Niu Ba, the Forest Pig King. The name and title were actually quite amusing, but the man himself was still rather famous. Although he wasn't as incredible as Yu Liangqing, the Fengdu Sword King—who, while at the Emperor-Level, had managed to defeat opponents of a higher level, specifically by bridging the gap to the Spirit Saint Level—nevertheless, this Forest Pig King's reputation was not insignificant.

Searching online, Su Ping learned that Niu Ba had originally been just a butcher who raised pig beasts. Later on, this Niu Ba personally developed a special evolution for pig beasts: the Pine Oil Wild Pig. It was a pig-class Pet Beast with the Wood Attribute. It transformed from an Ordinary-Level Pet Beast—which previously could only provide decent meat and was one of the most inferior types—into a creature with Commander-Level potential and formidable combat power. It wasn't quite a meteoric rise, but it was close.

In the ancient Liang Dynasty, the hierarchy among Beast Tamers was also rigidly structured. To rise from a common butcher who slaughtered pigs to a King-Level Beast Tamer during those times, one could only imagine the hardships Niu Ba had faced. Therefore, Su Ping held great admiration for him. He had always respected those who rose from obscurity through their own efforts.

He had once thought he would be such a person—though, aside from hard work, he also had a cheat option. However, it seemed fate hadn't granted him that opportunity, leaving him somewhat disappointed. Rising from obscurity was no longer something he could realistically hope for. He could only try to see how far he could reach, what sights he could behold, standing on the shoulders of giants!

So, in coming to the Secret Realm left behind by the historical figure Niu Ba, Su Ping arrived with a respectful heart, even though this place had already been picked almost clean.

He entered the wilderness. Su Ping waved his hand, and a pack of wolves appeared. Countless Forest Wolves scattered in all directions, swiftly beginning to search the area.

Seizing the chance, Dong Muyun sidled up to Su Ping and asked in a roundabout way, "Su Ping, are you familiar with the Dong Family? What are your thoughts on them?"

What is this woman asking that for?

However, after pondering for a moment, he still shook his head. "I'm not familiar with them, but I'm not too fond of them either."

Dong Muyun's delicate brows arched. "Why not?"

"Because of you. The way they treat you—of course I don't like them," Su Ping said matter-of-factly.

A family that prioritized profit above all else, where even familial bonds were significantly diluted, might be relatively common among powerful clans and wealthy families, but Su Ping still found it dispiriting. Such families might well survive for countless years, and perhaps that was the best model for their growth. But Su Ping still didn't like it.

Obviously, Dong Muyun misunderstood. Her eyes flickered, but true to her nature, Dong Muyun wouldn't let her feelings show on her face. She wouldn't react as overtly as Qin Xiaoxue; that was hardly likely. She merely pursed her lips, though their corners couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.

Su Ping shot the woman a suspicious glance. Just moments ago, she looked like someone owed her a fortune, and now this sudden change? Women... truly creatures far more complex than any Pet Beast.

Fortunately, he didn't have much time to ponder it. In that brief moment, a wolf howl echoed from nearby. Su Ping was instantly invigorated. Leading Old Sha and the gathered wolf pack, they rushed to the location.

It was indeed a forest. The dense, sky-obscuring forest, though it hadn't produced any plant-based Pet Beasts, possessed a somewhat eerie atmosphere. There, perched on a tree branch, Su Ping spotted another familiar entrance to a Secret Realm. It was still the slowly rotating spatial vortex. The surrounding spatial ripples lent the area an odd sense of being disconnected.

"This is it! Well done, Thirteen!" Su Ping tossed a favorite blueberry tree fruit to the elite Forest Wolf that had found the Secret Realm's entrance. Then, he turned his gaze to the spatial vortex and, without hesitation, stepped right into it as soon as all the Forest Wolves had arrived.

