Passing any research topic is not about Jiang Xing casually setting up a subject, slapping a trillion-level budget on it, and then picking up money unconditionally—
Its real function is to allow niche topics—those whose outcomes cannot be predicted, are not recognized by the mainstream, or have extremely low chances of success—to be forcibly advanced based on the researcher's own will, while still receiving funding support.
For example, in the current world, there are more than twenty categories of Pet Beast attributes.
In the mainstream view of the Beast Taming world, the classification of these attributes is already extremely precise, leaving no room for further optimization.
Under such circumstances, if Jiang Xing were to say that he wanted to develop a new attribute—a research topic that goes against common sense like this would obviously fail review and could only be self-funded.
But with the [Guaranteed Approval Authority], as long as he can present logically coherent arguments, even if they are not recognized by the public, he can still forcibly push forward the research project and study so-called new attributes.
This is a privilege that only top-tier researchers and Beast Taming doctors—those with numerous major achievements and outstanding contributions—can possess!
At present, Jiang Xing does not have many accomplishments, and even his researcher title is still being processed.
For him to obtain this level of authority is clearly related to his ties with the police force—
In the China region, the Championship Tournament is held once every three years, and the winner becomes the new Champion Beast Tamer.
In other words, only one Champion is born every three years.
However, not all Beast Tamers participate in the championship battle.
For example, many police Beast Tamers dedicate themselves to combating darkness, traveling across regions or guarding the frontiers. They rarely participate in top-level competitions and may not even hold the King-Class title, yet they already possess multiple Overlord Level Pet Beasts, with strength no weaker than some Champions.
They do not usually participate in decision-making, but they can support the police force and enhance its overall influence.
Jiang Xing earning their friendship and, while still at the "quasi-researcher stage," obtaining the "power of a top-tier researcher" beyond his level is therefore understandable.
'This is perfect!'
'A research topic on entirely new evolution conditions isn't easy to pass review.'
'With this authority, as long as I verify the existence of Friendship, I can forcibly push forward the evolution project and pour massive resources into the Ugly Waterfowl, driving them to higher heights!'
With official support secured, Jiang Xing was filled with excitement.
While guiding numerous officers into the Death Secret Realm to awaken the Undead Guardian Hounds, he also recorded various data, refining his paper on the "Howl Hound's Death Region Form."
As the number of samples increased and the data gradually improved, the conditions for the birth of the Undead Guardian Hound became increasingly clear.
The first condition was the most fundamental and also the most crucial—the Death Secret Realm.
Without the support of the death divine power from a Mythical Tier Pet Beast, no matter how dense the undead energy was or how deep the bond, it would be impossible to awaken a Howl Hound.
The second condition was the Howl Hound's unique and powerful sense of guardianship.
There were many police Pet Beasts—besides Howl Hounds and their evolutionary forms, there were also species like Flame-Eyed Falcons and Shieldstone Beasts.
Although their casualty rates were far lower than those of Howl Hounds, due to the massive scale of the police force, there were still many cases of sacrifice.
During the awakening process of the Howl Hounds, some officers also brought these fallen Pet Beasts into the Death Secret Realm, seeking revival.
The results, however, were disappointing—none of the Flame-Eyed Falcons or Shieldstone Beasts were successfully revived.
Jiang Xing speculated that this was related to the species traits and temperament of the Howl Hound—
Just like how some Pet Beasts can evolve using Secret Realm Stones while others cannot, different Pet Beast species inherently have differences in traits and genetics. It is impossible to crudely apply one theory to all Pet Beasts.
In this particular case, it was likely that the Howl Hound's innate sense of guardianship resonated with the spiritual bond it shared with its Beast Tamer.
Even after death, as long as they heard their Beast Tamer's call, they could cross the boundary of death and return.
Other Pet Beasts, even if loyal, lacked that final crucial trait—making all the difference.
Additionally, for those Howl Hounds that had been dead for too long, the emotional energy remaining in their bones had dissipated too much, making revival extremely difficult and resulting in many failed attempts.
The third condition was the Beast Taming contract and spiritual resonance.
That's right—only Howl Hounds that had formed a contract with a Beast Tamer could be revived.
Even if the bond is based on will and emotion, there still needs to be some form of logic—it's not possible for a beast to come back to life just from shouting its name.
In this process, the spiritual contract that officers once formed with their Howl Hounds—even if it had already been broken—still served as a bridge for the spiritual call.
Only through this medium could the Howl Hound be awakened.
