《Beast》


 Chapter 1: The System

    ¡°Mom, come out quickly and see the meteor.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the meteor is flying towards us... It''s falling onto that old building across from us.¡±


    On the balcony of the third floor of Building B in Hengyang Residential Area, a little girl shouted excitedly, almost squeezing her small body through the gap in the protective railings.


    ¡°Come back here, it¡¯s too dangerous! How could a meteor fall here, my dear? If you behave, I¡¯ll take you to see the little koalas later, okay?¡± A beautiful young woman quickly pulled the little girl back, gently coaxing her.


    ¡°No, I want to see the meteor, not the little koalas.¡± The little girl pouted, feeling wronged that the adults didn¡¯t believe her.


    However, though her words seemed far-fetched, there was one point she was right about¡ªthe "meteor" indeed fell onto the old building a hundred meters across from them.


    ...


    ¡°Ahhh...¡± With a startled cry, Rossel struggled up from his bed, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.


    Just moments earlier, he had dreamt of being shot in the forehead by a mysterious black-robed figure, vividly witnessing the moment his head exploded.


    ¡°Damn, it was just a nightmare.¡± Who isn''t afraid of death? Although Rossel was a broke young man with nothing to show two years after graduating college, and he had just lost his job yesterday, he hadn''t planned on losing his life so soon.


    No matter how hard life got, he knew he had to persevere, not just for himself, but to help with his younger siblings'' school expenses so that his frail mother wouldn¡¯t have to carry the burden alone, especially since his father, due to frequent exposure to harmful gases at work, had retired and often needed hospital treatment.


    Like many, Rossel came from a rural background. After graduating from Jingnan University, he struggled to stay in the city, hoping for a better opportunity that would allow him to earn more and lighten his family''s load.


    Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. It seemed every job he got didn''t last long¡ªnot because he wasn¡¯t willing to work hard, but because he seemed to clash with his bosses.


    Like yesterday¡ªwhen he was handing documents to his boss, he accidentally witnessed the bald man harassing a young woman who had just graduated. Unable to hold back, he stepped in to help her.


    The result? Predictably, the bald boss, infuriated, fired him on the spot, not even settling half a month''s salary.


    Rossel considered seeking justice through the labor department, but as a young man from the countryside with no power or influence, he couldn¡¯t win against a big boss, so he had to swallow his grievances.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Recalling yesterday''s events, Rossel still felt indignant, his eyes showing confusion. If faced with the same situation again, would he still intervene?


    The answer wasn''t clear. Maybe it was time for a change. In today¡¯s society, honest people always seem to suffer. For the first time, Rossel¡¯s lifelong values wavered.


    ¡°Huh? How did a hole appear in the wall next to my bed?¡± Out of the corner of his eye, Rossel noticed something unsettling.


    Just inches from where he sat up, a smooth hole had mysteriously appeared, with a streak of sunlight shining through. The hole wasn¡¯t large, just about as thick as a finger, but the eerie thing was that Rossel distinctly remembered the wall being intact before he went to sleep.


    Lying back down, he found the sunlight from the hole shone directly on his forehead.


    ¡°Is it just a coincidence?¡± With that thought, Rossel felt his hair standing on end and a cold sweat running down his back.


    ¡°Beep... Host¡¯s mental activity detected to be exceptionally high, initiating system start-up.¡±


    ¡°System start-up in progress¡ªsuccessfully started. Detected host blood compatibility with the Three-Eyed Tribe at 11.2%, exceeding the 10% threshold, initial fusion condition met, initiating autonomous fusion process.¡±


    ¡°5, 4, 3, 2... Beep, fusion successful. Super Pet Beast System successfully integrated with host.¡±


    ¡°First-time system activation detected, granting host a random pet beast gene and awarding 100 points. Your current personal information is as follows:


    Host: Luocheng


    Points: 100


    Strength: 7 (10)


    Agility: 7 (10)


    Spirit: 9 (10)


    Divine Energy: 11 (0)


    Host Skill: Divine Energy Feeding


    System Level: 1


    Pet Space: ''Ice Crystal Mother Fish'' seed*1¡±


    With the synthetic voice fading, a personal information display appeared in Rossel¡¯s line of sight, showing his attributes and some strange skills.


    As a semi-recluse who spent plenty of time with online games and web novels, he immediately grasped the implications.


    ¡°Could it be?... Did this so-called Super Pet Beast System break into my room and even implant itself into my forehead while I was sleeping?¡±


    Mouth agape, Rossel pinched his leg hard, feeling the pain cementing the reality¡ªeverything he saw wasn¡¯t a dream!


    Taking a deep breath, excitement stained his cheeks as he focused on the pet space section of his personal information.


    In a blink, his view shifted, revealing a cubic meter-sized space before him.


    ¡°The Ice Crystal Mother Fish seed, a spiritual life form, a treasured spiritual object aiding ancient immortals in cultivation. Hatch it, and you will gain unexpected rewards.¡±


    Inside the pet space was a small crystal vial containing the seed he was randomly gifted¡ªthe Ice Crystal Mother Fish seed, an item Rossel had never heard or seen before.


    His mouth opened slightly, instinctively reaching to grasp it, only to be surprised as a thumb-sized ice crystal bottle appeared in his palm with just a thought.


    Through the beautiful crystal, he could faintly see a rice-grain-sized ice crystal seed submerged in icy blue water. It appeared to be the spiritual seed of the Ice Crystal Mother Fish.


    The seed was far smaller than Rossel imagined. Swallowing hard, he hadn¡¯t expected the system to grant him such a legendary spiritual item.


    With the tangible pet beast seed in hand, Rossel finally believed in the system''s existence. He closed his eyes to study the ¡°Super Pet Beast System.¡±


    The Super Pet Beast System was divided into five main sections: Attributes, Host Skills, Tasks, Shop, and Pet Space.


    The Shop was particularly prominent. With a thought, Rossel entered the Shop, and a wave of information filled his mind.


    Beast¡ªFerocious Beast¡ªSavage Beast¡ª???

 Chapter 2: Mighty Ant

    Upon entering the ''Beast'' section of the shop, pages of 3D images instantly appeared in Rossell''s mind, each accompanied by extensive annotations detailing the origin, detailed information, and point redemption requirements for each pet beast seed.


    This was a system that allowed one to exchange points for various life forms to become their pet beast. At his current system level, Rossell found that he could only redeem the most basic and primitive beasts with his points.


    Though collectively termed "Beast," the system offered more than just traditional beasts. In the ''Beast'' category alone, not only were there beasts and animals, but also fish, insects, flowers, birds, and plants¡ªessentially any life form. All were available for redemption, though the required points varied.


    With just a quick glance, Rossell noticed that even humans of various forms were listed at the end of the Beast shop. There were humans resembling himself, others with purple hair and violet eyes, those with wings, and even some with horns¡ªall human in fundamental appearance with minor differences. Their point cost ranged from 300 to 1,000 points.


    Beyond this, other life categories extended into various exotic species, with a diversity that suggested Earth''s creations made up only a tenth of what was available in the shop.


    For example, in the Beast category, there was an ant called the "Herculean Worker Ant," requiring only 10 points for redemption. According to the system, these ants were from the "Flare Reed Star Realm," and an adult Herculean Worker Ant could lift 1,500 times its body weight and drag 3,000 times its weight.


    Incredible¡ªtruly incredible!


    Rossell was not foolish; from this information alone, he realized that this mysterious super pet system might be the turning point for his struggling life.


    Following the Beast category were grayed-out slots for Fierce Beasts, which remained "mortal beasts." Fierce Beasts were simply more ferocious, powerful, and combative than ordinary beasts, and their redemption costs started at four digits.


    The lowest of these was the Saber-Tooth Tiger at 1,000 points, going up to the most expensive, the "Crimson Prison Devouring Python," priced at exactly 10,000 points.


    Beyond Fierce Beasts were Savage Beasts, also "mortal," but larger in size. Upon investigating, Rossell noted that the smallest Savage Beasts were over fifteen meters tall.


    Giant creatures measuring tens of meters in length were not unusual, including creatures from the Cretaceous period like the Tyrannosaurus and Pterosaurs, which were part of the Savage Beasts. Their point cost ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 points, with creatures like the T-Rex occupying the lower tiers.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The largest category of Savage Beasts surpassed a hundred meters, suggesting they did not originate from Earth''s environment.


    Overall, the idea of such colossal Savage Beasts left Rossell''s heart pounding with excitement. Imagining one day being able to redeem such a gigantic pet was thrilling.


    Godzilla attacking a city? That would be nothing!


    ...


    Beyond the Savage Beasts lay a series of question marks, indicating beast levels currently beyond his detection capabilities. This suggested that the system''s randomly gifted Ice-Crystal Fish Mother Spirit Beast was of immense value, far surpassing that of a Savage Beast.


    At that moment, Rossell realized just how lucky he was to have received the spirit fish seed.


    Even though he was eager to explore just how powerful the Ice-Crystal Fish was, Rossell kept his cool and continued his research.


    In addition to the pet shop, his personal attributes were clearly outlined, displaying his current physical stats. The numbers in brackets indicated what would be typical for a normal adult.


    Clearly, in terms of strength and agility, he was quite deficient, which left Rossell blushing with embarrassment. However, upon reflection, he realized his physical condition was not bad compared to many others, which helped him regain some psychological balance.


    Regarding his unique "Divine Origin" attribute, this power came from his fusion with the system, unlocking certain energy within his bloodline.


    Located at the center of his brow, this energy could be sensed as a pure, distinct flow circulating there¡ªit was his Divine Origin Power.


    Beyond attributes and the shop, the spatial backpack was straightforward, akin to where he had accessed the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother seed¡ªsimilar to a space ring, but it was only effective for system-produced items.


    The tasks option was currently blank, leaving only "Host Skills."


    Host Skills were unique abilities only the "Host" could wield. Likely, no one else in the world besides Rossell could possess such skills.


    In his current explorations, Rossell had only discovered the host skill "Divine Origin Feeding."


    Divine Origin Feeding: Uses his Divine Origin Power to nurture pet beasts, enabling rapid growth. Each use consumes 1 point of Divine Origin Power.


    Moreover, within the "Host Skills" section, apart from the mastered "Divine Origin Feeding," Rossell found several grayed-out host skills that he currently lacked the conditions to learn.


    ...


    Divine Origin Strengthening: Uses a large amount of Divine Origin to enhance a pet beast''s physique, making it stronger than its peers.


    Learning Cost: 500 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Divine Origin Potential Expansion: Expands a pet beast''s physical potential, allowing it to break genetic barriers for further growth.


    Learning Cost: 5,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Wild Gift Transfer: Transplants one wild ability from one pet beast to another permanently.


    Learning Cost: 1,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Wild Gift Assimilation: Extracts a natural wild ability from a pet beast, permanently making it the host''s own.


    Learning Cost: 1,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.

 Chapter 3: Feeding

    The four grayed-out skills are host skills based on Divine Origin Power that can be purchased and learned. Besides these, all other host skills with a learning requirement of more than 15 points of Divine Origin Power are displayed as question marks.


    It''s no surprise that the skill "Divine Origin Potential Expansion" costs a staggering 5,000 points to learn, considering it might allow a pet beast to expand its potential for unlimited growth. If that''s the case, such a powerful skill justifies its high learning cost.


    Wow, the strength of these four grayed-out host skills is incredible. Each one, whether "Wild Gift Assimilation" or "Wild Gift Transfer," is astonishing.


