Astral Pet Store (WN)
chapter-805

“Is the news already out?”

“O’Neil must have acquired the information from other sources. He told me as a favor before it spread out.”

Su Ping’s eyes glittered, and he chose to enter the group chat of the Alliance of Stars.

His consciousness instantly sank into the stars.

The mists around him looked like clouds and were rather impressive.

Hardly had Su Ping appeared on his spot when he heard heated discussions. He saw that almost all the seats around the table had been taken.

The chairs of the leader and the deputy had been occupied too at the front of the table.

To Su Ping’s surprise—while the person on the leader’s chair was covered in a mist—her body figure could vaguely be seen; she seemed to be a short girl who was issuing an order.

The deputy next to her turned out to be a tall and muscular male.

Did the leader just personally give an order?

Is she a Star Lord?

“I’ve heard about this divine residence. The secret investigation report refers to it as an Ultra S Mysterious Realm with legacies of ancient deities!”

“I heard that even the Ascendant State experts are going there. Is it true?”

“Are we really joining the competition? If any Ascendant goes there, will we really get a share?”

“You’re a fool. Everybody gets a share in ownerless mysterious realms, not only those who arrive there first! Since our leader is commanding us to go there, she must have already made deals with other people so we can have a share of the loot.”

“An Ultra S mysterious realm! I can’t even imagine what’s in there! It’s a treasure trove that even Ascendant State experts would fight over!”

“What are you scared of? Our leader is invincible. Even the Ascendant State experts have to show her some respect!”

“…”

Su Ping sat on his chair while covered in mist.

He slightly raised his eyebrows when he heard the discussions. An Ultra S mysterious realm? He quickly searched with his Lord Badge and soon found related information.

Generally speaking, only places with legacies left by Ascendants can be rated as Ultra S mysterious realms!

Therefore, the master of that divine residence was at least an Ascendant expert, based on the current investigation!

Those guys seem to have their own sources of information. It seems that I don’t have as many sources. No. I don’t have any sources whatsoever… Su Ping thought and shook his head.

Intelligence networks and information sources had to be built with hard work; he only had the time and energy for his shop. Maybe he needed to find trustworthy people to establish intelligence sources of his own.

For example, the old customers and acquaintances from the Blue Planet.

At this moment, a cute yet cold voice was heard. “Everybody, be quiet.”

All the discussions died down, and everybody raised their heads to look at the hazy, petite person in the front.

“Gather on time tomorrow. I will share detailed intelligence in regards to that divine residence after we arrive,” said the petite leader indifferently, “I don’t want anything to be leaked. Please keep it a secret!”

A few men opened their mouths and chimed in respectfully.

“It’s truly wise of you, leader!”

“You’re absolutely right, leader!”

“Leader, you’ve taken everything into consideration!”

Su Ping grimaced while still in his seat; their flattery was even more blatant and unbelievable than the Little Skeleton’s!

“I’m fully aware of your concerns,” continued the leader calmly in her cute voice, “However, the Alliance of Stars will take a share, our share of the loot. There’s no doubt about that!”

“Yes, ma’am!” everybody said, although they had different expressions.

Su Ping was also curious about the leader’s confident declaration, but he wasn’t a Star Lord yet, so he didn’t know their power. He also didn’t know if any Ascendant State experts were heading to the divine residence. Maybe it was just a rumor.

“Let’s call it a day. Be prepared before you come back,” said the leader.

Everybody accepted the order and left.

Su Ping also left the virtual world when he saw their actions.

Everybody left the group chat except the leader and her deputy.

“Miss, are you really going to participate in the adventure? It’s an unknown place anyway. Isn’t it too dangerous?” said the deputy, who addressed her in a surprising way. He sounded quite old, too.

The mist around the petite person on the leader’s chair was dispersed, revealing a cute and pretty face that evinced pride. She said, “Uncle Anba, I’ve been through all kinds of danger as I’ve cultivated; this is nothing. Isn’t there an old saying that says ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’?”

“Miss, I don’t think that saying applies to this situation. Besides, you have indeed been through many kinds of danger, but always under his lordship’s control. They may be dangerous to you, but they’re actually controllable.

“It’s different this time. It is an Ultra S mysterious realm and we haven’t gathered enough intelligence; this could even be a divine mysterious realm!” the deputy tried to persuade her with a bitter smile.

