As someone who came from a modern world, Lin Fan knew just how much of a cheat a system was, so he was looking forward to what he would receive.
"System has finished syncing up to the host's shop."
"System has detected three pets that can be trained."
"System will now release beginner gift, bloodline augmentations."
Lin Fan was surprised by this sudden notification, but he soon realized that something was wrong.
The system had said three pets, the only three pets in the store that he could think of were the chicken, the dog, and the lizard in the cages…
"Wait, system, abort, abort!"
"Bloodline augmentation has been given, host please check status of the pets to confirm."
If one looked carefully, they could see actual black lines that had appeared on Lin Fan's forehead.
Since it had already been done, there was nothing that he could do.
Following the instructions of the system, Lin Fan opened the system interface to check the status of the three pets.
Fire Phoenix (Young)
Grade: Unique
Cultivation: Iron 1
Bloodline: Phoenix
Skills: Flame Breath, Flame Control, Flame Slash
Combat Strength: 1.0
System's comments: What a waste of heaven's resources!
Lightning Qilin (Young)
Grade: Unique
Cultivation: Iron 1
Bloodline: Qilin
Skills: Thunder Bolt, Thunder Slash, Thunder Control
Combat Strength: 1.0
System's comments: What a waste of heaven's resources!
Wind Dragon (Young)
Grade: Unique
Cultivation: Iron 1
Bloodline: Dragon
Skills: Wind Slash, Wind Control, Healing Breeze
Combat Strength: 1.0
System's comments: What a waste of heaven's resources!
Even though their names now sounded quite imposing, the three animals still looked the same as before. If one had to pick out something that was different, the Fire Chicken now had a reddish hue to it, the Lightning Dog had hair that was standing up like it was hit by electricity, and the Breeze Lizard had an extra reverse scale at the bottom of its neck.
Seeing the comments the system had put under each of these pets, he really couldn't help agreeing. Who would have thought that a chicken, a dog, and a lizard would be divine beasts!
But while he was drowning in his sorrow, there was another sudden message from the system.
"The host has activated the first main quest."
"Host, look how shabby your pet shop is. The best pet shop in the world shouldn't be like this, it should be imposing and luxurious with the best quality pets. Please take your three pets and train them until they are worthy of your status as the best pet shop owner! The time limit for this quest is twenty four hours."
"The host will be sent to a cultivation realm for the main quest."
"Beginner protection has been activated. The cultivation realm chosen has changed from a low grade cultivation realm to a high grade cultivation realm. The cultivation realm chosen is the World of Elements. Host, please prepare to be transferred."
"Wait, what do you mean by training and what is this cultivation realm?"
Before Lin Fan could receive his answers, there was a flash of light that completely obscured his vision.
When the white light had faded and he could see around him, he found that he had been dropped into a forest. Beside him were the three pets that he had just received also looking confused.
While he was still getting a sense for the area around him, the system's voice sounded again.
"Host, please form contracts with these three pets."
"Error, a problem has been detected with the host body, now scanning the host."
"Host's body contains a disconnected meridian, not allowing the host to cultivate. The system will now fix the host's body as per the beginner protection."
It was like something had suddenly clicked inside of him, but Lin Fan could suddenly feel the energy flowing through him.
"System, what did you just do?" Lin Fan quickly asked.
"The system has connected the disconnected meridian in the host's body."
"Does that mean that I can cultivate?"
"Host, please do not ask silly questions, first warning."
"Damn, is that even an answer?"
"Profanity detected, second warning."
"What a useless system." Lin Fan said in his mind.
"Doubting the system, third warning."
"Random punishment will now be selected."
"Heavenly thunder punishment selected!"
All of a sudden, Lin Fan felt like he had been hit by a taser, but it was several times stronger than a normal taser. All that electric stimulation soon manipulated his body and he began doing the running man in place.
After the punishment, Lin Fan fell down on the ground, but nothing could extinguish the excitement that he felt since he could finally cultivate.
Lin Fan was a nerd back on earth and he had read plenty of novels, so he had a certain expectation when it came to transmigrating into another world. He should have a cheat and be able to cultivate faster than everyone, becoming the strongest person in the world!