    "Wild Gift Assimilation" allows the host to acquire the innate wild abilities of various beasts, essentially granting them extraordinary powers.


    Upon understanding the profound potential of "Host Skills," Rossell was exhilarated, feeling as if he was unstoppable. He saw a path not just to strengthen his pet beasts but to fundamentally enhance himself.


    Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Rossell''s eyes flashed with a peculiar glint. Unable to resist, he decided to use the only host skill he currently had, "Divine Origin Feeding," on the cactus sitting on his desk for the first time.


    The next moment, the effect of the "Divine Origin Feeding" skill left him stunned. The cactus, previously only the height of his palm, came to life and began to grow at an observable rate after Rossell expended 1 point of Divine Origin Power.


    In just a minute, the cactus grew nearly a meter high, almost bursting out of its original pot.


    "Damn! Can this get any scarier?" Despite being mentally prepared, Rossell was still shocked by the overwhelming effect.


    "Since you fed a life form that is not your pet beast, unpredictable consequences may occur..."


    As Rossell marveled at the effect of the host skill, the system issued a warning.


    "Unpredictable consequences?"


    The result was soon apparent. The cactus, having grown rapidly to nearly a meter, began to wilt and die within moments, seemingly unable to sustain its growth¡ªclearly the consequence the system mentioned.


    Rossell felt a pang of sadness over the cactus''s demise. As he was about to check the conditions for learning the remaining host skills, his old mobile phone on the desk rang: "Hey, I really miss you, it''s raining outside again, and I feel like crying, not knowing where you are now..."


    Seeing who it was, Rossell couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly and answered the call.


    "Hey, Rope... What happened yesterday? Lily said you got fired again?"


    "..." Rossell remained silent, not knowing how to explain this to his good friend. This was already the third job Fatty had found for him.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Sigh, I knew it! Bro, you''re not getting any younger. Can''t you just endure it sometimes? There''s so much injustice and suffering in this world. Can you fix it all? Even if not for yourself, think about your mom..."


    After a brief silence, Fatty sighed heavily. It''s not that his friend lacked ability; his heart was just too soft.


    "Fatty, this time I really couldn''t control myself!"


    In truth, Rossell knew he had changed significantly over the past two years. He''s not as soft-hearted as Fatty imagined, but this time, the helpless look from that girl fresh out of school was something he couldn''t ignore.


    "Rope, why don¡¯t you come help at my place?" Fatty suggested.


    "No, I know it''s tough for you too. The restaurant just opened, and managing it is hard enough. Besides, if I help, you''re just letting me off easy, huh? No way!"


    Rossell cut off any further offer from Fatty, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep puff before speaking: "I appreciate your kindness, bro. We''re like family; no need for formalities. I''m a grown man, I''ll find my own path."


    "Fatty, I need some time alone. I''m tired and need to think things through." Rossell expressed his thoughts quietly.


    He couldn''t let anyone know about the mysterious pet beast system. If it became public, it wouldn''t just fail to bring him benefits; it could endanger his family and friends. Thus, Rossell used this as an excuse to dissuade Daniu from arranging more jobs for him.


    Fatty, his real name Luo Daniu, lived up to his rustic name. He was Rossell''s closest friend from college.


    After graduation, the two stayed in the city to pursue their careers. Fatty, with his love for food and innate talent for cooking, excelled as a chef. His hardworking and adaptable nature, coupled with a bit of luck, led him to open a small restaurant, becoming his own boss.


    Though simple and small, with only two floors and about 200 square meters, it was flourishing and providing a decent living!


    His wife, Huang Li, was gentle and easygoing, a CEO at a small Korean company. She had always been a great help in finding jobs for Rossell.


    Rossell felt lucky his friend could marry someone as wonderful as Huang Li. However, this time he didn¡¯t want to burden them, knowing that favors are debts that eventually must be repaid.


    Moreover, he now had an idea to delve into the pet beast system.


    "Alright, Rope, if you need anything, just let me know. Don''t try to brave it alone." Fatty finally agreed after a pause.


    Though Fatty was straightforward, he sensed a change in his friend''s tone¡ªa newfound confidence that dissuaded him from further pressing the issue.


    Hanging up, Rossell sighed in relief. With the emergence of the pet beast system, he knew at least financial worries were behind him.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock...¡± Just as he hung up, there was a persistent knock on his tattered wooden door.


    "Rossell, I know you''re in there. Time to pay up; the rent''s due for the quarter. Why do I always have to remind you? It''s just a thousand or so, yet you''re still late. And whose mop is this, brand new too? Well, if it''s out here, it must not be wanted. Just perfect, mine broke..."


    The landlord¡¯s wife had arrived again, and Rossell frowned, choosing to ignore her. Though technically he had a day before the deadline, her nagging was already annoying him.


    Besides, she was incredibly stingy, always trying to snag freebies despite having plenty of money, even taking a mop from across the hall that had only been used a few days.


    Yet her visit reminded him that his cash was running low. With 2,000 in his account, his total savings amounted to just over 2,600.


    With three months'' rent at 700 per month, he¡¯d be left with just 500 after paying 2,100, having had nothing but expenses this month.


    Five hundred? Forget sending money home; he couldn''t even support himself. Damn... He needed to figure out a way to make more money, at least to afford a decent place where he wouldn''t have to deal with the landlord¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Ping, side quest generated. Find a sum of money within 24 hours to improve your living conditions and distance yourself from the unsightly landlord¡¯s wife. Task Completion Reward: Divine Origin Power limit +1, reward points unknown.¡±

 Chapter 4: Origin

    Hearing the system''s prompt in his mind, Rossell paused for a moment before realizing that the task list originated from aspects of his life and desires.


    "Within 24 hours, with a reward of +1 Divine Origin Power? Points unknown?" Whether motivated by his own desires or the task''s reward, Rossell was tempted. However, the time limit meant he needed to act quickly.


    The task merely required him to find money to improve his living conditions; it didn''t specify that he needed to buy a house, which presumably meant renting a place would suffice.


    This realization alleviated much of the task''s difficulty, and Rossell sighed in relief as he began brainstorming.


    Earning enough money by himself in a single day to rent a better place seemed impractical. His only real hope lay in the newly acquired pet beast system.


    "Let''s first see what this Spirit-level Ice-Crystal Fish Mother is all about!"


    With determination, Rossell retrieved the ice crystal bottle from the pet space. If not for the potential trouble it might cause, he reckoned that the exquisite ice crystal bottle alone could fetch a high price at an auction.


    "Divine Origin Feeding." He focused his gaze on the beautiful ice crystal bottle and activated the host skill Divine Origin Feeding for the second time.


    In the next moment, he felt a faint tear at his brow as a tiny crack emitted an energy beam penetrating the ice crystal bottle to strike the rice-sized Ice-Crystal Fish seed inside.


    With a soft "crack," the blue Ice-Crystal Fish seed split open under the influence of his Divine Origin Feeding, much like an egg hatching. A blue, icy, and enchanting small Ice-Crystal Fish emerged, swimming happily inside the crystalline bottle.


    "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother, juvenile stage. The juvenile Ice-Crystal Fish Mother is highly ornamental, but you need sharp eyesight to see it," the system promptly evaluated as Rossell focused his attention on it.


    The tiny Ice-Crystal Fish Mother was barely visible, a thin line resembling a baby fish during its juvenile stage.


    Considering he still had 9 points of Divine Origin Power left, Rossell didn''t hesitate to use Divine Origin Feeding on the spirit creature three more times in succession.


    After a total of five feeds in a short time, Rossell felt a void at his brow; now only 6 points of Divine Origin Power remained, but the results were extraordinary!


    After four consecutive feeds, the little spirit creature grew at an observable rate, akin to being pumped with the world''s most potent growth hormone.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Several minutes later, it had grown to the length of a finger, resembling a miniature version of a "Yangtze Shad" but with icy crystals and scales patterned with icy motifs¡ªundeniably surpassing any mere shad in beauty.


    The most peculiar aspect was that as the Ice-Crystal Fish grew, the small ice crystal bottle it was in expanded as well, now reaching the size of a small bowl.


    The transformation left Rossell dumbfounded¡ªtruly deserving of being a spirit creature!


    Even the accompanying bottle was extraordinary, quashing Rossell''s idea of auctioning it for a handsome price.


    "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother, mature stage, spirit type life form, capable of breeding many Ice-Crystal Fish, extremely rare, considered a treasure spirit by ancient immortals, of extraordinary value."


    Gazing once more at the now-mature spirit creature, the system''s evaluation had changed to "extraordinary value." Just how extraordinary?


    Rossell learned that this was the mother of Ice-Crystal Fish, capable of producing countless Ice-Crystal Fish, finally grasping the true value of his randomly gifted reward.


    The "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother," now a finger''s length, was poking its head out, rhythmically breathing through its tiny mouth. Without Divine Origin Power, Rossell might not have noticed the secret behind each breath.


    Now, thanks to the sensitivity of the Divine Origin Power at his brow, he could clearly perceive that with every breath, the spirit creature exhaled a fine, delicate wisp of energy.


    This wisp, the legendary spiritual energy... Though Rossell didn¡¯t fully understand its nature, he was certain it was the elusive spiritual energy of legend.


    Even though it was just a faint wisp, upon inhaling it, Rossell felt an invigorating surge through his spirit, filling him with intense contentment.


    The sensation was marvelous!


    It turned out that the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother not only bred more Ice-Crystal Fish but also absorbed oxygen from the air, naturally converting it into pure spiritual energy. No wonder the annotations described it as a treasure for ancient immortals'' cultivation.


    While a single Ice-Crystal Fish''s conversion of spiritual energy might seem insignificant, possessing the mother fish sparked a profound realization within Rossell.


    "If I had more Ice-Crystal Fish, could I, Rossell, break through myth and legend, gaining a chance to cultivate immortality?" Once this thought took root, it became unstoppable.


    This idea didn''t strike Rossell as unrealistic or childish because he had a source that could convert into spiritual energy.


    Historically, people viewed immortality as myth due to Earth''s severe environmental degradation, which eradicated the primordial spiritual energy. But what if he could control the source of spiritual energy now?


    It was a crazy yet thrilling notion¡ªimmortality, mythic ancient immortals, who weren''t they, with a wave of their hand, beings of unimaginable power?


    "Heh," Rossell exhaled deeply, calming his excitement. Despite the astonishing thought, he had no immediate path to cultivate immortality.


    He settled down and gave the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother another Divine Origin Feeding, only to receive system feedback indicating that it had reached maturity and no longer required feeding.


    Feeling somewhat disappointed by the message, Rossell saw the now-quiet Ice-Crystal Fish Mother resting at the bottom of the bottle. He carefully placed the bottle aside, mindful of not disturbing the spirit''s rest.


    With the situation as it was and no immediate action possible with the Ice-Crystal Fish, Rossell turned his attention back to the task rewards.


    While immortality was an ambitious dream, he needed to focus on the present.


    Previously, finding a substantial sum of money within a day would have been daunting; borrowing would have been his only option. But now things were different.

 Chapter 5: Infiltration

    Rossell checked his available resources. What could he do with the 100 points the system had gifted him?


    After carefully browsing the Beast category in the shop again, he realized that there weren''t many beast pets he could exchange for. Even a simple house cat cost 100 points.


