NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Fallen Angel
The Beast Taming Shop is the largest shop in Lin Yuan City, responsible for controlling the circulation of resources from the Alternate Space.
It not only sells various Guardian Beasts captured from the Alternate Space but also offers rare materials, evolution potions, and even precious treasures.
Gu Xing stood before the magnificent gate of the Beast Taming Association, looking up.
The entire building is pyramid-shaped, divided into five levels, each corresponding to a different grade —
Normal, Elite, Superior, Epic, Legendary.
Of course, the top "Legendary Level" zone is vacant year-round, exhibiting only a few rare materials from the Alternate Space for occasional viewing.
And the fourth "Epic Level" zone has just a few epic materials, with prices so high they are daunting.
Gu Xing did not stop on the first floor and went straight to the third —
Superior Level Guardian Beast Section.
In the spacious hall, dozens of Guardian Beasts of various shapes were kept in specially designed energy cages, each with detailed information and pricing marked beside them.
Gu Xing's gaze swept over, and their attributes panels automatically appeared before him —
[Mystic Snake]
[Talent: Superior Three Stars]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Poisonous Fang Bite]
[Spirit Cat]
[Talent: Superior One Stars]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Agile Evasion]
...
The prices of these Guardian Beasts generally ranged from half a million to one million, with the higher the talent, the higher the price.
Gu Xing finally stopped in front of a wolf-type Guardian Beast.
It was the one with the highest talent on the entire third floor —
[Gray Wolf]
[Talent: Superior Three Stars]
[Attributes: Wind Element]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Gale Claw Strike]
[Cultivation Suggestions: Wind Spirit Grass, Hurricane Crystal...]
Looking at these Guardian Beasts with only one skill, Gu Xing furrowed his brow slightly.
Although Superior Level Guardian Beasts were already a pretty good choice, compared to Epic-level Succubus, the gap was enormous.
Moreover, he had twenty million funds in hand, enough to pursue higher limits!
"Hello, does the Beast Taming Association have any other Guardian Beasts?"
He stopped a staff member and asked, refusing to give up.
"Hello, sir, the ones exhibited are all the Guardian Beasts acquired by our association this year."
Superior Talent...
He stared at that Gray Wolf, with its three-star talent considered rare in the eyes of ordinary Beast Masters.
But after witnessing the panel of the Epic-level Succubus, this Guardian Beast held no attraction for him.
Besides, cultivating such a Guardian Beast to the level of the Succubus might cost even more than twenty million.
However, just as he was turning away in disappointment...
The staff member suddenly called out to him.
"Wait! There's another place..."
Gu Xing whipped around, his movement so quick that it made the staff member subconsciously take half a step back.
"Where?"
The staff member was startled by Gu Xing.
"Well, because we only exhibit the Guardian Beasts acquired in the current year."
"Those Guardian Beasts that weren't sold from previous years are managed uniformly at the logistics department."
"Just...sir, don't hold too much hope, because those Guardian Beasts are leftovers that others didn't pick."
Upon hearing this news, the hope that had flickered in Gu Xing's heart was extinguished once more.
Leftover rejects by others, how could they possibly still have Guardian Beasts with decent talents?
Yet, adhering to the principle of having come anyway, Gu Xing hesitated for a moment, then decided to go see the logistics department.
Even if he found nothing at the logistics, he could still return to the third floor to contract that Gray Wolf.
"But you better hurry, or they will soon be sent for disposal."
...
Logistics Department.
The lighting was dim and oppressive.
A silver-haired girl curled up in the corner, hugging her knees tightly, with her face deeply buried in her arms.
Various Guardian Beasts around her quietly awaited their fate's judgment as well.
A Shadow Leopard missing a leg, a Spirit Fox born blind...
They were rejects that no one had chosen for a whole year.
"Time's up."
The metal door hinge emitted a piercing creak as a uniformed young man pushed the door open and entered.
Today was the day of Guardian Beast summoning in Lin Yuan City, and also the end for these Guardian Beasts.
The association was not a charity; keeping them for a year was already quite generous.
After disposal, recovering some materials would at least fulfill their purpose.
Upon hearing footsteps, the Guardian Beasts stood up woodenly.
But the most eye-catching was still the silver-haired girl.
As she raised her head, her silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with a pair of amber eyes embedded in her exquisite face, making her seem like an angel falling into the mortal world.
No —
She was indeed an angel!
The staff member sighed.
A year ago, when this Epic Talent angel descended upon Lin Yuan City, it was a sensation.
Unfortunately, her congenital defect made her even less capable than regular Guardian Beasts, let alone upgrading through contracts.
Such a "waste," with barely any recycling value left.
"Let's go!"
Just as he was about to lead the way, a hurried footstep approached quickly.
"Wait!"
Gu Xing rushed into the room, out of breath, his forehead's stray hair soaked in sweat.
It took him half an hour to navigate the maze-like Beast Taming Shop before finally reaching this remote logistics department.
His gaze swept through the room and was instantly drawn to the silver figure.
The attributes interface popped up instantly:
[Angel (Liu Li)]
[Status: Uncontracted (Wings damaged, unable to contract)]
[Talent: Epic Nine Stars]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Holy Light Judgment, Wings of Heaven, Divine Lament]
[Special State: Congenital Defect (Wings damaged) (Negative State: Unable to level up)]
[Cultivation Suggestions: Use Angel's Feather, Radiant Star Dust, Holy Spirit Stone (to repair injuries)]
Gu Xing's pupils contracted abruptly.
A Guardian Beast with Epic Nine Stars talent?!
This was the highest talent Guardian Beast he had ever seen...
Just one step away from the Legendary Level!
Moreover, Epic-level Guardian Beasts typically only have two skills, but Liu Li...
She possessed as many as three skills!
Yet...
His gaze involuntarily moved to her back.
Where there should have been a pair of holy wings, it was now empty.
This was the reason she's been ignored!
But the system provided a solution to repair:
Angel's Feather *1, Radiant Star Dust *3, Holy Spirit Stone *1.
And all three materials were coincidentally available at the Beast Taming Shop!
Gu Xing's heart pounded wildly.
This is the one!
This was the Guardian Beast he was searching for!
As long as he could heal her injuries, her talent would completely surpass that of the Succubus!
Gu Xing took a deep breath and walked slowly to the staff member.
"Hello, I would like to buy that angel, how much is it?"
Upon hearing this sentence...
Liu Li's pupils suddenly contracted.
She slowly raised her head, her amber eyes reflecting the figure standing in the light.
He...was talking about her?
For over three hundred days and nights, she had curled up in this dark corner, with countless moments of hope, countless disappointments.
Eventually, she grew numb, not daring to hope that anyone would spare a glance at her.
But now—
This stranger, a human, actually picked her out.
Her heart was gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe.
Did he...truly know what he was choosing?
A "waste" unable even to fly...
Her nails dug deeply into her palm, yet she felt no pain.
Liu Li lowered her head, her silver hair cascaded down, hiding her slightly reddened eyes.
She shouldn't have expectations anymore.
But why...does it still hurt inside?
....
...