Jiang Xing had the panda clan start planting bamboo groves while they adapted to the outside environment.
As for himself, he brought the little dragon to the lake beside the research institute.
By now, this lake had effectively become the Dragon Lake.
Rainbow-colored young dragons could often be seen flying across its surface. On the small island at the center of the lake, entire dragon colonies had settled down, their numbers long since exceeding three hundred.
After all, the Dragon Gate Leap was a ritual meant to temper one's will. It was never tied exclusively to the Dragon Gate Waterfall itself.
Jiang Xing could simply have the little dragon manipulate the water flow to create a miniature waterfall within Dragon Lake, then combine it with the Dragon Gate and Dragon Might to allow the Golden-Patterned Koi to complete their evolution.
In fact, that was exactly how he had increased the population of Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings to more than seven hundred.
Once the number of Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings became sufficient, he scaled back his breeding program for the Golden-Patterned Koi...
Any more than that and he simply wouldn't be able to afford feeding them.
Of course, Jiang Xing hadn't stopped raising them entirely. He just wasn't pushing everything to the limit like before.
Every now and then, he would still hold a Dragon Gate Tournament, giving Golden-Patterned Koi that longed for transformation a chance to leap through the gate and become dragons.
During this process, Jiang Xing also tested the effects of different elemental Dragon Gates on the evolution of Golden-Patterned Koi.
Unfortunately, whether because the appearance of the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling had already fixed the species' evolutionary direction, or because the Dragon Gate's element simply had little influence on the Golden-Patterned Koi...
They failed to evolve into forms such as Flame Dragon Hatchlings, Thunder Dragon Hatchlings, Rock Dragon Hatchlings, and so on.
After giving the matter some thought, Jiang Xing felt both explanations were probably correct.
He believed Pet Beasts possessed limitless potential.
Even Honey Attendants could continue evolving.
Evolutionary paths were certainly not fixed.
In fact, they could be developed.
As long as enough resources, time, and effort were invested, Golden-Patterned Koi might very well reveal another Dragon-type evolutionary form.
After all, that potential existed within them.
The problem was that Pet Beast evolution was influenced by psychological factors.
Once the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling appeared, Golden-Patterned Koi no longer had to blindly search for a way to become dragons.
They had a target.
They wanted to become Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings.
That desire and aspiration might actually restrict their potential, causing their evolutionary direction to become fixed.
In addition, the appearance of the Dragon Gate itself was a rather subtle factor.
Although the birth of the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling had undoubtedly been influenced by the Rainbow Dragon Gate...
The Rainbow Dragon Gate did not actually possess a Light Attribute.
According to Dr. Xu's Environmental Theory, environmental factors that contained no Extraordinary power intervention should not be regarded as components of a special environment.
Therefore, if the Rainbow Dragon Gate served as an evolution requirement for the Golden-Patterned Koi, its core element should be Dragon Might rather than the rainbow itself.
The rainbow was likely a psychological factor.
Just like how Inky evolved into the Mysticfeather Peacock under the influence of ultimate emotions.
Back then, the little dragon had probably unleashed evolutionary energy under the push of an overwhelmingly strong will, opening up the evolutionary path known as the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling.
As for trying to influence future evolutions by altering the Dragon Gate's composition and thereby affecting evolutionary energy...
Stuffing in a Mystic Realm Stone would probably have a greater effect.
Based on that line of reasoning...
If someone wanted to design an evolution plan to explore another Dragon-type evolutionary form of the Golden-Patterned Koi...
Jiang Xing believed they would first need to isolate the influence of the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling.
They would need to choose a Golden-Patterned Koi that had never heard of the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling and raise it from scratch.
Have it retrace the little dragon's path of transformation while changing some of the conditions and variables along the way.
Then introduce additional influences such as Mystic Realm Stones, special items, or unique environments...
And there was a possibility of developing an entirely new Dragon-type evolutionary form.
Of course, these were merely thoughts Jiang Xing had developed during his studies and research.
Their primary purpose was to broaden his own thinking.
Even if this project had a high chance of success, he had no intention of actually pursuing it.
After all, discovering additional forms for the Golden-Patterned Koi might still hold value for an ordinary university student.
Such a result could help them win awards at evolution conferences and make a name for themselves.
But for Jiang Xing, the impact would be minimal.
He already possessed too many achievements and too many honors.
He didn't need one more.
Moreover, his energy was limited.
His time was limited.
Even when researching Pet Beast evolution, he preferred acting as a talent scout—discovering those hidden gems whose evolutionary potential had never been developed.
He wanted more Pet Beasts to enter the sight of Beast Tamers.
Rather than spending every day staring at the same horse.
'So this is probably how my teachers felt whenever they looked at my research projects...'
'Not bad. Keep working hard.'
Of course, those thoughts only applied to Pet Beasts like the Golden-Patterned Koi, whose potential had already been developed.
The Rainbow Dragon Hatchling was different.
It was a completely new Pet Beast form that had only just begun to emerge.
Its potential had not yet been fully unleashed.
Jiang Xing had to develop it to its absolute limit before this research project could truly be considered complete.
At that moment, he brought the Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings from Dragon Lake into the Azure Dragon Mystic Realm and paid another visit to the Mythical Azure Dragon.
This time, every Rainbow Dragon Hatchling would witness with their own eyes what a true divine dragon looked like.
As a bonus, he had Uncle Dragon whip up a feast to celebrate the move.
Who says it doesn't count as a housewarming just because the house grew legs and changed locations?
