Joy, balancing work and rest

Nine points of mental power did not amount to much for an ordinary Beast Tamer.

But for a second-year high school student, that was no small amount.

A Beast Tamer's mental power grew gradually. According to the data he had learned over the past year, second-year students at his high school could reach an average mental power of roughly 40 by the end of the first semester.

By the end of the second semester, those with greater talent could break past 100 and begin contracting their second pet beast.

In most cases, those two contracted pet beasts would then accompany them through the rest of high school—even someone like Liu Xing, who had ranked second in the entire school on the college entrance exam and entered a top-ten university, was only now approaching the breakthrough to a three-star Beast Tamer.

School had not even started yet, and Lin Yuan had already completed half the task.

He looked at his panel again.

Maybe...

It wasn't just because I successfully contracted Baishi, and Baishi immediately broke through in quality afterward.

He possessed two talents, which gave him a uniquely favorable advantage in increasing his mental power.

Besides, he felt it might also have something to do with the [Bonded Enlightenment Art] he had learned the other day.

The panel showed that this [Art] could not be used yet.

But ever since he had enlightened Zilan's [Pagoda] and nearly exhausted himself in the process...

He had felt as though this [Art] was slowly nourishing his mental world even during its cooldown.

It seemed that, in itself, this was a process of being drained and filled again.

The cooldown for using the art simply had not ended yet.

Lin Yuan already had a plan. Once he could use it again, he would first enlighten Baishi's bond trait.

That would give him a greater advantage after school started.

Lin Yuan shifted his gaze away from the panel.

The plant room, too, brimmed with life.

Zilan was immersed in the nourishment provided by the [Life-Soul Pendant], doing her utmost to adapt to her new growth rhythm.

Leveling up, breaking through, condensing more [Spirit Dew], and protecting this home—these were the convictions she now held.

Today, her young master had brought her a gift. She wanted to turn that joy into strength and devote it to her family.

Baishi's training movements were no longer limited to claw swipes, either. Its physical growth had allowed the instincts flowing in its blood to emerge more fully.

Fluid leaps and powerful swings were accompanied by the occasional cry.

After holding itself back for so long, it could finally be wild. It could be brave.

It had met a good Beast Tamer, and it was so happy.

The [Purple Star Vine] in the plant room seemed to sway to the rhythm of Baishi's leaps as well.

For once, Lin Yuan sensed a trace of joy from these ungraded plants.

That surprised him a little.

He pushed open the plant room door. By now, Linghuan had tended the plants in the hall and put everything in perfect order.

In a rare sight, Lin Yuan seemed to catch it resting. It was drinking water, its tail sweeping gently as the red glow upon it shone faintly.

Seeing Lin Yuan come out, it gave a distant "Ying!" in congratulations.

There had been quite a commotion in the plant room earlier. Curious, it had taken a few peeks between tasks, so naturally, it knew what had happened.

Drinking water before finishing work, letting its attention wander—these were things it had not allowed itself to do for the past three years. Or rather, its brain had controlled it and forbidden them.

But today, after its young master applied the ointment, not only could it arrange its work as it pleased, it had also discovered that balancing work and rest made it far more efficient.

Today, it discovered that diligence, care, and orderliness could have joy mixed into them, too.

It feels so good to hold my own pace in my own hands!

It feels so good to be getting better!

Sensing Linghuan's emotions, Lin Yuan's mood brightened a little more.

At the same time, he looked forward to finding out what Linghuan's hidden evolution paths would be.

It was the only being Lin Yuan had seen so far that possessed two hidden evolution paths.

This indicated that few people in the Chenlong Kingdom researched and raised pet beasts like the Housekeeping Beast.

He returned to his bedroom.

The smile still would not leave Lin Yuan's lips, and he even began humming a little tune.

Today could truly be called four joys arriving at his door. All three pet beasts at home had gained something of their own, and he had contracted his first pet beast as well.

Even Linghuan had learned to balance work and rest. Naturally, he could not shortchange himself.

Lin Yuan lay on the bed, picked up his phone, and opened the fiction app he had not touched in two months.

Thanks to the existence of pet beasts, everyday life in this world had become rich and interesting.

Beast Tamers were fiercely competitive, seizing practically every minute and second to improve their mental power, raise their pet beasts, and learn new things.

But ordinary people who had not awakened a talent had more room for creative pursuits instead.

Reading fiction was one of the popular pastimes in this world.

Lin Yuan enjoyed it, too. It had been a hobby in his previous life, and he had inherited it perfectly after awakening his memories.

Those heartwarming stories of pet beasts and ordinary people supporting one another, or all those melodramatic feuds between pet beasts...

All their little details could always stir Lin Yuan's emotions.

However, a few months ago, a Beast Tamer had evolved a new [Mechanical]-type pet beast, an [Intelligent Domain Spirit], which could help ordinary people write novels.

The Beast Tamer had made quite a lot of money, but countless novels had lost their flavor, and Lin Yuan no longer enjoyed reading them.

Fortunately, two weeks ago, following a large number of reports from ordinary citizens, the Pet Beast Alliance authorities had stepped in specifically to regulate the matter. The new books released afterward seemed to have regained their old flavor.

Lin Yuan opened a new book with fewer than eighty thousand words, titled "Grandma and the Courier Bird."

The more he read, the more engrossed he became.

In less than half an hour, he had finished it.

"That's it? The Courier Bird went to find medicine for the sick grandma, and then what?"

Lin Yuan tapped the update reminder five times in a row before noticing that Liu Xing had sent him new messages.

Liu Xing: I picked out a top-notch business consultant just for you. He knows the core businesses and networks of all the shops in Lin'an City inside out, and he's also exceptionally knowledgeable about most of the leading shops in our Chenlong Kingdom.

Liu Xing: He's free all tomorrow afternoon. Let's meet in my family's banquet hall so you can talk privately. I've already visited your place, so it's your turn to visit mine. I'll take leave tomorrow and give you a proper welcome.

Liu Xing: You can also see how well I've raised Zizi and Jinjin. They're pet beasts you share a bond with, too. When fate brings you together, you ought to see each other more often!

Lin Yuan smiled and quickly replied:

"Sure. Three tomorrow afternoon. Send me your address."

After replying to Liu Xing, he opened his chat with Huang Zixuan:

"I've more or less sorted things out on my end. Let's talk in person at three the afternoon after tomorrow."

Lin Yuan got up.

Now he had serious business to attend to.

Since he intended to cooperate with the Yellow Crane Tower Shop, he naturally needed to understand it well.

Even if he could get an expert's opinion tomorrow, he could prepare his questions in advance.

Moreover, from his perspective, he might find some other angles to approach it from.

He opened the Pet Beast Alliance's official forum and navigated to the Linhua District section.

Rather than searching for its core business or the products it specialized in selling, he entered a few keywords:

"Yellow Crane Tower Shop Owner's Pet Beast."

Soon, quite a few posts appeared.

One post immediately caught Lin Yuan's attention:

[Huang Tao and his Fortune Dog].