17: Chapter 17 A Visit

"Sis, take these primary mana nutrient solutions. Now that we've achieved primary mana nutrient solution freedom, there's no need to hold back. Increasing our strength as quickly as possible is what matters most!"

Returning home, Chu Xiu took out 20 vials of primary mana nutrient solution from his backpack and gave them to Chu Yuqing.

"Chu Xiu, the 20 vials of primary mana nutrient solution you gave me yesterday aren't even used up yet. You should keep these for yourself."

Chu Yuqing looked at the primary mana nutrient solution pushed in front of her and smiled faintly as she shook her head.

She needed to go to work. Of the 20 vials of primary mana nutrient solution Chu Xiu gave her, she had only used two so far, and the rest could still last for over a week.

"Alright, whenever you need them, just let me know!"

Hearing her say this, Chu Xiu hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Putting away the primary mana nutrient solution, he turned around and returned to his room.

"Xiaodao, try this primary mana nutrient solution and see if it helps you."

Back in his room, Chu Xiu summoned the Dark Blade Mantis and took out a vial of primary mana nutrient solution.

He had been too excited after making the primary mana nutrient solution yesterday, and for a moment, he actually forgot to test whether the primary mana nutrient solution could enhance his beast's strength.

The reason he wasn't sure if the primary mana nutrient solution would work was because before this, Chu Xiu had never heard of anyone giving primary mana nutrient solutions to beasts to drink.

Hearing Chu Xiu's words, the Dark Blade Mantis nodded its triangular head and obediently walked in front of Chu Xiu.

Chu Xiu opened the primary mana nutrient solution in his hand and poured it into the Dark Blade Mantis's mouth.

"Squeak squeak!"

As an entire vial of primary mana nutrient solution entered its stomach, the Dark Blade Mantis felt a massive surge of mana source emerge within its body. It immediately cried out joyfully twice, then quieted down and silently absorbed the mana source brought by this vial of primary mana nutrient solution.

A few minutes later, the Dark Blade Mantis had completely absorbed all the mana source, and continued to look at Chu Xiu with a yearning gaze.

"That's it?"

Watching a vial of primary mana nutrient solution get absorbed by the Dark Blade Mantis in just a few minutes, Chu Xiu wore a strange expression.

Afterwards, he took out another vial of primary mana nutrient solution and poured it into the Dark Blade Mantis's mouth.

This time, all his attention was focused on the Dark Blade Mantis, and he even carefully observed every subtle change in the Dark Blade Mantis's body through their contract.

After a few more minutes, the mana source of the second vial of primary mana nutrient solution was completely absorbed by the Dark Blade Mantis.

"Fine, I finally understand why I've never heard of Beastmasters directly using mana nutrient solutions to nurture beasts."

This time, a look of realization appeared on Chu Xiu's face.

Through his recent observation, he discovered that beasts could not cultivate the Demon-Forging Technique like human Beastmasters.

Therefore, even an outstanding-quality Dark Blade Mantis only absorbed the mana source inherent to the mana nutrient solution itself, and did not trigger the effect of the mana nutrient solution in accelerating the absorption of mana sources from the outside world.

This greatly discounted the effectiveness of the mana nutrient solution.

If it were calculated according to his use of the primary mana nutrient solution paired with the three-hour cultivation acceleration effect—when he took a vial of primary mana nutrient solution and practiced the Star Demon Forging Technique, during the two-hour cultivation acceleration that followed, the mana source absorbed from the outside world was nearly 30 times the mana source inherently contained within a vial of primary mana nutrient solution.

In other words, the current strength enhancement effect of the Scythe Mantis swallowing the mana nutrient solution was only one-thirtieth of his own.

He roughly estimated based on the rate at which his own strength increased that simply using the primary mana nutrient solution to elevate the Dark Blade Mantis from Black Iron Tier 1-Star to Black Iron Tier 2-Star would require a quantity of at least 300.

