Jiang Xing was very happy when the System awakened on time.
Jiang Xing was very disappointed when the System started acting brain-dead!
After all, he hadn't transmigrated into the Pokémon world, but into a completely different Pet Beast world. At most, it stitched together a bit of Pokémon worldview with common Beast Taming web novel settings.
If the system didn't lack a physical body, Jiang Xing would've already jumped up and delivered a critical hit—super effective—right to its weak point with a charged punch, just to knock some sense into it—
This is a Golden-Patterned Koi, not a Magikarp!
It can't evolve into Gyarados!
Do you even know how to assign missions?
Answer me!
Realizing that the system he had painstakingly awakened was brain-dead, Jiang Xing felt extremely disappointed.
But after calming down, his gaze couldn't help drifting toward the Golden-Patterned Koi in the pond.
Looking at their watery eyes and their glittering golden scales, Jiang Xing rubbed his chin.
That said…
Although there was a ninety-nine percent chance System Bro was brain-dead, was there maybe a one percent chance that these little fish really were Magikarp?
After all, names are given by people.
What if these little fish were written as Golden-Patterned Koi, but read as [Magikarp (parallel-world ecological subspecies, original variant)]?
It wasn't completely impossible.
Besides, taking ten thousand steps back—
System Bro was still a classic golden finger in web novels. Its reputation was pretty solid, highly praised among transmigrators. On some review site, it'd at least score an 8.0.
One point deducted for abstract systems, another for trash systems—not as good as the "A.I. Chip" next door.
So… these Golden-Patterned Koi might actually have the potential to transform into dragons?
In the Beast Taming world, any Pet Beast possessing dragon-like traits had decent strength.
True dragon-attribute Pet Beasts—even in their base form—their Species Tier was at least Commander Tier, and after several stages of evolution, their Species Tier could even reach Monarch Tier, Overlord Tier… or even Demi-God Tier!
Among all known Pet Beast species with Demi-God potential, dragon-type species were the most numerous—without exception.
From this, one could see just how valuable dragon-type Pet Beasts were.
If Jiang Xing could evolve the Golden-Patterned Koi into dragon-type Pet Beasts…
Even if they only possessed some dragon-like traits and didn't have true dragon attributes—
Forget a final paper, it could directly serve as his graduation thesis!
'My final paper is already close to completion. Even if I lose this batch of experimental data, it won't affect much… At worst, I'll prepare another batch of Golden-Patterned Koi and start raising them again.'
'Besides, the process of attempting dragon evolution itself falls within the scope of verifying the Golden-Patterned Koi's evolutionary forms.'
'Given Dr. Xu's personality, as long as the design is reasonable and the logic is sound… even if it fails in the end, it won't count as data loss—instead, it might even earn extra points for the thesis.'
'Worth a try!'
As for how to evolve Golden-Patterned Koi into dragon-type Pet Beasts, the system couldn't provide any help.
That was normal…
It still thought these were Magikarp!
However, it had already provided enough inspiration—
Jiang Xing had studied Golden-Patterned Koi for more than half a year. He understood these Pet Beasts extremely well and possessed sufficient knowledge of Pet Beast evolution.
With the system's line of thinking as a reference, he quickly began designing an evolution plan.
If using Magikarp as a template, first of all, special evolution methods were useless.
In the game, Magikarp evolved into Gyarados without needing evolution stones, skills, or friendship—only level requirements.
Clearly, that method couldn't be applied to Golden-Patterned Koi.
If it were that simple, others would've already discovered hidden forms—it wouldn't be his turn.
Considering the system's cheat tips mentioned the difference between reality and games—even in a real Pokémon world, Magikarp evolution wouldn't rely on level alone—
Thus, Jiang Xing designed his first experimental plan.
The plan took inspiration from the legendary "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," hypothesizing that "leaping the Dragon Gate" could serve as a process for Golden-Patterned Koi to temper themselves, transforming accumulated Extraordinary Level power into evolutionary energy…
Since transformation and conversion were required, accumulation and nurturing were naturally necessary.
Therefore, Jiang Xing needed to increase investment—improving their diet and training intensity, boosting their overall Power Level, especially the proficiency of the core skill for leaping the Dragon Gate—"Water Leap"—the higher, the better.
This essentially simulated the process of leveling up.
But that alone wasn't enough.
In the Beast Taming world, researchers had already discovered that the types of skills a Pet Beast mastered could influence its evolution.
Considering that Golden-Patterned Koi transforming from the weakest fish-type Pet Beasts into dragon-type Pet Beasts couldn't happen out of thin air—
Jiang Xing introduced the second and third variables.
Through food and other methods, the Golden-Patterned Koi needed to acquire a trace of dragon-type energy.
And ideally, they should learn a dragon-type skill in advance.
This way, the Golden-Patterned Koi would at least possess a hint of "dragon aura," significantly increasing the success rate of the experiment.
Finally, Jiang Xing recalled the system's cheat tip.
[In the real world, when Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, it not only needs to reach a high enough level—it also requires a fearless, unyielding will.]
'Personality…'
In the Beast Taming world, some researchers had also proposed that a Pet Beast's personality could influence its advancement form.
After thinking it through, Jiang Xing added personality into the plan as the fourth variable.
That is: selecting timid Golden-Patterned Koi and bold Golden-Patterned Koi as control groups, raising them separately.
After listing everything, the development plan was basically complete.
Jiang Xing reviewed the new experimental plan and frowned slightly.
'Using this method, the current ten Golden-Patterned Koi are far from enough… at least a hundred are required.'
'And giving Golden-Patterned Koi even a trace of dragon-type energy and dragon-type skills… that won't be easy.'
'Dragon-type Pet Beasts themselves are already extremely valuable, and related skill manuals are even more priceless—some are monopolized by dragon-taming families, treated as forbidden treasures.'
'Not to mention food materials capable of granting Golden-Patterned Koi a trace of dragon aura—they must be extremely expensive.'
'How could I possibly afford that?'
Jiang Xing looked at the experimental plan in his hands, feeling somewhat helpless.
He hadn't expected the biggest obstacle in front of him to be cost.
Being poor was truly too hard!
At that moment, his vision blurred slightly, and system information appeared.
[You have designed an evolution plan, but you realize you lack the most important thing for raising Pokémon—high-quality Pokémon food! Thus, as someone familiar with various Pokémon items, you decide to bring a bit of technological shock to the world!!]
[You have received a mission: personally craft a Pokémon food item of Excellent quality.]
[Reward: Portable Automatic Berry Blender!]