Wilderness: I Tame Beasts to Survive

Chapter 301: Chapter 226: Clues to the Tears of the Stars

From what Han Ning had observed, the Flood Dragons and Giant Dragons of this world each had their own strengths, with no clear distinction of which was superior.

Clearly, the Flood Dragons were more attuned to the mystical and adept at using special techniques to neutralize powerful attacks. This, combined with their elegant forms, filled Han Ning with admiration.

"CHIME~" Qingyao gazed at Egg Pancake with its gentle Dragon Eyes, then extended a draconic claw and gently patted its head, as if encouraging it.

"CHIRP CHIRP~"

Egg Pancake scratched its head in embarrassment, shrank in size, and flew back to Han Ning’s shoulder, where it squatted down and tucked in its little claws.

"CHIME CHIME~"

"Elder Qingyao asks if you want to continue sparring. It says it’s happy to keep going."

"No, that’s alright. Egg Pancake has used up a lot of Spiritual Energy, so let’s call it a day for now." Han Ning smiled politely at Qingyao. He then took a Purgatory Red Lotus encased in thick layers of rock from his waist pouch and handed it to Qing Fan.

"Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, my friend. Here’s the Purgatory Red Lotus I promised you."

"Thank you so much!" An excited look crossed Qing Fan’s face the moment he saw the Purgatory Red Lotus, and he immediately reached out to take it.

"You’re welcome." Han Ning smiled. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, "Oh, right, since Elder Qingyao is here, I wanted to ask—do either of you know where I can find Tears of the Stars?"

’He’d been busy helping Egg Pancake with its breakthrough for the past few days. Plus, he and Qing Fan had developed a certain camaraderie over the last two days, so he figured he might as well ask. He might get an unexpected lead.’

"Tears of the Stars? I haven’t heard of anyone among the Dragon Blood who has them, but I can ask Lord Akatos for you. It might have some information."

Qing Fan shook his head, then looked at Qingyao.

"Elder Qingyao, do you have any news?"

"CHIME~"

As a reclusive dragon who had stayed home for centuries, Qingyao also shook its head, indicating it didn’t know.

Han Ning sighed softly. ’Even Elder Qingyao doesn’t know. Does this mean I really have to go to the Cyan God Armor Tribe to find the Tears of the Stars? Or should I have Yin Yi choose a different path?’ He was unwilling to give up.

"Don’t lose heart," Qing Fan comforted him softly, patting his shoulder. "Lord Akatos has lived on this continent since the day the Ancestor first walked the land. It’s one of the oldest Soul Beasts on the Insect Continent. It might have news about the Tears of the Stars."

"Alright... I’ll have to trouble you, then."

Clinging to a sliver of hope, Han Ning, who had originally planned to return to the academy, ended up staying in the Jade Forest for another half a day.

As evening approached, Qing Fan, riding his giant stone dragon, landed smoothly in front of the treehouse where Han Ning was staying.

Han Ning, who was playing with his Soul Beasts on the lawn, immediately ran up to him, his face full of anticipation. "Any news?"

"Yes. Lord Akatos has summoned you."

Qing Fan didn’t dismount from the stone dragon. Instead, he simply nodded, gesturing for Han Ning to join him on the journey to Akatos’s Cyan Nest.

...

Atop the majestic, ancient giant tree of the Cyan Nest.

Inside Akatos’s vast tree palace.

Han Ning and his Soul Beasts once again came face-to-face with the powerful, Monarch Level Giant Dragon.

"GRROOAR~"

Qing Fan stood below Akatos, translating the Dragon Language for Han Ning.

As a Soul Beast, it didn’t bother with pleasantries, getting straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, the look of anticipation on Han Ning’s face deepened.

"The first location is within Meteorite Mountain, in the territory of the Cyan God Armor Tribe. There lies a meteorite that fell from beyond this realm five hundred years ago, and it contains a large amount of Tears of the Stars."

"The second location is the Insect Queen’s palace. The Meteor Armor Plate, passed down through generations of High Priests, is made from Tears of the Stars."

"The third location is the Grudge Abyss, within the ruins where the Alataku People once lived. There is a treasury that houses spoils of war, and that treasury was built from Tears of the Stars."

"This..."

The more Han Ning listened, the heavier his heart became.

The territory of an Ancestor Family, the Queen’s palace, and even the ruins of an Abyssal Race... None of them were safe. In fact, they were all extremely dangerous places.

"Lord Akatos... which of those places is... relatively safer?" Han Ning asked, bracing himself.

Akatos shook its head. "ROAR! ROAR!"

"They are all dangerous," Qing Fan translated.

Seeing Han Ning’s conflicted expression, Qing Fan added, "Meteorite Mountain is located near the Cyan God Armor Ancestral Court. To get close, one must either be a high-ranking Insect Master of their family or a young Insect Master who has made a great contribution to them. It would be very difficult for you to get near it."

"As for the Queen’s palace, that goes without saying. Not only is it guarded by rotating shifts of elite Insect Masters chosen from the various Insect Master Families, but the entire palace and its surrounding area are also under the perception of the Queen and the High Priest. The slightest fluctuation of unusual Spiritual Energy would trigger their alarm."

"The third place... I’m not too clear on that one."

"ROAR~" Akatos added, with Qing Fan translating, "The ruins of the Alataku People are easier to approach. However, to enter the ruins themselves, you must be led by someone with Alataku blood flowing in their veins. You, though a being of higher intelligence, are clearly not one of the Alataku People."

"Alataku blood... Are there still any Alataku People living on the Insect Continent?" Han Ning asked, unwilling to give up hope.

"ROAR, ROAR." Akatos’s voice rumbled again. "In my memory, the highly intelligent Alataku People have all vanished. All that remains are experimental Soul Beasts with a mere trace of their bloodline. Their blood is too diluted to pass the verification."

"What kind of Soul Beasts?" Han Ning’s expression flickered. ’If I have the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm collect the blood of these Soul Beasts, could I gather enough to achieve a sufficient concentration and extract the key needed to enter the ruins?’