45: Energy Stone

The Starlight Egg felt cold to the touch, like fine jade, and Luo Chen could feel the vibrant yet faint life pulsation within it.

These two completely opposite feelings were present at the same time; perhaps this was why the little fatty and the others couldn't hatch this pet?

Luo Chen, who had carefully observed the Starlight Egg in his hands, looked up at Chang Guiheng, who was watching him expectantly, his gaze clearly asking, "Why are you still here?"

"Uh, did you figure anything out just now?"

Chang Guiheng rubbed his chubby little hands and asked expectantly.

"No, what could I figure out in such a short time? I'll put it upstairs for now, and I'll study it when I have time."

With that, Luo Chen took a step and walked towards the second floor of the store.

Chang Guiheng also moved his short legs, clearly wanting to follow, but Luo Chen immediately stopped him when he noticed his intention.

"The second floor is a critical breeding area; no unauthorized personnel are allowed. If you have nothing else, you should go back first."

"Not even a friend?"

"No."

"Oh, alright then. If anything happens, be sure to contact me on the terminal."

After saying that, the little fatty Chang Guiheng took three steps back for every one forward as he exited the store.

After the strange little fatty left the store, Luo Chen immediately locked the door from the inside.

Thinking of Chang Guiheng's inexplicable behavior of wanting to be friends, Luo Chen always felt a sense of strangeness, not knowing his purpose for now.

He could only take it one step at a time; over time, his true colors would surely be revealed.

Outside the store, the little fatty Chang Guiheng ignored the other people gathered at the storefront, treating their prying gazes as nothing.

He only whispered to himself, "Can he really hatch the Moonstar Spirit?"

A crisp voice answered in his mind, "The revelation of fate points here. I only heard a vague sound, and the name Luo Chen was among them.

Although fate can have errors, all predictions this time are leaning towards the good side."

The Moonstar Spirit egg had already been handed over, and worrying here was useless to him. In his opinion, Luo Chen wasn't a bad person, and at worst, he wouldn't damage the egg. Chang Guiheng had a certain degree of confidence in the egg's defensive capabilities.

"Qianze, thank you."

This was said with great sincerity.

He and the Thousand Lake Fortune Wheel had traveled through many cities, finally glimpsing a trace of how to hatch the Moonstar Spirit here.

The Thousand Lake Fortune Wheel's Skill of investigating fate had been a great help.

"Thank me when the Moonstar Spirit hatches."

The Thousand Lake Fortune Wheel seemed a little shy after being formally thanked by the little fatty.

After Chang Guiheng acknowledged with a "Good" in his mind, he lifted his foot and walked into a shop next to Chenyang Pet Store.

"How much are you selling your shop for?"

...

Chenyang Pet Store.

After closing the store door, Luo Chen carefully carried the egg upstairs.

He first placed the egg in the Transformation Pool on the second floor, not knowing if it would be effective, but given the Transformation Pool's effects, it certainly wouldn't cause any harm.

The Starlight Egg slowly sank to the bottom of the Transformation Pool, and then Luo Chen witnessed the egg's terrifying nature.

The water in the Transformation Pool was originally only about a meter deep, but after placing the Starlight Egg in the pool, the water level of the Transformation Pool decreased at a visibly rapid rate.

Just as Luo Chen thought the Starlight Egg was absorbing energy for hatching, after absorbing half a pool of water, the Starlight Egg showed no special changes.

Luo Chen immediately stepped into the pool and took it out; otherwise, this guy would definitely drain the pool dry.

This pool was an important facility for him to open his shop and complete his tasks, and it absolutely could not have any problems now.

"System, how do I hatch this thing? Don't just egg me on to take on tasks and then abandon me."

What's the difference between this and digging a pit but not burying it?

System: ...

After a long silence, the System's voice still appeared in his mind.

"When you obtain the second secret realm, you can hatch this egg there."

