¯s Beast Emperor companion seemed about to speak again, but seeing their own Demigod stepping forward, they held their tongue and hurried after. Upon setting foot in the Monster Wooden Domain, the space around the Upper Realm Demigod twisted violently, and a surge of immense Power burst forth. The Wheel of Life behind slowly revolved, unshakably. A trace of Power that transcended the ten Attributes slipped out, instantly reducing the ground underfoot to dust, and the very fabric of the space filled with web-like fissures. The power that enveloped the entire Monster Wooden Domain shattered at that moment, and the next, more forces thundered down, swiftly repairing the ground under the Upper Realm Demigod¡¯s feet and the surrounding space. In the blink of an eye, the two Demigods had already carried out their first probe. The Wheel of Life behind the Upper Realm Demigod stopped spinning, and the abyss-like aura receded slightly. Its face, showing neither sorrow nor joy, quickly issued an unquestionable command, ¡°Let¡¯s go, see this False Saint.¡± Chapter 770 - Chapter 770: Chapter 365: The Archangel Accuses, Semi-Saints Clash!_2 Chapter 770: Chapter 365: The Archangel Accuses, Semi-Saints Clash!_2 The Tortoise of Longevity, always watchful of the situation behind it, remained outwardly calm but inwardly chuckled, having already perceived some clues. As an entity born alongside the Demon Wood Demigod, it could be considered the most knowledgeable being about the Demon Wood Demigod in this world Just now, the trial might have seemed in favor of the Upper Realm Demigod, but what it shattered was merely the diluted power that the Demon Wood Demigod projected over the Monster Wooden Domain. If they were to truly face off, it would likely be at a disadvantage. If this were not the case, the proud Upper Realm Demigod would not have voluntarily restrained its aura. However, in a flash, the Tortoise of Longevity became pensive. What did it matter if it were stronger than this Upper Realm Demigod? In the Beast Field number eight, there were plenty of Beast Saints, and the number of Demigods was probably close to triple digits already. Such formidable strength was simply not something the current Monster Wooden Domain could contend with, even if humans from this domain were to join the fight, it would still be insufficient. This Upper Realm Demigod was merely a messenger representing the Upper Realm. And the Demon Wood Demigod also wanted to see the Upper Realm¡¯s attitude. That was of the utmost importance. Under the guidance of the Tortoise of Longevity, the Upper Realm party soon arrived at the most central area of the Monster Wooden Domain, a place that was spacious and brimming with life. An ancient tree covered in cyan-gold patterns had taken root here, its Wheel of Life reaching the sky, turning slowly like the hands of a clock, and the magnificent power it emanated suffused every corner of the Monster Wooden Domain. The Beast Emperor from the Upper Realm Demigod¡¯s kin, who had previously been clamorous about ¡°False Saint,¡± was now silent, and the other three Upper Realm Beast Emperors were also silent. After all, this was a genuine Transcendent Being at the Demigod level, and even without the recognition of Beast Field number eight, they were not qualified to insult it. The only one in the field who had the right to communicate on an equal footing with it was the Upper Realm Demigod. A cyan-golden face materialized out of the void, as the Demon Wood Demigod gazed at the recently encountered Demigod, ¡°A guest as you come, how may I address you?¡± ¡°Cloud Crow,¡± the Upper Realm Demigod spoke slowly, its form slightly blurred, like a strange bird hidden within the clouds, mysterious dark gold patterns would flicker from time to time, and the terrifying aura it leaked was enough to cause palpitations. ¡°Cloud Crow Demigod, what brings you to Beast Field number 47?¡± the Demon Wood Demigod asked with a smile, looking serene. After a moment of silence, Cloud Crow too chuckled, ¡°Rumor has it that Beast Field number 47 is in disarray, the Beast Race is at war with itself, I am here by the name of the Beast Saint to investigate the truth.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s face showed sudden realization, ¡°So it¡¯s about that.¡± ¡°To not hide from Cloud Crow Demigod, those rumors are unfounded,¡± it said, adopting a more righteous expression, ¡°It¡¯s merely personal vengeance that led to the fall of two Beast Emperors, how can it be called turmoil? As for the collapse of order, that¡¯s even less likely.¡± ¡°In Beast Field number 47, the Beast Race lives in even more harmony than before.¡± ¡°Since you put it that way, then I will tentatively believe you,¡± Cloud Crow Demigod nodded slightly, as if not taking the matter seriously at all. The two Beast Emperors who had followed closely behind it now looked anxious. Didn¡¯t they agree to question the Demon Wood Demigod about its crimes? How come after just a few words from the Demon Wood Demigod, Cloud Crow Demigod let it go so easily?! They wanted to say something but felt multiple presences locking onto them. Those were the other few Beast Emperors arriving from all over the Monster Wooden Domain. At this moment, the way they looked at the two Beast Emperors was somewhat menacing. As if having put the matter aside, Cloud Crow Demigod changed the topic, ¡°Speaking of which, how long has it been since you broke through to the Demigod realm?¡± The Demon Wood Demigod narrowed its eyes slightly, pondering for a moment before replying, ¡°Two months.¡± ¡°Two months, huh¡­¡± Cloud Crow Demigod, who had been all smiles a second ago, suddenly burst with an intense aura. Behind it, the Wheel of Life spun rapidly, and a horrifying presence condescendingly descended. ¡°All sacred beings had given a clear order, within the jurisdiction of the eighth Beast Field, all newborn members of the Holy Spirit Race must visit the sacred beings in the eighth Beast Field within a month.¡± ¡°Why have you not gone, do you not hold the sacred beings in high regard?¡± It has come! All Beast Emperors belonging to the lineage of the Monster Wooden Demigods had a simultaneously solemn expression, feeling a sudden heaviness in their hearts. The challenge from the other side had finally arrived! The earlier light treatment by the Cloud Crow Demigod was just a prelude to this moment. Clearly, they too knew that the so-called collapse of order, and internal chaos in the Beast Field, were not convincing enough to command obedience. Has the eighth Beast Field ever truly cared for the life and death of other Beast Fields in its arrogance? Only the disrespect towards the sacred beings by the newborn members of the Holy Spirit Race is considered significant enough for the eighth Beast Field to pay attention to. The challenge posed by the Cloud Crow Demigod at this moment was an oppression in attitude. Its goal was to force the Monster Wooden Demigod to submit using the authority of the sacred beings. After all, it had said ¡°I¡¯ll temporarily believe¡± the Monster Wooden Demigod. If the Monster Wooden Demigod submitted, willing to accompany it to the eighth Beast Field, then the sin of disrespect towards the sacred beings would naturally dissipate, and the previously mentioned crimes of collapsing order and internal chaos in the Beast Field would also be fully believed, treated with a light hand. If the Monster Wooden Demigod did not submit, the sin of disrespecting the sacred beings would be affirmed, and the words of the Monster Wooden Demigod would no longer be credible, with the previous crime also falling upon its head. But the question is, could the Monster Wooden Demigod really go to the eighth Beast Field? Its stance was different from the sacred beings of the eighth Beast Field, being closer to humans, willing to coexist peacefully and establish a new order. Just this point alone was enough for the sacred beings to harbor malice towards it. Not to mention that the power attribute of the Monster Wooden Demigod¡¯s transcendence was order. If a being with such a powerful attribute as the Monster Wooden Demigod truly became a Beast Saint one day, it would instantly become one of the strongest among the Beast Saints, a threat that the sacred beings naturally could not ignore. Saint is a level of strength, not a spiritual plane. These old fellows capable of cataclysmic destruction were not necessarily broad-minded. Therefore, should the Monster Wooden Demigod enter the eighth Beast Field, it would at the very least be imprisoned; at worst, it could die on the spot. Faced with the sudden grilling of the Cloud Crow Demigod, the Monster Wooden Demigod remained calm and collected, ¡°This is a grave misunderstanding.¡± ¡°The sacred beings of the Upper Realm are the strongest of our Beast Race, how dare I disrespect them?¡± ¡°However, the journey is long and arduous, and as a plant-based Transcendent Being, I am naturally not adept at traveling. Furthermore, I have just broken through and my current realm is unstable; I fear a careless move could cause me to fall back to the Emperor Stage, becoming a laughingstock. I do not wish to waste the precious time of the sacred beings of the Upper Realm.¡± ¡°Therefore, I hope the Cloud Crow Demigod will report back to the Upper Realm, that once my realm is completely stable and I truly step into the Holy Spirit Race, then I will visit the sacred beings.¡± The Monster Wooden Demigod spoke with great humility, ¡°At this moment, I am merely a False Saint, and it would be improper to visit them hastily.¡± Even the Cloud Crow Demigod was stunned by the shameless words of the Monster Wooden Demigod. Do you even listen to what you¡¯re saying? Just broke through and the foundation is unstable, not yet a true member of the Holy Spirit Race? You might drop at any moment, you¡¯re just a False Saint, so it¡¯s improper to visit hastily? Oh, and the term ¡°False Saint¡± is one you coined yourself. Thinking to this point, even the Cloud Crow Demigod found themselves momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. Chapter 771 - Chapter 771: Chapter 366: The Battle of the Semi-Saint Chapter 771: Chapter 366: The Battle of the Semi-Saint Upon hearing the words of the Demon Wood Demigod, the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed. It had never expected the Demon Wood Demigod to reject its offer so decisively. ¡°Do you understand the consequences this will bring?¡± the Cloud Crow Demigod asked, its voice instantly turning ice-cold. The formidable presence of a Semi-Saint burst forth, plunging all beings present, save for the Demon Wood Demigod, into an abyssal void. ¡°Such pretension from the Cloud Crow Demigod, but after all, this is Beast Field number 47.¡± The Demon Wood Demigod spoke calmly, its branches gently swaying. The pressure on its allied Transcendent Beings dissipated instantly, while the Beast Emperor from Beast Field number 8 and the two vassal Beast Emperors now felt an even greater pressure descending upon them. ¡°Speaking of which, since I¡¯ve broken through, I¡¯ve yet to cross hands with a counterpart of the same stage.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t I use you to try out my skills?¡± Having said this, before the Cloud Crow Demigod could respond, the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s true body suddenly extended a branch covered in cyan-gold patterns. The branch, like a divine whip, spread instantly, its imprinted patterns radiating divine light, shrouding the area in an instant. Before the branch even descended, the aura of the Cloud Crow Demigod began to plummet rapidly, as if it were being forcibly suppressed back down to the Emperor Stage. ¡°Audacious!¡± The Cloud Crow Demigod let out a furious roar, having never anticipated that upon representing Beast Field number 8, the Demon Wood Demigod would not only fail to show any reverence but would also strike without a word. In war, envoys are spared! Though enraged, the Cloud Crow Demigod reacted swiftly. The bizarre force that seemed to be rewriting the order of the area made its heart shiver, but being also a master of the Leap Attribute, it was not about to sit idly by. With a furious shout, the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind the Cloud Crow Demigod spun rapidly, intertwining beams of light converged, unleashing a formidable power, and instantly, countless web-like fractures appeared in the void. The next moment, accompanied by a clear shattering sound, space itself suddenly collapsed, creating a deep rift that swallowed up everything around it, and the Order Force that had enveloped heaven and earth was also ruptured. Hmm? The Demon Wood Demigod was startled, and its face, formed in the void, showed a hint of interest. This fellow¡¯s Leap Attribute seems quite interesting. Spatial Attribute? Fighting spirit ignited in the eyes of the Demon Wood Demigod. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of the great strength of the Silent Spirit Divine Crow clan, one of the leading existences among the holy races. Today, I shall truly experience it!¡± ¡°You will see it!¡± replied the Cloud Crow Demigod, its race revealed but showing no surprise. It gave the Demon Wood Demigod a deep look before taking advantage of the new Order Force not yet arriving, flapping its wings and appearing a hundred miles away in an instant. This is the Monster Wooden Domain, fraught with the power of the Demon Wood Demigod. It would be unwise to battle the Demon Wood Demigod here. The Demon Wood Demigod chuckled, its countless roots underground drawing together before suddenly erupting from the earth and soaring into the sky, chasing after the Cloud Crow Demigod. In a chase and flash, the two Semi-Saints had left the range of the Monster Wooden Domain. ¡°You certainly have a lot of nerve,¡± the Cloud Crow Demigod said with a cold laugh, observing the Demon Wood Demigod that hovered in the void. So, you don¡¯t mention being inconvenienced now? Its gaze sharpened, and undisguised killing intent gleamed in its eyes. It knew the Beast Saint¡¯s attitude towards the Demon Wood Demigod from Beast Field number 8. An existence with the Order Attribute, leaning towards the human side, if it could not remain under their watch forever, then destruction was the only path. Thus, if it could kill its opponent now, upon returning to Beast Field number 8 it would not be punished; on the contrary, it would be rewarded. Although it had been at a disadvantage in the earlier skirmish, the Cloud Crow Demigod believed that this was because it was in the opponent¡¯s territory, which had been cultivated over a long period, thus naturally endowed with many strategies. Away from the Monster Wooden Domain, what was there to fear from the Demon Wood Demigod? After all, even within Beast Field number 8, the Silent Spirit Divine Crow clan was renowned, for the Evolution Path they commanded was Spatial Leap! The force of space is unpredictable and manifold in methods. Order, what can it do to it? ¡°Kill!¡± With a sharp cry, the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s figure flashed as the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life spun rapidly, its massive wings stirring the void into ripples. The moment the Demon Wood Demigod turned its gaze, the Cloud Crow Demigod fiercely flapped its wings, slashing out two streaks that extended a thousand miles, their tails twisting with the fabric of space, their tips engulfed in darkness as though they could devour everything. Those were fissures in space! Four Stars Leap Skill, Great Dimensional Slash! As the Extraordinary Creature Races ascended to the ranks of the Holy Spirit Race, the original Four Stars skills would likewise evolve and no longer be distinguished by proficiency! The face of the Demon Wood Demigod changed slightly; a branch flicked out like lightning, its cyan-gold patterns illuminating the heavens and the earth, unleashing the Power of Order in an instant. Some of the force was instantly absorbed by the Great Dimensional Slash, but a greater part of it forcefully altered the surrounding order, as if an invisible hand had descended, pressing the ruptured spaces back into place with a crash. Four Stars Leap Skill, Order ¡¤ Stabilize! Seamlessly neutralizing the opponent¡¯s Great Dimensional Slash, the Demon Wood Demigod looked up swiftly, fixing its eyes on the changing expression of the Cloud Crow Demigod. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The sound of tearing through the wind resounded as the extended branch shot explosively towards the Cloud Crow Demigod. Chapter 772 - Chapter 772: Chapter 366: Battle of Semi-Saint_2 Chapter 772: Chapter 366: Battle of Semi-Saint_2 The Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s face changed slightly, as his wings enveloped him. The space around instantly stagnated and compressed. The branches of the Demon Wood Demigod pierced towards him at extreme speed, yet they seemed to be infinitely far from the Cloud Crow Demigod, never able to reach him. The Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s gaze shimmered slightly, as the blue-gold patterns on the other parts of his body brightened, flowing towards the area where the branches had dimmed, lighting it up once again. Before the Cloud Crow Demigod could breathe a sigh of relief, those re-lit patterns on the branches once again reflected between heaven and earth, subtly altering the order around them. Four Stars Leap Skill, Order¡¤Fragility! ¡°Zzzt¡ª¡± The stagnant void, as if made of paper, was punctured by the branches in an instant, the branch reaching the face of the crazily changing Cloud Crow Demigod. The Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s figure moved, and the power of space enveloped his body in an instant. He was about to teleport away as he had before, but in that moment, the cold voice of the Demon Wood Demigod echoed between heaven and earth. ¡°In this place, teleportation is forbidden!¡± A golden-patterned leaf over his body shattered in response, and an inscrutable mighty force descended in an instant, causing the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s body to stiffen in place. The power of teleportation was instantly suppressed! Four Stars Leap Skill, Order¡¤True Word! This was the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s most powerful skill. Unlike other skills that could only change the order in a fixed manner, this skill allowed the words to be followed by laws, giving the Demon Wood Demigod the freedom to change the order around him. Though with many restrictions, it was an absolute divine skill. ¡°Boom!!!¡± The branch, like a whip striking the heavens, lashed viciously onto the body of the Cloud Crow Demigod with a low boom, sending the Cloud Crow Demigod flying, smashing a mountain miles away and stirring up a ring of shockwaves in the void. As he struck, the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s figure swiftly chased towards the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s direction. But before he could reach the place where the Cloud Crow Demigod had fallen after smashing the mountain, the Cloud Crow Demigod let out an angry roar, his figure flashing as he killed towards the Demon Wood Demigod. In his eyes, a strong sense of wariness and murderous intent emerged. At this moment, he completely understood why the saints within the Eighth Beast Field were so wary of the Demon Wood Demigod. The opponent, not yet grown into a Saint Spirit, was already able to change the rules of heaven and earth so capriciously. What level of terror would his strength reach the day he became a Saint Spirit? This fellow must die! The Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind the Cloud Crow Demigod began to spin at extreme speed, leaving countless cracks in the void around them with the traces of terrifying energy. In the surprised gaze of the Demon Wood Demigod, the Wheel of Life actually merged directly into the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s body. Then, the Cloud Crow Demigod let out a violent shout, his body instantly growing to nearly a hundred thousand meters, like a demonic god obscuring the sky and sun, fiercely charging towards the Demon Wood Demigod. As the only Five Stars skill mastered by the Emperor Species after evolving into the Holy Spirit Race, the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life was not just a simple symbol. It was a medium for the Holy Spirit Race to run through the heavens and the earth with the power of their Leap Attribute, and was an important vessel for their Leap Attribute. Without it, the Holy Spirit Race, having only mastered the Leap Attribute, would naturally be suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth. When necessary, the Holy Spirit Race could temporarily become one with the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life, greatly boosting their strength for a short time. This special ability was also called the Holy Spirit Form of the Holy Spirit Race. Only in the Holy Spirit Form could the Holy Spirit Race display their most complete power! Looking at the overshadowing figure before him, the Demon Wood Demigod spoke in a deep voice, ¡°In this place, the Holy Spirit Form is forbidden to unfold.¡± A leaf covered in golden patterns shattered in response, but only caused the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s huge body to slightly quiver for a moment. ¡°Useless!¡± The Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s arrogant voice echoed long in the heavens and earth, ¡°We are of the Same Stage, and your strength is insufficient to bind my Holy Spirit Form.¡± ¡°Not only that, my strength has greatly increased in the Holy Spirit Form, and other powers you wish to bind through order will also fail.¡± His voice carried a trace of ferociousness, ¡°Demon Wood, you can¡¯t display the Holy Spirit Form, can you?¡± ¡°The Holy Spirit Form is the strongest state of the Holy Spirit Race, but to merge with the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life, there is one important condition.¡± ¡°That is, at least one Talent Skill must be fused with the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life.¡± ¡°The more Talent Skills merged, the stronger the Holy Spirit Form becomes.¡± ¡°I spent eight years fusing my first Talent Skill with the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life, which already places me among the best of the Holy Spirit Race.¡± ¡°The fastest record for fusion in the Eighth Beast Field is eight months.¡± ¡°And you, you have only evolved for two months!¡± ¡°Without fusing your Talent Skills with the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life, you cannot unleash the Holy Spirit Form, how can you fight me?¡± ¡°Today, you are surely doomed!¡± Hearing that sharp and grating voice, the expression on the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s face became a bit more peculiar. Every word spoken by the Cloud Crow Demigod was true. It¡¯s just¡­ ¡°Have you ever heard the saying, ¡®The villain dies from talking too much¡¯?¡± the Demon Wood Demigod spoke softly, as the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind it spun rapidly before merging into its body. Watching the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s form swiftly rise in stature and its power climb step by step, the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, feeling the threat of death for the first time. ¡°How¡­ how is that possible?!¡± ¡°How could you possibly fuse with your Talent Skills so quickly?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± Branch after branch impaled the body of the Cloud Crow Demigod, whose colossal size shrank rapidly, the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life reappeared behind it, and then in an incredibly short time, it collapsed and dissipated. Seeing this, the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s form likewise contracted, reverting from its Saint Spirit form. Exhaling slightly, a thinly veiled fatigue surfaced on its visage. The power of space was indeed mighty. Although it repeatedly suppressed its adversary with the Order¡¤True Word, it was always somehow narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Cloud Crow Demigod. After the bout, of its hundred-patterned golden leaves, fewer than seventy remained, evidence of the fierceness of the battle that had unfolded. The vast area around them had completely turned to ruins, and even at this moment, the space was filled with countless web-like spatial rifts. The Demon Wood Demigod stretched its body, with cyan-gold patterns of light reflecting heaven and Earth. Soon, the spatial rifts healed, the shattered land was restored, and life began to flourish once again. Having done all this, the Demon Wood Demigod looked even more weary, its body descended slowly from midair and landed in front of the Cloud Crow Demigod that had fallen to the ground. The next moment, a hint of surprise appeared in its eyes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Hearing that shrill and grating sound, the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s expression turned a shade more peculiar. Every word spoken by the Cloud Crow Demigod was true. It¡¯s just¡­ ¡°Have you ever heard the saying, ¡®The villain dies from talking too much¡¯?¡± the Demon Wood Demigod spoke softly, as the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life behind it spun rapidly before merging into its body. Watching the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s form swiftly rise in stature and its power climb step by step, the Cloud Crow Demigod¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, feeling the threat of death for the first time. ¡°How¡­ how is that possible?!¡± ¡°How could you possibly fuse with your Talent Skills so quickly?!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom!!!¡± Branch after branch impaled the body of the Cloud Crow Demigod, whose colossal size shrank rapidly, the Saint Spirit Wheel of Life reappeared behind it, and then in an incredibly short time, it collapsed and dissipated. Seeing this, the Demon Wood Demigod¡¯s form likewise contracted, reverting from its Saint Spirit form. Exhaling slightly, a thinly veiled fatigue surfaced on its visage. The power of space was indeed mighty. Although it repeatedly suppressed its adversary with the Order¡¤True Word, it was always somehow narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Cloud Crow Demigod. After the bout, of its hundred-patterned golden leaves, fewer than seventy remained, evidence of the fierceness of the battle that had unfolded. The vast area around them had completely turned to ruins, and even at this moment, the space was filled with countless web-like spatial rifts. The Demon Wood Demigod stretched its body, with cyan-gold patterns of light reflecting heaven and Earth. Soon, the spatial rifts healed, the shattered land was restored, and life began to flourish once again. Having done all this, the Demon Wood Demigod looked even more weary, its body descended slowly from midair and landed in front of the Cloud Crow Demigod that had fallen to the ground. The next moment, a hint of surprise appeared in its eyes. Chapter 773 - Chapter 773: Chapter 367: External Aid Plan Chapter 773: Chapter 367: External Aid Plan Somewhere outside the Mysterious Light Channel, the void suddenly twisted, and then a massive portal appeared out of nowhere. The next second, countless figures fell out of the portal like dumplings dropping into a pot. Quickly stabilizing his posture, Xu Ran softly landed and glanced back at the sky covered in mysterious light, his face filled with a touch of melancholy. He had finally returned. But immediately after, an expression of pleasant surprise emerged on his face. The so-called Dawn Realm, the relic they had entered through the Mysterious Light Channel this time, had indeed yielded a rich harvest. In terms of Pet Beast resources, Cancan had directly gathered all the resources needed for its evolution, and Twelve had also obtained a Main Material for Evolution. On a personal level, Xu Ran had acquired the first five of the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers and, in the last moment, had received a special Cultivation Method called ¡°Yang Guang Cultivation Method¡± from the former owner of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace. At the moment, he hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to experience its profound mysteries. If it were as miraculous as the palace master had said, Xu Ran¡¯s personal power would soar in a short time. Maybe there will be a day when he would be up front fighting, and his Pet Beasts would be cheering ¡®666¡¯ from behind? ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice rang out at this moment, ¡°I know that it¡¯s very dangerous for high-ranking fighters to be absent from their cities for a long time, but there is an issue that requires everyone to discuss and come to a decision.¡± ¡°How should we deal with the ¡®Yang Guang Cultivation Method¡¯ we¡¯ve just obtained?¡± Hearing this question, people exchanged looks, each with different thoughts. ¡°Of course, we should spread it out,¡± You Shengjiang, who was straightforward by nature, blurted out without a second thought, ¡°I¡¯ve taken a brief look at this ¡®Yang Guang Cultivation Method¡¯ and it¡¯s really well-suited for us Beast Masters. It can greatly enhance individual strength in a short amount of time.¡± ¡°With a calamity hanging over us, the stronger our overall strength, the greater our chances of survival.¡± Many Beast Masters nodded in agreement at this moment, obviously sharing You Shengjiang¡¯s view. However, Qi Yuan and several other Beast Masters didn¡¯t immediately express their opinions. ¡°About this¡­ does Chairman Fang have another idea?¡± Qi Yuan glanced at Fang Canghai and spoke slowly, ¡°Please feel free to speak directly.¡± ¡°I do indeed have a different thought,¡± Fang Canghai nodded candidly, ¡°You all know the current situation of Broken Abyss City.¡± ¡°The Saint Spirit level Beast Masters of Broken Abyss City are currently battling the Beast Saint in the eighth Beast Field. They don¡¯t have the capacity to help us, at most they can only contain the Beast Saint of the eighth Beast Field to ensure it doesn¡¯t appear in the forty-seventh Beast Field.¡± ¡°But the appearance of Semi-Saints at the Epic Level is still possible.¡± ¡°At the level of Semi-Saint, the only one we have who can fight them is Demon Wood Semi-Saint.¡± ¡°If more than one Semi-Saint from the enemy comes, and Demon Wood Semi-Saint can¡¯t cope, our forty-seventh Beast Field could be wiped out at any moment.¡± ¡°So, we need to figure out a way to find some external support.¡± ¡°Right now, only we are aware of the ¡®Yang Guang Cultivation Method.¡¯ ¡°This is a great opportunity.¡± ¡°If handled properly, we might be able to use it as a bargaining chip to exchange for the intervention of an Epic Level powerhouse from Broken Abyss City.¡± ¡°The Duanyuan City Beast Tamers Association is unwilling to send strong support, but if an Epic Level powerhouse wants to come on their own, they can¡¯t possibly stop them.¡± ¡°And so, there arises an issue.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s going to be used as a bargaining chip, then naturally we cannot disclose this Cultivation Method, at least not until this catastrophe is over.¡± ¡°After disclosure, Broken Abyss City would easily obtain the Cultivation Method, and why then would the strong figures take action for us?¡± ¡°Therefore, this is completely contrary to what Old You just proposed,¡± Fang Canghai spoke with a solemn tone, his face showing a hint of helplessness. Every Beast Master present fell into silence at this moment. Fang Canghai¡¯s line of thought was completely different from what they had previously considered. And this was, without a doubt, a brand-new approach. ¡°Chairman Fang, I have a question,¡± Qi Yuan spoke gravely, ¡°can you be certain that with this Cultivation Method, you can procure the assistance of an Epic Level powerhouse from Broken Abyss City?¡± ¡°Within Broken Abyss City, I have an old acquaintance who is an Epic Level Beast Master,¡± Fang Canghai immediately responded, ¡°I¡¯m roughly eighty percent confident that they would be willing to take action in exchange for the Yang Guang Cultivation Method.