166: Xiong Nian's Choice

Under normal circumstances, there was actually nothing wrong with Xu Yan doing this.

According to Xu Yan's original plan, after Zhu Yan and Wuxiang both broke through to the Monarch Rank, they would have a relatively long period for precipitation and accumulation. Xu Yan would only need to provide them with spirit food and conventional resources, no longer needing to invest excessive energy in them as before.

The time and energy thus freed up would be used to cultivate Xiong Nian. And because of the improvement in his own strength and that of his spirit beasts, the efficiency and level of resource acquisition would also increase, allowing Xiong Nian to receive better cultivation.

In Xu Yan's opinion, compared to Zhu Yan, who initially only had Commander Rank Low-grade bloodline, and Wuxiang, who needed mechanical modification to improve its bloodline, Xiong Nian, who was born with a Monarch Rank High-grade bloodline, had a much higher starting point than the former two.

Similarly, when it came to Xiong Nian's cultivation plan, there was no need for anything flashy. Before reaching the Monarch Rank, as long as sufficient resources and spirit food were provided, it could steadily improve.

And in fact, Xu Yan did just that. According to Xu Yan's estimation, at Xiong Nian's current rate of improvement, it would take about half a year to a year for Xiong Nian to break through to the Monarch Rank, and that was a conservative estimate.

Compared to protagonists in novels who have various clear goals, enemies, and threats, and need to quickly improve themselves through various means, Xu Yan, who didn't have such problems, actually felt no sense of urgency. His approach to improving his own strength was more about letting nature take its course.

Xu Yan's original plan was to stay in the Third Academy, spend half a year to a year to let Xiong Nian reach the Monarch Rank, and at the same time, Xu Yan could use this period to properly settle himself, do some research, and then leave the Third Academy after his third year to explore and gain experience.

Similarly, regarding joining the school team or participating in the University League, Xu Yan thought there was no need to rush. He planned to try it after his third or fourth year; there was nothing to be anxious about.

However, sometimes, plans just can't keep up with changes. And the upcoming University League, with its unique nature, was the 'variable' that disrupted Xu Yan's original plan.

Although he wasn't obsessed with rapidly improving his strength, when he encountered an opportunity, Xu Yan wouldn't back down due to difficulties or competition with others. He would still strive for what he should strive for.

If Xu Yan wanted to participate in the upcoming school team selection and even the University League, facing those with exceptional Innate Talent and several more years of cultivation than him, Zhu Yan and Wuxiang's current strength and uniqueness would qualify them to contend, but it wasn't enough.

In the University League, unless your raw strength is truly overwhelming enough to ignore any targeting and crush all opponents, then, as the senior sister from the First Academy Xu Yan met in Secret Realm No. 162375 said, you must learn to conceal: conceal your moves, conceal your weaknesses, and conceal your trump cards.

In this way, Xu Yan, with only three spirit beasts, and only two of them capable of participating in the University League, was inherently at a disadvantage in terms of lineup depth compared to those senior students who had cultivated multiple spirit beasts.

Coupled with Xu Yan's current age, if it were just within the school team, it would be fine. But if he were to enter the University League, his age + number of spirit beasts + strength would fully activate debuffs and attention, leading to even more severe targeting.

Whether it was Xu Yan's original plan or his thoughts after receiving news of the University League, the cultivation of Xiong Nian was already on the agenda; it was just that the latter was more urgent than the original plan.

With the blood soul crystal obtained from Mo Yi, combined with the various spirit food and resources Xu Yan could provide in large quantities, as long as Xiong Nian could withstand the negative effects of the blood soul crystal, there was a good chance it could reach the Monarch Rank before the school team selection.

Of course, Xu Yan wasn't an extremely self-centered person; the decision to use the blood soul crystal or not still depended on Xiong Nian's own choice.

Thinking this, Xu Yan directly summoned Xiong Nian.

Looking at Xiong Nian, who had just been summoned and was still holding a handful of spirit food, about to put it in its mouth, Xu Yan directly took out a blood soul crystal and placed it in front of Xiong Nian.

Without concealment or coercion, he directly informed Xiong Nian of the blood soul crystal's effects and the negative side effects that would result from its use, then gave Xiong Nian the choice of whether or not to use this resource.

Xiong Nian showed no hesitation regarding the choice Xu Yan offered. After putting the spirit food in its paw into its mouth, it firmly extended its paw again and grasped the blood soul crystal in front of it.

Xu Yan wasn't particularly surprised by Xiong Nian's choice.

Don't let Xiong Nian's usual carefree gluttonous image fool you. In reality, as a mutated spirit beast from a top clan in the Myriad Spirits Mansion, naturally possessing a Monarch Rank High-grade bloodline, Xiong Nian was actually the most proud of the three spirit beasts Xu Yan had contracted.

It was just that, due to its gluttonous nature and its acknowledgment of Xu Yan's and its two companions' strength, it usually appeared a bit simple-minded.

However, acknowledging its companions' strength didn't mean Xiong Nian would allow its own strength to be left far behind by them.

After Xu Yan, Zhu Yan, and Wuxiang successively broke through to the Monarch Rank, as the only spirit beast in the team still at the Commander Rank, Xiong Nian was actually feeling some anxiety, unwillingness, and even self-doubt.

Anxious about its slow improvement in strength, unwilling to be left behind by its companions, and doubting whether the Innate Talent it was praised for in its clan was just its elders comforting it.

The constant act of grabbing spirit food and stuffing it into its mouth, besides being a glutton's love for delicacies, was also a sign of insecurity. Only by feeling the improvement in strength that came after the spirit food was digested could Xiong Nian feel some peace of mind.

If things continued this way, even if Xu Yan hadn't proactively suggested it, after learning about the blood soul crystal's effects, Xiong Nian would have proactively requested to use it from Xu Yan.

After Xiong Nian made its decision, Xu Yan did not immediately let it use the blood soul crystal. Instead, he prepared to summon Wuxiang to have it screen the academic affairs system for special venues suitable for assisting Xiong Nian in using resources.

In response, Xiong Nian said there was no need to trouble Wuxiang. Within the Luolei Mountain Range, where the Profound Thunder Battle Bears resided, there was a special area used for body tempering and assisting resource absorption. Members of the Profound Thunder Battle Bear clan had one free entry opportunity each year, and it could directly absorb the blood soul crystal there.