Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger

Jiang Wenning’s voice was loud, so loud that Duoji could hear its echoes years later at the championship arena.

He lifted his head and looked at Chen Yuan, who was smiling, murmuring, "Champion?"

Chen Yuan shook his head, "Can’t say champion, I’m just a Beastmaster who took one step ahead of others."

On the upcoming journey, Duoji stayed closely by Chen Yuan’s side, his heart pounding, occasionally stealing a glance at Chen Yuan.

But his sneaky behavior had long been noticed by Spark and Twin Flower Concubine; their eyes both glanced back, and Duoji was unaware, but the Fluffy Mushroom on his head was startled.

Spark and Twin Flower Concubine seemed similar in size to it, yet their gaze carried an inexplicable oppressive feeling, like being stared at by the Mushroom King in the mountains, making the body tremble involuntarily.

This time, even pretending to be a regular mushroom couldn’t ease it, and Fluffy Mushroom straightened and started to play dead.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Noticing Fluffy Mushroom’s anomalies, Duoji reached out to pat it.

Seeing no reaction from Fluffy Mushroom, Duoji panicked, repeatedly patting its body, his voice filled with anxiety, "Ru!"

Fluffy Mushroom still didn’t move, its body stiff as if it had died.

Duoji panicked and grabbed the stalk of Fluffy Mushroom, shaking it forcefully up and down, shouting, "Ru, Ru, are you okay?"

"Mushroom, mushroom, mushroom!"

The violent shaking prevented Fluffy Mushroom from continuing to play dead, and it couldn’t help but open its eyes and glare at Duoji, but dizziness overwhelmed like a tide.

Dizzy, dizzy, dizzy.

Fluffy Mushroom’s head tilted as dizziness overtook.

Jiang Wenning smiled and spoke, "It was fine, but now it’s got problems."

Once realizing Fluffy Mushroom was just faking death, Duoji put the dizzy mushroom into the pocket of his thick cotton coat, quickly moving forward, continuing beside Chen Yuan.

"You two have a good bond," Chen Yuan suddenly spoke, "When you grow up, will you choose to contract it?"

"Of course!" Duoji raised his head, his tone firm and resolute, "I want to become champions with Ru!"

"Hmm, nice thought." Chen Yuan nodded, but the next sentence plunged Duoji into contemplation, "But if Fluffy Mushroom is your starting Pet Beast, the Beastmaster path will be incredibly difficult."

Fluffy Mushroom, Wood-type Pet Beast, ordinary quality, combat inept, loves playing dead, combat power so low it’s inconceivable.

Wanting to win the championship with Fluffy Mushroom is as challenging as Electric Flying Cat pursuing Ice Crystal Illusion Cat.

Looking at the silent Duoji, Chen Yuan’s eyes flickered as he spoke seriously, "From a rational perspective, the initial Pet Beast should ideally be gentle, have strong growth potential, and possess some combat power."

"Clearly, Fluffy Mushroom isn’t suitable."

Chen Yuan’s early experiences were very similar to Duoji’s, and he hoped the latter could have a better future, so he refrained from saying, "There are no useless Pet Beasts, only useless Beastmasters."

Objectively, there are differences between Pet Beasts; quality is the most direct reflection of potential, and ordinary quality Fluffy Mushroom clearly lacks significant potential.

Therefore, to change his fate, Duoji surely needs to contract a Pet Beast with higher potential.

After hearing these words, Duoji bowed his head, his peripheral vision catching sight of the sleeping Fluffy Mushroom curled in his pocket, his young face breaking into a smile, "Yeah, I know, but I still want to contract Fluffy Mushroom."

"Because... we promised to become champions together."

Chen Yuan had long anticipated Duoji’s response, he smiled slightly and changed the tone, "Alright, then let’s start changing from now, let Fluffy Mushroom train well, daily physical and skills training are essential, later I’ll have Twin Flower Concubine give you a poison skills training guide."

"Hmmm."

Twin Flower Concubine nodded slightly.

But curled in the pocket, Fluffy Mushroom seemed to have a nightmare, its body strangely shuddering.

Chen Yuan’s voice continued, "When you become a Beastmaster, this little fellow might be formidable."

Throughout the journey, Li Junyue was vigilant of the surroundings, while Chen Yuan and the others took turns imparting Pet Beast nurturing and training knowledge, along with basic Beastmaster common sense to Duoji.

After a while,

"Mushroom..."

Fluffy Mushroom shook off the state of dizziness, slowly opening its eyes.

But upon opening its eyes, it found multiple eyes staring at it, with the frightening big dog not far away casting a mischievous glance that gleamed with schadenfreude.

"Mushroom!"

Fluffy Mushroom let out a strange cry, fainting again.

Chen Yuan was momentarily helpless, "It seems, before nurturing and training, you have to start by cultivating its courage."

Led by Duoji, everyone entered a dim, damp coniferous forest.

As the breeze blew, the conifer forest surged with green waves, tall firs nearly piercing through floating clouds, and numerous Pet Beast silhouettes came into view.

The further they ventured into the wilderness, the more visible the wild Pet Beast silhouettes became, and these creatures were clearly unafraid of humans, boldly watching them from their spots.

Of course, they were the true masters of this forest, while Chen Yuan and the others were uninvited outsiders.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Cola responded with enthusiastic barking, but its ever-growing size made it intimidatingly oppressive to other Pet Beasts, and as soon as its bark echoed, it startled a flock of birds, causing all Pet Beasts to flee in panic.

Fluffy Mushroom curled in Duoji’s pocket, gently tugged at the latter’s clothes, its short arm pointing towards a northern fir tree ahead.

Duoji quickly walked up to the fir, crouched down, and picked up a gray mushroom.

Everyone gathered around, Li Junyue chuckled, "This is Gray Mushroom, a Level 1 Spirit Plant."