New Era Pioneer

The fifth day after the torrential rain ended,

Dawn had only just begun to break.

"What a refreshing sleep."

Chen Yuan opened his eyes and instinctively stretched.

He had gone to bed fairly early last night, and waking up this morning, he felt thoroughly refreshed.

He got up briskly, dressed, and looked around the bedroom—Cola was still sprawled on the carpet, sleeping like a log. As if dreaming of something delightful, he wore a wickedly charming grin.

Spark was nowhere to be seen.

Pushing open the window, Chen Yuan squinted as soft morning sunlight rushed in. He saw the old man squatting before the front gate, holding a bowl of noodles and staring straight ahead.

Ah, Spark was practicing the new skill it had mastered yesterday again and again—Flame Energy Assault.

Whenever Spark successfully used it, the old man would nod with a cheerful smile and give it a thumbs-up.

Chen Yuan could not help shooting a fierce glare at the soundly sleeping Cola.

How could you still be sleeping at your age?

Get up and grind!

Though that was what he thought, Chen Yuan still crept quietly out of the bedroom and gently shut the door.

"Morning, Grandpa."

"Cook your own noodles. The seasonings are already prepared." The old man did not even raise his head; all his attention was on Spark.

Chen Yuan silently complained that a biological grandson was inferior to an outsider, then headed to the kitchen to cook noodles.

While he waited, he took out his phone to see whether his advancement requirements had passed review.

The moment he turned it on, several text messages popped up:

Dear Mr. Chen Yuan, the ordinary-to-elite advancement requirements for the Flame Cloud Falcon that you submitted have passed review. Thank you for your contribution to the Beast Tamer Association and all Beast Tamers.

As you are the sixth Beast Tamer to successfully submit such requirements, the significance of your contribution far exceeds the value of the advancement requirements themselves. You have therefore been awarded 200 Contribution Points, as well as a "New Era Pioneer" badge.

—Beast Tamer Association Headquarters

Two hundred Contribution Points!

A "New Era Pioneer" badge!

Chen Yuan's eyes immediately lit up, and he tapped into his personal profile:

Name: Chen Yuan

Age: 25

Rank: Beginner Beast Tamer

Affiliated Association: Baokun City Beast Tamer Association

Contribution Points: 281

"Huh? Why is it 281?" Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised.

After checking, he discovered that three Beast Tamers had already purchased the Flame Cloud Falcon's advancement requirements. After splitting the proceeds with the Beast Tamer Association, he had received 81 Contribution Points.

Chen Yuan marveled at how quickly someone had bought it, while secretly rejoicing that he had found a steady, never-ending source of wealth.

For someone with the system in hand, this was merely the beginning.

Then Chen Yuan spotted another message, this one from the Baokun City Beast Tamer Association:

Dear Mr. Chen Yuan, thank you for your contribution to the Baokun City Beast Tamer Association. We are honored because of you.

Please visit the Baokun City Beast Tamer Association building at your convenience. We have prepared the most suitable gift for you.

—Baokun City Beast Tamer Association

"We are honored because of you?"

"Could uploading advancement requirements really have had such a major impact on the Baokun City Beast Tamer Association?"

"Mm, very likely. Every emerging organization has to grind for results."

Chen Yuan propped his chin up with one hand, deep in thought.

"Oh, the noodles are done." Chen Yuan slipped his phone back into his pocket and carried his noodles over to squat beside the old man.

As the two ate noodles and watched the Flame Cloud Falcon practice its moves, the television inside intermittently carried the voice of News Simulcast:

"This is the morning news."

"It has been learned that due to the continuing Beast Tamer craze, some prospective Beast Tamers who have only just succeeded in meditation have ventured deep into the wilderness, attempting to find pet beasts of their own."

"However, the wilderness after the Spiritual Tide's resurgence is fraught with peril and harsh conditions. At present, dozens have died, while hundreds have encountered danger."

"We hereby remind all prospective Beast Tamers that wilderness exploration is no child's play. Please obtain permission from your local Beast Tamer Association and act in accordance with regulations."

Hearing this, the old man put down his bowl and said slowly, "If you don't live in the mountains, you'll never know how terrifying they are."

Chen Yuan nodded in wholehearted agreement.

"Just yesterday, the Village Chief caught two fellows trying to enter the Qinling Mountains through our village."

"They were well-equipped, all sorts of clutter—trekking poles, assault jackets..."

"If you ask me, they'd be better off bringing more water and rations and keeping a sickle ready. That's more useful than anything." The old man glared, his tone full of disapproval for these "gear enthusiasts."

Chen Yuan neither agreed nor disagreed, merely smiling. "Grandpa, how could they possibly have as much experience in the mountains as you?"

"Of course not." The old man snorted, then continued, "You too—be more careful when you enter the mountains in the future. Don't think becoming a Beast Tamer means you can lose all sense of awe."

"Even I can't see through these mountains anymore."

Chen Weiyi's gaze fell upon the endless mountain range stretching from east to west, his voice profound and complicated.

Chen Yuan did not argue and obediently nodded.

Actually, during yesterday's trip into the mountains, he had not felt that much danger. The paths had merely been far harder to travel than usual; his sickle had nearly struck sparks.

Then again, he had two guardians by his side. Ordinary creatures could not even get near him.

But for prospective Beast Tamers without pet beasts, the wilderness was undoubtedly full of dangers at every turn.

"Still, more and more people will be entering the Qinling Mountains in the future." Chen Yuan sighed softly.

That was unavoidable.

But once there were more people, all kinds of messy troubles would arise.

Chen Yuan could only make himself as strong as possible and protect these Qinling Mountains, stretching for thousands of miles, from suffering too much harm.

After breakfast, Chen Yuan was just about to stroll around the village in search of Extraordinary Creatures when he received a call from his friend Zhang Hao.

"Brother Yuan, want to go fishing?"

"How do you have time to fish today? Did you succeed in meditation?"

"Hehe, you still saw through me even though I hid it so well." A sly laugh came from the other end of the line.

"Congratulations, congratulations. Don't forget little Chen when you strike it rich."

"You're joking, Brother Yuan. You're the first Beast Tamer in our village. I'll need you to look after me in the future."

After exchanging a few lines of mutual flattery, Zhang Hao returned to the main point.

"Brother Yuan, you haven't heard about Uncle Niu?"

"Let's hear it."

"Yesterday afternoon, Uncle Niu caught a fish he'd never seen before in the reservoir east of the village. They say eating it can make you ten years younger, and even gives you much more strength for work."

"There's something like that?" Chen Yuan raised a brow, immediately intrigued.

"How could it be fake? Even Uncle Niu has noticeably fewer white hairs. It's like he's been given a second spring." Zhang Hao said excitedly.

Hearing that, Chen Yuan no longer hesitated. "Let's go, let's go. I want to see for myself what's going on."

They agreed to meet east of the village in ten minutes. Chen Yuan immediately grabbed his fishing gear and called out to Spark, "Spark, let's go. We're going fishing."

Fish?

Where was there fish to eat?

Cola, who had been sleeping in the bedroom, abruptly opened his eyes. Drool streamed down as he sprang to his feet and rushed to Chen Yuan's side at top speed, gazing up at him eagerly.

Chen Yuan said irritably, "We're going fishing, not going to eat fish!"

This lazy bum did nothing all day but sleep and eat.