Chapter 327

After three hours of frantic running, sustained entirely by consuming Qi.

Just as the Gang Qi was about to be exhausted, Yu Chuan finally arrived at the area where his teammates were located.

This was a dark purple swamp, abruptly appearing in the dreamlike Senluo Forest Realm region.

On the map, it looked like a wound torn open by some force.

Standing in the center of the swamp was a flesh-and-blood nest, its surface crawling with various spiritual runes, pulsing like blood vessels. Every few seconds, it would spew out a cloud of eerie green mist.

Yu Chuan wiped away his sweat, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

Compared to the brilliant, dreamlike forest environment behind him, this area beneath his feet seemed deliberately desaturated, and a faint scent of blood drifted in the air, yet it carried a strange, inexplicable attraction.

"Over here."

Just then, the team captain poked his head out from behind a cracked black boulder and waved at him.

The captain "Pig Teammate" looked utterly abstract: a gleaming bald head, a thick gold chain made of combat modules around his neck, a treasure-hunting rat perched on his right shoulder, and a floral shirt—clearly not a serious player.

Yu Chuan decisively bypassed the boulder and met these teammates he had never seen before.

Seeing his teammates' outfits, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

He also understood what "birds of a feather flock together" meant.

Each of these teammates' appearances was more outrageous than the last.

The assassin teammate crouching in the corner wore a fluorescent pink bodysuit with the three large characters "Begging for Backstab" printed on the back.

The support leaning against the tree had the game ID "Heal Until You Vomit," wore a nurse's uniform, and had a small advertisement on his chest reading "Cures All Diseases"...

The other players in the squad shared a similar style, making Yu Chuan feel out of place.

By comparison, his own black cloth robes actually looked quite good.

"Brother, come discuss tactics; I'll explain in detail what we need to do next."

The captain hooked an arm around his shoulder, warmly pulling him to sit on the ground, then casually picked up a branch and pointed to a twisted pattern drawn on the earth, saying:

"You were introduced to the plan on your way here, but I haven't yet explained the situation inside the nest."

As he spoke, the captain pointed the branch toward the entrance of the nest:

"A formation designed to attract prey is set here; it lures prey inside. We discovered this place while hunting prey... According to the Guide's analysis, the formation's function is to receive rule power to incubate Soul Beast seeds, and secondly, to trap prey."

"The prey here fall into two categories. The first type, whose life strength exceeds that of the Soul Beast, will be crushed directly upon detection by the formation, turning into flesh and blood nutrients to nourish the Soul Beast seeds."

"The second type, with life strength lower than the Soul Beast, will be allowed through by the formation. Once inside the Soul Beast nest, they will have their memories, combat talents, and a series of abilities devoured by the Soul Beast. Therefore, we need a player of relatively weak strength to sneak inside and steal the Soul Beast seed."

Hearing the captain's explanation, Yu Chuan felt puzzled:

"Captain, isn't it simple to find a weakling? Just have a teammate decompose their Painful Painful Minghun. As long as the evolution points from the decomposition feedback aren't used, combat power will drop quickly."

Upon hearing this, the captain helplessly spread his hands:

"We've already opened our eighth Star Pulse Slot. Even the attribute bonuses from mere body refinement levels exceed the strength of a Soul Beast cub. Even if we fully decompose our Painful Painful Minghun, we still wouldn't pass the formation's detection."

Yu Chuan nodded in realization, then continued asking:

"Captain, now that you've told me this secret, aren't you afraid I'll keep all the rewards for myself?"

"It's just a game; why so many schemes?" Pig Teammate waved his hand, looking utterly unconcerned:

"We are all veteran players who gained qualification when the Senluo Forest Realm region opened. We've made many friends through hunting along the way and haven't encountered such purely disgusting players. Besides, this Soul Beast nest isn't some one-time opportunity; the Soul Beast seeds produced inside are endless."

"Moreover, this place isn't safe. Without team coordination, the Soul Slaves guarding the Soul Beast inside will chase you out. If there's no one to meet you outside, you'll still die... And the Soul Beast you steal, without establishing a Cao Kong Lao Yin and cleansing it through the purification system, cannot be stored in the pet space. All this requires teammates' help."

