Chapter 73: What Are Your Mate Selection Standards?

Bring it along?

Qin Chuan glanced at Yue Li in surprise.

Exactly, we've both broken through to Official Rank and have a second Contract Slot, so we should consider the matter of contracting a second Spirit Beast. Yue Li smiled.

That's right, but I'm a Water System... Qin Chuan looked somewhat embarrassed.

He really likes the Flame-tailed Squirrel, but Water System and Fire System powers have little compatibility.

Fire System supernatural power is essentially a substance without form or quality, yet it is an extremely flammable material with extremely high energy density; it only needs very thin oxygen to trigger a violent reaction and burn, and even if it burns for a long time, its consumption remains low.

Thus, although Fire System power is strong, it must also follow the corresponding science.

Combustion releases large amounts of light and heat; this heat rapidly raises the temperature of water, turning it into water vapor gas, escaping the control of Water System superhumans.

The vaporization phenomenon itself is an endothermic physical reaction; conversely, it lowers the reaction temperature and also reduces the activity of oxygen molecules, thereby suppressing combustion.

This means that if Qin Chuan chooses the Flame-tailed Squirrel as his second contracted Spirit Beast, using both attribute powers will result in a situation where 1+1<2.

Although the rank is a bit low, it's just a matter of spending some experience gems.

All right. Qin Chuan laughed helplessly.

Little Green probably won't reach Elite Tier anytime soon; we can look for more Fire System experience fruits. Yue Li watched the Flame-tailed Squirrel stuffing snacks into its mouth, smiling, "We need to raise its level to Growth Tier Lv20 as soon as possible."

Now, upon seeing Spirit Beast snacks again, even before opening the package, the Flame-tailed Squirrel seemed to smell the wonderful flavor, and its eyes lit up immediately.

Here, this whole pack is yours. Yue Li generously handed it to the Flame-tailed Squirrel, then reached out with her other hand to soothe the resentful-looking Little Green.

Furthermore, Yue Li felt instantly drawn to the Flame-tailed Squirrel upon first seeing it, so she naturally had little hesitation.

Although it didn't become her own contracted Spirit Beast, the Flame-tailed Squirrel joining the team in another way is not bad.

Of course. Yue Li smiled, "The compatibility between Wind System and Fire System is quite high."

I'll give you this to eat! Yue Li took out a Spirit Beast snack with a smile.

Throughout the entire contracting process, the Flame-tailed Squirrel showed no hesitation or resistance.

Killing Hand!

Who told you to contract? Yue Li rolled her eyes cutely, looked down at the Flame-tailed Squirrel, and said, "Little squirrel, want to follow sister?"

When the Flame-tailed Squirrel eagerly bit open the packaging, Yue Li had already aligned the second contract slot with it.

Earlier, while practicing blood control with Shui Hua, the Flame-tailed Squirrel had tasted the sweetness of Spirit Beast snacks; unfortunately, Shui Hua's proficiency skyrocketed, so it only got a taste before being unable to escape her control in later attempts.

Squeak?

"Wind assists fire"—these two attributes indeed have extremely high compatibility.

The Flame-tailed Squirrel raised its head, showing a puzzled expression.

This... Seeing this, Qin Chuan stared wide-eyed, "Is it already contracted?"

Little Green's expression grew increasingly resentful, while Shui Hua beside it still bore a hint of schadenfreude.

It glared resentfully at Shui Hua.

Cry~

Once Qin Chuan contracts his second Spirit Beast, you won't fare any better either!

Hearing that, Shui Hua couldn't smile.

The smile won't disappear, but it will shift.

Little Green suddenly felt much better.

Just then, Yue Li turned her head to ask Qin Chuan about his thoughts on contracting a second Spirit Beast, and Shui Hua's four ears perked up instantly.

Second Spirit Beast? Qin Chuan showed a thoughtful expression.

Among the twelve attributes, there are still many that can pair with Water System.

But if we speak of attributes that produce a 1+1>2 effect with Water System, only Ice System qualifies.

Ice is solid water, but Ice System is not merely ice.

The reason it's called Ice System is that, with bare hands, Ice System superhumans most commonly use their ability to directly condense atmospheric water vapor into ice.

But its essence lies in using Ice System supernatural power to lower the temperature of other things below zero degrees, thereby gaining partial control, with the strength of that control depending on the nature of the cooled object.

If what is frozen is water, it can be fully controlled; if it's an opponent's arm, wanting to arbitrarily control it becomes impossible.

During the first supernatural combat class, when Qin Chuan teamed up with Zhu Yuxi to fight Ji Huai, Qin Chuan's water flow was frozen by Zhu Yuxi into ice, after which control shifted to Zhu Yuxi's hand, becoming her means of attack—this is a common application of Ice System power.

Likewise, because of this flexibility, possessing both Ice System and Water System allows for many interesting combinations.

It should be Ice System. Qin Chuan thought of this and spoke softly, "I hope its own skills can be interesting too."

In Qin Chuan's view, Undercurrent Bind is a very interesting skill.

It is not merely a simple bind and control, but rather adds water pressure in any direction to the water flow, i. e., the skill description's 'hiding great power within the water'.

Relying on Water Master, Qin Chuan can easily condense water into a palm-shaped flow, but it remains static water; its liquid texture does not change because of this—let alone using weapons, even bare hands can easily cut it, and it's impossible to use it to grasp objects.

But under the influence of Undercurrent Bind, it's completely different: a long blade cutting into the Water Hand is like clashing head-on with a high-pressure water jet; the immense water pressure blocks the blade's erosion, indirectly making it become 'solid,' and other applications follow the same principle.

Thanks to this interesting effect, Qin Chuan can continually develop new usage methods, such as the Water Hand when he first faced Ji Huai, and likewise the water flow's rotating strangulation when facing the Demon Rat King.

The latter's inspiration actually comes from a drum washing machine.

If the second Spirit Beast to be contracted next also possesses such an interesting skill, that would be great.

Your requirements are not few. Yue Li propped her chin, tilted her head to look at Qin Chuan, and couldn't help but laugh, "With these requirements, when will you ever find a second Spirit Beast?"

Actually... it won't be. Qin Chuan laughed along, "As long as it can pair with Water System, I can accept it; what I just said were merely my personal expectations, and the true deciding factor for whether a contract can be made is still fate."

Just like mate selection standards—listing a whole bunch, perhaps the person finally found matches less than half of them.

Really? Yue Li's smile suddenly brightened, "Then what are your mate selection standards?"

I... Qin Chuan was momentarily at a loss for words, meeting Yue Li's smiling gaze, as if a warm surge rose from his heart to his cheeks, he couldn't help but turn his head aside, "I haven't thought about it."

Pfft~ Yue Li couldn't help but laugh, stuck out her tongue, and stopped pursuing the topic.

(End of chapter)