Chapter 43

Based on Ellen’s feedback, Fang Xuyang and his group are about two hours away from Mu Huiyue.

Considering the movement speed of the Shadow Realm, both sides are still within a safe range where an accidental encounter is unlikely.

Mu Huiyue instructed Ellen to return to the Resting Cabin for recovery, while she entered a meditative state to restore her mental and physical energy.

By dawn, the Beastmaster and her contracted beasts had all returned to peak condition.

On the second day of the wilderness survival competition, Mu Huiyue planned to visit the area near the inaccessible zone in the center of the secret realm.

She was particularly concerned about the information Ellen brought back. The Master of the Secret Realm represented the highest potential points in this assessment. Gaining an early understanding of the situation would be beneficial for the upcoming challenges.

Moreover, as an official investigator of the Bureau of Affairs, there was no reason not to seek out the core figure of the secret realm once inside.

The closer she got to the center of the secret realm, the denser the surrounding vegetation became.

Giant tropical plants towered overhead, their thick and broad leaves each exceeding two meters in size. Vines of varying thickness intertwined between the plants, almost completely blocking out the sunlight.

The ground was covered in soft, damp undergrowth. The dark and humid environment favored the growth of ferns, with their curled fronds dominating the view in large patches. Every step on the slippery terrain required extra effort just to maintain balance and walk normally.

Progress became increasingly difficult. Even with the enhanced physique of a Beastmaster, prolonged travel under such conditions was exhausting.

Along the way, they encountered several wild extraordinary creatures, all of which were defeated by White Fang, earning them points.

After much effort, they finally reached a relatively open area. Mu Huiyue decided to take a short break and provide White Fang with some replenishment.

She retrieved energy cubes from her backpack, but as she turned around, she saw the little Cloud Hound sitting on the ground, gazing longingly at a fruit hanging from a thick vine above.

It was an oval-shaped fruit with a gradient of green and red, resembling a plump guava. It hung abruptly on a vine that shouldn’t have borne fruit, exuding an incredibly enticing aroma.

Even from this distance, Mu Huiyue felt slightly tempted by the fruit, wanting to get closer to take in its sweet scent and perhaps pluck it for a taste.

White Fang, needless to say, was even more enthralled. A low growl of craving escaped its throat, its tail unconsciously wagging behind it. Its entire demeanor radiated an intense desire for the fruit.

However, the Beastmaster had specifically emphasized before the trial that food could only be eaten if she personally provided it—nothing else was allowed.

Despite its overwhelming craving, White Fang obediently resisted the temptation, remaining still in place.

“No… you mustn’t eat that fruit…”

A weak voice came from behind. Mu Huiyue turned around and saw a girl with a pained expression emerging from behind a sturdy palm tree. She appeared to be a contestant of the same age as her.

A panther-sized contracted beast followed closely by the girl’s side, its tail tipped with a blazing red flame. A thick mane around its neck shimmered like ash, shedding faint sparks.

The girl was strikingly beautiful. Even in a dull gray training uniform, her radiant appearance couldn’t be concealed. A slight frown from her was enough to stir the emotions of those around her.

Mu Huiyue recognized this face—it belonged to Wen Li, a popular contestant from the Capital Beastmaster High School and the daughter of the renowned performing artist Wen Chuanqi.

In Kumasi’s recap video, Wen Li was accompanied by a Flame-tailed Kitten. It seemed the creature had since completed its evolution.

[Name]: Flame Assault Cat
[Attribute]: Fire
[Species Rank]: High-level Combatant
[Growth Stage]: Stage 1, Maturity
[Core Talent]: Flame Wheel (Fire, Grade C)
[Species Description]: The evolved form of the Flame-tailed Kitten. The high-temperature flames burning on its tail symbolize its vitality. It excels at pushing its internal heat to the limits, unleashing powerful offensive skills.
[Default Hidden Energy Value]: 12,688P

Wen Li clutched her neck in discomfort, as if trying to force something she had swallowed back out, but despite her efforts, she couldn’t manage it.

