A strange cat, a purple butterfly

The morning sunlight spilled across Lin Yuan's face.

He had been so tired the night before that he had fallen asleep without setting an alarm. When he checked the time, it was exactly eight in the morning.

In theory, this was his week-long break between his first and second years of high school.

He should have been able to rest to his heart's content.

But this world was different from the student life he had lived in his previous life.

As a student who aspired to become an outstanding beast tamer, he needed to make good use of practically every minute and every second.

Yet Lin Yuan realized that the quality of his sleep last night had even rivaled the day he had eaten the [Spirit-Nourishing Fruit].

This proved that the energy Zilan had released during her evolution really did have remarkable effects.

Opening the door, Lin Yuan saw that Linghuan was already tending the [Purple Star Vine].

He said hello, quickly washed up, gulped down some bread and milk, and hurried out.

The Pet Beast Alliance's Breeding Center was a forty-minute trip from his home.

His teacher had booked him an appointment for nine sharp.

So he did not want to be late.

Yuanming Pet Food Shop.

"Yuan, you should get some proper rest on your first day off. Why are you up so early?" Qin Bailing had already opened the shop and was arranging a pile of fresh [Purple Star Vine] branches and leaves outside the entrance.

"The Purple Star Vine grew beautifully today, and there's so much of it. Linghuan has already made three or four trips down here with deliveries this morning. I need to call our regular customers and let them know we have some high-quality stock today."

"Good morning, Grandpa Qin." Lin Yuan straightened his shirt. "I need to visit the Breeding Center today."

"I should be back to help you this afternoon. I have more time this week, so you can take a break too. I haven't helped much with the shop lately. You must be tired."

"The Breeding Center! Wonderful!" Qin Bailing raised his head, his face brimming with smiles. "Bring another little pet beast into our Yuanming Pet Food Shop and liven things up."

"And don't worry about me, Yuan. I've been living like this for seven or eight years. If I don't come to the shop for a day, I feel uncomfortable all over."

"You go ahead with your plans. I'll be waiting for your good news."

Lin Yuan caught the bus.

Along the way, he watched the scenery stream past like flowing water, the people coming and going, and the occasional pet beast by the roadside. Gradually, his mood relaxed.

Forty minutes later, Lin Yuan arrived at the Breeding Center.

It was a vast complex of buildings.

Different areas housed different kinds of young pet beasts.

He had volunteered here for two weeks the previous semester and knew the place quite well. Naturally, he also knew where to find what he was looking for.

The [Spirit]-attribute pet beasts were housed in the southeastern part of the complex.

Lin Yuan quickened his pace. After confirming his appointment time in the lobby of the [Spirit Breeding Hall], he sat down in the waiting area.

He checked the time. Eight fifty-eight.

He let out a long breath.

He was someone who adhered closely to schedules and plans. For practically any appointment, he would leave himself half an hour to prepare by arriving early.

This was his first time reaching his destination almost "on the dot."

Just then, he spotted a staff member in protective clothing carrying a transparent pet carrier. Inside was a spotless white cat.

But the kitten was currently "baring his teeth and brandishing his claws," scratching furiously at the glass. His angry little mewls reached Lin Yuan's ears.

Lin Yuan focused his gaze.

A few lines of information flashed across the panel.

[Still Spirit Cat]

[Attribute]: Spirit

[Quality]: Upper ordinary

[Sex]: Male

Then the information abruptly cut off—the staff member had quickened their pace, apparently eager to return the little pet beast to his home.

Two questions immediately arose in Lin Yuan's mind.

First, ninety-nine percent of [Still Spirit Cats] were born with the [Tranquil Heart] trait. In other words, they were among the most emotionally stable pet beasts.

What he had just seen was highly abnormal in itself.

Second, newborn [Still Spirit Cats] averaged around middle extraordinary quality, making them an excellent species of pet beast. Why was that one only upper ordinary?

The moment those two questions surfaced, Lin Yuan could not help craning his neck farther, hoping to see what was going on with that [Still Spirit Cat].

But the staff member had already gone too far.

Just then, a voice reached Lin Yuan's ears.

"Lin Yuan, it's time for your appointment. You may enter and follow your guide for today to visit the designated breeding areas."

Lin Yuan immediately collected himself and nodded.

He went in through the designated entrance.

Someone he had seen before appeared in front of him.

"Good morning, Senior Liu," Lin Yuan greeted him first.

"Hello, junior. Teacher Chen asked me to show you three kinds of pet beasts today and help you choose the one that suits you best."

"Thank you. Sorry for the trouble, Senior."

This Senior Liu, whose name was Liu Xing, was one of Puquan Experimental High School's star students.

He had graduated from high school a month earlier, ranked second in the school on the college entrance examination, and secured admission to [Linhua Pet Beast University], one of the Chenlong Kingdom's ten leading beast-taming universities.

His chosen major was breeding.

Lin Yuan had seen it on the school's honor roll a little while ago.

He had not expected to meet him here today.

Liu Xing wore gold-rimmed glasses and had a distinctly refined air. His uniform identified him as an intern at the [Spirit Breeding Hall] of Linhua City's Pet Beast Breeding Center.

