Beast Taming: the More the Better

Chapter 576: Chapter 267: Dragon Emblem! The Little Crow Who Aspires to be a Hero!_2

The Dragon Emblem is a symbol of identity bestowed upon Beast Tamers by Dragon City. Those holding the Dragon Emblem can freely enter Dragon City..."

"Uh... wait a second!"

Su Ping’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Freely enter Dragon City? Is the Imperial Capital some sort of place that only permits exits and no entries? If so, given how difficult it is to obtain the Dragon Emblem, wouldn’t Imperial Dragon City be devoid of people?

Hearing Su Ping’s question, Zhu Hong chuckled, "You don’t know, and that’s understandable. In most cases, ’Imperial Capital,’ ’Capital City,’ and ’Dragon City’ are used to refer to the capital city. However, Dragon City is Dragon City, and the Imperial Capital is the Imperial Capital! Of course, they are located together."

Zhu Hong didn’t keep Su Ping in suspense, "The reason Dragon Nation is called Dragon Nation has a lot to do with Dragon City. Dragon City is one of the largest and most unique recyclable Secret Realms currently known. Calling it a Secret Realm isn’t even entirely accurate; it’s practically another, genuine small world! A small world teeming with dragons. Indeed, most of the Dragon Clan Pet Beasts appearing in Dragon Nation originate from Dragon City. The entrance to Dragon City is located within the capital city, inside the Imperial Capital, which also serves as the absolute core of Dragon Nation!"

Su Ping blinked. So that’s how it is! This Dragon Emblem... it’s like a master key?

Noting Su Ping’s astonishment, Zhu Hong continued with a smile, "Of course, the Dragon Emblem isn’t just a pass to enter Dragon City. Each Dragon Emblem, besides allowing entrance to and from Dragon City, also provides one opportunity!"

"Opportunity!?"

"Yes, the chance to obtain a Dragon Pet. Each Dragon Emblem allows its holder, upon entering Dragon City, to find a suitable hatchling to take and thus become a Dragon Tamer. Of course, that’s not all; suffice it to say, Dragon City has many rules. When I contracted Da Huang initially, it was also due to a fortuitous coincidence. Regardless, not just anyone can take a creature away from within Dragon City; you need a certain level of strength. With your current Realm, even if you have the Dragon Emblem, you can’t just march into Dragon City and contract a Dragon Pet. After all, many of Dragon City’s trials and rules depend not on your Pet Beast, but on the Beast Tamer’s own Realm and Ability!"

Zhu Hong shrugged. Su Ping nodded, thinking, So that’s how it is.

"Besides, this Dragon Emblem is also a symbol of status within the nation. Within Dragon Nation, any Beast Tamer not above the Emperor Level, as long as they are part of Dragon Nation, must show the utmost respect and reverence to the holder of a Dragon Emblem.

"Furthermore, any persecution of a Dragon Emblem holder means Dragon Nation and Dragon City will pursue the matter relentlessly. All in all, it’s quite useful," Zhu Hong added.

Su Ping felt he had a better understanding now. This is tantamount to one of the highest honors within Dragon Nation. It might not be an imperial edict granting immunity or a Death Exemption Token, but it’s probably close.

And it involves dragons again! How come I haven’t even seen the Crystal Dragon from the professional Beast Tamer examination, yet I might stumble into the qualifications for another dragon? Hmm... if I do get these two dragons, how would I raise them? Contracting both is impossible, but I could keep them at my place! Could it be that my dream of a ’Heart of Myriad Spirits’ ’Dragon’s Heart’ branch might actually be realized? The Dragon’s Heart, one of the fantasies I’ve daydreamed about and yearned for the most, suddenly doesn’t seem so impractical anymore, does it? Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is a little thrilling.

Su Ping found himself lost in these pleasant fantasies.

And while Su Ping was indulging in his dreams and beginning his journey back, a unique rescue operation was unfolding...

