The applause thundered through the ceremony hall. Spotlights fell upon Jiang Xing, and the cameras captured the surprise on his face.
Jiang Xing had only discussed the timing of the award ceremony with Chang Feng. As for the researcher title the authorities intended to grant him, he had known nothing about it beforehand.
He had even wondered whether they might give him a title prefix like "Emotion Researcher." It sounded more like a late-night relationship advice host than anything else...
He never expected the authorities to show him this much respect—
They had directly used the word "Miracle"!
Wasn't this title prefix a little too arrogant? The Beast Tamer Association had actually agreed to it?
Well, to be fair, the authorities had originally planned to use "Emotion" as Jiang Xing's title prefix.
He was the discoverer of the emotional attribute and the founder of the entire field. Naming the title after emotions seemed perfectly appropriate.
The problem was that, in addition to Friendship and emotional attributes, Jiang Xing had also revealed the existence of Beauty. Just two days ago, when showcasing the Light Dragon family, a mysterious "pink Light Dragon" had appeared as well—one that was suspected to possess an entirely new attribute.
That changed both the authorities' and the Association's thinking.
If he researched emotional attributes, he would be called an Emotion Researcher.
Then if he revealed a Beauty attribute a few days later, what would they call him? A Beauty Emotion Researcher?
That obviously wouldn't work.
After considerable debate and discussion, both sides ultimately decided to grant Jiang Xing the prefix "Miracle."
In less than half a year, he had uncovered multiple entirely new fields and had possibly discovered two completely new attributes unknown to previous generations...
That truly deserved the name Miracle.
The ceremony was being broadcast live across the nation—and even around the world.
Master Jian, Dr. Amru, Li Lingyin, audiences from every region...
Everyone heard the host's passionate speech and the announcement of the title Miracle Researcher.
They were surprised, yet at the same time, it felt completely justified.
Just like the flood of comments on the streaming platforms—
"That's insane! A Miracle Researcher? A title prefix like that actually exists?!"
"Honestly, Boss Jiang Xing completely deserves it... He's probably the only person who does."
"Even decades ago, very few scholars could publish so many groundbreaking achievements in such a short period of time... let alone in this so-called 'Age of Declining Dharma.'"
"This title has never existed before, and probably never will again!"
"We're witnessing history!"
Countless viewers flooded the screen with excited comments.
On-screen, Jiang Xing had already recovered from his surprise. Smiling broadly, he walked onto the stage.
Presenting the award was a genuine Legendary Beast Tamer named Zheng Xiao, one of China's pillars holding up the sky.
He appeared to be a vigorous middle-aged-to-elderly man. His short hair was streaked with red and white, like embers that had yet to burn out completely. He wore an orange-red formal suit decorated with flame patterns.
Every detail made it obvious that he was a Fire-type Beast Tamer.
Well, several of the Pet Beasts Jiang Xing had recently developed greatly benefited Water-types. If he weren't so famous already, he would probably be on the Fire-type Beast Tamers' most-wanted list by now...
But this Legendary Beast Tamer clearly didn't seem bothered by that. His smile was warm and enthusiastic, as fiery as a blazing flame.
Taking a rainbow-colored medal from a presentation box, he handed it to Jiang Xing and said, "These past few months have made me feel like I've gone back sixty years."
"It makes me feel as though I haven't grown old yet. That's a pretty nice feeling."
"It's an honor to personally hand this medal to you."
Jiang Xing accepted the box, his emotions surging.
Even though this wasn't a specially customized Divine Beast Blessing medal and was merely a symbol of status and honor, he was still incredibly moved.
What it carried was nearly a century of China's history and weight.
Only by holding it in his own hands could he truly understand how emotional he felt at this moment.
Looking at the old man who had ended the Dark Age and pioneered the modern Beast Taming world, Jiang Xing said respectfully, "Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
Zheng Xiao winked. A voice sounded directly in Jiang Xing's mind.
{Just research a few more Fire-type Pet Beasts... Old Xu is a Water-type doctor, but you're not. Don't be like him and only study Water-types.}
"..."
The suddenly humorous old man made Jiang Xing laugh.
So it wasn't that he didn't care about Jiang Xing's research results after all!
The fake attribute rivalry—
Train hard, build tactics, and defeat enemies despite attribute disadvantages.
The real attribute rivalry—
Doctor, please, we're begging you. Buff the Fire-type already.
Since this was a live broadcast, Zheng Xiao didn't say anything further. After presenting the title medal, he stepped aside.
"Mr. Jiang, at such a young age, you've already achieved so many remarkable accomplishments and walked a path in Pet Beast studies that ordinary people can scarcely imagine."
The host handed him a microphone, encouragement visible in his eyes.
"Is there anything you'd like to share with everyone?"
Jiang Xing had attended countless conferences before. He felt no stage fright whatsoever.
Taking the microphone, he began: "I want to thank my parents and teachers. Their support is what allowed me to stand here today as a true Pet Beast researcher."
"And I want to thank my partners. Their growth and evolution are the real miracles."
"All I've done is uncover those miracles and present them before all of you."
"Here, I want to tell everyone something..."
He spread his arms and looked toward the cameramen below the stage, his eyes shining brightly.
"The miracle born from Pet Beasts may very well be right beside you."
"Not long ago, we lifted the veil covering Friendship and witnessed the power of emotions."
"But what about Beauty?"
"This unique and mysterious power allowed the Ugly Waterfowl to undergo a transformation and evolve into the Ink Phoenix, a being of ultimate beauty."
"That means it must also possess deeper potential waiting to be discovered!"
"I believe that this potential is absolutely not a privilege exclusive to the Ugly Waterfowl."
"I believe it exists within every Pet Beast!"
Suddenly, Jiang Xing launched into a speech of his own.
