Chapter 6: Dragon Feast Ritual, Nether Dragon Wolf!

“Stomach Prison?”

Lu Yu’s expression became solemn as he activated the Eye of Truth and gazed towards the ground beneath his feet.

【Treacherous Prison Flower Demon】

【Attributes: Plant Type / Space Type】

【Strength: Early Dominator Stage】

【Racial Potential: High Dominator Stage】

【Skills: Stomach Prison (Super Tier), Prison Laws, Acid Bomb, Vine Whip, Parasite Seed, Hypnosis Powder, Furious Powder, Photosynthesis, Deterrence, Myriad Plant Field, Void Explosion…】

【Description: Evolved from the Greedy Bulbous Flower, it has an insatiable appetite during its juvenile stage, constantly eating. Whatever it digests turns into corrosive acid, and even when filled, it continues to generate this substance, constantly pressing against its elastic stomach to expand the space, boasting an appetite that could devour an entire mountain.

When enough has been accumulated, it ascends to a Treacherous Prison Flower Demon through a suitable ritual and materials. The larger the filled stomach before the evolution, the larger the space created afterward, and it enjoys constructing ecosystems within its stomach space to imprison life forms and fortify its own Prison Laws. Most of the time, it sustains itself through photosynthesis but will also consume bones and decaying matter from dead beings.

Mostly docile in nature, but when angered, it can swallow the offender, who then faces relentless corrosion in an acid wash or death from old age within it.】

【Evolution Path: Abyssal King Flower (……), Sky Ghost Tree (……)】

Truly a beast worthy of a Dawn Star-level dominator, its lavish array of skills aside, the space within its stomach alone spans several kilometers in diameter.

How huge would its true form be?

Seemingly guessing Lu Yu’s doubts, that voice once again sounded:

“Its stomach space is folded. Though its true size may not be as vast, it’s still about a hundred meters in length. If we speak of sheer size, we’d have to look at the mechanical pets and mechas from Mech King’s Domain. I’ve also recently heard they found a nearly infinite energy source, Radiant Oil, and have started to build a Sky City… But I digress.

The Treacherous Prison Flower Demon usually takes root and sleeps beneath the Star Beast Tower’s ground, spending most of its time imprisoning these pet beasts, ensuring that even if they lose control, they will not cause serious harm.”

Lu Yu turned around and saw a middle-aged man wearing a black trench coat and special combat boots, with an “L”-shaped sword hilt on his waist.

He had a Taohua County brand cigarette in his mouth, his hair was gray and slicked back, his sideburns were neatly trimmed, and his deep-set eyes gave off a vibe typical of a handsome, abstinent middle-aged man.

He took a sip from his steel portable flask and said lightly,

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zhou Cheng. You can call me the Gatekeeper, or the Acting Warden. Are you the candidates for this term?

The Abyssal Demon Eye of that girl is quite impressive. However, arranging spiritual puzzles of the abyssal variety is troublesome, tsk tsk, and there’s even one without a contracted pet beast… The standards keep dropping with each generation!”

Faced with this kind of headteacher-like tone, Lu Yu simply replied nonchalantly:

“I recall that drinking on the job results in a pay deduction, doesn’t it?”

This was not something he fabricated; he had seen the rules and regulations posted on the wall on the first layer, and had incidentally memorized them while glancing over.

Zhou Cheng’s face stiffened, and with a light cough, he said:

“Cough, too much drink makes one muddled, and even one’s vision declines. But take a closer look, you’re quite the handsome and dashing young man, a model of talent. Truly worthy of being the descendant of a Golden Medallion hero. Since you’re so outstanding, do me a favor and let’s forget about what just happened. I’m counting on this month’s salary to clear my tab at the bar—otherwise, the boss won’t even let me in…”

Initially, he intended to keep a cool and suave demeanor, but he hadn’t expected the newer generation to be so difficult to deal with.

“Turning a blind eye is not impossible, unless…”

“Unless what?”

