Chapter 477 - The Plan to Hunt Divine Beasts (Part 1)

Manager Ying found Lu Ran’s words absurd when it heard them. The mission only required him to hunt a level 70 beast of at least King rank, but Lu Ran was already eyeing a level 100 Legendary divine beast.

However, Lu Ran had no other choice. This wasn’t just about the mission score anymore. He was desperately in need of leveling resources. Breaking through to become a level 6 beastmaster was easy, but raising the Captain Doofus and the others from level 60 to 70 was far more difficult.

The challenge of leveling his familiars from 60 to 70 was significantly harder for him than it was for veterans like the old president or Dr. Gu. This is because the species rank of his familiars was too high. The higher a familiar’s species rank and strength, the more nourishment it needed to grow.

Previously, Captain Doofus and Dark Crow leveled up more easily than Sudden Death King because their species strength was weaker than that of dragons. However, now, whether it was the Captain Doofus, Dark Crow, or Sudden Death King, their species strength far surpassed even the king of dragons. As a result, the resources they needed to level up were overwhelming.

For Lu Ran, the best solution now was to hunt quasi-Legendary or Legendary beasts, using the resources they dropped to cook level-boosting dishes for his familiars. This would ensure Captain Doofus and the others reached level 70 as quickly and stably as possible.

So, if he could successfully hunt a suitable Legendary divine beast, disassemble its body, and use the Legendary Flame Spirit to cook corresponding culinary-intent dishes, his entire team would undoubtedly hit level 70 without issue.

“I don’t know if it means anything, but I’ve already sent it to the Celestial Path for reincarnation,” Six-Path Flower said.

It was referring to the deceased Manager Ying. The Celestial Path ensured the reincarnated target would 100% be reborn as a descendant of Legendary rank. Although it sounded impressive, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

The first-generation offspring of Legendary beings were usually quasi-Legendary, and their descendants would then be Overlords. While it was rare for the rank to drop below Overlord, for Manager Ying, this kind of reincarnation was negligible.

“Thanks, but the projection world will probably shatter before it’s even born. Farewell, projected version of me.” Manager Ying shook its head.

“So, next, we’re going to find the Divine Deer and the others in this world?” Six-Path Flower dispelled the Hell Domain and began absorbing natural energy to recover stamina.

Lu Ran nodded. “Yes. Let’s head to Lu Village first.”

***

Lu Ran and the others resumed their journey at full speed. Although both Captain Doofus and Six-Path Flower had reached Legendary rank, their travel efficiency still couldn’t match Baby Cloud’s.

Even after maintaining high-speed flight across an entire continent, Baby Cloud didn’t deplete its stamina. This was the advantage of a superior elemental lifeform. As long as there was corresponding elemental energy in the environment, they were endurance monsters, whether in stamina or vitality.

Flying from the European continent to the ancient lands of Xia, Lu Ran sensed many powerful auras along the way, realizing that the ancient Blue Planet’s foundations were far deeper than he’d thought.

It was no wonder the Divine Deer and the others had only dared to bring a small group of elites, integrating their bloodline into native Blue Planet lifeforms to allow mutual evolution. If they’d tried to bring a large number of Stellar Moon lifeforms directly, Blue Planet’s native divine beasts would have undoubtedly seen them as invaders and declared war.

It didn’t take long for Lu Ran’s group to reach ancient Xia territory and locate Lu Village. Even though someone here might very well be Lu Ran’s ancestor, he wasn’t concerned about that. He only cared whether the Divine Deer was present.

“Found you.”

After circling a place in the village where a stone statue of the Divine Deer was enshrined, Lu Ran grinned, recalling Baby Cloud and landing on the ground with a cat clone perched on his shoulder.

The villagers hadn’t noticed Lu Ran yet, but in the village, a deer-like creature recovering from injuries suddenly opened its eyes.

“Who’s there?” The Divine Deer stood up with a solemn gaze.

First, it could tell Lu Ran wasn’t a Blue Planet native. His aura was strong, roughly equivalent to a level 60 quasi-Legendary beast, which the Divine Deer could discern. Even in the Stellar Moon World, few humans could reach this level. As for Blue Planet’s humans, they hadn’t evolved to this stage yet.

“Lord Divine Deer, greetings. Allow me to introduce myself. I am a messenger of a kin of the Time Dragon.” Lu Ran smiled warmly, addressing it smoothly.

“What?” The Divine Deer was visibly startled.

A messenger of that mysterious Time Dragon’s kin?

Cough...

On Lu Ran’s shoulder, although Manager Ying was not yet accustomed to its identity as the timekeeper, it couldn’t help but feel like it was now cheating on the Divine Deer.

The Divine Deer suddenly noticed something.

“Wait, why do I sense my aura on you?”

Lu Ran remained calm. “In your memory, you’ve certainly never met me. If I carry your aura without your knowledge, it can only mean we’ve interacted in another timeline. As a time traveller, this is one of the few abilities we, the timekeepers, possess.”

Manager Ying was speechless. It had to admire Lu Ran’s sheer audacity in lying.

This guy can really spin tales like no one’s business.

“That makes sense.” The Divine Deer nodded.

