Chapter 357
Can we touch it?
The expression and the movements were exactly like a pet that couldn't wait to ask its owner for a treat after finishing its task!
Lin Xia seemed used to the little guy's change of expression.
He smiled helplessly, a smile that carried a hint of genuine affection, a stark contrast to the calm he had displayed when facing the Royal Fighters earlier.
He reached out and touched a seemingly ordinary storage soul tool at his waist.
A flash of light appeared, and a piece of ore the size of an adult's fist, deep blue in color, with what seemed like nebula flowing inside, and radiating a strong earth-elemental energy fluctuation appeared in his hand.
The air seemed to freeze slightly the moment the ore appeared, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary mineral.
"Here you go, you little glutton."
Lin Xia casually tossed the priceless ore towards Little Banjilas.
"Ban-ki-ra!"
Little Banjilas let out a joyful cry, its short legs suddenly pushing off, and it leaped up with precision, snatching the ore that was bigger than its head in its mouth!
"Snap! Snap! Snap snap snap..."
A tooth-grinding sound, like fine gold being crushed, rang out instantly.
The little guy hugged the ore and began to devour it without a care in the world. The incredibly hard star marrow ore was easily crushed, chewed, and swallowed in its seemingly small mouth, just like a crisp biscuit.
It ate with extreme focus, its little head nodding slowly, its round, red eyes squinting contentedly, and the faint orange-red markings on its body seemed to brighten slightly with each chew, emitting a subtle warm glow.
His gluttonous appearance created a striking and endearing contrast with his earlier image as the sandstorm king who had destroyed the world.
Everyone: "..."
Watching the little dinosaur happily munching on the ore, and then seeing Lin Xia's doting gaze, everyone felt a wave of dizziness. The change in atmosphere was too fast and too complete!
Just then, a voice filled with intense curiosity and a barely perceptible tremor broke the silence.
"Lin... City Lord Lin?"
Dugu Yan finally recovered slightly from the huge shock and contrast. She looked at the harmless little Banjiras eating happily at Lin Xia's feet. Her emerald eyes sparkled with an unprecedented light, a strange emotion that was a mixture of lingering fear, intense curiosity, and a certain cuteness.
"Excuse me...may I...touch it?"
Although Ye Lingling beside her did not speak, her cool eyes were also fixed on Bangiras, filled with inquiry and a hint of eagerness.
The Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul's sensitivity to life forms fueled her desire to study this being that could seamlessly switch between giant beasts and adorable creatures.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xia raised an eyebrow, looked at the two women with interest, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh? You want to touch it?"
He pointed to little Banjiras, who was engrossed in his work and oblivious to the stares of those around him.
"Aren't you afraid? This little guy seems quite gentle."
He emphasized the word "gentle".
"But its temper isn't exactly good. Especially... when it's focused on eating, or when it's disturbed by strangers."
He paused, noticing the two women's faces instantly tense, and slowly added:
"It is the Sandstorm King Tyranitar, whose veins flow with the rage and destruction of the earth. Don't be fooled by its small size now. If you anger it, it will unleash a miniature version of a Stone Spike or a Dark Pulse. That feeling... tsk tsk."
He deliberately omitted the full consequences, but his meaningful tone was enough to leave much to the imagination.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling visibly trembled, the devastating sandstorm and the roar of the giant beast involuntarily flashing through their minds. Even shrunk, the terrifying memory remained vivid. Dugu Yan even subconsciously took a half-step back, her Azure Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul stirring restlessly within her.
But intense curiosity and trust in Lin Xia ultimately overcame fear.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath, tried to straighten her back, and forced a stubborn smile onto her face.
"With...with City Lord Lin here watching over things, everything should be...should be alright?"
She looked at Lin Xia with pleading eyes and a hint of gambler's courage.
"We'll just...just touch it lightly, just once! We promise we won't disturb it while it's eating!"
Ye Lingling nodded slightly, though she didn't speak, the longing in her eyes was equally clear.
Lin Xia looked at their forced composure and expectant expressions, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her eyes.
He nodded, his tone indulgent.
"Fine, since you're so brave."
He glanced at Yu Tianheng and the others who were still petrified beside him.
"Touch it. Remember, be gentle, don't touch its spikes, and don't try to take its ore. As long as I'm around, it's quite docile when it's full and satisfied."
Upon receiving permission, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's faces instantly lit up with surprise.
The two exchanged a glance and cautiously, step by step, approached the little Banjiras who was focused on dealing with the Star Marrow Mine. Their demeanor was even more cautious than when approaching a 100,000-year-old soul beast.
Little Bankiras seemed to sense the approach of strangers. He paused slightly while chewing, and his round, red eyes looked away from the ore, warily eyeing the two human women who were walking towards him.
It let out a low, warning growl from its throat, its short paws clutching the ore tightened instinctively, and the little spikes on its back seemed to stand up slightly.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling froze in their tracks, their hearts leaping into their throats.
Just then, Lin Xia's voice rang out gently through the mental link.
"Bangilas, it's alright, let them touch you. They mean no harm."
At the same time, a sense of reassurance was conveyed.
Little Benjilas tilted his head, looked at Lin Xia, then at the two nervous women, his wariness fading slightly, but he still didn't relax.
It stopped eating and instead held the ore, staring at them intently, as if assessing it.
Dugu Yan mustered her greatest courage and tentatively, extremely slowly, reached out her hand, aiming at the relatively rounded and smooth back of Tyranitar, which was covered with dark gold armor.
Her fingertips trembled slightly with nervousness.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the cold, metallic shell—
"Roar?"
Little Bengilas suddenly let out a short, questioning sound, and then... it did something that left everyone speechless once again.
It neither attacked nor dodged, but suddenly raised a free little claw, not pointing at Dugu Yan, nor at Ye Lingling, but... pointing straight at Lin Xia, who was standing aside watching the show!
"Bang! Tyranitar!" (End of Chapter)