Mu Qianqian left. Li Qian considered going to watch, but after a moment’s thought, decided against it.

’There’s no need!’

’If she can convince Demon Heaven and the others, then it’s fated to be. If not, it doesn’t matter. They’re just a few Frostfire Salamanders, and it’s not like I can’t afford to raise them. Besides, if Demon Heaven and the others stay at the Cultivation Base, they’ll just add to its defenses.’

Before long, Mu Qianqian had chosen her Pet Beast and returned to Building One. She smiled at Li Qian. "It went well. One of the Frostfire Salamanders is willing to follow me and take on a new challenge."

This result didn’t surprise Li Qian. He smiled faintly as well and said, "Let’s go take a look."

A moment later, Li Qian and Mu Qianqian arrived at the Central Pond. When Mu Qianqian waved, a large creature came eagerly paddling over. Seeing this, Li Qian gave a slight nod.

"Ah, it’s Mo Hong."

The seven Frostfire Salamanders—named according to the sequence "Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Universe Hong"—all looked quite similar, but each had its own subtle differences.

Others might not be able to discern these subtle variations, but as their Breeder, Li Qian knew them perfectly. That was why he recognized the creature the moment it swam over.

"Mo Hong, are you willing to leave with her and accept a new challenge?" Although Li Qian could already guess the answer from Mo Hong’s behavior, he still asked, wanting to confirm its decision.

"So its name is ’Mo Hong.’ A very nice name," Mu Qianqian murmured with a smile upon hearing Li Qian address it.

Mo Hong heard Li Qian, and with Xiaoliu’s roars to translate, it understood his meaning. It glanced at its six brothers and sisters with a hint of longing, then nodded, its gaze firm.

The future this human had described to it was thrilling and full of passion. It yearned for battle, yearned to grow, and so after a moment of deliberation, it chose a different path.

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing you grow." Li Qian smiled, pleased with Mo Hong’s decision.

He felt a complex mix of emotions at that moment—anticipation, but also the reluctance of a father sending his daughter off on her wedding day.

"Don’t worry, I’ll raise it well. I won’t waste its Talent." Perhaps sensing Li Qian’s reluctance, Mu Qianqian spoke with complete confidence.

Li Qian took a deep breath and said, his voice thick with emotion, "If one day—and I’m just saying if—I figure out the evolutionary path from a Frostfire Salamander to an Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, bring it back. I want to see it soar into the heavens."

When Mu Qianqian heard this, she was incredulous at first. She couldn’t believe it.

An Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, after all, was a Pet Beast with Saint Spirit Level Potential. With normal development, it could smoothly advance to the Saint Spirit Level and become a being akin to a Guardian God.

Although Li Qian had just used the word "if," Mu Qianqian could still hear the powerful confidence behind it.

’He actually has the confidence to research the evolutionary path of a Holy Spirit-level Pet Beast!’

As unbelievable as it was, Mu Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.

If anyone else had said such a thing, Mu Qianqian would have scoffed. But since it was Li Qian, she chose to believe him.

There was no helping it. He was just a high school student, yet he had already researched the evolutionary paths from Koi Carp to Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon and from Koi Carp to Frostfire Salamander. An accomplishment like that was frankly a little terrifying.

She had no choice but to believe.

Belief was followed by a rush of excitement. She spoke up immediately, making a pact. "If that day truly comes, I believe our Mysterious Forest Secret Realm would not be stingy about helping your Thousand Vine Demon evolve into a Ten Thousand Vines Demon."

Trading a Ten Thousand Vines Demon for an Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, Mu Qianqian would definitely be getting the better deal, but the Ten Thousand Vines Demon was already the strongest Pet Beast her Mysterious Forest Secret Realm had to offer.

At worst, she could just owe him another favor then.

Besides, this was all just a verbal agreement for now. Nothing was set in stone. There was no need to think so far ahead.

After they made their agreement, Li Qian let Mu Qianqian take Mo Hong away. She was a little surprised by this, since the Thousand Vine Demon had not yet been delivered.

"Aren’t you worried I’ll take the Frostfire Salamander and just disappear without giving you the Thousand Vine Demon?" Mu Qianqian asked with a charming smile.

Li Qian returned her smile with a gentle one of his own. "I trust you, and I trust the heir of the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm."

His words drew a laugh from Mu Qianqian that sounded like silver bells. "Hee hee... You’re an interesting one. For that alone, you are now a friend of our Mysterious Forest Secret Realm."

Upon hearing this, Li Qian smoothly replied in kind, "And you are now a friend of our Jiaoyang Cultivation Base."

...

Mu Qianqian left. Not long after she was gone, Elder Tie sought out Li Qian.

He clapped Li Qian on the shoulder and asked, "What’s this? You have a thing for the mature, older-sister type?"

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Hearing this, Li Qian broke into a fit of coughing.

’Elder Tie is a great guy, but sometimes he’s just not serious at all. No wonder no woman wants to be with him. He’s still an old bachelor even now.’

"Elder Tie, please stop joking!" Li Qian shot him a speechless look and quickly tried to set the record straight.

’If word of this gets out, my reputation will be ruined!’

After his little joke, he switched to the main topic. "Li Qian, it won’t be long now. I have to leave."

Li Qian looked at Elder Tie, thinking he must have misheard. "Leave? Why?" he asked immediately.

"My work here is done. There isn’t much point in me staying any longer."

Elder Tie explained, then posed a question back to Li Qian. "Don’t tell me you didn’t request a guard from Shazhou Beast Taming University precisely to deal with a potential attack from the Mechanical Desecration Association?"

Seeing that Elder Tie had guessed his original motive, Li Qian gave a wry smile. "Elder Tie, it seems nothing can escape your eyes."

Elder Tie sighed and continued, "The attack is over now. And as long as that bunch from the Mechanical Desecration Association has half a brain, they won’t be coming to bother Lingshui City again. So, if I stay, I’ll just be mooching off you."

Li Qian thought for a moment, then explained his plans. "Even if it’s unlikely that there’ll be any more danger here, I’m planning to go to Zhonghai City during the summer vacation. There’s no guarantee new problems won’t crop up then..."

Elder Tie clapped Li Qian’s shoulder again. "Don’t worry. Even though I’m leaving, our Shazhou Beast Taming University will send someone else to take my place and continue ensuring your safety."

Li Qian didn’t press the issue, but simply asked the question that was bothering him. "Why the replacement? Do you have another mission, Elder Tie?"

Elder Tie nodded and continued to explain, "You could say that. But there’s another reason, too. The person who’s coming has a different objective."

"What objective?" Li Qian asked, even more puzzled.

Elder Tie turned his head, his gaze drifting to the west. "To help your mother’s Gray Bean Dove evolve into a Sky Escape Eagle!"

Li Qian’s eyes widened in realization. "The person coming is Professor Yan!"

"Yes. In fact, not only is he an outstanding Breeder, but he’s also a powerful Beast Master."

Elder Tie’s gaze remained fixed on the west as he spoke in a slow, measured tone. "With him by your side, your safety is guaranteed."