Chapter 10

Pointing to the round lump on the tree branch, Chen Wen exclaimed in surprise, "You're assigning it to me?"

Zhu Wu thought Chen Wen didn't like it and hurriedly said, "Although the Iron-Eater is a bit lazy, this Iron-Eater has extraordinary talent and potential. Scientific tests have shown that its potential level is at least Elite Extraordinary."

Zhu Wu's words pulled Chen Wen out of his surprise.

Just now, he wasn't unhappy with the pet beast assigned to him by Chen Wen; he was simply surprised.

The one sleeping on the tree branch was a black and white panda cub.

Before he was transported, pandas had been downgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable," and he had even discussed when the country might allocate a panda to each person.

He never expected that after being transported, after three failed free contracts, the country would actually assign him a panda.

Therefore, he was quite surprised just now.

Chen Wen said, "It's not that I don't like it; I'm just a bit surprised. I remember pandas are very rare."

"Did you know the Iron-Eater's other name?"

Zhu Wu was somewhat surprised and then said, "Iron-Eaters were originally very rare, but after the Secret Realm descended, they became less picky about their food, even eating soil. In recent years, their numbers have increased significantly."

Chen Wen was taken aback, "Eating soil..."

He couldn't imagine how the precious pandas from his previous life had become like this!

A wave of memories surfaced in his mind, and Chen Wen suddenly understood why pandas had been downgraded from national treasures to eating soil.

In this timeline, due to the arrival of the Secret Realm, people were more concerned with the strength of beasts rather than their appearance.

Moreover, how could an ordinary species like pandas compare to the dazzling and adorable fairies or the majestic and mysterious dragons and phoenixes?

Without the strength to match other pet beasts and without any advantages in appearance, why should they be national treasures?

Cute, right?

Many pet beasts are also good at being cute!

In fact, there were no so-called national treasures in this timeline.

After all, national treasures are the pride and symbol of a country. How could the country allow a self-aware creature to become a national treasure?

Chen Wen was reviewing his memories, and Zhu Wu thought Chen Wen was dissatisfied with the Iron-Eater's talent, so he advised, "Although the Iron-Eater's talent 'Eating Soil' doesn't sound good, the Iron-Eater can absorb spiritual energy from the soil, allowing it to grow quickly.

Therefore, even if it doesn't improve its strength through battles or training, its growth rate might not be slower than other pet beasts."

Chen Wen's expression was strange, "Eating soil" is actually a talent?

He interpreted Zhu Wu's words and understood that the Iron-Eater had no combat ability, so there was no need for training, and it wouldn't improve through battles. It could only grow quickly by eating soil.

Seeing Chen Wen's strange expression, Zhu Wu earnestly said, "Most special talents require accumulation and gradual development. Only when they grow can they better exert their effects. Therefore, I suggest you don't set too high requirements for the pet beast you contract initially. It's enough if it can help you grow quickly.

Once you become an Elite or Expert Beastmaster, you will have a wider range of pet beasts to choose from, and that's when you can fully utilize your talent.

Water doesn't strive to be first; it strives to flow continuously."

Zhu Wu really felt that the Iron-Eater was more suitable for Chen Wen, as it could help him overcome the initial low point of a special talent Beastmaster.

Of course, he had his own selfish reasons.

When he followed his teacher on a research project, he chose a topic related to native pet beasts. After entering the Qinghe Beast Cultivation House, he also cultivated several native pet beasts with good potential.

However, due to the flaws of native pet beasts, no one was willing to buy the pet beasts he cultivated, and they had to become "breeding beasts."

Without anyone contracting them, his further research on native pet beasts could only remain on paper.

Although he didn't know why Zhu Wu was so patient in promoting this Iron-Eater to him, Chen Wen was indeed moved.

If he hadn't experienced the previous failures, facing the talent "Eating Soil," Chen Wen might have hesitated.

But now, he knew he wasn't some chosen one, and his family had no mines waiting for him to inherit. In such a situation, even if Zhu Wu forcibly assigned him a little firebird, he would accept it.