As he spoke, Pig Teammate grinned, patting Yu Chuan's shoulder:

"Brother, since you contacted me, it means we have a connection... So, instead of worrying about the issues you mentioned, we should think about how to get more Soul Beast seeds. Once our Soul Beast farm gets on track, everyone can earn Shou Shou Jili from it, and we'll all be happy."

Hearing these words, Yu Chuan nodded vigorously.

Although the captain "Pig Teammate's" appearance was truly abstract, after just a few sentences of conversation, Yu Chuan had grasped this person's straightforward nature.

This was a teammate worthy of trust.

"By the way, Captain, are you sure controlling the Painful Painful Minghun can control the Soul Beast? Logically, Soul Beasts are also products of rules; do we need to modify their life logic by injecting Shou Shou Jili, like with Within Shu Yan Warriors?"

At this moment, Yu Chuan thought of the relevant settings for Within Shu Yan Warriors.

"Rest assured. I asked the Guide. Soul Beasts are merely derivative energy products of the Soul-Shaping rules, inferior to our players' system of controlling Painful Painful Minghun. They can be fully controlled. Although purification is needed, there's no need to re-edit their life logic like with Within Shu Yan Warriors."

With the plan confirmed feasible, Yu Chuan immediately felt relieved.

At this moment, the captain grinned:

"The only issue is that the Soul Beast nest has Soul Slaves accompanying the Soul Beast seeds. Your strength might not be enough to handle them, so you must be prepared to die and return. Remember, once inside, don't be greedy; steal the Soul Beast cub and run for the exit. We'll meet you outside."

"Understood." Yu Chuan stood up, ready to set off immediately.

Next would be a gold-mining operation racing against death.

"Drink some potions. Restore your status to full before entering; you must have consumed a lot of blood and Qi during the journey."

Hearing the captain's words, Yu Chuan's expression became somewhat awkward.

The captain seemed to see through his embarrassment, smiling as he patted his shoulder:

"Brother, there's no shame in lacking Shou Shou Jili. If you have needs, just tell us. Fate made us friends in the game; what are a few potions?" As he spoke, the captain laughed heartily and tossed the potions over:

"Once we pull off this job, don't say mid-tier potions; even top-tier recovery potions will be available for free drinking."

"Our team values mutual help. Playing a game is all about brotherhood."

"Thank you, Captain."

"No need for thanks."

The assassin player crouching nearby also tossed over two blue potions at this moment:

"Brother, catch. These are anti-toxin potions. The Guide says there's toxic mist inside. Drink one before entering; it will last half an hour."

Deeply moved, Yu Chuan drank the potions one after another, then set off toward the Soul Beast nest.

Arriving before the Soul Beast nest, he stood still, took a deep breath, and stepped into the dim tunnel.

At this moment, the captain's voice came:

"Remember to go live."

"Already on."

Through the nearly transparent light curtain, the interior scene appeared before Yu Chuan's eyes.

The inside of the nest was not the dark, terrifying place he imagined, but instead shrouded in a dreamlike ethereal blue glow.

Countless semi-transparent mycelial threads wove across the cave walls, forming a vast glowing neural network that pulsed slowly in rhythm.

He stepped cautiously inward, the ground covered in glowing blue moss; each step sent tiny particles of light rising.

These light particles hovered briefly in the air before slowly settling, forming flowing halos at his feet.

After advancing dozens of meters, countless crystal-like mushrooms hung from the ceiling above.

Yu Chuan held his breath, walking slowly along the corridor formed by the mycelial network.

The glowing moss beneath his feet rippled like waves with each step, leaving behind a trail of fading footprints.

As he turned a corner, the glow of the mycelial network suddenly flickered erratically.

At that moment, the captain's voice echoed in his mind:

"Watch out—the guidance view shows something lurking in the shadows."

No sooner had the teammate spoken than a semi-transparent figure lunged down from the mushrooms above.