    Of course, while a cat is just an ordinary feline, once Rossell exchanged for it, thanks to the pet system, it would become his pet beast. Not only would they be able to communicate telepathically, but the pet would also be unconditionally loyal to its master. This was the essence of the pet system. So even exchanging for a small cat with his 100 points would prove to be incredibly exciting.


    Other creatures like dogs or wolves required 300 points, and the kings of Earth''s beasts, lions, and tigers, went for over 700 points.


    These were just examples of Earth-born beasts. Within the 1-1000 point range, Earth¡¯s lions and tigers weren''t at the top tier; they barely held a premium spot among the vast selection of beasts from many star systems.


    At the highest tier of beast exchange, Rossell spotted a "Minghong Sacred Beetle" from the planet Hol-yu.


    Alongside this Minghong Sacred Beetle, more than a dozen other species occupied the top 1000-point tier, leaving Earth''s lions, tigers, and black bears out of the running for the apex of the beast pyramid.


    However, Rossell didn''t need to exchange for these beast kings to complete his task. After pondering for a moment, he formed a plan, and a sly smile crept across his face.


    As the saying goes: "Revenge is a dish best served cold."


    Rossell used to be an insignificant loser, bullied by those with power and influence, and could only endure in silence. Now, with the pet system, he remembered the wages that old man had cheated him out of over the past half-month.


    "Exchange... System, exchange for 5 Herculean Worker Ants."


    In a flash, Rossell had his plan. If you¡¯re bullied, you naturally want to retaliate when you have the power.


    Even his brother, Luo Daniu, clearly didn¡¯t understand Rossell¡¯s character.


    Rossell typically appeared to be a good, honest young man, often outraged by injustice, but that didn¡¯t mean he was soft-hearted. Even if he was, it depended on the situation.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    In his heart, Rossell had a scale, knowing the difference between right and wrong, what to do and what not to do. This time, he intended to use the task as an opportunity to get back at those who wronged him yesterday.


    Revenge ought to be swift. Even waiting one night compromised one''s dignity. In the past, he lacked the means to oppose the vast power imbalance, so he had to swallow his pride. But now?


    Although Rossell was still himself, this new pet system meant he was no longer an ordinary man.


    "Exchange for 5 Herculean Worker Ants, 10 points each, consuming 50 points!" The system chimed, and Rossell retrieved 5 Herculean Worker Ant seeds from the pet space.


    These extraterrestrial creatures were clearly more potent than Earth''s strongest ants. Remembering he still had 6 Divine Origin points, he went ahead and fed each seed.


    With a few "crunch" sounds, five small purple-black creatures emerged from their eggs, consuming the shells. In a short time, they grew into sizable ants.


    Gigantic? Well, compared to ordinary ants, their heft indeed qualified as gigantic. Each was the size of a pea, about the length of a finger segment.


    "Herculean Worker Ant, mature phase, an ant species from the ''Flare Reed Star Realm''. They can lift 1500 times their weight and drag 3000 times their weight, veritable powerhouses."


    That was their introduction. While small by the standard of beasts and unable to match the Spirit-level Ice-Crystal Fish, Rossell''s single feeding had quickly matured them.


    Their weight? 0.1 grams? Rossell wasn¡¯t sure, but if they weighed 0.1 grams each, they could lift 150 grams and drag 300 grams.


    Testing this, he commanded them through their mental connection to lift a mug from his desk.


    The glass mug, filled with water, weighed over 500 grams (more than a pound). Yet the five little black dots managed to lift it slightly off the table.


    "What a shame. If only I could learn that ''Divine Origin Strengthening'' skill, these little guys could probably lift even more," Rossell lamented, though he was satisfied nonetheless.


    Using a heated iron wire, he bored a hole into a pen cap. Under his and his pet''s specific mental connection, the five Herculean ants crawled inside. Rossell then clipped the pen to his shirt pocket, ensuring no one knew he was carrying five "fierce ants."


    With a soft "snap," Rossell, armed with his fierce ants, left the apartment. An hour later, he exited a taxi on Huaxiela Avenue.


    "Here, thanks," he said, paying the driver generously, surprising him with the overpayment.


    Rossell adjusted his glued-on eyebrows and fake beard, then headed towards the famous wealthy villa district in the city.


    Sure enough, a security guard stopped him, but prepared with his repairman disguise and information he''d found online about a villa owner, Rossell gained entry to this otherwise inaccessible area.


    The so-called strict military security of this place was, in fact, full of holes if one knew where to look.


    "Damn, pretentious guards," he muttered, unwilling to engage further with the arrogant security. Instead, he spent ten minutes locating Chen Jincheng''s villa. When no one was looking, he avoided surveillance cameras and quickly hid in the shrubbery to wait.

 Chapter 6: Money, Money, Money

    As the sky gradually darkened around 7 PM, the "boss" Rossell had been waiting for finally drove into view in a black Audi A6. Through the windshield, Rossell could faintly make out a flamboyantly dressed woman in the passenger seat, likely one of that balding old man''s mistresses.


    At this point, Rossell knew he was halfway to completing his task. There was no rush; it wasn''t the right moment to act yet. He decided to immerse himself again in the pet beast system shop''s 3D images of various beasts, a distraction that helped pass the time.


    Before he knew it, the sky was fully dark, and the clock ticked away to 11 PM. Feeling the moment was right, Rossell retrieved a water bottle from his toolbox and ate some bread to fill his stomach before unhurriedly summoning his five robust Herculean Worker Ants from the pen.


    "Go, get inside, GO... GO... GO..." At his eager command, the five ants scurried toward the villa, several meters away, one of Chen Jincheng''s regular haunts.


    Watching the ants disappear, Rossell closed his eyes and switched his view to one of the Herculean Worker Ants.


    Though he wasn''t sure if ants had visual perception, he knew these extraterrestrial Herculean Worker Ants definitely did, albeit differently from humans.


    This ability to switch his view to a pet beast was a built-in system feature, limited by distance. With Rossell''s current Divine Origin Power of 11 points, his range was capped at 110 meters, which was sufficient.


    His original vision blacked out for a moment before revealing a new, unique picture. Unlike human vision, the ant''s view consisted not of images or light with vivid colors but of lines forming outlines of objects and living beings¡ªa distinct perspective unique to the Herculean Ants.


    It took Rossell some time to adjust to this unfamiliar view, but he managed to discern that the ants were in the living room on the first floor.


    "Go to the second floor and find a room with humans in it..."


    While the Herculean Worker Ants might not understand terms like ''second floor'' or ''room,'' mental communication had the advantage of conveying specific meanings without needing verbal explanations.


    Like obedient soldiers executing an order, the ants quickly left the first floor and climbed to the second floor, locating a room with humans present.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The moment the five ants entered a particular room, Rossell heard the sound of a woman''s moaning accompanied by heavy breathing.


    He paused for a moment, realizing what he had encountered, and couldn¡¯t help but smirk internally: "Let''s see how long you can keep this up."


    Ignoring the silhouettes of the entwined couple on the bed, Rossell saw only the linear outlines of their bodies from the ants'' perspective.


    The vigorous activity on the bed didn¡¯t last long and soon came to a halt after a few minutes.


    "President, you were amazing today, even more so than before. Is it because the pure young girl slipped away yesterday, and you vented all your frustration on me? Hmph, I don''t care, I''m not a substitute, you have to compensate me..."


    After they stopped, the woman''s coquettish voice filled the room with her demands, making Rossell cringe. Shockingly, he recognized the voice as someone he knew.


    "Couldn''t have imagined... She was like this..." His idealized image of her shattered. If there were no mistakes, this woman was the company''s beauty queen, Zhu Lu. Before tonight, Zhu Lu was the epitome of cold elegance and beauty among all the men at his company.


    But to find her composed demeanor was merely an act, crumbling under the power of money, made her cold elegance laughable and cheap.


    Rossell''s heart broke a little, a fantasy shattered, needing a moment to breathe before self-mockingly pondering: "Why was I disappointed? She was never someone I could handle, and now that I have the means, I don¡¯t care anymore."


    Rossell, like any other male employee at the company, had harbored a slight hope¡ªa fantasy of one day being favored by the goddess, though he lacked the confidence or courage to approach her. Although initially hurt, he quickly shook it off and moved on without much sorrow.


    His mind was in turmoil, but his ears still caught the sound of Chen Jincheng¡¯s smug voice: "Hahaha... Of course, you''ll be compensated, you little seductress. Tomorrow I''ll get you a luxury car."


    After laughing, the old man¡¯s tone turned angry: "If that brat hadn¡¯t ruined things yesterday, I¡¯d have gotten Li Yan''er by now."


    "Don''t worry, as long as Li Yan''er stays in the company, she won''t escape your clutches," Zhu Lu replied softly, her tone tinged with jealousy. Despite tonight¡¯s unexpected gain, the president¡¯s focus clearly wasn¡¯t on her.


    "Heh, you''re right. With that brat out of the way, I''ll have Li Yan''er in bed tomorrow. Tsk tsk, it''s been ages since society offered such a pure young girl..."


    Listening through the Herculean Worker Ants¡¯ senses, Rossell heard every word of the conversation and grew angrier by the second, disgusted by the couple.


    Initially, he hadn¡¯t planned to go hard on them, but now, seeing the potential harm this man could cause to more women if left unchecked, he knew he couldn''t be lenient.


    While he couldn''t care less about other women, he felt compelled to protect Li Yan''er, a fellow schoolmate and colleague, from such a fate.


    Perhaps due to their earlier exertions, the five hidden ants didn¡¯t have to wait long before the couple fell asleep, allowing the Herculean Worker Ants to take over.


    "Search, search thoroughly, take everything valuable you can carry," Rossell ordered, his eyes gleaming with greed akin to a miser. He wasn¡¯t stealing but claiming revenge.

 Chapter 7: The Fierce Porter

    "Since you docked my wages, you will repay them a thousandfold."


    Guided by Roselle''s vision, five Hercules ants carried out valuable items from the room, targeting lightweight precious metal jewelry as their primary goal.


    A stack of cash sat on the bedside table, roughly estimated at around ten thousand RMB¡ªtake it. A Rolex gold watch, worth at least a hundred to two hundred thousand? Take it. A thick gold ring, take it. A piece of emerald and a jade pendant with excellent translucence, take them!


    Hmm? Isn''t this the diamond necklace that Zhu Lu took out?


    Thinking of this beautiful yet malicious woman who had just agreed to help Chen Jincheng win over Li Yaner, the last shred of camaraderie in Roselle''s heart vanished¡ªtake it!


    Under Roselle''s guidance, the five Hercules ants operated like bandits raiding a village, taking any small valuable items they could easily carry.


    However, due to the distance, each trip took considerable time, and they managed to move only seven or eight items and a stack of cash before midnight approached.


    "No more." Roselle checked the time and stopped the ants from continuing. He remembered that the security guards at the Fleur Villa would change shifts at midnight, and he couldn''t let greed make him lose track of time.


    However, before leaving, there was one more crucial task to complete. Roselle''s eyes grew cold as he gave the ants their final command.


    Soon after, a heart-wrenching scream filled with despair and terror erupted from the second floor of the villa!


    Only after hearing this cry did Roselle feel at ease. He picked up the "heavy" toolbox and quickly headed toward the villa''s exit.


    Taking advantage of the shift change and the cover of night, Roselle managed to escape the villa undetected and rushed back to his small dwelling.


