Li Qian was quite surprised by the compensation Shi Gui Fang offered.
But on second thought, it was actually quite normal.
Setting aside the intangible benefit of the prestige it would bring to the Sky Realm Cultivation Base for mastering the evolution method from Gray Bean Dove to Extreme Fierce Storm Eagle, the tangible profits alone were plain to see.
A Storm Eagle’s market value was close to thirty million. Even with a discount, it would be at least twenty-five million.
And the cost of evolution, the Xunfeng Bamboo, was valued between eight and nine million.
A simple calculation made it clear.
For every Extreme Fierce Storm Eagle they evolved, the Sky Realm Cultivation Base could profit by at least fifteen million.
The terms Shi Gui Fang offered were certainly generous, but compared to this endless stream of profit, they were actually quite reasonable.
At most, the Sky Realm Cultivation Base could earn it all back within a year.
Just as the three of them were talking, Xiaohui, having completed its evolution, soared excitedly in a circle through the sky before landing on a flat patch of ground not far from Li Qian.
Li Qian walked over with a smile, stroking the feathers on its head and praising it, "Good, very good."
He had wanted to offer a few more words of encouragement, since it had only completed its First-stage Evolution. But considering Shi Gui Fang and Shi Yulian were also present, he held his tongue.
The evolution path from Gray Bean Dove to Extreme Fierce Storm Eagle wasn’t considered exceptionally valuable. Even if he gave it up, it wouldn’t be a significant loss for Li Qian.
But the evolution path from Extreme Fierce Storm Eagle to Extreme Fierce Sky Escape Eagle was a different story.
That was an Emperor Level evolution path.
Li Qian didn’t dare test the depths of human greed with such immense profits at stake.
After all, the human heart was the last thing one should test.
So, he had already made up his mind.
He wouldn’t reveal his subsequent evolution experiments.
He would either have to leave the Cultivation Base or find a secret place to conduct them.
The Sky Realm Cultivation Base was quite large, so training shouldn’t be a problem. As for evolution, though, he’d rather not do it here.
Li Qian planned to handle it himself, without relying on the convenient resources of the Cultivation Base.
"Cultivator Li..." Just as Li Qian was praising Xiaohui, Shi Yulian’s voice suddenly rang out.
Hearing this, Li Qian quickly waved his hands. "I wouldn’t dare be called ’Cultivator’ in front of a senior like you. Please, just call me Xiaoli."
Shi Yulian smiled, not dwelling on the matter of titles. She graciously went along with his suggestion.
"Xiaoli, looking at your age, I’m guessing you’re still a student, aren’t you?"
Li Qian nodded. "Yes, ma’am. I just graduated from high school this year."
Hearing this, Shi Yulian was shocked, and her interest was instantly piqued. "Then you must have applied to a Beast Taming University. I wonder which one? It must be one of the Eight Great, right?"
Li Qian didn’t hide anything, answering directly, "Shazhou Beast Taming University."
"Eh?" Hearing this, Shi Yulian was slightly surprised. "Are you from the Western Province?"
Li Qian shook his head. He could understand why Shi Yulian would ask that. After all, very few people who weren’t from the Western Province would apply to Shazhou Beast Taming University.
He explained with a smile, "I’m from Jiangnan Province."
After he spoke, he saw Shi Yulian give him an inquisitive look and continued his explanation. "I’m from Jiangnan Province, and the reason I chose to study at Shazhou Beast Taming University is because..."
Li Qian then briefly explained his reasons for choosing Shazhou Beast Taming University.
It was mostly about how Shazhou Beast Taming University had shown great sincerity, and how he was quite grateful.
As for the exact terms Shazhou Beast Taming University had offered, he didn’t go into detail.
It wasn’t the right time or place to discuss such things.
"Li Qian, have you ever considered transferring to our Zhonghai Beast Taming University?"
After listening to Li Qian’s explanation, Shi Yulian smiled and stated her purpose directly. "Rest assured, whatever terms Shazhou Beast Taming University can offer, Zhonghai Beast Taming University can offer as well, and they will certainly be better."
Li Qian didn’t doubt her words in the slightest.
The package Shazhou Beast Taming University had given him was indeed generous, but it was impossible that Zhonghai Beast Taming University couldn’t match it.
Zhonghai Beast Taming University and Kyoto Beast Taming University were the two best Beast Taming Universities in the entire Dongxia Federation.
Even among the Eight Great, their status was unparalleled.
However, this wasn’t just a matter of who offered better terms; there were also personal loyalties involved.
Because of the protection he had received from Elder Tie and Professor Yan, Li Qian owed Shazhou Beast Taming University a huge debt of gratitude.
Especially Elder Tie. Without his protection, Li Qian would likely be six feet under by now.
So now, no matter what terms Zhonghai Beast Taming University offered, Li Qian was not going to accept.
Going back on his word wasn’t his style.
After a moment of thought, he politely refused. "I’m sorry, but I’ve already committed to Shazhou Beast Taming University and signed an enrollment agreement with them, so I apologize..."
"SIGH!" Hearing this, Shi Yulian let out a helpless sigh, then couldn’t resist complaining, "They think that just because of the school’s reputation, all the good students will come flocking to them. In recent years, our admissions faculty at Zhonghai Beast Taming University have become more and more complacent."
She called it complaining, but it was practically a direct, scathing rebuke.
Li Qian gave an awkward laugh. Strictly speaking, Shi Yulian wasn’t wrong.
Back when he was being specially recruited, six of the Eight Great universities had sent admissions officers one after another. Zhonghai Beast Taming University was one of the two that hadn’t shown up.
So Shi Yulian’s accusation of "complacency" was completely justified.
"For our university to have missed out on a Breeder with your kind of Talent... I must say, it is truly a shame."
Shi Yulian remarked with a sigh, then continued to chat with Li Qian for a while.
For the most part, Shi Yulian did the talking while Li Qian respectfully listened.
...
After they chatted for a while, it was nearly noon, so the three of them had lunch at the Cultivation Base.
You had to admit, it was different when the boss was rich. The food at the Cultivation Base was on par with what you’d find in a decent hotel.
According to Shi Gui Fang, the way to an employee’s heart was through their stomach. Li Qian couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
’What a strange theory,’ he thought. But he had to admit, it was certainly a good thing for him.
After a simple lunch, Shi Yulian didn’t stay much longer. She said her goodbyes to Li Qian and departed.
Li Qian didn’t waste any time, either. That very afternoon, once Xiaohui had grown more or less accustomed to its new body, he began its training immediately.
After an afternoon of training, Xiaohui still hadn’t learned the Instant Movement Skill, but Li Qian wasn’t discouraged.
Li Qian knew full well that even with a spatial Talent, learning the Instant Movement Skill in a short amount of time was no easy feat.
So he remained patient, already prepared to train for a whole week if necessary.