"Divine Beasts? Divine Beasts are special existences. Theoretically, no one can contain the immense power of a Divine Beast. However, Divine Beasts can retract their power, so as long as one is favored by a Divine Beast, even a child can form a contract and receive nurturing. But that contract is not a Beast Tamer contract; it's a Divine Beast contract."
The teacher emphasized again,
"Don't try to overstep the limits of your spiritual power to form contracts with high-quality Spirit Beasts! The first Beast Tamer must choose the one with the greatest potential that you can contract with!"
"Ji..."
After class, Feng Yuan, holding Xiao Ji, complained to Qi Chen,
"Really! Teacher Yan just has to say it and keeps looking at me – it's so discouraging for Xiao Ji!"
Qi Chen glanced at the utterly disheartened Xiao Ji in Feng Yuan's arms and said somewhat helplessly,
"Don't you consider the teacher's advice?"
Feng Yuan glanced at Qi Chen with dissatisfaction and said,
"Would you be happy if someone told you to replace your Ah Mu?"
"Well... It has been quite a while since I formed a contract with Ah Mu; we have formed a bond. But you and Xiao Ji..."
"I've been taking care of Xiao Ji for nearly a year!"
"But that was just an egg, Xiao Ji just hatched..."
"No matter! My first Beast Tamer will be Xiao Ji!"
Watching Feng Yuan run off with Xiao Ji in his arms, Qi Chen sighed helplessly.
Feng Yuan carried Xiao Ji to a deserted grove, gently set him down, and said,
"Come on, sign a Beast Tamer contract with me."
"Ji..."
"What's wrong? You don't want to?"
Seeing that Xiao Ji kept backing away whenever he reached out, Feng Yuan said with confusion,
"Don't listen to what those people say, I don't care about your potential."
Xiao Ji took a few more steps back and cried sorrowfully.
"Xiao Ji..."
Feng Yuan tried to reach out to Xiao Ji again, but Xiao Ji turned and ran deeper into the woods. Feng Yuan waved his hands and shouted hastily,
"Hey, Xiao Ji, don't run!"
However, Xiao Ji ran even faster upon hearing Feng Yuan's shout. After running for a while and realizing that Feng Yuan hadn't followed, Xiao Ji collapsed to the ground, dejectedly staring at the fallen leaves,
"Ji..."
Allowing the leaves to fall on his head, Xiao Ji just stared blankly at the leaves on the ground, motionless; suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from behind Xiao Ji and clasped him tightly.
"Xiao Ji, really, why would you run off like that? Although there's little danger in the school's grove, what if you got lost?"
Feeling Feng Yuan's presence, Xiao Ji struggled frantically in Feng Yuan's arms. Holding Xiao Ji tight, Feng Yuan couldn't help but shout,
"Xiao Ji, calm down!"
Xiao Ji struggled even more fiercely.
"Stop messing around, Xiao Ji!"
It took quite a while for Xiao Ji's struggling to gradually subside. When he noticed that Xiao Ji was no longer struggling, Feng Yuan lifted Xiao Ji in front of him and said,
"What's the matter? Are you worried that your lack of potential is holding me back?"
Xiao Ji's gaze flickered, avoiding Feng Yuan's eyes.
"I've told you, there's no need to worry."
Raising his head, Xiao Ji turned his head away from Feng Yuan.
"Why so stubborn, really."
Xiao Ji cried out angrily.
"Fine, if there were a way you could possibly transform into a Divine Beast, but the process would be very tough and dangerous, would you be willing?"
Seeing Xiao Ji's unyielding demeanor, Feng Yuan could only say helplessly. Hearing Feng Yuan's words, Xiao Ji's eyes shone with an inexplicable radiance, and he cried out resolutely.
Feng Yuan carefully placed Xiao Ji on the ground and summoned a pitch-black ancient book that exuded a subtle, dark aura, confirming with Xiao Ji once more
"Once you choose this path, you can never turn back. Are you sure? You should know I really don't mind whether you're strong or not."
Seeing Xiao Ji's resolute gaze, Feng Yuan sighed, opened the pitch-black tome, placed it on the ground, and whispered an incantation. A black orb of light slowly emerged above the ancient book.
