C9 Prairie Crocodile

The sun crept up into the sky, heralding the arrival of another new day.

Wang Yan pulled up to the Beast Tamer Association in his sleek supercar, the last remaining of the three he once owned—the other two had been sold.

Otherwise, who would really believe that some luxury items could fetch over 70 million?

Luxury goods are essentially a tax on the gullible: outrageously expensive at purchase, they plummet to half their value the moment they're resold.

"In a world where technology and cultivation exist side by side, the benefits far outweigh those of a world with a singular development path."

Surveying the rows of machines before him, Wang Yan nodded in approval.

To liberate the workforce and conserve beast tamers' time, the Association had installed numerous machines in the lobby.

Beast tamers could independently search for and undertake missions here, with most of the post-completion verification handled by the machines as well.

Missions from the Beast Tamer Association fell into three broad categories.

The first was the killing mission, issued by the Association and various universities. These missions had a low barrier to entry and modest rewards, but they could be taken on repeatedly.

Take, for example, a mission to slay ten Rank 2 ferocious beasts—if one managed to kill a thousand, it would count as one hundred completions, earning a reward multiplied a hundredfold.

The second category was collection missions, typically posted by alchemists and artifact refiners from various factions.

These were challenging, and accordingly, the rewards were substantial.

Multiple tamers could accept these missions, but only the first to submit would receive the full reward.

The third category comprised special missions, a diverse array that covered all sorts of tasks.

The Beast Tamer Association's missions were open to all, without restrictions on identity or level—whether a Level 1 or a Level 9 beast tamer, anyone could take them on.

However, with the exception of killing missions, most other missions required a deposit.

Complete the mission and the deposit was returned; fail, and it was forfeited.

There's wisdom in the old adage: extreme joy begets sorrow, and anything taken to its limit will inevitably reverse course.

It wasn't long ago that he had ridiculed Brother Chao for being penniless, never imagining that he himself would soon be walking the same path.

Such is the swift justice of the Modern Realm!

I glanced over the available missions and found that within a hundred-mile radius, there were over seventy assignments to take down ferocious beasts. These creatures ranged from Rank 1 to Rank 6, with their numbers varying from ten to a thousand.

After some searching, Wang Yan decided to take on a mission dubbed "Eradicate the Black Crocs." His task was to venture to the northern grasslands and eliminate a hundred Rank 3 ordinary ferocious beasts known as prairie crocodiles.

Unlike their aquatic and swamp-dwelling cousins, prairie crocodiles resembled land turtles. They were swift and moved in packs, leaving barren patches in their wake. These creatures weren't picky eaters; they devoured plants and animals alike. Among Rank 3 ferocious beasts, prairie crocodiles were nearly unbeatable. Even elite creatures of the same rank preferred to steer clear of them.

These rampant prairie crocodiles had thrown the ecological balance into disarray and posed a significant threat to humans working outdoors. In response, the Beast Tamer Association put out a bounty: one hundred thousand yuan for every hundred prairie crocodiles taken down, with no cap on earnings.

Ordinary folks without beast taming skills had to toil away for a modest wage. But for a beast tamer, tens of thousands could be made with ease. However, with reward came risk, and with the good, the bad. Beast tamers might earn big, but they also faced high mortality rates. In the perilous wilderness, even a formidable Level 7 beast tamer could fall, not to mention those of lower levels.

...

The engine's wild roar left countless weaker ferocious beasts in the dust. The East Wind Super Hoop was pricey, but it proved its value. Constructed from a special heavy metal, it could withstand attacks from Rank 3 elite ferocious beasts. Equipped with an energy shield, rocket boosters, and several other high-tech components, it could easily slip away from a ferocious beast's siege. But this was only effective against lower-ranked beasts. Materials capable of withstanding higher-level ferocious beast attacks were regulated and not simply purchasable with money.

After over two hours on the move, Wang Yan finally laid eyes on his quarry. Clad in scaly armor, with menacing saw-like teeth, groups of prairie crocodiles were besieging a herd of simple-minded turtles.

