onion sweater recession
Log inDownload<
Chapter 64: Storm Bear
Lu Wu's plan to bring Dudu along on his trip to Fu Cheng didn't work out, but he didn't end up going alone either.
Li Kai was also particularly interested in this matter and had decided to join Lu Wu from the start. So, while Dudu couldn't make it, Lu Wu's party only changed from three to two, or rather, two humans and two beasts.
Lu Wu's small skeleton had to come along on his trip, as his current strength was still weak, and the skeleton couldn't be too far from him or stored away.
Besides the skeleton, Li Kai also brought his summon beast on this trip.
Well, to be honest, Li Kai hadn't initially revealed his summon beast. It wasn't until they reached the high-speed train station's security checkpoint that the instruments detected Li Kai carrying a summon beast, prompting him to summon it from within his body.
A nearly five-meter-tall giant bear emerged from Li Kai's forehead, standing at one meter and seventy centimeters. The scene was truly awe-inspiring.
Not just Lu Wu, but everyone at the station was left dumbfounded.
After all, it's rare to encounter summoners of such caliber in everyday life!
Of course, while they were stunned, Lu Wu didn't forget to reach out and touch the bear that had just passed security.
---
Name: Storm Bear
Strength: ???
Quality: Silver (Upgraded)
Attributes: Wind, Thunder
Status: Agitated (A fight? Is that why you brought me out?)
Skills: ???, ???
Weakness: ???
Description: Surprised, huh? Didn't expect your little brother to be such a big shot?
---
Indeed, the bear's agitated status clearly indicated its eagerness to find a fight.
Lu Wu's expression was truly complex.
How to put it? Li Kai was a man full of surprises.
When Lu Wu thought he was a big shot, he immediately acted like a little brother in front of Lu Wu.
And when Lu Wu accepted him as a little brother, he instantly transformed into a big shot again.
A silver-quality summon beast with all these question marks—what kind of strength did this guy possess? Lu Wu couldn't help but ask directly.
"Uncle Li, what's the strength of your summon beast?"
"Leader Rank 3!"
Lu Wu asked straightforwardly, and Li Kai responded with remarkable honesty.
His honest answer left Lu Wu gasping in surprise.
As an aspiring breeder, Lu Wu was well aware of what a Leader Rank 3 summon beast implied; it was already at the standard of a professional summoner.
This guy was an absolute big shot!
Even graduates from Summoner University couldn't guarantee becoming professional summoners.
Moreover, professional summoners were usually either competing or cultivating their summon beasts in secret realms, leading a busy life. Lu Wu had never encountered a living professional summoner before, which made him especially excited.
"Uncle Li, why didn't you mention that you're a professional summoner?"
"That was in the past. I've switched careers and am now an aspiring professional breeder!"
"Why the career change? Isn't being a professional summoner great?"
"Also, Uncle Li, do you only have this one summon beast? I heard professional summoners usually have at least three. Where are your other two?"
"How did you cultivate this summon beast? By the way, since you're already a professional summoner, why is your summon beast cultivation so mediocre?"
---
Lu Wu's barrage of questions left Li Kai's head spinning.
It was evident that Li Kai was somewhat evasive about the topic of professional summoners and didn't seem eager to delve deeper.
Moreover, this kid was even poking fun at him.
If someone else had asked these questions, he might have ignored them if he was in a good mood, or given them a good slap if he wasn't.
(End of Chapter 64)
What's this about the Summoned Beast breeding skills not being up to par? That's like saying everyone should be a master of all trades! But the one asking is Lu Wu, his own student, and he can't really avoid answering.
Not wanting to respond, he still has to pick and choose which questions to address.
Fortunately, Lu Wu is also a bit excited to see a live Professional Summoner for the first time, and he quickly gets his emotions under control while also noticing Li Kai's unusual behavior.
Realizing that Li Kai doesn't want to delve deeper into this topic, he doesn't press further, and Li Kai finally breathes a sigh of relief.
Initially, Li Kai hadn't planned to bring his Summoned Beast with him.
It would be too much trouble.
