Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

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Ms. Katherine's gaze swept past those wobbly little baby dragons, whose bellies jiggled as they walked.

Old Rothschild: "..."

Old Rothschild couldn't help but curse in his heart.

'Damn it!'

'She has her eyes on my baby dragons the moment she arrived!'

"By the way, didn't those Juliet Dragons come in with us just now?",Ms. Katherine asked again.

Old Rothschild was even more unwillling to speak.

'Good heavens.'

'So she has her eyes on the Juliet Dragons too?'

"Professor Asher, are you asking about that direction?",Old Rothschild decisively abandoned the conversation with Ms. Katherine and naturally shifted his gaze to Asher, smiling cheerfully,"That place... is the very center of Dragon Valley. My old partner is sleeping right there."

"Let's head over now."

As they walked deeper in.

The ecosystem of Dragon Valley was incredibly well-balanced.

There were mountains and rivers.

All over the ground, one could see rare dragon-attributed herbs, and shed scales from Juliet Dragons and Ancestral Dragons were scattered everywhere, reflecting a gemstone-like glow under the sunlight. The baby dragons would excitedly use their little claws to collect these scales and bring them back to their nests.

'So pretty!'

No dragon could resist something that sparkled.

After walking for over ten minutes, that tree finally appeared completely in Asher and the others' field of vision.

Even more exaggerated and massive up close.

Without a reference, it was impossible to determine whether the tree was hundreds or thousands of meters tall. Even if twenty or thirty people held hands, they might not be able to encircle its trunk.

Under the enormous canopy, an Ancestral Dragon—one that was more than a third larger than an ordinary Ancestral Dragon—was resting beneath the tree.

Curled up in a ball.

Upon hearing Asher and the others, the Ancestral Dragon opened its eyes and looked toward them.

Asher met the gaze of the enormous dragon eyes.

In an instant.

An overwhelming dragon's might and pressure, completely different from the Ancestral Dragon he had encountered before, came crashing down on him.

He instinctively held his breath for a moment.

'An Ancestral Dragon with the King attribute.'

Asher's mind immediately recalled what Proffessor Iris had once said, and he understood—this was no ordinary Ancestral Dragon before him but an Ancestral Dragon King.

As Asher regained his senses, he could tell that the three pet beasts on him were unusually quiet.

The little white snake, which had been wriggling non-stop on his wrist after waking up, was now silent as a chicken, playing dead.

The cat-worm clung stiffly to Asher's shoulder, staring at the Ancestral Dragon King while pressing tightly against Asher's neck, completely motionless.

The one handling it best was Little Raven. Faced with this overwhelming aura, it instinctively wanted to flap its wings and push back. However, the dragon's might made it unable to move—its mind refused to submit, but its body instinctively surrendered.

Little Raven: T^T

*Aggrieved...*

Little Raven looked at Asher with its big golden-red eyes, looking so pitiful as if it was about to cry the next second.

"It's okay, it's okay.",Asher gently hugged Little Raven, smoothing its feathers.

Let alone Little Raven, even Asher's legs were trembling and weak.

Before witnessing it firsthand, it was impossible to understand that kind of fear with mere imagination.

Deep breaths, deeper breaths—only then did Asher barely manage to keep himself composed under this overwhelming dragon's might.

The others around him weren't doing much better.

The fear brought by the Ancestral Dragon King was impartial, weighing down on each and every one of them. Sweat instantly soaked through their clothes, and Anderson and Jessica instinctively summoned their pet beasts, as if hoping to resist the Ancestral Dragon King's pressure.

However...

Things did not go as they wished.

Resist?

There was no resisting at all.

The moment they were summoned, the beasts dropped to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Anderson's pet beast was a massive, violently tempered Double-Spiral Horned Horse. This beast had a wild nature that remained unruly even after contracting a bond. It loved to charge around recklessly, but before the Ancestral Dragon King, it became as docile as a young antelope, lying flat on the ground, shivering as if having a seizure.

