"Great, I got another Source Point."
Looking at the data panel that appeared out of thin air, Chen Yuan's face showed a look of joy.
This Steel-headed Ground Rat has the same quality as Spark, but its level and Skill Proficiency are inferior, no wonder it couldn't withstand Spark's offensive.
Indeed, with the system's support and a bit of effort, Spark's combat strength currently leads by far.
As these thoughts passed, Chen Yuan glanced around at the wasteland and said to the Steel-headed Ground Rat: "Your task from now on is to reclaim this wasteland."
"Ka." The Steel-headed Ground Rat nodded.
"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask my grandpa." Chen Yuan added.
"Ka." The Steel-headed Ground Rat, feeling guilty, glanced at Chen Weiyi, and upon detecting the scrutinizing gaze from the latter, shrank its neck immediately.
Chen Yuan chuckled: "Don't be afraid, as long as you work hard, you can stay here as long as you want, no one will bother you."
"Ka~" The Steel-headed Ground Rat's pitch-black eyes darted around, perhaps sensing Chen Yuan's goodwill, it nodded slowly.
"However..." Chen Yuan again looked at the dark hole and changed his tone, "Don't dig under this wasteland, you need to find another place."
Reclaiming the wasteland indeed requires the Steel-headed Ground Rat to help turn the soil, but after completing this task, continuing to live underground would affect the stability of the soil layer.
After all... the Steel-headed Ground Rat is too large.
"Ka..."
Upon hearing this, the Steel-headed Ground Rat opened its bewildered eyes, staring blankly at Chen Yuan.
"Hmm..." Chen Yuan surveyed the surroundings and finally chose the ground on the left side of the wasteland as the Steel-headed Ground Rat's nest.
"Kaka." The Steel-headed Ground Rat gladly agreed.
For the Steel-headed Ground Rat that hides everywhere daily, where it lives is not important, as long as it's a stable and safe nest.
Taking advantage of the Steel-headed Ground Rat starting to dig again, Chen Yuan brought a pile of vegetables from the kitchen that he usually didn't like to eat, and placed them beside it.
"Ka!"
The Steel-headed Ground Rat poked its head out of the newly dug hole, sniffed, and suddenly its eyes widened, with never-before-seen brilliance shining in them.
It dashed out and ran towards the vegetables in quick strides, its not-so-obvious Adam's apple moving, staring dazedly ahead.
After a while,
It cautiously extended its paw, pointing first at the pile of vegetables and then at itself.
Chen Yuan understood its meaning, nodded with a smile: "These are all yours."
"As long as you work hard, you can eat as much as you want."
On the side, Chen Weiyi heard this and his right hand holding the tobacco pipe slightly trembled.
"Ka!"
Upon hearing this, the Steel-headed Ground Rat could no longer resist the temptation of the vegetables, crouched down, and started devouring them.
Chen Weiyi tugged on Chen Yuan's sleeve, lowered his voice and said: "Kid, I'm not saying your approach is wrong, but..."
Chen Yuan understood the old man's concerns, smiled gently: "Grandpa, the world has changed."
"These vegetables are nothing compared to an Extraordinary Creature."
"But if every day there's a heap of vegetables..." Chen Weiyi hesitated.
Chen Yuan's smile remained unchanged: "Grandpa, it can not only help you work, but also guard the home."
"Think about it, our Xuanhe Village is right in the Qinling, and in the future, we might have conflicts with the Extraordinary Creatures in the mountains."
"With it here, our farm will be much safer."
"That's also reasonable." Chen Weiyi's eyes flickered, the aged eyes filled with contemplation.
The old man isn't unaware of these principles; his concepts just took time to shift and couldn't make the right choice immediately.
...
Dusk fell.
Chen Yuan lay on the rocking chair, enjoying the gentle breeze while browsing online information.
Just like the morning, the internet was flooded with reports about the world's mutation, Chen Yuan even found many discussions related to "Beastmasters" and "Extraordinary Creatures."
Clearly, the authorities did not block the spread of this information.
Spark lay on Chen Yuan's shoulder, its dark blue eyes quietly watched the sunset sinking towards the distant forest, its fiery feathers reflected in the sunset glow.
Cola chased after the fluttering butterflies on the grass, the breeze swirled around, making its speed faster, as if its entire form had merged into the breeze.
While eating, Chen Weiyi praised the evolved Cola, even finding it unfamiliar.
But when he saw Cola devouring food ravenously, stuffing itself until it burped and staying by his side happily, he felt like Cola was still the same Cola.
The evolution reshaped its body, but did not change its soul.
As for the Steel-headed Ground Rat, after it finished digging the hole, it eagerly took the vegetables inside, and hasn't come out since.
Indeed, rats are nocturnal creatures, and the Steel-headed Ground Rat clearly is too.
Chen Yuan stayed in the yard until the moonlight spread, then went back to the bedroom to start his Meditation.
Almost simultaneously, the Jade Pendant on his chest emitted a faint light, and a lively voice sounded in his ear:
"Good evening, Chen Yuan!"
"Good evening to you too." Chen Yuan focused his Spiritual Power into the Jade Pendant, and a glowing spot appeared before him.
"How was your day?" Chen Yuan asked with a smile.
"Ahem." Jiang Wenning cleared her throat, her smile blossoming brightly, "Today I officially became the first batch of students at the Donghuang Beast Taming Academy."
"Congratulations, congratulations!" Chen Yuan said, "Now, I'm an online friend of the first batch of students at the Donghuang Beast Taming Academy."
"Ha ha ha!" Jiang Wenning laughed heartily, then said, "Don't worry, although the first batch has only over two hundred students, I've heard the school is already preparing for the selection of the second and third batch, soon it'll be your turn."
Chen Yuan neither affirmed nor denied, just smiled.
"Oh, even though there wasn't a formal opening, I heard from the teacher a lot of news."
"Please, do tell."
"Well, Extraordinary Creatures are divided into attributes like wood, water, fire, earth, steel, poison, wind, etc., and these attributes follow the principle of mutual generation and restraint."
Chen Yuan's thoughts flashed: "For example, water restrains fire?"
"That's right." Jiang Wenning gently nodded, her voice bright, "My family's Nuomi has the Ice Attribute, which is restrained by the Fire Attribute."
"But the teacher also said, attribute restraint isn't the only factor deciding Pet Beast battles; the quality, Skill Proficiency, physical fitness, and the Beastmaster's command all influence Pet Beast battles."
Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully: "This should be the difference between reality and games."
"In games, attribute restraint and numerical values significantly determine the outcome of battles."
"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Wenning smiled and nodded, "That's right!"
The two chatted through the Jade Pendant for quite a while, until Jiang Wenning yawned, then said: "Today was exhausting, I need to rest now."
"Okay."
"Chen Yuan, the authorities will soon publicly announce the Beast Taming Academy and open admissions for talented Beastmasters across society."
"With your talent, joining the Beast Taming Academy is very easy."
"I'll be waiting for you in the Beast Taming Academy, sis got you!"
Chen Yuan chuckled: "I'll try, ha ha."