In every sense of the word.
In a 16-19-year-old's mind, there's no room for error when it comes to the latest version of a book!
But after some thought, he eventually decides to bring his Summoned Beast along.
This is because, upon further reflection, he feels that there might be something fishy about this bounty at the Fu Cheng Professional Center.
The Fu Cheng Professional Center is the leading institution for Summoned Beast breeders in Jiangnan Province, representing the highest level of expertise in the region.
If they can't handle a situation, there's no reason to place hope in a group of beginners who aren't even Professional Breeders yet.
He suspects that there might be some foul play involved.
Upon realizing this, Li Kai immediately thinks of dissuading Lu Wu from going, to save him from a potentially fruitless trip and possible danger.
But after a moment's thought, even if there is foul play, it doesn't really concern them.
He's a retired Professional Summoner, and Lu Wu is his student; they're both law-abiding citizens, and any foul play won't affect them.
Moreover, the location is Fu Cheng, at the Professional Center, a gathering place for the big shots.
You could say it's the safest place in Jiangnan Province. Even if there is foul play, these bystanders won't be in any danger.
Since there's no danger and there might even be benefits, there's no harm in them going. Perhaps Lu Wu can even become a Professional Breeder sooner, and he'll receive better education as a result.
Of course, to ensure Lu Wu's safety, Li Kai still brings out his own Summoned Beast.
In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, he can protect Lu Wu without issue.
Naturally, Lu Wu is unaware of all these behind-the-scenes details.
He doesn't know that this bounty has so many secrets.
At this moment, Lu Wu, who has just managed to divert his attention from the fact that Li Kai is a big shot, is now curiously observing the high-speed train in this world.
The high-speed train in this world is similar to Lu Wu's previous life, except that the carriages are slightly larger and have dedicated seats for smaller Summoned Beasts.
Of course, this is limited to smaller ones, as larger and special Summoned Beasts need to be stored in specialized compartments.
Li Kai's Storm Bear, despite being over five meters tall and weighing several tons, can be stored in his body due to his Professional Summoner ability to create a dedicated Summoned Beast space within himself.
Lu Wu's Mini Skeleton doesn't need a seat either.
Its size is comparable to a human's, and it can stand in the designated Summoned Beast seat in the carriage.
At this moment, the Mini Skeleton is just like its owner, curiously observing its surroundings.
The difference is that while Lu Wu is interested in the train, the scenery outside, and the Summoned Beasts in the carriage, the Mini Skeleton is more focused on the humans inside the carriage, especially when it spots a couple. Its eyes, glowing with the Eye Flame ability, fixate on them, observing intently.
It has watched television and knows that humans in such relationships tend to embrace and bite each other.
Although it doesn't fully understand, it's particularly curious to see if humans outside of television also embrace and bite each other.Chapter end
Chapter 65: 2-Star
Fu Cheng, the capital of Jiangnan Province, is not only the provincial capital but also the headquarters of the Summoner Hub and Breeder Headquarters. As the central hub of Jiangnan Province, the prosperity of Fu Cheng is beyond the imagination of someone like Lu Wu, who comes from a small city like Quan City.
From the moment he stepped out of the carriage, Lu Wu was awe-struck by the station in Fu Cheng. As a bustling metropolis that accommodates tens of thousands of people daily, Fu Cheng has invested heavily in security measures. In a world where hot weapons are ineffective and where Summoned Beasts are highly integrated, many aspects of life are managed by these beasts.
At the security checkpoint, Lu Wu spotted Summoned Beasts specialized in detection, as well as those tasked with security work. He observed that these beasts were primarily canine-based.
Regarding their abilities, Lu Wu had a rough idea. The ones at the checkpoint were around Bronze quality, and their strength was generally at the Head level.
...
Name: Watchdog
Strength: 1-Star Head
Quality: Black Iron (Upgradable)
Attribute: Wind
Status: Serious (I love my job, don't ask me to stop!)
