This would not only greatly strengthen his own resources, but also genuinely improve the police’s operational capabilities in complex environments.
So, during another run in the mountains with all the police dogs in training, Yang Qi took advantage of a moment when no one was around. He once again used the Basic Spirit Awakening Technique on the three most outstanding young police dogs with the greatest potential, awakening their spirits, implanting them with Spirit Seeds, and accepting them as his Guardian Beasts.
Of these three dogs, one was a Malinois with an exceptional talent for scent tracking, one was a Rottweiler with outstanding endurance and bite force, and the last was a German Shepherd known for its keen senses and high obedience.
After the Spirit Awakening was complete, Yang Qi could clearly perceive the Spiritual Light in their eyes, as well as the subtle connection that had formed between them and himself.
Although Director Wang and Vice Director Zhao didn’t understand the specifics of what had happened, they keenly perceived that after Yang Qi’s "guidance," the three dogs seemed more alert and focused, and their interactions with him were exceptionally in sync.
They were now even more deeply impressed by this "expert," Yang Qi, and repeatedly urged him to visit often.
Time passed in this fulfilling and steady rhythm, quietly slipping away until the end of August.
On a late summer night, the heat had not yet faded, but the mountain breeze after midnight carried a hint of coolness.
Sometime after midnight, inside the Cultivation Chamber on the second floor of the mountainside dormitory.
Yang Qi sat cross-legged within the Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array, his eyes lightly closed. His body was enveloped in a faint, five-colored Spiritual Light.
The Spiritual Liquid in his Dantian was a full size larger than when he had first entered the fifth layer. It spun ceaselessly, constantly drawing in and refining the pure Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Gathering Array and converting it into his own Magical Power.
Just as Yang Qi was lost in this deep state of cultivation, forgetting both himself and the world around him...
Suddenly—
The phone, which was charging in the corner of the room, began to vibrate violently without warning.
BUZZ—BUZZ—BUZZ—
The buzzing sound was exceptionally jarring in the silent Cultivation Chamber.
Yang Qi’s brow twitched, but he didn’t open his eyes. Instead, with a mere thought, he lifted his right hand and made a grasping motion in the direction of the phone—
’Object Manipulation Technique!’
An invisible force materialized out of thin air. Like a nimble hand, it smoothly plucked the phone from its charging cradle and levitated it in front of him.
Yang Qi slowly ceased his cultivation, the Spiritual Light around him retracting into his body. Only then did he open his eyes and take the phone.
The caller ID read: Jiang Kai.
’This late?’
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Yang Qi’s mind as he immediately answered.
"Hello, Chief?"
"Xiao Yang! Quick, get to Big Flower’s delivery room! She’s about to give birth!" On the other end of the line, Jiang Kai’s voice was filled with excitement, tension, and a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
Yang Qi’s eyes lit up!
’Big Flower’s giving birth!’
’Come to think of it, the timing is right. It should be any day now.’
"I’ll be right there!"
Yang Qi replied, and as the words left his mouth, he was already springing up from his meditation cushion.
As he hung up, he moved like the wind, reaching the top of the stairs in a few short steps and leaping straight down.
In the first-floor living room, the several Guardian Beasts resting or dozing in their spots were all startled, and they all raised their heads.
Xiaojiu leaped gracefully down from the back of the sofa. Bai Wan and Leopard emerged from their beds, while Hu Zi calmly sat squatting near the door. On its perch, Liu Fu slightly shifted its colors.
"You all go back to sleep. Watch the house, I’m heading out!"
Yang Qi tossed out the words without breaking stride, darting out the front door like a shadow.
Outside, the electric scooter he usually used to get around the park was parked under the eaves.
Yang Qi swung a leg over, turned the key, and the scooter accelerated silently, racing toward the Leopard Hall.
"Woof~"
Leopard watched the newly closed door and let out a soft whine.
[Master seems really happy.]
"Woof woof!"
Bai Wan barked in agreement. [What’s he so happy about?]
Xiaojiu stared at the closed door with her amber eyes, flicked her tail gently, then suddenly bolted toward the entrance. In a few leaps, she was over the courtyard wall and gone, swallowed by the night.
"Whine?"
Seeing this, Leopard turned to look at the composed Hu Zi and Bai Wan.
[Sister Jiu went out! What do we do?]
[Should we go too?]
"Woof!"
Hu Zi let out a low growl and settled back down beside his bed.
[Go back to sleep. Master told us to watch the house.]
Leopard: "..."
...
...
At the Leopard Hall, outside the special delivery room prepared for "Big Flower" to give birth.
The area was brightly lit, yet exceptionally quiet.
A crowd had gathered around the delivery room: Huang Zhongmu, Jiang Kai, Cheng Xiaoou, Zhao Dalong, and all the other senior staff of the park were present.
The head veterinarian, along with two assistants, the zookeeper Old Li, and several researchers, all waited outside with anxious looks on their faces.
Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing the "heroine mother" inside, who was in the throes of labor.
From inside the delivery room came Big Flower’s pained, muffled roars and ragged pants, causing the hearts of everyone outside to clench in anxiety.
"How is it going? How many has she had?"
Huang Zhongmu asked in a hushed voice to the head veterinarian, who had just carefully backed out of the room.
The head veterinarian wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression grave. "She’s successfully delivered three cubs, but Big Flower has used up a tremendous amount of energy. She needs to eat and drink to replenish her strength."
"But whenever we try to approach and feed her, she becomes extremely wary and agitated, even letting out warning growls. She won’t let anyone near. If this keeps up and she runs out of stamina, I’m afraid the remaining cubs..."
He didn’t finish the sentence, but his meaning was obvious—the risk of complications was increasing.
"Where’s Yang Qi? Is he here yet?" Cheng Xiaoou asked anxiously.
"He’s on his way! I just called him!" Jiang Kai answered.
As he spoke, an electric scooter sped toward them, coming to a halt with a "SKRRRT" at the edge of the crowd.
Yang Qi hopped off and strode through the crowd.
"Xiao Yang, you’re finally here!"
Looking as if he’d just seen his savior, Jiang Kai grabbed Yang Qi and quickly explained the situation. "...Big Flower has delivered three cubs, but now she’s exhausted and hungry and won’t let anyone near to feed her. We’re worried it will affect the rest of the birth. Hurry up and go in, see what you can do."