Chapter 12: The Cat’s Story, Adrian’s Choice

“His story is actually pretty interesting,” Leo began.

“This Serene Spirit Cat’s mother gave birth to four kittens about half a year ago. The mother was a Nether Spirit Shadow Cat—that is, the Commander-quality beast a Serene Spirit Cat evolves into after first becoming a Serene Spirit Shadow Cat, then evolving again.”

“She was one of the core beasts of a deputy patriarch in a major family.”

“High-quality, high-level beasts already have difficulty reproducing.”

“Giving birth to four offspring at once is even harder.”

“And those four kittens each had their own traits.”

“This Nether Spirit Shadow Cat must have mated with some kind of lion-type beast. Among the offspring, one was a lion-type beast. At birth, it was already Commander—Lower quality, called a Berserk Spirit Lion.”

“Beasts of that quality are excellent as second or even third companions. It was quickly gifted to a standout member of the family.”

“The other two Serene Spirit Cats were both Exceptional—Upper. One even had a special [Nether] attribute. Its value was no lower than that Berserk Spirit Lion.”

“The last one is this fierce little Serene Spirit Cat.”

“They all said this Serene Spirit Cat’s siblings were too outstanding, so they sucked away its talent and essence. Otherwise, how could it only have Common—Upper quality?”

“At first, the family’s breeders thought that judging by its appearance, it should also have its father’s lion bloodline.”

“Later, they found it really was just an ordinary—even too ordinary—Serene Spirit Cat.”

“They studied it for nearly a month and found nothing. It had no research value, and no one in the family wanted to contract a common-quality cat.”

“Eventually, it was sold at an auction. Even though it was common quality, because it had the ‘excellent background’ of a Nether Spirit Shadow Cat mother and a Berserk Spirit Lion sibling, someone still bought it for one hundred thousand crowns.”

“Their goal, naturally, was also research.”

“But what even the major family’s breeders could not do, other breeders certainly could not do either.”

“Anyway, it seems to have changed hands a couple more times. A week ago, it was sent to the cultivation center as a resource exchange.”

“After all, it is still a special Serene Spirit Cat. The cultivation center naturally wanted to see if it had any potential left.”

“The answer, of course, was no.”

“That Exceptional—Upper Serene Spirit Cat is priced at two hundred thousand crowns because of its outstanding quality. This one, because its quality degraded, is priced at only fifty thousand crowns.”

“Even so, I still don’t think anyone will buy it…”

“Look at its build. As an initial beast companion, there are plenty of better options at the same price among Common—Upper quality beasts.”

Leo looked at it and shook his head helplessly. “Still, I do think it’s pitiful.”

“Beasts already have high intelligence. What it’s been through recently must have been hard. Sold by a major family, researched, experimented on, passed around several times—the process definitely wasn’t happy.”

“Compared to its three siblings, it really hasn’t had a good life.”

“So after I learned its story, even though it really gives me a headache, it’s hard to truly be angry at it.”

This text was taken from NovelPhoenix. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Breeders are too utilitarian in too many cases… squeezing out every bit of use, even from beasts. High-quality ones are enshrined. Low-quality ones with special backgrounds are interesting at first. Once they find out there’s nothing special, they throw them away.”

Leo continued, “Actually, I’ve already made up my mind. When my internship ends, if this Serene Spirit Cat is still at the cultivation center, I plan to buy it and take it with me.”

“It’s the beast that left a black mark on my record. I can’t let it waste away here. After all, I really don’t think anyone will buy it.”

Hearing this, Adrian looked at Leo more seriously.

Earlier, Leo wanted to buy the Mist Spirit Spider because he saw its potential. As a breeder, maybe he could cultivate it into a completely new species and make his career shine.

But this Serene Spirit Cat—Leo had not seen anything abnormal about it. “The beast that left a black mark on my record” was clearly not the real reason.

Adrian felt that Leo was fundamentally kind-hearted. A breeder who would specifically look into a beast’s past and feel pity, unwilling to let it suffer at the cultivation center, could not be summed up as simply “unwilling to admit defeat.”

