The Iron Bamboo Breeding Base was different from the breeding base in Icefield City. It had only a mountain bamboo forest region.
In this world, Shi Yu often saw things that defied common sense.
For example, three or four environments that could never have existed side by side on Earth could blend together here.
But a closer investigation would reveal that the special powers of extraordinary creatures were influencing their surroundings.
The environment of the Iron Bamboo Breeding Base was relatively normal, at least more so than that of the Icefield City breeding base.
The soil was rich and deep, the forest lush, and the iron bamboo thriving. Water was plentiful, with clear springs murmuring through the area. It was just the sort of habitat Iron-Eating Beasts loved.
By now, Shi Yu and the breeder Lin Xiuzhu had entered the breeding area.
Even if there was only one cub left, he still had to take a look. He couldn't wait another year for a new batch of Iron-Eating Beast cubs to grow up.
Life wasn't easy. Shi Yu sighed...
The Iron Bamboo Breeding Base didn't just have Iron-Eating Beast cubs; there were plenty of adults too. Shi Yu had simply reserved a cub.
For a novice Beast Tamer like him, contracting one pet cub was the limit of his ability.
Although adult Iron-Eating Beasts could also be contracted, Shi Yu clearly couldn't handle one.
"Iron-Eating Beasts... really are homebodies."
Along the way, Shi Yu saw many Iron-Eating Beasts on their own nearby, every one of them lounging around and sleeping.
Some slept in nests of grass, some hugged tree trunks in their sleep, and some slept in the forks of trees. They were all surprisingly quiet.
"This isn't their active season yet. At this time of year, the bigger Iron-Eating Beasts are generally quiet, but the smaller ones are livelier."
Lin Xiuzhu spoke as she led the way. Sure enough, before long, Shi Yu saw an Iron-Eating Beast that was noticeably smaller than the others.
It was less than a meter long and not very big overall. It was probably about a year old, at the stage where it had just left its mother to live independently.
The Iron-Eating Beast cubs reserved by Beast Tamers were generally around this age. After all, cubs that were too young were difficult for Beast Tamers to care for.
"Is this the one?"
When Shi Yu saw the little Iron-Eating Beast, his heart burst into bloom. He felt that his three months of waiting hadn't been in vain.
The Iron-Eating Beast cub had soft black-and-white fur and a short tail that swayed back and forth. It was extremely cute.
It had noticed Shi Yu and Lin Xiuzhu too. On its round face, its eyes shone within their big black patches as it watched them, bright and intent.
"Yes-" Lin Xiuzhu nodded.
"It looks perfectly normal to me," Shi Yu said.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Iron-Eating Beast cub looked away from the two of them, apparently not wanting to be disturbed. It immediately charged from where it stood and slammed into a tree trunk with a bang, then bounced back and rolled several times across the ground before stopping.
Shi Yu added, "All right, it doesn't look very smart."
Lin Xiuzhu pressed a hand to her forehead helplessly. "There were some problems when this Iron-Eating Beast cub was born. The birth didn't go smoothly, and its constitution is a little weaker than those of the other Iron-Eating Beast cubs."
"The Iron-Eating Beasts born around the same time all successfully awakened their Hardening ability before they turned one. This one alone still hasn't awakened it."
Generally speaking, among pets of the same species, the earlier one awakened its racial skill, the better its aptitude and talent. A slow awakening naturally indicated poor talent, which was why this Iron-Eating Beast had been left unchosen.
"In any case, those individual differences have caused its personality to become different from the other Iron-Eating Beasts' as well."
Iron-Eating Beasts actually had the same temperament and habits as giant pandas. They spent half their day eating and most of the remaining half asleep.
In the vast majority of cases, Iron-Eating Beasts were very docile. When they saw people, they often covered their faces with their front paws or lowered their heads, hiding their true faces. They rarely took the initiative to attack other creatures.
For that reason, they were highly recommended to novice Beast Tamers.
But this Iron-Eating Beast's experiences had been somewhat different. It had developed more slowly than the others born around the same time and couldn't do what it should have been able to do. Then it had been left unchosen, and its personality had changed dramatically.
It had grown anxious.
So it had begun to change its habits. Exceptionally self-disciplined, it had actually started training on its own, hoping to awaken its Hardening ability and grow stronger sooner.
It was a rare Iron-Eating Beast with a dream, one that wasn't lazy. Unfortunately, its talent fell a little short.
After evolving, Iron-Eating Beasts were not lacking in intelligence compared to other pets.
Charging into trees, as it had just done, was its way of toughening up its body.
"So, this Iron-Eating Beast cub has particularly poor talent, but it's hardworking and diligent, good for nothing except striving to improve?"
Shi Yu summed it up, then smiled.
