The moment the barrier shattered, a piercing alarm rang out across the grassland.
“You’re insane! What’s the use of calling for help right in front of me—”
The man in the black cloak had just begun to roar in anger when suddenly, from behind a distant low hill, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed.
Several streaks of silver light tore through the air—the Academy Patrol Squad had already surrounded them in formation.
At the head stood a burly middle-aged man, steady atop a Crimsonfeather Flame Tiger with nearly a three-meter wingspan.
The fiery crimson glow burning at the tiger’s wingtips cast his features as sharp as blades.
“Crimsonfeather Flame Tiger, Tier 5 Star 9! You’re—! Deputy Director Li Hu!”
The black-cloaked man cried out in shock, his face turning ashen in an instant.
How could he have forgotten? The Academy’s Bounty Hunt patrols were staffed by people from the City Security Division of Línchéng.
Wasn’t his plan from the start just to steal some ordinary beasts from the Little World Fragment?
Damn it!
Li Hu wasted no words. He pointed his long sword straight at the black-cloaked man, his voice as cold as ice.
“Suspected of illegally controlling Forbidden Undead beasts and unlawfully trespassing in another’s Little World—you’ve violated Article 7 of the Beastmaster Code.
Release your beast and surrender! Of course, you’re free to test your luck and resist!”
The Crimsonfeather Flame Tiger let out a deafening roar in sync, its massive claws digging deep furrows in the ground as crimson flames surged around it, forcing the black-cloaked man to retreat again and again.
“Seize him!”
At Li Hu’s order, two patrol squad members immediately stepped forward and tightly bound the black-cloaked man with chains imbued with purifying magic.
Even as he was pressed to the ground, he was still howling, “You can’t stop us! The Association will soon—”
“Take him away!”
Li Hu interrupted with a frown, then turned to Lin Xing and the others, his expression softening, a note of guilt in his tone.
“Are you all alright? It was our patrol squad’s negligence that allowed that Association rat to slip in and put you through this ordeal.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the field of white bones before praising,
“But you freshmen are quite impressive. To join forces and repel Tier 2 Bone Puppets and a pack of Skeleton Wolves—you’re steadier than many seniors.”
“Rest assured, you won’t suffer for nothing. The danger you faced and your exceptional teamwork—
I’ll report your compensation up the chain in writing, in the name of our City Security Division of Línchéng, and fight for the highest rewards and compensation for you.”
Only then did Lin Xing breathe a sigh of relief, bending down to pick up Lumiya by his leg.
The little one had expended much of her mana releasing fireballs earlier and was now nudging her head against his palm for comfort.
Little White also walked over, holding Snowball, her voice still trembling a little. “We’re fine. Thank you, Deputy Director Li.”
Li Hu nodded, and when his gaze fell on Lumiya, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.
“This beast’s mana is quite special. Are you the Lin Xing who contracted the SSS-rank rare dragon?”
“That’s me. Deputy Director Li has heard of me?”
Lin Xing scratched his head and asked.
Li Hu chuckled, “All the higher-ups know about it. Since you’re SSS-rank, there’s no harm in telling you—”
Li Hu leaned in toward Lin Xing and said,
“You’re not the only SSS-rank this year!”
Seeing Lin Xing’s stunned expression, Li Hu couldn’t help but smile,
“Don’t be too surprised. This is a special year. The other SSS-ranks also have notable contract beasts—one commands the thunder with a Thundercrystal Lion, another can commune with plants through a Life Tree Sapling. In the future, you’ll certainly meet them at the main academy.”
He deliberately paused, hinting, “Next month’s Freshman Potential Evaluation will be your ‘Heirs of Heaven’s’ first official meeting.”
A storm surged in Lin Xing’s heart—Thundercrystal Lion and Life Tree Sapling?
All legendary rare species! He lowered his head to glance at Lumiya in his arms.
A look of surprise flashed through Lumiya’s eyes too. She had seen the clans of those little fellows before.
Though even their ancestors couldn’t defeat her, in all the worlds Lumiya had traversed, those clans’ ancestors were among the more outstanding ones she’d encountered.
Little White leaned in as well, her eyes sparkling.
“So many amazing Beastmasters! But even if they’re SSS-rank, Snowball and I won’t lose!”
Snowball in her arms excitedly rubbed her hand, icy-blue eyes full of fighting spirit.