Skills: Enhanced Scent (Mastered), Danger Alert (Mastered), Pounce (Mastered), Rip (Mastered)
Weakness: Ice, Poison
Description: A Summoned Beast specifically bred for vigilance, with a loyal, kind, and gentle temperament. It is particularly friendly towards humans, and you can pet it without issue as long as you pose no threat.
...
In a metropolis like Fu Cheng, even the most ordinary Summoned Beast is of Head level.
When Lu Wu saw its attributes, he felt slightly relieved. Previously, he had been puzzled by the bears in Li Kai's family, worrying that his golden finger might have malfunctioned.
Now, Lu Wu believed it was a matter of strength. He estimated that he could only detect the attributes of Summoned Beasts that were significantly higher in level than his own. When he touched another watchdog and encountered a question mark, it indicated that the beast's strength exceeded 1-Star Head.
What Lu Wu didn't notice was that as he touched the watchdog, his Mini Skeleton's Eye Fire flickered with curiosity, and it couldn't resist the urge to reach out its bony hand to touch the beast.
The usually friendly watchdog's eyes immediately sharpened, and it barked at the Mini Skeleton. Lu Wu and his companions faced a tragic situation as the security team surrounded them.
Although they were soon proven innocent, Lu Wu still received a stern lecture before being released, leaving him furious. He smacked the Mini Skeleton's head with a slap.
"Behave yourself next time. Don't move without my command."
The Mini Skeleton's Eye Fire flickered, confused, as it lacked common sense and didn't understand what it had done wrong. It felt wronged, not knowing why Lu Wu had hit it.
The Mini Skeleton decided it wouldn't cover Lu Wu with a blanket that night, but then it thought that was too mean. After some consideration, it decided to just skip covering him once! Lu Wu was unaware of the Mini Skeleton's thoughts.
After dealing with the Mini Skeleton, Lu Wu followed Li Kai and hurried to catch a ride. They traveled for nearly an hour before reaching a hotel near the Fu Cheng Breeder Center.
Lu Wu and Li Kai had originally planned to book two rooms, but due to the Fu Cheng Professional Center's bounty, only one room was left available.
With no other choice, Lu Wu shared a room with Li Kai for the first time since his transmigration.
It was already past 1 a.m. when they settled in, and Lu Wu wasn't ready to sleep yet. He was still planning to work on something.
Earlier, he had obtained a wealth of information about Professional Summoners from Li Kai.
This information might not have been of much use to Li Kai, but for Lu Wu, it was a different story.
Inspired by the data from Li Kai, Lu Wu had an idea—a plan to enhance the strength of his Mini Skeleton.
His Mini Skeleton had been at the 1-Star level for quite some time. During this period, it had undergone extensive training, cooked countless Mini Skeleton Soups, and engaged in numerous battles. Logically, it should have reached the 2-Star level by now, but it had yet to make that breakthrough.
Lu Wu didn't take this matter too seriously, after all, there didn't seem to be any shortcuts to improving a Summoned Beast's strength.
Everyone just had to keep practicing and fighting to improve.
Lu Wu himself paid more attention to enhancing the quality of his Mini Skeleton rather than its strength, which he had largely ignored until now. Today, he was inspired by Li Kai's insights and also realized that his special ability had limitations.
He could only see the attributes of a higher-level Mini Skeleton, which motivated Lu Wu to work towards that.
After all, a Summoner's strength was linked to their Summoned Beast, and if the Mini Skeleton's strength improved, it would benefit Lu Wu as well. Furthermore, Lu Wu was concerned that the Summoned Beast at the Fu Cheng Professional Center was a Head 2 Star, which meant he would be completely blind in that regard.
In reality, without his special ability, Lu Wu was just a beginner who was close to a professional level.
So, when they arrived at the hotel, Lu Wu started thinking of ways to improve the Mini Skeleton's strength.
His idea was quite simple.
In fancy terms, it could be called Belief Guidance, and in more down-to-earth terms, it was called hoodwinking.
In a 6-9-1-9-1-8 version!
Today, on the high-speed train, Li Kai shared many interesting stories with Lu Wu to divert his attention and prevent him from bringing up topics Li Kai didn't want to discuss.
