《My Pet Beast is Super Fearsome》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Widow Maker Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Widow Maker Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Ooh¡­¡± In a dim small room, a figure lying on the ground seemed to move slightly, letting out a low groan. Amidst the sound of clothing rustling, the person propped themselves up with one hand, barely managing to sit up, rubbing their forehead with the other hand, and looking around the surroundings in confusion. This was a room about eight square meters in size. In the small space, aside from a single bed and computer desk placed under a small window, there was a cabinet similar to those found in pharmacies for storing medical herbs placed against the wall. The difference was that the drawers were much larger and made of transparent acrylic material. Every box contained low-wattage night bulbs, emitting a dim glow. A fish tank was placed alone in the corner, its purpose unknown. The person sat dazed for a few more minutes. In the dim light, a pale, thin face and a pair of slightly confused eyes could be seen. A car zoomed past the street outside the window, and strong light pierced through the glass, illuminating the person¡¯s face. Instinctively raising their right hand to shield their eyes, they then stared blankly at their right hand as if they suddenly remembered something. ¡°My name is Shao Zifeng, I am 19 years old, a sophomore at Su City University, majoring in Advertising and Exhibition¡­¡± ¡°No, my major is Breeding Studies¡­¡± ¡°Today is Wednesday, February 19th¡­¡± ¡°No, today is Tuesday, February 18th¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s still an order I haven¡¯t processed, but¡­ wasn¡¯t I bitten by a round spot viper?¡± Shao Zifeng muttered to himself. He looked blankly at his pale right hand, fingers slender and long, with smooth and firm skin, and no bite marks as he recalled. Various scrambled memories and an inexplicable sense of alienation made him irritably scratch his messy hair. Shao Zifeng was a student at Su City University. Apart from being a student, he also worked part-time as a Taobao store owner. But the items he sold were quite special, mainly some niche reptiles as pets. For example, those in the cabinet against the wall¡ªseveral layers were filled with various pet snakes, while the lower layers housed a few lizards. If customers needed, he could even help order unusual pets like spiders and centipedes. During class today, he¡¯d received an order. The customer, introduced by someone else, specifically wanted a round spot viper he had been secretly raising. Speaking of the round spot viper, its nickname must be mentioned. This creature is colloquially known as the ¡°kidney-deficient snake¡± and the ¡°widow maker.¡± If bitten, even if one miraculously survives, it causes irreversible damage to the kidneys ¡ª horrifying indeed, feared by both men and women. Of course, this was not the reason he secretly raised it. The reason was that this snake was listed in the ¡°National Biodiversity Red List,¡± and he didn¡¯t dare to sell it. One bite and the whole village would feast. Selling it could mean a life sentence. Releasing it was too much of a loss. But in the end, he compromised. He initially wanted to refuse, but the other party¡¯s offer was too generous. After all, he was just a poor student who needed to support himself with his own hands. After class, Shao Zifeng hurried back to his rented apartment, buying dinner and a two-color ball lottery ticket on the way as he usually did. Yes, ever since he was persuaded by a friend to buy a scratch-off ticket that won him 300 yuan, Shao Zifeng always felt that he could hit the jackpot, reach the peak of life early, and start living a life of leisure and ease. Along the way, he could even buy his mother a large house with a yard and hire a few people to help take care of the stray pets she shelters. Unfortunately, reality gave him a resounding slap. Even so, he continued to buy a two-color ball lottery ticket each period, not for anything else but for that dream in his heart. Back at the rented apartment, Shao Zifeng hurriedly picked up his notebook and got busy, not having time to eat dinner. He carefully opened a drawer and took out a snake, observing it carefully. This was a pale yellow, albino corn snake with dense scales covering its smooth and slender body. There was an arrow-shaped pattern pointing towards its snout on its head. The color around its lips was lighter, and the scales on its lips and different color bands formed a graded pattern. Its pupils were round, with eyes like rubies. ¡°Albino corn snake, sub-adult, constant temperature in the box at 23 degrees Celsius¡­¡± After putting the snake back in the drawer, Shao Zifeng bit the pen cap, recording seriously in his notebook. This was a habit he had developed since he got involved in the reptile pet circle. For all the pets he raised, from individual species to development conditions and even feeding times, he would meticulously record every detail. After finishing his records, he would compare the numbers and feed those snakes due for feeding. The food consisted of special frozen baby mice bought online. After all, he considered himself somewhat compassionate and couldn¡¯t bring himself to feed live animals. Feeding snakes wasn¡¯t too difficult. Juveniles were fed twice a week, sub-adults once a week, and adults could go for a few days, but not too long, or they might see you as food. After tending to the snakes in the cabinet, Shao Zifeng went to the square fish tank in the corner. The bottom of the tank was covered with a thick layer of yellow sand, with some rocks and animal bone models casually placed on top. A lizard about ten centimeters long was staring warily at his approaching hand. The South African armadillo lizard, dark yellow all over, had six large, prominent scaly bones behind its head, and similar scaly bones formed bands around its torso and tail. This was a very interesting lizard. When threatened, it quickly hid in rock crevices. If caught, it curled its head and tail into a ball to protect its soft belly. Due to breeding difficulties, the South African armadillo lizard, being a protected local animal, was hard to export. Thus, it often sold for sky-high prices domestically (while a Chinese Water Dragon only cost a few hundred yuan, a South African armadillo lizard could easily sell for tens of thousands). This armadillo lizard was ordered by a customer who later changed their mind. Shao Zifeng found it after a long search but ended up losing thousands, despite receiving a thousand yuan deposit. Looking at the armadillo lizard biting its own tail and curling into a ball, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but poke its rough scales with his finger. With a trembling body, the South African armadillo lizard tensely watched Shao Zifeng. ¡°Little money-waster, go ahead and eat.¡± With this, Shao Zifeng gently flicked its small head and placed some food nearby. Despite the financial loss, he quite liked this little guy. South African armadillo lizard: (¡ã©`¡ã¡¨) After finishing everything, Shao Zifeng stretched heavily, not even in the mood to eat. He collapsed on the bed, pinching his nose to alleviate the soreness in his eyes, feeling like he had forgotten something. He picked up his phone to check the time¡­ ¡°Darn it, I forgot to ship the order.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ what does it matter if it¡¯s a day late? He didn¡¯t specify a time after all,¡± Shao Zifeng muttered, comforting himself as he collapsed back onto the bed. After a brief nap of half an hour, it was nearly nine o¡¯clock. He turned on his phone radio, tuning into a familiar broadcast channel, favored for the sweet and cute voice of the female host¡­ Who would announce the winning numbers each period. Placing his phone and the lottery ticket on the table, Shao Zifeng approached the drawer with the round spot viper as the sweet voice of the host announced the winning numbers. Looking at the round spot viper curled up in the corner of the cabinet, he inexplicably opened the drawer. This snake was not exactly bought through official channels but was a gift from an oily middle-aged man in the circle who was clearing out his inventory while retiring from the circle. At that time, Shao Zifeng was new to the circle. He bought many juvenile snakes at high prices from the greasy middle-aged man. The man had smiled, squinting his eyes, and said there was a surprise in the bottom box, a personal gift for him. Shao Zifeng clearly remembered being startled while researching and recording it ¡ª life-threatening. ¡°Little guy, how about I find you a new owner tomorrow?¡± Shao Zifeng tightly pinched the triangular head of the round spot viper. The snake opened its mouth wide as its two crystal-clear fangs extended from the soft flesh. Venom seemed to flow from the fangs, hissing as the snake coiled tightly around his forearm, tail coiling around its body and constricting his arm. Shao Zifeng remained unfazed, even smiling at it, as if looking at his financial treasure. ¡°Dear listeners, it¡¯s time to say goodnight again. Before we say goodnight as usual, let me, Xiaoxin, announce this period¡¯s winning numbers: 03, 06, 17, 22, 25, 27, and the last number 08. Now, to repeat: 03, 06¡­¡± ¡°Buzz¡± Shao Zifeng felt a rush of blood surge to his head. The host¡¯s sweet voice announcing the numbers echoed in his ears, numbers matching those on his ticket. ¡°Oh my! I won!¡± Shao Zifeng quickly rushed to the table, grabbing the lottery ticket with numbers matching those announced. In his excitement, he didn¡¯t notice the round spot viper biting into his thumb, venom quickly flowing towards his heart as his excited blood circulated faster. A sudden dizziness interrupted Shao Zifeng¡¯s euphoria, bringing a sense of loss. Looking down at his right hand, the round spot viper still tightly bit his thumb. Its emotionless eyes met his, and he could feel the snake continuing to inject venom into his body. He tried to lift his right arm, but it felt like a ton. Staggering a few steps, he fell heavily to the ground. His thoughts froze, growing increasingly blurry. He vaguely felt his hands grasping the round spot viper and the winning ticket. ¡°I¡­ I seem to have won the lottery¡­¡± ¡°And¡­ I¡¯ve been bitten by a snake¡­¡± ¡°And this snake is the infamous kidney-deficient round spot viper!¡± ¡°Oh, my kidneys¡­¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Did I Just Travel Through Time? Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Did I Just Travel Through Time? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At 8 PM, quite some time had passed since Shao Zifeng had awakened. During this period, he had only checked the date and then remained in a state of confusion, his mind in a chaotic mess, as if some strange memories had mixed in. The same name, the same family, and a largely similar life. The difference was that whenever he recalled a certain event, he always felt that during that time, another version of himself had done something different. When he thought about it in detail, it seemed as though it was shrouded in a mist, making it impossible to see clearly. For example, when he recalled the lecture the professional studies teacher gave in the morning, every time he thought of the professional terms the teacher used, an unfamiliar term that he had never heard before would involuntarily pop into his mind, making him feel as if he had split personalities. After sitting dazed for a while, Shao Zifeng picked up his mobile phone again. What he could be certain of now was that the time displayed on the screen was February 18, 2020, rather than the 19th as he remembered. The memory of the 19th was like a dream, a very real dream. Even¡­ He could still feel a faint pain in his kidney. Perhaps, it really was a dream? Thinking about it, it made sense; apart from attending classes and taking care of the pets in his room, he had no other hobbies besides buying lottery tickets. So it wouldn¡¯t be excessive to dream of winning the jackpot, right? Thinking of this, Shao Zifeng gave a self-mocking laugh. After briefly organizing his thoughts, Shao Zifeng stood up from the floor and prepared to start today¡¯s recording and feeding according to his notes. ¡°Hmm? Where did I put my notes?¡± He came to the snake enclosure but didn¡¯t see his notes. He hurriedly searched elsewhere. Not at the bedside, not under the bed, not on the computer desk, not in the drawer¡­ Shao Zifeng began to panic. As a novice who had just entered the field, he couldn¡¯t even identify all the species of snakes without his notes. Moreover, young snakes were very delicate. Without the detailed records in his notes, he had no idea which snake should be fed. While searching everywhere for his notes, Shao Zifeng noticed something strange. Every time his gaze swept past the snake cabinet, he felt like he saw blue dots flash by in the corner of his eye. What the heck? Floaters? He directed his gaze toward the snake cabinet to see what it was. Suddenly, Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What the hell!!¡± When he looked at the snake cabinet, several blue dots in the corner of his vision suddenly began to spin. Several blue dots gathered around the snake in the tray, outlining a light blue, translucent screen. A deep blue light circle spun continuously in the screen, and then deep blue Chinese characters appeared on the screen. [Name]: Black-browed Snake [Growth]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Hungry [Strength]: None [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Reptilia [Order]: Squamata [Family]: Colubridae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: None [Talent]: None [Skill]: Entangle [Description]: The most common biological template in the world, even as pets they are often disliked. Shao Zifeng stared blankly at the information displayed on the screen. He felt terrible. When he looked away, the screen disappeared, and when he looked back, the screen reappeared. What was this? A Golden Finger? A system? Weren¡¯t these supposed to be the perks of transmigrators? At this moment, an unrealistic thought suddenly popped into Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind. He stared blankly at the screen and muttered: ¡°Could it be that those memories weren¡¯t dreams, and I really transmigrated?¡± Thinking about this, he quickly took out his phone and turned on the camera. A thin, handsome face appeared on the phone screen, except the messy hair looked like it hadn¡¯t been groomed for a long time. The skin on his face appeared even fairer against the black hair. ¡°No wonder it¡¯s me, still as handsome as ever.¡± Shao Zifeng lifted his hair a bit, confirming that this face was indeed his own. After turning off the camera, he casually scrolled through the Tencent News. ¡°Major Announcement!! The frozen corpse brought back by the Antarctic expedition team two years ago has been revived using biotechnology by the Imperial Research Institute. This is the world¡¯s first revived ancient creature, and currently the only one. It¡¯s temporarily named ¡®Ice Plateau Saber-Toothed Tiger.¡¯ Stay tuned for the detailed report.¡± Upon seeing this news, Shao Zifeng quickly exited the webpage to ensure he wasn¡¯t reading some unethical tabloid. ¡°It¡¯s Tencent, no mistake¡­¡± Shao Zifeng frowned and reopened the webpage. He scrolled down with his finger and saw the picture in the news. It was a closed-eyed creature, like a small white kitten. Its fur was messy, its limbs stretched out, mouth open, and its pink little tongue curled inside, seemingly roaring like a cute little tiger. Below this picture was another photo; it was a black-brown frozen corpse curled up together. Judging by its shape and fur, it indeed bore some resemblance to the above little white cat. Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart pounded as he clicked on another link. ¡°The quadrennial ¡®National College Students Cup¡¯ qualifying tournament is about to begin. Which university will retain the championship? Hear what the XX expert has to say.¡± This news didn¡¯t contain much information. Skipped. Next one. ¡°Jiang City¡¯s rat plague is rampant, latest frontline footage!¡± Seeing this news, Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand trembled slightly, and he quickly opened the video. Judging by the video angle, it seemed to be from surveillance footage. The image wasn¡¯t very clear, but one could faintly see giant rats scurrying across. Though not as large as cats and dogs, they were much bigger than any rats Shao Zifeng had seen before. These giant rats roamed the deserted streets recklessly, occasionally breaking into stores. Soon, a mess would be left behind. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the front of the rat swarm, followed by unclear shouting in the video. Shao Zifeng squinted; he saw a black, dog-like creature appear on the screen. Based on the buildings for reference, it seemed to be about one and a half meters tall at the shoulder. The black dog bared its teeth, staring intently at the rat swarm. Among the interlocking fangs, there seemed to be sparks. Bang! Violent flames ravaged the rat swarm. Giant black rats writhed one after another, and then the video ended in a screen filled with flames. It seemed the surveillance camera had been burned out. This was¡­ Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand trembled uncontrollably. Looking back at the previous two news reports, he now understood them completely differently. He had really transmigrated. ¡°Right, Mom!¡± Shao Zifeng was from a single-parent family and had lived with his mother since childhood. Although he had suffered bullying and ridicule from classmates due to certain reasons, which led to his peculiar personality, he cared deeply for his mother. Feeling somewhat panicked, he quickly took out his phone and dialed his mom¡¯s number. Buzz, buzz¡­ Buzz, buzz¡­ Every second of waiting was unbearably torturous. A moment later, the phone was answered, and a languid, sophisticated female voice came through the receiver. ¡°Hello, is this Xiaofeng?¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s breath stopped, and he instantly felt his hand grow cold. It wasn¡¯t his mom¡¯s voice. He checked the phone number, feeling very flustered. ¡°Yes, may I ask¡­¡± Shao Zifeng took a deep breath, his voice trembling a bit. The sophisticated voice paused for a moment: ¡°Mom, Xiaofeng is calling.¡± Hmm? Shao Zifeng was stunned. Why did you call her ¡°Mom¡± so naturally? Who on earth are you? As a single child with no siblings or childhood friends, how could someone suddenly compete with him for his mom? Could it be that Mom was hiding something from him? Thinking this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind became chaotic. ¡°Hello, Xiaofeng.¡± Hearing this familiar voice, the uneasiness and panic in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart slowly subsided. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Before Shao Zifeng could say anything, the woman on the other end of the line started chattering: ¡°Why did you think of calling me? Need money again? I¡¯m busy feeding the little rascals at home. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up first. I¡¯ll send you some money as soon as I¡¯m done. Phone calls are expensive.¡± The familiar conduct brought Shao Zifeng back to his senses. This felt like a lost person in the sea mist seeing a distant lighthouse. His nose tingled with emotion. ¡°Mom, I¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll hang up if there¡¯s nothing else. My back has been bothering me, and once I stop working, I don¡¯t feel like starting again. There are so many mouths waiting to be fed¡­ Oh, come home when you have time. Qiqi misses you.¡± Buzz, buzz¡­ The busy signal came from the phone, and the big stone in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart fell. He could be sure that even if he had apparently transmigrated, he was still himself, and his mother was still his mother. As for Qiqi, mentioned by Shao¡¯s mom, it was a small white cat he had picked up on the street three years ago. It was very clingy to him. Later, when he had to attend college, he left Qiqi with his mom to keep her company. At this moment, Shao Zifeng suddenly thought of something. So who on earth was that sophisticated voice calling my mom? Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Am I really still not good enough? Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Am I really still not good enough? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°System?¡± Shao Zifeng called out softly. ¡­ Alright, nothing happened, and the atmosphere was quite awkward for a moment. The corner of Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched. If it weren¡¯t for the blue light flashing in his peripheral vision, he would have thought it was all a hallucination. After confirming his mother was okay, Shao Zifeng felt a bit excited about this new timeline. After all, in the other timeline, he was just a poorly educated, futureless, and confused university student. In this timeline, perhaps with the system¡¯s aid, he might have a better future¡­ Right? He opened the Black-browed Snake¡¯s drawer and fed it some baby mice. Then, Shao Zifeng turned his attention to the other snake boxes. Staring¡­ A faint blue screen slowly unfolded, with dark blue circles rotating on it. He couldn¡¯t help but feel the system¡¯s response time seemed a bit slow. Could it be some garbage that others returned? After a while, text finally appeared on the screen. [Name]: Albino Corn Snake [Growth]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Genetic Defects, Hungry [Strength]: None ¡­ [Attributes]: None [Potential]: None [Talents]: None [Skills]: None [Description]: An albino specimen artificially bred; raised by humans from birth, it doesn¡¯t even know how to hunt. Its only value might be its appearance, which some people find appealing. Seeing the genetic defect displayed on the screen, Shao Zifeng felt momentarily dazed. A related memory emerged in his mind. It turned out that the timeline in this universe was the same as the one in his original world. The turning point was the mutation event twenty years ago, which the authorities dubbed the ¡°Unknown Recovery Event¡± due to the unknown cause of the animal mutations. After the ¡°Unknown Recovery Event,¡± many plants and animals mutated, gaining extraordinary powers. As more and more mutant creatures were contracted as pets, the previously loved, human-bred purebred cats and dogs became less favored. Later research reports stated that pets like Ragdoll cats, Scottish Fold cats, and Teacup dogs, owing to genetic defects caused by human intervention, didn¡¯t grow stronger after the ¡°Unknown Recovery Event¡± and could only survive as ordinary pets reliant on humans. At least in sampling studies, scholars didn¡¯t find any genetically enhanced individuals among them. In nearly twenty years of research on mutant creatures, three evolutionary directions for post-recovery mutated creatures were identified: Reversion evolution, collective evolution, and individual mutation evolution. Take the giant pandas in the Wolong Nature Reserve as an example: one of Daxia¡¯s twelve pillar beasts, the Iron-eating Giant Panda, was the only one in the giant panda population in the reserve that underwent reversion evolution. Hence, individuals undergoing reversion evolution are defined as the only evolutionary path for the species. Apart from the Iron-eating Giant Panda, the evolutionary path of the giant pandas in the Wolong Nature Reserve was generally the same, with each panda having the same initial abilities. Unlike the Iron-eating Giant Panda¡¯s control over the metal element, common pandas mainly focused on strengthening their physical bodies. Such collective evolution was universal: a species¡¯ evolutionary direction was the same everywhere in the world, somewhat similar to the Pok¨¦mon he saw in that other timeline. In contrast to reversion evolution¡¯s uniqueness, individual mutation evolution was highly irregular. In the physically adept population of pandas, individuals mastering other abilities might emerge, though such cases were rare and not well-suited for direct combat. After internalizing knowledge about mutant creature evolution, Shao Zifeng quickly checked the other artificially bred albino specimens. Sure enough, they were just as lacking in potential as the Albino Corn Snake. Lacking any skills, they probably couldn¡¯t even be considered true mutant creatures. The few potential-lacking baby snakes in the crates curled cautiously in the corners, causing Shao Zifeng¡¯s headache. He figured they were just worthless money pits dumped on him. He helplessly shook his head and continued checking the other animals. [Name]: Albino Ball Python [Growth]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Genetic Defects, Hungry [Strength]: None [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Reptilia [Order]: Squamata [Family]: Boidae [Attributes]: None [Potential]: None [Talents]: None [Skills]: None [Description]: Other than eating a lot and being gentle, there¡¯s nothing remarkable about it. ¡­ [Name]: Milk Snake ¡­ [Description]: Wasting time on such valueless creatures is an insult to time. You¡¯re quite the critic¡­ Shao Zifeng thought to himself, wondering why it never optimizes itself. Old interface, high delay, single functionality, and rather sarcastic. Of course, it could also just be a pre-programmed script. If it had any intelligence, it wouldn¡¯t be this simplistic. After a while, Shao Zifeng had pretty much seen all the baby snakes in the cabinet. Besides slight name and description differences, nothing surprising happened. The reason he persisted was probably due to a gambler¡¯s mindset when opening loot boxes. At first, he was hopeful, trying to hit the jackpot. As he opened one box after another, his expectations flattened, knowing the likely results. What kept him going was just a sliver of obsession. Hesitating for a moment, he subconsciously touched his waist before approaching the last snake box. Behind the acrylic plate, the round spot viper coiled in the middle of the crate, its cold snake eyes fixedly staring at him. At that moment, Shao Zifeng felt a sharp pain in his waist. Should he get some goji berries tomorrow to boost his health? This thing was pretty terrifying. He wondered whether crossing into a parallel world counted as a soul transfer or¡­ Considering another possibility, Shao Zifeng shivered and decided to definitely buy goji berries tomorrow. Regardless, drinking more goji tea couldn¡¯t hurt. While Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind was wandering, new information refreshed on the faint blue screen. [Name]: Round Spot Viper [Growth]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Hungry, Listless [Strength]: Level 1 ¡­ [Attribute]: Poison [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î [Talent]: Highly Toxic: Attacks have a chance to poison the target (includes but not limited to venom injection) [Skills]: Strangulation, Tail Needle, Poison Liquid Spray [Description]: This Round Spot Viper has some talent. Though it becomes listless after heavy venom usage, the pleasure of injecting quickly captivates it¡­ ¡°Boom¡± The description felt like a bolt of lightning striking Shao Zifeng¡¯s head. Staring at the listless status in the stats column, Shao Zifeng suddenly felt disheartened. Even three-star potential failed to make him happy. Was he really that useless? Lost in grief, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t notice the ellipsis on the screen updating with new text. ¡°When its poison sacs are full, the Round Spot Viper will find ways to release them, even if it burdens its body.¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Su City University Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Su City University Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The dim morning light filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting its glow on the sleeping Shao Zifeng. His pale, gaunt cheeks bathed in the golden morning light, revealing even the fine hairs on his face. But at this moment, he seemed to be having a nightmare, his brows tightly furrowed, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and his dark hair clung to his forehead, wet with moisture. The muscles on his handsome face twitched continuously, and he grimaced with tightly clenched teeth. ¡°Let go¡­ let go of me!¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s breathing grew heavier, gripping the bed sheet tightly with both hands, veins bulging, his whole body struggling as if trying to break free from something. At this moment, a sudden ringtone shattered the silence of the room. Shao Zifeng startled awake from his dream and sat up, one hand clutching his forehead, his chest heaving violently. As his breathing gradually calmed, so did his emotions. Although he kept reassuring himself to accept everything, for an ordinary student like him, this time travel still instilled a strong sense of insecurity. This unease dredged up childhood memories he preferred to forget, tormenting him again and again in his dreams. Shao Zifeng instinctively glanced at the snake cabinet, several familiar light points converging into a faint blue light screen. The profile reappeared before his eyes, and he confirmed once again that he had indeed traveled to a parallel world. ¡°What a strange world.¡± Shao Zifeng took a deep breath, choosing not to dwell on the issue, as there were many things he needed to verify today. After reviewing the data on the round spot viper yesterday, Shao Zifeng, who was deeply concerned about his kidney, had no mood to check the remaining reptiles. Hmm. Thinking about it, maybe his sense of insecurity was truly due to his kidney? Glancing at the time, the first class was about to start. He quickly changed his clothes, washed up briefly, and hurriedly left the rental apartment. Click. As the door closed, the room fell silent again, except for some faint hissing from the snake cabinet, with no other sound. In the fish tank in the corner of the room, a pair of pitch-black eyes quietly stared at the door. Su City University. This university didn¡¯t have a long history, hadn¡¯t produced any notable figures, nor did it have outstanding majors. It was just an ordinary university located in an obscure city, so ordinary that hardly anyone outside the region had heard of it. The distance from the rental apartment to the school was only about ten minutes. Shao Zifeng would buy breakfast at the entrance of the community every day, then eat while walking to school, finishing just as he arrived. Perhaps because he took a shortcut, he hardly met anyone along the way. Occasionally, cars whizzed by. The quiet road helped calm his slightly agitated emotions; after all, he was somewhat looking forward to a new beginning. Throwing the breakfast wrapper into the roadside trash bin, Shao Zifeng looked up at the familiar school gate. The golden characters of ¡°Su City University¡± shimmered in the gentle morning light. ¡°Tch, still so tacky.¡± Shao Zifeng stared at it for a while, then curled his lip in disdain, but the familiarity of the scene made him feel much more at ease. To be honest, aside from those slightly tacky golden characters, the overall scenery and greenery of Su City University were quite good. Upon entering, there was a spacious stone path lined with lush, evergreen trees on both sides. At the end of the stone path was a picturesque artificial lake, about the size of two football fields, with a wooden pavilion in the center. The lake water sparkled under the morning light, and occasionally fish would leap out of the water. Shao Zifeng wanted to see if the fish in this dimension were any different from those in the other dimension, but unfortunately, the fish fell back too quickly before he could get a good look. In the corner of his eye, a few small light points began to rotate but awkwardly stopped shortly after. The delay was indeed high. However, this dimension¡¯s university did have some differences. Unlike the scattered and orderly distribution of buildings in the other dimension, this entire school had just one main teaching building. The C-shaped building encircled the artificial lake, with large flat sports fields surrounding it. From his memories, Shao Zifeng knew these fields were used by students from various departments for combat or training, and occasionally for mutant creature-like sports competitions. ¡°Good morning, Shao Zifeng.¡± While Shao Zifeng was seriously observing the school, a nondescript male voice sounded from behind him. Shao Zifeng put on a friendly smile and turned to look at the person. Hmm. A very ordinary person, the kind you would soon forget after greeting. Shao Zifeng racked his brain but couldn¡¯t remember the person¡¯s name, so he vaguely replied, ¡°Good morning to you too.¡± The person nodded slightly, apparently not intending to stop and chat, and walked past Shao Zifeng. Standing in the morning breeze, he pondered for a moment. Hmm? What did that person look like? No, was there even someone just now? Shao Zifeng frowned in contemplation for a moment before turning towards the teaching building. Because it was a specialized course, today¡¯s lesson was in a small class. Entering the classroom with a gentle smile on his face, Shao Zifeng responded to a few classmates who greeted him, then found a seat by the window. After quickly scanning the faces of his classmates, Shao Zifeng sighed slightly. Indeed, most of them were unfamiliar. After all, there had been turmoil in this dimension twenty years ago. Even though the country had tried its best to suppress the mutant creatures, many people perished in the initial chaos. It was only because Shao Zifeng¡¯s mother had been pregnant during the unknown revival event and luckily survived that Shao Zifeng existed in this dimension. Although he had no particularly close classmates or friends in the other dimension, because he was gentle and friendly, there were always a few familiar faces. But thinking about how some people might never appear in this dimension, he felt a bit of regret. As Shao Zifeng gazed out of the window in a daze, the teacher, who had already started the lesson, went unnoticed. His major was in nurturing. As the name implied, this major¡­ Hmm. It was all about behind-the-scenes work. From birthing pets to caring for infants, fur grooming, scale polishing, even massage and chiropractic, and matchmaking for different-species pets, it covered a wide range of tasks. At that moment, the teacher on the stage was passionately lecturing, his hairstyle hinting at his prowess. He occasionally brushed his sparse but stubborn hair, trying to hide his prowess proof. Shao Zifeng was somewhat distracted, as he still hadn¡¯t decided what path to take next. The reason his predecessor in this dimension chose this major was partly because he wanted to return home after graduation to help his mother take care of the animals she had rescued. The second reason was related to his childhood experience. Just after transmigrating to this dimension, Shao Zifeng was still in a daze. In this second chance at life, he didn¡¯t want to follow a predetermined path, but he didn¡¯t know what choices to make next. Or perhaps, due to family reasons, he wasn¡¯t sure if he even had the right to choose. Thinking about this made him feel somewhat irritable. As time ticked by, Shao Zifeng snapped out of his thoughts. Looking at his phone, he suddenly remembered that in the other dimension today, someone would come to buy the round spot viper from him. To see if this would happen, Shao Zifeng waited silently. Ding~dong~dong~ The class-ending bell rang outside the window, and after the teacher left, the classroom became chaotic, filled with the sound of moving desks and lively chatter. Shao Zifeng instinctively held his breath, focusing on his phone. Ding~ The pleasant notification sound chimed, displaying a message on the screen. ¡°Hi, do you have time to meet up?¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Mutant Creatures Identification Bureau Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Mutant Creatures Identification Bureau Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation First Meeting Caf¨¦. This caf¨¦, quite famous in Su City University, was located on the pedestrian street in the university town. Shao Zifeng had passed by here countless times but had never gone in to spend money. After all, the caf¨¦, from its signboard to its posters, evinced the scent of dog food everywhere, which was really not friendly for someone single like him. Really didn¡¯t understand why the snake buyer chose such a place. Ding-ding-ding~ He pushed open the glass door, and the wind chimes collided, making a pleasant sound. Perhaps because it was not a weekend, the entire caf¨¦ seemed empty. Shao Zifeng glanced around and saw a tall young man sitting near the window. Hearing the chimes, the young man stood up and looked towards the door: ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Wang Hao from the third-year combat training department. You must be Shao Zifeng, the junior, right?¡± As he spoke, he revealed two rows of shiny white teeth. So dazzling. ¡°Hello, senior.¡± After sitting down, Shao Zifeng observed the young man in front of him. Hiss. This senior Wang Hao really had such unique looks. He had short, withered yellow hair and was about 1.9 meters tall. His tanned face still bore the marks of youth, and the only bright spot on his body was his full set of large white teeth. ¡°Student, can you order now?¡± The soft-voiced waitress came over, her gaze sweeping oddly between the two of them. ¡°What would you like to drink? Order anything,¡± Wang Hao said with a hearty laugh. Shao Zifeng looked at the waitress holding the drink menu next to him and, for some inexplicable reason, asked: ¡°Can you add goji berries to your coffee?¡± The atmosphere turned a bit silent, and the waitress¡¯s gaze became even more subtle: ¡°Student, this is a caf¨¦.¡± ¡°Haha, just joking.¡± Shao Zifeng laughed it off and casually ordered a latte. ¡°It seems the junior is quite knowledgeable about health preservation at such a young age. Health preservation is good, very good.¡± While talking, Wang Hao subtly touched the marks on his face, as if recalling the youthful years, and suddenly felt a bit jealous of the fair-faced handsome guy before him. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the gaze, Shao Zifeng coughed lightly: ¡°Senior, why did you call me here today?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Wang Hao snapped out of it and, after organizing his thoughts, said: ¡°It¡¯s like this, the national university cup is about to be held, and the school plans to hold a team selection at the end of the year to form a team to participate in the regional qualifiers.¡± ¡°I have some ideas, so I¡¯ve been looking for relatively rare mutant creatures.¡± Saying this, Wang Hao put down the coffee spoon in his hand and took a sip of the coffee. ¡°You also know the situation in the summer. Slightly rare mutant creatures are basically in protected areas. We in small places can¡¯t even get the qualifications to enter, so I pulled some strings and found many people, and later found Zhang Fatty in the Su City reptile circle.¡± The Zhang Fatty Wang Hao mentioned was the greasy uncle who had handed his stock over to Shao Zifeng when he first got involved in the reptile circle. ¡°Student, your latte.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Taking the latte handed over by the waitress, Shao Zifeng stirred it with a coffee spoon, gesturing for Wang Hao to continue. ¡°I also know you reptile enthusiasts like to play with artificially bred stuff. I don¡¯t care for those defective genes, but still wanted to try my luck. Who knew Zhang Fatty had already left the circle.¡± ¡°But he told me, he had reserved a pet beast egg for you, a rare piece. It should be hatching around now, right?¡± At this, Wang Hao looked at Shao Zifeng expectantly: ¡°So, junior, do you think we could go to the identification bureau together? If the pet beast¡¯s quality is outstanding, the price will surely satisfy you.¡± Hmm, the acne scars were clearer now. Shao Zifeng leaned back inconspicuously, digesting Wang Hao¡¯s words. Suddenly, Shao Zifeng reacted. Egg? No way, I remember he clearly said it was a hatched round spot viper. How did it turn into an egg with him? Shao Zifeng tried hard to recall, and suddenly, his vision blurred as frames of images flashed quickly before his eyes. Finally, the image froze on a cylindrical-like snake egg. (Snake eggs are not regular ovals and are soft.) Egg. This time it really was a snake egg. Shao Zifeng frowned. Recalling the events from yesterday to today, it seemed to him that the two timelines were progressing under the same main quest, but with different side quests. The general direction was the same, but the details had changed. Tsk, this was not good. At this rate, I wonder if my grand prize hopes still hold. What¡¯s the price of selling a round spot viper? The grand prize is¡­ Wait, right. He had no idea how much a three-star quality round spot viper was worth. This was really awkward. ¡°Junior.¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng somewhat distracted, Wang Hao waved his hand in front of his eyes. ¡°Sorry, Senior Wang, I got lost in thought. The identification bureau you mentioned is?¡± Shao Zifeng came back to his senses, looking at Wang Hao half-leaning on the table. So close, the spots were so clear. He silently moved his chair back again. As for the identification bureau Wang Hao mentioned, Shao Zifeng was somewhat interested. If the so-called identification institutions mastered the identification techniques, then his Golden Finger would be half useless. Trying to think about the identification institutions, no memories surfaced in his mind, indicating that he knew very little about mutant creature identification in this timeline. ¡°Junior, don¡¯t you know the identification bureau?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Under Wang Hao¡¯s explanation, Shao Zifeng gradually understood what the so-called identification bureau was. In the nearly 20 years since the ¡°Unknown Recovery Incident,¡± the current technology was still not sufficient to accurately identify the qualities of mutant creatures. There were machines to detect the energy levels of mutant creatures, but they were useless for juvenile mutant creatures. After all, the energy strengths of juvenile creatures were roughly the same. So, in the years of exploration, people here had found alternative identification methods. That was to distinguish the quality based on the number of skills a mutant creature mastered. Although the juvenile mutant creatures with more skills did not necessarily have high quality, those without any skills certainly had low quality. After all, Shao Zifeng had seen too many weaklings without any skills. If it were just to identify the qualities of mutant creatures, it could be done privately without establishing a separate institution. In fact, the full name of the identification bureau was ¡°Mutant Creature Identification and Registration Management Bureau,¡± commonly referred to as the identification bureau by the public. For people in the summer, contracting mutant creatures as their pets was not such an easy task, as it required not only identification but also strict and detailed review and registration. After all, some countries without a management registration system were already in chaos, with various organizations popping up like mushrooms after rain. Just thinking about it made Shao Zifeng feel chills. As someone who thrived under the red flag, guided by the principles of five etiquettes, four beauties, and three loves, he couldn¡¯t accept a chaotic country. After agreeing on the time to go to the identification bureau with Wang Hao, he bid farewell and left. He bought dinner and the eagerly awaited lottery tickets on the way back to the rented house. There was a bunch of ancestors at home waiting to be fed. After returning to the rented house, he breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the small snakes and lizards in the snake cages, unloading a heavy burden. He smiled at everyone outside because childhood experiences taught him to greet people with a smile. But deep down, he resisted getting too close to anyone. For example, with today¡¯s conversation with Wang Hao, moving the chair back every time wasn¡¯t because of how ugly he was¡­ Okay, that was part of the reason. Besides that small factor, it was mainly because he wasn¡¯t used to close contact with people. Perhaps this was why he had few friends. After having dinner, he packed and mailed two albino corn snakes to a client. 600 yuan earned. After confirming no more orders, Shao Zifeng began feeding the little ancestors in the snake cages. Due to the misplaced notebook, he had to endure the high-latency display status to feed them. Time passed minute by minute, and the night breeze gently moved the curtains, bringing a bit of coolness. The radio program on his phone was coming to an end. ¡°Dear listeners, before we know it, it¡¯s time to say goodnight. As usual, before wishing goodnight, Xiao Xin will announce the latest lottery winning numbers for the two-color ball. The winning numbers for this period are¡­¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: South African Armadillo Lizard Chapter 6: Chapter 6: South African Armadillo Lizard Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°This week¡¯s winning numbers are 03, 06, 18, 23, 25, 27, the last number is 08¡­ let¡¯s repeat, 03, 06¡­¡± Listening to the sweet voice on the radio, Shao Zifeng looked at the numbers again in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Sure enough. The main trend of lottery winnings didn¡¯t change, but one number did. That tiny change caused a seven-figure jackpot to shrink to four figures instantly. Shao Zifeng put down the lottery ticket, feeling a bit depressed. Even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed. Hmm. Looking on the bright side. He still had a three-thousand-yuan prize, enough to cover two months of living expenses. Coming back to life and getting two months of living expenses as a bonus. How thoughtful. After some mental adjustment, Shao Zifeng prepared to check the lizards he didn¡¯t get to examine yesterday. Who knows, maybe there would be a pleasant surprise waiting for him. [Name]: Green Long-tailed Iguana (Juvenile) ¡­ [Family]: Iguana ¡­ [Description]: In the wild, survival itself would be an issue. After placing the green long-tailed iguana back into the acrylic drawer and tagging it as a waste of money, Shao Zifeng turned to the next one. [Name]: Leopard Gecko ¡­ After placing the last lizard back into the drawer, Shao Zifeng sighed helplessly. But thinking about it again, it made sense. After all, this batch was somebody else¡¯s discarded ones; finding one with great potential here would be bizarre. Among the dozens of reptiles in the snake cabinet, only the round spot viper hatched from an egg could be considered a true mutant creature. With this thought, Shao Zifeng glanced at the round spot viper discreetly, a bit guilty. Selling it would be good; his kidney had a shadow because of this guy. Hmm? At that moment, Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze accidentally swept past the fish tank in the corner, reminding him that there was still a little waste of money he hadn¡¯t identified. Not only had he not identified it, but he had also forgotten to feed it. Perhaps because he endured a night of high latency, Shao Zifeng wasn¡¯t in a hurry to identify it. He took down a plastic box, tweezers, a small brush, and a towel from the snake cabinet and sat down on the floor in front of the fish tank. Seeing Shao Zifeng approaching, the South African armadillo lizard inside stepped back fearfully. ¡°Little guy, come, let¡¯s do some exfoliation first.¡± With that, he reached into the tank to grab the little creature. The South African armadillo lizard panicked even more, immediately biting its tail and curling into a ball. Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand paused, and he felt a moment of dizziness. His memories drifted far away as if seeing a young boy curled up on the ground clutching his head. Shaking his head to dispel those memories, Shao Zifeng sighed. His expression gradually softened, and he gently picked up the ball, brushing its scales softly with the small brush. ¡°You little heartless creature, I feed you and put a roof over your head, yet you fear me¡­¡± The armadillo lizard lay in his warm palm, feeling the comfortable sensation on its scales, and gradually relaxed its body. It lifted its head, its big, dark eyes looking at Shao Zifeng in bewilderment. Just as Shao Zifeng was about to say something, a light blue screen unfolded before his eyes, with lines of dark blue text appearing on it. [Name]: South African Armadillo Lizard [Growth]: Juvenile [State]: Healthy, Hungry, Bloodline Ancestor [Power]: First Level [Phylum]: Chordate [Class]: Reptile [Order]: Squamata [Family]: Agamidae [Attribute]: Fire [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Dry Aura: A child of fire elements, it attracts the weak fire elements around it, affecting the immediate area. This talent can grow with the creature¡¯s power. [Skills]: Defense, Fiery Breath [Description]: It contains a trace of dragon blood within, but in its current weak state, even as a lighter, it lacks wind resistance. Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand trembled, and he stared at the information, completely stunned. Five-star potential. It turned out to be a five-star potential mutant creature, and it was the legendary bloodline ancestor evolution. Though he wasn¡¯t sure if there was a higher potential than five stars in this world, he¡¯d learned over the past two days how rare it was to encounter a high-potential mutant creature. Among the dozens of reptiles in the snake cabinet, only one three-star round spot viper was found. Even with artificial breeding intervention, the chance was excessively low. Moreover, through his memories, Shao Zifeng knew the most precious thing about this armadillo lizard wasn¡¯t its potential but the bloodline ancestor evolution displayed in the status. That was bloodline ancestor evolution. As powerful as the great Xia, it possessed only twelve bloodline ancestor evolutions, collectively known as the twelve pillar beasts of the country. Watching the South African armadillo lizard in his hand, Shao Zifeng¡¯s expression flickered indecisively. The little creature seemed startled again. ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õ It bit its tail quickly, once more curling into a ball. From the long tail, a pair of cautious dark eyes peeked at Shao Zifeng. Seeing this scene, Shao Zifeng¡¯s memories were stirred once again. His head began to ache suddenly, as if something was breaking free. Taking a deep breath, Shao Zifeng endured the waves of dizziness in his mind and forced a strained smile. But the little creature seemed even more scared, curling into a tiny ball, its eyes hidden beneath its long tail. Shao Zifeng¡¯s smile stiffened on his face. Shaking his head, he hoped to wake himself up. He admitted that seeing the creature¡¯s potential had tempted him. Suddenly, an unprecedented ambition emerged in his heart; he wanted to become a Combat Training Master. But thinking of his mother alone at home and his own family background, he hesitated. His mother devoted her entire life to him, fearing he would suffer, and coldly refused suggestions from relatives to remarry. Facing bullying students, his mother even set aside the dignity of being a teacher to shout at them like a madwoman. In this world, though Combat Training Masters held high status, they also faced great risks. He was afraid. Afraid that if something happened to him, it would leave his mother all alone. Moreover. His father, the deserter he¡¯d never met. Because of him, he and his mother suffered endless insults and humiliation¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± At this thought, a sudden sharp pain struck Shao Zifeng¡¯s head. He clutched his head with both hands, gasping heavily as he collapsed to the ground. Deep within his heart, something seemed to break free, countless childhood memories surfacing, from another timeline and this one. In both sets of memories, different faces did the same things to him¡ªmocking, insulting, beating, and teasing. The memories slowly merged, and Shao Zifeng¡¯s vision turned black as he lost consciousness. ¡­ ¡°The coward¡¯s son is also a coward. Get up.¡± The frail boy was shoved out of the corridor and fell into a puddle. The pouring rain instantly drenched him. Crack! A bolt of lightning cut through the darkness, illuminating the scene and the boy¡¯s face. His pale face held a smile, wet hair clinging to his forehead, with rainwater streaming down like a waterfall along his features. The white shirt had some muddy stains, but the rain quickly washed them away. The boy¡¯s smile seemed to infuriate the shadows in the corridor, twisting them into grotesque shapes like demons. ¡°Still dare to smile? Smash him to death.¡± ¡°Beat him!¡± A chaotic cry arose. A sharp stone spun across the boy¡¯s forehead, leaving a trail of red that the rain washed onto his white shirt, leaving faint marks. This seemed like a clarion call. The shadows swelled and twisted even more, letting out piercing laughter. ¡°Trash, trash, your father is trash, and so are you!¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Rocks flew through the rain, hitting the boy¡¯s body. He hugged his head and curled up, enduring the pounding pain. But his face still wore that difficult smile. Because his mother said, to be a man standing tall. A man must spill blood but not tears. The shadows¡¯ laughter and insults echoed in his ears, growing increasingly distant. The wind subsided, and the rain stopped. At some point, all the surrounding noise vanished. The swelling shadows slowly merged, spreading madly as if to devour everything. Kneeling in the darkness, the boy¡¯s shoulders occasionally twitched, blood from his hair mixing with the rainwater, dripping onto the encroaching darkness and creating ripples. ¡°Do you hate?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry!¡± ¡°Let it out, vent all your humiliation and anger.¡± The tempting voice continually sounded in his ears. The boy lifted his head, confused, gazing into the darkness, slowly extending his thin, pale arm. ¡­ Shao Zifeng lay on the ground, clutching his head tightly, whimpering in pain. Invisible ripples emanated from his body, spreading negative emotions. The South African armadillo lizard watched Shao Zifeng blankly. As the invisible ripples passed over it, it seemed to feel the man¡¯s pain, a destructive impulse rising in its heart. The snakes in the cabinet became frantically agitated, hissing loudly. No! Not like this. The armadillo lizard shook its little head, uneasy at the thought of the man causing such feelings. He¡¯s not like this, not at all! Since it was born and had a conscious mind, this strange two-legged creature had appeared in its world every day. Feeding it. Holding it in his arms, using strange things to wash its scales, though its timid nature always made it curl into a ball. But it felt really comfortable. So in its heart, Shao Zifeng was the gentlest person. The invisible ripples grew denser, and the snakes in the cabinet turned red-eyed, constantly crashing into the acrylic panels. The armadillo lizard was affected too. But the feeling it sensed was one of wanting to cry. To its young mind, the small fish tank and the room outside were its entire world. In this world, a bipedal creature fed it and a bunch of legless creatures every day. The little guy couldn¡¯t understand complex things. It didn¡¯t know what emotions were. But right now, it felt really uncomfortable, a mist forming in its dark eyes. Gathering into droplets, they slid from the gaps in its scales. Sizzle. The droplets evaporated, disappearing into the air, a sensation it had never experienced before. ¡®You haven¡¯t fed me yet, how can you sleep?¡¯ The little creature suddenly raised its head, letting out a tender roar of a young beast. ¡°Whee! Whee!¡± Buzz! The invisible ripples suddenly stopped spreading and swiftly retracted back into Shao Zifeng¡¯s body. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Sudden Happiness Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Sudden Happiness Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Wah-wah¡± Just when the darkness was about to devour the boy, an unknown voice shattered the silence of the darkness. The darkness ceased its encroachment, emitting a cracking sound. Then, all the darkness shattered like glass. ¡­ Shao Zifeng opened his eyes. Perhaps the incandescent light on the ceiling was a bit dazzling; he raised his hand to shield his eyes. Crystal clear drops of water slid down his cheeks. After a moment of silence, Shao Zifeng turned his head, lying on the floor, and looked at the armadillo lizard: ¡°Was it you just now?¡± The little creature seemed a bit shy, curling into a ball again, with only a pair of black eyes peering quietly at Shao Zifeng. ?(????¦Ø????)? Shao Zifeng smirked; he had no idea what the South African armadillo lizard wanted to express. After lying on the floor for a while, he decided to get up and feed the armadillo lizard something. ¡°Ding¡±~ At this moment, the phone that had fallen to the side rang. Shao Zifeng picked up the phone and sat cross-legged on the ground. Glancing at the caller ID, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to pick up. ¡°Junior, hope I didn¡¯t disturb your rest.¡± Shao Zifeng tilted his head, holding the phone between his shoulder and ear, while using tweezers to pick up mealworms to tease the little creature: ¡°Feeding the snake, is there something urgent you¡¯re calling about, senior?¡± ¡°Hey, hold on, don¡¯t feed it yet!!!¡± As soon as Shao Zifeng finished speaking, the other person¡¯s voice raised a decibel, startling him. ¡°Haha, you see, I forgot to explain something to you in a rush today. It¡¯s still about identifying mutant creatures,¡± Wang Hao awkwardly laughed, explaining. ¡°It¡¯s like this, because uncovenanted mutant creatures generally do not follow commands, and it¡¯s hard for us to directly see the skills they possess. Therefore, in most cases, the Identification Bureau uses practical identification.¡± ¡°To stimulate the aggressiveness of the mutant creatures, it¡¯s best not to feed them before identification.¡± After hearing Wang Hao¡¯s words, Shao Zifeng pondered for a moment. It seemed that the identification methods in this space-time were rougher than he had imagined, but that might not be bad. ¡°Junior, are you still there? Please remember this!¡± Wang Hao said loudly again after not hearing a response for a while. ¡°Got it¡­¡± After finishing the main topic, Wang Hao tried to chat to build a rapport, but Shao Zifeng quickly ended the call after a few casual responses. Unexpectedly, this guy, despite his thick eyebrows and large eyes, had a bit of a chatterbox trait. After feeding the little creature, Shao Zifeng put it back in the aquarium and scratched its scales with his fingers. This made the little one so angry that it kept pawing at his big hand with its little claws. Finally, the little guy couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. It rolled a few times to the side and hid in the corner, angrily staring at him. After finishing all this, Shao Zifeng dragged his exhausted body to the bed. Listening to the occasional honking outside the window, he slowly drifted into sleep. The next morning. Shao Zifeng was brushing his teeth while swiping through the news on his phone. ¡°Good news! The Abnormal Administration Bureau takes swift action, exterminates all the rat plague in Jiang City.¡± In the photo under the headline, there was a man whose face had been blurred. Next to him sat a canine creature. Its furry ears hung down the sides of its head; the distance between the ears was small, the head was narrow and long, and its nose and eyes were fiery red. It had a slender neck and a bow-shaped body, with short black fur that seemed to have faint dark red patterns. Although not very strong, it had a sense of slender beauty. Staring at the photo for a while, several blue dots remained motionless. Useless Golden Finger! Couldn¡¯t even identify a picture. Gurgle-gurgle~ Shao Zifeng rinsed his mouth, spitting out the toothpaste foam. After putting down his toothbrush, he checked the time on his phone and swiped away the newly popped-up news. ¡°Local news: A series of outdoor murders have occurred in the city recently. Residents are advised to avoid going out at night.¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng held a pet box, looking perplexedly at the round spot viper inside. He originally thought he¡¯d have to go through a thrilling struggle to get it into the pet box, but surprisingly, it didn¡¯t resist at all. Looking at the round spot viper, which seemed like a lifeless snake, he found the mysterious water stain next to it a bit suspicious. Glancing at its attributes, its status was shown as listless. This guy, compared to that little sprite in another space-time that couldn¡¯t be touched or stroked, might just be a useless snake? Just as Shao Zifeng was lost in thought, something wriggled in his shirt pocket, and two little claws gripped the edge of the pocket. Then, a small brownish-yellow head cautiously peeked out. Hmm. Strictly speaking, only half a head because everything below the eyes was still blocked by the pocket. The armadillo lizard stared blankly at everything before it; it was all scenery it had never seen before. A car sped past, startling the little guy, who quickly ducked back into the pocket. Moments later, it poked its head out again, tentatively. The recent experience made it feel very happy. ¨R¦Ø¨Q ¡°Happy¡± Sneaking glances at the round spot viper now and then, Shao Zifeng suddenly felt a surge of happiness for no apparent reason. ? He was a bit confused, how could walking make him happy? Hiss. Could it be that he had some sort of ¡®borderline personality disorder¡¯? But thinking carefully, he realized something was off. ¡®Borderline personality disorder¡¯ was known for irritability and impulsiveness, not for bouts of happiness. This surge of happiness came quickly and left quickly as well. After pondering for a long time, he concluded that maybe it was because he would no longer have to see the weak snake soon? ¡­.. Su City¡¯s Identification Bureau. When Shao Zifeng arrived, Wang Hao was anxiously looking around. Seeing him, Wang Hao was delighted and immediately went up to greet him. ¡°Junior, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Before Shao Zifeng could say anything, Wang Hao¡¯s attention was already captivated by the pet box: ¡°This is the round spot viper, right? Wow, such a delicate thing, it suits my taste.¡± Wang Hao bent over, almost pressing his face against the pet box. The round spot viper turned slightly when it heard the noise, and upon seeing the bipedal creature disturbing its reverie, its scales instantly bristled. How could this bipedal creature be so ugly! ¡°Senior, let¡¯s handle the official business first; I still have classes in the afternoon.¡± Shao Zifeng lightly coughed, not used to others being so close. ¡°Look at me, I got too excited, haha. Junior, this way please.¡± Though he said that, his eyes seemed glued to the box; he couldn¡¯t take them off for a moment. ¡­ Inside Su City¡¯s Identification Bureau, several staff members were sitting in the hall, chatting idly out of boredom. It wasn¡¯t that they were slacking off; it was just that this Identification Bureau was too idle. The number of Combat Training Master registrations couldn¡¯t keep up with other units, and there were few famous Combat Training Masters. Every day, they just waited around, hoping for someone to visit, even if just for a tour. Performance targets weren¡¯t met, so no bonuses either; it felt like early retirement. But it couldn¡¯t be helped. Su City was just a remote inland city, which had developed in early years due to a nearby coal mine discovery. For economic purposes, trees were cut down extensively, damaging the environment, leading to the extinction of most wild animals around Su City. Now, with coal resources depleted, the city had no development prospects. Local Combat Training Masters could only choose common mutant creatures as their first pets, which generally had poor aptitude. In recent years, as society stabilized and people had more disposable income, parents whose children aspired to become Combat Training Masters would take them to nature reserves to select their first pet, registering directly there once the selection was complete. This led to the fact that most city residents had almost forgotten there was an Identification Bureau in some part of the city. ¡­ Shao Zifeng and Wang Hao had just walked into the Identification Bureau when the eyes of a few white-coated staff members lit up instantly. They eagerly crowded around, with someone enthusiastically taking the pet box from Shao Zifeng¡¯s hands. Feeling a bit dizzy from being pushed around, Shao Zifeng found himself sitting on a sofa, looking at the coffee, fruits, and a small plate of what were obviously someone¡¯s private snacks in front of him. Raising his head to see the sincere joy on the staff members¡¯ faces, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought. Was the service attitude in this space-time so thorough? This was completely different from his impression of overworked employees now! Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Dragons Roar Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Dragon¡¯s Roar Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Let me see, this pattern is beautiful¡­¡± One lab coat person held his glasses and squeezed into the crowd. ¡°Yeah, since graduation, I haven¡¯t encountered such a rare mutant creature, I think¡­ hehe.¡± Another lab coat person showed a lecherous smile, his eyes shining, not knowing what he was thinking. ¡°No, you don¡¯t want to. Leave the identification to me, I will seriously write the report.¡± A third lab coat person pushed the lecher aside and turned to seek Shao Zifeng¡¯s opinion. ¡°No way!¡± Several lab coat persons surrounding the round spot viper protested in unison when they heard someone wanted to steal the credit. Then the group of lab coat persons began to argue over the identification rights of the round spot viper. Shao Zifeng wore a stiff smile as he watched them from a distance, secretly mocking them in his mind. This can¡¯t be an official institution, definitely not! Return the solemn, serious, and rigorous identification bureau of my memories! It has been unusual from the start, right? ¡°Ahem!¡± Just as the lab coat persons were about to get into a fight, a light cough sounded, and they immediately quieted down. Shao Zifeng looked up and saw that another person had appeared at the lounge door without him noticing. ¡°Mind if I come in?¡± The newcomer knocked on the open door and walked in without waiting for a response. ¡°Director Luo.¡± The lab coat persons greeted respectfully. Director Luo, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, had meticulously combed thick black hair, a tall figure, delicate features, and wore narrow gold-framed glasses on his nose. His white lab coat, without a single wrinkle, was clearly well ironed, giving him an extraordinary air. He was bending over, carefully examining the round spot viper in the pet box with great interest. After a long time, Director Luo exhaled and smoothed down some wrinkles on his coat. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the identification of this round spot viper myself. You record and compile the report.¡± Director Luo adjusted his glasses and swept a firm gaze around. The lab coat persons glanced at each other and reluctantly nodded in agreement. Finally, Director Luo nodded slightly at Shao Zifeng and Wang Hao before turning to leave. ¡°You two, please follow us.¡± ¡­ On the way to the assessment room, the atmosphere was a bit heavy. Though Shao Zifeng was friendly, he wasn¡¯t one to initiate conversation, and Wang Hao¡¯s attention was fixed on the round spot viper. The round spot viper, under Wang Hao¡¯s gaze, puffed up its scales, making the snake look fatter. With its triangular head, it oddly resembled a certain feminine product, making it hard to look at. ¡­ The Skill Assessment Room was an empty room of about 100 square meters. In the center, a glass wall enclosed a separate space. Above it was a surgical shadowless lamp, and multiple cameras were installed on the four walls, presumably to record the skills released by mutant creatures. Outside the glass room were various scientific instruments of unknown purpose, with weak red and green lights flashing as the switches were turned on. Following the staff¡¯s instructions, Shao Zifeng opened the pet box¡¯s lid and placed the box inside the glass room. The round spot viper, in the unfamiliar environment, felt uneasy. It poked its head out of the box, its cold eyes surveying the surroundings and occasionally flicking out its black tongue in an attempt to capture familiar scents. The round spot viper crawled around the box once. Finding no shaded area, it became increasingly agitated, hissing and occasionally slapping its tail on the ground. ¡°Junior, thanks to you this time, I have a hunch this time will succeed.¡± Wang Hao stared unblinkingly at the round spot viper and said to Shao Zifeng beside him. Experiencing a mutant creature assessment for the first time, Shao Zifeng was also a bit excited. Rather than expecting the assessment results, he was more eager to witness a battle up close. Young blood, after all, ran hot. ¡°We can start.¡± Seeing that the staff had adjusted the equipment, Director Luo nodded to the first lab coat person. Inside the glass room, a square hole opened in the ground. Before anyone could see clearly, a white shadow shot out from the hole. The round spot viper quickly coiled into a ball, its cold eyes devoid of any emotion. The white shadow moved swiftly, constantly leaping around the round spot viper, looking fancy and showy. This irritated the round spot viper even more, its tongue flicking in and out rapidly, trying to lock onto its prey. Swish! The white shadow jumped over the round spot viper¡¯s head again, and the round spot viper seized the opportunity, whipping its tail towards it. Bam! Squeak! The white shadow was sent flying, hitting the glass wall hard. A rabbit slid down the wall and onto the floor, twitching continuously. ??? Is that it? Shao Zifeng was puzzled. Such a strong attack? The surrounding staff sighed, clearly not expecting the lab rabbit to be taken down in a single strike by the snake. They speculated about what skill it had used. ¡­ [Name]: Jumping Rabbit [Growth]: Growing Period [Status]: Healthy, Poisoned [Strength]: First Order [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Lagomorpha [Family]: Leporidae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï [Talent]: Speed-A in open fields, will run faster and faster until exhausted, [Skills]: Jump [Description]: It always feels it can fly if it runs fast enough, but often crashes into stumps. Its thighs are well-trained, muscles full, evenly distributed fat, would be good for braising. Shao Zifeng looked at the information on the screen and realized it was indeed a weakling. Soon, another white shadow entered the glass room, and the test continued. A moment later. Bam! Squeak! The assessment room fell silent. ¡­ Until the fourth Jumping Rabbit, the increasingly annoyed round spot viper opened its mouth, spraying a clear liquid at the Jumping Rabbit mid-air. With a hiss, the rabbit traced a perfect parabola and landed not far from the round spot viper. The spot hit by the liquid emitted a blue smoke, fur corroded, black viscous liquid dripping, forming small pools that occasionally bubbled and popped. ¡°Poison Liquid Spray!¡± Wang Hao shouted, excitement evident on his face. Shao Zifeng inwardly rolled his eyes, thinking they were just starting. In his pocket, the armadillo lizard, curled into a ball, had been sleeping but was now woken up. The little one angrily rubbed its eyes with its tiny paws. (¥Î¤Ø£þ,) It changed position and slept again. ¡­ The round spot viper¡¯s tail flashed a glimmer, piercing the Jumping Rabbit¡¯s body harshly. The Jumping Rabbit shuddered, collapsing completely, drained of life. ¡°Tail Needle!¡± Wang Hao raised his voice, face flushed with red spots. The surrounding lab coat persons also exclaimed and recorded their observations diligently. Director Luo adjusted his glasses, showing a hint of surprise. The just-asleep armadillo lizard was woken up again. ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õ It grew angrier, hugging its head with its tiny paws in frustration. And fell asleep again. ¡­ Crack, crack The round spot viper tightly entangled the Jumping Rabbit, producing bone-crushing sounds that made one¡¯s teeth ache. ¡°Strangulation! Three skills! It has three skills!¡± Wang Hao screamed, eyes red, nostrils flaring, as if steam was coming out, veins bulging on his short neck. His originally somewhat ugly face now looked¡­ even uglier. Shao Zifeng silently took a few steps back, fearing he¡¯d collapse in a pool of blood right there. For the third time, the armadillo lizard was woken up. It was genuinely angry; it was just a baby lizard after all. The pocket squirmed, revealing a tiny head, half-asleep, it roared at Wang Hao in a mightily dragon-like manner. ¡°Wah wah wah!¡± ©»|£àO¡ä|©¿ Super fierce! The lab coat persons were intensely discussing something. The little guy sensed the abnormal atmosphere acutely. It scanned around quickly and found no one noticed it. So many two-legged beasts! Scary! Shivering, it curled back into a ball and hid in the pocket. Showing off and then escaping, so thrilling. Director Luo, arranging staff for toxicity analysis, seemed to have noticed something and looked at Shao Zifeng in surprise. The staff at the various instrument stations were busy, occasionally generating discussion. Wang Hao, his face pressed against the glass wall, was happily bonding with the round spot viper. The round spot viper turned away in disdain, completely drained and unwilling to interact with anyone. Wang Hao didn¡¯t mind, just watching it. Shao Zifeng stood quietly aside, one hand in his pocket, toying with the little guy. Once the results came out and the deal with Wang Hao was done, he¡¯d leave. Being in such a crowded place made him uncomfortable. At this moment, a figure approached Shao Zifeng and extended a hand. ¡°Hello, I am Luo Feng.¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 The Persona Is Completely Broken Chapter 9: Chapter 9 The Persona Is Completely Broken Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Reception room. Luo Feng held a wet wipe and meticulously wiped each finger, his expression serious, as if he were cleaning the most precious treasure. After folding the used wet wipe neatly and disposing of it in the trash can, Luo Feng seemed to let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I have severe OCD, hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Shao Zifeng smiled and indicated he didn¡¯t mind. The two sat facing each other on the sofa, big eyes staring at small eyes, waiting for the other to speak first. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat silent. A little creature, who had fully recovered its spirits, peeked out from a pocket with its dark little eyes. It glanced at Luo Feng, then raised its head to look at Shao Zifeng. Observing secretly. ¦ä(£þ¦á£þ)¦ä After a while, Luo Feng couldn¡¯t sit still anymore, adjusted his glasses, and stood up. ¡°Would you like something to drink? I have tea and coffee here.¡± ¡°As the host pleases.¡± Shao Zifeng smiled warmly at him. He was a bit unsure of Luo Feng¡¯s intentions, so he decided to be a smiling handsome man, waiting for Luo Feng to start the conversation. Luo Feng brought two cups of coffee and placed them on the table, pushing one cup in front of him. Shao Zifeng stirred the coffee with a spoon, took a sip, and grimaced a bit. It was very bitter. ¡°Although it¡¯s somewhat bitter, it¡¯s very effective in keeping one alert.¡± Luo Feng apologized. Shao Zifeng nodded with a smile, indicating agreement but stayed silent. Seeing Shao Zifeng continuously smiling without speaking, Luo Feng felt somewhat discouraged. As a researcher dedicated to work, he was really not good at communicating with people before. But as a head of a city-level identification bureau, some social interactions were essential. He had to take precious time to study books like ¡°The Art of Communication¡± and ¡°Nonviolent Communication.¡± Although he only read for five minutes each day, Luo Feng felt that, with his own intelligence and high emotional quotient, he had fully mastered the art of communication. As to why the conversation had not started yet. It was clearly not his problem, it was that smiling guy opposite him who was dislikable. Luo Feng pondered for a moment, thinking his conversation skills could still be salvaged. Luo Feng slowly stirred the coffee in his cup, smirking confidently, and adjusted his glasses. ¡°Shao, you¡¯re a student at Su City University, right? Do you have any plans for the future?¡± Here it comes! My super communication skill, ¡°The Ultimate Art: Dream Slayer.¡± Countless days and nights, Luo Feng practiced communication skills, tormenting his subordinates to no end. Until one day, Luo Feng inadvertently asked a new employee, ¡°What is your dream?¡± Watching the newbie nervously but expectantly reveal their dream, Luo Feng realized he had mastered the ultimate communication art of dream slaying! Additionally, he added many auxiliary techniques, like smiling while asking this question, showing encouraging eyes, and preferably patting the person¡¯s shoulder to indicate support. Although he had to wash his hands for a long time every time afterward, the thrill of seizing conversational dominance made him indulged and unable to extricate himself. Shao Zifeng watched Luo Feng winking at him and felt speechless. What¡­? Did the character settings in this world just collapse suddenly? Wasn¡¯t he a distinguished science scholar with a cold demeanor before? What¡¯s with the eyebrow-raising while smiling? ¡°I don¡¯t have any plans for now, Mr. Luo. Could you tell me why you called me here today?¡± Shao Zifeng twitched his lips and asked cautiously. Coconuts! The operation was a great success!! Luo Feng rejoiced secretly. Silently gave himself a thumbs-up, then his expression calmed. He adjusted a lock of hair, pretending to ponder. ¡°Young people, full of vigor, I think being a Combat Training Master is not bad, defending the country, what do you think?¡± He looked expectantly at Shao Zifeng after saying that. Bah! Isn¡¯t this most young people¡¯s dream? Why do you look so serious, and I didn¡¯t ask you to talk about dreams, I asked why you called me. Shao Zifeng felt that he almost broke character, finding it hard to hold on. ¡°Not good? If you¡¯re worried about resources as a Combat Training Master, I can write you a recommendation letter. Let me tell you, I have an old classmate at Su City too¡­¡± ¡°Ahem, Director Luo¡­ let¡¯s talk about the main business.¡± Seeing Luo Feng getting more and more enthusiastic, Shao Zifeng interrupted helplessly. ¡°Main business, isn¡¯t this the main business?¡± Luo Feng was baffled. Seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s stiff smile. Luo Feng understood. As expected from an opponent who made him use the ultimate art, he didn¡¯t follow my rhythm. Back then, that new employee was pretty easy to fool. However, the harder the opponent, the more excited Luo Feng became. It seemed, he got fired up! Luo Feng adjusted his glasses, covering his eyes filled with Battle Spirit! ¡°Really not reconsidering? My old¡­ hey, hey, don¡¯t go!¡± ¡­ After resuming his seat, Luo Feng returned to his cold-faced scholar persona. ¡°You have an armadillo lizard, right? I¡¯d like to appraise it.¡± Luo Feng looked Shao Zifeng in the eyes seriously. Shao Zifeng slightly heaved a sigh of relief, this was more like it. People shouldn¡¯t have so many complicated tactics. Straightforwardness wasn¡¯t fine, just say what you mean. Anyway¡­ I won¡¯t agree. ¡°No.¡± Shao Zifeng said calmly, seemingly unable to keep up the act either. ¡°Oh.¡± Luo Feng responded. Once again, the atmosphere fell silent. Luo Feng looked down and stirred his coffee, the sound of the spoon clinking against the cup occasionally breaking the silence. Shao Zifeng was massaging the armadillo lizard in his pocket with one hand, Taking advantage of the little guy¡¯s lack of attention, he quickly rubbed its soft belly a couple of times. The pleasantly surprised armadillo lizard was dazed. Its most precious tummy had been sneak-attacked. Was it unclean now? The ashamed little fellow extended its small paws, tightly hugging Shao Zifeng¡¯s index finger, and bit down lightly. Softly, tenderly, perhaps because of the fire element, warmly too. Shao Zifeng exhaled a long breath, silently thinking, ¡°So comforting~.¡± Didn¡¯t realize you were a toothless one. ¡°Knock, knock¡± ¡°Director Luo, the appraisal report for the round spot viper is out.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Luo Feng quickly tidied up his appearance and sat up straight. The lab coat-wearing staff, maybe A¡­ or possibly B, walked in with two sheets of paper. Luo Feng took the appraisal report and studied it carefully. The more he read, the more excited he became. Didn¡¯t expect the round spot viper to have such high potential, seems the performance appraisal this year was taken care of. Once the round spot viper grew and evolved into a ¡°spined viper,¡± or even the ¡°viper king,¡± He might even get to go to the province. Shao Zifeng took the report handed to him. [Name]: Round Spot Viper [Strength]: Energy fluctuation assessment at Level One [Skills]: Assessed skills include Strangulation, Poison Liquid Spray, Tail Needle. [Talent]: Highly Toxic [Attributes]: Reaction Speed: S Physical Strength: A Physical Defense: C Toxin Composition: Paralysis 24.3%, Corrosion 43.7%, Neurotoxin 22%, Bacterial Toxin 5%, Other Toxins 5% [Overall Evaluation]: A grade [Suggestion]: High cultivation value The official three-star rating for the round spot viper was A grade, according to this standard. Shao Zifeng looked down at the little guy biting his finger This guy was at least SSR level. ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Shao, let¡¯s go downstairs to arrange the contract registration.¡± The lab coat staff said to Shao Zifeng with a smile. As the staff got up to leave, Shao Zifeng called out to him. ¡°Is there anything else, Mr. Shao?¡± The staff looked puzzledly at the smiling man. ¡°Ahem, could you tell me the market value of such an A-grade mutant creature?¡± Shao Zifeng asked embarrassedly. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Blood-sucking Tarantula Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Blood-sucking Tarantula Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As the sky gradually darkened, the night unfolded its canvas. Several bright stars twinkled in the deep blue and crimson interwoven sky. In a dimly lit office on the second floor of the appraisal office. Luo Feng stood by the window, his figure somewhat blurred in the dim environment. Watching Shao Zifeng gradually disappear, a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. ¡°An interesting person.¡± ¡­ ¡°What, still angry?¡± Shao Zifeng held the armadillo lizard, shaped into a ball, smiling at it. The more it thought about it, the angrier it got. The little guy turned over, back facing Shao Zifeng. It decided not to pay attention to the one who sneak-attacked its belly until they got home. Shao Zifeng looked at the sulking little guy, his smile growing wider. This was not the kind of fake smile he showed others, but genuine happiness from the depths of his heart. He scraped its scales with his fingernail. The little guy quivered all over, its tightly curled ball relaxing slightly. But it still stretched a tiny paw from the center and gently pushed Shao Zifeng¡¯s finger a few times. Shao Zifeng scraped the scales again; the little guy stopped pushing and whimpered. It seemed to say it couldn¡¯t resist the big demon king. Under the dim streetlight, Shao Zifeng¡¯s face became even more gentle. After the appraisal office offered a price for the A-level mutant creature, Wang Hao, without a word, added 50,000 yuan on top of the base price of 500,000 yuan. In his words, even if it were a million, even if his dad beat him up, broke his legs, and threw him from the building, he would still buy it. With the help of the appraisal office, Shao Zifeng settled the contract and transfer procedures, then got up to leave. He had no attachment to the round spot viper, and even some fear. Every time he saw that triangular head and cold snake eyes, he felt a horror controlled by his kidney deficiency. Putting the armadillo lizard into his pocket, Shao Zifeng intended to take it for a big meal. Originally, he wanted it to lie on his shoulder, but the little guy absolutely refused. He tapped the little head poking out of the pocket with his finger. Shao Zifeng got into a taxi and headed to the snack street near his rental house. ¡­ Shao Zifeng¡¯s rental house was in the old town. Due to urban planning, the development focus gradually shifted to the current city center. If it weren¡¯t for Su City University and two other colleges nearby, this place might have fallen further into decay. As night deepened, the famous snack street in the old town became crowded with people. The aroma of barbecues and stir-fry mixed with the loud laughter of diners, composing a unique, somewhat nostalgic symphony of life. Shao Zifeng stood at the entrance of the snack street, slightly troubled. As expected, there were still too many people. He glanced down at the little guy. Its eyes were shining brightly, occasionally sniffing the air. Shao Zifeng gritted his teeth and ventured into the snack street. Shao Zifeng had no specific requirements for food; along the way, the little guy ordered the dishes. Whenever it saw something it wanted to eat, it would tug at Shao Zifeng¡¯s sleeve with its little paw. Before long, Shao Zifeng carried plastic bags filled to the brim with snacks. At this moment, the little guy was nestled in Shao Zifeng¡¯s pocket, happily munching on a large French fry, its eyes squinting in contentment. After finishing the fry in its paw, the little guy skillfully clung to the pocket¡¯s edge and pulled out another one to continue eating. ¡Ô¦Ø¡Ô Leaving the snack street, Shao Zifeng ate a skewer, planning to take a shortcut home. A secluded, almost deathly silent alley, the alley was very quiet. Walking inside at night, one almost felt no sense of time. The mottled walls embedded with old streetlights, most of which were broken, the few remaining flickered, emitting a buzzing current sound. The advantage was that the alley ran through from north to south. Passing through it directly led to Shao Zifeng¡¯s rental house community, saving detour time. Walking alone in the narrow alley, one could always smell a faint, sour odor. Shao Zifeng felt a bit oppressed, unbuttoning the collar of his shirt as he quickened his pace towards the other end of the alley. ¡°Splat¡± Shao Zifeng stopped; he felt like he had stepped on some liquid. A breeze wafted over, bringing with it a nauseating stench. Shao Zifeng stood still. He knew he was in trouble. ¡°Plip¡± Shao Zifeng trembled. Warm liquid dripped onto his face. He wiped it off with his fingers; it was slick and sticky. Shao Zifeng slowly looked up. A shadow the size of a millstone was crouching on the wall. As Shao Zifeng stared, the shadow stopped eating. Eight cold eyes glimmered eerily in the dark. A faint blue light curtain appeared. [Name]: Blood-sucking Tarantula [Growth]: Maturity [Condition]: Healthy, Madness [Strength]: Tier Three [Phylum]: Arthropoda [Class]: Arachnida [Order]: Araneae [Family]: Tarantulidae [Attribute]: Poison [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï [Talent]: Blood-sucking: Within a period of absorbing enough blood, recovery ability and attack speed will slightly increase, while sanity is completely lost. [Skills]: Poison Stinger, Tearing Claw Strike [Description]: A killing machine artificially cultivated, fed with large amounts of blood during its wolf spider stage. Before it completely loses its sanity, run as far as you can. Looking at the information before him, Shao Zifeng felt as though he had fallen into an ice cave. It was actually a Tier Three mutant creature. This was the first time since he crossed over that Shao Zifeng had felt such primal shivers up close. That was the desire for life imprinted deep within human genes through evolution. He wanted to escape, but he couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Bang¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula threw down the object impaled on its front limb, liquid splashing onto Shao Zifeng. A rustling sound drew closer, and the Blood-sucking Tarantula slowly moved toward Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng watched the shadow approach him, the strong sour stench filling his nostrils. The Blood-sucking Tarantula used its eight legs to brace against the walls on either side, its eight eyes shining with an eerie light, looking down at Shao Zifeng. After a moment. The Blood-sucking Tarantula slowly raised its front limb. At its highest point, it paused. Watching the raised front limb, Shao Zifeng reached into his pocket, finding it empty. ¡°Gone, also good, at least it can live on safely.¡± Though he thought this, Shao Zifeng still felt a bit lost in his heart. ¡°Swoosh¡± At that moment, the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s front limb whistled down with a piercing sound. Shao Zifeng¡¯s pupils contracted. He blankly watched the sharp limb descending towards his head. ¡°Bang¡± In the nick of time, a small figure courageously met the incoming limb. It then flew back even faster, crashing into Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng was knocked to the ground by the sudden force, rolling several meters before stopping. Intense pain surged through his body, making his head a bit fuzzy. He heard a trembling and childish call beside his ear. ¡°Ying ying~¡± He struggled to open his eyes, seeing a small figure standing protectively in front of him. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Awakening Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Awakening Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The armadillo lizard was very scared, truly very scared, trembling all over. It rolled out of Shao Zifeng¡¯s pocket, sticking close to the wall, cautiously walking out. This wasn¡¯t its fault because this was their species¡¯ trait: when encountering danger, they would quickly run away. Even if they couldn¡¯t escape, they would curl themselves into a ball, presenting their hard spiky scales to the enemy. The little creature walked while turning its head, watching the immense shadow slowly approaching Shao Zifeng. Several times it wanted to stop and return to Shao Zifeng¡¯s side, but the cowardly nature of its kind made it impossible to control its desire to flee. Tears glistened as they rolled down its cheeks, dripping on the places it had walked over. It turned back again, seeing the shadow raise its sharp forelimbs, knowing what this represented. ¡°Has it left? That¡¯s good, at least it can live safely.¡± At this moment, a thought echoed in its mind, just like that day. It could clearly feel the meaning of this thought and the resulting sense of loss. The armadillo lizard froze. The times it spent with Shao Zifeng flashed before its eyes like scenes from a movie. Most of the time, it had curled itself into a ball, secretly watching the man who had always been by its side. ¡°Look at you, your scales are covered in sand. Let me clean them for you, I just learned how¡­¡± That man spoke gently to it. That was the first time the little creature enjoyed the service of having its scales polished, it felt very comfortable. ¡°Little guy, time to eat.¡± The first time it was fed, it could feel the fingers gently poking its scales. But it didn¡¯t care and continued curling into a ball, ¡°I don¡¯t know you well. Hmph.¡± ¡°What? Still angry?¡± Under the dim streetlights, the man smiled softly. It was the first time the armadillo lizard saw such a sincere smile on his face. More and more tears flowed down, the little creature sobbed softly, rubbing its eyes randomly with its tiny paws. Its body temperature gradually rose, and there seemed to be a fire burning in its pupils. ¡°Swish!¡± As the sound of splitting air rang out, the little creature, holding its tears, curled itself into a spiked ball and fearlessly rushed towards the forelimb of the Blood-sucking Tarantula. ¡­ Shao Zifeng curled up on the ground. The heavy blow to his chest and abdomen made him feel like all the bones in his body were shattered. Struggling to open his eyes, in his blurry vision, a small figure stood between him and the Blood-sucking Tarantula, occasionally letting out childish roars at the tarantula. Shao Zifeng could clearly feel a sense of fear, one not belonging to him. ¡°Little¡­little guy. You¡­you¡­go quickly.¡± Shao Zifeng felt his mouth dry, the strong taste of blood filling his mouth. His voice was a bit hoarse. His head grew more and more dizzy, his eyelids heavier and heavier. The armadillo lizard turned quickly at his voice. In a daze, Shao Zifeng could see the sparkle in its eyes. It shook its head at Shao Zifeng, then walked forward a few trembling steps. ¡°Hiss!¡± Smelling the blood scent on its forelimbs, the entire body of the Blood-sucking Tarantula shivered with excitement, its eyes turning bloodier. It let out a piercing screech, its eight spider legs, like a drunkard, stabbed at the armadillo lizard without any order. ¡°Swish¡± ¡°Swish¡± Each attack accompanied by the sound of splitting air, striking the armadillo lizard accurately. The little creature endured the attacks, using its short little paws to protect its head but refused to retreat even a step. Because, behind it, was the most important person. The scales on its back had already cracked, seeping blood. The Blood-sucking Tarantula grew more excited, its eight eyes fully turning blood red, roaring, and attacking faster and faster. ¡­ ¡°It hurts!¡± Suddenly, the semi-conscious Shao Zifeng was startled awake by a thought, just like the last time when he was about to be swallowed by a nightmare. He looked at the pitch-black night sky, not knowing where he was. ¡°It really hurts!¡± Another thought came. Shao Zifeng completely sobered up, recalling all that had just happened with the roars intermittently in his ear. He turned his head to look. A surge of anger arose. Under the attacks of the Blood-sucking Tarantula, the little creature¡¯s scales had long been shattered, the entire body a bloody mess. It closed its eyes, wobbling, but never taking a step back. The Blood-sucking Tarantula stopped its attack, its bloody spider eyes greedily gazed at the armadillo lizard. Its two forelimbs rubbed against each other, making a metallic sound, then opened its hideous mouthparts, biting towards the little creature. ¡°Go away, get away!¡± Shao Zifeng grabbed the ground with both hands, struggling to crawl towards the little creature. He still felt intermittent thoughts from the little creature in his mind, but they grew weaker and weaker. The anger in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart grew stronger, the small blue dots in the darkness started spinning rapidly. An invisible ripple spread out from him in all directions. At the moment the mouthparts were about to bite into the little creature, the Blood-sucking Tarantula stiffened all over, unable to move, its blood red spider eyes showing signs of struggle. In the silence, only Shao Zifeng continued to crawl towards the armadillo lizard, leaving a long trail of blood behind. ¡°Thump thump¡± As he got closer, in the quiet, it seemed there were two different heartbeats. The closer he got, the more synchronized the heartbeats became. ¡­ In the sea of dark consciousness, the little creature curled up into a ball, the position that made it feel most at ease, so there wouldn¡¯t be any unease or fear. A long time ago, it could no longer feel pain, only that its body grew lighter and colder. It wished it could fall asleep like this, it wished it could be petted again. In a daze, it seemed as if a man with a warm smile was waving at it. What a pity¡­ Just as its consciousness was about to dissipate, a familiar thought came, very warm, like fire, very comfortable. ¡°Thump thump¡± The heartbeat frequency became completely synchronized. ¡­ Just as Shao Zifeng touched the little creature, a flame surged on its body. The flame didn¡¯t harm it at all, and the bleeding wounds began to scab rapidly. Shao Zifeng marveled at the flame on his hand. It was very warm, with a magical force seeming to repair his internal injuries. By the bright fire, Shao Zifeng finally saw the full appearance of the Blood-sucking Tarantula. Aside from being much larger, it was no different from an ordinary spider, with blood-red spider eyes and jet-black body, making it look more ferocious. Its enormous spider abdomen was covered with dense fur like wolf bristles. Stimulated by the firelight, the Blood-sucking Tarantula struggled more and more intensely, its entire body beginning to shudder. Shao Zifeng worriedly watched the little creature wrapped in the flames, becoming anxious. In the darkness, the uneasiness in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart grew stronger. ¡°Creak¡± A tooth-aching sound of friction echoed. A glimmer of excitement appeared in the spider eyes of the Blood-sucking Tarantula. The partially open mouthparts had three sharp teeth on each side, stained with sticky saliva. Another few friction sounds, the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s body convulsed nonstop. With powerless legs, Shao Zifeng scooped up the little creature, holding it protectively, staring intently at the Blood-sucking Tarantula. ¡°Hiss¡± The moment the Blood-sucking Tarantula regained its mobility, it let out a hiss, its hideous mouthparts growing larger in Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. It seemed he could see some unknown broken limbs. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Empathy Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Empathy Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s ferocious mandibles got closer and closer, about to bite Shao Zifeng¡¯s head. At this moment, the flaming ball protected in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms throbbed violently, expanding into a giant, burning fireball. The bloodthirsty wolf spider hurriedly halted its momentum, its claws skidding on the ground, sending out sparks. It used its forelimbs to shield its head, slowly retreating a few steps. The burning fireball appeared quickly and disappeared just as fast. Moments later, it contracted swiftly and retracted back into the baby armadillo lizard¡¯s body. The alleyway plunged back into darkness, seeming even darker than before. ¡°Tap, tap, tap,¡± the bloodthirsty wolf spider, undeterred by the lack of flames, reopened its mandibles and lunged forward again. In the darkness, a pair of bright eyes suddenly opened, with two flames burning within the pupils. The little creature nuzzled Shao Zifeng gently with its head, then broke free from his embrace, shooting toward the bloodthirsty wolf spider like a bullet. The frenzied bloodthirsty wolf spider became overjoyed upon seeing the small creature rushing toward it, biting down and swallowing it in one gulp, with both rows of sharp teeth closing rapidly to prevent its escape. Seeing this, a mocking smirk curved across Shao Zifeng¡¯s lips. A flicker of panic flashed in the bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s crazed eyes, followed by bursts of flame shooting out from between its teeth. Its head and abdomen swelled like overburdened balloons, forming ugly bulges. It roared in agony, trying to spit the little creature out, but it was too late. As its mandibles opened, a beam of flame shot skyward from its mouth, causing its eight eyes to burst one by one, emitting tiny flames. The bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s abdomen expanded to the limit, and its rear exploded violently, unleashing a thick pillar of fire that swept through the alleyway. The alleyway returned to peace, with only the crackling of flames and the scent of scorching marking the fierce battle. Shao Zifeng caught the little creature as it leaped toward him, holding it tenderly in his hands, and stared at the bare armadillo lizard, then burst into laughter. The armadillo lizard, which had planned to nuzzle Shao Zifeng coquettishly, had tears in its eyes, its emotions ready but now bewildered by his laughter. With its small paw scratching its head, the little creature¡¯s body stiffened. The sensation felt unusual. The little creature brought its paw to its eyes, finding it bare. It trembled as it touched other parts of its body. Bald, purely bald. The little creature lay in Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand, eyes lifeless, resembling a wasted lizard. ¡ð|£þ|_ Shao Zifeng ignored the drama-king-like little creature, his peripheral vision catching the spinning light spots. [Name]: South African Armadillo Lizard [Growth]: Juvenile [State]: Slightly injured, Bloodline Ancestor [Power]: Tier 2 ¡­ [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Dry Aura: A favorite of fire elements, attracting weak fire elements around, can affect a small range area. This talent can grow with the improvement of one¡¯s own power. [Skills]: Defense, Fiery Breath, Flame Control [Description]: Bloodline Ancestor activated, the prideful dragon bloodline will not acknowledge cowardly kin. Weakness is not a reason to shy from battle, only by facing challenges bravely can one activate their bloodline. Power increased to Tier 2, learned the ¡°Flame Control¡± skill, and even received healing from the previous fatal injuries. It seemed these were the benefits of activating the dragon bloodline. Relieved that the little creature was unharmed, Shao Zifeng let out a breath. After a moment of silence, he looked at his left hand. He examined it closely for a long while, but the light spots remained motionless. Then, Shao Zifeng seemed to realize something, shut his eyes, and tried to sense it. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so mad! My beautiful scale armor is shattered, I¡¯m no longer pretty.¡± After a moment, a familiar consciousness emerged. Of course, it was Shao Zifeng interpreting the little creature¡¯s thoughts. At the instant he sensed this consciousness, Shao Zifeng opened his eyes abruptly, looking at his left hand again. The light spots began to spin slowly, faster and faster. [Name]: Human [Growth]: Growing [State]: Slightly injured [Power]: Unknown [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Primates [Family]: Hominidae [Attributes]: Unknown [Potential]: Unknown [Talent]: Empathy: Two hearts beat as one, your emotions affect others and vice versa. [Description]: A lucky individual. So it was true, this talent explained the strange emotional influences from earlier clearly. The previous battle had benefitted from this talent, as his emotions synchronized with the little creature¡¯s, allowing them to instantly understand each other¡¯s thoughts. The idea of rushing into the bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s mouth was an unintentional thought he had, received by the little creature, who then decisively acted on it. The bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s corpse was burnt to a shell, yet it still maintained its pose of roaring at the sky. Scattered around were still flaming pieces. Feeling mostly recovered, Shao Zifeng placed the playing-dead little creature back into his pocket. He prepared to leave. The recent commotion was substantial. Ordinary people might not dare come in, but the authorities might have already been notified. This area was in the old city district, so usually, officials would not arrive quickly, but staying too long could still spell trouble. After all, using an unregistered pet for battle was a significant offense. Additionally, from the bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s description, it was likely raised by someone deliberately. Recalling the morning news, Shao Zifeng supported himself against the wall and limped away. ¡­ Soon after Shao Zifeng left, two figures, one tall and one short, appeared before the bloodthirsty wolf spider¡¯s corpse. ¡°We arrived too late,¡± the tall figure said hoarsely after a moment of silence. ¡°It¡¯s just an experiment, nothing more than a time loss,¡± the short figure replied indifferently, revealing a female voice. ¡°The Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s pursuit is getting stricter, we don¡¯t have much time to waste.¡± The tall man paused before continuing, ¡°The Abnormal Administration Bureau has been distracted in the East City. Who exactly ruined our experiment? Get your Blood Mastiff to find that person.¡± The short woman shrugged, then traced a gesture in the air. A translucent rift appeared before them, and a half-human-sized long-haired black mastiff emerged, excitedly circling its master, tail wagging vigorously. The woman affectionately rubbed the Blood Mastiff¡¯s big head and said, ¡°Xiao Hua, remember this scent and find everyone who has been here recently.¡± The Blood Mastiff licked the woman¡¯s hand, raising its head and sniffing the lingering scents. ¡°Boom!¡± At that moment, a blaze erupted near the Blood Mastiff, blowing it away. The Blood Mastiff hit the ground heavily, struggling to stand, but failed several times. ¡°Abnormal Administration Bureau? That¡¯s impossible! Aren¡¯t you busy in East City?¡± The woman ran to the Blood Mastiff, glancing around in panic. The tall man also summoned his pet, taking a defensive stance. ¡­ On a distant rooftop, a tall figure watched the two in the alley, a white lab coat billowing in the night wind. He adjusted his glasses, a glint reflecting off the lens briefly. The man sneered, ¡°Eliminate them.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A fireball ascended, illuminating half the old city¡¯s night sky. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Madman Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Madman Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The old city district was ablaze, the night sky seemingly painted red, and the shockwaves from the explosion were still spreading through the air. Shao Zifeng looked in that direction, his expression somewhat complicated, lost in thought. The bald armadillo lizard also stared blankly at the overwhelming power of the explosion, a hint of envy in its eyes. After a moment of silence, Shao Zifeng was about to turn around, but stopped in his tracks. Under a streetlamp not far away stood a figure in a white lab coat, just as clean and neat as during the day, hair meticulously combed. He adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Want to grab a drink together?¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the epicenter of the explosion, vehicles from the Abnormal Administration Bureau, with flashing warning lights, were parked nearby. The original alley was completely unrecognizable, with a ten-meter-diameter crater left by the explosion, residual heatwaves emanating from it, and the old apartment buildings on both sides had collapsed. Fortunately, the apartments were already abandoned, so there were no civilian casualties. Li Zhenglong, in uniform, stood at the edge of the crater, his face as stern as a still pond, anyone could see he was struggling to suppress his anger. ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve got information on the three bodies at the scene.¡± A young operative from the Abnormal Administration Bureau saluted Li Zhenglong, holding a stack of file folders. ¡°Speak!¡± Li Zhenglong¡¯s voice was deep, not even turning his head. The young operative wiped his sweat discreetly, then nervously reported to Li Zhenglong. ¡°Mina, female, 24 years old, a native of Su City, studied abroad on personal funds for three years, and after returning, she joined Su City Broadcasting Station under the alias Xiaoxin, becoming a popular program host. Three days ago, Mina arranged for her parents to travel abroad, currently, she has no relatives in the country.¡± Perhaps because of the residual fire elements in the air, the young operative felt a bit parched and cleared his throat before continuing. ¡°Li Jianchi, male, 42 years old, a native of Su City, a businessman who originally made his fortune in import-export trade, later investing in Su City and establishing three factories and two companies. He currently has no family in the country.¡± ¡°Based on the clues left at the scene, analysis suggests¡­ they are highly likely to be connected to the group we¡¯re pursuing.¡± Li Zhenglong, still suppressing his rage, asked, ¡°What about the third body?¡± The young operative¡¯s mood was somewhat downcast, and he whispered, ¡°Chen Yan, female, 18 years old, from Chenjia Village in Su City, a freshman at Su City University, both parents deceased, and she had an elderly grandmother at home¡­ she is the victim.¡± ¡°Useless! All of you are useless! Is this the ¡®under control¡¯ situation you assured me? How do we still have casualties!¡± Li Zhenglong suddenly turned around and roared in anger. The operatives on site stopped their work, heads bowed in silence. Li Zhenglong glared around him, his eyes wide with fury, and continued scolding, ¡°Five people have been killed in three days. Tell me, how could we possibly earn the people¡¯s trust with this? Cat got your tongues? Weren¡¯t you all so capable otherwise?¡± He pounded his chest in agitation, unleashing his hometown dialect. ¡°Captain, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± The young operative from before spoke up softly. ¡°Spit it out!¡± Li Zhenglong glared at him. ¡°We suspect that the organization¡¯s people are involved,¡± the young operative cautiously said. Li Zhenglong¡¯s face changed, squeezing out a few words through clenched teeth, ¡°Those lunatics.¡± He remained silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Continue searching for clues. If it really is their people crossing the line, even if it costs me my uniform, they¡¯ll have to give an account.¡± ¡°Also, investigate anyone associated with Mina and Li Jianchi¡ªunits, companies, factories. I don¡¯t believe they can defy the heavens in Daxia!¡± Before getting into the car, Li Zhenglong turned back and said. After Li Zhenglong¡¯s car left, the scene became busy again with the Abnormal Administration Bureau operatives. In a shadowed corner far from the scene, an operative was furtively speaking into a phone. ¡°Xiaoli, what are you doing there? Come help me out.¡± A voice called from afar. Hearing someone call for him, the operative known as Xiaoli stuffed something into a crack in the wall, whispered a few more words into the phone, and then responded, ¡°Coming, Brother Wang.¡± ¡­ ¡°Xiaopei, you¡¯re off work? Xiaoli said she wanted to cook you a nice meal tonight.¡± ¡°Grandpa Sun, are you heading out for a walk?¡± Pei Yong chatted with the elderly man upstairs with a smile, and with a cheerful expression, he returned home, where his wife hurried over to greet him warmly. After sharing a moment of affection, Pei Yong excused himself, saying he had work to finish, and headed to the study. As the door closed, he glanced at his wife¡¯s joyful face, her pregnant belly, and her busy figure in the kitchen. A hint of struggle flashed across his face before it returned to calmness. ¡°Click¡± With the door shut, the last bit of light vanished from the study. Pei Yong fumbled to turn on his computer, entered one password after another on a webpage, and finally entered a chat room. ¡°Everyone is here. Let¡¯s start today¡¯s meeting.¡± The computer screen was pitch black, with thin white lines dividing it into eight sections, each representing a member of their organization. ¡°Li Jianchi, Mina are dead. The Daxia department has intervened. Our branch¡¯s plan has failed completely, and inside information revealed that the Abnormal Administration Bureau in Su City will conduct a large-scale investigation. Headquarters sent a message that all operations in Su City are to be frozen, and all members will go undercover and continue to lay low.¡± ¡°Without direct orders from headquarters, no one is to interfere with the investigation of this incident. Headquarters will send someone to take charge of the matter.¡± ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± A white shrinking line flashed across the screen, leaving the room in silence. Pei Yong leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. ¡°Maybe this way, at least, I¡¯ll live to see my child born.¡± Pei Yong heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Hubby, dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Hearing his wife¡¯s gentle voice, Pei Yong smiled warmly. ¡­ ¡°The beer here is quite good. Give it a try.¡± In a secluded bar in the old city, Shao Zifeng and Luo Feng sat across from each other. By this time, the chaos outside had long subsided, and except for the occasional passing Abnormal Administration Bureau vehicles, the old city seemed as usual. Shao Zifeng was now wearing the clothes Luo Feng had given him, intently watching the man who even brought his own glass to drink. ¡°Just who are you exactly?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t we here to drink? Try it first.