King of Beasts

Dog with Grass in Its Mouth…

What a mess.

A dog fighting with a blade of grass in its mouth?

Shi Ze shook his head, unable to comprehend.

“Wait a minute.”

“A dog?”

His eyes suddenly showed a look of surprise as he turned to Lu Ran beside him, “Is your pet beast also a canine beast?”

“Yeah.” Lu Ran nodded, “Didn’t I mention that?”

“No, you didn’t. Haha, what a coincidence!” Shi Ze laughed, “Now that you’re representing our Shi Family, it’s even more convincing!”

“It’s indeed fate. Speaking of which… I have a cousin with the same surname Shi, named Shi Xia.” Lu Ran chuckled sentimentally.

Fate is a strange thing, you can link anything if you’re casual enough.

“Really?” Shi Ze was astonished, wasn’t this too much of a coincidence.

“If your pet beast is also a canine beast, then we have a lot of topics to talk about.”

Lu Ran rolled his eyes, “I’m not interested in postpartum care for a female dog.”

“Not just that!”

“Let me think, how about this, Lu Ran, when we arrive at our family’s estate, I’ll find someone to have a match with you.”

“That way, the elders can see your prowess.”

“This way, with seven days left before the big competition, we can provide you with some targeted war-preparation resources! Consider it our welcome gift.”

“We are very skilled in training canine beasts in the Shi Family.”

“Alright.” Lu Ran smiled.

“Good! We’re almost there.” Shi Ze looked ahead.

The Shi Family estate was located in the southern part of Tree Realm City, covering hundreds of acres. On the carriage pulled by two Wind-chasing Horses, Shi Ze was full of anticipation. It didn’t take long before they arrived at the gate of the Shi Family mansion.

The main gate was wide open, leading straight to the inner courtyard. There was no one guarding the entrance, but two robust giant white dogs were lying there. As the carriage pulled by the Wind-chasing Horses approached, the two white guard dogs stood up, barking “Woof woof woof” loudly.

[Species]: Moonlight Dog

[Attribute]: Light

[Species level]: Lower Commander

[Growth level]: Level 33

[Introduction]: A canine beast that grows under the moonlight.

“Woof woof!!” The giant dogs, although barking, didn’t exude any hostility. Rather, it seemed like a welcoming gesture. After the carriage stopped at the gate, Lu Ran and Shi Ze got off. Shi Ze waved his hand, and the two Wind-chasing Horses turned around and walked away on their own.

He then smiled and spoke to Lu Ran, “These are our family’s guard dogs. Every main gate has two of them.”

“Light attribute…” Lu Ran remarked with surprise, “No wonder the Shi Family is reluctant to alter their training methods lightly. It seems you have a heritage in light attribute cultivation.”

“Haha, the bloodline of our family’s canine species is said to be inherited from the legendary ‘Moon Swallowing’ canine. From supernatural to sovereign levels, they can increase their power by absorbing moonlight, making their training relatively easy.”

Shi Ze laughed, then sighed, “Originally, this was a significant advantage, but who would have guessed that plant life would be even more unreasonable…”

“Any plant can grow by absorbing sunlight. In an instant, our advantage was shattered.”

“Plant pet beasts are not only strong but also easy to cultivate. How can we compete with that!”

Lu Ran: ?

Are you talking about photosynthesis?

“But luckily, most plant life only absorbs nutrients from sunlight to grow. We still retain an edge-our pet beasts can use light elements to attack, which ordinary plants can’t do.” Shi Ze smiled slightly, “Be careful in the upcoming fight!”

“I’ll first take you to the main hall to rest while I call the elders.”

“Alright.” Lu Ran nodded.

Soon, under Shi Ze’s guidance, they arrived at the reception hall. Along the way, many household servants addressed Shi Ze as “young master,” indicating his significant status in the Shi Family. It was unclear whether he was the patriarch’s offspring or an elder’s.

After the servants reported their arrival, a middle-aged man and two elders quickly made their way to the main hall.

Upon seeing Lu Ran and Shi Ze chatting and drinking tea, they laughed heartily.

“Shi Ze, this must be the genius from Beast Taming Hall.”

The family was naturally aware that Shi Ze had gone to fetch the competition genius from Beast Taming Hall; it was, in fact, their idea.

The Shi Family’s strongest beastmaster was only level 6. In the face of Beast Taming Hall, a force with legendary beastmasters, they had to show some respect.

One must say, the arrangement by Infinite City for this genius from Beast Taming Hall was quite impeccable. Even though Lu Ran himself was only level 2, his identity alone would deter ill-intentioned people from targeting him without considering the consequences.

