Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The White Steel Bladed Beast’s explosive power was indeed impressive. If Goldie hadn’t triggered its passive ability multiple times beforehand, the White Steel Bladed Beast would have instantly knocked it out.
Even so, Goldie had sustained terrible injuries during its battle with the White Steel Bladed Beast. It stood before Gao Peng, riddled with cuts and awash in its own blood.
The Yin Yang Calendula shook its head sympathetically. A white ball of light emerged from its head and floated towards Goldie.
The white ball of light melted into Goldie’s body. Gradually, the duck’s more severe injuries began to heal up. However, it was still bleeding profusely.
The Yin Yang Calendula then shedded a large number of dandelions from its head. The dandelions bobbed in the air like tiny snow-white parachutes. As soon as they landed on Goldie’s wounds, the bleeding stopped almost immediately. Some of its less severe injuries had also begun healing.
The Yin Yang Calendula soon used up most of the dandelions on its head. It reached up and felt the huge bald patch on its head with its leaves. Then it curled up into a ball, embarrassed of its current state. “I’m all used up.”
“Here.” Dumby plucked a leaf from a low-hanging tree branch and carefully placed it over the calendula’s bald spot.
“Uhm?” The Yin Yang Calendula looked up at Dumby and felt the huge leaf on its head curiously.
“You can wear it like a hat. You look good in it,” said Dumby casually.
The Yin Yang Calendula blushed even more, covering its face with its leaf-like appendages.
After ordering Goldie and the others to keep an eye on the White Steel Bladed Beast, Gao Peng looked up at the trees growing out of the cliff face.
[Name of Fruit]: Guise Fruit
[Effect]: Upon consuming it, any monster will be able to change its own size a thousandfold.
A thousandfold…
Gao Peng frowned. I don’t think it’s possible to increase a monster’s height 1,000 times, even with the help of a size-altering fruit. It would probably just bring about a tenfold change in a monster’s length, width, and height respectively, since a monster’s size is technically the product of those three variables.
For instance, after ingesting a Guise Fruit, a 30-foot-tall monster would probably be able to shrink to three feet tall or grow to 100 feet tall.
So this is what Desolion has been telling me about. Gao Peng’s eyes lit up. For convenience’s sake, Gao Peng had decided to call the Desolate Frost Lion “Desolion.” It does roll off the tongue.
Gao Peng had also decided that Xiao Cao would be the last of his familiars to be given such a childish nickname. He would no longer continue this naming trend after Xiao Cao.
There were currently four Guise Fruits hanging from one of the trees’ branches. It was a shame that the White Steel Bladed Beast had eaten one. Otherwise, Gao Peng would have been able to leave this place with five Guise Fruits in hand.
Gao Peng began plucking the fruits from the tree. When he was done, he uprooted two of the trees with his bare hands and carried them down the mountain.
The White Steel Bladed Beast, which was still being held in Goldie’s hand, cried out at the sight of Gao Peng dragging the Guise Fruit-bearing trees behind him; these magical trees were the White Steel Bladed Beast’s most treasured possessions in the world.
Their fruits were the only thing capable of letting it experience the world from the perspective of a behemoth and allowed it to forget its insecurities about its size, if only for a moment. It was able to stay in its enlarged form for a long time after eating just one Guise Fruit. If it wanted to look for food, it would let itself shrink back to normal by simply waiting for the Guise Fruit’s effect to fade.
This was the main reason why mealtime was its least favorite time. Only when it was extremely hungry would it grudgingly let its body return to normal and regain the mobility it needed in order to hunt for food in the mountains. It was apparent that the Guise Fruits were the only things in the White Steel Bladed Beast’s life that brought it joy.
“We’ll be taking these two trees back with us, if you don’t mind,” said Gao Peng, smiling.
The White Steel Bladed Beast stared at this brazen human. It had never heard such a shameless thing in its life.
“Of course, since we’re taking these trees with us, we might as well bring you along, don’t you think?” added Gao Peng.
The White Steel Bladed Beast widened its eyes. It had evidently underestimated this human’s insolence. Is it even possible to say such a brazen thing?
The way down the mountain seemed more difficult than the way up had been. The sun had sunk on the horizon. Without the Golden-Striped Tortoise to lead them back, Gao Peng had no choice but to recall the route the tortoise had followed in the morning and retrace their steps the best that he could.
As night had fallen, Gao Peng decided that it was best to rest in the mountains for the night and continue their journey out the next day.
After signing a Blood Contract with the Desolate Frost Lion, Gao Peng had decided he wouldn’t take in any more familiars for now. He simply didn’t have the strength to do so.
If he took in any more familiars at this point, he would definitely not be able to satisfy the emotional needs of every member of his team.
However, while they were resting, the Desolate Frost Lion suddenly came up to him and suggested that he sign a Blood Contract with the White Steel Bladed Beast.
“I already have enough familiars as it is. Why should I sign a contract with it?”
“Your team still lacks an Assassin-type familiar,” said the Desolate Frost Lion, looking Gao Peng straight in the eye. “I don’t think you have a clear idea of what a competent team composition is.”
“So tell me, what’s your idea of a competent team?” asked Gao Peng, eyeing the small lion cub with amusement.
“It should be capable of dealing with any situation in any environment,” said the Desolate Frost Lion flatly.
“Where did you learn this from?” asked Gao Peng curiously.
“That’s none of your business. The White Steel Bladed Beast can evolve into a Black Steel Shadowbeast, an incredibly powerful monster with unparalleled explosive power.”
“Even you can’t beat it?”
“Of course I can! What do you take me for?” the Desolate Frost Lion growled.
“It’s weaker than you, then. I guess there’s no point in signing a contract with it,” said Gao Peng.
“…Hmph, have it your way then.”
Stealth and explosive power, these were the things one had to look for in an Assassin-type familiar.
Gao Peng gazed at the White Steel Bladed Beast with renewed interest. He didn’t recall seeing any mention of the Black Steel Shadowbeast as one of its Epic-grade evolutionary forms on the data frame. This meant that the Black Steel Shadowbeast had to be higher than Epic-grade.
The White Steel Bladed Beast had a total of four evolutionary routes. Gao Peng had no idea which route he had to take in order to let the White Steel Bladed Beast evolve into the Black Steel Shadowbeast.
Suddenly, the four evolutionary routes shown on the data frame grew blurry.
There was a sudden flash of light before him. Gao Peng noticed that the evolutionary routes had changed. He could vaguely make out the names of the White Steel Bladed Beast’s Legendary-grade forms at the end of all four routes.
This time, Gao Peng could clearly see the words “Black Steel Shadowbeast” in the data frame.
Gao Peng shook his head. The words on the data frame continued to shift and swim dizzily before him. The evolutionary routes gradually converged to two names: [Shadow Nightbeast] and [Illusory Gluttonous Shieldbeast].
These two words were flashing in golden light, as if they were coated with a layer of gold. Both were the White Steel Bladed Beast’s Mythical-grade forms.
The names before him continued to blur. However, Gao Peng soon felt a throbbing pain in his eyes, and he quickly closed them.
After a while, Gao Peng opened his eyes, his heart racing. He had no idea it was possible to go beyond Mythical-grade. However, there was no way he could verify that at the moment.
Who knew this ability of his had its own limits? Suddenly, an incredible idea dawned on him.
Gao Peng believed that his ability to assess a monster’s overall stats could still be improved upon. In order to do so, he would have to further improve his own spiritual strength.
After resting for a while, Gao Peng threw a furtive glance at the White Steel Bladed Beast, wondering how he should go about tricking this wild beast into joining his team.
