Chapter 325 - Kunpeng Feather and Flood Dragon Squad’s Success

When Lu Ran entered the Cat Maid Cafe, he saw the old president already chatting with Manager Ying.

The old president had brought a thermos filled with ginseng tea instead of ordering a drink from the store.

"I called you here because Lu Ran has some important information for you."

"

Hmm?

Important information?" the old president asked suspiciously. If Lu Ran had told him about it directly, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but hearing it from the cat made him think that it was up to something.

It definitely wouldn’t be sharing any information for free.

"How important is it?"

"It concerns the fate of the entire country!" Manager Ying's eyes lit up.

The information was important, but it wasn’t the primary purpose of this meeting. Lu Ran had his eyes on the old president's Epic resource, but they couldn’t show their hand too early.

This was Lu Ran and the old president’s first meeting, so it was especially important to build a strong relationship. They need to take things step by step.

"I'm here," Lu Ran interrupted.

The cat immediately cut off its conversation with the old president. It teleported a short distance away as Lu Ran sat in front of the president.

"Hello, Mr. President. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

"A pleasure to meet you as well." The old president looked at Lu Ran with a smile. “Manager Ying tells me that you have some important information for me."

"Yes." Lu Ran thought about it for a moment and got directly to the point. He briefed the old president about the situation with the Divine Deer.

After getting so much information at once, the old man needed a moment to process all of it.

"So what are your plans?” the old president finally asked.

"I want to find the teleportation array and go to the Stellar Moon Continent to find the Divine Deer. This way, it could help me create a beastmaster space. If we can also provide this opportunity to other Xia beastmasters, it would greatly improve our chances of winning the World War next year.

"Even if we take a step back and say we lose next year, causing the facilities in Limitless City to get downgraded or Limitless City to disappear altogether, we wouldn’t be stuck in a corner if we could maintain access to a cultivation system.

"After all, the Stellar Moon Continent was able to raise Legendary creatures and beastmasters before the appearance of Limitless City.

"Also, this can be an opportunity to find out more about the Stellar Moon Federation to help us beat them in the coming battle."

The old president couldn’t help but laugh.

"I thought you would be more interested in the fact that humans from Blue Planet and the Stellar Moon Federation share the same origin.”

"Of course. I’m on a mission for peace, cooperation, and mutual development," Lu Ran replied jokingly.

He then continued with, "I'm not a child, so let’s be realistic. How can something like that ever be possible? There are struggles wherever interests diverge. Let’s forget about Blue Planet versus the Stellar Moon Federation for a minute. Even on Blue Planet, countries have never achieved unity.

"The beastmaster civilization of the Stellar Moon Federation is far more advanced than our own, so the only logical thing to do is go over and steal their techniques. Once we are on the same level as the Stellar Moon Federation, then maybe cooperation could be possible."

The old president narrowed his eyes and said, "I may know where the cross-border teleportation array is."

“What?"

Lu Ran and Manager Ying were shocked by the revelation.

“In my early years, I went abroad to steal—I mean, I went on an archaeological dig, and found a mysterious altar underground. There is a wall engraved with an image of the Space and Time Divine Dragons.

“I believed that it was from a random ancient civilization of dragons, but with the information on Legendary beings from the Stellar Moon Continent, I now believe that they are two of the four Supreme Divine Dragons.

"The images must have been left by their followers. The altar could very well be the teleportation array," The old president recalled.

Lu Ran and Manager Ying looked at each other. They never expected the teleportation array that they assumed to be well hidden to be discovered by the old president decades ago.

"But even if it is the teleportation array, going to the Stellar Moon Federation is still too dangerous."

Lu Ran was aware of the dangers, but no risk, no reward. If the Divine Deer’s clone could help him significantly improve his skill, then imagine what the actual Divine Deer could do!

If he trained with the Divine Deer for a few months, then he could sweep the Stellar Moon Federation’s Legendary beastmasters.

With the inheritance of the Divine Deer and authority over Limitless City, he would be unstoppable.

"It's okay. I'll go with him. We’ll be fine as long as we don't run into a Legendary being. Even if we can’t win, I can at least guarantee that we’ll be able to escape," Manager Ying said.

The old president mulled it over and felt that what Lu Ran said wasn’t unreasonable. There was a substantial gap between the Xia Empire and the Stellar Moon Federation’s combat power.

Even if the Xia had access to better facilities in Limitless City, it would be difficult to say whether they could surpass the Stellar Moon Federation within a year.

Right now, another option was another hope.

Even if they lost the World War and Limitless City disappeared one day, as long as Lu Ran could help the people of Blue Planet awaken beastmaster spaces, then they could continue down the path of transcendence.

