The massive tricolor lizard lay down obediently, flattening its long tail against the ground like a sturdy lift. One after another, the three girls stepped onto it carefully. With a slow and steady motion, the lizard raised its tail, carrying them upward with surprising gentleness for such a beast.

"Xiao Cai, you're amazing. You really scared me at first, but now I feel completely safe," Mino said cheerfully. Her fluffy rabbit ears twitched happily as she gave the lizard's glossy scales a light pat.

The lizard's thick tail twitched slightly in response. Then, as if taking its task more seriously after the encouragement, it stiffened its body to ensure the girls were transported even more securely.

"Luciel, you should spit out some spider silk and tie up the plants, otherwise they'll slide off and get damaged," Liyue urged, stepping closer with a practical expression.

Her silvery eyes flickered toward Luciel, who was grinning like a child who had just unearthed a treasure. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she added, "I know these plants are valuable, but you've been smiling non-stop for so long. Are they really worth all that joy?"

Luciel chuckled softly, shaking his head. He held up the freshly dug sweet potato in his hand as though it were a precious gemstone. "You don't understand. None of the treasures I've gotten so far compare to this little thing right here."

"Sweet potato?" Liyue raised an elegant brow, pursing her lips with a hint of skepticism. "Is it really that important?"

"Here, let me show you."

Luciel passed the sweet potato carefully to Mino, who accepted it with wide eyes, cradling it as if it were something sacred.

The other two girls released their grip on the plants they were holding.

Luciel then stood tall beside the tricolor lizard, rolling his shoulders. "Alright then. Time to get serious. Talent ability—Baisi Control!"

He raised his arms high. From the palms and fingertips of his hands, countless threads of gleaming spider silk shot forth, thin yet impossibly strong. In the blink of an eye, more than a hundred nearly transparent strands stretched across the air.

Swish! Swish!

The silk shot out like countless whips, wrapping neatly around plant after plant. With precise control, Luciel flung the bound saplings onto the lizard's broad back, securing them tightly in place with layer upon layer of webbing.

The movements were sharp, efficient, almost theatrical—like watching a master puppeteer control a hundred marionettes at once.

The three girls froze, their mouths dropping open in unison as they watched the seemingly impossible scene unfold before them.

"Luciel is incredible! That's more work than a dozen people could do—and he's doing it all by himself!" Mino exclaimed, eyes shining with admiration.

"…We're completely unnecessary, aren't we?" Liyue muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with irony as she crossed her arms.

Yu Fei'er, however, covered her flushed face with both hands and peeked through her fingers, gazing at Luciel as though entranced.

Meanwhile, Old Lady Lu—who had been watching from nearby—shifted uneasily. Her wrinkled face tightened, her body trembling slightly. If everything from the greenhouse was moved away like this, her little garden—the heart of her livelihood—would be gone. She imagined her old husband returning to find their cherished green vegetables stripped bare, and her chest tightened at the thought of him collapsing in grief.

Yet, in less than half an hour, every sapling in the greenhouse had been secured. Luciel's spider silk had turned what should have taken multiple trips into a single grand feat.

The tricolor lizard was now so tightly bundled in webbing that its massive form resembled a giant dumpling. Only its head and limbs remained free, straining as it swayed back and forth like a beast trying hard to keep its dignity.

"Heehee, look at it! Big lizard, you look so funny right now," Mino giggled, clapping her hands in delight.

Even Liyue and Yu Fei'er, who usually carried themselves with reserved composure, couldn't help but smile at the ridiculous sight.

The lizard turned its head toward Luciel, its large eyes full of grievance, as though demanding to know why its master had humiliated it in such a way.

Luciel gave a quiet cough to divert attention. "Alright, listen up. This time, the three of you will go back with Xiao Cai."

"What? You're staying here alone?" Liyue's delicate brows furrowed deeply, her silver lashes trembling with unease.

"It's easier for me to move around by myself," Luciel said calmly, nodding as if the matter were already decided. In truth, he had another goal—he intended to meet with the Moon Lord and Yue Feiyan. If he could rescue them, he would not only repay some debts but also gain additional beast spars.

After raiding so many of the Elders' households, his accumulated evolution points had soared to an astonishing 138,620. Enough to guarantee the evolution of a sixth-level domesticated beast.

Still, Liyue pressed her lips into a thin line, her voice cool but determined. "Absolutely not. It's far too dangerous for you to go alone. If you insist, then at least let me come with you."

Yu Fei'er quickly stepped forward as well, half-hiding behind Liyue's figure. "Me too. I'll go with you. It's better if we stay together."

"Eh? Then does that mean I'm supposed to go back alone?" Mino's ears drooped, and she hugged the red sweet potato against her chest with a blank expression.