    With a slam, he closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. The extraordinary events of the night filled his eyes with excitement and satisfaction.


    His long-repressed worldview found release through this night''s successful revenge and gain, and Roselle finally showed a relieved smile.


    With the biting power of the five Hercules ants, Roselle could already imagine how Chen Jincheng''s "precious parts" must have been bitten into a few notches. Even in a year''s time, the old man would be powerless despite any desires.


    "Li Yaner, this is all I can do for you, junior sister," he sighed, thinking of the pure-hearted, optimistic woman.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Even though the Hercules ants were strong, they are still just ants, and achieving this result was already unexpected for Roselle.


    Setting aside thoughts of revenge, Roselle opened his toolbox to inspect his spoils. The value of the watches, jade pendants, and jewelry was hard to judge, but after counting, the cash stack amounted to 17,000 RMB.


    Nearly 20,000 yuan¡ªalmost as much as his half-year salary and bonuses combined¡ªbut now, holding this money, Roselle felt detached. After tonight, he knew that as long as he kept the secret of the pet beast system, 20,000 yuan was nothing.


    His gaze fell on the crystal bottle on his computer desk. Seeing the Ice Crystal Fish still resting, he knew his dream of cultivating immortality would have to wait.


    Returning the five honored Hercules ants to the soil in the cactus pot and feeding them a piece of bread, Roselle fell asleep immediately. That night, he dreamt of many things, and in a daze, felt a familiar body embracing him. He tried to hold on tight, only to realize it was a dream.


    With a twinge of loss, Roselle awoke to find it was already late morning. Remembering his tasks, he quickly gathered his clothes and toolbox.


    As for the old electronics in his room, he smashed them into scrap metal with a stick.


    "Goodbye to my past!" Roselle shouted, venting as if declaring an end to that chapter.


    "You brat, what are you yelling about so early in the morning..." Roselle''s landlady confronted him just outside the door, presumably there to collect rent. Her expression flashed with pain and anger upon seeing the smashed electronics.


    "You you you..." The greedy woman was speechless with distress over the broken tech.


    Looking at her with disdain, Roselle replied sarcastically, "What, you? Not like the broken stuff was yours¡ªwhy are you heartbroken?"


    "Oh, right, I almost forgot that even broken electronics can sell for scrap. So if you don''t mind, I''d appreciate it if you could handle that."


    With her face a mix of disbelief and flushed with anger, Roselle flipped her off and left without looking back.


    In truth, if it was just her greed, Roselle wouldn''t have treated her so harshly, but she had been exceedingly nasty. He recalled how once, his younger sister came to stay the night, only to be thrown out by the landlady for renting a single room, forcing the siblings to sleep outside, resulting in Roselle''s sister falling sick.


    Thinking of the landlady''s conflicted expression, simultaneously infuriated and resigned to clean up, Roselle felt a thrill of satisfaction. Being true to oneself felt liberating.


    In his good mood, the system unexpectedly chimed in with a prompt: "Spirit Power +1..."


    The prompt caught Roselle by surprise, then delight¡ªhis Spirit Power had actually increased!


    What is Spirit Power?


    It''s the system''s threshold rating. To learn host skills within the pet beast system, Spirit Power must meet the requirements and is necessary for using host skills. Spirit Power''s importance surpasses even points.


    Opening his personal status, Roselle noticed a new change:


    Host: Luo Cheng


    Points: 50


    Strength: 7 (10)


    Agility: 7 (10)


    Mental: 9 (10)


    Spirit Power: 11/12


    Host Skill: Spirit Nourishment


    System Level: 1


    Pet Beast Space: Ice Crystal Fish Mother1, Hercules Ant5


    The change was in the Spirit Power limit, increased by 1 point to 12, and after a night''s sleep, his Spirit Power had recovered to 11 points from the previous night''s 1 point, at approximately 1 point per hour.


    Learning that being true to himself could increase his Spirit Power limit was unexpectedly delightful for Roselle, providing another means of enhancing his Spirit Power outside tasks.


    After lunch, Roselle spent about an hour at an internet cafe searching for rental listings online, finally finding one that met his needs.

 Chapter 8: Hera

    "Hello, is this Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle asked politely after dialing the number and hearing a mature, pleasant female voice on the other end, which took him by surprise.


    "Yes, who is this?" responded the woman named Xiaoyou.


    "Oh, I saw your listing online for a villa for rent. My last name is Luo¡­"


    "Ah, I''m sorry, I''ve just changed my mind and decided not to rent it out. I''m really sorry for the inconvenience," she interrupted.


    "Oh, it''s okay¡­" Roselle replied, frowning slightly. While he said it was fine, his tone betrayed his difficulty. With the 24-hour deadline approaching, it was not easy to quickly find a suitable place that met the task requirements. Now that he had finally found one, the owner had changed her mind.


    He hesitated and attempted, "Have you really decided not to rent it? I''m willing to pay more, or how about just for three months?"


    Surprisingly, there was a pause on the other end after his request. Just when Roselle thought it was hopeless, the woman spoke softly, "Mr. Luo, to be honest, I''m having some financial difficulties right now, but I also don''t have another place to stay temporarily. If you don''t mind sharing¡­"


    Listening to her embarrassed tone, Roselle realized that she was in financial trouble, which was why she had intended to rent out her villa. However, for some reason, she had decided against it due to not having another place to live. But after hearing his proposal, she reconsidered renting out the ground floor of her villa, leading to this negotiation.


    "I can lower the rent to 5000¡­ no, just 3000. I''ll stay upstairs, and you can stay downstairs. We''ll share the kitchen and garden. I''m rarely home during the day, so I won''t disturb you much."


    The woman, who called herself Xiaoyou, seemed urgent; it was clear she was in desperate need of money, otherwise, she wouldn''t have offered such a low price. Renting a luxurious villa with a large garden for 3000 a month, even if just one floor, was a bargain, and she was taking the risk of sharing with a stranger.


    "Alright, I''ll be there shortly, how''s that?" After a moment''s thought, Roselle agreed readily, wanting to complete the task promptly. Any delay increased the risk of failure due to the time limit, and he found this woman, with her manner of speaking and apparent vulnerability, more trustworthy.


    "Okay, I''ll be here," she replied, sounding slightly relieved.


    ¡­


    Hurrying to the location, Roselle found himself in front of a stylish yet leisurely villa within the residential area.


    The villa had two floors, each with roughly 130 square meters of interior space, with front and back gardens, covering a total area of about 500 square meters.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Wow! Renting such a serene environment for 3000 yuan was indeed a steal.


    Moreover, seeing the woman waiting at the villa''s entrance left Roselle pleasantly surprised¡ªit was a great bargain.


    Zhu Lu was considered a beauty, but next to this woman, she seemed lackluster. Her lustrous black hair was elegantly piled, revealing a swan-like neck adorned with a pearl necklace, exuding an aura of intellect and tranquility.


    Her delicate brows shaded eyes as clear as autumn water, with long eyelashes, an exquisite nose, and soft red lips. Standing gracefully in the small garden where the breeze gently blew, she was truly captivating at first sight.


    Her appearance, temperament, and the natural grace she exuded made Zhu Lu, once hailed as the company''s beauty, appear inferior by comparison.


    "Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle snapped out of his daze and approached, asking tentatively.


    "Yes, I am. I didn''t expect Mr. Luo to be so young. My real name is Hera" She introduced herself with a reserved smile.


    Her fair hand extended, leaving Roselle momentarily stunned. Realizing he was awestruck by Hera''s poise and grace, he quickly scratched his head and wiped his hands before greeting her with a gentle handshake, saying somewhat sheepishly, "I didn''t expect Miss Hera to be so outstanding¡ªyou left me speechless. Please call me Roselle, or just Shengzi or Cheng, like everyone else."


    "Ha ha¡­" She chuckled lightly, perhaps finding his straightforwardness and exaggerated manner amusing, easing the initial tension between them.


    "Let''s go in and take a look. I must have embarrassed you on the phone earlier," Hera said, her initial anxiety somewhat eased. However, Roselle still noticed a hint of worry lingering between her brows.


    "It''s okay; everyone has times when they need money. Money isn''t everything, but without it, even the most dignified man has to bend over, let alone a woman¡­" Roselle joked self-deprecatingly, recalling past hardships.


    "True, but no macho attitudes allowed," Hera replied, winking. "I was a bit apprehensive before you arrived, but meeting you has put my mind at ease."


    "What, do I look that harmless?" Roselle feigned innocence, touching the back of his head, and they both laughed.


    Roselle hadn''t expected renting a place would lead him to meet such an extraordinary woman as Hera.


    Hera as in ''heroic,'' and ''dancing gracefully''¡­ The elegance and depth of her name and demeanor contrasted sharply with Zhu Lu''s coquettish praise of Chen Jincheng. This comparison almost disrupted the pleasant atmosphere.


    Afterward, Roselle happily paid six months'' rent upfront¡ª18,000 yuan. His decision was partly because of Hera''s composed and gentle presence and also because the environment of the two-story villa met his needs perfectly.


    Especially when he saw the serene backyard with a terrace, grass and swings, plus a small fish pond about ten square meters, his desire to stay grew.


    The pond was perfect for keeping the "Ice Crystal Fish Mother." After all, despite the extraordinary crystal bottle, its space was just too small, and he couldn''t keep a spirit creature confined to such a tiny space indefinitely, could he?


    In addition to the delightful backyard, the first floor included a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a storeroom. Outside was a garage accommodating three commercial vehicles, and the front yard had a doghouse and flowers. With such amenities, 3000 yuan a month for half a villa, living with a beautiful woman, was almost too good to believe¡ªlike a protagonist in a transmigration story enjoying its perks.


    "Thank you." As Hera accepted Roselle''s prompt payment, the astute woman realized this sunny young man was indeed giving her a hand.


    "I''m just paying rent, and you''re the landlady. Sister Hera, I look forward to your care in the future," Roselle replied, waving with a smile.

 Chapter 9: Rewarding the Beast Slave

    After moving the laptop and some clothes into the room and gently closing the door, Roselle found the system''s response to be quicker than he anticipated.


    "Ding¡­ Task to improve living conditions completed. Reward: Spirit Power limit +1. Successfully distanced from the landlady, completed the task 5 hours ahead of schedule, and received an excellent evaluation of living conditions. You have obtained an A- task completion rating and earned 175 points."


    The system''s notification filled Roselle with excitement. Wow, the task rewards are based on evaluation! Not only did he gain a valuable +1 to his Spirit Power limit, but the points reward also exceeded his expectations of 50-100 points, being over twice as much, likely due to the A-grade evaluation.


    This discovery made Roselle take the task function more seriously. Upon consulting the system, he learned that tasks are divided into several categories and completion grades.


    Tasks are categorized into five types: Main Tasks, Side Tasks, Daily Loop Tasks, Mystery Tasks, and Special Tasks!


    Anyone who has played games would be familiar with the first three types, but Mystery Tasks and Special Tasks were a bit harder for Roselle to grasp.


    "Mystery Tasks, as understood by the general public of the Water Blue Planet, are Hidden Tasks!"


    "Special Tasks are those that must be completed under specific conditions or due to irreversible forces."


    The system kindly explained these tasks from the perspective of Earthly understanding.


    When it comes to task completion ratings, it¡¯s straightforward, ranging from D to C to B to A to S. Each level offers different rewards. For example, if Roselle''s completion rating had only been "C," he wouldn''t have received 175 points, perhaps just a paltry two-digit sum. Clearly, this super pet beast system is highly comprehensive and flexible, and Roselle couldn''t help but be impressed after understanding it fully.


