What does it mean when a pet evolves incorrectly?

Chapter 155 A Generous Champion Reward!

The following day was the first day after the university league ended.

After finishing the freshman exchange competition and the university league, and ending a long competition that lasted for a month, Lin Chen was finally able to get a good night's sleep.

When he groggily opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a golden dappled light on the carpet.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, habitually reached for his phone on the bedside table, and swiped the screen with his fingertips.

His social media feed was already overflowing with congratulatory messages from friends and family, and Lin Chen also learned that his father, Lin Jianjun, was about to be promoted.

He was taken aback: "Is this speed of promotion really reasonable?"

What if his father becomes the director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau by the time he comes home next time?

After replying to the numerous messages, he casually opened his frequently used online platforms.

As expected, the trending topics list was almost entirely dominated by content related to the university league:

#Lin Chen, champion of the university league#

#Analysis of the True Strength of the Mechanical Flame Spine Tyrannosaurus#

#Lin Chen's Championship Victory Review#

#Regarding the possibility that Mechanical Flame Spine Tyrannosaurus Rex is an M-type#

One after another, each one was followed by a bright red "hot" label. I scrolled through more than a dozen posts but couldn't find any other topics.

Lin Chen skimmed through a few reports, most of which were reviews of the matches and analyses of the Steel Flame Tyrannosaurus's combat power data. Just as he was about to close the page, he was suddenly drawn to a few news headlines with a unique style.

The report stated that since Lin Chen's meteoric rise in the university league, the market price of the Flame Claw Beast has skyrocketed, and it has now entered the ranks of the top extraordinary pets, with its price increasing several times over.

Even the initial form of the Moonlit Spirit Cat, the Squirrel, has seen its market price rise accordingly. The once-affordable pet has now become a hot commodity in major pet markets.

For this reason, many beast tamers decided to venture into the wild to find and capture wild Flameclaw Beasts, dreaming of raising a second Steelflame Tyrannosaurus.

The breeding center where Flameclaw Beast used to stay has been bustling with activity these past few days.

Beastmasters from all over the country swept up all the pets for sale in the breeding shop, each harboring the same naive fantasy: hoping to be lucky enough to contract a pet with the same talent as the Flame Claw Beast.

Upon seeing this, a glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes as he secretly pondered, "I should find a place to go back to Er Huo's hometown and resolve that matter."

With Erhuo's current strength, he is more than capable of fulfilling the three-year agreement, or rather, he is capable of making that beast tamer pay the price of forcibly annuling the engagement.

However, Erhuo's hometown is far in the south, thousands of kilometers away from Qinglan City. It would definitely take a lot of time to go back and forth. He just finished the competition and has to hurry back to school. He can only make a special trip during the winter vacation.

Just as I was pulling my thoughts back from that old matter, a staff member from the university league committee called.

After a brief conversation, Lin Chen hung up the phone and fell into deep thought.

He learned the details of the prize money for this year's university league champion from the staff.

One of them is a generous bonus.

This sum of money would be an astronomical figure for ordinary people, but it doesn't hold much appeal for Lin Chen at the moment.

After all, with his current fame and commercial value, he can easily earn far more than the prize money through various commercial activities after becoming the university league champion, even before he has officially started working.

In just the last two days, several television media outlets and variety show production teams have called to invite him to participate in interview programs, asking for exorbitant participation fees, not even including subsequent endorsements and collaborations.

Even if he doesn't participate in commercial activities, there are plenty of organizations and corporations waving money around trying to recruit him.

The second reward was what Lin Chen really cared about: gaining the qualification to enter the Tower of Trials.

The staff member provided a detailed account of the origins of the Tower of Trials over the phone:

Several years ago, a beast tamer was exploring the city of Chisha in the Western Regions when he accidentally discovered an ancient ruin. Deep within the ruin stood a mysterious trial tower.

Beastmasters can enter the tower to hone their skills, which not only rapidly improves their pets' combat experience and strength, but also refines their own mental strength. This effect is particularly significant for beastmasters below the professional level, making it a veritable holy land for cultivation.

