Chapter 1 The First Five-Star Burst-Type Monster...
Looking at the handheld device, Li Fan calmed his emotions and began the cleanup work after the hunt.
First, he went to the root of the broken tail blade, wanting to see if there was any possibility of restoration.
This tail, which pierced straight into the sand, was called the Dragon Slayer's Broken Sword Tail.
After the surface cooled, Li Fan pushed the broken sword tail down and observed the fracture.
He noticed it was still an Oreo-like layered structure, with shell and flesh in the center, and was somewhat disappointed.
Because in such a condition, even if reheated and forged, it would be impossible to reattach.
He could only wait for the Dragon Slayer's tail flesh to grow and recover, repeatedly pouring liquid ore onto the new shell, and then polishing it to create a new tail blade.
As for this broken sword tail... why not try to make a weapon?
No, what if the Dragon Slayer noticed and ran away from home?
Zhan Zhan was the name Li Fan gave the Dragon Slayer. Regarding the disposal of the broken sword tail, he decided to find Melynx, Elle, and transport it back to the Sandstone Cave first.
Similar materials included a Horned Dragon's curved horn.
Little Fool could barely carry it, but even transporting just one item would likely put it into a high-consumption mode of 10 minutes of flight followed by a two-hour rest.
It would be more convenient to find the Melynx team.
As for the camp, the location chosen was good, and the tent was specially made for the desert region. After the team marked the map in detail, they did not plan to dismantle it.
Three hours later, a sandship with a large sail stopped beside the Horned Dragon's curved horn.
More than twenty Melynx jumped off the sandship, fitted ropes around the horn, and secured it.
Under Elle's meowing commands, the giant curved horn was slowly dragged onto the sandship.
Li Fan called out to the Great Jaw, gave simple instructions, fired a signal flare, and began the classic investigator-bamboozling session.
Half an hour later, a small sandship with a blue sail appeared in sight.
The investigator was a kind middle-aged man. After a few words of negotiation and confirmation that the Ludroth had been captured, he stamped the contract on the dining table etiquette.
He advised them to avoid monsters like Dragon Slayers and Horned Dragons and then left in his sandship.
"Great Jaw, don't attack merchant caravans anymore. If you encounter a strong hunter team, you'll become material."
Li Fan, sitting on a piece of sandstone, instructed the Great Jaw, whose dorsal fin was exposed.
Starting from individual characteristics, the Ludroth was indeed difficult to pinpoint.
But precisely because of this, there would definitely be contracts that simply involved hunting one.
*Puff~ Puff~*
Two puffs of sand dust were ejected.
"It wasn't you who attacked the merchant caravan? Uh... I really didn't know that, but it makes sense. You're an old hand, why would you attack merchant caravans? In any case, take care of yourself in the desert. If anyone offends you, don't be reckless. Remember their activity areas and characteristics, and I'll get revenge for you when I come back to the desert."
After bidding farewell to the Great Jaw, the team, having packed their belongings, began their return journey, arriving at the Sandstone Cave late at night.
The next morning at nine o'clock, Elle's team also returned to the Sandstone Cave.
The Dragon Slayer's broken sword tail and Horned Dragon's curved horn loaded on the sandship attracted many residents and hunters to gather and watch.
Everyone was guessing which team had brought back these near top-tier monster materials. Powerful hunter teams were indeed rare, but they had visited the Sandstone Cave before.
As for identification methods, armor and weapons were the most direct indicators, but no similar hunter team had appeared recently.
In front of the archway of the Sandstone Cave, there was a lot of speculation.
Elle searched one by one from the hotel window and finally found Li Fan, who was still fast asleep. She then climbed in through the window.
"Oh ho! You're still sleeping? The hunter who hunts in strange ways! Your materials have arrived, pay up, meow!"
Elle called out, holding two contracts.
"Uh... okay..."
