Half an hour later, Gao Peng and Uncle Liu finally reached the manor . The Blood Eye Whisker Vulture made a steady landing on the gra.s.s . After dropping Uncle Liu and Dumby on the ground, the Shadow j.a.palura glanced at the lake, as if it longed to go for a swim in the water . However, for some reason, it decided against it and simply lay on the ground with its eyes shut and its tail waving lazily about behind it .

Gao Peng's limbs had gone numb during their flight through the cold air . After jumping down from the Blood Eye Whisker Vulture's back, Gao Peng rubbed his arms and took in a deep breath .

At that moment, Gao Peng realized just how convenient it would be to have a Lord-tier flying-type familiar of his own .

Both his grandfather and Uncle Liu had a Lord-tier familiar that could fly them around whenever they wanted . Also, they didn't need to worry about being confronted by other Lord-tier monsters, as fights between Lord-tier monsters were usually quite rare .

Knowing that one false move could put them in a dangerous position, monsters at such a high level would never deliberately pick fights with each other .

At least with a Lord-tier flying-type familiar, Gao Peng would be able to travel around the city with ease . He would no longer need to bother his grandfather and Uncle Liu every time he needed a lift . As both of them were busy people, it certainly seemed unreasonable to expect them to arrange their schedules around his own .

Right now, the flying-type familiar under Gao Peng's command that was most likely to reach Lord-tier first was Flamy . Despite only being with Gao Peng for a few months, thanks to a balanced diet and innate potential, Flamy had managed to reach Level 28 .

Unlike humans, who required more than ten years to mature to adulthood, most animals only needed a few months to reach maturity .

Suddenly, the rest of Gao Peng's familiars scrambled out of the manor to greet them .

Da Zi bitterly glared at its master .

Gao Peng coughed . Despite Da Zi's pestering, it had still been left behind by Gao Peng and Uncle Liu .

"All right, stop looking at me like that . Look what I brought you," said Gao Peng, pointing at the huge uprooted tree behind him .

Goldie curiously approached the tree, ready to sink its beak into it .

Da Zi slapped Goldie with a claw . It's mine! Gao Peng brought it back for me! None of you are allowed to touch it!

Goldie staggered to one side and stared at Da Zi in confusion . "Quack?" Then it waddled away .

Flamy observed the tree for a moment in the air, then lost interest in it and flew away .

Da Zi stretched itself out across the tree, its feelers waggling inquisitively in the air .

"Gao Peng, how should I eat it?" asked Da Zi . "I don't eat trees . Trees don't taste good . "

"No one said anything about eating it . I don't think you need to eat this thing to evolve," said Gao Peng, rapping his knuckles on Da Zi's head .

"What is it?" asked Uncle Liu as he approached the tree .

Gao Peng took a look at the tree's description .

[Plant Name]: Lightning Bell Pine

The tree's fruit would be an essential ingredient to Da Zi's evolution into a Six-Winged Thunder Centipede .

"I still haven't gathered the rest of the ingredients for your evolution . Don't worry, I'll help you evolve tomorrow," said Gao Peng, patting Da Zi's head . "Let's plant the tree now, before it withers . "

Da Zi excitedly got down from the tree . With Dumby's aid, Gao Peng managed to plant the Lightning Bell Pine tree beside the lake .

At night, the tree stood silently beside the lake, its exposed roots gleaming with a white light . The tree's golden fruits shone like light bulbs from its branches, where Da Zi lay curled up inside a bird's nest .

In another corner of the forest, after hunting for food the whole day, a purple-feathered eagle returned to the cliff with its bounty, only to discover that its nest had vanished into thin air . "Squawk!" A piercing screech echoed across the forest .

"Grandpa, I just discovered a way to help Dumby evolve quickly," said Gao Peng to his grandfather in the living room . "But I need to run it by you first . "

The method he had in mind might have seemed ethically questionable to some . However, as long as it worked, he would have no qualms about using it .

"Well, you are my grandson . Do you really need my approval to do anything?" said Ji Hanwu, chuckling .

