Suddenly, Li Cunxu frowned. Little Medicine Deer was not an easy opponent. It seemed to naturally counter Xiao Ruan.
Water Orb—Little Medicine Deer was a wood-type Pet Beast, and water-type skills were countered by it.
Mud Throw—earth-type skills were also countered by wood-type.
Trash Poison Gas—poison-type skills did counter wood-type, but the problem was that Little Medicine Deer's antlers, capable of neutralizing all poisons, were not just for show. Trash Poison Gas was completely ineffective against it.
Wind Blow—the relationship between wind and wood attributes was a matter of which was stronger.
If wind was strong and wood was weak, the wind would destroy the wood, as the saying goes, "The wind will topple the tree that stands out in the forest."
If wind was weak and wood was strong, the trees would block the wind, preventing it from running rampant.
Just by its aura alone, Little Medicine Deer was no weakling. The effect of Wind Blow would likely be very limited.
Grass Blade—how much damage could a wood-type skill do against a wood-type Pet Beast?
Ram—with three Limit Breaks, it could catch Little Medicine Deer off guard and take it down without a problem.
But Li Cunxu didn't want to reveal the three Limit Break Rams just yet. He wanted to save them for the final match.
As a seasoned schemer, he felt uneasy without having seven or eight hundred trump cards up his sleeve.
It was foreseeable that this match would be tricky.
At this moment, Li Cunxu realized that Xiao Ruan's offensive capabilities were limited and that it needed a more diverse skill set.
Outside the arena, many spectators were analyzing the outcome of the match.
"Although that Water Slime is quite good, Little Medicine Deer is definitely going to win this match."
"Why are you so sure?"
"You don't know much about Little Medicine Deer, do you? In the late game, it can hold its own against pure-blood dragon pets."
"Moreover, Little Medicine Deer has a type advantage over the Water Slime."
The referee's call to start the match pulled Li Cunxu's thoughts back to the battlefield.
"Yo yo~"
Little Medicine Deer let out an ethereal, taunting cry.
It sparked a flicker of anger in Li Cunxu's heart. The cry of this Pet Beast was particularly provoking, designed to draw hatred.
"Little Medicine Deer, Sharp Wood Horn."
A layer of cyan light enveloped the antlers on its head. Little Medicine Deer shook its head, and the antlers seemed to perform a sword flourish.
Little Medicine Deer raised its head proudly, casting a slightly arrogant glance at Li Cunxu and Xiao Ruan.
"Sharp Wood Horn has strong attack power. It can easily pierce through thick tree bark. If Xiao Ruan takes a hit, it'll probably be knocked out on the spot."
"Xiao Ruan not only lacks offensive skills but also defensive ones," Li Cunxu thought to himself.
"Xiao Ruan, unleash Grass Blade with all your might. Don't let it get close."
Li Cunxu's strategy was simple: keep it from getting close, and it wouldn't be able to hit Xiao Ruan.
The Grass Blade slashed toward Little Medicine Deer, but it flicked its antlers and easily deflected the attack.
Chen Lu commanded, "Use Swift Deer Charge to close the distance."
Li Cunxu shouted, "Infinite Grass Blade Slash!"
The Grass Blades released by Xiao Ruan came in waves, one after another, endless and unceasing. They actually pushed back Little Medicine Deer, which had already charged forward.
Chen Lu encouraged, "Hold on a little longer, Little Medicine Deer. Its Spirit Energy will run out soon."
After a minute, the Grass Blades showed no sign of stopping. Instead, Little Medicine Deer was nearly pushed out of the arena by the relentless slashes. Being forced out would mean a loss, and the cyan light on its antlers had dimmed significantly.
Chen Lu realized she couldn't let this continue. She had to counterattack.
Deer's Cry!
Chen Lu let out an ethereal cry, like a sacred spirit of the forest singing to nature.
The antlers of Little Medicine Deer regained their glow, and it began to advance step by step against the onslaught of Grass Blades.
"Ink Orchid Mechanism."
Chen Lu whispered softly, her beautiful eyes transforming into blooming ink orchids.
