The speaker was a girl who initiated the conversation. After all, handsome men with high charisma easily win the favor of the opposite sex.
"Just an ordinary Beast Tamer," Chu Yi waved his hand and returned to his designated farmland.
The four were slightly surprised by Chu Yi's departure. The girl named Lin Xiaomeng stuck out her tongue.
"If he can't handle it over there, let's lend a hand if we can. We're all newcomers," the group leader said politely. But in his heart, he didn't take Chu Yi seriously; completing the task was more important.
Soon, the five of them each guarded a piece of farmland, paying close attention to any sign of movement.
"Here they come!"
At this moment, Chu Yi stood still in the rural cornfield. His keen Spiritual Power endowed him with astonishing perception. His dark eyes scanned the surroundings; everything within his sight was crystal clear.
"Over there!"
The soil wriggled, accompanied by a RUSTLING sound. A large rat, the size of a soccer ball, emerged. It resembled a cross between a rabbit and a groundhog, with a tuft of crimson fur on its head.
[Name]: Fireball Mouse
[Grade]: Mid-tier Servant
[Level]: 8
[Attributes]: Beast, Fire
[Weakness]: Water
[Skills]: Earth Escape, Fireball Technique, Intimidation
[Special Ability]: None
[Status]: Lazy
[Evolution Path]:
① Fire-breathing Mouse: Fiery Chili *10, Fuel *3...
② Fire Rock Mouse: Tier 2 Fire Crystal Core *1...
③ Boxing Mouse: Tier 3 Martial Crystal Core *1, Fire Element Crystal *4...
④ Blast Beast (Mutant): Not unlocked (Click for details)
Level eight, first advancement. With a sneak attack, it won't be hard to kill, Chu Yi mused, considering his strategy. Pet Beasts undergo minor changes every three levels and a major change with each advancement.
"YIP!" Little Bika smashed an ear of corn onto the Fireball Mouse's head, baring its teeth at it.
"SQUEAK!" The dazed Fireball Mouse, seeing a young fox less than half its size, became enraged. Smoke rose from its body as it opened its mouth. Dense Fire Element rapidly condensed, preparing to unleash a fireball.
"YIP!" Bika threw another ear of corn, darted into the cornfield, and dashed away.
Show off and dash, so damn thrilling! Bika thought gleefully.
This infuriated the Fireball Mouse. It spewed a fireball that blasted a corn stalk, igniting the dry leaves. It immediately chased after, intending to roast the wretched fox.
In the wild, Red Foxes were usually the ones bullied; they wouldn't dare provoke a pack of Fireball Mice.
WHOOSH! As it passed the scarecrow, a puff of lime powder hit its face, causing the Fireball Mouse to choke and interrupting its attempt to use Fireball Technique. Immediately after, a bloody claw lashed out, aiming straight for the Fireball Mouse's head.
"SQUEAK!" The Fireball Mouse was so frightened its spirit nearly fled its body; terror crept from the depths of its eyes. It never expected such a sneaky bastard was waiting in ambush here! This damn fox even called for backup!
CRACK— Blood splattered!
Chu Yi's hand pierced through the Fireball Mouse. Its tough hide couldn't withstand the destructive power of [Tearing Claw], and it died miserably in a pool of blood.
"YIP YIP~" Bika trotted over, raised the ear of corn, and slammed it a few more times on the Fireball Mouse's still-warm body, proudly flicking its tail and showing off.
Being strong is useless! Out here, you need connections, you need backing! You damn furball, are you as formidable as my master? He could take you down in minutes!
A wisp of remnant Soul was devoured by [Ghost Hand].
Chu Yi couldn't help but pout. The Soul provided by the Fireball Mouse is minuscule. It's not even enough for a snack, barely enough to pick my teeth with. Moreover, it didn't even provide an evolution point—what a pauper. To plunder evolution points, the target must have distinct characteristics; in other words, it must be an elite.
"Extract!" Chu Yi made a grasping motion with his hand.
In his mind, countless shadows descended. A grotesque, fleshy hand flew out from the Evolution Guide, extracting a marble-sized heart from the Fireball Mouse.
[Shattered Heart *1]
A stream of information flooded his mind: this material contained a small amount of Fire Element and was suitable for making juice, brewing wine, or creating sauces. The bizarre, large hand was a function unlocked by [Heaven-Eroding Feast], used to refine valuable materials into feast dishes. However, a minimum of three such material pieces was necessary.
Take it slow, Chu Yi consoled himself. He instructed Bika to act as bait while he crouched in the cornfield, one hand holding lime powder, the other preparing [Tearing Claw].
SWOOSH!
The second Fireball Mouse, critically wounded by Chu Yi's backstab, was finished off by Bika with an ear of corn. This was Bika's request. It wanted to build its courage and personally kill a Fireball Mouse to prove it could protect its master in the future. Its manner of death was suffocation, a large ear of corn shoved down its throat. It died indignantly, a pitiful and tragic end. Its eyes remained open in death, bulging and bloodshot, a sight that made Bika's fur stand on end. Terrified, Bika used [Little Spark] to scatter the mouse's ashes before it finally calmed down.
Chu Yi: "…Smooth."
The third Fireball Mouse was spotted stealing a small pouch of corn and was about to escape. However, Chu Yi filled its escape hole with a shovel, forcing it to face its enemy heroically. Then, due to a moment of carelessness, it failed to dodge a puff of lime powder that dazed it. Chu Yi knocked it unconscious with the shovel, tied it up with corn leaves, and Bika scattered its ashes.
With three materials collected, Chu Yi immediately activated [Heaven-Eroding Feast]. A pop-up window suddenly appeared in his vision, displaying various bizarre tools. The details are too grotesque to describe. Really damn Underworld-like, Chu Yi thought. He poured the three shattered hearts into a juicer covered in tentacles. This is the only 'kitchenware' I can barely stomach.
Concentric circles of countless sharp teeth appeared, with crimson flesh pulsing like ripples, undulating up and down. The teeth ground the material into a pool of bloody, viscous, and revolting liquid. The process was truly mental pollution.
Fortunately, the juice wasn't for him to drink. Chu Yi felt quite pleased for having tricked Bika.
In no time, a Gold-crafted goblet appeared, filled with a translucent liquid. It was deep-hued at the bottom and tinged pink at the top, resembling freshly squeezed grape juice. An eye on the [Heaven-Eroding Feast]'s interface scanned it, identifying the quality of the feast dish.
[Feast Dish]: Crimson Shadow
[Star Rating]: ★
[Quality]: Strange
[Effect]: Slightly enhances Fire Spiritual Energy, with a high probability of inheriting [Fireball Technique].
[Evaluation]: Crudely squeezed from inferior materials into a strange juice. What a genius idea?
Feast dishes were rated from 1 to 5 stars, followed by the God-Demon Level. As for quality, it was divided into five standards: Strange, Ordinary, Delicious, Excellent, and Perfect. Each had entirely different effects and could grant extra evolution points. To spare the players' pride, this 'small workshop' had thoughtfully changed 'Garbage' to 'Strange'.
Thanks a 'bunch' for that... Chu Yi muttered sarcastically. Back in reality, he held the "Strange" feast dish and looked at Bika, who was nibbling on corn.
"Bika, I've freshly squeezed you a glass of grape juice."
"YIP?" Little Bika stood on tiptoe, peering at the "grape juice." The crimson liquid, BUBBLING ominously, made Little Bika shiver with fear. It stared, its eyes wide with apprehension.
"Hesitation leads to defeat! Bottoms up, drink it all in one go!" Chu Yi urged, then promptly made Bika gulp it down.
Bika let out a mournful whimper.