Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 375 Advancement Successful! Steel-Slaying Earth Lord!
In the afternoon, the setting sun bathed the Qinling Mountains in a warm orange hue.

Zhuang Jianbai and his group finally finished their training deep in the Qinling Mountains, and emerged from the snow-covered forests, arriving at Xuanhe Town at the foot of the mountains.

When they stepped into Xuanhe Town, everyone was so surprised by the sight before them that they paused for a moment.

The wide, flat streets are lined with shops, and all kinds of signs gleam in the setting sun. Pedestrians throng the streets, and the sounds of laughter, hawking, and the soft whimpers of pets mingle together, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the cold winter.

The plant shops are filled with a dazzling array of exotic flowers and plants, the pet supply shops display the latest pet food and training equipment in their windows, and there are even a few specialty snack shops with enticing aromas wafting from them.

"Is this really Xuanhe Town?"

One student couldn't help but rub his eyes and whisper in disbelief.

They visited Xuanhe Village at the end of September, when it was just a remote, poor, low-rise mountain village with muddy roads.

Just three months later, the backwardness they remembered had been replaced by the prosperity before their eyes. The scene before them was a stark contrast to the past, making them feel as if they had lived through another world.

"I heard it's all thanks to Consultant Chen," another classmate whispered. "Since Consultant Chen's reputation has grown, Xuanhe Town has attracted many people to live and invest here. Coupled with its unique geographical location, the town is changing every day."

Zhuang Jianbai watched all this in silence, the soft glow of the setting sun outlining a complex expression in his eyes.

The changes in the town were far beyond his imagination, as if they were also confirming that the distance between him and that person was growing further and further.

The group walked along the bustling main street and unknowingly arrived at the familiar village entrance again.

Beneath the tall camphor tree, several canine pets lay lazily on the snow, basking in the soft glow of the setting sun. The lead Windhound looked down with disdain, while the Firefly Hound's tail still wagged like a propeller.
Upon seeing this, Zhuang Jianbai paused slightly, falling into a brief moment of contemplation.

Time seemed to flow backward, and he remembered this place clearly.

That day, his Winter Hound was easily defeated by Consultant Chen's seemingly lazy Gale Hound in an absolutely crushing manner.

That battle is still unforgettable.

The frustrations of the past intertwined with the town's current vibrant life, stirring up an indescribable emotion within him. He took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes, and suddenly said, "I'm going to challenge Advisor Chen."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuan immediately jumped up, his chubby face filled with disapproval:

"Brother Zhuang, calm down. This is the most crucial moment in preparing for the Donghuang Tournament. We should conserve our energy, adjust to our best condition, and wait to compete against Advisor Chen on the Donghuang Tournament stage!"

"If I go and take on the challenge now, and the result isn't ideal, it will inevitably affect my mentality and hinder my performance in the later matches!"

The other students echoed his sentiments. They all knew Zhuang Jianbai's obsession with challenging Advisor Chen, but they were also aware of the huge gap in strength that still existed between the two.

Especially after witnessing the breathtaking battle between the Wind-Riding Dog and the Azure Cloud Dragon, they gained a deeper understanding of Consultant Chen's current strength.

This is definitely a formidable opponent, and challenging him now would be asking for trouble.

"Yes, Brother Zhuang, Wang Yuan is right!"

"Advisor Chen's momentum is too strong right now. Let's take a longer view."

The voices of persuasion from the crowd continued to ring in his ears, and Zhuang Jianbai's expression changed, his fists clenching slightly.

"Wang"

The Winterhound beside it glanced at the Beastmaster. It could clearly sense the latter's emotional fluctuations and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes. Then it let out a loud bark, its eyes shining brightly.

It will unconditionally support whatever decision the beast tamer makes.

Even when facing that majestic wind-riding dog, it has the courage to take the initiative and challenge it.

Zhuang Jianbai was well aware that his teammates' concerns were reasonable, but a strong intuition and a deep-seated resentment fueled his thoughts.

His deep gaze swept across the bustling town, finally settling on an unwavering resolve: "If I don't muster the courage to take on the challenge this time, I might not be able to hold out until I meet him again when the Eastern Emperor Tournament begins."

According to the latest news, the Donghuang Tournament has a unique format, where Beast Tamers from the same region will not meet in the early stages of the competition, and each person will be assigned to a different region.

Therefore, in order to meet Consultant Chen, who is also from Qin Province, Zhuang Jianbai must make it to the final stage of the competition.

