"Teacher, I lost…"
The battle Li Lingyin had imagined against the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling was supposed to be an intense clash between dragon and phoenix.
She had planned to command the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling through a thrilling battle full of "sit-up recoveries," and no matter who won in the end, it would prove how much progress she had made during this period and show that she was steadily moving toward her goal.
But why was the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling dancing the entire time!?
It never once directly clashed with the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, and Li Lingyin never got the chance to fully display her strength.
It felt like punching a ball of cotton, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
The other children all nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with the same sentiment.
Even when fighting the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, they had never lost this badly before. They had been utterly crushed, to the point that even their fighting spirit had disappeared.
"The Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling is a domain-type Pet Beast. As long as it's on the field, it can exert its influence… Besides, it isn't a pure combat Pet Beast. It's the type that conquers opponents through charm."
Jiang Xing comforted the children.
"The fact that you couldn't bring out your true strength—that itself is proof of the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling's power."
"Jiang Xing is right," said Chang Feng in agreement. "The battles you usually have can only be considered sparring matches."
"Real Beast Tamer battles are about using every possible method to increase your own advantage while reducing your opponent's—"
"Not just in wilderness battles. Even in high-level competitions, there are all kinds of tactics: altering the terrain, poisoning, sneak attacks, intimidation, and more. Seduction is only one of them."
"If you want to become true Beast Tamers, then learning how to deal with and overcome these tactics will be a mandatory lesson for all of you."
Hearing Chang Feng's guidance, the children suddenly understood. The feeling of helplessness in their hearts gradually faded, and they nodded seriously.
The reason they had lost wasn't because they failed to bring out their strength.
It was simply because they still weren't strong enough!
Chang Feng nodded in satisfaction.
Bringing the children here to choose companions while also teaching them an important lesson—
This trip had truly been worth it.
That said…
Chang Feng looked toward the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling and pushed up his glasses, a trace of burning excitement appearing in his eyes.
He couldn't help asking, "Jiang Xing, the ink-black environment created by this Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling… it can increase the power of water-type moves while weakening multiple attributes such as fire, earth, lightning, and wind?"
One battle was enough for Chang Feng to roughly deduce the effects of the ink-black environment.
And that realization filled him with shock and excitement.
There were plenty of moves and talents in the Beast Taming World capable of creating various environments.
But those environments were usually rather narrow in scope.
For example, the classic "Rainy Day" environment could only strengthen water-type abilities while weakening fire-type ones.
In most situations, water-type Beast Tamers treated it as a form of group enhancement or as a way to neutralize an opponent's environment.
But based on his observations, the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling's Ink Realm could actually weaken multiple attributes beyond just fire!
Even if the weakening effect was far inferior to Rainy Day's suppression of fire—
Its versatility alone made it vastly more valuable than Rainy Day!
Therefore, if the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling proved just as easy to raise as the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling—
Chang Feng could confidently declare—
Rain teams would cease to exist!
From now on, there would only be one kind of water team.
And its color would be ink-black!
"Correct."
Sensing Chang Feng's burning gaze, Jiang Xing could already guess what he was thinking, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Too small-minded. His vision was far too narrow.
Did he really think the Ink Realm was merely this convenient?
He spoke to Chang Feng.
"Just as weather environments can coexist with terrain environments and stack their effects—"
"Ink Realm can coexist with those environments as well. It's a special, compatibility-type environment."
Crack!
Chang Feng's spiritual power trembled violently. Even his glasses were affected by the shockwave, a crack spreading across one of the lenses.
Yet he seemed completely unaware of it, his eyes filled only with astonishment.
Not only did it possess incredible versatility, it could even coexist with other environmental effects!?
Rainy Day + Ink Realm?
The most absurd buff imaginable for rain teams!?
Holy hell, the water-type dynasty has arrived!
Is it too late to switch to water-type now?
Of course, talk of switching types was only a joke.
A Champion Beast Tamer like Chang Feng had long since reached the limit of his contracts and possessed around twenty Pet Beasts.
If he wanted to raise an entirely new rain team, he would first need to raise his spiritual power to the level of a Legendary Beast Tamer…
That was simply far too difficult.
However, the mere fact that a Champion Beast Tamer had begun considering changing attributes was enough to prove just how terrifying the Ultimate Color talent truly was.
