Chapter 59 - A Strange Secret Realm

Although Lu Ran accepted Pluto’s challenge, he didn’t plan to fight immediately. Since the battle would involve a valuable Attribute-Awakening Fruit, it had to be approached carefully.

While Captain Doofus was ranked higher than Pluto’s familiar on the Heavenly Familiar Ranking, Pluto’s familiar had already reached level 10 and had fused a trait. More importantly, it had the advantage of flight.

Lu Ran also wasn’t sure what kind of beastmaster skills or beastmaster gear Pluto had. Facing him now could easily result in failure. At the very least, he had to wait until Captain Doofus reached level 10 and thoroughly farm the two secret realms before he could consider making his move.

“I’ll wait for you,” Pluto said before leaving his ID number behind.

Lu Ran remained calm as he watched Pluto leave. He fully intended to claim victory when the time was right.

“I’ll be heading out as well, Master Lin,” he said afterward.

Master Lin nodded. “

Mm

.”

Before Lu Ran could leave, though, he offered a reminder. “There’s a big difference between a familiar with a fused trait and one without. Once a trait is fused, a familiar’s species talent is awakened, which widens the gap even further”

Master Lin was right. While accepting the challenge was fine, Lu Ran shouldn’t expect to overcome the level gap too easily.

Lu Ran nodded. “Understood.”

He wasn’t too worried, though. Captain Doofus was at the top of the Heavenly Familiar Ranking because its skill mastery far surpassed other familiars.

That skill advantage should be significant enough not to fall inferior to the boost that a trait provided. After all, Lu Ran knew that Fang Lan had just recently mastered energy acceleration after more than a week of training. Meanwhile, Captain Doofus had already mastered several techniques and even combined them. His plan was to simply keep expanding that advantage.

***

Leaving the smithy, Lu Ran found a random hotpot place nearby and feasted on fresh meat sourced from secret realms. Once satisfied, he headed back to rest for the night. Both he and Captain Doofus were fully recharged by the next morning, ready to take on a new secret realm challenge.

This lifestyle reminded Lu Ran of the days when he’d spent hours grinding in online games. It was impossible to progress without putting in the effort. Moreover, since the next milestone reward was almost within his reach, the thought of it kept him eager to press on.

These days, Lu Ran dreamed of the Weapon Control Trait and of Captain Doofus achieving its perfect evolution. His goals all centered around his familiar.

In their private room, Captain Doofus tilted its head and barked, asking what the plan was for today.

“Like we discussed yesterday,” Lu Ran answered, “we’ll start with the Mantis Jungle Secret Realm and recharge the Broken Horn. If we still have energy afterward, we’ll hit up Blizzard Mountain for another run.”

Captain Doofus’ eyes shone with intelligence. Their day was filled with hope.

For a lazier animal like a panda spoiled in a zoo, this could have been the moment it started complaining. But Captain Doofus had just woken up full of energy, and strenuous tasks didn’t bother it in the slightest.

“

Awooo!”

Captain Doofus howled, signaling it was ready to go.

It was excited to test its sword skills against the blade mantises and see what they were capable of.

“I’ll go ahead and pay the entry fee,” Lu Ran said with a smile.

Captain Doofus is always reliable!

Lu Ran had read plenty of stories on the beastmaster forum about familiars developing trauma after their first experience in dangerous secret realms, often refusing to participate again unless forced by the beastmaster contract.

Unlike them, Captain Doofus was easy to manage. As long as it was fed, it was willing to take on any task. After more than a year together and being perfectly trained through telepathy, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus had skipped the difficult bonding phase, giving them a clear advantage.

[Name: Mantis Jungle]

[Secret Realm Level: Beginner]

[Difficulty: Hard]

[Entry Fee: 700 crystal coins]

Since the resources in the secret realm were exponentially more valuable, and there was a slim chance of obtaining the highly prized Gale Amplification beastmaster skill, the entry fee had increased.

The rise in price wasn’t significant, however, due to the exponentially greater dangers involved. For example, Gale Amplification only had a 1% drop rate, even with an S rating. It was almost impossible to obtain without a great deal of luck.

However, for those lucky enough, the rewards could be game-changing. It would make a newbie beastmaster’s life easy.

[Do you want to spend 700 crystal coins to challenge the Mantis Jungle Secret Realm?]

Yes.

Lu Ran confirmed. In an instant, he and Captain Doofus, who was carrying a sword in its mouth, were transported into the realm.

Lu Ran and Captain Doofus were fully armed this time. After all, considering this secret realm’s difficulty, they couldn’t afford to be careless. Each blade mantis here had awakened its attribute and could easily cut an unwary beastmaster or familiar in half.

[Teleportation completed.]

[Current Location: Mantis Jungle (Beginner Secret Realm)]

[Difficulty: Hard]

[Mission: Defeat the Mantis Jungle Leader.]

[Description: Mantis Jungle is the primary habitat of the Blade Mantis species. Countless beastmasters have been attracted to its numerous advanced resources, but due to the strength of the Blade Mantises, many newcomers have met their end here.]

