Lu Yu exited the chaotic space. The dense peach grove, like swirling pink clouds, came back into view once more.
A gentle breeze stirred, sending peach blossoms rustling and drifting through the air, resonating with the symphony of spring.
"Eye of Truth!"
Lu Yu silently recited the words in his heart. At the center of his star-like pupils, the silver vines from the Silver Key spread and intertwined, forming a nebula-shaped eye pattern that overlapped itself—like the legendary double pupils of myth.
His already handsome face gained an extra layer of mystery and otherworldly allure.
Once the Eye of Truth was activated, his vision dramatically sharpened, and the world in his eyes transformed!
[15-year-old peach tree, transplanted, growth condition: good…]
[25-year-old peach tree, transplanted, trunk infested with insects, recommend applying insecticide…]
[Peach blossom ladybug, feeds on nectar and decaying plant matter…]
[Strange peach blossom鼓蛙 (drum frog), evolved form of the peach blossom spotted frog, has been listless since pregnancy…]
[Peach pig, 2 years old, currently pregnant, shoulder height 1.5 meters, body length 2.7 meters, weight… During pregnancy, feeding can increase favorability. Feeding newborns beverages brewed with peach blossom nectar can prevent early-life illnesses…]
Every object now came with data descriptions in his sight: age, growth status, and even detailed breeding methods for peach pigs and more…
He had voluntarily applied to raise pigs not to escape reality, nor to contract some disposable moving food source that could be snatched away and eaten at any moment.
His true goal was to accumulate starting capital.
After the "distorted sun" incident, Lu Yu was no longer certain whether the city he lived in was even real. He maintained a thread of wariness toward everyone.
So after his injury healed, when reporting his talent to the school, he claimed it was [Beast Affinity] instead of [Eye of Truth].
It served as a hidden card up his sleeve—and he was also afraid his eyes would attract unwanted attention.
But hiding his strength didn't mean he would willingly sink into mediocrity.
Especially since, when his parents were on that last mission, they had purchased a large quantity of equipment and consumables, leaving only 130,000 Alliance Coins at home.
It wasn't a small amount, but it was far from enough to support a long journey on the path of a beast tamer.
If he wanted to grow stronger, he needed to find ways to make money.
After screening many options, Lu Yu set his sights on peach pigs.
A lower-tier ecological species with blue skin and pink mane along the back, possessing stable spirituality and low risk of mutation.
Peach pigs weren't particularly strong, and their feed wasn't expensive. But their meat was incomparably delicious. Consuming it could greatly replenish qi and blood while strengthening muscles and bones—making it the favorite food of powerful carnivorous pet beasts.
Moreover, certain special evolution conditions for pet beasts required consuming large quantities of peach pork.
Peach pigs were a signature species of the Peach Blossom Village ecological secret realm near Dayuan City, sitting at the very bottom of the food chain.
It wasn't hard for individual beast tamers to capture a few, but large-scale poaching would easily provoke protective transcendent beings into pursuit. As a result, market prices remained high—comparable to two-star materials.
Where there was demand, there were naturally clever people who chose to domesticate them. They transplanted peach tree saplings from Peach Blossom Village and spent considerable time and effort capturing dozens of breeding pairs to start large-scale farming.
However, many failed to anticipate that although peach pigs looked like pigs, their breeding difficulty was actually two-and-a-half stars.
Peach pigs fed on peach tree roots and peach blossom nectar. They were highly intelligent and strongly resisted captivity. Once they realized they were imprisoned, they would fall into depression—impacting both reproduction and weight gain. In extreme cases, they would even choose suicide, resulting in total loss.
Hiring a high-level breeding master wasn't cost-effective either—no profit margin, and possibly even losses.
Yet by then, significant capital had already been sunk into building peach groves and purchasing breeding stock and juveniles. Quitting halfway was impossible. The project had become a hot potato—troublesome and hard to offload.
Lu Yu seized the opportunity, pretending to have [Beast Affinity] and voluntarily applied—naturally securing the project with ease.
However, since he hadn't yet contracted his first pet beast, activating the Eye of Truth consumed spiritual power. He could only use it intermittently, but even so, by "watching pig videos" (observing them closely), he gathered a massive amount of intelligence.
Although peach pigs were intelligent, during the first month of pregnancy they would accept supplementary feeding. Proper care during this window made them much more trusting. Newborn peach piglets would also be far more docile, leading to better weight gain and breeding success.
Using this as his foundation, Lu Yu collected peach pig breeding data and, combined with the capabilities of the Eye of Truth, compiled "Peach Pig Postpartum Care Manual".