Both were Rank 3 ferocious beasts, yet the simple-minded turtles stood no chance against the prairie crocodiles.

Crunch!

Crunch!

A prairie crocodile clamped down on a hapless turtle, its thick shell as flimsy as paper against the predator's jaws, and blood sprayed out instantly.

The hundreds of simple-minded turtles under siege were like radishes on a chopping board, their flesh as crisp as chicken.

Sensing someone approaching, the prairie crocodiles, mid-hunt, abruptly ceased their feast and turned their gaze to Wang Yan.

The oppressive force of hundreds of Rank 3 ferocious beasts was utterly terrifying.

Wang Yan, having lived through two lifetimes and weathered many storms, found himself involuntarily shuddering before this group of prairie crocodiles.

"No wonder the Beast Tamer Association has put up such a hefty bounty. Without some advantage, I fear even a Level 4 beast tamer would meet their end here," Wang Yan remarked, summoning Green without a second thought.

Sure enough, as Green's draconic aura unfurled, the menacing prairie crocodiles instantly became docile, their murderous intent subdued as they lay prostrate on the ground.

Seeing this, Green didn't hesitate to take advantage. It opened its massive maw and gulped down one of the smaller prairie crocodiles.

Having advanced to Rank 1, Star 5, Green's appetite had significantly increased, now capable of consuming food more than five times its own weight.

But even with its increased capacity, there was a limit.

After devouring two prairie crocodiles in succession, Green was sated.

Wang Yan: "..."

Observing Green sprawled lazily on the ground, motionless, Wang Yan was at a loss for words.

A single snake and a crowd of crocodiles lying together—it just didn't sit right with him.

"Maybe I should have a bite too?"

The thought had barely crossed his mind before Wang Yan promptly dismissed it.

An adult prairie crocodile measured three meters in length and weighed around six hundred kilograms.

The two that Green had swallowed, though not fully grown, must have weighed close to five hundred kilograms combined.

Wang Yan was no snake; his stomach wasn't nearly that large. Managing to eat three kilograms of meat would be impressive enough for him.

The smallest of the prairie crocodiles weighed in at no less than 100 Jin. If Wang Yan were to feast on it, he'd likely be eating straight through to the New Year.

"Enough of this, I, as the host, must take matters into my own hands!"

Wang Yan flicked away an imaginary lock of hair and strode forward with a determined gait, lost in a fantasy of his own valiant, world-saving heroism. He swung his hand down in a powerful slap across the face of the nearest prairie crocodile.

Bang!

The sound was muffled with a sharp undertone, as if something had just split apart.

Wang Yan massaged his tingling palm, only to realize that the prairie crocodile had tears streaming down its face.

With its mouth agape and body shuddering, tears the size of soybeans tumbled down its cheeks.

Wang Yan was overwhelmed by an ineffable wave of sorrow, a blend of agony and despair that made him feel as though he was sharing in the creature's pain.

This prairie crocodile had its own unspoken suffering!

It was the leader of its pack, and though of ordinary quality, its combat prowess was nearly on par with a Rank 2 elite ferocious beast.

But it had the misfortune of encountering Wang Yan!

With a physique attribute of 80 points, Wang Yan's slap had cracked its skull.

And that wasn't all; a terrifyingly intense burning sensation penetrated its skin.

Its eyes and nostrils were overwhelmed in an instant.

The spiciness wasn't just a flavor but a fusion of scorching heat and sharp pain, each amplifying the fiery sensation.

After that slap, the prairie crocodile's tears flowed uncontrollably, making it appear as though it was weeping.

And indeed, it was weeping!

Consider its life in the wilderness, where it once roamed freely, a force to be reckoned with.

Then, out of the blue, a Commander-tier snake appeared and devoured its two offspring.

That alone was a blow, but then a detestable human went and shattered its skull.

To whom could it possibly turn for justice?