King of Beasts

“What did he get?”

The Panda Guardian seemed unsurprised that Lu Ran had completed the trial.

After all, Lu Ran did possess two overlord pet beasts.

Given his equal combat potential, it would have been odd if Lu Ran hadn’t passed the trial.

Still, the Panda Guardian felt a twitch in his heart upon hearing that Lu Ran had cleared the trial secret realm in just a few minutes.

How great it would be if the Youxiong Clan members could be as formidable!

“Even though I had earlier claimed all the rewards for myself, I’m not that petty.”

Lu Ran chuckled and took out all the rare resources he had obtained, handing them over to the Panda Guardian.

“These resources are all for you.”

The Panda Guardian looked at the pile of rare resources he was holding, slightly startled, and asked, “No exquisite resources?”

“They didn’t drop.”

“And even if they had…” Lu Ran’s mouth twitched, “you’re hoping to mooch my exquisite resources too?”

This giant panda is more naive than Manager Ying!

“That can’t be right!” The Panda Guardian was puzzled, considering how efficiently Lu Ran had cleared the trial, it was unlikely that there were no exquisite resources.

“Did you get a secret realm card?”

Quickly, something dawned on the Panda Guardian, and he looked at Lu Ran with intense curiosity.

“Secret realm card? What’s that?”

Youxiong Anlin and Du Yuan asked, puzzled.

Lu Ran, however, was slightly surprised; the Panda Guardian seemed to know quite a bit.

It appears that the ancient Youxiong Clan tribe was indeed formidable; others had also managed to get secret realm cards before.

“Yes,” Lu Ran nodded.

“…” The Panda Guardian exclaimed, “Dumb luck!”

“It’s called strength, actually.” Lu Ran said helplessly.

He didn’t like it when his abilities were chalked up to mere luck.

“Lord Guardian-” Youxiong Anlin, seeing the Panda Guardian repeatedly ignoring him, was tearful, feeling out of favor.

The Panda Guardian glanced at him and said:

“During a certain period, Infinite City updated many trial secret realms in the real world.”

“These trial secret realms were initially unclaimed.”

“However, a beastmaster who perfectly completes a trial secret realm for the first time can become the master of the secret realm and obtain an exclusive secret realm card.”

“This exclusive secret realm card can transform a certain item into a secret realm key, monopolizing a realm, making it an exclusive property.”

“They can also pass down the secret realm key to their descendants, allowing them to continue holding the position of master of the secret realm.”

“After the perfect first pass, if someone else manages to perfectly complete the realm again, what drops is an ordinary secret realm card. The probability of dropping an ordinary secret realm card is extremely low, so low that even a perfect completion 100 times might not yield one. However, its utility is significant, as it can open up a small real-world secret realm, which, whether for cultivating spiritual plants or as a training ground, is far more valuable than exquisite resources.”

“Even the regions on Blue Star with the densest spiritual energy cannot compare to the realms opened by a secret realm card.”

“Damn.” Youxiong Anlin looked towards Lu Ran.

So this guy, on his first attempt, took the grand prize?

“!” Du Yuan also cast an envious look at Lu Ran, cursed with such luck.

However, both of them quickly remembered that Lu Ran probably doesn’t need a real-world secret realm.

With his current status, anything he needs is just a word away, no need for him to farm himself. Besides, training pet beasts in a small secret realm is not very significant; the training secret realms in Infinite City are top-notch, with environments that are incomparable to those on Blue Star.

“Does perfecting a first pass on a real-world secret realm really make one the master of the secret realm?” At this moment, Lu Ran’s attention was on another matter.

But soon, he started to feel regretful.

The real-world secret realms left over from ancient times are probably already claimed.

Just like those of the Youxiong Clan.

They’ve already been monopolized with an exclusive secret realm card, matching lock and key.

Finding an unclaimed trial secret realm would be very difficult indeed.

Wait a moment.

Lu Ran soon fell into deep thought again.

From the perspective of the Youxiong Clan’s trial secret realm, it was the key, not the first to pass, that determined the ownership of the realm.

So, what’s the situation with the necromancy secret realm on the other shore?

The key has been lost in the breakthrough secret realm, and it’s impossible for it to still exist. So, is that realm now ownerless, or does it still have an owner?

It seems ownerless, but it has indeed been controlled by someone.

It seems to have an owner, but the secret realm key is “damaged,” and now anyone can enter through special methods, making it look ownerless again.

Never mind, I’ll just pass through it once and see if there’s a reward for being the first to pass, then I’ll know if it’s ownerless or not.

That said, do I really have the potential to become the Overlord of the Other Shore? Controlling the secret realm and possessing the perfect soul food, the necromancy could indeed be completely tied to him.

“Just like that~”

Thinking this, Lu Ran lifted his head and said to the two Youxiongs, “You should also try the secret realm. That, Youxiong Clan Guardian, I’m leaving now.”

“You’re leaving just like that?” The Panda Guardian, seeing that Lu Ran didn’t plan to continue challenging, said, “Challenge it a few more times, you seem to be doing it with ease.”

“With your luck, you might even get more secret realm cards.”

Aren’t you interested in learning the artistic conception of the armored bear anymore!

Having finally found someone who could perfectly pass through, the Panda Guardian was reluctant to let him go.

“No, my pet beasts are actually very tired already, maybe another time, but not today.”

Really?

Hearing Lu Ran say his pet beasts were already tired, Youxiong Anlin and the others showed skeptical expressions.

Was it the pursuit of speed that led to their fatigue?

What they didn’t know was that Lu Ran’s pet beasts were tired because they had been training in the training secret realm for half a day before entering the trial secret realm.

It wasn’t because they were entering the trial secret realm in their best condition.

