The Yellow Spring Secret Realm!
The Dragon Feasting Ritual!
For a moment, Gary Smith's heart throbbed with excitement, but he quickly suppressed it.
Not for nothing,
but because the conditions were too stringent!
He had read in the library that the Netherworld Ecology Secret Realm doesn't referring to the mythical Nine Underworld Yellow Spring, but a special ecological secret realm that often signifies the fall of a powerful life form.
Its blood, flesh, bones, and soul, over the long eons of mystical evolution, get fused to form a spring called Yellow Spring, from which toxic Yellow Spring water gushes out.
This water flows slowly down the secret realm, assimilating everything in its path into part of the Yellow Spring River.
The aura of death it emanates attracts an abundance of undead and poisonous super life forms to coexist, forming a unique eco-system of the dead. Similar to this are the Skeleton Nation and Hungry Ghost Abyss ecological systems.
However, the Netherworld ecological system stands between life and death, turning the deceased beings into entities akin to earthbound spirits that guard the Eye of the Netherworld.
If the Eye of the Netherworld is strong enough, it is even possible to transform the deceased ancient existences.
However, such a level of Yellow Spring Secret Realm can already be called a miniature Netherworld.
It is fraught with danger and indeed a forbidden zone for life.
As for Dragon Blood Insect, it appears only in the Netherworld ecological system transformed from the demise of Dragon life forms. As a sectarian variation of the beast pet, it has the potential to be a low-ranking commander.
These insects contain a trace of dragon blood and can exhale dragon breath. When they appear in swarms, even some top commanders dare not confront them head-on.
Most of the time, they dwell by the Yellow Spring spring, drinking Yellow Spring water to cleanse their souls and purify their bloodline, waiting for the day they transform into a Nether Dragon Butterfly.
However, most of them end up dying from the poison of Yellow Spring, just like moths flying into the fire.
Leaving aside if he could conquer them, the thought of devouring a swarm of insects that have been drinking Yellow Spring water for a long time might poison his own pet beast first.
Moreover, the Yellow Spring Secret Realm is unpredictable, and the price of information about it is something he cannot afford. Furthermore, the unheard-of Dragon Feasting Ritual is likely to be an official secret.
Charles Brown quenched his thirst with a sip of wine and continued:
"The Nether Dragon Wolf that I speak of isn't a blabber. It was recorded by the Special Section that someone had successfully bred one. It possesses the attributes of Dragon and Undead systems and has a talent skill—Nether Funeral—that can summon Yellow Spring water to kill and corrode the enemies' blood and flesh and soul.
Plus, given a chance, it may even birth Dragon Might. Even if it has evolved once, it can be transitioned perfectly through the Dragon Feasting Ritual. Looking at it this way, doesn't this Netherflame Wolfhound seem full of potential, and suitable to assemble a spiritual puzzle?"
One would think you've got the Dragon Blood Insects and Dragon Feasting Ritual all ready and all that's left is to initiate the contract.
Talk about dangling the carrot; you veterans are experts!
If it was a young bloke, then blood would boil, and the choice would have been impulsive.
However, Gary knew that the other party meant well. Charles didn't owe him anything; he just painted a hypothetical situation where Gary could nurture his pet beast into a dragon, to prevent him from aiming too high. Actually, Charles was just helping him chart a course and select a stable growing Beast Control.
If it weren't for caring about you, who would worry about your survival.
And Charles Brown's implication is clear, he could join the Alliance to get access to resources. Given his untarnished origin, there's a high probability he could apply successfully.
However, with the [Eyes of Truth] at his disposal, Gary could develop in his own way independently; thus, he didn't want to put constraints on himself.
What's more, the Netherflame Wolfhound isn't up to the mark either.
It isn't because it lacks potential.
But because the lurking threat of the Nightmare Beast is like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Although it's not certain what kind of Nightmare Beast is attacking, most Nightmares don't have a physical body and exist as a mist, shuttling through the illusory dreamland.
They naturally possess an aura of intimidation, and can manipulate the dreams of enemies by amplifying their innermost fears until they collapse, and then devour their terror-stricken souls and consciousness.
Once fully devoured, victims become mindless vegetative individuals.
Although the Netherflame Wolfhound is formidable, its ability can only burn reality. The so-called Netherflame has a significant damaging effect on physical bodies.
Surely you can't set yourself on fire and die alongside the Nightmare Beast?
Hence, Gary leans more towards acquiring Beast pets with corresponding Spirit System, Soul System, or Dreamland System. At the very least, he wants a beast pet that possesses skills which can damage souls.
So, he took the initiative and said, "Uncle Brown, I want to see the other Beast pets before making a choice."
Hearing this, Charles Brown nodded his head, not having much to say. As an elder, all he could do was provide advice, but the final decision was up to Gary.