But as Zhuang Jianbai met more and more outstanding beast tamers, he knew that heroes were as numerous as fish crossing a river, and he might not be able to persevere to the final stage.

His attitude was unusually firm, and everyone looked at each other, knowing that it would be difficult to persuade him any further.

Wang Yuan sighed secretly, and when Zhuang Jianbai wasn't paying attention, she quickly took out her phone and sent a message to her mentor Jiang Yuntao: "Teacher Jiang, it's an emergency! Brother Zhuang is going to the farm to challenge Consultant Chen again, and we can't stop him!"

Jiang Yuntao replied almost instantly: "What? Nonsense! Why is this kid so stubborn? Xiao Yuan, you must keep a close eye on him and pay attention to his emotions and state at all times. Contact me immediately if necessary!"

Looking at the reply, Wang Yuan felt the burden on her shoulders grow even heavier, and her chubby face involuntarily scrunched up.

The group headed toward the farm with a mix of emotions.

The closer you get to the farm, the more peaceful and serene the surroundings become, as if isolated from the hustle and bustle of the town.

After traversing the vast snowfield, the outline of the farm gradually came into view. Looking forward against the light, a light brown figure could be seen lounging listlessly by the farm gate.

Cola rested its furry chin on its crossed front paws, its bright blue eyes half-closed, looking listless.

Its bushy tail swept the ground listlessly, kicking up fine snow dust. It drooped its head listlessly, yawning occasionally, its thoughts churning like a surging tide: "Awooo!"

When will the masters come back?
How boring, how dull. I don't know how that guy Ironhead has managed to stand here guarding the gate for so long.
Could we expect some mischievous wild pets, or even some clueless beast tamers?

Suddenly, Cola's sensitive nose twitched slightly.

It smelled a familiar scent.

Cola suddenly looked up and, against the golden afterglow of the setting sun, clearly saw a group of figures walking towards the farm.

Upon seeing the newcomer's appearance, Cola immediately perked up, and all her boredom vanished in an instant.

It sprang to its feet, its light brown fur gleaming in the setting sun. It barked fiercely at the Winter Hound beside Zhuang Jianbai, the leader: "Awooo!"

Immediately afterwards, Cola lowered his body slightly, assuming a standard combat stance, his azure eyes gleaming with excitement.

Come on, come on, Cola, I'm going to start stretching!

"Wang!"

Winterhound took a half step forward, meeting an oppressive gaze. Its sturdy body suddenly tensed, its fur standing on end, and it responded to Cola with a solemn bark.

However, Zhuang Jianbai's gaze skipped over the battle-ready Cola and searched inside and outside the farm, but he did not see the figure he was expecting.

He frowned slightly, ignoring Cola's challenge, and asked, "Is Consultant Chen home?"

Upon hearing this, Cola's ears twitched slightly, and his excited fighting spirit subsided.

It tilted its head, then pointed with the tip of its bushy tail towards the depths of the Qinling Mountains, raised its paw in a "wait" gesture, and let out a few low growls: "Awooo~"

The owner is out on business and won't be back until at least the evening.

With Consultant Chen absent and Cola appearing alone, the scene immediately brought back unpleasant memories for everyone present.

If the story continues, Zhuang Jianbai will challenge Kele, only to be easily defeated by Kele without Chen's guidance, thus shattering his Dao heart.
However, Zhuang Jianbai did not follow the script. He glanced at Kele, whose fighting spirit had not completely subsided, and nodded thoughtfully: "I see. Then I will wait here for Consultant Chen to return."

Seeing this, Cola became somewhat discouraged. Its ears drooped, and it listlessly prepared to lie back down in its original position and continue to stand guard.

Just then, the other students in the group looked at the imposing Cola and their eyes flashed with eagerness.

One student couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhuang, even though Consultant Chen isn't here, could we spar with the Wind-Riding Hound and experience the strength of the number one hound in the Eastern Empire?"

Upon hearing the last sentence, Cola's eyes lit up. It quickly stood up, nodded at the human, and then beckoned with its paw.

You humans truly delight me.

The man was overjoyed at the sight, rubbed his hands together, and quickly summoned his pet beast, ready to experience the strength of the number one dog in the Eastern Empire.

Thus began a coaching campaign, which Cola saw as a way to kill time.

At the same time, deep inside the cave.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye, and the Iron-Headed Kid's advancement ceremony had reached its most crucial moment.

