《Master of Pet》


 Chapter 1: Purple Lightning Dragon Condor

    "Dear passengers, welcome aboard the Grey Hawk Skyship. After a long journey of three days and three nights, we have now reached the middle ring of the Endless Sand Region. We are approximately three hours away from our final destination, Shanhai Academy. Please make your preparations. This is your captain, Deng Banting¡­"


    Inside the luxuriously decorated cabin, twenty to thirty people were seated, creating a lively clamor. They all appeared to be boys and girls around fifteen or sixteen years old, making for a very lively atmosphere.


    "Finally! We''ve been waiting for this day forever!"


    "You can say that again! Twelve years of hard study and training¡­ what was it all for? Wasn''t it just to open our Soul Sea and become Monster Tamers? Just wait a little longer, and our dream will come true!"


    "Hehe, what type of pet monster are you planning to contract? I''ve already decided, it has to be Lightning-attribute. The ideal one would be an Electric Rat, of course!"


    ¡­


    Their young faces, still showing a touch of childishness, were filled with excitement and joy.


    Bai Wushang watched them silently, a hint of similar anticipation showing in the smile at the corner of his lips.


    Turning his head, he saw the girl sleeping soundly while hugging his arm, and Bai Wushang sighed.


    "Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao, wake up! You''ve been asleep for half the day!"


    He habitually tapped the girl on her glossy black head, Bai Wushang sounding quite resigned.


    "Hmm?"


    Perhaps because she had just woken up, a faint blush lingered on the girl''s face.Her features weren''t stunningly beautiful, but they were delicate and petite: an oval face, a straight nose bridge, rosy small lips, and dark hair falling naturally over her shoulders¡ªthe very image of a cherished girl-next-door.


    "Have we arrived?" Mu Xiaoxiao rubbed her drowsy eyes, her small mouth mumbling, still showing some crankiness from waking up.


    "Almost." Bai Wushang flexed his stiff and numb arm while glancing at her irritably. "If you keep sleeping like that, this arm of mine will probably be useless!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao pouted, unfazed.


    "I was just dreaming about a Fishbone Bird, it was delicious¡­"


    Seeing Bai Wushang ignore her, Mu Xiaoxiao''s eyes darted, and she sneakily placed her fingers on his shoulders.


    "Wushang-gege, how about I give you a massage? I''ve learned proper bone-setting and massage techniques, my skills are top-notch!"


    Bai Wushang''s first reaction was:unreliable.


    After feeling it for a moment, he indeed grimaced in pain and quickly pushed Mu Xiaoxiao''s arms away.


    "Forget it, forget it! If you have time for fooling around, you''d better think about how you''re going to explain this to your cousin when we get to the academy."


    "Explain what? I just didn''t want to go to Blue Luan Women''s Academy! Tianxing-gege is at Shanhai Academy, and you''re going to Shanhai Academy too, Wushang-gege. Why should I have to go to Blue Luan Women''s Academy all alone! It''s no fun at all!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao stopped kneading and instead gripped Bai Wushang''s sleeve tightly, speaking pitifully.


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    "But you still shouldn''t have snuck out without telling anyone, right? Your family must be worried sick¡­"


    Bai Wushang sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.


    Don''t be fooled by Mu Xiaoxiao''s innocent and harmless appearance; her personality was quite mischievous and willful. She''d caused plenty of trouble since childhood, and Bai Wushang had lost count of how many times he''d taken the blame for her.


    He just hadn''t expected that for this major life event, choosing a Pet Monster training academy, her family had arranged for the more suitable Blue Luan Women''s Academy, pulling all sorts of strings in advance. Mu Xiaoxiao simply refused to go, and even secretly followed him onto the skyship heading for Shanhai Academy.


    Mu Xiaoxiao had an older male cousin, three years her senior, named Mu Tianxing, who was the eldest son of the current Mu family head and currently a fourth-year student at Shanhai Academy.


    As far as Bai Wushang recalled, Mu Tianxing showed limited affection for his younger cousin, Mu Xiaoxiao. Mostly, he was strict like a stern father, holding her to very high standards in daily studies, training, and conduct.


    This time, with Mu Xiaoxiao willfully changing academies, Mu Tianxing would inevitably give her a harsh scolding when he found out.


    "Heehee, we''ll deal with it then! I''m already here, Tianxing-gege can''t possibly chase me back home, right?" Mu Xiaoxiao made a face at Bai Wushang, brimming with inexplicable confidence.


    Just as Bai Wushang was about to lecture Mu Xiaoxiao further¡­


    The skyship, which had been flying steadily, suddenly trembled violently, causing countless cries of alarm from within the cabin.


    "Quick, look outside the window! What is that?!"


    Bai Wushang followed the voice and looked, only to see the azure sky, which had been bright with sunshine and cloudless for miles, rapidly darkening before his very eyes.


    In the distance, dark clouds billowed, obscuring half the sky.


    Thick bolts of bright purple lightning intertwined and clashed within the dark clouds, dancing madly like demonic serpents. The roar of the thunder, even through the thick hull plating, was still deafening and terrifying.


    "A thunderstorm?"


    Bai Wushang paused, then felt something was wrong. How could storm clouds and lightning form such a vast expanse in just tens of seconds?


    "SCREE!"


    From within the apocalyptic storm clouds, an extremely shrill bird cry suddenly pierced the air. A behemoth emerged, its scarlet eyes staring towards the skyship from afar.


    In a flash of lightning, Bai Wushang saw the monster''s full appearance. His body instantly froze, as if his soul had left him, completely motionless.


    It was an enormous bird of prey, with the head of a dragon and the body of a bird, its wingspan exceeding a hundred meters. However, it lacked a single feather; its entire body was covered in purple dragon scales. The scales looked as if forged from metal, exuding a stunning beauty and a sense of overwhelming power. Its head greatly resembled that of a legendary dragon, with a pair of golden, backward-curving horns, noble and majestic; its mouth, however, was a curved beak, dark, glossy, and sharp, several meters long, stained with the blood of some fierce beast, clearly having just fought something; even more terrifying were its claws ¨C thick as an ox''s limbs, sharp as knives, glinting coldly ¨C undoubtedly capable of easily tearing through the skyship''s defensive plating!


    "Pur¡­ Pur¡­ Purple Lightning Dragon Condor?" Mu Xiaoxiao swallowed hard and murmured, "How could a monster of this level possibly appear here¡­"


    "Its mood seems off¡­ Look at its eyes, blood-red. It''s clearly in a state of rage¡­ What happened to make it so frantic, venturing far from its nest into this barren desert¡­" Bai Wushang forced himself to calm down and offered a quick analysis.


    Clearly, the enraged Purple Lightning Dragon Condor had noticed the skyship, much smaller than itself, in the distance. Its scarlet pupils filled with disgust. It flapped its purple-scaled wings forcefully and dove towards them like a lightning bolt.


    "Everyone, stay seated! All defensive systems online! Activate maximum overload mode!"


    The captain''s voice, striving for calm, came over the broadcast. Immediately after, the ship''s bow shifted rapidly, shooting away in the opposite direction at maximum speed.


    The skyship Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao were on was the latest model commissioned by Shanhai Academy. Its power was abundant, generally capable of matching most Complete-stage flying-type transcendent creatures, making its safety factor extremely high in the outer and even middle rings of the Endless Sand Region.


    However, this Purple Lightning Dragon Condor was terrifyingly huge ¨C likely a monster at the Ultimate stage!


    Watching the Purple Lightning Dragon Condor''s massive and ferocious body draw closer and closer, everyone in the cabin grew restless, and some timid girls even burst into tears.


    "RIP!"


    The sharp wing, crackling with sinister purple lightning, struck like a peerless sword, cleaving the skyship in two.


    In that split second, Bai Wushang only had time to throw himself over Mu Xiaoxiao, hoping to offer her some small measure of extra protection.


    Then, the world spun violently, and his consciousness faded into silence.

 Chapter 2: The Sacred Guardian Seal

    Bai Wushang was having a long dream.


    He dreamed of a person named Qin Long, who originally lived in a world called Blue Star. It was a place without monsters or conflict, a world at peace.


    As a programmer, he lived an ordinary yet demanding 997 life.


    Until one day, after pulling two all-nighters to fix a bug in a game called "God of Food," Qin Long succumbed to extreme exhaustion and never woke up again.


    However, he wasn''t truly dead. Instead, he drifted as a strange "soul entity" in the void rift, muddled and aimlessly adrift.


    After an unknown period, perhaps a year, perhaps centuries, a light appeared before him.


    Through the light, Qin Long saw a young man lying amidst a pile of rubble, covered in blood. His breath was faint; it seemed he wouldn''t survive.


    A peculiar sensation arose within him, drawing Qin Long like a magnet. His soul subconsciously drifted towards the young man''s head...


    "No! This isn''t right!"


    Bai Wushang woke with a start. Wasn''t that blood-soaked young man his own self?


    "Wushang gege! Wushang gege!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao''s familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears, trembling and filled with distinct sobs.


    "I can''t die yet, how can I die..."


    Driven by a strong will to live, Bai Wushang''s hazy consciousness revived. He immediately sensed another soul within his mind, gradually seizing control of his body.


    "Transmigration... Possession... Rebirth..."


    These newly learned words popped into his consciousness, sending a chill down Bai Wushang''s spine.


    Perhaps because it had drifted in the void for too long, Qin Long''s soul entity was clearly stronger. Bai Wushang struggled several times but remained at a disadvantage, constantly being eroded.


    Bai Wushang knew that the moment his soul was completely "eaten," he would be truly finished!


    "Even in death, I don''t want someone else occupying my body, living my life for me..."


    His illusory soul clenched its fists. After a moment''s hesitation, Bai Wushang charged towards the location of his physical heart.


    He recalled his past.


    Sixteen years ago, Bai Wushang was born in a small village in the wilderness. Before the age of six, he lived a happy, peaceful, and unremarkable life.


    Until one day when he was six, disaster struck. A princess of the Abyss Blood Clan awoke from her ice coffin after thirty thousand years, needing vast numbers of young boys and girls to replenish her vitality.


    To curry favor with this princess, the Blood Clan''s vassals massacred numerous surrounding villages and towns. All children of suitable age were their targets, and Bai Wushang''s small village was among them.


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    As a child, he watched helplessly as his parents were brutally murdered while saving him. That feeling of powerlessness still hangs in his mind, never forgotten.


    Very fortunately, just as the Blood Clan princess bit into his throat to drink his blood, the Angel Legion belonging to the Holy Court arrived via a spatial tunnel. The leader, the Six-Winged Guardian Seraph Asibode, successfully repelled the Blood Clan and saved him in the process.


    His life was saved, but this Blood Clan princess had an immense background. She was one of the most ancient Blood Clan members from antiquity. In terms of noble bloodline, few in the world could compare.


    Her saliva naturally carried an extremely vicious ancient blood poison. Having been bitten, Bai Wushang couldn''t avoid it.


    This blood poison was incredibly potent. It rooted itself deep within the body, continuously devouring life essence. When the time was ripe, it would burst forth from the body, blooming into a six-petaled blood flower.


    At that time, his soul would scatter, and not even bones would remain.


    Even a legendary-level Six-Winged Guardian Seraph couldn''t eradicate this ancient blood poison!


    The merciful Lord Asibode, unwilling to see a young life die in agony, expended considerable effort to cast five Sacred Guardian Seals, helping Bai Wushang seal the blood poison deep within his heart, allowing him to survive until now.


    Lord Asibode had warned him that the Guardian Seals were not a fundamental solution. They could protect him for fifteen years at most, after which their power would be depleted.


    Right now, Bai Wushang faced a life-or-death crisis of his soul being devoured. He had no time to worry about what would happen in five years; his only thought was to resist.


    This Sacred Guardian Seal might be his only chance!


    The blood-red heart thumped, thump-thump.


    In his soul state, Bai Wushang clearly saw a circular cage of light deep within his heart. Inside the cage, a mass of red liquid flowed slowly, exuding endless gloom and evil.


    As if sensing the approach of Bai Wushang''s consciousness, the red liquid suddenly transformed into a blood-patterned python, hissing and flicking its tongue. Greed, desire, and hatred were undisguised in its dark golden vertical pupils.


    "Om!"


    Two talismans inscribed with dense golden runes silently appeared, transforming into golden chains that pierced through the blood python''s body.


    The blood python shrieked miserably, then burst like a bubble in the next moment, reverting to the red liquid flowing slowly within the cage.


    His soul gently touched the two golden talismans. This was the core power of the Guardian Seals. There were originally five; after ten years of natural depletion, only two remained.


    "Life or death, it all depends on you!"


    Bai Wushang focused his entire will and proactively detonated one of the Sacred Guardian Seals within his body.


    ...


    Outside.


    It was nearing dusk; the sun was about to shed its last rays.


    This seemed to be a valley in a desert. The ground was littered with sand and stones of various sizes, as well as debris and dismembered corpses from a disintegrated airship. The sight was shocking.


    Bai Wushang lay flat on his back, blood flowing uncontrollably from all over his body.


    Mu Xiaoxiao, tears blurring her vision, shook him, calling his name over and over, trying to wake him.


    Suddenly, dense golden specks of light seeped out from Bai Wushang''s body, washing over him repeatedly, inside and out.


    The ghastly wounds on his body began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly recovering completely.


    "Gasp... Gasp..."


    Bai Wushang abruptly sat up, his eyes vacant.


    "That''s wonderful! Wushang gege, you''re awake! I was so scared I''d never see you again!" Mu Xiaoxiao excitedly threw herself into his arms, sobbing.


    "I..."


    Bai Wushang paused, stunned, then his mind cleared. He hurriedly checked his condition.


    Except for his clothes being tattered beyond recognition, there wasn''t even a scar left on his body''s surface. He couldn''t be healthier.


    "It''s clear that my own consciousness is now in control of the body. Everything is back to normal. So, where did that guy Qin Long go?"


    Many thoughts flooded his mind. Bai Wushang''s original idea was that the Sacred Guardian Seal possessed astonishing purification energy and healing power, being the natural bane of evil forces. By expending one seal and detonating it inside his body, perhaps he could expel Qin Long.


    There might have been risks, but at the time, he had no other choice but to gamble everything.


    "Eh?"


    Bai Wushang was surprised to discover a transparent crystal floating in his mind, spinning steadily.


    Intuition told him it was a crystal formed from the condensed soul essence remaining after Qin Long''s subjective consciousness had completely perished.


    Like a freshly baked cake emanating an alluring aroma, it deeply captivated Bai Wushang''s attention...

 Chapter 3: Soul Power Awakening, Book of Oaths

    With a soft "pop," Bai Wushang pierced the Soul Crystal.


    It was like planting a seed in soil ¨C the seed broke through the earth, took root, sprouted, and finally grew into a towering tree in an incredibly short time... Bai Wushang''s soul power surged at a terrifying speed, every cell in his body seeming to cheer and leap for joy.


    In his originally boundless Sea of Consciousness filled with gray mist, a small black sun suddenly appeared, settled right in the center, rotating slowly and rhythmically in place.


    "A Soul Power Vortex? Have I... awakened my Soul Power?"


    Bai Wushang recalled what he had learned in class, still finding it hard to believe.


    According to the normal process, a Prospective Master couldn''t awaken their Soul Power on their own. They had to wait until their sixteenth birthday and use a specific Awakening Array for assistance to successfully open their Sea of Consciousness, thereby condensing a Soul Power Vortex and gaining Soul Power.


    Soul Power was the symbol of an official Master!


    This world originated from extraordinary creatures.


    Insectoids, Beastmen, Witches, Fairies, Angels, Demons, Blood Clan, Giants, Ghosts... Countless races, endless branches, infinite mysteries, forged this vast world where the strong preyed on the weak.


    The human race was inherently weak. Only a small fraction of those with the talent for Soul Power, once successfully awakened, possessed an incomparably powerful ability ¨C to form Pet Beast Contracts with extraordinary creatures, commanding them to fight!


    Taming, nurturing, battling, advancing, evolving... Masters climbed continuously, forging ahead, allowing the human race to secure a place on the stage of the extraordinary world!


    For any human child, from the moment they formed memories, the most fervent and purest wish was to awaken Soul Power and contract Pet Beasts.


    From this moment on, Bai Wushang had crossed the dividing line between mortals and the sacred, stepping onto the starting point of another world. His emotions were inevitably somewhat dazed.


    "I remember the books mentioning that spontaneous awakeners are also called Congenital Masters. They are extremely rare, with a probability of about one in ten thousand compared to ordinary Prospective Masters. With my original aptitude, it definitely wouldn''t have been possible. Could it be because I devoured and fused with the soul essence left by Qin Long, allowing me to leapfrog ahead and break through that critical threshold?"


    Bai Wushang pondered silently, then grew a little worried. "I just don''t know if this method will leave any side effects. I hope the gains don''t outweigh the losses..."


    Looking down at himself, Bai Wushang was astonished to find that his body seemed to have undergone some changes due to the Soul Power awakening. His original height of 1.78 meters felt taller, his shoulders broader, and his skin even had a lustrous sheen.


    Most strikingly, floating beside his right side was a book resembling a dictionary. Its color was ancient, its entire surface engraved with arcane and ancient patterns, and its size and thickness were far more exaggerated than ordinary books.


    If there had been a sense of unreality before, seeing this slightly mystical, glowing book finally convinced Bai Wushang of the truth.


    This was the Book of Oaths, also known as the Book of Contracts. It was a special energy body condensed from soul power and life essence, not a physical object.


    It was the credential of a Master, automatically condensing upon awakening Soul Power.


    Its primary function was to grant the user the ability to ''Contract'', allowing them to form Pet Beast Contracts with extraordinary creatures through it.


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    Simultaneously, the Book of Oaths contained an independent living space that could accommodate contracted Pet Beasts.


    "Book of Oaths? Wushang gege, you... how did you become a Master?"


    Mu Xiaoxiao stared blankly at the book, her small mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.


    After thinking silently for a moment, Bai Wushang decided to bury the matter of Qin Long deep within his heart, telling no one.


    This matter was too fantastical ¨C the existence of other parallel worlds beyond the extraordinary plane completely overturned people''s imagination. Leaking any information would cause immense trouble, bringing no benefit to himself or his friends.


