The topics related to Contest Appeal were merely ideas Jiang Xing came up with in his spare time.
After assigning the task to the Giant Magnet Entity, he took his Pet Beasts on a proper tour of Beijing, enjoying the magnificent landscapes of his homeland.
During the trip, the little Qilin even tried authentic douzhi and somehow thought it tasted great.
Jiang Xing spat it out after a single sip. It could only be said that humans and Pet Beasts truly had different taste systems.
Of course, even though the Giant Magnet Entity had been entrusted with an important task, it wasn't about to become a mere work beast.
It had six brains—a six-core processor. Dedicating two cores to searching through materials was enough. The other four could still be used for having fun, letting it enjoy itself as much as ever.
In addition, Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium had also been affected by the shift in the world's timeline, transforming into the even larger-scale National Battle Arena.
Beast Tamers from all over the country fought battles there every day, accumulating experience and increasing their strength.
Jiang Xing even disguised himself as the Royal Masked Man and fought a few matches there.
Unfortunately, he was recognized after only two battles.
He had clearly disguised himself, so he found it rather strange.
The Little Dragon, Inky, Xiao Xian, and the Giant Magnet Entity all agreed.
"Yeah, it really is strange. How on earth did they recognize you?"
In any case, Jiang Xing spent several days touring the city with his Pet Beasts and had a wonderful time.
...
Soon, the Researcher Title Conferment Ceremony was held in grand fashion.
Including Jiang Xing, a total of twenty-one people were receiving Researcher titles this year.
Researcher titles were awarded by region. In previous years, the China Region's ceremony usually had only thirteen or fourteen recipients. This year's number was already far beyond the norm.
And the reason for that had a lot to do with Jiang Xing.
Over the past few months, he had proposed and proven concepts such as Friendship, emotions, and Beauty, opening the doors to entirely new fields of study for scholars.
It was as if the world had been stuck in an era of declining spiritual energy, only to suddenly experience a great spiritual revival.
Many scholars who had long been stuck at the peak of scholarship, just half a step away from becoming Researchers, felt their bottlenecks loosen.
They quickly seized the opportunity, produced achievements sufficient for a breakthrough, and successfully advanced to the entry level of Researcher status.
One should never forget the person who dug the well after drinking the water.
Not to mention that the well-digger possessed extraordinary potential. His level of attainment was already so high that ordinary Researchers could not hope to compare.
As Jiang Xing finished walking down the red carpet, the other attendees all took the initiative to greet him.
Their attitudes were exceptionally respectful, and they addressed him as Teacher.
It almost made it seem as though Jiang Xing wasn't there to receive an award, but to hand them out.
Of course, one doesn't slap a smiling face.
Since these prospective Researchers had willingly lowered their status, Jiang Xing naturally didn't act arrogantly. Instead, he chatted with them and shared some of his research experience.
The research topics Jiang Xing was currently working on were already extremely advanced. He frequently exchanged ideas with people like Dr. Amru and Dr. Xu. At the very least, he regularly interacted with top Researchers such as Su Muli.
The experience and insights he had accumulated were, in the eyes of these prospective Researchers, practically heavenly cultivation manuals—no, revelations that struck them like enlightenment.
Their admiration for him only deepened, and many wished they could sit down and discuss research with him all day long.
In fact, when the conferment ceremony officially began, quite a few of the prospective Researchers were unhappy.
Why was it starting so soon? Didn't they know how to read the room?
How about postponing it for a day so they could chat with Teacher Jiang a little longer?
If not for the fact that Jiang Xing himself was there to receive an award...
A few of the less socially adept, bookworm-type prospective Researchers might genuinely have postponed their own awards just to learn from him a bit longer.
Before returning to their seats, one of them couldn't help saying: "Teacher Jiang, if you ever establish a discipline of your own, no matter where I am in the world, I'll definitely come attend your lectures!"
"Me?"
Jiang Xing laughed.
You want a third-year university student to go teach other people?
Eh, wait...
That actually might happen.
