Chapter 488 - Return 6!

Remnant Soul of the Sprite’s Four Seasons Goddess...

Manager Ying felt a headache coming on.

Is this even a legitimate Time-attribute resource? This damn thing is clearly an Undead-attribute resource! Whether Lu Ran ate souls or not is his business. What does it have to do with me?

“Thank you, Lord Squirrel God.”

While Manager Ying was still nursing its headache, Lu Ran was already grinning. Having something was better than nothing. There’s no reason to be picky. He was confident that Manager Ying would eventually come around.

Of course, Lu Ran wasn’t smiling just because of that. The real reason was that Squirrel God had mentioned this remnant soul was part of the Nether God’s collection. Theoretically, the Nether God in the real world also had this remnant soul in its possession. If it were still in its hands, Lu Ran felt he could use a similar excuse to claim it again after returning.

With this, the Divine Deer had brought back an Epic-potential Time-attribute resource, and Squirrel God had provided the remnant soul of a Time god. They had done more than enough.

Over the past month, they had hunted ferocious beasts to feed the timekeeper, scoured Blue Planet and Stellar Moon for compatible Time resources, and so much more. Lu Ran couldn’t keep guilt-tripping them with Manager Ying’s plight.

He let the Divine Deer and Squirrel God rest easy, leaving the rest to him. The reason for this was that the ascension realm was nearing its end. Lu Ran planned to focus his remaining efforts on Bai Ze.

Myths and legends didn’t detail Bai Ze’s abilities, only stating that it knew the forms and traits of all creatures and even left behind a record of over ten thousand supernatural beasts.

From this, Lu Ran deduced that Bai Ze’s abilities were likely related to detection, possessing at least a high-grade version of the Eye of Detection. This would explain its unparalleled knowledge of ancient beasts’ weaknesses.

While this ability didn’t particularly appeal to Lu Ran, as Manager Ying had pointed out, Bai Ze was the best source of information on the ancient Blue Planet. Learning more from it would make tomb raiding easier after their return.

“How are the preparations going?” Manager Ying walked over gracefully, watching as Six-Path Flower continued applying makeup to Lu Ran.

Six-Path Flower infused Lu Ran with the virtuous power it had extracted from other beings.

“What do you think? I feel guilty doing this, though.” Six-Path Flower muttered,

“Well, without this, how else would Bai Ze willingly acknowledge me? Right now, I look like a saint.” Lu Ran flicked his hair.

Manager Ying was speechless.

Does he really think Bai Ze will buy this?

“Judgment is based on actions, not intentions. If we judged by intentions, no one in the world would be perfect. Hunting ferocious beasts is a virtuous act, aligning with Bai Ze’s ideals. Now, with great virtue radiating from me, if Bai Ze still rejects me, that’s its problem. Let’s go. It’s time to meet it.”

***

Somewhere in the ancient wilderness, Bai Ze had been waiting in a mountain forest for Lu Ran’s arrival. It was puzzling by Lu Ran’s claim that he could transform into a virtuous, benevolent figure in just a few days. Admittedly, Lu Ran was shrouded in too many mysteries, even for Bai Ze to decipher.

“God Bai Ze, I’ve arrived.”

After several days of waiting, Lu Ran appeared as promised. Bai Ze rose solemnly, its eyes flashing with surprise. To its astonishment, Lu Ran truly radiated virtuous power. Although it flowed from the outside rather than emanating from within, the sight left Bai Ze at a loss for words.

Lu Ran stood before Bai Ze. “Well? Are you satisfied now?”

Bai Ze remained silent for a long moment before closing its eyes, as if calculating something.

“

Hah...

Very well. From this day forward, I shall assist you in eradicating all evil from this world, vanquishing calamities for all time.”

As Bai Ze spoke, Lu Ran’s face lit up with joy.

“

Hmm?

” Bai Ze suddenly noticed Lu Ran’s kingly aura surging, as if its support had triggered a transformation.

Of course, this change was actually due to an item Lu Ran carried.

“In that case, from now on, you shall be our nation’s divine beast. With your help, this king shall rule with wisdom and virtue.” Lu Ran produced the imperial seal, smiling broadly.

[Name: Imperial Seal]

[Grade: Legendary]

Unlike the Divine Deer’s reluctance, Bai Ze was straightforward. The imperial seal was upgraded to Legendary grade in response. Although Lu Ran suspected it would downgrade after losing Bai Ze’s support upon returning, the upgrade at least revealed the kind of national foundation needed to elevate it to Legendary.