One of these stories was about a friend's Summoned Beast that hadn't leveled up for several years. However, it finally leveled up after its food bowl was broken.
Li Kai shared this story as a funny anecdote, but Lu Wu took it to heart.
He believed that in this situation, the Summoned Beast's strength or experience had accumulated to the required standard, but it lacked a trigger to facilitate the upgrade.
This trigger could be anger or some other factor, but it was likely related to emotions.
Lu Wu thought it was worth a try.
So, as soon as they reached the hotel, Lu Wu began to motivate the Mini Skeleton in various ways.
The Motivational Speech: Lu Wu started by talking about the Mini Skeleton's quality, sharing how difficult its journey had been, how others looked down on it, and how hard it had worked. He encouraged the Mini Skeleton to strive for self-improvement.
His words were so touching that they could move one to tears, but it had no effect on the Mini Skeleton, which didn't understand.
After all, it was only a few months old, and its intelligence had only improved after reaching the Black Iron level. No matter how much Lu Wu tried to motivate it, the Mini Skeleton didn't get it.
With no other options, Lu Wu switched to Sarcastic Mode.
He mocked the Mini Skeleton for not being as good as TuanTuan and praised TuanTuan to provoke the Mini Skeleton, hoping to anger it and trigger an upgrade.
This approach elicited some response from the Mini Skeleton, but despite Lu Wu's efforts, it still didn't level up.
After observing this for a while, Li Kai handed Lu Wu a glass of water, "Mr. Lu, have a drink and take a break. Maybe this little guy needs more experience."
Li Kai didn't dare say that Lu Wu's idea was wrong.
After all, Lu Wu was his teacher, but he didn't agree with Lu Wu's sudden idea. Could a Summoned Beast be upgraded just by being motivated? Nothing was that easy.
"Thank you."
Lu Wu was a bit dejected at this point but didn't give up. After taking a sip of water, he put the glass down and prepared to continue his efforts.
However, due to a lack of attention, the glass was placed on top of his smartphone, and before he could adjust it, the water spilled, soaking his phone, which startled Lu Wu.
"Oh no, my phone is going to break!"
As Lu Wu prepared to rescue his phone, he suddenly felt a cool stream of energy rushing to his forehead.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 66: The Professional Center
In Fu Cheng, at the Professional Summoned Beast Breeder Center.
Early in the morning, Li Wu accompanied Li Kai to the center.
It was their first time at the Professional Center, and while Li Wu and Li Kai were curious to explore, they weren't given the chance.
As soon as they entered, they were asked if they were there for the bounty. After confirming their identities, they were led to a side hall in the center's building by a staff member, and each attendee was given a set of materials.
Then, they were asked to wait.
In this situation, the inexperienced Li Wu didn't find anything unusual.
Li Kai, on the other hand, became more certain. He now believed that there was definitely something fishy about this bounty, and it seemed like the Professional Center was baiting them. Otherwise, they wouldn't be doing this.
However, he didn't take it too seriously. If there was any foul play, it would likely target those guys, and it had nothing to do with them, the innocent bystanders.
Moreover, those guys wouldn't dare to cause trouble within the Professional Center.
In fact, Li Kai was sure that the center's efforts would be in vain.
No one in their right mind would come here to stir up trouble.
Even if they were looking for death, they wouldn't do it this way.
"There probably won't be any issues, but we should still be cautious and prioritize protecting Teacher Li Wu."
Li Kai's thoughts were transparent to Li Wu.
His attention was solely focused on the set of materials.
The materials distributed by the Professional Center were the same as the ones mentioned on the official website, containing information about a particular Summoned Beast.
...
Name: Unknown
Strength: 1 Star [Ordinary]
Quality: Unknown
Attribute: Unknown
Introduction: A special egg-shaped life form that feeds on attributeless energy and can roll.
Condition: Unable to absorb energy, resulting in life force drain...
...
In addition to the basic information about the Summoned Beast, below were attached visual materials of the beast.
As Li Wu read through the materials, his brows furrowed, and he wasn't alone; almost everyone in the room was frowning.
