The slightly oversized mouse squeaked indignantly in Dumby's hands as it scrabbled wildly in the air .

"What a pleasant surprise," Gao Peng said cheerfully as Dumby pa.s.sed him the mouse .

Although the mouse looked tiny in Dumby's hands, it could barely fit in Gao Peng's .

It was actually the size of a cat . Its fur was raised stiffly, making it almost like a tiny porcupine . Staring ferociously at Gao Peng, it bit down hard .

A quick cuff from Gao Peng was enough to make the mouse see stars .

[Monster Name]: Prosperity Mouse

[Monster Grade]: Normal

[Monster Level]: 18

[Monster Attribute]: Mystic

[Monster Condition]: Healthy (Fearful)

[Ways of Evolving to Elite-grade]: 3

This little mouse had a very old-fas.h.i.+oned name . It's level wasn't very impressive, either . The only thing that caught Gao Peng's eye was the fact that it was a never-before-seen Mystic type .

Statistically speaking, this type was almost impossible to find . In fact, this mouse was possibly the only one of its kind in the world .

Its low grade was something Gao Peng could work with .

The mouse struggled mightily after being captured by Gao Pengall the while snarling and growling to seem as menacing as it could . When Gao Peng didn't react, it started whimpering and begging pitifully to be let go .

Emotionless, Gao Peng tossed the mouse high into the air . It was promptly caught by a swooping Flamy and brought over to where Stripey was .

It looked like there were quite a lot of goodies to be found in the wild . Unfortunately, first dibs would go to the Monster Hunting Squad's own familiars should they have found these goodies . Only the second-tier or unusable items would be sold in the market .

Take this Prosperity Mouse, for example . Gao Peng could tell how special it was just from the name alone . If a Monster Hunting Squad got ahold of it instead, they probably wouldn't know enough about it to do business and would end up keeping it . If Gao Peng hadn't come personally, he wouldn't have encountered this mouse .

After an hour or so, all the Bladed Bees were collected and placed in a giant heap in the middle of a huge clearing .

Flamy incinerated the mountain of corpses with a gigantic flame .

In the piles of ash left behind, scores of golden Core Crystals glowed brightly . After another giant gust of air cleared the ash, a veritable trove of Core Crystals was left .

While the corpses of the Bladed Bees were indeed flammable, their Core Crystals were not . In fact, they were naturally resistant to any element, not just fire .

Even though these were relatively low-level Elite-tier Core Crystals, the sheer volume of them meant that he would still be walking away with a handsome profit .

Gao Peng was struck with the realization of just how easy it was to become rich if one had power .

No wonder Core Crystals were used as the official currency in high-value transactions . The market economy would have been too easily disrupted if that wasn't the case .

In a year, becoming a monster trainer had become the hottest job in the world .

Before, maybe half of the student population had wanted to become a monster trainer after they graduated . Now, that number was closer to nine in ten .

Wealth, social status, proving your strength—this job would allow you fulfill all three desires and more .

More importantly, the requirements to becoming a monster trainer weren't exactly strict . Anyone could do it as long as they had the pa.s.sion and grit for it . Even though the mortality rate for trainers who didn't undergo proper training was incredibly high, there was no shortage of new trainers every month .

People fantasized all the time about hitting the jackpot—coming across two Lord-tier monsters fighting each other to the death, collecting their corpses for loot, picking up their young as a bonus after . These stories could be heard being peddled to potential new trainers every day .

In reality, they would probably be destroyed by the baby .

As he collected his thoughts, he stashed the Core Crystals in a pit in Stripey's back . They glittered brightly, the honey-golden hue a startling splash of color in the otherwise drab surroundings .

After a few minutes, a tiny shadow flitted into the pit . It was Silly .

Even though Silly's eyes were closed, its tentacles were still actively in tune with its surroundings . As it wiggled around in the air, it eventually came to lay on the pile of Core Crystals . It felt so good that its body almost went numb .

Silly had never seen so many Core Crystals before in its life . It didn't know what they were, but it did feel extremely good lying on a bed of them .

After a while, it couldn't help but consume a Core Crystal using its tentacles .

Its eyes were shut during the entire duration of the heist .

If I close my eyes, it doesn't count as me taking Gao Peng's things . Silly chuckled happily .

Having just completed his training, Goldie came sauntering by, too, and caught sight of the Core Crystals .

Slowing down, it grabbed a handful of the Cores and popped them into its mouth .

It shook its head in disgust as it ate . How bitter!

Then he grabbed another handful .

Ugh! How bitter!

. . .

With less than half a month to go on his current expedition, Gao Peng managed to convince the final Mountain Spirit to join his coalition of Mountain Spirits .

He was overwhelmed by a sudden sense of accomplishment as he traced his fingers along the map in front of him . The map was filled with a sea of red dots, each indicating the location of a Mountain Spirit .

Besides these red dots, Gao Peng had discovered quite a few new areas as well, some still untouched by human civilization .

Of course, with Stripey escorting them, they encountered no trouble at all .

"Looks like these mountains are pretty safe after all," Gao Peng said rather reluctantly .

"Come, let's go back . " Gao Peng squinted toward the east, in the direction of Yuzhou City .

Underneath him, a mountain-sized creature grunted in response . The clouds roiled as it slowly made its way eastwards .

"Hm . I clearly recall putting the Core Crystals here, though . " Gao Peng wracked his brains . Was he missing something?

Gao Peng stood at the edge of the pit, wondering where in the world he could have put them . He was quite positive that he had put all the Core Crystals in the pit here .

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Silly looking at the pit rather guiltily . Then it hit him .

"Did someone steal them?" Gao Peng wondered aloud .

Silly trembled like a leaf .