"...That's a bit exaggerated, but roughly speaking, yes?" Lin Xiuzhu said.
"But don't worry. It was just born with slower development. If it's raised in a Beast Taming Space, it can quickly make up for that afterward."
Besides, such a self-disciplined Iron-Eating Beast was quite rare.
That sort of personality was usually a point in its favor.
Of course... there's a drawback to that personality too... Lin Xiuzhu muttered inwardly. Its irregular schedule meant it ate far too much.
After all, if it was going to train, its nutrition had to keep up.
"Then I'll take it."
Although normal Iron-Eating Beasts were quite good, Shi Yu didn't really want a docile pet that did nothing but eat and sleep. That was far too lazy.
One lazy person-himself-was enough.
Talent didn't matter, since he had the Skill Index.
As everyone knew, hard work plus a cheat was the way to go.
"Have you decided?" Lin Xiuzhu looked at Shi Yu in confusion. Didn't Beast Tamers usually care a great deal about a pet's talent?
Otherwise, this Iron-Eating Beast cub wouldn't have been left unchosen.
"I admire pets with this kind of hardworking personality... I feel like it'll get along well with me."
Mm, it even had a set of moves for independent training ready to go.
"So, is there a discount?" Shi Yu still hadn't forgotten about a discount.
Lin Xiuzhu was speechless, but she had Shi Yu's information and understood his circumstances.
She said, "This Iron-Eating Beast sleeps less, so it needs more food."
"As for a discount on the price... no. We treat every Iron-Eating Beast equally here. But if you choose it, we can give you an extra month's supply of iron bamboo."
The Iron Bamboo Breeding Base was not only a breeding base for Iron-Eating Beasts; it also produced iron bamboo, one of their favorite foods.
Iron bamboo was a mutated species of bamboo, as hard as steel. It was the most essential food for helping Iron-Eating Beasts master the Hardening ability, and it wasn't cheap, especially considering how much Iron-Eating Beasts ate.
A month's supply of iron bamboo was indeed a decent extra, since it was a necessity.
"Thank you," Shi Yu said.
Lin Xiuzhu nodded. Now that Shi Yu had made his decision, she walked over to the little Iron-Eating Beast, which was a little dazed from the impact.
"Eleven, a Beast Tamer has finally chosen you. Are you happy?" She crouched down and smiled at the little Iron-Eating Beast.
The Iron-Eating Beasts here all had their own numbers, cubs included. This rather unusual cub was number eleven, so the breeders here generally called it Eleven.
The little Iron-Eating Beast silently sat up and looked at Shi Yu in the distance, blinking.
Although it was happy that a Beast Tamer had acknowledged it, it was... too late!
It sat on the ground, raised both arms, and let out a roar.
Iron-Eating Beasts will never be slaves!
It could grow stronger on its own!
With that, it got up and tried to make a run for it, intending to escape right in front of the breeding base staff.
Iron-Eating Beasts fear nothing!
It didn't need a Beast Tamer anyway.
Then, before it had even started running, Lin Xiuzhu grabbed it by the neck and lifted it up.
Shi Yu, who had Telepathy, was speechless.
Not bad. It was full of spirit.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiuzhu sighed and pinned the problem Iron-Eating Beast to the ground.
Although she was just a girl, she was surprisingly strong.
She was definitely a Beast Tamer. After a Beast Tamer contracted a pet, the pet's power would also feed back to the Beast Tamer, improving their mental strength and physical condition.
Although that wasn't enough for them to fight extraordinary creatures barehanded, they could easily take down Earth's martial arts experts and elite athletes.
"Listen carefully. If you dare run away, you won't have any food. But once you become a Beast Tamer's pet, not only will you grow several times faster than you do now, you'll also be able to quickly awaken the Hardening ability you couldn't awaken before."
"And you'll have a more comfortable place to rest and a greater variety of food. You'll be much happier than you would be staying here."
Lin Xiuzhu spoke to the Iron-Eating Beast cub quite seriously. She seemed to have a talent for Telepathy, though it was also possible that she had played the part of an Iron-Eating Beast for so long that Iron-Eating Beasts could understand her.
When she finished, the Iron-Eating Beast cub froze.
It looked at Shi Yu with a bewildered expression.
After a moment's silence, Shi Yu said, "Food and lodging included."
Only while I still have money, Shi Yu added inwardly.
The Iron-Eating Beast cub roared again, looking even more bewildered and torn. A better environment and food than it had at the breeding base?
Drool betrayed it, trickling from the corner of its mouth.
In the end, the temptation of the benefits a Beast Tamer could provide outweighed its willpower, and the Iron-Eating Beast cub reluctantly nodded.
It couldn't resist anymore...
Iron-Eating Beasts will never be slaves and fear nothing, unless food and lodging are included.