    "Since you successfully completed your first task, the system''s task function is now activated. You automatically receive the following task:"


    "Mainline Task 1: Increase your Spirit Power limit to 15 points. Upon reaching System Level 2, you will receive a reward of 300 points and material rewards ???"


    "Because you completed your first task with an A-grade rating, the system additionally grants you a beast-level ''Beast Servant,''*1. The host may choose the type of Beast Servant and set detailed parameters. This extra reward is a one-time offer and won''t be repeated."


    "The task function is now activated?¡­ A reward Beast Servant??"


    Unexpectedly, the system¡¯s task function activation included a main task, with a completion reward of 300 points. It looked like the main task rewards were more generous than side tasks; otherwise, the A-grade side task just completed wouldn''t have been only 175 points.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Even more surprisingly, achieving an A-grade on his first task also unlocked a hidden extra reward. Although this won''t happen again, the bonus hidden reward was definitely a big win. What is a Beast Servant?


    Without needing the system to explain, Roselle naturally understood¡ªthis refers to a pet beast of the same type as the host, thus called a ¡°Beast Servant.¡±


    In other words, since Roselle is human, the Beast Servant rewarded would also naturally be human.


    "Excited, so excited, ah, this is amazing, my Beast Servant¡­" In the 21st century, few things are as exciting as being rewarded with a loyal and powerful servant.


    "Open the store." Impatiently, Roselle quickly entered the store, navigating to the Beast category. The exchange prices for humans ranged from 300 to 1000 points. Although Beast Servant refers to humans, there were many different human races available in the store. Earth humans? Sorry, in the Beast category, that¡¯s just one of dozens of human types, prompting Roselle to consider carefully which race of Beast Servant to choose.


    At first, the simplest thought was to choose the most expensive option because this was an extra reward. Whether selecting the most or least expensive Beast Servant, the system would cover it all.


    However, after a moment of reflection, Roselle had to think more deeply, remembering that "there''s no best, only most suitable."


    Yes, suitability. When exchanging for a Beast Servant, he needed to consider suitability. The most expensive Starwing Human had a pair of violet star wings, could fly flexibly, excelled in airborne combat with bows and arrows, and had physical attributes nearly twice that of regular humans, rated at 60 stars.


    This was good; without external factors, Roselle would have chosen the Starwing Human without hesitation. However, having one as a servant presented issues, as they couldn¡¯t be seen publicly¡ªit would be too conspicuous.


    Thinking this through, Roselle dismissed the idea of choosing the top-tier human races in the Beast category. Starwing Humans, Violet Power Humans, Dragon Blood Humans, Moon Demon Humans¡­ all too impractical.


    After much searching, Roselle finally found the Beast Servant that met his needs and was suitable:


    Beast Servant: Kingsteel Human


    Host: Roselle


    Strength: 18


    Agility: 12


    Mental: 10


    Innate Trait: Steel Skin


    Rating: 40 stars, strong physical power, and the innate trait "Steel Skin" which grants natural defensive capabilities to Kingsteel Humans.


    Exchange Price: 799 points


    This is the "Kingsteel Human" handpicked by Roselle. The reasons for selection?


    Although its total rating of 40 stars isn''t as impressive as the 60 stars of the Starwing Human, its innate trait of Steel Skin and its Western European human appearance are crucial points for selection.


    As for Earth Humans?


    Oh, sorry, Earth Humans are rated at only 30 stars because their attributes of strength, agility, and spirit total to 30. Their innate trait is "Creativity."


    In fact, the creativity of Earth Humans should be a top-tier trait, making their price unjustly low. However, the system''s evaluation states: "Due to the innate shortcomings of Water Blue Planet humans, despite their high trait level, their price remains low."


    As for what those shortcomings are, Roselle didn''t need to think hard to know they included infighting, self-destruction, and weak cohesion¡­ etc.


    Despite all this, Roselle currently had no need for the creativity of his own race. Earth Humans? There are plenty of them on Earth. What Roselle needed was strength, bringing the Kingsteel Human Beast Servant to the forefront.


    "Please select the specific appearance, build, gender, and compatibility of the Kingsteel Human..."

 Chapter 10: Caesar the Beast Slave

    After selecting the specific type of Beast Servant, the next step was to set its appearance. Roselle thought for a moment and came up with an answer.


    Since it was to have a Western European appearance, it shouldn''t be too short, but also not too tall. Being overly tall isn''t necessarily beneficial in combat, as it can cause instability and open up more vulnerabilities to attacks.


    Hmm, for height, let''s go with 185 cm. In Western Europe, this is fairly common, but in China, it''s quite impressive. At the very least, it''s nearly 10 cm taller than Roselle himself.


    With the height set, the build should be "brawny and muscular." In fact, appearance is mostly ornamental since the Kingsteel Beast Servant''s attributes are uniformly set at 40 stars. However, a muscular build is necessary in China, where people often judge by appearance first. A burly body with robust muscles will at least reduce a lot of trouble.


    For demeanor, should it be menacing or fierce?


    No, it should just be calm and stern. Normally composed, but once a fight is imminent, it should exhibit the fierce aura of a tiger descending the mountain.


    Clearly, Roselle was setting this extra reward Beast Servant to be his personal bodyguard. After half an hour of tweaking, he finally completed the setup!


    "Redeem, redeem the extra reward Beast Servant." Having set the appearance, Roselle immediately requested the system to redeem it.


    The next moment, as Roselle blinked, keeping an eye on the Pet Beast Space, he noticed a Beast Servant seed had appeared. In its 1-cubic-meter space, it was only the size of a grain of rice, but when brought into reality by its owner...


    Roselle found it wasn''t rice-sized at all¡ªit was as large as a dinosaur egg!


    Seizing the opportunity, Roselle applied the Spirit Nourishment twice on the seed. When he attempted a third, the system informed him that the Beast Servant no longer needed additional Spirit Nourishment.


    The Kingsteel Human seed, having received two Spirit Nourishments, began to crack open. A fully muscled Western baby burst forth from the egg, already able to walk, smile, and even speak.


    "Master." The robust infant easily tore the resilient shell apart as if it were mere paper and walked up to Roselle, greeting him in a youthful yet steady voice.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    During this process, the Beast Servant infant rapidly grew. The speed of his development was almost like inflating a balloon.


    Within approximately three minutes, he had grown from infancy to adulthood. This rapid transformation left Roselle speechless; though he knew the system was miraculous, this was unbelievable.


    Regardless, Roselle found himself thrilled by the absurdity. The more outrageous, the better. As he examined the fully matured, muscular Kingsteel Human, a message appeared in his mind:


    Beast Servant: Kingsteel Human


    Level: 1


    Potential: 3


    Strength: 18


    Agility: 12


    Mental: 10


    Innate Trait: Steel Skin


    Rating: 40 stars, strong power, and the innate trait "Steel Skin" provides natural defensive abilities.


    This information differed from what was seen in the store, with the addition of "Level" and "Potential."


    Through the system, Roselle understood their meanings. "Level" referred to the Beast Servant''s life level. In terms of attributes, a Kingsteel Human, without considering his Steel Skin trait, was a Level 1 life form simply based on physical stats.


    The level measurement is clearly defined: it''s rated by the attributes of strength, agility, and mental power. If any of these attributes exceed 10 points, it''s a Level 1 life form.


    If any attribute surpasses 20 points, it becomes a Level 2 creature!


    Obviously, with the Kingsteel Human''s strength at 18 points, though stronger than Earth humans, he is still a Level 1 life form.


    As for "Potential," it refers to potential level, meaning the Kingsteel Human can develop attributes up to Level 3. Even if enhanced or fully developed, no attribute, not even his strongest, strength, will surpass 40 points.


    This cap is because the Kingsteel Human''s physical potential maxes out at 40 points. Exceeding this threshold would cause the body to collapse.


    This rule applies to all life forms, an unavoidable aspect of the life force principle.


    For humans, too, as scientific studies show, even at peak fitness, if physical attributes exceed 2-3 times their norm, collapse is inevitable. Thus, potential level''s importance is critical, explaining why the system categorizes creatures into Beast, Fierce Beast, and Savage Beast classes, based on potential levels.


    However, both current and potential levels don''t equate to combat power. Despite the Kingsteel Human being a Level 1 life form, who would assume his actual combat strength only slightly surpasses humans due to his innate trait?


    The next moment, Roselle personally tested this by striking the Beast Servant''s chest with a standard sharp fruit knife, using all 7 points of his strength.


    "Crack¡­" With a crisp sound, the fruit knife broke, while the opponent''s chest bore only a small white mark.


    "Does it hurt?" Roselle asked, stunned by the Beast Servant''s robustness.


    "Not at all. If you use a 15-kilogram hammer with your full strength to attack me, I might get hurt," the Kingsteel Human replied solemnly to Roselle.


    Before being redeemed from the seed shop, his mind was already filled with most of the general knowledge and comprehension of the Water Blue Planet. Despite originating from an extraterrestrial place, communicating with Roselle posed no issue.


    "A 15-kilogram hammer¡­" Roselle muttered, contemplating this concept. He realized, with disappointment, that a 15-kilogram hammer wouldn''t be easy to wield for him, let alone use for striking. Even lifting 15 kg would challenge the average guy, highlighting how formidable this creature was!


    "And bullets? You understand bullets, right? What if you were shot?"

 Chapter 11: Huge Amounts and Black Market Goods

    Roselle looked at the Kingsteel Beast Servant with eyes full of amazement. This creature''s innate trait was steel skin, which explained why it emphasized needing a sledgehammer to deal with him. Ordinary sharp tools would indeed struggle to pierce this layer of steely skin.


    Only with sufficiently heavy weapons, leveraging significant force, could this steel-skinned Beast Servant sustain any internal damage. In tests against cold weapons, the Kingsteel Beast Servant was practically invincible to modern humans. While heavy weapons could injure him, who today uses such cumbersome tools for combat?


    Except perhaps for construction workers, those are rarely seen. Ordinary people would have a tough time even lifting them.


    However, what about such formidable defense against humanity¡¯s most trusted firearms?


    ¡°If I were shot with bullets from a regular caliber handgun, such an attack probably wouldn¡¯t harm me¡­¡± Even under Roselle¡¯s prolonged gaze, the Kingsteel Beast Servant remained unperturbed, standing naked and expressionless, true to his calm and stern character setting.


    Compared to the American or Russian hyperbole about their tough warriors, this was true strength. What is a tough guy? This is a tough guy, and not just in appearance, but also substance.


    Almost twice the strength of an average person, with exceptional agility and formidable defense¡ªwhat else could you call a warrior like this?


    However, from the Beast Servant''s tone, regular caliber handguns seemed unlikely to harm him. The use of the word "probably" suggested he was aware of his steel skin¡¯s defensive limits, otherwise, he would have been more definitive.


    As for more powerful firearms like the famed "Desert Eagle," along with rifles or machine guns, the Kingsteel Human''s defenses might not hold up.


    "It makes sense; no matter how strong the body, it¡¯s still flesh after all." Even with steel skin, it''s merely a thin layer of armor, not steel flesh.


    His response let Roselle breathe a sigh of relief. Such power was reasonable; after all, the Kingsteel Human was just a Beast-level creature, not something overly miraculous.


