Chapter 109: A Chance Encounter with the Director of the Botanical Institute

Although there was a way to reforging, it was still not feasible at the moment. This required not only suitable materials but also the assistance of the Star Haven outpost.

“It’s only been a little over three days. Master Yuanye probably hasn’t returned to the Star Haven yet, but I’ll still go check the Ancient Tree Forest,” Su Yi thought to himself.

That night, instead of wandering around, Su Yi stayed in his room, activating each skill machine he had purchased to enhance the abilities of his accompanying beasts.

As he taught them various moves, he couldn’t help but mutter complaints like, “Why can’t the Fierce Jaw Shark learn Dragon Dance?”

The next morning was bright and clear in the New Continent’s Ancient Tree Forest.

Accompanied by the melodious calls of the Peach Blossom Village, Master Su began his busy day.

The meat of the herbivorous dragons bore marbled fat and lean patterns like snowflakes. Even simply roasting it was a delight to the palate and a satisfaction to the appetite.

Draped with a secret sauce from the Plateau Performance Tribe, the dish became even more enticing.

After breakfast, the accompanying beasts basked contentedly in the sun.

However, compared to the others, the Great Fierce Jaw Dragon and the Grim Claw Dragon, accustomed to the Miasma Valley, preferred the shade of the trees.

Master Su’s task was not yet complete. He placed a large bowl of roasted meat on the cloth and hesitated as he pulled out a capture ball.

Under the watchful guard of the Grim Claw Dragon and the Great Fierce Jackal Dragon, Su Yi released Swiftpaw.

“Come! Food!” Su Yi pointed at the roasted meat.

Swiftpaw did not attack but looked around the familiar surroundings with suspicion, seemingly confused. It had been on the Terra Coral Plateau before, so how had it returned to the Ancient Tree Forest so quickly?

It glanced at Su Yi, then turned its back, waddling over to the food bowl to eat.

Su Yi sighed. Though Swiftpaw still ignored him, at least it wasn’t hostile. Gaining its trust and fighting alongside it would take time.

Having finished eating, Swiftpaw ignored the other beasts and Su Yi, retreating to rest quietly in the shade.

“What to do on such a sunny day?” Su Yi stepped out of the camp and sat on the stone steps, watching herbivorous dragons leisurely grazing in the distant plains.

The exhibition match was tomorrow. After days immersed in the city’s bustling lights and lively scenes, a visit to the Ancient Tree Forest was a soothing change.

“Oh, right, I should gather some minerals. They’ll come in handy when repairing the Lone Sword Sheath,” Su Yi stood and clapped his hands, recalling several beasts.

Swiftpaw resisted slightly, which was understandable after being confined in the ball for so long—it clearly preferred the natural environment.

“Will you watch the camp then?” Su Yi asked anxiously. What if Swiftpaw ran off?

“Meow,” Swiftpaw responded, lying in the shade admiring the scenery.

“Alright then,” Su Yi scratched his head and left the camp. After he had gone some distance, Swiftpaw shifted position and gazed toward the forest.

As Su Yi walked, the “Hunting Guide” suddenly vibrated. Curious, he opened it and saw on the map a green dot marking the camp with Swiftpaw’s icon. It alerted that he and his beasts had moved far away.

Wow, an automatic alarm for a separation of just one kilometer?

Well, it was useful—it allowed real-time tracking of the beasts’ locations.

Su Yi and Meadowgrass climbed a steep slope. When the Steel Dragon descended upon the Ancient Tree Forest, the accompanying torrential rain had caused a landslide here, exposing mineral deposits. They had mined many minerals at this very spot before.

“Su Yi Meow! There are tracks here, meow!” Meadowgrass exclaimed.

“I see them, aibo,” Su Yi squinted and approached.

At the place where the slope extended toward the coastal shallows, crawling marks appeared on the mud and sand.

The tracks didn’t look like those made by the Great Fierce Jackal Dragon dragging its swollen belly; they resembled those of a quadruped using its chest and abdomen to crawl ashore.

Su Yi’s mind drifted back to when he first arrived in the New Continent, recalling the Sea Dragon that had clashed with the Rathalos.

“Could it be you?” Su Yi looked out toward the distant sea, feeling as if a hunter lurked in the deep waters, watching and waiting.

Fortunately, the tracks were old, nearly erased by shifting sand and stones.

“Start digging!” Su Yi released the bear apprentice, the Great Fierce Jackal Dragon, and the Scratching Bird.

Using their moves and tools, they began pounding and breaking the rocks. As the stones shattered and peeled away, previously unexplored areas revealed the gleam of mineral ore.

Su Yi carefully collected the variously colored ores, their shimmering beauty under the sunlight captivating.

He began to understand why Professor Da Wu was so obsessed with mining—extracting beautiful and diverse minerals stirred a sense of anticipation.

“Don’t come any closer!”

“Waaah!”

Just as Su Yi leisurely counted his haul, panicked cries echoed from the forest above the slope.

“Someone?” Su Yi quickly recalled his companions and, with Meadowgrass, ran toward the sound.

Carefully passing through bushes, Su Yi focused on the source and saw a dragonborn scholar wearing glasses, running in panic. Behind him, four or five Fierce Jackal Dragons roared in pursuit.

“A good opportunity,” Su Yi quietly released the Lone Sword Sheath, gripping its hilt.

“Yin?” The Lone Sword Sheath gently swayed.

“Shh, Lone Sword Sheath, help me out quietly. Don’t make a sound; just follow my commands,” Su Yi said as he drew the sword.

“Yin!” The Lone Sword Sheath happily accepted the mission.

“All right, aibo, get ready to fight!” Su Yi equipped a small shield on his right arm and held the Lone Sword Sheath in his left.

“Meow!” Meadowgrass gripped its dagger, prepared.

“Attack! Lone Sword Sheath! Slash Tile!” Su Yi charged forward, shouting sharply.

The sword blade glowed as Su Yi swung at a Fierce Jackal Dragon.

With a swish, the dragon’s scales instantly split, slicing through muscle. The dragon collapsed, howling in pain.

Though the Lone Sword Sheath’s blade was chipped, the empowered strike still delivered formidable power.

Startled by the sudden arrival, the dragons hesitated. Before they could identify the attacker, Su Yi launched a series of flare shots from his projector. The fiery bursts startled and drove them back.

“Hiss-haha!” The Fierce Jackal Dragons threat roared. Su Yi fired more flares to force them further back. Meadowgrass wielded its dagger, executing “Cat Strike” to slash one dragon until it was grievously wounded.

“Graaah!” The dragon rose, howling loudly as it summoned its kin.

“Run!” Su Yi didn’t want to expose his beasts now. He quickly helped the dragonborn scholar escape.

After putting some distance between them and their pursuers, Su Yi stopped and looked at the scholar. Suddenly, he felt a flicker of recognition.

“Director of the Botanical Research Institute?” Su Yi exclaimed.

The dragonborn researcher before him was a member of the fourth expedition, responsible for botanical studies—the head of the Botanical Institute.

In the game, this NPC was important. After unlocking and upgrading the Botanical Institute, players could cultivate various plants, insects, and mushrooms here, essential for crafting common materials for hunters.

“Phew! Saved! Thank you, hunter,” the institute director sighed in relief and expressed gratitude.

(End of Chapter)