......
It was the evening of the fifth day since they entered the Secret Realm.
Liu Yi sat outside their tent in the Dragon Blood Wasteland and brought up Ziyue’s information.
【Name: Silver Snow Fox】
【Attribute: Ice】
【Level: Intermediate stage (13%)】
【Skills: Ice Blade (Expert level 59%), Frost Breath (Expert level 52%), Ice Armor (Proficient level 76%), Ice Spike (Proficient level 25%), Extreme Cold Storm (Entry level 21%), Frozen Bite (Entry level 34%), Frost Path (Expert level 12%), Snowfall (Entry level 19%)】
【Traits: Ice Soul Awakening (Proficient level 11%), Eternal Heart (Entry level 14%)】
Excellent.
After several days of travel, Ziyue used Frost Path to guide them through the remaining main areas: Thunderous Chasm, Storm Plains, and Dragon Blood Wasteland.
The proficiency of Frost Path had already reached Expert level, meaning Ziyue could now lay paths in the air as well.
This meant that even if they fought Flying-type pets that ascended to high altitudes, Ziyue would still be able to contend.
Listening to the occasional dragon’s roar from afar, Liu Yi looked at the Scaly Snake, which was currently training nearby.
Recalling how it had been completely unaffected by the [Dragon's Might] earlier, Liu Yi stood up and called Ziyue over.
She walked with Ziyue to the Scaly Snake and asked, “Speaking of which, I haven’t asked you yet, do you know how you entered this Secret Realm?”
“Lin... Lin.”
The Scaly Snake stopped its practice, tilted its head, and thought for a moment.
“Bingbing.”
Ziyue called out, then translated.
“It says it only remembers opening its eyes to a vast golden light, and then it appeared in the Storm Plains.”
Liu Yi pondered for a moment and said, “And after that, you traveled from the Storm Plains through several main areas until you reached the Ethereal Glow Forest, where you met us, right?”
The Scaly Snake nodded, then fell silent again.
The air was quiet for a while.
The Scaly Snake suddenly raised its head and cried out twice.
“Linlin, Linlin.”
“Bingbing, Bingbing.”
“It says we’ve already visited all the main areas, so you probably don’t need a guide anymore. It needs to leave now.”
Liu Yi looked into the Scaly Snake’s eyes, then paused: “Alright.”
The Scaly Snake nodded at Liu Yi and Ziyue, then slithered away into the distance.
After a short distance, the Scaly Snake looked back and saw Liu Yi and Ziyue still watching it.
It froze for a moment, then turned and quickly departed.
“Bingbing?”
Ziyue looked up at Liu Yi beside her and called out, asking if they were going to the Lava Mountain Range tomorrow to contract a Blaze Lion.
Liu Yi rubbed Ziyue’s head: “No, tomorrow we’ll go to the Ethereal Glow Forest first to find the Little Bell Deer. I still have one place I want to see.”
The next day.
Liu Yi packed up the tent and stuffed everything into her backpack.
Ziyue lifted her head beside her and let out a soft cry.
“Bingbing?”
“Yes, we’re going to find the Little Bell Deer.” Liu Yi crouched down and smoothed a tuft of fur sticking up behind Ziyue’s ear.
Liu Yi sat on Ziyue’s back, and the Frost Path extended beneath Ziyue’s feet.
Ziyue quickly ran out of the Dragon Blood Wasteland, the wind whistling past their ears. Liu Yi squinted, watching the scenery rapidly recede on both sides.
......
Upon reaching the Ethereal Glow Forest, they began searching for the Little Bell Deer.
Eventually, by a lakeside, Liu Yi and Ziyue found the Little Bell Deer drinking water.
The Little Bell Deer seemed to sense something, raising its head alertly.
When it recognized Liu Yi and Ziyue, it immediately bounced over happily.
“Lingling!”
The Little Bell Deer circled around them.