    Therefore, Bai Wushang simply blurred out the part about the transmigrator, explaining briefly that in order to survive, he had taken a risk and activated a Sacred Guardian Seal. As a result, the Guardian Seal not only healed his body but also seemed to trigger a chain reaction, unexpectedly causing his Soul Power to awaken spontaneously.


    "Ah! Doesn''t that mean your lifespan has shortened again?" Mu Xiaoxiao''s face fell, looking unhappy.


    Everyone in the Mu family familiar with Bai Wushang knew about the events of his childhood, including Mu Xiaoxiao, naturally.


    "With only one Guardian Seal left, it can probably last about three years... When the time comes, the seal will break, and the blood poison will return..."


    Bai Wushang muttered to himself, "But, I won''t give up easily. Starting today, I will work even harder. Until the very last moment, I will never bow to fate..."


    Mu Xiaoxiao was silent for a long while before changing the subject:


    "With spontaneous awakening, you''re now at the peak of the Spirit Practitioner level, right?"


    "I remember Grandpa saying that Masters who awaken with the help of an array convert the spiritual power naturally accumulated over the past sixteen years into Soul Power. The initial Soul Power depends on each person''s different accumulation and will fall within the early, mid, or late stages of the Spirit Practitioner level. But spontaneously awakened Masters start directly at the peak of the Spirit Practitioner level. Their starting point is higher than others, saving a lot of training time..."


    "Of course, this alone isn''t enough to highlight the rarity and power of spontaneous awakeners. The most precious aspect is that spontaneous awakeners get one extra chance to summon a Natal Pet Beast!"


    "A Natal Pet Beast, huh..." Bai Wushang murmured, suddenly looking up at the sky, frowning.


    The sky had completely darkened by now. A crescent moon hung in the sky, and the vast expanse of stars was mostly obscured by thick clouds.


    After becoming a peak Spirit Practitioner level Master, both Bai Wushang''s physical fitness and perceptive abilities had improved qualitatively. The intermittent, unidentifiable roars reaching his ears instantly put him on high alert.


    "Xiaoxiao, the Natal Summoning supposedly requires complete concentration and allows no distractions. Look, it''s already dark now, and it''s inevitable that things will come out to forage in these barren mountains and wilds... Let''s find a safe place to hide first, then consider our next step."


    "Okay!" Mu Xiaoxiao nodded obediently, then pointed her slender finger at her own neck, saying, "But if we run into danger, don''t always try to protect me first. At least I have this family protective jade pendant."


    Bai Wushang saw that the lotus-shaped jade pendant, glowing with a faint green light, had a distinct crack.


    "When we fell from the sky just now, the jade pendant activated automatically, but it could only protect me, so I was unharmed."


    Mu Xiaoxiao whispered this while tightly gripping the tattered corner of Bai Wushang''s clothes, tears seemingly welling up in her eyes again:


    "The others are probably all dead, died horribly... When I saw you all mangled and bloody, I was truly scared to death..."


    "Alright, alright, isn''t everything fine now?"


    Bai Wushang patted Mu Xiaoxiao''s head dotingly, his gaze gentle, though his heart felt a stir.


    After the disaster when he was six, Bai Wushang, left without any support, had been briefly adopted by a woman.


    However, that woman wasn''t very reliable and soon left him with the Mu family. For the ten years from age six to sixteen, Bai Wushang spent most of his time in the Mu family compound, somewhat considered half a member of the Mu family.


    Mu Xiaoxiao was a direct descendant of the Mu family''s younger generation, but unfortunately, her talent was average, and she was a bit playful and willful, not standing out among her siblings.


    She and Bai Wushang had grown up playing together. They were very close, and Bai Wushang had always treated her like a younger sister.


    Shaking his head slightly, Bai Wushang temporarily pushed those warm feelings aside. The current priority was paramount.


    Using the dim moonlight, he rummaged through the airship wreckage and managed to find two metal rods, about a meter long and three fingers thick. He and Mu Xiaoxiao each took one as temporary weapons.


    With Bai Wushang''s current physical condition, he could completely match ordinary early-to-mid-stage young extraordinary creatures. However, Bai Wushang knew well that the wilderness was full of variables, and his own combat skills were lacking, so he didn''t dare to be the least bit careless.


    "Be careful, stay close to me."


    Bai Wushang held the newly lit simple torch, took Mu Xiaoxiao''s hand, and ventured into the unknown darkness....

 Chapter 4: Hungry Zombie

    The night was already as thick as ink.


    The path within the valley wasn''t easy to navigate. Even though it was open, devoid of trees, the terrain was naturally complex, filled with winding branch paths. One could easily get lost with a moment''s inattention.


    The strange roars nearby grew more frequent. Bai Wushang couldn''t immediately identify their source. Acting cautiously, he decided to find a low cave to make do for the night.


    As long as they could survive the night, daylight would bring better visibility, improving their chances of finding a way out.


    "Brother Wushang," Mu Xiaoxiao subconsciously tried to start a conversation, feeling a little scared. This was her first trip far from home, and now, deep in the night, the pitch-black darkness and extremely low visibility were unnerving. "The skyship crashed, and everyone on it was a prospective Beast Master who passed the initial screening. Shanhai Academy won''t just abandon us, right?"


    "Mm, prospective Beast Masters are considered strategic resources everywhere. With so many lost this time, Shanhai Academy will definitely send people to investigate. The only uncertainty is if the incident will be discovered promptly... Theoretically, the skyship had a signal locator..."


    Bai Wushang paused, then continued:


    "However, we should still prepare for both possibilities. We can''t solely rely on the Academy''s rescue; we must also strive to escape this predicament ourselves."


    Mu Xiaoxiao pouted, wanting to speak but hesitating.


    She had gone to great lengths to trick her persistent personal guard just to sneak out, never imagining she''d end up in this situation so quickly.


    "''Was I too willful...?''" Mu Xiaoxiao silently reproached herself.


    Pat¡ªpat¡ª


    Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from around the corner ahead, drawing nearer. It was jarring in the desolate night.


    Bai Wushang stopped, quickly extinguishing the torch. He pulled Mu Xiaoxiao against the nearby cliff wall, and both held their breath.


    "''Could it be another survivor?''"


    Bai Wushang wondered. But listening closely, it didn''t sound right. The footsteps were too strange¡ªlike someone limping, shambling aimlessly, occasionally bumping into the walls.


    Yet, its forward path remained unchanged, bringing it closer and closer to Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao.


    Bai Wushang stealthily raised the metal rod in his hand, veins bulging on his wrist, ready to strike with full force at any moment.


    In the darkness, a tall, thin figure entered Bai Wushang''s sight.


    It was dressed in tattered, ancient-style clothes, its arms drawn inside the wide sleeves, giving it an awkward appearance.


    Nauseatingly, it looked as if it had never bathed. Its face was so grimy its features were obscured, and it emanated a putrid stench like rotting fish from head to toe.


    Suddenly, a block of information flashed before his eyes¡ª


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    ¡¾Name¡¿: Hungry Zombie (Wild)¡¾Race¡¿: Netherworld ¡¤ Zombie-type ¡¤ Corpse Clan¡¾Life Level¡¿: Early Juvenile Stage¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Mortal Bone Grade 1-Star¡¾Status¡¿: Starving¡¾Wisdom¡¿: Extremely Low¡¾Traits¡¿: Dark Adaptation / Infection¡¾Skills¡¿: Corpse Claw, Bite¡¾Gourmet Cells¡¿: 1


    "''What is this?!''"


    Bai Wushang''s eyes widened, his expression one of utter astonishment.


    Seemingly catching their scent, the figure in the darkness stopped and snapped its head towards them.


    "Ah!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao screamed, her face pale with fright.


    The dim moonlight revealed a horrifying face stained with blood, its skin severely decayed, features grotesquely twisted. Faintly visible were several plump white maggots crawling in and out, seemingly enjoying themselves.


    "Zom... Zom... Zombie..." Mu Xiaoxiao pointed at the monster, her hand trembling uncontrollably, unable to hold the metal rod steady.


    "Roar!"


    The zombie''s faintly glowing green eyes practically bulged with delight. It had been ages since it encountered such tender morsels. With an excited low growl, it lunged, opening its cavernous mouth filled with long, thin fangs.


    Clang!


    Bai Wushang hesitated no more, smashing the rod down hard onto the Hungry Zombie''s head. White and red matter splattered onto the ground.


    The current Bai Wushang''s strength was incomparable to what it was just a day ago.


    This full-force blow sent the zombie crashing to the ground. Its limbs twitched briefly before it became completely still.


    ¡¾Hunt successful, Gourmet Cells +1¡¿


    A line of small red text scrolled across his vision like a bullet comment.


    Bai Wushang shook his head, confirming it wasn''t an illusion. Suppressing the confusion in his heart, he turned his gaze to Mu Xiaoxiao.


    "Are you hurt?"


    "I''m fine..." Mu Xiaoxiao shook her head, looking shaken but also ashamed.


    As a disciple from a major clan, once she collected herself, she understood that this was merely the lowest, weakest kind of Hungry Zombie. Even as a prospective Beast Master, she could have easily defeated it one-on-one. She shouldn''t have been so terrified, lacking even the courage to face it head-on.


    Bai Wushang could vaguely guess Mu Xiaoxiao''s feelings. Having faced life and death multiple times himself, he understood deeply. That''s why he could face unknown dangers with more composure, avoiding panic.


    Mu Xiaoxiao was different. She had grown up privileged. It was unlikely she had ever experienced such mortal terror and despair before this. It was natural for her to be shaken.


    Bai Wushang gently ruffled Mu Xiaoxiao''s hair but didn''t say much. He knew he couldn''t always shelter her; she needed to grow stronger herself.


    ...


    Relighting the torch, they continued on their way.


    This time, Bai Wushang didn''t plan to extinguish it.


    Earlier, he hadn''t understood the situation, mistaking the sound for a living person, and had put out the torch out of caution.


    After traveling further and dispatching several more scattered zombies, Bai Wushang began to understand. This valley was probably a zombie den. There were no birds or beasts, only zombies. No wonder everything felt so lifeless and still; they hadn''t encountered any other living creatures.


    These supernatural creatures, zombies¡ªespecially the lowest-tier Hungry Zombies¡ªactually lack sight despite their eerie green pupils. They rely on smell and hearing to perceive their surroundings.


    They fear sunlight and fire, which is why they are active only at night, growing more so as darkness deepens. When daylight arrives, they retreat to hide and slumber underground or in caves, emerging again the following night to forage.


    Finally, Bai Wushang located a suitable cave. They moved several large rocks to barricade the entrance, leaving only a small gap for air and observation.


    "Phew, it''s almost dawn," Bai Wushang sighed, stretching languidly before lying down on the dry ground. Nearby, two simple, specially-made torches burned, providing warmth and comfort. "That''s peak activity time for zombies. We''re lucky we found this place. Otherwise, we''d be facing swarms of Hungry Zombies, maybe even stronger, higher-level ones. It''s too dangerous and unpredictable out there!"


    "Yeah, this day has felt surreal..." Mu Xiaoxiao murmured, leaning fully clothed against Bai Wushang. She stared blankly at the stone ceiling above, her face showing deep exhaustion.


    "Get some sleep," Bai Wushang said after only a moment''s rest, sitting up again. "Don''t try to tough it out. I''ll take the watch. You''re not a Beast Master yet, so your stamina isn''t like mine. Plus, you''ve been on edge all day. You must be exhausted, right?"


    Mu Xiaoxiao opened her mouth but found no energy to argue. She simply murmured an assent and turned away to sleep.


    Sitting cross-legged beside the fire, Bai Wushang''s thoughts drifted as he seriously pondered certain questions.


    "''That attribute panel... what exactly is it?''"

 Chapter 5: Golden Knife, Silver Fork, God of Food Altar

    "In my sixteen years of life, I''ve never heard of anyone possessing such a strange ability, even more powerful than the legendary Grand Appraisal Technique..."


    Before entering the cave, Bai Wushang had discreetly tested it several times. As long as he was within ten meters, focusing his gaze on any zombie would cause a detailed attribute panel to appear in his pupils.


    Even more bizarrely, a mysterious pattern of a golden knife and silver fork had materialized on the back of his right hand.


    Bai Wushang had done a test with Mu Xiaoxiao, discovering she couldn''t see the pattern at all; it seemed only he could perceive it.


    "What exactly is this?"


    Bai Wushang stared at the golden knife and silver fork on the back of his hand, lost in thought.


    As he watched, an ethereal, illusory voice suddenly echoed in his ears¡ª


    "Activate the God of Food Altar?"


    Startled, Bai Wushang glanced left and right. Everything seemed normal; nothing was amiss.


    "Activate the God of Food Altar?"


    The voice sounded again. Bai Wushang carefully tried to pinpoint the source, realizing it seemed to be emanating from the golden knife and silver fork.


    "God of Food Altar... God of Food..."


    Bai Wushang mulled over this strangely familiar term twice, then had a sudden realization: "Before Qin Long died, wasn''t he fixing a game bug named ''God of Food''..."


    "No way... Could it be, just like in Qin Long''s memories, every transmigrator from Blue Star comes with their own ''golden finger,'' only this one originally belonged to Qin Long, and now I''ve hijacked it?"


    Bai Wushang''s heart thumped wildly, a mix of excitement and shock.


    Taking a couple of deep breaths to calm himself, Bai Wushang constantly reminded himself to remain calm and composed, and absolutely not to act rashly.


    He looked up to check on Mu Xiaoxiao, confirming she was deeply asleep and wouldn''t wake up anytime soon.


    Then, Bai Wushang tiptoed to the cave entrance and peeked at the outside situation for a moment. Occasionally, a few hungry zombies shuffled past, but none noticed the hidden little cave.


    Confirming it was safe, Bai Wushang refocused his gaze on the golden knife and silver fork pattern.


    "Activate the God of Food Altar?"


    "Yes..." Bai Wushang thought silently.


    Endless darkness enveloped him like a tide, and suddenly, he couldn''t see anything.


    The next second, his vision brightened. Bai Wushang found himself in a ruined palace. The ground was littered with broken stone pillars scattered everywhere. The surrounding walls were riddled with cracks, hinting at an ancient, unknown past.


    This ruined palace covered about three hundred square meters and was roughly circular in shape. Along the outermost edge stood thirteen pure black statues. Some were humanoid, others insectoid covered in limbs, and some even resembled giant dragons¡ªall were bizarre forms.


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    After scanning his surroundings, Bai Wushang''s gaze fell upon the very center of the palace.


    There stood a massive bronze square cauldron, covered in rust spots, filled with the mottled patina of age.


    Just as Bai Wushang was about to approach the bronze cauldron for a closer look, he suddenly noticed something strange about himself.


    "Why does my body feel so light..."


    Looking down, he saw his body was actually translucent.


    Pinching his arm and thigh still produced a tangible sensation, but he had lost the sensation of pain.


    "This likely isn''t my physical body, but my consciousness or some kind of spiritual body that has entered this space. How do I get out?"


    Just as this thought emerged, Bai Wushang''s vision went black, then bright again, and he opened his eyes back in the real world.


    Looking around, almost nothing had changed, indicating that the flow of time here was similar to the outside world.


    Confirming this, he once again entered the God of Food Altar, arriving at the very center of the ruined palace.


    Observing the bronze cauldron closely, Bai Wushang noted its height was equal to his own. It had two loop handles and stood on four legs, its form simple and solemn.


    On the outer surface of the greyish-bronze cauldron were branded countless miniature engravings: a sky-obscuring Three-Legged Golden Crow, a World Serpent coiled around an entire divine mountain, a fifty-headed, hundred-armed ancient giant... Numbering in the thousands, without exception, they were all creatures of myth and legend.


    "What is this cauldron? It looks so ancient and mysterious..."


    Bai Wushang circled it once but found nothing more. He then tried standing on tiptoe to peer inside.


    The interior of the cauldron was pitch black, distorting all light. Bai Wushang looked left and right but couldn''t see anything.


    Staring for too long, he even began to feel palpitations, as if the dark, profound depths within the cauldron were a bottomless abyss, and the next second a gaping, bloody maw would appear to devour him. Frightened, Bai Wushang quickly retracted his gaze.


    "Clearly, this bronze cauldron, placed in the center of the God of Food Altar, must be the most important item. What is its purpose? How should I activate it, or rather, how do I use it?"


    After hesitating for a while, unable to figure it out, Bai Wushang tentatively touched the cauldron''s body with his finger.


    Completely different from the cold metallic texture he expected, the cauldron''s body was scorching hot to the touch, as if it had just been seared by flames.


    As if triggering some change, the bronze cauldron began to rumble and tremble. The commotion grew louder and louder, and the entire palace began to shake.


    Startled, Bai Wushang tried to pull his finger away.


    But unexpectedly, a powerful suction force emanated from the cauldron body, latching onto Bai Wushang''s entire right palm, holding it firmly against the bronze cauldron. He was unable to break free no matter how he struggled.


    ¡¾Fault Diagnosis... Original Holder Qin Long deceased... Triggering Re-binding...¡¿¡¾Target Authentication... Bai Wushang... Judgment Result... This Altar''s sole host...¡¿¡¾God of Food Altar activating... 30%... 60%... 100%... Activation complete!¡¿


    Line after line of small text floated before his eyes. Bai Wushang froze, his brain feeling like it stalled.


    "Is this... a system? Or something else?"


    Having experienced Qin Long''s life, Bai Wushang quickly recovered from his surprise.


    The suction force on his palm vanished. Bai Wushang pulled back his right hand and then saw a mass of seven-colored flame surge out from the pitch-black depths of the square cauldron. Radiating streams of light, it illuminated the entire ruined palace, making it as splendid as a dreamscape.


    ¡¾Determined current host is first-time activator, triggering bonus reward - "God of Food''s Gift," obtained Tier 1 God of Food Treasure Chest *1¡¿


    A backpack-sized treasure chest, shimmering with a clean, porcelain-like luster, materialized out of thin air from the seven-colored flames, floating in mid-air.


    "God of Food Treasure Chest? Does this mean it''s like a lottery?"


    Just as the question arose, the small text in Bai Wushang''s vision immediately changed:


    ¡¾Hint: God of Food Treasure Chest contains special God of Food items that can assist the host''s growth.¡¿¡¾God of Food Treasure Chests are divided into ten tiers, one being the start and ten the end. The higher the tier, the rarer the reward obtained.¡¿¡¾Tier 1 God of Food Treasure Chest Item Drop Rates - Extraordinary Recipe 98.9%, God of Food Tool 1%, God of Food Secret Art 0.1%¡¿


    "Amazing. This thing seems capable of reading my mind and answering questions directly..."


