Sky-cracking Rider

Chen Fei, carrying a bag full of late-night snacks, walked over and peered into the bird's nest on the round table, not being able to help but jump in surprise.

"Oh my, what's going on here?"

The demon crystal was still there, but for some mysterious reason, there was a pile of black feathers inside the bird's nest, almost overflowing.

Xiao Jiu's feathers?!

Chen Fei looked at the female executive manager in shock.

"Where's Xiao Jiu?"

There were neither mice nor cats in the facility, though there were a few dogs. While dogs might chase mice, they're not interested in birds!

"You don't know?"

Hanna Gagar was slightly surprised, then as if she understood something, a teasing look appeared in her eyes.

Chen Fei said annoyedly, "What should I know? What's up with these feathers?"

But his heart started to panic silently. When he had gone to the cafeteria, Xiao Jiu had been curled up snugly in its nest, sleeping soundly. But now, only a nest full of feathers remained.

Could it be that some gluttonous creature stripped my little bird bare and then swallowed it whole?

I'd beat the crap out of anyone who dared eat my bird.

"Don't worry, it's fine!"

Seeing Chen Fei getting worked up, the female executive manager covered her mouth and laughed.

"It's fine?"

Chen Fei looked at the bird's nest doubtfully, still seeing nothing but feathers. He reached in and shifted a few feathers around, revealing a chubby little body.

This is utterly bizarre!

Had it eaten something it shouldn't have while he wasn't watching and lost all its feathers? And not just a few, but all clean off, turning into a little bald bird.

"How did it turn into this?"

Chen Fei felt even worse.

If it weren't for the recognizable sharp beak and claws, he would have almost thought Xiao Jiu had been switched out.

The little bird's eyes were closed, its chubby pink body gently heaving with its breathing. Something inside seemed to be glowing, flickering brightly and dimly.

He touched it gently, and its body was very hot, almost scalding.

"You didn't know?"

The female executive manager became even more certain of her guess, finding it increasingly amusing.

"Know what? Uh, do you know why?"

Chen Fei looked at her puzzled, as Manager Hanna's reaction seemed a bit strange, as if she knew something.

From another perspective, Xiao Jiu's condition didn't seem that bad, he just didn't know the reason.

"Of course, it might have advanced in rank!"

Hanna Gagar had never thought that a Low-Rank Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow would advance in rank.

Probably nobody but Chen Fei, this fool, would use a High-Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core to cultivate such an insignificant magical beast.

Ranking a Pure Light Sparrow as a First Order Magical Beast was indeed overestimating it.

Chen Fei was just lucky. Xiao Jiu was one of the rare Pure Light Sparrows capable of wielding the Light Healing Technique, and this Rookie probably thought all Pure Light Sparrows could cast such Light-based Spells!

In fact, only one in ten thousand Pure Light Sparrows could unleash the Light Healing Technique.

"Advance in rank?"

Chen Fei frowned, he was not ignorant of the magical beasts' advancement in rank.

But he had never heard of avian magical beasts losing all their feathers in the process of advancing, turning into a bald chicken.

Hanna Gagar explained to Chen Fei, "Only a very few magical beasts lose all their fur during their advancement, but for common-blooded Low-Rank magical beasts, advancements mean a transformation, an upheaval within that transforms as if turning over a new leaf. The lower the rank, the bigger the change, simply put, a complete transformation.

For Xiao Jiu, it's a good thing as its bloodline potential will greatly enhance, far surpassing other Pure Light Sparrows."

General knowledge is easily accessible to ordinary people.

But more in-depth subjects are not something the average person can come into contact with.

Knowledge is priceless and free, belonging to everyone, but the channels to access knowledge have their price, and no one can gain something for nothing.

A paperback textbook costs 1.8 Yuan, while a hardcover costs 10.8 Yuan. The price is different, but the content is the same. That's roughly the idea.

If one doesn't work hard enough, even with a diamond-studded textbook, they still won't be able to get into college.

"A complete transformation?!"

Upon hearing the conclusive remark, Chen Fei finally slowly nodded.

He indeed didn't know this, as it wasn't his field of study in college.

But Manager Hanna's explanation made sense, a lower starting point implies higher growth potential and malleability. However, advancement comes with risks, and if it fails...

Noticing the change in Chen Fei's expression, almost spelling "worry" on his face, Hanna Gagar said, "You don't need to worry, placing a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core next to it is the best insurance, at least until it breaks through to Earth Order, you don't have to worry about Xiao Jiu's advancement risks."

With the Light Element contained within a Third Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, a Pure Light Sparrow's path to advancement in the Human Order would face no obstacles.

Even though magical beasts like Pure Light Sparrows can advance in rank, the probability is much lower compared to those with the innate ability to use the Light Healing Technique, and cases of losing all their feathers are extremely rare.

Chen Fei's rather reckless act of nurturing the lowest-class magical beast with a high-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core was also very uncommon. Given such resources, one could easily cultivate a fairly powerful magical beast, sufficiently blessing at least two generations. It would still be far superior to a bird that has negative combat abilities (can't hurt others, only heals them).

