Chapter 413 - 239: Guarding the Borders with Strength, Bearing the Nation’s Fate Together
After speaking, Liu Gu said to the Little Fox:
"Little Fox, start breathing fire."
The Little Fox immediately gathered energy, its belly enlarging. Liu Gu quickly stopped it, saying, "I didn’t tell you to fight."
The Little Fox quickly shrank its belly and spat out a ball of fire, as if cooking.
"Make it a bit bigger."
"Yes, just like that."
After a few tries, Liu Gu said again, "You need to maintain the True Flame Mode, roasting for about an hour every day."
"That long?"
"That’s why when ordinary people get a celestial-grade spirit egg, it’s not necessarily easy to hatch it." Liu Gu laughed.
"Then, teacher, what breed do you think it is?" Lin Chen asked.
"I can’t tell." Liu Gu glanced around and finally said, "It was found on a volcano, could it be fire attribute?"
Lin Chen was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. He already had a fire-attribute spirit beast, would he need another one?
Oh well.
Since it’s celestial-grade, even if there are another ten, Lin Chen wouldn’t refuse.
Liu Gu invited Lin Chen to stay for dinner, and he himself went to cook, while Lin Chen went to call Yan Lan over.
Sitting at the dining table, Liu Gu said, "This time, the academy’s meeting is mainly about next year’s Celestial Realm Mountain Human-Demon Duel."
That’s when Lin Chen remembered; it took him over three months to travel to and from Celestial Beast Island, and he stayed on the island for another month.
Now, nearly three years had passed.
The beast tide chaos back then, the Celestial Realm Mountain agreement, and the disbandment of the Monster Hunter Guild all happened three years ago.
Next year is the final year stated in the Celestial Realm Mountain agreement.
...
"Our academy will participate too?" Lin Chen asked.
"This matter is essentially a racial issue; everyone should contribute, but now the nation is rife with conflicts, as everyone should be aware." Liu Gu’s expression was extremely distressed as he spoke.
Lin Chen also knew that the current predicament faced by the Cangling Ancient Country was due to the uneven distribution of interests.
On Blue Star, resources are not just spirit beasts but also evolutionary herbs, money, and more.
A lot of things are controlled by major forces, and very few resources reach the hands of ordinary folks.
This conflict with the Demon Race concerns the future of the Cangling Ancient Country, and they must go all out, but the Demon Race will surely do their utmost because the law of the jungle is survival of the fittest by nature.
In such circumstances, those from the big families are likely unwilling to step forward, as risking their lives for the sake of patriotism is not in their nature.
"Dubhe Pavilion has called upon the young scions of major forces to actively participate, but the response has been lukewarm." Liu Gu sighed, "So Dubhe Pavilion plans to replicate the Beast Fighting Conference’s approach by using money to persuade people."
Lin Chen understood then.
To get people to risk their lives, something decent must be offered.
After pondering, Lin Chen said:
"While there are experts among the common folk, the apex power is still largely controlled by the major forces, and these major forces are not short on resources, so convincing them won’t be easy."
"That’s why we’re having the meeting," Liu Gu said, "to gather resources."
"What’s the big haul this time?" Lin Chen picked up on the implication.
At this point, Liu Gu said, "Do you remember the Taichu ruins discovered eight years ago in the Cross Mountain?"
Lin Chen nodded.
That incident was widely talked about because the Taichu ruins that time were massive, attracting many forces to explore.
The result was that many died.
The profit there was huge, and competition was fierce.
But many also became wealthy overnight.
It was even rumored someone found an invaluable treasure from the Taichu period.
"Do you know what it is, teacher?" Lin Chen asked.
"I don’t know the specifics, just that the rewards come from there," Liu Gu replied, "but this time the Spirit Academy offered many resources, and Celestial Capital will offer even more. The rewards this time won’t be simple."
Lin Chen was naturally tempted, but having found the celestial egg recently, he decided not to take risks.
This duel and the Beast Fighting Conference were different in nature, genuinely risking beast lives.
....
After dinner, Lin Chen bid farewell and went back.
