Chapter 245: The Mysterious Valley! A Flock of Birds!

Chapter 245: The Mysterious Valley! A Flock of Birds!

Zhang Er blinked in disbelief at the sight before him. He exchanged a glance with his older brother beside him.

Had they seen it wrong? Was this some kind of joke?

Who would've thought that such a creature would actually appear here? A dragon? Its presence here was even more absurd than their own.

However, the massive creature before them was clearly not joking around. Its golden eyes, like those of a god or a saint, turned and fixed their gaze upon the two brothers, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Their concealment techniques might have had some effect on a Monarch-ranked companion beast, but against the Imperial-level peak Da Huang, it was of no use.

Su Ping turned his head and noticed the two brothers hiding within the tree trunk. He blinked in surprise and asked, "How did you two get here?"

At that moment, the Zhang brothers realized there was another familiar figure standing beside them.

"Breeder Su, what are you doing here?" Qin Xiaoxue, Ye Zhou, and Dong Muxuan also looked at the two in astonishment, wondering how Su Ping could have possibly encountered acquaintances in such a remote and desolate place.

What were the odds of that?

Su Ping was also taken aback. He glanced at the brothers, then at the valley ahead, and finally understood, "So, there's a secret realm in this valley?"

If someone else had asked, the brothers might have given a vague answer, but when Su Ping questioned them, they both nodded in agreement.

Putting aside everything else, the dragon standing beside them was incredibly intimidating.

With the dragon's presence, almost all beastmasters in the Dragon Kingdom felt a mix of envy and reverence towards dragon companions.

Now that they were seeing a live dragon, even the tomb-raiding brothers were captivated.

However, aside from their awe, they also had complaints to voice.

What the heck was going on? They were supposed to be exploring dangerous places, risking their lives, and acquiring relics and treasures that would propel them to new heights.

But at this critical moment, not only did their little ancestor show up, but he also brought a dragon with him? And not just any dragon, but a fully grown Imperial-level peak dragon!

What was the difference between this and using a laser gun to swat a mosquito?

Perhaps this was just a leisurely outing for their little ancestor, while for them, it was an adventure.

Damn it! Where had that sense of tension gone? How had it vanished so suddenly?

Su Ping paid no attention to the brothers. He narrowed his eyes slightly and turned his gaze back to the Valley of Ten Thousand Birds.

A secret realm?

This wasn't quite what he had expected.

How could a secret realm attract so many bird companions? He had initially thought that some wild resources had matured, drawing numerous bird companions.

Moreover, this unknown resource itself might be the reason for the little crow's injuries.

Such a scenario made more sense, but was this truly a secret realm?

However, as Su Ping pondered this, the Zhang brothers' thoughts took another turn.

Previously, Zhang Er had prepared to retreat if the situation turned unfavorable. But with the arrival of the person before them and the presence of the adult divine dragon, things were different.

Even if they were to explore the secret realm together, some explorations were better than none.

And now, they had an added layer of insurance.

With this in mind, the two brothers stepped out of their hiding places.

Su Ping glanced at the three astonished individuals beside him and pointed at the brothers, "These two are friends I met in the Magic Capital. They are expert secret realm prospectors, and these three are top students from the Magic Capital's Beastmaster Academy."

After a brief introduction, Su Ping turned his attention back to the valley and the little crow, who was eager to rush in.

Su Ping then asked the little crow again, "Little guy, were you injured by these big birds?"

"Caw caw!"

The little crow nodded, its gaze filled with resentment towards the other birds in the valley.

Su Ping pursed his lips, surprised but unmoved.

Why should he be moved? Even if there were many birds, they were at most Commander-ranked.

Paper Person Thousand One had reached the Elite Apex rank and had recently undergone an epic-level enhancement.

Although the Elemental Heart was a basic super-tier skill, it was still a super-tier skill!

There was no doubt that it had greatly improved Paper Person Thousand One's abilities.

Dealing with Commander-ranked companion beasts should not be a problem.

As for Su Ping's companions, there were three Commander-ranked beasts: Fairy Blossom, Life Ancient Tree, and the evolved Tree Crown Wolf King, Qin Xiaoxue.

Alongside them were Ye Zhou, who had been at the Magic Capital's Beastmaster Academy for many years, and Dong Muxuan, the direct disciple of Hunt-Sky King and the heir of the Dong family.

These three were all capable individuals among Commander-ranked beastmasters.

More importantly, Da Huang was also present.

If there was anything strange about this place, they were ready to deal with it. Unlike the Zhang brothers' initial caution, the three companions were now eager for a fight.

The opportunity for combat, especially in a wild setting, excited the three who had returned to Linzhou.