“Those fruits are really strange… They seem to cause hallucinations and disrupt perception… cough, cough…”

“Meowr…” The Flame Assault Cat nudged its Beastmaster’s waist worriedly.

“I see,” Mu Huiyue responded after a brief moment of surprise. “It’s a high-ranking elite wood-type species—Guava Flower. Its trait is producing sweet-scented fruits that, when consumed, induce hallucinations in extraordinary beings, turning them into puppets controlled by the Guava Flower.”

The Guava Flower is the signature contracted beast of Lishang Beastmaster High School in Lizhou. Nearly every graduate from that school owns one, a piece of intelligence known to all contestants.

Although it was unclear how they managed to make the Guava Fruits grow on uninhabited vines, the moment Mu Huiyue saw those fruits, she had already deduced their origin.

After speaking, her voice paused. The guidebook only mentioned the effects of the Guava Fruit on extraordinary beings—there was no record of what happens when humans consume it…

Wen Li froze for a moment as well, then her expression shifted to one of sudden realization. “So it was the Lizhou group causing trouble?!”

Even such an exaggerated expression, when made by someone as beautiful as Wen Li, was undeniably captivating.

Mu Huiyue took a Beastmaster-grade antidote from her bag and walked toward the competitor who had kindly warned her but was now unable to protect herself.

She wasn’t sure if the antidote would work, but it was the only remedy she could think of at the moment.

The Flame Assault Cat bristled slightly as Mu Huiyue approached, but after sensing no hostility from her, the panther-like feline returned to its Beastmaster’s side.

“I don’t need an antidote,” Wen Li shook her head, still rubbing her throat with one hand, her expression a bit sheepish. “But do you have any food? Something high-energy would be best…”

Mu Huiyue thought for a moment and retrieved a compressed energy cube from her backpack.

This was a specially formulated compressed food for Beastmasters, made from various extraordinary resources. It was difficult for ordinary people to digest and didn’t taste great, but it could quickly restore a Beastmaster’s stamina.

When Wen Li saw the energy cube Mu Huiyue handed over, her eyes lit up. She accepted it with thanks and began devouring it ravenously.

The sight sparked a faint sense of familiarity in Mu Huiyue. It wasn’t until the girl started wolfing down the cube that she realized—this expression was exactly the same as White Fang’s whenever it saw her bring out its special food!

She lowered her head to pet the Little Cloud Hound that had walked up to her.

White Fang was still craving the Guava Fruit, whining softly as it kept glancing toward the vine. Its tail wagged gently, but its body stayed firmly in place, not taking a single step forward.

Mu Huiyue felt proud that it had managed to restrain its instincts and not succumb to the temptation of the Guava Fruit.

Hmm… in this regard, White Fang might even be stronger than Wen Li.

Wen Li had devoured all the energy cubes Mu Huiyue had given her in one go. Exhaling deeply, she finally felt like she had come back to life.

A trace of golden light, like a high-temperature flame, ignited in her eyes. The glow coursed through her body, and for a moment, she seemed to be consumed by the fire within her.

Inherited Beastmaster Talent: Bloodburn.

It is said that the Bloodburn talent is intricately linked to the power of the Solar Divine Phoenix. It can incinerate all impurities, including illnesses and toxins within the body. Not only does it have remarkable effects in pet battles and nurturing, but it can also alter the Beastmaster’s own constitution.

No wonder Wen Li dared to eat strange wild fruits directly. Ordinary poisons and negative effects are rendered powerless in the face of the Bloodburn talent.

Having finally dispelled the strange hallucination, Wen Li released her hand from her throat, and her complexion returned to normal.

“Thank you!” The beautiful girl looked over with sparkling eyes, her expression still tinged with lingering fear.

“I thought for sure I was in trouble this time. Luckily, I ran into you. Hmm… what’s your name?”

“Mu Huiyue.”

The surname sounded somewhat familiar to Wen Li. She glanced at the small white-furred dog sitting beside Mu Huiyue—a Little Cloud Hound, a mid-level warrior-class pet that was relatively rare in the capital region.

