King of Beasts

In an old district of Jinling, the streets bustled with activity. Lu Ran, finding himself extremely bored, wandered aimlessly.

Manager Ying had mentioned that the necromancer was operating nearby—just wait like a hunter for its prey.

However, he had been wandering for ten minutes now, having spent fifty yuan on street food, yet the necromancer was nowhere to be seen.

At this rate, he’d be too full, especially since he planned to have a grand dinner with his master later that evening.

“Wow ka…”

There are so many people, I’m going to explode!

At that moment, the sudden death king perched nervously on Lu Ran’s shoulder, eyes darting around as if everyone was a potential threat.

Another five minutes passed.

Lu Ran had just ordered a grilled durian and began to eat it while it was still fragrant and hot.

However, before he could take more than a couple of bites, he suddenly crinkled his nose.

He smelled a familiar scent.

Ever since his super beast mimicry transformation into General Ha, his sense of smell had improved significantly…

This familiar scent, subtle as it was, would be concerning if it also lingered around the corpse-burial mountain.

Lu Ran kept his cool, a surge of excitement in his heart. The sudden death king tensed up, ready to play dead at any moment. Not far away, a skinny young man in a black hoodie seemed to be searching for something.

When his gaze fell on Lu Ran eating grilled durian by a small cart, his eyes lit up, and he involuntarily swallowed.

Such a rich soul scent!!

Devour him! Devour him! Devouring him will surely allow me to level up!!!

A seductive inner voice made the skinny youth struggle to maintain composure.

But in the bustling market, the young man dared not act rashly. He hesitated, then slowly approached Lu Ran.

Reaching Lu Ran, the young man glanced at the small lizard on his shoulder and spoke up, “Hey, brother~”

“What’s up?” Lu Ran turned around, puzzled.

“You’re a beastmaster, right? That lizard of yours looks extraordinary!”

Lu Ran smiled, “You have a good eye. This ‘red-eyed eagle lizard’ of mine just had its attribute tested today—it’s thunder!”

“Thunder? Awesome!” Hearing that Lu Ran’s pet beast had just had its attributes tested, the skinny youth’s expression brightened.

An unawakened weakling?

What kind of luck have I been having these past few days?!

“Are you a beastmaster too?” Lu Ran looked at the other person, but the skinny youth instinctively took a step back, “Yeah… Dude, what are you eating? It stinks to death.”

“Grilled durian, it’s really fragrant,” Lu Ran said.

“People eat that?” The skinny youth seemed incredulous, unable to bear the sight of his chosen prey eating such a thing, fearing that devouring his soul later might taste strange.

“Haha, I think it’s pretty good,” Lu Ran scratched his head, appearing shy like a student.

“Stop eating that, are you free? I’ll take you to eat something good, my treat.”

“Really?” Lu Ran thought the other’s luring method was too naive, but at that moment, he didn’t feel like showing too much caution, so he went along with it, “I just arrived in Jinling today for a trip, haven’t found anything good to eat yet.”

“What a coincidence, I’m a local from Jinling and just became a beastmaster recently. I don’t have many friends who are beastmasters around here, really need someone to chat with about it. Come on, I insist!” The skinny youth became increasingly hospitable, smiling as he spoke.

“Alright! You seem pretty nice,” Lu Ran chose to follow him.

This necromancer would probably lead him to a less crowded place.

And then, while he was not paying attention, attempt a surprise attack.

Lu Ran heightened his vigilance to 200% and followed the other towards a direction.

“I know a private kitchen hidden in an old residential area, only known by the locals. Let’s go there.”

The skinny youth seemed extremely hospitable, and so far, nothing seemed amiss.

Before long, the two arrived at an old residential area, but it looked nothing like a place where people lived.

It seemed more like a long-abandoned unfinished building.

“This is the place you were talking about? There’s really a private kitchen here?” Lu Ran expressed his doubts at this point.

“Yes, there is.” The necromancer still tried to lead Lu Ran further inside.

However, at this point, Lu Ran didn’t want to go any further and stopped, looking at him, “I mean, how could there be people living here? Are you playing me?”

