Linzhou City.
A bus drove down the road. Su Ping sat by the window, looking out at this familiar yet wondrous world.
After so many years in this world, Su Ping had more or less adjusted to it.
This was a world where humans and pet beasts coexisted, with a layout somewhat similar to the world before his transmigration.
However, besides human nations, there were also wilderness regions and nations occupied by ferocious beasts, forbidden zones for humanity.
Humans could undergo their Beast Tamer awakening once they turned eighteen.
They could awaken their Beast Taming Space and their own innate talent.
Then they could contract a pet beast and become a Beast Tamer.
A month had passed since he had graduated from high school and completed his awakening.
Now, he counted as an apprentice Beast Tamer, with his own Beast Taming Space and talent.
At that thought, another view overlaid Su Ping's vision, and he sensed his talent and that cramped, confined Beast Taming Space.
[Pet Beast Home: Wild pet beasts without contracts may enter the Beast Taming Space, but their level must not exceed your own.]
It was a very ordinary talent. Though uncommon, its effects were nothing special.
But...
Soon, something else appeared before Su Ping's eyes.
Compared with Pet Beast Home, a talent that seemed rather useless, this other thing that emerged from his consciousness was what had kept Su Ping curious all along.
It, too, had appeared in his mind after he completed his awakening a month ago:
[Myriad Spirits Codex: A codex formed from the world's origin, capable of holding all pet beast forms. Unlock, fill out, and complete the codex to receive rewards bestowed by the world's origin!] (Note: Only pet beasts that meet the conditions can be entered into the Myriad Spirits Codex.) (Note: Pet beasts correspond to their evolved forms. The higher the quality and the greater the number of pet beasts, the faster the codex can be filled out and completed.)
With a thought, he opened the Myriad Spirits Codex.
Pet beasts were listed one after another within the Record, but all of them were gray and white, evidently because they had yet to be unlocked.
Still, he had already waited a month. He was in no hurry now.
At that thought, Su Ping looked out the bus window in anticipation.
As one of the country's dozen or so first-tier cities, Linzhou City was bustling, even if it could not compare to Demon City or the Imperial City.
Most importantly, with places such as its enormous natural forest park, Spirit Creek River, and West Dragon Lake, it had an abundance of wild pet beasts.
Some pet beasts were even unique to Linzhou.
Here in the suburbs, things were relatively remote and quiet, but soon, a sign appeared in Su Ping's view:
"Wood Heart Pet Beast Breeding Base"
"Attention, passengers. We have arrived at Spirit Creek River. Please prepare to get off if this is your stop."
Hearing the bus announcement, Su Ping hurriedly stood, got off the bus, and arrived before an enormous estate.
Su Ping shook his head and sighed. What a shame!
What a shame this was a world centered on beast taming. Otherwise, with his family owning such a vast stretch of suburban land, a pet beast breeding base this size in Linzhou City would have let him live comfortably for the rest of his life at the property prices of his previous life.
In this world, among all industries, those related to beast taming were the most important and expensive.
Of course, things were pretty good now, too. As long as he stayed away from high-level pet beasts and resources, he could still live without worrying about food or clothing.
But having come to this world, how could Su Ping be content without experiencing its wonders?
At that thought, Su Ping took out his phone again and opened the message from his father, Su Anyong:
"Son, you're an adult now, and you've awakened your talent and become a qualified apprentice Beast Tamer. That means your dad can finally pass his legacy on to you without worry!
"Come back. Come back to Woodheart, and together, we'll make Woodheart the finest Forest Wolf breeding base in all of Jianghai Province, or even the entire country!"
And so, Su Ping had returned.
It was not entirely because he believed his father's words. His main purpose was to explore his Myriad Spirits Codex.
Over the past month, he had encountered quite a few pet beasts in Linzhou City, but none had met the requirements for entry into the Myriad Spirits Codex to unlock, fill out, and complete its entries.
In this world, awakening a talent and contracting one's first pet beast did not mean one could truly be considered a Beast Tamer.
To become a truly qualified Beast Tamer, one had to pass the Beast Tamer assessment tournament held every three years and become a combat Beast Tamer recognized by the Beast Tamer Association.
After graduation, promising Beast Tamers could choose to continue their studies at certain colleges or receive early investment from certain factions.
Of course, both options were very difficult.
His family's breeding base clearly fell into neither category.
In fact, this was merely a small breeding base specializing in Forest Wolves.
The one thing somewhat worth mentioning was that, because it lay on the outskirts of Linzhou City, and because Su Ping's grandfather had genuinely prospered in his day as a Monarch Rank Beast Tamer who had sacrificed his life defending against a beast tide, the family had managed to retain such a large breeding base, along with a sizable plot of surrounding land that they rented out.
Shaking his head, Su Ping took out his key and opened the gate.
The breeding base was huge.
Besides a forest covering several square kilometers where the Forest Wolves could rest and play, there was also their estate, consisting of their living quarters, a temperature- and humidity-controlled birthing room, a testing room, a monitoring room, a Magic Potion workshop, a Medical Room, and other facilities.
Behind it, the property also bordered Spirit Creek River, which flowed through West Dragon Lake.
His father had kept talking about using these excellent resources to branch out into breeding water-type pet beasts, only to forget all about it the next day.
Su Ping went straight home. Looking at the empty living room, he felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
"Dad!"
"Su Anyong!"
"Where are you?!"
Su Ping's voice echoed through the empty living room.
Then he went over to the sofa and noticed a sheet of paper on the coffee table. The corner of his mouth twitched rapidly, and he hurriedly picked it up. Sure enough, Su Anyong's handwriting was clear:
"Son, your second grandpa said he wanted to introduce me to a potential stepmother for you. He asked me to go meet her in Beihan City. You're an adult now, and a real man, too!
"So it's time you took on the responsibilities at home. I'm leaving Woodheart's future in your hands! You grew up at Woodheart, so you should know how to operate all that equipment.
"Don't worry about anything else. The feeders have enough food for the little ones for two months, and Old Sha is there, too. That should be enough for you to get familiar with things during that time.
"Oh, right, you haven't contracted your first pet beast yet, have you? I carefully picked one out for you and left it in the incubation room.
"Call me if anything comes up. As long as it isn't about money, your dad will find a way to help. That's all.
"-Your loving father, Su Anyong."
Looking at that familiar handwriting, Su Ping was speechless.
Fortunately, he had long since grown used to his father's unreliability.
With a breeding base this big, even a little care would have kept it from ending up in its current state.
Still, Su Ping was genuinely intrigued. His unreliable father had actually remembered that his son had yet to contract his first pet beast.
Just what could Su Anyong have so carefully picked out for him?
Taking the steps two at a time, Su Ping reached the nearby temperature- and humidity-controlled birthing and incubation room.
He looked at the little thing inside the box.
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