Yu Chuan sidestepped; the claw grazed his neck, sending a bone-chilling cold through him.

The thing landed and revealed its true form.

It had a humanoid silhouette but insect-like joints, its entire body composed of flowing ethereal blue energy.

As the analysis scan swept over it, relevant information surfaced in Yu Chuan's mind.

【Soul Return·Soul Slave】:

Hunting Rank: 38

Target Description: A soul beast companion and guardian bred exclusively by the Soul Return clan, formed by fusing residual souls of those consumed. Their duty is clear: wound intruders severely but not kill them, waiting until the prey loses the ability to resist, then summoning soul beasts via soul-force chains to feast.

……

Simultaneously receiving the analysis data, crimson Gang Qi erupted violently; Yu Chuan spun and delivered a whip-like kick to the Soul Slave's waist.

But the Soul Slave did not dodge or evade; the struck area rippled like water, gradually dissipating the impact.

Instead, icy cold surged up Yu Chuan's right leg; his pant leg instantly frosted over—but vanished rapidly under the Unyielding Trait's reinforcement.

He immediately shifted tactics, his left hand forming a claw to seize the Soul Slave's skull:

"Try this."

He sucked in sharply; food entering his body transformed into surging, burning Gang Qi that enveloped his right arm.

Crack!

The Soul Slave's arm snapped under this blow.

"Brother, watch your back!"

The captain, spotting the anomaly through the guidance view, warned again over the team channel.

Yu Chuan rolled right without looking back; another Soul Slave's claw scraped his back, tearing three frost-emitting rips in his black tunic.

Two Soul Slaves surrounded him—one ahead, one behind.

The mycelial network above flickered violently; more ethereal blue figures emerged at the corridor's end.

"Run—we'll handle the exit."

The ethereal blue figures at the corridor's end surged forward like a tide.

The mycelial network flashed at high frequency, dyeing the entire corridor a dangerous crimson.

Without hesitation, Yu Chuan turned and fled.

But the glowing moss beneath his feet suddenly turned viscous; each step felt like stepping on glue.

The Soul Slaves behind emitted high-pitched shrieks, the sound pounding his temples.

An ethereal blue claw-wind swept past his nape; frost instantly formed on his back.

"Duck!"

Hearing the captain's roar, Yu Chuan dropped his head sharply.

A Soul Slave's claw slashed overhead, shearing off a lock of his hair.

Under the threat of death, adrenaline surged; his Gang Qi reached maximum output, propelling his body into a frantic sprint toward the cave mouth.

"Faster!" his teammate urged through the communicator.

The corridor's corner was within reach—but five Soul Slaves had already flanked him.

The fastest Soul Slave suddenly flickered, appearing directly behind him, claw aimed straight for his heart.

At his teammate's warning, Yu Chuan leapt forward without hesitation, narrowly dodging the claw.

Landing, he rolled forward with momentum, then rose and kept sprinting.

The cave mouth was right ahead; judging the distance, Yu Chuan pushed off hard, launching himself into the air, flying straight through the opening.

But the Soul Slaves showed no sign of stopping; five of them followed one after another out of the cave.

Just as the Soul Slaves' claws were about to pierce Yu Chuan's back, a blood-red chain shot sideways, coiling around his waist and yanking him violently.

Yu Chuan, about to land, was yanked midair off course, barely avoiding the lethal encirclement.

He rolled twice on the ground to dissipate the force, then looked up to see the captain's blood-red chain retracting like a living serpent into his palm.

Then the team's support player activated Life Link, adding another layer of protection.

On the other side, the team's magic user raised a hand; the Ice Mist Breath trait activated, condensing countless ice arrows around him. With a casual flick, the arrows shot forth, piercing through the semi-corporeal bodies of the five Soul Slaves.

At the same moment, the team's assassin emerged from his Dusk Shadow form, each hand wielding a short blade wrapped in purple lightning, moving like a ghost through the frozen Soul Slaves.

Each time he passed one, the lightning on his blades flared stronger.