"If I ever found out who did this, I'm going to skin them alive!"

Silly fainted . . .

The slightly oversized mouse squeaked indignantly in Dumbys hands as it scrabbled wildly in the air . What a pleasant surprise, Gao Peng said cheerfully as Dumby pa.s.sed him the mouse . Although the mouse looked tiny in Dumbys hands, it could barely fit in Gao Pengs . It was actually the size of a cat . Its fur was raised stiffly, making it almost like a tiny porcupine . Staring ferociously at Gao Peng, it bit down hard . A quick cuff from Gao Peng was enough to make the mouse see stars . [Monster Name]: Prosperity Mouse [Monster Grade]: Normal [Monster Level]: 18 [Monster Attribute]: Mystic [Monster Condition]: Healthy (Fearful) [Ways of Evolving to Elite-grade]: 3 This little mouse had a very old-fas.h.i.+oned name . Its level wasnt very impressive, either . The only thing that caught Gao Pengs eye was the fact that it was a never-before-seen Mystic type . Statistically speaking, this type was almost impossible to find . In fact, this mouse was possibly the only one of its kind in the world . Its low grade was something Gao Peng could work with . The mouse struggled mightily after being captured by Gao Pengall the while snarling and growling to seem as menacing as it could . When Gao Peng didnt react, it started whimpering and begging pitifully to be let go . Emotionless, Gao Peng tossed the mouse high into the air . It was promptly caught by a swooping Flamy and brought over to where Stripey was . It looked like there were quite a lot of goodies to be found in the wild . Unfortunately, first dibs would go to the Monster Hunting Squads own familiars should they have found these goodies . Only the second-tier or unusable items would be sold in the market . Take this Prosperity Mouse, for example . Gao Peng could tell how special it was just from the name alone . If a Monster Hunting Squad got ahold of it instead, they probably wouldnt know enough about it to do business and would end up keeping it . If Gao Peng hadnt come personally, he wouldnt have encountered this mouse . After an hour or so, all the Bladed Bees were collected and placed in a giant heap in the middle of a huge clearing . Flamy incinerated the mountain of corpses with a gigantic flame . In the piles of ash left behind, scores of golden Core Crystals glowed brightly . After another giant gust of air cleared the ash, a veritable trove of Core Crystals was left . While the corpses of the Bladed Bees were indeed flammable, their Core Crystals were not . In fact, they were naturally resistant to any element, not just fire . Even though these were relatively low-level Elite-tier Core Crystals, the sheer volume of them meant that he would still be walking away with a handsome profit . Gao Peng was struck with the realization of just how easy it was to become rich if one had power . No wonder Core Crystals were used as the official currency in high-value transactions . The market economy would have been too easily disrupted if that wasnt the case In a year, becoming a monster trainer had become the hottest job in the world . Before, maybe half of the student population had wanted to become a monster trainer after they graduated . Now, that number was closer to nine in ten . Wealth, social status, proving your strength—this job would allow you fulfill all three desires and more . More importantly, the requirements to becoming a monster trainer werent exactly strict . Anyone could do it as long as they had the pa.s.sion and grit for it . Even though the mortality rate for trainers who didnt undergo proper training was incredibly high, there was no shortage of new trainers every month . People fantasized all the time about hitting the jackpot—coming across two Lord-tier monsters fighting each other to the death, collecting their corpses for loot, picking up their young as a bonus after . These stories could be heard being peddled to potential new trainers every day . In reality, they would probably be destroyed by the baby . As he collected his thoughts, he stashed the Core Crystals in a pit in Stripeys back . They glittered brightly, the honey-golden hue a startling splash of color in the otherwise drab surroundings . After a few minutes, a tiny shadow flitted into the pit . It was Silly . Even though Sillys eyes were closed, its tentacles were still actively in tune with its surroundings . As it wiggled around in the air, it eventually came to lay on the pile of Core Crystals . It felt so good that its body almost went numb . Silly had never seen so many Core Crystals before in its life . It didnt know what they were, but it did feel extremely good lying on a bed of them . After a while, it couldnt help but consume a Core Crystal using its tentacles . Its eyes were shut during the entire duration of the heist . If I close my eyes, it doesnt count as me taking Gao Pengs things . Silly chuckled happily . Having just completed his training, Goldie came sauntering by, too, and caught sight of the Core Crystals . Slowing down, it grabbed a handful of the Cores and popped them into its mouth . It shook its head in disgust as it ate . How bitter! Then he grabbed another handful . Ugh! How bitter! . With less than half a month to go on his current expedition, Gao Peng managed to convince the final Mountain Spirit to join his coalition of Mountain Spirits . He was overwhelmed by a sudden sense of accomplishment as he traced his fingers along the map in front of him . The map was filled with a sea of red dots, each indicating the location of a Mountain Spirit . Besides these red dots, Gao Peng had discovered quite a few new areas as well, some still untouched by human civilization . Of course, with Stripey escorting them, they encountered no trouble at all . Looks like these mountains are pretty safe after all, Gao Peng said rather reluctantly . Come, lets go back . Gao Peng squinted toward the east, in the direction of Yuzhou City . Underneath him, a mountain-sized creature grunted in response . The clouds roiled as it slowly made its way eastwards . Hm . I clearly recall putting the Core Crystals here, though . Gao Peng wracked his brains . Was he missing something? Gao Peng stood at the edge of the pit, wondering where in the world he could have put them . He was quite positive that he had put all the Core Crystals in the pit here . Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Silly looking at the pit rather guiltily . Then it hit him . Did someone steal them? Gao Peng wondered aloud . Silly trembled like a leaf . If I ever found out who did this, Im going to skin them alive! Silly fainted .