Luciel's gaze moved from the stubborn silver-haired girl, to the quietly resolute Yu Fei'er, then back to Mino's pitiful face. Finally, he sighed in defeat. "Mino, you'll head back first. We'll rejoin you by dawn."

"Alright…" Mino nodded obediently, though her heart felt heavy. She knew she was the weakest among them, and following Luciel into danger would only make her a burden. Returning to help unload the lizard's cargo was the least she could do.

"I'll send you up," Luciel said gently.

With deft movements, he spun silk once more, wrapping Mino carefully before lifting her onto the secure space on the lizard's back.

"Don't worry," he whispered softly, brushing the webbing into place. "When you get home, wait for me. I'll be there to remove the spider silk for you."

He closed his eyes for a moment, summoning the presence of the red ghost spider with his mind—ensuring it would guard her along the way.

"Got it. You all be careful," Mino called out, her small face poking through the cocoon of silk. Her voice was clear and earnest. "I'll wait at home until you come back!"

Luciel gave a wave. "Go."

With a hiss, the tricolor lizard flicked out its tongue and shifted into its camouflage state. Its enormous frame shimmered faintly, blending with its surroundings. With a heavy, deliberate step, it lumbered away carrying its precious cargo.

Old Lady Lu stared at the now-empty greenhouse, tears welling in her eyes. The shed looked barren, stripped of life. She could already imagine her husband's despair when he saw it—could practically hear him coughing up blood in fury.

Luciel, noticing her expression, offered a faint smile. "Don't cling to the past, Elder. You'll be moving into other tribes soon enough. Carrying so much with you will only make the journey harder—and perhaps even shorten your lives."

Liyue's lips twitched slightly at his words. That's supposed to be comfort? she thought. That sounded more like a cold warning than anything else.

Still, Luciel waved cheerfully and led the two women away from the Elder's house.

As they passed by the building where Lu Chuan was confined, the sound of his hoarse, impotent roars echoed faintly through the wooden walls. The noise carried a bitter note of despair that none of them commented on.

---

"How do you plan to save the Moon Lord and Yue Feiyan?" Liyue asked at last, her voice calm but edged with seriousness.

Luciel tapped his chin thoughtfully. "We'll take a look at the situation first. I don't even know how many of the tribe are still truly loyal to the Moon Lord."

"Do you intend to use force?" Liyue's elegant brows knitted in concern.

"With my current strength," Luciel replied with confidence, "rescuing them by force isn't impossible."

But then his expression softened into hesitation.

Liyue, perceptive as always, narrowed her eyes. "You're not worried about saving them. You're worried about what comes after they're rescued, aren't you?"

"Exactly." Luciel spread his hands with a wry smile.

"They'll probably want to stay here and rebuild the Moon Lake Tribe," Liyue mused aloud. "After all, this is their home."

Luciel nodded faintly. "That's what troubles me. It's dangerous for them to remain. The Elders won't let them go easily. And on top of that, the Thousand Trees Tribe clearly has their eyes on the Moon Lord and her daughter."

"Wait…" Liyue's silver eyes widened as realization struck. "You're thinking of inviting them to join us?"

Luciel's lips curved upward in affirmation. "That's right."

Both women were startled by the audacity of his idea.

Talent was rare. The Moon Lord and Yue Feiyan were exceptional individuals, not just ordinary awakeners. A water element awakener could oversee the lifeblood of any settlement, ensuring survival. Meanwhile, a fire awakener capable of facing down the Blood Knife and Night Jackal—both tier-three threats—was a rare force of power.

If Luciel truly intended to form a new power of his own, such talents would be invaluable.

His plan was already clear: evolve the rock tortoise to a sixth-level beast, expanding the space on its back to over one hundred thousand square meters. With that, they could sustain a population of around a hundred—enough for a strong, tightly-knit force without overburdening the resources.

He envisioned it already: Black Tortoise City rising upon the shell of the massive beast. To make that dream real, he needed elites, the kind of people who could serve as the city's foundation—its future leaders.

"Do you really think they'll agree?" Liyue asked quietly, doubt flickering across her face.

Luciel chuckled. "The Moon Lord once asked me to stay here. Now, I'll turn the offer around and ask her to leave. Life's funny like that."

"But what if they refuse?" Yu Fei'er asked in a small voice.

"Then we won't force them," Luciel said evenly. "If they choose to stay, that's their decision. I can always find or nurture new talents myself. It'll just take longer—maybe half a year or more to collect the beast spars needed."

Though his tone was calm, a glint of determination lingered in his dark eyes. He was resolved to form his own force, and nothing would sway him from that path.

.....

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