Hao Bao was still beside them.
When it saw Sakura suddenly pounce into Lin Chuan's arms, rubbing and snuggling intensely, it immediately felt jealous.
Shameless little green tea!
"Yi ya!" Hao Bao cursed softly, then immediately sprang into action, running to Lin Chuan's side, jumping up, begging for a hug, snuggles, and to be lifted high.
So, what else could Lin Chuan do?
Faced with such adorable requests for affection from the two little ones, who could resist? At least Lin Chuan admitted he couldn't.
He indulged the two little ones, letting them snuggle and rub all over him to their heart's content. Afterward, Lin Chuan lifted them high, and then, he used the Storm Spiral One Hundred Eighty Style Rua technique—well, actually, it was a special massage technique developed by Lin Lao Deng, specifically for Flower Leaf Leaf, designed to quickly relax Flower Leaf Leaf's body and mind, relieving fatigue.
After rubbing the two little ones until they were limp and humming contentedly, Lin Chuan finally returned them to his Beast Taming Space.
Hmm?
Shouldn't Sakura test the Assistance skill she just inherited?
Lin Chuan said he wanted to, but they were still in the villa apartment, which wasn't suitable for testing.
If Sakura used Assistance to transfer her energy to Hao Bao, what skill would Hao Bao use to test the result?
Without a doubt, it could only be Bomb Fruit; that was the most effective skill to verify the outcome.
However, Lin Chuan stated that he couldn't afford the damages if he used Bomb Fruit in the villa apartment.
More importantly, it would expose information!
After all, if he blew up the villa apartment, the Beastmaster Association would surely investigate, and there would be many curious onlookers.
At that time, the fact that Hao Bao knew Bomb Fruit and Sakura knew Assistance—his secret trump cards—would be exposed. These were the trump cards he had prepared for the entrance examination and for admission to the Eight Great Academies!
The Beastmaster Association might keep it confidential, but those curious onlookers might not.
For example, certain intelligence peddlers.
Especially among them, Professional Beastmasters, whose vision and knowledge reserves were incomparable to those of novice Beast Masters.
Perhaps after a few glances at the traces left behind, a Professional Beastmaster could deduce the truth with high accuracy, then sell the information and earn a small profit.
If that happened, Lin Chuan would be in trouble.
Two Flower Leaf Leaves following the Milk Shield Poison System, or even a double creamy milk shield, focusing on attrition tactics, would make people feel disgusted and headache-inducing. Even if someone could defeat them, they likely wouldn't want to, as the cost-effectiveness of winning would be low.
However, two Flower Leaf Leaves that knew Bomb Fruit and Assistance would put everyone on high alert.
Getting back to the main topic.
After returning the two little ones to his Beast Taming Space and instructing them to rest early via the monitoring system, Lin Chuan himself began to formulate subsequent cultivation plans.
Although it was a holiday for rest, it only meant a one-day pause from high-intensity cultivation and fitness training—these closed-door activities—to achieve a balance between work and rest.
However, daily conceptualization and the formulation of cultivation plans still needed to be done.
Currently, after two and a half weeks of high-intensity closed-door training, they had been continuously receiving various forms of intense training and explosive growth through his methods every day.
Primary Flora Resilience Ointment and Primary Flora Meridian Enhancer, two advanced cultivation nutrients, had been absorbed and digested by Hao Bao and Sakura to the point where they were starting to develop slight drug resistance.
Their basic defensive capabilities had increased by at least 5 times, and their energy adaptability had increased by nearly 4 times, reaching a small limit.
In terms of skills, the Milk Shield Poison System had initially taken shape, and the proficiency of related skills was at least at the proficient level.
Other Beast Masters at this point would be considered excellent if they could train their spirit beasts to master one proficient-level skill.
But Lin Chuan stated that a small cheat wasn't really a cheat; this was entirely the result of his hard work!
Based on the current situation, Lin Chuan adjusted the training plan for the next half-month until the Xiao Qingkong Cup.
The use of advanced nutrients would continue as usual.
Although a slight drug resistance had developed, it hadn't reached the point of being completely ineffective. There was still room for improvement, so they would continue using it as long as it was effective.
The key was the subsequent training content.
