’This cultivation efficiency is incredibly satisfying!’

Yang Qi carefully sensed the Magical Power in his Dantian, which had multiplied severalfold. The feelings of stability and joy that came with this growth in strength left him in an exceptionally good mood.

He glanced at the time and saw it was almost noon, so he put aside the thought of continuing his cultivation, got up, and went downstairs to prepare a meal.

"Hmm, I’ll just have some Spirit Rice..."

"Wait a minute!"

Yang Qi’s thoughts turned to the little Leopard, Ta Xue. ’The little guy is still young. His stomach probably can’t handle solid food. Spirit Rice Porridge would be more suitable.’

So, he measured out a portion of Spirit Rice, gave it a quick rinse, put it in the rice cooker with water, and pressed the start button.

While the rice cooker was working, Yang Qi went to the backyard. He found Xiaojiu supervising Ta Xue, making sure the little Leopard didn’t chew on the flowers, while Ta Xue itself was playing gleefully.

On a whim, he consumed five wisps of Magical Power and cast a Basic Spirit Awakening Technique on the oblivious Ta Xue.

WHOOSH!

A streak of light flashed and disappeared into the little Leopard’s forehead.

Ta Xue’s tiny body stiffened for a moment. Then, its eyes—once just clear, dazed, and curious—visibly brightened with intelligence, as if its mind had been instantly awakened.

"Mew! Mew!"

Ta Xue immediately dropped the blade of grass under its paw and pounced excitedly at Yang Qi’s feet. It rubbed hard against his pant leg, letting out an urgent cry as a clear thought came through.

[Want yummy food!]

[I want that delicious-smelling thing!]

"Alright, alright, we’ll eat in a minute. Be patient," Yang Qi said with a laugh, bending down to pat its little head.

"Mew!" Ta Xue squinted its eyes in pleasure.

Xiaojiu, perched on a low stool nearby, watched Ta Xue’s pathetic display and shot it a disdainful glance. It let out a haughty "Meow," as if to say, ’Look at you, have some dignity.’

However, the moment the rice cooker let out a "BEEP," signaling that the Spirit Rice Porridge was done, a black shadow shot off the low stool like a lightning bolt, heading straight for the kitchen.

"Meow! Meow!"

Xiaojiu was perched in front of the kitchen counter, looking back and meowing urgently at Yang Qi.

[Hurry up, hurry up!]

[It’s ready to eat!]

Its impatience surpassed even Ta Xue’s.

"I’m coming, I’m coming."

Yang Qi couldn’t hold back his laughter. He walked into the house with Ta Xue trotting happily at his heels.

The moment he lifted the lid of the rice cooker, a unique and tantalizing aroma immediately filled the room.

"Mew?"

[What is that delicious thing?]

Ta Xue bounced around in excitement, a glistening trickle of drool escaping the corner of its mouth.

"Hang on, it’s a little hot. Let it cool before you eat."

As he spoke, Yang Qi ladled out three bowls of the porridge and set them on the table to cool.

After a short wait, once he felt the temperature was just right, Yang Qi picked up the two smaller bowls and placed them on the floor.

Xiaojiu and Ta Xue, who had long grown impatient, immediately buried their heads in the bowls and began eating with noisy smacks of enjoyment.

Yang Qi picked up his own bowl and began to eat slowly.

The Spirit Rice Porridge required no side dishes. It was perfectly smooth and sweet on its own. A warmth spread from his stomach, leaving his entire body feeling relaxed and content.

The entire pot of Spirit Rice Porridge was devoured, with not a single drop left.

After quickly washing the bowls, he returned upstairs. Yang Qi sat cross-legged on the Meditation Cushion, circulating his Cultivation Technique to absorb the Spiritual Qi contained in the porridge and convert it into Magical Power.

Meanwhile, Xiaojiu and Ta Xue each found a comfortable spot to lie down, resting lazily as they digested the energy in their bodies.

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, Yang Qi stopped his cultivation and got up to begin training Ta Xue in earnest.

He taught it simple commands like "eat," "sleep," "go potty there," "quiet," "run," and "stop," and constantly repeated, "Your name is Ta Xue."

Boosted by the Spirit Awakening Technique, Ta Xue learned at an astonishing pace. Although its movements still had a cub’s clumsiness, its ability to understand far surpassed that of an ordinary animal.

...

For dinner, it was Spirit Rice Porridge again.

One person and two little animals happily polished off the entire pot.

At the stroke of midnight, the system prompt appeared on schedule.

[Today’s work is complete. Host fed two Spirit Beasts and is training one Spirit Beast. Contribution Points +15]

...

Early the next morning, Yang Qi woke up feeling refreshed and resumed his daily work routine.

He first went to the warehouse to pick up food, then headed to the wolf enclosure.

After a three-day absence, Happy was more excited than ever to see Yang Qi. It reared up on its hind legs behind the fence, pawing at the mesh and letting out an eager, fawning whine. Its tail wagged as if powered by a motor, and its thoughts came through in a frenzy.

[You’re here!]

[Where’d you go?]

[Go out!]

[I wanna play!]

[Want yummy food!]

...

"Alright, alright, I get it! Stop shouting. I’ll let you out for a run in a bit."

Yang Qi responded with a smile, expertly portioning out the food.

"Wooo~"

Happy’s tail wagged furiously.

[Hurry! Hurry!]

"Almost done," Yang Qi replied.

After feeding the wolf pack, he went next door to feed the raccoons.

Once all the feeding was done and his tools were put away, Yang Qi grabbed a leash and returned to the wolf enclosure, ready to make good on his promise to Happy.

"Happy, come on over!"

Yang Qi called.

"Wooo~"

[Coming, coming!]

Happy rushed over excitedly, willingly lifting its neck so Yang Qi could fasten the collar.

However, just as Yang Qi finished buckling the collar and was about to open the cage door, something completely unexpected happened.

Ao Tian, who had been lying in the distance maintaining his cool, aloof Wolf King persona, suddenly stood up.

With steady, unhurried steps, he walked toward the cage door and stopped right in front of Yang Qi.

"What is it?" Yang Qi asked, confused, as he looked at Ao Tian blocking his way.

"Grr?"

Happy also tilted its head, sizing up its "boss."

Ao Tian didn’t move. His wolfish eyes, always cold and imperious, stared fixedly at Yang Qi. Then, with what appeared to be immense difficulty, he tentatively squeezed two sounds from his throat.

"Wooo... wooo..."

The sound was hoarse and unnatural.

Following that, Ao Tian stiffly opened his mouth just a crack, let his tongue loll out, and his tail—which usually hung low with pride or swayed slowly—began to wag rapidly in small, extremely uncoordinated, almost comical, bursts.

Huh???

Yang Qi was dumbfounded, his brain short-circuiting for a moment.

’What is going on?’

"Grr?"

Beside him, Happy’s eyes went wide. It looked back and forth between Ao Tian and Yang Qi, its wolfish face an open book of shock and disbelief.

’Boss, why are you copying me?’

He looked from Happy—frantically wagging its tail and panting with a look of goofy anticipation—to the Wolf King, Ao Tian, before him. Ao Tian’s movements were stiff, his expression was awkward, and his attempt at imitation was a soulless copy, capturing the form but none of the spirit...

A sudden realization dawned on Yang Qi.

’The Wolf King is copying Happy!’

’He wants to be let out, too!?’

’But... but this imitation is way too stiff!’

’And besides, Your Majesty, talk about a before-and-after comparison... your whole cool and aloof Wolf King persona? It just completely crumbled, dude!’