Meet the Ancestral Dragon King's gaze?

No way! His Double-Spiral Horned Horse still wanted to live; it wasn't insane.

"Dragontooth, you're scaring these children," Old Rothschild's voice rang out just then. Only then did the Ancestral Dragon King's gaze shift away from them and land solely on Old Rothschild.

"Grr—" The Ancestral Dragon King snorted.

To it, merely adjusting its position slightly was enough to create an earth-shaking effect for Asher and the others not far away.

Their feet even left the ground from the tremors.

After repositioning itself, the Ancestral Dragon King closed its eyes again, coiling up calmly, completely ignoring the newly arrived Old Rothschild and Asher's group.

"This...",Anderson looked at the massive Ancestral Dragon King, which was blatantly refusing to cooperate, his palms sweating profusely and his heart pounding,"Old Rothschild, how are we supposed to conduct an examination?"

They didn't dare go near it at all!

Anderson swore.

Even if he summoned all five of his pet beasts to accompany him, there was no way he could walk up to the Ancestral Dragon King.

Before he even got close, his beasts would definitely collapse from fear, just like the Double-Spiral Horned Horse.

Ms. Katherine also showed a somewhat complicated and difficult expression,"Old Rothschild, your Ancestral Dragon is... a little too special, isn't it?"

Never mind its aura.

Everyone in the industry knew that Old Rothschild's Ancestral Dragon had the King attribute.

But Ms. Katherine never imagined that its sheer size alone would be this exceptional.

After all.

The last time Old Rothschild publicly brought out his Ancestral Dragon King was during the International Beast Master Open Tournament.

Watching through a screen... she hadn't thought this Ancestral Dragon would be this massive.

Ms. Katherine's first move had already resulted in a crushing defeat from sheer intimidation.

A bit frightening.

But if the Ancestral Dragon King would cooperate...

The Ancestral Dragon King, named Dragontooth, seemed to... well, as if it understood Anderson's words, it opened its enormous dragon eyes to glance at Old Rothschild, then at Anderson. As Anderson's face dripped with sweat, it closed its eyes again. This time, it moved even more dramatically, turning around entirely so that only its tail faced them.

Coiled up, it completely ignored Asher and the others.

More than anything, it made its lack of cooperation abundantly clear.

Want to examine it?

Heh.

Come if you dare.

The Ancestral Dragon King might as well have had those words written on its body.

Anderson and Ms. Katherine fell silent.

Just one question.

How were they supposed to approach it?

"Don't be afraid.",Old Rothschild glared in the Ancestral Dragon King's direction.

Even though the Ancestral Dragon King had its back to them, it seemed to sense Old Rothschild's movement precisely. Its long tail, originally coiled, straightened out and began swaying irritably.

Old Rothschild snorted, and the Ancestral Dragon King's tail stopped moving.

"Follow me closely later. Tell me what you need to check.",Old Rothschild leaned on his cane, speaking openly in front of the Ancestral Dragon King,"Scales, mouth, teeth, wings, tail—you name it, and I'll handle it."

A heavier pressure emanated from the Ancestral Dragon King.

It seemed like it wanted to use this method to scare away everyone except Old Rothschild.

Ancestral Dragon King,'No, if I could scare away the beast... old man as well, that'd be great!'

Old Rothschild: 'Heh, what do you think?'

Without the Ancestral Dragon King's gaze, both Asher and the three pet beasts in his arms returned to their original state.

However, they were still somewhat frightened.

The little white snake burrowed deeper into Asher's sleeve, playing dead. Asher patted it through his clothes, comforting it not to be afraid.

The cat-worm stepped rhythmically on Asher's shoulder with its six legs, just like a kitten kneading.

Little Raven was doing a bit better, but its eyes were still full of grievance.

'Damn it!'

'I shouldn't be afraid!'

'But it was really scary...'

