The conference room fell into complete silence.
Everyone slowly turned toward Sun Wukong.
The Great Sage pointed at himself.
“…Me?”
The terrified security guard nodded frantically.
“Y-Yes!”
“The giant panda!”
“He climbed the observation tower in one jump!”
Arjun blinked.
“…They think you’re a panda?”
Sun Wukong folded his arms proudly.
“I can be fluffy when I want.”
Bruno immediately protested.
“No.”
“Only I fluffy.”
The Monkey King gasped dramatically.
“Are you challenging me?”
Bruno stood up.
“Yes.”
The system immediately interrupted.
WARNING
Heavenly Bear Emperor
Mood: Competitive
Great Sage Equal to Heaven
Mood: Also Competitive
Estimated Property Damage:
Extremely High
Arjun sighed.
“No competitions.”
Both ancient beings looked disappointed.
“…Okay.”
Marshal Liang rubbed his forehead.
“I’ve fought demon emperors.”
“I’ve negotiated peace between rival sects.”
“I’ve survived three calamities.”
He looked at Bruno and Sun Wukong.
“I have absolutely no idea how to deal with these two.”
Ren smiled.
“Nobody does.”
Five minutes later…
The group arrived at the zoo’s central observation tower.
Nearly every visitor had gathered below.
Children pointed excitedly toward the top.
Parents were taking photos.
A little girl tugged on her father’s sleeve.
“Daddy!”
“The monkey is flying!”
The father laughed.
“That’s a really good drone show.”
High above them…
Sun Wukong sat cross-legged on the tower’s highest beam, casually eating a peach.
His golden staff floated beside him.
Completely unsupported.
Arjun shouted upward.
“Wukong!”
The monkey waved enthusiastically.
“Oh!”
“Keeper!”
“You want a peach?”
He tossed one.
The peach flew through the air like a cannonball.
Arjun barely caught it before it smashed into his face.
“…Thanks.”
Director Wang arrived carrying a clipboard.
He looked upward.
Then nodded thoughtfully.
“Hmm.”
Arjun braced himself.
Here it comes…
The explanation.
Director Wang adjusted his glasses.
“Excellent balance.”
Everyone stared.
“Sir…”
one of the security guards whispered.
“Shouldn’t we…”
“…be worried?”
Director Wang shook his head.
“Our new consultant clearly has years of climbing experience.”
The system quietly appeared.
✔ PASSIVE SKILL ACTIVATED ✔
Director Wang
Common Sense Immunity
Effect: Creates believable explanations for impossible events.
“I still can’t believe that’s real.”
Host has witnessed overwhelming evidence.
“…Fair enough.”
Suddenly—
BEEP!
The zoo’s ticket scanner at the main entrance flashed bright red.
One visitor.
Then another.
Then five more.
Marshal Liang frowned.
“That’s strange.”
A Bureau officer quickly checked his communication device.
“Marshal.”
“The scanners aren’t malfunctioning.”
“They’re detecting spiritual energy.”
Ren’s expression became serious.
“They’ve already begun.”
Arjun looked confused.
“What has?”
Sun Wukong dropped from the tower, landing effortlessly beside the group.
“The Sanctuary.”
He looked toward the zoo entrance.
“It has started calling.”
The system expanded into a massive holographic map.
SANCTUARY RESTORATION
Current Progress: 5%
New Function Activated
Spirit Attraction Field
Effect: Sacred Beasts and Cultivators are subconsciously drawn toward Green Paradise Zoo.
“…That’s bad, isn’t it?”
Host will receive significantly more visitors.
“I already have enough visitors.”
Not those kinds of visitors.
Before Arjun could ask—
A loud roar echoed from the lion enclosure.
Everyone rushed toward the habitat.
The elderly African lion named Caesar stood motionless in the center of his enclosure.
Visitors watched curiously from behind the safety barriers.
Then…
Golden light erupted around the old lion.
His gray mane gradually transformed into brilliant strands of gold.
His tired eyes became clear and intelligent.
His scarred body straightened.
The elderly lion looked twenty years younger.
He slowly lifted his head toward Arjun.
Then…
To everyone’s complete shock…
He bowed.
Not like an animal.
Like a knight greeting his king.
The system instantly identified him.
NEW AWAKENED BEAST
Species:
African Lion
True Identity:
Golden Flame Lion King
Bloodline Awakening:
1%
———————————– Get faster updates on g.com.
