Although Ash had killed a Spirit Beast in the Azure Bay Mountains before, that was in self-defense... if it were for anything else, she couldn't bring herself to kill a Spirit Beast just to gain something.
So this path was not an option for her.
However, since the old man had said it, there must have been something she didn't know or something she had misunderstood.
Ash decided to listen to his explanation first.
Sure enough, after Ash raised the question about hunting wild Spirit Beasts being illegal, the old man spoke again.
"I know this is a society governed by laws. I'm not suggesting you go hunting wild Spirit Beasts," the old man said, looking at her. "Venemun-type Spirit Beast venom can usually be obtained through contribution points from the Beast Master Association's resource management office."
"Of course, this is the way professional Beast Master acquired it," the old man paused, then added, "As for you... you can check online. There should be Beast Master who have contracted Venenum-type Spirit Beasts selling it online."
"I'm not sure about the price, but it's definitely cheaper than crystal cores. The quality and toxicity, however, will definitely be inferior to those obtained from the Beast Master Association using contribution points."
"But the cost-effectiveness and results will definitely be better than feeding spirit fruit," the old man added, "Your Larvanine is still too weak right now. If you buy venom from other Spirit Beasts with stronger toxins, don't feed it all at once. Dissolve a drop in cold water and feed it in increments. Gradually increase the dosage once it has adapted to the level of toxicity."
Ash nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.
If venom from other Spirit Beasts could indeed help improve her Larvanine's poison capabilities, it would significantly increase her chances of successfully implementing her strategy in real-life battles.
"Thank you so much!" Ash stood up and bowed sincerely to the old man.
The help he had provided, both with the Ripple Fruit earlier and now with his advice, was invaluable to her.
While it might have been a small thing for the old man, to Ash, it meant a great deal.
Without his help, she might still be lost on her journey.
Seeing Ash's serious expression, the old man smiled and waved his hand, signaling her to sit back down.
"You don't need to thank me so much. It's part of a professional Beast Master's duty to cultivate successors," the old man said slowly. "I admire you, so I'm willing to help. It's as simple as that."
"If you really feel the need to thank me... then remember what I said today," the old man paused for a moment, then added, "All children with dreams deserve to be treated with kindness."
"If you become a professional Beast Master in the future... I hope you won't forget the version of yourself who once worked hard for those dreams."
Ash nodded solemnly. "I will never forget."
Then she added, "I promise."
The old man laughed heartily, his gaze growing even more affectionate.
"Actually, I have another suggestion, regarding how to solve the problem of your Larvanine's venom... I wonder if you'd be willing to listen?"
"Of course!" Ash replied quickly, then picked up the cup of water the old man had previously handed her, offering it with both hands. "Please take your time."
The old man accepted the water with a smile and took a sip.
Then, once again, his voice filled the library.
...
A soft breeze carrying a faint scent of grass and trees blew through the open window into the library, lifting the papers filled with writing on the desk and letting them gently flutter down to the solid cement floor.
As Ash prepared to take her Larvanine to the Spirit Beast Department Practical Exam, she bent down to pick up a plan she had written six months ago in the library based on the old man's advice.
The corners of her mouth curled into a slight smile.
She returned the paper, which had been blown off the desk, to its place, then pressed it under a glass bottle containing venom from the old man's Spirit Beasts, which he had given her after passing the written portion of the exam in April.
"I'm ready, come over," Ash called to Larvanine, who had been waiting for her to finish packing on the bed.
A Larvanine, slightly larger than usual, skillfully hopped onto Ash's backpack and rested its front half on her shoulder.
Under the sunlight, the empty glass bottle on the desk reflected a gleam of light.
Ash took a deep breath, put on her black half-finger gloves, and then opened the door.
With Larvanine, she stepped forward on the journey that awaited them.
"Let's go, Sunny!"
"The real battle is about to begin!"
"Larvanine~!"
...
June 17th.
The much-anticipated XXth Annual Spirit Beast Department Practical Exam, gathering a total of 4.31 million candidates nationwide, has officially begun.
For a time, the winds of competition converge.
The candidates from all corners of the country flock to the four major Duel Stadiums across the regions, making their final preparations for the upcoming battle exam.
Among them:
The Aquaris Region has 1.14 million candidates.
The Ignisa Region has 1.27 million candidates.
The Verdantia Region has 1.01 million candidates.
The Cryora Region has 890,000 candidates.
As per tradition, these 4.31 million candidates will participate in a seven-day, fully enclosed battle exam held in the respective Duel Stadium of the four regions where they registered for the written test.
The evaluation standard is based on the number of battle victories achieved during the exam.
Only candidates who rank in the top 30% by the end of the Practical Exam will earn eligibility for admission to universities with Beast Master Department.
Additionally, the higher the number of victories and the higher the ranking, the better the chances of being prioritized for admission to prestigious universities.
In the end, whether the school chooses you or you get to choose the school will depend on the rankings achieved during these seven intense days.