Mouse Treasure frantically stretched out its paws to the side, subconsciously activating the Earth Shifting Technique.

The black sludge stirred up by the Earth Shifting Technique lunged toward the fire-engulfed Cyan Treasure like a black curtain.

However, the ghostly blue flame seemed alive, nimbly piercing through the sludge and churning over Cyan Treasure’s emerald green scales, scorching the surrounding air until it warped and distorted.

Mouse Treasure hesitated for a moment. Seeing Cyan Treasure’s ghastly expression, a resolute look flashed across its face.

It lunged at Cyan Treasure, its furry paws gripping the Spirit Beast’s scorching hot body, intending to drag it back by force.

It had already braced itself to be burned.

Strangely, the anticipated burning sensation never came. Instead, a cool aura spread from the point of contact.

With no time to think, it heaved Cyan Treasure onto its shoulder with all its might. Its short hind legs pumped rapidly as it sprinted toward its master, Gu Ming.

Just as the panting Mouse Treasure returned to Gu Ming’s side, three figures slowly emerged from the dense forest.

The one in the lead was a stern-faced youth, a Snake-shaped Jade Pendant hanging from his waist and glinting faintly in the sunlight.

A young man and woman followed him. In the bamboo baskets on their backs were several stalks of red Sun Flame Grass, swaying gently in the wind.

It was a precious medicinal herb that only grew in places brimming with yang energy.

These three had encountered the Glowing Deer earlier but had not stayed by its side, instead returning to the forest to gather yang-attribute medicinal herbs.

Now, upon their return, they saw someone guarding the small deer.

They exchanged glances, somewhat surprised, but also prepared to fight for it.

"We saw this deer first. Either get out of our way, or we fight. The loser leaves," the leading youth shouted.

He wore the uniform of Yangyang High School. A snakeskin belt was wrapped around his waist, looking like an inanimate object. But when he lightly tapped the belt, it came to life, opened its eyes, and quickly dropped to the ground, unfurling its long, slender body.

A Cyan-Scaled Snake, One-star Level. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

As a Snake Pet, it was a Pet Beast with Three-star Potential and Excellent Water Affinity, possessing Skills like Water Dissolving, Water Gun, Snake Scale Armor, and Whip Tail.

But Gu Ming felt something was off. This snake must have mutated.

Judging from how it had just used Mimicry to take the form of a belt, the disguise was extremely realistic—not a Skill a normal Cyan-Scaled Snake should have.

’I need to get Cyan Treasure back. Only then can I use our bloodline connection to sense the opponent’s true strength.’

On the Yangyang High School side, the other two students also summoned their Pet Beasts: a Thunder Armor Hedgehog covered in sharp spines, and a Water Patterned Turtle wearing a ghillie suit made of grass.

The trio was just about to advance and snatch the Spirit Deer when they noticed Gu Ming’s Pet Beast returning at that exact moment.

They couldn’t help but stop and stare.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK—" Mouse Treasure anxiously returned with Cyan Treasure on its back and set it down.

Gu Ming saw that Cyan Treasure was covered in Blue Fire. Its condition seemed even more severe than the Glowing Deer’s. It was in so much pain that it was rolling from side to side. He couldn’t help but frown.

’This isn’t good, getting injured at a time like this.’

And just like that, seeing Gu Ming’s Snake Pet seemingly self-immolating, the three students from Yangyang High School didn’t bother with a plan. Seizing the opportunity, they ordered their three Pet Beasts to charge at Cyan Treasure all at once.

Mouse Treasure activated its Earth Shifting Technique, slapping the ground and instantly raising three small earthen walls to block the paths of the three opposing pets.

"You should retreat first. I-I’ll stay behind."

Lu You mustered her courage and stepped in front of Gu Ming.

She didn’t have the courage to face an attack from multiple enemies, but seeing Cyan Treasure’s condition, a feeling called responsibility welled up in her heart.

She stepped forward without a second thought to protect Gu Ming and Cyan Treasure.

But Gu Ming was not one to act without a plan.

"Cyan Treasure, use the Earth Shifting Technique. Infuse your Grass and Wood Flood Dragon Power into the ground and make the tree seeds sprout," he said in a low voice, gently stroking Cyan Treasure’s scorching hot head.

