Shi Teng's heart softened, and he was about to release the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros.
But on second thought, the beast looked like she had plenty of milk. He could take her back to Stone Village, and then Little One could drink fresh beast milk every day.
At that thought, a mischievous grin crept across Shi Teng's lips.
I'm a genius!
Shi Teng's expression grew serious, and he raised his voice. "Listen carefully! I can let you go, but you have to agree to one condition!"
Shi Linhu and the others looked utterly bewildered.
The kid was actually talking to a beast. Could she even understand him?
When the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros failed to respond, Shi Teng looked a little embarrassed. He should have kept his voice down.
He cleared his throat twice, then spoke again, more quietly. "If you can understand me, nod!"
Although the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros was only a Fierce Beast, the Fierce Beasts of the Great Wilderness had long since developed intelligence. Some ancient remnants were even cleverer than humans.
Sure enough, the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros nodded gently.
Shock spread across everyone's faces. "Th-this beast understood him?"
Delight also appeared on Shi Teng's face. It looked like this might work!
"If you agree to what I'm about to say, nod. If you don't, you can die!"
"My little brother just turned four and still needs beast milk. You look like you have plenty, so you'll have to come back to Stone Village with me and provide him with milk.
"For one year!
"After a year, I'll let you leave Stone Village!
"Of course, during that time, I'll make sure you deliver your Fire Rhinoceros Baby safely, and I'll keep both of you safe!"
Shock appeared on Shi Tieshan's face once again. "Has Little Teng gone mad? He actually wants to bring a Fierce Beast back to Stone Village!"
Shi Linhu, however, nodded gently. "Hmm, I think Little Teng's idea is pretty good. This way, Little One can drink fresh beast milk every day!
"Besides, this Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros isn't some ferocious predator. She wouldn't dare cause trouble!"
Shi Tieshan answered, "When you put it that way, Brother Hu, it really does make sense!"
Shi Tiezhu turned away and murmured with a wicked grin, "Little Teng's the clever one. Once the baby's grown, we can eat both fire rhinoceroses. Pure profit, no loss!"
"Ahem!"
Just then, Shi Teng spoke. "It's getting late, and even fiercer beasts come out at night. Let's hurry back!"
Shi Tieshan looked at the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros, licked his lips, then sighed softly. "Ah, the duck right at our mouths has flown away again. Looks like we'll have to fill our bellies with wild fruit tonight!"
At those words, Shi Teng's eyes lit up.
"You've all worked hard all day. How could we go without meat tonight? Wait for me!"
Shi Teng leaped up and bounded toward the distant forest in just a few jumps.
Before long,
Miserable cries rang out from the forest.
Dragging an Earth Dragon hundreds of times larger than himself in each hand, Shi Teng raced back, kicking up clouds of dust.
Then, with a powerful heave of both arms, he flung over two Earth Dragons, each roughly twice the size of the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros.
Clear bloody wounds marked their necks-the injuries that had killed them.
Excitement spread across Shi Tieshan's face. "Earth Dragons! They're actually Earth Dragons! Their hide is even tougher than a Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's. I've always wanted to get one to give Sky Leopard a nourishing meal!"
Although the Earth Dragon had "dragon" in its name, it was actually just an enormous forest-dwelling Fierce Beast shaped like a lizard. Aside from its thick, tough hide and astonishing defenses, it had no other powerful offensive abilities.
Once again, everyone saw Shi Teng in a new light. Their whole group had struggled so much to capture a single Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros.
Yet Little Teng had hunted down two Earth Dragons all by himself.
Perhaps this was the gulf between their talents.
The group dragged the two Earth Dragons along, while Shi Teng sat backward on the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's back, propping his head in both hands and quietly gazing up at the sky.
The vast Great Wilderness stretched as far as the eye could see.
Seeing a Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros approaching Stone Village, even the Willow Deity was startled.
An emerald branch brushed gently over the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's body. She had assumed the beast possessed some special bloodline or was a Primordial Remnant.
But after examining her for quite some time, she discovered nothing beyond the fact that she was female.
Then she gave Shi Teng a thoroughly disdainful look.
Seeing everyone return laden with spoils, the entire village bustled with excitement once more.
They surrounded the two Earth Dragons and the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros.
The children had never seen a living Fierce Beast before, and they were filled with curiosity about the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros.
Little One had long since woken up and was searching everywhere for his big brother.
When he saw Shi Teng riding the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros, he scampered over joyfully, then leaped straight into the air.
As though their hearts were linked, Shi Teng reached out with both hands and caught Shi Hao in his arms.
A little upset, Shi Hao said in his babyish voice, "Big Brother, where did you go? You didn't even take me along!"
Shi Teng set Shi Hao down on the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's back,
Gently stroking Shi Hao's head. "Look! This Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros is my present to you. From now on, she'll be your milk bottle. You'll get to drink fresh beast milk every day!"
Shi Hao hugged his milk bottle and took big gulps, his face brimming with joy. "Thank you, Big Brother! Little One loves beast milk!"
Shi Teng then leaped up, landing lightly on the ground.
He fetched a wooden ladle from nearby, slit open an Earth Dragon's chest, and extracted a brimming ladleful of its finest treasure blood.
Shi Tianba was delighted. "Dad, these are Earth Dragons you hunted! Why should all the best treasure blood go to Shi Teng?"
Shi Linhu felt rather ashamed, his rugged face burning.
He was known as Stone Village's greatest warrior. If he simply admitted that Shi Teng had hunted both Earth Dragons, while they had been unable to handle even the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros,
How humiliating would that be!
Shi Linhu frowned, itching to slap him.
This brat really knows how to put his old man in a tight spot.
After extracting the Earth Dragons' treasure blood, Shi Teng hurried toward the village entrance and gently poured it onto the soil at the Willow Deity's feet.
He said happily, "I keep my word, don't I? This is the purest treasure blood from two Earth Dragons, and it's still warm. It's all for you, Sister Willow Deity!"
The Willow Deity nodded gently. "At least you have a conscience!"
"Of course! A gentleman's word can't be overtaken even by a team of four horses. This is just an appetizer. In the future, I'll even get you Golden Crow and Phoenix treasure blood, Sister!"
The Willow Deity coughed softly twice and said in a low voice, "You really dare to talk big. Golden Crows and Phoenixes are primordial pureblood creatures. Their strength is far beyond anything you can reach!"
Ding! Congratulations, host, on checking in at the Willow Deity's feet. You have received Crop Seeds × 1,000!
Shi Teng felt as though a hundred thousand grass-mud horses were stampeding through his heart.
Crop seeds? I finally crossed into another world and got a system. I came here aiming to become an Emperor Supreme.
Not to grow vegetables!
But on second thought, Stone Village was often short of food, and the women, the elderly, and the weak could only remain in the village.
They could plant these crops, which would at least keep everyone fed.
Maybe in this world, I'll even get to eat tomatoes stir-fried with Phoenix eggs, or noodles with potatoes and dragon meat!
Tsk, tsk. At that thought, a strange excitement stirred within Shi Teng.
Before you continue