Specifically, Vine Armor Shield, Bomb Fruit, Healing Aroma, and Assistance—these skills all needed to be prioritized.
Skill proficiency could be boosted by cheating and adding points, but actual usage often relied on experience. For example, with Vine Armor Shield, when to activate the shield, which direction to open the shield to block more damage, whether to open a small shield to protect a small part, or a giant shield to protect the whole body, or even build a shield wall—different situations required different amounts of energy consumption.
These all required judgment from both the Beast Master and the spirit beast; simple skill proficiency couldn't cover everything.
As for Sakura, since she had an illusion talent, she should be cultivated in that direction.
The Healing Aroma skill must keep up.
The reason is that just as wood fiber skin is the output end of Vine Armor Shield, floral scent is precisely the output end of Sakura's illusions.
At the same time, Sakura also needed to undergo mental training every day.
Mental power is the determining factor of spiritual power, and spiritual power is the basis of illusions.
Without a relevant Meditation method, Lin Chuan could only use a clumsy method: he ordered a total of 10 sets of math test papers online.
Sakura, come on, feel the pain of the world!
Inside the Beast Taming Space.
Sakura, who was wrapped in a ball by her two huge, hair-like leaves and planted in a flowerpot, Sleeping, suddenly shivered violently. She felt a wave of malice coming towards her.
Who is it?
Who wants to harm Miss Sakura!
It must be you, Spirit Sister Hao Bao!
Miss Sakura will never surrender!
During this period, she had always lost in daily sparring.
Having been pinned down by Hao Bao countless times, Sakura's grudge book was already filled with Hao Bao's name.
...
The next day.
Lin Chuan woke up at 7 AM.
After washing up, he took the two little ones to the backyard for half an hour of calisthenics, then had breakfast, and then Lin Chuan set off.
Calling a Blue Feather Airlines service, Lin Chuan arrived at the third district of Qinghe City Commercial Park.
Before this, Lin Chuan had been somewhat unable to understand why Tan Yan would dye his hair a strange, non-mainstream purple.
His personality, though sociable and talkative, wasn't that of a non-mainstream person, was it?
It wasn't until now, with just one glance, that Lin Chuan spotted Tan Yan in the crowd and finally understood the situation slightly.
"Big Shot, it's really rare to see you. You're even harder to encounter than a legendary monster," Tan Yan said, joking as he approached.
"It's alright. I have no choice for the entrance examination. If I sweat and practice hard now, maybe my ranking in the entrance examination can improve even further," Lin Chuan shrugged, returning a light smile.
Tan Yan nodded, thinking, "A big shot is indeed a big shot."
Lin Chuan asked in return, "How have you been recently?"
"Not good. I participated in two Baby Cups, one small and one medium, but didn't achieve any results. I'm not qualified to sign up for the Xiao Qingkong Cup or the Little Qinghe Cup. It's too difficult. I'll just stick to grinding novice quests honestly," Tan Yan shook his head, dejectedly.
Lin Chuan handed him a fruit that Hao Bao had recently produced.
Under normal circumstances, Flower Leaf Leaf bears fruit 3 to 5 times a year, but if Flower Leaf Leaf has excess energy and nutrients in its body, it will bear fruit more frequently. This is a way for Flower Leaf Leaf to self-regulate its physical condition.
Because he hadn't focused on cultivating this aspect, it was just an ordinary Flower Leaf Leaf fruit.
The taste was mediocre, a bit astringent, with a stimulating minty flavor, which was due to Hao Bao constantly using Primary Flora Resilience Ointment recently.
Tan Yan took a bite, and his face immediately contorted.
However, he didn't spit it out, not just for etiquette, but more importantly, he knew that Flower Leaf Leaf's fruits were not cheap.
Perhaps the taste of the fruit Lin Chuan gave him was extremely difficult to describe, but its replenishing effect on the human body was very strong. Those who exercise and diet loved this the most; one fruit and you wouldn't need to eat for a whole day.
If he had to buy it, it would cost at least 2000 star rock coins.
Hmm, this was the benefit of befriending a big shot; the good stuff they casually gave away was like this.
Of course, Lin Chuan wasn't just giving it away impulsively.
He had been chatting with Tan Yan frequently on Blue Penguin recently, and from Tan Yan, he had obtained a lot of information about Qinghe City and the various talented Beast Masters in the Qinghe City area this year.