¡± Eighty percent, but not a guarantee. The crowd fell into a brief silence. If the Yang Guang Cultivation Method was disclosed, the humans within the forty-seventh Beast Field would undoubtedly gain a significant increase in strength, thus gaining a stronger capability to face the calamity, without risk. But if it wasn¡¯t disclosed, and the Yang Guang Cultivation Method was used as a bargaining chip to secure the action of an Epic Level fighter, the assistance from a high-ranking warrior entering the fray could be more significant, yet it entailed risk. ¡°Actually¡­¡± Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, then slowly continued, ¡°These two options aren¡¯t completely incompatible.¡± ¡°We can head to Broken Abyss City as soon as possible to confirm whether we can trade the Yang Guang Cultivation Method for their action, and if they refuse to take action, then we can make the Yang Guang Cultivation Method public, enhancing the strength of the Beast Masters of the forty-seventh Beast Field.¡± ¡°That is indeed a solution,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, then his gaze shifted, looking off into the distance. A figure in aqua-gold rapidly approached from afar and soon appeared before them, it was none other than Demon Wood Semi-Saint. ¡°You all got back rather quickly,¡± Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s face formed in the void and he spoke slowly, ¡°As it happens, a little incident occurred while you were entering that relic. I¡¯ve thought it over and decided it¡¯s necessary to inform you about it.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Fang Canghai asked almost instinctively. ¡°A Semi-Saint emissary from the eighth Beast Field came here to accuse me of a crime and to coerce me into following them to the eighth Beast Field.¡± At these words, everyone¡¯s expressions quickly turned grave. The fact that the eighth Beast Field could send an emissary here suggested that they had the spare capacity to deal with the forty-seventh Beast Field¡¯s issues. Chapter 774 - Chapter 774: Chapter 367: External Aid Plan_2 Chapter 774: Chapter 367: External Aid Plan_2 Even if Beast Saints can¡¯t come, Semi-Saints can still send a few of them. This also means that the time for this catastrophe to hit is not far off. ¡°Demon Wood Semi-Saint, how did you respond?¡± Fang Canghai asked. ¡°Oh, I killed that messenger.¡± Hearing the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s casual words, everyone fell silent all at once. Fang Canghai¡¯s mouth twitched violently, ¡°Killed?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to kill him, but that guy actually fought for his life with me, and when he couldn¡¯t beat me, he directly revealed his Saint Spirit Form.¡± As he said this, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint also seemed somewhat regretful, ¡°It was my first time revealing my Saint Spirit Form, and I couldn¡¯t quite control my strength.¡± ¡°You even revealed your Saint Spirit Form?!¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice suddenly rose by a notch, his expression growing increasingly grave. As an Emperor Level Beast Master, he naturally knew what the Saint Spirit Form was. If that messenger did not possess the Saint Spirit Form and was killed by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, the No. 8 Beast Field might be angry but would not pay too much attention to it. But that messenger had mastered the Saint Spirit Form and then died in the No. 47 Beast Field. This indicated that the Demon Wood Semi-Saint also had mastery of the Saint Spirit Form. And it has only been two months since the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s breakthrough. What is the concept of mastering the Saint Spirit Form in two months? It is enough to make the No. 8 Beast Field increase their level of vigilance by several folds. Originally, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s Order Attribute and unique position had already made the No. 8 Beast Field consider killing it in the cradle as soon as possible. After killing the Semi-Saint messenger this time, aside from other factors, the Semi-Saints who could still spare the strength from the No. 8 Beast Field would probably have to come. Even with the main forces of the Transcendent Beings tied up in the frontal battle at Broken Abyss City, at least five or six Semi-Saints would need to be freed up to deal with this situation. Moreover, the timing of this battle¡¯s outbreak might also be brought forward due to this. But this couldn¡¯t be blamed on the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. After all, that foolish messenger had a murderous intent towards the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, and with such a forceful approach, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint couldn¡¯t just allow himself to be slaughtered, could he? At this point, everyone also realized the seriousness of the situation. ¡°Return to your respective cities and hold the fort, and remember not to leak even a bit of the cultivation method!¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice sank slightly, his gaze sternly sweeping over everyone present, ¡°This matter concerns the survival of the entire No. 47 Beast Field!¡± ¡°I will now covertly head to Broken Abyss City and try to persuade that Epic Level Beast Master to lend his support. If he takes action, there is still a chance for things to turn around!¡± Everyone nodded in unison. With things having come to this point, they understood the situation had changed. There¡¯s no great benefit in openly practicing the cultivation method now. Even if a few more Semi-Saints arrive, the overall strength enhancement of humans is nothing but a drop in the bucket. Solutions must be sought in high-end combat power. This mission has reached the stage where success is imperative. ¡°Xu Ran, would you be willing to accompany me to Broken Abyss City?¡± Fang Canghai turned his gaze to Xu Ran and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Ah?¡± Surprised at being called out, Xu Ran¡¯s face showed an astonished expression. He never imagined that Fang Canghai, going to Broken Abyss City, actually wanted to take him along. ¡°You¡¯re skilled in swordsmanship and focus on personal combat strength, which can be better demonstrated under the enhancement of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method,¡± Fang Canghai spoke softly, ¡°Since it¡¯s a trade, there has to be a showcase.¡± The Yang Guang Cultivation Method is of great importance and cannot involve more people, so the choice had to be made from those present. Xu Ran, being the weakest in strength and not needing to hold a city, was the most suitable. ¡°In that case, I must not shirk my responsibilities,¡± Xu Ran pondered for a moment and quickly nodded in agreement. His current main task 5 was to assist the human forces within the No. 47 Beast Field in securing victory in this battle. With all the branches already handled by system employees and not requiring his attention, Now, following Fang Canghai to Broken Abyss City would also be considered helping the No. 47 Beast Field, so he naturally did not hesitate. Moreover, Xu Ran, who had never been to Broken Abyss City, was also curious about this First-level Capital that had been confronting the No. 8 Beast Field for a thousand years. He swiftly climbed onto the jade-colored giant dragon¡¯s back with the five little ones and the Bright Group that had been brought out together. ¡°We depart immediately,¡± Fang Canghai no longer delayed, and the jade-colored giant dragon beneath his feet roared towards the sky before flapping its wings, taking to the air like an Amazing creature, and instantly flying into the distance. After Fang Canghai had left, the other Overlord Level Beast Masters didn¡¯t dare to dally and each headed for their own cities. They needed to quickly complete the deployment of combat strength within the Association and enter a state of war readiness. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint gazed in the direction Fang Canghai had left, then silently withdrew his gaze and turned to return towards the Monster Wooden Domain. Before Fang Canghai returned, Beast Field 47 still needed him to hold the fort. Elsewhere, on the back of the jade-colored giant dragon, Fang Canghai began to converse with Xu Ran. ¡°On this trip to Broken Abyss City, we are going to meet an Epic Level Beast Master named Zhou Polu,¡± Fang Canghai said slowly. ¡°He has his own family¡¯s influence in Broken Abyss City, and from what I know about him, he values his family and the younger generation within his clan a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I believe there¡¯s an eighty percent chance of success,¡± he added. ¡°A cultivation technique can never contribute as much to an individual as having family power can,¡± Fang Canghai paused before continuing, ¡°As long as he realizes the advantages of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, there¡¯s a high probability he¡¯ll be willing to make the trip to Beast Field 47.¡± ¡°So, on this trip to Broken Abyss City, we must fully demonstrate the power of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method,¡± he stated. ¡°That task will be yours,¡± Fang Canghai looked at Xu Ran, ¡°The stronger you perform, the better the effect.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, then spoke up, ¡°Predecessor, I have a question.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°This Yang Guang Cultivation Method, we¡¯re going to publicize it sooner or later, won¡¯t that Zhou predecessor get very angry then? Isn¡¯t offending an Epic Level Beast Master an issue?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Fang Canghai laughed, ¡°No one is a fool, Zhou Polu will definitely consider this.¡± ¡°Then him?¡± Xu Ran asked, looking surprised. ¡°But he still has a great probability of agreeing,¡± Fang Canghai spoke unhesitatingly, then his expression turned slightly complex. ¡°Sometimes, being one step late means falling behind in every step.¡± ¡°If Zhou Polu decides to take action, it would be at least several months before this Yang Guang Cultivation Method is publicized. During these months, only his Zhou Family in Broken Abyss City will have access to this method, and as long as the people in the Zhou Family aren¡¯t fools, they naturally will take this opportunity to expand their family¡¯s advantage.¡± ¡°By the time a few months have passed and the entire Broken Abyss City has gained access to the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, the benefits already consumed by the Zhou Family can¡¯t be spat back out!¡± ¡°I see,¡± Xu Ran had a moment of sudden enlightenment with Fang Canghai¡¯s explanation. ¡°The journey to Broken Abyss City is a long one, it will take three days with Xiaoyu¡¯s speed,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°After arriving in Broken Abyss City, I will delay as well, allowing you to showcase your abilities a bit later.¡± ¡°So, you have about a week to familiarize yourself with the Yang Guang Cultivation Method and improve your strength as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded firmly, now fully aware of the weight of his task. He turned his head to glance at the five little ones and then his gaze settled on the Bright Group that was being cradled by Firefly, ¡°I promised to bring you out, but now I can¡¯t set you free.¡± ¡°After all, you¡¯ve heard about the matter of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method.¡± The Bright Group trembled, shaking violently. ¡°Puff~¡± It wanted nothing to do with such ghostly freedom! When that Semi-Saint had appeared just now, it had been scared stiff and was still yet to recover from the shock. ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Ran nodded firmly, now fully aware of the weight of his task. He turned his head to glance at the five little ones and then his gaze settled on the Bright Group that was being cradled by Firefly, ¡°I promised to bring you out, but now I can¡¯t set you free.¡± ¡°After all, you¡¯ve heard about the matter of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method.¡± The Bright Group trembled, shaking violently. ¡°Puff~¡± It wanted nothing to do with such ghostly freedom! When that Semi-Saint had appeared just now, it had been scared stiff and was still yet to recover from the shock. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 345 illustration is now supplement. Chapter 775 - Chapter 775: Chapter 368: The Upheaval of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method Chapter 775: Chapter 368: The Upheaval of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method Over an endless expanse of wilderness, a jade-colored giant dragon with wings spanning a hundred meters soared by, whipping up wild winds that made the grass and trees sway and scatter, its fully released aura silencing all living creatures that perceived it. A gentle energy flowed in front of the jade-colored giant dragon, dissolving the strong headwinds, allowing the two humans and a group of Pet Beasts on the dragon¡¯s back to stand as if on solid ground, at ease. Having temporarily resolved the issue with the Bright Group, Xu Ran let the five little ones rest and recuperate before sitting cross-legged on the back of the jade-colored giant dragon, with the contents of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method flashing through his mind once again. The cultivation method left by the master of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace was different from the knowledge granted by the system, which could be fully understood at the time of impartation. It was more like an e-book tucked away in the mind, ready to be perused whenever thought directed. Although Xu Ran had previously skimmed through it in haste, he had only tasted a morsel of it and realized the general scope of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method without delving deeper. Now, taking advantage of the time Fang Canghai had fought for, he intended to master this cultivation method as much as possible. According to the introduction of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, the power obtained through the Beast Taming Contract¡¯s feedback naturally resides within the flesh and transforms into a form of power called ¡°vitality.¡± In another world, humans cultivate their own strength by simultaneously cultivating three different powers: ¡°vitality,¡± ¡°Essence Force,¡± and ¡°Divine Sense.¡± Only by combining these three can one¡¯s individual strength be fully harnessed. Therefore, the strength of a Beast Master is in a peculiar situation, akin to walking on one leg¡ªhaving an abundance of ¡°vitality,¡± but lacking the other two powers. What the Yang Guang Cultivation Method does is guide this ¡°vitality¡± to transform into ¡°Essence Force¡± and ¡°Divine Sense.¡± Although this approach might reduce the ¡°vitality,¡± the overall strength remains unchanged while greatly enhancing the Beast Master¡¯s individual combat power. Because ¡°vitality¡± needs to be converted into two different forms, the Yang Guang Cultivation Method is divided into two parts, which can be practiced simultaneously without interference. The first part is to sense the positions of one¡¯s own meridians, gather the first droplet of Essence Force, and control it as it traverses a special trajectory through the meridians all over the body. The circulation of Essence Force is quite peculiar; once it completes its first full circulation, it can be left to travel on its own without the risk of mishaps. Vitality and Essence Force, these two powers, are like two sides of the same coin, intricately related to each other. Therefore, when the body is overly filled with vitality and has very little Essence Force, the vitality will naturally shift towards Essence Force, much like water flowing downhill. Hence, one only needs to maintain the circulation of Essence Force to steadily continue the transformation until the quantities of vitality and Essence Force are nearly equal. The second part involves converting vitality into Divine Sense, which is somewhat more complicated and requires a method known as visualization. Unlike the Meditation Training of the Beast Master¡¯s contract power, it involves mentally depicting a symbolically significant object and then continuously refining it, thereby enhancing Divine Sense during this process. For the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, the visualization is that of a great sun, which is clearly described in Xu Ran¡¯s brain, greatly reducing the difficulty of the first visualization. Since Divine Sense is entirely separate from the body, it cannot be directly transformed from vitality; however, Essence Force acts as a medium between the two. As it travels through the meridians near the brain, if the Essence Force is stronger than the Divine Sense, it will naturally convert into Divine Sense. First, vitality is transformed into Essence Force, then Essence Force into Divine Sense, to finally achieve a balance of power among the three. This is the essence of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method. After thoroughly understanding this, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the refinement of the cultivation methods from the other world and began his first attempt. The physical quality of a King Level Beast Master made the threshold for initiation almost non-existent. With the guidance of the cultivation method, it didn¡¯t take long for Xu Ran to sense all the hidden meridians in his body. Next was the condensation of the first droplet of Essence Force. Transitioning from nothing to something is often the most difficult part. Xu Ran carefully sensed the hidden vitality within his body, striving to control the expansion and contraction of the meridians in order to extract the power of vitality bit by bit, like drawing water. About ten minutes passed, and a sound of a water droplet¡ªthe ¡°ding-dong¡±¡ªfaintly emerged, bringing a joyful expression to Xu Ran¡¯s face. Success! He could feel at this moment, three inches below his navel, Essence Force has gathered into the form of the first droplet, reaching the minimal requirements for the circulation of meridians. Next, it was time to control the circulation of Essence Force within the meridians. Compared to the previous process, this one was somewhat easier. Within Xu Ran¡¯s perception, this droplet of Essence Force, belonging to him, was as docile as a lamb, responding instantly to his will at the slightest thought. After completing a full cycle of circulation following the meridian diagram of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, Xu Ran withdrew his controlling force and felt Essence Force intelligently complete the second circulation on its own, which allowed him to relax. That¡¯s it? Easy! If the master of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace still had awareness, he would probably only be able to smile wryly at Xu Ran¡¯s thoughts. In his former world, a human novice to the cultivation methods needed one to seven days just to obtain the first droplet of Essence Force and even longer to complete the first circulation, with those less talented possibly needing a month. Chapter 776 - Chapter 776: Chapter 368: The Incident with the Yang Guang Cultivation Method_2 Chapter 776: Chapter 368: The Incident with the Yang Guang Cultivation Method_2 Xu Ran could progress so quickly because he was switching his cultivation path; already having a foundation of power made everything much easier. After two cycles of Essence Force circulation, Xu Ran felt the changes within himself. Each time the Essence Force passed through his meridians, he felt a slight decrease in strength around that area, but this sensation was quickly replaced by an even more abundant feeling of Essence Force. As the Essence Force surged, it grew at an unimaginable pace, and just after two cycles, a single drop of Essence Force had already multiplied into hundreds. In Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes, Xu Ran had already transformed. His body emitted a rich and potent glow of blood essence, and within this glow, a faint milky halo of Light, though weak, was absorbing the blood essence and growing stronger gradually. ¡°Is this vital energy and Essence Force?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes revealed an intrigued expression, ¡°The power system of another world is quite interesting.¡± He simply sat cross-legged atop the jade-colored Giant Dragon, and moments later, a similar yet much more concentrated blood essence glow appeared around him. Unaware of Fang Canghai¡¯s actions beside him, and after completing the third cycle of Essence Force, amassing it to the scale of two to three hundred drops, Xu Ran began to attempt meditation. He cleared his mind, leaving only the image of the great sun as depicted in the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, and awkwardly commenced his first meditation. In the center of his consciousness, a vague outline quickly emerged, radiating infinite light and astonishing heat; the moment it appeared, its brilliance cascaded over Xu Ran¡¯s consciousness. Xu Ran felt as if he had just taken a sauna; his entire consciousness was warm and soothing, yet his mind became even clearer rather than fuzzy, making his perception of his surroundings much sharper. It was an unprecedented experience, but the moment it occurred, Xu Ran had an intuitive understanding. This was Divine Sense. The Essence Force meandering through the meridians in his head became the dominant force in the presence of the newly arisen Divine Sense, tilting unconsciously towards the Divine Sense, drop by drop of Essence Force slowly vanishing, giving Xu Ran a tingling sensation in his brain. The speed at which his Divine Sense strengthened was increasing even faster. It was at this moment that Xu Ran suddenly saw five deep blue vortexes. They had appeared around the great sun at some unknown time, forming a chain that completely sealed off the sun. That was the Fifth Stage contract power cultivated by Xu Ran¡¯s meditation. Seeing this, Xu Ran was momentarily stunned. The Yang Guang Cultivation Method did not mention such an anomaly. Because the master of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace, who developed this cultivation method, based it on the Beast Taming Contract and the cultivation practices of humankind from another world. He was unaware of the true nature of the contract power and hadn¡¯t considered this question. After hesitating for a moment, Xu Ran chose to continue trying to meditate. Fortunately, the contract power seemed to be there just to join the fun; it did not interfere with Xu Ran¡¯s meditation, nor did it affect the transformation of Essence Force into Divine Sense. Relieved, Xu Ran continued to cultivate, constantly converting the power of his vital energy into Essence Force and Divine Sense, until he was awakened by Fang Canghai, who was at his side. ¡°Did your contract power appear during meditation?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s question made Xu Ran realize that the incident during his meditation was not an isolated case, ¡°Yes, Chairman Fang, does this have an impact?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chairman Fang, looking slightly odd, laughed and said, ¡°Stop cultivating for now and try meditating on the contract power.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Ran blinked, without hesitation, he did as Chairman Fang suggested and shifted to meditate on the contract power. The next moment, his expression changed. The contract power existed in the form of vortexes within his consciousness. Normally, when meditating upon it, the vortexes would spin faster, generating a suction force, drawing in the Extraordinary Energy from the surrounding space, thus becoming stronger continuously. The more whirlpools, the deeper the color, the higher the stage of the contract power, and the faster the speed of absorbing Transcendent Power. But as the stage of the contract power increases, the energy needed for breakthroughs grows even faster, thus the advancement speed of the contract power doesn¡¯t increase but decreases instead, and it might even come to a complete halt when encountering a bottleneck. Now, after practicing the Yang Guang Cultivation Method for a while, Xu Ran found something different when he attempted meditation again. The whirlpool was spinning faster, and while absorbing Extraordinary Energy, it would inadvertently siphon away a trace of power from the recently visualized Sun. This trace of power was minuscule and hardly noticeable, but with Qin Chuan¡¯s six hundredfold Meditation speed, this absorption immediately became exceedingly apparent. Contract power has no consciousness, but this scene always gave Xu Ran the impression that it was behaving cheekily, like a petty thief stealthily stealing away the Divine Sense power he had just developed. With six hundred times the effect underneath, the speed at which the contract power stole the Divine Sense was quite astonishing; Qin Chuan¡¯s Divine Sense, having just been formed, was drained by a significant amount in just a few minutes. And as a result, the contract power itself had grown considerably stronger. He stared in shock, paused his meditation, and looked at Fang Canghai, ¡°Chairman Fang, this¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this to happen either,¡± Fang Canghai laughed, but seemed quite pleased, ¡°Contract power allows us to make contracts with Transcendent Beings, forming a Beast Taming Contract.¡± ¡°The Pet Beast¡¯s power, via the Beast Taming Contract, nourishes the Beast Master, becoming our vitality.¡± ¡°Under the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, vitality first transforms into Essence Force, and then from Essence Force into Divine Sense.¡± ¡°And finally, Divine Sense is actually absorbed by the contract power, accelerating the growth of the contract power¡­¡± Fang Canghai was somewhat amused, ¡°This closed loop, I hadn¡¯t considered at all.¡± ¡°Chairman Fang, in this way, if contract power absorbs Divine Sense, and Divine Sense absorbs Essence Force, and Essence Force absorbs vitality, doesn¡¯t that mean our strength is getting weaker?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s expression suddenly brightened. He was still hoping to charge ahead while his Pet Beast cheered ¡°666¡± from behind! ¡°That might not be a bad thing,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°If you observe carefully, you¡¯ll notice that the speed at which contract power absorbs Divine Sense is not fast.¡± ¡°It, along with vitality, Essence Force, and Divine Sense, is fundamentally not of the same system, so there¡¯s no principle such as water flowing downward.¡± ¡°Otherwise, it should be the weaker Divine Sense absorbing the contract power instead.¡± ¡°The contract power¡¯s absorption of Divine Sense is an active absorption, likely due to their similarities, incidentally absorbing a bit while drawing in Extraordinary Energy.¡± ¡°The Yang Guang Cultivation Method is a practice refined by the master of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace; it is different from the normal cultivation methods of other worlds. It cannot draw strength from the external world to empower oneself; it can only rely on the transformation of vitality to grow stronger.¡± ¡°And our vitality, is entirely nourished by the Pet Beast.¡± ¡°So, this method reduces our Individual Combat Power but accelerates the advancement of contract power.¡± ¡°To sacrifice a part of Individual Combat Power in exchange for the enhancement of contract power¡­¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°Is there a better deal than this?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C He was still hoping to charge ahead while his Pet Beast cheered ¡°666¡± from behind! ¡°That might not be a bad thing,¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°If you observe carefully, you¡¯ll notice that the speed at which contract power absorbs Divine Sense is not fast.¡± ¡°It, along with vitality, Essence Force, and Divine Sense, is fundamentally not of the same system, so there¡¯s no principle such as water flowing downward.¡± ¡°Otherwise, it should be the weaker Divine Sense absorbing the contract power instead.¡± ¡°The contract power¡¯s absorption of Divine Sense is an active absorption, likely due to their similarities, incidentally absorbing a bit while drawing in Extraordinary Energy.¡± ¡°The Yang Guang Cultivation Method is a practice refined by the master of the Yang Guang Celestial Palace; it is different from the normal cultivation methods of other worlds. It cannot draw strength from the external world to empower oneself; it can only rely on the transformation of vitality to grow stronger.¡± ¡°And our vitality, is entirely nourished by the Pet Beast.¡± ¡°So, this method reduces our Individual Combat Power but accelerates the advancement of contract power.¡± ¡°To sacrifice a part of Individual Combat Power in exchange for the enhancement of contract power¡­¡± Fang Canghai smiled, ¡°Is there a better deal than this?¡± Chapter 777 - Chapter 777: Chapter 369: First Visit to Broken Abyss City Chapter 777: Chapter 369: First Visit to Broken Abyss City Although Xu Ran was astonished at the peculiar transformation that ensued after the collision between the Yang Guang Cultivation Method and the Beast Master¡¯s contract power, he was aware that now was not the time for in-depth investigation. By comparison, the safety of the 47th Beast Field was of greater importance. Therefore, after briefly negotiating with Fang Canghai, Xu Ran officially commenced his cultivation of the Yang Guang Cultivation Method. Following Fang Canghai¡¯s advice, Xu Ran refrained from meditating for the subsequent three days. Without the absorption of contract power, his Qi blood, Essence Force, and Divine Sense gradually equalized while their overall quantity remained unchanged. Although on the surface, Xu Ran¡¯s own strength seemed to weaken, he was acutely aware of the astonishing new power concealed beneath this facade of diminished Qi blood. During a rest on the second day of the journey, he managed to bisect a small hill at the waist with a single sword strike, purely through his own power. The Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers had originated from another world, and when Xu Ran had previously deployed swordsmanship with only his Qi blood, he could not fully unleash its true might. As his Essence Force and Divine Sense were replenished, this mighty swordsmanship began to reveal new radiance in his hands. ¡°Xu Ran, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice rose by his ear, and Xu Ran opened his eyes from cultivation. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze fell upon the huge city that occupied his entire field of view with an unprecedented scale, and he could not help but show an expression of utter astonishment. Prior to this, the largest city Xu Ran had ever seen was Xieyun City, indisputably the number one city in the 47th Beast Field. The majestic scale of Xieyun City had given Xu Ran a strong sense of amazement upon his first visit. At this moment, the impression that Broken Abyss City gave to Qin Chuan was that of an immense scale that shouldn¡¯t exist in reality. Broken Abyss City, located in the sky. It was terrifyingly a thousand times larger than Xieyun City, and even at this distance, it almost completely filled Xu Ran¡¯s vision, stretching beyond what the eye could see. At the bottom of Broken Abyss City, the inverted conical foundation of rock and soil resembled a divine spike pointing towards the earth, wrapped in unfathomable power, pointing to the abyss below. ¡°Broken Abyss¡± got its name from this feature. ¡°Below Broken Abyss City lies the Corpse Abyss,¡± Fang Canghai began slowly, seeming to notice the direction of Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, ¡°This place is the most terrifying Transcendent location in the eighth Beast Field.¡± ¡°Unlike other Transcendent domains, the Corpse Abyss was formed during a battle with Transcendent Beings several hundred years ago.¡± ¡°In that battle, both sides lost a total of seven Saint Spirits.¡± ¡°All seven Saint Spirits fell on the battlefield, their immense Saint Spirit powers mingling with their mutual animosity towards each other.¡± ¡°Different from ordinary Transcendent Beings, the powers of the Holy Spirit Race, having undergone an Attribute transition, dissipate slower after death, linger longer, and are more likely to affect their surroundings, forming Transcendent domains.