However, obtaining the qualification to enter the Tower of Trials is extremely difficult.

The official channels only offer three ways to obtain a ticket: either make outstanding contributions to the Beast Tamer Association, exchange points earned through years of hard work and association contributions, or achieve results in important national competitions like the University League, like Lin Chen.

The top eight contestants will all be qualified to enter the Tower of Trials, which can be seen as a way for the Beastmaster Association to cultivate outstanding college students.

According to staff, the Trial Tower will open in twenty days.

For Lin Chen, this timeframe is quite ample.

There's plenty of time to rush back to the academy from Binhai City to rest for a while before heading to the Western Regions. You can also take this time to relax and rest.

But Lin Chen shook his head: "Rest? Rest is out of the question."

A dark crisis is about to descend; there's no time to rest.

The third reward is exclusively for the champion to choose one level 5 resource.

This was the reward that Lin Chen cared about most.

As evolutionary material for Lord-level pets to evolve into Epic-level pets, Level 5 resources are already incredibly expensive on the market, and are even considered to be in short supply, unlike Level 4 resources which are much easier to obtain.

Lin Chen had already made up his mind to use this reward to exchange for one of the evolution materials for Steel Flame Tyrannosaurus.

But it's too early to say anything.

Generally speaking, a lord-level pet is sufficient for both elite and master-level beast tamers.

If it weren't for Lin Chen's sudden rise to prominence, the group of advanced beast tamers would still be using elite-level pets.

As for Lin Chen, it was an unexpected surprise that a mid-level beast tamer would possess a lord-level pet.

After lunch, Lin Chen and the others boarded a plane back to Qiming City.

As the plane flew through the clouds, the cabin was unusually quiet amidst the hum of its engines.

After a long journey, the plane landed smoothly, and everyone finally returned to Qiming Beast Taming Academy in the evening.

As soon as they stepped into the school gate, everyone was taken aback by the scene before them.

The main road of the college was densely packed with students who had spontaneously organized themselves. Some held up red banners that read "Congratulations to Brother Chen on winning the championship," while others held large bouquets of flowers. Fireworks were launched into the sky with a bang, and colorful confetti fell all over the ground.

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd, with many people waving banners featuring a chibi version of the Flameback Tyrannosaurus Rex. The school's broadcasting station turned up to full volume, and a rousing march resounded throughout the entire campus, creating a lively scene.

Lin Chen was surrounded by a crowd, and before he could even brush the confetti off his forehead, he was pulled by wave after wave of classmates for autographs and photos.

He dealt with each person one by one, his smile becoming somewhat stiff. After signing the last notebook of a second-year female student, he finally broke through the crowd under Ye Xuan's cover and hurriedly headed towards Dean Zhao's office.

As soon as Lin Chen stepped into the office, before he could even say hello, Professor Li, who was also in the office, rushed over from beside his desk.

The usually deliberate old professor, his eyes burning with fervor, strode over to Lin Chen and grabbed his arm: "Quick, quick, let me see the Mechanical Flame Spine Tyrannosaurus!"

Lin Chen subconsciously looked around the office—the papers on the bookshelf were piled up precariously, and there was a half-finished cup of tea on the table. The space was cramped, not even enough for a fifteen-meter-tall behemoth to move around in.

He asked hesitantly, "Are you sure you want to stay here?"

A moment later, Lin Chen, Zhao Honggang, and Li Jingming arrived at a vast, quiet, and deserted experimental field deep within the academy.

This place is usually used for practical testing of large pets. It is surrounded by thick protective walls, and the center of the field is covered with specially made pressure-resistant material. At this moment, it is empty and so quiet that you can hear the wind clearly.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, and with a thought, he summoned a beam of light that shot into the sky.

With a heavy thud and a slight tremor in the ground, the Steel Flame Tyrannosaurus suddenly appeared in the center of the experimental field.

The silver alloy armor gleamed coldly in the evening light, its deep blue eyes slowly rotated, its three-pronged mechanical claws slightly retracted, and its purple wings on its back gently flapped, stirring up a subtle airflow.