“Indeed, Second Master, Third Master, Elder Uncle.” Shi Ze stood up respectfully and then introduced, “This is Lu Ran from Beast Taming Hall. He has also cultivated a canine beast, which makes him quite connected to our family. Furthermore, he has agreed to represent the Shi Family in the Plant Beast Championship…”

“That’s fantastic! Welcome to the Shi Family.” Upon hearing Shi Ze, the three men’s faces blossomed with joyful smiles.

“Greetings, esteemed elders.” Lu Ran also smiled and bowed, showing proper courtesy without being overly formal.

“By the way, Second Master, Third Master, Elder Uncle,” Shi Ze continued, addressing the trio, “Lu Ran has shown some interest in plant pets and previously asked me about methods for ‘ferocious plants to awaken sapience.’”

“Frankly, I don’t know much about this. Do any of you?”

The lean elder looked at Lu Ran and asked, “Are you interested in this, Your Excellency?”

“Do you know about it?” Lu Ran inquired.

“I don’t…” The Shi Family’s Second Elder shook his head, “Ferocious plants on this continent have, since ancient times, mysteriously awakened sapience and completed their evolution.”

“Although there isn’t a specific method, I have heard a few theories.”

“Please, go ahead,” Lu Ran responded eagerly.

“These theories might sound familiar to you, but given your young age, perhaps you haven’t heard all of them. Let me explain,” the Second Elder chuckled.

“One theory states that in the distant past, the legendary creatures ruling over this continent were all animal species.”

“They were the absolute rulers of this land.”

“Consequently, the evolution of animals on this continent proceeded much faster than that of other organisms.”

“But one day, a Divine Tree suddenly emerged, developing sapience. It suppressed countless legendary beast species, with its roots extending throughout the continent’s ley lines, gaining control over the world.”

“The plants that evolved sapience did so because they received the Divine Tree’s grace and blessings, enabling their evolution.”

“This is Theory 1. For plants to evolve, they can only rely on the Divine Tree’s grace.”

Lu Ran’s eyes widened. This theory was known on Blue Star as well. Many botanists firmly believed in it because spiritual plants on Blue Star could not develop sapience, while on the Divine Tree Continent, they could. The key difference, of course, was the presence of the Divine Tree in one place and its absence in the other.

“And there is another theory,” the Second Elder continued, “that the Divine Tree altered the world’s rules, suppressing the evolution of other species while accelerating the evolution of plant life. However, for plants to complete their evolution, they must still meet certain ‘conditions’. This means that each plant species requires different methods to awaken sapience, fulfilling the specific awakening conditions set by the Divine Tree.”

“This theory seems more reliable than the first,” he added. “There’s no common method for awakening that I’ve heard of, but I believe some top-level Plant Taming Families should possess methods to help specific plants awaken sapience. However, such methods are closely guarded secrets, much like the beast taming methods we possess. They wouldn’t share them with outsiders.”

Specific awakening methods? That made sense. However, both theories tied everything back to the Divine Tree.

The Divine Tree.

It must be a legendary living creature.

To have the continent named after it, its power must be formidable, possibly even rivaling the Four Great Creator Divine Dragons.

But surely, it must be more powerful than the divine deer.

After all, it is said to have single-handedly altered the world’s balance.

“Alright, thank you,” Lu Ran said, although he hadn’t gained the information he was seeking. It seemed that to delve deeper, he would need to engage with top-level Plantmasters.

The City Lord of Tree Realm City was supposed to be a legendary Plantmaster.

Didn’t Shi Ze mention that she had intentions of taking on a disciple?

Lu Ran pondered whether he might take advantage of the upcoming breakthrough secret realm to become her apprentice.

“Are you looking to evolve a specific ferocious plant, Your Excellency?” A relatively portly elder asked.

“Yes,” Lu Ran replied.

After a moment of contemplation, he added, “Have you heard of the long leaved sword grass?”

“Long leaved sword grass!!”

Shi Ze’s Elder Uncle, the stalwart man, exclaimed, “Of course, it’s known as the most top-tier ferocious plant among the sovereign species!”

“Even creatures from the Dragon Clan, if slashed by it, are either dead or crippled. Its sharp body can even cut through space!”

“Once it awakens, it becomes a powerful upper sovereign species ferocious plant!”

“Could it be that…”

“Yes,” Lu Ran interrupted with a smile. “During my travels across the continent, I discovered an unawakened long leaved sword grass and decided to dig it up.”

“I found that even in its unawakened state, the sword grass was incredibly sharp. Its offensive power surpassed the claws and teeth of my canine beast.”

“So, I’ve had my canine beast hold it in its mouth during battles.”

“And, it’s surprisingly effective.”

“The Dog with Grass in Its Mouth technique is becoming more and more refined.”

“Therefore, I began to wonder, is it possible to combine beast pet and plant pet approaches, with humans practicing beast taming, and beasts controlling plants?”

“Now, I really want to awaken the sword grass. If it awakens, my canine beast might become even stronger.”