After that disappointing start, it seemed like everything was finally getting back on track!
When he finally calmed down, Lin Fan formed contracts using his life energy with the three pets as instructed by the system. His life energy came out of him and formed small seals that imprinted themselves on the foreheads of the three pets.
Right after the contract was established, the three pets all walked up to Lin Fan and started acting cute, which was something that he couldn't resist. He was someone who had loved pets back on earth, owning two cats and two dogs himself, so he didn't hold himself back as he started cuddling with them.
But while they were in the middle of cuddling, there was a giant roar that suddenly shook the trees around them.
This roar shook them to their core and as they looked around, they saw that there was a giant ape that had appeared on a branch above them, looking at them like they were a tasty meal.
Before any of them could even react, the ape had thrown a giant boulder down at them, crushing the Lin Fan and the three pets that were currently in his arms.
"Host has died, activating beginner protection."
"The host can now revive for free at the same location or a random location for the rest of the duration of this cultivation realm."
Lin Fan and the three pets who had died had all turned into ghosts in the same location. They could see around them, but there was nothing that could see them.
"System, you're saying that I can die as many times as I want?"
"Host, the system's words were clear enough. First warning."
"System, does that also include my pets?"
"The pets of the host always receive free revivals. The best way to learn is to try and try again."
Lin Fan was confused for a few seconds, but he soon understood what the system meant. The system was telling Lin Fan to kill his pets again and again until they could adapt and become stronger!
In the end, Lin Fan chose to revive in the same spot since there was already an enemy for them to fight.
The giant ape had just jumped down and was prepared to bring the prey that it had hunted home, but all of sudden, Lin Fan and his three pets had revived.
"Xiao Huo, shoot your flames at it! Xiao Lei and Xiao Feng, go around and use your slash attacks on its back!"
Lin Fan shouted out these orders, but these three pets were only low level pets who hadn't ever been in a fight before. The moment they heard the orders from Lin Fan, all they did was cutely tilt their heads like they were asking for food…
The giant ape fell down in front of them not long after, but all that did was make the three pets run behind Lin Fan like they were using him as a body shield.
Lin Fan was pushed to his limit seeing all of this and he could do the only thing he could do…
He grabbed all three pets and threw them right at the giant ape.
The three little pets didn't expect this at all. As they flew out, they looked out at the giant ape with wide eyes filled with terror.
Seeing that they had no other choice, the three pets steeled their hearts and used the only skills that they had.
The Fire Phoenix took a deep breath before releasing a plume of flames that was aimed right at the giant ape's head, while the Lightning Qilin and the Wind Dragon sent out blades made of lightning and wind respectively.
Even though they had the bloodline of ancient divine beasts, they were still all new hatchlings who hadn't unlocked any of their powers at all.
As their attacks landed on the giant ape, all they did was leave a few small scratches which surprised the ape itself before they all were beaten down and crushed.
"Your pets Fire Phoenix, Lightning Qilin, and Wind Dragon have been killed, do you wish to revive them?"
Lin Fan immediately said yes as soon as the system's voice appeared in his mind.
The three pets were revived right by Lin Fan and before they knew what was happening, he had picked them up and thrown them at the giant ape again.
When the three of them realized what happened, they knew that they had no other choice. While feeling aggrieved over how Lin Fan treated them, they finally decided to steel their hearts and follow his instructions since there was nothing to lose from doing so.
The Fire Phoenix released a wide spread Flame Breath this time to obscure the view of the giant ape, while the Lightning Qilin and the Wind Dragon went in different directions to appear behind the giant ape and used their elemental slashes to cut the back of the giant ape's leg.
The giant ape saw that the pests that it had killed had suddenly come back and was confused, but receiving their attacks, it became enraged.
After receiving minor injuries from the attack, it smashed all three pets once again.
"Your pets Fire Phoenix, Lightning Qilin, and Wind Dragon have been killed, do you wish to revive them?"
Once again, the three pets were revived at Lin Fan's side and once again they were thrown out.
The three pets continued battling the giant ape, dying again and again.