47: Three Flames Starfield Bird

The journey back to the Human Race Realm was not peaceful.

Halfway through, for reasons unknown, Chu Jingyu was targeted by a giant eagle circling in the sky.

Although its Realm was only at the Intermediate Alien Tier, the lack of cover, combined with the giant eagle's ability to fly, meant it took quite a struggle to drive it away, and Chu Jingyu's arm was even injured by a wind blade.

Beyond the Border, the Realm often does not determine the outcome of a battle; reaction time, the timing of skills, and the surrounding environment can all have a fatal impact.

Because of the giant eagle's interference, it was already afternoon by the time he returned to the border.

As he drew closer to the border, the figures of other humans gradually increased. Although Chu Jingyu appeared to have a bountiful harvest, few people kept their eyes on him.

This was because the giant forest at the border of the city wall had turned into ash and dust, and even the city wall, branded with special runes, was marred by many uneven, gaping craters.

Chu Jingyu carefully skirted around a crater in front of him, wondering to himself if that giant bird had unleashed a wave of skills here as well.

Fortunately, the city wall still stood, and it seemed the Human Race Realm had not been too greatly affected.

Chu Jingyu touched the three eggs on his chest and back, quickening his pace toward the city wall.

He soon ascended the uneven, gentle slope back into the Realm, with the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast following leisurely behind him. The Aura it released without reservation suppressed any treacherous thoughts that might have arisen in the surrounding people.

Near the entrance, a long queue had formed, and Chu Jingyu cast an inquisitive look at the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast beside him.

After a moment, a sequence of images was transmitted into Chu Jingyu's mind.

At every entrance to the city wall, the number of Guards had increased to eight, and a strange goat with large, curved horns and four horizontal pupils was carefully observing every Contract Master entering the city.

From time to time, someone would be led into the building on the city wall at the strange goat's signal, seemingly for a more thorough investigation.

Chu Jingyu frowned; when he had left the Realm, he had glanced at this entrance but had not seen such a scene.

Could all of this be the result of the giant bird that had triggered the meteor fire rain?

In any case, he had nothing to do with that giant bird. Realizing this, Chu Jingyu calmed his mind and lined up in an orderly fashion.

Perhaps the Aura of the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast was too scorching; the person in front of Chu Jingyu squeezed forward just to keep a greater distance from him. It was the same behind him, where a burly man with a monkey on his shoulder stayed at least ten meters away from Chu Jingyu.

With such a large gap, not a single person came forward to cut in line.

Seeing this, Chu Jingyu couldn't help but chuckle. He stood silently for a while, and only when the person in front had moved a significant distance forward with the queue did he maintain that distance and follow the line forward quietly.

The person in front of him was a somewhat thin youth, who flashed a grateful smile at Chu Jingyu.

The line moved quickly, and soon it was Chu Jingyu's turn.

The Guards on both sides saw the Source Beast beside Chu Jingyu that they had never seen before. Although they didn't recognize it, they could tell from its overflowing Aura that it was at least an existence above the Intermediate Alien Tier.

Therefore, their attitude was much better compared to how they treated the other Contract Masters of the Mortal Rank.

Seeing the three snake eggs on Chu Jingyu's chest and back, the strange, horned, four-eyed goat's eyes clearly revealed a different kind of gleam.

It tapped its hooves on the ground twice, indicating that Chu Jingyu needed to enter the building nearby for a thorough investigation. This action immediately made the faces of the nearby Guards turn bitter, and they exchanged glances.

A man on the far right stepped forward and cupped his hands at Chu Jingyu, "Apologies for the disturbance. The county town must investigate every suspicious Contract Master. Please cooperate with us, Old Gentleman."

Seeing the strange goat's actions, Chu Jingyu's heart sank. Now that the Guard said this, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes; he didn't know what the problem was with him.

He showed no emotion on his face and merely replied gently, "It is only right."

Then, he followed one of the Guards toward the building on the side.

Seeing him comply obediently, the remaining Guards all breathed a sigh of relief. Although higher-ranking Guards would handle those who didn't follow the rules, who would they turn to if they lost their lives in a conflict?

Upon entering the building, the light dimmed instantly. There were no special decorations in the room.

There was only a long table for each person, along with some strange, unrecognizable Source Beast eggs.

At this, Chu Jingyu's heart sank to the bottom; it turned out they were after the eggs.

The person sitting behind the table was also an old man. Seeing Chu Jingyu walk in, he was first surprised that the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast beside him was actually at the Upper Tier of the Extraordinary Rank.

His stern face relaxed slightly, and he cupped his hands slightly toward Chu Jingyu, "I am Chen Kesong, a Guest Elder of the Huo Family, a Seventh-Rank Notables of Zhiyao County."

As the old man sized up Chu Jingyu, Chu Jingyu was also sizing him up, immediately seeing that his Realm was at the Intermediate Alien Tier.

Chu Jingyu also cupped his hands, "Chu Jingyu of the Chu Family, a Ninth-Rank Humble Family from Heyu Town."

Chen Kesong's expression changed slightly; he was actually a member of a Noble Family, though only from a Ninth-Rank Humble Family. Hearing the name of a Seventh-Rank Notables Noble Family, he surely wouldn't be unreasonable.

After all, a Seventh-Rank Noble Family was like the heavens in the county town.

"I am also acting on Family orders to conduct an investigation. May I examine the Source Beast eggs in your possession, Mr. Chu?"

As Chu Jingyu untied the bundle on his body, he curiously asked, "Why is there a sudden investigation into Source Beast eggs?"

Perhaps it was Chu Jingyu's cooperative attitude that made Chen Kesong willing to say more, or perhaps he was just that kind of person by nature. Chen Kesong naturally replied, "Didn't the Three-Flame Star Domain Bird attack the border of our Zhiyao County last night? I heard it was because it lost some bird eggs. Those are eggs of a Domain-rank Source Beast, worth a fortune, so the Main Family is naturally very concerned and wants to find this egg."

So that was it. Chu Jingyu finally understood why that giant bird—no, the Three-Flame Star Domain Bird—had gone crazy and even attacked the border of the human territory.

Chu Jingyu placed the bundle holding the snake eggs on the table and gently opened the cloth, revealing the three snake eggs coated in a layer of pink crystal powder.

"Then take a look; these three eggs of mine should not be the eggs of that Three-Flame Star Domain Bird, right?"