'At present, the research focus is on two projects.'
'The first is the evolutionary form of the Honey Attendant.'
This was the newest research topic—and also the most urgent.
After all, the other projects could wait. But the little steward Xiao Xian could not.
Although it seemed to still have nearly two years of lifespan remaining, its vitality had already begun to decline.
If it did not evolve soon, then as its strength continued to weaken, even if the Honey Attendant did possess an evolutionary form, the probability of successfully evolving would become vanishingly small.
So the time left to it might only be a few months.
Fortunately, Xiao Xian had been able to become a Pet Beast teacher—its aptitude and potential were among the very best of its kind.
Its strength had already reached the limit of Mid Commander Tier.
The "level requirement" for evolution had already been fully met.
Moreover, its personality was highly compatible with the requirements of a Beauty-based evolution. The only thing it might lack was the hidden "Beauty" stat itself.
Therefore, Jiang Xing did not need to expend much effort. As long as he prepared "Beauty Blocks" for it, the evolution conditions could be fulfilled naturally, as a matter of course.
Coincidentally, the Ugly Waterfowl next door was also about to begin Beauty training. The two could proceed in parallel.
'However, Pet Beast evolution contains a subjective, will-based element.'
'Just like how many Pet Beasts clearly meet the evolution conditions, yet still fail to evolve…'
'Like how the Golden-Patterned Koi evolved into the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling instead of some other attribute variant—perhaps that had a great deal to do with the "Rainbow Dragon Gate" I created…'
'To complete evolution—especially a brand-new evolution—the Pet Beast's own mindset is extremely important.'
'A Pet Beast that doesn't believe it can evolve simply cannot evolve.'
'Perhaps only those that truly believe, that desire it, that possess a powerful will to evolve… can carve out an entirely new path—or even create a new evolutionary form where none previously existed!'
This was also why, every time Jiang Xing trained a Pet Beast, he always began with a contract and displayed absolute confidence.
Of course, he knew that the Honey Attendant might not necessarily achieve a Beauty evolution—and that failure was even more likely.
But if even he could not remain firm in his conviction, then the Pet Beast would inevitably be affected as well. Its confidence and will would be greatly diminished.
Taking this into account, merely fulfilling the evolution conditions was clearly not enough.
Under uncertain circumstances, Jiang Xing decided to imitate the principle of "a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate," and design an evolution process to generate a powerful will to evolve within the Honey Attendant—
'If the Honey Attendant's "Beauty" stems from its kind, healing heart… then I should draw from that aspect, and let it bring forth its own unique "Beauty."'
After some thought, Jiang Xing decided to start with "treating injured Pet Beasts" and "protecting young ones."
First, he would raise the Honey Attendant's Beauty, then use verbal guidance and demonstrations—such as showing the Ugly Waterfowl's evolution—to increase its desire and confidence in evolving. After that, he would arrange a "hero saving the damsel" scenario to trigger an explosive surge of will and evolutionary energy…
Of course, Jiang Xing would not actually gather a group of seriously injured young Pet Beasts.
With the little Qilin around, its Demi-God Tier mental power made it effortless to hypnotize a Commander Tier Honey Attendant.
As for whether illusions would be effective…
they definitely would.
Just like with the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate—the Dragon Gate itself was never the important part.
What mattered was the Honey Attendant's "heart of healing."
As long as its spirit underwent a transformation, everything else would fall into place naturally.
'Psychic-type abilities really are convenient…'
'By the way, does this count as "tempering the heart through illusion"?'
Jiang Xing's eyes lit up.
In evolution, one must first establish resolve; in training, one must first temper the heart.
It was somewhat like a fusion of the Dragon Gate and Dragon Might.
By using mental power—hypnosis, pressure, and the like—he could drive a transformation in a Pet Beast's will.
This kind of "heart-tempering" evolution method seemed to have never been proposed before!
If it truly succeeded, it would become an entirely new evolutionary theory!
'As expected, in a world driven by the mind, you've got to use mind-driven methods for it to feel right.'
The Honey Attendant's evolution project had given Jiang Xing a new burst of inspiration.
He began designing the research project for the Ugly Waterfowl's evolutionary form.
The first step was Friendship-based evolution.
Based on the many Pet Beasts recorded in the Pet Beast Compendium, this type of evolution should be relatively simple.
As long as the two conditions—Friendship and Level—were met, evolution could occur naturally.
In fact, if Jiang Xing hadn't been aiming to obtain more research results—planning to study a hybrid evolution combining Friendship and Beauty—he wouldn't have deliberately suppressed the Ugly Waterfowls' growth, nor limited their strength training and development.
By now, quite a number of them would likely have already completed their Friendship-based evolution.
Therefore, the focus of training should be placed on Beauty-based evolution.
This was an evolution method the system had indicated involved not only a "Beauty stat," but also a "mental/spiritual factor."
Thus, the Ugly Waterfowls' hearts must also become equally "beautiful."
Jiang Xing's idea was to change their inferiority complex—to make them confident.
Not the kind of forced, brainwashing-style confidence that says, "I'm perfect," or "I may be ugly, but I'm proud," ignoring objective reality—but a confidence that overcomes the influence of the Ugliness talent, no longer feeling disgust toward themselves, their own kind, or even their offspring because of that innate power.
A confidence that disregards external judgment, and instead strives to transcend and overcome oneself!
At the end of the day, every species has its own sense of aesthetics.
Imposing the standards of other species onto oneself and one's kind was inherently unreasonable.
Would humans feel inferior just because elephants thought they were ugly?
Obviously not!
Without the influence of the talent, Ugly Waterfowls might not even find their "featherless chicken" appearance ugly. They might consider it normal—or even develop their own standards of beauty.
It was the Ugliness talent that had caused all of this.
Therefore, to change things, they first had to overcome that talent!
Of course, this was extremely difficult.
Even Jiang Xing had to rely on various tools to negate the effects of the Ugliness talent.
That was why he had arranged for the Ugly Waterfowls to learn the move Seduction.
Beauty-related moves, combined with Beauty Blocks, would increase their Beauty.
He didn't expect them to become universally adored through Seduction—so long as it could offset the effects of Ugliness and change how they viewed one another, that would be enough.
'Given individual personality differences, only a portion of the Ugly Waterfowls will likely meet the requirements and complete Beauty-based evolution.'
'So once their development reaches a certain stage, I'll standardize the training—raise their strength to the limit of their Species Tier, and fulfill the level requirement for evolution…'
'Then, right at the entrance of the research institute, I'll hold a small evolution assembly—gather various wild Pet Beasts to watch, and use it as a trial to test the Ugly Waterfowls' hearts, letting them display their own "Beauty"…'
'Those who pass the trial will achieve Beauty-based evolution. Those who fail will undergo Friendship-based evolution.'
As for a hybrid evolutionary form combining Friendship and Beauty…
Jiang Xing himself couldn't confirm whether such a form even existed, nor could he train it in a targeted manner.
He could only supplement their evolution requirements indirectly.
For example, by telling them version 2.0 stories—like the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, the ugly duckling turning into a swan, the farm chicken becoming a phoenix…
telling them that even a gutter-dwelling waterfowl had the potential to transform into a phoenix!
Then, by using phoenix-attributed resources and moves, he could increase their chances of achieving that transformation.
As for the rest… it would depend on them.
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