Then he pointed at the three-eyed crow, which was squatting at a distance, daring not to show anger as it was poked by Dream of the Crimson Moon using a stick. He introduced it, saying:
"This was harvested after the extermination of the Death-herald Bird Sect branch. It's a Three-Eyed Crow with high-ranking commander potential. It falls under the Flight and Curse Department; its racial skill is 'Death Ray,' which has a chance of causing instant death. But the probability of triggering this effect decreases as the opponent gets stronger..."
Though it looks really cool, its attributes don't align with mine, and the instant kill beam is far too reliant on chance.
My [Eyes of Truth] can't enhance it either.
The fact that it can become loot... says a lot!
The only decent feature, the ability to fly, doesn't apply to me due to its small size.
It can only serve as a scout!
Pass!
"This one is the Black Wolf Bird..."
"This is an Ice Scale Snake..."
Gary Smith was tired of introducing them all, so he decided to ask Charles Brown about his general preferences. The answer left him somewhat stunned:
"Spiritual and Soul System, you sure are ambitious... These attributes are rare; they are usually claimed immediately when they do come up. There aren't many with the ability to damage the soul either. Dreamland Types... wait! There might be one!"
Upon hearing this, Gary was overjoyed and quickly asked, "May I take a look?"
Charles hesitated but still pulled up the screen.
In the image was a cold and eerie cave filled with weirdly shaped stones. Numerous silver spiderwebs interweaved around a fist-sized silver cocoon which radiated an ethereal silver glow, seeming somewhat unreal.
It appeared as if it were an image reflected on water, ready to shatter at a touch.
Charles stroked his stubble and frowned:
"This is a piece of war loot obtained by the Borderland Army during their extermination of the Dream Eater Cult. The infamous cult, full of madmen, believes that reality is a fallacy and the dreams woven by the blasphemous God, the Eternal Master of Dreamland, are the true reality. They conducted sacrifices using a massive number of human souls to attempt to breed a Pet Beast that can open the gate between reality and dreams and lead the world to permanent dreamland, achieving eternal life.
However, due to a timely tip-off from an informant, the ritual was interrupted midway by the army. Due to their fierce resistance, only a few pieces of loot were left. Most of it was handed over to the upper echelons, leaving this one. It was inspected and found to have no major issues, so it was left here.
It is called the Phantom Dream Spider, a high-ranking commander level Beast with racial potential. It feeds on the dreamlands of wise souls and is good at weaving dreamlands. Its racial ability is [Dream Weaving], allowing it to weave a defense net in its master's dreamland to fend off attacks from the Nightmare Beasts.
This ability is somewhat mediocre. It is more defensive rather than preventative and is nowhere near as useful as the [Dream-eating] ability, which is especially effective against the Nightmare Beasts. Even a commander level Nightmare Beast has to flee when encountered with a servant level Dream-Eating Beast. In a battle, [Dream-eating] can devour dreamland directly, inflicting tremendous damage on the enemy's spirit.
However, unlike the grotesque appearance of a typical spider, the Phantom Dream Spider looks rather cute. Many girls like to keep it as a pet, weaving pleasant dreams for themselves. Its combat ability is not strong, and its body is quite fragile. If it can't enter a dreamland, its only means of attack is to create illusions, which is not effective against opponents with strong willpower.
Moreover, it is uncertain if this one is contaminated. It is still waiting for observation after it hatches. I wouldn't recommend you choose this one. After all, there aren't many unlucky fellows who would encounter a Nightmare Beast..."
Sorry, but,
I am that unlucky fellow!
I felt somewhat ridiculed, but I didn't care. My eyes were firmly fixed on the spider's egg sac.
Although it doesn't have my most desired [Dream-eating] attribute, it can weave a defense net for my dreamland to fend off Nightmare attacks!
That's good enough!
At least I'm not helpless against Nightmares.
Moreover, after the contract, I could unlock the Legacy of the Secret Cuisine. Considering the previously created [360-degree Vision] Secret Food, perhaps I could create [Dream-eating] Secret Food!
Wouldn't that solve the nightmare issue?
Or even capture the Nightmare, create a Secret Food Skill out of it, acquiring the Nightmare's abilities!
With the help of the [Eyes of Truth], I'm confident I can research the perfect evolutionary path. There might even be a chance to create the terrible creature dreamed of by the Dream Eater Cult—an actual reversal of reality and illusion.
Bit by bit, I could develop the ability of Void Creation and steal the authority from the Creator!
Furthermore, how could illusion abilities be weak?
I, who possess the Mirage Moon, am the first to disagree!
If the ability of dreams could be developed to the extreme, such that the injuries in dreams could impact reality, then could the results of dream training be perfectly reflected in reality?
Create a dream training camp!
Wouldn't that mean the Beastmaster could train even in dreams?
Work hard and perhaps I could achieve a millennial progress in a single dream, outpacing my peers.
A capitalist's delight!
Considering all these, it's decided then,
Phantom Dream Spider, it's you!