The final strike crossed the twin blades, and five soul slaves exploded into a sky of ice crystals.

"Beautiful."

The captain, Piggy Teammate, clapped and laughed loudly, then tossed Yu Chuan a healing potion:

"Brother, restore first—we're not in a rush. As long as we kill all the soul slaves, the soul beasts are ours for the taking."

Yu Chuan nodded, bit open the potion cap, and drank it down in one gulp.

The icy liquid slid down his throat, and instantly a warm current exploded from his stomach, surging through every limb and vein.

A tingling, ant-bite sensation arose from the three black wounds on his back; the lingering yin-cold energy of the soul slaves was forcibly expelled, condensing into tiny ice crystals on his skin before falling away with a rustle.

He shifted his shoulders, glanced at his rapidly regenerating health bar, and stood up.

"Full health revived." Yu Chuan twisted his neck, feeling the Gang Qi surge through his meridians like a mighty river.

"Remember, don't get greedy—run if you sense danger. We'll be waiting at the cave entrance," said the assassin player in the squad, flicking the liquid off his dagger with a smile.

"Understood."

Yu Chuan nodded solemnly, turned, and approached the soul beast nest, stepping into the dark tunnel.

This time he was more cautious, his eyes scanning the surroundings constantly.

Arriving at the bend where he'd encountered the soul slaves, he advanced another hundred meters—and his breath caught.

Hundreds of soul beast eggs floated silently within the circular cavern, connected by web-like neural filaments.

Around each egg drifted pale blue light particles, drawing derivative energy through designated energy-transfer nodes.

These were precisely the soul beast seeds they sought.

"Captain, target located. Preparing to act."

He reported in a low voice, eyes alert, scanning all around.

He could see numerous soul slaves sleeping in the corners, curled like fetuses in a womb.

"We saw it on stream—go ahead. If the soul slaves wake, run out. Don't be foolish."

Yu Chuan nodded, crept quietly to beneath the soul beast seeds.

Just as he reached out toward the nearest egg, a drop of viscous fluid dripped from the ceiling.

Yu Chuan jerked back instantly—the ground where he'd stood smoked with corrosive green vapor.

He looked up: countless blood-red eyes had opened within the fungal network.

A scan revealed them to be another form of soul slave.

"Found! Run!" The captain's shout blared through the squad channel.

At that moment, a bat-like Soul Slave dove down; Yu Chuan spun aside, condensing Gang Qi into a thin blade across his palm and slashing horizontally.

He cut the soul slave in half.

The soul slave's formidable regenerative ability meant nothing against the player system.

Even Hei Chao Xie Sui couldn't heal it, let alone a soul beast.

As the victory notification chimed in his mind, Yu Chuan turned and bolted—though he desperately wanted to take two soul beast seeds with him.

But as the captain said, profit isn't rushed.

His spatial bag couldn't hold "items" with full life forms; only purified, cleansed life could be stored in the pet space. Carrying soul beast seeds while running would only slow him down.

Facing a swarm of bat-like Soul Slaves diving at him, Yu Chuan smeared Gang Qi under his feet and sprinted full speed toward the cave mouth.

But this time, an accident occurred.

He was still four or five hundred meters from the exit—too far to escape—and was surrounded by soul slaves with faster movement speed.

The barrage of attacks struck his body; defense was impossible.

The soul slaves' sharp claws and fangs tore through his throat. The agony lasted only a moment—then Yu Chuan's vision sank into boundless darkness, his soul returning to Beneath Di Zhao.

As soon as he entered the small black room, he received 2000 Shou Shou Jili transferred by the captain.

The transfer note read: Bro, don't lose heart. Go get a Lightning Steed or a basic levitating board at the Weaponized Vehicle Factory. We'll hunt near the old spot and wait for you. Wins and losses are part of being a player—no need to feel guilty.

"What a great captain!"

Everyone says veteran players are arrogant, but this bald captain with the ridiculous ID showed Yu Chuan a different kind of veteran grace.

Clearly, those who show off to newcomers are only a subset of veterans—many veteran players are still warm-hearted, eager to help newcomers grow and offer encouragement.

