King of Beasts

“I’m not joking with you.”

“Isn’t there a more reliable method?” Lu Ran asked.

“Hmph…” Manager Ying looked at Lu Ran with displeasure. “Do you think I’m an omnipotent deity?”

“Aren’t you?” Lu Ran retorted.

“Uh…”

Manager Ying was taken aback, sliding a cat paw across her cheek and showing a shy expression, “Ah, you’ve found me out.”

Lu Ran: ?

“Alright, no more teasing.” Manager Ying shook her head. “When it comes to the deep sea, I don’t really have any good solutions.”

“However, I can sell you some intelligence.”

“To let you know how your old turtle is faring after reaching the deep sea.”

“If it’s doing well, there’s no need to be in such a hurry.”

“But if it’s not doing well, then you can rush over, okay?”

“You can even sell that?” Lu Ran was surprised. “Don’t tell me your cat-eared maid café has branched out to the Fishman Empire.”

“As if.” Manager Ying rolled her eyes. “But I can use one of my skills to gather intelligence for you.”

“Have you ever heard of…”

“Foreseeing the future?”

Lu Ran was stunned.

Damn, almost forgot, this cat also has Time abilities.

It does seem like it can use Time for simulations.

Back when they were searching for a necromancer in Jinling, they relied on the cat’s ability.

Lu Ran had actually forgotten about it.

Unlike Pig Deity Zhu Kaixin’s mediocre level, Manager Ying can genuinely apply Time skills in real combat!

“You really are a deity!” Lu Ran was thrilled. That’s what top-level intelligence dealer means-creating information from nothing.

“Tch.” Manager Ying spoke up:

“But my foreseeing the future comes with four prohibitions.”

“1. I do not foresee the future of beings that are too powerful.”

“2. I do not foresee the future of beings with too much potential.”

“3. I do not foresee a future that is too far away.”

“4. Every time I use foresight, there must be adequate compensation, I can’t be taken advantage of.”

It frowned at Lu Ran: “Your old turtle’s strength isn’t great, so it meets the first condition.”

“As for the second, it barely meets my standard for potential…”

Although the old turtle has decent potential, it is merely considered upper supernatural since the resurgence of spiritual energy. For it to concern Manager Ying, it would at least need to have the future of an innate sovereign species.

Of course, there are always exceptions.

For instance, Lu Ran’s dog, lizard, and crow, after receiving such nurturing from him, have an unpredictable future with immense potential. Manager Ying wouldn’t easily foresee their futures.

It would be too easy for it to suffer a backlash.

But for that turtle, in the short term, there shouldn’t be any problems.

“As for the third rule, I will only foresee the condition of your old turtle six months into the future.”

“If it seems fine in six months, then you can be at ease during that period.” Manager Ying assured. “How about it? Can you accept that? If so, we can discuss the fourth rule. After all, using foresight is extremely taxing.”

“Trying to get it for free is out of the question.”

Lu Ran looked at it and asked, “What do you want then…”

“How about giving me some intelligence that satisfies me.” Manager Ying said uninterestedly, feeling that Lu Ran might not have anything good.

Lu Ran would have to keep the good stuff for himself, so the only thing that might interest it would be some valuable intelligence.

As for the worth of the intelligence Lu Ran could provide, that didn’t matter much. It would help Lu Ran regardless.

The main point was, it wanted to instill a principle in Lu Ran: no free labor.

“Alright…” Lu Ran felt a headache coming on. Intelligence, huh.

What intelligence could he possibly have?

But soon, Lu Ran’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, “Manager Ying.”

“Previously, didn’t you also use your foresight ability to search for ‘sleeping ancient life forms’?”

“Yes, so what?” Manager Ying didn’t understand what Lu Ran was getting at.

“Now that ancient life forms like the Fishman King have awakened, it indicates that other ancient life forms will likely awaken soon too, along with the accelerating resurgence of spiritual energy.”

