Chapter 123 - Return (Part 2)
“Lu Yilang, how’s the progress on compressing your mental projectiles?”
In the vast Green Sea Stadium, several first-generation beastmasters were training in pairs, sparring with each other. Li Teng, who had contracted a Fire Lion, glanced at Lu Yilang, the only beastmaster in Green Sea City with a psychic-type familiar, the Border Collie, and asked.
By this time, many knew of Lu Yilang’s Border Collie’s impressive learning ability. Under the resources provided by the Green Sea City Association, it had already mastered three major techniques. Energy Projection, Energy Formation, and Energy Acceleration.
It was now attempting to break through to a fourth technique which was Energy Compression. Everyone speculated that perhaps only by mastering Energy Compression could someone stand a chance at breaking through Sudden Death King’s defense.
“No luck,” Lu Yilang shook his head.
“Compressing two mental projectiles into one is incredibly difficult. The projectiles become unstable and explode every time, making practice especially risky, let alone applying it in actual combat.
“If it weren’t for Director Zhao’s healing familiar, my familiar would still be bedridden.”
“Woof!”
The Border Collie threw its beastmaster a disgruntled glare.
Energy Compression? Not even a dog wants to practice that. It’s too dangerous!
“This is frustrating.” Li Teng groaned, rubbing his temples.
“How can we break through that thing’s defense? If only we had a trait to fuse. I really wish I could obtain one.”
“Rawr!!!”
The Fire Lion growled in agreement but soon turned its gaze in another direction.
The two Green Sea talents, who were in the midst of their daily struggles against Sudden Death King’s existence, suddenly noticed a figure approaching the sleeping lizard.
“Someone’s going to challenge the red-eyed crocodile skink again?”
Li Teng followed his familiar’s gaze and remarked, “It’s been a month, and there are still people who won’t give up?”
“This person seems unfamiliar. A newcomer?” Lu Yilang asked curiously.
Over the past month, the number of beastmasters in Green Sea City had steadily increased as the association recruited new talents. Every few weeks, fresh faces would join the training camp.
Seeing an unfamiliar figure approaching Sudden Death King, they guessed it might be a new recruit eager to test their skills after hearing about the skink’s legendary defense.
But in the next moment, their expressions froze. The person had merely gotten close to Sudden Death King, yet the draconic familiar who was famous for never waking up except for meals, suddenly opened its eyes.
“Rawr!!!”
The lizard not only opened its eyes but also let out an excited roar of joy.
“Wow, you’ve reached level 19 already?”
That person was none other than Lu Ran.
At this moment, Lu Ran’s Intermediate-level Eye of Detection allowed him to analyze the level, attributes, and species information of any transcendent familiar within levels 1 to 20, even if it wasn’t under his contract.
For familiars above his own level, he would likely need the Advanced Eye of Detection, a skill he had yet to acquire. The only time he’d experienced Advanced-level analysis was during the Beginner Trial Secret Realm.
As for the strongest creature he’d encountered thus far, that would undoubtedly be the Flame Dragon King, an Overlord species of the fire and dragon attributes at level 86. It was a true strategic-class monster capable of destroying entire nations on Blue Planet with ease.
Lu Ran smiled as he looked at Sudden Death King. He firmly believed it could one day evolve into something comparable to a Lightning Dragon King.
“Rawr!!!”
“Mm... I can tell you’ve been working hard. Working very hard at eating. Come on, let’s head home. I’ve brought you a feast from the ascension realm. If you finish it, you might just hit level 20.”
Lu Ran still had a mutated dragonfish saved up, perfect for pushing Sudden Death King through its final level.
At level 20, it would be able to fuse two traits simultaneously, marking its Epic transformation.
“Rawr!!!”
Sudden Death King growled expectantly.
Lu Ran turned and walked out of the arena, and the lizard followed eagerly behind on its hind legs like a small kaiju, tail wagging in excitement. This peculiar sight quickly attracted the attention of the other beastmasters present.
“What’s going on?”
Seeing the infamous red-eyed crocodile skink following a stranger out of the stadium, the onlookers froze in confusion.
“Could that be... its beastmaster? The one called Lu Ran?” Someone spoke up, jolting everyone’s memory.
