79: Apply for a patent
race: Thunderclap Bird
Rank: Spirit Beast One-Star
Type: Wind-type, Electric-Type
State: Survivor of a Calamity
Aptitude: Good
Skills:
1. Speed Burst (Yellow Rank): The Thunderclap Bird significantly increases its speed for a period of time.
2. Pounce (Yellow Rank): The Thunderclap Bird locks onto a target and pounces on it from above.
3. Wind Wing Slash (Profound Rank): The Thunderclap Bird gathers active Wind-type energy at the front of its wings, dealing slashing damage to targets in front of its wings.
4. Small Lightning Ball (Profound Rank): The Thunderclap Bird manipulates lightning elements to form a lightning ball, which causes explosion and electric shock damage upon contact with a target.
5. War Drum Thunderclap (Earth Rank): The Thunderclap Bird's heart thunders like a war drum, allowing it to unleash power far beyond its own Rank for a period of time.
Luo Yuheng had witnessed Luo Chen evolving his beast many times, so he wasn't too surprised by this scene.
Master Chang Heng, on the other hand, reacted much more intensely. He stood up from the stage, lightly tapped his foot on the stone slab, and landed beside Luo Chen's energy shield.
Luo Yuheng followed closely, and as he landed, he removed the energy shield that enveloped Luo Chen.
Chang Heng's eyes were clear and bright, looking even more spirited than some young people. He stared at Luo Chen sincerely and asked,
"Young friend, I wonder if I can examine this beast?"
Luo Chen naturally had no reason to refuse. As a judge, this was his duty. Asking was just a courtesy.
"Master Chang, please feel free."
After receiving permission, Chang Heng approached the Thunderclap Bird and, with a withered hand, picked it up.
He then felt it all over before setting the terrified Thunderclap Bird back down.
"The younger generation is truly formidable. This was a perfect evolution."
Chang Heng looked at Luo Chen with eyes full of admiration, took out a badge, and handed it to Luo Chen. "Young friend, you've advanced. I look forward to your performance next."
Luo Chen looked at the badge in his hand: gold background, red characters, 'Qingyang City Excellent Young Breeder.'
He advanced by getting this badge?
"Thank you, Master Chang."
Chang Heng didn't even consult with the other judges and directly confirmed a spot for advancement.
However, the other judges wouldn't say anything about Master Chang Heng's decision.
Chang Heng then turned to Feng Qingyang, who had 'arrived late,' and said,
"City Lord Feng, the hope for a significant increase in your City Guard's strength lies in this young friend's hands. Why don't you offer some conditions and try to secure it?"
Having witnessed the entire process, and with Chang Heng's few pointers, Feng Qingyang could also confirm that this beast seemed to be quite powerful.
The key was that the Rapid Eagle, which had always been considered unable to evolve, had now evolved. This was definitely a huge boost to Qingyang City's strength.
If tens of thousands of City Guards each had such a beast, even if not all of them evolved, if half did, the nearby secret realms would become resource depots for Qingyang City.
Qingyang City would also experience rapid development, and its ranking among the Lower City would rise.
In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Feng Qingyang's mind.
He looked at Luo Chen, "I wonder if the young shop owner would be willing to part with this Evolution Path. The City Lord's Mansion is willing to exchange it for a King Beast plus thirty million spirit coins."
Hearing Feng Qingyang's conditions, Luo Chen lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Thank you for your kind offer, City Lord. I do not plan to sell this Evolution Path.
However, I will apply for a patent in the Illusion World and make this Evolution Path public. As long as a certain amount of spirit coins is paid, the Thunderclap Bird can be evolved."
Because the competition was public and live-streamed for others to watch, the materials Luo Chen needed to evolve the Thunderclap Bird and the refining method had already been seen by everyone.
He had to apply for a patent, even if he didn't want to, but he wasn't entirely against applying for this patent.
Because he had already thoroughly understood how patents are currently protected.
Beasts in all cities of Huaguo are monitored by 'energy shields.' If a Thunderclap Bird appears, regardless of whether it was evolved according to Luo Chen's method, the owner will be required to pay a patent fee to Luo Chen.
If they refuse to comply, there will be penalties such as restricted travel, frozen accounts, and prohibition from entering the Illusion World. The first step will be to automatically deduct the corresponding fee from their bank account.
However, there are also drawbacks. If the 'supervisors' themselves are not impartial, unpredictable harm could arise.
This would be the most severe blow to the existing stable order.
However, Luo Chen had knowledge and was not afraid of this Evolution Path being leaked. This was called 'testing the waters.'
If there were any real problems, they could be detected in advance, allowing for timely damage control.
Upon hearing Luo Chen's reply, Feng Qingyang's original intention was to fully control this path within Qingyang City's City Lord's Mansion, but then he remembered that Luo Chen's Evolution Path had already been live-streamed.
Many Breeders had probably already learned how to evolve it, so even if he bought this Evolution Path, he probably couldn't keep it under wraps.
So the words on the tip of his tongue changed into another meaning, "Young friend, what price do you intend to set for the patent fee?"
Luo Chen was stunned; he hadn't actually considered it yet.
