Chapter 381 - The Concept of Exclusive Beastmaster Skills

Lu Ran’s sudden idea made Six-Path Flower and Manager Ying turn their attention to him.

“Right now, most of the beastmaster skills learned by beastmasters in the Stellar Moon World and on Blue Planet were developed by others. Although, thanks to the power of Limitless City, beastmasters quickly mastered the corresponding beastmaster skills, historical records show that these skills aren’t perfectly suited to them.

“According to the records, once beastmasters reach the Legendary level, they begin attempting to develop their own beastmaster skills. For example, Emperor Yan Sizhen’s “Flame Spirit” is one of the top-tier beastmaster skills he developed himself.

“It has also been proven that Flame Spirit ultimately only suits Emperor Yan. Even his direct descendants couldn’t perfectly adapt to it like he did.

“At this stage, I’ve learned a bunch of beastmaster skills through rewards from Limitless City, but the same logic applies. These skills were all developed by others. They might help me at certain stages, but they aren’t my creations... I can’t unleash their full potential.

“Now, the Divine Deer has opened a beastmaster space for me. And because of the existence of ascension realms, I don’t need to meditate to level up my beastmaster space like other beastmasters. This means I have plenty of time to research, develop, and create beastmaster skills.

“What do you think about me trying to create a beastmaster skill that’s exclusive to me and suits Captain Doofus and the others?”

After Lu Ran finished speaking, Manager Ying yawned and said, “Kid, why do you always have so many wild ideas? Others only start creating beastmaster skills after becoming a Legendary beastmaster. Yet, you’re just at level 4 and are already thinking about it?”

Six-Path Flower smiled. “It’s possible. The fundamental difference between a Legendary beastmaster and a low-level beastmaster is that the former can start walking their own path. If you can clarify your own path early, it’ll be a good thing.

“Don’t you have the Super Beast Mimicry skill? Your familiar has exceptional comprehension, and my Mortal Path form’s comprehension can also be shared with you. Plus, you were chosen by the Divine Deer, so your innate talent isn’t bad. You might as well give it a try.

“If you can create an exclusive beastmaster skill before reaching Legendary, your strength will indeed improve significantly.”

“Right!” Lu Ran, bolstered by the affirmation, felt even more confident.

The Divine Deer had opened a beastmaster space for him, but due to his reluctance to give up Limitless City’s reward mechanism, even if he wanted to contract new familiars, he would still use the contract card instead of the beastmaster space.

However, leaving the beastmaster space unused would also be a waste. Most beastmaster skills in the Stellar Moon World relied on the beastmaster space for learning, development, and creation. This was also why beastmasters on Blue Planet, who obtained certain beastmaster skill training methods through ascension realms, couldn’t cultivate them.

Now that Lu Ran had a beastmaster space, he could naturally train those previously unlearnable beastmaster skills. However, limited by his energy and the fact that he hadn’t even had time to develop the skills he learned through skill cards, he couldn’t recklessly learn a bunch without a plan.

Therefore, the best way to make use of this beastmaster space without wasting it seemed to be attempting to create his own beastmaster skill.

“So, do you have any ideas? What kind of effect do you want this skill to have?” Manager Ying asked.

Lu Ran said, “I want a beastmaster skill that can comprehensively enhance my familiars’ combat power. There should be plenty of such skills, but they’re all suited to others, and not necessarily me. As for other ideas... none.”

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“Then what are you talking about?” Manager Ying fumed.

Lu Ran put on an innocent expression. “Creating a beastmaster skill isn’t that easy. I’ll need to take it slow, you know? Take it slow.”

“Not even a little idea?” Six-Path Flower asked.

“Well, it’s not like I have none at all... If we’re talking about comprehensively enhancing familiars, the first thing that comes to mind is evolution.

“Evolution is a permanent, comprehensive enhancement for familiars, but evolution is very rare. In the Stellar Moon World, without the help of Limitless City, it’s not easy for familiars to evolve.

“If possible, I’d like to develop a beastmaster skill that allows familiars to undergo temporary evolution at their current stage. Through temporary evolution, their strength could be greatly enhanced during battle.

“Even a small increase in species rank would provide a far greater boost to the familiar than any other amplification-type beastmaster skill. Moreover, during this process, the familiar might even gain new abilities.

“However, the phenomenon of evolution generally requires environmental or external stimuli for the familiar. How to temporarily create such stimuli through a beastmaster skill, and what to use as the stimulus, is a challenge.”

Manager Ying listened and said, “Sounds similar to fusion skills or combination skills. The combination skill of a beastmaster and their familiar turns both into a new combined species. Isn’t that a form of evolution? The fusion skill allows two familiars to merge and transform. Isn’t that also a form of evolution?”

