After the banquet ended, host and guests alike were thoroughly satisfied.
Only then did the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling and the others truly witness the might of a Mythical Pet Beast.
The ability to command the winds and summon the rain was so far beyond ordinary Pet Beasts that it genuinely felt divine.
Considering this secret realm was the Azure Dragon's home, there was no way it would unleash its authority recklessly within its own territory... The power it had just displayed was probably only the tip of the iceberg.
The sight filled the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling and the others with awe, but also with even greater longing and aspiration.
Could they one day reach such heights themselves?
Having finished showing its power, the Azure Dragon transformed back into its small azure dragon form and flew to the mountaintop.
After landing beside Jiang Xing, it let out a soft growl, sounding vaguely nostalgic.
{It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a banquet this satisfying...}
{I still remember many years ago, during the autumn harvests. I would ride the clouds and bring rain to the land, delivering golden harvests to the people... Back then, people would happily gather their crops and offer countless tributes in return... Humans and Pet Beasts would celebrate together at grand harvest feasts...}
As it reminisced, the Azure Dragon's eyes kept drifting toward Jiang Xing.
By now, Jiang Xing understood the Azure Dragon far better than before. He instantly caught the meaning behind the hint.
Uncle Dragon really liked the food, but he couldn't quite let go of the dignity of an old-school divine beast. He was too embarrassed to say, "I want more," so he was dropping hints instead.
It was just ordinary food. Even including the alcohol, it didn't cost much.
Jiang Xing spent more feeding fish on a regular basis than he had on this banquet.
Being able to earn the favor of a Mythical Pet Beast with something so inexpensive was an incredible bargain.
He immediately replied, "Since Uncle Dragon likes it so much, once I finish my research project, I'll come visit again with the Auspicious Cloud Qilin. We'll hold an even grander banquet next time!"
Seeing how well Jiang Xing understood him, the Azure Dragon was overjoyed.
As expected, it hadn't misjudged him. This really was a good human!
In that case...
With a thought from the Azure Dragon, a jade stone flew over and hovered before Jiang Xing.
{This is the Secret Realm Core of this place. You can relocate the entrance to somewhere near your residence. That way, when we hold another banquet next time, you won't have to travel thousands of kilometers to get here.}
Back in the ancient era of Beast Tamers, Mythical Pet Beasts moved about Earth far more frequently.
At the time, the Azure Dragon protected China and was revered and worshipped by countless people. Shrines dedicated to the divine dragon could be found everywhere, and tributes were never in short supply.
Having little desire for worldly things, it chose this place as its home and withdrew from the outside world.
In the modern era, Mythical Pet Beasts and human Beast Tamers reached an understanding. Mythical beings would no longer roam freely or interfere excessively in human affairs.
Gradually, they faded from public view and became little more than "legendary existences."
On the rare occasions when the Azure Dragon interacted with humans, it was usually conducting transactions with official organizations or the Beast Tamer Association.
Out of respect, they always offered top-tier resources—every gift was a priceless treasure.
Ironically, that meant nobody brought the most basic thing of all: ordinary tributes.
Besides, the Azure Dragon didn't want large numbers of people learning its home address just for a few offerings and then constantly showing up to worship, pray, and disturb its peace.
Now, after finally meeting a favored junior who was both likable and remarkably considerate...
It no longer hesitated and simply handed over the key to its home.
After all, if it missed this chance, it would be stuck eating Mythical-grade resources every day again.
It had long since grown tired of them.
Jiang Xing accepted the Secret Realm Core, equally excited.
This was a secret realm inhabited by a Mythical Pet Beast!
If he moved the entrance right next to his research institute, then rounding up a little...
Wouldn't that mean his backyard connected directly to a dragon domain?
He'd heard that his teacher kept a Demi-God Tier Pet Beast in the backyard.
Now his own backyard would have a Mythical Pet Beast living there!
'My backyard has a true god living in it!'
And there was something even more important.
Back at the research institute, there were still several hundred Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings waiting to evolve. Jiang Xing hadn't brought them along because traveling with the Auspicious Cloud Qilin was one thing, but bringing an entire dragon clan would have been a bit excessive.
Now that the entrance could be moved to his backyard, there might be a chance for them to witness the Azure Dragon for themselves!
"Uncle Dragon, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling actually has several hundred other Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings under its command."
"They've admired the legendary Azure Dragon for a very long time."
"When we hold the next banquet, could they come as well and witness the majesty of the Azure Dragon with their own eyes?"
If several hundred humans entered its home, the Azure Dragon might feel a little displeased.
But several hundred young dragons?
That was an entirely different story.
As the divine ancestor of dragonkind, how could the Azure Dragon possibly reject the admiration of dragons?
{Just bring more food.}
After speaking, the Azure Dragon noticed the delight in Jiang Xing's eyes and gave the matter some careful thought.
It was not some tyrannical evil dragon. It was a principled, lawful-good divine dragon.
Since it accepted humanity's worship and offerings, it should naturally provide something in return.
In truth, it usually brought harvest rains first, allowing people to reap abundant crops before ever attending their sacrificial feasts.
Jiang Xing had brought it so much food and was even planning future banquets for it...
What should it offer in return?
Jiang Xing wasn't a farmer, so he had no need for bountiful harvests.
Nor did he seem to lack resources. As a doctoral student and a researcher valued by humanity, he was already well provided for.
Then the Azure Dragon thought of something.
A researcher.
Its gaze swept across the landscape below the mountain as it let out a low growl.
{You are a human researcher. You should be interested in secret realms.}
{This secret realm is my homeland. Long ago, humans from another world lived here. They worshipped me, and I protected them.}
{Unfortunately, when that great catastrophe came, I failed to protect them.}
A shadow passed through the Azure Dragon's eyes.
But it suppressed the emotion and continued.
{The ruins they left behind still remain within this secret realm. So do the Pet Beasts born after this place merged with Earth's power.}
{As a researcher, you should find them interesting.}
{I grant you permission to freely explore this realm and uncover whatever lies within it.}
{The legacy left behind by humans should be inherited by humans.}
Jiang Xing's eyes lit up as overwhelming joy surged through him.
When Beast Tamers explored and fought over secret realms, it was rarely for the realm itself.
It was for the Pet Beasts and resources hidden inside.
What the Azure Dragon had just said was essentially equivalent to gifting him every resource contained within this secret realm!
How was that any different from being handed an entire secret realm for free?
It was unbelievably generous!
From Jiang Xing's observations, this was at least a medium-sized secret realm, and quite possibly a large one. It undoubtedly contained many unknown species of Pet Beasts.
And the Azure Dragon had also mentioned that the realm preserved ruins left behind by humans from another world—
After the worlds merged, it wasn't only Pet Beasts and Beast Tamers that changed.
Many creations left behind by those otherworldly humans had also acquired entirely new powers.
Some became inhabited by spirits or awakened psychic energy, transforming into entirely new Pet Beasts.
Others gained supernatural abilities and became the oldest forms of what humanity now called Items.
Those were precisely the things Jiang Xing was most curious about and most eager to study.
Compared to the Azure Dragon's divine power, Jiang Xing genuinely felt that this was the greatest reward he had obtained from this journey.
"Thank you, Uncle Dragon!"
Without hesitation, Jiang Xing declared, "When I get back, I'll send you a menu. Whatever you want to eat, just pick it. I'll take care of everything!"
Hearing that, the Azure Dragon nodded in satisfaction.
As expected, it hadn't misjudged him.
Jiang Xing truly was a good person.
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