Chapter 425 - 278: Radiant Gold Battle Shield 2

Sharing a drink and a conversation with someone from over two hundred years ago, even promising to spar... It truly felt like a dream.

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「Evening.」

Jinshi Village echoed with the songs of farmers. Golden waves of wheat rippled through the fields, dancing in time with the singing, as if recounting the joy of repelling the Earthquake Beast.

But amidst the farmers’ beautiful songs, a somewhat less harmonious sound could be heard:

"Awooooo..."

"Stop singing your sad song." Su Zhi deadpanned as he ruffled Yu Bao’s head, interrupting the performance.

[Pet Beast: Yu Bao (Yu Dian Farm Dog)

Power: 1.30

Agility: 2.26

Intelligence: 3.60–3.70

Constitution: 1.42

Perception: 4.64–4.79]

[Real-time Energy Value: 6600]

Yu Bao had been on a rocket ship of progress lately. First, he activated the Restriction, then the Accelerated Maturation of the Radiant Gold Vein Opening Stone, and he also repelled the Earthquake Beast... Before coming to Hundred Rivers, his Energy Value was just over five thousand, but now it had shot up by more than a thousand.

At this rate, it was possible for Yu Bao to break through to Three-star in a little while.

Of course, that would also require Su Zhi to raise his Beast Taming Space to Tier Six...

"Woof." Yu Bao gave Su Zhi a meaningful look.

’Can you do it or not, Beast Tamer?’

"So now you’re calling me out, huh?" Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he flicked Yu Bao’s forehead. "Come on, let me see what new changes you’ve got after adding those Points."

"Woof!" Yu Bao gave Su Zhi a look that said, ’You can count on me.’

Then, under Yu Bao’s control, quicksand and metal particles appeared one after another, circling and rising around him.

The sand and gold intertwined into a disc, finally coalescing into a huge, round shield as they spun.

Su Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Quicksand Shield?"

"Woof." Yu Bao waved his paw meaningfully.

’It’s the Quicksand Shield, Li Style: Radiant Gold Battle Shield!’

"Such a chuuni name is definitely your style..." Su Zhi remarked, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "So, does this ’Radiant Gold Battle Shield’ have any qualitative changes compared to the Quicksand Shield?"

"Woof."

Yu Bao indicated that yes, there was. ’Don’t you think the name has more flair?’

"..." Su Zhi felt the urge to give him a good smack.

WHOOSH!

The next moment, Yu Bao’s action took him by surprise. The Radiant Gold Battle Shield sprang to life under Yu Bao’s control, flying toward a large rock outside the village with the speed of a lightning bolt.

Just as Su Zhi subconsciously assumed Yu Bao would smash the rock with the shield, the Radiant Gold Battle Shield suddenly flipped, turning its edge toward the rock.

SCRAPE!

The shield sliced through the rock as it flew past, leaving a long, smooth cut.

Su Zhi said in surprise, "You turned the Radiant Gold Battle Shield... into a massive, high-speed rotating buzzsaw?"

"Woof!" Yu Bao lifted his head proudly.

He had gotten the inspiration from the operating principles of the Furious Sand Blade. It was just that the Quicksand Shield used pure Earth Element as a medium, and the cutting force generated by its rotation was somewhat insufficient. Augmenting it with Thick Earth Blessing would have been more trouble than it was worth.

But after mastering Gold Element Energy, this problem was perfectly solved. The metal particles were sharper than sand and could generate sufficient cutting force when spinning at high speed.

"So that’s how it is. It seems the Quicksand Shield’s defensive counterattacks can be more versatile in the future. Not only can it smash, but it can also slice."

"Woof woof!"

"Alright, alright, the Radiant Gold Battle Shield..."

Su Zhi resignedly accepted Yu Bao’s correction.

"But this new Skill feels a bit niche. If you really needed to cut something, wouldn’t the Furious Sand Blade or its other variations be more effective? The Quicksand Shield’s main function is defense and counterattack. There are too few situations where you’d use it as a buzzsaw."

"Woof woof." Yu Bao waved his paw meaningfully.

’The Skill might be niche, but I have to have it.’

’What if one day it’s exactly what I need?’

"That’s true," Su Zhi said, chuckling in spite of himself.

After all, even as a Beast Tamer, he sometimes couldn’t keep up with Yu Bao’s train of thought.

Who knew what kind of trick Yu Bao would pull next?

"Also, if I’m not mistaken... you actually used the Sandstorm Iron Shattering Array first, right? And then transitioned into this Radiant Gold Battle Shield move."

Su Zhi asked curiously, "Can’t you just activate it directly in one step?"

"Awooo..." Yu Bao nodded helplessly.

His control over the Gold Element Energy in his body was mostly mature by now, but only the Sandstorm Iron Shattering Array and the Golden Sand Battle Saber could directly convert that Energy into a physical form.