¡± ¡°Among the fallen seven Saint Spirits, one was associated with the Attribute of death. Its power interacted with the powers of the other Saint Spirits, affecting countless fallen Transcendent Beings on the battlefield, forming a perilous ghostly specter.¡± ¡°This is what we now see as the Corpse Abyss,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression naturally became stern as he spoke, ¡°The Corpse Abyss is bottomless, with no telling how many terrifying beings exist in another form after death within.¡± ¡°Even a Semi-Saint faces danger of death upon entering.¡± ¡°Broken Abyss City was moved above the Corpse Abyss for a very important reason: to monitor the state of the Corpse Abyss at all times.¡± ¡°We must never let the entities within the Corpse Abyss escape.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Qin Chuan displayed an enlightened expression. As he looked again towards the deep abyss, so unfathomable and spine-chilling, he faintly felt as if there was a terrible presence looming beneath the abyss as well. The land where seven Saint Spirits fell. Just the thought of it allowed him to viscerally feel an oppressive force bearing down on him, and yet, Broken Abyss City suppressed this site year-round and constructed such a magnificent scale, clearly showing its confidence in its own strength. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s enter,¡± said Fang Canghai as the two arrived on the vast Floating Island where Broken Abyss City was located. Unlike other cities, Broken Abyss City had no walls or gates. Leaping down from the back of a jade Giant Dragon and setting foot on the Floating Island, the ripple that had risen in Xu Ran¡¯s heart due to the Corpse Abyss calmed instantly. An unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility emerged within him. A barely discernible layer of light on the periphery of the Floating Island completely isolated the breath of the Corpse Abyss, and the only sensations to greet him were the somewhat sweet and refreshing air and the warm, gentle breeze. ¡°Quite magical, isn¡¯t it?¡± Observing Xu Ran¡¯s increasingly astonished expression, Fang Canghai smiled indifferently, seemingly forgetting how he was no different from Xu Ran upon his first visit to Broken Abyss City, ¡°Broken Abyss City, is the capital of the Shining Holy Kingdom.¡± ¡°Within the territory of the Shining Holy Kingdom, this is the ultimate sanctuary.¡± ¡°If something were to go wrong in Broken Abyss City, then the entire Shining Holy Kingdom wouldn¡¯t be far from destruction,¡± Fang Canghai spoke as he stepped towards the depths of Broken Abyss City, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to see the real prosperity of Broken Abyss City.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Although Xu Ran was astonished at the peculiar transformation that ensued after the collision between the Yang Guang Cultivation Method and the Beast Master¡¯s contract power, he was aware that now was not the time for in-depth investigation. Chapter 778 - Chapter 778: Chapter 369: First Visit to Broken Abyss City_2 Chapter 778: Chapter 369: First Visit to Broken Abyss City_2 By contrast, the safety of Beast Field No. 47 was of greater importance. Therefore, after a brief negotiation with Fang Canghai, Xu Ran, who had just tasted the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, officially began his training in it. Under the advice of Fang Canghai, for the next three days, Xu Ran did not meditate, and without the absorption of contract power, his own vital energy, Essence Force, and Divine Sense became more evenly distributed without changing the overall amount. Although on the surface, Xu Ran¡¯s own strength seemed to have weakened, he was well aware that beneath this fa?ade of reduced vital energy lay an astonishing new power. During a rest on the second day of his journey, he had, relying on his own power, struck a passing hill with his sword, splitting it in two from the middle with a single blow. The Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers already originated from another world, and previously, when Xu Ran could only use his vital energy to perform swordsmanship, he was unable to fully unleash its true might. With the replenishment of Essence Force and Divine Sense, this formidable sword technique now shone with new brilliance in his hands. ¡°Xu Ran, we have arrived,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice rang out near his ear, and Xu Ran opened his eyes from his training. Just as he was about to say something, when his gaze fell upon the vast city that occupied his entire field of vision and was on a scale he had never before seen, he couldn¡¯t help but reveal an expression of utter astonishment. Before this, the largest city Xu Ran had ever seen was none other than Xieyun City. As the undisputed first city of Beast Field No. 47, the scale and grandeur of Xieyun City had given Xu Ran a strong sense of awe the first time he saw it. And now, the feeling that Broken Abyss City gave to Qin Chuan was that of a vast extent that should not exist in reality. Broken Abyss City, situated in the sky. It was a thousand times larger than Xieyun City in terrifying scale, and even from a significant distance, it almost completely occupied Xu Ran¡¯s field of vision, stretching beyond where the eye could see. At the base of Broken Abyss City, the inverted cone-shaped rock and soil foundation, like a divine peg pointed straight at the earth, enveloped in unfathomable power, pointed towards the abyss below. This is where the name ¡°Broken Abyss¡± originated from. ¡°Below Broken Abyss City lies the Corpse Abyss,¡± apparently noticing the direction of Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, Fang Canghai beside him spoke slowly, ¡°This place is the most terrifying transcendent land of Beast Field No. 8.¡± ¡°Unlike other transcendent lands, the Corpse Abyss was formed during a battle between us and the Transcendent Beings several hundred years ago.¡± ¡°In that battle, both sides lost a total of seven beings of the Saint Rank.¡± ¡°All seven of the Saint Rank fell on the battlefield. The immense power belonging to Saint Rank, coupled with the enmity they bore for each other, entangled together.¡± ¡°Unlike ordinary Transcendent Beings, the power of the Holy Spirit Race lingers much longer after death due to undergoing an Attribute transition, staying for an extended period, and more easily affecting the surrounding area to form a transcendent land.¡± ¡°Among the seven fallen Saint Spirits, one¡¯s Attribute was associated with death. Its power interacted with the powers of the other Saint Ranks, affecting countless fallen Transcendent Beings on the battlefield, creating a perilous haunt.¡± ¡°This is what we now see as the Corpse Abyss,¡± as Fang Canghai said this, his complexion naturally grew more solemn, ¡°The Corpse Abyss is bottomless, and within it lie who knows how many terrifying creatures that persist in another form after death.¡± ¡°Even Semi-Saints who enter might be in danger of perishing.¡± ¡°The relocation of Broken Abyss City over the Corpse Abyss has a very important purpose, which is to monitor the state of the Corpse Abyss at all times.¡± ¡°We must never allow the beings within the Corpse Abyss to escape.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Qin Chuan revealed a look of realization. As he looked again towards the unfathomable abyss that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine, he faintly felt an illusion as if some terrifying existence below the abyss were also gazing back at him. The land where seven Saint Spirits fell. Just the thought was enough for him to feel an overwhelming pressure engulfing him, And yet, Broken Abyss City has always kept a firm hold over this place and has built such a grand scale, showing its confidence in its own strength. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s enter,¡± he said, and by then, they had already arrived at the giant Floating Island where Broken Abyss City was located. Unlike other cities, Broken Abyss City had no walls or gates. Leaping down from the back of the jade-colored Giant Dragon and stepping onto the Floating Island, the turmoil in Xu Ran¡¯s heart caused by Corpse Abyss instantly settled. A sense of unprecedented peace and tranquility emerged within him. An indistinct layer of light around the Floating Island completely sealed off the aura of Corpse Abyss, and all that approached was air carrying a hint of sweetness and a gentle, warm breeze. ¡°It¡¯s quite magical, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s increasingly astonished expression, Fang Canghai smiled nonchalantly, having forgotten that his first visit to Broken Abyss City was no better than Xu Ran¡¯s, ¡°Broken Abyss City is the capital of Shining Holy Kingdom.¡± ¡°Within the borders of Shining Holy Kingdom, this is the ultimate sanctuary,¡± Fang Canghai said, and stepped towards the depths of Broken Abyss City, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to see the true splendor of Broken Abyss City.¡± Although surprised at the peculiar changes brought about by the encounter between the Yang Guang Cultivation Method and the Beast Master¡¯s contract power, Xu Ran knew that now was not the time to delve into it. By comparison, the safety of Beast Field No. 47 was more important. Therefore, after brief negotiations with Fang Canghai, Xu Ran, who had just sampled the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, officially began his training in it. Following Fang Canghai¡¯s suggestion, for the next three days, Xu Ran did not meditate, and without the absorption of contract power, his own blood qi, Essence Force, and Divine Sense began to even out while their total volume remained unchanged. Although superficially, Xu Ran¡¯s own strength seemed weaker, he was well aware that beneath that fa?ade of diminished blood qi, an astonishing new power lay hidden. During a rest on the second day of the journey, he used his own strength to take a swing at a passing hill with his sword, slicing the hill in two right at its waist with a single strike. The Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, originating from another world, could not fully exert its true power when Xu Ran previously wielded swordsmanship with only blood qi. With the replenishment of Essence Force and Divine Sense, this powerful swordsmanship now revealed a new brilliance in his hands. ¡°Xu Ran, we have arrived,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice sounded next to his ear, and Xu Ran opened his eyes from his training. He was about to say something when his gaze caught sight of the huge city that occupied his entire field of vision with its unprecedented grandeur, and he couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of utter astonishment. Before this, the largest city Xu Ran had seen was none other than Xieyun City. As the undisputed first city of Beast Field No. 47, the first time Xu Ran beheld the grandeur and spectacle of Xieyun City, he felt a strong wave of awe. At this moment, however, Broken Abyss City gave Qin Chuan the feeling of an immensity that should not exist in reality. Broken Abyss City, located in the sky. With a size a thousand times more terrifying than that of Xieyun City, even at a considerable distance, it almost completely dominated Xu Ran¡¯s field of vision, endless at a glance. At the bottom of Broken Abyss City, the inverted conical foundation of rock and soil looked like a divine nail pointing straight at the earth, encapsulating an unfathomable power, directed toward the abyss below. The name ¡°Broken Abyss¡± stems from this. ¡°Beneath Broken Abyss City lies Corpse Abyss,¡± Fang Canghai said, noticing the direction of Xu Ran¡¯s gaze, ¡°This is the most terrifying Transcendent site in Beast Field No. 8.¡± ¡°Unlike other Transcendent sites, Corpse Abyss was formed in a battle with Transcendent Beings hundreds of years ago.¡± ¡°In that battle, both enemies and allies lost seven of the Saint Rank,¡± Fang Canghai continued, ¡°All seven Saint Rank perished on the battlefield, and the immense Power belonging to the Saint Rank, along with the hatred they harbored for each other before their demise, became intertwined.¡± ¡°Unlike ordinary Transcendent Beings, the Power of the Holy Spirit Race, having gone through an Attribute transition, disperses more slowly upon their fall, lingers longer, and is more likely to influence its surroundings to form a Transcendent site.¡± Chapter 779 - Chapter 779: Chapter 370: Between the Saint Spirits Chapter 779: Chapter 370: Between the Saint Spirits Staring at Star and Twelve struggling to gather all their Evolution Materials, a look of envy emerged on Firefly¡¯s face. Among the five small ones that had completed their contracts, it was the only one that hadn¡¯t obtained an Evolution Path to the Emperor Species and could only hope for the next evolution. Thinking of this, Firefly subconsciously raised its bear paw and gently touched the Bright Group it had been holding in its arms. The Bright Group blinked its monochromatic eyes as the light it emitted shimmered for a moment. One man, five pet beasts, and a group were chatting idly, blissfully unaware that their unique attire and the distinctive characteristics of their pet beast species had already caught the attention of other Beast Masters in the Association. In the middle of the hall, a youth around sixteen or seventeen years old, leaning against a column with sharp brows, fixed his gaze on Star beside Xu Ran, his eyes lighting up without him realizing it. Such a majestic horse-type pet beast, he wanted to own one! Without much hesitation, he stood up straight and strode towards Xu Ran. As he moved, two figures that followed him like servants also started moving. ¡°Hey, what species is this pet beast? What did it evolve from?¡± The young man walked up to Xu Ran, pointed at Star, and inquired. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran turned to look at the youth upon hearing this. This handsome youth was dressed in attire that was meticulously lavish, subtly luxurious yet with a touch of artisan work. Coupled with the two servants trailing behind him, Xu Ran instantly recognized that the young man¡¯s identity was no simple matter. Thinking that he was new to Broken Abyss City and unfamiliar with the situation here, Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Its species is a Star God Horse, evolved from a Night Colt.¡± ¡°Star God Horse¡­ Night Colt¡­¡± The youth furrowed his brows slightly, then turned to one of the servants, ¡°Have you heard of it?¡± The servant didn¡¯t speak, merely shaking his head. ¡°Forget it.¡± Dissatisfied at not getting the answer he wanted from the servant, the youth turned back to Xu Ran, ¡°You must be from out of town, right? Tell me, in which city was this Night Colt bred as a pet beast?¡± Now Xu Ran completely understood what the young man meant. The youth seemed to want a pet beast just like Star. Unfortunately, Star¡¯s birth was very unique, and it was unlikely that there would be a second beast of the same species. With this in mind, Xu Ran shook his head and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to tell you, but my pet beast¡¯s origin is pretty special; there probably aren¡¯t anymore of its kind.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so special about it? Tell me.¡± The youth was persistent and demanded, ¡°No matter how special the origin, I can have someone figure out a way to replicate it!¡± Xu Ran remained silent, simply shaking his head. He didn¡¯t want to continue this topic as their acquaintance was shallow. His lack of cooperation made the young man¡¯s expression darken, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know who I am, do you?¡± ¡°From the beginning till now, you haven¡¯t introduced yourself.¡± Xu Ran¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a hint of danger from the two servants behind the youth, and his tone of voice cooled down. ¡°Then let me inform you of my identity now,¡± the youth said coldly. ¡°My name is¡­¡± ¡°Aike, what are you doing?¡± Before the youth could continue, a sharp scold rang from not too far away. Xu Ran clearly saw that at the moment the reproachful voice arrived, the previously haughty young man¡¯s expression suddenly became flustered, his head retracting and the arrogance gone without a trace. He looked in the direction the voice had come from and saw a woman in an elegant gown with her hair tied up moving towards them; her delicate features now held a hint of suspicion as she looked at the young man with disapproval, ¡°Bullying people again?¡± ¡°Sis! I wasn¡¯t, I was just asking about this person¡¯s pet beast,¡± Aike¡¯s expression turned pitiful, and while speaking, he kept making fervent eye signals towards Xu Ran, as if he wanted Xu Ran to corroborate his story. Xu Ran smiled inwardly, casually replying, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Knowing the two were siblings, he felt that even if he exposed the recent confrontation, the young woman would likely be lenient with her younger brother. Aike¡¯s eyes shone with astonishment, then ecstatically looked at his sister, ¡°Sis, see! I told you I wasn¡¯t bullying anyone!¡± ¡°As long as you weren¡¯t.¡± The woman¡¯s expression softened slightly, then she glanced at Xu Ran and his pet beasts, before turning to walk towards the entrance of the Beast Master Association, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Aike obediently trotted after the woman, not showing any sign of the arrogance he had displayed while alone. After the siblings left, Fang Canghai, who had returned at some point, stepped beside Xu Ran, ¡°Do you know those two siblings?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Ran shook his head slightly and briefly recounted the interaction, eliciting an approving nod from Fang Canghai. ¡°You were put in a difficult spot, but you handled it correctly,¡± Fang Canghai patted Xu Ran¡¯s shoulder, ¡°That woman is Princess Ailan, and the youth is Prince Aike, whose arrogant reputation is well known in the royal family.¡± ¡°We¡¯re new to Broken Abyss City; it¡¯s indeed best not to offend them.¡± ¡°They are from the royal family?¡± There was a hint of surprise on Xu Ran¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t considered this, only thinking the siblings might belong to one of Broken Abyss City¡¯s powerful families. ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Canghai nodded, ¡°But let¡¯s not dwell on that. I¡¯ve completed the reporting duties; let¡¯s quickly find a place to settle down.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran nodded, seeing no problem with that. He still needed to hurry and continue practicing the Yang Guang Cultivation Method. Chapter 780 - Chapter 780: Chapter 370: Between the Saint Spirits_2 Chapter 780: Chapter 370: Between the Saint Spirits_2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C At the same time, on the streets of Broken Abyss City, a luxurious carriage sped by, sporting a golden emblem that was particularly striking, prompting all passersby who saw the emblem to proactively get out of the way. This symbol represented the royal family of the Shining Holy Kingdom. Inside the carriage, Ailan looked at her brother, who sat upright and proper, her brow slightly furrowed, ¡°What were you just talking with that man about? You almost came to blows.¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t!¡± Aike was taken aback that his sister hadn¡¯t dropped the matter completely, and after a brief moment of surprise, he repeatedly protested his innocence, ¡°How could it possibly come to that?¡± ¡°How could it not?¡± Ailan¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°Try to hide it again and see what happens.¡± She thought about the faint sense of danger she had distinctly felt emanating from that man before she had intervened. If she had intervened a moment later, who knows what would have happened. Hearing his sister say this, Aike knew that Ailan must have noticed something, and his expression turned helpless, ¡°I was just¡­¡± Aike gave a brief account of the incident. Of course, in his recounting, he embellished and flattered himself a bit. Ailan glanced at Aike but did not expose this point. She had already roughly pieced together what had happened. ¡°Aike¡­¡± Ailan looked at her fourteenth brother with a complex expression, ¡°Is there ever a time you leave the palace without causing trouble?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Aike was at a loss for words. ¡°Enough, reflect on yourself.¡± Ailan waved her hand and then turned to a guard who appeared in the carriage at some point, ¡°Have you found out everything?¡± ¡°Reporting to Princess Ailan, the person comes from Beast Field number 47, following Fang Canghai, the President of the Beast Master Association of Xieyun City,¡± the guard said respectfully. As the guard spoke, Aike, who had been sitting obediently, perked up his ears. ¡°Beast Field number 47¡­¡± A thought flashed through Ailan¡¯s eyes, and suddenly recalling something made it clear to her, ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± ¡°Sis, can I¡­¡± Aike began, his face full of anticipation, about to say something, but Ailan cut him off before he could speak. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Ailan interrupted without hesitation, glaring sternly at Aike, ¡°You want to go to Beast Field number 47?¡± She knew her brother all too well. This guy, once he set his mind on something, not even ten bulls could pull him back. At the moment, Aike was interested in the pet beast of that Beast Master and didn¡¯t believe what the other party had said; clearly, he was planning to go to Beast Field number 47 to see if he could find a horse-type pet beast that was exactly the same. ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± Aike shrank back, flashing a flattering smile, ¡°I¡¯ll send a couple of powerful subordinates to find me a pet beast.¡± ¡°Hey, sis~¡± Seeing that Ailan remained silent, Aike quickly moved forward to embrace her arm. ¡°This is non-negotiable,¡± Ailan said coldly, withdrawing her hand, ¡°Beast Field number 47 is in the midst of troubled times; your people going there will only cause more trouble.¡± ¡°¡­Ah?¡± Hearing this, Aike blinked, ¡°What¡¯s with Beast Field number 47?¡± Entirely inattentive to political affairs, he knew only the most superficial things about the current situation in Beast Field number 8, and he was completely clueless about Beast Field number 47. ¡°In Beast Field number 47, a Semi-Saint has emerged,¡± said Ailan slowly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean Beast Field number 47 is finished?¡± Aike exclaimed in shock, quickly responding, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we send an Epic Level Beast Master to help or something?¡± ¡°Help with what?¡± ¡°To kill that Semi-Saint,¡± Aike said as if it were obvious, ¡°Otherwise, won¡¯t the humans in Beast Field number 47 be wiped out?¡± ¡°You truly don¡¯t care about the situation at all,¡± Ailan said with a look of disbelief, ¡°I discussed this with your second and third brothers the other day; you were right there. It seems you didn¡¯t listen to a word we said.¡± ¡°Ugh, that¡­ when you guys talk politics, it makes me want to sleep,¡± said Aike, both embarrassed and defiant. Ailan shook her head in exasperation at her hopeless brother. ¡°The newly arisen Semi-Saint in Beast Field No. 47 is neutral; it seems to want to foster harmonious relations between humans and transcendental beings and had made several attempts to do so before becoming a Semi-Saint,¡± ¡°So, the situation isn¡¯t what you think it is,¡± ¡°Humans living in harmony with transcendental beings¡­¡± Aike blinked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the very ideal that the Loxen Holy Spirit has always insisted upon?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ailan nodded slightly, her expression softening a bit. She had just felt that her brother was starting to think, but upon hearing Aike¡¯s next words, her face darkened once again. ¡°Then that¡¯s great news for Beast Field No. 47!¡± Aike spoke with a puzzled look, ¡°With an additional Semi-Saint advocating for harmony between humans and transcendental beings, that place is bound to become even more peaceful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Ailan shook her head with a sigh, ¡°Beast Field No. 47 isn¡¯t isolated from the world. Haven¡¯t you thought about what impact the Beast Saints of Beast Field No. 8 and our side¡¯s Saint Spirits might have on this?¡± ¡°Tell me, which of our Saint Spirits do the Saints despise the most?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Aike blinked, ¡°The Loxen Holy Spirit?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Ailan spoke solemnly, ¡°Although the Loxen Holy Spirit advocates for harmony between humans and transcendental beings, its methods are quite aggressive and not very meticulous.¡± ¡°Among all the Saint Spirits, it is the only one that repeatedly attacks powerless transcendental beings without regard for its reputation.¡± ¡°Several minor transcendental species within the Beast Field who hold extreme hatred for humans have been annihilated by the Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°And for this reason, the Loxen Holy Spirit is the most disliked by the Saints of the Beast Field, and even a few Beast Saints who are somewhat favorable towards humans express extreme dissatisfaction when it comes to the Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± At this point, Ailan¡¯s expression carried a hint of helplessness. Admittedly, although the Loxen Holy Spirit¡¯s style and methods are particularly forceful, its actions have indeed brought significant deterrence to Beast Field No. 8. At least now, there are few species in the Beast Field daring to openly claim they want to exterminate humans. ¡°That Semi-Saint from Beast Field No. 47 is facing scrutiny because its views are very close to those of the Loxen Holy Spirit, which has caught the attention of the Saints of the Beast Field,¡± Ailan returned to the main topic, ¡°They fear the emergence of a second Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°So, they¡¯ve decided to send several Semi-Saints to descend upon Beast Field No. 47, and even if they don¡¯t kill the other party, they want to bring it back to Beast Field No. 8 to keep an eye on it directly.¡± ¡°That Semi-Saint from Beast Field No. 47 is really wronged,¡± Aike couldn¡¯t help gritting his teeth, ¡°It did nothing, yet it¡¯s being targeted because of the Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°Wronged?¡± Ailan¡¯s eyes took on a strange look, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± ¡°A few days ago, the emissaries sent by the Saints of the Beast Field were slain by that being.¡± ¡°That mysterious Semi-Saint, its personality does have some similarities to the Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Aike¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The emissaries were killed? ¡°I¡¯m starting to understand why my sister said that Beast Field No. 47 is in troubled times,¡± Aike shook his head with resignation, ¡°Alright, then I won¡¯t send people over.¡± ¡°But there is one thing I still don¡¯t understand,¡± he looked puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to send help?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help,¡± Ailan¡¯s eyes dimmed, ¡°You should know where the Loxen Holy Spirit is right now.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ it should be at the eastern battlefield, right?¡± Aike thought for a moment and then answered, ¡°It¡¯s being tied down by several Beast Saints.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ailan turned her head, looking in a certain direction through the thick curtain of the carriage, ¡°Those who detest the Loxen Holy Spirit aren¡¯t limited to just the Saints within Beast Field No. 8.¡± ¡°Among our human Saint Spirits, there are quite a few who don¡¯t want to see the emergence of a second Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°Sister, you mean¡­¡± Aike¡¯s eyes widened, about to say something, but he was stopped by Ailan¡¯s stern gaze. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°We can¡¯t help,¡± Ailan¡¯s eyes dimmed, ¡°You should know where the Loxen Holy Spirit is right now.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ it should be at the eastern battlefield, right?¡± Aike thought for a moment and answered, ¡°It¡¯s being tied down by several Beast Saints.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ailan turned her head, looking in a certain direction through the thick curtain of the carriage, ¡°Those who detest the Loxen Holy Spirit aren¡¯t limited to just the Saints within Beast Field No. 8.¡± ¡°Among our human Saint Spirits, there are quite a few who don¡¯t want to see the emergence of a second Loxen Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°Sister, you mean¡­¡± Aike¡¯s eyes widened, about to say something, but he was stopped by Ailan¡¯s stern gaze. Chapter 781 - Chapter 781: Chapter 371: Is it you?! Chapter 781: Chapter 371: Is it you?! In a meditation chamber within the hotel, designed specifically for deep contemplation, Xu Ran sat cross-legged with his heart pointing to the sky, eyes closed in cultivation. Corresponding to blood Qi, Essence Force, and Divine Sense, three types of light¡ªcrimson, jade-white, and pale gold¡ªnaturally formed a cocoon of energy around his body, manifesting a certain equilibrium among the three powers. About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, as the energy cocoon retracted back into Xu Ran¡¯s body, his closed eyes slowly opened. A sharp glint flashed through the depths of his eyes, as the perfect conjunction of Spirit gave rise to an enigmatic charm, making his already handsome features seem as though he was an exiled immortal above the mortal realm. As he slowly raised a hand, a long sword hanging on the wall of the chamber rang out with a ¡°clang¡± and flew into his hand, drawn by his vital energy. ¡°Mozhui, it¡¯s up to you today,¡± said Xu Ran as he ran his other hand, formed into a sword-finger gesture, over the blade before sheathing it and strapping it to his waist. Three days had passed since he arrived at Broken Abyss City. In the time that Fang Canghai had bought for him, Xu Ran had completely sorted out his power according to the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, even at the expense of three days of meditation. Now, his condition had reached a peak. ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡± There was a knocking sound from outside the chamber. Fang Canghai entered the chamber, looked at Xu Ran with satisfaction, and said, ¡°This Spirit of yours is really something, how¡¯s your cultivation going?¡± ¡°The three powers have already achieved balance,¡± Xu Ran replied with a smile. ¡°Good,¡± Fang Canghai nodded slightly, ¡°Once the three forces are balanced, even if meditation has absorbed some Divine Sense power, it only takes cultivating once every three or five days to rebalance them.¡± ¡°More or less,¡± Xu Ran responded verbally, though he couldn¡¯t help but internally retort. That was true for other people. For him, one day of meditation required a day of cultivation with the Yang Guang Cultivation Method to make up for the absorbed Divine Sense. Luckily, it seemed that Divine Sense was greatly nourishing to contract power. Cultivating every other day, the increase in contract power was still faster than before. As the two talked, they walked out of the chamber. Outside the chamber, including the Bright Group, all were looking at Xu Ran with expectant eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will take you with me,¡± Xu Ran said, understanding their thoughts through their heart-to-heart connection. In the last three days, to keep up with the progress, he had been cultivating the Yang Guang Cultivation Method day and night, continuously enhancing his Individual Combat Power, which also caused his Pet Beasts to start worrying. They were concerned that Xu Ran might start to handle everything on his own in the future. But such worries were obviously unnecessary. Although his visit to the Zhou Family in Broken Abyss City to meet the senior Zhou Polu was to demonstrate his personal martial prowess, the five little ones who were his constant companions would naturally accompany him. ¡°I have prepared a carriage, it¡¯s right below the hotel,¡± Fang Canghai said with a slight smile, watching the interaction between Xu Ran and his Pet Beasts, ¡°Once you¡¯re ready, follow me.