But Leo’s wish probably would not come true.

Because Adrian had already made his decision.

“Senior Leo, I want this Serene Spirit Cat.” His tone was firm. “Mr. Caldwell always says that when contracting a beast, ‘fate’ is the core. Whether it’s eye affinity or some unseen connection, it might mean something.”

“Today was one of the rare days I overslept and almost arrived late. But if not for that, I wouldn’t have run into the staff member putting it into the glass box right at the entrance.”

“Even when I was observing the other beasts earlier, I kept thinking about why this Serene Spirit Cat was so special.”

“And after seeing it, I feel even more certain.” Adrian continued expressing his thoughts. “I can feel the unwillingness in its personality, and that wildness and resilience. That’s exactly the quality I want in my initial beast companion. That’s also why I asked you about its story.”

“After hearing its story, I’m even more certain.”

“Senior Leo, if I told you I could make it the most special Serene Spirit Cat in the world, would you believe me?”

Leo froze.

To be honest, he did not believe it at all.

But he could not crush a Grade 11 student’s ambition and enthusiasm.

More importantly, he really did not think this beast was suitable as Adrian’s first companion. Its potential and quality were too low.

He had promised Mr. Caldwell that he would help Adrian today.

If Adrian went back with just this beast, how was that different from Mr. Caldwell giving him an exam and him failing it?

“Junior, I believe in your will, but I really don’t recommend buying it.”

“The three I mentioned earlier are all much better than it.”

“But when choosing a beast, especially with the ‘fate’ you mentioned, it really does depend on the tamer’s own feelings and judgment. So as long as you’ve thought it through, I won’t argue with you.”

“Are you really sure? You’re not choosing that Mist Spirit Spider?” Leo asked seriously.

“Yes.” Adrian’s answer was short and firm.

“All right. For some reason, I’m actually kind of happy.” Leo stopped trying to lecture him.

“I don’t know if I’m happy because someone is taking this little cat away, or because you’re not taking that special Mist Spirit Spider.”

“This Serene Spirit Cat is fifty thousand crowns. After the 10% discount, it’s forty-five thousand. Your startup funds are one hundred thousand. Do you want to buy some special materials too, or pay with your own money?”

“I’ll pay with my own money. Materials can wait until I need them.”

“Mm, that’s more reasonable. After all, for this Serene Spirit Cat, I don’t have the slightest idea what to recommend to you.”

“Then I’ll leave this Serene Spirit Cat to you. Most of the time it’s quiet. It just runs around late at night. It usually ignores people, but as long as you don’t force it, it won’t be too fierce.”

“You can go to the cultivation center’s front desk to pay later.”

“As for the contract, just go home and build a little emotional connection with it. Besides, it’s only Common—Upper quality. As a One-Star Beast Tamer, contracting it won’t be difficult at all.”

Five minutes later.

Leo put the Serene Spirit Cat into a glass cat box and handed it to Adrian, then turned to prepare the bill.

The kitten seemed used to being loaded and moved around. It knew it had been bought again.

Another new home.

But as long as it did not have to live with other Serene Spirit Cats and pretend to be calm, it could accept it.

It lazily looked up at Adrian.

Adrian looked into its silver-white pupils. They seemed to hold little light.

He leaned close to the glass box and said softly, “You want to become a lion, right? I can help you.”

Those words made its pupils widen slightly. A light appeared in its eyes, then dimmed again.

How did this human know that little thought it had when it was bored?

But it was just an underdeveloped cat…

How could it become a lion?

It lowered its head, narrowed its eyes, and seemed to act as if it no longer cared about anything.

Leo handed Adrian the bill and a business card.

“Take this card to the front desk. After you swipe and pay, the restriction on the cat box will unlock, and you can take it home.”

“Also, this is my card. I really admire you. If you have any questions about your studies in the future, you can ask me anytime. You won’t just be a good beast tamer—you also have the potential to become a good breeder.”

“Maybe we’ll even become university alumni someday!”

Adrian took the two cards. “Senior, you like that Mist Spirit Spider, right? I have a small suggestion.”

“Oh?” Leo’s eyes lit up.