Chang Feng finally understood why Jiang Xing had chosen not to reveal the talent's effects.
This thing was even more sensational than the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling's talent!
No matter how shocked Chang Feng was, Jiang Xing had already begun leading the children to choose their Golden-Patterned Koi.
As the little dragon let out a dragon's roar, the lake surface churned, glittering with golden light.
One Golden-Patterned Koi after another surfaced, their bright watery eyes curiously sizing up the children.
Among this batch of Golden-Patterned Koi were both high-potential specimens temporarily entrusted to the research institute by Beast Tamer schools, as well as second-generation Golden-Patterned Koi bred recently.
With the Honey Attendant helping feed them, combined with living beside the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling flock and being exposed to Dragon Might day and night—
They had all already been tempered. Compared to wild-caught specimens or ones raised in breeding farms, their potential was far higher.
Most importantly, every single one of them longed to transform into dragons and possessed resilient wills.
"Whether or not you can earn the recognition of the Golden-Patterned Koi and make them your partners will depend entirely on your own performance."
As soon as Jiang Xing finished speaking, the children eagerly rushed forward and began their performances.
Some pulled out food in an attempt to lure the fishies over.
Some gave speeches, showing off their ambitions and aspirations.
Some battled the other children directly to display their strength.
Others summoned their Pet Beasts to demonstrate the closeness between themselves and their partners…
Through all kinds of different methods, they quickly attracted the fishies closer.
Some of the more outstanding children even attracted several Golden-Patterned Koi at the same time.
And so, in order to earn a contract with them, those Golden-Patterned Koi also began showing off their own abilities.
Seeing such a pure and innocent scene, Jiang Xing smiled warmly.
Just as the children began receiving the recognition of the Golden-Patterned Koi and forming contracts with them—
From the flock of Rainbow Dragon Hatchling circling overhead, one suddenly flew down, forcefully squeezing its way in front of a boy. It lifted its head proudly, radiated dazzling light, and cried out.
"Mu!"
"This is…"
The boy looked toward Jiang Xing in confusion, while the other children stared over in astonishment.
A look of surprise appeared in Jiang Xing's eyes. He recognized this particular Rainbow Dragon Hatchling—
It was the very same one from the Dragon Gate Conference that had been the only wild Golden-Patterned Koi to leap across the Dragon Gate and complete its transformation!
Compared to the other pampered Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, it hadn't enjoyed dragon-type resources during its time as a Golden-Patterned Koi, nor did it possess much accumulated foundation.
As a result, after evolving, it was much smaller and thinner than its peers.
Even though it had lived at the research institute these past days with no shortage of food or resources and had recovered some of its lost foundation, it still looked somewhat frail.
However, the fact that it had relied solely on its own strength to leap the gate and transform into a dragon meant that both its potential and willpower were unquestionably top-tier. If it could fully make up for its lacking foundation, it might not necessarily be inferior to the little dragon.
And now, it had actually flown down on its own initiative…
"Looks like this child wants to go with you."
Jiang Xing smiled brightly.
"It's an exceptionally outstanding dragon hatchling and can definitely become your strongest partner. Will you accept it?"
Hearing this, even Li Lingyin turned to look, while the other children revealed envious expressions.
The boy's heartbeat quickened. Nervously staring at the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling before him, he opened his palm, revealing the light of a contract.
"I'll take good care of you. Would you please become my partner?"
"Mu!"
The Rainbow Dragon Hatchling cried out, raised its dragon claw, and high-fived the boy.
As white light blossomed, it vanished into the boy's palm.
The contract was complete!
Very soon, it flew back out from the Beast Taming Space, flew over to Jiang Xing's side, climbed onto his shoulder, and rubbed its face against his cheek with all its strength while letting out grateful cries.
"Mu~~"
"Alright, alright, I know you've found a partner. Go start your new life properly."
Jiang Xing smiled as he rubbed its dragon head. The little dragon also flew over and patted the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, offering a few words of encouragement as the Dragon King.
When he saw the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling happily flying back into the boy's arms and felt the joy shared between the two—
Jiang Xing seemed to finally understand why Dr. Xu, despite holding such high status and being so busy, still accepted commissions to foster Pet Beasts.
He must have wanted to witness scenes like this too.
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