Successfully Winning Over a Legendary Pet Beast's (Stomach)!

Jiang Xing had invited everyone to the research institute as guests and had even arranged a picnic gathering. Clearly, it was not as simple as it appeared.

He had already told Dr. Xu and Senior Sister Su about the Lucky Cloud Qilin sneaking food and drinks from him, hoping they would cooperate with him to lure it out—

The Lucky Cloud Qilin was a genuine Legendary pet beast, with a species rank above Mythical Rank!

Even though this Lucky Cloud Qilin was still underage, its strength had already reached the current limit of human Beast Tamers—beyond the peak of Overlord, at the level of half-step Mythical Rank...

It was also known as [Quasi-Divine Rank]!

Of course, Jiang Xing and the others were researchers, not pure Beast Tamers.

Compared to its strength, they cared more about the Lucky Cloud Qilin itself.

A rare pet beast from legend—being able to use one as a research subject was practically every researcher's dream!

Even Dr. Xu had never managed such a thing. Otherwise, there would not be so much unknown information about the Lucky Cloud Qilin in the Beast Taming Compendium.

Therefore, upon learning of Jiang Xing's plan, Dr. Xu and Senior Sister Su immediately agreed.

While they had been eating earlier, they had directed their pet beasts to secretly cooperate, attacking the Lucky Cloud Qilin's mind to heighten its craving for food, while carefully observing the changes around them to dispel the Lucky Cloud Qilin's Invisibility...

When Jiang Xing had first proposed this plan, the two of them had still been somewhat doubtful.

The Lucky Cloud Qilin was, after all, a pet beast from legend. Even if it was a little gluttonous, how could it possibly be lured out by food...

Yet it really had been lured out!

What kind of potent stuff had Jiang Xing put into these cubes?!

Heh, Cube Technology.

At that moment, surprise, delight, and disbelief mingled among the crowd as they stared at the pink-and-blue Qilin that had "appeared out of thin air."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Little Qilin's expression stiffened. Then, with a thump, it tipped sideways onto the ground and began playing dead.

As long as I can't see you, you can't see me...

For a moment, the scene fell silent. Even Jiang Xing could barely hold it together.

Trying to scam me, huh? I didn't drug the cubes!

At least, I hadn't put any knockout drugs in them.

Jiang Xing obviously could not let the Lucky Cloud Qilin muddle through by playing dead.

He opened the lunchbox and took out another plate of Wind and Psychic-type Energy Cubes. They used completely different ingredients from the previous plate, with somewhat different flavors, but they were just as delicious.

He placed the plate of cubes in front of the Lucky Cloud Qilin's nose.

As everyone watched, the Lucky Cloud Qilin struggled to hold out, but ultimately could not keep up the act. Giving up its futile self-deception, it sprang to its feet and cleared the plate in an instant.

Just as it finished eating, before it had time to run away—

Jiang Xing brought out another plate of cubes, smiling broadly. "Want more?"

Like people, pet beasts had their bottom lines broken through again and again.

The Lucky Cloud Qilin had started by eating without paying, then gradually let itself go. Now, it had completely abandoned all restraint and let out a clear cry.

"Ah-li!" Feed me!

"Here." Jiang Xing was equally straightforward and handed it directly to the Lucky Cloud Qilin.

As he watched it eat with gusto, he opened the large lunchbox as well, revealing plate after plate of Energy Cubes inside.

He smiled and said, "Little Qilin, the fur you gave me before was actually extremely valuable—far more valuable than this food."

"You didn't need to sneak around at all. You could have eaten openly and honestly."

"I can also make many more kinds of food, with different varieties and flavors... If there is anything you like, just tell me, and I'll make a few extra portions."

"After all, you've already paid for your meal."

Jiang Xing did not use the cubes to threaten or manipulate the Lucky Cloud Qilin into signing a contract with him and becoming his pet beast.

After all, the total value of the fur the Lucky Cloud Qilin had left behind earlier was at least several hundred million, perhaps even several billion.

