Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger

The next moment, the entire snow layer covering the cliff collapsed with a roar, like a plasterboard stripped of its spine.

Rumble!

The initial wave of the avalanche wasn’t a vast white curtain, but a torrent of sharply angled ice blades and snow chunks.

They smashed into protruding rocks, exploding into shrapnel, and fist-sized hail mixed with fragmented snow, charging downward with a piercing whistle.

The light seeping through the cave entrance was swallowed inch by inch by the snow wave, and as the last glimmer was extinguished, Chen Wenhao’s phone screen reflected the pale faces of everyone.

“It’s an avalanche,” someone spoke.

But no one responded.

The avalanche’s roar resonated and amplified in the cave, as if a terrifying giant beast was roaring against their eardrums.

The tip of the Ice Crystal Illusion Cat’s tail bristled, curling into Jiang Wenning’s arms, its heartbeat pounding rapidly beneath its silver fur.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid,” Jiang Wenning whispered soothingly, her body tense.

“Woof woof woof!”

Cola wasn’t afraid at all, even barking at the collapsing snow layers.

Chen Yuan pressed down the dog’s head, saying irritably, “Don’t bark so loudly.”

Chen Yuan was close to the flickering cave entrance, peering out through the cracks—a snow wave, like a wild white dragon, easily shredded pine trees that three people couldn’t encircle, surging unstoppably towards the mountain’s base.

A Wind Chime Bird was swept up in the snow wave, trying to ascend with the wind, but the cold eddies from the avalanche froze its wings in an instant, causing it to plummet into the vast sea of snow like a kite with a broken string.

A cute Snowy Squirrel darted out of a tree hole, curling up into a ball of fur to roll downhill for escape, but was swallowed by the snow wave from behind.

Chen Yuan silently watched these scenes.

Avalanches are extremely rare in Qinling, and they hadn’t expected to encounter one.

Thankfully, they were already in the cave, avoiding the blizzard, and escaped this disaster.

Otherwise… even with the help of their Pet Beasts, survival would have been slim.

As the last snow wave crushed past the cave entrance, time seemed frozen.

The uneasy growls of the Pet Beasts, the dripping of water from rock crevices, and even the sound of breathing were stripped away, leaving only the dead silence of snow dust outside the cave.

“Humans are truly insignificant in the face of nature,” Chen Wenhao sighed softly.

“Indeed…” Professor Song adjusted his glasses, his gaze deep, “That’s why we must always revere nature.”

Chen Yuan was momentarily silent.

If Spark’s blazing flames could instantly melt the snow, if Cola’s whirlwind could blow away the snow waves, could the avalanche have been avoided?

They were truly still too weak.

Yao Li wasn’t as sentimental. He quickly approached the cave entrance, squinting as he looked outside, “The good news is, the entrance isn’t blocked, so we can go out.”

He paused, then grinned, “The bad news is, the road ahead is even harder to traverse.”

He then asked, “Advisor Chen, has your Flame Cloud Falcon returned yet?”

Chen Yuan calmed his mind to sense Spark’s location, showing joy on his face, “It’s getting closer to me.”

But before Spark returned, there was another very important task awaiting them.

Chen Yuan scanned the group, his expression solemn, “I saw many Pet Beasts buried under the snow waves.”

He had caught a fleeting glimpse of several Pet Beasts buried in the snow.

It was clear that most of the Pet Beasts on this mountain didn’t escape the calamity.

“I think…”

Before he could finish, Lu Ran, hands in pockets and accompanied by the Blast Flame Fighting Ape, nonchalantly walked out of the cave. Without looking back, he arrogantly said, “Rescuing Pet Beasts is such a fun thing, don’t you dare fight me for it.”

Chen Yuan chuckled.

Upon exiting the cave, Chen Yuan realized the snowfall had significantly lessened, no longer presenting the vast snowy scene from before, with rays of sunlight piercing through the thick clouds.

This was a good sign.

However, the avalanche had a profound effect on the entire mountain, leaving thick layers of snow on the ground.

Finding those Pet Beasts buried under the snow layers wouldn’t be easy.

“Cola, we really need you this time,” Chen Yuan looked at Cola.

“Woof woof!”

Cola stood tall with confidence in its eyes.

In terms of sense of smell, Cola ranked top among canine Pet Beasts.

Crouching low, Cola sniffed close to the snow, its tail lightly wagging, as it focused intently on finding the poor buried Pet Beasts.

Others also deployed their Pet Beasts, which, although not as keen-scented as Cola, each had their own abilities.

Although the research team came for the World Tree, they were more than willing to pause for fading lives.

“Woof woof!”

Soon enough, Cola found the first buried Pet Beast.

A gust of wind arose suddenly, blowing away the piled snow, revealing the stiff, snow-adorned Wind Chime Bird within.

The Wind Chime Bird had a slender build, covered in off-white feathers, with wide and soft wings.

Chen Yuan extended his right hand, and the Twin Flower Concubine immediately handed him a petal.

Carefully prying open the Wind Chime Bird’s beak, he fed it the petal.

In no time, the Wind Chime Bird regained its vitality, extracting its wings from the snow and quickly taking flight.

After circling a few times mid-air, it landed on the ground, extending its neck to nuzzle affectionately against Chen Yuan’s palm with its head.

“Woof woof woof!”

Cola barked discontentedly.

It was I who found you!

It was I who cleared the snow!

Chen Yuan gently patted Cola’s head, smiling, “You are indeed the hero, let’s keep up the good work, Cola.”

“We are racing against time now.”

No time for excitement over the rescued Wind Chime Bird, Chen Yuan and Cola had to hurry and rescue the other Pet Beasts.

As time gradually passed, with everyone’s concerted efforts, more and more Pet Beasts were rescued.

First, they expressed gratitude, then, dragging their weary bodies, joined in the rescue efforts.