This Adamantine Duck must have led a difficult existence in the forest .

At least, this was what Gao Peng thought until he read the monster's description .

[Monster Name]: Adamantine Duck (Deviant type)

[Monster Level]: Level 10

[Monster Grade]: Epic

[Special Characteristics]: Gui power (Pa.s.sive effect: When it is being attacked, it has a chance to expand its body for a certain period of time . Its strength, defense and speed will also be amplified at the same time . )

[Monster's current state]: Healthy (Tired)

No wonder it had been able to keep itself alive for so long . Despite its slow-wittedness, it seemed to be quite formidable .

Gao Peng sensed that he had struck gold with this one .

"Say, 'I'm not a duck, I'm a human male who just happens to be a bit more good-looking than the rest . ' Tell it that it can come along if it doesn't mind me being a human," said Gao Peng to Flamy .

Flamy seemed to be completely astonished by Gao Peng's order . It then reluctantly translated what he had said to the Adamantine Duck .

A conflicted look came across the duck's face as he listened to what Flamy said . It looked at Gao Peng uncertainly .

Finally, it shook its head and body . "Quarck quarck?"

"It's 'Quack,'" corrected Gao Peng .

The Adamantine Duck laughed happily . "Quack!"

Gao Peng didn't know what was going through this absent-minded duck's head . In any case, it seemed that his party had gained a new member .

Though its Monster Grade was Epic, the fact remained that it was still Level-10, meaning it wasn't as agile as the other familiars .

It was also stubborn . Despite being the slowest in the group, it refused to let anyone help .

The Adamantine Duck skipped and bounced around at the back of the group happily .

It would sometimes sniff about here and there, poking its beak around .

The hair on the back of a black cat stood up as it was in the middle of mating with a female cat . It turned around and saw a duck giving it a strange look from behind a tree .

It was a calm, unfeeling look . What kind of creature was capable of such an apathetic look? The black cat was stunned .

The female cat below it let out a purr, somewhat annoyed that its mate had abruptly stopped what it was doing .

The black cat lightly pressed its paw on the female cat . "Shhh, quiet now . This duck has intrigued me . Its eyes give me gooseb.u.mps . I've never felt this feeling before . . . "

Thwap! The female cat slapped the black cat with its paw, sending it flying away . "Go then! Go be with your precious duck!"

After saying this, the female cat disappeared into the forest, leaving the black cat dazed on the ground .

The black cat turned around to look for the duck, only to realize that it had disappeared .

In another corner, a rabbit was happily digging a hole in the ground when it suddenly sensed that something was staring at it .

The gray-furred rabbit turned around and saw that something was poking its head out from behind a clump of trees . The head was staring at the rabbit unblinkingly with its lifeless eyes .

The head belonged to a duck .

The gray-furred rabbit let out a sigh of relief and continued digging its hole .

However, it began to feel the duck's eyes squirming on its back like maggots . At first, the rabbit was able to endure being stared at by the duck, but finally, it couldn't take it any longer .

It turned around, sprang forward, and gave the Adamantine Duck a powerful kick .

The Adamantine Duck staggered and fell on the ground . Then a purple light flashed across its body . In an instant, its body expanded like a balloon .

Surprised by this, the gray-furred rabbit immediately bolted from the scene .

"It's just standing there, staring at nothing . . . I think the name Dumby should have been given to it instead," Stripey said quietly to Da Zi .

Thirty feet away, the Adamantine Duck was squatting at an odd angle on the ground . Its eyes were wide like saucers as it absently watched a line of ants crawling by, as if there was some deep meaning to be taken from them .

Da Zi looked at it . It just couldn't figure out what was going on inside the duck's head . Then it looked away . "Food . "

. . .

"Earth Spirit Cores are usually formed deep in the caverns of mountains," muttered Gao Peng to himself .

Before him stood a 2,000-foot-tall mountain . Black stone gleamed from one side of it . The black stone was riddled with dark and mysterious caves .

Plant life was scarce on the mountain . Only a few hardy types of plants had managed to survive in such a harsh environment . From afar, the mountain looked like a huge beehive that was riddled with holes .

One could tell from its appearance that there was something unusual about this mountain . It didn't seem like a place where one could find any Earth Spirit Cores . Gao Peng shook his head .

As he was about to turn and leave, Gao Peng suddenly heard running footsteps from deep within the forest . The trees in the distance were shaking violently at the same moment .

Gao Peng frowned and waved a hand at the others to pull back .

b.a.l.l.s of red light burst out from the trees and hurtled towards the strange mountain . Silhouettes could be seen in the light .

The closer the caves were to the ground, the larger they seemed to be .

Gao Peng even saw a couple of caves at the foot of the mountain that were as tall as 65 feet .

There was no sign of activity after that .

Ten minutes later, another monster entered the mountain from another direction . The strongest among the monsters entering the mountain was around Level-30, while the weakest among them was in the Elite-tier .

This strange mountain seemed to welcome all who entered it .

Suddenly, Silly, who had been hovering beside Gao Peng all this time, began slowly drifting towards the strange mountain .

Gao Peng immediately grabbed a hold of Silly and took out some juice from its portable s.p.a.ce .

In an instant, the entranced Silly regained its senses and happily picked up the juice .

"What happened to you just now? Why were you flying towards the mountain?" asked Flamy .

Silly scratched its head with a tentacle . "Dunno . For some reason, I thought that there was delicious fruit juice up in that mountain . "

"Master, there's lots of fish up there . . . " Flamy suddenly pointed at the strange mountain .

"There are . . . Yin cedar needles too?" said Dumby in confusion .

"There's lots of Stripeys in there!" said Da Zi, whose feelers twitched excitedly in the air .