¡± ¡°I have set the stage for you already, just waiting for you to shine.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Zhou Family of Broken Abyss City. This was a family force established by the Epic Level Beast Master Zhou Polu and his clansmen, famous throughout Broken Abyss City, a power not to be provoked by ordinary people. In the highly valued land of Broken Abyss City, the Zhou Family¡¯s main residence spanned ten thousand acres, a testament to their strength. In the most inner part of the main house, in a guest reception hall, the family head Zhou Polu was entertaining a guest. Sitting at a lower seat was a somewhat reserved and taciturn middle-aged man. He sat there quietly, yet his presence was as disconcerting as an unsheathed sword. After a while, Zhou Polu laughed and turned to the middle-aged man, ¡°Old Ji, it¡¯s been a while, how have you been?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± replied the middle-aged man named Ji Xuan, nodding slightly, ¡°What is it that you¡¯ve called me here for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this,¡± Zhou Polu chuckled, ¡°In the past few days, I¡¯ve had a junior who I¡¯ve had the fortune to meet once come to me, seeking my help.¡± ¡°There are quite a few such cases normally, since in my earlier years I used to roam around and have been to many other Beast Fields.¡± ¡°But this time is a bit different, that junior comes from Beast Field number 47.¡± Ji Xuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, clearly making some connections. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve thought of it too,¡± Zhou Polu commented as he took a sip of tea, ¡°The current state of Beast Field number 47 could really be described as precarious.¡± ¡°This junior hopes I can go to Beast Field number 47 and lend a hand.¡± ¡°I thought about the fact that when I visited Beast Field number 47 back in the day, it was with you, so I called you here to see if you have any thoughts on this matter.¡± Ji Xuan fell silent for a moment before lifting his teacup and draining it. ¡°Behind Beast Field number 47 is the competition among Saint Spirits,¡± he started. ¡°You know this better than I do,¡± he continued. ¡°Yet you¡¯re still asking for my opinion,¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Ji Xuan glanced at Zhou Polu, ¡°what conditions did they offer?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Zhou Polu laughed heartily, ¡°As expected, Old Ji, you always pinpoint the core of the matter, just like your swordsmanship.¡± His laughter gradually subsided, and his expression became conflicted, ¡°But what they offered me, indeed, is quite tempting.¡± ¡°Old Ji, have you ever heard of blood Qi, Essence Force, Divine Sense?¡± Ji Xuan shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That junior told me that the power reflected back to us by our Pet Beasts through the Beast Taming Contract is actually a type of blood Qi power hidden within the flesh.¡± ¡°And he has a special cultivation method on hand that can convert this so-called power into a new power, significantly enhancing the Individual Combat Power of a Beast Master.¡± ¡°He wants to exchange this cultivation method for my assistance.¡± Ji Xuan suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on Zhou Polu, ¡°Where is this person?¡± ¡°I knew you would be interested in this,¡± Zhou Polu said with an unsurprised smile, ¡°In this Broken Abyss City, when it comes to valuing personal combat power, if Ji Xuan says he¡¯s second, no one would dare say they¡¯re first.¡± Chapter 782 - Chapter 782: Chapter 371: Is it you?!_2 Chapter 782: Chapter 371: Is it you?!_2 ¡°` ¡°That junior this time coming to Broken Abyss City has also brought a youngster with him, according to him, the youngster has made some achievements in practicing that cultivation method, and today he will bring him to display the prowess of his swordsmanship,¡± ¡°Coincidentally, that kid also wields a sword.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯ve called you over to take a look.¡± Ji Xuan glanced at Zhou Polu, then quickly withdrew his gaze, and abruptly stated, ¡°Five pieces.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Zhou Polu showed a pained expression. ¡°Then just one piece,¡± Ji Xuan said, seemingly conceding. ¡°Let¡¯s still go with five pieces,¡± Zhou Polu¡¯s mouth twitched. Their conversation was a bit cryptic, but they understood each other clearly after decades of acquaintance. Zhou Polu calling Ji Xuan over today, who was originally unrelated to this matter, was definitely not just for him to take a look. There was only one message in his words. If you, Ji Xuan, take a liking to this cultivation method, Beast Field 47 is yours to visit. Beast Field 47 is too deep a water for Zhou Polu to tread, bearing the weight of a large family on his shoulders, he really dared not venture carelessly. The overseeing Saint Spirits, although they would not lay hands on him, pressuring his Zhou Family would be as easy as a flick of their fingers. But Ji Xuan was different. This guy was all on his own, with no need to give face to those Saint Spirits. As long as he did not commit a crime that would outrage heaven and earth, the Saint Spirits could not arbitrarily oppress an Epic Level Beast Master. He was the most suitable candidate to make a move in Beast Field 47. And as for the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, Zhou Polu was naturally interested. It was something that could truly elevate his family¡¯s strength by a whole level. So he planned to obtain it in another way. That was, after the deal was done, Ji Xuan would teach it to him. Thus, he could have what he wanted without putting his family in the middle of the bloodless whirlpool between the Saint Spirits, killing two birds with one stone. And Ji Xuan, of course, also saw through Zhou Polu¡¯s intentions. So, he did not hold back. Five pieces, referred to five Epic Level resources. Zhou Polu was initially reluctant to part with them, but when Ji Xuan mentioned one piece, he had to agree to the deal. Because one piece referred to a Saint Spirit level resource. In comparison, five pieces were not so painful after all. With a few simple words, the two quietly reached a certain understanding. And the Zhou Family¡¯s butler was leading two figures into the Guest Reception Hall. It was Fang Canghai and Xu Ran who had rushed to this place. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [Only 1600 words left, furiously typing away] ¡°I¡¯ve prepared the carriage; it¡¯s right downstairs of the hotel,¡± Fang Canghai said, looking at Xu Ran and his Pet Beasts interacting, and smiling slightly, ¡°Get ready and come with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve set the stage; now I¡¯m just waiting for you to show your skills.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C The Zhou Family of Broken Abyss City. This family power, established by the Epic Level Beast Master Zhou Polu and his clan, is well-known in Broken Abyss City, and ordinary people dare not provoke it. In the land where every inch is precious, the main residence of the Zhou Family spans ten thousand acres, a testament to their strength. In the innermost part of the main residence, there is a Guest Reception Hall where the family head, Zhou Polu, is currently entertaining guests, and the person seated below him is a somewhat silent middle-aged man. He just sat there but felt like a long sword waiting to be unsheathed, causing palpitations in the hearts of those around him. After a short while, Zhou Polu looked at the middle-aged man with a smile, ¡°Old Ji, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen each other, how have you been lately?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± the middle-aged man named Ji Xuan, nodded slightly upon hearing the question, ¡°You called me here, what is the matter?¡± ¡°This is it,¡± Zhou Polu chuckled, ¡°These past few days, a junior whom I met once sought me out for help.¡± ¡°Such things are quite common, after all, in my early years, I traveled to many other Beast Fields.¡± ¡°But this time it¡¯s somewhat different, that junior comes from Beast Field 47.¡± Ji Xuan¡¯s gaze slightly sharpened, apparently making some connections. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve thought of it,¡± Zhou Polu took a sip of tea, ¡°Nowadays, Beast Field 47 is indeed facing trying times.¡± ¡°` ¡°This junior hopes I can go to Beast Field No. 47 to lend a hand,¡± ¡°I remember when we went to Beast Field No. 47 together, so I called you over to ask for your opinion and see what you think,¡± Ji Xuan fell silent for a moment, then raised the teacup in his hand and drank it empty. ¡°Behind Beast Field No. 47, there¡¯s a contest between Saint Spirits,¡± ¡°You know this better than I do,¡± ¡°Yet you still ask for my opinion,¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Ji Xuan glanced at Zhou Polu, ¡°what did they offer you?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Zhou Polu burst out laughing, ¡°As expected, old Ji, you always see right through to the heart of the matter, just like your swordsmanship,¡± His laughter gradually subsided and then his expression turned troubled, ¡°But what they offered is really tempting,¡± ¡°Old Ji, have you ever heard of something called qi, Essence Force, Divine Sense?¡± Ji Xuan shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The junior told me that the power fed back to us through the Beast Taming Contract by the Pet Beasts is actually a type of qi blood power hidden within the flesh,¡± ¡°And he has a special cultivation method in his hands, which can transform this so-called power into a new kind of power, thus greatly enhancing the Individual Combat Power of a Beast Master,¡± ¡°He wants to exchange this cultivation method for my intervention,¡± Ji Xuan suddenly looked up, his gaze locking onto Zhou Polu, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d be interested in this thing,¡± Zhou Polu smiled unsurprisingly, ¡°In Broken Abyss City, when it comes to valuing Individual Combat Power, if you, Ji Xuan, claim to be the second, no one would dare claim to be the first,¡± ¡°The junior has come to Broken Abyss City this time, bringing along a young man who, according to him, has made some progress in cultivating the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, and today he will bring him to demonstrate the power of this cultivation method for us,¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a coincidence, that young man also uses a sword,¡± ¡°So, I called you here as well, to take a look,¡± Ji Xuan glanced at Zhou Polu, then quickly withdrew his gaze and uttered seemingly randomly, ¡°Five pieces,¡± ¡°Uh¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Zhou Polu¡¯s expression showed pain. ¡°Then just one piece,¡± Ji Xuan seemed to concede. ¡°Let¡¯s make it five pieces,¡± Zhou Polu¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Their conversation was somewhat cryptic, but being acquaintances for several decades, they each understood the other¡¯s meaning perfectly, Zhou Polu¡¯s calling of Ji Xuan, who was originally uninvolved with the matter, on this day was definitely not as simple as just taking a look, His insinuated message only meant one thing, If you, Ji Xuan, are interested in this cultivation method, then Beast Field No. 47 is yours to handle, The waters of Beast Field No. 47 are too deep, and Zhou Polu, with a large family to consider, really dares not to get involved lightly, The Saint Spirits watching from behind might not stoop to take action against him directly, but making things difficult for his Zhou Family would be as easy as flicking a finger, But Ji Xuan is different, This guy is a loner and doesn¡¯t need to give face to those Saint Spirits, As long as he doesn¡¯t commit heinous crimes, the Saint Spirits cannot casually oppress an Epic Level Beast Master, He is the most suitable candidate to intervene in Beast Field No. 47, As for the Yang Guang Cultivation Method, Zhou Polu is naturally also tempted, It is truly something capable of taking his family¡¯s strength to the next level, So, he plans to obtain it in another way, That is, once the matter is settled, Ji Xuan would pass it on to him, In this way, he could get what he wanted without risking his family in the bloodless maelstrom between the Saint Spirits, killing two birds with one stone, And Ji Xuan, of course, had seen through Zhou Polu¡¯s intentions, So, he didn¡¯t hold back, Five pieces, referred to five Epic Level resources, Zhou Polu was originally somewhat reluctant, but when Ji Xuan put forward one piece, he had to agree to the deal, Because one piece referred to a Saint Spirit level resource, Upon comparison, five pieces turned out to be less painful, In a few brief exchanges, the two quietly reached a certain understanding, And the Zhou Family¡¯s steward led two figures into the Guest Reception Hall, It was Fang Canghai and Xu Ran who had rushed over, Chapter 783 - Chapter 783: Chapter 372: Ji Xuan Draws His Knife Chapter 783: Chapter 372: Ji Xuan Draws His Knife No need for anyone to signal the start; the moment the Demon Abyss Dragon stepped out, the bout had already begun. After communicating with the Beast Master, it realized that the human before it was trying to defeat it relying solely on his own strength. It showed a disdainful expression, and a dark Energy Sphere rapidly converged as it opened its mouth, before shooting towards Xu Ran like a laser. The whole world seemed to darken at that instant. Staring at the gloomy light, a stroke of gold suddenly appeared beneath Xu Ran¡¯s feet. An inexplicable power erupted, propelling his body to swiftly dodge to one side. The Demon Abyss Dragon¡¯s gaze narrowed at that moment, then without hesitation, it twisted the dark breath towards Xu Ran, sweeping over with all the momentum of rolling thunder. ¡°Clang¡ª¡± With a clear ring of a blade, realizing he couldn¡¯t dodge the attack, Xu Ran finally drew his sword. The robust Power instantly swept along the blade, ultimately converging at the edge. With just a swing, it created a torrent of blade shadows, blooming like flowers. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, the third saber¡ªHidden Blossom Style! ¡°Boom!¡± The blossoming blade shadows collided with the dragon¡¯s breath in an instant, and the hidden power within burst forth. The piercing force seemed as if it could tear apart heaven and earth, and even the dragon¡¯s breath was shredded in an instant under its power. The energy fragments that scattered created a storm, which spread across the entire arena in a moment, only to be stopped by an invisible force within the confines of the stage just before it could go beyond. Seeing this, there was an uproar outside the arena. Zhou Huanfeng¡¯s Demon Abyss Dragon was among the strongest Pet Beasts of the King Level Beast Masters in the Zhou Family. In its two evolutions, it had performances that far exceeded its Same Stage peers, and thus it was considered one of the potential next-generation Pet Beasts that might evolve into the Holy Spirit Race. And the Dragon¡¯s breath that it had just used was its most commonly utilized attack, known as the Breath of the Abyss. Not many King Level disciple¡¯s Pet Beasts could receive this attack without injury. And now, had this attack just been received by a King Level Beast Master using his Individual Combat Power? Looking at Xu Ran, who rushed out of the dust and charged at the Demon Abyss Dragon, sword in hand and without even a scratch on his clothes, their astonishment intensified even further. Is this guy¡­ really a Beast Master? Equally astonished was Ji Xuan, who was watching the battle from outside the arena. The sky-full of blade shadows that Xu Ran had slashed out, which had shattered the dragon¡¯s breath, were also imprinted in his mind. This was a mysterious swordsmanship he had never seen before. As the person in the Radiant Empire who delved deepest into researching Beast Masters¡¯ Individual Combat Power, the sword was something he had been familiar with since his earliest memories. As he grew up and became powerful enough to not fear most Transcendent Beings in the Beast Field, he began to wander through various Beast Fields. His aim was to collect swordsmanship from various human cities, to combine the strengths of many schools and to form a swordsmanship uniquely his own. He was confident that he knew all the swordsmanship techniques that existed in the Shining Holy Kingdom. Yet, the strike that Xu Ran, the young man before him, was executing right now was something he had never seen before. In an instant, Ji Xuan was overcome with intense curiosity about Xu Ran. If he wasn¡¯t out of consideration for the face of Zhou Polu, he would be itching to call a halt to the bout right now, take the stage himself and measure against Xu Ran to get a clearer feel of this unknown swordsmanship. On the other hand, Fang Canghai felt his tense mood completely relax after witnessing the first tentative clash between the man and the beast in the arena. For the past few days, he had been busy moving around Broken Abyss City, and he wasn¡¯t very updated on Xu Ran¡¯s training progress, let alone clear on how strong he had become. When he heard that Xu Ran was going to face a King Stage ¡¤ Emperor Species Pet Beast, his heart was pounding hard, for he, an Emperor Level Beast Master, knew all too well how powerful the Emperor Species were. Fortunately, Xu Ran had done it. With just one exchange, Fang Canghai could assert that Xu Ran would not be at a disadvantage in this battle. Even if he did not win, he had already achieved his aim. Back in the arena, having shattered the Dragon Breath of the Demon Abyss Dragon with Hidden Blossom Style, Xu Ran channeled the robust Essence Force and blood energy to his feet and exploded with extreme speed, rushing out of the dust he had kicked up, sword in hand, to attack the Demon Abyss Dragon. The reaction of the Demon Abyss Dragon was equally fast. Seeing Xu Ran getting closer and closer, it knew another attack like before wouldn¡¯t pose a threat anymore; it changed its tactics immediately and let out a prolonged dragon roar to the sky. An invisible force enveloped the entire stage; a terrifying pressure burst forth from the void in an instant, pressing down on Xu Ran who was in motion. King¡¯s Power! The crown-like energy atop the Demon Abyss Dragon¡¯s head became incredibly clear at that moment, almost fully outlining a giant Imperial Crown, as overwhelming Attribute Power instantly covered the whole arena, even dimming the skies for a flash. Imperial Crown! The two unique Talent Skills of the King Species and Emperor Species unfolded in full at this moment! In a battle between members of the Emperor Species, activating these skills or not didn¡¯t make much difference. If one side activated them, the other would naturally do the same. They would cancel each other out, equivalent to not having them activated at all. But Xu Ran was a human! He couldn¡¯t deploy the King¡¯s Power or the Imperial Crown, so these two seemingly ineffective skills now had a proper battlefield to prove their worth! The terrifying force bore down from above, and Xu Ran, who was in the midst of a charge, involuntarily crouched down as if caught in deep mud, even his movements became extremely difficult. Being common didn¡¯t mean these unique skills of King Species and Emperor Species weren¡¯t powerful! Chapter 784 - Chapter 784: Chapter 372: Ji Xuan Draws His Knife_2 Chapter 784: Chapter 372: Ji Xuan Draws His Knife_2 The Demon Abyss Dragon let out a fierce roar, and a gigantic claw suddenly raised, covered with the pitch-black Dark Power that transformed into rolling black flames, instantly magnifying the claw more than tenfold, as it smashed down towards Xu Ran with the momentum to blot out the skies. It¡¯s over! Arrogant humans! Seeing this scene, the Zhou Family¡¯s younger generation finally breathed a sigh of relief. Surely they couldn¡¯t really let this guy defeat Zhou Huanfeng¡¯s Demon Abyss Dragon with individual combat power, could they? Fang Canghai couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious as well. If it was just the King¡¯s Power, Xu Ran might have had a chance to win, but with the addition of the more suppressive Imperial Crown, how could Xu Ran possibly win? In his anxiety, Fang Canghai¡¯s gaze unintentionally swept over Xu Ran¡¯s six Pet Beasts left outside the arena, and then his expression slightly froze. Why aren¡¯t any of them showing a worried look? The six Pet Beasts of course wouldn¡¯t worry. Because they had all seen Xu Ran¡¯s sparring with Ziyun the day before. In that bout, although Xu Ran ultimately lost, it wasn¡¯t due to being overpowered by the pressure of the realm. In his words, if humans from another world could completely defeat Transcendent Beings through individual combat power, then there must be a way to counter both the King¡¯s Power and the Imperial Crown. And that method, he had already found it. In the arena, just when everyone thought there was no more suspense in this battle, a change once again occurred. A point of golden light at Xu Ran¡¯s brow shone dazzlingly like the sun, his heartbeat like thunderous war drums, as rolling Essence Force surged around him. Divine Sense, qi and blood, Essence Force, three distinct powers bloomed all at once, and ultimately merged together, forming a wisp of profound Power. That Power, like an invisible membrane, completely enveloped Xu Ran¡¯s body. In an instant, the surrounding pressure vanished like smoke. Watching the shadow of the claw about to fall, Xu Ran neither dodged nor evaded, his hand gripping the sword tightened, then, to the astonishment of all onlookers, he closed his eyes! The swordsmanship, was listening! The overpowering swordsmanship surged like relentless waves, spreading out in all directions. Within the unique vision of the sword, Xu Ran saw the enormous claw shrouded in black flames, saw the overwhelming power of this strike, and also saw the fleeting flaw. Xu Ran opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in an instant, and his sword moved accordingly. One strike. As elusive as an antelope hanging by its horns, a traceless strike. Before the eyes of all, Xu Ran with a single slash, severed the sky of black flames. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers first saber¡ªPiercing Cloud Stance! Accompanying the Demon Abyss Dragon¡¯s painful howl, Ji Xuan¡¯s pupils sharply contracted as he abruptly stood up. This strike, for some reason, he felt as if he saw a shadow of himself in it. Yet it wasn¡¯t entirely his own. It was mixed with some profound elements that he had yet to see through. At this moment, Ji Xuan felt an excited thrill of discovery. It wasn¡¯t a wasted trip, not a wasted trip at all! Xu Ran¡¯s sword, moved once again. Not giving the Demon Abyss Dragon a chance to continue, after slashing open its flaw and severely damaging its claw with one strike, Xu Ran¡¯s sword drew a bright arc in the air. The arc was like a beam of light cutting through Darkness, completely severing the darkness covered by the Imperial Crown, the swordsmanship soared like a long rainbow, in an instant already at the Demon Abyss Dragon¡¯s side. Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers second saber¡ªCrescent Slash! ¡°Hum¡ª¡± A low buzzing sound rang out, an invisible force stood between the sword¡¯s momentum and the Demon Abyss Dragon, the previously unstoppable swordsmanship seemed to cut into cotton, instantly dissolving away. Zhou Polu had taken action. ¡°This battle, Xu Ran, young friend, wins.¡± Zhou Polu declared the victor of this sparring match in a solemn voice, his gaze shifting toward the Zhou Family¡¯s youth, heads bowed low, ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± Objections? The young members of the Zhou Family were like quails. Having been so dominated by a Beast Master of the same stage, how could they dare object? Zhou Huanfeng took a deep look at Xu Ran, raising his hand to send the injured Demon Abyss Dragon back to the place it was summoned from. Their beast-taming family clans had specialized places to care for them, where injured Pet Beasts could receive immediate treatment and care. Watching the family¡¯s young ones keeping silent, a trace of a smile flickered in Zhou Polu¡¯s eyes. Although Xu Ran had won against their family member, didn¡¯t it precisely prove the effectiveness of that cultivation method? Although part of it was due to Xu Ran¡¯s exquisite swordsmanship, when Xu Ran resolved the pressure of the King¡¯s Power and the Imperial Crown, it was completely unrelated to swordsmanship. To be able to dissipate such oppression from higher-order Transcendent Beings was enormously significant. Thinking of the Zhou Family¡¯s future with this cultivation method, Zhou Polu¡¯s smile could hardly be suppressed. ¡°Next, the second round¡­¡± ¡°No need for a second round,¡± Ji Xuan said, a flash-step bringing him to the platform, ¡°This kind of spar is enough with just one round.¡± If anyone else had interrupted Zhou Polu, he would likely have become furious. But since it was Ji Xuan who interrupted, Zhou Polu naturally wouldn¡¯t mind. ¡°Old Ji, what are you thinking?¡± Seeing Ji Xuan on the platform, he knew the man was up to something. Ji Xuan didn¡¯t answer Zhou Polu, but instead turned to look at the surprised Xu Ran. ¡°You¡¯re Xu Ran, right?¡± Ji Xuan drew his long saber from his waist, ¡°I¡¯ve suppressed my strength to the King Level.¡± ¡°Dare to give it a try?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran blinked, unable to help himself. Why was he not playing by the rules? This man named Ji Xuan was an old friend of Zhou Polu, and most likely at the level of an Epic Beast Master. Why would such a high-level Beast Master bother to compete with him? Internally questioning, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give Ji Xuan another look. Back in the Guest Reception Hall, he had felt something familiar about the man. Now, as Ji Xuan drew his saber, that faint sense of familiarity suddenly grew stronger. But Xu Ran still couldn¡¯t figure out why the man seemed familiar. Well, he could think about it slowly during the spar. As his thoughts raced, Xu Ran gripped his long saber more tightly. ¡°Senior, please enlighten me.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C It was Zhou Polu who made the announcement. ¡°This battle, the victory goes to young friend Xu Ran,¡± Zhou Polu declared solemnly, his gaze shifting to each of the Zhou Family youths bowing their heads, ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± Objections? The youths of the Zhou Family were like quails. Having been so humiliated by a Beast Master of the same stage, how could they dare to object? Zhou Huanfeng looked deeply at Xu Ran and raised his hand to send the injured Demon Abyss Dragon back to its summoning place. Such Beast Master families always had a special place for the fostering of their Pet Beasts, where injured beasts could receive immediate treatment and care. Seeing the family¡¯s youths silent one by one, a hint of a smile flashed in Zhou Polu¡¯s eyes. Although Xu Ran had defeated their own, wasn¡¯t that precisely the proof of the prowess of the cultivation method? Although it involved the other party¡¯s exquisite swordsmanship, when Xu Ran dissolved the King¡¯s Power and the pressure of the Imperial Crown, it had nothing to do with his swordsmanship at all. To be able to resist the suppression of such a high-level Transcendent Being was of great significance. Thinking of the future of the Zhou Family having this cultivation method, Zhou Polu found it impossible to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Next up, the second round¡­¡± ¡°No need for a second round,¡± Ji Xuan said with a flash-step onto the platform, ¡°This kind of spar is enough with just one round.¡± If anyone else had interrupted Zhou Polu, he would likely have become furious. But since it was Ji Xuan who interrupted, Zhou Polu naturally wouldn¡¯t mind. ¡°Old Ji, what are you thinking?¡± Seeing Ji Xuan on the platform, he knew the man was up to something. Ji Xuan didn¡¯t answer Zhou Polu, instead turning to look at the surprised Xu Ran. ¡°You¡¯re Xu Ran, right?¡± Ji Xuan drew his long saber from his waist, ¡°I¡¯ve suppressed my strength to the King Level.¡± ¡°Dare to give it a try?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Xu Ran blinked, unable to help himself. Why was he not playing by the rules? This man named Ji Xuan was an old friend of Zhou Polu, and most likely at the level of an Epic Beast Master. Why would such a high-level Beast Master bother to compete with him? Internally questioning, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but give Ji Xuan another look. Back in the Guest Reception Hall, he had felt something familiar about the man. Now, as Ji Xuan drew his saber, that faint sense of familiarity suddenly grew stronger. But Xu Ran still couldn¡¯t figure out why the man seemed familiar. Well, he could think about it slowly during the spar. As his thoughts raced, Xu Ran gripped his long saber more tightly. ¡°Senior, please enlighten me.¡± Chapter 785 - Chapter 785: Chapter 373: Arrival of the Upper Realm Beast Chapter 785: Chapter 373: Arrival of the Upper Realm Beast Taking a deep breath, Qin Chuan gripped the Mozhui Blade firmly in both hands. His gaze became resolute as he slowly raised the Mozhui Blade high above him, his movements so slow that they were full of openings, yet inexplicably exuded an air of impregnability. His eyes locked onto Ji Xuan from afar as he brought the Mozhui Blade down with force. A crescent-like blade light swept through the void, enveloping a slash powerful enough to sever heaven and earth, and it appeared instantly in front of Ji Xuan. Ji Xuan quickly raised his sword and thrust forward, dispersing the blade light with a flick, and for the first time, his gaze toward Xu Ran held a hint of doubt. ¡°Where did you learn my blade technique?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen your moves before, Senior,¡± replied Xu Ran as he sheathed his sword and gave a distant bow toward Ji Xuan, ¡°I once found a remnant blade of yours, and from it, I gained some understanding of your blade technique.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why I began to use a blade.¡± ¡°Remnant blade¡­¡± Ji Xuan showed a contemplative expression and then shook his head after a moment. He had traveled to too many places to remember this one detail. ¡°To discern the blade technique from my remnant blade, you must indeed possess an exceptional talent,¡± he concluded in the end, ¡°Let¡¯s end this sparring match here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Polu laughed and waved his hand toward the awkward juniors at the side of the field, ¡°Disperse.¡± The Zhou Family disciples scattered as if granted amnesty, eager to leave. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss the next matters in the Guest Reception Hall,¡± Zhou Polu nodded toward Fang Canghai and walked out of the Training Field. A look of surprise and relief flashed across Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes. He finally saw hope. Clearly, Xu Ran¡¯s performance had impressed Zhou Polu, and now it all depended on whether he could persuade the other party. As long as he could convince Zhou Polu to go to Beast Field number 47, the crisis posed by Beast Field number 8 might not be completely resolved, but at least Fang Canghai would no longer feel desperate. When everyone returned to the Guest Reception Hall and sat down, servants swiftly presented them with tea. Fang Canghai took a light sip and smiled, ¡°Elder Zhou, what do you think of Xu Ran¡¯s performance just now?¡± ¡°Indeed very strong,¡± Zhou Polu candidly replied, ¡°The Yang Guang Cultivation Method you mentioned seems to indeed have some substance.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Canghai felt a surge of joy, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case¡­¡± ¡°I have a question,¡± Zhou Polu¡¯s eyes flashed sharply, ¡°After this Yang Guang Cultivation Method is given to our Zhou Family, when do you plan to make it public?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily as he took another sip from his teacup, ¡°What would Elder Zhou suggest?¡± ¡°One year,¡± Zhou Polu said without hesitation, ¡°After the Yang Guang Cultivation Method is given to our Zhou Family, it cannot be made public within one year.