The lion spoke quietly.
Only Arjun and the awakened beings could hear him.
“Keeper…”
“Your Sanctuary has begun awakening.”
Bruno clapped excitedly.
“Kitty talks now!”
The lion looked at Bruno.
“…I am not a kitty.”
Bruno grinned.
“Big kitty.”
The lion sighed deeply.
“…I suppose that is technically accurate.”
Aisha burst into laughter.
Even Marshal Liang struggled to keep a straight face.
Ren folded his arms.
“The Sanctuary’s influence is accelerating.”
“Ordinary animals are beginning to awaken their ancient bloodlines.”
Arjun looked around the zoo.
The elephants.
The wolves.
The birds.
The deer.
His eyes slowly widened.
“…You mean…”
“…every animal here?”
Ren nodded.
“If they possess even a trace of an ancient bloodline…”
“…they will eventually awaken.”
The system immediately updated.
NEW MAIN QUEST
Restore the Eternal Sanctuary
Current Progress: 5%
Objectives:
Awaken Sacred Beasts: 1 / 108
Restore Ancient Habitats: 0 / 12
Recruit Sanctuary Guardians: 4 / 12
Reward:
Unknown
Arjun stared at the quest.
Then slowly looked across the entire zoo.
Hundreds…
No.
Thousands of animals.
He swallowed.
“…I’m going to need a lot more bamboo.”
The system responded instantly.
Host’s priorities remain unusual.
Before Arjun could reply—
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed from beneath the zoo.
“The Second Guardian…
has awakened.”
The ground trembled.
Somewhere beneath the ancient Sanctuary…
Another seal had begun to crack.
The voice echoed through the earth.
“The Second Guardian…
has awakened.”
The tremor lasted only a few seconds.
Then everything became quiet again.
The zoo visitors looked around in confusion.
“Was that an earthquake?”
“I barely felt it.”
“Maybe construction nearby.”
To ordinary people, it was nothing more than a slight vibration.
But to the awakened beings…
It felt like an ancient heart had beaten beneath their feet.
Bruno slowly swallowed the bamboo shoot in his mouth.
“…Not good.”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf nodded.
“The Sanctuary is calling.”
Marshal Liang immediately ordered the Dragon Division into formation.
“Seal every entrance to the underground tunnels.”
“No civilians are to enter.”
“Yes, Marshal!”
The elite officers scattered throughout the zoo.
Director Wang walked over carrying a megaphone.
“Everyone!”
“Today’s animal feeding show has been postponed due to…
uh…”
He looked at Arjun.
“…Plumbing maintenance.”
Arjun blinked.
“Plumbing?”
Director Wang shrugged.
“People usually don’t ask questions after plumbing.”
The system quietly appeared.
✔ DIRECTOR WANG’S EXCUSE ✔
Believability:
98.6%
“…How?”
Host has underestimated plumbing.
Arjun sighed.
“I’m starting to think plumbing is more powerful than cultivation.”
No comment.
Within twenty minutes, the zoo had been completely evacuated.
The lively pathways became eerily quiet.
Only Arjun and his allies remained.
The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the empty walkways.
Ren stopped beside the old elephant enclosure.
He crouched and brushed away decades of dirt from a weathered stone.
Ancient golden runes shimmered beneath the surface.
“There.”
“This is one of the hidden entrances.”
Arjun looked down.
“It was here the whole time?”
Sun Wukong laughed.
“You’ve probably walked over it a thousand times.”
Bruno scratched his head.
“I peed here once.”
Everyone looked at Bruno.
The panda blinked innocently.
“…What?”
Aisha buried her face in her hands.
“You really didn’t have to tell us that.”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf quietly turned away.
“…I choose not to remember hearing that.”
Even Ren let out a small laugh.
The system updated immediately.
✔ COMEDY BONUS ✔
Team Morale: +10%
Heavenly Bear Emperor’s honesty has unexpected benefits.
“I refuse to encourage this.”
Ren placed his palm against the rune-covered stone.
Golden light spread across its surface.
A deep rumbling echoed underground.
Slowly…
The earth parted.
An enormous spiral staircase descended into darkness.
A cool breeze drifted upward.
It carried the scent of ancient forests.
And something else.
A feeling of familiarity.
