The back area of the pet equipment store was quiet, in stark contrast to the bustling front. Chang Long looked around and saw mostly old items, primarily jewelry for sealing pets. The store owner gestured for Chang Long, Siegfried, and Kimhant, who was still holding Hulu, to sit down. He kindly poured tea for them.

"I never thought I'd meet a player who owns not one but two sacred beasts in my lifetime,"

the store owner said solemnly after taking a sip of his tea.

"Kitsune is a sacred beast, but Hulu is a pure-blooded sacred beast. How different are they?"

Chang Long asked, since the store owner had promised to explain.

"Beasts can evolve, which I'm sure you're aware of. The game uses this feature to attract millions of players. However, what most don't know is that beasts can evolve even while they're still eggs,"

the store owner began, causing the three listeners to widen their eyes in surprise. They were all ears, feeling as if they were about to uncover a great game secret!

"How can they evolve while still in the egg?"

Kimhant asked incredulously. This was breaking news on a massive scale!

"...This information is actually confidential and can only be disclosed if the player has met a certain condition. And the proof that you've met this condition is right here with this three-tailed fox!"

The store owner said, pointing to Kitsune, who was affectionately nuzzling its owner.

"Huh, Kitsune?"

Chang Long asked, puzzled.

"You should know what you did that made this pet a sacred beast,"

the store owner said with a smile. Chang Long thought for a moment before exclaiming excitedly.

"The Sacred Pond!"

"Exactly! While it doesn't always have to be the Sacred Pond, there are few methods to upgrade a pet's status. Few players know this, and even though its status has changed, this three-tailed fox is neither a pure-blood nor a beast king, which is why it can be sealed with a level 1 jewelry,"

the store owner explained.

"Can Kitsune evolve into a pure-blooded sacred beast?"

Chang Long asked, petting her beloved pet affectionately.

"Yes, but to do so, you'd have to sacrifice its life, using the same condition that made it a sacred beast to begin with to bath it, and wait for it to be reborn, much like how your rainbow kirin descended from the sky,"

the store owner replied with a smile.

"Kitsune... would have to die?"

Chang Long whispered, looking at her cherished pet with affection.

"Would its basic level and skills reset after rebirth?"

Siegfried quickly asked, seeing Chang Long's distress.

"Hmm... I'm not sure, but it's likely that its level would reset to one after rebirth,"

"Let's not dwell on that now. So, the jewelry needed to seal Hulu is level three. How much does it cost?"

Chang Long asked, changing the subject as discussing her pet's death was too upsetting.

"Not too much, just six million coins per piece,"

the store owner answered cheerfully, pleased at the prospect of a big sale.

"Wow... that's not much at all, just six million, and it doesn't even have any decorations or gemstones!"

Chang Long exclaimed in frustration after hearing the price of level three pet-sealing jewelry, knowing she would have to buy one anyway.

"Hahaha, come on, just buy one and try sealing a pet. Then you'll understand why it's so expensive,"

the store owner laughed heartily at Chang Long's expression. He got up to fetch a selection of level three pet-sealing jewelry for her to choose from.

Chang Long looked through them with a pained expression before picking up a one-centimeter-wide bracelet that opened for easy wearing and showed it to the store owner.

"This one?"

The store owner asked, examining the bracelet before handing it back to her.

"Why? Didn't you say they're all the same?"

Chang Long asked, puzzled, as she took the bracelet back.

"There's no specific reason, just making sure you're certain. Once you use a level three pet-sealing jewelry, it can't be sold or traded again. More importantly, each piece can only seal one pet, unlike level one jewelry which varies in price based on the number of pet-sealing slots, ranging from one to three. Naturally, the price reflects the number of slots!"

The store owner explained in detail, addressing all of Chang Long's concerns in gratitude for showing him two rare monsters.

"I'll take this bracelet!"

Chang Long replied with a scowl.

Chang Long left the pet equipment store feeling both excited and annoyed. When she sealed Hulu, the seemingly ordinary silver bracelet emitted a bright light and transformed. The plain bracelet now featured silver-white scales with a faint rainbow hue, a head and tail resembling Hulu at the clasp, and white fluffy fur around its edges.

Her annoyance stemmed from the store owner's insistence that she buy another piece of pet-sealing jewelry, just in case something unexpected happened to Kitsune. This way, she could ensure it would be reborn as a pure-blooded sacred beast. Consequently, she ended up spending twelve million coins in just a few minutes, a cost that stung her deeply.

Seeing her distress, Siegfried did not know how to comfort her. He reached into his pocket to retrieve a bracelet he had bought for her but had not found the right moment to give. Gathering his courage, he walked towards Chang Long, who was seriously discussing something with Draco and Kimhant.

Beep-beep, beep-beep.

The sound of a phone call from a smartwatch made Siegfried pause. Chang Long glanced at her own smartwatch, and when she saw who was calling, she broke into a wide smile.

"Hello, Mi. Are you online now?"

Chang Long asked, her mood brightening instantly.

"Hi, Chang. I was gathering information about a quest, so it took me a while to get online,"

Mi, known in the game as Valentine, replied cheerfully.

"What quest? Need my help?"

Chang Long offered.

"Yes, please! I'm really stuck because my level shot up too high before I knew about this quest. If you help me clear the stages, I can reach the NPC for the reward more easily!"

Valentine exclaimed happily at the offer of help.

"Where should I meet you?"

"Kirisakura City. Can you find it?"

Valentine asked, a hint of worry in her voice, knowing her friend's poor sense of direction.