¡± ¡°That period¡­ is a bit long,¡± Fang Canghai exhaled slowly, ¡°Elder Zhou must know that once the Zhou Family masters such a cultivation method, the other powers in Broken Abyss City will surely seek to discover its origin.¡± ¡°With their capabilities, finding out that the cultivation method comes from Beast Field number 47 is not difficult. That would certainly put pressure on me,¡± Fang Canghai revealed with a wry smile, ¡°I cannot withstand such pressure for a whole year.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± possibly reminded by Fang Canghai¡¯s words and thinking of something unpleasant, Zhou Polu¡¯s expression darkened as he let out a snort, ¡°What if I could ensure that others cannot trace the cultivation method back to you?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Fang Canghai pondered for a moment before slowly speaking up, ¡°If Elder Zhou can do that, one year is acceptable.¡± ¡°One condition.¡± Ji Xuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. Zhou Polu¡¯s eyes widened as he looked toward Ji Xuan. Ji Xuan too lifted his head, his sharp gaze unyielding. ¡°Fine, one condition,¡± Zhou Polu let out a heavy sigh. Their vague exchange left Fang Canghai and Xu Ran, who were on the sidelines, utterly confused. What did they mean by ¡°one condition¡±? However, it was clear that neither Zhou Polu nor Ji Xuan had any intention of explaining. ¡°Canghai, is it okay to transfer our deal to someone else?¡± Zhou Polu suddenly asked out of the blue. ¡°What does Elder Zhou mean?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s brows furrowed, puzzled. ¡°Your Beast Field number 47 has caught the Saints¡¯ attention, and soon several Semi-Saints will descend upon it. That¡¯s why you came to Broken Abyss City, hoping I would deal with the Semi-Saints, right?¡± Zhou Polu smiled. ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Fang Canghai nodded. ¡°You simply need someone with the strength to face a Semi-Saint. It doesn¡¯t necessarily matter if it¡¯s me, right?¡± Zhou Polu took another sip of his tea and spoke indifferently. ¡°This¡­¡± Now, Fang Canghai finally caught on to Zhou Polu¡¯s insinuation, his eyes abruptly shifting toward Ji Xuan. ¡°You may not understand who he is,¡± Zhou Polu chuckled, ¡°After all, he¡¯s a lone wolf, not like me with a big family and big business in Broken Abyss City.¡± ¡°But his strength is matched by few among the Epic Level Beast Masters.¡± ¡°Wielding his long sword, he can slay Semi-Saints and wound Saint Spirits, Sword Saint Ji Xuan,¡± Zhou Polu¡¯s eyes held profound meaning, ¡°How about letting him take action? Not a loss, right?¡± ¡°Elder Ji agrees to take action?¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s previous dissatisfaction vanished instantly. He truly did not know of Ji Xuan¡¯s reputation. But after Zhou Polu¡¯s remark, it was clear that he was dealing with an extremely powerful individual. Xu Ran, too, was somewhat expectant. He had once witnessed Ji Xuan in action through the remnant blade, even though it was an earlier display and his strength was certainly not as formidable as it was now, that power still left a deep impression in his heart. If Elder Ji could make a move, there would be much greater confidence in this battle. ¡°Below the Semi-Saint, I will not take action,¡± Elder Ji said as he picked up his teacup and took a light sip, ¡°If a Semi-Saint comes, don¡¯t even think about leaving.¡± ¡°The spoils of slaying a Semi-Saint will be mine. If a Saint Spirit comes, the deal is off.¡± ¡°If you can accept that, hand over the Yang Guang Cultivation Method.¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s eyes shone, ¡°No problem!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Where Beast Field No. 47 meets Beast Field No. 8, there lies a river that is five hundred meters wide. This river divides the two shores, forming the boundary between the two Beast Fields. At this very moment, on one end of this boundary line, countless superhuman creatures of various races occupy all the space on the riverbanks. As far as the eye can see, their numbers do not end, and even more Transcendent Beings fly above in the sky. They silently gaze at Beast Field No. 47 across the river, as orderly as an army composed of Transcendent Beings. ¡°Woo¡ª¡ª¡± Suddenly, a giant dragon head emerged from the river. Soon a giant dragon covered in blue scales stood on the water surface with its horns touching the water, and it roared towards the sky. A water-blue halo transformed into a crown, converging above its head. Behind it, countless Transcendent Beings bowed their heads slightly, showing submission. This was unmistakably a Beast Emperor. As its power burst forth, the surging river beneath it split in two in an instant. The excess water, as if encountering an invisible wall, rose high into the air forming two walls of water, while a wide passage was created by the dry riverbed. Following another dragon¡¯s roar, the Transcendent Beings behind it raised their hands, emitting a roar full of lofty battle spirit, crossing the riverbed to the other shore. With the Beast Emperor leading the way, this was an army of Transcendent Beings capable of bringing destruction to Beast Field No. 47. Yet this was merely a temporary force dispatched by the saints of Beast Field No. 8, and compared to the Beast Tide facing off against Broken Abyss City head-on, their strength was less than one hundredth. The Transcendent Beings opposite the river who tried to flee the moment they noticed were killed on the spot by a mysterious faint light that struck from nowhere. In the end, only one flying Beast King survived. ¡°Tell Demon Wood that if it awaits death with bound hands and feet, we may leave it a whole corpse,¡± A voice as dull as Thunder rolled in from behind the army, laden with authority, causing the Beast King to tremble with fear and flee desperately out of sight. Before long, news reached all 9 Second Level Towns and 23 3-Level Towns within Beast Field No. 47. The high echelon of the Beast Master Association, in charge of central coordination, quickly assembled and immediately announced a wartime state for all. For the first time, Xieyun City, which always kept its gates wide open, closed its grand doors. Countless Beast Masters took their positions upon the city walls, stationed outside the walls, ready for the battle. Three hours later, the northern part of Beast Field No. 47 received dire news. Youhan City, located at the northernmost point and its 3 neighboring 3-Level Towns, had fallen. Since the civilians had already been evacuated, almost all the casualties were Beast Masters. In this battle, one Overlord Level Beast Master fell, and tens of thousands of lower-ranked Beast Masters perished. Humans in the cities further back were panic-stricken upon hearing this dreadful news, as if the end of the world had come. Fortunately, after the fall of Youhan City and the occupation of the vantage points by the army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8, they did not continue to advance. They held Youhan City, calling out to Demon Wood to come and apologize within a day; otherwise, they would continue advancing and destroy two more cities. A day¡¯s respite not only failed to rally the humans of Beast Field No. 47 but completely threw them into disarray. Many started to resent Demon Wood, blaming it for their realm¡¯s desperate state, perceiving it as a fellow Transcendent Being and thus responsible for the calamity that humans were suffering for no fault of their own. They accused, hated, and hoped that Demon Wood would willingly face death, ending the catastrophe. Clearly, the Transcendent Beings that descended from Beast Field No. 8 were not only powerful but also wise, knowing that undermining the morale was crucial; destroying the humans¡¯ belief in order weakened the foundations of Demon Wood¡¯s power. Even though the leaders of the Beast Master Association reacted in time to suppress and control those harboring such thoughts, the seeds of hatred had already been sown. With a heavy sigh, Demon Wood emerged at the last moment of the day, appearing outside Youhan City. Hidden within the army of Transcendent Beings, three Semi-Saints appeared in unison, attempting to jointly besiege Demon Wood. The ensuing battle was catastrophic, so much so that even the Beast Emperor dared not pry. After the battle, one Semi-Saint of Beast Field No. 8 fell on the spot, while two were severely injured, and the whereabouts of Demon Wood remained unknown. The outcome was earth-shattering, leaving the army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 dumbstruck, and Youhan City fell eerily silent. While the humans of Beast Field No. 47 were ecstatic at this turn of events, in just two days, the army of Beast Field No. 8 regrouped and, like a ferocious dragon crossing the terrain, two more Second Level Towns fell in the blink of an eye. They did not spare the creatures of Beast Field No. 47 just because Demon Wood appeared on time. Instead, they vented their anger from the loss of a Semi-Saint on Beast Field No. 47, vowing to leave ¡°not a single living being, to assert the might of the greater realm.¡± Those impulsive humans only then realized their mistake and began to appreciate Demon Wood again. However, no matter how desperately they cried for the return of the missing Demon Wood, it never showed itself again. On the front lines, where Beast Field No. 47 met Beast Field No. 21, Xu Ran and his two companions swiftly returned. Although this was not the border between Beast Field No. 8 and Beast Field No. 47, it was the route from Broken Abyss City to Beast Field No. 47. As soon as he reached Beast Field No. 47, Fang Canghai¡¯s face took on an unprecedented gravity. Something unusual made him keenly aware of the crisis Beast Field No. 47 was currently facing. Ultimately, they were too late. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C [There are still 800 words, frantically typing away] Chapter 786 - Chapter 786: Chapter 374: The Lit Star Origin Chapter 786: Chapter 374: The Lit Star Origin Ji Xuan had slain six Semi-Saints, which to the aggressive army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8, was akin to pouring a bucket of ice water onto raging flames. It was said that he slew the opposing Semi-Saints in front of all the Transcendent Beings. After this event, the army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 showed signs of retreat for the first time. They not only gave up on further attacks but also voluntarily withdrew from the already ruined Zhou Tian City and Bloody City, retreating back to Youhan City, where they had initially positioned themselves. It seemed they became more low-profile, holding their ground within Youhan City, no longer launching offenses, yet not continuing to retreat from Beast Field No. 47, as if they were waiting for the saints presiding over Beast Field No. 8 to decide whether to continue the war. And the cause of all this, Ji Xuan, received worshipful reverence from the human side of Beast Field No. 47, though he himself was not keen on it. Ji Xuan only accepted a temporary residence in Xieyun City offered by Fang Canghai. He refused all visits except for occasional sparring sessions with Xu Ran at the Starfire Foster Shop in Xieyun City, spending the rest of his time in his dwelling. On the other hand, Xu Ran was not idle either. After the crisis was temporarily alleviated, he made use of the Transmission function of Starfire Foster Shop to promptly visit the other three branches within Beast Field No. 47 to understand the battle situation, especially the branch in Monster Wooden City. This branch, following the migration of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint to the Monster Wooden Domain, had also changed location. After transmitting there, Xu Ran tried to visit the Demon Wood Semi-Saint but was informed that the Semi-Saint had not returned since that great battle. Even the Tortoise of Longevity, which was closest to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, had no clue about the Semi-Saint¡¯s whereabouts. With no other option, Xu Ran had to return to the Foster Shop in Xieyun City, occasionally sparring with Ji Xuan out of curiosity about the Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers, and keeping a constant eye on the army of Transcendent Beings in Youhan City. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that Main Task 5 required him to help end this war. So aside from a heartfelt desire for peace like the other humans, he had another motive driving him to become more actively involved in this war. Time flew by, and three days passed in a blink of an eye. Today, as usual, Ji Xuan came to Xu Ran carrying two wooden sabers, and soon they began sparring in the vast Foster area. Before long, as the two wooden sabers could not withstand the powerful swordsmanship and broke, the sparring session came to an end. ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Ji Xuan said, throwing the handle of the saber onto the ground, ¡°unless something unexpected happens, the saints of Beast Field No. 8 should have made a decision by now.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xu Ran blinked, asking curiously. ¡°The army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 staying in Shuang Han City is to report the situation here to their saints, who will decide the next course of action,¡± Ji Xuan said calmly. ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet; do the saints really dare to let the army of Transcendent Beings mount a major assault on Beast Field No. 47?¡± Xu Ran furrowed his brow, unable to help himself from asking. Unexpectedly, Ji Xuan¡¯s response surprised Xu Ran. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they dare?¡± Ji Xuan glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°Do you still remember what I said before I left?¡± ¡°Below the level of a Semi-Saint, I won¡¯t make a move.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling, but a hidden rule has long been established in the past standoffs between Beast Field No. 8 and Broken Abyss City¡¯s Saint Level forces.¡± ¡°Battles below the Saint Level will not involve the saints.¡± ¡°Only a very few exist who dare to ignore this rule and attack beings weaker than themselves.¡± As he said this, the image of the Loxen Holy Spirit surfaced in Ji Xuan¡¯s mind, his eyes showing a hint of strangeness. ¡°So as long as Beast Field No. 8 does not dispatch any more Semi-Saints, only sending Beast Emperors or lower-ranked forces, as an Epic Level Beast Master, I won¡¯t interfere in this battle anymore.¡± ¡°The Demon Wood Semi-Saint here, being newly born, might be able to disregard this hidden rule and act against Beast Emperors to suppress the army of Transcendent Beings.¡± ¡°But now the issue is, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint has gone missing,¡± Ji Xuan looked at Xu Ran. Listening to Ji Xuan¡¯s words, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew somber as well. He understood the meaning. The crisis of the Semi-Saints had been thoroughly resolved with Ji Xuan¡¯s arrival. But the army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 would not simply call it quits. They could likely dispatch even more Beast Emperors and, using their numbers to overpower, could easily crush Beast Field No. 47. With these thoughts, Xu Ran spoke gravely. ¡°Senior, I want to go take a look at the Cold Dragon River.¡± The Cold Dragon River was the river that formed the border between Beast Field No. 8 and No. 47. If the army of Transcendent Beings sought to advance, they would have to cross that river. Now that Shuang Han City had been occupied and it was impossible to plant spies from Beast Field No. 47 in the Cold Dragon River further north, if the opposition were to secretly increase their troops and send stronger Transcendent Beings, Beast Field No. 47 had to know immediately. However, it would be extremely dangerous for Xu Ran to do this on his own. Together with his five companions, he was still no match for an Overlord stage Transcendent Being, and the Bright Group staying in the Starfire Foster Shop was merely for show. Therefore, he could only hope that Ji Xuan would be willing to help. By saying ¡°I want to,¡± he was actually inviting the other party. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ji Xuan began walking toward the exit of the Foster area, ¡°The Sky-Cleaving Six Sabers are quite exquisite; unfortunately, there are only five of them. Having sparred with me for three days, I will accompany you on a trip.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior!¡± Xu Ran rejoiced inwardly, quickly called his five little ones, and followed behind Ji Xuan. Chapter 787 - Chapter 787: Chapter 374: The Lit Star Origin_2 Chapter 787: Chapter 374: The Lit Star Origin_2 Stepping out of the Foster area, right behind Ji Xuan, a mighty figure with a Saint Spirit Wheel of Life flashed by and was gone. Following that, Xu Ran and the five little ones felt the world spin around them, and in an instant, they found themselves in another location. This was one of the Pet Beasts that Ji Xuan could use. Being of Epic level, its Leap Attribute had a certain connection with space, which allowed it to realize short-distance shifts. No sooner had the man and his five beasts stabilized than the next shift began. In a short while, Ji Xuan and Xu Ran had crossed numerous Transcendent Beings within Shuang Han City and appeared atop a hill near the Cold Dragon River. Standing on the top of the hill, the entire situation of the Cold Dragon River was in their view. After just one glance, Xu Ran¡¯s expression became extremely serious. Because the worst-case scenario seemed to be exactly as Ji Xuan had said. At this moment, a whole section of the Cold Dragon River¡¯s riverbed had dried up, with the water being diverted toward both ends, forming towering pillars of water kept aloft by a Beast Emperor level water Dragon. Continually, Transcendent Beings surged from the other end of the riverbed, endlessly like the tides, pushing forward as much as possible to leave space for the Transcendent Beings behind them. Throughout the process, there were no howls, no roars, only the heavy sounds of steps. Looking at the army of Transcendent Beings led by those at the Leadership Stage and the Beast Kings, seemingly endless in number, Xu Ran¡¯s hand clenched instantly. The army of Transcendent Beings was being constantly reinforced in the rear, indicating that the worst situation had arisen. He had just thought to have Ji Xuan take him back to Xieyun City to quickly inform Fang Canghai of the situation here, when suddenly his face changed. On the riverbed of the Cold Dragon River, the advancing army of Transcendent Beings from the other side halted. Over a hundred figures took to the air, swiftly flying in from the direction of the eighth Beast Field. Every one of those figures was unabashedly adorned with the Imperial Crown, evidently belonging to creatures of the Emperor Species. All Beast Emperors?! Xu Ran was startled but relaxed somewhat after careful observation. About a dozen of them were Beast Emperors, and the others were Quasi Emperors of the Overlord stage. There were also a few whose strength seemed weaker, appearing only to be of the King Stage within the Emperor Species but were nonetheless escorted at the very center, indicating a not-insignificant status. Just as Xu Ran was about to scrutinize further, a blinding brilliance suddenly burst forth beside him, and even the mere peripheral glimpse made him find it a bit dazzling. Turning his head, he saw the dumbstruck Star. The small, round stone hanging around Star¡¯s neck was emitting a brilliant glow. That was¡­ the Source of Star! Xu Ran¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. This resource came from the same location as the Town Star Stone found in Xuanxing City. According to Chairman Qi Yuan of the Beast Master Association of Xuanxing City, it didn¡¯t have any strong effects by itself, but it could resonate powerfully with the Town Star Stone. As long as a Town Star Stone was nearby, it would burst forth with dazzling light! In the past, the Source of Star would only light up when Xu Ran was in Xuanxing City. However, the Town Star Stone in Xuanxing City was closely associated with the city¡¯s Star Array, so he couldn¡¯t use it as an Evolution Material for Star. This was the first time the Source of Star emitted such brilliant light somewhere other than Xuanxing City, and the implication was also very clear. A Town Star Stone was nearby, and it had just appeared! Xu Ran¡¯s gaze immediately turned toward the group of Emperor Species crossing the river at that moment. Without a doubt, one of them had the Town Star Stone! And the light bursting from the Source of Star exposed Xu Ran¡¯s hidden position for the first time. One of the Beast Emperors who had just crossed the Cold Dragon River hummed lowly, continuing to move forward, ready to slay Xu Ran, this unexpected scout, and seal the news of their arrival. But as it truly approached the hill, upon seeing the figure behind Xu Ran, its face turned to one of terror. This gargantuan and terrifying Beast Emperor knelt down in an instant. ¡°I have seen the Sword Saint.¡± It had no choice but to kneel, as there were unwritten rules among Saint Level forces, but the weak voluntarily provoking others was not among them. Its recent behavior had nearly offended Ji Xuan; without an immediate apology, Ji Xuan could have slain it and still been within his rights. ¡°Hmm,¡± Ji Xuan nodded calmly, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes, ¡°you¡¯ve arrived quite quickly.¡± The Beast Emperor, having caught that hint of regret, shuddered at his own swift reaction and felt fortunate. His voice even took on a somewhat obsequious tone, ¡°We are only acting upon the commands of the Saint, and we hope for the Sword Saint¡¯s forgiveness.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C At this moment, a whole stretch of the Cold Dragon River¡¯s bed was dried up, with the water diverted to both ends, forming towering columns of water; in midair, a Beast Emperor level dragon was maintaining it. Continuously, Transcendent Beings surged from the other end of the riverbed, like an endless tide, making way as much as they could for the Transcendent Beings coming up behind them. The whole process was silent, without any howling or roaring, only the heavy sound of footsteps. Watching the army of Transcendent Beings, mainly composed of Leader Stage and Beast Kings and seemingly infinite in number, Xu Ran¡¯s hand clenched instantly. The fact that the army of Transcendent Beings was continuously reinforced from the rear signified the worst-case scenario unfolding. He had just thought about asking Ji Xuan to take him back to Xieyun City to report the situation to Fang Canghai when his expression suddenly changed. On the bed of the Cold Dragon River, the army of Transcendent Beings crossing from the other side had halted their advance. Hundreds of figures floated in the air, speeding over from the direction of Beast Field Eight. Every one of those figures proudly displayed the Imperial Crown, unmistakably all beings from the Emperor Species. All Beast Emperors?! Xu Ran was startled, but after a careful observation, he slightly relaxed. There were about a dozen Beast Emperors among them; the others were Overlord stage Quasi Emperors. There were a few whose strength seemed even weaker, appearing only to be at the King Stage of the Emperor Species, but they were escorted in the very center, indicating they held no insignificant status. Just as Xu Ran was about to examine them more carefully, an incredibly dazzling light suddenly burst forth beside him, and even the mere sight of it in his peripheral vision was somewhat blinding. He turned his head to look and saw the stunned Star. At this moment, a small, rounded stone hanging around Star¡¯s neck was emitting a bright, radiant light. That was¡­ the Star Origin! Xu Ran¡¯s pupils sharply contracted. This artifact came from the same place where the Town Star Stone in Xuanxing City was found. According to Chairman Qi Yuan of the Beast Master Association in Xuanxing City, it didn¡¯t possess any significant power on its own but could resonate strongly with the Town Star Stone. As long as there was a Town Star Stone within nearby range, it would burst into dazzling light! In the past, the Star Origin only emitted light when Xu Ran was present in Xuanxing City. But the Town Star Stone of Xuanxing City was integral to the protective Star Array of the city, so he couldn¡¯t use it as an evolution material for Star. This was the first time the Star Origin had emitted such a dazzling light outside of Xuanxing City, and its implication was very clear. There must be a Town Star Stone nearby, and it had just appeared! Xu Ran¡¯s gaze immediately fell upon the group of Emperor Species who were crossing the river. Without a doubt, one of them had the Town Star Stone on them! The light exploding from the Star Origin also immediately exposed Xu Ran, who had been concealed until then. One of the Beast Emperors who had just crossed the Cold Dragon River snorted lowly, continuing to move forward, ready to strike down Xu Ran, the seemingly out-of-place scout, and seal off any news of their arrival. But as it came close to the small hill, upon seeing the figure standing behind Xu Ran, the Beast Emperor¡¯s complexion immediately turned to one of terrified alarm. The colossal and terrifying Beast Emperor instantly knelt down. ¡°I have seen the Sword Saint.¡± It had to kneel. Although there are unspoken rules among Saint Level powers, the provocation by the weaker party was not included. Its recent behavior had nearly offended Ji Xuan; without an immediate apology, Ji Xuan could have slain it and still been within his rights. ¡°Hmm,¡± Ji Xuan nodded calmly, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes, ¡°you¡¯ve arrived quite quickly.¡± The Beast Emperor, having caught that hint of regret, shuddered at his own swift reaction and felt fortunate. His voice even took on a somewhat obsequious tone, ¡°We are only acting upon the commands of the Saint, and we hope for the Sword Saint¡¯s forgiveness.¡± Chapter 788 - Chapter 788: Chapter 375: The Town Star Stone Arrives, Star Evolution! Chapter 788: Chapter 375: The Town Star Stone Arrives, Star Evolution! ¡°Do you all lack brains?¡± The Beast Emperor who had originally been speaking amicably with the Crown Prince suddenly let out a roar, startling all the Emperor Species around him. ¡°This is an item deliberately demanded by a human Semi-Saint.¡± Its gaze swept the crowd with a hint of ruthlessness, ¡°Yet in Beast Field 47, we have no Semi-Saint.¡± ¡°According to the unspoken rules, Elder Ji wouldn¡¯t normally attack us, bullying the weak, but if we provoke him first, his retaliation becomes justified!¡± ¡°He wants a Town Star Stone, doesn¡¯t he? What he really wants is an excuse to kill us!¡± The Beast Emperor said gravely, ¡°Ji Xuan¡¯s presence here is actually to help Beast Field 47! He wouldn¡¯t miss any chance to strike!¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t give it, not only will all of us inevitably perish here, but the more serious matter is that Beast Field 8 won¡¯t be able to destroy Beast Field 47.¡± ¡°Even if you perish here, the families behind you will surely bear the boundless wrath of all Saints! A hundred deaths won¡¯t absolve your sins!¡± His words left the other Emperor Species dumbfounded. It¡¯s just refusing resources, is it really that serious? But after thinking it over more carefully, they couldn¡¯t help but be moved. Because what he said was indeed possible. For a moment, the Emperor Species who had been indifferent began to look towards the King Stage royals who had refused to hand over the Town Star Stone. This put the pressure on them. Of course, not all Emperor Species were swayed by his speech. The other Beast Emperor standing firmly by the side of that King Stage royal spoke with a heavy voice, ¡°You make some sense, but the other party is the despicable and shameless humans, how can we bow to them?¡± ¡°So what do you plan to do?¡± the leading Beast Emperor countered calmly, ¡°Refuse, have all royals here killed, then call upon a Semi-Saint to battle them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Elder Ji just killed six Semi-Saints just a few days ago!¡± ¡°What about the Beast Saint¡­¡± The other Beast Emperor¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°If the Beast Saint could descend here, why would we allow a mere Epic Level Beast Master like Ji Xuan to be so arrogant?¡± The leading Beast Emperor interrupted without hesitation, ¡°All Saints are restrained by the humans¡¯ Saint Spirits.¡± The Guardian Beast Emperor fell silent for a moment, ¡°Then how can you ensure that this is Ji Xuan¡¯s last unreasonable demand?¡± ¡°Do we have to fulfill whatever he asks for?¡± Upon hearing this, the leading Beast Emperor¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Although the purpose of the speech he had just made was to persuade other Emperor Species to pressure the party in question, he began to feel somewhat uncertain himself as he spoke. Did Ji Xuan really want the Town Star Stone, or was he just looking for an excuse to massacre them? Torn inside and thinking of what he knew about Ji Xuan¡¯s usual behavior, the leading Beast Emperor steeled himself. It¡¯s a gamble! ¡°If there are further unreasonable demands, I will perish before all of you!¡± Hearing this, the Guardian Beast Emperor by the King Stage royal fell silent, shifting his gaze towards the King Stage royal. The King Stage royal cursed inwardly but knew he had no other choice right now. He took out a gem that shimmered with regular starlight and countless crystal faces like mirrors and tossed it to the leading Beast Emperor, ¡°Take it!¡± The leading Beast Emperor secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to fly towards Ji Xuan and Xu Ran who were waiting on the other side, all the while praying silently in his heart. Forefather Ji Xuan, I beseech you as my forefather, please don¡¯t make any more trouble¡­ ¡°This is the Town Star Stone, please review it, Sword Saint.¡± He handed over the Town Star Stone with the utmost respect, his demeanor even more obsequious than before, to the point where even Ji Xuan couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. ¡°See if it¡¯s what you wanted.¡± Ji Xuan turned to Xu Ran. And Xu Ran was already beside himself with joy. Star did not speak, but through Contractual Sensing sent cheers one after another, along with the increasingly bright light of the Source of Stars. Everything indicated that the Town Star Stone before them was genuine. ¡°Thank you, Elder Ji.¡± Xu Ran bowed gratefully to Ji Xuan and took the Town Star Stone from the Beast Emperor. ¡°You, at least, are wise.¡± Ji Xuan glanced at the Beast Emperor who was trembling with fear, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, the Epic Level Pet Beast behind Ji Xuan slightly shimmered, taking Ji Xuan and one person along with five beasts away from the spot. As the figure vanished before their eyes, the Beast Emperor breathed a sigh of relief as if granted amnesty. The hint of regret from the other party at the moment of departure was unmistakable. It seems that the other party really did have the intention of seizing the opportunity to wipe out all Emperor Species in one fell swoop. Fortunately, he had seen through the other party¡¯s scheme. That¡¯s right! He had seen through the other party¡¯s scheme, which was why he persuaded the other royals to hand over the Town Star Stone! It certainly wasn¡¯t out of fear of being slain by Ji Xuan that he acted! The Beast Emperor straightened up and flew towards the other Emperor Species with justified indignation. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Chairman Fang!¡± Back in Xieyun City, Xu Ran forcibly subdued the joy of obtaining the Town Star Stone and didn¡¯t forget the most important thing at the moment, immediately seeking out Fang Canghai. ¡°Beast Field 8 has already sent reinforcements, and there is a significant number of Beast Emperors among them!¡± He quickly reported what he had discovered to Fang Canghai. Upon hearing the bad news, Fang Canghai¡¯s expression also darkened considerably, ¡°It seems that a full-blown war is inevitable.¡± ¡°I remember you mentioned to me before.