An ink orchid broke through the soil, entwining with mud to form a two-meter-tall Mud Automaton.
Pupil City, a place that players both love and hate.
Love, because being born in Pupil City gives a high chance of awakening the handsome Pupil Art Eye.
Hate, because the NPCs in Pupil City are enhanced with Pupil Technique talents, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
The Mud Automaton leaped high, landing in front of Little Medicine Deer, its arms closing together to block the incoming Grass Blades.
"Now, Little Medicine Deer, Vine Entanglement."
Green vines, like spirit snakes, swiftly advanced from the ground.
"Jump, and Wind Blow."
Xiao Ruan leaped high, blowing wind at the ground to propel herself even higher, dodging the entangling vines.
"Little Medicine Deer, attack."
Little Medicine Deer stepped on the Mud Automaton's shoulder, leaping high to ram into Xiao Ruan in mid-air.
"Blow wind to the right, change direction."
Xiao Ruan, like a deflating balloon, dodged Little Medicine Deer's charge.
Facing two opponents alone, Xiao Ruan couldn't handle it unless she revealed her Ram skill, but even then, victory wasn't guaranteed.
Li Cunxu realized he had to intervene.
"Xiao Ruan, create distance, continue with Infinite Grass Blade Slash. I'll handle the Mud Automaton."
Xiao Ruan unleashed the Infinite Grass Blade Slash once more, suppressing Little Medicine Deer just as before.
Li Cunxu spread his hands towards the Mud Automaton and shouted:
"Water Ball Gatling."
Six Water Orbs circled his hands, spinning faster and faster, shooting out like Gatling bullets. The Mud Automaton initially blocked them, but as time passed, the Water Orbs chipped away at its mud body, shrinking it until it reverted to its original form.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ruan used the Infinite Grass Blade Slash to knock Little Medicine Deer out of the battlefield.
Chen Lu, knowing there was no hope of winning, conceded defeat.
The audience watched in disbelief.
"How many Grass Blades were unleashed? How many Water Orbs?"
"It feels like they could keep going for a while. Does the Water Slime's Spirit Energy cost nothing?"
"The amount of Spirit Energy stored is comparable to a well-endowed dragon pet. Is this Water Slime actually a dragon pet disguised as a Slime?"
"Could they be cheating? Using some item that stores a large amount of Spirit Energy in advance?"
"Are you stupid? Both sides signed a fair competition contract before the match. Cheating is impossible."
"Mom, Slimes are so cool. When I grow up, I want to contract a Slime."
"No," the mother said coldly.
"I will, I will!"
The brat puffed out his chest, arguing stubbornly.
"If you dare contract a Slime, I'll make sure you taste bamboo whip stir-fry. Every time I see you, I'll serve it to you."
"Fine, I won't contract one. No need to be so harsh."
The brat, scared, covered his butt and quietly retreated.
Despite the victory, Li Cunxu wasn't satisfied. Winning through sheer quantity lacked any finesse.
Xiao Ruan's skills needed diversification, and the fastest way to do that was through the Skill Experience Tax.
"Let's get some Slimes of other attributes to cover Xiao Ruan's weaknesses."
Near Pupil City, Li Cunxu could safely tame Water, Grass, and Earth Slimes. Slimes of other attributes required venturing into the wild, but Li Cunxu's strength wasn't sufficient for that.
Thus, Li Cunxu resorted to online bounties to collect other Slimes.
Returning to the Ranch, Li Cunxu was surprised to see the cart of items Lin Jiusan had brought.
"You've already collected everything on the list this quickly?"
"Yes."
"What about the Black Cat Sculpture?"
"Here it is."
Lin Jiusan retrieved a wooden box from the innermost part of the carriage and pried it open with his bare hands, revealing the Black Cat Sculpture sealed inside with nails.
"What do you want with this thing? I've heard from my family that this Black Cat Sculpture is quite sinister. Whoever takes it will be cursed, and the longer they keep it, the worse their luck becomes. In the end, it can even lead to death. Only by returning the Black Cat Sculpture to its original place can the bad luck be lifted."
(End of Chapter)