Beastmaster King

After putting on his husky shirt, Lu Ran intended to book a flight to the Four Saints Guild’s real-world headquarters in Flower City.

However, as he picked up his phone, he hesitated. His reasoning wasn’t sound at all. The world outside was dangerous—how could he recklessly run around?

If the other party’s conditions allowed, wasn’t it only fair for them to come to Green Sea City instead? Lu Ran had Bai Ling’s Limitless City contact info and should be able to reach Bai Qi through her.

“But Bai Ling might not be in Limitless City. Better to check the student database for her real-world contact info.”

Setting down his phone, he immediately logged into the Beastmaster University administration system using his privileged account and searched for Bai Ling’s details.

“1587...”

Finding her phone number, Lu Ran leaned back in his chair and dialed.

Beep... Beep...

A moment later, a weary female voice answered.

“Who is this?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Lu Ran spoke.

“Is this Bai Ling?”

“Are you Pedestrian A?” Bai Ling sounded surprised.

“It’s me. How’s your brother doing?”

“Not great. Physically, he’s recovered, but four of his familiars were gravely injured or killed. He’s been deeply shaken and shut himself indoors.” Bai Ling sighed.

After all, Bai Qi was the backbone of the Four Saints Guild. If he fell, the guild would crumble.

“Have him pull himself together and come to Green Sea City to see me.”

“What do you mean?” Bai Ling was puzzled.

Logically, they barely had any connection. Lu Ran, whether as a Dragon Chef or the strongest fourth-generation beastmaster, had already outshone most first-generation beastmasters.

Recently, after cultivating an Overlord Dragon, he could be a distinguished guest in any nation he chose. Compared to that, what value did the Four Saints Guild hold for his attention?

She was certain that, apart from their brief shared adventure in a secret realm, no one in the guild had ever interacted with Lu Ran except her.

“All you need to tell your brother is... Does he want to understand the essence of life? Does he want to revive his fallen familiars? If he’s willing to come, I’ll be waiting in Green Sea City.”

Lu Ran hung up.

On the other end, Bai Ling’s pupils contracted, utterly shocked by what she’d just heard.

Lu Ran... could revive fallen familiars?

***

Inside an estate in Flower City, Bai Ling ended the call and rushed to Bai Qi’s room, knocking incessantly.

A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a frail-looking young man in hospital attire.

“What is it? Another visitor? I told you, I don’t want to see anyone...”

“It’s not someone coming to see you. Someone wants you to go see them,” Bai Ling said seriously.

Bai Qi frowned. In his miserable state, he could understand if someone came to console him... or even mock him.

But asking someone who had just suffered the backlash of four fallen familiars to visit them?

What kind of nonsense was this?

“What basta—” Bai Qi was about to curse, but Bai Ling cut him off.

“It’s Lu Ran. Pedestrian A. The one who just cultivated the Overlord Dragon. He contacted me and said he has a way to bring back your fallen familiars.”

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The despondent young man staggered and dropped to his knees, clutching his sister’s arm, his eyes brimming with disbelief.

“Who? What did you just say? Say that again?”

Bai Ling took a deep breath.

“It’s Lu Ran. Pedestrian A! So, will you go?”

Bai Qi was stunned.

“Revive fallen familiars? Did he stumble upon some resurrection resource? But those are so rare... Why would he give one to me?”

After a moment, he exhaled deeply, then clutched his sister’s hand gratefully.

“Sis, I underestimated you. I didn’t think you had such charm that a big shot would remember you after just one ascension realm together. Haha, Lu Ran has good taste.”

Bai Ling yanked her arm away, baffled.

Could Lu Ran really have a crush on her?

If it were Lu Ran...

She hesitated, then dismissed the thought.

No, I’m not worthy.

***

That very day, Bai Qi shook off his despondency, reclaiming the imposing aura of the Limitless City ID Slayer Bai Qi.

Dressed in formal attire, he arrived in Green Sea City and followed Lu Ran’s coordinates to the Emerald Mountains.

There, he spotted a young man in a husky T-shirt playing with fire, burning some strange mist-like substance.

A crow perched on a nearby tree, its eerie gaze fixed on him.

No... The shadows throughout the forest were filled with countless glowing eyes, all watching him in unison.

Gulp.

Despite being a strong second-generation beastmaster, Bai Qi tread cautiously as he approached the globally renowned Lu Ran.

The forest had an unsettling atmosphere, as though stepping into a dark secret realm.

“Are you Mr. Lu Ran?” Bai Qi asked nervously. “I’m Bai Qi, Guildmaster of the Four Saints Guild, Slayer Bai Qi is my Limitless City ID, and I’m Bai Ling’s brother.”