Gu Ming gently swept his Sword of Spiritual Sense through Cyan Treasure to perceive its internal state.

"You can still fight, right?"

Just as he had expected, the ghostly blue Yin Fire looked terrifying, but it wasn’t burning any of Cyan Treasure’s flesh, blood, or Mana. Everything inside was normal.

Cyan Treasure’s current agony stemmed from a burning pain in its spiritual world. However, from Gu Ming’s Divine Sense perception, Cyan Treasure’s Spiritual Power had not diminished; it was merely perceiving pain on a spiritual level.

It was a very strange experience. Gu Ming had no time to ponder the reason behind it. His priority was to get Cyan Treasure to pull itself together and face the challenge.

There was one more thing to note. Long before they had started searching for herbs, Gu Ming had Cyan Treasure secretly scatter Grass Seeds made of Life Energy, burying them underground.

It seemed as if they were completely unprepared, but in reality, the ground beneath them was already filled with seeds that had taken root and begun to sprout.

Cyan Treasure weakly opened its eyes. Inside its body, the Foundation Establishment Platform Bronze Tripod trembled slightly.

The dragon pattern on the tripod’s surface suddenly came to life. The dragon’s eyes opened and closed, glowing with a brilliant golden light.

Inside the tripod, the Ancient Dragon Illusion raised its head, looking past the body’s confines toward the charging Cyan-Scaled Snake.

ROAR—

A dragon’s cry echoed from a primordial age, seeming to transcend time itself to reach the present day, before being channeled into the ground through Cyan Treasure’s Earth Shifting Technique.

The draconic roar transformed into a faint seismic wave that traveled for two li, even startling the Dumb Flower that was still searching for herbs in the Initial Forest.

Dumb Flower’s rootlets trembled slightly. It was a little scared, but it also sensed a familiar aura and immediately informed its master, Wang Teng.

Because of this, Wang Teng also sensed the commotion from the battle.

"Is that Gu Ming’s group? Have they started fighting?"

Wang Teng murmured to himself. He stood and thought for two seconds, then quickly gathered the herbs he had just picked and hurried back.

「Back with Gu Ming’s group.」

Enduring the burning pain, Cyan Treasure infused its Grass and Wood Flood Dragon Power into the ground and activated its Ultimate Skill, Mastery of Wood Escape.

The once-calm ground suddenly began to tremble violently.

Countless Grass Seeds burst from the earth, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of meter-tall Poisonous Mushrooms erupted from the ground.

Their umbrella-like caps contracted and expanded, continuously secreting a vast white mist that began to spread through the air.

Mouse Treasure was still moving soil, setting up earthen walls to block the enemy pets.

Seeing Cyan Treasure unleash its power, it too was stunned for a moment.

Lu You had been nervous and highly focused the entire time. Seeing her own Pet Beast staring blankly, she immediately went forward and patted Mouse Treasure to snap it out of its daze.

"Block their escape route," Lu You said in the most anxious tone she could manage.

She knew that Cyan Treasure had unleashed its power, playing its trump card. The commotion was greater than anything she had ever seen, making her wonder if Cyan Treasure was even responsible for it.

But since Cyan Treasure and Gu Ming hadn’t fled, it had to be their doing. Lu You’s mindset instantly shifted from providing cover to entrapping and controlling the enemy.

The large white mushrooms continuously sprayed white mist. It seemed non-toxic and even had a faintly sacred scent.

The three charging Pet Beasts were instantly enveloped in the poisonous mist. Amidst violent coughing, the flames of Purification of Heretics erupted from their mouths and noses.

It was the Purification of Heretics poison mist, a combination of the Light and Grass Attributes!

The three from Yangyang High School had not expected the Little Cyan Snake’s counterattack to be so swift and powerful.

Fortunately, two of them owned Water Element Pet Beasts and immediately ordered them to spray a mist of water to cover their bodies.

"Use the Water Element Spray Gun! Douse the fire on your teammates!" the girl holding the Turtle Shell Talisman shouted anxiously.

The Water Patterned Turtle in the grassy ghillie suit immediately opened its great mouth and spat a thick pillar of water, drenching its two teammates.

The mutated Cyan-Scaled Snake also opened its mouth, shooting a Water Gun to douse the Water Patterned Turtle in sync, attempting to extinguish the white flames.