¡± Luo Feng took another swig, letting out a long burp, his fair face flushing slightly. Shao Zifeng said nothing, simply staring fixedly at Luo Feng. The little fellow, seeing how much Luo Feng enjoyed the drink, crawled up to Shao Zifeng¡¯s glass and took a few sips. Instantly, it turned completely red, burped out a puff of black smoke, and then collapsed onto the table. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re not as interesting as the armadillo lizard.¡± Luo Feng laughed, slapping the table. Shao Zifeng watched the laughing Luo Feng, thinking this guy seemed to change personalities with just a bit of alcohol. The laughter gradually faded. Seeing Shao Zifeng still staring at him expressionlessly, Luo Feng felt a bit embarrassed and mumbled softly, ¡°Alright, fine, I¡¯ll talk.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s start with you first!¡± Clearing his throat, Luo Feng looked at Shao Zifeng. ¡°Shao Zifeng, 19 years old, from Longcheng in Su City, a sophomore majoring in cultivation at Su City University. Your mother, Shao Yuying, a retired teacher from Longcheng First Primary School, now runs a stray pet shelter in the western suburbs of Longcheng. Your father¡­¡± At this point, Luo Feng paused and glanced at him. Shao Zifeng tensed up, subconsciously clenching his fists. ¡°Your father, Zhou Zimin, once a junior officer in a subordinate unit of a certain army division, a military academy graduate with a promising future. However, during an emergency mission, he shirked out of fear, causing the deaths of all eighteen soldiers on the mission. In the end¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Shao Zifeng slammed the table, his eyes red, glaring at Luo Feng, emphasizing each word, ¡°What, do, you, want, to, say!¡± The bar owner glanced their way and, seeing the tense scene, muttered to himself and headed back to the kitchen. Shao Zifeng¡¯s emotions were in turmoil, and the drunk armadillo lizard instantly opened its eyes. It stumbled onto its feet, glaring at Luo Feng, and let out a small dragon roar. ¡°Whimper¡­ hic¡­ ¡± Then A puff of black smoke came out of its mouth. Armadillo lizard: (¡ã©`¡ã¡¨) The cute look diffused some of the tension. ¡°Alright, calm down. I¡¯m not your enemy. In fact, if I hadn¡¯t happened to be passing through the old city and dealt with two rats, do you think you¡¯d be sitting here safely?¡± Luo Feng gestured for Shao Zifeng to sit back down. ¡°So you came to tell me you saved me and then humiliate me?¡± Shao Zifeng retorted, not backing down. Calming down, he felt he had overreacted, but growing up in a single-parent household made him particularly sensitive, always trying to disguise his weakness, as if that would prevent him from getting hurt. ¡°No need to be so prickly. I don¡¯t need your thanks. I just wanted to help you for the armadillo lizard¡¯s sake. Do you know what you killed today? Although I did my best to erase the battle traces, it¡¯s impossible to guarantee no clues were left.¡± ¡°Even if you don¡¯t seek trouble, sometimes trouble finds you. I¡¯ve seen it too many times.¡± Luo Feng downed his beer, a rare forlorn expression on his face. ¡°With your father¡¯s history, becoming a combat training master is nearly impossible. But I can help you. Even if you don¡¯t fear death, think of your mother. I have high hopes for this little guy. Our organization needs new blood¡­ if you¡¯re interested, you can give me a call.¡± Luo Feng pushed a business card toward Shao Zifeng, adjusted his glasses, and spoke earnestly. Then, he grabbed his glass and stood up to leave. Shao Zifeng was overwhelmed, gently stroking the bald little fellow, who, sensing Shao Zifeng¡¯s thoughts, worriedly glanced at him before obediently lying down for more pats. ¡°Hey, the old city explosion¡­¡± Shao Zifeng called out to Luo Feng¡¯s back. ¡°I did it. After all¡­ my organization is seen as a bunch of lunatics by certain departments.¡± Luo Feng replied nonchalantly. As he pushed the door open, Luo Feng turned back and said, ¡°By the way, we are an official organization. Don¡¯t overthink it, kid.¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng quietly sat in the bar, contemplating everything that happened today. The little fellow had already curled into a ball, resting by his hand, asleep. Gently placing the sleeping little fellow in his pocket, Shao Zifeng stood up to leave. ¡°Hey handsome, you haven¡¯t paid for your drinks yet.¡± Shao Zifeng: ??? Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: In-School Free Challenge Tournament Chapter 14: Chapter 14: In-School Free Challenge Tournament Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Latest news: yesterday, in the old city district of our city, a natural gas leak caused a violent explosion. The explosion resulted in one death, and the city leaders have ordered the relevant departments to thoroughly review and reflect. Now, let¡¯s look at the detailed report¡­¡± In the rented room, Shao Zifeng splashed cold water onto his face, then stared at his own reflection in the mirror. Since he saw Luo Feng yesterday, he had a sense of urgency. He tossed and turned all night and barely slept. Perhaps, because there wasn¡¯t much chance of becoming a Combat Training Master, the original owner¡¯s memories only contained knowledge related to cultivation and some basic common sense. ¡°It seems I still have to rely on myself.¡± Shao Zifeng decided to find a way to understand this profession in the near future. Sure, he could directly call Luo Feng and tell him he was willing to join their organization. Maybe he could get Luo Feng¡¯s help or even support. But ultimately, in his heart, he couldn¡¯t trust anyone. Having made up his mind, Shao Zifeng went to take a look at the fish tank. The little guy was still asleep, and a gentle expression appeared on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face. Then he left the rented room and headed for the school. ¡­ Today, Su City University was quite lively. It was said that all the teachers of the Combat Training Department were recruited by the officials to assist the Abnormal Administration Bureau in a citywide search for suspects. Therefore, students with pet beasts were everywhere on the playground, either training or playing with their pets. Su City University¡¯s Combat Training Department was established a few years ago. With the relaxation of national policies and the influence of film, television, and celebrity Combat Training Masters, more and more young people chose to become Combat Training Masters. Under these circumstances, many non-combat universities added a Combat Training Department to cultivate more talents for the country. Students who graduated from the Combat Training Master profession mainly joined the military. The most outstanding ones were recruited by the military and special departments, while the remaining students chose to participate in various leagues and become Combat Training Master celebrities. ¡°I heard someone applied for a battle today. Let¡¯s go and check it out.¡± At this time, the words of the two students next to Shao Zifeng caught his attention. Shao Zifeng looked toward the battle scene and indeed saw a group of people gathered there. ¡°Have you heard? That junior Wang Hao is being super arrogant, saying he wants to fight everyone in the school.¡± ¡°Wang Hao? I remember his pet beast is a mutt, right?¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe Wang Hao had some good luck, and the mutt returned to its ancestral form. Hahaha.¡± Hearing his classmates¡¯ conversation, Shao Zifeng roughly understood the situation. It seemed that Wang Hao successfully contracted the round spot viper he bought from him. So, taking advantage of the absence of the Combat Training Department¡¯s instructors today, he flaunted his new pet beast. In a short while, the battle arena, the size of a basketball court, was crowded with onlookers, pointing and chatting about Wang Hao and the student opposite him. Wang Hao stood with his arms crossed on one side of the battle arena. His pockmarked face bore a smug smile, while his opponent, a thin, small male with black-framed glasses, seemed uneasy and not accustomed to such occasions, looking quite nervous. In addition to Wang Hao and the thin guy, there was also a coach and three medical staff in the arena. Because pet beast battles are high-risk activities, schools usually deploy a professional referee and several medical personnel when battles are requested to prevent casualties. Once both sides were ready, the referee held up an application form stamped with the school seal and displayed it to the students, announcing, ¡°The ¡®Internal Free Challenge Competition¡¯ requested by Wang Hao has been approved by the school.¡± After the presentation, the referee put away the application form and continued, ¡°This competition is a unilateral application by Wang Hao. During this period, any Combat Training Department student can challenge Wang Hao, and Wang Hao cannot refuse until there are no more challengers or Wang Hao admits defeat.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Instantly, the surrounding students erupted into cheers and whistles. Facing the energetic onlookers, Wang Hao¡¯s face glowed with excitement. He kept waving to the crowd, while the thin guy opposite him became even more nervous. ¡°Now I announce, the ¡®Internal Free Challenge Competition¡¯ officially starts. Both sides, please do your best to avoid maliciously injuring each other¡¯s pet beasts, or the department will file a lawsuit against the offending party.¡± ¡°Please, both parties, introduce yourselves and summon your pet beasts.¡± The crowd gradually quieted down, watching the two in the arena with anticipation. In most universities, especially in traditional institutions like Su City University, pet beast battles were rare, as they emphasized theory over practical combat. Due to this educational approach, the military had repeatedly proposed educational reforms. Therefore, the school¡¯s sudden approval of the students¡¯ battle applications was an unexpected event for many. Shao Zifeng could vaguely guess the reason, perhaps the school would gradually loosen the requirements for battle applications in the future. Hearing the referee¡¯s words, Wang Hao hastily pressed his palms together and widened his eyes. As he spread his palms apart, a semi-transparent rift slowly appeared. ¡°Come out, my War Sky Divine Dog!!!¡± Then, a lean mutt sprang from the rift and joyfully ran laps around Wang Hao. ¡°Third-year Combat Training Department student, Wang Hao. Pleased to make your acquaintance.¡± The crowd burst into laughter. Shao Zifeng face-palmed, thinking, ¡°Such an adult, but still so childish.¡± ¡°Second-year Combat Training Department student, Li Yiming. Please take care of me, senior.¡± Li Yiming looked as if he was about to cry. He initially didn¡¯t want to come but was forced by several seniors to challenge Wang Hao. Reluctantly, he drew a space rift, and a majestic rooster flew out. Shao Zifeng focused his attention, and the information of the two pet beasts appeared before him. [Name]: Mutt [Growth]: Growth Stage [State]: Healthy, Joyful [Strength]: Second Tier [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Canidae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï [Gift]: None [Skills]: Bite, Tackle [Description]: An impurebred mutt, full of energy, and the most loyal companion of humans. Unfortunately, apart from loyalty, it has no outstanding qualities. ¡­ [Name]: Rooster [Growth]: Growth Stage [State]: Healthy, Disdainful [Strength]: Second Tier [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Aves [Order]: Galliformes [Family]: Phasianidae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï¡î [Gift]: Arrogant: Naturally arrogant, it can only perform at its best under the command of someone it recognizes. [Skills]: Eagle Strike, Chain Pecking, Charge [Description]: Its gaze is always fixed on the clouds above. However, it can barely fly any distance now. When Wang Hao¡¯s mutt saw the rooster appear, it crouched down, ears pressed back, staring intently at it, growling menacingly. ¡°War Sky Divine Dog, together with your master, let¡¯s defeat that chicken¡­ Ah! No, I mean chicken¡­ Ah!¡± A male voice outside the arena jeered, whistling provocatively, while even some girls joined in the teasing. The mutt wagged its tail happily, barking in response to Wang Hao, not understanding what was going on. ¡°Rooster, I need your help again this time,¡± Li Yiming nervously said. The rooster glanced at him scornfully, turned its head away in disdain. Seeing the rooster¡¯s expression, Li Yiming lowered his head, clenched his fists, and trembled uncontrollably. ¡°I declare the match begins!¡± As the whistle blew, the mutt bolted towards the rooster like an unleashed wild horse. The battle was about to commence! Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Energy Potion Type I Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Energy Potion Type I Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation On the field, the rural dog¡¯s fierce bite was easily dodged by the rooster. The dog missed its target, turned its head with a growling sound, and continued to pounce at the rooster. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± As the battle started, Wang Hao¡¯s rural dog caught Shao Zifeng¡¯s attention. This rural dog looked quite rustic, but its combat style was so fierce, befitting a breed that has persisted on the land of Great Xia for thousands of years. After a while of back-and-forth fighting, Wang Hao occasionally gave commands, while Li Yiming simply stood there with his head down, letting the rooster act on its own. Although the rooster had higher quality, its talent prevented it from fully exerting its combat power, and it was eventually pinned down by the rural dog. Of course, the rural dog didn¡¯t fare much better. Its body was pecked bloody by the rooster, looking even more ragged with bald patches here and there. After the battle ended, Shao Zifeng stopped watching and turned away. Apart from the novelty, such fights didn¡¯t have the intensity he had imagined. The pecking between rookies was really uninteresting. ¡°Come out, my Rainbow Swallowing Sky Python¡­¡± Hearing Wang Hao¡¯s dramatic shout from afar, Shao Zifeng curled his lip. Were you trying to be a grassroots hero or what? ¡­ On the way back to class, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but ponder. He was thinking about nurturing the little guy. Of course, the problem before him was that due to his background, he might not be able to apply to become a Combat Training Master. Today, the school easily approved Wang Hao¡¯s battle application, seemingly because a lot of things had happened recently, prompting the higher-ups to decide on a change. From another perspective, the fact that criminal organizations dared to openly commit crimes on the land of Great Xia, disregarding its authority, was telling. And they managed to escape unscathed, forcing the authorities to mobilize all forces to hunt them down. It showed how deeply they were hidden, perhaps brewing some earth-shattering conspiracy. Thinking of this, Shao Zifeng shivered because he had a very bad premonition, coming soon¡­ ¡°Good morning, Shao Zifeng.¡± At this moment, an ordinary, unremarkable male voice sounded from behind. Hmm, seems like he heard it somewhere before? Shao Zifeng put on a smiling face, turned around, and said, ¡°Good morning to you too.¡± A plain-looking boy nodded slightly at Shao Zifeng and walked past him. Shao Zifeng stood there quietly, racking his brain. This scene felt so familiar, and what did that guy look like just now? After a while, Shao Zifeng shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and turned towards the teaching building. ¡­ In the large classroom, many classmates had already arrived. The classroom was a bit old, and there was always an unknown musty smell lingering at the tip of the nose every time he came here for class. ¡°Hey hey hey, look! There¡¯s a really handsome guy coming in.¡± A girl sitting by the wall in the second row used a book to cover her mouth, continuously nudging her companion with her elbow. The companion, who was originally drooling in her sleep on the table, was startled awake. ¡°Where? Where is the handsome guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s walking this way. Wipe your drool,¡± the girl reminded in a whisper. The sleeping girl wiped her drool while raising her head. She saw a tall, gentle-smiling boy walking past. When he saw her looking, he even nodded at her. ¡°So handsome! I feel like I¡¯m falling in love,¡± the sleeping girl said to her companion. Then she turned around, knocked on the desk behind her, and said to a slightly chubby boy, ¡°Three minutes. I want all his info.¡± ¡°Alright then, and no need for three minutes, I¡¯ll tell you straight away. Don¡¯t be fooled by his smiles, he¡¯s quite a proud fellow.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The sleeping girl knocked the chubby boy¡¯s head with a flick. ¡°Straighten your tongue when you speak, who taught you that ¡®accent¡¯?¡± She took another reluctant look at Shao Zifeng but didn¡¯t ask the chubby boy further. After all, bootlickers wouldn¡¯t lie to their goddess, right? In the distance, Shao Zifeng sat in the last row by the window, watching the students ahead with some sentiment. Only now did he finally feel a trace of familiar reality. These past few days had always felt like a dream to him. The sound of high heels echoed at the door, and soon, a slightly chubby middle-aged woman with short curly blond hair walked into the classroom. ¡°Class, today we will continue our study on the selection and use of energy potions.¡± Great. Looks like the dream has to continue. Putting aside distractions, Shao Zifeng finally listened carefully. Whether a Combat Training Master or a Breeder, a basic knowledge of energy potions was necessary. Energy potions were consumables developed by the National Academy of Sciences and the Pharmaceutical Society based on energy intake from Mutant Creatures, but their prices were not very affordable. On the market, even the most basic ¡°Energy Potion Type I¡± cost 1,000 yuan, not to mention the higher-level versions. Of course, you get what you pay for. A ¡°Type I¡± energy potion was enough to supply a first-tier pet beast with energy for three days. Moreover, long-term use of such potions had the effect of accelerating the growth, evolution, and healing of pet beasts. Shao Zifeng wanted to buy a few for the little guy, but he didn¡¯t have the official status of a Combat Training Master or a Breeder¡¯s certificate. Legitimate pet beast shops wouldn¡¯t sell to him. Shao Zifeng clenched his fist quietly, feeling a bit frustrated. ¡°Knock knock¡± The sudden knocking on the door interrupted the teacher¡¯s lecture. A middle-aged man whispered a few words to the female teacher. ¡°Is Shao Zifeng here?¡± The teacher raised her hand to quiet the somewhat chaotic students, then looked around and said. Seeing a dozen gazes directed at him, Shao Zifeng stood up with a smile and walked towards the classroom door. ¡­ ¡°Are you Shao Zifeng? We are agents from the Su City¡¯s Abnormal Administration Bureau. My name is Qian Cheng. Here is my ID and ¡®assistance investigation order.¡¯ Please come with us.¡± A young man in uniform smiled at Shao Zifeng while another agent, next to him, kept a stern face. Shao Zifeng knew their purpose and wasn¡¯t surprised that the Abnormal Administration Bureau paid attention to him. Now the bureau was in full force, conducting a carpet search for suspicious individuals. If they hadn¡¯t noticed him, who had been near the scene, he¡¯d find it strange. ¡°Agent Qian, I¡¯m entrusting this student to you; please don¡¯t let him get hurt,¡± the middle-aged man who accompanied the agents said with a smile, patting Shao Zifeng on the shoulder to reassure him. ¡°Director Zhao, don¡¯t worry. We will enforce the law impartially, not letting a single criminal go, nor wronging an innocent person.¡± ¡­ Director Zhao watched the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s car leave and then took out his phone. ¡°Director Luo, Shao Zifeng has been taken by the Abnormal Administration Bureau people.¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Lai 4å„¿ Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Lai 4¶ù Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Abnormal Administration Bureau, Su City. Upon arriving at the Abnormal Administration Bureau, Shao Zifeng got out of the car with Qian Cheng and the stern-faced agent. They hadn¡¯t made things difficult for him along the way, chatting casually as if making small talk. At that moment, another bureau car pulled up, and two agents got out, escorting a shifty-eyed middle-aged man. The man was looking around constantly, and his eyes lit up when he saw Qian Cheng. ¡°Agent Qian, Agent Qian, it¡¯s me, Sun Laisi.¡± After saying this, he broke free from the two young agents and ran to Qian Cheng, nodding and bowing in an attempt to please: ¡°Agent Qian, tell these two young comrades, I¡¯m not an outsider, there¡¯s no need to keep such a close watch, right?¡± ¡°Xiao Li, what¡¯s going on?¡± Agent Qian ignored Sun Laisi and smiled at the two young agents who had just arrived. ¡°Brother Qian, we received a report from a citizen saying this man was acting suspiciously. We went to check it out and found he was selling fake energy medicine. Caught him red-handed, so we brought him back,¡± Xiao Li said, glaring fiercely at Sun Laisi. Sun Laisi was displeased upon hearing this, slapped his thigh, and widened his eyes, saying, ¡°How can you falsely accuse an innocent person like this¡­¡± ¡°Innocent? I saw with my own eyes the fake medicine you were selling,¡± Xiao Li retorted. Sun Laisi¡¯s face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulged, and he argued, ¡°That medicine isn¡¯t fake! ¡­ Selling medicine! ¡­ It¡¯s a business deal, can it be called fake?¡± Then he mumbled about how there were real medicines inside and blamed the buyers for not being discerning. ¡°Real ones would be even worse! It¡¯s lucky you, Lai Si¡¯er, were selling fake medicine. If it were real, you¡¯d be looking at a long prison sentence!¡± Qian Cheng glared at him, laughing and scolding. Sun Laisi¡­ Sun Laiser shrank his neck and dared not speak. Listening to their conversation, Shao Zifeng quietly took note of the information. The original host knew little about this area, so he had to figure things out himself. These people dealing in shady business, while not very trustworthy, undoubtedly knew a lot about the city¡¯s underworld. At this moment, Xiao Li noticed Shao Zifeng and spoke: ¡°Brother Qian, who is this¡­?¡± Qian Cheng glanced at Shao Zifeng, his face showing hesitation. ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient to say, just pretend I didn¡¯t ask for confidentiality,¡± Xiao Li quickly said and gave Qian Cheng a knowing look. ¡°It¡¯s not something that needs to be confidential. During the explosion in the old city, this student Shao was on the scene. Captain Chen asked Shao to come to assist with the investigation,¡± Qian Cheng thought for a moment and decided there was no harm in revealing this. ¡°Oh? Student Shao was on the scene? Then, Student Shao, please assist us well,¡± Xiao Li laughed and took a step forward, intending to pat Shao Zifeng on the arm. Shao Zifeng stepped back half a step and nodded at him with a smile. Xiao Li¡¯s raised hand froze, then he casually lowered it and said to Qian Cheng, ¡°Brother Qian, you should go ahead. Captain Chen is still waiting.¡± After a few more pleasantries, Qian Cheng and the others escorted Shao Zifeng and left. Watching the three of them walk away, Xiao Li revealed an intriguing smile and whispered, ¡°Shao Zifeng.¡± Following Qian Cheng, Shao Zifeng suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He sensed malice coming from behind him and turned around to see Xiao Li waving at him with a cheerful smile. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Knock knock.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Hearing the voice from inside, Chen Zhenglong straightened his attire and pushed the door open. In front of him was a solemn office, bright and spacious, with a star dragon flag by the window. A mahogany desk and bookshelf were filled with folders, and at the moment, a slightly overweight middle-aged man was busy at his desk. ¡°Reporting to the director, Captain Chen Zhenglong of the Abnormal Administration Bureau, First Team, reporting.¡± Chen Zhenglong stood straight and saluted the middle-aged man. ¡°Zhenglong, you¡¯re here! Don¡¯t just stand there, come and sit,¡± the middle-aged man stopped his work and cheerfully walked up to Chen Zhenglong, pulling him toward the reception area, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, don¡¯t be so serious, and yet you still are.¡± ¡°Yes, Director,¡± Chen Zhenglong replied seriously. Seeing his demeanor, the director shook his head and no longer persuaded him. Chen Zhenglong was great in every aspect: dedicated to his work, responsible for the cases he handled. However, his military background made him famously stubborn in the bureau. ¡°Your team has been working hard lately.¡± After they sat down, the director made two cups of tea and handed one to Chen Zhenglong. ¡°The hard work is mainly on the brothers. I wonder why the director called me today?¡± Chen Zhenglong accepted the tea and set it aside. The director pondered for a moment and said to Chen Zhenglong, ¡°Today, your team brought back a student named Shao Zifeng, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Chen Zhenglong thought for a moment and added, ¡°Upon investigation, surveillance near the old city¡¯s alleys showed him before and after the incident. The second time, he appeared injured.¡± After hearing this, the director was silent for a moment and then spoke slowly, ¡°Let him go. He¡¯s not the person we¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°I need evidence,¡± Chen Zhenglong paused and looked seriously at the director. ¡°He¡¯s with them. Is that enough?¡± The director calmly made eye contact with Chen Zhenglong. Upon hearing this, Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eye twitched slightly, then he replied resolutely, ¡°Not enough.¡± ¡°The person in charge from their side in Su City called me personally. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°Not enough, Director. I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll leave now.¡± After saying that, Chen Zhenglong downed the tea in his cup and turned to leave. ¡°Chen Zhenglong, what exactly do you want to do!¡± The director slammed the table and shouted. ¡°There are suspicious circumstances around this student¡¯s presence. We can¡¯t stop the investigation just because of a request from them. I¡¯ll take personal responsibility for this matter, and I need an explanation.¡± Chen Zhenglong responded stiffly, his back to the director. ¡°Responsible? How can you be responsible!¡± The director¡¯s tone softened slightly. ¡°I know you have opinions about them. That¡¯s your private matter, and I won¡¯t interfere. But you must always remember one thing clearly, you represent the Abnormal Administration Bureau now! You¡¯re not Chen Zhenglong!¡± ¡°Regardless of beliefs, we and them are brother units. We both serve the country and the people. Think about it yourself.¡± Chen Zhenglong stood there, his mouth open but unable to say anything. ¡­ ¡°Shao Zifeng, you can go now.¡± Until he walked out of the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s door, Shao Zifeng was in a daze. The script didn¡¯t seem right. The various scenarios and invented excuses he had imagined had no chance to be used. Shao Zifeng recalled his experience at the Abnormal Administration Bureau today. He had spent half the day in the interrogation room, enjoyed free WIFI, and even got a free lunch. It seemed like he came out ahead? ¡°Hmm, if they send me back, it would be perfect. At least, I should give them a five-star rating,¡± Shao Zifeng thought to himself. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Black Market and Naming Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Black Market and Naming Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Peh, look at your awful self, still pretending in front of Grandpa.¡± Sun Laisier walked out of the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s gate and spat fiercely towards it. He felt like he had the worst luck today. He had finally hooked a big fish, but two agents suddenly appeared and messed everything up. Not only did he get a scolding, but his goods were confiscated. Those ten bottles of fake ¡°Energy Drink Type I,¡± each diluted with one-tenth of a bottle of genuine product¡ªalthough each bottle wasn¡¯t as effective as the real thing, the total amount was still the same. The more Sun Laisier thought about it, the angrier and more heartbroken he became. He went back and spat at the gate again. When the agent guarding the door glared at him, he fled in fright. While running and looking back, he cursed, ¡°Sun, you scoundrel, if you have the guts, don¡¯t let Grandpa out.¡± At this moment, a tall young man blocked Sun Laisi¡¯s path, smiling at him. ¡­ ¡°Are you Lai Si¡¯er?¡± Shao Zifeng smiled at the short, rat-faced old man standing in front of him, who was only about 1.6 meters tall. Sun Laisier was stunned for a moment, then his eyes darted around, and he showed a lewd smile, ¡°Are you that student from this morning? What¡¯s up, looking for your Grandpa for something?¡± Shao Zifeng, having seen many of the world¡¯s evils since he was young, knew that when dealing with people like this, you can¡¯t let them know your intentions unless you have absolute control. Otherwise, they¡¯ll bite you like the greediest rats. ¡°Not really, just saw you know people in the Abnormal Administration Bureau and thought I¡¯d get to know you. It never hurts to have more friends.¡± Shao Zifeng said with a smile. Though Shao Zifeng knew he needed to be cautious with an old slickster like this, his lack of social skill made giving a flattering remark without sounding stiff a challenge. Sun Laisier, an old rogue living on his wits and skills at the bottom of society, could tell at a glance that this student must need something from him. Although he could see this, he had no idea what the student¡¯s intentions were, so he pretended to be oblivious to try and gain as much as he could. Also, being complimented by a university student, even if a bit stiff, greatly satisfied Lai Si¡¯er¡¯s vanity. ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve been in Su City for many years, and have some status. If you have a problem, just find your Grandpa, and I¡¯ll take care of it beautifully. Just¡­ heh heh.¡± Lai Si¡¯er rubbed his fingers together and flashed two rows of yellow teeth in a probing manner. ¡°What are you talking about, what can a student like me have trouble with? I just felt a connection with you and wanted to treat you to a drink,¡± Shao Zifeng lied, aware that disclosing his real intentions would be unwise. Lai Si¡¯er perked up at the mention of drinks and dragged Shao Zifeng across the street to a small restaurant. Shao Zifeng resisted the urge to shake him off and followed with a stiff expression. The small restaurant was modest but well-equipped. Shao Zifeng booked a private room and ordered a few dishes. Lai Si¡¯er started drinking, most of which he gulped down himself. Shao Zifeng occasionally added stiff praises, encouraging Lai Si¡¯er to drink even more enthusiastically. Shao Zifeng realized that although Lai Si¡¯er liked to drink, his tolerance wasn¡¯t great. After downing two glasses of strong alcohol, he started boasting extravagantly about things far and wide. Shao Zifeng searched for useful information in his words. ¡­ ¡°Hic~ Kid, if you like¡­ hearing strange stories, today¡­ hic¡­ Grandpa has one for you.¡± Lai Si¡¯er slouched over the table with a bottle in his hand, looked at Shao Zifeng with a mysterious expression. Shao Zifeng, already annoyed by Lai Si¡¯er¡¯s bragging, perked up at his words, poured another cup of alcohol, and said, ¡°Drink up, Grandpa.¡± Lai Si¡¯er contently chuckled, raised the glass, and took a big swig. ¡°Kid¡­ do you¡­ hic¡­ do you know¡­ about the black market¡­¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng stood up with a blank expression, looking at the unconscious Lai Si¡¯er sprawled on the table, with a disdainful frown. He settled the bill and stepped out. The fresh air cleared his mind. Recalling what Lai Si¡¯er had said, Shao Zifeng smiled slightly. It seemed like getting the initial training potion for the little guy wouldn¡¯t be a problem. According to Lai Si¡¯er, every Saturday night from three to four in the morning, in the quietest part of the city, in an abandoned neighborhood in Su City¡¯s old district, some shady people would hold a trade market there. The market had no limits on people or trade items; as long as you deemed something valuable, you could trade it there. The energy drinks he used to dilute the fake potion were bought from the black market. Despite Lai Si¡¯er¡¯s claims, Shao Zifeng only believed a fraction of his words. Lai Si¡¯er boasted that a friend of his once bought a regressed evolved weasel cub there, which evolved into the Bull Demon King. Now that¡¯s just nonsense. Not to mention whether the Bull Demon King is one of the Twelve National Beast Guardians in Great Xia, the mere idea of a weasel regressing into the Bull Demon King is preposterous. ¡­ After taking the bus back to his neighborhood, Shao Zifeng hadn¡¯t stepped in when he sensed a faint mix of emotions¡ªloneliness, grievance, and some attachment and longing. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± The little guy¡¯s emotions had become so rich? Its quick emotional changes could win it an acting award. Opening the door, Shao Zifeng saw the bald little creature gazing intently in the direction of the door. At the moment Shao Zifeng walked in, a hint of joy flashed in its eyes. Then it quickly turned around, curled into a ball, and ignored Shao Zifeng. Armadillo Lizard: (*£þ¦ä£þ) Squatting down to look at the sulking little creature, Shao Zifeng gave a gentle smile and reached out to poke the soft bald ball. ¡°Little guy¡­ Hmm, I can¡¯t keep calling you little guy, how about giving you a name?¡± On the surface, the little guy didn¡¯t respond, but Shao Zifeng could sense the change in its emotions. Through this period, he gradually understood a bit about his ¡°empathy¡± ability. The more familiar he was with a person or pet, like with the little guy because of their emotional resonance, the easier it was to sense the little guy¡¯s inner changes. For unfamiliar people, if they had minor emotional fluctuations, like Qian Cheng and Lai Si¡¯er, he couldn¡¯t sense it. But if the emotions were targeted at him, Shao Zifeng could quickly feel the ill intentions, such as from Xiao Li. Thinking about the cheerful agent from the Abnormal Administration Bureau, Shao Zifeng felt a shadow loom over his heart. ¡°Yingying aow~¡± The little guy couldn¡¯t hold its grudge anymore and cooed at Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng brushed away the clutter in his thoughts and gently petted the little one. ¡°Such a little demon.¡± The little guy, trying to be cute, rubbed its bald head against Shao Zifeng¡¯s large hand. ¡°Listen up,¡± Shao Zifeng said, pretending to be deep in thought. ¡°Yingying aow~¡± The little guy nodded seriously, looking earnest. After a moment, Shao Zifeng smiled and said, ¡°How about naming you Kunlutukatakarikotsuzisila?¡± Armadillo Lizard: ??? What did you say? Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 "Black Market"? Chapter 18: Chapter 18 ¡°Black Market¡±? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Saturday, 2 a.m. Shao Zifeng stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself. A baseball cap covered half his face, sunglasses hid his eyes, and a disposable surgical mask concealed most of his features. He carried a travel bag stuffed with tens of thousands of cash, not daring to bring too much. Based on what he had seen in books and movies, he knew the black market was a lawless land with no rules. Taking a deep breath to suppress his excitement, he turned to look at the little creature on his bed, playing with a ball, or more accurately, rolling itself into one. ¡°Florence, let¡¯s go,¡± Shao Zifeng called out. The little creature heard Shao Zifeng¡¯s call and quickly unrolled from a ball, stretching out into a bald lizard. It wasn¡¯t as bald anymore; after a few days of rest, fine scales had begun to cover its body again, though the new scales were slightly red. The little creature ran to Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet, looking up at him expectantly, its tail sweeping the ground back and forth. ¡°Got it, then¡­ Qiuqiu, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yingyingao~¡± Seeing the little creature crawl onto his shoulder and rub against his mask, Shao Zifeng helplessly shook his head. When he was naming Qiuqiu, he had racked his brain, and with the help of Mr. Qiandu, managed to come up with a few satisfactory names. But Qiuqiu wasn¡¯t pleased. It threw a tantrum upon hearing those names, curling into a ball and ignoring him. Looking at the soft, round creature in front of him, almost bald from pulling out his own hair, Shao Zifeng had a moment of inspiration and named it ¡°Qiuqiu.¡± After learning from Shao Zifeng what the name meant, Qiuqiu joyfully accepted it, being particularly fond of curling up into a ball. Shao Zifeng had watched Qiuqiu happily rolling around, thinking deeply. He decided it was necessary to give it a proper name because calling it Qiuqiu when it grew up didn¡¯t seem appropriate. Maybe by then, it would demand a name change. ¡­ Shao Zifeng, with Qiuqiu, navigated through various residential areas in the old town. Their destination, an old-sounding place called ¡°Happiness Sunshine Community,¡± had him feeling a bit uneasy about the dark alleys after the Blood-sucking Tarantula incident. He always felt that stepping into a dark alley would cause eight blood-red spider eyes to light up in the darkness. Qiuqiu, just over ten centimeters long, gripped Shao Zifeng¡¯s ear, standing up occasionally humming, though Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t understand what it wanted to express, he felt a happy emotion surrounding him. ¡°Happiness Sunshine Community¡± was located on the edge of the old town, and not far west of the community was a village. It was said that during the construction of the community, some children from the village were accidentally killed by a construction vehicle, causing the entire project to halt. Later, as the city center moved east, the community was further neglected and abandoned. Before reaching the community, Shao Zifeng saw a bright light overhead from the direction of ¡°Happiness Sunshine Community,¡± proving that Lai Si¡¯er hadn¡¯t been exaggerating; there really were people here. As he approached, he sensed that it wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed, faint rhythmic country music gradually reached his ears. Hmm¡­ the black market, inhabited by society¡¯s bottom dwellers shunned by mainstream society, low taste could be expected¡­ What the heck!!! What kind of black market had scantily clad girls on stage trucks, carelessly flaunting their youth? Shao Zifeng, engaging in self-delusion, stood petrified at the sight before him. In the middle of ¡°Happiness Sunshine Community,¡± on an undeveloped plot of land, temporary bright lights were erected, each illuminating a small stall. Stalls displayed various items, from imitation antiques to junk electronics, and even a young woman with a child picking out flashing balloons and bracelets. The rhythmic country music, skimpily dressed girls awkwardly dancing, orderly stalls being advertised through loudspeakers, and buyers joking and laughing like ordinary citizens! There were even Abnormal Administration Bureau officers in uniform maintaining order! Just this? Just this? Was this the legendary black market where people devoured others without spitting out bones? Was this the black market teeming with business opportunities, even hosting atavistic Bull Demon Kings? I don¡¯t believe it! Crooked old man is really devious! ¡°Comrade, please show your identification and cooperate with the inspection.¡± As Shao Zifeng mentally ranted, two Abnormal Administration Bureau officers, along with their pet beasts, approached, cautiously eyeing the fully equipped Shao Zifeng. Two canine pets stepped forward, sniffing his pants. A light blue screen popped up. [Name]: Arresting Dog [Growth]: Mature stage [Status]: Healthy, Alert [Strength]: Tier 3 ¡­ [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï [Talent]: Vigilance: Always maintaining alertness, they can quickly dodge any ambush. [Skills]: Bite, Tackle, Howl, Tearing Claw Strike, Wind and Lightning [Description]: Official pet beast designated by the Abnormal Administration Bureau, completing final evolution at the Police Dog Academy to become arresting dogs, they are then assigned to various locations as officers¡¯ partners. A dog with credentials, aren¡¯t you afraid? This was the first time Shao Zifeng had seen an official pet beast of this kind. The arresting dog stood about 1.2 meters tall, with a robust build, covered in short black fur, and had long white hair resembling a horse¡¯s mane extending from its ears to its shoulder blades. The two arresting dogs circled Shao Zifeng, then suddenly noticed Qiuqiu on his shoulder, baring their teeth and growling at it. Since killing the Blood-sucking Tarantula, Qiuqiu¡¯s confidence had soared. With the arresting dogs so close to Shao Zifeng, sniffing him, Qiuqiu was already unhappy; now they were growling at it? Have they ever seen a spider as big as a millstone? ¡°Yingyingao~¡± Qiuqiu responded to the arresting dogs with a fierce baby growl, its eyes seemingly flashing with fire. The Abnormal Administration Bureau officer grew more vigilant upon seeing this, ¡°Comrade, please have your pet beast cease its threatening behavior, or we will take coercive measures.¡± On hearing their master¡¯s words, both arresting dogs lowered their front bodies, baring their teeth, ready to pounce Shao Zifeng to the ground. ¡°Comrade, comrade, let¡¯s talk this through. I¡¯m not a bad guy.¡± Shao Zifeng raised one hand and slowly removed his mask and sunglasses with the other. Realizing it might have caused trouble, Qiuqiu curled into a ball, grumbling in displeasure. Now Shao Zifeng was in a panic; private possession of aggressive pet beasts was illegal and could get him into serious trouble. Unexpectedly, the two officers, after checking his identification, simply asked him a few questions and left. Shao Zifeng stood there for a while, unsure of what to do as he faced a place more reminiscent of a rural market. ¡°Since I¡¯m here, might as well take a look,¡± he mumbled to himself, walking into the ¡°black market.¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Buying a Knife, Getting a Sword? Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Buying a Knife, Getting a Sword? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Shao Zifeng walked into the ¡°black market,¡± and the first thing he felt was the noise. Various shouts could be heard non-stop, like the one from the stall next to him, where a loudspeaker was promoting. ¡°Antiques and calligraphy, selling antiques and calligraphy, just dug out from an ancient tomb, eighty percent new¡­¡± Shao Zifeng looked at the stall of the old man selling antiques and calligraphy. There were rows of brand new porcelain and bronze artifacts, and Shao Zifeng even saw a scroll with packaging imprinted with ¡°Souvenir from Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.¡± ??? Little question marks, do you have many¡­ Pfft, pfft, can our ¡°black market¡± do business this carelessly? Just because we call it a ¡°black market,¡± does it really have to be this shady? Shao Zifeng kept lamenting along the way. ¡°Young man, come here, young man.¡± At this moment, Shao Zifeng heard a somewhat hoarse male voice from a stall to his left. Shao Zifeng turned his head to look, only to see a middle-aged man with a wrinkled face behind a stall full of old radios and tapes, beckoning him incessantly. Curious, Shao Zifeng walked over and scanned the man¡¯s stall. Aside from some radios and tapes that were no longer common in the market, he didn¡¯t find anything of value. Shao Zifeng looked questioningly at the stall owner. The stall owner said mysteriously, ¡°Young man, have you ever heard of mutant creatures with the ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute?¡± Of course, Shao Zifeng knew about mutant creatures with the ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute. They appeared out of nowhere around the world one day in 2005, following the ¡°First Unknown Recovery Event.¡± These semi-transparent beings were children of the night and shadows, immune to physical harm. It wasn¡¯t until someone accidentally captured the transformation of a dying mutant creature on film that people understood their origin. These later came to be known as ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute mutant creatures. Though they can be contracted, most harbor immense hatred for humans, having been killed directly by humans or indirectly sacrificed in wars. After 2005, the appearance of mutant creatures with the ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute became much rarer. The upper echelons of the country speculated that ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute creatures might be born of another phase of unknown recovery, hence 2005 was also known as the ¡°Second Unknown Recovery Event.¡± ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute mutant creatures were always scarce. If possible, Shao Zifeng also wanted to contract one¡­ if he could solve the vetting issues, that is. ¡°Do you have any?¡± Shao Zifeng grew impatient. The bizarre experiences of the night left him with no patience for more nonsense; he just wanted to buy the energy potion and leave this weird place. ¡°My surname is Chen. I once ran a haunted house in Jiujiang City. I have tapes here that will attract creatures with the ¡°ÓÄ¡± attribute. If you¡¯re lucky, you might want to try your luck.¡± The man surnamed Chen looked at Shao Zifeng with an enigmatic smile. ¡°Hey¡­ hey, young man, don¡¯t go, listen.¡± The middle-aged stall owner quickly pressed a button on a radio, which emitted a buzzing static before a muffled male voice could be heard saying, ¡°¡­it hurts¡­¡± Shao Zifeng looked at him as if he were an idiot and said slowly, ¡°There¡¯s a woman in my shadow who kills people with her hair, do you believe it?¡± Then he ignored the man and continued walking in. Qiuqiu sensed Shao Zifeng¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t good and was a bit at a loss. Standing on Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, it looked around, trying to help find a target. Suddenly, it seemed to sense something, tugged at Shao Zifeng¡¯s hair, and pointed to a stall. ¡°Ying ying ao~¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, Qiuqiu?¡± Shao Zifeng, who was carefully observing both sides of the stalls, suddenly sensed Qiuqiu¡¯s excitement and anticipation. ¡°Ying ying~ ying~ ao~¡± Qiuqiu pointed at a stall with cold weapons, chattering and gesturing as if to tell Shao Zifeng there were good things over there. Shao Zifeng stopped and turned to look where Qiuqiu was pointing. Before an elderly man in traditional Chinese clothing, several Tang swords and Han swords were neatly arranged. Shao Zifeng scanned each one, and as he glanced past a Tang sword, his gaze froze, and a few blue dots began rotating in his peripheral vision. [Name]: Tang Hengdao Scabbard [Attribute]: Fire [Quality]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï [Condition]: Intact [Description]: A scabbard of superior quality compared to the original sword. After the original sword was damaged, it was only used to store some ordinary iron. [Function]: Unknown Seeing these lines, Shao Zifeng was at a loss for words. He hadn¡¯t expected his Golden Finger to also have an effect on energy-containing items; this way, he wouldn¡¯t miss out on valuable treasures in the future. Shao Zifeng patted Qiuqiu¡¯s smooth head to encourage it. Leisurely, he walked up to the stall of the elderly man in traditional clothing and stole a glance at him. The old man, appearing to be in his seventies, was dozing with his eyes closed. ¡°Grandpa, how much is this Tang sword?¡± Shao Zifeng calmly picked up the Tang sword and asked. The old man didn¡¯t open his eyes in response but stretched out a palm with no missing fingers. ¡°50?¡± Shao Zifeng asked cautiously. ¡°5000.¡± The old man opened his eyes, glared at him, and said grumpily. ¡°Grandpa, isn¡¯t 5000 a bit expensive? How about 500?¡± Shao Zifeng tried, recalling scenes of negotiating prices while shopping with his mom. ¡°Hmm¡­ seeing as we have a connection, I¡¯ll take a loss today. 500 it is. Alipay or cash?¡± The old man in traditional clothing flashed a cunning smile and quickly pulled out his phone, opening the Alipay app. Shao Zifeng was bewildered as he looked at the information on the Tang Hengdao. What? Why do you look like you made a killing? After paying, Shao Zifeng unsheathed the Tang Hengdao, and a flash of cold light appeared. ¡°Whoa.¡± It shouldn¡¯t have been unsheathed under a bright light, it was blinding. The blade¡­ huh? Isn¡¯t this a sword? The trembling blade had ¡°Tai Chi¡± inscribed on it. This is probably the sword used by elderly folks for practicing Tai Chi, right? Merchants truly are cunning, even an honest-looking old man. Anyway¡­ you might make a profit, but I¡¯ll never lose. Glancing again at the scabbard¡¯s information, Shao Zifeng contentedly sheathed the sword. Shao Zifeng spent the rest of the time browsing other stalls. Finally, at a stall selling pet supplies, he saw traces of ¡°Energy Potion Type I (Fire).¡± Unfortunately, each bottle¡¯s energy purity was only around 2%. Compared to him, Lai Si¡¯er truly seemed a paragon of integrity and kindness. At four o¡¯clock, agents of the Abnormal Administration Bureau began clearing the area, and Shao Zifeng followed the crowd out of the complex. Once the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s vehicles left and the crowd thinned out, Shao Zifeng noticed a strange phenomenon. Among the people, a dozen or so had put on masks and face coverings at some point and were heading towards another part of the complex with their heads down. Curious, Shao Zifeng discreetly donned a mask and sunglasses and trailed behind those people. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Underground World Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Underground World Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Shao Zifeng trailed behind the group of people. After more than ten minutes, they arrived beside a dilapidated building. One of them stepped forward and knocked on the wall. Moments later, ¡°Clack!¡± The middle of the wall slowly parted, revealing an entrance wide enough for two people. Shao Zifeng glanced around, memorized the surroundings, and followed the group through the entrance, only to discover it was a spacious elevator. A feeling of weightlessness swept over him as the elevator began to descend rapidly. -1M¡­-23M¡­-107M¡­-187M Shao Zifeng watched the numbers displayed above the elevator door. His heartbeat gradually sped up. He felt he was about to come into contact with an extraordinary power. ¡°Ding-dong, destination reached.¡± The elevator door slowly opened. Harsh lights and cacophonous noises swept over Shao Zifeng like a heat wave, causing him a moment of dizziness. In front of his eyes was a vast underground space, estimated to be tens of thousands of square meters. The sleek silver decor made it look like the interior of a spaceship from a sci-fi movie. Shao Zifeng walked out with the crowd, gazing up at the ceiling several meters above, embedded with rows of fluorescent lights that made it seem like daytime. He felt a moment of vertigo. The people here carried various pets with them. Some were chatting, while others were handling business at service counters on the edge of the space. Occasionally, combat training masters with flying pets would swoop low, causing gusts of wind to lift the hems of people¡¯s clothes, eliciting screams from women. In the center of the vast space was an enormous pit surrounded by a railing. Hundreds of people crowded around, either shouting, gasping, or cursing hysterically. Shao Zifeng approached and saw that below the pit was a structure resembling a Roman amphitheater. On the stone-built beast-fighting platform, two pets were standing and intertwining madly, tearing and biting each other. Blood splattered across the platform, fresh blood covering dark, dried bloodstains. The sight of blood excited the crowd, their eyes turning red and their shouts growing louder. The mix of modern and ancient, the clash of civilization and barbarism¡ªthe stark contrast of styles made Shao Zifeng acutely aware of the various negative emotions in the air. Shao Zifeng saw the pets with their overturned fur and bloodstains. He couldn¡¯t help but frown in discomfort. Qiuqiu had already covered its eyes with its little paws, pressing its head against Shao Zifeng¡¯s neck, letting out a low whimper, urging Shao Zifeng to leave. Leaving the central beast-fighting platform, Shao Zifeng walked toward the service counter at the edge of the space. ¡°Hello sir, what business would you like to handle?¡± A young woman in uniform with a professional smile asked softly from behind the counter. ¡°Uh¡­ it¡¯s my first time here. Could you please give me an introduction?¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated slightly. After seeing this place filled with indulgence, he felt a bit discouraged. ¡°Sure, sir. This is a comprehensive service platform. Here, you can post or receive tasks, buy or sell pet items or mutant creatures, participate in beast fights, or place bets on pets you favor. Additionally, you can train pets or learn skills based on personal needs.¡± After carefully explaining the services, the young woman continued, ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time here, sir, how about registering some personal information?¡± Shao Zifeng felt tempted but hesitated because he didn¡¯t have a legal combat training master identity and didn¡¯t want to reveal personal information, so he remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. You only need to register a pseudonym. After registration, we will provide you with an identity number. Your pseudonym will only be displayed if you choose to reveal it yourself.¡± The young woman behind the counter seemed to discern Shao Zifeng¡¯s concern and smiled gently. Feeling reassured, Shao Zifeng found it difficult to come up with a pseudonym. He was embarrassed to seek help from Qiuqiu¡¯s teacher in front of the young woman, scratching his head anxiously. Even Qiuqiu couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, suggesting names like ¡°Eggy¡± or ¡°Roundy,¡± similar to ¡°Qiuqiu.¡± Just then, Shao Zifeng noticed his Tang sword. The sheath faintly bore the inscription ¡°Hidden Edge.¡± He happily adopted this as his code name. Though Qiuqiu couldn¡¯t read, it sensed that the two characters Shao Zifeng inputted were different, and angrily bit Shao Zifeng¡¯s ear with its toothless mouth. ¡°You tasteless, foolish biped.¡± ~~(¦è¦è)~~~ ¡°Alright, Mr. Hidden Edge, your personal number is 9331. What business would you like to handle?¡± The young woman cheerfully entered Shao Zifeng¡¯s information into the platform¡¯s database and asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase some Fire Attribute Energy Potion Type I. How do I complete the transaction?¡± After searching through the night, Shao Zifeng was finally able to buy what he wanted, feeling somewhat excited. Qiuqiu, not knowing what Shao Zifeng intended to do, sensed his slight excitement and mimicked an excited expression, glancing at the young woman. It adjusted its expression to match Shao Zifeng¡¯s. Hmm, Shao Zifeng¡¯s skin should be redder. Qiuqiu glanced at its own pale white body, feeling it didn¡¯t quite match. Then, it started brainstorming how to turn its skin red. Suddenly, an idea struck. Secretly, it gathered a ball of fire element in its mouth and swallowed it down with a gulp. Instantly, Qiuqiu¡¯s entire body swelled up a bit, turning visibly redder. Not wanting Shao Zifeng to notice its awkward state, it clenched its mouth shut. As thin wisps of black smoke seeped from its nostrils and ears, Qiuqiu¡¯s body returned to normal. Then, acting nonchalantly, it glanced around and, seeing that Shao Zifeng hadn¡¯t noticed, breathed a sigh of relief and curled into a ball. ¡°So mad at myself, hmph.¡± o(¨i©n¨i)o As Shao Zifeng waited for the young woman behind the counter to search for sale information, he didn¡¯t notice Qiuqiu¡¯s solo performance. Luckily, he didn¡¯t, or Qiuqiu would have been mortified. ¡°Mr. Hidden Edge, we found 28 sale entries. The average price is 1200 yuan per vial, how many would you like?¡± The young woman asked with a smile. Indeed, 200 yuan more expensive than the official price, but still not too bad. As for how many, Shao Zifeng pondered. From his research, he knew that a young pet¡¯s infancy period was very short. Typically, five energy potions would suffice for an infant¡¯s nutritional needs, but Qiuqiu had dragon bloodline. It¡¯s widely known that dragons are long-lived species, requiring eons to mature into an adult dragon. Even though using energy potions could hasten growth without harming the pet¡¯s potential, it still far exceeded ordinary pets. ¡°I¡¯ll start with ten vials. How do I make the payment and collect my purchase?¡± Shao Zifeng asked curiously. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Mission Hall Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Mission Hall Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°We can help you apply for an anonymous savings card, transfer the money there, and then allocate the amount to your identity on our platform,¡± the receptionist explained softly to Shao Zifeng. In simple terms, Shao Zifeng¡¯s alias ¡°Zang Feng¡± functions like an account. It also allows him to request a personal storage locker, where he can deposit money and items, purchase goods, or post missions. The platform will directly deduct the corresponding amount from his account for the goods purchased. If he submits a mission, the reward will also be allocated directly to his account. The money and items can be freely withdrawn by the owner, with a certain service fee charged by the platform. Shao Zifeng considered it for a moment. Besides the 30,000 he had previously withdrawn, he still had 520,000 in his bank card. He deposited 500,000 into his ¡°Zang Feng¡± account to serve as a fund for activities. ¡°Ding~¡± ¡°Dear 9331, the 10 Fire Energy Potions Type I you purchased have been stored in your locker, with a deduction amount of 12,000 yuan. You can choose to pick them up yourself or have them delivered to your door. Enjoy your day.¡± The moment Shao Zifeng inserted the anonymous SIM card into his phone, he received this message. With the receptionist¡¯s guidance, Shao Zifeng downloaded the platform app, logged into his account, and checked his assets. As expected, 12,000 yuan had been deducted. After bidding farewell to the receptionist, Shao Zifeng went to the storage area and located the locker displaying his number among the densely packed cabinets. He opened the locker and checked the 10 energy potions. Sure enough, they were all genuine with an energy purity of more than 99%. Then, Shao Zifeng took one out. Qiuqiu perched on his shoulder and stretched its neck to see what it was. Instantly, its eyes widened, and it conveyed a sense of longing to Shao Zifeng, coquettishly begging him. Shao Zifeng opened a bottle and handed it to Qiuqiu, who quickly grabbed it with its tiny paws. ¡°Ton ton ton~ burp~¡± After drinking the energy potion, Qiuqiu behaved just like last time when it drank alcohol, swaying unsteadily and burping, emitting a puff of black smoke. Then, it curled up into a ball and fell into a deep sleep. Shao Zifeng affectionately rubbed the little creature. The texture felt surprisingly good, and he got lost in it¡­. Putting Qiuqiu into his pocket, Shao Zifeng found a resting area and started studying the newly downloaded app. The app icon was very minimalist, with a black background and an X formed by a blade slash, and the name was just a lone X. Opening the app, the simple interface was divided into sections such as shopping, forum, inquiries, and FightSound. Without further inspection, Shao Zifeng directly opened the shopping section, where the screen displayed various product information. ¡°White Emperor¡¯s Holy Sword: A legendary sword from Rash Country that can cut through iron like mud. It¡¯s rumored to have the skill ¡®Sword Following Me,¡¯ and only costs 200,000¡­¡± With a blank expression, Shao Zifeng clicked the X. After browsing for a bit, he noticed that, aside from some high-priced official items, most things were miscellaneous objects with bizarre stories and far-fetched descriptions. Without seeing the actual items, even if his eyes were enhanced, it would be useless. Shao Zifeng tried entering ¡°Tang Dao¡± in the search bar, and immediately, a store specializing in cold weapons called ¡°Longquan Sword Shop¡± appeared¡­ such a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. From the description, he learned that this shop had a physical presence here and was reputedly trustworthy. Shao Zifeng turned off his phone and headed to the trading area. Unlike those random personal listings in the app, the brick-and-mortar shops in the trading area were generally reliable. The central arena was still hosting battles, so there were few people in the trading area. Apart from occasional cheers from that side, it was relatively quiet here. Walking into the store, a young man was deeply engrossed in a mobile game. Shao Zifeng searched between a few weapon racks and indeed found two genuine Tang Daos. Unlike the sheath-embedded practice sword he had bought earlier, these authentic Tang Daos had a noticeably different feel. Shao Zifeng picked up one of the pure black Tang Daos, grasped the hilt, and slowly drew it out. The Tang Dao had a long handle that could be held with both hands, and its blade was straight and slender, unlike the curved blade of a Japanese sword. Upon close inspection, it was clearly an ordinary cold weapon with a few blue spots that seemed lifeless. The reason Shao Zifeng opted to buy a cold weapon wasn¡¯t just because he stumbled upon a sheath. After experiencing the Blood-sucking Tarantula and Li from the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s unfounded malice, he had felt a constant sense of urgency and decided to begin strengthening his physique to avoid being defenseless in future dangers. With this in mind, Shao Zifeng¡¯s face softened as he patted the pocket with Qiuqiu inside. Honestly¡­ Qiuqiu¡¯s smooth texture felt incredibly nice. After paying, Shao Zifeng inserted the newly bought Tang Dao into the ¡°Zang Feng¡± sheath and gave the practice sword, now inserted into the new sheath, to the shopkeeper. The slick move left the shopkeeper stunned. Wandering around the trading area, Shao Zifeng found that the mutant creature trading section had a few decent quality little creatures, all claimed to have certification and priced between 350,000 to 500,000. Unfortunately, Shao Zifeng wasn¡¯t interested in any of them. Actually, it was because he was poor. While Qiuqiu was still small and manageable now, its growth and eventual evolution would surely cost a lot more. A dragon¡¯s expenses¡­ were likely immense. Imagining a Qiuqiu the size of a small mountain devouring a whole pig in one bite made Shao Zifeng shiver. Pork was so expensive¡­ He dared not think about it further. Unknowingly, Shao Zifeng arrived at the mission hall. Although it was called a hall, it was just a semi-enclosed area with an LED screen on the wall displaying numerous tasks densely packed. Shao Zifeng stood in front of the screen with one hand in his pocket, continuously twirling the surprisingly good-feeling Qiuqiu in his hand, while looking up at the screen. [Personal]: A large number of pet beasts have gone missing in a certain district. Investigate the cause. Reward: 50,000 yuan and a Helping Hand banner. [Detailed information will be provided after accepting the task] With a blackened face, Shao Zifeng looked at the reward item ¨C what the heck was a banner? He then looked at the next entry. [Personal]: Seeking a Combat Training Master proficient in [Wind Rhythm] to teach a certain pet beast to learn it. Reward: 200,000. [Detailed information¡­] This reward was generous, and the task difficulty wasn¡¯t high. In this world, pet beasts could learn skills either through their own comprehension or by being taught by another pet beast. Of course, not all pet beasts could learn skills of their own type, which involved a bit of luck. Some pet beasts might struggle with elementary skills but could easily grasp advanced ones. [Group]: Assist someone in capturing a certain mutant creature¡­ This task seemed simple but was too risky. You never knew if a teammate might backstab you. Shao Zifeng excluded this task for slightly paranoid reasons. After all, he figured he¡¯d rather die from¡­ Forget it, better not jinx it. ¡­ After looking around, Shao Zifeng found the only doable task was the one rewarding a banner. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Voices in the Dark Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Voices in the Dark Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Ding~ Destination reached.¡± The elevator doors slowly opened and closed again. Shao Zifeng looked around, somewhat incredulous. Clearly, he had taken the same elevator, but the place he had arrived at was no longer the ¡°Happy Sunshine Community.¡± This place looked like an amusement park abandoned a long time ago. The surrounding area was sparsely populated, overgrown with weeds. He forcefully shoved the Tang sword into his travel bag, as a wave of drowsiness and hunger hit him. Now it was already past eight in the morning. Having stayed up all night, Shao Zifeng felt a bit exhausted. He took out his phone to check his location and walked toward the nearest bus stop. ¡­ ¡°Ding~ Mr. 9331, the detailed information of the task you accepted has been sent to your account email. Please complete the task as soon as possible. Have a pleasant day.¡± The alert tone of a text message woke up the sleeping Shao Zifeng. Recently, his heart felt like a stretched string, a sense of crisis intermittently reminded him that someone was still watching him from the shadows. Rising to get dressed, he saw the sunset outside the window sinking below the horizon. Glancing at Qiuqiu who was still asleep, Shao Zifeng felt that today¡¯s mission was probably not going to be accomplished. Although reality was harsh, he had to admit¡­ without Qiuqiu, he was just a weakling. He picked up the leftover bread from the morning and checked the detailed information of the task. ¡°The ¡®Gu Chang¡¯an Residence¡¯ in Su City has recently witnessed frequent cases of missing pets. Several owners who lost their beloved pets have collectively sought help online. The task requires finding out the reason for the pets¡¯ disappearance. The executor of the task is not allowed to privately contact the owners. Upon task completion, the platform will send someone to gather evidence. Subsequent rewards and items will be transferred to the executor¡¯s account by the platform.¡± The detailed information was not very detailed, causing Shao Zifeng to rub his temples in frustration. The so-called family pets were those individual evolved mutant creatures kept by ordinary households without needing a contract. Most of them had no combat abilities but possessed some miraculous abilities such as calming, cleaning, and aiding sleep. However, that wasn¡¯t an absolute rule. Some collectively evolved species were also suitable as family pets. For example, the evolving ¡°Clean Cotton¡± from dandelions was loved by many ordinary families for its soft and cute appearance and cleaning abilities. Of course, most families still chose family pets based on their looks. A cute and practical family pet often fetched a sky-high price. Strictly speaking, Shao Zifeng¡¯s Qiuqiu could now also be considered a family pet. No contract was needed, but they depended on each other. Unlike in the past when cute pets relied on their owners¡¯ love, today¡¯s family pets were more like in a symbiotic relationship. ¡°Ying ying aoo~~¡± A soft, tender cry woke Shao Zifeng from his thoughts. He turned to look. He saw Qiuqiu, drowsy-eyed, rubbing its eyes with little paws, looking around. (¡®¦Ø??) Suddenly, its eyes lit up. It quickly ran to Shao Zifeng¡¯s side, spreading its short little paws and hugging Shao Zifeng¡¯s leg. Shao Zifeng bent down to pick Qiuqiu up and started to observe closely. After drinking the energy potion type I, Qiuqiu slept the whole day. Its scales had grown somewhat, mostly covering the previously exposed skin. The brown-yellow scales leaned more towards a reddish tint, adding a slightly fierce aura to the usually cute Qiuqiu, although its personality hadn¡¯t changed much. ¡°Ying ying aoo~¡± Feeling shy under Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, Qiuqiu raised its little paws in protest. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t look anymore. Qiuqiu, shall we go out to play tonight?¡± Shao Zifeng gave a ¡°benevolent¡± smile like an old father. ¡°Ying ying aoo~¡± Poor Qiu¡¤Tool¡¤Qiu didn¡¯t yet know it had to work again, happily hugging Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm in coquetry. Shao Zifeng contentedly extended his hands, stroking Qiuqiu, sighing inwardly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel as good as before.¡± ¡­ At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Shao Zifeng left home. He saw the Tang sword in his travel bag, hesitated for a moment, but decided to take it. Although he didn¡¯t know any knife techniques, converting his old fighting skill into knife skills should work. As an N-tier city, Su City had most shops closed by night except for the occasional convenience store and barbecue stand. On a somewhat chilly night in early spring, Shao Zifeng wore a hoodie, holding ¡°Cang Feng¡± in his arms. A small head poked out from his collar, curiously examining the handle of the knife. Poking the knife handle carefully with its little paw, a slight suction made Qiuqiu shiver. It felt unexpectedly pleasant. After touching the handle again and shivering, Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes lit up and it happily let go of Shao Zifeng¡¯s collar to cling onto the knife handle. ¡°Ying ying~¡± Shao Zifeng felt his arms warming up, thinking it must be Qiuqiu¡¯s ability to absorb fire elements. He looked curiously at Qiuqiu holding the knife handle with an ecstatic expression, stroked it once, and continued walking toward the east district. The ¡°Gu Chang¡¯an Residence¡± in the east district bordered Shao Zifeng¡¯s old district. Although named the east district, it wasn¡¯t in the easternmost part of Su City; the name was relative to the former old district. Compared to the gradually declining old district, the east district was like a rising sun. Infrastructure was increasingly perfect, and housing prices soared. Families buying houses here couldn¡¯t end up too poor. At the gate of ¡°Gu Chang¡¯an Residence,¡± looking at the unfriendly eyes of the community security guards, Shao Zifeng felt troubled. Given the strict citywide inspection, attempting to enter had failed. Wandering around the gate with his hat on, Shao Zifeng attracted the attention of the security guards. Fortunately, he had left the Tang sword in a corner earlier. Otherwise, facing him now would be a pack of arresting dogs. Leaving the front gate, Shao Zifeng retrieved the Tang sword and prepared to look for an entrance elsewhere around the community. The ¡°Gu Chang¡¯an Residence¡± occupied a vast area, surrounded by tall iron railings covered with vines. Combined with the community¡¯s greenery, it lacked the oppressive feeling of typical concrete-steel neighborhoods. ¡°Ying ying~¡± Just as Shao Zifeng¡¯s patience ran out and he decided to leave, Qiuqiu in his collar sniffed around and gave a cautious reminder. ¡°Qiuqiu, did you find something?¡± Shao Zifeng whispered, lowering his head. ¡°Ying ying~¡± Qiuqiu popped out from his collar, sniffed with its nose twitching, and quickly ran to a flower wall in the community. Shao Zifeng followed Qiuqiu cautiously, holding the Tang sword¡¯s sheath in one hand and the long handle in the other, warily scanning the surroundings. It was a small park outside the community, darkened by the tree shadows blocking the distant streetlights. ¡°Ying ying aoo~¡± Qiuqiu stopped in front of the flower wall, pointing at a spot with its little paw and barking back at Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng came over and carefully probed the vines on the flower wall with the sword sheath. Beneath the vines, the iron railing had been broken, revealing a hole just large enough for someone to pass through. Crouching down at the hole, Shao Zifeng turned on his phone¡¯s flashlight, shielding its light with one hand, and inspected the ground. The surface was dotted with countless small holes, as if poked by something. Several tufts of hair were scattered around. ¡°Sh-sh, sh-sh~¡± In the dead of night, the sound of something being dragged was exceptionally clear. Shao Zifeng¡¯s hair stood on end! Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Who?¡± Shao Zifeng lowered his voice and shouted softly. The rustling sound stopped instantly, and the surroundings fell into silence again. Shao Zifeng could even hear his own heartbeat. He held the Tang sword horizontally in front of his chest and shone the light from his phone towards the hole in the wall. ¡°Whoosh~¡± Before he could see clearly, a shadow brushed past Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm and darted away. ¡°Yip yip awo~¡± Qiuqiu shuddered in fear, instinctively curling up into a ball. Annoyed, it let out a cry, its eyes glimmering with sparks as it chased the fleeing shadow. The small park was densely wooded with thick shrubs. Shao Zifeng had only taken a few steps before he had to stop helplessly. He returned to the hole and shone his phone at the spot where the shadow had been. ¡°Meow~¡± Not far from the hole lay a blood-stained white cat, its body rising and falling slightly, showing it was still alive. The white cat noticed someone approaching and with difficulty, raised its head. Its dim eyes looked at Shao Zifeng, letting out a weak meow, revealing a hint of plea. ¡­ In the small forest, Qiuqiu chased the shadow rapidly, feeling very irritated. How could it be scared by something unknown in front of Shao Zifeng? The mighty Qiuqiu, who had faced bigger monsters without retreating, was scared! Unforgivable!! The more it thought about it, the angrier it got. It just wanted to pin down that shadow with its paws and rub it hard. But due to racial limitations, its body structure wasn¡¯t suited for long-distance chasing. Seeing the gap widening, Qiuqiu felt the burning anger and pride from deep within its heart for the first time. ¡°Yip yip awo!!¡± As a dragon kin, its inherent pride had been suppressed by its natural timidness. In a moment of crisis, it had a rare emotional resonance with Shao Zifeng, successfully activating the Dragon Blood within it. Although naturally timid, it wasn¡¯t something any random creature could trample upon! Qiuqiu only felt its body temperature rising, its fierce eyes burning brighter, leaving two long red trails. Flames flickered from the edges of its scales, making its whole body seem like it was on fire, leaving red paw prints wherever it stepped on the grass. ¡°Yip yip awo!!!¡± Qiuqiu roared angrily, feeling the rage inside it with no outlet. Combining with the residual energy potion in its body, it fully ignited! In the next second, the surging energy within it reached a critical point. A pair of dragon wings composed of flames condensed on its back and suddenly spread open. Controlled by anger, Qiuqiu pushed off the ground with its hind legs and soared into the sky like a meteor, attacking the shadow fiercely with trailing flames. ¡°Dare to belittle Lord Qiuqiu! Die, bastard!¡± ¡­ ¡°Boom¡± The violent explosion made Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart skip a beat. The sudden surge of anger almost made him want to squeeze the cat in his arms to death. Fortunately, the anger subsided as fast as it had arisen. ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t care if he would alert the security guards and ran towards the explosion with the white cat in his arms. ¡­ The Abnormal Administration Bureau of Su City. Several night shift agents were eating the just-delivered midnight snacks. ¡°Brother Wang, this preserved meat is good, have a¡­¡± Xiao Li¡¯s face turned pale instantly, and the meat between his chopsticks fell into the lunch box, splashing some soup. ¡°Xiao Li, are you okay?¡± Brother Wang asked, looking concerned. ¡°Ring ring ring¡­¡± The alarm lights in the room flashed red, emitting a piercing siren. ¡°Stop eating, there¡¯s been an explosion at ¡®Ancient Chang¡¯an Residence¡¯.¡± The squad leader quickly put down his chopsticks, stood up, and straightened his uniform, putting on his hat. The other agents had already straightened their attire when the alarm went off, waiting for the squad leader¡¯s orders. ¡°Captain Feng, I¡¯m feeling a bit unwell, so I won¡¯t be going.¡± Xiao Li forced out a weak smile. The squad leader hesitated for a moment, then led the team out quickly on the mission. Xiao Li staggered to the door of the duty room, looking in the direction of ¡®Ancient Chang¡¯an Residence¡¯, a shadow passing in his eyes. One of his contracted pets had died. ¡­ Shao Zifeng arrived at the explosion site, where Qiuqiu was lying innocently at the bottom of the crater. Shao Zifeng quickly put down the half-dead white cat and hugged Qiuqiu tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t do this again, okay?¡± Shao Zifeng said softly, slightly reprimanding as he rubbed Qiuqiu in his arms. He had intended to scold Qiuqiu loudly, but when he saw Qiuqiu lying there safely and looking at him innocently, he felt his heart soften. ¡°Yip yip~¡± Sensing Shao Zifeng¡¯s change in emotion and worry, Qiuqiu whimpered softly, its tiny paws tightly holding his neck¡­ although it could only grab one-third. Relieved, Shao Zifeng began to take in his surroundings. One look made him gasp, ¡°Hiss, this Qiu is as terrifying as¡­¡± Spitting, ¡°No, wait!¡± ¡°It should be, hiss, my son Qiuqiu has the majesty of an emperor¡­¡± Spitting again, ¡°No, no, still not right!!¡± The scene before him was indeed shocking. He stood with Qiuqiu at the center of the explosion crater. Trees within three meters had been cut off, and soil flung everywhere, with flames still burning on many trees, lighting up the surroundings intermittently. ¡°Quick! Over there! The explosion happened over there!¡± Through the woods ahead, flashlight beams flickered, accompanied by chaotic footsteps. A man with a burly voice was shouting as they approached. Seeing the approaching lights, Shao Zifeng picked up the white cat, held Qiuqiu, and started running. During the escape, the sword handle in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms occasionally swayed in front of Qiuqiu. Qiuqiu tried to ignore it but couldn¡¯t help but steal a glance now and then. Moments later, it gave in, extending its small paws to tightly hold the handle, showing a blissful expression. ¡°Yip~¡± ¡­ At the Abnormal Administration Bureau, the conference room¡¯s big screen was playing several surveillance clips, one of which froze on a hooded man. The night shift agents were reporting to Captain Chen Zhenglong. ¡°That¡¯s the general situation. We believe the hooded man is a major suspect, not only in the pet disappearances but also in the explosion case, Captain Chen.¡± One of the clerks with glasses closed the file folder in his hand. Chen Zhenglong recognized the guy immediately. Although displeased, he couldn¡¯t summon him for questioning, so he rubbed his beard in frustration before standing up: ¡°Focus on investigating the pet disappearance cases thoroughly. As for the guy in the surveillance, I¡¯ll keep an eye on him myself. Meeting adjourned.¡± ¡°Yes, Captain Chen.¡± After Chen Zhenglong and the Abnormal Administration Bureau agents left, only Xiao Li remained in the conference room. The light shone on half of his face, making it appear somewhat eerie. He stared intensely at the figure in the surveillance footage, his eyes almost blazing, the corners of his mouth curling into a cruel smile. ¡°Shao! Zi! Feng!¡± Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Performance Artist·Qiuqiu Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Performance Artist¡¤Qiuqiu Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Huff, huff~¡± Shao Zifeng lay sprawled out on the bed, gasping heavily, trying to calm his racing heart. Following suit, Qiuqiu spread all five limbs¡ªcounting the tail¡ªexposing its soft little belly, and lay next to Shao Zifeng, also gasping for air. Shao Zifeng looked at the panting Qiuqiu, bewildered. ¡°I carried you the whole way, why are you panting?¡± Qiuqiu, feeling shy under Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, quickly curled up into a ball, exposing just its little eyes. It peeked at Shao Zifeng. ?(????¦Ø????)? ¡°By the way, Qiuqiu, what were you chasing just now?¡± As his breathing gradually steadied, Shao Zifeng turned to look at the Qiuqiu egg. Upon hearing this, Qiuqiu¡¯s spirits lifted immediately. It stretched its body and started gesturing wildly in front of Shao Zifeng¡­ Shao Zifeng fell silent. He could sense Qiuqiu¡¯s excitement, pride, and triumphant feelings, but he honestly didn¡¯t understand lizard language. Seeing the confused look on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, Qiuqiu grew anxious. Suddenly, its eyes lit up. It jumped onto the computer desk, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, and ran back to Shao Zifeng¡¯s side, placing the paper on the bed. Qiuqiu grasped the pen with its tiny claws and struggled to draw something on the paper. Shao Zifeng watched Qiuqiu with interest. After a few moments, the postmodern abstract artist, Qiuqiu, had drawn four wavy, radiating lines on the paper. Then, with a dramatic flair, it transformed into a postmodern performance artist, Qiuqiu, and lay flat on the paper, lifted its little head, and looked at Shao Zifeng expectantly. Emmmmm. Shao Zifeng propped his chin with his hand, staring at Qiuqiu, who was spread out on the paper surrounded by radial lines, lost in thought. So, what is this? Realizing that Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t understand its meaning, Qiuqiu sat up cross-legged on the paper, imitating Shao Zifeng¡¯s pose, propping its chin with its tiny claws, looking irresistibly cute. Shao Zifeng¡¯s tough guy heart was about to melt. Suddenly, Qiuqiu clenched its left claw into a fist, struck its open right claw, and had an epiphany. Then it grabbed the pen, which was almost as tall as it was, again, and drew four more wavy lines. It then quickly crawled to the center of the eight lines, curled into a ball, and continued to look at Shao Zifeng expectantly. ¡°A round ball with four radiating lines on each side, could it be the sun?¡± Upon hearing this, Qiuqiu puffed up angrily. ¡°Just kidding,¡± Shao Zifeng said, lightly stroking Qiuqiu to soothe it. ¡°A round ball, eight lines on either side, what could it be?¡± Shao Zifeng rubbed his temples, pondering deeply. At that moment, an image flashed through his mind, a round spider abdomen, and eight iron-like sharp claws lunging at him. ¡°Qiuqiu, were you chasing a tarantula today?¡± Shao Zifeng asked, opening his eyes. ¡°Ying ying ao~¡± Seeing that Shao Zifeng had finally guessed correctly, Qiuqiu breathed a sigh of relief and happily climbed onto Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest, seeking praise. ¡°What happened to that tarantula?¡± Shao Zifeng lifted Qiuqiu to eye level. Qiuqiu thought seriously for a moment, trying to find a simple way to explain it to this stupid biped so he could understand quickly. Qiuqiu jumped out of Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, swept the paper to the floor with its tail, then puffed up its cheeks, and a tiny flame fell on the paper, instantly igniting it, turning it to ashes. It then pointed to the ashes on the floor with its tiny claws and patted its chest proudly. ¡°Burned to ashes?¡± Shao Zifeng asked incredulously. Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s tone, Qiuqiu raised its chin even higher, waiting for Shao Zifeng to praise it. ¡°Meow~¡± Before receiving any praise, a weak meowing sound came from the corner. Qiuqiu glared angrily at the white cat. Only then did Shao Zifeng remember that he seemed to have brought back a dying cat. He got up and walked to the barely breathing white cat, ignoring its resentful gaze, as blue light flashed in his eyes. [Name]: Mutant House Cat [Growth]: Growth Phase [State]: Critical, Afraid [Strength]: None [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Felidae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï [Talent]: Pure Water Vapor: Filters and purifies air by washing it with a water curtain, increasing humidity, and sending clean, moist air indoors through airflow, thus improving environmental humidity and cleanliness. [Skills]: Being Cute, Coquetry [Description]: A mutant house cat, it perfectly substitutes a humidifier with its soft, cute appearance as its means of survival. Indeed, it was a standard household pet template, but he didn¡¯t know how to treat a pet nor could he send it to a pet hospital, which made things difficult. Suddenly, Shao Zifeng remembered a healing potion he had purchased on the platform in his backpack, so he got up to retrieve it. He fed the white cat a pill for internal injuries and sprayed a few times on its wounds with an external injury spray. Given the limited conditions, it seemed he could only do this much, so its survival was up to fate. Hopefully, it would pull through. ¡­ ¡°Dear Mr. 9331, your mission report has been submitted. We will dispatch a specialist to verify it in person. Once approved, the corresponding rewards and items will be automatically credited to your account. As for the household pet mentioned in your report, please handle it yourself. Have a pleasant day.¡± The phone screen went dark, and Shao Zifeng¡¯s world turned black. After his eyes adjusted, the low-wattage heat lamp in the snake cabinet emitted a faint glow. Feeling Qiuqiu sleeping soundly in his arms, a complex look flashed in Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. Although the mission investigation was completed, it seemed he found himself tangled in another troublesome matter. A large number of missing household pets, the sudden appearance of the tarantula, and the evolution method described about the Blood-sucking Tarantula all combined seemed to form an invisible net that surrounded not just him but maybe the entirety of Su City. ¡°Sigh, ultimately, I¡¯m just too weak.¡± Shao Zifeng felt a bit frustrated and confined. ¡°Ying~¡± In its sleep, feeling Shao Zifeng¡¯s emotional fluctuations, Qiuqiu clutched his clothes tightly with its tiny claws. Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart softened, and his gaze grew tender. Such a clingy little guy. No wonder some tough guys would shout at their pets, ¡°Transform for daddy!¡± Hmm? But whether Qiuqiu was male or female¡­ Darn, he didn¡¯t actually know. How do you tell the gender of a lizard? Lost in random thoughts, Shao Zifeng slowly drifted off to sleep. ¡­ Pei Yong, exhausted after a busy day, finally reached the end of his shift. Thinking of his wife possibly waiting for him at home, he hurriedly tidied up his desk, wishing he could appear at his doorstep the next second. With the heavy burden gone, he felt like he was back in those days of dating his wife, fulfilling and happy. ¡°Ding~¡± In the dark, deserted office building, the phone¡¯s notification sound was unusually clear. Pei Yong¡¯s heart tightened. He stopped walking, paused for a moment, and pulled out his phone with trembling hands. His face turned deathly pale in an instant. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Director Zhao’s Invitation Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Director Zhao¡¯s Invitation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The next morning, Shao Zifeng woke up early, dragged the still-sleeping Qiuqiu, and went out to exercise. Yesterday, in order to escape the scene, he ran wildly all the way despite not exercising often. By the end, it was sheer willpower that kept him going. He vaguely seemed to see a black man giving him a reassuring smile. Thankfully, he was lucky enough not to let the ¡°Seven Sages¡± successfully take him in. After resting overnight, although his body was extremely sore when he woke up, he still gritted his teeth and insisted on running three laps around the neighborhood. No matter which timeline, as an exercise novice, he had never done so much physical activity. Every step Shao Zifeng took felt like treading on cotton, and every muscle fiber seemed to be screaming wildly. Sweating all over, he went to the public bathhouse for a shower and returned to his room, only to see Qiuqiu holding the handle of a Tang sword, looking intoxicated. Shao Zifeng clicked his tongue, bewildered by Qiuqiu¡¯s sudden strange hobby, and didn¡¯t bother it. The mutated house cat was still sleeping; checking its status showed it had changed from critical condition to serious injury, indicating its life was saved. Glancing at the time, it was still early for class. Shao Zifeng habitually took out his phone to see if there was any news worth paying attention to. ¡°Breaking News!! General Li Tianwen¡¯s pet, the Golden Pond Dragon Fish, completed its evolution last night in the Southern War Zone. The city was filled with thunderous roars, with a faint sound of dragon chants¡­¡± In the video, thick black clouds seemed to be attracted by something, rotating like a funnel. Lightning snakes occasionally swam through the clouds, creating rumbling thunder, though the wind was so strong that the thunder was intermittent. At the end of the video, a beam of light shot up from beneath the clouds, seeming to carry a dragon¡¯s roar, and then the video cut off abruptly. The comment section was buzzing, with comments increasing by the hundreds with each refresh. kwpog: ¡°Golden scales are not ordinary fish in a pond; when they encounter wind and rain¡­ what next?¡± Silver Mom: ¡°What¡¯s ghs?¡± Glory Belongs to Nyarlathotep: ¡°What¡¯s ghs? I think the first comment¡¯s line is very apt, aren¡¯t you using the poet¡¯s original line?¡± ¡­ Venomous Snake: ¡°Is General Li Tianwen¡¯s Golden Pond Dragon Fish evolving towards ancestrality? I have a bold guess!¡± Pure Innocent Boy Who Writes: ¡°Coincidentally, seeing the fish¡¯s mouth, I have a bold idea.¡± Novice Unable to Catch the Expert: ¡°Doubt based on evidence.¡± ¡­ How Could You Know: ¡°General Li¡¯s Golden Pond Dragon Fish is already at the eighth stage pinnacle, right? I wonder if he will challenge the Twelve National Column Pillar Beasts this year.¡± Kaguya Not Black: ¡°It¡¯s no longer Golden Pond Dragon Fish after evolution, right? I hope we see an official report soon.¡± Coalball: ¡°Speaking of General Li, suddenly reminds me his son is attending Su City University. Will he compete in the ¡®National University Cup¡¯ this year?¡± Koi from Africa: ¡°Are you talking about Li Yu? He¡¯s my classmate.¡± Coalball: ¡°Three minutes, I need all his information.¡± Koi from Africa: ¡°I only know his tricolor Koi is pretty odd. During campus qualifiers, either his opponents had diarrhea or they injured themselves with their skills. Isn¡¯t that infuriating?¡± ¡­ ¡°Eighth stage¡­¡± Shao Zifeng turned off the phone, leaned back in his chair, recalling the evolution scenes in the video, and stared blankly at the ceiling. He wondered when Qiuqiu could reach the eighth stage. Then perhaps he could¡­ Shaking his head to clear his chaotic thoughts, Shao Zifeng picked up Qiuqiu, who was engrossed in the sword handle, and prepared to go to school. ¡­ Su City University. Today was Monday. As Shao Zifeng had expected, more and more students applied for battles over the past few days. The school administration was responding to every request and had exceptionally loose review standards. Combat training students seemed to have gone mad, blending in the battle arenas whenever they had time. Wang Hao and his round spot viper were in the limelight recently. Luckily, due to the required official toxin identification reports and antidote serums for poison-type pets before battles, fewer and fewer people were willing to fight Wang Hao, despite the preparations. Shao Zifeng watched a bout of rookies pecking at each other from afar, then turned to head back to the classroom. ¡°Student Shao?¡± At that moment, a familiar-looking middle-aged man approached Shao Zifeng. He smiled gently, seeming very approachable. ¡°Director Zhao?¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment before recalling who he was. ¡°Yes, I see Student Shao is very interested in pet battles. Have you considered transferring to the combat training department?¡± Director Zhao nodded slightly, smiling at Shao Zifeng. ¡°Me? Combat training department?¡± Shao Zifeng was puzzled. He didn¡¯t understand what Director Zhao meant by that. Normally, with his file and family background, the school should be aware. Inviting him to join the combat training department seemed unbelievable under such circumstances. ¡°Yes, if you are willing, the school¡¯s upper management can personally help you register as a combat training master. By then, you can contract a pet. How about it? Not willing?¡± Director Zhao wasn¡¯t in a hurry, just standing quietly beside Shao Zifeng, seemingly waiting for his answer. Shao Zifeng was tempted. He really wanted to become an official combat training master. At the very least, with this identity, Qiuqiu wouldn¡¯t have to secretly hide in his pocket anymore when they went out together. Besides, with the aid of energy potions, Qiuqiu¡¯s growth rate would accelerate significantly, and sooner or later, the truth would come out. It seemed Qiuqiu sensed Shao Zifeng¡¯s emotional fluctuation involving itself. Sneakily, a pair of small eyes peeked out from Shao Zifeng¡¯s pocket, cautiously eyeing Director Zhao. Director Zhao seemed to notice, glancing at Qiuqiu with a faint smile. Frightened, Qiuqiu quickly retracted its head into the pocket. ¡°Thank you, Director Zhao, but I think¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want what you think. I want what I think,¡± Director Zhao reflexively interrupted before Shao Zifeng could finish. Feeling a bit awkward, he chuckled. ¡°Oh ho,¡± Shao Zifeng hadn¡¯t realized before. This seemingly amiable middle-aged man turned out to be a master of MIng¡¯s philosophy. ¡°Haha, force of habit¡­ Well, Student Shao, take your time to think it over. Once you¡¯ve decided, you can find me at my office on the third floor. Don¡¯t worry, as long as you want to become a combat training master, the school will handle the rest. For the sake of the little one in your pocket, consider it seriously.¡± Director Zhao checked his watch, smiled at Shao Zifeng, then turned and left without saying more. By the artificial lake, Shao Zifeng stared absentmindedly at the sparkling waves. He was tempted but always cautious of others. Shao Zifeng dared not easily accept anyone¡¯s kindness, always feeling uncomfortable when others treated him well. His mind was in turmoil, engaged in an intense internal struggle. ¡°Ying Ying Aow~¡± At that moment, Qiuqiu reached out a small paw from the pocket, tugging at Shao Zifeng¡¯s sleeve, looking at him with determined eyes, as if to say it would support whatever decision Shao Zifeng made. Yes, it seemed he had nothing to lose. An unknown force was still weaving its web. If he didn¡¯t quickly grow stronger¡­ Thinking of this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze grew firm, seemingly having made a decision in his heart. ¡°Thank you, Qiuqiu.¡± Shao Zifeng petted Qiuqiu¡¯s head. ¡°Ying Ying~¡± A red koi jumped out of the water, its splashing droplets drawing a rainbow under the sunlight. A few blue dots twitched slightly, then awkwardly halted in place. The delay was so high¡­ Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 The Origin of Contract Array Chapter 26: Chapter 26 The Origin of Contract Array Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Qiuqiu, use Fiery Breath!¡± ¡°Yingying aw~¡± Upon hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s command, Qiuqiu, who was running, suddenly stopped and opened its mouth wide to take a deep breath, quickly absorbing fire elements from the surroundings like a whale gulping water. Fire elements visible to the naked eye gathered in Qiuqiu¡¯s mouth, forming a deep red energy ball. At the same time, a mysterious array appeared in front of Qiuqiu. As the energy ball touched the center of the array, a thin column of fire shot out from the center of the array, appearing rather feeble. ¡°Boom!¡± A slight explosion accompanied by a weak wave of heat uplifted the enclosed space, so weak that it hardly formed any turbulent currents, showing just how low the power of this skill was. This was a skill testing room in the Combat Training Department of Su City University. After Shao Zifeng made up his mind to transfer departments, Director Zhao brought him here. Unlike Su City¡¯s appraisal center, the appraisal centers in major cities nationwide were extremely busy. Therefore, each university could appraise their students¡¯ pet beasts by themselves and then transmit the data to the appraisal bureau for registration. The Battle Training Master certificate would be sent to the students within two working days. As for why Wang Hao wasn¡¯t tested at school, it was because he had too many appraisals done when choosing his pet beasts, and the teachers in charge had stopped paying attention to him. ¡°The potential of this armadillo lizard of yours is such a pity,¡± Director Zhao said, holding an appraisal report provided by the school¡¯s staff workers. ¡°It only has two skills, not to mention its defense ability and the Fiery Breath¡¯s power is considerably lower than others of the same rank. Although it has already reached the second rank, whether it can evolve into a Fire Lizard in the future is still unknown.¡± Director Zhao shook his head slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed. This was someone whom Director Luo had high hopes for¡­ a lizard. Although he didn¡¯t know where Shao Zifeng got this armadillo lizard, it was clear that this one fell significantly short compared to others of its kind. It was two-thirds smaller than a normal armadillo lizard¡¯s juvenile, had fewer skills, and their power was weak by more than ten percent compared to others of the same rank and kind. It was a very underperforming pet beast. The South African armadillo lizard was pursued by many Combat Training Masters because of its resemblance to a western dragon and its known evolution forms¡ªFire Lizard and Fire Dragon Lizard¡ªwhich were extremely powerful fire-type pet beasts. Unfortunately, their population was too sparse, and their habitat was limited to South Africa. Hence, South Africa listed the armadillo lizard as a protected mutant creature and made it a super rare pet beast that only a few could apply to contract with the state. Regarding Qiuqiu¡¯s origin, not only did Director Zhao not know, but even Shao Zifeng wasn¡¯t clear. In another timeline, the armadillo lizard was also rare in the climbing world, but he remembered clearly that he had pulled some strings to buy an armadillo lizard. But in this timeline, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t recall anything about Qiuqiu¡¯s origin, his memory was a blank. Seemingly feeling Director Zhao¡¯s disdain, Qiuqiu instantly became unhappy, gritting its teeth and glaring at Director Zhao fiercely. If it weren¡¯t for Fengfeng telling it to control its power, it would surely burn this nasty man bald. Hmm¡­ compared to Fengfeng, Dandan does sound better. It¡¯s decided then, from now on, Fengfeng will be Dandan. Lord Qiuqiu is really a genius at naming. ?(????) Qiuqiu, who was puffing with anger just now, wasn¡¯t angry anymore and showed a mysterious smile. Feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s discontent in his arms, Shao Zifeng kept soothing its emotions. He didn¡¯t know if it was because Qiuqiu had grown up, but it had been increasingly concerned about its dignity recently. Although Shao Zifeng urgently needed the identity of a Battle Training Master, he didn¡¯t want to appear too outstanding. For example, besides defense and Fiery Breath, Shao Zifeng chose to hide the ¡°Flame Control¡± skill. This skill required the pet beast to have a strong affinity with fire elements and could enhance or weaken the power of fire-type skills. Qiuqiu used this skill to significantly weaken the power of Fiery Breath, deceiving the appraisers. He also didn¡¯t mention that Qiuqiu¡¯s evolution direction was not the ordinary armadillo lizard¡¯s, but a rare and possibly unique atavistic evolution. Atavistic evolution was so rare that the whole of Daxia had only a few known pet beasts with it. Even if he said it now, others might not believe it. ¡°Student Shao, follow Xiao Liu now to complete the contract. I have some things to attend to, so I won¡¯t be accompanying you.¡± Director Zhao said. Watching Director Zhao leave, Shao Zifeng breathed a sigh of relief. Although Director Zhao still wore a smile, Shao Zifeng keenly sensed a subtle change in his attitude, making him feel much more relaxed. Not being noticed was exactly what Shao Zifeng wanted. Last time, when he was taken for investigation by the Abnormal Administration Bureau, Director Zhao was present. After being inexplicably released, Shao Zifeng had been puzzled. But today, with Director Zhao taking the initiative to help him register as a Battle Training Master, Shao Zifeng had a vague guess. He and Director Zhao were neither relatives nor friends. Before this, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t even know who he was. As a student with a disadvantaged family background, Director Zhao had no reason to take special care of him. Moreover, with his status, it was impossible for him to make the Abnormal Administration Bureau release someone directly. In this situation, Shao Zifeng could only think of one possibility. Director Zhao was working for someone else, and he vaguely guessed who it was. ¡°Alas, no matter what, I¡¯m indebted to someone.¡± Shao Zifeng sighed silently. He could only repay the favor when he became stronger in the future. ¡­ ¡°Student Shao, please stand on that platform, drop a drop of blood on your pet beast¡¯s eyebrow, then apply your pet beast¡¯s blood on your own eyebrow. After that, focus on sensing the Contract Space, and open it up. Do you have any questions?¡± A female staff member in her thirties introduced, pointing to the high platform in the middle of the room with a gentle smile. Shao Zifeng smiled and thanked her, then walked up the spiral staircase next to the high platform. The platform was over two meters high, and on the flat surface, strange patterns were drawn, connected by lines and converging at the center. This was the contract array. As soon as he saw the array, a large amount of memory flooded Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind. More than 20 years ago, when the ¡°Unknown Recovery Event¡± occurred, animals around the world underwent strange changes, gaining unknown powers. Animal attacks on humans happened worldwide, but Daxia seemed prepared and quickly suppressed most attacking animals with unknown means and speed. Although remote areas and some towns suffered devastating damage, the overall impact on the country was minimal. ¡­ Shaking his head to clear the messy memories from his mind, Shao Zifeng took out a small knife given by the staff and made a cut on his thumb, pressing it on Qiuqiu¡¯s eyebrow. Informed by ¡°Dandan¡± on what to do, Qiuqiu¡¯s approach was much simpler and more straightforward. It used its left paw to make a cut on the right paw, and a drop of blood containing fire elements was flung to Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyebrow, bringing a warm sensation. Instantly, the entire array seemed to activate, emitting a faint glow. An indescribable feeling lingered in his heart, like a bond connecting their minds together. Shao Zifeng and Qiuqiu closed their eyes simultaneously. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Bonding Reaction Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Bonding Reaction Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Shao Zifeng opened his eyes. Before him was a boundless sea of stars, with splendid starlight and a resplendent Milky Way. Beneath his feet, an unknown star system slowly rotated. ¡°Qiuqiu?¡± Shao Zifeng looked around but couldn¡¯t find Qiuqiu, feeling a bit lost. He tentatively called out. ¡°Qiuqiu¡­ Qiuqiu¡­ Qiu¡­ Wang¡­¡± The echoes reverberated around him in layers, slowly fading away without any response from Qiuqiu. Just as Shao Zifeng was at his wit¡¯s end, a nameless star in the distant sky suddenly flashed, sending a familiar feeling from that direction. ¡°Qiuqiu?¡± Shao Zifeng tentatively called out again. After the echo died down, the nameless star flashed once more. Shao Zifeng was invigorated and started walking towards the star. Shao Zifeng walked alone in the endless sea of stars, crossing star systems of various colors. Occasionally, meteors streaked past him, but otherwise, the vast starry sky remained unchanged. He walked for a long time, or perhaps it was just an instant. When he felt he couldn¡¯t go any further, he finally arrived in front of the continuously flickering star and reached out his right hand, pressing it against the star. ¡°Thump thump~¡± The star flickered violently, like a heartbeat. Then an energy line shot out from the star, connecting to another star. ¡°Thump thump~¡± Another line shot out, connecting to more stars. The heartbeat-like sound grew faster, with more lines connecting to different stars. 10 lines. 55 lines. 78 lines. 139 lines. From a distance, Shao Zifeng was at the center, with countless lines connecting to stars, slowly outlining the shape of a giant dragon with wings. After the final line was connected, the giant dragon formed by the star map seemed to come to life, roaring silently and soaring into the sky. After reaching a certain height, it turned and dived toward Shao Zifeng. As it dived, the starry dragon grew smaller and more solid, becoming increasingly lifelike until the miniature starry dragon disappeared into the spot between Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Dandan?¡± ¡­ The Contract Room was quiet, with various instruments emitting soft ¡°beep beep¡± sounds. Chen Yixin led the working group, recording and summarizing today¡¯s identification registration reports, which would later be archived at the city identification bureau. ¡°Team leader, who is this guy? Why does he need us to personally identify for him¡­¡± A frail-looking bespectacled man, having finished his work, approached Chen Yixin to help monitor Shao Zifeng¡¯s various data. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. He must be someone the school highly values.¡± Chen Yixin looked at the weak bespectacled man and gently replied without any irritation at the interruption. ¡°Valued? Tch, armadillo lizards are indeed rare, but this one is too weak to require the team leader personally¡­¡± The bespectacled man was dazed by Chen Yixin¡¯s gentle smile, then muttered softly. Chen Yixin smiled faintly at his words, without responding, leaving the bespectacled man dazzled once more. Chen Yixin was over thirty years old. Though not conventionally beautiful, her gentle and intellectual demeanor left a favorable impression on anyone who interacted with her. Besides, she was a special professor at Su City University, leading a research team. Although it was just a third-rate university¡¯s research group, they had recently gained considerable recognition. The rising fame caused some members to become complacent, so much so that they dismissed the rare armadillo lizard. Although it was indeed a bit weak¡­ Chen Yixin felt something was off, as if she had overlooked something. Driven by curiosity, she personally handled Shao Zifeng¡¯s pet contract. ¡°Beep beep beep!¡± Suddenly, the instruments in the room emitted urgent alarm sounds and flashing red lights, capturing everyone¡¯s attention and halting their work. ¡°A bonding reaction! There¡¯s a bonding reaction!¡± The bespectacled man was the first to exclaim. The calm of the Contract Room was broken, with everyone expressing astonishment. ¡°Quiet, everyone return to your posts and monitor Shao¡¯s physical enhancements in real time. Report the data to me,¡± Chen Yixin commanded sternly, her eyes fixed on Shao Zifeng at the center of the array. ¡°Reporting to the team leader, the contract person¡¯s physical condition has shown slight improvement. However, due to the contract object¡¯s frailty, the overall enhancement is minimal. Report complete.¡± ¡°Reporting to the team leader, the contract person¡¯s mental activity curve is abnormal with high peaks and low valleys¡­ fluctuating disorder¡­ activity returning to normal with slight improvement. Report complete.¡± ¡°Reporting to the team leader, no attribute fluctuations have been detected around the contract person so far. This bonding reaction likely did not activate attribute enhancement. Report complete.¡± After all reports were completed, the alarms from the bonding reaction gradually subsided. Chen Yixin looked at Shao Zifeng in the center of the array with a sigh, ¡°What a pity.¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng opened his eyes, feeling something he¡¯d never felt before. It was an indescribable feeling but made him feel closer to something. This newfound feeling made him very happy. ¡°Ying ying ao~¡± A dark shadow leaped into Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, clutching at his chest, its small head nuzzling against him and occasionally making ¡°ying ying¡± sounds as if telling Shao Zifeng something. A warm feeling surged in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart as he softly petted the little one¡¯s head. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a Combat Training Master, Shao,¡± Chen Yixin approached Shao Zifeng with a gentle smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t received the certificate yet,¡± Shao Zifeng responded shyly, like a boy not used to talking to a pretty older sister. Qiuqiu lay in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, pouting human-like and biting the actor lightly. ¡°Have you felt any changes in your body, Shao?¡± Chen Yixin asked, smiling gently at the handsome young man. Inwardly, she thought he had such great skin she wanted to pinch it. ¡°Hmm¡­ not much change, but the soreness from training these past few days has disappeared,¡± Shao Zifeng replied hesitantly, frowning as he tried to feel the changes. ¡°Sigh,¡± Chen Yixin sighed softly. It was hard to say if this child¡¯s luck was good or bad. He encountered the rare bonding reaction, but the contracted pet was too weak to provide significant enhancement. After a pause, she said, ¡°Shao, you¡¯re lucky this time to have a bonding reaction during the contract. Treat your pet well. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be great partners in the future!¡± After speaking, Chen Yixin turned to leave, fearing she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist using her delicate, maiden-like hands to poke Shao Zifeng¡¯s cheeks. ¡­ The staff followed Chen Yixin out, and the Contract Room returned to silence. Shao Zifeng stood quietly where he was. Watching the direction Chen Yixin had left. ¡°A bonding reaction, huh¡­ interesting.¡± A smile appeared on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, and a spark flashed in his eyes. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 28. Bonding Reaction 2 Chapter 28: 28. Bonding Reaction 2 Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When he walked out of the Contract Room, since Director Zhao had left early, the transfer process was temporarily stalled, and Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t look for him again. He had some lunch in the school cafeteria and then returned to his rental house. In the rental house, Shao Zifeng held a small watering can and added some water to the snake and lizard cages. He took out a corn snake, and the gentle little creature nervously slithered between his fingers, which caught Qiuqiu¡¯s attention. Qiuqiu climbed down from Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder onto his hand, curiously sniffing the corn snake, which remained motionless in fright. Qiuqiu reached out a little paw and tapped the corn snake¡¯s head, making it even more scared, trembling as it coiled around Shao Zifeng¡¯s fingers. Qiuqiu¡¯s vanity was greatly satisfied. It raised its little head and glanced at the house cat in the corner. Qiuqiu jumped off Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm and went to play with its long knife handle. The mutated house cat in the corner was still sleeping. The water in the bowl in front of it had decreased, indicating it had woken up in between, although its state still showed serious injuries, its breathing had become more stable. After finishing all this, Shao Zifeng sat at the computer desk and extended his fair, slender right hand. ¡°Hiss~¡± A fist-sized ball of flame burned and floated above Shao Zifeng¡¯s palm. Its temperature was slightly higher than ordinary flames, slightly distorting the surrounding space. Qiuqiu, who was immersed in the joy of playing with the knife handle, felt the presence of the flame, opened its eyes to look at Shao Zifeng, and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°As expected of my Dandan!