Jiang Xing often fed wild Pet Beasts, which gradually attracted many groups to settle around the research institute.
There was the Puli Squirrel family—round and chubby, their fur as fluffy as dandelions; the Little Golden Finch family—small-bodied, with golden tail feathers; the Willow-Leaf Rabbit family—white and green in color, with ears shaped like slender willow leaves…
On this day, all of these wild Pet Beast groups gathered together in the open ground before the institute, forming a vast and orderly crowd.
They did not make noise or stir. Instead, they quietly listened to the words of a young man—
"…I would like to invite you as the audience for this event, to watch the Ugly Waterfowl perform."
"During the performance, you may decide for yourselves whether to present 'feathers' to the performers."
"Even if you choose not to give feathers, or feel offended, I hope you can restrain your emotions."
"They mean no harm."
As Jiang Xing spoke, he opened the box beside him, revealing layers upon layers of feathers in various colors.
These feathers were items he had crafted.
Of course, calling them "items" was somewhat generous—the power contained within them was minimal. Each feather was made using only half a strand of qilin fluff, combined with a small amount of supplementary materials.
Their effect was to provide a slight boost in affinity… so slight that it could practically be ignored.
They were merely practice pieces.
At this moment, however, these feathers replaced the legendary "Hundred-Bird Feathers" from myth, becoming a symbol of recognition among the wild Pet Beasts.
After each of them took two or three feathers, some spread their wings and flew, others hopped along, making their way to the lakeside.
Once all the groups were in position—the open ground beside the evolution stage, the trees, the lake… every corner was filled with all kinds of Pet Beasts.
Even the sky above was filled with flying Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, creating momentum for the stage.
This grand gathering of countless beasts truly carried a myth-like atmosphere.
Unfortunately, aside from Jiang Xing, no one else could witness this scene.
Fortunately, Jiang Xing had set up multiple cameras, now powered on, recording everything from various angles.
'I remember in the Pokémon world, there are Contest-style competitions focused on showcasing beauty—events where coordination trainers specialize in enhancing elegance and competing for titles…'
In truth, the Beast Taming world also had the foundation for such contests.
Take the Golden-Patterned Koi, for example—a classic "ornamental" Pet Beast. Even its evolved form, the Rainbow Dragon Hatchling, possessed remarkable beauty, making it highly suitable for such competitions.
Moreover, these contests were not solely about appearance—condition, skill proficiency, coordination… all were part of the judging criteria.
At their core, they tested a trainer's nurturing ability.
'If I prove and publish the existence of attributes like beauty, and draw attention…'
'Perhaps, in the future, such contests will truly emerge.'
'And when people trace their origins back… this "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" event will become the ancestor of all such competitions!'
With that thought, Jiang Xing felt a growing sense of purpose. He activated the Mental Field Generator and spoke: "Begin. Let this be the evolution event where transformation is realized and brilliance is unleashed!"
"Contestant Number One, please step onto the stage!"
As his voice fell, all the Ugly Waterfowl turned their heads, their gazes landing on one of their own.
Around its neck hung a circular tag, marked clearly with "001."
Yes—this "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" event followed a format inspired by beauty contests.
After all, if all three hundred Ugly Waterfowl went on stage at once, their combined Ugliness talent, amplified by the mental field…
It would turn into a full-scale "Three Hundred Chickens Taunting Convention."
To prevent chaos—and to give each of them a fair chance—Jiang Xing had opted for a random draw system, allowing them to take turns going on stage.
At this moment, under countless watchful eyes, the Ugly Waterfowl stood frozen in place.
It felt as though innumerable gazes had taken physical form, pressing down upon it.
When had an Ugly Waterfowl ever faced such a scene?
Those gazes felt like mountains, crushing it in place, making it impossible to move forward.
The stage fell into silence.
Several dozen seconds passed.
Just as Jiang Xing thought the event might fail at the very start, and that the Ugly Waterfowl would need more time to temper their mindset—the Ugly Waterfowl finally moved.
With slow, yet resolute steps, it walked along the slope beside the stage, climbing up one step at a time.
It was not the bravest one—the one who had first stepped forward back then, Chickie.
Nor was it particularly outstanding in its mastery of Seduction—it was far from the best.
It was just an ordinary Ugly Waterfowl.
