Arc 8Starfire’s Rankings Rise

Xu Ran and his Contract Beasts climbed the Cloud-Gathering City rankings, drawing attention to the Starfire Foster Shop and earning resources. As customers and rivals arrived, Xu Ran handled new boarding and grooming cases, while Fighting Hairball continued to struggle with memories of its Hunting Squad.

  • Xu Ran groomed Ye Haoming’s Flame Barbarian Bull and Qin Can’s Contract Beasts, then learned about the city’s Beast Taming Rankings in exchange for future free grooming.
  • Xu Ran registered as Starfire Foster Shop and sent Can Can, Purple Cloud, and Starlight to challenge rankings, where they scored highly in combat power, speed, defense, reaction, and size.
  • Xu Ran entered the rankings himself, taking first place in individual battle power, then led his three beasts through the Overall Battle Power test to place Starfire Foster Shop fourth.
  • Shang Xin’s Exquisite Butterfly placed fifth in the speed rankings after Xu Ran restored its wings, while Xu Ran also accepted Fighting Hairball for boarding after Zhou Che explained its Hunting Squad had suffered losses.
  • Qin Yue brought her Contract Beasts for grooming, and Xu Ran gained four Three-Star Skills from them as he recognized her luck could benefit his own beasts.
  • Cai Han brought in her Azure Profound Snake King, and Xu Ran cleaned its scales and began training it to separate accumulated poison from its water.
  • He Junlong challenged Xu Ran with his Contract Beasts, but Xu Ran groomed them successfully, and He Hongtu reprimanded He Junlong before ordering the martial arts school disciples to line up for service.
  • Xu Ran continued grooming a Linglong Dog as Jin watched, while in Qingzhou City Su Xiaoxiao worried about Tony’s behavior and wished Boss Xu would return.
Chapters 176–200 Vol. 2 Read

Ch. 176How Is It Expensive?

Xu Ran opened the Starfire Foster Shop in Cloud-Gathering City, where Ye Haoming and Qin Can arrived and questioned his high grooming prices. Ye Haoming paid for his Flame Barbarian Bull to be groomed, and Xu Ran began earning Happiness Points as the bull reacted intensely to the treatment.

  • Can Can worried that the shop had no customers, and Purple Cloud explained that the Starfire Foster Shop had once been just as quiet in Qingzhou City.
  • Ye Haoming and Qin Can entered the shop, and Ye Haoming criticized Xu Ran's grooming prices while Qin Can admired how expensive they were.
  • Qin Can persuaded Ye Haoming to pay for a grooming session so he could criticize Xu Ran's service fairly.
  • Ye Haoming summoned his Flame Barbarian Bull, which recognized Purple Cloud and cowered before it.
  • Xu Ran began grooming the Flame Barbarian Bull, whose Happiness Points rose as it struggled to suppress its sounds of pleasure.
  • Xu Ran plugged the Flame Barbarian Bull's mouth with a cloth after its Happiness Points per reaction dropped when it mooed.

Ch. 177Koi Number Two?

Xu Ran groomed Ye Haoming’s Flame Barbarian Bull and Qin Can’s Contract Beasts, impressing both men with the results while secretly gaining two Three-Star Skills. The chapter left Xu Ran eager to groom Qin Can’s Mist-Song Envoy and see whether Qin Can would bring him more luck.

  • Xu Ran revealed the dramatically improved Flame Barbarian Bull, and Ye Haoming could find no fault with the grooming.
  • Qin Can lured Ye Haoming outside, then used his money to have Xu Ran groom his Earth-Rumbling Rhino; Xu Ran gained the teachable Three-Star Skill Earthquake Roar.
  • Qin Can persuaded Ye Haoming to pay for grooming the Wind-Listening Ambusher, and Xu Ran gained the unteachable Three-Star Skill Tornado Swarm.
  • Ye Haoming refused to pay for another session and left, while Xu Ran offered Qin Can a grand-opening promotion to groom his Mist-Song Envoy for free.
  • Xu Ran looked forward to grooming the Mist-Song Envoy and wondered whether Qin Can would become his second lucky customer.

