Chapter 109

“On the fifth day after her Beastmaster rank had risen, Mu Huiyue brought White Fang to the Dark Attribute Research Institute.

Over the past few days, she had carefully reflected on her newly awakened innate skill and discovered that it wasn’t a skill for temporarily boosting states. Instead, it provided a continuous optimization of her pet beasts’ skill pathways, making it easier for them to perform combination skills and enhancing their insight into skill evolution.

This was a long-term, stable effect. Compared to 【Battle Resonance】, it was closer to 【Energy Augmentation】. As long as the contract between the Beastmaster and the pet beast remained intact, the effects of 【Energy Condensation】 could be maintained indefinitely.

After weighing her options, Mu Huiyue deliberately waited five days, hoping to use 【Energy Condensation】 on White Fang once before its evolution.

She opened the information page for White Fang in the Beastmaster Space.

【Name】: White Fang (Little Cloudhound)

【Attribute】: Dark-type

【Species Level】: Intermediate Battle General

【Growth Stage】: Tenth Tier of the Growth Stage

【Innate Core】: Howl (Dark-type, C-level)

【Skills】: Moonburst (Dark-type, B-level), Moonlight (Dark-type, B-level), Dark Strike (Dark-type, C-level), Shadow Step (Dark-type, C-level), Moon Shadow (Dark-type, C-level), Frost Fang (Ice-type, C-level), Frost Split Claw (Ice-type, C-level), Body Strengthening (Steel-type, D-level)”

“【Normal Hidden Energy Value】: 98,725P

White Fang’s condition had been adjusted to its peak—it was time to attempt evolution.

Inside the comprehensive building of the Dark Attribute Research Institute, Xie Qingwei and Feng Le were already waiting in the laboratory.

Two days earlier, Mu Huiyue had reviewed Professor Xie’s latest research report. After analyzing the experimental data indicators and considering various cases involving pet beasts, Professor Xie concluded that there indeed exists a special threshold for the increase of 【Contract Entropy】.

This threshold isn’t a fixed value; it varies based on the pet beast’s individual circumstances. After all, the 【Dark】 attribute, symbolizing chaos and disorder, is notoriously difficult to measure with precise values.

However, by utilizing 【Resonance Crystals】 and certain special activities, it is possible to achieve a rapid, extreme increase in Contract Entropy within a short period, breaking through this invisible threshold.

Xie Qingwei referred to these special activities as 【Rituals】—a behavior initiated by the pet beast itself during the surge in Contract Entropy, seeking to resonate with the emotional bond between it and the Beastmaster.

The task for Mu Huiyue and White Fang today was to put this evolution theory into practice. They would test whether a pet beast, fully equipped with the corresponding evolutionary energy but lacking an advanced innate core skill, could complete a leap in lifeform during the Contract Resonance 【Ritual】 and, in doing so, trigger a reverse transformation of its innate core.”

“Previously, Mu Huiyue had shared her newly awakened innate skill with Professor Xie. Xie Qingwei suggested that she use it on White Fang during the 【Ritual】, as it might yield unexpected results.

As for what kind of evolution 【Ritual】 White Fang desired, Mu Huiyue had a deep conversation with it. However, given the bond she shared with White Fang, she could guess the answer even without it being said.

White Fang hoped for a 【battle】.

Not the usual practice in training grounds or sparring sessions at the battle club, and not even the matches at the combat gym. What White Fang wanted was a decisive and important battle that could bring honor to its Beastmaster.

Fighting alongside Mu Huiyue in such a battle and winning at that moment—this was, in White Fang’s eyes, the most beautiful and exhilarating moment imaginable.

However, there weren’t any major competitions happening in Jingjiang City recently. Besides daily training, the school only had private duels between students, which fell short of the kind of 【battle】 White Fang was longing for.

After much thought, Mu Huiyue decided to register for the Advanced Beastmaster certification exam.

In Dayan, the Beastmaster Association categorized officially awakened Beastmasters into several professional ranks. Before passing the certification exam, one was classified as an 【Apprentice Beastmaster】. Afterward came the ranks of 【Intermediate Beastmaster】, 【Advanced Beastmaster】, 【Master Beastmaster】, and, at the pinnacle, the 【Legendary Beastmaster】.”

“Students admitted to the Combat Department of Jingzhou University are automatically granted the title of Intermediate Beastmaster. Most Combat Department students obtain the title of 【Advanced Beastmaster】 before graduation, facilitating future employment opportunities.

The qualification criteria for taking the 【Advanced Beastmaster】 exam include reaching Beastmaster Level 5 and having the combat power of a battle-general species at the Mature Stage. This perfectly suited the current state of Mu Huiyue and White Fang.

Most importantly, the Advanced Beastmaster exam is conducted individually. After registering, the Beastmaster Association assigns a dedicated examiner for the battle, and upon passing, the relevant data is uploaded to receive certification.

Jingzhou University has a resident Advanced Beastmaster examiner on campus, making it convenient for fourth-year students to schedule their exams at any time.

When registering, Mu Huiyue requested that the battle be held in the special venue at the Dark Attribute Research Institute. Her assigned examiner happened to be Hailin, the Dean of the Combat Department at Jingzhou University.

When Dean Hai saw that the applicant was Mu Huiyue, he happily volunteered to be the examiner. Making a trip to the Dark Attribute Research Institute wasn’t much trouble for him, and it was a good opportunity to chat with this rising star of the Combat Department about the recent exchange program with Haila High School, which he hadn’t had the chance to discuss with her yet.

The exam venue was located on the fourth floor of the comprehensive research building. This arena was specifically built for the attribute research teams within the building. Its dimensions and specifications adhered to official competition standards and were equipped with various observation and testing facilities, as well as full-range, multi-angle recording equipment.

