The Master of Beasts

Chen Jiuge was aware of the Spiritual Beasts' movements but didn't intervene, merely offering a slight smile.

Once this mission concluded, he could finally rest properly. Still, he needed to find time to gather news about Taiyuan City in the Martial Arts World; it was, after all, his territory.

He couldn't relax too much, though, as the next mission could arrive at any moment. He needed to hasten his cultivation of Dharma Manifestation. Additionally, in Eden Garden, the Spiritual Beast cubs born in the current cycle also required his daily attention to purify their bloodlines with his Golden Finger and nurture them into powerful Spiritual Beasts. The losses of ordinary Spiritual Beasts from the mission in the Spirit Void Realm had been substantial.

Sporting sunglasses, a large gold chain, and a black trench coat, Da Bai began his daily inspection with an air of arrogance.

"Two of you, go that way! And what are those three doing over there? One of you, get back here! I've only been gone a short while; why has efficiency plummeted so much?" Black Eye yelled at the somewhat slack Golden Dogs.

Watching the Spiritual Beasts eat in an orderly manner under his command, Black Eye revealed a satisfied smile. This is the life for a dog!

"By the way, Da Bai, why are you here? Surely, you're not herding again?" Black Eye looked warily at the flashy little boy beside him.

His chubby little hand pushed the custom sunglasses up his nose, and he adopted a profound look. "Black Eye, have you noticed anything different about me?"

Black Eye scrutinized Da Bai, who looked no different from yesterday. Recalling past experiences, he ventured hesitantly, "More handsome?"

"HAHAHA! Black Eye, you truly have a keen eye! Enough talk, I'm off to War Song's place." Hearing the answer he wanted, Da Bai's smooth, pale little face broke into a wide smile.

Watching Da Bai leave with a hearty laugh, Black Eye scratched his head in confusion. Did Da Bai go crazy because he knows Sister Yue Meng is going to make him start work today?

「Gravel Forest」

With his little wife, Da Hua, trailing behind him, War Song began his inspection of the Golden Iron Back Ape troop.

Since his journey to the Desolate World, War Song had realized that going solo was ineffective. When you could gang up on an enemy, why fight alone? Luckily, he had apes like himself here to train properly.

The Golden Iron Back Apes, scratching their heads, grew restless. "Boss, we're going to be late for work!"

"So soon? Then those who have to work should go. The young apes who don't have work, start today's training with me." War Song's stern expression faltered for a moment. Delaying work was indeed bad; these were all apes with families to support, and he truly couldn't hold them up.

The Golden Iron Back Apes, once Feeders and now juggling multiple roles, departed for work. War Song felt deflated, left with only a few hundred tender young apes. Surely, I can't take these little ones into battle, can I? Wouldn't the enemy die laughing??

Imagining that scene, War Song shivered. That's too terrifying for an ape! I'd better ask the Master for more apes.

Watching the restless young apes, War Song waved his hand to dismiss them and turned towards the courtyard. That's when he bumped into the ostentatious Da Bai.

"War Song, where are you headed?" Da Bai pulled down his sunglasses, revealing his large eyes.

"Oh, it's Da Bai. Why are you still loafing around? Didn't Sister Yue Meng tell you to go to work today? She said your debt repayment time has begun." War Song asked curiously, not paying it much mind, his thoughts already consumed by his ape army.

Da Bai froze on the spot, stuttering, "Work... repay debts?"

Looking around and seeing no other beasts, Da Bai's eyes flashed with a cunning light. This is bad, I have to hide! Too bad Qi Daoyuan, my little bro, isn't around; he always has the best ideas.

Da Bai darted about restlessly. No matter where he went, he felt unsafe, extremely unsettled, as if a pair of eyes were constantly watching him.

Silver King, shadowing him from the sky, watched Da Bai scamper about in panic. He was inwardly speechless. What's Da Bai doing? Can he really hide?