Someone immediately spoke up, "With just these materials, how can we tell anything? Can I see the Summoned Beast myself?"
The Professional Center was clearly prepared for this, and they responded promptly.
"Rest assured, everyone. We have made arrangements in this regard.
The materials we distributed have serial numbers. Once we're ready, we will invite you in according to these numbers, and each of you will have 5 minutes to observe the Summoned Beast!"
This response didn't satisfy those present.
"Five minutes is too short, isn't it?"
"Yeah, what can we do in just 5 minutes?"
"The time should be extended to at least half an hour!"
...
For a moment, everyone in the hall voiced their desire for an extension.
The staff at the Professional Center was firm in their decision, stating that it would be precisely five minutes, no more, no less.
Realizing there was no room for negotiation, the attendees stopped their complaints and turned their attention back to the materials.
However, with only the materials in hand and no actual observation, there was little they could deduce.
Soon, everyone was at a loss for something to do.
Just as everyone was idle, wondering how to pass the time, Li Wu kicked Li Kai, who then stood up, rubbing his nose.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a suggestion!"
Li Kai stood up and boldly announced, drawing everyone's attention.
"Everyone here has come for the bounty, but only one person will succeed and receive the reward. Among us, all but one, perhaps even everyone, will return empty-handed."
Arriving with high spirits, only to leave in disappointment, is something none of us would want, right?"
Li Kai's words instantly resonated with everyone present.
But no one spoke; all eyes were on Li Kai as he took the stage.
At this moment, Lu Wu surveyed the crowd, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
An opportunity!
A great opportunity!
It was clear that Lu Wu had prompted Li Kai to start.
In truth, while Lu Wu had confidence in himself, it wasn't blind faith.
Especially when he arrived at the Professional Center and saw the hundreds of participants, with more still arriving, Lu Wu began to make alternative plans.
Better safe than sorry, he thought, and decided to take action to avoid returning empty-handed in case of failure.
But what could he do in this situation?
In a 1619 book bar, he found the faultless version.
Of course, the only option was to covet the knowledge of those present. Among the hundred or so breeders, the non-professionals didn't matter, but the professionals were a different story. Just a few pointers from any one of them would be invaluable.
However, after the initial incident with Li Kai, Lu Wu realized that there was no such thing as love without reason in this world.
It was impossible for Lu Wu to randomly choose a professional breeder and ask to be taken under their wing. In this case, Lu Wu could only think of a solution.
In situations like this, he couldn't just ask others for help without offering something in return. It had to be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
So, he asked Li Kai to take the stage.
Li Kai, having captured the attention of everyone present and resonated with them, seamlessly transitioned to expressing Lu Wu's idea.
"I think we can do this.
Since we've gathered here, let's make the most of it. After all, we already have a ready-made venue.
We can turn today's bounty into a breeder seminar, sharing our experiences and knowledge.
Even if we don't complete the bounty and earn the reward, it won't be a wasted trip, right?"
Li Kai's words sparked the interest of many breeders in the audience.
But interest is one thing; creating a lively atmosphere is another matter.
Fortunately, Lu Wu had prepared for this in advance.
Seeing that everyone was somewhat interested, Li Kai added more fuel to the fire.
"It seems like everyone is quite keen. In that case, I'll take the lead and start.
I've been studying Little Skeleton recently and have some insights to share."
When Li Kai mentioned starting, the breeders present were curious, but their interest waned as soon as he said "Little Skeleton."
In their eyes, what was there to research about Little Skeleton? This summon beast had little breeding value, and few breeders were interested in studying it.
However, no one spoke up. After all, it was better than being bored.
As they listened, their attention was fully captured.
"I've developed a quality enhancement plan for Little Skeleton. With just 250,000 yuan worth of materials, it can elevate Little Skeleton's quality to Black Iron grade."
Li Kai's words instantly heated up the atmosphere.
The previously quiet hall buzzed with discussion among the breeders.
250,000 yuan?
Black Iron grade?
How is that possible?