Gathering his spirit, while still in the small black room, he began reading guides on Gang Qi usage techniques.

An hour later, Yu Chuan spent 1200 Shou Shou Jili at Di Zhong Village to buy a basic levitating board and set off again toward his teammates' location.

With the vehicle's boost, he reached the teammates' area in only one-fifth the time it took him last time.

He slammed the levitating board to a stop and landed steadily at the entrance of the soul beast nest.

He took a deep breath, circulated Gang Qi within his body, and adjusted his state to peak condition.

"I'm going in."

"Go ahead, don't fear death—we've got all the time in the world. We're waiting outside," said the captain, poking his head out from behind a boulder, giving him a thumbs-up and flashing a dazzling, gleaming white smile.

Yu Chuan returned the thumbs-up, then turned and entered the nest.

As he stepped back into the tunnel, he sensed something different.

The fungal network on the walls was far more active than before, glowing with dangerous red light.

He moved quietly, forming a thin layer of Gang Qi over his skin to prevent any energy leakage.

Returning to the spacious chamber where the soul beast seeds had been placed, Yu Chuan did not rush in this time.

He crept silently to the front of the nearest Soul Beast seed, gathering and compressing Gang Qi beneath his feet.

Then he opened the trading market and spent 350 Shou Shou Jili to buy a Wind-Running Pill.

As for side effects—he ignored them.

As long as the theft succeeded, it was victory.

The pill melted upon entering the mouth, transforming into a pungent, hot current that surged straight into his limbs and bones.

In an instant, his body was filled with an invisible force, and pale green qi vortices erupted from every pore.

Yu Chuan held his breath, continuing to compress the Gang Qi beneath his feet as he crouched, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Once ready, he leaped up, grabbed a Soul Beast egg, and before his body even touched the ground, released Gang Qi to push sideways, propelling his body into a horizontal shift.

Only then did dozens of scarlet eyes open simultaneously within the mycelial network on the cave ceiling.

Knowing he had been exposed, Yu Chuan released all the Gang Qi in his body; after landing, he shot toward the cave mouth like an arrow.

The Soul Slaves in the nest let out a piercing shriek, and the mycelial network covering the cave instantly lit up.

He formed a claw with his right hand, firmly adhering to the Soul Beast seed, while releasing an energy blade condensed from Gang Qi with his left hand behind him to force back the attacking Soul Slaves.

He then sprinted wildly through the narrow passage.

The Soul Slaves behind him pursued relentlessly; their sharp claws scraped past his back several times, tearing open rips in his black cloth robe.

But with the Wind-Running Pill's boost, the disadvantage in speed was not significant.

As he drew closer to the cave mouth, Yu Chuan roared, suddenly increasing his running speed, then leaped and dove straight out of the cave.

The moment his body flew out of the cave mouth, Yu Chuan hurled the Soul Beast egg in his hand forward.

"Catch it!"

His teammates, who had been waiting, immediately acted.

The team leader decisively released the Star-Shift Painful Painful Minghun toward him; after swapping positions, he raised his hand to release a giant shield and slammed it into the ground.

The Taunt trait activated instantly, forcibly attracting all the Soul Slaves pouring out of the cave to his side and launching an assault against them.

The assassin player in the team turned into a wisp of shadow, dual-wielding daggers to precisely pick off the Soul Slaves just outside the Taunt's coverage area.

One chubby teammate twisted his body, transforming into a giant black-armored snake that crashed down upon the team leader's position like a mountain falling.

The team leader had just jumped away.

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening roar, a mass of Soul Slaves was crushed to death.

Yu Chuan rolled to dissipate the inertia from the Star-Shift, then dove to catch the Soul Beast seed just before it hit the ground.

In fact, given the Soul Beast seed's durability, it had no fear of falling.

In the real world, the Soul Beast seed's defense could even withstand the bombardment of ordinary missiles.

At this moment, under the combined assault of his teammates, the battle had ended, and they all converged toward Yu Chuan.

