In the blink of an eye, the phoenix that had been in painful labor disappeared. The few phoenixes circling in mid-air let out sharp cries of alarm.
A chorus of bird calls erupted around them.
One phoenix let out a high-pitched cry and charged towards Lu Heng below.
It had just seen what the human had placed before the laboring phoenix. Shortly after, the laboring phoenix seemed to drink the water from it and then vanished.
As one phoenix rushed towards Lu Heng, the others, seeing this, also swooped down towards him, as if intending to tear him apart to avenge their vanished companion.
Lu Heng couldn't wait for these phoenixes to pounce on him. Seeing that the contract was successful, he quickly retracted the water bucket he had taken out and entered the space with it.
Inside the space, the newly contracted phoenix lay on a patch of open ground. The temperature here was much lower than outside.
Perhaps without the feeling of heat, the phoenix, which should not fear heat, finally calmed down.
However, it was still in a state of labor. This state of labor could not change its discomfort until the egg was laid.
The phoenix's belly twitched. It lay on the ground, arching its body and exerting itself.
"You still can't lay it? Is this your first time laying an egg?"
This time, the phoenix could communicate normally with Lu Heng. It heard most of what Lu Heng said and naturally communicated with him through its thoughts.
"Master, this is my first time giving birth, and my egg seems a bit large this time..."
Lu Heng walked behind the phoenix and took a look. Indeed, the egg was visible, stuck inside and unable to come out.
"Drink some more of this water. It will help you recover some strength."
Lu Heng refilled the water bucket he had brought from outside the space and placed it in front of the phoenix.
Then, he went behind the phoenix again, put on gloves, and prepared some olive oil to help with the delivery.
As long as he could soften the area and then push the abdomen to assist in delivery, the egg should be able to pass.
Lu Heng briefly explained what he was going to do to the phoenix. Although the phoenix couldn't understand, Lu Heng was going to touch its body, and he was afraid the phoenix might get nervous or, in its panic, accidentally kick him.
With Lu Heng's assistance, the phoenix finally laid the egg after a few abdominal contractions, and it was three eggs.
"Is this considered high yield?"
These giant birds usually didn't lay many eggs, mostly just one. For it to lay three eggs in its first brood was likely rare.
"Master, can you give me another magic crystal?"
Lu Heng knew that the phoenix wanted a fire-element magic crystal, so he took out two more level eight fire-element magic crystals and placed them before the phoenix.
Upon seeing the magic crystals, the phoenix ate them without hesitation.
Looking at the phoenix, which had regained some of its spirit, Lu Heng reminded it, "Why don't you go outside and tell your companions? They've been frantically looking for you outside."
The phoenix nodded, glanced at the three eggs on the ground, and decided that the temperature here was suitable, so the eggs would be fine left here.
"You go out with peace of mind. I'll find some furry animals to help you incubate the eggs."
He then called over Pang Hu and the others. "Go, each of you pick one to help incubate. And don't squeeze the eggs, these will be your companions in the future."
After giving instructions, Lu Heng began to observe the situation outside the space.
The newly contracted phoenix had already been released. Lu Heng did not witness their initial reunion outside.
But now, all the phoenixes outside had landed. With no need to guard the surroundings, they had all gathered around the phoenix that had reappeared.
The phoenixes intertwined their necks and occasionally let out low murmurs.
Seeing that the situation outside had calmed down, Lu Heng also emerged from the space.
"Do you have any mates here?" Since the contracted phoenix had laid eggs, there must be a mate for it. Lu Heng, not wanting to break them up, planned to contract the phoenix's mate as well.
"Master, these are all my mates."
—Hoo! Is the harem this powerful? And, are these all males?
Lu Heng started to calculate how many more he could contract. There were seven phoenixes here, and he seemed to be able to contract seven more.
But after contracting these seven, he wouldn't be able to contract any other pets.
Good thing he needed to get more high-level magic crystals, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to contract anymore.
"Ask them if they are all willing to stay with you and become my contracted animals, leaving this place."
After being contracted by Lu Heng, these phoenixes would have to leave this high-temperature environment. It was uncertain what kind of environment they might be in outside in the future.
The phoenix understood and let out a few low murmurs.
The other phoenixes responded with their own low murmurs.
"Master, three of them do not wish to leave this place. They do not wish to leave this temperature and fear they will not be able to adapt outside."
—That's great. It just so happens that a few spots are still available. He also didn't want to contract so many male phoenixes at once. Their ratio relied entirely on this one female phoenix for reproduction, and the speed of expanding the second generation was too slow.
After the three phoenixes who did not intend to be contracted left, Lu Heng took out the fire-element magic crystals stained with his blood and distributed them one by one to each bird.
Thus, the plan to contract the phoenixes was finally completed.
Next, he needed to go to extremely cold regions to get some magic crystals. Not only did he need to improve his ice-element abilities, but he also needed to get some high-level magic crystals to level up a few more times.
As he was about to leave this scorching land, Lu Heng did not forget to put the carcasses of the hyenas that had died into the space.
The contracted phoenixes saw this and asked, "Master, why are you bringing these corpses back?"
"What do you usually eat?" Lu Heng asked back instead of answering.
Because the entire Blazing Island had an abnormally high temperature, there was no water source here, and Lu Heng was very curious.
Birds usually liked to eat fish. He wondered what these birds ate.
"There is a snake mountain nearby. We go there to catch snakes."
"Snake mountain... Is it far?" No wonder the phoenixes initially only took the magic crystals from the hyenas after killing them, but did not eat the hyena meat. It turned out they specialized in eating snake meat.
"Not far. Shall we take Master to see it?"
Lu Heng nodded. With these phoenixes leading the way, he could tour the surrounding area and see if there were any special products here.
The phoenix that had just given birth could not take Lu Heng around outside. Lu Heng left only one to carry him around outside as a mount.
"Are there more phoenixes here than just your group?"
"Yes, there are about a dozen tribes on the island, each occupying a certain area. Ours is considered a small tribe."
"It's so hot here, haven't you thought about finding a place with a better environment to live?"
Lu Heng knew that phoenixes were fire-element magical beasts, but there was no need to survive in such a harsh environment.
Finding a place with abundant food would be more suitable for reproduction and growth.
"We have lived here for generations and have never thought of migrating to other places to live."
Lu Heng understood. It was likely that these birds were accustomed to it, influenced by some instincts etched in their genes, and coupled with the fact that the environment was not unbearable for them, they chose to survive here.