62: Research topic

Looking at the five documents in front of him, Xu Yan casually picked up the leftmost one and glanced at it.

"Research on the Fusion Evolution and Legion Link of the Eight Array Spider"

Before Xu Yan could even open it, an extremely ominous feeling arose from the bottom of his heart.

His intuition told Xu Yan that this was a massive pit, one deep enough to bury him completely and keep him stuck for a very long time.

Xu Yan decisively trusted his intuition, put down the document, and turned his attention toward the second file.

The two people beside him were somewhat surprised by Xu Yan's behavior of skipping the document without even reading it.

However, since both were professors with extensive experience, they quickly formed a guess after a moment of thought.

Was it an Innate Talent effect, perhaps one related to Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Disaster?

Both thought so simultaneously.

After putting down the file, Xu Yan picked up the remaining four documents in turn and scanned their titles.

"A Method for Bloodline Breakthrough Developed Based on the Efficacy of Spirit Ascension Grass"

"The Evolution and Upper Limit Development of the Azure Silk Worm"

"Research on the Non-Contract Evolution Conditions of the Spirit Spider"

These three consecutive files caused Xu Yan's eyelids to twitch uncontrollably.

Research on non-evolutionary bloodline limit increases, the Azure Silk Worm—one of the most common Spirit Beasts—and research on Gamble-Type Spirit Beasts with extremely high upper and lower limits.

Just looking at the titles might not suggest difficulty, but Xu Yan, who had read countless papers in the Secret Realm, knew that research in these three directions had always been hot topics in the Breeder World.

In this situation, research from all angles and aspects could be described as incredibly diverse.

Achieving results isn't hard, but producing new results of significant value? That difficulty is immense.

For a research topic that warrants opening a dedicated laboratory in Mo Yi's caliber of Experimental Building, run-of-the-mill results are clearly insufficient.

Evidently, these three were also pits.

With that, Xu Yan looked at the last document.

"Development of the Upper and Lower Limits Restricted by the Current Target Demographic of the Wind Flame Lion"

Compared to the previous four topics, this last one seemed less popular. Xu Yan guessed that Mo Yi had deliberately added this option for him.

It looked like the difficulty might be slightly lower than the first four, but truthfully, for the current Xu Yan, the difficulty was relatively high.

Mo Yi certainly knew about Xu Yan's previous two papers, and for him to still assign this topic under these circumstances could only mean that he was dissatisfied with the Incomplete Evolution plan Xu Yan had proposed.

Therefore, if Xu Yan wanted to achieve results, he either had to find a way to increase the bloodline limit or increase the reproductive rate through Breeding and Hybridization.

However, the breeding and hybridization of Spirit Beasts take too long, and Xu Yan was not proficient in these two areas.

Thus, the only path left for Xu Yan was to raise the bloodline limit of the Wind Flame Lion King.

Asking Xu Yan, who was only at the General Rank, to research methods for Spirit Beasts to break through to the Monarch Rank—the difficulty of this task was naturally imaginable.

After contemplating the five massive pits before him for a while, Xu Yan ultimately chose the Wind Flame Lion, which he was most familiar with, as his research topic.

Mo Yi showed no great surprise regarding Xu Yan's choice.

After Xu Yan made his selection, Mo Yi instructed Guo Rui to take Xu Yan to complete the necessary procedures.

Led by Guo Rui, and after receiving his temporary mechanical assistant, the two arrived at an unused laboratory.

After explaining some laboratory precautions, Guo Rui left to attend to his own matters, leaving Xu Yan to begin his research, facing several Wind Flame Lions and Wind Flame Lion Kings that had been delivered as "Volunteer Beasts."

A month passed as Xu Yan immersed himself in various documents and research.

During this month, Xu Yan dedicated half his time to absorbing knowledge. With the aid of Heavens Mandate Guidance, the knowledge contained within the Experimental Building's Archives and the Monarch Rank Cultivator insights provided by the school was rapidly absorbed by Xu Yan and used to enhance his abilities.

During the second half of the month, Xu Yan began learning while simultaneously practicing hands-on operations. With the combination of his Innate Talent and practical feel, he genuinely discovered something new.

However, before Xu Yan could delve deeper into his discoveries, he was interrupted by the mechanical assistant.

The mechanical assistant, which was connected to his personal cell phone, informed him that the Third Academy had started its semester, and his academic goals for the year had been issued.

He clicked it open, a hint of curiosity in his expression, and took a look.

Name: Xu Yan

Academic Year Goal: None (Already achieved, no additional goals will be set)

Seeing the large "None" character, Xu Yan, feeling confused, found Guo Rui and asked for an explanation.

The Third Academy's requirement for Cultivation Department students in their first academic year was to participate in a General Rank Cultivator assessment, with the minimum passing requirement being exemption from the penalty for failing the assessment.

Since Xu Yan had already passed the General Rank Cultivator assessment directly, he naturally did not need to participate in this type of assessment again.

Furthermore, Xu Yan did not need to participate in the Cultivation Department's second-year goal, which was also passing the General Rank Cultivator assessment.

In other words, for the next two years, as long as Xu Yan did not commit any illegal or disorderly acts, he was free to do whatever he wished.

In addition to the academic year goal, Xu Yan also received news that this year's Entrance Examination would begin in three days. Students who achieved high rankings would receive generous rewards, and all students should prepare thoroughly.

Xu Yan, however, was not worried about this.

Although Xu Yan had essentially been holed up in the laboratory for the past month, the training of his three Spirit Beasts—including Zhu Yan—had not fallen behind at all.

With sparring and guidance from Senior Students and the various Spirit Beasts the Experimental Building had applied for and cultivated, plus the resources leaked as Experimental Building benefits, and the feeding provided by Xu Yan, the seniors, and the professors, the three Spirit Beasts were stuffed full of good things every day.

Zhu Yan, whose level was already the highest, combined with the enhanced digestive ability provided by the Dodder Vine, reached General Rank 8. The other two Spirit Beasts, which had just broken through to the General Rank a month ago, also reached General Rank 6 and acquired several new skills.

Aside from rank, the one that saw the greatest increase in strength was Wuxiang.

Although Mo Yi's Experimental Building was not as specialized as a Mechanical Research Institute, because it was backed by the behemoth that is the Third Academy, and because the owner of the research building was a Major Figure like Mo Yi, the materials, equipment, and devices within the Experimental Building were extremely abundant.

After nearly draining all the academic credits from Xu Yan's account, the materials composing Wuxiang were fully upgraded. Its bloodline level reached Shuai Rank Middle Grade, and various equipment and modules were added to its structure.

Currently, Wuxiang's overall strength is the highest among the three Spirit Beasts.