Ch. 178Grooming a humanoid contract beast!

Xu Ran groomed Qin Can’s Mist-Song Envoy and confirmed that Qin Can had a koi constitution. When Xu Ran asked about ways to promote Starfire Foster Shop, Qin Can told him about Cloud-Gathering City’s Beast Taming Rankings, which offered Beast Tamer Points to ranked tamers.

  • Xu Ran took the Mist-Song Envoy to the grooming room while Qin Can stayed in the lounge, where the three little ones watched him hopefully.
  • Xu Ran groomed the Mist-Song Envoy, earning its happiness and obtaining the three-star skill Cloud-Sea Vanishing Trace.
  • Xu Ran secretly borrowed Qin Can’s luck through three ten-pulls and confirmed Qin Can had a koi constitution.
  • Xu Ran asked Qin Can about upcoming competitions for Commander Level Beast Tamers, and Qin Can offered to explain an alternative in exchange for future free grooming sessions for his three contract beasts.
  • Qin Can explained that Cloud-Gathering City had Beast Taming Rankings divided by criteria and strength, with weekly Beast Tamer Point rewards for those who stayed ranked.

Ch. 179You Call That a Fake Name?!

Xu Ran and his three Contract Beasts allocated their resources, gained new skills, and strengthened their abilities before heading to the Beast Taming Rankings. Xu Ran registered under a pseudonym, leaving the staff member stunned when he chose Starfire Foster Shop.

  • Xu Ran divided the resources among Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can after they repaid their debts, leaving Can Can with the most Value Points.
  • Can Can fused Earthquake Roar with Earth-Splitting Heaven-Shattering to create the stronger, wider-reaching Earthquake and Heaven Collapse.
  • Starlight used a Three-Star Skill Scroll on Miniaturization and gained Gap-Flow Shuttle, which boosted speed and agility without reducing strength.
  • Purple Cloud used its scroll on Miniaturization and gained Martial Combat Specialization, which adjusted its body and enhanced it for combat.
  • Can Can spent its resources to raise Mount Sumeru in a Mustard Seed and Dragon Tortoise's Might to Full Moon Level, while Starlight and Purple Cloud exchanged their remaining Value Points for Beast Tamer Points and supplies.
  • Xu Ran and the three little ones went to register for the Beast Taming Rankings, where Xu Ran chose Starfire Foster Shop as his pseudonym.

Ch. 180Who on Earth Was This Person?!

Xu Ran brought Purple Cloud, Can Can, and Starlight to the Beast Taming Rankings and learned how the current and historical rankings worked. Can Can scored 42,832 in the Commander Rank attack test, earning 18th place and drawing a stunned crowd’s attention to the Starfire Foster Shop.

  • Xu Ran learned from a middle-aged man that the current rankings included living Contract Beasts at their present rank, while historical rankings recorded the best results of everyone who had ever placed.
  • Xu Ran saw Fang Canghai’s Jade Mystic Azure Dragon at the top of the historical ranking, and Purple Cloud, Can Can, and Starlight each grew eager to test themselves.
  • Xu Ran took the three Contract Beasts to Testing Area C12, where Can Can enlarged itself and unleashed Dragon Tortoise’s Might and Earthquake and Heaven Collapse against the energy targets.
  • Can Can received a combat power score of 42,832, and Xu Ran noted that it ranked in the top twenty.
  • The ranking bell rang as Can Can’s result pushed 482 names down; the Current Commander Rank list revealed the Starfire Foster Shop’s Coiling Dragon Tortoise in 18th place, leaving spectators wondering who the entrant was.

Ch. 181Purple Cloud charged into the all-time rankings!

Xu Ran’s Purple Cloud placed third in the current Commander Rank combat-power rankings and entered the all-time rankings at 372nd, earning ten thousand Beast Tamer Points. After the rankings drew a crowd and advanced Xu Ran’s Main Quest, reporter Yu Changming offered to interview him, and Xu Ran agreed.

