Chapter 62: 61 Surprise
When people see a huge object, their bodies instinctively feel fear.
Because the brain imagines the crushing impact that the huge object might have on oneself, and against this crushing force, one often has no power to resist.
The Sea Emperor Crocodile before them was just such a creature.
Its massive body, merely standing still, brought an unparalleled sense of oppression.
Fifty meters? Or sixty meters?
If you have no concept of this number, imagine a building with fifteen stories lying sideways—that would be its body length.
Every scale, every wrinkle, was magnified many times over.
The Sea Emperor Crocodile twisted its colossal head, first glancing at its master, then turning its gaze to Chen Xing standing beside its master.
The deep blue pupils were unfathomably deep, as if looking directly into the abyss of the sea.
There was neither brutality nor ferocity in its eyes.
It was as calm as a mirror.
Hum——
The sonorous and ancient sound, like a train whistle, emanated from its throat.
“It’s saying hello to you,” Qiu Shangqing said.
Chen Xing heard it, the words that the Sea Emperor Crocodile uttered were—”Hello”.
Indeed, the way a mature crocodile speaks was equally mature.
[Species]Sea Emperor Crocodile
[Energy Level]100+
[Energy Level Limit]100+
[Attribute]Water
[Body Length]61.3 meters
[Weight]2382 tons
[Skills]
Primary Skills: Water Devouring (Transcend), Hard Armor (Perfect)…
Intermediate Skills: Soul-capturing Fear (Perfect), Great Vortex (Perfect)…
Advanced Skills: Deep Sea Roar (Perfect), Million-Ton Impact (Master), Heavy Armor Awakening (Perfect), Dark Water Ion Annihilation Prison (Perfect), Nine Transformations of the Coiled Dragon (Master)
Ultimate Skills: Kingdom’s Descent (Master), Great Destruction (Master)
Passive Skills: Water Mimicry–Stillness
Behind the Sea Emperor Crocodile’s panel, there were some hidden things.
If we say a normal panel is “口”, then the panel of the Sea Emperor Crocodile before them was “冖”.
It only displayed part of it, and some parts seemed as if they had not fully refreshed yet.
An Energy Level that actually exceeded one hundred? Chen Xing’s pupils constricted.
And the passive skill was Water Mimicry–Stillness as well, interestingly, the passive skill that Taotie had evolved before appeared on the Sea Emperor Crocodile too.
Could there be some kind of pattern between the two.
Not only that, the Energy Level limit also surpassed one hundred, it seemed that one hundred was not the limit of Energy Levels, but just the limit of his observations.
As for why the observation was incomplete… Chen Xing looked up at the behemoth before him.
A guess arose in his heart.
Could it be because the disparity was too great, so the observation was impossible?
Chen Xing suddenly thought that perhaps a person could see the entirety of a dog, a car, or even a small house, but if one were standing at the foot of a mountain, they likely couldn’t see the whole mountain.
“The greatest pride of my life is having raised it,” Qiu Shangqing said with his hands clasped behind his back, walking up to the Sea Emperor Crocodile and reaching out to stroke its toenails.
“I still remember, when it was just a small thing I brought home as a child, small enough to be held in one hand. Now, to hold it… impossible, mainly because it’s too big. When it stands up, I can’t even reach its belly,” Qiu Shangqing reflected.
As people age, they tend to reminisce.
The Imperial Sea Crocodile lowered its skull, its chin gently rubbing against Qiu Shangqing’s palm.
“Hahaha, you…” Qiu Shangqing gently patted the chin of the Imperial Sea Crocodile.
“Come visit me again after your Beast Taming’s body length has grown over twenty meters, by then I will have all the evolution pathways and materials you need ready for you. However, you will have to do this old man a favor in return, let’s call it a trade. What do you say?”
“Please speak, elder.”
“Have you ever heard of the Ocean King Competition?”
“I think I’ve heard of it…” Chen Xing had seen the name of the competition in some news before, but he hadn’t paid much attention to the details.
“It’s a competition that gathers most of the top Water Element Beast Tamers from all over the world, and the ultimate winner is recognized by nations worldwide with the title of Ocean King.”
“…”
Me? An Ocean King Competition for top-tier Water Element Beast Tamers?