Asher finally ruffled the little tuft of hair on Little Raven's head, then casually plucked the cat-worm off his shoulder, holding one in each hand,"You're still young and haven't grown up yet. Being afraid is completely normal."

As he spoke, Asher's voice was not loud.

But the surrounding environment was very quiet, so everyone else could hear clearly.

They heard Asher continue speaking to his three pet beasts,"Once you grow up and become strong, when you reach a level similar to its, you won't be afraid anymore."

The little white snake, hidden under Asher's arm, upon hearing these words, slithered forward a little and directly poked its white head out from Asher's collar, pressing against his neck. Its golden eyes were full of trust in Asher.

'If I become strong, I won't be afraid?'

'Become strong, become strong!'

The little white snake, freshly hatched and originally indifferent to strength and power, was suddenly filled with a desire for strength after encountering the Ancestral Dragon King.

"Awooo—"

'Defeat the big snake!'

Lacking a full understanding of the world, the little white snake mistakenly regarded the Ancestral Dragon King as a similarly big and strong snake.

"Having enthusiasm is great. Once we return, we'll train properly.",Asher directed these words at the little white snake.

Little Raven also nodded.

'That's right!'

'When the bird becomes as strong as it...'

'Then it will be the big snake's turn to be afraid of the bird!'

'The bird will take a big bite of a giant spicy strip!'

"Meow!"

'And dra- and this dragon too!'

With Asher's comfort, the cat-worm quickly recovered as well, wiggling its six little legs in his arms, looking eager and ready.

'We'll become super strong!'

"You're all doing great. Let's work hard together after we return!",Asher's expression was gratified.

'It seems I need to take the kids out to see more of the world. That way, their motivation can be better stimulated.'

The surrounding crowd listening to Asher and his three pet beasts,"..."

Even though they couldn't understand what Asher's pet beasts were saying, just by looking at their actions and expressions, along with Asher's responses, they could tell the fighting spirit was high.

But wasn't their target... a bit too ambitious?

And besides, this isn't just a matter of getting stronger to handle.

"Asher, you should know, right? When two pet beasts have comparable strength, factors like attribute restraint and innate physical advantages can influence the outcome of a battle.",Aeron glanced at Asher and whispered.

However, everyone still heard him.

No helping it.

It was too quiet.

Even Old Rothschild wasn't in a hurry to start checking the Ancestral Dragon King and instead looked toward Asher with curiosity.

"How can you be sure something won't work if you don't even try?",In response to Aeron's well-meaning reminder, Asher calmly nodded. He knew.

But did he ever say that Little Raven, the cat-worm, and the little white snake were just ordinary beasts?

With comparable strength.

Who wins and who loses isn't so certain.

Aeron: "..."

"Alright then, as long as you're happy.",Aeron said, glancing at the three pet beasts in Asher's arms.

Hmm... If he had to bet on which one could eventually go head-to-head with the Ancestral Dragon King, it would probably be Little Raven.

Little Raven was undeniably strong. He really wanted one for himself.

Unfortunately.

None available.

Anderson looked at Asher, then at the three pet beasts in his arms, hesitating before saying,"Uh... Two of your pets look quite unique, like species I've never seen before."

He pointed at Little Raven and the cat-worm, then finally looked at the small white head peeking from Asher's collar,"But this one seems to be just an ordinary Jade Silver Snake?"

"After evolving, its strength is barely decent, but compared to Old Rothschild's Ancestral Dragon...",Anderson shook his head,"No matter how well it's nurtured, a Twin-Headed Jade Coil's strength is just that. At most, it learns one or two dragon-type skills, giving it a slight edge against common beasts, but against a true dragon-type beast, it's not even a contest."

Anderson was being sincere.

Seeing the Jade Silver Snake, he couldn't understand why Asher would contract such a widely known low-potential pet beast.

Then he thought, well, Asher is a pet beast evolution professor, so maybe it makes sense.

