"What gene?"
His father didn't quite hear and quickly asked,
"No... nothing..."
Chen Shu's eyes lit up with anticipation. "What about the materials for the Monarch?"
Although a Silver-tier Monarch was not comparable to a Gold-tier one,
it was still priceless, an absolute treasure!
"Your grandfather's contracted spirit is gone, so his potential wasn't high. Naturally, he didn't use materials from a Silver-tier Monarch!"
His father, Chen Ping, explained,
"To prevent the treasure from attracting covetous eyes, he could only instruct me to preserve it well. If a descendant possessed beast-taming talent, it would be passed on to them!"
Chen Shu rubbed his hands together and said, "So, it's tailor-made for me then?"
"Originally, my plan was that if you didn't have talent and couldn't break through to Black-iron tier for a long time, we would exchange the materials for resources and forcibly push you to Black-iron tier!"
"At least that would guarantee you a comfortable life!"
His father, Chen Ping, patiently explained. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to Chen Shu enrolling in the beast-taming class.
"Now I've heard that you, my boy, have become Silver-tier!"
His father said seriously, "Although I don't understand what such a young Silver-tier means, I assume you've grown significantly!"
"The treasure your grandfather left behind is officially passed on to you!"
Saying this, his father opened the bag beside him and took out a soil-covered container.
He brushed away the soil, and within it floated a beating red heart!
A Silver-tier Monarch's heart!
Chen Shu's breathing hitched, his heart filled with excitement. He never imagined his family would possess such a treasure.
His father said earnestly, "I hope you won't let your grandfather down!"
"Definitely!"
Chen Shu reached out and hugged the container, rubbing his face against it and giggling. He looked utterly delighted.
"Your grandfather's expectation wasn't for you to become a freak. Can you try to restrain yourself..."
His father's mouth twitched, a chill running down his spine.
"Uh..."
Chen Shu then quietly put the container back into his combat bag.
He seemed to recall something and said, "Right, Dad, what about the Silver-tier Monarch's flesh and blood, and the Beast Taming Pearl?"
Those were also priceless items!
"Uh..."
His father said, "The remaining materials were destroyed during the fight. Only a heart and a pearl were left!"
"It's that pearl!"
Chen Shu's eyes widened. A Monarch's Beast Taming Pearl could provide a massive amount of Beast Taming Power, potentially even helping him break through to Silver-tier 2-star.
"Ahem..."
His father coughed and said, "Now for a no-prize quiz!"
"What?"
"How did your dad go from a Level Zero Beast Tamer to a Level One Beast Tamer?"
"???"
Chen Shu was stunned.
The next second, his eyes widened like saucers, and he couldn't even speak.
"It seems you've already guessed!"
His father patted his shoulder and sighed, saying,
"Back then, I was young and impulsive, thinking that once I took the first step, the beast-taming path would be smooth sailing!"
"As a result, I'll forever be stuck on the first step..."
Chen Shu said with a look of despair, "You used a Monarch's Beast Taming Pearl to break through to Level One Beast Tamer?"
"Actually, thinking about it, it wasn't a complete loss. At least it killed my ambition to become a beast tamer!"
His father said, "At the time, I had decided that as soon as I became a Level Two Beast Tamer, I would use that heart as well..."
Seeing Chen Shu's dazed expression, he added,
"You don't blame your dad, do you?"
"..."
Chen Shu shook his head. With his strong mental fortitude, he finally accepted the fact.
He said, "Dad, promise me, don't tell anyone about this!"
"Why?"
"I'm afraid the entire country will attack you!"
"..."
Chen Shu shook his head. Although it was worlds away from what he had expected, he at least had a Monarch material as a consolation prize.
"Alright, now I've given you all our savings. You better make good use of it!"
His father put away the bag and the shovel. "A great weight has been lifted from my heart!"
Saying this, he went to the balcony again and placed his contracted spirit into the fish tank...
In the following days, Chen Shu stayed at home, constantly searching for information to understand what skills this heart could impart.
But unfortunately, even with his extremely high clearance, there was too little information about Monarchs.
"I need to take it back to the academy for identification!"
Chen Shu shook his head. He couldn't find out through online information alone.
"Finally, I can start my vacation!"
Chen Shu stretched, his mood lifting.
Ten days passed in a flash.
The family was eating dinner harmoniously.
"I say, son, aren't you supposed to be in school? Did they expel you?"
"What are you thinking..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. Expelling me would be a huge loss for the Huaxia Academy!
"I just took a leave of absence!"
Chen Shu said righteously, "The time hasn't come yet. Returning early would be breaking my word!"
The leave he had obtained with his life – returning early would be a massive loss!
"..."
His parents were speechless. This kid was truly something.
His mother's expression turned stern, and she chided, "You just eat and sleep all day, then sleep and eat again. What kind of behavior is that?!"
"No, I go out for walks sometimes!"
"..."
His mother was speechless and exchanged a look with his father.
His father immediately understood, coughed twice, and said earnestly,
"Son, your mom and I worked hard to raise you all these years. Isn't it better to book your ticket and leave home early to preserve this family bond?"
"??"
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. He was caught off guard.
When he first came back, they didn't say this. But after only ten days, everything had changed...
His father said, "Dad has already packed your luggage. Go back to school early!"
"Oh."
Chen Shu nodded reluctantly. His vacation hadn't even ended, and he was being sent back early...
The next morning,
Chen Shu dragged his suitcase, looking back at his home, and said,
"Mom and Dad, I'm leaving!"
With that, he left home directly and headed for the train station.
His parents exchanged a look, a hint of reluctance in their eyes, but they were truly worried that Chen Shu would become completely useless lying around at home...
An hour later,
Chen Shu arrived at the train station. He looked back at Nanjiang City and murmured to himself,
"Leaving home already?"
He sighed and said, "I haven't accomplished anything, and I feel a bit unsettled!"
Just as he was leaving in disappointment, a voice called out to him,
"Classmate Chen Shu!"
A man called out to him, his eyes carrying a strange look.
"Hmm? Who are you?"
Chen Shu turned around, not recognizing the person.
"The people of Nanjiang City want me to give you a banner!"
The man smiled and handed over a banner. It proudly displayed: Outstanding Citizen: Chen Shu!
"For me?"
Chen Shu scratched his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"This year, Nanjiang City became one of the civilized cities. The masses unanimously agreed that you were the biggest contributor, which is why they specially sent this banner!"
"I'm the biggest contributor?"
Chen Shu's mouth hung open, his mind filled with questions. He said,
"But I haven't done anything!"
The man said solemnly, "Thank you for not coming back during the summer vacation. Otherwise, Nanjiang City truly wouldn't have been able to be rated!"