Lu Yu pondered, “I too enjoy drinking. Let me taste that wine!”

“This…” Zhou Cheng was also taken aback. This was the first time he had encountered someone daring to extort him.

However, this indeed hit his weak spot. He’d been warned several times for drinking on the job, and another complaint would mean working this month for nothing.

You wouldn’t want your boss to know about your sneaky drinking while on duty… what kind of minotaur scenario is this!

Realizing this, Zhou Cheng’s furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and with a cold expression, he said flatly: “Extorting me, are you not afraid of being unable to select a pet beast?”

As he spoke, a suffocating pressure spread out, obviously intending to intimidate through power.

Red Moon Dream remained unfazed, with the Abyssal Demon Eye floating quietly behind her, entering combat readiness.

“Not afraid!” Lu Yu smiled in the face of the pressure: “After all, you bear no ill will towards me.”

Zhou Cheng raised an eyebrow, curiously asking, “Why would you say that?”

Lu Yu replied with a grin: “Because the first time you saw me, there was a look of relief on your face, and you watched not the beautiful woman but kept staring at my face, then revealed a nostalgic expression. If it’s not a question of sexual orientation, it must be because you recognize someone who looks like me. I have no other relatives in Dayuan City, so it leaves only my parents.”

Zhou Cheng fell silent for a moment, and looking at the composed Lu Yu, he could not help but express his sentiment: “You truly are Lu Sheng’s son; just as clever. You guessed it right. I was his captain, in charge of the Special Science Squad Seventeenth Unit. If only I hadn’t been late that day, perhaps I could have saved your parents…”

At this, Zhou Cheng showed a hint of regret.

“Lu Sheng” was Lu Yu’s father.

Lu Yu remained silent, not indulging in the conversation about the past. What ifs could never change what had happened.

Zhou Cheng also awkwardly scratched his head, realizing that this kid was too shrewd to perform like a villain in a TV drama for dozens of episodes before revealing a twist.

Indeed, someone as handsome as he couldn’t play the villain!

“Tsk, what a boring kid.”

Now that his identity was recognized, Zhou Cheng dropped the act, his face showing pain as he handed over the bottle of alcohol. Lu Yu snatched it before he could warn him to drink less.

Red Moon Dream, who had been listening intently, commented, “Observational skills, very impressive.”

Lu Yu simply shrugged, stating, “Actually, I’ve only seen a photo of him with my dad. Everything else I said was made up!”

His voice wasn’t loud, but Zhou Cheng’s keen hearing picked it up, nearly gnashing his teeth in frustration.

This damn kid really does take after his father.

Absolutely, a chip off the old block!

Lu Yu raised the bottle and poured himself a drink. He had no interest in indirectly kissing a middle-aged man.

He wanted the alcohol not to cause trouble but because the Eye of Truth had revealed the information about the drink.

【Baihua Forging Spirit Wine: A fine wine fermented from the roots and stems of the Treacherous Prison Flower Demon combined with the petals of hundreds of flowers, which can enhance one’s mental strength upon consumption.】

A stronger spirit means better odds against the Nightmare Beast.

Getting stronger was always his goal!

Lu Yu took a sip, and the rich, fresh sweetness spread in his mouth, bursting with the fragrance of a hundred flowers instantly.

A cool sensation surged into his brain, invigorating his soul and further refining and solidifying his own spiritual power.

The increase in strength cleared away the gloom brought on by his nightmares in a moment.

He handed back the bottle to Zhou Cheng, who didn’t rush to retrieve it, asking instead:

“Aren’t you going to have a bit more?”

“That’s enough. The effect is still ongoing. Any more would be overindulgence,” Lu Yu replied without pretense.

The wine brewed from the body of a dominator-tier beast was too potent for a copper-tier beastmaster like himself.

Moreover, relationships between people require understanding the proper etiquette. Others may not mind, but he could not overstep.