¡± Shao Zifeng controlled the flame to slowly descend and land in his palm. The flame instantly spread, engulfing his entire hand, yet it didn¡¯t feel scorching at all, rather like wearing a warm glove on a winter¡¯s day. Shao Zifeng controlled it, trying to expand the flame¡¯s coverage area, only to realize that covering his entire hand was already his limit. He shook his hand to extinguish the flame and began to recall what had happened in the Contract Room earlier. At the moment he and Qiuqiu completed the contract, he felt a gentle force transmitting into his body through the contract with Qiuqiu. He felt the soreness from intense exercise slowly disappear under the soothing power. Then his spiritual power began to surge. Unlike the initial enhancement of his physique, under the influence of the surging spiritual power, he clearly perceived everything happening in the Contract Room, and those people were recording his physical data. Due to his lack of control over the surging spiritual activity, external instruments showed extremely high peaks and low troughs. Fortunately, before the third characteristic of the ¡°Bonding reaction¡± strengthened, with Qiuqiu¡¯s help, he gradually controlled his spiritual power, keeping the fire element isolated outside, thus not revealing that he already mastered the fire elemental energy. Although he did not expose himself in front of Chen Yixin and others, it also resulted in him having a half-baked understanding of the ¡°Bonding reaction.¡± Shao Zifeng took out his phone, hesitated for a moment after entering the unlock password, and then opened the app with the X icon. The interface inside was still as simple as ever. After briefly browsing various functions, Shao Zifeng found ¡°AskHu¡± and entered ¡°Bonding reaction¡± in the search bar. After scrolling down the screen, he found quite a few related questions and randomly clicked on one. ¡°I have a friend who experienced some sort of ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ during the contract. Could any experts tell me what that is?¡± ¡°Thanks for the invite. Currently at White Eagle, just got off the plane. At the airport caf¨¦, I ordered a cup of ¡®Panama Esmeralda Geisha coffee,¡¯ waiting for my friend holding a major position at the White House to discuss the future of the international market¡­ We have high hopes for the Daxia investment market. Right, what was your question again? ¡®Bonding reaction,¡¯ huh? Coincidentally, we just talked about ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ during our chat. I can only say, it is a very common phenomenon. Every kid who contracts a pet beast in the White Eagle Federation experiences a ¡®Bonding reaction.¡¯ There is nothing worth making a fuss about.¡± ¡°Which major group¡¯s heir are you? ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ is very common? Why don¡¯t you show me a reaction with your face?¡± ¡°+1, please show me a reaction with your face to let us see. People from small places have never seen such things.¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng looked at the string of nonsense replies below and searched again, finally finding out what ¡°Bonding reaction¡± means from a question asked a few years ago. ¡°Thanks for the invite. First of all, it is very rare for a Combat Training Master to experience the ¡®Bonding reaction.¡¯ If you experience a ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ during your first contract, congrats, you¡¯ve hit the jackpot. It will give you some of the abilities of your contracted pet beast, such as enhanced physique, increased spiritual power, and even some of the pet beast¡¯s abilities.¡± ¡°Of course, if you think this means you can reach the top in one step, you are very mistaken. Not to mention whether the pet beast with which you experienced the ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ has mastered elemental attributes. Even if it has mastered elemental attributes, you might not necessarily acquire them. Even if you do¡­ though I would be very envious, after all, humans are not pet beasts. Even if you acquire a pet beast¡¯s abilities, you cannot learn their skills.¡± ¡°Various national research institutions have conducted studies on Combat Training Masters who acquired elemental control abilities through the ¡®Bonding reaction.¡¯ The results are not satisfactory. Attaching abilities to long-range weapons, aside from the fact that it would damage the weapon material, the attached elemental energy swiftly dissipates when it leaves the Combat Training Master¡¯s range.¡± ¡°Attempts have been made to use close-combat cold weapons to attach elemental power, but unfortunately, those cold weapons either melt into molten iron or shatter into powder. Let alone battles, would you not be afraid of destroying your own weapons?¡± ¡°Finally, don¡¯t lose hope. There are recent rumors that the country is making great efforts to develop new materials to conduct elemental energy. Perhaps in several years, humans can use various flamboyant effects in combat. In conclusion, personal strength might slightly improve, but it won¡¯t reach the strength of a second-order pet beast. That¡¯s all.¡± Shao Zifeng noted the time, five years ago. He wondered whether the so-called energy-conducting new materials have been developed over these years. Even if they were¡­ if their displayed value didn¡¯t justify the investment, it would be hard for them to come into existence. Shao Zifeng searched for new materials-related questions on ¡°AskHu¡± again, but aside from some vague rumors, it was mostly experts boasting¡­ it was unbearable to look at. Placing the phone on the table, Shao Zifeng began to consider his future plans. Now he legally possessed the identity of a Combat Training Master, and besides that, he also had an underground identity. In terms of pet beasts, Qiuqiu was too special. This time he deliberately played weak; even if Qiuqiu didn¡¯t participate in battles in the future, others would likely think Qiuqiu had been abandoned. In such a situation, he still needed a pet beast that could openly be seen. Qiuqiu was already at the second order and close to its first evolution. After evolution, the ancestral reversion evolution of Qiuqiu would likely look very different from the Fire Lizard, it could then be used as the pet beast of ¡°Cangfeng.¡± There was also the shadow of an unknown criminal organization looming over him recently. Shao Zifeng had twice disrupted their plans, albeit unintentionally, he could only hope they hadn¡¯t noticed him. As he thought about it, Shao Zifeng¡¯s attention shifted back to pet beasts. What kind of pet beast should he choose? ¡­ ¡°Husband, take care of yourself out there. The child and I will be waiting for you at home,¡± Sun Xiaoyuan looked at Pei Yong, who was carrying a suitcase, with some reluctance. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s just a few days¡¯ trip. Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely be back before the child is born.¡± Pei Yong took a step forward, embracing his wife, feeling her tremble slightly in his arms, he secretly clenched his fist. He must come back alive. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Combat Training Fourth Squad Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Combat Training Fourth Squad Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Su City University, sophomore year, Combat Training Class Four, was the new class the school had assigned Shao Zifeng to. He got to the classroom early, determined to study hard. His arrival piqued the curiosity of some students, but since they were unfamiliar with him, the new classmates couldn¡¯t bring themselves to approach him. A few girls, however, occasionally sneaked a glance at him, then quickly turned away to giggle with other girls. Shao Zifeng turned his head to look out the window, boredly spinning his pen in his hand, recalling the information he had researched last night about the choices of pets available, which gave him a headache. Due to the special circumstances in Da Xia, many species had vanished from this ancient land due to early destructive hunting practices. However, with the country¡¯s vigorous efforts in protection, some groups had managed to flourish. The outbreak of the ¡°Unknown Recovery Event¡± 20 years ago saw Da Xia, after resolving internal strife, designate most of the wildlife habitats as reserves. Among these, the ¡°Wolong Nature Reserve¡± was home to the panda beast clan, led by the ¡°Iron-eating Giant Panda.¡± Only those who had rendered great service and honor to Da Xia could apply for a contract with one, either for themselves or their descendants, and the contract could not be forced. Apart from these reserves that required honor and status for application, there were also some reserves open to the public. Due to the rapid reproduction of the groups within these reserves, anyone willing to spend some money could get a chance to enter and contract a pet beast. Last night, Shao Zifeng had looked up several reserves that could be applied for with money. However, the mutant creatures within those reserves didn¡¯t quite appeal to him. For example, the macaque group of the ¡°Wulongkou Nature Reserve¡± had been notorious for their mischievous behavior even before the world changed, known for stealing, robbing, and harming people. After the ¡°Unknown Recovery,¡± their behavior became even worse. Initially, some Combat Training Masters had taken a gamble and trained the macaques to evolve, but they found that the evolved forms, the rogue monkey and bully monkey, had even less tolerable temperaments. As a result, despite the macaques¡¯ initial strength, very few parents chose them as pet companions for their children. Moreover, none of the macaque groups across the nation¡¯s ¡°Macaque Natural Reserves¡± had produced any particularly powerful beings. Unfortunately, apart from the ¡°macaque group,¡± most of the publicly accessible reserves without preconditions housed mutant creatures with low combat desire and very gentle personalities. Reserves with good combat will, significant training potential, and no preconditions did exist. However, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t afford to visit those as they were the kind that left one struggling to even afford dirt upon returning, if they returned at all. ¡°Plop.¡± Feeling somewhat frustrated, Shao Zifeng accidentally dropped his pen. As he picked it up and snapped back to reality, the conversation of the students in front of him caught his attention. Two boys sat in front of Shao Zifeng, whispering to each other. Since their backs were to him, he couldn¡¯t see their faces. If not for the slight enhancement from the ¡°Bonding reaction¡± he experienced yesterday, he wouldn¡¯t have heard what they were saying. ¡°Hey, did you hear? It seems the school is planning to send us out for wilderness training soon.¡± ¡°Really? The wilderness is so dangerous. Besides, none of the seniors before us had participated in it, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. My sister is a junior in our Combat Training Department. She set off early this morning. Anyway, even though the natural resources around Su City are scarce, it¡¯s still better than staying in the city and contracting some cats or dogs, right? If you¡¯re scared of danger, why be a Combat Training Master!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s scared! I¡­I just have never been out of the city before, and I¡¯m a bit excited. Hey, did your sister contact you? Did she encounter any mutant creatures?¡± ¡°My sister said they came across a weasel¡­¡± ¡°Quiet down.¡± Before the student finished speaking, a burly bald man walked into the classroom. He was over two meters tall, with bushy brows and big eyes. His arms¡¯ muscles looked thicker than Shao Zifeng¡¯s waist, wearing a tank top that strained against his muscles, like it was going to burst, and military trousers with combat boots. Just standing there with his arms crossed, he exuded an invisible pressure. ¡°Listen up, brats. Today, I have two announcements. First, let¡¯s welcome our new classmate, Shao Zifeng.¡± The burly man glared around, his powerful voice booming. The classroom fell into a silence; no one spoke. He scanned the room and, seeing no response, his face darkened. Raising one eyebrow, he shouted, ¡°Clap!¡± The students of Combat Training Class Four jumped and soon reacted. The room filled with enthusiastic applause, to the point where they might break their hands. ¡°Good! Stop now!¡± The burly man nodded in satisfaction, smiling broadly at Shao Zifeng. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve welcomed him, there¡¯s no need for self-introductions. Get to know each other in time.¡± Although the man looked intimidating, Shao Zifeng felt he had a straightforward personality. But why were his classmates behaving like quail? ¡°Now, for the second announcement. At 3 a.m. tomorrow morning, gather at the school gate. I¡¯ll take you on an adventure. Officially, it¡¯s voluntary, but in my class, who dares not come¡­ hehe.¡± The burly man cast a malevolent glance around, grinning mischievously¡ªindeed, his look seemed quite bad. Whispers immediately filled the classroom. Some seemed discontent but dared not challenge the burly man¡¯s authority. A few girls even started to sob quietly, heads down on their desks. The scene in front of him made Shao Zifeng pull at the corners of his mouth. What was happening? This burly man seemed pretty straightforward; why were they crying? ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today. Go and pack your clothes and a small amount of food, no more than three kilograms.¡± The burly man looked satisfied with his precious students. Feeling accomplished, he gave Shao Zifeng another grin before turning to leave. As the students of Combat Training Class Four left the classroom in small groups, Shao Zifeng was left staring blankly at the empty room. Who am I? Where am I? What was I here for? He had just decided to attend class properly, and now they were sent off already? Was it really this hard to study properly? ¡°Yawn~¡± Qiuqiu, sleepy-eyed, poked its little head out of Shao Zifeng¡¯s pocket, looking at him curiously and then at the empty classroom. ¡°Squeak!¡± Why did all the two-legged creatures disappear! Shao Zifeng cuddled Qiuqiu, feeling a bit of anticipation for the wilderness trip the next day. ¡°Qiuqiu, tomorrow we can finally leave the city. Are you excited?¡± ¡°Squeak~?¡± Qiuqiu looked puzzled. Since it became aware, Shao Zifeng was all it saw. It had no idea what leaving the city meant, but sensing Shao Zifeng¡¯s happiness, it grinned, mirroring his joy. ¡°Squeak squeak~¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Jealous Qiuqiu Has Left Human Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Jealous Qiuqiu Has Left ¡®Human Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Carrying a bag of bread and mineral water, Shao Zifeng returned to his rented apartment. ¡°Meow~¡± As soon as he closed the door, the white cat walked elegantly up to Shao Zifeng, raised its tail, and rubbed against his leg. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re all better.¡± Shao Zifeng knelt down and rubbed the fluffy head of the house cat, observing its state. The light screen now showed it was only lightly injured. Shao Zifeng sighed in relief but also felt a headache. He wasn¡¯t sure how to deal with the little guy. Sending it back directly might cause unnecessary trouble, so maybe one night he could just let the white cat stay at the ¡°Ancient Chang¡¯an Residence¡± neighborhood? This seems reasonable! He silently gave himself a thumbs up. Lost in thought, Shao Zifeng continued to pet the cat absentmindedly. The white cat, being sensible, half-closed its eyes and purred comfortably. ¡°Whine whine!¡± Seeing this scene, Qiuqiu didn¡¯t rush to find its Tang Dao but tugged at Shao Zifeng¡¯s sleeve, looking at him pitifully, as if since its Scale Armor grew, ¡°Dandan¡± didn¡¯t love to pet it anymore. So sad! Looking down at its proud Scale Armor, Qiuqiu fell into a dilemma¡ªshould it take off the Scale Armor? Thinking this, Qiuqiu suddenly shivered. No, too painful. Feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s hurt emotions, Shao Zifeng snapped back, laughing as he picked up Qiuqiu, who took the opportunity to hug his neck with its little paws and lie on Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, giving the white cat a smug expression. Although the white cat was also a pet beast, it wasn¡¯t very intelligent. At Qiuqiu¡¯s provocation, it instantly became unhappy, its tail raised high, repeatedly rubbing against Shao Zifeng¡¯s leg. ¡°Meow meow~¡± The white cat tried its best to be cute, almost exposing its belly. ¡°Alright, alright, you guys go play. I have to pack.¡± Shao Zifeng, a bit helpless, put Qiuqiu beside the white cat, turned, picked up the bread and travel bag, and started packing. Qiuqiu sneakily glanced at Shao Zifeng, who had his back to them, then turned to the white cat with an evil smile¡­ who knew how a lizard could make an evil smile, and then slapped the white cat¡¯s face with its paw. The white cat, licking its paws, was startled, staring blankly at Qiuqiu. Qiuqiu slapped the white cat¡¯s face again. ¡°Meow!!¡± ¡°Whine whine~~¡± Shao Zifeng turned back to see the white cat¡¯s fur fluffing up, its tail puffed up, its two paws pressing onto Qiuqiu¡¯s¡­ ball, struggling to bite Qiuqiu¡¯s Scale Armor with its teeth bared. Qiuqiu curled up into a ball, showing a pitiful look, whimpering, as if suffering from great injustice. Initially, Shao Zifeng was a bit angry, but seeing the white cat¡¯s messy fur and the hint of joy in Qiuqiu¡¯s emotions, he understood the whole story and helplessly consoled the fluffed-up white cat, holding Qiuqiu¡¯s ball in his hand. ¡°The white cat is a guest and will stay with us for a few days. You can¡¯t act like this anymore, understood?¡± Shao Zifeng held Qiuqiu up to his eyes, staring at it. ¡°Whine!¡± Knowing it was exposed, Qiuqiu let out a stubborn whine, covering its eyes with its tail, avoiding Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze. ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± Seeing Qiuqiu act like this, Shao Zifeng got really angry. Maybe because it had overcome its timid nature and grown up a bit, Qiuqiu had been getting a bit mischievous lately, like bullying the corn snake yesterday. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t blame it because it was small. But who knew it would escalate today? Shao Zifeng seriously looked at the ball in his hand, remaining silent. For a moment, the room¡¯s atmosphere grew heavy. A while later. ¡°Whine whine whine!¡± Sensing that Shao Zifeng was truly angry, Qiuqiu whined towards the white cat with a sob, then jumped from Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand, ran to the Tang Dao, hugged it tightly with one paw, and slashed in the air with the other. A translucent rift appeared, and Qiuqiu jumped in with the Tang Dao. ¡°Qiu¡­¡± Watching the space rift gradually disappear, Shao Zifeng felt a sudden emptiness. He wondered if he had gone too far; this was the first time Qiuqiu had returned to the pet beast space, having always refused to go in before. After a long silence, Shao Zifeng continued to pack in silence, and the white cat sat there in a daze, feeling a bit lost. Tilting its head at the slightly desolated Shao Zifeng, the white cat opened its mouth and spat out a translucent water screen. Water elements gathered within the light screen, turning into a mist that filled the room. Feeling the cool mist on his exposed skin, Shao Zifeng felt refreshed. The room, which had a slight odor from raising reptiles, suddenly became fresh again. Glancing at the obedient white cat, Shao Zifeng smiled and thanked it. ¡°Meow~¡± The white cat shook its head slightly, then jumped into the small nest Shao Zifeng had prepared for it, lying down and closing its eyes. ¡­ At two in the morning, Shao Zifeng opened his eyes, instinctively feeling the emptiness beside him, realizing Qiuqiu was still sulking. With a bitter smile, Shao Zifeng sent an apologetic thought to the pet beast space. After a long while¡­ no response came. He lay in bed, sighing, muttering, ¡°Did I really go too hard on Qiuqiu? It¡¯s still just a child¡­ although there¡¯s a saying, ¡®He¡¯s still a child, he must be strictly disciplined.''¡± Glancing at his phone, it was almost time to meet. Shao Zifeng got up, dressed, refilled the water for the baby snakes in the snake tank, and left some food by the white cat, closing the door before heading to school. ¡­ In a vast unknown space, in an endless desert, several smoking volcanoes stood in the middle of a sea of sand. The thick smoke blotted out the sky, and the surroundings were filled with explosive fire elements. At the center of the largest volcano, dense lava churned continually, occasionally bubbling and bursting, splashing lava everywhere. At the center of the lava pool stood a lonely stone pillar, where Qiuqiu lay with its eyes closed, the Tang Dao beneath it. Suddenly, it seemed to sense something, its eyes springing open with a flash of joy. It raised its little paw, about to slash down, then paused, lying back over the Tang Dao. Its expression turned increasingly aggrieved, tears welling up in its eyes. It bit one of its little paws, trying hard not to cry out. ¡°Whine whine whine~¡± Leaving Shao Zifeng for the first time this long, never having been scolded before, Qiuqiu now felt both hurt and hungry. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, it covered its eyes with its tiny paws and cried out loud. ¡°Boom!¡± The volcanoes, as if enraged, roared like thunder. Then, streams of lava shot out from the surrounding volcanoes, making it seem like a rain of lava in the whole space. Qiuqiu stopped crying, dumbfounded by the apocalyptic scene, then waves of thick explosive fire elements surged towards it, encasing it in a burning red light egg. Qiuqiu, initially panicked, flailed its tiny paws inside the light egg, like a drowning creature. Gradually, the movements slowed down, and it slowly fell asleep. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: 31: Giant Battle Bear Chapter 31: 31: Giant Battle Bear Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At around four in the morning, the darkest hour before dawn, four lit minibuses sped along Su City¡¯s ring road. Inside the warm, dark bus, muted whispers could be heard. Most of the students were still asleep. Shao Zifeng sat by the window seat, with a medium-built boy leaning back in the seat beside him, snoring softly and rhythmically. Shao Zifeng, who was seldom this close to others, leaned further against the window as the snoring continued in his ear. He gently rested his head on the windowpane. ¡°Qiuqiu¡­ should be asleep by now.¡± Shao Zifeng had been unable to contact Qiuqiu for a while, and the constant snoring in his ear only heightened his already growing irritation. Struggling to restrain his negative emotions, he repeatedly convinced himself that Qiuqiu was merely asleep. ¡­ The minibus continued to drive through the darkness. Originally, there had been four buses, but now only the one for Class Four remained; the other three classes had taken different routes at earlier junctions. The sophomore students of Su City University¡¯s Combat Training Department were assigned different outdoor training areas. Shao Zifeng¡¯s Class Four was headed to a place called Wutong Mountain. Rumor had it that there was an ancient temple on the mountain, where a mythical phoenix supposedly perched upon a thousand-year-old parasol tree. Of course, due to the unpredictable risks in the wild, only the villages near the city still had residents. Most villages, towns, and even remote county towns had been abandoned. This legendary temple had also long been devoid of visitors. The eastern sky gradually brightened. In the deep blue night sky, the morning star hung quietly. The horizon began to show the undulating outlines of hills. Though they were merely small mounds, in the flat plains region around Su City, Wutong Mountain was considered a prominent landmark. The road became increasingly bumpy, flanked by dense and dark forests. Fields overgrown with weeds and shrubs occasionally appeared, waking the sleeping students, who pressed their faces against the windows to curiously observe the scenery outside, occasionally exclaiming and whispering among themselves. This generation had lived in the city since birth, well protected by the state and their parents, only seeing the wilderness through computers and phones. Encountering the real wild for the first time, they couldn¡¯t help but feel their hearts race with excitement. ¡°Look, look! There¡¯s a village at the foot of the mountain! It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± The exclamation of a girl heightened everyone¡¯s curiosity, and they craned their necks, vying to see the view ahead. Shao Zifeng also looked up and saw, not far away, rooftops peeking from behind the trees, covered in vines and plants that glowed with life under the morning sun, imparting a fairy-tale-like beauty to the artificially blended natural setting. The minibus drew closer to the village. As they passed a vine-covered, rusty sign, they could vaguely make out the words ¡°Chi Feng Village.¡± ¡°Screech~¡± The minibus suddenly braked at the village entrance. Several students, who had their faces pressed against the windows, banged their heads against the glass and groaned in pain and complained. ¡°Hahaha, didn¡¯t you enjoy my driving, kids?¡± The driver¡¯s loud voice brought the complaints to a halt. All eyes turned towards the driver¡¯s seat in unison. They saw a bald head slowly rise from behind the dashboard, reflecting the morning sunlight. ¡°Bang~¡± ¡°Damn it¡± After driving all the way, the driver, Strong Bro, wanted to stretch but ended up bumping his head against the bus¡¯s ceiling, a customized bus that appeared painful even to Shao Zifeng. Several girls couldn¡¯t help but burst into giggles, and the entire bus broke into laughter as a few boys joined in. Strong Bro, rubbing his head, wasn¡¯t upset. He grinned widely at the now relaxed atmosphere inside the bus. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve had your laugh. Stop laughing now. Later, you¡¯ll be laughing in the wild. Grab your luggage and follow me off the bus.¡± Strong Bro cheerfully addressed the students, knowing they would soon experience difficulty. He wasn¡¯t bothered by his earlier embarrassment. With his backpack, Shao Zifeng stepped off the minibus and took a deep breath of the fresh air in the wild. His heavy mood lifted. In another time and space, although he could freely enter and exit towns, as a homebody, he never had the time to explore. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to spend that time petting his snake? They alighted in front of a vine-covered house, facing a small plaza that was likely a place for villagers to dry wheat, now overgrown with grass, inducing a sense of tranquility among them. ¡°21 students, none missing. As expected of my students, no cowards among you. Now, you can summon your pets.¡± Strong Bro counted the students and nodded in satisfaction. The students of Class Four couldn¡¯t wait and eagerly summoned their pets. Translucent rifts appeared, and out came small pets, jumping and frolicking on the grass, shattering the tranquility and making everything a bit messy. Shao Zifeng observed, noticing that most of the pets were domestic animals like cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks. Over there, there were even a few mice and sparrows. Most of their talents were in the one-star initial form, and he quickly lost interest. Watching the chaotic scene on the plaza, Strong Bro grinned mischievously and made a slicing motion in the air. ¡°Roar~~¡± From the rift in space, a deafening roar emerged. The playing pets instantly froze, trembling in place as if hit by a petrifying spell. Their owners weren¡¯t much better off, with a few students falling to the ground with weak knees. Looking pale, Shao Zifeng¡¯s body trembled slightly. It felt like the night before, but the oppression was even stronger than that of the Blood-sucking Tarantula. Suppressing his fear, Shao Zifeng looked towards Strong Bro. He saw a huge furry paw emerge from the rift, followed by a head, then the body. Finally, a giant bear appeared before Shao Zifeng. ¡°Roar~¡± The bear stood up and let out another fierce roar. ¡°Enough with the roaring. You¡¯re too full of yourself.¡± Strong Bro kicked the bear¡¯s butt, and the roar stopped abruptly. The bear looked at Strong Bro, then at the trembling small pets, scratched its head apologetically, and sat down on the grass with a slight vibration. Shocked, Shao Zifeng looked at the giant bear. It was unbelievably large. Standing over two meters tall, Strong Bro, who was beside the seated bear, seemed frail. Slightly delayed, his golden finger automatically activated, and a light screen appeared. [Name]: Giant Battle Bear [Growth]: Mature phase [Status]: Healthy, Hungry [Strength]: Tier Four [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Ursidae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡î [Talent]: Rage: The more severe the injury, the stronger the combat power it triggers. Alongside powerful combat abilities, it loses its reason. [Skills]: Defense, Charge, smash, Tearing Claw Strike, Thousand-Pound Hammer, Mad Fist¡­ [Description]: Evolved from the northeast snowfield brown bear, generally mild-tempered unless you try to provoke it. If you do, it will show you what a battle madman is. ¡°So strong¡­¡± Shao Zifeng stared in awe at the massive creature. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Pei Yong Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Pei Yong Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation On the lawn in front of the entrance to Xifeng Village, the students of Class Four of the Battle Training still had not recovered from the intimidation of the Giant Battle Bear. Some of them were hugging their pet beasts, while others were sitting on the ground trembling with fear, their eyes filled with terror. Sun Qiang stood beside the Giant Battle Bear with his arms crossed, looking proudly at the embarrassed students. Sun Qiang, with his broad build and narrow mind, was quite petty. Suddenly, he made a light ¡°hmm¡± sound. Among the students present, there was actually one who had not made a fool of himself. Although his face was equally pale, he was still staring directly at the Giant Battle Bear. What a good seedling. Sun Qiang rubbed his chin with his hand and glanced around once more but did not see Shao Zifeng¡¯s pet beast. ¡°Student Shao, come here for a moment.¡± While checking the information on the Giant Battle Bear, Shao Zifeng suddenly heard someone calling him. He looked up to see Sun Qiang grinning widely, gesturing for him to come over. ¡°Sun¡­ Qiang¡­ um¡­¡± Shao Zifeng stood in front of Sun Qiang, looking at this towering man, suddenly unsure how to address him. Calling him Mr. Sun or Mr. Qiang seemed rude. ¡°Hahaha¡­ no need to be so formal, just call me Brother Qiang.¡± Sun Qiang waved his hand, pretending to laugh heartily as if he really did not mind. ¡°Student Shao, where¡¯s your pet beast? Let it out so Brother Qiang can take a look.¡± Sun Qiang said as he patted the Giant Battle Bear sitting beside him. He bragged to Shao Zifeng, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Qiang has a good eye. I personally picked this bear, hahaha, isn¡¯t it cool?¡± The Giant Battle Bear seemed to be annoyed by Sun Qiang¡¯s patting. It glanced disdainfully at its owner, stretched out its big furry paw, and gently pushed him, causing Brother Qiang to stagger and almost fall. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s just being playful, it often jokes around with me.¡± Sun Qiang, slightly embarrassed, forced a laugh and explained. Then he glared at the Giant Battle Bear. The Giant Battle Bear turned around, facing away from him, indicating it did not want to pay attention to him. Shao Zifeng smiled at their antics but felt a little downhearted because he still could not contact Qiuqiu. He had also tried to open the pet beast space before, but there was no response at all. He wondered how Qiuqiu was doing now. It hadn¡¯t eaten anything since yesterday. After the incident with the Giant Battle Bear, Sun Qiang did not insist on seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s pet beast. He called out to the gradually recovering students of Class Four, summoning them to gather. The students of Class Four hesitantly glanced at the Giant Battle Bear before slowly moving closer. Their pet beasts, however, were unwilling to come over. ¡°Alright, look at you all acting like scaredy-cats¡­¡± ¡°Huff~¡± The Giant Battle Bear was displeased at being compared to them, snorted heavily through its nose, and interrupted Sun Qiang¡¯s speech, expressing its dissatisfaction. Sun Qiang wore a sour face. This silly bear always opposed him. Out of spite, he opened the pet beast space and put the Giant Battle Bear away. With the departure of the Giant Battle Bear, the pet beasts on the lawn, who had been huddling and trembling, seemed to come back to life. They rushed to their owners, whimpering as if complaining. The lawn burst into noise again. ¡°Quiet!¡± Sun Qiang, in a bad mood, glared and shouted loudly. Once the lawn quieted down again, Sun Qiang continued, ¡°The wild training lasts for three days. You can act in groups or explore freely. Each of you will get a signal gun and a locator from me. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The students of Class Four reflexively shouted in unison. ¡°If you encounter a problem you can¡¯t solve, run if you can. If you can¡¯t, fire the signal gun¡­ make sure you all come back safely, got it?¡± Sun Qiang seldom expressed concern, but now his expression looked awkward. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯ll call your names to come and get your items. Sun Qiang¡­¡± ¡­ Shao Zifeng stood by the minibus with one hand in his pocket. After distributing the items, Sun Qiang went back to the bus to catch up on sleep. The classmates formed small groups to explore the forest, and a few of them invited him, but he politely declined with a smile. Feeling his empty pocket, Shao Zifeng swiped his right hand in the air, but after waiting for a while, there was no response. Shao Zifeng¡¯s expression was gloomy. He felt that something must be wrong with Qiuqiu. Even if Qiuqiu was sulking, it would not be completely unresponsive. Under normal circumstances, he should be able to forcibly summon it. After his classmates left, he had tried many times, but the result was always the same: he could not contact Qiuqiu at all. Sighing heavily, Shao Zifeng turned and walked towards the village. ¡­ In the vast desert, several volcanoes had long ceased to erupt. Thick fire elements gathered from the lava at the craters and converged on the light egg floating on the central volcano. The light egg, burning with a red flame, became increasingly solid, and one could vaguely see something incubating inside. ¡°Squeak~¡± A ripple appeared near the light egg. The beast shadow within the light egg struggled weakly as if being awakened, letting out a low cry. Then the ripple was shattered by the fire elements, and everything returned to normal. ¡­ Near Su City University, there were many small inns where one could stay without registering, as long as they paid the fee. These places were typically rendezvous spots for couples¡­ though not always. In one of these cramped and stuffy rooms, a small window was covered by an old curtain. Without turning on the light, the entire room was dark, filled with a faint musty smell and indescribable odors. Pei Yong lay on a single bed, with his arms under his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. His expression alternated between softness and ferocity, giving off a sense of contradiction. ¡°Ding~¡± The phone screen lit up, bringing a cold gleam to the dark room. Pei Yong did not pick up the phone, still staring blankly at the ceiling. ¡°Ding~¡± The phone screen went dark and then lit up again, but Pei Yong remained unmoved. After the phone lit up several more times, the person sending the messages seemed to lose patience. An urgent ringing tone echoed through the empty room, sounding exceptionally jarring. Pei Yong hesitated for a moment and then chose to answer the call. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Pei Yong, the target is not in the city right now. I¡¯ve sent the address and information to your phone¡­ I hope you don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± A processed voice spoke through the receiver. ¡°¡­¡± Pei Yong said nothing, just listened quietly. ¡°Come back quickly. I¡¯ll have champagne ready at your place, to celebrate your son¡¯s rebirth.¡± The person on the other end sneered when Pei Yong remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t hurt her. I¡¯ll complete the task¡­ please.¡± Pei Yong said urgently, his voice hoarse and dry. ¡°Heh~ I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news.¡± Then the call was disconnected. ¡°Click¡± The room light came on. Pei Yong¡¯s face was ashen, his chin covered in stubble. His bloodshot eyes stared intently at the phone. ¡°Xifeng Village¡­ Shao Zifeng.¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Black Waterfowl... eggs? (Please recommend, collect) Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Black Waterfowl¡­ eggs? (Please recommend, collect) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Shao Zifeng walked alone in Su City, surrounded by lush greenery. Twenty years after humans had left this place, nature had repaired the artificial traces on its own. The entire village was covered with green vines and weeds, with grass growing out of the cracks in the stone slabs. His footsteps were silent on the grass. Shao Zifeng, carrying a travel bag, walked through the tranquil village, occasionally glancing around to guard against unknown mutant creatures. The village was too quiet, so quiet that Shao Zifeng could even hear his own heartbeat. ¡°Squeak~¡± Shao Zifeng was startled, and swiftly took out a kitchen knife from his travel bag, cautiously staring at the grass where the sound had come from, swallowing secretly. After a moment of stalemate, nothing happened. Shao Zifeng slowly started to relax. He didn¡¯t feel any negative emotions, just a bit of nervousness mixed with a faint curiosity. He tried to take a step forward. The small creature that had been secretly observing Shao Zifeng seemed frightened, and the grass rustled as three mice, one large and two small, jumped out. ¡°Squeak squeak~¡± The large mouse guarded the two small mice behind it, staring nervously at Shao Zifeng while making a warning sound. The two small mice poked their heads out, curiously scrutinizing Shao Zifeng, sniffing the unfamiliar scent with their twitching whiskers. Indeed, young creatures were always adorable. A few blue light dots unfurled the usual light blue screen. [Name]: Mouse [Growth]: Mature/Infant [Status]: Healthy, Extremely Hungry, Nervous [Strength]: Tier 1/None ¡­ [Order]: Rodentia [Family]: Muridae [Attribute]: None [Potential]: ¡ï/¡î [Talent]: None [Skills]: Tear and Bite, Steal [Description]: The most numerous and common mutant creatures in the world. These weak creatures survive by stealing leftover food from others/beasts. The attributes of the three mice were not much different, very ordinary attributes and templates. However, the ¡®Extremely Hungry¡¯ status was a first. Shao Zifeng thought for a moment, took out a small piece of bread from his bag, squatted down slowly, and placed the bread in front of him. Smiling, he tried to convey through his emotions that he had no ill intentions, then slowly retreated. The mother mouse sniffed the bread, looked at Shao Zifeng disappearing around the corner, and a flash of gratitude appeared in her eyes. Due to the two small mice, they hadn¡¯t eaten for a long time. Dragging the bread, she glanced back at the direction where Shao Zifeng had left, and then the three mice disappeared into the grass. ¡­ After leaving the three mice, Shao Zifeng took a different path to continue exploring the village. He tried using his cheat to find valuable items, but after searching the entire village, he found nothing of value. This wasn¡¯t following the script. Other protagonists with cheats found treasures everywhere they went. At a minimum, they came across rare herbs guarded by spiritual beasts. So why was it so hard for him? Shao Zifeng wandered distractedly, exploring the last area of the village, only to be even more disappointed. After leaving the village and arriving at the backside, he saw Wutong Mountain in front of him. How should he put it? It was really just a small hill, at most tens of meters high. Due to the lack of human presence, the entire Wutong Mountain was covered with pine trees, appearing vibrant and lively. Behind the village, there was a path covered in wild grass, vaguely suggesting it was once used to enter the mountain. Shao Zifeng looked up at the noon sun, gritted his teeth, and walked toward Wutong Mountain with his kitchen knife. Although Qiuqiu wasn¡¯t by his side, at the critical moment¡­ A flash of fire appeared in Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes, and the blade of the kitchen knife in his hand glowed faintly red. Wisps of black smoke rose from the wooden handle gripped by Shao Zifeng. Damn it, this was not the time to be a show-off. Shao Zifeng quickly dispersed the fire element, revealing the charred and cracked wooden handle. ??? ¡­ As he ventured deeper, the surrounding shrubs gradually disappeared, replaced by tall and dense pine trees. The dark forest dispelled the midday heat, and the occasional bird calls added to the eerie tranquility of the environment. Shao Zifeng struggled to cut through the branches blocking his path. Each time he exerted force, some charcoal powder sprinkled from the knife handle, making it thinner and thinner. Shao Zifeng remained silent, confirming that he indeed wasn¡¯t suited for showing off. The last time he awkwardly showed off was saying ¡°Hello¡± to his phone. Shao Zifeng secretly mocked himself to ease his tension, advancing one step at a time through the forest. When he got hungry, he just found an open spot to eat some bread, not appearing impatient at all. Su City was indeed renowned for its poor natural resources. Shao Zifeng wandered an entire day without finding any rare mutant creatures. Other than the three mice in the village, he only saw a few birds that flew away before he could check their information. The sun gradually set, making the forest even darker. If he couldn¡¯t find shelter before it got completely dark, the night would be very hard. Shao Zifeng felt anxious, but there was nothing he could do. You couldn¡¯t expect a shut-in to know wilderness survival techniques. Although he had watched shows like Bear Grylls¡¯ and Les Stroud¡¯s in another timeline, he was confident while watching but panicked when actually in the wild. As it got darker, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of anxiety. Just then. ¡°Splash splash splash~¡± A sound of flowing water came from deeper in the dark forest, making Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart lift. He hurried towards the direction of the sound. He had heard rumors that there was a small river near Qifeng Temple; if he could find the river and follow it, he had a good chance of finding Qifeng Temple. Technically speaking, approaching a water source in the wild was a risky move. You never knew what animals were drinking there, not to mention in this timeline where the danger level of mutant creatures had escalated drastically. Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t worry about that now. Without shelter, the forest at night would be even more dangerous. Many carnivorous creatures hunted at night, and searching for water had a low probability of danger compared to a high probability of being attacked if he stayed put. The first option seemed safer. The sound of water grew closer. Shao Zifeng pushed through a shrub, revealing a clear small river. The river wasn¡¯t wide, with reeds growing on both sides, and the flow wasn¡¯t very fast, though there was a low area forming a small waterfall, creating a loud splashing noise. Crossing the shrub, Shao Zifeng prepared to follow the river upstream to find Qifeng Temple. As he passed a patch of reeds, two black birds flew out and landed on the water, calling anxiously at him. Blue light gradually gathered in front of Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. [Name]: Black Waterfowl [Growth]: Mature [Status]: Healthy, Nervous [Strength]: Tier 1 ¡­ [Order]: Gruiformes [Family]: Rallidae [Attribute]: Water [Potential]: ¡ï¡î [Talent]: Water Play: Can quickly restore energy in water. [Skills]: Charge, Water Defense [Description]: A Gruiformes bird that resembles a chicken, gentle in disposition, and not prone to conflict. Shao Zifeng gave a soft exclamation, finally encountering a less common mutant creature. With two-star potential, it should be worth some money. He took a couple of steps forward to observe it more closely. ¡°Chirp chirp~¡± The two Black Waterfowl became more anxious as Shao Zifeng approached. They made loud, high-pitched calls, flapping their wings frantically, appearing ready to pounce but hesitant to get too close. ¡°Huh.¡± Seeing the anxious Black Waterfowl, Shao Zifeng was puzzled. It didn¡¯t seem necessary for them to be so agitated when he was still quite far away. Maybe it had to do with the reeds¡­ Thinking this, Shao Zifeng instinctively looked toward the reeds. In the lush patch of reeds, a few eggs lay quietly in a grass nest. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 "Explorer" (please vote, favorite) Chapter 34: Chapter 34 ¡°Explorer¡± (please vote, favorite) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As evening approached, a huge bonfire was lit in the grass at the entrance of Qifeng Village. The students of Combat Training Class Four returned to the village entrance one after another, sitting around the bonfire and chattering about their experiences that day. ¡°Ahem!¡± A thin boy wearing glasses and a checkered shirt coughed loudly, interrupting the murmurs. Seeing that his classmates were looking at him inquisitively, especially his crush, Chen Wen¡¯s face flushed with excitement. He straightened his back subconsciously but didn¡¯t speak immediately. ¡°Come on, Four Eyes, stop keeping us in suspense. Just say what you want to say already,¡± a boy said impatiently, seeing Chen Wen cough but remain silent. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Hearing someone call Chen Wen by his nickname, the students around the bonfire burst into laughter. Chen Wen¡¯s face turned even redder, and he glared at the boy who spoke, feeling both embarrassed and angry. He hated being called by that nickname, but some mischievous classmates often teased him with it. Of course, this was also because it was rare for someone in the Combat Training Department to wear glasses. Although Chen Wen was not particularly handsome, he had a high opinion of himself and liked to show off, making himself seem like he stood out from the crowd. Gradually, his classmates found amusement in making fun of him. Despite his anger, Chen Wen didn¡¯t dare to really start a conflict. He glanced at his crush once more and decided to rise above the common folk. Clearing his throat, he said, ¡°Let me tell you, today I met a bearded explorer at the foot of the mountain. We hit it off immediately and had a great conversation. Guess what I heard from him.¡± Chen Wen paused for effect, sweeping his eyes around with a mysterious look. Under the blazing firelight, there truly was an atmosphere of storytelling. ¡°An explorer!!! You actually met an explorer, Chen Wen? Really? Tell us what a real explorer is like.¡± A sharp-voiced girl asked eagerly. Although the students were attracted by Chen Wen¡¯s words, their focus clearly wasn¡¯t on his question. They all began asking about the explorer¡¯s deeds. No wonder they were curious¡ªexplorers were indeed a unique presence among the Combat Training Masters. They didn¡¯t shine as brightly as the stars of the Combat Training Masters or command as much respect as the Combat Training Masters in the military. But those who roamed the wilderness for years, exploring this changed world, spread countless tales. After several films featuring explorers as protagonists became hits, these unrestrained and free-spirited explorers, endowed with various halos, were regarded as heroes and role models by students who grew up in the city. Chen Wen¡¯s claim of meeting an explorer instantly ignited the curiosity of the teenagers. They bombarded him with questions. Though it wasn¡¯t exactly as he expected, he still succeeded in capturing their attention. With a face flushed with joy, he began to recount his interactions with the ¡°explorer.¡± Though much of it was exaggerated and mixed with tales from other stories, the teenagers who were encountering the wilderness for the first time listened with wide-eyed amazement and responded with exclamations. For a moment, the atmosphere around the bonfire became even more lively. Sun Qiang, sitting on the roof of the minibus, looked at the rising moon and slowly exhaled a smoke ring. The Giant Battle Bear lay quietly beside the minibus, its back almost level with the minibus¡¯s top. Smelling the smoke, it disdainfully covered its nose with its huge paw and glanced at Sun Qiang. As long as no one was around, Petty Minded Qiang didn¡¯t mind being despised. He was used to it anyway. Turning to look at the teenagers illuminated by the firelight, Sun Qiang felt a rare sense of accomplishment. Despite his pettiness, vengefulness, enjoyment of seeing his students embarrassed, and smoking¡ªa slew of bad habits¡ªhe considered himself a good teacher. The bursts of exclamations from the bonfire caught Sun Qiang¡¯s attention. He jumped down from the minibus and walked over quietly. ¡°Let me tell you, that explorer, who is my sworn brother, said¡­¡± ¡°What did you say!¡± Before Chen Wen could finish his prideful statement, a loud voice sounded behind him, startling him into stiffness. His expression froze, and he turned slowly to see Sun Qiang standing behind him, his bald head shining in the firelight, his face frighteningly grim. ¡°Mr¡­Mr. Teacher, I don¡¯t know anything,¡± Chen Wen stammered, looking at the towering Sun Qiang. ¡°Tell me, which explorer,¡± Sun Qiang demanded, his face growing darker as he stared intently at Chen Wen. ¡°I, uh, I met a man at the foot of the mountain who claimed to be an explorer. He asked us where we were from and what we were doing here¡­ Teacher, that¡¯s really all. I was just bragging earlier. I¡¯m sorry, teacher, for lying to my classmates.¡± Chen Wen¡¯s legs trembled as he spoke, no longer stuttering. He finished with a deep bow. Standing there, Sun Qiang¡¯s presence quieted the students. Although they were dissatisfied with Chen Wen¡¯s confession, they didn¡¯t show it immediately. They just looked at him with disdain, as if he were a heap of garbage. ¡°Nonsense! How could there be an explorer in this godforsaken place like Su City! This is our school¡¯s private training area; there¡¯s no way an outsider could be here! Have you all lost your minds? Sun Qiang, take a headcount,¡± Sun Qiang bellowed, glaring around angrily. The teenagers were taken aback by his scolding and bowed their heads in unwillingness. It wasn¡¯t that big a deal if an outsider showed up, they thought. Besides, it was Chen Wen who encountered him, not us. By now, it was getting late. Class President Sun Qiang began to check the attendance list carefully, while Sun Qiang stood with his arms crossed, watching him with a blank expression. ¡°Report, teacher¡­ There are twenty-one people in Class Four, twenty present, but Shao Zifeng, the new transfer student, hasn¡¯t returned.¡± Sun Qiang lowered his head after reporting, not daring to meet Sun Qiang¡¯s gaze, feeling ashamed for joining in the earlier commotion. ¡°Got it. Everyone turn off your positioning devices and sit here without moving,¡± Sun Qiang ordered in a deep voice before rushing back to the minibus to turn on the search equipment. The search device screen resembled a radar, with a beam rotating from the center, searching for signals. Moments later, the screen locked onto a house in Qifeng Village, where a red dot blinked intermittently. ¡­ Sun Qiang stood in front of a house in Qifeng Village, holding the search device, watching the blinking signal light on the ground, his face cloudy. ¡°Damn it!¡± He cursed loudly, punching the wall heavily. The old wall, long in disrepair, shook and some dirt fell off. ¡°Squeak~¡± A mouse, awakened from its sleep in the grass, poked its head out of the darkness and looked at Sun Qiang with a scared expression. Then it noticed the device in front of him. Using its not-so-bright mind, it remembered that device was dropped by the person who gave them bread. Glancing at Sun Qiang and the positioning device, it tilted its head in thought, then turned to look at its children. Two small mice were still asleep, each holding a half-eaten piece of bread and occasionally licking it in their sleep, making happy squeaky sounds. Seeing this, the big mouse gritted its teeth and ran towards Wutong Mountain. This guy looks like a bad person; he must be here to hunt down that person. I need to warn him quickly. Squeak squeak~ Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Unknown Elemental Egg (Please recommend and favorite) Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Unknown Elemental Egg (Please recommend and favorite) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation [Name]: Unknown egg [Growth]: Incubation period [Status]: Awaiting hatching [Potential]: 0~2¡ï [Description]: Egg of an unknown creature, with a high probability of being a Black Waterfowl egg based on big data calculations. Friendly reminder: Whether oviparous mutant creatures can reach their potential after hatching depends on whether they receive sufficient energy before they are born. Seeing the information in front of him, Shao Zifeng¡¯s eye twitched slightly, is this it? Does this thing even have the face to be called a Golden Finger? Goddamn big data, is this how big data is supposed to work? Not being able to issue tasks is one thing, but you can¡¯t even do a lottery or exchange items. The most amazing part is, the delay in identifying items is ridiculously high. If the delay was high that would be one thing, but not even being able to distinguish between items is too much, isn¡¯t it? This thing must have been a factory reject with defects, right? Shao Zifeng inwardly ranted furiously, staring at several Black Waterfowl eggs with a pensive look. The highest quality it can hatch into is two-star, which means it could be evaluated as B-level by official standards, which could definitely sell for a good price. But the problem now is, no one would really buy the egg if I tried to sell it directly, and even if someone did buy it, it wouldn¡¯t fetch a good price. If I hatch it myself and don¡¯t spend a fortune providing energy, there¡¯s a high chance it will fail. No matter how I think about it, it doesn¡¯t seem like a good deal. ¡°Chirp chirp~!¡± The two Black Waterfowls grew increasingly anxious, their cries becoming progressively louder. Their black feathers fluffed up, wings flapping on the water¡¯s surface, and the red fleshy bumps on their foreheads showed faint energy fluctuations. It seemed like if Shao Zifeng dared to take the eggs, they were ready to use their Charge skill and go all out with him. As for why they didn¡¯t use Water Defense¡­because Water Defense is a defensive skill. Only knowing one Charge skill is really pitiful. Shao Zifeng sighed, no matter what excuse he found, he ultimately couldn¡¯t harden his heart to rob mutant creatures of their offspring. He¡¯s a strange person, always keeping others at a certain distance in daily interactions. When it comes to robbery and murder, if it doesn¡¯t involve him, he would always look the other way. Even with his mother, he rarely displayed typical mother-son affection. Even if he constantly thought about her, he would seldom call her first, and never talk about what was on his mind. To others, he always seemed to be smiling, but hard to get along with or connect with. Some of his relatives on his mother¡¯s side thought he was rather cold-hearted. Yet when he watched videos alone, he would be moved seeing children salute soldiers, be touched by teenagers putting masks on scavengers, and be tearful over pets waiting endlessly for their owners. Beneath his relatively tough exterior was a soft heart. He remained guardful toward everyone but maintained a hint of ridiculous kindness. All in all, he was a very contradictory person. Offering an apologetic smile to the Black Waterfowl couple, Shao Zifeng turned and started walking upstream along the river. The two Black Waterfowls glanced at each other, flapping their wings as they flew into the reed bushes to carefully protect their eggs. ¡­ ¡°Jingle jingle~¡± About ten minutes later, Shao Zifeng stood in front of a dilapidated ancient building, looking up at a Taoist temple that carried the legend of the Phoenix. On the mottled, peeled paint of the large door was a decayed signboard, with once gilded characters corroded over time, faintly revealing the words ¡°Qi Feng Temple.¡± Two bronze bells hung from the flying eaves on either side of the mountain gate. When the evening wind blew through them, they issued clear, bright chimes, accompanied by the sound of flowing water, creating an ethereal ambiance that seemed able to cleanse the spirit. The surroundings of the temple were filled with mountain peach trees, reportedly planted by the last temple master. Unfortunately, for some reason, the trees that were supposed to be in full bloom in March now looked withered, their black, twisted branches appearing eerie in the nighttime. ¡°Crunch.¡± Shao Zifeng stepped forward to push the door. The decayed copper lock broke with a little force, and the doors ground open with a teeth-clenching sound. Gazing into the temple, Shao Zifeng drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Hiss, this tree¡­¡± Just kidding. At the center of the courtyard stood a gigantic, bald wutong tree. The tree trunk had around a two-meter diameter, with its roots lifting the surrounding bluestone slabs off the ground. Cracks spread outward from the trunk. However, the wutong tree seemed to have a segment missing, leaving only a tree trunk as tall as two people. A layer of beige powder scattered around its base, likely from the decayed missing portion. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the large wutong tree wasn¡¯t entirely dead. Some small shoots emerged from the roots but had also lost their luster, looking as if they could die off at any moment. ¡°Hmm?¡± As Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze swept over the tree¡¯s top, he noticed some blue dots in his peripheral vision slightly moving. He quickly refocused on the wutong tree, staring intently at the broken part. The blue light dots trembled slightly again. ¡°There¡¯s definitely something wrong,¡± thought Shao Zifeng. As he took a step closer to the tree, the blue light dots shook more violently than before. Shao Zifeng felt a surge of joy. It seemed he had found something valuable; this might not be a loss after all. With every step he took closing the distance to the wutong, the blue light dots would shiver intensely. Shao Zifeng reached the wutong tree, touched the rough trunk, and the blue light dots in his periphery began to swirl slowly. Shao Zifeng stood still for a while, noticing that the light dots continued to spin without forming a light screen. ¡°Looks like the problem is at the treetop, I¡¯ll have to climb up and take a look,¡± he muttered to himself. The withered wutong wasn¡¯t very tall, and its decayed trunk was extremely fragile. A few strikes with a kitchen knife created enough footholds. Shao Zifeng bit the kitchen knife between his teeth, hugging the trunk tightly as he carefully climbed up. Using both hands and feet, he clambered to the top of the withered wutong. The flat surface looked as if it had been cut straight across and was coated with a thick layer of beige powder, identical to that on the ground. Shao Zifeng cleared some of the powder with his hand and discovered the surface wasn¡¯t flat, but funnel-shaped, dipping inward at the center. The blue dots in his peripheral vision began spinning frantically, urging Shao Zifeng to finish cleaning the powder quickly. ¡°Cough cough~¡± Shao Zifeng impulsively took a deep breath and blew hard. A cloud of powder flew up, making him cough loudly. At that moment, the moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a clear, faint light through the swirling powder, illuminating an object at the base of the tree hollow. That object emitted a quiet bluish-green glow. The rapidly rotating blue dots converged into a pale blue light screen, unfolding in front of Shao Zifeng. [Name]: Unknown Elemental Egg [Growth]: Incubation period/Condensation period [Status]: Awaiting hatching/Element extremely deficient [Potential]: 3~5¡ï [Description]: An unknown element, having been cleansed over millennia, has condensed into an energy egg that may give birth to a pure elemental creature. Due to the abundance of withered trees nearby, big data calculations suggest a high likelihood that this egg is a wood-attribute elemental lifeform. Friendly reminder: This elemental egg is extremely weak right now. If it does not receive a large infusion of wood-element energy within one week, it will dissipate soon. Damn you and your big data calculations, do you think I need you to calculate this? Am I blind or are you? You might look all serious and impressive, but the information you identify with is really ¡°smart¡± huh? You¡¯re a mature plug-in already, you ought to learn to upgrade yourself automatically! Daily rants done, the blue dots won¡¯t talk back anyway, so it¡¯s a way to relieve stress. Honestly, given the vibe, Shao Zifeng felt a bit chilly. Carefully picking up the elemental egg, it felt weightless, as if it wasn¡¯t there at all. The elemental egg seemed to sense something, flashing rapidly in his hand. It emitted a faint bluish-green glow as if resisting something, but ultimately, too weak to fight, it slowly dimmed down. The elemental egg seemed to accept its fate: ¡°Alright, I¡¯m lying down, do what you want.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Crisis (Collection, Recommended Votes) Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Crisis (Collection, Recommended Votes) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Cautiously placing the Wood Element Egg into the compartment of the travel bag and wrapping it with a towel, Shao Zifeng slung the travel bag over his back. He walked a few steps but still felt uneasy, so he took the bag off and reversed it to hang in front of his chest, patted it lightly, and nodded in satisfaction. Holding the travel bag with one hand and a kitchen knife with the other, Shao Zifeng prepared to explore the temple and find a side room to stay in. His mind couldn¡¯t help but wander between feelings of excitement and worry. Although this Elemental Egg had great potential, the condensation of elements was a big problem. The wood attribute elements around the temple had all been absorbed by it, even the thousand-year-old Wutong tree had been drained. How could he find enough wood attribute elements for it? He didn¡¯t know if wood element energy potions would work. Even if energy potions could be used, to obtain a 5-star quality pet beast, the general low-level energy potions could be ruled out. But high-level energy potions required Combat Training Master certification, and as a newcomer who just registered as a Combat Training Master, advanced potion quotas were out of reach. He still had to rely on the platform. He wondered if he could buy it. Thinking of this, Shao Zifeng felt a headache. High-level energy potions were classified into eight levels; the highest-level ¡°Energy Potion VIII¡± that he could currently understand cost at least six figures per dose. Moreover, the potions on the platform were much more expensive than the official ones. Though he still had about five hundred thousand yuan in funds, it was already hard to maintain Qiuqiu alone. Qiuqiu¡­ Shao Zifeng suddenly felt a bit desolate. He hadn¡¯t seen it for almost a day and wondered if it was okay. Since traveling through to this time and space, it was seemingly the first time they¡¯d been apart for so long. With a gloomy face, Shao Zifeng raised his right hand and stretched out his index finger, preparing to try summoning it again. ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± A familiar sound interrupted Shao Zifeng¡¯s actions. He looked up, surprised. In the shadows where the moonlight couldn¡¯t reach, a mouse was cautiously hiding behind a beam, poking its head out to look at him, making squeaking sounds as if anxious. It looked familiar¡­ Pfft, weren¡¯t all mice the same? ¡°Little guy, are you looking for me? Do you need my help?¡± Shao Zifeng squatted down, speaking to it in a gentle tone. ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± Upon hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, the mouse quickly propped itself up with its hind legs, gesturing nonstop with its front paws. Seeing the mouse flailing about like this, Shao Zifeng found it a bit amusing. Its tiny paws waving were quite interesting, though he thought laughing at its anxious state wasn¡¯t appropriate. So, he put on a serious face, watching the mouse. He asked a few probing questions, all of which were negated by the mouse. Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t understand its meaning, causing the mouse to grow more anxious, its emotional fluctuations becoming more intense and clearly transmitted to Shao Zifeng. ¡°Squeak¡­ have¡­ chasing you¡­ squeak¡­ kill.¡± The disconnected emotions were transmitted, and Shao Zifeng was startled. Although the mouse¡¯s intelligence was limited and not as clear-thinking as Qiuqiu, putting these words together, the meaning was quite obvious. His face changed unpredictably. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t believe such a simple-minded pet beast would deceive him. Thinking of the Blood-sucking Tarantula he encountered in the old city, the spider Qiuqiu killed, and Luo Feng¡¯s warning. Shao Zifeng knew that in this surveillance-ridden era, it was impossible not to leave any trace of information. Moreover, the recent city-wide search yielded no results, meaning that group was likely hiding deeper than imagined. It was precisely because the city was filled with surveillance that this wild training had become the best opportunity for those wanting to kill him. The mouse, uncertain if Shao Zifeng understood its meaning, ignored his natural fear of humans and bit his pants leg, trying to drag him out. ¡°Hey!¡± Shao Zifeng, deep in thought, stumbled, nearly falling. One had to admit that although it was just a one-star potential first-tier mutant creature, its strength was not small. ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Can you tell me what that person looked like?¡± Shao Zifeng, although trusting it, wanted to know more information, at least to be prepared. ¡°Squeak?¡± The mouse tilted its head, understanding his question, and tried to recall. The evening scene emerged in its mind, the tall man punching the wall, causing dust to fall. A surge of intense fear came over it, shivering from head to toe. ¡°Squeak, big¡­ very big¡­ squeak¡­¡± The mouse, overwhelmed by fear, transmitted not only fragmented meaning this time but also an image. A tall, bald man punched heavily at the wall. In front of him on the ground, a tracking device was faintly flashing a red light. Bald Strong? Shao Zifeng was puzzled, rummaging through his travel bag¡­ The tracking device was indeed mine¡­ Emmm¡­ So, the sequence of events was that when he handed the mouse bread, he accidentally dropped the tracking device. Then, Bald Strong found it and, out of anger, punched the wall, which the mouse saw. So¡­ It was a misunderstanding? Shao Zifeng felt a wave of relief, amused by imagining Bald Strong¡¯s angry expression. This guy wasn¡¯t always grinning¡­ Suddenly, Shao Zifeng¡¯s smile froze. No. Something was off. In theory, wild training didn¡¯t require students to return for roll call at night. Even if he dropped the tracking device, given Bald Strong¡¯s personality, he shouldn¡¯t be this angry. What had gone wrong? What unexpected event or person caused petty Bald Strong to be so furious? Shao Zifeng snapped to attention, gripping the kitchen knife tightly, his mind racing to figure out how to deal with this potential threat. The bright moonlight shone into the courtyard, reflecting dim light. The ground was covered in beige powder, displaying Shao Zifeng¡¯s footprints all over. Seeing these tracks, Shao Zifeng grabbed his travel bag. He needed to leave, having left too many traces in the temple; he had to go!! ¡­ Wutong Mountain, the lush forest was dark and deep, with occasional moonlight filtering through the tree branches and lighting up the mountain body. The night breeze blew, causing the tree shadows to sway. ¡°Rustle, rustle~¡± A hurried crawling sound came from the darkness, startling a flock of birds. A figure cloaked in an ¡°Explorer¡± mantle sat cross-legged on the dense hair of a Blood-sucking Tarantula. The figure stopped occasionally, looking around as if searching for something. When the Blood-sucking Tarantula passed through a sparse part of the forest, the cold moonlight shone through the branches and fell on the figure¡¯s face. The face, full of stubble, appeared even paler in the moonlight, with bloodshot and cold-hearted eyes. This person was none other than Pei Yong. ¡°Little spider, go in that direction.¡± Pei Yong, expressionless, patted the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s back, pointing towards the direction of the Xi Feng Temple. ¡°Screech~¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula, without any blood absorption, responded gently. Its eight sharp legs poked small holes into the ground as it quickly scurried towards the direction Pei Yong pointed. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Holy Origin Society (Requesting votes, collection, investment) Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Holy Origin Society (Requesting votes, collection, investment) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Boom¡± A massive explosion soundwave spread through the open night sky, with a rumbling echo sounding like a thunderclap, startling countless birds who chirped as they hovered under the moon. ¡°Wha¡­ What happened?¡± In the small square at the entrance of Qifeng Village, Guangtouqiang and the students of Class Four looked in shock at the place where the explosion originated. ¡°I told you, the Explorers are really on Wutong Mountain.¡± Sun Wen jumped up and said loudly, trying to prove he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Sit down.¡± Guangtouqiang glared at him, stood up, and summoned the Giant Battle Bear, ready to go check out where the explosion came from. He was starting to get worried about this new student of his. If something happened to him¡­ his bonus this year would be gone. Pah, it¡¯s not because of the bonus. Yeah, I¡¯m a good teacher. ¡°Teacher¡­ Teacher, there are a lot of mutant creatures.¡± A girl said trembling, looking in the direction of Wutong Mountain with fear in her eyes. Lost in his fantasy, Guangtouqiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Following the girl¡¯s gaze, he saw pairs of glowing green eyes rapidly approaching in the darkness. ¡°Damn it! Everyone summon your beasts, prepare for battle. Bear, get to the front and use Mad Fist on the ground.¡± Guangtouqiang quickly gave orders without considering anything else. ¡°Roar~¡± The Giant Battle Bear let out a long howl into the sky, stood on its hind legs, clenched its furry fists, a faint light glimmering on them as if a breeze was flowing, and slammed them into the ground. ¡°Boom boom boom~¡± The speed of the bear¡¯s punches got faster and faster, dirt and rocks flying everywhere, and a strong tremor coming from below. The ground in front of the Giant Battle Bear cracked, creating a buffer defense zone made of jagged rocks. Although the students of Class Four were terrified, they still followed Guangtouqiang¡¯s command and summoned their respective beasts. Seeing that the Giant Battle Bear had completed the defense line, Guangtouqiang breathed a sigh of relief, but he glanced worriedly at Wutong Mountain, sighing inwardly, ¡°I hope you are safe.¡± ¡­ ¡°Cough cough!¡± Shao Zifeng lay on the ground, coughing violently. The tearing pain made him a bit more conscious. Remembering the explosion just now, he felt a wave of fear. Although he was far from the explosion center, the shockwave still threw him into the air, and the rolling heatwave made him think he was about to be roasted alive. Propping himself up with one hand, Shao Zifeng struggled to sit up against a peach tree, occasionally twitching from pain, distorting his handsome face. After regaining some strength, he struggled to open the travel bag that had fallen beside him. The Elemental Egg was intact, wrapped in a towel. He breathed a sigh of relief, gently stroking it, ¡°Luckily, you absorbed the leftover dust, or it would¡¯ve been bad.¡± He took out healing potions and bandages purchased from a platform and did a simple bandage on himself before looking around. A scene of broken rubble met his eyes. Perhaps due to years of disrepair, the Taoist temple, once known for the phoenix legend, no longer existed. The original site was charred, with some remaining wooden beams burning silently. The mountain peach forest around the Taoist temple looked pruned, with the dry branches broken by the explosion¡¯s aftershock, leaving half-cut stumps all over the ground. Shao Zifeng felt desolate. Though it was to survive, seeing the Taoist temple disappear still brought some sadness to his heart. He tied the broken travel bag strap, hung it over his chest again, and held the peach tree, shakily standing up. ¡°Hiss.¡± It hurt so much. The injuries were severe this time. If it weren¡¯t for the small broken knife blocking twice, he might not have made it today. ¡°Clatter~¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Shao Zifeng, ignoring the pain, turned around and assumed a defensive stance, watching the bricks and tiles that made the noise. In the moonlight, the burning wood crackled, and a heap of slightly raised broken bricks occasionally shed fragments of dirt and stones. Something seemed to be breaking out from underneath, tugging at Shao Zifeng¡¯s tense nerves. He decided to make the first move. Searching around, not far from him, he saw a shining blade half-buried in the soil. Staggering, he retrieved the blade, its wooden handle long turned to ash, leaving only a fine metal handle. Holding the half vegetable knife gave him some comfort, and he slowly approached the pile of broken bricks and rubble that was making noise. Carefully lifting a tile already consumed all of Shao Zifeng¡¯s strength, the injury was too severe. He had to rest after moving a single fragment. ¡°Clatter~¡± Just as he was about to continue lifting the bricks, a spider leg glistening coldly poked out from the gap. Shocked, he stepped back and swung the knife at the spider leg, but before the knife reached, the spider leg limply fell to the ground. He hesitantly retracted the knife, took a few more steps back, and stared fixedly at the spot where the spider leg emerged. ¡°Clatter clatter~¡± A broken spider was pushed up from underneath by something, flipping to the ground, followed by a person rolling down from the pile of bricks to Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet. The person lay there, almost completely naked, only a few scraps hanging on the body. The exposed skin was extensively burned, showing a mix of blood-red and charred black under the flesh. His face was covered with peeling skin, one eyelid gone, exposing a dim eyeball without any cover to the air. His chest and abdomen lightly heaved, indicating he was still alive. Shao Zifeng looked at the scene in front of him, feeling nauseous. He resisted the urge to vomit and stepped forward, pressing the knife against the person¡¯s skinless neck. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want¡­ to die, spare¡­ spare me, I can be¡­ useful!¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng, Pei Yong¡¯s lusterless eyes burst with a strong will to survive. He raised a burned hand, trying to grab Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm, but it limply fell again. Shao Zifeng really wanted to chop him up, but he knew he couldn¡¯t. The fierce explosion on Wutong Mountain should have been noticed by teachers or classmates. If he was blown up and died, that would be reasonable; it was self-defense. However, if he killed Pei Yong with the knife, it could be considered excessive self-defense, bringing unnecessary trouble, which he preferred to avoid. Despite understanding the reasoning, seeing his own injuries made Shao Zifeng lose calm, wishing to tear him into pieces. ¡°Holy Or¡­ I¡¯m¡­ a secret agent of¡­ Holy Origin Society, I¡­ can be useful!¡± Pei Yong, seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s changing expressions, grew more anxious and decided to disclose some information to prove his value. Sighing softly, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t finish him off and kept the knife against Pei Yong¡¯s neck, expressionless, ¡°Why did you want to kill me?¡± ¡°You¡­ ruined¡­ the ex¡­periment, had to die.¡± Pei Yong panted urgently, looking at Shao Zifeng with a pleading face, ¡°Please¡­ save¡­ my wife! I will tell¡­ everything!¡± Seeing this man, who looked like rotten flesh, Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone, intending to call the Abnormal Administration Bureau. Just as he was about to dial, an image of someone with a cheerful smile flashed in his mind, and his hand shook, promptly hanging up. Each time he thought of Little Li from the bureau, a sense of danger would prick his skin, making him uncomfortable. Shao Zifeng quickly swiped his phone screen, then found another number, took a deep breath, and pressed the call button. Ring¡­ ¡°Hello¡± ¡­ ¡°Director Luo, it¡¯s me, Shao Zifeng.¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Holy Origin Society (Requesting votes, collection, investment) Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Holy Origin Society (Requesting votes, collection, investment) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Boom¡± A massive explosion soundwave spread through the open night sky, with a rumbling echo sounding like a thunderclap, startling countless birds who chirped as they hovered under the moon. ¡°Wha¡­ What happened?¡± In the small square at the entrance of Qifeng Village, Guangtouqiang and the students of Class Four looked in shock at the place where the explosion originated. ¡°I told you, the Explorers are really on Wutong Mountain.¡± Sun Wen jumped up and said loudly, trying to prove he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Sit down.¡± Guangtouqiang glared at him, stood up, and summoned the Giant Battle Bear, ready to go check out where the explosion came from. He was starting to get worried about this new student of his. If something happened to him¡­ his bonus this year would be gone. Pah, it¡¯s not because of the bonus. Yeah, I¡¯m a good teacher. ¡°Teacher¡­ Teacher, there are a lot of mutant creatures.¡± A girl said trembling, looking in the direction of Wutong Mountain with fear in her eyes. Lost in his fantasy, Guangtouqiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Following the girl¡¯s gaze, he saw pairs of glowing green eyes rapidly approaching in the darkness. ¡°Damn it! Everyone summon your beasts, prepare for battle. Bear, get to the front and use Mad Fist on the ground.¡± Guangtouqiang quickly gave orders without considering anything else. ¡°Roar~¡± The Giant Battle Bear let out a long howl into the sky, stood on its hind legs, clenched its furry fists, a faint light glimmering on them as if a breeze was flowing, and slammed them into the ground. ¡°Boom boom boom~¡± The speed of the bear¡¯s punches got faster and faster, dirt and rocks flying everywhere, and a strong tremor coming from below. The ground in front of the Giant Battle Bear cracked, creating a buffer defense zone made of jagged rocks. Although the students of Class Four were terrified, they still followed Guangtouqiang¡¯s command and summoned their respective beasts. Seeing that the Giant Battle Bear had completed the defense line, Guangtouqiang breathed a sigh of relief, but he glanced worriedly at Wutong Mountain, sighing inwardly, ¡°I hope you are safe.¡± ¡­ ¡°Cough cough!¡± Shao Zifeng lay on the ground, coughing violently. The tearing pain made him a bit more conscious. Remembering the explosion just now, he felt a wave of fear. Although he was far from the explosion center, the shockwave still threw him into the air, and the rolling heatwave made him think he was about to be roasted alive. Propping himself up with one hand, Shao Zifeng struggled to sit up against a peach tree, occasionally twitching from pain, distorting his handsome face. After regaining some strength, he struggled to open the travel bag that had fallen beside him. The Elemental Egg was intact, wrapped in a towel. He breathed a sigh of relief, gently stroking it, ¡°Luckily, you absorbed the leftover dust, or it would¡¯ve been bad.¡± He took out healing potions and bandages purchased from a platform and did a simple bandage on himself before looking around. A scene of broken rubble met his eyes. Perhaps due to years of disrepair, the Taoist temple, once known for the phoenix legend, no longer existed. The original site was charred, with some remaining wooden beams burning silently. The mountain peach forest around the Taoist temple looked pruned, with the dry branches broken by the explosion¡¯s aftershock, leaving half-cut stumps all over the ground. Shao Zifeng felt desolate. Though it was to survive, seeing the Taoist temple disappear still brought some sadness to his heart. He tied the broken travel bag strap, hung it over his chest again, and held the peach tree, shakily standing up. ¡°Hiss.¡± It hurt so much. The injuries were severe this time. If it weren¡¯t for the small broken knife blocking twice, he might not have made it today. ¡°Clatter~¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Shao Zifeng, ignoring the pain, turned around and assumed a defensive stance, watching the bricks and tiles that made the noise. In the moonlight, the burning wood crackled, and a heap of slightly raised broken bricks occasionally shed fragments of dirt and stones. Something seemed to be breaking out from underneath, tugging at Shao Zifeng¡¯s tense nerves. He decided to make the first move. Searching around, not far from him, he saw a shining blade half-buried in the soil. Staggering, he retrieved the blade, its wooden handle long turned to ash, leaving only a fine metal handle. Holding the half vegetable knife gave him some comfort, and he slowly approached the pile of broken bricks and rubble that was making noise. Carefully lifting a tile already consumed all of Shao Zifeng¡¯s strength, the injury was too severe. He had to rest after moving a single fragment. ¡°Clatter~¡± Just as he was about to continue lifting the bricks, a spider leg glistening coldly poked out from the gap. Shocked, he stepped back and swung the knife at the spider leg, but before the knife reached, the spider leg limply fell to the ground. He hesitantly retracted the knife, took a few more steps back, and stared fixedly at the spot where the spider leg emerged. ¡°Clatter clatter~¡± A broken spider was pushed up from underneath by something, flipping to the ground, followed by a person rolling down from the pile of bricks to Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet. The person lay there, almost completely naked, only a few scraps hanging on the body. The exposed skin was extensively burned, showing a mix of blood-red and charred black under the flesh. His face was covered with peeling skin, one eyelid gone, exposing a dim eyeball without any cover to the air. His chest and abdomen lightly heaved, indicating he was still alive. Shao Zifeng looked at the scene in front of him, feeling nauseous. He resisted the urge to vomit and stepped forward, pressing the knife against the person¡¯s skinless neck. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want¡­ to die, spare¡­ spare me, I can be¡­ useful!¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng, Pei Yong¡¯s lusterless eyes burst with a strong will to survive. He raised a burned hand, trying to grab Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm, but it limply fell again. Shao Zifeng really wanted to chop him up, but he knew he couldn¡¯t. The fierce explosion on Wutong Mountain should have been noticed by teachers or classmates. If he was blown up and died, that would be reasonable; it was self-defense. However, if he killed Pei Yong with the knife, it could be considered excessive self-defense, bringing unnecessary trouble, which he preferred to avoid. Despite understanding the reasoning, seeing his own injuries made Shao Zifeng lose calm, wishing to tear him into pieces. ¡°Holy Or¡­ I¡¯m¡­ a secret agent of¡­ Holy Origin Society, I¡­ can be useful!¡± Pei Yong, seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s changing expressions, grew more anxious and decided to disclose some information to prove his value. Sighing softly, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t finish him off and kept the knife against Pei Yong¡¯s neck, expressionless, ¡°Why did you want to kill me?¡± ¡°You¡­ ruined¡­ the ex¡­periment, had to die.¡± Pei Yong panted urgently, looking at Shao Zifeng with a pleading face, ¡°Please¡­ save¡­ my wife! I will tell¡­ everything!¡± Seeing this man, who looked like rotten flesh, Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone, intending to call the Abnormal Administration Bureau. Just as he was about to dial, an image of someone with a cheerful smile flashed in his mind, and his hand shook, promptly hanging up. Each time he thought of Little Li from the bureau, a sense of danger would prick his skin, making him uncomfortable. Shao Zifeng quickly swiped his phone screen, then found another number, took a deep breath, and pressed the call button. Ring¡­ ¡°Hello¡± ¡­ ¡°Director Luo, it¡¯s me, Shao Zifeng.¡± Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Meeting Luo Feng Again (Please Recommend, Collect, and Invest) Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Meeting Luo Feng Again (Please Recommend, Collect, and Invest) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Riiiiing~¡± Su City¡¯s Abnormal Administration Bureau family building. Exhausted by the two explosion cases, Chen Zhenglong was awakened by the urgent ringing of the phone not long after he had fallen asleep. His wife grumbled something impatiently and turned over to face the inside of the bed. He turned on the bedside lamp, put on his coat, gave his wife an apologetic look, and walked onto the balcony with his phone. ¡°Speak up, where did it explode this time?¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t very friendly. With no progress on the two explosion cases and an immense amount of effort and resources wasted, combined with a severe personnel shortage, the recent accumulation of various cases at the Abnormal Administration Bureau felt like a heavy mountain pressing down on him. The officer on the other end of the call seemed caught off guard, and after a long silence, cautiously asked, ¡°Captain Chen¡­ you already know?¡± Still a bit groggy, Chen Zhenglong didn¡¯t catch on immediately and replied impatiently, ¡°Know what? Spit it out.¡± ¡°Yes, sir! Report, Captain Chen. We received a report from a teacher at Su City University¡¯s combat training department. There was an explosion at ** Mountain, and a student is missing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an explosion¡­ hold it off until¡­ wait, what?! Another explosion?!¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eyes widened, and he couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice. His wife inside seemed to wake up, muttered something again, and Chen Zhenglong remembered he was home, quickly lowering his voice to ask for more details. ¡°Damn!¡± Chen Zhenglong hung up the phone, leaned on the balcony¡¯s windowsill, his face grim, feeling like he was being screwed over. The case itself wasn¡¯t particularly complicated. The teacher at Su City University didn¡¯t know much either, just that some suspicious individuals had infiltrated the training ground, then a student went missing, and later there was a massive explosion on ** Mountain. But when Chen Zhenglong asked for the missing student¡¯s name, he felt a deep sense of dread¡ªonce again, it was Shao Zifeng. He had appeared near the first explosion in the old town, was seen at the scene of the second ¡°Former Chang¡¯an Residence¡± explosion, and now was connected to the third explosion. Chen Zhenglong was now extremely troubled because, according to his information, Shao Zifeng was from a sister unit of their Abnormal Administration Bureau. Two units, one in the open and one in the shadows, guarded the city. Although their philosophies differed and he disapproved of the other unit¡¯s methods, they were equal entities, and his Bureau had no jurisdiction to question their people. He had reported that unit¡¯s actions to his superiors multiple times, but every response was ¡°read, no reply,¡± as if his superiors tacitly approved of their behavior. Frustrated, Chen Zhenglong scratched his head, leaned against the windowsill, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. The flickering red glow stood out sharply in the dark night. After a couple of puffs, he paused, looked into the room at his sleeping wife, and extinguished the cigarette. Chen Zhenglong stared blankly at the night sky, his frustration growing. ¡°Riiiiing~¡± The shrill ringtone of his phone rang again. Without looking, Chen Zhenglong answered it directly, ¡°What now? Say it all at once.¡± The person on the other end seemed taken aback by Chen Zhenglong¡¯s tone, hesitated for a moment, then let out a small laugh. ¡°Captain Chen, you know?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Chen Zhenglong recognized the voice and his anger flared, but mindful of his sleeping wife, he still lowered his voice to shout. ¡°No need to be so harsh, being angry is bad for your health. Besides, aren¡¯t you curious why I¡¯m calling you in the middle of the night?¡± The person on the other end seemed unfazed by Chen Zhenglong¡¯s attitude, their tone still relaxed. ¡°Speak! I don¡¯t have time to waste with you lunatics.¡± Chen Zhenglong took a deep breath, fighting the urge to hang up. ¡°Holy Origin Society. Interested?¡± After saying this, the person seemed to recall something and added, ¡°Come alone, don¡¯t alert anyone from your Bureau.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡­ Chen Zhenglong hung up the phone and rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. After quickly getting dressed in his uniform, he could barely contain his excitement. The Holy Origin Society had recently become his nightmare, with no clues found despite all his searches. Opening the bedroom door, Chen Zhenglong turned to look at his sleeping wife. He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately couldn¡¯t bear to wake her. A rare softness appeared on his face, and he gently closed the door behind him. ¡­ Shao Zifeng opened his eyes and stared blankly at the pure white ceiling. The soft beeping of machines echoed in his ears. For a moment, he was lost, immersed in the philosophical questions of ¡°Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?¡± ¡°Yo, you¡¯re awake.¡± A magnetic male voice sounded nearby, somewhat familiar. Shao Zifeng turned his head to look. His vision blurry, he vaguely saw the silhouette of a man sitting not far away, smiling at him. He seemed familiar. Who was he? Shao Zifeng struggled to process it with his sluggish brain. ¡°Don¡¯t recognize me? It¡¯s me, the one who talked to you about dreams.¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s confused expression, the man¡¯s smile faltered slightly, his smile becoming somewhat stiff. ¡°Dreams?¡± Shao Zifeng muttered in confusion. Where had he seen this person? A strange sense of familiarity washed over him. Almost there, it felt like something was about to surface! He carefully examined the figure before him. The blurry silhouette gradually became clear¡ªa white coat without a single wrinkle, narrow-framed gold glasses, hair impeccably combed, and a slightly pretentious seated posture. ¡°Luo Feng?¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated and called out. Seeing that Shao Zifeng had recognized him, Luo Feng¡¯s face softened slightly. Clearing his throat to maintain his demeanor, he crossed his legs and calmly adjusted his slightly wrinkled sleeve. ¡°Dust explosion, killed a third-tier pet beast. Kid, you¡¯re something else. You¡¯ve really impressed me.¡± He had to admit, Shao Zifeng¡¯s performance had impressed him. When he first saw the armadillo lizard, he was indeed moved by its talent. After all, rare pets usually didn¡¯t have poor potential, and he had personally witnessed Qiuqiu¡¯s battle. But after reading Director Zhao¡¯s evaluation report, he had lowered Shao Zifeng¡¯s level of attention to a dispensable degree because a pet beast with such low potential, no matter how rare, wouldn¡¯t concern him too much. When Shao Zifeng called him last night, he was surprised and had even prepared an excuse to politely decline. Unexpectedly, Shao Zifeng had delivered a big surprise instead. ¡°Just lucky.¡± Shao Zifeng weakly smiled and tried to sit up when a wave of intense pain swept through his body. Cold sweat instantly covered his forehead, and his face turned even paler. ¡°Don¡¯t move if you don¡¯t want to be crippled. You really got lucky this time.¡± Luo Feng stood up, adjusted his appearance, and pushed his glasses. ¡°All right, rest up. I have a lot of matters to handle. If I didn¡¯t know the Abnormal Administration Bureau was compromised, I wouldn¡¯t dip my hands into this mess!¡± ¡°Hey, I¡­¡± Seeing Luo Feng about to leave, Shao Zifeng quickly called out. Luo Feng turned back, ¡°Also, you did well this time. Think about what you need.¡± ¡­ Not far from Shao Zifeng¡¯s ward was a special room. Half of this room was built underground, with the aboveground part made of a large piece of special glass. Standing in front of the glass, one could clearly see the scene inside. The underground portion was covered with a special alloy said to withstand a full-scale attack from a fifth-tier pet beast for ten minutes. Chen Zhenglong stood outside the glass wall, his gaze intense as he stared at the person inside the room, whose entire body was wrapped in bandages and connected to tubes linked to the machines surrounding the bed, monitoring the patient¡¯s vital signs in real-time. Chen Zhenglong had been standing there all night, watching the person inside, seemingly afraid they¡¯d disappear. His bloodshot eyes couldn¡¯t conceal his inner excitement. ¡°Yo, Captain Chen, not taking a break?¡± Luo Feng, coming out of Shao Zifeng¡¯s ward, saw Chen Zhenglong and paused for a moment, not expecting him to still be there. Chen Zhenglong glanced at Luo Feng before continuing to stare at the person inside the room, replying with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°You lunatics actually care about people?¡± ¡°Not necessarily, but the next operation will require Captain Chen¡¯s cooperation. If something happens to you, it will complicate things.¡± Luo Feng, unfazed by Chen Zhenglong¡¯s sarcasm, pushed his narrow-framed gold glasses thoughtfully in response. Momentarily taken aback, Chen Zhenglong frowned in confusion, ¡°Operation? What operation? The Holy Origin Society¡¯s hidden piece is right here. Isn¡¯t it enough to wait until he wakes up?¡± ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ve already gathered all the necessary information. Now Captain Chen just needs to issue a warrant for Pei Yong¡¯s arrest and deploy all Abnormal Administration Bureau agents to search the city. Leave the rest to us.¡± Since further cooperation from the Abnormal Administration Bureau was required, Luo Feng didn¡¯t mind revealing part of the plan. Chen Zhenglong, silent at first, seriously pondered the significance of this plan. Suddenly, like an enraged lion, he glared at Luo Feng, his bloodshot eyes fixed on him as he enunciated, ¡°You want to use his wife as bait!¡± Luo Feng calmly met Chen Zhenglong¡¯s furious stare, wordlessly confirming his suspicions. ¡°Have you thought about what kind of consequences such aggressive tactics might cause? Pei Yong deserves to die, but his wife and unborn child are innocent. You lunatics!!¡± Chen Zhenglong erupted in anger, almost ready to tear someone apart. ¡°So what?¡± Luo Feng calmly responded, his gaze unwavering, devoid of any emotion. ¡°So what? So what! Ha, of course, you lunatics who stop at nothing to achieve your goals wouldn¡¯t care about the consequences. Just like three years ago, when you watched my comrades getting killed! You wouldn¡¯t care about anyone¡¯s life!¡± Chen Zhenglong, furious, gave a bitter laugh as memories he didn¡¯t want to recall resurfaced. Three years ago, fresh out of the military, Chen Zhenglong and several comrades were assigned to the Su City Abnormal Administration Bureau. During a sudden terrorist attack, Luo Feng and his organization, trying to expand their results, ignored their ability to intervene and watched Abnormal Administration Bureau officers fall in a bloodbath. Among them was someone Chen Zhenglong regarded as a brother, the former captain of Su City¡¯s Abnormal Administration Bureau, Xue Qigang. ¡°We only care about the results, not the process. Our mission is to protect Su City from destruction. The extent of the sacrifices along the way is irrelevant to us.¡± Responding to Chen Zhenglong¡¯s accusations, Luo Feng calmly pushed up his glasses, void of any guilt. ¡°Fine, sacrificing as much as you want isn¡¯t my concern. I, Chen, will not accompany you any further.¡± Looking at the calm Luo Feng, Chen Zhenglong gradually regained his composure, turned, and prepared to leave. ¡°Superior¡¯s commission letter: until the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s hidden piece is eradicated, Captain Chen Zhenglong is required to fully cooperate with our operation and follow our commands. Here¡¯s the document.¡± Luo Feng¡¯s voice stopped Chen Zhenglong in his tracks. His entire body went rigid as he turned back to see Luo Feng holding an official stamped commission letter. A flicker of pain passed through his eyes. ¡­ ¡°All personnel to the conference room immediately.¡± Staff from all departments of the Abnormal Administration Bureau paused their work and quickly gathered in the fourth-floor conference room. Following behind a few senior colleagues, Xiao Li wondered why Captain Chen was calling a meeting at this time. He felt anxious. Since contacting Pei Yong yesterday, there had been no news from him. With rumors of a third explosion spreading in the Bureau today, he couldn¡¯t shake a bad feeling. Upon entering the conference room, the atmosphere felt oppressive. The usually hot-tempered Captain Chen was now sitting at the head of the table, exuding a calm demeanor. While he showed no emotion, the low pressure he exuded made Xiao Li feel even more suppressed. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Chen Zhenglong looked around as if trying to memorize each face. According to the gathered intelligence, a traitor from the Holy Origin Society was among those he worked closely with daily. It was something he found hardest to accept. Holding the remote control for the projector, he turned it on, displaying Pei Yong¡¯s ID photo. ¡°This man attacked students from Su City University at Wutong Mountain yesterday but failed. He is now wanted on suspicion of being connected to the organization we¡¯ve been investigating. All of you, drop your current assignments, form teams, and search the entire city. Find this man.¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s voice was authoritative and determined. Abnormal Administration Bureau agents exchanged glances, then stood up uniformly and saluted, ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Burial Fox (Seeking recommendations, collections) Chapter 40: Chapter 40 ¡®Burial Fox¡¯ (Seeking recommendations, collections) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over.¡± Li Hanying, also known as Xiao Li, sat in the back seat of the official car with an increasingly grim expression. Pei Yong, that useless man, couldn¡¯t even handle a second-year student. Useless, truly useless. At that moment, he wanted to kill Pei Yong with his own hands for such a blunder. Whether Pei Yong¡¯s mission was successful or not wasn¡¯t his concern. Pei Yong was just a dispensable pawn, one of the lowest ranks. Every member of the organization lurking in special units would have an underling like Pei Yong. These underlings didn¡¯t know their higher-ups¡¯ identities and were managed by regional liaisons. This was why Pei Yong knew there were moles in the Abnormal Administration Bureau yet didn¡¯t know precisely who they were. The higher-ups decided when and how to activate these low-ranking pawns. Even if they died, it wouldn¡¯t matter much. But the critical issue was that Pei Yong didn¡¯t die. No matter how much information Pei Yong had about the organization, as long as he was captured, the organization wouldn¡¯t spare him as Pei Yong¡¯s handler, even if the Abnormal Administration Bureau couldn¡¯t find him. Especially since he acted without authorization. ¡®Damn Shao Zifeng, why did you have to get identified so easily? It¡¯s all your fault! No matter the consequences this time, I¡¯ll kill you myself.¡¯ Li Hanying gritted his teeth, cursing Shao Zifeng in his heart, thinking about why he had to take action. ¡®What should I do? I can¡¯t just sit and wait for death.¡¯ With many members of the Abnormal Administration Bureau spread across the city, Li Hanying felt immense pressure. If Pei Yong was caught, the organization would never spare him. He gritted his teeth and decided to take a risk. With a pale face, he glanced at Wang Ge, who was driving, and quietly reached for the dagger in his boot, a fierce glint in his eyes. ¡°Ding¡± The crisp sound of his phone ringing interrupted his movements. He nonchalantly withdrew his right hand and picked up the phone. ¡°Ordered to investigate the deaths of Mina and Li Jianchi. All concealment agents in Su City, do not act rashly. Report any special situations to me first. Enforcer: ¡®Burial Fox.¡¯ Li Hanying leaned weakly against the back seat, feeling relieved yet with mixed thoughts, hoping this Enforcer was easier to bribe. That way, he¡¯d have a path to survival. Thinking this, he picked up his phone and composed a text message to ¡®Burial Fox.¡¯ ¡­ Shao Zifeng, bored, lay on the bed, taking out his blood-stained phone from his backpack. No one seemed to have searched it, and the Elemental Egg lay quietly in the towel. He sighed in relief, thinking the official units were indeed trustworthy. Skillfully unlocking the phone, he started the platform¡¯s app. He wanted to check the sale of energy potions. Inputting the query information in the trade section, rows of items appeared on the screen, somewhat resembling a game store. Ignoring the lower-grade potions, Shao Zifeng directly scrolled to the last page, where a few listings appeared. ¡°Energy Potion VIII, price 275,000 yuan, no stock available.¡± Shao Zifeng sighed. Even the platform had none. But it made sense. The officially rationed potions couldn¡¯t be infinitely supplied, no matter how extensive the platform¡¯s resources. Scrolling back a few pages, types IV, V, VI, and VII were all out of stock. He hesitated but ultimately didn¡¯t opt to buy the lower-grade potions. Not to mention whether such purity could cultivate the Elemental Egg to a five-star potential, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t want to settle for less since it had the potential to become high quality. He then recalled Luo Feng¡¯s words before leaving. He still had rewards to claim. Sighing, he realized he had to count on them but couldn¡¯t blatantly choose a specific attribute to avoid suspicion. Putting down the phone, Shao Zifeng stared at the ceiling, drawing a line in the air. After a moment of waiting, no space rift appeared. Trying to communicate with the pet beast space again, he got no response. He felt very disheartened, somewhat regretful. Perhaps¡­ he had been too strict with Qiuqiu. ¡°Knock knock~¡± At the sound of knocking, a young nurse with a nurse cap entered: ¡°Mr. Shao, I¡¯m here to check your condition. If there¡¯s no problem, you can be discharged.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Shao Zifeng was surprised. He subconsciously raised his arm, no longer feeling that tearing pain, then realized and chuckled bitterly. He still approached problems with a scientific mind. In this space-time filled with incredible creatures, although humans didn¡¯t gain various magical powers like mutant creatures, their physical conditions significantly improved. Many deadly diseases seemed to have evaporated, and deaths from illness became rare. But another issue arose: frequent battles caused many injuries and deaths, making the treatment of combat injuries the main focus of medical development in this space-time. Although it hadn¡¯t reached the level of reviving the dead and regrowing bones, typical internal and external injuries could recover eighty to ninety percent within a day. The young nurse smiled, revealing cute dimples: ¡°Mr. Shao might not know this, but Director Luo instructed us to use the best healing medicine for you.¡± Shao Zifeng awkwardly smiled and fell silent, letting the young nurse do her work. Looking at the various unfamiliar devices recording his body status, he felt very uneasy. He resisted anyone¡¯s approach, almost like a stress response, especially since it was a woman. Hmm¡­ It wasn¡¯t because he wasn¡¯t straight. He was very straight. Just very uncomfortable. So, he closed his eyes, out of sight, out of mind. ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Shao. Your condition is good enough for discharge. Just avoid intense activities. Hmm¡­ including those kinds of activities.¡± The nurse blushed as she spoke, shooting a glance at Shao Zifeng. So handsome! Shao Zifeng: ??? Those kinds of activities? What activities? Damn it, I¡¯ve been single all my life; who would I do activities with? With a lizard¡­ No way, not with a lizard. Shao Zifeng nodded expressionlessly, indicating he understood, then looked at the nurse, waiting to see if she had more to say. The nurse, lost in her thoughts, saw Shao Zifeng signaling to her and was puzzled. What was he hinting at? Could it be¡­! The nurse first had an epiphany, then her expression turned shy. She ran to the workstation, writing something while hiding, then returned, handing him a note with a blush, and hurried out of the ward. Shao Zifeng was baffled, watching the nurse¡¯s disappearing silhouette. He just wanted to ask if Luo Feng left any messages for him. Why was she so shy? Why did she run? Holding the note with a slight fragrance, Shao Zifeng had a bad feeling. Slowly, he opened it. ¡°My name is Qu Xiaoxiao. My contact info is XXXXXXXX. Hmm, during my breaks, I can accept your invitation for a meal ?(????¦Ø????)?¡± ??? Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 White-headed Bulbul Chapter 41: Chapter 41 White-headed Bulbul Shao Zifeng packed up his belongings, expressionless, and threw the slip of paper into the trash bin. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he tossed in a few more wads of paper to cover it up and then walked away. Confronted with the ¡°No Entry for Unrelated Personnel¡± sign in the west corridor, Shao Zifeng felt no curiosity¡ªsince the west corridor was off-limits, he would take the east instead. After learning of Luo Feng¡¯s message at the front desk and glancing at Qu Xiaoxiao, who was blushing and didn¡¯t dare to look at him, Shao Zifeng smiled and expressed his thanks. Once outside the hospital, which seemed quite ordinary on the surface, Shao Zifeng felt somewhat at a loss, unsure where to head next. He had only been out training for a day before returning to Su City. There was no need to go to school for the time being, and there was plenty of food left at home for the white cat and the crawling pets, so they didn¡¯t need his attention much. He didn¡¯t really have any friends and, after some thought, it seemed the only place he could go was to the platform. Qiuqiu¡¯s condition was still unknown, and although anxious, he was at a complete loss. The Elemental Egg urgently needed a potion to replenish its energy; he had to think of an excuse to get it from Luo Feng without raising suspicion. No, that¡¯s not all¡ªhe could also visit the flowers, birds, and fish market. Although the addon was rudimentary, with high latency and a lack of presence, it was still reliable for identifying pets. Perhaps he could find something overlooked; even if he couldn¡¯t use it himself, he could still sell it to others through the platform. Even better if it was something he could form a contract with, as without a pet, he couldn¡¯t even do any missions. It would be best to sell any with lesser potential¡ªthings were fine now, but later¡­ Making money was of the utmost urgency. It was tough enough supporting Qiuqiu alone. Once he settled on his plan, Shao Zifeng hailed a taxi and headed towards Su City¡¯s largest flowers, birds, and fish market. ¡­ The Chaoyang Flowers, Birds, and Fish Market was located near the eastern district, close to the old district¡ªlike the latter, it was a product of the last century. As the old district flourished, the market declined under the impact of the emerging pet stores. Unlike modern pet stores, which require various procedures and certificates of authenticity, the ¡°Chaoyang Flowers, Birds, and Fish Market¡± had a very low entry threshold, resulting in the sale of pets of mixed quality. Inflated claims about the pets¡¯ quality were common, and most were intended for ornamental purposes. The Abnormal Administration Bureau had attempted to regulate the market several times, but there were always ways around their policies. Eventually, as long as nothing too outrageous occurred, the Bureau turned a blind eye and let things be. Shao Zifeng got out of the taxi at the entrance of the ¡°Chaoyang Flowers, Birds, and Fish Market¡±. The once-cemented road had deteriorated through years of neglect into a gravel path, missing pieces here and there. Above the gate, a semicircular iron frame had faded into a dark red, with the words ¡°Chaoyang Flowers, Birds, and Fish Market¡± welded on it, covered in dust. Walking through the gate, he encountered old-fashioned sunshades, and a mixture of various odors hit him in the face. Shao Zifeng frowned as he continued inward, stepping over wet patches on the ground. The market was divided into four main areas: the first was for all kinds of plants; the second for birds and poultry; followed by cats, dogs, and a hodgepodge of other pets. A series of evenly spaced stone pedestals lined up, each one a vendor¡¯s booth, displaying pets with dirty, clumped fur that seemed listless. Shao Zifeng diligently dodged puddles on the ground as he carefully observed each vendor¡¯s booth, looking for any little fellow with decent potential. ¡°Handsome, come take a look at my treasures. With your looks, I can tell you¡¯re the lucky type¡ªthe kind to pull five SSRs in a ten-draw,¡± a man with a sun-darkened complexion, with folds so deep they could trap mosquitoes, showed off his teeth, stained yellow, as he energetically pushed the few sickly-looking cats he was selling. Shao Zifeng smiled and shook his head, thinking, ¡°Out of six, two are on the verge of death, three have genetic defects, and one has a one-star potential yet you still call them treasures. Besides, all my luck was drained before that renal-deficiency snake bit me¡ªI¡¯ve got no luck left.