Chapter 478: Chapter 478

After the Divine Deer left, Manager Ying found it hard to believe it was severely injured.

“I think we’ve got a real shot.”

Initially, Manager Ying had doubted their chances, but after Lu Ran’s smooth-talking, it understood why he always walked away with so many resources in ascension realms.

This kid... really knows how to spin a yarn.

Lu Ran clasped his hands in gratitude. “Praise Limitless City! Now, we’ll wait patiently for two days for the Divine Deer’s return. However, we should make the most of this time. Although #18 has shifted focus to researching heroic spirits, it still wants two historical projections as subjects, preferably totemic projections. Let’s grab a couple from the neighboring village.”

Limitless City ID Slayer Bai Qi. Real name: Bai Qi. President of the Four Saints Guild.

As one of the top second-generation beastmasters in Xia, Bai Qi was a prominent figure. Unfortunately, an accident claimed the lives of all his familiars. Bai Qi had nearly given up on being a beastmaster, but then Xia produced a once-in-an-era genius who guided him onto the path of the Undead.

Establishing the Netherworld, dismantling the Other Shore, mastering the Undead Secret Realm, and crafting tools to purify souls autonomously, Lu Ran had revolutionized the Undead attribute. Now a core member of the Netherworld organization, Bai Qi longed to repay Lu Ran but hadn’t yet found the opportunity due to his own weakness.

After the first-generation beastmasters broke through to level 6, some of the second generation’s elites, like Bai Qi, a necromancer nurtured by Xia, had also used Limitless City’s updated facilities to raise their familiars to level 60, earning their breakthrough qualifications. As Bai Qi entered the ascension realm for the first time, he was thrilled because the ancient Blue Planet setting was a first.

“The rarer the era, the higher the chance of unique resources. If I break through here, I might even catch up to the weaker Zodiacs.” Bai Qi grew excited.

Having narrowly avoided a life crisis, Bai Qi now hid in a Southeast Asian totemic tribe. The tribe’s totem was a level 70 Low-Overlord tiger. He’d infiltrated deliberately, as the tribe was at war with a beast tribe.

His plan was to let the totemic beast and the ferocious beast weaken each other, then strike the killing blow. It was a solid plan. That was, until a young man descended from the sky, crashing into the ground and shaking the entire tribe. The totemic tiger emerged, roaring, only for the youth to punch it out of the tribe and through a mountain, and then drag it away by the tail.

As Bai Qi stood among the stunned crowd, he was equally dumbfounded by both the youth’s strength and his face.

Recognizing Lu Ran, Bai Qi’s lips twitched.

Of all people to match with in the ascension realm!

His tactic was ruined. The totemic beast he’d hoped would weaken the ferocious beast had been one-shot by Lu Ran. Bai Qi’s mind reeled. He hastily summoned his Undead sparrow and gave chase.

“Hmm? Bai Ling’s brother?” After noticing the tail, Lu Ran paused in surprise.

Bai Qi was speechless.

After all this time working for you, you only remember my sister?

Although he wouldn’t mind Lu Ran as a brother-in-law, Lu Ran seemed completely uninterested.

Bai Qi forced a smile. “Minister Lu, I didn’t expect to match with you. I was hiding in that tribe...”

Lu Ran said, equally surprised. “What a coincidence. Aside from the beginner’s ascension realm, this is my first time matching with someone I know.”

“However, matching with me is considered bad luck... Try again in a month. This ascension realm only allows one breakthrough.”

Lu Ran smiled. “Since you’re here, skip the dangerous ferocious beast hunting, and help me with something.”

“What is it?” Bai Qi was stunned.

Lu Ran chuckled. “It’s simple. Gather plants that are extinct in the modern Blue Planet. You have the Eye of Detection, right? I need a hand. I’ve got time now, but later, I won’t have the luxury to waste it on low-grade resources.”

Bai Qi suddenly recalled the Five Poisons Saintess, rumored to be close to Lu Ran. She’d been the first in Xia to have control over poison plants, defeating several second-generation beastmasters.

As Bai Qi agreed, spatial ripples shimmered around Lu Ran, and over a dozen totemic beasts with eerie-patterned eyes appeared. They were all above level 60, which made Bai Qi’s jaw drop.