“I remember now, you’re the daughter of Mu Chuanqi, right?” Wen Li said, realizing immediately and then feeling she had misspoken. She quickly shook her head and rephrased, “I should be calling you the Beastmaster of the Little Cloud Hound.”

“I’m Wen Li. If possible, I hope you can…”

“Hmm, the Beastmaster of the Flame Assault Cat,” Mu Huiyue nodded, addressing Wen Li with that title.

The girl in front of her had inherited her parents’ appearance and bloodline talents, but she had not contracted the initial form of the Zhu Yan Bird, nor had she pursued the path of becoming a Beastmaster performer, which was enough to show her intentions.

Coincidentally, Mu Huiyue also did not want her name to always be linked to her father.

“Meow!” Hearing someone mention it, the Flame Assault Cat let out a joyful cry, its tail swishing behind it.

Wen Li’s eyes brightened once again. Though she was a Diyan person with black hair and eyes, her gaze was incredibly bright, as if it were faintly burning with flames, full of vibrant, lively emotions.

She immediately stepped forward and grasped Mu Huiyue’s hand. “I knew you’d understand! From now on, we’re good friends, Huiyue!”

Mu Huiyue couldn’t help but freeze for a moment but ultimately didn’t pull her hand away.

In her experiences across two worlds, she had never been an outgoing or cheerful person. After coming to this world, she had few human friends, and this was the first time she was treated so intimately by someone her age.

“Woof?” White Fang glanced at the two of them. Since it was now friends with its Beastmaster, should it also get familiar with the other’s pet?

The Little Cloud Hound stepped forward slowly, wagging its tail at the Flame Assault Cat. The large cat, with a mix of black and red fur, looked down at the white-furred dog. It didn’t show any signs of arrogance and instead wagged its tail in response, a gesture of acknowledgment.

Compared to the somewhat erratic Beastmaster, the Flame Assault Cat appeared much more composed.

Mu Huiyue petted White Fang’s fluffy head and looked toward Wen Li, who was encouraging the Flame Assault Cat to respond more enthusiastically. She asked, “Wen Li, why did you eat the Guava fruit?”

The students entering the ranking competition were all top students from various Beastmaster high schools. Wen Li’s ranking was “26,” even while accompanied by the Flame Tail Cat, and now it would only be higher. There was no reason for her to forget the information about the Guava flower.

“The first day, I lost my backpack with the rations…”

Wen Li scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed. “At the time, I didn’t think it was a big deal. After all, the dense forest has plenty of food sources. I wasn’t worried about eating anything strange, and Ah Miao could always help me cook it.”

“Meow!” The Flame Assault Cat couldn’t help but sigh. Its Beastmaster really was this unreliable.

“But along the way, I didn’t find anything I could eat and got so hungry that my mind was all foggy. Finally, I saw those very tempting fruits…”

Wen Li sighed as well, her expression matching the Flame Assault Cat’s. “Before the assessment started, the teacher showed us information on outstanding contestants from other regions, but back then, who could have expected so much?”

“Only when I started hallucinating did I realize something was wrong. I was so hungry that even my Beastmaster abilities were hard to activate.”

She turned her head and gave a bright smile. “I’m glad I met you, Cheng Yue.”

Mu Huiyue paused for a moment. Sometimes there are Beastmasters like Wen Li who rely purely on their talents and push through with sheer determination…

The two of them chatted for a while. When Wen Li had recovered enough, Mu Huiyue left her some of the food.

Anyway, she had brought enough energy blocks with her, and Ellen had a large stash hidden in the shadows, so it was no problem helping a fellow student in need.

It definitely wasn’t because she wanted to see the beautiful girl’s eyes light up in the same adorable way as White Fang’s.

During their conversation, the nearby bushes rustled, and one by one, wild extraordinary creatures emerged.

These creatures came from the sky, the trees, the swamps, and the ground…

They shouldn’t have all appeared in this dense environment at once, and their vital spots were all empty, without any crystal stones that represented points.

As expected… the puppets of the Ba Luo flower.

Mu Huiyue turned around, and her small cloud dog had already entered combat mode, baring its sharp teeth and growling threateningly from its throat.