For example, this flying performance competition.
Unless one was a local of Qinghe City and well-informed, they would generally not know about such a performance competition, because it was hardly advertised, certainly not as famous as the Xiao Qingkong Cup or the Little Qinghe Cup. Of course, the most crucial point was that Li Zeyu, the young master of Blue Feather Airlines, would participate in this performance competition. This was a good opportunity to observe a competitor!
In two months, the destiny-deciding advancement assessment will take place, divided into two parts: upper and lower.
For the first half, new Beast Masters will return to their respective alma maters to participate; for example, Lin Chuan will have to go back to Tianshang Town First Beast Taming High School.
The assessment content mainly evaluates the cultivation results of the past three months, including the spiritual beast’s foundation, skill proficiency, power, and so on.
The Beastmaster Association will provide a preliminary estimated baseline based on intelligence gathered about the new Beast Masters, such as their beast taming talent, family background, type and number of contracted spiritual beasts, bloodline rank, and other data.
For instance, a new Beast Master with ordinary talent, an ordinary family, and ordinary contracted spiritual beasts might be given an estimated baseline of 60 points, while new Beast Masters with good family conditions and excellent talent would receive an estimated baseline of 80 points.
In the first half of the test,
if the spiritual beasts cultivated by the new Beast Master reach this baseline, they pass and are qualified to participate in the second half.
If they do not reach this baseline, they fail, proving they are not qualified to embark on the path of Beast Master transcendence and should return to society as ordinary people.
At the same time, they are not qualified to participate in the second half of the assessment and can directly begin applying to various vocational and technical spiritual beast universities, such as spiritual beast agriculture, spiritual beast industry, demonic beast domestication, and spiritual beast scientific research, becoming a cog in this Beast Master civilization.
The biggest problem for new Beast Masters is their inability to see themselves clearly, to understand the strengths of their contracted spiritual beasts, and their unwillingness to lay a solid foundation.
They often pursue whatever skills seem powerful, instructing their beasts to learn those, and often have wild ideas, insisting on cultivating defensive spiritual beasts towards an assassin role.
In short, as long as new Beast Masters can see themselves clearly, adopt a correct attitude, find the right direction, are willing to endure hardship, and can persevere in their efforts, they can generally pass the first half of the test.
However, in reality, only about 10% of people manage to do so each year.
Then, those who pass the first half of the assessment will gather for the second half.
The secret realm assessment is conducted on a city-wide basis.
For example, Qinghe City will serve as the main unit, including its dozens of subordinate towns and hundreds of villages.
All new Beast Masters who pass the first half of the assessment will be uniformly assessed in one secret realm.
This is also why Lin Chuan pays attention to Li Zeyu.
Without any surprises, they will encounter each other in the secret realm assessment during the second half of the advancement assessment.
Li Zeyu does not know Lin Chuan.
But Lin Chuan is already secretly researching how to deal with Li Zeyu, which is an advantage!
At 9 AM, the flight show officially began.
This show was a commercial flight performance organized by Blue Feather Airlines and the Blue Feather Flight Club.
The content and rules of the performance:
Within the designated area, various colored balloon garlands will randomly rise between and on top of the high-rise buildings.
Sky Knight, this is the elegant self-appellation of flight enthusiasts.
Within a 2-minute time limit, Sky Knights will ride and control their respective flying spiritual beasts, passing through the randomly rising balloon garlands.
Points are awarded based on the different colors of the balloon garlands passed through.
The test evaluates the Sky Knight's riding ability in controlling flying spiritual beasts, as well as their judgment and planning in selecting flight routes.
The champion is the one who obtains the most points within the 2-minute time limit.
The champion's prize is an unregistered, lifetime free service card provided by Blue Feather Airlines.
Even the losers will receive some small gifts.
Tan Yan took Lin Chuan to the backstage of the performance venue.
He chatted with a staff member for a while and soon returned with an uninflated golden garland balloon.
Lin Chuan expressed his confusion.
Tan Yan chuckled and explained, “Most of the random balloons for the performance are released by staff, but a small portion will be provided to spectators like us.
As long as we release them within the designated time in any suitable location, such as a rooftop or between spacious buildings, it’s fine.
