What a pity.
Whether it was wanting to ask the Angel, asking Little Raven himself, or asking the others who had been watching with him. Perhaps the now-conscious Cat-Worm, Little White Snake, and Little Jellyfish—
They all had to get through this situation first.
How should he answer Jasmine?
After thinking for three seconds, Asher finally swallowed the apple in his mouth and said, "If I say I don't know either, would you believe me?"
Jasmine paused in wiping the fruit knife, then nodded, "I expected that."
"Then tell me what you do know."
Saying this, Jasmine lifted her head to look at Asher, "After all, you were the only one who mysteriously disappeared. When we found you, you were already with the Red Soil Exploration Team, and they said they felt like ten days or half a month had passed…"
It wasn't that she doubted Asher, but he still had to provide a reasonable explanation.
Asher understood.
After thinking it over, apart from the final scene of seeing the true projection of the Three-Legged Golden Crow and the information he got from the Angel, there wasn't much he couldn't say.
He described everything to Jasmine from beginning to end.
He skipped some unnecessary details but emphasized how difficult his search process was.
Asher spread his hands and said helplessly, "It's not that I don't want to explain, but how do you even begin to describe something like this?"
"Anyway, just as I was about to climb to the top and see the sun, I suddenly blacked out."
Asher felt a bit relieved.
Luckily, Little Raven had already returned to his mental sea and beast space. Otherwise, with all of his feathers gone…
'Wait?'
Asher checked his beast space.
'The feathers have grown back?'
'Not only have they grown back, but Little Raven's entire appearance has changed quite a bit.'
Asher: "…"
'Amen!'
'Thank you, Jade Emperor, Three Pure Ones, Jesus, and God.'
After listening to Asher's story, Jasmine fell silent.
Did she not believe him?
Jasmine was observing Asher's expression.
It seemed to be the truth.
A normal person… really couldn't make up such a strange experience. One check and any lie would fall apart.
So it could only be true.
But if it really was true… Jasmine could understand why Asher had been so frustrated just now. Because now, that frustration was hers to bear.
How was she supposed to report what happened to Asher?
Would anyone even believe it?
Jasmine sighed.
"By the way," After omitting some personal details, Asher felt much lighter and could finally ask, "How did you find me?"
"Did the mountain reappear?"
"What's the situation in Crimson City now?"
Thinking about the moving mountain in the Red Soil Forbidden Zone, Asher couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
He still didn't know what kind of restriction or mechanism the Red Soil Exploration Team had triggered at the start, but Asher suspected that the high fever in Crimson City was very likely caused by that Three-Legged Golden Crow incarnated as the 'sun'.
"Mr. Peter, Ms. Henrietta, and Mr. Clyde entered the Red Soil Forbidden Zone together. They combined all their beasts' attacks on the place where you disappeared, originally intending to try and open a possible spatial rift. But unexpectedly…"
Unexpectedly, the rift didn't open.
Instead, it was like a rainstorm—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
People were spat out one after another.
The Red Soil Exploration Team members who had been missing for more than a day and night, exhausted and drained. Along with Asher, mixed in among them.
The three top Beast Tamers who were preparing for battle: "?"
Anticlimactic?
They had been ready.
They were even prepared to enter a space rift, face extreme danger, and possibly end up in a world full of beasts… And it just ended like that?
People were simply spat out?
The three of them had quite the interesting expressions at that moment.
Absolutely dumbfounded.
But right after, they sighed in relief.
Who cared about the details?
Whether it was a black cat or a white cat, as long as it caught mice, it was a good cat.
They hurriedly brought everyone back.
Then they were shocked again—
The patients in Crimson City, whose fevers had stubbornly refused to subside, started gradually recovering at about the same time they entered the Red Soil Forbidden Zone.
Confusion.
Uncertainty.
And finally, acceptance.
Again, it all came down to one thing—
Look at the results.
If the outcome was good, then it was a good thing.
No need to overthink it.
Overthinking could drive someone insane.
"Another top Beast Tamer actually came?", Asher was a little shocked.
Jasmine glanced at him.
