Lu Heng needed fierce beasts, not docile or slow-moving magical beasts.
His tortoise in the spatial dimension, while providing clean water in the harsh post-apocalyptic environment, didn't have much other use. Although the condensed water could be used as a weapon, Lu Heng preferred using ice-element abilities to create objects.
The tortoise's movements were also too sluggish, making it unsuitable for combat outside.
The neglected tortoise was unaware of this, occasionally chatting with other pets in the spatial dimension.
"You two keep an eye on these two snake-dragon beasts. I'll go check elsewhere. If they leave, don't stop them, then come find me."
"Okay, Master. Perhaps Lu Bai should accompany you?" Lu Bai turned his head to ask Lu Heng.
"No need. You stay here. I'm afraid they might have companions."
The magic wolf had mentioned that these snake-dragon beasts were gregarious. Lu Heng feared there might be some still submerged in the water.
Lu Heng also had some pets within his spatial dimension. If danger arose, he could return to the dimension to take cover immediately.
He walked alone for a few hundred meters, not daring to stray too far from his pets. If there was danger, he needed to be able to return promptly to rescue them.
Crouching in the grass, he carefully observed the magical beasts ahead. Two beasts, resembling sheep, were drinking water with their heads lowered.
Their location was some distance from the snake-dragon beasts. Therefore, the two beasts occasionally lifted their heads to survey their surroundings. Seeing no danger, they resumed drinking.
Both of these were wood-elemental. Lu Heng shook his head, not wanting to form another contract. He already had two wood-elemental pets.
After looking around for a while longer, Lu Heng found no other magical beasts that caught his eye. The sky was growing darker, and many magical beasts were leaving the riverbank.
They knew it was dangerous to be by the river at night and had each returned to their territories.
Lu Heng spotted a few magical beasts on the opposite bank, but the river's span was quite wide, so he decided to give up.
At night, he also wanted to return to the spatial dimension to rest before coming back to search for magical beasts tomorrow.
He quietly returned to Lu Bai and the others, squatting on the ground and asking, "What did those two snake-dragon beasts do?"
"Master, they were preparing the prey they caught today."
"Are there traps there?"
"Yes, they often set traps by the river, but they don't set many."
"Alright, let's return to the spatial dimension. It's getting dark, and we should all rest. We'll come out again when it's light tomorrow."
He also wanted the Director to give lessons to the magic wolf and the two falcon beasts, to tame the new pets.
Glancing again at the two snake-dragon beasts busy by the river, they were using their crude weapons to dismember the carcasses of the magical beasts caught that day, a process of evisceration.
It seemed they were cleaning them before taking them away. These snake-dragon beasts reminded him of ancient primitive humans.
Taking all his contracted pets, Lu Heng and his group vanished from the riverbank as silently as they had arrived.
As Lu Heng and his group departed, the snake-dragon beast that had been busy stopped its actions. It raised its head and looked towards where Lu Heng and his group had been standing.
"What is it?" the other snake-dragon beast asked, noticing its companion stop and look ahead.
"You continue here. I'll go over there to take a look."
"Be careful." The other snake-dragon beast also noticed that the magical beasts that had been watching them had disappeared at some point. It then resumed its task of preparing the prey.
The snake-dragon beast quickly returned to the river, holding its weapon, and swam towards where Lu Heng and his group had been standing.
In the water, the snake-dragon beast had a greater advantage. It had noticed that Lu Heng and his group were land animals, so it wanted to swim to Lu Heng's shore to observe.
Soon, it reached the bank where Lu Heng and his group had been. There were no tall plants here, so no animals would be hiding in the grass.
After looking around and confirming there was no danger, the snake-dragon beast used its weapon to probe the bank.
Once more assured of no danger, it placed its hands on the bank and leaped ashore. At the spot where Lu Heng and his group had stood, it sniffed. The scent on the ground had not yet dissipated.
The snake-dragon beast lowered its head and picked up a few white hairs from the ground. These were hairs Lu Bai had left among the grass roots. Sniffing them, the snake-dragon beast memorized Lu Bai's scent.
Releasing the hairs, the snake-dragon beast twisted its body and returned to where it had been cutting the prey.
"Did those magical beasts leave?"
"Yes."
"Crack!" With a single chop, a not-so-sharp blade struck the body of the prey below, and a large leg was severed.
"Alright, let's go back." After finishing with the prey, the snake-dragon beast divided it into two portions. Each carrying a portion, they submerged into the water, their bodies gradually disappearing beneath the surface.
...
In the spatial dimension.
Lu Heng first went to check on the two red-footed falcon beasts.
"Are you both tired from flying? Come out. You should have felt our contractual bond by now."
He released the two falcon beasts. They were still inside the apartment building; Lu Heng had already converted the entire floor into a living space for his pets.
"Master."
Lu Heng responded and gathered all his ability-possessing animals. The team had gained new members. Although they could sense each other, it was necessary for them to meet for the first time. However, Lin Xue was too special, so Lu Heng did not bring her out.
"There are two more downstairs; they are about to give birth, and you will meet them later. The rest are all here. Get acquainted.
Also, Director is the elder here. If you have any questions in the future, ask her.
As for matters in the post-apocalyptic world, Director will explain them to them. Have Lu Bai help you play those materials."
Watching programs on television was the most intuitive way to understand things, especially content with sound and visuals.
After giving instructions, Lu Heng also arranged for Lu Bai to feed the new companions ancient well water. Drinking this water frequently benefited their bodies greatly. The struggle of the red-footed falcon beasts earlier had also consumed a lot of their energy.
"By the way, are you two a pair?" Lu Heng asked the falcon beasts.
"No," replied a fire-elemental falcon beast.
"Come here. I haven't had a good look yet. These magical beasts from other worlds always deviate from my understanding."
The two red-footed falcon beasts exchanged glances. The one that had just answered fluttered its wings and hopped towards Lu Heng.
Grabbing a red-footed falcon beast, Lu Heng examined it carefully. Indeed, it was different from the animals in the post-apocalyptic world. Although they had claws, the part connecting the claws to the body resembled the legs of mammals.
Were these mammals too?
With this question, Lu Heng flipped the red-footed falcon beast in his hands. It was rather awkward. The falcon beast's belly faced upwards, its wings pinned against Lu Heng's legs. Lu Heng squeezed the falcon beast's body.
"Do you lay eggs, or do you give birth to live young?"