    "Well... very well... from now on, your name is Caesar." After staring for a while, Roselle managed to contain his excitement and named his first Beast Servant. After all, being able to withstand ordinary gunfire was already beyond humanity, having such a tough guy by his side was more than satisfying.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Thank you for naming me, master," Caesar said, stepping closer. From birth, he was instilled with a wealth of information, including loyalty and protection towards his master as his highest command.


    Yes, the pet beasts redeemed from the shop aren''t truly natural life forms. Strictly speaking, they are genetically replicated seeds.


    Roselle looked at the tough guy beside him, feeling more pleased the longer he looked. Originally, he was troubled by how to offload last night''s goods, but now with Caesar, that worry seemed to dissolve.


    With such a powerful Beast Servant, Roselle felt emboldened to venture into even the darkest black markets. Black against black? Well, that would depend on whether the opposition had the strength to contend.


    After a brief outing, he returned with a large suit. It was certainly low-budget, as Roselle had spent most of his money on rent, leaving little else.


    "Let''s go meet some interesting people," Roselle said, heading out of the villa with Caesar. As for Hera, she was likely at work, sparing Roselle the need to explain Caesar¡¯s existence for now.


    Armed with information gathered online about the city''s underground scene, Roselle made his way toward a certain nightclub.


    ¡­


    "Alright, for all the goods together, I¡¯ll give you 1.33 million. How about that?" said a scar-faced man to Roselle in a closed room of a nightclub''s underground parking lot.


    In the room, alongside Scarface were several obvious gang members. Their discreet attire and fierce eyes made it clear they weren¡¯t ordinary street thugs.


    Clearly, these men lived on the edge.


    It was Roselle''s first time dealing with such people, and claiming he wasn''t intimidated would be a lie. But with Caesar by his side, fear and weakness were not options.


    So, even though Scarface''s offer was lower than public market prices, it was fair for selling black market goods.


    Among the seven or eight items, an emerald, a high-quality jade pendant, and a small snuff bottle were the most valuable. These alone could fetch a million in total, and that was the black market price. If sold openly, they could be worth even more.


    But Roselle wasn''t foolish enough to expose these illicit items to the public eye.


    Scarface was another strong character. Even after so long in the trade, it was his first time encountering such a situation¡ªa Western bodyguard emitting an oppressive aura that stifled his entire crew.


    The guard''s menacing gaze was like that of a bloodthirsty tiger, ready to pounce. Damn, who was this kid? Although Scarface wanted to rip off Roselle for these goods, he backed down for the first time.


    Scarface had never shied from a fight, yet now he hesitated, showing how much they feared Caesar.


    Of course, anyone able to employ such a formidable Western bodyguard was no ordinary person. This added another layer of caution for Scarface and his men. As for their low-key attire?


    Living as long as Scarface had, judging people by appearance would have been a fatal mistake, and he would never have seized the black goods market so effectively.


    While Scarface weighed Roselle''s background, Roselle, the subject of speculation, hadn''t thought that far ahead. 1.33 million was a tremendous amount for an ordinary person, and especially for someone like Roselle, who had struggled financially.


    He had expected a decent sum from selling these black market goods, but not such a large amount. Indeed, for Roselle, this was a fortune he had never dreamed of.

 Chapter 12: Deterrence

    Upon hearing the amount, Roselle¡¯s breath caught, but he knew he couldn''t give himself away. Quickly adjusting, he coughed heavily and nodded decisively, "Deal!"


    "Haha, Brother Luo, you''re straightforward. Here''s my card. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me. Even if it''s not for business, you can still reach out. I, Wang Nan, may not be the ultimate authority in Xuan Yang District, but I do carry some weight here."


    The scar-faced man, Wang Nan, rarely disclosed his name during dealings. This showed that he regarded Roselle quite seriously this time.


    "Thank you, Brother Wang Nan. I may indeed need to trouble you in the future," Roselle replied with a glint in his eye. Having been in the business market for a while, he could discern the goodwill and sincerity in Wang Nan''s gesture.


    For typical clients, Wang Nan would have simply left a phone number for future contact, without those additional words.


    However, Roselle knew he needed to demonstrate his strength to ensure mutual respect in dealings with such ruthless individuals. Merely bluffing could only work temporarily and was not a long-term strategy.


    Thus, as Roselle turned to leave, Caesar, with a stern expression, casually pressed his hand on the table before following his master. This light press made Scarface Wang Nan¡¯s eyebrows jump and left one of his sharp-eyed subordinates open-mouthed in shock.


    The solid table now sported a half-centimeter deep handprint, impressively embedded into its surface.


    "How strong is that? This polar bear is terrifying. I didn¡¯t think such a person existed in this world," exclaimed one of Scarface''s subordinates in astonishment.


    "That man isn''t a polar bear, he''s a polar tiger¡­" Scarface corrected, watching Roselle''s retreating back. Polar bears are strong, but they don''t compare to the ferocity of a tiger.


    Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t let greed take over earlier. Even as the top figure in Xuan Yang District''s underground, confronting that formidable tiger in this room¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance.


    While Roselle and Wang Nan completed their transaction, in a high-end hospital room, another scene unfolded.


    "Director He, have you found the culprit? The villa is covered with cameras; it''s impossible for the perpetrator to have slipped in unnoticed," groaned Chen Jincheng, lying in his hospital bed, gritting his teeth.


    Anyone would be aggrieved¡ªhaving five rice grain-sized wounds bitten into such a sensitive area.


    "We have accessed the video footage," said Director He, nodding to a subordinate who brought up footage on the room''s equipment, focusing on a man in a repairman''s uniform.


    "Do you recognize this person? I suspect the perpetrator disguised himself as a repairman to slip in. The beard and eyebrows are likely fake, and the hard hat covers much of his face. The uniform is loose, making it hard to gauge his physique," Director He explained, pointing at the screen.


    "I don''t recognize him." Chen Jincheng''s face turned grim. Not recognizing was an understatement¡ªit was more that he couldn''t identify anyone specific. The perpetrator had clearly prepared well. Chen had offended many people, and recalling all those with grudges was difficult. Just counting from three days ago, there were at least ten or eight incidents, and even more if he looked further back¡ªso many that even he couldn¡¯t keep track. Was that it then?


    Glaring at the screen with hatred, he finally spoke, "What means did they use to injure me?"


    "I suspect they used some vicious insects, likely ants. They probably scattered them while you slept..." Director He trailed off, knowing further explanation might provoke his ire.


    "Is there no way to catch the culprit?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "There is, but it''s tricky. If they''re local, they might try to sell the stolen goods, but those who handle black market goods are also powerful, making this difficult," Director He pondered aloud.


    "Three million. I''ll offer three million as a personal reward and another five million as a special investigation fund, privately, for your department," Chen Jincheng nearly roared, eyes reddened with fury.


    His offer left Director He''s subordinates swaying with surprise.


    "That''s not what I meant, Old Chen. This is truly a tough case, and those handling the black market goods are formidable."


    The eight million offered, be it the formal reward or the under-the-table incentive, was tempting. But Wang Nan was not someone to cross lightly. Unless using force, Wang Nan wouldn''t risk his reputation. In this field, losing credibility means losing the business of others willing to risk the law for profit. Those in this line of work live on a knife¡¯s edge, and Director He was reluctant to provoke Wang Nan extensively. Such a move could cost far more than eight million.


    "I heard your department''s director is near retirement? Zhuo Nan has mentioned it several times," Chen Jincheng suddenly remarked.


    This statement, more than the eight million offer, got through to Director He. His body tensed as he promised, "I¡¯ll do my best."


    "Very well. Whatever means you use, find the culprit, and I promise you won¡¯t regret it," Chen Jincheng vowed. In Xuan Yang District, no one wronged Chen Jincheng without facing consequences. To ferret out the assailant, he would even leverage his brother''s influence.


    "Don''t let me find you, or I''ll make you wish you were dead!" When the room was empty again, the old man muttered vengefully.


    ¡­


    Leaving the parking lot, Roselle patted his pocket holding the bank card, his heart pounding. A million, a million... to have such an amount was exhilarating.


    "This is just the beginning, Roselle, you can¡¯t get carried away over a mere million," Roselle told himself, taking a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Yet, the excitement was beyond words.


    No matter how rational he tried to stay, Roselle had been an ordinary person until now. A million was enough not only to cover his siblings¡¯ education but also to ease his mother''s burdens and afford better health care for his ailing father.


    This money could change the fate of his family of five. How could he remain composed?


    First, Roselle hurried to an ATM and transferred ten thousand each to the accounts of his siblings, Luo Yu and Xin¡¯er.


    As the eldest, Roselle was followed by his brother Luo Yu, who was a junior in university in Beijing, and his youngest sister Luo Xin''er, who was in her second year of high school.


    After sending money to his siblings, he thought for a moment and sent five thousand to his parents.


    He didn''t send more because he couldn''t justify a larger sum without arousing suspicion.


    Roselle crafted a message, explaining that his boss had taken a keen interest in him, rewarded him with a promotion for clinching a major deal, and gave a ten thousand bonus.


    "This should cover it," Roselle thought. Yet soon after sending the message, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he smiled. It could only be his quick-witted sister, Luo Xin''er.


    "Brother, where did you get so much money? You even sent me ten thousand. I bet you sent more to Dad and Mom and Second Brother," came Xin¡¯er''s sweet, lively voice, like a refreshing brook running through his heart. His little sister was growing more graceful by the day.


    Smiling unconsciously, Roselle replied, "You don¡¯t trust your big brother now? You know I¡¯d never resort to anything illegal, even if a gun was pointed at my head."


    "Oh, right, if Brother ever did anything bad, we wouldn''t be living so hard. You really got promoted? Brother, you should take care of yourself and not overwork. Soon, Xin''er will be able to help you."


    Excited, Xin''er reassured him, knowing her brother¡¯s principles well. She truly believed him, as he was someone who stuck to his bottom line.


    "Of course. Don''t overthink it, okay? Focus on your studies. Since I got promoted and am earning more bonuses, I can take good care of the family."


    Roselle spoke with newfound confidence and determination. His tone was firm, unlike before. He understood Xin¡¯er''s intentions; she had planned to finish high school and start working to ease the family¡¯s burdens.


    The well-being of their parents was evident to all three siblings. In poor families, children grow up early. If she were a city girl, she''d still be under her parents'' protection, going through a rebellious phase.


    In the past, Roselle couldn''t oppose Xin''er''s plan to forgo college, but now the situation had changed. As her big brother, he couldn''t let her face the harsh world prematurely.


    With his current capabilities, education wasn¡¯t essential for living a good life. School was still a sanctuary for camaraderie, providing years of happiness and youthful memories.


    "Alright, Brother, I knew you could do it. I¡¯m about to head to class, so that''s it for now. Visit when you can. I¡¯ll make your favorite sweet and sour ribs."


    Xin''er ended the call abruptly, not directly agreeing.


    Shaking his head, Roselle let it go. Given time until graduation, even if she quit school, he was confident the Pet Beast System would ensure she lived well.


    Perhaps, after the revenge and black market dealings, Roselle didn¡¯t realize the extent of his confidence growth. In less than two days, he had become much more self-assured and broad-minded, leaving behind his previous cautious thinking.

 Chapter 13: Online Collection

    After his little sister hung up, it wasn¡¯t long before Roselle¡¯s mother called, filled with worry. Roselle reassured and explained things to her until she finally believed him, dispelling her heartfelt advice.


