"How about it? Not only did I reach your doorstep without knowing to call you, that old man Liu didn't know either, right! Hmph! I already told you—it's because your signboard is hung too high, and the phone number on it is way too small! That's not my problem!"
Listening to Qin Xiaoxue's voice—rapid-fire yet inexplicably proud—Su Ping blinked.
What was she doing? Was she trying to justify herself because he had said this morning that her brain didn't always work properly?
But hearing her put it that way, could it really be his fault?
"If you say so, then fine," Su Ping said. "But when you came looking for the place, you should've seen the advertisement, right? I left my phone number on the ad as well."
"I was driving at the time. Just finding the road was already a hassle—how could I remember such a long phone number? Then when I got to the door, I forgot it."
"Oh, see, that's exactly what I was say—"
"Ahhh! You bastard, do you still want your money or not?! I'm the client right now!"
On the other end of the phone, Vice Chairman Liu watched Qin Xiaoxue in the middle of her frantic attempt to prove herself, utterly baffled as to what exactly this young lady was saying to Su Ping.
Still, to be fair, he had never seen Miss Qin like this before.
At that thought, Vice Chairman Liu felt a little sentimental. If that kid really could handle Miss Qin, that would truly be something extraordinary.
But soon, he shook his head.
Qin Erlong was one thing—but that person in Magic City? How could she be so easily dealt with?
In any case, that had nothing to do with him. His task right now was simply to deliver Su Ping's Intermediate Breeder qualification certificate as quickly as possible.
That was all.
With that in mind, he quickened his pace, following behind Qin Xiaoxue.
On the other side, Su Ping put down his phone and couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
Before he could picture Qin Xiaoxue's furious yet helpless expression, Jin Sheng walked over again.
Su Ping glanced at this Breeder Jin. Without refusing, he saved the phone number of the intermediate breeder named Zhao Huaihai into his contacts, then continued asking:
"By the way, are there any requirements for the Intermediate Breeder assessment?"
The question made Jin Sheng pause slightly. He really wanted to say: You haven't even passed the qualification for a Junior Breeder, and you're already thinking about running before you've learned to walk?
But Su Ping was clearly no ordinary person. Jin Sheng nodded and said:
"That's where it gets difficult. It's not just a test of a breeder's experience and techniques. You also need to master the cultivation of specialized skills for the corresponding pet beasts. And the success rate of cultivating those skills can't be lower than fifty percent. That's the most rigid requirement—and also the hardest one.
"For example, I specialize in breeding Redfang Tigers. But I've never managed to master the method for enabling Redfang Tigers to learn skills, so I've never been able to attempt the Intermediate Breeder assessment."
Su Ping raised an eyebrow.
"So how does a breeder learn and obtain this kind of skill cultivation method?"
Jin Sheng glanced at him and spoke with a hint of emotion:
"It's simple, really. Either you research and develop it yourself—but being able to reach that level is extremely rare. Anyone who can do that has a very high chance of becoming a High-tier Breeder in the future.
"Or you spend a huge amount of money to buy certain magic potion formulas, then use those potions to increase the success rate of skill cultivation. But every single skill-learning potion formula is priced beyond imagination.
"The last option is apprenticeship. You go and acknowledge a Mid-tier or High-tier Breeder as your master and learn their cultivation methods. But that's also very difficult. And after you become a breeder, half—or even most—of your earnings have to be handed over to your master as teaching compensation. Without your master's consent, you're not allowed to pass the knowledge on to others…"
At this point, Jin Sheng's gaze turned a little lost. But it quickly became firm again.
"Of course, now that I'm working at Fire King Company, it's different. As long as my performance meets the standards, my years of service reach ten years, and I complete certain company targets, I can apply to learn some skill cultivation methods."
As he spoke, Jin Sheng looked at Su Ping.
"Su Ping, although Fire King Company mainly focuses on fire-element pet beasts, resources, and items, I don't think I need to say much about our strength in Linzhou City. Even in Jianghai Province, we have considerable influence.
"If you want to join Fire King Company, it's not impossible. With the company backing you, becoming an Intermediate Breeder in the future shouldn't be difficult at all."
Su Ping smiled.
"I don't have that plan for now. But if I ever need it in the future, I'll definitely look you up, Brother Jin."
Truth be told, after chatting for a while, Jin Sheng left Su Ping with a fairly good impression.
He might be a bit arrogant toward others, but when it came to answering Su Ping's questions, he was candid and thorough.
Especially regarding the fundamentals of the breeder profession—this information was genuinely useful to Su Ping and held significant value.
It gave him a deeper understanding of breeders.
The differences between breeders were enormous.
If nothing else, just the variation in the pet beasts they specialized in—their directions and fields of expertise—already created massive gaps.
And right at that moment, at the edge of Su Ping's vision, two familiar figures finally appeared.
Qin Xiaoxue and Vice Chairman Liu arrived.
The former was still as energetic and impulsive as ever. Su Ping had no idea what she was busy with all day long—but then again, a rich woman being busy was perfectly normal.
Jin Sheng followed Su Ping's gaze. He immediately recognized that the woman in sunglasses walking in front was the mysterious Beast Tamer who had just summoned the Ancient Tree of Life.
But at this moment, Jin Sheng frowned slightly and looked toward the other figure.
This bald old man… looked oddly familiar.
Jin Sheng watched as Su Ping walked over to greet them. Naturally, he didn't lack the tact to intrude—but his eyes remained locked onto the bald old man as he fell into deep thought.
He was quite confident in his memory. Jin Sheng could be one hundred percent certain that he had seen this old man somewhere before.
But where?
Jin Sheng scratched his head, feeling confused.
Did I remember wrong?
His brows furrowed. However, before he could think further, Su Ping—who had already stepped forward—smiled slightly and said:
"Chairman Liu, you could've just called me. I would've gone to the Breeders' Association myself. Making you come all this way is too much trouble."
Chairman Liu?
Jin Sheng blinked. He looked again at the bald, smiling old man, and slowly, the image in his memory—once only a fleeting glimpse—began to overlap with reality.
Like a bolt of lightning flashing through his thoughts.
Before he could react, that once lofty, untouchable figure from his memories spoke in a warm, kindly, smiling tone:
"How could that be acceptable? I already promised. Otherwise, wouldn't Miss Qin accuse me of going back on my word?
"But then again, only you, little Su, would be so unconcerned about an Intermediate Breeder qualification certificate. If it were anyone else, they'd probably be unable to wait any longer. Hahahaha!"
Su Ping smiled in response.
Yet none of them noticed that, a short distance behind Su Ping, Jin Sheng stood there as if struck by lightning—his gaze numb, his expression utterly stunned.
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