As Lu Ran spoke, the necromancer in front turned and flung his arm, throwing a flying knife directly at Lu Ran. His technique was highly skilled, and with the supernatural strength and speed of a beastmaster, the throw was lethal enough to kill instantly!

The skinny youth’s intention was clear: to kill Lu Ran first to prevent him from escaping to Infinite City. He had used this method several times before, always with success, as no one had ever been able to react in time!

“You talk too much! Time to go!” As the flying knife hurtled towards him, the skinny youth revealed his true nature, convinced that Lu Ran was as good as finished.

However, the next moment brought a surprising “duang~” sound. The skinny youth turned around, looking stunned.

His thrown knife, akin to a small dart, had been knocked to the ground, and there stood Lu Ran, holding a long sword.

It seemed he had used the sword to deflect the flying knife.

Lu Ran pointed his sword at the necromancer: “What are you doing?”

Skinny youth: ???

At that moment, the skinny youth felt like he had seriously messed up. What was going on?

His heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling like he might have bitten off more than he could chew.

This kid…something’s off!

Meanwhile, sitting on top of the derelict building, Manager Ying watched the initial clash between the two, nodding in approval.

“Lu Ran has got something, but it also has to do with him being on guard beforehand.”

“Next, let’s see how he handles the necromancer’s pet beast.”

By now, the skinny youth had realized that Lu Ran was no ordinary foe. This guy was definitely prepared.

Otherwise, that move just now would have caught any new beastmaster off guard, not to mention even some higher-level beastmasters would have been hit without any preparation. Who carries a sword with them all the time and reacts that quickly?

Uncertain of Lu Ran’s capabilities, he didn’t dare let his hidden necromancer pet beast attack rashly. Instead, he activated the teleport function of his black card, planning to escape in 10 seconds while ensuring his pet beast protected him with utmost caution.

“Who exactly are you!”

The skinny youth was now somewhat panicked, making sure to inquire before fleeing. Had he exposed himself?

“Just a passerby who punishes evil and promotes good!” Lu Ran said calmly as he looked at the other, a summoning circle quickly appearing before him. This action further frightened the skinny youth.

That lizard… it wasn’t the opponent’s pet beast!

At this moment, the skinny youth felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. However, as Lu Ran’s pet beast was released, a very ordinary-looking Erha, which seemed to have undergone no special evolution, appeared, and the skinny youth was stunned again.

“Damn, just a level 10 Erha. Who are you trying to fool? You scared the hell out of me.”

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered to teleport.”

It was truly a rollercoaster of emotions for him. Seeing that Lu Ran had just summoned an Erha after all that buildup, the youth couldn’t help but curse out loud.

He… had actually been scared.

However, seeing that he had only a few seconds left before teleporting, he was even more annoyed.

“Kid, remember this…” As he was about to be teleported away, the necromancer made a harsh statement.

But two seconds later, his emotions tumbled again…

Because… the teleportation time had clearly arrived, but there seemed to be no movement on his part.

Teleportation failed?

The necromancer’s heart panicked once more, not understanding what was happening. His emotions switched numerous times in a short period, and his expression looked completely played.

“Woof!” Especially at this moment, a seemingly dumb Erha looked at him with what seemed like a mocking gaze, which made the necromancer’s heartbreak even more.

“Remember what, you hold grudges too?” Lu Ran also mocked.

“I’ll slaughter you all!!!” The successive changes had already made the skinny youth’s mentality somewhat unstable, and he didn’t have time to figure out what was happening. Finally, he let his hidden necromancer pet beast launch an attack.

One of the traits of necromancer pet beasts is their strong stealth ability!

Being a soul body, it can easily pass through walls and become invisible, and this characteristic makes it extremely troublesome.

A necromancer civet cat, now like a ghost, floated out of nowhere next to Lu Ran and launched an attack. Ghostly claws tore through the air.

Not only can it become invisible, but it can also float!

“Why is cat.”

Manager Ying from the building’s penthouse was also a bit annoyed. First, it disliked the necromancer’s enslavement of cats by killing them, and second, it was displeased about having to watch a cat-dog fight, especially since it was siding with the dog.

