It wasn't just any mutated Forest Wolf. According to the markings in the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas, this was a top-tier Poison-Wood dual-element mutated Forest Wolf, one that had undergone a special mutation using the Legendary Level resource, Biyao Chunshen.

What stands out the most about canine-type Pet Beasts? It's their sense of smell. It's their perception.

Xiao Qing gazed at the vast jungle before her, and at the endless stretch of mountains where the jungle met the horizon, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her similarly verdant eyes. Then, her pink nose, dark against her fur, quivered slightly as if recalling the scent of this place. Eventually, she nodded at Su Ping.

Su Ping ignored the clearly skeptical looks from Rong Mang and Xing Chen beside him. He hurriedly continued, "Little fellow, can you still find the place where you were born?"

"AWOO?"

Xiao Qing tilted her head slightly, then nodded and shook her head.

What did that mean? Su Ping didn't know. However, now that they were here, the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas clearly stated the reason for Xiao Qing's mutation—Xiao Qing could sense the whereabouts of the Biyao Chunshen within a hundred miles.

Without saying anything more, they might as well go in and see for themselves, right? That's what Su Ping thought, and that's what he did. Not just him; everyone following Su Ping did the same. They stayed close to Su Ping, following him as they ventured deeper into the entire Heavenly Mountain range.

Xiao Qing, the pathfinder, led the way. The rest followed behind.

Along the way, they encountered numerous wild Pet Beasts. Heavenly Mountain truly lived up to its reputation as the largest wilderness park in Beiyuan Province; the chances of encountering wild Pet Beasts were certainly not low. However, as long as the Pet Beasts didn't attack first, Su Ping's group did not provoke them. And with Xing Chen and the others around, indeed no Pet Beast would be foolish enough to cause them trouble. Thus, Xiao Qing's search proceeded smoothly, and Su Ping and the others followed with relative ease.

The mountain roads were steep and rugged, the forests dense and difficult to traverse. They had driven to Heavenly Mountain in the morning and entered its depths before noon, yet they had followed Xiao Qing for an entire afternoon. The sun in the sky had slowly drifted westward. Although not yet set, the afterglow of dusk was already visible.

The group's initial tension and caution had given way to speechlessness. What on earth was Young Master Su thinking? Bringing along this wolf cub, so small at the time of their contract—a little one whose eyes weren't even open yet—to find its birthplace? Wasn't this a clear case of having too much time on their hands? This thought certainly didn't just arise in one person's mind.

At this moment, after walking for the better part of the day, even Su Ping was starting to have doubts. Upon reflection, Xiao Qing had likely been taken from Heavenly Mountain right after birth, a newborn mutated Forest Wolf cub sold to make a quick fortune. Under such circumstances, returning to Heavenly Mountain less than a year later, how could she clearly remember her initial surroundings?

But as a Beast Tamer, Su Ping couldn't offer much help at this point. He could only choose to believe in Xiao Qing. He had to believe in Xiao Qing's judgment and in the power granted by the source of her mutation, trusting that she could now find that very origin.

Finally, as the skies of the Northern Border slowly darkened, even Rong Mang spoke up, "Cousin, Heavenly Mountain isn't safe in the darkness, and it's inconvenient to search. How about we take the flyer back to the supply station and return in the morning?"

Su Ping exhaled slowly. However, just as he was about to nod, a soft Wolf Howl reached his ears.

Xiao Qing's pace slowed, and she looked ahead.

Su Ping was taken aback, immediately understanding. He said directly, "Cousin, you and the others keep watch and guard the surroundings!"

Rong Mang nodded, also realizing that after walking for an entire day—not picking mushrooms or battling Ferocious Beasts, just walking—they had finally reached their destination in this desolate and eerie part of the old mountain forest.

Under the moonlight that hadn't completely succumbed to darkness, Rong Mang and the others spread out. Su Ping, too, finally saw what kind of place this was.

Before their eyes lay a pond surrounded by a ring of trees. It wasn't large, merely about thirty to fifty meters across. Dried branches and yellow leaves rested on the lusterless surface of the pond, casting a serene yet lifeless ambiance.

Su Ping slowly approached, his and Xiao Qing's footsteps pressing on fallen leaves, dry branches, and patches of remaining snow, occasionally creating RUSTLING and CRUNCHING sounds.

This place... was it where Xiao Qing was born?

Had Xiao Qing really emerged from here, more than half a year ago?

Su Ping's gaze swept over the area.

Xing Chen was similarly vigilant, watching the surroundings. The massive Gold Eagle perched on his shoulder was ready to unleash its thunderous power and launch a decisive strike at any sign of disturbance.

However, Su Ping quickly locked onto something. Or rather, it was Xiao Qing's gaze, not his own, that had locked onto something. Because at that moment, even Xing Chen and the Gold Eagle Pet Beast—which Su Ping didn't quite recognize—failed to notice any change or anomaly. But Xiao Qing, through the Soul Contract, had sent him feedback!

Their gazes—Su Ping's and, through their link, Xiao Qing's—were firmly fixated on one thing.

In the very center of this small, deep pond lay an object, something anyone would dismiss after a single glance.

It was an unassuming branch. It looked like any ordinary branch that had fallen from the surrounding trees onto the water's surface. It could hardly be considered any kind of plant resource or the body of a Plant-type Pet Beast; it was just an utterly ordinary branch.

Yet, the feedback from Xiao Qing via the Soul Contract was unmistakably clear to Su Ping: the little fellow sensed that the branch... Could it actually be the Biyao Chunshen?

Su Ping instinctively looked away. After one glance, he didn't dare to look again, afraid his gaze was too intense and might alert whatever was there. But at this moment, Su Ping himself was somewhat astonished.

Could it be this easy?

Had they really found the Biyao Chunshen so easily on their very first day in Heavenly Mountain?

Without time to think further, Su Ping took a deep breath, his movements becoming much lighter. With a mere thought, in an instant, a glow illuminated the area. Qian Yi appeared.

This time, however, the little Paperman made no sound as several smaller Papermen detached from its body and spread out. And these Papermen, at this very moment, each carried a golden panel in their hands.

Su Ping issued direct orders to Qian Yi through the Soul Contract.

Immediately, these Papermen spread out. Even the Water Element Paperman, carrying its large gold panel, stealthily entered the pond.

Then, at Su Ping's command, with Qian Yi and Xiao Qing coordinating, the Papermen shot from all directions with jet-like speed, instantly converging on the dry branch in the center of the pond!

The gold panels slammed together with a mighty RUMBLE, forming a large golden box.

Was it successful?

Su Ping's pupils finally revealed unrestrained excitement as he looked toward the tightly sealed golden box floating above the pond, and at the branch, which seemed not to have reacted in time.

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