  • Purple Cloud unleashed its strength in the test, scoring 51,228 combat power and surpassing the current rankings’ third-place score.
  • The crowd watched as Purple Cloud entered third on the current rankings and Starfire Foster Shop placed 372nd on the all-time rankings.
  • Yu Changming concluded that Xu Ran’s third Contract Beast would not trigger another ranking change and went to Area C12 with Old Zhou.
  • Xu Ran learned the all-time ranking had earned him ten thousand Beast Tamer Points and saw Main Quest 3 progress rise as news of his results spread.
  • Yu Changming introduced himself as a reporter for the Cloud-Gathering Beast Taming News and offered to guide Xu Ran in exchange for an interview; Xu Ran agreed.

Ch. 182Starlight's speed

Xu Ran guided Starlight to challenge the current Commander Rank Contract Beast Speed Rankings while Yu Changming interviewed him about the Starfire Foster Shop. Starlight broke the sound barrier with Gap-Flow Shuttle and took first place, leaving the spectators astonished as the rankings updated.

  • Yu Changming explained the different Beast Taming Rankings and directed Xu Ran to the speed rankings for Starlight.
  • Starlight entered Test Area C23 alone and used Heart of Eternal Night, Night-Hiding Star Gallop, and Gap-Flow Shuttle to reach 459.1 m/s.
  • Xu Ran began introducing the Starfire Foster Shop to Yu Changming during the test.
  • A bell announced that the rankings had changed, and the historical speed rankings displayed Fang Canghai in first place at 503.4 m/s.
  • Starlight's result appeared at the top of the current rankings under Starfire Foster Shop, pushing every other ranked contestant down one place.

Ch. 183Can Can's ambition

Xu Ran’s Starlight claimed third place on the Historical Commander-Rank Speed Rankings under the alias “Starfire Foster Shop,” earning the attention of Qin Yue, whose record it displaced. After learning the ranking would bring Starlight 80,000 Beast Tamer Points, Xu Ran took Can Can to attempt the Defense Rankings.

  • Xu Ran kept his identity hidden after Starlight’s result displaced Qin Yue on the Historical Rankings.
  • Qin Yue returned home, learned that an unknown Beast Tamer had taken her third place, and vowed to settle the score after discovering the alias was “Starfire Foster Shop.”
  • Qin Can realized Xu Ran was the Beast Tamer who had surpassed his sister and hesitated to tell her that Xu Ran ran the grooming shop she wanted to visit.
  • Xu Ran told Starlight it would receive 80,000 Beast Tamer Points, while Purple Cloud learned its jump-type speed skill would not count for the Speed Rankings.
  • Xu Ran brought Can Can to the Defense Rankings, where Can Can prepared to prove its defense could earn a place on the Historical Rankings.

Ch. 184I, Can Aotian, am taking off right here!

Xu Ran sent Can Can to take the defense test, where it earned a score of 60,194 and placed second on the rankings. Shang Xin reclaimed eighteenth place on the combat power rankings, only to discover that the same Coiling Dragon Tortoise had pushed her down to fourth on defense.

  • Xu Ran sent Can Can to test its defense while he and Yu Changming reviewed the rankings.
  • Can Can endured the Lightning Element test until its defense failed, then used its skills to withstand the Wind Element attacks before scoring 60,194.
  • Shang Xin arrived after hearing she had fallen to twentieth on the combat power rankings and retook eighteenth place by testing her Wind-Rending Demon Bird.
  • A ranking update placed Starfire Foster Shop's Coiling Dragon Tortoise second on the defense rankings, dropping Shang Xin to fourth.
  • Shang Xin wondered why the mysterious Starfire Foster Shop had displaced her with the same beast on multiple rankings.

Ch. 185A new goal for the three little ones

Xu Ran’s rankings challenges spread the name Starfire Foster Shop across Cloud-Gathering City, increasing local recognition and inspiring his three Contract Beasts to pursue more rankings. He planned to expand the shop and take on joint rankings with them, while slowing their resource distributions to match their growing needs.