Seeing Li Fan, whose face was sallow, get out of bed, Elle took a step back in fright. "Oh ho! How many potions did you take, meow?"
"I've taken pretty much everything available on the market... I feel completely drained."
Li Fan knew that enhancement potions like the Demondrug would drain his stamina and strength, but he hadn't expected it to be so thorough.
"Oh ho! Another young hunter who doesn't know how to take care of himself... Anyway, the materials have arrived safely, plus the attendance and guard fees, it's 7541z in total."
"Dilu!.... Pay the money."
*Bang!* Li Fan said weakly and fell back onto the bed.
Dilu, rubbing her eyes with her cat paws, woke up and wearily crawled out from under the wooden bed.
After the payment was made, with a *beep*, Dilu pressed her cat paw on the contract.
"We've rented that sandship for three days, remember to pick up the materials as soon as possible, meow."
Elle said and jumped out the window.
At two in the afternoon, Li Fan finally managed to get out of bed with difficulty.
After a simple meal, as it involved the transport of five-star materials, Li Fan felt it necessary to negotiate with the local branch.
He entered the Sandstone Cave branch, submitted the contract, and received 46,800 as remuneration. Li Fan then mentioned the two materials to the front desk.
"So it was your team!"
The brown-skinned female attendant exclaimed, covering her mouth.
"Yes, what are the procedures?"
"The first thing to do is to verify the source. Please reveal the origin of the materials."
The brown-skinned female attendant said, taking notes.
"We accidentally saw a Dragon Slayer and a Horned Dragon fighting, and after the fight, these two materials appeared."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"Dragon Slayer's broken tail, Horned Dragon's broken horn. Very valuable observational information. Also, your luck is admirable."
After taking notes, the brown-skinned female attendant recalled for a moment and said, "These two materials need to be evaluated first. Since they are not complete monster carcasses, there are no materials that can be offset. This means you can only pay fees to offset the Guild's share. After that, the branch will stamp them with the 'Produced in Sandstone Cave, Desert Region' certification mark, and then they can be transported between various responsible areas."
"If processed locally, won't the share be waived?" Li Fan asked tentatively.
"Alas... I wish I could, but the workshop in Sandstone Cave doesn't have the capability to process five-star materials. Moreover, the Dragon Slayer's broken sword tail and Horned Dragon's curved horn would definitely require other corresponding materials to be processed into weapons. The merchant guild probably won't have them in stock either," the brown-skinned female attendant said regretfully.
"Alright, how long will the evaluation take?"
"About an hour."
"This is the transport contract from the Melynx Rescue Team, which proves ownership of the materials. Please proceed with the evaluation directly."
"No problem."
After discussing the materials, Li Fan went to the workshop and asked the boss where he could process and craft five-star materials.
He was told that the Guild Headquarters Workshop in Dundorma, the craftsman in Hono'o Village, and the Dragon History Institute Headquarters in Bherna Village could theoretically process all materials. Many standard designs for weapons and armor also originated from these places.
The workshops in Kokoto Village, Pokke Village, and Yukumo Village also had very strong crafting capabilities, but their material reserves were slightly lacking.
If it wasn't for the entire monster carcass being delivered, the lack of just one rare material could delay the crafting progress for half a month or even longer.
After Li Fan inquired, he wandered around the streets for a while, and the Guild's evaluation report came out.
A total of 53,000z in share fees had to be paid to take the materials away.
As for the Ludroth captured on the contract, the Guild generally wouldn't pursue it if they didn't see the actual specimen.
In the inn, Eudora rested her hands on the table, saying in disbelief, "So expensive!"
"This is the quote after the Horned Dragon's curved horn was deemed relatively small," Li Fan said helplessly.
"Why don't we carry it back?" Eudora suggested.
"Don't be ridiculous. Even if you walk to the next Guild jurisdiction, you'll still have to pay share fees without certification. It's just changing to a different branch. The environment around Sandstone Cave is so harsh, it's better to pay here." Li Fan explained.