¡± Fang Canghai glanced at Xu Ran, ¡°You have prepared transport artefacts in each city¡¯s branch stores, but they can only transport yourself.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded. To better prepare for this war, he had revealed part of his abilities so Fang Canghai could plan more effectively. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Fang Canghai meditated for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Wait here for me.¡± ¡°Later, help me send the battle plans to the other three cities with branch stores.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Qin Chuan agreed with a nod. Just in time, he was planning to go to Xuanxing City for Star¡¯s evolution. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Chapter 789 - Chapter 789: Chapter 376: The Stars Guide the Way Home! Chapter 789: Chapter 376: The Stars Guide the Way Home! ¡°` ¡°Congratulations, your Pet Beast has successfully completed its evolution.¡± Seeing this scene, Qi Yuan stepped forward briskly, his face carrying a hint of a smile. ¡°Elder Qi Yuan is too kind.¡± Xu Ran revealed a relaxed smile. From the feedback from the Star, this evolution was very smooth, even more so than the previous evolution into the King Species. This abnormal situation had only one explanation. That was the Protective Star Array had some positive influence on the evolution. Therefore, the Star¡¯s smooth completion of the evolution was inseparably linked to Qi Yuan¡¯s assistance at the critical moment. ¡°What I did wasn¡¯t much, and the consumption of the Protective Star Array was smaller than expected.¡± Qi Yuan manipulated the Array Disk, restoring the Protective Star Array, ¡°More importantly, how is the strength of your Pet Beast after its evolution?¡± He was indeed a bit curious. Having evolved into the Emperor Species, he had seen it happen numerous times. But undergoing evolution while using a large amount of resources containing Star Power was quite rare, as it wasn¡¯t one of the ten Attributes. It could even be regarded as a Leap Attribute. ¡°Well¡­¡± Xu Ran glanced at the Star, ¡°After its evolution, Star obtained two Four Stars Skills, one is the Imperial Crown, and the other is called Stars¡¯ Enlightenment.¡± ¡°Sounds like it¡¯s a Skill related to Star Power.¡± A look of envy appeared on Qi Yuan¡¯s face, ¡°With such progress, your Pet Beast¡¯s future evolution into the Holy Spirit Race is almost a sure thing.¡± The toughest part about the Holy Spirit Race was the Attribute Leap, comprehending a completely new truth from one¡¯s own Power to transform one¡¯s entire Attribute. This Pet Beast, although it had only just evolved into the Emperor Species, could be said to have half-stepped into the realm of the Holy Spirits already. Once it enters the Overlord stage, as long as it accumulates enough, another successful evolution will just be a matter of time. It¡¯s easy to speak of such things, but how many Pet Beasts in the entire Beast Field No. 47 can claim a certain evolution into the Holy Spirit domain? Even Fang Canghai¡¯s Pet Beast doesn¡¯t possess such Talent. ¡°Indeed.¡± Xu Ran was also very proud of Star and now asked with a smile, ¡°Star, what does this new skill, Stars¡¯ Enlightenment, do?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (This skill¡­) Letting out an excited neigh, Star began to explain. Listening to its explanation, Xu Ran¡¯s expression quickly turned to one of surprise. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­ this Skill acts like divination, allowing you to receive revelations about things you want to understand each time it is deployed?¡± Star nodded its head, then neighed again. ¡°But there is a certain restriction on its use, only once a day?¡± Star nodded once more. Understanding the effect of Star¡¯s new Skill, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help falling into thought. In his previous life, there was a divination method known as astrology. Unexpectedly, after Star evolved into the Emperor Species, one of its new Skills turned out to be somewhat similar to astrology. This type of Skill might not provide a significant increase in strength and even comes with not a small frequency limitation, but there was no doubt, it was powerful. ¡°A divination Skill?¡± Since Xu Ran did not avoid the topic, Qi Yuan also heard about the Skill¡¯s effect, now showing a shocked expression, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve heard of the Emperor Species possessing such an effect.¡± ¡°Even among the Holy Spirit Race, only an extremely limited number of beings with related Leap Attributes could have a similar precognitive divination ability.¡± Listening to Qi Yuan¡¯s words, Xu Ran displayed a thoughtful expression, then his eyes lit up, and he suddenly spoke, ¡°Elder Qi Yuan, if I let Star use Stars¡¯ Enlightenment to obtain revelations about the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, is it possible to find the whereabouts of the missing Demon Wood Semi-Saint?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. Upon hearing what Xu Ran said, he immediately realized the feasibility. Now that a calamity was approaching, the Transcendent Being army of Beast Field No. 8 was itching to move. Why did even Fang Canghai feel tremendous pressure after hearing about the enemy¡¯s conscription? Because there were simply too many Emperor Stage beings on the other side. Fang Canghai¡¯s Pet Beast lineup included only six Emperor Stage beings with one staying at the Overlord stage, his only hope for a Pet Beast to evolve into a Holy Spirit Race. Even if adding Fang Canghai¡¯s own strength, he had no more than seven or eight Emperor Stage beings. Coupled with the Beast Emperors that originally belonged to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint from Beast Field No. 47, there was still a considerable numerical disadvantage compared to the other side. After all, the opposing force had quite a few Beast Emperors even before reinforcement arrived. This was all the high-end combat power left for Beast Field No. 47 after Ji Xuan was taken out of consideration. Therefore, in the fight of high-end combat power, Beast Field No. 47 would have a great disadvantage. While it¡¯s true that the battle between two armies is not only about the confrontation of high-end combat power, But high-end combat power are the generals and the core. Once defeated, the impact on the morale of troops is devastating. However, if the Demon Wood Semi-Saint could return, even if not at full strength, as long as the remaining strength was enough to crush a Beast Emperor, the balance of this battle would completely tip over. Because Ji Xuan had not yet left. As long as Ji Xuan remains for one more day, Beast Field No. 8 dares not let another Semi-Saint enter the field for one more day. Without the Semi-Saint, no one could threaten the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. And the Demon Wood Semi-Saint would not adhere to the so-called unwritten rule of Holy Races not participating in Emperor Race fights, and could completely engage the Beast Emperors from Beast Field No. 8! So, if Xu Ran could truly bring back the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡­ The prospect of victory in this battle could reach over ninety percent! ¡°Will you try it now?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Xu Ran looked at Star and unhesitatingly poured all the remaining Skill Points into it. ¡°` Chapter 790 - Chapter 790: Chapter 376: The Stars Guide the Way Home!_2 Chapter 790: Chapter 376: The Stars Guide the Way Home!_2 Since revelation was sought, the higher the proficiency, the better the effect clearly would be. [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Stars¡¯ Enlightenment (Stardust Level)] (0/100) [+] ¡ý¡ý¡ý [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï Stars¡¯ Enlightenment (Halo Level)] (1927/50000) [+] Watching Stars¡¯ Enlightenment instantly advance to Halo Level, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. Getting to Violent Sun Level directly was too difficult, but reaching Halo Level was still achievable. ¡°Star, begin!¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± (No problem!) With a neigh, Star¡¯s dark purple eyes suddenly shone with unparalleled brightness, filled with endless starlight, and the star patterns roaming around its body quietly froze, forming a complete star map. Immense power surged heavenward, momentarily drawing the stars in the firmament, and before Star¡¯s eyes, a scene converged with countless starlights emerged, as if by destiny, the messages echoing in its mind as a form of guidance. Soon all the anomalies dispersed, and Star, having received the revelation, savored the experience of its first use, and then conveyed the revelation to Xu Ran. ¡°Beast Field number 76?¡± Xu Ran revealed a look of surprise, ¡°You mean the Demon Wood Semi-Saint is now in Beast Field number 76?¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± Star shook its head slightly. The revelation had only provided it with the phrase ¡°Beast Field number 76.¡± Whether this meant the Demon Wood Semi-Saint was there couldn¡¯t be confirmed. ¡°I understand what you mean,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly. But in his heart, he was inclined to believe that the Demon Wood Semi-Saint was currently in Beast Field number 76. After all, since the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s disappearance, both friend and foe had been searching for it, yet none had been successful. If the Demon Wood Semi-Saint wasn¡¯t in Beast Field number 47, everything would have a reasonable explanation. ¡°Could the Demon Wood Semi-Saint be in Beast Field number 76?¡± Qi Yuan, who stood by, also heard the exchange between man and pet and showed a thoughtful expression, ¡°The place where Demon Wood Semi-Saint had fought the three Semi-Saints is in the northwest of Beast Field number 47.¡± ¡°And Beast Field number 76 is located to the southeast of Beast Field number 47.¡± ¡°In terms of distance, that would be the last place the Demon Wood Semi-Saint would likely go.¡± ¡°Yet for that very reason, I even more believe the revelation Star received is correct.¡± ¡°After all, only something sufficiently unexpected can remain undiscovered.¡± ¡°The senior makes a good point,¡± Xu Ran nodded slightly, ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no time to waste. I plan to set out now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Qi Yuan patted Xu Ran on the shoulder. Being an Overlord Level Beast Master, he couldn¡¯t stay away from Xuanxing City for long during this critical time, and even if he wanted to accompany Xu Ran, it just wasn¡¯t possible. It was not just him; other Overlord Level Beast Masters had extremely important tasks to handle at this juncture. Therefore, Xu Ran would need to make the journey alone this time. Luckily, for Xu Ran as he was now, this should not prove difficult. Beast Fields number 11 to 72 were Beast Emperor-level Beast Fields. Beast Field number 76 was merely a Beast King-level Beast Field. In such a Beast Field, Xu Ran, with two King Stage¡¤Emperor Species Pet Beasts, could easily sweep through once. ¡°Our Xuanxing City is located to the south of Beast Field number 47, relatively closer to Beast Field number 76, and there has been some minor exchange in the past,¡± Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, ¡°I remember the Association¡¯s archive room has some information on Beast Field number 76, wait here for me.¡± With that, he disappeared swiftly to the Star Guiding Platform, returning about ten minutes later with several documents in hand, which he passed to Xu Ran, ¡°This is it.¡± ¡°Though not much, it should be of some help to you.¡± ¡°The most important thing inside is a complete map of Beast Field number 76.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Xu Ran said no more, leapt onto Star¡¯s back, carrying the other four little ones, and in an instant turned into a shadow that vanished into the night. ¡°This speed¡­¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in admiration. Even Transcendent Beings proficient in speed at the Overlord stage would find it hard to catch up, right? With such speed, if everything goes smoothly, it won¡¯t be long before Xu Ran can bring back the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Thinking of such a possibility, Qi Yuan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but fill with more anticipation. He only hoped that this catastrophe could end with as few casualties as possible. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Evolution from King Species to Emperor Species, and strength advanced from General Level to King Stage, Star¡¯s power had increased tremendously compared to before. It not only gained new skills but also saw a significant improvement in speed and other aspects. Guided by the stars above the sky, Chasing Stars and Prayer of Starry Night took effect simultaneously. Star Oath connected Star¡¯s power with Xu Ran¡¯s, further enhancing Star¡¯s abilities in all aspects. Already extremely adept at speed, at this moment, it seemed to have reached a certain limit in this respect. When it was sprinting at full speed, the numerous scenes around it flew backward like flowing water. Feeling the power of Star at this moment, Xu Ran, who sat on its back, also felt a sense of joy. As the absolute support core of the team, Star¡¯s growth in strength wasn¡¯t just for itself. Ziyun and Cancan, who had reached King Stage, would receive a substantial increase in enhancement. Especially Ziyun, who like Star, belonged to the Emperor Species at the King Stage. With Star¡¯s full support now, even letting it clash with an Overlord stage might not be entirely impossible. Ziyun curled up lazily in Xu Ran¡¯s arms, looking at the scenery retreating around it, yet its mind was thinking about other matters. When Star evolved, the praises Qi Yuan had for it echoed in Ziyun¡¯s ears and were etched in its heart. Having also evolved into the Emperor Species, it now seemed to be surpassed by Star. Because Star had touched upon the Leap Attribute and was not far from the Holy Spirit Race. And it had yet to show this kind of ability. Although it possessed Dual Attributes, those were clearly different from the Leap Attribute; the latter was obviously stronger than the former. So¡­ what would its Leap Attribute be? With this question in mind, Ziyun was somewhat absent-minded for a moment. ¡°Thinking about the Leap Attribute?¡± With just one glance, Xu Ran could tell what Ziyun was thinking about. They were too familiar with each other. Ziyun was the first to accompany Xu Ran, and between the two, there was no need for many words; they already shared a deep tacit understanding. ¡°Meow~¡± (Indeed~) Ziyun lazily rubbed against the palm of Xu Ran¡¯s hand. ¡°Actually, there are some clues to your Leap Attribute,¡± Xu Ran smiled, ¡°Think about Divine Punishment.¡± Hearing the words ¡°Divine Punishment,¡± a flicker of fear passed instinctively through Ziyun¡¯s eyes. But it understood what Xu Ran meant. The power following Divine Punishment was undoubtedly strong. This power was neither Thunder Attribute nor Fighting Attribute, but rather a new, more formidable power that emerged from the fusion of the two. Unlike the current tranquil night, it was a kind of madness, as if it wanted to destroy everything with blackness. Fearful not only of the backlash from Divine Punishment but also of the terrifying power it struggled to control, Ziyun felt a trace of dread. Was it to take such a power as its future Leap Attribute? Just the thought of it was a source of worry for Ziyun. Because it had a very clear premonition: if it truly mastered that power, it might no longer be the same creature it was now. ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry; this is just an idea.¡± Seeing the fear in Ziyun¡¯s eyes, Xu Ran¡¯s voice became even gentler, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to consider the issue of evolution attributes.¡± ¡°Since I was able to get the Emperor Species evolution path, naturally, I will be able to get the Holy Spirit Race evolution path in the future.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten, during his first glimpse into the lottery drawing page, he saw that golden reward called ¡°Holy Spirit Race Evolution Path.¡± Currently, he could only draw the lesser Red Rewards. But what about in the future? Chapter 791 - Chapter 791: Chapter 377 The Dying Tree, Rebirth of Life Chapter 791: Chapter 377 The Dying Tree, Rebirth of Life ¡°` ¡°Xi Lu~¡± ¡°` Accompanied by a prolonged neigh, Star¡¯s rushing speed gradually slowed down, and eventually, its blurred silhouette became clear as its physique, shrouded in starlight, exuded a robust sense of power. At this moment, it had reached the border between the 47th and 76th Beast Fields, an area composed of a forest of withered trees. Under the night sky, the bare branches resembled sinister, contorted claws, hiding pulsations that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Xu Ran glanced at the Withered Wood Forest close at hand and opened the map and information on the 76th Beast Field given to him by Qi Yuan. Before long, his voice slightly rose, ¡°A Beast King lives here.¡± ¡°Catch it and see if it knows about the whereabouts of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint.¡± As he spoke these words, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sentimental. Back when he was still in the 97th Beast Field, a Beast King was an unreachable existence for him. Just the approach of a single Beast King could bring a 3rd Level town to the brink of destruction. But now, for him, the Beast King Level had become something he could manipulate at will. Ziyun didn¡¯t even bother to move; he waved a claw towards Cancan, who was itching to try, signaling that this minor character was enough for the third youngest to handle. ¡°Cha! (Watch me!)¡± Cancan melded into the ground, disappearing swiftly. Shortly after, he returned easily, gripping a gigantic wolf covered in blood-red fur before Xu Ran. The Gigantic Wolf Beast King, radiating an aura of Darkness, initially harbored a desire to resist, but upon seeing the Imperial Crowns of Ziyun and Star, it cowered like a trembling dog, lying obediently on the ground, daring not to move. Xu Ran drew the Mozhui Blade and casually swiped it near the Gigantic Wolf Beast King¡¯s body, leaving a deep gash tens of meters long on the ground. He then thrust the blade¡¯s tip into the earth before the Beast King and squatted down, peering into its eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you some questions. If you answer truthfully, I won¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°Ask away. As long as I know, I¡¯ll tell you everything,¡± the Gigantic Wolf Beast King spoke, sensing an aura from this human even more terrifying than that of the Emperor Species, it dared not entertain any other thoughts and hurriedly pledged cooperation. Seeing this, Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Have you been living in this Withered Wood Forest all this time?¡± ¡°Yes¡­yes,¡± the Gigantic Wolf Beast King nodded fervently, ¡°Recently, my lair has been deep within the Withered Wood Forest. Except for the occasional foray out every three to five days to hunt, I don¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°Then, in the past few days, have you seen any powerful creatures passing through here?¡± Xu Ran¡¯s voice rose slightly. ¡°Powerful creatures¡­¡± The Gigantic Wolf Beast King pondered hard but eventually shook its head, ¡°The most powerful being that has passed by here lately is you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Ran stroked his chin, his expression contemplative. That made sense. If the Demon Wood Semi-Saint really passed through this place, it would have likely gone to great lengths to conceal its presence to avoid being detected. With its means, the Gigantic Wolf Beast King wouldn¡¯t have been able to sense anything. Xu Ran decided to change his line of questioning. ¡°In that case, have you seen any plant-type Transcendent Beings or found anything related to trees during this time?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The pupils of the Gigantic Wolf Beast King constricted, a flicker of hesitation and conflict passing through its eyes. This did not escape Xu Ran¡¯s notice. His heart leapt with joy, and he immediately spoke in a stern voice, ¡°Think carefully. If you conceal anything, you will undoubtedly die!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The Gigantic Wolf Beast King hesitated for a moment, then said slowly, ¡°If I tell you, will you truly not kill me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to negotiate terms.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± With a sigh in its heart, the Gigantic Wolf Beast King spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°Yesterday, as I roamed near the Withered Wood Forest, I stumbled upon a treasure that seemed to be shaped like a branch.¡± A branch? Xu Ran felt a surge of excitement, ¡°Show it to me quickly!¡± ¡°The branch is in my lair,¡± the Gigantic Wolf Beast King shrank back slightly. ¡°Lead the way,¡± Xu Ran demanded without hesitation. With him and the five pets far surpassing the strength of the Gigantic Wolf Beast King and with intelligence pointing to no stronger presence nearby, he had no fear of deception. ¡°Follow me.¡± Having revealed his stroke of luck, the Gigantic Wolf Beast King seemed to have resigned to its fate. Turning around, it led the way, with one man and five pets swiftly reaching the very heart of the Withered Wood Forest, its lair. It was a massive hollowed tree with a pile of bones outside, belonging to humans as well as various Transcendent Beings. This Gigantic Wolf, easily manipulated by Xu Ran and his five companions, had a fearsome reputation in the 76th Beast Field, and the Withered Wood Forest had become a forbidden zone. The Gigantic Wolf Beast King emerged from its lair, soon carrying a branch about one meter in length in its mouth, placing it before Xu Ran. ¡°This is what I found.¡± On the branch surged vibrant life, enveloped in a mysterious power that made it look extraordinary. The branch sported lines of cyan and gold light, now quite dim but still clear. Seeing these patterns, Xu Ran knew his guess was correct. This was indeed the branch left by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Worry crept over him. From the perspective of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, it clearly wouldn¡¯t want its whereabouts to be exposed, making it unlikely to have deliberately left behind this piece of its branch. Most likely, it had been severely injured. Plant-type Transcendent Beings had a lower sensitivity to their own bodies compared to typical Transcendent Beings. They wouldn¡¯t feel pain from the loss of a branch or the fall of a leaf. Chapter 792 - Chapter 792: Chapter 377 The Dying Tree, Rebirth of Life_2 Chapter 792: Chapter 377 The Dying Tree, Rebirth of Life_2 In such circumstances, it was very possible for the injured Demon Wood Semi-Saint to have fled in such haste that a branch dropped without his noticing. Holding this branch, Xu Ran felt a slight heaviness in his heart. On this branch, there was a small fork that looked like the spot where a leaf would be attached, except that there was no leaf at the fork now. Considering that each leaf of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint held unfathomable power, capable of rewriting the order of an entire area in an instant, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had expended all his leaves in that terrible battle. As he fondled the branch, a stroke of inspiration struck him, and he took out a green leaf with golden patterns from his embrace. That was a leaf given to him by the Demon Wood Semi-Saint as a token of gratitude after he helped it evolve into the Holy Spirit Race. The leaf itself had already reached the strength of an epic-level resource. According to the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, using this leaf, Xu Ran could instantly rewrite the order of the surrounding area, but Xu Ran had not encountered any danger since he got it, so the leaf had never been used. This time, in search of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, Xu Ran brought it with him, thinking that it might come in handy. Considering this might be the only remaining Leaf of Order from the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, Xu Ran carefully attached the leaf onto the fork of the branch. A faint glimmer passed over, and the two fused together seamlessly; the leaf appeared as naturally attached to the branch as if it had grown there, with the golden patterns twinkling softly, like breathing, and the cyan-golden patterns on the branch itself grew gradually brighter at that moment. When the patterns finally shone brightly, an indescribable, extremely weak attraction emerged from the branch in his hand. Feeling this faint attraction, Xu Ran¡¯s eyes gleamed with joy. Although he didn¡¯t know the specific principle, this awakened segment of the branch seemed capable of sensing the current location of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. ¡°Star, head that way!¡± Without so much as glancing at the obediently prostrate Gigantic Wolf Beast King lying on the ground, Xu Ran, accompanied by the four little ones, mounted up and pointed in the direction from which the attraction came. ¡°Xi Lu Lu~¡± Accompanied by Star¡¯s whinny, one man and five pets vanished on the spot. The Gigantic Wolf Beast King raised its head in bewilderment, staring in the direction of their disappearance, feeling utterly stupefied. Had they really set it free? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Keep moving forward!¡± With Xu Ran¡¯s slightly urgent voice, Star¡¯s figure turned into a blur in the 76th Beast Field, so fast that even the Beast King couldn¡¯t catch its trail. As Xu Ran got closer to the direction from which the attraction was coming, the attraction from the branch in his hand grew stronger and stronger. At that moment, the cyan-golden patterns on the branch were lightly trembling, as if expressing excited emotions. It was getting closer and closer. Xu Ran was absolutely certain that the Demon Wood Semi-Saint was somewhere ahead. It couldn¡¯t be wrong! ¡°Stop!¡± A thunderous shout came from the side, and a massive figure swiftly appeared, chasing in their direction. Without waiting for it to speak, Xu Ran casually tossed Ziyun, who had been in his embrace. A flash of Thunder, a booming sound erupted, and the Transcendent Being, brimming with King Level pinnacle strength, was blasted away by Ziyun¡¯s palm before Xu Ran could even make out its outline, charred and lifeless. Catching Ziyun, who flashed back to his side, Xu Ran didn¡¯t look back, one hand still gripping the branch sensitively, his eyes fixed intently ahead. In a secluded and unremarkable little valley, a narrow path was revealed before his eyes. As soon as he stepped into the valley, Xu Ran saw the figure of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. However, the state of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint was far worse than Xu Ran had imagined. Its once massive stature was severely shrunken, only three to four meters tall, shorter than many ordinary trees, with not a single leaf on its body, and the cyan-golden patterns on its branches and trunk nearly completely dimmed, barely visible. This state was even worse than the state of the branch in Xu Ran¡¯s hand. Clearly, the state of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint hiding behind this mountain valley had not improved; instead, it was getting worse. Dismounting, Xu Ran walked step by step to the front of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. The silent body of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint did not react to his approach, and even when Xu Ran placed his hand gently upon the demi-saint¡¯s trunk, there was no sign of awakening. On its body, Xu Ran could only feel an extremely weak life force, like a candle flame in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment. If they had arrived any later, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint might have truly perished here. Thinking of this, Xu Ran felt a heavy sinking in his heart. Indeed, even with the Demonic Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s high talent, facing three adversaries at this stage was still too much to bear. Taking a deep breath, Xu Ran picked up the tree branch with a leaf hanging from it and, imitating the way the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had wielded its power, he spoke softly. ¡°May this place speed up the recovery of wounds!¡± ¡°Crack~¡± Accompanied by a soft crackling sound, the golden-patterned green leaf instantly transformed into points of light that spread out, enveloping the entire space around them, as the immeasurable Power of Order descended. The order of this place was rewritten in an instant, and the healing of wounds accelerated. Xu Ran watched the still Silent Demon Wood Semi-Saint nervously, his heart in his throat. As time ticked by, the Power of Order within the leaf was rapidly depleting, and once the last speck of light dimmed, the order of the surroundings returned to normal. Looking at the still silent Demon Wood Semi-Saint, with the green and golden light on its twig remaining unlit, Xu Ran¡¯s spirit plummeted. Could it be that even this cannot revive the Demon Wood Semi-Saint? This was the most effective method he could think of at the moment. If this couldn¡¯t help, all Xu Ran could do was to once again ask Ji Xuan for assistance. But as he understood, neither of the two Epic-Level Pet Beasts Ji Xuan had at his disposal at the moment had the ability to heal. So even if Ji Xuan was to lend a hand, they could only take the Demon Wood Semi-Saint to Broken Abyss City for treatment. Setting aside whether there was enough time, for the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, Broken Abyss City might not even be safe. After all¡­ Thinking of the scant information Ji Xuan had disclosed over the past days while sparring with him, Xu Ran¡¯s expression grew more and more grim. Could it be that there really was no way to save the Demon Wood Semi-Saint? Just when Xu Ran was at a loss, a faint voice echoed throughout the mountain valley. ¡°The Power of Order, is not to be used like this.¡± Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Ran¡¯s head shot up, looking at the Demon Wood Semi-Saint before him with surprise and joy. ¡°Senior, you¡­,¡± The massive power from the Earth around them surged, cutting his words short. Cancan was dumbfounded beside him. At this moment, it could clearly feel, throughout the entire valley and even from extremely far beyond it, countless Earth attribute powers converging toward this spot, as if they were being devoured by a black hole, ceaselessly pouring into the body of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Under this terrifying force, the body of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint began to grow. The life force flickering like a candle flame rapidly turned into a raging inferno within a very brief period. The brink of death was averted in an instant! Its body stretched comfortably as it grew from a weak, small tree of three to four meters high to a towering giant tree hundreds of meters tall. Although not as grand as in its prime, it had regained a considerable amount of its strength. An ethereal face appeared in the void, eyes smiling as it looked at Xu Ran, ¡°I never imagined that a modest gift I once gave would not aid you but instead help myself.¡± ¡°Were it not for that trace of the Power of Order, I would probably have completely succumbed here until the very last of my life¡¯s fire was extinguished.¡± ¡°Senior, have you recovered?¡± Xu Ran said, his face flush with excitement. Chapter 793 - Chapter 793: Chapter 378: Broken Realm Core! Chapter 793: Chapter 378: Broken Realm Core! Earth attribute Power¡­ Xu Ran¡¯s eyes widened abruptly as he belatedly realized the problem. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s attribute had already changed from the original Earth attribute to the Order Attribute after evolving into the Holy Spirit Race. Saints, while possessing the Leap Attribute, were supposed to completely abandon their original attributes. So, it shouldn¡¯t have absorbed the Earth attribute Power so easily. ¡°Senior¡­ you¡­¡± Xu Ran suddenly found his voice strained, ¡°are you no longer part of the Holy Spirit Race?