20: The secret exploration ends

[race: Azure Nether Grass

Rank: Six-Star Ferocious Beast

Type: Wood-Grass, Nether System

State: Healthy

Aptitude: Good

Skill: 1. Lash (Yellow Grade): The Azure Nether Grass uses its tough, slender leaves to whip the target.

2. Nether Phosphorus (Mystic Grade): The leaves of the Azure Nether Grass are coated with phosphorus powder. When this powder adheres to the target's body, it will continuously infuse Nether Qi, producing negative effects (corroding the body, consuming energy).]

At this moment, Luo Chen and Luo Yang were still over ten meters away from the Azure Nether Grass. Perhaps it hadn't noticed them, or perhaps a long life in the secret realm had caused it to lower its guard, as it continued to emit a faint blue phosphorus light quite leisurely.

Luo Chen shared the information about the Azure Nether Grass with Luo Yang and pondered how to capture it.

"Azure Nether Grass? I don't recall learning about this kind of beast; it doesn't ring a bell," Luo Yang said, frowning as he thought for a moment.

"However, judging by its Skills alone, it should be a top-tier ferocious beast no weaker than a Blazing Lion."

Luo Yang was right; to possess a Mystic Grade Skill while still at the Ferocious Beast stage meant it was among the elite, top-tier beasts.

Hearing Luo Yang's evaluation, Luo Chen licked his lips and said excitedly, "If you haven't heard of it, it means it hasn't been seen near Qingyang City. It could be sold as a specialty beast in the shop."

"Brother, let's capture this Azure Nether Grass."

Luo Yang nodded heavily. Chi Yan also seemed to receive a command, as it crouched low to the ground, entering its hunting State.

It stared sharply at the Azure Nether Grass dozens of meters away. Its body temperature rose rapidly, causing more of the surrounding ever-green grass to wither.

"Attack."

At Luo Yang's command, he and Chi Yan ran quickly toward the Azure Nether Grass. As they ran, seven or eight fist-sized fireballs condensed around Chi Yan, shooting toward the Azure Nether Grass faster than the beast itself.

The distance of dozens of meters was covered in an instant. The faster fireballs slammed mercilessly into the leaves of the Azure Nether Grass.

The leaves covered in blue phosphorus light were forced to the ground by the impact of the fireballs, and scorched marks appeared on the surfaces hit.

The surprise attack worked. The Azure Nether Grass, which was already at a lower Rank than Chi Yan, was heavily injured.

Then, Chi Yan followed up, slashing its sharp claws fiercely at three of the Azure Nether Grass's leaves.

Fortunately, the leaves of the Azure Nether Grass were quite tough; the claws only left deep gashes on the surface without severing them.

However, after these two attacks, the Azure Nether Grass's aura instantly weakened. Chi Yan's strikes were clearly effective.

This is the disadvantage of plant-Type beasts at low Ranks: they can only take hits passively.

The phosphorus light on the Azure Nether Grass's leaves flared for a moment, and then its leaves whipped fiercely at Chi Yan.

Chi Yan leaped back, easily dodging the attack, and then took advantage of the opening in the Azure Nether Grass's assault.

It struck the Azure Nether Grass several more times with flame-clad claws, causing its presence to completely wither away.

Luo Yang stood a few meters away, backing up Chi Yan.

Luo Chen arrived to see this scene. He pulled a ring-shaped object from his storage bracelet.

"Beast-Binding Ring," Luo Yang recognized it at a glance.

The Beast-Binding Ring is a major technological invention combining human tech and beast mastery. Once placed on a defenseless beast, it restricts their internal energy and controls them if they resist.

It is a powerful assistant for capturing or taming wild beasts and is quite popular, though its price is also quite "beautiful."

Chi Yan took the Beast-Binding Ring from Luo Chen's hand and approached the nearly defenseless Azure Nether Grass, placing all three of its leaves into the ring.

Seeing the Beast-Binding Ring in place, Luo Chen took out a remote-like device and gently pressed the red button.

The Beast-Binding Ring began to shrink, fitting snugly at the base of the Azure Nether Grass. The blue phosphorus light on its body dimmed instantly, and its aura vanished as if it had become ordinary grass.

Xiao Maoqiu jumped curiously from Luo Chen's shoulder, circling the Azure Nether Grass and occasionally poking it with a small paw, looking very inquisitive.

Luo Chen scooped up Xiao Maoqiu, then used tools to dig up the Azure Nether Grass by its roots and transplant it into a large flower pot.

"Let's take this one back to try breeding it, then explore the number of beasts in the secret realm."

He said this to Luo Yang, who nodded understandingly and naturally took the pot from Luo Chen, leading Chi Yan forward.

Luo Chen looked at his empty hands and shook his head helplessly, following Luo Yang to continue exploring the small secret realm.

Luo Chen and Luo Yang spent the next hour finishing their exploration of the small secret realm.

They didn't find any other species of beast besides the Azure Nether Grass, though they did find more traces of it in other parts of the realm; they just didn't capture them.

'Three Eight-Star Ferocious Beast Azure Nether Grass, five Seven-Star, and eight Six-Star. Some remaining ever-green grass.'

Luo Chen noted down the information about the beasts in the secret realm in his notebook and then said to the quiet Luo Yang, "Information collection complete. Let's head out."

Luo Yang nodded, still silent, and followed Luo Chen through the light portal back to the second floor of the pet shop.

Luo Chen took the Azure Nether Grass from Luo Yang and placed it in a sales cage on the first floor.

As soon as he put it in, the system's voice rang in his head.

"System Mission Issued: Mission 1: Sell three beasts obtained from Secret Realm No. 1. Reward: 50% increase in spiritual energy concentration in the Rank 1 Secret Realm.

Mission 2: Sell ten beasts in the shop. Reward: Shop Rank increases to Level 1, unlocking new permissions.

Mission 3: Reach ten fostered beasts in the shop. Reward: One Shop-Guarding Spirit Beast."

Hearing the system issue three missions in a row, Luo Chen couldn't help but look delighted; finally, there were missions to complete.

To complete the first mission, he would need his brother to help capture two more Azure Nether Grass. That was easy enough, but he wondered how the market would react to a plant-Type beast.

In Luo Chen's view, the third mission was definitely the easiest to complete. After all, with the mystic spirit grass there, it was the cheapest and fastest way for Beast Masters to let their beasts absorb energy.

Luo Chen looked around at the few beasts waiting for sale and sighed. The quantity was still too low; perhaps he could take bolder steps next.