  • Starfire Foster Shop rose to 269th place on the Historical Rankings, and Xu Ran left the rankings area with Starlight and Purple Cloud before recalling Can Can from the testing facility.
  • Shang Xin asked Xu Li to check whether Starfire Foster Shop really existed, while news of the mysterious Beast Tamer’s three rankings successes spread through Cloud-Gathering City.
  • Xu Ran returned to the shop and saw that its local recognition had increased more than tenfold; Purple Cloud, Can Can, and Starlight each resolved to challenge more rankings.
  • Xu Ran told the three Contract Beasts they could challenge rankings after training and suggested they later try rankings that included both Beast Tamers and their Contract Beasts.
  • Xu Ran explained that their growing strength made weekly resource distributions less useful, so he changed them to once every half month and considered expanding Starfire Foster Shop with future System Clerks.

Ch. 186The Exquisite Butterfly, Washed Clean of Tarnish

Xu Ran opened the Starfire Foster Shop and welcomed Shang Xin, who came to confront the beast tamer who had overtaken her on the defense rankings. He groomed her Exquisite Butterfly with a special wind-washing method, restoring its wings and hinting that it could reclaim a place in the speed rankings.

  • Xu Ran opened the shop after breakfast while Starlight, Can Can, and Purple Cloud went to train.
  • Shang Xin visited the shop, accused Xu Ran of being connected to the mysterious ranking climber, and said she would take back her place on the defense rankings.
  • Shang Xin paid for grooming and brought out her Exquisite Butterfly, whose dirty wings had dulled its color and slowed its speed.
  • Xu Ran learned that the Exquisite Butterfly's wings trapped dirt and that ordinary grooming could not clean them without damaging their scales.
  • Xu Ran used a special wind-washing method to clean and condition the Exquisite Butterfly's wings, restoring their dazzling appearance.
  • Xu Ran urged Shang Xin to check the commander rank contract beast speed rankings, suggesting the Exquisite Butterfly might help her overtake the competition.

Ch. 187Another Sudden Arrival on the Speed Rankings

Xu Ran welcomed a wealthy young Beast Tamer and boarded his Marshal Rank Fighting Hairball, then Shang Xin took the Exquisite Butterfly to the speed rankings and shocked Hou Huafei by placing fifth. Shang Xin left Hou Huafei with a challenge to defend his ranking.

  • Xu Ran showed the young Beast Tamer the shop’s expanded Boarding Area, and the boy paid 3,990 Beast Tamer Points to board the Fighting Hairball for half a month.
  • The boy comforted the Fighting Hairball, telling it that his father’s fate was not its fault and promising to take it home after its stay.
  • Shang Xin met her old rival Hou Huafei at the Commander Rank speed rankings, where he mocked her recent losses and doubted the Exquisite Butterfly.
  • Shang Xin bet 1,000 Beast Tamer Points that the Exquisite Butterfly would reach the top fifty, and Hou Huafei accepted.
  • The Exquisite Butterfly placed fifth at 324.6 meters per second, startling Hou Huafei and winning Shang Xin’s bet.
  • Shang Xin told Hou Huafei that his position on the speed rankings would no longer be safe.

Ch. 188Was the Koi's Sister a Koi Too?

Shang Xin recommended the Starfire Foster Shop to Xu Li, while Xu Ran learned why Zhou Che had brought Fighting Hairball to board and promised to help it recover from its guilt. Qin Yue then visited the shop, and Xu Ran discovered that grooming her four Contract Beasts yielded four more Three-Star Skills, suggesting Cloud-Gathering City had two Koi.

  • Shang Xin called Xu Li and urged her to bring her Exquisite Butterfly to the Starfire Foster Shop.
  • Zhou Che explained that Fighting Hairball had lost control during a battle, leaving a gap in its Hunting Squad’s defense, and asked Xu Ran to board it until Zhou Che’s injured father woke up.
  • Qin Yue introduced herself as Qin Can’s sister and used four of Qin Can’s promised free grooming sessions for her own Contract Beasts.
  • Xu Ran groomed Qin Yue’s Whirlwind Sound Dragon and gained a new Three-Star Skill, then groomed her remaining three Contract Beasts.
  • Xu Ran gained four Three-Star Skills from Qin Yue’s Contract Beasts and concluded that Qin Yue, like Qin Can, was a Koi who could benefit his own Contract Beasts.