But if you contract a pet beast with a low potential cap, you should have a clear understanding of its limits, right?

Thinking a little snake with a water attribute could one day single-handedly take on the Ancestral Dragon King—wasn't that a joke?

"Uh... Mr. Anderson, some things shouldn't be said too early.",Asher blind, his expression sincere,"Who can say for sure what the future holds?"

"There are many things I wouldn't claim to know, but I can definitely predict that no matter how much a Jade Silver Snake evolves and gets stronger, it will never defeat Old Rothschild's Ancestral Dragon King.", Anderson saw no issue with his statement.

Noticing the hesitant expression on young girl Jessica's face, Anderson remained firm.

Why should he take back his words?

It's just the truth.

Madam Katherine, on the other hand, touched her chin and spoke up for Asher,"Maybe Professor Asher has discovered a new evolution route for the Jade Silver Snake?"

Anderson paused.

Huh?

Considering Asher's reputation as a genius pet evolution professor... it wasn't impossible.

Asher nodded,"I do have some leads."

Anderson: "?"

'No way!'

'This kid actually has a new evolution route in mind?'

Not only Anderson, but even Ms. Katherine, who had casually said this to help Asher out of the predicament, looked a little surprised.

'We just said it casually—you really have one?'

It's not that they hadn't thought about whether Asher was just making things up to save face, but a person's reputation precedes them. Over the past year, Asher had made discovery after discovery… Say no more, his image as a genius was firmly established in the minds of those in the circle.

Since Asher dared to say it, he must have confidence in his heart.

Anderson instantly didn't dare to refute anything and just secretly noted this matter in his heart.

From time to time—once the Jade Silver Snake evolves, the truth will be revealed.

"Hahaha!",The Old Rothschild, who had been quietly listening without speaking, also laughed,"No wonder. I was wondering, how could Professor Asher, such a powerful beast tamer, contract an ordinary pet beast?"

A pet evolution professor who could defeat Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon's combat department students…

Thinking about it, something just didn't add up.

Contracting an ordinary Jade Silver Snake?

No, no, no.

Old Rothschild would rather believe that Asher had other plans.

"If there's a chance in the future, I, this old man, would also look forward to a match with little Professor Asher.",Old Rothschild said with a smile, leaning on his cane.

"Alright.",Asher nodded calmly, neither arrogant nor humble.

Then he lowered his head and glanced at the Jade Silver Snake coiled around his collar,"Did you hear that? You have to work hard to become stronger."

He would be in the background, helping the little white snake cheat.

"Awo!"

The little white snake's golden eyes shone brightly.

Worried?

Afraid?

Sorry.

A newborn little snake didn't have the brains to think that much.

"Shall we all go and check on Dragontooth's condition?",Seeing that Asher, Anderson, and Ms. Katherine were no longer as tense as before, Old Rothschild spoke at the right moment.

Anderson, who had been a little scared before, suddenly realized,'Eh? I am not afraid anymore?'

Anderson secretly glanced in Asher's direction.

'Hmm...'

Ms. Katherine still looked quite serious.

It was clear that she was nervous and cautious.

But as for Asher… he was even more relaxed than Anderson.

As if he didn't even have the concept of worry or nervousness in his mind.

Jessica couldn't hold back and followed along, while the father and son duo, Greg and Aeron, walked at the rear as the last line.

Upon hearing the approaching footsteps of Old Rothschild and the others, the Ancestral Dragon King immediately played dead, burying its head in the gaps of its coiled body.

Old Rothschild's expression remained steady.

'Playing dead?'

'Asleep?'

'That's even better.'

"Where would you like to check first?",Old Rothschild turned to Asher, Anderson, and Ms. Katherine, sincerely asking,"Should we check the scales first? Since it hasn't moved or eaten for a long time, I wonder if there are any serious physical issues."

After getting used to it, standing a little farther away wasn't so bad, and they weren't as afraid as before.