"Does the company have its own slaughterhouse, or at least, a place to handle the bodies of dead monsters?" said Gao Peng .

"Of course . It's still operational right now . I can take you there if you want," said Ji Hanwu . He put on a black coat and headed out to the slaughterhouse alongside Gao Peng .

The facility was located to the west of the industrial area . Gao Peng rarely went there, as it was quite far from the headquarters and the manor .

Up ahead, Gao Peng could see black smoke rising into the sky and hear the roar of machinery in the distance . Human-shaped figures bustled about near the factory's gates .

When they reached the gates, a man in a black suit and yellow tie briskly strode towards them . "Chairman Ji, what brings you here?"

Behind him stood a couple of people in various uniforms . He must have been in charge of everything that went on in the facility .

"Working overtime?"

"Yeah, we have a new batch of stock coming in tomorrow . Might as well finish everything we have today," said the man, smiling .

"I see . I'm just giving my grandson a tour around the place . Zhao Pu, walk with us . The rest of you can go back to your posts . "

Everyone else nodded and left, leaving the man named Zhao Pu with Gao Peng and his grandfather .

"Mr . Zhao, how do you usually process monster bones in this facility?" asked Gao Peng .

Zhao Pu glanced at Gao Peng . So this is Chairman Ji's grandson, he thought .

His face broke into a smile . "We either grind the bones into nutrient rich bone meal or just feed them directly to the familiars . "

"I would like to see where you process the bones . "

Gao Peng and his grandfather were then brought to a warehouse where monster bones from different parts of the facility were gathered .

Bits of bone and flesh still clung to some of the bones .

However, Gao Peng seemed disappointed by the sight of the shattered bone fragments . Dumby required complete skeletons in order to bring them back to life . It wouldn't be able to do anything with what the facility had right now .

"Mr . Zhao, I didn't think the bones you have here would be so . . . broken up," said Gao Peng .

"What do you mean? Aren't they still whole?" said Zhao Pu, scratching his head .

"Next time, try to maintain the integrity of the bones," said Ji Hanwu, glancing at Gao Peng .

"Ah" was all Zhao Pu could say . Well, that's easier said than done, he thought .