「Lin Zhou East Suburb,」

Unlike the Heart of Myriad Spirits, this place wasn’t at the edge of the residential district, near the boundary. It was still within a residential area, just not in the city center. Consequently, the level of prosperity in the surrounding vicinity was greatly diminished. This particular location, compared to other residential areas, was even more remote. So much so, that most people approaching the area would choose to take a detour.

The reason was simple: the scent of blood here was relatively intense.

Of course, this was modern society. And although some special cults existed around the world, there certainly wouldn’t be any large-scale sacrificial slaughter. This was especially true in Dragon Nation, where such religious cults were exceedingly rare. Therefore, it naturally wasn’t a crime scene either.

On the huge main gate, the sign hanging above the entrance bore several large characters: [Da Exhibition Grand Slaughterhouse].

Clearly, the last word in its name already indicated the nature of this place. That’s right—a slaughterhouse.

Even in this era, this industry still existed. Moreover, it wasn’t a business that just anyone could afford to run.

Within the slaughterhouse, those being slaughtered were, naturally, Low-Level Pets specifically bred to supply meat for humans and some Pet Beasts. Such as Swine Lizards.

Beyond that, some Pet Beasts and Beast Tamers with better circumstances also had a taste for ’wild game.’ These Ferocious Beasts from the wild, owing to their hefty price tags, naturally became ’gourmet food’ on the tables of some people and Pet Beasts. In truth, when it came to taste, this ’wild game’ was actually far inferior to the meat of pigs and other domesticated livestock Pet Beasts that had been bred over many years specifically to provide quality meat. However, it was the same old story: their relative rarity and high prices served to bolster so-called status, much like the principle behind luxury goods or even the curious concept of ’accessible luxury.’ Individuals of true standing, like Qin Liu, Sang Sheng, and Master Zhu Hong, needed no external objects to highlight their status, position, or style; they themselves and their Pet Beasts were sufficient. However, those with only a modicum of status and wealth were, conversely, more inclined to pursue such things. Consequently, this type of industry emerged.

It had to be said, though, that as long as the captured and slaughtered creatures weren’t illegal Pet Beasts but were instead caught in the wild, this practice was not, in fact, against the law. After all, wild Pet Beasts did pose a threat to human Beast Tamers. Thus, within this slaughterhouse named Da Exhibition Grand Slaughterhouse, quite a few such Pet Beasts were gathered.

This was especially true of the specially made iron cages outside, where Pet Beasts were confined. These cages held captives of a higher grade; even more so than the cages for Ferocious Beasts. The primary reason was that these particular cages contained birds, birds that longed to spread their wings but were desperately locked within iron confines. However, compared to the other Pet Beasts that were bruised all over, these birds were treated relatively well.

Land-based Ferocious Beasts, when compared to flying Pet Beasts, were certainly less prized. These creatures were truly rare commodities, the kind ordinary people couldn’t afford to eat. Kept here, they awaited wealthy patrons who might arrive to have them packaged for sale or to select specific ones on demand. Of course, these were truly rare items: bird-type Pet Beasts. Without the corresponding means, they were extremely difficult to capture. Consequently, there were no Advanced Level birds here—at most, only a dozen or so Elite Level birds. Again, Advanced Level bird-type Pet Beasts were very difficult to obtain, and Commander Level bird-type Pet Beasts were extremely wary of human-populated areas, rarely venturing near.

For this small slaughterhouse, this scale of operation had clearly reached its limit.

That’s why, at this moment, looking at the figure circling in the sky above, the numerous slaughterhouse workers present were incredibly tense.

It was a peculiar Flame-Eating Crow. Its entire body radiated a Commander Level aura, making everyone inside the Da Exhibition Grand Slaughterhouse shudder in fear!

Indeed, circling above the slaughterhouse at this very moment, preparing to rescue its kin and aiming to become a ’hero,’ was Little Crow Ya Ya, who hadn’t been seen much these past few days.