Spirit-nourishing ancient tea! Myriad Manifestations Meditation Method!

The fragrance of tea lingered in the air.

Only Qin Xiaoxue and Su Ping remained in the reception room.

After the other three had left, Wooden Head had also run off to play, delighted that he could stay at Woodheart.

As Su Ping breathed in the tea's fragrance, he felt as though his mind had become many times clearer than usual, though he wasn't sure whether he was imagining it.

Even his mental power flowed more freely.

This tea was something else!

Looking at the brewed tea, Su Ping felt certain of it.

Still, now that he had realized this young lady's identity, it hardly seemed unusual that she could casually produce something like this.

Su Ping did not ask Qin Xiaoxue about the identities of those three people, either. There was an art to clinging to a rich woman's coattails, one that deserved careful study.

He had missed his earlier opportunity, but things were fine as they were now.

Qin Xiaoxue, however, asked somewhat nervously:

"Su Ping, are you confident?"

Su Ping waved a hand.

"Don't worry. What kind of tea is this? Just wait, Xiaoxue. When the time comes, you'll be able to have Accelerated Casting developed for Wooden Head."

Since Su Ping himself seemed unconcerned, Qin Xiaoxue breathed a sigh of relief. Given the choice, she certainly hoped he would win.

"As long as you're confident. But there's no need for Accelerated Casting. Woodheart is enough.

"As for the tea, I got it from the old man. It's freshly harvested tea from a spirit-nourishing ancient tea tree. Once brewed, it improves meditation and speeds up meditation method training. It's even very beneficial for your future training. Drink plenty! I have more if it isn't enough."

Improved meditation and faster training?

Su Ping's eyebrows shot up.

"Meditation method? What's that?"

Of course he knew what meditation was, but this was the first time he had heard of meditation methods.

Qin Xiaoxue blinked.

"A meditation method is a special way of meditating. It greatly improves the effects of meditation, while also making it easier for beast tamers to control their pet beasts to a certain extent.

"But it's perfectly normal that you haven't encountered one. Genuine meditation methods rarely circulate on the market. You'll only find them in advanced beast taming academies, the Beast Tamer Association, and certain major powers or families with inherited legacies.

"And even if you get access to one, training in it is difficult. The reason is simple: practicing a meditation method requires cooperation from a beast tamer's pet beasts, sometimes even specific ones! Unless they've been exposed to it since childhood, very few beast tamers meet the requirements."

At this point, Qin Xiaoxue lowered her voice slightly.

"The Myriad Manifestations Meditation Method I practice is like that. It's also one of the meditation methods in the Demon City Advanced Beast Taming Academy's collection."

The Myriad Manifestations Meditation Method? The Demon City Advanced Beast Taming Academy?

Su Ping's interest stirred.

Half a month ago, he hadn't merely lacked access to such things-he hadn't known anything about them at all.

Seeing Su Ping deep in thought, Qin Xiaoxue smiled faintly.

"Of course, don't overthink it. Meditation methods are precious, but a beast tamer's foundation still lies primarily in their pet beasts. Some people with strong mental aptitude can progress quickly without a meditation method, and the pet beasts they command are stronger, too.

"Besides, with your talent, it's not as though you won't have opportunities in the future. But if you also want to join the Demon City Advanced Beast Taming Academy and have a chance to practice one of the Demon City Academy's advanced meditation methods..."

Here, Qin Xiaoxue lowered her voice a little more.

"Remember, for your second pet beast, choose either a plant type or an undead type. As for specific pet beasts, I'll put together a list when I get back and send it to you for consideration. Don't tell anyone!"

Su Ping paused. Did this count as exclusive insider information?

But... joining the Demon City Beast Taming Academy?

Su Ping really hadn't considered it. With the Myriad Spirits Codex and the Woodheart Breeding Base, he didn't need anything else.

There was no harm in leaving that decision for later.

As for his second pet beast, Su Ping had given it some thought. In his view, the most important thing was that its species didn't need particularly high potential. Quite the opposite: a relatively common pet beast with a large population would be better.

