“Huan.”
The Phantom Dream Tapir’s voice rang out, and the gem on its forehead gradually softened its glow.
“You have passed the trial.”
The Little Dream Tapirs in the clearing stopped playing and looked over curiously.
“Huan.”
“Now, you may choose one Little Dream Tapir to contract.”
As the Phantom Dream Tapir’s voice faded, all the Little Dream Tapirs gathered around Liu Yi, with a few bolder ones even sniffing her scent up close.
Liu Yi squatted down, allowing the Little Dream Tapirs to see her more clearly.
Ziyue observed from the side; she didn’t show any repulsion, but she also didn’t show particular closeness to any specific Little Dream Tapir.
Liu Yi interacted with each Little Dream Tapir, feeling their different personalities and the energy fluctuations they exhibited.
These were undoubtedly excellent pets, with racial potential reaching the Supreme rank; any one of them, if nurtured, would be a powerful asset.
But...
“Phantom Dream Tapir.” Liu Yi straightened up and looked at the King rank pet, “I’d like to explore other areas first before making a decision, if that’s alright?”
The Phantom Dream Tapir’s large ears flapped once, seemingly unsurprised by her answer.
“Huan.”
“You may. The trial results are valid for seven days.”
The sky had completely darkened. The light emitted by the plants in the Ethereal Glow Forest shifted from purple to deep blue, casting a mysterious veil over the entire forest.
“Huan.”
The Phantom Dream Tapir called out, indicating that Liu Yi and her companions could set up camp and rest by the clearing, as the area was safe.
After thanking it, Liu Yi took out a portable tent from her backpack and began setting it up.
Ziyue helped secure the poles, while the Scaly Snake used its tail to coil around the ground stakes and accurately drive them into the earth.
The tent was quickly set up. Liu Yi took latent energy pills and nutrient solution from her Beast Taming Space and distributed them to Ziyue and the Scaly Snake, saying:
“You worked hard today. Tomorrow, we’ll continue exploring other areas.”
“Bingbing!”
Ziyue let out a cheerful cry and lowered her head to enjoy her dinner.
The Scaly Snake, however, seemed hesitant. It looked at the nutrient solution in front of it, then raised its head to look at Liu Yi.
“Eat,” Liu Yi said softly. “You need to be full to have the strength to guide us, don’t you?”
Only then did the Scaly Snake lower its head to eat, its movements elegant and restrained.
Seeing that both Ziyue and the Scaly Snake were eating well, Liu Yi finally took an energy bar from her backpack and started eating.
After dinner, Liu Yi sat outside the tent, gazing at the Ethereal Glow Forest’s night scenery.
The glowing plants and flying insect pets formed a dreamlike scene, with a faint floral scent drifting through the air.
Ziyue lay by her leg, her two tails gently swaying.
The Scaly Snake coiled on a nearby tree branch, its eyes following the flying insect pets, silently practicing Glare.
As night deepened, Liu Yi yawned and gently patted Ziyue’s head.
“Time to rest,” she whispered, her gaze sweeping towards the Scaly Snake coiled on the branch. “You should rest early too; we have a long journey tomorrow.”
The Scaly Snake looked at Liu Yi, its ruby-like eyes shimmering in the night, and gently nodded its head.
Liu Yi crawled into the tent, with Ziyue following behind her.
The Scaly Snake watched them enter the tent, hesitated for a moment, and finally slid down from the branch, coiling into a circle at the tent’s entrance.
Inside the tent, Liu Yi could hear a faint rustling sound outside—the sound of the Scaly Snake’s scales rubbing against the ground as it adjusted its posture.
She pondered for a moment but ultimately didn’t invite it inside.
Ziyue was already curled up beside her, her silver-blue fur spread out on the sleeping bag like a blanket.
Liu Yi gently stroked the fur behind her ears, feeling the cool sensation on her fingertips.
“Good night, Ziyue.”
“Bingbing~”
Ziyue mumbled a response, her tail gently resting on Liu Yi’s wrist.
Outside the tent, the Scaly Snake kept watch quietly.
The Ethereal Glow Forest night wasn’t dark. It raised its head, watching a glowing green flying insect flit past, and instinctively used its Glare skill.
The flying insect immediately froze, plummeting straight to the ground.
But just before it hit the ground, it suddenly recovered and flew away in a panic.
The Scaly Snake lowered its head. It slowly coiled tighter, burying its head within the circle formed by its body.
The sounds in the Ethereal Glow Forest gradually quieted, with only occasional insect chirps and the calls of unknown pets in the distance breaking the silence.
At this moment, faint pink light specks seemed to appear around the Scaly Snake, moving around it as if alive.
Concurrently, the golden ring patterns on its tail began to emit a faint golden glow.
The Scaly Snake seemed to fall into a dream. In the dream, it returned to the time before it hatched.
Darkness, endless darkness.
This was the Scaly Snake’s earliest memory; it was trapped in a confined space, hard and cold all around.
Instinct told it that it had to break free from this confinement.
It used all its strength to strike the shell wall, once, twice...
After an unknown number of attempts, it finally heard a faint “crack.”
A spark of hope ignited in its heart, and it struck the cracked spot even harder.
Finally, the shell broke.
Dazzling golden light instantly poured in, filling its entire world.
The light was so intense that it couldn’t see anything.
“Lin!”
The Scaly Snake suddenly woke up, its body springing up and then quickly coiling back into a defensive posture.
It cautiously looked around, noticing that the sky was already faintly lit, and night was about to pass.
The Scaly Snake tilted its head in confusion, trying to recall the dream it just had, but only remembered fragmented bits.
A slight stir came from inside the tent.
“Morning.” Liu Yi pulled open the tent flap and, seeing the Scaly Snake coiled at the entrance, offered a slight smile. “You’re up really early.”
The Scaly Snake nodded and moved a short distance away, making space for her.
Liu Yi crawled out of the tent and stretched.
The Ethereal Glow Forest in the morning was shrouded in a thin mist, making the glowing plants appear even more hazy and dreamlike within it.
Ziyue also came out, shook her fur, and let out two energetic cries.
“Let’s have breakfast first, then head to the next area.” Liu Yi took out all the food. “Today’s target is the Lava Mountain Range.”
She placed a bottle of nutrient solution in front of the Scaly Snake. This time, it didn’t hesitate and immediately began to eat.
After breakfast, Liu Yi quickly packed up the tent.
Before leaving, Liu Yi glanced back at the Senluo Dream Tapir’s territory.
A few Little Dream Tapirs were playing in the clearing, and the Phantom Dream Tapir floated in the distance, seemingly watching her as well. Liu Yi nodded in acknowledgment.
According to the Scaly Snake, the journey to the Lava Mountain Range was quite long, and they would have to pass through a transitional area called the “Crystal Mist Canyon” midway.
Liu Yi thought for a moment; if they relied solely on walking, too much time would be wasted on the road.
Therefore.
She decided that along the way, Ziyue would continuously use Frost Path to travel, and when her energy was almost depleted, she would replenish it with energy liquid.
She would sit on Ziyue, have Ziyue conjure a small ice mirror for her to hold, and the Scaly Snake would rest on her arm, practicing Glare into the ice mirror.
A perfect decision, wouldn’t you say?
Not only would their travel speed increase, but it would also accommodate both pets’ desire to diligently practice their skills.
Am I really a genius?
Liu Yi thought.
Rate on N.U.
