"Really not going to eat it?"
Lin Chen frowned, his face as dark as coal.
Xiaobai shook its head like a rattle-drum, looking at the dark culinary attempt Lin Chen handed over, resolutely refusing.
The reason being, as Lin Chen's money dwindled, he had to start living more frugally.
Lin Chen had an idea, thinking of processing the Spirit Grass to make Xiaobai eat better...
The result was, Xiaobai took a bite and almost spat out the grass from the night before.
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Lin Chen was displeased.
Xiaobai sneaked a glance at Lin Chen's rice bowl and found a lot of pre-made and pickled dishes, suddenly understanding...
Lin Chen's culinary skills are seemingly lacking.
"Alright, let's just stick to the usual from now on." Lin Chen was also frustrated.
As a descendant of foodies from Earth, Lin Chen's taste was particular, but unfortunately, he only learned how to eat, not how to cook.
Back in the day, he followed online recipes meticulously, utilizing his strong numerical management skills, precisely controlling ingredients to the nearest 0.01 grams, and accurately timing the cooking to 0.01 seconds.
Yet, the dishes he made were truly awful, even he disliked them.
Who would have thought they were so bad even cows would avoid them?
"Forget it, let's each eat our own." Lin Chen gave up.
There's a specialty in every field, and Lin Chen just wasn't destined to be a chef.
Hearing Lin Chen conceded, Xiaobai was overjoyed, happy to eat pure natural Spirit Grass again, feeling life was meaningful once more.
For two days in a row, Lin Chen didn't go out, training when needed and sleeping otherwise.
As a Beastmaster, he constantly trained in defense and escape, and meditated daily, but none of it worked as hoped.
In contrast, when Xiaobai meditated and then shared feedback with him, the results were much better.
On the morning of the third day, Lin Chen found a surprise; the Blood Spirit Grass in the field had sprouted roots.
Xiaobai was also delighted, as Lin Chen estimated that selling this batch of Blood Spirit Grass could bring in around three thousand bucks, enough to buy it plenty of Inferior Spirit Grass.
That day, Lin Chen also took on a task of bathing Spirit Beasts, which Xiaobai loved since it enjoyed such tasks.
The fourth and fifth days resumed usual training.
By the sixth day, Xiaobai broke through to Level 3.
"The cultivation speed is quite fast, could it be that the Spiritual Qi in my yard is exceptionally abundant?"
Lin Chen had fantasized about his parents being geniuses with secretive identities, leaving behind incredible ancestral homes and treasures.
But clearly, this was the aftereffect of being a novel enthusiast.
The reason Xiaobai leveled up so quickly was entirely due to nonstop cultivation.
However, since the last bloodline purification, Xiaobai's cultivation speed indeed increased noticeably, which Xiaobai itself mentioned.
Xiaobai stretched its head out, wanting Lin Chen to pat it.
Just as Lin Chen was about to raise his hand, he heard someone calling outside.
"Brother Lin, are you there?"
It was Qin Hao.
Lin Chen turned to open the door, not noticing Xiaobai's slightly resentful look behind him, although it quickly turned cunning.
Outside Qin Hao looked around, calling again until he saw Lin Chen appear.
"Haha, your place is hard to find." Qin Hao, naturally sociable, entered and surveyed the surroundings, saying, "But I like this place, it's quiet enough."
Lin Chen invited him in and made him tea.
"No need, I'm here to ask if you want to take on a mission."
"What mission?"
"A long-term Guild mission: Divine Fox Egg."
As soon as Lin Chen heard it, he shook his head, saying, "The two of us with trash combat skills going deep into the Dark Forest, that's like courting death."
"No need, this time it's different, it's purely a treasure hunt." Qin Hao said, "Didn't you see the Guild post?"
Lin Chen shook his head; he had only heard that the city was locked down, prohibiting outings in recent days.
Opening the Guild Machine, he indeed saw the top-ranked post:
[Guild Benefit: Jiuxing City experienced a small Beast Tide, suppressed by the Beast Tamer Guild. Benefits are now being distributed.]
[All official Beastmasters of the Jiuxing City Beast Tamer Guild, regardless of rank, can enter the Divine Fox Secret Realm to search for Divine Fox Eggs. No matter the quality, the price is increased by 20%.]
[Limit Order: The benefit area allows normal competition but prohibits killing humans or beasts. Competition is allowed if the level difference is 1.]
[Maximum team size allowed: 3 people.]
[Open time: 12 noon, lasts for 6 hours]
"Such a good thing?" Lin Chen was surprised, thinking that the Beast Tamer Guild was indeed commendable.
A Divine Fox Egg goes for five thousand bucks each, with a 20% markup that makes it six thousand.
Qin Hao immediately doused his enthusiasm, saying, "Forget it, this year, the Guild Master's term is ending, and he needs votes."
"...." Lin Chen immediately understood.
This kind of opportunity usually doesn't go to civilians. If there were real benefits, they would have long been divided by merchants and powerful people.
Lin Chen immediately prepared to leave; for a money-making venture like this, he wasn't going to be slow.
"We still need one more person, why not call Lee Zaiqing?" Qin Hao asked.
"Do you think that guy needs this six thousand bucks?" Lin Chen retorted.
"Seems so." Qin Hao abandoned the idea and thought of just the two of them heading out.
If they couldn't win, they'd just bail.
Both were people who cherished their lives.
"Let's be clear how to split the earnings first." Lin Chen was straightforward.
Even with close friends, clear accounts are needed. For treasure hunts, with forming teams, unclear interests arise.
Qin Hao also liked such honesty, saying, "I also thought about it, 80/20 split, the person who finds the egg gets 80%, the other gets 20%."
Lin Chen agreed with this arrangement, then tucked Xiaobai away. Qin Hao was a bit surprised and said, "Your Spirit Beast reached Level 3?"
After speaking, he continued on his own, "My Panlin Python has the potential of a genius too, but work got in the way eventually."
Lin Chen rolled his eyes, thinking you knew work got in the way of cultivation, yet you continue dragging it along.
"No choice." Qin Hao said, "I need to repay five thousand on the loan every month; I can't afford to face the collectors coming after my beast."
Lin Chen felt neither sympathy nor schadenfreude.
He always upheld one theory, which is the Theory of Choices.
Once a choice is made, right or wrong, it's your choice, and there's no need to regret or lament.
Though, loans indeed aren't favorable things.
They passed through the city unimpeded, following the main group to the entrance of the Divine Fox Secret Realm without hindrance.
The time hadn't started yet, and many Beastmasters were waiting.
Secret Realms are small worlds created by Great Demons themselves, mostly inhabited by their kin, as most magical demons are unwilling to succumb to humans.
Lin Chen and Qin Hao showed their Guild Machines and were allowed in, with both young and old participating; after all, free benefits are not to be missed.
Moreover, in this benefit area, competition is only allowed if the level difference is 1 at most.
This means, for Level 3 Spirit Beasts, they can only compete with Level 2 or Level 4 ones.
Qin Hao saw this rule and sought out Lin Chen, knowing well Lin Chen's combat capabilities.
While waiting, people around started chatting.
"This is the lair of a Six-Tailed Fox Sacred Beast."
"No idea who captured it."
"Rumor has it... I heard, the Guild Master handed it over to a big shot."
The crowd sighed.
For years, Jiuxing City had fallen significantly, with exceptional Divine Foxes unable to be retained.
After half an hour, it finally reached 12 o'clock, and the staff waved, prompting everyone to get hyped as they charged in.