Those Howl Hounds that had never formed a contract with a Beast Tamer, no matter what the Beast Tamer did after bringing them into the Death Secret Realm, could not be awakened.
Aside from these birth conditions, there was one more crucial point—
The contract cannot be restored.
After being revived in the form of an Undead Guardian Hound, the Beast Tamer's broken contract did not recover, and the Undead Guardian Hound could not form a new contract.
It was like a shattered mirror—even if pieced back together, the cracks would still remain.
However, the officers did not mind at all.
Having gone through all this, the bond between them and their partners had already surpassed life and death. Even without a contract, they could understand each other's hearts.
As long as their partner had returned, mental trauma was a small price to pay.
After recording the data, Jiang Xing also felt that, overall, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks—
Because this meant that if someone wanted to obtain an Undead Guardian Hound, they would have to pay the price of irreversible mental trauma and a permanent reduction in their contract slots.
And the Undead Guardian Hound obtained in the end would still be an uncontrollable Pet Beast that could not be contracted.
The cost was simply too high.
If someone were pursuing powerful Pet Beasts with ulterior motives, there was no way they would be willing to pay such a price… after all, the world is full of powerful Pet Beasts—not just Undead Guardian Hounds.
As for those ruthless individuals willing to pay the price and shatter their own minds…
They were truly ruthless.
Just as Jiang Xing was recording data, another soldier arrived at the research institute.
…
"…I must remind you, it has been dead for twenty years."
Inside the Death Secret Realm, Jiang Xing said wearily.
Standing before him was a man wearing a silver mask that only revealed his eyes. Through the edges of the mask, faintly visible were hideous scars beneath.
The man was Meng Yuan, a Champion Beast Tamer of the police force—and the Beast Tamer of the Howl Hound, Goldie.
"It has already turned into bones. The remaining power it left in this world has completely dissipated. The probability of revival is practically zero…"
"No," Meng Yuan said seriously, staring at the box before him.
"I formed a contract with it. Our spirits were intertwined… as long as I'm alive, a part of its spirit will never disappear."
Feeling Meng Yuan's determination, Jiang Xing said no more and watched as he placed his hand on the box.
Surging waves of spiritual power spread outward, almost tangible, making the very air tremble—
Champion Beast Tamers stand near the peak of humanity. Their terrifying spiritual power surpasses that of many psychic-type Pet Beasts and is enough to distort reality.
Yet under this overwhelming spiritual force, the box remained completely still, without the slightest reaction.
Meng Yuan did not stop. He continued calling out.
One minute, ten minutes, one hour…
In the blink of an eye, two days passed. Jiang Xing had already left and returned several times, but Meng Yuan remained standing in the Death Secret Realm—without eating, drinking, or resting, his will unwavering.
He was trying to convey, through this method, the longing and gratitude that had spanned twenty years.
When Jiang Xing sensed that Meng Yuan's spiritual power was nearing exhaustion and saw his body swaying as if he could no longer hold on, he was about to speak and persuade him to stop.
At that moment—
A burst of white light erupted.
"ROAR!!"
A thunderous howl echoed throughout the entire secret realm.
Jiang Xing's expression changed in shock, and even the Undead Guardian Hounds in the courtyard stood up.
As the white light dissipated, a brand-new Pet Beast appeared within the secret realm—
It resembled an Undead Guardian Hound somewhat, but its body stood upright, taking on a near-werewolf form. The ghostfire scarf around its neck spread downward, forming half a cloak that covered the left side of its upper body.
Its gaze was fierce, its aura violent, and its crimson eyes carried an overwhelming sense of rage.
This was… the evolved form of the Undead Guardian Hound?!
Could it be that the Howl Hound from back then had already been close to evolving, and now, with the power of death and the spiritual force of a Champion Beast Tamer, it completed its evolution during the revival process?
But this form was vastly different from the Howl Hound's known evolution, the Roaring Hound. It could not be considered a "regional form" at all…
Was this an entirely new, exclusive evolution of the Undead Guardian Hound?!
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Xing's mind. He almost wanted to start writing immediately and record everything.
The ghostfire werewolf seemed to fall into a berserk state, its dangerous aura surging as it prepared to attack.
At that moment, Meng Yuan called out—
"Goldie!"
The ghostfire werewolf froze in place.
It stared blankly at the masked man, sniffed cautiously as if confirming something, yet seemed unable to believe it.
The man had already rushed forward and embraced it.
"Goldie…"
Sensing the familiar presence, the violent aura in the ghostfire werewolf's eyes completely vanished, its tail wagging rapidly.
"Woof!"
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