The fifth day after the torrential rain ended,
the sky was just beginning to brighten.
"That was a restful sleep."
Chen Yuan opened his eyes and stretched lazily.
He had gone to bed early last night and woke up this morning feeling refreshed.
He quickly got out of bed, dressed, and looked around the bedroom—Cola was still sprawled on the carpet snoring, as if dreaming of something happy, with a mischievous smile on his face.
But Spark was nowhere to be seen.
Opening the window, the gentle morning sunlight rushed in. Chen Yuan squinted and saw Grandpa squatting at the front door, holding a bowl of noodles while staring straight ahead.
Oh, Spark was practicing the newly mastered skill from yesterday—Flame Energy Assault.
Every time Spark succeeded, Grandpa would nod with a cheerful smile and give a thumbs up.
Chen Yuan couldn't help but glare at the sleeping Cola.
How can you sleep at your age?
Get up and hustle!
Even though he thought this way, Chen Yuan still walked out of the bedroom softly and closed the door gently.
"Morning, Grandpa."
"Make your own noodles, the seasoning is ready," Grandpa said without looking up, his attention fully on Spark.
Chen Yuan secretly complained that his real grandson was less favored than an outsider, then proceeded to the kitchen to cook noodles.
While doing so, he took out his phone to check if the advancement conditions had been approved.
As soon as he opened his phone, several messages popped up:
[Dear Mr. Chen Yuan, the advancement conditions for Flame Cloud Falcon's normal to elite quality you uploaded have been approved. Thank you for your contribution to the Beastmaster Association and all Beastmasters.
Since you are the sixth Beastmaster to have successfully uploaded, the significance you bring far exceeds the intrinsic value of the advancement conditions; hence, you are awarded 200 contribution points and a 'Pioneer of a New Era' badge.
- Beastmaster Association Headquarters]
Two hundred contribution points!
'Pioneer of a New Era' badge!
Chen Yuan's eyes lit up as he clicked into his personal center:
[Name]: Chen Yuan
[Age]: 25
[Level]: Initial-tier Beastmaster
[Affiliated Association]: Baokun City Beastmaster Association
[Contribution Points]: 281
"Eh? Why is it 281?" Chen Yuan was a bit surprised.
Upon investigation, he found that three Beastmasters had already purchased the Flame Cloud Falcon's advancement conditions, and after splitting with the Beastmaster Association, he received 81 contribution points.
While marveling that someone had purchased so quickly, he was secretly thrilled to have grasped a source of continuous wealth.
For someone with a system like him, this was just the beginning.
Soon after, Chen Yuan saw a message from Baokun City Beastmaster Association:
[Dear Mr. Chen Yuan, thank you for your contribution to Baokun City Beastmaster Association. We are honored because of you.
Please choose a date to visit the Baokun City Beastmaster Association Building, where we have prepared the most suitable gift for you.
- Baokun City Beastmaster Association]
"We are honored because of you?"
"Could it be that my uploaded advancement conditions had a significant impact on the Baokun City Beastmaster Association?"
"Well, it's possible, after all, every new organization needs to hustle for performance."
Chen Yuan rested his chin on his hand, looking contemplative.
"Oh, the noodles are ready." Chen Yuan put his phone back in his pocket and squatted next to Grandpa with the noodles.
The two of them ate noodles while watching the Flame Cloud Falcon practice moves, and the TV inside the house intermittently broadcasted the news:
"Here is the morning news..."
"According to reports, due to the ongoing enthusiasm for beast taming, some Quasi-Beastmasters who have just succeeded in meditation are venturing into the wild, hoping to find their own Pet Beast."
"But the rejuvenated post-Spiritual Energy wilds are fraught with danger, and the environment is harsh. Currently, dozens have died, and hundreds have faced danger."
"We remind all Quasi-Beastmasters that wilderness exploration is not a game. Please act according to the guidelines with approval from the local Beastmaster Association..."
Upon hearing this, Grandpa put down his bowl and said slowly, "You won't know the terror of the mountains unless you live there."
Chen Yuan nodded in agreement.
"Yesterday, the village chief caught two guys trying to enter Qinling through our village."
"They were well-equipped, with all sorts of random stuff, hiking poles, jackets..."
"I'd say it'd be better to carry more water and dry food, and a sickle would be more useful than anything," Grandpa said, eyes glaring, full of disdain for those 'gear enthusiasts.'
Chen Yuan didn't argue, he chuckled, "Grandpa, they don't have as much experience in the mountains as you do."
"Of course..." Grandpa huffed, continuing, "You too, be careful in the mountains, don't get cocky just because you've become a Beastmaster and forget respect."
"Now this mountain... even I can't see through it anymore."
Chen Weiyi's gaze fell on the vast east-west mountain range, his tone deep and complex.
Chen Yuan didn't talk back, opting to nod obediently.
Actually, as far as yesterday's venture into the mountains was concerned, he didn't feel any particular danger, just that the path was much harder to traverse than usual, with his sickle almost sparking from use.
Also, with two guardians beside him, ordinary creatures wouldn't dare approach.
But for Quasi-Beastmasters without Pet Beasts, the wild would certainly be full of danger.
"Still... more and more people will enter Qinling in the future." Chen Yuan sighed slightly.
This is unavoidable.
But when people gather, all sorts of messy situations arise.
Chen Yuan could only strengthen himself as much as possible to protect the expansive Qinling from too much harm.
...
Having finished breakfast, just as Chen Yuan was about to stroll around the village to find Extraordinary Creatures, he received a call from his friend Zhang Hao:
"Yuan, want to go fishing?"
"What's got you free to fish today? Did you succeed in meditation?"
"Hehe, you've seen through my deep disguise." A sneaky laugh came from the other end of the line.
"Congratulations, don't forget Little Chen once you make it big."
"Yuan, you jest, you're the first Beastmaster in our village; we'll rely on you in the future."
The two exchanged polite words before Zhang Hao got back to the point:
"Yuan, don't you know about Mr. Niu's thing?"
"Tell me about it."
"Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Niu caught a fish in the reservoir east of the village that nobody's ever seen before. It's said that after eating it, you look ten years younger, and feel more energetic."
"Is that so?" Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow, suddenly interested.
"There's no way it's fake, Mr. Niu's white hair has visibly lessened, he looks rejuvenated." Zhang Hao said excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan didn't hesitate: "Let's go, I have to see what's going on."
The two planned to meet in ten minutes at the east side of the village, and Chen Yuan immediately grabbed his fishing gear and called out to Spark: "Spark, let's go, we're going fishing."
Fish?
Where's the fish to eat?
The sleeping Cola in the bedroom suddenly opened his eyes, drooling, quickly got up, and dashed to Chen Yuan's side, looking eagerly.
Chen Yuan said irritably: "We're going fishing, not eating fish!"
This lazy sack, all day, all it does is sleep and eat.