"Touch that orb of light, choose the power of your future. Once you decide, there's no turning back!"
Feng Yuan warned Xiao Ji again, and looking decisively at Feng Yuan, Xiao Ji stretched out its right wing and touched the black orb of light.
Xiao Ji felt as though it had arrived in a starry sky, surrounded by various powers floating all around. Just as Xiao Ji was feeling overwhelmed, Feng Yuan's voice echoed in Xiao Ji's mind
"Sense the power you wish to obtain. It will become your main strength. Don't be greedy, Divine Beasts can only have one type of power. Approach the power you sense and absorb it."
Xiao Ji hurriedly sensed the surrounding powers and then rushed toward a familiar one. Seeing the power Xiao Ji was absorbing, Feng Yuan was a bit puzzled
"Why choose that one? That power should be disliked by all living creatures, right?"
As Xiao Ji endured the pain brought upon by the transformation from the power, all Feng Yuan could do was watch helplessly. After a long time, Xiao Ji finally absorbed that power completely. Seeing Xiao Ji's weakened state, Feng Yuan could only pat its head and say,
"Alright, now you have the foundation to become a Divine Beast. I'll take you back to rest first, and after you've recovered, we'll sign the contract."
Xiao Ji, somewhat weak, shook its head, and Feng Yuan, feeling helpless, reached out to sign the Beast Tamer contract with Xiao Ji. Seeing Xiao Ji sleeping contentedly in his arms, Feng Yuan shook his head and turned to leave.
Carrying Xiao Ji back to the dormitory, just as he laid Xiao Ji on the bed, Feng Yuan turned around to find takeout on the table. Seeing Feng Yuan looking at him while he was cleaning Ah Mu, Qi Chen said,
"I noticed you weren't at the cafeteria, so I figured you hadn't eaten. I brought back dinner for you."
"Thanks~"
"Where did you run off to? You even skipped dinner."
As he ate, Feng Yuan replied,
"I went to sign a Beast Tamer contract with Xiao Ji. It's ridiculous, it resisted signing the contract with me even though I hatched it myself."
"Maybe Xiao Ji was worried about delaying you? Did you force Xiao Ji to sign the Beast Tamer contract?"
"No, it took a lot of convincing before it agreed to sign the Beast Tamer contract."
"You really are persistent. Why do you insist on signing a Beast Tamer contract with Xiao Ji? Isn't choosing a Spirit Beast with Good Level potential just fine?"
"Not interested. It took me nearly a year to save Xiao Ji. Of course, I want to sign a contract with it."
"You, I don't even know what to say to you."
"Then don't say anything."
Qi Chen, unsure how to respond to Feng Yuan, kept silent and continued to clean Ah Mu. Feng Yuan glanced at Ah Mu and said,
"Have you decided what form you want Ah Mu to evolve into? Serpentine? Giant tree? Flowering plant? Or some other peculiar thing?"
Qi Chen cast a glance at Feng Yuan and said while tending to Ah Mu,
"I'll leave it to fate. Who can know what form an original pet will evolve into? Thinking more about it now is useless."
The Ah Mu being tended to by Qi Chen let out a contented cry.
Feng Yuan walked over, poked Ah Mu's round, elastic body, and said,
"Don't you know you can guide the evolution? With the proper Potion as guidance, along with the Spirit Beast's own intentions, you can decide what form it evolves into."
"Stop poking Ah Mu! You're talking about Potion guidance, right? How could we possibly have that? Not only us, but even someone like Zhong Liuyan or Pei Yu wouldn't have access to such a thing," Qi Chen replied.
"Not necessarily. I happen to have all those recipes~"
Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan with some surprise and said,
"You're not lying to me?"
"Why would I lie to you? What do you think? Have you decided what form you want it to evolve into?"
"How could I decide on the spot? What forms can your guiding Potions lead to?" Feng Yuan asked, returning to his seat and continuing his meal.
"I have Potions for all forms. What form do you hope Ah Mu will evolve into?"
"I..."
After hesitating for a long time, as if making up his mind, Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan.