Mutant skills.
His school had taught him about those before.
Some pet beasts developed mutations in skills they would normally awaken because of their resources, growth environment, or even their personalities.
Some of those mutant skills were strong, while others were weak. They could not all be lumped together.
And now, Xiao Qing was undoubtedly one such example.
The moment Su Ping looked at Xiao Qing with True Eye, it gave him feedback.
[Mutant Forest Wolf (contracted)] [Current level: ordinary fourth rank] [Species potential: commander third rank] [Skills: Sunlight Absorption (beginner), Poison Vine Strangulation (beginner), Mutated Poison Woodheart (beginner)]
Even though he had prepared himself, Su Ping could not help sucking in a sharp breath.
The breakthrough to ordinary fourth rank was nothing remarkable. In fact, it was one rank less than Little Dot's breakthrough.
But that clearly was not the point. What truly mattered was the leap in species potential!
Forest Wolves had Elite Stage species potential!
Even Old Sha had perhaps only surpassed that potential and reached commander rank through various fortunate opportunities.
Yet when Su Ping observed Old Sha with True Eye, Old Sha's species potential had not actually increased. That meant the breakthrough and advancement came from individual opportunities, not a change in the species.
Even if Old Sha had offspring, it would not affect the species.
But Xiao Qing was different now.
After taking Woodheart and undergoing a mutation for some unknown reason, even Xiao Qing's species potential had risen further!
Even without evolving or consuming precious resources and magic potions, Xiao Qing could reach commander rank in the future simply by growing normally, as long as the little wolf was not too lazy!
For a moment, Su Ping sank into thought. Was Woodheart's effect really this absurd?
In that case, if someone really came to me for beast training, could I set my prices just a teensy, astronomical bit higher?
Still, Su Ping understood that the Woodheart Potion's effect was only part of it. Xiao Qing's downright heaven-defying aptitude was another factor.
Although Xiao Qing's skill levels showed no change on the panel, he could clearly sense through their soul contract that Xiao Qing's Poison Vine Strangulation had improved tremendously.
There was a considerable gap between each level of skill proficiency.
Continual practice and training to bridge those gaps were a primary focus for Beast Tamers and their pet beasts.
Naturally, strengthening an offensive ability like Poison Vine Strangulation was a major training priority.
Unfortunately, there was no suitable opponent to fight right now.
Shaking his head, Su Ping finally directed True Eye toward the main change in Xiao Qing.
That rare and precious mutant skill!
[Mutated Poison Woodheart (beginner): a special mutant skill. This variation of Woodheart incorporates the Poison type, improving the effects, power, and casting speed of poison- and wood-element skills to a certain extent. It can also absorb the essence of plant energy to restore the user. Consuming poison-type resources and similar substances can accelerate increases in the user's rank and this skill's proficiency.]
He blinked, and True Eye's effect vanished, but Su Ping remained stunned for a while.
His school had taught him that mutations could make skills stronger and stranger, or weaker.
Without a doubt, Xiao Qing's Poison Woodheart belonged to the group that had become stronger through mutation.
But Su Ping had never imagined it would be this powerful.
The rest was one thing. Like Woodheart, it could simply improve the effects of Poison type skills.
But that last clause was something Su Ping truly had not expected.
Consuming Poison type resources and other poisonous substances could accelerate increases in rank and skill proficiency?
Su Ping had already considered finding ways to earn money so he could buy poison-type resources for Xiao Qing to consume.
He wanted to develop Xiao Qing's Poison type abilities as fully as possible, but there was a certain risk involved.
Why were poison-type pet beasts so rare? Because all too often, even a slight excess in the use of poison-type pet beasts or poison-type resources could prove fatal to a pet beast.
But now that Xiao Qing had this mutated Poison Woodheart, didn't that mean there was another layer of protection?
At that thought, excitement blazed in Su Ping's eyes.
He scooped up Xiao Qing, who was still reveling in that newfound strength, and planted a kiss on top of the little wolf's still-green head.
Sure enough, there was a reason pet beasts with mutated bloodlines commanded far higher prices than others.
No one knew the limits of a pet beast with a mutated bloodline, and it might give its owner a rare surprise at any unexpected moment.
Just like now.
That thought made Su Ping even more eager to obtain the Forest Wolf Poison-Type Bloodline Mutation Cause entry in the Forest Wolf Record, which required a full 50,000 Record experience points.
Suddenly, strength seemed to flood back into his body, which had been tired from making three batches of Woodheart Potion that day.
He immediately took Little Dot, who had deactivated Accelerated Growth and returned to normal size, out to the woods beyond the manor.
Everything else could wait. First, he would give Xiao Qing some proper combat training and skill practice.
He would also raise his intimacy with the other twenty-odd Forest Wolves to the required threshold. Once that was done, the Forest Wolf Record would level up even faster!
Speaking of which, thanks to Little Dot's and Xiao Qing's breakthroughs, the Forest Wolf Record's experience had now reached: (222/500).
He was another big step closer to Forest Wolf Record LV:2!
He looked at the rather lazy wolves lounging under Old Sha's command in the evening sunlight.
Su Ping perked up at once and shouted toward the pack:
"To make Woodheart the world's number-one Pet Beast Breeding Base! To make me the Dragon Nation's number-one Master Breeder! Forest Wolves, pounce on me with love!"
"Awooo..."
"Awooo..."
Only Xiao Qing and Little Dot answered him. All the others, Old Sha included, looked at their young owner with the tender concern one might show an idiot.
Su Ping laughed, unbothered, and took the fruit he had prepared earlier out of his Beast Taming Space.
Automatic feeders supplied the Forest Wolves' main meals, but these little creatures' favorite after-meal treats were clearly something Su Ping had decided to provide on a whim.
Sure enough, the Forest Wolves were incredibly quick to change their tune. Only after spotting those large buckets of fruit snacks did they hurry over with fawning expressions and sit in neat rows, ready for their share.
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