Principal Liu had finally settled a lingering concern and couldn't help but smile.
Jiang Xing was both Dr. Xu's student and the originator of the Friendship Theory—he clearly loved Pet Beasts deeply.
Even if it ultimately failed, and no new evolutionary form was discovered… having the Honey Attendant stay by his side could at least mean a peaceful final chapter of its life.
"Let's go, I'll take you to find it."
Jiang Xing followed Principal Liu to the breeding house behind the school.
It was a spacious garden, filled with flowers of all colors competing in brilliance.
Many Honey Attendants flitted about, gathering nectar and feeding the Honey Larvae in the garden.
Among them, one Honey Attendant flew noticeably slower.
Its hair had faded from golden to silver-white. The antennae by its ears, once able to read emotions, had withered. The petal-formed maid dress on its body was no longer vibrant, carrying instead the aura of old age.
Yet it refused to rest. It hovered beside the other Honey Attendants, making "hiss-hiss" sounds as it pointed out their mistakes.
"Xiao Xian!"
Principal Liu called out.
Hearing the voice, the Honey Attendant flapped its wings and flew over, curiosity in its eyes.
"Hiss?"
"Xiao Xian, this student is Jiang Xing, an outstanding Pet Beast researcher," Principal Liu said. "He would like to invite you to his research institute as a steward."
"Hiss."
The Honey Attendant pointed toward the distant Honey Larvae and shook its head.
Even though the Honey Attendant was not a Psychic-type Pet Beast, and Principal Liu had no contract with it, he still understood its meaning and replied seriously: "I know you are a teacher here. There are many students who need your guidance, and many Pet Beasts waiting for your care."
"But Xiao Xian… you are already eighteen years old."
"Your strength is fading. The time left to you is not much…"
The Honey Attendant, with its almost human-like face, showed a trace of sorrow upon hearing this.
It was a Pet Beast teacher, possessing far more knowledge than others of its kind. It knew many, many things.
It knew… that it was growing old.
Its strength was gradually diminishing. Before long, even flying would become difficult.
Until one day, it would collapse in the garden, never to open its eyes again.
This was the fate of insect-type Pet Beasts.
It understood all of this clearly, which was why it wanted to use the strength it still had to teach more Honey Attendants, helping them grow quickly and take its place…
It no longer wished to leave this place for some unknown destination.
"Hiss."
"This shouldn't be your ending," Principal Liu said, his eyes reddening.
"I may not have a way, but Jiang Xing is an exceptionally talented researcher focused on Pet Beast evolution. He can help you complete your evolution!"
"As long as you evolve to the next stage, you may be able to break free from your lifespan limitations and regain your vitality!"
Evolution…
The Honey Attendant raised its head and looked at Jiang Xing in confusion.
It didn't understand why Principal Liu had such confidence in this young man.
After all, the Honey Attendant was already widely recognized as the end of its evolutionary line. And he looked so young—perhaps not even older than itself…
Just as it hesitated, a glow suddenly lit up before its eyes—
A glow that represented a contract.
Jiang Xing extended his right hand, a contract pattern emerging in his palm.
He spoke: "I will help you achieve another transformation after breaking free from your cocoon."
"When that time comes, not only will you regain your vitality, but all Honey Attendants will gain the possibility to continue growing."
Unlike Beast Tamers who pursued powerful Pet Beasts, Jiang Xing treated contracts purely as a way to prove himself—and to give Pet Beasts confidence—yet this approach produced extraordinarily effective results.
Just like the Honey Attendant before him—even when it had just been born, anyone considering forming a contract with it would have to take its identity as an insect-type Pet Beast into account and think carefully about whether it was worth it.
Not to mention that it now had less than two years of life remaining.
Only those who believed it could achieve evolution would be willing to contract it.
At that moment, all confusion vanished from the Honey Attendant's eyes. It extended its small, pale hand and pressed it against the center of the contract.
"Hiss…"
It wanted to live a little longer. It wanted to watch more lives grow.
It… didn't want to die.
Light burst forth. The Honey Attendant transformed into a streak of radiance and disappeared into Jiang Xing's palm.
[Name: Honey Attendant]
[Attribute: Bug]
[Talent: Amity — When using healing-type moves on other creatures, the effect is greatly enhanced.]
[Species Tier: Mid Commander]
[Racial Moves: Healing Droplet, Calming Wave, Act Cute, Sweet Nectar…]
[Description: A bee-type Pet Beast, as diligent as a worker bee. It enjoys caring for other lifeforms, as if it never feels fatigue. It can produce a special kind of honey—the better its mood, the sweeter the honey.]
…
Out of personal feelings, Principal Liu did not stop Jiang Xing from forming a contract with Xiao Xian.
Afterward, she felt deeply guilty. So she introduced Jiang Xing to the finest batch of Pet Beasts the school had cultivated in recent times—
After all, scientific research is full of uncertainty.
Even Dr. Xu could not guarantee that his research projects would succeed.
No matter how confident Jiang Xing was, a topic like the evolution of the Honey Attendant still had a far higher chance of failure than success.
If it failed, not only would Xiao Xian die of old age, Jiang Xing would also lose a contract slot.
As a rising star among researchers, Jiang Xing's contract slot was far more valuable than a Honey Attendant teacher.
But the contract had already been formed. There was no turning back.
She could only do her best to compensate Jiang Xing and pray that he would succeed in completing his research…
When that time came, Jiang Xing would gain an excellent Pet Beast steward, and Xiao Xian would be able to begin a new life.
A win-win outcome.
"Please… you must succeed."
…
Jiang Xing, meanwhile, left the school with a full fifty Pet Beasts and returned to his research institute.
Among these fifty Pet Beasts were five White Healing Maidens—nurse-type Pet Beasts with white fox ears, white fox tails, and humanoid forms dressed in nurse uniforms.
They moved into the institute's infirmary. From now on, if any Pet Beast was injured, Jiang Xing would no longer have to handle everything himself.
There were also fifteen River Clam Maidens—caretaker-type Pet Beasts. When resting, they would switch into clam form, lying inside large, bed-like blue river clams. Once they woke, they would emerge as mermaid-like humanoid Pet Beasts with blue scales, while the clam shells became their headpieces.
They moved into the water pools within the institute—
To accommodate them, Jiang Xing even remodeled several rooms.
Then there were thirty Honey Attendants—breeding-type Pet Beasts.
They could help Jiang Xing feed other Pet Beasts, record data, and free him from repetitive daily tasks.
They could even take Jiang Xing's place in conducting some basic training for other Pet Beasts.
Finally, there was the Honey Attendant steward: Xiao Xian.
After forming the contract, the decline in its strength caused by its lifespan was supplemented through the contract connection.
Although it could not affect its actual lifespan, it restored the vitality it had in its youth.
By the time they arrived at the institute, Jiang Xing didn't need to worry about anything.
Xiao Xian flitted about, assigning tasks to the Pet Beasts and directing their actions.
In the blink of an eye, everything was organized in perfect order, and the entire institute was running smoothly.
When Jiang Xing saw the completely revitalized institute, he felt both gratified and full of motivation—
With the research on the Death Secret Realm completed, and no trivial matters left to distract him, he could finally devote himself entirely to his research!
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