Outside the Breeders' Association, the advanced ranking list slowly unfurled. The crowd's gazes instantly locked onto the list as if pulled by a powerful magnet.
Though only seven names appeared on the advanced list, each carried immense weight, firmly occupying the entire board. Among the three lists, this final one was undoubtedly the most prestigious. Becoming an advanced breeder meant truly entering the inner sanctum of the profession.
They could take on apprentices as teachers, passing down their knowledge and experience. Every family yearned to recruit such talent, as they represented the pinnacle of breeding skill and boundless potential. These advanced breeders shone like brilliant stars in the vast sky of their craft, radiating unique and dazzling light, earning admiration and pursuit from countless others.
Behind each name lay countless efforts and sweat. They were the benchmarks of the industry, inspiring more people to strive toward this lofty goal. Although only seven names graced the advanced list, don't think that's a small number. In fact, this was the highest count in recent examination cycles.
Previously, only three or four names typically made the advanced list. Having seven pass this time was indeed impressive. After all, with thirty to forty participants in the advanced exam, a one-in-five pass rate was remarkably high, compared to the usual one-in-ten.
These seven names seemed to radiate a sacred glow, representing the top tier of the breeding profession, objects of universal reverence. Their achievements weren't just personal honors but a pride for the entire industry, inspiring countless newcomers to strive forward.
The moment the advanced list opened, everyone's eyes focused sharply on it. Each name seemed to emit a captivating light, stirring envy. However, when people's gazes fell on the first-place name, Wen Qi, confusion spread across their faces.
"Wen Qi? Who's that? Never heard of him!" a young breeder frowned, looking around to find others equally puzzled.
Those who passed the advanced exam were typically standout intermediate breeders, already well-known. Even if some came from other regions, most present were breeders or worked in related fields, so they were familiar with famous names. But this Wen Qi seemed to appear out of nowhere, baffling everyone.
"Strange—six of these seven names are familiar, but why is this Wen Qi so unknown?" another muttered. People began whispering, speculating about Wen Qi's identity.
In the crowd, the Zhu family's reaction was starkly different. Zhu Qiang, seeing Wen Qi's name at the top, felt a surge of blood rush to his head. His eyes bulged as if they might pop out. He ground his teeth so hard they creaked, as if trying to crush them. His fists clenched tightly, knuckles white from strain, trembling slightly.
Zhu Qiang's face shifted colors—red to green, then to white—his expression twisted horribly. He stared at Wen Qi's name as if wanting to burn it off the list. He felt everyone around him was mocking him, laughing at his expense. Anger, jealousy, and resentment flooded him like a raging tide, drowning him.
Old Master Zhu was equally shocked. He racked his memory, finally recalling having heard of Wen Qi before. Frowning, he pondered: What background does this Wen Qi have, to stand out in the advanced exam? Watching Zhu Qiang's fury, he felt a pang of worry.
Zhu Xiu's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Wen Qi to be so formidable. A complex emotion stirred within her—admiration for Wen Qi mixed with helplessness at her brother's reaction.
Zhu Ximing stood in the crowd, eyes fixed on the advanced list. When he saw his name wasn't among the seven shining ones, disappointment washed over him. But he quickly let it go, having known his chances of passing were slim. Though he'd held a faint hope, it wasn't strong.
Yet when his gaze swept to the top spot and saw "Wen Qi," surprise filled him. He recalled their meeting outside the exam hall, sensing Wen Qi was special, but never imagined he'd be this impressive—not only passing the advanced exam but taking first place. Admiration flickered in Zhu Ximing's eyes as he silently marveled at Wen Qi's skill.
As for Wen Qi, when he saw his name at number one, his gaze was instantly captivated by the shining characters. The surrounding chatter seemed to vanish in that moment.
Then, the system's familiar voice echoed in his mind: "Congratulations, host, on completing the task with a perfect score. Congratulations on receiving system rewards: 100,000 points, top-tier breeder knowledge, and a Champion-level Alakazam."
Hearing this, Wen Qi was ecstatic. Unable to contain his joy, he let out a happy shout. But his reaction went unnoticed by others. In this lively scene, many were just as excited, some even more exaggerated than Wen Qi. Seeing him like this, others simply assumed he'd passed and paid no mind. Little did they know, Wen Qi didn't care much about the certificate—what truly thrilled him were the system's generous rewards.
The 100,000 points aside, the top-tier breeder knowledge came at a perfect time. Wen Qi was currently collaborating with Dr. Chu Feng, and high-level energy cubes were a bit too basic for him. With top-tier knowledge, he could create premium energy cubes, meeting the needs of Dr. Chu Feng's Champion-level Pokémon.
This would also boost his standing as a collaborator with Dr. Chu Feng. Thinking this, Wen Qi's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
But the final reward—a Champion-level Alakazam—left Wen Qi puzzled. The system had previously said the shop didn't sell Pokémon, so why was it giving him one, and a Champion-level at that? As if sensing his thoughts, the system explained: "Rewards don't count as transactions."
Wen Qi's mouth twitched. He had to admit the system had a point—rewards weren't transactions. Looking at the Champion-level Alakazam, he felt overjoyed. He knew he'd taken first place in the advanced exam at such a young age, putting him in the spotlight. This Champion-level Alakazam came just in time to protect him. With it, Wen Qi felt more confident navigating this challenging world.
At that moment, Wen Qi's heart couldn't settle. Standing in the crowd, though he looked like everyone else, his inner self brimmed with strength. He knew a new chapter in his life was about to begin, all thanks to the system's rewards. He couldn't wait to return to the hotel, dive into the top-tier breeder knowledge, and put it into practice. He also looked forward to meeting the Champion-level Alakazam for the first time, believing they could create even more miracles together.