The Myriad Spirits Codex actually had this kind of effect?
Su Ping never would have imagined it.
Yet even with the composure of someone who had lived two lifetimes, the hand gripping the ancient book could not help but tremble slightly from the force.
Perfecting a potion formula.
Su Ping barely hesitated. Almost without thinking, he chose Confirm within the Codex's feedback.
It was obvious that Codex experience was extremely important.
Each time the Codex leveled up, it could grant the Codex's master—him—rewards beyond imagination.
For example, upon first being lit, it had directly bestowed him with a Beast Tamer talent: Eye of Truth.
However, Codex experience could be obtained in many ways—spending time with Forest Wolves, nurturing them, evolving them, or even discovering mutant individuals like Xiao Qing.
But Heart of Wood, as the core inheritance of his family's breeding base, had a transformative effect on Forest Wolves.
In the next instant, Su Ping could clearly see that on the already-lit Forest Wolf Codex, the white glow that had filled most of the page dimmed considerably.
Then, beneath the Forest Wolf Codex, one previously blank section changed.
It was the entry labeled "Known Evolution Charts / Special Cultivation."
Where there had once been nothing, a new line now appeared:
["Heart of Wood" Potion Crafting: After consumption by a Forest Wolf, it can awaken the rare skill "Heart of Wood." Other effects related to rank improvement are currently unknown. Crafting method as follows…]
Seeing the change on the Forest Wolf Codex, Su Ping let out a long breath. His eyes shone brilliantly, filled with anticipation and excitement.
That was right—this time, in the Codex's description, the Heart of Wood potion no longer mentioned any probability of awakening the skill.
What that implied needed no explanation.
However, what made Su Ping feel slightly exasperated was the perfected formula provided by the Myriad Spirits Codex.
There was one additional ingredient.
It wasn't that this new ingredient was particularly expensive.
Despite his father's unreliability, their family owned such a large breeding base, paid no rent, and had likely accumulated a decent amount of savings over the years.
Granted, most of that income hadn't come from selling high-quality Forest Wolves at exorbitant prices, but rather from leasing out a vast adjacent plot of land—to the neighboring Yuntian Pet Beast Battle Resort.
The reason Su Ping frowned was because of the added ingredient's name:
Wolfsmoke Grass.
At first glance, it sounded like it might have something to do with Forest Wolves, but in reality, it had nothing to do with them at all.
It was simply named that way because once ignited, it produced thick, billowing smoke—like signal fires—and that smell…
Unfortunately, this plant grew in abundance. In some places, entire mountainsides were covered with it.
From time to time, Fire-attribute Pet Beasts or Beast Tamers would illegally conduct Pet Beast battles in the mountains, igniting wildfires.
When the Safety Bureau's firefighters went to put out such fires, one of the most critical precautions was preventing their Pet Beasts from coming into contact with Wolfsmoke Grass.
In Dragon Country's history, there had been multiple incidents where water-attribute Pet Beasts, sent to fight forest fires, were literally choked to death by the foul, sky-filling stench produced when Wolfsmoke Grass burned.
Thinking of this, Su Ping offered a silent moment of respect to those brave Pet Beast heroes who had died extinguishing forest fires and protecting wild Pet Beasts—and condemned the Beast Tamers who recklessly used Fire-attribute Pet Beasts in forested areas.
Because Wolfsmoke Grass was practically useless, smelled atrocious, and could even induce hallucinations when burned, it had an extremely poor reputation.
No one had ever discovered any other use for it—or perhaps someone had, but had never made it public.
For that reason, Su Ping did harbor a trace of doubt as to whether Wolfsmoke Grass could truly perfect the Heart of Wood potion.
Still, trusting his cheat ability—and recalling how tangible and real the Eye of Truth was—Su Ping ultimately chose to believe.
Brimming with excitement, he headed toward another building within the base.
The Potion Workshop.
This was the most heavily monitored location in the entire Heart of Wood breeding base.
After all, the materials required for potions were exceedingly valuable, and the auxiliary equipment used in their creation was even more expensive.
That was why, before Su Ping came of age, his father had strictly forbidden him from approaching this place.
But now—
Just as he was about to step inside, a massive shadow suddenly appeared behind him.
Xiao Qing stiffened in his arms.
Su Ping abruptly turned around. In the next moment, a huge dark figure pounced on him, knocking him straight onto the soft grass.
A warm, wet sensation instantly spread across his cheek.
Su Ping laughed helplessly as he looked at the enormous cyan-green wolf sprawled atop him, enthusiastically licking him to show affection.
"All right, all right…"
Struggling to his feet, Su Ping looked at Old Sha, wiped the drool from his face, and rubbed the soft fur beneath the giant wolf's jaw—which was nearly as tall as he was—before asking,
"Old Sha, has everything been fine these past couple of days since my dad left? The little ones haven't had any trouble, right?"
"Ao-wu…"
The giant Forest Wolf named Old Sha shook its head.
Old Sha had been raised by Su Ping's grandfather. Strictly speaking, it belonged to the same generation as Su Ping's father.
Although Old Sha had never formed a soul contract with either his grandfather or father, after so many years, it had become one of the Su family's closest members.
As a Pet Beast's strength increased, so too did its intelligence.
Old Sha was no exception.
It was the only Forest Wolf in the Heart of Wood breeding base that had broken through its racial limit and reached the Commander tier.
It was also, over all these years, the sole wolf king among the Forest Wolves of the base.
With Old Sha around, even the most mischievous and lazy Forest Wolves behaved obediently.
This was also the main reason Su An'yong had been able to save money by not hiring additional caretakers, managing the place largely on his own.
Looking at Old Sha, Su Ping activated the Eye of Truth.
Old Sha sensed that Su Ping was using an ability on it, yet showed not the slightest resistance.
Because of that trust, Su Ping was able to clearly see Old Sha's attributes:
[Forest Wolf (Wild)]
[Current Level: Commander Rank, Stage 1]
[Racial Potential: Elite Rank, Stage 10]
[Skills: Sunlight Absorption (Perfected), Vine Bind (Mastery), Self-Healing (Proficient), Accelerated Growth (Mastery), Wolf King's Majesty (Beginner)]
Old Sha's status panel was fairly standard. Its skill proficiency levels were solid and well-trained.
Only Sunlight Absorption stood out—it had actually reached the Perfected level.
Clearly, Old Sha's ability to break past its racial limit had something to do with this perfected Sunlight Absorption, as well as Wolf King's Majesty. Back in its early years, it must have encountered its own unique opportunities.
Before Su Ping could think further—
A new notification appeared in the Forest Wolf Codex's record log:
[Discovered and made contact with a Forest Wolf that has broken through its racial potential limit. Intimacy requirement met. Codex experience +100!]
[This Forest Wolf is a powerful individual. Each additional day of interaction grants Forest Wolf Codex experience +2!]
Su Ping froze for a moment, then broke into a smile.
As expected—returning to Heart of Wood to inherit the family business had been an incomparably correct decision.