"In that case, when are the two of you planning to leave?" The old president got serious since this truly did concern the fate of the entire country.

"I’m thinking about going after passing the level 4 ascension realm. My strength is a bit weak right now, so leveling up first isn’t a bad idea."

"Then is there anything else I can help you with?" the old president inquired.

This was the question they were waiting for.

Lu Ran paused for a moment before saying, "Mr. President, I hear that you have a Kunpeng feather. Can I borrow it? I need it to cultivate a familiar, and a stronger familiar equates to a safer journey."

The old president remained silent and glanced at Manager Ying.

Manager Ying was surprised by how smoothly Lu Ran posed the question.

He’s a natural! Why is the old geezer staring at me?

"I was the one who told Lu Ran about the feather." Manager Ying coughed dryly.

"It's for the weather sprite you brought back from the Elemental Era secret realm. Lu Ran fused it with the Shape Shift trait. If it has something powerful as a transformation reference, then it could become significantly stronger.

"The Kunpeng is one of the fastest creatures according to Xia legends. If the weather sprite transforms into one, then its speed would be of great assistance to Lu Ran."

"Really? Is this what you’re looking for?" the old president asked the cat as it took out a white feather from storage.

[Name: Kunpeng Feather]

[Grade: Epic]

[Description: The feather of a kunpeng. Its specific function is unknown.]

"If this is what you’re after, then I can go ahead and lend it to you. I don’t need it at the moment anyway.

"I have tried to have my familiars use it to comprehend some intent relating to the kunpeng without much success after three years.

"If it's useful to you, then you can take it until you complete your mission. Just give it back once you’re done.

"Well, if you succeed, then you can just keep it," the old president said with a smile.

"Really?" Lu Ran was elated. He was now 110% committed to finding a method to help people develop a beastmaster space.

***

The old president left as soon as they finished their discussion.

"When do you plan to enter the next ascension realm?" Manager Ying asked Lu Ran.

"It should be pretty soon. I’ll go in once I beat the Alliance’s challenge. Cultivating weapon spirits is just a side quest, so it’s not a top priority.

I can also challenge level 3 Legendary secret realms at any time as well, and they’re not too time-consuming. It's just that I haven't found a suitable one yet. If I can't decide on one, then I’ll just pick one at random.”

"Alright, then you should start preparing for the challenge." Manager Ying seemed to be eager to explore the Stellar Moon Continent.

Manager Ying wanted to say something else, but it was interrupted by a system message.

[Congratulations to level 1 beastmasters, Icy Roads Ahead, Pig Farmer, Safe Journey, and Road not Dew[1] for clearing level 1 Legendary secret realm, Armored Mountain, and unlocking the path to Legendary.]

"Huh?" Manager Ying was stunned.

"Isn’t that the Flood Dragon Squad?"

Lu Ran was just as surprised.

"Not bad. I’m finally getting a return after investing so many resources."

"Did you tell them to challenge the Armored Mountain secret realm?" Manager Ying asked.

Lu Ran shook his head and then nodded.

"I asked them to find a Legendary secret realm with a boss proficient in support and defense. I didn’t know which one they chose specifically.

"What do you know about this secret realm?"

Manager Ying thought for a moment before giving a summary of what it knew.

"The Armored Mountain secret realm’s boss is a Superior-King pangolin. The exact name of the species is Burrowing King Beast. [2]

"The Burrowing King Beast is a mutant like the Diamond Dragon. Not only is it powerful, but its incredible defensive capabilities can be buffed by the environment. It has a species talent that can make anything it touches extremely tough, almost like an enchantment.

"When it burrows into the ground or a mountain and toughens the ground, it effectively creates an impenetrable shield. It's pretty much a walking tank and wouldn’t even be afraid of the apocalypse.”

"Can it toughen other creatures?” Lu Ran quickly asked.

Manager Ying shook its head.

"How would I know? It’s supposedly a solitary creature.

"Those four are pretty awesome. They killed a boss that specializes in defense and escape. They probably used some cheap trick. I heard that Fang Lan is around. Did they poison it?"

"Don't underestimate the dragon brothers of Sudden Death King."

As Lu Ran was bragging, Lu Bing and the others began to message him about their big win.

Icy Roads Ahead:

Village Chief, Village Chief! Look what we got! Is this something useful for you?

[Trait Crystal (Energy Halo): A familiar with this trait can buff a physical attribute of a designated object for a period of time.]

1. In Chinese, road 路 and dew 露 sound the same. ☜

2. The name in the raws is actually the Chinese name for Sandslash. ☜