The entire zoo trembled.
Birds burst into the night sky.
Animals throughout the park became restless.
Deer huddled together.
The wolves paced nervously.
Even the crocodiles submerged themselves beneath the water.
It wasn’t fear.
It was instinct.
Something dangerous…
Had entered their home.
The System flashed urgently.
Emergency Mission
Repel the Intruders
Objective:
Protect the Sanctuary and its Guardians.
Current Enemy Count:
2
Mission Reward:
Keeper Authority +3 Spirit Qi ×500 Sanctuary Defense Manual Zoo Reputation +100
Failure:
The Sanctuary’s location may be exposed.
Lin Tianyu swallowed.
“You keep saying ‘repel.'”
“How?”
“I’ve cultivated for…”
He checked his status.
“…Less than two days.”
The System answered immediately.
You are not expected to defeat them alone.
“…That’s reassuring.”
A Keeper never fights alone.
Hei Bao stepped forward.
“…Together.”
Sun Xiaohou grinned.
“…Always.”
For some reason…
Those two simple words calmed Tianyu.
He wasn’t alone anymore.
Outside the panda enclosure…
The bamboo forest illusion slowly faded.
The two remaining cultivators emerged onto the main pathway.
One was the elderly Formation Master.
The other…
A young man in his late twenties.
His sharp eyes swept across the zoo.
“So this is the Sanctuary…”
The elder nodded.
“And our future.”
The younger cultivator frowned.
“What about the Keeper?”
The elder smiled.
“He’ll come to us.”
At that exact moment…
The lights throughout the zoo flickered.
Click.
Every lamp went out.
Darkness swallowed the pathways.
The younger cultivator immediately raised his sword.
“They’re here.”
“No…”
The elder narrowed his eyes.
“They’re watching.”
Inside the panda enclosure…
Tianyu looked at Hei Bao.
“You have a plan?”
“…Yes.”
“What is it?”
The panda calmly pointed toward the old apple tree.
“…Feed.”
“…Now?”
“…Yes.”
“We’re about to be attacked!”
“…Hungry.”
“…Fight hungry.”
“…Lose.”
Tianyu stared.
“You two are unbelievable.”
Still…
He hurried toward the tree.
The apples shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
When he picked one…
He noticed something strange.
The fruit felt warmer than before.
Almost…
Alive.
The System chimed.
Spirit Fruit Detected
Jade Heart Apple
Quality:
Low Grade Spirit Fruit
Effect:
Restores Spiritual Energy.
Temporarily increases Guardian Strength.
“So they really changed…”
Hei Bao had been right.
The old tree was no longer ordinary.
Tianyu quickly filled a basket.
Hei Bao ate three apples in a single bite.
Sun Xiaohou caught another in midair.
The moment they swallowed—
Golden light exploded around both beasts.
Wind surged through the enclosure.
The ground cracked beneath Hei Bao’s feet.
The monkey’s fur shimmered like liquid gold.
Their sealed power…
Had strengthened.
The elder’s eyes widened.
“…Spirit fruit.”
He stared at the apple tree.
“No ordinary tree could produce that.”
Greed flashed across his face.
“The Keeper has no idea what treasure he possesses.”
The younger cultivator smiled.
“Then we’ll simply take it.”
He stepped forward.
“Enough hiding!”
His voice echoed across the zoo.
“Keeper of the Sanctuary!”
“I am Mo Chen, disciple of the Crimson Cloud Pavilion!”
“Come out!”
“I wish to discuss a trade.”
Tianyu whispered,
“…Trade?”
Hei Bao snorted.
“…Lie.”
Sun Xiaohou nodded.
“…Always.”
The elder continued calmly.
“We have no desire for conflict.”
“We only request three things.”
“The panda.”
“The monkey.”
“And the spirit tree.”
“In return…”
“We’ll spare your life.”
Silence.
Then…
Tianyu walked out from behind the enclosure gate.
His heart pounded so hard he was certain they could hear it.
But he kept walking.
Step after step.
Until he stood beneath the old apple tree.
Hei Bao settled quietly behind him.
Sun Xiaohou perched on his shoulder.
The mysterious girl remained hidden nearby.
Watching.
Listening.
The elder smiled pleasantly. This story is hosted at g.com.
“So.”
“You must be the new Keeper.”
Tianyu nodded.
“I guess.”
“You inherited quite a burden.”
“It comes with free housing.”
The younger cultivator blinked.
“…What?”
“The zoo.”
“I live here.”
The elder chuckled politely.
“Young man…”
“You don’t understand what you possess.”
“I understand enough.”
“Oh?”
Tianyu looked directly into the old man’s eyes.
“You called my family.”
His voice remained calm.
“…’Things.'”
The smile slowly disappeared from the elder’s face.
“They are Divine Beasts.”
“They belong to no one.”
“They certainly don’t belong in a rundown zoo.”
Hei Bao quietly lowered his head.
Not in shame.
In disappointment.
Tianyu noticed.
Something inside him stirred.
His grandfather’s journal echoed in his mind.
Never trust anyone who wants the beasts more than they care about them.
He took a deep breath.
Then smiled.
“I’m afraid…”
“…the zoo is closed.”
The younger cultivator laughed.
“Elder.”
“May I?”
The old man nodded once.
“Do not kill the Keeper.”
“The contract will transfer more easily if he lives.”
Mo Chen drew his sword.
Blue spiritual energy erupted from the blade.
The air itself seemed to split apart.
Tianyu’s legs refused to move.
His instincts screamed.
Run!
The sword came down.
Fast.
Too fast.
Tianyu couldn’t even see the strike.
Then…
A massive black paw appeared in front of him.
BOOM!
The sword shattered into hundreds of glittering fragments.
Mo Chen’s eyes widened in horror.
“…Impossible!”
Hei Bao hadn’t moved.
He was still sitting lazily on the grass.
Only one paw…
Had casually reached forward.
The panda slowly looked up.
Golden eyes met the two cultivators.
For the first time…
They truly saw him.
Not a panda.
Not an animal.
But an emperor who had survived the fall of civilizations.
Hei Bao spoke only four quiet words.
“…Leave my Keeper.”
The sky above the zoo darkened.
And every animal…
Bowed.
[End of Chapter 11]