“But those two skills also require compatibility, so they aren’t suited to everyone."

The combination skill was developed by a half-blood beastmaster from the past. The power he could unleash by combining with a familiar of the same bloodline was far greater than what a pure-blooded human and their familiar could achieve.

Similarly, the effects of a pure-blooded beastmaster combining with a familiar of a different species would also vary. So, while this skill aligned with what Lu Ran was talking about, it didn’t perfectly suit him.

As they talked, Lu Ran suddenly asked, “What about soul evolution? The biggest characteristic of Undead creatures is possession. After possession, the attributes of the possessed target can be enhanced to some extent. If I treat myself as an Undead familiar and possess one of my contracted familiars, what would the effect be?

“Of course, simple possession alone wouldn’t provide anywhere near the attribute boost that evolution does. Building on the foundation of soul possession, the next challenge is how to make the familiar undergo temporary evolution after being possessed...”

Lu Ran pulled out various necromancy books he had brought back from the Undead Cult and said, “Although I’ve already gone through them many times, I think it’s necessary to review them again... Most creatures evolve with their physical bodies as the core, at most involving their attributes. Evolution related to the soul seems worth researching.”

“Wait, that’ll be too hard on the soul.” Manager Ying scoffed.

A beastmaster’s soul possessing a familiar? You really dare to think that? Aren’t you afraid of being beaten to the point of soul dispersion? Do you think other Legendary necromancers haven’t tried this? Do you have a death wish?

“It is a bit crazy... But where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Lu Ran suddenly looked up at Manager Ying again. “Using my main soul to possess and enhance a familiar is indeed risky, but what about using a soul clone? If I learn from Dark Crow and develop the ability to create soul clones, and then use the clone as the possessor, there’d be no problem.”

“Fine, fine.” Manager Ying waved its paw, not wanting to argue further.

But the challenge remained the same. Ordinary soul possession would only provide limited enhancement to the familiar. It was a far cry from the temporary evolution Lu Ran envisioned.

However, Manager Ying clearly underestimated Lu Ran’s determination. In the next moment, Lu Ran’s eyes gleamed eerily as he looked at Manager Ying, his thoughts growing even more outrageous.

“Manager Ying, I remember the Squirrel God said your clones are unique, right? Not only can they teleport across worlds, but they can also form contracts with others and enter Limitless City. At the same time, when those clones merge with your main body, your main body’s power increases.

"This case proves that clones have great strength... So, is it possible for me to develop a unique soul clone? I can train the soul clone as an evolution resource—a soul tonic—and cultivate it specifically, just like your different clones. Then, I’ll have my familiar devour my soul clone to achieve temporary soul evolution. You’re a super expert in clone skills. Any suggestions?”

Manager Ying cursed. “Fucking hell... No wonder you could become the Holy Son of the Undead Cult. You’re just as outrageous as that crow of yours. Who could even think of having their familiar eat their soul to evolve? Is this something a normal beastmaster would think of? Historically, there probably aren’t many necromancers purer than you!”

Lu Ran sneered. “I don’t have a choice. If you want to get stronger, you have to be ruthless with yourself. After talking with you, I already have a preliminary idea. First, I’ll need to learn soul clone techniques. Then, through Super Beast Mimicry, I’ll need to cultivate corresponding soul clones based on each familiar’s characteristics.

“For example, with Captain Doofus, I could cultivate a Werewolf Swordsman Soul Clone. Then, I could possess Captain Doofus and have it temporarily evolve into a Werewolf Swordsman. The only question is how effective it would be... But it feels like everything hinges on whether the soul clone is strong enough."

Lu Ran looked at Manager Ying again and laughed wildly. “If only my beastmaster space could contract my own soul clone. Raising the soul clone as a familiar, paired with soul amplification skills... The clone definitely wouldn’t be weak. Manager Ying, teach me! I want to learn cloning!”

Manager Ying looked at Six-Path Flower for help. It felt like Lu Ran had already gone off the deep end.

Madness. Complete madness. Thinking of contracting yourself? Is there even any saving you? I told you to create a beastmaster skill, not to overthrow the beastmaster system!

“Let’s try it~!”

“

Awoo~~~!

”

“Long live the King! Long live the King!”

At this moment, Manager Ying was the only one who found it ridiculous. None of Lu Ran’s familiars seemed to have any objections, which made Manager Ying even more baffled.

Damn it, you’re all just watching the show and don’t care how big the mess gets. My cloning is a talent—there’s no way I can teach him!

Meanwhile, the child laborer, Baby Cloud, was still rushing on its way...