'That surprises him?'
If the remaining four top Beast Tamers hadn't been busy with other matters or weren't abroad, Jasmine was certain more than just Clyde would have come.
Although, in the end, they didn't seem to have played a big role.
But once again, Jasmine witnessed Asher's importance.
A true national treasure.
These four words were not an exaggeration for Asher.
He just didn't seem to realize it himself.
After thinking about it, Jasmine didn't remind him.
"For now, just rest well," Jasmine stood up, looking like she was about to leave, "The doctors checked you over. No injuries, just exhaustion. Sleep more, and we'll talk later."
After saying that, Jasmine left the hospital room.
The room fell silent.
Asher was tempted… He wanted to take out his phone or release his beast.
But in the end, he restrained himself.
"…Sleep. Just sleep."
Who knew if someone was still watching him?
It was best to play it safe.
Asher did feel mentally exhausted. He lay back down, wrapped himself in the blanket, and forced himself to sleep.
He thought he might have trouble falling asleep.
Or that he'd be restless for a while.
But to his surprise—
Within a minute, he fell into a deep sleep.
Outside the hospital room, Henrietta and Clyde: "?"
"That's… a pretty big heart, huh?"
"If Professor Asher's story is true, he hasn't slept for nearly ten hours, plus mental exhaustion. It's normal to be tired."
"But what he said…"
"It should be true. At most, he hid a few minor details. Nothing crucial."
"Alright then, I'm heading back. You and Peter can handle things here, right?"
Henrietta, who had been talking smoothly, suddenly paused. She looked at Clyde and sincerely asked, "Are you sure you don't want to stay, and I go back instead?"
With the Red Soil City crisis resolved,
Crimson City's crisis resolved,
Henrietta had no doubt that next… it would be her turn to face a crisis.
The reason? Peter.
"Hahaha," Clyde laughed heartily.
Then, under Henrietta's expectant gaze, he waved his hand, "No, no, Peter and I don't get along well."
"This was your problem to begin with, wasn't it? You should handle the follow-up."
Henrietta: "…"
Rolling her eyes.
"Get lost," Henrietta waved him off impatiently, "All of you unreliable men."
But Clyde didn't take her words to heart at all.
At least the trouble wasn't on his plate.
Still, before leaving, he glanced back at Asher, who was peacefully asleep in his bed.
He firmly memorized Asher's face before finally turning away.
'Hmm.'
'It feels like I'd be dealing with Professor Asher a lot in the future.'
Clyde: 'Don't ask.'
'Just a gut feeling!'
———
[Midnight]
Asher's eyes snapped open.
"Was I dreaming?", Asher let out a long, scorching breath and spoke in an uncertain tone.
It seemed like he had a nightmare.
It should be a nightmare?
But the moment he woke up, he had completely forgotten everything, leaving only the cold sweat on his back to remind him that he had indeed been frightened in his dream.
Lying flat for a while to compose himself, Asher tried to go back to sleep.
Unfortunately.
He had slept a little too much during the day.
After closing his eyes, he didn't feel the slightest bit sleepy. Asher was wide awake, couldn't be more awake.
Asher: "…..."
'A hospital.'
'In the dead of night.'
'Going outside…'
'I better not.'
Although this wasn't a world of supernatural forces, Asher always felt like this was the prelude to some weird and strange event.
'Ignore, ignore.'
The moonlight outside was very bright. The gentle glow spilled into the hospital room, allowing Asher to see everything inside clearly.
'Two beds.'
'But only me.'
'The door is properly shut.'
'Cameras…?'
Thinking about it, Asher took out his phone and tapped on it.
[No monitoring personnel or surveillance devices nearby]
Angel was very efficient, instantly giving Asher the information he wanted to know.
Asher nodded in satisfaction.
'Good.'
'Very normal.'
'Which also means I am not under suspicion.'
Next, Asher groped around and sat up in bed, leaning against the pillow. He then quietly released Little Raven.
In an instant.
A wave of scorching heat swept through the entire hospital room.
The first to bear the brunt of it was Asher, who was lying in bed.