They exchanged glances, and the most combative among them, Qin Xiaoxue, turned to Ye Zhou, "Hey, Ye, how about a little competition? Let's see who can catch more prey!"

Ye Zhou smiled, "That depends on what Su Xiaodi has to say."

Su Ping shrugged and turned his gaze back to the little crow.

"Little guy, is this your home?"

"Caw!"

As expected, the little crow let out a piercing caw and nodded.

Home.

"So, you want to expel the invaders from your home?"

Su Ping had come to support the little crow in its battle.

How they would proceed depended on the little crow's intentions.

At this moment, the little crow's eyes revealed a hint of human-like sorrow and anger, and it nodded again, "Caw!"

"And revenge?"

Su Ping raised his eyebrows.

He suddenly realized that crows were social creatures.

However, he had seen some fire-eating crows here, but they seemed unrelated to the little crow.

It was evident that the previous flock of fire-eating crows in this area might have been reduced to just this one mutant little crow, whose combat strength surpassed that of an ordinary fire-eating crow.

Su Ping stroked the little guy's pitch-black feathers.

After a month of close contact, he had developed some affection for this little creature.

The little guy was grateful and steadfast, qualities that Su Ping admired.

Most importantly, as he had said before, wild companion beasts held little value.

Unless a powerful psychic-type companion beast intervened, it was difficult to tame them and form a soul contract with a Beastmaster.

Even if a soul contract was forced, some beasts with bad temperaments might still disobey their Beastmaster's commands.

At the same time, these wild companion beasts, if left alone, would be one thing.

But when they gathered in such large numbers, they posed a significant threat and danger to Beastmaster cities.

Su Ping liked companion beasts, but he wasn't a mindless do-gooder. He knew when and how to treat and nurture them, and when to be cautious and control or even kill them.

So, at this moment, Su Ping thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, let's work together to clear out the birds in this valley. But if you see any chicks or more valuable bird-type companion beasts, catch them alive for me."

"No problem!"

With a wave of their hands, a beam of light shone from in front of them.

With Da Huang by their side, they could act without hesitation.

So, one by one, they summoned their companion beasts.

The Fairy Blossom, the Tree Crown Wolf King, the Life Ancient Tree,

The Chrono Hourglass, the Weave Void Spider,

The Break Void Mirror, the Crystal Worm.

Each one was stranger than the last.

But they were genuinely powerful.

Su Ping thought for a moment and summoned the little paper person as well.

The little guy had been practicing his sword skills, and without real combat experience, his progress would be limited. Now was the perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately, they hadn't brought Old Sha this time, and Little Qing's strength wasn't enough to join this battle.

However, Su Ping was genuinely curious about the potential secret realm that might exist.

The reason was simple.

The effect of the All Spirits Home, strengthened all the effects of his own spatial attributes.

However, before this, he had swept through all the secret realms in Jianghai, and he hadn't had a chance to try absorbing some of the remnants of a secret realm to see how much feedback he would receive.

Now, if a realm that could be absorbed appeared, it would satisfy Su Ping's curiosity.

Perhaps he could even break through to the Monarch Rank in one go?

The flickering beams of light flashed, but what Su Ping didn't expect was that even after seeing these invaders, the birds didn't react. They seemed dazed, remaining as they were before, even unwilling to move a step.

Even Da Huang, who had been following Su Ping and Ye Zhou closely, was slightly startled.

"Wow!"

Qian Yi's excited cry drew the attention of many birds, and even Ye Zhou and the others turned to look at the little paper person.

Was this the little guy who had broken the elite-level record of the Magic Capital Academy?

They wanted to see what he could do.

So, they didn't let their companion beasts act and instead watched the little paper person at that moment.

And at that moment, Qian Yi took action.

Facing these flying birds, Qian Yi was an experienced fighter.

The Five Elements Sword and the Thunder Sword were behind him, but the sword in his hand was undoubtedly the Wind Sword.

Gale Severing Strike.

The sword technique, once again, displayed its sharpness.

They all noticed that the energy fluctuations from the little paper person seemed to be just at the elite tenth stage.

But this sword move was so fast that even the Iron Feather Golden Eagle, whose wings had just started to flap, didn't have time to react. It stood on the branch at the valley entrance, only just realizing that the little paper person's sword was coming towards it.

In that instant, blood and feathers flew,

The little paper person and the Iron Feather Golden Eagle, who hadn't reacted in time, were both cut in half at the waist and fell from the tree together.

Silence.

Not just Ye Zhou and the others, but even the other bird-type companion beasts, and Da Huang, who had been following them closely, were all slightly startled.

Su Ping took a close look at the little paper man.