    Thinking this, Bai Wushang tried calling out mentally:


    "Hello, what should I call you? System? God of Food? Or something else?"

 Chapter 6: First Draw

    In the abandoned palace, Bai Wushang waited for a minute or two but received no response.


    "Looks like this Gourmet God Altar isn''t an AI. It''s too rigid, only able to answer specific questions..."


    Bai Wushang pondered silently, then shook his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself:


    "Forget it, forget it. I''ve already gone through something like transmigration; my worldview was shattered long ago. No need to get to the bottom of things and pursue some ultimate truth."


    "Right now, I just need to figure out: what can the Gourmet God Altar give me? How can it help me?"


    "For example, this Tier 1 Gourmet God Chest ¨C the Transcendent Recipes, Gourmet God Items, and Gourmet God Secret Techniques inside ¨C what do they each do?"


    [Hint: Transcendent Recipes are top-tier gourmet formulas created by the Gourmet God, intended only for consumption by transcendent creatures. Their effects cover healing and recovery, advancement and evolution, genetic mutation, physique enhancement, ability improvement, beauty and grooming, etc. They will assist the Host in cultivating the most powerful pet beasts.]


    [Gourmet God Items: Special items infused with the Gourmet God''s power, mostly single-use consumables.]


    [Gourmet God Secret Techniques: Mysterious skills created by the Gourmet God. Once mastered, the Host can gain special food ingredient processing abilities.]


    Three lines of small text appeared one after another.


    Bai Wushang gradually adapted to this mode of communication. After reading carefully, he suppressed the questions in his mind and decided to open the chest first to see for himself.


    He reached for the seven-colored flame; it wasn''t hot.


    The exquisite, white-porcelain-like Gourmet God Chest landed in his hand. It felt cool and silky smooth, its material indistinguishable.


    Without hesitation, Bai Wushang lifted the lid.


    A brilliant light flashed, blinding him for two or three seconds.


    "What could it be?"


    With anticipation, Bai Wushang refocused his attention and looked closely.


    Inside the chest lay only a single sheet of yellowed parchment.


    Bai Wushang picked it up and found it covered in dense, golden characters he couldn''t understand at all.


    Just as confusion began to rise, the yellowed parchment suddenly vanished.


    At the same time, Bai Wushang felt a slight sting in his brain, as if enlightened, and a piece of information appeared¡ª


    [Recipe]: Temptation Rat[Ingredients]: 1 fresh rat carcass (any species / Mid-stage Juvenile / died within three hours with relatively intact body) + 10g Ink Bamboo Leaves + 5 stalks Phantom Grass + 1 bloom Alluring Fragrance Flower + 300ml clear water + Soul Power of Spirit User level Late-stage or higher[Procedure]: Gut and clean the rat carcass, stuff Ink Bamboo Leaves into the belly and stitch loosely ¡ú Crush Phantom Grass and Alluring Fragrance Flower completely, add to a pot of cold water, stir evenly until purplish-red ¡ú Place rat carcass in the pot, simmer over low heat, continuously infusing Soul Power. Once the liquid is fully reduced, turn off heat and remove from pot.[Description]: A delicacy for the tongue, fatally attractive to Juvenile-level snake-type creatures. Specific effects depend on the actual completion quality of the recipe.


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    "So this is a Transcendent Recipe?"


    Bai Wushang mulled over the information, somewhat dazed.


    It seemed this recipe called "Temptation Rat" had a simple function: luring snake-type creatures.


    In the transcendent world, whether it be alchemists, artifact refiners, talisman makers, formation masters, or other auxiliary professions, or various natural treasures, fruits, and medicinal stones found in the wild, similar effects could potentially be achieved.


    However, this was the first time Bai Wushang had heard of special recipes resembling human cuisine, with strict ingredient and process requirements, solely for consumption by transcendent creatures.


    "If there really are Transcendent Recipes with effects like advancement, evolution, and mutation, as the description mentioned, then this might be an entirely new path of cultivation... a treasure trove belonging only to me..."


    At this thought, Bai Wushang trembled all over, every cell buzzing with excitement.


    His life goal was simple: get stronger, survive.


    Only the strong have the power to control their own destiny, rather than becoming targets for others to kill and plunder.


    Striving to calm himself, Bai Wushang repeatedly told himself to practice restraint, to abandon greedy desires and illusory assumptions. The future was always the future; his focus should be on the path beneath his feet, growing steadily step by step.


    After calming down, Bai Wushang posed a new question to the altar:


    "Are there other ways to obtain these Gourmet God Chests?"


    [Hint: The standard way to obtain Gourmet God Chests is by exchanging Gourmet Cells obtained through offering sacrifices. A Tier 1 Gourmet God Chest requires 100 Gourmet Cells, Tier 2 requires 300, Tier 3...]


    [Gourmet Cells: Special genetic tissues found within transcendent creatures. The rarer and stronger the individual, the more Gourmet Cells it possesses. They are automatically extracted upon killing. Gourmet Cells are the only offering accepted by the Gourmet God and can be used to exchange for Gourmet God Chests.]


    [Supplementary Note: Only the Host, or pet beasts contracted with the Host, can hunt for Gourmet Cells by killing transcendent creatures.]


    [Once Gourmet Cells from a certain species have been hunted and extracted, individuals of the same species at the same level or lower will not yield them again. Individuals of the same species at a higher level will yield the difference after deducting the previously obtained Gourmet Cells.]


    "Killing transcendent creatures yields Gourmet Cells... which can then be exchanged for Gourmet God Chests..."


    Bai Wushang immediately recalled what happened earlier and had a realization:


    "No wonder killing the first Hungry Zombie gave 1 Gourmet Cell, while the second, third, and fourth yielded nothing. The fifth was a Mid-stage Juvenile and gave another 1 Gourmet Cell. So that''s how it works!"


    The altar''s explanation was clear and direct, and Bai Wushang quickly understood the logic.


    Currently, he held only 2 Gourmet Cells, far from enough to exchange for a Gourmet God Chest.


    As for alternative ways to obtain chests, like the "Gift of the Gourmet God", Bai Wushang asked, but the altar gave no response.


    Looking over the thirteen surrounding statues yielded no new discoveries.


    "This altar seems to only be for drawing chests..."


    Bai Wushang studied it a while longer, even trying to bring items from the outside world into the altar space, but it was completely impossible.


    "Forget it. My physical body is still in danger. That''s enough for now. I need to go back!"


    His vision went dark, then brightened. Bai Wushang returned to reality, regaining control of his body.


    Inside the cave, Mu Xiaoxiao was still asleep. The firelight flickered brightly; all was well.


    "Let''s organize my thoughts. First, the secret of the Gourmet God Altar will be my greatest support and must absolutely not be exposed... Hmm... The ability of my pupils to appraise transcendent creatures is probably a derivative support function. Let''s just call it the Eye of Cognition for now. That also needs further investigation..."


    "Also, the ''Temptation Rat'' Transcendent Recipe. I need to find a chance to gather the ingredients and make it, to confirm its actual effectiveness..."


    "...As for now, I should focus on meditating to recover my mental state. Once daylight comes and the zombie horde retreats, this valley should be temporarily safe. Then, I''ll perform my Natal Summoning first. With the help of a pet beast, I can figure out a way back to the academy..."

 Chapter 7: Midnight Snack Delivered to the Door

    Inside the mountain cave, Bai Wushang sat cross-legged near the entrance, eyes closed, assuming the "five hearts facing heaven" posture, and began to meditate.


    Meditation was the most conventional cultivation method after becoming a Pet Master. It could be used to restore or increase Soul Power. Once adapted to a certain degree, meditation could even completely replace sleep, achieving better recovery of bodily functions.


    Bai Wushang didn¡¯t dare enter an immersive deep meditation, staying only in a state of shallow meditation. This allowed him to dedicate part of his attention to respond to external situations at any moment.


    Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.


    Suddenly, a loud BANG, like the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, shattered the silence of the valley.


    Bai Wushang was abruptly jolted awake; the sound was very close.


    Peeking outside through a crack in the rocks, under the faint moonlight, he saw a large, brownish-black wild boar lying on the ground like a pile of mud. Its fat belly twitched continuously, its tusks were broken, and it was spitting large mouthfuls of bloody foam.


    ¡¾Name¡¿: Tusked Boar (Wild)¡¾Race¡¿: Monster World ¡¤ Beast Type ¡¤ Tusked Boar Clan¡¾Life Level¡¿: Late-Stage Juvenile¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Mortal Bone Grade, 3 Stars¡¾Status¡¿: Near Death¡¾Wisdom¡¿: Low¡¾Trait¡¿: Reckless¡¾Skills¡¿: Boar Rush, Upward Thrust¡¾Gourmet Cells¡¿: 9


    "What happened?" Mu Xiaoxiao was also woken up, leaning over and whispering the question.


    "Probably fell from above, nearly killing itself..." Bai Wushang guessed casually, but his heart was filled with worry.


    This was precisely the time when zombies were most active. For such a large wild boar to fall here, calling it a voluntarily delivered midnight snack wasn''t an exaggeration at all.


    Bai Wushang really wanted to complain: Fine, you make a house call, but why did you have to fall to your death right in front of our cave entrance? What if we get discovered because of you? Aren''t you just bringing disaster upon us!


    In the darkness, pair after pair of greenish-blue eyes turned, gathering towards this spot like ghostly flames.


    Soon, at least twenty-odd hungry zombies of varying heights gathered around, their suppressed roars rising and falling.


    They crowded together. Every time a gloomy corpse claw reached out, it tore off large chunks of flesh from the Tusked Boar. They then devoured it ravenously like starving ghosts. The scene was extremely gruesome.


    Bai Wushang quickly clamped a hand over Mu Xiaoxiao''s mouth, afraid she couldn''t handle the scene and would scream, turning them into living targets.


    THUD! THUD! THUD!


    Suddenly, clouds of dust rose in the distance as a burly humanoid shadow sprinted towards them. With each step, the ground shook violently.


    Like a tank, it charged recklessly into the zombie horde. It could grab a hungry zombie with one hand and casually toss it backward like a pebble, sending it flying over ten meters away.


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    Repeating this action, the ordinary zombies surrounding the Tusked Boar were directly cleared out.


    "ROAR!"


    The monster opened its cavernous mouth and let out a skyward roar. The nearby reckless hungry zombies, who still wanted to snatch food, immediately collapsed to the ground like limp shrimps, trembling.


    Under the silvery moonlight, the monster stood slightly over two meters tall, with long, disheveled hair, stark naked. Its entire body, from head to toe, gleamed with a metallic luster.


    If one looked only at its physique, it was a masterpiece of sculpture, every line filled with violent aesthetics.


    But upon seeing its face, one''s scalp would surely tingle. All senses screamed that this was an out-and-out killing machine!


    Its humanoid face was covered in scars, as if mangled by sharp weapons. Its intensely emerald-green eyes overflowed with unconcealable brutality and killing intent. Bai Wushang only glanced once before lowering his gaze, afraid of being noticed.


    Bai Wushang silently recalled the attribute panel he just saw:


    ¡¾Name¡¿: Iron-Armored Zombie (Wild)¡¾Race¡¿: Underworld ¡¤ Zombie Type ¡¤ Corpse Clan¡¾Life Level¡¿: Early-Stage Mature Body¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Mortal Bone Grade, 7 Stars¡¾Status¡¿: Enraged¡¾Wisdom¡¿: Low¡¾Traits¡¿: Dark Adaptation / Infection / Metallic Skin¡¾Skills¡¿: Hardened Corpse Claws, Skull-Crushing Fist, Iron Headbutt, Venomous Fangs¡¾Gourmet Cells¡¿: 35


    "In the end, we still attracted a big one..."


    Bai Wushang pulled Mu Xiaoxiao, hiding motionless in the cave. Unconsciously, a thin layer of cold sweat formed on his back.


    Ordinary zombies had poor perception and feared light and heat, so they either wouldn''t discover this cave or wouldn''t want to approach even if they did.


    But this evolved Iron-Armored Zombie was different. It was already a mature body. Ordinary fire, light, and heat might have some effect on it, but it would be minimal.


    "Right now, we can only hope it doesn''t discover us... Big Brother, can I call you Big Brother? Please finish eating this stupid pig and go home early. Sleeping after a meal aids digestion..."


    The big brother Iron-Armored Zombie, having driven away its underlings snatching the food, saw that no more reckless ones dared to approach. The brutality in its eyes lessened slightly.


    It approached the Tusked Boar''s corpse, crouched down, and began to enjoy its meal.


    The sound of splashing blood and the crunch, crunch of bones being chewed made Mu Xiaoxiao''s face turn deathly pale.


    Soon, the remaining half of the Tusked Boar was devoured completely by the Iron-Armored Zombie. It straightened up, looking somewhat unsatisfied, as if it hadn''t eaten its fill.


    It glanced around, frightening its underlings on the ground so much they wished they could bury themselves in the sand. Suddenly, the Iron-Armored Zombie tilted its head, its emerald eyes staring fixedly at the cave where Bai Wushang was. A ferocious grin spread across its face.


    "Crap!"


    Bai Wushang inwardly cursed. Reacting extremely quickly, he pulled Mu Xiaoxiao and retreated backward.


    BOOM!


    With a loud crash, the Iron-Armored Zombie shattered the large rock blocking the cave entrance with a single punch, thrusting half of its body into the cavern.


    It smelled the scent of human flesh!


    Amidst flying rock debris, Bai Wushang hastily gripped his metal rod and unleashed a flurry of strikes against its head.


    In just two or three seconds, Bai Wushang struck at least ten times, using all his strength with each blow. Yet, only the CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! of metal colliding echoed in the cave. The impact split the skin between Bai Wushang''s thumb and forefinger, but there wasn''t the slightest sign of injury on the Iron-Armored Zombie''s head. Instead, the fierce glint in its eyes intensified, clearly annoyed.


    "Watch out!"


    Sharp corpse claws stabbed towards Bai Wushang''s chest at extreme speed. The hair on Bai Wushang''s body stood on end, his pupils contracted to pinpoints. He narrowly twisted his body to avoid a vital spot, but his shoulder couldn''t escape, getting grazed and leaving five dark claw marks.


    The wound wasn''t deep, but as soon as blood seeped out, it turned black. Clearly, the Iron-Armored Zombie''s claws carried a potent toxin.


    Fortunately, Bai Wushang wasn''t worried about being poisoned. With the most ancient Blood Poison sealed within him, his body possessed extremely strong resistance to lower-level toxins. This was the only benefit he had gained from that ''disaster incident''.


    "What should I do? How can I break out of this desperate situation?"

 Chapter 8: The Figure in the Darkness

    Bai Wushang desperately wracked his brain, recalling the knowledge he had once learned. Ironclad Zombies were the natural evolution of Hungry Zombies. Under the effect of their trait, "Metal Skin," they possessed an impenetrably tough defense, impervious to blades and spears. Simultaneously, they possessed immense strength. Even extraordinary creatures of the same quality but one or two levels higher would find it incredibly difficult to break through their defense, making them extremely troublesome opponents.


    Another violent punch, whistling through the air with gale force, came crashing towards him. Bai Wushang barely managed to block it with the metal rod, but the rod snapped on impact. The remaining force of the blow slammed into Bai Wushang''s lower abdomen, sending him flying back two or three meters to crash heavily against the wall behind him.


    Half-kneeling on the ground, Bai Wushang clutched his stomach, unable to stop himself from coughing violently. Bright red blood trickled continuously from the corner of his mouth.


    "Am I going to die at the hands of this damned thing today?" He couldn''t accept it.


    The Ironclad Zombie let out a harsh, grating cackle ("Jie Jie Jie"), clearly unwilling to give Bai Wushang any chance to catch his breath. Its nearly ten-centimeter-long metallic corpse claws extended menacingly as it lunged forward like a wild beast.


    "Stop!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao, eyes red, bravely stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Bai Wushang.


    Kacha! With a soft crack, the lotus jade pendant on her chest shattered into powder, exchanged for a suit of translucent, full-body armor that enveloped Mu Xiaoxiao, protecting her within.


    The Ironclad Zombie''s incomparably sharp claws struck the armor, scraping off a shower of sparks.


    Seeing something harder than itself for the first time in its corpse-existence, the Ironclad Zombie froze for a moment, then flew into a complete rage. Steel claws, iron fists, even its fangs ¨C it unleashed everything, frantically assaulting the transparent armor.


    "Xiaoxiao!"


    Bai Wushang gritted his teeth in anguish. The armor conjured from the protective jade pendant couldn''t be broken by the Ironclad Zombie alone, but it had a time limit!


    After maintaining its furious, storm-like offensive for a full minute, the transparent armor finally dissipated completely, revealing Mu Xiaoxiao''s pretty face, pale and streaked with tears.


    The seemingly crazed Ironclad Zombie, without the slightest hesitation, opened its cavernous, blood-stained maw and lunged towards Mu Xiaoxiao''s neck.


    At this moment, Bai Wushang hated his own weakness and powerlessness more than anything.


    His eyes were shot with blood. Enduring the agony of his injuries, he struggled to pick up the broken metal rod, preparing to make a desperate, final stand.


    Hua~~~~~


    Just then, a single, pure white snowflake drifted leisurely down from the air above, reflecting in Bai Wushang''s pupils, dazzlingly white.


    Time itself seemed to freeze in that instant.


    The Ironclad Zombie''s crimson fangs were poised, mere moments from piercing the delicate skin of Mu Xiaoxiao''s neck.


    In the next second, one could almost foresee the spurt of fresh blood, the image of the Ironclad Zombie excitedly tearing into flesh.


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    A dot of blue light abruptly flared beneath the Ironclad Zombie''s feet. It spread with blinding speed, surging past its knees, pelvis, torso, arms... until it enveloped the entire body.


    Bai Wushang watched, stunned. The originally savage, seemingly invincible Ironclad Zombie, its ferocious expression still frozen on its face, had its entire body transformed into an ice sculpture in that single instant.


    The [Status] column on its attribute panel had also changed to the glaring word: "Deceased".


    In the dimly lit cave, a slender arm reached in through the open entrance. With a gentle wave, the ice sculpture shattered into countless pieces, crashing to the ground in a heap of ice shards.