And that title of Ocean King holds some grandeur truly.
Qiu Shangqing said, “I’ve heard some of the trendy phrases you young people use. I once won a title of Ocean King, and my granddaughter laughed at me for that, but you should know that the title of Ocean King has existed for over three hundred years.”
“But what I’m talking about isn’t the Ocean King Competition. You are still too far from that stage. What I mean is the Youth Ocean King Competition, also known as the Youth Ocean Competition, which will be held next July on Sunlight Island at the Pacific Center.”
“The Youth Ocean Competition is a lower-tier event of the Ocean King Competition, sponsored by various countries and organizations, with generous rewards. It is a world-class competition, very renowned in many coastal countries abroad.
If you can place well in the Youth Ocean Competition, it will also help you with applying to universities and could even lead to early admission by a university.
Moreover, if you win the championship of the Youth Ocean Competition, you’ll directly qualify to compete in the Ocean King Competition, which gives you a chance to experience the combat atmosphere of the top Water Element Beast Tamers ahead of time.
Of course, I’m not asking you to be the champion, only that you enter the top three of the Youth Ocean Competition. As a nominator, I receive a reward if you place in the top three.”
Qiu Shangqing looked at Chen Xing calmly, waiting for his decision.
“Elder, what if I don’t make it into the top three? After all, the difficulty of securing a ranking in a competition usually depends on the other contestants. What if I happen to meet several monsters and lose by accident?”
“The Youth Ocean Competition has an age limit of under eighteen, so you can attempt it one more time. What, you have no confidence in yourself before even starting? After seeing your Beast Taming, I have more confidence in you than you do in yourself.”
“If you really end up not getting a ranking… well, then it means it’s not in our fate. Rest assured, I will provide you with all the Treasure Materials and methods your Beast Taming Evolution requires before the competition. You just need to do your best. And even if you don’t get a ranking, I won’t blame you. Investment has its wins and losses, after all.”
“If Elder doesn’t mind, then I shall do my utmost.”
Qiu Shangqing washed his hands by the lake and stood up, shaking them dry. “Hahaha, let’s go have dinner. By the way, your father has Black Marrow Disease, right?”
Chen Xing was taken aback and nodded. With the Qiu family’s resources, it wasn’t surprising they had found out.
Qiu Shangqing said, “I know about Black Marrow Disease. An old friend of mine had it once… he recovered after aggressive treatment.
It’s said that Black Marrow Disease originally came from an Exotic Region, a curse from over there. After the Exotic Region connected with our world, the disease gradually spread here. It’s not hereditary or contagious; it randomly selects people to infect around the world.
It sounds unbelievable, right? One moment you’re fine, and the next, you could suddenly contract the disease.”
“To ensure you can raise your Beast Taming without worries, I’ve asked a friend who happened to be free to treat your father, and he should be able to reach your place the day after tomorrow.”
Chen Xing’s heart skipped a beat, a huge surprise hitting him all at once.
He was so excited he didn’t know what to do; his lips trembled slightly.
“Thank… thank you, old Qiu.”
In that moment, half of the heavy stone pressing on his heart was lifted, though it would only truly settle once his father fully recovered.
Old Qiu smiled contentedly and waved his hand, “Act like a man, steady. If you really want to thank this old man, train your Beast Taming well and earn a ranking for me.”
“Let me be straightforward with you. If you get a ranking in the Youth Ocean Competition, I, as the nominator, will also get a chance.”
“I know! I will give it my all,” Chen Xing said earnestly.
…
After having dinner with old Qiu’s family at a private banquet that evening, Chen Xing was arranged to rest in a standalone villa in the estate.
Only when he opened his phone did he see the message Kuang Shiyi had sent not long ago.
“The school monthly exam is over, and the results for this month’s second-year monthly exam are also for data collection. You will make up the exam when you return. Your ranking will not be made public; the school will issue your monthly exam rewards based on your results, so don’t worry. The rewards are more substantial than last month’s and come straight from the principal’s pocket.”
Chen Xing pursed his lips and replied.
“Received! Thank you, Kuang Brother, and please thank Principal Xue for me. I should be able to return the day after tomorrow.”