Jiang Xing would soon become a Researcher. Moreover, his foundation was exceptionally solid—once he broke through, he would immediately stand at the peak of the Researcher level and advance into the realm of a prospective Doctor.
The only reason he hadn't graduated yet was because he was too busy with research projects. He had forgotten to graduate—and didn't particularly want to.
After all, a top Researcher who was only in his third year of university sounded incredibly impressive.
Then he could go and earn a Doctor title as well. If anyone asked, he'd simply say he was a third-year doctoral student.
A precedent with no equal.
Under such circumstances, if Jiang Xing really wanted to graduate, all he had to do was call the university president. His diploma would probably be delivered straight to the research institute shortly afterward.
And as the founder of the Friendship and Emotion fields, he was more than qualified for Yuzhong University to establish an entire discipline specifically for him.
Just like Dr. Xu.
Yuzhong University's Water-Type Pet Beast Research Studies was less a university major and more a program through which Dr. Xu used the university's name to recruit a handful of students each year.
The entire department had no other instructors.
Only Dr. Xu himself.
Whenever he could spare some time, he would teach and guide his students. Once they had learned enough, he would assign research projects and gradually train them step by step.
Given Jiang Xing's current fame and status, if he wanted to follow Dr. Xu's example and establish a major focused on Friendship and Emotion research, Yuzhong University would never reject the proposal.
At that point, he could recruit a few students.
Not only would it allow him to expand his academic lineage, but he could also hand over research topics he had ideas for but lacked the time to pursue himself.
For example:
The Dragonization Potential of the Golden-Patterned Koi.
Other Possibilities Within the Light Dragon Family.
Once the research was completed, Jiang Xing could simply attach his name to the papers.
After all, he didn't particularly care about earning the academic glory associated with a few additional Pet Beast forms.
What he really wanted was to see more possibilities within the Light Dragon family.
'Still, this isn't the kind of thing I should decide on a whim. I'd better think it over first...'
Jiang Xing was tempted, but after calming down, he shook his head.
Conducting research himself was one thing.
Taking students was another.
If he accepted students, he had to be responsible for them.
He didn't have much spare time these days. If he recruited several students and then left them completely unattended...
That would be doing them a serious disservice.
Take Dr. Xu, for example.
Normally, he recruited several students every year.
But this year, entirely new fields such as Friendship and Emotion had emerged—fields that greatly interested him. He wanted to devote more energy to research and might not have enough time to teach students properly.
As a result, Yuzhong University's Water-Type Pet Beast Research Studies program had suspended admissions for the year.
Several students who had originally been accepted were reassigned to professors from other departments.
Just like that, Jiang Xing's junior schoolmates disappeared.
He had originally planned to follow Su Muli's example and thoroughly "take care" of his juniors.
'If only I could somehow pick up a student who's low-maintenance, exceptionally talented, and possesses outstanding research ability.'
'Hmm, Senior Sister actually seems to fit all those requirements.'
'Maybe I should talk to my advisor later and have Senior Sister become my student instead.'
As these thoughts wandered through his mind, the conferment ceremony continued.
One prospective Researcher after another stepped onto the stage, received their new title, and advanced into a new realm of achievement.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xing sat below, completely lost in thought.
At that moment, the host's passionate voice rang through the venue.
"He turned the legend of the carp leaping through the Dragon Gate into reality, answering one of the great question marks of the Pet Beast world!"
"He brought a loyal hound back to its master, proving the power of the bond between humans and Pet Beasts!"
"With an irrefutable experiment, he proved the existence of the Emotion Attribute!"
"He never stopped moving forward, revealing that Beauty could also become a source of power for Pet Beasts!"
"A Pet Beast field that had lain dormant for decades has regained its vitality because of his appearance. Under his leadership, countless Pet Beast scholars are exploring entirely new continents!"
"In him, we seem to see the shadows of the countless pioneers from decades past!"
"He is a genius who burst onto the scene from nowhere—the brightest star of this year!"
"He is a scholar of miracles!"
"Please welcome—"
"Miracle Researcher, Jiang Xing!!"