    With the obstacle gone, Bai Wushang finally noticed that someone was standing at the cave entrance ¨C someone who had appeared there at some unknown moment. An exceptionally beautiful woman.


    She stood about 1.7 meters tall, clad in a tight-fitting black leather outfit that accentuated her slender waist, full bust, and exquisite figure. Slanted across her back was a purple tachi. Her entire presence radiated a natural sharpness, making it somewhat difficult to meet her gaze directly.


    Long, raven-black hair cascaded naturally around her shoulders. Her facial features were exquisitely delicate, especially her eyes ¨C black pupils as clear and limpid as glazed crystal, leaving a profound impression.


    The only slight imperfection, perhaps, was that her devastatingly beautiful face held almost no expression; from beginning to end, it possessed the tranquility of a deep, still pool.


    "Excuse me," she began, her lips parting slightly. Her voice was cool and clear, yet polite. "A skyship crashed in this vicinity. Are you two survivors?"


    "Yes... And you are?" Mu Xiaoxiao managed, coming back to her senses, realizing this woman had saved her, feeling a wave of relief wash over her from having survived the ordeal.


    "Jiang Lingyue, second year at Shanhai Academy," the sword-bearing woman stated calmly. "I happened to be returning to the academy when I received this rescue mission, so I came to investigate."


    "Thank you... Thank you so much... If it weren''t for you, we might not have lived to see tomorrow..." Mu Xiaoxiao bowed deeply, expressing her sincere gratitude.


    "Yi~"


    A soft cry sounded. It turned out the woman had a small, blue beast at her feet. It blinked its sparkling pupils, curiously observing the two people inside the cave.


    Bai Wushang looked over¡ª


    [Name]: Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox (Contracted)[Race]: Demon Beast Realm ¡¤ Beast Type ¡¤ Red Fox Clan Variant[Life Level]: Complete Body Initial Stage[Bloodline Quality]: Commander Level 3-Star??? (Soul Power too low for full detection)...


    "Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox... Complete Body..."


    Bai Wushang was lost in thought. This was an extraordinary creature he knew nothing about; it fell completely outside his current knowledge base.


    The small blue beast was roughly the size of a puppy, its fur smooth and glossy. Three fluffy tails swayed gently behind it, making it look quite adorable.


    "Ah, so cute!"


    Mu Xiaoxiao''s attention was similarly captured, her eyes shining with the kind of sparkle often seen in women charmed by something adorable.


    Jiang Lingyue seemed accustomed to such reactions. She introduced softly, "Iceflame Fox, my pet beast."


    Her gaze swept around the cave before suddenly landing on Bai Wushang.


    She stared intently for a good ten seconds or more. Then, Jiang Lingyue, who had remained cool and expressionless until now, uncharacteristically raised a delicate eyebrow.


    "You two should be freshmen from this year''s intake, right? Why do I sense soul power fluctuations from you?"


    "...Are you a Spontaneous Awakener?"


    Bai Wushang hadn''t expected her perception to be so keen. He could only explain vaguely, "Due to some accidents, I awakened my soul power by chance..."


    "Then where is your natal pet beast?"


    "I haven''t had the chance to perform the summoning ritual yet..."


    Jiang Lingyue pondered this for a moment. Her finger swept across a storage ring, and she produced two medicinal pills, tossing them to Bai Wushang.


    "Crush the red one and apply it externally to your wounds. Swallow the green one directly. You should be mostly recovered by morning... Tomorrow morning, contract your natal pet beast first. Then I''ll take you both back to the academy to report."


    Having said this, Jiang Lingyue turned to Mu Xiaoxiao. "As for you, take this sleeping bag and get some more rest."


    "Um... Thank you, Senior Jiang," Bai Wushang said. He naturally recognized the pills ¨C the red was a Blood Return Pill, the green a Spirit Replenishing Pill. Both were relatively precious medicines; just these two would cost at least a hundred gold coins.


    "No need for thanks," Jiang Lingyue replied nonchalantly. "This is an academy mission. I''ll be compensated."


    Without waiting for a further response, she rubbed the Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox''s head, signaling it to stay put.


    "Rest easy in the cave. Little Ice will protect you. I''m going to scout the valley again, see if there are any other survivors."


    With light, graceful steps, Jiang Lingyue''s elegant figure gradually melted into the darkness outside, soon vanishing without a trace....

 Chapter 9: Natal Summoning

    Inside the cave.


    Seeing its master leave, the small blue figure immediately lost its playful mood. Lying listlessly on the ground, ignoring Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao, it curled its body into a ring, tucked its nose into its fluffy tail, and fell asleep.


    "Brother Wushang, this Senior Jiang is so amazing! She''s only one year older than us, but she can instantly kill an Ironclad Zombie. Maybe her strength is almost catching up to Brother Tianxing..."


    Having escaped danger, Mu Xiaoxiao''s spirits had clearly revived, her gaze filled with considerable admiration.


    "Yes, that Iceflame Fox is strong, very strong. Don''t be fooled by its cute appearance."


    Bai Wushang nodded, saying no more, turning his focus to applying medicine to his wounds.


    He also swallowed the green Spirit Replenishing Pill. Soon, a warm energy rose from his lower abdomen, surging continuously into his limbs and bones. His whole body felt as if enveloped in a warm, cozy world, indescribably comfortable.


    ...


    In the morning desert, the scorching heat had yet to rise, and the breeze was pleasant.


    Bai Wushang opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and in excellent condition.


    He briefly checked his body; his internal injuries were mostly healed, and his external wounds had scabbed over, feeling itchy. He believed they would fully recover in just a few days.


    While enjoying the breakfast provided by Jiang Lingyue, Bai Wushang recounted the story of how their skyship had crashed.


    He also learned that Jiang Lingyue had found nothing else the previous night; the two of them were indeed the last survivors.


    "After returning to the academy, I will report this truthfully. Academy personnel will handle the aftermath for the students involved in the accident."


    After a pause, Jiang Lingyue continued:


    "As for the Violet Lightning Dragon Vulture that attacked you, there''s nothing that can be done."


    "Based on the academy''s usual procedures, they might send people to investigate why the Violet Lightning Dragon Vulture appeared, but it''s highly unlikely they will attempt to hunt it down."


    "After all... that''s no ordinary Ultimate Body stage creature. Most instructors in the academy haven''t reached that level."


    Bai Wushang nodded. Although he and Mu Xiaoxiao were direct victims of the incident, he could understand Shanhai Academy''s stance.


    Ultimately, it boiled down to a matter of strength.


    Extraordinary creatures at the Ultimate Body stage possessed extremely formidable combat power. Wherever they appeared, they were overlords, kings among beasts.


    Moreover, the Violet Lightning Dragon Vulture was an Ancient Giant Species with an exceptionally high bloodline quality, rumored to feed on heavenly lightning. Among Ultimate Body stage creatures, it was surely one of the most powerful.


    Therefore, from the very beginning, Bai Wushang had never expected the academy to crusade against the Violet Lightning Dragon Vulture for a group of prospective Beast Tamers who hadn''t even formally enrolled. It wasn''t realistic.


    "If there are no other issues, let''s hurry and perform the Natal Summoning," Jiang Lingyue said with a faint smile, leading the way out of the cave.


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    Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao quickly got up and followed her.


    Finding a nearby open, flat area, Bai Wushang sat down cross-legged, while Mu Xiaoxiao stood at a distance to watch.


    "Junior Brother Bai, to avoid unnecessary trouble, I''ll give you a simple explanation first," Jiang Lingyue said, standing beside Bai Wushang with her arms crossed, guiding him. "Right now, within your Book of Covenant, there should be two Soul Seals, one black and one gold."


    "The black Soul Seal is a Standard Soul Seal that Beast Tamers receive each time their soul power advances by a major realm. It can only be used for on-the-spot contracts."


    "The golden one is what makes Spontaneous Awakeners special ¨C the Natal Soul Seal, transcending the ordinary. By infusing it with soul power, you can activate the Natal Summoning formation."


    "The formation will center on you and randomly select the most suitable extraordinary creature for you from a random distance and space, establishing a pet beast contract."


    After speaking, Jiang Lingyue casually waved her hand. A large, ice-blue Book of Covenant appeared out of thin air. Its pages flipped rapidly, and a golden seal floated out.


    The color of that golden seal was slightly dull, indicating it had already been used.


    "So Senior Jiang, you''re also a Spontaneous Awakener..."


    Bai Wushang paused, stunned, then understanding dawned.


    No wonder Jiang Lingyue was so strong despite being only a year older. If she was one of the top Spontaneous Awakeners, it seemed plausible.


    Closing his eyes, Bai Wushang calmed his mind. His consciousness first entered his Sea of Consciousness space, summoning the Book of Covenant floating within the soul power vortex into the real world.


    Since he hadn''t signed any contracts yet, Bai Wushang''s Book of Covenant still had its very simple, original appearance, nothing distinctive.


    However, Bai Wushang didn''t care about that. He focused his attention on the Book of Covenant, soon sensing threads of soul power extending from within his body and finally entering the book''s interior.


    Instantly, he saw two Soul Seals, one black and one gold, rising and falling within the inner world of the Book of Covenant, pulsing faintly like breaths.


    With a flicker of intent, the golden Soul Seal flew out of the Book of Covenant, shining, and landed in his hand.


    "Focus your willpower! Pour as much soul power as possible into the golden Soul Seal! Don''t stop until you''re completely exhausted!"


    After a pause, Jiang Lingyue added:


    "The extraordinary creature from the Natal Summoning, regardless of its species quality, will at least have a life level matching your soul power level. You need to ensure you exhaust your soul power, and naturally, you''ll obtain a creature of a corresponding level."


    Bai Wushang nodded slightly, indicating he understood.


    With a somewhat solemn expression, he began channeling his soul power into the golden Soul Seal.


    Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes... Time slowly trickled by.


    Jiang Lingyue suddenly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    Based on her past experience, even among Spontaneous Awakeners at the peak Spirit Master level, individual physique differences inevitably led to variations in soul power reserves.


    Even so, those with deeper soul power reserves would find it very taxing to maintain the flow for thirty minutes during the Natal Summoning. Yet, Bai Wushang showed no signs of fatigue.


    Only after a full hour had passed did large beads of sweat appear on Bai Wushang''s face, his lips gradually turning pale.


    "Huff¡ª Huff¡ª"


    Suddenly opening his eyes, Bai Wushang gasped for breath, looking forward with intense anticipation.


    A circular summoning formation had appeared before him, over thirty meters in diameter, shining with dense golden light. Vaguely, the shadow of a beast emerged within it.


    The golden light rapidly contracted, finally drilling entirely into the beast''s figure. Bai Wushang clearly felt a living entity establish a connection with him.


    The three people present looked over simultaneously. Even the lazy Iceflame Fox craned its neck for a rare glance.


    It was a rabbit-like creature, even smaller than the Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox. Its fur was snow-white all over, and on its forehead was a crescent moon-shaped mark. Its pinkish ears were pricked backwards, and its silver-white eyes were large and bright, appearing exceptionally lively and cute.


    "This is... a Moon Rabbit?"


    Jiang Lingyue frowned slightly, somewhat surprised.


    In the valley, the traces of the formation faded like water ripples on the yellowish-brown sand, leaving only a small white rabbit.


    The little rabbit wasn''t shy. Its large, silver-white eyes glanced around, identified Bai Wushang''s direction, and then it pattered over on its short legs.


    At this moment, Bai Wushang was still sitting on the ground. With just a small hop, the little creature leaped into his lap.


    "Kyuu~~~"


    A soft, gentle cry came from the little rabbit''s mouth as it tilted its small head up, looking expectantly at its master.(?¡¦?¡¦?)


    For the first time, Bai Wushang felt that an extraordinary creature could be this adorable!


    Stroking the rabbit''s fine, smooth white fur, watching it squint its eyes in comfort, a smile spread across Bai Wushang''s face.


    Sixteen years, and he finally had his very own pet beast!


    When long-held anticipation finally became reality, when a lonely soul gained a companion, Bai Wushang''s mood at this moment was elated beyond measure!

 Chapter 10: Twin Symbiosis, Mutated Moon Rabbit

    "Is it really a Moon Rabbit? It''s so adorable!"Mu Xiaoxiao leaned in, her eyes sparkling like stars, wanting to pet it too.


    Who would have thought? The little white rabbit, which had just seemed gentle and docile, suddenly became alert. It ground its teeth, making a clicking sound, clearly forbidding anyone else from touching it.


    "Don''t be scared, this is Sister Xiaoxiao," Bai Wushang comforted softly, like a doting father.


    Mu Xiaoxiao retracted her hand resentfully. Only then did the little rabbit snuggle back into Bai Wushang''s arms, nuzzling against him.


    "Congratulations on formally contracting a pet beast. It seems your compatibility is very high."Jiang Lingyue frowned slightly, studying the little creature intently. "It''s just a bit of a pity. Moon Rabbits have no natural evolution path. Their growth potential is limited; it might hold you back."


    "Is that so?"Bai Wushang gazed at the attribute panel reflected in his eyes, a subtle, inscrutable smile playing on his lips.


    [Name]: Twin Moon Rabbit / Normal Form (Contracted)[Race]: Demon Beast Realm ¡¤ Beast Type ¡¤ Moon Rabbit Clan Variant[Life Level]: Peak Juvenile Body Stage[Bloodline Quality]: Elite Level 1-Star[Status]: Joyful[Intelligence]: High[Traits]: Silver Moon Pupil / Twin Symbiosis[Skills]: Moon Shadow Clone, Moonlight Baptism[Gourmet Cells]: ¡Á (Host''s contracted partner, cannot be hunted)


    No matter how you looked at it externally, this little rabbit was the textbook image of a Moon Rabbit. It couldn''t be easier to recognize.


    But Bai Wushang, relying on his miraculous Cognitive Eyes, knew crystal clear that things weren''t that simple.


    In the food chain of the extraordinary world, Moon Rabbits were among the lowest-ranking and most common creatures, easily spotted in grassy plains at night.These small animals possessed almost no combat ability, only having minor talents for healing and evasion. If forced to classify them, they could only be defined as support-type pet beasts.In fact, very few people would actively contract such an extraordinary creature as a pet beast. Usually, it was female Beast Tamers with average talent who liked fluffy, cute creatures, treating them as the softest, cuddliest bed companions.


    "I didn''t expect even someone with Senior Jiang''s perception would misjudge. This little one has quite a few secrets, huh? Just like her Iceflame Fox, it''s actually a variant species..."Bai Wushang''s thoughts wandered as he considered many things.


    The so-called "mutation" referred to a rare phenomenon where an extraordinary creature, during its natural growth process, deviated from its original bloodline.This phenomenon could be innate and hereditary, or it could be acquired later due to environmental or other factors.In the field of extraordinary biology, mutation was a vast and complex subject. For a Beast Tamer seeking a simple understanding, it could be evaluated from two dimensions.


    The first dimension was based on the "actual result."Mutation didn''t always make a creature stronger; it was equally possible for a mutation to result in a weaker state.Therefore, based on the actual outcome, mutations could be classified as "benign mutations" and "malignant mutations."


    The second dimension referred to the "degree of mutation."Different degrees of mutation would determine the classification of the extraordinary creature''s race.For example, if only the skin color changed, or a new organ grew, resulting in minor changes to traits and skills ¨C in such cases, even if the individual differed from the original species, the mutation''s extent was small, and it wouldn''t change the original racial branch.Conversely, if the degree of mutation was significant, causing a complete change in the creature''s appearance, with attributes and abilities forming a stark contrast to the original race, this would lead to the creature being redefined, often becoming an entirely new species.In fact, the vast majority of species evolved this way. Mutation was a core factor driving the proliferation of species.


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    Like Jiang Lingyue''s Iceflame Fox, Bai Wushang could boldly speculate based on its attribute panel that it originally belonged to the Red Fox clan. It was precisely because of mutation ¨C undoubtedly a significant, likely benign mutation ¨C that it became a completely new breed. It might even be the only one of its kind in the world.


    "I can roughly guess the direction of the Iceflame Fox''s mutation. Either it reversed from fire attribute to ice attribute, or it possesses ice-attribute flames. Of course, the possibility of having both ice and fire attributes simultaneously cannot be ruled out...""...But how exactly did this Twin Moon Rabbit mutate? Its appearance is identical to a normal Moon Rabbit, except for the extra trait ''Twin Symbiosis''. What does that mean? Does it share its body with another Moon Rabbit soul? Or does it have some kind of transformation ability, allowing it to change into a second form?"A flurry of chaotic thoughts rushed through Bai Wushang''s mind.


    "Regardless, this little one''s mutation is definitely leaning towards benign. A normal Moon Rabbit at the peak Juvenile Body stage would only have a Bloodline Quality around Common Bone Level 2-Star. This Twin Moon Rabbit has jumped a full eight minor ranks to reach Elite Level 1-Star, far exceeding the average upper limit for the Juvenile Body stage. Many Mature Body stage creatures can''t even match her..."


    "Alright, don''t be too disheartened. Natal Summoning primarily focuses on compatibility. Aptitude, talent, and potential are separate matters. This Moon Rabbit might not become a powerful combatant for you, but it will surely be your closest companion!"Jiang Lingyue assumed Bai Wushang''s silence stemmed from dissatisfaction with the pet beast. She couldn''t help but frown slightly as she offered this reminder.


    "Huh?"Bai Wushang was slightly taken aback and quickly explained:"No, that''s not it... I''m just overjoyed to finally have a pet beast... It''s just... thinking about how muddled the whole process was, from awakening my soul power to contracting a pet beast now, I still feel a bit dazed..."


    Since Jiang Lingyue hadn''t discovered the little one''s unusual nature, Bai Wushang saw no need to expose the secret himself. He chose his words carefully and diverted the topic.


    Jiang Lingyue''s expression softened slightly. Her clear, pure eyes glanced at Bai Wushang, but she didn''t dwell on the topic. Instead, she said:"Alright, pack up and let''s get going. We need to reach the academy before noon."


    "Oh, okay."Bai Wushang stood up and tried to retract the little creature into his Book of Covenant. The cover of the book had now changed to a silver and white pattern, looking much better.However, the little one was very unwilling, insisting on snuggling in his arms.After several tries, Bai Wushang gave up. Seeing the little creature so dependent on him actually made him quite happy.


    "Little Ice!"Jiang Lingyue suddenly called out sharply.


