Starting with the Broken-Winged Frost Butterfly: Beast Taming

"You're too kind," Zhu Ran said. "I just happened to run into you and helped you out. Brother Ye, there's no need for such formalities."

Ye Shi bowed ninety degrees to complete the full curtsy before standing up.

Nan Yuxuan concealed the complex emotions in his eyes, his tone hurried and somewhat uneasy: "Thank you so much for your help..."

Dian Li suddenly awoke, her long eyelashes trembling several times. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she said in a tense voice:

"Zhu Ran, I never knew you were so amazing! You kept it all hidden so well, I had no idea..."

Zhu Ran smiled slightly and avoided the main point, saying:

"I'll accept these snakes and lizards without hesitation. If the three of you are short of meat, feel free to take as much as you like."

Ye Shi immediately ordered, "Duck, come and help!"

Upon hearing this, the Knife-Fork Duck King didn't waste any words. He grabbed a knife and a fork and charged towards the nearest snake-lizard.

All that could be heard for a moment was the continuous hissing and cutting sound.

All valuable materials from the snake lizard were stripped away, and the scales, flesh, and internal organs were sorted and piled up into several small hills.

Zhu Ran stood to the side, watching quietly, his eyes sparkling.

His team includes ice-type agile flying pets, spirit-type cute pets, energetic riding pets, and lightning-type utility pets.

Unfortunately, none of them were skilled in corpse collection.

But this "Knife and Fork Duck King" is well-versed in this art.

The blade flashed with a cold light, the movements were like a master butcher dissecting an ox, the fork precisely held the snake-lizard in place, and the knife moved along the meridians and bone crevices, destroying not a bit more and cutting not a bit less, preserving the integrity of the material to the greatest extent.

"Dinner's ready, everyone, don't be shy, eat as much as you like," Zhu Ran said with a smile.

On the way here, only Little Tiger had a full meal, while Husky Pig was still hungry.

Liang Baizhou released the Fire Lion Elephant, partly to check on its condition and partly to let it have a good meal.

Nan Yuxuan was slightly surprised.

His family background was average, and his contracted pet beast, "Red Brick Rock Puppet," had a bloodline strength that was barely at the mature C-level.

As it turns out, Liang Baizhou, who was originally an outsider on campus, actually possessed a fire-type mature B-level sealing card?

"Was this captured in the secret realm?" Nan Yuxuan couldn't help but ask.

"Yes." Liang Baizhou smiled and secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the Fire Lion Elephant, which was listless but slowly gnawing on the snake lizard.

In good shape.

At this rate, the emotional wounds will soon heal.

"Zhu Ran, we have some intelligence."

Ye Shi's gaze barely lingered on the Fire Lion Elephant; he was observing the Broken-Winged Frost Butterfly. The more he looked, the more terrified he became. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke directly:

"We came from that direction. There's an ice palace along the way, covered in frost for three miles around. You might be interested in that."

"The Ice Palace?" Zhu Ran asked in surprise, "What's inside?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Shi looked at Nan Yuxuan.

Nan Yuxuan took a deep breath to calm himself down and said solemnly, "It's too cold over there, and it feels very ominous. Just to be on the safe side, we didn't rush in."

"In the end, we got caught by snake lizards in the next area. Nobody's luck is anything else," Dian Li complained dejectedly.

Zhu Ran pinched her chin, her thoughts churning.

An ice palace stood abruptly, shrouded in a chilling aura, mysterious and eerie, inspiring fear in those who looked at it from afar...

Could there be a useful opportunity hidden inside?

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Zhu Ran made up his mind that he had to go in and investigate no matter what.

"Well then, farewell."

After enjoying a sumptuous meal and taking away the remaining spoils, Zhu Ran rode the husky pig and headed in the opposite direction.

Liang Baizhou and Qin Taozhi were inseparable.

Nan Yuxuan and Dian Li watched the three figures as they walked away, hesitant to speak.