This was a Tier 5 Commander!

It was already a mid-tier Commander-level pet, just a step away from the Elite Peak. How much stronger was it?

Yet, with a single sword strike, it was slain without even a chance to react?

If it were to advance to the Commander level again, what would happen then?

But this was the truth.

As he had said before, although the Elemental Heart was the weakest super-tier skill, it was still a super-tier skill.

The Five Elements Heart, formed by the Five Elements Sword, had maximized the little paper man's strength.

Although the enhancement primarily affected the corresponding Five Elements Energy.

However, the Gale Severing Strike of the Wind Sword was merely a medium, and the true killing blow was the little paper man's sword energy itself.

It was metallic!

Su Ping glanced at Dongmuxuan, whose expression had turned solemn, and smiled slightly.

It felt exhilarating.

Ordinary people's attempts at putting on a show no longer satisfied Su Ping. He wanted these geniuses to know that he, Su Ping, was not just a pet trainer; his own pets were also top-notch!

You little rascal, do you really think I'm just a trainer?

His little darling was already this powerful?

Where was this leading to?

After his little pet, Qianyi, perfected its external incarnation and completed its evolution, and even if he found that legendary resource, the Biluo Spring Ginseng, to enhance its further training...

Once Qianyi had mastered the Five Elements Heart and assembled the Five Elements Mutual Restriction on its body, Su Ping would give it a hundred or eighty Paper Swords.

Then we'll see!

Feeling triumphant, even Dahuang, standing beside him, looked at the little paper man with a newfound interest.

Su Ping felt secretly thrilled but maintained a nonchalant demeanor. He continued to talk to Xiao Wuya, who was perched on his shoulder, watching the little paper man with envious and admiring eyes.

"Alright, no need to be so envious. If you stay in the Heart of All Spirits, you'll definitely become stronger," Su Ping said to Xiao Wuya.

"Caw!" Xiao Wuya responded.

For the first time, Su Ping saw a glimmer of light in Xiao Wuya's eyes.

Was this a glimmer of hope and expectation? Indeed, Su Ping, the great trainer, had the charisma to attract these talented pets!

Then, Su Ping realized he might have overthought it.

Xiao Wuya flapped its wings and flew directly to the Iron Feather Golden Eagle. It spat out a pitch-black fireball, then two, three, four...

It burned the eagle's corpse until it was completely black before returning to Su Ping's side.

Xiao Wuya then pointed to the large scar on its left wing where feathers had yet to grow, and then at the Iron Feather Golden Eagle.

Su Ping understood.

He nodded; this little guy was quite vengeful, but it was good to repay kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge.

However, Su Ping had one last question. He took out a feather from the Ancient Dark Flame Crow and compared it to Xiao Wuya's feathers.

"Little guy, where did this come from? What's your connection to it?"

Xiao Wuya's eyes once again revealed a hint of sorrow. Its black wings pointed forward, towards the center of the valley.

"Caw!"

Su Ping was slightly startled but stared intently at the center of the valley.

There was a protruding cliff face, and within it, a not-so-small cave.

Several of the strongest Commander-level bird-type pets stood there, some perched on branches, others by the cave's entrance, but none dared to enter.

Any other birds that dared to approach were torn apart by these Commander-level birds, who seemed slightly off.

Below the cliff face and cave, at that moment, were the remains of numerous birds, piled up, bloody and savage.

Su Ping narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Wuya with disbelief.

"Little guy, do you mean the Ancient Dark Flame Crow's corpse is in that cave? Is it your deceased relative or ancestor?"

This question startled Xiao Wuya, who nodded after a moment's thought, but then, unusually, it seemed a little embarrassed.

Its wing, which had pointed downward, now tilted slightly lower.

Then, Su Ping looked at the pile of corpses.

The horror in his eyes did not diminish.

What did this mean?

Among the pile of corpses was the owner of these feathers, the Ancient Dark Flame Crow that should have gone extinct three hundred years ago?

But weren't these corpses the remains of birds killed by these intruders? In other words, a living Ancient Dark Flame Crow had been slain?

As he had said, according to the Pet Trainer Association's records, shouldn't the Ancient Dark Flame Crow have gone extinct three hundred years ago?

How could this be possible?

Su Ping was shocked.

This mutated Fire Eating Crow.

Extinct three hundred years ago, but now, it had reappeared, dead, and even killed.

And so many bird-type pets gathered here.

What was going on?

Su Ping blinked and turned to look.

Paper Man Qianyi and Qin Xiaoxue had already started dealing with these birds, who were also eager to attack them.

Then, he subconsciously wiped his forehead.

He seemed to be sweating a little.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end