¡± Ignoring the man¡¯s enthusiastic attempt to retain him, Shao Zifeng continued on his way. [Name]: Chinese Rural Dog [Growth Stage]: Juvenile [Condition]: Dying, Hungry ¡­ [Potential]: ¡î [Description]: Don¡¯t want to talk¡­ Shao Zifeng shook his head, looking at the panting puppy crouched in the corner of the cage with a hint of pity, but he didn¡¯t have the intention to buy it. In this place, there were too many such pet beasts; he couldn¡¯t possibly buy every one he came across. Although he felt a bit of compassion, all he could do was look away after seeing them, not giving them a second glance. Perhaps that way, he might feel a bit better psychologically. In the noisy flowers, birds, and fish market of Su City, Shao Zifeng wandered around for quite a while before he finally found a decent pet beast. It was a bird-type mutant creature, with some damage to its beak and bloodstains on its feathers. It was missing some feathers on its head, and most of the tail feathers had fallen off, making it look somewhat bald. It stood on the horizontal bar inside the cage, its eyes filled with a wooden expression, as if it had given up struggling and was just indifferently watching the passersby, without a hint of emotional fluctuation. [Name]: White-headed Bulbul (bei) [Growth Stage]: Juvenile [Condition]: Lightly injured, hungry [Strength]: First tier [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Aves [Order]: Passeriformes [Family]: Pycnonotidae [Attribute]: Wind [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î [Talent]: Wind Feather: In flight, every certain period of time, it gains a layer of Wind Feather effect, increasing its flight speed and wind attribute attack effects. [Skills]: Wind¡¯s Wings (unable to cast), Eagle Strike (unable to cast), Pecking [Description]: A White-headed Bulbul with exceptional talent among its kind; it was severely wounded by a natural predator shortly after hatching, causing its mastered skills to be essentially unusable. With recovery from injuries and a little training, it can regain mastery over them. Looking at the pale blue information on the screen, Shao Zifeng was inwardly pleased. It was a three-star potential White-headed Bulbul, also known as the White-headed Babbler, a common household bird in the Taiwanese region. Although it can also be found inland, because it is a migratory bird, it can¡¯t always be seen year-round. ¡°Boss, how about the birds here? I¡¯m thinking of buying one to play with, nothing too powerful, I¡¯m afraid of being hurt,¡± said Shao Zifeng with a smile while looking at the stall owner. The reason why Shao Zifeng said this was that among all the birds at the stall, only the White-headed Bulbul was in the worst condition. The stall owner, in his forties with an ordinary appearance, wearing an untidy plaid shirt, was only memorable for his droopy upper eyelids and somewhat triangular eyes. He was taken aback by the question and did not know how to respond at first. He had only seen bargain hunters here, but why would someone come forward to buy junk? But he couldn¡¯t just let the customer wait; he hastily scanned his stall with his triangular eyes, a glint flashed in them, and pointing at the cage of the White-headed Bulbul he said, ¡°Handsome guy, this one here, the reason it looks like this is because it¡¯s too weak, it definitely meets your requirements.¡± Shao Zifeng smiled at him, nodding slightly. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dragon Wings Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dragon Wings In an unknown space, the sun perpetually hung unchanging at the zenith of the sky, beneath which lay a boundless desert that shone like golden sand under the sunlight, glittering brilliantly. At the very center of the desert stood several black volcanoes, their conical steep bodies covered with dark red magma like veins coursing through them. With a loud rumble like thunder, the calm of the space was shattered. The next moment, the entire desert shook violently as the winds whipped up sand into the sky. From the volcano¡¯s crater, ink-black smoke rose, carrying sparks of fire, with occasional lightning flashing through as it collided. The intense sunlight was obscured by sand and volcanic ash, turning the space as dark as night, where one couldn¡¯t see their own hands, and the rumbling continued. A black volcano, breaking through the sands with its dark red magma veins, rose from the ground, joining the other volcanoes to form a cluster. In the center of the volcano cluster, the magma in the magma pool churned like ocean waves, slapping against the pillars in the pool. On the platform of one pillar, a Tang sword lay quietly, and at the center, a large red luminous egg began to pulse. With a ¡°crack¡±, a fracture appeared on the surface of the luminous egg, shooting out a beam of red light like a sharp sword, piercing the encompassing darkness. Moments later, the sound of cracking intensified, and beams of red light shot out, painting the entire volcano cluster red. ¡°Ying~¡± A tender hum sounded, and abruptly, the winds, sand, thick smoke, and violent tremors ceased, leaving behind an additional volcano in the center as if nothing had happened. ¡°Plop¡± The cracked luminous egg shed a piece of its shell, which fell on the black volcanic rock, producing a soft sound and dissipating into specks of energy. A small paw, covered with brownish-red scale armor, reached out from the opening, curiously scratching around, achieving nothing. ¡°Ying ying!¡± ¡°Annoyed!¡± Having just woken up, Qiuqiu habitually reached for Shao Zifeng nearby, but grabbed nothing, instantly souring the good mood from waking, and with a flurry of its tiny short claws, it freed itself from the comfortable yet cramped space. ¡°Ying ying?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the egg?¡± Qiuqiu rubbed its blurry eyes, feeling it was easier to reach its eyes than before¡ªpreviously, one paw could only rub one side, and it took both paws together to feel comfortable. However, before it could contemplate these changes, it began to look for Shao Zifeng. Suddenly, as if realizing something, Qiuqiu¡¯s cute face looked stricken, and it crossed its tiny paws, sitting cross-legged on the volcanic rock. That stinky egg, daring to be fierce to me, I won¡¯t look for him, hmph. While thinking this in its heart, its little claws couldn¡¯t help but move, irresistibly drawn to open a space rift. Angrily slapping its right claw with its left, Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes slightly squinted, casually glancing at the Tang sword beside it. The tail moved, hooking the Tang sword toward it, holding it in its arms. ¡°Pshh ~¡± ¡°Huh, why did the sword shrink?¡± Qiuqiu hesitantly looked at the long handle of the Tang sword in its arms, but its little head couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Forget it, forget it, thinking no more, if the stinky egg doesn¡¯t apologize for a day, I won¡¯t go out¡­ and won¡¯t think for a day! That¡¯s happily decided! At that moment, an invisible ripple appeared, spreading around Qiuqiu. Feeling a familiar presence, Qiuqiu¡¯s heart lifted, its mouth curving up, and its tail, dragging on the ground, couldn¡¯t help swinging left and right, rubbing against the rough volcanic rock. ¡°Qiuqiu, it looks like it¡¯s time to say goodbye,¡± A vision appeared before Qiuqiu, showing the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s cold, gleaming claws thrusting towards Shao Zifeng. ¡°Ying ying ao!!!¡± ¡­ ¡°Ying ying ao!!!¡± Another roar erupted as the two figures and six spiders, either joyous or incredulous, watched the intensifying flames within the space rift. A pair of furious eyes stared fixedly at the Blood-sucking Tarantula. ¡°Hiss!¡± Flames surged as a burning claw emerged, stepping onto a path paved with limestone. The ground seemed unable to bear the high temperature, emitting a puff of white smoke, then, more parts of the body including the head, torso, and long tail appeared from the flames. Shao Zifeng looked shocked, watching the pet emerging from the flames. His brain momentarily froze. Was this Qiuqiu? The creature before him, about the size of a small dog, was covered in vicious brownish-red scales. The scale pieces behind its head, clearly more prominent than before, had become sharper, and the bony scales along its body and tail were more pronounced. Beyond that, the most significant change was its size. Previously, like a typical lizard, Qiuqiu had short limbs and moved with its belly close to the ground. But now, its limbs had noticeably lengthened, its belly had shrunk, and standing on its limbs, it now bore some resemblance to a Western dragon. Is this¡­ is this evolution? Shao Zifeng felt as if he were struck by a huge surprise, feeling a bit dizzy. How did getting angry trigger evolution? Could it be that the secret to the evolution of the armadillo lizard was getting angry? Thinking this, Shao Zifeng nodded firmly, deciding to try again when Qiuqiu reached the peak of the fourth stage. Patting himself on the back! Blue light points flickered and spun in his eyes. [Name]: Armadillo Dragon Lizard [Growth]: Growing period [State]: Healthy, angry, Bloodline Ancestor [Strength]: Third stage [Class]: Chordata [Order]: Reptilia [Order]: Squamata [Family]: Sub-dragon family [Attribute]: Fire [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Dry Aura: Favored by the fire element, it attracts weak fire elements nearby and can influence a small area, slowly restoring its own energy. This talent can grow with its own strength. [Skills]: Defense, Fiery Breath, Flame Control, Dragon Wings [Description]: With the activation of Bloodline Ancestor, the arrogant dragon bloodline does not acknowledge the timid and cowardly among its clan. In several battles, gradually recognized by the dragon blood, it could harness some powers of the Dragon Clan after evolving. Watching the information in front of him, Shao Zifeng felt a surge of ecstasy. After evolving, its strength had improved by a tier, and the description of its talent had also changed a bit; ¡®tiny area¡¯ had become ¡®small area¡¯, and it had gained a new ability to recover energy. The skills had been augmented by the addition of Dragon Wings, a skill not typically mastered by ordinary creatures. ¡°What do I think this is, classmate Shao? This is your pet, huh? It¡¯s actually quite¡­ cute!¡± An annoying voice rang out, and Shao Zifeng then realized that the crisis in front of him had not yet been resolved. Li Hanying, having recovered from his initial shock, stared at this oddly-shaped little creature in front of him and felt a surge of nameless anger. Considering the entrance it made, he had thought it was some famous beast¡ªwas he really frightened by such a small creature? Unforgivable! ¡°Blood-sucking Tarantulas, spread out in formation, and tear it apart for me.¡± Li Hanying¡¯s twisted face throbbed with veins, clearly wanting to end the fight quickly. He did not have time to waste as another battle awaited him. ¡°Hiss!¡± At the command, the Blood-sucking Tarantulas overcame their fear of flames, collectively moved their eight long legs, lifted their chilling front limbs, and dispersed in a fan shape, encircling Qiuqiu in the middle, ready to strike. ¡°Ying ying ao!¡± Fire flickered between the scales, and Qiuqiu, glaring at these annoying creatures, felt even more furious. It remembered them¡ªthey had knocked off its beautiful scales last time. It was very upset; it decided it would burn off their fur to calm itself. It looked back at Shao Zifeng subconsciously. Hmm¡­ why had the egg gotten smaller? The egg actually shrank because they bullied it! Those brats!! No, burning their fur off wasn¡¯t enough; it had to make them cry!! Shao Zifeng was somewhat puzzled, as Qiuqiu seemed to be getting angrier, but now wasn¡¯t the time to think more on it. ¡°Qiuqiu, Flame Control, contract the flames.¡± ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu nodded lightly, chirped softly, and a strange wave spread, causing the surrounding sea of flames to be drawn quickly towards the center, the sharply elevated temperature making the Blood-sucking Tarantulas even more uncomfortable, shrieking as the thick black hair on their backs curled rapidly, emitting bursts of burnt stench. ¡°Disperse and cross attack, all use Tearing Claw Strike.¡± Li Hanying saw the situation worsening, knowing that it wouldn¡¯t work this way. He had initially intended to minimize damage, but hadn¡¯t expected this unseen pet to control the flames. ¡°Hiss!¡± At the command, the tarantula closest to Qiuqiu initiated the attack, pressing its front limbs together, flashing a white light, and shrieking as it lunged at Qiuqiu. ¡°Qiuqiu, seize the moment, dodge to the left, and use Fiery Breath at close range.¡± ¡°Ying¡± Confidently, Qiuqiu let out a cry, its eyes sparkling with firelight, fixating on the approaching Blood-sucking Tarantula. With a swooshing sound, the spider¡¯s claw came cutting through the air and just as it was about to hit Qiuqiu, it agilely twisted its body, brushing past the claw. The huge inertia carried the massive body of the spider, stabbing fiercely into the limestone path where Qiuqiu stood, shattering rocks and sparks flying everywhere. Seeing the spider¡¯s head so close, a sly look flashed in Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes. It turned its head and a mysterious Array appeared in front of it, then a bursting column of fire shot out, engulfing half of the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s body. ¡°Hiss!!!¡± The gigantic body of the Blood-sucking Tarantula slammed onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and its scorched black body twitched unconsciously. ¡°Qiuqiu, move out of the way!¡± As he watched the Blood-sucking Tarantula fall, Qiuqiu felt somewhat proud and was just about to boast to Shao Zifeng when he heard his voice ringing in his ear. ¡°Clang¡± ¡°Ying!¡± A pair of spider claws grazed by the side of Qiuqiu¡¯s Scale Armor, Qiuqiu cried out in pain, blood traces following, and flew sideways, not even touching the ground before another pair of claws flashed by, striking Qiuqiu once again. ¡°Hahaha, right, just like that, finish him off for me.¡± Li Hanying¡¯s face was pale, his head somewhat dizzy. The death of a pet could cause certain damage to a Combat Training Master, though not severe, but thinking about the confidence he had painstakingly cultivated, his resentment grew even stronger. ¡°Damn, what to do!¡± Shao Zifeng watched with heartache as Qiuqiu was struck for the third time, his mind spinning rapidly, contemplating a solution. ¡°Ying!!¡± A pair of spider claws struck from below Qiuqiu, throwing him high, and it wasn¡¯t over yet. The last Blood-sucking Tarantula targeted Qiuqiu in the air, its six long legs powering like springs, rapidly approaching Qiuqiu in midair. What to do! What to do! The Blood-sucking Tarantula was about to pierce Qiuqiu while the ones below were already gathering strength, preparing for another wave of attacks. That¡¯s it, use that move!! ¡°Qiuqiu, adjust your posture in midair, use Dragon Wings!¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind flashed with an idea when he remembered the skill he had just seen, and he quickly shouted out to Qiuqiu. ¡°Ying Ying~¡± Dizzy, Qiuqiu struggled to adjust his posture; flames ignited in its eyes, a burst of fiery explosion erupted from within, enveloping Qiuqiu in the middle, then a pair of broad Dragon Wings formed on its back. Narrowly avoiding the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s claws, he dived down a distance. ¡°Ying ying ao!!¡± Holding back a belly full of rage, Qiuqiu roared, flapping the Dragon Wings, his head upward, the wingtips cutting through the air, emitting a sharp Tearing sound, his body wrapped in a long tail flame, like a meteor streaking through the sky, charging towards the Blood-sucking Tarantula in midair. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Qiuqiu Returns Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Qiuqiu Returns Looking at the information on his phone, Shao Zifeng felt a flicker of hesitation, but he didn¡¯t take it too seriously. In his opinion, since the authorities had just apprehended people from the Holy Origin Society and were carrying out a citywide surveillance, the rest of the undercover agents would likely hide even deeper and not actively seek trouble. He placed the phone on the computer desk and continued with his work. After applying medicine to the wounds of the White-headed Bulbul and stroking the cat¡¯s head, Shao Zifeng instructed the mutated white cat to keep watch over the house. Amidst the cat¡¯s protests, he closed the door and left. Exiting the residential compound, Shao Zifeng pondered for a moment and then decided to enter through the abandoned amusement park entrance, which, compared to the ¡®Happy Sunshine Residential Area,¡¯ was more desolate, had fewer people around, and lacked extensive surveillance cameras. The abandoned amusement park had been around for a long time. Reportedly, it used to be flooded with visitors every day and was famous within the surrounding cities. However, due to urban planning changes, the amusement park found itself increasingly distant from the city center. Investors went bankrupt, nobody took over, and thus, the park was abandoned. It is said that in the years before the ¡®Unknown Recovery Event,¡¯ many adventure enthusiasts would come here for night explorations. But after animals started mutating, it wasn¡¯t frequented by visitors anymore. Standing at an intersection of the ring road, Shao Zifeng watched the taxi speed away with a sense of speechlessness. Really¡­ not even with extra money would the driver take him to his destination. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t that far away; otherwise, Shao Zifeng really felt like making a complaint call. The last time he had emerged from the amusement park, he also had to walk to this stretch of the ring road before catching a ride. He had thought it was simply because there were fewer cars, but now it seemed that drivers simply didn¡¯t want to go there at all. Adjusting the travel bag hanging in front of him, Shao Zifeng headed towards the abandoned amusement park. Walking on a seldom-traveled country road just outside the city, the roadside was overgrown with weeds as tall as a person, which narrowed the already limited space on the path. Unlike the evergreen vegetation near Wutong Mountain, most of the plants here were last year¡¯s dead grass, with new buds just barely sprouting, creating an overall barren appearance. Parting the weeds in front of him with his hands, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but think how inconvenient it was without a kitchen knife, planning to check if there were any for sale on the platform later¡­ wait, why do I even need to buy a kitchen knife? Isn¡¯t a long and hard Tang sword fragrant? His rich inner life when alone helped relieve stress and made the journey less monotonous¡ªa valuable experience he had summed up, living a bachelor¡¯s life for nearly two decades. After moving forward for a while, he could vaguely see the buildings of the abandoned amusement park in the distance. But Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. Focusing, he realized that at some point, the usual sounds of birds and insects had disappeared. When he started down this road, the faint sound of birds could still be heard. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it wasn¡¯t entirely quiet either. Becoming more alert, he looked around, tightened the travel bag he carried, and carefully scanned the environment, quickening his pace. As he moved forward, he felt something on his face, and when he reached to check, he pulled down a half-transparent thread, cool to the touch. Shao Zifeng felt a shock of alarm, and a chill ran up his spine, his scalp tingling. This thing left a deep impression on him. The last time at Qifeng Temple, he had almost been dismembered by a Blood-sucking Tarantula after accidentally stepping on its web. ¡®No, I can¡¯t keep going like this; I must get out of here as soon as possible,¡¯ Shao Zifeng thought desperately, then broke into a run towards the amusement park. He couldn¡¯t be sure if the web was from a Blood-sucking Tarantula. The current situation, however, was unlike Qifeng Temple. There were no ambushes, no abundant flammable dust, not even a knife for self-defense¡ªjust the fact that getting quickly into the platform was the safest option. He couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. As he ran through, unable to clear the roadside weeds, the long blades of grass whipped his face painfully. Gradually, his expression became numb, and he started having trouble breathing. His steps grew heavy until he realized that thick spider silk had already covered his body and neck. ¡°Damn it,¡± Shao Zifeng said, looking grim as he stood, feeling the paralyzing effect of the spider silk slowly numbing his nerves, making even the slightest movement extremely difficult. Shao Zifeng slowly spread his fingers, focusing on drawing the fire elements from around him, gradually accumulating them into a fist-sized fireball. Clenching his teeth, he slammed the fireball onto himself. In an instant, flames enveloped him, turning him into a large fireball. The spider silk twisted and snapped in the flames before turning into ash. Shao Zifeng could feel the raging fire burning his skin but not causing any harm. Relieved, it seemed his gamble paid off¡ªalthough he had access to few elemental powers, the corresponding resistances had increased. Before he could relax, applause came from not too far away. ¡°Snap, snap, snap,¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart tightened again. As the flames dispersed, a young man in an Abnormal Administration Bureau uniform appeared in his sight¡ªit was none other than Li Hanying, with whom he had a previous encounter. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Student Shao to be so full of surprises, not only triggering a ¡®Bonding reaction¡¯ but also mastering elemental power. I¡¯m really starting to feel a bit reluctant to make my move.¡± With a hearty smile, Li Hanying stood a few meters away from Shao Zifeng, sizing him up with an amused look as if appreciating his prey. Shao Zifeng¡¯s body was stiff. He wanted to speak, but even opening his mouth seemed impossible. He stared at Li Hanying, his eyes nearly shooting fire. ¡°Hehe, look at my memory. I forgot that Student Shao can¡¯t talk anymore. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just some special paralysis powder.¡± Li Hanying still wore a hearty smile, looking like a friendly big brother next door. After saying this, his expression twisted into a cruel smirk, becoming increasingly deranged as he continued with a raised corner of his mouth, ¡°This is a special present I¡¯ve prepared just for you. Ever since hiding in this damn Abnormal Administration Bureau, it has been a long while since I¡¯ve savored the fear of people on the brink of death.¡± Drawing a dagger, Li Hanying walked toward Shao Zifeng with a sinister smile. However, after taking only a couple of steps, he paused, as if he had remembered something, and his face showed a frustrated look: ¡°Really, you lucky bastards, I can¡¯t deal the pain to you myself. It¡¯s truly disappointing. I¡¯ll leave it to them, but play gently.¡± No sooner had Li Hanying finished speaking than rustling sounds came from the weeds on both sides of the road. One, two¡­ a total of six huge Blood-sucking Tarantulas crawled out of the undergrowth, first hissing at Li Hanying as if to please him, then turning around with a cold, cruel gleam in their eyes. Shao Zifeng watched the scene before him in shock. Six¡ªhe had actually bred six Blood-sucking Tarantulas. In theory, as long as you have enough resources, it is indeed possible to breed a large number of pets, but Blood-sucking Tarantulas are different¡ªthey grow by killing and sucking blood. In other words, to raise six Blood-sucking Tarantulas, he must have killed so many¡­ Lost in thought, the six Blood-sucking Tarantulas drew near Shao Zifeng, raising their forelimbs to stab at him. Shao Zifeng closed his eyes in despair, realizing he was truly defenseless this time. It seemed he was really about to meet his end. ¡°Qiuqiu, it looks like it¡¯s time to say goodbye,¡± he murmured. ¡­ Li Hanying laughed maliciously, imagining the blood splattering before his eyes, which made him shiver uncontrollably with an exhilarating sense of electric shock; he bent forward slightly, squeezing his legs together. ¡®Stab, please, just stab. I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡¯ The cold glint of the tarantula¡¯s claws drew closer to Shao Zifeng, and Li Hanying, with eyes wide in anticipation, was inwardly screaming in madness, his facial muscles twisting in excitement, his smile growing wider. Just as he was about to reach the climax of anticipation, the expected spray of blood didn¡¯t occur. As the tarantula¡¯s claw was about to pierce Shao Zifeng¡¯s body, a Space Rift appeared out of nowhere in front of him. Waves of flames burst forth, setting the Blood-sucking Tarantulas in front of it on fire, causing them to shriek and retreat chaotically. The surroundings slowly heated up, even the air appeared slightly warped. The dry grass in the hot environment rapidly shrank into clumps before bursting into flames, which swept through and devoured everything around them. The Blood-sucking Tarantulas huddled anxiously together, bellowing intermittently, eyeing the rift fearfully. ¡°Yingeya~¡± An angry roar sounded, immature yet filled with supreme authority. The flames from the rift grew even more explosive, rolling and swelling. A pair of ferocious flaming eyes suddenly opened, the invisible pressure increasing the fierceness of the flames, reaching higher. Li Hanying, drenched in cold sweat, watched incredulously as the scene before his eyes turned into a fiery hell. His whole body shivered; everything suddenly seemed so bland. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dragon Wings Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dragon Wings In an unknown space, the sun perpetually hung unchanging at the zenith of the sky, beneath which lay a boundless desert that shone like golden sand under the sunlight, glittering brilliantly. At the very center of the desert stood several black volcanoes, their conical steep bodies covered with dark red magma like veins coursing through them. With a loud rumble like thunder, the calm of the space was shattered. The next moment, the entire desert shook violently as the winds whipped up sand into the sky. From the volcano¡¯s crater, ink-black smoke rose, carrying sparks of fire, with occasional lightning flashing through as it collided. The intense sunlight was obscured by sand and volcanic ash, turning the space as dark as night, where one couldn¡¯t see their own hands, and the rumbling continued. A black volcano, breaking through the sands with its dark red magma veins, rose from the ground, joining the other volcanoes to form a cluster. In the center of the volcano cluster, the magma in the magma pool churned like ocean waves, slapping against the pillars in the pool. On the platform of one pillar, a Tang sword lay quietly, and at the center, a large red luminous egg began to pulse. With a ¡°crack¡±, a fracture appeared on the surface of the luminous egg, shooting out a beam of red light like a sharp sword, piercing the encompassing darkness. Moments later, the sound of cracking intensified, and beams of red light shot out, painting the entire volcano cluster red. ¡°Ying~¡± A tender hum sounded, and abruptly, the winds, sand, thick smoke, and violent tremors ceased, leaving behind an additional volcano in the center as if nothing had happened. ¡°Plop¡± The cracked luminous egg shed a piece of its shell, which fell on the black volcanic rock, producing a soft sound and dissipating into specks of energy. A small paw, covered with brownish-red scale armor, reached out from the opening, curiously scratching around, achieving nothing. ¡°Ying ying!¡± ¡°Annoyed!¡± Having just woken up, Qiuqiu habitually reached for Shao Zifeng nearby, but grabbed nothing, instantly souring the good mood from waking, and with a flurry of its tiny short claws, it freed itself from the comfortable yet cramped space. ¡°Ying ying?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the egg?¡± Qiuqiu rubbed its blurry eyes, feeling it was easier to reach its eyes than before¡ªpreviously, one paw could only rub one side, and it took both paws together to feel comfortable. However, before it could contemplate these changes, it began to look for Shao Zifeng. Suddenly, as if realizing something, Qiuqiu¡¯s cute face looked stricken, and it crossed its tiny paws, sitting cross-legged on the volcanic rock. That stinky egg, daring to be fierce to me, I won¡¯t look for him, hmph. While thinking this in its heart, its little claws couldn¡¯t help but move, irresistibly drawn to open a space rift. Angrily slapping its right claw with its left, Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes slightly squinted, casually glancing at the Tang sword beside it. The tail moved, hooking the Tang sword toward it, holding it in its arms. ¡°Pshh ~¡± ¡°Huh, why did the sword shrink?¡± Qiuqiu hesitantly looked at the long handle of the Tang sword in its arms, but its little head couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Forget it, forget it, thinking no more, if the stinky egg doesn¡¯t apologize for a day, I won¡¯t go out¡­ and won¡¯t think for a day! That¡¯s happily decided! At that moment, an invisible ripple appeared, spreading around Qiuqiu. Feeling a familiar presence, Qiuqiu¡¯s heart lifted, its mouth curving up, and its tail, dragging on the ground, couldn¡¯t help swinging left and right, rubbing against the rough volcanic rock. ¡°Qiuqiu, it looks like it¡¯s time to say goodbye,¡± A vision appeared before Qiuqiu, showing the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s cold, gleaming claws thrusting towards Shao Zifeng. ¡°Ying ying ao!!!¡± ¡­ ¡°Ying ying ao!!!¡± Another roar erupted as the two figures and six spiders, either joyous or incredulous, watched the intensifying flames within the space rift. A pair of furious eyes stared fixedly at the Blood-sucking Tarantula. ¡°Hiss!¡± Flames surged as a burning claw emerged, stepping onto a path paved with limestone. The ground seemed unable to bear the high temperature, emitting a puff of white smoke, then, more parts of the body including the head, torso, and long tail appeared from the flames. Shao Zifeng looked shocked, watching the pet emerging from the flames. His brain momentarily froze. Was this Qiuqiu? The creature before him, about the size of a small dog, was covered in vicious brownish-red scales. The scale pieces behind its head, clearly more prominent than before, had become sharper, and the bony scales along its body and tail were more pronounced. Beyond that, the most significant change was its size. Previously, like a typical lizard, Qiuqiu had short limbs and moved with its belly close to the ground. But now, its limbs had noticeably lengthened, its belly had shrunk, and standing on its limbs, it now bore some resemblance to a Western dragon. Is this¡­ is this evolution? Shao Zifeng felt as if he were struck by a huge surprise, feeling a bit dizzy. How did getting angry trigger evolution? Could it be that the secret to the evolution of the armadillo lizard was getting angry? Thinking this, Shao Zifeng nodded firmly, deciding to try again when Qiuqiu reached the peak of the fourth stage. Patting himself on the back! Blue light points flickered and spun in his eyes. [Name]: Armadillo Dragon Lizard [Growth]: Growing period [State]: Healthy, angry, Bloodline Ancestor [Strength]: Third stage [Class]: Chordata [Order]: Reptilia [Order]: Squamata [Family]: Sub-dragon family [Attribute]: Fire [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Dry Aura: Favored by the fire element, it attracts weak fire elements nearby and can influence a small area, slowly restoring its own energy. This talent can grow with its own strength. [Skills]: Defense, Fiery Breath, Flame Control, Dragon Wings [Description]: With the activation of Bloodline Ancestor, the arrogant dragon bloodline does not acknowledge the timid and cowardly among its clan. In several battles, gradually recognized by the dragon blood, it could harness some powers of the Dragon Clan after evolving. Watching the information in front of him, Shao Zifeng felt a surge of ecstasy. After evolving, its strength had improved by a tier, and the description of its talent had also changed a bit; ¡®tiny area¡¯ had become ¡®small area¡¯, and it had gained a new ability to recover energy. The skills had been augmented by the addition of Dragon Wings, a skill not typically mastered by ordinary creatures. ¡°What do I think this is, classmate Shao? This is your pet, huh? It¡¯s actually quite¡­ cute!¡± An annoying voice rang out, and Shao Zifeng then realized that the crisis in front of him had not yet been resolved. Li Hanying, having recovered from his initial shock, stared at this oddly-shaped little creature in front of him and felt a surge of nameless anger. Considering the entrance it made, he had thought it was some famous beast¡ªwas he really frightened by such a small creature? Unforgivable! ¡°Blood-sucking Tarantulas, spread out in formation, and tear it apart for me.¡± Li Hanying¡¯s twisted face throbbed with veins, clearly wanting to end the fight quickly. He did not have time to waste as another battle awaited him. ¡°Hiss!¡± At the command, the Blood-sucking Tarantulas overcame their fear of flames, collectively moved their eight long legs, lifted their chilling front limbs, and dispersed in a fan shape, encircling Qiuqiu in the middle, ready to strike. ¡°Ying ying ao!¡± Fire flickered between the scales, and Qiuqiu, glaring at these annoying creatures, felt even more furious. It remembered them¡ªthey had knocked off its beautiful scales last time. It was very upset; it decided it would burn off their fur to calm itself. It looked back at Shao Zifeng subconsciously. Hmm¡­ why had the egg gotten smaller? The egg actually shrank because they bullied it! Those brats!! No, burning their fur off wasn¡¯t enough; it had to make them cry!! Shao Zifeng was somewhat puzzled, as Qiuqiu seemed to be getting angrier, but now wasn¡¯t the time to think more on it. ¡°Qiuqiu, Flame Control, contract the flames.¡± ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu nodded lightly, chirped softly, and a strange wave spread, causing the surrounding sea of flames to be drawn quickly towards the center, the sharply elevated temperature making the Blood-sucking Tarantulas even more uncomfortable, shrieking as the thick black hair on their backs curled rapidly, emitting bursts of burnt stench. ¡°Disperse and cross attack, all use Tearing Claw Strike.¡± Li Hanying saw the situation worsening, knowing that it wouldn¡¯t work this way. He had initially intended to minimize damage, but hadn¡¯t expected this unseen pet to control the flames. ¡°Hiss!¡± At the command, the tarantula closest to Qiuqiu initiated the attack, pressing its front limbs together, flashing a white light, and shrieking as it lunged at Qiuqiu. ¡°Qiuqiu, seize the moment, dodge to the left, and use Fiery Breath at close range.¡± ¡°Ying¡± Confidently, Qiuqiu let out a cry, its eyes sparkling with firelight, fixating on the approaching Blood-sucking Tarantula. With a swooshing sound, the spider¡¯s claw came cutting through the air and just as it was about to hit Qiuqiu, it agilely twisted its body, brushing past the claw. The huge inertia carried the massive body of the spider, stabbing fiercely into the limestone path where Qiuqiu stood, shattering rocks and sparks flying everywhere. Seeing the spider¡¯s head so close, a sly look flashed in Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes. It turned its head and a mysterious Array appeared in front of it, then a bursting column of fire shot out, engulfing half of the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s body. ¡°Hiss!!!¡± The gigantic body of the Blood-sucking Tarantula slammed onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and its scorched black body twitched unconsciously. ¡°Qiuqiu, move out of the way!¡± As he watched the Blood-sucking Tarantula fall, Qiuqiu felt somewhat proud and was just about to boast to Shao Zifeng when he heard his voice ringing in his ear. ¡°Clang¡± ¡°Ying!¡± A pair of spider claws grazed by the side of Qiuqiu¡¯s Scale Armor, Qiuqiu cried out in pain, blood traces following, and flew sideways, not even touching the ground before another pair of claws flashed by, striking Qiuqiu once again. ¡°Hahaha, right, just like that, finish him off for me.¡± Li Hanying¡¯s face was pale, his head somewhat dizzy. The death of a pet could cause certain damage to a Combat Training Master, though not severe, but thinking about the confidence he had painstakingly cultivated, his resentment grew even stronger. ¡°Damn, what to do!¡± Shao Zifeng watched with heartache as Qiuqiu was struck for the third time, his mind spinning rapidly, contemplating a solution. ¡°Ying!!¡± A pair of spider claws struck from below Qiuqiu, throwing him high, and it wasn¡¯t over yet. The last Blood-sucking Tarantula targeted Qiuqiu in the air, its six long legs powering like springs, rapidly approaching Qiuqiu in midair. What to do! What to do! The Blood-sucking Tarantula was about to pierce Qiuqiu while the ones below were already gathering strength, preparing for another wave of attacks. That¡¯s it, use that move!! ¡°Qiuqiu, adjust your posture in midair, use Dragon Wings!¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind flashed with an idea when he remembered the skill he had just seen, and he quickly shouted out to Qiuqiu. ¡°Ying Ying~¡± Dizzy, Qiuqiu struggled to adjust his posture; flames ignited in its eyes, a burst of fiery explosion erupted from within, enveloping Qiuqiu in the middle, then a pair of broad Dragon Wings formed on its back. Narrowly avoiding the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s claws, he dived down a distance. ¡°Ying ying ao!!¡± Holding back a belly full of rage, Qiuqiu roared, flapping the Dragon Wings, his head upward, the wingtips cutting through the air, emitting a sharp Tearing sound, his body wrapped in a long tail flame, like a meteor streaking through the sky, charging towards the Blood-sucking Tarantula in midair. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Split-eyed Demon Spider (Update Adjustment) Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Split-eyed Demon Spider (Update Adjustment) ¡°Boom~¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± A dazzling fireball exploded in mid-air, engulfing the Blood-sucking Tarantula. A violent gust assaulted them, overpowering the blazing flames. The four Blood-sucking Tarantulas, due to their massive size, were pressed to the ground, emitting uneasy shrieks. Their fur, which had been scorched, turned to flying ash and vanished, leaving them looking rather bare. Shao Zifeng and Li Hanying¡¯s skin wrinkled from the wind, and they couldn¡¯t help but retreat a few steps to stabilize themselves as they watched the dazzling fireball in the sky, horror evident on their faces. Although Qiuqiu was also a third-tier pet beast, its burst of power far exceeded the Blood-sucking Tarantulas of the same tier. Shao Zifeng could hardly believe it ¡ª was this still the shy, timid Qiuqiu from before? ¡°Ying!¡± The wind pressure gradually dissipated, and pieces of charred, shattered exoskeletons, still aflame, fell to the ground. Qiuqiu, enveloped in strands of flowing flames, flipped over and landed in front of Shao Zifeng. His Scale Armor, turned inside out and cracked, evoked a pang of heartache in Shao Zifeng as the blood on it had already dried up. Gasping heavily, its front paws softened, and it nearly fell, causing Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart to tighten once again. Feeling Shao Zifeng¡¯s concern, it turned back and gave him a reassuring look. ¡°Are you still okay, Qiuqiu?¡± ¡°Ying ying!¡± Qiuqiu, with its body slightly bent, radiated intense fighting spirit ¡ª the ¡¯empathy¡¯ ability was indeed about emotional influence. Infected by Qiuqiu¡¯s spirit and looking over the fire-ravaged field, steely determination and youthful fervor surged within Shao Zifeng. ¡°Then let us battle!!¡± Shao Zifeng, uncharacteristically, yelled with a somewhat adolescent tone! ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu cocked its head to look at Shao Zifeng and happily nodded its head. Digging its claws into the ground, it lowered its body slightly. Wild fire elements leaked from the crevices of its Scale Armor, as if donning it with a magnificent battle garb. ¡°Ying ying ao!¡± Qiuqiu thrust its strong hind legs against the ground, shooting forth like an arrow released from a bow, trailed by long ribbons of flames. ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± The sound of slicing through the air followed. The overwhelmed Blood-sucking Tarantula couldn¡¯t react in time and was slashed open by Qiuqiu¡¯s flaming claws, tearing a long gash across its body. ¡°Hiss! Squeak!!¡± Black-green bodily fluids instantly surged out, and under the relentless erosion of fire elements, they evaporated instantly, emitting puffs of foul, black smoke. It shrieked, madly stabbing with its forelimbs. Fortunately, its massive body wasn¡¯t for naught; although the wound was excruciating, it was not fatal. Seeing its companion injured, the nearest Blood-sucking Tarantula quickly thrust its forelimbs together, flashing a white light, and swiftly struck at Qiuqiu. Just about to land, Qiuqiu realized it was under attack and quickly flipped over. Its long tail pressed down hard on the ground, using the force to leap up. ¡°Hiss¡­squeak¡­hiss hiss!¡± The attacking Blood-sucking Tarantula stabbed into empty space and pierced the ground with its forelimbs. Driven by inertia, its body collapsed onto the searing ground amidst billowing dust, and its forelimbs snapped with a ¡°crack¡±. The severe burns combined with the broken forelimbs made it howl and twitch in pain. Just then, intense fire elemental fluctuations cascaded down from above, it hurriedly looked up, and what entered its eight eyes was a mysterious Array. Qiuqiu gave it a taunting look, flashing a devilish smile¡­ well, whatever that¡¯s supposed to mean. ¡°Boom¡± A massive column of fire twisted like a fire tornado, roaring out from the center of the Array, engulfing the fear-stricken Blood-sucking Tarantula. ¡°Ah!! No¡­unforgivable, all of you attack together! Kill them!!¡± As the environment became hotter and after losing two pet beasts in a row, Li Hanying, who had somewhat recovered, was hurt once again. The thrice death of his pet beasts dealt him a blow akin to a thunderclap, like a Purple Gold Hammer striking his head and causing a collapse¡ªuh, mixed metaphors there. He staggered back a few steps, relying on the Blood-sucking Tarantula standing beside him to prevent falling, as two lines of crimson blood slowly leaked from his nostrils and dropped onto the scorching ground, instantly evaporating into black-red stains. The remaining two Blood-sucking Tarantulas also dared not act rashly, slowly retreating back to Li Hanying¡¯s side, keeping a vigilant eye on Qiuqiu. ¡°Huff huff~¡± Back on the ground again, Qiuqiu¡¯s panting intensified, the fire elements around it dimmed, and it occasionally shook its small head, striving to remain conscious. ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± Seeing this, Shao Zifeng hurriedly ran to Qiuqiu¡¯s side, embracing it with one arm while searching his bag with the other for healing medicine. ¡°Ying~¡± Qiuqiu gave a soft cry, releasing a wave that quickly contracted the surrounding flames into a ring, protecting the two of them. Then, with a hint of coquetry, it nuzzled its head against Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest. Despite the pain and exhaustion covering its body, it felt incredibly happy, its eyes tenderly looking at the worried Shao Zifeng, wearing a smile. ¡°Quickly drink the energy potion.¡± Shao Zifeng, frantic, pulled out two energy potions and tried to feed them to Qiuqiu. Qiuqiu, sensing the smell of the energy potion, brightened up and quickly shook its head, extending its elongated small paws, grabbed a potion with each paw, and poured them into its mouth as if fearing someone would take them away. ¡°Ying¡­burp¡± Qiuqiu belched, emitting a puff of black smoke, its cheeks stained with a mysterious blush, happily lying against Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest, making ying ying sounds intermixed with burps. Shao Zifeng helplessly rubbed its small head; the feel, truly prickly to touch. Bald Qiuqiu seemed more adorable indeed, though thinking this, his lips still couldn¡¯t help but curve into a smile. Opening the pet beast healing medicine, Shao Zifeng carefully applied it to Qiuqiu¡¯s wounds. The surrounding flames continued to spread, the ground was so scorched that it became twisted and cracked, but this did not affect Shao Zifeng¡­ He even felt somewhat comfortable holding Qiuqiu? This was not because Qiuqiu¡¯s innate abilities were powerful enough to create a fiery hell on earth¡ªat least it couldn¡¯t yet. It was mainly due to the geographical advantage formed by the dried grass here. ¡­ ¡°Hiss¡± ¡°Ah¡± Licked by a flame, Li Hanying screamed as he woke from his stupor. Several blood-sucking tarantulas paced anxiously beside him, the environment here being too harsh for these arthropods. Shaking his dizzy head, a blurry scene of red slowly came into focus, the surroundings still resembling hell, the continuous high temperature further weakening his already frustrated spirits. Seeing a person and a pet nestled inside a ring of fire in the distance, Li Hanying felt like he was nearly falling apart. Veins popping on his pale face, he gritted his teeth and pulled six syringes from his pocket. ¡°Since you¡¯re so close, go to hell together!¡± Li Hanying recklessly injected the syringes into the bodies of the blood-sucking tarantulas, filling them with an unknown blood-red liquid. ¡°Hiss!!!¡± The three blood-sucking tarantulas roared in unison, protrusions emerging all over their bodies, constantly shifting up and down, stimulating their bodies. ¡°Clang!¡± The first tarantula to be injected had its eight eyes glow with a crazed blood-red color. Its body swelled, growing more than twice its original size, as tall as a small building. One of its forelimbs raised high, black and bulging with vein-like twists, then the entire limb grew even thicker, soon all eight of its claws transformed similarly. That wasn¡¯t all; its back suddenly split open, sprouting several tumor-like growths, each embedded with a grayish-white eyeball that crazily moved up and down, as if surveying the world. Its mouthparts, flanked by rows of sharp fangs, dribbled thick, foul-smelling saliva that sizzled as it dropped. ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak~¡± The shrill screech, like cat claws on glass, displaced much of the flame, clearing a vast area. With a twisted face, Li Hanying, satisfied with the three hideous spiders, broke into a mad laugh, ¡°Hahaha! Yes, that¡¯s it! That¡¯s it, kill them for me!¡± Hearing Li Hanying¡¯s voice, the three gigantic spiders lowered their heads, their cold spider eyes devoid of any emotion, filled only with an endless desire for slaughter and destruction. A chill ran through Li Hanying¡¯s heart, a bad premonition setting in as he involuntarily stepped back, thinking to himself, ¡®As expected, the organization mentioned that these syringes have uncontrollable effects, use them cautiously.¡¯ At that moment, the central blood-sucking tarantula slowly lowered its body to meet his gaze. Initially timid, Li Hanying was delighted at this sight. Did it still remember him? He couldn¡¯t help but step forward, reaching out to touch the ugly head of the tarantula. ¡°Squeak!¡± Before his hand could touch it, the tarantula suddenly opened its mouthparts and shrieked at his face. The glass-shattering scream erupted close by, the foul breath mixed with saliva assaulting Li Hanying¡¯s soul, freezing him on the spot. Looking at Li Hanying, covered in sticky saliva, the tarantula gave him a contemptuous glance and lightly shifted its claw, knocking him several meters away. Li Hanying tumbled on the ground a few times and lay motionless as a sizzling noise filled the air, and a burnt smell spread. He let out a pained groan. The massive spider stood up and, along with its counterparts, turned its gaze toward the person and pet within the distant ring of fire, twenty-four eyes shimmering with intense killing intent. ¡­ Since the moment the three blood-sucking tarantulas began to mutate, Shao Zifeng had been paying attention to the situation, but the flames obstructed his view, making it difficult to see clearly. Picking up the now much heavier Qiuqiu, Shao Zifeng stood up, gazing at the three huge and ugly spiders. He couldn¡¯t help but inhale a breath of ¡®hot¡¯ air. They were really ugly. Focusing his attention to observe closely, several blue lights began to spin in his peripheral vision. Suddenly, the blue lights no longer rotated around a circle but crazily intersected each other; this was the first time such a phenomenon had occurred. After a longer wait than usual, a light blue screen glowing with a red light appeared in front of him. [Name]: Split-eyed Demon Spider (Mutant) [Growth]: Maturity [State]: Genetic Split, Madness [Strength]: Fourth Order [Phylum]: Arthropoda [Class]: Arachnida [Order]: Araneae [Family]: Demon Spider Family [Attribute]: Unknown [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï [Talent]: Split: The parts of the body that the light rays from the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s back hit will be shattered and decomposed into atoms, which further increases its mutation when absorbed by itself. [Skills]: Tearing Claw Strike, Death Ray, Big Explosion [Description]: A mutant created by artificial intervention with unknown drugs, characteristically brutal, madly homicidal, other: unknown. Looking at the information before him, Shao Zifeng¡¯s expression turned exceptionally grim. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: You Will All Die Chapter 46: Chapter 46: You Will All Die ¡°Damn it, why aren¡¯t they here yet.¡± In a narrow and cramped alley, a young man leaned against a mottled wall, his silver-white hair simply tied into a ponytail. Pale cheeks bore a crimson scar, and from his left arm embraced by his right hand, blood seeped continuously through his fingers, dripping onto the damp ground and diluting in the puddles of foul water. Burial Fox¡¯s face was ghastly; he was hiding at a T-junction in the alleyway, occasionally poking his head out to see if anyone was pursuing him, then cursing under his breath once more. A few days ago, he received an assignment from the organization to investigate the cause of death of two mid-level Hiddens in Su City. For the organization¡¯s headquarters, the death of two Hiddens was not a big deal. However, the situations of these two were special. One was a pillar of the radio station, able to provide plenty of reliable intelligence, and the other was a company boss who had contributed a considerable amount of operational funds to the organization¡¯s regional division. One must understand that even in a small inland city within Greater Xia, cultivating and building trust in members was no easy feat. The organization¡¯s years of planning had only nurtured a dozen Hiddens, and those with special positions and functions were limited to mere three. Now, two of them had died simultaneously, which was an indisputably severe loss. When he first accepted the mission, he thought Su City was just a small inland city with no particularly strong Combat Training Masters. He figured that he could complete the mission quickly as long as he was careful. However, shortly after arriving in Su City, he received a message from a Hidden embedded in the Abnormal Administration Bureau, who said that the situation was urgent, there was a risk of exposure in the organization, and that Burial Fox needed to divert the Bureau¡¯s attention so that he could personally deal with the defector. After the success of the operation, he would secretly assist ¡®Burial Fox¡¯ in concealing himself again to carry out the mission, and would fully cooperate during the course of the mission. Poor Burial Fox had not even had the chance to eat a warm meal before being forced to start working. Glancing at the time again, it had been ten minutes past the scheduled time, and still no message had arrived. The Abnormal Administration Bureau officers chasing him were all converging in this direction, soon to encircle him. If he didn¡¯t leave now, he would truly be trapped. ¡°Fuck, I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± Burial Fox gritted his teeth and summoned a Blood-sucking Tarantula. He took off his coat and threw it over the creature, commanding it to stay put and not move, then turned and ran deeper into the alley. After Burial Fox left, the alley was eerily quiet. The Blood-sucking Tarantula, with Burial Fox¡¯s coat draped over it, lay still on the spot. The alley was so narrow that it had difficulty even turning over. Its eight indifferent spider eyes watched the disappearing figure, revealing a rare hint of sadness. ¡°Here! The target is here.¡± A cacophony of footsteps and the barking of a pursuing dog approached. The Blood-sucking Tarantula turned its head and used its massive body to block the alley, glaring fiercely at the oncoming people and issuing a decisive hiss as it charged forward to meet them. ¡°Hiss!!¡± ¡­ Near Pei Yong¡¯s apartment complex, inside a black van, Luo Feng was sitting in the back on a spacious seat, legs crossed, occasionally looking down at the time. This ordinary-looking residential area was now under strict surveillance by their people. ¡°Report, no suspicious individuals found at the west gate.¡± ¡°Report, no suspicious individuals found at the east gate.¡± ¡°Report, south gate¡­¡± ¡°Report, north gate¡­¡± ¡°Report, the target woman is still sitting in the living room watching TV.¡± Hearing the reports come through his earpiece, Luo Feng frowned. In his original plan, by leaking the news of Pei Yong¡¯s escape, the Bureau¡¯s undercover agents would have to act to avoid exposing themselves. For this operation, the Bureau was making a high-profile search, while he was lying in ambush on this end. The discovery of a suspect in Nanping district had increased his confidence in the plan¡¯s viability, but as the encirclement nears its conclusion, there had been no abnormalities on his end, forcing him to reconsider the flaws in his plan. One has to know that for ordinary people, without reaching a certain level, it is impossible to know that beyond the Abnormal Administration Bureau, Greater Xia holds this concealed secret department. Theoretically, with the Bureau currently distracted, the opposing Hiddens shouldn¡¯t miss this perfect opportunity to use Pei Yong¡¯s family as leverage. The current situation left Luo Feng puzzled, unable to figure out where the problem lay. ¡°Knock knock¡± Luo Feng tapped his fingers against the wooden armrest, and suddenly, a possibility came to mind. ¡®Unless, this organization has known about our existence for a long time.¡¯ With this thought, the current situation made sense, but¡­ if that were the case, why reveal themselves and not remain hidden, and why release someone to attract attention? His frown deepened, his finger-tapping quickened. If this was the situation, the forces behind these people could be an enormous entity. Luo Feng closed his eyes and massaged his temples, falling into deep thought. ¡­ On the outskirts of Su City, the fire still showed no signs of abating. In the sweltering environment, Shao Zifeng felt a drop of cold sweat fall from his forehead as he watched the three enormous Split-eyed Demon Spiders in the distance, licking his dry lips with his tongue. The atmosphere was somewhat quiet, save for the ¡°whooshing¡± sound of the flames fanned by the wind ¨C not a single other noise could be heard. Sensing the fluctuating emotions in Shao Zifeng, Qiuqiu, who was resting in his arms, opened its eyes, struggled out of his embrace, and landed on the ground, positioning itself in front of Shao Zifeng. Looking at Qiuqiu in front of him, Shao Zifeng felt a mix of joy and concern. Even though it had taken an energy potion Type I and had its wounds treated with medicine, Qiuqiu¡¯s condition was still not promising. Shao Zifeng could sense the worry contained in its emotions; it was afraid that something might happen to him. ¡°Hiss!¡± The three hisses rose, and the sweltering environment made the Split-eyed Demon Spiders irritable, their violent moods compelling them to want to tear the two small insects in front of them to shreds. ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu turned its head back, giving Shao Zifeng a bright-eyed call, signaling him to leave first. Despite his reluctance, Shao Zifeng knew he would be of no help and would only distract Qiuqiu into protecting him. With no other choice, he moved his feet and carefully started retreating backward. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Split-eyed Demon Spider detected Shao Zifeng¡¯s movement, issuing an irate hiss to alert its companions. Then it lifted its cumbersome spider abdomen, the several bulging flesh lumps on its back trembling incessantly, the eyes on the lumps spinning chaotically. When it caught sight of Shao Zifeng, the eyes stopped, locking onto him. The moment Shao Zifeng was targeted, his heart felt as though it was gripped by a large hand, his forehead instantly beaded with fine sweat, struggling for breath as if in the next second seven tall black men would appear to carry him away. Seeing this, Qiuqiu grew anxious, its eyes instantly igniting into two fireballs. The array before it lit up, and the fire elements in the void became exceptionally active, quickly condensing in its mouth, and a deep red Elemental Ball flew into the center of the array, bursting into dazzling red light. A whirling column of flame erupted from within the red glow, carrying a howling blast towards the Split-eyed Demon Spider. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Split-eyed Demon Spider, witnessing this, shook its back a few times. Its eye, which had been fixated on Shao Zifeng, rolled slightly, and a grey-white thin line shot out, meeting the thick column of fire head-on. ¡°Tss¡± As the two attacks collided, there was no explosion as one might imagine. The capability of the grey-white ray was eerie, endlessly breaking down Qiuqiu¡¯s column of fire. The originally thick column of fire was continuously disintegrated, turning into clumps of flames scattering about, and ultimately dissipating into the void. Moments later, the center of the Fiery Breath was completely broken down, leaving only a thin layer of fire feebly spinning. Witnessing this scene, Shao Zifeng suddenly remembered what this ability was. As the ray was about to penetrate the Fiery Breath, Shao Zifeng yelled out urgently, ¡°Qiuqiu, dodge quickly!¡± ¡°Ying?¡± Qiuqiu didn¡¯t understand, but out of trust, it leapt to one side. Just as it left its original spot, the fine grey-white ray grazed over the scale armor lifted on its head. ¡°Tss!¡± The piece of scale armor that was grazed instantly vanished, leaving behind only a semicircular gap. Shao Zifeng saw this with both fear and relief in his heart. ¡°Ying ahh ahh~¡± Qiuqiu turned its head back to glance at Shao Zifeng again, signaling him to leave. Strands of fire elements started to waft out of the gaps in the scale armor, as a pair of massive fiery dragon wings condensed behind it. ¡°Shoo¡ª¡± Qiuqiu flapped its dragon wings, transforming into a streak of flowing light, shooting out like an arrow released from a bow, the tips of its wings emitting a piercing sonic boom as it rushed toward the direction of the three Split-eyed Demon Spiders. ¡°Hiss hiss!¡± Upon seeing this, the three Split-eyed Demon Spiders grew even more enraged, opening their mouthparts and hissing loudly, simultaneously lifting their backs as a barrage of grey-white rays shot densely towards Qiuqiu. ¡°Shoo¡ª¡± ¡°Tss.¡± Qiuqiu, with the aid of its fiery dragon wings, constantly flipped and shifted in the midst of the dense attacks. The ground behind it was hit by the grey-white rays, leaving a cluster of deep pits. At that moment, a beam pierced through Qiuqiu¡¯s left wing, causing its flight posture to suddenly become unstable. It struggled to control the fire element to plug the hole, flapping its wings to adjust its posture. The airflow generated by the wingbeats lifted the dust and broken stones from the ground, scattering them all around. The distance between the two parties rapidly closed in, and the Split-eyed Tarantulas gave up on using their more precise ¡°Fission¡± talent. Their fierce mouthparts with protruding fangs parted, revealing a dark abyss of a mouth, while their twenty-four eyes filled with brutality and madness. Dark purple energy balls formed in their mouths, and then transformed into three thick pillars of energy that shot towards Qiuqiu. ¡°Death Ray, Qiuqiu, be careful!¡± Shao Zifeng shouted upon seeing this skill. ¡°Ying ao ao!¡± Qiuqiu let out an angry roar, feeling extremely suffocated. The three beams grew larger in its pupils; it vibrated its wings and turned into a fireball, rising against the odds and dodging the Death Ray midair. ¡°Boom boom boom¡± Three loud explosions were heard, as the beams, one after another, hit the ground, turning into three dark purple hemispheres that expanded and merged into one before rapidly shrinking to a single point. ¡°Boom!¡± The blinding flash caused Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes to sting, and tears flowed uncontrollably. Then a deafening blast and a fierce shock wave swept through, feeling like a hammer struck his chest, throwing him far away. After hitting the ground, he rolled a few times on the scorching earth. Shao Zifeng just felt dizzy and couldn¡¯t open his eyes as he lay on the ground, eventually losing consciousness. Qiuqiu had difficulty resisting the shock wave; seeing Shao Zifeng get blown away and lying motionless on the ground, it let out a mournful cry, wanting to immediately return to his side. ¡°Hiss¡± Barely dodging another attack, Qiuqiu glared down at the three spiders on the ground with eyes full of rage. A hint of mockery flashed in the eyes of the Split-eyed Demon Spider as it occasionally attacked Qiuqiu. Qiuqiu, extremely enraged, summoned a huge Array in the air, and a dark red energy ball quickly formed in its mouth. This time, however, Qiuqiu chose not to release it but instead swallowed the Elemental Ball whole. Upon ingesting the highly condensed fire element, Qiuqiu¡¯s entire body swelled. Flames surged out of the interstices of its Scale Armor, its eyes, nostrils, and even through the tight seams of its closed mouth¡ªnot just elemental flames anymore, but real high-temperature Fiery Breath. ¡°Roar~¡± Qiuqiu let out a painful cry, a roar Shao Zifeng had never heard before, resembling the roar of a real dragon. It shuddered, tumbling in the air, its fire dragon wings unable to stabilize its form as it plummeted toward the ground. Droplets of fiery tears fell, yet behind the flames, its eyes showed not a hint of retreat as it tried hard to control the fire within. ¡°Roar!!¡± ¡°Brats! Hurt Qiuqiu, you! All! Shall! Die!!¡± Suddenly, a pair of outrageously large fire dragon wings unfurled, their span several times larger than before, casting a shadow over the ground. Between the wings, Qiuqiu seemed exceptionally tiny. It brought its wings together, enveloping itself within. Just before closing completely, it gave the three Split-eyed Demon Spiders one cold stare. The fire dragon wings enclosing Qiuqiu spun wildly, the fire being compressed by the wind, revolving and charging towards the Split-eyed Demon Spiders below. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: One Cut Chapter 47: Chapter 47: One Cut ¡°Roar¡± Qiuqiu let out a roar, folding its wings and charging toward the ground with an unstoppable momentum. The spinning giant fireball was compressed by the swift airflow, turning into a shuttle shape. Its velocity quickly increased, and shock clouds actually formed on both sides of the shuttle-shaped fireball. Amidst the huge sonic boom, the pebbles on the ground also trembled slightly, bouncing up and down. Shao Zifeng, lying on the ground, was awakened by the sonic boom, painfully covering his ears. ¡°Hiss~chirp!¡± Boom¡ª¡ª Smoke filled the air, and the ground shattered in layers. Shao Zifeng, still on the ground, was once again sent flying by the shockwave. Dammit! Fortunately, because he was far away and lying on the ground, he didn¡¯t suffer any harm this time. ¡°Qiuqiu!!¡± As the explosion subsided, Shao Zifeng quickly got to his feet. Because of the blackout and the sonic boom, he wasn¡¯t quite sure what had happened. Looking around, he saw the burning flames and the dust from the explosion in the distance, and his heart skipped a beat. Trouble! Yelling Qiuqiu¡¯s name, Shao Zifeng scrambled towards the explosion site, filled with self-blame. If only he hadn¡¯t taken the shortcut, if only he hadn¡¯t accepted that mission, if only he hadn¡¯t left the house after seeing the text from the Abnormal Administration Bureau, none of this would have happened. At this very moment, Shao Zifeng was full of regret, wishing he could slap himself. As he drew closer to the explosion site, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t hear any sound, nor did he see the figure that would always act coquettishly towards him. ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± Standing amidst the dust, Shao Zifeng shouted again, some hope lingering in his heart, even if just for a slight response. All around was still silence, without the slightest sound. Concentrating, he sensed the emotions around him, but the feedback was void. He searched aimlessly in the dust, his breathing becoming difficult. He took a towel out of his bag to cover his mouth and nose. Blinded and unable to see, he knelt down and groped around bit by bit. But apart from the uneven ground and some spider remains, he didn¡¯t find that small figure. Each time he sensed for emotions, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, without the slightest response. His heart slowly sank to the bottom, as if his eyes had lost their luster. Having lived in a boarding school since middle school, he had become accustomed to being alone, to darkness and solitude; at least, he thought he was. But ultimately, humans are social creatures, and he too sought friendship, attention, and someone to confide in and be a source of emotional support. He also felt envy, envying those who had friends to comfort them in their defeats, parents accompanying them on trips, and those who could cry and shout freely when saddened. In the end, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to make that step. Until. Until Qiuqiu came along, like a beam of light piercing through the darkness of his world. It was mischievous, coquettish, cute, and playful, making him smile. It gave him the feeling of being needed, of being relied upon. That feeling, which he never had in his nineteen years of life, really felt great! But now, he couldn¡¯t find it. ¡°Plop¡± A crisp sound of a stone hitting the ground rippled through the darkness. Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes instantly brightened with hope reignited. Shao Zifeng groped towards the source of the sound, his heart filled with both nervousness and anticipation. His trembling hand touched something, squeezed it; it was soft and somewhat rough. He moved his hand to the side, and Shao Zifeng forced his eyes open. In the lingering dust, a huge shadow loomed, with eight cold spider eyes gleaming with a dangerous red light. ¡°Not good!¡± An alarm bell rang in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart, and he rolled away on the spot. A spider leg, gleaming coldly, stabbed out from the dust, skimming past his body and impaling the ground as flying shards of rock cut his cheek. ¡°Hiss!¡± Catching the scent of blood, the wounded Split-eyed Demon Spider let out a hoarse roar, tinged with madness, and moved its spider legs, following the scent towards Shao Zifeng. Having dodged the attack, Shao Zifeng wiped the wound on his face with his hand, a hint of fear rising in his heart. As the dust from the explosion gradually cleared, visibility improved slightly. Shao Zifeng watched the Split-eyed Demon Spider, which dragged its five amputated legs and covered in wounds, and a surge of rage replaced the fear in his heart. ¡®Why are you still alive? I can¡¯t find Qiuqiu, how dare you live.¡¯ Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes turned red, veined with blood, as he¡¯d never felt such intense killing intent towards anything before. Rage and murderous thoughts clouded his mind, making him ignore the gap in strength between them; even though the creature was severely injured, it was not something he, a human, could handle alone. Shao Zifeng took a deep breath, lifted his right hand, and traced a line in the air. A semi-transparent Space Rift appeared, and then a simple Tang sword slowly flew out of the rift. He reached for the Tang sword, placed it at his waist, his right hand on the hilt, his eyes fixed on the Split-eyed Demon Spider. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Split-eyed Demon Spider let out an excited hiss. That tiny insect hadn¡¯t run away. Although its mouthparts were missing a piece and its voice was hoarse, it didn¡¯t care. Using its three relatively intact legs to drag its heavy body, it fervently moved toward its prey. ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°` Suddenly, the Split-Eyed Demon Spider paused, emitting an annoyed cry, ¡°Damn it, why are you retreating again.¡± Shao Zifeng pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword and retreated while carefully observing the Split-Eyed Demon Spider¡¯s wounds. Although he had gotten a bit carried away just now, wishing he could kill it immediately, he had decided, upon calming down, that he couldn¡¯t just act recklessly. The Split-Eyed Demon Spider was in a pitiable state at this point, barely supporting its massive body with three legs, two on the left and one on the right, with a visible gap in one of the legs. All the lumps on its back had burst open, leaving behind blood holes oozing green liquid. Seeing this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes lit up; without the strange eyes on its back, the spider¡¯s innate ability was as good as gone. The remaining three legs were not the attacking forelimbs, so they shouldn¡¯t pose a big problem. The only thing he needed to watch out for was the ¡®Death Ray¡¯ long-range attack, but with its mouthparts in such bad condition, whether it could still use the attack was questionable. As long as he was careful, dodging should be no problem. Later, he could take advantage of its difficulty moving, circling to its right side to target the gap in the leg there. When it lost its right leg support and toppled over, the bloody holes on its back would become its weak spot. A plan roughly formed in his mind, and he felt it had a very high feasibility. Shao Zifeng, his hand still pressing the sword hilt, started to make his way to the right of the spider, his eyes fixed on the weak spot on its leg, internally pondering the angle and force of his strike, wondering just how many times he would have to chop to sever it. Cursed his lack of skill in anything other than crude sword techniques¡ªotherwise, this might have been easier. The Split-Eyed Demon Spider was almost exploding with anger by now. Originally, when it saw the little bug standing still, it thought crawling over would lead to a delicious meal, and it even started considering which part would taste the best. But then, to its surprise, the little bug began to retreat. It hadn¡¯t gone far before it started circling around itself; already unsteady due to the missing legs on the right, making it spin in place was just mean. ¡°Hiss~ Qiuqiu¡± Struggling to maintain its balance, the Split-Eyed Demon Spider turned a few circles in place, uttering an impotent cry of rage that turned into a ¡°Qiuqiu¡± because of the leaking mouthparts. In the end, it decided to fight stillness with stillness and lay there motionless, not believing the little bug could do any harm. Shao Zifeng, seeing the motionless spider, became cautious, slowing his pace as he approached its right leg. ¡°Thump thump¡± He tapped it tentatively with the scabbard. The spider remained unmoved. Shao Zifeng took a deep breath and went over his plan once again in his mind; it was flawless, utterly perfect. What came next was likely to be a prolonged battle. As long as he could kill it to avenge Qiuqiu, he didn¡¯t mind the effort. His left hand held the scabbard while his right gripped the long handle of the Tang sword and pulled. It didn¡¯t budge. Shao Zifeng was dumbfounded. He looked at the hilt and the scabbard that didn¡¯t seem to fit together and was puzzled¡ªwhat was going on, why couldn¡¯t he draw the sword? After a few more tries, the hilt was still firmly attached to the scabbard. Damn it! While he remained motionless, the Split-Eyed Demon Spider, which had been immobile, seemed to get impatient, wanting to turn back to see what Shao Zifeng was doing. ¡°Crack¡± A grinding noise came from the damaged joint. When Shao Zifeng noticed the spider making a move, he tensed up and jumped back. Threads of red light appeared on his hand and were promptly absorbed by the hilt. ¡°Clang¡± A harsh sound of a sword rang out. Shao Zifeng felt the previously immovable hilt, pushed outward by Giant Power, almost slipping from his grasp. He hastily forced himself to strike toward the spider in front. As the hilt was ejected, dazzling threads of red light burst forth from the blade, too bright to look at directly, and the temperature around him skyrocketed. ¡°Hiss~ Sssss~¡± Shao Zifeng shut his eyes, hearing only the shrill shrieks, splattering juices, evaporating steam, and heavy thuds, until all around him fell silent. He twitched his nose slightly, smelling an unpleasant burnt scent. Shao Zifeng opened his eyes a slit, peeking cautiously at his surroundings before suddenly widening them in shock. In front of him, the massive body of the Split-Eyed Demon Spider was split in two, with steam rising from the smooth cut, twitching intermittently. Gazing through the bisected body of the spider on the ground, he saw a dark cut extending toward a castle structure in the abandoned amusement park. The moment Shao Zifeng laid eyes on the castle, a burst of fire erupted from the dome, slowly distorting, and then about a third of it slid off as if cleaved by a sword. Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes were wide with disbelief as he took in the spectacle, his mind struggling to comprehend. Did I cause all this? No, Shao Zifeng shook his head, dismissing the unrealistic thought from his mind. Then he looked down at the Tang sword¡­hilt Indeed, what he was now holding was just the hilt; the blade was nowhere to be found. If it wasn¡¯t the sword¡¯s fault, then it could only be¡­ Shao Zifeng lifted his left hand, observing the plain and dark scabbard attentively. Blue light flashed in his eyes. [Name]: Tang Horizontal Sword Sheath [Property]: Fire [Quality]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï [Condition]: Intact [Effect]: Energy Storage: When the sheath contains a sword, it can slowly absorb the holder¡¯s fire attribute elements and store them within the sheath. Upon drawing the sword, it releases all accumulated energy at once, transforming into a blade of light. [Description]: Hide the blade for ten years without a whisper, reveal it once and stir ghosts and gods. A gentleman carries his weapon, waiting for the right moment to act. So, what was the point of outsmarting myself? ¡°` Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Symbiosis (1) Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Symbiosis (1) As Shao Zifeng stepped out of the elevator, his figure appeared in a small alley. The alley was narrow but not old, and there was a street light every ten or so meters on the walls. Looking at the completely unfamiliar alley, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed at how the platform¡¯s exits and entrances were everywhere. ¡°Excuse me.¡± While Shao Zifeng was surveying the surroundings, a muffled voice sounded from behind him, seemingly a young man. ¡°Sorry,¡± Shao Zifeng moved aside, leaving space enough for one person, and turned with an apologetic smile. In the dim light of the alley, the newcomer was tall and thin, draped in an oversized black coat, which seemed ill-fitting. His right hand gripped the collar, pulling it up to cover most of his face. A cap, pulled low, hid the upper half of his face. He grunted softly, briskly passing by Shao Zifeng without raising his head, his steps hurried and his left arm swinging unnaturally. A faint smell of blood lingered at Shao Zifeng¡¯s nose. Shao Zifeng became vigilant, his body tensing, his fingers whitening around the grip of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± as he instinctively assumed a defense stance. The slender figure paused briefly, glanced sideways at Shao Zifeng, and then swiftly disappeared into the depths of the alley. Shao Zifeng watched the direction where the man had gone. His hair seemed to be silver? He then chuckled self-deprecatingly. So many things had happened recently that he felt almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The world couldn¡¯t be so bad that every stranger he met was a villain. If that were true, it would be too outrageous. Besides, in this world, it was common for people to have injuries. Shoving the memory of the man to the back of his mind, all he wanted now was to return home and sleep well after the exhausting few days. Checking the navigation on his phone, Shao Zifeng grimaced. The place where he had exited the elevator was at the boundary between Nanping District and Beixin District, and it was very far from his home. ¡­ ¡°Meow~¡± As soon as he opened the door, a white figure darted over, affectionately rubbing against Shao Zifeng¡¯s trouser legs. Qiuqiu was prompted by the meow, closely watching the annoying little pest that was the white cat. Shao Zifeng crouched and stroked the white cat twice; it narrowed its eyes and purred comfortably. Taking the opportunity to check the white cat¡¯s condition, which had returned to healthy, Shao Zifeng thought for a moment and decided to take the white cat back to its owner tonight. Although he really liked its touch, it ultimately belonged to someone else¡¯s family pet, and for most families, family pets were a member of the family, receiving a lot of emotional investment. Putting himself in their shoes, if he had lost Qiuqiu. Remembering the helplessness and aimlessness of the afternoon strengthened Shao Zifeng¡¯s resolve to return the white cat. He checked the White-headed Bulbul and the earth dog again. The bulbul¡¯s injuries had improved slightly, but its eyes still appeared numb and it sat quietly on the perch, silent. The earth dog, however, was much more lively, happily wagging its tail as though it wanted to come over and show affection. At that moment, it felt like it was being watched by a malevolent gaze. The dog stiffened, lifted its head, and saw Qiuqiu¡¯s almost smiling face. It quickly tucked its tail and scurried back to its doghouse, curling up and shivering. The spot where it had just stood was left with a puddle of yellow liquid. Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but know what had happened and smiled helplessly, placing Qiuqiu, who was holding the Elemental Egg, on his bed. Shao Zifeng placed ¡°Hidden Edge¡± and the so-called ¡°Ancient Breath Soil¡± on his computer desk, wanting to verify his idea. The closeness to the ¡°Ancient Breath Soil¡± excited the Elemental Egg once more; the entire egg began to tremble and intermittently emitted a bright light. ¡°Shhh~¡± The excited Elemental Egg instantly extinguished its fire and quietly nestled in Qiuqiu¡¯s arms, serene and harmonious as a painting. Shao Zifeng paid no heed to the two little ones, seizing the ¡°Hidden Edge¡± in his hands, examining it closely. The ancient, dark scabbard was about seventy centimeters long and five centimeters wide, wrapped in a layer of fish skin, evident from its multiple worn spots. The words ¡°Hidden Edge¡± were engraved on it, and upon close inspection, one could find traces of gold inlay, sadly worn with age and barely discernible. Gripping the long handle, he slowly drew the blade, emitting a faint friction sound. The gleaming blade flashed a cold light, unlike in the afternoon when it could not be drawn. After understanding the purpose of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± Shao Zifeng had been pondering how, besides nurturing the blade for long-term use as a trump card, he could maximize the benefit of ¡°Hidden Edge¡± after unleashing its blade light. Scanning the room, his eyes lit up when he found a suitable stone for testing the blade. He moved the artificial mountain from Qiuqiu¡¯s fish tank to the table, a model about twenty centimeters high, studded with raised small stones. Shao Zifeng drew out the Tang sword, holding it with both hands, his gaze locked on the artificial mountain. ¡°Shhh¡± A blaze enveloped his hands, the intense flame turning the blade quickly red, and the air around the reddened blade slightly distorted. ¡°Ha!¡± With a soft shout, Shao Zifeng gripped the sword and fiercely chopped down at the artificial mountain. ¡°Crack¡± Sparks flew, and a piece the size of a fingernail cap broke off the mountain, but the blade edge could not advance further, getting stuck. Struggling to pull the sword out, the mountain bore a slightly blackened sword mark, and Shao Zifeng shook his head slightly, undiscouraged. He then took ¡°Hidden Edge¡¯s¡± scabbard in hand and sheathed the Tang sword. With his left hand pressing the scabbard and his right hand holding the handle, he activated the fire element. A flash of red glinted on his hand and then vanished. Shao Zifeng¡¯s body trembled¡­ A tingling pleasure coursed through his body; he struggled not to make a sound, and after a moment, he recovered. Shao Zifeng glanced at Qiuqiu; no wonder it was so obsessed with the scabbard. Having infused nearly the same amount of fire element as before, Shao Zifeng took a deep breath. Flexing his right hand, he drew the sword, feeling a slight assistive push; the blade swiftly popped out of the scabbard, and riding this momentum, Shao Zifeng slanted the sword downward, a barely visible red gleam flowing along the blade. ¡°Click¡± A smooth cutting sound barely perceptible, a piece about three centimeters in size was effortlessly sliced off. Shao Zifeng looked at the smooth cut and cheered inwardly; his idea was indeed feasible. With clever usage, it could greatly offset the shortcomings of the Tang sword in actual combat. The Tang sword was born on the battlefield, gradually evolving into its present form over centuries of warfare, fundamentally distinct from the Fusang sword¡¯s evolution driven by maximizing damage. It could be said the Fusang sword is a derivative of the Tang sword. The Tang sword is a straight sword with a folded edge at the front, highly effective for chopping heavy armor but not for dragging and expanding cuts. The Fusang sword, in contrast, uses a slightly curved blade with an arc-shaped sharp edge, which decisively gives it a huge advantage in enlarging wounds. With the enhancement of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± the Tang sword in Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand not only strengthened its armor-breaking capability but also made it easy to drag and expand the wound after a cut. The only drawback was that after each strike, he needed to sheath the sword again for nurturing, which significantly slowed the pace of combat, often making it passive, but that was unavoidable. Sheathing the Tang sword, Shao Zifeng decided to start from the next day, not only to continue running and fitness training but to add chopping practice with the Tang sword, readying himself for emergencies. Throwing the knife to Qiuqiu, the armadillo lizard holding the Elemental Egg sneakily peeked and was immensely delighted. One claw held the knife handle, and another claw held the Elemental Egg. The familiar tingling sensation came from the handle¡­ ¡°Slurp¡± and licked the Elemental Egg once more. Qiuqiu felt that it must be the baldest, oops, the happiest armadillo lizard in the world. Ignoring Qiuqiu, who was lost in pleasure, Shao Zifeng turned his attention back to the so-called ¡®Ancient Breath Soil¡¯ on the computer desk. Poking the thing that looked oddly like jelly, the ¡®Ancient Breath Soil¡¯ wobbled a bit when poked. He leaned closer and sniffed it. Eh? There wasn¡¯t any strange smell, and there was even a hint of the fragrance of grass and trees. Unwilling to believe that his trans-world Golden Finger was really so crappy, he stared at it for a while longer, still unable to believe it. But reality delivered another harsh slap to his face, the few small blue dots in his peripheral vision still remained unmoved. Huh, crappy Golden Finger. ¡­ Shao Zifeng felt somewhat at a loss. From the Elemental Egg¡¯s reaction, this thing could very possibly be something valuable, but he was still unsure and dared not rashly use it on the Elemental Egg. After all, it was an Elemental Egg that might hatch a five-star quality pet, and if something went wrong, he¡¯d have nowhere to cry. After much deliberation, Shao Zifeng bit the bullet, took the Elemental Egg from Qiuqiu¡¯s resentful embrace, and decided to take a chance, high stakes¡­ The Elemental Egg, looking totally disheartened, didn¡¯t move at all, silently resigned to its fate and waited to be licked. Huh? It wasn¡¯t licked? Realizing its situation had changed with a different person beside it, the Elemental Egg immediately felt a surge of grievous emotions come over it, and Shao Zifeng, with a gentle smile on his face, prepared to comfort the little guy, bringing it fatherly warmth and care. Just then, another wave of longing emotion came from the Elemental Egg¡­ ¡°Money¡­money¡­¡± Fatherly Shao Zifeng¡¯s face darkened, expressionlessly he placed it directly on the jelly. You¡¯re on your own, you little money-grubber, I wonder who you learned that from¡­ That was what he thought, Shao Zifeng¡¯s inner drama was always rich, but really placing it on the jelly, he was still very worried. His eyes fixed intently on the Elemental Egg, ready to snatch it away at the first sign of trouble. One second¡­ Two seconds¡­ ¡­ One minute. Just as Shao Zifeng grew impatient, the Elemental Egg suddenly emitted a dim green light, scattering tiny green light spots, twinkling faintly, like stars, surrounding the Elemental Egg, and then settling on the gelatinous substance below. The green glow on the Elemental Egg grew brighter, and the semi-transparent gelatinous jelly below slowly turned into a light green color, appearing as if it had come to life, stretching out mysterious tentacles to wrap around the Elemental Egg. At that moment, the little blue dots in Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes finally started to spin. The gel encapsulating the Elemental Egg emitted an increasingly bright green light, masking the light from the fluorescent lamp and blanketing the entire room in a greenish hue. Qiuqiu felt the air brimming with the wood element and comfortably stretched, covering its head with its tail and curling up into a ball before sinking into a deep sleep. The white cat¡¯s eyes reflected the green luminescence, emitting slight meowing sounds, and it collapsed on the ground as if it had inhaled catnip. Rare emotional fluctuations appeared in the eyes of the White-headed Bulbul, its numb and dim eyes flashed differently, its rigid body slightly relaxed, and it tucked its head under its wings, closing its dry eyes. The earth dog had long been lying on its back, mouth open and tongue out, making muffled sounds as it dreamt of who knows what. Even Shao Zifeng felt his body loosen considerably, and the bruises from several days of combat slowly healed, the blue specks in his eyes spinning faster and faster. At that moment¡­ A night breeze blew. Observing the changes attentively, Shao Zifeng shrank his neck and turned his head only to realize the window was open. He quickly turned around to close the window and draw the curtains; the commotion was a bit too loud. With his cautious nature, he would never allow anything that might cause him trouble to occur. After completing all this, Shao Zifeng was somewhat speechless. The blue specks in his peripheral vision now hung still like dead fish, completely motionless. ??? What use are you to me? Is a 360¡ã scan without any dead angles really that difficult? Must I be directly facing you for it to work! Really, this Golden Finger is so annoying. When Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze returned to the gel, the blue specks came to life again and started spinning wildly. ¡°Buzz~¡± A burst of intense green light erupted, and Shao Zifeng quickly closed his eyes, plunging into complete darkness. ¡°Thump-thump~¡± He faintly heard the rhythm of life around him; in his dark vision, numerous green specks danced in the darkness, seemingly outlining some figure. Time passed unknowingly, and the figures outlined by the specks unfolded like a magnificent scroll, revealing a wonderful world before him. A noble deer, sculpted by lines, majestic and slender with a sense of power, its enormous antlers like a great tree, walked through the mountains also outlined by lines, as if a spirit of the wilderness. Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes, captivated, followed its tracks. As the deer passed a towering ancient tree, it suddenly disappeared, never to be seen again. Shao Zifeng felt a sense of loss in his heart, wanting to follow and see, but he was as if frozen, unable to move an inch. ¡°Tee-hee~¡± At that moment, a silvery, childlike, melodious laugh came from behind the ancient tree, ethereal and lingering. Before Shao Zifeng could listen attentively, a figure outlined in a faint glow lunged towards him, shifting forms as it approached, seeming like a giant deer rushing towards him. ¡°Boom~¡± At the moment the sharp point of the deer¡¯s antler pierced his forehead, the darkness before him shattered like glass, and the rivers and mountains outlined by lines also vanished altogether. Shao Zifeng¡¯s face was a picture of shock and confusion, recalling everything he had just seen, at times blurry, at times clear; the majestic image of the deer, in particular, seemed etched into his mind, impossible to erase. But the girl who emitted that ethereal laughter was like a fog, indistinct. Suddenly, a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu overwhelmed him, the deer¡­ the girl¡­ Could it be¡­ that was ¡°Yao,¡± known as the Trickster? Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Free Trade Zone (1/2) Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Free Trade Zone (1/2) ¡°Ding~¡± Shao Zifeng flicked the blade of the Tang sword in his hand, producing a crisp ringing sound. The blade was straight and gleaming, with a narrow edge and a thick spine. Flipping the sword over, it reflected a chilling, harsh cold light. Shao Zifeng nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the young man playing games behind the counter and asked, ¡°Is this the best knife you¡¯ve got here?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± The young man, not even lifting his head, moved his fingers rapidly across the screen. Then the screen turned black and white, and he cursed, ¡°Damn it, freaking Yao, killed me ten times, face me in a solo if you dare!¡± Putting down his phone, he looked up at Shao Zifeng and thought, huh? This handsome guy looks kind of familiar. His mood, already sour from being killed ten times by Yao, soured even further as he thought jealously, ¡°You¡¯re just a tiny bit handsomer than me. As long as I don¡¯t look at you, you¡¯re not as handsome as I am!¡± With this thought, the clerk quickly lowered his head and grumbled with his phone in hand, ¡°All our Tang swords are mass-produced. Over there we have a Fuso sword crafted by a master, ¡®Yokai Village Wife.¡¯ Want to check it out?¡± Glancing at the straight scabbard of the Tang sword in his hand and then at the somewhat curved Fuso sword, Shao Zifeng realized it wouldn¡¯t fit either. Shao Zifeng was puzzled. This clerk wasn¡¯t fond of dealing with people, that¡¯s one thing, but why did he look at him and then turn all gloomy, giving off an air of deep melancholy as if black energy was radiating off of him. Shao Zifeng sheathed the Tang sword into its ¡®Hidden Edge¡¯ scabbard and tossed the original scabbard to the young man. After swiping his card, he turned and left, not wanting to stay around someone exuding so much negative energy. The young clerk was startled, glancing at the corner where the training sword was sheathed in its scabbard. It was him! ¡­ Cradling the sleeping Qiuqiu, Shao Zifeng aimlessly strolled around the trading area. The excitement from the beast fighting arena was still roaring, as if the people here had endless passion to vent. At the potion store, he had the Beast Doctor take a look at Qiuqiu¡¯s condition. The conclusion was that there was nothing seriously wrong, just to buy some internal and external healing medicine for it. Thinking back to the old doctor¡¯s earnest advice, ¡°Your dog-like beast isn¡¯t simple, huh?¡± he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Good thing Qiuqiu was asleep, or it might have died from anger. His recent experiences had taught him the importance of healing medicine. He stocked up on quite a few healing and nutrition products from the potion store just in case. When he reached the far corner of the trading area, Shao Zifeng unexpectedly discovered a free trading zone, somewhat similar to a ¡®black market.¡¯ Many Combat Training Masters encountered all sorts of strange and curious things during their explorations in the wilderness. Some were ores containing elemental energy, some various herbs, and most were a bunch of unidentifiable items. Of course, there were always those trying to pass off fish eyes as pearls, like the uncle who claimed his tape recorder contained a ¡®Ghostly¡¯ mutant creature, and those on the app selling the ¡®White Emperor¡¯s Holy Sword,¡¯ making up weird and bizarre origins for their goods to scam people. If they managed to sell them, they profited, and even if not, they didn¡¯t lose anything. The trades here were spontaneous, allowing for payment in cash or barter. The platform didn¡¯t guarantee any transactions, leaving buyers to face their own profits or losses. Naturally, even if you bought a fake, you couldn¡¯t make trouble here; that was the bare minimum rule. Stepping into the free trading zone, he barely saw a soul. Individual glass cabinets were neatly lined up on the silver-white floor. The glass cabinets were rented out by the platform, which charged a fee for each use. After placing your items inside, as long as the person remained on the underground platform, they could go anywhere for entertainment. When a buyer took interest in an item, the seller would receive a notification to come for the transaction. Shao Zifeng walked alongside the glass cabinets, curiously examining the goods inside. Under each item was an electronic display screen with the seller¡¯s description of the goods, the price, or the item they wished to trade for. At this point, it all came down to the seller¡¯s storytelling skills, to see who could spin the most outrageous tales, like¡­ [White Emperor¡¯s Holy Sword]Description:¡­ Recognizing this familiar name made Shao Zifeng feel awful. Without looking back, he moved on to the next cabinet. These guys were really pushing their luck¡­ [Boss Chen¡¯s Red Radio]Description:¡­ Trying to fool ghosts? Seeing the cabinet full of radios and tapes, Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. It looked like it was all his acquaintances¡¯ stalls. With a dark expression, he was almost ready to turn around and leave the free trade zone. Fortunately, the next few items looked more normal. [Name]: Weak Elemental Ore [Attribute]: Thunder [Quality]: None [Condition]: Damaged [Description]: The most lackluster elemental ore, often leftovers from abandoned mines, with no value for use. Protected under a special glass cover on the shelf, a pile of fragments no different from ordinary rocks was displayed. The clearly visible marks from mining were the first time Shao Zifeng had seen the legendary elemental ore. It¡¯s said that wild mutant creatures directly absorb the energy from elemental ores to enhance their strength, but this method is too crude and destructively slow, causing most of the energy to dissipate. Therefore, after years of research, the nation refined the elemental minerals, combining them with some herbs to make energy potions, which not only maximize their efficacy but also include various flavors that pet creatures enjoy, greatly increasing the utilization rate of the elemental minerals. Looking at the ores in the display, Shao Zifeng shook his head, pitying them for being of the lowest quality, practically useless. The advertisements on the screen were all bombastic, seemingly only intended to deceive newcomers. Because of his laggy Golden Finger, he had been here for quite a while and had only just looked through most of it. It has to be said that although there were no particularly eye-catching items, the overall quality was much higher than that of the so-called ¡®black market¡¯. Take, for example, the energy potion at this stall being sold for 1,000 yuan a piece, with a purity of only about 60%, diluting two potions to sell as three, but it was still much more honest than diluting one into fifty. After kicking away Lai Si¡¯er, who he once thought of as upright, he gave a thumbs up to the current stall owner, a paragon of industry integrity. ¡­ ¡°Buzz~¡± ¡°Ying?¡± Qiuqiu, who was sleeping, was suddenly awakened and curiously looked at the Elemental Egg in its arms, which was glowing. After hesitating for a moment. ¡°Slick¡± It sneakily licked it with its tongue, and its eyes lit up. The Elemental Egg trembled, its light flickering urgently a few times. Qiuqiu stealthily glanced at Shao Zifeng, and noticing that he hadn¡¯t paid attention, licked it again, squinting its eyes like a little fox that had just stolen a taste of fish. The weak and pitiful Elemental Egg trembled again, its glow becoming intermittent. ¡°Ying~¡± ¡°Tuantuan smells so good~¡± Qiuqiu held the Elemental Egg tightly, occasionally giving it a lick, intoxicated. The Elemental Egg had given up struggling, its dim light flickering like it was about to run out of power, on the verge of crying. ¡°Hmm, Qiuqiu, what are you doing?¡± Qiuqiu, which had been licking contentedly, tensed up upon hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, tightly hugged the Elemental Egg, and looked at him with innocent eyes as if to say, ¡°I have no idea at all.¡± ¡°Stop it, hand over that thing in your arms to me.¡± Qiuqiu reluctantly looked at ¡°Tuantuan¡± in its arms, then at ¡°Dandan¡± who was reaching out, gave it one more lick, and unwillingly handed it to Shao Zifeng. It turned around in his arms, covering its head with a towel, not wanting to deal with him anymore. Looking at Qiuqiu in his arms throwing a small tantrum, Shao Zifeng helplessly stroked it twice and then said, ¡°This is going to be your partner in the future, you can¡¯t bully it.¡± Qiuqiu, enjoying the stroking, suddenly petrified upon hearing this. A partner? What kind of partner? Like that dead cat competing for favor, that annoying brat? Qiuqiu fell into profound contemplation about its life. Glancing at ¡°Tuantuan¡± in Shao Zifeng¡¯s hands, trembling. If ¡®partners¡¯ all smelled this good, it wouldn¡¯t be so hard to accept after all. Thinking this, teardrops glistened as they fell from the corner of Qiuqiu¡¯s mouth¡­ Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 "Ancient Breath Soil Chapter 50: Chapter 50 ¡°Ancient Breath Soil After escaping from Qiuqiu¡¯s clutches, the Elemental Egg¡¯s panic subsided slightly. Shao Zifeng looked at the Elemental Egg in his hand, emitting a faint glow, and thought to himself that the little guy must have discovered something beneficial to itself, just like how Qiuqiu previously found the ¡®Concealed Edge¡¯ scabbard in the ¡°black market.¡± Considering this possibility, Shao Zifeng felt a surge of excitement. The stunning slash of Concealed Edge had left a deep impression on him. He closed his eyes slightly and concentrated. After a moment, a string of intermittent emotions enveloped his mind, very weak¡­ Translated, it meant: ¡°Want¡­ I want¡­¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s face darkened, feeling that the little guy¡¯s thoughts weren¡¯t all that healthy. It seemed timely prenatal education was needed to correct this, or else it would be trouble when it grew up. In this free trading zone where people occasionally passed by, he dared not keep the Elemental Egg in his hand for too long, fearing someone with intentions might covet it. So he tucked the weightless Elemental Egg into his pocket. Once again, he closed his eyes slightly, sensing the emotions of the little guy while constantly rotating his body. When he turned to a certain direction, the little guy¡¯s emotions suddenly intensified. Shao Zifeng abruptly opened his eyes, looking at the glass cabinet before him. There it is! Huh, what¡¯s this? It looked a bit like something from Old Eight¡¯s secret recipe. In the glass cabinet before him lay an object that was deep brown and seemingly oozing, quietly resting under the light. Upon closer inspection, it actually didn¡¯t resemble that much; it was a slightly transparent and gelatinous suspicious substance. But strangely, the blue light spots in his peripheral vision remained motionless. Usually, this happens because the target has not a hint of energy, but¡­ Shao Zifeng took two more steps forward. The closer he got to the glass cabinet, the stronger the little guy¡¯s yearning grew. The whole egg¡­ the whole Elemental Egg trembled with excitement, as if it wanted to break free from Shao Zifeng¡¯s grip and rush into the embrace of the oozing object. Ha, indeed a crummy Golden Finger. Shao Zifeng calmed down and soothed the Elemental Egg with his [Empathy] ability, reasoning with it while starting prenatal education. He had to correct the little guy¡¯s thought process, not let it repeat the mistake! Shao Zifeng earnestly imparted that it should buy things it desired with money, not just snatch them, although he wasn¡¯t sure if it could understand. Thanks to Shao Zifeng¡¯s patient guidance, the little guy finally calmed down, but before Shao Zifeng had a chance to check the information left by the seller, the little guy sent another surge of yearning emotions. Translated as follows: ¡°Money¡­ want money¡­¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s face stiffened, and the corners of his mouth twitched twice. Oh no, it¡¯s over. He felt that this attempt at prenatal education wasn¡¯t very successful, but he still believed his teachings could be salvaged! Then, a man and an egg began to communicate. ¡°It¡¯s for buying, you must buy things you like!¡± ¡°Money¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Trade! Barter goods for goods!¡± ¡°Money¡­¡± ¡­ Well! It seems that he really isn¡¯t cut out for education. He simply tossed the Elemental Egg into Qiuqiu¡¯s arms, tired of its incessant demands for money. Qiuqiu, pondering what ¡°companion¡± meant and whether ¡°companion¡± was edible, smelled the familiar scent and showed delight in its eyes. It happily nudged Shao Zifeng with its little head, convinced that ¡®Eggy¡¯ still loved it, and then¡­ ¡°Shiilu¡± The Elemental Egg trembled. ¡­ With the Elemental Egg¡¯s disturbances finally ceased, Shao Zifeng could settle down and watch how the seller blew his own trumpet¡­ um, that is, how he introduced the item. [Ancient Breath Soil]: My name is Tai Xuan the True One. Intelligent from a young age, it is said that on the day of my birth, the gates of Heaven opened wide, divine music wafted through the air, colorful clouds filled the sky, and nine dragons drawing a coffin flew out from the Heavenly Gates¡­ Later, I followed the True One with the Overbearing Saber to cultivate, and after twenty years, I achieved greatness¡­ A hundred years rushed by in the blink of an eye¡­ Traveling through mountains and rivers¡­ In Su City¡¯s Wutong Mountain, I discovered this Ancient Breath Soil¡­ Now I seek one fated person to gift it to, not for 99998, not for 9998, just for 998, take the Ancient Breath Soil home. Contact number: 183XXXX3234. Shao Zifeng looked at the screen with an expressionless face, while inside, his mind was full of question marks. Is this guy that much of a pretentious teen? So after all that inane babbling, what exactly did you introduce? And do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the word ¡°gift¡±? Taking a deep breath and suppressing the urge to ridicule, Shao Zifeng pulled out his phone and made a call to the seller. ¡°Hello, dude~, who¡¯s this?¡± A young man¡¯s voice came through, the type that sounded overly familiar. Shao Zifeng¡¯s lips twitched, and in the end, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to utter the words ¡°to buy the Ancient Breath Soil.¡± Too cringey for my taste! Does Shao here look like he has no dignity!? ¡°You who¡¯s this, speak up quick¡­¡± The seller seemed anxious since Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t respond immediately, and then his tone changed abruptly, ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re not the chick from yesterday, are you? I told you already, I¡¯m in it for the fun, not the feelings, you can¡¯t keep hounding me, I¡­¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Shao Zifeng, hearing him ramble more absurdly, hastily interrupted to prevent any more scandalous words. But the seller, hearing a male voice, reacted even more vigorously, his voice rising an octave, ¡°Fuck, fuck, you¡¯re not the dude from the day before yesterday, are you? Bro, we agreed, it was just a play, scratching each other¡¯s backs, you got the money, I got the moves, and besides, I¡¯m not professionally that, my sexual orientation¡­¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s face went completely dark; what in the world is all this mess. ¡°I¡¯m here to purchase your ¡®Ancient Breath Soil,''¡± Shao Zifeng said stiffly, forcing the words through clenched teeth, truly¡­ so embarrassing. ¡°Oh, you should¡¯ve said so earlier, you¡¯re here for the 998 right, just wait a sec, I¡¯ll be right there¡­ really thought it was that dude, I was about to push him off¡­¡± Shao Zifeng hung up the phone directly. What kind of weirdos has he been meeting, one after another. It seems like, ever since he came to this timeline, he¡¯d never encountered a normal person¡­ right? No, that¡¯s not right, Miss Chen Yixin is pretty normal! Before long, a refreshing young man with a buzz cut came over, wearing a simple white tank top, distressed jeans, and flip-flops, exuding a clean and sunny vibe. ¡°Hello, hello, I¡¯m Tai Xuan, the one who¡¯s selling the 998, right.¡± Tai Xuan extended his right hand very familiarly and grinned. Shao Zifeng hesitated, then, with his usual practiced fake smile, shook his hand. ¡°You came to the right person, let me tell you, this 998 is the only piece like this in our shop, if you go anywhere else¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just do the transaction, I¡¯m in a hurry,¡± Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t let him finish, interrupting with an apologetic smile. Caught off guard, Tai Xuan grinned and felt no embarrassment, entered a code to unlock the glass cabinet, and took out the stuff that looked somewhat like Oreos. Shao Zifeng took out the savings card from the platform, swiped away 998 on his POS terminal, took the Oreos-like item packed in a bag from Tai Xuan, said a quick goodbye, and turned to leave. Tai Xuan stood in front of the glass cabinet, watching Shao Zifeng disappearing into the transaction area. After a moment, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Hello.¡± A voice of a magnetic middle-aged uncle came through. ¡°Uncle Two, that thing left by the divine deer was sold,¡± Tai Xuan reported respectfully over the phone. ¡°Oh,¡± Uncle Two responded indifferently and fell silent. ¡°Uncle Two, do you want me to¡­¡± Seeing that Uncle Two did not respond, Tai Xuan hastily asked, while subconsciously rubbing his neck, which seemed to be a habitual gesture. ¡°Little Five, remember that person¡¯s face and come home. The old master was asking just yesterday why you hadn¡¯t visited him,¡± Uncle Two interrupted before he could finish, knowing all too well the style of his nephew; though the old master liked him very much, he himself felt that his nephew was too impulsive. ¡°But Uncle Two¡­¡± Tai Xuan seemed anxious. ¡°Listen, go home first, a big quake is coming to Su City, we¡¯ll discuss things after it blows over,¡± Uncle Two seemed not to have heard his nephew¡¯s words, his magnetic voice continuing, ¡°You¡¯re not young anymore, can¡¯t keep fooling around outside, settle down, and prepare for next year¡¯s ¡®National College Student Cup,¡¯ let that thing be for now, it¡¯s just an object without any elemental fluctuations after all.¡± ¡°Yes, Uncle Two,¡± Tai Xuan said reluctantly. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Symbiosis (1) Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Symbiosis (1) As Shao Zifeng stepped out of the elevator, his figure appeared in a small alley. The alley was narrow but not old, and there was a street light every ten or so meters on the walls. Looking at the completely unfamiliar alley, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed at how the platform¡¯s exits and entrances were everywhere. ¡°Excuse me.¡± While Shao Zifeng was surveying the surroundings, a muffled voice sounded from behind him, seemingly a young man. ¡°Sorry,¡± Shao Zifeng moved aside, leaving space enough for one person, and turned with an apologetic smile. In the dim light of the alley, the newcomer was tall and thin, draped in an oversized black coat, which seemed ill-fitting. His right hand gripped the collar, pulling it up to cover most of his face. A cap, pulled low, hid the upper half of his face. He grunted softly, briskly passing by Shao Zifeng without raising his head, his steps hurried and his left arm swinging unnaturally. A faint smell of blood lingered at Shao Zifeng¡¯s nose. Shao Zifeng became vigilant, his body tensing, his fingers whitening around the grip of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± as he instinctively assumed a defense stance. The slender figure paused briefly, glanced sideways at Shao Zifeng, and then swiftly disappeared into the depths of the alley. Shao Zifeng watched the direction where the man had gone. His hair seemed to be silver? He then chuckled self-deprecatingly. So many things had happened recently that he felt almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The world couldn¡¯t be so bad that every stranger he met was a villain. If that were true, it would be too outrageous. Besides, in this world, it was common for people to have injuries. Shoving the memory of the man to the back of his mind, all he wanted now was to return home and sleep well after the exhausting few days. Checking the navigation on his phone, Shao Zifeng grimaced. The place where he had exited the elevator was at the boundary between Nanping District and Beixin District, and it was very far from his home. ¡­ ¡°Meow~¡± As soon as he opened the door, a white figure darted over, affectionately rubbing against Shao Zifeng¡¯s trouser legs. Qiuqiu was prompted by the meow, closely watching the annoying little pest that was the white cat. Shao Zifeng crouched and stroked the white cat twice; it narrowed its eyes and purred comfortably. Taking the opportunity to check the white cat¡¯s condition, which had returned to healthy, Shao Zifeng thought for a moment and decided to take the white cat back to its owner tonight. Although he really liked its touch, it ultimately belonged to someone else¡¯s family pet, and for most families, family pets were a member of the family, receiving a lot of emotional investment. Putting himself in their shoes, if he had lost Qiuqiu. Remembering the helplessness and aimlessness of the afternoon strengthened Shao Zifeng¡¯s resolve to return the white cat. He checked the White-headed Bulbul and the earth dog again. The bulbul¡¯s injuries had improved slightly, but its eyes still appeared numb and it sat quietly on the perch, silent. The earth dog, however, was much more lively, happily wagging its tail as though it wanted to come over and show affection. At that moment, it felt like it was being watched by a malevolent gaze. The dog stiffened, lifted its head, and saw Qiuqiu¡¯s almost smiling face. It quickly tucked its tail and scurried back to its doghouse, curling up and shivering. The spot where it had just stood was left with a puddle of yellow liquid. Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but know what had happened and smiled helplessly, placing Qiuqiu, who was holding the Elemental Egg, on his bed. Shao Zifeng placed ¡°Hidden Edge¡± and the so-called ¡°Ancient Breath Soil¡± on his computer desk, wanting to verify his idea. The closeness to the ¡°Ancient Breath Soil¡± excited the Elemental Egg once more; the entire egg began to tremble and intermittently emitted a bright light. ¡°Shhh~¡± The excited Elemental Egg instantly extinguished its fire and quietly nestled in Qiuqiu¡¯s arms, serene and harmonious as a painting. Shao Zifeng paid no heed to the two little ones, seizing the ¡°Hidden Edge¡± in his hands, examining it closely. The ancient, dark scabbard was about seventy centimeters long and five centimeters wide, wrapped in a layer of fish skin, evident from its multiple worn spots. The words ¡°Hidden Edge¡± were engraved on it, and upon close inspection, one could find traces of gold inlay, sadly worn with age and barely discernible. Gripping the long handle, he slowly drew the blade, emitting a faint friction sound. The gleaming blade flashed a cold light, unlike in the afternoon when it could not be drawn. After understanding the purpose of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± Shao Zifeng had been pondering how, besides nurturing the blade for long-term use as a trump card, he could maximize the benefit of ¡°Hidden Edge¡± after unleashing its blade light. Scanning the room, his eyes lit up when he found a suitable stone for testing the blade. He moved the artificial mountain from Qiuqiu¡¯s fish tank to the table, a model about twenty centimeters high, studded with raised small stones. Shao Zifeng drew out the Tang sword, holding it with both hands, his gaze locked on the artificial mountain. ¡°Shhh¡± A blaze enveloped his hands, the intense flame turning the blade quickly red, and the air around the reddened blade slightly distorted. ¡°Ha!