Ignoring the reactions, Li Kai directly shared the "Little Skeleton's Training Manual," while Lu Wu attentively prepared to pick the brains of the breeders present...
(Chapter End)
Chapter 67: Sudden Change
At this moment, Li Wu asked Li Kai to reveal "Little Skeleton's Training Manual." On one hand, it was to stir up the atmosphere, and on the other, it was to pique their interest in knowledge.
Or rather, Li Wu wanted to use their knowledge to help perfect the quality enhancement plan for the Mini Skeleton.
After all, those present were all breeders. While the majority were non-professional, those who had the confidence to come here were certainly not lacking in skill.
By presenting a new plan in front of them, once he piqued their interest, a little guidance would be enough to get them to share their thoughts freely, helping Li Wu to refine his plan.
And that was exactly what Li Wu wanted.
Even if they couldn't come up with a perfect plan, with so many people, they could certainly offer some ideas and methods that Li Wu hadn't considered before.
These ideas and methods might not be very useful to others, as many of them could be spur-of-the-moment thoughts that couldn't be verified or would require too many resources to test.
But things were different for Li Wu.
After all, he was a man with a unique advantage.
What others couldn't verify, he could, and without consuming any resources.
This was Li Wu's advantage, and this was why he had Li Kai share "Little Skeleton's Training Manual."
Everything went smoothly, almost exactly as Li Wu had planned.
When Li Kai revealed "Little Skeleton's Training Manual" and explained his ideas, more than half of the breeders present were immediately interested.
And when Li Kai asked if anyone had other ideas to help improve the plan, someone immediately spoke up.
"I think if this plan is to be improved, water might be a point of improvement. I suggest adding Yin Water to try."
Someone nearby immediately objected.
"That's not a good idea. Yin Water has a corrosive effect. I think we should add some Bull Blood instead."
"Bull Blood doesn't seem very useful. How about trying Corpse Fluid?"
...
The breeders spoke freely, and all sorts of creative ideas began to emerge.
This made Li Wu's eyes light up, and he quickly snatched the smartphone from the Mini Skeleton.
Although he had a photographic memory and a strong recall ability, with so many people speaking, even his memory couldn't keep up. A momentary lapse in attention could lead to missing something important. It was more reliable to record it on the phone.
This way, even if Li Wu didn't remember everything, he could listen to it multiple times.
The Mini Skeleton, whose phone was snatched, was not happy.
It felt that Li Wu was a liar. He had clearly promised the phone to it last night, but now he was taking it back.
Hmph, it decided that tonight, it would definitely not cover Li Wu with a blanket.
...
On the other side of the Professional Center, the team monitoring the hall quickly noticed the unusual activity.
"Should we stop them?"
The middle-aged man in charge of surveillance immediately sought the opinion of the elderly man beside him.
The elderly man shook his head.
"No need. It was already a bit unethical to lure them here, and stopping them from engaging in academic discussion would be even more inconsiderate.
Besides, their activities won't cause any trouble, and they might even be beneficial to us.
Pay special attention to those who are unusually silent or overly excited.
Also, after this is over, arrange a lecture for them as compensation."
"Yes!"
"Anyone here worth noting?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far, except for that Summoner who just arrived."
The middle-aged man pointed at Li Kai, "But we've checked his identity, and he's not a suspect."
The elder examined Li Kai on the screen, feeling a vague familiarity. After a moment of concentration, he furrowed his brows, "Is that him?"
"Do you know him?"
"I have a vague impression. He's participated in the professional assessments these past few years. Last year, I was the main examiner and reviewed his materials.
It's rare for a professional Summoner to change careers, so I remembered him."
As the elder was observing Li Kai, the latter was conversing with a Breeder. The elder quietly listened, then raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised.
"Hmm, his skills have improved significantly. With his current abilities, he should be able to pass the assessment this year.
He must have met a master teacher.
By the way, who did he come with?"
The elder was intrigued by the master who had taught Li Kai. To improve him so much in a year, the teacher's skills must be exceptional.
He really wanted to meet this teacher.
In the 619th chapter, you can read the flawless version!