"Mission accomplished," Yu Chuan grinned, holding the Soul Beast egg (seed) high.

Under the moonlight, the deep blue patterns on the Soul Beast egg's surface radiated starlight, resembling a frozen nebula.

Having clearly obtained the Soul Beast seed, the entire squad instantly erupted.

"Hahaha, the first one successfully secured!" The team leader rushed forward, activated Analysis, and scanned the Soul Beast seed back and forth with his eyes, unable to hide his joy:

"Although the hunting rank is only 23, it will definitely sell for a high price."

The assassin player in the team sheathed his daggers at this moment and said approvingly:

"That mid-air redirection just now was good; did Ah Le's training camp teach you that?"

The rest of the teammates also crowded forward, looking at the Soul Beast seed in Yu Chuan's hand, their faces unable to conceal their smiles.

The first "mining" operation was successful; next was finding a client.

Regarding profit distribution, all team members would split it equally.

The group sat on the ground behind a huge rock outside the Soul Beast nest, surrounding the Soul Beast seed.

The team leader, "Zhu Duiyou," summoned the forum interface at this moment, activated Shared View, and posted in the trading section to find a client.

The title was:

【All-around Pet, Can Instantly Switch Forms, Undisputed Strongest Controllable Pet at This Stage, Seeking Clients in Need, DM to Negotiate Price.】

Poster: Zhu Duiyou.

Content: (Soul Beast Seed. jpg).

The moment this post went out, private messages flooded in like raindrops.

Price inquiries, questions about where it was captured, newbies begging for a gift... various private messages were overwhelming.

Zhu Duiyou's choice was to first check the public personal information of the players sending private messages, confirm they had the strength to purchase, and then negotiate the price.

Yu Chuan curiously asked the team leader what price he intended to sell at.

The team leader's thought was to sell it for 190,000 Shou Shou Jili.

Although this Soul Beast seed had not yet hatched, its growth potential and functionality were far superior to the Shuyuan Warrior, making this price very reasonable.

Later, everyone would receive 10,000 each, and subsequent Soul Beast seeds captured would also be sold at this price.

During the private message price negotiation, the team leader shared his view throughout, ensuring every step was open and transparent.

Seeing this scene, Yu Chuan felt something in his heart.

The guild he had joined early on in the Land of Sin years ago had disbanded precisely because profit distribution was not transparent.

Regarding profit distribution, teammate trust was one thing, but the team leader's conduct was another.

Even if members had developed deep bonds through years of association, all transaction processes still had to be completely open and transparent.

In the face of profit, once suspicion arose, even the deepest bonds could develop cracks.

Only transparency and openness could prevent any seeds of suspicion from taking root; this was the guarantee for a fixed team to endure long-term.

During the private message price negotiation, players kept offering higher prices.

And the general offers were all above 150,000 Shou Shou Jili, but the team leader did not rush to agree, negotiating prices with multiple players simultaneously.

Just then, another private message window popped up.

Their game ID is "Yu Yun You Chang."

This ID is familiar to veteran players—it belonged to the former master of the Control Flow who briefly held the top spot on the player power ranking.

Because of him, the once-obscure Control Painful Painful Minghun experienced explosive popularity.

Later, he pioneered the Control Pet Flow within existing Flow Play styles.

The ID "Yu Yun You Chang" is regarded by Control Flow players as one of the style's representatives.

Yu Yun You Chang: Brother, what's your price?

Zhu Duiyou: Big Boss, name your price—I'll sell if it's fair.

Yu Yun You Chang: I checked the current price of Shu Yan Warriors. Your soul beast is functionally stronger, but it hasn't hatched yet, its hunting level is low, and you'll need to invest more resources early on. I offer 220,000 Shou Shou Jili—that's fair. Don't raise it; this is reasonable.

Zhu Duiyou: Big Boss, you're generous. Let's trade in Sen Luo Lin Jing. The soul beast seed can't be transferred there.

Yu Yun You Chang: I'm coming now. Wait for me.

……

Seeing their captain sell the soul beast for 220,000 Shou Shou Jili, the entire team erupted in cheers.