He established an ecological system using碧水浮萍 (emerald water duckweed) to clean up excrement and peach blossom spotted frogs to eliminate pests.
In particular, when large numbers of peach blossom spotted frogs gathered, they could trigger the birth of a music-type Servant-tier pet beast: [Peach Blossom Drum Frog]. In extremely rare cases, even an undead-type Commander-tier pet beast: [Ghost Face Curse Frog].
The latter had too low a probability, but the former could be sold as a valuable side product—effectively opening an additional revenue stream.
Under the new ecological system, the survival and birth rate of peach piglets saw a significant increase.
If this were back on Earth, he'd at least earn a banner that read "Little Pig-Raising Expert"!
In another two months, once the number of peach piglets doubled, Lu Yu could use verified results and data to prove that following his manual would allow scalable, industrial-level peach pig farming.
The currently scarce and exorbitantly priced peach pigs could then become a mass-produced, assembly-line commodity.
The profits from that… he naturally couldn't monopolize alone. And with the Eye of Truth, he didn't need to rush. Making money would be easy.
His real goal was to leverage this achievement to negotiate with the school—exchanging it for a Commander-potential (Gold-tier) young pet beast as his first contracted beast. At the very least, a top-tier Elite one.
"But… there's no time left!" Lu Yu sighed.
Lately the frequency of the sun nightmares had skyrocketed, even beginning to affect his mental state. It was clearly abnormal.
"Since the Eye of Truth works on all things, maybe it can reveal what's wrong with me right now!"
With that thought, he switched his phone to selfie mode, using the front camera as a mirror to look at himself. Sure enough, the upgraded Eye of Truth displayed a new negative status debuff.
[Imprint of the Nightmare: As a mortal, you accidentally glimpsed the true essence of the sun, as well as the "beasts" belonging to many ancient existences—and miraculously did not suffer soul collapse. Because you were as insignificant as an ant, you went unnoticed by Them.
However, the very images you witnessed are taboo knowledge forbidden to mortals—untouchable, unknowable. These memories took root in the depths of your soul like seeds, exuding the sweet fragrance of ancient knowledge. Powerless to protect yourself, you have become a unique cursed blossom.
Mortals must not peer at the forbidden.
The fragrance of the flower has attracted the attention of a Nightmare Beast. At great cost, it has planted the seed of nightmare in you from afar as a mark. From this moment on, nightmares will grow ever more frequent—until your soul collapses, and it feasts upon you.]
[Your dreams have already become the deep sea, slowly drowning you.]
After reading it, Lu Yu's face was filled with utter shock.
The shadows that had emerged within the distorted solar radiance… were actually the "beasts" of ancient existences!
Could those ancient beings also be beast tamers?
What tier of lifeform were these "beasts"? Merely glancing at one had polluted his memories, turning them into a curse!
Why were those entities bound in deep-crimson chains? And what exactly were They devouring?
Were the scenes he saw happening in the present moment?
Countless questions swirled in Lu Yu's mind, threatening to split his skull open—yet no one was there to answer them.
Compared to these unknowable, mysterious, lofty existences, the faint spiritual pollution They casually shed had become a curse devouring an insignificant mortal's life.
An invisible, incorporeal Nightmare Beast had already set its sights on him.
As the nightmares deepened, it would eventually manifest and devour his soul!
His life was now on a countdown!
Multiple examinations had failed to detect any trace of the nightmare—proving it was likely the curse from peering at the forbidden that was at work. No one else could help; they would only think he was insane!
As for powerful beast tamers—he didn't even have the qualifications to know one, let alone ask for their aid.
Especially since even an ant like him had attracted a Nightmare Beast. If a powerful beast tamer intervened and saw those memories, would it trigger an even more terrifying curse and draw the attention of the "beasts"?
Even if not, a thorough inspection might very well expose the [Key to Truth]. Faced with a genuine Stairway to Godhood, how many people could remain calm?
He didn't dare gamble on the kindness of others. He wanted to hold his fate in his own hands.
Therefore, Lu Yu had to become a true beast tamer first—unlocking more abilities from the Key to Truth and searching for a way to break this deadlock.
Lu Yu unlocked his phone screen and opened the "Dingzi" app.
He ignored the flood of @mentions demanding "received" and "clock-in" messages—like orders barked at a servant—and found the pinned contact at the top.
Remark: [Student Council President]
[Twilight Crow: President, I need your help with something!]
Twilight Crow was his ID—like a crow waiting silently in the dusk for night to fall.
He expected to wait a while, but the reply came instantly.
[Student Council President: Sure!]
[Twilight Crow: I want to use the school's name to redeem a pet beast using the Gold Medal at the official exchange.]