The countdown had begun.
Main Story Quest
Awaken the Second Guardian
Time Remaining: 47 Hours, 58 Minutes
No one spoke for a long time.
The Spirit Butterflies slowly resumed their dance, but the valley no longer felt peaceful.
A clock was ticking.
Somewhere beneath Monkey Mountain…
Something ancient was waiting.
Lin Tianyu finally broke the silence.
“So…”
“We have less than two days.”
Shen Yuan nodded.
“Less.”
“Because awakening a Guardian isn’t as simple as finding one.”
“What do you mean?”
The old gardener looked toward the glowing valley.
“Each Guardian chooses whether to recognize the Keeper.”
“If it refuses…”
“…the Sanctuary cannot force it.”
Sun Xiaohou scratched his ear.
“…Stubborn.”
Hei Bao glanced at him.
“…Talking about yourself?”
“…No.”
“…Tiger.”
“Tiger?”
Tianyu looked between them.
“The Northern Forest Guardian is the White Tiger?”
Hei Bao slowly nodded.
“…Bai Hu.”
“The Guardian of Judgment.”
Granny Mu added quietly,
“He never liked humans.”
Tianyu sighed.
“Perfect.”
“The next Guardian already hates me.”
Shen Yuan smiled.
“Not hate.”
“Disappointed.”
“…That’s somehow worse.”
The System chimed.
Quest Information Updated Second Guardian
Name: Bai Hu
Title: White Tiger of Heavenly Judgment
Status:
Dormant
Synchronization Requirement:
Guardian Approval
Failure Conditions:
Dishonesty Cowardice Abuse of Sanctuary Authority Warning:
Guardian possesses absolute truth perception.
“…Absolute truth?”
Tianyu frowned.
“So I can’t lie to him?”
Correct.
“…What if I accidentally exaggerate?”
Recommendation: Do not.
Everyone returned to the Keeper’s Cottage.
Shen Yuan carefully unrolled the Ancient Beast Atlas that Luo Qing had delivered.
The old parchment shimmered before expanding into a floating map of the Sanctuary.
Most of it remained hidden beneath swirling clouds.
Only a single region glowed emerald green.
Northern Forest Habitat
Status:
Locked
Guardian:
Bai Hu
Seal Condition:
Stable
Access Requirement:
Keeper Authority Level 2
Tianyu looked at the System.
“…I’m still Level One.” The source of this chapter is g.com.
Correct.
“So how do I reach Level Two?”
The System answered immediately.
Keeper Advancement Conditions
Complete one of the following:
✔ Restore one Sanctuary Zone
✔ Increase Zoo Reputation to 500
✔ Successfully resolve one Sanctuary Crisis
“…Wait.”
“We already defended the zoo.”
Mission evaluation pending.
The screen flashed.
Mission Complete
Repel the Intruders
Evaluation:
Excellent
Reason:
Keeper prioritized Guardian safety over personal survival.
Rewards Granted:
Keeper Authority +3 Spirit Qi ×500 Sanctuary Defense Manual A warm current flowed through Tianyu.
The golden Keeper’s Mark spread slightly farther up his arm before fading.
Congratulations!
Keeper Authority
Level 2 Achieved
New Features Unlocked:
Northern Forest Access Sanctuary Workshop Guardian Communication Range Increased Tianyu smiled.
“…That was good timing.”
Suddenly…
A tiny bell hanging above the cottage door rang.
Ding.
Ding.
Shen Yuan looked up.
“They’re here.”
“Who?”
“The workers.”
“…Workers?”
The front door opened.
One by one…
Small figures marched inside.
Tianyu blinked.
“…Raccoons?”
There were nearly thirty of them.
Except…
They weren’t ordinary raccoons.
Each wore tiny leather aprons.
Several carried miniature hammers.
Others pushed tiny wooden carts loaded with tools.
One even wore tiny spectacles balanced on its nose.
The leader walked confidently to Tianyu.
He stood barely two feet tall.
Then…
He bowed.
“Master Keeper.”
Tianyu’s brain stopped working.
“…You…”
“…can talk?”
The raccoon adjusted his glasses.
“Naturally.”
“I am Chief Builder Lu.”
The System scanned them.
Spirit Craftsmen
Species:
Earth Raccoon Clan
Population:
31
Occupation:
Sanctuary Construction
Trust Level:
92%
Chief Builder Lu unrolled an absurdly detailed blueprint.
“We’ve inspected your zoo.”
Tianyu suddenly felt nervous.
“…And?”
“It is…”
He searched for the right word.
“…Terrible.”
“…Thanks.”
“The monkey enclosure lacks proper climbing structures.”
Sun Xiaohou nodded vigorously.
“Yes.”
“The wolf habitat drainage is inadequate.”
“The bird aviary requires expansion.”
“The reptile house needs humidity control.”
“The visitor pathways are inefficient.”
“The ticket booth is structurally embarrassing.”
Zhao Ming looked offended.
“I painted that booth.”
“…Poorly.”
Within seconds…
The tiny raccoons spread across the cottage.
Some began drawing maps.
Others measured furniture.
One somehow produced a tiny tape measure.
Chief Lu looked at Tianyu.
“The Sanctuary grows with the zoo.”
“If the surface zoo remains neglected…”
“…the underground Sanctuary cannot fully awaken.”
Tianyu finally understood.
“So improving the zoo…”
“…isn’t optional.”
Shen Yuan nodded.
“It never was.”
“The Sanctuary reflects the Keeper’s heart.”
“If visitors love the zoo…”
“The Sanctuary flourishes.”
“If the zoo declines…”
“The Sanctuary weakens.”
The System immediately updated.
New Long-Term Mission
Restore Lin Family Wildlife Park
Current Rating:
⭐☆☆☆☆
Target:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Benefits:
Unlock New Habitats Increase Guardian Recovery Generate Spirit Qi Daily Attract Hidden Spirit Beasts Tianyu laughed helplessly.
“So…”
“I still have to run an actual zoo.”
Hei Bao lazily nodded.
“…Keeper.”
Sun Xiaohou grinned.
“…Zoo Keeper.”
“…Very funny.”
Just then…
A sharp howl echoed through the valley.
It didn’t come from any animal nearby.
It came from far beyond the glowing forest.
The sound was powerful enough to make every Spirit Butterfly freeze.
Chief Builder Lu’s ears twitched.
“…That’s not good.”
Hei Bao slowly stood.
“…Bai Hu.”
Granny Mu frowned.
“He shouldn’t be awake yet.”
The howl came again.
This time…
It was followed by the sound of trees crashing in the distance.
Then the System displayed a crimson warning.
Emergency Alert
Northern Forest Habitat
Seal Integrity:
81%
Unknown Entity has entered the habitat.
Guardian Bai Hu…
…has awakened in anger.
[End of Chapter 20]