Eudora sat down weakly and sighed, "Ah... including the preparation money and the transportation costs, this hunt is a huge loss, isn't it?"
"You can look at it positively. If we accumulate enough materials and money, perhaps the curved horn can be crafted into the King's Horn Sword." Li Fan reminded her.
"King's Horn Sword... it sounds so powerful."
"Except for its sharpness, this greatsword is top-notch in terms of power and blade strength," Li Fan introduced.
"In that case... it seems quite worth it." Eudora took out her money pouch and started counting.
After paying the Guild's share, the Dragon Slayer's broken sword tail and Horned Dragon's curved horn were quickly stamped with the Sandstone Cave branch's certification mark.
After contacting a transport caravan to load and transport them, the team left the Sandstone Cave and rode Little Fool back.
As Little Fool was very familiar with the direction of Kula Village, it only took three days to arrive.
Of course, there was no improvement in comfort for long-distance travel.
At noon, the exhausted team landed in the forest. They intended to go to the Melynx barbecue stall for a big meal, but they saw that all the shops on the street were closed. They soon realized something was wrong.
They arrived at the notice board, where a notice about a Dragon Slayer activity nearby and impending danger occupied most of the board.
The content, in general, advised residents and hunters not to go into the wild unless necessary.
"Village Chief!"
Seeing Bazel walking on the desolate street, Eudora waved.
Bazel, who had been lowering his head, waved back happily, but his gaze quickly returned to its previous dimness.
"Village Chief, did the Dragon Slayer attack the village so soon?" Li Fan asked in confusion.
Dragon Slayers were indeed ferocious, but Kula Village was not a mining area.
Unless it was an individual who hated humans extremely, there was no reason to specifically come to the vicinity.
"Alas, because the mining area was occupied, the price of ore in the village soared. A group of villagers, for profit, specifically ran into the pits to mine when that Dragon Slayer was feeding. As a result, the two sides encountered each other. The Guild investigator tracking the Dragon Slayer noticed and had to summon nearby hunter teams for rescue. However, the rescue was unsuccessful. Only two villagers escaped, and the team itself was held back by the Dragon Slayer." Bazel introduced the situation with his eyelids slightly lowered, very dejected.
"That hunter team in the end..." Eudora was hesitant to ask further.
"All of them were eventually rescued, but the Iron... that blocked the Dragon Slayer..." Bazel closed his eyes and shook his head.
Mentor Yian Kut-Ku!
Before leaving, didn't he say he was going to say goodbye and live out his remaining years?
Li Fan ran towards the Ancient Hunting Base. Turning the familiar street corner, he found a large crowd gathered at the entrance.
Pushing to the front, he saw a mummy placed on a long wooden board, missing its right leg. Li Fan's heart tightened.
"To protect the village, thank you, Uncle Yian Kut-Ku, for drawing your sword!"
A little girl placed a square gift box in front of Big Orange.
"Thank you for your recognition of Yian Kut-Ku." Big Orange said with a mournful tone.
Then, more villagers offered gifts.
"How could this happen... For you, a normal Dragon Slayer shouldn't be that difficult..." Li Fan said in disbelief as he approached the mummy.
"Who is it? Is that Li Fan?"
"Uh... you... Mentor Yian Kut-Ku, you're not dead?"
Hearing a sound from beneath the wrapped white cloth, Li Fan was immediately stunned.
"Who said I'm dead?"
"I thought..."
"I didn't dodge a blast of explosive minerals and accidentally got hit by an explosion, so I just put on some burn ointment... Big Orange, my left elbow is very itchy."
Big Orange sighed helplessly, revealed his cat paw, and scratched with a *creak, creak* sound.
"Ah... much more comfortable. But speaking of which, this Dragon Slayer must have been trained. It's indeed difficult to deal with."
"What do you mean by 'trained'?"
"It means a Dragon Slayer that has undergone long-term training and possesses exceptional combat skills." Yian Kut-Ku explained.