As they spoke, the group reached the entrance of the administrative building.
Li Hu stopped, gave his team members a couple of orders, then turned and took out two exquisite wooden boxes from his Storage Ring.
“These are my personal compensations for you. I have quite a few rare items—don’t be shy, choose one.”
As Deputy Director of the Security Division and a Tier 5 powerhouse, Li Hu naturally had plenty of treasures in his Storage Ring, including several treasures that could enhance beast talents.
“Then I’ll be thick-skinned, Director Li~”
Little White immediately stepped up, her voice as sweet as honey, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile.
“With your excellent taste, could you help me choose? I trust whatever you pick will suit me best~!”
Li Hu’s smile grew broader—being called “Director” sounded especially pleasing to his ears.
He muttered, “What a sweet-talking girl,” but his hands honestly rifled through the Storage Ring, finally pulling out an ice-blue, diamond-shaped crystal with a pained expression.
It was the Talent Ascension Stone, able to push Snowball’s S-grade talent even further.
Lin Xing didn’t hesitate.
“I’d like the Shapeshifting Crystal, if you please.”
That was what he had long hoped for—the crucial item to unlock Lumiya’s shapeshifting ability.
As Lin Xing accepted the wooden box, the moment his fingertips touched the crystal, he felt a gentle, warm mana.
He looked down at Lumiya, who was pawing at the edge of the box, peeking inside, seemingly eager.
But in truth, her golden slit eyes were full of disdain.
Little White held her Talent Ascension Stone, cheeks flushed with excitement, while Snowball curiously nudged the crystal’s surface, his ice-blue eyes shining with joy.
Li Hu waved them in, “Head inside. The Principal is waiting for your statements.
Don’t worry, your Bounty Hunt points and rewards will be calculated and issued soon. You won’t be shortchanged.”
By the time they followed the Patrol Squad out of the Little World Fragment, the sun had already set.
Outside, a crowd of students had gathered. Zhao Kai spotted Lin Xing, immediately pushing through the crowd to run over.
“Bro, you finally made it out! I heard there were undead-type beasts in there? I was scared to death!”
He glanced at the black-cloaked man being escorted away, then looked at Lumiya in Lin Xing’s arms, pressing for answers.
“What happened in there?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Lin Xing patted his shoulder and followed the Patrol Squad toward the administrative building.
Lumiya lounged contentedly in his arms, golden slit pupils reflecting the gorgeous evening glow, utterly delighted!
Yes!
That’s exactly right!
This was her perfect otherworldly life script! Lin Xing, that brat, sure lucked out!
See? The protagonist uses his sharp observation to pinpoint the greedy villain’s weakness;
Allies break through at a critical moment—Little White and Snowball’s Bond Power was dazzling;
There was also the flawless tacit understanding between the protagonist and his companions!
All the shining power of friendship and bonds!
Spent all her mana to land the final blow, crushing the villain’s scheme just in time,
At the instant a teammate raised the life-saving token, the expert arrived with rewards right on cue!
Compensation! Honor! Nothing missing!
This lively, thrilling adventure is exactly the otherworldly life she wanted!
That’s right!
All of this, naturally, was pushed forward by Lumiya herself.
Otherwise, how could it be? How could a mere Tier 2, usually only daring to scavenge dead ordinary beasts, little lackey from the Association have the nerve to cause trouble in a Bounty Hunt with the City Security Division of Línchéng on duty?
How could Little White and Snowball, who half an hour ago couldn’t even freeze a Tier 0 Star 5 Bristlepig, suddenly burst out with enough Bond Power to freeze a Tier 2 Bone Puppet?
How could Lin Xing’s seemingly ordinary Armor-Piercing Arrow not only pierce a Tier 2 magic shield and Bone Puppet but also have enough force left to shatter the barrier?
How could Deputy Director Li Hu arrive with the Crimsonfeather Flame Tiger at the exact moment the barrier broke and Little White crushed her badge, just happening to be patrolling nearby?
How could so many “coincidences” pile up, yet the dignified Tier 5 Deputy Director Li Hu wasn’t the least bit suspicious?
Did you really think the light of friendship and familial bonds could leap tiers?
Stop kidding yourself~ The answer is obvious—
It was all this dragon! Lumiya! She had already fixed the destiny of that moment!
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