"Collect the Shou Shou Jili before celebrating—don't pop the champagne too early."

Saying this, the captain summoned the group transport "Floating Boat" and led them toward the exit of the Sen Luo Lin Jing space node.

Along the way, he invited "Yu Yun You Chang" into the group.

When asked during casual chat what he planned to use the soul beast for, Yu Yun You Chang, now in the group, couldn't help sighing:

"You all know I own a Tian Bing that escaped from the Ascension Clan's breeding farm, right?"

"Of course," the captain chuckled in admiration. "That early divine pet—you once topped the forum power rankings with it."

"The Tian Bing had a hunting level of 75 back then—it was strong. But now it's far behind top players' power. I can't bring myself to kill it, and seeing you sell soul beasts made me think: buy a soul beast, have it swallow the Tian Bing, then let it transform back into a Tian Bing. That way I'd quickly regain a Tian Bing of equal power, and later I could keep growing it by devouring other monsters…"

One hour later, Yu Yun You Chang met Yu Chuan's team at the Sen Luo Lin Jing node exit.

As one of the veteran player representatives, Yu Yun You Chang dressed plainly—a simple blue robe, flanked by two Shu Yan Warriors and a giant beast with a hunting level of 89, still following the Control Pet Flow.

The captain trusted him completely and handed over the soul beast seed directly.

"Big Boss, here's your soul beast seed."

Yu Yun You Chang accepted the seed, smiled, and transferred 220,000 Shou Shou Jili.

The transaction complete, once the team returned near the soul beast nest, they could no longer contain themselves—explosive cheers erupted.

"Hah! We're going to get rich—there's no shortage of soul beasts in the nest, we can mass-produce them!"

"Worth it—damn worth it…"

Yu Chuan leaned back against a rock, watching his jubilant teammates, an unconscious smile tugging at his lips.

The next second, a transfer notification rang in his mind—the captain had sent him 11,580 Shou Shou Jili.

He immediately sent back 2,000 Shou Shou Jili to the captain.

He could never accept the Shou Shou Jili the captain gave him early on—he always saw it as a loan.

Seeing the smiles on his teammates' faces, Yu Chuan felt genuine joy.

It felt like the growth he'd earned through sweat and battle at A Le Training Camp, or the first time he'd saved enough Shou Shou Jili to embed the Gang Qi Painful Painful Minghun.

Beyond the value of Shou Shou Jili itself, there was the tangible sense of effort finally rewarded.

Second, these new teammates.

They carried a purity.

No scheming, no counting gains or losses—when they won, they laughed heartily; when they lost, they started over.

Though they'd only known each other briefly, they gave Yu Chuan the same exhilarating feeling he'd once had fighting alongside his brothers.

At this moment, the captain's bald head glowed red in the firelight as he poured spirit wine from his space bag; the assassin and the beast were playing dice; Xing Mang and Qing Nang huddled together chatting.

This simple, direct way of interacting made Yu Chuan feel deeply grounded.

Watching his teammates laugh and play by the fire, he made a decision.

Perhaps he could pause his solitary journey and walk alongside this team for a while.

His dream of Dizhong Mountain would not change—it was his own goal.

But on the path to the pinnacle of players, encountering such sincere companions was surely a stroke of luck.

Their companionship might be just one stop on his long journey through the Monster World—but it would surely become an unforgettable bright spot in his memory.

……

Three days later.

Yu Chuan's technique for stealing soul beast seeds grew increasingly refined.

In these two days, over 100,000 Shou Shou Jili had been deposited.

No Hun Gui Clan warriors had arrived yet—the "Soul Beast Mine" still had potential for further extraction.

On this day, while his team was seeking buyers after successfully stealing two soul beast seeds, a player famous on the forum sent a private message.

Xiao Xiao Fa: I want to buy soul beast seeds—can you sell? I'll pay top price.

Seeing the game ID pop up on the captain's private chat screen, the team, moments ago laughing, froze.

This… was a tricky problem.

(End of Chapter)