Ch. 189Jade-Picking Beast Taming News goes on sale!

Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can prepared to earn more Beast Tamer Points by challenging the Beast Taming Rankings, while Xu Ran’s identity and shop were revealed in the Cloud-Gathering Beast Taming News. At the rankings, Starlight began a Defense Rankings test as Purple Cloud and Can Can waited to see its result.

  • Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can discussed exchanging their incoming Beast Tamer Points for Monarch Rank resources and resolved to challenge more rankings for points.
  • The three Contract Beasts met Fighting Hairball in the Boarding Area, where it apologized for letting its aura flare before returning to its living space.
  • An afro-haired boy recognized Xu Ran from the newspaper, and Xu Ran saw that its report on Starfire Foster Shop had raised the shop’s local recognition.
  • Xu Ran sent Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can to the rankings, and they headed out eager to compete again.
  • Starlight entered testing area C07 for the Defense Rankings as Purple Cloud and Can Can waited by the Commander Rank results board.

Ch. 190Will this ever end?

Starlight earned ninth place in the Defense Rankings, while Purple Cloud challenged the Reaction Rankings and took first place in the current rankings and second in the historical rankings. Purple Cloud resolved to surpass Fang Canghai’s Swiftwing Kite, the historical record holder.

  • Starlight endured the Defense Rankings test and reached the second round, facing Dark Element attacks after its defense against Light Element spears finally failed.
  • Song Shi learned that Xu Ran’s Star Divine Horse had placed ninth in the Defense Rankings and praised Xu Ran at the shop.
  • Purple Cloud took Xu Ran’s Beast Tamer badge and headed to the Reaction Rankings test while curious onlookers followed the Three Little Ones.
  • Purple Cloud dodged the test’s attacks with Treading Lightning, Leaving Traces until fatigue caused it to take a hit, then scored 49326 in reaction.
  • Purple Cloud claimed first place in the current Reaction Rankings and second place in the historical rankings, behind Fang Canghai’s Swiftwing Kite.

Ch. 191Taking a Blade to the Rankings!

Xu Ran’s Contract Beasts continued their ranking challenges, earning high placements and Beast Tamer Points while drawing crowds. After hearing their results, Xu Ran arrived at the Beast Taming Rankings Area with his blade, ready to challenge the rankings himself.

  • Qi Changhong confronted Xu Ran after Purple Cloud displaced him from first place in the Reaction Rankings, then bought an hour of sparring at Starfire Foster Shop.
  • Can Can entered the Size Rankings and claimed first place in both the Current and Historical Rankings with a maximum body length of 108 meters.
  • Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can reported their ranking results and rewards to Xu Ran, who told Purple Cloud and Can Can to wait for him at the Beast Taming Rankings Area.
  • Xu Ran summoned Starlight, took his long blade, and rode to the Beast Taming Rankings Gate as spectators gathered.
  • Xu Ran greeted the spectators, entered through the gate, and prepared to challenge the rankings with his blade.

Ch. 192Straight to the Top with One Slash!

Xu Ran challenged the Commander Level Beast Tamer Individual Battle Power Rankings and took first place, surpassing He Hongtu. He then entered the Overall Battle Power Rankings test with Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can, where they prepared to face a massive Beast Tide.

  • Xu Ran chose to test his individual battle power and entered testing facility C03 while spectators gathered outside.
  • Xu Ran used a single saber slash to destroy the energy-form Supernatural Creature and received a battle power score of 40823.
  • The rankings updated with Xu Ran in first place on both the Current and Historical Individual Battle Power Rankings, dropping He Hongtu to second.
  • Xu Ran summoned Purple Cloud, Starlight, and Can Can to testing facility C01 to attempt the Overall Battle Power Rankings.
  • Inside a simulation of Cloud-Gathering City's Beast Domain, Xu Ran and his beasts activated their skills as a huge Beast Tide approached.
  • Can Can raised a fortress and used Dragon Tortoise's Might to draw the approaching creatures' attention before the Beast Tide engulfed the team.