¡± With a soft shout, Shao Zifeng gripped the sword and fiercely chopped down at the artificial mountain. ¡°Crack¡± Sparks flew, and a piece the size of a fingernail cap broke off the mountain, but the blade edge could not advance further, getting stuck. Struggling to pull the sword out, the mountain bore a slightly blackened sword mark, and Shao Zifeng shook his head slightly, undiscouraged. He then took ¡°Hidden Edge¡¯s¡± scabbard in hand and sheathed the Tang sword. With his left hand pressing the scabbard and his right hand holding the handle, he activated the fire element. A flash of red glinted on his hand and then vanished. Shao Zifeng¡¯s body trembled¡­ A tingling pleasure coursed through his body; he struggled not to make a sound, and after a moment, he recovered. Shao Zifeng glanced at Qiuqiu; no wonder it was so obsessed with the scabbard. Having infused nearly the same amount of fire element as before, Shao Zifeng took a deep breath. Flexing his right hand, he drew the sword, feeling a slight assistive push; the blade swiftly popped out of the scabbard, and riding this momentum, Shao Zifeng slanted the sword downward, a barely visible red gleam flowing along the blade. ¡°Click¡± A smooth cutting sound barely perceptible, a piece about three centimeters in size was effortlessly sliced off. Shao Zifeng looked at the smooth cut and cheered inwardly; his idea was indeed feasible. With clever usage, it could greatly offset the shortcomings of the Tang sword in actual combat. The Tang sword was born on the battlefield, gradually evolving into its present form over centuries of warfare, fundamentally distinct from the Fusang sword¡¯s evolution driven by maximizing damage. It could be said the Fusang sword is a derivative of the Tang sword. The Tang sword is a straight sword with a folded edge at the front, highly effective for chopping heavy armor but not for dragging and expanding cuts. The Fusang sword, in contrast, uses a slightly curved blade with an arc-shaped sharp edge, which decisively gives it a huge advantage in enlarging wounds. With the enhancement of ¡°Hidden Edge,¡± the Tang sword in Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand not only strengthened its armor-breaking capability but also made it easy to drag and expand the wound after a cut. The only drawback was that after each strike, he needed to sheath the sword again for nurturing, which significantly slowed the pace of combat, often making it passive, but that was unavoidable. Sheathing the Tang sword, Shao Zifeng decided to start from the next day, not only to continue running and fitness training but to add chopping practice with the Tang sword, readying himself for emergencies. Throwing the knife to Qiuqiu, the armadillo lizard holding the Elemental Egg sneakily peeked and was immensely delighted. One claw held the knife handle, and another claw held the Elemental Egg. The familiar tingling sensation came from the handle¡­ ¡°Slurp¡± and licked the Elemental Egg once more. Qiuqiu felt that it must be the baldest, oops, the happiest armadillo lizard in the world. Ignoring Qiuqiu, who was lost in pleasure, Shao Zifeng turned his attention back to the so-called ¡®Ancient Breath Soil¡¯ on the computer desk. Poking the thing that looked oddly like jelly, the ¡®Ancient Breath Soil¡¯ wobbled a bit when poked. He leaned closer and sniffed it. Eh? There wasn¡¯t any strange smell, and there was even a hint of the fragrance of grass and trees. Unwilling to believe that his trans-world Golden Finger was really so crappy, he stared at it for a while longer, still unable to believe it. But reality delivered another harsh slap to his face, the few small blue dots in his peripheral vision still remained unmoved. Huh, crappy Golden Finger. ¡­ Shao Zifeng felt somewhat at a loss. From the Elemental Egg¡¯s reaction, this thing could very possibly be something valuable, but he was still unsure and dared not rashly use it on the Elemental Egg. After all, it was an Elemental Egg that might hatch a five-star quality pet, and if something went wrong, he¡¯d have nowhere to cry. After much deliberation, Shao Zifeng bit the bullet, took the Elemental Egg from Qiuqiu¡¯s resentful embrace, and decided to take a chance, high stakes¡­ The Elemental Egg, looking totally disheartened, didn¡¯t move at all, silently resigned to its fate and waited to be licked. Huh? It wasn¡¯t licked? Realizing its situation had changed with a different person beside it, the Elemental Egg immediately felt a surge of grievous emotions come over it, and Shao Zifeng, with a gentle smile on his face, prepared to comfort the little guy, bringing it fatherly warmth and care. Just then, another wave of longing emotion came from the Elemental Egg¡­ ¡°Money¡­money¡­¡± Fatherly Shao Zifeng¡¯s face darkened, expressionlessly he placed it directly on the jelly. You¡¯re on your own, you little money-grubber, I wonder who you learned that from¡­ That was what he thought, Shao Zifeng¡¯s inner drama was always rich, but really placing it on the jelly, he was still very worried. His eyes fixed intently on the Elemental Egg, ready to snatch it away at the first sign of trouble. One second¡­ Two seconds¡­ ¡­ One minute. Just as Shao Zifeng grew impatient, the Elemental Egg suddenly emitted a dim green light, scattering tiny green light spots, twinkling faintly, like stars, surrounding the Elemental Egg, and then settling on the gelatinous substance below. The green glow on the Elemental Egg grew brighter, and the semi-transparent gelatinous jelly below slowly turned into a light green color, appearing as if it had come to life, stretching out mysterious tentacles to wrap around the Elemental Egg. At that moment, the little blue dots in Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes finally started to spin. The gel encapsulating the Elemental Egg emitted an increasingly bright green light, masking the light from the fluorescent lamp and blanketing the entire room in a greenish hue. Qiuqiu felt the air brimming with the wood element and comfortably stretched, covering its head with its tail and curling up into a ball before sinking into a deep sleep. The white cat¡¯s eyes reflected the green luminescence, emitting slight meowing sounds, and it collapsed on the ground as if it had inhaled catnip. Rare emotional fluctuations appeared in the eyes of the White-headed Bulbul, its numb and dim eyes flashed differently, its rigid body slightly relaxed, and it tucked its head under its wings, closing its dry eyes. The earth dog had long been lying on its back, mouth open and tongue out, making muffled sounds as it dreamt of who knows what. Even Shao Zifeng felt his body loosen considerably, and the bruises from several days of combat slowly healed, the blue specks in his eyes spinning faster and faster. At that moment¡­ A night breeze blew. Observing the changes attentively, Shao Zifeng shrank his neck and turned his head only to realize the window was open. He quickly turned around to close the window and draw the curtains; the commotion was a bit too loud. With his cautious nature, he would never allow anything that might cause him trouble to occur. After completing all this, Shao Zifeng was somewhat speechless. The blue specks in his peripheral vision now hung still like dead fish, completely motionless. ??? What use are you to me? Is a 360¡ã scan without any dead angles really that difficult? Must I be directly facing you for it to work! Really, this Golden Finger is so annoying. When Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze returned to the gel, the blue specks came to life again and started spinning wildly. ¡°Buzz~¡± A burst of intense green light erupted, and Shao Zifeng quickly closed his eyes, plunging into complete darkness. ¡°Thump-thump~¡± He faintly heard the rhythm of life around him; in his dark vision, numerous green specks danced in the darkness, seemingly outlining some figure. Time passed unknowingly, and the figures outlined by the specks unfolded like a magnificent scroll, revealing a wonderful world before him. A noble deer, sculpted by lines, majestic and slender with a sense of power, its enormous antlers like a great tree, walked through the mountains also outlined by lines, as if a spirit of the wilderness. Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes, captivated, followed its tracks. As the deer passed a towering ancient tree, it suddenly disappeared, never to be seen again. Shao Zifeng felt a sense of loss in his heart, wanting to follow and see, but he was as if frozen, unable to move an inch. ¡°Tee-hee~¡± At that moment, a silvery, childlike, melodious laugh came from behind the ancient tree, ethereal and lingering. Before Shao Zifeng could listen attentively, a figure outlined in a faint glow lunged towards him, shifting forms as it approached, seeming like a giant deer rushing towards him. ¡°Boom~¡± At the moment the sharp point of the deer¡¯s antler pierced his forehead, the darkness before him shattered like glass, and the rivers and mountains outlined by lines also vanished altogether. Shao Zifeng¡¯s face was a picture of shock and confusion, recalling everything he had just seen, at times blurry, at times clear; the majestic image of the deer, in particular, seemed etched into his mind, impossible to erase. But the girl who emitted that ethereal laughter was like a fog, indistinct. Suddenly, a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu overwhelmed him, the deer¡­ the girl¡­ Could it be¡­ that was ¡°Yao,¡± known as the Trickster? Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Symbiosis (2) Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Symbiosis (2) Thinking of that woman, Shao Zifeng shivered inexplicably, took a deep breath, and tossed that thought to the back of his mind. Huh? Why had the air suddenly become so fresh? It was different from the way the white cat purified the air; it now felt to Shao Zifeng as if he were in the midst of mountain woods. Having just emerged from the illusion, Shao Zifeng was still a little dazed, feeling that something was not quite right. Why had the Elemental Egg stopped glowing, and why was everything in the room so verdantly green? Startled into alertness, Shao Zifeng suddenly realized what was happening, his pupils contracting in shock. Before him, the small but tidy rental room had sprouted all sorts of flowers and plants, as if a master gardener had intricately designed a botanical scenery room. The wooden computer desk housed the Elemental Egg, cradled in a nest made from a vine plant. It radiated a mist-like glow, and the vine¡¯s leaves swayed subtly in the light, basking in the nourishment of the wood element. On the adjacent metal single bed, vines entwined around the legs and the headboard, where clusters of white blossoms in full bloom exuded an intoxicating fragrance. Plants resembling morning glories draped down from the curtains, their lush leaves swaying without wind, dotted with small purple flowers, their petals appearing to have dew on them, sparkling under the daylight lamp with a crystal luster. The snake cage and the walls were covered with tiny green mosses, and Qiuqiu¡¯s fish tank had been transformed into a rainforest display tank. Even from the cracks in the floor where the earth dog had urinated, a few mushrooms had grown. The air in the entire room was fresh and slightly cool after the rain, as if one were in a secluded mountain forest. Stunned, Shao Zifeng gazed at his room, momentarily at a loss for words. It was beautiful, indeed beautiful¡­ If a girl with dreams of being a princess saw this, she would definitely scream. The key point was, he wasn¡¯t a burly man with a girlish heart. To him, who profoundly disliked hassle, this was a colossal headache. So how was he supposed to manage with the room turned into this state, and even if the Elemental Egg could help with it, how was he supposed to explain things to the landlord? Speechless, he looked at the ¡°dog¡¯s urine moss¡± on the floor, sparkling with dewdrops. If he remembered correctly, this stuff was poisonous, wasn¡¯t it? Resigned, he turned to look at the culprit of it all. Feeling Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, the Elemental Egg suddenly exuded a self-satisfied sentiment, much like a child waiting for praise from parents after tidying up for the first time with a proud expression. Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched, managing to squeeze out a somewhat stiff smile. ¡°Little guy, not bad.¡± He didn¡¯t want to dampen the little one¡¯s enthusiasm and could only muster a reluctant smile as he offered that bit of praise. Gleeful with the compliment, the Elemental Egg beneath responded by rustling its vines, extending a thin tendril towards Shao Zifeng and giving it a gentle shake. Shao Zifeng looked curiously at the tendril before him. What was this, seeking affection, asking for a handshake? He just couldn¡¯t understand it. Seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s lack of reaction, the Elemental Egg grew a bit impatient. Its tendril quivered incessantly, seemingly pondering how to make Shao Zifeng understand its intention. All of a sudden, as if it had an epiphany, the tendril sprouted three small, slender leaves that looked like three fingers. The three little leaves made a rubbing gesture in front of Shao Zifeng while conveying a longing emotion to him. ¡°Money, money¡­¡± Black lines appeared on Shao Zifeng¡¯s forehead. That thumb-rubbing gesture wasn¡¯t taught by me, so spit it out, which bastard taught you this? Shao Zifeng desperately shifted the blame, adamantly refusing to admit that this prenatal student was taught by him. After a moment of thought, he took out a one-yuan coin from his pocket and placed it on the leaf of the vine. The Elemental Egg emitted a wave of happy emotions, the vine quickly retracted, propping the one-yuan coin on top of the egg¡­ quivering excitedly, this was the first bit of money it had earned since it was laid. After playing with the coin for a long time, it placed the coin in the vine nest beside it. Then, feeling somewhat worried and taking advantage of Zifeng¡¯s lack of attention, it quickly pressed the coin under itself, only then letting out a small sigh of relief. Zifeng pretended to look around while secretly keeping an eye on the little one; seeing its behavior, he couldn¡¯t help but smile¡ªit really was like a little kid. At that moment, the blue dot that had been spinning in his eyes finally slowly sketched out a pale blue screen. [Name]: Wood Element Egg (?) [Growth]: Incubation Phase/Fusion Phase [Status]: Fusing [Potential]: 4~5¡ï [Talent]: Talent (1): Symbiosis: Fused with the remnants of the elemental creature ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯ to obtain the Symbiosis talent; Effect: ??? (2): ??? [Skills]: Life Hymn (Inheritance), Life Seed (Inheritance) [Description]: The Chinese parasol tree, after thousands of years of refinement, has condensed an Elemental Egg that may give birth to a pure elemental creature. During the consolidation phase, it fused with the remnants of a ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯, acquiring additional talents and inheritance skills. The Elemental Egg, while fusing, will consume a large amount of stored energy, and if it doesn¡¯t receive supplementation within. three days, the fusion will fail, and the Elemental Egg will dissipate. The newly emerged information gave Zifeng a pleasant surprise; the minimum qualification level had risen by one star, meaning even if he were to infuse it with the poorest quality Elemental Potion, what hatches would be a four-star creature. Of course, Zifeng wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. Isn¡¯t a five-star creature more desirable? The talent and skills were partially displayed, which meant that after hatching, the little one would have at least two talents and several skills. However, Zifeng couldn¡¯t find any records of the Symbiosis talent or the two skills on his phone on the ¡°Ask Hoo¡± platform and forums, indicating they weren¡¯t common goods. The literal meaning of [Symbiosis] was easy to understand, but he didn¡¯t dare to jump to conclusions. It was only the last few sentences of the description that suddenly filled Zifeng¡¯s heart with a sense of urgency, and his good mood disappeared without a trace, looking worriedly at his Elemental Egg, which was playing by itself. Of course, the Elemental Egg wouldn¡¯t know about its current predicament; it was sneakily taking out the coin hidden beneath itself, wrapping it with its vines and rubbing it against its face, emitting waves of happy and content emotions. Zifeng sighed inwardly, knowing he must quickly come up with a plan to obtain the Elemental Potion Type VIII without arousing Luo Feng¡¯s surveillance. Even if Luo Feng was an official person, Zifeng didn¡¯t mind suspecting him with the worst intentions. Zifeng racked his brain for half a day but came up with nothing, scratching his head in irritation. He stood up, changed into a tracksuit, and without disturbing the little ones still in dreamland, he decided to go out for a run to let off steam. He retrieved the hidden blade from Qiuqiu¡¯s embrace, closed the door, and left. The Elemental Egg, engrossed in playing with the coin and sensing Zifeng¡¯s departure, continued to rub the coin against itself, then suddenly felt that the money was no longer appealing. It silently placed the coin beneath itself, and the whole egg radiated a sense of loss; the plants in the room also drooped their heads as if they had lost their water supply. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Chen Yixin Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Chen Yixin ¡°` Night. The lights were still burning bright inside a research lab at Su City University. After sorting out the data on the Ice Plateau Saber-toothed Tiger, Chen Yixing took off her glasses, lazily leaned back in her chair, stretched, and revealed the alluring curves unique to a mature woman. Recently, the incubation of the prehistoric creature ¡°Ice Plateau Saber-toothed Tiger¡± had caused quite a stir worldwide, and the research team led by Chen Yixing had made indelible contributions to this subject. An obscure professor from a third-rate university within the province had instantly become a hot new leading figure in the field of paleobiology. Personally, Chen Yixing was not fond of her current life, with all the interview requests seriously disrupting her work schedule. Chen Yixing closed her eyes, relishing the rare moment alone. ¡°Ding-dong-dong¡­ Meow-meow-meow~¡± The adorable ringtone unique to young girls rang out, revealing her secret hobby. Chen Yixing, with her eyes still closed, groped on her desk for her phone. ¡°Hello, Yixing, are you busy?¡± A rough baritone voice came through, causing Chen Yixing to frown slightly in annoyance and reply, ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it quick; don¡¯t disturb my rest if it¡¯s nothing important.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Actually, it¡¯s nothing much, it¡¯s just that your sister-in-law asked when you¡¯ll come over for a meal, she told me to tell you that she hasn¡¯t gone shopping with you for a long time¡­ Ouch, wife, why are you pinching me?¡± The man on the other end laughed awkwardly, his pleasantries sounding like the sort that were so polite they became insincere. ¡°Three!¡± Chen Yixing knew her cousin too well; he would never call about such a trivial matter. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on him, but his EQ was just too low. ¡°Hey hey hey, don¡¯t hang up, don¡¯t hang up, you¡¯re still the same as when you were a kid¡­¡± ¡°Two!¡± ¡°Okay okay okay, I always say when you call you should get straight to the point, your sister-in-law insists I have low EQ¡­¡± ¡°Beep beep beep¡­¡± Chen Yixing hung up the phone and directly covered her face with it. The pink rabbit phone case had a different kind of endearing charm. ¡°Ding-dong-dong¡­ Meow-meow-meow~¡± Chen Yixing pursed her lips, casually pressed the answer button, and before even putting the phone to her ear, a loud voice came through. ¡°Yixing, don¡¯t hang up just yet, I wanted to inquire about someone.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just say so from the start? Go ahead, who¡¯s the unlucky soul the renowned Captain Chen has set his sights on this time?¡± Chen Yixing yawned lazily and asked nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly setting sights, but his shadow is in several recent cases, and he¡¯s not an average student, so the chief won¡¯t let me investigate.¡± ¡°Huh, what incidents have happened in Su City lately? Do tell.¡± The previously dispirited Chen Yixing perked up at once, like a cat that had caught the scent of fish. ¡°You, you should get out more. If you don¡¯t get married soon, you¡¯ll end up an old maid¡­¡± ¡°Chen! Zhenglong!¡± The cat that had been wagging its tail excitedly at the scent of fish suddenly turned into one that had its tail stepped on, screaming to cut off Chen Zhenglong¡¯s words. ¡°Oi, oi, oi, don¡¯t yell, it¡¯s just your sister-in-law told me to¡­ hiss hiss hiss, wife, stop pinching, it¡¯s swollen.¡± A chaotic commotion ensued over the phone, and then a gentle female voice took over, ¡°Yixing, don¡¯t listen to your brother¡¯s nonsense. When you have time, come and visit your sister-in-law, huh? You two talk business; I¡¯m going to rest.¡± Another series of hissing gasps followed, and the phone was handed back to Chen Zhenglong, ¡°Yixing, it wasn¡¯t your sister-in-law, it was me¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Both women on the line shouted simultaneously. ¡°Eh, I¡¯ll shut up, I¡¯ll shut up, let¡¯s talk business¡­¡± ¡°` Afterward, Chen Zhenglong recounted the recent cases to Chen Yixin. ¡°This afternoon¡¯s explosion in the suburbs, we got confirmation from a taxi driver. He drove a young man there today, and after comparing photos, we identified that person as Shao Zifeng.¡± After listening to Chen Zhenglong, Chen Yixin extended a slender finger and massaged her temple. The brain that records a mass of data every day really struggles to remember people who are not very special. Shao Zifeng, it seems like I¡¯ve heard that name somewhere. ¡°Why are you coming to me for this? As you know, although I hold a position at Su City University, I¡¯m not responsible for teaching.¡± ¡°This student¡¯s identity is somewhat special. Think again, have you recently encountered any particularly unique pets?¡± ¡°Special pets.¡± Chen Yixin searched hard through her recent memories, when suddenly an image of a handsome young man with a faint smile appeared in her mind. ¡°Special pets, I did encounter one recently, a very rare fire-attribute armadillo lizard¡­ It seems its owner is called Shao Zifeng,¡± Chen Yixin said hesitantly. ¡°Fire attribute, that¡¯s right. The explosions were all caused by fire attribute pets. What else?¡± Chen Zhenglong asked, his voice tinged with excitement and urgency. ¡°But that¡¯s not right either. According to your description, the explosions were all quite powerful, yet that armadillo lizard was very weak. Could there be a mistake?¡± Hearing this, Chen Zhenglong quickly asked, ¡°Very weak, how do you know?¡± ¡°Because I was the one who registered and assessed it,¡± said Chen Yixin matter-of-factly. ¡°Contract¡­ No, something¡¯s not right here. That group of madmen can do their own registration and identification; they never need outsiders. Something¡¯s amiss here.¡± For a moment, he was puzzled as to why his cousin had done the identification, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it. After pondering for a moment, he continued, ¡°What do you think of Shao Zifeng?¡± ¡°What do I think? He has nice skin, no, I mean, he¡¯s quite handsome¡­bah.¡± Chen Yixin got flustered by Chen Zhenglong¡¯s question, and blurted out what was on her mind. Chen Zhenglong, with a dark line on his forehead: ¡°I¡¯m asking about his character.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ He¡¯s always smiling, seems quite affable¡­I guess,¡± said Chen Yixin, with a rare touch of embarrassment. ¡­ After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhenglong sat on the living room sofa and lit a cigarette. From the information obtained from Chen Yixin, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t seem to be one of those madmen, at least not now. That meant there was only one reason Luo Feng stepped in to protect him: he saw potential in Shao Zifeng and wanted to recruit him into that department. No, I can¡¯t just watch a youth in the prime of life get assimilated by those madmen. I must save him! At that moment, Chen Zhenglong felt a surge of noble mission. He, Chen Zhenglong, was the people¡¯s protector, and he was determined to save this young man! ¡°Honey~¡± ¡°Ah, wife, I won¡¯t smoke anymore, I¡¯ll stub it out right now,¡± Chen Zhenglong answered with a once resolute face that instantly fell, responding somewhat sycophantically. ¡°Good boy~ There¡¯s a reward for you later!¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s face stiffened, and with trembling hands, he took out a pack of goji berries from the drawer of the coffee table. ¡­ Inside the research studio of Su City University, Chen Yixin played back the identification video over and over. ¡°Phew, Fiery Breath has limited destructive power, but its concentration and release speed is over fifty percent faster than other pets of the same level. Besides talents like affinity for the fire element, he must also have mastered Flame Control!¡± Chen Yixin stopped her pen, wearing an ambiguous smile, ¡°Smart kid, you almost fooled me.¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 This is all trivial matters. Chapter 54: Chapter 54 This is all trivial matters. ¡°Squish, squish, squish¡± Footsteps echoed through the empty sewer as Burial Fox hunched over, struggling with each step to pry his shoes from the mire, laboring forward. The central channel of the sewer was filled with ink-like wastewater emanating a pungent stench, while the platforms on either side were caked with slippery mud. On ordinary days, the central channel alone could handle the domestic sewage, and the vast vacant space was designed for potential flooding during the rainy season. However, given that Su City was inland, and although not arid, heavy rain was rare, so the sewer had become a paradise for mutant creatures. At this moment, Burial Fox felt extremely stifled. He could not remember the last time he had to scurry about like a dog. His nostrils were filled with the pungent stench, the irritating gases making his eyes uncomfortable, and with every step, he could feel the slimy mud sticking to his feet, further souring his mood. He couldn¡¯t recall how far he had wandered through the maze-like sewers; the harsh environment and sharp pain from his broken left arm were constant reminders that he needed to rest. Throwing down his voluminous overcoat, Burial Fox plonked down onto it, a sudden movement tugging at his wound and eliciting a muffled moan. Leaning against the curved sewer wall which was damp, cold, and dirty, the exhausted Burial Fox could no longer care about such conditions. ¡°Click.¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak~¡± Upon turning on the portable light tube he carried, a faint blue glow illuminated the surroundings, and several mutant rats that had been tailing him let out panicked squeals, hastily scrambling away. Burial Fox, who had become accustomed to the darkness, also found it somewhat dazzling, and it took him a moment to adjust. The afternoon¡¯s pursuit had been fraught with danger. After losing two of his pets, he had finally managed to escape the encirclement. The mental strain and physical pain made him exceptionally weary, longing for nothing more than a good sleep. Burial Fox closed his eyes to rest for a moment, regaining some energy before taking out his phone. ¡°Hello, Burial Fox?¡± came a sweet female voice, tinged with a hint of question. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, please connect me with the deputy director,¡± Burial Fox replied calmly, betraying no signs of fatigue. This composure was something he¡¯d learned over the years within the organization; no matter how weak you might be, you should never show it. ¡°Please hold on.¡± After a burst of static, a hoarse middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through the receiver, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Deputy director, Grey Rat might be in trouble. He contacted me before the incident, reporting someone had defected. There¡¯s a risk of the Holy Origin Society being exposed,¡± Burial Fox reported respectfully. The ¡®Holy Origin Society¡¯ had one chairman and several deputy directors. The chairman was stationed at the headquarters, while the deputy directors each managed a different branch, scattered across the globe. Grey Rat was Li Hanying¡¯s codename, also one of the emphasized support targets of the branch. The deputy director did not respond immediately, and Burial Fox didn¡¯t dare to speak out of turn, making the atmosphere ambiguously silent, filled only with the sound of dripping water in the vacant sewer. ¡°I understand. Continue to hide and try to track down Grey Rat¡¯s whereabouts. Now isn¡¯t the time for retaliation. Wait for my message, and I will surely deliver them a significant gift,¡± the deputy director¡¯s voice carried a veiled anger, growing increasingly cold. Startled by the deputy director¡¯s response, Burial Fox quickly said, ¡°Please reconsider, deputy director. If we retaliate now, the Society will be exposed. I believe we should first report to headquarters¡­¡± ¡°Enough. I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do, remember your place,¡± the voice cut him off sharply. ¡°Beep, beep, beep¡­¡± Burial Fox¡¯s expression fluctuated, his fingers clenching the phone so tightly they began to turn white. ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak¡± Outside the circle of light, pairs of glowing green pupils appeared from the darkness, filled with ferocity and greed¡ªclearly, the brethren of the earlier small rats were called over. Looking closely, both sides of the sewer were teeming with mutant rats, encircling Burial Fox in the middle. With his mood at an extreme low, Burial Fox stared at the swarm of rats, a twisted smirk appearing on his pale face as he reached out to slice through the void. ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss¡± Large and small blood-sucking tarantulas as well as unevolved wolf spiders appeared in the sewers, their eyes displaying madness as they rapidly charged toward the rat pack. ¡°Squeak~¡± A mutant rat was sliced open by a blood-sucking tarantula, its piercing shriek echoing through the sewers as blood splattered and young spiders quickly swarmed around, greedily sucking the blood of the mutant rat. Burial Fox extended a finger to wipe off the blood that had splashed on his face, which was still somewhat warm. He looked at it under the light for a while and hesitated for a moment before putting his finger in his mouth. It could count as having a taste of warmth in Su City. ¡­ ¡°Whoosh!¡± The sound of slicing through the air came from the small grove behind the residential buildings, exceptionally clear in the silent night. Shao Zifeng held the long handle of the Hidden Edge with both hands, practicing chopping at the air, which was heavier due to the inclusion of the scabbard compared to just the blade. His eyes were focused, intently staring at the tip of the blade as wet hair clung to his forehead, and large droplets of sweat slipped down his face, wetting a large patch of his gray exercise clothes. ¡°Huff!¡± After the last chop, Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms were so sore he could barely hold the blade. He collapsed on the ground, back against a small tree, arms dangling naturally as he gasped for breath. Despite the extensive exercise, his mind wasn¡¯t relaxed at all, because he simply couldn¡¯t figure out how to apply for the ¡®Energy Potion VIII¡¯ as a reward without raising Luo Feng¡¯s suspicions. In his view, a Combat Training Master who had just started out applying suddenly for a high-level energy potion, which only the top Combat Training Masters were entitled to purchase, would undoubtedly raise some suspicion, no matter how it was argued. But the situation with the Elemental Egg simply couldn¡¯t afford him any more time to think slowly, for he didn¡¯t know if the reward would be immediate upon application or if there still needed to be a procedure for retrieval. If it was the latter, three days would definitely not be enough. Grinding his teeth, Shao Zifeng lifted his sore arm with difficulty, fished out his phone, and made a call to Luo Feng. After a brief wait, the call connected. ¡°Hello, Director Luo, this is Shao Zifeng.¡± Shao Zifeng struggled internally. He hated getting entangled in troublesome matters and didn¡¯t know if this phone call would lead to Luo Feng prying into his affairs. ¡°Yawn~ I was wondering, why does this kid always call in the middle of the night? Don¡¯t you know I need to sleep early to maintain my skin?¡± Luo Feng yawned lengthily, his voice sleepy and slightly impatient, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s so urgent?¡± ¡°You said I could apply for a reward?¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated to say. ¡°I thought it was something serious. Couldn¡¯t you have called me during the day? Really¡­¡± muttered Luo Feng in a complaining tone, then continued, ¡°Go ahead, what do you want? Since you¡¯re not part of the system, I¡¯ve got your reward standards approved. You can choose any item within a million yuan, whether a pet beast or something else, and you can also opt for cash if you don¡¯t want the items.¡± Shao Zifeng was startled; he originally thought that ten or twenty thousand would be the limit, but a million was unexpectedly offered, which truly showed the generous spirit of the Great Xia nation. Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I want to apply for the highest-grade energy potion.¡± There was no response from Luo Feng¡¯s end, which started to unsettle Shao Zifeng. Just as he was about to try to explain, a roar came through the phone. ¡°You¡¯re bothering me with such a trivial matter in the middle of my sleep?¡± ??? Shao Zifeng held the phone, somewhat dumbfounded. Weren¡¯t the monthly limited supplies always considered strategic materials? How did it suddenly become a trivial matter? So was he overthinking again, playing another round of wits against himself? Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 This money was really worth spending Chapter 55: Chapter 55 This money was really worth spending In the early morning, Shao Zifeng woke up amidst a serene fragrance, more precisely, suffocated awake by Qiuqiu laying on his chest. He reached out and rubbed the bald Qiuqiu, who felt cool and bouncy to the touch, quite pleasant indeed. ¡°Meow~¡± Qiuqiu hummed twice, opened its misty eyes for a glance, pushed away Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand with its little paw, curled into a ball, and burrowed into the bed to continue sleeping. At that moment, a joyful emotion came over him when a branch reached above Shao Zifeng¡¯s head, hanging a tender fruit emitting an appealing fragrance. Shao Zifeng paused, then remembered it must be the Inheritance Skill of the Elemental Egg. He picked the fruit and took a bite. Instantly invigorated, the fruit was juicy and delicious, soft and soothing to the heart and spleen. ¡°Thank you, little one.¡± After finishing the fruit, Shao Zifeng sat cross-legged on the bed, caressing the Elemental Egg. As soon as he finished speaking, a vine reached over, skillfully rubbing its leaves. ¡°Money, money¡­hee¡± Shao Zifeng shook his head helplessly, fondly patted it, and rummaged through his belongings to find two old coins, giving one to it. The Elemental Egg joyfully wrapped the two coins around itself with the vine, its joy acting like a catalyst, made the plants in the room exuberantly rustle without wind, and the air filled with specks of Elemental Energy. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, Shao Zifeng stretched comfortably and got ready to get out of bed and wash up. At that moment, he paused, curiously pinching his arms and legs. After yesterday¡¯s long run followed by a lengthy chopping training, there was no soreness at all on his body. It seemed to be the little one¡¯s doing too. Opening the moss-covered serpent cabinet was like opening tree hollows, as various pet snakes energetically coiled in the drawers, their scales shimmering with a healthy glow, looking quite vibrant. Shao Zifeng carefully fed and watered each of them. After finishing the tasks, he surveyed his room, which looked like a scenic rental, and nodded in satisfaction. A dollar¡¯s wage, well worth it! Today was the third day of outdoor training, and after completing it, he would have two days off, meaning Shao Zifeng had three more days of vacation. He had arranged with Luo Feng yesterday to go to the identification office to pick up the ¡°Elemental Potion Type VIII¡± he had applied for as a reward. As for the remaining reward quota, whether to take goods or cash, they would decide when they met. ¡°Clap, clap.¡± Shao Zifeng clapped his hands, attracting the attention of all the pets in the room. Qiuqiu turned over, covered its little head with the blanket, revealing only its foggy little eyes. The Elemental Egg wave its two vines joyfully, each end of the vine holding a coin, like a little fan supporting her idol. The healed White-headed Bulbul flew out of its cage, perched on the top of the serpent cabinet, and tilted its head curiously. The little earth dog, as if overtaken by a bout of madness, circled Shao Zifeng with a wagging tongue, hopping and jumping. It ran to where it had urinated last night, abruptly stopping to sniff curiously at the moss, then turned around, lifted a hind leg, and marked the moss with a scent. The white cat sat quietly at the doorway, its tail idly swaying side to side over the edge of its little nest. Shao Zifeng gazed at the little ones in the room, feeling an odd sense of fulfillment. Without the persistent emptiness, his heart felt filled as if something had filled it, a warm sensation that was indescribable. ¡°I¡¯m heading out today to collect a reward, who wants to come with me?¡± Shao Zifeng said, smiling warmly at everyone. ¡°Meow~¡± Qiuqiu murmured softly, withdrew its little head, then extended a little paw from under the blanket and shook it, as if waving him goodbye. It had unleashed a massive explosive scale yesterday and almost exhausted itself. Now that the home was so comfortable, filled with its scent everywhere, why would it want to leave to play when it could luxuriously sleep surrounded by snuggliness? The stray dog was still curiously circling around dog urine moss, the white cat gracefully licked its paws and wiped its face, and the White-headed Bulbul curled up with its eyes closed. Only the Elemental Egg kept sending out waves of longing emotions towards Shao Zifeng, warmly responding to his mobilization. Unfortunately, Shao Zifeng would take anyone but it outside. Don¡¯t be fooled by how lively it is now; that¡¯s because it released a large amount of its originally condensed energy to merge with the ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯s¡¯ remains and master the Inheritance Skill. Once it completely merges in a few days, it will revert to the same old ironclad simpleton that only knows how to flash light before it hatches. Seeing that Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t want to take it along, the Elemental Egg instantly became dejected, its crestfallen emotional waves resonating throughout the room. It was lucky that the egg had no eyes; otherwise, they might be flooded by now. Because of his empathy, Shao Zifeng was easily affected by emotions. He felt somewhat soft-hearted and pity, but if it couldn¡¯t be taken, then it simply couldn¡¯t be. With its constant emission of a large amount of wood elemental energy, if he really took it to the identification center, that group of research nerds might eat it alive. He took out the last coin and handed it to the Elemental Egg, cradling it in his palm to soothe it. The little one slowly began to feel happier, extended a vine, and wrapped the three coins around itself, flaunting them with a few shakes, amusing Shao Zifeng. After arranging things for the little ones. Shao Zifeng dressed neatly, stuffed ¡®Zangfeng¡¯ into his travel bag, turned around to wave goodbye to everyone, and left, closing the door. After closing the door, Shao Zifeng stood in place and sighed a moment later. He could sense the feeling of loss the Elemental Egg emitted when he closed the door; it had pretended to be happy the whole time for fear of affecting his mood. Although the little guy was a bit greedy, its obedience was heartbreaking. ¡­ Su City¡¯s Identification Center. Just like his last visit, several staff members were leisurely boasting in the lobby. Upon seeing someone enter, the few guys, as if they had been imprisoned for decades without seeing a woman, instantly sat up straight, their eyes greedily fixed upon him. Shao Zifeng shivered at their gaze and squeezed out a slight smile, ¡°I am here to see Director Luo. Does anyone know where his office is?¡± The expressions on their faces collapsed instantly, and they slumped over the desk, lifting their arms to weakly point upstairs, saying without much energy, ¡°Up the stairs, turn right, the last room at the end.¡± Shao Zifeng nodded at them with a smile and headed upstairs. Knock, knock! ¡°Come in.¡± Upon opening the office door, Shao Zifeng instinctively scanned the surroundings, a habit formed from his long-standing feelings of insecurity, typical of someone suffering from ¡®persecutory delusions.¡¯ Luo Feng¡¯s office was quite minimalist, without a large bookcase or a bulky mahogany desk, just a plain white desk and two rotating chairs. A flag of the Great Summer¡¯s Star Dragon hung at the window sill, which didn¡¯t quite fit Shao Zifeng¡¯s idea of a typical office setting. The only thing that caught Shao Zifeng¡¯s eye was a trash can next to the workstation, filled with used tissues¡­ well, probably wet wipes, actually. Such germophobia was unparalleled. ¡°Sit!¡± Luo Feng sized up Shao Zifeng, pursed his lips to indicate him to sit on the rotating chair across his desk. He was still dressed as before, a clean and tidy lab coat that looked brand new, hair meticulously combed to a perfect side part, narrow framed gold-rimmed glasses, making him look neat and crisp. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Reward Redemption Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Reward Redemption ¡°Here, the thing you wanted.¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng sit down, Luo Feng extended his hand to pull out a silver-white box from the drawer and pushed it towards Shao Zifeng. Looking at the small box in front of him, a wave of excitement surged through Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart. He glanced again at Luo Feng, who sat with his fingers interlaced behind the desk, looking proper and upright. He opened his mouth but no words came out. ¡°Tsk, if you want to say something, just say it. Don¡¯t be so awkward, always making people guess what¡¯s on your mind, kid,¡± Luo Feng said with a touch of mockery, not even waiting for Shao Zifeng to speak before he continued, ¡°I understand what you¡¯re thinking. After all, I grew up from your same age.¡± As Luo Feng spoke, his gaze drifted as if reminiscing about something. He changed his posture, leaning against the chair¡¯s back while continuing, ¡°Some of you, especially freaks like you in the eyes of others, can sometimes overthink things. Are you always worried I¡¯ll monitor you and then report you to the state for dissection and research?¡± Shao Zifeng remained silent, neither confirming nor opposing. Luo Feng didn¡¯t care about his response and went on, ¡°The Daxia nation is vast and rich in resources, ahem¡­ except for a bit of a shortage of mutant creatures, but that¡¯s relative to the massive population. With over eight hundred million people, everyone has their own opportunities and secrets. Should we know everyone like the back of our hand? Furthermore, personally, I was initially interested in your armadillo lizard. At least until the identification results came out, I was quite attentive to you.¡± Luo Feng gave Shao Zifeng a mocking smile, pushed his glasses up and said, ¡°But who could have imagined that this little guy would have such poor potential, not even close to their species¡¯ average level. If it weren¡¯t for you capturing Pei Yong this time, I doubt we would have had the chance to meet again.¡± ¡°So relax, as long as you¡¯re not an utterly unforgivable person, feel free to show your talents and abilities. That being said, kid, my last invitation still stands. Have you given it any thought?¡± After finishing, Luo Feng looked at Shao Zifeng, waiting for his reply. At that moment, Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart felt complicated. Rationally, this nation was where he had lived since he was a child; he had no reason to always speculate about it with malice. Emotionally, his caution to view everything with the greatest malice was a habit, or rather a characteristic, developed from childhood. He couldn¡¯t possibly overturn his nearly twenty-year-old philosophy of life based on a few words from Luo Feng. Neither of them spoke, and the office fell into a temporary silence. ¡°Alright, in front of others you¡¯re all smiles, but you wear a deadpan face in front of me. Since you haven¡¯t decided yet, let¡¯s talk about the remaining rewards. But let me say this upfront, this is my second invitation to you. As the saying goes, ¡®don¡¯t let things go to three¡¯, and I, Director Luo, do have my pride,¡± Luo Feng said with a twinkle in his eye that seemed to see through people¡¯s hearts. Though his tone was joking, the earnestness was clear to anyone. Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng felt a sense of relief. Putting aside everything else, his interactions with Luo Feng were the most comfortable; at least he didn¡¯t have to wear a heavy disguise. Opening the silver-white box in front of him, two emerald-green glass vials appeared before his eyes, emanating a strong scent of flowers and herbs. ¡°Two ¡®Energy Potions of the Wood Class Type VIII,¡¯ market price 250,000 yuan each, but as a reward, let¡¯s count them as 400,000 yuan towards your bonus. You still have 600,000 yuan to use. Have you decided what you need?¡± Luo Feng opened the folder in front of him, turned it around, and handed it to Shao Zifeng. Taking the folder, Shao Zifeng glanced over it quickly, inside was a detailed list of various items along with their information and prices. [Red-bellied Golden Chicken]: Grade A evaluation, fire-attribute mutant creature from Yunnan nature reserves, unique to Daxia. Innate talent: Fire Feather; Skills mastered: Eagle Strike, Fire Protection, etc. Exchange requirements: Deduct one Class C or above merit, 350,000 yuan. ¡°What are merits?¡± Shao Zifeng looked at the exchange requirements on the document, puzzled, and turned to Luo Feng. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a reward mechanism the nation has for people who have distinguished themselves. With merits, you can exchange for mutant creatures unique to Great Xia, or you can try your luck in some conservation areas that aren¡¯t open to the public,¡± Luo Feng said lazily, without looking up from the book he was holding. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any merits, right?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? You¡¯re not an insider, of course you don¡¯t have any merits. But over the years, I¡¯ve accumulated a number of small and big accomplishments, and since I have no friends or family who need them, I might as well give them to you on the cheap,¡± he said, looking at Shao Zifeng with an amused smile, as if to say the young man had stumbled upon a great bargain. Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng felt touched but also hesitant, not wanting to owe favors or take advantage of Luo Feng. Luo Feng, who could read him like a book, smirked provocatively, ¡°Relax, the person we caught might have some big forces behind them, and the final credit evaluation isn¡¯t over yet. It¡¯s not clear yet who is taking advantage of whom. Just don¡¯t get jealous if you see me hugging something round and fluffy that I exchanged using your merit, haha.¡± Shao Zifeng looked at him, speechless. The round and fluffy thing was a panda, a national treasure of Great Xia. Since the species had a patriarch that had reversed to an ancestral form, it was said to be extremely difficult to contract, with few people ever getting the chance. Thinking this, he felt much better and stopped paying attention to Luo Feng, continuing to look at other items. [Golden Snub-nosed Monkey]A-class rating, no attribute mutant creature, from Yun Province¡¯s Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, a mutant creature unique to Great Xia, racial talent: Telepathy; skills mastered: Tearing Claw Strike, Stealth Attack, etc. Exchange requirements: Deduct one B-grade or above merit, 650,000 yuan. Shao Zifeng was somewhat shocked, even though they were all mutant creatures unique to Great Xia, the requirements for the same level of rating were so different. The Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, judging by its skills, seemed like an assassin-type pet, which suited his personality quite well¡ªsneak attacks and knocking people out cold was just too satisfying. And the feel of the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey must be amazing too, it has to be exceptionally soothing to hold and pet¡­ hehe. For a moment, he was nearly ready to make the exchange on the spot. Before he could speak up, he glanced at the exchange requirement again and suppressed the somewhat perverted thought in his mind. Although he didn¡¯t quite understand the criteria for the various merit levels, given Great Xia¡¯s meticulousness, even though there is only one level difference between C-grade and B-grade merits, the difficulty of obtaining them must undoubtedly increase exponentially. If a C-grade merit was barely acceptable to him, he definitely wouldn¡¯t accept a B-grade one. Luo Feng, pretending to be engrossed in his book, had been stealthily observing Shao Zifeng. He had deliberately put the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey on the top of the list to test Shao Zifeng¡¯s character. If Shao Zifeng chose the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, he could indeed exchange it for him, but his esteem for Shao Zifeng would undoubtedly drop significantly. Though it was quite a clich¨¦d method, understanding a person starts with small things from all sorts of aspects, doesn¡¯t it? Looking at Shao Zifeng who hesitated and ultimately gave up, Luo Feng nodded in satisfaction, thinking that this man was indeed worthy of his consideration. No, that sounded a bit off. ¡°` Luo Feng straightened his neatly parted hair and thought for a moment. Yep, definitely someone Luo Feng would take a liking to. Shao Zifeng had no clue about Luo Feng¡¯s thoughts. After deciding not to choose the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, he felt much more relaxed and continued to browse through the other items, [Reeves¡¯s Pheasant]: Grade A¡­ Exchange requirements¡­ [White Crane]: Grade A¡­ ¡­ As Shao Zifeng looked at the list of pets available for exchange, he found himself dazzled. It was his first time realizing that Da Xia had so many unique mutant creatures, and aside from the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, all the others required C-grade merits for exchange. He was indeed tempted by a few. After hesitating for a while, and thinking about the two little ones at home, both big and small, who needed nurturing and would consume a great deal of resources, he gave up the idea of exchanging. Moreover, these identifications were made by relatively crude methods, and Shao Zifeng wasn¡¯t too trusting of their accuracy. Thinking this way, It seemed his own cheat, aside from having a high time delay and a penchant for showing off, was quite reliable. After finishing with the mutant creatures, the list of exchangeable rewards that appeared next included various auxiliary items and those containing energy fluctuations whose methods of use were unknown, as well as tickets to various small national nature reserves. Having looked through everything, Shao Zifeng still hadn¡¯t decided what to choose. Turning to the last page, Shao Zifeng stared at the information there, first stunned, then a surge of ecstasy bubbled up in his heart. ¡°I¡¯ll exchange for this,¡± Shao Zifeng said seriously, pointing at the document. Luo Feng pushed up his glasses, leaned in to take a closer look at the document, then asked in a somewhat peculiar tone, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Alright then, but the item you want can¡¯t be obtained right now, it requires an application,¡± Luo Feng said with a touch of seriousness after seeing that Shao Zifeng wasn¡¯t joking, ¡°And also, the state has already ceased research on this item. It¡¯s not very practical. You still have the chance to choose something else before I submit the application.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Shao Zifeng firmly shook his head. ¡­ In the office of the director of the Department of Combat Training at Su City University, Director Zhao was receiving an unexpected visitor. ¡°Professor Chen, is there an issue with the assessment report for Shao Zifeng?¡± Director Zhao held a teacup, his tone carrying a hint of probing. This student was someone Luo Feng had previously ordered him to pay special attention to, and the assessment report was also personally submitted by him. Now that Chen Yixin, who was in high demand in the field of ancient biology, was suddenly asking about him, it made him wonder if there was an issue with the identification. If this ruined the task assigned by Director Luo, it would be a grave misstep on his part. ¡°Director Zhao, you jest. How could there be any issues with something I personally assessed? Unless you don¡¯t trust me,¡± Chen Yixin sat opposite Director Zhao, legs together in a very ladylike manner, with a serene smile gracing her face. Although her looks were not striking, the knowledgeable and tranquil aura she exuded left a lasting impression on anyone who met her. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t tell Director Zhao the reason. Everyone has their secrets, and since Shao Zifeng chose to keep his hidden, even if Chen Yixin discovered it, she wouldn¡¯t tell anyone else, not even her own cousin. ¡°Of course not, Professor Chen is an authority in this area. I¡¯m just curious why, out of so many people in the combat training department, you took a fancy to Shao Zifeng.¡± Director Zhao persisted stubbornly, still probing. Chen Yixin was somewhat at a loss for words. As a research nerd usually confined to the laboratory, she wasn¡¯t familiar with such roundabout inquiries. In her mind, she just needed someone as an assistant in her lab, why was this old man being so nosy; she felt somewhat indignant. Chen Yixin¡¯s expression changed as she struggled to think of Shao Zifeng¡¯s positive qualities, but she hadn¡¯t had much interaction with Shao Zifeng. Director Zhao watched her silently, sipped his tea, and his face showed a smug smile. There certainly was an issue there. Just as he was about to probe further, a light bulb went off in Chen Yixin¡¯s head, and she blurted out her thought: ¡°Because he¡¯s handsome.¡± Director Zhao¡¯s smile froze. Because¡­ he¡¯s handsome? That works? Shao Zifeng¡¯s handsome face came to mind, and he subconsciously touched his own beard-stubbled, seasoned face. This tea. Suddenly, it lost its flavor. ¡°` Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Promise Under the Starry Sky Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Promise Under the Starry Sky ¡°` In his rented room, Shao Zifeng put away the remaining energy potions and gently touched the Elemental Egg, which was deep in slumber. Today marked the third day since the Elemental Egg began absorbing the Elemental Potion Type VIII. Besides some turmoil during the initial fusion, the little guy now spent over 20 hours a day sleeping. Once the two potions were fully consumed, hatching shouldn¡¯t be far off. After storing the silver-white box in the drawer, Shao Zifeng stood up and looked around the empty room, feeling an inexplicable sense of despondency. Over the course of three days, he had sent away the white cat, the White-headed Bulbul, and the small earth dog. The white cat had returned to its owner, and the White-headed Bulbul and the earth dog had each found their own homes. His platform account had swelled with a sum of several hundred thousand, yet his heart¡­ it felt hollow. This sensation was something he hadn¡¯t felt when he first sold the round spot viper¡ªan odd and unfamiliar feeling. He sighed inwardly, ¡°It seems my own mindset has also changed under the influence of empathy.¡± Whether this change was good or bad, he couldn¡¯t say, but it certainly added some warmth to his heart, making him feel more like a human being. After a brief tidy-up of the room, making sure Qiuqiu who was lost in sleep was covered with a blanket, Shao Zifeng left the apartment. ¡­ Today was the last day before school started again, but Shao Zifeng neither chose to train nor found company. Instead, he went to the rooftop alone, seated himself on the low stone steps and rested against the wall in the night breeze, lost in thought. Given the few residents in the old district and a lack of nightlife, there was minimal light pollution here, offering a view of the starry sky seldom seen in Su City. As Shao Zifeng gazed at the stars, his mind wandered far away, filled with uncertainty. Though he had become a Combat Training Master, he still hadn¡¯t found his path. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t been there long enough, having gone through too much too quickly to properly contemplate his future. In another time and space, as well as in his former life in this world, being an ordinary person¡ªespecially one from a family with a tainted background¡ªall he had wanted was to live out the rest of his days in tranquility. He had wished to care for his aging mother, to marry and have children, watching them grow and start their own families¡­ living an ordinary and unremarkable human life. His mother had always taught him as a child that ¡°A man leaves his name behind, just like a goose leaves its call.¡± His former self certainly couldn¡¯t live up to her hopes of seeing him succeed on a grand scale. But now¡­ Shao Zifeng extended his fair right hand, and a fire suddenly ignited in his palm¡ªa fierce blaze that danced in his pupils, reflecting the flames in his hands and the feeling of a fire swelling in his heart. A moment later, Shao Zifeng shook his hand to extinguish the fire, and the fire in his eyes dimmed in tandem, as if it had never appeared. The only thing he couldn¡¯t let go of was the woman who had worked hard all her life to independently raise him into adulthood. Now, with a fortuitous external aid and a pet of extraordinary caliber that many sought after¡ªhis chances of standing out were significantly higher than others. But that was just a chance. He couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what would become of the woman who had always seen him as her pillar if something happened to him. Torn and feeling somber inside, he didn¡¯t know how to vent his frustrations. ¡°Ying~¡± As Shao Zifeng wrestled with his hesitation, a cool and somewhat soft little creature nestled into his arms, curling up on his lap with its long tail coiled around itself. ¡°Qiuqiu, how did you get here?¡± Shao Zifeng looked down at the still bald little lizard, his eyes filled with fondness. ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu raised its head to glance at him, its little face puffed up as if to scold him for sneaking out to play without bringing it along. Shao Zifeng, finding its expression adorable, couldn¡¯t resist scratching under its chin with a finger. Qiuqiu squinted in pleasure, its tail hanging limply while it whined in a defiant refusal to admit defeat. As he picked up Qiuqiu and placed it on his shoulder, he remembered that it was no longer the tiny creature of just ten centimeters from a few days ago. After its evolution, Qiuqiu had grown considerably in size; his shoulder could no longer accommodate its full length. Shao Zifeng shifted forward so that Qiuqiu¡¯s front claws could cling to his clothes while the rest of its body lay on his back. ¡°` The night wind lifted the hair on Shao Zifeng¡¯s forehead as he, together with his pet, looked up at the starry sky. ¡°Qiuqiu, what do you think my future will look like?¡± Shao Zifeng raised his head and muttered to the sky, as if he were questioning Qiuqiu, and yet also questioning himself. Upon hearing this, Qiuqiu turned its head to gaze at Shao Zifeng¡¯s chiseled profile and cocked its head slightly. It crawled onto Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest, wrapped its small paws around Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, and pressed its bare forehead against Shao Zifeng¡¯s. As their eyes met, an invisible ripple echoed between them. In Qiuqiu¡¯s lucid eyes, Shao Zifeng felt their heartbeats slowly synchronizing. ¡°Bang¡ª¡± It was just like the resonation of emotions they experienced that night. ¡­ Shao Zifeng opened his eyes to see himself immersed in darkness. He stretched his hands out to grope around, but he couldn¡¯t find Qiuqiu. A sense of unease began to grow at the bottom of his heart. ¡°Qiuqiu.¡± ¡°Qiuqiu.¡± Two voices sounded at once. Shao Zifeng was startled and saw a white dot emerge in the endless dark before him. The dot slowly expanded into a mirror rippled like water. Reflected in the mirror was a ragged man with a beard sprawled out under a pedestrian bridge, before him a dented stainless steel bowl containing some coins, and in his arms was unmistakably Qiuqiu. In the image, Qiuqiu was equally ragged¡­ well, its scales were ragged. Bald in spots, missing pieces here and there, dirtied all over, it looked utterly wretched. In such a state, Shao Zifeng noticed a smile of satisfaction spreading across their faces. The ripples spread, and the image shattered, only to then reveal another scene a moment later. In a living room that was simply yet elegantly decorated, a man dressed in a designer suit sat on the sofa holding an adorable little girl who, with her plump little hands, reached out to touch the stubble on the man¡¯s chin. Beside the man sat a gentle and graceful woman, beaming with joy as she watched her husband and daughter play. Qiuqiu was lying on the man¡¯s legs, its Scale Armor glittering brilliantly¡ªobviously well-polished¡ªas it occasionally lifted its head to pester the playful father and daughter, casting an image of happiness and fulfillment. ¡­ The image once again shattered, and this time the scene that emerged was of a resplendent hall. An imposing man with a stern demeanor sat on the throne at the highest end of the room, draped in regal robes, with a floor beneath him carpeted with gold and silver treasures, while a crowd of people groveled at his feet. Once again, Qiuqiu appeared in the middle of the aisle, but this time it looked exceptionally solemn and¡­ vulgar, each of its scales inlaid with colorful gemstones and a gemstone-studded gossamer cape with a long train draped over it, arrogantly gazing upon the kneeling crowd. Shao Zifeng sneered inwardly thinking that surely this couldn¡¯t be Qiuqiu¡¯s aesthetic. Indeed, it lacked any sense of aesthetics at all. The images kept blinking and transforming¡­ If the man were a killer, Qiuqiu would be the merciless Grim Reaper, harvesting lives¡­ If the man were an Explorer, Qiuqiu would be the vanguard cutting through brambles and thorns¡­ Scene after scene flashed before Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes as a warm teardrop slid down his cheek. Because he recognized them; although different scenes showed different clothes and styles, they all bore the same face. It was Shao Zifeng. He could clearly sense Qiuqiu¡¯s intentions, which were telling Shao Zifeng that no matter what he decided to do in the future, it would never leave his side. It would share in his wealth and comfort or accompany him in a lowly, squalid existence¡ªas long as that person was him. Shao Zifeng¡¯s throat tightened, and his hands trembled slightly. This was the first time he had sensed Qiuqiu¡¯s feelings so clearly. He opened his mouth, just about to speak¡­ At that moment, the image changed again. In a desolate and bleak graveyard, Qiuqiu, with a small white flower pinned to its head, lay prostrate in front of a grave, its body quivering slightly, seemingly filled with endless sorrow. And the photo on the tombstone was none other than Shao Zifeng. His moved expression froze on his face, his hands shaking even more violently. ¡°You actually still want me to die?¡± Shao Zifeng hurriedly terminated the resonance state¡­ This darn tombstone¡¯s appeared; if I keep letting Qiuqiu¡¯s mind wander, who knows what else it will come up with. After breaking free, Qiuqiu appeared somewhat bewildered, its tearful eyes looking at Shao Zifeng, filled with endless sorrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I have barely begun to act, and I have yet to showcase my superb acting skills and the ability to switch between roles instantly; how come I¡¯m not allowed to perform? Could it be Director Dandan is dissatisfied with my performance? Thinking this, Qiuqiu¡¯s expression became solemn, dispelling the sadness in its eyes. It looked at Shao Zifeng with eyes seeking guidance. Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched. Why do I feel like the more we resonate, the more of a drama queen Qiuqiu becomes? He reached out and ruffled its fur a few times hard, as a punishment for Qiuqiu¡¯s ¡®death¡¯ wish regarding himself. At least he felt its good intentions. If it hadn¡¯t been for the last-minute appearance of the tombstone¡­ ¡­ Holding Qiuqiu, Shao Zifeng suddenly asked, ¡°Qiuqiu, have you ever thought about your future?¡± Qiuqiu was once again stunned, hesitantly staring at Shao Zifeng. It had its own dreams, but it was also afraid that Shao Zifeng would reluctantly do things he didn¡¯t like because of its dreams. But looking at Shao Zifeng¡¯s doting face, Qiuqiu gritted its teeth fiercely. ¡°Squelch¡­¡± It bit down on loneliness. Yes, it still hadn¡¯t grown any teeth. Somehow, even after evolving, it remained toothless. Tsk, such a disgrace to dragons. While Shao Zifeng internally scoffed at Qiuqiu, a scene unfolded before his eyes. ¡­ Under the azure sky, there was a winding and precipitous mountain range, stretching for thousands of miles. White clouds dotted the horizon, the entire scene tranquil and majestic. ¡°Roar!¡± Then, a tremendous dragon roar rang out. Small animals on the mountain fled in terror, totally frantic. Soon after, a massive red dragon¡¯s shadow swooped past, the great wind pressure it created lifting grit and pressing the green grass flat against the mountain rocks. A giant cat chasing a little rabbit stopped in its tracks when it heard the dragon¡¯s roar, tucking its tail between its legs and lowering its head while emitting continuous whimpering threats, its body shaking like a sieve. The red dragon descended sharply, pinning the giant cat beneath its claws. It let out another triumphant roar. Looking down at the cat beneath its paw with disdain, it showed a trace of scorn. Lifting the giant cat high with its front claw, it simultaneously raised its head and opened its gaping maw. ¡°Meow¡± The giant cat let out a pitiful wail, its limbs flailing wildly. The dragon smiled slyly and, with a flick of its claw, let the cat fall towards its open mouth. As the opening of the maw grew near, the giant cat gave up its struggle and despairingly closed its eyes. Then, the dragon exhaled a breath, blowing the giant cat away. With a pitiful yowl, the cat became a falling star vanishing into the sky. ¡°Roar~¡± The roar carried the pleasure of exacting a great revenge, and the red dragon continued to thump its tail against the ground. The ground trembled, and stones scattered in all directions. The entire dragon vibrated slightly with exhilaration. ¡­ Shao Zifeng watched the dragon¡¯s weird laugh with a speechless expression¡­ A thunderbolt from the blue. Pfft, what dragon shadow. It¡¯s just an enlarged version of Qiuqiu, that¡¯s all. And that cat, wasn¡¯t it a mutated White-headed Bulbul? So Qiuqiu is that dark-hearted, huh. Still holding on to past events. ¡­ But indeed, it also possesses a heart yearning for strength. This time, I will be the one to answer your aspirations. In this moment, Shao Zifeng finally made up his mind. He would grow stronger together with Qiuqiu and together witness this astonishing world. ¡­ Under the starry sky. A man and his pet looked at each other and smiled, their pupils reflecting the stars and their own existences. ¡­ On the computer desk in the rental room, within the vine-made bird¡¯s nest, the Elemental Egg stretched out two tendrils to lift the clothing covering it. The room was empty. Feeling aggrieved. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Exposure Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Exposure ¡°` The next morning, Shao Zifeng finished his exercise and quickly rushed to school after freshening up. Qiuqiu had grown in size after evolving and couldn¡¯t hide in Shao Zifeng¡¯s pocket like before. Only after much persuasion promising many benefits did Qiuqiu reluctantly return to the pet space with Cangfeng. As for the Elemental Egg, it had been in a deep sleep since their tumultuous return from the rooftop to the rental house the day before. The little guy had gradually mastered the Inheritance Skill it had acquired, and the energy it radiated was almost imperceptible. The plants in the room were also wilting, and Shao Zifeng noticed a layer of dust in his cup and some moss peeling off the walls while he freshened up this morning, presumably all absorbed by the little guy. An in-house cycle of produce and consume, truly an eco-friendly pet. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t feel comfortable leaving it alone in the rental house, fearing it might wake up and cause trouble while searching for him, so he carried the Elemental Egg with him. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t very big, about the size of a goose egg after merging with the ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯s castoff skin. The only odd thing was that since merging with the castoff skin, the Elemental Egg showed signs of becoming more solidified. Fearing it would get bumped if he kept it on him, Shao Zifeng decided to take the travel bag that had been through life and death with him multiple times. ¡­ In Class Four of Su City University¡¯s combat training, many students arrived early, chatting and laughing loudly in groups. The arrival of Shao Zifeng brought a momentary pause to the lively atmosphere, as everyone turned to look at him, their eyes filled with curiosity about the new student and a desire to know about the events of that day. The incident involved the rare Explorers, and Shao Zifeng had had contact with an Explorer. The restless hearts of the young students were already dying¡­ desperate to know the truth. He nodded to everyone as a greeting, with no intention of having any interaction with his classmates. As he was about to return to his seat, a medium-height, muscular boy with a buzz cut stopped him. ¡°Shao student, are you alright?¡± The boy was handsome, with wheat-colored skin that seemed a bit mature, but the sparse mustache above his lips and the acne around his mouth revealed his young age at a glance. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t know this student, or to be more precise, he was only familiar with the faces in this class and hadn¡¯t wasted any brain capacity on memorizing any names. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± Shao Zifeng offered a habitual smile, shook his head gently, and prepared to walk past him. ¡°Shao student, wait a moment. Let me introduce myself, my name is Sun Qiang, I¡¯m the class leader of the combat training class. If you need anything, feel free to come to me. Being in the same class is fate, I¡¯ll treat you to lunch today,¡± Sun Qiang extended his hand to stop Shao Zifeng, making introductions. Unfortunately, he clearly didn¡¯t understand Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t care what his name was or what he did; he simply didn¡¯t want to have close contact with these people. ¡°No, thank you,¡± Shao Zifeng replied perfunctorily, and headed straight for the last row of seats by the window. Sun Qiang¡¯s face couldn¡¯t hide his embarrassment. Since entering the university, because of his decent pet strength and as class leader, students had always been friendly toward him. Shao Zifeng seemed amiable too, but anyone who understood social nuances could tell it was just perfunctory. But they were all adults; if they couldn¡¯t become friends, at most they would have less contact in the future. Though somewhat awkward, Sun Qiang didn¡¯t take it to heart. Holding a grudge over a single word would just be foolish. As he was about to retreat to his seat with a forced smile, another voice rang out. ¡°Tch, acting all high and mighty. He still got knocked out early by an Explorer.¡± Sun Qiang and the students of Class Four looked over, and it was Chen Wen who had spoken. Chen Wen had lost face in front of the entire class that day because of his bragging. Instead of reflecting on his own actions, he blamed everything on Shao Zifeng. ¡°` If it wasn¡¯t for Shao Zifeng¡¯s absence, how could he have been exposed, and how could his goddess have ignored him. It was all this Shao¡¯s fault. For his petty thoughts, normal people really couldn¡¯t understand. So, when he saw Shao Zifeng ignoring Sun Qiang, he immediately jumped out to mock, which not only gave vent to his frustration but also pleased the class leader; why not do it. Shao Zifeng paused upon hearing this, slightly turned his head to glance at Chen Wen, and then his lips curled up in a friendly smile. It must be said that Shao¡¯s taunting skills were simply maxed out. When Chen Wen saw Shao Zifeng¡¯s smile, a surge of humiliation and rage instantly welled up inside him. For some shameless people, being ignored was even more unbearable than being pointed at and cursed. ¡°Fuck, what the hell are you pretending to be.¡± Chen Wen abruptly stood up, his face flushed red, and his glasses were slightly askew from his agitation. ¡°Alright, alright, Chen Wen, there¡¯s no need for this.¡± Sun Qiang quickly stepped forward to stand between the two, reaching out to stop Chen Wen. The other students also started speaking up to dissuade him. ¡°Fuck, if you have the guts, let¡¯s apply to the school for a battle and see what you¡¯ve got to show off.¡± The more people tried to persuade Chen Wen, the more stubborn he became, filled with a perverse sense of satisfaction. He reveled in being the center of attention, no matter why, and this pathological mindset made him increasingly excited. ¡°Enough, what are you all doing?¡± Just then, an angry voice rang out behind them; Bald Qiang was looking at everyone with a dark expression. An outsider had entered the trial, and as the lead teacher, he had an undeniable responsibility. Since returning, he had been both writing reports and facing disciplinary action, with not a single good day. When had Brother Qiang ever tolerated such treatment? Throughout his reprimands, he had been pondering how to handle these kids. Now, just as he had been scolded by the head of discipline and returned to the classroom, without him needing to provoke anything, someone had already assumed the position, waiting for him to vent. Truly a good student he had trained; so sensible. ¡°Chen Wen, you¡¯re so eager for a battle? Fine, how about you fight my Giant Battle Bear in the practical combat class later?¡± Bald Qiang glowered with his eyes and roared at Chen Wen in a coarse voice. Chen Wen, upon hearing this and recalling the formidable figure of the Giant Battle Bear, shuddered all over and quickly lowered his head. ¡°Sun Qiang, what is this, as the class leader? Can¡¯t handle even this little matter? If you can¡¯t manage, just get lost,¡± Bald Qiang, seeing Chen Wen trembling under his tyranny, felt somewhat relieved and then turned his fury towards the class leader, Sun Qiang. ¡°Teacher, I¡­¡± Sun Qiang felt extremely wronged. What had he done? He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Didn¡¯t he just want to bond with the new students? ¡°What do you mean ¡®I¡¯? Later, you and Chen Wen will each write a five thousand-word reflection paper and submit it to me. If you don¡¯t finish today, it¡¯s five kilometers after school,¡± he ordered. Seeing this situation, the other students, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire, also bowed their heads in silence. Watching the students in the classroom of class four lower their heads like little quails, Bald Qiang felt increasingly pleased. It was just a little, just a little and he would be completely satisfied. He still needed another target. Bald Qiang looked around. Hey, Shao Zifeng is still smiling. Then it¡¯s you, you can¡¯t blame this on Brother Qiang. Bald Qiang stared at Shao Zifeng with his bulging eyes, took a deep breath, and after brewing for a moment, let out another loud roar. ¡°Shao Zifeng, you laugh¡­¡± ¡°Knock knock¡± Bald Qiang hadn¡¯t finished roaring when a knock on the door interrupted him. Wow, this feeling! It was as if everything was prepared and the opponent¡¯s husband, who had been away on business, suddenly returned home; that kind of unsettling feeling almost made him spit blood. His face filled with rage, he turned to see who the hell had the audacity to interrupt him disciplining a student, he must give them¡­ Give her¡­ A good look! Bald Qiang, with an excess of male hormones, gazed at the woman at the door. His Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down, struggling to say the words that came to his mouth. The classroom suddenly became somewhat quiet. The little quails, who were trembling under Bald Qiang¡¯s tyranny, looked up curiously towards the door. ¡°Wow, who is that, she has such a good demeanor.¡± ¡°Yeah, look! Brother Qiang is stunned and even swallowing saliva.¡± Hearing the students¡¯ whispering, Bald Qiang came back to his senses, blushed, and coughed to ease the awkwardness: ¡°Cough, may I ask who you are looking for.¡± ¡°Are you Teacher Ren Daqiang? I hope I¡¯m not interrupting.¡± ¡°Pfft¡± The students of the battle training class were first taken aback, then realizing the situation, burst out laughing. It was also the first time they had heard Bald Qiang¡¯s real name. Hearing his name, Bald Qiang¡¯s face turned beet red. He turned back and glared fiercely at the students. ¡°Cough, yes, that¡¯s me. May I know who you are.¡± Not many knew his real name, aside from his parents and classmates, only the school leadership. So this woman calling him by name obviously wasn¡¯t just an ordinary parent of a student. ¡°I¡¯m a research guide teacher from the school¡¯s research office. My name is Chen Yixin. May I ask if Shao Zifeng is in the classroom?¡± Chen Yixin had already spotted Shao Zifeng who stood out amongst a group of little quails, remaining calm and composed. A pair of curious eyes turned towards Shao Zifeng. Since his transfer, this new student had never seemed to settle down. Some girls, looking at Shao Zifeng¡¯s handsome face and then at the extraordinary Chen Yixin, felt the strong fire of gossip ignite within them. ¡°Yes, yes, Shao Zifeng, come here.¡± Hearing that it was someone from the research office, Bald Qiang instantly became even more enthusiastic. As everyone knows, everyone from the research office is a big shot. If a pet has a problem that doctors can¡¯t solve, we all have to rely on them. Clearly, Bald Qiang didn¡¯t know that Chen Yixin¡¯s specialty was in ancient creatures, and she was among the top in that field. Even if his pets had problems in the future, unless it was a case of reversion, it wouldn¡¯t be related to Chen Yixin¡¯s research office. Shao Zifeng watched Chen Yixin hesitantly. He recognized her; she had presided over the appraisal for Qiuqiu. Shao Zifeng thought he had hidden himself well, so he was uncertain about the reason Chen Yixin was looking for him. ¡°Shao student, could we talk in private?¡± Chen Yixin lightly brushed her hair with her hand, her intelligent smile directed towards Shao Zifeng. Bald Qiang and a few male classmates instantly felt their hearts race, with a rush of excitement. An old woman flirting with young boys, oh! Despite seeing all kinds of flamboyant characters in Douyin, they had never encountered such a graceful mature¡­ Wait, mature woman in real life. For Brother Qiang, whose heart had been arid for so long, it suddenly felt as if it were being baptized by the spring rain. He was, stirred. Ignoring the gazes around him, Shao Zifeng replayed the previous appraisal process in his mind, not finding any slip-up, he then smiled and nodded, following Chen Yixin out of the classroom. Chen Wen watched the backs of Shao Zifeng and Chen Yixin, his heart growing increasingly unwilling as a surge of darkness crossed his face. ¡­ The two stood still in the corridor far from the fourth class, neither speaking. Below was an artificial lake, and further in the distance, a class was having an outdoor lesson, with cheers erupting now and then. A breeze swept across the lake surface, the sparkling water refracting light, casting fish-scale-like shadows on the clean white walls, gently quivering. ¡°Your armadillo lizard is hiding its strength, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chen Yixin sorted out her hair tousled by the wind, turning to look at Shao Zifeng. At those words, Shao Zifeng was startled. Just as he feared, though he was uncertain and surprised, his face still wore a smile as he replied, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Teacher Chen trust her own appraisal?¡± With a light laugh, Chen Yixin turned away¡­ I really want to poke his cheek; his skin is even more delicate than mine. Refraining from her restless fingers, without responding, she reached into the pocket of her white coat, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng took it and glanced at it. His smile instantly froze. His fingers tightened around the paper, whitening a bit. He suddenly looked up, his gaze locking with Chen Yixin¡¯s. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Chapter 63: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Su City Supernatural Affairs Management Bureau. It wasn¡¯t even time to get off work yet, but the tall and burly Chen Zhenglong had already changed into casual clothes, ready to start the plan to rescue the good young man from today onward. Usually coming to and from work in uniform, he wore a shirt his wife had bought a few years ago, yet it no longer fit. He barely managed to button it up, the shirt binding tightly around him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable all over. ¡°Damn it, it seems I¡¯ve put on some more muscle lately.¡± Chen Zhenglong cursed under his breath, reached back to adjust his collar, and sucked in his slightly protruding belly before he finally felt a bit more comfortable. ¡°Yo, Captain Chen, looking sharp today¡ªare you going on a date with your sister-in-law?¡± A clerical staff member walked by Chen Zhenglong, holding back a laugh as he teased him upon seeing Zhenglong¡¯s awkward appearance. ¡°Scram, scram, scram, have you finished your work?¡± His expression hardened as he glared at the clerk. Frightened, the clerk shrank his neck, recalling the captain¡¯s usual demeanor, and hurried off clutching his file folder. Chen Zhenglong had a stern face and a stubbly beard around his jaw. He was generally amiable in private, but whenever work came up, his face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Although the colleagues in the bureau respected him, they couldn¡¯t help but complain about him in private. Sucking in his stomach, Chen Zhenglong squeezed himself into his car, reached for his collar button, and undid it, finally heaving a long sigh of relief: ¡°Damn it, if I don¡¯t pull that young man out, I wouldn¡¯t do justice to all this suffering.¡± Thinking of the pure young man waiting for his rescue, Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eyes hardened, and the red scarf on his chest¡­ No. He suddenly felt a heavier burden on his shoulders. ¡­ All afternoon, Shao Zifeng was tormented in various ways by the madwoman Chen Yixing, until she was satisfied and let him go at dusk. Fortunately, with plenty of data and samples collected this time, if it weren¡¯t for Qiuqiu¡¯s constant scowling, Shao Zifeng suspected that the woman might have gone even further. Walking alone under the streetlights of Su City University, he felt a long-missed relaxation. With the various promises provided by Chen Yixing, the pressure of training pets would greatly decrease, saving a substantial amount on Qiuqiu¡¯s food bills at the very least. Not to mention the choice of a third pet. Whether it¡¯s the world-class reserve of Antarctica or a national reserve, the mutant creatures produced there could not be matched by those in the wild. Thinking of this, a surge of longing and anticipation rose in his heart. ¡°Mutant Fairy Shell¡­¡± Speaking of pets, that afternoon¡¯s mutant creature had truly opened Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. A three-star quality defensive pet, though its exact strength tier was not listed on the information screen, according to the hints and his recent exploration, a full three-star quality likely corresponded to a sixth-tier strength. That is to say, the Mutant Fairy Shell, despite its small size, was a creature that could withstand attacks from a sixth-tier enemy. ¡°Is it student Shao Zifeng?¡± Just as Shao Zifeng was lost in thought, a timid voice emerged from the darkness outside the range of the streetlight, its owner seemingly very nervous, their speech quivering slightly. Shao Zifeng looked towards the source of the voice, only to see a frail boy slowly walking into the illuminated area of the streetlight. The boy, probably around eighteen or nineteen, was wearing a washed-out white high school uniform, showing signs of repair. Due to the oversized uniform, it hung loose on the boy¡¯s frame. He kept his head down, not daring to look at Shao Zifeng, his hands nervously clenching the hem of his garment. ¡°I am Shao Zifeng, and you are¡­¡± Shao Zifeng wore a faint smile, eyeing the boy curiously, feeling that¡­ feeling that this boy seemed familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. ¡°I¡­ I am Li Yiming, from the second class of the sophomore year of the Combat Training Department.¡± Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice made the boy tremble, and he stuttered out his reply. Li Yiming, Shao Zifeng tried to recall for a moment, but truly couldn¡¯t remember who this person was, and asked curiously, ¡°Li, do you need me for something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ It¡¯s not me looking for you, someone asked me to take you to a place,¡± Li Yiming glanced briefly at Shao Zifeng, the unexpected eye contact made him lower his head even more, anxiously staring at his own toes. ¡°Oh, sorry, I don¡¯t have time.¡± Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng felt no desire to continue the conversation and coldly replied with a phrase, moving past the skinny boy towards the school gate. ¡°Wait¡­ wait a second, Shao,¡± Shao Zifeng had just taken a few steps when the urgent, trembling voice of the boy behind him reached him again. Shao Zifeng slightly turned his head upon hearing the words, feeling a bit impatient, yet he couldn¡¯t show it. Damn it! The boy hesitated for a moment, as if he had made a huge decision, suddenly raised his head, his handsome pale face hosted a pair of big black-framed glasses, ¡°Shao¡­ Shao, someone¡¯s plotting against you, you must be careful.¡± After uttering the sentence, as if it exhausted all his courage, his handsome face turned crimson, and he instantly collapsed. He lowered his head again and hurriedly walked past Shao Zifeng, his figure gradually disappearing into the night. ¡°Li Yiming.¡± Shao Zifeng stood in his place, pondering over this name, he recognized that face, it seemed from the campus free challenge initiated by Wang Hao, he was the first challenger. If he remembered correctly, his pet beast was a big rooster. But what did he mean by someone plotting against him, could it really be that someone saw his handsome face and couldn¡¯t restrain their burning emotions, planning to make a move on him? ¡°Tsk, this is tricky.¡± Jokes aside, after listening to Li Yiming¡¯s warning, Shao Zifeng pondered deeply for a while, still couldn¡¯t figure out whose sin he had committed, and his stomach began to growl first, irritatingly scratching his head. Forget it, let¡¯s go eat. Preserving my life is crucial. ¡­ Half an hour later, after having dinner, Shao Zifeng prepared to take a shortcut home. He took off the backpack from his back and held it in his arms, bonding with the Elemental Egg. The Elemental Egg had been well-behaved all day, apart from a few bursts of emotional harassment when it was awake, there hadn¡¯t been a situation of grass growing everywhere. He patted the backpack satisfied, planning to give it a one-dollar reward after getting home. The Elemental Egg emitted a burst of jubilant emotions. The street lights on the path, constantly poorly maintained, many were damaged, with a few flickering unpredictably, emitting a sizzling electricity sound, as if from a scene in a horror movie. ¡°Ah!¡± Passing a small alley, a miserable scream came, Shao Zifeng acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, expressionlessly continuing on his way, he wasn¡¯t someone who liked to bring trouble upon himself. ¡°Fuck, even getting someone to shout is beyond you, useless! Useless!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The sound of something heavy hitting a body resonated, followed by another suppressed groan. Shao Zifeng slightly furrowed his brow, stopping in his tracks, the voice from before was very familiar. ¡°Brother Gang, don¡¯t get mad, that Shao Zifeng is at this school, if it comes to it, we can just block him tomorrow,¡± another obsequious voice came out from the darkness. ¡°Yeah, Brother Gang, just leave it to us, don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± Sounds were coming from the alley again, and after a burst of swearing, a dull thudding noise filled the air. The familiar moans at low pitch lingered in Shao Zifeng¡¯s ears, making him think of the boy who had sent him the message. Shao Zifeng furrowed his brow, considering the number of people present. He had decided not to leave, as the several people inside were obviously targeting him. Trouble had arrived; there was no need to carry it overnight¡­ A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked around and took a brick from the corner of the wall. He admitted to himself that he wasn¡¯t a good person. Well, then he¡¯d solve the problem in the way a bad person would. As Shao Zifeng moved deeper, everything unfolding before him came into his view. The alley was not deep, and at its end, a dim street lamp flickered, unknown tiny insects constantly slamming into the bulb, making a ticking sound. Under the streetlight, five youths, who looked like students, were repeatedly kicking a frail boy curled up on the ground. The boy was holding his head with both arms, bent at the waist lying sideways on the damp ground, emitting low, suppressed groans of pain. On the other side, a cat and a dog pressed a bloody rooster with their paws, ceaselessly tearing and biting at its flesh, their eyes emitting a faint green glow in the darkness. The rooster, which had looked so proud at first, was now splattered with blood, its feathers all torn. It lay powerlessly in a pool of blood, its dim eyes looking at Li Yiming without any trace of emotion. Perhaps due to the overwhelming smell of blood, the two pets hadn¡¯t noticed someone else¡¯s approach. Shao Zifeng hid in the shadows next to a pile of junk, watching everything calmly, but the bulging veins on the hand clutching the brick revealed that his heart was far from calm. ¡°Dammit, useless trash,¡± the leading young man kicked out, striking Li Yiming heavily in the belly. Li Yiming grunted and slid across the ground, crashing into the wall of the alley, his violent coughs splattering bits of bright red under the streetlight, starkly conspicuous. The leading youth crouched down, grabbed Li Yiming by the hair, and slapped his twisted face in pain. ¡°Kid, you can¡¯t cough up the cash, and you can¡¯t get things done either. Tell me, what should I, Brother Gang, do to punish you?¡± Li Yiming¡¯s vision blurred, seeing double images of the man in front of him. Even though he couldn¡¯t make out the youth¡¯s face clearly, the long-standing bullying still made him shiver uncontrollably with fear in his eyes. ¡°Useless.¡± Brother Gang, feeling somewhat bored by Li Yiming¡¯s reaction, banged his head on the ground and disdainfully wiped his hands on him. ¡°Bleh.¡± Brother Gang stood up and spat on Li Yiming, then turned back to his pets, ¡°Blood Wolf, Blood Tiger, kill that rooster for me; I¡¯ll treat you to some meat tonight.¡± His words caught the attention of the dog and the cat. They first yelped pleasingly at Brother Gang, then their eyes glinted ferociously, and, baring their sharp teeth, they bit towards the rooster¡¯s neck. ¡°No¡­ please¡­ I beg you.¡± Hearing Brother Gang¡¯s words, Li Yiming struggled to get up. A youth by his side saw this and stepped on his back, spewing a string of curses. Li Yiming strenuously lifted his head, watching the pets¡¯ teeth close in on the rooster¡¯s neck. His mouth open but unable to make a sound, tears blurring his vision, his hands frantically scratched at the ground, leaving white marks with his nails. The rooster looked at him once more, not with regret or unwillingness, but with a hint of relief. Seeing the rooster¡¯s eyes, Li Yiming was stunned. This was the first time he hated his own cowardice so much. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Just as everyone¡¯s attention was drawn, a short scream made everyone shudder in shock, and they looked in astonishment toward the position of the young man on the outermost edge. Blood splattered on the walls of the alley, provoking everyone¡¯s tense nerves. ¡°Thud!¡± The blood-drenched young man collapsed to the ground, revealing a boy with a tall stature and handsome appearance, except for his gentle smile which seemed somewhat eerie, marred by drops of crimson. ¡°Who are you!¡± Gan Brother roared furiously, staring intently at Shao Zifeng as his two pets quickly released the rooster and positioned themselves in front of him, crouching low and baring their teeth menacingly. Shao Zifeng smiled sweetly at the flustered people before him and said nothing, shaking the blood off his hand. He was assessing the combat power of both sides. Having been strengthened through the ¡°Bonding Reaction¡± and recent training, it was hard to say if he could take on five people. But four people shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Thinking this, the smile on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face became even more benevolent. Gan Brother didn¡¯t recognize Shao Zifeng, but that didn¡¯t mean no one else did. Suddenly, a skinny man with glasses pointed at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Shao Zifeng, Gan Brother, this is Shao Zifeng.¡± His voice was somewhat out of tune due to too much excitement. Shao Zifeng was a little stunned when he heard the familiar voice. Oh, it really was an acquaintance, that Chen Wen who blew his cover. Didn¡¯t expect that it was you doing the dirty deeds behind the scenes. Shao Zifeng grinned at Chen Wen, his smile together with the dim lights and the blood on his face making Chen Wen shudder violently, taking a half step back. ¡°Fuck, punk, you¡¯re asking for it,¡± swore Gan Brother¡¯s two henchmen, pointing at Shao Zifeng, itching to charge at him right away. Gan Brother waved his hand to stop his henchmen, stepped forward, and with a gloomy expression, he stared at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re quite something, I haven¡¯t seen such an arrogant junior for a long time. Today, Gan Brother will teach you the rules of Su City University.¡± With that, Gan Brother suddenly turned around and swung his leg, delivering a fierce whip kick towards Shao Zifeng¡¯s head with a whoosh. Unfazed, Shao Zifeng stepped back and threw a bloodstained brick. ¡°Crack.¡± ¡°Ah!!!!¡± The collision was clearly in favor of the brick over the leg. Gan Brother collapsed to the ground, clutching his shin, screaming continuously. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re freaking cheating.¡± Gan Brother was almost crying; wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a fair fight, man to man, martial to martial? How could you freaking use hidden weapons? Shao Zifeng remained silent; having started, he decided to end the fight quickly. ¡°Get him, cripple him!¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng charging, he roared with bloodshot eyes. Henchman A and Henchman B looked at each other, and swung their fists to meet him. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: See If You Wont Die Chapter 60: Chapter 60: See If You Won¡¯t Die ¡°I know it was wrong of me to issue the appraisal report on my own, and I apologize to you,¡± Chen Yixin said seriously as she looked at Shao Zifeng. ¡°I can assure you that no one besides you and me will know about this appraisal report. Can you accept my invitation?¡± After understanding the reason, Shao Zifeng felt a bit uneasy, but the hostility he initially had was no longer as strong. He pondered and then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± ¡°I can offer a salary to the armadillo lizard,¡± Chen Yixin said with a determined look in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money¡­¡± ¡°Social insurance, housing fund, and a formal position,¡± Chen Yixin said earnestly. ¡°What I mean is¡­¡± ¡°Every month I will provide five bottles of energy potions of the same tier and attributes as a meal subsidy,¡± she added, raising her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°The private villa the state awarded me can be rented to you for one yuan, and you decide the lease term!¡± Chen Yixin¡¯s mouth twitched, her tone remained firm, but there was a tremor in her voice. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°In the future, every field investigation in national reserves will include you, and I can also offer you an opportunity to sign a contract with a beast from the reserve. Even when visiting world-class reserves next time, I can take you along, and if you discover the remains of prehistoric creatures, I will fully support their recovery. Tell me what else you want, as long as it¡¯s not too much, I can agree,¡± Chen Yixin abruptly stood up, her hands pressing down on the table, leaning forward to look at Shao Zifeng. Cough¡­ Shao Zifeng opened his mouth. Glancing at the hidden curves under the white lab coat, he slightly averted his gaze. All these demands. It¡¯s all you talking, okay? I haven¡¯t asked for anything at all. Shao Zifeng ranted inwardly in madness. Actually, he had been tempted since the third condition Chen Yixin mentioned. But she did not give him a chance to speak at all. Salaries, positions, the villa¡ªhe didn¡¯t care much about those. In the Great Xia, the ordinary positions for beast handlers and the level of felon dogs didn¡¯t pay much. What tempted him was the five bottles of energy potions, which was no small matter. As Qiuqiu¡¯s strength improved, the monthly consumption of energy potions would certainly be a significant expense. Not to mention the national and world-class reserves she mentioned at the end. National reserves are the habitats planned by Great Xia for unique cherished mutant creatures; some areas, even if you spend a lot of money, you can¡¯t enter, let alone be offered a contracting opportunity. World-class reserves are even more impressive; the only world-class reserve recognized by all countries is the continent known as the ¡°Pure White Continent,¡±¡ªthe ice-bound Antarctica. Antarctica is located at the southernmost tip of Blue Star and is the last continent discovered in the world, with over 95% of its area covered by astonishingly thick ice and snow. This massive ice cap acts like an enormous hat, covering most of Antarctica tight and secure. Therefore, since the discovery of Antarctica, there have been various speculations surrounding this ancient and mysterious continent. For instance, beneath the ice cap of Antarctica, there¡¯s a magical space heated by geothermal energy, melting the ice and providing living space for countless magical creatures. Or that Antarctica is actually the entrance to the Earth Core World, and so on¡­ Setting aside the legendary allure these rumors bring. In recent years, numerous prehistoric creatures have been found in the ice layers of Antarctica by international scientific research teams, attracting countless enthusiasts. The Ice Plateau Saber-Toothed Tiger that Chen Yixin revived was brought back from Antarctica by the Great Xia national research team. As the world¡¯s last untouched land, under the United Nations proposal, all countries signed the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty stipulates that Antarctica is a world-class reserve; any country can send research teams, but no excessive exploitation or destructive research is allowed, and no group or individual is permitted to explore privately without national certification. While it protects the untouched land of Antarctica to the greatest extent from damage, it also adds more mystery to the already legendary Antarctica. The terms Chen Yixin offered were exceptionally generous, so generous that Shao Zifeng became suspicious of her motives: ¡°Is the armadillo lizard that important to you?¡± Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s question, Chen Yixin hesitated: ¡°It¡¯s not the armadillo lizard; the research topic is very important to me. The armadillo lizard is just one path to the research of ancestral evolution, and at present, the closest path for me.¡± ¡°Is it worth it?¡± Shao Zifeng continued to ask. Chen Yixin bit her lip, and her mature and intelligent face showed a hint of reminiscence: ¡°It¡¯s worth it¡­ For me, as long as I can see him again¡­¡± She suddenly fell silent, no longer speaking. ¡°I understand,¡± Shao Zifeng said quietly in his heart, not quite understanding the last part of what she said, but from the empathetic feedback, she had no ill intent towards him from start to finish. She should be trustworthy, right? Lately, Shao Zifeng had indeed become aware of his problems; perhaps because he often used empathy, he found himself a bit too ¡°reclusive.¡± Maybe he could use this opportunity to attempt to interact with others? Because Shao Zifeng did not speak right away, the office fell into dead silence. Chen Yixin had been leaning over with her hands on the table for a while, her arms growing sore and trembling due to the weight of something from above. She stole a glance at Shao Zifeng and, seeing that he wasn¡¯t paying attention to her, quietly withdrew her hands from the table and positioned them behind her back to flex her wrist joints, grimacing at the tingling sensation. As Shao Zifeng made up his mind, he looked up to see Chen Yixin grimacing with bared teeth. They made awkward eye contact. But as a mature big sister, Chen Yixin was the first to break the awkward silence, lifting her slightly trembling right hand to brush back her hair behind her ear and giving Shao Zifeng a smile, even winking at him. Shao Zifeng curled his lip: ¡°Got something in your eye?¡± The smile on Chen Yixin¡¯s face froze. Can¡¯t that pesky brother say something nice? ¡­ After agreeing on the specific terms, Chen Yixin promised various benefits and compensations. A special clause was added that before Shao Zifeng voluntarily disclosed any information, Chen Yixin must not reveal Qiuqiu¡¯s details to anyone. Having reviewed the contract printed by Chen Yixin and finding nothing amiss, Shao Zifeng signed his name on it. Strictly speaking, Shao Zifeng, or rather Qiuqiu, didn¡¯t need to fulfill many obligations, just to provide some of Qiuqiu¡¯s Scale Armor fragments or blood when she required it. Another requirement was to regularly check Qiuqiu¡¯s physical development and the increasing power of its abilities. It is worth mentioning that, as Qiuqiu¡¯s owner, Shao Zifeng was entitled to the treatment of a scientific research assistant. Yes, they could receive two salaries. As for Qiuqiu¡¯s share¡­ After all is said and done, it¡¯s mine. Cough¡­ The old Shao Zifeng might not have thought this way, but for some reason, the idea just popped into his head as soon as he saw the contract. After signing the contract, Chen Yixin breathed a sigh of relief, put the documents into a folder, and extended her hand gratefully, ¡°Pleasure doing business with you.¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated as he looked at the delicate and fair hand before him, then reached out his right hand. ¡°Now, shall we get to work?¡± Shao Zifeng, looking befuddled, stared at the joyful Chen Yixin, ¡°Work? What work?¡± ¡°Summon your armadillo lizard and help me complete the first record of testing,¡± Chen Yixin said with a look that suggested she was dealing with an idiot, surprised he had forgotten right after signing the contract. ¡°Cough¡­ What I mean is, don¡¯t you all need to eat?¡± Shao Zifeng, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under her gaze, clarified. It was not Shao Zifeng¡¯s fault, they had spent the better part of the day discussing and finalizing the contract, and it was already afternoon; he was indeed getting hungry. Chen Yixin glanced at her watch after hearing his words, and her face showed a hint of surprise¡ªit was already three o¡¯clock. Although she felt embarrassed, she still pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send up a meal right now. Time waits for no one; how about we start with that while we wait?¡± Shao Zifeng shook his head helplessly; the contract was signed, what could he do? Since he had made up his mind, he decided to try and trust her. Then, he waved his hand in the air. The space in front of him rippled, and a translucent Space Rift slowly opened, causing the room¡¯s temperature to rise. ¡°Ying?¡± A joyful chirp came out of the rift. Qiuqiu, with its little paws clutching the edge of the rift, stuck out its bare head and looked around curiously. Inedible chairs, inedible tables, inedible square boxes, an inedible female biped, inedible¡­ Wait¡­ A biped? ¡Ñ¨Œ¡Ñ Upon seeing Chen Yixin, Qiuqiu jumped back, quickly retracting its head into the rift. It wasn¡¯t scared, but it remembered what Egg had told it, not to reveal itself in front of others. Seeing Qiuqiu popping in and out, Shao Zifeng¡¯s face softened, and he called out gently, ¡°Qiuqiu, come out.¡± ¡°Ying!¡± Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s familiar voice, Qiuqiu shot out, darting into his arms, clutching the clothes on his chest with its little paws, and making cooing sounds as it rubbed its head against Shao Zifeng in coquetry. Shao Zifeng held Qiuqiu with one hand, and lovingly rubbed its bare head. A short distance away, Chen Yixin looked at Qiuqiu in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, somewhat at a loss for words, and hesitantly asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to summon an armadillo lizard? How did you end up summoning a hairless dog?¡± ¡°Oh no.¡± Hearing this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s expression froze, and he inwardly cursed. Before he could intervene, Intense waves of heat burst out from him as the center, the invisible heatwave sweeping across the room, flipping chairs over, and sending papers flying everywhere. Chen Yixin was swept by the gust, stumbling a bit and hastily bracing herself against a nearby table. Her disheveled hair covered her face, and her white lab coat clung to her body, revealing her shapely figure. Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes ignited with two flames, glaring fiercely at the annoying female biped across from it. Strands of flame spilled from the corners of its mouth, emitting a violent aura. How dare she call it a hairless dog in front of Egg! Let¡¯s see if you survive this! ¡°Roar!¡± The more Qiuqiu thought about it, the angrier it got. Its eyes gleamed menacingly as it let out an angry roar. A blinding firelight exploded. The temperature in the room rose again. A ball of fire formed within the blaze, shrinking inward and condensing into a soccer ball-sized fireball. Whoosh! The terrifying heat twisted the air around it, and the fireball turned into a streak of light, hurling towards Chen Yixin with a trail of exploding flame. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Mutant Fairy Shell (Seeking Investment) Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Mutant Fairy Shell (Seeking Investment) The crimson fireball, like an impatient beast, cut across the sky with a dazzling crimson trail, instantly engulfing the astonished Chen Yixin. The fiercely expanding fireball emitted intense high temperatures. Red flames streamed up and down on the fireball, continuously emitting rolling heat waves that distorted the space around it. The floating papers in the air were ignited by the flowing flames, instantly consumed by the explosive flames, blooming like flowers of fire, dancing in the air before burning out completely, turning into tiny crimson ashes. The small office was filled with firelight, strikingly red and alarmingly hot. The flames reflected on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, who was completely dumbfounded at this moment, thinking, ¡°What the hell am I supposed to do now?¡± Run away with Qiuqiu! This was the first thought that came to his mind. Although he was unclear about the significance of Chen Yixin¡¯s identity in the field of paleontology, he knew well enough that someone capable of overcoming the challenges of reviving ancient creatures was no mere guest professor. ¡°Buzz!¡± Just as Shao Zifeng was preparing to escape with Qiuqiu, visible ripples spread out from the center of the fireball, and the person-sized fireball visibly melted away at a visible rate. The scattered flames touched by the ripple instantly disappeared, as if erased from the world by some unknown force. The ripples swept over Shao Zifeng and Qiuqiu, making Shao feel a cool sensation all over, while the rich fiery elements condensed on Qiuqiu¡¯s body instantly disappeared. The temperature in the office seemed to shift from the height of summer to early spring. ¡°Did the armadillo lizard evolve?! The intensity of this flame is fantastic. To have such power without using any skills is great. You really gave me a big surprise!¡± An excited voice came from behind the gradually dispersing fire curtain before the fireball had completely disappeared. Shao Zifeng stood there stunned, looking at the slender figure behind the thin curtain of fire. Chen Yixin¡­ Hadn¡¯t died. She seemed very impatient. Before the flames had completely died down, she hurried out. When she appeared in front of Shao Zifeng, she still had faint sparks on her, thankfully extinguished by the ripple, otherwise Shao was truly afraid she might spontaneously combust right there. At that moment, Chen Yixin looked utterly disheveled, her clothes torn and hair messy, even her glasses cracked, resembling a decent woman ravaged by a village tyrant. However, unlike what her appearance suggested, her eyes did not show despair but sparkled with desire, excitedly conveying her longing to the tyrant, silently telling him¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s do it again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it again!¡± Shao Zifeng paused, shook his head to dismiss the bizarre mental image, wondering, ¡°What kind of nonsense is this?¡± He thought he was hallucinating, yet it seemed like he had distinctly heard Chen Yixin¡¯s voice. Looking at Chen Yixin, who almost had her face pressed against Qiuqiu¡¯s body, Shao Zifeng silently took a step back and confirmed, ¡°Did you speak?¡± Qiuqiu glared fiercely at Chen Yixin, constantly wriggling its body trying to break free from Shao Zifeng¡¯s embrace. If it weren¡¯t worried about hurting Shao or being silenced, it really wanted to give this annoying female another blast. Bastard! Chen Yixin looked up, her eyes burning with passion as she looked at Shao Zifeng: ¡°Let¡¯s do it again. The last attack was a bit sudden, and I didn¡¯t get a good sense of the fire¡¯s oppression and intensity.¡± After speaking, she stared unblinkingly at Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, waiting for his response. Shao Zifeng looked at her, messy as she was, as if seeing a fool, wondering what kind of courage and faith one needed to act this way. She must be crazy! The previous shock had almost scared Shao to death, nearly causing him to flee. And yet, she wanted to do it again? Seeing Shao Zifeng¡¯s long silence, Chen Yixin¡¯s eyes whirled. She looked at Qiuqiu in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, her mouth curving into a sinister smile. ¡°Bald lizard, you¡¯re dead¡­¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The room burst into flames again. ¡­ ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Shao Zifeng looked at the woman who walked out of the flames with fluffy hair, smiling foolishly, and suddenly felt a bit intimidated. She must truly be a lunatic, right? ¡°Ying roar!