"Alright, everyone has their own opportunities. You should be content that you can continue to train in the secret realm."

Ye Shi's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

Do these two idiots really want to join in and get a share of the pie?

When rescued from a desperate situation, even his thanks sounded stiff and affected. If he were honest and upright, how could he act like this?

He provided this information, and although the two of them seemed to have gained nothing, they made up for Zhu Ran's kindness and reduced some unnecessary grudges. Can this be measured by real money?

Ye Shi sighed inwardly. He had a premonition that his team was destined not to last more than thirty days in this secret realm training.

……

Deep in the wilderness, an ice palace rose from the ground, its crystal-clear surface gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, and an endless chill spreading outwards.

"Found it!" After advancing at a steady pace for half a day, Zhu Ran finally found the location described by Ye Shi, and his expression was excited.

"Eh?" Xuexi blinked. Is it really cold here? Why does it feel like its body temperature is lower, while it's a bit warm here?

"Never mind, let's go in and take a look."

Zhu Ran was certain that the Ice Palace was not built by human hands, but contained a mysterious secret.

If spiritual materials are produced, eight or nine out of ten are related to ice. Even if they are used as food reserves for Xuexi, it is still worth exploring.

"I'm fine." Liang Baizhou held the fire-type weapon fragment in his hand, wrapped his battle armor tightly, and still had a trace of color on his face.

"Lian, you go back first." Qin Taozhi frowned.

Ice counters water. In extremely low temperatures, the Azure Lotus Fairy's movements are restricted, water-based spells are difficult to cast, and prolonged stays will cause its roots to be damaged by the cold.

So Qin Taozhi took out another sealing card.

Zhu Ran couldn't help but stare at the summoned pet, which she had never seen before.

"Thump!"

It was a short tree with roots as hard as black stone, a trunk as rough as hard armor, and leaves that spread out in all directions. The leaves were large, thick, and tough, like small defensive barriers.

"A mature, Grade B rare specimen, an ancient tree with rocky roots?"

Zhu Ran consulted the panel while recalling the knowledge.

Among these plant life forms, there is a clear distinction between superior and inferior.

Its advantage lies in its impenetrable defense.

The disadvantage is that it can barely protect one or two people, its actual defensive area is pitifully small, and its movement is slow, only able to move three or four kilometers per hour.

"It's all plants, quite unique."

Liang Baizhou muttered to himself, then immediately shut his mouth when he noticed Qin Taozhi casting a cold glance at him.

"Xuexi, you go first."

Zhu Ran retrieved the husky pig, embraced Shizuka, Nobita, Suneo, and Gian, and stepped onto the ice with his combat boots.

"boom!"

Just as they approached the Ice Palace, a cold light shot out—it was an ice-forged spear!

In an instant, a chilling aura swept through the air, and the spear tip, imbued with a sharp killing intent, pointed directly at the broken-winged frost butterfly suspended in mid-air!

"when!"

In her haste, Xuexi held the Frost Angel Wings in front of her. With a loud tremor, it was forced back over a hundred meters, dissipating its murderous momentum.

"The Lord of the Ice Palace is indeed connected to military beasts!"

Zhu Ran stopped, and Liang Baizhou and Qin Taozhi also stopped. All three of them looked up and used their spiritual eyes to observe the battle.

"boom!"

The ice-forged spear, named "Frosty War Spear," was as swift as a shadow and as fast as lightning. In an instant, it circled behind the broken-winged frost butterfly, its tip aimed at its head, its killing intent piercing the air.

Xuexi was furious. A vast expanse of cold mist surged and spread from the butterfly's wings. It merged into the mist, using the fog to move stealthily, minimizing its own presence.

The next instant, a flash of cold light appeared deep within the dense fog. Xue Xi unleashed her Frost Stream Rush, her body transforming into a fleeting ice-blue afterimage. While the Frost War Spear was still searching for its target, her ice wings spun, and her sharp wheel blades whistled as the ice wheel slashed straight at the spear shaft!