Hmm, doesn't that make it more random?”
Lin Chuan nodded and followed Tan Yan to the rooftop of a commercial building.
There were relatively few spectators here, or perhaps, the flight performance itself attracted fewer spectators.
Lin Chuan released Hao Bao and Sakura, letting them watch the flight performance together.
Tan Yan also released his spiritual beast, a small electric lizard.
The small electric lizard had a bloodline quality of mid-tier Soldier Rank.
Its appearance was yellow and black, with eyes slightly protruding like light bulbs, a tail forked like an antenna, and a body length of 30 centimeters.
To be honest, its appearance was a bit ugly, but Tan Yan liked it very much, saying it was 'ugly cute'.
Well, everyone has different aesthetics; Lin Chuan expressed his respect.
The small electric lizard was coiled around Tan Yan’s shoulder and neck.
The competition quickly began.
A group of young men and women, dressed in outfits similar to racing suits from the previous world, were at the takeoff point on the rooftop of another building.
They competed in groups of three.
Various colored garland balloons slowly floated up between the high-rise buildings.
The three Sky Knights, whose turn it was, would mount their respective flying spiritual beasts and soar into the sky.
The Sky Knights would determine their flight path in their minds immediately based on the balloon situation, including its color and position.
Then, they would control their flying spiritual beasts to follow the path, passing through the balloon garlands to score points.
Of course, it was also possible for two or even three Sky Knights to choose the same route and the same balloon garland.
In that case, whoever passed through first would get the points.
During this time, they could use some minor skills and tricks to interfere with opponents, but direct attacks were not allowed, as the danger would be too high.
Lin Chuan and Tan Yan did not inflate and release the golden balloon garland they held at this time.
Hmm, both had the same thought: they were here to see Li Zeyu.
However, Lin Chuan was observing an opponent, while Tan Yan was gathering intelligence, hoping to discover some information that others didn't know, planning to sell it for a small profit.
After all, he couldn't cling to Li Zeyu's leg, so if he couldn't cling to it, he might as well sell it for money and resources.
Twenty minutes later, a Mutated Blue Feather Eagle, entirely purplish-blue, soared from the takeoff point.
Lin Chuan and Tan Yan exchanged glances.
They instantly inflated the golden garland balloon using the inflation device provided by the venue staff.
The golden garland balloon had the highest score among all garland balloons.
Undoubtedly, this balloon attracted the attention of the three Sky Knights in this round.
The three Sky Knights all rushed towards it immediately.
The Mutated Blue Feather Eagle was faster.
Its wings were shrouded in mist, and the next moment, the mist diffused, obscuring the vision of the other two Sky Knights and causing them to slow down their flight.
In contrast, the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle’s huge wings flapped together vigorously, like an arrow, transforming into a light blue streak of light.
It passed through the golden balloon garland that Lin Chuan and Tan Yan had just released, directly above their heads!
At that instant, Lin Chuan clearly saw the Sky Knight on the back of the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle.
He wore a tight flight suit similar to other Sky Knights, with goggles, and was a relatively young-looking boy with a ponytail and a wanderer's demeanor.
As if sensing Lin Chuan's gaze, the boy also glanced at Lin Chuan from the corner of his eye.
Their gazes met and then instantly separated.
Li Zeyu didn't pay attention to Lin Chuan, who was just a slightly handsome passerby.
Lin Chuan, meanwhile, rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
“Boss, what do you feel?”
Tan Yan nudged Lin Chuan with his elbow.
Lin Chuan continued rubbing his chin and replied,
“Very strong.
The physical quality and skill proficiency of the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle are definitely perfectly cultivated.”
“The key is his flight riding skill.
In the secret realm trial of the advancement assessment, with this flight riding skill, he will be the most terrifying hunter.”
Speaking of this, Lin Chuan chuckled lightly.
“However, even a hunter will encounter prey he can’t take down.”
Upon hearing this, Tan Yan’s eyes lit up: “Boss, are you confident in a fight? Can you win!?”
If Lin Chuan could win against Li Zeyu, wouldn't that mean he had miraculously latched onto an epic, powerful figure!
Lin Chuan pursed his lips, his smile subtle, and replied, “Can’t win.”
Tan Yan: ????