. . . . Half an hour later, Gao Peng and Uncle Liu finally reached the manor . The Blood Eye Whisker Vulture made a steady landing on the gra.s.s . After dropping Uncle Liu and Dumby on the ground, the Shadow j.a.palura glanced at the lake, as if it longed to go for a swim in the water . However, for some reason, it decided against it and simply lay on the ground with its eyes shut and its tail waving lazily about behind it . Gao Pengs limbs had gone numb during their flight through the cold air . After jumping down from the Blood Eye Whisker Vultures back, Gao Peng rubbed his arms and took in a deep breath . At that moment, Gao Peng realized just how convenient it would be to have a Lord-tier flying-type familiar of his own . Both his grandfather and Uncle Liu had a Lord-tier familiar that could fly them around whenever they wanted . Also, they didnt need to worry about being confronted by other Lord-tier monsters, as fights between Lord-tier monsters were usually quite rare . Knowing that one false move could put them in a dangerous position, monsters at such a high level would never deliberately pick fights with each other . At least with a Lord-tier flying-type familiar, Gao Peng would be able to travel around the city with ease . He would no longer need to bother his grandfather and Uncle Liu every time he needed a lift . As both of them were busy people, it certainly seemed unreasonable to expect them to arrange their schedules around his own . Right now, the flying-type familiar under Gao Pengs command that was most likely to reach Lord-tier first was Flamy . Despite only being with Gao Peng for a few months, thanks to a balanced diet and innate potential, Flamy had managed to reach Level 28 . Unlike humans, who required more than ten years to mature to adulthood, most animals only needed a few months to reach maturity . Suddenly, the rest of Gao Pengs familiars scrambled out of the manor to greet them . Da Zi bitterly glared at its master . . . Gao Peng coughed . Despite Da Zis pestering, it had still been left behind by Gao Peng and Uncle Liu . All right, stop looking at me like that . Look what I brought you, said Gao Peng, pointing at the huge uprooted tree behind him . Goldie curiously approached the tree, ready to sink its beak into it . Da Zi slapped Goldie with a claw . Its mine! Gao Peng brought it back for me! None of you are allowed to touch it! Goldie staggered to one side and stared at Da Zi in confusion . Quack? Then it waddled away . Flamy observed the tree for a moment in the air, then lost interest in it and flew away . Da Zi stretched itself out across the tree, its feelers waggling inquisitively in the air . Gao Peng, how should I eat it? asked Da Zi . I dont eat trees . Trees dont taste good . No one said anything about eating it . I dont think you need to eat this thing to evolve, said Gao Peng, rapping his knuckles on Da Zis head . . What is it? asked Uncle Liu as he approached the tree . Gao Peng took a look at the trees description . [Plant Name]: Lightning Bell Pine The trees fruit would be an essential ingredient to Da Zis evolution into a Six-Winged Thunder Centipede . I still havent gathered the rest of the ingredients for your evolution . Dont worry, Ill help you evolve tomorrow, said Gao Peng, patting Da Zis head . Lets plant the tree now, before it withers . Da Zi excitedly got down from the tree . With Dumbys aid, Gao Peng managed to plant the Lightning Bell Pine tree beside the lake . At night, the tree stood silently beside the lake, its exposed roots gleaming with a white light . The trees golden fruits shone like light bulbs from its branches, where Da Zi lay curled up inside a birds nest . In another corner of the forest, after hunting for food the whole day, a purple-feathered eagle returned to the cliff with its bounty, only to discover that its nest had vanished into thin air . Squawk! A piercing screech echoed across the forest . Grandpa, I just discovered a way to help Dumby evolve quickly, said Gao Peng to his grandfather in the living room . But I need to run it by you first . The method he had in mind might have seemed ethically questionable to some . However, as long as it worked, he would have no qualms about using it . Well, you are my grandson . Do you really need my approval to do anything? said Ji Hanwu, chuckling . Does the company have its own slaughterhouse, or at least, a place to handle the bodies of dead monsters? said Gao Peng . Of course . Its still operational right now . I can take you there if you want, said Ji Hanwu . He put on a black coat and headed out to the slaughterhouse alongside Gao Peng . The facility was located to the west of the industrial area . Gao Peng rarely went there, as it was quite far from the headquarters and the manor . Up ahead, Gao Peng could see black smoke rising into the sky and hear the roar of machinery in the distance . Human-shaped figures bustled about near the factorys gates . When they reached the gates, a man in a black suit and yellow tie briskly strode towards them . Chairman Ji, what brings you here? Behind him stood a couple of people in various uniforms . He must have been in charge of everything that went on in the facility . Working overtime? Yeah, we have a new batch of stock coming in tomorrow . Might as well finish everything we have today, said the man, smiling . I see . Im just giving my grandson a tour around the place . Zhao Pu, walk with us . The rest of you can go back to your posts . Everyone else nodded and left, leaving the man named Zhao Pu with Gao Peng and his grandfather . Mr . Zhao, how do you usually process monster bones in this facility? asked Gao Peng . Zhao Pu glanced at Gao Peng . So this is Chairman Jis grandson, he thought . His face broke into a smile . We either grind the bones into nutrient rich bone meal or just feed them directly to the familiars . I would like to see where you process the bones . Gao Peng and his grandfather were then brought to a warehouse where monster bones from different parts of the facility were gathered . Bits of bone and flesh still clung to some of the bones . However, Gao Peng seemed disappointed by the sight of the shattered bone fragments . Dumby required complete skeletons in order to bring them back to life . It wouldnt be able to do anything with what the facility had right now . Mr . Zhao, I didnt think the bones you have here would be so . broken up, said Gao Peng . What do you mean? Arent they still whole? said Zhao Pu, scratching his head . Next time, try to maintain the integrity of the bones, said Ji Hanwu, glancing at Gao Peng . Ah was all Zhao Pu could say . Well, thats easier said than done, he thought .