Exchanging a Third Rank Earth Order Magical Beast Crystal Core, worth millions of Star Yuan, for a not very useful "Band-Aid" was a massive loss.

On one hand, Star Yuan might be out of everyone's price range, but I like him.

On the other hand, the Magical Beast Crystal Core was a gift from the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan to Xiao Jiu, so it wouldn't be right to just use it as I pleased.

So both the person and the dragon are cluelessly muddling through this.

Chen Fei took a deep breath and said with a pat on his chest, "Haha, then there's no problem, Manager Hanna. You really know a lot."

As they placed Xiao Jiu's nest to the side, Hanna Gagel started unpacking the dinner Chen Fei brought, while saying, "If you had attended a private noble school from an early age, you'd easily know these things, and even have the chance to interact with Magical Beasts."

"Hehe!"

Chen Fei chuckled dryly, aware that he and Manager Hanna came from two different social classes.

From elementary to high school, Chen Fei attended public schools that were free of tuition fees, where the only requirement was to pay for meals; he didn't even have to pay for textbooks and workbooks. He definitely couldn't afford the hefty tuition of private noble schools.

The cost for one term could sustain an ordinary family for several strenuous years of hard work, and that was just the basic course fee, excluding additional expenses like meals, clothing, accommodations, study tours, specialized skill coaching, travel costs, and more, which could add up to more than the basic tuition alone.

Not to mention extras like personal single rooms, private small villas, room service, ordered meals, private dressing rooms, etc.

While ordinary people's kids diligently sat in classrooms with plain textbooks, children from wealthy families who attended private noble schools were already busy with specialized practical courses like horse riding, vehicular handling on sea, land, air, and outdoor adventures.

Comparing oneself to others could really be fatal!

"Actually, I'm quite curious as to how far Xiao Jiu can develop."

The female executive manager was keen on watching this excitement unfold, not bothering whether Chen Fei was misusing the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core or not.

"I'm also very curious—oh, the alcohol today is quite special."

Chen Fei nodded, arranging his dinner just to see Manager Hanna bring up a bottle of liquor that was milky white in appearance, somewhat like rice wine.

"It's tequila that's been aging for ten years; I still have about a dozen barrels left in my cellar."

Vigorously unscrewing the bottle, Hanna Gagel poured a full glass for both herself and Chen Fei.

"Barrels?"

Chen Fei eyed the glass bottle, keenly catching the keyword.

Barrels and bottles are completely different; only rich families store alcohol by the barrel.

Poor folks dare not even think about it, dare not think about it.

"Having a cellar without oak barrels is a total waste! Here's to one!"

Hanna Gagel picked up her glass and gestured.

"Ah, sure!"

Chen Fei quickly picked up his glass and clinked with hers, gulping it down in one go, then gasping for air, he laughed and said, "Good liquor, quite strong."

It must have been at least seventy percent alcohol by volume, completely different from rice wine.

Then he took a bite of stir-fried chicken breast to sober up before asking, "How big is your wine cellar?"

The female executive manager refilled her glass and said indifferently, "Compared to my father's cellar, my personal wine cellar is not very large, just over 3,000 square feet."

The most deadly bragging is always the subtle kind.

Chen Fei rolled his eyes, unable to understand the world of the wealthy.

Once he saves enough money, he too will get a barrel and boast about it.

The kind of oak barrel that could kill a bull with a single drop—just thinking about it makes him drool.

Ding, ding, ding, ding...

An enchanting sound suddenly rang out beside the female executive manager.

But Chen Fei was looking toward the bird nest on the small round table, worried that the sudden sound might wake Xiao Jiu and interrupt his valuable chance to advance in rank.

Fortunately, the completely featherless little bird was oblivious, a thin yellowish layer formed on the surfaces of its beak and claws. It seemed, just as Manager Hanna had said, that it was undergoing a complete transformation.

"There's news!"

Hanna Gagel set down her glass and took out a tablet from the bag hanging on her chair's back.

Having a tablet during a drinking session with Chen Fei indicated she was well prepared.

"Manager Hanna, this is Rembrandt."

It was a video call.

The tablet stood up on the table, and both Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel could clearly see the grey-haired old man with reading glasses and the laboratory background on the screen.

"Good evening, Professor Rembrandt."

Hanna Gagel picked up her glass in salute.

"Uh, Manager Hanna, who is this beside you...?"

Through the tablet's camera, not only Hanna Gagel was visible, but Chen Fei as well.

"Hello, Professor, I'm Chen Fei."

Chen Fei, mustering courage, also picked up his glass.

He looked toward the female executive manager, seeking answers from her.

But Hanna Gagel gestured to the tablet, indicating that Chen Fei should keep watching.

"Alright! Let's get straight to the point!"

Professor Rembrandt adjusted the reading glasses on his face, picked up a remote control, and pressed a button. A three-dimensional projection immediately appeared behind him.

"Based on the biological sample you provided..."

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