Seeing his expression, Qin Xiaoxue said nothing more on the subject.

Su Ping picked up his cup and took a sip. Warmth mingled with coolness, clearing his entire mind and leaving him supremely comfortable.

Meanwhile, after Qin Erlong and the other two had left, they had split into two groups.

Qin Erlong returned to the Beast Tamer Association, while Sun Chaoju and his teacher, Vice President Liu, headed to the Breeder Association.

In his car, Sun Chaoju glanced at Vice President Liu, who was resting with his eyes closed, before asking:

"Teacher, what do you think of that Su Ping?"

Vice President Liu slowly opened his eyes, shot his student a sideways look, and said coldly:

"I know what you're scheming. Since Su Ping agreed to this wager, I'll let it stand. But you'd better keep any other tricks firmly to yourself.

"Even if you lose, honor the wager and accept defeat. If you win, take the development method for Accelerated Casting to Su Ping as well."

Sun Chaoju froze at those words.

"Teacher, I..."

Before he could get the words out, Vice President Liu interrupted him.

"I'm only willing to say this because you're my student. If that Su Ping has earned Miss Qin's regard, or even her friendship, he has a promising future ahead of him.

"Besides, befriending a highly talented breeder is a good thing. We're all part of Jianghai Province. Don't be so narrow-minded. If that young fellow really manages to develop an evolution method for this so-called Ten Thousand Woods Wolf,

"and enters the Breeder Competition, you can still be credited as its original discoverer, even if you aren't the principal researcher and breeder."

Sun Chaoju's eyes lit up, but he soon turned to the old man in surprise.

"Teacher, do you really think Su Ping can do something like that?"

"Who knows? All I know is that befriending a talented young person is far better than offending him. We live in a society governed by law now. What can't be discussed civilly?"

Listening to his teacher's worldly advice, Sun Chaoju nodded. Still, he asked in confusion:

"Teacher, when all is said and done, President Qin may be half a rank above you, but surely you don't need to treat Miss Qin so..."

Sun Chaoju did not finish describing how his teacher treated Miss Qin, but Vice President Liu understood. He merely looked at his student, then sighed and shook his head.

"You don't understand."

Sun Chaoju didn't know what exactly he failed to understand, but he asked no further questions.

He knew that even if he asked, his teacher wouldn't tell him.

People who spoke in riddles might deserve a beating, but that depended on who they were.

At that very moment, Qin Erlong had returned to his office and begun pondering as well.

It truly was the first time he had seen his granddaughter place such trust in an unfamiliar young man.

That prompted a peculiar, marvelous thought to rise in Qin Erlong's mind.

Could his granddaughter have taken a fancy to Su Ping?

The thought made Qin Erlong involuntarily suck in a breath.

If that was the case, then it would really be... wonderful.

Looking at it that way, this Su Ping might be a little arrogant, but given his achievements at such an age, a bit of youthful pride was only natural.

And with his aptitude, his somewhat weaker beast taming talent hardly mattered.

As for his looks, he could even rival Qin Erlong in his youth. His family circumstances might be ordinary, but as long as his granddaughter liked him, none of that mattered.

Well! Thinking of it that way, Qin Erlong grew interested. He was all too eager to find his granddaughter a good family to marry into, so she would stop tormenting his old bones.

That damned Demon City Advanced Beast Taming Academy just had to have a summer break, sending this little devil home to torment him. Now that she might have a new target, Qin Erlong's spirits soared.

With that thought, the old man took out his phone and dialed a special number.

After three rings, a voice answered.

"It's rare for you to call me at this hour, Qin Erlong. Has something happened to Xiaoxue?"

"Old woman, our Xiaoxue might be in love!"

"Hmm?"

"A young fellow who's only just graduated from Basic Beast Taming School developed the rare Woodheart for the girl. Now the two of them are getting along like a house on fire!"

"Hmm? Woodheart? Interesting. Tell me the details."