Xie Qingwei, along with two students, had also hauled a large number of dark attribute testing devices to the venue. When Dean Hailin arrived, he happened to see Mu Huiyue and Professor Xie entering together, which left him momentarily stunned.”

“Isn’t Mu Huiyue a freshman in the Combat Department? How does she seem so familiar with Professor Xie…?

“Dean Hai.” Xie Qingwei waved at him and walked over to greet him. “Thank you for handling the exam. Please follow the standard procedure; we’ll just be recording some data on our side.”

Still unclear on the situation, Hailin nodded and looked at Mu Huiyue, who was standing behind Xie Qingwei and had also greeted him with a polite nod. He noticed she was holding a strange device made from high-purity dark attribute crystals.

So this exam was also part of one of Professor Xie’s research experiments?

Oh well, it didn’t really matter. As per the Beastmaster Association’s regulations, as long as the exam was conducted in an official battle arena, the presence of spectators or researchers recording data wouldn’t affect the validity of the battle.

Dean Hai walked to one side of the battle arena and glanced once more at the black-haired girl standing opposite him.

“I’ll be using a Mature Stage low-tier pet beast for the exam. The battle will be conducted in a 1v1 format. If you win, you will pass the 【Advanced Beastmaster】 certification. Jingzhou University students are exempt from the theoretical test.”

“I understand.” Mu Huiyue nodded and summoned White Fang.

When a summoning array with five layers of beast patterns appeared in the arena, Dean Hailin couldn’t help but be stunned.

Even though he had confirmed multiple times during registration that Mu Huiyue was a Level 5 Beastmaster… seeing it in person was still astonishing.”

“Just a month ago, during her battles with the exchange group from Haila High School, Mu Huiyue was still a Level 4 Beastmaster. At that time, Hailin had already marveled at her rapid progress. He hadn’t expected that before the first semester of her freshman year even ended, she would have already advanced to Level 5.

But…

Hailin glanced at the small white dog that appeared in the center of the summoning array, surprised that Mu Huiyue would choose to use a Xiaoyun Can for this battle.

Mu Huiyue was the daughter of the legendary Mu Tong, who had raised the high-tier emperor species, the Sunflame Wolf. Hailin had assumed that Xiaoyun Can was her main combat pet, but compared to the Nightshade Scarecrow, which had shone brightly during the exchange matches, and the extraordinary monarch-level Spade Knight, the Xiaoyun Can seemed the least impressive of the three.

To be fair, Mu Huiyue’s Xiaoyun Can was exceptionally well-raised in terms of physique, coat color, and baseline energy levels—it was a standout among its kind.

However, the Xiaoyun Can’s innate core skill was 【Howl】, which meant that no matter how much effort the Beastmaster invested, the returns could never match their expectations.

Its potential had already reached its ceiling.

“Are you sure you want to use the Xiaoyun Can for the exam?” Hailin said loudly. “It hasn’t even broken through to the Mature Stage yet, has it? The Advanced Beastmaster certification is nothing like the Combat Society’s recruitment matches.””

“He had heard about how Mu Huiyue defeated Zheng Lin’s Force Rune Grizzly during the Combat Society’s recruitment test, despite being at a lower level. However, if she was now choosing to rely on a Xiaoyun Can in this assessment, it seemed a bit overconfident.

‘I’m certain,’ Mu Huiyue said with a faint smile, while the white-furred puppy in front of her pawed at the ground eagerly, ready for action.

‘This battle is a specially prepared ritual for White Fang.’

Seeing her insist on her choice, Hailin refrained from saying more and summoned the assessment pet.

A massive creature over two meters tall emerged from the summoning array. Its body was covered in jade-green patterns, its bulging frog eyes glimmering. When it landed, the entire battlefield subtly trembled under its weight.

The investigator’s wristband displayed the detected entry from the bestiary:

[Name]: Bagua Jade Spirit Frog
[Attributes]: Water-Type, Earth-Type
[Species Rank]: High-level War General
[Growth Stage]: Mature Stage, Level 2
[Innate Core]: Water Stream Fist (Water-Type, Rank C)
[Species Description]: A dual-attribute amphibious extraordinary creature discovered in the A-Rank Secret Realm Tea-Scented Water Pavilion. It is the evolved form of the Jade Spirit Tadpole. Strong and muscular, it can sense water currents in both air and water, enabling it to execute unique combat techniques.
[Baseline Energy]: 222,405P”

Director Hai’s Bagua Jade Spirit Frog had already reached the second stage of maturity, with baseline energy values more than double that of White Fang’s. It seemed like a formidable opponent.

But this kind of challenging battle was exactly the evolution ritual White Fang had been eagerly anticipating!

“Woof!” The Xiaoyun Can lowered its body, growling threateningly at the Jade Spirit Frog.

A floating recording terminal acting as the referee hovered over the battlefield. Its countdown timer ticked to zero, signaling the official start of the assessment.

“White Fang, Shadow Step forward and use Dark Strike!” Mu Huiyue took the initiative to attack.

The Xiaoyun Can leaped from the shadows, swiftly charging toward the seemingly sluggish Bagua Jade Spirit Frog.

“Light Wall,” Hailin said calmly.

The Jade Spirit Frog didn’t dodge or retreat. It stood upright on the spot, extending its arms in a humanoid stance, one arm forward and the other back.

A peculiar wave rippled from its right arm to its left and then returned, forming a flowing motion like a Taiji diagram. A shimmering light barrier enveloped its body, creating a dense circle of protection.

The charging Xiaoyun Can slammed directly into the light barrier with a heavy thud, only to dissipate into black smoke where it stood.

White Fang shook its head and reappeared from another direction on the battlefield.

The first Xiaoyun Can to attack, as usual, was its created Moon Shadow.