The middle-aged man checked the information and pointed to Lu Wu, who was holding a smartphone and recording in the hall, "Him!"
The elder looked at Lu Wu and felt a bit disappointed.
"This one is probably his student or classmate. It seems his teacher didn't come."
After that, the elder shifted his attention away from Li Kai and Lu Wu.
He refocused on the task at hand.
"How's the preparation with the Summoned Beasts going?"
"Almost done!"
The elder narrowed his eyes and said, "Let's begin. With his abilities, it won't be easy to catch him without a proper bait.
How can we expect the fish to bite the hook without any bait?"
As they were about to start the operation, the middle-aged man expressed his concerns, "Elder Zhao, aren't we taking a bit too much risk? What if he really comes, and the Summoned Beast is taken away? How will we explain to our superiors?"
The elder, however, was full of confidence, "Rest assured, no one can steal that Summoned Beast right under my nose! I guarantee it!"
"But..."
"No buts. I'll take responsibility if anything happens. Let's begin!"
"Yes!"
The middle-aged man had no choice but to pick up the communicator and contact the team handling the Summoned Beasts.
"Old Zhang, it's me. You can start now!"
After a few seconds, there was no response from the other end of the communicator.
"What's going on?"
The two people in the room grew tense. Just then, the previously silent communicator crackled to life with a low, raspy voice.
"Yes, thank you very much. I'll see you around, little guy."
Immediately, the communicator was hung up.
At this point, the previously confident elder could no longer hold back his shock.
A roar, as if emanating from the depths of the abyss, echoed through the Professional Center.
"Not good!"
"Stop him! Don't let him get away!"
At the elder's command, powerful auras erupted within the center, and numerous terrifying Summoned Beasts surrounded and attacked the abyssal beast...
(Chapter End)
Chapter 68: Focus
At the Vocational Center.
As a roar, reminiscent of the depths of an abyss, echoed through the air, the breeders in the hall, who had been engrossed in academic discussions, were left bewildered.
"What's going on?"
Everyone came to a halt, their first instinct was to rush out to see what was happening, but before they could even reach the door, they were stopped by the Vocational Center staff.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there's a Summoned Beast running amok outside. For your safety, please remain indoors and avoid any unnecessary movement."
"How is it possible for a Summoned Beast to go berserk in the Vocational Center? What kind of Summoned Beast is it, and what level is it?"
"From the sound of it, it seems to be an Abyssal Lineage Summoned Beast. It's likely at the very least a Leader-level, possibly even a Lord-level. Aren't Summoned Beasts of such caliber prohibited from appearing in cities?"
"What exactly is happening out there?"
...
The staff at the Vocational Center offered little response to the breeders' inquiries, merely instructing them to wait in the hall.
Left with no choice, Li Wu and his companions could only stand by, their curiosity and tension mounting as they strained to listen to the commotion outside.
The ruckus outside seemed to escalate, suggesting a full-blown fight had erupted.
A cacophony of bestial roars, howls, and clashing sounds filled the air, and Li Wu's group didn't need to see it to guess the magnitude of the battle outside from the noise alone.
Li Kai's face turned ashen, his expression grim.
As a professional Summoner, he was far more informed than Li Wu and his friends.
He was well aware that the battle outside was undoubtedly a Lord-level confrontation.
"I never imagined there'd be a madman daring enough to cause trouble at the Vocational Center, and at the Lord level, no less."
Li Kai now regretted bringing Li Wu along, as even a minor ripple from such a high-level battle could easily cost Li Wu his life.
Fortunately, the fight didn't last long.
Within a few minutes, the curtain fell, and without going outside, Li Wu and his group had no way of knowing the outcome.
Soon after the battle concluded, the Vocational Center staff approached them.
"Apologies, there was a minor incident at the Vocational Center.
The bounty mission has been canceled.
Additionally, you may need to remain at the center for a while."
This announcement immediately sparked an uproar in the hall.
"What's going on? How can you just cancel the bounty mission like that? What happened outside?"
"Yeah, what happened out there? Is the cancellation related to the incident? And on what grounds are you restricting our freedom?"
