Monster Hunter, start with a wife!

The RV rolled over a pile of rubble and came to a stop at a ruin.

The tall, dilapidated concrete and steel frame casts distorted shadows in the setting sun, revealing that this place was once a bustling city.

However, now only ruins remain.

Cheng Zhuo scanned the area and found a hidden underground entrance.

He inserted the boundary stone into the groove in the wall, then covered the mark with yellow sand and gravel. After confirming that nothing seemed amiss from the outside, he dusted off his hands and turned back.

It's about 70 or 80 kilometers from here to the wolf pack's base.

As the entrance and exit to the second realm, this should be sufficient.

Back in the RV.

It's still using autonomous driving to get around.

Cheng Zhuo did not rush to refine the other boundary stones, but instead focused his gaze on the corpse of the two-tailed fox.

It curled up quietly inside the ice.

It looks like she's just fast asleep.

The corpse of the white-faced nine-tailed fox.

[Quality: Tier 7 Forbidden Item - Semi-finished Product]

[Description: This is the remains of a white-faced, nine-tailed cub, distorted by the power of the Corruption Realm's rules, and has just entered the initial stage of forbidden artifact refining.]

[Note: This semi-finished product can be refined using the system's special version by consuming 100 Harmony Points]

The following are the refining methods you can choose from:

[I. Refine it into a seventh-tier exotic beast-like forbidden object using the original method, possessing powerful combat capabilities. Note: The master cannot control it at their current level; at least the third tier is required.]

[II. The system can reshape and inspire it, retaining the core of the seventh-tier forbidden artifact, endowing it with newborn intelligence and an anthropomorphic form, enabling it to autonomously control its seventh-tier strength and possessing growth potential, ultimately transforming it into a ninth-tier being. Note: In the initial stage, its intelligence is not high, and it may not be able to fully control its own power in the early stages, requiring long-term guidance.]

[Note: All of the above refinements can be bound to a master.]

Cheng Zhuo knew that this corpse was extraordinary, but he did not expect it to be at the seventh level.

The two methods of system refining caused Cheng Zhuo to fall into a brief state of contemplation.

One type is the seventh-tier forbidden power that can be used directly after entering the third tier.

One type has growth potential, but due to the influence of early intelligence, it may exert unstable seventh-order power.

"Choose the future!"

Cheng Zhuo made up his mind; the growth potential of the ninth rank was even more appealing to him.

Moreover, its inconsistent performance proves that it still possesses the power of a seventh-tier being; it simply requires more effort to guide it.

"I choose option two," Cheng Zhuo muttered to himself.

As soon as he finished speaking, cracks appeared on the ice surface at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The fox beast's originally grayish-white fur began to turn pinkish-white from between its eyebrows, first gradually changing in strands, and soon spreading to its entire body.

The next instant, the system automatically moved it outside the space.

It slowly floated up in front of Cheng Zhuo.

[Refining in progress... Reshaping and enlightenment in progress...]

[Residual rules detected, system automatically purifies... Purification complete, newborn organism removes contaminants, retains core characteristics of forbidden items]

[The seventh-tier growth-type forbidden artifact, the White-faced Nine-Tailed Fox (young beast form), is nearing completion and is recognizing a master...]

A series of system notifications came through.

In just over ten seconds, the fox beast's previously stiff body was rejuvenated.

Its chest rose and fell slightly, and its drooping ears twitched gently...

Then a flash of red light appeared.

The fox's outline began to twist and elongate, and its originally half-sized body gradually solidified into a small human shape. The pinkish-white fur faded, replaced by delicate, fair skin...

When the red light fades.

A little girl, about two or three years old, floated quietly in front of Cheng Zhuo.

Her face was as round as a porcelain doll, her skin was translucent and snow-white, and she had a pair of pink and white fox ears standing on her head.

The system was very user-friendly; it even made her a light blue dress that just covered her knees, revealing her chubby little legs, and she wore a pair of red leather shoes.

She slowly opened her eyes, her large, round eyes filled with the innocent confusion of a newborn.

The golden eyes timidly looked around before finally settling on Cheng Zhuo's face.