Moreover, for Lu Ran now, verifying the ownership status of the necromancy secret realm was clearly more valuable than continuing to challenge a secret realm that already had an owner.

After Lu Ran turned and left, Youxiong Anlin paused for a moment, looking at his back, and said:

“He didn’t tell me about the next stages…”

Thump.

The Panda Guardian slightly kicked Youxiong Anlin’s butt, saying, “Can you be a bit more spirited… It’s killing me.”

“…” Nearby, Du Yuan was silently despondent. Lu Ran, this guy, is really the nightmare of all fourth-generation beastmasters.

South America, The Other Shore Island.

After several days, with the strong intervention of the Xia Country Beast Taming Alliance, the organization on The Other Shore Island has completely changed its identity.

As for the development of the necromancy secret realm on The Other Shore Island, Xia Country is also proceeding in an orderly manner.

Currently, the responsibility for this task has been transferred from Gu Qingyi to Lin Nian, who, as the only beastmaster in Xia Country proficient in maritime warfare, has many other duties to attend to.

For instance, monitoring the Fishman Empire is a must.

Moreover, having Lin Nian, who is even more formidable and intimidating, stationed on The Other Shore Island has a greater deterrent effect against other countries that want a share of the benefits.

“What’s up?”

Stationed on The Other Shore Island, Lin Nian asked directly when she received a call from Lu Ran.

“Lin Nian, how are things on your end?”

“Not bad, things have stabilized mostly, but the exploration of the necromancy secret realm is not going smoothly. I tried challenging it and only reached the ninth stage at most, and the only items dropped were the death revival skill card and the soul burn trait crystal; nothing else.”

“Doesn’t the trial secret realm of the Youxiong Clan drop other resources?”

“This realm only drops cards and crystals.”

Lin Nian spoke with dissatisfaction.

Lu Ran chuckled bitterly, “The resources here at the Youxiong Clan aren’t that great either. Besides, a death revival skill card is worth much more than an armoring skill. Just getting that is already a big win.”

“I’m currently at the Youxiong Clan. If things stabilize here, maybe I’ll try challenging the necromancy secret realm?”

Although Lu Ran is not as strong as Lin Nian, trial secret realms do not solely depend on absolute strength but on potential at the same level.

The necromancy trials Lin Nian faced were probably level 60, mostly consisting of overlord species, making them naturally challenging.

Constrained by a lack of resources in the early stages, her potential as a Level 5 beastmaster has not been fully tapped.

But it would be different for Lu Ran. He would face level 30 necromancers, and the species level wouldn’t be too high. At the stage of a level 2 beastmaster, his potential is considered invincible, comparable to the legendary figures of the Star-Moon Continent.

If the Youxiong Clan can clear it, the situation after challenging the necromancy secret realm would likely not be too different.

“Sure, you come over. Should I come to pick you up, or will you come by yourself?”

“Tomorrow I’ll have Manager Ying secretly take me there,” Lu Ran felt that nothing much should go wrong, and having too many bodyguards could make them more noticeable.

After deciding to head to the Other Shore Island in South America, Lu Ran first returned to the Green Sea.

He shared the intelligence about the trial secret realm and the secret realm card with Manager Ying, who pondered for a moment and said:

“So, you mean the current necromancy secret realm is likely unclaimed, which is why members from the Other Shore can enter through special means.”

“As long as you complete it, this necromancy secret realm will most likely become exclusively yours.”

“Exactly,” Lu Ran said. “So, please escort me there!”

“What a bother,” Manager Ying complained, rubbing its head. “It would have been easier if you had just asked Lin Nian to pick you up!”

“It’s because I trust you more…” Lu Ran said with a flattering smile. “Let’s rest tonight and set off tomorrow. I’ll let General Ha and the others rest as well.”

Manager Ying was visibly annoyed but didn’t refuse. It said, “Why the sudden lack of urgency? Have you decided against entering the third Evolution Secret Realm?”

“Yes, the Evolution Secret Realm in two days is too rushed. I’ll wait for the fourth one; a few days won’t make a big difference.”

“I doubt the fourth one will be any less rushed; it’s only a few days away too.”

“That Erha of yours probably won’t master its domain before the opening of the Evolution Secret Realm!” Manager Ying said. “Give it up and perhaps prepare in other ways.”

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at Manager Ying.

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

“Yesterday…”

“General Ha already started to use its domain preliminarily. I’m waiting for the fourth Evolution Secret Realm so it can get more accustomed to it.”

“Really?”

“Ah???” Manager Ying suddenly stood up, eyes wide with shock as he stared at Lu Ran, his fur bristling. “What did you say??”

“That Erha actually learned a Domain Skill??”

“Yes,” Lu Ran grinned. “I used an enhancement card on a lucid fruit and fed it to him. The same day, he grasped the concept of the domain.”

“Although he’s still not very proficient, I plan to give him another week, then feed him an exquisite-level lucid fruit. By then, mastering the basics of the Domain Skill should be no issue.”

“Cough, grasping a domain before evolving at level 30, coupled with the Ultimate Perception Trait, it’s hard to imagine what species talent might emerge…”

Lu Ran was immensely curious.

The Sudden Death King and the Dark Crow, they both rely on resources as a foundation for their evolution.

This time, General Ha is evolving based on skills.

The direction of the evolution should vary, right?

Manager Ying: ???

Beside him, Manager Ying slightly opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself at a loss for words.

You see, his main body belongs to the upper overlord species with space abilities, which he only mastered after reaching levels in the forties.

And now, a wind species Erha, at level 30… has mastered it?

“Meow-owww-” Manager Ying covered his mouth, suddenly feeling a suicidal impulse, not quite able to accept it.