"We came all this way for the bounty, and you're canceling it just like that? Isn't that a bit overbearing?"
...
The Vocational Center staff attempted to pacify the discontented crowd in the hall.
However, despite their efforts, they provided no explanation for the incident outside or the reason for restricting their movement.
How could they explain?
Admit that they had a big shot angler fishing, only to get slapped by the fish?
Even if they managed to capture the disruptive Abyssal Lineage Summoned Beast, the fish had gotten away with the bait?
Such an embarrassing situation was not something the Vocational Center could openly admit.
Hence, they shared no information with the breeders present. Nonetheless, the hall quickly settled down.
Part of the reason was the breeders' awareness that the Vocational Center was an official institution, holding authority over the breeders' certification assessments and knowledge dissemination.
Eighty to ninety percent of those in the hall were non-professional breeders, relying on the center for examinations and knowledge. Even the professionals were under the center's jurisdiction, and on their turf, the breeders had little leverage to cause a scene.
Speaking of which, the Vocational Center wasn't just appeasing them with empty words; they actually offered some substantial benefits.
Firstly, they guaranteed that during their stay at the Vocational Center, there would be at least one Professional Breeder conducting classes for them every day, for a minimum of three hours.
Secondly, after the incident was resolved, they could undergo an examination.
If they passed the examination, they would receive Professional Certificates, and those with outstanding performances might even get a chance to use the Vocational Center's breeding room.
The early examination wasn't the main attraction; the real draw was the classes and the opportunity to use the breeding room.
Needless to say, the chance to be taught by Professional Breeders from the Vocational Center was an extremely rare opportunity.
The opportunity to use the Vocational Center's breeding room was even more precious. Gaining this access meant they could utilize any materials and facilities within the breeding room, an opportunity that even Professional Breeders found challenging to obtain.
With such benefits offered, it was natural for the mentors in the hall to calm down.
In fact, some in the hall had their suspicions about what had transpired and why they were being kept there.
For instance, Li Kai, who had initially guessed that there might be something fishy about this mission.
There were only two possible reasons for this.
One, the bait had successfully attracted a catch, but the commotion was a bit too much, so the Vocational Center offered them some benefits to keep them quiet and provide an explanation if questioned by higher-ups.
Or two, the bait hadn't worked, and the fish might have even taken it, so the Vocational Center suspected that the fish was still around, mixed in with the group, which was why they were being detained.
Li Kai wasn't sure which scenario it was.
If it was the former, then there was no danger, only benefits. But if it was the latter, their current situation might be a bit risky.
With this thought, Li Kai felt a bit anxious and quickly returned to Li Wu's side.
He was already regretting bringing Li Wu along, but regret was useless now; the priority was to protect Li Wu.
As for Li Wu, he was completely unaware of Li Kai's thoughts and felt no sense of crisis.
This wasn't because Li Wu was naive; it was mainly due to his lack of life experience, and his focus at the moment was different from Li Kai's.
All of Li Wu's attention was devoted to the knowledge he had just acquired.
His mind was racing as he meticulously organized the ideas he had gleaned from the breeders.
The insights he gained were significant, causing Li Wu's eyes to sparkle.
Unable to contain his excitement, he signaled to Li Kai, who was standing nearby.
Hurry, hurry, go and liven up the atmosphere again, keep the conversation going! Li Wu gestured, leaving Li Kai with no choice but to go and re-engage the crowd.
What Li Wu didn't know was that this interaction between them had once again caught the attention of the Vocational Center.
Li Kai, a Professional Summoner, was surprisingly respectful and obedient towards Li Wu, a non-professional.
The Vocational Center immediately investigated Li Wu's background and, upon discovering that it was extremely ordinary, their interest in Li Wu skyrocketed.
Li Wu, however, remained oblivious to this. At that moment, he was immersed in a sea of knowledge, and he had a hunch that the Little Skeleton's promotion to Bronze was just around the corner!
...
Recommended Book: "Let Me Breed, I'm About to Explode" by a friend.
This time, it's not a young lady,
(End of Chapter)