Arjun unconsciously stepped forward.
“It feels…”
“…like home.”
Ren looked at him.
“Because it once was.”
The group began descending.
Strange glowing crystals illuminated the tunnel walls.
Ancient murals covered every surface.
Arjun stopped before one particularly detailed carving.
It depicted twelve enormous beasts surrounding a young man wearing black robes.
At the center of the mural stood a magnificent golden tree whose branches reached the stars.
The system highlighted it.
HISTORICAL RECORD
The Twelve Sanctuary Guardians
Status:
Active: 4
Sleeping: 7
Corrupted: 1
Arjun frowned.
“Four active?”
The system listed them.
Current Guardians
✔ Heavenly Bear Emperor
✔ Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf
✔ Crimson Earth Devourer
✔ ???
“The fourth one…”
Before the system could answer—
The tunnel opened into a breathtaking cavern.
Arjun’s breath caught.
The cavern stretched for kilometers beneath the city.
An underground sky shimmered overhead, filled with glowing crystals that resembled stars.
Rivers of liquid spiritual energy flowed through marble canals.
Ancient temples, half-buried by time, surrounded a vast circular plaza.
At its center…
Stood a colossal stone statue.
A knight clad in ornate armor.
Nearly thirty meters tall.
Its hands rested upon a massive sword planted into the ground.
Despite being carved from gray stone…
Its face looked strangely alive.
Marshal Liang whispered,
“The Stone Sentinel…”
Ren nodded.
“The Shield of the Sanctuary.”
Bruno smiled broadly.
“Rock Friend!”
Sun Wukong laughed.
“He still gives everyone nicknames.”
Bruno proudly folded his arms.
“Easier.”
Arjun slowly approached the statue.
Every instinct told him it wasn’t merely a statue.
As he reached the center of the plaza…
The system suddenly rang.
SANCTUARY GUARDIAN DETECTED
Name:
Aegis
Title:
Stone Sentinel
Status:
Dormant
Awakening Condition:
Keeper’s Command
Arjun hesitated.
“So…”
“I just talk to it?”
Correct.
“…That seems too easy.”
Host is encouraged to try.
Arjun stood before the giant statue.
He took a deep breath.
“Hello…”
Nothing happened.
Bruno whispered loudly,
“Maybe louder.”
Arjun nodded awkwardly.
“HELLO!”
Still nothing.
Sun Wukong grinned.
“You’re introducing yourself to a mountain.”
Aisha covered a laugh.
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck.
“This is embarrassing.”
Ren stepped beside him.
“It isn’t waiting for words.”
“It’s waiting for intent.”
Arjun looked at the motionless guardian.
Then closed his eyes.
He remembered the frightened visitors.
The awakened animals.
Bruno’s unwavering loyalty.
Aisha’s trust.
The world that seemed to rest on his shoulders despite him never asking for it.
Finally…
He spoke from the heart.
“I don’t know who I used to be.”
“I don’t remember this Sanctuary.”
“But…”
He placed one hand against the giant stone sword.
“If you protected this place before…”
“…then help me protect it now.”
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then—
BOOM!
The entire cavern shook.
Golden cracks spread across the statue.
Dust rained from its shoulders.
Its enormous stone fingers slowly tightened around the sword.
A pair of brilliant sapphire eyes opened.
The ancient guardian looked down at Arjun.
Its voice echoed through the cavern like rolling thunder.
“Welcome home…”
“…Keeper.”
The system exploded with notifications.
SANCTUARY GUARDIAN AWAKENED
Aegis
Stone Sentinel
Guardian Rank: SSS
Loyalty: Absolute
Sanctuary Guardians: 5 / 12
Before anyone could celebrate—
A crack suddenly spread across Aegis’ stone chest.
Black corruption seeped from within the fracture.
The guardian’s sapphire eyes flickered between blue…
And crimson.
The system’s cheerful notifications instantly turned scarlet.
WARNING
Hidden Corruption Detected
Source:
Unknown
Sanctuary Guardian Stability:
68%…
61%…
54%…
]———————————–
Aegis let out a pained roar that shook the cavern.
The ancient sword trembled violently.
Marshal Liang’s expression changed.
“Everyone!”
“Get ready!”
The Second Guardian had awakened…
But something else had awakened with it.
To Be Continue….
Add to library！ Check out my new series