[Tip 1: Beastmasters can only stay in beginner secret realms for 8 hours. One may choose to exit at any time, though teleportation takes 10 seconds.]

[Tip 2: ...]

As Lu Ran read the description, he paused.

“

Hm?

”

For once, there was no mention of any connection to the Beastmaster Empire, and there was no convoluted background story either.

It seems like a perfectly normal—

Before Lu Ran could finish his thought, the sight before him and Captain Doofus made them freeze.

Two 1.5-meter tall green blade mantises, standing on two legs, were embracing each other in what looked like a post-mating scene. What shocked them even more was that the male mantis was missing its head. The female seemed to have sliced it off and was now casually munching on it.

Lu Ran’s scalp tingled. “Damn.”

He knew mantises had a habit of cannibalism, but seeing human-sized ones actually practicing it made it far more disturbing.

Noticing Lu Ran and Captain Doofus, the female stepped back cautiously and tossed aside the decapitated head as if it were a basketball.

“Krieeeee!!!”

Right after, it shifted its attention to the new threat. It spread its wings and raised its scythes, assuming a battle-ready stance.

[Name: Blade Mantis]

[Attribute: Wind]

[Species Rank: Superior-Transcendent]

[Level: 9]

This realm’s difficulty was certainly no joke.

They had just entered the realm, yet this random wild monster was already more powerful than the Grass Demon Cat from the previous realm.

“Krieeeee!!!”

Before Lu Ran could dwell on it, the blade mantis was already enveloped in Wind-attribute energy. It blurred out of vision as it flew low across the ground. Its sickle blades glinted in the light, aiming to slice Lu Ran and Captain Doofus in two.

Nevertheless, Captain Doofus seemed thrilled by the sight.

“Woof!”

Although the Blade Mantis’ weapons were part of its body, seeing a creature fighting with blades made Captain Doofus feel a certain kinship.

Gripping its sword tightly in its mouth, Captain Doofus’ eyes sharpened as it unleashed its Beast Sword Momentum through the Cascading Wind Sword.

Boom!

The momentum exploded, enveloping Captain Doofus in a powerful aura. Just as it was about to leap forward to engage in a clash of Gale Sword Techniques, something unexpected happened.

Sensing Captain Doofus’ sword momentum, the female mantis froze mid-air and hovered with uncertainty. Its green eyes filled with confusion, making it look intimidated by Captain Doofus’ overwhelming presence.

This was different from the typical response of a creature that Captain Doofus’ aura had overwhelmed, though.

The mantis let out a series of incomprehensible cries, leaving Captain Doofus momentarily stunned.

Lu Ran was just as baffled.

What’s going on?

He tried using telepathy, but as always, it was useless on secret realm projections. He couldn’t understand what the mantis was saying. However, based on his experience, the mantis didn’t seem to be looking for a fight anymore.

“Damn.”

If the mantis just felt intimidated, Lu Ran would have understood. Unfortunately, the next moment, it started eyeing Captain Doofus’ gleaming sword with admiration and even raised its sickles in a mating dance.

Captain Doofus and Lu Ran were dumbfounded.

“What the fuck? I knew there was something strange about this realm. Cannibalism, I can handle, but what kind of mantis tries to mate with a dog just because it’s carrying a sword? Does it seriously think Captain Doofus is one of them just because of the weapon?”

Lu Ran couldn’t comprehend the mental gymnastics going through the mantis’ head.

“Woof, woof, woof!!!”

Thoroughly alarmed, Captain Doofus shook its head furiously and unleashed a Hurricane Sword Qi.

In disbelief, the female mantis watched as the wind blade split her in half.

“Krieeee...”

It remained confused even in its final moments. As the Blade Mantis fell, Captain Doofus let out a heavy sigh of relief, feeling a mixture of shock and disgust.

“Wooof...”

Captain Doofus whined.

It had just seen the female mantis eating its partner before the wicked creature set its sights on its doggy head. Captain Doofus decided not to hold a grudge against the dead mantis for now, though.

“Well done, Captain Doofus,” Lu Ran said as he shook his head.

“In the face of temptation, you kept your resolve. Women will only slow your blade. This time, you acted decisively, but that was only because she wasn’t your type. Next time, if you meet a beautiful one, you’ll still need to strike quickly.”

“Woof, woof, woof!”

Captain Doofus nodded repeatedly, though it couldn’t help but feel slightly unsatisfied.

It turned back to the mantis, watching it disintegrate. Unfortunately, it did not drop any loot.

Captain Doofus narrowed its eyes.

Mantis Leader...

“Quit holding a grudge,” Lu Ran commented. “I did some research before coming here. Blade Mantises are solitary creatures, except during mating season. They have different skills and often act alone. Basically, it has no relationship with the Mantis Leader and doesn’t follow its orders.”

No grudges? Fine... but this one’s going on my list

, Captain Doofus thought, narrowing its eyes further.