It turned out that Dragon-type moves were truly difficult to learn.
Although the materials stated that Dragon Ritual Dance was the Dragon-type move with the lowest difficulty, the fewest requirements, and the weakest effect—and that almost any Pet Beast meeting the conditions had a chance to learn it—the examples in those materials were basically all combat-type Pet Beasts.
As long as they developed steadily to adulthood and fully realized their potential, their Power Level would be at least Extraordinary Level.
Unlike the Golden-Patterned Koi, whose adult Power Level only reached Awakening Level, making it an inherently weak species at the bottom of the food chain.
For them to learn Dragon Ritual Dance was like asking kindergarten children to study junior high mathematics—they hadn't even learned the multiplication table yet, so when faced with elementary algebra, they were completely lost…
For an entire month, Jiang Xing fed them Dragon Berry Cubes, looped videos of Azure Dragons, and even borrowed one or two Dragon-type Pet Beasts from Senior Su to act as instructors, having them perform Dragon Ritual Dance up close…
In the end, only the most talented—and also the most hardworking—Golden-Patterned Koi, the Fish King, barely managed to learn the move.
The other Golden-Patterned Koi didn't even come close.
Fortunately, Jiang Xing had already changed his plan, intending to let the Fish King evolve first and then drive the others forward—otherwise, he really would've been driven crazy with anxiety.
After learning Dragon Ritual Dance, there was only one final step left in the preparation:
The Dragon Gate!
However, even after spending so much time, Jiang Xing still hadn't found a satisfactory target.
After all, "a carp leaping the Dragon Gate" was just a myth. In reality, there was no corresponding location—only natural landmarks people had forcefully associated with the legend based on vague descriptions.
But those were way too abstract.
For example, two adjacent cliffs hundreds of meters high, with a protruding section in the middle shaped like an arch, were labeled as the Dragon Gate…
"Come on, that's three or four hundred meters high!"
"Are you trying to kill the Golden-Patterned Koi?"
"It's just a Fish King. It only knows Water Leap. Do you really think it's some fish emperor?"
As for treating natural waterfalls as the Dragon Gate, the difficulty became too low. The Golden-Patterned Koi was, after all, an Extraordinary Pet Beast. With Water Leap, it could continuously jump upward along the current, use the rock face for leverage, and eventually clear a hundred-meter waterfall…
The actual difficulty was hard to control.
And visually, a "waterfall" didn't resemble a "gate" closely enough.
It might not gain the Golden-Patterned Koi's recognition.
Considering all these factors, Jiang Xing browsed through countless scenic spot photos but still couldn't find a suitable target…
Every day after training, when those little fish looked at him with their moist, watery eyes, it was incredibly awkward.
"I'm looking, I'm looking! I'll find it soon—definitely tomorrow. Don't rush!"
Fortunately, the fish were understanding. They didn't press him, instead turning their expectations into motivation for training—practicing either Dragon Ritual Dance or Water Leap every day in preparation for leaping the Dragon Gate.
Then one day—while the Golden-Patterned Koi were practicing Water Leap, splashing water everywhere—
Jiang Xing watched as the droplets scattered, and within the air, a faint seven-colored glow of a rainbow appeared…
In that instant, inspiration struck.
He suddenly stood up.
"I've found it!"
"Ying?!"
"That's the Dragon Gate!"
…
Suburbs of Yuzhong City, Waterfall Cluster Scenic Area.
This was a tributary region of the Yellow River. Due to its unique cliff terrain, it had formed a vast group of waterfalls—magnificent and grand. It was the most popular 5A scenic attraction near Yuzhong, drawing countless tourists every year.
At this moment, however, the main waterfall—known as the number one waterfall in China, the Yuzhong Waterfall—had been sealed off by staff.
Tourists couldn't approach. They could only stand on distant walkways and stone bridges, looking toward it from afar.
On the riverbank below the waterfall stood a young man and a woman.
The boy wasn't very old. Aside from being handsome, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.
The girl, however—her long black hair swayed in the breeze, she wore a snow-white coat, and beside her stood a massive creature nearly three meters tall, with wing-like fins, a crown-like orange horn on its head, a black back and white belly—resembling a dragon-like giant lizard…
Putting all those features together, people immediately recognized her identity.
China's number one Water-type researcher, the youngest King-Class Beast Tamer, and a young Champion—Su Muli!
She had sealed off the Yuzhong Waterfall?!
What was she doing here? And who was the boy beside her?
The tourists were filled with curiosity, taking out their phones to snap pictures from afar.
"Senior, you're really popular," Jiang Xing remarked upon noticing the camera flashes, though his attention was quickly drawn to the giant lizard beside her.
Storm Sea Lizard—a triple-attribute Pet Beast of Water, Wind, and Dragon. Its Species Tier was Mid Overlord Tier. It was Su Muli's ace Pet Beast, and also an evolution form she had personally developed!
It was precisely because of this research that she had successfully obtained the title of Water-type Pet Beast Researcher.
Looking at the cool and imposing Storm Sea Lizard, Jiang Xing took out a handful of Dragon Berry Cubes and extended his hand.
"Storm Sea Lizard, try these. See if you like them."
The Storm Sea Lizard lowered its head, sniffed the cubes, then its tongue shot out like lightning, rolling them into its mouth. Its eyes lit up, and it extended a claw.
"Xi!"
"You haven't even started working yet, and you're already eating," Su Muli said, stopping it. The Storm Sea Lizard withdrew its claw, looking aggrieved.
"It's fine, Senior. If the kid likes it, let it eat more."
As Jiang Xing spoke, he took out another handful. The Storm Sea Lizard's eyes lit up, and it instantly swallowed them.
Seeing its sparkling eyes, Jiang Xing smiled.
Urban Pokémon novels really weren't lying—Energy Cubes were indeed an essential tool for winning over Pet Beasts, whether at home or on the road!
Watching Jiang Xing continuously feed the Storm Sea Lizard, Su Muli said helplessly: "Junior, aren't you here to evolve it?"
Hearing the reminder, Jiang Xing finally remembered the main task. Under the Storm Sea Lizard's reluctant gaze, he stopped feeding and reached toward the water.
A flash of light—and a Golden-Patterned Koi appeared, splashing into the water.
Jiang Xing then tapped the large water tank beside him. One after another, Golden-Patterned Koi leapt out at his command, diving into the river.
Hundreds of Golden-Patterned Koi gathered into a school. For a moment, even the river seemed to be coated in a layer of golden light.
Among the golden-white fish, the Fish King surfaced, gazing at the distant, majestic waterfall. In its watery eyes flickered a hint of confusion.
"Ying?"
The Dragon Gate?
Why did it feel… different from what it had imagined?
"Don't rush," Jiang Xing said, sensing its thoughts. He turned to the Storm Sea Lizard.
"I'm counting on you."
"Xi!" Having eaten its fill, the Storm Sea Lizard patted its chest and raised a claw as agreed beforehand.
In an instant, the wind and clouds shifted. A violent storm surged forth. Even the distant tourists felt like they were about to be blown away, grabbing onto anything nearby.
But before they could even scream, the storm vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving only moist air behind.
When sunlight pierced through the mist—
in the sky before the hundred-meter waterfall, there appeared a magnificent, radiant rainbow—like the gate to a celestial realm!
Jiang Xing pointed at the rainbow and spoke: "Go. Leap through that Dragon Gate!"
The seven-colored Dragon Gate engraved itself into the Golden-Patterned Koi's eyes.
It leapt out of the water in excitement.
"Ying!!!"
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