"Spending 3 million just to raise 1 star—using primary mana nutrient solutions to nurture beasts has too low of a cost-performance ratio, even I can't afford that!"

"Beasts will only simply absorb the mana source inherent to the resources swallowed into their bodies. It's still much more cost-effective to nurture them using monster beast cores of the same attribute."

"Once I sell these primary mana nutrient solutions tomorrow, I'll still need to purchase a batch of Black Iron Tier grass-type and dark-type monster beast cores."

"Hurry up and cultivate, let's break through my own strength to Black Iron Tier first!"

After learning about the effect of the primary mana nutrient solution on nurturing beasts, Chu Xiu stopped wasting the mana nutrient solution in his hands and put away the Dark Blade Mantis.

He turned on his phone, prepared to set an alarm, and began cultivating.

However, just as he turned on his phone, he saw a series of messages sent to him by Zhou Hao.

"Why is Zhou Hao looking for me in such a rush?"

Looking at the dozen or so messages and calls sent continuously by Zhou Hao, Chu Xiu couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Ding-dong!"

Just at this moment, the sound of the doorbell ringing came from outside the living room.

"Who could it be, so late at night?"

Immediately afterward, Chu Xiu heard Chu Yuqing's surprised voice, followed by the sound of footsteps walking toward the main door.

"Sis, wait a moment!"

Hearing this, Chu Xiu immediately walked out of his room, getting ahead of Chu Yuqing to block the doorway.

The two siblings usually didn't have many friends, and absolutely no one would come to visit so late at night. Coupled with the earlier news, it naturally made him feel vigilant.

"Brother Chu! Are you home? It's me, Zhou Hao!"

But soon, the familiar voice coming from outside the door made him relax.

"Zhou Hao, how did he know I live here?"

Hearing the voice from outside the door, the heart Chu Xiu had been hanging dropped, while his face was filled with confusion.

After all, the message where Zhou Hao asked him where he was on his phone was sent an hour and a half ago, and now the other party had found their way to his front door.

"Your friend?"

At this moment, Chu Yuqing also looked at Chu Xiu in surprise.

Hearing this, Chu Xiu nodded. "Sort of."

Then he opened the front door.

"Brother Chu, we meet again!"

As soon as the door opened, Zhou Hao immediately greeted Chu Xiu upon seeing him.

"Little Brother Chu Xiu, let me introduce myself. I am Gong Jiangtao, director of the City Defense Research Institute."

"I've finally gotten to meet you. Little brother is indeed a man of talent, a hero among youths!"

At this time, Gong Jiangtao beside Zhou Hao didn't even wait for Zhou Hao to finish speaking before excitedly stepping forward and grasping Chu Xiu's hand.

"It's actually Master Gong!"

Gong Jiangtao's words instantly made Chu Yuqing on the side widen her eyes in shock.

Especially after seeing Gong Jiangtao's actions, she was even more extremely shocked.

The director of the City Defense Research Institute—this was a big figure on the same level as the president of the Breeder Association.

When she was working at the Breeder Association, she had once been fortunate enough to see Gong Jiangtao come to the Breeder Association on official business. Back then, even the president of the Breeder Association had personally gone out to welcome him.

She never imagined that such a big figure would actually come to their house.

Not only Chu Yuqing, but even Chu Xiu wore a look of surprise.

Although he didn't know Gong Jiangtao, he had heard of the City Defense Research Institute.

The director of the City Defense Research Institute—even throughout the entire Linjiang City, he was a prominent, top-tier big figure.

"So it's Director Gong, a pleasure to meet you."

Looking at the excited Gong Jiangtao in front of him, although Chu Xiu was surprised, he politely exchanged pleasantries before looking at Zhou Hao on the side with a questioning gaze.

Seeing this, Zhou Hao also understood Chu Xiu's confusion and immediately explained the whole story from beginning to end in front of everyone.