But when they really got close, Anderson realized—it wouldn't work, the dragon's presence was different from what he had imagined. Only upon getting close could he feel that overwhelming, oppressive aura and pressure.

It was as if even the blood flow in his body had slowed down.

Anderson's face turned significantly paler.

"Let's get closer and check the scales first.",Ms. Katherine's face wasn't much better. She took a deep breath, thought of her purpose for coming, and forced herself to speak.

Old Rothschild skillfully grabbed one of Ancestral Dragon King's legs that was closest to them.

Compared to the body scales, the limb scales were finer and relatively easier to inspect.

As Ms. Katherine examined them, she subconsciously wanted to reach out and touch them.

But just as she did, the Ancestral Dragon King, which had obediently allowed Old Rothschild to flip it around like cured meat, suddenly flared up. The smooth dragon scales all bristled the moment Ms. Katherine's hand touched them.

Luckily, Ms. Katherine withdrew her hand quickly, or she might have been scratched.

"Behave!",Old Rothschild smacked the Ancestral Dragon King hard and immediately turned back to Ms. Katherine with an apologetic look,"Your movement was a bit too sudden, and Dragontooth didn't react in time. I've already disciplined it. You can touch it now without any issues."

Ms. Katherine stared at Old Rothschild for three seconds.

Old Rothschild's expression was as sincere as could be. In the end, Ms. Katherine decided to trust him. She lightly and quickly brushed her hand over the scales on Ancestral Dragon King's leg before retracting it, afraid of provoking the dragon by accident.

Old Rothschild still looked a bit awkward.

He glared at the Ancestral Dragon King unhappily.

The Ancestral Dragon King flicked its tail again, but compared to its previous aggressive outburst, this time it seemed more like it was mocking Old Rothschild's futile efforts.

Not eating.

Not moving.

Talking wouldn't help.

"Actually, before coming here, I suspected that your Ancestral Dragon might be on the verge of evolution. But looking at its state…",Ms. Katherine examined the Ancestral Dragon carefully, then shook her head,"Judging by its mental state, it doesn't seem likely."

"And I felt its internal vitality. It doesn't have the vibrant energy that a beast about to evolve would exhibit."

"Putting these together, the chances that the problem lies in evolution are zero."

"Evolution?", Anderson, who had been standing quietly to the side like background scenery, immediately perked up upon hearing this.

After asking Old Rothschild for permission, Anderson quickly brushed his hand over the Ancestral Dragon's scales before withdrawing it.

"Its physical state is at a mid-level balance.",Anderson quickly analyzed,"It's been fasting for about one month and seven days, right?"

Anderson precisely stated the Ancestral Dragon King's fasting duration. Old Rothschild nodded,"That's correct."

"That's why I've been so worried.",Old Rothschild looked up at the curled-up, still enormous Ancestral Dragon King and sighed heavily,"If this continues… I don't know if Dragontooth's body can hold up!"

"As a dragon-type beast, an Ancestral Dragon's vitality is indeed far beyond that of ordinary beasts.",Anderson agreed with Old Rothschild's concerns. He touched the Ancestral Dragon again, and just as it was about to flare up, he quickly withdrew his hand and turned to Old Rothschild.

"Three months is the limit for an Ancestral Dragon. If this state continues, it won't last beyond that."

"Even the strongest beasts will eventually wither if they don't consume the necessary energy…",Before Anderson could finish, the Ancestral Dragon King's massive tail swept toward him.

Anderson: "!"

Faced with the huge dragon tail, Anderson was so scared he froze on the spot, unable to move.

Just as he was about to be struck, a Juliet Dragon rushed in front of him, taking the hit and being sent flying several meters away.

Anderson was once again shocked.

He couldn't even imagine—if that tail strike had landed on him…

Anderson was once again shocked.

He could hardly imagine if that tail attack really landed on him... No need to think, he would probably be gone directly, right?