“You’re overthinking. We’ll be kicked out if it does turn out to be a divine mysterious realm. Those Ascendants would go nuts over it!”

“But…”

“Hey, Uncle Anba, I know what I’m doing. Besides, even if I’m caught in danger, I can always escape; my father gave me a lot of treasures!”

“…”

…

Su Ping’s consciousness retreated and went back to the shop; he thought for a moment and decided to go there to take a look.

He could leave all business matters to Tang Ruyan and Joanna, and have the Dummy Trainers do the normal training.

As for the professional training, he could do it after he returned.

After all, pet training usually took months, if not years; his training was already much faster than the average. He would have plenty of time as long as he told the customers in advance.

Su Ping received a call right then.

He picked up his phone and found it was a strange number.

He hung up.

Beep!

Soon after, the same number called again.

Raising his eyebrows, Su Ping decided to accept the call.

“Hello, is this Senior Su?” The face which surfaced on his phone belonged to none other than O’Neil.

“It’s you,” Su Ping said, “What’s up?”

“You’ve just learned about the divine residence in the alliance, right? We’re supposed to gather on the Red Fire Planet tomorrow. Should we go there together?” said O’Neil with a friendly smile.

He didn’t look like a man whose grandson had been killed by Su Ping, at all.

Su Ping had mixed feelings because of it. Is it true that killing a mere grandson is nothing?

“That’d be great. It just so happens that I don’t know how to get there.” Su Ping gladly accepted the request.

“OK, Senior Su. Please take care of me in the mysterious realm!” said O’Neil with an awkward smile.

Su Ping nodded. “You too. Let’s take care of each other.”

“Yes, of course.”

…

Su Ping replaced Tang Ruyan and received the customers after hanging up the phone.

An hour passed; all the openings had been occupied.

Su Ping closed the shop but didn’t take any rest; he simply went to the cultivation sites with his pets.

Su Ping fought his way forward in the Void Debris. He was becoming increasingly familiar with the law of cutting. He also gained some understanding of other laws of space; his strength was increasing as a result.

…

The next day.

In the morning—soon after Su Ping returned to his store—O’Neil went to the store to pick him up.

“Aren’t we supposed to gather at night?”

“We’ll arrive at night on the Red Fire Planet if we leave right now,” said O’Neil with an awkward smile, while he was inwardly surprised that Su Ping didn’t know that.

Is he a stranger to Zeruprun?

He looked at Su Ping’s face and found that he didn’t look like one of Zeruprun’s natives.

“Well…”

Su Ping finally remembered the time difference. He felt lucky he was going with O’Neil, or he wouldn’t have set off until the afternoon.

“Wait a moment.”

Su Ping turned around and asked Tang Ruyan and Joanna to mind the shop.

After leaving some instructions, Su Ping placed his pets into the summoning space and finally left with O’Neil.

“Senior Su, this way.”

There was a splendid spaceship with the Ryan family emblem, twenty thousand meters above Woffett City, in the midst of clouds.

Su Ping entered the spaceship after O’Neil’s beckoning.

The spaceship was quite luxurious, with a massive living room.

Su Ping sat down on a couch next to O’Neil. He asked curiously. “How long will the trip take?”

O’Neil said with a smile, “Considering the time on Rhea, it will be an hour.”

“That’s not too long.”

Su Ping nodded.

The spaceship had already been activated. He didn’t feel anything except for some shaking at the moment of activation. It was so steady it felt as if it were on as if it were on the ground.

However, the scenery outside the spaceship was changing quickly. The clouds were soon gone, and the stars could be seen.

“Senior Su, would you like some tequila? It’s one of the finest.”

“No, thank you.”

“What would you like to drink then? I have everything here.”

“Maybe some northwestern wind.”

“?”

“Nothing. It’s just a meme.”

“A meme?”

“Well, it’s just something fun that you say.”

“…”

O’Neil was silent for a moment. Feeling that the atmosphere was getting awkward, he coughed and said, “Senior Su, can I ask you to train my pets?”

“Yes.”

“Which kind of pets are you best at training?” O’Neil grew interested when Su Ping accepted his request. He had never dared to ask earlier because he was afraid that Su Ping would decline him.

After all, a grandmaster trainer would never rush into action that easily.

