Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

……

The crowds were dense and shoulder to shoulder.

Besides the large number of well-equipped trainers with their Digimon, you can also see many ordinary tourists dressed casually, taking photos and checking in with their cameras and phones!

There were even tour groups dressed in matching vests and carrying small flags, with tour guides explaining precautions through loudspeakers.

"This...this is practically turning the digital space into a 5A-level scenic spot!" Cheng Yuan exclaimed in disbelief.

He saw even elegantly decorated cafes and breakfast shops along the roadside, filled with people leisurely drinking coffee, as if this were not the dangerous digital world, but a commercial plaza in the city center.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Guan Yan looked at Cheng Yuan's expression and laughed, "The Forest of Ten Thousand Beasts is one of the earliest developed and most integrated large-scale digital spaces in the Eastern Kingdom. Countless top programmers have built a stable data firewall and energy conversion system, coupled with continuous infrastructure construction..."

She pointed to the distance, where indeed a large number of infrastructure beasts, gear beasts, and shovel-shaped insect beasts were busily laying pipes, erecting signal towers, and reinforcing buildings under the command of engineers and programmers.

"Human technology and lifestyles have long since infiltrated here. Stable signal connections with the real world have even been achieved, making live streaming and video calls no problem."

A surge of indescribable excitement and emotion welled up in Cheng Yuan's heart.

Is this another possibility for the integration of humans and the digital world?

It's not like the ecological symbiosis of Huadu, nor the strict defense of the Shenzhen Death Space, but rather a powerful technological and commercial force that directly transforms the digital space into humanity's "backyard"!

The commercial street inside the station was bustling with people; at a glance, there were at least several thousand people gathered there, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere.

"Let's eat something first before we set off," Zhao Gang suggested, leading everyone towards a breakfast shop that looked quite lively.

The group released their Digimon to let them out for some fresh air.

"Come out, Baronmon!" Guan Yan summoned her scholar-type partner.

“Running Beast!” Li Yunjin’s partner is a Digimon that resembles a cheetah with sleek lines.

【Running Beast】

[Data Species - Beast Form]

[Maturity Stage]

[Skills: Heartbeat Pulse (fires energy blades), Extreme Speed, Claw Tear]

[Introduction] A beast-type Digimon that pursues speed. It has an impatient personality, hates slow things, and has extremely strong explosive power and endurance. It is an excellent mount and scout.

"Grizzlymon!" Lin Yu's partner was a burly bear-type Digimon covered in dark blue fur.

Grizzly Beast

[Vaccine Type - Therapeutic Type]

[Maturity Stage]

[Skills: Giant Bear Paw Strike, Thick Hide, Roar]

[Description: A beast-type Digimon with a massive body, concealing lethal fangs and claws. It has a ferocious appearance, but possesses the spirit of a righteous martial artist. It has outstanding fighting strength, but will not initiate fights. However, if provoked, it will stand on its hind legs and use its heavy-duty forelegs, the "bear claws," to knock down its opponent.]

"Wind Lionmon!" Zhao Gang's partner was a lion-shaped Digimon with flowing mane, its limbs wrapped in air currents, and it looked exceptionally majestic.

【Wind Lion Beast】

[Data Species - Beast Form]

[Maturity Stage]

[Skills: Stone Guardian, Arrow of Light, Whirlwind Protection]

[Description: Possesses the ability to ward off calamities and can exert tremendous power when fighting against evil. A companion to the kind-hearted, it will protect its tamer from calamity even at the cost of its own life. Contrary to its majestic appearance, it is usually gentle and always leisurely basking in the sunlight.]

"Powerful Angoramon!" Liu Li's partner is a sheep-shaped Digimon with fluffy fur, solid muscles, and huge curved horns on its head.

【Powerful Angora Beast】

[Vaccine Type - Beastman Type]

[Maturity Stage]

[Skills: Jet Dance, Ear Cutter, Breakdance Tornado]

[Description: Pursuing instantaneous explosiveness, it abandons the defensive capabilities provided by body-covering, cushioning hair, but its movements become light and explosive.]

The appearance of several adult-level Digimon attracted the attention of passersby, but they were used to it.

Zhao Gang bought some specialty breakfast items and shared them with everyone, including a type of honey that was golden and translucent and packaged in small wooden jars.

"Try it. This is a specialty of the Forest of Ten Thousand Beasts. It's honey produced by the Illusion Bee Beast. It has a sweet taste and can quickly replenish your energy."

Cheng Yuan took it and tasted it with Gatomon. It was indeed incredibly sweet and refreshing, with a strange sense of energy that invigorated everyone.