Returning home, Lin Chen eagerly took out the celestial spirit egg, summoned the Little Fox, and said:
"Little Fox, this egg will be in your care from now on."
The Little Fox looked at the egg and nodded seriously. Lin Chen teased that it was going to be a "mom" at such a young age.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing "mom," the Little Fox wore an earnest expression, practiced its flame control in the courtyard for a few minutes, and then returned to roast the egg.
In the courtyard, Xiaobai and Xiao Hei were diligently training. Lin Chen ignored them and went straight to sleep.
The next day, after breakfast, Lin Chen visited the Beastmaster Guild in Ling Mountain City.
"Sir, how can I assist you?" The Beastmaster Guild’s service attitude was quite good.
Since the disbandment of the Monster Hunter Guild, the Beastmaster Guild had been the only window for grassroots beastmasters.
Dubhe Pavilion was also aware of the nation’s deep-seated issues, so it required improved guild welfare and service attitude from its staff.
Lin Chen briefly stated his background, and the staff member said, "No problem, please follow me. Are you here for the Intermediate Beastmaster assessment?"
"Yes."
"The Intermediate Beastmaster assessment requires the evaluation of three spirit beasts. Do you already have three spirit beasts?"
"I do."
"Alright, please follow me."
The staff led Lin Chen to the arena area and asked, "Please present your guild machine; I need to do a registration."
Lin Chen produced the guild machine. Upon a quick glance, the staff was momentarily stunned.
She looked at Lin Chen in disbelief, then at Xiaobai, her pupils dilated as she said, "You’re... you’re Lin Chen?"
"Yes, is there a problem?" Lin Chen didn’t quite react at first.
"Are you the Lin Chen from Spirit Academy?" The staff was so excited she was shaking.
Lin Chen paused, remembering that he was somewhat famous in the Beast Fighting Conference too. He didn’t hide it and nodded.
The staff was so excited she nearly started shouting, "Sorry, I didn’t recognize it was you."
Lin Chen felt embarrassed.
He expected her to apologize for being a bit out of line.
Is his popularity really that high?
"Do I need to test something?" Lin Chen asked.
"No, you don’t need to test," the staff said.
"I don’t need to?"
"Your spirit beasts don’t need to prove themselves." The staff respectfully handed back the guild machine to Lin Chen, saying, "I’ll submit your information, and then we’ll have our guild’s president directly approve it."
"Our president also said that if you really come here for the assessment, you won’t have to participate in the routine monthly tasks, to avoid delaying your training."
Lin Chen was a bit mortified...
It seems he’s more popular than he imagined.
But that’s convenient.
Originally, the Beastmaster Guild’s welfare for an Intermediate Beastmaster was twenty thousand a month, but beastmasters are required to participate in one guild mission a month; if they don’t, the month’s welfare is revoked.
Lin Chen wasn’t shy about thanking them. Unexpectedly, the staff excitedly asked, "Can... can I have your autograph?"
"Of course." Lin Chen didn’t put on airs and signed for her before leaving.
After exiting the guild and heading back to the Spirit Academy gate, he saw a notification from his guild machine:
[Congratulations on successfully advancing to Intermediate Beastmaster. Your information is now on record.]
[Mr. Lin Chen, in recognition of your contributions to the Cangling Ancient Country, you have been granted task exemption, and your monthly welfare has doubled, lasting three years.]
Lin Chen was taken aback after reading this, but it’s a decent sum of money.
After taking a few more steps, he heard another beep from the guild machine.
Lin Chen was surprised, wondering if there were additional rewards, but instead saw a red notification.
Red notifications are usually for emergencies.
Like when Jiuxing City was attacked.
Or they are from Dubhe Pavilion.
Lin Chen had already anticipated that with the upcoming racial war only a year away, Dubhe Pavilion would certainly be issuing a call to arms.
Sure enough, upon checking, he saw a notification from Dubhe Pavilion.
It seems Dubhe Pavilion and the major forces have clarified this year’s rewards.
Lin Chen looked at the notification content, the title bold and striking:
[With Martial Strength to Guard Our Land, Together Bearing National Destiny]