Everyone: “???”

“Damn! So that’s what Dog with Grass in Its Mouth means,” Shi Ze said, dumbfounded. “Lu Ran, you’re brave. Letting a pet beast fight with such a dangerous plant in its mouth, aren’t you afraid the sword grass will accidentally cut the dog’s head off?”

“No worries, my canine beast has excellent control over the sword grass,” Lu Ran replied cheerfully.

“A grass attribute canine beast?” Shi Ze’s Elder Uncle asked in surprise, as such beasts are rare.

“Not exactly,” Lu Ran clarified. “But it masters the plant artistic conception, making it sort of a half grass attribute pet beast.” The reason General Ha, his canine beast, could control the sword grass so well was due to its weapon mastery trait. It perceives the sword grass as a weapon, but this is difficult to explain, so Lu Ran simply attributed it to plant artistic conception.

“This…” The elders exchanged glances. It was the first time they had seen someone make a pet beast fight while holding a sword grass.

But, in essence, isn’t this just like the traditional grass attribute pet beasts controlling plants?

In reality, grass attribute pet beasts can manage ordinary plants but are incapable when it comes to supernatural plants.

This is because the level of control grass attribute pet beasts have over grass is always inferior to that of plant life. In the face of plant life, grass attribute pet beasts are like grandchildren, considered among the weakest attribute species in this plant age.

“This…” The Second Elder hesitated, skeptical about this cultivation method. He couldn’t imagine it having any combat effectiveness, especially since Lu Ran’s pet beast wasn’t even of the grass attribute. It might still manage to use the sword grass now, but once the sword grass truly awakened, Lu Ran’s dog might not be able to handle it anymore.

Would a ferocious plant like the sword grass really let a dog control it?

They couldn’t envision it. At this moment, Shi Ze chuckled wryly and said, “Lu Ran, come on, let’s spar outside. Let me see how your pet beast actually fights.”

Shi Ze believed that the truth must come from practice. He didn’t want to find someone else to fight Lu Ran; he decided to step up himself.

“Sure,” Lu Ran agreed nonchalantly.

…

Soon, everyone arrived at the battle arena in the back. The three heads of the Shi Family didn’t stop the fight; they were also curious to see Lu Ran’s strength.

As more and more unconventional ideas came from Lu Ran’s mouth, they grew increasingly suspicious of this so-called genius from the Beast Taming Hall.

If it weren’t for the blood-mark seal on the letter of recommendation, they might have doubted Lu Ran’s true identity.

In the large arena, marked by four pillars at each corner, Shi Ze was already eager to start. He found Lu Ran quite interesting. What he hadn’t told Lu Ran was that he himself was a contestant in the Plant Beast Championship and had made it to the top 32 last year.

Lu Ran claimed to have the strength of someone ranked between 16 and 32. Whether that’s true or not, a fight would quickly reveal the answer.

“I’ll summon first.”

“Radiant Moon.” Standing in the arena, Shi Ze focused his mental strength, and an enormous summoning circle took shape on the ground. As white light spread, a giant canine beast, with a moon-shaped mark on its forehead, emerged, its blue eyes fixed on Lu Ran.

“Howl!!!!”

[Name]: Moon Swallowing Dog

[Attribute]: Light

[Species Level]: Middle Sovereign

[Growth Level]: Level 35

At level 35, this middle sovereign Moon Swallowing Dog exuded a domineering energy worthy of a sovereign. But in the next moment, its imperious gaze wavered, and its pupils suddenly contracted.

“General Ha.”

As Lu Ran finished speaking, he began to summon.

Even Shi Ze appeared suddenly shocked.

Because as Lu Ran summoned his pet beast, a soul-suppressing force emanated from deep within its bloodline, causing the Moon Swallowing Dog to tense up and its heart to race. This reaction transmitted to its beastmaster as well!!

Boom!!

A fierce cold wind spread, and General Ha appeared amidst swirling snow, its massive and imposing body several times larger than the Moon Swallowing Dog.

Although they didn’t know what species General Ha was, seeing the Moon Swallowing Dog’s fearful reaction, they instantly realized that this giant canine beast likely had a terrifyingly high species level.

“Howl~~~~” General Ha looked on calmly.

“An overlord species!!” Suddenly, Shi Ze’s Second Master exclaimed in astonishment. His contracted beast pet clearly informed him of the nature of the giant canine beast before them.

This, unbelievably, was an overlord species canine beast. It was worth noting that in the vast Tree Realm City, only the City Lord possessed a plant pet of the overlord species. And now, they had witnessed such a formidable pet beast owned by a level 2 beastmaster.

Their gaze shifted to Lu Ran’s smiling face, their hearts trembling. Something was off. This guy’s background was definitely not as simple as just being a regular member of the Beast Taming Hall!