Ch. 193The problem with the boarding residents

Xu Ran and the Three Little Ones tested their overall combat power, earning a score that placed Starfire Foster Shop fourth on the Commander Level rankings. After attracting several ambitious challengers to his shop, Xu Ran served dinner to the new boarding residents and noticed Fighting Hairball's interest in the rankings.

  • Xu Ran ended the Beast Tide test after Purple Cloud and the others grew exhausted, and their overall combat power score reached 329451.
  • The rankings placed Starfire Foster Shop fourth, pushing Li Dajin, Cai Han, and He Junlong down one spot.
  • Xu Ran advertised Starfire Foster Shop to Li Dajin and He Junlong, who both said they would visit the next day.
  • Xu Ran returned to the boarding area and fed Fighting Hairball and two Commander Rank Contract Beasts who had bullied their owner's newly contracted beast.
  • Fighting Hairball showed interest in the Beast Taming Rankings after Purple Cloud told it about their challenge, and Xu Ran noticed its hesitation.

Ch. 194Points Arrived, Time to Redeem New Resources!

Xu Ran recognized that Fighting Hairball was suppressing its volatile nature after the Hunting Squad's disaster and planned to add calming resources to its food. After the Beast Taming Rankings rewards arrived, he helped Purple Cloud and Starlight choose Monarch Rank resources, then asked Can Can what it wanted.

  • Xu Ran concluded that Fighting Hairball's restraint and reluctance to enter the Beast Taming Rankings stemmed from the Hunting Squad's losses, and decided to add calming resources to its food.
  • Xu Ran tallied the rewards: Purple Cloud had over one hundred thousand Beast Tamer Points, Starlight had one hundred and ten thousand, and Can Can had eighty thousand.
  • Purple Cloud chose a Golden Thunder Crystal, a Superphase Conductive Force Stone, and a Piercing Thunderbone Needle to support its power and skill plans.
  • Starlight chose a Falling Star Shard, a Deep Night Echo Conch, and a Fate Necklace, including Chain of Fate to help support Purple Cloud.
  • Xu Ran redeemed Starlight's three chosen resources for one hundred thousand Beast Tamer Points, then asked Can Can which resources it wanted.

Ch. 195Snake Woman Cai Han

Xu Ran selected Monarch Rank resources for Can Can, and the deliveries arrived the next morning as he prepared for a busy day at the Starfire Foster Shop. Snake Woman Cai Han brought her Azure Profound Snake King to him for help, and the system appraisal revealed that its health had been harmed by accumulated grime.

  • Xu Ran helped Can Can choose Earthcore Stone Marrow and Brilliant Gold Dragon Scales, then noticed that local recognition for his branch had risen to 20.1%.
  • The next morning, Xu Ran fed the shop’s boarders and received the eight Monarch Rank resources, which his three beasts eagerly claimed.
  • Xu Ran opened the shop to a crowd of customers as Fighting Hairball watched them leave with envy and pain over its estranged companions.
  • Cai Han entered the Starfire Foster Shop with her Azure Profound Snake King and asked Xu Ran to examine it.
  • Xu Ran used the system appraisal and learned that the snake’s accumulated grime was seriously affecting its health.

Ch. 196A contract beast that looked worse after grooming?

Xu Ran groomed Cai Han’s Azure Profound Snake King, removing the toxins that had discolored its scales and slowed its movements. He explained that the beast had been suppressing its poisonous water secretions and recommended learning Water-Draining Desiccation to separate the poison safely, then offered the shop’s sparring service.

  • Cai Han told Xu Ran that her Azure Profound Snake King’s colorful scales, sluggish movements, and slowing growth had begun after its accidental evolution.
  • Xu Ran identified the beast’s condition as a grooming problem and restored its scales to their original emerald green during the session.
  • Xu Ran explained that the Azure Profound Snake King had suppressed its poisonous water secretions, causing toxins to accumulate beneath its scales.
  • The Azure Profound Snake King reacted angrily when Xu Ran suggested letting the poison flow, fearing it would harm Cai Han.
  • Xu Ran recommended that the Azure Profound Snake King learn Water-Draining Desiccation to separate the poison from its water and offered the shop’s sparring service.

