C34 Contracted Little Flame Firefox

Chen Wu had been accumulating Exchange Points at a rapid pace. As long as he defeated a Demonic Beast, he could earn the corresponding Exchange Points based on the beast's level.

He decided to redeem some Low-level Demonic Food to bolster Blood Rain's energy. Blood Rain, a carnivorous Demonic Beast, didn't necessarily need to hunt wild prey. A fundamental skill for a Demonic Pet Master was to craft Demonic Food for their juvenile charges.

Making Demonic Food was straightforward. It required chunks of wild beast meat and a blend of nutrient-rich herbs and honey, which when steamed together created a savory meal.

Demonic Food was a favorite among Beast-type Demonic Pets, regardless of whether they were adults or juveniles.

Currently, Chen Wu wasn't in a position to be picky. Although Blood Rain was young, its strength had grown under Chen Wu's tutelage to match that of an adult Iron-feather Eagle, rendering the nutritional value of Demonic Food almost insignificant. It was, at best, good for filling its belly.

When it came to nutritional content and effectiveness, the Demonic Food produced by the system was superior.

Upon placing the head-sized chunk of meat, which exuded an unusual aroma, before Blood Rain, the beast eagerly began to gobble it up. It was clear that Blood Rain was quite pleased with the meal.

The Little Flame Firefox in his arms had been quite restless initially. Separated from its mother, it viewed Chen Wu with a mix of unfamiliarity and fear. It bared its tiny, newly-sprouted milk teeth and glared at Chen Wu before ferociously biting his arm.

The offspring of a Demonic Beast, no matter how young, had a bite force that Chen Wu couldn't ignore. He had wisely worn a steel arm ring inside his sleeve, so after a futile attempt at biting, the little creature, with aching teeth, began to forlornly lick Chen Wu's hand, signaling its hunger.

After all, it was just a naive little one, still nursing. How could it outwit Chen Wu? He had intentionally let it get hungry enough to be uncomfortable.

Chen Wu carefully portioned out one-fifth of the Demonic Food from Blood Rain and placed it in his palm to feed the little creature.

The little one was clearly famished, pressing its head into Chen Wu's palm and gulping down the food voraciously. Once sated, its belly was round and full, yet it still eagerly licked the remnants from Chen Wu's palm with its soft little tongue, tickling him until he playfully covered its head to stop the licking.

With its hunger appeased, all its worries seemed to vanish. It forgot about its parents and didn't ponder why it was there, contentedly curling up in Chen Wu's embrace for a deep sleep.

Chen Wu cradled it with great care, knowing that the Spatial Ring could only contain inanimate objects. To take the creature with him, he would need to form a contract, which was precisely his intention. A Demonic Pet with such a noble lineage and exceptional growth potential was perfectly suited to be his second Vice Pet.

"The Firefox boasts impressive strength and Potential Growth, ranking high among its kind. With its Silver-level potential, given enough resources, it can certainly evolve into a Silver-level Demonic Beast. Blood Rain excels in aerial combat but struggles against terrestrial beasts. Little Flame Firefox can perfectly complement those weaknesses."

Having made up his mind, Chen Wu resolved to bond with Little Flame Firefox through a contract.

Contract Spiritual Talisman?

Did the system really require such a rudimentary item?

As the system explained, Chen Wu's method of contracting would be entirely unique compared to other Demonic Pet Masters. They had to establish a bond within the Demonic Pet's Spiritual Ocean for mutual understanding, but Chen Wu only needed to extend his Spiritual Energy into the Demonic Pet's Spiritual Space. The system would then automatically forge the contract for him. To prevent hosts from frivolously switching powerful Demonic Pets, the system's bond would only dissolve once both parties consented to the contract's release.

"Little Flame Firefox, become my second Demonic Pet. I promise you a future where you'll surpass your father and grow into a mightier Demonic Beast, one so powerful that even the heavens and earth will shudder at your presence. Though I am not strong yet, would you agree to be my Demonic Pet?"

Chen Wu's spiritual energy seeped into the Little Flame Firefox's spiritual ocean. It might have been because the creature was asleep, or perhaps it had grown dependent on Chen Wu after enjoying the carefully prepared meal. Remarkably, the system effortlessly linked their consciousnesses. At the same time, a bond formed between Chen Wu and the Little Flame Firefox in his second Demonic Pet Space. Within seconds, the creature was drawn into the space.

A second Contract Demonic Pet was born!

"Ding! Random mission completed. Reward: Middle-grade Secret Arts 'Earth Listening Art'!"

"Earth Listening Art: A middle-grade probing secret art. A Demonic Pet Master can attach it to their ears and press it against the ground to detect any movement within a hundred-meter radius."

Probing secret arts have always been in high demand. Regardless of one's strength, it's crucial to stay alert to enemy movements. While this art isn't used often and would be quite embarrassing to employ in public, lying on the ground to listen, it becomes invaluable in the wilderness. It enables Chen Wu to monitor the movements of all living creatures around him, allowing him to anticipate danger and prepare accordingly.

Chen Wu's journey was immensely fruitful, and he returned to Chen Family Village before nightfall.

Without a doubt, Chen Wu was now the pride and backbone of Chen Family Village. A Demonic Pet Master commands respect from commoners everywhere. True to his expectations, upon his return, several servants arrived with invitations.

"Young Master Chen, your exceptional talent is evident in your defeat of Hu Wang, that disgrace of a Demonic Pet Master. Our patriarch holds you in high regard and would be honored if you could visit our family within the next two days. Please grant us this favor!"

"The Cao Family feels the same. Our family's young masters are all distinguished youths eager to meet you, Young Master Chen. You must be aiming for this year's Demonic Pet Academy spot in Flame City, right? Perhaps our Cao Family can be of assistance..."

Chen Wu observed the servants' deferential demeanor, unfazed. He had anticipated this moment. His display of strength might intimidate the weaker, offended Hu Family, but for the centuries-old families of Green-mount Town, it was Chen Wu's potential that truly piqued their interest.

Cultivating even one or two Demonic Pet Masters requires a significant investment of money and resources, and it is exceedingly rare for these masters to possess a High-grade Demonic Beast. Among the younger generation, these families might manage to train a handful of individuals to compete for spots at the Demonic Pet Academy, with the hope of sending more of their kin to Flame City to bolster the family's influence and power.

However, the fact that Chen Wu managed to defeat two Grade 3 Demon Pets with only a Grade 2 Iron-feather Eagle signaled the emergence of a prodigious talent. Unlike the Hu Family, who might wish ill on Chen Wu, these families harbored no animosity and instead saw an opportunity to draw him into their fold. Given that Chen Wu was a well-known orphan, it was unlikely that he would consider starting his own family, even if he were to prosper in the future. To the smaller families lacking distinguished offspring, a future powerhouse like Chen Wu held immense appeal.

If they could bring Chen Wu into their ranks, they might leverage his strength to elevate their family's status. Extending an invitation to a potential future genius was not seen as a loss of face; rather, it was a coveted opportunity that the major families were eagerly competing for. Chen Wu had already received eight such invitations, with all the major families from Green-mount Town—save for the Hu Family—extending offers.

This suggested that the other families were also looking to seize this chance to potentially oust the Hu Family from their position of power.