¡± She didn¡¯t die again! Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes instantly turned red as blood, nearly exploding with anger. This damned bipedal beast¡­ You! Horse! Just! Died! Its four little claws ceaselessly struggled and scratched at Shao Zifeng¡¯s clothes, tiny scales that had just grown on its skin flared up, its eyes showing ferocity. Shao Zifeng continuously comforted Qiuqiu with emotions, gradually calming it down. With a pitiful look, it raised its head at Shao Zifeng, its eyes misty with a hint of water vapor. It turned and used its small claws to grab the front of Shao Zifeng¡¯s shirt to cover its face, mumbling about how pitiful and wretched it was, bullied by the evil bipedal beast. This pitiful little expression was a stark contrast to its fierce demeanor just moments ago. Shao Zifeng looked helplessly at Chen Yixing, endlessly stroking Qiuqiu to soothe it. ¡°Really¡­ it¡¯s really not an ordinary armadillo lizard¡­ That¡¯s great, so great¡­ haha,¡± Chen Yixing spat out a puff of black smoke, her eyes gleaming as she watched Qiuqiu in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, endlessly muttering to herself. Indeed, upon careful observation, the evolved armadillo lizard in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms was markedly different in stature from the Fire Lizard. Before evolution, armadillo lizards move like ordinary lizards, with short limbs and joints curled up, and belly tightly close to the ground as it moved. After evolving to a Fire Lizard, the forelimbs become robust and upright, but the hind limbs remain short and curled, giving the illusion of squatting on the ground. However, the one Shao Zifeng had was different, its limbs were of equal length, and though the forelimbs were a bit shorter than those of the Fire Lizard, it stood with its abdomen off the ground without the appearance of crouching or squatting. This is also why it appeared bald when it first came out of the pet space, and why he mistook it for a canine-type pet. This is, could this possibly be the legendary¡­ Thinking of those four words, Chen Yixing shivered with excitement, her gaze intensifying. ¡°You¡­ are you okay?¡± Shao Zifeng felt increasingly uncomfortable and hesitated before asking. ¡°Me? I¡¯m fine¡­ very good.¡± Chen Yixing gradually calmed down from her excitement, straightened her fluffy hair with her hands, and adjusted her glasses that were cracked, staring straight at Shao Zifeng. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Shao Zifeng panicked, this surely couldn¡¯t be another round! Really so fearless of death! ¡°Nothing, I assure you, as long as you don¡¯t expose this pet, even if I die, I won¡¯t reveal the slightest information to anyone,¡± Chen Yixing looked at him seriously with a focused and firm tone. ¡°You¡­¡± Shao Zifeng stuttered, not expecting Chen Yixing to suddenly say such things. Even after signing the contract, he always harbored a bit of doubt and vigilance. He just wanted to try interacting with someone, or rather, was driven by interest to interact with someone. But now, seeing Chen Yixing¡¯s expression, Shao Zifeng felt an unexpected sense of reassurance. He smiled and shook his head, watching Chen Yixing with a firm and serious tone, ¡°I believe you.¡± After speaking, he immediately engaged in empathy, secretly sensing Chen Yixing¡¯s emotions. Hmm. No unusual emotional fluctuations. Seems she¡¯s sincere. Now he truly felt at ease. A woman¡¯s mouth, a liar¡¯s ghost. Trust and stuff, rely on your own talents, pfft! As their eyes met, the room was filled with a tacit understanding named ¡°trust.¡± Back to normal, Chen Yixin looked at the boy in front of her with a smile¡­ His skin was still so delicate, as if touched by Kato¡­ She poked him gently with her finger. ¡°Knock knock¡­¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± The sudden knock broke the tacit understanding of ¡°trust¡± in the room, and Chen Yixin hurriedly took off her tattered white¡­ the scorched and yellow mixed with black coat, then pulled out another one from the desk¡¯s cabinet before going to open the door. ¡­ The frail, bespectacled man carried two takeouts, knocking on the team leader¡¯s office door with anticipation and excitement. Because of the excitement, his usually sun-deprived pale face was flushed with a mysterious redness. The team leader actually asked me to order food¡­ The team leader actually ordered two servings¡­ Does this mean¡­ She has finally recognized my talents and wants to develop a relationship beyond mere colleagueship. The infatuated bespectacled man trembled, dabbing at the corner of his mouth shining with drool, seriously tidied his sparse hair. He took out his phone and checked his reflection. Handsome! Today is another handsome day indeed! Convinced of his good looks, the bespectacled man straightened his back, expectantly looking at the office door¡­ Well, just that the wait was a bit long¡­ But girls need time to put on makeup before seeing their crush, understandable. The bespectacled man was furiously strategizing in his mind. ¡°Creak.¡± With a soft creak, the office door slowly opened, and the bespectacled man quickly put on an elegant facade, smiling and leaning on the door frame. ¡°Hi, team leader¡­¡± The bespectacled man¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. What did he see! Pale yellow dress, fluffy hair¡­ No, the dress wasn¡¯t pale yellow, but the hair was indeed fluffy and messy. And, apparently¡­ There was another man in the team leader¡¯s office. At that moment, the bespectacled man stood frozen, hearing the sound of his heart breaking. ¡­ ¡°Yu Xiang pork rice and Huangmen chicken rice, thank you, Xiao Tang,¡± Chen Yixin took the boxed meals, thanked him, and closed the door. Xiao Tang was acting weird today, why the defeated look. But she hadn¡¯t eaten for so long and was hungry, so she didn¡¯t pay much attention. After closing the door, the two starving people buried their heads and started eating. ¡°By the way, why were you unharmed after Qiuqiu¡¯s attack?¡± Shao Zifeng asked without looking up. ¡°Humph¡­ say something,¡± Chen Yixin, while heartily munching on her food, muffled her unclear response to Shao Zifeng¡¯s question. Shao Zifeng was startled. How did she suddenly develop a Tianjin accent. After that, Chen Yixin fell silent. Shao Zifeng waited a long time for a response and finally lifted his head in confusion. But he saw a little creature had appeared in front of him at some unknown time. The little creature was about 20 centimeters tall, with a humanoid head and limbs, face only bearing two inky black round eyes, limbs lacking hands and feet, its whole body emanating the fine luster of suet white jade; two jadelike wings extended from its back, half-shielding itself as if a bit shy. ¡°Umpa¡± It tilted its little head and softly called out. This was the first time Shao Zifeng saw such a pet, diverging from the beastly image; he gently placed his chopsticks on the boxed meal, taking a serious look at the pet before him. Qiuqiu was also drawn to it, hopped beside the unknown pet, curiously sniffing it. Humph! Annoying water element! Then it prepared to slap it with a claw. ¡°Thud¡± Seeing Qiuqiu¡¯s movement, the unknown pet quickly closed its wings on its back, protecting itself in the center. Qiuqiu¡¯s claw struck the hard shell, producing a dull sound. Only then did Shao Zifeng realize, it was actually a mollusk pet. Peripherally, blue light spots rotated, drawing a pale blue light screen. [Name]: Mutant Fairy Clam [Growth Phase]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Curious, Shy [Power]: None [Phylum]: Mollusca [Class]: Bivalvia [Order]: Pterioida [Family]: Pectinidae [Element]: Water [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï [Talents]: Guardian Barrier: In moments of danger to its master, it will open its Guardian Barrier immediately, blocking any elemental or physical attack not exceeding its own strength (The aptitude of mutant evolution pets determines their corresponding strength). Absorption: Can absorb elemental attacks not exceeding its own strength, converting them into energy to reinforce the Guardian Barrier. [Skills]: Defense, Water Defense, Cute [Description]: Evolved from a white jade scallop, it is a rare premium defense pet, but unfortunate is that with strong defenses, it can¡¯t kill even an ant. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Su City Anomalous Affairs Bureau. It wasn¡¯t yet time to knock off work, yet the tall and burly Chen Zhenglong had already changed into casual attire, preparing to initiate the ¡°Rescue Plan for the Innocent Young Man¡± starting today. Usually commuting in his uniform, he wore a shirt his wife had bought years ago which no longer fit him well. He barely fastened the buttons, the shirt constricting him uncomfortably all over. ¡°Damn, seems I¡¯ve gotten more robust recently.¡± Chen Zhenglong cursed softly, grabbing the collar at his back and sucking in his slightly protruding belly, which made him feel somewhat more comfortable. ¡°Hey, Captain Chen, looking sharp today. Going on a date with the missus?¡± A clerical staff member passed by Chen Zhenglong, glimpsing the uncomfortable man and teasing him with a barely suppressed laugh. ¡°Buzz off, you finished your work yet?¡± he responded sternly, glaring at the clerk. The clerk, frightened, shrank and recalling the captain¡¯s usual demeanor, quickly scurried away clutching his folder. Chen Zhenglong¡¯s expression was stern, his jaw framed by a beard stubble; he was quite amiable privately but became exceedingly grim when it came to work. Despite being respected by colleagues for his character, private complaints were inevitable. Sucking in his belly, Chen Zhenglong barely squeezed into his car, unbuttoned his top button, and sighed deeply. ¡°Damn it, if I don¡¯t get that kid out, all my suffering would be in vain.¡± Thinking of the innocent young man waiting to be rescued, his eyes hardened with resolve. A red scarf on his chest¡­ Not really. Instantly, he felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier. ¡­ Through the afternoon, Shao Zifeng was tormented variously by the madwoman Chen Yixing until sundown when she finally let him leave, satisfied. Fortunately, this session generated ample data and samples; if not for Qiuqiu¡¯s continual scowling, Shao Zifeng suspected the woman might have gone even further. Walking alone under the street lights of Su City University, he felt a rare sense of relaxation. With various promises from Chen Yixing, the pressure to nurture mutant creatures diminished greatly, reducing at least Qiuqiu¡¯s meal expenses substantially. Moreover, there was the choice of a third creature, whether from the world-class protected area of Antarctica or the national reserves, the mutant creatures bred there were incomparable to those found in the wild. With that thought, his heart filled with a touch of longing and anticipation. ¡°Mutant Fairy Shell ah¡­¡± Speaking of mutant creatures, the one from the afternoon had been quite an eye-opener for Shao Zifeng. A three-star defense type creature, although the light screen didn¡¯t show its specific strength level, according to the hints and his recent explorations, a full three-star quality likely corresponded to a sixth-tier strength. That is to say, despite its small size, the Mutant Fairy Shell was a creature capable of withstanding sixth-tier attacks. ¡°Is that Shao Zifeng?¡± Just as Shao Zifeng was lost in thought, a timid voice called out from the darkness beyond the light of the street lamps, the voice trembled slightly as if its owner were very nervous. Shao Zifeng turned towards the source of the voice and saw a frail boy slowly entering the illuminated range of the street lamp. The boy appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, wearing a faded high school uniform that showed signs of mending. The oversized uniform hung loosely on the boy¡¯s frame. He kept his head down, not daring to look at Shao Zifeng, his hands anxiously clutching at the hem of his clothes. ¡°I¡¯m Shao Zifeng, and you are¡­¡± Shao Zifeng, with a trace of a smile, looked curiously at the boy, feeling an odd sense of familiarity¡­ as if he had seen him somewhere before. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m Li Yiming from class two of the junior class of the Combat Training Department.¡± The boy vibrated at Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, stammered out his reply. Li Yiming, Shao Zifeng strained his thoughts for a moment, truly unable to remember who this person was, so he asked out of curiosity, ¡°Li, is there something you need from me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ not me looking for you. Someone asked me to take you to a place,¡± Li Yiming looked up at Shao Zifeng and the unexpected eye contact made him lower his head even more, anxiously staring at his own toes. ¡°Oh, sorry, I don¡¯t have the time.¡± Hearing this, Shao Zifeng had no desire to continue the conversation and coldly replied as he walked past the skinny boy toward the school gate. ¡°Wait¡­ wait a minute, Shao.¡± Shao Zifeng had just walked a few steps when the urgent, trembling voice of the boy came from behind him. At the sound, Shao Zifeng slightly turned his head, feeling a bit impatient, yet he couldn¡¯t show it. So frustrating! The boy hesitated for a bit as if making a great resolution, then suddenly lifted his head. His delicate, pale face wore big black-rimmed glasses, ¡°Shao¡­ Shao, someone is out to get you, you must be careful.¡± Having said that, as if he had exhausted all his courage, his face flushed red and he instantly slumped. He lowered his head again and hurriedly walked past Shao Zifeng, his figure gradually disappearing in the night. ¡°Li Yiming.¡± Shao Zifeng stood still, chewing on the name. He recognized that face. It was from the campus free challenge initiated by Wang Hao; he seemed to be the first challenger. If he remembered correctly, his pet beast was a big rooster. But what did he mean by someone wanting to harm him? Could it really be that someone saw his handsome face and couldn¡¯t restrain their heated emotions, ready to make a move on him? ¡°Sheesh, what a hassle.¡± Joking aside, Shao Zifeng pondered hard after hearing Li Yiming¡¯s warning but couldn¡¯t think of any sin he had committed when his stomach began to growl, annoyingly scratching his head. Forget it, let¡¯s go have dinner. Life¡¯s important. ¡­ Half an hour later, after having dinner, Shao Zifeng was ready to head home through a small path. He took off the backpack from his back and held it in his arms, bonding with the Elemental Egg. The Elemental Egg had been well-behaved all day, only sending a few bursts of emotional harassment when it was awake, without any rampant sprouting happening. He patted the backpack satisfied, planning to give it a one-yuan reward when he got home. The Elemental Egg burst out in delighted emotions. The street lamps on the small path were perennially unmaintained, most of them damaged, with a few flickering lamps making a sizzling electric noise, like a scene from a horror movie. ¡°Ah!¡± As he passed a narrow alley, a shrill scream was heard, but Shao Zifeng, seemingly oblivious, continued on his way expressionlessly; he was not someone who liked to invite trouble. ¡°Fuck, you can¡¯t even scream for help properly, useless! Worthless!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The sound of a heavy object striking flesh followed, then another suppressed groan. Shao Zifeng slightly frowned and stopped his steps; the voice sounded very familiar. ¡°Gang, don¡¯t be mad. That Shao Zifeng is at this school. If all else fails, we can just corner him tomorrow,¡± another sycophantic voice came from the darkness. ¡°Right, Gang. Just leave it to us, don¡¯t wear yourself out.¡± Several different voices echoed from the alley, followed by a dull thudding sound after a bout of cursing. Familiar groans swirled around Shao Zifeng¡¯s ears, and he thought of the boy who had sent him the message. Shao Zifeng frowned, realizing there were quite a few people. He no longer planned to leave, as it was clear that several people inside were targeting him. Since trouble had come, there was no need to carry it overnight¡­ A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked around and felt for a brick in the corner of the wall. He never considered himself a good person. Well, he might as well solve the problem in the way a bad guy would. As Shao Zifeng moved deeper, everything unfolding before him came into view. The back of the alley was not deep; a dim streetlight flickered at its end, incessantly battered by unknown little bugs making a ticking sound. Under the streetlight, five scruffy-looking youths, who appeared to be students, were continuously kicking a skinny boy curled up on the ground. The boy held his head with both hands and lay on the damp ground, his body curved, issuing a pained and suppressed groan. Meanwhile, a cat and a dog, two pet beasts, were pressing down a bloody rooster with their paws, relentlessly tearing and biting at its body, their eyes emitting a ghostly green glow in the darkness. The rooster, once proud, was now covered in blood, its feathers all torn away. Powerlessly, it lay in a pool of blood, its dull eyes looking at Li Yiming without a flicker of emotion. Perhaps due to the overpowering smell of blood, the two pet beasts had not noticed the approach of an outsider. Hiding in the shadows beside their clutter, Shao Zifeng watched everything with a calm gaze, but the bulging veins on the back of his hand gripping the brick betrayed his inner turmoil. ¡°Damn waste,¡± the lead youth cursed as he kicked out, landing a heavy blow on Li Yiming¡¯s abdomen. Li Yiming grunted, sliding across the ground and crashing into the alley¡¯s wall; harsh coughs followed, sprinkling droplets of blood that were strikingly visible under the streetlight. The leading youth squatted down, grabbed Li Yiming by the hair, and slapped his pain-twisted face. ¡°Kid, you can¡¯t cough up the money, and you can¡¯t handle tasks either. What do you think I should do to punish you?¡± Li Yiming¡¯s vision was blurry, and the man in front of him appeared as a double image. Even though he couldn¡¯t make out the youth¡¯s features, the persistent bullying still made him shiver uncontrollably, eyes filled with fear. ¡°Waste.¡± Gang leader, feeling somewhat bored by Li Yiming¡¯s reaction, slammed his head onto the ground and disdainfully wiped his hands on him. ¡°Ptooey.¡± The gang leader stood up and spat on Li Yiming, then turned back to his pet beasts, ¡°Blood Wolf, Blood Tiger, kill that rooster, I¡¯ll give you guys some meat tonight.¡± The gang leader¡¯s words caught the attention of the cat and dog. They barked eagerly at him before their eyes gleamed viciously and their sharp teeth bore down on the rooster¡¯s neck. ¡°No¡­ please¡­ I beg you.¡± Upon hearing the gang leader¡¯s words, Li Yiming struggled to rise. Seeing this, a youth beside him stepped on his back and hurled an array of curses. Li Yiming strained to lift his head, watching as the pet beasts¡¯ teeth got closer to the rooster¡¯s neck. He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t make a sound; tears blurred his vision, and his hands frantically clawed at the ground, leaving white marks from his fingernails. The rooster glanced at him again, showing no lingering attachment or unwillingness, but instead a hint of relief. Seeing the rooster¡¯s gaze, Li Yiming was stunned; for the first time, he hated his own cowardice so much. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Just when everyone¡¯s attention was captured, a short scream made everyone¡¯s hearts tremble as they looked in surprise toward the young man at the periphery. Blood splattered on the walls of the alley, aggravating everyone¡¯s taut nerves. ¡°Thud!¡± The blood-soaked young man collapsed to the ground, revealing a tall, handsome youth, whose gentle smile appeared somewhat eerie due to a few drops of crimson blood. ¡°Who are you!¡± Gang Ge bellowed fiercely, staring intently at Shao Zifeng while his two beasts quickly released the rooster and shielded him on either side, crouching low and baring their teeth in a menacing growl. Shao Zifeng, with a smile, watched the few panicked people in front of him and simply flicked the blood off his hands without a word. He was assessing the combat strength of both sides. After the enhancements from his ¡°Bonding Reaction¡± and recent training, it was hard to say who would win against five persons. But four should not be a problem. Thinking this, the smile on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face grew even more benevolent. Gang Ge did not know Shao Zifeng, but that did not mean others did not. Suddenly, a skinny man with glasses pointed at Shao Zifeng and said, ¡°Shao Zifeng, Gang Ge, that¡¯s Shao Zifeng.¡± His voice was somewhat off-key due to excessive excitement. Shao Zifeng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this familiar voice. Well, it really was an acquaintance, and that person outing his identity was none other than Chen Wen. He hadn¡¯t expected the backstabber to be you, you scoundrel. Shao Zifeng grinned at Chen Wen, and combined with the dim light and the blood still fresh on his face, it made Chen Wen shudder violently, retreating half a step back. ¡°Fuck, kid, you¡¯re looking for a beating.¡± Gang Ge¡¯s two minions pointed at Shao Zifeng and cursed loudly, eager to charge at him immediately. Gang Ge waved his hand to stop his minions and walked forward a few steps, his expression growing darker as he looked at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Kid, you are quite something. I haven¡¯t seen such an arrogant junior for a long time. Today, Gang Ge will teach you the rules of Su City University.¡± After finishing his words, Gang Ge suddenly turned around and swung his leg, lashing out a ferocious kick toward Shao Zifeng¡¯s head. Shao Zifeng remained unfazed, stepped back, and threw the blood-stained brick in his hand. ¡°Crack.¡± ¡°Ahh!!!¡± Clearly, the brick proved superior in the collision with the leg. Gang Ge fell to the ground, clutching his lower leg and screaming continuously. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re freaking cheating.¡± Gang Ge was almost in tears. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a fair fight, one on one, master against master? Why the hell did you use a hidden weapon? Shao Zifeng remained silent; having engaged, he decided to end the fight quickly. ¡°Get him, tear him apart!¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng charging, he bellowed with bloodshot eyes. The two minions exchanged glances and charged forward with their fists raised. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Chapter 63: Chapter 62 Li Yiming Su City Supernatural Affairs Management Bureau. It wasn¡¯t even time to get off work yet, but the tall and burly Chen Zhenglong had already changed into casual clothes, ready to start the plan to rescue the good young man from today onward. Usually coming to and from work in uniform, he wore a shirt his wife had bought a few years ago, yet it no longer fit. He barely managed to button it up, the shirt binding tightly around him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable all over. ¡°Damn it, it seems I¡¯ve put on some more muscle lately.¡± Chen Zhenglong cursed under his breath, reached back to adjust his collar, and sucked in his slightly protruding belly before he finally felt a bit more comfortable. ¡°Yo, Captain Chen, looking sharp today¡ªare you going on a date with your sister-in-law?¡± A clerical staff member walked by Chen Zhenglong, holding back a laugh as he teased him upon seeing Zhenglong¡¯s awkward appearance. ¡°Scram, scram, scram, have you finished your work?¡± His expression hardened as he glared at the clerk. Frightened, the clerk shrank his neck, recalling the captain¡¯s usual demeanor, and hurried off clutching his file folder. Chen Zhenglong had a stern face and a stubbly beard around his jaw. He was generally amiable in private, but whenever work came up, his face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Although the colleagues in the bureau respected him, they couldn¡¯t help but complain about him in private. Sucking in his stomach, Chen Zhenglong squeezed himself into his car, reached for his collar button, and undid it, finally heaving a long sigh of relief: ¡°Damn it, if I don¡¯t pull that young man out, I wouldn¡¯t do justice to all this suffering.¡± Thinking of the pure young man waiting for his rescue, Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eyes hardened, and the red scarf on his chest¡­ No. He suddenly felt a heavier burden on his shoulders. ¡­ All afternoon, Shao Zifeng was tormented in various ways by the madwoman Chen Yixing, until she was satisfied and let him go at dusk. Fortunately, with plenty of data and samples collected this time, if it weren¡¯t for Qiuqiu¡¯s constant scowling, Shao Zifeng suspected that the woman might have gone even further. Walking alone under the streetlights of Su City University, he felt a long-missed relaxation. With the various promises provided by Chen Yixing, the pressure of training pets would greatly decrease, saving a substantial amount on Qiuqiu¡¯s food bills at the very least. Not to mention the choice of a third pet. Whether it¡¯s the world-class reserve of Antarctica or a national reserve, the mutant creatures produced there could not be matched by those in the wild. Thinking of this, a surge of longing and anticipation rose in his heart. ¡°Mutant Fairy Shell¡­¡± Speaking of pets, that afternoon¡¯s mutant creature had truly opened Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. A three-star quality defensive pet, though its exact strength tier was not listed on the information screen, according to the hints and his recent exploration, a full three-star quality likely corresponded to a sixth-tier strength. That is to say, the Mutant Fairy Shell, despite its small size, was a creature that could withstand attacks from a sixth-tier enemy. ¡°Is it student Shao Zifeng?¡± Just as Shao Zifeng was lost in thought, a timid voice emerged from the darkness outside the range of the streetlight, its owner seemingly very nervous, their speech quivering slightly. Shao Zifeng looked towards the source of the voice, only to see a frail boy slowly walking into the illuminated area of the streetlight. The boy, probably around eighteen or nineteen, was wearing a washed-out white high school uniform, showing signs of repair. Due to the oversized uniform, it hung loose on the boy¡¯s frame. He kept his head down, not daring to look at Shao Zifeng, his hands nervously clenching the hem of his garment. ¡°I am Shao Zifeng, and you are¡­¡± Shao Zifeng wore a faint smile, eyeing the boy curiously, feeling that¡­ feeling that this boy seemed familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. ¡°I¡­ I am Li Yiming, from the second class of the sophomore year of the Combat Training Department.¡± Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice made the boy tremble, and he stuttered out his reply. Li Yiming, Shao Zifeng tried to recall for a moment, but truly couldn¡¯t remember who this person was, and asked curiously, ¡°Li, do you need me for something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ It¡¯s not me looking for you, someone asked me to take you to a place,¡± Li Yiming glanced briefly at Shao Zifeng, the unexpected eye contact made him lower his head even more, anxiously staring at his own toes. ¡°Oh, sorry, I don¡¯t have time.¡± Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng felt no desire to continue the conversation and coldly replied with a phrase, moving past the skinny boy towards the school gate. ¡°Wait¡­ wait a second, Shao,¡± Shao Zifeng had just taken a few steps when the urgent, trembling voice of the boy behind him reached him again. Shao Zifeng slightly turned his head upon hearing the words, feeling a bit impatient, yet he couldn¡¯t show it. Damn it! The boy hesitated for a moment, as if he had made a huge decision, suddenly raised his head, his handsome pale face hosted a pair of big black-framed glasses, ¡°Shao¡­ Shao, someone¡¯s plotting against you, you must be careful.¡± After uttering the sentence, as if it exhausted all his courage, his handsome face turned crimson, and he instantly collapsed. He lowered his head again and hurriedly walked past Shao Zifeng, his figure gradually disappearing into the night. ¡°Li Yiming.¡± Shao Zifeng stood in his place, pondering over this name, he recognized that face, it seemed from the campus free challenge initiated by Wang Hao, he was the first challenger. If he remembered correctly, his pet beast was a big rooster. But what did he mean by someone plotting against him, could it really be that someone saw his handsome face and couldn¡¯t restrain their burning emotions, planning to make a move on him? ¡°Tsk, this is tricky.¡± Jokes aside, after listening to Li Yiming¡¯s warning, Shao Zifeng pondered deeply for a while, still couldn¡¯t figure out whose sin he had committed, and his stomach began to growl first, irritatingly scratching his head. Forget it, let¡¯s go eat. Preserving my life is crucial. ¡­ Half an hour later, after having dinner, Shao Zifeng prepared to take a shortcut home. He took off the backpack from his back and held it in his arms, bonding with the Elemental Egg. The Elemental Egg had been well-behaved all day, apart from a few bursts of emotional harassment when it was awake, there hadn¡¯t been a situation of grass growing everywhere. He patted the backpack satisfied, planning to give it a one-dollar reward after getting home. The Elemental Egg emitted a burst of jubilant emotions. The street lights on the path, constantly poorly maintained, many were damaged, with a few flickering unpredictably, emitting a sizzling electricity sound, as if from a scene in a horror movie. ¡°Ah!¡± Passing a small alley, a miserable scream came, Shao Zifeng acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, expressionlessly continuing on his way, he wasn¡¯t someone who liked to bring trouble upon himself. ¡°Fuck, even getting someone to shout is beyond you, useless! Useless!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The sound of something heavy hitting a body resonated, followed by another suppressed groan. Shao Zifeng slightly furrowed his brow, stopping in his tracks, the voice from before was very familiar. ¡°Brother Gang, don¡¯t get mad, that Shao Zifeng is at this school, if it comes to it, we can just block him tomorrow,¡± another obsequious voice came out from the darkness. ¡°Yeah, Brother Gang, just leave it to us, don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± Sounds were coming from the alley again, and after a burst of swearing, a dull thudding noise filled the air. The familiar moans at low pitch lingered in Shao Zifeng¡¯s ears, making him think of the boy who had sent him the message. Shao Zifeng furrowed his brow, considering the number of people present. He had decided not to leave, as the several people inside were obviously targeting him. Trouble had arrived; there was no need to carry it overnight¡­ A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked around and took a brick from the corner of the wall. He admitted to himself that he wasn¡¯t a good person. Well, then he¡¯d solve the problem in the way a bad person would. As Shao Zifeng moved deeper, everything unfolding before him came into his view. The alley was not deep, and at its end, a dim street lamp flickered, unknown tiny insects constantly slamming into the bulb, making a ticking sound. Under the streetlight, five youths, who looked like students, were repeatedly kicking a frail boy curled up on the ground. The boy was holding his head with both arms, bent at the waist lying sideways on the damp ground, emitting low, suppressed groans of pain. On the other side, a cat and a dog pressed a bloody rooster with their paws, ceaselessly tearing and biting at its flesh, their eyes emitting a faint green glow in the darkness. The rooster, which had looked so proud at first, was now splattered with blood, its feathers all torn. It lay powerlessly in a pool of blood, its dim eyes looking at Li Yiming without any trace of emotion. Perhaps due to the overwhelming smell of blood, the two pets hadn¡¯t noticed someone else¡¯s approach. Shao Zifeng hid in the shadows next to a pile of junk, watching everything calmly, but the bulging veins on the hand clutching the brick revealed that his heart was far from calm. ¡°Dammit, useless trash,¡± the leading young man kicked out, striking Li Yiming heavily in the belly. Li Yiming grunted and slid across the ground, crashing into the wall of the alley, his violent coughs splattering bits of bright red under the streetlight, starkly conspicuous. The leading youth crouched down, grabbed Li Yiming by the hair, and slapped his twisted face in pain. ¡°Kid, you can¡¯t cough up the cash, and you can¡¯t get things done either. Tell me, what should I, Brother Gang, do to punish you?¡± Li Yiming¡¯s vision blurred, seeing double images of the man in front of him. Even though he couldn¡¯t make out the youth¡¯s face clearly, the long-standing bullying still made him shiver uncontrollably with fear in his eyes. ¡°Useless.¡± Brother Gang, feeling somewhat bored by Li Yiming¡¯s reaction, banged his head on the ground and disdainfully wiped his hands on him. ¡°Bleh.¡± Brother Gang stood up and spat on Li Yiming, then turned back to his pets, ¡°Blood Wolf, Blood Tiger, kill that rooster for me; I¡¯ll treat you to some meat tonight.¡± His words caught the attention of the dog and the cat. They first yelped pleasingly at Brother Gang, then their eyes glinted ferociously, and, baring their sharp teeth, they bit towards the rooster¡¯s neck. ¡°No¡­ please¡­ I beg you.¡± Hearing Brother Gang¡¯s words, Li Yiming struggled to get up. A youth by his side saw this and stepped on his back, spewing a string of curses. Li Yiming strenuously lifted his head, watching the pets¡¯ teeth close in on the rooster¡¯s neck. His mouth open but unable to make a sound, tears blurring his vision, his hands frantically scratched at the ground, leaving white marks with his nails. The rooster looked at him once more, not with regret or unwillingness, but with a hint of relief. Seeing the rooster¡¯s eyes, Li Yiming was stunned. This was the first time he hated his own cowardice so much. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Just as everyone¡¯s attention was drawn, a short scream made everyone shudder in shock, and they looked in astonishment toward the position of the young man on the outermost edge. Blood splattered on the walls of the alley, provoking everyone¡¯s tense nerves. ¡°Thud!¡± The blood-drenched young man collapsed to the ground, revealing a boy with a tall stature and handsome appearance, except for his gentle smile which seemed somewhat eerie, marred by drops of crimson. ¡°Who are you!¡± Gan Brother roared furiously, staring intently at Shao Zifeng as his two pets quickly released the rooster and positioned themselves in front of him, crouching low and baring their teeth menacingly. Shao Zifeng smiled sweetly at the flustered people before him and said nothing, shaking the blood off his hand. He was assessing the combat power of both sides. Having been strengthened through the ¡°Bonding Reaction¡± and recent training, it was hard to say if he could take on five people. But four people shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Thinking this, the smile on Shao Zifeng¡¯s face became even more benevolent. Gan Brother didn¡¯t recognize Shao Zifeng, but that didn¡¯t mean no one else did. Suddenly, a skinny man with glasses pointed at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Shao Zifeng, Gan Brother, this is Shao Zifeng.¡± His voice was somewhat out of tune due to too much excitement. Shao Zifeng was a little stunned when he heard the familiar voice. Oh, it really was an acquaintance, that Chen Wen who blew his cover. Didn¡¯t expect that it was you doing the dirty deeds behind the scenes. Shao Zifeng grinned at Chen Wen, his smile together with the dim lights and the blood on his face making Chen Wen shudder violently, taking a half step back. ¡°Fuck, punk, you¡¯re asking for it,¡± swore Gan Brother¡¯s two henchmen, pointing at Shao Zifeng, itching to charge at him right away. Gan Brother waved his hand to stop his henchmen, stepped forward, and with a gloomy expression, he stared at Shao Zifeng, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re quite something, I haven¡¯t seen such an arrogant junior for a long time. Today, Gan Brother will teach you the rules of Su City University.¡± With that, Gan Brother suddenly turned around and swung his leg, delivering a fierce whip kick towards Shao Zifeng¡¯s head with a whoosh. Unfazed, Shao Zifeng stepped back and threw a bloodstained brick. ¡°Crack.¡± ¡°Ah!!!!¡± The collision was clearly in favor of the brick over the leg. Gan Brother collapsed to the ground, clutching his shin, screaming continuously. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re freaking cheating.¡± Gan Brother was almost crying; wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a fair fight, man to man, martial to martial? How could you freaking use hidden weapons? Shao Zifeng remained silent; having started, he decided to end the fight quickly. ¡°Get him, cripple him!¡± Seeing Shao Zifeng charging, he roared with bloodshot eyes. Henchman A and Henchman B looked at each other, and swung their fists to meet him. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 63 Someone took the blame for this pot Chapter 64: Chapter 63 Someone took the blame for this pot The two underlings, upon seeing their boss injured, could no longer contain themselves. Fuming with rage, they let out a roar and charged forward with fists swinging. Their clenched fists bulged with veins, exuding a strong sense of power ¡ª clearly, they were veterans of frequent fights. Unfortunately, the alleyway was rather cramped, and as the two pressed forward, a slight misstep gave the underling with a buzz cut the lead. His fist aimed for Shao Zifeng¡¯s face. Shao Zifeng watched as the fist slowly enlarged in his vision, his face bearing a mocking smile. A bit too slow. With a slight tilt of his head, he dodged the punch that should have been a sure hit as it brushed past his nose with a faint whiff of air. As the buzz cut underling overextended due to inertia, Shao Zifeng¡¯s right hand shot out lightning-fast, gripping his wrist tightly. ¡°Flame Palm!¡± Shao Zifeng, smiling merrily, looked at the astonished buzz cut underling and softly named the move with an almost childish flair. The buzz cut underling stared dumbly at this seemingly kind-hearted young man. What? What Flame Palm? So you¡¯re into this cheesy stuff. But before he could respond, he felt a slight warmth at his wrist. Shocked, he tried to pull his hand back. As the buzz cut underling tensed to pull away, Shao Zifeng¡¯s grip relaxed. The underling stumbled backward, toppling over. Seizing the moment, Shao Zifeng swiftly sidestepped and delivered a kick to an unspeakable part of the buzz cut underling¡¯s body. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The shrill scream intertwined with the barely audible sound of something breaking. Tears and snot flying, the buzz cut underling clutched at his groin, his face twisted in agony as he slowly knelt with his legs turning inward. Shao Zifeng was indifferent to his pain. He smiled faintly at Qi Liuhai, who was close behind, and kicked the buzz cut underling in the chest. A surge of Giant Power followed, and the unsteady underling was sent rolling several times across the ground. Qi Liuhai, who was charging forward, couldn¡¯t dodge in time and tripped over the buzz cut underling, his entire face slamming into the damp ground. Qi Liuhai¡¯s vision went dark as his whole being was dazed by the fall. Struggling, he lifted his head only for several teeth to fall from his mouth onto the ground with a crisp sound. Qi Liuhai, terrified, clutched his mouth as blood poured freely through his fingers. Before he could lift his head fully, a powerful kick slammed into the side of his head, making Qi Liuhai¡¯s eyes roll back as he completely collapsed to the ground. After dealing with Qi Liuhai, Shao Zifeng delivered another blow to the writhing buzz cut underling, ending his Pain. Disdainfully glancing at the blood on his shoe, Shao Zifeng stepped over the two fallen men and walked toward Gang Brother and Chen Wen. Chen Wen watched Shao Zifeng approach, his legs shaking uncontrollably. He was just someone who sought power and control by offering money to Gang Brother. At his core, he was still the same coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong, craving to be the center of attention. At this moment, he deeply regretted provoking such a ruthless person. Gang Brother watched his two underlings lying motionless on the ground, feeling both anxious and furious. He glanced at the cringing Chen Wen and cursed inwardly. ¡°Waste.¡± Shao Zifeng walked up to him, standing dominantly over Gang Brother. Gang¡¯s two pets felt threatened and their fur stood on end, their ferocious gazes fixed on Shao Zifeng, poised to pounce. Propping himself up against the wall, Gang stared fiercely at Shao Zifeng. ¡°Junior, leave some room for maneuver. My Blood Wolf and Blood Tiger are both second-tier beasts, and if they happen to injure you, well, don¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°Gang brother¡­ but¡­ it¡¯s illegal for pets to attack humans.¡± Chen Wen¡¯s quivering voice rose from beside him. Gang¡¯s face darkened¡ªwas this idiot really on his team? I know pet attacks are illegal, don¡¯t I? Do you think I need reminding? Gang trembled with anger and spun around to glare at Chen Wen, useless in success and only good at screwing things up. Chen Wen shrank back at his glare, keeping his head down in silence. ¡°Junior, today¡¯s incident was all my fault. Let¡¯s wait for another day¡­ fuck your mom.¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoe landed squarely on his face. Gang¡¯s cheek pressed against the cold, decaying wall, its scent filling his nostrils. Feeling the increasing pressure of Shao Zifeng¡¯s foot, his heart surged with humiliation, his eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing grew harsher. He had been at Su City University for three years, never taking crap from anyone, and now he couldn¡¯t care less about legalities. ¡°You motherf¡­ Blood Wolf, Blood Tiger, attack!¡± The raccoon and mongrel hesitated upon hearing their owner¡¯s command; they sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the man before them. But they couldn¡¯t defy their master¡¯s order and with a low growl, they leaped toward Shao Zifeng. Smiling, Shao Zifeng watched the enraged Gang and, confronted with the charging pets, he called without looking back, ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± He then kicked Gang straight in the temple. Gang¡¯s eyes rolled back as he slumped down, his vision fading to red flames before losing consciousness. ¡°Roar!!¡± A soul-shaking roar erupted, youthful yet laced with authority, as explosive firelight burst forth in the alleyway. Billowing heatwave spread the flowing flames in all directions. In midair, the cat and dog yelped pitifully, their fur singed black as they flew backward, crashing into the walls. The stench of burnt flesh and fur wafted through the alley. Excited, Qiuqiu circled Shao Zifeng before curiously surveying the surrounding environment. Catching sight of the lifeless bodies and the charred pets, its eyes lit up. Approaching the scorched mongrel, Qiuqiu sniffed it, then sneezed from the irritation. Annoyed, it slapped the dog on the head with its paw. The mongrel, lifeless as if dead, flopped its head to the side, its tongue lolling out of its gaping mouth. Seeing the exposed teeth in the dog¡¯s open mouth made Qiuqiu even more unhappy. Touching its own soft gums with its tiny paw, it grew angrier by the moment. It looked around and upon spotting a bloodstained brick not far away, a sly smile emerged in its eyes. ¡­ Li Yiming cradled the bloodstained rooster, dumbfounded as he gazed at the slender silhouette. The scorching air twisted the space around, and in the glow of the flames, that person appeared as dazzling as a child of flame emerging from the fire. This scene was deeply etched into the depths of Li Yiming¡¯s soul. A glimmer of admiration and longing shone in his eyes. After dealing with Chen Wen, Shao Zifeng turned to the stunned Li Yiming and, after pondering for a moment, spoke up, ¡°Little guy.¡± Shao Zifeng patted his travel bag, awakening the slumbering Elemental Egg. The little household seemed to still be grouchy from waking up, showing a bit of a temper. ¡°Stop fussing, heal these people¡¯s injuries,¡± Shao Zifeng said, cradling the travel bag and gently soothing the Elemental Egg. Though the Elemental Egg was quite mischievous, it still listened to Shao Zifeng well. A hazy green light appeared, and several small orbs of light flew out of the travel bag, trailing afterimages as they landed on several people. The individuals were enveloped in green light, and as the orbs rooted quickly, sprouting vines that tightly bound them up. The luminous green light traveled along the vines, healing their external wounds at a visible speed. ¡°That¡¯s enough, that¡¯s enough, just make sure it doesn¡¯t show on the surface,¡± Shao Zifeng hurriedly interrupted the Elemental Egg¡¯s power as he saw signs of the individuals waking up. The somewhat exhausted Elemental Egg fussed around for a while before falling back into a deep sleep. Shao Zifeng walked over to Li Yiming, tossing the bloodied brick that Qiuqiu had handed him in front of Yiming. Li Yiming trembled all over, at a loss as he looked at the bloodstained brick before him. ¡°I¡¯ve given you the chance, now it¡¯s up to you to decide what to do,¡± said Shao Zifeng as he placed Qiuqiu on his shoulder and disappeared into the darkness without turning back. Li Yiming opened his mouth, then lowered his head to look at the unconscious rooster in his arms. Although treated, the plucked feathers would take some time to grow back. He clenched his fists tightly, his breathing growing more labored, his entire body quivering intensely. After a moment, Li Yiming reached out to pick up the brick, leaned against the wall to stand up with trembling legs, and staggered over to the vine-bound Gang Ge. Confronted with the face that haunted his memories like a nightmare, Li Yiming finally lost control of his repressed negative emotions and lifted the brick high above his head. ¡°Ah!!!!!!¡± Walking in the darkness, Shao Zifeng heard a scream from behind, paused his steps, and a subtle smile flickered at the corner of his mouth. Someone took the fall for it. ¡­ Chen Zhenglong didn¡¯t find Shao Zifeng and felt somewhat frustrated. Driving his car, he tugged at his tight collar and sighed deeply. Sigh, it seems like the mission to save a good young man is quite challenging; this kid is too anti-social. He asked a few students from class four; none of them said they knew him well. He wondered how he could approach Shao Zifeng without arousing suspicion. ¡°Dinglingling.¡± At that moment, his phone vibrated. ¡°Speak,¡± Chen Zhenglong answered, activating his Bluetooth headset with a concise command. ¡°Captain Chen, there¡¯s been a malicious wounding case at Su City University,¡± reported the operator cautiously. ¡°You report such trifles to me,¡± Chen Zhenglong felt slightly irritated. These were some lousy players; did they really need him to spoon-feed them on handling cases? ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ the case is a bit troublesome, the victim was injured by the person they victimized,¡± the operator on the phone coughed lightly, hesitating. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that, explain it to me clearly.¡± ¡°The specifics are like this¡­¡± Through the operator¡¯s report, Chen Zhenglong understood the situation. The victims were notorious delinquents from Su City University, and the assailant was originally the victim, a typically timid and academically excellent student. According to the operator, the scene was quite ghastly; all the victims had their teeth knocked out¡ªmust¡¯ve been a deep grudge. What was most troubling was Li Yiming¡¯s response to questions from the Abnormal Administration Bureau¡¯s operators; he claimed he couldn¡¯t stand the humiliation and retaliated, injuring others. As for other questions, he remained silent, refusing to say a word. Chen Zhenglong parked the car by the road, rubbing his temples. Cases like these were a headache to deal with and could lead to negative social opinion if mishandled. Chen Zhenglong pondered for a moment, ¡°Did you check the cameras?¡± ¡°We did, and that¡¯s why we reported it to you,¡± responded the operator. ¡°Out with it, stop beating around the bush.¡± ¡°Shao Zifeng, whom you mentioned wanting to meet yourself, was seen in that area before and after the incident,¡± the operator said. ¡­ After hanging up, Chen Zhenglong rolled down his window and lit a cigarette, his brows furrowed together. Why would Shao Zifeng be there? If it was him¡­ Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Chen Zhenglong¡¯s mind. He had an epiphany! It must have gone like this: Shao Zifeng was on his way home from school when he passed through an alley and saw Li Yiming being bullied, then fearlessly stepped in and rescued him. After Zifeng left, Yiming retaliated because he couldn¡¯t endure the humiliation any longer. As he thought it through, his frown slowly unfolded. Chen Zhenglong rubbed his stubbly chin with his rough hand and blew out a smoke ring. I knew it. Shao Zifeng is indeed a pure and good young man. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Must Kiss Before Getting Out of Bed Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Must Kiss Before Getting Out of Bed ¡°You did well today,¡± Shao Zifeng put away the Elemental Potion Type VIII, and placed two coins beside the Elemental Egg as a reward. The little guy, ecstatic, wrapped the coins around the egg with its vines, causing the whole egg to tremble with excitement. Now, it was an Elemental Egg with a fortune of five yuan. Happy. ? Sadly, being just an egg, it couldn¡¯t show a happy expression. Anyone would see it as just a round shape. Before it could enjoy its happiness for long, the energy potion took effect. The vines flopped down weakly from the egg onto the table, and the two coins also fell onto the tabletop. ? Still emotionless. Shao Zifeng held his forehead with one hand. Great. It had fallen asleep. After covering the Elemental Egg with its little blanket, Shao Zifeng always felt something was missing. Looking around and seeing no sign of Qiuqiu, he remembered that since entering the rental house, Qiuqiu had seemingly vanished. Previously, whenever it was around Shao Zifeng, Qiuqiu would act cute and clingy, sticking to him. Now it was nowhere to be seen. Ha, doggy, you¡¯ve changed. ¡°Qiuqiu!¡± Shao Zifeng called out worriedly. ¡°Ying!¡± Qiuqiu immediately responded to him. Hearing the sound so close by, Shao Zifeng was puzzled; had Qiuqiu mastered the stalker¡¯s art of invisibility? ¡°Qiuqiu?¡± Shao Zifeng tried calling again. ¡°Ying-ying~¡± The moment the voice faded, a bald head peeked out from under the bed, looking innocently at Shao Zifeng. Its head, hung with spider silk in a comical manner, made Shao Zifeng nearly burst into laughter. ¡°Why did you go under the bed, it¡¯s so dirty there,¡± Shao Zifeng picked Qiuqiu up, cleaning the spider silk off while chattering away. Qiuqiu squinted and enjoyed the ¡®egg¡¯ service, noncommittally responding to Shao Zifeng a few times. Its tail, resting on Shao Zifeng¡¯s lap, swung from side to side, completely relaxing, showing a very comfortable expression. Due to being so relaxed, its paws loosened, and something slipped out, bouncing a few times on the floor, the crisp impact sound catching Shao Zifeng¡¯s attention. Putting Qiuqiu down, Shao Zifeng stood up and walked over to the object, seeing a canine tooth quietly lying on the floor, faintly glowing under the fluorescent light. Picking up the canine tooth, Shao Zifeng looked puzzled at Qiuqiu, sending a silent inquiry. ¡°Ying!¡± The baffled Qiuqiu looked at Shao Zifeng, then at the canine tooth in his hand, guiltily turning its head, pretending to know nothing. Then¡­ Plunk. Another object fell out of its mouth, bouncing a few times on the ground. Stare~ Qiuqiu sheepishly glanced at Shao Zifeng, resignedly opening its mouth and paws. Immediately, ¡°ding ding dang dang¡± sounds filled the air. It was truly¡­ Noisy clattering jumbled ringing, large and small beads falling on a jade plate. All sorts of teeth, gleaming with enamel luster, popped like jumping beans, bouncing everywhere. Seeing all these teeth on the ground, Shao Zifeng gasped¡­ This, damn¡­ There were incisors, canines, molars. Shit, even wisdom teeth had been dug out. I really should thank you. I never expected you to be this kind of Qiuqiu. Facing Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, Qiuqiu felt somewhat embarrassed, quickly sweeping up the teeth from the floor. Without looking at Shao Zifeng, it darted back under the bed. Shao Zifeng paused for a moment, then chuckled, shaking his head; Qiuqiu was becoming more and more mischievous. In his heart, he silently mourned for the guys from just now; without even their wisdom teeth, life would be hard. ¡­ At a different time, but still the same location¡­ the sewer. In the deserted sewer, a haunting chewing sound began, followed by¡­ ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Coughing and retching sounds echoed far through the empty sewer. ¡°Plunk.¡± A dull blue fluorescence lit up, the light stick flickering, clearly not lasting much longer. Under the glow, one could see a tall, thin man curled up against the wall, burying his face deeply in his knees, his whole body shivering nonstop. A moment later, the man struggled to swallow and slowly lifted his head. It was a face so haggard and pale, with sunken eye sockets, bloodshot eyes devoid of any gleam, hollow cheeks, dark circles under his eyes, and his messy beard stained with blood and flecks of skin and flesh, looking eerily like a vampire. His originally silver ponytail had turned gray-white, as the roots were black due to not being dyed in time. ¡°Hiss~¡± A faint hiss came from afar, followed by a chaotic clatter growing closer, and eight eerily red spider eyes emerged from the darkness. ¡°Smack.¡± The wolf spider threw the rat in its mouth in front of the man, splashing him with dirty water. The wolf spider¡¯s eight blood-red eyes stared at the man for a while, hissed, and then retreated back into the darkness, the sound gradually fading. The man stared at the dead rat, his hollow cheeks twitching violently, extending a trembling hand towards the dead rat. After a faint noise, the light stick went out again. In the darkness, the gruesome chewing sound resumed. And then¡­ ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡­ The next day, early morning. The sun was just rising, the sky was cloudless, promising good weather for the day. In a teacher¡¯s apartment at Su City University, a woman exuding mature charm was still sleeping deeply, her voluptuous figure partly covered by her messy, curly hair, which fell haphazardly and covered most of her face. The morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, bathing her in a soft glow where tiny dust particles danced in the beams, creating a tranquil, ethereal beauty. ¡°Ding-dong-dong¡­ meow meow meow~¡± The sharp ring of the phone shattered the room¡¯s tranquility. The woman frowned slightly and pulled the blanket over her head. ¡°Ding-dong-dong¡­ meow meow meow~¡± The urgent ringing, accompanied by a buzzing vibration, finally became too much to bear. She opened her bleary eyes and reached for her phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Her voice was languid, tinged with slight annoyance. ¡°What? You want me to find you a personal trainer?¡± Hearing the reply, Chen Yixing snapped awake, sat up abruptly, and her pink silk quilt slid down to her legs, revealing a pink bunny hooded pajama. She irritably ran her fingers through her messy curls, her face incredulous. After gathering Qiuqiu¡¯s data yesterday, she had been busy all night, and had only just fallen asleep when the phone call woke her. That was bothersome enough, but what she heard next! Me! Chen Yixing! Distinguished Professor at Su City University! A leading figure among the younger generation in ancient biology in Daxia! You¡¯re asking me to help you find a personal trainer? Do I look like your nanny! I might as well¡­ ¡°Is that not okay?¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice came through the phone, laced with laughter. Chen Yixing, picturing his annoying grin, grabbed a pink bunny pillow from under the covers and angrily hammered it a few times before she grudgingly squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, ¡°Fi-ne!¡± After hanging up and tossing the phone beside her, Chen Yixing collapsed back onto her girlish bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, then pulled the silk quilt over her head. A moment later, a delicate, fair hand peered out from the blanket, groping at the pillow¡¯s edge. She grabbed the phone and swiftly retracted back under the covers. ¡°Bro, help me out here¡­¡± ¡°Yixing ah, you¡¯re looking for me¡­ honey, stop joking.¡± ¡°Hubby~ Baby won¡¯t get up unless I get a kiss.¡± ¡°Muma, behave.¡± Hearing the voice on the other end of the line, Chen Yixing¡¯s face darkened, and her already sour mood worsened. ¡­ After hanging up, Shao Zifeng wiped the sweat from his forehead. Two tender green vines stretched out in front of him, and Shao Zifeng plucked an ivory-colored fruit, thanking the Elemental Egg inside his travel bag. A single fruit eased the soreness resulting from the high-intensity training. Qiuqiu perked up, sniffing the fresh aroma in the air, and toddled over to the travel bag, dancing and babbling something to the bag. Feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s presence, the travel bag shuddered but ignored her chatter. Qiuqiu ran around the travel bag a few times, finally seeming to make up her mind. She spat out a shiny white tooth and reluctantly placed it beside the zipper of the bag. A vine reached out, tapped the tooth, and then gestured a finger-wagging motion to Qiuqiu. Qiuqiu visibly grew upset, clutching the tooth with one paw while pointing at the travel bag with the other, her mouth moving rapidly in unreadable chatter to the Elemental Egg. Shao Zifeng watched the playful little creature, smiled faintly, and did some simple stretching to alleviate the tension. After yesterday¡¯s fight, he realized that his rigorous strength training, aside from building muscle, had little real-world application. Yesterday¡¯s fight seemed easy. That was because he ambushed and eliminated one at the start, and the narrow alley was not suited for group fighting, giving him an advantage. If it had been in a more open area, even if he had won, he would likely have sustained serious injuries. Despite being slightly faster in strength, speed, and reaction, he was not good at fighting. In combat, he could only resort to dirty tricks and finish with a hit from his ¡°turtle leg.¡± Being cautious in revealing his hand, and considering that such a minor scenario wasn¡¯t worth showing off anyway, he decided to find someone proficient in various combat techniques to train him. Come to think of it, Chen Yixing really was a good person. He had only tentatively asked, not expecting her to actually agree. This saved him the trouble. Checking the time, Shao Zifeng picked up his travel bag, called Qiuqiu who was still fussing at the Elemental Egg, and left the grove behind the residential area. ¡­. On the path, two elderly ladies dressed in Tai Chi attire approached, apparently also heading to the grove for some exercise. Shao Zifeng slightly stepped aside to let the ladies pass first. The ladies glanced at Shao Zifeng, nodded slightly, then turned to chat with each other. ¡°Hey, have you noticed? There seem to be fewer rats around our area lately.¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯ve been wondering why we haven¡¯t seen those damned things much lately, thank heavens.¡± The two morning walkers gradually moved away, their voices fading into whispers. Shao Zifeng pondered their words, then shook his head with a rueful smile, always overthinking whatever news he heard. The decrease in rats was very likely due to the Abnormal Administration Bureau stepping in to clear them out. In this era, rats, as a Mutant creature group most dependent on humans, thrived in the dark corners of cities. Due to their frightening reproductive capabilities, cities conducted regular purgings upon detecting abnormal rat populations. While complete extermination was impossible, these actions effectively controlled potential outbreaks. Of course, there were cases like Jiang City, where neglect led to a massive increase in the rat population, eventually causing a disaster. But those were largely exceptions. Ding. His phone vibrated. Pulling out his device, he saw a text from a stranger: ¡°Young man, I am Qiao Feng, now a peerless martial art is ready to be passed on to you. After school this afternoon, at Su City University¡¯s grove, don¡¯t miss it.¡± Shao Zifeng was exasperated. Must be crazy. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 65 If your sister-in-law finds out… Chapter 66: Chapter 65 If your sister-in-law finds out¡­ Seven days later, in the small grove behind Su City University. Two bare-chested men were engaged in intense combat, more precisely, a strong man was unilaterally suppressing a young boy. The strong man, about 185 cm tall, was muscular and imposing, moving his arms in wide, sweeping motions that exuded an unstoppable dominance. His dark skin glistened with sweat, which splashed around with each punch, filled with a masculine energy ¡á. The boy in front of him was Shao Zifeng, also shirtless, drenched in sweat, his gray sweatpants clinging to his thighs, probably wet enough to wring out water. Chen Zhenglong bellowed, and threw a punch straight at Shao Zifeng¡¯s face, his vein-bulging fist carrying a fierce wind, creating an intangible pressure. Shao Zifeng slightly shifted his body, brushing against the wind of the punch as he charged into the strong man¡¯s embrace, the punch wind grazing his skin, raising goosebumps, while he instinctively kicked at a certain spot. For Shao Zifeng, these past days had been unbearably hard. He had initially wanted to simply learn some combat techniques but never expected Chen Yixing to find him a battle maniac. At first meeting, he was like a fawning dog, agreeing to whatever Shao Zifeng asked. But once the fighting started, he seemed like a completely different person. If it weren¡¯t for the Elemental Eggs healing him every night, he feared he wouldn¡¯t have been able to continue. He really couldn¡¯t understand why someone like him, who relied on his brain for work, would get addicted to such a philosophical game. But after getting hit, he just wanted to hit back; the sensation of fist to flesh was thrilling. Thus, his improvement in fighting was also worth the sweat he shed. In fact, after undergoing the ¡°Bonding Reaction¡± for overall physical enhancement, whether it was fighting skills, reaction speed, or strength control, his speed of improvement was incredibly fast compared to ordinary people. From being completely overwhelmed at the beginning, he was now able to catch flaws and mount limited counterattacks, just like now¡­ ¡°Damn it, you¡¯re playing dirty again,¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s muscles bulged, he tightened his legs to withstand Shao Zifeng¡¯s low blow, and simultaneously punched at Shao Zifeng¡¯s crossed arms for protection. Thump. In the dull sound of collision, sweat flew wildly from both of them. Shao Zifeng quickly retreated to diffuse this force, leaving a few wet footprints on the ground. His foot that had kicked Chen Zhenglong¡¯s leg was also throbbing with pain. Shao Zifeng had a mischievous smile on his face, ¡°This is what you taught me; seize every opportunity to defeat the enemy.¡± The battle paused slightly, Chen Zhenglong looked at the mischievously smiling boy in front of him, feeling very satisfied inside. Such a pace of progress was rare even when he was in the army. Especially when he had started teaching Shao Zifeng, who had absolutely no foundation in fighting. Well¡­now although still quite poor in skills, at least he was serious enough to make Chen truly focus. But one thing annoyed him greatly, this boy was definitely not the simple youth he had first imagined, his fighting style was too cunning, employing any means to win. Aside from this minor flaw, Chen Zhenglong valued Shao Zifeng¡¯s persistence and resilience more; even after being consistently beaten up from start to finish, he would still be ready to show up the next day. In today¡¯s materially rich era, kids his age were either immersed in games and fun or focused primarily on their pets¡¯ abilities, seldom buckling down to physically train themselves. Although relying on pets in fights is the main combat approach, prioritizing pets was not wrong. Chen Zhenglong thought that strengthening one¡¯s physical abilities while focusing on pets not only increased the compatibility during training but also maximized one¡¯s chances of survival. It was Shao Zifeng¡¯s perseverance, willpower, and talent displayed that made Chen Zhenglong grow fonder of the boy over these days. If he had a child, he would probably be around ten years old by now. Thinking of this, Chen Zhenglong¡¯s gaze softened; truly worthy of being the boy I fancy¡­ahem, the boy I chose. ¡°Big Brother Chen, let¡¯s continue,¡± Shao Zifeng moved his wrists, eager to try again. Perhaps it was because of Chen Zhenglong¡¯s straightforward and hearty nature that after these days of close interaction, he greatly respected his ¡°big brother,¡± allowing him to occasionally show some of the youthful qualities of his age in front of Chen. It could be said that aside from his mother and Qiuqiu, Chen Zhenglong was the only person he acknowledged. ¡°Not now, I still have some time this week, but I can¡¯t come every day to train with you after that,¡± Chen Zhenglong turned around, took his coat hanging from a branch, put it on, and smiled back at Shao Zifeng: ¡°The military boxing I taught you recently is enough for your self-defense, don¡¯t neglect it.¡± After all, Chen Zhenglong was the captain of Su City¡¯s Abnormal Administration Bureau, and there were countless tasks waiting for him every day. Besides, coming to be a sparring partner was just for a chance to interact with Shao Zifeng; he couldn¡¯t neglect his regular duties because of this. After these days of interaction, he thought he understood the boy quite well. His personality was aloof and sensitive with a strong sense of caution. Although he wasn¡¯t as pure as imagined, he was definitely not a bad person. As long as they could keep in touch in the future, he was confident he could pull Shao Zifeng back from those lunatics. Truly worthy of being me. Chen Zhenglong happily gave himself a thumbs up. Upon hearing Chen Zhenglong¡¯s words, Shao Zifeng suddenly felt somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that Chen couldn¡¯t keep being his private trainer forever; that was made clear from the start. Just as he was getting ready to put on his clothes and watch someone leave, Chen Zhenglong suddenly turned back, ¡°But¡­Tonight, my sister-in-law has prepared a lavish dinner. How about we brothers have a drink?¡± He flashed a broad smile, showing off a row of shiny white teeth, and gave Shao Zifeng a thumbs up. A middle-aged man full of fiery energy. Shao Zifeng rolled his eyes¡­ ¡­ In the end, Shao Zifeng followed Chen Zhenglong to his home. As they passed a fruit shop, Shao Zifeng wanted to get off and buy some fruit, but Chen Zhenglong scolded him fiercely, saying as a poor student, how much money could he have and then giving him this lecture. Shao Zifeng silently listened without arguing and checked his account balance, thinking that he should be quite rich¡­ right? The residential area where Chen Zhenglong¡¯s house was located was near the old town, one of the earliest developed properties in the east side of the city. The buildings weren¡¯t new, showing some signs of wear from the years, and there were no elevators inside. But in terms of infrastructure and greenery, compared to Shao Zifeng¡¯s rented place, it was indeed much better. After getting out of the car, Shao Zifeng followed behind Chen Zhenglong, still feeling a bit nervous. He respected Chen Zhenglong as a cheerful older brother, but his wife was still a stranger, and he felt somewhat uneasy about abruptly intruding. ¡°Kid, what¡¯s wrong, scared even before you meet your sister-in-law? Relax, she¡¯s a nice person.¡± Chen Zhenglong noticed Shao Zifeng was nervous. He slung his arm around Shao Zifeng¡¯s neck, ruffled his hair vigorously, and made a mischievous face, hinting with a wink, ¡°Though, if your sister-in-law knew where you sneak attack me every day, hehe¡­¡± Wow, you Even when I want to sneak attack, I never succeed. Is it really appropriate to say these things directly to a pure-hearted young man? Shao Zifeng struggled to break free from Chen Zhenglong¡¯s arm, but eventually realized it was futile and resignedly allowed Chen Zhenglong to drag him up to the fifth floor. Knock knock. Chen Zhenglong, still holding Shao Zifeng so he couldn¡¯t struggle, knocked on the door with his other hand. ¡°Who is it?¡± A gentle female voice came from behind the door, soft and soothing, sounding very amiable. The door opened, and Shao Zifeng found himself looking at a woman in her 30s dressed in beige home attire with an apron. She was petite, with fair skin, though fine lines at the corners of her eyes hinted she might be a bit older. Her dark shoulder-length hair was casually tied up, with some bangs falling loosely, and her face wore a gentle smile. Her features weren¡¯t particularly delicate, but combined, they gave off a very comfortable vibe. As Shao Zifeng observed her, she evaluated him too, having heard about this ¡°little brother¡± from her husband so often that she felt she¡¯d almost developed calluses on her ears. Seeing him today, his appearance and build indeed seemed quite likable. If only her child¡­ Thinking of this, a trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes. ¡°Sister-in-law.¡± Shao Zifeng called out respectfully. He Juan snapped back to reality and replied; with a slightly reproachful tone, she dried her wet hands on her apron and lightly smacked her husband¡¯s arm, ¡°Behave yourself and let Zifeng go. Zifeng, I hope you don¡¯t mind calling me sister-in-law?¡± ¡°What problem could there be? If this kid dares to object, I¡¯ll break his legs,¡± Chen Zhenglong released Shao Zifeng, smacking his shoulder proudly as if boasting about his younger brother. ¡°Come in, the meal will be ready soon.¡± He Juan coquettishly glared at Chen Zhenglong, pulling Zifeng by the wrist into the house. Shao Zifeng felt a flutter of panic and wanted to withdraw his arm, hesitated for a moment and then let her be. He Juan had Shao Zifeng sit on the sofa. The gentle woman began bustling about, serving a plate of washed fruit and brewing tea, reminding Zifeng not to be shy, then she returned to the kitchen to continue her preparations. Chen Zhenglong¡¯s home was not very spacious, a modest but cozy two-bedroom set-up filled with a homey ambiance. From the living room, one could see a busy figure in the semi-open kitchen. Shao Zifeng felt an unusual sense of relaxation. ¡°Hey, how is it, isn¡¯t your sister-in-law easy to get along with?¡± Chen Zhenglong picked up a washed apple and handed it over, giggling mischievously. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pity about such a lovely flower,¡± Shao Zifeng replied, setting the apple aside and speaking earnestly. Chen Zhenglong took an apple himself, rubbed it on his clothes, and took a bite, grinning. But the more he chewed on Shao Zifeng¡¯s words, the more they seemed off. He glowered, raised his fist to strike, ¡°You little brat, getting brave, daring to mock your¡­¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Chen Zhenglong stopped mid-action, carefully turned his head, and found He Juan smiling at him. Feeling intimidated, Chen Zhenglong smiled ingratiatingly at He Juan, quietly retracting the fist above Shao Zifeng¡¯s head in a subservient manner. Zifeng, seeing Chen Zhenglong cowed, let out a heartfelt laugh, feeling¡­ Pretty good actually. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Breaking the Shell Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Breaking the Shell Chen Zhenglong watched as Shao Zifeng drove away, mulling over a bit of news that Shao Zifeng had inadvertently revealed during their casual conversation, his expression became somewhat grave, ¡°Wife, you go home first, I have something to deal with at the office.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, weren¡¯t you going to stay home with me tonight?¡± He Juan clung to Chen Zhenglong¡¯s arm, a hint of reluctance on her face. Although she was very supportive and understanding of her husband, she was well aware of the dangerous nature of his job, and every time Chen Zhenglong had to leave for an emergency, she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. The two didn¡¯t have children, but their relationship was very strong, and because of this, He Juan was even more attached to Chen Zhenglong. Seeing the look on He Juan¡¯s face, Chen Zhenglong¡¯s expression softened a great deal, and he bent his head to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead, feeling somewhat guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wife, it¡¯s nothing. Wait for me at home, be good.¡± After speaking, Chen Zhenglong gently extricated his arm and hurried toward the underground parking garage. He Juan was left standing in place, staring blankly at Chen Zhenglong¡¯s departing figure. ¡­ Entering the rented room, Shao Zifeng quickly opened his travel bag and gingerly held the wobbling Elemental Egg in his hands, filled with both surprise and worry. Just now on the way back, the slumbering Elemental Egg had suddenly woken up, its emotional fluctuations turning unusually active, exuding a sense of urgency and pleasure in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart, seemingly foretelling its rebirth. He placed the Elemental Egg in its little nest and took out the last vial of Elemental Potion Type VIII, spreading the remaining potion evenly over the surface of the egg. ¡°Meow?¡± Back in the familiar surroundings, Qiuqiu ran out on its own, waiting until Shao Zifeng had finished his tasks. Together, they stared at the wet Elemental Egg as if having a staring contest. One minute. ¡­ Five minutes. The Elemental Egg trembled more and more intensely, emitting a hazy green glow. The room filled with the essence of wood elements, and the somewhat withered flowers and plants regained their vitality, swaying their buds and leaves, releasing a fresh, grassy fragrance. Qiuqiu gazed intently at everything, its mouth wide open, dripping with a thread of saliva. It sneakily glanced at the focused Shao Zifeng and nonchalantly licked its lips with its tiny tongue. So tempting, I want to give it a lick. But what to do with the egg still hatching? I can¡¯t help it. Meow. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Then, as a practical Qiuqiu, having licked its loneliness, was scooped up into Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms. ¡°Meow?¡± (¡Ño¡Ñ)! Qiuqiu looked up at Shao Zifeng, its bewildered eyes wide, a face full of innocence, acting as though it knew nothing. ¡°No messing around, do you understand!¡± Shao Zifeng, seeing that Qiuqiu had regrown its Scale Armor, hesitated for a moment, then tapped its little head with his finger, after all, it would be a bit rough to pet it directly with his hand. ¡°Meow!¡± Qiuqiu happily squinted its eyes and rubbed against Shao Zifeng¡¯s large hand, exhibiting a docile and obedient demeanor. During the incubation period of the Elemental Egg, every second was a torment for Shao Zifeng, his heart filled with both nervousness and anticipation. Looking forward to the birth of a new life, yet fearing that he might do something wrong to cause problems with the Elemental Egg. This feeling of anxiety only ceased when the Elemental Egg transmitted a wave of emotion. ¡°Tired¡­. Sleeeepy¡­.¡± The glow of the Elemental Egg vanished in an instant, and the violently trembling egg returned to calm. Viewing the suddenly slumbering Elemental Egg, Shao Zifeng was dumbfounded; so why all the shaking, causing me such distress. Although he said that, in his heart, he was inexplicably relieved. The little one had shown sudden signs of hatching, taking him by surprise. With no experience in incubation, he could do nothing but stare helplessly, and now that the Elemental Egg was sleeping again, it seemed it wouldn¡¯t awaken for a while. Feeling considerably more relaxed, he knew that simply waiting around was not a solution. Shao Zifeng took out his phone, tapped on the distinct X icon, and entered the platform¡¯s webpage. He needed to check other people¡¯s experiences with hatching mutant creatures to see what else he needed to prepare. His fingers swiftly moved across the phone screen, searching for the information he needed. ¡°Shocking! My pet beast laid this kind of egg after not returning home for a night!¡± Shao Zifeng, expressionless, swiped that away. ¡­ ¡°Surprise! The egg of this mutant creature that I got was actually because of that man!!¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched, and he continued scrolling on his phone. ¡­ ¡°Unbelievable!¡­.¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s face turned completely dark, he glanced at the app icon again, making sure he didn¡¯t open some kind of gossip forum! What¡¯s up with these shocking headlines! Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed the urge to smash his phone, and continued looking for useful information. Finally, at the very bottom, he found a related post: ¡°My Incubation Diary, Summary Edition¡± ¡°Hello everyone, it¡¯s your newbie eagle mom XXX here, after more than a month of hard work, my little eagle has finally hatched, scatter the flowers~¡± [Image] [Image] A handsome girl holding a fluffy little chick¡­ eagle, with unrestrained joy on her face. Tut. No matter how you look at it, that yellow fluff looks just like a chick. Mentally criticizing, Shao Zifeng continued to flip through the pages. ¡°Here comes the summary time, compared to buying certified mutant creatures from a regular store, incubating mutant creatures by oneself is undeniably filled with a gambling nature, fortunately, my little eagle¡¯s potential is not too bad.¡± [Image] The eaglet disdainfully pressed its claw against the face of the heroic-looking woman. ¡°Listen up, here comes the important part. As a new eagle mom, I¡¯m going to explain in detail the preparations I made before and after hatching.¡± ¡°First, mutant creatures consume a great deal of physical and mental energy when breaking out of their shells, so the first meal after they hatch should be rich with energy food that corresponds to their attributes. Remember, never feed them energy potions directly, not even the weakest ones. The violent energy will tear apart the fragile bodies of newborn mutant creatures.¡± [Mosaic Image] ¡°This was my first hatched eaglet, torn apart right before my eyes¡­¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Shao Zifeng took a sharp breath as he looked at the full screen of mosaics. My eagle girl is impressive! ¡°Second, to deepen the bond, aside from staying close during hatching, it¡¯s best to prepare some gifts for the little one. Key point! Make sure you buy based on the characteristics of the mutant creature you¡¯re hatching! Like for my eaglet, I prepared a pair of goggles, hahahaha.¡± [Image] A fluffy little eaglet looks despondently at goggles several times bigger than itself. This doesn¡¯t look reliable at all. Eagle girl, you¡¯re a bit crazy. After reading the heroic-looking woman¡¯s summary, Shao Zifeng scrolled through the comments section. Lu: ¡°Ha!¡± Lu: ¡°Hey!¡± Lu: ¡°Roar!¡± Emotionless Typing Machine: ¡°Can¡¯t the person above speak properly?¡± Cat God Sect¡¯s Dog-Headed Strategist: ¡°I got it, I got it, the miss¡¯s long legs¡­ no, I mean, the miss¡¯s eaglet is so cute!¡± Beheading Yama: ¡°Envious of the original poster, I¡¯ve already failed to hatch eight times. If I fail again, I have to follow my family¡¯s arrangement to contract a pet beast from a national protected area, which is hardly satisfying.¡± General Pan: ¡°??? Showing off wealth above.¡± Xuan Huizi: ¡°??? Showing off wealth above.¡± ¡­ Having glanced through what seemed like mostly unhelpful comments, Shao Zifeng put down his phone and looked at the still sleeping Elemental Egg. Although the girl didn¡¯t seem too reliable, she was after all someone who had exploded an eaglet, so what she said must make some sense¡­ right? Checking the time and seeing it was 8 p.m., he decided the pet supply store should still be open, so he went to check it out. Wrapping Qiuqiu in one of his own jackets, without disturbing the Elemental Egg, Shao Zifeng carried Qiuqiu out the door. Su City University Pedestrian Street. To serve the many students, there was a pet supply store near Su City University. Being in a third-tier city, the purchasing power of the students was limited, so this store near Su City University wasn¡¯t very large. And unlike the 24-hour stores in big cities, the operating hours of this shop could only be described as hit-or-miss. Rushing to the supply store, a plump auntie was just about to turn off the lights and close for the day. Seeing Shao Zifeng enter, the auntie hurriedly waddled her bulky body to greet him. Her face bore a greasy smile, eyes squinting into slits, revealing a glaring gold tooth, ¡°Handsome, what do you need?¡± Qiuqiu eyed the auntie¡¯s gold tooth, seemingly eager to make a move. With the Elemental Egg possibly hatching at any moment, Shao Zifeng had no time for small talk, ¡°Do you have food for a newly-hatched wood-type mutant creature?¡± ¡°We do, Wood Origin Infant Formula. It lays the foundation and bolsters growth, promoting brain development in young beasts and effectively easing¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, I¡¯ll take it, how much is it?¡± Shao Zifeng interrupted the auntie¡¯s spiel, clearly impatient. ¡°One can for 300 yuan, please show your Combat Training Master certificate,¡± the auntie said, seeing his demeanor and not adding anything else. Taking the bag containing the formula, Shao Zifeng turned to leave but suddenly felt a commotion in his embrace. Shao Zifeng looked down to see Qiuqiu, securely wrapped up, gazing longingly at the jewelry counter, a hint of drool at the corner of its mouth. Following its gaze, he noticed a dusky gold canine tooth charm lying quietly in the case, reflecting a metallic luster under the display lights. Hmm? Shao Zifeng let out a soft sound of surprise as a spark of light in his peripheral vision reacted. [Name]: Big Gold Tooth [Attribute]: Fire [Quality]: ¡ï [Condition]: Intact [Description]: Made from the tooth of a fourth-tier fire creature, carved and cast using the mold of X Blowing Out the Lamp¡¯s Grave-Robbing Charm. Warm to the touch, mom won¡¯t worry about me catching a cold anymore. [Effect]: Heat Dissipation: Continuously emits a faint heat. To his amazement, it was an accessory with attributes, the second such item Shao Zifeng had seen. ¡°Young man, are you buying or not? If not, I¡¯m closing up,¡± the greasy auntie yawned, pressing him. ¡°I¡¯ll take it, wrap up that gold tooth charm for me, and also¡­¡± Shao Zifeng scanned the counter again, brightening as he spotted a pendant resembling an ancient Roman coin. Unfortunately, it was simply a decorative piece with no attributes, but the Elemental Egg would probably love a gold coin, being such a little money-grubber. With that in mind, Shao Zifeng¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. The greasy auntie, packaging the items, was momentarily stunned, ¡°My youth¡­ my youth has returned.¡± Leaving the store with the formula in tow, under the lingering gaze of the auntie. After hanging the Big Gold Tooth around Qiuqiu¡¯s neck, Qiuqiu clutched the charm affectionately, sparkling eyes and pleading coos emanating from it. Best egg ever! ¡­ Pushing open the door to his room, Shao Zifeng first looked towards his computer desk and saw the Elemental Egg was still intact, which relieved him. Luckily, it hadn¡¯t hatched yet. He turned to close the door, but before he could turn back around, ¡°Crack.¡± A slight cracking sound followed by a small fissure appeared on the Elemental Egg. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 67 Hatching (1/2) Chapter 68: Chapter 67 Hatching (1/2) ¡°Click¡­¡± A faint cracking sound arose, and Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand, holding onto the doorknob, stiffened. He slowly turned his head to look at the Elemental Egg, his face revealing a hint of anticipation. The Elemental Egg was about to hatch! ¡°Click¡­¡± ¡°Ying!!!¡± Qiuqiu, who was holding onto Big Gold Tooth, widened its eyes in alarm, frantically tugging at Shao Zifeng¡¯s clothing. ¡°It¡¯s cracking open!¡± Unfortunately, Shao Zifeng¡¯s entire focus was on the Elemental Egg. He reached out and petted Qiuqiu a couple of times, not minding the little drama king. Another crack appeared on the smooth surface of the egg, and wisp after wisp of misty green light shot out from the fissures, causing Shao Zifeng¡¯s mood to fluctuate violently with the emergence of the light. Accompanied by the dense sounds of fracturing, the entire room became filled with a soft green glow. The plants in the room perked up, rustling without wind as if reciting a mysterious and ancient ode to life. At this moment, the aquamarine Elemental Egg was covered in web-like fractures. With the spread and interweaving of the cracks, a triangular piece of the shell broke off and fell. It gradually decomposed into specks of starlight mid-air and was reabsorbed by the Elemental Egg. Shao Zifeng stared intently at the triangular opening, imagining what kind of pet beast might hatch from it. Suddenly, the image of a doe-footed girl appeared in his mind, and he quickly shook his head to dispel this terrifying thought. In his heart, he silently chanted, ¡°Please, not that Yao.¡± ¡°You~¡± While Shao Zifeng was lost in his wild thoughts, a naive and ethereal moan resounded in his heart, the voice full of curiosity and a sense of wonder at this unknown world. ¡°Little guy, come on out~ I¡¯ve got some tasty milk for you¡­¡± Shao Zifeng felt a surge of joy, but before he could finish speaking, he stopped abruptly, his smile freezing on his face. He looked down at the milk powder in the packaging bag he was holding, then looked back up at the Elemental Egg. Damn! Can elemental lifeforms eat milk powder? He must be an idiot. Now what? The baby is about to be born, and he isn¡¯t even prepared¡ªhow awkward. ¡°You~¡± Hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, the little one inside the Elemental Egg let out an excited cry. The cracks on the egg widened as pieces of the shell flew off, breaking down into green starlight, looking like it was ready to break out of the shell at any moment. Finally, the Elemental Egg, rife with fissures, completely shattered, revealing a tiny silhouette on the computer desk. It first looked around curiously, then lifted its head to sniff the air, letting out a contented chirp. Looking at the tiny figure, Shao Zifeng sighed with relief. Thank goodness, it wasn¡¯t that Yao. Then he took another look at the little one. All composure left him. What in the world is this! What happened to the promised elemental lifeform! Instead, a fluffy, adorable creature appeared. There on the computer desk was a deer-like mutant creature. Its streamlined and slender body was topped with two small lumps on its head. Its smooth and glossy cream-colored fur shone. Noticing Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, the doe¡¯s eyes glinted like jade, full of life and movement. As Shao Zifeng approached, the little deer wagged its short tail gently from side to side, seemingly in a great mood. No matter what, it was his own hatching. Suppressing his doubts, Shao Zifeng put on a warm smile. ¡°Welcome, and please, let¡¯s take care of each other.¡± Shao Zifeng walked up to the computer desk and reached out his right hand to the little deer. ¡°You~¡± The little deer wobbled forward a few steps, still seemingly unsure how to walk properly. It first used its wet, pink little nose to sniff his hand, as if trying to memorize his scent, then squinted its eyes and rubbed its small head against Shao Zifeng¡¯s large hand. Feeling the touch on his hand, Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart nearly melted¡ªthis was just too cute. Qiuqiu watched incredulously at this¡­ uh, quadruped. It even forgot to be jealous. It¡¯s cracking open!! I¡¯m not happy anymore!! Qiuqiu¡¯s mood plummeted, subconsciously licking the Big Gold Tooth it was holding. Ptui, not tasty. Shao Zifeng caressed the little deer, and a blue light flickered in front of him. A semi-transparent screen slowly unfolded. [Name]: Spotted Deer/Wood Elemental Spirit [Growth]: Juvenile phase [Status]: Healthy, Symbiosis [Strength]: First Order [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Artiodactyla [Family]: Cervidae [Attribute]: Wood [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Symbiosis: It has acquired the Symbiosis talent by merging with the residual essence of the elemental creature ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯. It¡¯s a passive talent that requires mutual dependence; prosperity for both (Non-upgradable). Healing Heart: When using healing skills, it can greatly enhance the target¡¯s cellular activity, rapidly repairing their wounds (Non-upgradable). [Skills]: Life Hymn (Inherited), Life Seed (Inherited), Healing Fragrance, Charge [Description]: The ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯s¡¯ residue was activated by the spirit of the wood element, resulting in a special form born from their mutual blending and dependence. A young sika deer, not yet elementalized, can provide substantial protection to the elemental spirit. Symbiosis, so this is what Symbiosis is, which means, according to the explanation, that the original elemental life resides within this little deer. What a pity, this pure white sika deer only has a four-star potential. Even though a four-star talent is not low, he still felt somewhat disappointed. Shao Zifeng put down Qiuqiu, who was inwardly lamenting, and embraced the little deer in his arms, rubbing its soft little head gently as he began to speak tentatively, ¡°Elemental Spirit.¡± ¡°Heehee~¡± An ethereal giggle arose within Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart, and a layer of star-like green spots appeared on the little deer, dancing and converging in mid-air, ultimately forming a semi-transparent humanoid elemental creature. Perhaps due to being newborn, its form was highly unstable; one could only roughly make out a humanoid head, limbs, and a pair of bright green eyes. After the Elemental Spirit emerged, it first flew to the little deer, patting its head with its small hand. Then it floated into the air, spreading its tiny short arms to give Shao Zifeng¡¯s face a big hug, affectionately nuzzling against his face with its small face. Shao Zifeng could clearly feel its dependency. The feeling of an Elemental Spirit nuzzling one¡¯s face? How to describe it? It just felt cool, accompanied by a touch of faint fragrance, but lacked a sense of realness. A pale blue light flickered in the depths of Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. [Name]: Wood Elemental Spirit [Growth]: Juvenile [Status]: Healthy, Symbiosis, Elemental Body [Strength]: First Order [Phylum]: None [Class]: None [Order]: None [Family]: None [Attribute]: Wood [Potential]: ¡ï¡î¡î¡î¡î [Talent]: Symbiosis: It has gained the Symbiosis talent by merging with the residual essence of the ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯, an elemental creature. It¡¯s a passive talent that fosters mutual dependence; prosperity for both (Non-upgradable). Elemental Seed (Wood): A shaping talent, during its growth, it will slowly develop into abilities suitable for itself. [Skills]: Wood Defense, Vine Strangulation, Wood Thorn [Description]: The ¡®Forest Divine Deer¡¯s¡¯ residue was activated by the Wood Elemental Spirit, resulting in a special form born from their mutual blending and dependence. The Elemental Spirit, fragile at birth, requires a prolonged residency within the body of the sika deer for its protection. Looking at the information on the screen in front of him, Shao Zifeng felt his earlier disappointment fly away. He had acquired two pets at once, one for healing and support, and another with great potential for attack. Moreover, when pets are needed for battles during classes, the little deer would be the best choice. Even if its strength was somewhat lacking. But who would be foolish enough to attack the healer, right? The Elemental Spirit sat on Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, kicking its tiny legs back and forth, curiously scrutinizing its surroundings. The sika deer, held in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, half-closed its moist big eyes, clung to his sleeve with its small mouth moving rapidly as if it were suckling. Attracted by the little deer¡¯s adorable behavior, Shao Zifeng suddenly slapped his forehead; he still had another one that could suckle. It seems truly exceptional individuals can foresee the future. Shao Zifeng frantically justified his oversight in his heart. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 68: First Time Being a Beast... Father? (2/2) Chapter 69: Chapter 68: First Time Being a Beast¡­ Father? (2/2) In the rental house, Shao Zifeng was looking for something on the wall with the plug of an electric kettle in his hand. The plants in this room had grown even more lush, making it hard to find an outlet. A small deer followed closely behind Shao Zifeng, nibbling on the hem of his pants, its little mouth quickly wriggling and its watery jade eyes blinking adorably and cluelessly. Qiuqiu lay on the bed with a blanket over its head, its dark little eyes staring at the elemental spirit in front of it. The two little creatures stared at each other motionlessly. By then, Qiuqiu was almost crying. It was too scary. Its poor little head just couldn¡¯t understand why the fragrant ball had split and even turned into two strange things. It was scared to death at first! After staring for a while, the elemental spirit seemed to find it boring and made a face at Qiuqiu¡­ Well, although its form was blurry, the gesture was definitely a face. It flew above its own little nest, looking at the five shiny coins intertwined by vines in the nest, feeling very satisfied. These were the substantial savings it had recently accumulated, each one representing its sweat and hardships! After admiring them for a while, the elemental spirit couldn¡¯t resist the temptation anymore and cheered as it pounced towards its nest. ¡°Puff.¡± The elemental spirit went straight through the coins, the nest, the computer desk¡­ If it hadn¡¯t stopped urgently, it would have almost gone through the floor as well. With half its body buried in the floor, the elemental spirit was stunned. It incredulously looked at its little short hands, not giving up. It flew into the air and pounced towards the nest again. ¡°Puff!¡± Pulling its little head out of the floorboard, the elemental spirit trembled violently, its already unstable form becoming even more ephemeral. Green lights appeared in its blue eyes, condensing into droplet-like things that fell on the nest. Then it cried out ¡°Wah.¡± I¡¯m not happy anymore either!! ¡°What¡¯s wrong, what¡¯s wrong, why are you crying, did Qiuqiu bully you?¡± The newly minted dad, Shao Zifeng, hadn¡¯t yet mixed the formula and hurriedly put down the cup in his hand and ran over. The elemental spirit pounced on Shao Zifeng¡¯s head, hugging his hair and crying non-stop. ¡°Qiuqiu, did you bully it?¡± Shao Zifeng said somewhat headachy, blurting out this thoughtless remark. Qiuqiu, shocked, raised its little head to look at Shao Zifeng. What did I do? I was so scared I hid under the blanket. How could I have bullied it? So wronged. ¡°Ying¡­ Wuwu¡­¡± Qiuqiu covered its head with the blanket and began crying too. Great, another one crying. Shao Zifeng got even more of a headache and promptly started to apologize to Qiuqiu in a gentle, soothing voice. A moment later, the elemental spirit flew down from Shao Zifeng¡¯s head and hugged his face. While sobbing, it pointed at its nest and tried to explain something to Shao Zifeng, using his hair to wipe its tears in the process. Shao Zifeng looked in the direction it was pointing, and lo and behold, this little nest had suddenly become even more lush. But he couldn¡¯t understand what it meant. Out of desperation, he prepared to activate empathy to communicate proactively with the elemental spirit. Before Shao Zifeng could use his power, feeling troubled and distraught by the crying, he felt something tugging at his pants leg. He looked down to see a small deer staring at him with watery big eyes, its gaze filled with a hint of longing. Indeed, this one is the well-behaved one. It must also be craving my warm hug. The cried-out Shao Zifeng, under the hopeful gaze of the small deer, felt his heart healed. His face bore a trace of a smile from being a father for the first time, well, more precisely, a beast¡­ um, that¡¯s not right either. With a reassured smile, he squatted down and hugged the small deer in his arms. Oh. When he stood up, he felt his head was a bit heavy. But Shao Zifeng, being in a state of a healed heart, didn¡¯t think much of it and gently stroked the small deer¡¯s head. ¡°You~¡± The small deer¡¯s cheerful chirping was like a breeze on the face, causing a warm flow to surge in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart. Then¡­ The small deer, stepping on his arms and pawing at his shoulders, happily started to nibble on his head. Shao Zifeng stiffened, incredulously touched his head, and tremblingly turned to look in the mirror. In the mirror. He didn¡¯t know when his head had become covered in green grass. In the middle of the grass, a small red flower bloomed. He lifted his stiff hand again and touched his head. It was real¡­ Himself. It had turned green! Zifeng suddenly lost his composure, thinking Qiuqiu had been the best behaved, not expecting it to be after his green¡­ ¡°Everyone, stop!!!¡± ¡­ Zifeng sat cross-legged on the floor, watching seriously as Qiuqiu, the Spirit of Elements, and the little deer faced him. Qiuqiu balled into a sphere, peeking out with a pair of small eyes from behind its tail, secretly observing. The Spirit of Elements hovered in midair, glancing at Zifeng and then at its nest, occasionally sobbing quietly; and the floor below it quickly sprouted a clump of flowers and grass, growing denser by the moment. The little deer¡­ lay beside the flowers and grass, turning its head to pluck a few blades and chewing quickly, its cute big eyes stealthily watching Zifeng¡¯s head, still harboring ill intentions! Zifeng looked at the little guys, feeling both amused and annoyed. Although he had been driven to frustration by the noise just a moment ago, he calmed down and realized he simply couldn¡¯t bring himself to punish these adorable little creatures and could only pretend to be stern while reasoning with them. Although he felt it was futile, at least it made him feel better. ¡°Alright, alright, everyone stop moving, I¡¯ll go make you some formula.¡± Zifeng got up from the floor and after searching the room for a while, found a few spare small bowls, leftovers from when he used to water a pet snake. He prepared two bowls of Woody Source formula, a greenish liquid with a hint of milk scent, and after testing the temperature, pushed the bowls in front of the three of them. The little deer¡¯s chewing slowed down; it sniffed with its pink nose, its eyes lit up, and it stood up to bury its head in the bowl, drinking with loud gulps. The Spirit of Elements flew above the small bowl, dipped a short hand into the liquid, and sniffed it at what should be its nose. Then it lay on the edge of the bowl and took a deep breath, and the originally green milk visibly turned milky white. After inhaling, it patted its little belly, finally showing a trace of happiness. Qiuqiu¡¯s bowl contained a tier-three fiery energy potion; after drinking, it belched loudly, exhaled a puff of black smoke from its mouth, then lay on its back on the ground, revealing its white belly. Zifeng glanced at it. Hiss¡­ this is tricky. He still couldn¡¯t distinguish their sexes. ¡­ After washing the bowls, Zifeng sat cross-legged on the floor again. Qiuqiu was still lying on its back, apparently asleep. The little deer lay beside the patch of grass created by the crying Spirit of Elements, continuously chewing, its capacity for eating baffling. In a rare moment of peace, through empathetic communication, Zifeng finally understood why the Spirit of Elements had been upset. It turned out it could phase through objects, but it didn¡¯t do so when it lay on him. Zifeng poked the Spirit of Elements¡¯ belly with a finger; its form wavered, retreating where his finger touched but not phasing through. It seemed to only work on inanimate materials. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll get you a gift.¡± Zifeng thought for a moment, pulled out a Gold Coin pendant from his pocket and shook it by the string; the coin reflected a swipe of gold in the light. The Spirit of Elements stared at the gold mesmerized, let out a delighted shriek, and then dived towards the coin. ¡°Pff!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Zifeng watched the Spirit of Elements, which was now sobbing loudly after phasing through the coin, and massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. ¡­ He hung the coin pendant around the neck of the little deer and retrieved a small pouch he used for earphones, put five coins in it, and also hung it on the little deer. The little deer went on chewing calmly throughout, not bothered by not receiving its own gift, not even sparing it a glance. Only then did the Spirit of Elements stop crying and flew back inside the little deer. Zifeng breathed a sigh of relief. These little ancestors were indeed a handful and made him wonder how his mom had managed back in the day¡­ With that thought, Zifeng felt somewhat hazy, remembering a middle-aged woman¡¯s kind smile. He¡­ probably should go home and check in. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 69: The Missing Anchor (1/2) Chapter 70: Chapter 69: The Missing Anchor (1/2) The next morning at the Abnormal Administration Bureau. A young man in civilian clothes, carrying breakfast in his hand, walked up to Chen Zhenglong who was resting his head on his desk and hesitated to speak softly, ¡°Captain Chen.¡± ¡°Any news?¡± Chen Zhenglong, who had been napping, suddenly sat up and stared at the young man with bloodshot eyes, asking urgently. The civilian officer put the breakfast on the desk, and seeing Chen Zhenglong¡¯s haggard look, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Captain Chen, why don¡¯t you rest for a while? The Sanitation Surveillance Bureau doesn¡¯t have any inspection results yet, it won¡¯t hurt to wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Chen Zhenglong didn¡¯t even glance at the breakfast. He glared and loudly refuted, ¡°If they can¡¯t find anything, what about you? Didn¡¯t you notice any trace while surveying the public¡¯s opinion online?¡± Seeing Chen Zhenglong¡¯s outburst, the young man felt somewhat timid and quickly pulled out a USB drive, ¡°There are some leads, Captain Chen. Why don¡¯t you eat some breakfast while I copy the files?¡± ¡°No need, you go ahead, I¡¯ll just wash my face.¡± Splashing cold water on his stubbly face, Chen Zhenglong felt much more awake. He grabbed a towel, roughly wiped his face, and hurried back to his desk. ¡°Captain Chen, take a look. We gathered all the public sentiment from the past month, and there were a total of 2358 mentions related to rats. Among these, 73% are complaints about the increase in rats, 3.5% are discussions about training plans for contractual rat pets, and 1.5% are other related topics,¡± the young clerk turned the computer to Chen Zhenglong, pointing at the data on the screen. Chen Zhenglong, holding onto the back of his chair, reached into a bag and stuffed a bun into his mouth, staring intently at the screen, ¡°What about the remaining 22%?¡± The young clerk noticed Chen Zhenglong¡¯s action, smirked slightly, but still honestly continued, ¡°The remaining 22% are basically the newest public sentiments from the last ten days, all talking about the decrease in the number of rats.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, aside from data analysis, are there any other clues?¡± Chen Zhenglong waved his fist, a hint of excitement in his voice. It seemed like the rumor that Xiao Feng mentioned was right, the rat population in the city was indeed experiencing issues. To ordinary people, this news might just be casual conversation fodder. But as the head of the Abnormal Administration Bureau in Su City, he keenly sensed something unusual, as they hadn¡¯t had time for rat extermination this year. Seeing such an abnormal spike in the rat population surely indicated some unforeseen circumstances. An image of a man with silver hair and a tall thin figure crossed his mind, then he shook his head slightly. Although his gut was almost certain that the abnormal rat numbers could be linked to that escaped man, in their line of work, they relied on evidence. ¡°Captain Chen, Captain Chen,¡± seeing that he hadn¡¯t responded for a while, the civilian officer shook his hand in front of his eyes. ¡°Oh, sorry, I¡¯m a bit tired. Where did I leave off?¡± After finding the clue, Zhenglong¡¯s mood improved greatly, and he took out another bun and stuffed it into his mouth, his speech slightly indistinct. ¡°You asked if there were any other clues, and I said yes, then you didn¡¯t respond,¡± the civilian officer replied straightforwardly. ¡°Don¡¯t go into details, just show me the clue.¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eyes twitched, wasn¡¯t this kid too earnest? ¡°Oh, then Captain Chen, take a look at this video.¡± The clerk pressed play, and the computer screen went pitch black. A second or two later, a young girl¡¯s voice came from the video, ¡°Is anyone there?¡± After a brief pause and apparently receiving no response, the girl muttered, ¡°What the, no one¡¯s here even after I started broadcasting.¡± ¡°One Eye, come out and help me navigate.¡± ¡°Plop.¡± A ripple stirred in the video, followed by the sound of something heavy landing, and soon after, rat noises could be heard. A strong flashlight then turned on, and the video, shot from a first-person perspective, revealed the surroundings to be a sewer. The girl, possibly scared, kept turning the camera to light up different areas with the flashlight, and each time a large rat appeared. Aside from the sticky footsteps, a girl¡¯s heavy breathing could be heard in the background music, as she seemed to be struggling to walk. ¡°Welcome Big Black¡­ where are we exploring today? Hehe, give a gift to Big Black and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± At that moment, it seemed more viewers had joined the live stream, and the girl greeted them skillfully, her voice tinged with excitement. ¡°Thank you for the motorcycle, Big Black. Today, I am going to explore the underground palaces found beneath every city, the sewers¡­ Scared? How could I possibly be scared? I am a City Explorer¡­ Ah!! Who¡¯s there!¡± The girl who was interacting with her viewers suddenly let out a scream and frantically moved the camera in another direction; the video shook violently, and nothing could be seen except the light from a powerful flashlight. ¡°Fuck, what is that? Come out right now!¡± Liu Yu kept cursing in the video to bolster her courage, a method reportedly used by outdoor streamers to ward off ¡®filth¡¯ during live streams. Suddenly, it was as if the girl¡¯s throat was grabbed; the cursing stopped instantly, she held her breath in tension, and the video fell silent. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡± The screen was pitch black, yet a strange noise was heard, echoing through the empty sewer. It sounded like someone was tapping on the floor with little stones, which was exceedingly eerie in the quiet surroundings. The eerie noises continued intermittently, and the girl cautiously moved, with faint sounds audible in the video as she stepped on the sludge. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Pause!¡± Chen Zhenglong suddenly spoke up, startling the clerk who fumbled hurriedly to hit the pause button, but the video ended right there; he turned back and gave an awkward smile. ¡°Move the progress bar back 3 seconds.¡± Cheng Zhenglong didn¡¯t pay him any heed, his eyes fixed intently on the screen. As the progress bar was moved back, faint red glints could be seen in the top left corner of the dark screen¡­ like several cold eyes. Chen Zhenglong stared at the screen thoughtfully, rubbing the stubble on his chin with a large hand: ¡°How was this video obtained, and where is the person who recorded it?¡± ¡°The woman who recorded the video is Liu Yu, from a single-parent family; her father is often away from home due to his alcohol addiction. Liu Yu is a junior Combat Training Master who, due to poor family conditions, made a casual contract with a rat. After graduation, she struggled to make ends meet and signed up with a small live streaming platform, claiming online to be a City Explorer and streaming her explorations of abandoned buildings.¡± The clerk roughly introduced the recorder¡¯s information and continued, ¡°About four days ago, Liu Yu went out to stream and never returned. Her father came home for liquor money only to find his daughter missing. As to the video, since she was a minor streamer and hardly anyone watched her streams when she started, the live streaming company suppressed the incident.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t anyone sent to investigate?¡± ¡°Head Chen, all our brothers are positioned throughout the city; we simply cannot spare any manpower.¡± Mentioning this made the civil servant feel a surge of frustration: ¡°Besides, her father didn¡¯t even file a report. This video was only discovered accidentally when we were retrieving public opinion clues, due to Liu Yu¡¯s pet being a rat. It was finally recovered overnight from the video archives cleaned out by the tech department from that live-streaming platform.¡± ¡°I understand, you can go now,¡± Chen Zhenglong said, rubbing his forehead with a headache. After the clerk left, he sat on the chair, watching the video again carefully, his expression shifting unpredictably. Moments later, Chen Zheng appeared to have made a decision as he frowned and restored a number from the blacklist on his phone. ¡°Let¡¯s meet, we need to talk.¡± Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Poisonous Milk? Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Poisonous Milk? Shao Zifeng carried the little deer in his arms, his steps unsteady, his complexion pale, walking through the school with huge dark circles under his eyes. The kind seen on many a sporty person. Groups of young ladies cast glances his way, covering their mouths to hide bell-like laughter, as the campus buzzed with the vibrancy of youth. Recalling last night¡¯s ordeal made Shao Zifeng feel a surge of suicidal impulse, and as he looked down at the little deer nibbling on his clothing, with small movements of its mouth, he felt an urge to cry without tears. All night long, the little deer had been eating, and the sound of its chewing in the darkness was magnified in the silent night, echoing in his ears like whispers of a devil. Today, no matter what, he had to find Chen Yixin to finalize the contract issue, otherwise, if every night was like this, when would he ever sleep? The shorter plants in the room had all been nibbled bald by the little deer, it was truly terrifying. Sensing Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, the little deer stopped its chewing, turned its moist eyes to meet his gaze for a moment, then nuzzled his chest with its antlerless little head, before skillfully grasping the folds on his sleeve with its mouth and started moving its mouth again. The sequence of actions was truly fluid and practiced. ¡°Morning, Shao fellow, long time no see.¡± At that moment, a familiar yet unfamiliar ordinary voice rang out from behind him. Shao Zifeng turned around, pulling a tired smile across his face, ¡°You too, morning.¡± Looking at that ordinary, plain face, Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind wandered a bit. This person seemed so familiar; where had he seen him before? ¡°Oh.¡± The man looked at the weary Shao Zifeng in surprise, then down at the little deer he was holding: ¡°Is this your pet beast?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s pretty good, Shao fellow. Take good care of it.¡± The ordinary-looking man didn¡¯t wait for Shao Zifeng to finish speaking and, with a slight nod, passed by him. Shao Zifeng stood there, letting the morning breeze blow on him, his sleep-deprived mind struggling to remember. What did the man just now look like? It¡¯s all so vague. Well, never mind, he¡¯s probably not anyone important. Shao Zifeng slightly shook his head and continued walking towards Chen Yixin¡¯s research lab. ¡­ Standing at the door of the lab, he made a phone call, and before long, Chen Yixin appeared in front of Shao Zifeng with dark circles under the same eyes, her hair messy, and a crumpled white lab coat thrown on haphazardly. She looked every part the stereotypical homebody. ¡°Morning, what¡¯s up?