After all, who would just so happen to have wine that enhances mental strength on them?

Zhou Cheng clipped the flask back to his waist and waved his hand, as mist appeared, revealing a white, cotton candy-like foggy mirror.

The mirror’s surface even showed a yawning expression, seemingly just awakened, and words appeared:

【Old Zhou, that innkeeper really does have smooth skin. No wonder you mumble about wanting to eat peaches every time you’re drunk. If you ask me, some magical creatures aren’t bad either—mermaids, mountain sprites, female giants, limb-replacement demons… you could write a book about the customs of these various species…】

Before the mirror could finish, Zhou Cheng punched it into the ground and said with a forced smile:

“How strange, this darned mirror has started spouting nonsense after being kept for too long. Hehe!”

He even gave an extra kick, burying its cries of pain into the soil.

Lu Yu barely managed to restrain a twitch in his mouth, for even without the Eye of Truth, he recognized its identity.

A rare water-type beast, the Circular Light Mirror Demon, with the potential of a medium-level commander and not very strong in combat. However, it possesses an extremely functional racial skill—【Circular Light Technique】!

Able to peek into every area within a kilometer radius and display visual scenes, it’s an investigative marvel.

With it, one essentially installs a sky-net system within a kilometer range, leaving no movement undetected.

This ability, if monetized, would attract a host of companies and adventure groups willing to partner at a high price.

No wonder he could become a dominator-level beastmaster and an acting warden, his status and foundation both formidable.

Moreover, if the 【Circular Light Mirror Demon】 could evolve into the legendary 【Thousand-Mile Mirror Demon】, it would be even more powerful, capable of scouting thousands of miles and scrutinizing countless spirits.

He had even read speculation in a travel magazine about someone attempting to create a mirror that observes the world but didn’t know if they succeeded.

“Alright, time to choose your pet beast!”

Zhou Cheng grimaced as he drew his sword, tweaked it, and the handle came off to reveal a black pistol. He “friendly negotiated” with the Circular Light Mirror Demon, finally managing to settle matters.

He picked up the mirror again and poured dark golden spiritual power into it, bringing clarity to the previously murky surface. Multiple screens formed a composite image.

He pointed to the pack of black wolves with black and red fur and sparks flying from their bodies, explaining:

“These are Nether Fire Hounds, confiscated from a daredevil squad of the eradicated Nether Cult. The larger ones were beyond saving and were dealt with on the spot, but we brought back the smaller pups to raise, and there are about a dozen of them now.

They possess both Undead and Fire attributes, with mid-level commander potential and a racial skill—Nether Flame Hunt. When excited during pursuit, Nether Fire ignites on their bodies, leaving scorched paths that burn anyone who steps on them, and bites infuse Nether Fire into their prey.

While Nether Fire doesn’t burn very hot, it festers like maggots on bones, continuously eroding the opponent, slowly consuming their life force. Crucially, canine beasts are loyal in nature and have a low probability of backlash. Plus, they survive on bones, although they become more selective in bone quality as they grow.”

“Although it has the potential of a mid-level commander, the official path includes two evolution lines. The first is the Nether Inferno Canine of top-level commander, still Undead and Fire attributes but with an enhanced Nether Flame and the racial ability Hellfire.

The second is also a top-level commander, the Ghoul Canine King with pure Undead attributes. It possesses the racial ability Corpse Control, allowing it to spawn Ghoul Hound followers through corpses; the quantity depends on strength, usually around ten.”

Both paths correspond to the canine and wolf directions, marking different futures.

Zhou Cheng, sensing Lu Yu’s hesitation and thinking he might not be satisfied with canine beasts, tempted:

“If you can enter the Nether Ecological Sanctuary and find the den of the Dragon Blood Worms, by holding a Dragon Feast Ritual and consuming a large number of Dragon Blood Worms, you can awaken the Dragon’s bloodline and evolve into a powerful beast with high dominator potential—The Nether Dragon Wolf!”