Gazing towards the ecological zone in the distance, Da Bai fiddled with the large gold chain around his neck and gritted his teeth. I refuse to believe Yue Meng will still come after me if I go there!

Watching Da Bai charge headfirst into the ecological zone, Silver King was astonished. Good heavens, Da Bai is really going all out!

The current ecological zone was different from before. Although Chen Jiuge had taken away the top-tier Spiritual Beasts, many Returning Void Realm beasts still remained. Crucially, the beasts inside possessed low Spiritual Wisdom, making it a true place of survival of the fittest.

"You're saying Da Bai went to hide in the ecological zone to evade his debt?" Yue Meng, who was instructing the Medicine Rabbits on harvesting Spiritual Medicine, listened to Silver King's report, her face etched with displeasure.

"That's correct," Silver King stated honestly.

"Fine, fine, fine! So he dares to run from his debt! Go find Yang Huan and Yue Li. Tell them I'm offering three hundred Top Grade Spirit Stones for Da Bai's capture." Yue Meng extended a hand, holding up three fingers.

"Three hundred stones? Can I go?" Silver King, in his humanoid form, swallowed hard. Da Bai is actually that valuable!

"You can't. I need you to deliver those Low Rank Elixirs I refined in the Spirit Void Realm. Li Qiwen's side is still facing a significant Elixir shortage," Yue Meng shook her head, rejecting his request.

Silver King was a bit disappointed. However, he then remembered he was now business partners with Yue Meng, and delivering Elixirs was commission-based. Catching Da Bai was just a one-time payment; there was no need for envy.

"Three hundred Top Grade Spirit Stones? Are you sure?" Yue Li, so poor he was mooching meals at Yang Huan's place, flashed a ferocious grin.

"Absolutely. Three hundred Top Grade Spirit Stones. As long as you catch Da Bai, Sister Yue Meng will give them to you both," Silver King said, looking enviously at the two beasts.

"What do you think?" Yue Li habitually glanced at Yang Huan.

"Deal. We'll guarantee he's delivered by today." Yang Huan considered it a good deal; he was a bit short on funds himself.

In the Desolate World, the four beasts, eager to rapidly enhance their strength, had devoured nearly all Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures they encountered, not even recognizing things like Spiritual Ores. Back in Eden Garden, the only free Spiritual Beasts were Spiritual Chickens and snow rabbits—Low Rank beasts they had long since tired of eating.

「Ecological Zone」

Da Bai, who had just entered, cautiously avoided the tiger at the entrance; it looked like trouble. After passing through a pack of wolves and crossing a river teeming with Alligator Dinosaurs, he finally reached a small, serene, and peaceful valley.

"Phew, finally safe. The ecological zone is really chaotic! If my custom little leather jacket gets damaged, it'll be a huge loss." Da Bai lovingly eyed his intact little leather jacket, feeling very satisfied.

Inside the small valley, a snoozing White Tiger sensed an unfamiliar presence. Its huge pupils radiated murderous intent.

Da Bai, lounging leisurely on the grass, was still pondering when would be a good time to leave. I can't just hide here forever. Maybe I could secretly procure some Treasures worth Spirit Stones here? No, no way! If the Master finds out about this, I'll have nowhere to hide, and the consequences will be even more dire!

Sigh, Daoyuan, my little bro, I miss you so much! When are you coming back? Da Bai suddenly remembered his fellow sufferer, Qi Daoyuan, feeling even more desolate.

Meanwhile, Qi Daoyuan, accompanying Zhu Yingque in a small world, was on a killing spree. Standing atop a mountain of Demon Clan corpses, he laughed wildly. "You demon brats! Still no improvement after all these years! This great one can still kill more! ACHOO!"

Who is it? Who's mentioning this great one at a time like this? Don't they know it's very damaging to my image? Qi Daoyuan was furious. Then, a searing pillar of fire blasted into the Demon Clan army, and a pungent smell once again filled the air.