At the Rainbow Continent, at its farthest northern reaches, the land was littered with the corpses of Epic-tier and Emperor-tier beasts. Their lifeless bodies were impaled by sinister black roots, which greedily drained their energy, leaving their husks withered and dry before they vanished into the void.
A soft chuckle escaped Gu Tian's lips.
"It's almost complete… just a little more."
But suddenly, thousands of Peak Emperor-tier auras erupted across the sky. A cataclysmic force burst forth, shaking the ground violently as if heralding the end of the world.
Gu Tian, however, remained completely unfazed. Instead, his grin widened—he was thrilled by the sight before him.
In an instant, his body flickered out of existence, just as an enormous golden locust slashed at the spot where he once stood. The beast's razor-sharp claws tore through the space, but its attack struck only empty air.
At the same moment, Gu Tian reappeared inside his secret laboratory. While still in the void, he had activated a Teleportation Stone, instantly transferring himself back to his private research facility.
He scanned the room swiftly before immediately resuming his work.
All of the materials he had gathered were placed into a precise refinement process. Every single step had been meticulously calculated, leaving no margin for error.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Glancing at the screen, he answered the call. His mother, Guang Yue, spoke from the other end.
"Gu Tian, I have great news! I found some beasts that might interest you. Should I send them to the mansion?"
Gu Tian eyed the processing equipment in front of him before replying in a calm, measured tone.
"I'll come take a look myself."
The moment he finished speaking, he tore through the void and disappeared.
In mere moments, his figure reappeared inside the exclusive reception hall of the Star Chamber of Commerce.
This organization, which had rapidly ascended to rank 10 among the world's top trading guilds, had achieved its newfound power thanks to an alliance with the Seven-Colored Peacock Chamber of Commerce.
Gu Tian entered the hall, immediately spotting his mother, who was already waiting for him.
A faint smile touched his lips as he greeted her before his gaze landed upon 3 exotic beasts before him.
[Name: Primal Stone]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Species: Primal Stone Tribe]
[Element: Earth]
[Special Ability: Stone Deity (SSS)]
[Potential: Peak Emperor-tier]
[Evolution Paths: 0 Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Black Iron Beasts: C]
.....
[Name: Immortal Flame]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Species: Sacred Flame Spirit]
[Element: Fire]
[Special Ability: Flame Devourer (SSS)]
[Potential: Peak Emperor-tier]
[Evolution Paths: 0 Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Black Iron Beasts: B]
.....
[Name: Formless Armor]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Species: Immortal Metal Spirit]
[Element: Metal]
[Special Ability: Armor Creation (SSS)]
[Potential: Peak Emperor-tier]
[Evolution Paths: 0 Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Black Iron Beasts: B]
Gu Tian spoke up, "Mother, where did you get these three beasts?"
Guang Yue replied with a smile, "I bought them from the black market, and I got them at a very cheap price too. What do you think? This little one triggered the alert on the device you made for me, so I called you over to check it out."
Gu Tian examined the three beasts carefully before flashing a faint smile. "Thank you so much, Mother. I really like them."
Guang Yue's smile was warm. "It's nothing, my dear. Let me help you however I can."
Gu Tian smiled and thanked her again before immediately forming contracts with the three beasts. Since he was already an Emperor-tier Beast Tamer, the process was effortless. The sheer aura he exuded made it impossible for them to resist in the slightest.
Once the contracts were complete, Gu Tian said, "Mother, I need ores, stones, and peculiar flames. As many as possible, any grade will do, as long as they fall under those three categories."
Guang Yue nodded before speaking, "Wait in your lab. I'll have them sent to you soon."
Gu Tian smiled and expressed his gratitude once more before vanishing into the void in an instant.
Inside his laboratory, Gu Tian retrieved the three types of materials peculiar flames, iron ores, and elemental stones of various attributes that were already stored there. Then, he summoned the three newly contracted beasts.
The moment they appeared, Gu Tian immediately noticed their somewhat battered state. He could tell right away that it was the handiwork of his five older beasts. At first, Death, Xu, and Ion had been relatively normal, but after spending time with that damned skeleton and that bloodthirsty dragon, their personalities had started shifting.
Gu Tian shook his head slightly before offering them iron ores, peculiar flames, and elemental stones.
The three beasts' eyes glistened with hunger at the sight of the materials, but they didn't dare move without Gu Tian's permission. Only after he gave them the signal did they rush forward and devour the materials ravenously.
As soon as they started consuming the resources, their auras began to expand slightly. But as they ate more and more, their bodies began to emit a radiant glow.
The Ancient Stone, which was previously just an ordinary rock that moved by rolling around, underwent a transformation the moment it absorbed a wood-elemental stone. Its body turned green, with small trees and vines sprouting across its surface. When it devoured a water-elemental stone, its form shifted to a deep blue hue. Its unique ability allowed it to grow stronger the more stones it consumed. Additionally, it could harness the power of the elements contained within the stones it ingested, whether it was a Warp Stone, a Silent Stone, a Memory-Erasing Stone, or others.
The Immortal Flame, which had initially been a small crimson fireball, soared into the air and devoured a blue flame, causing its body to grow increasingly intense and scorching. Its ability mirrored that of the Ancient Stone it could absorb flames and convert them into its own power. The more fire it consumed, the stronger it became.
The Formless Armor, a being with no fixed shape, was capable of transforming into any kind of equipment swords, guns, armor, and more. Its ability revolved around consuming metallic minerals and converting them into an impenetrable defense. The more metal it absorbed, the sturdier and stronger it became.
Although these three did not possess offensive capabilities as overwhelming as the six beasts Gu Tian had previously contracted, in the future, Formless Armor would undoubtedly become the most powerful defensive beast in his arsenal. Moreover, Gu Tian could summon Formless Armor at any time and have it take the shape of accessories on his body. This would make his daily life far more convenient. Even though it was already difficult for him to die, the sensation of pain was still present so rather than enduring injury, it was better not to get hurt at all.
In standard beast selection courses, students were always taught to consider team balance ensuring a mixture of high-damage-dealing beasts alongside those with formidable defenses. However, most people tended to overlook this principle. Some believed that if they had sufficient firepower, there was no need to prioritize defense. Others preferred selecting beasts with a balance of attack and defense, which was a safer choice, though such creatures were exceedingly rare.