Su Muli's words instantly opened Jiang Xing's eyes.
When he had previously thought about the issue of wild Pet Beasts, he had always subconsciously excluded himself from the equation—
Pet Beasts were Pet Beasts. Humans were humans.
Even though he had earned the goodwill of many wild Pet Beasts through feeding and healing them, he never believed they would completely obey his commands.
Why would they?
—Because humans were also "Pet Beasts"!
That was right. From the perspective of Pet Beasts, humans were not all that different from them. They were simply another kind of extraordinary creature, just a much stronger one.
'You call yourselves humans? Sure, and we call ourselves Honey Attendants!'
'Isn't it just a name?'
Looking at it from that angle, the behavior of those wild Pet Beasts obeying Jiang Xing's orders and even helping guard and protect the research institute suddenly became perfectly understandable.
Pet Beasts possessed intelligence and could evolve, so they did not place much importance on "racial differences."
Deep within the wilderness, and even inside all kinds of secret realms large and small, it was common to see a powerful Pet Beast ruling over many different species and turning the surrounding territory entirely into its own domain.
That was also where titles like "Monarch" and "Overlord" came from.
Those powerful Monarch and Overlord Pet Beasts could command countless species.
Naturally, Jiang Xing could do the same!
He did not need to personally monitor every single Pet Beast. As long as he acted as the "strongest leader" and gave orders to the leaders of each Pet Beast group, those groups would naturally remain under control.
Take the Golden-Patterned Koi school, for example. They had been reproducing like mad and expanding their numbers nonstop...
Perhaps it was simply because the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling felt that the surrounding territory already belonged to them. And since the place still looked empty, that clearly meant their dragon clan was not big enough yet.
They needed to reproduce harder. Evolve harder!
They had to fill the entire area with their little dragon babies!
With a leader thinking like that, of course the Golden-Patterned Koi would reproduce frantically just to satisfy the Dragon King.
As for the other wild Pet Beast species around the research institute, the reason they had not developed as explosively as the Golden-Patterned Koi school might not be because they were incapable of it.
Maybe they simply did not want to.
Or did not dare to.
As long as they had enough food and maintained their population at a stable level, that was already enough for them.
'So in the end...'
'This whole thing is actually Dragon Hatchling's fault?'
Having uncovered the true culprit, Jiang Xing walked outside the research institute and shouted loudly—
"Dragon Hatchling!!"
"Mu~" This king is coming~
Normally, whenever Jiang Xing was busy doing research, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling would be outside training the dragon school.
The moment it heard Jiang Xing call for it, it happily flew back.
But after getting closer and seeing Jiang Xing looking all worked up, it suddenly froze midair.
Eh?
Why did Jiang Xing look angry?
Did something happen?
Did I do something wrong?
The rainbow light around the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling dimmed slightly. Landing beside Jiang Xing, it carefully edged closer and gently nudged his shoulder.
"Mu?"
"..."
The number of Golden-Patterned Koi in the lake had already surpassed ten thousand recently, and the cost of raising them was getting more and more outrageous...
Jiang Xing had originally planned to scold the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling a little.
But the moment he saw its pitiful expression, his heart nearly melted.
After thinking about it, though, it was actually fine.
The artificial lake the officials had excavated was enormous. Forget ten thousand Golden-Patterned Koi—even another ten thousand would still fit comfortably.
Although all those Golden-Patterned Koi were receiving the highest treatment standards, meaning the resource consumption was pretty ridiculous...
Wasn't Specialist Jiang working so hard squeezing value out of everything precisely so his Pet Beasts could have food to eat?
Besides, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling genuinely possessed the bearing of a true leader. Once it evolved into a real dragon in the future, as a Dragon King, it ought to have some subordinates under its command.
And with this many Golden-Patterned Koi around, when the time came to research their evolution forms later, they would not need outside assistance anymore.
"Dragon Hatchling..." Jiang Xing gently stroked the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling and said, "There are already a bit too many fish at home. This is probably enough. There's no need to keep having them reproduce."
So that was what this was about...
The Rainbow Dragon Hatchling nodded readily.
"Mu~" (Then we won't make more anymore!)
Jiang Xing knew perfectly well about the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling's obsession with being a leader.
Worried that restricting the size of the dragon school might affect its mood—or even damage its potential as a leader—Jiang Xing continued: "Dragon Hatchling, a true divine dragon does not merely possess overwhelming power. It also possesses a vast and noble heart!"
"It protects not only dragons. All aquatic creatures, and even weak Pet Beasts, are its subjects!"
"You don't need to fixate on the Golden-Patterned Koi. Every Pet Beast group around the research institute can become part of the domain you rule."
"You should accept them. Protect them."
"That is the bearing of a true Dragon King!"
The rainbow light around the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling grew brighter and brighter the more it listened.
Its eyes shone brilliantly, radiating like a blazing sun.
Jiang Xing was right!
Just like the Azure Dragon it admired—the colossal divine dragon that blotted out the heavens in the video—there had not been any hatchlings or young dragons following beside it.
Yet its vast and lofty presence had felt as though it ruled over heaven and earth themselves, with all things beneath the sky as its subjects.
It too should learn from its idol and become a Dragon King who ruled over all living things beneath heaven and earth—not merely the king of dragons!
In that case...
It would start with the ones around it first, just as Jiang Xing had said.
The Rainbow Dragon Hatchling spun around and locked onto an ink-black figure not far away.
Beside the research institute's glass doors, Inky was currently admiring itself in a mirror, adjusting its posture. Feeling dissatisfied, it adjusted itself again, completely immersed in its own beauty.
Mm. I'm gorgeous.
The Rainbow Dragon Hatchling's eyes lit up the moment it saw it.
It would start with Inky first!
It would make a phoenix—an existence equal in status to true dragons—become one of its retainers!
"Mu~" (This king has arrived!)
"Cry?" (What are you doing?)
Startled, Inky flapped its wings and shot into the air.
Watching the two Pet Beasts energetically fooling around together, Jiang Xing could not help but smile.
My kids are way too adorable.
Come to think of it, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling could actually start attempting evolution already!
Even though most of Jiang Xing's attention had been focused on research, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling often went out on its own to train and gain experience.
Combined with the fact that it had constantly been supplied with top-tier resources, its strength had already reached Mid Commander Level, satisfying the basic requirements for evolution.
It was just that Xiao Xian did not have much time left, so her evolution had taken priority.
Jiang Xing had never found the opportunity to help the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling complete its evolution—
And it wanted Jiang Xing's help rather than evolving recklessly on its own, so it had been suppressing its power this entire time.
'I remember Little Qilin mentioning that it knows where the Azure Dragon lives in seclusion...'
Rashly visiting a Mythical Pet Beast was not exactly a wise thing to do.
However, the Azure Dragon was one of China's legendary guardian deities. Alongside legendary Pet Beasts such as the Phoenix, Black Tortoise, and Qilin, it protected the lands of China.
Its attitude toward humans was also extremely friendly, symbolizing benevolence and kindness.
It would not casually attack humans.
Besides, Jiang Xing was not really making a rash visit.
Didn't he have Little Qilin with him?
The neighbor's kid bringing a few new friends along to visit their uncle, warming the heart of an uncle who had lived alone for many years.
What a heartwarming story.
And besides, it did not matter even if Jiang Xing failed to meet the Azure Dragon himself.
As long as the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling could see the Azure Dragon and personally witness even a trace of that divine Azure Dragon aura, it would absolutely be of tremendous benefit to its future evolution!
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