[Refining complete! Congratulations, Master, for obtaining the Tier 7 Growth-Type Forbidden Artifact - White-Faced Nine-Tailed Fox (Cub Form)]

[Unnamed forbidden item (customizable) successfully bound to owner]

[Quality: Forbidden Item - Live Animal]

[Growth Stage: Juvenile Form]

【Original Skill - Nine-Tailed Resonance: Each time a fox tail is generated, a new skill is unlocked】

[Fox Tail Techniques: 1. Void Travel, 2. Shapeshifting]

As the system notification appeared, a strange connection arose within me.

Cheng Zhuo gently touched the little girl's fox ears on her head with his fingertips; the touch was as soft as cotton that had just been sun-dried.

The little guy didn't dodge; instead, he tilted his head back slightly, rubbed his cheek against his fingertips, and made a soft "woo-woo" sound in his throat.

This little thing... has seventh-tier strength?

Looking at the chubby little girl in front of him, Cheng Zhuo couldn't help but have some doubts.

"Let's come up with a name first... Emmmm... It's all pink and plump, how about Peach?"

He immediately shook his head after saying that:

"Tsk...not good, too casual."

"You're practically a little fox spirit now, so let's call you Tao Yaoyao!" Cheng Zhuo ruffled the little guy's hair.

"Is it alright, Tao Yaoyao?"

"Yao...Yao?"

Tao Yaoyao tilted her head, looking somewhat confused.

"Wow, not bad, it can actually talk." Cheng Zhuo's eyes lit up. "Yaoyao, tell me, what can you do?"

"Yaoyao, Yaoyao, Yaoyao..."

"?"

……

After communicating for a while, Cheng Zhuo felt somewhat helpless.

The little fox can indeed talk, but unfortunately she has only learned her own name. It seems her intelligence is about the same as that of a newborn baby.

"Why don't you give me a simple demonstration so I can see what your skills are like?" Cheng Zhuo tried to communicate.

"Yaoyao?"

Tao Yaoyao's big, round eyes were full of question marks.

Seeing Cheng Zhuo gesture with his fist, he seemed to understand what Cheng Zhuo meant, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

He jumped back a step with a "thump".

She raised her chubby little fist and waved it towards the back of the carriage!

"Bang—!"

"Click-click-click—sizzle-sizzle-sizzle—"

[System blind kernel artifacts have been detected as corrupted. Repair can be done for 100 resonance points. Repair now?]

Cheng Zhuo: "..."

Is this the power of the seventh rank?

Cheng Zhuo was both shocked and surprised. The sturdy battlefield RV was blasted to pieces by Tao Yaoyao's punch, which was like a pure source energy pulse.

"tender……"

Tao Yaoyao stared in astonishment at the disappearing rear half of the carriage, her round eyes filled with confusion.

She then glanced timidly at Cheng Zhuo, as if she felt she had gotten into trouble.

Cheng Zhuo gently rubbed her head to comfort her:

"It's okay, watch me."

……

……

Outside the boundary gate of H0173.

Liang Ye's adjutant walked up to Liang Ye with a grave expression and whispered:

"Colonel, something seems to be wrong."

Liang Ye glanced at him sideways. "Speak."

The adjutant hesitated for a moment before saying:

"The personal signal of the Red Shadow, the signal of the aircraft and the signal of the transport vehicle have all disappeared. I dispatched a drone from the nearest location. There were signs of fighting at the location where they disappeared, but all the people and vehicles were gone."

Liang Ye's eyes narrowed slightly:

"What did the fishmonger say? Where are their people?"

"They said they'd sent him, but we haven't heard back since," the adjutant replied.

"Furthermore, I've also investigated, and there are no unusual fluctuations in source energy in that area. They shouldn't have been swallowed up by the Ghost Gate. I suspect that the one with this ability might actually be the Shadow Society."

"Unlikely, they don't have the energy for that right now."

Liang Ye shook his head and coldly gave the order:

"Keep investigating. We need to find them alive or dead."

"Yes."

The adjutant agreed and then asked:

"The deputy director needs people, what should we reply?"

"Tell the truth, say that Cheng Zhuo's vehicle may have been attacked by hunters, and all the people and vehicles have disappeared," Liang Ye said casually.

The adjutant accepted the order and was about to leave when he suddenly paused, looking at the information on his wrist.

"this……"

"What's wrong?" Liang Ye looked up suspiciously.

The adjutant said, somewhat taken aback:

"The deputy director's people have sent word that Cheng Zhuo has returned to the Wolf Pack base..."