    The originally lazy Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox instantly pricked up its ears, landed on all fours, and let out a cry towards the sky."Wuuuuu~~~~~"


    Rings of blue icy mist rose from its surroundings, enveloping it in the center, spinning faster and faster.After more than ten seconds, the ice mist dissipated, revealing a massive, pale-blue Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox standing tall, seven or eight meters long.It wore an ice crown, its eyes radiating majesty. Its fur was completely free of dust. Describing it with words like "holy" or "noble" seemed somewhat inadequate.Bai Wushang also noticed that the Iceflame Fox''s three tails were a gradient blue ¨C lighter near the base, deepening to a sea-like dark blue at the tips, quite beautiful.


    "This is its true form." Jiang Lingyue tapped the ground lightly with her toes and easily leaped onto the fox''s back. Her voice, however, carried a hint of apology. "But Little Ice doesn''t like others riding on its back, so I''ll have to trouble you two to hold onto its tails."


    "Kyuu~"The little rabbit in Bai Wushang''s arms widened its eyes, staring blankly at the beautiful fox that now filled its entire field of vision.!(;?o?)


    Through their contract connection, Bai Wushang vaguely sensed the little rabbit''s surprise, but strangely, the dominant emotion was envy. He found it inexplicably amusing.


    "If you work hard, maybe you can grow this big too. Then I won''t have to worry about not having a mount...""Kyi Kyi!" The little one stomped its foot seriously, as if promising to try its best.


    ...


    Under the blazing sun, across the golden desert, the blue Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox sometimes shifted and leaped, sometimes sprinted at high speed.Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao each clung to a large, fluffy tail, suspended halfway in the air, experiencing a sensation akin to a rollercoaster ride.Along the way, they saw swarms of Black Ant Beasts migrating, a Gray Rock Python lurking in the sand attempting an ambush, a Cloud Vulture catching a Steelwire Sparrow, and even spotted a Harpy Sphinx in the distance!


    Until, finally, on the distant horizon, a magnificent, imposing azure city came into faint view.

 Chapter 11: Shanhai City

    "Is this Shanhai City? What an ancient architectural style..." Mu Xiaoxiao exclaimed in amazement.


    The mottled, deep cyan city walls towered into the clouds, stretching for thousands of li left and right, like a slumbering azure dragon lying across the horizon. Its presence dominated the landscape, majestic and imposing. Even the oversized Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox looked as small as an ant in comparison.


    As they gradually approached Shanhai City, the road became flatter and wider, and the foot traffic increased. Many young faces dressed in practical attire appeared, riding various pet beasts, some running, others flying, creating a bustling scene.


    Bai Wushang inadvertently noticed that among the dozens of extraordinary creatures around, the Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox was by no means the largest. However, many people who saw the fox, or rather, the black-clothed, sword-bearing woman meditating on its back, showed expressions of nervousness and apprehension, quickly moving away, unwilling to get close.


    "Looks like Senior Sister Jiang has a story too. I can ask around later..." Bai Wushang thought to himself.


    Soon, they approached the city gate. From afar, they saw two forty-meter-tall Black Iron Giants, wielding oversized steel pitchforks and fully armored, guarding either side of the gate.


    Upon reaching a distance of ten meters, the attribute panel appeared punctually:


    ¡¾Name¡¿: Black Iron Giant (Contracted)¡¾Race¡¿: Savage Realm ¡¤ Giant Type ¡¤ Metal Giant Clan¡¾Life Level¡¿: Ultimate Stage Late Phase¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Commander Level 6-Star??? (Soul Power too low for complete detection)...


    "Ultimate Stage... absurdly strong..." Bai Wushang couldn''t help muttering inwardly.


    "Halt!"A burly, muscular middle-aged man blocked the center of the road.


    Even several meters away, Bai Wushang could feel the man''s iron-blooded aura; he was definitely a ruthless individual hardened by countless battles.


    "Uncle Tie."Jiang Lingyue leaped off the fox''s back and greeted him, simultaneously signaling Little Bing to let Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao down as well.


    "Oh, it''s Little Jiang!"The middle-aged man called Uncle Tie''s imposing aura vanished instantly. Looking slightly embarrassed, he chuckled awkwardly, "Ah, I must be getting old, my eyesight isn''t what it used to be. Haven''t seen you in two months, I almost didn''t recognize this little fox..."


    Before he finished speaking, he sized up Jiang Lingyue and asked suspiciously, "Your aura seems much more profound. Don''t tell me you''ve broken through to the Xuan General level? That''ll make things interesting at the academy..."


    "You jest, Uncle Tie. It was merely a fortunate breakthrough," Jiang Lingyue replied with a faint smile, her demeanor calm and composed, neither overly humble nor arrogant.


    "Luck is a part of strength! At your age, all I could do was stare enviously!" Tie Zhu laughed heartily, then stroked his mustache as he looked at the two behind her. "And who are these two?"


    "They are freshmen from this year''s intake. There was an accident during their journey, so I brought them back with me."


    "Heh, that''s rather unfortunate timing. The freshman awakening ceremony already finished this morning. You''ll have to take them to sort out their enrollment paperwork and apply for a separate session..."


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    Tie Zhu exchanged a few more pleasantries, waved his hand, and let them pass.


    Stepping through the city gate, they were greeted by bustling streets lined with shops, food stalls, and training halls. Perhaps because the academy had just welcomed a fresh batch of students, festive decorations adorned the surroundings.


    Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao followed Jiang Lingyue, curiously observing their surroundings. The Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox had shrunk back to its miniature size and trotted elegantly behind them like a cat.


    Meanwhile, the Moon Rabbit was sound asleep inside Bai Wushang''s chest robes, completely undisturbed by the festive sounds of drums and music outside.


    Jiang Lingyue moved with light steps, leading them briskly through various turns without any hesitation. At one intersection, she suddenly turned back and seemed to ask casually:


    "Junior Brother, Junior Sister, what are your views on Shanhai Academy?"


    Mu Xiaoxiao looked thoughtful before replying seriously, "I have a cousin who''s a student here, but this is the first time for both of us, so our understanding of the academy is quite limited. We''ve heard rumors that the competition at Shanhai Academy is incredibly fierce, but anyone who manages to persevere for four years and graduate successfully will become a prominent figure in the Great Qian Dynasty, enjoying great prestige."


    Jiang Lingyue nodded gently. "Yes, as one of the four great academies of the Great Qian Dynasty, Shanhai Academy boasts the highest allocation of both teaching staff and cultivation resources. You could say that entering Shanhai Academy is like getting on a growth accelerator. Use it well, and you can soar to the heavens, transforming from a mere worm into a dragon. Becoming one of the elite is definitely not just empty talk."


    "However, as someone who has experienced it, I must remind you: everything Shanhai Academy possesses is built upon a foundation of a brutal elimination system!"


    After a pause, Jiang Lingyue asked, "Do you know how many freshmen from last year¡ªmy cohort¡ªsuccessfully advanced to the second year?"


    "Maybe 1000?" Mu Xiaoxiao answered tentatively.


    "I recall there were 2230 of us initially. In the end, only 275 successfully advanced to the second year. That''s an elimination rate close to ninety percent." Jiang Lingyue''s voice remained level, as if recounting a trivial matter.


    Mu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, astonishment frozen on her face.Bai Wushang was equally stunned by this information.


    "According to our Dean, the original intention of his ancestors when founding this academy was to use ninety-nine percent sand to polish that one percent gold."


    "Therefore, from the moment you step into this academy, you must be prepared to give your absolute best.""Otherwise, the only thing awaiting you is expulsion!"


    "No wonder... no wonder my family advised against applying to Shanhai Academy, saying the risks were too high. I didn''t understand it then..." Mu Xiaoxiao murmured to herself, finally understanding certain things.


    Bai Wushang''s thought, however, was: "This is applying the law of natural selection¡ªsurvival of the fittest¡ªto the extreme!"


    As someone already constrained by a limited lifespan and desperate to defy fate, after the initial shock, he actually felt a sense of anticipation building.


    If one couldn''t even endure the hardships and obstacles deliberately set by others, how could one possibly speak of defying fate?


    ...


    Half an hour later, Administration Hall.


    After briefly recounting the incident with the floating ship, Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao successfully completed their enrollment procedures, officially becoming first-year students of Shanhai Academy.


    After collecting her due mission reward, Jiang Lingyue first led Mu Xiaoxiao away to apply for the supplementary assisted awakening ceremony.


    Bai Wushang, however, watched as the expression of the staff member in front of him gradually turned to shock, before hearing the staff member exclaim loudly¡ª


    "What? You''re a Self-Awakened?!"


    The hall was sufficiently grand and spacious, making the echo resound clearly. The few scattered individuals handling their own affairs nearby were drawn by the content of the exclamation, their curious gazes converging on him.


    Bai Wushang sighed softly. He disliked being stared at like a specimen. Maintaining his composure as best he could, he asked politely, "Excuse me, is there a problem?"


    "Ah..." The staff member seemed to realize he had lost his composure and said somewhat sheepishly, "It''s mainly... well, including you, this year''s intake now has three Self-Awakened individuals."

 Chapter 12: Verification

    "Three?"Bai Wushang raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes. It''s truly unbelievable. I''ve worked here for over ten years, and this is the first time I''ve seen something like this. Three Self-Awakened students in the same cohort... it''s incredibly rare..."The slightly balding staff member scratched his head and said, slightly embarrassed:"If it''s convenient, I need to verify your soul power value and actual age, and also create a basic file for your bonded beast for our records. Is that alright with you?"


    "No problem," Bai Wushang agreed readily.


    "Please follow me." The staff member stood up and politely led Bai Wushang, taking him to a room on the second floor.While going upstairs, he explained, rambling slightly:"Young man, don''t blame me for making this so complicated. If the verification passes and confirms your status as a Self-Awakened, the academy will grant you the highest tier of resource support for new students, lasting for three months. That''s quite a considerable fortune, so being thorough is always the right way to go."


    "Understood, understood." Bai Wushang nodded, then asked with some surprise, "Does the academy really divide new students into different ranks? What are the specific criteria?"


    "I can''t reveal too many details, but simply put, every new student receives three months of free resource support from the academy. This resource allocation is divided into four tiers, from lowest to highest: C-tier, B-tier, A-tier, and S-tier.""Among these, tiers C, B, and A correspond to students whose initial soul power is at the early, mid, and late stages respectively, while S-tier corresponds to Self-Awakened students..."


    The staff member had a tendency to be chatty, and once he started talking, he couldn''t easily stop:"As for what specific resources, you''ll find out when the time comes... Sigh, normally, encountering one Self-Awakened every two or three years is the norm. The past few years have already been unusual, but this year, there are actually three! Three! The academy is really going to be in chaos..."


    "Um... that''s a dead end ahead..." Bai Wushang stopped and couldn''t help but interrupt him.


    "Ah, sorry, sorry! I was just focused on talking. This way, this way!"


    Inside a room of about a hundred square meters, various instruments, large and small, were displayed, looking as dazzling as a shop. Two or three staff members were meticulously wiping and maintaining the equipment.Upon learning that Bai Wushang needed verification as a Self-Awakened, the staff members exchanged surprised glances. However, Bai Wushang was satisfied with their professionalism; they didn''t waste time with unnecessary words and immediately brought out the required instrument¡ªa Soul Power Crystal Ball.


    It was a white crystal ball about the size of a human head, pure white like jade, without a single flaw, and looked very expensive.Bai Wushang gazed at it for a moment, and a sense of warm familiarity washed over him. He couldn''t help but recall the person who had adopted him at the age of six, nominally his adoptive mother.


    "Back when I was just a little kid, I used to mess around with these instruments in her lab, treating them like toys...""...Speaking of which, if she hadn''t suddenly written to me, telling me she was now working at Shanhai Academy and suggesting I study here, I might have gone to the Crimson Dragon Royal Academy... After all, that''s nominally the number one academy, personally backed by the royal family of the Da Qian Dynasty...""I wonder how she''s doing now. Once I''m settled in, I should find some time to visit her..."


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    While Bai Wushang was musing internally, his hands didn''t stop. He skillfully pressed his palm firmly against the crystal ball and channeled his soul power without reservation.The white crystal ball burst into brilliant light, illuminating completely almost instantaneously. Two lines of text appeared in the center:


    [Soul Power Value: 10086][Physiological Age: 16 years old]


    The staff member who had brought him in read the data several times, then looked up, bewildered, and asked doubtfully:"The soul power value for the peak Spirit Scholar level, doesn''t it only need to reach 7000? Is this instrument broken? How could it be so much higher?"


    "Couldn''t be. We''ve used it so many times these past two days without any issues..."Another staff member was also stunned, muttering, "A soul power value over ten thousand... doesn''t that correspond to the soul power level of the initial Soul Servant stage?""Why don''t we try it again?" the third staff member suggested tentatively.


    Five minutes later.


    [Soul Power Value: 10120]


    Staring at the first line of text in the center of the Soul Power Crystal Ball, the throats of the staff members present felt dry. They turned their heads and stared intently at Bai Wushang, as if sizing up a monster.


    "What are you doing?"Bai Wushang took a step back calmly. Their blatant stares felt like they were trying to strip him bare; it was quite unnerving.


    "Young student, do you realize you''ve just broken a record upon entering the academy? In the hundred-plus years since the academy''s founding, this is the first time a Self-Awakened student''s initial total soul power has rivaled that of someone at the initial Soul Servant stage. You''re simply... incredible!"


    Bai Wushang''s eyes darted slightly. He asked cautiously, "What does that mean? So am I considered peak Spirit Scholar or initial Soul Servant stage?"


    One staff member smacked his lips repeatedly, speculating:"Still peak Spirit Scholar... Perhaps because your constitution is special, your soul power capacity far exceeds others at the same level. So, your current total soul power reserves at the peak Spirit Scholar stage have already broken the threshold for the initial Soul Servant stage, but there''s definitely still a gap in quality...""However, once you truly break through to the initial Soul Servant stage, your total soul power might be equivalent to someone else''s mid-stage. Always having deeper soul power than others at the same stage... that would be terrifying..."


    "Sounds good." Realization dawned on Bai Wushang, and he smiled. "So, does this mean my verification is passed?"


    "Of course!"The staff members nodded like chicks pecking rice. One of them put on an eager smile:"Student, could you summon your bonded beast so we can record it? It''s an academy regulation to create files for Self-Awakened students for record-keeping and research purposes..."


    Hearing this, Bai Wushang lowered his gaze, gently patted the round bulge beneath the front of his clothes, and called out:"Milky Way, wake up!"


    The name "Milky Way" was something Bai Wushang had thought of on his way here, inspired in a flash. The main inspiration came from the Moon Rabbit''s beautiful, silver-white eyes, which easily brought to mind the vast, brilliant expanse of stars. That''s why Bai Wushang named her Milky Way, hoping she could shine with her own beautiful radiance forever, like the endless stars in the night sky.


    "Ji Gu???"First, a pair of pinkish rabbit ears poked out, followed by the little creature poking out its small, bewildered head. It stared blankly at Bai Wushang with wide eyes, not understanding how it had gained a new name just by taking a nap.


    The staff members scrambled to get closer, their eyes wider than Milky Way''s, staring in disbelief."Long, tubular ears, a short, tufted tail, fur as white as snow, silver-white pupils like stardust, a crescent moon mark between the eyes... If I''m not mistaken, this should be a Moon Rabbit?""Old Zhang, be bold! Drop the ''should be''!"

 Chapter 13: B-Rank Dormitory

    Back at the front desk office, the staff member processed Bai Wushang''s S-rank qualification confirmation with utmost speed.


    "There''s just one small issue I need to discuss with you. Although the academy has set four resource tiers for new students, because the number of S-rank students is extremely scarce, the dormitory resources are only divided into A, B, and C tiers. No separate dorms were built specifically for S-rank freshmen...""In principle, S-rank freshmen live in A-rank dorms. However, the number of enrolling students this year far exceeds previous years, and the A-rank dorms were all assigned this morning, with none remaining... Right now, I can only assign you to a B-rank dorm and give you a little extra compensation. Is that acceptable to you?"


    "Yes, no problem," Bai Wushang nodded.


    "Alright, Student Bai, congratulations again on becoming an S-rank freshman of our academy. This is your identity wrist device. It binds all your basic information and serves as your access pass and key for entering and leaving the academy. Please keep it safe."


    Bai Wushang reached out and took it. It was a black circular chip with a very technological feel, two centimeters in diameter and no more than two millimeters thick, as thin as a metal sheet.


    "Place it flat on your left wrist. It will automatically adhere to your skin and won''t fall off even during strenuous exercise."


    Bai Wushang did as instructed. For a moment, his wrist felt a faint tingling, numb sensation, like a weak electric current passing through.When he looked again, the black chip was already firmly attached to his skin. Shaking his arm vigorously didn''t dislodge it in the slightest.Even when Bai Wushang stood still, the black chip would automatically change to a color similar to his skin tone. Without careful inspection, one couldn''t tell there was anything on his wrist.


    "Has technology become this advanced already?" Bai Wushang muttered to himself, examining it repeatedly with fascination.


    The staff member smiled proudly. "Don''t underestimate its small size. It incorporates hundreds of functions, including communication, maps, portable keys, data transfer and storage, a coin shop, and more. Everyone in the academy has one. Just a light tap can display a holographic projection screen..."


    Under the staff member''s patient guidance, Bai Wushang spent over ten minutes mastering the basic functions of the wrist device. He instantly felt like a door to a new world had opened, and couldn''t help but praise it:"This wrist device is really great! All practical functions, and so easy to operate..."


    "Yes, we are also very grateful to the inventor of the wrist device. She brought tremendous changes to our work and lives!"The staff member sighed with emotion for a moment, then became serious again:"Student Bai, today''s schedule for new students is just awakening soul power and confirming everyone''s corresponding resource tier. There''s nothing much scheduled for the afternoon. You can go directly back to your dorm to rest now. At six o''clock this evening, the academy will send out the next notice. Please check and confirm it promptly."


    Before parting, the staff member walked Bai Wushang to the door and reminded him: "Student Bai, the academy campus is very large. Before you have a suitable beast companion for transportation, it''s recommended you take the academy''s guide cars. With your S-rank freshman privilege, it''s even completely free."


    "Understood, thank you."


    After bidding farewell to the staff member, Bai Wushang walked out the door and was nearly blinded by the dazzling sun.It was around two or three in the afternoon, the sun burning fiercely. It was hot and stuffy outside, yet the paths were still crowded with people and beasts ¨C young men and women looking vibrant, and beasts of all shapes and sizes.