Ch. 197Visitors from the He Family Martial Arts School

Xu Ran taught Cai Han’s Azure Profound Snake King Water-Draining Desiccation through a droplet-control game, then returned upstairs to find He Junlong and apprentices from the He Family Martial Arts School demanding grooming services. He Junlong brought his reluctant Gluttonous Flame Wolf Lord hoping to find fault, but Xu Ran promised the beast he could make its flames burn stronger.

  • Xu Ran explained that the Azure Profound Snake King could learn Water-Draining Desiccation by improving its control of water-element power and gave it a droplet-eating training game to practice.
  • Xu Ran left Cai Han to train with the Azure Profound Snake King, while she coached it through repeated attempts.
  • Xu Ran returned to the shop and found He Junlong and a crowd from the He Family Martial Arts School demanding grooming for everyone.
  • He Junlong sent his Gluttonous Flame Wolf Lord into the Grooming Room, intending to use its resistance to grooming as an excuse to find fault with Xu Ran’s work.
  • Xu Ran learned why the Gluttonous Flame Wolf Lord resisted grooming and promised it that grooming could make its flames burn stronger.

Ch. 198You little brat, take this!

Xu Ran groomed He Junlong’s Gluttonous Flame Wolf Lord and Wind-Riding General so expertly that He Junlong could find no fault with his work. When they left the Grooming Room, they encountered He Junlong’s imposing grandfather, who raised his cane at him.

  • Xu Ran groomed the filthy Gluttonous Flame Wolf Lord, leaving its fur sleek and its scarlet flames burning more vigorously than before.
  • He Junlong summoned his Wind-Riding General and challenged Xu Ran to groom it while he watched.
  • Xu Ran used specially formulated Grooming Sand to clean the inside of the Wind-Riding General’s armor, then completed its grooming without giving He Junlong anything to criticize.
  • Xu Ran, He Junlong, and the refreshed Wind-Riding General returned to the storefront and found He Junlong’s apprentices standing silently before his white-haired grandfather.
  • He Junlong recognized his grandfather, who turned and raised his cane, saying, “You little brat, take this!”

Ch. 199The Open-Minded Old Master He

He Hongtu punished He Junlong for harassing Xu Ran, then made the He Family Martial Arts School disciples line up for service at Xu Ran’s shop. Li Dajin and two rival shop owners arrived intending to cause trouble, but Xu Ran had them thrown out, while three other visitors joined the queue.

  • He Hongtu beat He Junlong, reprimanded him for damaging the school’s reputation, and praised Xu Ran for surpassing his Commander Level record.
  • He Hongtu ordered the He Family Martial Arts School disciples to line up for grooming and left with He Junlong.
  • Li Dajin led five boarding shop owners toward the Starfire Foster Shop, claiming the He Family disciples outside had come to cause trouble.
  • Xu Ran told Li Dajin, the mustached shop owner, and the tall, thin shop owner to join the queue, then identified them as troublemakers.
  • Li Dong and the He Family Martial Arts School disciples carried the three men outside, and the beautiful woman, the short-haired woman, and the formally dressed man joined the line.

Ch. 200His Fellow Professionals' Shock

At the Starfire Foster Shop, Xu Ran impressed Pearl Boarding Shop owner Jin with his exceptional grooming and styling of her Linglong Dog. The scene then shifted to Qingzhou City, where Su Xiaoxiao regretted having Tony groom the Blazing Fox without Boss Xu.

  • A disciple from the He Family Martial Arts School praised Xu Ran’s grooming, and a woman arrived with her Linglong Dog for service.
  • Jin followed Xu Ran into the Grooming Room and realized its expanded space used costly Spatial Expansion Technology.
  • Xu Ran’s brushing and deep care made the Linglong Dog visibly blissful while Jin watched closely.
  • Xu Ran gave the Linglong Dog a striking short-haired trim and tied its head fur into a bun, astonishing Jin with his styling skill.
  • In Qingzhou City, Tony continued grooming the Blazing Fox while Su Xiaoxiao worried about his unsettling behavior and wished Boss Xu would return.
Arc 8 of 16