Li Jingming looked up, his gaze sweeping over the dragon's body covered in silver armor inch by inch, from the alloy crown to the chest, and then to the thick tail. The surprise in his eyes was almost overflowing.

He murmured to himself, his voice as soft as if afraid of disturbing some precious treasure: "It's incredible."

Immediately, he turned his head to look at Lin Chen and asked impatiently, "Your mechanical flame-spine tyrannosaurus..."

Lin Chen interrupted him at the right moment, smiling as he said, "Professor, I've decided to call it Steelflame Tyrannosaurus. Mechanical Flame Spine Tyrannosaurus is too awkward to pronounce."

Upon hearing this, Li Jingming waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, call me whatever you want."

He turned around, his gaze fixed once more on the Steel Flame Tyrannosaurus, his tone filled with impatient excitement: "Tell me in detail..."

Let me tell you its relevant information, and I'll confirm the information for it.

After a long while, the information was confirmed.

Li Jingming withdrew his gaze from the Steel Flame Tyrannosaurus Rex, turned to Lin Chen, and asked hesitantly, "Are you still not going to reveal its evolution conditions, just like before?"

Lin Chen nodded decisively without hesitation.

A hint of regret flashed across Professor Li's eyes, but he still smiled and said, "Never mind, it's fine this way."

After a brief pause, Professor Li's gaze remained fixed on Lin Chen before he continued, "By the way, the Northern Pet Research Institute asked me to pass on a message—they're interested in inviting you to join them."

"As long as you nod your head, you can immediately get the best salary and benefits, an independent laboratory, and a large number of supporting policies. The level of resource allocation is absolutely the first in the history of the institute."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen shook his head decisively without hesitation and refused: "Professor Li, please thank them for their kindness, but my current focus is still on becoming a Beast Tamer. As for being a researcher, we can talk about that later."

He knows nothing about research; if he were to join a research institute, he'd be exposed in no time.

Upon hearing this, Professor Li sighed repeatedly, his face filled with regret.

In his eyes, with Lin Chen's displayed intelligence and unconventional evolutionary thinking, if he could dedicate himself full-time to research, coupled with the research institute's vast resources and connections, he could absolutely propel the entire pet beast academic community of Donghuang into a completely new era.

segment.

Unfortunately, this promising talent had other ambitions.

He didn't say anything more, waved his hand, and turned to leave the experimental field.

After Professor Li's figure disappeared from sight, Zhao Hong strolled over from the side, his tone full of concern: "You must be exhausted these past few days?"

Lin Chen nodded.

From preparing for the competition to the freshman exchange competition and then to the university league, I worked non-stop for more than a month. My mind was constantly on edge, and it would be a lie to say I wasn't tired.

Zhao Honggang smiled and slowly said, "But you'll have to be busy for a few more days. There are a few interviews and programs that I can't decline. They're all invitations from official media, so you'll have to attend them in the next few days."

Lin Chen nodded to indicate that he understood.

He knew in his heart that he had won the double championship in the freshman exchange competition and the university league, making him one of the most phenomenal figures among university students in recent years. The official media would definitely try to package him as an excellent role model for the younger generation to inspire more new beast tamers.

There's no escaping this public relations task.

Then, Zhao Honggang got to the point, his expression becoming more serious: "You won two championships this time, the Freshman Exchange Competition and the University League. According to the college's reward regulations, the former can be converted into 3,000 credits, while the latter will be awarded 10,000 credits!"

Lin Chen was slightly shaken upon hearing this.

The academic credits for winning the freshman exchange competition are the same as those for becoming the youngest intermediate beast tamer in the Northern Territory. The value and importance of the university league far exceed both, making its value of 10,000 academic credits reasonable.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he asked, "Dean, has anyone in our college won the academic credit award for winning the university league championship?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Honggang's forehead creased with annoyance, and he said irritably, "Go away, go away, stop asking such embarrassing questions."

He paused deliberately, his gaze deep and thoughtful, and said with emotion, "The principal and the others didn't expect you to bring such a big surprise. They discussed your reward and future development policies all night yesterday."

