Beast Taming Begins with the Inner Circle of Pets

Chapter 73: Double-crossing?

Fortunately, the life-sharing feature not only shares the damage but also the healing. As long as Xiao Qi heals herself, the other spirit pets, including Lin Manman, will also receive healing.

"Waaah."

Still shaken by the intense pain, Xiao Qi unleashed her life-blooming skill with her tiny body.

As the blooming white flowers on Xiao Qi's body gradually withered, Lin Manman and her spirit pets regained their strength.

Honey Badger and Silver Moon realized the danger and went straight for the kill on the Ironhorn Rhino. Gravity Field, Wolf King Summoning, Flame Clone—the four spirit pets unleashed a barrage of skills on the Ironhorn Rhino like a sudden downpour.

The iron-horned rhinoceros, which was already seriously injured, could not withstand such a dense attack for more than two minutes.

Lin Manman, carrying Xiao Qi, led the strange spirit beast into the encirclement of the spirit pets, finally giving her a chance to catch her breath.

Aside from its talent for attacking souls, this spirit beast seemed physically very fragile. When the other spirit pets turned to deal with it, it couldn't even withstand three attacks from Silver Moon's shadow clones.

Lin Manman approached with lingering fear, opened the system, and carefully observed the strange spirit beast.

Species: Anteater (Mutant)

Grade: High Bronze

Level: 2

Status: Adult (unknown)

Bloodline: Mid-level Legendary Soul-Devouring Beast (Mid-level)

Mutation Talent: Soul Impact: Can deal a certain amount of soul damage to the target.

Skill: 1. Poison Resistance: Immune to all poison-related negative effects, and greatly reduces poison damage.

2. Licking: Attacks the opponent using tentacles, which are coated with corrosive slime.

3. Claws: Attacks using sharp claws. (Upgradeable)

Basic attributes:

Qi and blood: 80

Spirit: 60

Soul: (Unknown)

Lin Manman was filled with shock and anger.

Such a terrifying and dangerous spirit beast could never be a spirit beast raised at the base. The most likely explanation is that someone deliberately released it, possibly even to target her.

Otherwise, why would it appear so coincidentally beside her, especially when she had commanded all her spirit pets to fight?

Lin Manman involuntarily looked around, but found nothing. She only felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Ah-Dai recovered at this moment and flew to her side.

"Chirp, chirp."

Lin Manman patted Ah Dai; it wasn't its fault.

The dense trees and grass here will significantly impair Ah-Dai's view from the sky.

She should have enough points to advance now. She should find a place with a good view and wait quietly for the match to end.

Thinking this, she immediately put away the corpse of the Ant-Eating Beast, dug out the crystal cores of the Earth Crocodile Lizard and the Iron-Horned Rhinoceros, climbed onto the Silver Moon's back, and let Ah-Dai continue to ascend and guide the way.

Her family background was simple, and in the past fifteen years, she hadn't offended any powerful figures. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be possible for anyone to go to such lengths to deal with someone as insignificant as her.

The only person who might do that is perhaps the mysterious person who appeared yesterday.

The other party's sudden appearance and departure were suspicious. Although he said he would come back after her individual competition, who could be sure that he only wanted the amber and had arranged for this spirit beast to eliminate her without her noticing through the special rules of the points competition?

After all, the officials repeatedly emphasized the danger before registration and entering the base, and even if someone died during the competition, it would only be treated as an accident.

Once a beast tamer and a spirit pet sign a contract, any unnatural death of one will cause considerable trauma to the other's soul.

If it was indeed arranged intentionally by the other party, then their so-called research would certainly not be beneficial to amber!

With a hypothetical object of affection, Lin Manman had even more ideas.

The fact that such a dangerous spirit beast could be mixed into the competition venue must involve numerous procedures and formalities.

The alliance branch in Jinling District has probably been infiltrated by an unknown force, just as her second senior brother thought.

This strange spirit beast is different from other spirit beasts bred and cultivated through natural means, and is very likely the result of technological intervention.

Thinking of this, Lin Manman couldn't help but recall her brother, Lin Ruochen, who had also encountered a soul attack from a level-five spirit beast, the Dream Eater, during a points-based competition.

Now, does it really seem like it was just an accident? Perhaps after she gets out, she should have Xia Ming check the video of her brother's competition back then, and see for himself whether the Dream Eater was in the same situation as the Ant Eater in front of her.

At that moment, Xia Ming, outside the base, frowned as he watched the live stream. The stream showed Lin Manman being chased by a small spirit beast.

He knew Lin Manman's strength very well. With her level 5 protective gear, she could practically do whatever she wanted in the breeding base, which was only level 3 at most, as long as she wasn't surrounded.

It's rather strange to be chased by a spirit beast that doesn't seem very strong.

He immediately sent Gao Zhixian the live stream link and even sent him a screenshot of the spirit beast.

If this spirit beast is truly strange, it would be difficult for ordinary people to discern anything about it.

Before leaving, Elder Meng had a premonition that the Jinling branch might not be entirely safe and reminded him to be extra cautious. The events of the past two days seem to confirm Elder Meng's suspicions.

Meanwhile, inside the competition arena, Lin Manman, guided by Adai, was hurrying towards the nearest open space. By sheer coincidence, she stumbled upon a fight between two teams of competitors.

Not far from the open space Ah-Dai had found, Lin Manman slowed down to observe the two groups of people.

"Why are you doing this? We only want the crystal cores. As long as you don't resist, we will never lay a hand on you."

"Didn't you all sign the competition schedule and instructions before entering? It clearly states that unfair competition is prohibited!"

"Haha, that's to prevent malicious competition that could result in serious injury or death to a participant. I just won't seriously injure you, will I?"

"You...you shouldn't forget, the qualifying matches are broadcast live! Aren't you afraid of being criticized online?"

"It's obvious this is your first time participating; you haven't even done your homework! That's an old tradition. Since you're a newcomer, I won't make you suffer. Just hand over the crystal core!"

The group that attempted to abduct the person consisted of eight people, led by a male warrior who appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old. The group that was being abducted had fewer people, only five, led by a female mage who appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old and wore glasses.

Judging from what that male soldier said, the competition allows participants to steal points from other contestants. No wonder everyone was avoiding her this morning; they were afraid she'd steal their points!

Seeing that the male warrior was about to lead his teammates to attack the female mage, Lin Manman slowly led her spirit pets toward them.

"It's so lively! After running around for so long, I'm finally seeing people." Lin Manman gave the two groups a friendly smile.

"Here to give away points again?" The male soldier didn't turn around, but heard a young girl's voice and assumed that she was looking for teammates to run into.

"Boss, stop talking!" His teammates turned around and saw Lin Manman riding on Silver Moon, with Honey Badger and Amber by her side, and hurriedly patted him on the back.

"A gift of points? Is that too kind of you?" Lin Manman chuckled. She had originally planned to just coast until the end of the competition, but she never expected to encounter someone offering her points.

It just so happens that we ran into each other; it's not unreasonable for them to double-cross each other, right?

Sorry for the late update today. The editor notified me it would be available in the next couple of days, but nothing's been done yet. There's another chapter that might be delayed even further; we'll see what the editor says.

(End of this chapter)