    By the end of the call, Roselle noticed her tone became noticeably lighter. This lightness came from relief¡ªrelief that her son hadn¡¯t taken a wrong step and also because the five thousand yuan would greatly improve their family¡¯s situation.


    "Ming, I know it¡¯s not easy for you out there. Remember to take care of yourself, not just focus on the family, okay?" His mother¡¯s voice was full of comfort, though tinged with fatigue. She added, "I¡¯ve always worried about your father¡¯s health. With this money, he can live longer..."


    Hanging up, Roselle felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Sending out that seventy thousand yuan was like releasing a heavy burden. Life is tough for everyone, and now that he had the means, the first thing he wanted to do was ensure his family lived a bit better.


    Roselle never had grand ambitions. The life he dreamed of wasn¡¯t about having lots of money or great power, but simply that those around him could live well. If he could become like his landlord, collecting a good amount of rent each month without worrying about life or work, enjoying a leisurely life, that would be enough!


    "Here¡¯s some news: Yesterday, at an auction in Nanzhou, a mysterious book titled ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' was sold for 38.76 million yuan to a southern corporation. According to insiders, this record from the Yin-Shang period might hold unknown secrets. Rumor has it that over a dozen major corporations were competing for this mystical tome..."


    Roselle was about to hail a cab when the news on a large screen across the square caught his attention and made him pause.


    "Master?" Caesar approached with concern, scanning the surroundings. With his imposing figure and fierce aura, no one dared come too close, making him all the more puzzled.


    "It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s head back." Having a Western face wasn¡¯t without drawbacks. Lacking identification and a visa was always going to be a problem for Caesar.


    Luckily, as a genuine Western European, Caesar was often treated well in China. Combined with his intimidating presence, it was enough to keep any unwanted attention from the authorities at bay.


    As they hurried home with Caesar attracting almost every gaze, Roselle couldn¡¯t shake off thoughts of the ¡°Ancient Array Divine Record¡± mentioned in the news.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Though the authenticity of this record was unconfirmed, any book labeled with ¡°Divine¡± in its title was often considered an ancient mystical text. In today¡¯s society, such texts are generally regarded as myths or fabrications. Yet occasionally, they prove genuine, although verification is rare.


    Roselle, however, was not like others. He possessed a source of spiritual energy, making him particularly sensitive to anything with the words ¡°divine¡± or ¡°immortal.¡± The news kept lingering in his mind, and he couldn¡¯t help but focus on this Ancient Array Divine Record.


    To learn more, the simplest method was online research, given the speed and flexibility of the internet.


    °¢


    Back at the villa, Roselle shut himself in his room and began searching. After a few minutes, he found the news clip played on the Times Square screen.


    "Is this worn-out book really the Ancient Array Divine Record?" Roselle muttered with disappointment.


    His reaction was understandable¡ªthe book sold for over 30 million yuan was in terrible condition and incomplete, too. Surprisingly, the company bravely uploaded high-resolution images of the entire ¡°Ancient Array Divine Record,¡± unafraid of public scrutiny.


    Online, netizens exploded with commentary, mocking and deriding:


    "Truly an immortal array map, just a few yellowed pages worth millions."


    "What¡¯s wrong with people nowadays? So much money wasted... It would be better spent helping the underprivileged."


    "Haha, that corporation sure knows how to market."


    "Experts, where are the experts to debunk this?"


    "Dumb, what do you peasants know? This isn¡¯t just yellow paper; it¡¯s a magic array, a priceless artifact. Haha, my family has a magical artifact bought for millions."


    "Show-off... Get out!!!"


    "Stupid, someone should tell the boss to try soaking it in water. If that doesn¡¯t work, try burning it. If that fails, use some chemicals. The secret of those six yellow pages would reveal itself."


    "Even if it¡¯s an immortal array, in today¡¯s polluted world, would it even work? Spiritual energy? There¡¯s none left on Earth now..."


    "My eyes have been opened. Tonight, I¡¯ll try my luck and see if I can create a grand immortal array."


    ...


    Roselle was speechless at the online banter. Many dismissed it outright, while others sarcastically treated it as genuine. Such is the power of the internet¡¯s satire¡ªinsult without profanity is considered mild.


    Finding no exclusive revelations in the comments, Roselle returned his focus to the images.


    There were six uploaded images, each depicting an independent magic array, complete with diagrams and runes, as well as indecipherable ancient scripts. The images, though well-preserved, showed signs of wear and damage. The meaning of these six pages was beyond Roselle¡¯s understanding.


    After flipping through the images, he felt a tinge of disappointment. Suddenly, the system¡¯s prompt startled him.


    "Detected ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' on this planet. Do you wish to collect it? Collection requires consuming 1 point of Spirit Power for scanning..."


    The Ancient Array Divine Record? It¡¯s genuine?


    Roselle couldn¡¯t believe that the mocked yellow pages were indeed an ancient divine array, seemingly with great significance. The system¡¯s evaluations were never wrong, certainly more reliable than external experts.


    Moreover, as he examined the high-definition pictures online, the system was prompting him to collect them?


    What did "collect" mean in this context? Simply gathering the images or something more? At this thought, Roselle was too excited to continue.

 Chapter 14: Deduction and Completion

    If this "Ancient Array Divine Record" truly only dates back to the Shang-Zhou period, it wouldn''t really deserve the title of "Ancient Array Divine Record." To truly qualify as "ancient," it would need to trace back to the mythical times, the primordial era when heaven and earth first opened¡ªthe very beginning of the most powerful and ancient mythical age.


    Moreover, in Chinese mythology, "Shen" (God) isn¡¯t as trivial as in Western or some other island country¡¯s myths.


    "A Divine Record... this might really be a genuine record of ancient gods," Roselle thought after being stunned for a while. Recalling the system''s prompt, he quickly followed its instructions, gathering his spirit power and focusing on the HD images on his computer. Soon, a bright, concentrated beam of golden light shot out from the center of his forehead.


    The golden light seemed to scan each image with intent. After about ten seconds, the intense beam slowly dissipated.


    "''Ancient Array Divine Record'' fragment successfully collected. Scanning... scanning... Scan complete. It is possible to complete it. Would you like to initiate completion?"


    "Note: The ''Ancient Array Divine Record ¡¤ Hand-copied Fragment'' contains a mysterious and profound power system. Completing it will require substantial time and spirit power for the system to simulate. Would you like to proceed with completion?"


    As the system asked if he wanted to begin completion, Roselle realized what he had stumbled upon.


    An incomplete hand-copied version of the "Ancient Array Divine Record"? And it could be reconstructed through simulation in his hands?


    What did this imply?


    Even though Roselle found just a copy online, the essence and heritage of such things don¡¯t change, whether authentic or not. The system''s ability to extrapolate a full record from fragments was in itself an unimaginable process.


    Yes or no?


    Hell, that¡¯s an unnecessary question. Not completing it would be foolish. Without hesitation, Roselle chose to start the completion of the "Ancient Array Divine Record."


    "Ding... The host has selected immediate completion, but the host¡¯s current spirit power is insufficient for the system¡¯s extrapolation process. Therefore, the system will intelligently apply a segmented completion and priority-focused completion plan. This plan requires the host¡¯s further consent; otherwise, the completion plan will be terminated.¡±


    "Agree." After Roselle confirmed his consent, he felt the seven points of spirit power concentrated at his brow quickly drained, fueling the system''s simulation.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    As time passed in anxious anticipation, about an hour later, when Roselle vaguely heard movements outside, probably Hera returning from work, the system timely relayed information: "This completion has achieved two phases."


    "Phase 1: The complete restoration of the ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' table of contents. Phase 2: Successful completion of the first chart in the ''Ancient Array Divine Record.'' Further completion will require the host''s spirit power to fully recover before restarting."


    With the system''s synthesized voice ending, a series of data appeared in Roselle¡¯s mind, placing the "Ancient Array Divine Record" under the "Host Skills" section.


    Focusing his consciousness on the ancient text, its pages opened to reveal the first entry in the table of contents.


    The contents had been fully translated into Chinese, allowing Roselle to instantly comprehend the meanings of the divine array directory.


    The directory listed nine divine arrays, increasing in complexity and material requirements from the first to the ninth.


    By the fourth array, Roselle no longer recognized some of the material names, showing how advanced it was compared to his current world knowledge.


    At the bottom, an additional method was noted, called the "Wu Refining Divine Method."


    Seeing these words made Roselle''s heart tremble. Wu Refining Divine Method? What an alluring and formidable name.


    It wasn¡¯t cultivation of immortals or spirits; it was cultivation of gods¡ªtruly awe-inspiring. Tempted to delve into the "Wu Refining Divine Method," he encountered a barrier, with the system informing him it wasn''t fully restored.


    Of course, with only two stages completed, what he saw was merely the table of contents.


    Slightly disappointed, Roselle refocused on the other completed stage.


    The second completed stage was the first page among the nine divine array diagrams, the simplest and most fundamental, titled "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array."


    After careful examination, Roselle understood the purpose of this spirit-trapping array. As the name implies, this divine array is meant to trap all things related to "spirits." Anything connected to spirits within its range would be bound and trapped¡ªtruly a domineering array.


    "Indeed, it is a divine record¡ªtruly overbearing." At first glance, Roselle thought of the spirit-trapping arrays often mentioned in novels, assuming it merely kept spiritual energy contained to prevent dissipation.


    However, the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" was far beyond his imagination; it didn¡¯t just lock spirit energy in place, it trapped everything related to spirits.


    In this context, "spirit" referred not only to spiritual energy but also to spirits, souls, and any life associated with spirits, all of which would be affected.


    This "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" was truly unrivaled, yet it was the simplest and weakest among the nine arrays?


    The system used only seven points of spirit power to complete it largely because this array was the most intact and clear in the existing six images, requiring minimal extrapolation.


    "Immortal stones are Hetian white jades?" Further reading widened Roselle¡¯s eyes in disbelief.


    Materials needed for the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" mentioned four high-grade "immortal stones," identified by the system as Hetian white jade, which astonished Roselle.


    Of course, while the array''s mention of immortal stones pointed to Hetian white jade, upon closer inspection, Roselle noted differences between the two.


    First, the former was truly "Hetian white jade," while the latter was called spiritual jade or Hetian spiritual jade!


    By the end of the mythological era, new immortals even renamed spiritual jade to "immortal stones," making them primary exchange commodities among immortals, a hard currency.


    So, what differentiated Hetian white jade from Hetian spiritual jade?

 Chapter 15: Side Chain Quests

    What exactly is the difference between "Hetian White Jade" and "Hetian Spiritual Jade"? If you look at it literally, it''s not hard to notice that the only difference is the third character.


    That''s right, Hetian White Jade lacks spiritual energy, so technically, it isn¡¯t a true "immortal stone" but rather the raw material for one. You could also think of it as a vessel capable of holding and absorbing spiritual energy.


    This distinction explains why modern Hetian White Jade is commonly used as decorative material for humans. The root cause is that Earth has no spiritual energy left, which means Hetian White Jade has not had the opportunity to absorb the heavens'' spiritual energy over the centuries to transform into Hetian Spiritual Jade.


    When Roselle''s consciousness returned from the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array," half an hour had passed. He was filled with a mix of complicated emotions.


    A feeling called "ambition" was beginning to grow within him. Previously, he only had a simple hope and idea of cultivating immortality.