After saying this, he patted Lin Chen's shoulder lightly, filled with emotion: "Luckily, I acted early."

Lin Chen smiled upon hearing this, then asked, "Dean, how many credits are typically required for Level 5 resources?"

Zhao Honggang replied, "Level 5 resources are extremely precious, and you don't have enough credits yet."

Lin Chen felt a sudden sense of disappointment, and at the same time, a wave of emotion welled up in his heart.

After all, it is just an academy, and its financial resources are nowhere near those of the wealthy and powerful Beast Tamer Association.

The organizer of the university league is the Beastmaster Association, so the champion's prize is a choice of any level 5 resource. However, the academy has given more than 10,000 credits, which is far from enough to exchange for a level 5 resource.

A thought flashed through Lin Chen's mind, and he spoke again, "Dean, I would like to exchange for a Holy Spirit Core directly."

Zhao Honggang frowned slightly, as if confirming that he hadn't misheard, and then asked, "That level four light-element resource?"

Lin Chen nodded.

Zhao Honggang glanced at Lin Chen, a knowing glint in his eyes, and asked again, "Which of your pets is about to evolve?"

Immediately, he stroked his beard and muttered to himself, "It should be the Radiant Moon Cat. It's a light-attribute pet, while the Vine Fist Warrior doesn't seem to have much to do with light."

Lin Chen chuckled, "I only have a few ideas right now."

Zhao Honggang said quietly, "You said the same thing last time, and then not long after, the Flame Spine Tyrannosaurus evolved."

"How long are you planning to take for the Moonlit Spirit Cat to evolve this time?"

Lin Chen thought about it carefully and replied, "Within a month."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Honggang opened his mouth, but did not speak immediately.

He simply patted Lin Chen on the shoulder, lowered his voice, and slowly said, "Be careful where you walk in the future. Don't go near the research department, and especially don't let Professor Li see you."

"Otherwise, I'm really afraid he won't be able to control himself and will take you away."

Lin Chen smiled upon hearing this.

Zhao Honggang's smile faded, and he said seriously, "The Holy Spirit Core, right? I'll have them send it to you tomorrow."

Lin Chen nodded.

After winning this championship, my evolution experience points have reached 650, and I am not far from filling the evolution bar of the Moonlit Spirit Cat.

Prepare the Holy Spirit Core in advance so that you can seamlessly transition to evolution and avoid a situation like this university league where you have to wait another week.

After the two talked about the university league for a while, Zhao Honggang's eyes suddenly flashed: "By the way, we've been discussing this for the past two days and decided to revise our training policy for you."

Lin Chen looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

"From now on, you don't need to attend classes anymore." Zhao Honggang's tone was calm, yet firm. "Just come to take an exam and go through the formalities at the end of the semester. You don't need to stay at the academy at other times."

Lin Chen was momentarily stunned, a thought popping into his mind:

Did I just accomplish in two months what most college students take four years to complete, and graduate early?

Zhao Honggang seemed to see through his thoughts, smiled and waved his hand, explaining, "With your current ability, continuing to sit in the classroom and listen to basic courses won't improve you much. You've already reached the level of a graduate."

"In that case, it's better to let you develop freely. If you have any questions, just come and ask the teacher anytime. The academy's doors and resources are always open to you."

After listening, Lin Chen's lips slowly curled up.

That's good, then I won't be trapped in the academy. I can focus on leveling up in the wild and searching for traces of the Dark Race.

To level up the fastest, you need to engage in pet battles, and keep engaging in pet battles.

Over the next few days, Lin Chen traveled between various news media outlets, giving interviews and participating in official events. His fame rose again, and even more and more middle-aged and older people knew his name.

Five days later, there were still fifteen days until the Trial Tower opened.

Lin Chen finally finished a bunch of miscellaneous tasks and dialed Zeng Chuan's number.

In fact, after he won the championship, Zeng Chuan congratulated him on behalf of the Special Defense Bureau and presented him with a bunch of congratulatory gifts.

However, these gifts are more symbolic than practical and have little real value; they are better than nothing.

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