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    "Is the long-awaited academy life starting just like this?"Looking at this beautiful scene, a smile touched the corners of Bai Wushang''s mouth, and his mood became as bright as the sun.


    Clearing his mind, Bai Wushang baskedã«Òâ (qi¨¨y¨¬ - comfortably/contentedly) in the sun for two or three minutes before opening his wrist device to check his information.


    [Name: Bai Wushang][Student ID: 20210115][Qualification Certification: S-Rank Freshman][Dorm Address: District 11 - B-Rank - Building 477 - Room 101]...


    Somewhat clumsily, he entered the dorm address into the wrist device. The map showed the distance was a full thirty-two kilometers ¨C shockingly far indeed!Scrolling down to the submenu, Bai Wushang found the "Guide Car" section. Dozens of different models immediately popped up for him to choose from.He casually selected the fastest single-person model. With a "ding" sound, the screen displayed the prominent message: "Calling, please remain stationary and wait."


    "Beep¡ªBeep!"A few minutes later, a fully enclosed black car, less than two meters long and shaped like a bullet head, slowly stopped in front of Bai Wushang.The car was empty, the latest model featuring intelligent autonomous driving ¨C convenient and fast.


    Holding his wrist device up to the sensor on the outside of the guide car to verify his identity, the car door automatically swung upwards. Bai Wushang ducked inside and fastened the safety belt as instructed.Before boarding, Bai Wushang had wondered how these fully automated guide cars ensured safety. If they went fast, weren''t they worried about colliding with other moving objects?


    It wasn''t long before Bai Wushang understood. On the surface roads, the guide car moved slowly at a constant speed, avoiding obstacles with 100% certainty. Only when it entered a dedicated underground tunnel did the speed max out, racing wildly, making him exclaim with excitement.


    About ten minutes later, the guide car returned to the surface, driving smoothly among rows of low-rise buildings with similar styles, finally stopping in front of a specific building.Bai Wushang spotted the sign with the number 477 at a glance, knowing he had arrived. As the guide car''s electronic prompt sounded, he unhurriedly pushed the door open and got out.


    Unlike the retro-style buildings made of bricks and tiles he had envisioned, these dormitory buildings were constructed with metal plates and metal bricks, looking more like small fortresses ¨C secure and solid, yet distinctive.Each building was about thirty meters high but only had five floors, with four units per floor, meaning one building could house twenty students.


    Using his wrist device, Bai Wushang passed through the main entrance of the corridor and his own dorm room door, finally stepping into his new home.He took a quick look around. It was a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-bathroom layout, with a total area exceeding one hundred square meters. The decoration style was simple yet not plain, and all basic furnishings were provided.Notably, the indoor ceiling height was over five meters, likely a comprehensive design consideration for students whose beast companions might be large.


    "This is just a B-rank dorm? What kind of luxurious setup must the A-rank dorms be?"Bai Wushang muttered this complaint silently, but overall, he was quite satisfied ¨C it was spacious enough, functional enough, quiet, and elegant.


    Lowering his head, he focused his attention on Milky Way. Bai Wushang was surprised to find that the little creature had fallen asleep again, nestled against his chest, its small mouth slightly open, drooling a little, lost in some sweet dream.


    "Could it be that, although the little one is a mutant, it still inherited the nocturnal habits of Moon Rabbits, so it gets sleepy easily during the day and spends most of its time dreaming?"Bai Wushang mused while gently placing the little one onto the soft bed, giving her small ears a gentle squeeze on the way.


    Leaving the bedroom, Bai Wushang headed straight for the washroom without hesitation.After two days of travel and activity, he already smelled a bit. Even if Milky Way didn''t mind, Bai Wushang himself could hardly stand it anymore.


    After showering, he comfortably took an afternoon nap±§×Å (b¨¤o zhe - holding/cuddling) Milky Way. When he woke up, he felt truly refreshed and invigorated, the fatigue of the past two days completely swept away.


    "Dong dong dong!"Just as Bai Wushang was planning to delve deeper into the functions of his wrist device, a rapid knocking sound suddenly came from the door.

 Chapter 14: The Amiable Roommates

    Opening the door, Bai Wushang saw two unfamiliar young men.


    "Are you looking for me?"


    Bai Wushang looked puzzled and greeted them first, while discreetly observing the two.


    One looked quite well-off, wearing a blue formal suit, shiny leather boots, and a slicked-back hairstyle. Aside from his round face and slightly plump figure, he exuded an air of refinement and meticulousness.


    The other had a crew cut and a tall, sturdy build, clearly having undergone good training. However, his skin was dark and rough, and his clothes looked somewhat faded from washing. His overall demeanor leaned towards honest and simple.


    "Hey, buddy! We live on the same floor as you. I''m Ouyang Yuan from room 103!"


    The meticulously dressed, slightly plump young man adjusted his oiled hair, flashing what he considered a very sunny smile.


    The dark-skinned young man beside him seemed a bit shy, saying, "Hello, my name is Sha Bulu. I come from a nomadic people and live in room 102."


    "Here''s the thing," Ouyang Yuan enthusiastically explained their purpose, "we''re all new students, and we happen to live together. There''s a saying, ''A close neighbor is better than a distant relative,'' right? So I thought I''d get to know all the roommates, make some friends, and we can look out for each other in the academy later on!"


    Ouyang Yuan enthusiastically explained their reason for coming and eagerly shook Bai Wushang''s hand.


    Bai Wushang understood. Being new here, making some new friends seemed like a good idea.


    "I''m Bai Wushang. Nice to meet you."


    "Haha, Brother Bai, if you don''t mind, I''ll call you that."


    Ouyang Yuan casually slung an arm around Bai Wushang''s shoulder, winking conspiratorially, and said cheerfully:


    "To be honest, my family runs a small business in jewelry and jade. If you ever need anything in that line, or if you have some nice gems to sell, remember to come to me first! I''ll definitely give you the best price! I wouldn''t rip off my own brother!"


    Bai Wushang nodded with a half-smile, thinking inwardly that this guy''s personality wasn''t actually annoying; he was quite a character. Perhaps academy life would be more interesting with him around.


    "Alright, the Four Musketeers of Shanhai are just missing one member! Let''s go knock on room 104''s door!"


    Ouyang Yuan waved his hand grandly and led the way towards the last door at the end of the corridor. Bai Wushang and Sha Bulu followed curiously.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    "Hey brother inside, you there? We''re your neighbors! How about we all get together for a meal and get acquainted?" Ouyang Yuan shouted enthusiastically.


    "Who is it? Are you nuts?"


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    The door opened, and a young man in loose training clothes with cold, handsome features peeked out, looking at the three with unfriendly eyes.


    Appearance-wise, he had classically handsome features, the very picture of good looks.


    But the coldness and displeasure between his brows were completely undisguised!


    "Situ Chi?" Ouyang Yuan froze for a moment, his expression stiffening.


    "Oh, you know each other? That''s great..."


    Sha Bulu started to say with a naive smile, but before he could finish, the occupant of 104 rudely interrupted him:


    "Pah! What rotten luck! Getting assigned to a B-rank dorm was bad enough, but being neighbors with you?"


    Situ Chi''s face darkened as he sneered, "Ouyang Yuan, don''t tell me you actually think we''re the same kind just because we were classmates once? If you don''t want to get beaten up later, stay the hell away from me. Stop bothering me, understand?"


    After speaking, he scanned Bai Wushang and Sha Bulu with a condescending gaze, his tone dismissive:


    "And you two. Instead of wasting time eating and drinking with this loser, you''d be better off meditating or studying more. Otherwise, with your Mid-stage Initial Soul Power, you''ll be kicked out of this academy sooner or later!"


    Bang! The door slammed shut, leaving Sha Bulu and Bai Wushang looking at each other in confusion, and Ouyang Yuan''s face gradually turning ashen.


    "Was he lecturing us?"


    Bai Wushang broke the silence first, finding it somewhat amusing.


    This Situ Chi guy is interesting too. Hmm, quite arrogant.


    "Did... did I say something wrong?" Sha Bulu looked lost, uncertainly cracking his knuckles, making gada gada sounds.


    "It''s not your fault."


    Ouyang Yuan shook his head, took a deep breath to suppress his emotions, then forced a cheerful smile and patted Bai Wushang''s shoulder.


    "If we can''t be the Four Musketeers of Shanhai, we''ll be the Three Musketeers! Brother Bai, if you don''t mind, let''s sit in your room for a bit. I''ll order some takeout dinner to treat everyone."


    "Okay!" Bai Wushang readily agreed.


    ...


    In the living room of room 101, the three sat gathered together.


    "There''s a Gold Coin Mall function in the wristwatch. Although most things sold there are ordinary, the food looks pretty good. Let''s try some..."


    Ouyang Yuan explained while tapping away on the holographic screen on his wrist. He unhesitatingly selected a full set of pots, pans, and tableware, followed by various extraordinary ingredients¡ªfrom things that flew in the sky to those that swam in the water¡ªa dazzling array, choosing whatever looked delicious.


    After placing the order, Sha Bulu happened to glance at the total cost¡ªover two hundred gold coins! His eyes almost popped out.


    "Good heavens! How can it be so expensive... Are we eating gold?"


    Bai Wushang was also amazed by Ouyang Yuan''s extravagance.


    You had to understand, in the Great Qian Dynasty, 100 gold coins were enough to cover the living expenses of an ordinary family of three for a whole month.


    This single meal cost more than two months of their living expenses!


    "Brother Sha, you don''t get it," Ouyang Yuan spouted nonsense with a straight face. "We''re Masters now, how can we keep eating ordinary food? We need to learn to break from the past and start eating high-quality food. Only by eating well can we grow stronger muscles!"


    "Ah, is that so?" Sha Bulu felt something was off but didn''t know how to refute it, looking utterly conflicted.


    Twenty minutes later, a delivery person in a green uniform knocked on the door.


    From a special storage belt he carried, he took out the dining utensils and steaming hot dishes, placing them one by one on the table before handing over the bill.


    Ouyang Yuan promptly signed to confirm receipt and paid the gold coins.


    "Come on, everyone, dig in! We can go easy on the drinks today, but we must eat to our heart''s content!"


    "Brother Sha, try this Pickled Cabbage Beef Hot Pot while it''s hot. It''s made with the hind leg meat of the extraordinary creature, the Houshan Ox¡ªtender, fragrant, fatty but not greasy. Dip it in some Devil Pepper... Wow, that tangy kick is unbelievable!"


    "This is the All-Nourishing Tonic Soup made from Lanbo Mud Chicken. One bowl whets the appetite and warms the body, two bowls refresh the spirit, three bowls make you strong as an ox! Don''t be shy, brothers, have some more."


    "Come on, brothers! Let''s officially celebrate the first meeting of the Three Musketeers of Shanhai! Cheers!"


    ...


    After several rounds of dishes, the three had become much more familiar with each other.


    When the lively atmosphere cooled down a bit, Bai Wushang, chewing on peanuts, casually asked:


    "So, tell me, what''s the deal with that Situ ?"

 Chapter 15: So You Were the Most Deeply Hidden One!

    Ouyang Yuan put down his chopsticks and silently downed a mouthful of fruit wine.After hesitating for a moment, he asked:"Have you guys heard about the so-called Six Great Royal Clans of the Great Qian Dynasty?"


    Shabulu shook his head, his face full of confusion.


    Bai Wushang, however, knew about them. He had lived with the Mu family for a very long time. Even though the Mu family couldn''t compare to the most elite royal clans, it was still a first-tier noble family in the Great Qian Dynasty, so he was familiar with such basic information."Aren''t they the Wu Clan, Zhong Clan, Xiao Clan, Kong Clan, Duanmu Clan, and Situ Clan...? Huh? Don''t tell me, this Situ Chi is a descendant of the Situ Clan, one of the Six Great Royal Clans?"


    Ouyang Yuan glanced at Bai Wushang with slight surprise. He hadn''t expected anyone to be able to answer. It seemed this roommate had some background too...Gathering his thoughts, he continued:"That''s right. The Situ Clan famous for their bloodline talent, the ''Invisibility Cloak''. The Clan Head, Situ Xuance, possesses a Sovereign-level Iron Wing Scythe Beast. Thirty years ago, he was personally bestowed the title of Iron Scythe King by the Red Dragon Emperor himself. His reputation is formidable...""...This Situ Chi is the Iron Scythe King''s youngest son, spoiled since childhood, extremely proud and arrogant. He looks down on commoners like us."


    "No wonder he''s so arrogant..." Bai Wushang nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "So how did you two meet?"


    "It''s a long story. When I was young, my family spent a lot of money to get me into a martial arts hall to hone my physical techniques. Unexpectedly, he was also an apprentice there, and the head apprentice at that."Ouyang Yuan showed a reminiscent expression and sighed:"I admit, not only is his talent high, learning everything quickly, but he''s also very hardworking. Me? My aptitude is average, and sometimes I''m lazy. I was always at the bottom of the class in the martial arts hall... But so what if I was an underachiever? Is being an underachiever a crime? I didn''t provoke him, and I was working hard in my own way. Why did he keep bringing people to trouble me every few days, trying to kick me out of the martial arts hall?""...In the end, under his threats, I had no choice but to leave that martial arts hall. His background is just too strong; I couldn''t afford to offend him.""But what I never expected was to run into him again at Shanhai Academy. Clearly, as a member of a royal clan, the Red Dragon Royal Academy would be better suited for his development... This morning, I personally witnessed his awakening ceremony. Initial soul power at Late Spiritualist Level, a solid A-rank aptitude certification. But it seems he arrived late; the A-rank dorms were already assigned, so he only got a B-rank dorm... Damn it, and it''s right next door to me! What kind of shitty luck is this?!"


    Ouyang Yuan downed another mouthful of fruit wine, speaking with a troubled expression:"Brother Bai, Brother Sha, don''t just look at the difference between mid-stage and late-stage initial soul power as a small gap. In reality, future cultivation speed increases based on the initial soul power. Under the same realm and resources, he will only pull further and further ahead, not to mention there''s a royal clan backing him..."


    "Ahem..." Bai Wushang choked guiltily, secretly glancing at the other two. One was wolfing down food heartily, the other looked dejected and depressed.Since we''re going to be friends, it seems a bit unfair not to tell them about my initial soul power...


    After thinking for a moment, Bai Wushang grabbed a large crystal radish from the table, a hint of embarrassment on his face:"I never got around to telling you... Actually, I also ended up here because there weren''t enough A-rank dorms..."


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    "What?" Shabulu stopped stuffing meat into his mouth, his cheeks half-bulging as he asked blankly.


    "Yinhe, come out and say hello to everyone!"Bai Wushang went back into his room and woke up the little creature curled up asleep on the bed.


    "Ji... guu..."The little creature seemed to have slept enough. After being woken, it comfortably rolled over twice, then leaped up from the bed, landing deftly in Bai Wushang''s arms.


    "Eat this."Bai Wushang handed it the crystal radish. Rabbit-type creatures should eat vegetables, right?


    "Ji?"The little creature first obediently held the large radish with its small paws and sniffed it twice.Realizing it was food, its large silver-white eyes instantly brightened. It lay in Bai Wushang''s arms and began nibbling in small, elegant bites.


    Walking out of the room, he was met by two mentally frazzled young men.


    "Moon Rabbit???"Ouyang Yuan cried out strangely, completely stunned.The next moment, he abruptly jumped up from his chair, his voice trembling with excitement to the point of incoherence:"Brother Bai, you... you you you you have a pet beast?!"


    Currently, all freshmen had only completed the soul power awakening; the next step of contract binding hadn''t been arranged yet. Therefore, there was only one possibility for someone to possess a pet beast now.


    "That''s right." Bai Wushang admitted openly. Living under the same roof, seeing each other constantly, there was no need to hide it. "I''m an Independent Awakener. This is my bonded pet beast, Yinhe."


    "Holy crap! Brother Bai, you hid that really deep!!!"Ouyang Yuan yelled at the top of his lungs, his expression as exaggerated as could be.


    "Let me see, let me see!"Shabulu instantly put down his bowl and chopsticks, staring with eyes like copper bells, pushing his large face close to the Moon Rabbit.


    "Pfft!!!"Yinhe spat saliva at him, then hugged the large radish and hopped away onto Bai Wushang''s shoulder.


    "This little thing, is it really a transcendent creature? Why does it look so fragile..." Shabulu scratched his head, not minding the saliva on his face.


    "What do you know! This is a support-type pet beast!" Ouyang Yuan first glared at him, then rubbed his chubby hands together, smiling fawningly at Yinhe: "Come here, good baby, let Uncle hold you, here, here~"


    "Pfft!!! Pfft!!!"Yinhe looked disgusted, spitting twice from a distance, clearly having no intention of acknowledging this weird uncle.


    "Hahaha."Bai Wushang hadn''t expected Yinhe to have such a playful side and laughed heartily.


    "Brother Bai, this pet beast of yours seems quite intelligent..."Ouyang Yuan awkwardly lowered his hands, stopped teasing, and his expression turned animated:"What I''m curious about now is, what kind of expression will Situ Chi have when he finds out Brother Bai is an Independent Awakener? Will he still act so high and mighty, thinking he''s all that? Hahaha!"


    "Don''t be like that. I only succeeded in awakening by accident," Bai Wushang quickly waved his hand, stopping Ouyang Yuan''s train of thought. "As for that Situ Chi, since he already told us not to bother him, it''s better to leave well enough alone. There''s no need to stir up conflict with him."


    "Heh, Brother Bai is indeed low-key, I admire that!"Ouyang Yuan cupped his hands, then said seriously:"But Brother Bai needs to be careful too. This Shanhai Academy is full of hidden talents [lit: hidden dragons and crouching tigers]. This morning, I saw a red-haired girl, probably in our year, also an Independent Awakener. Her bonded pet beast is actually the legendary Little Flame Sparrow, said to possess a trace of Vermilion Bird True Blood! It''s incredibly ferocious. Your Moon Rabbit wouldn''t even be enough for one blast of her fire. Definitely don''t provoke her!"


    "I saw her too! Before that woman even released her pet beast, some guy saw she was pretty and wanted to hit on her. He hadn''t even said much, just called her ''beauty'', and that dame directly burned all his hair off. It was miserable..." Shabulu also chimed in with his opinion.