“These totemic beasts are under my control. They’ll obey you for now. Take them to search, just in case. If you’re in danger, use them as bait and run,” Lu Ran said.

Running into Bai Qi was unexpected. Lu Ran guessed Fang Lan had already acquired the Plantmaster King skill. He was curious since Stellar Moon’s plant era had birthed so many powerful transcendent plants; did Blue Planet’s native plants have similar potential?

In Blue Planet’s ancient era, animals had dominated, with plants showing no signs of intelligence. However, the Amazon incident proved Blue Planet’s plants could evolve. They just needed a catalyst like Six-Path Flower.

On a whim, Lu Ran decided to collect ancient plants and compare them to modern ones.

Ancient plants should have more potential, right?

However, his main focus remained on the Legendary hunt. With limited time, delegating the task was more efficient.

After assigning Bai Qi the task and preventing him from challenging the bosses and getting himself killed, Lu Ran returned to Lu Village.

Soon, the Divine Deer returned with the Squirrel God. Upon hearing of the timekeeper’s appearance, the Squirrel God was even more eager than the Divine Deer.

“Sister timekeeper, don’t worry! Little Squirrel will definitely help you regain your strength!”

Manager Ying glared at the overly familiar Squirrel God.

Why do you call everyone ‘sister’?

“So, Lord Divine Deer, Lord Squirrel God, have you decided to help us?” Lu Ran asked.

The Divine Deer nodded. “Squirrel God has sent a clone to Stellar Moon. If suitable Legendary remains are found, it will retrieve them. As for Blue Planet, I’d honestly prefer to avoid conflict with native lifeforms.

“However, ensuring the Stellar Moon bloodline’s legacy here is our top priority, above all else. So if any native divine beasts obstruct this mission, conflict is unavoidable. Time messenger, how is your combat strength?”

“Passable. Why?” Lu Ran asked.

“If you intend to hunt Blue Planet natives, you may need to take the lead. The other kin are trapped in Stellar Moon, and neither Squirrel God nor I is are combat-oriented divine spirits. At most, we can assist you in battle. Since this concerns the timekeeper, you should be the main force.”

Squirrel God nodded. This was also a disclaimer that they wouldn’t go too far for a colleague they’d never met.

“Understood.” Lu Ran nodded, exhaling.

Regardless, having these two as support was already a huge win. He didn’t dare push his luck. If he let two Legendaries carry him through the ascension realm, he feared Limitless City would punish him again.

Better to have them assist while I take the lead.

“Squirrel God excels in sealing. Not just spatial seals, but power suppression. Even an Intermediate Legendary can be temporarily trapped in a separate space, unable to escape. Within the seal, the target’s species power is greatly diminished.

“I excel in healing. Even though I’m injured, healing is no issue. Once a target is sealed, we’ll enter the sealed space. You’ll fight the weakened target, and I’ll heal your injuries.”

Lu Ran nodded. “Deal. By the way, which native divine beasts bear us ill will? Should we target them first?”

Squirrel God nodded vigorously. “Yes! We’ve ignored them so far, but since you need resources, eliminating them is for the best. I recall a pair called Taotie and Qiongqi.[1] They’re extremely vicious and gluttonous. They’ve devoured many of our Stellar Moon seeds.”

Two of the Four Fiends, Taotie and Qiongqi?

Squirrel God glanced at Manager Ying. “There’s also another one like you. It has nine tails—a Nine-Tailed Fox. It also enjoys eating humans. We’ve really suffered a lot. Oh, and there’s a ferocious god that resembles an ape, with a white head and red feet.

“However, as for a Time-attribute ferocious god, none come to mind. I do know of a dragon inhabiting a mountain range. It brings day when it opens its eyes and night when it closes them. It’s possible that it wields time powers, but it’s too strong for us.”

Lu Ran was amazed. The divine and ferocious beasts from myths had actually existed in ancient times.

Lu Ran, who was initially excited, now hesitated. Even with the kin’s help, he couldn’t help but doubt whether the Legendary targets were within his reach.

1. Taotie and Qiongqi are two of the Four Fiends in Chinese myth; they’re famous for being vicious and very greedy ☜