Chapter 1 Beast Pets Can Evolve into Demonesses? Why Didn't You Say So Earlier!
Deep in the mountains of Xiangxi, thunder roared, and torrential rain poured down.
A temple-like structure stood among ancient trees and scattered rocks.
A flash of lightning illuminated the plaque at the entrance, revealing five large characters:
Lao Xiong Ridge Yi Zhuang (Old Bear Ridge Coffin House).
Inside the main hall, the purple glow of the lightning lit up the room, revealing a dozen dark and ominous coffins.
In a small dimly lit room within the Yi Zhuang, only a single candle flickered, casting a weak yellowish glow.
Several men sat around a fire, roasting their hands over the flames while warming their wine.
From time to time, voices could be heard:
"Master Chief, I say we should head back to the Miao village, capture a few local guides, and if anyone resists—just shoot them dead!"
"Luo Shuai, don't be so hasty. We've just uncovered some clues about the ancient tomb in Bottle Mountain, but we don't know how deep or dangerous it is yet. Let's scout the area first."
"Master Chief, I think I heard scratching sounds coming from those coffins outside..."
"Hua Ma Guai, stop talking nonsense! Even if there's really a corpse coming back to life, we've got ink ropes, cinnabar, and corpse-binding cords. What's there to fear?"
At that moment, Xu Chen lay awake, silently observing the people around him.
Among them, a well-dressed man in his thirties stood out.
This was Chen Yulou, the leader of the Xieling Raiders, the top grave-robbing syndicate across thirteen southern provinces.
Beside him sat a fierce-looking man with a face full of scars—his sworn brother, the warlord bandit Luo Laowai.
Among the others, Xu Chen recognized a few more:
A towering, silent man—Kunlun Mole, Chen Yulou's personal bodyguard.
A shrewd, wiry man—Hua Ma Guai, once a coroner.
And a young woman, about twenty, dressed in striking red. Hong Gu, brave and beautiful, her demeanor sharp as a blade.
Behind them, a wooden door panel stood upright.
And nailed to it—a corpse.
The body was wrapped in a filthy white cloth, its outline faintly visible.
Above its head, a wooden plaque bore blood-red writing.
A dim soul lantern flickered before it, barely the size of a soybean.
Xu Chen knew—this was the corpse of Haozi Ergu, the previous caretaker of the Yi Zhuang.
Just then, a voice called out:
"Brother Xu Chen, what do you think? Can your Beast-Taming Technique help locate the General's Tomb in Lao Xiong Ridge?"
The speaker was none other than Chen Yulou himself.
As soon as he spoke, Luo Laowai, Hong Gu, and Hua Ma Guai all turned their gazes toward Xu Chen, eyes filled with anticipation.
Without replying immediately, Xu Chen stood up and pulled a burning log from the fire.
With a flick of his fingers—
A wisp of blue smoke rose from the wood.
A moment later, faint rustling sounds echoed from the corners of the room.
Several gray rats scurried out from the shadows.
Surprisingly, they showed no fear of people or fire, instead swaggering toward Xu Chen.
In neat formation, they stood on their hind legs, bowed, and knelt before him.
The onlookers' eyes lit up, excitement gleaming in their gazes. Yet none of them cried out in shock—clearly, this was not the first time they had witnessed such wonders.
Xu Chen waved his hand lightly, and the rats let out a series of squeaks before scattering in all directions.
"Master Chief, Lao Xiong Ridge is filled with yin energy and deadly miasma—many evil creatures lurk within."
"The mountain is indeed flooded with corpse energy, which means there's definitely a grand tomb hidden inside."
"However, ordinary beasts cannot venture too deep, making detailed scouting difficult."
"We must enter the mountain ourselves, capturing some spirit beasts along the way to help locate the tomb."
Hearing this, the group erupted in cheers.
"Brother Xu Chen's beast-taming abilities are truly divine! With him on our side, we'll surely return from this tomb with untold riches!" Luo Laowai downed his wine, his face flushed as he gave Xu Chen a hearty thumbs-up.
Hong Gu's gaze lingered on Xu Chen, her eyes gleaming in the firelight.
Xu Chen was a transmigrator.
Several months ago, he had crossed over into this world.
And he had landed in the Xieling Raiders.
Not long after, he activated his system:
Beast-Taming Evolution System.
It allowed him to control ordinary animals for simple tasks.
It also enabled him to subdue spirit beasts, turning them into beast pets.
Most importantly, he could use ancient tomb relics, precious artifacts, and mystical herbs to upgrade and evolve his beast pets.
At first, Xu Chen wasn't too impressed.
After all, it was just another high-risk, high-reward way to make money.
A more thrilling yet dangerous means of treasure hunting.
Not only did he have to raid tombs, but also capture spirit beasts, which was no doubt perilous.
As a modern man, Xu Chen had originally planned to quit grave robbing and settle down.
With his knowledge and skills, he could easily become a wealthy landowner—buying thousands of acres, taking beautiful wives, and living the life of an untouchable rich man.
But soon, he realized—things were not that simple.
According to the system's hidden prompts, this world was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
Even if he fled to the countryside, he might not be safe.
Without strength, he would still be prey to the supernatural horrors lurking in the shadows.
And then, there was one more thing...
When his tamed beasts evolved, they transformed into female demons— loyal to their master.
The moment Xu Chen saw this revelation—
He inhaled sharply.
Why didn't the system tell him earlier?!
On one hand, he could live cautiously, amassing wealth while fearing for his life.
On the other—he could indulge in power, luxury, and a harem of stunning female demons.
Did he even need to think about it?!
Xu Chen made his decision instantly.
Tomb raiding it is!
Bottle Mountain? I'm going!
Not just Bottle Mountain—but also Dragon Ridge Maze, Yunnan Insect Valley, Kunlun Shrine, Seven Star Luwang Palace, Xisha Seabed Tomb...
I'm looting them all!
Of course, the female demons don't matter—I'm only in this for my deep, burning passion for archaeology!
...Ahem, I mean, my undying passion for grave robbing!
However, as a newcomer, Xu Chen needed allies.
After careful thought, he decided to leverage the resources at hand—Chen Yulou and his Xieling Raiders.
The Xieling Raiders weren't just some ragtag bandits.
They were an elite organization controlling the underground trade across thirteen provinces.
Not to mention, Luo Laowai's warlord troops had guns.
In this chaotic world, they were a force to be reckoned with.
Thus, Xu Chen began demonstrating his beast-taming skills, using rats and stray cats to scout tombs ahead of time.
He quickly made a name for himself.
After several successful expeditions, Chen Yulou swore brotherhood with him.
Through these raids, Xu Chen also obtained several special relics.
But there was a problem—
This world lacked spiritual beasts.
He had only managed to tame rats, foxes, wolves, chickens, and dogs—none with supernatural power.
This was frustrating.
Xu Chen wasn't interested in ordinary creatures.
He wanted spirit beasts—ones brimming with aura and mystical energy!
Only those could evolve.
Only those could become stunning demonesses!