C7 The Hairless Grass Mud Horse.

"Han Feng! Are you trying to get us killed?"

Right after the Mutated Human-face Lizard was taken down, Yao Jie charged at Han Feng with accusations. He couldn't shake off the resentment from Han Feng's earlier failure to come to his aid.

As the team's captain and its strongest member, Yao Jie relished the obedience he received from the Zhou sisters, which gave him a taste of leadership's thrill. However, Han Feng's defiance and the explosive combat prowess of his spiritual pet, the grass mud horse, threatened Yao Jie's authority and sense of security.

"Hey, get your facts straight before you accuse me, okay? If it weren't for me, that Human-face Lizard would have finished you off by now. Instead of being thankful, you're turning on me? It's like a dog biting the hand of Lu Dongbin; you can't recognize a good deed."

Han Feng petted his grass mud horse with affection, nonchalantly acting as if he wasn't the one who had delivered the devastating "egg shattering strike." He shook his head with feigned disillusionment, looking so infuriatingly smug that it was almost asking for a punch.

"You!"

Yao Jie was seething with anger. As he was about to confront Han Feng, the Zhou sisters quickly intervened.

"Let it go. If Han Feng hadn't stepped in, we might have been hurt by the Human-face Lizard," Zhou Xue said, playing the mediator, with Zhou Lin quickly nodding in agreement.

Though Han Feng didn't rank as a D-class Beastmaster, his grass mud horse was formidable enough to topple a level 20 mutated Human-face Lizard.

Considering the combined might of a Beastmaster and their spiritual pet, Yao Jie paled in comparison to Han Feng. Now that they were on the same team, the sisters were more than pleased to witness Han Feng's strength, knowing it meant they could hunt more Demonic Beasts and earn greater rewards.

"Hmph! Han Feng, you stood idly by as a team member while we faced the Demonic Beast. As the team captain, I'm expelling you!" Yao Jie declared, pointing accusatorily at Han Feng.

Yao Jie wasn't foolish; he knew he was no match for the grass mud horse or Han Feng, who had effortlessly slain the Human-face Lizard. The most sensible option was to get rid of Han Feng.

The Zhou sisters were stunners, with figures to match their beauty. Yao Jie's partnership with them was driven purely by his desire for their looks.

He had worked diligently to cultivate a positive image with the Zhou sisters, but Han Feng's arrival had significantly tarnished his standing. The sisters' shifting attitudes towards Han Feng were palpable, and Yao Jie found it unbearable.

"Heh! Using chicken feathers as an arrow, are you? You really think I want to be on your team?" Han Feng scoffed at Yao Jie with undisguised contempt.

"A gentleman will find his place elsewhere if not appreciated here. Farewell to you both." With a smile and a wave to the Zhou sisters, Han Feng led his grass mud horse and swiftly vanished into the forest.

Since awakening the Demonic Pet System, Han Feng's every action tied to laziness had been rewarded with experience points.

He lived up to the expectation, embracing his indolence to the fullest. If he could lie down, he wouldn't stand; if he could snack on sunflower seeds, he'd surely have a cup of Hundred Fruits Soup to accompany it.

The grass mud horse's rapid leveling up was evident when it swiftly dispatched the Mutated Human-face Lizard, catapulting to level 14. Now, in addition to its toxic saliva, the grass mud horse boasted two more skills: the High-pressure Rasengan and another yet to be revealed. With the combat prowess it had just demonstrated, Han Feng felt confident enough to handle the periphery of the rock forest on his own.

His trust in the grass mud horse, coupled with his disdain for Yao Jie, prompted Han Feng to split from the group and venture out solo.

After parting ways with Yao Jie and the Zhou sisters, Han Feng and his grass mud horse delved deeper into the forest. Upon reaching a pond, Han Feng nudged the grass mud horse into the water, then assumed the role of a 'barber,' meticulously cleaning its matted wool and grime-coated body.

The wool, hardened by heat, proved challenging to clean. Resolute, Han Feng drew his dagger and sheared the grass mud horse's fleece completely off, leaving it bare.

The grass mud horse seemed to question its very existence as a sheep.

"Hehe. Don't give me that look. This is for your own good. This matted fur is tougher than rock; it's useless to you. Trust me, with my years of hair-cutting expertise, a clean shave means quicker growth! And for that... sensitive area, I'll begrudgingly spare you a pair of pants," Han Feng joked.

The sight of the hairless grass mud horse sent Han Feng into fits of laughter, which he quickly stifled upon noticing its lethal glare and the ominous blue glow emanating from its throat. Swiftly, he produced a wide pair of pants from his pack, tailored them, and dressed the grass mud horse, sparing it any further embarrassment.

Now decently covered, the grass mud horse seemed content, though Han Feng wasn't quite done. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he fetched a ribbon and adorned the grass mud horse's modesty with a pink bow.

"Hey, now that's a look!" Han Feng exclaimed, proudly giving a thumbs up to his handiwork.

As Han Feng was busy styling his grass mud horse, a cacophony of clashes and shrill cat screeches echoed from a nearby cave.

"Spiritual cat? Time for some treasure hunting, buddy!" Han Feng called out, pulling the grass mud horse from the pond and dashing toward the commotion.

The Demonic Pet System had already identified the source as a level 22 spiritual cat.

Spiritual cats, a unique breed of Demonic Beast, preferred to dwell near spiritual materials, which were often found in their vicinity. These materials, imbued with the essence of heaven and earth, could bolster the physical and mystical attributes of spiritual pets and Beastmasters alike.

While novice Beastmasters lacked significant combat prowess, relying heavily on their spiritual pets, their more experienced counterparts wielded formidable strength, sometimes even surpassing their pets in battle.

Should Han Feng acquire even a single level 1 spiritual material, the resulting infusion of Spiritual Qi would fortify his body, rendering him virtually untouchable, even to the likes of today's Mutated Human-face Lizard.

Once his body grew more robust, Han Feng could effortlessly dominate the battlefield.