He silently calculated the original value of the fierce beast, estimated the value of this Thunderclap Bird, and then deducted the material costs.
Finally, he set a very affordable price.
"For each Thunderclap Bird evolved, let's temporarily set it at one thousand spirit coins. I can grant an exclusive authorization to soldiers with Qingyang City Guard status; the price they need to pay to evolve a Thunderclap Bird will be five hundred spirit coins."
This price was indeed not expensive. If all thirty thousand City Guard soldiers evolved, the patent fee would only be fifteen million spirit coins.
Although, adding the cost of materials and the Breeder's labor fee, Qingyang City would not be able to have all its City Guard evolve. It could only select some excellent ones to evolve first.
Feng Qingyang laughed heartily, "Then, on behalf of the City Guards, I thank young friend Luo for his benevolence."
Luo Chen, after all, grew up in Qingyang City. If the Qingyang City Guard were stronger, the city would be safer. Being generous in this regard was very necessary.
After briefly discussing these matters, Feng Qingyang, Chang Heng, and Luo Yuheng returned to the judges' seats on the stage to continue surveying the entire venue.
However, Feng Qingyang's face showed even more anticipation, hoping that more contestants like Luo Chen would appear next.
He truly didn't mind having too many Evolution Paths.
After they left, and he himself had advanced, this Thunderclap Bird was no longer of any use.
Luo Chen patted its head, "Go back to your master now."
The Thunderclap Bird affectionately rubbed Luo Chen's palm, then its wings vibrated, leaving a trail of electric arcs in mid-air, and it swiftly went to the side of the young man who had previously glared at Luo Chen.
Looking at the Thunderclap Bird's current excellent State and its robust aura, the young man looked at Luo Chen with a complex expression.
A hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but he didn't dwell on his thoughts too much.
The Thunderclap Bird's advancement to Spirit Beast had already provided its feedback. He only had time to tell his two teammates beside him before he hastily sat cross-legged on the ground to digest this sudden influx of power.
His two teammates, of similar age, looked at him with some envy. If only their Rapid Eagle had also been assigned to that young man!
The several people behind the young man who had just commented on Luo Chen were now somewhat speechless, their expressions incredibly varied.
Some people tried to compensate, "I said it! The evolution process of a beast always needs some special performance to succeed."
"Exactly, exactly. How can one become an excellent beast without going through some hardships?"
"Ah, this is a true Master. In the future, I'll find this Master for my beast."
"Look how beautiful its feathers are after evolving."
...
After the Thunderclap Bird returned, Luo Chen summoned his two beasts, Little Fluffball and Little Dot.
After instructing them to guard him, he sat cross-legged in meditation and entered the Illusion World.
He said to the orb of light that appeared punctually beside him, "I want to apply for an evolution patent."
"Patent application space is ready."
The environment of Chenyang Pet Store around Luo Chen suddenly changed. He found himself in the white space he had entered during the official Breeder assessment.
A familiar, ethereal and vast voice rang out,
"Please select the beast for which you wish to apply for a patent."
"Rapid Eagle."
The white mist in front of him churned, and a very standard Rapid Eagle appeared.
The reason it was called standard was that all aspects of it were only considered ordinary within its race: ordinary wings, height, appearance, mental State, and Aptitude.
"Please select the required materials."
Luo Chen reported the materials he needed and then demonstrated the entire evolution process here once more.
The Rapid Eagle successfully evolved into a Thunderclap Bird.
The video of his evolution process will be permanently stored in the patent space. If anyone wishes to evolve a Thunderclap Bird in the future, they can view it at any time.
Viewing the evolution process only requires a payment of ten spirit coins, but for every Thunderclap Bird evolved, a corresponding patent fee will be charged.
"Patent for Rapid Eagle evolving into Thunderclap Bird successfully applied. Patent holder, Luo Chen. Please set the price for this patent."
"One thousand spirit coins."
"Price recorded. Current patent revenue is 0."
It was normal for the revenue to be 0 as the patent had just been applied for.
"Authorize Qingyang City Guard, price set at 500 spirit coins." Luo Chen also entered the half-price discount he had discussed with Feng Qingyang for the City Guard.
"Qingyang City Guard exclusive discount of 500 spirit coins, recorded."
After completing these tasks, Luo Chen hastily returned from the Illusion World to the real world.
At this point, the competition was nearing its end. The judges were evaluating the situation of all the Breeders who had cultivated Rapid Eagles.
Because many improvements in combat power were not visible externally, the verification methods were varied.
Some Breeders had allowed their Rapid Eagle to comprehend new Skills during the morning, which was relatively easy to test. However, things like increased speed or faster Skill release were not so easy to detect.
However, since the Qingyang City Lord's Mansion adopted such an evaluation method, there would naturally be specialized detection methods.
Master Chang Heng had a 'green snake' wrapped around his shoulder, but upon closer inspection, it was a moving vine.
After it appeared, it emitted a soft white light, and then, in front of the Rapid Eagle being tested, a Rapid Eagle with an almost identical appearance appeared.
Qingyang City's detection method was very simple: it was to have this created Rapid Eagle fight the Rapid Eagle cultivated by the Breeder.
Finally, based on the battle results, the degree of cultivation improvement was determined.