"DRAGONTOOTH!",Old Rothschild's voice suddenly rose, loudly reprimanding the actions of the Ancestral Dragon King.

The Ancestral Dragon King flipped over, revealing a massive dragon eye in the direction of Old Rothschild.

No communication.

Just staring fixedly in the direction of Old Rothschild.

Inside, there was a firm momentum. Having spent decades with the Ancestral Dragon King, knowing its every move inside out, Old Rothschild instantly understood what it meant.

"You... you...!",Old Rothschild was so furious that his chest heaved up and down, and the finger pointing at the Ancestral Dragon King trembled non-stop.

What did the Ancestral Dragon King mean? Continue next time.

Utterly unrepentant.

Absolutely refusing to admit fault.

And also...

"ARE YOU REALLY WAITING FOR DEATH?",Old Rothschild's voice was so loud that it could penetrate the entire Dragon Valley.

Aeron was dumbfounded. First, he was shocked by his own grandfather's lung capacity. Then, after reacting to what Old Rothschild had just said, he looked at the Ancestral Dragon King with full astonishment in his eyes.

"DRAGON DAD! You don't want me anymore?",Aeron howled in agony, rushing forward and directly hugging the Ancestral Dragon King's thick tail.

The same massive tail that had attacked Anderson earlier, the Ancestral Dragon King instantly stiffened all over after Aeron hugged its tail, not daring to move at all.

Anderson: "..."

'So my life didn't matter?'

Anderson felt speechless. He wanted to complain but didn't know what to say.

After all, to the Ancestral Dragon King, the weight of Aeron and him was indeed different, without even needing to think.

Aeron continued wailing with loud cries but no real tears,"Wuuu wuuu wuuu! If I don't have you, what am I supposed to do, Dragon Dad?"

"You already know how unreliable my dad and grandpa are as a father-and-son duo. If I lose you, I definitely won't survive. Dragon Dad, you might as well take me with you.",Aeron quickly dumped the blame onto Old Rothschild and Greg,"Dragon Dad, you don't know how my dad and grandpa treated me while you were gone for over a month."

"I couldn't eat well, I couldn't sleep well! Wuuu wuuu wuuu! I can't live without you, Dragon Dad!"

Old Rothschild was so furious that he almost struck his own grandson.

"I'm unreliable? I mistreated you?",Old Rothschild angrily pointed his cane at Aeron,"If I, your grandpa, were unreliable, how did you and your dad grow up so big?"

"I don't know about my dad, but I was raised by my Dragon Dad!",Aeron looked up at Old Rothschild, then glanced at his biological father standing at the back of the group pretending not to see anything,"Maybe my dad was also raised by my Dragon Dad!"

"Anyway, you two are equally unreliable!"

Old Rothschild: "..."

Greg: "..."

Unlike the furious Old Rothschild, Greg remained completely calm, standing with his arms crossed in silence, looking as if he was confirming Aeron's words.

Old Rothschild suddenly found himself facing several pairs of condemning eyes.

'Goodness gracious.'

'Is this whole family really this unreliable?'

What Old Rothschild didn't expect even more was that after listening to Aeron's words, the Ancestral Dragon King also cast him a worried glance.

Old Rothschild almost fainted from anger on the spot.

His hand trembled as he pointed at the Ancestral Dragon King's nose, unable to speak for a long time. Finally, he forced out a sentence.

"If you're really so worried, then come back with me and see for yourself!"

Upon hearing this, the Ancestral Dragon King, who had just been standing up for Aeron, instantly shut down.

Seeing it bury its head like an ostrich, pretending not to know what was happening outside, Aeron and Old Rothschild exchanged glances.

Plan failed.

"This is exactly what you see.",Having performed a half-real, half-fake drama, Old Rothschild's expression looked somewhat dejected. Leaning on his cane with both hands, he let out a long sigh and spoke helplessly.