¡± Chen Yixin greeted him with a yawn, her eyes half-closed and with a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. This was the second time Shao Zifeng had disturbed her sleep. ¡°Morning.¡± Shao Zifeng lifted the little deer in his arms, indicating the reason for his visit. Chen Yixin looked at the snow-white deer, a hint of surprise in her eyes: ¡°Albinism, a genetic defect?¡± Shao Zifeng shook his head. ¡°Then it¡¯s an individual mutation?¡± Chen Yixin thought of another possibility and asked tentatively. Pets with individual mutations often possessed a variety of strange abilities that differed from collective evolution; some even underwent slight changes in appearance, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that Chen Yixin guessed in that direction. Shao Zifeng shook his head again. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, never mind, just come in,¡± said Chen Yixin with a nonchalant shrug, following up with a big yawn as she pushed open the door and walked into the lab. The lab was empty, and following Chen Yixin into a small room full of instruments, Shao Zifeng looked around but didn¡¯t see the Contract Room. ¡°Stop looking, there¡¯s no Contract Room here. This will do. I really don¡¯t know how you got through college, not understanding even this basic fact,¡± Chen Yixin said with a scoff, tossing something to Shao Zifeng. Catching what Chen Yixin threw at him, the little deer, unsteady, nearly fell, but thankfully it kept its grasp on Shao Zifeng¡¯s sleeve. Dangling in midair with all four legs, it looked at Shao Zifeng, dumbfounded and swaying. ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± He quickly embraced the small deer in his arms, patting its soft body. The little deer didn¡¯t have any particular reaction as if it hadn¡¯t almost fallen just now, its small mouth moving at a leisurely pace. ¡°Hahaha, this little guy is really interesting.¡± Yixing watched the scene and suddenly found this calm little creature quite cute. He opened his palm, and in the center lay a round pendant, a white jade base etched with a mysterious Array in gold and red. ¡°This is the Mobile Contract Array,¡± Yixing said as she walked over to Zifeng and poked the little deer¡¯s chubby cheeks with her finger. The little deer glanced at her and continued minding its own business. ¡°With something so convenient, why does the school still have a dedicated Contract Room?¡± Zifeng asked earnestly. Yixing withdrew her gaze from the little deer and looked at him strangely, ¡°You don¡¯t know the value of this thing?¡± Zifeng thought for a moment, the original owner of the body seemed to have never come across it, and then shook his head honestly. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been learning. Just one Mobile Contract Array costs 200,000. Do you think how many ordinary families can afford this for their kids? Alright, enough talk, let¡¯s start,¡± Yixing waved her hand impatiently. She had been up most of the night and was nearly dead tired; she was in no mood to give Zifeng a crash course on basics. Zifeng, hearing this, said no more and hung the Array around his neck. With the experience from last time, he carried a small knife with him. Making a cut on his finger, blood instantly appeared bright red. Without hesitation, he reached out towards the little deer¡¯s forehead. The little deer shuddered all over at the sight of blood. It quickly spat out the cloth in its mouth and took the offered finger directly into its mouth. Zifeng felt his finger enveloped in warmth, followed by a tingling sensation at the wound. He couldn¡¯t help but shiver. As their eyes met, the little deer spat out his finger and nonchalantly turned its head away. Zifeng looked at his finger in disbelief. Where was the wound? And the skin where the little deer had held it was even whiter. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a Healing creature. Let me try.¡± Yixing, who was initially groggy, perked up at this scene and took the knife from Zifeng¡¯s hand. Without hesitation, she slashed toward her own wrist. Zifeng was flabbergasted; this woman was brutal toward herself¡ªlast time testing with her body and now drawing the blade against her own flesh. How terrifying. As the blade, with a hint of cold light, passed over her wrist, a translucent energy shield appeared there. The knife was instantly repelled. ¡°Mmmh¡± Beibei, the fairy with two white jade shells on her back, walked out from behind Yixing. She rubbed her eyes, looking confused, seeming to have just woken up. ¡°Beibei, you don¡¯t need to protect me now.¡± ¡°Mmmh?¡± Fairy Beibei cocked her little head to the side and stepped aside. After calming the mutated Fairy Beibei, Yixing took a deep breath and once again slashed at herself¡­ A stark, blood-red wound appeared on her snowy wrist, gushing blood. This woman had actually cut her vein. In just a short time, Yixing¡¯s complexion became somewhat pale, yet her eyes held a trace of fervor. One had to admit, she indeed possessed a commendable spirit for research. ¡°Little deer, Healing Fragrance,¡± Zifeng anxiously called out, fearful for her safety. ¡°Meow~¡± The little deer lightly stepped down from his arms and stood firmly on the ground. Raising its small head, it let out a light cry. Deer antler phantoms appeared over its bulging forehead, emitting a hazy, mist-like green light that spread out from the deer to its surroundings. A strange fragrance filled the room, rejuvenating the spirit. Specks of green light gathered at Yixing¡¯s wound, rapidly repairing the flesh and tissue. ¡°Ah~¡± As Zifeng was closely observing the wound, Yixing suddenly let out an alluring moan. She braced herself against the table behind her, eyes rolling back, legs clenched together, looking as if she might collapse at any moment. Zifeng was confounded. What was this?! Poisoned milk? Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Teahouse Secret Talk (1/2) Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Teahouse Secret Talk (1/2) ¡°Okay, um¡­¡± Chen Yixing closed her eyes, her thick eyelashes constantly trembling, and her face, pale from staying up late, was flushed with a mysterious blush. She bit her lower lip, trying to contain herself, but her voice still quivered. This. Is the power really that intense? He looked down at the little deer lying by his side and then at Chen Yixing, who was still trembling now and then. Shao Zifeng felt somewhat speechless, suddenly realizing that this healing skill was a bit unhealthy. The deer looked like such a serious creature, so why were its aftereffects so indecent? Fairy Shell worried for its owner and scurried over to Chen Yixing with short legs, wrapping her small leg with a semi-transparent shield. Then it stared at Shao Zifeng with a wary look. The atmosphere in the room grew awkward, and for a time, other than the sound of the deer nibbling at his pant leg, there was no other sound. ¡°Whew~¡± Moments later, Chen Yixing let out a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes, looking much more spirited after the treatment, though the blush on her face had not yet faded. ¡°Cough¡­¡± Chen Yixing cleared her throat, feeling a little embarrassed. She hadn¡¯t expected testing a skill would turn out so awkward. ¡°This spotted deer must have a healing talent, no doubt about it. Using the skill can revitalize cells and promote rapid growth of broken tissue, which results in a¡­ um, quite an intense, tingling sensation. The more severe the injury, the stronger the sensation. You get what I¡¯m saying, right¡­¡± Chen Yixing tried to explain the reason behind her loss of composure. Shao Zifeng nodded calmly, but his mind was somewhat agitated. She really was a tough one, daring to test a skill on herself. Just one experience of the skill and she had roughly guessed the deer¡¯s talent. That was pretty amazing. ¡°Alright then, you continue with the contract. I¡­ I¡¯ll go register the spotted deer under your name.¡± Chen Yixing¡¯s eyes darted around as she spoke, and then she left with a floating gait, looking quite awkward from any angle. However, Shao Zifeng¡¯s attention was already back on the little deer, feeling somewhat melancholic. That being said. What if he ever got into a fight? What if the little deer suddenly gave him a shot¡­ Huh. Just thinking about it is quite thrilling. ¡°Little deer, we¡¯re about to form a contract to become partners, so no healing, okay?¡± He lifted the deer to eye level and gazed into its damp, big eyes. ¡°Yo~¡± The little deer looked at the big face before it and cheerfully called out, then stuck out its pink tongue and licked his nose. ¡°Stop it, we had an agreement, okay?¡± Shao Zifeng felt ticklish from the licking, feeling goosebumps all over his neck. ¡°Yo.¡± Shao Zifeng placed the little deer on the workbench, picked up a small knife, and cut his index finger, then made a small cut on the deer¡¯s front leg. The moment Shao Zifeng¡¯s finger touched the deer¡¯s forehead, another drop of blood gathered and flew into the deer¡¯s body. The contract array hanging around his neck trembled slightly, its runes flickering occasionally. A soft green light burst forth between them, filling the whole room. ¡­ Fu Shun Tea House, a decades-old establishment with a quaint architecture and rich tea fragrance, is a favorite spot for many nostalgic older folks who like to drink tea there. Second-floor private room. Chen Zhenglong had arrived early to wait. A middle-aged woman dressed in Hanfu knelt opposite him, performing the tea ceremony with a fluid grace, accompanied by the pleasant sound of a guqin, a feast for the eyes and ears. Knock knock. After arranging the tea set, the middle-aged woman bowed slightly in respect and got up to open the door. Once the woman had left, Chen Zhenglong picked up the teacup and took a sip, the bitter and aromatic flavor lingering in the aftertaste, which was a pity since he wasn¡¯t quite accustomed to such drinks. ¡°Yo, the place Captain Chen chose is a bit decadent, huh?¡± A cheery young man¡¯s voice came from behind the screen at the door, prompting Chen Zhenglong to frown slightly, his face etched with resistance. ¡°Sit down if you¡¯ve come, what¡¯s so decadent about an old teahouse that hasn¡¯t raised its prices in decades?¡± Chen Zhenglong said, finishing his tea in one gulp, his tone tinged with impatience. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a young man emerged from behind the screen, neatly dressed in a white coat, sporting thin gold-rimmed glasses, and with hair combed so that each strand was distinct¡ªthis person was none other than Luo Feng. Luo Feng took a seat opposite Chen Zhenglong with a gentle smile and pushed his glasses up. Chen Zhenglong, without giving him a second glance, pushed a cup of steeped tea toward him, only to be stopped by Luo Feng midway. Chen Zhenglong looked up, staring at that harmless face with wide eyes: ¡°What, not giving face?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Captain Chen, I brought my own cup,¡± said Luo Feng, taking out three cups from his bag and placing them on the table; he chose the smallest one and set it in front of Chen Zhenglong. ¡°Fussy,¡± Chen Zhenglong snorted, pouring him a cup of tea regardless. Luo Feng tapped the table with two fingers together, a tea-drinking etiquette among equals as a way to express thanks. After wiping his hands with a damp cloth and taking a sip from his cup, Luo Feng looked at Chen Zhenglong with a cheerful smile: ¡°Captain Chen, how come you have time to join me for tea today?¡± Chen Zhenglong wasn¡¯t in the mood for roundabout talk and got straight to the point: ¡°Is Li Hanying in your hands? I need some information and the cooperation of your department.¡± Luo Feng took another sip, set down the cup, and looked at Chen Zhenglong: ¡°Li Hanying is with me, but whether he can wake up is still unknown. He has suffered severe mental trauma recently, so we don¡¯t have much information, but there is evidence that this organization is connected with foreign forces. As for needing our cooperation¡­ let me guess, have you located Burial Fox?¡± ¡°Burial Fox?¡± Chen Zhenglong was startled, a name he had never heard before. ¡°Ah, after extracting information from Li Hanying¡¯s phone, we found the silver-haired man is codenamed Burial Fox,¡± Luo Feng explained unhurriedly. Chen Zhenglong pondered for a moment: ¡°I want to combine forces with yours to conduct a search through Su City¡¯s sewers; Burial Fox¡­ may very well be hiding there.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Feng drummed his fingers on the table, and after a moment: ¡°Not enough.¡± Chen Zhenglong felt somewhat fed up, as this person always spoke so cryptically, which was incredibly annoying: ¡°What¡¯s not enough?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have enough people. Even if we pull together all hands from two departments, it won¡¯t be enough to search the entire sewer system,¡± Luo Feng cleared his throat, looking earnestly at Chen Zhenglong, ¡°I propose to involve all faculty and students from Su City University¡¯s Combat Training program, except for first-year students, in the search.¡± ¡°No way! I don¡¯t agree; the students can¡¯t join. Don¡¯t you know how dangerous the opposition is?¡± Chen Zhenglong sprang to his feet, eyes bulging with fury. ¡°Calm down, you¡­ really,¡± Luo Feng waved his hand, staring seriously at Chen Zhenglong: ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t come to me today, I would have sought you out soon. From our channels, we received news that something will happen in Su City soon. Since you¡¯ve identified the specific target location, we must use all our strength to nip the risk in the bud.¡± ¡°Combat Training Masters only grow through trials of fire and blood, this¡­ you should understand better than I do,¡± Luo Feng concluded, leaning on his cup, waiting for Chen Zhenglong¡¯s response. Chen Zhenglong¡¯s expression fluctuated, and finally, he exhaled a turbid breath and nodded stiffly. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 72: The First Battle of the Fawn (2/2) Chapter 73: Chapter 72: The First Battle of the Fawn (2/2) In the training grounds of Su City University, Class Three and Class Four were engaged in a combat confrontation. The students of the two classes formed a circle, shouting wildly, cheering on their classmates. In the middle of the training grounds, two young men stood commanding their magical creatures to battle against each other. ¡°Use Eagle Strike and finish it!¡± a boy clad in an old school uniform pushed up his black-framed glasses, a reflective flash passed over the lenses, making him appear very calm. ¡°Oh!¡± The unevenly feathered rooster powered up its legs, shooting into the air like an arrow released from a bow, and when its strength was exhausted, it suddenly spread its wings and dove at a faster speed toward its opponent. ¡°Little Bird, dodge quickly.¡± The slightly chubby girl across saw the rooster¡¯s attack and her face turned anxious. ¡°Chirp, chirp~¡± The injured gray sparrow, as if startled silly, just stared blankly at the charging rooster. ¡°Oh~!¡± A weak gust of wind spread, and the badly wounded rooster pressed its claws against the little sparrow, excitedly stretched its neck and crowed loudly, sweeping a contemptuous glance at the surrounding crowd. ¡°Class Three of the Combat Training, Li Yiming is victorious.¡± After the referee announced the result, two waiting medics hurried into the arena to attend to the little sparrow. As the referee declared the outcome, the surrounding students erupted into murmurs. ¡°Wow, wasn¡¯t Li Yiming supposed to be timid, even his own magical creature looked down on him?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s three consecutive wins, right? They cooperate so well.¡± ¡°I never noticed before, but Li Yiming actually looks quite handsome¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Hey, have you guys heard? I heard that Li Yiming sent several third-year bullies who picked on him to the hospital. In the end, I don¡¯t know what happened, but those guys all transferred schools and didn¡¯t even sue Li Yiming,¡± a girl with freckles mysteriously told her peers the gossip. ¡°Probably got scared off, but Li Yiming is so strong, he actually managed to beat those guys.¡± The girl with braided pigtails admired Li Yiming with stars twinkling in her eyes. ¡°Little girl¡¯s got a crush,¡± the freckled girl teased. ¡°Stop it, I do not, I just fancy him¡­¡± the braided girl feigned shyness. ¡°Pfft, you little minx,¡± Amidst the heated debate, Shao Zifeng stood smiling at the back of the crowd, watching Li Yiming in the arena. Unexpectedly, this scapegoat seemed to be unharmed. His entire demeanor seemed like that of a different person. Life is indeed unpredictable. Speaking of which, the rooster, a blue light flickered in the depths of Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes. ¡­ Bald Qiang was currently feeling very annoyed, as his class had lost three matches in a row to Class Three, all to the same person. ¡°Bald Qiang, your class is not up to the mark, three of you couldn¡¯t even defeat one of my students,¡± Class Three¡¯s homeroom teacher Wu Songlin looked at Bald Qiang triumphantly, feeling extremely pleased. I can¡¯t defeat you, but my student can defeat yours. Thinking this. Wu Songlin¡¯s aged face beamed like a blooming chrysanthemum, his missing front tooth apparent as he smiled. ¡°Wu Gap-Tooth, don¡¯t get cocky, let¡¯s you and I have a match.¡± Bald Qiang, flushed and furious, his neck veins bulging. When Bald Qiang called out his nickname, Wu Songlin wasn¡¯t upset, instead, he touched his missing front tooth and snickered, ¡°You can¡¯t even defeat my student, what makes you think you can challenge me?¡± ¡°You!¡± Bald Qiang breathed heavily, scanned his students, ¡°Any volunteers for a challenge?¡± The students of Class Four looked at each other, all dodging Bald Qiang¡¯s gaze. There really was no helping it, their class was the weakest, and the strongest, class monitor Sun Qiang, had been beaten first; there was no point in fighting now. Bald Qiang stared fiercely at his students, frustrated at their incompetence. Just then, his eyes were drawn to someone standing at the fringe of the crowd. His eyes lit up: ¡°Shao Zifeng, you¡¯re up.¡± While everyone else was looking down, Shao Zifeng who was smiling at the rooster stood out too much. The students of Classes Three and Four all turned their gazes toward Shao Zifeng. Even Li Yiming, who was standing coolly in the arena, looked over. Shao Zifeng, hearing his name called, looked somewhat bewildered; he had just been checking on the rooster and the injured little sparrow and had no idea what had happened. Damn. Why are you all staring at me? All the boys and girls in the audience looked at themselves with curious eyes. Shao Zifeng just felt uncomfortable all over. ¡°Shao Zifeng, you¡¯re up this time,¡± Bald Qiang said encouragingly, his tone also full of expectation. Shao Zifeng felt a headache coming on. What was this all about? But since he had been named, he couldn¡¯t say no. He had to split the crowd and head to the field. ¡°Hey, hey, hey¡­ I didn¡¯t even notice there was a handsome guy standing behind us,¡± the girl with twisted braids said, her face full of surprise as she looked at Freckle Face. Freckle Face covered her flushed face with her hands: ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. He must have heard all that shameless talk just now. What do we do¡­¡± ¡°Pssh, give it up, you flirtatious woman. This little brother is mine.¡± ¡­ Students on both sides stepped aside to clear a path, and all eyes fell on Shao Zifeng, who whispered among themselves. Shao Zifeng forced a smile on his face and walked to the center of the field. ¡°Big Brother Shao.¡± Li Yiming, who had always acted cool, saw Shao Zifeng opposite him, clutched the hem of his oversized uniform, lowered his head, and even his ears turned a bit red. Shao Zifeng was even more bewildered. Dude, why the hell are you blushing? It¡¯s really easy to be misunderstood like this. Don¡¯t you have any sense of being a scapegoat? Sure enough, seeing Li Yiming¡¯s behavior, the students watching around the field burst into an uproar. Some obvious fujoshis yelled ¡°awsl¡± and collapsed into their friends¡¯ arms, acting as if they had been shot through the heart. A serene literary girl, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled out a notebook, her cheeks flushed as she wrote something down, as if this scene sketched out a love story that defied societal prejudices. Shao Zifeng¡¯s face darkened, and he said stiffly, ¡°Lift your head, fight.¡± Li Yiming shivered all over, immediately lifted his head, puffed out his chest, and straightened his arms tightly along the seams of his school pants, but his gaze still dared not meet Shao Zifeng¡¯s, his eyes flitting about. The cock, having now won three rounds in a row and brimming with confidence, cast a strange glance at its owner. Seeing his performance, it looked somewhat disdainful, then turned its head, curious to see who had the audacity¡­ ¡°Oh¡± The cock looked at the slender figure opposite, vaguely able to see a blazing inferno burning behind him. The sparse feathers instantly clung to its body, its head drooping as it took small steps backward. Its former momentum was gone in a flash. This wasn¡¯t going to work. Shao Zifeng looked at the opposing duo and desperately wanted to transform into a man from Zu¡¯an. The girls were already shouting things like dominant seme and younger uke. He took a deep breath, forcing himself not to be distracted by the outside world. Still, he had to strike first. Shao Zifeng slightly closed his eyes and communicated with the small deer through his spiritual power. He extended his index finger, a ripple of spatial disturbance spread out, and a semi-transparent space rift instantly opened, a faint cyan light glowing. ¡°Yo~¡± The small deer was chewing on something, its wet, large eyes surveying the surroundings. ¡°Deer Aromatic Healing!¡± Upon hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, the deer slowed its chewing. A pair of illusory antlers emerged on its head, its eyes emitting a hazy green light. All the students on the scene smelled a faint fragrance, feeling as if their bodies were being cleansed. The downcast cock stiffened, its body covered by a green energy, healing wounds left from the fight, spreading a strange tingling sensation throughout its body¡­ The cock rolled its eyes back, vaguely seeing numerous chick sisters rushing towards it. ¡°Oh~¡± The cock let out a strange, long crow, fell to the ground, and twitched its legs. All present fell into silence¡­ Li Yiming¡¯s eyes sparkled, looking at Shao Zifeng with admiration. ¡°Big Brother Shao really is a good person, even healing my cock.¡± Shao Zifeng felt Li Yiming¡¯s strange gaze and twitched the corner of his mouth. Damn it, he¡¯s misunderstood again. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 73 Urgent Summoning Chapter 74: Chapter 73 Urgent Summoning ¡°` Looking at the rooster twitching on the ground, unable to get up, even the experienced referee was at a loss and cast a plea for help towards the two teachers off the field. The students watching, as if their restart button had been hit, instantly filled the training ground with buzzing whispers. ¡°Healing class, huh? Class Four has actually hidden a big daddy. What was that fragrant skill just now? It made me feel so comfortable after smelling it,¡± a girl with a ponytail chattered excitedly to her companion. ¡°Right, right? I was having a bit of menstrual pain today, but after smelling the fragrance, my tummy felt all warm,¡± her round-faced friend said with flushed cheeks, her voice tinged with excitement. ¡°White plum deer, just because they have money back home. If it were me, I definitely would¡¯ve done better. What¡¯s there to¡­¡± a boy beside them started to say with a sour tone. He immediately drew disdainful looks from the girls. ¡°Damn, just yesterday I jerked off to my waifu seven times until I was dizzy and headachy, and now I feel like I could do it seven more times,¡± a greasy otaku suddenly shouted with joy, attracting everyone¡¯s attention, followed by laughter from the onlooking students. Even a few boys started whistling. In the midst of the heated discussions, no one noticed that two Abnormal Administration Bureau cars had quietly stopped under the office building, and Chen Zhenglong led several bureau personnel in, one after another. Bald Qiang glared fiercely at Wu Songlin, who was shorter than him: ¡°My student won this match.¡± ¡°But my student didn¡¯t lose either, tch, look, all his injuries have been healed,¡± Wu Songlin twiddled his beard on his chin, his old face bearing a sleazy smile, and Bald Qiang just wanted to punch his lights out. The referee hesitated to make a decision, the two teachers were uncompromising, and across from them was the person he admired¡­ ¡°Teacher, I concede,¡± Li Yiming raised his hand, called out to Wu Songlin and the others, then nodded to the referee. The referee glanced again at the two teachers who were at odds, blew his whistle, ¡°I declare, this match, Class Four Shao Zifeng¡­¡± A strange yet familiar electric sound interrupted the referee¡¯s words, and the bodies of the teachers and school doctors on-site instantly tensed up. ¡°Zzz~ All instructors of the Combat Training Department, immediately assemble in the office building conference room, I repeat¡­¡± Suddenly, the hidden loudspeakers in every corner of the new campus sounded. ¡°An emergency summon?¡± Bald Qiang and Wu Songlin exchanged a look, their expressions suddenly fell, and without saying much to the students, they turned and dashed toward the teaching building. An emergency summon is a method used by the school only when encountering sudden situations, without enough time to pass the message down through the hierarchy. It wasn¡¯t unique to Su City University ¡ª the Ministry of Education of the Great Xia mandated that all higher education institutions install hidden loudspeakers throughout the campus, which were not to be used lightly except for emergencies. As for the origin of this regulation, it dates back to the early days of the ¡°Unknown Recovery Incident¡± over a decade ago. Back then, communication methods weren¡¯t so advanced, and many base stations were extensively damaged, so in times of emergency, there was no choice but to use this rather primitive means. Time after time, these summons broadcasts solved the problem of delayed communication. Later on, this method of communication became a tradition and has persisted to this day, even in an era where communication is extremely developed, as it can instantly get a message to every person within the school. ¡°Big Brother Shao, that¡­ that was an emergency summon, right? Why did the school suddenly use an emergency summon? Is something big about to happen?¡± Li Yiming appeared beside Shao Zifeng at some point, his face showing a bit of nervousness. The surrounding students were also whispering to each other, and anxiety spread across the training ground. ¡°Hmm, it should be nothing,¡± Shao Zifeng said, holding the little deer and gently stroking its body. Seeing the Abnormal Administration Bureau cars parked under the office building, his expression wasn¡¯t very good, feeling as though more trouble was about to come. The little deer lay in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, sensing his unease and licked his hand with its soft tongue. ¡°Yah~¡± Shao Zifeng looked down and smiled at the little deer, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± No sooner had he spoken than the zzz of electric current resonated again, and everyone on the training ground fell into silence, quietly waiting. ¡°Attention to all Combat Training Department students, except for the freshmen, everyone is to proceed to the Logistics Department to collect medicine and positioning devices; assemble in your respective classes in one hour, I repeat¡­¡± As the broadcast ended, everyone was stunned. The expressions on the faces of the students on the scene were difficult to read, and a few of the more timid turned pale in an instant. ¡°` The distribution of supplies at the school was a clear indication that they would definitely be involved in a bloody battle soon. It is said that five years ago, Su City University had also distributed medicine to all combat training students during a minor rat plague. Due to widespread infestations, the Abnormal Administration Bureau was too overwhelmed to respond and had to seek the school¡¯s assistance, resulting in at least three students never returning to the classroom. That time, even an emergency summoning wasn¡¯t utilized. Today, the emergency summoning was directed at all combat training students, which also meant that after today, some might lose their lives. ¡°Ding~¡± Shao Zifeng¡¯s phone vibrated, and he took it out. ¡°Emergency task, search for suspicious targets within the entire city range, [picture] offering a reward of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan depending on the reliability of the information, no limit on the number of people.¡± As Shao Zifeng looked at the contents of the message, his fingers clenched tight. Why would the platform suddenly issue an emergency task¡ªwas it just a coincidence? And the silhouette of this man with silver hair, it seemed familiar. Various jumbled thoughts crowded in, and Shao Zifeng felt that troublesome matters just got even more troubling. ¡­ At the same time, in a room so lavishly decorated it seemed somewhat tasteless, a portly middle-aged man in a silk robe stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window with the curtains drawn. He swirled the red wine in his glass, looking up at the garish curtains as if admiring a priceless painting. Knock knock. The gentle knock on the door seemed careful not to disturb the man admiring the curtains. The portly man took a sip of his wine, moistened his throat, and then spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Vice-chairman.¡± The person who entered was dressed like a butler in a neatly pressed Western tailcoat with white gloves, his hair silver and combed neatly, the gold embroidery on his tailcoat setting him off against the room¡¯s decor. Equally tasteless. He approached the portly man and bowed slightly, ¡°Vice-chairman, there is news from Su City.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°An informant from the underground platform has just received a message; the platform issued an emergency task to find Burial Fox,¡± the butler reported respectfully. ¡°Hmm, has Burial Fox contacted the division recently?¡± the portly man asked without turning around, continuing to gaze up at the curtains. The butler hesitated momentarily, ¡°We haven¡¯t received any messages from Burial Fox lately and have utilized several low-level Concealment operatives to search, but Burial Fox seems to have vanished from the face of the Earth.¡± The middle-aged man didn¡¯t speak further and walked a few more steps forward, examining the curtains up close. The butler stood with his hands at his sides, showing no sign of impatience. After a moment, the middle-aged man withdrew his gaze from the curtains and sat back in the executive chair, still with his back to the butler. ¡°Since they are making such a public spectacle of looking for him through the grey forces, the move is either a fishing expedition or a smoke grenade. Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s send them a big gift,¡± the man finished his wine in one gulp, his hoarse voice trembling with a kind of fervor. The butler was startled and asked carefully, ¡°Vice-chairman, are you planning to¡­?¡± ¡°Shh~¡± The portly man made a silencing gesture, ¡°Is everything you provided for all the Concealment operatives in Su City in place?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the butler wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, hesitating, ¡°But¡­?¡± ¡°No buts, now we just wait for a grand performance, hahaha.¡± The portly man let out an unpleasant loud laugh, pressed a button on the armrest of the executive chair, and with a slight noise, the opulent curtains slowly opened. Behind the floor-to-ceiling window was pitch darkness, followed by the lighting up of one blood-red eye after another. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 74 The Beginning of Chaos Chapter 75: Chapter 74 The Beginning of Chaos In the eastern district of Su City, a saleswoman with a gentle smile had just seen off a customer. She turned to her coworker with a pout and complained, ¡°It¡¯s so annoying, trying on five or six pieces of clothing and not willing to buy a single one. Just snapping photos with their phone, as if there¡¯s anything worth capturing.¡± ¡°Oh, come on, it¡¯s not the first time we¡¯ve dealt with this, just endure it a bit and it¡¯ll pass,¡± said a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle face, clearly a very tender-hearted person. ¡°Yan Sister¡¯s heart is so broad, I just can¡¯t do that, hehe,¡± said the young woman, laughing as she playfully reached out her ¡°claws¡± to make a sneak attack on the middle-aged woman¡¯s generous bosom. ¡°You little girl, be careful or you¡¯ll not get married,¡± Yan Sister chided with a smile, gently tapping her. Unconcerned, the young woman replied with a mischievous grin, ¡°If I can¡¯t get married, I¡¯ll just wait for your son to marry me. Then we¡¯ll get along as mother and daughter-in-law harmoniously.¡± ¡°You, shall we go to the restroom together?¡± Yan Sister fondly shook her head. Squatting in the stall, the young woman chattered non-stop while Yan Sister just listened, occasionally chiming in. ¡°Ding~¡± The sound of a cell phone rang, and as Yan Sister picked it up, her face turned deathly pale under the light of the phone screen. Knock knock. ¡°Yan Sister, come out quickly, or the boss will scold us again,¡± urged the young woman, knocking on the door as Yan Sister showed no sign of moving. ¡°Xiao Qing, you go back first, my stomach isn¡¯t feeling too well,¡± Yan Sister spoke with a strange tone, but made no move to come out. With her lips pursed, Xiao Qing replied with a slight coquetry in her voice, ¡°No, I want to wait for Yan Sister.¡± Creak. The door of the restroom stall slowly opened a crack, but no one emerged. Xiao Qing quickly reached out to open the door, fearing something might have happened to Yan Sister. ¡°Hiss!¡± As soon as the door opened, before she could make out the scene within, a dark figure cried out strangely and clung to Xiao Qing¡¯s head. Xiao Qing froze instantly, her expression one of terror, breathing rapidly through her nostrils. ¡°You child, always so disobedient.¡± A familiar voice sounded in Xiao Qing¡¯s ear. Grasping for salvation, her eyeballs spun wildly, filled with hope and longing. The thing holding her head shifted, and Xiao Qing clearly saw Yan Sister standing across from her, the Yan Sister who she spent her days with, who always looked after her. But the Yan Sister she saw now made her feel alienated, with several plate-sized spiders crawling on her body and a sinister smile on her face. ¡°Wuu~¡± Xiao Qing shook her head frantically, trying to say something, but her mouth couldn¡¯t produce any sound. ¡°Good girl, it won¡¯t hurt, it¡¯ll be over quickly.¡± Yan Sister stepped forward, her palm gently caressing Xiao Qing¡¯s cheek, her face once again displaying that familiar gentle smile. Xiao Qing seemed to reignite hope, her big eyes brimming with yearning, big tears rolling down non-stop. ¡°Puh!¡± Her face expression locked in place. A wolf spider¡¯s forelimb, gleaming coldly, had pierced through Xiao Qing¡¯s head. A splatter of fresh blood sprayed from Xiao Qing¡¯s eye sockets, splashing Yan Sister¡¯s face. She licked it with her tongue, a look on her face part sorrow and part joy. ¡°Thud!¡± Xiao Qing¡¯s body went limp and fell to the ground, her remaining eye wide open, as blood quickly spread, forming a grotesque, bloom-like pattern on the pristine and shiny floor. Yan Sister gave Xiao Qing one last look, then coldly turned to say, ¡°Begin.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± The wolf spiders on her body emitted an excited hiss, leaping from her body to the corpse of Xiao Qing, ravenously gnawing away. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Shortly after, a piercing scream echoed through the mall, signaling the beginning of a massacre. At the same time, similar incidents occurred throughout Su City, casting a sudden disaster that shrouded the entire city under dark clouds. ¡­ ¡°Ugh~¡± In the sewer, four girls were leaning against the slippery walls, violently retching. The slimy mud, the foul sewage, and the air filled with irritating gases were constantly challenging the fragile nerves of the students. ¡°Stand up, all of you, look at yourselves,¡± Bald Qiang demanded, shining his high-powered flashlight on each student one by one. Those caught in the light shielded their eyes with their arms, growing increasingly discontent. ¡°We¡¯re just students, why do we have to come to a place like this?¡± a male student grumbled under his breath. Bald Qiang¡¯s face grew darker as he aimed the flashlight at the male student who had just spoken, ¡°Students, from the day you became Combat Training Masters, you¡¯re no longer ordinary students. Anyone who wants to be a coward can scram now, and I will personally revoke your Combat Training Master status when we get back.¡± After speaking, Bald Qiang scanned the group with his flashlight again, ¡°You, you, and you, who wants out?¡± The targeted students hung their heads, no longer speaking. A moment later, Bald Qiang put away the flashlight, ¡°Since no one¡¯s quitting, show me what you¡¯re made of. Summon all the pets and continue to explore with me.¡± Shao Zifeng followed behind the group, walking unhurriedly, holding a small deer in his arms and using it to cover his mouth and nose. Real fragrance. The little deer, seeing the hair so close at hand, brightened its eyes, turned its head to bite Zifeng¡¯s hair, and rapidly moved its small mouth, its wet eyes filled with a hint of satisfaction. After the brief interruption, the team fell silent again, everyone continued to fumble forward in the dark. Aside from the squelching sound of footsteps in the mud, only the dripping of water from an unknown source could be heard in the pitch-black sewer. ¡°Ah!¡± Just then, a girl let out a scream, pointing ahead with a pale face, her lips trembling so much that she couldn¡¯t speak. Everyone looked up to see a pair of greenish eyes lighting up in the darkness, floating in mid-air like ghostly fires, causing a stir among the crowd. ¡°Shut up, it¡¯s my pet,¡± Bald Qiang ordered quietly, shining the flashlight over. A Giant Battle Bear slowly emerged from the darkness, its broad paws stepping silently perhaps because of the mud dampening the sound. ¡°Er Bao, found anything?¡± Bald Qiang took a few steps forward and patted the giant bear¡¯s head affectionately. The bear nodded humanly, turned around with some difficulty in the confined space, glanced at them, and gestured for Bald Qiang to follow. Zifeng watched the leading bear with curiosity, amazed in his heart. He hadn¡¯t expected Bald Qiang to have another bear, but then again, it made sense; the Giant Power Battle Bear was so large that it probably could only crawl through the sewer if it could be summoned at all. After moving for a while, the bear suddenly stopped and sniffed around before letting out a big sneeze. It turned back and nodded at Bald Qiang, moving to the side to give a better view. Bald Qiang directed the beam of his high-powered flashlight, revealing a mutilated corpse lying in the sewer channel. Whatever was blocking it, the body bobbed up and down but wasn¡¯t swept away by the filthy water. Bald Qiang stepped forward, reaching out to turn the body over. Suddenly, the body shook and turned over by itself. Its hollow eyes moved restlessly as if it were about to come back to life. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Life Seed (1/2) Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Life Seed (1/2) ¡°Ah!!¡± A girl, upon seeing this scene, crouched on the ground in terror, hugging her head and letting out a sharp scream. Not frightened by the dead body, the bald Sun Qiang shuddered from the girl¡¯s scream instead, and he turned his head to glare angrily at her, ¡°What are you screaming for, she¡¯s already dead.¡± The girl was helped up by a few of her friends, her complexion deathly pale, lips trembling uncontrollably, and her gaze somewhat vacant. Shao Zifeng was also startled by the suddenly overturning corpse and, holding back nausea, looked towards the body in the gutter. Under the illumination of the strong flashlight, what came into Shao Zifeng¡¯s view was a swollen head, the face so bloated and decayed it was indistinguishable as male or female, though judging from the clothing, it was likely a woman. The head was separated from the body, severely gnawed upon, with some white maggots wriggling in the eye sockets, creating the illusion of moving eyeballs. Shao Zifeng swallowed saliva. Ugh¡­ It wasn¡¯t that he had any thoughts, it was just his stomach reflexively churning up acid. ¡°Brother Qiang, what do we do?¡± Class leader Sun Qiang also looked terrible, whispering to the bald Sun Qiang. The bald Sun Qiang didn¡¯t respond to Sun Qiang, just calmly took out a walkie-talkie and dialed channel 16, ¡°Search Team One, Search Team One, this is Combat Training Group Four reporting a situation. I repeat, Combat Training Group Four has found something.¡± After saying that, he held the walkie-talkie in his hand, waiting for instructions. Waiting always seems eternal, especially in such an environment, where tension and unease spread between each person. The walkie-talkie only emitted weird static sounds, and after a long wait, no response came through. The bald Sun Qiang tried the walkie-talkie again but still received no reply. ¡°Teacher, the phones, our phones have no signal,¡± blurted out a panicked male student at that moment. The crowd became restless, and all the students took out their phones, only to find no signals at all on their displays. Everyone turned helplessly towards their teacher, a few girls letting out soft sobs. The bald Sun Qiang felt a growing unease, his expression fluctuating, and finally he clenched his teeth, ¡°Follow me, let¡¯s go back the way we came, and get out of here first.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Suddenly, the Giant Battle Bear leaning against one side let out a roar, its eyes fixed intently on the depths of the sewer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Er Bao?¡± The bald Sun Qiang¡¯s body tensed, his unease intensifying. He slowly lifted his head, following the Giant Battle Bear¡¯s gaze into the darkness where, unbeknownst to him, a cluster of blood-red pupils had appeared. Mutant creatures, there were so many of them ahead! ¡°Ah!¡± The girl who had been scared at first couldn¡¯t bear the pressure anymore and screamed as she ran back. Her pet was a small cat, which had all its short fur standing on end, closely following behind the girl. ¡°Li Wan, come back! Come back now!¡± Sun Qiang yelled several times after the girl, but seeing she wasn¡¯t listening, he quickly turned to shout to the bald Sun Qiang, ¡°Teacher, what should we do? Think of something, quick!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Shao Zifeng saw the fleeing girl tremble like a puppet with its strings cut, standing motionless in her spot. A vast shadow appeared out of nowhere, looming over the girl. A dark, shiny object plunged into her skull from above and then slowly withdrew. In the beam of the strong flashlight, there was a spurt of blood shooting up, and the girl collapsed limply on the ground. Everyone was stunned into silence. The sudden loss of a classmate they were just with moments ago was something they couldn¡¯t bear, their unease turning into despair, but no one dared make a sound. Shao Zifeng shifted slightly to the side, a hint of blue flashing in his eyes. ¡°Blood-sucking Tarantula¡­¡± he muttered, his scalp tingling as he looked at the data that appeared before him. It wasn¡¯t Shao Zifeng¡¯s first time seeing a Blood-sucking Tarantula, not even the first time seeing several of them, he and Qiuqiu had even slain a few together. But what really made his scalp tingle was that dense cluster of spider eyes ¨C he had never seen Blood-sucking Tarantulas on such a scale. In the sewer, both ahead and behind, there were blood-red spots of light everywhere, chilling to the core. ¡°Hiss~¡± The spreading scent of blood stimulated all of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas, whose cold and blood-colored eyes locked onto the group with a greedy expression; the collision of their limbs created a noisy sound. The first few couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of fresh blood, and quickly scuttled forward on their long legs. Bald Head Qiang¡¯s facial muscles twitched violently, he turned his head to look at the terrified students and, gritting his teeth, opened a Space Rift with his hand. ¡°Roar!¡± A roar filled with rage exploded in the sewer, the powerful airflow it carried rushed toward the swarm of Blood-sucking Tarantulas. The first few Blood-sucking Tarantulas were blown unsteady, falling from the top of the sewer. ¡°Boom.¡± The sewer shook violently. The majestic Giant Battle Bear appeared in the sewer, but because its body was too huge, it could only crouch on the ground, blocking everyone¡¯s path, single-handedly facing off against the frenzied Blood-sucking Tarantulas. ¡°Buddy Bear, hold on. Little Bear, turn around, take them and rush out! I¡­¡± Bald Head Qiang said and then turned back to glance at Buddy Bear blocking the sewer. For an instant he thought of abandoning Buddy Bear to save himself, but the conscience of a Combat Training Master wouldn¡¯t allow it. His expression gradually became resolute, and his eyes reflected determination, ¡°Follow Little Bear and charge out, save whoever can be saved!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Little Bear turned back to look deeply at his master, let out a roar, and, moving his broad limbs, was the first to confront the spider swarm. ¡°Teacher¡­ Teacher, let¡¯s go together,¡± a few female students said stammeringly with crying voices, while the other students also chimed in. Bald Head Qiang glared fiercely at them, ¡°All of you get lost, you bunch of cowards! Don¡¯t you have the courage to run away?¡± ¡°Roar~¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± By now, Little Bear had already charged to the front of the spider swarm, violently slammed a Blood-sucking Tarantula that pounced at it to the ground, bit off the tarantula¡¯s head, and roared as it looked back. The Giant Battle Bear also came under attack, but the confined space of the sewer limited its mobility, forcing it to passively take hits and let out choked roars of frustration. Bald Head Qiang, with a heavy heart, stood behind the Giant Battle Bear, soothing it, and without turning back, shouted again, ¡°Go, all of you, just go!¡± ¡°Teacher, we¡¯ll call for help as soon as we can, you must hold on,¡± Sun Qiang shouted, leading his pet, a second-order wolfhound, and without looking back, he ran towards the way they came. Leading the way, the others didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and rapidly turned to follow. Shao Zifeng turned to leave as well, but he felt uncomfortable just walking away like this. Sigh, he didn¡¯t want to owe anybody anything after all. He decided to do something and immediately bowed his head to the tiny deer, ¡°Life Seed, do not hinder their actions.¡± Hearing this, the tiny deer nudged Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest with its little head, then jumped to the ground from his embrace. Its emerald eyes sparkled subtly, and illusory antlers emerged on its head. The antlers grew longer and branched out more and more, budding and blooming like a lush tree, spreading a tremendous aura of life. The intense energy fluctuations drew everyone¡¯s attention; the Blood-sucking Tarantulas, even crazier, had their bloody glow intensifying in their eyes. But in such a cramped space, despite their numbers, they couldn¡¯t swarm all at once, being forcefully held back by the two giant bears. The other classmates looked at each other, commanding their pets to attack. Their individual power might not be strong, but they had strength in numbers. ¡°Yo~¡± This skill was still a bit too much for the newborn deer. As the energy flower on the lower level bloomed, the very top of its antlers began to dissipate. The tiny deer¡¯s body trembled uncontrollably, teetering, and with an unwilling cry, it gritted its teeth, trying hard to maintain the release of its ability. Shao Zifeng looked at the tiny deer, his heart aching. ¡°Yo!!¡± The tiny deer raised its head and let out a long cry. The antler tree shone brightly, emitting a strange and soothing fragrance. More than twenty energy flowers bloomed, and one by one, green seeds squeezed out from the stamens of the antler tree, trailing long green ribbons as they scattered and flew away. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Zhang Shuizheng (2/2) Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Zhang Shuizheng (2/2) Clusters of green seeds squeezed from the flower buds of the great antler tree, trailing long streaks of light as they individually struck the two giant bears and the crowd belonging to Bald Qiang. The seeds shattered the instant they touched them, sprouting vines that wrapped around their waists and emitted a faint green glow. The antler flower tree instantaneously shattered, turning into specks of starlight that dissipated into nothingness. The young deer collapsed to the ground at the sound, quickly cradled in the arms of Shao Zifeng. It weakly closed its eyes and gently licked Shao Zifeng¡¯s large hand with its tender pink tongue. ¡°Rest for now,¡± Shao Zifeng gently patted the deer¡¯s body. Under the continuous Healing of the Life Seed, the wounds on the two giant bears healed at a visibly rapid pace. They excitedly let out a massive roar and clashed with the Blood-sucking Tarantula once more. The students of Class Four cheered and looked at Shao Zifeng with grateful eyes. Seeing the skill take effect, Shao Zifeng nodded at Bald Qiang, ¡°Take care.¡± Bald Qiang paused briefly, then clenched his fist, pounding his chest heavily and cracking a relieved smile. ¡­ Shao Zifeng gave a quick glance around; the Blood-sucking Tarantulas here were all rank three, and their numbers were relatively few. As a rank four battle pet, with the continuous Healing from the Life Seed, Bear Two should be able to lead everyone out of the sewer without incident. For that reason, the students¡¯ emotions gradually stabilized. Even though some were still anxious, they were no longer paralyzed with fear and could use Bear Two¡¯s protection for some practical combat training for their own pets. Though individually weak, their numbers were large, capable of relieving a significant part of the pressure on Bear Two. Seeing this, Shao Zifeng felt a slight relief, carrying the young deer and following behind the group at a leisurely pace. ¡°Shao classmate, your Plum Deer¡¯s skill is amazing. Can you add one to my pet too, so my little baby can also show off?¡± Zhang Shuizheng suddenly ran up to Shao Zifeng, curious as he looked at the young deer, clicking his tongue in wonder. Class leader Sun Qiang opened his mouth but said nothing, instead turning back to direct his own little shepherd dog in battle, hoping in his heart that Shao Zifeng would apply the Life Seed to his pet as well. A few girls meanwhile pursed their lips, their looks conveying a mix of disdain and scorn. Shao Zifeng looked at the person before him, somewhat recalling that his pet was a rank one leopard cat, a decent pet in a place like Su City. But from the start of the battle, he had been shirking his duties, and later simply used the excuse of his leopard cat being injured to recall his pet to the pet space. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t like him standing so close, slowed his pace and with a distant smile said, ¡°The deer is too exhausted, and maintaining the skill effect requires effort, so I¡¯m sorry.¡± He wasn¡¯t just making up an excuse; although the Life Seed was a continuous recovery skill, it did have a duration. Therefore, to maintain the skill effect for a long time, the deer needed periodic energy supply. The consumption wasn¡¯t large, but it couldn¡¯t release other skills for a while. After all, it was still just a newborn baby. ¡°Tsk, if you don¡¯t want to help, just say it. It¡¯s just releasing a skill,¡± Zhang Shuizheng scoffed, then his eyes gleamed, ¡°How about this, Shao classmate? If you add a skill to my pet, I¡¯ll stay by your side to protect you. It¡¯s very dangerous for a Combat Training Master with Healing abilities like yourself to be here.¡± He figured since Shao Zifeng was about his age, he wouldn¡¯t have the energy to train a second pet. Shao Zifeng looked at the two-faced man before him with disgust, ignored him, and kept walking. If it weren¡¯t for the situation slowly stabilizing and his inability to leave just yet, he truly wouldn¡¯t want to stick with a group of liabilities. After all, he owed them nothing. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just saying¡­ ah.¡± Zhang Shuizheng was about to continue speaking when suddenly a dish-sized black shadow swooped down from above, its two sharp forelimbs instantly piercing Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s neck. ¡°Save¡­ save¡­ ack¡­¡± Zhang Shuizheng, trying to talk to Shao Zifeng, walked behind everyone, and once Shao Zifeng quickly overtook him, he was left behind alone, which presented a golden opportunity for the Blood-sucking Tarantula that had been lurking overhead. The odd noises from behind caught the attention of the students in front, and several strong flashlights instantly shone on the scene. In the horrified gazes of everyone, the fluffy Blood-sucking Tarantula suddenly pulled out its forelimb from Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s neck, and blood sprayed wildly from the wound. Zhang Shuizheng knelt on the ground, his hands clutching his neck where the artery¡¯s blood could not be stopped, spurting through his fingers, splattering the sewer walls, and then coagulating as it slid down. He looked up at Shao Zifeng pleadingly, barely opening his mouth to say something when blood poured out like it cost nothing. This scene happened too suddenly. Even Shao Zifeng was unprepared. He was not far in front of Zhang Shuizheng, and the blood that sprayed stained his pants, the disgusting warmth discomforting him greatly. ¡°Quick, everyone, stand together and recall your pets,¡± Shao Zifeng shouted, backing quickly toward the crowd. Like awakening from a dream, everyone chaotically clumped together, recalling their pets that were fighting at the front and shining their bright lights around nervously in fear of more Blood-sucking Tarantulas suddenly appearing. Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s breath grew ever fainter, and he listlessly dropped his head. The tarantula¡¯s hind limbs gripped his neck, its forelimbs extended threateningly, snapping at the crowd with menacing sounds. Unlike the time Sun Wan was killed, too far away to see clearly, this time, all his classmates watched Zhang Shuizheng die right before their eyes. Sun Qiang, as the class leader, already felt more pressure than the others; the continuous death of two classmates overwhelmed him, his eyes bloodshot as he furiously stared at the tarantula, grinning triumphantly while gripping Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s neck. ¡°Everyone, prepare to attack; do not damage Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s body. Little Wolfhound, use ¡®tear and bite,''¡± he ordered. ¡°Woof-hmm~¡± Hearing his master¡¯s command, the Little Wolfhound crouched, bared its teeth, then pushed off with its hind legs, lunging at the tarantula as a black blur. Seeing the Little Wolfhound attack, the tarantula¡¯s eight eyes glinted with madness. It let go of Zhang Shuizheng¡¯s neck and leaped high, extending its sharp forelimbs to slash a bloody mark on the Little Wolfhound just as it brushed past. ¡°Awoo~ Woof woof.¡± The Little Wolfhound landed unsteadily, tumbling onto the ground, rolling in the mud, and continuously howling in pain. ¡°Don¡¯t be careless, this mutant creature is second tier,¡± Shao Zifeng quickly reminded Sun Qiang lest he lose his senses. At this, Sun Qiang blinked, his anger subsiding a bit, ¡°Everyone, attack together, don¡¯t prolong the fight, grind it down,¡± he ordered. Hearing this, everyone nodded and began directing their pets. Dozens of small pets continuously circled the tarantula, occasionally launching attacks before quickly retreating. The tarantula cried out furiously, utterly helpless. As injuries accumulated on the tarantula and its movements slowed down, the group¡¯s eyes brightened, and their tense emotions gradually eased. ¡°Roar!!!¡± Just then, a painful howl erupted from Big Bear in the distance. The vines on everyone glowed intensely with fluctuating light. Little Deer frowned, struggling to maintain the skill. Eventually, after a severe tremor, the vines burst into light points and disappeared. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Sin Fox (New Book Launch, Seeking First Subscriptions) Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Sin Fox (New Book Launch, Seeking First Subscriptions) At night, a dense swarm of Blood-sucking Tarantulas surged towards a location like a tidal wave. They jostled against one another, hissing with bared fangs, their crimson gazes piercing through the night. ¡°Ice Woman, Cold Wind!¡± ¡°Woo!¡± A biting cold wind laden with ice shards instantly swept through the spider horde, slowing the movements of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas at the very front. Their bodies seemed covered in a layer of frost before they were knocked to the ground by the ones behind them, shattering into icy debris. Luo Feng looked on impassively at this scene, with a humanoid pet beast floating behind him. It was about one and a half meters tall, its whole body an icy white, and its ice-blue hair devoid of substance, fluttering freely in the night sky. However, its current state was extremely poor, with its floating gauze flickering in and out of visibility. ¡°Ice Woman, you should go back and rest!¡± Luo Feng, without taking his eyes off the spider horde still surging towards him, had a progressively intense madness in his gaze. The Ice Woman¡¯s blue pupils looked at Luo Feng with some concern, but ultimately, she nodded gently and returned to the pet beast space. ¡°Die, all of you die, you damn curs,¡± Luo Feng¡¯s forehead veins bulged as he murmured to himself. His emotions were very unstable, his pupils flickering uncertainly between dilation and constriction. ¡°Hiss!¡± Dozens of Blood-sucking Tarantulas leaped forward, opening their mouths wide, and charged at Luo Feng in a frenzy. Luo Feng lifted his head to look at the black shadows obscuring the moonlight in the sky, a dangerous curve forming at his lips. He removed his gold-rimmed glasses and tossed them aside as his pupils transformed into vertical slits. A massive Space Rift appeared behind him, and nine slender crimson tails extended fiercely, twinkling with a demonic red in the night. ¡°All of you must die! Die! DIE!!! Hahahaha!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡­ ¡°Boom!¡± Shao Zifeng, hugging his concealed blade, was abruptly awakened. He felt the entire building trembling; cracks appeared on the glass before they exploded violently. The night wind poured in, and Shao Zifeng tightened the blanket around himself. The night wind on the sixteenth floor is really cold. He, groggily sleeping, had this random thought cross his mind. Shivering, he hurriedly rolled off the bed and walked briskly to the window to look out. What he saw was a sea of red. The flames burning like purgatory, devouring everything around them. Several buildings had collapsed into ruins, and thick smoke obscured the sky. Shao Zifeng watched this scene in horror, completely astounded. What the hell is going on, tearing down the house if you can¡¯t win the fight? What is that! Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze sharpened as he could faintly make out several whip-like objects in the smoke and sea of fire. The moment his eyes spotted the whip-like shapes, the blue light in his peripheral vision started spinning wildly. [Name]: Nine-tailed Demon Fox ¨C Lust (Branch of Fusang) [Growth]: Mature period [Status]: Healthy, Hatred, Desire for Destruction [Strength]: Rank 7 [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Canidae [Element]: Fire [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î [Innate Abilities]: Desire for Destruction: A passive talent that is affected by the negative emotions in the Contractor¡¯s heart. The more intense the Contractor¡¯s negative emotions/desires, the stronger the power that can be exerted. If the Contractor cannot control their emotions/desires well, they will ultimately be controlled by this power. Sin Flames: A passive talent; it is said to be flames that can scorch the soul. The amount of pain suffered by hostile targets will be experienced equally by the Contractor. [Skills]: Sin Mark (Special Skill), Fiery Breath, Purgatory Explosion, Flame Claw, Fire Protection, Hot Storm, Tail Needle¡­ [Description]: Legend has it that it is the Sin Fox of the Great Xia Fox Clan, which underwent irreversible changes after being exiled to Fusang. It is fundamentally just one branch of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan; different regions result in different evolutionary forms. Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze went blank. Seventh¡­ a seventh-tier mutant creature. His breathing became somewhat rapid at that moment, his entire body tensed up, and his heart was beating violently. ¡°Boom!¡± Another explosion sounded, several buildings collapsed in an instant, and the flames that erupted illuminated half of Su City¡¯s night sky, rolling upward like a blooming lotus. A familiar sense of vibration came again seconds later. Looking at the scene before him, Shao Zifeng also felt a surge of grandeur rising in his heart. Glancing back at Qiuqiu, who was still sound asleep, he believed that in the not-so-distant future, they would surely ascend¡­ wait. What is this? In front of him, a crack spread from the windowsill, slowly expanding into the whole room along with the vibrations. ¡°Damn it to hell!¡± All thoughts of grandeur were now meaningless. Shao Zifeng scrambled to the sofa, scooping up the dazed Qiuqiu and ran towards the elevator. Qiuqiu, just waking up, stretched comfortably and looked bewildered at Shao Zifeng holding him tightly. Eggy¡­ why so enthusiastic today, huh? ?(????¦Ø????)? ¡­ Chen Zhenglong, who was dozing off beside the training field, was awakened by the consecutive explosions. He opened his bloodshot eyes to the fiery sky in the distance. The heavy tiredness and sleepiness dissipated in an instant, and he exclaimed, ¡°Fuck, this maniac.¡± Without further hesitation, he stretched out his hand to tear open a space rift, and a tall Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle appeared before him. But the Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle was in bad shape; its feathers were disheveled, blood stains dried on its body, and even its proud golden crown was reduced to a single feather. ¡°Xiao Hei, take me over there, quickly.¡± ¡°Caw!¡± The eagle nodded, letting out a feeble cry, and flapped its wings to fly off. Chen Zhenglong leaped up and grabbed onto its claws. They flew towards the glow of the flames in the night. ¡°Boom!¡± Another blast came, shaking the eagle¡¯s form, causing it to crash to the ground. ¡°Damn it!¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure as he recalled his pet. It seemed he couldn¡¯t get there quickly enough. ¡­ The loud explosion awoke Yang Qian from his deep slumber. He opened his weary eyes and listened carefully. Behind him, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros bore even more scars. It hung its head low, enjoying the rare quiet. ¡°Boom!¡± The explosion sounded again, and the sky full of flames stretched their shadows long. Yang Qian seemed to realize something, his face drastically changing. ¡°Old buddy, let¡¯s go!¡± Upon hearing those words, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros slowly stood up, let out a muted roar, and disappeared into the night with heavy steps. ¡­ In the darkness of the night, a white figure leapt back and forth among the rubble, weaving through the streets and alleys. ¡°Snap!¡± With a light sound, the white figure turned sharply, its beautiful fur bristling, baring its teeth and staring at the source of the noise. A little kitten was hiding in a crevice among the stones, looking pitifully at Qiqi. Qiqi felt a bit embarrassed, and her fluffy fur slowly settled back down. Pretending nothing had happened, she swished her tail, muttering, ¡°There was definitely a dragon just now, how did it suddenly disappear?¡± Saying this, she lifted her phone with her little paws, a touch of melancholy on her delicate feline face. Being a geographically challenged kitty is so hard!! Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 78: City of the Dead (1/2) Chapter 79: Chapter 78: City of the Dead (1/2) ¡°` ¡°Clang!¡± The sewer manhole cover had been pushed aside, flipping over several times before hitting the ground with a thunderous crash. Then a small head poked out from the sewer, its little eyes darting around energetically, scanning the surroundings before turning back and calling out twice, then leaping out first. The sewer exit was rather hidden, located in an alley connected to a commercial street. Shao Zifeng had barely steadied himself when a smell of burning mixed with a strong stench of blood hit his nostrils, causing him to frown. He thought it was a scent he had picked up on his person and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Glancing down at himself, he realized his clothing was beyond salvage, stained with blood mixed with mud dried by Qiuqiu, emitting an indescribable foul odor, altogether quite overwhelming. With the situation being urgent, he could not afford to care about it; what was most important was to seek help from the Abnormal Administration Bureau. He didn¡¯t know how many were still alive in the sewers, but figured he should try to save anyone he could. Turning the corner of the alley exit, Shao Zifeng¡¯s eyes widened abruptly, his mind going blank as he incredulously observed the decaying streetscape. This was a small commercial street, but the scene before him resembled a dead city. The old shopfronts were adorned with various signs, while the once-clear glass windows were now covered in cracks and bloodstains, beneath them lay a thick layer of shattered glass. Inside the shops, flames flickered, and rolling smoke filled the entire street. The concrete street was pockmarked and uneven, with dark dried bloodstains exuding a strong, iron-like odor. Several mutilated bodies lay chaotically in pools of blood, their dying nerves twitching with torn flesh. The bloody sight was glaring. Shao Zifeng felt a sudden chill, an unreal sensation of vertigo, his hands trembling involuntarily. What in the world had happened, why had Su City turned into this? ¡°Ying ying~¡± Qiuqiu glanced at the street, not noticing anything amiss. It then looked up at Shao Zifeng, who seemed about to collapse, and stood on its hind legs to embrace his thigh, its gaze filled with worry. ¡°Right, the phone¡­ the phone,¡± Shao Zifeng said frantically as he took out his cellphone, his hands shaking as he dialed a number etched into his memory: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Sorry¡­¡± Shao Zifeng was completely stunned, his pupils dilated as the cold mechanical voice echoed in his ears. His hand fell limp, the phone slipping from his grasp while he stood there, his face devoid of color. Still no signal. How could there still be no signal after leaving the sewers? He wondered about his mother, if she was safe or if something had happened to her. His mind was a tangled mess, with all sorts of worst-case scenarios haunting him. ¡°Ying~¡± Qiuqiu watched Shao Zifeng, silent and motionless, feeling anxious. It was about to offer some comforting words when it suddenly turned its head towards something else. Its gaze was icy, with a flicker of fire in its eyes, warily staring at a bridal shop ahead. ¡°Bang!¡± The glass window of the bridal shop exploded outward as a blood-covered figure was hurled out, crashing heavily onto the ground, coughing up blood profusely. Qiuqiu grew more alert, moving forward cautiously, positioning itself protectively behind Shao Zifeng. ¡°Ssss~¡± Accompanied by a familiar and unpleasant hiss, a black-haired spider leg kicked away the remaining glass, poking its head out from the shattered window. Its blood-red gaze locked onto the coughing figure with a hideous sneer, the newly evolved creature in desperate need of a substantial blood meal to replenish its energy, angered by the resistance it faced, flinging the man away. The loss of so much blood pained it just to think about. Suddenly, the Blood-sucking Tarantula froze mid-leap, slowly turning its head, its eight eyes filled with murderous bloodlust, focusing on Shao Zifeng. Fresh food! ¡°Ssss!!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± This ugly brute dared to roar at it, and without hesitation, Qiuqiu roared back. Shao Zifeng, jolted out of his stupor by the twin roars, came back to his senses and saw the Blood-sucking Tarantula, galloping furiously toward him on its eight long legs, a surge of nameless rage flooding his heart. Damn thing, it was you again! All his unease and worry for his mother were now transformed into a blazing anger. ¡°Qiuqiu, conserve your energy, don¡¯t use skills that consume a lot,¡± he instructed. The situation was unclear, and it was unknown how many more Blood-sucking Tarantulas there might be, so he decided to be cautious. ¡°` ¡°Roar!¡± Feeling Shao Zifeng¡¯s intent, Qiuqiu responded with a roar, its body suddenly bursting into a blazing flame. It dug its claws into the ground, pushed off with its hind legs, and instantly transformed into a streak of crimson flame, trailing a long fiery tail. The Blood-sucking Tarantula, seeing the rapidly approaching ball of fire, had a flash of wariness in its eyes. Its front limbs rubbed against each other, gleaming with an intimidating cold light, and stabbed toward the ball of fire. ¡°Qiuqiu, dodge!¡± Qiuqiu agilely dodged the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s ambush, rushed beneath it, swung around with a tail whip, and fiercely struck its abdomen. A charred mark was left on the spider¡¯s belly, and the attached fire element continuously eroded its wound. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s abdomen was struck with such force that it arched up high, nearly flipping over, and the continuous burning filled its spider eyes with blood-red substance. Before it could react, another enormous force came from below. The Blood-sucking Tarantula was whipped off its eight legs and slammed heavily onto the ground littered with broken stones. ¡°Elemental Spirit, Wood Thorn,¡± Shao Zifeng said, his gaze like a torch as he watched the Blood-sucking Tarantula with its eight legs in the air, struggling to stand up. ¡°Heehee~¡± The Elemental Spirit giggled as it flew up into the air, waved its tiny hand, and the ground trembled. Stones danced about, and a thick Wood Thorn burst from underneath, piercing the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s swollen abdomen, splattering green liquid everywhere. ¡°Hiss!!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula, in pain, shook its eight slender legs at the Wood Thorn, seemingly trying to pull it out. Seeing this, Qiuqiu leaped up and targeted the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s mouth with its tail, knocking several sharp teeth flying. The Elemental Spirit frowned slightly in dissatisfaction, the luster flowing through its jade-like, large eyes. It waved its little hand again, and the wood elemental energy gathered above the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s head. The Blood-sucking Tarantula felt the elemental fluctuations above its head and showed a look of terror, its struggle for survival becoming even more intense. Then¡­ Then a thin and small Wood Thorn appeared in mid-air, vastly different in size and thickness from the previous thorns released. Shao Zifeng and Qiuqiu looked toward the Elemental Spirit holding out its tiny hand in mid-air, their faces showing a hint of surprise. So thin. Even the Blood-sucking Tarantula, upon seeing the Wood Thorn suspended above its head, breathed a sigh of relief. Tsk, so thin, it definitely won¡¯t stir my big cauldron. Thinking this, the Blood-sucking Tarantula gave up struggling, even opened its mouth apparatus, provocatively looking at the Elemental Spirit. As if to say, come on. Stir my big cauldron. At first, the Elemental Spirit seemed a little embarrassed, then somewhat annoyed. It glared hatefully at the Blood-sucking Tarantula, its little face turning completely¡­ green. It pressed down with its short hand, and the thin Wood Thorn, with a sound breaking the air, instantly stabbed into the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s head. Before the Blood-sucking Tarantula could react, the Elemental Spirit clasped its hands together, and the green light in its crystal clear eyes shone brightly. ¡°Hiss¡± (fourth tone) ¡°Boom!¡± A muffled explosion. The Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s head showed several cracks, then suddenly burst open. Shreds of flesh mixed with green liquid splattered everywhere, and its eight spider legs first stretched rigidly, then fell limply into a heap, motionless. The Elemental Spirit nodded in satisfaction, sporting a pleased expression, its two big eyes curved into crescents. It turned to pounce on Shao Zifeng, seeking praise, but mid-way its form suddenly became unstable and more transparent. Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat and he quickly stepped forward to catch it with the small deer. The Elemental Spirit, touching the small deer, dissolved like melting snow, vanishing instantly. ¡°Very impressive, rest well,¡± Shao Zifeng said softly, stroking the small deer¡¯s body. Having dealt with the Blood-sucking Tarantula, some of the anger in Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart dissipated. He prepared to think carefully about his own situation and how to ensure his mother¡¯s safety. He took an energy potion out of his backpack and handed it to Qiuqiu. Just as Shao Zifeng was about to pick up his phone, he suddenly noticed the phone trembled. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± A series of explosion sounds followed. All the glass in the stores along the entire street burst, sending shards flying everywhere. Blood-sucking Tarantulas hissed as they crawled out of the display windows. Shao Zifeng¡¯s face changed drastically as he bellowed, ¡°Qiuqiu, run!!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Vertical Pupils Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Vertical Pupils ¡°Qiuqiu, Fiery Breath!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± In a low-lying residential area, a rotating column of fire thick as a bucket shot up into the sky with explosive force, hurling a Blood-sucking Tarantula that had pounced from a rooftop and causing it to violently explode midair. As the column of fire slowly dissipated, only a faint red line remained between heaven and earth, and countless charred spider fragments fell from the sky, filling the air with a pungent burnt smell. The aftermath of the explosion swept through, lifting the roofs of several old wooden houses, and ripples spread across the muddy water on the ground. ¡°Roar!!¡± Qiuqiu let out an angry roar at the spider swarm, then turned and continued to follow Shao Zifeng, weaving through the cramped residential area. This urban village in Su City was the last undeveloped area, with wooden houses, brick houses, and tin sheds everywhere, and due to the lack of planning, narrow paths were everywhere in the residential area. These paths were still dirt roads, where foul-smelling domestic wastewater and thick blood water flowed everywhere. Faster, even faster! After running for a long time, even the body of Shao Zifeng, enhanced by the ¡°Bonding Reaction,¡± began to falter, and he could feel a faint pain in his lungs, his cells screaming in madness. Each breath felt as though it were being sliced by a knife, his legs no longer felt like his own, mechanically swinging back and forth, stomping on the muddy path, splashing filthy water. But Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t stop. Behind them, countless Blood-sucking Tarantulas leapt across low rooftops, their crimson eyes flickering with greed, closely pursuing them. ¡°Hiss!¡± A shadow covered the already dim sunlight, as several Blood-sucking Tarantulas pounced from a rooftop to the side. They opened their eight long legs covered in black hair, their mouthparts wide open, even dripping disgusting saliva. Before Shao Zifeng could react, Qiuqiu suddenly leaped, taking the lead and charging towards the shadow in mid-air. Red flames entangled around its body, converging into a fireball behind it, which exploded at a critical point, and amidst the flying flames, a pair of fiery dragon wings suddenly spread wide. ¡°Roar!¡± Qiuqiu flapped its dragon wings, flying towards the Blood-Sucking Tarantulas in midair. A gust of wind messed up Shao Zifeng¡¯s hair as he lifted his head, staring mesmerized at the small figure. The tips of the wings cut through the air, pulling out two white trails, and with a sound of tearing air, it darted through several Blood-sucking Tarantulas. The Blood-sucking Tarantulas got closer and closer to Shao Zifeng, close enough that he could vaguely see the bits of flesh in their mouths. ¡°Bang!¡± Just as several Blood-sucking Tarantulas were about to pounce on Shao Zifeng, their bodies suddenly misaligned, and then split apart in the middle. Fragments carrying a foul-smelling green blood hit the ground next to Shao Zifeng, splashing mud everywhere. Without even looking, Qiuqiu shook its dragon wings and drew a graceful semicircle in the air, quickly sweeping through the spider swarm in front, and flying towards Shao Zifeng. The originally menacing Blood-sucking Tarantulas suddenly stood frozen in place, and moments later, chunks of flesh rained down like droplets. Qiuqiu¡¯s dragon wings flickered, vanishing just before it landed, and its chin smashed harshly into the muddy water. The scorching skin touched the muddy water and hissed, evaporating a cloud of white steam, Qiuqiu, enveloped in rolling steam, slid far across the ground. Shao Zifeng, heart aching, rushed over and embraced Qiuqiu, a forceful impact knocking him down too. ¡°Ying~¡± Qiuqiu opened its eyes, the flames dimming significantly. But when it saw Shao Zifeng, the flame flickered with joy and an affectionate look appeared in its eyes. Exhausted, it rubbed against Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest, its trembling little claws trying to stand up from the ground. Looking at the battered Qiuqiu, Shao Zifeng felt a pang in his nose and held it tightly, whispering, ¡°That¡¯s enough, it¡¯s already enough.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± Tears evaporated upon touching Qiuqiu¡¯s Scale Armor. Qiuqiu shuddered, not daring to struggle anymore, afraid of hurting Shao Zifeng. But it still stubbornly raised its head, resting on Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, glaring fiercely at the Blood-sucking Tarantulas chasing on the rooftops, issuing a reluctant dragon roar. ¡°Roar!¡± The sound was youthful, yet filled with supreme authority, causing the spider swarm to momentarily stiffen. ¡°From now on, let¡¯s fight together.¡± Shao Zifeng pressed his forehead against Qiuqiu¡¯s adorably awkward head, their gazes locking, flames flickering in the depths of their eyes. The flickering rates slowly started to synchronize. He moved his right hand, and a translucent Space Rift opened, ¡®Zang Feng¡¯ shooting out from it, firmly grasped in his hand. Holding Qiuqiu in one arm, Shao Zifeng rose to his feet, gripping ¡®Zang Feng¡¯ and staring intently at the approaching spider swarm. His pupils suddenly contracted, his brown-black irises filling with golden-red flames, transforming into vertical pupils just like Qiuqiu¡¯s. Qiuqiu struggled down from Shao Zifeng¡¯s body, nearly falling due to its unsteady footing. Then, stubbornly standing up, it positioned itself in front of Shao Zifeng. Its golden-red eyes coldly stared at the Blood-sucking Tarantulas on the low ceiling, sporadic flames bursting from its mouth as the surrounding fire elements gradually became active, repairing its body. Shao Zifeng looked worriedly at the exhausted Qiuqiu, his hand gripping the scabbard tightened slightly, veins bulging on his pale back of the hand. There was only one chance; if they failed, both he and Qiuqiu might perish here. The swarm gathered, with hundreds of Blood-sucking Tarantulas lying on the roofs around them. They weren¡¯t in a hurry to attack, their eyes crimson as they slowly tightened the encirclement. Shao Zifeng held the knife in his left hand and pressed his right hand on the hilt, looking for an opportunity to strike. ¡°Crack.¡± While Shao Zifeng was lost in thought, a slight noise suddenly came from not far away. He quickly turned his head to look in that direction. A half-collapsed tin house lay not far from him, with three people lying inside. A ghostly pale girl looked at Shao Zifeng in terror, her hands tightly covering the mouths of two children. The girl looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, somewhat familiar in appearance. Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment, then looked down and said, ¡°Qiuqiu, can you still hold on?¡± Human and pet locked eyes, their vertical pupils of the same color, the frequency of the flame flickers also identical. Qiuqiu instantly understood Shao Zifeng¡¯s thoughts, quickly glanced at the tin house, and nodded. ¡°Then, let¡¯s begin.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiuqiu stepped forward, its Scale Armor once again ignited with explosive flames. The mysterious Array lit up. ¡°Roar!¡± A column of fire surged out, sweeping across the rooftop to the west. ¡°Hiss!¡± The tarantula swarm on the western rooftop instantly let out cries of pain, their dense fur ignited, rolling, and screeching as they fell from the rooftop. The west side had the fewest Blood-sucking Tarantulas in the entire encirclement, and their chances of breaking through from there were much higher. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Shao Zifeng shouted loudly, taking the lead and running towards the gap to the west. Qiuqiu was just about to follow, but its gaze swept over the three children in the tin house, feeling somewhat uneasy. Glancing back at the restless swarm of tarantulas, Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes brightened, rapidly forming several fireballs that it hurled at them. The gesture was clearly provocative. Then, without looking back, it followed Shao Zifeng¡¯s steps. Hit and run, truly thrilling. ¡°Hiss!¡± The tarantula swarm dodged the fireballs, their annoyance palpable in their hisses as they quickly leaped and weaved through the buildings, chasing in their direction. ¡­ Quiet returned to the area around the tin house, marked only by messy footprints and chopped pieces of spider proving someone had been there. After a long while, the girl released her brother and sister, pressing her chest and taking a long breath. She had thought the little ones would be frightened. Contrarily, not only were they not afraid, they seemed unusually excited. The little boy quickly grabbed the girl¡¯s arm. ¡°Sister, sister, why were that brother¡¯s eyes different from ours?¡± he asked. ¡°Slap!¡± The little girl, her hands dirty, smacked the little boy on the head and put her index finger to her lips: ¡°Shh¡­¡± The little boy wasn¡¯t upset; he pouted and muttered something, then both he and the girl looked at their sister with expectant eyes. The girl habitually pushed up her glasses, only to touch nothing. She then remembered that she had lost her glasses while fleeing with her brother and sister. Unaccustomed, she lowered her arm. After hesitating for a moment, she said softly, ¡°It¡¯s said that when the bond between a Combat Training Master and their beast reaches a certain level, the Combat Training Master might develop some features of their beast, like¡­ eyes.¡± As she spoke, the girl seemed slightly dazed, as if she could again see the tall figure with golden-red vertical pupils looking at her. Unfortunately, she was highly myopic and couldn¡¯t see his face clearly. ¡®He should¡­ be more handsome than brother, right?¡¯ ¡®No, no, brother is the handsomest, yes¡­ it must be so.¡¯ Thinking this, a rare blush appeared on the girl¡¯s pale face. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 80 Qiqi Chapter 81: Chapter 80 Qiqi ¡°` Su City University Training Field At this moment, thousands of survivors had gathered, sitting or lying down, creating a dark mass. The atmosphere of the training field was heavy, with screams and groans occasionally exacerbating the oppressive air. Several doctors from the city hospital and the school doctor from Su City University were shuttling among the crowd. They were so busy that they hardly touched the ground, their white lab coats stained with blood, now the beacon of hope in the eyes of the remaining citizens. Around the perimeter of the training field, dozens of men in black suits patrolled back and forth, protecting against any sudden attacks and ensuring the citizens¡¯ safety. Luo Feng stood calmly at the edge of the training field, looking at the shimmering artificial lake, on the verge of erupting. The usually resplendent Luo Feng was uncharacteristically disheveled, his clean white lab coat stained with mud, his narrow-framed gold-rimmed glasses reduced to a single lens, and his hair a mess. Gazing at the lake, he spoke calmly, ¡°How many people have we managed to save now?¡± The suited man beside him glanced at a document and hurriedly replied, ¡°Reporting to Director Luo, based on the latest count three minutes ago, there are currently 6,433 citizens placed at Su City University, and about every half hour, a rescue team arrives to bring more citizens for shelter.¡± ¡°Hmm, when will the Abnormal Administration Bureau take over?¡± Luo Feng¡¯s voice was calm yet unsettlingly not. The man in the suit looked at his wristwatch, ¡°About 13 minutes.¡± ¡°Hmm, go tell the brothers to get ready. As soon as the rescue team from the Abnormal Administration Bureau comes back for rest and a change of shift, immediately set off in the assigned groups for the rescue.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the man in the black suit bowed slightly and was about to leave. Just then, a disturbance suddenly arose in the training field. A beefy man in a suit, with an anxious expression, ran over, ¡°Director Luo, Director Luo, you have to come see my Night Wolf.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just tell me slowly.¡± Luo Feng soothed him for a moment and followed the beefy man in the suit toward the training field. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ ah, my Night Wolf, it¡­ Director Luo, you¡¯d better see for yourself.¡± The beefy man in the suit opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t find the right words, his dark face turning a deep red. Inside the training field, several men in black were restraining the Night Wolf, while the Beast Doctor and two nurses stood beside them, looking helpless. The Night Wolf, strapped down, struggled furiously against the restraining hands. Its originally silver-grey eyes flickered with an ominous red glint. Its muscles swelled and contracted, bulging with vein-like protrusions, and several pus-filled bumps appeared on its robust body, which trembled uncontrollably, as if something were trying to break free. It bared its teeth, the crimson of its wolf eyes filled with madness, and thick drool dripped from its gaping maw. Seeing this, an image flashed before Luo Feng¡¯s eyes¡ªthe sight of a sinister spider lunging at him with bared fangs. These symptoms manifesting in the Night Wolf matched those of the spider found in the sewer. A deep unease suddenly rose in his heart as the current situation was already incredibly chaotic. If these symptoms were contagious¡­ At that thought, a chill ran through Luo Feng. ¡°Night Wolf!¡± The beefy suited man watched his partner and hurried forward, intending to embrace the wolf¡¯s head and soothe it as he had done in the past. ¡°Zhou Li! Stop!¡± Luo Feng shouted forcefully, his gaze fixed on the changes in the Night Wolf. Zhou Li, the beefy man in the suit, stiffened, standing still on the spot, his worried expression impossible to hide. Luo Feng looked at Zhou Li and sighed softly, ¡°Let it go.¡± ¡°To where?¡± Zhou Li asked subconsciously, then realizing what was implied, his face filled with urgency, ¡°Director Luo, Director Luo, we can¡¯t just let it go like this, it must be saved, I can¡¯t lose it¡­ please.¡± Zhou Li¡¯s dark face flushed red. Normally reticent, he became almost incoherent, his voice tinged with a sob as he bowed deeply to Luo Feng. The already agitated Luo Feng suddenly snapped, scolding loudly, ¡°Zhou Li, remember who you are! Look up and look at these people on the training field.¡± Luo Feng grabbed Zhou Li¡¯s collar, forcing him to look at the wailing people, ¡°You better look carefully!¡± Zhou Li stood there like a puppet being manipulated by Luo Feng, his eyes showing hints of confusion and pain. ¡°` Luo Feng¡¯s heart softened, and he couldn¡¯t help but sigh lightly, ¡°Ah, if you can¡¯t bring yourself to do it¡­¡± Director Luo, let me take it there myself,¡± Zhou Li pressed down the pain in his heart, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice trembling. Luo Feng patted his shoulder, turned to leave, and then paused midstep to say calmly, ¡°When Chen Zhenglong comes back, tell him that all the pets injured by that kind of unseen spider must be isolated for observation.¡± ¡°Yes, Director Luo, you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to kill more riffraff,¡± Luo Feng said calmly, his tone tinged with a touch of madness, the corners of his lips slightly upturned, without a hint of warmth. ¡­ ¡°Qiqi, help me get the unfinished mat on the table.¡± In a small courtyard in Dragon City County of Su City, a slightly plump middle-aged woman finished feeding the cats and dogs and stretched a big yawn. Having just rested for a while, she felt restless and uncomfortable not doing something with her hands. ¡°Coming, Mom,¡± came a languid, mature-sounding voice from upstairs, tugging at the heartstrings. In the small room, the little white cat stopped its paws, put the mobile phone around its neck, stood up, and shook its fur. Then, stepping with graceful strides, it went to Shao Yuying¡¯s room, found the mat, picked it up with its mouth, and wobbled its way into the yard. But, because the mat was rather large, it kept stepping on it, struggling to lift its little head to raise the mat, stubbornly maintaining its elegant cat walk. Its demeanor was impeccably dignified. Shao Yuying, sitting in the yard, took the mat from the mouth of the white cat and stroked it a couple of times. The white cat affectionately rubbed Shao Yuying¡¯s rough palm with its head, then ran to one side, took off the mobile phone around its neck, skillfully unlocked it, and began to tap and swipe on the phone screen with its little paws. Shao Yuying put on her reading glasses, glanced at the white cat discontentedly, and said, ¡°Qiqi, don¡¯t play with the phone all the time, it¡¯s bad for your eyes. That brat Zifeng doesn¡¯t teach you any good. Speaking of which, I get angry, it¡¯s been so long and if I don¡¯t call him, that brat never thinks to call me proactively¡­¡± Her hands moved quickly on the knitting, and her mouth was just as busy, prattling on endlessly. The little cat looked up in dissatisfaction, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t Zifeng call you a while ago? You were too busy and hung up on him,¡± it replied. Shao Yuying was taken aback and scratched her head with the needle in her hand, ¡°Really? That doesn¡¯t count, I don¡¯t remember it, so it didn¡¯t happen. I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t always side with him, that boy is wild, and I¡¯m telling you¡­¡± The white cat rolled its eyes, yet there was a smile in its gaze. It enjoyed this kind of family atmosphere. The warm sunlight shone into the courtyard, a middle-aged woman busied herself and chattered away, the white cat lay on the mat nearby playing with the phone, occasionally responding to the woman, while a dozen kittens and puppies lay nearby, quiet and oblivious, creating a harmonious scene. Qiqi idly swiped on the phone, when suddenly a local news alert caught its attention, ¡°An anomaly has occurred in Su City, and contact with the outside world has been lost. Please refrain from going there rashly. Our local Abnormal Administration Bureau has already sent people to investigate.¡± Thud. The phone slipped from Qiqi¡¯s cat paw. Its pupils dilated, it zoned out for a moment, then as if remembering something, its paws held the phone, swiping frantically to find Shao Zifeng¡¯s phone number. Just as it was about to make the call, it suddenly remembered that Mom was still nearby. Lifting its little head, it sneaked a glance at Shao Yuying, dragged the mat a bit further away, then dialed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed¡­¡± Qiqi felt a bit of panic inside, hung the phone back around its neck, and looked anxiously in the direction of Su City. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Probably a Fool Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Probably a Fool ¡°Fuck, when will it end!¡± Yes. Shao Zifeng dove forward to avoid a stabbing spider leg, the sharp appendage grazing his foot and piercing the ground below, the flying debris painfully smacking against his body. Being chased all along, at this point, Shao Zifeng had already run out of the urban village residential area, and not far from the village was one of the most bustling districts of Su City¡ªit has to be said, the people of the urban village really had it rough. Back when the urban village was scheduled for demolition during city planning, the ¡°Unknown Recovery incident¡± occurred. Since then, every year they talked demolition, and every year it was postponed¡ªtwenty years had passed just like that. However, this had nothing to do with Shao Zifeng; right now, the key thing was how to survive. It was already nearing evening, the automatic sensor streetlights on both sides of the road had lit up early, but the high-rise shops, which should have been brightly lit, were dead silent. Far from decreasing, the number of spiders chasing behind him seemed to be growing. Shao Zifeng cursed under his breath, gripping the concealed blade. He had yet to find the right moment to unsheath it¡ªswinging it in one stroke to clear a path wouldn¡¯t make any decisive impact on his current predicament. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula let out a hiss, its disgusting saliva splashing in all directions. As it tried to pull its limb out of the ground, Qiuqiu suddenly struck at its joint with its tail. ¡°Crack!¡± A crisp snapping sound echoed as the Blood-sucking Tarantula lost its balance and crashed to the ground, screaming in pain. Its broken limb pierced into one of its own spider eyes, and green blood spurted out. Glancing at the spider horde that was leaping back and forth between the tall buildings and approaching, Shao Zifeng swiftly got up, taking the opportunity to sprint towards the target building. Continuing like this wasn¡¯t an option, neither humans nor pets could withstand such exhaustion. Moreover, running for life at night would only be more dangerous. Therefore, he decided to find a place to hide first. If the spider horde could disperse, that would be best. Even if it didn¡¯t, the situation couldn¡¯t get worse than it already was. The business building he chose in Su City was considered quite upscale; on the first floor was a Western restaurant, with shopping malls and hotels above. Whether there were other people hiding in the building or not, he didn¡¯t know, but given the bloodstains and scattered corpses around, the first floor had definitely been visited by the Blood-sucking Tarantulas. The glass revolving door and floor-to-ceiling display windows of the business building were as good as nonexistent, Shao Zifeng saw many places had been smashed. He couldn¡¯t stay long on the first floor; he quickly checked and found that the elevator was still operational. Before the Blood-sucking Tarantulas could get in, Shao Zifeng hurried towards the elevator. Luckily, the elevator was on the first floor and it quickly opened its doors. ¡°Hiss¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula moved toward the inside of the restaurant, its crimson eyes locking onto Shao Zifeng. He dashed into the elevator, pressed a random floor button, and frantically pressed the close door button. But compared to the speed of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas, the elevator doors were closing too slowly. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s eyes gleamed menacingly as its sharp forelimb reached into the elevator, stabbing towards Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest. At that moment, Qiuqiu curled into a ball and met the attack, expending the last of its energy to execute a defense skill. ¡°Bang!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s forelimb was repelled, and Qiuqiu was knocked back, smashing into Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest; he felt a sharp pain as if struck by a hammer. The elevator doors completely closed. A sense of weightlessness engulfed them, while the pounding and hissing from outside grew fainter as the elevator forcefully ascended slowly. Shao Zifeng slumped in the elevator, gasping for air, holding the curled-up Qiuqiu tightly. But it wasn¡¯t time to relax yet, not knowing what kind of scene would meet them when the elevator doors opened again. Thinking this, Shao Zifeng hugged Qiuqiu, propped himself up with one hand on the concealed blade, and struggled to stand. Feeling Shao Zifeng¡¯s movements, Qiuqiu thought another enemy was approaching. It tried its best to open its eyes, its little claws flailing, and a threatening growl emanated from its throat. The voice was a bit hoarse. Feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s stress response, Shao Zifeng felt a wave of frustration. He placed the concealed blade in the corner, gently patting its body, ¡°Qiuqiu, we¡¯re safe now.¡± ¡°Whimper~¡± Upon hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s voice, Qiuqiu¡¯s body relaxed instantly, resting its small head on Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, and began cooing and acting spoiled. This little tormenting sprite. Shao Zifeng spoke softly, ¡°Our Qiuqiu is the best, now go to sleep.¡± ¡°Ying~¡± Qiuqiu nuzzled against Shao Zifeng¡¯s neck happily, and finally could not hold on any longer, falling into a deep sleep. ¡°Ding Dong~¡± The elevator came to a halt. Shao Zifeng waved his hand, and a translucent Space Rift appeared; a small deer staggered out from it. It looked around curiously at first, and upon seeing Shao Zifeng, its eyes brightened, and it trotted over to lie down beside him, carelessly resting its little head on his shoes before closing its eyes to sleep. Shao Zifeng¡¯s mouth twitched, I called you out for defense, but why did you start sleeping with my shoes? Besides, my shoes, which I¡¯ve worn for an entire day, covered in mud and blood, aren¡¯t you bothered by the stench? After spending some time together, Shao Zifeng had come to discover the little deer¡¯s quirks. It could eat, and it was nonchalant. It really could eat, incessantly all through the night. And nonchalant was truly nonchalant, never having any special requests, eating whatever was given, doing whatever was asked. He shook his head helplessly, picked up the hidden blade, and stared intently at the elevator door that was about to open. According to the signs, they should be on the 16th floor of a high-end business hotel. The elevator doors opened. It was pitch black outside, and he nudged the little deer with his foot to signal it to move aside. ¡°Yo!¡± The little deer raised its head, staring with its big, confused eyes, wondering why it couldn¡¯t continue sleeping. Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t have the time to deal with it, his attention highly focused, gripping the handle of the knife tightly. He moved forward stealthily, leaning against the elevator door, vigilantly scanning the surroundings. The first thing that came into view was a check-in hall, lavishly decorated, with a resting area covered with wool carpets and furnished with upscale sofas. Then, thanks to the light from the elevator, he didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. Shao Zifeng sniffed the air, mmm¡­ it was actually quite fragrant, no scent of blood, and only then did he let his guard down slightly. The little deer followed Shao Zifeng step by step, curiously watching his movements. It lifted its little head and sniffed around. After sneezing twice, it shook its head slightly; it didn¡¯t like this scent. Once the elevator doors closed, the entire hall plunged into darkness, and Shao Zifeng fumbled for the light switch. ¡°Click¡± The soft lighting dispersed the darkness, Shao Zifeng collapsed onto the sofa, and that soft touch elicited a comfortable groan of relief from him. A wave of fatigue swept over him, the continuous battles having drained all his strength; relaxing now, he could barely keep his eyes open and just wanted to sleep soundly. Forcing back the drowsiness, Shao Zifeng propped himself up with his arm, took the medical kit out of his travel bag, and carefully applied the ointment to Qiuqiu. The little deer stood to one side, tilting its head as it looked at Shao Zifeng, as if watching a fool. It moved forward a couple of steps, its antlers illusionary, eyes shimmering, and a fragrant scent suffused the air. Shao Zifeng glanced at the ointment in his hand, then at the glowing light on Qiuqiu¡¯s wound, and suddenly found himself deep in thought about life. In the presence of a healing companion beast, why would he choose to apply ointment himself? What kind of bizarre thought process was this? Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Sin Fox (New Book Launch, Seeking First Subscriptions) Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Sin Fox (New Book Launch, Seeking First Subscriptions) At night, a dense swarm of Blood-sucking Tarantulas surged towards a location like a tidal wave. They jostled against one another, hissing with bared fangs, their crimson gazes piercing through the night. ¡°Ice Woman, Cold Wind!¡± ¡°Woo!¡± A biting cold wind laden with ice shards instantly swept through the spider horde, slowing the movements of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas at the very front. Their bodies seemed covered in a layer of frost before they were knocked to the ground by the ones behind them, shattering into icy debris. Luo Feng looked on impassively at this scene, with a humanoid pet beast floating behind him. It was about one and a half meters tall, its whole body an icy white, and its ice-blue hair devoid of substance, fluttering freely in the night sky. However, its current state was extremely poor, with its floating gauze flickering in and out of visibility. ¡°Ice Woman, you should go back and rest!¡± Luo Feng, without taking his eyes off the spider horde still surging towards him, had a progressively intense madness in his gaze. The Ice Woman¡¯s blue pupils looked at Luo Feng with some concern, but ultimately, she nodded gently and returned to the pet beast space. ¡°Die, all of you die, you damn curs,¡± Luo Feng¡¯s forehead veins bulged as he murmured to himself. His emotions were very unstable, his pupils flickering uncertainly between dilation and constriction. ¡°Hiss!¡± Dozens of Blood-sucking Tarantulas leaped forward, opening their mouths wide, and charged at Luo Feng in a frenzy. Luo Feng lifted his head to look at the black shadows obscuring the moonlight in the sky, a dangerous curve forming at his lips. He removed his gold-rimmed glasses and tossed them aside as his pupils transformed into vertical slits. A massive Space Rift appeared behind him, and nine slender crimson tails extended fiercely, twinkling with a demonic red in the night. ¡°All of you must die! Die! DIE!!! Hahahaha!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡­ ¡°Boom!¡± Shao Zifeng, hugging his concealed blade, was abruptly awakened. He felt the entire building trembling; cracks appeared on the glass before they exploded violently. The night wind poured in, and Shao Zifeng tightened the blanket around himself. The night wind on the sixteenth floor is really cold. He, groggily sleeping, had this random thought cross his mind. Shivering, he hurriedly rolled off the bed and walked briskly to the window to look out. What he saw was a sea of red. The flames burning like purgatory, devouring everything around them. Several buildings had collapsed into ruins, and thick smoke obscured the sky. Shao Zifeng watched this scene in horror, completely astounded. What the hell is going on, tearing down the house if you can¡¯t win the fight? What is that! Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze sharpened as he could faintly make out several whip-like objects in the smoke and sea of fire. The moment his eyes spotted the whip-like shapes, the blue light in his peripheral vision started spinning wildly. [Name]: Nine-tailed Demon Fox ¨C Lust (Branch of Fusang) [Growth]: Mature period [Status]: Healthy, Hatred, Desire for Destruction [Strength]: Rank 7 [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Canidae [Element]: Fire [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î [Innate Abilities]: Desire for Destruction: A passive talent that is affected by the negative emotions in the Contractor¡¯s heart. The more intense the Contractor¡¯s negative emotions/desires, the stronger the power that can be exerted. If the Contractor cannot control their emotions/desires well, they will ultimately be controlled by this power. Sin Flames: A passive talent; it is said to be flames that can scorch the soul. The amount of pain suffered by hostile targets will be experienced equally by the Contractor. [Skills]: Sin Mark (Special Skill), Fiery Breath, Purgatory Explosion, Flame Claw, Fire Protection, Hot Storm, Tail Needle¡­ [Description]: Legend has it that it is the Sin Fox of the Great Xia Fox Clan, which underwent irreversible changes after being exiled to Fusang. It is fundamentally just one branch of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan; different regions result in different evolutionary forms. Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze went blank. Seventh¡­ a seventh-tier mutant creature. His breathing became somewhat rapid at that moment, his entire body tensed up, and his heart was beating violently. ¡°Boom!¡± Another explosion sounded, several buildings collapsed in an instant, and the flames that erupted illuminated half of Su City¡¯s night sky, rolling upward like a blooming lotus. A familiar sense of vibration came again seconds later. Looking at the scene before him, Shao Zifeng also felt a surge of grandeur rising in his heart. Glancing back at Qiuqiu, who was still sound asleep, he believed that in the not-so-distant future, they would surely ascend¡­ wait. What is this? In front of him, a crack spread from the windowsill, slowly expanding into the whole room along with the vibrations. ¡°Damn it to hell!¡± All thoughts of grandeur were now meaningless. Shao Zifeng scrambled to the sofa, scooping up the dazed Qiuqiu and ran towards the elevator. Qiuqiu, just waking up, stretched comfortably and looked bewildered at Shao Zifeng holding him tightly. Eggy¡­ why so enthusiastic today, huh? ?(????¦Ø????)? ¡­ Chen Zhenglong, who was dozing off beside the training field, was awakened by the consecutive explosions. He opened his bloodshot eyes to the fiery sky in the distance. The heavy tiredness and sleepiness dissipated in an instant, and he exclaimed, ¡°Fuck, this maniac.¡± Without further hesitation, he stretched out his hand to tear open a space rift, and a tall Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle appeared before him. But the Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle was in bad shape; its feathers were disheveled, blood stains dried on its body, and even its proud golden crown was reduced to a single feather. ¡°Xiao Hei, take me over there, quickly.¡± ¡°Caw!¡± The eagle nodded, letting out a feeble cry, and flapped its wings to fly off. Chen Zhenglong leaped up and grabbed onto its claws. They flew towards the glow of the flames in the night. ¡°Boom!¡± Another blast came, shaking the eagle¡¯s form, causing it to crash to the ground. ¡°Damn it!¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure as he recalled his pet. It seemed he couldn¡¯t get there quickly enough. ¡­ The loud explosion awoke Yang Qian from his deep slumber. He opened his weary eyes and listened carefully. Behind him, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros bore even more scars. It hung its head low, enjoying the rare quiet. ¡°Boom!¡± The explosion sounded again, and the sky full of flames stretched their shadows long. Yang Qian seemed to realize something, his face drastically changing. ¡°Old buddy, let¡¯s go!¡± Upon hearing those words, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros slowly stood up, let out a muted roar, and disappeared into the night with heavy steps. ¡­ In the darkness of the night, a white figure leapt back and forth among the rubble, weaving through the streets and alleys. ¡°Snap!¡± With a light sound, the white figure turned sharply, its beautiful fur bristling, baring its teeth and staring at the source of the noise. A little kitten was hiding in a crevice among the stones, looking pitifully at Qiqi. Qiqi felt a bit embarrassed, and her fluffy fur slowly settled back down. Pretending nothing had happened, she swished her tail, muttering, ¡°There was definitely a dragon just now, how did it suddenly disappear?¡± Saying this, she lifted her phone with her little paws, a touch of melancholy on her delicate feline face. Being a geographically challenged kitty is so hard!! Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 83 Why is it me again! (1/3) Chapter 84: Chapter 83 Why is it me again! (1/3) Looking at the ruins before him, Shao Zifeng gasped heavily, his heart pounding violently within his chest. He almost, just almost got buried under the bricks and rubble. Dust drifted above the ruins, with bricks occasionally sliding off the top due to the vibrations, making a dull noise upon impact. Qiuqiu was held tightly in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, his face full of thrill and excitement. Seems like the joy of demolishing a building isn¡¯t any less than the joy of collecting teeth. If only I could personally tear down one¡­ Just the thought of it is so exhilarating. He lifted his little paw to his toothless mouth and sucked on it twice. Big Gold Tooth wasn¡¯t brought along, happiness -1. At that moment, Qiuqiu¡¯s body suddenly stiffened; it noticed that Little Deer was looking at it with a thoughtful expression. What to do! Will Little Deer misunderstand? (¡Ño¡Ñ)! Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes quickly spun around and immediately turned to lie on its stomach in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, covering its eyes with its paws, whimpering as if it were frightened. But its lively eyes peeked through the gaps in its paws, stealthily gauging Shao Zifeng. Shao Zifeng was at a loss for words. Wow, you little green tea! I didn¡¯t expect you to have two faces at such a young age! Just now, your expression was clearly one of excitement and anticipation! Look how well-behaved Little Deer is. Compared to Qiuqiu, Little Deer was truly a model of obedience. Seeing that there was no need to keep running, it immediately lay down next to Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoe, skillfully turned its head, clamped onto the hem of Zifeng¡¯s pants, and its small mouth moved rapidly. After resting for a while, and his breathing eased, Shao Zifeng seriously considered his next moves. His original intention was to take advantage of the absence of the spider swarm¡¯s pursuit to quickly escape this place, but when the urge to court death arose, it couldn¡¯t be suppressed. He glanced at a distant firelight. Hmm¡­ Maybe just take a look? No, it¡¯s too dangerous! He took a few steps in the opposite direction, but Shao Zifeng felt uneasy inside. Glancing back at the distance, he thought he should be more democratic. He shared his thoughts with Qiuqiu and Little Deer. Qiuqiu immediately lit up, nodding its little head rapidly; its excitement and anticipation couldn¡¯t be hidden anymore. Heh, you really are excited, aren¡¯t you? You little lizard. Since Qiuqiu agreed, as for Little Deer¡­ Hmm¡­ No reaction is equivalent to consent. Even if he cast a dissenting vote, it¡¯s now a 2:1 approval! The situation is unfavorable for him! It seems he has no choice but to go have a look. ¡­ The night deepened, as Shao Zifeng weaved through the deserted streets, with Qiuqiu and Little Deer trailing ahead and behind him. Most street lamps alongside the main road were damaged; some twisted out of shape, and others uprooted with their severed wires lying on heaps of corpses, emitting a sizzling sound of electricity. On the pitch-black streets, only the hazy moonlight provided illumination, while countless mutant creatures in the shadows indulged in human corpses. The city¡¯s disaster was a carnival for them. Bloodstains seemed to be the city¡¯s main decoration; whether on the ground, the walls, or the green belts, there were traces of dried or fresh blood everywhere. After clambering over a pile of rubble, Shao Zifeng figured out his direction. There were still three main streets away from the battleground, with omnipresent ruins forming the primary obstacle. ¡°Thump!