But…
Even an ordinary Ugly Waterfowl had once gazed longingly at the clear sky, dreaming of what it would feel like to fly.
Now that it had come to the research institute, now that it had chosen this path—no matter how difficult it was, it would gather its courage and keep trying.
At this moment, standing on the stage, it looked down below.
The second trial had arrived—when it was still offstage, what the Ugly Waterfowl cared about most were undoubtedly the wild Pet Beast spectators.
Just imagining their looks of disgust was enough to make it recall its past experiences, causing its body to tremble with fear.
But when it truly stood on the stage, it realized those wild Pet Beasts had "disappeared."
What filled its entire awareness were the hundreds of its own kind closest to it—the most conspicuous presence of all!
This was precisely the scene Jiang Xing had deliberately created.
With hundreds of Ugly Waterfowl watching below, their Ugliness talent layered and amplified by the mental field, the one on stage simply had no capacity left to care about the wild Pet Beasts.
The only thing it could focus on… was its own kind!
Or rather—only the amplified "Ugliness" talent!
Just like the earlier combination of Dragon Gate and Dragon Might, this was the true trial of the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" event!
If it wanted to express itself, it had to first resist the disgust brought by its own ugliness—completely overcoming the influence of its innate talent!
And—overcome its past.
As the overlapping ugliness effects intensified, the Ugly Waterfowl held its breath. Its memories flickered through its mind like a lantern reel.
The moment it had been abandoned by its mother…
The inferiority it had carried for so long…
Its hatred toward itself…
Its disgust toward its own kind…
All of it surged to the surface.
Instinctively, it turned around, clutching its head, ready to flee—ready to leap into the lake behind the stage.
However, just as it was about to jump down—it stopped.
In the end, the training it had undergone during this period had taken effect.
It had developed a considerable resistance to the Ugliness talent. Its mind was not completely overtaken.
Most importantly—its desire for evolution had completely overwhelmed these influences.
It did not want to retreat.
And it did not dare to retreat.
If it took this step back… it might never be able to move forward again.
It turned back around.
Enduring the pressure of its ugliness, it twisted its body sharply.
Its innate ugliness could no longer influence it!
This—was its beauty!
"Gu!"
This evolution stage was primarily a trial of will, helping the Ugly Waterfowl cross the final threshold and completely overcome the influence of its talent.
From the perspective of the wild Pet Beasts, the scene had looked rather strange—the Ugly Waterfowl had stood there in a daze, slowly inching onto the stage… then suddenly panicked and nearly fled… froze again at the edge… and after a long while, started moving its body…
Honestly, it made little sense.
Only the Ugly Waterfowl closest to it could truly empathize.
As they watched it dance, the Ugly Waterfowl below could not help but shed tears of emotion.
Although, under the immense mental pressure, its movements were clumsy, and the effect of its Seduction move was less than a tenth of its normal strength—it had successfully neutralized the influence of its ugliness.
The Ugly Waterfowl below raised their wings one after another, throwing their feathers into the air—they were not only contestants, but also spectators, and they too had received feathers.
At this moment, throwing them signified their recognition.
In the dancing Ugly Waterfowl's eyes, there was nothing but its own kind below.
When it saw the feathers flying toward it, something stirred deep within its heart. The scars of its past were gradually covered by these new faces.
It wasn't its mother's fault… she too had been abandoned…
The root of everything lay in this innate "curse."
Now, it had transcended that curse.
No matter the outcome, it could ensure that its future offspring would not have to experience the same suffering.
Deep within its heart, it finally reconciled with its past.
In that instant—
A burst of white light erupted!
The white glow of evolution illuminated the astonished eyes of every Pet Beast—Ugly Waterfowl, Puli Squirrels, Honey Attendants… all of them.
When the light faded—a breathtakingly beautiful bird stood upon the stage!
It had a long, elegant neck, a slender yet well-proportioned body that radiated grace.
Its feathers shimmered with strange hues, and its long tail feathers flowed like a gown. As it spread its wings, it was as though a massive feathered fan had unfurled.
Under the sunlight, its iridescent plumage constantly shifted colors, refracting dazzling brilliance.
An invisible force spread outward.
All the Pet Beasts were immersed in the scene, completely silent—
Left with only a single thought:
Beautiful.
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