"...where on the island is that?"

Chang Long asked, equally concerned.

"It's in the northeast part of Aseana Island. Try buying a map from the system store,"

Valentine suggested.

"Alright, I'll do that. Once I have the map, I'll head over,"

Chang Long replied, scanning the area for a system store.

"Great, call me when you get here. I need to prepare in the meantime,"

Valentine replied cheerfully.

"Okay, bye,"

Chang Long responded, ending the call. Siegfried, who had been about to offer her a bracelet, regretfully put it back in his pocket. He walked over to Chang Long, who was still searching for the system store.

"Chang Long, are you heading to Kirisakura City?"

Siegfried asked with a friendly smile.

"Yes, I'm going to visit a dear friend. I'm curious to see how she's changed in the game,"

Chang Long answered, still looking around for the shop amidst crowds in the bustling celebration.

"Uh, can… can I come with you?"

Siegfried started stuttering, meeting Chang Long's eyes directly.

"Hmm? Sure, since Kimhant is no help,"

Chang Long smiled, causing Kimhant to stop smiling abruptly. Draco chuckled at his friend's stuttering, knowing the reason behind it.

"Oh, come on, master! I'm in charge of information, not combat. Besides, the newspaper you're funding for me is about to launch. I don't have time for battles!"

Kimhant protested seriously.

"The newspaper won't ever get off the ground if you don't reach level 40,"

Chang Long said sternly, making Kimhant slump.

"Then I'll come too, to help whip this guy into shape!"

Draco laughed, throwing an arm around Kimhant's flopped shoulders.

"Oh! Mister Draco, not you too."

Kimhant wailed.

"What about Oliang and Can? Are we inviting them?"

Siegfried asked.

"I'll send them a message. If they want to come, they can meet us at the north gate in an hour. I need to get a map first,"

Chang Long replied. Siegfried nodded and sent messages to Oliang, Wet Trash Can, and Peach Blossom. Then, they headed to the system store to buy a map of Aseana Island.

When they all regrouped, Oliang, Wet Trash Can, and Peach Blossom wanted to join but the boys were too drunk to walk straight. Chang Long decided to let them rest and sober up first while she left early to help Kimhant level up.

Draco and Peach Blossom reluctantly stayed behind to look after the two. Siegfried accompanied Chang Long as planned. Not long after Draco settled the two drunkards into a small inn near the north gate, his smartwatch rang. Seeing who it was, he answered immediately.

"What's up, Aden? How's your egg?"

Draco asked cheerfully.

"Oh, it hatched. You won't believe what it turned into. Everyone in the guild is smitten with it!"

Aden replied, sounding excited.

"Your egg hatched into a monster? Is that why everyone loves it?"

Draco said curiously, handing a bone treat to Firetail.

"I'm not sure if dryad counts as a monster. The system doesn't classify Livia as one,"

Aden replied thoughtfully, smiling at his dryad companion, who kept smiling sweetly back at him.

"Dryad! Your egg hatched into a dryad!"

Draco exclaimed loudly, startling Firetail, who choked on a bone treat, his eyes watering.

"Keep it down! Yeah, when I noticed my egg reacting to trees, I took it for a walk in the Fairy Forest. A dryad came out and helped it hatch. I'm on my way to find everyone now, waiting for the afternoon boat,"

Aden explained.

"That's amazing. I wish my egg hatched into a dryad!"

Draco murmured enviously. Aden was lucky to have an incredibly beautiful dryad by his side. While his flame dragon hatchling was useful, a beautiful companion like a dryad would be a different kind of reward for a man. The thought of feeding a beautiful dryad instead of giving bone treats to Firetail made him more jealous of the young ninja.

"Hahaha, it's all about luck. So, where are you guys?"

Aden asked, laughing. Since Livia hatched, he had been bombarded with envious looks from his guildmates, making it hard to stay. So, he used looking for Siegfried's group as an excuse to leave.

"We're in Suvarn, the Port City on Aseana Island, but we're heading to Kirisakura City soon,"

Draco replied.

"By the way, I read some strange rumor in the public communication channel. Apparently, it originated from Suvarn City,"

Aden mentioned, recalling the trending topic he saw that morning.

"What news?"

Draco asked, already having an inkling.

"The cursed forest is back to normal, and there's a rumor that shouting quack increases attack power. It's spreading everywhere, even new players are doing it,"

Aden said, laughing at the memory of what he had witnessed on his way to the port.

"And how did that go?"

Draco asked, excited to hear about the results on other islands, if players could use this trick as well as the players they saw this morning did.

"They ended up running for their lives! They quacked at monsters almost twice their level, making them angry and giving chase. Hahaha."

Aden recounted what he saw by his own eye, still amused by the sight.

"Idiots!"

Draco shook his head, exasperated.

"Yeah, whoever started that rumor is crazy. If someone dies because they shouted quack at a monster, I wonder if they'll file a complaint against him,"

Aden continued, still chuckling. Draco paled at the thought of facing consequences from the game system if the source of the rumor was revealed.

"Probably not. It's their fault for believing such nonsense. Hey, Aden, I gotta go. That drunkard Oliang just fell off the bed. Bye!"

Draco quickly ended the call, leaving Aden confused as he stared at his watch.

"What was that about? He seemed in a hurry,"

Aden muttered, puzzled. He looked at the morning sky from the deck of the system's ferry, wondering if the dragon beast god would appear again. If possible, he wanted to see it up close at least once.

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