He noticed that not far away, there were indeed several strangely shaped phantom bees, like a combination of bees and elves, trading with a human merchant at a stall. They did not seem to be led by a tamer, but their behavior was very orderly.

"This...the Digimon are doing business on their own?" Cheng Yuan asked in surprise.

“That’s normal.” Zhao Gang said unsurprised. “For the past ten or twenty years, the Shanghai Beast Tamer University and Association have been developing the Forest of Ten Thousand Beasts while simultaneously sending special ‘education teams’ to teach human knowledge and culture to some of the more intelligent native Digimon groups. Many Digimon have gradually learned this aspect of human civilization and have even formed unique trade patterns. These Phantom Beemon are one of them, and their honey is very popular.”

After breakfast and replenishing their supplies, the group arrived at the end of the commercial street. This place seemed to be the dividing line between civilization and wilderness; ahead lay the lush, primeval forest of beasts.

Zhao Gang, Lin Yu, and Li Yunjin all mounted their respective Digimon.

As mounts, the Wind Lion Beast, Grizzly Bear Beast, and Running Beast are indeed jungle cavalry, dashing and heroic. When the tamer rides them, their temperament is instantly elevated, full of knightly charm.

Seeing that Guan Yan and Liu Li were both women and their Digimon were bipedal, Lin Yu worried that they might not be able to keep up, so he gave up Grizzlymon and let the two of them ride on it.

He himself went to the Running Beast to team up with Li Yunjin.

Then, everyone's eyes turned to Cheng Yuan and Gatomon.

Cheng Yuan and Gatomon stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Who... will ride whom?

Chapter 173 This time, I'm not the one who's really in deep trouble!

Normally, Gatomon sits on Cheng Yuan's shoulder. Using Gatomon as a mount? With its tiny body, Cheng Yuan would probably be crushed into a Digimon cookie the moment he sat on it!

Cheng Yuan looked at Gatomon with pitiful, expectant eyes.

Gatomon sighed helplessly, nodded resignedly, and flicked its tail as if to say, "I just can't do anything with you."

So, under the curious gazes of everyone, Cheng Yuan once again took out the Arc Light Machine and inserted the Hope Armor Egg chip.

"Hope Armor - Evolution!"

A flash of light, and the holy and gentle goat beast reappeared!

"Holy crap! The legendary Armor Evolution!"

"Is Junior Cheng's machine an arc laser machine?"

"What a cool goat Digimon!"

Zhao Gang and the others witnessed this amazing "on-site evolution" and were all amazed and filled with curiosity.

Cheng Yuan had no choice but to resort to his old excuse again: "I'm the latest test subject at the Pengcheng Evolution Research Institute, and I'm a tester helping to collect data..."

Guan Yan's eyes lit up the moment she saw the Goat Beast. She immediately jumped off the Grizzly Beast, ran to the Goat Beast, and pulled out various snacks and data cubes from her bag, starting to "tempt" it: "Goat Beast~ Do you remember me? We went through thick and thin together at the Death Volcano! Can I ride it for a bit? Just once! All these delicious treats are yours!"

The goat-beast tilted its head, looked at Guan Yan, then at the food in her hand, and exhaled a puff of white breath carrying a holy aura. In the end, it couldn't resist the temptation of the food and nodded.

"Yay!" Guan Yan cheered, ignoring Cheng Yuan's "Hey, hey, hey" protests, she nimbly flipped over and mounted the goat beast, sitting in front of Cheng Yuan, and even looked back at Cheng Yuan triumphantly.

"It's about remembering the bitter past to appreciate the sweet present! Think about our experience at the Death Volcano, it's not like it's the first time we've ridden together! Right, Goat Beast?"

Cheng Yuan facepalmed, both amused and exasperated. His Digimon was far too easily swayed by food!

When everyone saw that Guan Yan wanted to ride her "cousin's" Digimon, they were curious but didn't ask too many questions, and thus brushed it off.

And so, a peculiar cycling team set off. Four quadrupedal Digimon (Farlmon, Grizzlymon, Runmon, and Goatmon) shot into the dense forest like arrows released from a bow.

They move with ease through complex jungle terrain, are exceptionally agile, and are much faster than cars.

Runmon fully utilizes its speed advantage, moving like a ghost to scout ahead and act as the team's scout, providing timely reports on the terrain and the distribution of Digimon ahead.

Along the way, they skillfully avoided the territories of many powerful Digimon, while the ordinary and weak Digimon either couldn't keep up with the speed of this group of mature-level "jungle cavalry" or sensed their powerful aura and hid away early on, not daring to go forward and cause trouble.