¡± Familiar sounds of dismemberment and collision arose. Shao Zifeng immediately halted, held his breath, and pressed tightly against the wall, secretly observing the Blood-sucking Tarantula on a nearby rooftop. Its sharp leg claws embedded into the building to anchor itself as it scanned the surroundings with its crimson gaze before leaping high onto another rooftop. The fallen bits of rubble rolled down, clinking as they bounced away. After the Blood-sucking Tarantula had moved away, Shao Zifeng dusted himself off and followed it from a distance. Along the way, they had already encountered many times, and the distant flames flickered like candles in the night, drawing all the tarantulas recklessly towards them. Without the pursuit of the spider horde, Shao Zifeng moved agilely through the city on his own, ¡°Only one more main street to go,¡± Shao Zifeng wiped the sweat from his forehead, the air abuzz with an unusual abundance of elemental energy, giving him the feeling of gradually approaching a huge furnace. After passing through the last semi-collapsed building, first came waves of heat, then Shao Zifeng suddenly felt a sense of clarity in his heart. All around, there was an eerie red, unlike the crimson of Qiuqiu¡¯s flames. The flames in front of him released black particles constantly, yielding an uncomfortable and oppressive sensation. The rolling flames appeared like a demon capable of devouring everything in its path, leaving only ruin and ash in its wake. Shao Zifeng felt the Cang Feng in his hand tremble slightly, excited by the dense elemental energy. Within the flames, a vague figure could be seen, and behind that figure, a massive fox-like beast flaunted its presence, swaying its nine slender tails with abandon. The intense visual shock left Shao Zifeng speechless for a long time. This must be the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, truly worthy of being a tier-seven beast; even from this distance, one could feel its subtle oppressive presence. ¡°Boom!¡± As the flames spread, another building collapsed into the inferno, raising waves of fire that were swiftly devoured by the bizarre flames. On the fringe of the sea of fire, thousands of Blood-sucking Tarantulas prowled, baring their fangs and claws yet not daring to take a step forward, hesitating in impotent rage. Qiuqiu stayed by Shao Zifeng¡¯s side, its eyes reflecting the endless sea of fire, seemingly entranced for a moment. How exhilarating! Just then, the person within the flames grew impatient, waving a hand, and the Nine-tailed Demon Fox roared up at the sky, causing the sea of fire to suddenly surge upward. A crimson column of fire erupted from its mouth, entwined with black, twisted particles bearing an ominous air, sweeping through the surrounding Blood-sucking Tarantula horde. ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± All of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas caught by the beam of light turned to ash instantly, as snowflakes do upon meeting sunshine. What does tier seven mean? Had he not witnessed it firsthand, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t even imagine the horrors of a tier-seven beast. Looking at that beam of light, laden with dense elemental energy, explosive, twisted, frenzied. The exterior was secondary; in terms of visual impact, Qiuqiu¡¯s bucket-thick Fiery Breath couldn¡¯t compare to its appearance. What was truly shocking was the overwhelming energy of that beam of light, allowing Shao Zifeng, far outside the battle area, to feel the pressure, simply off the charts in power. Just as Shao Zifeng was astounded by the tarantula horde melting away like snow, he suddenly felt his heart pound, a chill down his spine, and a wave of malicious intent enveloped him in an instant. Shao Zifeng swallowed hard and turned his head with difficulty. In his line of sight, within the crimson sea of fire, a slender vertical pupil had locked onto him. Damn! Shao Zifeng¡¯s mind soured, but his body couldn¡¯t move an inch. Even if he could move, could he escape from a tier-seven beast? Qiuqiu sensed something was wrong and immediately flashed a ferocious look, but before it could act, its vision was overwhelmed by blinding flames. The light column entwined with black particles magnified before his eyes. Shao Zifeng froze on the spot, his pupils constricting. Why me again! Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: 84 cards Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros (2/3) Chapter 85: 84 cards Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros (2/3) ¡°Meow!¡± In the night, Qiqi stood on a collapsed wall and turned her head to call out to the little kitten behind her, urging it to hurry up. The little kitten trembled all over and desperately moved its short legs, panting heavily as it ran forward like a little ball of yarn. But it was too small and hadn¡¯t eaten for a long time, by the time it reached Qiqi it was almost collapsing from exhaustion, staring with pitifully large eyes at Qiqi. Qiqi instinctively wanted to check her phone on how to carry a kitten. Then she realized there was no signal, and irritably flicked her tail. Being a person with a poor sense of direction and no experience with children, it was damn hard. Looking up at Su City enveloped in the darkness, the unfamiliar and eerily quiet city made her feel uneasy, her water-blue pupils filled with a Lin Daiyu-like sorrow. Zifeng, where are you, duck? ¡­ ¡°Crack.¡± After a loud explosion, Shao Zifeng heard a shattering sound beside his ear. Shao Zifeng shook his groggy head, incredulously touching his own body. He¡­ had not died. He quickly looked up, only to see a Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, heavily scarred, with cracks covering its whole body, standing in front of him. It trembled slightly, breathing heavily. It was obvious the rhinoceros was in terrible condition, but the determination in its eyes caused Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart to tremble as well. After a moment, a blue light flickered in his eyes, and a light blue screen appeared before Shao Zifeng. [Name]: Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros [Growth]: Mature [Condition]: Weakened, frail, Stone Skin [Strength]: Tier 6 (Tier 8) [Classification]: Chordata [Order]: Perissodactyla [Family]: Rhinocerotidae [Element]: Rock [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï [Talent]: Stone Armor: The Stone Armor of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros is a symbol of their kind, which becomes increasingly hard over time and with strength. It can withstand most damage, and once the Stone Armor collapses, the life of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros also comes to an end. [Skills]: War Trample, Rock Spike, Rock Barrier, Quicksand Purgatory, Earth Protection, defense¡­ [Description]: In its early years, it suffered irreversible trauma; the collapse of the Stone Armor is much faster than its own healing ability, decreasing its strength while its life also nears its end. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros slightly turned its head to glance at Shao Zifeng, its eyes showing some satisfaction, as if happy to have saved someone. With a thud. The front legs of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros buckled, and it knelt on the ground, causing the earth to tremble. Only then did Shao Zifeng see the giant head of the rhinoceros with its Stone Armor glowing red, showing signs of melting, the entire head covered with a tortoise-shell-like network of cracks, with magma flowing within them. It had suffered extreme trauma and could no longer hold itself up; its head drooped to the ground, allowing the magma to flow down the crevices of its head and hiss as it fell to the ground. As Shao Zifeng was panicking, unsure of what to do, a middle-aged man quickly approached. ¡°Old buddy.¡± The man had salt-and-pepper hair, was tall, albeit with a slightly protruding belly showing some corpulence, wearing a tattered uniform from the Abnormal Administration Bureau. His eyes rimmed red, his dry voice filled with deep affection and a slight tremble. The man reached out, ignoring the scorching heat of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, and gently caressed its body with his large hand, which gave off wisps of white smoke and a burnt smell wherever it touched. ¡°Mumu!¡± Upon seeing the visitor, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros tried to muster its strength to stand, attempted twice, and then heavily knelt on the ground, unwillingly closing its eyes and letting out a desolate low moan. The sound was not loud, yet it was full of strength. All of this made Shao Zifeng feel heavy-hearted. Qiuqiu had been tearful for a while, rubbing her snot and tears against Shao Zifeng in his arms, constantly sobbing. ¡°Kid, you better leave now, it¡¯s not safe here,¡± the middle-aged man said, his back to Shao Zifeng, his voice hoarse and dry. Shao Zifeng hesitated upon hearing this; he was not used to owing favors, especially for saving a life. But staying here would only be a burden, and this sense of helplessness made him crave power more than ever. He gritted his teeth, stood up, and respectfully bowed to the man and the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, preparing to leave the area. At that moment, Qiuqiu in his arms suddenly tugged at his clothes, anxiously pointing at her body, which had been severely injured the day before but had been healed by a deer. Shao Zifeng immediately understood Qiuqiu¡¯s intention, his eyes brightened, ¡°How could I forget I own a healing pet.¡± He stepped forward, looking at the man¡¯s tall figure and said, ¡°Excuse me¡­ leader of the Abnormal Administration Bureau, I have a healing pet, may I try to help?¡± Yang Qian turned around in surprise, looking at Shao Zifeng. He knew that many mutant creatures of the wood type could learn healing abilities, but that didn¡¯t make them healing pets. Only those born with a Healing inherent talent could be called healing pets. He hesitated; over the years, he had sought many Combat Training Masters specializing in healing pets. Although they managed to relieve the decay of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros somewhat, they couldn¡¯t cure it. The boy was ultimately too young. He was also very familiar with Luo Feng¡¯s Nine-tailed Demon Fox, and because he knew it too well, he hesitated. The fox was extremely sensitive to life force. Though it currently attacked targets aimlessly, once it sensed life energy fluctuations here, it would likely lock on immediately. Besides, it was the duty of the Abnormal Administration Bureau to protect the people, not the people to protect themselves amid danger. Seeing Yang Qian¡¯s indecision and looking at the dying Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, Shao Zifeng became somewhat anxious, ¡°Please rest assured, leader, my pet possesses Inheritance Skills. Though I can¡¯t guarantee a cure for your pet, it will certainly help.¡± At that moment, Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t think of concealing anything; the words just came bursting out. But he didn¡¯t regret it. In fact, he felt somewhat relieved after speaking. Yang Qian looked earnestly into Luo Zifeng¡¯s eyes, very sincerely, and he grit his teeth, ¡°Then, young man, please save my old buddy. I¡¯ll cover for you here.¡± After speaking, he waved his hand, and the Space Rift opened, from which a majestic dog sprang out. The dog was about one and a half meters tall at the shoulder, resembling an arresting dog in appearance, but its vital parts were protected by a layer of bone armor. Compared to the arresting dog, its fur was also longer, hanging over its head and covering one eye. When the dog emerged, it sat straight in front of Yang Qian, like a soldier ready for inspection. But Shao Zifeng clearly saw it slightly lift its rear, its mouth ajar, seemingly because the ground was too hot. ¡°Zhen Ea, looks like I¡¯ll need your help again,¡± Yang Qian patted the big dog¡¯s head with a sigh. The fellow was just too serious and not lively at all. The big dog named Zhen Ea nodded solemnly, its expression somewhat twisted. The pat from Yang Qian had again knocked it down to the ground. It¡¯s almost cooked! Shao Zifeng had to hold back his laughter, feeling this dog was undoubtedly a grumpy tsundere. However, time was pressing, and he couldn¡¯t wait for help to arrive slowly. Annoyed by the constantly spinning light, he turned around and decided not to look at the dog. He waved his hand through the Space Rift, summoning the deer. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Feeling Like Flying (Please Recommend and Collect) Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Feeling Like Flying (Please Recommend and Collect) Outside the collapsed side of the barrier, the flat ground was covered with a mix of flesh and spider legs. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, shielded by Earth Protection, slowly retreated; its body was smeared with green liquid, all of which came from the Blood-sucking Tarantulas. In front of it was a dense swarm of black spiders, their eyes glowing crimson as they screeched, rushing towards the rhinoceros like a tide. ¡°Enough!¡± Irritated beyond endurance, the rhinoceros suddenly rose on its hind legs, lifted its forelimbs high, and stomped heavily on the ground. The earth trembled, and sharp Rock Spikes erupted within the fan-shaped area before it. In an instant, stones and limbs mixed with green fluid splattered everywhere. On the towering Rock Spikes hung Blood-sucking Tarantulas that were not yet dead, their green blood flowing down the columns, emitting painful shrieks. Hiding under the rhinoceros, Zhenglong dashed out like lightning, turning into a black light that darted and leaped between the rocks, his cold-gleaming claws sweeping past prey, reaping the lives of wolf spiders that had lost the ability to retaliate. In no time, the area in front had been cleared, the remaining Blood-sucking Tarantulas were blocked by the spike-like stonewall, and any wolf spider attempting to pass through alone was hunted by Zhenglong. The giant rhinoceros panted heavily; after receiving healing from the deer, it had recovered slightly, but its strength was still far from its peak. Facing the vast horde of Blood-sucking Tarantulas was a struggle. Slowly retreating to the collapsed space in the barrier, it deployed Earth Protection, vigilantly watching the Blood-sucking Tarantulas stirring in front of it. ¡­ Inside the barrier, the defiant Qiuqiu flapped the Dragon Wings again. Go to ????????????????????.co A gust of hot air blew past, and Shao Zifeng still stood in place. He now understood what Qiuqiu meant; it was on a whim to fly with the Dancing Ape, wanting to take him along. He opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to stop Qiuqiu from continuing to use its abilities, but feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s indomitable spirit, he shut his mouth. So be it if they were exposed. Perhaps Shao Zifeng himself had not noticed that his inner resistance and defenses against this space-time were gradually weakening. He closed his eyes and connected with his fire element. ¡°Aooo, aooo, aooo~¡± The Dancing Ape, clutching its stomach, made a mocking noise. Qiuqiu became increasingly agitated. The flames in its eyes burned brighter and more fiercely. ¡°Boom!¡± A tremendous sweep of the fire element stirred up the dust, which the Dancing Ape couldn¡¯t avoid. It got a face full of dust and let out a strange cry, hurriedly rubbing its eyes with its palms. ¡°Roar!¡± Firelight exploded, and the Dragon Wings on Qiuqiu¡¯s back shot up red flames. A fireball erupted from under Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet, spinning around and enveloping them like a giant egg of flame. Chen Zhenglong and Yang Qian, affected by the shockwave, turned around in surprise, staring at the huge fire egg. The flames churned and twisted, pulsating as if something was about to emerge from the egg. ¡°Hiss!¡± A ripping sound echoed. Two large fiery Dragon Wings suddenly burst through the fire egg, shattering the flames entangled around them. Shao Zifeng stood in place, his eyes now open with golden-red vertical pupils, fire dancing within them. The expansive fiery Dragon Wings fluttered, lifting the tiny whirls of air on the ground and scattering the dust around in spirals. With a flick of the Dragon Wings, a scorching air current lifted the sand and stones off the ground, and Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet slowly left the ground. The Dancing Ape¡¯s eyes bulged and its mouth gaped open as it watched Shao Zifeng break through the air. ¡°Dragon Wings, a dragon-type mutant creature.¡± Yang Qian and Chen Zhenglong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise. ¡°Not only that, did you see his eyes? It seems the bond is very deep,¡± Chen Zhenglong mentioned, recalling the vertical pupils that Shao Zifeng had moments ago, his tone tinged with a bit of envy. Yang Qian watched the streak of light in the sky, his face flushing red, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter: ¡°Great, just great, it looks like our Su City is about to witness the rise of an extraordinary young one.¡± He turned and clapped Chen Zhenglong on the shoulder, ¡°Zhenglong, you have a good younger brother, good, good.¡± Chen Zhenglong blushed, feeling a bit guilty as his initial contact with Shao Zifeng hadn¡¯t been with the purest of intentions, though he had grown fond of the youth over the past week¡­ But how could that be considered brotherhood? However, since Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t object just now, he decided to shamelessly accept the role. Yang Qian smiled and said, ¡°My group of old buddies always tease me at gatherings, saying our Su City has no good talent, and we¡¯re just there to make up the numbers at every major competition. This time at the National College Cup, I¡¯m going to slap those old geezers¡¯ faces hard, haha.¡± Imagining the embarrassed expressions of his old buddies, Yang Qian laughed even more heartily. Chen Zhenglong opened his mouth to speak but ended up saying nothing. ¡°Just say whatever it is, don¡¯t mumble like a woman,¡± Yang Qian, detecting Chen Zhenglong¡¯s hesitation, glared at him. ¡°Little Zifeng¡­ he¡¯s a bit of a loner. I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯d be willing to participate in the National College Cup. I think¡­ we shouldn¡¯t force him,¡± Chen Zhenglong hesitated a bit before voicing his thoughts. Looking at the streak of light, Yang Qian fell into thought and then said sternly, ¡°Then let¡¯s do as you suggest, first let¡¯s see what he wants, and keep this between us for now. If anyone from the Dragon City Mutant Management Office asks, just say it¡¯s my pet.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Zhenglong agreed quickly with a nod. Qiuqiu glanced sideways at the shocked face of the Dancing Ape, feeling even more smug, as the Fire Dragon Wings flapped and dove towards the spider cluster below. Dangling in the air, Shao Zifeng tightly shut his eyes, clinging to his treasure as if it were a lifesaver. He was almost crying now. Despite the cool factor of flying, only those who experience it know the bitter thrill. The howling wind crinkled his face, he wanted to shout for a stop, but dared not open his mouth¡ªthe thought of the wind filling his guts was terrifying! Just when he thought it was about to end, Qiuqiu suddenly dived, scaring him nearly to the point of doing a 360-degree turn, his face turning deathly pale. Never having been to an amusement park before, he only realized today that he was actually afraid of heights! Qiuqiu was enjoying itself. As it was about to plunge into the spider cluster, Qiuqiu shifted to the side, its Fire Dragon Wings transforming into the sharpest blades, slicing through the spiders. The wingtips plunged deep into the ground, and as it skidded across the low altitude, the hot earth flew behind it, leaving a long burnt trail. Wherever the Dragon Wings passed, limbs and flesh flew everywhere. Shao Zifeng felt acid surge up, a wave of nausea overcoming him. This was definitely not the feeling of flying! Yang Qian burst into laughter upon seeing this scene, pointing at Shao Zifeng and saying to Chen Zhenglong, ¡°Just look at Shao¡¯s expression, hahaha, it¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t bring my phone, or else¡­¡± ¡°Click.¡± Chen Zhenglong quietly raised his Huawei P30, looking at the photo of Shao Zifeng¡¯s terrified expression, he smiled with satisfaction, the forty-times zoom, known only to those who use it. ¡°Send me a copy later,¡± Yang Qian said, wrapping an arm around Chen Zhenglong¡¯s neck, nodding in satisfaction. The two exchanged a knowing smile. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 86 Life Hymn (1/3) Chapter 87: Chapter 86 Life Hymn (1/3) ¡°Woof!¡± Zhen E let out a furious howl as a shield emerged on the surface of its body. Its hind legs kicked up a bit of sand and dust, fearlessly charging toward the pillar of fire. Yang Qian clenched his fists, his body slightly trembling. He clearly knew that Zhen E stood no chance against the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, especially since it was taking the blow head-on to protect them. Shao Zifeng paid no attention to the others, his focus entirely on the changes occurring in the state of the deer. Qiuqiu lay on Shao Zifeng¡¯s back, its little head resting on his shoulder, nostrils twitching continuously. It was sucking on its paw with saliva dripping down. The smell of Tuantuan Number One is so nice! In the mist-rolling Illusory Forest, an illusory adult deer elegantly moved and leaped among the trees, before kneeling respectfully in front of the central ancient tree, its head bowed in profound devotion. The ancient tree split open in the middle, and a woman clad in a complicated dress, crowned with a laurel wreath, and holding a scepter, stepped out from within the tree. Her features were indistinct, her words like a hymn. The Illusory Forest¡¯s flora and fauna swayed with her song, joining in a mysterious, chanting melody. The woman with the blurred face raised her scepter, and a burst of soft light exploded, illuminating every corner of the forest. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros felt a mystical power descend, its maimed body being baptized by life energy. Thrilled as if drought-stricken land had encountered sweet rain, it trembled gently and bowed its head as devoutly as the illusory deer. Its body was washed over and over, and small cracks began to show signs of healing. Shao Zifeng observed carefully. This was his first time witnessing the deer use this skill, but it was quite different from what he had envisaged. After exerting so much effort, this Illusory Forest¡­ it¡¯s so small. The largest of the Illusory Ancient Trees wasn¡¯t even as tall as Shao Zifeng, let alone the others. Could it be because the deer¡¯s strength is too weak? Shao Zifeng rubbed his chin and nodded to himself, thinking it was very likely the reason. ¡°Bang!¡± A dark shadow came flying backward, passing through layers of flames and brutally crashing into the Illusory Forest, kicking up a cloud of dust. Zhen E¡¯s bone armor was shattered, its body covered in bloodstains. Its fur was singed, steaming hot, and its hind leg was broken, twisted grotesquely. Zhen E struggled a few times. As it opened its mouth, several bloodstained teeth fell to the ground. Seeing those teeth, Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Zhen E!¡± Yang Qian¡¯s face was filled with concern. Just as he was about to step forward, he was held back by Shao Zifeng, who gave him a slight shake of the head. Right then, another change occurred in the forest. Under the soft green light, Zhen E shivered as it struggled to its feet, eyes widening, body shaking uncontrollably. The burns on its body quickly scabbed over and fell off, its bone armor healed, and the leg bones swiftly mended with a cringe-worthy scraping sound. When the last scab fell off, revealing soft, unblemished skin, Zhen E couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. It raised its head, issuing a cry even higher than the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡­ an excited howl. In Yang Qian¡¯s incredulous gaze, Zhen E energetically stood up. With a fierce look, it stared down the Nine-tailed Fox, which was madly howling within the flames. Its missing teeth flashed a hint of cold light, as it lunged back into the sea of fire. ¡­ ¡°Awoo~¡± Zhen E, screaming in midair, adjusted its trajectory and skillfully landed next to the giant rhino, brushing past the sea of fire. Before long, it was back on its feet again, charged with excitement, and dashed back into the fray. Different from Yang Qian¡¯s life doubts. Shao Zifeng watched as Zhen E was knocked back time and again, murmuring to himself in secret. ¡°Could this creature have awakened some impressive attribute?¡± The thought of Zhen E eventually surrounding the deer with a sycophantic doggy demeanor gave Shao Zifeng an involuntary shiver. ¡°No, I absolutely disagree with this marriage¡­¡± Cough! ¡­ Having knocked away that annoying bug once again, the Nine-tailed Demon Fox lost all patience. ¡°Roar!¡± Its eyes blood red, the Nine-tailed Demon Fox spread its nine tails, wildly waving them. Beside each tail, a cluster of bizarre flames appeared, emitting twisting dark auras that locked onto Shao Zifeng. The massive consumption of physical strength left it somewhat exhausted, but if it could just erase that annoying power, it would then be able to unrestrainedly destroy everything in front of it, right? ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t!¡± Luo Feng¡¯s voice echoed in the Nine-tailed¡¯s heart. The expression on the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s face froze. Its pupils trembled violently, one eye slowly returning to its normal dull yellow, and the nine clusters of bizarre flames also dissipated. Shao Zifeng sensed the change in the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s emotions; the overwhelming negative emotions had mostly dispersed, and he hurriedly looked towards Luo Feng. There Luo Feng was, kneeling on both knees, half his face covered, a red scar appearing, identical to the one on the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s tail. The red scar slowly spread, attempting to take over more space. Luo Feng opened his mouth and let out a loud cry of pain, his body shaking, enduring great agony. Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t bear it and turned to look at Yang Qian, whose brows were tightly knit. ¡°That¡¯s his own business, you need to trust him. Luo Feng, he¡­¡± Yang Qian shook his head slightly, indicating that he should not act rashly. Time ticked by, second by second, and the small Illusory Ancient Tree began to dissipate gradually. ¡°Moo!¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros stood up, let out a deafening roar, feeling this light and relieved for the first time since its injury years ago. Yang Qian saw the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros rejuvenated, hands trembling as he patted the thick stone armor, seriously examining each crack. After confirming that the cracks were shrinking, his excitement was even more palpable. ¡°My old friend!¡± Yang Qian¡¯s voice trembled, his eyes moist in his fifties. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, too, had red eyes, looking affectionately at Yang Qian. After so many years seeking countless Healing-type Combat Training Masters¡ªthough they could keep the cracks from expanding for a short time, it was the first time seeing them shrink¡ªhe couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. And to think that it was a low-rank pet that treated the Giant Rhinoceros; if it grew up¡­ Thinking this, Yang Qian¡¯s eyes heatedly turned to the deer and Shao Zifeng. Then he saw the deer¡¯s legs go soft, sprawling on the ground with limbs spread out. Shao Zifeng quickly picked up the deer and handed it an energy potion, softly saying, ¡°Little deer, you¡¯ve worked hard, drink up.¡± The deer slightly opened its mouth, stuck out its tender little tongue and licked it twice, then suddenly became alert, lifting its head and staring with drowsy eyes at Shao Zifeng¡¯s hair. Shao Zifeng was helpless; of course, he knew what the deer meant and indulgently tapped its pink nose: ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving you, drink your medicine first.¡± On hearing that, the deer¡¯s big eyes turned into crescent moons, its head turned, and it passed out. ¡°Your spotted deer isn¡¯t in trouble, is it?¡± concerned, Yang Qian said as he came over upon seeing the deer faint. Shao Zifeng had been paying attention to the deer¡¯s condition. Apart from the word ¡°Weakness¡± appearing in the status bar, there was nothing unusual. He was relieved and shook his head towards Yang Qian. Yang Qian also breathed a sigh of relief; if anything happened to the deer, not to mention the Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s follow-up treatment, he himself would feel very guilty. He patted Shao Zifeng¡¯s shoulder, a smile on his face, saying everything without words. Shao Zifeng was confused, what do you mean by this. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Is It So Passionate? Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Is It So Passionate? ¡°Hurry¡­ hurry up and go, I¡¯m about to lose control.¡± Luo Feng¡¯s suppressed and hoarse voice came, breaking the delicate atmosphere between the two individuals exchanging glances. Shao Zifeng¡¯s heart jolted, and he quickly turned his head, only to see amid the rolling flames the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s tails flickering in and out of visibility, its eyes, which had returned to normal, were once again tinged with a hint of blood-red. The sea of fire concealed Luo Feng¡¯s figure, but his suppressed and pained shouts were sharply audible. Shao Zifeng¡¯s hand, gripping the hidden blade, tightened slightly; if all else failed, he would have to resort to this. Although it had been nurtured for a long time since its last unsheathing, whether it could inflict damage on a seventh-tier mystical beast like the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, he honestly had no confidence at all. He turned to look at Yang Qian, wanting to ask for his opinion. Huh? What¡¯s with that confident smile on your face? Why had this uncle become inexplicably weird since earlier on? Could it be that he was so happy about the Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s recovery that he had gone deliriously happy? Noticing his gaze, Yang Qian patted the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros: ¡°Do you know why they assigned me and Luo Feng to the same post?¡± As he undid the buttons of his Abnormal Administration Bureau uniform, revealing a tight-fitting beer belly beneath his white shirt, his face carried a trace of smugness: ¡°That¡¯s because, in a third-tier city like this, only I can suppress his Nine-tailed Demon Fox.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you just say you believed Luo Feng could handle it on his own?¡± Shao Zifeng asked, puzzled. Yang Qian¡¯s face stiffened. Is this kid terrible at conversation, or what? The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros was nearly dead just now; what could I have done aside from trusting him? He chuckled dryly, ignoring Shao Zifeng, and stroked the Giant Rhinoceros tenderly: ¡°Old pal, it¡¯s all on you now!¡± ¡°Moo!¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros gave Yang Qian an assuring look, lowered its head, scuffed the ground with its foreleg, then charged with its heavy limbs toward the midst of the flames. Watching the Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s imposing figure and feeling the ground tremble, Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t help but feel a little envious. It looks really reliable. Then he glanced at Qiuqiu lying on the ground, the little guy sneakily doing who knows what. Sigh, who knows when it will grow up. Qiuqiu turned its head alertly, its small paws tightly clasped in front of its chest. Someone wants to snatch my treasure. After scanning the surroundings and noting nothing unusual, Qiuqiu breathed a sigh of relief, then turned back to admire the nasty teeth it was hugging. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros picked up speed, its massive head parting the layers of flame, a white gleam emitting from its broken horn like a heavy tank moving with unstoppable force, ramming toward the Nine-tailed Demon Fox. ¡°Roar!¡± The Nine-tailed Demon Fox, seeing this, lashed its nine whip-like tails frantically, manipulating clumps of flames to smash at the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, the surrounding fire rolling and forming a wall in an attempt to block its path. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros charged head-down, the white light on its broken horn growing more blinding, ramming through fire walls with reckless abandon; fireballs burst upon its stone-hard armor, leaving scorch marks but failing to harm it in the least. The Nine-tailed Demon Fox, out of breath and still struggling with Luo Feng for dominance, couldn¡¯t unleash its full strength and could only watch helplessly as the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros drew ever closer, emitting sounds of impotent fury. ¡°Boom¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s massive head collided fiercely with the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s body. The flames that were burning around them seemed to pause, and time itself felt as though it came to a stop at that moment. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s blood-colored eyes widened as its body arched backward; it was sent flying and tumbling through the flames like skipping stones on water, blowing a hole through the roaring fire behind it, which took a long time to close up again. It only stopped when it crashed into a tall building, which swayed and collapsed instantly, bricks and stones tumbling down and burying the Nine-tailed Demon Fox beneath them, kicking up billows of dust. ¡°Now¡¯s the time, use Quicksand Purgatory and Rock Barrier,¡± Yang Qian commanded with a wave of his hand, his voice filled with the fervor of a teenager. Shao Zifeng covered his face, and with a twist of his cap, he was the perfect older version of a wise man. ¡°So passionate, huh.¡± ¡°Mor!!!¡± After many years, he heard his master¡¯s familiar command once again, and that surging passion returned to the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s body. The blood, was ignited! It lifted its forelimbs high and stomped fiercely on the ground, causing the fiery earth to crack around the rhinoceros, like spiderwebs spreading out in all directions. The bricks and stones burying the Nine-tailed Demon Fox instantly turned to sand and scattered, the ground swiftly writhing like a pair of giant hands, entangling the Nine-tailed Demon Fox. In Shao Zifeng¡¯s view, the Nine-tails struggled desperately, but to no avail, as the quicksand entangled its neck and slowly began to devour it. The Nine-tailed Demon Fox let out a furious roar, its bloodshot eyes fiercely fixed on the others, revealing undeniable hatred. But before it could finish its roar, the ground moved again, a stream of quicksand wrapping around its head like a serpent, flowing into the Nine-tails¡¯ fanged maw. At this point, the Nine-tailed Demon Fox was completely subdued, it fell heavily to the ground and was wrapped up like a mummy. ¡°Follow me.¡± Seeing the Giant Rhinoceros had subdued the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, Yang Qian called out to Shao Zifeng and rushed along the path left by the rhinoceros. As the Nine-tailed Demon Fox was subdued, the boiling sea of fire began to die down. The Blood-sucking Tarantulas on the perimeter started to shriek excitedly, uneasily jostling one another, just waiting for the moment when the sea of fire would disappear completely, ready to tear them all to shreds. Shao Zifeng, carrying Qiuqiu, followed Yang Qian towards Luo Feng. Seeing them approaching, the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros once again raised its front legs high and stamped heavily on the ground. Shao Zifeng was suddenly tossed high into the air by the shockwave. ¡°F*ck¡­¡± Shao Zifeng wished he could transform into a Zaunite and go on a furious rampage. He felt like a small boat tossing in the wind and waves, moving up and down. Moments later, the shockwave subsided, and Shao Zifeng only felt his legs go weak and his head dizzy. ¡°Crack!¡± A long column of rock burst from the ground, with pebbles and dust falling from it. ¡°Hiss!¡± Having lost the control of the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, the surrounding flames quickly dissipated. Hundreds of Blood-sucking Tarantulas with blood-red eyes roared as they brandished their sharp forelimbs and charged this way. Staring at the dense swarm of spiders, Shao Zifeng pressed his hand on the handle of his concealed blade, poised for battle, but before he could act, a dense sound echoed around him once more. The ground trembled slightly, and rock pillars sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a rain, joining together to form a giant fortress, protecting the three of them inside. After the final rock pillar closed in, the surrounding sea of fire was completely extinguished. ¡°Mor!¡± ¡°Woof~¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, left outside, let out a thunderous roar, followed by the sounds of intense combat. All of this happened so quickly that Shao Zifeng couldn¡¯t react; his hand on the knife handle, he looked at the towering Rock Barrier before him, his heart fluctuating wildly. ¡°Luo Feng, wake up.¡± Yang Qian stepped forward, helped the unconscious Luo Feng to his feet, and pressed on his philtrum. He patiently waited a while, but Luo Feng showed no signs of awakening. Yang Qian sighed and took a syringe out of his pocket. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 88: He must be allergic, right? Chapter 89: Chapter 88: He must be allergic, right? Yang Qian looked at the syringe in his hand, sighed with some reluctance, and inserted the syringe into Luo Feng¡¯s neck, where the liquid was slowly pushed into his body. Shao Zifeng stood by and asked, ¡°What is this?¡± After putting the emptied syringe away, Yang Qian wiped his hands and said, ¡°This is a potion specially used by Fusang to suppress the desire for destruction, unfortunately, this is the only one.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we develop it in Daxia?¡± Shao Zifeng curiously asked. From his understanding of this world, Daxia was the first to quell internal strife during the ¡°Unknown Recovery Incident,¡± obtaining precious time for the nation¡¯s reconstruction. Since then, whether it was the economy, mutant creatures research, various drug developments, or patent applications, Daxia had always been far ahead of other countries. Now, suddenly hearing Yang Qian treasure this drug so much made him a bit uncomfortable. ¡°Yes and no,¡± Yang Qian glanced at Shao Zifeng, turned back to the restrained Nine-tailed Demon Fox, and gestured with his mouth, ¡°Do you know where that comes from?¡± After running around yesterday and collapsing a building in his sleep today, Shao Zifeng now in a rare moment of leisure, sat cross-legged next to Yang Qian, laying his hidden weapon across his lap, hesitated and said, ¡°From Fusang.¡± When Qiuqiu saw Shao Zifeng sit down, it immediately climbed onto his lap, hugging the hidden weapon and closed its eyes, exhausted from the past two days. ¡°Yes, Fusang¡­¡± Before he could finish, Yang Qian raised an eyebrow, surprised, glanced at Shao Zifeng, and slapped his shoulder with a laugh, ¡°Not bad, little brother, even knowing this.¡± Shao Zifeng slightly shrugged his shoulder, feeling somewhat uneasy, but considering the man had saved his life, he endured it. The sound of fighting outside the barriers continued, but Yang Qian seemed very confident in his two pets, and after pondering for a moment, said, ¡°Currently, the Nine-tailed Fox Clan in the world has four forms: Daxia¡¯s Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox, Fusang¡¯s Nine-tailed Demon Fox, the Korean¡­ ahem, sorry, my tongue slipped, Korea¡¯s Nine-tailed Ghost Fox.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Speaking of this just ticks me off, those Korean jackasses claim that they are the origin of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, branding it domestically as the ¡®Origin Nine-tailed Fox,¡¯ truly shameless.¡± After saying this, Yang Qian felt it wasn¡¯t enough, and continued swearing indignantly. Listening to this, Shao Zifeng rarely showed a sincere smile, confirming that, even in this universe, Korea was still that well-known universe-origin country of Southeast Asia. The feeling was indescribable, he felt very intimate with Yang Qian¡¯s words and a bit of agreement emerged. ¡°What about the fourth form?¡± Shao Zifeng curiously asked, finding this uncle from the Abnormal Administration Bureau quite interesting. Yang Qian, hearing Shao Zifeng¡¯s question, had a vivid expression, struggling to suppress a laugh, ¡°The fourth form is from Tianzhu, but better not to mention it, as they¡¯ve almost ruined it, haha¡­¡± Hearing this, he seemed to remember something amusing and could not help but burst into laughter. Thinking back to another spacetime¡¯s tales of the Indian brothers, Shao Zifeng also laughed, the sense of agreement in his heart deepening bit by bit. After laughing for a while, Yang Qian composed himself, maintaining a professional look as if from the Abnormal Administration Bureau, unless he couldn¡¯t help it, and waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s not mention them, let¡¯s talk about Fusang¡¯s form. Among the four forms, only the Fusang form is rather peculiar, as their innate abilities can affect the emotions of the Contractors. Over a decade ago, Fusang witnessed multiple incidents where Combat Training Masters were influenced by the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, leading to massacres in villages.¡± ¡°Although they later strictly restricted the Nine-tailed Demon Fox¡¯s usage, there still occurs occasional instances where they lose control and harm people.¡± Hearing this, Shao Zifeng puzzledly remarked, ¡°If so, why does Fusang still allow its citizens to contract these creatures?¡± Yang Qian remained silent for a moment before pulling a crumpled cigarette from the tattered pocket of his shirt. He offered one to Shao Zifeng, who waved his hand in refusal. Upon lighting the cigarette, Yang Qian took a deep drag and exhaled a ring of smoke. ¡°Desire, eh,¡± he said, ¡°just like I can¡¯t quit this nicotine, they can¡¯t bear to leave this powerful force unused.¡± Shao Zifeng was silent, recalling a book he had read in another time and space called ¡°The Chrysanthemum and the Sword,¡± which discussed the culture of shame of that nation¡ªsubmissive yet stubborn, loyal yet rebellious. ¡°I also have to admire those guys. To control this power, they actually developed this kind of injection. Although I don¡¯t know the exact effects, it reportedly suppresses the desires well.¡± Yang Qian took a fierce puff of his cigarette, tossed the butt onto the ground, and picked up the box containing the injection, shaking it. ¡°This is from Luo Feng, to prevent him from losing control one day.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t our country develop it?¡± asked Shao Zifeng, voicing his doubt. Yang Qian countered, ¡°Does our country need it?¡± Without waiting for Shao Zifeng¡¯s response, he continued, ¡°They won¡¯t make it public, they guard the formula closely. Our country doesn¡¯t need it, so we definitely won¡¯t spend a huge amount of money to develop such a thing.¡± Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng understood. Demand is always the primary driving force of humanity. The Fusang country developed the drug at all costs because they needed to control that power, while Daxia would not engage in such ungrateful research. ¡°Uh¡­ hm.¡± Luo Feng, lying on the ground, suddenly twitched his fingers a few times, his eyebrows furrowed together, muttering meaninglessly. ¡°Is he waking up?¡± Yang Qian¡¯s face lit up as he reached out to help Luo Feng up. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him, he has a problem.¡± Shao Zifeng grabbed Yang Qian¡¯s arm with a serious look on his face, watching Luo Feng as several small lights spun in the outskirts of his eyes, simultaneously sensing the faint emergence of negative emotions. Though puzzled, Yang Qian didn¡¯t underestimate Luo Zifeng because of his young age. Shao Zifeng, holding Yang Qian¡¯s arm, stood up and took a few steps back. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say this thing works?¡± ¡°Yes, this is what Luo Feng gave me. He said to use it on him if he ever lost control. For three years, I held it in my hands day and night; it¡¯s almost worn smooth,¡± Yang Qian said as he re-examined the drug box to make sure it was the right one. Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s mood soured. He had heard of playing with walnuts or pearls, even bones, but playing with a drug was excessive. After thinking for a moment, Shao Zifeng brightened. ¡°Did you check the expiration date?¡± ¡°Expiration date?¡± Yang Qian was momentarily stunned; what expiration date? In his time, they ate whatever they had, not bothering about such things. With this thought, he hurriedly opened the box of injections and found a label behind the velvet padding. Holding the box close, he said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t have an expiration date, just a ¡®Made in Heisei 23 year.¡¯ Heisei 23, Shao Zifeng calculated in his mind, should correspond to the year 2011 in the standard calendar. It was now the year 2020. At that thought, Shao Zifeng¡¯s face fell even further. Regardless of the drug¡¯s original shelf-life, being played with for three years, it must have lost its effectiveness. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Luo Feng¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his neck skin reddened, veins protruded, and he continuously scratched his skin with clawed hands while shaking uncontrollably, with foam at the corners of his mouth. The more Shao Zifeng watched, the more he felt something was wrong. Hesitantly, he said, ¡°He seems to be having an allergic reaction to the drug, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Breakout (Part 1) Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Breakout (Part 1) Watching Luo Feng calm down again and fall into a deep sleep on the ground. Shao Zifeng noticed a trail of black gas dispersing from Luo Feng¡¯s body, then the blue light spot in his own eyes also quieted down. After checking several times, with the light point motionless, he finally relaxed. Qiuqiu looked disdainfully at the patch of white vomit on the ground, flung a small fireball at it, then proudly swished its little tail. As expected of me! (¨R¦Ø¨Q) Shao Zifeng felt something odd behind him and quickly turned around, his eyes widening instantly as he watched the trajectory of the fireball in the air, ¡°Damn it, Qiuqiu, don¡¯t release toxins!!¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± But it was too late; the high temperature of the fireball instantly evaporated the vomit, sending up white smoke and spreading a foul smell. ¡°Fuck! Cough cough¡­ eugh!¡± ¡­ ¡°I mean, Boss Yang, can we not play this intense next time?¡± After the stench had dispersed, Shao Zifeng propped himself up with his arms on the ground, his face pale and eyes spiritless as he looked up at the incomplete Rock Barrier with an expression of being played. Qiuqiu pitifully rested its little head on Zifeng¡¯s legs. Go to ????????????????????.co It was just criticized by Qian again and was unhappy. ¡°Hehe, I didn¡¯t know there were expiration dates either. But thanks to the well-stocked medicine you brought, boy, if something really had happened to Luo Feng, my old bones would have been dishonored. Plus, you saved the Rock Armor. Let¡¯s have a good drink together once this is over, son,¡± Yang Qian said without minding the toxic attack that happened just minutes before, cigarette dangling from his mouth as he grinned at Zifeng. He found himself liking the young man more the more he looked at him. If it weren¡¯t for his daughter already being married, he would have wished¡­ No wait, his daughter is already in her thirties. Really, why did I get married so early! Yang Qian was still somewhat scared remembering what had just happened. He was almost sixty this year, and it would be unforgivable to have a comrade die under his watch before retiring, no matter the reason. ¡°I mean, Boss Yang, are we just going to sit here waiting?¡± Zifeng didn¡¯t respond to Yang¡¯s previous statement, he stretched out his arms and hugged the pitiful Qiuqiu, rubbing its little belly. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming weariness, wanting all this to be over. Qiuqiu opened its mouth, ready to bite, but sensing that Qian¡¯s mood was off, it didn¡¯t have the heart to be naughty, and obediently lay down, allowing Qian to handle it as he pleased. Yang Qian glanced at the sleeping Luo Feng, originally thinking that if Luo Feng could wake up, the three of them together had a better chance of charging out, considering Luo Feng had several powerful pet beasts. Now, with Luo Feng unconscious, he felt unsure about leading the two others out on his own. ¡°If Chen Zhenglong¡­¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Damn it, fucking¡­Chief, get out of the way¡­ah.¡± Just as Yang Qian began to speak, a figure suddenly dropped from the vent hole above the barrier. Shao Zifeng rolled, agilely avoiding this ¡°falling man attack.¡± Yang Qian was the unlucky one, cigarette in mouth, watching helplessly as a bulky man fell from the sky, landing heavily on him. The impact kicked up a cloud of ash, making Zifeng cover his mouth and nose. ¡°Ouch, my old back.¡± Yang Qian pushed the big man off him and rubbed his back, trying several times but failing to sit up. He was lucky he was sturdy, otherwise that would have been enough to do him in. ¡°Hehe¡­ Chief.¡± Chen Zhenglong hurriedly stepped forward to support Yang Qian¡¯s arm, showing an awkward smile. He usually acted very seriously in front of his leaders, and now that such an embarrassing incident had happened, he felt uncertain about how to face his director. When Shao Zifeng heard the familiar voice, he closely observed the newcomer and suddenly felt a rush of excitement: ¡°Brother Chen!¡± The moment Chen Zhenglong, who had just pulled Yang Qian off the ground, froze and looked back in disbelief, eyes wide. Seeing the young man, whose excitement was evident, he also felt an unusual surge of emotion. Back when they were swapping classes at Su City University, he had tried to find Shao Zifeng and ended up disappointed; he had almost thought the young man had met a bad end in the sewers. He never expected to meet Shao Zifeng here. Chen Zhenglong immediately dropped Yang Qian, who hadn¡¯t yet managed to sit up, and took a few steps to give Shao Zifeng a big bear hug. ¡°You little rascal, I freaking thought you¡­¡± Chen Zhenglong said, then thumped Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest hard with his fist, his face full of joy. ¡°Brother Chen, how is sister-in-law¡­¡± Shao Zifeng hesitated, still feeling fond of that gentle and amiable woman. Chen Zhenglong chuckled softly, saying quietly, ¡°Your sister-in-law is fine. I went home before coming here and moved her to a safe place. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have come so late¡­¡± ¡°Hey, you little bastard, trying to kill me?¡± Yang Qian, who had been thrown to the ground again, picked himself up and said irritably while rubbing his waist, ¡°There are just a few of us here, and you yell like I¡¯m deaf.¡± Chen Zhenglong¡¯s face turned red, and, scratching his head, he just laughed sheepishly without saying a word. Yang Qian wasn¡¯t really angry and limped over to the two men, patting Chen Zhenglong on the shoulder, ¡°Just keep smiling like that, no need to keep a stinking face as if everyone owes you money.¡± Then he turned to Shao Zifeng, curious, ¡°Do you know this young brother?¡± Upon hearing Yang Qian¡¯s question, Chen Zhenglong straightened his posture reflexively, his expression serious as he reported, ¡°Director, this is like a younger brother to me.¡± Seeing that Zifeng didn¡¯t object, he continued, ¡°He is young. If he accidentally offends the director, please be lenient, Director.¡± Shao Zifeng looked at Yang Qian in surprise, not expecting him to be the director of the Abnormal Administration Bureau. So that meant Brother Chen was also with the Abnormal Administration Bureau. Although surprised, Shao Zifeng did not feel the aversion he had expected. With everything that had happened recently, he realized he was gradually accepting everything in this time and space. It was different from when he first arrived, when he held the greatest malice and suspicion towards everything. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t pull that crap with me. I find him much more pleasing to the eye than you, kiddo.¡± Yang Qian scolded playfully as he kicked Chen Zhenglong, then glanced at Shao Zifeng, nodding in approval, ¡°Your brother is not bad. But now that you¡¯re here and Luo Feng isn¡¯t a threat anymore, let¡¯s figure out how to break out from here. Do you have any good ideas?¡± ¡°Reporting¡­¡± Chen Zhenglong stood up straight subconsciously, but was given a stern look by Yang Qian, then he relaxed and grinned, ¡°Director, on my way here I encountered comrades from the Dragon City County Abnormal Administration who came to survey the situation. They are waiting on the outskirts, and the moment we launch an attack, they will come to support us.¡± Yang Qian pondered for a moment, ¡°The comrades from Dragon City County came, so our situation here¡­¡± ¡°Director, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve checked: when they couldn¡¯t contact us, they used the special communication channel to report the situation at the earliest time. Judging by the time, units from nearby cities will arrive at the latest by tomorrow morning to assist us,¡± Chen Zhenglong assured confidently, patting his chest. ¡°That¡¯s good then. We¡¯ll proceed as you suggested.¡± Although Yang Qian verbally expressed his dissatisfaction with Chen Zhenglong, he still highly esteemed him internally. Shao Zifeng had been standing silently listening the whole time, not interrupting, but silently breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that everything could end tomorrow morning. Chen Zhenglong walked up to Luo Feng, his eyes disdainful as he reached through the space rift. The translucent space rift slowly opened. Shao Zifeng watched with anticipation; he hadn¡¯t seen Chen Zhenglong¡¯s pet beast before. ¡°Aargh, aargh, aargh!!¡± ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A sharp cry came from the rift, followed by dense, dull thudding sounds, leaving Shao Zifeng with a tiny¡­ question mark over his head. Did pet beasts make their entrance with sound effects now? Suddenly, a humanoid pet beast with flaming red fur came out, its large size, robust physique, and bulging muscles providing a strong visual impact. ¡°Awooo!¡± The pet beast let out a sharp, prolonged howl after emerging and ferociously pounded its sturdy pectoral muscles with its fists. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 90 Breakthrough (Part 2) Additional Chapter for Monthly Votes Chapter 91: Chapter 90 Breakthrough (Part 2) Additional Chapter for Monthly Votes [Name]: Dancing Ape [Growth]: Mature period [Status]: Healthy [Strength]: Level 5 [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Primates [Family]: Cercopithecidae [Attributes]: None [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï [Talents]: Rhythm sense: it has an innate, extremely strong sense of rhythm; once it enters a familiar rhythm, the target will find it very difficult to counterattack. : Giant Power: Innate bonus to physical strength. [Skills]: Tearing Claw Strike, Fighting, Wind Speed Boxing, Throwing, Charge Go to ????????????????????.co [Description]: Do you have freestyle? No! Then welcome to my showtime! Look at this fist¡ªbig and round¡­skr. ??? This description is rather lively, huh. In Shao Zifeng¡¯s view, this high-spirited, bulky figure was over two meters tall, covered in short red fur with muscles bulging all over its body. Its lower limbs were much shorter than its upper ones, though its Beatles haircut was quite stylish. The Dancing Ape screamed while rapidly pounding its own chest. You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but after listening for a while, even you¡¯d feel the impulse to tap along with its rhythm. Noticing Shao Zifeng¡¯s gaze, the Dancing Ape stopped its movements and, supporting itself on its forelimbs, walked over to Shao Zifeng. It loomed over Shao Zifeng, its brown pupils looking down with extreme seriousness. Shao Zifeng swallowed hard, feeling quite oppressed by such a large figure staring at him. ¡°YO~¡± Suddenly, it raised a dark, large hand and used a finger to lift Shao Zifeng¡¯s chin, revealing a wicked smile. Shao Zifeng was stunned¡ªam I being flirted with by a mutant creature? Who am I, where am I, what am I doing? Qiuqiu, lying nearby, was initially a bit afraid when the large creature approached, but after seeing the Dancing Ape¡¯s actions, it felt a sudden surge of anger. It! Qiuqiu! Got angry! Two flames erupted from its eyes, its claws dug into the ground, and it charged at the Dancing Ape with a push from its hind legs. In mid-air, Qiuqiu spun around, its tail infused with fiery elements, and slashed fiercely at the Dancing Ape¡¯s wrist. ¡°Ow!¡± Caught completely off guard, the Dancing Ape felt the full force of Qiuqiu¡¯s angry strike, crying out in pain as it leapt and hopped around. Qiuqiu landed in front of Shao Zifeng, glaring at the Dancing Ape with malicious intent. Its scale armor bristled menacingly, and sparks flew from the corners of its closed mouth, leaving scorch marks on the ground where they landed. Holding its wrist, the Dancing Ape squinted at Qiuqiu in anger. Its feet tapped lightly on the ground, causing a faint tremor and conveying a unique rhythm sense. ¡°What¡¯s going on.¡± Chen Zhenglong, who was discussing the details of breaking out with Yang Qian, felt the rhythm of the Dancing Ape¡¯s imminent attack and immediately turned around, shouting. All of this happened so quickly that Shao Zifeng, still immersed in his philosophical conundrum after being flirted with by the mutant creature, didn¡¯t manage to react in time. Seeing his two pets face off, Shao Zifeng quickly crouched down to pick up Qiuqiu. Even in Shao Zifeng¡¯s arms, Qiuqiu continued to pool at his arm fiercely, never taking its eyes off the Dancing Ape. ¡°Dancing Ape, stop it right there!¡± Chen Zhenglong shouted in anger, then turned to Shao Zifeng and asked softly, ¡°Zifeng, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Shao Zifeng apologetically pointed at Qiuqiu, still fuming, and shook his head. Chen Zhenglong instantly understood. Usually, when two unknown pets were brought together, conflicts were likely to happen. It was a common scenario. He revealed an expression as if to say ¡°so that¡¯s how it is,¡± turned back, and gave the Dancing Ape a kick, cursing at it vehemently. Shao Zifeng was confused again, what did you understand? My shaking head means I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either. Is it possible you misunderstood? The tough-skinned Dancing Ape, unfazed by being kicked several times, stood there as if nothing had happened. Noticing Shao Zifeng looking at it, it flashed a sly smile. Shao Zifeng shuddered all over. What the hell is up with this creature¡¯s expression? It¡¯s like a sleazy hooligan flirting with a young lady. The previously somewhat placated Qiuqiu instantly became furious, propping itself up on Shao Zifeng¡¯s arm with its tiny paws, ready to break free and go down to beat the crap out of him. The Dancing Ape provocatively bared its teeth at Qiuqiu, a flash of white shimmering on its thick canine teeth. Seeing the teeth, Qiuqiu¡¯s mood suddenly calmed down. Its little paws clenched tight, it flaunted a cold smile at the Dancing Ape. Your teeth, Lord Qiuqiu shall take them. The Dancing Ape¡¯s hackles rose, a bad premonition creeping into its heart. ¡­ ¡°Zhenglong, after I signal for the Scale Armor to drop the Rock Barrier, have your Dancing Ape carry little Shao and Luo Feng onto Scale Armor¡¯s back first, and what about your Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle?¡± Discussing the details of their breakout plan, Yang Qian instructed. Chen Zhenglong nodded, turned to his Dancing Ape, and whispered a few words. The previously impatient Dancing Ape¡¯s eyes lit up, glancing at Shao Zifeng subconsciously. Then, as if it thought of something, it nonchalantly turned away. Qiuqiu silently stared at the slightly protruding teeth of the Dancing Ape, the corners of its mouth holding a cold smirk. ¡°The Golden Crown is too heavily injured. We can only rely on this ape for now.¡± Chen Zhenglong felt a headache coming on. If the Golden Crowned Black Feathered Eagle hadn¡¯t been injured, their escape would have been effortless. Yet, because it was always convenient for rescues, it had been injured multiple times. Upon hearing this, Yang Qian glanced at Shao Zifeng and shook his head slightly, ¡°What a pity¡­¡± If Chen Zhenglong had come earlier, under the unknown healing skill, they¡¯d gain additional support. Unfortunately, Shao Zifeng¡¯s healing pet had passed out from overexertion. Chen Zhenglong scratched his buzzcut in confusion at Yang Qian¡¯s words but didn¡¯t ask further. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s follow the plan we just made. Begin!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Qian blew a loud whistle. Wow, the old man¡¯s got quite a presence. Soon, a slight tremble appeared in the Rock Barrier, and the stone columns that formed the barrier began to disintegrate into sand, with the rate of decay increasing quickly. ¡°Whoosh!¡± One side of the barrier collapsed first, raising a cloud of dust. ¡°Now, Dancing Ape!¡± Chen Zhenglong shouted, covering his mouth and nose. ¡°Roar!!¡± The Dancing Ape pounded its chest a few times, bent down to pick up Luo Feng, then turned and charged towards Shao Zifeng. The huge red-haired ape, excitement gleaming in its eyes, ran wildly on all fours. Shao Zifeng stepped back twice, thinking, Chen¡¯s pet ape must be crazy, running with its tongue hanging out, it¡¯s not a dog. Qiuqiu gave a cold laugh, wriggled out of Shao Zifeng¡¯s embrace, and climbed onto his back along his arm, its little paws clinging tightly to the collar of Shao Zifeng¡¯s clothes, mockingly watching as the Dancing Ape reached out for him. ¡°Roar!¡± Just as the Dancing Ape was about to grab Shao Zifeng, a young dragon¡¯s roar exploded, spreading a faint sense of oppression around. A pair of fiery dragon wings unfurled from its back, the intense heat distorting the air. The Dancing Ape was startled, hastily retreating a few steps with a wary look. Qiuqiu smirked triumphantly, flapping its dragon wings. Um¡­ The smile on Qiuqiu¡¯s face froze. Carrying Shao Zifeng, it couldn¡¯t fly. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Feeling Like Flying (Please Recommend and Collect) Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Feeling Like Flying (Please Recommend and Collect) Outside the collapsed side of the barrier, the flat ground was covered with a mix of flesh and spider legs. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, shielded by Earth Protection, slowly retreated; its body was smeared with green liquid, all of which came from the Blood-sucking Tarantulas. In front of it was a dense swarm of black spiders, their eyes glowing crimson as they screeched, rushing towards the rhinoceros like a tide. ¡°Enough!¡± Irritated beyond endurance, the rhinoceros suddenly rose on its hind legs, lifted its forelimbs high, and stomped heavily on the ground. The earth trembled, and sharp Rock Spikes erupted within the fan-shaped area before it. In an instant, stones and limbs mixed with green fluid splattered everywhere. On the towering Rock Spikes hung Blood-sucking Tarantulas that were not yet dead, their green blood flowing down the columns, emitting painful shrieks. Hiding under the rhinoceros, Zhenglong dashed out like lightning, turning into a black light that darted and leaped between the rocks, his cold-gleaming claws sweeping past prey, reaping the lives of wolf spiders that had lost the ability to retaliate. In no time, the area in front had been cleared, the remaining Blood-sucking Tarantulas were blocked by the spike-like stonewall, and any wolf spider attempting to pass through alone was hunted by Zhenglong. The giant rhinoceros panted heavily; after receiving healing from the deer, it had recovered slightly, but its strength was still far from its peak. Facing the vast horde of Blood-sucking Tarantulas was a struggle. Slowly retreating to the collapsed space in the barrier, it deployed Earth Protection, vigilantly watching the Blood-sucking Tarantulas stirring in front of it. ¡­ Inside the barrier, the defiant Qiuqiu flapped the Dragon Wings again. Go to ????????????????????.co A gust of hot air blew past, and Shao Zifeng still stood in place. He now understood what Qiuqiu meant; it was on a whim to fly with the Dancing Ape, wanting to take him along. He opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to stop Qiuqiu from continuing to use its abilities, but feeling Qiuqiu¡¯s indomitable spirit, he shut his mouth. So be it if they were exposed. Perhaps Shao Zifeng himself had not noticed that his inner resistance and defenses against this space-time were gradually weakening. He closed his eyes and connected with his fire element. ¡°Aooo, aooo, aooo~¡± The Dancing Ape, clutching its stomach, made a mocking noise. Qiuqiu became increasingly agitated. The flames in its eyes burned brighter and more fiercely. ¡°Boom!¡± A tremendous sweep of the fire element stirred up the dust, which the Dancing Ape couldn¡¯t avoid. It got a face full of dust and let out a strange cry, hurriedly rubbing its eyes with its palms. ¡°Roar!¡± Firelight exploded, and the Dragon Wings on Qiuqiu¡¯s back shot up red flames. A fireball erupted from under Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet, spinning around and enveloping them like a giant egg of flame. Chen Zhenglong and Yang Qian, affected by the shockwave, turned around in surprise, staring at the huge fire egg. The flames churned and twisted, pulsating as if something was about to emerge from the egg. ¡°Hiss!¡± A ripping sound echoed. Two large fiery Dragon Wings suddenly burst through the fire egg, shattering the flames entangled around them. Shao Zifeng stood in place, his eyes now open with golden-red vertical pupils, fire dancing within them. The expansive fiery Dragon Wings fluttered, lifting the tiny whirls of air on the ground and scattering the dust around in spirals. With a flick of the Dragon Wings, a scorching air current lifted the sand and stones off the ground, and Shao Zifeng¡¯s feet slowly left the ground. The Dancing Ape¡¯s eyes bulged and its mouth gaped open as it watched Shao Zifeng break through the air. ¡°Dragon Wings, a dragon-type mutant creature.¡± Yang Qian and Chen Zhenglong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise. ¡°Not only that, did you see his eyes? It seems the bond is very deep,¡± Chen Zhenglong mentioned, recalling the vertical pupils that Shao Zifeng had moments ago, his tone tinged with a bit of envy. Yang Qian watched the streak of light in the sky, his face flushing red, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter: ¡°Great, just great, it looks like our Su City is about to witness the rise of an extraordinary young one.¡± He turned and clapped Chen Zhenglong on the shoulder, ¡°Zhenglong, you have a good younger brother, good, good.¡± Chen Zhenglong blushed, feeling a bit guilty as his initial contact with Shao Zifeng hadn¡¯t been with the purest of intentions, though he had grown fond of the youth over the past week¡­ But how could that be considered brotherhood? However, since Shao Zifeng didn¡¯t object just now, he decided to shamelessly accept the role. Yang Qian smiled and said, ¡°My group of old buddies always tease me at gatherings, saying our Su City has no good talent, and we¡¯re just there to make up the numbers at every major competition. This time at the National College Cup, I¡¯m going to slap those old geezers¡¯ faces hard, haha.¡± Imagining the embarrassed expressions of his old buddies, Yang Qian laughed even more heartily. Chen Zhenglong opened his mouth to speak but ended up saying nothing. ¡°Just say whatever it is, don¡¯t mumble like a woman,¡± Yang Qian, detecting Chen Zhenglong¡¯s hesitation, glared at him. ¡°Little Zifeng¡­ he¡¯s a bit of a loner. I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯d be willing to participate in the National College Cup. I think¡­ we shouldn¡¯t force him,¡± Chen Zhenglong hesitated a bit before voicing his thoughts. Looking at the streak of light, Yang Qian fell into thought and then said sternly, ¡°Then let¡¯s do as you suggest, first let¡¯s see what he wants, and keep this between us for now. If anyone from the Dragon City Mutant Management Office asks, just say it¡¯s my pet.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Zhenglong agreed quickly with a nod. Qiuqiu glanced sideways at the shocked face of the Dancing Ape, feeling even more smug, as the Fire Dragon Wings flapped and dove towards the spider cluster below. Dangling in the air, Shao Zifeng tightly shut his eyes, clinging to his treasure as if it were a lifesaver. He was almost crying now. Despite the cool factor of flying, only those who experience it know the bitter thrill. The howling wind crinkled his face, he wanted to shout for a stop, but dared not open his mouth¡ªthe thought of the wind filling his guts was terrifying! Just when he thought it was about to end, Qiuqiu suddenly dived, scaring him nearly to the point of doing a 360-degree turn, his face turning deathly pale. Never having been to an amusement park before, he only realized today that he was actually afraid of heights! Qiuqiu was enjoying itself. As it was about to plunge into the spider cluster, Qiuqiu shifted to the side, its Fire Dragon Wings transforming into the sharpest blades, slicing through the spiders. The wingtips plunged deep into the ground, and as it skidded across the low altitude, the hot earth flew behind it, leaving a long burnt trail. Wherever the Dragon Wings passed, limbs and flesh flew everywhere. Shao Zifeng felt acid surge up, a wave of nausea overcoming him. This was definitely not the feeling of flying! Yang Qian burst into laughter upon seeing this scene, pointing at Shao Zifeng and saying to Chen Zhenglong, ¡°Just look at Shao¡¯s expression, hahaha, it¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t bring my phone, or else¡­¡± ¡°Click.¡± Chen Zhenglong quietly raised his Huawei P30, looking at the photo of Shao Zifeng¡¯s terrified expression, he smiled with satisfaction, the forty-times zoom, known only to those who use it. ¡°Send me a copy later,¡± Yang Qian said, wrapping an arm around Chen Zhenglong¡¯s neck, nodding in satisfaction. The two exchanged a knowing smile. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 92: Breakout (Part 3) Chapter 93: Chapter 92: Breakout (Part 3) Shao Zifeng lay on the back of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros in a spread-eagle pose, his clothes and hair disheveled, his face pale, and a glistening thread hanging from the corner of his mouth as he stared vacantly at the pitch-black sky before dawn. So this is what it¡¯s like to be a Dragon Rider. I really don¡¯t want to experience this a second time. Remembering the feeling of weightlessness, Shao Zifeng felt a wave of nausea. Next time¡­ there will absolutely be no next time!! Qiuqiu lay on top of Shao Zifeng, sprawled out in the shape of the character for ¡®wood¡¯, panting heavily in sync with the deliberate rhythm of Shao Zifeng¡¯s breaths. What an incredibly fun experience! Surely Egg Egg must love it too. Imagining Egg Egg happily praising him and rewarding him with that stinky monkey¡¯s tooth, Qiuqiu felt a surge of sneaky delight, with tears of emotion barely visible at the corner of its mouth. Well, since Egg Egg is so sincere, I¡¯ll take him for another ride next time! (o¦êo ) The back of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros resembled several overlapping stone slabs, one pressing down on another, each slab providing a bit of space and a slight curve, not very large, but squeezing together there was still more than enough room for a few people. ¡°Ow!¡± The Dancing Ape, carrying Luo Feng and the Nine-tailed Fox, jumped onto the back of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, cautiously placing them along the ridge of the rhino¡¯s back. Go to ????????????????????.co The Nine-tailed Demon Fox, bound by sand and stones, was laid across the stone slabs at the rear of the rhinoceros, its nine long tails hanging down to the ground, soon soaked by a green liquid. Qiuqiu heard the noise, flipped over with a carp-like twist, ignoring the emptiness within, wiped the tears from the corner of its mouth with a small paw, and glared fiercely at the Dancing Ape. The Dancing Ape stiffened, feeling rather uneasy, and quickly turned away. This one¡¯s a harsh character, better not to provoke. Then it leaped into the barricade and, shortly after, reappeared with Yang Qian and Chen Zhenglong in its thick arms. ¡°You go down and clear the path with Zhen¡¯e,¡± Chen Zhenglong, sitting on a stone slab behind Shao Zifeng, turned and instructed the Dancing Ape. Though slightly displeased, he still picked up a strap and secured Luo Feng to his back. ¡°Ow!¡± With one hand on a crack in the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s side, the Dancing Ape hung there and, after thumping its chest a few times with one hand, agilely leaped down. With others aboard, Shao Zifeng felt embarrassed to keep lying there; he propped himself up with trembling arms and sat up, squeezing out an awkward smile at the two who were smiling amiably at him. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ready to depart, Zhenglong, signal our brothers in Dragon City County,¡± Yang Qian said, foregoing any teasing of Shao Zifeng given the pressing matter at hand. Chen Zhenglong nodded slightly and pulled out a flare gun from his pocket. ¡°Whoosh~¡± A straight laser beam lit up the night sky and, with the pull of Chen Zhenglong¡¯s trigger, the beam flickered three times. This was Shao Zifeng¡¯s first time seeing a flare gun; in his memory, flare guns were supposed to launch flare projectiles, not beams of light. ¡°Here they come!¡± As Chen Zhenglong¡¯s voice faded, several shadows appeared on the rooftop of a dilapidated building a hundred meters away. ¡°Boom!¡± A fireball with a long trailing flame burst in the middle of the spider horde, with sparks igniting the thick fur of the blood-sucking tarantulas, causing a wave of chaos among them. The attack instantly drew the attention of the spider horde, which turned its sinister red gleaming eyes towards the rooftop. ¡°Hiss!!¡± The mass of spiders moved, a contingent of them quickly scurrying toward the building. ¡°Let¡¯s start too! Zhen¡¯e, Dancing Ape, clear the way,¡± Yuan Qian commanded while seated astride the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s backbone, his hands tightly gripping a protruding plate, his voice full of authority. Under the cover of night, Zhen¡¯e stood haughtily atop a slanted obelisk, glancing back at his master and nodding slightly before intently eyeing the restless, blood-sucking tarantulas outside the stone spire forest. Perhaps sensing the focused gaze of the group upon him, Zhen¡¯e coldly lifted a front paw and licked it. ¡­ But his facade immediately collapsed¡ªthis stuff tasted like shit. Seeing Zhen¡¯e¡¯s small movement, Shao Zifeng secretly chuckled to himself¡ªsuch a proud tsundere, indeed. Now might be a good time to assess its attributes. [Name]: Shocking Evil Hound [Growth Stage]: Mature [Status]: Lightly injured [Strength]: Tier 5 [Phylum]: Chordata [Class]: Mammalia [Order]: Carnivora [Family]: Canidae [Attribute]: Dark [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï [Talent]: Weakness Detection: Accurately detect the target¡¯s weaknesses during attacks to strike lethally. [Skills]: Tearing Claw Strike, tear and bite, Shadow Raid, Raid Teeth, defense [Explanation]: Through big data analysis¡­ Last time¡¯s information was incorrect, this must be the final evolutionary form of the arresting dog! Looking at the last few sentences in the explanation, Shao Zifeng raised an eyebrow. What¡¯s going on, little brother? Before, I just thought you were slow, with high latency, but when it came to identifying pets, you were still pretty reliable. So now you really don¡¯t have a single redeeming quality, huh? ¡°Ao!!¡± Just then, the Dancing Ape let out a sharp cry, taking the initiative to act. It pounded its chest with its hands and stomped the ground rapidly with its feet, a strange rhythm sense emanating from it. With its movement, the Blood-sucking Tarantulas nearest to it seemed to be dizzy, their eight legs unconsciously swaying to the rhythm of the Dancing Ape. ¡°Ao!¡± Suddenly, the Dancing Ape halted its movements, let out a strange cry, and revealed a wicked smile from its thick lips. Then, with a push from its short hind limbs, it turned into a red afterimage and charged into the midst of the spiders. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The Dancing Ape¡¯s fists, enveloped in tiny whirlwinds, smashed directly into the heads of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas, bursting them open and splashing out green fluid like water. Moreover, its actions became faster and faster until Shao Zifeng could no longer see its moves, only hearing the dull, dense sounds by his ear. The Shocking Evil glanced at the Dancing Ape, eyes flickering, unwilling to fall behind as it charged into the swarm of spiders. Meanwhile, hundreds of meters away on a tall building, a large number of Blood-sucking Tarantulas were striving to climb up, their sharp claws piercing the charred facade, leaving behind a trail of fine dust with each step. A few young men in uniform, who felt somewhat apprehensive at the sight of the dense spider swarms below, were only staff members of a county-level abnormal management office and were weaker overall than those at the city level. They had never witnessed such a scene before. If it hadn¡¯t been for the Blood-sucking Tarantulas getting drawn away by Luo Feng when they entered the city, their journey would not have been so smooth. The leading young man took a deep breath, raised his hand, and his avian pet with long tail feathers took flight from his arm. ¡°Xiao Jin, use Fiery Breath on the building below.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± In the dark night, a massive column of fire shot downward, exploding on impact with the ground. Blood-sucking Tarantulas continually fell from the building¡¯s surface, crashing onto the ground. Dozens of Blood-sucking Tarantulas struggled and howled amidst the flames. ¡°Stone-armored, proceed at a steady pace,¡± Yang Qian said, patting the back of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros upon seeing attacks launched on both sides. ¡°Mo!¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros let out a muffled call, snorted two thick gusts of air from its nostrils, scraped the ground with its forehooves, and advanced towards the tall building with heavy strides. Shao Zifeng, sitting astride the back of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, bounced up and down with its galloping. His complexion turned even paler. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Breakthrough (Part 4) Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Breakthrough (Part 4) ¡°Hiss!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula lunged forward with its ferocious mouthparts agape, its eight blood-red eyes cold and frenzied, emitting a distinctive, raspy sound unpleasant to the ears of everyone around. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros looked down on the attacking Blood-sucking Tarantula, disdainfully tilting its huge head and charging forward. ¡°Puff¡± Green liquid mixed with dismembered parts stuck to the rhino¡¯s head, which slightly shook to fling off the filth. Along the way, this was not the first creature that slipped through the net, handled cleanly and efficiently by the rhino. It was like an emotionless bulldozer, moving forward with steady and powerful steps, the Dancing Ape and the protectors flanking its sides, their movements concise and swift, soon drenched in green liquid. Gradually, Shao Zifeng had gotten used to the jolting, his legs tightly clamping around the rhino¡¯s spine, moving up and down to its rhythm, although his legs had started to ache from the prolonged strain. Qiuqiu, having forcibly enhanced its Dragon Wings, started to feel drowsy after the initial surge of excitement, laying on Shao Zifeng¡¯s chest, its tiny claws gripping tightly onto his collar, squinting, nodding off little by little, looking silly and cute. Shao Zifeng saw its little antics and put it back into the pet space. Throughout the breakout, the distance to that tall building had gradually shortened, and the group could now see the flickering flames below and the charred remains within the flames. ¡°Hiss!¡± The burning flames could not stop the madness of the Blood-sucking Tarantulas, who stepped on the corpses of their companions and fiercely climbed the crumbling walls. Go to ????????????????????.co Fireballs periodically fell from the rooftop, dragging long tails and upon hitting the tarantulas, erupted into flames and plummeted to the ground, igniting with crackling sounds. The breakout plan was progressing smoothly, everything moving in a favorable direction, and they just needed to wait until tomorrow¡¯s reinforcements to quickly subdue this disaster. ¡°Who¡¯s that kid on the rooftop?¡± Yang Qian squinted, sizing up the rooftop with the light produced when using a skill. Chen Zhenglong supported Luo Feng, who continued to slide down due to the jolting, although internally disdained, Chen was thoroughly protective of Luo Feng. Looking up, he saw several figures swaying on a nearby rooftop. ¡°Report to the director, the leader of this Dragon City Special Management team is their major, his name seems to be Wang Jinsong. He just retired from the military not long ago, a reliable young man,¡± recalled Chen Zhenglong seriously. ¡°Hmm, transfer him to our city bureau after this, groom him to take over your position as I will eventually retire,¡± Yang Qian said with a smile. Veterans like him naturally felt a kinship and trusted soldiers freshly out from the military more. At these words, Chen Zhenglong was taken aback, momentarily confused, ¡°What about me, director¡­ if he becomes the major?¡± Yang Qian, irritated by the reply, thought, Is this guy¡¯s head filled with wood? Do I really need to spell it out? He then said gruffly, ¡°You go home and sell sweet potatoes.¡± Shao Zifeng glanced back at a bewildered Chen Zhenglong and almost burst into laughter. Brother Chen really was too straightforward. ¡­ ¡°Roar!¡± The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros charged through the Blood-sucking Tarantulas blocking the road, panting heavily. The building harboring the Dragon City Special Management was now in sight, but it was approaching its limit. As the distance closed, two groups of tarantulas began to merge, continuously launching attacks from all sides. Though only third-tier in strength, their sheer numbers made it difficult for fifth-tier pets like the protectors and the Dancing Ape to manage, briefly losing focus could give the spiders a chance to strike. ¡°Whimper!¡± The protector¡¯s gaze flashed, its body vanished instantly, reappearing not far behind Chen Zhenglong, its front claws glowing with a faint purple as it swooped down a tarantula attempting a sneak attack, pinning it fiercely to the ground, and using its few remaining teeth, it tore and bit the tarantula¡¯s head. The Dancing Ape wasn¡¯t idle either, swinging its huge fists like a whirlwind, repelling several tarantulas. The immense force of the blows made it stagger back a few steps, gasping for breath heavily. Just then, Shao Zifeng felt a sharp pain in his calf. A Blood-sucking Tarantula had hidden under the belly of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros and seized the moment when both beasts were engaged to climb up, its forelimbs like blades stabbing into Shao Zifeng¡¯s leg. The deep crimson blood trickled down its forelimbs, exciting the Blood-sucking Tarantula even further. Its spider eyes flickered as it opened its disgusting mouthparts and bit towards him, its viscous saliva stretching into thin threads that trembled continuously with each breath. Shao Zifeng felt a shock in his heart as he held onto the hidden blade, instinctively delivering a precise chop to the spider¡¯s eyes. The sudden chop caused the Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s head to twist as its mouthparts heavily gnawed on the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, and several saliva-covered teeth were knocked out. ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°Zifeng!¡± ¡°Shao Zifeng!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula¡¯s hiss drew the attention of the two men who were greatly startled, and Chen Zhenglong hurriedly reached out, trying to pull Shao Zifeng behind him. ¡°Tss!¡± A ball of flame condensed in Shao Zifeng¡¯s palm, and as he reached down, he grabbed towards the spider leg embedded in his calf; the moment his palm touched the spider leg, a waft of foul-smelling white smoke arose. ¡°Hiss!¡± The Blood-sucking Tarantula threw back its head and howled pitifully, its crimson spider eyes glinting more ferociously as it lunged at Shao Zifeng again. Seizing the moment, Shao Zifeng let go of the spider leg, switched hands on the hidden blade, and aimed for the connection between its head and body. This was a weakness Shao Zifeng had identified in the Blood-sucking Tarantula after multiple encounters: when it extended its neck to tear and bite, the connection between its head and body would separate, revealing a thin layer of membrane. But its biting movements were quick, and the gap that appeared was very small; if not timed well, it was likely to stab the head of the Blood-sucking Tarantula instead. ¡°Puff.¡± The blade met slight resistance before plunging deeply, but that was not all; Shao Zifeng forcefully pulled it out, spraying bright green blood all over his face. The foul-smelling blood seemed to stimulate Shao Zifeng, who forcefully kicked the spider with his injured leg. Thump. The body of the Blood-sucking Tarantula stiffened, making a deflating moan as its spider legs went limp and slid onto the ground with Shao Zifeng¡¯s kick. His own deep crimson blood followed, unabatingly flowing downwards. Watching the Blood-sucking Tarantula gradually engulfed by the swarm of spiders, Shao Zifeng felt dizzy, letting go of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s hand weakly, panting heavily as his body seemed to drain of strength. The surrounding sounds of fighting and screams grew more distant, as if he was about to fall into an abyss. His body swayed continuously and tilted to one side. Just then, a powerful hand firmly grasped his shoulder, and a familiar voice sounded in his ear. ¡°Zifeng, Zifeng, wake up.¡± Shao Zifeng shook his head, forcing himself to gather his spirits, but the dizziness in his mind did not lessen. He struggled to open his eyes, his gaze somewhat confused. Surrounded by mutant creatures, the blue light points in his eyes had been continuously spinning; initially somewhat irritable, he had gotten used to it over time. But as his gaze swept over the rooftop, the normally orderly spinning blue light points suddenly became chaotic, wildly crisscrossing each other. With a hint of purplish-red gleam, Shao Zifeng, who was a beat slow to react, suddenly shivered. ¡°Boom!¡± The rooftop suddenly exploded, sending countless fragments flying in all directions. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 94 Breakthrough (Five) Chapter 95: Chapter 94 Breakthrough (Five) Shao Zifeng¡¯s spirit was jolted, and the hairs on his back stood on end as he shouted towards the rooftop, ¡°Get away quickly!!!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A purplish-black beam flashed past, and the top floor suddenly ruptured apart. Countless fragments of stone flew in all directions, and the dilapidated building could no longer withstand the strain and collapsed with a roar. In that instant, all three were stunned. The leaning building smashed into the ground, kicking up a myriad of ash, and the flames glowed faintly beneath the veil of ash. ¡°Hiss!¡± A muffled hiss exploded through the air as the scary Blood-sucking Tarantula suddenly stopped its movements and slowly retreated into the spreading ashes. Among the falling stones, a drop of warm liquid splattered onto Shao Zifeng¡¯s face. He wiped it with his finger, stared at the glaring crimson, and trembled slightly, ¡°How could this happen.¡± Yang Qian and Chen Zhenglong¡¯s eyes split open, and they looked at the collapsing high-rise with reddened eyes. ¡°Hiss!¡± Another deep hiss resonated, and the pervasive ash took on a purplish hue. ¡°Not good! Stone-armored, Rock Barrier!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros let out a muffled roar and stamped a foot on the ground. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. The ground trembled lightly as several stone pillars broke through the earth, two by two, interweaving to form a barrier in front. The Dancing Ape and Zhenglong hastily retreated and hid behind the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros. ¡°Boom!¡± A purplish-black column of light tore through the ash fog, carrying an irritating fluctuation as it hit the Rock Barrier. It was the Death Ray! One set. Two sets. The hastily constructed Rock Barrier quickly shattered, unable to block the onslaught of the Death Ray. The pupils of the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros reflected the purple light, and it let out a roar, as a translucent earthy yellow energy shield condensed in front of it. Shattering the last piece of the Rock Barrier, the Death Ray continued unabated toward the group. ¡°Hum!¡± The Death Ray was blocked by the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros¡¯s Earth Protection. The energy dissipated along the curvature of the energy shield, resembling an additional layer of purplish-black energy that surrounded the Earth Protection, lasting momentarily before fading into thin, barely visible lines. The giant rhinoceros stared steadfastly at the ash fog that filled the area. The several rows of stone pillars in front of it had been blasted into halves, their cut surfaces glowing red-hot and steaming. ¡°What in the world is this thing?¡± Yang Qian looked at the area shrouded in ash, murmuring in disbelief. Shao Zifeng had already guessed what they were encountering, as the last disruption of the light spots had left a deep impression on him. Just then, the ash fog churned, and a spider leg with twisted veins stepped out from the smoke, with eight hazy red spots barely visible through the ashes. ¡°Hiss!¡± Another spider leg emerged, and a huge, hideous spider slowly emerged from the ash fog. It looked almost identical to the ones Shao Zifeng had encountered in the suburbs, with contorted veins on its spider legs and several protruding tumors on its back trembling constantly as it moved, oozing a repulsive mucus from time to time. The Blood-sucking Tarantulas following it became frenziedly gluttonous, and as they consumed the mucus, subtle changes began to appear in their bodies. It was too big. This Split-eyed Demon Spider was simply too big. It was several times larger than the ones he had seen before, with even the two-and-a-half-meter-tall Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros beside it looking like a mere child. Pale-faced and drenched in cold sweat, Shao Zifeng was even weaker now due to the excessive blood loss. After hastily applying some medicinal ointment to himself, he struggled to lift his head, staring intently at the massive Split-eyed Demon Spider, the purple-red light in the depths of his eyes swirling chaotically. [Name]: Split-eyed Demon Spider (Mutant) [Growth]: Mature [Status]: Genetic Split, Madness [Strength]: Tier Six ¡­ [Attributes]: Unknown [Potential]: ¡ï¡ï¡ï [Talents]: Split: The parts attacked by light emitted from the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s back are shattered and decomposed into atoms, which, when absorbed by the spider, further enhance its mutation. : Leader: It possesses the ability to dominate its kind. : Devour: It can strengthen its own power by devouring its kind and, after consuming enough, can even break through innate limitations. [Skills]: Tearing Claw Strike, Death Ray, Dissolving Bomb, Big Explosion [Description]: 1. A mutant artificially induced with unknown chemicals, characterized by a violent and murderous nature; 2. In the Gu Cultivation experiment, it stood out from repeated interspecies killings, gaining the ability to dominate spider swarms; 3. In the Gu Cultivation experiment, it underwent some changes by constantly devouring the corpses of its kind. ¡°Hiss!!!¡± The Split-eyed Demon Spider, with its hideous and grimacing mouthparts, hissed loudly as viscous saliva splattered with its breath. It raised its forelimbs and viciously plunged them into the ground, its twisted and bulging veins writhing and its back tumors unnaturally contracting. Pop. Pop. A series of subtle plopping sounds, several gray meatballs were squeezed out from its tumors. The uneven surface of the meatballs, coated with a sticky liquid, bounced in the air toward the people. ¡°Stone-armored, Earth Protection, retreat!¡± Yang Qian¡¯s pupils contracted, and he hurriedly ordered. ¡°Mmm!¡± A yellowish translucent energy shield reconvened as the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros retreated with heavy steps, but its speed couldn¡¯t match the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s attack. The meatballs slapped against the Earth Protection energy shield, exploding into a pool of green liquid, quickly covering the shield. White smoke rose, and the energy shield dissolved rapidly. ¡°Damn it, this isn¡¯t working, Zhenglong, let my ¡®Menace¡¯ and your ¡®Dancing Ape¡¯ harass this monster,¡± Yang Qian gritted his teeth, watching the dissolving liquid on the Earth Protection, his face twitching slightly. Chen Zhenglong had been silent since earlier, with a constantly changing expression. Now he hastily said, ¡°No, Director, we absolutely can¡¯t engage in close combat with this thing. I got a message from Luo Feng; this creature might contaminate our pets.¡± He remembered the message Luo Feng¡¯s subordinate brought to him before he left and had personally witnessed the mutation that befell the pet of the man named Zhou Li. However, since they had only encountered ordinary Blood-sucking Tarantulas, he had gradually let down his guard, thinking there was only one of those monsters and that it had already been dealt with. Until the appearance of this giant spider, its repugnant and disgusting form matched the description to the letter. As the Earth Protection gradually disintegrated under the attack of the Dissolving Bomb, Yang Qian knew that dragging this out wasn¡¯t a solution. Clenching his teeth, he said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we can¡¯t let it out of our sight. If it finds the settlement location, our Su City is completely doomed.¡± ¡°Chen Zhenglong!¡± ¡°Present!¡± Chen Zhenglong sat astride the rhino¡¯s spine, instinctively straightening his back. Yang Qian turned his head and looked at him deeply, ¡°The Stone-armored is too slow, and we are too conspicuous of a target. After a while, I and the Stone-armored will stay behind to attract attention; you take Zifeng and leave first.¡± Chen Zhenglong was taken aback and quickly said, ¡°Director, it should be me¡­¡± ¡°Hear me out. Get Zifeng to a safe place as quickly as possible, then come back. If I don¡¯t last until help arrives, it¡¯s up to you,¡± Yang Qian spoke calmly, as if discussing something unrelated to himself. Shao Zifeng opened his cracked lips, wanting to say something, but seeing the steadfast expression on Yang Qian¡¯s face, he ultimately remained silent. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 95 I Have a Bold Idea Chapter 96: Chapter 95 I Have a Bold Idea Boom. Boom. A black-purple mushroom cloud exploded above the Rock Barrier, cracking and shattering the barrier, with rubble and dust scattering down. By the time the smoke and dust had cleared, there was no sign of those people behind the barrier. ¡°Hiss!¡± An exasperated hiss echoed in the silence, the Split-eyed Demon Spider quite dissatisfied with not having eliminated those people. But for a man-made mutant creature like itself, although its strength had increased rapidly, it also had significant flaws. To break the limits of its own species and maintain such a large body size, its energy consumption was enormous; its successive attacks a moment ago had left it somewhat fatigued. Its eight ominous spider eyes, swirled with blood, swept over its kin that were enthusiastically scavenging the sticky fluid behind it, and it slowly lifted its forelimb. ¡°Hiss! Jii~¡± As the kin struggled and wailed on its forelimb, the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s indifferent gaze showed no flicker of emotion, its terrifying mouth constantly drooling. With one bite, juices and splinters flew chaotically, its outer fangs spinning like a meat grinder. ¡­ Go to ????????????????????.co With a thud, The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, shielded by the Earth Protection energy shield, knelt down, its body trembling uncontrollably due to excessive consumption, resting its head on the ground and breathing heavily through its nostrils. Previously, the Rock Barrier, constructed under the Earth Protection¡¯s delay, held up just enough against the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s attacks, and behind its cover, it had managed to take a few people out of the attack range. They were now behind a building on the edge of a battlefield that had been leveled, with a few burned-out car shells parked haphazardly. Through the dilapidated building, they could vaguely see the distant Split-eyed Demon Spider. They were not certain why the Split-eyed Demon Spider had not chased them, lingering in its place, up to who knows what; but for them, this was a modest piece of good news. Hiding behind the rundown building, the three people kept a wary eye toward the Split-eyed Demon Spider, guarding against a sudden attack while ensuring it did not leave their sight. At that moment, Chen Zhenglong suddenly said, ¡°Director, look quick, it¡¯s devouring its own kind!¡± ¡°What!¡± Yang Qian was startled and strained his presbyopic eyes to look, um¡­ After a long look, Yang Qian saw nothing. However, now was not the time to scrutinize its habits. He composed his face and lightly coughed, speaking indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s do as I just said. You take Shao Zifeng and the others and leave this place first. I¡¯ll rest a bit and keep it occupied.¡± Chen Zhenglong remained silent and lifted the unconscious Luo Feng, sliding down from one side of the Giant Rhinoceros. Seeing this, Shao Zifeng also slid down after him. Just as he touched the ground, his right leg gave out, and a stream of dark red blood surged from the wound. ¡°Zifeng!¡± Chen Zhenglong hastily dropped Luo Feng to the ground and rushed over to hold Shao Zifeng, his eyes full of concern. Shao Zifeng, with a pale face, managed a pained smile, ¡°Chen Big Brother, I¡¯m alright, go help Director Luo.¡± Chen Zhenglong glanced at Luo Feng lying on the ground and signaled the Dancing Ape with his eyes. The Dancing Ape scratched its fuzzy head with a big hand, quickly grasping the meaning of its master. It ran over to pick up Luo Feng, tucking him into the crook of its arm, and then gave Chen Zhenglong a thumbs up. Shao Zifeng watched their little gestures, a faint smile on his face, warmth growing in his heart, ¡°Brother Chen, ask Elder Yang to come down first, I have something to say to him.¡± Chen Zhenglong hesitated for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. ¡°Zifeng, no problems with your injuries, huh? But you, you were capable enough to take one down under those circumstances, you¡¯ve got the spunk I had back in the day, haha.¡± Holding a crinkled cigarette in his mouth, Yang Qian was about to light it before he pocketed the lighter again. Although his face bore a smile, the worry between his brows was impossible to hide. While talking to Shao Zifeng, his gaze frequently shifted towards the direction of the Split-eyed Demon Spider. It was uncertain whether he could clearly see what was happening there. Shao Zifeng shook his head slightly to indicate he was fine, and then said, ¡°Elder Yang, I¡¯ve encountered these mutant creatures before.¡± Ever since Yang Qian first mentioned the plan, Shao Zifeng had thought about how to relay the information he knew. Rather than waiting for an uncertain rescue, he was more eager for Yang Qian and Chen Zhenglong to continue living and defending Su City. Yang Qian was stunned, and then asked eagerly, ¡°You¡¯ve seen them?¡± Understanding the abilities and traits of this sudden emergence of an unknown species would undoubtedly make his delaying plan much easier. Shao Zifeng nodded solemnly, then began to tell him about the encounter with the Split-eyed Demon Spider on the outskirts of the city the last time. Of course, there were truths and fabrications; for instance, he had never witnessed the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s so-called Big Explosion ability, and could only piece together the information provided on the screen to tell Yang Qian about its possession of that ability. ¡°It has another ability, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a skill or a talent, at the very least I haven¡¯t seen this skill in the official published list of abilities. It can shoot a kind of gray ray from the lumps on its back, the places hit by it will be instantly disintegrated, but fortunately, this disintegration only exists at the point of impact and does not spread.¡± ¡°Also, this mutant creature is much bigger than the ones I¡¯ve encountered before. Normally, the size of the same type of mutant creatures shouldn¡¯t differ so greatly, there must be some issue here.¡± ¡°Like just now, after it released a few abilities, it did not immediately pursue us, and I have two theories. One, its large size is not conducive to moving, but this can be basically ruled out. Two, judging from its behavior of devouring its kind, I suspect that it must have a large energy consumption and needs to devour its kin to restore energy.¡± After speaking in one go, Shao Zifeng was slightly out of breath, his face even paler, but his heart felt exceptionally light. He had shared everything he knew and deduced with them, hoping it would be of some help to them. Yang Qian listened intently, furrowing his brow from time to time. He did not doubt the authenticity of the information provided by Shao Zifeng and even agreed with his deductions. However, such abilities were too inconceivable; he had never heard of a skill that could ignore defense and disintegrate all physical or energy matter. Just then, Chen Zhenglong jumped in and said, ¡°Chief, if we go by what Zifeng says, then I¡¯m the best candidate to stay behind and delay it. The Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros is too big and not agile, it would be completely countered by that ability.¡± Yang Qian shook his head and said, ¡°Bullshit, I¡¯m not dead yet, why is it your turn to be at the front? Besides, my Earth Protection is not for show.¡± The Earth Protection, squatting to one side, straightened its body even more upon hearing its master¡¯s words, gazing steadfastly ahead, motionless, but its slightly wagging tail betrayed its inner delight. The two stared at each other, each unwilling to back down. ¡°Cough, I have an idea,¡± Shao Zifeng interrupted the standoff with a light cough, a weary but sincere smile on his pale face. Reflected in his pupils was the distant flame that had not yet extinguished, and suddenly, an idea came to him. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Learned an Incredible Skill Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Learned an Incredible Skill ¡°Brother Chen, Big Boss Yang, I have an idea and need your help. When we attack, Big Boss Yang can first send Zhen¡¯e to attack the spider. There¡¯s no need to focus on the results, just keep it occupied so it doesn¡¯t have time to pay attention to anyone else.¡± A few people leaned against the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros, whispering and discussing the action plan, which was really just Shao Zifeng speaking while the other two listened. Someone¡¯s badmouthing me behind my back! Zhen¡¯e lay on the back of the giant rhinoceros, its ears standing alert and twitching, but it pretended to be unconcerned and kept its gaze fixed in the direction of the Split-eyed Demon Spider, performing its observation duties. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but it¡¯s possible. Zhen¡¯e is an agile type of pet beast, so it¡¯s easy for it to feign attacks without striking. However, stamina is a big problem; it can¡¯t hold out for too long.¡± Yang Qian said as he held a crumpled cigarette in his hand and sniffed it near his nose. ¡°Exactly, I think my Dancing Ape can take turns with Director Yang¡¯s Zhen¡¯e,¡± Chen Zhenglong added. Shao Zifeng shook his head: ¡°The Dancing Ape has other tasks. It needs to flank the Nine-tailed Demon Fox around to the back of the spider, and then have the Stone-armored Giant Rhinoceros release the Nine-tailed Demon Fox from its restraints. As for Zhen¡¯e, I¡¯ll teach it how to launch the most effective sneak attacks later. After your beasts complete these tasks, leave the rest to me.¡± Speaking of this, Shao Zifeng caressed the scabbard of his hidden-edge knife, a pale face showing a hint of unhealthy redness. Yang Qian frowned deeply, pondering the implications of Shao Zifeng¡¯s words. Suddenly his eyes widened: ¡°Do you want the Nine-tailed Demon Fox to deal with the spider? No, I disagree, the risk is too great.¡± In his mind, this strategy was too uncontrollable. If the Nine-tailed Demon Fox really fought the Split-eyed Demon Spider, it would be for the best. However, if it simply ran away after being freed, then it would be another disaster. Of course, Shao Zifeng knew what Yang Qian was worried about, but in his plan, the Nine-tailed Demon Fox was an indispensable part. The main problem now was how to convince Yang Qian. He laid his hidden-edge knife across his legs, his expression serious: ¡°Big Boss Yang, aside from the survivors, there¡¯s nothing left in Su City that we can¡¯t afford to lose. Instead of sacrificing ourselves to buy time for an uncertain rescue, why not try my plan once to keep them here for good?¡± Yang Qian¡¯s mouth opened, and he thought to himself, yes, with Su City in its current state, there really is nothing left that can¡¯t be lost. If he and Chen Zhenglong could hold out until the rescue arrived, it would be fine, but if they couldn¡¯t, letting these spiders find the shelter would make their deaths all the more meaningless. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Director, just trust Zifeng this once. Even if we can¡¯t succeed in the end, you and I will just be facing death.¡± Chen Zhenglong said cheerfully, trying to persuade him. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll join you in this madness just this once,¡± Yang Qian glared at Chen Zhenglong, then turned to Shao Zifeng with a kindly smile, ¡°If I die, then I die; but you must remember to protect yourself at all costs. If it¡¯s you, Zifeng, I believe you will be a greater pillar of the Daya nation than I could ever be.¡± Upon hearing this, Shao Zifeng¡¯s breath hitched, and his heart became a little chaotic. A pillar of the Daya nation¡­ That was something he had never considered before. ¡­ Under the night sky, Su City lay shrouded in an eerie silence, as the Dancing Ape carrying the Nine-tailed Demon Fox and Yang Qian leaped across the ruined rooftops. Zhen¡¯e¡¯s sharp claws were wrapped in purple-black energy, moving swiftly and stealthily towards the Split-eyed Demon Spider. Its goal was to attract attention, ensuring the Fiery Flame Tarantula did not notice the others¡¯ movements. ¡°Hiss!¡± Far away, the Split-eyed Demon Spider spat out a pile of limbs and debris, burping satisfactorily. It knew it would be hungry again soon and wanted to use this time to find more prey to kill. After all, hunting was its nature, while those behind it¡­ The Split-eyed Demon Spider glanced over at the densely packed Blood-sucking Tarantulas. They were just a moving food supply to it. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A faint sound of something slicing through the air came. Its back bulged with eyes that started moving crazily up and down, looking both terrifying and eerie. The Split-eyed Demon Spider immediately became alert, on guard. Zhen¡¯e stood in a shadow, shaking its front paws frustratingly, feeling somewhat frightened. Although Shao Zifeng had explained how to make the most effective attack, it still instinctively wanted to launch a sneak attack from behind. Just one glimpse of those eerie eyes filled it with a strong sense of crisis, as if once it was locked on by them, it would immediately die. This time, it didn¡¯t plan on attacking from the back. It. Entangle. Was going for a head-on collision. At this thought, Entangle¡¯s figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness. ¡°Ssss!!!¡± The underbelly of the Split-eyed Demon Spider was suddenly clawed, and in a mix of shock and rage, it frantically spun its clumsy body, trying to find the one who sneak-attacked its indescribable spot. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Claw marks glowing with purple light appeared again, targeting the Split-eyed Demon Spider¡¯s indescribable place for another hit before hastily fleeing. The Split-eyed Demon Spider trembled all over, its tumorous flesh spasming uncontrollably and secreting a large amount of liquid, letting out a mad hiss, as streaks of purple-black Death Rays spewed out from its mouth. Boom. Boom. The sounds of explosions were continuous. Entangle, reappearing in the shadows, looked at its claws and recalled the attack method Shao Zifeng had taught it, suddenly feeling that it really should change its habit of backstabbing. The sensation of attacking that spot¡­ Was quite thrilling. ¡­ Boom. A black-purple Death Ray exploded next to the building they were dodging, shaking the structure and making the ground tremble. Chen Zhenglong watched the Split-eyed Demon Spider, seeming to have gone mad, with his eyes wide and mouth agape, awestruck. He turned to Shao Zifeng beside him and said, ¡°Man, I have no idea what Entangle did to provoke such wrath, look how mad it got the spider.¡± Shao Zifeng had a rough idea of what had happened, and although he found it amusing, he maintained a poker face and said, ¡°Brother Chen, it¡¯s about time for Master Yang Qian to arrive. I should also go and prepare.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need me to come with you?¡± Chen Zhenglong looked at Shao Zifeng¡¯s right leg with concern. Shao Zifeng shook his head slightly, stretched out his hand to open a semi-transparent Space Rift, and a drowsy little guy fell out, landing with its little butt right in front of Shao Zifeng¡¯s leg. It rubbed its eyes and looked around. Noticing Shao Zifeng not far away, it promptly climbed up his trouser leg and into his arms. ¡°Ying ying?¡± Qiuqiu rubbed its eyes with its little paws, looking up at Shao Zifeng with a puzzled expression. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to do something exciting in a bit, want to go?¡± Shao Zifeng stroked Qiuqiu¡¯s hard Scale Armor, whispering into its ear. Qiuqiu¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, and it quickly climbed onto Shao Zifeng¡¯s back, resting its little head on his shoulder, its excited scales sticking up. It extended a little paw and pointed ahead. ¡°Ying!!!¡± ¡°Not that way, this way,¡± Shao Zifeng said, tapping Qiuqiu¡¯s little head with his hand. Qiuqiu, feeling wronged, covered the spot that was tapped with a little paw and mumbled in protest. Dandan hit me again. What if I turn dumb! , ,?^?, , Shao Zifeng ignored it, gave Chen Zhenglong a reassuring look, and leaning on his hidden blade, limped away into the darkness.