Although Old Rothschild's words were vague, everyone present understood his point through the scene they had just witnessed.

The Ancestral Dragon King's refusal to eat, drink, and obey the Beast Master's orders was absolutely abnormal.

It hadn't fallen out with its Beast Master.

It still had deep feeKatherinegs for its Beast Master and the Beast Master's descendants.

But whenever leaving was mentioned, it acted like it had touched a boundary, refusing to move or speak.

"...Could this be some kind of psychological issue?",Lady Katherine frowned, uncertain,"A Breeder and a Pet Evolution Professor probably wouldn't be much help."

As she spoke, Lady Katherine paused, as if remembering someone.

She turned her head to look at Asher, who maintained a safe distance from the Ancestral Dragon King, arms crossed, simply watching it.

Seeing that Asher made no move to step forward or examine the Ancestral Dragon King's condition, a hint of disappointment flashed in Lady Katherine's eyes.

She had been closely following Asher's growth.

From the earliest days of the new Honeybug evolution route, Lady Katherine had heard of Asher's name and continued to track his progress.

Asher's growth rate had shocked her deeply.

Fast.

Incredibly fast.

In just one year, Asher had produced multiple achievements.

Some thought he was just a young genius, and his results weren't all that impressive, but to Lady Katherine, those people were shortsighted.

Asher still wasn't impressive?

No, no, no.

The only thing he lacked was time in the field.

Given enough time, Asher would definitely become a figure that will shock the world.

Lady Katherine had been observing Asher, but she hadn't expected to meet him so soon... She had wanted to watch longer. Unexpectedly, Asher's growth rate was even faster than she had anticipated. He had carved his own path and secured a high-tier store entry, arriving at Dragon Valley.

Hearing about Asher's strength as a Beast Master, Lady Katherine,"?"

Shocked.

So shocked her face went blank.

She had no idea what kind of perspective she should have on Asher.

But she still remembered her purpose in coming here.

The Ancestral Dragon King's situation was much trickier than she imagined, and Lady Katherine had no solution. She could only think of other ways to obtain what she wanted.

However... Lady Katherine was curious about what Asher could see.

What she and Anderson couldn't do, perhaps Asher could.

She could also observe Asher's abilities up close.

But what she didn't expect was that—when facing the Ancestral Dragon King, Asher could say harsh words, yet when it came time to approach, he completely played dead, staying at a safe distance with his pet beasts, unwillling to take a step closer.

Lady Katherine felt deeply disappointed.

She even started doubting whether Asher's previous achievements were really his own.

Could there be some hidden tricks?

After some thought, Lady Katherine was unwillling to let it go. She took the initiative and asked, Professor Asher, do you want to take a look?"

"Maybe there will be some new ideas, not necessarily."

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Asher.

They also saw that Asher and the Ancestral Dragon King maintained a safe distance, neither too close nor too far.

"Ahem!",Old Rothschild did not think there was anything wrong. Being afraid was normal for young people. His old companion was originally intimidating; it was understandable if a young person's mind went blank,"Professor Asher can come again tomorrow. Ideas won't run away. Go back and rest for today."

Old Rothschild tried to smooth things over.

Asher shook his head. As soon as he spoke, he blocked Old Rothschild's words,"It's fine."

Old Rothschild: "?"

'Alright then.'

Seeing that Asher's expression hadn't changed much from the beginning, still as calm and composed as ever, Old Rothschild no longer tried to help him out.

Whether Asher truly thought it was fine or just didn't want to lose face after speaking up, that was a young person's own business. He had done what he should; the rest was up to Asher.

"I already have an idea.",Asher added.

Old Rothschild sharply turned to look at Asher again, and the others' gazes toward him became even more eager.

"Eh?",Aeron was still lying on the Ancestral Dragon King's tail, hugging the thick tail with both hands, looking a bit silly," Brother Asher, you saw the problem?"

Asher: "Mm."

Asher held a pet beast in each arm, his expression exceptionally calm.