If he accused it of stealing "precious cubes" that had cost only a little over a hundred thousand to make...

Jiang Xing could not get past that in his heart.

Besides, although the Lucky Cloud Qilin looked cute, weak, and highly Affinity-rich, its actual strength had already reached Quasi-Divine Rank!

Even a Legendary Beast Tamer might not be able to keep it easily.

If he tried to take advantage of the guilt it showed to subdue it, and it ended up resenting him, it could simply pat its butt and leave. No one would be able to stop it.

So Jiang Xing chose to treat it with sincerity.

He would turn it into an official guest, one that could appear openly.

That way, as long as Jiang Xing could continue making excellent food, it would remain here.

"I'm not even a Beast Tamer. Whether we make a contract or not doesn't matter to me at all."

With that thought in mind, Jiang Xing spoke.

"Oh, right. My current technique is still immature, so the food I make can only be considered ordinary quality."

"In the future, I may be able to make excellent-quality, or even perfect-quality cubes!"

The Lucky Cloud Qilin had still been hesitating.

Before it left home, its father and mother had told it to stay away from human Beast Tamers and never let them trick it. That was why it had been sneaking food every day.

But upon hearing there were even more perfect cubes, it immediately tossed its parents' warnings to the back of its mind.

Beast Tamer?

This person wasn't a Beast Tamer! He was a chef!

"Ah-li!!" I want to eat them all!

Even without a contract, as a Psychic-type Divine Beast, the Lucky Cloud Qilin could make people understand its cries.

Jiang Xing smiled and pushed the large lunchbox in front of it.

"Come on, keep eating!"

"Ah-li!"

The Lucky Cloud Qilin cried out happily, immediately lowering its head and digging in.

At that moment, the Rainbow Dragon Cub flew over and called out.

"Mwu~" I want some too!

The Lucky Cloud Qilin remembered how it had been stealing the Dragon Cub's meals every day and felt a little guilty, so it moved aside half of the lunchbox.

"Ah-li~" I'll give you half.

"Mwu!"

The Rainbow Dragon Cub cheered, plunged its head into the lunchbox, and began enjoying the feast as well.

Watching the Dragon Cub and the Qilin happily stuffing themselves, Jiang Xing felt completely satisfied.

The legendary pet beast had been successfully won over!!

What, you said there was no contract?

Winning over its stomach might be even more useful than winning over the beast itself!

"Jiang Xing, I suddenly remembered that your thesis still has many problems." Dr. Xu stared at the Lucky Cloud Qilin, his eyes seemingly glowing.

He suddenly coughed lightly. "As your teacher, I plan to stay for a few days and instruct you properly."

The truth proved that even a Beast Taming Doctor could not resist the charm of a legendary pet beast.

Jiang Xing immediately said, "Teacher, just make yourself at home here."

"Junior Brother, there are still some things I don't understand about how you raised the Golden-Veined Koi." Su Muli looked into Jiang Xing's eyes. "May I bother you for a few days and learn from you?"

This was a lie.

How could a dignified top researcher and Heavenly King Rank Beast Tamer possibly not know how to raise a Golden-Veined Koi?

Thinking of all the support Senior Sister had given him over the years, Jiang Xing could not refuse. "No problem, Senior Sister. I'll help you tidy up a room later!"

"Junior Brother..." Li Shun had barely opened his mouth when three gazes forced him to swallow the rest of his words.

Although the Lucky Cloud Qilin had agreed to be a guest, that did not mean it would allow others to study it at will.

He ran a breeding farm, yet he wanted to come and get a share too?

"...I still have something to do, so I'll be leaving first. Ling Yin is in your care."

"Leave it to me."

Having lost the struggle, Li Shun left the research institute with tears in his eyes.

His daughter, Li Lingyin, remained behind instead. She blinked, staring eagerly at the two pet beasts.

Little Dragon, Little Qilin—so cute!