Unless there were naturally occurring Gold Element entities nearby, he had to activate the Sandstorm Iron Shattering Array as a medium first to use other Dual Skills.

’Speaking of which, I haven’t had that dream about tentacles from the day I evolved in a long time. If I could just clear that level, I’d definitely be able to fully awaken the Gold Element...’

’Damn it! I really want to play that tentacle game again!’

Su Zhi smiled gently. "Patience. Since this Secret Realm might be related to the Yu Dian Emperor Dog, it probably holds an opportunity for your evolution. We’ll go to town tomorrow and ask Elder Jing. Maybe he knows something."

Only then did Yu Bao calm down.

’He’s still just a kid...’ Su Zhi sighed in relief. He saw Shan Bao hopping over, all sparkly, and with a helpless smile, he picked her up.

He had almost forgotten that Shan Bao also had Points to add. And because she was still a Low Level Elite, Shan Bao had gained slightly more Points than Yu Bao.

"Woof woof."

"Hm?"

Su Zhi followed Yu Bao’s gaze and turned to see a pair of big, shimmering eyes.

"Big Brother Su Zhi."

"Xiaolan? What are you doing here?" Seeing the little girl, Su Zhi subconsciously felt his mood lighten.

"I came to find Big Brother."

Xiaolan plopped down next to Su Zhi and peeked over curiously. "What’s Big Brother doing?"

Su Zhi and Shan Bao looked at each other for a moment.

"Big Brother... is playing with his ’hand chicken’."

"Huh? How do you play with a ’hand chicken’? Can Xiaolan play too?"

"Haha, you’re still too little. Not yet."

"Oh..."

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[Pet Beast: Shan Bao (Flash Gold Sparrow)

Power: 1.00

Agility: 1.05

Intelligence: 1.04

Constitution: 4.29–4.55

Perception: 1.02]

[Real-time Energy Value: 4000]

"Chirp!"

Shan Bao revealed the gaze of a powerhouse.

’I really am developing the bearing of an empress!’

’One day, I’ll definitely become a Demon Consort who holds power over the entire world!’

Su Zhi looked at Yu Bao, a dark cloud forming over his head.

"Woof! Woof!" Yu Bao had a wronged expression.

’I’ve been framed! I’m not the one who taught her to be bad! This must be Wu Bao’s evil scheme!’

Su Zhi didn’t believe his nonsense for a second. He rolled his eyes and let Shan Bao go play by herself.

After briefly basking in the joy of allocating their new Points, the Pet Beasts quickly threw themselves into their daily training.

Even though stumbling into the Secret Realm had disrupted everything, the Treasures hadn’t neglected their training.

Right now, Yu Bao and Shan Bao’s fundamental abilities were already quite solid, making it the perfect time to master new Skills. Once their Skill Systems became more complete, their combat power would rise to another level.

Su Zhi was also using his spare time for Meditation.

This was both in preparation for the national team tournament... and to deal with their current dangerous situation.

Su Zhi didn’t know what level the next Earthquake Beast they encountered would be; it might be an existence he couldn’t possibly defeat. The only thing he could do now was seize every second to strengthen himself.

Xiaolan stared eagerly at Shan Bao.

’Grab the little chicken, ruffle it for a bit, then let it go... so that’s how you play with a "hand chicken"? Hmm, I’ll remember that...’

Seeing the little girl’s thoughtful expression, Su Zhi smiled gently. "I’m done now. Was there something you needed me for, Xiaolan?"

Xiaolan looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "Big Brother, do you need a wife?"

Su Zhi: "Huh??"

Xiaolan scooted her little bottom closer. "If you do, Xiaolan can be your wife."

’No, this is way too illegal...’ Su Zhi looked at the little girl, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Xiaolan, why are you suddenly saying things like that?"

"Hm? Doesn’t Big Brother like Xiaolan?"

"How could I not? Of course I like you."

"Then that settles it. Xiaolan likes Big Brother too. Mommy used to say that if you meet someone you like and they like you back, you can be their wife..."

"That’s not how it works."

Su Zhi smiled and patted Xiaolan’s head. "For most people, the order of emotions is that they first experience familial love, then friendship, and finally, romantic love. You haven’t experienced enough familial love and friendship yet, so the feelings you’re longing for are actually those two, not romance."

Su Zhi suddenly felt a little sad.

Perhaps it was just Xiaolan’s youthful ignorance, the unfiltered words of a child.

Or perhaps, life in this land was as fleeting as the morning dew, leaving no time for subtlety.

"Oh..." Xiaolan nodded, seeming to half-understand. Suddenly, her body felt light as Su Zhi lifted her onto his shoulders.

"But Big Brother can help you catch up on familial love and friendship. How about it? We can start with chowing down!"

"Chowing... down?"

"It means eating until you’re full."

"Okay~!!!"

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