"You can't just say that for fun.",Anderson frowned slightly, his tone unconsciously becoming more serious,"If you're lying or joking in this setting, the consequences will be more serious than you imagine."

Madam Katherine also nodded, cooperating,"Professor Asher, if you feel embarrassed..."

"Why would I joke about this? Although the Ancestral Dragon King's condition isn't completely obvious, it's not hard to guess the general situation.",Asher nodded,"The Ancestral Dragon is refusing evolution."

Anderson: "?"

Madam Katherine: "?"

Old Rothschild: "?"

"Refusing... evolution?",Jessica looked at the Ancestral Dragon, then at Asher, his eyes full of confusion and incomprehension.

Madam Katherine, who had initially shown some interest, gradually lost that expression,"Asher, you may not know, but my innate skill allows me to detect whether beasts are on the verge of evolution."

"I just touched the Ancestral Dragon and did not sense enough energy within its body to support evolution, nor did I detect any spiritual fluctuations indicative of evolution."

"Like you, I am also a professor specializing in pet beast evolution. I can determine whether the Ancestral Dragon is evolving or not."

After saying this, she was just short of directly pointing at Asher's nose and callling him a liar.

Faced with Madam Katherine's harsh accusation, Asher's expression did not change at all,"I said 'refusing evolution,' not 'about to evolve.' Madam Katherine, do you understand what I mean?"

"No." Madam Katherine shook her head, thinking Asher was just being stubborn and deliberately opposing her,"No matter how much it refuses, shouldn't there at least be energy in its body to support evolution?"

Asher sighed.

He glanced at Madam Katherine with the kind of look one would give a child who didn't understand things. Before Madam Katherine could explode, Asher spoke unhurriedly,"The Ancestral Dragon has touched the threshold of evolution, but the prerequisites and consequences of evolution make it refuse."

"It does not want to evolve. It is rejecting evolution and resisting the final step."

"Without fulfillling the prerequisites, the Ancestral Dragon naturally hasn't met the standard for evolution, so there is no evolutionary energy or fluctuation in its body.",As he spoke, Asher looked at the Ancestral Dragon King, which had unknowingly raised its head, its dragon pupils locked tightly onto him.

Aeron, who was hugging the Ancestral Dragon King's tail, could clearly feel its body tensing up.

The previously soft tail that he had casually hugged was now filled with powerful force.

After thinking for a moment, Aeron still did not let go of the Ancestral Dragon King's tail.

Anything to restrain it a little.

Who knew if his dragon dad would get so embarrassed and angry that he'd attack Asher?

Holding onto the tail felt safer.

That way, even if his dragon dad really wanted to attack Asher, he would have to consider the small weakKatherineg hanging on his tail.

Aeron: *Wholeheartedly causing trouble for dragon dad!*

Aeron: Unreliability +1+1

Old Rothschild, seeing the Ancestral Dragon King's reaction, knew that Asher was right.

At least mostly right.

"Professor Asher, can you elaborate?",Old Rothschild instantly became more spirited,"Don't worry, I'll restrain Dragontooth."

As he spoke, Old Rothschild strengthened the contract's restraints.

He hadn't used them earlier because of the Ancestral Dragon's insistence. He didn't want to clash with it and preferred to resolve things peacefully.

If the Ancestral Dragon continued to resist and they couldn't find a solution, he would have to forcefully use the contract's power.

But now... Old Rothschild had already seen the light of victory.

Restrain it!

Directly use the contract to restrain the Ancestral Dragon.

Angry?

Not a big problem.

He would deal with that after hearing everything.

Understanding the Ancestral Dragon's problem was the key to solving it better.

The forcibly restrained Ancestral Dragon King: "..."

Failure.

Lying flat... was impossible!

The Ancestral Dragon King stared at Asher with its massive, terrifying dragon pupils, blinking repeatedly, trying to exert psychological pressure on him.

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