The researchers below the stage and the viewers watching the livestream felt as though they had suddenly been transported to the venue of some Evolution Conference.
Jiang Xing stood on the stage exactly like a scholar about to unveil a new breakthrough.
Everyone was momentarily dazed before snapping back to reality.
"Wait a second? Isn't this an award ceremony?"
"Huh? I didn't switch streams by mistake, did I? This isn't an academic presentation session at an Evolution Conference?"
"Oh no, the moment Boss Jiang Xing started talking, I understood..."
"Something huge is coming!"
"Oh no, I've seen this show before. First it was the Beauty Conference, then the Beauty attribute!"
Although Jiang Xing's topic shift was somewhat abrupt, the audience didn't mind at all. Instead, they became even more excited.
After all, the title had already been awarded, and the ceremony was nearly over.
If he wasn't going to drop some major news now, then when?
At that moment, Jiang Xing changed the subject.
"In order to uncover the hidden potential that exists within every Pet Beast, I will be organizing a large-scale competition centered around the theme of Contest Appeal!"
"This competition will have no restrictions on Pet Beasts and no restrictions on Beast Tamers. Anyone can register and participate with their Pet Beast partner!"
"I will establish concrete, practical, and referenceable rules. These values will be quantified, allowing everyone to understand what Contest Appeal truly is!"
"Through competition after competition, we will select the ultimate Contest Appeal Pet Beast!"
"The detailed regulations and registration methods will be announced on my social media accounts soon. Please stay tuned."
"Thank you."
After finishing his speech, Jiang Xing handed the microphone back to the host and stepped off the stage.
Both the venue and the livestream chat fell completely silent.
It wasn't a Beauty Conference.
Nor was it a Beauty attribute.
It was a "Contest"?
In the minds of uninformed viewers, images appeared of Pet Beasts strutting around on a stage, posing and showing off...
Huh?
A beauty pageant for Pet Beasts?
If anyone else had said such a thing, people would probably have been completely baffled.
But the person announcing it was Jiang Xing—the man who had unveiled countless major discoveries and had just received the title of Miracle Researcher!
Someone of that caliber never did things without deeper meaning. There was no way it was as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Within moments, the Pet Beast scholars and Beast Tamers following the ceremony recalled the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix event that had appeared when Jiang Xing first revealed the Ugly Waterfowl's evolved form.
Judging by its name, that evolution ritual sounded like a reenactment of mythology.
But what was the actual scene?
Wasn't it essentially a "beauty contest" where several Ugly Waterfowl strutted around on a stage?
Yet it was precisely that scene that had allowed the Ugly Waterfowl to evolve into breathtakingly beautiful Pet Beasts.
Even the evolution paper on the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling explicitly stated that rituals such as the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix were required to stimulate a Pet Beast's spiritual power, enabling ultimate evolution.
The so-called beauty contest had itself been the evolution ritual!
With that realization, Jiang Xing's newly announced Contest suddenly made perfect sense.
Beauty, as a mysterious hidden value buried throughout history, must have been overlooked for a reason.
Perhaps, as the embodiment of beauty itself, it required a beauty-pageant-like format. Only through the praise and recognition of countless living beings could ultimate evolution be achieved!
Jiang Xing had noticed this while researching Beauty more deeply.
And so, he intended to launch a nationwide super-scale beauty competition, using this enormous "ritual" to cultivate the ultimate beauty-type Pet Beast!
For example...
The evolved form of the Abyssal Water Phoenix Fledgling?
At that moment, the Pet Beast scholars and many Beast Tamers felt as though they finally understood Jiang Xing's deeper intentions.
They were astonished by the scale of his ambitions and the boldness of his plans.
At the same time, they felt thrilled and inspired to be witnessing history unfold before their eyes.
After the brief silence, thunderous applause erupted throughout the ceremony hall!
Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded completely—
Although the overwhelming majority of viewers hadn't realized Jiang Xing's "deeper meaning," they weren't Beast Tamers.
They were ordinary people.
To them, Pet Beasts and attributes were mostly just entertainment.
If Jiang Xing had announced a Beauty Conference or revealed a Beauty attribute, they would have been shocked for a while, praised how amazing it was, and then moved on to the next trending topic before long.
Ordinary people didn't compete in battles, nor were they gods. New attributes didn't really have much to do with them.
But a Contest was different.
A Pet Beast competition resembling a beauty pageant wasn't exclusive to Beast Tamers.
Even ordinary people could bring their own Pet Beasts and compete for the title of Contest Champion.
Wasn't that far more tangible than attributes or Evolution Conferences?
Even at Evolution Conferences, the participants were Pet Beast scholars. Ordinary people attended merely as visitors, looking for something novel and entertaining.
Only the Contest was a major event that they could genuinely participate in themselves.
For the first time, they were no longer mere spectators in the Beast Taming world.
They were no longer people who could only watch battle tournament livestreams after work each day, post a few comments, and feel as though they lived in a completely different world from Beast Tamers.
Now they could truly take part.
They could even call themselves Beast Tamers.
That extraordinary sense of participation and immersion was what truly resonated with them.
Besides, just as Jiang Xing had previously observed, the concept of Beauty had already begun spreading and forming a trend. It simply hadn't yet erupted from the grassroots level into a nationwide phenomenon.
Perhaps before long, beauty competitions for Pet Beasts would naturally emerge among ordinary people, all competing to see whose Pet Beast was the most beautiful.
And right in the middle of that gradual development, Jiang Xing—a top researcher—suddenly introduced the complete concept of Contest Appeal and announced a nationwide competition.
It was like sounding a horn, awakening a desire that had long been hidden in people's hearts—
And when those ordinary people, the silent majority, suddenly began to make their voices heard—
As expected, public opinion exploded instantly!