Just short of one Intermediate-Legendary combatant...

“What is...” Bai Ze’s eyes widened at the sight of the seal.

However, the next moment, its expression darkened along with Lu Ran’s. Upon reaching the Legendary grade, the imperial seal seemed to activate a hidden mechanism, erupting in radiant light. A projection slowly materialized in the air.

The projection resembled a rabbit, suspended within two interlocking golden rings, bathed in a gentle golden glow like an immortal slumbering within the moon. After a moment, it opened its golden eyes, surprise evident in its voice.

“To think a human nation could flourish enough to awaken my consciousness in such a short time. Are you the current king of the humans? You appear most virtuous.” It gazed warmly at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran was stunned.

Holy shit! This thing is—!

[Name: Wishful Dream God (Consciousness)]

[Attribute: Spirit]

This was

the

Wishful Dream God, the Legendary god who had facilitated the founding of the Beastmaster Empire and supported its first emperor. At the same time, it was also the divine beast that the Divine Deer claimed had ultimately destroyed the empire.

The fuck? The imperial seal actually contained a clone of the Dream God?

“Let me see how the nation fares today.”

The Wishful Dream God seemed pleased. When a nation it had helped establish reached a level of prosperity that met its standards, its consciousness would awaken within the imperial seal. It had never revealed this to anyone.

Upon awakening, it could also use the nation’s accumulated fortune to review its developmental history. Theoretically, a nation reaching Legendary status should be thriving. Coupled with the virtuous aura surrounding Lu Ran, the Wishful Dream God’s expectations soared.

However, as it probed further, the projection suddenly froze, sensing something was off. The imperial seal’s power seemed to have a gap. Then, it witnessed scenes that left it horrified.

Across the land, countless Transcendent species mined, gathered, and logged day and night, funneling resources relentlessly to the center, into the hands of this so-called king of the humans. The Legendary status was built on the backs of enslaved beings. A humanoid flower brainwashing creatures into puppets, a sinister crow using curses to force labor.

The golden rings around the Wishful Dream God dimmed, turning black. When it tried to trace how the imperial seal and throne had fallen into Lu Ran’s hands, it found only darkness, as if his reign was illegitimate and obtained through foul means.

“Noooooo!” In an instant, the Wishful Dream God was corrupted.

It had fostered human nations to witness bonds between humans and supernatural beings—friendship, kinship, peaceful coexistence—to explore a new paradigm of harmony.

But... what is this? A usurper?

The imperial seal Lu Ran had tossed erupted with terrifying power as the Wishful Dream God attacked. Countless beams of light shot toward Lu Ran and Bai Ze. However, in the next moment, the attacks were absorbed by a wall of water, and a massive bubble encased the Wishful Dream God’s consciousness, trapping it.

“What are you doing?” Bai Ze, having just pledged allegiance to Lu Ran, reacted instantly to the deranged entity’s attempt to kill them.

The Wishful Dream God’s consciousness was just a consciousness, its power a fraction of its true self. It stood no chance against Bai Ze. Yet, with a crack, Lu Ran suffered a bizarre attack, coughing blood as a black crescent mark appeared on his hand.

The strike was so insidious that even Six-Path Flower, a being of immense defensive prowess, failed to block it. Even Bai Ze couldn’t discern how the Wishful Dream God had landed the blow.

As the Dream God’s consciousness dissipated, Lu Ran’s heart ached. As he stared at the shattered imperial seal and the eerie symbol on his hand, he felt a pang of regret. He’d thought securing Bai Ze’s support was a victory, but he never expected the Dream God’s consciousness to lurk within the seal.

From its reaction, it seemed to have discerned his illegitimate rise and the empire’s bloody sweatshop model, corrupting just as it had in history.

This wasn’t Bai Ze’s fault. The Dream God’s consciousness was a pre-existing trap. Even if the seal had upgraded normally, the Dream God would have appeared. If anything, Bai Ze’s presence was a blessing. However, that didn’t stop Lu Ran from grumbling.

Limitless City, you really planted a long-con trap here. Bai Ze might not be the enforcer, but it’s the catalyst for this punishment. Well played.

“My seal... my poor seal!” Lu Ran rushed to pick up the imperial seal.