"Then, if I encounter an untrained Dragon Slayer and fight it, will I be at a disadvantage?"
"Certainly." Yian Kut-Ku replied.
"Mentor Yian Kut-Ku, rest assured and recover. I'll come to see you again." Li Fan informed him.
"Remember not to be as impulsive as me, and don't misuse the Foresight Slash."
"Got it."
Returning to the research laboratory on the third floor of the Investigation Agency Headquarters, Li Fan stared blankly at a pile of Dragon Slayer ecological data on the table.
The first burst-type five-star monster, possessing extremely strong attack power.
And the middle area of the two rows of flame-shaped shells on its back and neck was clearly a place to stand. With this height, it might be possible to unleash a true combination technique.
However, the Dragon Slayer near the village was a hidden danger and had to be eliminated as soon as possible.
Based on the current situation, Li Fan began to formulate a plan.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The door of the blacksmith shop was knocked open.
Dao Hen initially intended to say they were not open for business, but upon hearing that it was the big client Li Fan, he quickly opened the door.
"The Zinogre Braces have been crafted, but I heard the team went on an expedition hunt, so I haven't delivered them yet." Dao Hen said, handing over an exquisite gift box.
"Thank you. I'd like to ask which boots have the best resistance to high temperatures."
"The Qurupeco and Barroth ones are both good... Are you going to deal with the Dragon Slayer?" Dao Hen asked in amazement.
"Something like that..."
"As expected of the most outstanding team in the village. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of ore, crafting armor is now outrageously expensive, and it's difficult for me to even make standard equipment." Dao Hen said helplessly.
"Alright, I'll ask at the Guild again."
"Wait a moment, Li Fan, are you only asking for high-temperature resistance?" Dao Hen seemed to recall something.
"Yes."
"Then how about these boots?" Dao Hen said, extending a foot.
They were short boots made entirely of metal, looking old and dirty, with scattered metal shavings on the surface.
"Can these shoes resist high temperatures?" Li Fan asked tentatively.
"Of course. Don't be fooled by their appearance. When making weapons, after the raw material is heated and softened, there's a hammering and shaping process. If you need to precisely strike one spot repeatedly, you have to fix the weapon on the anvil." Dao Hen said, lifting his leg and making a stomping and pressing motion.
Li Fan's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Aren't these shoes very heavy?"
"No, no, they're lighter than many boots made from monster materials." Dao Hen said, enthusiastically taking off the metal boots.
Li Fan tried them on, and they fit reasonably well.
As for heat insulation, he couldn't release Zhan Zhan to test them on the spot, but if they could withstand the temperature of softened weapon raw materials, just standing on the heated flame-shaped shells should be fine.
"Boss, how much are these shoes?"
"What money, what money? As long as you can drive away the Dragon Slayer and bring peace back to Kula Village, a pair of blacksmith shoes are nothing."
"That's not good."
"It's not bad at all. If you can drive away the Dragon Slayer wearing them, I'll be overjoyed."
"Then thank you."
Li Fan, carrying the gift box and the replaced Great Maccao boots, returned to the research laboratory.
He opened the gift box, and a pair of blue and white bracers with silver manes were revealed.
Li Fan admired them for a moment and put them on his wrists.
Not long after, Dilu, holding a fruit platter, ran into the research laboratory. Seeing Li Fan clinging to the wall, she asked in confusion, "What are you doing, meow?"
"Yes, what am I doing?" Li Fan said, twisting his hips as if shaking a non-existent tail.
"Do you need me to call Eudora to help, meow?" Dilu asked tentatively.
"No, maybe I'll get used to it after a while."
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Li Fan darted around the research lab, leaping onto walls from various angles.
Picture frames of monsters on the wall kept falling.
These 3 points of physical technique are quite good. I feel like my body has become agile and light all of a sudden.
It's just that the assimilation effect of the Zinogre is too strong. Wearing only a bracer...