However, despite being mentally prepared, Su Ping couldn't help but feel immense disappointment. The Secret Realm he had eagerly come to was as barren as if a dog had gnawed it clean, not a speck left behind. It was a vast and boundless land. Besides the barren land, Su Ping could also see faint traces of past plant cultivation within the Secret Realm. However, the Secret Realm lacked sufficient residual energy. Even if some traces remained, it wasn't nearly enough to rejuvenate this realm.

Refusing to accept it, Su Ping circled around once more, then sighed.

This time, it was Dong Muyun beside him who offered consolation. "This is pretty normal. I know a little about the people from the Qintian Monitor. The profession of Qintian Monitor has existed since ancient times. Now that the Dragon Nation has been established, its name was simply changed. Do you know what these guys were called in the Liang Dynasty and the eras before it?"

"What?" Su Ping asked, while wandering around with his legion of Forest Wolves.

"The official term was 'Touch Gold Officer,' and those in charge of them were called 'Fei Qiu Zhonglang Generals.' They explored Secret Realms and, unless it was a special Secret Realm with rules left by its master, they usually picked it clean."

Su Ping was speechless. Damn it, thinking about it, isn't that true? The Secret Realms left behind after the death of powerful Beast Tamers did indeed resemble the tombs of past generations. And what was left in these Secret Realms were precisely the treasures these Beast Tamers possessed in life. Calling these people Touch Gold Officers really made sense.

So, does that mean the unofficial ones are just common tomb robbers?

The Dragon Nation really did a thorough job with the name change, Su Ping mused. What connection did these specialized Secret Realm explorers actually have with a department that should have originally been focused on stargazing? Was it because the original name wasn't auspicious enough?

He had hoped that those Qintian Monitor fellows might have left something behind for him to scavenge. Now it seemed wiser not to pit his luck against their professional thoroughness. Still, he felt somewhat indignant! Damn tomb robbers!

Soon, Su Ping composed himself. Getting lucky once, like with the Fengdu Sword King, was enough. It was better to focus on earning his guaranteed rewards steadily.

With that, Su Ping shifted his focus, ignoring the astonished Dong Muyun. He merged his consciousness back into his Beast Taming Space. Last time, Su Ping had used a clever method, reaching into the collapsing Mysterious Realm Space of the Sword King's Secret Realm to complete the absorption. The effectiveness of that absorption was unknown. But now, Su Ping stood firmly within the Secret Realm, ready to activate his ability according to the specific trait of Space Absorption.

As for Dong Muyun's presence, when Su Ping had previously used this ability, he indeed needed some privacy. But not anymore. Especially not with Dong Muyun around.

Space Absorption wasn't the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas, nor was it some external cheat. It was his own genuinely awakened Space Characteristic; what was there to fear? Anyone objects? They can take it up with Second Master! Being a genius and a second-generation scion meant he could indeed act as he pleased.

His spiritual tendrils slowly extended, seeming to permeate the deepest parts of this Mysterious Realm Space through the void. His Beast Taming Space began to slowly connect with the Origin of this Forest Pig King's Secret Realm. Then, he rapidly began to absorb its nourishing essence.

Dong Muyun watched Su Ping's actions, actually somewhat curious as to what he was up to. After all, these thoroughly plundered Secret Realms weren't just useless; they could even become troublesome if located in certain places, like within cities. And now Su Ping was actively seeking one out? What was he planning?

Dong Muyun watched as Su Ping's expression began to change.

First, a faint smile touched Su Ping's lips. Dong Muyun pursed her own slightly, still considering it normal.

Then, Su Ping's mouth opened a bit wider. Dong Muyun frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss.

Finally, as she observed Su Ping's look of utter bliss, Dong Muyun began to grow suspicious.

Suddenly, at that very moment, ripples and fluctuations appeared in the Mysterious Realm Space. Then, before Dong Muyun's shocked eyes, the entire Secret Realm abruptly shattered and collapsed.

Dong Muyun gaped at the youth, who wore an expression of pure contentment. What in the world? Those official tomb raiders from the Qintian Monitor—no, wait, Touch Gold Officers—they only scavenge the items inside. But this kid... he directly blew up the entire 'tomb'?!

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