Building the Beastmaster Empire had been for its effects, and now, inspecting its post-destruction attributes made his heart sink.

[Name: Imperial Seal (Damaged)]

[Grade: Treasure]

Goddammit!

After examining the seal, Lu Ran turned his attention to the black crescent mark. Six-Path Flower was already communicating with him.

“I can’t purify this mark yet, but I think I know what it is. Consider it a curse left by the Dream God using wish power. It’s harmless in itself, but it’s a beacon to allow its true form to track you effortlessly.

“In other words, it’s a hunter’s mark. Even though Bai Ze destroyed the Dream God’s consciousness, once we return to Blue Planet or Stellar Moon, its true form might learn that you’ve rebuilt the empire it destroyed.

“Of course, with your Time Shield beastmaster skill and being on Blue Planet, it won’t find you easily. But if it forces the search, the strain might overwhelm you. Didn’t you end up in a coma last time from overusing Time Shield?”

“So the Divine Deer’s fears are coming true?” Lu Ran braced himself for another scolding upon returning.

Compared to everything, his heart ached more for the imperial seal as he looked at it.

“That consciousness seemed tied to the kingly fortune you represent,” Bai Ze observed.

Lu Ran admitted. “True. However, it seemed jealous of your support. In that case, we don’t need it.”

Bai Ze was taken aback. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Lu Ran’s gaze turned sly. “Don’t overthink it. This works in your favor, doesn’t it? Anyway, it’s too emotionally unstable to be a nation’s divine beast. You’re far more suitable. Can you repair the imperial seal to the Legendary grade? That way, your bond with humanity will deepen.”

Bai Ze fell into thought, feeling like it had boarded a pirate ship. But with the eggs of its kin at stake, it couldn’t back out now.

Fine. This way, I can oversee the king of humans and steer the nation’s course.

“Yes. This seal was forged from potent wish power. Although it’s damaged, its foundation remains. Others couldn’t restore it, but I have Bai Ze’s Eye that can perceive all things’ weaknesses, structures, and fates. Reforging it is no challenge.”

***

Lu Ran had stumbled but not fallen entirely. The Dream God’s mark was a problem, but as Six-Path Flower said, it wasn’t an immediate threat. Even if the Dream God found him, Lu Ran wasn’t afraid because the Divine Deer’s daughter was in the empire. If it wanted to destroy the nation, it would have to face the Four Supreme Divine Dragons.

Besides, the imperial seal no longer had ties to the Dream God. With its consciousness gone, the seal had shattered. Lu Ran guessed the consciousness was a core component.

Although it was downgraded, he believed it could be salvaged by replacing the Dream God with Bai Ze. Thus, the imperial seal was passed to Bai Ze, while Lu Ran summoned Manager Ying to hover nearby, assisting in the repairs.

“I said I can do this alone.”

“Nonsense. How long will it take?” Lu Ran asked.

Bai Ze replied, “I don’t know, but if you keep distracting me with questions, it’ll take longer.”

“Fine, fine.”

Some time later.

“Any progress?” Lu Ran pressed.

“Partial completion. Beyond its original effects, I’ve added another to strengthen humanity.”

[Name: Imperial Seal]

[Grade: Epic]

[Description: The bearer is imbued with kingly fortune, boosting cultivation speed and gradually enhancing longevity and resistance to evil. The seal’s power scales with the nation’s prosperity (max: Legendary) or decline (min: Treasure). Includes the skill King’s Divine Appointment.]

[Skill: King’s Divine Appointment]

[Effect: The king can appoint positions to other beings using national fortune. Appointees gain corresponding boosts, but their deaths inflict multiplied fortune loss.]

“Perfect. Now, only one step remains. That is, to bind me with—” Bai Ze was pleased with its modifications, deeming this version superior.

Lu Ran sighed dramatically. “You’re too slow for a divine beast. There’s no time left. This seal will go to Six-Path Flower or my little Bai Ze instead. Hand it over.”

Before Bai Ze could react, Lu Ran snatched the seal and bolted with Manager Ying.

Bai Ze stood frozen, struggling to process what had happened.

What... just...?

However, before it could chase them down, the space around it began to blur, especially Lu Ran’s fading figure.

“Fucking humans! May you live

happily

ever after.” As Bai Ze’s form disintegrated, it grasped the truth and said a

blessing

.