“You’re finally here.”

Lu Ran burned a wisp of soul into smoke, which the Dark Crow perched on the tree inhaled deeply, savoring it.

“So, you’re Bai Ling’s brother. I’ve heard about your situation. It’s truly unfortunate that your four main familiars perished and left you with only one newly cultivated familiar.”

Bai Qi smiled bitterly.

“Mr. Lu Ran, my sister said you might have a way to revive my familiars. I don’t know what you want in return, but if you can help me, I’ll dedicate my life to serving you. If you tell me to go east, I will go east. Name your price—whatever it is, I’ll agree.”

Lu Ran shook his head. “Let me see their bodies first. You haven’t disposed of them yet, right?”

“No...” Bai Qi hesitated for a moment before summoning the corpses of his four familiars with a sigh.

The bodies of a green flood dragon, a white tiger, a red-feathered sparrow, and a black alligator snapping turtle appeared.

No wonder the guild was called the Four Saints Guild. His familiars were clearly chosen to emulate the Four Sacred Beasts. It wasn’t just Bai Qi; other beastmasters in the guild also contracted dragon subspecies, tiger familiars, sparrows, and turtles, all cosplaying the Four Sacred Beasts.

After examining the corpses, Lu Ran looked at Bai Qi.

“How many beastmaster skills have you cultivated? If I’m correct, you should have three.”

“Yes.” Bai Qi nodded.

He had always preferred unique, powerful skills over those easily acquired in common secret realms—skills anyone could learn. The former had far greater potential, and no one had the time or energy to develop too many beastmaster skills simultaneously.

He had always stuck to a mindset of quality over quantity, carefully reserving his skill slots.

Hearing Lu Ran’s question, Bai Qi was confused. He didn’t understand the purpose of such inquiries.

“This fits perfectly... I can help you revive these familiars, but you must bear a certain cost. I plan to establish a special division and currently need personnel. After I help you, I want you to work for me and give up the Four Saints Guild. Can you do that?”

Lu Ran’s gaze was serious as he looked at Bai Qi. He wasn’t a philanthropist and wouldn’t help someone without reason. Helping Bai Qi was an investment—Bai Qi would have to work under him in return.

Hearing this, Bai Qi almost immediately responded, “Of course. If you can bring back my familiars, you’ll be like a reborn parent to me—my own big brother! Whatever you want!”

Lu Ran grinned. “Ah, no need to be so dramatic... Reviving your familiars is actually quite simple. However, their forms might change afterward. If you can accept that, then there’s no problem.”

As he spoke, he extended his hand. Between his fingers, he held a black beastmaster skill card, which he tossed to Bai Qi. Bai Qi caught it immediately.

The next moment, as Lu Ran’s voice rang out, Bai Qi’s face turned pale.

“Would you mind switching from beastmaster to necromancer?”

“I—what the fuck!” The moment Bai Qi saw the beastmaster skill card, he was so startled that he almost dropped it.

Undead Resurrection! Undead attribute! The core skill of The Other Shore!

His pupils contracted. He had thought Lu Ran possessed some rare resurrection-type resource.

At this moment, Bai Qi’s heart was shaken to its core. He could never have imagined that Lu Ran would casually hand him a necromancy transfer card.

This was something only The Other Shore possessed. Necromancy had always been a taboo to the International Beastmaster Alliance and all major nations!

This skill... Bai Qi was certain that if he cultivated it, his entire family would be ruined. If he got caught, the Xia Alliance would confiscate everything, seizing all their assets and resources. Bai Qi felt completely numb.

Suddenly, he recalled an earlier rumor about Lu Ran. Lu Ran... the Holy Son of the Undead Cult... rumored to be connected to The Other Shore.

So, the rumor was true?

“What’s with that expression?” Lu Ran asked. “With this, your familiars can be saved. Are you going to learn it or not?”

Holding the scorching hot Undead Resurrection skill card, Bai Qi broke out in a cold sweat. Even when facing the Space-attribute boss, he hadn’t been this nervous.

“Mr. Lu Ran, are you sure the alliance knows about this organization you’re forming? And what’s its purpose?” Bai Qi decided to clarify first.

Lu Ran chuckled. “Of course, it’s to overthrow the alliance and become the god of a new world...”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand. An Undead Holy Robe appeared on his body, its black cloak billowing in the wind. In the dim forest, hundreds of crows cried eerily, their voices echoing in the darkness.

Bai Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief. His heart skipped a beat, and the world around him suddenly felt unfamiliar. A chill ran through his entire body.

I’m done for. I just stumbled into something utterly beyond comprehension.