After the banquet ended, Jiang Xing brought the Rainbow Dragon Hatchlings back to the research institute and began the final preparations before evolution.
Researching the evolution of a second-stage Pet Beast was much simpler than researching a first-stage evolution.
After all, the first stage was about exploring possibilities.
Like a child who had just started school, the future was still unclear and everything remained full of possibilities.
By the second stage, some of those possibilities had already been revealed, narrowing and converging into more defined paths.
Like a child entering secondary school, their talents, preferences, and inclinations had already begun to emerge.
At that point, there was no longer any need to enroll them in countless extracurricular programs and hobby classes. At most, they would choose between different academic tracks.
At this stage, there was no need to explore countless possibilities.
The focus was on targeted enhancement—covering weaknesses, strengthening advantages, and allowing potential to be fully realized.
As a result, the overall direction was much simpler and clearer.
First came the matter of growth resources.
Jiang Xing had already applied for a research project involving the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling and received official funding support. Its training resources had been maintained at the highest possible level from the very beginning.
Ordinary Beast Tamers could never afford such treatment.
That left only the matter of evolution resources.
Jiang Xing wanted the little dragon to evolve toward the path of an ultimate dragon, so his priority was strengthening its Dragon Attribute.
The special environment of the Azure Dragon Mystic Realm satisfied part of that requirement.
But it wasn't enough.
Jiang Xing went all out once again.
He spent one billion in funding and exchanged it through official channels for a Mythical-grade Dragon-Attribute Mystic Realm Stone.
The authorities referred to it as a Dragon Pearl.
As for why he didn't simply apply for it through research funding or try to fleece Uncle Dragon...
The item was far too valuable.
The Azure Dragon might possess something similar, but Jiang Xing had nothing of equal value to offer in exchange. Tricking a lonely old dragon into giving away such a treasure for free was something he simply couldn't accept.
Besides...
People might be watching, but dragons were watching too.
The Azure Dragon had protected humanity for centuries and had spent more time dealing with humans than Jiang Xing had spent alive.
If Jiang Xing acted with naked self-interest, he would only damage the hard-earned goodwill he had built.
It was better to trade through official channels.
An item of this level had already exceeded the scope of ordinary research.
There was no way it could be approved as research funding.
Seriously, whose Pet Beast used a Mythical-grade resource for its second-stage evolution?
It couldn't even fully absorb something like that.
It would be nothing but a waste.
Jiang Xing only intended to use it as a tool to strengthen the little dragon's Dragon Attribute energy during evolution.
He never expected the little dragon to absorb the Dragon Pearl completely.
At most, it would consume a portion of its power.
Although he couldn't obtain it through research funding, Jiang Xing offered something else in return.
He was willing to raise an Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling for the government.
The official camp possessed many Beast Tamers with Champion-Class strength, including several Water-Attribute Beast Tamers.
The wild Ugly Waterfowl population had already been nearly wiped out by Senior Li's large-scale collection efforts. Very few remained in the wild, and even those weren't guaranteed to evolve into Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledglings.
Meanwhile, those Water-Attribute Beast Tamers desperately coveted a field-type Pet Beast like this.
As a result, less than half an hour after Jiang Xing proposed the deal, the Dragon Pearl arrived at his research institute.
The authorities were practically afraid he might change his mind.
As for which Beast Tamer would ultimately contract the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling...
That was a matter for them to settle internally.
Of course, this kind of transaction could only be repeated a few times.
After all, the number of top-tier Beast Tamers was limited, and Water-Attribute Beast Tamers represented only a small portion of that group.
The reason the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling was currently worth a fortune was simply because demand far exceeded supply.
Once demand declined, its market value would naturally fall and return to a more reasonable level.
'Besides, while evolving into an Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling is extremely difficult...'
'The Ugly Waterfowl itself isn't a Pet Beast that's difficult to breed.'
'The earliest batches of Mysticfeather Peacocks and Clouddown Birds have already started laying eggs. I just don't know how long they'll take to hatch.'
'When the time is right, I can cooperate with the government, just like the panda breeding houses, and establish a large-scale Ugly Waterfowl breeding base...'
'The Ugliness talent is simply too influential.'
'It's better to raise Ugly Waterfowl separately from Mysticfeather Peacocks and Clouddown Birds.'
'That will be more beneficial to the healthy development of the young Ugly Waterfowl.'
Thinking about eggs reminded Jiang Xing of Inky.
Inky was a male phoenix.
Although it was autumn, the area around the research institute was overflowing with the atmosphere of spring, and that seemed to have made him somewhat restless.
At night, Jiang Xing usually slept together with his Pet Beasts.
Once the night grew quiet, Inky would sneak out of the room in secret.
Only shortly before dawn would he quietly slip back inside, pretending nothing had happened.
Even though everyone knew exactly what he had been doing.
All that could be said was that while Inky had evolved, there was still a trace of shyness in his personality.
In truth, Jiang Xing was also curious.
If Inky mated with a Clouddown Bird or a Mysticfeather Peacock, would the resulting egg hatch into an Ugly Waterfowl with even greater aptitude?
Would it undergo unique changes?
Would it inherit certain talents?
Or perhaps special powers?
This wasn't idle speculation.
It was an entire academic field within Pet Beast studies.
Pet Beast Genetics.
There were even genetics researchers and doctoral experts dedicated to studying such questions and developing corresponding theories.
Unfortunately, Inky was far too shy.
He had never allowed Jiang Xing to discover who his partner actually was.
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