Asher: "Hiss—"
The heatwave rushing toward him made Asher instinctively feel as if he were standing on a 40-degree summer asphalt road.
No shelter in any direction.
Above his head was the blazing sun, radiating an intensity that felt like it could roast people alive.
Even the rare breeze that finally arrived was steaming hot.
Little Raven: "!"
Little Raven also noticed that Asher's face was gradually turning pale.
Panicking, Little Raven flapped its wings so fast they almost left afterimages, trying to control the energy inside its body.
But the more anxious it got, the harder it was to control.
"Calm down, take it slow, don't rush," Asher spoke at the right moment, "I'm not that uncomfortable, I can still endure for a bit. Little Raven, don't be scared."
Looking at Asher, who didn't seem to be in too much pain, Little Raven hesitated for a moment before tilting its head and flying over to him.
It landed lightly on the white blanket covering Asher.
Asher lowered his head.
'Hmm… a third leg?' [T/N: 😏]
He couldn't see it, because when Little Raven lowered its wings, their length was enough to cover its legs. But through the blanket, Asher could feel three points of pressure on his legs.
Thinking about it, Asher reached out and lifted Little Raven's wing.
Little Raven: "!"
"I'm just looking, not doing anything," Asher said seriously, "You still can't control your power properly, right? If you accidentally move and hurt me, what then?"
Little Raven: ψ(*ー*)ψ
'Damn it!'
'Beastmaster, you're bad!'
'You're just relying on the fact that I can't bear to hurt you, aren't you?'
'This time, this bird will definitely…'
'Alright, alright, forget it.'
Little Raven stood still.
But the way it looked at Asher was anything but polite.
Asher glanced at it with a smile.
'Indeed, three legs.'
"So now it can truly be called a Three-Legged Golden Crow?", Asher muttered to himself.
He opened his talent skill.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Beast: Three-Legged Golden Crow]
[Attributes: Fire + Special + Flight]
[Species: High-Rank Extraordinary Mid-Tier (Locked)]
[Level: Sixth-Tier Extraordinary High-Level (Locked)]
[Skills: King's Aura, King's Eye, Guardian's Heart, Peck, Flash Magic, …, Fire Dance]
[Successfully Evolved*]
[Bloodline Awakening Degree: 41% (Mastered Essence Fire and evolved into Three-Legged Golden Crow form)]
[Talent Skill: Solar True Fire]
[Solar True Fire: A Three-Legged Golden Crow with a bloodline awakening degree exceeding 30% can already be considered a young Three-Legged Golden Crow, possessing abilities close to a true one. Its flames have undergone a complete transformation. The fire spewed by the Three-Legged Golden Crow carries a destructive property (once a hostile target is designated, the fire will not extinguish until the target is reduced to ashes).] [T/N: Fricking Awesome!]
[Talent Skill: Unlocks at 45% Bloodline Awakening]
[Not yet unlocked]
[Not yet unlocked]
[Special Buff: +10% Resistance to Mental Attacks]
[Damn Beastmaster! Just relying on the fact that the bird will go easy on him! Hmph! I'm mad! The kind that won't be coaxed!╭(╯^╰)╮]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
How should he put it… Asher wasn't too surprised by this talent skill.
But the description of this ability instantly reminded him of the flame Little Raven shot from its eyes.
"Solar True Fire… sounds a bit too exaggerated in power."
Designated target.
Relentless until death.
Determined to completely erase the target from this world.
Asher rubbed his forehead.
The power was great.
It's just not suitable for use in battles.
But… what Asher didn't expect was that Little Raven's bloodline concentration had actually risen from the previous 23% all the way to 41%.
'An 18% increase.'
'Isn't that a bit too fast?'
Asher looked down at Little Raven again, "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"If you do, you must tell me, so we can solve it together."
Hearing Asher's concerned words, Little Raven realized… it couldn't keep up its tough, "angry at Asher" act anymore.
Little Raven slammed its head into Asher's chest.
'Damn it!'
'Bird is good!'
'…Beastmaster is good too!'
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