“However, this necromancy cat is no ordinary one. It’s an upper supernatural species, probably at level 8, which is higher than that Erha. Lu Ran might not be able to handle it.”

“I might have to step in.”

“Necromancy is still too tricky for a rookie.”

As soon as these thoughts passed, the necromancy cat’s sneak attack was already upon him. Lu Ran gripped his Wind Cutter Sword, slightly startled. This necromancy cat’s level of concealment and speed seemed even greater than the grass sprite cat he had encountered before.

Fortunately, General Ha, standing protectively by Lu Ran’s side, was not the same as before. It coldly glanced towards the mid-air.

It growled lowly, and instantly, violent energy flowed around its body, surrounded by a gale. Its form vanished from the ground in a leap.

Boom!

The necromancy cat’s sneak attack failed and was instead sent flying by General Ha, crashing to the ground like a meteor, emitting a cry like that of a wailing baby.

“Damn, how can this Erha be so fast?” Seeing the sneak attack fail again, the necromancer was frustrated. However, sensing the state of the necromancy cat, he breathed a sigh of relief. The opponent’s attack power wasn’t strong; it was just the speed.

He was determined to kill this man and dog.

“Come here.” He glared menacingly at Lu Ran, and at the same time, he spoke to the necromancy cat, which quickly floated up and flew into the necromancer’s body!

A second trait of necromancy pet beasts is their ability to possess beastmasters!

Similar to ghost possession and fusion, this allows both parties to gain greater strength!

“You’re doomed!” In an instant, black mist emanated from the skinny youth’s body, his expression growing even darker and ominous as he threw out a vicious threat.

Seeing this, Manager Ying, perched in the penthouse, narrowed its eyes, knowing a critical moment had arrived. The Erha that Lu Ran had raised was not bad, highly skilled in energy flow techniques, but given its species, growth level, and attribute disadvantages, could it still handle a necromancy-possessed human?

Just as Manager Ying was eagerly preparing to intervene, its expression suddenly froze.

Seeing this, Lu Ran seemed still composed and once again pulled out something strange… a jackpot, he had nailed it!

“This is your final trump card, huh?” Lu Ran exhaled.

In his left hand was the Wind Cutter Sword, and in his right… the Wind Meteor Sword slowly emerged!

As the Necromancer and Manager Ying upstairs looked on bewildered, Lu Ran tossed the Wind Meteor Sword into the air!

In the next moment, General Ha leapt up, catching the Wind Meteor Sword in its mouth, its eyes flashing with a sharp gleam.

The blade hummed and vibrated, the surrounding air turbulent. The moment it clutched the sword, General Ha seemed transformed.

A terrifying aura instantly oppressed the Necromancer and his allies, making their gazes sharpen and their expressions incredulous.

“What is this!” They were stunned, feeling the ferocity of Erha, the sword-bearing dog, whose presence was like that of a wolf king, overwhelmingly intimidating, causing them discomfort and fear!

Gale Sword Qi!

“Woof! (I have a sword that can slay evil spirits.)”

As it spoke, General Ha swung the Wind Meteor Sword in the air. Under the enhancement of the gale skill, it swiftly sent out three or four waves of sword qi.

Combined with the sword momentum locking onto the target, it seemed like a galaxy falling, the light twinkling across this abandoned neighborhood.

The chaotic and rapid sword qi, fierce as the fangs of a wolf, overwhelmed the Necromancer, who was still baffled. The sword qi instantly engulfed them, and with a “boom,” a violent explosion occurred on the spot, dust and smoke billowing!

As the explosion subsided, General Ha landed, its gaze sharp, almost as if it wanted to find a pair of sunglasses to wear, modestly covering its brilliance.

“Manager Ying, although the Necromancer was a bit tricky, it was manageable… please make sure they don’t die, it’s my first time and I didn’t hold back due to nerves,” said Lu Ran, his voice also rising. “We must interrogate him; people like him are despicable.”

Manager Ying: ????

What the heck, a sword-bearing dog! Manager Ying was shocked, and thought, this man and dog duo doesn’t seem like beginners at all!