Shape-Shifting Grass

Section Seven: The Ring

Lister had made no deliberate effort to digest the Thunder-Winged White Tiger's Magic Crystal Core, leaving it to digest naturally inside him. At that moment, he looked down and discovered a ring on one of the Thunder-Winged White Tiger's paws.

"Could this be a Spatial Ring?!"

A Spatial Ring was a very familiar item, but this was Lister's first time seeing one.

He picked up the Spatial Ring. He should probably drip blood onto it to claim ownership.

Without hesitation, he plucked out a dragon scale with his claw and dripped a drop of fresh blood onto the ring's surface. The ring immediately absorbed it. It really was a Spatial Ring. Watching the blood being absorbed, Lister confirmed that this was indeed a Spatial Ring.

He immediately swept through it with his consciousness. The Spatial Ring held roughly ten cubic meters of space, containing several hundred Magic Crystal Cores of various elements and some human weapons. It seemed some adventurer had been killed by the Thunder-Winged White Tiger, which had acquired the Spatial Ring. Now, however, it belonged to Lister.

Lister knew he had no time to keep playing with the Spatial Ring. What mattered more right now was exploring the cave to find out just what could attract two high-level magical beasts like him and the Thunder-Winged White Tiger!

He entered the cave. The ore all around gave off a faint glow, and as he continued deeper inside, he soon reached its depths.

Section Eight: Grass

At the very center of the cave stood two plants, one large and one small, glowing a deep blue. Their translucent emerald-green stalks and deep-blue leaves made them look a little like miniature bamboo plants.

The aura they gave off was extremely soothing, creating the feeling of being held in an embrace.

I wonder what kind of grass this is and what it does.

Right! Why not try the Data Eye? I've used it on people, but never on plants. Data immediately scrolled into view before him. Sure enough, it could display data for these as well.

Name: Shape-Shifting Grass? Charm Grass

Stage: Mature

Description: As its name suggests, Shape-Shifting Grass allows magical beasts to assume human form after consuming it. It also increases the consumer's charm, making others feel closer to them.

However, it must be consumed when a magical beast advances to Saint-level for the transformation to take effect. Otherwise, it only increases charm.

"What?! It's actually Shape-Shifting Grass! This stuff-

For magical beasts, this was a real treasure. Calling it divine grass wouldn't be an exaggeration. Magical beasts could only assume human form upon reaching Deity-level, yet this Shape-Shifting Grass could let them take human form at Saint-level and even increase their charm. Its importance was obvious.

I was wondering how to enter the human world. If I went there as a magical beast, a Spined Iron-Armored Dragon walking around the human world would probably attract plenty of Saint-level experts wanting to take my dragon penis to make soup or subdue me. But Deity-level was far too distant, so I hadn't entertained any hopes of going to the human world.

"I couldn't think of a way before, but now it looks like I only need to reach Saint-level. I'm already at the eighth rank. Just two more ranks, and I'll reach Saint-level."

Excitement filled his entire body. Although Lister was now a magical beast, his soul was still human—the soul of a food lover, at that. Having a body he could use to live in the human world could not have been more perfect.

As his excitement slowly subsided, Lister looked toward the other stalk of Shape-Shifting Grass.

Name: Shape-Shifting Grass? Charm Grass

Stage: Growing? 30 years

Description: As its name suggests, Shape-Shifting Grass allows magical beasts to assume human form after consuming it. It also increases the consumer's charm, making others feel closer to them.

"This one isn't mature yet. It must be because the other one matured that they started attracting magical beasts."

"This one doesn't seem to be mature yet, so I'll leave it alone for now. I'll take the other one first, in case I can't get either of them later. Good thing I have a Spatial Ring, or I wouldn't know where to put it."

Lister picked the stalk of Shape-Shifting Grass and placed it inside his storage ring.

"I'll come back for the other one if I get the chance. I can give it to my younger dragon brother, Quinn Ers, then." Lister made his plans, then left the cave.

"But if I leave like this, it might not still be here when I come back. I might as well seal the cave so other magical beasts won't notice it."

He slammed his draconic body into the mountainside. Huge rocks collapsed at the cave entrance, burying the only way inside.

"Done! Now I won't have to worry about other magical beasts discovering and picking it."

"I never expected such a great stroke of fortune. Once I find Mist Canyon, I'll stay there until I break through to Saint-level before coming out."

After taking care of everything, Lister set off again. After all, he still wasn't very clear on where Mist Canyon was. The original novel had only described it as a canyon fissure stretching several hundred li. It should have been shaped like a gourd, with a narrow opening above and a vast space inside. He could only search for it slowly once he arrived.

"But with Linley's abilities at that time, he couldn't possibly have gone deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range. It should be somewhere in the middle, toward the center. In any case, heading to the Holy Union first must be right."

Lister roughly considered the canyon's location. After all, it concerned whether he could make an early breakthrough. Once he broke through to Saint-level, he would be practically invincible on the Yulan continent. As long as he did not provoke those few Deity-level beings, his life would definitely not be in danger.