After spending nearly half a day traversing a vast forest, the surrounding trees gradually thinned out, and the ground began to become wet and muddy. They finally reached the edge of their destination—a swampy area filled with a light mist and puddles.

“This is the outer edge of the circular swamp.” Zhao Gang took out an electronic map to confirm. “The swamp isn’t too deep. Once we cross this area, we’ll see the ancient ruins.”

Everyone nodded and urged their Digimon to step into the murky swamp water, proceeding cautiously.

This team was extremely efficient and had a clear objective, heading straight for the ruins.

After all, this place had been explored before. This time, the main purpose was to accompany Guan Yan on a second exploration, using the new knowledge and information she brought back from the underworld to try to solve the mysteries in the ruins that had not been solved before.

After wading through the water for a while, some broken stone pillars and collapsed walls gradually emerged from the mist and sparse bushes, exuding an ancient atmosphere.

Zhao Gang raised his hand, signaling the team to stop: "Everyone be careful. Wild Digimon often lurk near these ruins, even using them as nests. Cheng Yuan, you might lack experience, so you and Goatmon will stay in the middle of the group. The rest of you, spread out and set up defenses around the perimeter according to the pre-arranged plan!"

"understand!"

"Roger that!"

Lin Yu and Li Yunjin immediately activated their Digimon to protect the left and right rear wings respectively, while Zhao Gang's Wind Lionmon cautiously led the way in front.

Their actions were swift and efficient, and their teamwork was excellent, demonstrating the high level of combat skills of the Shanghai school team members.

The group maintained a defensive formation and slowly advanced towards the central area of ​​the ruins, encountering several close calls along the way.

Upon arriving at the entrance to the ruins—a relatively dry small square paved with huge stone slabs—Guan Yan immediately jumped off the goat-beast's back, took out a portable computer and various scanning instruments from her backpack, and began to connect to the ancient interface on the stone gate of the ruins to carry out data identification and deciphering work, her expression focused.

Cheng Yuan was now completely idle. He curiously examined the moss-covered and cracked stone carvings around him, but felt he couldn't make heads or tails of them for the time being. His gaze fell on the clear swampy puddle next to him, and a playful impulse arose within him. He casually picked up a few flat pebbles.

With a flick of his wrist, the pebble spun and flew away.

Puff puff puff puff puff puff~

The pebble bounced on the water's surface nearly ten times before finally sinking to the bottom, exhausted.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Lin Yu exclaimed.

"That skipping technique is professional!" Li Yunjin also became interested.

Two freshmen boys assigned their Digimon to guard the area, while they jumped off their Digimon's backs and started looking for suitable stone pieces nearby, determined to have a contest with Cheng Yuan.

"A bunch of childish kids..." Liu Li looked at the three boys who suddenly started skipping stones, and helplessly pursed her lips. She subconsciously wanted to find senior Zhao Gang to take charge and maintain discipline.

"Huh? Where's Senior Zhao Gang?"

She turned her head and found that Zhao Gang had also gotten off the back of the wind lion beast at some point.

He looked serious, his eyes sharp as lightning, as he carefully selected a thin, large, perfect stone slab on the shore.

Then he took a few steps back, ran up, twisted his waist, swung his arm, and threw the stone with all his might!

The stone slab spun at high speed like a flying disc, cutting across the water's surface!

Puff puff puff puff puff puff puff—

A series of dense and crisp splashing sounds rang out. The stone slab flew almost skimming the surface of the water, drawing a long trail of water. In the blink of an eye, it flew to a very far place, and finally seemed to hit something hard, making a dull "smack" sound.

"Fuck!!"

"Senior is awesome!!"

"This is a true master!"

The three boys were immediately filled with admiration.

However, before their cheers had even subsided, an angry croak of a frog came from the spot where the stone had struck!

"Croak—!!!"

A strange frog-like beast with green skin, a horn around its neck and head, and a body half the height of a person emerged from behind a boulder in the swamp.

It touched the small bump on its head that had just been hit by a stone, glared with its huge frog eyes, and angrily searched around.

Soon, its gaze settled on the group of frolicking humans at the entrance of the ruins.

Provocation! Blatant provocation!

The monstrous frog leaped angrily onto a rock and, using its unique digital language, pointed at Cheng Yuan and the others, croaking loudly. Although the specific content was incomprehensible, judging from its excited body language and the spittle it was spewing, the insults must have been extremely offensive.

Cheng Yuan and the others looked completely bewildered.

But their Digimon understood!

Even the goat beast exhaled a breath of hot air.