“Lord Divine Deer, you seem to be in poor condition.” Lu Ran observed.

The Divine Deer looked at him. “If you’re truly the timekeeper’s messenger, you should already know what happened.”

Lu Ran sighed. “I know Stellar Moon has suffered a great catastrophe, and the other dragon kin are not faring well. However, the reason I’ve sought you out is that the Time Dragon’s kin has also met with misfortune.”

“

Hmm?

” The Divine Deer frowned.

Did the kin of the Time Dragon also encounter trouble?

Among the four Divine Dragons’ kin, the Time Dragon’s kin was the most mysterious. The other nine kins had all met each other, and each Divine Dragon had three kins. However, the Time Dragon was an exception as it had only one kin, and this kin had always remained in the time tunnel, never setting foot in Stellar Moon.

As a fellow colleague, the Divine Deer was immediately concerned.

“What happened?”

More importantly, it wondered if the timekeeper knew anything about the missing Divine Dragons.

“The timekeeper has always maintained the stability of time, residing in the time tunnel to prevent time trespassers from disrupting history. Not long ago, a Divine-level being from the future entered the time tunnel, attempting to return to the past and alter history. The timekeeper discovered it.

“Although the intruder was dealt with, it was well-prepared and immensely powerful. The timekeeper lost its strength and memories. It was forced to reincarnate, and this is its reincarnated form.”

With a grand gesture, Lu Ran introduced Manager Ying, who gracefully stepped forward and looked at the Divine Deer.

“I’ve only recalled fragments of my identity. The rest is lost. If I could regain even a little more strength, perhaps more memories would return...” Manager Ying sighed.

Lu Ran added, “That’s why I sought you out, to see if there’s any way to help the timekeeper regain its power. Even if it’s just from Overlord to Low Legendary, it might remember more.”

Despite its long lifespan, the Divine Deer was momentarily overwhelmed.

The information was staggering, but if this was true, the timekeeper had suffered far worse than it had. The Divine Deer was just severely injured in the catastrophe. One reason it had come to Blue Planet was to recuperate from the injuries sustained in Stellar Moon. On the other hand, the timekeeper had been forced to reincarnate.

Suddenly, the Divine Deer noticed something else.

“Wait...”

Upon closer inspection, the so-called reincarnated timekeeper was just a clone.

“It’s a clone?”

Lu Ran said. “Yes, Lord Divine Deer. The timekeeper beside me is indeed just a clone, but that doesn’t matter. For the timekeeper, clones are its true self, and the true self is its clones. Its clones are just versions of itself from different timelines, all to ensure a higher chance of successful reincarnation.

“The timekeeper’s clones are unique. For example, even a clone can traverse cross-world teleportation arrays. It’s something even other kin can’t accomplish.”

The Divine Deer fell silent.

Clones are versions of themselves from different timelines?

The Divine Deer replied, “I regret to say I likely lack the ability to help the timekeeper recover its memories or strength. Even if I weren’t injured, I doubt I could elevate the timekeeper from Overlord to Legendary.”

Lu Ran took a deep breath. “There’s really no way? What about the other Dragon Dragons’ kin?”

“Only the God of Sealing and the Void God accompanied me here. The others remain in Stellar Moon, holding the line. Additionally, even though the Void God initially came, it soon returned to Stellar Moon. However, they likely lack the means to restore the timekeeper’s power. After all, doing so would probably require Time-affiliated energy.”

Good enough!

Lu Ran said, “Then there’s only one solution. Lord Divine Deer, you and Squirrel God are Low Legendary. Your strength is formidable even by Blue Planet’s standards. Could I ask you to hunt a Time-attribute Legendary, or at least a quasi-Legendary lifeform? If that’s not possible, other attributes will do. I need their core resources to attempt restoring the timekeeper’s power.”

The Divine Deer fell into thought again.

Lu Ran pressed, “Lord Divine Deer, I understand your concerns. You’re worried such actions might provoke conflict between Stellar Moon and Blue Planet’s lifeforms. However, these are extraordinary times, so we can’t afford to think conventionally.”

“I must discuss this with Squirrel God. The matter is too significant.”

Lu Ran added, “Alternatively, the remains of divine beasts from Stellar Moon would also suffice. Although I’m not sure it’s possible, I’d like to try using time-intent energy to refine them into resources suitable for Time-attribute lifeforms.”

Of course, Lu Ran didn’t actually possess Time-based culinary intent yet, but securing the resources came first.

“Wait here.”

The Divine Deer glanced at the timekeeper and its messenger, Lu Ran, not entirely convinced yet. It decided to consult Squirrel God first. If Lu Ran’s claims were true, helping the timekeeper regain some power was indeed crucial.

As the most mysterious kin, what if their memories held clues about the four Divine Dragons? After the Divine Dragons vanished, their kin had suffered greatly. With the Divine Dragons present, even a Low Legendary like the Divine Deer could easily suppress Superior Legendaries. However, without them, Low Legendaries were just that. They were just incapable of maintaining Stellar Moon’s stability.

“Very well. I’ll await your return, but I hope you’ll come back within two days,” Lu Ran said.