As for the pets in Su Ping’s shop; he was obviously training them just for fun.

However, the request of a Star State expert would mean something else.

“Every kind, basically,” said Su Ping. He wasn’t picky about pet categories; the system had all sorts of cultivation sites. Besides, he didn’t have to train pets in their corresponding environments. A fire class pet could still grasp a water skill if it were thrown into a world of water, as long as it was tortured enough.

Every pet could be trained through torturing. If that wasn’t possible, just torture it twice.

“Well…”

O’Neil felt that he had gone a bit overboard. Judging from his indifferent attitude, Su Ping was obviously unwilling to train pets for him.

Is he still upset because of the previous offense?

O’Neil was slightly angry. His own grandson had died, but he decided to let the matter rest and apologize. The guy seemed like an accessible fellow, although too petty in practice.

My grandson died, but I’ll let it pass.

Though dissatisfied, O’Neil gave a courteous reply, “Senior Su, you’re truly awesome. Only a grandmaster can train any kind of pet.”

He couldn’t have mastered an entire planet without being sophisticated.

“Category is just a secondary factor. Training pets is just like fighting. You can train any pet as long as you’re brutal enough,” said Su Ping. That was an already sincere reply.

Su Ping considered the incident with the Ryans as water under the bridge; since the head of the family wasn’t bothered by his grandson’s death anymore, he wouldn’t hold a grudge because of their offense, either.

“You’re right, Senior Su,” O’Neil nodded and said. He was somehow puzzled by Su Ping’s perplexing attitude.

…

An hour passed quickly.

The atmosphere in the spaceship cooled down after the conversation. Su Ping finally had the time to appreciate the views outside the window. He saw a lot of planets flying by; they had different sizes, and all looked remarkable.

Su Ping had never thought that he would be able to see the universe that clearly.

The spaceship approached a red planet soon after; it looked as red as the sun but without emitting any heat.

The redness was only the color of plants that had the largest coverage on the planet.

The spaceship passed the checkpoint in space and entered the atmosphere.

The vessel then stopped in a cluster of clouds. O’Neil left the spaceship and asked his men to watch over it. After that, he led Su Ping to a certain place.

The Holy Light Palace was the headquarters of the most powerful organization on the Red Fire Planet.

The leader of that utterly powerful organization was respectfully standing outside of the Holy Light Palace to welcome esteemed guests.

The new members of the organization were astonished.

The master of the Holy Light Palace, who was as admirable as a star, was standing outside of the palace like a receptionist.

“W-Who are those people? Why is the palace master bowing to them?”

“Oh my god, are they Star State experts?”

“Of course they are! Why else would our palace master be so awed?”

Outside the palace—

Su Ping and O’Neil arrived together. The master of the Holy Light Palace was at the peak of the Fate State, quite close to breaking through to the Star State.

Seeing Su Ping and O’Neil—who openly released his Star State aura—he quickly bowed and greeted them.

“Senior Su, after you.” O’Neil gestured at Su Ping.

Having no time for such formalities, Su Ping simply walked in the lead.

The master of the Holy Light Palace was instantly appalled. The Star State fellow addressed this young man as senior. Is he a Star Lord?

Su Ping and O’Neil then entered the court of the Holy Light Palace.

The place was spacious and beautiful, perfect for business and entertainment. The Star State men who had arrived earlier were in the company of gorgeous girls, whereas the women had a mixture of waiters and waitresses serving them. All of them had attractive looks.

Su Ping was deeply impressed by the delicious food and the extravagant details.

If Star State experts set their minds to enjoy themselves, they could truly get anything they wanted.

“Brother Zeus!”

“Brother Zeus, you’re here! Have a seat!”

“Who’s he?”

“This is Brother Heaven Destroyer,” O’Neil introduced him with a smile.

As they made their way over, he had asked for Su Ping’s nickname in the group.

Both Su Ping and O’Neil had changed their appearances. Some were too lazy to hide their true faces, but others chose not expose themselves.

Some had even transformed their gender, which wasn’t a complex thing to do for experts of that caliber.

It even was an enjoyable experience for certain people…

Su Ping coughed and chatted with the members of the Alliance of Stars along with O’Neil.

They had officially met in reality. Many of the members were quite friendly toward Su Ping. After all, the purpose of joining the alliance was to expand their social circle, not to offend others.