The Beast Taming Shop is the largest merchant house in Lin Yuan City, overseeing the distribution of resources from the Alternate Space.
Here, not only are all kinds of Guardian Beasts captured from the Alternate Space sold, but also rare materials, Evolution Potions, and even strange treasures.
Gu Xing stood before the grand entrance of the Beast Taming Association, looking up.
The whole building was pyramid-shaped, divided into five layers, each corresponding to a different rank—
Common, Elite, Excellent, Epic, Legendary.
Of course, the "Legendary Level" area at the very top was usually vacant, with only a few rare materials from the Alternate Space occasionally displayed for admiration.
And the "Epic Level" area on the fourth floor had only a handful of Epic materials, priced so high it was jaw-dropping.
Gu Xing didn't linger on the first floor, heading straight up to the third—
Excellent-level Guardian Beast Zone.
In the spacious hall, dozens of Guardian Beasts of various shapes were locked in specially designed Energy Cages, each accompanied by detailed information and pricing.
Gu Xing's gaze swept over, their attribute panels automatically popping up before his eyes—
[Mystic Snake]
[Talent: Excellent Three Stars]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Poisonous Fang Bite]
[Spirit Cat]
[Talent: Excellent One Star]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Agile Evasion]
...
The prices of these Guardian Beasts generally ranged from five hundred thousand to one million, with talent increasing the price.
Gu Xing finally stopped before a wolf-type Guardian Beast.
This was the highest talent on the third floor—
[Gray Wolf]
[Talent: Excellent Three Stars]
[Attribute: Wind Element]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Gale Claw Strike]
[Cultivation Suggestions: Wind Spirit Grass, Hurricane Crystal...]
Looking at these single-skill Guardian Beasts, Gu Xing frowned slightly.
Although Excellent-level beasts were already a decent choice, they were nothing compared to the Epic-level Succubus.
Moreover, he had twenty million in funds, enough to aim much higher!
"Excuse me, does the Beast Taming Association have any other guardian beasts?"
He stopped a staff member, still not giving up.
"Hello, sir. What's on display is all the guardian beasts we acquired this year."
Excellent talent...
He stared at the Gray Wolf; three stars of talent was rare for an ordinary Beast Master.
But after seeing the Epic-level Succubus's panel, this talent held no appeal in his eyes.
Besides, cultivating a beast like this to the level of the Succubus would probably cost far more than twenty million.
However, just as he was turning away in disappointment...
The staff member suddenly called out to him.
"Wait! There's another place..."
Gu Xing spun around so quickly the staff member instinctively stepped back.
"Where?"
The staff member was startled by Gu Xing.
"It's like this—we only display the latest guardian beasts acquired each year."
"The ones we didn't sell from past years are managed together in the back office."
"But...don't get your hopes up, sir. Those are all the leftover rejects."
Hearing this, the hope just sparked in Gu Xing's heart was snuffed out again.
Leftover rejects—how could any of them be worth anything?
Yet, holding to the 'since I'm here anyway' mindset, Gu Xing hesitated for a bit, then still decided to check out the back office.
If he found nothing there, he could always come back to the third floor and contract with the Gray Wolf.
"But you'll have to hurry; wait any longer and they'll be sent off to be destroyed."
...
Back Office.
The lighting was dim and oppressive.
A silver-haired girl curled up in a corner, hugging her knees tightly, burying her face deep in her arms.
Around her, several guardian beasts of different shapes also quietly awaited judgment from fate.
The Shadow Leopard missing a leg, the Spirit Fox born blind...
They were the rejects, left unchosen for an entire year.
"Time's up."
The metal door hinge screeched, and a young man in uniform entered.
Today was Beast Summoning Day in Lin Yuan City, and also these beasts' final day.
The merchant house wasn't a charity; they'd kept them for a year already, that was mercy enough.
Destroying them could at least reclaim some materials—waste not, want not.
Hearing footsteps, the beasts rose numbly.
But the one most eye-catching was the silver-haired girl.
When she lifted her head, her silver hair fell like a waterfall, her delicate face set with amber eyes, she looked like an angel fallen to earth.
No—
She was an Angel!
The staff member sighed.
A year ago, when this Epic-level Angel descended upon Lin Yuan City, she caused a sensation.
Unfortunately, her congenital disability left her worse off than even a Common beast, unable to contract or upgrade.
A "reject" like this had almost no recycling value left.
"Let's go!"
Just as he was about to lead the way, hurried footsteps echoed from the distance.
"Wait!"
Gu Xing rushed in, panting, his bangs soaked with sweat.
He'd spent half an hour searching the maze-like Beast Taming Shop, finally finding his way to the secluded back office.
His gaze swept the room and instantly locked onto that flicker of silver.
The attribute panel popped up:
[Angel (Liu Li)]
[Status: Uncontracted (Disabled Wing—unable to contract)]
[Talent: Epic Nine Stars]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Holy Light Judgment, Wings of Heaven, Divine Lament]
[Special State: Congenitally Damaged (Disabled Wing) (Negative State: Cannot level up)]
[Cultivation Suggestions: Use Angel's Feather, Radiant Star Dust, Holy Spirit Stone (to heal injuries)]
Gu Xing's pupils shrank sharply.
A Guardian Beast with Epic Nine Star talent?!
This was the highest talent he'd ever seen...
Just a step away from Legendary Level!
And Epic-level beasts usually only had two skills, but Liu Li...
Had three!
Only...
His gaze involuntarily moved to her back.
Where there should have been a pair of holy wings, it was now empty.
This was the reason nobody cared about her!
But the system had given a restoration plan:
Angel's Feather*1, Radiant Star Dust*3, Holy Spirit Stone*1.
And the merchant house just happened to have all three!
Gu Xing's heart pounded wildly.
She's the one!
This was the Guardian Beast he'd been searching for!
If he healed her wounds, her talent would utterly eclipse that Succubus!
Gu Xing took a deep breath and slowly walked over to the staff member.
"Hello, I'd like to buy that Angel. How much is she?"
At these words...
Liu Li's pupils contracted sharply.
She slowly lifted her head, amber eyes reflecting the figure standing in the light.
Was... he talking about her?
Three hundred days and nights, she'd curled up in this dark corner, hoping again and again, only to be disappointed each time.
In the end, she grew numb, not daring to hope anyone would ever look her way again.
But at this moment—
The stranger was actually pointing at her.
Her heart felt like it was gripped by an invisible hand, even breathing became difficult.
Did he really understand what he was choosing?
A reject who couldn't even fly...
Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain.
Liu Li dropped her head, silver hair hovering down, hiding the faint flush in her eyes.
She clearly... shouldn't expect anything anymore.
But why... did it still hurt?
....
...