Picking Up Another Rank 9

Zhang Tao was busy pondering how he could trick this cat into leaving.

"Oh, yeah!" The Grey Cat finally realized the situation and exclaimed. If such delicious cat food would be unavailable in the future, wouldn't that be a tragedy?

Then, the Grey Cat shot a glance at Zhang Tao, then another at the big fish. Its eyes were full of craftiness and hesitation. It was thinking: if it threw away the big fish and said it would provide something better next time, would they give it some more cat food?

Seeing the Grey Cat's little eyes darting around, Zhang Tao knew the cat was thinking of something unreliable, so he immediately said, "Brother Cat, you can come with me to the human world. Over there, we have an endless supply of cat food. When the time comes, are you still going to be afraid of having no cat food to eat?"

Seeing the Grey Cat begin to hesitate, Zhang Tao continued, "Over there, we have more than just cat food; we have hot pot, the Manchu Han Imperial Feast—tsk, tsk, there is nothing you can't eat, only things you haven't imagined yet!"

These words made the Grey Cat drool instantly. Although it had lived for a long time, it truly had never tasted the delicacies of the outside world.

Li Zhen heard Zhang Tao's words, and his face couldn't help but twitch. What on earth was this guy Zhang Tao trying to do? Bringing a high-rank Monster Beast into the human world? This was insane; Zhang Tao must have lost his mind. He had to know that a Monster Beast was still a Monster Beast. No matter how gentle it seemed, it was still a beast. If it ever lost control one day, Zhang Tao would be a sinner against humanity.

Thinking of this, Li Zhen frantically signaled to Zhang Tao with his eyes: Brother, don't mess around.

Besides, how could he possibly make such a decision? That would have to be decided by the top brass and the various Old Ancestors.

Zhang Tao, however, ignored Li Zhen's eye signals. What a joke—if he were the original Zhang Tao, that would be one thing, as he hadn't read the original story, but the current Zhang Tao was different. Furthermore, this was the Grey Cat, who never fought or killed.

"This... is that allowed?" Although the Grey Cat had never been to Earth, over these years, it had heard the underwater Monster Beasts mention it occasionally.

The Land of Rebirth would never let people from the Catacombs step foot inside.

Zhang Tao immediately patted his chest and said, "What's the big deal? Just say you are my, Zhang Tao's, partner, and no one will make things difficult for you! Besides, once we get to Earth, I can buy you lots of delicious things."

The Grey Cat nodded in realization and said, "You mean... you want to keep a cat?"

Zhang Tao nodded immediately. It was just keeping a cat; how much could it cost? Besides, he really needed help right now. If he wanted to rise quickly, without the cat's help, would he have to grind for decades?

"But you're so weak..." the Grey Cat said with a hint of disdain.

Zhang Tao was instantly petrified. Nonsense, if I were already powerful, would I need to keep you? That hurts, old buddy.

"Brother Cat, you have it wrong. If I were very strong, why would I need to keep you? There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. You protect my safety now, and I will take care of you for a lifetime later. Isn't that the logic?" Zhang Tao said immediately.

The Grey Cat nodded as if it made sense, but soon added, "But I don't fight!"

Zhang Tao chuckled and said, "I don't need you to fight, as long as you can carry me when we need to run."

Hearing Zhang Tao's words, the Grey Cat thought it was not bad; at the very least, this human was relatively honest.

Afterward, the Grey Cat circled around Zhang Tao, sniffed him, and felt that he was both familiar and strange. It said, "You have secrets on you. Although I don't know what they are, you will definitely be a supreme powerhouse in the future! In that case, I'll follow you!"

This was indeed the reason the Grey Cat had so easily agreed to Zhang Tao. It sensed a scent on Zhang Tao that it had never felt before. Moreover, the Grey Cat believed that Zhang Tao could become an Emperor—and a very strong one at that. If it had such a powerhouse protecting it, wouldn't it be able to eat whatever it wanted in the Three Realms in the future? Even that big fish head belonging to the Sea Suppressing Envoy wouldn't be out of its reach.

Otherwise, did you really think just anyone could get a good look from the Grey Cat? This cat was very shrewd.

Zhang Tao didn't expect the cat to agree so easily, and he was delighted. At the very least, he should be able to develop steadily in the early stages.

"Then, Brother Cat, shall we go now?" As Zhang Tao spoke, he reached out, wanting to pick up the Grey Cat. As a result, he nearly threw out his back—he had forgotten that this cat was very heavy.

"Meow!?" The Grey Cat tilted its head, shrank its body significantly, and jumped directly onto Zhang Tao's shoulder.

Zhang Tao felt a weight on his shoulder, but it was manageable, so he said, "Li Hanhan, take the big fish, we're heading back!"

Li Zhen remained silent, cursing Zhang Tao wildly in his heart. Damn it, you're actually taking a Monster Beast back to the human world. You kid, you're courting disaster.

But since he was in front of the Monster Beast, Li Zhen naturally didn't dare to nag. What if he got slapped to death?

Just like that, Li Zhen silently dragged the Rank 9 big fish toward Hope City.

As they neared Hope City, a white-bearded old man suddenly flew out. He stared at the direction of Zhang Tao and the others with a solemn expression, then quickly widened his eyes in disbelief.

What was he seeing? These two little guys were actually dragging back a Rank 9 Monster Beast fish?

Only when they got closer did he see that there was also a cat on Zhang Tao's shoulder, though he couldn't tell what was special about the cat. But how did these two manage to bring back a Rank 9 Monster Beast?

In his perception, the Rank 9 Monster Beast's Heart Core and Brain Core were still intact. This was a Rank 9 Divine Weapon!

Thinking of this, his eyes lit up. Even though he was a Rank 9, he didn't even possess a Rank 9 Divine Weapon himself.

"Elder Qin!"

"Senior Qin!" The two greeted him hurriedly as they saw the white-bearded old man flying over.

"I've heard before that your luck is heaven-defying, Zhang Tao. At Rank 4, you could pick up a Rank 9 Monster Plant. Good heavens, now that you're Rank 6, you've picked up a Rank 9 Fish Demon. Your luck..." Qin Shigang didn't know what to say anymore. He had to admit it—he had lived for a hundred years and never had such luck.

Indeed, Qin Shigang was a powerhouse from a sect. In the current Huaguo, martial arts universities hadn't fully risen yet; although there were many famous schools, most of the teachers were still from the sects.

"Hehe!" Zhang Tao grinned. He hadn't even said anything, and this old senior had already found a good reason for him.

The Grey Cat on Zhang Tao's shoulder was slightly stunned. Good heavens, someone else is investing in him too. Otherwise, it wouldn't believe that a Rank 4 could pick up a Rank 9.

Afterward, Qin Shigang reached out, grabbed the big fish, and flew toward Hope City with the two of them.

Nan Yueyue, who was on the city wall, had her mouth wide open. So fast? Didn't they say they were going to look for a cat? How could it be this fast? And why would they pick up a Rank 9 Monster Beast while looking for a cat? What kind of godly luck is this?

Then she saw Zhang Tao, as well as the miniature cat on his shoulder, and muttered, "They actually went to find a cat?"