Li Fan, clinging to the wall, happened to stop in front of the Dragon Slayer's picture frame. Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck his mind.
What if he used weapons and armor made from the Dragon Slayer?
The assimilation shown by Zinogre was indeed causing a lot of trouble.
But one thing that couldn't be ignored was that when he leaped onto the wall, it was done in one go, swift and smooth.
If the super-strong assimilation effect could be used in the right way...
Li Fan thought of a new possibility.
"Uh... what are you doing on the wall?" Eudora asked in surprise as she entered the research laboratory.
"I'm thinking... actually, it's this Zinogre bracer." Li Fan raised one hand to display it, and his body slid to the ground.
"Wait a moment." Eudora ran to the bookshelf, found a book, and began to flip through it.
"There are currently three approaches to resisting the assimilation effect of weapons and armor: punishment, indulgence, and inhibition."
"The indulgence approach sounds good." Li Fan replied.
"Hmm... long-term adherence to the indulgence approach carries the risk of mental derangement, according to the book." Eudora informed him.
"What about punishment and inhibition?"
"The punishment approach is to find a monster spine with a trace of poison. Once the assimilation reaction appears, give yourself a jab in the butt."
"Why the butt?"
"I don't know. The book doesn't say why. Maybe it's less likely to get poked through."
"Alright."
"The inhibition approach is to stimulate willpower to resist the influence of assimilation... I think I used this approach back then." Eudora recalled.
"My assimilation effect is particularly strong. Willpower probably won't work."
"Then should I go find Little Fool and saw off a spine?"
"Save it... Oh! I can use other equipment to counteract it!" Li Fan thought of a solution.
"Good idea, but Zinogre is a four-star monster. To have an interfering effect, it should be equipment made from at least a three-star monster... How about Shell-Dweller armor?" Eudora asked with a pleasant surprise.
"Let's try it. I'll choose... the helmet!"
"The chest armor has the largest contact area with the body, so logically, we should choose the chest armor." Eudora estimated.
"I don't want to wear a chest plate. I'll take the helmet and waist armor."
"Alright."
Not long after, Eudora brought the equipment.
*Plop!* After the Shell-Dweller helmet was buckled onto his head, Li Fan could soon stand normally.
"I feel... like..."
*Whoosh!*
"Oh! Sideways onto the wall, meow!" Dilu exclaimed.
"At least I'm not facing away from the enemy." Li Fan was quite content.
*Crash!* The wall, full of holes, shattered and peeled off.
Li Fan's finger strength was not enough to break the wood on the inner wall and maintain his grip, so he slid to the ground.
"I've thought of a new approach, called isolation." Li Fan said with narrowed eyes.
The next day, Little Fool took off from deep within the forest and flew towards the Ancient Forest, arriving in just two and a half hours.
He proceeded through the dark woods for a while and arrived at the monsters' outdoor stronghold.
Li Fan felt that apart from the significantly fewer creatures, there wasn't much change here.
Yeyye, Paff, Kuku, and Zhan Zhan were released one after another, and the surrounding space suddenly became crowded.
*Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!*...
Yeyye let out a cheerful singing sound and quickly flew away.
Paff slid into the waterfall and enjoyed himself.
Kuku tilted its head and observed Zhan Zhan, who was lowering its head.
Wow?
Roar?
The interspecies communication was abruptly interrupted by a rolling Shield Turtle.
"Zhan Zhan, there was another Dragon Slayer that lived here before, which means there must be a mineral vein nearby. Aren't you going to check it out?" Li Fan asked tentatively.
Zhan Zhan listlessly swung its tail blade and fell to the side in the mud.
*Swish!*
Li Fan drew the Dragon Slayer's Zanpakuto from his back, held it horizontally in front of him, and said very seriously, "Zhan Zhan, you are a Dragon Slayer."
Zhao Lala reminds you: Remember to collect after reading.