Zhang Yu stood before the rusted iron gates of the Morning Dawn Zoo, clutching the thin inheritance certificate in his hand—it felt as if he were holding a piece of red-hot iron.
He had just graduated and hadn't yet found a job when he received the news: a distant great-uncle, someone barely connected to him, had passed away and left him his only possession—this rundown zoo on the outskirts of the city, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Pushing open the creaking gate, Zhang Yu was met with a scene of decay: pathways overrun with weeds, paint peeling off the pavilions, and empty cages that exuded a faint musty odor.
The only signs of life were a wary-eyed German Shepherd named Old Hei lying by the caretaker's hut, and a few hens scratching for food on a small patch of dirt.
"Woof! Woof!"
Old Hei recognized Zhang Yu, wagged his tail, and ran over to nuzzle his leg—perhaps the only welcome the young man would receive in this entire place.
Inside the shabby office, papers were scattered across the desk. Zhang Yu picked one up, and his heart instantly sank. They were unpaid payroll slips—the dates stopped six months ago.
All the staff—zookeepers, veterinarians, and cleaners—had quit because of unpaid wages. The zoo's account balance was a glaring zero, and even the utility companies had sent overdue notices.
"This isn't an inheritance—it's a scorching hot potato and a bottomless pit!" Zhang Yu collapsed into a dust-covered chair, despair washing over him like an icy tide. He could barely afford to feed himself—how was he supposed to feed a dog and a few chickens? Not to mention paying off back wages and debts.
He could already imagine angry creditors and former employees showing up at his door.
Just as he sank into hopelessness, wondering if he should give away Old Hei and the hens before locking the gate and running off, a cold, emotionless voice suddenly echoed in his mind:
[Eligible host detected… Condition met: "Heir of a Dying Industry." Despair level sufficient. Activating Multiverse Zoo Revival System…]
Zhang Yu jerked upright, eyes darting around in alarm.
"Who's there? Who's talking?"
[System binding complete! Host: Zhang Yu. Bound property: Morning Dawn Zoo.]
[This system is designed to assist the host in creating a one-of-a-kind, top-tier zoo. Core functions as follows:]
[Function 1: Dimensional Travel. The host may consume a small amount of mental energy (initial limit: once per day) to open a temporary passage to designated ancient eras (e.g., the Cretaceous, the Ice Age) or other fantasy/primitive worlds. The passage is visible and accessible only to the host and lasts for a limited time.]
[Function 2: Obedience Rice Ball. The system provides a basic daily amount (initially 3) of "Obedience Rice Balls." Any ferocious creature (defined as a non-human organism with a certain level of aggression or wildness) that eats one will become absolutely loyal and obedient to the host, forming a mental link for simple communication. Note: each creature can be affected only once; the effect is permanent.]
[Newbie Gift Pack issued: Small Mental Recovery Potion ×1, Obedience Rice Ball ×5.]
[Please strive to collect rare and exotic beasts, and revive the zoo!]
Zhang Yu froze, staring blankly for a full minute as he processed the information.
"A system? World travel? Obedience rice balls?"
It sounded exactly like something out of a web novel—but the translucent panel in his mind and the five steaming, fragrant white rice balls that had suddenly appeared in his hand proved this was no dream.
"Absolute obedience?" Zhang Yu murmured, staring at the rice balls, then at Old Hei waiting loyally by the door. A bold, almost crazy idea began to form in his mind.
"Old Hei!" he called.
The German Shepherd immediately trotted over, sitting upright and gazing at him obediently.
Zhang Yu hesitated, then broke off a small piece of a rice ball and held it out. Old Hei sniffed it once and swallowed it without hesitation.
In that instant, Zhang Yu felt a strange connection bloom between them—he could faintly sense Old Hei's emotions: loyalty, dependence, and a trace of confusion.
Tentatively, he gave his first command.
"Old Hei, spin around!"
Old Hei didn't hesitate for even a second. He immediately stood up, spun around in place, and then sat back down, tail wagging even more enthusiastically than before.
"It really works!" Zhang Yu's heart pounded in his chest, the rush of excitement sweeping away his earlier despair.
He looked down at the remaining four and a half rice balls, then out toward the empty predator enclosure outside. A plan began to take shape in his mind.
"Ancient worlds… beasts…" He licked his dry lips, and a spark of hope lit up in his eyes.
"Ordinary lions or tigers are too common—not to mention, I can't afford to buy or feed them. But what if… I could bring back creatures that are extinct—or only exist in legends?"
He immediately opened the system interface and began examining the [Dimensional Travel] function.
Several selectable eras and world tags appeared before him:
[Late Cretaceous (Dinosaur Era)]
[Pleistocene (Ice Age)]
[Primitive Otherworld (Low Magic)]
Each tag was accompanied by a short description and a risk assessment.
"The first time, safety has to come first," Zhang Yu muttered to himself. "And the target has to be clear."
"Dinosaurs would be incredible, but the risk is way too high—and they're massive. The zoo couldn't possibly hold one."
"The Ice Age, though… Mammoths? Saber-toothed tigers? Terror birds? Those seem much more manageable. Still big enough to impress, but not impossible to handle—and extinct creatures would be an absolute sensation!"
Finally, he fixed his gaze on [Pleistocene (Ice Age)].
Goal: Find a medium-sized, intimidating, and relatively catchable prehistoric predator. The saber-toothed tiger would be ideal—especially if he could find a lone cub or an injured one. Mammoths were tempting, but with only four and a half rice balls left, and their size being impractical, that wasn't an option.
"System, open the portal to the Ice Age!" Zhang Yu took a deep breath and gave the command.
[Command confirmed.]
[Daily travel quota consumed.]
[Portal opening! Please note: portal duration—30 minutes. The host must return within the time limit!]
A faint chime echoed in his mind. In the middle of the office floor, a glowing oval portal appeared—just large enough for one person to pass through—its surface rippling with distorted blue light, from which came the sound of howling wind and swirling snow.
Zhang Yu clenched his fists, carefully wrapped the remaining four and a half rice balls, and tucked them inside his coat. He grabbed a rusty iron hook—probably once used for feeding animals—the only weapon he could find. Then he turned toward Old Hei, who watched him loyally.
"Old Hei, guard the house!" he ordered firmly.
Then, without another word, he stepped into the shimmering blue gate filled with danger and uncertainty.
The next instant, freezing wind and snow pelted his face like knives. Zhang Yu shivered involuntarily.
Before him stretched a vast frozen plain. In the distance, snow-covered coniferous forests lined the horizon. Towering woolly mammoths moved slowly across the tundra, their deep bellows echoing across the ice. Above, enormous eagles circled the gray sky.
Time was short. Forcing down his awe and fear, Zhang Yu began carefully scanning his surroundings.
He knew the fate of the Morning Dawn Zoo—whether it would remain dead or rise to glory—depended entirely on this first expedition.
He had to bring back something spectacular.
And those few precious rice balls… were his only lifeline.