The next day at noon.
Sunlight filtered through the clouds, gently falling into the villa's courtyard.
Under the powerful effect of the entry "Ever-Changing," the young Qilin officially transitioned from infancy to childhood.
In the courtyard, the young Qilin's scales gleamed more brightly, as if countless streams of spiritual energy were slowly flowing over its body.
Originally the size of a house cat, it had now grown to the size of a medium-sized dog.
The spirit flames beneath its four hooves were no longer weak and illusory, but exuded a sense of vigorous and restrained power.
Of course, the "Ever-Changing" entry only altered the physical growth rate of the young Qilin.
Its true age, including its personality, remained unchanged.
Its gluttonous nature was on full display.
The valuable spirit stones piled in the yard had been completely devoured by it.
A mere whiff of food drifting from the kitchen was enough to make the young Qilin instantly alert, ears perked up, nostrils twitching.
In the next second, it shot off like an arrow from a bow.
Seeing this, Su Muchen couldn't help but mutter, "Good thing the family is well-off, otherwise this Qilin would be impossible to raise."
With that, he took out his phone and ordered another batch of spirit stones and various spirit fruits to be delivered.
After arranging everything, Su Muchen went to the dining room, eating while checking the information on the newly unlocked entry.
Although the Qilin needed to pass through infancy before naturally growing and breaking through cultivation barriers over time, almost all Beast Tamer Creatures possessed an ability.
When they consumed items like spirit stones, which are essentially products formed from spiritual energy, the absorption of spiritual energy varied based on each creature's digestive ability.
Some spiritual energy would be wasted due to absorption and conversion limitations.
Some would be stored within, providing a blue buff-like effect, allowing the creature to release more skills.
And some would be directly absorbed and utilized, transformed through internal spiritual power circulation into key energy for breaking through current cultivation levels.
Even a divine beast like the Qilin was no exception.
However, being a divine beast, the resources required to break through levels this way were enormous.
But with loss comes gain, and gain comes with loss.
As a divine beast, it also had the advantages of being one.
Depending on the physique and potential of each Beast Tamer Creature, there was a limit to the energy they could absorb daily.
Overeating and forcing more food would harm them, having the opposite effect.
Therefore, for a Beast Tamer Creature to grow quickly, it needed regular training, ideally participating in battles to speed up spiritual energy absorption.
But the Qilin was different.
Even in infancy, its small body had an endless appetite.
Since Su Muchen acquired the Qilin, it had been eating and drinking almost non-stop, except when sleeping.
This led to its cultivation level rising from Bronze Rank One to Bronze Rank Two in less than a day.
This advancement directly propelled Su Muchen to reach the Black Iron Rank Six level.
Thus, Su Muchen unlocked a brand new entry.
"Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart: One Mind, Seven Uses!
Good stuff!"
Seeing this entry, Su Muchen's eyes lit up.
Although its description was only four words, those words were incredibly impressive.
One Mind, Seven Uses—what a concept.
According to Su Muchen's grandfather's teachings, a Beast Tamer Creature could release combination skills due to the ability of One Mind, Two Uses, like drawing a circle with the left hand while kicking with the right foot.
Now, this Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart was One Mind, Seven Uses.
What would happen if it were bestowed upon the young Qilin?
Young Qilin + Five Elements Power + Thunderstorm Convergence + Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart equals what?
Wouldn't it mean the young Qilin could simultaneously unleash seven different elemental attacks?
Launching seven attacks at once—now that's a perfect Turret Mage.
Or, with this entry, even if the young Qilin only cast seven Fireball Techniques simultaneously, it could become a Seven-Star Fireball.
In Su Muchen's mind, he could already envision his young Qilin flying in the sky, surrounded by attacks of gold, wood, water, fire, earth, thunder, and lightning, unleashing a barrage of destruction.
"Roar!"
At this moment, the young Qilin raised its head and let out a cry.
The sound carried a hint of a sob, as if it had been wronged.
Su Muchen's heart tightened, and he looked over.
What he saw made him chuckle.
Under the effect of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart, the young Qilin had conjured seven arms made of wood element.
These arms were incredibly agile and lifelike, each stretching out.
In each hand, it held a pile of spirit fruits it wanted to eat.
But the young Qilin was still immature, its thoughts not fully developed.
It looked at the spirit fruit in one hand, then at the delicacies in another.
It tried to stuff all the food into its mouth.
But how could its small mouth handle so much?
As it took a bite from one side, the other arm shook anxiously, as if urging it to try that side too.
So it hurriedly turned its head.
The spirit fruit it had just bitten almost fell.
In a panic, it used another arm to catch it.
For a moment, it was all flustered, its mouth stuffed full, cheeks bulging.
Yet many spirit fruits remained unattended, leaving it to gaze longingly.
"Is this what they call a giant in thought but a dwarf in action?"
Su Muchen shook his head, quickly walking over to gently stroke the young Qilin's head.
Once the young Qilin calmed down, its aggrieved eyes regaining their usual liveliness, Su Muchen, like a nurturing father, patiently taught and guided it.
But the young Qilin was just a child, after all.
It didn't think that much.
It simply opened its mouth obediently, enjoying its master's feeding, occasionally humming contentedly.
"The path of nurturing is long and arduous!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan