Beastmaster King

"Here. Your Bloodline Domination, Fusion, Misfortune, and Critical traits, as well as your Space-attribute awakening resources. Aren't you going to prepare? Why haven't you asked me for that Almi guy's intel? I've got some top-tier info, you know!"

After returning to Green Sea, Manager Ying saw Lu Ran lying on the couch in a demonic dog pose, doing who knows what. Its face darkened.

"To deal with a native level 6 beastmaster from Blue Planet, what need is there to prepare? Even without summoning a single familiar, this transformation bracelet alone should be enough for me to solo him."

Lu Ran continued researching his custom Soul Evolution Technique. Unfortunately, he remained stuck at a bottleneck he couldn't overcome. That was why he desperately wanted to upgrade the imperial seal and use the power of a Legendary evolution item to perfect his technique.

"Well, if you say so... In any case, here are the traits. Call me if you need anything." Manager Ying turned to leave when Lu Ran spoke again.

"Hold on."

"Hmm?"

"I do need a favor."

"What?" Manager Ying had a bad feeling.

"Do you remember what Squirrel God said about your Clone Skill being extremely unique? Not only can it cross worlds independently from your main body, but your clones can also be contracted. No one else can do that.

"Not just Squirrel God, even Six-Path Flower said it's remarkable. It claimed that even it couldn't make its clones reach your level. This might be your strongest species talent, Manager Ying."

Manager Ying proudly puffed out its chest. It didn't know how or why, but being admired even by Legendary beings for its skills definitely felt good.

"So what's your point?"

"My current Soul Evolution Technique is stuck at the clone-completion stage. In my team, the one most adept at clone techniques is Six-Path Flower. But even with its Clone Trait and talent, it's nowhere near your level.

"So, could you create six level 60 clones and let me contract them temporarily through my beastmaster space? I'll use Super Beast Mimicry to study your cloning technique. Then, I'll terminate the contracts once I've learned it!"

The cat's eyes widened, staring at Lu Ran's shady smile. To enter Limitless City, it had only allowed one clone to be contracted by a beastmaster. Yet Lu Ran wanted to contract six clones at once?

"This would also be a great opportunity for me to understand your powers. You want me to explore a secret realm for your Legendary evolution resource, right? But how can I help if I don't even know how your power works? So..."

Manager Ying scowled. "Fuck! You're blackmailing me."

"No, I'm not!"

"I'll think about it."

It didn't actually mind too much. After all, it'd already allowed one of its clones to be contracted by a beastmaster. That beastmaster had been a sweet girl, so it hadn't resisted. However, even if it was just a clone being contracted by Lu Ran... just the thought of it made its skin crawl.

Is this really worth throwing away my dignity for the chance to evolve into a Legendary?

***

In India, Almi was going all-out in his preparations.

Meanwhile, in Xia, Lu Ran had already successfully contracted six of Manager Ying's clones. At last, Lu Ran figured out the proper use of his beastmaster space. Unlike contract cards, beastmaster space contracts could be broken as long as one bore the cost.

That meant he could temporarily contract powerful familiars using the beastmaster space, mimic their powers through Super Beast Mimicry, and then release them. If he rinsed and repeated this process, he'd soon become a super Blue Planet beastmaster, one who combined the strength of a hundred beasts.

Lu Ran suspected even the original developer of Super Beast Mimicry hadn't used it as smoothly as he had.

"Aaahhh!Watch me! Cat Transformation Curse!"

To speed up his mimicry of Manager Ying and master its clone technique, Lu Ran shamelessly let Dark Crow upgrade the Pig Transformation Curse into a cat version by using Manager Ying's fur as a sacrifice to briefly turn himself into a cat.

"Whoa...It's so strong."

To mimic it more effectively, Lu Ran and the six Manager Ying clones snuggled around some catnip enhanced by a Treasure amplification card. He started hallucinating, imagining himself perfectly executing his Soul Evolution Technique and beating up Legendaries.

Three days later, Lu Ran groggily arrived at the Limitless City Arena.

At the same time, all around the world, Limitless City arenas were packed. Every King's Battle would be broadcast live from the arena. Beastmasters who hadn't cleared the Road to Kingship couldn't access the King's Domain, but they could watch it on the big screens. Every such match drew a huge audience, but this one had broken all records.

King's Domain.

A sky-borne realm with ten floating islands, each housing a colossal arena. On Almi's island, spectators had gathered. They weren't ordinary viewers, but those who had cleared the Road to Kingship. They were the peak of Blue Planet, qualified to attend in person.

Shi Zhen, Gu Qingyi, and Lin Nian were present. So were Oub, Zhen Dai, Jakov, and the other Beastmaster Kings. They were all watching this match closely.

Almi had arrived early and was now floating cross-legged in midair, his long scarf fluttering in the wind of his psychic aura.

"Lu Ran's here!"

Someone in the small group of only about twenty people total shouted as a phantom image flickered and solidified. Lu Ran materialized in the King's Domain. He looked at the strongest psychic on Blue Planet, Almi, standing on the arena platform, and walked toward him calmly.

"I've been waiting for you." Almi opened his eyes and gazed at the approaching Lu Ran.

Lu Ran smiled faintly. "Well, I'm not late, am I?"

"Before we fight, can I ask why you chose to challenge me?"

"You're the world's strongest psychic. Defeating you makes me look good, right?" Lu Ran replied casually.

"Fair enough. Then I suppose I should thank you for the compliment. However, I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not like the opponents you've faced before," Almi said.

The moment they locked eyes, it stirred two observers in India's Limitless City. It was the twin prodigies of the Golden Generation, Jialan and Jiana. Once, Lu Ran had been their peer. Now, he stood face-to-face with their country's strongest beastmaster.

"Who do you think will win?" the King of Knights asked the other Beastmaster Kings.

The Beastmaster Kings were especially keen to know the outcome.

"I admit Lu Ran's a monster, but Almi is terrifying too," Victor said.

"You fought him in the Peak Arena, right?" King of Knight asked.

"Yeah. His Mental Hypnosis is insane. He can control not just enemy familiars, but even the beastmaster. That's how I lost. Humans are much weaker than beasts in mental resistance. If he can control beasts above his level, controlling humans is even easier. Lu Ran may command a domain, but against psychic hypnosis, can he resist? And he's a whole level below..."

As they discussed, the Limitless City system began its countdown.

[Defender: Brahma.]

[Challenger: Pedestrian A.]

[Battle Format: 3v3!]

[Countdown: 10... 9...]