The Iron-Eater assigned to him now had a somewhat... peculiar talent, but it seemed easy to raise, and this Iron-Eater's potential was at least good.

More importantly, it was a panda!

So, Chen Wen said, "I'll take it."

Seeing that Chen Wen wasn't lying, Zhu Wu sighed in relief, "That's good!"

It seemed he could continue his research on native pet beasts.

Chen Wen pointed to the Iron-Eater on the tree branch and asked, "Shall we contract now? Should we wake it up?"

The panda cub was sleeping soundly, completely unaware that its breeder had already sold it.

Zhu Wu nodded and climbed up the tree branch with ease, picking up the Iron-Eater cub.

After contracting a pet beast, even without the talent "Bond," the pet beast's strength would still benefit the Beastmaster to some extent, so Beastmasters generally had good physical qualities.

Zhu Wu, not only a breeder but also a Beastmaster, understood this.

Held by Zhu Wu, the Iron-Eater cub was startled awake and became furious.

Its black eyes glared at Chen Wen, and it bared its tiny milk teeth, flailing its short legs and arms as if ready to fight Chen Wen to the death.

It didn't dare to be aggressive towards Zhu Wu, who had raised it, but it was particularly arrogant towards Chen Wen, the stranger.

Holding the Iron-Eater cub in his arms and rubbing its head, Zhu Wu smiled at Chen Wen, "It has a bit of a temper when it wakes up. Let me calm it down before we contract."

As he spoke, Zhu Wu flipped the Iron-Eater cub over and began to rhythmically stroke its back.

Hmm~ Ah~

In just a few strokes, it lost itself in Zhu Wu's hands and closed its eyes in comfort.

Hearing the soft, cute sounds of the Iron-Eater cub, Chen Wen's fingers twitched.

Zhu Wu smiled, "Don't, my technique is trained. If you take over now, it might not be comfortable, and it will be hard to contract."

Chen Wen, hearing this, had to suppress his restless heart and put his hands down.

After all, once contracted, he could pet it as he wished, even shape it as he liked.

After a set of techniques, Zhu Wu stopped, and the Iron-Eater cub let out a soft cry, looking at Zhu Wu with a pitiful expression, wanting another round.

Zhu Wu, with a heart of stone, refused and then placed it on the ground, signaling that Chen Wen could proceed.

Chen Wen nodded, squatted down, and looked at the Iron-Eater cub in front of him with a gentle expression.

Its temper had subsided, but it wasn't interested in Chen Wen, the stranger. It glanced curiously and then prepared to find a place to continue sleeping.

Just as it was about to get up, the Iron-Eater cub stopped.

Chen Wen took out a jar of honey from his backpack and opened the lid.

The Iron-Eater cub's black nose twitched, and its eyes lit up.

Although Zhu Wu had said native pet beasts were easy to deceive, Chen Wen didn't want to fail his contract again, so he opened the honey he hadn't used.

Pandas are bears, after all, and it should work to some extent.

Sure enough, the greedy Iron-Eater cub stretched out its short hand and grabbed the open jar of honey, licking it lightly.

Immediately, the fragrance of flowers and the sweetness of honey hit its taste buds, and it closed its eyes in delight.

Seeing this, Chen Wen didn't hesitate and directly focused his mental energy through meditation.

"I make this contract with you, to share life and death!"

As Chen Wen shouted, threads of faint white light wrapped around the Iron-Eater cub.

Smoothly!

Surprisingly smoothly!

Chen Wen had planned to try to persuade the Iron-Eater cub, but it was so focused on licking the honey that it didn't even notice Chen Wen was contracting with it.

Seeing this, Chen Wen didn't say anything and increased his mental energy input.

Then...

Then it succeeded.

When the contract halo contracted into a special rune and fused into the Iron-Eater cub's forehead, Chen Wen was stunned.

It succeeded?

Looking at the Iron-Eater still immersed in its food, Chen Wen's face was a mix of amusement and exasperation.

His first contracted pet beast seemed not very smart.