Stripey glared at Da Zi, who realized that it had said something it shouldn't have said . It quickly covered its mouth with its feet and looked away from Stripey .

. . . . This Adamantine Duck must have led a difficult existence in the forest . At least, this was what Gao Peng thought until he read the monsters description . [Monster Name]: Adamantine Duck (Deviant type) [Monster Level]: Level 10 [Monster Grade]: Epic [Special Characteristics]: Gui power (Pa.s.sive effect: When it is being attacked, it has a chance to expand its body for a certain period of time . Its strength, defense and speed will also be amplified at the same time . ) [Monsters current state]: Healthy (Tired) No wonder it had been able to keep itself alive for so long . Despite its slow-wittedness, it seemed to be quite formidable . Gao Peng sensed that he had struck gold with this one . Say, Im not a duck, Im a human male who just happens to be a bit more good-looking than the rest . Tell it that it can come along if it doesnt mind me being a human, said Gao Peng to Flamy . Flamy seemed to be completely astonished by Gao Pengs order . It then reluctantly translated what he had said to the Adamantine Duck . A conflicted look came across the ducks face as he listened to what Flamy said . It looked at Gao Peng uncertainly . . . Finally, it shook its head and body . Quarck quarck? Its Quack, corrected Gao Peng . The Adamantine Duck laughed happily . Quack! Gao Peng didnt know what was going through this absent-minded ducks head . In any case, it seemed that his party had gained a new member . Though its Monster Grade was Epic, the fact remained that it was still Level-10, meaning it wasnt as agile as the other familiars . It was also stubborn . Despite being the slowest in the group, it refused to let anyone help . The Adamantine Duck skipped and bounced around at the back of the group happily . It would sometimes sniff about here and there, poking its beak around . The hair on the back of a black cat stood up as it was in the middle of mating with a female cat . It turned around and saw a duck giving it a strange look from behind a tree . It was a calm, unfeeling look . What kind of creature was capable of such an apathetic look? The black cat was stunned . The female cat below it let out a purr, somewhat annoyed that its mate had abruptly stopped what it was doing . The black cat lightly pressed its paw on the female cat . Shhh, quiet now . This duck has intrigued me . Its eyes give me gooseb.u.mps . Ive never felt this feeling before . . . . . Thwap! The female cat slapped the black cat with its paw, sending it flying away . Go then! Go be with your precious duck! After saying this, the female cat disappeared into the forest, leaving the black cat dazed on the ground . The black cat turned around to look for the duck, only to realize that it had disappeared . In another corner, a rabbit was happily digging a hole in the ground when it suddenly sensed that something was staring at it . The gray-furred rabbit turned around and saw that something was poking its head out from behind a clump of trees . The head was staring at the rabbit unblinkingly with its lifeless eyes . The head belonged to a duck . The gray-furred rabbit let out a sigh of relief and continued digging its hole . However, it began to feel the ducks eyes squirming on its back like maggots . At first, the rabbit was able to endure being stared at by the duck, but finally, it couldnt take it any longer . It turned around, sprang forward, and gave the Adamantine Duck a powerful kick . The Adamantine Duck staggered and fell on the ground . Then a purple light flashed across its body . In an instant, its body expanded like a balloon . Surprised by this, the gray-furred rabbit immediately bolted from the scene . Its just standing there, staring at nothing . I think the name Dumby should have been given to it instead, Stripey said quietly to Da Zi . Thirty feet away, the Adamantine Duck was squatting at an odd angle on the ground . Its eyes were wide like saucers as it absently watched a line of ants crawling by, as if there was some deep meaning to be taken from them . Da Zi looked at it . It just couldnt figure out what was going on inside the ducks head . Then it looked away . Food . . Earth Spirit Cores are usually formed deep in the caverns of mountains, muttered Gao Peng to himself . Before him stood a 2,000-foot-tall mountain . Black stone gleamed from one side of it . The black stone was riddled with dark and mysterious caves . Plant life was scarce on the mountain . Only a few hardy types of plants had managed to survive in such a harsh environment . From afar, the mountain looked like a huge beehive that was riddled with holes . One could tell from its appearance that there was something unusual about this mountain . It didnt seem like a place where one could find any Earth Spirit Cores . Gao Peng shook his head . As he was about to turn and leave, Gao Peng suddenly heard running footsteps from deep within the forest . The trees in the distance were shaking violently at the same moment . Gao Peng frowned and waved a hand at the others to pull back . b.a.l.l.s of red light burst out from the trees and hurtled towards the strange mountain . Silhouettes could be seen in the light . The closer the caves were to the ground, the larger they seemed to be . Gao Peng even saw a couple of caves at the foot of the mountain that were as tall as 65 feet . There was no sign of activity after that . Ten minutes later, another monster entered the mountain from another direction . The strongest among the monsters entering the mountain was around Level-30, while the weakest among them was in the Elite-tier . This strange mountain seemed to welcome all who entered it . Suddenly, Silly, who had been hovering beside Gao Peng all this time, began slowly drifting towards the strange mountain . Gao Peng immediately grabbed a hold of Silly and took out some juice from its portable s.p.a.ce . In an instant, the entranced Silly regained its senses and happily picked up the juice . What happened to you just now? Why were you flying towards the mountain? asked Flamy . Silly scratched its head with a tentacle . Dunno . For some reason, I thought that there was delicious fruit juice up in that mountain . Master, theres lots of fish up there . Flamy suddenly pointed at the strange mountain . There are . Yin cedar needles too? said Dumby in confusion . Theres lots of Stripeys in there! said Da Zi, whose feelers twitched excitedly in the air . Stripey glared at Da Zi, who realized that it had said something it shouldnt have said . It quickly covered its mouth with its feet and looked away from Stripey .