The surface of the cocoon, formed from pure steel and earth energy, was flashing with dazzling white light, flowing and surging like water, as if something was about to break free. Chen Yuan and the others, along with all their pets, held their breath, watching the scene before them with intense focus.

The advanced level is about to end.

suddenly.

hum! ! !
The cocoon of light suddenly contracted inward, then exploded with a roar.

An incredibly dazzling incandescent light, like a miniature sun, instantly illuminated the entire cave. A powerful aura, a mixture of extreme sharpness and profound weight, swept outwards like a tsunami, causing rubble to fall from the cave walls.

The intense light caused everyone to instinctively squint or raise their arms to shield their eyes, but the pets all stared wide-eyed, gazing expectantly into the depths of the cave.

The light lasted for several minutes before it began to gradually fade.

As everyone's vision gradually returned, they eagerly looked toward the center of the light.

Where Ironhead had stood, now stood an extremely tall and slender figure with distinct features. It stood there quietly, surrounded by lingering energy shards, as if draped in a veil of starlight.

The dense steel-based energy permeating the cave seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, converging on the figure like rivers flowing into the sea, circulating endlessly around its body.

The color of the rocky ground beneath Iron Head Boy's feet deepened, as if it had been compacted and tempered by an invisible force, gleaming with a cold, hard metallic luster.

It simply stood there, and an invisible sense of oppression that made one's heart tremble spread out, as if it itself were a divine weapon that could cleave mountains when drawn, yet at the same time it carried the stability and unshakeability of the earth.

Upon seeing this, Huo Hong gasped, his pupils contracting sharply, and he murmured, "This aura, this power!"

Stone opened its mouth wide, subconsciously comparing it to its own silver-armored mantis, and then silently lowered its head.

Amei forgot to chew the snack in her mouth and just stared blankly.

A hint of approval flashed in Spark's eyes, and Dawn Fairy curiously poked her body out more, while Youmi was so excited that she forgot herself, flying around in the cave with a clear voice: "Coo-choo!"

The light completely faded, and the Iron-Headed Boy's complete form after his advancement was finally revealed.

This is a taller and more imposing body than the Steelhead Mole. Now, the Ironhead Baby's body lines are smooth and full of power. Its body is mainly a cold, bright silver color, and the joints, back, and outer sides of the limbs are covered with thick carapaces with a rough, rock-like texture.

Looking up, its head resembled a sharply styled, angular metal helmet, with only two sharp, azure lines on its face, like a pair of deep, ocean-like eyes, calmly and indifferently surveying its surroundings.

Its arms have evolved into larger, more complex deformable composite steel blades, now concealed within its arm armor, yet still radiating a sharp aura that stings the skin.

Ironhead's back was covered with heavy, dark gray armor like a stone tablet, making him look as steady as a mountain.

Ironhead lowered his head slightly, looking at his new body that contained great power. His azure eyes shone with a faint light, as if he was conducting a complex self-examination.

It slowly raised one arm, and the huge steel blade instantly popped out, extended, and combined, transforming into a grotesque giant blade with a cold, icy light flowing across its surface.

It lingered, sensing the surging power within it, and slowly uttered a low, metallic sound: "Crack."

This successful advancement finally gives me a modicum of self-protection in this perilous world.

"Congratulations, you have successfully advanced."

Chen Yuan looked at the Iron-Headed Kid, who had successfully advanced and whose aura had changed dramatically, and his eyes were filled with satisfaction and pride.

Compared to the previous three little guys, Ironhead's path to advancement was much smoother and more stable. He didn't even face any powerful pets of Morning Star quality, nor did he encounter any strange or unexpected events.

Everything went strangely smoothly.

But this is a good thing. Ironhead only experienced a little pain during the advancement process and quickly and perfectly incorporated the two different energies into his body, thus forging a more powerful body.

It is now almost as tall as Chen Yuan, with a slender and upright figure and a cold and calm aura. With its metal helmet, it looks like a humanoid pet that has been specially modified by technology.

A thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Yuan smiled as he reached out and gently touched the stern shoulder of the Iron-Headed Boy.

