A Second Bloom

Just then,

Accompanied by a burst of urgent barking, the bedroom door opened from within. A handsome, imposing Condensing Wind Hound sprang out and pounced at Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan gave a light cough. "Stop."

"Awwooo~"

The Condensing Wind Hound scraped its front paws against the ground and forcibly halted, then tilted its head and looked at Chen Yuan in confusion.

Chen Yuan introduced it. "This is Cola. It evolved into a Condensing Wind Hound a few days ago."

"This kid's a little lively," he added.

Zhou Xu nodded slightly, pushing up his glasses as he looked Cola over. "Judging by its build and demeanor, this Condensing Wind Hound has been raised very well."

"Aw!"

Hearing someone praise it, Cola barked excitedly, then lifted its head high and gave Zhou Xu an approving look.

You've got a good eye, little bro!

"Shriek!"

However, at that moment,

A piercing cry suddenly rang out from the sky in the distance, and Chen Yuan's expression shifted slightly.

That familiar sound...

Spark, who had been standing on Chen Yuan's shoulder with its eyes closed in repose, abruptly opened its eyes. Flapping its wings gently, it flew into the air.

"Aw!"

Cola darted away from Chen Yuan's side and eagerly scampered after Spark, charging toward the courtyard.

Fish!

I get to eat fish again!

"What's this..." Seeing the reactions of the two pet beasts, Zhou Xu was somewhat puzzled.

Chen Yuan explained honestly, "A few days ago, I caught a spirit fish in the lake. It just so happened that there was a Gray Feather Falcon."

There was no need to hide the matter, so Chen Yuan told him the entire story from start to finish.

"So that's how it is." After hearing Chen Yuan's account, Zhou Xu nodded in realization, then smiled. "Then let's go join the excitement too."

"An eagle delivering a spirit fish—that is interesting."

The three rose and entered the courtyard, where they saw a dead spirit fish on the ground. Chen Yuan quickly said, "Grandpa, take this fish to the kitchen."

Chen Weiyi immediately understood. With Xiao Liu's help, he carried the spirit fish toward the kitchen.

Meanwhile, in the center of the courtyard,

The recovered Gray Feather Falcon was confronting Spark. Its gaze was stern, bursting with intense fighting spirit. A beat of its wings whipped up a fierce gale that scattered dust across the ground.

"You want to challenge Spark again?" Chen Yuan understood the Gray Feather Falcon's intentions.

This Gray Feather Falcon was quite tenacious—defeated time and again, yet fighting again and again.

Its injuries had only just healed, and it had already come back to challenge Spark.

"Chirp!"

Looking at its defeated opponent, Spark remained calm. Its deep blue eyes were clear as water as it hovered in midair, wings beating.

Chen Yuan turned to Zhou Xu, who nodded slightly and smiled. "It seems we'll get to watch a wonderful battle."

Hearing that, Chen Yuan no longer hesitated. He called to Spark, "Handle it yourself this time. I won't be directing you."

"Chirp~" Spark nodded.

"Shriek!"

The Gray Feather Falcon launched the first attack. It knew full well that its raw strength was inferior to the Flame Cloud Falcon's. It had to seize every opportunity to gain the initiative and establish an advantage with a fierce offensive if it wanted any hope of winning.

A solid crescent-shaped Wind Slash formed in midair. Nearly half a meter long and brimming with razor-sharp force, it cleaved down at Spark from above!

Wind Slash, a wind-type skill.

If Wind Blade was a group skill of average power, Wind Slash was a single-target skill with greater power. The two were suited to different combat situations.

The Wind Slash came howling forward, carrying a biting wind, yet Spark showed no fear at all. Flames rapidly surged around its beating wings.

In an instant, firelight blazed brightly.

"Flame Energy Assault?" Zhou Xu narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured.

"Chirp!"

Almost in the blink of an eye, a layer of surging flames enveloped Spark's body like blazing battle armor, and its aura soared sharply.

The next second, wreathed in flames, Spark neither dodged nor yielded before the incoming Wind Slash. It charged straight ahead!

Everyone in the courtyard raised their heads in unison, their hearts stirring as they watched the orange-yellow figure wrapped in a stream of flames.

After Spark advanced to Elite rank, its skill proficiency had risen considerably. Combined with its daily hard training, its Flame Energy Assault was already nearing the Proficient level.

Moreover, Chen Yuan had keenly observed that after Spark's advancement, its proficiency improved faster than before. Its spirituality had also grown stronger, allowing it to understand his intentions more accurately.

Boom!

In an instant,

Spark and the crescent-shaped Wind Slash collided fiercely in midair, setting off a thunderous blast as two powerful energies crashed against one another.

"Aw..."

Seeing this, Cola silently postponed the date of its challenge against Spark.

It was not afraid. It simply wanted to make more thorough preparations.

As black smoke swiftly spread, the roaring gradually faded, and everything seemed to return to calm.

"Chirp!"

Spark's figure suddenly burst from the smoke, but its crisp cry reached the Gray Feather Falcon first, piercing its eardrums and brutally shattering its psychological defenses.

Seeing that terrifying figure drawing closer and closer, the Gray Feather Falcon went pale as death. Its beak pulled into a stiff smile, and it unexpectedly chose not to dodge.

The Gray Feather Falcon understood Spark's speed and pursuit ability very well. Even if it dodged, it would only delay its defeat.

Since that was the case, it might as well give up resisting.

The next second,

Bang!

The battered and bruised Gray Feather Falcon skillfully crashed to the ground, then turned its head to look at Chen Yuan.

Defeated a Tier 1 Extraordinary Creature. Obtained 0.1 Origin Points.

Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment, then silently carried a medical kit out of the house and treated its injuries.

Fortunately, the Gray Feather Falcon's injuries were not serious this time, and the treatment was completed quickly.

Throughout the process, Zhou Xu's gaze remained fixed on the Flame Cloud Falcon. As he recalled the battle from moments ago, an idea grew wildly in his mind like weeds.

Before coming to Xuanhe Village, Wang Jianping had told him that if Chen Yuan's own talent was ordinary, he only needed to deliver the plaque and offer a few words of encouragement.

But if his talent was exceptional and his pet beast possessed remarkable abilities, they had to take a different approach to win him over.

A capable person like this had to be brought into the Beast Tamer Association by every possible means.

"Shriek..."

Lowering its head to look at the bandage around its leg, the Gray Feather Falcon felt the faint pain and was suddenly overcome by dejection.

It had lost. It had lost again.

And it had lost without even the strength to strike back.

It struggled to raise its head and looked at the Flame Cloud Falcon, who stood in the backlight with a proud expression. After staring blankly for a long while, its expression grew ever more complicated.

Who knew how much time passed,

The Gray Feather Falcon struggled to its feet. Flames of fighting spirit reignited in its eyes as it let out a stubborn cry at the Flame Cloud Falcon. "Shriek—!"

The next moment, the Gray Feather Falcon spread its wings and soared high into the sky, vanishing into the heavens.

"Still refusing to admit defeat?" Chen Yuan was surprised by the Gray Feather Falcon's stubbornness, yet silently praised its temperament.

This was good too. At least Spark had a sparring partner that could take a beating.

"Sorry, we wasted a little time." Chen Yuan looked at Zhou Xu apologetically.

Zhou Xu waved his hand. "Being able to witness such a splendid battle is my honor."

"Chirp?"

Spark tilted its head, looking puzzled.

A splendid battle?

Was it splendid?