This red-eyed crocodile skink did, indeed, have a beastmaster. Though said beastmaster had been missing for the past 30 days, to the point that most had nearly forgotten. Now, watching the skink obediently leave with someone, many were left dumbfounded.
So it does have a beastmaster, and it’s the Lu Ran that Director Zhao kept hyping as one of Green Sea City’s strongest first-generation beastmasters, rivaling the Five Poisons Saintess? What kind of monster does it take to tame such an impenetrable lizard!?
[Sudden Death King’s beastmaster has appeared!]
[That man has finally shown up!]
[Now that we know the red-eyed crocodile skink has an owner, I feel more at ease. With him and Fang Lan, cracking the freshman competition’s top 100 should be no problem, right?]
Someone snapped a photo of Lu Ran and Sudden Death King’s retreating backs and shared it in the group chat, sparking an uproar.
[Zhao Chen: Haha.]
[Sister Hua: Haha.]
The responses from the group admin and moderators sent a chill through the other members.
“Nearly two months now, and so much has changed,” Lu Ran thought as he walked along the streets.
At a red light, he waited at the crosswalk with Sudden Death King obediently trailing behind, also waiting for the signal. Though only a month had passed, pedestrians seemed entirely unfazed by the sight of a small kaiju-like creature strolling openly on the streets.
Lu Ran couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly the times were changing. Before long, with a crow leading the way, Lu Ran and Sudden Death King arrived at a newly opened café. Its sign boldly reading Cat Maid Café.
“Anyone here?” Lu Ran pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Immediately, a cute maid with cat ears emerged to greet him, “Welcom—holy shit, Lu!”
“Uh...” Lu Ran’s face darkened as he recognized the maid.
Wasn’t this Rain from Limitless City #3?
“What are you doing here?”
“I-I... I go to school in a nearby city, and Manager Ying called me to help out at this new shop!” she stammered.
She never expected to run into Pedestrian A in Green Sea City of all places.
Initially, she had been confused when Manager Ying announced plans to open a physical store here. But now, after encountering Lu Ran, she was beginning to understand. Green Sea City wasn’t ordinary.
Not only was Lu Ran here, but the Five Poisons Saintess was also active in the area. Moreover, the city’s policies were notably different from others, making her feel like she had lucked into a promotion.
“Alright, is your manager here? I’m here to see them,” Lu Ran asked casually.
He assumed Manager Ying had brought her here purely for convenience, given their acquaintance.
“Yep, they’re here.”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
Inside the café, a large white cat sat lounging in a chair, engrossed in a handheld gaming console. As Lu Ran entered, the cat yawned lazily and addressed Rain Dancing in the Wind without looking up.
“Go make him a cup of tea. Also, swearing in front of customers? Half a month’s wages docked.”
Rain Dancing in the Wind was baffled. She wiped away tears as she went to brew tea.
I was just excited to see him!
Meanwhile, Lu Ran turned his attention to Manager Ying. As he glanced around the café, he noticed several other cats napping in various corners.
Why do I feel like these are Green Sea City’s strays? Some of them look familiar.
“So, Manager Ying, I’m here to collect the trait crystals Dr. Gu left for me,” Lu Ran said.
“Waka!”
Behind him, Sudden Death King’s eyes sparkled with excitement as it stepped inside.
“Here you go.”
With a casual wave of its paw, Manager Ying summoned two crystals and a card onto the table. It continued playing its game, only sparing Lu Ran a brief glance.
“How was your first ascension realm experience? Any danger? What score did you get?”
“It was fine, no real danger. By the way, Manager Ying, do you eat fish? While in the ascension realm, I picked up some exceptional culinary skills!”
Seeing that Manager Ying had graciously offered him tea, Lu Ran couldn’t help but want to showcase his newfound culinary intent.
I wonder if my Ice Culinary Intent could impress such an Advanced-level being?
“Hmm?”
Manager Ying looked up, its expression puzzled.
What? Why were you practicing cooking in an ascension realm?
It suddenly realized that Lu Ran must have entered an unusually peculiar realm.
“What was your ascension task?”
“To become a top-grade chef.”
Lu Ran was met with silence.
Sudden Death King, however, thought that it was cool as its eyes started to sparkle.