Volume 1, Chapter 38: Isn't this too generous! Giving away a three-piece set right at the start?

The "Golden Cicada Seal" skill of the Double-Winged Golden Cicada is notoriously formidable; whoever is branded with its mark finds their life and death firmly in the master’s control. This makes the Double-Winged Golden Cicada an exceptionally valuable beast.

The two beast tamers currently surrounded by Lu Hongbo’s group were, in fact, not nobodies. They had simply arrived in Northwind City only recently, and their reputations had yet to spread. Had they possessed a background like the White family twins, they would surely have been known as the "Shen Brothers."

Shortly after the brothers, Shen Nanqian and Shen Nankun, were cornered, Lin Yao arrived quietly nearby with a formidable force of Shadow Werewolves. He did not rush to reveal himself, choosing instead to observe the standoff between the Shen brothers and Lu Hongbo’s men.

Liang Xiaofei, a worldly man who had spent years roaming outside Northwind City, recognized them once he got a closer look. He whispered to Lin Yao, "My Lord, these two are worth saving. They are assassination-type beast tamers; their bonded beasts are the Mist Dragon and the Mist Tiger. They fled to Northwind City to escape their enemies." Liang clearly saw the brothers as rare talents and hoped Lin Yao would recruit them.

In this era of catastrophe, lone wolves have their freedom, but interest groups hold the advantage. If Lin Yao did not intend to remain a lone wolf forever, he would eventually need to build his own power. To that end, talents like the Shen brothers were not to be missed.

Lin Yao did not immediately commit. "Let’s watch and see," he replied calmly. While the Mist Dragon and Mist Tiger were theoretically powerful, he needed to see how the brothers utilized their beasts in combat before making a decision.

"Boom!"

The battle erupted nearby. The moment the Shen brothers struck, they piqued Lin Yao’s interest. He immediately activated his beast tamer talent to inspect their details.

[Name: Shen Nanqian]
[Level: 16]
[Talent: Mist-Walker (Able to completely conceal one's form and aura within the mist, avoiding detection; a top-tier hunter in the fog!)]
[Skills: Mist Slash, Multiple Mist Slashes, Mist Thread, Devouring Mist Sea!]
...
[Name: Mist Dragon]
[Level: 16]
[Qualification: S-Rank]
[Talent: Mist Domain (Instantly generates a field of mist in the surroundings!)]
[Skills: Mist Dragon Breath, Mist Frenzy, Mist Prison, Domain of the Mist Lord!]
...
[Name: Mist Tiger]
[Level: 16]
[Qualification: S-Rank]
[Talent: Mist Conquest (All attributes increased by 50% when fighting in the mist!)]
[Skills: Mist Tiger Pack, Mist Beast Armor, Tiger Giantification, Two-Headed Tiger King!]

Lin Yao realized that the brothers were perfect mirrors of one another, sharing identical talents and skills. However, their beasts served distinct roles. The Mist Dragon was a "turret" and "support" unit, using its breath for long-range attacks while providing tactical utility. The Mist Tiger was a "warrior," summoning a pack of tigers and augmenting them with "Mist Beast Armor" and "Tiger Giantification." The "Two-Headed Tiger King" skill was a transformative ability that required building up their forces first, allowing the pack to merge into a single, ferocious combatant.

In a sense, the Shen brothers were even more dangerous than the White twins. While the White twins were individual elites, the Shen brothers were a perfect, complementary pair. Unfortunately, they were currently overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemy beast tamers and beasts.

Once the white, blinding mist field was generated, Lu Hongbo directed his men with composure: "Everyone, spread out and bombard the mist with every skill you and your beasts possess! Whoever kills either of these two, I will release the Golden Cicada Seal upon them! And if anyone dares to slack off, I will punish them severely after the battle!"

Though Lu Hongbo had suffered losses at the hands of Qin Tanlang and Black Bear, he was no incompetent. His words demonstrated both his grasp of rewards and punishments and the immense pressure he placed on the brothers. The Shen brothers excelled at small-scale skirmishes—they had already quietly eliminated several of Qin Tanlang’s subordinates who had strayed too far—but they could not withstand this carpet-bombing.

Just as Lin Yao decided to intervene, Shen Nanqian shouted toward his hiding spot, "Friend, stop watching from the sidelines! Please, lend us a hand, and I will gift you a Skill Enhancement Crystal as payment!"

Lin Yao felt a surge of excitement. Skill Enhancement Crystals were priceless treasures that could elevate a skill's potency. If he could enhance his already powerful Energy Bomb, its destructive force would reach a new level.

As Lin Yao pondered, Shen Nanqian continued, "Help us, friend! We truly cannot hold on any longer! Beyond the previous offer, we will add a Skill Metamorphosis Crystal!"

Shen Nanqian assumed Lin Yao was hesitating due to the size of Lu Hongbo’s force. Desperate, he was willing to pay any price. Lin Yao was stunned that his brief delay could yield such rewards. He might have waited longer, but the brothers were truly at their breaking point.

Shen Nankun wailed, "Brother! What are you waiting for? If he’s willing to help, just give him the Skill Evolution Crystal! We’ve already used ours, and we can only use one anyway!"