Liu Yi gently stroked the Little Bell Deer’s back, then asked, “I wanted to ask you, is the Central Sanctuary merely inaccessible, or can it not even be viewed?”
The Little Bell Deer tilted its head back, eyes squinted in enjoyment, and cried out twice.
“Lingling, Lingling.”
“Bingbing, Bingbing.”
“The Central Sanctuary can be seen. It’s just that we can’t enter it because only Supreme-rank pets can.”
Liu Yi smiled, took out a nutrient solution, and handed it to the Little Bell Deer: “Then, can you take us to see it?”
“Lingling~”
The Little Bell Deer’s ears twitched, and it nodded.
As it led the way, it recounted legends about the Central Sanctuary to Liu Yi and her companions.
Through Ziyue’s simultaneous translation, Liu Yi learned that the Central Sanctuary had appeared out of nowhere 15 years ago.
Without any warning, a golden-shrouded area emerged in the center of the Myriad Realm Secret Realm. At that time, Supreme-rank pets from various Supreme tribes had all entered it.
Afterward, a rumor spread that there was a legendary pet egg inside, whose racial potential could reach the Divine rank.
Initially, the Supreme-rank pets would return to the Secret Realm every two or three months to check on the hatching, then it became once a year, and later once every three years.
But the pet egg had never shown any signs of hatching, and they had tried to take it out, but couldn’t.
They had just returned to check it last year, so perhaps their next visit would be four years from now.
“Fifteen years ago, a legendary Divine-rank pet…”
Liu Yi repeated softly, her heart rate involuntarily quickening.
“Lingling!”
The Little Bell Deer’s cry pulled Liu Yi’s thoughts back to reality. She looked up—
The Central Sanctuary ahead was a massive, hemispherical golden barrier, its surface rippling like water.
A short distance around the barrier, nothing grew, forming a barren clearing that starkly contrasted with the dense vegetation of the Ethereal Glow Forest.
Moreover, they couldn't see anything inside the barrier; it was as if the golden light absorbed all prying gazes.
Liu Yi and Ziyue walked to the barrier. Ziyue curiously reached out a paw and touched the golden surface.
Instantly, a ripple spread from where her claw touched, but she couldn’t penetrate it.
Seeing this, the Little Bell Deer also walked over and touched it with its antlers, causing a few more ripples.
Liu Yi stepped back a few paces, watching Ziyue and the Little Bell Deer happily poking the golden barrier, creating ripples, her mind racing with thoughts.
Finally, Ziyue and the Little Bell Deer grew tired of playing. The Little Bell Deer ran to Liu Yi and cried out twice.
“Lingling?”
“Bingbing.”
Ziyue walked over and translated.
“It’s asking where we’re going to play next?”
Liu Yi tapped her fingers on her leg: “We’re going to start training now. Do you want to stay and train with Ziyue?”
“Lingling!”
Upon hearing this, the Little Bell Deer shook its head repeatedly.
“Lingling, Lingling!”
“Bingbing, Bingbing!”
“Then I’ll go play with other pets first. You can find me when you’re done training!”
Liu Yi nodded.
She watched the Little Bell Deer run off quickly, showing none of the reluctance it had displayed the first time it was called back.
Liu Yi found a spot a certain distance from the Central Sanctuary, but still within sight of it, and set up her tent.
Ziyue helped, calling out in confusion.
“Bingbing?”
“Are we staying here first?”
Liu Yi: “Yes, let’s wait here for a bit.”
“Bingbing~”
After helping set up the tent, Ziyue ran to the side and began training. Her Beast Tamer said to wait, so she might as well practice her skills here~
Liu Yi spread out a picnic mat outside the tent and sat down, staring blankly at the Central Sanctuary in the distance for a while.
Suddenly, there was a rustle from a nearby bush.
Liu Yi and Ziyue turned their heads simultaneously.
They saw the Blaze Claw Lion emerge from the bush, with a pet egg adorned with golden-red flame patterns coiled in its tail.
Rate on N.U.