“But, as we judged before, there must be a batch of ancient life forms in a near-death or weakened state, finding it extremely difficult to return to their peak, right?”

“Our plan back then was to persuade them-explaining the pros and cons-and see if they would be willing to become necromantic pets and live another life!”

Manager Ying nodded.

“But for many pet beasts, this condition might be hard to accept. Why not give them more options?” Lu Ran suggested. “What if I had a way for them to pass on their bloodline at the last moment of their lives?”

“Huh?” Manager Ying was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

Lu Ran continued, “I obtained a resource from the Legendary Secret Realm just now…”

He then began to explain the functions of the blood drop stone to Manager Ying.

“If you encounter powerful ancient life forms, you can sell this intelligence to them.”

This way, not only would it help advertise Lu Ran’s blood drop stone, but Manager Ying could also profit from selling this intelligence to ancient life forms.

“Wow.” Manager Ying’s eyes widened in astonishment after hearing this. “You managed to get your hands on something like that?”

“Is this intelligence valuable enough?” Lu Ran asked quickly.

Manager Ying pondered for a moment and said, “How powerful beings can successfully propagate their offspring is indeed a significant issue. In ancient times, it was easier with abundant spiritual energy and thriving species. But now, most of these beings have likely become the last of their kind. Finding similar species to mate with increases the difficulty of reproduction, given the complications of genetic isolation…”

“Your blood drop stone… it would indeed drive some powerful beings crazy, even those of overlord species.”

“Alright, this intelligence is valuable enough.” Manager Ying indeed saw a business opportunity in this information!

Lu Ran cautiously asked, “Speaking of which, Manager Ying, don’t you have any interest in the blood drop stone yourself?”

“???”

Manager Ying got angry and said, “I’m only eighteen years old.”

Lu Ran: ???

An eighteen-year-old cat is already considered quite old, isn’t it?

And, eighteen years old??? So, the years spent in slumber don’t count as age, huh?

“Foreseeing the future, we’ll talk back in Xia Country!”

“I’m going to Qingwu Lake to perform the foresight.”

…

After negotiating with Manager Ying, Lu Ran then followed it, embarking on the perilous journey back to Xia Country.

Originally, Lu Ran was very worried about encountering danger on this return trip, but as it turned out, he was overthinking it.

Even if someone wanted to harm him, now was definitely not the best time.

After all, this was probably the time when Xia Country had the highest level of protection for Lu Ran.

After some time, Lu Ran successfully returned to Green Sea City.

Upon returning to Green Sea City, Lu Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, nothing unexpected happened.

Though he had considered leveling up to level 60 in infinite city, without the internet, he would feel like dying.

“Let’s go.”

Upon arriving back, Lu Ran’s only bodyguard was Manager Ying, the cat. But Lu Ran had no complaints about this.

After all, when you have a big shot from the Time element who can foresee the future as your bodyguard, what more could you ask for?

Although Manager Ying didn’t appear reliable, it was probably more dependable than Principal Shi Zhen or the Pig Deity.

Plop…

Plop…

When Lu Ran and Manager Ying arrived at Qingwu Lake, they were met with the sorrowful sight of the King Carp, heir to the Black Turtle Marshal, swimming in distress on the lake surface to welcome the great King of Green Sea.

The King Carp, possessing strong soul power, was very intelligent. Witnessing the Black Turtle Marshal being taken away and not returning, it had already begun to suspect that the Black Turtle Marshal had likely encountered trouble.

Now, with Lu Ran’s arrival, its suspicions were confirmed.

[Wooo, Master, Master—-] the King Carp lamented in the lake, devastated. Although only a few days of guidance, it respected the Black Turtle Marshal greatly, both as a master and a father figure.

“Why are you crying?” Manager Ying silently observed the fish.

Lu Ran also comforted, “General Carp, don’t be anxious. The Black Turtle Marshal may not be doomed.”

“It was just captured by a monster.”

“There shouldn’t be any immediate danger to its life.”