    "Is she that ruthless?"Bai Wushang subconsciously scratched his hair. He didn''t want to become bald at such a young age.


    "Di¡ªDi¡ªDi"Just as Bai Wushang was mentally blacklisting the red-haired girl, the wristwatches of all three vibrated simultaneously.


    "Huh? It''s already six o''clock without realizing. The academy sent a new notification!"Bai Wushang opened the holographic screen and began browsing carefully.

 Chapter 16: Secret Realm "Sea Island"

    ¡¾Notice: Tomorrow morning at 7 AM, all freshmen please arrive at the Central Plaza. At that time, the freshman trial will commence, opening the Secret Realm "Sea Island" for everyone to contract their first pet beast. Please attend on time. Consequences for lateness are your own responsibility! ¡ªShanhai Academy Main Academic Affairs Office¡¿


    ¡¾Supplementary Note: Students are requested to travel light, without wearing any protective gear. Carrying storage rings, protective charms, potions... is also prohibited.¡¿


    "What''s this Secret Realm ''Sea Island''?" Shabulu asked first.


    "You don''t even know this?"Ouyang Yuan looked at him in surprise and said:"The reason Shanhai Academy is called Shanhai Academy is precisely because it has two secret realms. The most famous is naturally the Secret Realm ''Heavy God Mountain'', and the other is the Secret Realm ''Sea Island''."


    "That''s not it, I first want to know what a Secret Realm is..." Shabulu said, somewhat embarrassed.


    "Brother Sha, you''re lacking quite a bit in basic knowledge! When you have time, quickly go cram!!!"Ouyang Yuan looked at Shabulu''s simple, naive appearance, couldn''t help but facepalm and sigh, kindly explaining to him:"Let''s put it this way. The land we''re stepping on now is called the Transcendent Continent. Some people also call it the Transcendent Plane. In short, it''s a very, very large, and at the same time, very stable, major world.""This major world is not independent. In the multi-dimensional space surrounding it, hundreds of millions of other worlds are attached. There are desolate dead worlds, and there are living worlds that nurture myriad spirits. There are all kinds.""Secret Realm ''Heavy God Mountain'' and Secret Realm ''Sea Island'' are two small worlds developed and subdued by Shanhai Academy. The former is a sacred ground for Masters and pet beasts to train, the most important treasure of this academy. It can be said that the vast majority of people travel thousands of miles to study here actually aiming for this secret realm; the latter is a special island-type subspace where Shanhai Academy has expended great effort to raise and release large numbers of juvenile transcendent creatures. It''s opened annually for freshmen to contract their first pet beast."


    "I get it." Shabulu nodded with a muffled voice, then asked curiously: "So, that means tomorrow we can have our own pet beasts?"


    "That''s the gist of it, but it probably won''t be that easy!"Ouyang Yuan glanced at Bai Wushang: "Brother Bai should have heard about it, right? The competition in this academy is fierce. Even with high talent and a strong background, if you don''t meet the requirements set by the academy, you''ll be directly processed for expulsion, without hesitation."


    "Mmm, I heard a senior sister mention it when I arrived. It''s indeed like that," Bai Wushang replied.


    Shabulu waved his fist, his face full of determination: "I''m not afraid! I came here to study to become a powerful Master! I haven''t thought much about anything else!"


    ...


    The next day, early morning.


    Bai Wushang was woken up on time by his alarm clock.Last night, after the three received the notification, their dinner gathering quickly ended, and everyone returned to their rooms to adjust their state.Bai Wushang first played with Yinhe for a while, trying to discover any special traits she might have, but unfortunately came up empty.Afterward, Bai Wushang spent the first half of the night in deep meditation and slept through the second half.Aside from Yinhe occasionally bouncing around on the bed, slightly affecting his sleep quality, everything else was perfect.Even the scars left on his body by the Iron-Armored Zombie had now faded to just faint marks.


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    Holding Yinhe, who was starting to doze off again in his arms, Bai Wushang met up with Ouyang Yuan and Shabulu, and they rode the guide vehicle together towards the Central Plaza.


    "Brother Wushang, here!"Mu Xiaoxiao stood alone at a vantage point on the main path of the plaza, looking around eagerly. She spotted Bai Wushang immediately and waved at him continuously.


    "Brother Bai, you know someone else here?"Ouyang Yuan asked curiously. He peered over for a couple of seconds but couldn''t make out the face clearly, though from experience, the silhouette definitely belonged to a pretty young lady.


    "Mu Xiaoxiao, we grew up together, considered my younger sister..."Bai Wushang briefly introduced her while figuring out how to get over there.At this moment, the Central Plaza was densely packed with people, filled with the noisy sounds of laughter and whispers, bustling like a market fair.It took Bai Wushang quite some effort to squeeze through with his two roommates to Mu Xiaoxiao''s side.


    After preliminary introductions were made between both sides, Bai Wushang asked directly:"Xiaoxiao, did the soul power awakening go smoothly yesterday? What was your initial soul power?"


    Mu Xiaoxiao revealed two small dimples and smiled sweetly:"It scared me to death! I originally thought I''d be at the bottom, but unexpectedly, my soul power value actually broke through to Mid-Spiritualist Level! Even if it''s just a tiny bit above the threshold, it''s still mid-stage! Now Brother Tianxing won''t nag me, hehe!"


    Bai Wushang breathed a sigh of relief. His expectations for Mu Xiaoxiao weren''t high; Mid-Spiritualist Level was already unexpected."You''ve officially become a Master now. Don''t slack off in your cultivation anymore, work hard when it''s time to work hard!" Bai Wushang gently tapped her head, speaking earnestly.


    "Got it! Got it!"Mu Xiaoxiao was in a good mood and hummed her reply.


    Time passed minute by minute, soon reaching seven o''clock.


    "Screee!"A loud, clear cry echoed from above the clouds.The hubbub in the plaza gradually died down. More than two thousand students raised their heads, looking up at the sky.


    A bird-like raptor with a wingspan of nearly twenty meters sped in from the distance, swift as lightning. Before anyone could clearly see its appearance, it executed a vertical dive, brazenly gliding just over the students'' heads. The overwhelming, boundless ferocious might that washed over them triggered countless terrified screams.


    Bai Wushang happened to be directly below it. In that fleeting glimpse, he saw its attribute panel¡ª


    ¡¾Name¡¿: Wyvern (Contracted)¡¾Race¡¿: Demon Beast Realm ¡¤ Avian Beast Type ¡¤ Wyvern Clan ¡¤ Sub-Dragon Species¡¾Life Level¡¿: Mid-Stage Complete Form¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Commander Level 1-Star£¿£¿£¿ (Soul Power too low for complete detection)...


    "It''s actually a Wyvern?"Bai Wushang was stunned, not expecting to see a dragon so soon. Even though Wyverns were the lowest tier Sub-Dragon species among dragonkind, they were still incredibly ferocious creatures!


    The Wyvern was massive, yet remarkably agile. It skillfully dodged countless architectural obstacles and finally landed steadily on a thick stone pillar in the very center of the plaza.Changing its previously fierce and flamboyant posture, the Wyvern folded its huge, bat-like wings and obediently lowered its body.


    A long-haired woman wearing a golden long dress and a metal mask floated down from the Wyvern''s back. Every move she made exuded an indescribable confidence and composure.She stood high above, quietly looking down at the dense crowd below. The sexy red lips exposed beneath the mask suddenly curled into a smile filled with amused interest:"Allow me to introduce myself. Xia Wanlong, one of the Shanhai Ten, currently ranked third.""Of course, you can also call me¡ªSteel Caster!"

 Chapter 17: Steel Caster · Xia Wanlong

    "What? She''s one of the Shanhai Ten?!""No way! We get to see one of the legendary Shanhai Ten right off the bat?""Hey, hey, hey! Did you guys catch the important part? She said she''s the third seat! Top three among the Ten!"


    Such whispers rippled through the crowd of thousands.


    Shabulu looked around blankly, then turned naively to Ouyang Yuan for help: "Yuan-zai, what are the Shanhai Ten again?"


    Bai Wushang pricked up his ears as well. Because he''d switched academies last minute, his research wasn''t very thorough, and there were things he only partially understood.


    Ouyang Yuan rolled his eyes. Seeing his three companions staring at him eagerly, he could only sigh resignedly:"Shanhai Academy has a Heroes Ranking List, recording the fifty strongest Masters in the academy. Those outstanding enough to climb into the top ten are called the Shanhai Ten, and each has their own title."


    "Are they very powerful?" Shabulu scratched his head.


    "More than just powerful!" Ouyang Yuan sounded somewhat exasperated, as if disappointed by Shabulu''s lack of understanding, his tone quickening slightly:"The status of the Shanhai Ten in the academy even surpasses ordinary instructors! After all, ordinary instructors'' combat power is only around the Early Complete Form level. The higher-ranked among the Ten might even have Mid or Late Complete Form combat power, capable of crushing countless instructors!""Furthermore, the Shanhai Ten Committee, composed of the Shanhai Ten, is a special executive body directly under the Dean. Based on their seat ranking, they enjoy various privileges, increasing with rank, and can even influence many aspects of the academy''s operations!""To some extent, the will of the Shanhai Ten represents the will of the academy, understand?"


    Ouyang Yuan finished in one breath, then gazed up at the woman in the golden dress on the platform with a look of admiration, murmuring: "Tsk tsk, that stunning figure, that noble and elegant aura... what kind of peerless beauty is hidden beneath that mask..."


    "Scree¡ª Scree¡ª"Above the stone pillar, the Wyvern suddenly raised its head and let out two cries. The sound wasn''t loud, but it radiated outwards like sound waves, carrying a terrifying pressure that seemed to press down on the soul, stunning everyone into silence. Instantly, it was deathly quiet.


    "Dragon''s Might?!"Bai Wushang''s heart tightened. At the same time, he felt Yinhe in his chest awaken, poking its head out to peek outside.


    "This freshman trial will be entirely under my charge. I hope everyone listens carefully and doesn''t interrupt. Any questions should be saved for the end. Please don''t be disobedient, okay? Otherwise..."Xia Wanlong casually patted the Wyvern''s wing. The Wyvern understood instantly, snorted heavily, raised its head, and glared fiercely at the crowd, giving off a strong "whoever dares cause trouble, prepare to die" vibe.


    Xia Wanlong nodded with satisfaction, opened the holographic screen on her wrist, swiped a few times, and began the official announcement:"The core theme of this freshman trial revolves around just one thing¡ªcontracting a pet beast!""I know you''ve all become official Masters now. You must be feeling very excited, eager to have your first pet beast partner. I can understand that, and the academy understands your feelings even better! Therefore! The academy has prepared the Secret Realm ''Sea Island'' specifically to provide everyone with an opportunity to contract a pet beast.""In the Secret Realm ''Sea Island'', the total number of transcendent creature species exceeds fifty thousand. There are common types found everywhere in wild forests, as well as particularly rare and precious varieties seldom seen in the world. Whether it''s Demon Beasts, Demons, Ghosts, Bone Race, Insect Race... In short, it will definitely satisfy your needs!"


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    It had to be said, Xia Wanlong''s voice was quite pleasant, and her control over the rhythm and intonation while speaking was excellent. She instantly captured everyone''s anticipation, making them listen very attentively.


    "However, you''ve probably heard about the academy''s founding principle: all resources here are only available to the most outstanding individuals. As for the failures, we don''t want them! This trial is not just for everyone to subdue pet beasts; it''s also a survival game. Anyone who doesn''t meet the passing line in the trial will be directly expelled by the academy, with absolutely no exceptions!""Next, I will announce the specific details of the trial:


    ¡¾This trial will adopt a grouping format. The 2578 freshmen present will be randomly divided equally into 26 groups and deployed into twenty-six independent areas of the Secret Realm ''Sea Island''.Everything trialists encounter in the secret realm, whether it''s treasures, old herbs, or transcendent creatures, can be freely hunted and obtained as long as you have the ability. The academy imposes few restrictions.Cooperation is permitted in principle during the trial, and competition is also encouraged. However, causing disability or death is strictly forbidden. Violators will not only be directly expelled but will also face questioning from the academy''s upper echelons. Consequences are your own responsibility.The trial duration is 15 days. Every student is required to travel light, forbidden from carrying any protective gear, potions, storage rings, and other auxiliary items. Additionally, all wristwatch functions will be temporarily disabled.Before entering the secret realm, the academy will provide each trialist with a dimensional backpack containing replacement clothes, an elite dagger, a special sachet, and a distress talisman.The special sachet will protect the trialist from unprovoked attacks by transcendent creatures for the first 5 days; the distress talisman can be crushed in moments of crisis, automatically forming a barrier to protect the physical body.Note: After using the distress talisman, the trial immediately terminates, and an instructor will directly escort the trialist out of the secret realm.Before termination, if a pet beast contract has already been completed, the minimum passing standard for the trial is met, considered passing the assessment; if no contract has been completed yet, the trial is failed, resulting in direct expulsion.Perfect clear participants who successfully contract a pet beast and survive for the full 15 days until the trial ends will receive an additional reward from the academy: 10 points of Secret Energy each!¡¿"


    "Alright, that concludes the detailed explanation of the trial provided by the academy. We will now move to the Q&A session. Please raise your hand if you have a question."Xia Wanlong leisurely played with a strand of her hair, her tone light but unquestionable:"Remember, think carefully before asking. I will only answer three questions!"


    Hands shot up sporadically throughout the crowd; even Ouyang Yuan eagerly raised his.


    "You over there, the short one with glasses and yellow hair, what''s your question?"Xia Wanlong pointed casually at a freshman.


    The pointed-at yellow-haired boy looked around, confirmed it was him, somewhat disbelievingly, and stammered:"Se... Secret Energy is... what is it?"


    Xia Wanlong''s jade hand playing with her hair froze. Even her voice instantly turned ice-cold:"I already said, think before you ask! This question, I believe at least half of the two thousand-plus freshmen present could answer for you. You wasted a precious question opportunity!"Xia Wanlong''s gaze seemed piercing, fixing firmly on the yellow-haired boy as she stated bluntly:"If my perception isn''t wrong, your initial soul power is merely Early Spiritualist Level. For you, even completing the pet beast contract will be quite difficult. Yet you''re asking about the reward for a perfect clear? Aren''t you aiming a bit too high?"

 Chapter 18: The Independently Awakened Ones Receiving Special Attention

    The blond boy blushed crimson, but lacked the courage to retort, merely lowering his head to avoid the hostile gazes from those around him.


    Shaking her head slightly in disappointment, Xia Wanlong still honored her promise and provided an answer:"Mystic Energy is an extremely important cultivation resource at Shanhai Academy. With it, you can exchange for training time in the ''Mount Zhong Shen'' Mystic Realm, significantly boosting the strength progression for both Pet Beasts and Beastmasters.""You just need to remember one thing: every student in the academy, including the Ten Prodigies like myself, values Mystic Energy immensely. So, if you get a chance to acquire Mystic Energy, fight for it with everything you''ve got!"


    "Second question. The boy over there wearing the pink miniskirt, with the full beard and pigtails... hmm, you even wear lipstick? Quite the unique taste. Go ahead, what''s your question?" Xia Wanlong pointed to another person.


    Being too far away, Bai Wushang couldn''t see the boy, but a corresponding mental image still formed in his mind."''Shanhai Academy, full of hidden talents, truly has all sorts of people... even classmates that are such an eyesore...'' Bai Wushang could only lament inwardly."


    "Senior Sister, do you have any crucial advice regarding this freshman trial?"The cross-dresser''s voice rang out, but it was a strong, deep, masculine tone, creating a striking dissonance.However, the question he posed was quite incisive; perhaps they could glean some extra information from Xia Wanlong.


    "Hmm, this question is rather interesting!"Xia Wanlong pondered for a moment before speaking slowly:"My advice is to remind everyone to make full use of the first five days. During this safest period, explore the layout of the trial grounds as much as possible.""Additionally, students of average strength should consider teaming up early. Small groups of two or three are ideal, as this is conducive to achieving greater gains.""One last thing I''ll reveal: the trial grounds don''t just contain juvenile Transcendent Creatures; there are also a very small number of mature ones. Therefore, you must remain vigilant at all times. Treat this trial ground as if it were the true wilderness, and learn how to survive in an environment fraught with peril.""Oh, and by the way, if you don''t even manage to crush your distress talisman in time... you really can die~~~"


    Xia Wanlong''s words plunged many new students into brief, deep thought. She didn''t interrupt, giving them a few minutes to process.


    "Alright, last question."Xia Wanlong clapped her hands, signaling for everyone to refocus."The bald young man right at the back. You."


    The person Xia Wanlong indicated wasn''t too far from Bai Wushang and his group, so everyone could see him."Huh? Isn''t that the guy whose hair was burned off by the Little Flame Sparrow yesterday?" Ouyang Yuan muttered.


    "Senior Sister Xia, I want to ask how this trial handles the Independently Awakened Ones?"The bald young man''s voice seemed tinged with resentment:"I heard there are three Independently Awakened Ones in our year. If no restrictions are placed on them, wouldn''t anyone who runs into them during the trial be powerless to fight back? After all, their initial Soul Power is higher, their physical constitution is stronger, and they have an extra Bonded Beast compared to us. How can we possibly compete? We''re at a complete disadvantage!"


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    "Yeah, that''s unfair!" other students immediately clamored in agreement, and quite a few joined in.


    Bai Wushang raised an eyebrow, not expecting the focus of the discussion to suddenly shift to him.


    "Regarding this, the Academy has already made arrangements."Xia Wanlong paused, her red lips suddenly curving into a brilliant smile, her intentions unclear:"Would the three junior students who already possess Bonded Beasts please come gather over here~"


    Mu Xiaoxiao nudged Bai Wushang with her elbow, her almond eyes blinking rapidly, urging him to hurry up."Brother Bai, time for your stage performance!" Ouyang Yuan snickered beside him, wearing a sly grin.


    "Sigh..."Bai Wushang sighed softly. He really disliked being the center of attention. Wasn''t it better to develop his strength quietly in the background?Especially since he still had many secrets he hadn''t fully uncovered. Rashly stepping into the spotlight... if he became a target for everyone, it would be incredibly troublesome.''This Senior Sister Xia seems like she''s up to no good...'' Bai Wushang had a vague feeling about her.


