Chapter 263: Mysterious Antler Deer King

"Huo La, look, that's the Mysterious Antler Deer King," Gangshi tightened the reins and pointed at the herd of Mysterious Horn Deer ahead, saying.

Huo La followed the direction of his finger and saw, in the midst of the chaotic herd of Mysterious Horn Deer, a particularly conspicuous Mysterious Horn Deer surrounded by the others.

Its branch‑like antlers atop its head were far thicker and larger than those of ordinary Mysterious Horn Deer, and between the interlaced branches a faint purple‑gold light flickered, setting it apart from the others.

The next second, the system panel automatically popped up, displaying the Mysterious Antler Deer King's information clearly:

Pokemon: Mysterious Horn Deer

Gender: Female

Level: Lv. 35

Su Xing: A

Status: Healthy

Nature: Relaxed

Attribute: Normal/Psychic

Ability: Keen Sense (can perceive opponent's Carried Item and specific type)

Height: 1.9m

Weight: 97kg

Carried Item: Mango

Skills: Tackle (Proficiency 100%), Scary Face (Proficiency 52%), Hypnosis (Proficiency 100%), Strange Light (Proficiency 61%), High Speed Movement (Proficiency 100%), Roleplay (Proficiency 1%)......

Improvement Count: 0

"What huge antlers!" Huo La couldn't help but exclaim.

Those antlers were not only massive in size, the flickering purple‑gold light was clearly a trace of residual Spacetime Energy.

Gangshi nodded, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity: "Unlike the Flying Mantis tribe, which battles for the throne by strength, the king of the Mysterious Horn Deer tribe must be a being whose antlers are unlike the ordinary; this is the iron rule of their lineage."

He paused, then added, "This Mysterious Antler Deer King was re‑elected by the tribe after the old Deer King passed away the year before last; its antlers are among the largest in the tribe."

Huo La nodded, his gaze returning to the panel.

The base attributes of this Mysterious Antler Deer King were not top‑tier, even falling short of several adult Mysterious Horn Deer surrounding it.

He thought briefly, then looked at Captain Gangshi: "Captain Gangshi, you said its condition wasn't severe despite Spacetime Energy influence—could it be because of those massive antlers?"

Gangshi's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, then he nodded approvingly: "You're right; the core reason is those antlers."

He explained, "All the power of a Mysterious Horn Deer converges in its antlers; those antlers are both its most potent weapon and its strongest defensive shield."

"After being corroded by Spacetime Energy, this Mysterious Antler Deer King, by sheer will, forced all the Abnormal Energy into its antlers, barely maintaining consciousness. Without those antlers, it would have gone berserk like the Axe Mantis King."

Huo La pondered briefly and suggested a seemingly straightforward solution: "Since the energy is all concentrated in the antlers, why not just saw them off? I recall Mysterious Horn Deer antlers are precious medicinal herbs, so sawing them off shouldn't endanger its life, right?"

Gangshi fell silent at the words, and after a while let out a heavy sigh, his tone grave: "Mysterious Horn Deer antlers cannot be sawn off. While physiologically sawing them off wouldn't cause immediate death, for them the antlers symbolize dignity and life. A Mysterious Horn Deer that loses its antlers completely loses its will to survive, eventually choosing to starve or rush into a dangerous area to end its life."

He paused again, adding: "The Mysterious Horn Deer antlers currently circulating in Hisui are either remnants of naturally deceased deer or collected after accidental deaths; we have never saw live antlers—this is the bottom line Diamond Team upholds, also a respect for the Mysterious Horn Deer tribe."

Huo La nodded, his expression solemn: "I understand; I was thinking too simply. So our next step..."

"No rush," Gangshi waved his hand, signaling him to stay calm, "Let's return to the nearby camp first. Eat, drink, rest for a night, and we'll figure it out tomorrow."

He patted Huo La's shoulder, his tone a bit hearty, "It's a perfect chance for you to experience Diamond Team's hospitality, and let Ami tell you in detail about the Mysterious Horn Deer tribe—she's been looking after the local herd, and no one knows these creatures better than her."

"Ami Farm Owner?" Huo La's eyes lit up. "Speaking of which, the last time I was in trouble in the Obsidian Fieldlands, it was Ami Farm Owner who braved danger to rescue me; I haven't properly thanked her yet."

"Then it's perfect; this time you can thank her in person," Gangshi said with a smile, urging the Mysterious Horn Deer forward as they headed toward the camp, "Ami's straightforward nature means she'll gladly talk with you about the Mysterious Antler Deer King."

Huo La nodded, his gaze once again turning toward the distant herd of Mysterious Horn Deer.

The sunset's afterglow painted the forest in warm orange, and on the antlers of that Mysterious Antler Deer King, a faint purple‑gold glow stood out in the dusk like a warning lantern hanging among the trees.

Back at the Diamond Team's camp, the bonfire was already blazing, and steaming dishes and several bowls of milky drinks rested on the wooden table.

Ami Farm Owner was sitting beside the fire waiting; seeing the two return, she immediately lifted a cup and rose to greet them.

"Ami Farm Owner, regarding the incident in the Obsidian Fieldlands last time, thank you for arriving in time to help," Huo La stepped forward, took the cup, and expressed his gratitude.

Ami Farm Owner's face flashed with a hint of embarrassment: "I feel indebted. When Ju Yi and I rushed over, we couldn't rescue you in time; by the time we arrived, you had already... been taken by Dai Oqi Xisi."

"That can't be said like that; the fact that you risked danger to save me is enough," Huo La clinked his cup of Deer Milk Wine with Ami's, downed it in one gulp, the rich milky flavor mingling with a faint wine aroma spreading on his tongue, his eyes brightening, "This stuff is really delicious!"

Gangshi laughed heartily beside them, patting Huo La's shoulder: "That's natural! This Deer Milk Wine is Diamond Team's unique specialty, brewed from Mysterious Horn Deer milk combined with specially crafted Berries; you can't find it elsewhere. But you should note, it looks like milk but actually has alcohol—drinking it too fast can get you drunk, so sip it slowly."

The few of them sat around the bonfire, eating a simple meal.

After three rounds of drinking, Gangshi set his wooden cup down, his expression turning serious: "Huo La, I have a matter of business. Could you try tomorrow to help the Mysterious Antler Deer King purge the Abnormal Energy from its body?"

Huo La's hand holding the cup hesitated, and in his mind the scene from two days earlier of absorbing the Axe Mantis's internal energy flashed—cold, ferocious energy surged from his palm into his meridians like countless ice spikes drilling, the excruciating pain still vivid.

He involuntarily shivered, hesitated briefly, and silently thought: "System, can you absorb the energy within the Mysterious Antler Deer King's antlers this time?"

"System... can absorb... system's current conversion capacity is sufficient..." the system's mechanical voice resonated slowly in his mind, steady with a hint of electronic tone.

Listening to the system's confirmation, Huo La inhaled deeply: "I can give it a try!"