Ultimately, Lu Heng did not involve the magical beasts he had contracted in the Angu Forest in the hunting operation.
Based on his observations along the riverbank over the past two days and the information gathered from the contracted magical beasts, Lu Heng deduced that the distribution of magical beasts throughout the Angu Forest was quite balanced.
There was no single overlord dominating the forest. However, the Serpent Dragon Beasts, which held an advantage within their species, habitually resided in a certain deep pool. Consequently, few magical beasts ventured there, except for that particular deep pool. Other magical beasts in different areas kept each other in check, occasionally engaging in conflicts over territory.
Their default common territory was the banks of the river that flowed through the forest. Beyond these areas, territories were clearly demarcated.
In addition to acquiring magical crystals he lacked, Lu Heng also desired to collect samples of magical beast carcasses for research by the veterinarians in the apocalypse.
"Quite a few magical beasts have come to the riverbank to drink water. Once we head out, we'll follow the riverbanks."
Gazing at the riverbank outside his spatial dimension, Lu Heng deactivated the observation permissions for his contracted beasts. It wasn't due to the potential gore; since he wasn't bringing the newly contracted beasts along, he didn't want them to witness such scenes.
"The other magical beasts are here learning modern societal knowledge from Director. The situation over there is more complex, and it's a world you can't yet comprehend."
Lu Heng assigned tasks to his pets. He first had Director escort the newly contracted magical beasts back to the apartment building. Afterward, he, along with the pets contracted in the apocalypse, Lu Bai, and Blood Wolf, returned to the riverbank.
Throughout the afternoon, Lu Heng and his companions encountered little resistance along the riverbank. They split into two teams, swiftly advancing in one direction along both sides of the river.
This approach was also to prevent startling the magical beasts on the opposite bank by engaging in slaughter on one side. Furthermore, traversing back and forth would consume considerable time.
The magical beasts that came to the riverbank to drink water were mostly of slightly higher levels, bringing along the weaker members of their groups.
Lu Heng did not engage in genocide. He instructed his pets to only kill magical beasts of level eight and above, thus their progress was quite rapid. They soon reached the edge of the forest.
"Master, this is a wind-elemental magical beast we just hunted. This one is level nine," the Golden Eagle said, flying over with the carcass of a winged creature.
"Hmm, why do I feel like you've been specifically hunting wind-elemental magical beasts today?" Lu Heng pierced the head of the winged creature with an ice cone, extracted the magical crystal within, and then swiftly stored the carcass and the crystal in his spatial dimension.
"Heh heh, that's not it. If you absorb this wind-elemental magical crystal, my level can also increase," the Golden Eagle flicked the feathers off its claws.
Are they getting this smart now?
After checking the prey and magical crystals in his spatial dimension, Lu Heng realized he had made significant gains that afternoon. He had collected over twenty level eight and level nine magical crystals each. Aside from ice-elemental ones, he had acquired harvests of all natural elements.
Lu Heng recalled learning at the auction that ice-elemental magical beasts seemed to only exist in extremely cold regions.
However, there were ice-elemental magical beasts in the water pool where the Serpent Dragon Beasts resided. The female Serpent Dragon Beast he had contracted was one of them.
Should he go check the water pool?
After some thought, Lu Heng dismissed the idea. He had no need to descend into that dark place.
Affected by the zombies in the apocalypse, he strongly disliked entering dark environments.
Lu Heng and his companions had been in the Angu Forest for a few days. He planned to return to Jinyang City first to process the newly acquired magical crystals, as upgrading was more important than anything else.
In any world, only by standing at the pinnacle of ability could one have a voice in their own world.
Lu Heng stored all his contracted animals in his spatial dimension and released the Beaked Vulture to prepare for the return journey to Jinyang City.
"You mentioned earlier that Wu Chenzi has his own mount. What kind of magical beast is it?" Lu Heng asked, sitting on the Beaked Vulture's back and looking at the passing terrain below.
"His mount is a Fire Phoenix," the Beaked Vulture flapped its wings and surged forward several hundred meters.
"Fire Phoenix? Do you have phoenixes as magical beasts here?"
"What is a phoenix?"
"Uh, it's a legendary, very beautiful bird. But none of us have ever seen one. Its wings are said to be multicolored. Has Director not shown you any films of that kind?"
"No, Director only finds nature documentaries or palace intrigue dramas to play. But I really can't stand those palace dramas, sigh, it's hard to describe..."
Lu Heng: "......Does Director usually show you all sorts of random programs?"
"Not anymore. It has handed over those matters to Lu Bai now. Lu Bai doesn't like watching those palace dramas."
Thank goodness...
"However, Lu Bai now specifically finds many military-themed films for us to watch. For example..., they're quite watchable. Anyway, a few of us raptors prefer watching these kinds of films."
"You can't operate those machines, so why watch these films?"
"Lu Bai can operate them. It can change its form, and many things we can't manage, it can handle. Last time, it dismantled the treadmill at home and then reassembled it."
Lu Heng: "......Is this going against the heavens? The intelligence of these pets is soaring, and they seem to be surpassing me."
No, he was getting sidetracked.
After hiding the magical crystals in Jinyang City, Lu Heng planned to visit his shop and inquire about Wu Chenzi's whereabouts. He was eager to see what other flying mounts were available. If there were any that could both fight and be ridden, he could contract a few more. As long as his contracted animals produced offspring, he could eventually form a flying combat squad.
During the night, the Beaked Vulture did not stop flying. However, Lu Heng did not remain on its back; he returned to his spatial dimension to rest.
After flying for two days, Lu Heng once again arrived near Jinyang City.
Gazing at the city not far away, Lu Heng felt a sense of returning home. Perhaps due to some connection with his spatial dimension, he always felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity whenever he returned here.
"Stop outside the city in a moment, and then I'll put you into my spatial dimension."
The city lord's mansion had not yet given him a reply regarding flying mounts directly entering the city. Therefore, Lu Heng still had to choose ground transportation to enter the city during the day.
"Sigh, should I get a carriage or something? Otherwise, without direct permission to fly into the city, I'll have to walk in."
Although walking wasn't tiring, entering the city by carriage would certainly carry more prestige.
Finding a secluded spot, Lu Heng put the Beaked Vulture back into his spatial dimension. He channeled the energy within him to perform the Shadowless Steps technique and quickly headed towards the city gate.