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint spoke softly, looking at the young man before it, ¡°You¡¯ve seen what just happened.¡± ¡°My injuries are severe, my lifeforce flickering like a candle in the wind, at risk of being extinguished at any moment.¡± ¡°The Power of Order is strong, but it is not omnipotent.¡± ¡°At least, it is far inferior to the Earth attribute in this respect.¡± ¡°The Earth attribute is the ground, the origin of life.¡± ¡°It harbors an inexhaustible, majestic lifeforce, and only it can help me break the current deadlock and rally once more.¡± ¡°The sliver of Power you brought me has awakened my dormant consciousness, and with it, I have successfully completed another transformation of my attribute,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint explained as it continued to grow taller. Its aura was gradually becoming stronger, recovering to the level of a Beast Emperor. ¡°Then¡­Senior, do you still have a chance to return to your original strength?¡± Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is there a chance for you to change back to the Leap Attribute and then evolve back?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Demon Wood Semi-Saint spoke quietly, ¡°But it won¡¯t be the Order Attribute again.¡± ¡°Each Leap Attribute is unique, and even among the same race in evolution, there is a unique understanding of the Leap Attribute.¡± ¡°To revert to the original attribute is to seal off one¡¯s past path.¡± The voice of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint was solemn, ¡°To evolve back into the Holy Spirit Race, I need to find another way.¡± Seeing the worried expression on Xu Ran¡¯s face, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint suddenly smiled, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, even if I fall back to the Emperor Stage, I will not be comparable to an ordinary Beast Emperor.¡± ¡°After all, I once stepped into the domain of the Saints,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint said confidently, ¡°I will personally annihilate the Beast Emperors that threaten us from Beast Field number 47.¡± ¡°Senior, I¡¯m not worried about that,¡± Xu Ran said, shaking his head helplessly. Hearing this, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint stared steadily at Xu Ran and then chuckled lightly, extending a branch to gently touch Xu Ran¡¯s forehead, ¡°You¡¯re a good kid.¡± As it reverted to its original attribute, new green leaves hung from its branches, and upon touching Xu Ran, a rich and majestic lifeforce unfurled, revitalizing the weary Xu Ran in an instant. ¡°The gift I once gave you has now been returned in full, and it has once again helped me greatly,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you properly.¡± ¡°If you can drive back the invading Beast Emperors from Beast Field number 8, that will be enough for me,¡± Xu Ran replied, shaking his head slightly to indicate he required no thanks. He hadn¡¯t come here for that. ¡°Having said that, I¡¯d feel troubled if I didn¡¯t show some gratitude,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint pondered for a moment, then extended a branch on which hung a colorful, shattered glaze. ¡°Fighting three-on-one was far beyond my own abilities.¡± ¡°So even though I won that battle, I also lost.¡± ¡°I used up all of the resources I had once obtained, but they were not enough to save myself.¡± ¡°Only this item, which I could not recognize, remained untouched.¡± ¡°Now that I no longer have a use for it, I shall gift it to you,¡± said the Demon Wood Semi-Saint with a hint of expectation, ¡°I think, in your hands, it will truly serve its purpose.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran stared at the strange yet somewhat familiar resource, his eyes widening in surprise. Could this be¡­ the Broken Realm Core?! His expression became complicated in an instant, and he couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Twelve, whose face was filled with excitement. The Broken Realm Core was the last Evolution Material needed for Twelve¡¯s evolution. This material was very mysterious; in Beast Field number 47, Xu Ran had been unable to find much information about it. It was only when he had recently entered Broken Abyss City and attempted to exchange Evolution Resources for his Pet Beast that he first received information and images of the Broken Realm Core. The last time the Broken Realm Core had appeared in Broken Abyss City was over a hundred years ago. In a sense, it was even rarer and more elusive than the Town Star Stone. It was the core left behind by a naturally shattered mini-space, lingering at the edges of the world, and only the Holy Spirit Race, with their Leap Attribute and its relevance to space, had a slight chance of capturing it. Xu Ran had been prepared to search for it with even greater effort once affairs here were settled, perhaps even with the help of Broken Abyss City¡¯s resources to a certain extent. Who would have thought that the Broken Realm Core would appear in front of him so dramatically? ¡°It seems you recognize it,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint nudged the Broken Realm Core closer, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, take it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior,¡± Xu Ran took the Broken Realm Core. If it were any other resource, he might not have accepted it. But this resource was too important for Twelve; he had to take it. ¡°What¡¯s the situation in Beast Field number 47 now?¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint continued its recovery while slowly speaking, ¡°Tell me about it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Ran tucked the Broken Realm Core away and then recounted what had transpired after the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s disappearance. Chapter 794 - Chapter 794: Chapter 378 Broken Realm Core!_2 Chapter 794: Chapter 378 Broken Realm Core!_2 ¡°` Hearing that Ji Xuan from Broken Abyss City had slain six Semi-Saints alone, it let out a hearty laugh. Upon learning that Ji Xuan was stationed in the eighth Beast Field and dared not dispatch any Semi-Saints, yet had sent out a large number of Beast Emperors, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s combat fervor soared, wishing it could strike immediately. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here,¡± said Xu Ran, finishing his words. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint slowly opened its mouth. At this moment, its body was large enough to cover the mountain valley it hid in, ¡°If I continue to enhance, movement will become somewhat troublesome.¡± After speaking, it began to actively compress its massive body until finally, it returned to the three- to four-meter height it had initially. The extreme compression made every one of its branches and leaves erupt with tremendous Earth attribute Power, and the terrifying aura convinced Xu Ran, who experienced it firsthand, that a casual lash from the Demon Wood Semi-Saint could severely injure an ordinary Beast Emperor. One of its branches stretched out. Under Xu Ran¡¯s astonished gaze, it grew rapidly, quickly becoming a two-meter-tall treant. Its expression calm and peaceful, it lifted its rooted body from the earth with force, pulling it directly out and carrying it on its shoulder. Countless scattered roots rapidly converged, transforming into sharp spear blades; the tree trunk became the spear shaft, and numerous leaves detached, turning into mottled patterns on the spear shaft. Thus, in the hands of the treant, its body had become a long spear. At this, Xu Ran wasn¡¯t even able to determine which was the true body anymore. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint swung the long spear in its hand, feeling satisfied with its now conveniently mobile body, and nodded in approval. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Ran was dumbfounded. What kind of a stance was this?! Seeing Xu Ran¡¯s confusion, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint grinned. ¡°Having evolved once, I should naturally show some improvement.¡± ¡°I may no longer be a Semi-Saint, but I¡¯m no longer the ordinary Sky-touching Mysterious Wood either.¡± Xu Ran nodded. He had no doubts about that. Looking at the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s oppressive presence now, it still retained a semblance of a Semi-Saint¡¯s aura. Even though it lacked the former sky-shrouding oppression, its strength was clearly more pronounced. ¡°Star.¡± ¡°Xi Lu!¡± Star let out an excited neigh, bearing Xu Ran and the other four little ones back the way they came. Declining Xu Ran¡¯s invitation to ride together, the treant that was the Demon Wood Semi-Saint followed at a leisurely pace. Star¡¯s speed was already extremely terrifying, but in front of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, it still didn¡¯t measure up. Its feet tapped a peculiar rhythm on the ground. With every touch, it sent out layers of earthy yellow ripples, drawing vast Power from the earth. It looked like a leisurely stroll, yet it managed to keep close behind Star without falling behind at all. Cancan, who was lying on Star¡¯s back, only needed one glance before she was unable to look away. As a fellow Earth attribute being, she could perceive just how powerful the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s control over the Earth attribute Power was at that moment. It was as though the earth itself was part of its body. Such control of power was something she couldn¡¯t even dream of reaching. The group quickly passed the Withered Wood Forest they had encountered on the way. The Demon Wood Semi-Saint casually glanced at it and then smiled. ¡°Was it here that my fallen branch, the one containing a trace of my power, was found?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Ran responded with a nod. ¡°It seems that it was my fate not to die,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint sighed, ¡°Without that branch retaining a sliver of my power, even with the leaves I left behind, it would have been hard for you to find me immediately.¡± ¡°Since my life was not destined to end here, I ought to cherish this second life.¡± The expression in the Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s eyes suddenly became sharp. The being that had stepped down to the Emperor Stage, it seemed to have become a different thing from before. With their swift pace, the surroundings flew past rapidly like whirling constellations, and soon, Xuanxing City came into view. Xu Ran initially wanted to have the Demon Wood Semi-Saint stay in Xuanxing City for a moment, but the Demon Wood Semi-Saint stopped. ¡°I plan to return to the Monster Wooden Domain,¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint spoke slowly, ¡°You can inform Fang Canghai and the other city lords of my return.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no need to let too many people know about this news.¡± ¡°` ¡°At this moment, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m already being overlooked by the Beast Field No. 8, and this neglect is my greatest reliance and advantage. I must continue to exert it.¡± Xu Ran simply pondered for a moment and then understood what Demon Wood Semi-Saint meant, immediately nodding, ¡°Then, Senior, take great care, I¡¯ll go and inform Senior Fang and the rest about this news.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Demon Wood Semi-Saint watched Xu Ran enter Xuanxing City, then took a deep breath and his figure swiftly vanished from the spot. O Saints, I shall make a comeback. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°What? You¡¯ve found Demon Wood Semi-Saint and even revived it?!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s report, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°However, its power cannot return to the Semi-Saint level.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than good enough that it has come back.¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand, ¡°With Demon Wood Semi-Saint still around, the Transcendent Beings within Beast Field No. 47 will have a pillar of support.¡± ¡°For us, this is already incredibly good news.¡± Facing external threats, Humans and Transcendent Beings of Beast Field No. 47 set aside their hatred for each other and joined forces for the first time, unexpectedly achieving Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s former goal. However, the Transcendent Beings did not obey Humans¡¯ commands, nor did they have a pillar of support to stand out, greatly diminishing their strength following the disappearance of Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Now that Demon Wood Semi-Saint has returned, at least there¡¯s no need to worry about this anymore. ¡°So now, has Demon Wood Semi-Saint returned to the Monster Wooden Domain?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded and conveyed Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s thoughts to Qi Yuan, ¡°Demon Wood Semi-Saint does not want to reveal its revival just yet. Its neglect by Beast Field No. 8 allows it to become the most crucial trump card in this battle.¡± ¡°Furthermore, it needs more time to strengthen itself.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qi Yuan pondered briefly and realized the advantages of this approach, chuckling and stroking his chin, ¡°I promise, within Xuanxing City, only I will know about this.¡± ¡°You should go now and report back to Fang Canghai.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Ran nodded and took his leave. Before long, with the Transmission array of Starfire Foster Care Shop, he had already arrived in Xieyun City. ¡°What?!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s report, Fang Canghai too was astounded, ¡°I only asked you to deliver a message.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°What? You¡¯ve found Demon Wood Semi-Saint and even revived it?!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s report, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded, ¡°However, its power cannot return to the Semi-Saint level.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than good enough that it has come back.¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand, ¡°With Demon Wood Semi-Saint still around, the Transcendent Beings within Beast Field No. 47 will have a pillar of support.¡± ¡°For us, this is already incredibly good news.¡± Facing external threats, Humans and Transcendent Beings of Beast Field No. 47 set aside their hatred for each other and joined forces for the first time, unexpectedly achieving Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s former goal. However, the Transcendent Beings did not obey Humans¡¯ commands, nor did they have a pillar of support to stand out, greatly diminishing their strength following the disappearance of Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Now that Demon Wood Semi-Saint has returned, at least there¡¯s no need to worry about this anymore. ¡°So now, has Demon Wood Semi-Saint returned to the Monster Wooden Domain?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Ran nodded and conveyed Demon Wood Semi-Saint¡¯s thoughts to Qi Yuan, ¡°Demon Wood Semi-Saint does not want to reveal its revival just yet. Its neglect by Beast Field No. 8 allows it to become the most crucial trump card in this battle.¡± ¡°Furthermore, it needs more time to strengthen itself.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qi Yuan pondered briefly and realized the advantages of this approach, chuckling and stroking his chin, ¡°I promise, within Xuanxing City, only I will know about this.¡± ¡°You should go now and report back to Fang Canghai.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Ran nodded and took his leave. Before long, with the Transmission array of Starfire Foster Care Shop, he had already arrived in Xieyun City. ¡°What?!¡± Hearing Xu Ran¡¯s report, Fang Canghai too was astounded, ¡°I only asked you to deliver a message.¡± Chapter 795 - Chapter 795: Chapter 379: The City on the Brink, Cancan Evolves! Chapter 795: Chapter 379: The City on the Brink, Cancan Evolves! There was one thing that took Xu Ran by surprise. As the Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 clashed with those from Beast Field No. 47, the business at the Foster Shop not only remained unharmed but actually became even more prosperous. In this world, top-notch Washing and Protection could keep a Pet Beast in peak condition at all times, which could make a significant difference in battle, potentially increasing its strength by twenty to thirty percent. Knowing well that ¡°a sharp knife does not hinder the work of chopping wood,¡± Beast Masters would bring their Pet Beasts to the Foster Shop for thorough grooming before each campaign. Even the wild Transcendent Beings from the Monster Wooden Domain wanted to receive Washing and Protection. At this moment, when the relationship between the wild Transcendent Beings and the Humans was as smooth as oil, such requests could be satisfied. As a result, as the battle raged on, the Pleasure value and various resources Xu Ran collected through the branch stores skyrocketed. A month had passed since the Semi-Saint of the Demon Wood regained some of its power and secretly returned to the Monster Wooden Domain in a brand new guise. During this month, the Beast Emperors within the army of Transcendent Beings from Beast Field No. 8 did not fully engage in battle; they acted more like commanders behind the scenes, directing endless waves of Transcendent Beings to assault every corner of Beast Field No. 47. The Humans, cooperating with the original inhabitants of Beast Field No. 47, attempted to resist, but it was difficult to bridge the gap in overall strength between the two sides. As Beast Field No. 47 suffered defeat after defeat on the frontline, cities gradually fell, and the fortified positions of Transcendent Beings were cleared and occupied by Beings from Beast Field No. 8. In the face of such a large-scale battle, the significance of individual combat power was diluted to an extreme. Even when Fang Canghai personally took action, there was only so much he could do. During this month, Xu Ran had not been idle either. He went to the frontline on his own initiative, sharing a part of the logistics work, and, together with other volunteer Caretakers, provided Washing and Protection for the Transcendent Beings engaged in the frontline battle. With his strength, he could also join the fight, leading his five little Pet Beasts to hone their combat skills and fight valiantly. Whether it was Star¡¯s supportive power or Ziyun¡¯s absolute lethality, both commanded attention from the Transcendent Beings of Beast Field No. 8. Cancan, at full strength, became massive during one of the battles, and its terrifying body type gave it a crushing advantage on the battlefield. Shi¡¯er and Yinghuo might not have been as eye-catching, but their performance was still notable. As a result, Xu Ran and his five Pet Beasts inevitably drew attention. Every battle saw an increasing number of Transcendent Beings heading his way. The Beast Emperor still held back from attacking, but the Quasi Emperors did strike several times. However, the Overlord Level Beast Masters on their own side would naturally not sit by and watch; Xu Ran was a key figure that they looked after, and his contribution to the battle was evident for all, so they naturally would not let him fall into danger. Thus, in several major battles, Xu Ran had close calls but emerged unscathed. Due to the urgency of the situation, Xu Ran no longer distributed resources every half month as he had been doing. Instead, he used whatever resources he had on hand, and he immediately went for a Ten Consecutive Drawing if there was enough Pleasure value. To always have Lucky Fish¡¯s good fortune available, he secretly arranged with Fang Canghai to have Qin Can join the team as his deputy. Although Fang Canghai did not understand why, he readily agreed to Xu Ran¡¯s minor request without a second thought. As a result, Qin Can, who was sitting at home, was inexplicably conscripted. Over the past month, Qin Can lost count of the number of times Xu Ran had tapped his shoulder, to the point where he began to question the other¡¯s sexual orientation, shuddering each night and deeply questioning the correctness of provoking Xu Ran initially. Although it was like vigorously pulling at a Lucky Fish, the results were significant. Cancan and Shi¡¯er had both achieved all Four Stars in their Talent Skills and even satisfied the additional requests for their Evolution Conditions. With the Evolution Resources already gathered, they were now only one Evolution Ritual away from evolving. Yinghuo had also obtained its Emperor Species Evolution Path and began working toward evolution, but this was not something that could be completed in a short period, so Xu Ran temporarily set it aside. To meet the stringent condition of having ten thousand devout followers, Shi¡¯er began its attempt on the first day it was sent to the battlefield. After several setbacks, it finally set its sights on those wounded Transcendent Beings and Pet Beasts. Having suffered incurable injuries in battle, their combat power was greatly reduced, and they had to temporarily leave the front lines. They were in the most despondent period of their lives, with Shi¡¯er addressing their emotions and using the power of dreams to exhaust all means to dispel the negativity in their hearts. However, in the realm of dreams, it did not appear as itself but instead fabricated a brand new persona called the ¡°Dream God.¡± In this manner, as these Transcendent Beings gradually recovered from their pain and despondency, the image of the Dream God became deeply engraved in their minds as the object of their gratitude. With a little guidance, they could be converted into believers. When they truly began to devoutly worship the Dream God, as the entity linked to the image of the Dream God, Shi¡¯er would be the first to sense it. Although it had not officially begun evolving, it seemed that through this connection, it could already draw some peculiar, extraordinary Transcendent Power from its followers. Chapter 796 - Chapter 796: Chapter 379: The City on the Brink, Cancan Evolves!_2 Chapter 796: Chapter 379: The City on the Brink, Cancan Evolves!_2 It was exhausted every day, yet full of motivation. To this day, Twelve had already obtained more than five thousand devout followers. All it needed was to keep striving until it reached ten thousand followers, and then its Evolution Ritual could officially begin. On the other side, Cancan was waiting too. Its evolution required the cooperation of an entire city. During the current period of war, it was difficult for Xu Ran to make such an excessive request to others, so he needed to wait for the right opportunity. Fortunately, after a month of waiting, Cancan finally saw the right moment when all the Evolution Conditions were met. In a super large military tent at the frontline, an urgent meeting was underway. The attendees included Fang Canghai, the Overlord Level Beast Masters at the front, as well as a group of Beast Emperors from the side of the Transcendent Beings, and other personnel who bore important responsibilities at various pivotal points of the war front. Xu Ran participated in this meeting as the head of the logistics department. At this moment, Qi Yuan and a Quasi Emperor from the side of the Transcendent Beings were glaring at each other furiously; it looked like they were about to come to blows. ¡°Changping City is surrounded by the army of Beast Field No. 8, within our ability, we naturally need to provide assistance,¡± Qi Yuan said sternly, ¡°Not only are there over a hundred thousand Beast Masters stationed there, but it¡¯s also an essential route that connects us to other cities.¡± ¡°If Changping City is completely occupied, we¡¯d lose a very important stronghold. Not only would we lose part of our Beast Master combat power, but communication with other cities would also be affected.¡± ¡°So easy for you to say!¡± The Quasi Emperor snorted, ¡°With so many Transcendent Beings surrounding Changping City and even the presence of Beast Emperors, it¡¯s clearly a trap!¡± ¡°Rescue? How many lives are you planning to use for this rescue?¡± The Quasi Emperor¡¯s roar echoed through the tent, leaving Qi Yuan speechless for a moment. Indeed, this was the crux of the matter. To rescue this 3 Level city, the losses might very well exceed the gains. For a moment, the military tent was filled with leaders of varied expressions. Although Changping City was a 3 Level city, due to its critically-located position on the war front, it had received special attention. There, not only were large amounts of war supplies stored, but it also housed a significantly larger and more powerful group of Beast Masters than a typical 3 Level city. This important position should have only been known to the real core existences of Beast Field No. 47. But somehow, Beast Field No. 8 had managed to find out about this city using unknown means. In a large-scale confrontation between both sides two days prior, the Transcendent Being army of Beast Field No. 8 secretly split some forces and took advantage of the situation to surround Changping City. They didn¡¯t attempt to enter but instead, after the confrontation ended, they kept increasing the number of troops around Changping City, even having several Beast Emperors make an appearance. Such a tactic was a clear provocation to the allied forces of Beast Field No. 47. I know how important Changping City is to you, so do you dare to come? After a moment of silence, Fang Canghai, seated at the head, slowly began to speak, ¡°If Changping City falls, the allied forces at the front might be in danger of being attacked from both front and rear.¡± ¡°We are already at a disadvantage now, fighting and retreating, with our front constantly being pushed back. If we lose Changping City, just like a frog being slowly boiled, our main forces will inevitably be defeated.¡± ¡°Therefore, Changping City must be saved,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s gaze swept across the room, ¡°Not only must it be saved, but we also need to relocate Changping City to a safer place. In doing so, we won¡¯t have similar situations in the future.¡± ¡°I have already chosen a new location for Changping City, equally important, and ten thousand miles away from the original site of Changping City.¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran, who had been quietly listening, was moved and without hesitation spoke out, ¡°My Pet Beast can take care of moving Changping City.¡± ¡°Although its strength is not on par with Overlord stage Earth attribute Pet Beasts, it has an unrivaled advantage in this matter.¡± A pair of eyes turned towards him in the military tent. They were naturally aware of Cancan¡¯s remarkable performance during this time. With its terrifying body type, it could even carry Changping City to relocate it. Suddenly, many looked intrigued. ¡°Agreed.¡± Fang Canghai pondered for a moment and slowly nodded, consenting to Xu Ran¡¯s offer to volunteer. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C When they truly began to devoutly believe in the Dream God, as the entity connected to the image of the Dream God, Twelve would be the first to be aware. Although the evolution had not officially started, it seemed to already obtain some wonderful, extraordinary transcendental power from its believers through this connection. This kept it tired yet motivated every day. As of today, Twelve had gained over five thousand devout believers. All it needed was to keep striving. Once it reached ten thousand believers, its Evolution Ritual could officially commence. On the other side, Cancan was also waiting. Its evolution required the cooperation of an entire city. In the current era of war, it was difficult for Xu Ran to make such an excessive request to others, so he had to wait for the right opportunity. Fortunately, after a month of waiting, as soon as Cancan met the Evolution Conditions, such a moment finally arrived. In a massive tent at the frontlines, a strategic meeting was underway. The attendees included Fang Canghai and frontline Overlord Level Beast Masters, as well as a host of Beast Emperors from the side of the Transcendent Beings, and key personnel shouldering important responsibilities at various strategic points of the war. Xu Ran attended this meeting as the head of the logistics department. At this moment, Qi Yuan and a Quasi Emperor from the side of the Transcendent Beings glared at each other, on the verge of conflict. ¡°Changping City is besieged by the armies of Beast Field No. 8, and within our capacity, we naturally need to provide support,¡± Qi Yuan spoke solemnly, ¡°Not only are there over a hundred thousand Beast Masters stationed there, but it¡¯s also an essential passage for connecting with other cities.¡± ¡°If Changping City is completely taken, we will lose a vital stronghold. We would not only lose some of our Beast Master combat power, but our communications with other cities would also be affected.¡± ¡°You make it sound so easy!¡± The Quasi Emperor snorted, ¡°The number of Transcendent Beings surrounding Changping City is daunting, and even Beast Emperors have appeared. This is clearly a trap!¡± ¡°Rescue? How many lives are you planning to spend to save them?¡± The Quasi Emperor¡¯s roar reverberated within the tent, leaving Qi Yuan momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, this was the crux of the problem. Saving the 3 Level city would likely result in losses exceeding any potential gains. For a moment, a mix of expressions played across the faces of the influential figures in the tent. Although Changping City was a 3 Level city, it was exceptionally crucial due to its strategic location at the throat of the battlefront and thus received special attention. It stored not only a large amount of war supplies but was also garrisoned with a number of powerful Beast Masters far exceeding that of a typical 3 Level city. Such a vital location should only have been known by the true core of Beast Field No. 47. But somehow, Beast Field No. 8 managed to uncover the details of this city. In a large-scale confrontation between the two sides two days ago, the Transcendent Being army of Beast Field No. 8 secretly divided their forces and took the opportunity to surround Changping City. They did not attempt entry but instead continually increased their troop numbers around Changping City after the confrontation, even summoning several Beast Emperors to show themselves. Such actions were an overt provocation against the allied forces of Beast Field No. 47. We know Changping City is very important to you, so do you dare to come? After a moment of silence, Fang Canghai, seated in the highest place, slowly began to speak, ¡°If Changping City falls, our frontline army might find itself in danger of being attacked from both front and rear.¡± ¡°We are already at a disadvantage, retreating as we fight, with our frontlines continually pulling back. If we lose Changping City as well, it would be like boiling frogs in warm water; our main forces will inevitably suffer defeat.¡± ¡°Therefore, we must save Changping City,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s gaze swept over the assembly, ¡°not only must we save it, but we must also relocate Changping City to a safer place. In doing so, similar situations will not occur in the future.¡± ¡°I have already chosen the new location for Changping City, also a position of utmost importance, and it is ten thousand miles away from the original site of Changping City.¡± Hearing this, Xu Ran, who had been quietly listening, felt moved and spoke without hesitation, ¡°My Pet Beast can undertake the relocation of Changping City.¡± ¡°Although its power is not as great as an Overlord stage Earth attribute Pet Beast, it has an unparalleled advantage in this task.¡± A dozen pairs of eyes turned his way in the tent. Cancan¡¯s remarkable performance in recent times was well known to them. With the terrifying body type of that Pet Beast, it could even carry Changping City during the relocation. Many showed an intrigued expression at the proposal. ¡°Agreed,¡± Fang Canghai pondered momentarily then nodded slowly, consenting to Xu Ran¡¯s offer to volunteer. Chapter 797 - Chapter 797: Chapter 380: Battle, Feather Dragon Crown Prince! Chapter 797: Chapter 380: Battle, Feather Dragon Crown Prince! ¡°Outrageous humans!