“You must strive to become stronger, diligently training your own abilities. Once you successfully undergo dragon transformation, you may still have a chance to rescue the Black Turtle Marshal.”

“Go on, train hard.”

After Lu Ran’s comforting words, the General Carp’s eyes gleamed with determination and it turned to swim away.

Meanwhile, Manager Ying twitched its lips, thinking, good grief, there isn’t a single normal supernatural being in Green Sea City.

In a small lake, Lu Ran had managed to find two extraordinary beings.

A scene was playing out: [Train hard, and rescue your master].

“Hoo…”

Manager Ying’s mental power began to envelop the entire Qingwu Lake, searching for anything related to the old black turtle…

In just a few moments, it retrieved the old turtle shell that the black turtle had once shed and left in the lake.

Holding the turtle shell, Manager Ying said, “I’m about to begin.”

Without waiting for Lu Ran’s reaction, it closed its eyes slightly, and the turtle shell in front of it was immediately enveloped by its mental power.

“Let’s watch together.”

During the foresight, it extended a cat paw. Seeing this, Lu Ran also extended his hand and grasped it.

In the next instant.

Lu Ran felt as though his surroundings were spinning and shifting, as if he had entered some sort of domain. Everything around him turned pitch black.

These dark spaces gradually lit up, resembling the screen of a movie theater emerging from darkness.

Blub blub blub…

The sound of bubbles forming filled the air.

Soon, the dark space was tinted with deep blue, revealing an underwater scene that was vividly displayed before Lu Ran’s eyes, making him feel as though he was watching an immersive 3D movie.

“Locked on…”

“Fortunately, it seems that in a future where you don’t seek it out, your Black Turtle Marshal is safe and sound…”

As the cat spoke, the scene became even clearer.

In the deep sea, a massive turtle, tens of meters in length and width, with a giant stone tablet on its back and a body that was deep blue with a bright red head, led tens of thousands of shrimp soldiers and crab generals in a battle against a shark group.

The scene was spectacular. The deep sea was in constant turmoil, with energy waves emanating from the Black Turtle Marshal like a hurricane sweeping through the battlefield. In terms of growth level, excluding species level, it might even surpass the Sudden Death King.

“This…” Lu Ran was shocked.

“Manager Ying, is this accurate??”

Seeing this scene, Lu Ran was bewildered.

Didn’t the turtle say it wanted to retire???

How did it end up in the deep sea and become the leader of tens of thousands of shrimp soldiers and crab generals???

And did it evolve?

What’s with the stone tablet?

It looked like one it had forged itself, but there were some changes, as if the stone tablet had been upgraded. What exactly had it experienced?

The foresight shattered like a bubble in an instant. Manager Ying’s clone, panting heavily, said, “The foresight was based on certain preconditions. If you don’t influence the future, it’s very likely to turn out this way…”

“There, I told you, it’s fine.”

“It looks like it’s developing better in the deep sea than in your broken Green Sea.”

“Maybe it was your small domain that was limiting its growth.”

Lu Ran was taken aback, “Impossible, absolutely impossible. The black turtle must have been forced into this. Although it looks very brave in the future, I know it too well. It’s definitely waiting for me to bring it back to retire…”

“So, what are you planning to do next?” Manager Ying asked disdainfully.

Lu Ran coughed and said, “Since it’s alright, let’s allow it to remain a general in the deep sea’s Fishman Empire for now. This situation has served as a wake-up call for us. Without sufficient strength, it’s impossible to retire peacefully…”

“Through this ordeal, whether it wants to retire in Green Sea or directly in the deep sea, it now has the power to do so. This experience… using the resources of the Fishman Empire to forge its growth, is not a loss either.”

“In a few months, once I have the capability to venture into the sea, I’ll go find it!…”

Old turtle, it’s not that I don’t want to find you, but going there now would be like marching to my death… Lu Ran sighed, hoping that everything was well in the deep sea, and that it would wait for him.