"Well, if Teacher Chen thinks so highly of you, you must have something exceptional about you. I'll do my best to help you assess them today."

"Then let's not waste any time. We'll start with the [Illusion Dream Butterflies]."

"Sorry for the trouble, Senior." Lin Yuan followed him, as polite as ever.

After they passed two breeding areas belonging to other pet beasts, the home of the [Illusion Dream Butterflies] opened up before Lin Yuan.

It was a patch of brilliantly colored flowers.

Around fifteen [Illusion Dream Butterflies] rested on different blossoms.

They remained quiet when they sensed the two people approaching. Only one fluttered its wings a little; the others did not move at all.

[Illusion Dream Butterflies] were magnificent in appearance.

These butterflies had no fixed coloration, but they shared one distinguishing feature: the outline of a moon on their wings.

Each one radiated a glow unique to itself.

Standing there, Lin Yuan felt a dreamlike sensation. Even faint traces of illusory light appeared before his eyes.

However, Lin Yuan soon shifted his attention elsewhere—staring at [Illusion Dream Butterflies] for too long could easily leave someone mentally disoriented.

Fortunately, he had already taken in all their panels and memorized everything.

Aside from differences in quality and level, they were essentially identical.

Their temperaments varied a little, but were broadly similar too.

However, the evolution paths displayed for every [Illusion Dream Butterfly] were exactly the same.

[Illusion Dream Butterfly]

[Attribute]: Spirit

[Quality]: Lower/middle extraordinary

[Traits]: [Spirit Dream], [Illusory Light]

[Evolution paths]

Evolution path one: Illusion Spirit War Butterfly

Evolution path two: Phantom Evil Devourer Butterfly

Of these two evolution paths, Lin Yuan knew about the [Illusion Spirit War Butterfly].

But he had never even heard of the [Phantom Evil Devourer Butterfly].

Neither path was marked as a hidden evolution path, which meant these evolved forms should have already appeared in this beast-taming world.

Perhaps they were simply not common in the Chenlong Kingdom.

Still, he opened the small evolution-path panel and recorded all the required materials and conditions.

Every one of these "ordinary" evolution paths was valuable to Lin Yuan.

As for why these [Illusion Dream Butterflies] had no hidden evolution paths, Lin Yuan had his own guesses.

Beside him, Liu Xing watched Lin Yuan study each [Illusion Dream Butterfly] so intently and silently approved.

Ordinarily, students who had just finished their first year of high school could not manage this level of composure.

During his month-long internship, he had guided quite a few students who had come to inspect young pet beasts. Most could not contain their impatience. Before taking more than a few glances, they had already fired off a dozen questions and started asking how to form a contract.

Only when Lin Yuan finally looked away from the [Illusion Dream Butterflies] did Liu Xing speak.

"You're very patient, junior."

"Teacher Chen told me that you have real talent and ability when it comes to assessing pet beasts. Your knowledge of different pet beasts is far beyond that of a student who has just finished his first year—even better than some high school graduates."

"So let me test you. Of these fifteen [Illusion Dream Butterflies], which is the highest quality, and which do you think is the gentlest and easiest to contract?"

"Get it right, and I'll give you a little surprise."

Lin Yuan smiled faintly and answered at once. "The one beside the purple flower in the lower-left corner has the highest quality of the fifteen. The outline of the moon on its wings is about a centimeter wider than the others', and it blends into the flowers best. You might not even spot it without looking a few extra times."

"And the best one to contract is the one that fluttered its wings when we passed, then settled down again. That shows it has a side to its personality that enjoys being around people, which is relatively rare among 'Spirit'-attribute pet beasts."

Liu Xing watched as Lin Yuan gave the correct answers with almost no thought at all, backed by perfectly sound reasoning.

For a moment, he was stunned.

If he had not come up with the questions on the spot, he would have suspected Lin Yuan of memorizing a question bank and going straight to the answers.

Lin Yuan had clearly noticed Liu Xing's expression too.

In truth, even without the panels, he could have answered both questions easily—his years of professional experience in his previous life were not just for show. Simple methods like comparing variables and matching key characteristics had long since become second nature to him.

Not to mention that he had the panels to corroborate his answers.

Lin Yuan looked at Liu Xing with an "expectant expression," seemingly waiting for his response.

"Well, Teacher Chen really wasn't exaggerating when he said your powers of observation were astonishing."

"These glasses are yours. If you spend a long time in the Spirit-attribute pet beast area, looking at beasts like these for a little too long can easily have adverse effects."

"Put these on, and you won't feel uncomfortable later."

Lin Yuan took a look. It was another pair of gold-rimmed glasses, exactly like the ones Liu Xing wore, and from a well-known brand at that.

Functional glasses of this kind generally cost no less than a thousand Alliance Coins.

Clearly, this star senior of his was probably the sort of student who did not lack money either.

After a moment's thought, he accepted them.

After all, looking for a little too long just now really had left him slightly dizzy.

He could simply return them once today's activities were over.

Interestingly, the instant he put on the glasses, the purple [Illusion Dream Butterfly] with the highest quality flew out and approached Lin Yuan on its own.