It was only because of the caller’s identity—the vice principal of Zhonghai Beast Taming University—that Li Qian hadn’t hung up immediately.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been this courteous.
Yes, in Li Qian’s eyes, not hanging up on the spot was already a show of courtesy.
"Li Qian, don’t be so quick to refuse. We know you’ve already signed an enrollment agreement with Shazhou Beast Taming University, but..."
On the other end of the line, Vice Principal Yu immediately tried to explain.
But before he could finish, Li Qian cut him off.
"Vice Principal Yu, since you know I’ve already signed an enrollment agreement, you should also understand that it’s impossible for me to switch to another school."
Without pausing, Li Qian continued, "Alright, thank you for your interest, Vice Principal Yu, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be between me and Zhonghai Beast Taming University."
With that said, Li Qian prepared to hang up.
But just then, Vice Principal Yu’s urgent voice came through the phone again. "Li Qian, you don’t have to make a decision right away. At least hear out the offer we’re making."
"As for your agreement with Shazhou Beast Taming University, we’ll take care of it for you."
Vice Principal Yu sounded utterly confident, his tone suggesting that Zhonghai Beast Taming University would agree to any conditions Li Qian named, if only he’d ask.
’If you were so sincere, where were you before?’
Li Qian couldn’t help but scoff internally.
He had already signed an agreement with Shazhou Beast Taming University. He wouldn’t go back on his word and break his promise, even if Zhonghai Beast Taming University could somehow resolve the issue.
Besides, his ties to Shazhou Beast Taming University now went beyond the enrollment conditions stipulated in the agreement.
There was also the life-debt he owed to Elder Tie.
For that reason alone, he could never bring himself to violate the agreement.
So, without a moment’s hesitation, he directly refused Vice Principal Yu. "I’m sorry, but since I’ve already signed the agreement, I will honor my commitment."
"Well, I’m sure you’re a very busy man, Vice Principal Yu, so I won’t disturb you any longer."
After saying this, Li Qian hung up, ignoring Vice Principal Yu still rambling on the other end.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
On the other end of the line, Vice Principal Yu had already felt a sense of foreboding when he heard Li Qian’s reply.
"Li Qian, don’t be hasty! We’re not asking you to tear up the agreement. We have our own way of resolving..."
He tried desperately to salvage the situation, to persuade him, but all he heard was the dial tone of a disconnected call.
He was utterly exasperated.
Even with all his rhetorical tricks and eloquent words, it was all for naught if Li Qian simply refused to listen.
Moreover, it was clear from their brief conversation that while the boy had been trying to remain polite, his impatience was palpable.
Along with his exasperation, a nameless rage began to flare up inside him.
"Principal Yu, how did it go?" Just then, one of the recruitment teachers standing before him had the gall to ask, completely failing to read the room.
Vice Principal Yu, whose nameless rage was just boiling over, had been looking for a place to vent.
And just then, someone had foolishly walked right into the line of fire.
The other recruitment teachers standing nearby couldn’t help but cringe at the sight.
’What a blockhead,’ they thought. ’Can’t he see the boss’s face? It’s as black as thunder. Is there even a need to ask what happened?’
"How did it go?"
"You have the nerve to ask me how it went?"
"If it weren’t for you useless good-for-nothings, would I have had to make that call myself? Would I have had to grovel like that?!"
"A high school graduate who, in less than half a year, researched the evolutionary paths for three Dominator Level Potential Pet Beasts and two Emperor Level Potential Pet Beasts. A genius like that, and I never heard a single one of you mention his name."
"What, do you all really think Zhonghai Beast Taming University is so unrivaled that geniuses will just come flocking to us on their own?!"
"Or do you all think a small place like Lingshui City wasn’t worth the trouble of you personally deigning to visit?"
"If that’s really how you feel, just give me a nod. Tomorrow, I can have a talk with Vice Principal Yao in logistics and have you all transferred to manage the archives."
"That way, you’ll never have to go out on assignment again for the rest of your lives."
"..."
Having been thoroughly chewed out, the recruitment teachers all lowered their heads, cowering like quails.
At that moment, some wise guy in the group suddenly muttered, "He only figured out the two evolutionary paths for the Emperor Level Potential Pet Beasts by taking a shortcut."
It was clear from this comment that these recruitment teachers from Zhonghai Beast Taming University had already picked Li Qian’s file clean of any secrets.
Vice Principal Yu couldn’t believe someone actually dared to talk back at a time like this. The anger that had just started to subside flared up again, hotter than before.
Without bothering to see who had spoken, he directed his tirade at the entire group. "A shortcut? Right, he took a shortcut. But a shortcut to what? We’re talking about the evolutionary path for an Emperor Level Potential Pet Beast! Why don’t you go fucking take a ’shortcut’ like that for me! If you can, I’ll personally absolve you of all recruitment duties and start worshiping you like my own damn ancestor!"
Vice Principal Yu’s roaring tirade left the group of recruitment teachers utterly humiliated.
After his outburst, he heaved a long sigh, his voice tinged with resignation. "Go book me a ticket to Yunlan City. No, book a teleportation ticket."
At this point, he felt rather helpless.
He’d already made promises to the principal. A few phone calls clearly weren’t going to cut it.
He had no choice but to make a personal trip to Lingshui City.
Even though things looked hopeless, he had to at least try. Otherwise, he had no idea how he would face the principal.
Meanwhile, as Vice Principal Yu was setting off for Lingshui City, Li Qian was over at the Jiaoyang Cultivation Base, leading his mother’s Gray Bean Dove to the Evolutionary Test Field.
This Evolutionary Test Field had been newly renovated; it was originally an abandoned site.
The interior of the Evolutionary Test Field was simple, with a layout much like a large assembly hall.
The main reason for the renovation was to mask the massive disturbances that occur during evolution.
Some disturbances were so significant that they could be detected even from within the Cultivation Base.
If such a disturbance were witnessed by someone with ill intentions, there was no telling what kind of trouble might arise.
Besides, when it came to something like evolution, the more secretive, the better.
Li Qian had brought his mother’s Gray Bean Dove here for one purpose: to help it achieve its First-stage Evolution.
As for whether a Second-stage Evolution was possible, that would depend entirely on its Talent.
That was something Li Qian couldn’t force.