The Black Ant Forest spanned over eighty miles in diameter.
When twenty thousand people entered, it was like a handful of sand being scattered into a large lake, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Chen Fan held Snowy with one hand while carrying a fishing spear in the other, striding swiftly through the forest.
He didn't stop until he had covered three or four miles. Then he found a forest clearing and carefully set Snowy down.
He had chosen a route marked as relatively safe on the Thousand Degrees Map.
So, on their way here, they hadn't encountered a single Iron-eating Black Ant.
Snowy lay on the ground, looking up at Chen Fan with her big, twinkling eyes that resembled dazzling, colorful sapphires.
Chen Fan opened the Beastmaster forum, followed the instructions, squinted slightly, focused his mind, and connected with his Beastmaster's Space.
Above and below Chen Fan and Snowy, Six-pointed Star Arrays shimmering with multicolored light appeared.
Two Six-pointed Star Arrays sandwiched Chen Fan and Snowy between them.
The steps for contracting a Guardian Beast on the Beastmaster forum were quite complicated, requiring a lot of time and effort.
But as soon as the two Six-pointed Star Arrays were activated, the "Beastmaster System" popped up a prompt...
[Beastmaster's Space opened. Do you want to sign a contract with the Ragdoll Cat Snowy?]
Chen Fan was overjoyed, "The system can directly contract Guardian Beasts? Then I don't need to perform the more complicated tasks!"
Without any hesitation, he clicked "Yes."
As soon as he clicked "Yes," Chen Fan's left index fingertip hurt for a moment, a drop of blood oozing out.
The drop of blood flew from his fingertip and fell into the Six-pointed Star Array beneath his feet.
Immediately, the Six-pointed Star Array began to spin slowly...
"Bound by blood, sealed by the array."
"With my blood as the binding force, I establish an unbreakable bloodline contract for eternity!"
A voice sounded in Chen Fan's mind.
Chen Fan's drop of blood fell and merged into the Array below him.
The two Six-pointed Star Arrays spun rapidly, emitting a golden light that condensed into a sheet of white paper burning with golden flames, appearing between Chen Fan and Snowy.
Blood-red text filled the paper, written in a very peculiar way.
However, both Chen Fan and Snowy instantaneously understood its contents.
The next moment...
In Chen Fan's mind, a series of little girl-like whispering sounds suddenly emerged.
"I really want to eat that chicken leg. When will my master give it to me?"
"No, I should let him eat it. This forest seems very dangerous. What if he doesn't eat enough and encounters a monster?"
"I really want to eat fish..."
"I don't know why, but I feel like I can grow really big in the future, as big as that fire-spewing colossal ant."
"If I could grow that big, I could carry my master, and he wouldn't be so tired."
Were these Snowy's thoughts?
Can I hear Snowy's thoughts?
No wonder Beastmasters can work seamlessly with their Guardian Beasts. They can communicate with each other through their thoughts!
Chen Fan's expression shifted slightly as he sent his thoughts over: "Snowy?"
Snowy blinked: "Hmm? What is it!"
"Snowy..." Chen Fan squatted down and continued, "We used to rely on each other for survival. Now we've come to this strange world together, and we need to support and help each other even more."
"I want to sign a blood contract with you. Will you be my partner?"
"Mhm!" Snowy blinked and nodded her head. She raised her little paw and gently pressed it on the burning golden flame's paper.
The paper instantly burned to ashes, turning into countless twinkling stars, melding into the void.
At that moment, Chen Fan felt the souls of himself and Snowy connected as one.
An odd, warm feeling enveloped them.
Immediately after...
A virtual panel appeared in the Beastmaster's Space.
[Guardian Beast Name]: Ragdoll Cat Snowy
[Combat Power Level]: Level 1 (Just Awakened)
[Species Level]: Awakened/ Low
[Guardian Beast Attribute]: Thunder
[Guardian Beast Weakness]: Fire
[Species Skills]: Thunder Cat Claw+ (Consumes system energy, can increase skill proficiency for Guardian Beast)
[Guardian Beast Status]: Happy
[Guardian Beast Preferences]: Likes to stay in Chen Fan's arms or on his shoulder, likes being gently stroked on the head.
[Potential Level]: Six Star
[Breakthrough to Level 2 requires]: 5 pounds of Level 1 or above fresh fish, 1 Level 2 fish crystal nucleus, 10 energy points. Usage steps:...
First option, Normal Evolution Path: Ragdoll Cat → Bloodthirsty Cat → Star Space Shadow Cat; materials and methods needed for evolving from Awakened/ Low to Awakened/ Moderate...
Second option, Hidden Variant Evolution Path: Ragdoll Cat → Phantom Thunder Cat → Purple Lightning King Cat → Thunder Devouring Sky Piercing Cat Emperor → ...; materials and methods needed for evolving from Awakened/ Low to Awakened/ Moderate: 10 pounds of Level 2 (including Level 2) or above fresh fish, 1 Level 2 or above thunder attribute monster crystal nucleus, 3 Level 2 (including Level 2) or above fish crystal nuclei. Usage steps:...
Looking at the panel, Chen Fan contemplated thoughtfully.
After Snowy became his Guardian Beast, the virtual panel underwent some changes.
The word "monster" had been replaced with "Guardian Beast."
The virtual panel was now fixed within the Beastmaster's Space.
A plus symbol appeared after Snowy's skill, showing that system energy could be consumed to increase the skill's proficiency.
Beneath the words "Thunder Cat Claw" was something resembling an experience bar, indicating Snowy's skill proficiency!
As Chen Fan examined it, an explanation also appeared before him...