    In the dozen or so seconds he hesitated, two figures had already woven through the crowd towards the central stone pillar.Having no choice, Bai Wushang took a deep breath and began pushing his way forward through the crowd."Excuse me, thank you. Pardon me, thanks..."


    The dense crowd parted to let Bai Wushang through, while pairs of sharp eyes locked firmly onto his figure.Soon, Bai Wushang reached the base of the central stone pillar and saw the other two Independently Awakened Ones.One was the red-haired woman Ouyang Yuan had described: tall and slender, with translucent skin and a stunning beauty that rivaled Jiang Lingyue''s. Her large, fiery red waves of hair were dazzling, making her resemble a blooming fire lotus ¨C gorgeous yet pure, seemingly delicate but possessing an inner fortitude.The other was a boy, thin and lean, with ordinary features and unremarkable clothes. His only distinguishing feature was his long hair coiled up with a hairpin. His expression was calm and composed, giving him the air of a well-read, perhaps somewhat frail, scholar.


    "The three of you, don''t channel your Soul Power. I''ll bring you up."Xia Wanlong flicked her fingers rapidly, seemingly performing some arcane art. Bai Wushang immediately felt an ethereal light envelop the three of them, lifting them upwards.They had just landed atop the stone pillar, before anyone could speak, when Xia Wanlong produced an azure orb with a flip of her hand. She sent three beams of azure light from it, striking each of them and entering their bodies.


    Instantly, Bai Wushang''s expression darkened, confused:"Senior Sister Xia, what is the meaning of this?"As the azure light entered him, Bai Wushang immediately sensed the Galaxy on his chest vanish, forcibly recalled into his Book of Oaths, unable to be summoned again.The other two also showed slight changes in expression, their gazes fixed intently on Xia Wanlong, awaiting her explanation.


    "Don''t be alarmed."Xia Wanlong offered a slight smile but didn''t answer them directly. Instead, she turned to face the sea of people below and announced loudly:"Have you all seen clearly? These are this year''s three Independently Awakened Ones! From left to right, they are Bai Wushang, Luo Youyuan, and Zhu Qin! I hope you all remember their names, and remember their faces!""Just moments ago, as per procedure, I personally sealed the Bonded Beasts of these three. This means that during this trial, these three Independently Awakened Ones will enter the Mystic Realm empty-handed, just like the rest of you, unable to rely on the power of their Bonded Beasts!"


    A commotion rippled through the sea of people below, murmurs erupting.Xia Wanlong scanned the crowd with a beaming smile and continued, "Of course, even without their beasts, their inherent advantages are still significant. That is due to their own talent and abilities, and the Academy will not interfere further."


    With that said, Xia Wanlong lifted the hem of her golden skirt with one hand, placed the other over her chest, and performed an elegant curtsey to the crowd."That concludes the Academy''s general arrangements for this freshman trial, all of which I have now explained."


    Bai Wushang was standing very close to her and clearly saw a flicker of mocking amusement bloom on her lips as she lowered her head.

 Chapter 19: Additional Rules

    "Next, I shall exercise my prerogative as one of the Shanhai Ten Prodigies to add a few more rules to the trial~~~~~"Standing up, Xia Wanlong''s clear and pleasant voice echoed across the entire plaza.


    The freshmen, who had been eager and full of anticipation, just waiting for the Mystic Realm to open, were suddenly dumbfounded."Additional rules? Is that even allowed?"


    Xia Wanlong suppressed a smile at the corner of her lips and said, "Don''t you find the existing rules too rigid? Utterly devoid of fun!""As for me, I want to secure more benefits for the victors, and at the same time, add a little excitement to everyone''s trial journey.""Here''s the data I received¡ªamong this year''s 2578 freshmen, there are 1357 C-rank, 1072 B-rank, 146 A-rank, and 3 S-rank. How about this: starting from the sixth day of the trial, all students are permitted to hunt each other! Eliminating any student will grant extra Mystic Energy!"


    "Eliminating one C-rank student grants an extra 1 point of Mystic Energy;Eliminating one B-rank student grants an extra 3 points of Mystic Energy;Eliminating one A-rank student grants an extra 10 points of Mystic Energy;If anyone manages to eliminate an S-rank student, congratulations, you get an extra 100 points of Mystic Energy!"


    Xia Wanlong''s words caused a huge uproar among the crowd.


    Bai Wushang''s mouth twitched. This wasn''t adding ''a little'' excitement; this was threatening to overturn the entire trial grounds!Originally, persevering for fifteen days yielded only 10 Mystic Energy points. Now, hunting down a single A-rank student granted the same amount.Wouldn''t everyone start getting ideas?What was even more troublesome was his own 100-point Mystic Energy bounty. He would undoubtedly be the most sought-after prize in everyone''s eyes.Just taking him down would mean a massive profit!


    "Is it really... impossible... to kill?"The red-haired woman suddenly spoke, her expression blank.


    Xia Wanlong glanced at her, her smile unwavering. "Correct, you cannot.""Crippling someone is also not permitted."


    The frail-looking scholar frowned, puzzled."Adding rules like this, isn''t it excessively targeted towards the three of us?"


    "Hmm... Indeed!"Xia Wanlong nodded with keen interest, seemingly observing his expression, and stated frankly:"However, I believe you should first correct your attitude.""The most fundamental purpose of this Mystic Realm is to provide you with high-quality Pet Beast resources that are hard to find in the outside world, the kind you don''t need to spend money on.""Secondly, the competition is meant to be icing on the cake, further weeding out the excessively weak students and indirectly allowing the strong to gain more Mystic Energy.""And you three, as Independently Awakened Ones, are the cream of the crop among these two thousand plus students.""If you were allowed to bring your Bonded Beasts, this trial would be utterly meaningless for you, holding no value whatsoever.""Even so, can your physical constitution, or the quality and quantity of your Soul Power, truly be matched by ordinary students?""The Academy doing this is merely, with great difficulty, pulling you onto the same starting line. The rest requires you to explore, hone yourselves, and grow on your own.""To put it another way, with the distress talisman in hand, your lives have the most basic guarantee.""If you can''t even withstand this little bit of pressure and end up eliminated,""Then it only proves that you possess talent, but nothing else.""The Academy is never short of students like that. Understand my meaning?"


    "I understand," Luo Youyuan said thoughtfully, speaking no further.


    "Oh, right!"Xia Wanlong suddenly remembered something and added to the crowd:"...All extra rewards are contingent upon perfectly clearing the trial! If you fail midway, you''ll end up with nothing. Remember this~"


    A flicker passed through Bai Wushang''s eyes, and he let out a small sigh of relief.''That''s more reasonable. Otherwise, everyone would just focus on eliminating others, scoring kills whenever possible, with no need to persevere until the end...''


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    Ten minutes later, numerous staff members appeared in the central plaza.One after another, teleportation formations lit up. Before long, a total of twenty-six gates of light encircled the central plaza.


    "The Mystic Realm ''Sea Island'' is about to open. Please prepare yourselves!"


    Shouldering the newly received dimensional backpack, Bai Wushang located the corresponding gate of light based on the number he had drawn by lot and waited quietly.Using this brief interval, Bai Wushang sent a faint telepathic message to Galaxy, trapped within the Book of Oaths, reassuring her not to worry about him.


    ...


    Mystic Realm "Sea Island".Trial Ground No. 9.


    Bai Wushang plummeted from a height of two meters, lost his balance, and landed sprawled on his back."What''s going on... why was I air-dropped... huh?"Bai Wushang''s mumbled complaints ceased abruptly. The expected pain didn''t come; instead, it felt like he had crashed into a thick, soft sponge, surprisingly comfortable.Subconsciously reaching behind him, Bai Wushang grabbed a handful of long, brown fur.


    "Ughh¡ª"A muffled grunt of pain sounded from above the back of his head, followed by a concentrated blast of air that washed over Bai Wushang''s face, carrying a foul stench.In an instant, blood rushed to Bai Wushang''s scalp, his brain trembled, and his subconscious screamed warnings of immense danger behind him!


    Stiffly turning his head, his eyes met those of a giant brown bear.A massive body, thick dense fur, sharp fangs, covered in bulging, sinewy muscles...Compared to it, Bai Wushang looked as thin as a bamboo pole.Fortunately, the giant bear''s eyes were tightly shut, its mouth still half-open as it snored deeply. Even though Bai Wushang was lying right on its stomach, and had even yanked out a tuft of fur from its chest, it onlyºß (h¨¥ng - grunted/hummed) slightly, showing no signs of waking up at all.


    An attribute panel materialized¡ª


    ¡¾Name¡¿: Slumbering Bear (Wild)¡¾Race¡¿: Beast Realm ¡¤ Walking Beast Type ¡¤ Sleeping Bear Clan¡¾Life Level¡¿: Early Mature Stage¡¾Bloodline Quality¡¿: Common Bone Rank ¡ï9¡¾State¡¿: Deep Sleep¡¾Wisdom¡¿: Low¡¾Characteristic¡¿: Narcoleptic¡¾Skills¡¿: Giant Bear Slap, Mount Tai Crush, Meatball Impact, Death Toss¡¾Gourmet Cells¡¿: 45


    "What... What kind of rotten luck is this? This is too ridiculous!"Although he knew entering the trial ground would randomly teleport everyone, did it have to be this intense? Dropping him right into a bear''s den from the get-go?And it was chest-to-back, zero-distance, intimate contact with no blind spots...Bai Wushang felt choked up, utterly frustrated and wanting to cry but having no tears.This wasn''t just any bear; it was a Slumbering Bear! An Early Mature Stage Slumbering Bear!Looking at its bloodline quality, it surpassed the Iron Armored Zombie by two whole stars! Wouldn''t a casual slap send him vomiting blood?Two slaps, and wouldn''t he become meat paste?Senior Sister Xia, oh Senior Sister Xia, do you misunderstand the meaning of "extremely few"?You said there were only extremely few Mature Stage creatures in the Mystic Realm? How did I run into one the moment I arrived???


    ''Luckily, luckily this is a Slumbering Bear. It spends nine-tenths of its day asleep and generally isn''t easily woken. Otherwise, I might have become the fastest Independently Awakened One to be eliminated in history...''Bai Wushang was certain that if he had woken the Slumbering Bear, it would have gone berserk, furiously tearing him to shreds.Holding the scent pouch would be useless. The pouch only worked if you didn''t actively provoke the Transcendent Creature.The Slumbering Bear was one of the creatures that cherished its sweet dreams the most; anything disturbing its sleep quality was considered a mortal enemy in its eyes!


    Gingerly, carefully climbing off the Slumbering Bear, Bai Wushang''s wildly pounding heart calmed slightly.Only after fleeing madly for two or three kilometers did Bai Wushang dare to gradually slow his pace, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead."Whew... Finally safe..."


    After striving to calm himself, Bai Wushang began observing his surroundings.He seemed to be in a dense primeval forest. Ancient trees reached for the sky, dappled shadows danced on the ground, and the air was filled with the chirping of insects and the calls of birds ¨C a scene brimming with vitality.


    "Before entering the Mystic Realm, I confirmed that Xiaoxiao, Ouyang Yuan, and Sha Bulu were all in other trial grounds... Even the other two Independently Awakened Ones, Zhu Qin and Luo Youyuan, weren''t heading to Portal No. 9 with me back then..."Bai Wushang paused, organizing his thoughts:"Which means, in this trial ground, I don''t need to specifically look for or take care of anyone, nor do I face excessive competitive pressure. I can just focus on developing steadily on my own."


    Carrying secrets like the Eye of Perception, the Transcendent Cookbook, and the Gourmet God Altar, Bai Wushang wasn''t planning on easily teaming up with unfamiliar students. His physical constitution and Soul Power level were top-notch among all students; he was fully capable of operating alone.


    "Anyway, let''s start with a preliminary exploration of the environment. On the first day, I should gather as many materials as possible. Besides making traps and auxiliary tools, I also need to start preparing the recipe for the ''Temptation Rat''..."

 Chapter 20: Thunderhorn Bull

    Having clarified his thoughts, Bai Wushang looked left and right, then climbed a large tree.Standing atop the tree''s crown, Bai Wushang gazed into the distance, only to find lush, green trees stretching endlessly in every direction.The only distinct feature was that the sun in the sky wasn''t a physical entity, but rather an illusory projection.


    "It seems figuring out the trial ground''s layout in a short time will be very difficult..."Bai Wushang frowned in thought, ultimately deciding to just pick a direction and take it one step at a time.


    Gripping his dagger tightly, Bai Wushang extended his perception fully, walking nimbly through the forest.Unlike the dry climate of the Endless Sand Region, the humidity here was very high. Just walking forward for a short while made Bai Wushang''s face feel sticky, coated in a thin layer of moisture.


    "Huh?"On a tree trunk not far away, a cluster of grass-like plants with a blue-green gradient caught his attention."It''s actually Tianzhu Grass?" Bai Wushang moved closer for a careful look, clicking his tongue in surprise. "This is one of the raw materials for many basic injury remedies. A stalk this large would fetch at least twenty-something gold coins on the market, wouldn''t it?"


    Carefully using his dagger to dig around the base on the trunk, Bai Wushang extracted the plant, root and leaves intact, and stored it in his dimensional backpack.This dimensional backpack issued by the academy was one of the smallest types of spatial storage equipment, with a total capacity of only one cubic meter. It was just barely enough to store some medicinal herbs, fruits, vegetables, meat, and similar items.


    "I''ll keep it for now. If I get injured, I can crush it directly for external application to speed up wound healing. If I don''t end up needing it, I can take it out of the Mystic Realm and make some money..."


    Continuing onward, Bai Wushang gathered valuable medicinal herbs and edible fruits while constantly identifying the Transcendent Creatures hidden in various corners of the forest."Flower Bamboo Rat... Winged Powder Butterfly... Huh? This Fire-Cap Turtle seems to have mutated; the flame on its head is actually blue... Though somewhat rare, it''s still too weak. Not suitable for me..."


    For Bai Wushang, whose Soul Power was at the peak Spirit Practitioner level, the upper limit for contracting a Pet Beast was the peak Juvenile Stage. These weak early-to-mid Juvenile Stage Transcendent Creatures before him fell far short of his contracting standards."My selection criteria are: first, the bloodline quality cannot be too low, and it must guarantee sufficient future growth potential. Second, its current life stage should ideally be late Juvenile or peak Juvenile. Anything too weak won''t help me survive the trial.""However, these are just theoretical ideals, somewhat different from the reality I''m facing..."


    Bai Wushang knew that in other academies, or within certain family factions, a new Beastmaster''s first Pet Beast was usually provided directly by elders or mentors. They could easily form a contract after some familiarization, the quality wouldn''t be poor, and the overall difficulty was very low.But Shanhai Academy treated the new Beastmaster''s Pet Beast contract as a standard trial item, even creating a dedicated Mystic Realm for it. It required students to find, identify, subdue, and contract beasts themselves, survive alone in the wild, and even learn to cooperate or face competition.


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    Bai Wushang saw both pros and cons in this training model.The downside was that under such rules, every student had to figure out how to subdue a Pet Beast themselves, inevitably relying on strategy, or even physical combat. The danger level was high, and a considerable number of people would likely fail to form a contract and be eliminated.The upside was that the academy provided a perfect platform for contracting, a truly rare opportunity. For capable or fortunate students, it offered more choices and possibilities, significantly increasing the probability of obtaining a high-quality Pet Beast... Simultaneously, contracting and growing in such an environment forged a stronger bond between human and pet, making defections highly unlikely...


    Swish!A strange noise suddenly came from a patch of grass to the side. The commotion was quite significant, with the faint sounds of human laughter mixed with the struggling roars of a beast.Bai Wushang frowned, approached stealthily, and hid behind a tree to observe covertly.


    "Hahaha, after waiting patiently for an hour, we actually caught this Thunderhorn Bull! Nana, my trap-making skills are top-notch, right?"A man in grey clothes pointed at a huge pit in the ground, laughing proudly and ostentatiously.


    "Thunderhorn Bull?"Bai Wushang''s heart skipped a beat. That was a Common Bone Rank 6-star Transcendent Creature! Not only did it possess the rare lightning attribute, but it also had a two-stage natural evolution chain. At the Juvenile Stage, it was definitely a high-quality Pet Beast.


    "Brother He, you''re amazing!" The other person, a girl wearing a blue print dress that revealed her delicate shoulders, giggled charmingly, covering her mouth. Her voice was very soft and sweet.


    "Hehe, once this fellow struggles a bit more and tires itself out close to exhaustion, I''ll sign the Pet Beast contract with it. The success rate should be basically eighty to ninety percent." The grey-clothed man sounded spirited, his voice filled with strong confidence.


    "Brother He~"The blue-dressed girl named Nana suddenly placed a delicate arm on the grey-clothed man''s shoulder, bringing her red lips close to his ear:"Brother He, could you, could you possibly let me contract this Thunderhorn Bull first~~~?"


    "Huh? But... But Nana, didn''t we agree when we teamed up? The first one caught should rightfully be mine first... How could you..."


    Mua~The blue-skirted girl planted a quick kiss on the grey-clothed man''s cheek and said sweetly:"Brother He, you''re so amazing, surely you''re not afraid you won''t be able to catch an even better Pet Beast?""I don''t know why, but the moment I saw this Thunderhorn Bull, I felt a special connection with it. I really like it! Please let your little sister have it, I''m begging you~"


    The grey-clothed man had his back to Bai Wushang, but Bai Wushang immediately saw his body stiffen, the tips of his ears turning bright red."Well... alright then... As long as you like it, Nana..."The grey-clothed man''s voice was hesitant and awkward. Bai Wushang could even picture his flushed cheeks.


    ''What a naive young man, bought over by such a small favor. Pathetic!'' Bai Wushang complained inwardly.


    Moo! Moo! Moo!The Thunderhorn Bull struggled desperately in the deep pit, ramming the sides and jumping frantically, making loud noises.


    "Brother He, how does it still have so much energy... It won''t get out, will it..."


    "Don''t worry, this trap of mine is two meters deep. How could it possibly get out on its own!"


    Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang!!!From several tens of meters away, Bai Wushang couldn''t see inside the pit, but judging solely by the sound, he could sense the Thunderhorn Bull going berserk, its struggles growing more violent each time.


    Suddenly, after a massive impact, an entirely yellow bull erupted violently from the pit, leaping one or two meters into the air before landing heavily on the ground.


    "Huh, did it just comprehend the skill [Air Step]? Interesting. These two are in for some bad luck..."