    But after acquiring the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" and the "Wu Refining Divine Method," that hope quickly transformed into a much stronger ambition.


    To become a legend above all ordinary people? To transcend beyond mortals? To acquire eternal and immense power?


    No one can resist such a temptation. Yes, even just thinking or dreaming about it is enough to make one''s blood boil. Moreover, with the conditions Roselle currently possessed, it wasn¡¯t just an unreachable fantasy.


    Simply the concept of "cultivating the divine" roared through Roselle like a torrent, stirring his emotions into a chaotic whirlpool.


    "I want to cultivate the divine!" In the silent room, Caesar quietly guarded a corner by the door, while Roselle''s fervent whisper echoed alone.


    These simple four words demonstrated his determination. If he didn''t seize such a providential opportunity, he would surely have lived in vain.


    "Ice Crystal Fish Mother... Spirit-Trapping Array... Divine Method..." Roselle began to connect these elements, converting the impossible into the "feasible."


    Roselle didn''t need to rush understanding how to cultivate the "Wu Refining Divine Method" because extrapolating it would require an unknown amount of spiritual power; after all, this divine method wasn''t part of the six images and would truly rely on the super system''s computational power to restore.


    However, the materials for the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" needed to be prepared. Although spiritual energy no longer existed in the modern world, and obtaining immortal stones was nearly impossible, Roselle had the Ice Crystal Fish Mother. With this creature, the source of spiritual energy¡¯s birth, he was confident he could transform "Hetian White Jade" into "Hetian Spiritual Jade."


    With this thought, Roselle disregarded how crazy he might seem. Driven by the desire to cultivate the Wu Refining Divine Method, he first issued an order to the system.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    He temporarily modified the previous sequence of repairing the "Ancient Array Divine Record," making the "Wu Refining Divine Method" the first target for restoration. Once his spirit power restored to full, he¡¯d immediately proceed with the extrapolation.


    The second task was to gather detailed information about Hetian jade. Roselle knew little about jade; in his previous understanding, he only recognized jadeite. Of course, he had heard of Hetian jade but knew very little.


    Learning about Hetian jade was easy in today''s internet age, thanks to a powerful tool called "Baidu." Opening his laptop, Roselle searched repeatedly, diving into a wealth of information.


    Finally, Roselle gained a certain understanding of Hetian jade. Hetian jade is categorized based on color and purity into six major types: white jade, black jade, green jade, blue jade, yellow jade, and so-called sugar jade.


    Among these, the highest grade of Hetian White Jade is mutton fat jade. Mutton Fat Jade is a gemstone-level material within Hetian jade, known for its pure white color and superior gloss and texture, appearing soft, dense, pure, and flawless, hence the name.


    Roselle even recalled a historical anecdote: During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, Emperor of Shu Han, had a beautiful empress named Lady Gan, whose skin purportedly resembled jade. At night, when she disrobed, her body supposedly emitted a glow akin to jade, so Liu Bei kept a three-foot-tall mutton fat white jade by their bedside for comparison.


    While this tale highlighted Lady Gan''s extraordinary beauty, the mutton fat white jade used to contrast her skin also showcased its pure and beautiful qualities.


    The simplest way to distinguish mutton fat white jade from regular white jade is under a white daylight bulb. Mutton fat white jade, when placed under such a light, appears pure white and translucent with a faint pink mist.


    Ordinary white jade, under daylight, also looks translucent but lacks the pink mist; its defining difference is that when viewed under the light, it inevitably shows varying shades of pale yellow. Thus, if any trace of yellow appears, it cannot be called mutton fat white jade.


    The market today is mostly filled with various grades of white jade sold as "mutton fat white jade." True mutton fat white jade is indeed rare, rarely encountered in ordinary markets, with each gram valued between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan, and larger pieces priced even higher.


    Discovering that the top-grade immortal stone he needed was actually flawless mutton fat white jade, Roselle couldn¡¯t help but let out a wry smile.


    These ancient divine arrays are not something an average person could afford to play with. Even needing just four pieces could bankrupt a middle-class family.


    It seems that money truly is essential for everything; without it, despair is inevitable.


    The "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" specifies dimensions for four top-grade immortal stones: a length of 4.49 millimeters, a width of 2.49 millimeters, and a height of 1.49 millimeters.


    Although Roselle didn¡¯t understand why the specifications for immortal stones were so precise, varying by even a hair, making them unsuitable, he reasoned there must be some ancient mystery involved.


    As for the secret of such dimensions, it wasn''t something he should spend time investigating.


    Calculating the weight of each stone with the specified dimensions, each likely exceeds 50 grams, perhaps even 80 grams. With top-quality mutton fat jade priced nearly at 30,000 yuan per gram, one immortal stone could easily amount to 2-2.5 million yuan. Hence, four stones would cost over ten million yuan.


    "Ten million, my god... truly overwhelming." Roselle tugged his hair in frustration, momentarily at a loss. Although just an hour ago, he felt wealthy with over a million yuan in his account, now, facing the "simple" material needs of the Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array, he could only afford a fragment of mutton fat white jade.


    "Ding, side chain task generated. Chain task 1: Acquire four top-grade spiritual stones within five days. Task completion reward: Spirit Power limit +1, points ???"


    The sudden task obliterated Roselle''s thought of putting it aside. It was unexpected; after probing and exploring numerous methods unsuccessfully, this belated task emerged on its own. Unlike last time, this side task was actually part of a series?

 Chapter 16: Home-Cooked Dishes

    Whether from the perspective of the Ice Crystal Fish Mother or divine cultivation, acquiring the immortal stones to set up the Spirit-Trapping Array seemed to be the current critical task that Roselle must tackle. No wonder the task, which had repeatedly failed to bear fruit, suddenly initiated itself.


    Roselle had long been puzzled about how to store the trickle of spiritual energy produced by the Ice Crystal Fish Mother without it quickly dissipating. Now, with the existence of the overwhelmingly powerful Spirit-Trapping Array, this issue was naturally resolved.


    As long as he obtained the immortal stones and set up the Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array, he could envelop the entire backyard of his villa, turning it into the only place on earth saturated with spiritual energy.


    "This means, the most important thing now is to gather enough money and then procure top-grade mutton fat jade," Roselle muttered to himself, touching his nose.


    Ultimately, whether cultivating immortality or cultivating the divine, the fundamental premise is that money opens the way, and it remains crucial to this day. It seems he must again find a way to amass wealth.


    Should he continue using the Hercules Ants to steal from rich neighborhoods? Roselle definitely won¡¯t resort to petty theft again. Such acts have always gone against his principles, and he wouldn¡¯t even consider them in his most desperate times, let alone now when he has a significant amount of money and a bright future ahead.


    Moreover, using insects to gather wealth, though covert and mysterious, could expose his methods if done frequently, especially to those who are observant. At that point, quietly gaining wealth and cultivating the divine would become an illusion, and he could even attract attention from authorities.


    "No, no, I need to find a better way to make money." The best way to gather wealth without issue is to pursue a legitimate business route, utilizing the special abilities of the system''s pet beasts. This approach would not only offer a competitive advantage in business but also provide a clear origin for the money earned, ensuring it isn¡¯t seen as ''dirty money.''


    On this front, Roselle already had a preliminary plan. However, the current task didn¡¯t allow him the luxury of slowly building a business. To quickly gather ten million, the only option was to gamble, and it had to be a big gamble!


    "I''ve got it." Emerging from the beast shop in his consciousness, Roselle''s gaze gradually focused on a type of insect. This insect didn¡¯t exist on Earth; it was a species from the planet Gondolg. Yes, another extraterrestrial life form.


    Most importantly, its exchange cost in points was very low, allowing him to conserve valuable points while achieving the goal of quickly amassing ten million.


    Of course, before doing so, he needed to package himself and Caesar. Roselle glanced at Caesar.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    In reality, this Beast Servant gifted by the system was crucial to Roselle in the early stages. Caesar was his nerve and his trump card. Without him to back up his plans, even the best strategies couldn¡¯t guarantee smooth execution and personal safety.


    "Master, during your contemplation, that woman outside walked by the door twice," Caesar reported.


    As a Beast Servant, Caesar wasn¡¯t a mindless entity without thoughts or will. His personality was set to be "calm and stern," and he was imbued with a strong sense of a bodyguard by the system. This made his presence subtle, and there were times when Roselle almost forgot that Caesar had been guarding the door for two hours.


    "Hera? Could she have something to discuss with me?" Roselle wondered, deciding to open the door for a look. Yet, before he could act, there was a gentle knock.


    "Knock... Knock, knock..." The sudden knocking startled Roselle, prompting an instinct to hide the divine record. But then he realized it wasn¡¯t a physical item, only existing in his mind.


    With a light tap on his forehead, Roselle gave a small smile. This divine record had indeed made him tense. After all, it wasn¡¯t just the fragmented hand-copied book some corporation had acquired, but a fully restored sacred text with comprehensive Chinese annotations, thanks to the system.


    "Roselle, are you in there?" As expected, Hera did have something to discuss. Roselle''s curiosity was piqued.


    "I''m here, Sister Hera. Is there something you need?" Roselle rubbed his slightly throbbing head, signaling Caesar to stay hidden by the door corner. He then opened the door, blocking the gap with his body.


    As the door opened, he was greeted by Hera¡¯s serene and elegant face. Though it wasn¡¯t his first time seeing her, Roselle was once again struck by her beauty. Truly, heaven had favored this woman. In his lifetime, Roselle hadn¡¯t seen anyone quite like her, exuding such calm charm, even evoking a sense of peace and comfort.


    "Oh, I saw your light on. I made dinner. Would you like to join me? Consider it my thanks for your help," Hera said sincerely, looking at Roselle with hopeful eyes.


    In her mind, Roselle''s unintentional assistance came like timely rain, pulling her out of a difficult spot. Without his prompt payment, she wouldn¡¯t have known how to manage her affairs at that moment.


    "Well... okay, I¡¯m in for a treat tonight."


    There¡¯s something to be said about aesthetic pleasure¡ªsome women need not be extraordinarily beautiful, yet they naturally exude a comforting and peaceful aura that puts others at ease.


    Standing there, Hera was like a lyrical landscape painting, inciting no ill thoughts or disrespect.


    Under the soft lighting, several simple home-cooked dishes were laid out on the table: stir-fried pork with green peppers, fish head with tofu, and papaya stew with ribs.


    Just one glance was enough to make Roselle''s mouth water. Though these were simple home-cooked meals, their rich aroma and appetizing appearance were enough to make someone like him, who regularly subsisted on instant noodles, lose composure.


    "Hera... Sister Hera, did you make all these yourself?" It was hard to believe such exquisite home-cooked dishes were prepared by a single woman. The rich aroma of the papaya rib stew almost tempted Roselle to grab a piece to taste.


    "Why the rush? Go wash your hands. Cooking is one of the few hobbies I have," Hera smiled.


    The dishes weren¡¯t many but were just enough for the two of them. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t cook such an array for herself. This time she wanted to sincerely thank the charmingly simple younger brother.


    "Mmm, this is delicious... so good." After tasting the tender ribs and sipping the richly flavored soup, Roselle could hardly stop praising the meal.


    Turns out, simple, light home-cooked dishes could be so exceptional. The food prepared by Sister Hera gave a feeling of warmth and comfort, unlike the elaborate flavors crafted by professional chefs.