Luo Chen quickly opened his shop panel to check his task completion status:

Task One: Sell one Spirit Rank pet (Completed), Reward: 100 points, five energy stones (Claimable);

Task Two: Evolve three pets (One evolved), Reward: 200 points, one Rank 2 secret realm;

Task Three: Sell twenty pets with Excellent Aptitude (Four sold), Reward: 50 points, new items added to the shop;

Task Four: Successfully hatch the Moonstar Spirit, Reward: Starlight Protection.

He claimed the reward for the first completed task, and 100 points were credited, making his current balance in the shop System 250 points.

Then, five jade stones, each the size of a baby's fist, appeared in Luo Chen's hand.

They were crystal clear and looked very expensive.

It seemed these could be used on the pet cages on the first floor and next door. Luo Chen put away these five energy stones for now, intending to use them when new occupants arrived in the cages.

While Luo Chen was lost in thought, looking at the energy stones, the little furball, which had been quietly resting on his shoulder, suddenly, when Luo Chen wasn't paying attention, snatched an energy stone from his hand and swallowed it.

Luo Chen, noticing the movement in his hand, broke out in a cold sweat after just one glance.

"Oh, my ancestor, how could you eat something so big? Quickly spit it out, don't let it get stuck in your throat."

During the frantic movements, several energy stones fell to the ground, but Luo Chen didn't pay attention, only anxiously prying open the little furball's mouth.

Huh? Nothing.

The opened mouth was empty, with only the little furball's tiny, budding milk teeth.

"Did you really swallow it?" Luo Chen asked, looking sternly at the bewildered little furball.

"Didn't I swallow it?"

Luo Chen searched the ground and only found four energy stones; the fifth one was nowhere to be seen.

He held the little furball in his hand and then squeezed its soft belly, feeling no accumulation of hard objects.

"That's strange, where did the stone go?"

After searching for a long time without finding it, Luo Chen decided to stop looking. Instead, he ordered the little furball to stand properly in front of him.

"From now on, you are not allowed to eat anything without my permission, do you hear me?

If I catch you eating things indiscriminately again, you'll be on a one-day fast. If you do it again, it'll be a two-day fast."

Such little ones need strict education; naughty children need more discipline.

Luo Chen forcibly pressed the little furball's head down a few times, making it agree to this treaty before he finally let it go, satisfied.

The System, which had been a bystander, couldn't take it anymore. "Oh, my foolish host, it did indeed eat the energy stone."

?

"Uh, but its belly doesn't show any abnormalities?" Luo Chen, still worried, picked up the little furball again and checked its belly.

"Energy stones melt upon consumption, transforming into the purest and gentlest energy, supplying all parts of the body. Therefore, the energy has been completely absorbed by it.

If you don't believe it, you can check its current Rank."

race: Light Spirit Cat

Rank: Fierce Beast Seven-Star

Type: Mental Type · Superpower

State: Satiated, Drowsy

Aptitude: Excellent

Skill: 1. Spirit Membrane (Profound Tier): Attaches a layer of energy-formed membrane to the target's body surface, blocking the target from exchanging matter with the outside world.

Indeed, the little furball's Rank had increased from the original Fierce Beast Six-Star to the current Fierce Beast Seven-Star.

So energy stones could also be used as pet food? This effect seems even better than the Transformation Pool, doesn't it?

As if knowing Luo Chen's thoughts, the System spoke.

"Energy stones are indeed used to provide energy, and they have a great promotional effect during the early growth of pets.

However, the Transformation Pool gently nurtures the pet in all aspects of physical quality, including removing residual hidden injuries and subtly improving Aptitude, all of which have a great effect. The two cannot be considered equivalent."

"Alright, alright, then I'll use both in conjunction."

Seeing the little furball squatting on the ground, extremely sleepy, and knowing it had absorbed too much energy, Luo Chen decided not to educate it further.

After placing it in its exclusive little bed, Luo Chen looked at Luo Yang, who was struggling with the terminal in the pet Skill simulation room.

He had been on the second floor for so long, and Luo Yang didn't even seem to notice. What on the terminal could be so captivating to him?

Luo Chen walked in and patted Luo Yang's shoulder, "What are you doing? So focused."