[First time collecting Steel Slash Earth Lord, Source Points increased by 10]

Race: Steel-Cut Earth King (Collected)
Attribute: Steel

Sat

Level: 24 (Tier 3)

Favorability: 95
Skill: Steel Blade (Mastery 6.1/20) +
Iron Arm (Mastery 3.1/7) +
Steel spiked roller (Master 2.5/7) +
Charge Blade (Mastery 4.1/7) +
Sharp Heart (Rough Understanding 0.1/3) +
Major earthquake (rough analysis 0.1/3) +
Quality: Morning Star

Upgrade to Moonlight quality requirement: Unlockable

"Steel-Slaying Earth Lord." Muttering this name to himself, Chen Yuan couldn't help but look up at the Iron-Headed Boy's new form, and then nodded in agreement.

Leaving aside the overall improvement in skill proficiency after the advancement, Chen Yuan quickly focused his attention on the two new skills he had mastered.

One of them is the Earth-type skill Earthquake, which controls the earth's energy to cause a great earthquake. Many Earth-type pets can master it.

Secondly, there is the previously unheard-of "Sharp Heart," which is clearly a unique racial skill of Steel Slash Earth Lord.

"Judging from the name, this doesn't seem to be an attack skill." Chen Yuan's eyes flickered as he pondered.

To verify the effectiveness of this skill, Chen Yuan calmed himself down and asked with a smile, "How do you feel now? Would you like to try out your current strength and the new skill you've mastered?"

Upon hearing this, Steel Slash Earth Lord's azure gaze swept across the cave, seemingly selecting a suitable target for testing his sword.

Its gaze suddenly fixed on the corner of the cave, where two armored rhinoceroses were peeking out furtively, watching the commotion with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Upon noticing the calm yet terrifying gaze of Steel-Cut Earth King, the scales of the two Steel-Armored Rhinos instantly bristled.

They stared wide-eyed in terror, let out a short, mournful cry, and like startled rabbits, quickly shrunk their heads behind the rocks. Their massive bodies trembled, as if they wanted to bury themselves in the ground. Their cowardly appearance made Huo Hong and the others burst into laughter.

Chen Yuan smiled and then said, "Alright, let's not scare them anymore. It's getting late, let's go back to the farm."

There's plenty of time to test our strength, so there's no need to rush. The important thing is to take the hungry group and the little ones back to the farm for a big meal first.

The group left the cave with the Steel-Slaying Earth Lord, who had completed its advancement. Only after the two Steel-Armored Tyrannosaurus Rhinos saw their figures completely disappear at the end of the mountain path did they dare to cautiously peek out again. They glanced at each other and saw the immense relief of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief in unison.

With the cave crisis resolved, it's their domain again.

On the way back, Yumi flew around Steel Slash King countless times, her round, amber eyes filled with undisguised admiration and wonder: "Coo-choo!"

It couldn't resist flying forward again, gesturing repeatedly with its little paws, as if describing its ambitions and grand plans.

With our combined strengths, we can definitely carve out a vast territory in the Qinling Mountains and make our name known everywhere!
Yumi stood with her hands on her hips, her little head raised, her demonic tentacles twitching, and a few big white teeth were faintly visible at the corners of her open mouth.

Steel-Cut Earth-King merely glanced at it calmly, its azure gaze unwavering, its voice still deep and resonant: "Crack."

It had been away from its post for most of the day and was now eager to return to the farm to patrol the situation inside and outside.

Yumi: "."

The group chatted and laughed all the way back to Xuanhe Town. It was already late at night when they returned. The dark blue sky was filled with twinkling stars, and a biting cold wind blew across the mountains and fields.

As they approached the farm gate, they could see the flickering light of the campfire at the entrance, illuminating several waiting figures—it was Zhuang Jianbai and his group.

Zhuang Jianbai rushed over to Chen Yuan almost the instant he saw him. Suppressing his excitement and nervousness, he got straight to the point: "Advisor Chen, you're finally back. Can we fight now? Or should you rest for a while first?"

Cola, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately barked excitedly, wagging its fluffy tail rapidly: "Awoooooo!"

Cola volunteered for the challenge!

Chen Yuan looked at Zhuang Jianbai, whose gaze was firm. Although he was puzzled as to why the latter had suddenly appeared here, when he saw the Steel Slash Earth Lord who had just completed his advancement beside him, he smiled slightly and quickly made a decision.

“Alright, let’s start the fight now.” Chen Yuan’s gaze fell on Zhuang Jianbai, then slowly turned to the silent, steel-clad figure beside him. “This battle will be yours.”

"Ow?"

Cola's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

I was here first.
Zhuang Jianbai was slightly taken aback, his gaze falling on the tall, slender figure that exuded a suffocating sense of oppression, his pupils involuntarily contracting slightly.

(End of this chapter)