¡± After Fang Canghai¡¯s challenge echoed for a brief few breaths, a voice transmitted from the army of Transcendent Beings within Beast Field number eight. One after another, the Beast Emperors rose into the air, appearing in front of Fang Canghai, with as many as seventeen in total. The leading Beast Emperor was none other than the one that had dealt with Ji Xuan before, known as the Xuanlong Beast Emperor. Unlike its submissive tone with Ji Xuan, at this moment, facing an equally matched opponent like Fang Canghai, it displayed its own dignity and arrogance. ¡°Even the Emperor Level Beast Master from Broken Abyss City wouldn¡¯t dare to be so presumptuous in front of us!¡± the Xuanlong Beast Emperor growled lowly, scanning the opponents from Fang Canghai¡¯s side. Its gaze lingered a moment longer on the figure draped in a black robe, a trace of puzzlement emerging in its eyes because to its perception, the opponent seemed void of any strength, like an ordinary human. However, it quickly dismissed this doubt, baring its teeth and mercilessly sneering, ¡°Humans, is this all the strength Beast Field number 47 has?¡± ¡°Where are the Beast Emperors that once submitted to the Semi-Saint Demon Wood? Have they disappeared like their master?¡± ¡°Sharp-tongued.¡± The figure in the black robe spoke in a low voice. Before the Xuanlong Beast Emperor could react, the figure had already flashed before it. The Xuanlong Beast Emperor¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, it hadn¡¯t even seen the opponent make a move, and the next instant, it felt a pain in its body as its massive form was blasted towards the ground like a cannonball, crashing into its own ranks, stirring up a great cloud of blood mist and dust. The entire battlefield fell silent at this sudden turn of events. Suddenly swirling its wings to disperse the dust, the Xuanlong Beast Emperor burst out of the ground and flashed back to its original position, its dragon scales marked with cracks and blood, no longer composed, staring intently at the black robe. ¡°Who are you?!¡± The other Beast Emperors from the same camp as the Xuanlong Beast Emperor also changed their expressions at this moment. For the Xuanlong Beast Emperor to be the leader among the present Beast Emperors, it relied on absolute strength. Yet now, it was so easily blasted away, without even the ability to block? Who exactly was that person? Could it be¡­ One of the Beast Emperors suddenly gasped, as if realizing something, and spoke in a grave voice, ¡°Ji Xuan, do you think you can so brazenly ignore the rule that a Semi-Saint cannot enter the fray just by hiding your identity?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Canghai¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Ji Xuan¡­ Indeed, the other had come to the scene. However, Ji Xuan had not made a move, merely observing the battle from another location. One wondered how Ji Xuan would react to such questioning? The next moment, Fang Canghai knew. A blade light flashed from afar, slicing the Beast Emperor who had spoken into two, while Ji Xuan¡¯s indifferent voice came from the other side, ¡°Speaking my name so disrespectfully, you shall be executed.¡± On another mountain peak, Ji Xuan¡¯s figure emerged. He did not continue his attack; hands behind his back, he simply watched quietly as if his previous move was just for punishing the disrespect. Seeing this scene, the expressions of the Beast Emperors from Beast Field number eight were exceedingly ugly. They didn¡¯t pity the fool who had just courted death. Knowing that Ji Xuan had not left Beast Field number 47 and still daring to speak so boldly, his death was a waste. What they truly cared about was that the figure in the black robe was not Ji Xuan. This meant that the battle had taken on some unexpected turns! ¡°You¡­ who exactly are you?¡± The Xuanlong Beast Emperor shifted its gaze from Ji Xuan, staring intensely at the black robe, its eyes filled with seriousness. It still could not sense any trace of the opponent¡¯s presence. But the fact that the opponent had instantly blasted it away earlier was certainly not a dream! This could only mean one thing. It meant that the opponent was much stronger than it. ¡°Who am I?¡± The figure in the black robe chuckled with a hint of mockery, ¡°You come for me, yet you do not know who I am?¡± As it spoke, the figure¡¯s hood was lifted to reveal a wooden-faced treant underneath the black robe. An imposing aura surged from its body, washing over every Beast Emperor from Beast Field number eight like a massive wave. A spear, covered in leaf patterns, emerged in its hand. Grasping the spear firmly, the treant¡¯s eyes narrowed, and in the next instant, it appeared before the Xuanlong Beast Emperor. ¡°It¡¯s you?!¡± The heart of the Xuanlong Beast Emperor filled with alarm, it uttered a roar of shock and rage, ¡°The Semi-Saint Demon Wood?!¡± It hadn¡¯t been able to react to the previous strike, completely caught off guard by the opponent¡¯s strength, but now that it was being approached again, the Xuanlong Beast Emperor naturally wouldn¡¯t sit idle. Its dragon scales glowed fiercely, its body rapidly surging with power, its claws shining with a sharp chill as it harshly grasped towards the incoming spear. ¡°BOOM!!!¡± Warding off an attack and flying back dozens of meters, the Xuanlong Beast Emperor was not startled but pleased, because at the moment of the collision, it had finally felt the opponent¡¯s strength. The Earth attribute power sparked many connections in its mind. ¡°It¡¯s you indeed!¡± As the Xuanlong Beast Emperor called out the origin of the Semi-Saint Demon Wood, the other Beast Emperors simultaneously turned pale. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± The deputy to the Xuanlong Beast Emperor, another Beast Emperor, roared, ¡°Attack together!¡± Although their primary mission in coming here was to raze Beast Field number 47 to the ground to showcase their domain¡¯s might. But with the reappearance of the Semi-Saint Demon Wood, they naturally had to adapt their mission. Everyone knew that capturing the Semi-Saint Demon Wood was even more crucial than leveling Beast Field number 47. The other fourteen Beast Emperors said nothing and immediately attacked the Semi-Saint Demon Wood from all directions, attempting to encircle and annihilate him. Chapter 798 - Chapter 798: Chapter 380: Battle, Feather Dragon Crown Prince! _2 Chapter 798: Chapter 380: Battle, Feather Dragon Crown Prince! _2 But before they could make their move, a series of figures swiftly descended, intercepting most of them in an instant. ¡°I mean¡­¡± Fang Canghai, holding a long staff, stood in front of the three Beast Emperors. Blood, Essence Force, and Divine Sense surged around him as his eyes gleamed sharply, ¡°Do you really think so little of me?¡± As the standoff among the Beast Emperors unfolded, clashes at the Overlord stage also erupted in full. One after another, Overlord Level Beast Masters appeared on the battlefield, summoning all their Overlord Level Pet Beasts and charging into the fray. The elite forces of the 47th Beast Field Alliance, well-organized and ready, now found their own opponents. The melee erupted in an instant. At that moment, a world-shaking roar suddenly exploded. ¡°Boom!!!¡± As if the sky were collapsing and the earth splitting open, with the ground shaking violently, a terrifying Dragon Turtle, with a body length of two hundred thousand meters, slowly rose from beneath the earth. Its solid and thick scales supported the whole Changping City as it looked up to the sky and let out a roar before it took a step forward. Its huge and sturdy limbs, like pillars of the heavens, shook the earth as they touched down, and each step stirred up a powerful storm. Witnessing this scene, the Xuanlong Beast Emperor, who had been losing ground under the attack of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, suddenly froze, then his pupils contracted violently. What the hell is this?! It could sense that the gigantic beast¡¯s strength was only at the King Stage, and there were many present who could easily defeat it. But thanks to its enormous size, it was unexpectedly able to carry the entire Changping City with such ease. Normally, body size doesn¡¯t offer much advantage in combat. But that¡¯s under normal circumstances. Whose King Stage creature has a body size of two hundred thousand meters?! This is two hundred thousand! Not twenty! If Changping City has been moved away, then what¡¯s the point in fighting? ¡°Stop it!¡± the Xuanlong Beast Emperor bellowed. However, his command was doomed to go unfulfilled. Because the forces of the 47th Beast Field had come so well prepared that, with the appearance of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint, the army of Beast Field number eight, which should have been the calculators, became the calculated. All of the creatures at the Emperor and Overlord stages, now faced their own opponents, and had no time to spare to stop that gigantic creature that was making strides. Although it moved somewhat slowly, each step covered ten thousand meters. ¡°You dare be distracted while battling me?¡± the Demon Wood Semi-Saint spoke eerily, his spear dancing wildly, instantly poking a bloody hole in the Xuanlong Beast Emperor. The Xuanlong Beast Emperor¡¯s expression darkened in an instant, his face filling with wariness. There was something strange about that spear! The spear could absorb its life force at such a fast rate. It dared not let its guard down any longer, forcing itself to concentrate and pay full attention to deal with the storm-like assault of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. Also pinned down by the attack of the Demon Wood Semi-Saint were the other six Beast Emperors that Fang Canghai had failed to stop in time. One against seven, the Demon Wood Semi-Saint had managed to suppress them all completely. Terrifying indeed. ¡°Leave that big guy to me!¡± A fierce shout rang out at this moment across the battlefield. Immediately afterward, a Transcendent Being with the Imperial Crown over its head, yet whose momentum had not reached the Overlord stage, charged fiercely towards Cancan¡¯s direction. Hearing this voice, a glimmer of joy appeared in the eyes of the Xuanlong Beast Emperor. Almost forgot about this Crown Prince. Though his personality was imperious and capricious, as a direct descendant of the Saint Spirit, his strength was truly extraordinary. With guidance from the Saint Spirit level, this Crown Prince¡¯s vision and methods far surpassed those of the common Emperor Species. It didn¡¯t matter that the big creature was a mere ordinary King Stage creature; even if it had been a King Stage of the Emperor Species, it would not have been a match for the Crown Prince. Moreover, as a direct descendant of the Saint Spirit, how could this Crown Prince not have some hidden cards and treasures? With him involved, surely they could stop this giant beast trying to take away Changping City! Noticing the Feather Dragon, with its slender, crane-like figure and strength far surpassing the ordinary Beast King, flying swiftly towards Cancan, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly in the midst of battle. ¡°Stop!¡± He let out a low shout, and the Overlord Level Pet Beast by his side instantly shifted its target, about to attack the approaching Feather Dragon. But at that moment, the Overlord Level Transcendent Being he and his Pet Beast had been restraining acted in perfect concert to counter-restrain, leaving Qi Yuan unable to intervene. ¡°Trust in Xu Ran.¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice reached Qi Yuan¡¯s ears. Qi Yuan exchanged a glance with Fang Canghai in the distant battle ring and took a deep breath. Yes, at this moment, they could only choose to trust Xu Ran! ¡°Kill!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Unlike the chaotic battlefield, Xu Ran and a few other little ones were sitting on Cancan¡¯s high-raised head, quite excited. This was the first time Cancan had fully displayed its maximum body type. Previously on the battlefield, it had only used the skill Heaven-Earth Law to instantly transform into a ten-thousand-meter figure. Ten thousand meters is the limit of Heaven-Earth Law, but it¡¯s not Cancan¡¯s limit at this moment! Aside from Heaven-Earth Law, Cancan now possessed two other powerful Four Star Skills that could greatly increase its body type! One evolved from the original Three Star Skill Echoing of Earth Vein, named Earth Descendant. Offspring of the Earth! After using this skill, Cancan, just like a child of the Earth, would receive an enormous enhancement in its Earth attribute Power, along with an all-around boost. It would merge with the Earth, its body capable of withstanding greater pressure, thus displaying an even larger body type! Apart from this, another Four Star Skill that could enlarge Cancan¡¯s body type, named True Form of the Dragon Turtle, had evolved from the powerful Three Star Skill Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power. At the moment True Form of the Dragon Turtle was deployed, Cancan¡¯s body type would be greatly strengthened, its bloodline power tremendously enhanced, and while its defensive strength increased by a large margin, it would also exert a suppressive effect on all closely-related beings. The so-called closely-related beings refer to dragons and turtles among the Transcendent Beings. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Although the opponent was willful and arrogant, as a direct descendant of the Saint Spirit, his strength was far from ordinary. With the guidance at the Saint Spirit level, the Crown Prince¡¯s vision and methods were far beyond those of ordinary Emperor Species, not to mention that the massive creature attempting to take Changping City was just a common King Stage being. Even if it were a King Stage¡¤Emperor Species, it still wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Crown Prince. Furthermore, as a direct descendant of the Saint Spirit, how could the Crown Prince not have some trump cards and treasures on him? With him there, they would definitely be able to stop that Giant Beast trying to take Changping City! Noticing the Feather Dragon, slender as a crane and far surpassing a normal Beast King in strength, speeding toward Cancan, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression subtly changed amid the fight. ¡°Stop right there!¡± He issued a low shout, his Overlord Stage Pet Beast immediately shifted its target, ready to attack the Feather Dragon. At that moment, the Overlord Level Transcendent Being restrained by him and his Pet Beast synchronously launched a counter-restraint, leaving Qi Yuan no room to act. ¡°Trust Xu Ran,¡± Fang Canghai¡¯s voice reached Qi Yuan¡¯s ears. Qi Yuan exchanged a glance with Fang Canghai in the distant battle ring and took a deep breath. Yes, at this moment, they could only choose to trust Xu Ran! ¡°Kill!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Unlike the chaotic battlefield, Xu Ran and a few other little ones were sitting on Cancan¡¯s high-raised head, quite excited. This was the first time Cancan had fully displayed its maximum body type. Previously on the battlefield, it had only used the skill Heaven-Earth Law to instantly transform into a ten-thousand-meter figure. Ten thousand meters is the limit of Heaven-Earth Law, but it¡¯s not Cancan¡¯s limit at this moment! Aside from Heaven-Earth Law, Cancan now possessed two other powerful Four Star Skills that could greatly increase its body type! One evolved from the original Three Star Skill Echoing of Earth Vein, named Earth Descendant. Offspring of the Earth! After using this skill, Cancan, just like a child of the Earth, would receive an enormous enhancement in its Earth attribute Power, along with an all-around boost. It would merge with the Earth, its body capable of withstanding greater pressure, thus displaying an even larger body type! Apart from this, another Four Star Skill that could enlarge Cancan¡¯s body type, named True Form of the Dragon Turtle, had evolved from the powerful Three Star Skill Dragon Turtle¡¯s Power. At the moment True Form of the Dragon Turtle was deployed, Cancan¡¯s body type would be greatly strengthened, its bloodline power tremendously enhanced, and while its defensive strength increased by a large margin, it would also exert a suppressive effect on all closely-related beings. The so-called closely-related beings refer to dragons and turtles among the Transcendent Beings. Chapter 799 - Chapter 799: Chapter 381: Cancan at Twelve, Double Evolution! Chapter 799: Chapter 381: Cancan at Twelve, Double Evolution! Its body transformed into a streak of rainbow, closing in rapidly on Cancan, and as it eyed Cancan¡¯s increasingly spectacular and terrifying form, a hint of amazement flickered through the Feather Dragon¡¯s pupils. Such scale was now comparable to the Holy Spirit Race when they unfolded their Saint Spirit forms. The Feather Dragon would never dare approach this Giant Beast to test its strength. Who could have imagined that a creature of the King Stage could grow to such an extent? However¡­ No matter how preposterous, it was still just a creature of the King Stage. Clearly sensing Cancan¡¯s level of power, the Feather Dragon¡¯s eyes showed a hint of scorn. So big and yet so weak, a perfect target. But soon, its scorn froze. A powerful presence descended rapidly from above the head of the Giant Beast in front of it, and in an instant, appeared before the Feather Dragon. Observing the other¡¯s terrifying Thunder Attribute aura and the Thunderbolt crown condensed above its head, the Feather Dragon¡¯s expression became slightly more solemn. Of course, just slightly. At the Same Stage, it was invincible. Even if the other was also of the King Stage ¡¤ Emperor Species, it was utterly confident of victory. ¡°Just you alone?¡± the Feather Dragon looked at Ziyun with considerable contempt, ¡°Seeking death!¡± ¡°Boom!!!¡± A clap of thunder roared, and Ziyun casually grasped the emerging Thunder Light. Looking at the Feather Dragon as if it were a corpse. The restless and ferocious Thunder Light in its hand instantly transformed into a long spear and was then hurled towards the Feather Dragon. Four Stars skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤ Astonishing Thunder Fury! ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The Feather Dragon roared, and a dense pale blue Wind Wall swirled around its body. The spear slowed dramatically as it met the layered resistance of the Wind Wall, coming to a complete stop before the Feather Dragon. However, before the Feather Dragon could reveal a smug expression, countless restless Thunder Lights surged from the void around it. These and the frozen Thunderbolt spear in front of it seemed to resonate with each other, and the next moment, the spear exploded right in the Feather Dragon¡¯s face. Four Stars skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤ Thunder Shocker! At the proficiency of the Violent Sun Level, the execution of skills often wasn¡¯t restricted to form anymore. In this moment, the combination of two skills instantly formed a Thunder Sea that swallowed the Feather Dragon¡¯s body, where the terrifying Thunderforce condensed to the extreme, as if heralding the end of the world. In this boundless sea of electric light, a flash of blue light lit up swiftly, and simultaneously, echoing through the Thunderous Sound was the disdainful voice of the Feather Dragon. ¡°Is this your full strength? That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got!¡± Facing provocation yet again, Ziyun¡¯s expression turned even more unpleasant. With a thought, its flesh and blood body instantaneously transformed into a purple-black Thunderbolt Body. As its own form changed, the sea of Thunder Light also swiftly darkened, as if a new Power was awakening amidst the Thunder and Light. Precise Five Stars skill, Violent Sun Level¡¤ Annihilating Thunder Body! Since the other was so set on seeking death, Ziyun didn¡¯t mind using its most potent Power to oblige. As Ziyun¡¯s only successfully fused Talent Skill, the power of Annihilating Thunder Body was unquestionable. In the Thunder Sea, the Feather Dragon was like it had been choked, its arrogant voice suddenly cut off, and the hazy blue light became extremely unstable, lurching as if trying to break free. ¡°Meow~¡± (Continue speaking?) Ziyun¡¯s gaze flashed coldly as the terrifying momentum around it thunderously rolled towards the Thunder Sea. Under the Annihilating Thunder Body, every hit landed would strike the enemy¡¯s vital points, causing significantly increased damage. It wanted to see just how long the Feather Dragon could remain arrogant. Feeling the crashing energy within the Thunder Sea growing weaker, Ziyun nodded in satisfaction. But before it could revel in its triumph, a powerful aura suddenly burst from within the Thunder Sea, tearing it apart and rushing out. ¡°Damn ants¡­¡± The current state of the Feather Dragon was anything but good; there were multiple scorched marks across its body, with electric arcs ceaselessly traveling over it, but its face carried a strange shade of exhilaration. Its eyes locked onto Ziyun, and then, it suddenly spoke in a different tone. ¡°Is it you who harmed my clan¡¯s offspring?¡± What was this? Ziyun was momentarily stunned but as it sensed the other¡¯s strength quickly rising, nearing the Overlord stage¡¯s mighty power, its expression changed instantly. Deep within its eyes flashed a glint of profound and obscure black, just as it was about to dispense Divine Punishment, a resplendent streak of Starlight pattern swiftly enveloped its body. While elevating Ziyun¡¯s strength, it also dissuaded the idea of wielding Divine Punishment. The Star arrived. Star, previously lingering behind Ziyun, now tread on the Star Cloud, walking the void, a crown of the splendid Star Cloud and Starlight formed over its body. It gazed intently at the power-rising Feather Dragon. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (There¡¯s a stronger being using its body.) ¡°Heh heh, you actually noticed,¡± the Feather Dragon let out a cold laugh. Both sides of its face donned completely different expressions, making it look particularly ferocious, ¡°Another King Stage¡¤ Emperor Species? What of it? I am invincible!¡± Star slightly shook its head, a beam of light streaked across the void, falling instantaneously on both it and Ziyun. Star Oath! The Star Oath, combined with the previously cast Star God Blessing, twisted the powers of both together in an instant, the rising momentum on Ziyun¡¯s body causing the Feather Dragon¡¯s face to freeze immediately. ¡°You?!¡± How was this possible? It possessed a treasured gift from the Saint Spirit Ancestor of its clan. Its strength could greatly increase by drawing upon the soul of a predeceased elder. Chapter 800 - Chapter 800: Chapter 381: Cancan at Twelve, Double Evolution!_2 Chapter 800: Chapter 381: Cancan at Twelve, Double Evolution!_2 ¡°` Why do even two mere ants possess such immense strength? ¡°Meow!¡± (Die!) Enveloped in rampant and boundless lightning, Ziyun burst forth with full power, instantly assailing the Feather Dragon. Thunder roared incessantly, and soon the charred body of the Feather Dragon fell powerless towards the ground. Ziyun wanted to follow up with another strike but was stopped by Star. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Cancan is evolving soon.) Remembering Cancan¡¯s evolution was more important, Ziyun regretfully glanced at the plummeting body of the Feather Dragon and quickly returned with Star. As time ticked by, Cancan¡¯s massive body, carrying Changping City, gradually moved away from the battlefield towards the rear. About half an hour later, Cancan came to a stop. It had reached the spot where Changping City needed to be relocated¡ªtens of thousands of miles from its previous location¡ªperfectly meeting the first requirement for the Evolution Ritual. ¡°Chirp¡ª¡± Sensing that Changping City was no longer trembling, the twelve guardians who had been calming the populace realized something. A golden hexagram flashed, and they instantly returned to Xu Ran¡¯s side. ¡°How are things?¡± Xu Ran asked the excited Twelve. ¡°Chirp~¡± (It went smoothly! Everyone in Changping City has calmed down and expressed their gratitude towards Cancan.) ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Xu Ran sighed in relief. The second phase of Cancan¡¯s Evolution Ritual required the blessings of the city¡¯s inhabitants. Since everyone was grateful to Cancan, they would presumably not mind lending some assistance in this matter. ¡°Twelve, go and communicate with them, and also keep the blessings stable,¡± Xu Ran said, glancing at the idle Yinghuo, ¡°Yinghuo, go and give them a hand as well.¡± ¡°Luhou~¡± (Okay.) Yinghuo scratched its head and followed Twelve. With tasks set for Yinghuo and Twelve, Xu Ran took a deep breath and looked at Ziyun and Star, ¡°Cancan¡¯s target is too big, and the process of evolution will be very obvious. I¡¯m worried that some blind fools might come to cause trouble.¡± ¡°So next, Star will start Star Gazing, and Ziyun, be ready to act at any moment.¡± ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (Alright!) Star nodded emphatically, and starlight quickly coalesced above its head into a vertical pupil. Everything around Cancan and within a large area became visible to its sight. ¡°Meow~¡± (No problem!) Ziyun patted the large head of Cancan below and left with Star. ¡°Coming up next¡­¡± Xu Ran took another deep breath, half-knelt down, and placed a hand on the top of Cancan¡¯s head beneath him, ¡°I will accompany you through the process.¡± ¡°Chah~¡± Cancan let out a low roar, its huge golden eyes filled with anticipation and joy. After such a long wait, it was finally evolving. As the only one among its friends to achieve the King Stage before evolving, Cancan could distinctly feel the gap in strength between King Species and Emperor Species. Because as a King Stage being, even with the attribute advantage, it could hardly fend off the fully-evolved Ziyun. This motivated Cancan to strive for evolution into an Emperor Species. Now that the opportunity was right in front of it, and the demanding Evolution Ritual was being completed one by one, it was only one step away from evolving into an Emperor Species. Bring it on! It would not shy away! Soon, Twelve sent a message through Contractual Sensing that it had communicated well with the beings of Changping City. Xu Ran took out all the Evolution Resources prepared for Cancan and dropped them into its massive mouth before shouting, ¡°Come on!¡± Cancan let out an excited roar as terrifying power circulated around it. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Boom¡ª¡± A bolt of lightning instantly devoured a Beast King that had sneaked in, attempting to disrupt Cancan¡¯s evolution, turning it to ash. Ziyun, who had nonchalantly appeared, picked up the King Level resources left on the ground, with a hint of helplessness on its face. Was this the seventeenth one? These fools really were clueless. Curiosity was one thing, but to actually try and interrupt Cancan¡¯s evolution? It had no choice but to dispose of them. ¡°Meow?¡± (How much longer until Cancan¡¯s evolution?) Unable to help itself, Ziyun looked up at the giant figure whose bulk was above the clouds. The size of Cancan¡¯s body made its evolution hard to gauge. Hearing this, the following Star narrowed its eyes. ¡°Xi Lu~¡± (It¡¯s about to finish.) Almost the moment its words ended, a blinding light of evolution emerged from every part of Cancan¡¯s gigantic body, eventually turning into a skyward beam of light that instantly dispersed the surrounding clouds. The sky cleared, and a turtle-dragon-like Giant Beast slowly lowered its head, grinning at Ziyun and Star. Above its head, numerous boulders formed into a crown, each the size of a small hill¡ªimmense in size. Cancan, evolution successful! ¡°` ¡°` The delighted Ziyun and Star felt Xu Ran¡¯s summoning at the same time; with a flash of light, they had already regrouped right above Cancan¡¯s head. Joining them were Twelve and Firefly. Once everyone had arrived, Xu Ran patted Cancan¡¯s head. In front of him, lines of text appeared. [Contract Pet Beast: Cancan Race Name: Ancient City Turtle Dragon Attribute: Earth Attribute Growth Stage: King Stage (1000w/1000w) Species Stage: Emperor Species Skills: [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïHollow Earth (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïLand of Destruction (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïIndestructible City (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïEarth Descendant (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïHeaven-Earth Law (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïTrue Form of the Dragon Turtle (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïMelt Earth (Violent Sun Level)] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïSpace Break (Stardust Level)] (0/100) [+] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ïImperial Crown (Stardust Level)] (0/100) [+]] Indestructible City and Melt Earth are the upgraded forms of Eternal Iron Wall and Subterranean Shape Pond after reaching four stars; both skills are directly enhanced by four-star Skill Scrolls and are merely amplified forms of their original skills. Forbidden Realm, on the other hand, is a brand new skill obtained after Cancan¡¯s evolution. ¡°Cancan, what effect does Space Break have?¡± ¡°Chah~¡± (This skill can create an absolutely prohibited airspace in a very large area!) Is it that simple? Xu Ran was astonished, but after giving it some thought, he realized the skill was not so simple. Earth attribute represents the earth itself. As Cancan¡¯s skills leveled up, many of its abilities had already become greatly associated with the environment, such as Melt Earth and Earth Descendant. If both parties fought on solid ground, Cancan would instantly gain more than a 30% advantage. Therefore, air-based opponents were the hardest for it to deal with. If the opponent didn¡¯t land, Cancan had far fewer ways to fight back. A skill that could force the opponent to land might seem to lack actual attack power, but it is best suited for Cancan. Especially since this forced landing comes with the word ¡°absolute.¡± This means that no matter what the strength, none can escape it. It¡¯s somewhat similar to Twelve¡¯s Endless Sleep. Endless Sleep targets an individual, while Space Break is a large-area AOE skill; thus, Space Break is four stars, which is a higher rating than Endless Sleep. Speaking of Twelve, Xu Ran couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look at Twelve, whose expression was a bit strange, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Jiu~¡± (Well, that¡­) Twelve looked somewhat embarrassed but also somewhat expectant. ¡°Jiu~¡± (I think I can evolve now.) ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Ran blinked, ¡°Your Evolution Ritual conditions have been met?!¡± Twelve¡¯s Evolution Ritual also consisted of two steps. First was to kill a Superpower-tier King Level Transcendent Being and obtain its core resources as auxiliary material for evolution, and then to gain the devout worship of more than ten thousand followers, completing the evolution under the protection of their faith. The first condition did not require solo killing, and Twelve had easily met it with the help of Star. After all of its Talent Skills reached the Violent Sun Level four stars, the only things it lacked were the critical Broken Realm Core and the ten thousand followers. The Broken Realm Core had been accidentally acquired by Xu Ran from the Demon Wood Semi-Saint. So now, all that was missing were the followers. Xu Ran remembered Twelve only had five or six thousand followers before; how had it reached enough so quickly? Upon hearing Xu Ran ask this, Twelve looked somewhat sheepishly towards the area on Cancan¡¯s back. Xu Ran understood. The remaining followers had come from Changping City! Xu Ran had no idea how Twelve managed it, but in such a short period, it actually managed to recruit several thousand followers. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s no day like today,¡± Xu Ran smiled with anticipation in his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s start now!¡± ¡°`